#so what did you add to this retelling exactly

[plaguedocboi]

I still think about the time months ago I was advertised a book that was being marketed as a “queer horror retelling of Moby Dick” like. Girl. I don’t think you have any business “retelling” a story if you clearly don’t even know what the original story was about.

[scribblesofagoonerr]

I just need you both right now...

Here's the second part for you all, hope you all like it!

I was a bit stupid at the start of the week and injured my knee so I currently can't do much other than rest it right now, so I'm back to writing again!

Thank you to @alotofpockets for her help as always! So so grateful!

Pairings: lia wälti x teen reader, caitlin foord x teen reader, arsenal wfc x teen reader

“Are you sure this is a good idea, Wally?” Leahs’ voice is anxious as she turns to the brunette Swiss woman, who has just finished parking her car outside of your mum’s new house.

“Probably not, but I want to know why on earth she thought it was appropriate to teach my daughter self-defence like that” Lia’s frustration seethes as she switches off the car’s ignition.

“Don’t be angry with Mum” You interject quickly, feeling the need to defend her. From your perspective, there wasn’t anything inherently wrong with her actions, “It’s not her fault!” you assert pointedly.

Lia clicks her tongue and shakes her head in disagreement, “She shouldn’t be teaching you this in the first place, Y/F/N!” she exclaims, undoing her seatbelt.

“I think it’s best if I stay in the car” Leah decides, opting out of another potential argument between the two exes, her being there wouldn’t do very much to help right now.

“Okay, Le” Lia’s expression softens as she looks at the blonde before turning to you, slouched in the backseat, “Come on Y/N/N” she gestures for you to follow her out of the car.

Furrowing your eyebrows, you unbuckle your seatbelt and step out of the car, following your mama’s lead as she strides towards the front door, her knuckles rapping impatiently.

“Alright, alright. Geez, I’m comin’ now. Just hold on!” A familiar voice grumbles from behind the closed door, which you immediately recognise as Ella, Katie’s younger sister who now lives with them.

“Hey, squirt. Shouldn’t you still be in school?” Ella asks, puzzled, as she greets you.

“Hi Ella!” You wave cheerfully, despite the circumstances of why you were here, “I was at school earlier, but then I got into trouble and well, now I’ve been suspended” You ramble your explanation, oblivious to the annoyed facial expression your mama currently has when you retell your account of events.

“Uh oh” Ella chuckles, amused by your latest antics.

You sometimes wished you could move in with your mum, although you miss the times’ that your mum and mama both lived together with you, things were so much easier then.

Cutting through the light banter, Lia gets straight to the point with the blonde girl, “Look, I’m not in the mood to mess around here, Ella. Where is Caitlin? I need to speak to her” she states.

“Uh, right, she’s inside the house. Hold on, I’ll shout for her now— Caitlin? Lia and the kids’ here!” Ella calls out, momentarily forgetting that she was currently live on TikTok, which was now buzzing with comments reacting to the conversation out of frame.

“Comin’ now!” Caitlin’s voice rings from inside the house.

Without much hesitation, you dart through the front door to greet Caitlin, “Mum!” You shout, practically leaping into her arms.

“Hey, kiddo” Caitlin is able to catch you mid-air, spinning you around in her arms, “So, what’s this that I heard you got into trouble at school, huh? That kid must’ve deserved it if they’re pickin’ on you!” she jests.

“I hit them good and proper, exactly like you taught me to do!” You proudly mimic the moves you’d used to defend yourself, “I remembered to hit her right where it hurts!” You add.

“Ah, that’s my girl!” Caitlin beams proudly, setting you back on the ground and ruffling your hair.

“Yeah, although mama’s not happy with you now though cos’ I just told her I did what you showed me” You innocently play the two women against each other.

“Oh boy” Caitln’s face clouds as she faces Lia’s disapproving gaze at the door, while Ella is still awkwardly holding her phone.

“You seriously taught Y/N self-defence?!” Lia’s anger simmers as she confronts her ex-girlfriend.

“Yeah, why shouldn’t I have?” Caitlin fires back defensively.

Lia scoffs and shakes her head, “Because, no thanks to you and that ‘help’ it’s now led her to be suspended for the rest of the week!” she retorts incredulously.

“Whoa, whoa!” Caitlin holds her hands in self-surrender, “How is this all of a sudden just my fault?” The Australian woman furrows her eyebrows in confusion.

“Well I’m certainly not the one that taught her to use her fists, Caitlin!” Lia protests, her frustration evident.

“Uh, I don’t know what’s goin’ on right now, but uh— Oh shit, the lives’ still on” Ella mutters in realisation when she glances down at her phone and hurries to end it.

“I taught her self-defence in case she ever needed to use it, like today, for example” Caitlin argues, shaking her head.

Lia scoffs and shakes her head in disagreement with her ex, “If you hadn’t taught her it then she wouldn’t be in trouble at school in the first place!” she states firmly.

“Can I stay over here tonight, mum?” You look up at Caitlin expectantly.

“Of course you can, kiddo” Caitlin responds.

“No” Lia interjects.

You’re caught off guard by the conflicting responses from both of them, though you know that you don’t truly deserve to stay the night, all you crave is to be with your mum and mama and at least this way, you have both of them together right now.

Sometimes acting out feelings like the only solution to get their attention.

“She can stay if she wants to” Caitlin insists, glaring at Lia.

“It’s not your day, Caitlin” Lia reminds her.

“So? What does that matter– Let her spend the night here just this once, Lia. She obviously needs it with everything going on!”  The Australian woman argues back.

“With everything going on? She got in trouble at school, Caitlin. This is serious– She doesn’t need to be rewarded for this behaviour!” Lia stands firm on her decision.

You shuffle your feet, a heavy weight settling in your chest as you listen to the heated exchange between your moms once again. The constant bickering, the never-ending tension– It’s like a suffocating cloud, leaving you feeling small and insignificant.

As Lia and Caitlin argue yet again, you can’t help but feel like your own problems are trivial in comparison. The bullying at school, the taunts, the physical attacks– They all seem so insignificant when your moms’ can’t even stop fighting long enough to notice.

You thought about telling them in the past, about opening up and seeking their support, but every time you muster the courage, their voices rise again, drowning out your own.

Sometimes it feels like your problems don’t matter, as if they’re too consumed by their own issues to care about yours, so it’s easiest to just suffer in silence, plastering on a smile to hide the pain, pretending like everything’s okay when it’s anything but.

You long for the days when your moms were a united front, when you felt safe and loved, and understood; Now, you just have to navigate between their two households where it feels like sometimes you’re walking on eggshells.

Sometimes you feel so lost, unsure what to do but somehow you decided down the road, it was just better to hide your feelings away from everyone who cared about you.

You made it so that neither of your mums’ realised what was going on and they just thought it was the typical misbehaviour from a teenager.

“How about you let me decide what I want to do instead of just assuming?” You speak up, tired of their endless bickering, “I’m almost 16 now, I can make my own decisions!”

You really didn’t mean to yell, but you’re fed up now. You need both of them to set aside their differences and support you.

Why was that so difficult?

“I just… I just need you both right now, I need you both together– And you can’t even stay within the same distance before you just end up yelling at one another!” You cry out, hoping they’ll understand your plea.

At least that seemed to have gotten both of their attention when they looked at you confused.

“What’re you talking about, kiddo?” Caitlin frowns, confused.

Lia turns to you bewildered, “What’s wrong, Y/N/N?” she asks, concern etched on her face.

You shuffle nervously on your feet as you try and muster up the courage to explain what has been going on.

When did things become so difficult to talk about?

“I’m being bullied…” Your voice trembles as you force the words out, a knot tightening in your throat, “It’s been going on for a while, I…. I just didn’t know how to tell you both because you’re so wrapped up in arguing with each other to care about me!” You confess, your fingers nervously picking at a loose thread on your school jumper.

Lia gasps in shock, her eyes widening in realisation, “What? That’s not true, Y/N/N” she disputes, her tone softening with concern.

Feeling a glimmer of hope at Lia’s response, you meet her gaze, your eyes pleading for understanding, “But it is true, mama” You insist, your voice shaky but determined, “Every time I’ve tried to talk to you about this, you’re either arguing or too busy with your own stuff to notice” You tell her.

Caitlin’s expression softens as she takes in your words, a pang of guilt flashing across her features, “I’m sorry kiddo” she murmurs, her voice laced with regret, “I didn’t realise… I’ve been so caught up in everything lately. I… We didn’t see how much you were hurting” she states in concern.

Tears prickle at the corner of your eyes as you nod, a wave of relief washing over you at their acknowledgement, “It’s okay” You whisper, feeling a weight lifting from your shoulders, “I just… I just need you to both be there for me, to listen and to understand me” you tell them honestly.

Lia reaches out, pulling you into a tight hug, her embrace offering comfort and reassurance, “We will be, sweetheart” she promises, her voice gentle as she glances at Caitlin who nods in agreement, “We’re here for you, no matter what” she adds.

Caitlin joins the embrace, wrapping her arms around both of you, her eyes reflecting a mix of regret and determination, “We’ll figure this out, together” she vows, her voice firm with resolve.

In that moment, surrounded by the warmth of their love and support, you feel a flicker of hope ignite within you. Despite the challenges ahead, you know that with your moms by your side, you can face anything.

© scribblesofagoonerr

[darkestspring]

Reading your last post of hades x persefone and the idea of a one-shot apollo x daphne, the idea of a one-shot dealing with the abduction of Helen from Sparta came to my mind.

Jacaerys has always been in love with Aemond's sweet and innocent younger sister, so when he returns to King's Landing he kidnaps her and makes her his wife, (clearly he forces her, since she doesn't love him).

And when the royal family finds out, they don't stand for it and burn with anger. Aemond erupted like a volcano full of rage, how dare they take you, the purest and most beautiful maiden, force you to marry and lose your virginity to a bastard? Kidnap the one he loved? His sweet little sister? He would definitely make them pay with fire and blood.

This unleashes a warlike conflict, and you can decide what will be the end of this story.

Whispers had marked the dragon's court from the moment the third princess, [NAME] was born, and then whispers had erupted for years afterwards.

The young princess was a year younger than the second prince but was beloved deeply. By all except her father, the courts would retell. The king had little interest in any of his children that were not Princess Rhaenyra and yet, Princess [NAME] found solace in other things.

When her time was not spent looking for flowers to add to her collection, to be pressed, dried, and documented (a hobby that her queen mother indulged in happily), she was often found with her older brother, Aemond.

And yet, nearly everyone was aware of the strange attention that Prince Jace gave her.

How he would often find flowers and give them to her, how he would resort to acting out to get her attention when that did not work (which more often than not, led to her frowning at him with distaste as she led her brother away from him). How he would always be wherever she was.

Queen Alicent hated it but none hated it more than Prince Aemon, who had to be restrained when rumors broke out that Prince Jace had taken Princess [NAME]'s first kiss.

It had been a relief when Princess Rhaenyra moved to Dragonstone for a permanent stay, even after the incident in driftmark. Princess Rhaenyra had done all she could to attempt to secure a marriage between Princess [NAME] and her son, but Alicent would not budge, so nothing could be done.

Jace wasn't satisfied with that. [NAME] was the only girl he would ever marry, of that he was sure. He had been enchanted by her and would never take another.

But such desires were easily managed.

That was, until they came face-to-face with each other as teenagers.

Jace was taken aback by how much she had grown, with her soft, delicate features and her soft hands clutching onto her documenting journal, her third one (courtesy of her grandfather), jace swore on his deceased father, he would never let her get away.

They say that when a Targaryen loves, entire cities burn to the ground and it was true. Jace would burn the entire world to the ground, just for her. He would slaughter masses for the chance to see her smile and Daemon had noticed it immediately.

The awe ever-present in his step-son's dark eyes, how he deflated at the loss of her attention.

"If you wish for her attention," He started, gazing towards his youngest niece before looking at Jace, "Perhaps more extreme measure,"

"Like what?" Jace was on the verge of begging. What should I do? He wanted to cry. All I want is for her to look at me. He didn't care about his own desperation.

"You're a dragon," Daemon patted his shoulder. "Take what you want? What should you care about the opinions of others. Take her to dragonstone and make her your wife."

That's exactly what he did.

"I will not be held prisoner by you!" Princess [NAME] hissed at her nephew, bristling as he got closer.

Jace held her hands in his grip (his gentle grip surprised the princess as she stared at their joined hands). "Not prisoner, of course not. My wife."

That was almost worse, but she could not think of anything to say before he leaned down and kissed her, softly, and it almost made her want to cry.

She wished he would be as awful as men who held their wives captive were in books. Cruelty would give her a reason to hate him but he was gentle with her, reverence in how he treated her that made her want to cry.

"M-my mother won't stand for this! My brother's will come for me!" She hissed, yanking her hands back.

And stand for it, Queen Alicent would not. When they news broke, that Prince Jace had stolen her beloved daughter away, she collapsed to the ground and screamed a blood curdling scream, one that cried of anger and grief.

None of the Queen's other children were much better and everyone could tell the worst.

It was war.

Truly, beauty is damning.

[winns-stuff]

LO RANT:

Because why not? I just don’t understand the way that fans think, on one hand we can’t associate or even compare Lore Olympus to the myths because they’ll say “well it’s her retelling she doesn’t have to do things exactly alike” but on the other hand when you’re talking about the story by itself they’ll then try to counter whatever argument against Lore Olympus by saying “this is what they did in the myths!! why are you guys mad at greek mythology??” so which one is it because it’s giving me a headache. I get so tired of seeing the exact same argument from fans it’s so redundant and I mean that in the nicest way possible, I’m sure a lot of you are great people but the things y’all say and do for this comic is insane.

Rachel is adding yet another sex scene and people are rightfully angry. We’re in the climax where the world is basically in an apocalyptic state and the gods are all in danger of having no mortals to worship them and give them any purpose and it’s all because of Persephone, no one is thinking “oh yeah this is the perfect time for intimacy” and if you wanted to give fan service to those who are craving it you should’ve did it in a more calmer setting?? No one is threatening Rachel and telling her that she needs to add these ridiculously high stakes to her comic which prevents her from smoothly writing NSFW of the main couple, she’s literally doing this herself which is one of the reasons why it gets so annoying whenever fans get mad at people for being upset or disappointed. She’s doing this to herself, am I saying harass the woman or cyber bully her? No but that’s not what a lot of these people are doing, in every single webtoon especially one as big as Lore Olympus you’re going to have people who view your content differently or disagree with the way you’ve written things. I’m not trying to encourage the idea of changing your entire story to bend to those people but a large majority of your fandom are starting to have the exact same complaints and it’s clear that your plots are not being fleshed out at all, these people are just asking (no, begging really) for a cohesive story not a masterpiece.

Which brings me to my next point, all of the criticisms and explanations many critics have been sharing are entirely valid. You cannot put a sex scene as a replacement to storytelling, it just never works since it adds virtually nothing to what’s happening. Especially right now when, like I said before, Rachel is starting to spiral the plot into chaos (I’m not being insulting by saying this it’s literally chaos it seems like all of the characters are in trouble) and introducing or welcoming back a lot of intriguing plot stories and characters that many people are excited to see. To make an odd and unnecessary shift to romance in the middle of absolute destruction is crazy, especially when none of it is earned. I’ve said this in my later rants but I’ll say it again because it’s true, the romance between Hades and Persephone has no stakes and it never will it seems since Rachel doesn’t even allow stuff like that to happen. Nothing about their romance keeps you straddled on for the ride or leaves you at the edge of your seat which is why so many people are bored with their dynamic if there even is one to begin with. Slow burns and other romances are all about the payoff that’s what everyone’s here to see, after chapters on chapters of wondering if their love will brave the dangers around them and between them we finally get our question solved with appropriate intimacy.

Lore Olympus as a whole rarely wants to develop actual relationships in real time, it only skips to “the good bits” while completely ignoring the fact that the entire bonding experience between your ships and your fans rely heavily on us actually witnessing their chemistry/bond and being shown why they should be together, not being told by forces outside of the relationship.

All in all the potential sex scene is just terrible timing on Rachel’s part and it should’ve been done while literally nothing was happening to avoid all of the backlash that it’s getting now.

[shadowshrike]

Ascended Astarion Appreciation Post

I'm not going to do a true analysis here because I feel like all the individual lines of spawn/ascended/neutral Astartion and how broad the interpretations of them can be depending on the context of your playthrough have already been discussed ad nauseam by the fandom. The stellar voice work only adds to the ability for a player to feel a connection with whatever narrative they like best. However, I want to throw my personal experience with his storyline into the ring because I feel it's rather unusual.

For my style of play, I initially only brought Astarion along on my 'clever evil' run. I had no knowledge of his storyline before I started and didn't do any metagaming to win his approval; I just brought him along because the 2 minutes I saw of him in my main run made him seem like a good fit for a Tav with selfish choices. This was a custom bard playthrough where I made everyone love me by being a great con artist, killed the few who might make my rise to power more difficult (like the Nightsong), and lightly manipulated our companions into giving me their protection while I only took on minor risk. Naturally, Astarion played well with this character. He was entertained by having a partner to 'play' with, one who didn't get put off by cruel comments or his lust for power and was good at pretending to be manipulated by the questionably charismatic vampire.

I expected the power lust and loss of humanity toward the end of his story. What I did not expect was that by doing an Ascended playthrough first, I would ruin my desire to reload for the Spawn ending later. After all, aren't you supposed to want to do the "Good" thing when your default gameplay style is Good-aligned?

What solidified it for me were two things. First, his response to the Gur. His reaction suggested to me that he was probably a power-hungry noble before he was turned, one who paid the consequences for his cruelty, jumped at the chance for an escape through Cazador when faced with the consequences of that cruelty, and then spent the next 200 years being tortured horrifically for it. From everything I gleaned through his half-retelling, his story was much like the victims of hags or devils. I felt bad for the disproportionate horror of his fate, but there was an odd sort of justice in it as well, one that had long descended into pure evil thanks to the creature he fell victim to.

The second thing that turned me from doing a full playthrough just to see the Spawn ending was, oddly enough, the confession where he explains he's been manipulating you and has accidentally developed feelings. Now, this is partly because I may have accidentally skipped part of the animation, but when I decided to reciprocate the 'heartfelt feelings' as part of my character's manipulation, his answering smirk seemed to say, "Gotcha. So all I have to do is act vulnerable, weak, and like I would be nicer if someone just loved me for once in my life, and they'll protect me forever. I can do that."

After that point, I could never take any statement he made about redemption seriously, especially not if he was particularly blunt about it. The nail-on-the-head speeches I'd seen from him on the spawn path seemed exactly that - too perfect. Like it was exactly what a good character would want to hear, and something a rather poor manipulator but one who specializes in making people feel loved (which Astarion is) would fall back on. That's not to say the words don't ring with truth - they really do thanks to the beautiful voice work - but in the context of his relationship with power and dependence, every word felt like falling back on old habits to manage his fears. Ones he may not even be aware of, truthfully.

Do I think that was the intent by the writers? Absolutely not. But the more I pressed on in the story and he never reverted to that overly sweet act after he realized my character was actually more interested in giggling with him over how to obtain absolute power, the more it felt like the whole 'poor victim' act, although absolutely rooted in some truth, was truly an act to him.

He was terrified, would always be terrified, and had no problem doing whatever he needed to do in order to keep that terror at bay. His desperation made him easy to manipulate. He begged for both the tadpole's powers and Raphael's deal, staying true to a character that would always take the risk as long as it didn't threaten his vanity like the astral tadpole did. He was clearly incapable of forming a healthy relationship with anyone and had no interest in actually working on himself. Still, he was a master at adjusting his behaviors just enough to make himself safer in his new 'goodish' environment by acting like he had come to appreciate goodness. Not that he was ever completely heartless, even on a selfish/evil run, but it became clear that he mostly wanted goodness for himself. He didn't want a lack of chains in the world. He wanted to be the one holding them.

Ascending him was the obvious choice in an evil run. I would both be giving him the one thing he truly wanted and putting him forever in my debt...at least until his annoyance at having a debt outweighed his fear of being alone.

Becoming his spawn, on the other hand, was a hard choice. And probably the most satisfying narrative choice I made in all my playthroughs, good or evil.

For context, I had refused to use any tadpole powers in this run, giving it to him instead, so he could deal with the risk while being pleased by being handed more power. I didn't want to sacrifice anything personally while I was busy putting everyone in my debt. But here I was faced with a dilemma - did I have confidence that my character could still manipulate this vampire driven by fear enough to take the world if I let him turn me into a spawn so I could be immortal? Would the good and evil armies I'd raised to my name be enough to stop Astarion if he started to lose his utter devotion to me and made me a mindless thrall? If I said no or suddenly cast doubt on him, he'd certainly be enraged, given my prior support of him and his fear of rejection. Was the danger of angering him on top of losing that ascended vampire power worth my mortal freedoms? How long would that freedom even last if I said no, assuming he truly did end up exactly like Cazador, who would likely have just taken it from me in a rage?

Interestingly, this choice was made for me by the insight check that some people hate so much. When I saw he thought my character was still above him, that I had to degrade myself to be with him, I realized the man's leash hadn't gone anywhere. I could use him to get me the world. Yes, he would continue trying to manipulate me with empty promises, but I would continue manipulating him in turn by appealing to his petty vanity and insecurities. And together, we could have everything he ever lusted after with the only cost being a soul he was more than willing to lose.

I think the perfect cap to this was the ending. A romanced Ascended Astarion's ending was easily the most satisfying ending part of all the little character moments of all my playthroughs. The evil power fantasy was perfect. With the choices I made, it implied he was 100% as much my thrall as I was his (less literally in his case), leaving the corruption of his character beyond pure power lust open to interpretation. Add to that the satisfaction of his new unique dialogs near that end, and I was blown away. His confidence, for once, did not seem fake, though it was still informed by the fears that had driven him from the beginning. It was not his most healed or kind self (and how could he be either of those in any ending after 200 years of torture unless he was lying?), but his most free self, enjoying everything he ever wanted in a blaze of glory, relishing in his control, and fully giving himself to the newfound passions given by his second life.

Is he evil, selfish, and controlling? Absolutely. Will some hero inevitably take him out down the line when he gets a little too crazy with his powers? Probably. But such is the beauty and fun of the evil power fantasy.

It's unfortunate that playing this route, I can't enjoy how he is chained by the spawn route. I can understand what it is trying to do. Promoting the power of forgiveness, love, and support to allow someone to be their best self. It aims to apply human healing patterns to a supernatural creature in a cathartic way, one that has been successful for a great many people. But for me, it just doesn't land.

On runs where I care about his fate on a personal level, I hate to see him forced into a life where he loses all the things that have brought him joy, either now or when his lover dies. I don't want my choices 'for his own good' to mandate he forever sacrifices his own wants and needs. I hate how he tells you that you made the right choice after things have calmed down if you refuse to help him because what other option does he have? You've stripped him of hope outside of your protection. Without a cure, he's helpless at the feet of the Good heroes surrounding him who could end him in an instant if he's anything other than grateful and fawning for how much you've saved him. After the other route, that fate feels like dying a second slow death for a character so desperate for freedom and power, no matter how self-destructive it is. And since he basically says you did the 'right thing' when you have a high relationship no matter what end you choose with him, Good or Evil or in-between, it loses its power to me as a narrative anchor to any feel-good moments.

Personally, I like Astarion most as a character who is able to fulfill his base desires, ugliness and all. I think he's written in a way where he's well-suited to be both a victim and an awful person. I like the unique narrative of him being someone who is a bit of a monster and most fulfilled by being his worst self rather than seeking redemption, but appreciate that most people feel more fulfilled by a route where he's humanized and gets to heal through romance or a supportive friend.

I encourage everyone to find their own favorite variation of him. To me, he is one of the messiest characters who can have wildly different 'truths' depending on the context of your playthrough and your interpretations of his lines. Since he's a known liar and manipulator (and an unfathomably old one at that by human standards), there are a million and one different headcanons you can use to fill in the blanks on what he really means, who he really is, and what he really wants or needs.

I hope everyone out there enjoys whatever version of Astarion they like best. For me, I think I just might have to try a different variation on an evil playthrough. I want to see what other contexts I can get for his Ascension story and whether any of them hit as many satisfying narrative notes as my first.

[echologhia]

ok i just wanted to add my two cents to the analysis of reuenthal's thought train in ep 93 of logh. no major spoilers but it's better to come back later in case you haven't seen the ova yet

so people have already analyzed the hell out of this particular frame (i apologize for the blurry screenshots i took hastily from laserdisc rip on archive.org, might fix that later) with reuenthal imagining his mother looking as himself and her lover as a guy who looks suspiciously like mittermeyer

well i just found more proof that this is not a flashback or an accurate retelling of the actual events. rather this is some sort of elaborate fantasy that reuenthal orchestrated in his mindscape.

even though it's extremely on the nose i haven't seen anyone else before me pointing that out! so i apologize if somebody did and i missed that.

anyway, let's go back to ep 28 (portraits). this is the first time we see reuenthal talking about his mother and his family in general. and what we see is that ova actually shows us a portrait of his mother (not just in one frame but in two):

yeah that's right. her hair isn't dark it's blond-ish. and despite that, oskar still imagines her as having dark hair (just as himself) a few seconds later.

might have been an animation blunder but i want to believe that this decision was deliberate. there are more things hinting at this whole thing being made up (others have pointed them out already), such as the inconsistency of the "flashbacks": the suicide of reuenthal's mother is portrayed very differently in ep 28 and in ep 93. since he couldn't possibly remember her death accurately (even the books mention this) the most likely scenario is that his father is at fault, and he shifted the blame onto the child - probably telling oskar that he's "just like his mother", and he internalized it. gender delirious

i also think that ova creators specifically chose to go this route. i haven't read the source material in its entirety but from what i understand there's no mention of reuenthal being a carbon copy of his mother appearance-wise. moreover, in die neue these (which some praise for being truer to the books than ova) it is the father who looks exactly like him. so ova constructed this personal freudian hellscape just for my boy reuenthal. i rest my case

[olderthannetfic]

Unpopular but retelling is just code for "I can't write my own original characters for shit, so I'll rely on some pre-established characters/personalities/dynamics/conflicts from stories and make it everyone else's problem."

Fanfics are honest, I write this because I like the characters, I wanna see more of those characters specifically. Don't expect a lot of base building, because someone else already did, read that. I like these tropes so I'll use those. Maybe I'll just put them in a different setting, read it or don't, it's fanfic.

A Retelling? I wanna write a (trope) story but Idk how to actually design and create my own characters, personalities, conflicts, and I'm too lazy to figure out my setting pieces, how characters work together, what the world should be like, so what should I do... I know! Retelling!

People just take the skin of more popular works, often "ye olden ass" stories, and then just do a retelling because then they don't actually have to put much effort into world building or the characters. I'll pick and choose what I like, and anyone who knows even the basics is just gonna flock. Super glaring when they just adopt names, or they just adopt a conflicts 1:1, and the only reason it "works" is because RETELLING! In universe? Nothing can actually justify it. Retelling feels like a different word for "this is just a low effort fanfic, but I want the attention of an original writer."

So many "retelling" stories lean super hard on whatever they're claiming to retell, and without knowledge of that original story those retellings ain't worth shit. It's all just reliant on something someone else wrote decades, centuries or even millennia ago.

Are all retelling stories like that? Idk, probably not, but the ones I currently see at the forefront have exactly the problems mentioned, they are just an excuse to not even try and build your own writing, just rely on what someone else did before you and add on a few of the trope and decorations you like.

--

[princesssarisa]

I've noticed that a lot of Sleeping Beauty adaptations side-step the issue of the title character's passive personality by focusing instead on the fairies or sometimes the prince. Do you think it's possible to make Sleeping Beauty an active player in her own story? And what are the trends you've noticed in how adaptations characterize her when she is awake?

I just recently watched the 1978 Czech adaptation Jak se budí princezny, or How to Wake a Princess: you can read my review here. This is a version that focuses more on the heroine than most other versions do. Like Disney's, it ultimately reduces her sleep from a hundred years to just a day or two – with the threat that if her prince fails to reach her and kiss her, she'll sleep forever, and the evil fairy (who in this version is her own aunt) determined to stop him. Really, I think that choice is a good first step in any version that wants to make Sleeping Beauty an active player (even though when Disney did it, they still focused mainly on the fairies), because it lets her have a fleshed-out romance with the Prince who's destined to wake her.

Another twist in How to Wake a Princess is that Princess Růženka knows about the curse. Most versions keep it hidden from her so she can naïvely touch the spindle, but in this version she knows, and the knowledge adds weight to her decisions. Her parents arrange for her to marry a neighboring kingdom's crown prince, because the curse only has power within their own land, so if she leaves, she'll be safe. But Růženka falls in love with the crown prince's younger brother instead; yet the brothers' royal parents would never agree to let her marry their younger son, because their spoiled firstborn heir always gets the first and best of everything. So Růženka has to choose between protecting herself with a loveless marriage and following her heart, and she ultimately chooses the latter, which leaves her vulnerable to being tricked by her aunt into pricking her finger.

But even in this version, once Růženka falls asleep, the focus shifts to Prince Jaroslav as he fights to reach her and wake her. Even if Sleeping Beauty is the story's active, principle player for three-fourths of the story, it's obviously hard to keep the focus on her when the plot hinges on her falling asleep. One retelling that subverts that issue is Robin McKinley's novel Spindle's End. That version follows Disney's example of having the princess raised as a peasant by the fairies to protect her from the curse. But the big twist is that in her peasant life, "Rosie" (as they call her) becomes best friends with a real peasant girl, Peony. Since the royal court and the evil fairy don't know what the grown-up princess looks like, Peony sacrifices herself for Rosie by masquerading as the princess, touching the spindle, and falling asleep in her place. (The curse was never softened from death to sleep in this version, so if Rosie had touched the spindle, she would have died; but Peony just falls asleep because she's not the real princess.) So Peony becomes Sleeping Beauty, while the real princess Rosie takes on the role that mirrors Disney's Prince Phillip, fighting the evil fairy and waking her friend with a kiss.

But maybe that's cheating a little bit, by shifting the Sleeping Beauty role from the princess to a supporting character.

Personally, if I ever write a retelling of the story, I'll think I'll keep Sleeping Beauty active even while she's asleep by having her communicate with the Prince telepathically. This idea is inspired by two things: (a) the fact that many versions imply that as she sleeps, she has prophetic dreams of the Prince, so she knows exactly who he is and already loves him when she wakes up, and (b) that in Tchaikovsky's ballet, the Lilac Fairy shows a vision of Aurora to Prince Désiré before she leads him to her. I would give the Prince recurring dreams of Sleeping Beauty, in which they talk, get to know each other, and fall in love, and eventually reveal that they really have been communicating – in her sleep she's been having identical dreams about him. In this way she could give the Prince advice that helps him conquer the obstacles that bar his way to the castle. It could also resolve the story's issue of consent, as she herself could instruct him to kiss her when he finds her asleep in the real world.

As for how Sleeping Beauty is characterized when she's awake, I have noticed a few trends in the different adaptations I've seen so far. One common trend is for her to be lively, outgoing, and playful. More so than either Cinderella or Snow White. I suppose there are three factors in this: (a) a lively, inquisitive girl is all the more likely to explore an unfamiliar tower, and then try her hand at something new, like spinning, (b) the more full of life and joy she is, then the sadder it is when she falls into her deathlike sleep, and (c) unlike Snow White or Cinderella, whether she's raised by her parents or by the fairies, she's traditionally grown up in a happy, loving home, not abused by a wicked stepmother. Another quality often seen in her is loneliness and longing to be free to see the world and meet new people. Her parents or guardians tend to be very protective, maybe overprotective, and she's typically never been outside the castle grounds or the forest where they live and never had any friends her own age. While she loves her parents or guardians and isn't unhappy, she longs for companionship (especially romantic love), new experiences, and to be allowed to grow up. If we view the story as an allegory for growing up, with the spindle prick representing the end of Sleeping Beauty's childhood and her awakening by the Prince's kiss as the beginning of womanhood, then this characterization makes perfect sense. Like many parents, the King and Queen or the fairies would like to shelter her forever and stop her from growing up, but of course that's impossible. She also tends to have a beautiful singing voice, and is often a good dancer and/or plays a musical instrument too – even though it's not essential to the plot, musical talent is very often one of her gifts from the fairies. And she's usually very kind and generous, even in the versions where she's had the most privileged royal upbringing, treating the castle servants as close friends and giving gifts of clothes or food to the poor.

I still have many more adaptations to watch, but these are the trends I've noticed so far.

[1117feverlessdreams]

Mr.Write 📝 Right: Chapter 4

Masterlist

☑️🤍A/N: At first I was going to make this chapter the finale of this series, but I believe it's perfect right where it ends. To me, it's better fitting to just add a fifth and final chapter without cramming too much detail. Enjoy 🤍.

☑️🤍Word Count: 13k

☑️🤍Warnings: Self Sabotage, Struggles of Self Confidence, Depression, Mentions of Sexual Assault, Mentions of Bullying, Angst Reoccurring trauma, Sexist/Misogynist Boss! Smut, Oral sex, Lots of Fluff, and Language.

* ੈ✩‧₊˚* ੈ✩‧₊˚* ੈ✩‧₊˚ * ੈ✩‧₊˚* ੈ✩‧₊˚* ੈ✩‧₊˚ * ੈ✩‧₊˚*

The two of you lay in bed on an Early Saturday morning, sheets in disarray as your limbs entangle.

Golden hues illuminate the bedroom from the sunrise, which is graced by sheer black curtains that shield the world from the inside, with color.

You awaken to the beaming blindsight of what or who’s in front of you. an Aura blurred figure moves closer to you, and the tender touch of warm cushion soft lips meets your temples.

“Wake up to the morning sun, a new day has begun, my adorable little seed.~”

An airy, sultry, deep, scratchy tone you recognized as Hongjoong's sing-songs the made up tune gently in your ear. More kisses against your temple follow with another chaste kiss, on the lips.

Your vision clears when his body absorbs the sunlight from behind, allowing you to see his beauty clearly from the front. Pairing perfectly with your given name, he is the epitome of sunshine. His white wild fluffy hair creates the appearance of a halo, like on the head, of an angel.

“Good mornin’ my angel~.” you said in the sweetest yet quietest throaty voice, it must have been the result of all that crying you’d done yesterday, not to mention last night.

In one of his most precious giggles, Hongjoong kisses the entirety of your face, then your neck, and then your shoulders. His lips remain cushion-soft, even in the early hours of the morning, and it nearly lures you back to sleep like a nice blanket from how warm they feel.

“Oh? I like that…angel huh?” Another kiss. “Did you know that you look absolutely stunning right now?” Another kiss.

In between each kiss, he admires all of you and continues the action on any visible space on your body. Hongjoong's sparkling, black, beady eyes absorb all of the flaws you think you possess, but under his gaze, you feel like the most flawless being he has the pleasure of seeing.

“Really? Have you had the joy of seeing yourself?” you retell and tilt your head mischievously.

After pulling his lips back from where they are resting upon your chest, Hongjoong gives a signature bright and pretty before stealing another kiss from your lips.

“I know what I look like in the morning, and let me just say, seeing you first thing, is a whole lot better my love.” Another kiss to the lips.

The gift of his kisses and worship makes you feel privileged to be wrapped up in such kindness. In some way, you had the impression that he would not be there in the morning, that his feelings had changed, and that he should not have committed any of the sexual acts with you last night in the vulnerable state you were in.

“I think it’s the same for me too. Maybe it’s something I could get used to…” you trail off, questioning more towards yourself than him.

Even with your doubts, he kept on reassuring you that what you did made him feel so amazing, and you’ve told him what he did make you feel something you’ve never exactly felt in your entire lifetime.

So you suppose every action was made properly, with no regrets. However, it still has you wondering about how the effect of the ‘deeper’ connection, has changed the status of your relationship.

“My love?” HongJoong says worriedly parting from above your lips. You blink rapidly to escape from the cage of overthinking, and into the present moment to focus on what he has to say.

“Yes?”, you quip.

He looks at your expression and flicks his eyes down to start playing with the strings of his hoodie you were wearing, wrapping the two threads around his white-painted fingernail. However, your eyes are most focused on the hesitant look on his gorgeous features.

“What do you want or need to do right now? I mean, moving wise. Do you want to go back there, your apartment?”

To be quite truthful, you are frightened of being alone with your mind, and Hongjoong is your healthiest fix for fear. He is your shield from the darkness, which you have yet to escape from completely.

“I’m not sure…but I don’t want to be alone right now.” You admit.

Hell, you’re supposed to be getting prepared for a day's work right now, but that isn’t an obligation nor a priority anymore. Staying in Hongjoong’s apartment would be the most reasonable option, but you have yet to ask him if it’s okay to invade his personal space like that.

“You know I don't mind you staying you know, if you want?"

 It’s like he shares the same thoughts.

"Please?" You question in hopes of seeming like you’re not craving sympathy from him.

"How could I say no to you? Of course."

It was very easy to actually. You've received many forms of rejection in the period of your high school career from men, but you suppose graduation was the end of an era.

“Thank you so much. You really are an angel .” You whisper cautiously.

Hongjoong smiles cutely as he looks back up at you for a brief moment, but the twirling of his fingers around your hoodie strings comes to a stop and he looks hesitant to portray his true feelings once again.

"Hey-um, I have another one of those meetings later today...but I don’t know if I should go because, as you said you can’t be alone and you’re hurting. But that’s fine, I might have to do some convincing for a reschedule is all.”

The meetings he speaks of are; What Hongjoong has been attending frequently in hopes of beginning the processes of his rightfully owned writing establishment. One of which, he attended last week looking all dressed to perfection and gorgeous with those many earrings adorning his ears.

“It, it’s fine. You can leave and I’ll be fine. It’s not like you’re obligated to stay here, the meeting is mandatory for the sake of your future joongie…you should go.”

It’s taking everything in you to not make eye contact with him at this moment. What you’ve learned about Hongjoong in the past month and a half, is that he reads body language very well, and he’s low-key a mind reader. You can feel the energy shift as his head tilts to get a better angle at your hidden face.

With two curled fingers, he places them under your chin and slowly raises it to put your head back into place. “Listen, my beauty…can you look at me, please?”

Your eyes were cast down still, but that ‘my beauty’ made your stomach tingle, and you couldn’t help but want to look at him.

“The truth is, you’re hurting, and it hurts me too, to know that you’re unopenly hurting. So, don’t ever feel like that scarfing down your pain makes my life easier, because that makes things harder for us, and we’re in this together…right?”

Yet he can’t shine the way he wants to if you are keeping him in the darkness with you. His face implicates a want of confirmation, so you simply nod yes.

“We will be by each other's side, even in the future too, because we’re stronger that way. Together, forever?” He holds out his pinky.

He’s said to you before, that he’d be by your side, yet it seems to mean something entirely different now that you two are somewhat together unofficially, yet because of last night's events, ‘officially’.

You nod frantically and intertwine your pinky with his as tears start to trickle down your cheeks. It's too late to catch them when they fall before you can even try to soak them back up.

“I don’t know why I’m crying, but I need you to go, I know you’re gonna come back to me, but…I’m still gonna miss you so much,” you confess between sobs.

After unlocking the promise you two made to be locked away for the future, Hongjoong pulls you into a close embrace and squeezes your body tightly to his. The smells of him remain warm and sweet, even in the early hours of the morning, he forever remains the same.

“Call me, or text me whenever you need me, and I will try my best to answer right away. Okay, my love?”

You feel Hongjoong begin to stroke over your head, and your eyes flutter at how gentle and feather-like it feels.

“I promise that I’m going to be back here for you, and I’ll be with you. It’s only for a short while but, I’ll miss you just as much.”

Who knew that your presence to him was so valuable? Perhaps distance does make the heart grow fonder.

Hongjoong continues to stroke your head and time moves still as you lay there embracing each other for a few minutes.

“When do you need to leave?”, you blurt out.

He’s quick to move back and meet your eyes to stretch his plump pink lips into a fake smile.

“Just in a couple of hours.”

It's funny. He says it like a ‘couple of hours’ is a million miles away, but it’s coming up very soon, and he puts on a fake smile like he’s the most unaffected human being in existence.

“Oh, okay,” you say dryly. In the next second, you hide your face in the crack of his chest to listen to his heartbeat. It was a reminder that he is still here, okay, alive, and breathing…with you.

Another five minutes tick by and there are one too many emotions to focus on. That’s why the both of you just focused on holding each other’s bodies until he told you he had to let go.

“I’m going to take a shower, is that okay?”Hongjoong suddenly whispers into your ear.

It makes you curious as to why he would ask you if he can do something so essential as taking a shower, but you know that he knows that you have your final needs before you separate, and he’s adhering to them.

As you think of how to respond, you let out a struggled huff and further hide into his pillow-like chest in fear of the effect of your next set of words. “Can I join you?” Your voice is muffled, so it's hard to tell if he heard you clearly, or if you even wanted him to.

But it's confirmed that he, indeed, did hear you. A ring of silence, and not even a ‘huh’ to hear for you to repeat what you said escapes from Hongjoong’s bedroom.

He slowly parts your head from his chest, and you look at his face, which looks drained from color and vulgarly appalled from your point of view. “It was, just a joke. You don’t have to if…you know”

One of Hongjoong's brows quirks up in interest at your unfinished sentence, and you realize the dire situation you've put yourself in.

“I don’t mind, I would love it if you did actually. If you’re comfortable enough, you're more than welcome to join me in the shower.”

Having lost all color from your face, you are now the one appalled, not because you were disgusted, as you thought he was, but because he responded so directly. Did you seriously mean it? Would you like HongJoong to see your naked body again? Looking at his naked body again is very tempting…

“I-erm. It was, a joke, but, if you mean that- if you feel comfortable showing me your-I, I will… join you.”

Hongjoong's white-haired head falls forward and buries itself into a fit of laughter against your neck. When he gets ahold of himself he pulls away and an initiation of eye contact shifts his face into a deadly, sensual expression that makes you absolutely sick in the head.

“Wouldn’t you say we both got pretty comfortable last night? When we gave each other head, and the best orgasm of my life, butt naked?”

 ...

Okayyy, you didn’t expect him to say that either, and still so directly, but it is exactly what happened, and for him to commentate that as the best orgasm of his life is insane.

You were at first concerned that he would not like your lack of skills and knowledge gleaned from sucky pornos, nor how your bruised body looked, but those worries quickly dissipated when he kept telling you just how beautiful you were, from your scars and bruises and to the rest of you.

“Riiiight. Yeah-erm, I guess we did get pretty comfortable last night.” You chuckle and sit up awkwardly.

His sensual expression quickly converts into a worried one. “Well, I mean- yeah, I think we did. Did you-did you not enjoy it?”

Your eyes are blown wide and nearly out of the socket from the question asked of you. Your lips connect directly on Hongjoong’s lips and you spread it all over the rest of his face to cover up the disappointment.

“Of course not angel, I loved every minute of it!”You say with your hands on his cheekbones lips in very close proximity to his. “I just didn’t expect for you to mention it like how you did just now, I’m still too shy to talk about those kinds of things out loud~.” You pout.

Hongjoong puckers out his lips to connect once again with yours gently followed by a breath of relief mixed with soft laughter.

“You’re so adorable baby...I’m gonna, hop in the shower now.” He taps your hip twice and you maneuver off of him and back onto your side of the bed as you watch him make his way out of the room.

“Also, your offer is still left on the table, you’re very welcome to join me, my love.” He adds on.

Hongjoong farther stands away from you with a powered stance and then struts so sexily in his black boxers before he's completely out the bedroom door. Purposely, he leaves it wide open for your, closed-in curiosity.

In interest, you move to the edge of the bed, and you can see Hongjoong looking indirectly at you from over his shoulder. From his gorgeous feminine side profile, you can see an evil manly grin, slowly contorting on his face, and a swift motion of the removal of his boxers follows. A striking view of his entire body is revealed to you, all at once, yet again.

A heated blush covers your face as shivers tickle your spine, even the warmth of his fleece sunflower hoodie. “Holy fuck.” you whisper. You hear the shower water begin to resound off of his tiled shower floors. He hadn’t even closed the bathroom door yet either. His shower door slides before it closes.

With no hesitance, you arise from his bed and out of his bedroom, moving straight into the adjacent space of the bathroom open door, and you close it right behind you.

You look down to see his black boxers wrinkled right he dropped them on the floor. As you then look upward, Hongjoong’s body can be seen through the crystallized glass, a silhouette of a god-like body, resembles an art form of stained glass.

“Why are you just standing out there, when you can be in here with me baby? You can’t be afraid darling, we don’t have much time.”

With so much rigidity and depth to his voice, it was as though he was a predator deceiving his frightful prey that they would not be eaten with deceitful lies. In truth, all they wanted was an easy meal.

“I’m coming in, joongie…uhh…give me a second.”

You walk to his mirror and pull out of his hoodie, the only thing you had on after the events of last night.

The bar beside the shower has two towels atop of it, and you take one final once-over into the slightly foggy mirror before you step in the shower with Hongjoong. Like you did on your first date, you felt confident and proud of the skin you were in. Hongjoong likeness to it strengthens your own, and you couldn’t thank him enough for it.

You open the shower door and meet Hongjoong’s backside. His white fluffy hair was soaked and back to that dirty blonde. The muscles on his back flexed as he moved his fingers over his body showing his undeniable strength. And his ass? Marvelous. His muscular body turns completely at the hearing of your entry, and he smiles devilishly with a few hairs on his face.

“You are such a sight to see baby.” He purrs.

Hongjoong wraps his warm wet hands around your waist and pulls you into the stream of water.

He looks over your especially attentive expression, and onto your lips.

One of his hands moves smoothly across your back with the helpfulness of the water, turning your skin into silk, and his hand stops as it reaches behind your head.

He doesn’t force you to move closer, yet, he is the one inching forward as his eyes flicker up and down again from your eyes to your lips. When he acknowledges you’re not pulling away, he goes in for a sloppy French tongue kiss.

It’s so easy now to mingle into. You’re still learning of course, but somehow with the flow of the water, it calms your anxiety and makes everything feel so natural.

As natural as it is, to reach your hands down on his body, they travel from mountains of pecs, resting on the hills of abs, and to the final destination of his girthy cock.

Your hand squeezes half its length, the most you can fit in your hand, and you pump him slowly, sometimes faltering as he twitches at the sensation.

“Nnnya, baby, w-what are you doing?" He gasps. With no explanation, you push him against the wall and get down on both knees. “What does it look like angel? I’m just rustling with your feathers before a hard day of work."

The warm velvet texture of your mouth swallows most of his hard girthy cock, and you're nearly taking him down your throat as you pull on and off. Hongjoong’s hands move over and behind your head, and there’s no pressure, just gentle guidance.

“Oh baby~, hmmm, you’re so good for me darling. You’re learning so well already.” Hongjoong praises.

Just like the night before, his words of praise egg you on, and you moaned over him in response, swirling your tongue to taste more of him, and of course, a craving for more praise.

If he wasn’t certainly twitching before now, it’s more than obvious as you feel him jerk in your mouth.

“Fuck, h-how is it, that I’m gonna c-cum already? H-how are you so good…and you just started to learn l-last nnnight?” He whines.

You smirk and suck off of his tip for a few seconds and pull off completely to speak, your eyes are met with a sight of red burning skin on his face, and hooded dark slender eyes are firmly trained on you.

“Well angel, let’s just say I have a very, very fine, teacher.” You quip.

Amid his reply, his open mouth shuts and he swallows deeply, before opening it again, to replace his voice with loud whimpers and whines. Hongjoong seems to enjoy dominating when he is pleasing you, but when you are pleasing him, he is more than satisfied to step down and be the dominated.

“Aughhh-fuck, baby, baby, baby.” Hongjoong tries to warn you as he taps on your cheek lightly with his other hand, and you know he’s about to cum, but that’s why you’re not pulling off. “My love, I’m gonna cum-darling. I, I’m serious please just, Aughhh…SHIT!”

Spurts of semi-thick liquid cover your throat and your moan over Hongjoong’s cock as he tries to balance himself from falling over in the shower.

After swallowing every bit you pop off his thick cock smiling widely up at him feeling very proud of your speedy learning skills. It was easy when you’ve read ten thousand dozens of books that give detail on how to suck off a guy and give him the best head of his life, but doing it takes real skill.

“How was that, Joongie?”

Hongjoong is still recovering above you while catching his breath with his eyes shut closed. He curls his four fingers and gestures for you to get off your knees. When you stand up and stare at his face in hopes of a positive answer, he half opens his eyes and swings your body smack against the wall.

The look in his eyes is so dark and dangerous. They’re usually lustrous, covered in a sheen of gloss. His eyelashes are long, pretty, and wet, and the weight of them pushes his hooded eyes down more than halfway.

“Are you mocking me, baby? You suck me off so good to the point that I’m crying out at how impossibly great you are, and then you swallow my cum without a thought but still, you wanna ask me-

How was it?”

Your tongue is stuck in place as you don’t know how to react to Hongjoong’s suddenly shifted tone of speech. “Let me make you whimper and cry with your sweet pussy in my mouth, and let’s see if you’re able to tell me ‘how was it’ afterward, huh?”

The next thing you know is that you are elevated higher in the walls of the shower and your thighs are on Hongjoong’s shoulders. His face is met with your pussy, and he’s licking his lips as if he’s preparing for a feast. “Woah! Joongie…I wasn’t mocking you, I just-”

“It was the best pleasure I’ve ever felt, love.” Hongjoong interjects.

“Now, I'm gonna return the favor.” He whispers his words, but it’s loud enough for you to hear over the streams of the shower.

His hooded eyes met yours for a brief millisecond and he dives straight in, sucking so harshly on your clitoris before flicking his tongue continuously from it to your hole.

“Joongie, wait!” All of a sudden your body begins to tremble, and your voice bounces off the walls.

Hongjoong grunts and flicks even faster, his tongue begins to swirl in circles as you feel him moan into your pussy from below.

Without anything next to you but more wall to grab onto, you go for his now dirty blonde wet hair. The strands have a weaker grip to them compared to when it's dry, but Hongjoong has a fine enough grip on your thighs already.

In the next minute, the insertion of two thick soft digits is swallowed deep by your walls, and the length of them penetrates at a normal pace against the sweet spot on the ceiling inside. The new angle is a very different feeling from last night.

His wet lips suction into your clit and he doesn’t let go as he continuously fingers the inside at a steady rate.

Okay j-j-joongie, I get it, I’m s-sorry!” A tear of joy slips down from the side of your cheek and Hongjoong smacks your ass evoking strangled gasps from your throat, and another tear drops.

It feels fucking divine besides the lingering sting, it’s like when you pinch yourself with a bruise, yet it's not placed on your body as a reminder of self-protection, but for an erection of additional pleasure- and sexual punishment.

Hongjoong pulls his mouth off your swollen puffy clit, but his fingers are still inside cooking up a bubbling mess of cum soon to burst out of you.

Another slap on your still-stinging ass rings out in the shower.

“I don’t think you get it yet baby. You don’t ever need to say sorry to me, okay? You’re ‘sorry’ because you’ve been caught, but you’re not ‘sorry’ for what you did to me, you're very proud of what you did in actuality, and you're not ashamed, not even one bit.” He smirks.

What he was saying was the hidden truth, and you were afraid to say it out loud because you’ve only been sexually intimate since last night, how extremely egotistical would it be to praise yourself on how great of a job you were doing?

“F-fine you got me. I was just tea-teasing you because I was proud of m-myself for making you feel so g-good.” you choke out.

Another firm slap to your ass rings out and you feel his fingers jump into an especially deeper sweet spot than before.

“You are such a good girl. That’s all I wanted to hear baby. Here’s your reward.”

Hongjoong takes the one hand that smacked your ass and onto your thigh, gripping it firmly, he slips out his two fingers to insert not two, but three whole thick fingers in your hole.

He’s motioning them animalistically up and down and directly rubbing against your sweetest spot as your body is jiggling along with the rhythm.

In the back of your mind, you're fearful of weighing HongJoong down with the possibility of him falling and you both being hurt, but he wouldn’t have done this if he thought he wouldn’t be able to manage.

“Aaaaah-joongie, I'm gonna fucking cum!”, your screams echo throughout the room.

Hongjoong stops his ministrations at your calls but hurriedly replaces his fingers with his mouth sucking the cum out of you. "Give me all that precious sweet cum baby." He mumbles into your cunt.

The brew that has been bubbling in your lower abdomen is served straight into Hongjoong's mouth at his order, and he's growling at the exploding orgasm as he licks and sucks it all clean until he's full.

When he’s finished, the two of you are breathing heavily in sync, and he lowers you slowly back onto the tiles of the shower floor. Your legs wiggle and shake as you try to stabilize yourself, but Hongjoong catches you before you fall, as always.

"I got it joongie, you don't need to hold onto me." You claim.

Hongjoong trusts you and lets go briefly, only for you to lose your footing and nearly crack your head open until he catches you once again.

"You sure baby?" he chuckles. You look at him with an annoyed expression before chuckling along right with him, "Let's wash you up properly darling."

He grabs a small towel cloth and washes the both of you up with no ‘distractions’ this time. As you exit out of the shower he wraps both of your bodies in drying towels and carries you bridal style into his bedroom.

The next 20 minutes are filled the both of you making out with you below him, and the towels remain, the both of you unspokenly shared the same idea it would be less provoking to accidentally do something you weren't ready for that way.

"You don't have much time sunshine, you should probably start getting ready now."

Just as always, you pull away first, but in worry about the fast passing of time, it won't be long until he has to go. Hongjoong eyes flutter open in confusion as he looks down at your worrying expression.

Hongjoong blinks a few times before slowly nodding, and rising off your body to sit upright on the bed. His head is cast down, and his hair flips forward as it is still slightly wet. "Yeah, you're right. I'm gonna..." he waves his hand in the air, "get ready now-I guess."

The bed squeaks as he gets up with his towel firm around his small waist, and he then walks toward his closet. He pulls out a black blazer with a small chain attached on the front, paired with black pants, a white button-up, and a small Christian Dior neck tie for accessory.

He was always one to effortlessly pick out a well-put-together outfit. But it seems that he was lost in his decision and thinking a little too hard about it.

"I think you would look professional and handsome in that angel. I would give you your writing establishment based on that alone."

He smiles and nods in your direction, then closes his closet door to gesture to the side drawer next to his bed.

"Thank you, love. There is a change of clothes in there for you. I'm gonna...get ready in the bathroom." He then walks out completely out of the room before grabbing a few jeweled accessories, and the tension feels so thick for some odd reason.

Maybe you pushed him away too harshly, but you rather him leave as soon as possible so he can come back as quickly as he can.

Unlike earlier, he closes the door, both to the bedroom and bathroom, and it makes you feel like an asshole for possibly hurting him. It wasn't your intention whatsoever, but maybe he took it that way.

There was an hour left until he had to leave, and you figured maybe you could make breakfast for him as an apology.

* ੈ✩‧₊˚* ੈ✩‧₊˚* ੈ✩‧₊˚ * ੈ✩‧₊˚* ੈ✩‧₊˚* ੈ✩‧₊˚ * ੈ✩‧₊˚*

Wearing a random assortment of clothes Hongjoong offered, you get out of bed, and walk inside the kitchen to see what he had in his fridge that you could prepare.

Your eyes travel from a carton of strawberries, and Nutella, then eggs, milk, and a can of whipped cream.

On the counter next to the fridge you spot a loaf of bread and a coffee maker.

Strawberry and Nutella french toast topped with whipped cream, scrambled eggs, and coffee it is.

You weren't the best cook, but that's three things of the easiest things you can make atop of your head.

As you get to work you can hear the blowdryer sound from the bathroom, it wouldn't be long until Hongjoong came out here so you had to get to work as soon as you could.

It was a sort of a struggle to remember where his pans or spatulas were, but conveniently your last visits consisted of him cooking directly with or in front of you.

Fortunately, breakfast was miraculously complete without the building burning to ashes, and you were topping off the whipped cream on the french toast and strawberries, then adding on drizzles of Nutella chocolate. You plate the eggs and pour the piping hot creamed coffee into a mug.

As if you were right on time, Hongjoong comes out of the bathroom, with 30 minutes left until his leaving.

He looked beautiful as always, and the way he powerfully struts down the hallway with a briefcase in hand made it seem as if he claimed his writing establishment already.

The whole demeanor of the man changes when he sees you with a deliciously prepared dish on the island where the two of you commonly sit and eat.

"Hey, joongie! I figured- if you had a nice home-cooked breakfast, you're meeting would go a lot better..."

 Also

 ‘I feel like a jerk for pushing you away, once again, and possibly hurting your feelings.’

"Oh baby…Thank you so much, my love! (There’s your boy.) Really, you didn't have to do this."

He walks next to you to kiss the temple of your head and places his briefcase next to him on the floor. "This looks amazing darling, and you made it all by yourself? I’m so proud of you."

You blush and nod humbly before pulling out a seat for him. He accepts your gesture and looks over your self-prepared dish with a pleasantry of surprise on his features.

"This is all made by me, only for you, angel." You kiss his cheek promptly and pull out the seat next to you.

"I will eat this deliciously then." he declares. He picks the fork and knife up on the plate, and your anxiety picks up at an all-time high.

He first digs into the strawberry-nutella french toast, one of your parents' specialties, it's so light and perfectly sweet, a childhood staple of yours. He takes the first bite and chews, chews, chews as he drifts into space.

This feeling of anticipation is like one of those competitive cooking shows where they take a long time just to give you a simple response in how the food tastes, and oh goes it irritates you when they go on a commercial break. "So-

"What the hell? Hongjoong exclaims. This is one of the best things I’ve ever tasted…how'd you come up with the recipe?”

A huge breath of relief expands out of your mouth and you let out a small giggle.

"It comes from my parents, I loved having it for breakfast growing up."

He nods before taking another bite, and then another, after another, until it's completely gone.

"If I had that when I was growing up as a kid, I would never leave my parent's house." He says and tries to lick up most of the remaining whipped cream off of his mouth.

"Oh honey, if you still stayed with your parents at 25, I don't know if we would be here right now." You both giggle.

As another, ‘please forgive me I do care about you’ gesture, you dab off the small bit of whipped cream with your thumb, but then you come up with the mischievous idea to place it into your mouth in the same thought.

"Honey? That's a new one...I like it." he overly clears his throat.

Hongjoong had paused his eating and watched your every movement carefully. He begins to shift and blink rapidly as he tries to make himself comfortable in his seat.

If you were the innocent virgin people thought you were, that maybe even Hongjoong even thought you were, you probably would have not understood what is occurring in his pants now. But that isn't you, and so you make more of the situation at hand.

"It's only because you're so sweet, and you told me you'll always ‘stick’ by my side, my love~."

It’s like he doesn’t know what to do with himself as his eyes flutter, and averts to sip on his coffee too then stabs into his eggs.

Hongjoong chokes up and shifts even more now. “That’s right, and I will keep that promise, as long as you’ll let me stay by your side.” He tries to wrap up the conversation quickly.

You take the hint and make the decision to end his sufferings, and stop your teasings because you don’t exactly have the time for part two of ‘The Shower Sequence’. 

There were 10 minutes left for him to walk out the door and head to his meeting on time.

Both of you slowly rise after eating and awkwardly banter over who will take his plate and put it in the sink to wash later.

Inevitably, you win the banter as time ticks and flies away, and now the two of you are standing face to face at his door.

“Well. I guess this is goodbye for now…” you trail off.

Hongjoong stares deeply into your eyes, and for the first time, he forcibly pulls you forward into his chest and encloses the awkward space you had between one another.

“I, I am so thankful for you and I will miss you in every second. Everything will work out in our favor soon, trust me, you’ll see.”

You wonder what he has planned, or the meaning of what you two are now. But you hadn’t questioned it, however, when he leaves, your curiosity will eat you alive.

“I’ll miss you too angel. I know you’ll make a great impression in your meeting no matter what. You leave a blessing on everyone you meet, including me.”

As you learned from your mistakes before you equally embrace him, and reciprocate the hug to not diminish the seriousness of the moment, and it’s deeply appreciated as you feel Hongjoong pull you impossibly closer.

“Remember, you can call, text me, contact me in any way you know how, whenever you need, and I will try my very best to answer you, my love. If you get hungry, I can deliver you something to eat, or if you can find something in the fridge that works too.”

He’s said this multiple times over breakfast but you still aren’t taking it very well.

“I know…I know, and I understand joongie. I will contact you, whenever I need, but the same goes for you too okay?”

You begin to gently stroke his freshly washed white hair as he silently nods his head yes, and the sudden blare phone alarm goes off, crushing the sweet moment.

It was a scheduled reminder for him that it was officially time to go. Now, a reminder for you both, that is time to separate.

Hongjoong puts on another one of those “everything is gonna be alright” smiles and grabs onto both of your hands, swings his and your arms back, and forth.

“I promise you that, I’ll contact you too, you have my word. Please tell me that when you do, you won’t think of yourself as a burden, or that you’re getting in the way of things.”

He’s stalling and you know it. But he’s right because you would see yourself in that way. You nod your head yes as you continue to swing your arms together.

“Yes sir, I promise.” You say annoyingly in a sarcastic manner.

Hongjoong quirks a brow at the title, and you smack his hard chest which he took advantage of, and cup his face into your open hand just as you did at the rink.

“I think…

I’m falling in love with you.”

…

The beating of your heart is irregular, and your tongue is twisted from the abundance of words you want to confess. I mean, you used to be in love with the idea of being with him. But now, you are falling too, and hard. It’s weird because you’re usually keeping afloat all alone. You’ve never ‘fallen’ with someone before, and so now you are afraid to hit rock bottom.

“You don’t have to say anything now, I understand.” Hongjoong smiles.

He calmly takes away your hand from your face, and heads behind you toward the door, your frozen still in shock as your eyes now connect with your painting on the living room wall.

A much-needed refresher for a clouded mind. Its creation is a symbol of Kim Hongjoong to you. He has filled your life with sweetness, light, and fulfillment. He certainly doesn’t deserve a second of silence.

Another thing you realize is that he doesn’t pull away first. It’s mostly you always, and you wonder if he’s doing that to make you feel comfortable, or he truly doesn’t want to let go.

“Wait.” You say with your back still facing him.

Hongjoong stops and turns three-quarters of the way with his briefcase in hand.

“Just give me more time on that okay?” You add on.

Hongjoong gives you a firm nod, one that you cannot see. “I’ll see you soon, yeah?”

As he walks out of the door, you finally turn to lock it behind him until he places a foot between you and it, with his face not even an inch near your even more shocked one.

“Take all the time you need, and I’ll still be here. Together, forever.” He holds out his pinky.

You take your hands off the lock and wrap your pinky around Hongjoong’s.

“Together, forever.”

And with that Hongjoong's pinky slips out the door, and his foot slithers out carefully. The door closes with a click and then...

silence. 

Without Hongjoong, it's completely, pen-drop, silent, and ironically, you are apart from him after your promise.

You stare at the frame of the doorway, wafting in his scented perfume, remembering how not even a minute ago he was directly in front of you, and how in that same amount of time, maybe less than, he had to leave you behind.

It's not like you've forgotten how to be alone. You lived by yourself for so long. But finally sharing a space with someone, and for it to be ripped away when you need it most, makes you forget what to do with yourself.

Until then, all you had to do was figure out what to do inside his apartment for the next few hours, that is productive and useful, rather than waiting for him at the door like a house dog with separation anxiety.

* ੈ✩‧₊˚* ੈ✩‧₊˚* ੈ✩‧₊˚ * ੈ✩‧₊˚* ੈ✩‧₊˚* ੈ✩‧₊˚ * ੈ✩‧₊˚*

Fast forward, It’s been one whole hour or so, since you've been alone.

So far, all you’ve done is listen to a random collection of Hongjoong's albums. Most of which, were love songs about isolation and loneliness, so it was unconventional for a distraction.

The most you could give yourself credit for is washing the dishes you used to prepare Hongjoong's meal he ate earlier. It's the only thing productive task you've done in the time you’ve been alone, so far.

Right after he left you wandered back to his bedroom to snuggle and sniff his side of the bed.

Even in the moments after that, you were still so starved of him that you fished in his clothes hamper to throw on the hoodie he'd given to you in your car.

The embroidered words you recognize when you find it mocks your hungered state like a punch to the gut.

'Even on the darkest days, I will stand tall and find the sunlight…and yet your 'sunlight' has shined his light elsewhere.

It’s not like it was inevitable to escape from it, the darkness. This entire space you were in completely belonged to him, so winning the fight was never guaranteed.

It was such a huge difference between him being physically present, and the objects he owns sitting still to remind you that someone you hold dear to you is usually physically present.

A Home without an owner, is just a closed-in box with rooms, whereas with an owner, its provided life and personality, and so when their presence leaves its proximity, it becomes lifeless and bland.

It’s just like how you felt without him after your first date when you got home.

You've never felt lonelier, yet it accompanied the realization that you have no habits outside of erotic, sexual fantasy novels and online writings.

Hongjoong had and has been the most eventful and impactful thing in your life recently, and it makes you figure that maybe you’re too dependent on him.

However, your devotion transpired from the first time he swung in that door like Spider-Man to save you, his own Mary Jane, from a villain during that dark night at a party in high school.

Or the second time, with finding out that villain all along was your...‘ex-boss?’

Only two of the multiple reasons you are constantly pushing, declining, and saying sorry so often, (even though he deemed it unnecessary.) is because you’ve been deeply in debt to him, and you feel as though you are long overdue on your bill.

So first, you suffice for cleaning his entire apartment. You won’t move around things in any way, but sweep away the dust, wipe things down, clean the dishes, and make up his bed so he’d have a clean space to come home to.

It certainly took things off your mind for a while, and you are very proud of what you've accomplished.

But then you had nothing to do once again, and it was now early in the afternoon, and Hongjoong still hadn't come back yet.

Maybe shooting him a text wouldn't be so bad…

You: Hey angel, still missing you over here lol. How's business going?

Many minutes stroll on by with no reply from him. If you weren't checking every minute it wouldn't have felt like many hours.

So what else could you do?

You can watch TV, even though you would hardly pay attention to it with so much on your mind.

Maybe…just maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to check if there is a second chapter of Lucid Dreams. 

Just as a little something to help you get by... it’s not perverted really if you’re 'unofficially-officially' together.

(and give each other the best head you’ve ever had. Well the best for him, but the best and the first for you.)

So would it be that harmful to lay on his living room couch right now in this clean quiet and open space, and relieve yourself of the need Hongjoong can’t physically give you right now?

Your eyes avert to your phone you threw on a pillow in frustration 1 minute ago, and you snatch it into your fidgety hands to open the site of the NSFW account.

It’s so easy to find it now, if you type one letter into the search bar, it automatically shows up. It’s not surprising given the the multitude of times you check for updates on a daily, or re-read the first chapter.

@lemontree1117, 'When Life Gives You Lemons, Write About Lust.'

To your great surprise, another writing of lust was published by user @lemontree1117 two days ago, during the night of the harsh truth. The timing of it couldn’t be any more perfect.

It’s been a few days since the lucky librarian has gotten the orgasm of her lifetime, and she’s been craving for more ever since.

In every minute of every day, her legs ached painfully, yet somehow to her, it was, at the same time, pleasurable. It was all she ever wanted in her love life, a hint of spice. 

Even more so, the night of the event was romantic in the morning of. A shiny silver platter was what she woke up to that morning. Right next to the millionaire journalist and having breakfast in bed sided with a large bouquet of flowers.

Speaking of rich million journalists, Chris had 'mysteriously' disappeared, and had been seen nowhere at the library, coincidentally also for the past few days. It’s dawned on the sweet librarian that she might have been condensed to a “hit and run.”

She knew where he lived, but even given that benefit, she wouldn’t dare expose him in that light, she was bold inside of her books and dreams of erotic fantasy, but not that bold to bang at someone’s door to fulfill her sexual needs.

When business wasn’t busy, she attended to her novel books as always, but for some odd reason, a simple sentence took 10 minutes to read. Her focus was in and out even with the help of putting on her glasses. 

Thankfully, her shift was coming to an end, every book was checked on the shelves for replacement, damages, or lost in her list, and the money register was locked for safety. All she had to do was lock the entrance, outside, in the dark.

It was scary sometimes, but living in a suburban area made it less terrifying with lesser crime rates, but there was never a 0% chance of something happening. Hell, if they were rich, they could easily pay someone hush money, maybe even her boss, the owner of the building, the coward. 

It’s strange, the commonality between the librarian's boss and yours, ex-boss, but you haven’t exactly put your 'two weeks' in yet. The fears of the dark, and what lurking in it, every detail is almost triggering, yet you are only in it for the smut, 'just ignore it. and move on.' you think.

Upon walking down the street to her car she passes every building with alleyways in between. College houses, apartments, and fancy bars, it was almost odd to throw a quiet library in the bunch.

“Hey pretty lady, what are you doing walking by yourself in the dark?” a husky voice speaks out. Their shadow was nothing too familiar, but their voice was, somehow. A cloud of smoke makes shapes and blends into the thick night air. 

Pretty lady…?

“Chris…please tell me that it’s just you hiding in the dark over there.”

A chuckle echoes in the alley. “Yeah Angel”, he throws down the cigar and stomps it out, “Of course it’s me, I recognized you by the way you were walking all funny, it seems like your legs still might be sore from a few days ago.” He says cockily.

Chris intended to use ‘angel’ to commentate on the librairian's false portrayal of innocence, but for you, it was to adorn Hongjoong’s purity, because he's your perfect person, who saves you from life's tragedies.

The librarian then rolls her eyes and continues her journey of walking as she moves further down the sidewalk to finally reach her car shining in the streetlight. She makes her way to the driver's side of the street and opens the door, Chris follows in pursuit. 

“Look. I gotta go, it’s my bedtime, Chris, I’ll see you soon. Maybe in the library if you decide to show your face, or even call me on the phone for that matter.” She mumbled the last few words before entering her car and sitting in the driver's seat.

Chris knocks onto the passenger side window with one balled-up fist and holds and waves for the librarian's attention. “C'mon Angel, I had some business that I needed to take care of, don’t be like that.”

At that, the librarian rolls down the window in reply. “Don’t tell me how to act, or what to be, when you ghosted me and screwed me over. Literally! And you know what-“

The librarian continues on and on from the events of that morning and gets back out of the door in the street. Chris does his best in trying to calm her down. “Angel, listen- 

“There you go again, telling me what to do!” The librarian exclaims.

A car down the street makes a turn off the corner from the couple's point of direction, and it’s picking up at full speed. “No baby seriously, you have to listen to me right now Angel. You gotta move, there’s a car-” 

“Oh now you’re worried about me, and my safety, how cute. Where was that the past few days Chris, huh?” 

“Angel I’m sorry just-please, move!” The car gets closer and serves in the street picking up uncontrollable speed.

 “See how angry you get when I ignore you, imagine how I’ve been for the past FEW DAYS.”

“ANGEL GET OUT OF THE DAMN WAY BEFORE YOU GET RAN OVER!” Chris shouts. 

“WELL LET IT HIT ME, IT’S NOT LIKE YOUR CARE ANYWAY!” The librarian shouts back.

A blinded ray of light infiltrated the librarian's eyes as she stood there in shock, Chris wasn’t lying, and she would’ve heard the squeak of the tires swerving against the pavement if she could hear over her screams.

“Dammit Angel!” The librarian felt an impactful collision and heard the sound of two cars crashing. She was breathing heavily with her eyes closed, and a heavy weight was felt over her body.

“Shit...am I dead? The librarian heaves.

“No, I saved you. You would’ve though, taken a good look at your car.” The journalist speaks from beside her, the heavyweight that held down onto her body. 

 It gave her room to check the status of her car. It was easily destroyed with the bumper hanging for dear life, and the driver's side door came off completely. The presumably drunk driver, thankfully comes out of the car a coughing and hurling mess. 

“Well. There’s my way home.”

“You can ride with me Angel…after a trip to the hospital.”

Chris and the librarian came out of the hospital after taking many health tests, everything things turned out fine, there were a few scratches and bruises, and they were prescribed a bottle of painkillers. 

The police also had there discussions of their recalling of the situation with both of them, and it was confirmed the driver who crashed into her vehicle was drunk, and a DUI and a paycheck to the librarian was the consequence.

At last, the librarian and the Journalist made it back to his penthouse loft, a place of reverence and semi-bittersweet memories. “Thank you, for saving my life. You're my hero.”

Like Hongjoong was yours. Your sunshine, your hero, angel, and light.

Chris walks up to the librarian and cradles her face to place a sweet chaste kiss to get lips. It was non-lustrous and careful as if she was a piece of shattered glass. “Don’t ever do that again okay? Not with anyone, or anything.”

The librarian nods and rashes her fingers through the back of Chris’s head, “I promise”. 

Chris wraps his large hands firmly around the librarian's delicate waist as he collides their bodies with no space left between them, and encaptures her lips whole as his tongue remembers every part of her mouth.

The kiss grows deeper, passionate, and sweet, with a small hint of that spice. Their bodies stumble into the bedroom and onto the bed, never disconnecting.

Clothes are off and thrown onto the floor, there were some moments when they had to separate, but after they stuck to one another like super glue.

 Chris Hongjoong rests above the librarian's body as he shifts forward to align his cock with her cunt, and immediately dives deep. The pace he moves is so slow and steady that it burns so good as it stretches her out as it did the first time.

It nearly feels better than ramming it to her, but the thrill doesn’t equate, yet the connection is much stronger.

“Augghh have mercy… has anyone ever told you how amazing you are both the inside and outside angel?” The journalist groans.

“Nope. Fu-hmmm just you Christopher Hongjoong.” The librarian giggles, which is followed by a whimper as she feels the journalist drags his clock deeper purposely making her toes curl.

He continues at the same pace with the need for release becoming all too difficult to keep in. “I’m gonna cum, and you're gonna take it, like the cum slut you are. Okay, angel?”

The librarian nods hurriedly, and wraps her legs around Chris’s Hongjoong’s slender waist. “Y-yes sir give it to me like the cum s-slut I am.”

A hot breath of air heats the librarians back as the journalists chuckles, “Your so desperate, but if that’s what you want…”

Ropes of white shoot out of the journalist's cock and into the librarian's stretched pussy. Upon pulling out there had been some that leaked but Chris was sure to scoop with his tip every bit back in to where it rightfully belonged.

The librarian and journalist cuddle into the expensive silk bedded sheets with their still naked bodies.

“You’re mine now, and I’ll do anything to never hurt or leave ever again, and I swear by that.” Chris whispers.

THE END

As much as the story partially satisfied your need for stress relief, it induced some as well.

It was nearly exact in relation to the life you are now living, which is helpful in some areas but it makes you miss Hongjoong even more.

You place your phone back onto the table and roam the kitchen for some snacks.

Simultaneously a double ‘RING’ sound emits from your phone with the jumping wave of vibrations.

Never in your life have you raced to your phone so fast, and it was all because you knew exactly who it could be.

Boss: Hey Y/n I’m worried as to why you decided not to show up at work today without prior notice. Was it something I said on Friday?"

Boss: Let’s meet up and talk about it at the office, this isn’t like you at all.

…

What a fucking mood killer.

Like he knows you ‘at all’ really. He doesn't recognize that you'd met years ago at the party, but even then you didn't get to have a proper greeting to another.

He just went straight to what he wanted, and how he was going to get it, with or without your consent.

You don't even click on his message at the risk of him seeing that you saw it. At the risk that he might make a move to find you because you are avoiding him.

 Which isn't a lie because you were.

Your phone vibrates from another message from someone who is always on time to your rescue, and even saving the day at this very moment.

Hongjoong: Baby~ I miss you so much T.T. 

Hongjoong: I apologize for not answering you sooner, but my schedule is finally done for the day so I’ll just tell you everything when I get back home!

[ Home: A place where we feel most comfortable, loved, and protected. Whether it's a person, place, or thing, it’s where we rebound to, when life gets unbearable. ]

Two more ‘RING (S)’ and vibrations surge through your phone.

Hongjoong: I hope you’ve been good, I’ve got some some delicious food, for the both of us. 

Hongjoong: Let’s eat together when I get there love.

You: Sure thing honey, Be sure to come back home quickly please~

When Hongjoong came back he burst through the door and sat the takeout quickly on the table as he picked you up from the couch with you ‘spider monkeying’ on him.

Repetitive kisses, hugs, and looks of adoration were shared between you two, and it only had been a few hours since you were apart.

In keeping with your previous discussions Hongjoong brought home a meal that you had desired to try in the past, and just like every meal you shared, it tasted delicious and exceeded your expectations.

He was overall just very attentive, and he even noticed your cleaning and dusting of his apartment.

He also bought cake for dessert, in celebration of the business meeting going so smoothly.

"It looks as if I might become a CEO one of these days. They want to see me every single day this week to make business plans!" Hongjoong exclaimed.

You were so thrilled to hear such news, but the message you received earlier made you wish for him to just be around all the time.

But how could you bring it up now when he's in such a positive mood?

After a delicious meal, you talk about each other's days at the kitchen island as you sit on his lap.

Both you and Hongjoong's attentiveness is at an all-time high, which is perfectly fine because that’s what you’ve both been needing throughout the day…especially for you in the last couple of moments before he arrived.

The night ended just as the day started earlier in the shower. Rather this time, the two of you did it in his bed. You don’t think his or your thighs could power through that way again anyhow.

…

"My love? Love, can you wake up for me, please? Darling…Baby?"

On your side of the bed, Hongjoong stands and hovers over your relaxed body calling you all your favorite pet names as you awaken to the sound of his sweet honey voice.

"Hm? Good morning to you too joongie. you smile widely, reliving the intensifying pleasures of last night. “I’m still kinda sore, I think?" you laugh.

You make grabby hands for him to get ahold of and join you in bed, but he isn't making any movements whatsoever, and his happy-go-lucky features disfigure in concern as his hands fumble behind his back.

“Can we, talk?" Hongjoong asks.

You sit up and nod slowly in response to his out-of-the-blue inquiry.

This is a question that scares you and could be answered by a collective of many responses. What if he discovered your true identity, and what you have been hiding from him? After all, you have gotten so comfortable with him that you have given him something to base his speculations upon. Speculations that can cause you to be apart from each other. For good.

Hongjoong releases one of his hands, scratches the skin of his neck in nervousness, and then brings the other one forth.

What was in his hand was something you didn't expect...

your phone.

"I just came up here to ask if you wanted to go to the cafe to get coffee and walk around the park to get some fresh air. But then as I walked in here to wake you, I saw 14 text messages and 6 missed calls from a contact named Boss."

Shit.

You take your phone immediately to see that just this morning, he sent you 14 messages and called you a total of 6 times.

Yesterday it was just two simple messages, and because you ignored him he decided maybe blowing you up would bring clarity? You were gonna tell Hongjoong soon about the first two, but you just didn't know when, or how. But you guess when everything lets itself out to be discovered in the open when it's time.

"I was...going to tell you-but you were so happy yesterday, and I didn't want to ruin that for you." you explain.

Hongjoong looks at your phone in your hand intensely and shakes his head.

"My love... I'm more upset that he's bothering you rather than you telling me about him bothering you. We need to report him and bring him down immediately. Things, are getting out of hand."

The thing about monsters is that they are easier to fear than confront in the dark. However, there is a limit, before it becomes too much. Then you, the victim, have to become the monster and use their evil tactics, to scare them away.

"You're right. So…what should we do first?" you asked.

* ੈ✩‧₊˚* ੈ✩‧₊˚* ੈ✩‧₊˚ * ੈ✩‧₊˚* ੈ✩‧₊˚* ੈ✩‧₊˚ * ੈ✩‧₊˚*

And that's how Plan "Sexist-Mysoginistic-Dickwad-Takedown or Plan (SMDT) for short, was created on the walk to the park that morning with both of your matcha green lattes in hand.

At one point Hongjoong stopped, to take a turn to his original point of a beautiful walk in the park.

He led you to a nearby bench that was unexpectedly under a special tree.

A lemon tree.

In a way, it was as if everything was coming full circle to allow you to openly reveal all your secrets to your boss, about who he was before he was your boss, and to Hongjoong, about the erotic fantasies you had of Hongjoong.

Speaking of, when he left again for another meeting that very morning and the rest of the ones think the same week after it, Plan (SMDT) started to arise in action.

After the plot of every day's agenda, you could tell by how tired and burned out Hongjoong was that it'd been eventful.

He was battling his meetings for his establishment, while simultaneously following the agenda of your boss's "Takedown".

But he always made time for you as if it was lightwork.

"All you have to do is tell your side of the story."

Hongjoong had said this when you asked him about your part in this. He handed you a tape recorder and that was the end of it.

Neither of you had ever complained or expressed concern when you shared a meal, watched a movie, listened to music on the couch, and on the calmer nights, cuddled in each other's bodies and watched the sparkling moonlight shine.

Even more so, there was extra kissing, touching, rubbing, sucking, licking, and hugging, and exploring new experiences in bed.

But you had yet to spend a day outdoors. To be able to guess what Hongjoong does in a day because he tells you he has it 'under control'.

You were still so paranoid of your ex-boss and attacker finding you. He should’ve put two and two together by now. But then again he could be unbothered and oblivious.

However, he could know, and be watching you when you least expect it.

Just maybe, he knows what Hongjoong looks like from all his hard work, and has become fairly aware of Plan (SMDT) by Hongjoong publicly doing whatever he’s doing.

Your boss could be following him, every day to his meetings, and back home in hopes of getting to you because you couldn’t be found at your apartment.

Thankfully, It all comes to a stop on that Friday evening.

A day that used to be the happiest because, one, you could pause all your duties for work on the weekend, well, when you had a job anyway, and two, you get to pick out a lucky 10 selection of books to bring home with you to explore for the entire next week, when the library was open.

Both joys have been taken away, and now the only thing you're anticipating is news from Hongjoong about the meetings and, If Plan (SMDT), is close to completion.

Your boss was leaving for Japan tomorrow and you hoped Hongjoong had acquired something useful before it was too late.

A click at the door acknowledges you of the exact person you were thinking of.

"Baby, you won’t believe what happened today..."Hongjoong says as he enters through the front door. Usually, it was an ‘I’m home!’ or ‘Baby, I missed you~’. in which you were greeted with.

You stop the A Fool's Garden "Lemon Tree" record and pat the space on Hongjoong's couch for him to comfortably tell you all the details.

"Everything okay?" you asked in a worried tone, and began your adapted daily routine of rubbing onto his tired body.

Hongjoong groans at your touch and leans into you in chase of a deeper feeling.

"I would assume so. You-ahh, you remember Park Seongwha right?" Hongjoong asks softly.

Hongjoong's friend. The one who had invited you to his house party in high school that night…How could you ever forget?

"Of course I do. What about him?"

You didn’t mean to sound careless, but you were genuinely curious about how he might be involved in the plan.

"Well, Seongwha, is a public prosecutor now- and he decided, mmmh, to help us out. He says you inspired him because he felt obligated to help other people, in the way he failed to help you."

You immediately pause in massaging Hongjoong's body in the realization of what he was saying.

Although the determination Seongwha has is heartwarming, it's depressing to take on the burden of someone else's heinous crime, when you never thought it would happen in the first place.

You remember Seongwha, as a huge people person, he didn't belong to one particular group or category, he fit into all with his additional grace and that's what made him so special.

Prior to that night, you’d have never been to one of his parties, but you'd always hear about how amazing of a host he was. That's why you trusted him without the thought that anything worrisome would happen to you.

"It wasn't his fault. He is not the right person, to take any kind of blame."

Hongjoong sighs heavily and slouches deeper into the couch.

"I tried telling him that, but just like me he’s stubborn, and to this day, he’s still taking it pretty hard."

He then rises forward to sit up and lay his briefcase on the table. Inside it, is his laptop, and lays down a USB drive beside it.

“What’s that?” you ask.

Hongjoong picks up the drive and twirls it between his fingers like it’s a historical golden treasure that makes anyone a billion times richer.

"All the dirt he tried to wash away from that night until now, is recorded on this drive. Do you think, that you are mentally prepared to handle that right now darling?"

Hell yeah, this is what you've been waiting for and more. Although you have played a huge part in it, you are not the only victim of his recklessness, not the first, and who knows about the last. Altogether, it's a lot bigger than just you, and the secret he's held captive will be shared with many others.

 "Im ready."

Hongjoong places the drive into your hands.

"You can do the honors..."

With no time wasted, you insert the drive and a file appears thats titled; ‘PLAN SMDT’. You double-click on the file, and a video thumbnail enlarges onto the screen with a play button in the center. Beneath it you assume a person to be Seonghwa, and by the looks of it sitting across from an empty chair on a desk, in a federal office.

You flex your finger above his mouse pad in hesitation punching your eyes shut to take a deep breath.

With a quick jab of the tip of your pointer finger, the video plays and you hurriedly rush back into Hongjoong's arms.

Static of a quiet echoed space sound throughout the speakers, and seconds later a man whose stature you know all too well walks in like he owns the place before pulling out the chair across from Seongwha to take his seat.

Out of habit, you begin to squeeze and pinch the flesh of your thighs until you feel Hongjoong move your hand gently and intertwine his hand in replacement.

So instead, as a coping mechanism to hear all the underlying truth in true color, you squeeze onto his hand for dear life.

...

"How are you today, Sir?" Seongwha asks.

Now that you assume Plan SMDT has been established, Sexist Misogynistic Disgusting Turd will be the new code for your ex-boss's new name.

“Seongwha?! SMDT exclaims in disbelief. “No way, I mean-come on man, drop and the formalities, our schools were rivals, not us. Damn... I can't believe it. Park fucking-excuse my French, freaking Seongwha. Wasn't it you who threw all those cool parties?"

Seongwha just stares blankly as he rants, and SMDT takes notice of his seriousness which makes him look a little uneasy for a millisecond, but he puts it to an end and keeps his composure.

"Mind explaining to me why I’m here? I’m supposed to be headed to Japan tomorrow, I mean seriously, what the hell is going on?” SMDT adds on.

“It’s Mr. Park, sir. Regardless of our past, it is my job to maintain my professionalism, even with those I personally knew.” 

SMDT chuckles as he leans back in his chair to shake his head in amusement while eyeing Seonghwa up and down.

“Is that how it is? Okay, Mr. Park.” the man whom you most despise, pops the 'P' in the most obnoxious way.

“Anyhow.” Seongwha ignores. “You were called here today to explain a charge that has been mysteriously dropped from the high school party I hosted nearly a decade ago. Do you recall at all sir?”

Your boss chuckles. "Oh I recall, and clearly Mr. Park, tell me, if it’s been nearly one whole decade, and the charge is already dropped, why the hell are we here talking about it? What do you want from me?”

An echo of silence is bounced around the space before Seongwha loudly clears his throat.

“There have been new allegations pertaining to you, in relation to the incident that occurred that night. Did you know that (Y/n) (L/n), a recent employee of yours was the victim involved concerning that dropped charge?”

Your jaw clenches at the sound of your name, and Hongjoong rubs your back in comfort. So now SMDT knows exactly who you are after all these years just as you have, and by the horrified look on his features, the dots should connect in his simplistic fucking brain now.

“What...Y/n? C'mon, that’s-that's ridiculous, she doesn’t even seem like, the party type! Hell, she still has yet to accept my free trip to Japan, she's all work and no play!" SMDT nervously chuckles between words.

“No play, huh?" Seonghwa reiterates questionably.

Your ex-boss sits up and swallows deeply before fixing his work tie, and eases down tiredly in his chair.

"What are you getting at?" 

What I'm getting at is, Seongwha pauses, "...even she wasn’t made aware that it was you that night. However, you did entrap her in darkness after all.”

A breath shudders out of your nostrils as a tear trickles down your cheek, but you're quick to wipe it with yours and Honjoong's conjoined hands before he can ask if you need a break.

“Okay.” Your boss chuckles again, and very suddenly his body stands tall as his chair squeaks behind him with friction to the ground.

He’s in very close proximity to Seongwha's face right now, but as he said before, it's his job to maintain his professionalism, and he does so by remaining calm and seated.

“You listen to me right fucking now. SMDT spits out. Like I told everyone back then, she was a weird, freaky, virgin, who tried to take advantage of vulnerable guys. Hell, I even made a post about it, and I got expelled, and put into jail for 6 months with a misdemeanor on my record!" He evilly laughs.

Seongwha carefully fixes a paper that has been crumbled under SMDT's hands with the grip he has on the desk. He looks so unbothered and untouchable.

“I’m aware because I had seen that post myself. But I also know, that you and your friends did that many times before, and not always did the girls get as lucky as (Y/n) did.”

SMDT leans back and releases his grip on the desk. Pointing his finger unsteadily toward Seongwha.

"You know what. Just like those girls did, she had it coming. She’d worn that skin-tight dress to be sexy and proactive. I was told, that she was a virgin desperate to swipe her v card. So I was just the cashier who was ready and waiting at the register."

"You sick fucking bastard, you'll be robbed of everything soon enough," you whisper. Another tear escapes, and Hongjoong sits back and watches it fall because he knows it's he knows that keeping them filled into the back of your eyes will create a waterfall later.

“That’s not a valid excuse sir. Seongwha states with one lower octave tone of his voice. "We’re not talking about what she was wearing that night. If anything, we’ve been told Mrs. (L/n) escaped from you to the bathroom, and that’s where you took advantage of her in the darkness.”

“Oh c'mon, who told you that shit load of crap.” SMDT groans.

“She did, it's on tape. The people back then that attended the same party as you did. Your classmates, Me, and Kim Hongjoong, my best friend who came from out of town to the party to intervene before you could go further, resulting in a physical altercation, which gave you that scar in your eye.”

A deep sigh echoes from the speakers and the chair scrapes against the fort once again. Your boss has sat back down again.

“I don’t know what to tell you alright? I told you, and her, my side of the story, I'm the victim here. You know what, why the fuck am I still talking to you, where’s my lawyer?” SMDT sporadically questions.

“You’ll be able to speak with them soon enough. Seongwha answers. "However please stay seated. We’ve also recovered several statements from female employees from your facility. Have you ever blackmailed one of them in return for sexual favors?”

You pause and look at Hongjoong, when did he find the time to do all of this? How did he convince those women, your co-workers, to tell their stories? They were being...blackmailed?

“This is insane. Do you even have evidence to back all of this up?” SMDT angrily quizzes.

“Yeah, sure. Here’s a file of recordings, camera footage, statements, and more. Let's watch it all shall we?” Seongwha prompts.

“I would love to.” SMDT says with a facading grin. It was all catching up to him but he'd continue to play the part until he'd been fired from his role.

"Here’s camera footage of women coming in your office and coming out in distressed states." Seongwha clicks the play button of black and white security footage.

You see yourself typing away and working hard in your previously owned private office at 2x speed and how nearly a dozen women come in and out of your ex-bosses office in a whole work shift.

"Why is it that you close the blinds every time?" Seongwha questions.

"Their private business meetings," SMDT answers in an annoyed tone.

"Okay then. Seonghwha shrugs. "Just recently, an employee of yours recorded one of these private business meetings on tape, and you had a lot to say, sir."

Seongwha moves his mouse and clicks onto and black video image that can only be indicated as a recording with audio.

...

“I'm just saying she doesn't seem to be so that interested in that trip, can I go?" A feminine voice emits.

“You don’t know that! A voice you recognize as your ex-bosses yells.

"See the difference between her and all of your Secretary-intern bitches is that you think you know everything because you’ve had a taste of my dick! He whisper shouts.

You don’t get special benefits, not like she does because she doesn't make herself easy and works hard for all she has. I mean I'm paying for your son's fuckin schooling, aren’t I? What else could you possibly need?" SMDT finishes.

“Well I figured since, I’ve been doing this for more years than she has.. that maybe I can get something more?” the 'Secretary-intern implies.

“Well if you want more.." your ex-boss trails off, "...then you have to give more right? On your knees.”

You reach forward and shut down Hongjoong's laptop to bury your face in your hands.

A few minutes of silence pass, and all the words that are left to say have been thrown out the window.

"We have more than just that just so you know." Hongjoong whispers in hopes of breaking the silence.

You uncuffed your hands from your face, you feel like you could throw up the last bits of the video just thumping loudly in your brain.

"That's good. You nod. "Does that mean he's gone, and he won't be able to hurt anyone else? You add.

"It's what I promised you. Hongjoong answers. "The plan is to catch him before he boards for his flight tomorrow. He's gonna be exposed to the entire world for who he truly is."

As he should.

"It's about time. Thank you, and...

 I love you."

Hongjoong stares blankly and his body glitches from a loss of what's most proper to do next.

"I know you said it to me, and I hadn't said anything back, so it's not like you have to-"

"I love you too." Hongjoong blurts. "Like a lot. A whole lot my love."

The both of you simultaneously look at each other's lips and lean into rubbing against each other's noses as your breaths mingle in unity.

"My angel. In true human form." you whisper.

"Together forever?" Hongjoong whispers back.

As an answer this time you connect your lips into a deep passionate kiss as a together forever, a thank you, and an

I love you.

* ੈ✩‧₊˚* ੈ✩‧₊˚* ੈ✩‧₊˚ * ੈ✩‧₊˚* ੈ✩‧₊˚* ੈ✩‧₊˚ * ੈ✩‧₊˚*

Thank you for reading!

Much love (hehe),

xoxo

@moonstarwitch , @moonlitchickpea , @k-k-kn1v3s , @parkurhope , @ayeyeoyeo, @reverienymphslibrary , @blackbutterfly133 , @marshalhong , @hyunaphordite , @dimeb29 , @seong-hoe @yourfatherlucifer , @sisterofsomeone , @kpoplover90 , @trinibunnie , @bluesunpurplestar1117 , @cloudysannie , @julietacamposoffical , @mycloudysunflower , @foxinnie8 .

@bobathyy, @yeosangsbbg, @godmenus101, @franzma, @bloody-wine, @baeksobsession, @angelsaway, @minnie-min, @enchantingbroweyedgirl, @liyaaaaaas-world

[imminent-danger-came]

Hello friend. At first, I thought it was a joke that there's a Lego show that people love. I've seen you post about it a lot so I figure it's just one of those things that maybe a couple people really really love otherwise, whatever. But I just sat that clip of that characters death and it made me realize I know nothing about anything ever lol. What is the Lego show about? What do you love about it? I'm just super curious

Well. Okay. My embarrassment aside, I totally get it—it is a lego show, but it's my lego show and I'll gladly tell you about it!

(my apologies this got a little long)

*inhales cigarette* I remember starting to watch lmk (Lego Monkie Kid) and not expecting anything except some very pretty animation—it's just legos, right? And then it completely blindsided me. Then I did some digging and realized it's a modern retelling of Journey to the West (jttw—one of the great classic chinese novels), and that half of the whole reason this show exists is to retell a familiar tale to the modern age. That's how the show opens, and that's how s3 ends.

And, at the risk of sounding a little deranged, I'm going to say that the show being legos is thematically relevant. It legitimately adds to part of the story they're trying to tell—and the story Lego Monkie Kid is trying to tell is legitimately very solid. It's super good. They completely blew me out of the water with season 4.

So. The first special and s1 isn't anything too unique on a first watch through. The characters are charming and the show is very pretty, but it's nothing I'd write home about (though, 1x09 is very good—in my opinion—and 1x10, the season finale, builds plenty of intrigue).

But here's the thing: legitimately so much is set up in s1 and you don't even realize it, and it's STILL being re-contextualized well into s4.

So, then the s2 special happens right after s1, and it's like, alright! The plot seems to be going somewhere! We get introduced to a few more antagonists and the status quo from s1 is already somewhat disrupted. But then the last half of s2 comes around. And they're all bangers. 2x05 Minor Scale is GREAT. 2x06 is pure game motif. 2x07 gives us backstory and continues the main protags negative character arc. 2x08 is one of my favorites in the whole show. By this point you realize how consistent the character writing is if you've been paying attention. 2x09 is the beginning of the end. 2x10 ends the season on quite the cliff hanger, and it's like. HOLY SHIT. WHAT IS THIS ABSOLUTE GEM OF A SHOW.

s3 is lovely, and the end of the s3 special has one of my favorite scenes in anything. s4 is so ridiculously good. Lmk honestly has what I would consider to be god tier pacing. They have 10 minutes to achieve their goal, and by GOD are they going to do exactly that.

But like, what do I love about the show specifically?

The animation. The characters. The themes. I kid you not a major theme in s4 of the show is the fact that every single thing you do leads to pain. Being the hero or the villain, it doesn't matter—you cause suffering and destruction with every step you take. You hurt the people you care about. No, seriously. I'm not kidding. THAT'S one of the main focuses of s4, and oh boy is it a wild ride. You get used to legos crying. I am unironically expecting s5 of this show to be a tragedy.

I can not recommend it enough!

(If it's your thing that is! I TOTALLY get not being able to look past the legos, and the fast pacing isn't for everyone.)

Anyways, here's a bonus gif of Mei to end off!

[pinktom]

hi! you've mentioned a few times that the current version of Lover's Spit is a re-write of a previous version. Sadly I wasn't around for said previous version so I can't tell how much has changed (though, rest assured, I absolutely adore the fic as it is)

So what I was wondering is how did you go about writing it again? I have a couple unpublished fics that I'm not happy with in their current forms (my writing style has changed, I've learnt about writing tricks to make it flow better, learnt proper dialogue punctuation...) but I find re-writing to be a very difficult and tedious exercise which puts me off doing it. I'm guessing that I just haven't found a good way to do it, which is a shame because the fics are good, they just need to be made better before I can be comfortable publishing them.

So I wanted to know, how did you completely re-write what you had already written? Please be as detailed as you want in your answer, I love this type of stuff lol

I can't wait for the next installment of Lover's Spit, and I hope your writing is going well xx

First of all, I’m honored you’d ask for my humble opinion here, and I wish you all the best of luck with your rewrites. ❤️

I also cannot tell you how uncanny your question is. A few months ago, I toyed with the idea of re-posting the original Lover’s Spit for exactly this purpose—so that other fic writers could read it, instructively, as I used so very many fics over the years. (I'm still on the fence about whether it's a stupid idea, lol.)

Reflecting back on the experience, I think I have some potentially useful tips.

Writing is a masochistic hobby. The first four chapters of Lover’s Spit threatened all three of my brain cells, and it wasn’t really very fun for me to write them. Having a ‘big picture’ is, paradoxically, what kept me grounded during that time, and this is my first piece of advice.

I’d recommend looking at a single unfinished piece you wrote, and deciding, from a bird’s eye view, what the point of the story is. What is your objective, really? Then look at how you can reframe all of the existing scenes into a cohesive picture. 

This way your attention is probably less focused on flexing all of the new techniques (still, slay & flaunt it 💅🏻) and more on telling an entertaining story with heart.

When we drafted the original story, there was no intentional objective. It was just for fun. This go around, I did go in with a very specific objective: to explore how real life intersects with the internet. 

So every time I rewrote certain scenes, I wasn’t just retelling the scene with better words. I was attempting to focus the scene (via imagery, dialogue, diction) on that clear, concise objective. For example, the current version of Lover’s Spit begins slower, and lingers more, really to emphasize how boring normal life can be. The internet scenes, by contrast, are shorter, whippier, and don’t take up much real estate. I also include more descriptive lines about the town, throughout the story, and spend far more time in Harry’s head, chewing kind of tediously through his character development. I wanted to intentionally set an ultra high contrast on IRL and internet life, and many scenes look completely different because of it.

Along those lines: You may feel more enthusiastic if you add one or two more details that are new and refreshing, that really excite you. It doesn’t need to be ultra tangible either. For the Lover’s Spit rewrite, I challenged myself to add more mystery and anticipation, particularly where it concerns what’s going on in Tom’s head. This made rewriting certain scenes tricky, but more fun, because I had to be more inventive but I also got to indulge in the character-building aspect of it, which I enjoy.

And also, I learned how to embrace bitter work, to grin and bear it, because the payoff is worth it. I can look at forty word passages that took me an entire Saturday afternoon. I'm a grown woman, I work full-time, I like to party. That shit hurts! But because I have an objective—a point to get across, to share with people—I really feel it's worth it to sacrifice the time and endure the tedium.

But all that said, I will also say there's no shame in leaving projects on the back burner. If it's not fun for you to write, it may not be the best investment of your time, or perhaps not the right time to tell the story. I was actually about your age when I wrote the first Lover's Spit (I was 22), and I'm glad I took my time to return, because I wasn't mature enough to tell the story I knew deep down I wanted to tell.

[humanoidalien27]

Chapter list: One. Two. Three. Five. Six. Seven. Eight.

Thank you so much for the kind comments! I'm really glad you enjoy these as much as I do writing them.

Content warning: Exploding Cauldrons and Purple bubbles

.....

Chapter 4

Secrets

Nightmares weren't strangers, but it had been a while since your parents had made an appearance, let alone the Gaunts, who now had cleared up to match the way you saw them a few weeks ago.

Still, you, Ominis and Sebastian continued to press on with your classes, trying to concentrate through it.

At times you thought you saw someone watching you from the castle gates, but they'd vanish too fast.

The three of you have taken to sleeping in the room, and after being reported for not being in the common room you had to explain the situation to Professor Weasley and Fig.

Though they weren't surprised to hear about Professor Black's involvement, you noticed the castle had more suits of armor and in almost every corridor now.

"How are you doing?" The question startled you out of a daydream, making Sebastian frown. "You two don't seem to be on edge lately."

"They've had no choice but to back off," Ominis answered. "Weasley even had us followed for a while to deter them."

"So, a trip out of the castle is out of the question, but what about-"

"I can't today," you cut in, getting both of them to look your way.

"What exactly have you been doing? You're coming and going at all hours," Ominis asked.

He hadn't brought up your half-lie since the night your parents showed up, but you could tell he was burning with questions.

"And don't say extra assignments, that lie is less believable with each retelling."

"Is this anger because I won't tell you or because you're worried I'd run into either of our parents?" You asked, giving him the opportunity to dig himself out of the grave he just buried himself in.

"I'd rather you not go to random places alone, especially with our them hawking around."

"You forgot to add, Ranrok, Harlow and Rookwood- ow!"

You glared at Sebastian as he rubbed his arm from where you pinched it. He had whispered it, but you knew Ominis could hear him anyway.

"What? Why would they be after you?"

Sebastian motioned for you to tell Ominis the truth, a silent argument breaking out as Ominis waited, hearing only the shifting of cloths when either of you moved.

"Hello? Why are all so many people after you?"

"Popularity sucks," you replied quickly before continuing your disagreement with Sebastian.

"Very funny," he grumbled, shifting closer as his head cocked to the side, trying to pick up what was happening. "What's going on? Why are you two shifting so much?"

You instantly stopped as soon as the tip of Ominis's wand started pulsing red as he lifted it.

"What are you keeping from me? Is this about that relic?"

Annoyance flicked over Sebastian's features as he harshly pointed at you, then jabbed it towards Ominis.

When you shook your head, he half growled. "No, it's not about the relic-"

"Sebastian," you warned.

"He could help-"

You rolled your eyes knowing it was just an excuse.

"Sebastian, you can't help me. Natty can't help me. Poppy can't help me. Even Professor Fig can't help me. What makes you think Ominis can?"

By the time you caught into why Sebastian was smirking, you picked up the closest pillow and threw it at him.

"Natsai, Poppy and Fig know?" Ominis asked, drawing your gaze.

Confusion and hurt filtered over his features, making guilt build in your throat, but you weren't really sure why.

"Okay, Natty only found out because she was with me when the troll attacked Hogsmeade. Poppy only knows the ashwinders are after me. Sebastian only found out because I needed his help to break into the restricted section and Professor Fig...well, it was his wife's search."

"The restricted section? Why did you need to get into there?"

Already guessing he thought you were delving into unforgivable magic, you decided to clarify.

"I needed to get UNDER the restricted section. It held the next clue."

"Clue to what exactly?"

Your eyes moved his way at the venom he used.

"You're not seriously thinking that I'd dip a toe in dark magic, I hope," you asked, your tone giving the same warning it had to Sebastian. "Not everything I get wrapped up in has something to do with evil magic."

"Ranrok, Harlow, Rookwood-" he stopped himself before he could say anything else, but it had already hit the nerve you were trying to keep from exploding.

"My parents, your parents, you?"

He flinched, but didn't reply as you glared, pulling a sigh from Sebastian.

"You two are too alike for your own good."

"I'm nothing like him," you spat as you climbed to your feet and settled your eyes onto the milky ones following the sound of your movements. "Or our parents."

You moved to leave before you said anything else, knowing none of it would be kind and headed towards the Map Chamber for the third trial.

You moved slowly, your mind caught up in the memory the pensive showed you.

Isadora gradually turned from a sweet girl to a power hungry witch. Is that what you had to look forward to? Your eventual corruption? Was Ominis right about you the whole time? Just a dark wizard in the making?

"You look like you've gone five rounds with a troll," Garreth teased as he walked over. "Though given your exploits, I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case."

You gave a soft, mostly stressful, laugh. "I feel like I've been troll fighting."

He sent a small sympathetic glance, before clapping his hands together. "I'm working on my next epic brew. Would you like to join me?"

Catching his enthusiasm, you couldn't help but fall into step with him as you headed to the potions classroom.

"You're not going to ask me to pinch any fwooper feathers or billywig stings?"

He rubbed his hands together as he laughed awkwardly. "No, I have everything I need this time."

You nodded, hoping that was the case. "Alright, let's go blow up a cauldron."

The results were...pretty much as you expected, though you hadn't counted on Professor Sharp walking in and getting pummeled with the potion, which had the unique side effect of making his voice high pitched.

The both of you were scolded for a continuation of uncontrollable giggles and narrowly escaped detention by offering to clean up the mess before he could tell you to.

"That was an utter mess," Garreth complained as you left the classroom.

"I don't know, trying to keep a straight face while Professor Sharp yelled at us with purple bubbles on his head and shoulders was pretty awesome."

He laughed as he nodded. "Oh man, I will never forget that. If I wasn't there, I'd never believe it."

You groaned while pressing you hand to your chest. "I laughed so hard, my sides hurt."

"At least you laughed," he replied, drawing your attention his way. "Everyone's noticed you haven't been yourself lately. Poppy and Natty were trying to think of ways to make you feel better and what better way than brewing potions?"

You smiled as you realized you had let too much slip out into your face.

"I appreciate it. I haven't laughed like that in a long time," you admitted softly. "Poor Professor Sharp though."

"He's probably already telling the story too. I'm sure he found it as funny as we did."

You weren't quite sure, but you also hadn't been looking as you cleaned and missed the half annoyed and half amused smirk he sent the pair of you as he sat at his desk.

"Just don't be surprised if Natty and Poppy drag you off somewhere later for some kind of fun."

You smiled to yourself as you wondered what they could have planned and if it would top Garreth's disaster.

You parted ways as you headed towards the room of requirement and he headed to his common room.

Though the moment you were alone again, your thoughts began to eat away at you as if punishing you for not having a distraction.

You could only push on however. Too much rested on your shoulders to let it crush you now, not that it didn't try with every step, breath of heartbeat.

You'd worry you'd lose yourself before this term was over.

.....

[ecoamerica]

Watch the American Climate Leadership Awards 2024 now: https://youtu.be/bWiW4Rp8vF0?feature=shared

The American Climate Leadership Awards 2024 broadcast recording is now available on ecoAmerica's YouTube channel for viewers to be inspired by active climate leaders. Watch to find out which finalist received the $50,000 grand prize! Hosted by Vanessa Hauc and featuring Bill McKibben and Katharine Hayhoe!

[neechees]

Your review of that racist whitewashed Native American book is exactly why I have mixed feelings about the concept of the literary genre of historical fiction

That's fair. Personally I really like historical fiction & it's probably my favorite genre to read, but where I think I start disliking certain books in the genre is when people invented specific things & go WAY outside of actual historical events specifically for drama (which is what Rose Christo did with her shitty book) or maybe even to push an agenda.

Like, something like inventing minor characters to fill a specific role in the story (but don't actually majorly affect the historical events in the plot) but didn't exist in real life to me personally is fine. Creating scenes for the book that we don't 100% know happened (but maybe there's some small evidence or rumors it did) in real life & then maybe imagining how it MIGHT have went down if it did, I can roll with that. Adding some filler scenes like character interactions that show character development or just add interest where historically nothing major happened but the scenes themselves don't depict any major historical event (so the scene doesn't have any major bearing on the plot & doesnt change anything that happened historically), I'm fine with that too, because who's to say it definitely DIDN'T happen either? Or even things like if you have to suspend your belief a bit, where it probably wasn't historically plausible, but it's happening in this book.

But in books like Christo's, where almost every major historical event is changed completely down to the details, & the historical context for why those things happened are completely disregarded, & the necessary research to create an engaging historical fiction book is the quality equivalent to the effort of a middle schooler who hates history, & then the real historical figures' lives and personalities are barely included for the book at all or are even completely changed solely for the sake of drama, then like.... why are you even writing a historical fiction book?? Do you even like history?? At this point why not just write alternative historical fiction or historical fantasy or just straight up fantasy if you're going to completely change everything that actually happened in history?

& then obviously there's the "pushing an agenda" books, but that can be another can of worms as well. I don't really like the alternative historical fiction genre, but at least they have the guts to call it what it is, ALTERNATIVE history. Rose Christo's book diverted SO far away from the actual historical events that actually happened, she should have just called it alternative history but she didnt. & that's also where I think it can get harmful, because even if it IS called historical "fiction", there'll be people who become misinformed about some of the information there, like most people aren't going to know a majority of the Cree cultural & spiritual stuff mentioned in Christo's book was either completely made up or wrong the way I did. And I think part of the reason why so many people gave it such a high rating is because they don't know Canadian history that well, nevermind CREE history in Canada, nor do they know about Cree culture, so for all they know this was a pretty faithful retelling.

Obviously people are going to misinterpret books no matter what, and everyone should question what facts might be made up or misinformation in historical fiction or even just history books (I feel like that's a given, everyone should do that regardless), and it's not always the author's fault what people might misinterpret from what theyve written. But I can also see why you'd dislike Historical Fiction, & that's some of what I dislike about it too

[pissgoblin973]

hello lads, i’m just dropping by to post another short story i did earlier this year for my creative writing unit that i only just realised gives off “saltburn” and tyler the creator’s “igor” vibes :)

it is my retelling of what went down in the garden of eden, told from adam’s perspective. in this iteration, adam is confused and overwhelmed with his infatuation with eve, he worships her but also despises her.

if anyone is interested i can do a breakdown of the themes and explicit references to events from the holy bible i scattered throughout the story. it’s definitely my favourite thing i’ve written in a long fucking time and i’m super excited to share it with you guys :3

it’s a bit of a long read so i’ll post it separately after this uhhh announcement thingie??

anyway, thank you lads for your time :3

note: keep in mind i will add warnings/tags to this story there are some themes that aren’t exactly appropriate for everyone so viewer discretion is advised :0

[starfall-spirit]

Hate to break it to you, but Feysand has always been a retcon and SJM is a liar who says she’s always had them planned to sound cooler and to cover up the fact that she’s always said 1) she never plans her books and 2) she had to add Rhys in earlier and that she’d originally planned for him to be the villain.

Detailing the actual story of how ACOTAR came to be from her own former newsletter, she wrote two and half ACOTAR books in 2009 (then originally only a trilogy). In 2014, SJM scrapped and rewrote the entirety of that original second and half of a third book and completely started over with them, creating what is now ACOMAF and ACOWAR. She did not change anything in ACOTAR, though, but she did add things in during editing. She’s also said Nesta and Lucien were originally supposed to be mates and that she didn’t even plan for Nessian until she wrote the scene where the IC goes to ask Feyre’s family for help.

If Nesta and Lucien were originally endgame, that would infer that Feyre in the original second book actually spent a majority of her time in the Spring Court because how else would Nesta meet Lucien? He doesn’t live in the NC. He doesn’t live the AC. And if a majority of the plot is taking place in Spring and the story is from Feyre’s pov, it would also imply Feyre was still with Tamlin. 🤷🏼‍♀️ And a quick reminder that the entire series was originally a Beauty and the Beast/Tamlin retelling, not just the first book.

You can love Feysand, no one is telling you not to, but if you’re going to try to debunk what others are saying, then at least find out why they’re saying it in the first place so you can provide a proper counter argument. There’s overwhelming evidence within the first book that anything after it was never planned.

In fact, you could take Rhys out of the first book and the Calanmai scene would still work if Lucien had been the one to find her. The dresser would still work if Feyre and Elain’s drawers were swapped. Amarantha’s whore could be anybody, and the scene where Rhys forces Tamlin and Lucien to beg for Feyre could’ve happened with that anybody, not just Rhys. Maybe you should think about why the first book of a book series, where he’s supposedly been the plan all along, could still play out without him. 😬

Hi, anon.

I would first like to let you know, my inbox is not a place to start ship wars or attack people for their opinions of canon fandom matters. I hope in the future you respect the simple request at the top of my page to leave me polite asks.

But, to clarify a few points you've addressed here, look under the cut

"She never plans her books."

Anon, I'm not sure what precisely you mean when you say plan. There are many types of writers. When you're drafting an original story you may create an outline detailing the step by step plot, conflict, character development, call to action, etc.

Or perhaps you are an author like me, who instead prefers to free write. I won't hesitate to admit I can't stick to an outline beyond points A, B, and C. For example, my Anastasia AU

Chapter 1: The Rumor, The Legend, The Mystery (St. Pete)

Rumors

Plan Con

Meet Elain

Chapter 2: Things My Heart Used To Know (December)

Learning Heritage

Rhys’ 1st appearance

Chapter 3: The High Lord Lies Cold (Neva flows)

Rhys Bonus

Chapter 4: Let Me Say Goodbye (Stay I pray you)

1997 ~For the Magic~

Carriage out of Dusk 

Carriage stopped enroute

Escape

Chapter 5: In a Crowd of Thousands

Nightmare/Talk

Travel on foot to gate to Day

Meet Helion

Chapter 6: Could it Be? (Quartet)

2. "She had to add Rhys in earlier than planned to be a villain."

What exactly is the point of this statement? Maybe Feyre could have stayed inside the manor on Calanmai. Maybe Lucien could have stumbled upon her and the three fae who targeted her. If you think she's the only author to rewrite a story or add characters in an earlier or later position, I'm going to guess you don't have much of a concept of the natural writing process.

3. "Detailing the actual story of how ACOTAR came to be from her own former newsletter, she wrote two and half ACOTAR books in 2009 (then originally only a trilogy). In 2014, SJM scrapped and rewrote the entirety of that original second and half of a third book and completely started over with them, creating what is now ACOMAF and ACOWAR. She did not change anything in ACOTAR, though, but she did add things in during editing."

Again, the natural writing process. Rewriting a hundred times over if it's necessary to get the book published. Editing for the sake of a fluid storyline.

4. Your points on Nesta, Lucien, and Cassian have nothing to do with a Feysand of Feylin endgame. There could have been a dozen different ways SJM planned on Lucien and Nesta meeting outside of Spring that we will never know. The fact is that in the end, SJM decided "Lucien and Nesta would be at each other's throats. And not in a good way". Or something along those lines. In walked Nessian.

5. "You can love Feysand, no one is telling you not to, but if you’re going to try to debunk what others are saying, then at least find out why they’re saying it in the first place so you can provide a proper counter argument."

I am aware I have the freedom of expression in the fandom. I would also like to clarify I was entirely polite in "debunking" the counterargument to defend Tamlin. Did you feel particularly attacked when I told a new fandom member to try the second book and see if it was to their liking when they saw Rhysand's story?

Or was it my assessment of Tamlin's lack of anger management and every marker of an abuser he shows from the second he comes to take Feyre across the wall.

TL;DR

No matter how many rewrites ACOTAR went through, there was no character retcon on Tamlin or Rhys. Book one was an adaptation of Beauty and the Beast and Book two was an adaptation of Hades and Persephone, even if very few elements were taken from the actual tales.

For any others who wish to drop in and give me a polite hello, my inbox is always open and I'm chugging along so I have some lovely Feysand and crack ship snippets to provide you with.

[havecourage-darling]

Right Side Up // 6 (FINAL CH.)

Princess Peach Series

Ch. 5: I'd make him swap our places || AO3 || Masterlist

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Female Henderson!Reader

wc: 6.4k

warnings: cursing, mild smut, S4 spoilers, angst with a happy ending

A/N: and that's how the cookie crumbles! Because a few people have asked: 1) I will be going back to updating Firsts (I think I've got like 3 or 4 more to add?) 2) I'm going to work on the Just Like Heaven AU, I promise! This + RTTB kind of took over my mental capacity lol 3) I have a few random one-shots coming up soon, so stay on the look out for those!

edit: y'all I am SO sorry I forgot the read more line lmao, pls forgive me

Ch. 6: There is thunder in our hearts

“She’s got her memory back,” Dustin said, sounding relieved, “I only got like five minutes with her alone before Hopper showed up. He kicked me out and said they needed to get their story straight before they spoke to anyone.”

“But she remembers everything?”

“Yeah, she remembers everything again.”

Eddie almost melted into a puddle on this stupid fancy couch. Steve was glancing at him worriedly but Eddie just closed his eyes.

After they’d crawled out the gate and ran for help – it’d been clear that the right side up had also felt the effects of Vecna’s death. There had been a small ‘earthquake’ with minimal damage and almost no casualties.

Lucas had rushed to explain everything that had happened after you’d been taken to the hospital. And while Eddie wasn’t exactly glad that Jason had been one of the few casualties of the earthquake, he wasn’t crying over it. In fact, if he ever saw that stupid jock who’d tackled Erica, he’d be more than glad to give him someone to fight that was his own size. Although, considering the purple eye he was sporting, she did alright on her own.

It’d taken Steve, Nancy, and Robin to convince him not to race over to the hospital. He wouldn’t be allowed to see you anyway. He’d tried to climb out a window halfway through the first day and Steve had caught him. Robin threatened to handcuff him to a chair. So, here he was – at Steve’s house – hiding, yet again.

Dustin had been at your side when you’d woken yesterday and to everyone’s surprise, you’d asked where your dad was. When he was retelling everyone what’d happened, Dustin had squeezed his arm a little tighter and Eddie knew that had cut deeper than Dustin would admit.

Apparently, amnesia after suffering the type of concussion that you had was normal.

Jesus, you had a concussion. You’d been shot. Eddie just couldn’t wrap his head around it.

And if everything wasn’t chaotic enough, apparently Chief Hopper wasn’t dead? He’d emphatically avoided the man previously, so while he wasn’t as ecstatic as Steve and Nancy had been – Eddie knew you’d be happy to know the Chief was okay. If not looking a little slender. 

“I’m not sure what’s happening but Jonathan is on his way over to you guys with some supplies. She won’t need surgery and when I talked to her, she said her bruised ribs hurt the most,” Dustin said and Eddie wanted to throw something. “She asked for you today.”

“Did you tell her – I’m – if-” Eddie stammered.

“I told her, I swear – I told her you’d be here if you could,” he said. “If I’m ever allowed back in there without my mom I’ll try and get the walkie in.”

“Thanks man,” Eddie sighed and closed his eyes. He couldn’t help it – he was picturing the worst when he thought of you. By the time they’d made it to the Creel house, everyone had been taken to the hospital. He just wanted to see you – he had to see you before he went crazy. “How’s Max?”

“Pissed,” Dustin snorted, “she’s mad they won’t let her visit my sister either. I already signed her cast.”

“Alright, thanks.”

“Yeah. I’ll call again if we get an update.”

Eddie placed the walkie onto the coffee table in front of him and resisted the urge to scream. Steve might actually follow through with Robin’s threat and tie him up somewhere.

“She’s awake, that’s good,” Steve said, bobbing his head. His shoulders fell, head falling back and a deep exhale echoing in the room.

Sometimes Eddie forgot just how long you’d known Steve and Nancy. You’d all grown up together, your house a few minutes away from Wheeler’s. He tried to imagine if Jeff had been shot, he’d also be worried sick. Which reminded him he needed to let Jeff know he was okay…

“She’s going to be fine, she’s awake and she’s going to be fine,” Eddie said, attempting to comfort Steve but ending up reminding himself.

“Yeah,” Steve said, glancing at Nancy, who stood by the fireplace – chewing her nail.

“Maybe I can go down and take a look?” Nancy asked, wringing her hands together.

“Hopper told us to stay put,” Steve reminded them, wary eye on Eddie.

“Which is fucking bullshit,” Eddie said, for what felt like the hundredth time that hour.

Nancy sighed, her shoulder dropping. “I know, I know it is,” she plopped down onto the sofa next to him. Her warm hand on his shoulder surprised him and she smiled. “Have you cleaned the scratches today?”

He groaned and Steve snickered. Steve and Robin had been unbearable over the past few days with making sure any and all scrapes he’d gotten via demobat be disinfected daily. Any time he protested; Robin would respond with a shrill: “Do you want rabies!?”

Eddie felt like he should somehow be a little worried about it but he couldn’t find it within himself to care too much. Not when he was still trying to clear his name and couldn’t visit his fucking girlfriend in the hospital because he could go to jail.

“Come on,” Nancy said. Eddie groaned but he hauled himself to his feet and followed her lead into the bathroom. Halfway there, the doorbell echoed throughout the house.

Steve’s head popped out from the living room and the three exchanged a panicked look. Nancy shoved Eddie into the nearest room, the kitchen, and hid with him.

“Should I answer?” Steve whispered, tone sounding a little panicked.

Nancy shoved her head past Eddie’s shoulder and waved a hand in the air. Eddie groaned. This was a fucking mess.

“What did that mean!” Steve hissed.

“Oh my God,” Nancy muttered.

“Steve! It’s me!” A man’s voice filtered through the door. Nancy’s eyes brightened and Eddie assumed by the speed of which she darted to the door that it was safe to stop hiding.

“Jonathan!” Nancy beamed, curling her arms around his neck. Jonathan Byers, Eddie had a faint memory of him and his little brother, stood at the door.

“Hey, I’m Jonathan,” he said once he spotted Eddie.

“I’m Eddie,” he said, awkwardly shaking his hand, “and not a murderer.”

Jonathan laughed lightly, as if that had been actually funny. “Yeah, we know.”

“We?” Steve said, peeking over his shoulder.

A girl stood there, her head shaved, and she grinned brightly when she saw Steve. Who, in turn, returned her grin. They all greeted each other and Eddie sunk back into his spot on the sofa – eyes glaring at the walkie.

He didn’t want to seem bitter but, the idea that everyone else seemed to get their moments just reminded him that he didn’t have one with you. The sofa dipped with the weight of another person and Eddie’s eyes snapped up to meet the brown ones of the girl.

“Hi,” she said, eyes darting all over him.

“Hi?” Eddie said, tone making it sound like a question. “I’m Eddie.”

“I know,” she said.

Well, okay then.

“You’re the girl with superpowers?”

She nodded. “Eleven.” With a smile she pointed to the ring on his finger, the one you’d given him a few days ago. “You’re the boyfriend.”

Eddie smile half-heartedly. “Yeah, I’m the boyfriend.”

“I have a message for you,” she said quietly, eyes deepening as her brows furrowed.

A message? He quirked his brow and pushed some hair out his face. “From who?”

“Henderson.”

“Dustin?” Eddie was confused, he’d just spoken to Dustin. His eyes wandered and he realized everyone was watching them.

“No,” she said quietly, hand coming up to his. “She said you would be worried.”

“Who?”

Eleven’s eyes darted down to their hands and Eddie felt the knot in his chest tighten. “She told me to tell you that she loved you. That she was sorry and she’d see you soon.”

“My Henderson?”

She nodded. “I know she will be okay. She’s just healing.”

Eddie’s mind completely went blank.

“How did you talk to her?” Nancy interjected, her eyes worried.

“I was piggybacking to Max and saw her. She…saved them,” Eleven said to the rest of them, “she said she hoped you kicked bat ass.”

Her cheeks flushed, but her eyes remained steady on Eddie’s. He’d known her for about sixty seconds and understood what you’d meant when you talked about her. There was something endearingly earnest in the way she spoke.

With an inhale, Eddie threw his head back and laughed. The entire room seemed to exhale at the sound, chuckles coming from the doorway and Eddie pictured you relaying your message.

“Eddie? Do you copy?” Dustin’s voice echoed.

Nancy scrambled for the walkie, hands getting there before his and he almost smacked it out of her fingers.

“It’s Nancy, we’re here.”

“Hopper says Eddie’s cleared,” Dustin said, elation evident, “I repeat, Eddie is cleared. He can come by!”

Everyone seemed to glance at each other before Steve was already scrambling for his keys. “Shit, okay come on!”

His heart was stuck in his throat and without really knowing how, Eddie found himself in the passenger seat of Steve’s car.

“Fucking step on it!” Eddie shouted.

“Do you want to be pulled over?” Steve exclaimed, despite the fact that he did speed up.

After a few tense minutes, Eddie saw the hospital in sight and threw open the door before Steve had come to a full stop.

“Jesus Christ!” Steve yelled. Eddie barely heard him; his feet took him to the receptionist desk.

“Hi, I’m looking for Henderson – she was brought in a few days ago-”

“Eddie!”

Dustin’s voice had Eddie’s head snapping to the left and he thanked the nurse before jogging down the hallway. “She’s in there man, she just woke up,” Dustin said, grinning, “Hopper said you’re all cleared – she’ll tell you the rest. Where’s everyone else?”

“Parking,” Eddie said faintly, squeezing Dustin’s shoulder.

“I’ll keep the wolves at bay for a while,” Dustin said, shrugging when Eddie shot him a grateful look. “My mom’s eating lunch in the cafeteria, I say you got like fifteen minutes.”

“Twenty and I’ll tell you how to beat Gareth in our next campaign.”

“Deal!”

Eddie smiled, pushing the door open slowly. His eyes immediately sought yours out, as if by habit. The first thing he saw, however, was a soft cast around your elevated ankle. His eyes widened as he saw the bruises climb up your leg and disappear into your dressing gown.

“Hey you,” you said, voice hoarse. Eddie’s eyes darted up to yours and his heart stopped.

Your left eye was a little swollen and the skin around it purple. The bandage at your left temple wrapped around your head and your right wrist had a splint on it. He frowned and felt a slow simmering rage build within his stomach. He wanted to scream, punch someone, rip a hole in the universe and put you into it so no one would ever be able to hurt you again.

At his silence, you shifted and immediately whimpered. Your good hand flew up to your ribs and you winced. Seeing pain flitter across your expression broke his paralysis. With quick steps, he was at your bedside, heart in his throat. “Princess, what…what did you do?”

“I kicked his ass,” you said, grinning up at him, eyes widening. “Wait, shit, is that horrible to say of someone who died? Oh my God, I’m an asshole.”

Eddie snorted, only you’d feel horrible about speaking ill of the dead. “If he was alive, I’d smother that asshole in his sleep.”

“He’s dead, Eddie,” you hissed, looking towards the half-closed door. “Besides, Hopper basically pinned everything on him to have you released. You’re the hero of this town, Munson.”

“Fuck this town, and fuck Jason Carver,” Eddie said fiercely, annoyed by your easy forgiveness. “He shot you.”

You waved your hand in the air, like a bullet hadn’t pierced your body. “He was a bad shot, both bullets barely grazed me. See?” You shifted your left leg, bandage on your knee the smallest of them all.

“Are you trying to excuse your almost-killer?”

“No!” You said, lowering your voice. “But, I mean, maybe let’s not harp on it.”

“Oh, I’ll harp – I’ll harp on it for the rest of our lives,” he said, all the energy in his body swooping out of him. He stumbled to the chair by your bed, slumping into it and dropping his head to your hand.

“Eddie?”

He waved his hand in the air. “I just need a second,” he said, taking deep breaths. He hadn’t known what he was expecting – but you arguing with him like you hadn’t been shot wasn’t it. He knew you had a rough road ahead of you, but it could’ve been worse. Much worse. And you were okay, you were really, really okay. “I get it,” Eddie said eventually.

“Get what?”

“Why you didn’t tell me about the other things – with Will and Billy,” he replied, and he did. If the other times all ended this stressfully, he got why you wanted to keep him as safe as possible.

“I’ll be okay, sweetheart,” you murmured softly, fingers scratching softly against his scalp.

Eddie exhaled, his worry no longer choking him. “Yeah, some superpowered buzzcut girl told me.”

Your face brightened and even with the bruises and bandages, you lit up the entire room. Air swooped from his lungs and you truly took his breath away. “You met Eleven? Isn’t she great?”

“She’s cool.”

Eddie watched your eyes find the long-jagged bruise across his neck, the one Robin harassed him to keep clean, and smiled when you frowned. “Oh, Eddie, you’re hurt.”

“That’s what you’re worried about? You’re in a hospital bed and you’re worried I’m hurt?”

Your small smile made his heart slam against his rib cage. “I’ll always worry about you, Munson. Someone’s got to keep you in check.”

Letting out a surprised laugh, Eddie narrowed his eyes at you playfully. “You’ve got some fucking audacity Henderson. After all that shit you gave me about being safe and not risking yourself. You had to go ahead and be the hero.”

“I know,” you patted his hand, “but you have to admit you’re the more reckless one between us both.”

Eddie gaped and his hands stretched out to the room. “Hospital. Bed.”

“Potato, tomato,” you brushed off.

He couldn’t help but smile, Jesus Christ you were going to send him to an early grave.

“I love you,” you said before he could continue bickering. “A lot.”

“Yeah?” Eddie said, shaking his head before leaning down for a kiss. “I love you too.”

Beaming, you patted the space at the edge of your bed. “Come on, I’ll tell you what the official story is so we all get it right. I stayed off the good stuff while the police came in to talk to me and the nurse just passed by to pump me fully of drugs. I want to tell it right.”

“Drugs?” Eddie said, sitting and clutching at his chest. “I cannot be seen with someone who’s involved in drugs.”

“Don’t make me laugh,” you said, hand coming up to your side again, “it hurts.”

“Sorry, sorry,” he said, his own covering yours. “What’s the wrist splint for?”

“It’s a light sprain,” you murmured, “the recoil on Jason’s gun was intense.”

“And you were talking shit about his skills,” he joked. You shot him a withering glare and he fought against the laugh building in his chest. “I’m sorry, that was the last one. Go ahead.”

Eddie could see your eyelids getting heavier and heavier with each minute that passed, the IV hooked up to you clearly doing the job. The sharp edge of pain in your expression seemed to lessen and Eddie couldn’t seem to let go of your hand.

“Did that make sense?” Your words stumbled together. “Hopper can answer any questions if you have them before the police interview you.”

“You know, I’ve never officially met the ol’ Chief.”

“Really?” You asked, surprised.

Eddie raised his brows. “You do know my occupation, right?” You snorted and Eddie took your lack of pain as a good sign that the meds were doing their job.

“He said he wanted to be in the room with you when they interview you, so don’t feel too nervous,” you assured him.

“Princess, now that I’ve seen you – I could not care less what happens to me.”

Your brows furrowed adorably and Eddie couldn’t help but smooth them out with his thumb. “I care, a lot,” you mumbled, eyes fluttering. “You can’t get rid of me that easily.”

“Never,” Eddie promised, serious for a moment. “I’m sure Dustin is barely holding back the whole group. Did you want me to tell them to wait after you sleep some?”

“No, I want to see everybody,” you said, stubborn as always.

“Peach….”

You rolled your eyes. “Just help me move the bed’s incline, if I’m lying down, I’ll just drift off to sleep easier.”

“Which is what you should be doing-”

“Edward.”

“Alright, alright,” he said, trying to figure out the remote wired to your bed. As he heard Steve and Nancy’s voice get louder in the hallway, he saw you smile from his peripheral.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

He turned to you, smiling at your obvious chortle. “Princess, it’s not nice to not share with the class.”

Your eyes found his, and despite the medical haze around them, he saw the undercurrent of mischief and lucidity that made him smile. He turned back to the remote and frowned. Why was this so complicated?

“I heard you dedicated your song in the upside down to another girl. Should I be jealous?”

Eddie choked, eyes flying back to yours and you were biting down on your bottom lip – hand on your side – trying your best not to laugh in his face. You were messing with him. While you were in a hospital bed. After being shot at.

Fuck, he loved you so much.

The months following your discharge and Eddie’s record being cleared, were hectic to say the least. Despite finally gaining back your mobility with your boot - and your ribs healing - you still always dragged your feet when it came to your recovery. More specifically, your physical therapy.

“He’s a sadist!” You’d huff, annoyed before giving in and trailing behind Eddie. Turned out, despite being only grazed by a bullet, twice, you still needed to rehab your body. Your left side would likely ways be your weaker one but you’d refused to let it stop you. Eddie had watched you grab life by the balls and goddamn if he didn’t love you more for it.  

After a whole week of doctor’s appointments, job interviews, graduation, and Robin’s birthday, you’d both declared Friday a date night.

Eddie didn’t miss you exactly - he spent most, if not all, of his time with you since you left the hospital - but you’d both been pulled in ten different directions that having dinner and a movie was nice. Finally being alone together for longer than a night was nice.

You navigated his, new, house with ease with your new cane. You’d been so excited to ditch the crutches, and Eddie was glad to see you move around with more confidence.

Although, since you’d gotten back from Steve’s house this morning - you had been acting strange. Your head was tucked onto his shoulder, his palm on your waist, pulling you into him. After another moment, you shifted your weight again and he narrowed his eyes at you.

Eddie watched you glance at the phone on his wall for the hundredth time in the past hour. When you shifted again and looked up, he opened his mouth to call you out on it when it rang.

What the fuck? Before he could process it and go to pick it up, you jumped to your feet. Squeaking when your boot wobbled, your arms flailed before regaining your balance and you grabbed the phone.

“Jesus Christ, be careful!” He hissed, a little tendril of panic gripping him at the memory of your bruises.

You ignored him, of course, and muttered into the phone. He rubbed a hand down his face and took a deep breath. The receiver slammed down onto the hook and he looked up at you. Eyes wide, and a little anxious, his stomach flipped. “What now?” He groaned.  

“Steve needs our help,” you said, hands flying to your bag by the entrance. “We gotta go, now.”

Eddie’s hands were reaching for your cane and his keys before he realized. “Help like help, help or help like we’re under attack again? Because you haven’t recovered from the last one. And to be super honest, neither have I.”

“Regular help, I think, I don’t know – he just said we had to get over there right now.”

At your glare Eddie sighed and nodded. “Alright, fuck it, let’s go.”

Trying to pull more answers from you, but receiving none, Eddie just watched your leg bounce up and down nervously. He’d driven a little over the speed limit, getting to Steve’s neighborhood in record time.

As he hopped out and rounded the car to try and help you down, he heard a bike brake over his shoulder.

“Robin?” You called out, as if you’d been expecting her. “Did you bike the entire way here?”

Eddie handed you your cane, eyes on Robin’s red face. She nodded, hand coming up to her chest as if that would help her catch her breath.

“Buckley are you okay?” Eddie asked, trying not to smile at her comical glare.

She dropped her bike on the lawn and leaned over her knees. “Steve called me saying it was a code red, my mom wasn’t coming home for another hour. I didn’t want to wait.”

With a nod, Eddie walked up to Steve’s door and rang the doorbell. After a few beats, no one answered, and Robin huffed. “The lights are all off, what the hell?”

“Let’s go around back maybe?” You suggested, lagging a little behind. When Eddie turned around to look at you, you waved him off. He’d preferred to be between you and whatever it was anyway. Robin caught up, walking shoulder to shoulder when he rounded the corner. Harrington’s backyard was dark – even the pool lights off – and he fumbled for the motion sensor light he knew was by the fence. As it turned on, it seemed like the rest of the backyard switched on with it.

“Surprise!”

Eddie scrambled back, heart jumping to his throat, and his hand immediately went towards Robin.

The entire backyard was filled with his friends, family, and everyone had confetti in their hands.

“What the fuck?” Robin screeched. “Mom?” She slid through the fence and ran towards her family. Everyone laughed and music blasted from the speakers by the grill. A hand came up to his shoulder, startling him a little, and your concerned eyes swam into his vision.

“I’m sorry, was surprising you too much? Oh, you hate it!” Your hands came up to his waist, eyes widening. “I’m so sorry, it was Dustin’s idea and I thought why not, you know? You deserved it but I should’ve known you wouldn’t-”

You rambled on, right hand waving around in the air nervously, and Eddie’s heart flipped at the rush of affection he had for you. Of course, you wouldn’t have just wanted to go out for dinner for his graduation. His eyes slid from your nervous ones and towards the yard. Jeff and Gareth waved at him, both brightening, and the little sheep all beamed his way.

“Sweetheart,” he said, cutting you off. “This wasn’t too much. Thank you.”

“I just – you graduated! You know? I’m so proud of you and I know everyone else here is too, you’ve come so far and I just…wanted to celebrate you – and Robin, obviously.”

Eddie’s heart burst from his chest and hopped back into your hands. “I love you, Peach.”

The grin that you shot him, felt like looking into the sun. “I love you too, Munson.” Your hand came up to his wrist and with a confident step, you pulled him into the chaos. “Come on, we’ve got games, food, presents.”

“Presents?” Eddie asked, eyebrows wiggling.

The sparkle in your eyes as you glanced over your shoulder at him almost took his breath away. “Well, I can’t give you my present in front of everyone. I don’t think you’d appreciate your best friends knowing what I’m wearing under this.”

Eddie’s blood immediately started pooling into his lower half. “What are you wearing? Princess, princess!” He hissed, pulling you into him. “You little…I’ll get you back, you know that.”

Your teeth grazed his neck and Eddie shivered. “Oh, I’m counting on it.” The look in your eyes made Eddie contemplate how rude it’d be if he hauled you back into the van.

“Eddie!” Wayne’s voice came from his left and you laughed at his torn expression.

“Come on, pervert,” you teased, “you’ll get me all alone soon enough.”

“It’s your fault, this is what you’ve turned me into,” he griped, smacking your butt and laughing when you squeaked.

“That’s called victim blaming!” You said, having the last word as you were separated into the crowd.

“I can’t believe you kept this from me,” Eddie said to Wayne, who had a beer in his hand and a wide smile on his face.

Wayne shook his head. “That girl of yours is pretty convincing, she’s been running around getting everything just right for almost two weeks now.”

“Two weeks?” Eddie shouted.

Lucas’ father walked up, smile already widening, and he shook Eddie’s hand. “Congratulations son, heard you managed to pass most of your finals with flying colors.”

“I wouldn’t say that much,” Eddie snorted, rubbing the back of his neck.

“He got a B on all his finals,” Wayne said proudly, tossing his arm around Eddie’s shoulders. “It was mostly Henderson and Wheeler helping but he got there eventually.”

Eddie ducked his head and listened as they made small talk about the upcoming game. His eyes glanced around the lawn and Eddie had to admit, it felt…nice to have so many people that cared about him.

After Vecna, after…everything, the town had completely turned around. People would still stop him in town and thank him for what he’d done. While he still wasn’t Jason’s biggest fan, he felt a little uneasy about the sudden positive attention. Considering he’d been the town pariah for most of his high school life.

But that wasn’t it – it’d been after he’d met you. You’d brightened his life in every way that mattered.

Your laugh floated down to him from where you were sitting on the back deck, leg already elevated. Nancy was sitting next to you, her smile wide as you talked.

He watched your eyes trail down to him and you brightened when you saw he was looking back. You curled a finger, patting the seat next to yours and Eddie excused himself.

If anyone would’ve told him a year ago, that this was where his life would’ve ended up – he would’ve laughed them out of this town. Now? As you curled into his side and he was surrounded by his friends – he had to admit, it was nice.

“I shouldn’t have eaten that last bit,” Eddie complained, flopping out onto the couch next to you.

Rolling your eyes, you turned to him and grinned. “I told you not to,” you said, watching him sigh dramatically.

“I told you not to,” he mimicked you, voice high. His lips came down to your bare shoulder, teeth nipping at the skin. You squirmed, laughing, and shoving him away.

“I don’t sound like that,” you insisted, poking his arm. He grinned and your eyes darted over the affectionate look on his face.

Eddie pulled you into his chest and you laid your head onto him. “So, we finally made it.”

“To our one year anniversary?” You asked, mildly insulted.

At that, he choked, laughing loudly. It echoed throughout the air, both of you on the back deck with the hot tub heating up for a dip later tonight.

“No,” he said, chuckling still, “I meant, we’re made it to Lake Monroe.”

“Oh,” you grinned sheepishly. “Did you think we weren’t?”

Eddie tilted his head and pretended to think. “I mean, when the entire town thought I’d murdered a few of my classmates, you were shot, and I was running for my life from demobats? Yeah…that did make me hesitate.”

“Wow, so what you’re saying is you had no faith in us?” You joked, smiling when he squeezed your arm. “I’m glad we made it too. I’m also glad I can finally say that nothing hurts.”

He shot you a look and you sighed. “Besides my ankle every once in a while. I work on my feet and you need to stop hovering protectively eventually.”

“I don’t think I will, there’s something about seeing the love of your life in a hospital bed with a black eye – it sticks with you.”

You raised a brow and bit you smile back. “Love of your life, huh?”

Eddie grinned at your, evidently, pleased expression and kissed you. “Yeah, Princess, did you think you weren’t?” He teased, echoing your words.

“After a year and the upside down? I better be,” you grumbled, wrapping your arms around him. “I know it took us a while but I am glad we’re here. It’s beautiful.”

Most of the first day had been spent hiking and swimming in the lake. You’d both stayed close to the shore, the reminder of the last lake you’d swam in still too fresh, but it had been fun. Eddie’s nose was a little red from the sun and your legs ached from the walk but it was so…peaceful.

The sound of screeching feedback had you both wincing suddenly and then the music boomed across the water and towards you two.

Ooh, baby, do you know what that's worth?

Ooh, Heaven is a place on Earth

They say in Heaven, love comes first

The only time the both of you had managed to get time off in September was throughout the week – and thanks to that, most of Gareth’s uncle’s neighbors were away for the season. Almost everyone. The neighbors to directly to your left, apparently, were best friends on a small getaway. They’d introduced themselves to the both of you when you’d pulled up, offering up anything should you need help.

Eddie had thanked them and you’d teased him the entire day about how they couldn’t keep their eyes off of him. “They’re old enough to be, like, our moms.” He shuddered. It still made you laugh. They had been nice though, but were prone to random bursts of blasting music at ground shattering levels.

“For the love of sweet Jesus,” Eddie groaned.

While you genuinely hadn’t minded the music most of the time, you liked the songs, Eddie – on the other hand – was ready to throw himself into the water. It seemed your neighbors had a particular love of Belinda Carlisle.

You bit down on your bottom lip, trying to keep your face neutral as you sat with your bad leg stretched out. Eyes focused on the water - your cheek twitched when Eddie narrowed his gaze in your direction.

“I can see you trying not to laugh.”

“Me?” You said, overshooting and your voice coming out a little too loud. “That is…that is a gross accusation.”

“Mhmmm.”

“I mean, what’s so funny about a song? A simple little song?” You said, examining your nails pointedly. Your head bopped to the melody. “It’d only be funny if you were…somehow…a bit of a patronizing little punk about music. But, of course, you’re not – so…nothing funny here.”

Eddie’s eyes narrowed and you only had a few seconds to disentangle yourself from his arms and run towards the open sliding doors. 

His arms curled around you before you fully made it passed the kitchen island and your laugh bounced off the walls.

“I’m sorry,” he said, voice mock hurt, and barely audible above your laughter, “did you just call me, your boyfriend, a punk?”

When you didn’t answer, his fingers danced alongside your hips and your laughter ricocheted up. “I didn’t! I didn’t!” You said, squirming out of his hold for a brief second before he trapped you again on the wide sofa by the windows.

You were both breathing hard and you felt his knees cage your legs in. His hands pinned your wrists above your head and your chests were bumping with each breath you took.

“I could’ve sworn I heard you,” he murmured, pupils darkening.

Always the instigator, you bumped your hips against his and grinned when his eyes narrowed and his breath hitched. “Actually,” you said, licking your bottom lip, “I called you a patronizing little punk.”

Eddie blinked and after a beat laughed. “You little shit,” he grunted, hands releasing your wrists. You wrapped them around his shoulders and brought him closer to you.

“Why don’t you teach me a lesson?” You asked, wiggling your brows. The current between you two crackled as his hands trailed down to your hip, the shorts you were wearing loose and easy to pull down.

His hand tapped against your ribs and his eyes softened a little. “Considering we thought we’d broken the bed this morning-”

“-I heard a crack, I swear!-” You insisted.

“-do you feel up to a round…”

“Four?” You said, laughing and wiggling under him. “Come on Munson, I’m fine. I promise, if any one of my various ailments hurts I…still probably wouldn’t tell you because I really want you, right now.”

Eddie grinned, shaking his head at your wide-eyed innocent look. “You’ll be the death of me.”

“Ah, probably,” you said, pulling your shirt off and flinging it to the side. Your hands pushed his shirt up and you grinned when he willingly let you pull it off him. “But wouldn’t it be a way to go?”

“Yeah,” he said, fingers trailing across your bare chest, “it would be.”

The earnest tone of his voice made the fire inside you dull down to a more manageable level and you pulled him into a deep kiss. His hips started to press down into yours, his right hand pushing your shorts down lower onto your thighs.

Children, behave

That's what they say when we're together

The music floated in through the open sliding doors, a little lower than when you were outside but the lyrics still just as audible. You couldn’t help but smile into the kiss and Eddie pulled back to glare at you. “What?” You said laughingly. “It’s a good song! Appropriate too.”

Pulling your hand from between your bodies, you pretended to hold a mic and sang along with the music.

“I think we're alone now. There doesn't seem to be anyone around.” You could tell by the mirth in his eyes that he was trying hard not to laugh but the longer you sang, the more of his smile you could see.

“Alright, alright, I’ll give on the timing,” Eddie admitted and you cheered at the win.

“Where’s my prize?”

With surprising speed, you watched Eddie fish for a condom by the side table.

“You left some on the table?” You laughed, surprised.

Eddie held one up triumphantly and shot you a knowing look. “Considering it’s us, yeah, Princess – I left them everywhere for easy access.”

“That’ll be nice for Gareth’s uncle to find after we leave,” you said, breath stuttering as his hand slid beneath your underwear to peel it off.

“I can assure you, we’re already running low,” he said, his breath fanning over your ear. “Less talking, you’re supposed to be learning a lesson.”

You grinned at his silly expression. “Promises, promises.”

“So, our first vacation,” you mused, catching your breath now that your soul had returned to your body. “Despite the delay, I’d say it was a success.”

“Definitely not our last either,” Eddie said, joining you on the couch again after throwing out the condom. “London is our first stop.” He stretched his arms out, hands behind his head.

The muscles in his arm caught your attention, your eyes dragging down the veins as they disappeared by his elbow. The smirk on his face let you know he’d caught you.

“Our first road trip too,” you added, ignoring his knowing look. What? He was your boyfriend for a reason.

Edie snorted, his eyes roaming over your face. “I think there’s a lot of other firsts we have on the list.”

“Yeah?” You said, excited about the possibilities.

“Hell yeah, first apartment?” He said, grinning. “Because this whole having our own space was really nice.” He said eyes trailing down to your naked chest.

You grinned, immediately picturing what an apartment that was just yours would look like. “Stop it,” you smacked his hand as it snaked up to your chest.  

“Who checked who out first?” He laughed when you rolled your eyes. “Our apartment would have a clothes ban.” Eddie pulled you into his arms.

“A clothes ban?”  

“Yep. They’re restricting,” he said, index finger trailing up your spine. You shivered, closed your eyes, and dropped your ear to his chest. The steady beat of his heart bounced in your ear as you both went back and forth, laughing at the more outrageous firsts you could think of.

“First time I make you laugh so hard you snort out soda,” Eddie said and you huffed.

“You’re not that funny,” you joked.

Eddie’s indignant yelp made you laugh and he lifted an arm into the air. “See! I make you laugh all the time!”

He wasn’t wrong. A faint thought floated to the front of your mind. “Oh, I’ve got a good one!”

“Hit me.”

“Your first sold-out concert,” you said, imagining it in your head. A whole stadium with screaming fans and the music so loud you could feel it in your chest. Eddie with his guitar and, knowing the guys, some pyrotechnics.

Eddie laughed. “We only just booked a new venue and now we have the ability to sell out a concert?”

“Yeah,” you said, like that was obvious. “It’ll happen, mark my words.”

“Well, if this year has taught me anything it’s that you’re usually always right. So, I’m believing you on this one,” he said, “or at least, I’m hoping.”

“That’s a good lesson to learn,” you joked, “and anyway, whatever firsts that are on the list – I can’t wait to do them all with you.”

“Even our no-clothes allowed apartment?” You laughed, your body shaking and Eddie grunting at the movement. “Yeah, perv’, even that.”