#this is a safe space for any criticism too ofc

[sophfandoms53]

Alastor’s deal with Charlie was for “One favour for a time of my choosing where you harm no one”. Because of that wording, while Alastor won’t be able to make Charlie do anything bad to anyone, he will be able to make her do absolutely nothing, as something she would otherwise be able to stop happens. Charlie has just given Alastor a shutdown button for all her demonic power.

ANON THE WAY MY JAW DROPPED HOLY SHIT

And in Ready For This he sings;

“She’s filled with potential that I could guide.”

What IF he wants to help her control those powers (bc as badass as Charlie was in the finale she struggled A LOT even in her demon form, which makes sense she’s a pure hearted bean and its hard for her to hurt anyone) so that way when she meets her full potential those powers are HIS and he can use them to cut HIS strings??

THE POSSIBILITIES.

[stupidrant]

RANT INCOMING!

I have to talk abt this as this has been in my mind for months and this i think is the only safe space to talk abt the fandom and their weird antics towards the characters/actors and overall games.Im not against criticism but theres a line between criticizing and going overboard with hating.

One thing i dont understand abt the god of war fandom is that they complain about alot of things not being “accurate” and thats doesnt make sense to me bc when has gow ever been accurate? I thought it was obvious from the beginning that SMS wasnt going for that and never truly will. Its always their own interpretation. They also have this weird hatred / ignorance towards atreus that i also dont understand? Yea he was a little annoying in the first game but thats understandable as hes… a kid. Ragnarok expanded his character pretty well imo and i feel like alot of these people for some reason cannot get past him in general? Maybe because they are afraid of him taking over the series and “forgetting” kratos (idk why thats in their minds LOL) or they just hate him just because. I feel like the fandom wants kratos to forever be this god who destroys things and whatnot and its all so weird. like they never gave him a chance. thankfully he has fans but majority hates him. Dont even get me started on how they treat angrboda. Its really so ridiculous to me that they can be so hateful for no true reason. they call her a bitch for yelling at atreus when all the women in the game get annoyed or disappointed in him atleast once. And they dont understand that she has only known this prophecy shit for her whole life and she couldnt do anything outside bc of the threat. ofc shes angry bro LOLL its also in her name like i dont understand 😭.  Atreus helps her get out of that mindset and assures her she can do whatever she wants now. Laya is so strong idk how she does it :( I also noticed they treat thrud as this “replacement” of angrboda bc they dont like her either cuz shes black or bc they hate her and everything related to atreus but as long as he has a character they can like thats not angrboda its fine. Its all so weird bc theres no competition between the two. There never was. I dont think they actually like thrud for her character they just want to be weirdos and i feel kinda bad for her and mina bc they really dont give a fuck. Im so shocked chris sunny and others even INTERACT with this bullshit of a fandom they are all really strong bc id say fuck all of you and go 😭 im not against criticism at all and i try not to take this shit seriously but its hard when you see a insane group of people take alot of this shit to the next level. this fandom is a bunch of whiny babies who hold onto their precious destroyer too much. The hate everyone has gotten recently is just so stupid and they often times try to make it their goal to hate. I see that SMS is trying to diverge their fandom to a broader audience and they are taking a bit more risks esp with atreus and i love that despite the backlash against him, they continued with his character regardless. I hope they do the same thing with the other characters as well and expand them no matter how much these people want to hate and act all high and mighty. I can understand certain critiques like the ending being too fast or maybe they couldve done blah blah better and whatnot but i think alot of people are overreacting and being ridiculously nitpicky with alot of things when it comes to ragnarok. 

Last thing and also kinda random thing SMS is very wrong for what they did to TC Carson and i acknowledge that completely and i hope they never do smth like that to any of the current cast either bc i would be fucking pissed if so LOL

[2kitsuneao3]

funny little observation i’ve made, but whenever i post in/cest fanfic (whether it be not really in/cest in the case of adoption or not) there’s less comments on it then if it was a straight ship / mlm or wlw - sure this could be because those ships are more popular, but from my time around on the internet and in some larger fandoms sometimes those in/cest ships will be as popular / more popular then main ships so the only conclusion i can come to is ya’ll are just too scared to comment on those fics in the rare case of being caught / called out and like - 

why? 

no genuinely, why? 

because it’s taboo? listen, i implore you, for once if you’re going to navigate the internet in any such way you should 100% explore and interact with the fandoms / pairings that have been labelled as ‘taboo or wrong’ because i promise you it’ll open you up to a lot more conversations about morality and the difference between allowing something in fiction / not allowing it irl and knowing your own boundaries. 

like honestly, i write in/cest, i’ve written sam/xdean for gods sake, and nat/exsam, and wei wuxia/n x jiang cheng; but, on the other hand, do you think i support / could ever support that shit irl? hell no, no fucking way. and maybe it’s because i’ve been doing this shit since i was thirteen, no seriously, but sometimes interacting with fandoms / pairings that others have labelled as taboo and will say ‘you’re a bad person’ if you enjoy / post this, really helps you explore those kind of scenarios (or in this case, pairings) in a safe environment where you are in complete control, you can click out at any seconds, you have all the tags and information going in to know exactly what the story pertains, so that while you’re reading it you can decide whether it’s for you as a person or not - and at the end of it, you’ve still learnt something about yourself / your boundaries / the extent of your own morality etc. it’s the same as exploring those fics that have the tags ‘dead dove do not eat’ - you know exactly what that means, or you should, and you’ve got all the tags to know what it pertains, but if you choose to click on it you in that moment can control exactly how much of it you read, and further your own understanding of yourself in the process while still being completely safe. 

there’s this really cool post i keep finding unintentionally (but ofc i can’t find it now) about exploring the internet critically but also exploring it / into areas which others have labelled as inherently bad / taboo and i’ll see if i can find it / tag it because it explains this so much better than me but like - yeah. 

because it’s the same as like, liking a really fucked up character, right? I love Nir/agi (from AIB), love absolutely everything about him, to his character, his interactions with others, his looks, and i love doing character studies into what makes him the kinda person he is - but do you think i’d ever excuse / allow someone like that in my life irl? hell no! he’s a murderer, a straight up bad guy, and he’d k/ill me without a second thought if i was annoying him - however because of fandom and fanfic (i’m talking mostly about ao3 here with fanfic / spaces to enjoy fanfic) and having spaces on the internet where we can all pool our resources to let others have these experiences also exploring our own boundaries in a safe space, it’s easier than ever to let your own mind expand into areas that others will ostracize you for / call you a bad person for liking. 

just a little rant for 2am haaaah, let me know if any of this made sense. 

[sugar-petals]

When I look at yuzuru he strikes me as a really soft cutesy charming etheral individual not really homme fatal kind of guy that's why I think he's pure romantic rather than TR what do u think? ( love you btw)

i’ve been thinking about it as well, but it’s not a crystal clear case. he’s a sportsman, skating morphs the body in the most uncommon ways which makes it harder to narrow down the type. 

basics first so we get the foundations right: pinpointing the kibbe category he is + isn’t and why, the subtype after.

1. which one of the big 5?

- safe to say, yes: he’s somewhere in the romantic category. nobody does these outfits quite like yuzu. light fabrics, intricate embellishments, he is famous for all that gorgeous princely tailoring. the sport is all about the sequins, he definitely shines in them. every professional figure skating photographer out there will tell you that he hits different and you can see why.

WOW.

i’ve witnessed people complaining that the glitz and glam no longer suits his age, he gets scorn for not dressing traditionally masculine, but i don’t know how it wouldn’t look appropriate. the only valid criticism is that it’s often a hit or miss, but we’d be damned if this isn’t what an ice prince looks like.

he’s the best in the world and his main goal is to put on a show. rolling up in a polo shirt would contradict the objective, being an allround artist first and only then a jump technician. he’s exactly how you’d expect a yuzuru hanyu to look like. if you appear ‘like yourself’, it’s the right kibbe category.

R clothing typically has a sexy edge as well, you can’t put a kid into that. cut out cleavage, transparent, figure-hugging, no way. if anything, most R styles seemed all over the place when yuzu was younger (this is from 2010). yin is meant to be tailored for adults to begin with, you can’t make it teenage gamine.

eleven years later at 26, yuzuru hanyu in 2021, adult man, wearing the hell out of a skating gala outfit. this would be tacky on someone any younger. R is not just light and sweet but also dignified and mature. long story short. he’s grown into a yin-dominant type. fits to a T, a feast for the eye.

- meanwhile: you can easily exclude dramatic. very thick, stable fabrics with large lines are gigantic on him. D clothing is a yuzu charm killer, figures because it’s the type opposite to romantic (pure yang). it washes out the face and is twice as wide as his frame is, bulks out around the shoulders.

- not a natural type either, it feels a bit too simple, underchallenging. ruffled hair appears dishevelled where it’d be just right on a natural. it doesn’t fully highlight him: natural looks aren’t the most memorable on yuzuru even if they tend to be rather neutral and don’t look too off per se, it has a bit of draping after all. 

he looks really good in the below outfit, but his frame doesn’t fill it out. he’s all elegant underneath and radiates ballet while N is a rough, easy-going, and leisurely concept for very bulky frames. the waist gets missing in translation, the mid-section of shirts like these is too wide.

- not a gamine either. he might appear like one and i deliberated back and forth whether he is Pure G or FG, but the material mix, line breaks, and fashion experiments are creating chaos rather than something put-together. it just isn’t as flattering as when he does drapes and florals. the hair being cropped (typical gamine cut) often obfuscates the face. G styles are confusing on yuzu.

his skating is from outer space but this is probably a bit too galactical 😅

- not a classic. something’s not right, suits like these contrast a lot with how round his face is and sit on his body very randomly. missing waist again (yin). the same people who want him to dress more conservatively/masculine have been roasting yuzu for looking like a salary man in that style 🤔 i sense hypocrisy. in any case, classic underwhelms, he’s made to dress up. more points to yin, he he’s too petite to wear C.

now, we got the main category down, time for subtyping. romantic has two options.

2. which romantic?

arguments in favor of Theatrical Romantic:

this type is what he often portrays in the rink (e.g. the phantom of the opera programme) and has become his secret weapon. whether that speaks of his true type is the question. what i mean is, he can pull it off, the seductive homme fatale. compare jimin, people lose their minds over theatrical romantic men. yuzu is in that lane as well.

as in, balance of main yin with a yang undercurrent — the very gentle, princely young man with the soft face who gathers everyone’s hearts, and he is a damn flirt on ice, but who can give a very visceral, dark performance. that shows a tremendous fervor and an edge, with an athletic and taut body.

he does have some yang elements to his physicality. streamlined silhouette, some narrowness, extreme flat muscle, long triangular upper body, some vertical line. also — his color palette (aka skin undertone, cool v warm, hue, chroma, deepness etc) might match TR. on the other hand, it might simply be the black hair giving him the contrast for it. 

the reason why we might get the TR impression is that he often wears all black which suggests dramatic, and the athleticism in his profession has trained away the chubbiness he might naturally have. the face as the only part that won’t be somehow affected by his routine is all yin. 

arguments in favor of pure Romantic:

... as you pointed out. in private life and backstage, he is quite effortlessly sweet- and small-looking. with the delicacy and doe-eyedness you’d expect from pure romantic, very unlike his performance persona. 

if you didn’t know he’s copyrighted BDE on the ice, yuzu seems like he can’t harm a fly, round rosy bean he is. he makes a very innocent and soft 1st impression in candids which no other type except soft gamine does.

facial features, all opposite of yang. not long, not sharp, not planar, not angular, not bony, not narrow. the button nose, full lips, and puffy cheeks is all you see. you’d not think of him as striking (=D, FN).

that’s also why he’s always pitted as nathan chen’s opposite in whatever he does. nate is on the other end of the kibbe spectrum, people probably don’t even realize that their physical lines are contrasting archetypes. it’s subconsciously part of why people can construct such a rivalry. 

study nathan’s face and it becomes apparent. very oblong shape, flat-laying flesh and an asymmetric jaw that couldn’t be any more prominent (=yang). the brows and eyes create a powerful horizontal unlike yuzu’s more wide-set puppy eyes. the nose is longer, the ears, too. nathan looks sharp, piercing, and intimidating rather than soft. you see the exact outline of the bone.

with him, you assume the reverse of what people think of yuzu at first glance. if you didn’t know that nathan couldn’t be any nerdier, you’d believe he’s 1000% jock-off-the-charts. how he has a lot of yang contributed to his on-ice image, too. one’s kibbe type can shape life choices since people see you in a certain way simply based on your lines.

how yuzu is such a visual difference to nathan further points to how he’s closer to pure yin: rather than a subtype that picks up elements from dramatic. otherwise, you’d see some of that angularity. but no: roundness over structure, you see the flesh, not frame. you couldn’t call him a jock by all means 😆 

you won’t see that chiseled geometry and crazy jawline/browline. as you say he’s more cutesy, and a charmer, the whole fandom will agree. pure romantics have everyone wrapped around their fingers (and their booty lmao!) because you want to pepper them with kisses, yin types all look so non-threatening and beautiful. ethereal is the right word. 

and they’re the sexiest ofc, since they’re curvy. R got hips.

sigh... this type is a showstopper. what to do with him. he can beam at ya or he can sway his hips at ya, another unsuspecting hanyu interessee falls for the guy. he does the prince concept and the sexy cutie alike.

he tries to convince us otherwise 😂

sexy aside, he looks great in the respective clothing recs, with waist emphasis and rounded edges. kimonos are often soft dramatic or natural-inspired, but it works out well this way. and again: romantic is not childish/playful clothing of some kind, it can be very official and deliberate.

rather than in edge tailoring which is very loose around his arms and does yuzu no justice. that’s actually the kind of clothing that makes him appear either younger or older depending on if it’s D or C.

TLDR - he might not seem completely yin in his appearance, but that’s because of his excessive sports regimen. since yuzu has been training since he was a kid, we never saw how he’d normally be. he rocks the pure romantic regardless and it’s likely it’s his kibbe type. him wearing R is always a spectacle.

bonus kibbe meme: yuzu, photoshopped to the moon and back, wearing soft dramatic for a toothpaste ad. amazing.

[snarkwrites]

ssw | sweetpea; wondering what his kiss feels like. | fluff.

NOTES:

Okay, so.. Apparently my brain likes to torment me. Because earlier, I was going to outline the next chapter for my Sweetpea x Andrews!OFC fic Gangsta and my brain threw out a casual, “But have you considered.. Using the Lodge!OFC you were planning to use with Reggie Mantle.. With Sweetpea?” and this kind of.. came.

So.. if enough people are interested, I may be considering actually writing them a fic or doing more of these little things based around them.. and trying to delve more into possibly pairing Alyssa with Reggie? Because when I wrote their oneshot I felt like there was potential there too... Also, this one shot is a direct result of me, watching dirty dancing reenactments on tik tok and my love for the movie + the fact that Riverdale does musicals every season...

Anyway, enjoy?

PROMPTS:

taken from either [ HERE ] or [ HERE ] give or take. It could be one or the other or a mix of both at my own choosing.

the way he says your name / his fingers sliding between your own / wondering what your kiss feels like - these are the inspo prompts used for this oneshot.

FANDOM / CHARACTER

Riverdale / Sweetpea x Lodge!OFC, Marlena

OTHER WORKS SWEET PEA X MARLENA ARE USED IN

None BUT.. That could change, idk..

WARNINGS

Intense sexual tension. Arguing back and forth as a love language until someone snaps. Mutual crushes that turn into something more.. This one is absolutely safe for the kiddos aside from a few swears and the like.. Oh and one barely elaborated on incident of thigh riding / dirty dancing.

TAGGING

There’s absolutely no one on my Riverdale taglist. If you want to be on it, please let me know. Or add yourself to the link below.

OTHER STUFF

[ faq | sfw masterlist - safe for the kiddos but read with caution | tag list ] 

“I swear to God, if she doesn’t give me more, I’m going to fall asleep. Is this really all we could find to participate in the musical for you guys?” My sister's question drew me out of a silent stare war with Sweetpea across the auditorium. He rolled his eyes and I stuck out my tongue at him before turning my attention back to my older sister, sighing as I glanced in the direction of the stage up front. “ She’s not that bad.. I mean at least she had the guts to try out for a part?” I mused quietly, shaking my head. Disappointed at myself because I hadn’t signed up.

Stage fright is one hell of a deterrent. And I knew that if I had tried out, no matter how well I knew the movie we were doing our musical adaptation of this year, when opening night came and those curtains opened and I saw all those people sitting out in the seats? I was going to freeze. I’d completely ruin the show. I didn’t want that.

The best I could do was at least offer to do costumes for Kevin. I told myself that behind the scenes was still helping and being supportive but deep down, ugh.. I wanted to do so much more.

If I were half as brave as my older sister Veronica is when it comes to this kind of stuff… Everyone has their fears though. Mine just happen to be public speaking in front of large audiences. My sister tells me constantly that it doesn’t make sense because I can go all over competing in dance stuff and there’s a crowd there, but.. When I’m dancing, I’m focused on footwork. On steps and the music and the way it makes me feel. I don’t have to speak.

This is also ironic when you take into consideration I am not a shy girl by any stretch of the imagination. I’m actually quite vocal. But when it involves speaking in public?

I freeze. I shut down and in turn, I wind up looking like an idiot.

I was so caught up in my own thoughts that I didn’t notice that Veronica had gotten up out of her seat and walked over, taking the seat right beside Kevin. They were whispering back and forth. I laughed softly because knowing my sister, she was probably telling Kevin that Leah needed to find a better attitude or Kevin needed to find a better person to play Baby Housemann.

Oh, if only I had one tenth of a clue.

My sister came back over, sinking down into the seat next to me. “Feel better now?” I asked her, barely hiding my amusement as I said it. She giggled and nodded. “Much better. I want you to remember how much you love me…” she muttered.

I raised a brow. “What’s that even mean?”

“Just wait.”

“What the hell did you do, Ronnie?”

“You’ll find out, Marlena. Just wait.” Veronica wouldn’t give me any more of an answer than that. Grumbling to myself, I settled back in my seat and tried to focus on the ongoing argument between Leah and Kevin from the stage.

Rolling my eyes at her audacity. Literally anyone could’ve done her part better and she had the nerve to demand Kevin to change everything to fit her? Refusing to work with him on anything? Putting down the script when it was the same one they used in the movie?

Just the thought of it had me shaking my head and muttering to myself about the entitlement and audacity. Veronica gave a soft laugh and leaned in, mocking the way she’d delivered her last line and the fact that she wanted pretty much all her dialogue changed and constantly needed reasons why her character did anything they did.

“Marlena! Hey, Marlena, where are you?” Kevin was calling my name. I looked up from the whispered conversation I’d been having with my older sister Veronica and raised my hand, waiting.

“C’mon. I want to try something. Leah’s just not cutting it for me as Baby.” Kevin called out to me as he gave Leah an irritated dirty look. Leah threw down her script and walked out of the auditorium in a huff. “This is a stupid idea for a musical anyway. Nothing’s gonna top what the seniors are doing. Good luck, jackass.”

Veronica gave me a nudge and with a soft laugh, she leaned in, smiling as she whispered into my ear, “You were born for this, Marlena. Dirty Dancing is your all time favorite movie.”

“Excuse me? I thought we both established it was Crybaby. Then Grease. Then Dirty Dancing.” I teased, standing in a hurry. My sister’s rebuttal to this was to point out with a soft laugh that I definitely had my own special vibe and type of guy. I poked out my tongue at her and turned away. Making my way towards the front of the auditorium where Kevin stood.

Once I was up there, Kevin pressed a copy of our class’s script into my hands. “Congratulations, you’ve been promoted from costumes.” he smirked at me. “I have a feeling about you and this part. As a director, I’m going to go with my gut.”

“But I didn’t sign up..” I shuffled my feet. 

“ Yeah, well, the ones who did from your class obviously don’t care enough to bother showing up to practice or don’t care enough to give their best when they actually bother to come and we’re rehearsing.” Kevin shrugged. Taking his seat.

Alex, the guy who’d been cast as Johnny Castle, walked over. Wrinkling his nose at me as soon as he stood in front of me. Arms folded over his chest as he asked Kevin in a snobbish tone, “So we’re seriously just letting stage crew have parts now, Keller? Is that what this is? I thought you were going to help us make our musical better, not make it a massive failure.”

“Asshole.” I muttered under my breath, rolling my eyes as I stepped up to him, jabbing a finger into his chest. Giving him a piece of my mind because holy hell did his holier than thou attitude ever irritate me, “I’ll have you know, I probably know this movie line for line. I can probably do all the dances blindfolded, in a wheelchair. Who the hell do you think you are anyway? I saw you in Romeo and Juliet. I have never fallen asleep so fast in my entire life.” I smirked as I went quiet, rolling my eyes at him.

Alex chuckled and rolled his eyes right back at me, making the dismissive remark in response, “Did I ask you to speak? Did I address you directly? No. I didn’t. I was talking to the director. Don’t you have costumes to make or something? You’re holding up rehearsals.”

Out towards the back of the auditorium, I heard my sister cheering me on. Clapping and whistling. Telling me to give him hell and telling Alex he was awfully full of himself for someone who got a thumbs down by a New York theater critic over the summer.

I took a deep breath and glanced down at the script in my hands. Starting to read over it. Ignoring the argument between Kevin and Alex for the most part. Just trying to get myself in character while I waited. 

Alex grumbled and stormed back over, standing near me. His posturing tense and a supremely annoyed look in his eyes as he gave me half a second’s glance. Kevin gave the cue to start and Alex read his line first. 

“Look, spaghetti arms. This is my dance space. This is your dance space. I don't go into yours, you don't go into mine. You gotta hold the frame.”

Before I even got a chance to read off my line, Kevin was standing up. Making his way towards us. “You two are supposed to be dancing together. Marlena, you need to stand closer. Alex, you need to deliver the line in more of a teasing tone. Like you’re trying to taunt her. Playful. Not like you’re actually being an asshole. Like you’re flirting with her.”

“She’s not my type.” Alex rolled his eyes as he glanced at me. I glared up at him, a hand on my hip. Dangerously close to exploding all over again. I kept everything I’d been about to say to myself though, and with a deep breath, I listened as Kevin gave us both advice. Smirking to myself a little when he lit into Alex for being a drama queen.

After Kevin finished telling us what to fix, we prepared to try again. I stepped closer. Found myself glancing out in the crowd. My eyes settled on Sweetpea. 

I found him watching the whole thing play out with an amused smirk. His arms folded over his chest. Holding my gaze boldly. Daring me to look away first. I refused. If  I looked away first, that gave him the upper hand. I was not about to give him that.

,, That jackass. Look at him. All smug.. Ugh, I just wanna punch his stupid sexy face.” the thought surfaced and I quickly did my best at shoving it out again. I found myself thinking about a heated argument we’d had in the hallway earlier.

I found myself kind of drawing parallels between him and the character Alex was supposed to be playing but doing a terrible job at playing. I couldn’t work with the performance Alex was giving, he wasn’t giving me anything to work with. 

Somewhere in the midst of it all, I found myself replaying my earlier argument with Sweetpea. Stepping closer to Alex. Doing my best to play at a lack of experience in dance, despite my vast experience and love for it. Getting immersed in the role. Imagining myself as the character Baby.. And not Alex but Sweetpea as Johnny Castle.

Alex delivered his line a second time. His delivery wasn’t much better. Kevin grumbled to himself and made his way over yet again. This time, Kevin’s problem with the scene had absolutely nothing to do with me.

He addressed me first. “Please, please please.. You have to play Baby. You have to.” he gave me a pleading look. “I’m prepared to beg, okay?”

I pretended to mull it over. Smiling as I nodded. “Okay, alright.. I can still do costumes though, right? Because I already have a ton of ideas drawn up..” I shuffled my feet, giving Kevin a pleading look.

“Yeah! Definitely. You’re the only one I trust to do the costumes right, Marlena.” Kevin answered quickly.

He turned his attention to Alex and they got into a heated argument. Alex blamed his performance on me and the fact that I seemed standoffish and that I wasn’t up to his level and shouldn’t even be sharing a stage with him to begin with. Insisting that Kevin should at least give Josie McCoy a chance to play Baby in our play. She already had her hands full with the senior class musical and her performance during intermission and Kevin pointed that out.

“Josie can’t do both musicals and intermission twice, Alex. That’s asking way too much. Even from her, man. Marlena is Baby. You can adapt to that or you’re welcome to leave.” Kevin stood firm in his decision.

Alex eyed me and I stood taller. Smirking up at him. More than a little amused by the entire thing. He chuckled. Shrugging as he tossed down the script he’d been holding in his hands. “Fine. Try to find somebody else to do a better job at playing Johnny. See how that works out. I’m done. I refuse to participate in this mockery.”

He stormed out of the auditorium.

My sister Veronica and Josie McCoy shared a look and a nod. Veronica stood. Josie shot up out of her seat also and the two jogged over to Kevin. Getting him off to the corner of the auditorium. As the three of them whispered back and forth, I stood there, shuffling my feet. Reading ahead in the script.

Taking it all in.

Honestly enjoying the fact that I was going to be playing Baby Housemann in the junior class musical immensely more than I thought I would. ,, until opening night when you’re on stage in front of everyone and you either freeze, bolt out of the room or throw up everywhere.” my mind taunted.

I shoved out the intrusive thought.

Kevin chuckled out loud. Getting so excited that he didn’t keep his voice down when he spoke up. “Your minds, I swear. Yeah, we’re gonna try that. Right now, actually.” Kevin told my sister and Josie. They smirked at each other and as they walked past me, Veronica gave me a wink.

And almost as soon as she did, I braced myself. Because I have the sneaking suspicion that my sister was up to something. And if that something had to do with a certain Serpent reading against me as Johnny Castle?

I was literally going to die. I’d be totally doomed.

,, maybe not.” and even the surprise optimism had me laughing at myself because I knew better.

“Sweetpea, can you come up here, man?” Kevin called out.

I tensed just a little. Took a deep breath. Suddenly I knew exactly what my sister had been up to but my question now was why had Josie taken part in the whole idea? I thought she was dating him? They were hot and heavy at Cheryl’s party a few weeks ago and they went places together a lot …

I prayed for a portal to another dimension to open in the stage and take me out. If my sister has even slightly hinted that I may or may not have feelings for the giant jerk to anyone I swear to God.. I’ll die.

Sweetpea hopped over the chair in front of him and walked down the long aisle, stopping where Kevin sat in the front row. The two were whispering back and forth and more than one time, Sweetpea glanced back at me. Smirking. Chuckling as he listened to what Kevin was telling him and rubbing his chin as he pretended to think something over.

Sweetpea looked over at me and shrugged as he answered Kevin. “I can try. I’m not makin any promises though because I don’t dance and I’ve never seen this movie.”

“Just trust me. You’re as Johnny as Johnny gets, Pea.” Kevin encouraged. I wanted to kick him so badly at that moment. Did he seriously have to encourage Sweetpea? There had to be someone else… anyone else. Someone I didn’t have a massive crush on and yet also want to strangle.

I pretended to stick my finger down my throat and gag, as per usual when Sweetpea locked eyes with me again as he walked towards where I stood..

 ,, because God forbid you let him even get an ounce of suspicion that you have a crush on the guy.” my brain was at it again with the taunting. I pushed it all down deep and took a deep breath or two.

“You did this just to be an asshole.” I muttered.

“No, I did this because Kevin’s my friend. Not everything I do is about pissing you off, princess.” Sweetpea chuckled as he said it. Adding in a quieter tone, “Just because you’re Marlena Lodge… That doesn’t make everything about you.”

My jaw set and I glared up at him. Taking a deep breath or two. Reminding myself that despite Sweetpea now reading as Johnny Castle, I still loved this movie and I wanted our class’s play to be worth watching. That I couldn’t mess this up. I couldn’t let Sweetpea taunt and torment me into messing this up either.

I didn’t want to disappoint Kevin because he was one of my best friends. He was depending on me to at least try to do my best here.

Kevin gave the signal for us to start from the top of the scene.

I stepped closer. My body brushing against Sweetpea’s. Sweetpea mirrored this and grabbed hold of my arms, pulling them out in front of me just like Patrick Swayze did in the actual movie as he recited the line.

And the tone in his voice, oh my god.

“Look, spaghetti arms. This is my dance space. This is your dance space. I don't go into yours, you don't go into mine. You gotta hold the frame.”

I responded with my line. Stepping closer, even throwing in an accidental mis-step on the top of his foot on my own. 

Kevin continued to sit, watching us rehearse. By the time we got to the scene where Johnny is telling Baby that he got fired, I could feel more people’s eyes on us. And I swallowed hard, trying not to focus on being watched and how that felt, but instead, on the script. On what I had to say and how I felt like it needed to come across.

And maybe, in my own mind, I was imagining how I’d act if I were in Baby’s shoes. Having just argued with my father about the guy I was in love with only to turn and find out that despite my own optimism at convincing the guy to do the right thing, nothing worked out the way I wanted at all.

Sweetpea must have caught on to my anxiety because he muttered quietly, “You good, princess?” as he covertly brushed his hand against mine. Clearing his throat to get my attention and keep me from getting nervous and blanking out or bolting off the stage.

I gazed up at him a second or two, finally nodding. Managing to ground myself somehow and I tried my best to convince myself it was not because Sweetpea’s fingers laced through mine. Almost as if he’d caught hold of my hand to keep me from leaving.

,, He’s just doing that because it’s in the script. You’re supposed to be having a heated discussion and you’re about to walk away upset. That’s the only reason he grabbed your hand. It has nothing to do with the fact that you kind of freaked out a little and lost your focus.” I reminded myself grimly as I caught up to where we were on the page and took a deep breath, preparing for my turn to speak.

As I delivered my next line, “So I did it for nothing.I hurt my family, you lost your job anyway-- I did it for nothing!” I wanted to disappear into the stage floor when my sister stood up in her chair, clapping and whistling. But the way I said it sounded so wistful. Disappointed and bitter. Like I was truly hurting.

Sweet Pea said his line. “No, no, not for nothin', Baby! Nobody has ever done anything like that for me before.” and I paused. Staring up at him. Blown away because he sounded so sincere too. Like for a second or two, this was really taking place and it wasn’t just some silly rehearsal. Like he meant what he was saying.

But I knew he didn’t. We tolerate each other at best. At our worst, we’re at each other’s throats constantly. Finding any and all excuses to rip into each other or push the other’s buttons. Because it’s just what we do.

But his tone. The look in his eyes when he delivered the line. The way his eyes fixed on me, searching. Waiting.

“It’s your turn, princess.. Cat got your tongue?” he muttered under his breath to draw me out of my own inner turmoil.

I took a deep breath and scanned the page. Finding my next line. “You were right, Johnny. You can't win no matter what you do!” and I could feel him staring as I said it. Biting his lip when I lazily punched at his chest because it felt like the right thing to do in the heat of the moment to show how upset the character was. I shook my head and dropped my eyes. “You were right.” I muttered in a quieter tone.

Sweetpea reached out, rough fingertips gripping my jawline. Guiding my eyes back up to meet his as he replied with the next line, “You listen to me. I don't wanna hear that from you. You can!”

And again, it sounded so real. Emotional. Like we were really having this argument. I was really getting into this. Probably a little too much for my own good. I sighed and shook my head sadly. Biting my lip as I stepped away a little and continued to shake my head, arguing back, “I used to think so.” and after a second or two, adding in a quieter tone, “Now I don’t know anymore.” even though it wasn’t in the script.

Sweetpea was staring at me. Thoughtful. Intent. Almost as if he were actually seeing me and not all the stupid things he’d written me off as from the word go on the first time we met. He cleared his throat and that shit-eating smirk was back again. “Not too bad, huh?”

“Jackass.” I muttered, mostly to myself. Still a little dazed.

Kevin called for a break and made his way over.

“Okay, we’re going to take this all the way from the beginning tomorrow. I wish I’d done this sooner. We’re going to have to practice the lift next. Because the lift is iconic. We have to pull that off or I’m gonna want to punch myself in the throat.” Kevin was excited, rambling away a mile a minute.

Sweetpea spoke up. “What about my part in the senior musical?”

“You can do both. We’ll move the junior musical to a different night. You have to do this. C’mon…”

Sweetpea grumbled and finally muttered with a shrug, “Okay, alright. Fine. Shit. I’ll do it. But I’m not wearing tights, are we clear?”

“You really haven’t seen the movie at all… have you?” I scoffed as I gazed up at Sweetpea. He mimicked me and shrugged. “I’ve seen bits of it. But I know one thing and that’s dancers wear tights. I’m not wearing tights. Not happenin.”

“For your information, you big idiot, Patrick Swayze does not wear tights a single time in this movie. At least not that I remember and I’ve seen it a thousand times... Suit and tie, maybe.”

Sweetpea grumbled and raised a brow.

“Not for the whole movie, damn it.. Black jeans and a black shirt will suffice for most of it. You can even wear your leather jacket, you big man-baby. Johnny Castle wears one in the movie.” I answered. Stepping closer to him to sort of get a visual read on his measurements so that when the time came I at least kind of had an idea of what worked. Sweetpea chuckled, dragging his fingers through his hair as he gazed down at me. “See something you like, princess?”

“I’m trying to figure out what I’m gonna need for your costume, dingus.” I replied as calmly as possible.

“Ya know, you could always just measure me… Right? Or ask me my size?”

“Oh you’d enjoy that entirely too much. And I’d have to touch you. No, nope. No thanks, I’ll pass.”

“I’m gonna have to touch you anyway. That lift or whatever it was that had Kevin rambling just now.” Sweetpea barely hid his amusement as he stepped even closer. A hand at my hip. Lingering.

For a second or two, I was lost in his eyes and totally oblivious to anything going on around us and then Kevin shattered that by starting the last song of the musical and calling for everyone to take their places.

And from the crowd, Fangs spoke up.

“Hey babe.. What if we got all the extras from the clubhouse scene to come in through the crowd? Just like the movie?” Fangs was smirking at both Sweetpea and I as he spoke up. Enjoying this entire situation way too much.

“Fangs, you brilliant and beautiful man, this is exactly why I love you so much.” Kevin smirked as he rubbed his chin and called out. “Okay, if you were an extra in the clubhouse scene, go to the doors of the auditorium. When Fangs gives the signal, you’ll come in. Dancing.”

He turned to Sweetpea. “You go with them.”

Sweetpea managed to break the staredown we had going on and he nodded. Grumbling as he walked towards the front of the auditorium.

Everything went pretty well until we got to the part where I was supposed to run to Sweetpea and he was supposed to lift me over his head. I took off, running towards him.

I missed the mark. Wound up with my legs wrapped around his waist, clinging for dear life while he staggered back just a little. Both of us arguing about whose fault it was that we messed up.

Kevin cleared his throat.

“You guys need more practice. Maybe you could rehearse together?”

Sweetpea and I glanced at each other, mulling it over.

“Fine.” Sweetpea ground out through a jaw tightly clenched. A glance at Fangs revealed that the reason he agreed without a huge fight was probably something to do with the way Fangs was giving him a demanding look.

“Fine.” I answered. Swallowing hard.

Trying to pull myself together because frankly, I was still all sorts of stirred up from the way he’d actually caught me and the fact that no, I hadn’t wanted him to put me back on my feet at the end, either.

I spoke up again. “We can do it at the bunker.” I suggested. Trying to think of a neutral place that didn’t favor either of us heavily. A place we could hopefully be alone and focus. And probably scream and shove and storm away to cool off if things got too heated.

“8 work for you or does daddy let you out past your bedtime, princess?” Sweetpea taunted, smirking at me when I glared and rolled my eyes.

“ I do what I want.” I scoffed at his parting jab. 

From behind me, my sister spoke up. “Are you ready, Marlena?” as she looked back and forth between Sweetpea and I with an amused grin.

“Yeah. We need to get going.” I answered.

 As my sister and I walked out of the auditorium, my sister gave a soft laugh. “That wasn’t so bad, huh? I knew you could do it.”

“Oh shut up.” I grumbled, managing a weak smile. “We haven’t made it to the night of yet. Don’t jinx this. Remember what happened last time I had to get up in front of people and talk in any capacity?”

“Marlena, that was kindergarten. Maybe it’ll be different.”

“Veronica, I threw up everywhere. And not gracefully, either. It was a full on projectile vomit.”

“That was something. The chemistry between you and Sweetpea in there. I felt like I was actually watching the movie.”

“He’s an ass. And he hates me, remember?”

“Yeah, well.. It didn’t look that way to me, Marlena. If he hated you, he wouldn’t have been standing so close the entire time… or the way he grabbed your hand?” my sister questioned.

I shrugged it off. “Can we change the subject?”

“Why? Afraid I might be right?” my sister teased, as usual.

TIME SKIP

“Okay, if he’s not here in ten minutes, I’m leaving. This place gives me the creeps.” I muttered to myself almost the exact second that I managed to find a spiderweb with my face and shriek about it.

Low chuckling from behind me had me turning. Finding myself body to body with Sweetpea as he tried not to laugh.

“Do you talk to yourself a lot or do I make you that nervous, princess?” he taunted. I gave a light shove and stepped away, pouting up at him. Quick to argue that he didn’t make me nervous, not at all, not even a little.

Despite knowing that the truth of the matter was yes. Yes, he made me extremely nervous. Because he was so distinctly my type and I just longed for what I knew wouldn’t ever work out between us because we were entirely too different.

“In other words, yes. I make you that nervous.” Sweetpea’s jaw set in a line and I flinched a little. Not wanting to fight with him.

I quickly changed the subject, nodding to a little tv and dvd player I’d rigged up earlier and the brown paper bags with Pop’s logo on the front.

“We need to rehearse. Not whatever this is.” Sweetpea was still irritated.

“Yes, well.. You’re never going to realize just how huge a part of the story Johnny Castle is until you’ve seen the movie.”

Sweetpea rubbed his chin in thought. “How long is this fucking movie?”

“Maybe two hours? C’mon… Or do you have a hot date waiting?” -the hint of jealousy that crept into my tone was enough to make me tense up a little. Pray to God he hadn’t picked up on it. Lucky for me, he didn’t seem to, instead, he was already digging into the grease stained paper bags, grabbing himself a burger and fries.

Sprawling on the little twin sized bed.

I dug out my own food and sat down, close to the edge of the bed, careful not to sit too close to him because I didn’t want to crowd him or annoy him or give him the wrong impression.. Or in my case, the right impression though I’d die before admitting that to him. 

After hitting play on the DVD player, the opening title splashed across the screen and I smiled, settling into my chosen seat just a little more comfortably.

About thirty minutes into the movie, I could feel his eyes fixed on me. I turned to look back at him, a brow raised. “What?”

“You know every single line.”

I felt my cheeks burn a little, shrugging it off as I nodded. Answering through a mouth full, “When we were little.. Veronica and I used to watch this movie whenever it was raining or we were sick. We’d get cozy in one of our rooms with snacks and blankets and we’d just like… imagine life being that simple. Doesn’t help that Johnny Castle is - to quote my sister, “Totally your kind of man.” “ I gave a sheepish laugh and took a handful of my fries, raking them through my milkshake.

Sweetpea rose to sit. Leaning in a little. Extending his arm and wiping his thumb over the corner of his mouth as he cleared his throat. “You had some milkshake…” before falling silent all over again. Staring at me for seconds that seemed to stretch infinitely. It  felt like everything fell away. All that remained was that thick tension. The flickering of the candles I’d lit earlier against the wall. The tension got to me. It had everything I wanted to say but couldn’t find the nerve threatening to come out.

“I don’t bite, ya know.” he muttered quietly. Pulling away a little. That look in his eyes again. 

It hit me. He honestly thought I disliked him. Or thought that I was better than him. Nothing could be further from the truth and realizing how he must have felt and what probably fuelled most of the comments and the arguments between us was the fact that he thought I viewed him as a lesser person somehow… that really got to me.

“I, uh.. I didn’t want to crowd you.” I managed to get the words out after a few seconds. Not daring to look at him. Desperate for a rewind button so maybe I could go back in time to when I first met him and salvage everything.

Desperate to tell him how I really felt.

Especially when I remembered what Veronica mentioned earlier about the way Josie just shut him out.

“Oh.”

The movie caught our attention again. After a minute or two of sitting poised right at the edge of the bed like I’d been and longing to really get comfortable, I settled in the sliver of space next to him. Trying not to think about the fact that the bed being as small as it was gave us literally no space and we were forced to touch.

Thirty minutes passed. Sweetpea sat up.

“ I think I get it now.” he muttered.

“Yeah?” I was getting lost in his eyes all over again.

“Mhm.” he affirmed. 

I sat up and so did he. “It’s cheesy as hell, but… I get it. Kinda know how the guy feels.” Sweetpea’s gaze settled on his hands and he chuckled to himself, the sound almost bitter.

“I’m sorry. I heard about you and Josie breaking up.”

“We didn’t. You can’t break up with someone if they never wanted to be with you to begin with.” Sweetpea answered. He tensed up a little and I sighed. Wishing I hadn’t opened my mouth.

That tension between him and I doubled.

In an attempt to make things just a little lighter, I slipped off the bed. Held out my hand.

Sweetpea eyed it warily. 

I insisted, “Oh come on, please? Just one dance. You did say we had to practice. And I dance, so I can definitely tell you that if we don’t at least somewhat connect, we’re going to be awkward and it’s going to look bad.”

Did I really just do that?

The scene where Baby goes to Johnny’s cabin and spends the night was just beginning and I swallowed hard as soon as I glanced back up at Sweetpea and realized that he was staring at the television in a daze. I cleared my throat to get his attention.

“You want me to dance with you.. Like that. Okay.” Sweetpea towered over me. Closing the space between our bodies before I had a chance to back out of what I asked of him. His hands went straight to my hips. Holding my body in place against his as he chuckled, looking down at me. “You’re the one who wanted to dance, princess.”

“Yeah.” I managed to stammer. Breathless. Helpless thanks to the way his fingers dug into my hips and held me against him. But when they started to move up and down my sides, oh… I felt myself shiver at the touch. Melting against him on my own. I’d been trying my best not to give in and do that.

I trained my eyes on the front of his plaid shirt because I didn’t dare look up at him.

His leg slipped between mine and I bit my lip. Breath catching in my throat all over again as I rubbed myself against his thigh. My usual careful,guarded filter was gone.

All I cared about was doing whatever I could to show Sweetpea that what he thought I felt towards him wasn’t true.

His hands settled across my ass. Fingers digging in as he gasped quietly. A groan slipping out as he muttered in a daze, “You really are a good dancer, huh?”

“I, uh… I compete. My parents are huge on pushing my sister and I into competitive activities, whether we want it or not.” I babbled.

It must have bothered him that I wasn’t looking at him because he gripped my jaw, guiding my gaze up. “But you like dancing. I can tell.”

,, maybe it’s just dancing like this with you.” the thought came. I stopped just shy of actually letting it slip out. I sighed and smiled, nodding in agreement. Because that was so much easier than everything else I wanted to do or say. ,, besides,” my brain continued to taunt, “why on Earth is he going to want you when he could have literally anyone else?” and the thought had me pouting a little.

I didn’t think he was aware of it.

“What?” he asked. Tensing a little. Loosening his grip on my body just a little bit. Seeming as if he wanted to step away from me. Before I had the chance to talk myself out of it, I melted against him all over again. Raising my arms to slip them around his neck.

“Nothing.” I answered after a few seconds.

“You were pouting again. That’s kind of a thing you do when you’re upset, you’re not getting your way or you’re annoyed.”

The fact that he picked up on that had me raising a brow. Scoffing. About to argue that I didn’t pout all the time, but keeping quiet because I knew he was right.

But how -and when, had he noticed?

“Dreading the fact that I’m going to get up there on stage and see everyone watching and I will panic.” I muttered quietly because a half truth was better than the whole truth or a complete lie.

If I told him the real reason I’d been pouting, well.. That would’ve opened up a can of worms that I’m not sure about opening. God I want to. But if I just lay it all on the line…

I can’t.

Sweetpea raised a brow. He started to say something but he went quiet on me. Thinking.

“But you’re so loud.” he finally spoke up.

I pouted up at him, giving his chest a light smack. “I ought to step on your foot, sir.”

“Won’t hurt. Boots are steel toe.” Sweetpea smirked as he said it. Sticking his tongue out at me.

He dipped me and I hadn’t been expecting it. I gasped and he chuckled. “Not so bad at this dancing shit, hmm?” he questioned as he pulled me back up. His hands moved up and down my back before settling on my ass again. Squeezing when I rocked myself over his thigh just a little before I could stop myself because what he was doing was getting me worked up.

I sighed a little. Melting all over at the way he touched me and held me. Admitting with a quiet laugh, “You’re actually not. And I can teach you more..” trailing off and going quiet.

“You can, huh?”

His voice was this perfect mix of gravel and silk and I had to clench my thighs just a little. Found myself praying to whatever God might exist that I didn’t get too excited and leave a wet spot behind on his jeans. Because that would definitely seal the embarrassment and awkwardness factor. And I didn’t want that.

I was staring intently at his chest again when he tucked his fingers beneath my chin and tilted my head. “Careful what you say, princess. I might actually take you seriously.”

“I’m being serious. I don’t mind at all.” I babbled and instantly, I wanted to punch myself in the throat for it. This awkward version of myself wasn’t me but for whatever reason, Sweetpea seemed to bring it out. All my insecurities seemed to come rushing to the surface. Taunting me with the knowledge that there was no way he’d ever be interested in me beyond the convenience of a good screw. Knowing that even if he were, something would go wrong somehow.

He dipped me again. This time when he pulled me back up, our faces bumped against each other and when my mouth brushed against his, I couldn’t stop the quiet gasp that came. His fingers dug into my body just a little more and we were staring at each other.

Dazed.

“Pea?”

“What’s up, princess?” he muttered after a second or two. Blinking as if he were trying to focus.

“Nothing.” I muttered. Losing my nerve and my train of thought. Pushing down everything I’d been about to say all over again.

“ Why do you do that? Just say whatever it is you want to say.”

“Oh, I don’t think you want me to do that.” I muttered, mostly to myself. My gaze trained on anything and everything but his. He guided my face up and licked his lips, his eyes darting down. Settling on my mouth. “What if I do?” he muttered in response after a few seconds.

“Okay, fine. I was wondering what..” I trailed off. Frustrated. Laughing at myself and shaking my head. “Forget it. It’s stupid.”

“Tell me, woman. Damn.” his tone was firm and I swallowed hard as I looked up at him.

He was going to keep at it until I said something and right now, I was drawing a blank on any other convenient things I could say that were less controversial than what I’d stopped myself from saying.

,, maybe if you say it, he’ll know that you don’t hate him.” the thought came.

I took a deep breath. Shaky.

“I was wondering what your kiss feels like.” I muttered, my voice dropping so low that for a second, I didn’t think he heard me.

His jaw dropped. One hand left my ass and raised. Dragging through thick dark hair as he tugged. His mouth opening and closing.

“What? You kept asking… I.. You don’t have to. I didn’t want to make it weird.” I babbled nervously. When he started to chuckle, I looked up at him with a brow raised. “Gee, thanks.” I pouted.

Stepping away. Because if I didn’t put some distance between us right then, I was going to keep digging the hole deeper.

He reached out and grabbed me by the hips, pulling me against him all over again. Rocking himself into me clumsily. His face inching closer and closer to my own. Our mouths were on a collision course and neither of us bothered to stop it from happening. His lips settled against the corner of my mouth clumsily. His tongue traced the outline of my lips and I shivered and melted against him like I’d been before. Clinging. My arms around his neck again. Fingers toying with the hair at the nape of his neck before settling my hand across to rest and pull his mouth back against mine.

My lips parted, granting him access. His tongue slipped past my lips and he melted into me this time. Deepening the kiss. Using his grip on my ass to pull me up his body slightly. I sighed as the kiss broke, my tongue rolling over kiss swollen lips. Staring at him as I tried to wrap my head around what just happened.

How badly I wanted it to happen again.

“Well?”

I bit my lip. Trying to formulate words. Anything. My brain must have short-circuited because I came up with nothing, despite all the opening and closing of my mouth as I attempted to answer.

I’m not sure what possessed me to do it or why I thought it was a good idea, but I was grabbing hold of the back of his neck. Pulling his mouth back against mine greedily. Taking total control of the kiss this time around. Making him chuckle into the kiss. 

As we pulled apart to breathe, he repeated his question.

“Better than my wildest dreams.” I blurted out quietly.

“So you dream about kissing me?” he asked, tucking his fingers beneath my chin so that I couldn’t do what I tended to when a subject got to be too uncomfortable for me… I swallowed hard and admitted in a hushed tone, “Among other things.”

He growled out the word “Fuck.” and pulled me up his body completely. Deepening the kiss to a point where I almost forgot to breathe a time or two. I could feel myself getting light-headed. The kiss broke and we pulled apart, breathing heavily. I melted against him, dazed. Still trying to get my head around the turn the night had taken.

“It’s getting late, princess.”

“It is.”

“I should probably get you home.”

I pouted a little. Holding onto him just a little tighter. “Unfortunately.” I muttered.

He scooped me off the table and carried me out of the bunker. Sitting me on the back of his motorcycle. I wrapped my arms around him and leaned against his back, the Serpent patch scratching at my skin a little.

The drive back to the Pembrooke took almost no time and as soon as his motorcycle stopped at the curb, I pouted a little. Rolling my eyes at the literal ivory tower.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” I asked as I slipped off the back of his motorcycle.

 He grabbed hold of my hips, pulling me against him. Leaning down and stealing another deep kiss. “Mhm. Definitely, princess.”

I practically floated up the stairs leading into the lobby of the building. And I leaned against the wall, waiting on the elevator. Trying to pull myself together. Smiling like an idiot.

[murfpersonalblog]

I've been active on Tumblr for over a decade in dozens of fandoms (some with literal teenagers/children fanbases), and never got blocked by people just for pointing out what is in canon. That is, not until the IWTV fandom started drawing lines in the sand, under the guise of wanting to curate "safe" spaces and other such toxic positivity.

Full transparency: Showmey0urfangs blocked me months ago, over discussions about Loustat's gender dynamics. I never block blogs (except bots, ofc). But I was forced to block them once I realized I could no longer engage with their posts--which I actually love! I actually like their blog and still think they have a lot of good things to say, even if we disagree with each others' takes on Loustat as gender coded characters. I even bookmark Fangs' fics on A03. So my opinions about their hit list are to a certain extent colored by my experience with them.

I have no problem following blogs who I sometimes disagree with, or blogs my mutuals don't get along with. Debate makes for good conversation and building critical thinking skills--if we only ever converse with people we agree with, how do we as a community/fandom actually acquire that oh so precious media literacy everyone keeps bragging about, instead of just feeding one anothers' silos and echo chambers?

I avoid online drama that has nothing to do with me. I wasn't included on Fangs' hitlist. I remember seeing some of the posts they cited, and also recoiled from the harsh language used, but since it was personal beef that had nothing to do with me, I minded my own business--especially since in a lot of them the people they were referring to were never specifically named/tagged. It was a lot of inside remarks, whom only those in the know would have any context for. Which especially let me (as an outsider) know to stay out of it--as most of the fandom obviously did too, since these posts barely have any notes.

But with that hitlist, IMO it is in bad taste to go around painting huge swaths of creators or blogs in the fandom as dangerous horrible people (and including their mutuals/friends as guilty by association and also subject to public censure!), just because your clique doesn't get along with them. The situation (as it were) definitely could've been handled better. All of those pics & posts could've easily been published without including people's names and A03 accounts.

It's one thing to call out people who have personally attacked you, or sent messages/comments to your account that harrassed you, personally. Like: "hey, this is what XYZ personally did to me specifically," and let people form their own conclusions. Or let your friends speak for themselves and give their own sides. But taking it upon yourself to sift through allllll these people's accounts to tell the entire fandom to block a whoooole list of people en masse--AND those only (tangetially) associated with them even if they never did anything to you--is just wild.

The Block feature enables you to sever yourself from people and blogs you want nothing to do with--so if you're trying to avoid/reduce further beef, how are you improving the state of the community by increasing hostilities and drafting in the rest of the fandom to pick sides in fandom wars, weaponizing your platform to go after people they don't even have anything to do with? Can anyone be safe in this "safe space," if you yourself suddenly decide you don't like/agree with them, and sic the whole fandom on them in a public hitlist? Just block them and move on! Why take it to this level, except to start problems and encourage outsiders to do the same?

Since its inception the VC/IWTV fandom has been a toxic predominately white community that already vilifies black fans & creators--that hitlist just gives both sides more ammunition to keep the hostilities going, rather than encouraging any move for better understanding, cultural sensitivity, respect, and best practices.

I honestly don't even know where to start. I have never in my entire life seen so much drama and bullshit from one fandom in my entire life; and the fandom is small as hell at that. Do you know how sick and twisted you look compiling a list of people who speak out against the racism, homophobia, etc. in this fandom and telling everyone else not to follow them? Mind you, most of these accounts have Black people behind them. You scream and yell about how Black people aren't a monolith and claim you're for Black people and yet, most of your targets are Black. I don't understand how you can have so much vitriol for people who simply disagrees with you. I could understand if it was something groundbreaking, but you're mad at people for saying things about a main character that are true. But because you don't agree, it's a problem. And then, you go on to target people who include these themes and such in their writing, sending anon asks and such, to cause an even bigger problem. What's the matter? Is it jealousy? Don't you have a group of people on here who you can talk to? Go cozy up with them and get them to read your stuff. I don't get hits or kudos on my stuff either, but I'm not making it everyone else's problem. I want you to do some self reflection and do better overall because this ain't it, boo. You're literally the root of a lot of people's problems on this app and it's honestly sad. Let's get ourselves together.

[ddejavvu]

hi daisy, ur so nice and lovely, and i adore your writing, i rlly look up to u, so i want to know if u have any tips/advice for me getting into writing fanfic and posting it. i feel really embarrased about getting into this but ik that this is something i wanna do and that embarasment im feeling is just bc i dont now ppl irl who read fanfic or anything so ya anyway sorry !! what im trying to say is im struggling to get started, and am discoraged by the fact that i may not get good feedback on my writing, so any tips and/or advice , i would appreciate it sm !!! <33

(also you probably wont recognise me but im just on anon for comfort bc im so bad at social interaction nsdkfj </3 /lh)

babe ofc i recognize you only one person sends me messages with tone tags but you don't have to come forward i won't expose you 😌

i'm glad you enjoy my writing, and I'm glad that you enjoy my presence here too!! i'd love to give you advice, because you're not wrong, it's difficult to get started!!

the hardest thing to get over at first is the stigma around fanfiction!! it's really not something that's very outwardly common, of course tumblr is a safe space but people outside of it can be assholes! please just remember, fanfiction is not only a great way to start writing, but it's an excellent way to improve your writing, and grow with it!! you work with predetermined and pre-exposed characters and a defined setting, and of course you're taking creative liberties with the confines of the scenario and with their character, but you're able to cast away some of the burden of major character building to focus on the little things!! you're able to work with characters that you love, and it helps you fine-tune the more advanced areas of your writing because you don't need to focus on the worldbuilding! ignore what people have to say about it, i swear to god people will criticize fanfiction for being cringey and delusional and then watch porn and imagine themselves in the scenario.. like.. babe that's the same thing.. just ignore them!!

the advice that i usually give when people are scared of not getting feedback is to make sure that you're liking what you're writing! if you write something because you think other people will like it, and then it doesn't get as big as you wanted it to, you'll be discouraged. but if you write something that you think you will like, even if it doesn't get as big as you wanted it to, you'll still have it for you!!! just remember, growth doesn't have to be linear (don't get discouraged if you rack up 80 notes one day and only 30 the next, it doesn't mean you won't ever get 80+ again), and don't ever discredit your work just because not a lot of people are seeing it at first! you still wrote it, whether it was 200 words or 20,000, you wrote that and no one can take that away from you just because they don't see it

i will say though, tumblr has a difficult feedback system. the ratio of likes to reblogs can be absolutely atrocious at times (41:0 and 289:3 might be my worst), and it hurts sometimes that people don't seem to want Your Thing on Their Blog, y'know? But i guarantee you once you get a good reblog/review/piece of feedback, it's like meth. those reviews are literally good enough to break you out of that funk!! i hope you get lots of those :D

it's hard work, writing on tumblr. if not for the act of writing itself, but for the act of putting yourself out there and not knowing what you'll receive. it's a brave thing to do, and i hope it goes well for you!! if you are who i think you are i'll definitely keep an eye on your blog and make sure to check out whatever you end up posting!

[noassallclass]

I haven’t watched cr since the bj drop because it left a bad taste in my mouth. And felt isolated from the fandom because of the straight up villainizing of bj shippers for being upset at how it was handled. Seeing everything happening now isn’t surprising tbh like they straight up retconned pre hiatus cr’s interpersonal relationships so ofc the stories they’re telling now feel really inorganic. It’s upsetting when there’s actual valid criticism being labeled as toxic because “it’s not that deep” or “it’s improv”. Like dude you’re selling a product now you can’t turn around to the people who are unhappy with the product and call them toxic. I’m trying to be open because I know this is their game and things aren’t necessary planned but jeez I wish everyone wasn’t so quick to vilify people with criticism.

I might be a minority in this but a really think the Critical Role Cast should be less involved in the fandom and it’s moments like these that kind of highlight that for me.

I found Matt’s thread at the very least unprofessional and should not have been posted without at least some re-edits from their sensitivity consultants? blaming shipping discourse for toxicity , defending their against criticisms with “it’s improv”, and threatening to leave twitter all together is not a good look when tackling criticism that is less important to address then the white washing and skinny-ifying of their characters in their official art?

Not only that, but no matter where i looked I could not find any actual harassment against anyone who was involved of making those decisions in show. Just people being annoyed and criticizing the show with hyperbole in their own space. And reacting that way just sends the message that there is no space for people to safely criticize a show and is encouraging people to shut anyone down that disagrees with canon relationships/choices etc. 

like criticism whether over exaggerated or eloquent is not automatically toxic? if people are being directly harassed about it that’s when it is a problem. having “bad” or “misunderstood” takes is not what’s “ruining this fandom”.

I’m fine with Matt clarifying exactly what happened but the accusatory nature and blaming shipping on all of it is bad, because above the shipping there were things people were uncomfortable with with the set of events that transpired.

I sometimes think that a lot of the toxicity of fandom coming in this day and age is because of how involved creators are with their fandom and maybe it would be good for them to step back from it more so. Like people will weaponize the words of a creators words on social media against other people in the fandom or against the creator themself.

like I said before Matt pointing the blame on shippers on something that is not necessarily wholly a shipping complaint but also being vague enough about it gives the fandom free range to attack anyone with criticisms because it hurt Matt’s feelings and the ones most targeted with harrassment are going to be the MLM and WLW shipping communities.

I mean I also think that there shouldn’t be talks machina and also that none of the cast should be involved in the art reel because: 1) The parasocial relationship is getting out of hand 2) They are extremely biased and too close to their own project to look at it more objectively *cough* Liam’s widojest bias *cough* and 3) their word of god statements are just fuel to the toxic fandom in fighting.

But honestly what the CR cast chooses to address and what they ignore is very telling of what their stances actually are. They’d much rather shut down some shippers than address that their official artist is whitewashing characters with Critical Role’s approval which is egregious

[thestayway90]

Unexpected Attachment: Chapter 1 - Stray Kids Imagine

Author: thestayway90

WC: 2385

Warnings: None

Characters: Stray Kids OT8, OFC/Reader, OFC/Reader’s Older Brother

Summary: Setting up the story, introducing the characters. OFC/Reader meets some of the Kids... if you can get through this chapter it’ll be a lot more exciting in the next one I promise!!!

Author’s Note: Hello all! This is my first attempt at a Stray Kids Fic so I hope you all enjoy...

Not 100% sure where this is going (I have a plan but we’ll see) but it will eventually be a OFC/Reader x Felix Relationship (coz I am whipped for that boy).

I would love any and all feedback including criticisms and ways you think I can improve!!!

Enjoy lovelies <3

You certainly didn’t expect to wake up with an iguana staring you in the face. But after two months of living with your brother, it really shouldn’t be a surprise you anymore.

You glared at the unfamiliar creature digging in its tiny nails but its only response was to blink lazily back at you, unfazed by your thunderous expression.

“Joshua!” you yelled, startling Tink from underneath the bed, the white ferret streaking for freedom as Josh appeared in the doorway.

“Oh, whoops, sorry,” Josh said as he quickly plucked the green reptile off of the bedspread. “I was wondering where Dewey had got too.” He smiled widely, stroking the placid Iguana on the head.

You sighed and sat up, stretching slightly, questioning, “Dewey? Another rescue?”

Josh glanced up guiltily. “You should have seen how they were keeping him?” He replied, placing the reptile on the floor where the green creature started making his slow way down the hallway, Tink following it curiously. “Made me pay them an arm and a leg, though.” Josh commented ruefully as you hopped out of bed.

“Well luckily you just got promoted then. More money to rescue all the poor neglected animals of Seoul,” you told him cheerfully, patting his cheek as you walked past on your way to the bathroom.

You immediately cursed, tripping over an orange streak that suddenly darted towards your legs, swiping at your ankles before disappearing in a blur of motion. “Toast!” you hollered, hopping on one leg, rubbing the injured ankle. “I’m going to cook you in the fryer, cat!” you threatened the empty air, stomping towards your original destination.

“180 degrees for 20 minutes should do it,” you muttered under my breath, closing the bathroom door behind you. “Just enough for nice crispy Toast.”

It wasn’t until you had already sat down on the toilet that the feeling of being watched prickled the back of your neck. You looked up and in the gloom between the top of the medicine cabinet and the ceiling were two glowing eyes.

You gave a small shriek of surprise and then giggled at your stupidity. “Hey Meatball,” you said, as the large fluff ball ignored your greeting, curling up and turning his back to you until he was barely visible.

Shaking your head and muttering about pedantic animals, you made your way down to the kitchen.

“Honestly Josh,” you said as you plopped down on one of the stools, grabbing the cup of coffee he offered gratefully. “We should start selling tickets. Come and see the miraculous menagerie squished into a tiny apartment in the middle of downtown Seoul.”

Josh raised his eyebrows at your tone and then smiled wickedly. “Toast get you again?”

“Seriously that cat is the devil itself,” you moaned, reaching down to rub your poorly abused ankle.

Josh burst out laughing, no sympathy in your feud with the tiny orange tabby. “Whats that 3 to 1? You need to work on your ninja skills.”

“Talking of ninja skills, don’t you have to go?” you pointed to the time displayed on the microwave clock, making Josh swear and quickly grab his jacket, a piece of toast still hanging halfway out of his mouth.

“Can you put Dewey in the tank for me,” Josh shouted over his shoulder as he grabbed his bag and raced out the front door.

“Yep. Have a good day at work,” you yelled after him and received a muffled, ‘Love You’, as the door shut behind him.

It took you fifteen minutes to find the elusive reptile, leaving only five minutes for you to quickly throw on some clothes and get half way presentable before your online class.

An hour later you leant back in your chair, rubbing your temples, glad that there wasn’t another class until later in the afternoon.

You were just contemplating whether to start on one of your many assignments or not when a familiar ring echoed through the kitchen. You searched confused until you located Josh’s phone that had somehow got wedged underneath a bag of cat food.

The number flashing on the screen was labeled ‘Work’ and guessing who it was you picked up, bringing the device up to your ear.

“Why, hello!” you answered, smiling as a familiar voice echoed through the speaker.

“I forgot my phone...” Josh’s wail made your smile widen.

“Uh huh, I noticed,” you responded unhelpfully, digging Tink out from a cupboard he’d worked his way into.

“Can you bring it to me, please please pretty please!” Josh begged. “I can’t leave right now and I really need it!”

You made him suffer just a little, staying silent while placing Tink in his escape-proof enclosure.

Finally you agreed, “Of course. I’ll be there in ten.”

“Thank you, thank you Nugget,” Josh sighed in relief, using your childhood nickname in his gratitude.

“Okay, see you soon.” You hung up and grabbed your shoes and keys, making sure all the gremlins were safely locked away, before exiting the apartment.

You walked the ten minutes to Josh’s work, enjoying the blue skies and stunning weather while strolling briskly.

You arrived at your destination and tilted your neck backwards to read the large JYP displayed prominently on the side of the towering skyscraper that Josh worked in.

You entered through the lobby, approaching the receptionist while Security Guards eyed you with mistrust, alert for any suspicious behaviour.

Luckily you recognised the receptionist from the few times you had accompanied Josh to work, flashing her a wide smile as you came to a stop in front of her.

“Hello again, love,” she greeted you in heavily accented English. “Are you here to see Joshua?”

You held up your brothers phone with a rueful smile. “He forgot this and asked if I could bring it to him.”

“He’s probably only the fifth floor,” she said helpfully, signalling to Security to let you through.

“Thank you,” you told her gratefully, walking through the security turnstile that the Guard pushed open.

You crossed to the elevator and pressed the button, happy when one opened immediately. Once inside, you pushed the button for the fifth floor, watching the numbers tick over until the doors chimed loudly.

Stepping out into the hallway, you stood awkwardly for a few minutes, trying to decide where to look first.

A door opened to your right, raucous noise echoing into the corridor as a guy backed into the hallway, talking loudly and making faces at those still inside.

He turned and jumped when he saw you standing behind him, clearly startled, hands flying up under his chin, arms hugging close to his body as his eyes went impossibly round.

“Ah, hi... sorry,” you said apologetically, feeling the need to explain your presence. “I’m looking for Josh, Joshua. Do you know where he is by any chance?” You asked hopefully.

The guy immediately relaxed and smiled widely, cheeks dimpling adorably. “You must be his sister!” He exclaimed happily in a slight American accent, beckoning you towards him. “He’s in here actually.” He turned back to the room he had exited, holding the door open for you to pass by.

You slipped through the doorway and was greeted by three pairs of eyes, startled by an intruder into their space.

Josh’s expression quickly turned from surprise to glee as he jumped from his seat to wrap his arms around you in a tight hug. You held his phone out towards him, staring around at the room surrounding you.

It was a music studio, electrical equipment made up of a complicated mess of knobs, dials and switches covering a huge desk to one side under a window looking into a recording booth. The walls were clad in some type of soundproofing material and there was a large comfy looking couch accompanied by two office chairs.

“You’re a life saver,” Josh said gratefully, pocketing the precious device, as you switched your attention to the other occupants of the room. Noticing your gaze Josh quickly gave out introductions.

“This is Han.” He pointed to the kind boy who had shown you where to go.

“Chan.” The boy with the shock of red hair smiled lopsidedly and nodded his head amicably your way.

“And Changbin.” The last boy looked serious until he gave a very wide smile, lighting up his entire face, making you unconsciously smile in return.

“Guys, this is my sister.” Josh finished, his tone brimming with pride, as he squeezed your arm lightly.

“Nice to meet you,” Chan said his familiar Aussie accent immediately putting you at ease. “We’ve heard a lot about you from Josh.”

A blush immediately started staining your cheeks, wondering exactly how much your brother had told them in the short weeks he had been working with the k-pop boy group.

“I was just about to get some coffees. Do you want one?” Han was still hovering in the doorway, with an expectant expression.

You immediately started shaking your head. “You guys look busy. I should get going!” You took one step towards the door before Han blocked you, hands waving in the air.

“We’re not busy. We’re actually taking a break. Do you like milk? Sugar?”

You smiled ruefully at the persistent man. “I’ll take it black with two sugars please.”

His face lit up with genuine joy and he ducked out the door, humming as he went.

You turned back to the remaining occupants of the room. Chan patted the empty seat beside him, presumably Hans one he had abandoned in search of caffeine.

You sat, twisting side to side in the spinning office chair, as Josh took his place on the couch on the opposite side to Changbin.

“So....” Chan drew out the syllable, his intense eyes focused on you. “We heard you’re studying to become a Social Worker? How is that going?”

“Uh, not too bad. It’s all online which is good coz I don’t have to get out of my pyjamas most days but it’s also terrible coz I have no self-motivation or control so usually end up scrambling to finish my assignments thirty minutes before it’s due!” All three boys laughed and you smiled at the welcome sound.

“Is the course through a Korean University?” Changbin questioned curiously, his English thickly accented.

You shook my head. “No, it’s through a Uni back home in Australia, thank goodness.”

All three boys eyebrows raised at the last sentiment, questioning your relief.

You quickly held up your hands, trying to wave off the misunderstanding. “No, I don’t mean that a Korean course wouldn’t be just as good or better, just that my Korean is so terrible that I would struggle even more than I am now!” You tried to explain emphatically.

Understanding dawned on their expressions and Changbin gave a small chuckle.

“You’re Korean’s that bad huh?”

You grimaced and then said, “Eotteohge saeng-gaghaseyo?”

Chan and Josh both burst out laughing, and Changbin tried to hide a smirk but failed miserably.

“It’s not the worst I’ve ever heard,” the kind rapper commented, trying to save your feelings.

“She’s been working hard on it,” Josh felt the need to interject. “She’s only been learning for two months since she came to live with me.”

The two k-pop idols turned their gaze towards you, expressions now impressed.

“Very good,” Chan complimented encouragingly.

The door opened and Han struggled through, balancing two cup holders full of cups.

Josh immediately jumped up and grabbed one off of him, the younger guy smiling at him gratefully. “Thank you, Maenijeo.”

“I’m still not used to that,” Josh admitted, as Han quickly distributed the coffees to their rightful owners.

“You deserve it,” Chan told him, as Josh and Han sat back down on the couch, squishing together a little next to Changbin. “We were over the moon when they told us you’d be our new Manager. I was just glad for the extra help with producing.”

Josh blushed a little at the praise from the Leader, twisting his fingers round the cup in his hand. You beamed with pride at him, knowing how hard he had worked to get where he was.

Aware that Josh was probably getting a little uncomfortable being the centre of attention you turned to Chan, asking, “What are you working on?” And then belatedly realising, “Although you probably can’t tell me, I guess.”

“Actually Josh was just telling us about some ideas he has for our new music.” Chan nodded his head towards your brother, making him blush even further, undermining your attempt to change the subject.

The boys started chatting about music, most of the technical stuff going over your head, but you enjoyed watching the four boys talk so animatedly about something they were clearly all passionate about.

Eventually you sighed, checking your watch and groaning as you noticed the time.

“I have to go,” you told the others regretfully. “I have an assignment to start before my next class.”

The three boys protested but Josh pointed out that they too had work that needed to be done.

You said your goodbyes, promising to return and visit the three boys you’d somehow become friends with.

Josh gave you a tight hug and offered to walk you out but you immediately declined, knowing how busy he and the boys were.

You gave them one last wave and then let the door shut behind you, crossing over to the elevator and pressing the button, waiting patiently for it to arrive.

Once inside you pulled out your phone, double checking the time for the next class, balancing your still warm coffee in your other hand.

Noticing a message regarding one of your upcoming assignments, you were too engrossed in the device in your hand to look up when the doors pinged open.

You automatically started walking but somehow managed to catch your foot on the metal grating on the floor, pitching forwards with no free hands to stop yourself

Luckily, or unluckily depending on your point of view, your fall was stopped by a solid form, as strong arms caught at your waist to stop your hectic descent.

Unfortunately for the owner of the hands, although they managed to stop your fall they didn’t manage to stop your coffee’s, the caffeinated beverage covering you both in lukewarm liquid.

[it-is-the-female-federal]

I bet you (and most other gender critical/radical feminists on here) would be really fun and cool to hang out with. I could see it being very healing to be surrounded by like-minded women... Too bad my city's completely genderkweer-ified so I have literally no one to talk to! (Crypto obvi) ugh maybe I should actually consider joining a discord or spinster or that other newer one, forgot the name... I'm just deathly afraid of getting doxxed or something. My life would be over.

I feel you on the getting doxxed part. Like on insta or fb I would definitely not post anything radfen related unless it is like abortion rights or the situation in Poland with the lgb community, since those ate topics libfems kinda agree on. Just 5 minutes ago a friend posted in her story about normalizing pronouns, and I was like "nope" not in the disrespect sense but in the I thought you were all about gnc and destroying stereorypes why do you support a thinking that is the opposite. Ofc, could never argue against this and the only topics in real life I extensively talk about is emotional labour, abusive men, female health, rape, media and representation. Porn or sex work ar touchy feely subjects and since I come from a different perspective, due to my human trafficking course, they feel like I pick extreme examples, while their happy sex worker is the extreme example.

Anyway, sorry for the small rant. I definitely suggest looking for a discord. Ovarit seems nice, but do not know a lot about it. My dm's are always open and safe for cryptos or any one. My blog is a safe space and I want to be able to be this safe haven for those of you that are still finding your way.

You seem cool anon, so if you feel like it, hit me up💜💙💚💛🧡❤

[vampirecatboy]

ok I low key wanna request all the ocs you listed but I'll just keep it to 2 lol. Kira (ofc :3c) and Aja because i just love him lol

i mean you know i would absolutely, happily spend at least six hours doing everybody, but Kira and Aja are good choices lol

Full Name: Kira Mag Raith (fun fact for the people, Mag Raith is pronounced Mag Ray, yay Irish!)

Gender and Sexuality: cis man, he’s pansexual but skews toward men because i’m gay and can’t help it lol, he’s also polyamorous

Pronouns: he/him

Ethnicity/Species: clavat, so basically half-elf, and ethnicity does work a bit differently in our campaign, but he’s white-coded, and speaks with an Irish accent of varying strength (it’s stronger when he’s upset or with his family, good luck understanding him if he’s upset and with his family)

Birthplace and Birthdate: born in Cairn, tbh i haven’t really thought about his birthday, but i get strong earth sign vibes from him, maybe Virgo? so let’s say August 31, the liminal space of days like it seriously doesn’t feel like it should be real

Guilty Pleasures: napping in sunbeams, i was going to say jk but i actually love it, so he naps in sunbeams but is a bit embarrassed about it

Phobias: what’s that vegetable cats are afraid of? cucumbers? “they have dark energy, trust me”, or humiliation. cucumbers and humiliation

What They Would Be Famous For: alleged attempted murder on television, on a more serious note he’d probably prefer not to be super famous, like celebrity-style, he’d probably prefer to be a folk hero or urban legend or a cryptid lol

What They Would Get Arrested For: he has done nothing wrong, ever. idk maybe assault or public disturbance for fighting someone in public, maybe trespassing if he sleeps in the wrong shed or barn

OC You Ship Them With: bit of Justice, but mostly Rhys

OC Most Likely To Murder Them: Rhys again, but despite everything it’s not all that likely, Rhys is a jerk but he’s not a murderer

Favorite Movie/Book Genre: fantasy or adventure, but he’s not much of a reader

Least Favorite Movie/Book Cliche: deus ex machina, it’s the easy way out and he doesn’t like it

Talents and/or Powers: he’s spent a lot of time perfecting his bow skills, so he’s very good at hitting long-range targets, he’s also great at keeping secrets

Why Someone Might Love Them: first off, he’s small and adorable, but mostly he’s very considerate and trustworthy, and he’s a great listener. he’s really not going to be mean unless you’re mean first

Why Someone Might Hate Them: misinterpretation of his demeanor/behavior probably, or if someone decides he’s responsible for problems they caused Rhys

How They Change: please my sweet boy i’m begging you, open up to someone please, that’s what i’m hoping for at least, he needs to learn how to really trust others

Why You Love Them: he is..... my boy....., for real though, he’s genuinely so sweet and he cares about people a lot and even though Dmitri tries to possess him from time to time, i love that he’s basically nothing like him

time for spicy boy!

Full Name: Aja, i have not given him a last name. i have no excuse.

Gender and Sexuality: cis man, he thinks he’s straight but he’s so not, i haven’t given him a concrete label but queer is applicable

Pronouns: he/him

Ethnicity/Species: ifrit (the pathfinder version of a fire genasi), plus he’s a sorcerer with a draconic bloodline, so somebody at some point fucked a dragon and he’s got some of that

Birthplace and Birthdate: oof i can’t give a town name but he lived up in the mountains? he is, however, such an Aries, let’s say his birthday is April 4

Guilty Pleasures: mackin on Dmitri he reads erotica, i’m not gonna beat around the bush, he’s always seen seducing women, so obviously the dudes he hangs around expect stories of his conquests, unfortunately he has perpetually shitty luck with bedding women so he is a big ol virgin, but no way is he telling anyone that, basically he takes the scenes from the erotica he reads, modifies them a bit, and pretends they’re his experiences (it’s worked so far, luckily all those dudes he talks to really don’t do much or any reading)

Phobias: he doesn’t like being on boats in open water, he’s a fire elemental with a red draconic bloodline, on a base, instinctual level he does not feel safe when surrounded by water (he’s alright in the rain though)

What They Would Be Famous For: allegedly sleeping with several noblewomen, maybe a princess or two (someone mentioned a queen once and well, he’s not going to deny it)

What They Would Get Arrested For: arson. no story there he just. likes fire.

OC You Ship Them With: Dmitri, naturally

OC Most Likely To Murder Them: Dmitri, but it’s not personal, there are plenty of dudes who hear about him sleeping with their wives so like, any of number of them would have no problem hiring an assassin (or a bounty hunter with a penchant for killing his targets) to go after him

Favorite Movie/Book Genre: erotica and maybe a touch of romance, a guy can dream

Least Favorite Movie/Book Cliche: there are some romance/smut tropes he gets sick of, anything to do with virginity and purity and virtue and deflowering a maiden, both on a personal level and also on a “virginity is a social construct used almost exclusively on women to determine their worth” level. also some of those male writers really do not know how certain parts work. as soon as he sees the word “tight” he throws the book away

Talents and/or Powers: want something burned? toasted? roasted? singed? he’s got you covered. he’s a skilled, powerful sorcerer with a preference for fire magic. also he’s obviously a great liar and a hell of a charmer

Why Someone Might Love Them: despite his reputation as a philanderer, he’s a gentleman and he’s drowning in that respect women juice, he’s not pushy, if she’s not interested, he backs off, and i mean, 20 charisma score, he’d have to really flub for someone to not love him

Why Someone Might Hate Them: ah those husbands do not like some sexy fire boy comin in and boinking their wives, supposedly very well, also he’s very showy and that can get on people’s nerves

How They Change: he has a Gay Crisis and suddenly “oh, maybe.... men too?” and i mean, Dmitri does suss out his myriad of lies about sexual conquests, and he eventually does kind of open up about his insecurities because Dmitri just kinda listens and doesn’t criticize or mock him and really only adds things like “wow, that really sucks, i’m sorry dude.” and that’s all he really needs

Why You Love Them: he’s hot, he dresses slutty, he’s a master of charm, and yet..... 73 years old and he has not seen a naked woman in real life. also the blushing mechanic i gave him, where instead of blushing, his hair kinda flares up like a ghibli character but with fire..... too cute. also he’s smart. i’m pretty sure intelligence was his highest stat after charisma, at like 16, and i love that for him

ah thank you i always spend so much time on these and i love it lol

[juni-ravenhall]

.

now i feel like making a joke post about lizzy’s sexuality but ppl would have my head so i prob shouldnt. (and by joke i mean. joke. shes a toddler. even if as a toddler i basically knew i was bi but no i dont care to project that on fictional characters personally)

(and yeah im serious i had crushes on boys and girls in kindergarten and also thought like WOW PRETTY LADY! WOW PRETTY MAN! when i saw adults i liked, so no its not unrealistic or something its just... really bad if anything REAL happens and its not just a kid’s fantasy. some people are like me and some people arent its not a big deal. probably being emotionally abused by your parents has an effect on your development regarding feelings towards other people too and your “need for love” and where you “look for love” etc)

i crushed on teachers and older actors when i was a kid. what would have been BAD is if any of those adults in any way engaged in a non-platonic relationship with me bc of it. obvs its not ok for any adult person to engage in romance with a non-adult person BUT its not reasonable to pretend that kids and teens dont even experience romantic or sexual feelings from varying ages depending on that individual’s personality and development. its harmful to say this is a banned topic and a banned discussion to have especially for teens themselves. however, ofc its best if they explore and discuss this stuff in safe spaces, nobody argues with that.

also fictional characters are fictional im. the amount of people who care more about defending a fictional minor than about harassing, bullying or otherwise treating badly actual real flesh and blood people who havent done anything to harm other real flesh and blood people........

(stabs james for being a selfish asshole.)

(dw. he cant feel it. hes made of pixels and the wonder of imagination.)

(but a lot of ppl nowadays seem like theyd say i stabbed a minor or support the stabbing of minors if i wrote this post, romanticise and normalise the stabbing of minors. bc me writing *stabs james* causes 1 in 10 people to start going out and stabbing jameses in real life and desensitises people to the serious nature of james-stabbings.)

(also all forms of real life abuse are really fucking awful. im an abuse victim. i know. but. fictional characters arent real and fiction is a safe method to explore stuff and express your feelings and its not at all a one-to-one translation of what people feel, think, or believe in reality. theres a lot of symbolism and projection and reinterpretation of feelings going on. its not equal to reality in any way. i go to therapy, i talk to psychologists and counsellors. ive never abused anyone in my life. and NONE of the multiple people who abused me had literally anything to do with fiction or media whatsoever. i think theyd have been a lot better people in fact, if they had spent more time reading all kinds of fiction and discovering themselves and developing and maturing into decent people. not just from wholesome honey-coated fiction, but all kinds. critical thinking when you process the fiction, you know?)

[lilithpooped]

Bet / Choi San

Genre: BF!San, Boyfriend AU, Fluff but also not too lovey-dovey?

A/N: Alright, this is my first kpop fic and I’m kinda nervous and I really truly do not have any confidence so please leave a comment if you like it. I’m always open to criticism. And probably it doesn’t end how you imagine it would, but i’m trying to improve, so…. Enjoy?

AND I ACCIDENTALLY DELETED THE ORIGINAL POST SO I’M PUTTING THIS AGAIN. I’M SORRY.

————————————————-

You entered deeper in the club with your best friend. You weren’t really sure why you agreed to do this in the first place but you also weren’t really opposed to the idea when San said he wants to try it. You could see his eyes shining with excitement so you obviously had no other choice than to say yes.

You and your best friend went deeper in the club until you see the boys. There they were. Yeosang, Hongjoong, Mingi and San. Maybe the others didn’t wanna be here, you thought to yourself. You could tell from the boys’ looks that they knew the game you decided to play with San. You searched for an empty corner to sit across the boys. They all looked intimidating. You eyed San like you’ve never seen him before. Like he wasn’t in your bed last night. He was looking really good tonight. He was wearing all black; a black silk shirt, black denim, black blazer. First two buttons of his shirt was open and you could see his chest. His ash blond hair was shaped in a way that you could see his forehead but there were only one strand of hair in front of his left eye. He sipped his drink while eyeing you.

You decided to keep it subtle in the means of keeping your game going. So you just turned your head to another direction and tried to see an empty space for you and your best friend to dance. When you finally saw a space, you slowly and teasingly took off your jacket while looking at San in a devilish way. You were not able to see his eyes from your corner but you could just say his eyes got darker.

You were wearing your favorite dress, it was a burgundy satin wrap dress and was short enough for San’s liking.

You and your best friend headed to the dance floor. Drinks in your hand, you both started to dance while the boys sat still and watched. Soon enough there were strangers around you trying to flirt. You couldn’t see San’s face but you were almost sure that he had his devilish face on. The one that made people uneasy. But you couldn’t care less because he was the one that wanted to act like you weren’t lovers. He wanted to try and pick you up again, and then to take you home again. You also had a bet. You both knew there would be people trying to flirt with both of you. The first one to get jealous or mad about the other one’s popularity amongst people was going to do whatever the other one wants. And you were definitely not gonna let San win even if it was the hardest thing you try to do. Especially when he and the other boys were already so popular among girls.

There were already two girls sitting with them, you tried to see San’s face to make sure if he was talking to the girls or not but your best friend grabbed you by the arm and dragged you through the center of the dance floor where you can’t even see the boys’ silhouette. “Don’t look at him, you’re making your own job harder. Just enjoy being here!”

She was right, you knew she was but you just couldn’t relax. So you chugged down your drink and took one more. Fast drinking always helped and with your fav song playing, you couldn’t help but start swaying your hips to the rythm. Your eyesight blurred, head was spinning and soon there were two guys trying to talk to you and your friend. You kindly rejected one while your friend started dancing with the other and left you alone on the dance floor.

Soon, you felt two arms around you, slowly hugging you behind. You turned to see the person holding you, thinking it would be San. But the face you saw was not even close to San’s.

You suddenly stepped back and saw a young and extremely drunk man trying to hold you closer to him. “C’mon lady, I saw you searching for a dance buddy. Don’t you wanna dance wimme?”

“No probably she doesn’t.” A voice very familiar to you filled your ears before you could answer the man. You felt a cold hand on your back and turned your head to the source. In contrast to the feeling of uneasiness and shiver the cold hand brought, the sound helped you relax and feel safe.

“Wow, who are you? I’m talking to her, not you.” Said the guy.

San got closer to your ear and talked “Excuse me Miss, I think you should be more careful about your surroundings in a place like this.”

Then turned his gaze to the drunk man and you saw his eyes getting darker and darker like it was possible. “Now you’re talking to me and I strongly suggest you to leave for your own good.”

You could see the man getting tense and kinda scared. He silently threw some swear words and left you two alone. Now San was facing you with a flirty smirk and soft eyes even though there were fire within them.

“Do I know you?” you asked looking at his hand on your back.

He took his hand back. “Oh sorry, I don’t think you do. I’m Choi San.”

“I’m y/n. Thank you for saving me, how can i return the favor?”

“Maybe you can dance with me if this won’t be a bother to you?”

You turned your back in a flirtitatous way and let him follow you to calmer parts of the dance floor. Gladly, now the song was a lot sexier and you could just dance for San.

After dancing for a while, he took your hand in his and talked to your ear “Is it okay if I take you to a calmer place? I’m kinda tired now but I don’t want to leave a woman like you alone, especially in a place like this.”

“I guess I’m also tired. I wouldn’t say no to a coffee to relax.”

“Let me tell my friends. I’ll be here in a minute.”

After he talked to the guys, he turned back to where you were and reached his hand out for you to hold. You walked through the exit. He didn’t let go of your hand until you two were in his car alone. He started the car. You glanced at him.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I was wondering what you were thinking.”

He turned to look at your face shortly before turning back to the road again.

“I was thinking about how lucky I am to meet a girl like you tonight.”

“Yeah, you probably wasted all your luck.” You laughed.

“I don’t think I wasted any of it. I just used it and I’m glad.”

His words caused a silence in the car. After a few minutes you turned your upper body to face him.

“You mean those words, right?”

That was it. San just couldn’t play around anymore.

“Yeah I definitely mean it, baby. Why are you always asking this? You know I’m in love with you!”

“Wow wow Choi San, you lost our bet!!! And you ruined our roleplay, too. HAHA NOW I CAN HAVE YOU DO WHATEVER I WANT AND I WANT YOU TO TAKE ME HOME-”

“BABY YOU’RE SO MEAN!! STOP YELLING, OF COURSE I’M GONNA TAKE YOU HOME AND-”

“YOU GONNA TAKE ME HOME AND PREPARE DINNER AND RUB MY BACK AND MASSAGE ME AND SING ME TO SLEEP AND TOMORROW MORNING YOU’RE GONNA PREPARE BREAKFAST AND WE’RE NOT GONNA LEAVE THE HOUSE AND YOU’LL JUST SING ANY SONG I WANT AND WE’RE GONNA WATCH A MOVIE ofc i get to choose the movie AND THEN YOU’RE GONNA SING ME TO SLEEP AGAIN!!!!! HHAAHAHAHAHAHA CHOI SAN YOU ARE MY SLAVE NOW!”

“Wow, These were obviously NOT what i meant when I said i was gonna take you home but……. Do I have any other choice?”

“Nope, baby. You are my slave, you must do what I tell you to do. We’re gonna have so much fun!! We’re gonna put on face masks and maybe I can even paint cute shapes on your nails!! Oh my god I’m gonna have so much fun!”

“Yeah, just.. Let’s say i don’t think we’ll ever play this game again.”

[aivaehdaevis]

The More Things Change: Ch 6

The More Things Change

by Aivaeh

Disclaimer: Familiar characters, plot elements, and settings belong to L.J. Smith, Julie Plec, and the CW. The author of this work of fanfiction has made no money from it. Summary: I have no idea how it happened, but one morning I woke up in the world of The Vampire Diaries. Which, aside from the insanity of waking up inside a television show made real, might not be so bad—if I weren't stuck in the body of vampire magnet and doppelgänger herself, Elena Gilbert. Pairing(s): OFC x Damon, OFC x Stefan, OFC x Elijah, OFC x Klaus Rating: M Warning(s): Graphic descriptions of violence on par with the show itself. References to sex and drug use. Mind control and all the issues of consent that go along with it. Character death. Master List External Links: AO3 | FF.Net | Wattpad

Chapter Six

I found the bulbs in a downstairs storage closet.

Hunting for them gave me something to think about other than Damon's threats and the insanity of being stuck in a television show. I went to change the bedroom's first, but when I threw the switch, the light turned right on. A test of the rest of the lights were the same. The lights worked just fine.

I tried to convince myself it was a wiring issue, but there's no denying I felt more vulnerable in the Gilbert house.

Replacing the bulbs back into the supply closet, I continued snooping around. I didn't find anything exciting. The vampire-related weapons and diaries were at the lake house. My biggest discovery were the heirlooms and a ton of documents related to the family's history stored in the basement. I only glanced through some of it before going back upstairs.

Back in Elena's room, I settled in for some homework. My poor performance in Biology and Tanner's comments in History convinced me to finish it before the party tonight. Besides, it was a normal thing to do, nothing supernatural involved. Trigonometry took the longest, but by the time I was done with the chapter questions for history, the sun was getting low in the sky. "Hope you appreciate this, Elena," I muttered before huffing out a tired breath.

I was scouring Elena's closet when the phone rang.

Picking up a cordless handset from her desk, I said, "Hello?"

"Elena," Caroline said in a frantic rush, "I needed you here an hour ago!"

Crap. "Sorry. I lost track of time." I grabbed the first thing I could reach that had long sleeves. Elena had nothing but nice clothes, anyway. I couldn't go wrong.

"Well, get over here."

Uh, where was here? I wondered if there was a non-suspicious or weird way to ask this when the phone clicked and the dial tone hummed in my ear. "Great."

I ended up looking the park up online. It wasn't that difficult to get to from highway seventy-five, one of three roads that led out of town.

I hurried through another shower and was drying my hair when there was a knock on the connecting door. I fiddled with the hairdryer until I found the power button. "Yes?"

There was a beat of silence. "I heard you're driving again, but the car was in the garage," Jeremy said, voice muffled by the wood.

"Someone else took me to school today, but yeah. I drove to the Grill."

"You driving to the party?"

"I'm leaving as soon as I'm done. Caroline wants my help."

"Can I ride along?"

"Oh. Sure."

"Cool."

"Let me finish up."

Jeremy agreed and left me to it.

Once I was dressed and ready, I knocked on his door. He walked out in a hoodie and jacket. Together we made our way down to the kitchen. Jenna hadn't come home yet, so I left a note on the fridge saying we'd be at the falls.

The sun was on the last leg of its journey across the horizon. The sky was flush in pastel pinks and violets, gradually settling into molten gold. It was pleasant enough out to roll the windows down as we pulled out of the garage, letting in the song of crickets. Jeremy plugged his mp3 player into the stereo and alternative rock pounded out the speakers.

"Doesn't driver pick the music?"

Jeremy's answering shrug was largely swallowed up beneath all the layers he wore.

Well, this would be fun.

This time, it was a right out of the driveway. I paid attention to the signs as I navigated the neighborhood. I needed to take Grotto Avenue instead of Washington. It would lead to the infamous Wickery Bridge and connect to seventy-five.

Once we'd turned onto Grotto, the speed limit picked up to forty-five, and the wind rushed past the window as I sped up. I had to speak louder to be heard. "How have things been lately?"

Staring out the passenger window, Jeremy's reply was bitter. "How do you think?"

I had nothing to say to that. I watched the dashed yellow line on the road, the trees lining either side speed by as I tried coming up with something more innocuous. "How are your classes?"

Another half-hidden shrug. "Alright I guess."

"You guess?"

"Yeah." Jeremy fitted his hand through the crack in his window and sliced through the wind.

"Good talk," I muttered.

I thought the wind would've taken my words, but Jeremy lifted his other hand in a thumbs up.

The wind and music replaced any attempts at conversation after that. The only time I wondered if I should try to say something was as we approached the Wickery Bridge. I ran a critical eye over the structure. Whatever damage had been caused when their parents' minivan had gone into the river must have been repaired.

Jeremy stared out the window as he'd been doing that the whole way. Something changed, though. Like a heavy and colorless smog that saturated the car, the mood turned dark and toxic, suffocating any attempts at conversation.

It didn't let up until the bridge disappeared behind us and we'd reached the highway. The rush of wind turned into a roar. The sun glared off the horizon and made it hard to see even with Elena's sunglasses and the visor. It was a relief when it sank beneath the treetops, and I was able to see comfortably again.

The sky was all deep merlots and dark heather by the time I saw the turn off. Rocks ground beneath the tires and pelted the undercarriage as we drove down a gravel road that twisted snake-like between the woods. Once we were half a mile in, the road turned paved. The smoother drive led up a steep hill to a large parking lot. Several vehicles were already there, a mixture of cars and trucks and vans. I pulled in and joined them.

Jeremy and I got out. Distant voices drifted through the trees, almost drowned out by the frenzied chirrup of crickets. I followed Jeremy, who didn't hesitate to step off the pavement to a dirt trail that led further up a gently sloping hill. Old trees stretched overhead all around us, growing darker as the last light of the sun surrendered to the silvery glow of a distant half-moon that had begun its ascent.

I hugged my jacket tighter around me. There was a humidity to the air that made it chillier than it had felt during the drive. I supposed it came from the falls that granted the park its name, though I had no idea where they were.

We found Caroline at a series of pavilions that had carved out a small space in the middle of the woods. Basically, the giant frames of empty houses. She was busy tearing plastic cups out of their packaging and stacking them on the fold-out tables pushed flush against one of the open-air railings. Bonnie was beside her.

"Hey Elena, Jer," Bonnie greeted.

As Jeremy raised a hand and gave a close-lipped grin, Caroline spun about. "Good! Jeremy, help Aaron and Matt hang lights over the bridge."

She must have meant more lights like the ones strung around the pavilion. Outdoor Christmas lights by the look of them, except with bigger, colorless bulbs. They were pretty, if unnecessary. Several outdoor floodlights that must have been put up by the park provided more than enough light, and a bonfire was already flickering away in a pit a safe distance away.

Jeremy's expression didn't so much as twitch. "Hello to you too, Caroline."

Caroline's lips pressed into a line as she sent Jeremy a look. "Hello, Jeremy. So nice to see you." She flashed a plastic princess smile. "Please help Aaron and Matt."

Jeremy rolled his eyes and, hands stuffed into his pockets, headed out of the pavilion to one of the paths that led deeper into the forest.

"There's a bunch of six packs in the back of Aaron's truck," Caroline then informed me with all the command of an empress. I didn't know what Aaron's truck looked like, but it shouldn't be hard to find. Just look for the liquor store in the back.

I ended up trudging back and forth through the woods as night crept over the forest. Caroline and Bonnie just set up tables and coolers. I had a feeling I was being punished for 'forgetting' to arrive earlier.

Teenagers started to trickle in, a strong bass beat began to pulse through the trees, and the lot was filling up. I was halfway through—she wasn't kidding about it being a bunch of beer—when a distinct rumble echoed through the trees. I squinted as headlights pierced the darkness and shone in my face.

I wasn't surprised when those headlights slowed as they approached, stopping a short ways after passing me, revealing the distinctive blue camaro with Damon in the driver's seat. "Hello, Elena."

"Damon," I sighed.

His eyes darted towards the six packs and back to me. "Am I too early?"

"No. I think it's just starting." I picked up four more six packs. The pair I carried in each hand clinked merrily as the bottles swayed. Carefully, I hopped off the truck bed.

"I prefer to be fashionably late," Damon said.

"Why am I not surprised." I turned and headed back up the path.

The camaro gave a purr before gliding away as I stepped off the pavement and onto the hard-packed ground. There was still enough space that he'd find something. I anticipated it wouldn't be long before he was pestering me again.

Sure enough, I wasn't a quarter of the way up when he appeared beside me. He sidestepped around until he was doing his backwards walk in front of me, reaching out for the cases of beer. "Allow me."

I held them back. "I've got it, Damon."

"Elena."

"Damon." I wondered if he was actually tripping every other step, and just moving too fast for me to see it.

"I can have this done before you even reach the top," he reminded me.

"And how will I explain that?"

The expensive silk shirt, top few buttons undone, stretched across his shoulders as he shrugged. "Who will care enough to ask?"

I did want this task to be over. I slowly held out the beer. "Fine."

He smirked as he took the cases from me—and promptly disappeared from sight. I did hear the stir of leaves every other second. It was less than a minute when he appeared beside me again. "Finished." If smugness were a resource, Damon would've had enough for every man, woman, and child on the planet.

I replied with a grudging, "Thank you."

"You're very welcome, Elena." Before I could start up the hill, his arm ended up around my shoulders. His warmth still managed to surprise me. "Why don't you introduce me to your friends?"

I shook my head. "No."

Damon's arm slid off me. He started walking. "Maybe I'll see if Caroline wants—"

I grabbed his arm and pulled him back. He allowed it. "You promised."

"As long as you," he tapped my nose, "were agreeable."

"Do you have to threaten all the girls?" I groused.

"No. Not usually." Arm back around my shoulders, he grinned. "You're special."

"Why?"

The trail crunched underfoot as he guided me towards the pavilions. "Why what?"

"Why am I special?" I knew it had to do with Katherine, but wasn't he supposed to still be in love with her? Why spend so much of his time bothering me?

Something in his stare set my nerves alight with a nervous energy. It skittered along my spine and spread out until every inch of me was alive and awake. "You're beautiful. Very seductive."

Uncomfortable in my suddenly hypersensitive skin, I squirmed. Afraid it'd tip him off to his effect on me, I tried for nonchalant. "Seductive?" I scoffed. "And you've met hundreds of beautiful, seductive women."

"None like you," he returned.

I gave him a flat stare.

His brows rose. "It's true."

I pictured a certain self-centered vampire in period clothes. "Why don't I believe you?"

"Because you have major trust issues."

"Can't imagine why."

We reached the top of the hill and the clearing. The pavilions were lit, strung lights adding a softer, magical quality the harsher park lights lacked. A good gathering of people was strewn about, arrayed in clusters around the wooden structures, the grass and the fire, to the treeline. The conversations were already lively. Even as we stood there, I could hear more coming up the trail behind us.

"Lets get a drink," Damon suggested, guiding me towards the coolers I'd spent the early portion of the night filling.

I eyed him. "What do you mean by a drink?"

He tilted his head towards me and smirked. The closer we moved towards people, the more tense I became. Thankfully, he went for the beers instead of the teens hanging out beside them, snagging a pair of bottles by the neck. His thumb slipped under the edge of one's cap, popping the top off without effort. He held it out to me.

I accepted, still fixing a weary eye on him as he opened the other. I wasn't a fan of beer, but I definitely wanted a drink. I endured the yeasty flavor for a good-sized gulp. Pulling the bottle away, I'd have wiped my lips, but I had lip gloss on. I settled for rubbing them together.

Damon guided me back up to the largest of the three pavilions. The creak of our steps almost lost to the shifts and pounding of all the other feet. The smell of pine was strongest here. The people parted before us like a school of tiny fish breaking apart and gliding around a bigger predator.

Caroline and Bonnie were at the back railing, each one with a cup of what I assumed would be beer. Madison, Sarah, Aaron, and a few other cheerleaders and football players made up the rest of Caroline's entourage. Her eyes lit up at the sight of Damon. "You came!"

"I said I would," he answered.

Still trapped under the hard muscle of his arm, I settled for another swig.

"Everyone, this is Damon. Damon, this is everyone," Caroline introduced.

"Yeah. Elena's mentioned most of you." He pointed with the hand holding his beer. "Bonnie, right?"

Bonnie nodded before her gaze slid to me, a clear question in her pale green gaze. I just shook my head.

Damon proceeded to freak me out by naming the rest of the little group, even the three I wasn't familiar with. He knew Elena's friends better than me.

"When did you and Damon get together, Elena?" A blonde cheerleader that Damon had called Sophie had a pixie's face and a beauty mark over her left eye.

"Yesterday," he answered before I had a chance to say anything.

We exchanged a glance, mine already finished, his full of mischief. I fumed, wishing I could shrug out of his hold, and took another drink.

Caroline's earlier enthusiasm had dimmed. "So this is, what," her smile threatened to fall off her face, "a date?"

"Mmhmm," Damon replied, pulling me closer to him.

Bonnie's brows flew up. "Oh."

Half of my bottle was already gone.

"In fact, I really should be thanking you for tonight, Caroline," he went on blithely. "Elena wasn't sure about going out with someone as old as me. Then your name came up, and she became much more agreeable."

Mother fu—

"Really," Caroline replied. Flatly. Her stare was piercing, like a dagger. One she probably thought she'd pulled out of her back.

A series of looks exchanged between the others ensured that this news was going to be around the whole school by tomorrow morning.

"Elena, can I talk to you real quick," Bonnie interjected.

"Absolutely Bonnie," I said, relief lightening my voice.

Damon shot me a close-lipped smile. "Don't wander off too far," he said into the top of my head. "Wouldn't want to run into any animals."

I nodded, and Damon's arm left my shoulders, but not before his hand skimmed my spine. I shivered before hurrying to Bonnie's side, and the two of us headed over towards a spot near the fire pit while Damon went about charming the rest of Elena's friends.

As soon as we were down the pavilion's steps, Bonnie turned to me. "What's going on, Elena?"

I wasn't sure what to say. Damon had to be listening. "Damon said he wanted to go with me to the falls." I shrugged.

"You said he was using you to get to Stefan," Bonnie reminded me.

My lips twisted of their own accord. "Yeah. I think I maybe judged him a little harshly." I forced myself to add, "He's been great so far."

"And when Stefan shows up?"

We reached a spot a few feet from the fire, close enough to see one another in the dancing light, but far enough for some privacy. "I told you. Stefan and I are friends."

"Friends don't look at each other the way you two did the other night and at lunch, Elena." Bonnie shook her head. "This seems like a bad idea."

No kidding. "It'll be fine, Bonnie." I forced a smile. "Just like you predicted."

She shot me a thoughtful look. "Maybe it's worth a try."

"What?" But I had a feeling of what she'd say.

"Reading your future." Bonnie shook her head. "It's crazy, I know. But Grams says I can."

"Long as you aren't charging ten bucks a minute," I quipped with a small smile.

Bonnie snorted. "Here," she held out a hand. "Let me see your hand."

Remembering she'd seen the crow and Damon in the show, I let her close her eyes to concentrate and took her hand.

Bonnie's eyes popped open immediately. She dropped my hand like it was red hot and took a step back, a strange look on her face.

I frowned. "What?"

"I—I don't know."

"Bonnie?"

"A woman."

What?

"I was holding her hand instead of yours. You were behind her, yelling at me." My blood turned to ice. "I couldn't hear what you were saying. It was like some kind of fog separated us. But you were frantic. And scared."

I stared. I couldn't think of anything to do or say, so I did and said nothing.

Bonnie shook her head, throwing up her hands. "I… I don't know. I don't know what I saw." She looked around and then said, "I'm going to get another beer."

I watched her rush off then turned far enough to look over my shoulder. There were a few people further back, but no doppelgänger.

That couldn't have been Elena, could it? Maybe Katherine?

Shivering, I rubbed at my arms. I could feel the fine hairs standing on end, tickling as my sleeves rubbed against them. Blowing out a breath, I turned to head back to the pavilion.

And nearly ran into a solid wall of muscle. I took a startled step back, head snapping up. "Stefan?"

He smiled. "Hey." His brows pinched together. "I didn't scare you, did I?"

"Just startled," I assured him.

His lips softened into that small smile. But it only lasted a moment before melting away. "Is something wrong? You look upset."

I took a breath and shook my head. "No, just—something weird Bonnie said."

"Oh?"

"It doesn't matter." I let my hands fall to my sides. "You made it."

His eyes were still searching my face, his expression concerned. He didn't think it was nothing. But his, "I did," suggested he was willing to drop it.

"Stefan!"

We both stiffened at the sudden greeting. Standing right behind Stefan, Damon sported a wry smirk.

Stefan levelled a low-browed, guarded stare at Damon. Damon met it with a smile, his crinkled eyes glinting like arctic light off an ice sheet. "Beer?" he offered, holding up an unopened bottle.

"What are you doing, Damon?" Stefan stared so hard it was as if he was trying to see into Damon's head.

"Well, Stefan, I'm enjoying the party I was invited to. You should give it a try sometime." Damon's gaze shifted to me. "Finished with your friend?"

Bonnie. I looked around and found her back up on the pavilion with Caroline and the others. She was hugging her arms, eyes darting around until they fell back on me. As soon as she met my stare, her eyes widened and slid away.

My brows gathered. "I guess so."

Damon shoved the beer into Stefan's hand and strutted over to my side. "Why don't we go look at the falls?" His arm found it's favorite perch across my shoulders.

Stefan's eyes fixed on me. I offered an apologetic smile before finishing my drink and setting the empty bottle on a log behind me. "Whatever."

Damon gave Stefan a little wave with the hand draped over my shoulder. "Later."

As Damon guided me back towards another trail, he turned to look over our shoulders behind him. "Oh, he's pissed," he gloated.

I caught sight of disappointed Caroline, eyes down on her cup while Bonnie looked troubled beside her. "Is there anyone you don't enjoy screwing with, Damon?"

"Hmm, let me think—nope." Damon and I rounded the trail and moved into the trees. Eventually the pavilions became a distant twinkle of lights through the leaves, and then disappeared.

There were more lights strung up along the trail. "Why do you want to make Stefan miserable?" I knew the story but wanted to hear it from him.

"Ask him." Damon lifted a bottle, and from the swig of beer inside. "Although Steffy's not being very open with you right now."

"What do you mean?"

Damon smirked. "Mm, not yet." He pulled me closer. "I want to see the look on his face when you figure it out."

That I was the spitting image of Katherine and that's why he's so interested in me? Yeah, Damon was going to be disappointed.

A bridge strung with lights waited ahead of us. It must have been the one the boys had worked on. Our footsteps thumped against the wood as we crossed to the middle. Damon guided me to the railing, where the lights twinkled along the arch overhead. Leaning an elbow on the rail, he nodded off in the distance. "Can you see them?"

I squinted and saw a hint of the falls in the glint of the moonlight. Mostly I heard them. A constant, low spray of churning water. "Not well."

"Want to get closer?" Damon asked before throwing the rest of his beer back and then tossing the bottle down into the river.

"It looks pretty far," I said doubtfully.

Damon moved his arm off my shoulders and turned around. "Hop on."

I blinked. "What? Like, on your back?"

"Like, yes. Duh."

"What, so you can get me somewhere secluded and feed?" I folded my arms, ignoring the excited tingle in my belly. "No thank you."

Damon looked over his shoulder. "I won't feed on you tonight."

"And I should believe you because…"

"Because I haven't lied to you."

"My bag," I corrected.

"I haven't lied to you today," he amended. He sighed. "Just get on, Elena. Do I need to threaten someone again?"

As I grit my teeth and walked over, I heard him mutter, "Most stubborn woman I've ever met." Knowing I was frustrating him me smile slightly.

I wrapped my arms around his neck. He extended his arms out to the side for my legs. Frowning, I hopped up. His hands cradled the backs of my thighs. I was glad I'd picked out a pair of jeans and not leggings or, heaven forbid, a skirt.

"Hold on tight," he said. "And don't let go."

I tightened my hold till, if he'd been human, he'd probably be choking. I also locked my ankles over his abs and said, "This is very Twilight."

"If you're expecting me to sparkle later on, you're going to be sorely disappointed."

Before I could reply, the bottom dropped out of my stomach. It was like one of those barrel rides, where they spin around so fast, you're pressed up against the wall while all your organs feel shoved back. If it weren't for Damon's grip on me, I doubt I'd have been able to hold on.

The world was a smear of darkness. I had to close my eyes and hide my face in the crook of his neck as gorge rose up my throat.

Thankfully, it was over almost as soon as it began. "Alright," he yelled over the roar of crashing water.

Able to breathe without feeling as if my lungs were being squeezed, I took a breath of humid air. I was cautious as I opened my eyes. Fortunately, we'd stopped. I lifted my head higher.

We were on the edge of a cliff overlooking the falls. The water looked like mercury in the moonlight. It flowed over the edge into a misting veil of cascading silver, plunging into the churning river below. Fireflies danced along the shore. Without the city lights, the stars were a bright dusting of glitter across a velvety darkness.

"It's beautiful," I breathed.

Damon looked back. His eyes were bright, more silver than blue, like the water and the stars. They stared for several long moments. Unable to endure the building tension any longer, I asked, "What?"

He blinked and turned back around. "Want to go skinny dipping?"

I shoved his shoulder. "No!"

"You're no fun, Elena," he complained.

I was about to make a comment about perverted crows when his muscles stilled beneath me. His head swiveled to the right. He walked towards the edge of the cliff, until he was close enough to lean over the ledge. Which he did… with me still riding his back.

I held on tighter, heart pounding against his back as the wet air rose up to hit my face and blow back my hair.

Then he stepped off the ledge.

It happened so fast I barely had time to draw a gasping breath before my stomach flew into my esophagus as we plummeted. The ground slammed into his feet, sending a shockwave up his legs. Damon merely straightened up and started walking, not so much as a twitch in his stride.

"Don't do that!"

"Shh." He nodded his head, letting go of one of my thighs to point. "Looks like I wasn't the only one with the idea to go skinny dipping."

I squinted in the direction he was pointing and discovered two distant figures bobbing in the water. They were—well. Yeah. They'd had the same idea. Their faces were mashed pretty firmly together. Averting my eyes, I turned to look back, and saw a pile of clothes strewn over a large boulder that had cracked apart from the cliff face.

Damon let go of my other leg, and I slid down his back to the ground. Before I could ask what he was doing, he had his shirt up and over his head.

My eyes nearly popped out of my head. "What are you doing?!" I hissed, mortified at the expanse of naked back. I could trace the muscles with my eyes as they shifted beneath pale skin. The scapula of his shoulders slid together and apart. Biceps bulging as he moved his arms to— "Don't take off your pants!"

"SHH!" he hissed. "I swear, Elena, if you scare off dinner…" he threw a warning glare over his shoulder.

"Scare off—" my eyes rounded again. "You can't… eat them!"

"Uh, yes I can." Damon moving his hands around to grip either side of the wasteland of his jeans was the only warning I had that he was about to drop them.

I looked away as I heard the rustle of stiff fabric and clicking of the zipper. "Damon, don't!"

"Stay here," he ordered.

Before I could think better of it, I looked around and grabbed his upper arm. I was careful not to look down, but to meet the annoyed stare of the vampire whose eyes were already darkening in anticipation. "Don't, Damon," I entreated again. "You don't have to. I'll drive you to the hospital myself. Help you get to the blood supply."

He stared at me as if I were mad. Considering his black and red eyes, it was a terrifying glare. "Elena. We've had this discussion. I can't feed from you, so I'm going to eat them," he flung a hand out, "instead."

I quivered, and my throat seized, but despite my suddenly chattering teeth, I managed to say, "Feed from me, then."

He paused, his dark eyes rounding in surprise. "You'd let me?"

I trembled but nodded.

His sights narrowed, face tilting down as his gaze flew over my body. He scoffed. "You care about a couple of strangers that much?"

"You won't kill me," I reasoned. Whether I was trying to convince myself or him, I wasn't sure.

His sights narrowed. "I won't? How can you be so certain of that?"

I couldn't admit to my knowledge of Katherine. "Because you like me. Enough to find out where we put the spare key to the front door and what my friend's names are. You wouldn't go to all that trouble just to murder me."

"You know, plenty of murderers go to that much trouble," he pointed out amiably.

I stared. "You care."

"I told you, I'm a vampire, Elena. I don't have any humanity."

"I don't believe that." I chewed my lip. "I think, somewhere deep down, you regret hurting people." His eyes narrowed. "And you want to go back to being human."

Damon stood still, the moonlight reflecting off his pale skin as if he were glowing. He stared with those monstrous eyes, veins pulsing beneath his eyelids, until they began to drain to his normal arctic gaze.

Relief so powerful I could have collapsed washed over me. I smiled, real and wide and unbelievably happy. Damon smiled back.

And I realized I'd made a terrible mistake.

His smile was a dead thing. His eyes empty of all emotion except fury. His cheeks pulled back so far it was almost as if he meant to snarl, instead. He ducked, grabbed his pants, and pulled them back up. By the time he had them fastened, the smile had fallen from my face.

His hadn't. It was like it was carved there.

He grabbed my arm. "Upsy daisy," he said, all faux-cheerfulness.

He nearly threw me as he swung me onto his back. I barely had time to wrap my arms and legs around him before he was leaping up the cliff. I couldn't watch him punching the rock with his fingers, instead I shut my eyes and did my best to endure the gravity-shifting speed at which he moved.

When we came to a stop, I heard voices off in the distance. The sharp and emotional words of two people fighting.

"I want you to know, you can thank Stefan for this."

"What?"

Damon grabbed my arm and dragged me with him. I had to step quickly to keep up. "I do love that Gilbert blood, and you did offer. But since I can't have yours, I'll have to take it from somewhere else."

I was confused as to what he meant, until we rounded a tree and—

Vicki and Jeremy.

Damon's hand was gone, along with the rest of him. Suddenly he was in front of Vicki. She only had time to widen her eyes in shock before, "You're thirsty. You're going back to the party for a drink."

"Hey, whatever. I'm out of here," she replied before turning around.

"What the hell?" Jeremy demanded. He put his hand on Damon's bare shoulder as Vicki continued walking away.

"Jeremy!" I shouted, terrified.

Damon whirled around. His eyes were black. His lips were drawn back, revealing all his teeth. His canines were pointed and glistened. His jaw opened so wide it looked as if it couldn't be attached to his skull.

"Damon! No!"

Jeremy shouted. Damon struck.

It was so fast and hard, it was as if Damon had tackled him. Jeremy fell back, Damon on top of him. They hit the ground. Something squelched and Jeremy screamed. Damon snarled.

I stared, horrified. Then I was moving. Skidding over rock and moss and leaves and dirt as Jeremy wriggled and shouted in pain. As the slurping continued.

At their side, I stood frozen for too long, trying to figure out what to do. I finally grabbed a handful of Damon's hair and tried wrenching him off. He ignored me. Blood was pooling on the ground. Some of it slid to the tip of Elena's shoe.

Jeremy had stopped screaming and was gazing up at the treetops with glazed eyes. I realized Damon intended to kill him.

"DAMON!"

I grabbed another fistful of hair and yanked. I ended up with handfuls of black hair, but Damon was still draining Jeremy. I yelled, kicked at his ribs. Jeremy's eyes slid shut.

And then Damon was flying away from him.

His side slammed into a distant tree, hard. He grunted as he landed on the ground.

And standing over Jeremy and in front of me was Stefan.

Damon, rubbing the back of his hand across his chin, smearing Jeremy's blood over his face, let out a mocking laugh. "Really, Stefan? This again?"

Stefan's jaw ticked. "I won't let you hurt her."

Damon snorted. "That's what you said last time." He grinned, showing off his pink-stained teeth. "Didn't stop me then, either."

"You've gotten what you wanted," Stefan said. "Leave."

"I don't know. He's still breathing."

I grabbed Jeremy and leaned over him.

"Is this helping, brother?" Stefan asked. "Does it make you feel less like a traitor to her memory?"

Damon grinned. "As if she compares."

"You're right. They're nothing alike."

The two stared silently as the leaves rustled overhead.

Damon grinned. "I can enter anytime. You can't protect them."

"Leave," Stefan demanded.

Damon shrugged, bare skin still gleaming in the dim light. He licked up the blood from the back of his hand and smirked at me. "See you soon, Elena."

And he was gone.

I collapsed to my knees, staring off into the darkness. Then turned to the boy on the ground. He was ashen, his neck smeared with blood where the skin had been torn into. I didn't know what to do. "Stefan!"

Stefan knelt beside me, frowning. "He's dying."

"Help him. Please, Stefan!"

Staring down at Jeremy, the blood vessels in his eyes pulsing, Stefan eventually shoved down his sleeve and bit into his wrist. "I don't know if there's enough time," he warned as he held the open wound over Jeremy's mouth and squeezed his forearm. Blood trickled from his wrist and dropped between Jeremy's lips.

Transfixed, I waited, everything in me a bundle of wrought nerves. I looked for the slightest sign that Jeremy was healing. Nothing happened.

I was about to ask Stefan to try feeding him more when the side of his neck began to meld back together. It merged completely, smooth and unblemished, as if the wound hadn't happened at all.

Jeremy opened his eyes, wide and terrified and darting to and fro as he gasped awake. He met my stare, and then Stefan's small smile, and lifted a hand to his neck. "What?" he asked as he brought his hand before his eyes, staring at the blood staining his skin.

Stefan frowned. Meeting my eyes before looking down at Jeremy. As soon as Jeremy locked eyes, searching for answers, Stefan's pupils contracted. "You had too much to drink. You fell down and hit your head. You weren't attacked."

"I wasn't attacked," Jeremy repeated slowly.

Stefan blinked and Jeremy looked woozily around before holding a hand to his head. He grimaced at me. "Think I drank too much."

"I'll take you home," I said, soft and gentle as I took a hand. Stefan took the other, and together we helped him up.

As soon as Jeremy was standing on his own two feet, Stefan looked to me. "We should talk."

"Yeah."

Stefan glanced at Jeremy before gazing back at me. He lowered his voice as Jeremy wandered towards the trail. "Tonight. Once everyone else is asleep. I'll be waiting outside your window."

The idea should have terrified me, but Stefan had just saved Jeremy's life. I nodded. "Okay."

Stefan nodded back. "I'll make sure you get to your car."

Together we followed the lights back towards the pavilions. Jeremy would occasionally stretch his neck and rub at his head. It was quiet except for the distant music and the rustle of leaves.

Except the closer we got, the bigger commotion we heard.

When we stepped out into the open, several eyes turned to me. "Hey, Elena! This some kind of prank?" a boy I didn't recognize asked as we strode near him.

"What?"

"Elena!"

I turned to see Caroline hurrying across the grounds, a frown on her face. "What are you doing?"

"I'm not doing anything."

"What's going on?" Jeremy asked.

Caroline huffed, holding out her phone. "Elena's gone nuts. She's texting a bunch of crazy stuff at everybody." Caroline scowled. "It's not funny."

"Caroline, Elena doesn't have her phone," Stefan said.

Caroline's brows flew up. "Then who's doing it?"

"What do they say?" Stefan asked.

Caroline turned her phone back. "A bunch of stuff. Like, a dozen nine-one-ones. A whole wall of text that's just help me over and over. And another that says imposter. And thief."

Stefan held out a hand. Caroline handed her phone over. I leaned over his arm as he began to scroll through all the texts. There were dozens, just as Caroline said.

"Whose gotten them?"

"Like, everybody," she said, waving an arm.

"I haven't," he said.

"Everybody in her contacts? I don't know," Caroline returned.

A cold chill had my body hair standing on end as Jeremy pulled out his phone. "Me too. Must have happened while I was out."

I looked around to find the whole party staring at me, a confused murmur of voices sweeping through the gathered teens like a spreading virus. Bonnie was back at the bonfire and met my stare with the same unsettled look on her face. Our eyes met.

All the lights blew in a flurry of popping bulbs, and darkness swallowed us.

[luna-vista]

9 (what does your OC’s bedroom look like?) - 38 (how does your OC react to and handle stress?) - 50 (what secrets does your OC have?) - 58 (how does your OC take criticism?) - 63 (how does your OC display love?) - 69 (haha) (what is your OC’s favorite kind of weather?)

this is kinda very long so here’s a read more

9 - what does your OC’s bedroom look like?

(i could draw these but eh also these answers aren’t really what their rooms LOOK like i suppose. oh well)

PJ’s had the same bedroom since birth practically, so a lot of his room is a mess of stuff he’s had since childhood like old toys, school art projects, glow in the dark stars, etc plus whatever he’s acquired over the years (drawings from milo, books he’s picked up from the thrift store). It’s constantly shifting in levels of cleanliness, as it just gets messier and messier until PJ finally gets into a mood and cleans it all and then the cycle repeats. No matter how messy it gets at times though, PJ always has a particular way that he Likes it to be and absolutely will get upset if its messed with. It’s his safe place away from the world.

Milo’s bedroom is more suited to his current tastes than PJ’s but even then, his parents had a lot of say in it. from the carpet to the furniture to the color of his bedspread. It doesn’t /wholly/ feel like it’s his own. It feels a little more like? The version of himself that he presents to his parents/his parents want him to be. The most that’s his is whatever trinkets he finds to decorate the space with, or the things that he keeps hidden away from his parents. 

38 - how does your OC react to and handle stress?

PJ’s natural reaction to stress is to just pretend it doesn’t exist. He will keep that stress locked up behind closed doors + silently suffer until it just becomes TOO MUCH and shuts down and then he needs to just have a lie down and recover.

Milo also ignores stress but instead of just having it on the backburner, he’ll just! forget about it! like “that’s a problem for future milo”. Any incoming due date is pushed til the last minute and he’ll go off and do as he pleases until he realizes oh shit! and then freaks out until he finally does it and is like “oh that wasn’t that bad” 

50 - what secrets does your OC have?

I wouldn’t say they’re necessarily /secrets/ but PJ does have a lot of things he just doesn’t tell people on the basis that 1. he does not have many people he’s close enough to to tell 2. he would not really know HOW to communicate it or 3. he doesn’t think that that person would care. Of course, tho, his one big secret as a teen is just how much of a crush he has on Milo, which he is keeping from Milo himself. And then again, not necessarily a secret per say, but as he gets older + starts the band: keeping his private life, well, private. 

In the past, Milo was a very open, honest book and told everyone everything. In fact, it was a little bit of a problem that he’d go off and tell random people certain things. But as he got older, it’s more the opposite. As it turns out, overbearing parents make for very secretive kids. Throughout high school, Milo keeps pretty much anything personal as a secret from his parents (later on, though, over a period of healing, he comes to trust them again. ofc it won’t really ever be the same but it’s something). 

58 - how does your OC take criticism?

for pj, not well!! he very much believes that he has to be Naturally Good or The Best at something and if not, then he might as well give up. He’s not used to failure or rejection and turns away at the prospect of it bc it’s like. He thinks people have come to Expect certain things from him and if he doesn’t meet those standards then he’s worthless. there is no room for mistakes in this household! Getting older, he does somewhat learn that it’s okay to mess up, or to not b perfect, but, while it may not be as bad of a reaction, he does still feel a littlle bit like “guess ill die”

Throughout childhood, Milo’s gotten p used to criticism whether it just be like “you’re doing this wrong” or more harsh like “that is bad! don’t do that”. It’s sucky and does dampen his spirits but again, he’s used to it, and has come to terms with the fact that sometimes he fucks up! or sometimes people just don’t like him! i guess!

63 - how does your OC display love?

PJ’s not all that big on verbal affection, even something as simple as compliment like “I like your hair” feels weird in his mouth. he just thinks its awkward, and isn’t used to verbalizing touchy feely stuff. So he displays love more through small little actions. Stuff that’s just like showing you a meme or a song he think you’d like is just his way of showing that he cares abt u

Milo’s grown up in an environment where it’s typical to throw out casual ‘i love yous’ and hugs so he’s not shy about showing his love! if he loves you, you WILL KNOW! milo will make sure that you know!!

69 - what is your OC’s favorite kind of weather?

PJ gets cold easily so he likes sunny, clear days! He likes the feeling of warmth and sunshine but really, he will take anything over rain cuz he finds it annoying and then ur clothes get all soaked and they stick to ur skin and your hair gets wet too and it’s yuck

Bc he’s from Utah, Milo loves snow! it reminds him of family and playing in the snow as a kid and snow days where he gets to stay in his pajamas all day. Ofc, Luna Vista is in Cali and doesn’t get snow at all so he looks forward to the winter holidays when he gets to go back! 

[utopianvoices]

love languages | stray kids

↭ a/n: this is based purely on my opinion and perspective of them!!

⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅∙∘☽༓☾∘∙•⋅⋅⋅•⋅⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅

chan

from what we see every vlive

his top love language will be physical touch 

he’ll come back from a long day at the studio or from practice

and he’ll just collapse on you

in need for cuddles

and just physical contact in general

whatever you and him do, there will be SOME physical contact 

brushing of hands, holding hands, his hand on your back, small pecks in between conversations, linking of pinkies ((this actually makes me so soft asdkfjaskf))

you name it and it’ll be there tbh

that being said, however, he’ll really respect your space 

so one word from you and he’ll be on the other side of the room

but you won’t miss the pouty lips he was sporting

but also lets be real who doesn’t want to cuddle him

we know he’s a great cook 

but loves it so much when you cook for him

because then he can back hug you and be that cute couple everybody cringes at but also secretly wishes that they also had that

loves winters only because he gets to cuddle you all night long without getting sweaty and shit 

also strikes me as the person who loves eskimo kisses asdlfgska; someone stop me im gonna combust from all this fluff

just give this boy all the love in the world asdfkdsjagl ;-;

woojin

oK this boy is cuddle king #2

its already established that he’s a cuddly bear

but i feel like he’s more of a words of affirmation type of person

he’s cuddly in the sense that he’ll be all up for cuddles and physical affection

but wouldn’t be as needy for it as chan

simple words can make his day

whether you say you love him 

or just things to compliment him in general

because he can get insecure sometimes

thinking that those around him are better and that he’s just not good enough to be doing what he’s doing

so your words to comfort and assure him would mean a lot to him

a “you’re doing great” 

or “that sounded amazing” when he just sang something

can 180 flip his day around SaKDa DwIJIbONa eY yO

someone take the internet away from me

like he could be having the most tiring day with nonstop practising and what not

but the moment you say these things

he just grins like the cheshire cat and collects you in a hug

thats uwujin for you

minho (lee know)

this bOi

oh snap

physical touch for days

like

okay he is soft yeS

buT

HE IS ALSO 

not soft

did you see that miguk chum (american/western dance) on asc

minhoe be going all out

bUT FOR THE SAKE OF MY HEART ILL KEEP THIS AS SOFT AS I CAN

okay hear me out on this but he just seems like a tease yknow its like how he teases the members with food :’’)

like on normal days all he wants is to hug you but seeing you flustered is wayyy more amusing

so this is just him being a piece of shit when he teases you to no ends

like if you want to hug him he’ll just run away from you 

or if you want to kiss him he’s gonna tiptoe so that you cant reach him

and then when you’re done asf with him and walk away

he’s gonna swoop in and just smother you with love and affection

but i see him being a real softie whenever he’s tired

will be pretty whiny and clingy when all he wants to do it sleep

and you’re not gonna have the heart to tease him for all the times he did it to you

because he looks too tired and cute

so you’ll let him do what he wants without denying him of your attention

and he’s just gonna cuddle up to you and will probs be the little spoon ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

changbin

okay now we have the darkest member of sk

but also the aegyo king

this duality

smh

but yes getting onto business

i see him really valuing acts of services 

if you see him struggling with something

a simple “can i help” or “is there something i can do” will make his heart go boom boom

because although he knows you can’t really help when he’s stuck with composing or writing

the fact that you thought about him and are willingly asking to help will warm his heart

also loves it when you help him clean up or cook for him

although he feels really bad for making you do it

but deep down he’s just loving it

like all he’d want to do is go home and sleep but thinking about the mess in his room and his grumbling stomach will overpower any thoughts of sleep

when he reaches home, tho, his room is clean and there’s some tasty ass food on the table

and these are the times he just goes asdfldksjf and attacks you with all the hugs and kisses

but this doesn’t mean he takes advantage of you oh no

when you’re having a busy day and he’s at home

you’re gonna come home to a clean ass house, some takeout food and the smell of smoke coming from the kitchen

he tried his best to cook but clearly didn’t succeed

hyunjin

okay this was surprisingly the most difficult to write

because hyunjin is still a mystery

one moment he’s chic 

and the next he’s goofing around with the members

so i think with him it will really depend on the time of the day and his general mood

but mostly he will really value quality time with you

but physical touch will also play an important role in the relationship

rmb when he said that he loves woojin because woojin doesn’t reject his cuddles

my point proven ladies and gentlemen

he will always be touching you one way or another when ya’ll are together

because this boy just can’t get enough of you

loves it when you feed him because he is a sOft boi

his favourite is when you sit on the counter while feeding him and he just stands in between your legs

because then he can see you eye to eye

and just admire you

is the type to interrupt you in a conversation by giving you small pecks

because why not

but at the same time while these cutesy things happen

talking about yourselves will play a very important role to him

because then he will trust you more and open up more and more

which is the most important thing for a lasting relationship

so for this boy, quality time and physical touch will have to go hand in hand

can i get a hwang hyunjin for myself (ಥ﹏ಥ)

jisung (han)

this squirrel

will looooooooove receiving gifts 

not that it’s a necessity for him

like even if you don’t buy the gifts it’s fine

but it’s the thought behind the gift that gets him all feeling squishy and cheesy and all that mush

going back to my point of not buying the gift

he loves handmade gifts more than anything

even a simple message on a torn piece of post-it that has lost its stickiness will mean the world to him

especially when he hasn’t seen you in a long time

he will feel bad if you buy him expensive gifts all the time

because he feels like he should be the one spoiling you

but even if you buy him a rock and told him it reminded you of him

you best bet he’s going to worship that rock to the ends of the world

that’s just the kind of softie he is

loves it when you leave small letters around the house for him to find

the thrill of finding a letter that you put your thought into drives him crazy

will keep every single thing you give him in a memory box and will actually lock it because he doesn’t want the members ruining it 

not because he doesn’t want them to know about it

because trust me the moment you give him something he’s gonna be screaming about it for the next few days to the rest of stray kids

and they’re gonna call you crying asking you to shut him up

felix

this soft bub here deserves all the love in the world

all of them do

but like this boy strikes me as the type who just needs words of affirmation

like you know how he was beaming when jyp complimented him during the final mission on his korean

yes exactly

that’s how happy he gets

i feel like he will constantly need someone to remind him that he deserves everything he has and more

ofc he doesn’t expect you to be praising him non stop

but he appreciates constructive criticism more than just blatant rejection like how jyp did him dirty in ep 8

anyways

telling him that “it was really good but this part could’ve been better” and actually helping him get better will mean a lot to him

which also leads me to think that quality time will also be one of his top love languages

anyone who is willing to hype him up when he’s at his best but also spend time with him when he needs improving is someone he will appreciate for the rest of his life

also loves it when you send him soft messages at ass o’clock because he’ll wake up to your messages

and it’ll immediately make his day so much better

even if he has 10000 schedules that day

pls love him 

seungmin

seungmin strikes me as the type to be really practical about life

and just about the outlook of things

so any acts of service will be enough to get him going asdlfjksaksdljf

because i feel like he is the type to believe “actions speak louder than words”

so if you want to express your love for him, he would appreciate gestures that show your love rather than just you saying that you love him

he’ll never get tired of you asking him if he has eaten or if he has gotten to his destination safely 

because to him it shows that you love and care for him that you are willing to ask him these things

also like changbin, will love it if you help him out with his work

he doesn’t expect you to help him but will be extra extra grateful if you were to help him

especially when he doesn’t ask you to

like if he has a habit of leaving some things around and then forgetting where he put them

and you make an effort to remember this and maybe help him create a space where he can leave these things

this is the shit he signs up for

this shit right here

so if you wanna make your way into this squishy left cheeked boy’s heart, empty words are a no no

stop sleeping on this amazing snail tyvm this has been a psa

jeongin (i.n)

this busan baby that’s killing everyone 

it’s busan’s water i tell you

anyhoo

jeongin is still at an age where i think the maturity in terms of relationships really hasn’t kicked in 

because they’ve been practising for debut and stuff which makes me think he hasn’t had time to really experience the world of romance

so i think he will really love receiving gifts 

bcs he’s a baby

and which baby doesn’t like gifts

but also at the same time

i think he is someone who likes spending quality time > gifts

you know when you’re at that age where all you wanna do is be with your s/o all the time

yep that’s him

he wants to talk to you about his day, his worries, his dreams, this dog he saw on the road and just basically anything 

as long as you’re willing to share everything that happens with you as well

because you naturally form a deeper bond when you share these things

so after a day at practice he’ll come home and join you in front of the tv

but no one’s gonna be watching that shit

ya’ll will just talk about your day and everything that happened while the sound of the tv just serves as background music for your deep talks

also loves loves spending time singing karaoke with you

even if you sound like a dying whale

totally serenades you with trot songs

and it works

because how can you resist this cutie with his braces

∞ end ∞