#there was chemistry there with Scooter i tell you!..

[vaulthunterlands]

BORDERLANDS COLLEGE AU

Stupid idea I had a few nights ago, don't think too hard about the inconsistencies in ages and stuff. Probably just doing Vault Hunters and a few other characters.

ROLAND

Majoring in cybersecurity. Good student, studies and gets consistently high grades. Has a well-formulated meal and workout plan. Also an RA on campus. Roland is the guy you go to if you have issues. He might not be great at "talking you through them" or "showing empathy" but he always has solid advice and is well-respected by his peers.

BRICK

I was going to say "Brick wouldn't go to college in canon" but this isn't canon babeyyyy. Brick is going into veterinary medicine. You may think this is completely off as a major for him, but I argue that his love for dogs is far greater than any challenge he may face in his education. Still a gym maniac. Roland is his RA, which means Roland is in charge of calming Brick down when he gets mad. Dating Mordecai. Also, unrelated but Brick in a philosophy class:

"Brick, can you tell us what you think about what Descartes said?"

"I PUNCH Descartes."

LILITH

Y'all are going to hate me for this but Lilith is a chemistry major. Girl loves fire, electricity, and acid so you can't tell me she wouldn't be a menace in her labs. (Also, before the first game was released her full title was "Dr. Lilith Cashlin, Mercenary Scientist") Only goes to class half the time but still does really well. Rooms with Mordecai and Brick. Huge crush on this RA she keeps seeing around

MORDECAI

BIRD MAAAAAN. Y'all already know this guy is doing two things on campus. 1) Majoring in Ornithology 2) Going to parties to get drunk. This man is the epitome of "college is for partying". Keeps birds in campus (not allowed) and is doing okay in his classes (he is hung over 80% of the time) (Mordy pls) Dating Brick.

PATRICIA TANNIS

Honestly, what field of science ISN'T this girl majoring in? She's insane(ly smart) and constantly gets perfect scores on all of her exams. Closest friends are Roland and the gang.

MARCUS

Why is he here??? What??? Marcus is the guy who runs the restaurant that is directly across the street from campus. *Phenomenal* food, but GOD is it pricey. Tends to not care about many of the students chilling (as long as they BUY SOMETHING)

SCOOTER

Doesn't go to this college but he's good friends with Roland and his pals. Likes to go out drinking with them on the weekends and is just all-in-all a cool guy to hang around with. Friends with Janey.

AXTON

BMOC. Captain of the football team. You can trust him! (He's the water boy.) Total jock but he's not an asshole about it. Majoring in Rehabilitation Science. He's... not the *best* student, but he does try and genuinely care about what he wants to do. Lives with Salvador, Maya, and Zer0 in a dorm.

SALVADOR

Culinary major. My man can COOK. He's the best cook in the dorm and no one will ever argue if he offers to cook. Really good student even though he parties all the time with Mordecai, Brick, and Axton. Lives with Maya, Axton, and Zer0.

ZER0

*Insert weeb joke here* They're a literature major. Not just because of the haiku, either. I feel like Zer0 would be fantastic in literature courses and understanding thr deeper meanings in texts. They are seen as a "weird kid" on campus. They do not care. Lives with Maya, Salvador, and Axton.

MAYA

The reason I made this list (big surprise, V does a huge post and it's Maya's fault), Maya majors in entomology. (S/O to @forbiddenpurplesoda for this because I've always thought Maya would be a bug girl) Maya is a phenomenal student and she always gets great marks in her studies. Lives with Axton, Sal and Zer0. Has at least one pet beetle that makes Axton panic.

GAIGE

Mechanical Engineering/Robotics major. Obviously built Deathtrap as a buddy because she felt a little lonely in her dorm. Calls her Dad every night. Has a huge crush on a girl in one of her math classes. Lives with...

KRIEG!!!!

Listen. Listen. Krieg majors in psychology. The *actual* football captain. Doesn't talk much and when he does, it's complete nonsense. (Everyone just goes "haha classic Krieg") Gaige gets along with him extremely well. Maya and him have a thing where they will just look at each other and think "holy shit they're so gorgeous). Always wears a face mask.

TINA

Child prodigy chemistry major, buddies with Lilith and Roland. But seriously, who let this kid in the lab? Like, okay, yeah, she knows what she's doing, but what she's doing is COMBUSTION REACTIONS. How is she still in school.

ELLIE

Engineering major. Lives in the building across from Roland and the gang. Absolute sweetheart and huge flirt but will also drop you on her ass if you threaten her friends.

MOXXI

I could see Moxxi as a professor of engineering, actually. Every student thinks she's gorgeous and she's learned to ignore it. Scooter and Ellie's Mom. Thinks their friends are funny.

HANDSOME JACK

Oh man, this one was tough. I decided on absolute tool you meet in college who's the head of a frat and thinks he's God's gift to women. Lives in the same building as Roland, Lilith, Brick, Mordecai, Salvador, Axton, Maya, Zer0, Gaige, and Krieg. Constantly getting into arguments with... basically everyone listed above. Majors in business.

ANGEL

She's an art major!!! She's super intelligent and aces all of her classes but she absolutely loves art. Jack is her brother in this AU. Has a crush on the cute punk girl in her math class but could never tell her. Lives in a single.

ALISTAIR HAMMERLOCK

Double majors in conservation biology and zoology! Finds the creatures that he studies absolutely fascinating and always has a bright disposition on his face. Lives in a single that looks exactly like you think it does (his room on Sanctuary III). Strained relationship with his sister.

ATHENA

Acient History Major, specifically interested in Ancient Greece (wonder why?). Works at Marcus' restaurant. Hates it. Pay her more. Has her eyes on a girl that frequents Marcus' restaurant. Tried to live with Wilhelm, Jack, Nisha, Timothy, and Claptrap for a semester, she is now a commuter. Still friends with Timothy.

WILHELM

Jack's second-in-command. People look at him like he's a dumbass, big hunk of meat, but he's also in a robotics major. Aside from being buddies with Jack, he's... kind of chill? Man likes what he likes and he works out pretty often. Boxes in his free time. Lives with Nisha, Jack, Timothy, and (formerly) Claptrap.

NISHA

Criminal justice major, naturally. Jack's girlfriend and the baddest and scariest bitch on campus. Likes watching old western movies. Never, ever shows up to class but still passes. No one knows how. Lives with Jack, Timothy, Wilhelm, and (formerly) Claptrap

CLAPTRAP

Theater major! Always has a smile on his face, even though he's nooooot very well-liked. Tried to get in with the popular guys but eventually figured out he was being used. He confronted Jack and Jack kicked him out of the dorm 😔 Lives... well, he kind of just lives around Roland's dorm. Roland's too nice to say no.

TIMOTHY

I feel like Tim would be a Biology major. I don't know why but I can see him in that field. Looks SCARILY similar to Jack, and hates this. Unfortunately put into a room with Jack, Wilhelm, Nisha, and (formerly) Claptrap. Misses Athena greatly and wishes she still lived on campus. They're still good friends.

AURELIA HAMMERLOCK

Oh good lord, who let her on a college campus. Has an extravagant single room because she's *rich* and she's not sharing with someone else are you insane? Studies law because this bitch wants to be a judge someday. Absolutely hates to be seen with her brother Alistair. Rivalry with another rich law student makes this even more tense.

JANEY SPRINGS

Doesn't go to this college but she knows a few people around campus and hits up Marcus' restaurant for a bite to eat every so often. The food is just so good, right? No other reason. None at all. Friends with Scooter.

RHYS STRONGFOK

Rhys is a business and economics major. Is in Jack's frat. Is getting increasingly sick of Jack's shit. Buddy buddy with Vaughn, Fiona, and Zer0. Dating Sasha.

VAUGHN

Accounting major. Man has a mind like a steel trap, and also enjoys bodybuilding. Best friends with Rhys, good friends with Fiona and Sasha.

FIONA

I genuinely feel like Fiona would be a nursing or Healthcare major. I have no basis for this, it just feels right for her. Hates Jack and keeps telling Rhys to tell him to fuck off. Friends with Rhys and Vaughn, Sasha's older sister.

SASHA

Social work major! Loves helping people and wants to make a change in the world after she and Fiona grew up in less-than-ideal circumstances. Dating Rhys, also keeps telling Rhys to get away from Jack. Friends with Vaughn.

MOZE

Transfer student. Served in the military for a while before deciding she wanted to go to college. Undecided major but she's just trying to focus on the pretty women I mean her grades haha am I right? ALWAYS at Marcus'. Always. Lives with Zane, Amara, and FL4K.

FL4K

FL4K has Mr. Chew, Broodless and Meat-Thief as emotional support animals. I can see FL4K as a double major in zoology and veterinary medicine. Loves their pets. Super chill unless you speak badly about them or their pets. Will shank a bitch. Lives with Zane, Moze, and Amara.

AMARA

Healthcare studies major, with a focus on pathology. Also a bodybuilder. Also a boxer. Amara is that girl and she knows it. Always asking Moze to work out with her and she is completely oblivious to Moze being head over heels. Will fight someone being mean to a customer service worker. Lives with Zane, Moze, and FL4K.

ZANE

Pop pop went back to college! No but in this AU Zane is probably older than everyone but not that much older. His major was tough for me, but I honestly think he'd be a good candidate for a major in rehabilitation science with Axton. Also LOVES parties.

WAINWRIGHT JAKOBS

His Father wanted him to go into Business to take over the family legacy but he decided to go into law to "protect the little guy". Has daily arguments with this stuck-up, pretentious "harpy" that's in most of his classes. She's awful. Has a crush on this well-spoken man in zoological studies. At least that will take his mind off of the harpy.

TROY CALYPSO

Troy is a media and communications major. Has a fantastic time making videos and being admin of many social media pages but doesn't do very well in class because he dislikes most of his professors. Has a very close relationship with his sister, Tyreen.

TYREEN CALYPSO

Double major in Art History and Theater. Loves to be the center of attention and often stars in her brother's videos and projects. She loves it. A little full of herself. Close with her brother, Troy.

TYPHON DELEON

OKAY WAIT WAIT DON'T CLOSE THE POST HEAR ME OUT.

Cringe boomer history professor that can be easily distracted by him telling his stories of his many adventures (no one knows if they're true or not). Troy and Tyreen's Father. NOT a piss poor Dad in this AU, just embarrassing as all hell. Pretty decent guy but he's okay as a professor. (Please guys let me have my "Typhon is a good cringe embarrassing boomer dad to the Calypsos" AU)

OKAY this was a really long post and I probably forgot someone but I'm sure I'll hear about it LMAO. Also I don't know every single college major and its appropriate title, I just went off of vibes. Pls be nice 2 me

[drops-of-moonlights]

Next with the redesigns we get to the WarioWare cast! which oh god there's so many people here what the fuck! anyways! Here we have basically the cast of the og with two from later games. The Warioware cast designs are peak so not a lot is changed, but hey, I still changed some things, so let's get to them! (shoutout to the official WarioWare website it was so useful!)

Mona and Joe are the easiest since they keep themselves more or less the same - still the deliverywoman extraordinaire and her lovable boss. Mona here like everyone else is a bit older - a college student, majoring in archaeology, and has upgraded from a scooter to a motorcycle (quite literally upgraded, Crygor took her scooter and turned it into a bike). Joe keeps himself more or less the same, except a bit afraid of losing the best employee he ever had.

The man with the beat Jimmy T and the silly lil alien, Orbulon! With the former I just added some stars on his pants and also gave him melanin, because frankly the bright colors work better with darker skintones and the Mario cast is pale as milk, some variety is nice. for Orbulon I just put him in his human disguise's cute little minidress, because we stan a gender-non-conforming king. Fun trivia: Jimmy has beef with Waluigi over who has the better dance moves. They get along otherwise but if there's dancing happening it is ON. SIGHT.

Diamond Taxi's speed demons, Dribble and Spitz! I similarly didn't change much, just more detail on shoes, Dribble wearing his coveralls differently, and their earrings, which are actually their wedding rings, because look at me in the eyes and tell me these two aren't fucking. that's right you can't. Spitz finally got to publish his novel! It's doing better than Dribble expected.

Mad Scientist and Beleaguered Karaoke Robot Assistant Duo, Crygor and Mike! The levels at which Crygor is a cyborg vary SO OFTEN I just gave him the full helmet, a robotic left hand and a robotic foot. Mike I only changed up a smidge and changing his face to an LED display for better emoting. Still Penny's loving grandfather, he's gently trying to steer her towards a focus on the mechanics rather than chemistry, believing that she can achiever her idol dreams without having to rely on questionable homemade beverages. Mike on the other hand encourages to focus more on chemistry out of the selfish desire she can make a drink that will give HIM a perfect singing voice lol.

Nintendo Fanatics 9-Volt and 18-Volt! For fun I gave them the real names of Nikola and Edison. Now middle schoolers, they still enjoy skating and Nintendo games. I did the same with 18-Volt as what I did with Jimmy T. 9-Volt's helmet is more clearly a firefighter helmet - it's his dad's old model that he gifted to him.

And to finish it off, Kat and Ana! I wanted both of them to have more unique color palletes, and as a further distinction Kat has freckles. Like the rest they're a bit older, now elementary-school kids, and while he's not in this post they also get along a LITTLE better with Leo.

[lattexalmond]

Top 10 Bls for 2023

So I feel like this is going to be such a long post. First of all I struggled so much choosing what was going to make the top 10 and why. I feel like my opinions are a little different from the majority. For example, I did not incude Only Friends, Moonlight Chicken, Our Sky 2 or Our Dating Sim. It was interesting how my top 5 was easy and after that I was like ahhh what do I do?! So here is what occurred. Thank you bestie @gunsatthaphan as always for making the gifs. They are GORGEOUS and add so much to my words. Without further ado,

I have been anticipating this show since it was first announced in 2022. Let me just say, I LOVE JimmySea. I love their acting and chemistry. I also love these characters Day and Mohk. Jimmy and Sea are both doing a fantastic job at portraying them. This might be my favorite show of all time and I don't know how that is, but after each episode I just love it more and more. P'Aof always does such a good job directing each scene. I love his vision especially in this series. If you know me at all you know A Tale of A Thousand Stars has been my absolute favorite show for years now. Nothing has surpassed it. I think Last Twilight might do that. I had to give it to the top for these reasons alone. It's kind of funny that JimmySea are the top spot 2 years in a row. They just do something for me.

My precious little Korean BL. I was obsessed with this show. I think I watched it 3 times. This one just proves I prefer story over nc lol. This show had so much story which I enjoyed and the mains were so cute as Ji Won Young slowly found himself falling for Yoon Tae Joon. The second couple were also pretty fun and added to the show. This is why it is number 2. Go watch it if you enjoy story with a happy ending. I could probably watch this one 5 more times. The way it was acted was also fun it really kept me invested. So much character development. Okay I will stop now.

Did we think this would be this high on the list? I don't know. What I do know is watching this week to week was so fun and I still listen to a majority of the songs on spotify. This was high school, but also was so fun. Tinn was such a simp for Gun. FourthGemini did very well. As we can tell by the gif I ended up loving WinnySatang as SoundWin in this. They were just adorable! The umbrella scene, the singing scene, the scooter scene. They had so many. Also the fact this show did a music video for one of my favorite Thai songs was just...gah! I need to rewatch this one soon. I miss it.

Ah! my precious show that I waited forever and a decade to air. When the first trailer came out I was like YES. I am one of the few that have no qualms with Krist and then when it switched from Mike to Gawin I was like HUH?! It ended up working somehow. GawinKrist did very well and had pretty damn good chemistry. This story was so fun. The time traveling and the different stories. I loved watching Kawi become himself. Piasang never waivered and that was adorable. Aye as Pear was also so nice to see. All of the characters in this show were done so well. It had to get the number 4 spot. Unable was one of my most played song this fall most likely lol I love Gawin's voice.

I was surprised by how much I loved this show. It was so cute and done so well. It was one of the best surprises of the summer. There was so much story and characterization. It had such a good plot. I just loved them the whole way through. I don't usually like friends to lovers it depends how it is done and this was done perfectly. Love my little Bo Ram and Han Tae. Go watch this if you haven't. Cuties being cute.

ForceBook always take me over. I don't know why, but I just love them. GunCher were so cute and adorable and healthy. I throroughly enjoyed this show. They had to be in my top 10. Also we can't forget how adorable and sweet the second couple were. Koala hugs for the win okay?

PondPhuwin as Palm and Nungdiao. What a great show. I loved every second of this. All of the drama and excitement. All of the references to the Chinese story. I just really liked this one and I love PondPhuwin. Also the little snippet we got of PerthChimon. This was a good show. I don't care what the majority of you say. The ending scene with needing a charger is the cutest thing ever.

I don't know what it is about this show. I don't know why I love HiraKiyoyi so much. They are so strange and yet these two actors just captivate the characters and I can't stop watching. This scene is so funny because we have never seen Kiyoyi really get jealous of Hira. That is why my dumbass couple who can't communicate if their lives depended on it are in the number 8 spot.

I honestly have no idea if anyone else enjoyed this one as much as I did, but I really loved them. They were so cute. I am a sucker for we met before and cuteness. Lee Jun and Ha Ram were just cute. Ha Ram softened Lee Jun from his previous relationship. Also their chemistry was pretty dang good.

I really struggled in placing this in my top 10 for a multitude of reasons. The main one being the second couple took over the show and we got a rushed ending for the mains. That kind of irked me a lot. I just had to include it though because of one man BAI ZONG YI. He was the CUTEST character to ever exist. He never ever waivered. Him and Piaseng should compare notes LOL Anyway my babies are rounding out the tenth spot. I didn't dislike Ai Di and Chen Yi, but I was upset by how they took over. Both couples had chemistry chemistrying 🧪 which was nice.

So with this list I had to exclude a lot of shows that I did enjoy. I am going to list them here.

It pained me not to include Our Skyy 2 because I loved all of the couples but some of the episodes were just so cringe lol or bad. My precious PhuphaTian getting their happy ending was probably one of the best things though. That scene still brings me to 😭 . The episodes of Our Skyy 2 that were good were Never Let Me Go, A Boss and a Babe, 1000 Stars and it pains me to say this, but the Bad Buddy one was not that bad because it included 1000 Stars. Also Vice Versa's was weird, but it was enjoyable.

Minato Shouji Coin Laundry 2 didn't make the cut and that hurt so much because I think Minato and Shin are a comfort couple for me and they were adorable this season. It was just the plot. I don't want to spoil this if you haven't seen it, but yeah. I still love them though so they are getting mentioned.😍

Love Tractor was such a cute show and the character of Ye Chan was just so puppy coded and adorable. 🐶

Moonlight Chicken was a show I was so difficult about. I don't know why, but I did not enjoy it as much as I wanted to so it was not included. EarthMix still have my heart 🧡 and FourthGemini stole the show.

Only Friends was a show that everyone was waiting all year for. I think they did a very good job, It was entertaining and Mew is probably my favorite character of the year aside from Mohk of course lol I just couldn't include it in my top. I'm sorry :(

I am actually surprised that there were so many Korean shows on the list this year. They really showed up. If you read the whole thing. Thank you. This took me hours to think about and put together.

[tench]

Me playing BL1 as Mordecai: can't hit shit, the bird is mvp, sitting on npc's tables, sitting on npc's laps, sitting on npc's faces, holding my sniper rifle so it'd fit into a nps crotch, designated driver, but i cant control the vehicle and there's only vertical parking (also jamming the x button till the “you can’t hit shit” line while in the car with friend), hiding in trash box while my friend (as Brick and also as my only impulse control) is trying to play the game... also foil hat.

Me after playing all the games: ... I still lowkey think it's canon, just a very oof-brand rakk ale

[dollsome-does-tumblr]

some more grumpy killing eve 4.06 thoughts--

i felt like it would be such a rewarding payoff for eve to kill helene for hurting villanelle, and i thought for awhile that it would happen in the hotel room tussle, and it felt SO WEIRD to instead have eve just be standing there while villanelle kills someone in front of her for the millionth time. and just like always before, doing the shocked hands-to-the-face, like they are stuck in an infinite loop and nothing ever  changes! (although it was pretty funny that she clearly went quick to a “that was hot” place and also funny that it was at the one time when villanelle did not give a damn.)

i feel like this season has no real interest in the eroticism or the awakening aspect of eve’s darkness, which -- okay, i guess, i guess eve doesn’t have to go dark, but watching her shoot some random dude in the head like it had real narrative stakes when the helene possibility was right there just made me so annoyed. the writing this season just totally does not seem to get any of the past seasons, even season 3. eve might be more present this season than in s3 (maybe? i can’t tell), but even though she’s constantly moving around doing stuff, and she’s incredibly charming to watch at every single second, she’s not really being given a deep or consistent arc. and i hate it. i keep thinking about how rapturous sandra oh was about the show back in season one, and it’s like, now she just has to do this lackluster crap??

in other news, i think if the pam plot had been in s3 instead, i would have liked it a lot; i love the actress and her interactions with konstantin are entertaining to watch, and the sequence where she had to kill that lady was i think the most morbidly fun/stressful that the show has been in awhile. but it just feels so much like them throwing a spinoff into our faces instead of showing us eve and villanelle that i just don’t know what to do with it!

carolyn, i’m so sorry you’re having to do all the most boring crap imaginable constantly since your fun little adventure with v. like, every time they cut to a carolyn scene now i’m like “time to mentally check out!” at least we’ll always have the air guitar.

with that being said, i loved the eve and villanelle stuff at the beginning because of course i did. the tenderness the electricity!!!!! the whole shirt sequence was just breathlessness-inducing, so dreamy, and eve was so cute rolling up to her girl on the scooter later. i also like that villanelle has reached a point where she’s like “i’m done with you”, and in a version of the show that was giving them more screentime, i’d be excited to see that explored more. idk why you would stare that kind of chemistry in the face after three seasons of it being iconic and decide to make it like number 40 on your list of priorities for the final season, but okay. it’s hard to look back on any of their iconic moments from the previous seasons and imagine anything even close happening now. i think maybe it’s because originally this show was really rooted in and relished rolling around in psychological detail, and now most of the time it doesn’t bother to think that deeply.

i often feel like this season is also using the trappings of killing eve -- the ominous background music, the idea of doing something wacky with a weird song playing with villanelle -- but without any of the precision or smarts of the earlier seasons that made it so fun to watch. that whole final sequence had me like “okay, and??????????” and it just went on FOREVER.

plz, for our sanity, let us not mention the eve/yusuf romcom going on in the promos for next week. (do you know what i would GIVE to see villaneve karaoke? do you know what i would GIVE?? it feels like a personal affront. also, i was kind of feeling like yusuf should have been one of the men eve hung out with in a previous season instead -- hugo? danny sapani’s character? -- because it just feels so weird to have him here randomly out of nowhere and completely invested in her whole villanelle and the twelve thing. you are very cute, but who are you, sir???)

it’s almost over. and once it’s over, i’m going to try to find a way to erase this season from my brain, probably. unless there’s a real quality turnaround in these last two hours! but man, what an important season of tv to bring such totally mediocre writing to. there’s always many new shows to love out there, so you don’t really have to be heartsore about any one that goes badly for long, but man, i’ve really cared about this one for a long time. :(

[fy-2pm]

[Interview] 2PM's Taecyeon 1st Look Magazine

In "Vincenzo", going back and forth as the foolish intern lawyer and the cold-blooded sociopath, Ok Taecyeon has added tension. Another side of him begins.

Q: It has been approximately one year since your last acting piece and you're back with the drama <VINCENZO>. Did you watch the first episode?

T: Of course, I really enjoyed watching it. Actually, I don't know much about the part without my appearance until I watched it on TV. So, it's like something new to me. Watching the first episode, I realized I am in a project that's much bigger than I thought.

Q: What's your reaction?

T: Overall, it was fun. However, there were many scenes with the comical elements came out stronger than I thought. As this is the work from scriptwriter, Park Jae-Beom, I expected some comical elements to some extent but most of them, I didn't even think about it.

Q: Like you said, scriptwriter Park Jae-Beom is someone who will address the social issues in a comical way. What's it like to work with him?

T: While I was reading the script, I thought the writer has something he wanted to say. He wanted to bring out social criticism through his piece of work. Actually, the black comedy genre needs to be more comical so that it won't be too heavily weighted. It's not easy. The scriptwriter managed to solve this without placing too much weight on this. Personally, I am very impress.

Q: At the drama press conference, Director Kim Hee Won told us that she worked very hard on each character to the extent that it took her 6 months to do casting. Why do you think Ok Taecyeon became Jang Jun Woo?

T: I think the biggest reason is my good health. From Director Kim's perspective, bright and healthy image matches with Junwoo's character. She said I should be able to explore and express this character well.

Q: Actually, I thought Jang Junwoo would be very different to the Ok Taecyeon that we know for a long time.

T: When I first received the script, I thought, "Should I be doing this?" because Jang Junwoo and I have a lot in common. The very first scene for Junwoo is riding an electric scooter, which made me feel if someone is hiding a camera to film my real life. I like to ride it all the time (laugh). However, as the story unfolds, it is more than just Junwoo's foolish out look. I'm going to show a different side of me, so I am paying a lot of attention in my acting.

Q: With a different side, what would that be?

T: I think Jang Junwoo is someone with many sides and shadings. It's character that goes back and forth between cold and hot bath. I keep thinking, "Can I express it like this?" I am thinking into each and single details. Personally, I have never acted like this before, so I'm expressing it in various different ways under the directions from the director. Viewers will be able to see this, I wonder how they will accept it.

Q: Personally, I think your "Tikitaka" with senior lawyer played by Jeon Yeo Bin was impressive. I'm looking forward to see the chemistry between you two. (T/N: "Tikitaka" means "the situation whereby someone does something and the other supports with efficient responses")

T: Actually I tried to get to know each other better. She's an actress who receives well and so, we are in sync when say our script lines.

Q: Jang Junwoo is an intern who just took his first step into the society. What was Ok Taecyeon like when he first started? Let's talk about the old days.

T: When I first started working... It was already 15 years ago (laugh). Back then, to me, everything was fun. The very first time I earned my own money was when I did some modelling. At that time, I didn't have a manager, so I took the bus with heavy stage makeup. I also went to practice just like that. However, everything was really fun. At that time, my parents were in the US and I came back to Korea alone. One of the fun things is to tell them each and everything I did for work.

Q: <VINCENZO> will be meeting global viewers via Netflix. Will the global viewers be able to relate to the story?

T: For sure, I don't think there's anything you can relate to it. This is because it is a black comedy where they are pointing out the current problems in Korean society. However, if you look at it at a wider scope, the definition of a dark hero is the same in any society. Viewers with their conventional thoughts and curiosity will have questions as to why things are not resolved by the law. I think this is where <VINCENZO> will attract the global viewers.

Q: You have been an actor for more than 10 years. When was the first time, you are convinced about this?

T: I think it was at the time when I was filming the drama <WONDERFUL DAYS>. One day after shooting a scene, the writer praised me for doing well. While I was filming, I thought, "Am I doing it okay?". I didn't know I would get a good compliment. After the filming, I was able to feel the relief of my nervousness, which I have never felt before. For the first time, I thought, "Is this the charm of acting?"

Q: When you first dream of becoming an actor to now, is there any difference?

T: Well, I think we should use the expression "When I first started" rather than "When I first dreamed" about it. I think I really started not knowing what was really going on. With the thought that I am working with nice people, every time I go to work, I will think about how I can contribute to make it interesting and fun in the filming. I thought about how I can express more. I think it's about time for me to think about how to make my characters look new.

Q: Actually, there is no right or wrong answer for acting. Sometimes, there are different opinions but what kind of choices do you have to make?

T: Personally, I will analyze the characters and prepare a lot of things. Sometimes, I will approach the director. Times like that, I will follow the director's instructions. Of course, there are also times when I have my own thoughts. However, no matter how I act, it doesn't mean much if it gets edited out later. I came across an actor who doesn't look at his acting at all on the monitor. If he sees his own acting, he would be forcing his acting without realizing it. So when he the director says it's okay, he is okay with it, too. After hearing that, I thought that was right too.

Q: What attracts you when you look at a piece of work?

T: Personally, I think how the story flows is important. Next is, what can I show with this character? I will look into it.

Q: What's the joy living as an actor?

T: While you get to play different characters every time, you can also break down people's prejudice. I think this is the part with the most fun. So I think it's important to take on new challenges with something new. I am always thinking how to keep people's attentions and to what extend people can take when I do something outrageous.

Q: If so, what does actor Ok Taecyeon want to show with his acting?

T: Honestly, instead of showing a completely different side of me, I am trying to focus on what I already have and I'll increase all aspects little by little. I was watching my acting to look for the character's flow and what the character is missing all at once. I'm trying to do that (laugh).

Q: By the way, at the end of last year, 2PM announced their group comeback at a live. How's the preparation going?

T: We're preparing but I'm not sure if we can make a comeback this year (laugh). We are planning but there are situations overlapping so we need to organize that.

Q: Since 2016, it's been 5 years since your last group album. Personally, anything you want to show us?

T: As all our members are composing songs, we all have different ideas. Like what music to use as our title song? We cannot make a start unless we find our direction. Actually, once the title song is decided, it will progress from then on, but members haven't come to a decision yet. Recently, our first round of gathering failed (laugh).

Q: Define Ok Taecyeon in a few words. What words are appropriate?

T: A lot of people said the words "healthy" or "vitamin C" (laugh). Personally, I like all of them. However, if I put them all together, I hope I can become the "Happy Virus." Doesn't matter where I go, I want to give happiness to many people. As a singer who is acting, if you watch me act and you can feel the comfort and happiness from my heart that would be great.

Q: I think you have achieved this. Everyone in the site here today is happy. Thanks to Taecyeon.

T: Really? Then, that's all. What. Hahaha...

Trans @JLML718

[scandeniall]

cause u were my baby

pairing: atsumu x (implied black)f!reader (ur Aran’s sister but if u wanna imagine youre adopted go ahead no physical descriptors)

summary/warnings: honestly just based off my boo by usher. ur life around atsumu over the years (from kids to adults)/implied nsfw at the end when ur adults, bad words, thats it./timeskip spolier 

a/n: format might be weird because i was initially doing these as headcanons but kept going and it changed. also also started with a sakusa version based on this song so um tune in next whenever i finish it oop-

wc:4.4k 

It started when we were younger, you were mine 

You’re not exactly sure when you’d met Atsumu. It seemed like he was always around. From the first day Aran came home trailing two considerably shorter twins behind him you’d been intrigued. 

“Aran you never told us ya had a sister!” When they found out your name and exclaimed how cool it was there was no way you could’ve predicted your future. 

Eventually it became a tiny school girl crush, on one of them as kids (you couldn’t quite tell them apart for the longest). You’d be overly happy whenever Aran brought them around, and always asked to tag along with him, but only when he mentioned he’d be seeing the twins. 

You’d watched over the years as your brother only grew closer to them and as a result so did you, sorta. In middle school you’d come back from hanging with your own friends to hear the twins bickering while your brother just continued in with his homework. Being in the same year, you’d occasionally be dragged into helping them out, or sharing answers when it was too hard and “they’d learn it later, but need the answers now.”

At some point during middle school you’d grown an official crush on Atsumu, opting to take his side more often than not within his competition with Osamu. Despite that, nothing ever came of it as kids. 

The older you got, the more attractive they’d seem to get, but you never paid much attention. After all, once you reached the world of high school, your young crush practically disappeared. Instead you’d taken a liking to all the new people you were exposed to.  

As they got more and more passionate about volleyball and you parted class ways you never really saw them, except for the occasional times they’d come to your house. Even then, the conversations were short. Growing more confident, and friendly you’d still jokingly take Atsumu’s side to which he’d parade around like he’d won the lottery. “At least someone thinks I’m right.” 

Of course you’d heard about Atsumu’s lack of popularity among his teammates. You’d overheard Osamu telling him at lunch one day to be nicer, and you couldn’t help but laugh at the lack of care he showed for others thoughts on his personality. As long as he was doing his job as a setter all’s good. 

“Don’t think you’d say that if they decided to throw you in a ditch one day,” you’d tease hovering over their lunch table. “Maybe you should be a little nicer,”

“If they suck, then they suck.” 

For the rest of your first year your conversations took on similar natures. One of you’d overhear something then butt in for a few moments before returning to your regularly scheduled lives. 

You’d watch as the two of them grew into their volleyball skills, alongside your brother cheering from the sidelines as much as you could. Come your 2nd year Their notoriety and your connection to them caused a spike in your popularity. It was something that came to the irritation of your brother. 

“Another date?” Your brother eyed the way you searched for the perfect pair of shoes while you waved him off. 

You’d heard about the twins biggest fight. Osamu admitted that he’d be quitting volleyball after high school. Heard about the way Atsumu reacted, seen the way they stopped sitting together at lunch

“Shouldn’t ya be with yer friends,” the blonde twin mumbles, continuing to stab at the rice he’d brought for lunch. Or that Osamu packed, which is precisely why he couldn’t eat it. You slid into the empty seat in front of him, not even phased. 

“Atsumu you need to make up with your Osamu. You two are driving Aran mad. And more importantly you need each other.” Your hand stops his that were previously stabbing at the food, by knocking the chopsticks out. With a sigh, you move the bento he’d been messing over and replace it with your own lunch. “Since you’re on your whole anti Samu stance, figured I’d get you some non Samu food. I’ll be eating this by the way.” You were intentional in keeping your voice light not wanting to further upset the firecracker. “I’m waiting on my thank you.”

“For what. Tryna get me to talk to the traitor-“

“Atsumu. He's your brother. Grow up. I’m just trying to help out my friends-“

“Yer just Aran’s sister who has a stupid crush on Samu. That’s why yer taking his side,” at that your eyes widen and the annoyance starts to set. Before you could refute he cuts you off.  “We’re not friends. Never have been and never will be. Go hang out with Samu if you’re that desperate”

Silence settled upon the two of you before you swallowed the lump that had started to form. 

“You’re right. We’re not friends and I’m just Aran’s stupid little sis how could i forget,” your tone is mocking as you gather up your own food. “You clearly have some issues to work through with Osamu and you’re upset but I’m not gonna be your verbal punching bag. Keep the lunch,” you sigh before standing. “I’ll see you around, maybe.” Atsumu couldn’t pinpoint it then but there sense of finality in your voice might’ve aided in the further irritation he carried through the rest of the day. 

You’re not even sure when the twins got back on good terms. One day they’d started hanging back out at your place with Aran however you made it a point to never be around. It wasn’t until your brother’s graduation months later that Atsumu caught you for more than a few fleeting seconds. 

“He’s really graduated huh-“ you were sitting in the empty gym after the ceremony. Everyone else had gone outside before you ditched your family with the promise of catching up and being back for Aran’s celebratory dinner. However Atsumu had watched you slip back in and curiosity killed the fox. 

“Hey Tsumu,” you hummed, eyes glued on the chairs covering the floor. You only glanced at him once you felt the bleachers creak and did as he settled next to you. 

“Why’re ya in here (Y/N)”

“Just thinking. I’m gonna miss him-“

“Arans really leaving us for the big guys huh- they grow up so fast.” The lightness in Atsumu’s voice has you smiling before shaking your head before focusing back on the gym floor. 

“Not Aran. Well- yeah I’m gonna miss him too but I’m talking about my boyfriend. Well ex who kinda broke up with me yesterday. Something about going off to Uni and needing something new. Seeing him here too was weird.”

Atsumu just nods. He’d heard that you’d started dating some 3rd year shortly after your disagreement. According to Aran and even Osamu the guy wasn’t necessarily a bad guy but wasn’t really a good one either. “(Y/N) could do better but if she’s happy,” he’d listen to Aran complain before, a rarity from a guy who tried seeing the good in people. And it was true, you were happy. Extremely so. 

“Sorry about that,” you just give him another nod before he sighs. “M’sorry about blowing up at ya a while back too. Saying that we weren’t friends,”

“Is Miya Atsumu apologizing for someone.” Your fake shock is accompanied by you turning your body to face his. “Do I need to get this on camera for proof. Where’s Rin.” The way you pull out your phone pretending to film has him laughing before jokingly telling you to shut it. 

“You worked things out with Samu?”

Atsumu only shrugs. “I’m still pissed but we still have 1 more year. And I gotta focus on being happier and more successful.”

“Do I even wanna know?”

Instead of responding Atsumu just stands before offering you a hand. “Ya going to the party?” He was referring to the one the parents had planned to celebrate the graduates. It was at your house but you weren’t sure if you were gonna actually show or just hang with a friend for a few hours. You still hadn’t taken his hand up and he looked at it expectedly. 

“Hadn’t decided. Kinda sad ya know,” you joke before taking it. 

“All the more reason. Forget about that loser. Besides if Aran finds out I knew ya were sad and did nothin’ he’d kick my ass.” You thought for a moment before caving, not even noticing had neither of you had let go. 

That was the start of it all for you two. Following the party you’d rekindled your friendship with the twin and as break started the two of you grew closer. There’d been many nights when you two would sneak out and go on late night adventures. Convenience store runs. Scooter rides or even to parks to help him practice. You’d even started hanging around when they had official team practices to where he’d started walking you home. 

Your first kiss happened on one of those walks. Your arms had brushed several times as he complained about poor spikes or missed serves and how they weren’t gonna be Karasuno with that performance. 

“They’re stressing you out just how you stressed Kita out captain”

“And yer brother,” you nod as your hands brushed again. “How’s he doin anyways,” 

“Pretty good. Just practicing a lot and stuff. He’s always tired when we talk.” Another brush. You start tuning Atsumu out as you debate on making a move. The two of you had gotten considerably closer to the point where people had teased calling him your boyfriend. However you could’ve been imagining it and the chemistry. Maybe he just saw you as a sister much like Osamu but picked up on your feelings and didn’t wanna hurt them and ruin things. 

“Hey Atsumu,” the way you stopped had him confused. However before he could question it you started. “Do you like me? Like-like me?”

He thought for a moment before answering just with a shrug. “Well yeah. Course Aran would kill me for some of my thoughts but—yeah.” You weren’t even sure why you were so surprised with the ease of how he admitted it. He always said what he meant and all you could do was nod before managing to could out something that sounded like “good”

“Good. That’s all ya gotta say? C’mon (Y/N) give me something. Do ya like me?” With a nod from you he finds himself surprisingly flustered before doing the same as you. Only this time he’d moved closer head lowering. “Well that’s good”

The two of you started dating shortly after and into your last year. It wasn’t something that went unnoticed either. The way he’d lean against your locker trying to be cool, definitely falling more than once. The few people that had been privy to your quick makeout sessions when you’d meet up in empty hallways while you were supposed to be using the restroom. The way you’d started eating lunch together more often and if people played enough attention they’d noticed that you often shared drinks because “things taste better when they aren’t yours.” Then the most obvious, how you’d hang around early at games and stayed after and how he was so excited to beat Karasuno at nationals that he’d actually made out with you in public. (Aran had nearly murdered him upon finding out about that)

After graduation you two had gone off to different places and it was a struggle. There were arguments about not making time for one another. Between your academics and his pursuit at going pro, it was a struggle. But things were always made worth it. The time you’d created and sent him a care package and he texted you back a selfie with the basket with tears in his eyes. Or how you made the 3 hour train ride down for important matches or during your school breaks because he’d sounded super down about not being able to nail a new serve. 

There were times where he’d stay on video call with you long after he should’ve been in bed because you were stressed about finals and up still studying. Then the time he surprised you by coming down for a milestone birthday. He’d showed up at your apartment at some odd hour completely exhausted and ready to fall over the second you opened the door. 

“Atsumu?”

“Surprise baby,” he slurred using the last bit of his energy to hug you tightly. “Happy birthday”

“Tsumu what are you doing here,” you’d pull away however he attached himself back to you arms locked around your middle and face buried in the side of your neck.

“Talk later, sleep now.” You find yourself nodding before prying his hands off your and intertwining them with yours. 

“Let’s get you some sleep Tsumu”

There were the late night drives as young adults listening to old school music and singing your hearts out just having fun. It was during the holidays and you two had both gone back home to be with your families. 

“Hey babe technically this is us.” Atsumu is the one to turn the radio down as a familiar song starts. “And you were my babyyyyy,” His screeching fills the car causing you to laugh and swat the hand that had been casually resting on your thigh off. “It started when we were younger-”

“Atsumu shut up and pay attention to the road.” You smile as his hand immediately finds its way back on you. “But you are my boo.”

The night the Jackals beat the Adlers you were sure Atsumu would want to go out and party and you were more than fine with it. However while waiting for him to finish up you’d gotten word of his celebratory plans from a post game interview. “Just gna hang at home. Watch a few movies, eat a cheat meal, ya know.” 

It’s about an hour later before Atsumu meets up with you at the stadium's entrance. You notice how his hair hadn’t fully dried as he shifts his duffel bag to the other arm to grab your hand on your preferred hand holding side as the two of you make your way across the parking lot. “Are you sure you don’t wanna go out with the guys?”

The squeeze of his hand confirms his decision. “I’ll see em’ tomorrow. We haven’t spent much time together these days. As the two of you approach the car you let go before asking him if he wanted you to drive. After he confirmed he was good to you slipped into the passenger seat listening as he tossed his bag in the back before sliding into the driver's seat. “Besides,” his hand makes its way towards your cheek, guiding your face to his. “I can think of a much better way to celebrate.”

“Is that so?” Your tease is quiet as you inch closer lips only a hair away. He’s the one who closes the space and you immediately reciprocate. Your lips immediately move against his mumbling a “congratulations” against his lips. You indulge it for a moment before pulling away to press kisses up his neck until you reach his ear before whispering something. 

“Are ya serious?” At your nod he lets out a groan that you can’t help but laugh at him. “Yer gonna be the death of me one day”

“Love you too.”

The day he found out he’d made the Olympic team had been cause for celebration for more than one reason. The two of you had been getting ready for a regular day of running errands when he got the call. After hanging up he yelled for you so loud it could have gotten a noise complaint from neighbors. 

“Atsumu why are you yelling. Im in the bathroom not fucking Antarctica.”

“I’m on the Olympic team baby.”

Following that you decided to turn the day into an Atsumu day something that made his heart swell. From the way you kept telling him how proud of him you were to watching his favorite movie even though you hated it. Once you insisted on making his favorite for dinner he knew it was time. In return he convinced you to get dressed in something other than sweats to eat dinner on your couch. “I just think we should take some pictures so I can show off my biggest supporter,” is what he told you with a shrug when you questioned it.

You also shouldve known something was up when he insisted that he had desert covered, because the man couldn’t bake for shit. “It's a delivery, cmon have some faith in me.”

“I do baby. In everything except for baking.”

You’d just finished eating dinner and the two of you were cuddled on the couch watching another movie, one of your boyfriend’s choices. You’d shifted uncomfortably for the fifth time before looking at Atsumu. “Can I change yet, these jeans aren’t comfortable anymore.” You were caught off guard when he moved so that he pulled you so that you were straddling him.

“Better?” 

“Not at all,” you rolled your eyes while he just laughed, fingers squeezing at your hips. 

“Just wait til desert, yer brother’s on his way with it now.” He placed a quick kiss on the skin of your collarbone before pointing at his phone for you to hand to him. “Did he tell ya he's on the olympic team too?”

“He's my brother. I was gonna treat him to dinner tomorrow. You tell Samu yet?”

“Not yet. Was gonna do it after Aran left.” You don’t miss the way Atsumu tries to hide the messages on his phone, his brightness all the way down, something he usually hates. Before you can question anything he's pulling you so that your lips meet his. “Stop looking so concerned,” he whispers against your lips. 

“Yer so fuckin pretty baby,” the way his fingers tighten against your sides and the way his tongue slips into your mouth has the quietest moan coming out of your mouth. You pout as he pulls away settling for kisses along your neck instead. “You’ve been so good to me today. Can’t wait to get to bed with you.”

Before anything could go any further a knock on the door interrupts. “It's probably Ojiro,” you whine, mildly annoyed at your brother for interrupting you from where things were headed. “Tsumu let go,” you frown at the failed attempt of getting off him. You've met with a quick kiss before his palm comes firm against your ass, a yelp escaping. With that he lets you go laughing at the scowl you shoot him as he goes to get the door. 

You don’t even bother to look at the two yet you can hear Aran’s scold that the two of you were disgusting.

“How’d ya know we were even doin anything”

“Your lips are swollen.” After that the two of them get into a whispered conversation that you can’t pick up on no matter how hard you try to listen. Before you know it your brother crosses through the apartment to place a box in the kitchen before joining you in the living room. “Congrats big bro,” you stand hugging him slightly before plopping down on the couch. He gives a smile of thanks before changing the subject.

“Miya here isn’t corrupting you too much right.” You both ignore Atsumu’s exclaim that he isn’t the one corrupting anyone has you hear him shuffle around in the kitchen. 

When he gets back he brings the box, some plates and a few utensils. “What is it?” He nearly trips trying to set it all down before you get up to help him. After helping him you notice that he doesn’t sit back on the couch and looks off. “Tsumu are you ok?” You give your brother a concerned look but he just shrugs. 

“(Y/N). could ya,” he nervously motions for you to stand back up and you comply confused. Grabbing his hand you watch him carefully, silently trying to check in on him. When he doesn’t answer you lean up to place a quick kiss on his lips. A silent “I love you,’ something that seems to calm him down. “I I love you too”

“You wanna sit down now?”

“Yeah just let me get this off my chest first?” Your nod is his signal to continue. “I don't remember when I met ya. At all. All I know is that there was this super cool guy with a super cool name and me and Samu kinda just followed him around. Then we found out he had a little sister.” You were used to some of Atsumu’s mindless babbling but the reason for bringing that up right then and in front of Aran was still going over your head. 

“Somewhere along the way I fell in love with ya. I can tell ya that the first day I realized my crush was after Aran’s graduation. You were sittin in the gym and we just talked. You were sad about some loser and I didnt like that. Course I couldn't say anythin cause we weren’t even really friends then.” That pause is when what might be happening hits you and you freeze. It’s something Atsumu notices right away, eyes looking at you with concern. “Ya alright?”

The only thing you could do was nod offering a slight squeeze of his hand prompting him to continue. “Alright—where was I —ok. Then we got together and I knew it was love. Ya made me feel like I was I’m top of the world even when I was a jackass.”

“I almost thought we wouldn’t make it when ya when off to university. It was hard but we made it. we used to argue so much about stupid shit back then too. You were there before anyone knew who I was as a kid and have stayed with me all the way to being an Olympic athlete.” 

At this point you watch as he begins to kneel and you’re hit with the fact that he’s really about to do it. You’re nodding before he even asks which causes him to laugh. “Let me finish alright.”

“I’m so in love with everything about you and after the announcement I realized we weren’t gettin any younger. You’ve been my boo since we were 17 and here we are almost a decade later. You’re still my boo and I want it forever. So (Y/N) will you marry me?”

You’re not even sure real words came out before you’ve tackled him to the ground in a hug immediately pressing kisses all over his face. Your eyes are teary as his hand rubs comforting circles on your back. The two of you are there for a few moments before Aran finally clears his throat. 

“I can't believe my little sister is engaged. And to Atsumu no less.congratulations you two.” He shoots you both a warm smile as he watches the two of you. After getting up your arms fling immediately around Aran. 

“Did you know about this,” the tears finally begin to fall as he just laughs confirming. “I can't believe you let him ambush me like this.” You feel your brother's arms embrace you at the mixture of laughing and crying. 

“Hey, I knew he was proposing soon, not the day. He just called me up earlier claiming today was the day. Now stop crying and look at the cake.” Confusion crosses your face until you’re turned around to see Atsumu holding a cake that reads: marry me? (pls) the ring placed right under the words. 

After you'd calmed down the three of you just sat in the living room catching up when you realized something. “Atsumu, you were so corny with the song reference.” Looking at Aran the two of you immediately burst into laughter. “I can't believe you referred to me as your boo. Out loud and in all seriousness”

“I got it on camera too. Got him in 4K” Aran shakes his head. 

“I can't believe this. I propose and yet still clowning me. I miss when ya were all emotional,” your fiancé huffs. Despite that he doesn’t move at all from sitting so close that your legs touched. His eyes kept shooting at the ring on your finger and the desire to get you alone grew by the minute. At some point his hand slipped from the back of the couch to your thigh offering a squeeze. 

It was then that Aran cleared his throat. “That’s my cue to head on out. I’ll see you tomorrow sis. Congrats again you two. Don’t—I’m not ready to be an uncle yet, s’all I gotta say.” 

“After the Olympics work better for ya teammate?” 

“How about never Miya” 

The two of you bid your brother one last goodbye after the warning and before the door is even fully closed your fiancé is pulling you back into his lap. Your heart swells at the way Atsumu’s eyes look at you with so much love and your voice comes out way quieter than you intended. “Still can’t believe you quoted Usher”

Atsumu groans at that The hand that had been plaing with your, ghosting over the ring comes to a stop. . “I’m never showing anyone else that video.” 

“It’ll be our little secret.” 

“You're lying”

The smirk on your face tells him all he needs to know and all he can do is shake his head. “If yer gonna tell my deepest secret I’m gonna need you to make it up to me.” His hand slip around your waist, fingers skimming the space where your shirt had ridden up. you return the touch by trailing your hands until palms are placed again his chest. 

“I think we can arrange something. Isn’t that right pretty?” The touch and hushed words were enough to cause heat to flare across your skin. 

“What’d you’d have in mind?”

“A few things,” Atsumu leans close, placing kisses everywhere except your lips. First your close one. Then along your jaw. Right on the corner of your lips. “Think we’ve got some celebrating to do, fiancé.”

Atsumu forgot to tell Osamu that night and was ambushed the following morning after watching his private story in which Atsumu made you flash your hand to the camera with an obnoxious number of zooms with the caption: made the Olympic team and got my forever boo 🤪

[scribbles97]

21 you hate when i’m right and 61 alright then, Mr Grumpy

I haven’t written John and Scott in forever and I’m so glad this prompt gave me the idea it did because they’re so great to write together! I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it Nonny! 

@mrseviltedi partly inspired by you and your constant advice I seek when baking! 

Scott had protested, insisted that it wasn’t possible and the whole thing would end up a disaster. He had stormed off in a huff, arms in the air and face like thunder as he had stalked upstairs leaving John in the kitchen leaning on the counter. 

John was a man of science, he liked to know how things worked. Although his specialisation was the stars, he had always had a liking for chemical reactions. 

What Scott failed to realise was that baking was nothing more than a complex chemical reaction. Each of the components added together reacted to form a new compound that tased better than the starting combination. 

The problem was, there were no eggs left for the pancake mix. 

Which wouldn’t be a problem at all if it had been any other day. 

Except, it was Dad’s first morning home from rehab and Scott had been out all night dealing with a landslide in Canada. 

Like all of them, Scott wanted the morning to be perfect, and thus far it had been. The sun was rising on the horizon, the sky a beautiful mix of deep orange shifting to purple and blue, bathing the kitchen in a soft golden glow. Below the villa the sea was calm, and above the birds were singing their songs. Virgil had been out with Grandma the night before once Dad had been settled in his room, and picked fresh flowers for the breakfast table that were just beginning to bloom.

Then Scott had gotten home though, too early for breakfast by anyone's standards, and the food hadn’t been ready, the key ingredients missing. 

Eos had woken John, informed him quietly of his brother's impending meltdown and set him heading for the kitchen to intercept before Storm Scott ruined the day. 

Telling his older brother that it was all fine, that eggs could be replaced with other ingredients hadn’t gone down well. It was Dad’s own recipe, passed down from father to sons until at least one of them had perfected the art of pancake making. As eldest, Scott had apparently taken it upon himself to produce the go-to breakfast that morning, no matter how tired and grumpy he might have been. 

Apparently calling him Mister Grumpy Pants had been the last straw. At least it had left John in peace though to replace the eggs with a little oil and water as Dad had once shown him when nobody else had been around. 

Gordon had been next to appear, taking the fruit from the fridge and chopping it without question into a series of bowls and plates. Each had worked silently, doing their bit towards the breakfast, setting the table and drinks out ready for when the rest of the family arrived. 

Grandma and then Kayo, followed by a yawning Alan and Virgil who most definitely needed coffee. Even Dad had appeared before Scott had returned, all settling in, with only a brief question as to where the eldest was. 

Once they were all settled and suitably distracted by food, he slipped away with the single pancake he had saved. Just a couple of strawberries and plenty of syrup, just as Scott liked. 

He expected big brother to be asleep, it wasn’t a surprise that there was no answer to his light knock on his bedroom door. He hadn’t quite expected Scott to be huddled around his pillow, cheek smushed into the fabric as he had when they had been really young. John was sure he hadn't seen Scott sleep like that since his air force days, big brother always slept on his back, ready to be called upon at any time. 

Perhaps Dad coming home, properly this time, was what big brother needed to finally be able to truly relax. 

“Hey, Scooter?” John murmured, stepping further into the room, grateful that unlike Gordon and Alan, Scott’s floor was clear or trip hazards. 

He shifted under the sheet, snuffling as his eyes blinked open owlishly to look up to John. 

“Huh?”

“Brought you a pancake, wanted to check they meeted Mister Grumpy’s approval.”

Scott rubbed at his face, eyes darting towards the clock and widening as he sat up, “Why didn’t you wake me? I should--”

“Dad wanted you to sleep.” John shook his head, holding out the plate, “I can’t say I disagreed after that melt down earlier.”

Scott frowned at the lone pancake, “But… there were no eggs.”

John smiled as big brother poked at the food, “Oil and water. Simple chemistry.”

His eyes were cautious as he looked up to John with a frown, taking the slice to his mouth slowly before taking a bite. His chewing was hesitant, still wary of what John had presented him with.

John couldn’t help but grin as Scott’s frown dropped and he dove straight into another slice, devouring the pancake and strawberries in a moment. 

“Do you hate me when I’m right?” 

Scott shrugged, “Sometimes.”

John knew it was true, Scott always had to be right. He hated younger brothers proving him wrong. 

“There’s more downstairs.”

Big brother didn’t need to be told twice as he threw his covers back and hopped out of bed. The way he nudged John’s shoulder on his way past with a smile was meant as some sort of thank you, the younger didn’t doubt. It was enough though, once they were down in the kitchen little was said about the eldest’s late appearance. Scott was smiling. Not forced, not tight and fake, a true smile, a smile that was happy and at peace. 

John hoped that they’d be seeing a lot more of that smile and a lot less of the mister grumpy they had got to know. 

As Dad shoved Scott’s shoulder, making him laugh about something or another, John had a feeling that now Dad was back, things would definitely right themselves.

[thegreatestofheck]

Bare Bones {Preview} ⋇ Pope Heyward ⋇

description: Pippa Cantu has always been a little...strange. With a knack for knowing everything there is to know about every conspiracy, every mystery, and every weird happening, she doesn’t have much time (or desire) for friends. But when her chemistry lab partner asks her to join him and his friends on a hunt for the Royal Merchant, she just can’t say no. 

warnings: shouldn’t be much more than what’s already in the show 

pairings: pope x oc, potential sarah x kie (still trying to figure out how it would work with the actual plot of obx) 

a/n: are you ready to feel the burn? cause this one’s gonna be slow. I’ve never really made moodboards like this before so please don’t come for me for my complete inability to do so. Pippa is played by Jessica Henwick! This is just a brief preview, so it’s pretty short. Stay safe, stay healthy, stay groovy, folks!

                                                ***

There was a moment of silence that hung heavy over the four friends. 

John B had just sobbed his heart out after listening to the recording left to him by his dad and now no one really knew what to do. Scooter’s death had something to do with the Royal Merchant, that much was obvious. And Big John wanted John B to finish what he started. 

No way in hell were the Pogues going to let him do this alone, but no one really knew what exactly to do or say next. 

A thought darted back in forth through Pope’s head. Well, less a thought and more an idea. Less an idea and more a person. Other than Big John, there was probably one singular person on the island who knew everything there was to know about the Royal Merchant. If bringing her into this might help John B find the closure he needed, wasn’t Pope obligated to at least suggest it?

He glanced over at Kie, silently wondering what she would do, but the girl’s eyes were fixed on John B. Her hands lay on his shoulders, giving a firm and comforting squeeze every so often. She didn’t even see Pope looking at her. Typical. 

“I know someone who can help us,” Pope said suddenly, turning his attention toward John B. All three pairs of eyes zeroed in on Pope. 

“You know someone?” JJ asked. “Who do you know that isn’t us?”

“A lot of people, JJ,” Pope sneered in response. “She’s wicked smart. Knows everything there is to know about the Royal Merchant.” 

“Hold on.” JJ lifted a hand, closing his eyes. “She? You know a girl?” 

Pope took a step toward JJ, clenching his jaw and hands curling into fists, but Kie stepped forward and put an end to it before it began. 

“Who is it?” she asked gently. Pope tore his glare away from JJ and looked at Kie, his expression softening as his gaze landed on her. 

“Pippa Cantu,” Pope said. John B and JJ looked at each other and they shrugged. “She’s my chem partner and a self proclaimed conspiracy theorist.” 

JJ scoffed, knocking his hat off his head so he could run his hands through his hair. 

“Really?” John B asked, his voice still thick from tears. “A conspiracy theorist?” 

“That’s just fancy talk for opinionated loud mouth,” JJ said, crossing his arms in irritation, a scowl crowning his brow. 

“Self proclaimed conspiracy theorist,” Pope repeated, putting up an amicable hand. “She tells me about these kinds of things all the time. She’s got information on the Merchant we’ll want.” 

“What information could we need other than what my dad has?” John B asked. Pope let out a sigh. 

“It’s a lot easier to understand a lot of this stuff with somewhere here to explain it.” Kie nodded her head slowly in agreement with Pope, but it was clear that John B and JJ were going to take a little more convincing. “Listen, what if I just bring her around to hang out or something and we can casually ask her about it and you can see for yourself.” 

The look the other two boys passed between each other lasted less than a second, but there was a clear agreement. 

“Fine,” John B said. “But she doesn’t get a cut of the gold.” 

“Seriously?” Kie asked, turning toward her friend with a scowl. “Just bring her round tomorrow, Pope. And then we’ll decide whether or not she get a cut.” 

Despite the fact that John B, JJ, and Kie fell into a hushed round of bickering, a smile pulled at Pope’s lips. For some reason, this felt like a victory. 

~~~

tagging -@simonsbluee​, @parkerpetertingle​, @diverrdown​, @ponyboys-sunsets​, @outerbanksbro​

if you want to be added to the taglist for this story or for any of my others, please let me know! love you all sm <3

[kalbeliya-tunesonroad]

The land of beautiful sunsets : Bir

"The gentle wind kissed my cheeks softly the pristine meadow had a sight to behold My heart fluttered hard This time, the grass was greener on my side "

                                            Crack of Dawn

Everyone comes across a moment in their life when they gather the courage to do something for the first time in their life and I did it too. City and college life had me gripped in the continuous loop of tiring schedule and my head in between books. I chose to travel solo for a few days. Choosing a particular place was a real struggle but after a lot of internet surfing and considering  numerous factors I settled for a beautiful place famous for its sunsets, cafe's, monasteries, and paragliding :- BIR.

REACHING BIR

The lively colors, flags, and the mountains had a perfect chemistry together

I had booked a semi-sleeper Volvo from ISBT Delhi Kashmere gate to BIR. The bus departed around 9 in the evening and reached Bir around 7 in the morning at the nearest market to The Hosteller in which I had booked a bed in an 8-bed dormitory. I called and asked for the directions and it was quite easy to locate my hostel. The view from The  Hosteller was spectacular, the lush green mountains, open grounds with flags, and the cold breeze it all had my heart at the very first sight.

TIP:-There are other options available too, either you can book a direct Volvo according to your budget or you can book a train from Delhi to Pathankot, take another toy train to Ahju which is only 3 km away from Bir.

DAY 1: "FINDING A HIDDEN GEM"

                      The sky had its own charm that day

I was welcomed by Joey the doggo. After having an omelet, strong coffee, and stuffing my backpack into my bed I was ready to start my day. The hostel was all empty except me, the staff, and 2 other guys. I was amazed to hear their traveling stories. Our host joined us and told us what could be planned for the day. We decided to go for a hidden spot that our host had discovered on his own. We rented 2 scooters from a nearby dealer, put on our helmets and started our Journey of the day.The day was bright, the sun was sparkling over our heads and the wind  cold but soothing. It was a sort of day you can mold into anything and we all were effortlessly making it the best. I won't reveal the spot, it would be better if you discover it on your own. ;)                            (It was a mountain with a small room on top which enabled us to have a 360-degree view)

 It took us around 15 minutes, the next task was to climb around 200 steps and then climb on a not so steep mountain. Finally, after 25 minutes we stepped on the top of the mountain. My mouth fell open at the sight of whole Bir-Billing, marked by monasteries,clouds, and the sun still making it through the gaps in-between "bright". We played some songs and sat there silently for about 2 hours looking at the wonders of nature.

DAY 2: “PALPUNG SHERABLING MONASTERY”

Breakfast and meeting new travelers 

       A strong coffee, a good book, and light rain; What else do you need?

Next day we had our breakfast at the hostel only, as it was raining heavily and we sat with three new comers who had been traveling for about 2 weeks in the  Himalayas and had booked beds in the same dormitory as ours. As it was the starting of September and the paragliding sessions had still not started the whole BIR was quiet and ours to explore. The afternoon went by talking and listening to the music of heavy rain and the wet leaves reminding us of the existence of little things we usually forget to appreciate in our daily life.

Visiting the Monastery in the rain

                                             “Peace”

The sun was starting to fall and the rain had almost stopped, we picked our scooters and departed for the Palpung Sherabling Monastery, the way had become more beautiful because of the rain. The small huts on the way with small streams of water by their side, mountains in the background and small drizzling had held my eyes tight. It took us 10 minutes to reach there. The monastery had a beautiful view of green grass around and monks moving around with books in their hand pressed against their chest. It was all surrounded by the sounds of children playing, woman chatting and birds chirping. The prayers had been done so we went inside the monastery and enjoyed the peace and  beautiful carnation. We directly went to nearby Cafe and had our dinner.

TIP:-  Bir is famous for its monasteries, there are many monasteries like Chokling monastery, Nyingyang monastery, Tsering Jong monastery so you can visit as many as you like. Do you love exploring cafes? Bir is THE PLACE with amazing cafes like June 16, ara cafe, Garden cafe and many more to satisfy you stomach with tasty food and your heart with amazing views.

DAY 3:"LOOSING TRACK AND ENDING UP AT A BEAUTIFUL PLACE"

Accidentally finding a spot

                               Mountains covered in Green

                            Can you hear the rushing of water?

After a decent breakfast in the hostel as it was raining a little in the morning, we sat for a while, talking. Then we picked our scooters and went to find the Gunehar waterfall our host had told us about. We parked our scooter where the road ended and walked by the side of village locals, sheep, chickens. We asked the locals and decided that it would not be difficult to locate. Once we crossed the Gunehar village, the mountains were more close, and the east and west sides of the open valley were divided by a river. We climbed on a small mountain and enjoyed the super green view, the cold breeze, and the peace. We couldn't find the waterfall and in the end, we all laughed for we had seen the eternity and natural wonders but the goal, well unsuccessful yet happy with a day so wonderful we went again to the hostel to have some light food and some rest.

A night worth remembering with fellow travelers

Around 10 in the evening we all sat together with joey dosing off by my side and our manager telling tales about his experiences and amusing stories in The Hosteller with some local drink dangling somewhere in between our hands and our smiles. We all sang, shared music, and poetry. The sleep was nowhere around us so we decided to take a walk up to the paragliding site which was a kilometre away. We picked a light bag with the necessities and reached the site in 20 minutes. We couldn't locate a single soul apart from us and the peace around us was loud. The paragliding site was stretched in front of us in an open meadow. We laid there by the side of road starring at the stars and the site stretched in front of us, feeling the biting night wind, listening to music for 2 hours. 

TIP:- The paragliding season generally starts from the 15th of September and is a busy and wonderful season to be in Bir. You can enjoy the paragliding tournaments too.

DAY 4: “MUST VISIT PLACES”

Gunehar Waterfall

                    Not even one of us could take our eyes of this beauty

We still had a curiosity for Gunehar waterfall so we decided to go with our host. We booked a cab and departed again. It started to rain lightly and the weather turned amazing. Finally, we reached THE WATERFALL, it was a spectacular view. We spotted many butterflies, dipped our legs in the super cold water, and sat there. One of us took a bath too, the water was so cold I didn't dare to even think of taking a bath. Once we reached and enjoyed a cup of coffee we bid goodbyes to our 3 friends as they had to leave for another journey.

The Northern Cafe

                           Cafes and books have a history in common , I think :)

Once the sun was nowhere to be seen we went to The northern cafe to have SIDDU, the traditional Himachali cuisine, also the view of The Northern cafe had my heart and is my favorite place in Bir. Also KARA and BUDDY, the golden retrievers welcomed us with love. All thanks to the fellow friend who suggested me this beautiful place.

DAY 5: "THE BIR MONASTERY"

Either the borders of a white sari or stupas, that’s where I like golden the most

                     When life gives you lemons, just sit and relax 

Everybody left, except me and a friend whom I meet the first day We went to Glider's Pizzeria near the paragliding site but this time with us was joey too. We had a decent Pizza and cold coffee served by a beautiful lady in her late 40's who turned out to be the manager of the Cafe. After a little chit chat, it was time to visit a monastery, led by a narrow alley with one side lined by mountains closing it and the other by an open valley. Joey sat in between my legs with his face out of in the air to enjoy the beautiful way. The Bir Monastery has an amazing vibe with monks making their way peacefully around. The interior is different and there is also a shop within the boundaries where you can buy colorful prayer flags, bracelets, and Buddha figurine. At 6 in the evening I bid goodbye to my last fellow traveler and enjoyed the evening reading and scribbling.

DAY 6: "LAST LAZY DAY"

                         Travel far enough, you meet yourself

                                                                          ~      David Mitchell

I didn't want to move my lazy ass on the last day, so I spent it with joey, The Hosteller's staff playing cards, cricket and went to have lunch at The Northern cafe again with my diary to enjoy the view and my last moments in Bir. As I was sitting there I realized how these little steps can move your life, can shift your mind and change how you look at people around you.The staff, my fellow travelers and the beautiful Bir itself made my heart want to have more experience in travelling and surely has a major hand in my other solo trips. It made me trust strangers, laugh with them, and forget about my worries. I came back not just to have a fresh start in my life but also with memories.

TIP:- You can also enroll yourself in other activities like camping, shopping on Bir road, mountain biking and most importantly go to billing which is 14 km away from Bir.

You can rent mixed bed dormitory room in hostels like Zostel, The Hosteller, goStop, the bunker Bir or you can book a private room too in the hostels or hotels around.

In love with sunsets? Bir is especially famous for its sunsets, the sky changes color magnificently and let you have one of the most memorable sunset views.

~Song of the trip: My other side by Taba Chake

~Book of the trip: Forty rules of love by Elif Shafak

[hypermania]

What are your overall thoughts on the episode? I kinda enjoyed it I think

there were obviously a few parts that didn’t work for me but overall i really enjoyed it! it had a really fun energy and i liked a lot of things:

the montage of beth and the fbi agent getting ready was Top Notch

i like this fbi agent in general. i like that she’s not sinister. she’s just doing her job and she’s good at it. 

(not too big a fan of her partner if i’m being honest. i’m not on board with the sort of stereotyping that seems to be happening (between him and dean’s coworker) and i find it so odd that they nailed ben’s trans storyline and then just... so consistently drop the ball on tertiary gay characters. i do find the contrast between him as a gay fbi agent and turner as a gay fbi agent mildly interesting though)

loved the girls calling rio beth’s “boy” and then their judgy little knowing faces when she denied it so hard 

beth wearing the sunglasses in the diner had me hollering!

followed by annie saying something like “did you tell him to look for a blind person or a d-bag?” (cant remember the exact phrasing but it was hilarious)

max’s cousin pronouncing it mrs boh-lahnd 

tbh the whole thing with the cousin was over the top but in a good way i think

the thumbs ups

dean’s fascination with beth’s “the one you wore for him” polkadot dress that frankly looks like something my grandmother would’ve worn

ruby’s “i’ll do it... you touched it” LIKE?? 

also just ruby on that motorized scooter in general; still just as funny

everything with ruby and sara i honestly dont even know where to start with it. it was #heartbreaking and i was watching the whole thing with my hand over my eyes, peering through my fingers, because it was so hard to see. part of me was like oh my god please dont tell her that this is all because of her kidney please dont put that on a kid please dont make her bear this weight but also knowing that it probably needed to happen given the circumstances. and just the small detail about sara not even having her period yet... like? she’s SO young and she already knows too much about the world. it isn’t fair

the gregg and annie scene made me cry? zach and mae’s chemistry is insane and every single scene they’ve had together from the pilot episode up until now has underscored how much these two people care about each other and their child despite any differences theyre having and just how much history they have! i am in my feelings about it tbh 

“i dont have any furniture, man” 

“i don’t get a lot of repeat customers”

“...by a man with no arms”

and obviously everything with rio from the way he can’t eat sushi to the way he says incentivize to the way he called beth champ like it was all A+ give manny an emmy so we can all go home

there were some things i didn’t much care for and i’m sure they’re the same as everyone else (dean and gayle, beth telling dean to stay, annie and dr. cohen) but overall it was a solid episode. i’m excited to rewatch it in a way i haven’t really been with most of the episodes this season (and how dark they’ve been).

[ohpretty-baby]

bts as my sophomore class teachers

a thread because i miss my teachers lowkey

anyways enjoy <3

first hour: ap seminar with kim namjoon

super philosophical 

is a fanboy for rosseau, calls him the original gangster

intimidatingly intelligent; like reads 3 books in one day and writes two papers on them intelligent

constantly connecting foundational thinkers/texts to real life situations (ex: echo and narcissus and selfies in social media)

makes you feel like a bad person by questioning your moral motives

there’s never a dull day in his class

seriously

one time we spent the hour evaluating billie eilish’s bad boy and that one “sweet but psycho” song and talked about double consciousness

the next day we did a full 180 and talked about mass burials

then we talked about the refugee crisis the day after that

extremely thought provoking conversations

gives you independence, which is a double edged sword because everyone in ap sem procrastinates

wants students to exceed not only in his class but also outside of school

my irl ap sem teacher helped me figure out that i wanted to go into a career of law !

also an extensive librarian (hence the ability to read 3 books in one day)

if you have the slight interest in something, he has a book for it

i literally have 8 books checked out from my school library because of him

gives you complete and honest ratings of r rated movies and posts them on your schoology board

not afraid to be scandalous

“now everyone say it with me: premarital sex!”

that was something my irl teacher said, that day we shouted out premarital sex about 15 times with the door wide open

amazing music taste

literally

he listens to anything and everything, from french rap to spanish pop and then english folk songs

will dj for your graduation party for free

second hour: honors english with min yoongi

insanely calm, probably just very sleepy

easy going, chill

you really don’t feel pressured in his class

people goof off in class and are generally very annoying, but he doesn’t care

occasionally lectures students if he really needs to 

communicates what we have to do and then lets us do the work

lets us fail if we’re not responsible

but will understand if you can’t turn in a project if life gets in the way

i still have a project i need to turn in oops-

i haven’t received any negative repercussions tho

lets kids eat in his class and lets them go to the vending machine if they have no food

i go to my locker every morning to get food to eat

eats with us

lets you use your phone and watch netflix

will even ask you what show you’re watching and if it’s good

actually a really good teacher if you pay attention in his class

kids just think they can slack off, they end up failing tho so it’s really none of his issues

for some reason he’s a substitute teacher for a lot of classes

when he subs, the classes are extremely fun 

one time i spent my whole sixth hour talking to him about my costar and astrology

goofs off with the kids

that same day he subbed, my friends were making panoramas of each other and he rated all of them

isn’t strict

cares about his students and is very easy to talk to

because of this a lot of students open up to him

isn’t a snitch

would willingly make fun of classic literature with you

third hour: honors chemistry with kim taehyung

Super Sassy

always gets the last word when students mess around with him

“what’s your favorite double replacement reaction?”

“my favorite ones are the ones you guys get right; so none”

as you can guess, students love having conversation with him

probably has a dope ass instagram but damnit he won’t let accept anyone’s follow requests

probably because that’s illegal

constant Bad BItch energy

will openly tell students they are annoying without shame

will also openly tell you that you are dumb

once i thought that we had four principals (one for each grade, don’t question it) and my irl teacher was speechless,, like she couldn’t actually say anything at my stupidity

i would willingly sell my soul for my chemistry teacher

always has labs to do, even if they’re not very helpful at times

lets students retake tests by creating a new test 

but they’re actually harder than the actual test

students skip their own classes to visit him

i always skip my 6th hour to go into the chemistry

constantly has to chase away students

actually very sweet and cares about students, but is never really a push over

again, a constant Bad Bitch

fourth hour: honors spanish with kim seokjin

an even Bigger Bad Bitch

super fun and sassy

fiestas!!!!!!! 

we have fiestas but literally the only Spanish thing we have is chips and salsa and tacos

i’m not kidding

people just bring in cake pops and brownies

will sometimes teach a whole lesson in Spanish just to fuck with us

will also try to hold a conversation with us in Spanish just to fuck with us even more

loves seeing our shocked and confused faces when can’t answer his questions

actually teaches us

gives a lot of busy work but i honestly think that’s the better ways of learning and practicing Spanish, so there’s no complaints

engaging lessons, encourages us to make mistakes so we can be comfortable with the language

veryyyy helpful with pronunciation, makes sure that we know how to pronounce certain words

super trustworthy

once after school i spilled tea with my irl spanish teacher about a messy breakup i had gone thru, it was real fun

we have a theory that one of the senior teachers has a crush on her because he always visits her when he comes to our class

really good teacher but heavily overestimates our ability

especially when it comes to tests

but will admit his wrongs when we don’t do well in class

literally the best friend you wish you had

fifth hour: ap world with jeon jungkook

literally really pretty

really funny and sweet but his class is hard

not because of the extensive work and the fast pace, but because he doesn’t prepare students enough for saqs, dbqs, leqs, etc.

we still love our ap world teacher bc she genuinely cares about us

teaches an ap class but has never taken an ap class in high school

still teaches even tho he’s sick and his own students have asked him to stay at home so he can feel better

really fun discussion activities, like fishbowls

always drinking tea with a cool ass mug that has all the presidents of the united states on it

wears really cute clothes and coordinates colors

but sometimes will just pull up in pajamas

either way he’s Stylin

makes sure that students know that he doesn’t believe in racism and communism

always tells his students to take care when they say goodbye

draws LOTS of smiley faces

sometimes more confused about the content then the students are

but genuinely kind and hard working, even if it takes him 3 months to grade papers

sixth hour: theology with jung hoseok

confusing lectures

will talk about persecution in rome and then switch the topic onto blts (yes, the sandwich) and then talk about male circumcision

really goofy

deaf

talks very loudly because he takes his hearing aid out during lessons

honestly a really confusing teacher

a lot of people don’t like his teaching style, and neither do i, but it’s not a hard class so there’s really nothing to complain about

you really just need to read the slides in his class to pass

gives out homework but never grades it

i never turn in homework,,, 

i get a’s on his test and he just gives good grades for every homework assignment

honestly just really sweet and funny even when he tries not to

talks with his hands way too much

will take selfies with you if you let him

constantly asking for validation from his students

“is my teaching style ok? i know it can be confusing but i really try with making lectures funny so you guys won’t be bored”

can sometimes be annoying but everyone loves him because he just doesn’t make sense

literally the best class to do other homework in

sees students as his friends

once we had a public discussion online about our concerns of the coronavirus instead of actually learning about theology

i said that i was worried that i’d die of the coronavirus before i got a boyfriend

he replied to my comment saying “1. you are killing me ! :) 2. i’m sure that you have a lot of secret admirers, so the boyfriend thing is covered, they just need to figure things out. remember maturity happens at different stages for everyone.”

even though i don’t like his class at times, i know i’m gonna miss how crazy he is

seventh hour: honors geometry with park jimin

Sweetest, Softest, Most Pure of all

gives out candy during tests

but not just any candy

the really good strawberry candies that grandmas always have and never run out of

sometimes the lessons go by too fast but yet too slow at the same time

a Literal Grandpa

doesn’t let kids say “shut up” or “dumb” in his class

claims that he doesn’t even say “shut up” to his own kids

always reminds kids that this is a No Judgement Zone

rewards students who answer challenging questions with little stand-up signs that say “Expert at Work” or “Rockstar” that they can put on their desk

will buy or make little stockings that spell out the initials of the high school

brags about his kohl’s cash

once bought a $50 scooter for only $5 dollars because of his kohl’s cash

stays after school for two hours to reteach lessons to students

takes little strolls around the school building with his friends during lunch

Mental Math Mondays

mondays are when we play mental math card games with the whole class

lets kids make their own card games

will ask if you’re okay if you look sad

will also ask if you’re okay if you look sleepy

asks kids to be patient with him when they have a confusing lesson to teach

wIll thoroughly explain everything to the best of his ability

definitely has never done anything wrong

this made me genuinely miss my teachers even though i hate school with my whole entire heart, soul, and mind! anyways love u guys

[purpletalewasteland]

Why do you believe jerklie is fake? As in depth as you can please. She’s the one factor I don’t feel confident in. I believe Gaylor, that toe is bs, that Kaylor was real at some point. Where I lose faith is that Karlie and Josh aren’t together. As ridiculous as the wedding was, sometimes they look happy together. Could be they’re just really good gay bff’s.

Sorry it took me awhile to answer, but I didn't want to just write some half-assed response and I have been busy...

To be totally honest, I don't actually know know, so I'll start by saying that. But everything about their interactions scream disgenuine to me, especially prior to the engagement. The biggest thing for me is just "gut", but that's a pretty weak argument that leaves a lot of holes, so I don't expect to convince anyone based on that. Look, I'm fully aware that my answers here are fuel for the anti's, because they're just not sound arguments, and moreso just based off observations and personal inferences. So take it all with a grain of salt.

The thing with these two, is that their interactions leave me the same way that "Shawmila" does. Feeling weird and icky and sad. I'll also say that I know exactly what you mean, because while I don't think they're a real couple, it seems like they're better at playing the game now. But anyway, a few reasons immediately come to mind.

1. She didn't really seem to acknowledge him for a long portion of their relationship. I understand being private, I really do. But if your answer to a question about Grace Kelly is asking where your prince charming is, all while you're in an actual long term relationship, is that really an appropriate reaction?  I of course understand making jokes, but that would be kind of hurtful, wouldn't it? And I don't need to mention that the guy happens to be rich, which is kind of a factor in the prince charming fantasy 🙄. Or when you get extremely awkward about being asked how to land a guy when you're so busy being a supermodel, and you avoid it by passing if off to the other girls, more than likely because you cant relate to the question whatsoever (and really could just answer in general terms without getting into your own "specifics")... It's just not typical of someone in such a long term relationship, whether or not you're private about it, whether or not you've got superb PR training. Then there's a lack of being publicly involved with him other than in random pap photos (see below), and also promoting a bunch of his investments.

2. The pap pictures. iirc, there was a post where you could see that she walked to his hotel and then they started their stroll for the paps, which is super odd behavior for a real couple. Why aren't you together to begin with, it's just weird to me. They never even put in effort to seem like a real couple in their early pictures, they just existed in one space at the same time. She was trying to build her brand and create a public association, but I think it's safe to say he was trying to do the same.

He was never pictured in her family gatherings or more personal/intimate events. If he was willing to be a public figure (why do you need pap photos and an entertainment based manager if you don't want to be involved in that world?), he was willing to be linked to her, and willing to be photographed with her, I don't know why you would draw the line at privacy.

And, it's weird how they seem(ed) to post pictures that have been chosen from an over-used batch of stock images, rather than natural, non professional/casual event pictures of the two of them.

3. Then they took their previous strategies and started amping it up during, and prior to, the engagement era. The pap photos increased, suddenly they were pictured being "intimate" and kissing (ew), there were more frequent mentions, she actually started acknowledging him, it was all amped up. Yes, one could argue that by becoming more serious, they decided to make their relationship more serious and bring it into the spotlight. But they had already been together for several years, so I don't understand why that would make a difference, unless they were just super casual for years and just using the relationship for public relations ? That still stinks a bit to me.

4. Included in this increased effort was a very quick engagement, and then a half assed wedding. To me, it seems natural that if you're not rushing to get engaged, you wouldn't rush to tie the knot. You would give your damn designer more time than a rush order for 3 weeks, would you not ? And why was that such a short timeline ? Why even go through with the first one if you're planning on waiting for a bigger one later ? I mean, why?? It just doesn't add up. Clearly there was some kind of deadline happening behind scenes, even if you think they're real, something was going on there. I also personally believe that it wasn't supposed to leak out that day, and we probably would have seen a different unfolding of events had things gone differently. The latergram wedding video at least showed there was more than what we had originally seen, but I also find it strange that the photos from that day have been the same.

4. Despite this increase in effort and the "wedding", the fact still remains: there's no chemistry. I'm sorry, but there isn't. That's not a reach. It's not wishful thinking. I'm not being rude. They just don't have chemistry. Those kissing photos ? It looks awkward and uncomfortable. That tells me something is up. I know it's mostly photos, but I still don't see genuine connection. It's just not there. This is the biggest factor to why I personally don't think they're real, whatsoever. There's one photo of them in particular where it's just so glaringly obvious they have no feelings toward each other and just can't possibly be each other's type. But maybe that's presumptuous of me. I hate stereotyping and making judgments, so I won't say it, but I'm sure you can pick up what I'm laying down.

I know that doesn't answer your question, because you want to know why I still think they are fake, despite Karlie's sudden acting chops and they're commitment to the stunt.

But I have a few other things to add.

For one thing, Karlie's public persona shifted around the time of the engagement. She used to be very friendly with other models, she had lots of friends in Taylor's crowd, she posted more genuine moments of having fun, etc, and more recently, a lot of that side of her has gone dark. When she posts something about friends, it's usually another client of Scooter's, or someone with whom she has a business relationship. I believe this is because her friends didn't want to partake in the farce, and don't want to be associated with that nastiness. It's a natural progression for a model to stop walking in shows when their career amps up, but it seems like her entire approach to her career and business has shifted around the same time. I think she's focusing on being more of an influencial figure in the media, rather than a model per se. I do think these things are connected. I think she finds a level of comfort and connection to the industry by being associated with that crew.

On that note, is it possible that they're like a fake fake couple, as in legitimately pretending to everyone that they're together even though everyone knows they aren't, and they sleep in separate bedrooms and it's all just convenience and there's no sex but there's an open door policy for both parties to just do what they want in their own free time and probably have side relationships? Sure. But if that's the case, then I would think Karlie wouldn't be in her own long term relationship with Taylor.

I do think it's possible that they are actually friends. In fact, I think this is very likely, as she doesn't look like she wants to die when she's pictured with him. She seems comfortable enough traveling with him and doing these stunts, so something in her has shifted to give her the ability to switch codes so well. Of course we don't want to think that, but I think she's probably just bit the bullet and decided to make it easier on herself.

So where does that leave us ? Obviously there's a lot about this situation that we know nothing about. The guy is a crook, we can all agree on that. Sadly, in Hollywood/wealthy land, being a shady fuck doesn't have quite the same reaction that it does in the real world. Money talks, connections talk, and so does that yacht money. Why is Karlie a willing player in this game ? Has she realized that the Trump association clearly doesn't cause as many issues as we may have assumed back in 2016? Has she chosen to continue this sherade because it's done wonders for their goal of erasing Kaylor connections? Has she chosen the path of least resistance because it's been a long few years and she's too tired to fight anymore? Has she decided she doesn't have the ability to reach the desired heights of her career with just her own hard work and merit ? Is she actually just not a good person and totally fine with rolling around in corrupt money and laughing straight to the bank ? *This one hurts*, but has she lost a big part of her life and has thus decided she no longer has anything to lose, so why the fuck not ? I don't know. All these things run through my mind, and I wish we had some form of an answer, but sadly don't think we will anytime soon.

I really don't know, anon. I read through my answers here and realize I'm not actually so convinced myself, anymore. Of the four things I said yesterday I was so sure of, this one is the one I'm least sure of, though I would think if they were "real" it would be more of the platonic scenario I described above, and not an actual loving relationship. Karlie is a loose cannon. We don't have brilliant lyrics to analyze and look to for answers. We don't have a history of patterns to look at, to try and find holes in the narrative. It's just a different game here.

Now, if the entire plan all along has been to erase the Kaylor connection, to even make us Kaylors doubt, then they've done a brilliant job of that. Because it's glaringly obvious that she's losing our support and faith.

I'm sorry that I can't give you more than that.

[mattzerella-sticks]

#LikeYouBatWay, Day 4 of Batflash Week - Secret Relationship & High School/College

Barbara Gordon is a detective. She never lets herself get distracted from the clues. There's nothing more important than solving a mystery. Except every PI has their girl Friday, and in this case Barry fits the description.

After realizing her feelings for her friend are more than platonic, what will she do? Is there a chance that Barry might return her affections? Or does he not like her that way?

She'll just have to take the risk... but she won't be doing it alone.

During lunch the girls don’t always sit together, busy either with school clubs or other friends. But they set aside every Wednesday in their schedules to eat at the same table. All six of them would gather in their designated spot and catch up on what they missed. Diana introduced the idea after a whole week passed when the max occupancy of their group never went over three. They agreed that they needed one lunch where all that mattered were each other. And nothing save an emergency would distract any of them from enjoying it.

Barbara wouldn’t call her feelings an emergency, but she could barely focus on Kara complaining about their chemistry teacher as she pushed her food around. Especially when the mush took the shape of a lightning bolt. She rested her chin on her elbow and sighed dreamily, a sappy grin blossoming on her face.

“Babs!”

She startled, arms flapping dramatically as she fell back with a yelp. When Barbara recovered it was to five curious stares bearing down on her. “Yes?” she asked, as if she wasn’t sprawled on the floor.

“Are you okay?”

Barbara shot up, cheeks burning. “Am I okay? Who asks that kind of question - of course I’m okay do I look not okay? Because I’m not. I mean, I am - I’m okay…” Strangling her bat ears on her hoodie, Barbara nearly tore them off.

Zatanna laid a hand on her shoulder, smiling. “We were calling your name for a full minute but your mind was a million miles away.”

“Oh, yeah,” she tried playing it off, scoffing, “I was thinking about a project that I have due tomorrow, obviously. It’s… yeah…”

“Really?” Kara smirked, poking at Barbara’s plate, “does it have to do with electricity ?”

Barbara glared, smearing the lightning bolt. “No!”

“Because it’d make sense,” she continued, “why you were doodling lightning all throughout History - although the hearts? And inside them… Barbara Gordon plus Barry Allen -”

“Kara!” Barbara hissed, “Why were you looking at my notes?”

“You know I don’t pay attention in that class. When she mentioned we had a test coming up I’d hoped you’d written it down or something.”

About to launch into a lecture on vigilance, Barbara gets sidetracked by Zatanna squealing at her other side. “Barry Allen? You have a crush on Barry Allen?”

“Not so loud, Zee!” she whispered, glancing around to see if anyone noticed. Thankfully Barry didn’t, the senior joking around with Hal and Oliver a few tables away. He glanced over, though, and caught her staring. Barry smiled and waved, Barbara returning it albeit weaker. The crooked smile fell among the chorused cooing from her table.

“Barry’s one of the nicest guys in school,” Jessica said, “You’d be so cute together!”

“How did this happen?” Karen asked, “You weren’t acting like this the other day?”

Barbara bit her lip, cutting off her own excited squeals. “Okay,” she started, “well I was staying late at Sweet Justice, working on that stolen chemicals case remember?”

The others left, each having their own plans to attend to. Barbara didn’t mind, content to figure out the mystery. Especially since none of the others shared her passion for them. She noticed how their eyes glazed over at times, Kara almost always snapping and telling her to get to the point. Being alone meant she could piece the clues at her own pace.

However an hour in she needed a change in scenery and took her research from their base and up to the public space of Sweet Justice. Commandeering a table she told Barry to keep her floating in milkshakes until she was done. While Barbara pieced together more of the scene, the lynchpin tying the case together was lost to her. “What am I missing… What am I missing? ” she groaned, slumping onto the table.

That’s when Barry stopped by with her fifth milkshake. He leaned over Barbara and studied her notes. “This looks like too much work for extra credit,” he chuckled, “What seems to be the problem?”

Barbara sighed and sat up. “No it’s not extra credit I’m… trying to guess where this thief is going to strike next! I’m stressed and not even milkshakes are helping.” She still snatched it from his hand, because they aided in other ways besides mystery solving.

Barry smiled. “You want to maybe talk about it?”

“No, no,” she waved him off, “I wouldn’t want to bore you.”

“You kidding? I love mysteries!”

Barbara stopped slurping her drink. “You do?”

“Of course,” he nodded, sitting across from her, “To me, mysteries are like a kind of science. There’s testing theories, sifting through data, comparing samples…” Barry launched into a passionate explanation of forensics that Barbara tuned out. Instead she focused on the lightning crackling in Barry’s eyes, his beaming smile, and how he practically vibrated from excitement. These thoughts led her onto a path with one obvious conclusion.

Barry Allen was cute. From there she was doomed.

“We spent the entire night talking over the case,” she gushed, remembering it, “And because I had someone to talk with it helped me see a clue I glossed over by accident! It was one of the best nights I’ve had in a long time.”

Kara rolled her eyes. “Of course you’d fall for a nerd .”

Barbara pouted at her friend, ready to launch into another lecture when she noticed the troubled expression marring Diana’s face. “Diana,” she said, “is something wrong?”

“Are you sure this is wise, Barbara?” she asked, “It’s a wondrous thing, these feelings of ‘the crush’. But you remember how I acted when… Steve … was around. Do you think this could interfere with our mission?”

“It won’t!” she promised, grinning, “because this won’t be a crush for long!”

Zatanna gasped, squeezing her arm. “You’re gonna ask him out?”

“In a way...”

Kara rolled her eyes. “It’s a yes or no question, Babs. Simple. Don’t try and complicate it any further.”

Barbara slammed her fork onto the table, fire burning behind her determined gaze. “I can’t ask him out! That’s too risky! But don’t worry, I have a plan. And it’s going to work.”

----------------------------------------------------

The next day Barbara shuffled into school defeated, dragging her backpack behind her. All the usual pep was replaced with a crushing, frustrated disappointment. She could only focus on the storm clouds hanging overhead, so she didn’t see the hand that shot out and dragged her backwards.

“You don’t know who you’re messing with -”

“Barbara, calm down,” Diana said, squeezing her arms, “it’s only us.”

Her friends gathered around her, each wearing their own best worried features. Zatanna’s pouty lips and Karen’s shining eyes were in fine company alongside Diana’s set jaw, Jessica’s drawn brows and Kara’s clenched fist.

Barbara preempts them all. “I’m fine.”

“That’s a lie if I ever saw one,” Jessica sighed, laying her hand over Diana’s on Barabara’s shoulder. “You can tell us Babs.”

“Or,” Kara said, “we can use Diana’s lasso on you.”

Diana rejected the idea immediately. “I don’t use my lasso on my allies… if I don’t have to.” She glanced at Barbara, “I don’t have to, do I?”

Unable to find a weak link their fencing, Barbara accepted her fate. “You don’t,” she said, slumping into a nearby desk, “I’m… I’m a little upset.”

“A little?” Karen said, “Barbara, we’ve never seen you frown for this long! What happened?”

She wrung her hands. “Remember how I told you all that I had this plan to deal with Barry and my feelings… well… it kinda, completely... fell apart on me.” Barbara squeaked the last part in a rush, hiding behind her fingers when done. After a beat of silence she looked between her fingers at her friends.

No one seemed too shocked.

“Really?”

“Well,” Diana rubbed her neck guiltily, “when you told us what it was we… didn’t think it would work.”

“And you didn’t think to tell me!”

“We didn’t want to burst your good mood,” Zatanna said, “and there was a chance it could have worked… a teeny-tiny, little chance .”

“It would  have worked!” Barbara shouted, “If the world would’ve stopped butting in at every possible moment !”

Diana guided her into her seat again. “Why don’t you tell us what happened. From the beginning?”

Steeling her nerves and gathering her courage, Barbara thought back to yesterday and began.

After school Barbara ran home to gather supplies for her plan. Knowing Barry liked mysteries, she decided to create one of her own. Leaving a clue for Barry to find, he would hurry over to the perfect location finding Barbara waiting for him in a surprise date. “It was so totally perfect,” Barbara sighed, “until…”

She set up the small picnic first, knowing there’d be no time after dropping off the note at Sweet Justice. However racing over on her scooter in high spirits, Barbara didn’t count on her location being the scene of some drama.

“I mean a park is Ivy’s stomping ground,” Kara said, “Should’ve thought of that when picking a place.”

“You beat her though, right?” Karen asked.

Barbara nodded. “With help from Barry.” He zipped in, already in costume, surprised to see Ivy there. “I tried to salvage it,” she continued, “while he was dealing with her I scrawled another note and dropped it where he could find it.”

And when he read it Barbara zipped away, picnic basket tucked under her arm.

Arriving at the new location she caught Barry in the middle of a heated battle with Giganta. “Go to the docks, there was a villain. Go to the zoo, another villain! Until finally I thought the park would work with Ivy gone. But then…”

The darkness made it difficult to see; Barbara wouldn’t let that stop her. She lit flashlights and shoved them into the ground around the blanket. Barry wouldn’t miss her. Panting, still in costume, Barbara didn’t realize anyone else could see her, too.

“My, my, my! Who has bright red hair, a face so fair, and a wit unmatched and rare?”

Her friends groaned. “The Riddler?” Zatanna scoffed, “I thought we sent that creep packing last month?”

“He must’ve escaped,” Barbara shrugged, “And given his M.O., when Barry showed up…”

“The true mastermind behind today’s villainy!” Barry cried, holding The Riddler up by his collar, “Of course it had to be you! No one else would have left those riddles just lying around!”

“What?” he asked, “I don’t - I don’t know what you’re talking about -”

“You’re going back to Gotham where you belong !” Barry said, punching once more and knocking him out. Shouldering the unconscious villain, he turned to a gaping Batgirl. “Thanks for the assist all day, Babs - I mean… Batgirl . We make a pretty good team!” She couldn’t answer him, too shocked to speak. “I’ve got this no problem, and you can get return to your… night picnic .”

Stepping over a stray flashlight, he caught sight of a sandwich she laid out in preparation. “Oh! Turkey pesto! I love those - you don’t mind…?” To him, her silence was answer enough. With his other hand he snatched the sandwich, thanked her, and ran off.

“And that’s what happened,” Barbara sighed, “My whole plan… ruined .”

She expected sympathy from her friends. Kara’s obnoxious laughter was anything but understanding. Barbara glared at her friend while she bent over.

“Oh, man,” she breathed, “how can the fastest man alive be so slow on the uptake . Ha!” Humor infectious, the others began giggling as well.

“Not you, too!”

“Sorry Babs,” Zatanna giggled, “it’s so… horrible .”

“Then why are you laughing?”

“That’s why we’re laughing!” Kara snorted, wiping a tear from her eye. Regaining composure, she returned to full height. “Okay, seriously though, what happened was a whole mess of bad luck.”

“That’s putting it lightly,” she said, crossing her arms.

“Oh Babs,” Jessica reached out to her again, “it was only a minor setback. Not a total failure -”

“It was though!” Barbara jumped up, “If it happened maybe once or twice it would have been a setback! Everything that went on yesterday was fate telling me it’s not supposed to be.”

“Don’t be silly, Barbara,” Diana said, “the Fates do not concern themselves too heavily with matters like this. I’m sure it was all really bad luck.”

She hid behind her hands once more, screaming into them. Barbara heard Karen whisper to Diana, “I don’t think she meant the actual Fates…”

Jessica dragged her into the light, squeezing her hands. “Look, you shouldn’t give up hope yet.”

“Hope?” Kara scoffed, “I thought you were the lantern of willpower?”

“Which is why,” she continued, “Babs shouldn’t give up. It was only one night. Maybe the next one won’t be so bad.”

“How can you be so sure?” Barbara asked her, “Who’s to say the same thing won’t happen again?”

“Because someone else will be fighting crime that night…”

----------------------------------------------------

Barbara pulled at her hoodie strings while walking side by side with Barry, tamping down the blush rising to her cheeks. Every so often they bumped into each other and she had to cut off the squeals rising in her throat.

“Y’know,” Barry started, “it was pretty empty in the museum tonight, not that I didn’t mind. Meant we didn’t have to wait to see the new exhibit. Usually, though, there are all sorts of crowds the first few days. Weird, right?”

She chuckled, swallowing around the clump of nerves in her throat. “Well we did go an hour before closing, so it’s not that weird...” He shrugged, agreeing with her cover.

When they entered the museum there were a lot of people still hanging around. An exhibit on a recently discovered pharaoh’s tomb from Egypt always drew interest. Especially since inside they discovered artifacts that looked alien in origin. Parts of a spaceship alongside strange cloaks adorned with metallic feathers meant that there was more about Prince Khufu and his wife Chayara researchers hadn’t realized.

It wasn’t only everyday civilians who were interested, either. As they made their way through the hall of magnets Barbara noticed a shadowy figure creep around a corner. Her heart fell into her stomach.

Luckily Barbara was prepared that time. “I have to go to the bathroom,” she stopped Barry, “wait for me?” He nodded, and Barbara snuck behind a plant to radio for her friends. While Karen slipped by without notice, Kara zipped through like a hurricane. Barry hadn’t seen, though, too preoccupied playing with some of the magnets on display. Everyone else did and quickly cleared the room.

It took careful coordinating and precision to ensure Barry remained unaware of the activity happening in the museum, but they managed to see the exhibit and avoid the villain. There were close calls, especially when examining a few of the hieroglyphics. The shadowy thief was right behind them, claws sharp and ready. Barbara snuck out a bat-a-rang only for Jessica to lock it in an emerald bird cage.

Now, far away from the museum, she hoped that was the end of any villainy for the day.

“Thanks again for inviting me,” Barry said, smiling at her, “it was a lot of fun.”

“Totally! I had fun, too! I mean, of course I’d have fun because you’re a pretty fun guy to hang around… not that I only think you’re that I mean - I mean you’re more than that! You’re…” she squeaked to an end, tugging the strings on her hood too far and causing her hood to pucker over her face. Quickly she tears it off, completely embarrassed.

Barry had moved on, obvious to her faux pas. He stood by a hot dog vendor staring at the contents. “You want a hot dog? My treat.”

“Sure!” Barbara stepped over, bouncing while the vendor made their hot dogs.

From out of the corner of her eye, however, she spotted a familiar silhouette charging towards them. Two lamp posts burst, glass shattering from uncontrolled lightning blasts. She glared, growling. “Livewire.”

“What was that?”

“Nothing,” she shoved him towards the cart, “I need to tie my shoe.” Kneeling she lit up her communicator again. “Anyone free to deal with Leslie? She’s inbound!”

No one answered her, but Barbara heard bushes rustle nearby. Diana jumped out and tackled Leslie out of the street and away from them. Zatanna whooshed after her, purple glitter trailing behind.

“I swear,” Barry huffed, hot dogs in hand, “I thought I heard -”

“Nothing! You heard nothing!” Barbara took her snack from him and dragged Barry away, arms looped together, “It’s so beautiful tonight, not a care in the world. No crime or anything, really! So there’s no reason to think of the quiet as anything suspicious, okay !”

“Okay?” Barry dug his heels in, stopping them, “Any reason we’re zipping by it?”

Barbara snorted, “Didn’t think you had any problem with going fast?”

“No, but usually I’m the one caught speeding,” he chuckled, “what’s got your engine revved?”

She ducked her gaze, shuddering a nervous breath. Barry watched her with an easy grin, not pressuring her any further than his simple question. Barbara drew upon the strength and courage she reserved for fighting crime into this moment, knowing that it’s perfect for revealing her feelings. Ignoring her nerves, Barbara turned to face him again. “Barry, I -”

“Oh, hold that thought.”

He shoved his hot dog into his mouth and pulled his phone out. Checking it over, Barry sighed and his smile melted into something softer. He sent a quick text and pocketed it again.

“So?” Barbara asked, “anyone important?” At the back of her mind a voice whispered something horrible that floated around like a gnat she couldn’t shake.

“Wha - oh, sorry,” Barry blushed, shrugging, “Um… look, I hate to cut and run…”

Barbara’s mood fell, her bubble burst. “What?” she whispered.

“I had fun today, really,” he said, “we should hang out more, outside of Sweet Justice and work , y’know? I’ll see you in school tomorrow!” Then he zipped away into the city, Barbara left behind in the dust. Her hot dog slid out of her bun, slapping the ground and condiments spraying everywhere. A tear forced its way onto her face and trailed down her cheek.

“Oh Barbara,” Jessica started from behind laying a hand on her shoulder, “I’m so-”

“Please,” she cut her off, “Don’t say it.”

“What a jerk though,” Kara scoffed, “All the hard work we went through to give him a great day - I crashed through Venus !”

“Kara,” Zatanna hissed, “stop making this about you! Can’t you see Babs is hurting!”

“Not as bad as Barry’ll be hurting,” she said, cracking her knuckles, “I say we corner him before school and -”

“No.”

“What?”

“No,” Babara said, hurt fading into steely determination, “because I’m not giving up. There’s nothing to feel sorry for yet.”

Jessica whooped, clapping. “That’s the spirt, Barbara!”

“May Aphrodite bless you on your quest for love,” Diana said.

Barbara waved at her friends, running, “Thanks for all your help girls. But now it’s time for Batgirl to take point!”

----------------------------------------------------

She found him on a rooftop, facing the shadows in his Flash costume. “Barry!” she yelled, “Barry!”

Barry startled, spinning his heel. “Batgirl,” he said, glancing behind him, “What are you doing here?”

“We didn’t finish our conversation,” Barbara huffed, stomping her way over, “You left .”

“I - I know,” he started, hands raised between them, “but we can do this tomorrow at school, can’t we?”

“No!” she said, “We can’t. Because I had a plan in place to tell you that I liked you but it didn’t work out and then I had another one and my friends helped me except you had to go and ruin it by running away just as I was about to confess the deepest secrets of my heart and - and - and…” Barbara puffed up her chest then slowly deflated.

Barry stared wide-eyed during her speech, mouth open.

It irked her. “Well? Are you gonna say something ?”

Jolted into action Barry’s cheeks burned to match the color of his costume. “Oh, well um - that’s real sweet Babs,” he said, scratching his neck, “I like you, too, but…”

He didn’t need to finish. “Oh.”

“I’m really sorry Babs -”

“No, no,” she stepped back, arms crossed, “it’s okay. I… I probably should’ve taken all that happened as a sign it wouldn’t work out.”

“No, no Babs,” Barry continued, hesitatingly reaching over to her, “don’t be so hard on yourself… it’s not what you think. I… I think you’re really cool and smart and - and I like how we both have similar interests and I’m probably as big a fan of Bats as you…”

“How is that supposed to make me feel better!” she asked, “You’re basically saying we’re perfect for each other except for one small thing -”

“I’m already dating someone!”

His outburst stilled her frantic mind. Barry froze, obvious to her that he didn’t mean to share that little piece of information with her. The irritation and annoyance waging war inside her cooled off into a reluctant disappointment. “Oh…”

“Yeah,” Barry said, “Babs, I… I think you’re amazing, and anyone would be lucky to be with you like that but… we’re perfect the way we are. As friends. And I hope this doesn’t come between us?”

Her heart softens at his plea; his words comforting to hear. “Of course,” she said, “But… if we’re friends, I don’t think we should keep secretsbetween us…”

He stiffened again, gulping. “I mean,” he rubbed at his neck, “some secrets are okay -”

“Please!” Barbara cut him off, “You can tell me. You already told me you were dating! Can you not tell me? Is it someone I know? Is it? Is it?”

Barry glanced behind him, “Well… kinda -”

“Who is it? Who is it, who is it, who is it, who is it ?”

“Batgirl.”

Her body shut down from shock. She recognized that voice, having heard it from listening in on frequent calls with her dad. From the shadows her hero emerged. “Batman!”

“Hello,” he said, smirking.

There was so much she wanted to say to him, but given the whirlwind of recent events and her confusion, she chose the first thing that crossed her mind. “I thought you’d be taller?”

His smirk fell into a frown, and instantly she shifted into overdrive to fix it. “Not that it’s bad I think I imagined you so tall because I’ve never actually seen you only heard about you and, well, my imagination went wild so you’re not too short. I’m sorry, I wasn’t expecting to see you here I mean why are you here is there a villain you’re chasing? Do you need me to partner with you to chase them? Is that why you’re here, is it? Is it, is it, is it -”

“Batgirl,” Barry stopped her, looking particularly flustered, “he’s not here for any of that.”

“Then what would he be doing here! On this rooftop, at this time of night, hiding, with you…” The clues flew at her rapidly, from Batman’s expectant stare to Barry’s shaking hands and everything in between. “Oh my God…” she shouted, “you’re dating -”

Barry’s hand blanketed her mouth. “Please, it’s a secret for a reason.”

She pried his hand off of her. “Secret?” she asked, “Why would you…” Barbara gasped, glaring at Batman, “it’s because he’s older than you! Batman, how could you -”

“What?” Barry said, “No, Babs, he’s not - yes, he’s older, but by like two years .”

“Two years?” Barbara repeated, “What! How are so young ? I thought you’d be as old as my dad !”

Batman scoffed, scowl deepening. “I’m not that old.”

“Explain yourself!” she demanded, pointing at him. And when Barbara realized what she had done she softened her expression and added, “please?”

“No one would take Batboy seriously,” he said, “and technically I am a man. A young man.”

“That… makes sense,” Barbara said, “But this…” She gestured between them, asking without any words.

“It kinda came out of nowhere,” Barry admitted, “I was on my way home from a shift at Sweet Justice…”

Barry decided not to speed his way through the route like he normally did, slowing down  and enjoying the evening. “Like I thought we were going to do earlier,” Barry chuckled. As he crossed the street, however, he noticed a crawling vine and his attention was captured. Knowing it wasn’t a normal sight Barry changed into his costume and followed it.

“I was in town to capture Ivy,” Batman told her, “you remember, I told you this when you pretended to impersonate your father.”

“You knew that was me!”

“Of course I did. I’m Batman .”

“Anyway,” Barry rolled his eyes, “I stumbled on Ivy near the school and confronted her -”

“Just as I touched down, ready to haul her away.”

Their first meeting wasn’t perfect. Barry ran in front of one of Batman’s bat-a-rangs, getting frozen in the process. Batman didn’t realize Barry could create mini tornadoes and was blown away at one point. And throughout the battle they were fighting with each other.

“We didn’t get Ivy that night,” Batman said, “but… other things sort of fell into place...” He flashed a brief smile Barry’s way, causing the other boy to preen under the attention. Barbara cooed at the display. “But we’ve been keeping it under wraps.”

“Distance, secret identities,” Barry added, “it’s something neither of us had to deal with before, and we’re working through this in our own time…”

“So,” Batman continued, “can we trust you to keep this secret, Batgirl?”

There weren’t any doubts. “Of course you can. I’m honored you even told me about this.”

“Why wouldn’t I,” Batman said, advancing towards the rooftop, “Barry’s mentioned you before. That along with your outstanding track record in the field… you’re a great hero, Batgirl. You wear the bat well.” He held out a grappling hook, winking at Barry. “I’ll text you later.” Batman shot off into the night.

Batgirl watched him leave with stars in her eyes, floating. She was brought back to Earth by a gentle hand on her shoulder.

“Hey,” Barry said, “are you sure you’re okay with this? With me not… well -”

“Are you kidding?” Batgirl shrieked, hugging him, “Batman said he likes what I’m doing. Batman! That’s better than any relationship!”

Jumping around with Barry in her arms would have made her dizzyingly happy. She was, but for reasons she didn’t expect.

Rejection never felt so sweet.

[cksmart-world]

The completely unnecessary news analysis

by Christopher Smart

July 21, 2020

THE PLAN: NO PLAN

Wonder what the Trump administration's plan is for battling the Covid-19 pandemic? The plan is to have no plan, explained NYU journalism prof. Jay Rosen. He spelled it out: Let daily deaths of two to three thousand become a regular thing and then create confusion about who is responsible. Tell the governors they are in charge even though they can't do the necessary things that only the federal government can do. Blame the virus on the Chinese and overwhelm the system with disinformation, distraction and denial in what Steve Bannon calls, “flooding the zone with shit,” aimed at preventing the public from understanding the consequences of inaction. As Dave Eggers explained satirically in The New York Times: “Plans are for commies and the Danish. Here we do it fast and loose and dumb and wrong, and occasionally we have a man who manufactures pillows come the White House to show the president encouraging texts.” And while everyone is preoccupied with Covid-19, Trump will continue his agenda of clamping down on immigration, enriching big business and himself, breaking down public institutions, consolidating power and whipping his base into a frenzy. Now that's a plan.

BYU: BIGOTS & BUILDINGS

The Black Student Union at BYU (we are not making this up) has called on the administration of the LDS flagship university to take the names of any racist church leaders from campus buildings. But the higher-ups are balking because if they did that many of the structures wouldn't have names. For example, the chemistry building is named for the late LDS President Ezra Taft Benson, who, according to Salt Lake Tribune ace Courtney Tanner, said civil rights for Blacks was a “communist deception.” The campus fieldhouse is named to honor another LDS president, George A. Smith, who once said: “Negroes are not entitled to the full blessing of the gospel.” The embarrassing list goes on. But here at Smart Bomb, we convened religious experts from Murray pool halls who found the perfect solution — name the buildings for people in The Book of Mormon. The fieldhouse could be named Nephi, the founder of the Nephite people. And the chemistry building could be named Lephi, who was Nephi's father. Other buildings could be named for Nephi's sons, Laman, Lemuel and Jacob. It would be perfect and would also enable BYU's football players to learn about Mormonism when they ask questions like: What is a Lemuel?

A TALE OF TWO COUNTRIES

It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. No wait, check that. It was the worst of times and no one knew how things got so screwed up. There was a Red America and there was a Blue America and they had little in common although both sides liked chips and salsa. Red America loved guns. Blue America hated guns. Red America hated abortion. Blue American loved a woman's right to choose. Red America loved big, loud Harleys. Blue America liked cute, little scooters. Red America loved diesel pickups with rifle racks. Blue America liked hybrids with climate control. Red America loved Bud and Coors. Blue America would drink only craft beer in chilled schooners. Blue America wore masks in public to be responsible. Red America spewed virus droplets and yelled something about the Constitution. Blue America carried hand sanitizer and did social distancing. Red America went to bars to pick up chicks or dudes. Red America loved Trump and the confederate flag. Blue America wondered what in the hell was going on inside Red America's head. It was the worst-est of times.

Post script — Well history buffs, you should be taking notes because it's not often that shock troops, like the S.S., swarm an American city. In Portland, Ore., protestors, along with Mayor Ted Wheeler and Gov. Kate Brown, were wondering who in the hell are the anonymous security forces in combat dress without insignias jumping out of unmarked vehicles to mug protestors and whisk them away to who-knows-where. But here at Smart Bomb we knew it was the Fuhrer who had unleashed his secret police on those anarchists and commie thugs. The Fuhrer had warned that if Portland didn't stop the vile revolutionaries from demonstrating, he would. (And remember, this has absolutely nothing to do with politics.) Suprise — the blitzkrieg isn't working — it's actually escalating the unrest. People once on the sidelines have joined protestors to push back on the gestapo invasion. Perhaps if Donald Trump showed up with a Bible things would get better. And speaking of freedom fighters, our brethren and sisteren in Utah County made national headlines for rebuking the hoax of coronavirus and freedom-stealing masks that liberals and medical types are foisting on them in a brazen attempt to steal the country from the righteous. Some people, like The Salt Lake Tribune's clairvoyant Robert Gehrke, say it made Utah the laughing stock of the nation. But according to our sources here at Smart Bomb, the Travel Council will use footage of the screaming lunatics to market Utah in other like-minded red states whose citizens yearn for freedom from tyranny with the slogan, “Life Elevated & Unmasked” and “Rock Your Face.”

In honor of John Lewis, we've given Wilson and the band the day off and offer “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley, one of the civil rights icon's favorite poems:

Out of the night that covers me,

   Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

  For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

  I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

  My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

  Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

  Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

  How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate,

  I am the captain of my soul.

[pinetasticapple]

What if we had known each other first and fallen in love second: Princess Fragrance

Also on ffnet and ao3!

Marinette knew the news were always going to cover as many attacks as possible, but the one of today wasn't that terror inducing.

Ok, vanishing an important landscape of the entire country was horrifying for many but nothing had happened in the end. The worst so far was that she was missing science class which was way worse than a vanishing tower for a few hours.

She peeked out of the subway stairs as she went back to street level and back to school when she heard a sneeze coming out from her pocket.

"Tikki!" she gasped "you don't look well."

Did kwamis get sick? Marinette's mind started to whirl in full speed. What was she going to do?

"I know about a healer, I'll tell you where to go," Tikki was shivering in her purse. Ok that did make a little sense, maybe there was a kwami expert. But Marinette's nerves got the best of her, thinking that maybe he would get suspicious and ask around and what if he started to ask about kwamis and figured out she was Ladybug? What if he started to ask questions?

Speaking of,

"Oh no, my teacher is going to question why I'm late again" she peered down at her purse. This was important but also keeping her identity secret. She would do it right after class, if word got to her parents she was skipping class it would be way worse later.

"Tikki, can I take you to the healer right after school?"

Tikki gave her a small reassuring nod and Marinette felt bad for making her endure the…cold she had got but balancing priorities was something Marinette was slowly getting used to even after all this time as a super hero.

It didn't help that she tripped right as she opened the lab door, falling right in front of Ms. Mendeleiv's desk.

"Ah Marinette, what excuse do you have for us this time?" the teacher peered over the desk at her, Marinette pulling herself up from the floor with embarrassment written on her face "accidentally locked yourself in the bathroom again?"

Marinette hated creating excuses on the spot. Lying was never a good thing and it was a struggle to come up with something as she babbled about a dog she did not have.

The sudden aroma of perfume invaded their nostrils, the teacher moving past Marinette to the back of the classroom where Rose was spraying some on an envelope. Marinette took the opportunity to slid into her seat, noticing Adrien wasn't there either. Lucky cat, he could pull off a shoot or something as excuse. So much for their week agreement.

"Watch what happens when you play around with flammable substances in a chemistry lab," Ms. Mendeleiv called back their attention as she sprayed perfume on a vase to cover a Bunsen burner, only for it to lit up and create a small explosion inside the vase.

"Just to make sure you all remember that, I'll be quizzing you tomorrow on lab safety, again."

Marinette groaned in her desk.

The class went on and even if she was lucky it was the last, she couldn't help but to tap her fingers while she waited for the bell to ring.

"Woah, what's the hurry?" Alya held her back at the stairs "something wrong?"

"Ah? No, it's just-"Marinette smiled, glancing to a side to see Adrien running up to the school "oh, I should give Adrien today's notes, we don't want his dad scolding him for getting behind, right?"

"Ever so considerate Marinete" Alya smiled "go on then."

Marinette gave her a thumbs up and went down the stairs, checking on her purse fast to see how Tikki was holding up.

"Ok, I'm taking you to the healer now," she mumbled into her purse, not realizing where she was walking until her feet tripped on a student's bag, sending her flying the last steps towards the asphalt…

Only to be caught right in the arms of Adrien.

"You ok? Nothing broken?"

"Yeah" she stood up, dusting her pants off "I'm in a sort of hurry," she could tell Adrien about Tikki suddenly sick, but Nino was there and he was pointing at Adrien back to school, no wonder to help him catch up with notes. Ah, she'd have to tell him at night "don't worry about it."

"Alright," Adrien smiled and went with Nino back inside. He had totally missed the last class and had to catch up fast unless he wanted his father finding out about his sudden ditching.

"So," he asked Nino once he had retrieved the chemistry notes "did I miss anything interesting?"

"The usual of sorts" Nino shrugged "Marinette arriving late, Ms. Mendeleiv sending a student to the principal and oh yeah, we have a quiz on lab safety tomorrow."

"Again?" Adrien winced "who set something on fire this time?"

Nino laughed "no one dude, but Rose was with a bottle of perfume and you know how the teacher is."

"I mean, it is a flammable thing" Adrien slung his bag "but I should get going and catch up with these."

"No sweat Adrien, text you later!"

Adrien smiled and waved goodbye, making his way to the entrance where the Gorilla was already waiting for him. He fiddled with his phone on the way back, humming as he checked for any new messages.

"Honey, honey, nearly kills me" he sang as he checked out the usual reminders from Nathalie about his schedule, the few memes Nino had sent and the thread of messages he had with Marinette.

[Sun. 23:59]

Buginette: Ok but it is not implied in the movie Bill is her father

Catdrien: Genetics!

Buginette: Adrien, they are actors, besides! They all became her father :D

Catdrien: But I really wanted to know ^ↀᴥↀ

Buginette: You know what they said, curiosity killed the chat~

Catdrien: But satisfaction brought it back! (ฅ'ω'ฅ)

Buginette: Hm, we can watch the sequel if you want, for now I am going to bed, Night night!

Adrien smiled to his phone. That had been a good movie night. He made a beeline to his room to get done with catching up. He could probably convince Marinette to sneak by and play some videogames too.

Adrien sat down and turned on the tv to have background noise, working on the notes without another hitch until the news started to broadcast. Oh yeah, he remembered as he piled up the papers, the prince from Achu was going to be in town.

He was about to turn off the tv when his phone buzzed.

[Mon. 16:45]

Buginette: AÑGDHSH ｡･ﾟﾟ･(д)･ﾟﾟ･｡

Adrien stared at the screen.

Catdrien: Everything alright?

Buginette: No! Chloe got a hold of Tikki and I'm trying to get her back

Adrien looked at the tv where there was a live broadcast of the prince shaking hands with Chloe, who had just given him a plush toy and…

Oh, Adrien's eyes widened in realization. That was definitely not a plush toy.

But how did Chloe get a hold of her in the first place?

Catdrien: I'm sure if you tell the prince he will give her back to you?

Buginette: He's surrounded by the media, the mayor and Chloe, how am I going to do that?

He looked at the tv again, only to be even more confused at the sudden change in people.

"What is going on there?" he leaned forward in his seat, only to find an akuma right there, with green skin and pink hair, holding out what looked like a sci-fi kind of laser gun. Oh this was bad, very bad. He had to transform and catch up with Ladybug… who was unable to transform at the moment.

"Oh shoot, Plagg!" he looked around for the small kwami "let's go Plagg!"

"I'm still chewing!" he heard him moan from the waste basket but he was not going to waste time on this one, especially if Ladybug was compromised.

"Claws out!" he called his transformation and jumped out of the window and towards the hotel. Maybe he could help sneak out Tikki from the prince's pocket as he moved them to safety, that would give Marinette time to transform and purify the akuma.

He arrived just in time to see said prince with Chloe and who had to be the prince's assistant backing away from the akuma.

As well as a hideous stench so hard it made his eyes water.

Chat focused on throwing her away as far as he could. If her objective was the prince, then the right thing to do was to take him somewhere safe. He made sure they went down his baton just like firefighters do and took a quick glance around, but he didn't find sight of Marinette nor Tikki.

Chat jumped down and tagged along to the car the prince had arrived in, the assistant pushing the pedal to accelerate away from the place. Chat dared to take a peek behind on the passenger seat but there was no sight of the kwami on prince Ali's persona. Not to mention, the stench was getting unbearable he was glad the PR opened the windows to get some fresh air.

Part of him knew he had to get out of the vehicle and chase after the akuma, but he also needed to stall for time so Ladybug could show up.

A stumble above them made him look up to see the akuma already on their toes, and the windows didn't close in time to avoid her attack. Chat covered his nose and tried to kick himself out of his seat, but holding his breath and fighting an akuma proved to be too much, his nostrils burning from need of oxygen.

'I'm sorry Marinette' he thought right as the purple perfume invaded his nose, his mind going foggy and blank.

]x[

Marinette was so hoping the miraculous cure would put the scooter back where she had found it but this was an emergency. She caught sight of Chat handling himself fine against Princess Fragrance but they were a team. Sure, he was the shield but Marinette liked it better when they worked together.

She saw the car wreck and felt her pulse raising more. Her panic of not finding Tikki plus not being able to help Chat with this villain was starting to get the best of her.

"Tikki?" she called in the car, looking at each seat, the front and back, tears welling up when she found the small kwami underneath the driver's seat "oh I was so worried, we need to get you help!"

"We don't have time" Tikki's voice was quieter, her body trembling in her hands "you need to transform, I'll be ok…"

"No, I'm not making that same mistake, I'm taking you to the healer now" she stood up and walked in the direction Tikki said, her hands clutching tight the kwami towards what seemed to be a massage parlor. Or a tea shop. Marinette didn't have time to ponder that kind of thing.

The old man didn't ask much questions as he worked on what seemed to be meditation and working with energy. She couldn't help but to remember her mother, even if it wasn't the same way she practices meditating.

"What type of cat do you say?"

Marinette flinched, her smile freezing in her face as she babbled on something to cover up that small lie.

Lying was definitely not her thing, she sighed as the old man smiled and went back to work.

"Unusual" he just said behind a smile "we are finished; your cat's health has been restored."

Marinette glanced at Tikki, smiling as the kwami looked way better than when they had arrived.

"Oh thank you, thank you so much sir!" she smiled as she held Tikki close and dashed to the door since there still was an akuma on the loose.

Marinette made sure to be as far as possible, looking down at Tikki as soon as the coast was clear.

"Oh Tikki I'm so sorry, you were so sick and I don't know what I'd do without you,"

"You wouldn't be Ladybug for once" the kwami smiled.

"I mean more than that" Marinette smiled back "you are just more than my kwami, you're a close friend."

Tikki nuzzled her cheek, but then turned serious "oh! The Ponts des Artes! That's where they are headed! Chat was also there!"

"What? Is he ok? Was he…"

"There's no time to lose Marinette!" Tikki squished her nose.

"Right, Tikki, spots on!"

Ladybug made her way towards the bridge, her nose itching from the peg she stuck on it but it was necessary to avoid the same fate as Chat. She had to save him from the brainwashing Princess Fragrance did on him so reaching the bridge to see them all gathered there was not an easy sight for her.

Taking out of commission Chloe and the other two civilians was easy. It was Chat who she didn't want to fight.

"Snap out of it Chat Noir!" she tried to call out to him "it's me! Ladybug!"

"Give me your miraculous!" Chat sang at her.

Any other day, under any other circumstance, she would have taken the opportunity to record it. Too bad today was not that day. Also a shame because from what she remembered, that cat could pull 'Dancing Queen' without a problem.

Ladybug sparred Chat, fighting his attacks while trying not to punch him too hard, when she saw the giant pink cloud of perfume covering the sky.

"Uh, better do something before this whole thing blows up in my face," her eyes widened, a lightbulb turning inside her mind. Of course! Perfume was flammable! And didn't the mayor say there was going to be a big firework show for him?

After this she better passed that quiz.

Ladybug taunted Chat against the bridge lamppost, teasing him until he extended the baton at her, perfect chance for her to land on the boat and trample him with her.

"Cataclysm!" Chat sang again and honestly, Ladybug winced, that was so not Chat's tone at all, but it was what she wanted him to do as she sidestepped and tripped him, causing the destructive magic to hit the operation box that set off the fireworks. Ladybug smiled as the cloud dissipated above them and mumbled an apology to Chat as she pushed him to the river. She had to hurry and chase after Princess Fragrance to stop her from possessing more people.

Ladybug managed to break the object and purify the akuma, satisfied to see the cure working its way around.

She didn't stay to see what Rose talked about with the prince, her mind preoccupied with Chat as she swung back to the bridge and find him squatted near a tree, drying himself off the river water.

"Ladybug!" Chat rushed to her and pulled her into a tight hug "are you alright? Did you find the akuma?"

"I did" she smiled in the hug "I'm so glad to see you're alright."

"I'm…" he glanced down "I got compromised, I'm sorry."

"Hey," she squeezed his shoulders, turning his attention back to her "you didn't intend for it to happen, and you managed on your own too!"

"Yeah but, let's not make that a habit" he winced "it's way more difficult that way."

"That's why we're partners" she smiled just as her earring beeped "oh, right."

"Meet up later?" Chat extended his baton, his ring also beeping.

"Of course" Ladybug gave him another smile "so I can tell you how bad you sing when you try to reach bass range!"

Chat felt his cheeks flush.