#the reaction journey throughout this song is just

[itadores]

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐈𝐅𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐊𝐄𝐄𝐏𝐒 𝐎𝐍 𝐆𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐆

synopsis: you like buying little gifts for your boyfriend. it only makes sense for you to buy him a photo-card of his favorite idol when you come across it in a JPOP store.

note: my silly guy <3 haven’t written in ages so i’m a bit rusty

pairing: tōdō aoi x gn!reader

word count: 2.2k

tags: gender neutral reader, fluff, established relationship, petnames (tōdō calls reader babe, reader calls him baby), reader’s love language is gift giving, tōdō is bit of an overdramatic crybaby (affectionate)

You happen across the store as you’re walking through the shopping center that you typically frequent. It’s a new shop if the banner with the words “Grand Opening!” printed in bold block letters was anything to go by. However, the banner is not what originally caught your eye as you were passing through. It’s the name of the place itself that did: JPOPTOWN. Admittedly, you’re not an avid fan of JPOP, moreso a casual enjoyer, but your partner on the other hand…is a very big fan. Very. Honestly, Tōdō is the main reason why you know what you do about JPOP.

You make the quick decision to enter the store, simply out of curiosity for what it may hold within its walls. Maybe, you can find something to buy for your boyfriend. As soon as the door slides open, a catchy tune croons out from the speakers scattered throughout the store. You recognize it as one of the top trending JPOP songs at the moment, having heard it numerous times over the radio or in other shops. Your eyes rove over the walls and shelves of the store, unsure of where to start your journey now that you’re inside. There’s simply so much merchandise of various JPOP artists lining every space of the store that you’re a bit overwhelmed at first.

However, once your gaze lands on an idol more than familiar to you, you immediately gravitate towards the section, your feet leading you to the area solely dedicated to your boyfriend’s favorite idol: Takada-chan. You idly peruse the numerous shelves full of her merchandise, looking over what sort of items they carry. A lot of what the store offers are items that your boyfriend already owns, which makes you deflate a bit.

You were excited to see what this store held within once you had gotten a glimpse of its name in hopes that you could buy a little something to surprise your boyfriend with. Not for any sort of special occasion, but you enjoy surprising Tōdō with little things when you could. His reaction whenever you present him with some trinket or snack is one of your favorite things in the world, especially since he’s always so animated. You would think he’s playing it up to boost your ego with how overdramatic he can be, but you know that your boyfriend is simply like that.

You feel nearly defeated, ready to leave the store empty handed until you see something in your peripheral vision that makes you instantly perk up. There’s a plain binder propped open in the midst of a sea of Takada-chan merch, displaying an array of photo-cards of her.

Tōdō already has quite a few of her photo-cards, even carrying one in his wallet alongside a picture of you, but his collection of her photo-cards is small in comparison to the rest of her other merchandise that he's amassed throughout the years. You only hope that you can find a photo-card that he doesn't already have and doesn't break the bank for you.

You carefully flip through the plastic sleeves containing the photo-cards. You'd hate to accidentally damage them in any way. Tōdō was too rough once, too excited at the prospect of purchasing a Takada-chan photo-card, that he accidentally damaged a whole sleeve full of them. The amount he had to pay in damages that day makes you shudder just thinking about it.

Your eyes scan over the photo-cards as you try and recall which photo-cards Tōdō already has in his possession.

He already has this one, already has that one, already has this one too…

Your eyes light up when they land on one that you know he doesn't have yet, and if you're remembering correctly, he mentioned wanting this one as well. You're pretty sure he shoved his phone in your face to show you how another photo-card collector had it in their possession, but wasn't willing to trade or sell it to him no matter how much he flooded their DMs with vague threats. He ended up blocked after that.

You’re even more delighted when you read the little white sticker with the price in the corner of the plastic sleeve and realize the photo-card is well-within your budget for a little gift for your boyfriend. With the utmost caution, you gently slip the photo-card out of its slot from within the binder, cradling it carefully in your palm. Once you’re sure the photo-card is safely in your possession, you lift your head up, craning your neck around as you search for the photo-card holder area of the store.

As soon as you spot it, you make your way over. Presented with so many options, you’re now faced with the difficult decision of what photo-card holder you should buy for Tōdō. He’ll be pleased with anything you get him, but you want him to like what you get him, not because it simply came from me, but because he genuinely likes it. That means you need to find something that you (and Tōdō) will find cute but not overwhelmingly so.

You stand there for awhile, mentally comparing and contrasting photo-card holder versus photo-card holder until you finally decide on one that you think will suffice. You pluck your chosen photo-card holder from where it's hanging on the wall, turning it over and over in your hand, inspecting to make sure it's in perfect condition. It's a soft plastic photo-card holder with black stars of varying sizes covering the front's borders and the entirety of the back. It's simplistic enough, but still cute, meaning that Tōdō will (hopefully) like it.

After making sure once more that the photo-card holder and the photo-card itself are in pristine condition, you make your way over to the cashier, paying once it's your turn to check out and then exiting the store, more than satisfied with your unexpected purchase. Giddiness floods your system as the door to the shop closes behind you. You can't wait to surprise Tōdō.

With your free hand, you dig your phone out of your pocket, opening the messaging app to shoot your boyfriend a quick text, asking if you can swing by his place in an hour. You don't even have a chance to exit out of the application before you receive a response from him.

aoi ♡ : Is that even a question? You're free to come over always.

You huff. Of course your boyfriend would say something like that. If it was up to Tōdō, you would probably never leave his place. You quickly reply back, informing him that it’s polite to ask and that you’ll be over soon before closing the app and slipping your phone back into your pocket. You readjust your grip on the bag containing the goodies for your boyfriend. A small smile graces your lips.

Time for you to make your way to Tōdō’s now.

The commute to Tōdō’s place doesn’t take long, and sooner than you know it, you’re at his front door. You raise a fist to knock, startling when the door swings open right before your fist can make contact. You place a hand over your chest, willing your racing heart to slow before tossing a glare at the offender standing in the doorway.

“Aoi, you scared me half to death!”

“Sorry,” he responds, entirely non-apologetic as a grin spreads across his face. He takes a step towards you, bundling you up in his arms in one easy swoop. You make an undignified sound at the sudden action, but you quickly relax in Tōdō’s hold. The familiar and comforting scent of his cologne infiltrates your senses, and you can’t help but squeeze him a little tighter. “I missed you babe.”

You laugh lightly, pulling away so you can look at Tōdō, who still has a wide grin on his face. “We just saw each other earlier this week, Aoi.”

“And? I can’t miss you when you’re not around?” The corner of his lips pull into a frown, prompting you to playfully roll your eyes.

You sympathetically pat him on the bicep. “Of course you can.”

When you’re met with nothing but an expectant look, you squeeze Tōdō’s bicep and huff in slight amusement. “And I obviously missed you as well. How could I not miss my lovely boyfriend after spending so much time apart?” Your hand glides up from Tōdō’s bicep to gently caress his cheek, which he leans into. Your lips curl into a small smile.

You may be teasing Tōdō, but you did truly miss him as well. The two of you stand there for a bit just enjoying the moment.

“Now, are you going to invite me in or are we going to spend all day out on your doorstep?”

Your words quickly spur Tōdō into action. He grabs the hand resting on his face and entwines it with his own, dragging you inside his place. You stumble a bit (Tōdō sometimes forgets his own strength), but you manage to regain your balance as the door closes behind you both.

Much to Tōdō’s dismay, you let go of his hand to take off your shoes, placing them on the shoe rack before sliding on the slippers designated as yours. They’re of a silly pattern, but Tōdō insisted on getting matching pairs, and well. Who are you to deny him?

“What’s in the bag?” Tōdō questions, pointing a finger at the bag in your hand as he follows you into the living room area of his apartment.

You plop down onto the couch, tucking your feet beneath you before patting the cushion right beside you. Tōdō sits down next to you, his thigh pressing against yours and an arm around the back of the couch.

“A surprise,” you simply say.

His eyes light up.

“For me?”

You huff. You consider teasing Tōdō, but you nod, replying “Yes, for you, baby.”

He crowds into your space, nearly squishing you against the arm of the couch. His eyes shine brightly with unbridled excitement. “Can I open it right now?”

You hold the bag up between you. “Go ahead, baby.” Before Tōdō can grab the bag from your hand, you warn him, “It’s nothing too big, so don’t get too excited.”

He rolls his eyes as he takes the bag from you. “I’ll cherish anything you get me no matter how big nor how small it may be.”

“Okay Romeo, go ahead and open your gift then.” You wave your hand, urging him to open the bag. Although you did give Tōdō a warning that you didn’t get him anything too big, you have a strong feeling that he’ll like what you got him.

It doesn’t take Tōdō long to open the bag. As soon as his eyes land on its contents and his brain processes what he’s looking at, he makes a noise that sounds almost like a squeal. His hands are shaking as he carefully takes out the Takada-chan photo-card and the accompanying photo-card holder out of the bag. The plastic bag drifts to the floor, now forgotten.

When Tōdō finally tears his eyes away from the photo-card that he’s cradling oh so gently to look at you, his eyes are shiny with wetness. His lower lip wobbles.

“Babe, have I told you that I love you and that you’re the best partner a man could ever ask for?”

You smile, reaching out to place a hand around the back of Tōdō’s neck. “I’m glad you like your little gift, Aoi.”

His eyes nearly bulge out of their sockets. “Babe, I love it. Are you kidding me? I’ve been trying to trade or buy this photo-card for so long now. I can’t believe you found it.”

Tōdō carefully places the photo-card and the photo-card holder you’ve bought for him on the table in front of the couch before turning back towards you to engulf you in a tight hug. You yelp as you're suddenly pushed back onto the couch. Your hands cling to Tōdō's shoulders as he slides a hand behind your head to make sure you don't bump it against the arm of the couch.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” he repeats over and over, littering kisses wherever he can on your bare skin. He presses his lips to your neck in chaste kisses before moving onto your face, kissing your forehead, nose, and cheeks over and over before he finally presses a kiss to your lips.

"Thanks, babe." He says once more, pressing another kiss to your lips. You slide your arms from his shoulders to wrap them around his neck, pulling him closer to you. Tōdō bends to your will, but is careful to not crush you beneath his weight.

You lean up to kiss him this time, and he chases your lips when you pull away, making you giggle lightly.

"Anything for you, Aoi," you softly say. You're sure that you have a terribly lovesick expression on your face, but Tōdō isn't faring much better. A small smile tugs at your lips.

You'll gladly buy Tōdō little gifts for the rest of your lives if it means you'll get a reaction like this from him every time.

[pommpuriinn]

ㅤㅤ⁔⁔ ۟ㅤ ⊰ ㅤ ۫ㅤ 𑁤ㅤ ۪ㅤATHENA’S JOURNEY IN ILANDㅤ֗ ⸃⸃

᱈ ۫ ﹏ 𐀓synopsis››› ִ ࣪ - many highlights of Athena’s journey during land and what got her where she is now, enhypen.

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ the camera slowly pans up to Athena making her way down the trail heading towards the iland building. “Wow I’m really in the middle of nowhere.” Athena chuckled softly while walking up to the huge front door

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ Athena was greeted with a moving stage and seeing all the other trainees watching her with shocked expressions, mostly liking because she’s a female trainee

“it’s a girl!”

“Is she going to be the only one?”

“woah, she looks imitating.”

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ as the stage moved her closer to the other side she met eyes with Sunghoon, she hid her smile by rubbing her lips together. Athena’s favorite figure skater wants the same dream as her, it caught her by surprise. “Hello.” Athena bowed towards everyone and took the empty seat next to Jay

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ once it was Athena’s turn to perform everyone was on the edge of their seats and the second they heard the song everyone cheered making Zico, Rain, and Sihyuk laugh at their reaction. Athena was performing ‘Monster’ by Red Velvet’s Irene and Selugi, people that were and weren’t watching iland kept on reposting her performance video gaining lots of attention for Athena

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ Athena ended up passing the audition round with getting everyone’s vote to enter iland

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ throughout watching everyone’s performance Athena kept a poker face until people started messing up she would rise an eyebrow at them, which people thought it was funny and made it a reaction meme

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ Athena was very hesitant about joining iland because of the all boy group concept and her knowing that she was going to be the only female trainee

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ she was a bit awkward at first and always thought the boys would vote her off to ground, but it never happen since the boys really admired her talents and skills

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ many times the producers gave Athena compliments while giving harsh criticism to the other trainees, which Athena felt like there would always be tension after the producers would leave because they wouldn’t give the same harsh words to her and only them

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ Athena was very quiet during iland until Heeseung would constantly try to get Athena out of her shell sometimes it would work other times he respected that Athena just wasn’t comfortable enough to let loose

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ “Athena-ah let’s eat together?” Heeseung asked with big puppy like eyes. “Mmm…ok.” Athena shrugged, and got out of bed. Heeseung felt like he won the lottery because Athena only eats with Sunghoon and sometimes Jungwon

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ before Sunoo was in ground for the first part of iland Athena quickly got comfortable about him just because she liked his vibe and they instantly clicked and got along. She would sometimes cry because she wanted Sunoo in iland with her instead of ground, and he finally entered iland again she cried because of how much she missed him

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ during Athena’s time there she didn’t really get into arguments not even with Heeseung for center parts, they both knew in their heads they were rivals, but never had full arguments about it. Until most group members agreed to give Athena a part that K also wanted

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ “I think that part should go to me because I want to showcase my skills while you had many parts already. Plus since I’m older I should have that pick instead of you.” K argue to Athena. The room fell into silence everyone was taking little glances between the two. “I understand that, but this mission is about teamwork and having everyone agree on the same thing, plus doing what’s best for the team.” Athena’s voice was no longer soft and timid, it was stern company with sharp eyes staring down at K

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ “well it doesn’t matter about the team because we are going to be individually graded!” K was getting more irritated by the second. “The whole point is-you know what? Just do whatever you want then.” Athena stood up and walked out of the room. The members were shocked seeing Athena storm out of the room

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ thankfully Athena and K did have a heart to heart conversation with K immediately apologizing for his behavior, and Athena accepting it saying ‘no hard feelings’ Athena knew they’re in pressure inducing environment, and they’re going to lash out at one another at some point

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ whenever Athena would be shown on the big screen everyone would be blown away from her visuals. “Woah handsome Athena!” Sunoo called out. “She’s perfect.” Jay was in awe. “I’m jealous~” Jake whined.

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ Athena found it funny whenever the members would tease anyone would be staring too hard at Athena, it was mostly Sunghoon who they would tease a lot. Since everyone knew the two had some history before entering the trainee world (they were talking about Athena being a Sunghoon figure skater fan and meeting him)

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ once Sunoo finally was able to enter iland in part 2 both Athena and him became inseparable, even choosing to be in the same team together

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ chamber 5 Athena made the girls kick their feet because of how cute she was acting while performing, even all the boys were giggling when Athena came on camera

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ Athena would play tag with Niki during their break time so the cameras would just catch two blobs speed running throughout the whole place

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ the editors made a mini montage of Athena sleeping anywhere at anytime with the footage that her team members would take of her

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ Athena ran the practice room like the military when it came to singing live while dancing, she didn’t want to ever rely on backtrack

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ Athena global votes were very similar to Sunoo’s she was a fan favorite for sure because of her constant help towards her team members making sure no one was behind, along with her own amazing skills and visuals. Lots of female fans started crushing over Athena

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ during the last episode once Athena’s name was called to be in the final line up she fell to her knees, it was like the huge pressure of debuting was lifted off her shoulders. The members gave Athena a big group hug welcoming her into Enhypen

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ “don’t cry noona!” Jungwon wiped Athena’s tears, while still hugging her. “I never seen you cry this much Athena-ah.” Jake rubbed her back. “She held it all in.” Jay patted Athena’s head affectionately. When the other team members cried because someone got eliminated she would be the first there to comfort them, so now it’s their turn to care for Athena like she always did for them

𖥨᩠ׄ݁ iland was not an easy experience for Athena, but it did help her open up and meet new people who she can call her family

[exactlycleverpirate]

Master Post

For easier navigation, see the links below to my various Love and Deepspace Content. More under the cut. Lots of spoilers throughout.

Also, I am willing to take requests, if you want me to write or post something from the game, theorize about a particular aspect, or request a fic. I will try to write it up as I have time and inspiration. I make no promises though. Rafayel is my favorite (obviously), but I like them all. Just my preference, but I will only write one LI x MC pairings. No poly relationships or OCs for me. I'll consider NSFW requests, but nothing with minors, dubcon, noncon, etc.

Timelines (and related in game content):

Timeline from Xavier's Perspective Part 1 and Part 2.

Old Timeline

Rafayel's Timeline Redux Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7.

Rafayel's Timeline Redux Repost (All in one post)

Proposed Timeline for MC

Trying to Make Sense of Rafayel's Timeline (old)

Love and Deepspace: the Story So Far Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4.

Journey Seeker

The Necklace

Doctor Bios

Love and Deepspace Prologue

Love and Deepspace Chapter 8 Epilogue

Repeating Pattern

Other In-Game Content:

Failing a Deepspace Trial with Rafayel

Cute Emojis and Max Pokes with Rafayel

Rafayel Affinity Level: 69, 70, 71

Happy Birthday Rafayel!

Rafayel Humming Cropped

Rafayel's Lvl 70 Secret Time "Treasure"

Rafayel Text Combat Rating

Rafayel's Teary Emoji

Theories and Observations:

Motifs in Love and Deepspace

Myth Ending Thoughts

Half-baked Theories

Eternal Sleep

Rafayel Tho

Rafayel's Expressions

Reactions to Injuries

Rafayel Event Ending

What Happened to Lemuria and Rafayel

Why Did Rafayel Do That?

Primary Conflict

Wavyleaf Sea Lavender (probably really Forget-Me-Nots)

Wild Theories About Rafayel

Jealousy

(Over) Analyzing the Love and Deepspace Theme Song

Rafayel Wants to be Wanted

Theories About Xavier and Caleb

Rafayel REALLY Wants to Marry You

Rafayel's Birthday Card Thoughts

Behind the Ice

Mt Eternal/Tower of Thorns Discussion

Who Met MC First

Theories About the Creatio, Philos’s Core, and Rafayel's Heart

Fanfics

Aeternum Vinculum

Tipsy Confession

Wholehearted

Fanfic/Headcanon Requests

Fanfic/Headcanon Request!

Angsty Fanfic/Headcanon Request Filled (here) (here) (here) (here)

NSFW Fanfic Request

SFW Fanfic/Headcanon Request Filled (here)

Rafayel Fanfic Request

Just For Fun

How Rafayel Sings

Relax Time with Rafayel

Rafayel Board

Virgin or Not?

Rafayel's Tears

Rafayel Playlist

UM WHAT

So are we going to talk about this?

How old is Rafayel?

My Boys

Boast Post

Songspiration

Follow Up to Ebb and Flow

For the girl constantly trying to get herself killed meme

Rafayel Spotify Playlist

Rafayel Threw the Game

My Current 5* Levels

Rafayel I will not hurt you RP

So Cute!

[my-rose-tinted-glasses]

Rose Recaps 2023 - Korea

I started with Japan because this year it gave me everything I could possibly want. Korea gave me some very nice surprises. Let's go.

The one that had me question if watching it was good for my mental health.

The Eighth Sense

Much like what I said about Tokyo in April is... it was not a good decision on my part to watch this one live. I related way too much to Jae Won and I wasn't in a specially good place at the time. However, I love it so much. I have rewatched it since then and it's such an incredible journey.

I think they used the time very efficiently and they didn't try to skip too many steps to make it a happy ending. I would be okay without any redemption for those two but on the plus side the other friends were brilliant.

Favourite Moment

The one that came out of nowhere

Sing My Crush

This show came out all at once and I had no idea it was coming. But I'm so glad it did. There were I think 4 kbls that came out all at once this year. And with the exception of this one, they were all worse because of it. First of all I fell in love with the song instantly and Han Tae immediately after. He's so cute and in love and it takes him way too long to realise it, but his devotion to Ba Ram is unquestionable from the beginning.

Favourite Moment:

The one that was a sequel but not really

Love Class 2

The first couple of episodes I wasn't sure about this one. The first couple of episodes were kinda of confusing, starting with such a dark scene on the roof, and so many different types of relationships to keep track of.

Joo Hyuk was my instant favourite from the beginning. The way he was instantly smitten and committed from the first moment he saw the TA was delightful.

It took me longer to warm up to Min Woo and Maru. But I love their arc. Even the jealousy experiment didn't bother me, Maru needed a push. Much like Lee Hyun said, it was so obvious.

Lee Hyun and Kim An were the last ones to reach me. I think the whole backstory around Kim An muddied the waters a bit and I'm not sure it was necessary to have so much of it, but I did love that when Kim An gave in, he did so with no reservations.

Favourite Moments:

The one that had me considering moving to a farm

Love Tractor

Ok. Not really, But look how pretty. Funny story, I actually rewatched part of this show in an orchard not that much different from the one here. I was on holiday in the countryside and just thought it would be incredibly amusing.

Anyway. I love Ye Chan an unreasonable amount. He's so dramatic and so earnest. And honestly if I ever had to move to a place like this I think I would pretty much have the same reaction as Seon Yul. I just want my peace and quiet.

But I really like their dynamic all throughout and considering the time restraints I thought that the development of Yul's feelings was done quite well.

Favourite Moment:

The other one with Love in the title

Love Mate

There was absolutely no reason for me to like this show has much as I did. Ha Ram should've bothered me. This whole concept should've annoyed me. The whole separation bit should've made me angry. Why didn't it? I have no clue. But I loved it. I've watched it more than once and love it every time.

Favourite Moment

The one with coffee and pottery

Unintentional Love Story

I adore this show. Pick an episode, any episode, I love it. Was it perfect? No. Was the kissing the thing that made it not perfect? Perhaps. I love it nonetheless.

[Confession time. Is there one thing about this show that bothers me no matter how many times I rewatch it? Yes. Is it the kissing? No. Is it something absolutely and stupidly tiny that only I could possibly be that bothered by it? Yes. What is it? " Let me at least do this." It's such a great moment. But why did whoever was in charge of the editing felt the need to show us the scene that we saw 17 minutes before? (it's really 17 minutes and 40 seconds, I checked because I'm nowhere near sane). Did they thing we forgot about it in that time? It lessens the moment and it insults the audience. I hate it an unreasonable amount. ]

There are so many moments in this show that I love. The four mains are amazing, the confession scene by HoTae in the coffee shop floored me, the writing in the sand moment was delightful and the soundtrack is my favourite of the year.

Favourite Moment:

The one that was perfect

Our Dating Sim

What's there to say. There's nothing wrong here. They are delightful, I had a great time with the video game format at the end of the episodes, their chemistry was amazing, and Ki Tae is my favourite boy. Also, my second favourite soundtrack this year.

Favourite Moment

See you next time with Thailand I think.

Thanks for reading💜

[nahoney22]

Hello there! Can I please get number 6 with Cal Kestis? That prompt reminds me of the song “Shut Up and Dance” by Walk Two Moons.

Dance the Night Away 🌊

🫧 Pairing: Cal Kestis X Gender Neutral Reader

Prompts:

“Dance with me?”

Summary: With everything what’s happened, you and Cal deserve some time to relax. And what better way to spend it by having a little dance together?

warnings: Fluff, platonic relationship, female reader 😊

Authors note: I’ve not played the newest game yet nor have I played the first one in YEARS so steered away from that story as I don’t know anything about it yet! Enjoy @sleepycreativewriter sorry it’s short! ❤️

In the quiet hours of the night, amid the soft hum of the ship's engines, you found yourself lost in thought. Finding a place to lay low for a while where nobody seemed to know who any of you are, you stood by the viewport of the Mantis, gazing out at the twinkling stars that stretched endlessly before you.

It had been a long journey and the scars and achy bones that littered your body was proof of that. You sigh, rubbing the tiredness away from your eyes when a voice beside you makes you jump: “mind if I join you?”

You turned to Cal and shook your head. “Not at all. I could use the company.” Standing together in comfortable silence, the only sound is the faint whisper of the stars outside until Cal spoke up once more. “What’s on your mind?”

“Honestly? Not a lot. I’m just exhausted.” You admit, folding your arms over your chest as you give him a wry smile. “We’ve been doing a lot lately. It’s nice to just… chill. You know?”

“I don’t remember the last time I ever just relaxed.” Cal admits, a wave of realisation hitting him. “Perks of being hunted for exiting I guess.” He jokes with a small chuckle.

You rolled your eyes playfully and smiled lightly but Cal isn’t happy with your reaction. So quietly, he moved to the control panel, hit a few buttons and they stepped back. You didn’t question what he was doing until a soft melody began to play from the ship's speakers.

You turned to Cal, surprise flickering in your eyes. "Did you...?"

A smile adorned his features as he extended a hand, a silent invitation. "Shall we dance, madam?" he offered, a mock chivalry in his demeanor.

Your laughter bubbled, a fleeting moment of levity. You reciprocated with a playful curtsy. "Indeed, good Sir."

It was an unexpected invitation, but one that warmed your heart. Without hesitation, you took Cal's hand, feeling the familiar warmth of his touch. Together, you moved to the center of the ship, starting with some awkward swaying to the music's rhythm. “I can’t dance well.”

“That makes two of us,” Cal hums but soon, you both get the hang of it. Kind of.

He steps on your toes and yours on his, occasionally bumping into the walls and tables. “You’ve got two left feet, Cal!” You grin in amusement, earning a laugh in return.

For a moment, all worries and burdens were forgotten. Both of you had lost yourselves in the simple joy of music and movement. Cal's presence was a steady anchor, his hand firm yet gentle as he guided you through the steps.

“See? You’re a natural.” He compliments, giving you a quick twirl.

“I’m just trying to keep up.” You admit a little embarrassedly although the dance together was endearing.

With each spin, the weight of both of your responsibilities seemed to lift, replaced by a sense of joy and freedom. The music had changed tempo to a more upbeat rhythm, the two of you simply letting your hair down and dancing like nobody was watching.

Laughter rang out throughout the ship as you both reminisced about the past if a song reminded you of something that came on. You felt quite emotional because for once, there was peace. Cal was smiling, you were smiling, the others were sleeping peacefully. You truly felt happy.

Eventually, the music dwindled and so did both of your energies. As you sat together, catching your breath after the impromptu dance, you felt a sense of peace settle over you like a comforting blanket. Turning to Cal, a grateful smile tugs at the corners of your lips.

"Thanks, I really needed that," you admitted, voice soft with sincerity.

Cal returned the smile, his eyes warm with understanding. "Me too. It's nice to just be normal. Even if it's just by dancing."

Feeling a surge of affection, you leaned into Cal's side, accepting his silent invitation for a hug. His arm wrapped around your shoulders, offering comfort and support.

"It's a shame moments like this can't last forever," you whisper after a few moments, feeling a pang of sadness at the thought.

Cal nodded in solemn agreement, his gaze turning thoughtful. "I know. But, we all have each other. And sometimes, that's all that matters."

In that moment, as you sat together in the quiet embrace of the ship, surrounded by the gentle hum of the engines and the soft glow of the stars, you knew you had each other.

Masterlist

Tags: @littlefeatherr @kaitou2417 @eyecandyeoz @captxin-rex @jesseeka @theroguesully @ladykatakuri @arctrooper69 @padawancat97 @staycalmandhugaclone @ko-neko-san n @echos-girlfriend @fiveshelmet @dangraccoon @plushymiku-blog @pb-jellybeans @nunanuggets @sleepycreativewriter @erellenora @zippingstars87 @ezras-left-thumb @the-rain-on-kamino @lamiliani

[halucynator]

The surprise

Pairing: Mattheo Riddle x fem!reader

Request (I wasn't specifically requested this but I wanna write it. This was inspired by @annaisabookworm's post xx) : I LOVE MY FAVORITE FANFICTION WRITERS ON TUMBLR BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I WANNA SEE WRITTEN?! I WANT A FANFICTION WHERE MATTHEO OR THEODORE TAKE THE READER TO THE ERAS TOUR AND SHE WEARS THE BLURPLE MINDNIGHTS BODY SUIT COUSTUME AND THEY HAVE A CHAIR T SHIRT ON (ikyk) AND THEIR JAW DROPS AND ARE LITERALLY IN SHOCK ALL NIGHT AND THE READER AND HAVE HAVE THE BEST TIME EVER. AND SHES A HUGE SWIFTIE WHOS HYPERFIXATED ON THE ERAS TOUR AND HE SUPRISES HER WITH FRONT ROW TICKETS- ITD BE SO CUTE-

Warnings: I don't think there is any lmk if there are.

A/n: this post is for @annaisabookworm (and anyone else who's reading this lol). I hope you like ittt 💞 this text is full of Taylor Swift song like puns or jokes or wtv (idk) so I apologize in advance lmao

In the midst of the swirling excitement that is the ERAS Tour, you found yourself standing at the entrance of the bustling concert venue, heart racing with anticipation. Beside you stood Mattheo, your boyfriend, who had guaranteed you an unforgettable night. You were dressed in the most enchanting attire—a blurple midnights body suit dress (which Mattheo had bought for you saying you would look stunning in) which was very well bejeweled - in the words of Taylor Swift and your boyfriend- capturing the essence of Taylor Swift's iconic style. And not to forget, your boyfriend sporting the chair T-shirt that only true fans would recognize.

Two weeks ago you wouldn't even have imagined coming here. Thanks to your boyfriend and now the King of your Heart, Mattheo, you could make your dreams come true. You were going on and on about how much you wanted to go and Mattheo had to give in and buy you tickets. He was going to buy you era tickets anyway, but this made him even more happy for his decision.

As the pulsating energy of the crowd enveloped you, the gates opened, revealing a world of lights, music, and magic. Your breath hitched as you walked through to the other side of the door, feeling like you were about to embark on the journey of a lifetime. Mattheo grinned at your reaction, his eyes dancing with a mix of mischief and delight. Little did you know, he'd been plotting a surprise that would take this night to a whole new level.

With a shared glance that spoke volumes, you and Mattheo made your way to your seats. As the first notes of Taylor's song filled the air, your heart swelled with emotion. But it was not just the music that left you in awe—it was Mattheo's expression. His jaw dropped as he took in the dazzling stage, the dynamic choreography, and the sheer magnitude of the production. His shock was mirrored in your own astonishment, and the two of you exchanged a wide-eyed, incredulous look.

Throughout the night, as Taylor Swift commanded the stage with her powerful presence, you and Mattheo were captivated, utterly lost in the enchantment of the moment. The delicate vocals seemed to transport you to another world. Each time you stole a glance at Mattheo, you were met with a mixture of joy, amazement, and gratitude. It was as if the two of you shared a secret language—a language of shared fandom, love, and an understanding that words could never fully capture.

As the concert reached its crescendo, Mattheo's excitement becomes palpable. He leaned closer to you, a sparkle in his eyes, and whispered, "Are you ready for one more surprise?" Your heart skipped a beat, curiosity mingling with anticipation. And then he reveals it—the pièce de résistance of the night—front-row tickets. Your eyes widen in disbelief as you take in the golden passes clutched in his hand. The surprise is so unexpected, so beyond your wildest dreams, that for a moment, time seemed to stand still and you forgot to breathe. The happiness you felt in that moment was indescribable.

"Tell me why, what I did to deserve such a perfect boyfriend." You asked, looking at him.

"Oh, it's just the way I love you."

The realization sinks in: you're not just witnessing the ERAS Tour from the front row; you're living it, breathing it, and becoming a part of it. Having front row seats hits different. As the final notes reverberated through the air, Mattheo's grin was infectious. His hand found yours, and together, you stood, cheering and applauding, celebrating not just the night but how far you'd come.

As the concert came to an end, the world seemed a little brighter, a little more alive. The memory of the evening was etched into your heart, a tale of love, surprises, and a music that binds you and Mattheo in a way that's uniquely yours.

"I can't believe it's time to go." You said sad about it ending.

"yeah. So did you like it?" Mattheo asked.

"Long story short it was the best day of my entire life." You said.

And with that you exited the venue.

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚　˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚　˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*＊*•̩̩͙

Thanks for reading! hope you liked itttt! I love this idea sm xx have a nice dayy

[miguelswifey04]

we got barbie movie w miguel now we need noir to watch it he’ll be pointing at all the vibrant colors like 😱😱😱😱

WHOEVER COOKING UP THIS IDEAS, I LOVE YOU 🫂🌱🌈

with a sense of delightful irony, you and Spider-Noir found yourselves in a movie theater, about to embark on a rather unexpected cinematic experience - the Barbie movie. the contrast between the vibrant, fantastical world of Barbie and the monochrome universe he hailed from was as stark as night and day.

as the lights dimmed and the screen flickered to life, you couldn't help but steal glances at Spider-Noir, curious to see his reaction to this colorful world. he, too, seemed intrigued, his eyes scanning the screen as the vivid shades of pink, purple, and blue danced in front of him.

throughout the movie, he pointed out each vibrant hue, his unique perspective adding a layer of appreciation to the colorful scenes. with every vivid burst of color, he marveled at the bright landscapes and the shimmering Barbie outfits, a sense of wonder slowly dawning in his eyes.

“darling, look at those golden locks," he whispered, nudging you gently as Barbie's iconic blonde hair cascaded across the screen. "in my monochrome world, such vibrant hues are but a distant dream. but here, they come to life, as if painted across a vibrant canvas."

you couldn’t help but smile, caught up in the charm of his observations. it was a stark reminder of the stark contrast in their worlds, and how beauty could take on such different forms.

as the movie progressed, Spider-Noir's curiosity turned into genuine enjoyment, a childlike excitement shining through his dark eyes. he reveled in the lively songs, the whimsical storytelling, and the joy that radiated from the screen. his laughter mingled with yours, as the movie took you on a colorful journey that transcended your expectations.

by the time the credits rolled, Spider-Noir turned to you, a wide grin spreading across his face. "thank you for sharing this with me, my dear. i never thought a Barbie movie could hold such wonder and joy. the vibrancy of this world, even for a fleeting moment, has breathed new life into my monochrome existence."

in that moment, you realized that sometimes the simplest of experiences could bridge the gap between two worlds. it was a reminder of the beauty in embracing the unfamiliar, and the endless possibilities of love and adventure that awaited you both. as you left the theater, hand in hand, you carried with you the memory of this unique escapade, ready to explore even more vibrant horizons together.

and just maybe, in the midst of the colorful tapestry of your shared experiences, Spider-Noir would find a new appreciation for the splashes of color that awaited him, not only in the world of Barbie but also within the depths of your heart.

———

a/n: he’s so dreamy like he would definitely call you his darling, honey, hun, sweetheart, sweetstuff, sunshine 🫂

[btsyeonu]

👣. !!: THE AIRPORT ENDEAVOUR ‧₊˚

↺ 💌 ࣪ ˖ ∿ author’s note , @ sooo towards the end it may be a lil bit confusing but! jk and yeonu’s story will be addressed in another chapter :]

SUMMARY : after rumours of yeonu’s transgender status spreads, he is bombarded at the airport by transphobic journalists and fans. the rest of the tannies help him through this situation and jeongguk finally looks past his tantrum.

WORD COUNT : 2.0k words — PAIRING : kim yeonu x maknae line ft. bts (sorta ?)

GENRE : angst , comfort — WARNINGS : blatant transphobia (ofc) , panic attacks , descriptions/hints of internalised transphobia

Yeonu occupied a car with Taehyung and Jimin during their first airport trip of 2O16. There were three cars in total, the second occupied by Hoseok and Jeongguk, and the third by Seokjin, Yoongi and Namjoon.

“How are you feeling, Yeo?” Jimin asks quietly, a little nervous, a little on edge. He sits to the left side by the window, eyebrows downturned with a cloud of gloom hanging over the lot of them. Yeonu keeps his eyes on his feet, boucing them, fidgeting, with his hood pulled up and his face mask pulled over his lips and nose even before they’d reached their destination. He couldn’t face either of them, instead lifting his hand in a thumbs up.

On Taehyung’s end ( who sits on the opposite side of Yeonu, to his right ), he doesn’t say much either. It’s not because he’s at a loss for words at the moment, but something tells him Yeonu would appreciate a more silent gesture right now, and so his head droops over the smaller’s own in a comforting embrace.

“There’s probably gonna be a lot of people, right?” Yeonu asks to no one in particular, his voice barely reaching above a croaky whisper.

A lot had been going on over the last few days, and so his voice hasn’t been in the greatest of conditions lately. Yeonu doesn’t want to get into it.

“I won’t let them touch you.” Taehyung’s response is immediate, his voice resembling a low growl that startles Jimin into closing his mouth before he’d even gotten a chance to answer. Taehyung has been a ferocious spirit throughout this entire predicament so far, always ready to stand up for Yeonu against misspeaks and somehow becoming even clingier than previously so. It makes Yeonu crack a small smile beneath his mask.

“We’re all here for you. Manager-nim has also taken care of the security, and we’ll be right by your side the entire time.” Jimin assures, “The 95 line can be a very competent human shield.” He jokes, and Taehyung nods his head from atop Yeonu’s own before he goes in for a hug, an arm wrapping around the smaller’s waist.

During times like this, Yeonu’s mind drifts to wonder whether he may be overthinking everyone’s potential reactions at the airport. At least that is until he recalls the vile slurs thrown at him over the internet, articles of slander and misinformation about what it truly means to be trans, claiming he’s mentally ill, that he needs to be locked away, even before he’s actually come out and revealed his identity.

He could just hide it though, couldn’t he?

He has that choice, to deny all of these rumours and allegations and attempt to fabricate some sort of lie about the picture. It would be the safer bet, but he’s already come out to his members—he had to. His image has been tainted with ruin.

No, no, let’s not think about this.

He doesn’t have to answer anyone’s questions right now. All he needs to do is safely board his flight to Taiwan with the boys. That’s all he needs to focus on, and that’s what he’ll do. Board the flight to Taiwan safely.

The remainder of the journey in the car is quiet, save for the odd joke or reminiscent memory of pre-debut events that transpired to make Yeonu crack a smile. By this point, Taehyung had also pulled out his wired earphones, slipping one into Yeonu’s ear and using the other for himself.

“You don’t get to see the songs,” He pouts out, pulling his phone close to his chest, “This is my special playlist. I don’t just share it with anyone, you know.” He states, and Yeonu hums, amused.

“I’ll probably recognise something.” He says quietly, quite the big music enthusiast. Jimin is texting away on his own phone for a moment before switching it off and turning to face the other two, palm supporting his head. His features are soft, at ease with Taehyung’s raspy voice distracting Yeonu from his troubles.

“You’ve been listening to a lot of jazz recently,” The oldest of the trio says passively to Taehyung, and Yeonu hums, agreeing. It’s a step up from complete silence, accompanied by some commentary every now and again. “Don’t make him listen to that. He’ll fall asleep. Are you gonna carry him then?”

“I’ll take full responsibility.” Taehyung says without batting an eye at either of them, still wholly focused on finding a specific song. Yeonu can’t see it from this angle, but he can vividly imagine the subconscious pout that rests on Taehyung’s lips; a habit of his that’s always melted even the coldest of mountains.

“Aha!” Taehyung cries his victory, and soon sweet melodies filter through the earphone as Yeonu attempts to catch the name of the song. It’s barely five seconds in before he’s guessed it.

“Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door? The original version.” He murmurs, “Good one.”

Taehyung whines as Jimin laughs. “How do you know every song?” He asks, baffled yet in clear awe. It’s almost as if Yeonu is a walking library brimming with the world’s music, able to catch songs from every decade all the way down to its original composer and singer. It’s seriously impressive.

“I just like music.” Yeonu says simply, earning the attention of Park Jimin who rests his hands on Yeonu’s shoulders.

“And that’s why we need you. You’re a musical prodigy.” He says, massaging the male’s shoulders. “We’re never letting you go.”

AIRPORT ───── ARRIVAL

The vicinity of Incheon Airport is absolutely packed and buzzing with chaos when the boys make their arrival.

Thankfully, their car windows are tinted so people can’t take photographs as they park by the side of the road, immediately swarmed with cameras and screaming fan girls. The journey here for Yeonu had started with palpable anxiety initially, which was then slowly tended to by Jimin and Taehyung who had commenced a game of ‘How Many Songs Can Yeonu Guess Until We Reach The Airport.’

That moment is now over, and it’s clearly catching up to Yeonu whose heavy breathing starts up once more, nerves jittery, stomach tight with tension. His eyes are wide and fearful; a deer caught in the headlights of oncoming death.

The members had all agreed upon the 95z coming out last, deeming it the safest way to deal with the mob whose attention would be diverted for a few crucial minutes, giving everyone time to make a fortified shield around Yeonu.

Namjoon, Seokjin and Yoongi are the first members to exit their vehicle, car parked at the very front while Jimin, Yeonu and Taehyung were the last to arrive on scene. The cameras are shoved into the three members faces almost instantly, and the security struggle to completely push them away to give the boys room to breathe. It only heightens Yeonu’s fear as he watches the swarm from his seat, scrambling unintentionally until his back hits Taehyung’s chest. The male rests his hand on Yeonu’s arm, squeezing.

“Here. Put these on for when you get out.” Taehyung says firmly, his bubbly demeanour from earlier now dissipated into something dour as he plugs both of the earphones into Yeonu’s ear, connecting the wire to Yeonu’s phone, and then opening up his Spotify. He had been able to aegyo his way into finding out the male’s password, something which Yeonu still hasn’t decided to update to this day.

There was only one playlist on his account, consisting of every song he’s ever liked, and Taehyung plays exactly that, feeling quite thankful for the long play time. The volume isn’t ear piercingly loud, but it’s definitely enough to drown out Yeonu’s surroundings in a satisfactory manner. Taehyung signs, telling him to take deep breaths and to…

‘Leave it all up to me.’

Yeonu blinks rapidly, feeling a multitude of tears that he cannot possibly let out. Taehyung smiles so softly at him, a shining star that he wants to hug and disappear into, but Hoseok and Jeongguk have already begun to make their exit out of their car and now it’s so close. Jimin’s hand is on the handle of the car door and it’s much, much too close.

I can’t do this. How can I do this?

The other members have somehow managed to push their way through to where Jimin, Yeonu and Taehyung still remain within the confines of their car, and that’s when Jimin opens the door after giving Yeonu one last squeeze to his fist, telling him it’ll be okay.

The bombardment is unimaginable. Yeonu’s music plays at a volume where the noises of surroundings are muffled at best, but even he could hear the amplification of the screaming once he had fully stepped out onto the concrete flooring, tensed and unable to make eye contact with anyone.

A lot of the members encircle him without needing to be told at all; three up ahead, two on either side of him and two behind him. He doesn’t really know which member is standing where, and they don’t wait to take any pictures. The security uses a lot of brute force, more so than usual because Yeonu can see the way some fans are swaying backwards, falling and crashing into others as he inhales deeply, feeling apologetic.

It always takes them far longer than necessary to reach the terminals because of these airport fans. Yeonu just wishes they could make their trip and board the flight without so much hassle every time.

“Kim Yoonha-ssi! How much did you pay to try to become a man?”

And in that split second, in the midst of his current song fading out, he hears it and his body grows cold.

How did they come across his deadname?

“Kim Yoonha-ssi, did you get your breasts cut off at an early age? Why do you want to become a man when you’re a woman?”

They just keep coming. One after the other, and Yeonu has paused his playlist on his phone, hand skilled within the pocket of his jacket from years of muscle memory and practice. His heart clenches with stressful memories.

“Kim Yoonha! You’ll never be a real man! Leave Bangtan!”

Listening to hateful sentiments— true sentiments has Yeonu’s fist shaking, nostrils building up mucus and mouth drying up fast until something collides with his back and his eyebrows furrow, confused.

At first, he’d been expecting Taehyung. He knows the male was pretty adamant about his safety, so catch Yeonu’s surprise when he looks down to see the sleeves of a black hoodie wrapped around his waist, grip tight and protective, even almost possessive. This wasn’t Taehyung— no, Taehyung was adorning lighter colours, a brown coat, but he does know someone who is sporting black today.

Jeonggukie.

He can’t turn back to confirm it, but his heart jolts with felicity, and his eyes shimmer with newfound tears because Jeongguk was the last member he had expected to attach himself so closely to him like this even in a general setting, let alone in such a public one. The others seemed just as startled as Yeonu upon realising it soon after, but their eyes would crinkle into the beginnings of a smile beneath their mask, content.

Even in times of upset, Jeongguk’s natural instinct overpowered his feelings of betrayal, unable to stand by and just watch his hyung be slandered. Yeonu feels Jeongguk’s warmth wash over him, drowning out the transphobic slurs and insults of reporters and journalists as the maknae snuggles his face just above the crown of Yeonu’s head.

He seriously missed this clingy brat.

The boys venture further along the premises of the airport, and as the group finally arrive near the terminals, Yeonu has to say he’s at least grateful for the hate of a hundred masses bringing him his Jeongguk back.

“Took you long enough, dumbass.” Yoongi mutters to the youngest, and all of them laugh together for the first time that day. A family which had initially been impacted by a crack in the seams were going to be just fine.

💬 — YEONU’S TAGLIST.

@anqelws , @vizianary , @kaitieskidmore97 , @sann1e

[alexiswritingstuff]

A Man And His Personal Guard. 2/2

Pairing: Gustavo Fring x Male reader.

Summary: After finally arriving at the house, both you and Gustavo continue to try and get used to each other as the night progresses. And all is well until you make another one of your comments, this time causing Mr. Fring to try block you out, thinking that you couldn’t possibly mean anything that you say.

Until he gets hurt.

Warnings! mentions of an injury and blood.

Also be aware that there might be spelling mistakes and such.

A/N: omg I really such a writing summaries. Anyway, I finally got the time to finalises the part, and here it is! My first time writing a Male reader. 

I hope I made good references to the readers gender enough in this, and actually if anyone has any tips on how to do it better please let me know. I don’t know why it seems so difficult to me.

Enjoy reading! 

More Gustavo fics.

@marksassybanana​

previous part.

There has been many times in your life where it was threatened.

You had been through gun fights and fist fights, you have followed, sneaked up on, a multitude of dangerous people, and watched horrendous things play out in front of your eyes.

But somehow as you walked through the dimly lit rooms of none other than Gustavo Frings own home, with him about two steps in front of you at all times, it was the most tense you had ever felt.

Every movement your body made felt ridged as if you had to force yourself to do it. Your head spun in a way that closely resembled an owl to take in the new surroundings, though you were quick to face Mr. Fring when he stopped walking. 

It was then that you fully managed to process what you were seeing. 

“Whoa.”

You were stood in one of the doorways, practically gapping at the living room where everything looked like it had been neatly placed and organised. 

The look of the house from the outside was unknown to you, but with a singular glance at amount of space, and the interior, it was easy to tell that the owner was definitely not having financial problems.

Then again, it is owned by Gustavo Fring. What else did you expect?

There was some classical piece quietly humming through the room. Where it was coming from you couldn’t tell, but the attempt to find it fell short of when a voice broke through the song, “This is where, I believe, you will be spending most of your time.”

Your free hand found sanctuary underneath the material of the apron still worn, the warmness of your skin continuing to emanate within the pocket of your trousers. Your head nodded in acknowledgement. “I don’t think I will be complaining.”

“This place is... really nice.”

Mr. Fring mimicked your gesture, “Thank you,” A short smile then pressed at his lips as though it was filled with a sense of pride, “I picked out everything myself.” And it was.

The previous feeling that could even be described as fear was fading. Making way for something new that had you eager to continue the conversation, and this time not just because you needed to break the silence.

“Well, you have a good eye.” you expressed while your gaze continued it’s journey throughout the room. “And apparently a good taste too.”

To your right, there were about two rows of kitchen islands. The closest one was mostly empty, only a few items of decor placed along the surface, while the other looked more like it was owned by a chef. 

And behind that, between fuller counters, was the oven. A few pots already sat on the stove waiting to be heated.

The whole journey of being told that you would be going to this house, and then actually doing it, had your mind in such a frenzy that the thought of what the house itself would be like hadn’t even crossed your brain.

“Huh,” you blurted out after a moment, eyes still scanning over the different cooking equipment placed delicately within the cupboards and on the counter tops. “Who knew the owner of a restaurant would be a cook himself.”

It took a moment for there to be any response or reaction as the music began to seep back through your ears. And then you heard a laugh. 

Well, it was more of a huff of air, but it had your eyebrows raising nonetheless.

Mr. Frings eyes were already on yours by the time you looked in his direction. That smile from earlier was subtly curled on his lips, his gaze narrow, though not in suspicion.

“You already knew.”

Maybe it was the drastic difference of seriousness you had compared to him, or the opposite personalities clashing, that had Gustavo uncertain of your skill set. I mean, practically since you first started he had been testing your senses. Even if he got given a full reference of your abilities.

However, now, it seemed like he was finally starting to believe them. “How?”

There was almost a feeling of amusement residing in your chest upon looking at his expression. Mild wonder over a deduction he could’ve easily concluded himself.

You lightly shrugged your shoulders despite how smart you wanted to look in that moment and let your eyes flow back to set up, adjusting your grip on the clothes you still so desperately wanted to change into, “Well, I doubt a person would own a kitchen like that if they could only make a bowl of cereal.”

The comment had Mr. Fring doing the same huffed laugh as before and it had a grin begging to take over your face. Your posture even straightened, a sense of pride of your own flooding your system though you soon shook your head. “Actually, uh… It was earlier. Back at the restaurant.”

You could feel his sharp eyes on you once again. His stance was more relaxed, his hands now held in front of his body instead of behind. “The only times you left your office was to check around the building… and also to correct the people in charge of cooking the food.”

“The way you told them, the solutions you gave, anything, showed some form of culinary experience that wasn’t just from getting the brief for a job or lessons from school.” You met his gaze, an urge to take in a deep breath filling your lungs within an instant. “It’s from a lot of practice.”

The expression on Gustavo’s face remained regardless of how long you had spoken for. He really had taken you for granted.

“Very good.” he insisted through a much lighter voice and it had you just blinking for a moment. 

This entire day he had this look across his features. It was one that would dissipate whenever talking to customers, like it usually did, but the second they were gone, it resided. And the way he acted afterwards further emphasised it.

But now here he was, his gaze light and his lips curling. It had yourself mimic the same expression as you lightly bowed your head at his compliment. “You know, your face looks better like that. More handsome.”

As if someone just flicked some form of switch, and by the time you had blinked, that stoic expression he was known for in the business took over his features. It was almost startling, especially the way the muscles beneath his brows tensed. “Why do you have to say things like that?”

You blinked at him for a moment, struggling to adjust to the change of tone. “Like what?” Your eyebrows even furrowed, though you knew exactly what he meant.

“Like… that. Nonsense.”

“You think I’m lying?”

Gustavo’s body was now faced towards yours, the lines decorating his skin setting deeper. “What I think is that you need to understand the words that come out of your mouth.”

“But I do?” you pointed out, your arms crossing over your chest in a way that had the man in front of you almost scoffing.

“Sir,” Your head tilted lightly, eyebrows still furrowed in both disbelief and confusion, “Everything that I do has to have been done with a purpose, I mean-- I have to be thoughtful, in more way than one, about the way I do things so that no one and nothing gets comprised.”

“Why would the way I speak be any different?”

The music that had been long forgotten reached your ears once again as a silence layered between the walls. The two of you were stood facing each other, eyes glued on the opposite face as if trying to decipher a code.

And then Mr. Fring shook his head, breaking the eye contact by turning to the side as he began to move towards the kitchen previously being talked about. You couldn’t understand what was going on despite the fact that you could do so easily at any other moment. It was almost frustrating. 

If you were making him uncomfortable he would have shut you up ages ago, the same with if it made him angry, or upset.

So what the hell was it?

“Mr. Fring--”

“The bathroom is down the hall.”

Your foot stilled before it had properly lifted off of the ground. “What?”

“The bathroom.” He repeated, stopping himself in front of the fridge that was quite tall in comparison to his height. “You’ve been carrying around that set of clothes since you left restaurant, so, Mr. L/n…”

He gripped the handle, turning his head in you direction to meet your stunned gaze with a certain blankness to his expression. “If you would like to get changed, it is back down the hall we came through previously.”

“Just take a left instead of a right this time.”

And that was it. His attention went right back to the fridge as he now opened it, disappearing behind the silver door.

The pile of clothes was held between both of your hands. You were stood there like an innocent little animal, frozen in place, and only blinking like every five seconds as if something would happen if you made the wrong move.

“All right,” you began after a moment, clearing your throat before forcing yourself to start moving towards the hallway you first walked through, “Thank you, Sir.”

~

It was unclear how long you had been in the bathroom by the time you had actually began to rid yourself of the LPH uniform.

You had paced, practically recreated those angsty scenes in movies where they just stare at themselves in a mirror, all the while trying to adjust to the bright light above that bounced off of every surface.

These moments never usually bothered you, but that was because they never happened. Whenever someone made it clear that they weren’t keen on the way you acted, you backed off immediately and switched the approach had towards that person.

You had no idea what was going on with Mr. Fring and the worst thing was that you couldn’t just ask.

Asking him could elevate the situation, make it worse. That could then lead to losing a job and being on the bad side of Gustavo Fring. Something no one wants.

By now a headache was slowly forming from the furrow in your brow. Your fingers grasped the material of the trousers and, a little dramatically, yanked up the pant leg until it consumed your skin.

What the hell were you going to do?

It was replaying in your head. The way his face changed, how fast it switched, and his tone.

No. It wasn’t discomfort. Or anger. Like his question earlier, it was disbelief. 

But whether it was disbelief over the words being directed at him, or your audacity to say such things in the first place, was still amidst the unknown.

The tips of your fingers slightly stung due to your previous harshness, but nevertheless your trousers were on and zipped up.

A sigh passed through your lips as you grabbed the next item clothing. A plain black hoodie. You made sure that it was upside down, turning it the proper way so that you would get opening instead of a face full of fabric.

You lifted it over your head, the exhaustion from the previous day clear in the way that your muscles moved and tensed--

There was a muffled clatter from somewhere in the house.

However, that noise alone wasn’t the thing that set off your internal alert system. It was what came afterwards. A hiss.

“Mr. Fring?”

The hoodie was only half on your body in a way that meant your face was being engulfed by fabric. You couldn’t see. And trying to locate something during a moment of stress wasn’t exactly easy to do regardless of how much you trained.

So, within the next few seconds you found yourself stumbling through the bathroom, one hand held out to make sure that you wouldn’t end up with a comically large bump somewhere, while the other desperately clawed at your hoodie to bring it lower.

“Mr. Fring?” Your bare torso was layered with a coolness and when you managed to get into the hallway, and without really thinking about it, you began to jog, managing push your head far enough that it was brought to the face hole of the hoodie. 

“Sir? Is everything all right?”

By the time you ended up in the doorway to the living room your head was finally through the neck hole. Your eyes flickered around in a panic, your hands pulling the fabric down until your torso was completely covered.

There, stood in front of the farthest kitchen aisle, was Mr. Fring. He had taken a step back from what you could now see was a chopping board. 

Your eyebrows furrowed the moment you saw that his hand was clutched on the opposite wrist, though he was merely blinking at you.

You immediately beckoned forward, the situation piecing together, and it wasn’t until you were stood beside your boss that you could see what had properly happened. “Oh, shit.”

There was a diagonal slash across the pad of one of his fingers. The dark red substance wasn’t exactly oozing out, but it was creating a trail that wrapped around the digit before dropping on the floor below despite Mr. Fring trying to catch it.

“It’s not severe, Y/n, no… need to worry.” he had tried to insist, clearly unsure of how it happened himself, but you found yourself scanning through the kitchen anyway for some paper towels. At least something.

“Ah.” You moved behind Mr. Fring, carefully avoiding the knife as the only thing on your feet were socks. 

After pulling at the kitchen roll, about three pieces disconnected from the rest and you reprised your previous position, folding the paper towels until it had enough layers.

You gently held onto his wrist, trying ignore the way he pulled his none injured hand away when there was mildly contact, and placed the centre of the kitchen roll on the wound. Mr. Fring sucked in a breath.

“Okay, just hold that there for me.” you told him and he complied after a moment, taking over the role of holding the paper that was slowly turning red while you took a step back to remove the knife from the floor so that no one would end up stepping on it.

“I imagine this has happened before?” You placed the knife beside the chopping board, your eyes scanning over a half cut vegetable that sat on top, a singular blood droplet absorbing into it.

“I don’t tend to make mistakes like this.”

The first thing you noticed when your eyes went back to Mr. Fring was the expression on his face. His brows were creased, the lines on either side of his mouth deeper than they ever have been. He was staring down at the injury with resentment.

“I don’t think anyone does.”

You took the wounded hand in yours again which in turn caused Gustavo to immediately turn his head your direction.

Peeling back the soaked towel was mildly jarring to watch, and do, but you moved the hand so that it was in a direct beam of light. An attempt to gage how severe the injury was.

When the blood began to pool around the skin again, you returned the paper towel, smoothing it over as lightly as you could before bringing his other hand back to continue the pressure.

“Alright, well, good news.” you began as you leaned back, checking your own hands to see if the blood got onto your skin, “Based off of where you cut it, you will not be needing to see a doctor.”

“At least you weren’t cutting the meat yet.” you added on in an attempt to lighten the mood. But Gustavo only hummed in response. He was just looking at you as if analysing every aspect of your face.

You cleared your throat, averting your gaze from his as you subconsciously rubbed the tips of your fingers together. “You, uh-- You should move to the other sink.” Your back faced him when you walked round the edge of the kitchen aisle. 

“And why is that?” Mr. Fring questioned, finally finding his voice that held a thicker accent due to his confusion.

“Less... chance of blood stains, stops the possibility of contamination… nicer soap.” you listed off, not even bothering to turn back round as heat rose within your body.

“Just… keep pressure on your finger, I’m going to get some supplies.” You waved a hand in his direction, getting closer to the hallway while hearing Mr. Fring move to the other sink like you asked. “If it is plasters you are looking for, they will be in the cabinet above the--”

“I know.”

~

The next time you appeared in the living room a small box was held in your hands. The plasters within were definitely a lot bigger than the wound itself, so when you got closer to the kitchen your eyes immediately looked for a pair of scissors.

“I believe the bleeding has stopped now.” Mr. Fring informed as you rounded the first kitchen aisle, and that in response halted your previous mission.

The feeling of wanting to get something under control, wanting nothing more than a situation to be over and done with, made it easy to start rushing to the finish line. 

But like a lot of other things, there were specific steps to take. And ones you couldn’t miss especially if someone was injured.

A deep breath filtered in and out of your lungs as you swivelled in Mr. Frings direction and took back your place by his side after placing down the box on the counter.

You reached for the blue tap, the metal freezing beneath your finger tips, and twisted until water spilled into the sink bowl below. You barely escaped having a drenched sleeve when you pulled back.

“This might hurt.” Without really thinking, you found yourself placing a hand on the warm wrist of Gustavo’s. You could feel the way the limb tensed and the hesitance that took a moment to defeat when you began directing it towards the stream of water.

“I know… how to use a tap, Y/n.” Mr. Fring pointed out, his arm slightly jolting when the running tap met the injury, but he didn’t pull away.

“Wash it out.” was all you said, because for one you needed to move, and two it seemed that Mr. Fring was a guy that liked having control of situations. Which was probably why the Lalo thing is digging into his mind.

I mean, you were the kind of guy to feel at ease when in control of things so it was easy to understand where he was coming from... But that was usually because if you weren’t in control of your situations a lot of stuff was about to go wrong.

You swiped a pair of scissors from where they usually sat in the kitchen and set them down, switching to holding the box back in your hands. You flicked open the smallest flap and pulled out one of the sterile adhesives that, now being in front of your eyes, confirmed your suspicion.

After placing the box back down the scissors were in your grasp once again, and you readied them once the adhesive was in the correct positioning between your fingers.

“What are you doing?” You heard to your left, the water thumping louder into the sink when he targeted another part of the wound, and after the slightest glance in his direction, you began cutting. “Dry your finger.”

Soon enough, the tap had been turned off. And after a little more of what felt like arts and crafts, you now had a strip of the sterile adhesive. 

There may had been a little more of the pad than the sticky part, but there was enough to make it do its job.

The music flooded back to their ears when Gustavo was now the one to move back to your side, lightly dabbing the towel around his wound that had in fact stopped bleeding.

You could hear your heart thumping in your ears, almost in time with the song, as you began to peel back the paper covering on the plaster.

With as gentle of a touch as you could, you placed one of your hands beneath his injured one and brought it closer, steadying it. You began to ease the adhesive lightly and accurately onto the surrounding skin of the finger.

Your attention being fully on the application of the plaster made yourself blind to the fact that Gustavo wasn’t exactly worried about his wound anymore. Or even thinking about it at this point.

In fact, his eyes weren’t even directed to his finger at all. He was looking at you. At what he could see of the side of your face.

The way your eyebrows were furrowed, this time not in confusion or disbelief, but in genuine concern. 

Or the way your eyes were narrowed so that you could get everything done precisely without incident. And the way your tongue slightly poked through the corner of your mouth in attempt to aim your full brain power onto applying the small plaster.

So much care for in injury that wasn’t costing a life. Or even really hurt that much if Gustavo was honest with himself.

“There.” you breathed out in a way that snapped the guy back into reality and he straightened himself up when you smoothed over the plaster one last time, finally completing the process that definitely took longer than it would with anyone else.

You took a slight step back, failing to hide the pleased feeling from showing on your face as you admired your hard work. “Good as new.”

And then your eyes landed on Gustavo, the look still present. “You did a good job, Mr. Fring.”

“I wish I had a lollipop or something to reward you.” you added on, even fakely looking around and patting your pockets as if trying to locate an item to give him.

And though Gustavo could feel a laugh wanting to rumble through his throat, or the urge to do some form of gesture in amusement. He was still. Expression almost blank while he finally lowered his hand to his side.

“Uh… Sir?”

You had stopped everything that you were doing to help him.

You had slid into the living room on your socks dishevelled and scrambling to get the last piece of clothing properly on your body, and then immediately attended to his little injury like it was the only thing you cared about. Like he was the only thing you cared about.

Gustavo Fring had encountered many men in his life, each with either very similar personalities or very different ones. Most would not even dare to show compassion in the face of others, especially if those people were other dudes. 

But here you were, doing jobs the nicest way that you could in a business like this. Helping out people enough that Mike had been adamant about you being chosen for the job. 

Because he knew that you would care. 

Care for Gustavo in a way that no other man had... Well, not since--

Gustavo’s chin raised after a moment, life flooding back to his eyes that were still set on your own, though it had your eyebrows furrowing once again if they weren’t before. “Mr. Fring?”

“Please.” he said without a second to waste and despite both your disbelief and his own, Gustavo reached for one of your hands, and ended up holding it between both of his, careful to avoid letting his injured finger touch anything.

Your puzzled expression remained as you slowly looked from the joined hands back up to those brown eyes. And despite the many things across your face that asked Gustavo for answer. He just smiled. 

A real, genuine smile.

“Call me Gus.”

[7grandmel]

Todays rip: 30/03/2024

THANK YOU FOR RIPPING

Season 1 Featured on: beatmania IIDX 7 GRAND Also on: GilvaSunner's Highest Quality Video Game Rips: Volume 7: Part mm2wood

Ripped by beat_shobon

Requested by Bumsoldier! @bumsoldier (Request Form)

Its that time again - another Season 1 finale rip! But there's a good reason these keep showing up, as I reiterate with each one I cover - The Season 1 finale was when the team was truly firing on all cylinders to end the channel off with a bang. Planet Wisp Mashup Medley, The SiIvaGunner Smurfs Collab, File Select Fusion Collab, Stone Halation - tons of these incredibly ambitious, full-blast collaborations, that I've written plenty of words about already. In comparison, THANK YOU FOR RIPPING feels almost as if dwarfed in scope, not helped by being a rip of a comparatively niche series. Which is a damn shame - because what beat_shobon has done here is just as much of a loveletter to the entire channel yet expressed through his own individual style in a far more condensed runtime.

First of all though - wow, beat_shobon! It's been since Rolling Start that I wrote about one of his rips, and since then I've learned that he's become a bit of a superstar since his 2016 SiIvaGunner days - notably winning a Vocaloid songwriting contest with the ironically-named Can't Make A Song!! in 2018. The guy has a great grasp on this kind of music, is my point, and both Rolling Start and THANK YOU FOR RIPPING show that off well - but more importantly, I adore how THANK YOU FOR RIPPING still feels as much like a love letter to SiIvaGunner as a whole as it does a flexing of its rippers' muscles. The song used as the foundation for the mashup is GO MY WAY!! from the IDOLM@STER franchise, a song that was immensely notable in Season 1 as the song to supposedly "replace" Snow Halation during The Reboot storyline - see I Saw a Brainwasher Today for a bit more details on this. Its a song that I remember receiving a lot of pushback during that event as a result of those connotations, as a lot of people found it to be even *more* grating of an idol song than Snow Halation was - yet with The Reboot concluded, with those emotions settled, I find that the song has come to represent a sense of...unity, in the fanbase. It IS silly idol music, but we've come to accept it as part of SiIvaGunner, as a result of what The Reboot taught us.

That's far from all that THANK YOU FOR RIPPING contains, of course - the piano in the background continuously plays segments of The Flintstones theme throughout the entire song, as it jumps from joke to joke. Its a bit of a journey throughout the entire channel's life during Season 1: starting where it all began with Vinesauce Joel's reaction to 7 Grand Dad, to a quick clip of Snoop Dogg's "Smoke Weed Everyday!!", a sudden jumpscare from The Bean (I'll get to it someday), then moving into memes prominent in the season's last few months, in the infamous POKEMON GO SONG!!! and The Nutshack theme. All the while, again, those Flintstones-esque notes stay prominently audible in the background, as to keep reminding us of where this whole thing all began.

Perhaps most interesting of all, though, is near the rips end at around the 1:30 mark. Another Vinesauce Joel clip plays, a quite well known one - "WHO'S BEEN DRAWING DICKS?" - but its pitch shifted in a way that may ring as familiar to many of you. It is, indeed, directly referencing the rip "Creative Exercise - Mario Paint", known by its album name as Mario Paint exe 2. A sequel to a prior-made Soundcloud mashup from the same ripper in 2015, this is as of today the third-most-viewed rip on the entire SiIvaGunner channel - and was, to my surprise, also made by beat_shobon. Making that connection, then, drew my attention to another part of the rip just a few seconds earlier, where the instantly-recognizable bellow of "DAY-TO-NAAA!!!" from Daytona USA plays in the midst of the mix. I cannot help but think that this is a direct callback to Rolling Start, as another one of beat_shobon's most celebrated rips - one also made during The Reboot, tracing back to the rip's central joke.

I dunno - there are tons of these little connections to make within the surprisingly dense 2-minute runtime of THANK YOU FOR RIPPING, yet they all work toward the very same emotional goal. Gratitude - a thank you, from the entire SiIvaGunner channel yes, but also from beat_shobon himself, thanking us all for having enjoyed so much of the channel's life. Through thick and thin, through Reboots and Beans, though rips made by people all over the world - we loved SiIvaGunner more than ever before during the Season 1 finale. And its always such a treat to go back to that time and see just how much it meant to even the rippers behind it all.

[glindaupland]

The Phantom of the Opera | Seoul, South Korea | 잶팬텀 x 송크리 Review 6/6

October 14, 2023 - Evening

The Phantom of the Opera | 최재림 Choi Jae-rim

Christine Daaé | 송은혜 Song Eun-hye

Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny | 송원근 Song Won-geun

Carlotta Giudicelli | 한보라 Han Bo-ra

Ah, the perfect Phantom to finish my journey and relieve me from my tears after the painful two show Kim Ju-taek/Jo Seung-woo slam the day before! Yes, please erase the poor meow meow thoughts from my mind!

My 6th and final round of POTO and 1st round of 'Choi Jae-rim is a Traumatized French Man Double Marathon'. His only scheduled POTO show during my stay was the day before Les Mis opening night in Busan. So I did not have a spare day like I thought would and I had to hop cities the next morning to see him as Valjean. I originally had a seat up high, but I just had to move myself close on the floor again for my grand finale. Seeing a seat open up during cancellations near my favorite side of the stage, the side with the most action, pretty much sealed the deal. I've always wanted to see a ~scary~ Phantom so let's go out with a bang!

If you're looking for some Erik x Christine, wrong Phantom for you! There wasn't much sugar-coating here. CJR Phantom is the opposite of JSW and JDS Phantoms to me; he's the most like a dark fallen angel. He's dangerous, unnerving, and has a lot more confidence with his actions than the others.

Hannibal Rehearsal / Think of Me

The audience seemed especially hyped today lol. Park Hoe-rim always holds Piangi’s note in Hannibal for a very long time and people applaud him for it. The cheers were loud today though even though audiences usually didn’t make much noise to avoid being disruptive! At the end of Song Eun-hye’s ‘Think of Me’ there was also a very excited reaction from the audience. Love this cast showing off where they can heh

First Lair | MOTN/STYDI

He's the only Phantom to sing "넌 이곳에 오직 나만을 위하여 / You are here for me alone" as "넌 이곳에 오직 한가지 이유로 / You are here for only one reason" at the organ because he's just different and not like other girls okay During MOTN, he was was confidently luring and hypnotizing her with no hesitation or uncertainty. The way he moved his entire body, especially his arms and hands (huge hands goddamn dude), was very flashy and dramatic. He's "overdoing it", but in a way that's very fitting for his Phantom's eccentric personality. I think you can already tell something is off about his Phantom as a person here. You can hear it in his voice a bit too. It had a sort of unearthly mesmerizing quality to it. This is the closest to a mysterious dark angel out of the Phantoms. He's especially possessive, but it's more in the way you might expect and different from KJT Phantom. The way he draws her to him with his hands, the way he touches his lips when he comes around the organ towards her 👀 He even tugged her along a bit when he led her to the bride in the mirror and urged her to look at the gift. With SEH Christine it was interesting to see her slowly unwind throughout the song since she's the more hesitant of the two. A Christine like SJS is definitely easier "prey" for him

Here's a little taste of his Music of the Night. Some of his more dramatic movements are actually a little bit similar to how he moved as the Phantom in this song, but he has a specific strange aura when actually in character.

I Remember / Stranger Than You Dream It

...SEH Christine is a little too curious and innocent maybe. Because wow if I saw a big weird masked man looking like that while working I simply? Would not want to mess with him at all, not getting anywhere near him. While the music box played, he was breathing (almost grunting) very audibly and heavily in frustration. He was very tense and focused. She was very playful and even mischievous-looking as she tried to swipe at his mask. It was like a game to her. Right at the moment he seemed to find his flow, playing the music in the air with his eyes closed, she succeeded. He's the scariest one during the outburst! His voice sounded venomous at the start and his eyes were wild as he covered the side of his face with both hands. The way he tilted his head watching her was very off-putting. Actually rather than becoming sadder, he almost seemed even creepier as he got closer. My seat was very close on that end of the stage and as I saw him approaching I wanted to back away myself! But at the end, I did start to feel sorry for him. It was really pitiful seeing this magnificent and seemingly magical genius be reduced to...this. The other Phantoms appear more human here, but he truly did look like some dark being trying desperately to be like a regular human, trying to be a part of this world. The angel of music is not, in fact, an angel, but....well who knows what he is. When she returned the mask, he looked like he couldn't make sense of what was happening. I could see his eyes glistening a little like tears were threatening to fall. I think he felt especially uncomfortable looking so weak in front of her. His Phantom felt like he had everything completely under control, but he managed to be disarmed so suddenly. His face was now revealed as well as the hidden dark part of himself

AIAOY Reprise

Kinda upset that my angle made it difficult to see him because the angel wing was obstructing him the times he wasn't leaning forward enough. But also how does he even fit on there. And also how did he manage to be the one who moved the least? He must be folded like an origami piece up there. Anyway oh boy. When saying Christine's name the first time, he sounded broken and small while looking down. But the second time he slowly lifted his head giving a cold dark stare ahead and spoke in a low and threatening voice that faded off. He had this rage building up and spreading through him and began his final lines in a harsh growling voice. He's extra intimidating because he kind of just fully gets up making himself as big as possible. I was laughing during intermission when I was heading to the lobby and two girls ran by me in the aisle going "EEEEE 무서워요!! / I'm scared!" So true, girlies, so true

Why So Silent?

JDS/KJT Phantoms lift up Christine's chin when they finally address her, but he pulled her a little roughly towards him. Not a big thing but definitely got a yikes from me when I saw it!

Wandering Child

Oh he is so weird and freaky somebody's gotta push him off that mausoleum I don't like it (no I love it as an acting choice though I just mean it's uncomfortable) 😭 The way he moves his entire body so much is so creepy? How do I even describe those movements. He would crouch or lean forward in a lunging position, but also made these big gestures with his arms again and looked like he was trying to use some power to pull Christine towards him He used an odd sarcastic tone mocking Raoul like he barely even viewed him as a threat.

The Point of No Return

The trap is set and waits for its prey! ...But also, Christine, Piangi just grew like 10 feet taller turning into a brick wall of a man and you don't find this.... suspicious maybe? No? Okay... He opens that curtain and it's like:

ANYWAY He had such an eerie way of singing to me. There was this hypnotic energy again like in MOTN. Once again the hands...when he tips her head side to side with his fingers under her chin in his last lines of his verse it's like he's putting her in a trance. She actually looked a bit disoriented for a moment, but her expression was slowly changing like she was suspecting something was wrong even before she turned to him. He was scarily calm looking throughout the song. You mostly just saw his shoulders moving from his slow steady breathing. Occasionally he would slowly take a look at her to see what she was doing, but it was more like he was preparing himself than getting stressed. She touched him and he only flinched very slightly before reaching up to her completely ready to join their hands. He was practically pulling her down actually to touch her more. I think he was sure that he was succeeding. When she had discovered him, he closed in like a beast about to pounce with his hands in position to grab her in case she tried to flee. But when she threw the hood off he was taken off guard During the AIAOY Reprise "언제나, 어디든, 영원히 / Always, anywhere, forever" -> "Anywhere you go let me go too" was a painful cry as well as the word "어둠에 / (into) darkness" in "또 다시 지옥 같은 어둠에 / Once again into darkness like hell" later for Down Once More and he delivered his next lines in a terrifying voice. It was similar to the AIAOY Reprise on the angel. I have to admit it partially concerned me (just because here and Les Mis he had a few slight rough moments, he cracked a tiny bit at the very end of 'Who Am I' after an otherwise very solid note). Overall though I think he has amazing ability and it's just wear from the rough schedule he has unfortunately. The choices did work either way!

Final Lair

He is so unhinged and unstable. Now he had this rough vicious villainous tone and sometimes he used that mocking voice again like he did in 'Bravo Monsieur'. He practically hissed out the line about the world never accepting him. His gestures with his arms were so theatrical and huge and the way he moved about was so heavy, jerky, and unsettling. When he threw the noose on Raoul he had the most terrifying laugh and jumped a little spitting out his taunts loudly He stood up fast and leaned in close to her face to whisper “날 시험하지말고 / Don't test me” so very quietly before he screamed for her to choose. He said it with spite in his voice, but he was actually holding back tears when he turned around. He had been so dangerous before, but Christine managed to disarm him once again with her words. Christine dropped lower from her position on her knees with a sob. It wasn't out of fear, seeing him like this just seemed to hurt her. This kiss was an interesting one to analyze. Some people thought this part tends to make him seem unmoved? But I disagree with the conclusion some people had made around that time that his Phantom didn't change or develop. He wasn't very openly reactive to the first one, he was completely frozen. The second time he clenched and unclenched his fists until he pulled her hand away quickly and rushed off staggering and holding his head. I saw reviews saying he would simply repeat his actions over again based on his reactions. I personally just think his change is different. I think CJR Phantom thinks he knows everything and that he can control everything that will happen so it scares him when he faces something unexpected. I think this is why he started to finally unravel at the very end. He cannot predict anything Christine will do, she always does the opposite of what he would think. Love and compassion were the last things he would ever expect. I don't even think he knew what kindness looks like. But he finally understood in that moment and he also understood that he couldn't force her to be there with him now. Something I noted during this performance in particular: HGH Raoul tried to urge Christine that they need to leave, but SWG would seem a bit confused in the moment and look at the Phantom like he was trying to understand what just happened. It just especially stood out to me across from CJR Phantom because of how much of a threat he had been. He was trying to process this because of the way the Phantom was just moments before and almost looked like he maybe even pitied him in a weird way. Christine came back pretty early this time to return the ring and watched the Phantom while covering her mouth in disbelief. It was as if this was the one moment he finally showed his real human side to her. She could really see him as a regular man now. When he realized she was there, he was really startled and practically jumped away like he was bracing himself for something (perhaps thinking the mob had arrived for him?). He went over to her wondering why she had returned, but once he realized he softly sang that he loved her. She nodded knowingly trying to hold back her tears. He looked so small suddenly when she left him alone there

Please when I tell you Jae-rim got the loudest screams out of every curtain call I experienced lol. He was goofing off, but at one point the shrieking was so loud he looked a little embarrassed about it heh. Even louder than that though was his Les Mis curtain call where everyone just about lost their goddamn minds seeing him pick up and spin little Cosette (I was one of those people, I'm weak)

Anyway it's promo time! Here's some bonus videos for you to enjoy

POTO Medley in English from 2013 (Wandering Child -> MOTN -> Think of Me -> All I Ask of You -> - he could easily be in English POTO honestly since he speaks English very well. He sings the actual show pretty differently and his vocals have improved, but it's still very nice and interesting to listen to after all this time.

Ah next one is cursed I know I know...but he almost convinced me this show can be good like a very talented scammer. Please stick to only covers of this though... He's sung the English version before a few times, but here's the Korean one:

And some non-POTO promo to show off his range because he's kind of crazy

And that's it for all my Phantom reviews! 6 out of 6 shows yay! If you made it to this point thank you for reading and enduring. I hope my insanity brought you some kind of joy and entertainment. I just wanted to share everything I could so other people could have a taste in some way and so I could relive and document my memories. It was truly a dream experience for a longtime POTO fan to be able to see the show done in so many ways over just a few days.

[its-jaytothemee]

Until I Met You - Chapter 6

Chapter 6: The Creche, Part 1

Pairings: Halsin x Tav

Word count: 4,382

Rating: Currently M, will be Explicit in later chapters.

Read on AO3

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Summary: The group starts their journey around the Creche. They realize that there's more than they can handle in the span of a day, but run into a strange traveler during their trip. Part 6 of the slow burn fic. Halsin and Tav POVs

Tags: Slow burn, hurt/comfort, fluff, love confessions, eventual smut, light angst, implied past rape/non-con, graphic description of injuries.

A/N: Halsin and Tav POVs - let's get some more pining up in here.

I decided to break up the creche into two parts since I ended up coming up with some filler stuff between Tav and Halsin and I don't want the chapters to get too long :) Part two of the creche will be out shortly!

As Tav and her companions strolled along the scenic Mountain Pass, she couldn’t keep a ridiculous smile off her face. Her conversation with Halsin from the morning was still fresh in her mind. Based on his reaction to their time together, she was fairly certain he felt something too. The thought kept her feeling giddy throughout the morning...he liked her…

Gods above, Tav. How old are you?

Halsin had insisted on staying at the camp today to Tav’s relief. She was distracted enough thinking about him right now, gods know how much worse she would be if he would have come along. He thought it would be best to let the tadpoled individuals take the lead at the Creche, giving them all a chance at purification.

An arm suddenly looped around one of hers.

“Having some pleasant daydreams, my friend?” Astarion’s sing-song voice pulled her from her thoughts.

“Nothing but.”

“Yes, I thought I heard some little whispers and laughs this morning.” Astarion teased, giving her a sideways glance.

“Oh, don’t be jealous, love. I’ll be sure to wake you up next time so you don’t feel left out.”

“You’ll do no such thing! Some of us believe in getting our beauty rest.” He stuck his nose up in the air at her.

“Whoa, whoa…hold on there soldier…” Karlach had bopped her way to the other side of Tav. “Did something happen with Halsin?” Her excitement was plain as day.

“Nothing happened!” Tav couldn’t hide her smile as she said the words.

“Oh, you’re definitely lying.” Astarion teased. “So tell me, is he as well-endowed as he seems? I mean hells, the man dwarfs you and you’re strangely muscular for a high elf.”

“Astarion!” Tav shrieked, wiggling her arm free of his and slapping him a few times, his teasing grin taunting her further. Karlach cackled from the other side of her.

“That’s a yes!” Karlach barely choked out between her laughs.

“I’m telling you, nothing happened!” Tav was starting to get a little defensive but couldn’t keep herself from laughing along with them. “On my honor, we just sat and talked this morning.”

“Oh darling, I’m sure your ‘honor’ is left in bits after spending a night with him.” Astarion quickly ran out of range of Tav before she could smack him again. He ran ahead of her and Karlach, giggling hysterically.

“Okay he’s gone now. What actually happened?” Karlach was still bouncing beside her.

“What? I already told you, we just talked.” Tav held her ground.

“Yeah, but that was when Astarion was listening in. Now it’s just us girls. Tell me!” She begged.

Tav just laughed back at her. As much as she enjoyed gossiping with Karlach, something about this morning felt very intimate. It was an experience she really wanted to keep to herself for now.

“Don’t worry, love. As soon as something happens that is worthy of gushing about, you’ll be the first to know.” Tav promised. When she finished talking, she felt the slightest tingle pass through her head.

“Hey now…tell your little stowaway to mind its own business.” Tav scolded her, trying to fight the smile tugging at her lips.

“Fine, fine.” Karlach finally resigned and waved her hand dismissively.

“If you all are done fooling around, I believe we’re approaching the Creche.” Lae’zel called out to the group.

They had reached the bottom of one of the large hills, the steps leading to the monastery just ahead of them. The stonework was intricate and ancient, vines had made their way into all the grooves and crevices along the outside. Many of the walls were beginning to crumble. This place was abandoned long ago. Taking careful steps and staying on the lookout for traps, they approached a large entryway. Angry voices sounded ahead of them.

Tav signaled her companions to wait a few steps behind her as she peered around the corner. There were a couple of githyanki soldiers ushering along a few halflings dressed in the garb of the Absolute. They were trying to force the halflings through the doors, but one of them turned to run towards her. She froze, praying to every god above that she wasn’t spotted. Before she had a chance to duck behind the wall, a crossbow bolt pierced the halfling’s chest, causing them to fall to the ground not 10 steps in front of her.

The two githyanki turned back toward the entrance, seeming not to notice Tav barely hiding around the corner. A large and heavy door slammed closed behind them, seemingly sealing the way into the creche.

“Any ideas?” Tav turned back around to Lae’zel.

“This Absolute has my kin on high alert. We must proceed with caution.” Lae’zel seemed more subdued than earlier.

Tav led them forward, cautiously, to inspect the doorway. Astarion was delicately running his fingers along the wall, looking for any traps or hidden keyholes that could gain them entry. He looked over at her and shrugged, apparently not finding anything. Their entire party startled as a now familiar voice glided into their thoughts.

“Your curiosity is getting the better of you. Do not let it.” The dream visitor’s smooth, ethereal voice washed over all of them. “They are hunting you! They want the artefact. They will stop at nothing to get it.” As quickly as the voice appeared, it vanished.

They all shared a look with each other, trying to decide what to do next.

“We must press on. The purification granted by my kin is our only hope.” Lae’zel insisted. As Tav looked around to the others, they seemed to be in agreement.

“Then onwards we go. There’s a broken window over there.” She pointed her chin towards a nearby panel of stained-glass windows. “Maybe we can sneak in through a back passage or something.”

*

It took them almost the entire day to find a way into the Creche. Tav and the others were somehow able to convince Lae’zel to wait one more night before going in, seeing as everyone was exhausted. Between the wine-soaked kobolds, small army of gremishkas, and the very aggressive eagles they found it was a miracle they weren’t in worse shape. Despite Lae’zel’s insistence that the Creche would help them, Tav wasn’t willing to take any chances. She had no idea what purification entailed, but she didn’t imagine it was a pleasant and easy process. Something told her that they would need every ounce of their strength to see it through.

The sun was setting behind the trees as Tav led her companions back through the twisting Mountain Pass. As she tried to remember whether to turn left or right at the fork in front of them, a mysterious traveler appeared in her periphery. He wore rather stereotypical wizard attire, right down to the pointy hat. The simple staff slung across his back boasted no intricate carvings or jewels, but somehow still managed to be imposing.

“Ho there, wanderer. Stay thy course a moment to indulge an old man.” The strange traveler beckoned her as she approached. There was something familiar about this man.

“Elminster?” Gale spoke up next to her.

Elminster…Elminster Aumar?

Surely a wizard such as himself would not be out wandering this remote wilderness…

“The very same, Gale. And a fair bit miffed he is, too, finding himself forced to expose his best pair of boots to so many miles of country road on your behalf.”

What the fuck? Why is one of the most famous wizards in the realms hiking across Faerûn to find Gale?

“I think some proper introductions are in order.” Tav said, her eyes shifting between Gale and Elminster. Gale smiled slightly at the prompt.

“Meet Elminster Aumar. A good friend of mine, but rather more significantly, he’s the most famed and respected wizard in the realms.” Gale’s voice was full of admiration. The older wizard laughed lightly.

“Am I, indeed? Most famed and respected errand boy, more like.” He shook his head softly.

Gale and Elminster continued their conversation, but Tav was only half listening. Her attention turned to her exhausted friends, each leaning on nearby rocks and trees. Wyll looked like he was ready to fall asleep any moment, his head currently resting on Astarion’s shoulder. Astarion must have been drained as well since he didn’t seem to mind the horns poking him in the face. She tuned her ears back into the lengthy conversation between the two long-winded wizards in front of her.

“Out with it, Elminster. Please!” Gale pleaded.

“Has your sojourn away from Waterdeep washed away your decorum as well as your patience?” Elminster snipped at Gale. Tav couldn’t help but smile as Gale was trapped in the wordy turns of phrase Elminster was using to essentially ask for a place to rest and have a snack.

“…Surely you won’t begrudge me a mite of rest and repast before I get ‘out with it.’” Elminster said with a huff. Tav’s smile widened.

“Yes, Gale. Where is your decorum?” She shot a teasing grin over her shoulder.

“Oh, for the love of…” He hissed before trailing off.

“Nigh on thirteen centuries old and he still thinks with his stomach. Better to indulge our curiosity at his news than Elminster’s appetite.” Gale sounded like he was fighting an eye roll.

“Very well. I suppose I’m as curious as you are to hear what he has to say.” Tav resigned. She called the rest of their party to their feet, leading Gale and Elminster back to their new camp. Tav easily picked up on Gale’s anxiety, whatever news Elminster had brought to them, she doubted it would be a helpful addition to their problems.

***

Halsin watched the horizon for hours, waiting for any sign of his adventuring party to return. It was getting late, but he wasn’t sure how long the group normally stayed out. Being alone in the camp all day gave him far too much time to think about his time spent with Tav this morning.

All day long he could still feel the gentle strokes of her hands running through his hair. The thought made him smile like a fool every time it crossed his mind. He was desperately trying to regain his focus, meditating throughout the afternoon to commune with Silvanus, reciting the steps to the newly learned ritual in his mind repeatedly so he wouldn’t lose the knowledge. Yet half the time when he closed his eyes, he only saw Tav’s face.

He felt so immature, unable to control his desires and block out distractions. Over the years he had spent plenty of time around beautiful and kind people, why was he so hung up on her? Perhaps it was because for the first time in years, he finally didn’t feel the need to hide behind a mask. Here with this new group, he wasn’t looked to for every answer or for constant guidance. He wasn’t their leader, he was their friend. Or so he hoped at least.

There were also her ties to Moonrise. It had been so long since he had met another living soul who witnessed the start of the shadow curse. More than anyone he had spoken to in the last century, she understood the pain and the danger of returning to those accursed lands. With her, he no longer felt so alone, or afraid.

Scratch walked happily alongside him as he paced the edge of the camp. As the sun had just barely set, he spotted the small group of travelers making their way towards him. Tav was up front along with Gale, and there was a third person with them that Halsin didn’t recognize. That was until he stepped into the firelight. He wasn’t sure what he had expected on their return, but it certainly wasn’t Elminster Aumar. Halsin was familiar with Elminster by reputation only, but what a reputation he had.

As they drew closer, Halsin caught Tav’s eyes and gave her a questioning look. She shrugged in response and tilted her head towards Gale. He watched as she escorted Gale and Elminster over towards the other edge of camp.

The three of them stood in front of Gale’s tent, Elminster talking in hushed tones. From the looks on their faces, the conversation was most grave. Both Tav and Gale listened to the famed wizard, giving him their complete focus. After a few moments, Gale’s expression changed, he looked so surprised and…hopeful. Not a minute later though, it fell again, a look of pure anguish moved across his face. Then, he saw Tav start to gesture unhappily. She was pointing in Elminster’s face, waving her arms angrily, and then finally crossing them over her chest, looking displeased. Gale lightly placed a hand on her arm and said something indecipherable. Her face was turning red, not the flustered, endearing shade he had come to know but a different, angrier hue. Halsin was worried that she would burst into tears any second. Suddenly, a bright and magical light encircled Elminster, slowly making its way to surround Gale. A look of relief passed over him, as if a great pain had been relieved from his body.

Elminster was talking once more, but Halsin still couldn’t make it out. Gale reached out to shake his hand before their guest turned to take his leave from the camp. Tav glared after him, her face finally starting to return to its normal color.

She stood with Gale a while longer, still gesturing wildly towards Elminster as he disappeared over the horizon. Gale was looking more subdued than usual; a sadness had overtaken him that Halsin hadn’t seen in the charming wizard. Tav was gripping him by both shoulders now, her eyes pleading with him. But for what, Halsin couldn’t say. He watched as Gale gently moved her hands from his slumped shoulders, he could just barely glimpse the tears gathering in Tav’s eyes, glinting in the low light of the fire in front of them. After Gale finished speaking, she pulled him into a hug. It took him a moment to reciprocate, but once he did Halsin could see how tightly he clung to Tav. Whatever tidings Elminster brought, it was not pleasant.

Gale eventually broke free of Tav’s embrace, turning to walk away from the camp. She stood there watching him go, her arms curling around her torso. The pull in his chest returned, longing to drag him towards her, to wrap her in his arms and hold her there. She turned around and caught him staring, a sad smile appearing on her face. Halsin quickly looked away, pretending to be captivated by some nearby shrubs.

“Is everything okay?” Tav had quietly walked up behind him. “You looked worried.”

“Hm? Oh, yes everything is fine. It just seemed like you and Gale were having a less than pleasant conversation with our guest.”

She scoffed in response, scowling after the long-gone wizard.

“Yes, the famous Elminster Aumar. ‘Friend’ to Gale, savior of the realms, and actual divine messenger.” Her sneer slowly softened.

“Divine messenger?”

Tav caught him up on their conversation. How Mystra has now tasked Gale with the destruction of the Absolute, using the orb currently residing in his chest. The act would mean sacrificing himself. A very severe request, even for a follower as devoted as Gale.

“How is Gale?” Halsin asked, knowing there was no simple answer to that question right now.

“Fucking delusional!” Tav yelled, then looked around them, suddenly conscious of her change in tone around the others. She lowered her voice before speaking again.

“He’s actually considering going through with it. Arguing that we now have the ‘clearest solution to our problem.’ What kind of solution is it if we have to ask him to kill himself?” Tears were starting to form in her eyes again.

Halsin listened intently to her, trying to decide how to respond without fanning the flames of her anger.

“We aren’t asking him to sacrifice himself, Tav. But it seems that Mystra is.” He eyed her carefully, trying to gauge her reaction. He never would have considered Mystra to be one of the harsher goddesses, but it would seem now that she was more spiteful than he originally thought.

“Regardless, that’s monstrous! The fact that she’s had the ability to prevent the orb from destroying him, yet she has simply chosen not to speaks volumes to me. She would rather see Gale in horrible pain. She’d rather see him dead, potentially taking thousands of other lives with him than help cure him. All because what…her pride is wounded? Now, she thinks she can ask my wizard to just end his life for the hope that she’ll forgive him? Unbelievable…un-fucking-believable!” She finally paused to breathe. Her shoulders rising and falling in an exaggerated manner as she worked to catch her breath again.

“Your wizard?” Halsin raised an eyebrow at her. He had a teasing smile on his face, trying to hide the panic he felt rising in him. Was she with Gale now?

Where is this jealousy coming from?

“Yes, my wizard. I happen to consider Gale a very good friend now. I tend to be rather protective of my friends.” She turned her nose up at him defiantly. He could only smile in response, slightly embarrassed by the relief he felt hearing her refer to Gale as only a friend.

Speaking with Tav now, it was clear to see why he was so enamored with her. There was a passion in her voice that he hadn’t heard yet in their time together. A fierce loyalty to those around her that burned hotter than smokepowder. A heart of steel that mirrored his own. For so long he had pushed his feelings down, numbing himself to all emotion to manage the pain. Listening to her righteous rage woke something in him, something that he had buried decades ago. The shadows of Moonrise had clouded his mind for a century, but somehow Tav had managed to burn her way through. Maybe, just maybe, she could help lead him out.

So long as you don’t drive her too far away first.

“Come and sit with me for a minute.” Halsin sat on the ground and lightly patted the spot next to him. She reluctantly accepted the invitation, crossing her legs in front of her. Her elbows rested on her knees to allow her hands to hold up her pouting face.

“I think it’s remarkable how quickly you create bonds with those around you. You’ve known Gale what, a tenday? And already you’re prepared to go to war with the goddess of magic on his behalf. You’ve known Karlach for an even shorter span of time, but I’d wager you would challenge Zariel herself in single combat to keep her safe. That sort of loyalty and devotion is rare, usually reserved for the deities you’re so intent on fighting.” A grin was threatening to break through her pout.

“But…” She prompted, turning to look him in the eyes.

“But…be careful that your dedication to your friends doesn’t prevent you from hearing their own wishes. It is a difficult thing as a leader to be unable to help someone in your care, but sometimes you have to allow them to decide for themselves. Even if you lose them in the process.” His thoughts briefly drifted back to Kagha and her rash decisions made in his absence.

“I’m not a leader, Halsin. Everyone defers to my judgement because I can feign confidence. The benefit of an expensive education I suppose. But it’s all an act.”

“Oh, I think it’s much more than that. Others naturally gravitate to you. Everything you just said comprise the qualities of a great leader. Nothing about you is insincere. Perhaps once it was an act, but maybe all that time projecting confidence you didn’t have helped you learn to actually build it up.” He paused as she wrung her hands together in her lap.

“Do not sell yourself short, my friend. You are as capable of a leader as they come.”

Tav thought about his words for a while before speaking up again.

“I can’t just push my feelings aside. It’s not in my nature to hide my thoughts and emotions. Not anymore…” She started absentmindedly picking blades of grass out of the ground.

“What do you mean?” He was hesitant to ask, no one seemed to know much about Tav’s past. Unlike the others, she kept her long life tucked away in her mind.

“I spent a long time being forced into a role I didn’t want. I had no voice, no control. When I tried to rebel, when I spoke up…” She trailed off, more tears gathering in the corners of her eyes. “It wasn’t just me who paid the price.”

Halsin listened carefully, watching as her face twisted with pain.

“But now, I do have a voice. I have the ability to help. I…I can’t just stand by and watch him go on a suicide mission.” Her voice was much quieter now as a few tears escaped down her cheeks.

“That is unfortunately not for you to decide. If Gale truly believes this is his only path to redemption…” He paused for a moment, resting a hand on her shoulder. “That is something he must be allowed to choose for himself.” Tav sniffled lightly at his words.

“Has anyone ever told your wisdom is infuriating?”

“I believe it was a prerequisite for my Archdruid title.” He squeezed her arm lightly before letting his hand drop back to his side.

“I’ll respect whatever decision Gale makes. But that doesn't mean I won’t try and convince him to live a little bit longer before he decides.”

“I’d expect nothing less. Your friends are lucky to have you fighting for them.” He paused for a moment before finishing his thought. “I hope I can count myself among them.”

“Oh, believe me…if Silvanus so much as thinks about causing you trouble I’ll rip his mossy beard to shreds.” She gave him a huge, stunning smile. He couldn’t keep himself from laughing in response.

“I assure you that will hardly be necessary. Nevertheless, I’ll be sure he is properly forewarned. I’d hate to find a new deity to follow, given all my years of service.” He teased back at her. For some reason the jokes and teases came so easily around her.

Tav lightly patted him on the leg before standing back up. She offered her hand to him to help him stand as well.

“Thanks, Halsin. I uh…I needed to hear this.” She twirled the end of her braid around in her fingers.

“Anytime. And don’t worry, I happen to admire your righteous anger. So long as I am never on the receiving end of it.”

“Well…I’m glad I’ve still avoided leaving a bad impression then.” Her sweet smile was still beaming up at him.

“You? Impossible.” His voice dropped to a whisper.

They locked eyes for a moment as his heart started to pound against the walls of his chest. Her cheeks and nose had become slightly rosy from the chill evening, once again matching the pink irises in her eyes. The fire behind her cast warm colors all down her hair, the shade dancing from orange, to yellow, to red, back to orange…they matched the warmth spreading through his chest, the pull coming back and urging him to take her into his arms. His eyes wandered to her lips, still curled into that intoxicating smile. He didn’t miss the fact that her eyes had begun to wander as well. Images flashed through his mind, their lips pressed together before slowly making their way down each other’s necks and bodies. Their hands, gripping the other’s back, pulling them as close as possible. Every bit of their bare skin pressed against the other’s. Tav took the smallest step towards him, closing the gap between them ever so slightly. He leaned forward almost involuntarily, longing to feel her touch again. Just as he thought he wouldn’t be able to control himself any longer, her attention was drawn away.

“Tav!” Karlach yelled from beside the fire. Tav turned to face her as the large tiefling was smiling and waving her over towards the rest of the group.

She turned back and took a shaky breath. Halsin hoped that the disappointment he felt wasn’t too obvious on his face.

“Care to join me?” She gestured towards the fire.

“Of course. I’ll be there in just a moment.” He forced the words out using what little breath he had left in his lungs. She nodded and made her way back over towards the others.

That was too close…

His mind was racing, the words from all those nights ago in his meditation came back to him.

“You will have but one chance, my child. Restore the balance, bring back the light.”

Silvanus’s words rang in his ears, yet his gaze still followed Tav. He wanted so badly to tell her of his plan. She deserved to know that there was a chance to expel the shadow curse. Yet there was no guarantee.

No…no I’ll wait until I know for sure. She has too many burdens to bear, there’s no need to add to them today. This is my task and mine alone.

His attention turned back to the group around the fire. Tav looked over her shoulder to meet his eyes, still smiling at him. She lightly tapped the seat next to her by the fire, waiting for him to join. He almost went over to sit with her, he wanted to go and be with his new friends, but something stopped him. He was losing focus, something he just couldn’t afford right now. Tav was giving him a concerned look, no doubt wondering what was keeping him. He shook his head slightly at her before turning to find solace in the woods tonight, but not before seeing her smile slowly fade away.

I’m sorry, Tav.

Halsin sulked off into the trees, alone. Once again opting to spend the night on his own, lost in meditation, desperately trying to cling to the hope that he could banish the shadows. The shadows that corrupted Moonrise Towers, as well as the shadows corrupting his own mind.

[richincolor]

Title: This Time It’s Real Author: Ann Liang Genres: Contemporary, Romance Pages: 352 Publisher: Scholastic Review Copy: Purchased Availability: Available now

Summary: When seventeen-year-old Eliza Lin’s essay about meeting the love of her life unexpectedly goes viral, her entire life changes overnight. Now she has the approval of her classmates at her new international school in Beijing, a career-launching internship opportunity at her favorite magazine…and a massive secret to keep.

Eliza made her essay up. She’s never been in a relationship before, let alone in love. All good writing is lying, right?

Desperate to hide the truth, Eliza strikes a deal with the famous actor in her class, the charming but aloof Caz Song. She’ll help him write his college applications if he poses as her boyfriend. Caz is a dream boyfriend -- he passes handwritten notes to her in class, makes her little sister laugh, and takes her out on motorcycle rides to the best snack stalls around the city.

But when her relationship with Caz starts feeling a little too convincing, all of Eliza’s carefully laid plans are threatened. Can she still follow her dreams if it means breaking her own heart?

Review: [THIS TIME IT’S REAL contains a very brief mention of a stalker and a few scenes featuring online hate comments.]

If you’re looking for a pool- or beachside read this summer, THIS TIME IT’S REAL by Ann Liang would be an excellent choice. This is a cute contemporary romance with a lot of heart—after all, who doesn’t love it when two lonely people fake date their way into real feelings?

Eliza, our heroine, has been traveling all over the world with her family thanks to her mother’s job. At this point in her life, she’s no stranger to watching the vast majority of her friendships fade with distance and time, so she hasn’t put much effort into forming anything lasting at her new school. She has her family, and she has one best friend, and she’s otherwise just trying to hang on. And it’s Eliza’s loneliness that makes the first real (awkward) interaction between her and Caz resonate so much: for a second, she realizes he’s alone in his own way, too, despite his stardom.

Fake dating can be done for comparatively shallow/short-term reasons (e.g., a family event, a school reunion), so it’s fun when an author can build something with more longevity. I cackled at the scene where Eliza first proposes a mutually beneficial, time-bound relationship between her and Caz—there were some great comedic moments in that scene and throughout the rest of the book. I also appreciated that the author crafted the setup in such a way that I felt it was a fair deal between the characters, even if Eliza was the one who was desperate enough to propose it in the first place. Caz being in charge of much of their “chemistry testing” (or, date fodder for Eliza’s essays) helped make it feel like they were invested on equal grounds and was definitely a point in his favor when it came to wanting the two of them to get together.

Of course, the best part of fake dating is when the characters catch real feelings. I won’t go into much detail about that, but just know that I felt the payoff was very much worth it in my opinion. Eliza’s reactions to her own growing feelings were very well done, and I liked how Eliza’s emotional journey played out and how her and Caz’s relationship ended up against the backdrop of a slightly messy ending.

Recommendation: Get it now if you’re a fan of fake dating and related tropes. THIS TIME IT’S REAL is a great summer read for anyone looking for a contemporary romance with a lot of heart, and I’m very happy I got my hands on author Ann Liang’s latest book.

Extras:

Q & A with Ann Liang

Ann Liang shares how she managed to publish two YA books before age 23

Q&A with Ann Liang, Author of This Time It’s Real

[udo0stories]

Introduction Meet Kacey Musgraves, a country music sensation who has captivated audiences worldwide with her authentic lyrics and bold style. Her unique blend of country, folk, and pop has set her apart in the music industry, earning her a dedicated fan base and critical acclaim. A Historic Grammy Triumph Kacey’s journey to stardom reached a significant milestone with her historic Grammy win. This achievement wasn’t just a personal victory for Kacey; it was a testament to her musical prowess and innovative approach to country music. The Grammy win catapulted Kacey into the global spotlight, cementing her status as a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. The Birth of ‘Deeper Well’ ‘Deeper Well’ is Kacey’s sixth studio album, a project that reflects her personal growth and evolution as an artist. The album was born out of Kacey’s experiences and introspections, resulting in a collection of songs that resonate with listeners on a deep, emotional level. Each track on ‘Deeper Well’ is a testament to Kacey’s songwriting skills, showcasing her ability to craft lyrics that are both personal and universal. The Power of ‘Deeper Well’ ‘Deeper Well’ has made a significant impact on listeners worldwide, thanks to its relatable themes and powerful messages. The album explores a range of emotions and experiences, from love and loss to self-discovery and personal growth. Standout songs like the title track ‘Deeper Well’ and ‘Too Good to Be True’ have struck a chord with listeners, further solidifying Kacey’s status as a leading voice in country music. Kacey’s Evolution From her early days in Nashville to her current success as a Grammy-winning artist, Kacey’s career trajectory is a story of perseverance, creativity, and passion. Her evolution as an artist is as inspiring as it is impressive, marked by a constant drive to push boundaries and redefine the country music genre. The Deeper Well World Tour To bring ‘Deeper Well’ to fans worldwide, Kacey embarked on the Deeper Well World Tour. The tour was a celebration of music, connection, and storytelling, offering fans a chance to experience ‘Deeper Well’ live. From intimate venues to large arenas, the Deeper Well World Tour was a testament to Kacey’s ability to captivate audiences with her music and stage presence. Kacey Musgraves Top 10 Music Kacey Musgraves has released a number of popular songs throughout her career. Here are some of her most well-known tracks: “Follow Your Arrow”: An upbeat country song that encourages listeners to take risks and live life on their own terms. “Rainbow”: An uplifting ballad from her 2018 album, Golden Hour, that speaks to the power of hope and resilience. “Butterflies”: An upbeat, country-pop anthem that focuses on the idea of finding strength and resilience in the face of life’s challenges. “Merry Go ‘Round”: A mid-tempo country-folk ballad featuring acoustic guitar, piano, and a string section. “Good Ol’ Boys Club”: A song with a great deal of mystery in its implications. “Dandelion”: A traditionally-minded number that compared her crying reaction to the wildflower as the same emotion that happens when she thinks about her lost love. “Cup of Tea”: A song about how your life and your actions are not always going to be well-received by everybody. “Biscuits”: A song very similar to “Follow Your Arrow”, it’s about charting your own course in life. “This Town”: A song about the cyclical nature of life’s ups and downs. “High Horse”: A country meets disco song from her album, Golden Hour. Conclusion: The Future of Kacey Musgraves As Kacey Musgraves continues to make her mark on the music industry, fans eagerly anticipate what’s next for this talented artist. With her unique voice, authentic lyrics, and innovative approach to country music, the future looks bright for Kacey Musgraves. As we look forward to her next chapter, one thing is certain: Kacey Musgraves will continue to captivate audiences with her music for years to come.

LEARN MORE ABOUT IObit [web_stories_embed url="https://stories.udo0.com/web-stories/kacey-musgraves-deeper-well/" title="Kacey Musgraves: The Captivating Story Behind Her Historic Grammy Triumph and ‘Deeper Well’" poster="https://stories.udo0.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/cropped-cole-schafer-and-kacey-musgraves-attend-the-2022-met-gala-news-photo-1673207494.jpg" width="360" height="600" align="none"]

[hellolovers13]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love 💜

Ohh such a hard decision. These will be in no particular order, just stories I like

1. The Pros and Cons of Breathing - My longest fic yet, it was such an amazing journey and just means a lot to me. I loved the way I could have the characters develop throughout the story and it was just a massive accomplishment for me.

2. I Hope We Never Change - The first story I wrote after a very long break. Very important to me for that fact alone, but it was also the first time dealing with anything gender related. I liked putting a bit of a twist on Louis' reaction to it all as well.

3. Chicago - I don't know, the song just really needed me to write about it, so I did. And I do think it turned out quite cute.

4. Unplant - My first time writing Trans Harry. So much fun and definitely gave me the confidence to explore that more.

5. love drunk, waiting on a miracle - This was a simple one shot published on the first of December, and then it spiralled out of control and became a full on Advent Fic. The challenge of writing a chapter each day was really fun (if stressful) and it gave me the confidence to then start my "real" long fic.

[skaterfairy02]

An Ode to Yargı: Part 2

Note: This is a follow up Part 1. There may be major spoilers. I highly recommend not reading this if you haven't been keeping up with the events of Yargı S1 and S2.

Since writing part 1, Yargı has taken some controversial twists and turns that have inspired passionate (both positive and negative) responses from fans. There is no shortage of twitter threads on how Sema (the brilliant writer/creator of Yargı) is making mistakes with her characters and story choices. In my opinion, all of this only underscores that Sema and Yargı are brilliant and continue to inspire robust analytical discussion.

For my part, I don't think I will know how I truly feel about the events of Yargı until the show ends. That's not for lack of trying to distill my thoughts and reactions down to something comprehensible, but Sema has shown us time and time again that there are little decisions and details she has injected into Yargı that don't pay off until later. Therefore, I am choosing to reserve overall judgement (pun intended hehe) until later. I will probably write a separate post about the controversies after the show concludes.

In this post, however, I will focus on writing about what Yargı does well. 

One of the best parts of watching Yargı is the visual experience. This might be a personal problem, but I don’t know if I’ve ever noticed such consistent attention to visual detail, imagery, and symbolism in a tv show before. It’s clear that the entire Yargı production team, from direction to lighting to set design to costumes, understands the assignment and is dedicated to conveying the nuances of the story. There’s obviously the recurrent use of water bottles to represent Ilgaz + Ceylin’s love. Sema herself has discussed this previously, noting that water is healthy and healing, making it a perfect symbol for IlCey’s love. There’s also the use of art, specifically The Great Wave Off Kanagawa, to represent Ilgaz and Ceylin’s relationship. As most Yargi fans know by now, Ilgaz literally refers to a mountain in Turkey and Ilgaz’s last name, Kaya, translates to rock. In other words, the mountain in The Great Wave represents Ilgaz and his solid, strong, steady character. On the other hand, Ceylin is represented by the great wave itself -- strong in its own way, full of energy, ferocious, tumultuous, often crashing at the shores of the mountain. Yargı reiterates this unique dynamic through the use of a beautiful song, Toprak Yağmura by Can Ozan. A great twitter thread I came across does a much better job than me at analyzing how this dynamic is visually conveyed throughout the show. These twitter threads (thread 1, thread 2) also analyze how art and other direction elements convey the change in dynamic for season 2. 

Yargı doesn’t stop there. It brilliantly uses lighting to indicate a character’s forthcoming arc. Most notable to me, was at the end of episode 15, when Ilgaz has decided to resign from his position as prosecutor so that he can better support and protect Ceylin. As he is walking to submit his letter of resignation and undoing his tie (also symbolic!), we see a dramatic change in lighting so that Ilgaz is now walking into a much more lighted area. This signifies his literal enlightenment about what needs to be done, as well as his forthcoming arc of doing what’s necessary to ensure justice is carried out. Furthermore, we see this use of lighting subverted in episode 49, when we see Ceylin walking away from Ilgaz’s office with completed divorce application in hand. The lighting changes so that she is now walking away from the light into a more shadowy area, signifying her forthcoming arc of turning away from her journey of growth and self-love and choosing a more murky path instead. 

Yargı uses subversion effectively to catch the viewer’s attention and provoke thought. Not just with lighting, but also in the way scenes are laid out or dialogues are written. My favorite example of this is in episode 36, where we see Ilgaz helping Ceylin prepare and get dressed for a police operation. In shows and movies across the world, how many times have we seen the female character helping the male character prepare and issuing warnings of being careful? Countless. It’s a go-to visual trope. How many times have we seen it flipped, with the male preparing the female? I struggle to remember any (if you do, please comment -- I would love to watch!). When I was watching episode 36, this immediately caught my attention. It doesn’t hurt that it’s also just a treat to watch Pinar and Kaan’s (lovingly referred to as PinKaan) chemistry in action, but the brilliance of the scene still stands.

Thanks for reading, and keep an eye out for Part 3!