#this is mostly true in books 1/2

[writingwithcolor]

how to convey arabic language in a specific dialect is being spoken without lengthy descriptions of how words/specific letters are pronounced?

Anonymous asks:

I believe my question revolves around linguistics, but please correct me if there’s something I didn’t take into account. I’m an Egyptian girl who speaks Arabic (the Egyptian dialect specifically), and I am currently writing an urban fantasy set in modern day Egypt. Naturally, the characters would be speaking Egyptian arabic (i even have a scene where my character converses with a tourist and struggles to speak to them ‘in english’)  But as the story is written in english, I found this is really hard to convey, especially with the entirely different alphabet, and the words that simply cannot be transcribed (sometimes in definition, and sometimes in letters that don’t have an equivalent). What would be a good way to send the message that these characters are by no means speaking English (unless stated) without having to hold the reader's hand through lengthy descriptions of how a word is pronounced at every corner?

Hi Anon! This is a tough spot. I’m no expert, just a mod and fellow writer trying to support your fantastic ask. Any bilingual readers, especially other Arabic speakers, feel free to chime in.

1- Disclose they’re speaking Arabic, even though you’re writing in English:

Example A: “Hey, Noor! Wait up,” he said in Arabic. 

Example B: “Habibti, I haven’t seen you in a while,” she reminded me. It was true - I had missed the lilt of her Darija-Moroccan dialect-so different from the Mesri, the Egyptian twang, that rolled off my tongue.

2- Consider using Arabic semantic structure or phrases and idioms used mostly in Arabic.

Example A: She reddened with embarrassment. // They whitened at the sight of it. ((English would probably say she ‘turned red’ rather than reddened, or ‘paled’ rather than whitened. Since Arabic has this natural and fun ability to let color be a verb, which English can but doesn't have naturally - make use of it! It will read differently in English because it’s an Arabic construct. Use other examples like this that you’d know better than me.))

Example B: Consider using “May the Gods smite her house!,” instead of the classic English ‘Fuck You.’ Or use “On my eyes” rather than ‘min ayooni’ or its English translation of ‘of course.’ Since Arabic language is beautifully expressive, you could lean into that when you can rather than using common English alternatives.

 Example C: Consider interspersing Arabic transliterations of common words/phrases like; habibti/habibi; yani; mashallah casually through the story.  

3- When speaking with English speakers, consider using informal text/chat speak (Arabizi?) to communicate the Arabic, since it’s already transliterated to the Roman alphabet. [disclaimer - I am atrocious at this, and will be surprised if anyone can read it… but for science!]: 

Example A: Instead of (انت طالب بالجامعة) or “are you a student?” it becomes; 

“Ente 6albeh bel jam3a?” I asked, staring at the textbook in his arms. 

He looked at me confused. “I don't understand,” he said. “I can’t speak Arabic.” 

“Wain 3m tedrus? Where do you… y3ni… where do you study?” I tried again in slow, awkward English.

These examples may or may not work for you. It’s important to remember that there’s no single "right" way to do this, but it’s mostly about finding a balance that reads well, and feels good to you. Subtle cues like sentence structure, idioms, the occasional untranslated word, and natural context can help to show the language shift. Good luck and happy writing!

~ Melanie 🌻  

P.S. Mod Meir suggests checking out the book When the Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb, which handles this issue well. There's a lot of "He said in English" or "He repeated it in Yiddish for the old woman's benefit" or "It took him a moment to realize he had spoken in English" (( Thanks Sacha! @kuttithvangu ))

[neil-gaiman]

hello mr gaiman! this isn’t a question I just wanted to thank you for good omens and all the joy it has brought me.

I am a very flamboyant and feminine man. I use wild hand gestures, I talk loudly and dramatically, and the way I present myself often gets me a lot of strange looks and ridicule from people. Whenever I see people who look/act like me in media, they are usually treated as the butt of the joke, something hilarious for the audience to laugh at. One of the only characters who isn’t like that is Aziraphale. Aziraphale is dramatic and feminine, but not in a way that is for the audience to laugh at. He is a funny character, but not because of his mannerisms, mostly because of his naïveté and general silliness. He is not the same hurtful stereotype that I’ve been forced to watch again and again. For my whole life I’ve often been treated like this walking circus. I’ve had to hide who I am in order to be taken seriously by most people. It just feels so refreshing to see a character like me be celebrated and loved for his mannerisms. Watching him in season 1 gave me the confidence to be prouder and more true to who I am. Watching season 2 just made me feel even stronger and more confident. He gave me hope that even if everyone is laughing at me right now, someday soon I can be taken seriously.

I know you probably won’t see this, but thank you anyway. This show/book means so much to me and many others. I hope you have a good day :)

I'm so glad. I love him so much, and I know that Michael Sheen loves him too.

[rose-maidenn]

Pac : what are your hidden talents ?

Heyyy welcome to my reading , take a deep breath and choose a Pile with your intuition take what resonates only . If you liked it and would like book a reading dm me 🫶

Pile 1 :

Your powers are first of all all around you and it's visible to the people around you, however you are blinded to them , you need to pay close attention to what brings you joy and fulfillment , therein lies your true salvation, you have the power to create abundance and I know everyone has that but trust on me that what you have is so rare so special and also so subtle and you yourself are unaware of it ,but in everyday life try to create from what you have and soon you will see your power gleaming . Along with that you have the power to dance at the face of danger you're a calm person and nothing gets to you, if you haven't been that calm trust that with time universe will bless you with calmness that defeats enemies . Apart from that you might be potent in sexual sensual and glamour magic .

Pile 2 :

You have the power to wake up from anything , to let things literally go , a cycle breaker a true incarnation of getting up after a fall . Your energy is misunderstood because how could it be you know life requires necessary sacrifices and you do it , people however don't get it . Your discipline is one of your greatest gifts and your energy of being undefeated . You also maybe good at pranic and energy healing . Also honey always remember that your advise is very worthy and can help so many people so advise people only who deserve you and your energy.

Pile 3:

Your hidden talent is your dark feminine or masculine energy that believes people deserve what they do to others , it's the energy of righteousness and in a way proclaimed and beautiful. You hold the power to give people a taste of their own damn medicine and let them know that you're not one to be messed with you're the light of the night doesn't matter black or bright. You have a very strong crown chakra , you get messages very easily and your interpretation to them is very correct . Keep working on making it stronger. Your concentration powers are also freaking amazing when you desire something you work so hard for it it's like you get obsessed but you make things work . You're the very dedicated artist kind.

Pile 4 :

Your hidden talent is to have a balance between optimism and pessimism , people mostly fail to have that but you do you know when to feel your emotions and when to just let them go . You will be very famous if you can keep your emotions in control . You also have a very good throat chakra so speaking skills is something you should really work on you will be a master of it in no time . You should also know that best ideas come to people when they're spending time in leisure and as much as you stay grounded and give yourself the rest and leisure that you deserve , good ideas will automatically flow to you , you're a medium of divine gods , blessed be youu .

Thank you so much for reading ❤️

[notspiders]

Oh, Honey! (Bumblebee! Reader x Monster! 141)

General Warnings: Mostly fluff. Reader is female and is described as rather small and chubby. Reader is clumsy. Reader has a very large family. Characters may act out of character. Poor grammar is likely. Cussing. Part 1??? Note: Monster! 141 belongs to @bluegiragi

~~~~

Price watches you through the window.

Truthfully, he isn't sure how he and his team ended up here. One day they were being chased by a bloody team of zombies/cannon fodder, the next- he's laying on this extremely cozy bed (although it is a bit small) with his wounds nicely patched. Soap has gone hunting with the other women. Ghost is satisfied that they're all safe in this... rather massive cottage and has been snoring away in the next room for the past hour. Gaz has told him that he's going to just fly around and keep an eye out- just in case if the enemies somehow find themselves through the dense woods and into this clearing.

They really were lucky, Price thinks. According to you, the woods were a force themselves. Navigating through it, especially at night, is practically impossible. Compasses don't work. There's no signal and, of course, any type of aircraft just fail here. The woods are miles long and unless you packed enough supplies- it's suicide to dive back in and try to find your way out. It's just that sometimes the woods can help you, and sometimes the woods just gives you Mother Nature's middle finger and kills you. So there's that.

Naturally, the team was suspicious.

1) The explanation made no sense. 2) They were just outnumbered by a ton of enemies and to stumble upon this welcoming lot is... well, it's too good to be true, yeah? 3) You and your family are just way too happy. 3.1) There are no guys in your family. Your mother stated that men generally just wandered in, the family would treat them, and then they go away by themselves after a few nights. 3.2) Honestly, all of you look the same. Maybe there's like, a difference in hairstyles, body types, and obvious age gaps between the women here and there, but Jesus… Gaz has already made the mistake of confusing you, your cousins, your many sisters, and other random girls multiple times last night. 3.3) Scratch out the 'massive cottage' you guys claimed it to be. It's a mansion. Your 'family' is very large. There are many aunts, other women, cousins, other girls that were adopt into the family- Just no men. All living under the same roof and might as well be an army itself with how efficient you all did your tasks.

That said, it's very rude to point guns at innocent, clueless civilians. You, an adorably chubby, little bumblebee-hybrid (identifiable by the two rather pathetic buzzing wings behind your back), opened the door to them last night and stared blankly at their guns before cheerily ushering them in without freaking your head out. Next thing they knew, they got some quality homecooked meals cooked and served before them, plenty of drink (the honey mead everyone shared is excellent), proper treatment with their wounds (with... herbs), and warm beds. Ghost had stayed up the whole night and snooped around (just in case) but reported nothing interesting except for a few old hunting rifles and some overdue library books. Yes, each girl did carry a tiny foraging knife, but he's pretty certain they could still punt them like footballs ten at a time.

Morning comes- the team properly introduce themselves without being too specific of their occupation. There was a great deal of oohing and aahing as Price unfolded his one wing. His smoke did cause one girl to faint and her mother quickly asked for Price to... stop. He did his best and has, for now, stopped smoking his cigar. Everyone just steered clear from Ghost. Many children were petting Soap's head and playing with his fluffy tail, and others were stroking Gaz's wings.

Despite all the attention, Price's gaze is always on you. Maybe it was because of the fact that he's seen you first. You were just the cutest out of all of them. He wanted to whisk you away just to squish every soft part of your body and have you cuddled up beside him in his nest back home.

He's sorely disappointed to be told that he needs to return to bed so that his wounds can heal faster. No matter. The window gives him a very nice view of the clearing outside. Some girls are tending to the farm. Others are beekeeping. Plenty have gone to the outskirts of the forest to forage or hunt. Soap has offered to go out with the girls and they gladly accepted his help. (Tomorrow, he'll get off of this bed and join everyone too.)

Right now, you're picking the berries in your garden. It's amusing to watch you. Sometimes you bend over to pluck a few pretty flowers too- he's gotten a very nice view of your plump arse here and there. He's watched you buzz your small wings to just barely get a foot in the air and pluck an apple off the tree. Oh, how he wished to simply go out to lift you up himself... Your weight would be nothing to him.

From his observations, he's smartly deduced: Your body is round. Your little wings aren't designed for distance.

He loves the way you'd burrow your nose into any flower. Sometimes you remind him of Johnny's eagerness by the way you'd get a bit too enthusiastic and faceplant into the bed of flowers to take in the scent.

Price watches you get up, bump into your cousin (or is it sister? Or is this another girl? He couldn't be arsed), and the two of you collectively squeaked and apologized at the same time. Adorable. Fascinating. Beautiful. He hasn't felt this way ever since the time he xaight the glimpse of the shiny Excalibur in that stupid rock.

The lunch horn has been blown. He's been told that today's meal would be freshly baked bread and creamy chicken with wild rice soup. There’ll be tea and coffee for the drinks.

Price wishes his lunch would just be you.

[annie-creates]

The greatest mistake | Part 1

Pairing: Dain Aetos x Riorson reader

Genre: fluff to angst

Words: 2246

Note: My first official multi part story! This was supposed to be only two parts, but it kept getting longer and longer, so it's gonna be four parts coming out once a week and then maybe some more if you like it and want them. Please be aware not every detail might be completely true to the canon source material.

Masterlist | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Dain Aetos was absolutely smitten by you. It started innocently enough, when he offered to train you after hours seeing as you needed a little bit of extra help compared to your squad. But soon he noticed how brilliantly fast witted, strong minded and smart you were. You didn’t let anyone mess with you. You always had a fast snap back when others teased you. You pushed yourself harder and faster every day. You were no fragile flower, but still you were beautiful. Possibly the most ethereal woman Dain has ever seen and would ever lay eyes on in this life. And maybe any life after that.

First it was just a few training sessions, then sitting together at lunch every once in a while. After that he helped you with studying for history and battle brief, late night sessions in the library slowly moving into his dorm once the weather and temperatures started to drop. With every day he felt like he has learned something new about you, even if he didn’t want to at first. Your favorite dessert. Your favorite children’s book from back when you were little. And during the nights you spent stripped in his bed, your souls as naked as your bodies, he traced the dark lines of your rebellion relic, the abstract pictures embedding in his mind.

Sometimes he felt like screaming his love for you from the rooftops, felt such a powerful wave of happiness it barreled through him like a tsunami, leaving nothing but wreckage in its way. Realistically that was unacceptable tho, so you settled for light touches at the morning formation, jokes exchanged in the dining hall and secret kisses hidden in the shadows of the courtyard’s pillars. A boy like him could never date a girl like you in a place like the Basgiath War College. And even if he could, you didn’t want to hear any more whispered gossip and rustling assumptions about warming leadership’s bed, your reputation here was already bad enough.

“Hey, nice flight today.” Dain catches you as the rest of your squad clears out the flight field.

“Thanks, we’ve been working at that maneuver for a while.” You wink at your dragon who’s lifting his chest in pride.

“Good job. Let’s go for lunch.” Dain falls into step beside you as you walk to the courtyard.

MY good job. Your dragon reminds you in your head.

You could also let me take a bit of the credit. You poke at him jokingly.

When you’re the one flying it I’ll bow to you. He argues back with sass before returning to the vale to do his own thing, not talking to you anymore for the moment.

“I’ll catch you later, alright?” Dain promises as you near the commotion of the quadrant.

“Sure.” You nod, smiling at him.

He kisses the top of your head before departing in his own direction and you join the few friends you have in your squad, most of them other marked children. People in this place were not in the habit of forgiving and forgetting what your parents did years ago, so you mostly stuck to ‘your own kind’, as most would call it. After lunch you have a physics class and then you’re free for the day, which means you’ll probably stop by the gym to train a little and hopefully will find a bit of time to work on the battle brief assignment you’ve been putting off for the past couple days. As you’re making your way across the rotunda, Dain catches you.

“Hey.” He greets you again with the damn smile of his that made you weak in the knees.

“Well hi to you again.” You laugh. “What’s up?”

“I wanted to ask, do you want to go to the Reunification Day party with me?” Dain offers, catching you off guard as you stumble over your words to answer.

“I… don’t know… I mean, it’s a little sore subject…” Your sight slides to your friends talking in the hall.

“Come on. Please?” he smiles at you sideways.

“I’ll think about it.” You promise little lost for words.

What would your brother think of you for coming to such a celebration? On the other hand, it’s just a day, right? Could you pretend it was just a day? That it wasn’t tied to the execution of your father and possibly every adult figure you knew up until that day? But maybe you could make it just a party..? The thoughts don’t leave your head even as you come to the gym a few hours later, ready to spar and train with someone, looking over the mostly usual occupants. No Dain in sight tonight, but instead you had your pick of marked cadets and a few other first or second years who were a little behind. Your brother’s girlfriend was apparently one of them, resting leaning on the wooden pillar.

“Hey, Violet, can I ask you something?” You greet her.

“Sure, what’s up?” She smiles at you, lazily drinking form her water bottle.

“Do you think it’s okay if I go to the Reunification Day celebration? Dain invited me, and I… I don’t know if it’s right.” You admit, your eyes scanning over Xaden and Bodhi working out on the other side of the gym.

“I think if you want to go, you should.” Violet answers after a minute of thinking. “It doesn’t have to be just a day of depression and sorrow if you don’t want it to be.”

“Alright, thanks… Will you help me find a dress?” You plead with a glint in your eye, clearly you didn’t need too much convincing.

“Fine, if you teach me the maneuver you do with the knife I’ll help you.” She rolls her eyes with a smile.

“Deal!” You nod eagerly, ready to get to work.

A week later you’re standing in front of your mirror, brushing out any wrinkles in your skirt. You’re wearing a strapless sweetheart neckline corset burgundy dress with a princess A-line skirt that’s almost the same color as the dragon relic on your chest. Your rebellion relic curves around your arm freely, you had no reason to be ashamed of it today. You wanted to show it with pride. Dain waits for you outside the door, linking his arm with yours after he picks his jaw off the floor.

“Ready?” He asks.

“Hope so.” The nerves evident in your voice.

“Don’t worry, you’re the most beautiful rider in the quadrant.” He assures you as you step into the great hall.

“That’s not what I’m afraid of.” You admit in a whisper.

Immediately you’re faced with two colonels who greet Dain and you smally bow to them. They hardly spared you a glance, but their stance towards you is palpable. People are equally surprised and disgusted to actually see you turn up, which is quite ironic considering the school tried to force every cadet to participate no matter their origin. Everyone around whispering about the relic wrapped around your arm.

“What an interesting choice of company.” One of them measures you with his sight, both clearly displeased with your presence.

“You want a drink?” Dain asks noticing your sudden shyness.

He walks off with you still linked on his arm all the way to the refreshments bar. He chooses a drink for the both of you, scanning the crowd of colonels, lieutenants, generals and other important personnel of Navarre. You could hardly believe so many of them chose to get together in such a place, weren’t they afraid the marked ones could try something on them? Or were they so blinded by their unreachability they gloated in it?

“Yeah… maybe this wasn’t a good idea. Maybe I shouldn’t be here.” You admit as you’re sipping from the glass he gave you.

“Nonsense. Come on, let’s dance.” He almost drags you to the dance floor before you can react.

As you twirl in the rhythm of waltz and old Navarrian dance, you smile at each other as if there’s no one else in the room. For a moment you have your own little bubble filled only with the presence of each other and the warm feelings you share. Like the first sunrise after a heavy storm. The days he was afraid of his feelings for you seem suddenly so distant, as if they happened in another life because now, all he knows is you.

“I didn’t know you can dance like that.” He wows amazed.

“I was practically a duchess.” You remind him, finishing the dance with a twirl.

He takes your arm once again, leading you off the floor, flushed and beaming with a smile that freezes on your face the moment you realize who suddenly stopped before you and why Dain went not only to a full stop but completely rigid. He looked like even his heart and blood flow stopped as he stared into the eyes of his own father.

“Evening.” General Sorrengail greets you and you bow your head to her and colonel Aetos next to her.

“Is this who you’re taking to the Reunification celebration? Riorson’s daughter? Disgusting.” Aetos fires immediately at Dain, you clearly not even worth his sight.

“Dad…” he tries to negotiate letting go of your hand. “It’s not…”

“No. You’re not my son.” The brutality in his voice takes you back. “My child would never shame me like that.”

“Hey. That’s not necessary…” You defend Dain, slightly stepping in front of him.

“I’m not talking to you, you filthy traitor. Dishonorable just like your father.” You take a step back as if he had actually punched you.

Dain uses the space between you two to stride away, leaving you behind with the two leaders as his angry steps echo away. Clearly he was too preoccupied with what he just heard to even remember he had you with him. Now you really felt out of place, your cheeks slightly reddening. You could hold your own but it didn’t mean you appreciated being left alone in the presence of every higher up who ever wanted you dead in one room.

“Dain…” You try to call after him but he’s long gone.

“Some heroic boyfriend you got there.” General Sorrengail mocks you and you wrap your hands in fists before you turn around and practically run out of the room, echoes of laughter following you out.

You couldn’t believe the humiliation they all gave you. It’s one thing for them to treat you with no respect, but to personally attack your father? And for Dain to leave you there hanging as if he didn’t just bring you into the hungry lion’s coop? As you’re trying to breathe in some fresh air of the night in the courtyard, you’re surprised by a group of Xaden, Garrick and Bodhi in flight leathers, accompanied by Violet and Imogen coming out of the gym.

“Seriously? We have so much to worry about and this is what you do? Go to a party to celebrate our father’s death?” Xaden furiously stares at you in your dress.

Suddenly you felt a little stupid for even considering going in the first place and then actually doing it. His angry sight made you feel tiny and weak, even tho everyone was compared to Xaden. The anger and betrayal overcoming the disappointment on his face. You let him down. There weren’t many occasions in your life when he had actually let you know that.

“Xaden this is really not a good time for this…” You try to moderate but it falls on deaf ears.

“No, it’s a perfect time. What did you think you’re doing celebrating the death of our parents!?” He thunders at you.

“It was just a dance…” You try to oppose with a little voice full of uncertainty.

“I’m ashamed of you, Y/n. Our father would be disgraced by you. You’re not my family. You do not deserve our name. You’re not worth being my sister.” He levels you, angrily turning on his heel.

“Xaden!” You call after him, tears threatening to spill as Violet runs after him.

You look over your other friends, but all you see in their faces is disgust and hate. Garrick uncompromisingly shakes his head and Bodhi looks at you with the utmost disappointment, before they all leave you standing there. Your tears flow down your face as you make your way to the last person you still have to talk to and gently knock on his door. Maybe he’s not there? Maybe he’s cooling off somewhere else? But then you hear rustling of clothes and slow steps.

“Hey…” You whisper as Dain opens the door.

“What do you want.” He spits, your heart clenching.

“Seems like I’ve been now also disowned by my family so…” You don’t get the chance to say anything more.

“Like I care. Leave me the fuck alone Y/n, I want nothing to do with you. You were a mistake.” With that he slams the door in your face, almost hitting your nose.

Lost for what to do, you get to your room, sinking to the ground by your bed and crying your eyes out into the duvet. This was supposed to be just a sweet night with your boyfriend, one filled with dancing and sweetness and love, so why did it turn out so horribly? How could you lose every single person you had in the matter of just a few hours?

[jar0fhoney]

PART 1 - PART 2 - PART 3 (NSFW) - PART 4 - PART 5 (NSFW) - PART 6 - PART 7 (NSFW) - PART 8 (NSFW)

“Would you ever wanna leave, Ma?”

The question had been teetering on the tip of your tongue since Khargaad had propositioned you a month ago. August was yawning into September and it would be time to harvest any day now. Your mother stared into her plate, tapping her spoon into the stew.

“Did I ever think I would be able to? No. But do I want to…?” There was a pained smile on her face, like it hurt to remember, “When I was a little girl, I wanted to see it all. See the world. I would get lost in father’s encyclopedias.”

Despite living in a rural land, farming for a living, your mother was raised in a rather upper class family. Her father, a notable professor, had very high expectations for all of his children.

“If he could see me now…” Your mother dug her head into her hands, “An old lady working on a farm? No husband? No prospects or ambition? He would weep.”

“Stop that Ma.” You scolded her. She sighed.

She had ran away with your father at a young age. He was a stable boy who was crass, reckless, impassioned, fiery. Everything your mother had been raised to look down on. They eloped in secret, earning her family’s contempt and rejection.

“I always thought you and your sisters were my chance to make up for it. To make up for all the promise I threw away. I could’ve been… an anthropologist… or a historian.”

You had never met the man your mother saw in your father. And it took many years for your mother to accept the man she married just wasn’t there anymore. You remember him as mean. Egotistical. Violent. The day he left was the day you all let out a sigh of relief, but out of everyone your mother took it the very hardest. Father was her first rebellion and one that blew up right in her face. You reached across the dining room table, taking her hands into yours.

“Let’s leave, Ma. Just go. Somewhere. Anywhere but here.” She tensed for a second, hands firm on yours,

“Y/n… did something happen? Are you afraid? Did he… did he hurt you?”

You laughed softly, reassuringly running your thumbs over her knuckles, “No no no. It’s mostly Khargaad’s idea in the first place. I think he… I don’t know… I think he just wants the best for me.”

Her shoulders slouch, tension easing.

“The best for you… is all I’ve ever wanted y/n.”

-

You peered over at Khargaad plucking tomatoes. He had gotten into the habit of just showing up in the afternoons to assist in tending the fields. At first, he would sheepishly ask permission to join you. But now, with absolutely no shame, you would see him marching down the path to you in order to get his share of the work started. You gave up trying to assure him he didn’t need to volunteer his time a while ago.

“You’re smiling an awful lot over there.” His voice cut through the silence and almost startled you. In truth, you had grown so used to his presence that it was easy to let your guard down around him now.

And so, that is why you had absentmindedly found yourself day dreaming about telling Khargaad about you and your mother’s conversation. That you wanted to leave with him. There was a big stupid grin plastered on your face.

“Let’s go, Khargaad.”

He smirked, “Back to my place?”

“No silly, I mean go.”

He paused for a second.

“Oh…”

“OH!”

Before you could respond you were hoisted in the air by the orc. You wrapped your legs around his torso, straddling his waist. His eyes were so bright and excited, like a little puppy. “And your Ma is coming with us?!”

“Yes of cou- AH!” Khargaad had broken into a jog towards the house, you still in his arms. Your mother sat peacefully in the front garden thumbing through a book titled “Orc Customs and Cultures: A Regional Guide.”

“Ma’am! Is it true?” He exclaimed. She smirked cheekily, already knowing what he was referring to.

“You sure it won’t damper your mood? Dragging this old bag of bones along with you?”

He shook his head earnestly, setting you down in the process. Your mother and Khargaad had struck up a lovely friendship of their own since the two of you had begun courtship. The book on Orc culture she read was a gift from him (apparently presenting physical tokens of goodwill to the parents was a very common part of orc courtship).

“Ma’am… I would be so thrilled to have your company.” His huge hand enveloped your mother’s firmly. She fanned herself jokingly, “Well if you put it that way, how can a girl refuse.”

You all decided to reconvene and discuss your plans. By the end of the conversation, Khargaad had his hand wrapped around your waist in such a manner you knew what he was thinking. He loved to hold you there.

-

“Oh Gods…” Khargaad croaked, with a vice grip on the furs covering his bed.

You sat perched between his legs, licking delicately up the base of is needy cock. It was an intoxicating sight, seeing your pretty pink tongue swirling around his tip, and your hand pumping him up and down. You were too good to be true.

It was easy to tell when he was close. His voice would get hoarse, and it seemed as if every muscle in his body was flexing in anticipation. It thrilled him that you had gotten so adept at getting him to his limit, to reduce him to a mumbling mess.

“Waitt st-stop c’mere-“ Khargaad reached down and pulled you up by your waist. He was downright obsessed with the way his thumbs pressed into the soft skin of your tummy. He lifted you up directly over his painfully erect cock, and you reached down to line himself up with your already red and puffy entrance.

He loved pleasuring you so much, it often was the very first thing he sought to do when he pulled you into bed. He had grown very fond of pulling you into his lap, making an absolute mess of you with his hands. Making you squirt was always a goal, he derived a smug sense of satisfaction from it that always left him with a shit eating grin on his face.

“Come on please make a mess for me y/n. Make a mess on my hands for me sweetheart.” He would mewl into your ear whilst rubbing your clit and finger-fucking you at a dizzying pace.

And so, as per usual, your sensitive pussy was ready for him by the time he speared you onto his cock. He liked to watch you slowly take him, seeing himself disappear between your folds. He began pumping you up and down on himself, like you were his own living fleshlight. His strength made it so he could work up to a rather quick pace, all the while you bringing your hands up to play with your tits.

“Oh- OH!” He cried out suddenly, pulling you off of himself. He shot thick hot ropes of cum onto his stomach. When he was done, you grabbed a warm washcloth from his basin, wiping his soft stomach clean.

He pulled you down to cradle you in his arms. “I’m going to take you home…” his voice muffled into your neck.

;)

@reads-stuff-quietly @loo-looland @sluttygirl123 @beaniebaneenie @blushycadaver @sunndust @whyiamadegenerate @the-attic-of-porcelain @freakyotaku059-blog @youknowits-derea @thoughts-of-bear-undercovers @allthecraftandthings @gruffle1 @kennedyabraxas123 @queenies1x1 @jellyslimesofficial @jasminedragoon @rangoismyname @the-queen-of-sorrows @the-dumber-scaramouche @heddaloddafun @swimmingrascalbatdragon @hellodollstuff @wingedghostpepper @pistachioinfernal @honeybaegle @sammehshark @dij-ology @forgemotherkestrel @wafflefries786 @sadsilver @shellyyyyy0000 @thecreativeblueberry-blog @lovingbadguys

[facets-and-rainbows]

Blue Exorcist Character Guidebook 2: Mephisto

Info on Mephisto from the new guidebook! Each character has a profile followed by relevant questions from fans, and then there's an interview section later where Kazue Katoh gives commentary on each major character and each manga arc. I have more guidebook than time, so I'm skipping the parts that are just like...summarizing who he is and stuff. So this will mostly be fan questions and Katoh's commentary

Biographical info

Gender: Male Age: (°w°) Rank/Titles: Director of True Cross Academy and head of the exorcism cram school, Honorary Knight for the Knights of the True Cross, King of Time Anniversary [T/N Katoh gives demons these in lieu of a birthday]: August 28 Blood type: ( ʹ - ʼ ) Height: 195 cm (184 cm without the "horn") Weight: 74 kg Skills and interests: movies, manga, anime, games, music, toys, miscellaneous subcultures

Fan Q&A

How do members of the Knights of the True Cross usually find out that Mephisto is a demon king?

I think some people might find out from books, the internet, etc even before they become exorcists. They do publish demon field guides that you can find at regular libraries, and Mephisto seems like the type to mention it in online interviews. Rin was the only one who didn't know.

How long has he had his current body?

About 200 years.

Which media from Assiah has had the greatest impact on him?

I imagine he would have been shocked the first time he saw a cinematograph.

Mephisto really likes all sorts of entertainment; has he ever tried making something himself?

Demons in general (not just Mephisto) tend to be bad at creative pursuits, though there are exceptions. Mephisto has a certain respect for human creativity.

Why is he so fond of Beelzebub?

Beelzebub just kind of struck a chord with him. Meanwhile, Beelzebub also likes being spoiled by Mephisto.

Which other demon kings get along with Mephisto the best?

In order: 1. Beelzebub 2. Amaimon 3. Egyn 4. Astaroth 5. Iblis 6. Lucifer [T/N it took me like an entire minute to work out that Azazel is the one missing from this list. Presumably because he's a rock]

Has Mephisto ever altered the past?

He sure does say a lot of things that imply that! [T/N: Katoh. Katoh. Katoh.]

How rich is Mephisto exactly?

He's actually one of the world's top businessmen and investors. His total assets are probably over one trillion yen [T/N: Jesus f*ck][T/N: that's about US$6.7 billion]

Author interview

Mephisto is a character who can solve just about anything; does that make him hard to write? Honestly, he's super easy to deploy. Mephisto has the plot in the palm of his hand and can fix stuff behind the scenes; he's the one pulling the strings. For adaptations and spinoffs, I just say "if you need to fill in a plot hole, make it Mephisto's fault" (laughs). But I do think it's dangerous to overdo it.

He even took on a sort of narrator role in chapter 44, didn't he? Around Volume 10, I was trying to treat each chapter like its own self-contained oneshot. Mephisto didn't even feel out of place as an omniscient narrator for one chapter, and for me that really drove home what a convenient character he is. Though I'm always wondering when and how to show Mephisto's own serious motives and inner thoughts, since he does fall into that eternal comic narrator role.

He can suddenly turn terrifying just when you were thinking he was comical. Hidden depths. Fundamentally he's on the humans' side, and he's often in charge of comic relief, but I do want to show his demonic side too. Same with the familiars; I want to portray the demons as something humans are afraid of.

[fanfics-i-find-here]

Do I know you? Part 5

Jason Todd x reader

Synopsis: You meet Tim and Steph, Jason is not happy about it.

Notes: Some drama is finally here brought to you by Tim and Steph. This is the power of embarrassing a sibling.

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Masterlist

The past week had been… odd. And that was putting it nicely. True to his word, the next evening was filled with Red Hood replacing your window locks with newer fancy ones attached to an “Out of date” alarm system (his words not yours). He showed you how to set it up and how to attach it to your phone, so if anyone got in while you were away you would know. It seemed a bit excessive to you, living on the sixth floor and all but he was adamant about it, so you let him. He told you if you wanted him to come in and share tea you would have to leave the window unlocked for a frame of time. If he didn’t show in that frame of time, you were to lock the window anyway.

“No later, understand?” He had ordered gruffly, and you had just shrugged. You’re pretty sure he rolled his eyes in response, but you couldn’t see them. In the days following he showed up every day even if it were just for a couple minutes. Sometimes you shared food, sometimes just tea. If he stayed for longer than a few minutes, you would sit amicably at the dining table or at the island. Sometimes in comfortable silence and sometimes conversing about your days, mostly you than him. You finally settled into a routine. After his visit, you would get ready for bed and repeat the day over.

Work at Jackie’s was booming. With the fall season in full swing, people came in requesting pumpkin this and pumpkin that, only to be disappointed to find out Jackies only had one pumpkin item and that was pumpkin bread. It was a blast. You kept up with the regulars and Darla would edge her way around you, collecting gossip. Over the next week and a half, she would sporadically bother you about if you had gotten Jason’s number or if you had fallen in with some other guy. She said she saw some of the signs of a guy but wasn’t too sure. When you asked what she meant she didn’t offer you any explanation.

It was a Thursday when you met Steph. When she came in, you mentally prepared yourself for another no-pumpkin showdown. You try not to judge a book by its cover, but her blonde hair and purple athleisure made it hard not to.

“Hi, Welcome to Jackie’s. What can I get for you?” your lips twitch into a customer service smile. She grins at you like this was the most excitement she had had all day.

“Hi, I’m Steph. How are you?” she asks politely.

“I’m good. What can I get for you?” she sags slightly at your shutdown of the conversation. Overly friendly new customers in Gotham were never good. They usually wanted something.

“Right,” she perks back up, “One hot chocolate and one black coffee.” She pauses for a moment while you put in the system. When you look back up, she asks “Do you know Jason?”

The sudden question slightly takes you aback and don’t answer, so she continues.

“He's about this tall,” she holds her hand in the air, “black hair, looks like he could punch a brick wall.” You nod slowly and she smiles, “Great, where does he usually sit?”

You point to the table nook he usually hides in, and she nods, “We’ll sit there. I heard that you bring the drinks out?” You nod again, still confused about this girl. No Pumpkin spice latte, and she knows Jason? Strange.

“How much do I owe you?” you finally snap out of your stupor. She pays, you thank her and tell her it will be out momentarily. She turns and greets a lean boy as he walks through the door. She tugs him to the booth quickly and they talk to each other in hushed tones, both glancing up at you occasionally. You try to ignore them as you stumble through making the two easiest items on the menu.

You glance up when the bell dings and a smile flits across your lips when you see Jason before it turns into a frown as he frowns. His eyes staring at his now occupied table. You pause in your task and come up to the register as he takes a few slow steps towards it.

“You okay?” you ask as you glance at the two at the table. They’re looking at Jason like they’ve won the lottery.

“Did they talk to you?” He ignores your own question.

“She did. Only to order though. Do I need to call the cops?”

Jason snorts at the question, “Yeah that’ll go well. She just ordered? She didn’t ask you anything?”

You give him a strange look. What is with people and odd questions today?

“She just asked where you sit. Sorry, I gave you away.”

He breaks his glare from them and meets your eye with a softness.

“It’s okay, Sweetheart. They would’ve figured it out even if you hadn’t given it to them.” Your heart flutters at the pet name. He had called you that the few times you had seen him since your walk home and it was starting to get to you.

“You want me to dump out their drinks and just make yours?” you ask as you try to force your focus away from the warmth on your cheeks.

“And ruin your hard work?” his eyes stare into your own and he finally breaks it when you hear giggles from your spies. You drop your chin down. “It’s okay,” he repeats, “I’ll sit with them.” He nods at you and heads for the table. The two sat there leaning together and whispering. You wonder who they are and how Jason knows them.

You get to work make the drinks, no longer stumbling, and with bounce your step. Darla stands next to you with a smug smile and makes some refills for customers.

“You could have asked for his number when he was alone but now there are people. Your poor self won't ever be able to do it.” She says teasingly.

“Thank you, Darla,” you say with an eye roll as you load the drinks on the tray. You take your time to meander to the table as Jason looks like he's berating the two that sit across from him. It doesn’t look like it's working as they both sit there with smug grins. You set the tray on the table and all eyes are on you. You keep your own eyes down as you move the drinks from the tray to the table. Your eyes try to catch Jason’s book for the day because you know you won't be asking like you normally do. You pull the tray from the table and rest it between your side and your arm.

“Anything else I can get you?” you glance at the two but meet Jason's eye. He looks flushed, possibly upset. Steph speaks up.

“No that’s okay. What was your name again?” she says like you had already told her. You break eye contact with Jason and look at her. She’s smiling and you can't find any malice in it, so you tell her. She nods like she already knows and points to the boy sitting next to her.

“This is Tim,” she points to Jason, “and obviously you already know Jason.” You hear a quiet thud from under the table and Tim flinches but smirks as he looks at Jason.

“You missed,” he turns to look up at you, “It's nice to meet you fin-” he cuts himself off and you wonder what the last word was.

You nod politely, “you too,” you say and look at Jason again for some explanation and a defeated look crosses his features as he shrugs.

“Brother” is all Jason gives, and you nod in semi-understanding. Based on the few mentions of family in passing conversations, you had always guessed he had a tense relationship with them.

“I didn’t know you had siblings.”  You look back at the two. Tim and Jason could definitely be brothers. Aside from their stature and slight skin tone difference, everything else is similar. Black hair, blue eyes. Though you would argue that Jason’s were prettier because they were green sometimes. Not that it mattered. Your eyes meet Stephs again. Blonde hair, green eyes, bright smile. Very different looking than the two boys.

“Are you the only girl in the family?”

Steph makes a gagging sound, “I’m not family, Thank God!” Tim snorts at her over dramatics.

“I’m sorry.” Your face flushes slightly as you flounder, “Then what…?” Your hand gestures to them all sitting at the table.

Jason's eyes narrow on your embarrassed state.

“Don’t worry, she’s just a leech.”

“Hey!”

“Would you mind getting me one of those chocolate croissants?”

You shift on your feet with a look of confusion. He never asks for anything else. You nod, “Sure, anything else for the table?”

Tim looks like he’s about to ask for something, but Jason cuts him off with a glare. Instead, he shakes his head no. You hesitantly step away from the table but take your time going back to the kitchen to pull out one of the chocolate croissants and warm it up. Your eyes periodically glance back at the table. They crouch over the table and talk to each other. You worry for a moment that they’re talking about you and then decide that it doesn’t really matter. You had only met Tim and Steph today. Their opinion of you was worthless and You knew Jason wasn’t one for gossiping about others. You’ve watched Darla try and fail. Once you finally make it back over to the table with the croissant, Tim and Steph are gone leaving their half-full drinks on the table.

As you set the plate on the table you ask, “Scare them off?”

Jason lets out a sigh.

“If only. I’m sorry if they made you uncomfortable.” You shake your head in response.

“I'm sorry I made assumptions before I had all the information. I hope I didn’t offend.”

“I doubt you could ever offend anyone sweetheart” Your cheeks warm again.

“That’s not true I work in a public job, and I offend people all the time just standing” you joke. Jason smiles and nods.

“That’s fair. How could you be so lazy?” he teases. You giggle.

 “Speaking of lazy, I should get back to work.” You point a thumb over your shoulder where a man leaves a table full of dishes.

“What time do you get off?” he asks. Your body freezes mid-turn at his abrupt question.

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to” he adds on, “I just enjoyed walking with you the other day and I parked my bike around the same area again, so I thought maybe…” He trails off his own cheeks flushing. Your body relaxes as you look at your watch to think. He had convenient timing; you were off soon. It was nice having someone to walk with and it wouldn’t hurt to see him on his bike again. You nod with warmed cheeks.

“I get off in about thirty minutes if you don’t mind waiting?” you say as your eyes meet his. He nods, smiling.

“It’ll give me time to read.” He lifts his book that was sitting on the table, the cover reading Pride and Prejudice.

“Again?” You can't help but ask. He looks at the book cover and rolls his eyes.

“You really want to have this conversation again?” you shake your head quickly at his question.

“I'll see you in thirty minutes.” With that, you walk away from him and throw yourself into your finishing tasks.

Additional notes: This was originally a much longer chapter but I decided to split it up. So, the next chapter is about them walking home. I have to tell you I cannot wait for ya’ll to read the next one cause I got carried away for like three seconds and had to do some backtracking. The plot was happening where I didn’t want it. I loved having Tim and Steph involved in this and just not being subtle about anything. Jason may have tried to kill Tim once but that won't stop him from being a little shit. Thank you for your love guys. This has been such an interesting experience, so the support has been lovely. Tag List: @little-miss-naill, @nikilolo787, @joonunivrs, @uzxotic, @qardasngan, @stormz369, @g4bbi3xx 

[vesna-v-irkutske]

hi vesna, wanted to know what the apparent letter that artyom sent to ''varya'' says if u have time😭

Hi! To be honest, this whole situation is very annoying and stupid.

First of all, who is Varya? Varya is supposedly a 15 year old girl who wanted to break up Artyom and Daphne. A couple of things: - the photos she sent weren't even hers (and they weren't NSFW); - it doesn't look like Artyom knew her real age. Some more information and rumors from r/IrkutskMolotochniki, most of it comes from a person with an extremely annoying way of talking who communicated with Daphne:

Comments from March 22, May 14 (pic. 2 and 3), May 20 and June 1, 2024.

In early August, Daphne made 2 posts on r/Earkutsk (her subreddit) explaining everything. You can read them here and here.

I have one of Artyom's previous letters to Varya, so I'll translate it first.

"Hello, Varya. I received the letter on September 26. I deeply apologize for such a long reply. I can't physically do it faster. I ask you to be understanding… or not =D O-o-oh, I also missed your birthday. This is somehow completely unjust. I apologize for that too. I understand how you've probably been waiting, but you see — I work at the sewing machine, so sometimes I get completely stitched up¹... =) If we live to see it, I'll do better by next birthday. Probably… =) • I'm not against communication, if you're not against communication in such a leisurely, to put it mildly, rhythm. Nice to meet you, by the way =D Thanks for the photo. You've really lifted my spirits. I spent half an hour admiring and licking my lips X) • Jurisprudence is a good choice, I'm a jurist too². What is the reason for this choice? • I'm doing fine, thank you for your concern. What about you? I fill my free time with a little bit of everything. I write letters mostly. Well, I also read, watch TV, listen to the radio, study foreign languages and do music. How do you spend your free time? • My musical preferences are about the same as yours — genre is not as important as quality. But still, by and large, they come down to heavy and electronic music. Do you have any favorite artists, compositions? • I'm both working and studying. Bad habits?.. o.O Well, let's say I don't smoke³. There's no need to talk about alcohol and drugs — there just aren't even such opportunities =) What else do you mean by bad habits? I don't think I have any, I'm almost perfect =D • My relationship with my mom is good. She doesn't miss a single long visit. • As for the girls, my interest here is situational. I don't gravitate towards any particular type, I evaluate all the details of the personality in the aggregate. As for the situation with Daphne, no comments yet =) Thank you for your congratulations and generous wishes. Even though I'm a month and a half late, I wish you well too, and I wish you all your dreams come true =) Since our communication will continue soon, in conclusion, I'd like to ask you what books do you read and what movies do you watch? Good luck! 27.11.2023"

¹ He meant that sometimes he gets too caught up in his work. ² I'm not sure he has a degree. He obviously wouldn't be able to become a sworn advocate AT LEAST because of his reputation. I think it's a matter of terminology. A jurist is a person with expert knowledge of law; someone who analyzes and comments on law. This person is usually a specialist legal scholar, mostly (but not always) with a formal education in law (a law degree) and often a legal practitioner. In the Russian Federation, a jurist can be a person who has received secondary professional or higher legal education. A jurist can provide legal assistance and legal services in criminal, civil, tax, labor, family, inheritance, housing, corporate, administrative and other legal matters. A jurist needs the status of an advocate only to defend someone in a criminal case. In some categories of criminal cases, protection may be provided by persons who don't have an advocate's status. So, basically, as I understand it, MAYBE he can be a jurist, but not an actual advocate/lawyer. Genuinely, whatever, take everything Artyom says with a grain of salt, he likes trolling. ³ Answers this question, I guess.

Now to the letter you sent. 👇🏻

"Varya, hi. I received the letter on November 30. Also, on the very eve of the New Year, I received a photo of you, which you intended to convince me of your coming of age... =) Great photo. You're irresistible =D • Before I get to the main content of your letters, I'll start with the non-main one =) I congratulate you on the past holidays and wish you good health, lots of money, always a great mood, and that everything goes according to plan, and, of course, great and pure love =D Speaking of love. It's a beautiful feeling, isn't it?.. =) It sometimes makes you do rash things, doesn't it? =) That's gratifying that you turned out to be a conscientious girl and immediately after your rash act you wrote to me and repented. This will definitely be counted as a mitigating factor for you in the future¹ =D And who is this girl whose channel² you sent the letter to? What's her name? Any idea why she needs it if she didn't delete it? And here another kind girl wrote to me that it was you who posted the letter in your channel... =) This is probably that misinformation about you. As for the dirt, insults, and threats, who exactly allowed themselves to do this to you? If possible, give at least a couple of examples of people who did this. At least you're not like them, are you? Not being rude or threatening anyone there? =) I don't recommend doing this. Those who do this, especially in relation to those whom I know in a positive light, may not expect anything good from me. • Okay, Varechka. You did something stupid and you did it. Who doesn't? Let's hope that this doesn't lead to more serious difficulties for you, in particular problems with the law. It also happens… Let's finally talk about you. How are you feeling? Not sick anymore? How did you spend the New Year holidays? And what's the news in general? What are you currently studying at your educational institution? You're getting a tertiary education, right? • You write that you go to the gym, well done. What kind of sport do you practice? Or just fitness? You're reviewing photos and videos of me? Well, you have great taste XD I have the same thing with my favorite music artists — I can't get enough forms to list them all =) Well, you know, you saw the playlist³ =) The TV series "Fisher"⁴? Well, yes, I can guess who it's about. Have you watched "The Method"⁵? I think you'll like it too =) • My favorite dish? I wonder why you need this? o.O Mostly pelmeni =D In general, I'm unpretentious in gastronomic matters. As long as it's tasty, healthy and nutritious =) And what's your favorite dish? • As for the cities I've been to, there's not even much to choose from… I've been to Ulan-Ude, Usolye-Sibirskoye (Irkutsk region), Novosibirsk, Omsk, Tyumen, Kirov, Vologda. In the last five of the mentioned cities, I was only in detention centers and saw a little bit of the street from the window of the paddy wagon =) In general, it was difficult to form an opinion about the cities. Well, judging by the data about the cities of the world, which became known to me from wherever it was, then... it's even more difficult X) First of all, I'd like to visit the city of Spijkenisse in the Netherlands⁶. It's a good city, they say =) But Moscow⁷, in general, is not bad either. If you know what I mean... X) • A movie? Perhaps, "Saw." For all time =) And what are your favorite city and movie? • Varechka, what can I sew for you? I can't sew anything but workwear. So no matter what I start sewing, I'll still end up with some kind of cop's or worker's clothes. You don't need that, do you? =) • I'm cool by nature =D There's nothing more to add. • How I feel about trolls on the internet. I don't give a hoot about the internet and everyone who lives in it =) I hardly ever go there, so I don't come into contact with trolls. I was a troll? o.O Where does this information come from?.. Tell me, who is without sin? We all get in the mood to troll. But depending on the skills, the result is different for everyone: who becomes a troll, and who becomes a sad shit X)

• The question about Zonatelecom's⁸ tariff seems to have an underlying reason... =) I haven't used this tariff, because I haven't used phone calls on a regular basis yet. I called with permission, which is not given as often as I'd like. So what's the point in me figuring out these tariffs? And even when you call regularly, I personally don't see the point in them, because if you get a cheaper call than usual, it means you're losing something, because for free pleasure, as they say, someone also has to pay. Thus, the cost of a telephone conversation decreases because the quality of connection deteriorates. And I treasure the connection with my loved ones =D • Oh, I got to your second letter. Hi, Varya =) Things, mood, well-being — everything's all right. And you? I'm glad to know about your dog =) I don't remember what a Yorkshire Terrier looks like, so if you want, you can send me a picture. • Well, Varya, I can't give birth to a story out of the blue, but when it's appropriate in our dialogue, I'll definitely tell you something. Be patient =) All the best! 06.01.2024"

¹ It's not me, it's him writing like an idiot. For a second, he imagined himself as a priest, to whom people should repent of their sins. I mean, this checks out. You know what they say about Christian priests. It's noteworthy that he uses the word "девочка" (little girl) instead of "девушка" (young woman), which would mean a more mature age. 🤮 ² On Telegram. I doubt it exists now, but who knows. ³ A few years ago, Artyom wrote a long list of songs that he listens to, and someone made a playlist on Spotify. ⁴ "Fisher" is a Russian thriller TV series. The plot of the 1st season is based on real events — serial killer Sergey Golovkin, who operated in the Odintsovsky District of the Moscow region from 1986 to 1992, had the nickname "Fisher." ⁵ "The Method" is a Russian crime drama TV series. Some of the characters were loosely based on real criminals, including the Academy maniacs. ⁶ Daphne, Artyom's fiancée, is from the Netherlands. ⁷ Varya probably said that she lives in Moscow. ⁸ Zonatelecom is an app for communication with prisoners. You can call them, write letters, send postcards, money.

Письма на русском для тех, кто хочет прочитать их в оригинале, но не хочет разбирать почерк Артёма. Орфография сохранена.

"Здравствуй, Варя. Письмо получил 26 сентября. Приношу глубочайшие извинения за такой долгий ответ. Быстрее физически никак не могу. Прошу отнестись с пониманием… или не относиться =D О-о-о, я ещё и день твоего рождения пропустил. Это уж как-то совсем неправосудно. Прошу прощения и за это тоже. Понимаю, как ты наверно ждала, но видишь — я работаю на швейке, так что иногда совсем зашиваюсь… =) Если доживём, то к следующему дню рождения исправлюсь. Наверно… =) • Я не против общения, если и ты не против общения в таком неторопливом, мягко говоря, ритме. Приятно познакомиться, кстати =D Благодарю за фото. Очень подняла настроение. Полчаса любовался и облизывался X) • Юриспруденция — хороший выбор, я тоже юрист. Чем такой выбор обусловлен? • Дела у меня в порядке, благодарю за беспокойство. А как у тебя? Свободное время я забиваю всем помаленьку. В основном письма пишу. Ну а так ещё читаю, смотрю телек, слушаю радио, занимаюсь иностранными языками и музыкой. Как ты проводишь свободное время? • Музыкальные предпочтения у меня примерно, как у тебя — не столь важен жанр, сколько качество. Но всё же по большому счёту они сводятся к тяжёлой и электронной музыке. У тебя есть какие-то любимые исполнители, композиции? • Я и работаю, и учусь. Вредные привычки?.. o.O Ну, скажем, я не курю. Об алкоголе и о наркоте и говорить не приходится — тут просто даже возможностей таких нет =) Что ещё подразумевать под вредными привычками? Пожалуй, нет у меня таковых, я почти идеален =D • Отношения с мамой хорошие. Она не пропускает ни одного длительного свидания. • Что касается девушек — тут мой интерес ситуативен. К какому-то определённому типажу не тяготею, все детали личности оцениваю в совокупности. Что касается ситуации с Дафной, то пока без комментариев =) Благодарю за поздравления и щедрые пожелания. Хоть и опоздал на полтора месяца, но и тебя тоже с прошедшим и желаю сбычи всех мечт =) Коль скоро наше общение продолжится, в заключение хотел бы поинтересоваться, какие книги ты читаешь и какое кино смотришь? Удачи! 27.11.2023"

Второе письмо мне пришлось разделить на 2 блока из-за лимита знаков, поэтому там внезапный разрыв. 👇🏻

"Варя, привет. Получил письмо 30 ноября. Также в самое преддверие Нового года получил твою фотографию, которой ты намеревалась убедить меня в своём совершеннолетии... =) Отличная фотография. Ты неотразима =D • Прежде чем я перейду к основному содержанию твоих писем, начну с неосновного =) Поздравляю тебя с минувшими праздниками и желаю здоровья, много денег, всегда отличного настроения, чтобы всё шло по плану, ну и, конечно, большой и чистой любви =D Кстати о любви. Прекрасное чувство, не правда ли?.. =) Оно порой толкает на необдуманные поступки, да? =) Отрадно, что ты оказалась совестливой девочкой и сразу после своего необдуманного поступка написала мне и покаялась. Тебе это в дальнейшем обязательно зачтётся, как смягчающее обстоятельство =D А что это за девочка такая, в чей канал ты отправила письмо? Как её зовут? Есть предположения, зачем ей это нужно, если она не стала его удалять? А мне тут другая добрая девочка написала, что это ты в своём канале выложила письмо... =) Наверно это та самая деза (дезинформация) о тебе. Что касается грязи, оскорблений, угроз, кто конкретно позволил себе такое в отношении тебя? Приведи по возможности хотя бы пару примеров лиц, кто это делал. Ты-то хоть им не уподобляешься? Не грубишь там никому, не угрожаешь? =) Не рекомендую этого делать. Те, кто так делает, тем более по отношению к тем, кого я знаю с хорошей стороны, могут ничего хорошего от меня не ждать. • Ладно, Варечка. Совершила глупость и совершила. С кем не бывает? Будем надеяться на то, что это не обернётся для тебя более серьёзными трудностями, в частности, проблемами с законом. Бывает и такое... Давай лучше наконец о тебе поговорим. Как самочувствие? Больше не болеешь? Как провела Новогодние каникулы? И какие в целом новости? Что сейчас проходите в вашем учебном заведении? Ты же высшее образование получаешь? • Ты пишешь, что в зал ходишь — это ты молодец. Каким видом спорта ты занимаешься? Или просто фитнесом? Фото и видео со мной пересматриваешь? Что ж, у тебя отличный вкус XD С любимыми исполнителями музыки у меня такая же фигня — всех перечислять бланков не напасёшься =) Ну, ты знаешь, ты видела плейлист =) Сериал "Фишер"? Ну да, догадываюсь, о ком это. А "Метод" не смотрела? Думаю, тебе тоже понравится =) • Моё любимое блюдо? Интересно, зачем тебе это? o.O В основном пельмешки =D А вообще я в гастрономических вопросах непритязательный. Лишь бы было вкусно, полезно и питательно =) А какое любимое блюдо у тебя? • Что касается городов, то из тех, в которых я был, даже и выбрать как-то не из чего... Я был в Улан-Удэ, Усолье-Сибирском (Иркутская область), Новосибе, Омске, Тюмени, Кирове, Вологде. В последних пяти из упомянутых городов был только в СИЗО и видел немного улицу из окна автозака =) В общем, мнение о городах составить было сложновато. Ну а если судить по тем данным о городах мира, которые стали мне известны откуда бы то ли было, то... ещё сложнее X) В первую очередь я бы хотел побывать в городе Спейкениссе в Нидерландах. Хороший, говорят, город =) Но и Москва, в общем-то, неплоха. Если ты понимаешь, о чём я... X) • Фильм? Пожалуй, "Пила". На все времена =) А какие твои любимые город и фильм? • Варечка, ну что я могу тебе сшить? Я кроме спецодежды ничего шить не умею. Так что, что бы я ни начал шить, на выходе всё равно получится шмотка мента какого-нибудь или рабочего. Тебе же такое не надо? =) • По характеру я клёвый =D Больше и добавить нечего. • Как я отношусь к троллям в интернете. Да мне по барабану этот интернет и все, кто в нём живёт =) Я-то там практически не бываю, поэтому и с троллями не соприкасаюсь. Я был троллем? o.O Это откуда такие сведения?.. Скажи мне, а кто без греха? У всех у нас бывает настроение потроллить. Только в зависимости от умений результат у всех разный: кто становится троллем, а кто — УГ (унылое говно) X)

• Вопрос о зонателекомовском тарифе, кажется, с подоплёкой... =) Я таким тарифом не пользовался, потому что вообще телефонными звонками я ещё на постоянной основе не пользовался. Я звонил по разрешению, которое даётся не так часто, как хотелось бы. Поэтому смысл мне разбираться в этих тарифах? Да даже когда звонишь регулярно, я лично не вижу в них смысла, потому что если звонок тебе дешевле обычного, значит ты чего-то лишаешься, ибо за бесплатное удовольствие, как говорится, тоже кто-то должен заплатить. Таким образом, стоимость телефонного разговора снижается потому, что ухудшается качество связи. А связью с близкими людьми я дорожу =D • О, добрался до твоего второго письма. Привет, Варя =) Дела, настроение, самочувствие — всё в порядке. А у тебя? Рад узнать о твоей собачке =) Как выглядит йоркширский терьер, не помню, так что, если хочешь, можешь отправить фотку. • Ну, Варь, на ровном месте родить историю я не могу, но когда это будет уместно в нашем диалоге, я обязательно что-нибудь расскажу. Запасись терпением =) Счастливо! 06.01.2024"

[robobarbie]

Nightowl Questions again

Is his father an toxic enabler or does he do the same thing that his mother does?

Is one of his favourite bands Red Velvet?

Does he wear fake tan seeing that his skin gets noticeably lighter during the bad end or is it just lighting?

Did Peaches have a different look tonight out in mind or was it completely changed or even slightly changed to make Nightowl?

Seeing from the cameo of Ace and Keldran, does Nightowl like Deliver us Evil?

How did Nightowl get into Twilight saying that his flair is team Edward? 

If his user tag does rep Valentine’s Day, is that his favourite day?

What projects are the posters on Nightowl's bedroom walls?

Who is Nightowls favourite Spider-Man seeing as he dressed as him for Halloween once? (And villain)

What inspired nightowls icon?

Since the boys are associated with each one of the Webtoon characters how come the nightowl being the person that is lovingly obsessed with the player in every way was deemed Damien seeing that Damien is very shallow and only cares about appearance?

What society boy an online relationship? If so was it the online relationship that was referred to in nightowls route?

Where did he learn his drinking habits from? Was it his parents or did he learn them from classmates in his undergrad?

Did he like his professors at school?

Whats Nightowl’s favourite animal? (if it’s an owl im gonna cry/j)

What is Nightowls favourite constellation?

Where is the teddy bear from? Is it a childhood toy?

Thanks Sincerely

⊂( ^ω^)⊃

Is his father an toxic enabler or does he do the same thing that his mother does?

He's pretty quiet. Doesn't make a fuss in one way or the other. It often made Nightowl feel alone.

Is one of his favourite bands Red Velvet?

british ?

Does he wear fake tan seeing that his skin gets noticeably lighter during the bad end or is it just lighting?

It's just lighting -- he's backlit during the in-game portions with a shadow over his front! People often get his in-game skin tone wrong bc of that.

Did Peaches have a different look tonight out in mind or was it completely changed or even slightly changed to make Nightowl?

Wow a Peaches knower. Peaches looked slightly different, with a lighter shirt color, but otherwise was mostly the same. I think there's a picture of Peaches floating around somewhere.

Seeing from the cameo of Ace and Keldran, does Nightowl like Deliver us Evil?

I would doubt that Nightowl ever came across that game on his own, but if he dated someone who did like that game, he'd be real into Keldran. Like, concerningly into Keldran.

How did Nightowl get into Twilight saying that his flair is team Edward?

He had some friends who were into it growing up, and he read the book as a joke -- then got embarrassingly into vampire romance.

If his user tag does rep Valentine’s Day, is that his favourite day?

? british?

What projects are the posters on Nightowl's bedroom walls?

this is from a halloween art (nakedtoaster shown)

this is Damien and Lola from the Blooming Panic webnovel

this is a screenshot from the game "Thursday Laundry"

This is a bit of an art piece from a Karate Kid 2 study

I don't actually remember what this was. Hm.

Who is Nightowls favourite Spider-Man seeing as he dressed as him for Halloween once? (And villain)

..? bri-

What inspired nightowls icon?

Annoying eboy catboys online

Since the boys are associated with each one of the Webtoon characters how come the nightowl being the person that is lovingly obsessed with the player in every way was deemed Damien seeing that Damien is very shallow and only cares about appearance?

It's because we didn't intend them to be perfect 1-to-1 representations with their webnovel counterparts. We wanted them to be different (bc you don't like characters just bc they are like you in reality), but maybe share some style flairs. I mean, Xander (Quest's fave) ends up as Lola's final boyfriend, but that doesn't really mirror who the true route is in game (NakedToaster). Nobody really mentions that little fact!

What society boy an online relationship? If so was it the online relationship that was referred to in nightowls route?

I picture societyboy as an IRL relationship that started online. So, that was the relationship mentioned in nightowl's route (and the common route).

Where did he learn his drinking habits from? Was it his parents or did he learn them from classmates in his undergrad?

Classmates for sure. He had a pretty restricted life at home -- which often leads to an explosion when you leave it.

Did he like his professors at school?

Yes! Liked a lot of them.

Whats Nightowl’s favourite animal? (if it’s an owl im gonna cry/j)

?? bR-

What is Nightowls favourite constellation?

BRIT-

Where is the teddy bear from? Is it a childhood toy?

Yes! He's had it since he was young. It's a comfort in times when he's feeling scared or stressed.

[youngwonhui]

✦ picture of a perfect rose | ch. 1

*•. member: Seokmin x afab readers

*•. summary: in total years of your whole life, you met Seokmin only twice. That will change drastically starting now. Because the young King is unfortunately a good person, loves his mother, and a true believer in good of people. No matter how hard it is to find and how cold he looks outside.

*•. genre: arranged marriage, royalty au, strangers to lovers, slowburn,

*•. wc: 13k

*•. warnings: eventual smut, minors DNI, depiction of food

*•. crossposted on AO3

*•. masterlist

chapter 1 | chapter 2 | chapter 3

Until the present minute of your whole life, you met Seokmin only twice.

The former crown prince, present King.

Once when you were in children school. Or kindergarten, only it’s manage by the royal family and used to educate any children with a prospect future inside the kingdom’s management. Generals, royal advocates, head of managements, and clerks.

So many clerks.

Of course the position didn’t came guaranteed. Only selected few are taught and handpicked by the core royal family themselves. Nepotism runs deep. No matter how arbitrary the system has made it to these modern days. Although they held no absolute power over governments, the royal family remain dipping their hands in their very own selection honeypot of authority.

It doesn’t help that the head of monarch are previously held by a mad queen. In a silly goofy mood to determined the whole nation that life means nothing. Her legacy left the royal family lists of will that she had cleverly sets in motion in time before her sudden passing.

And now, this is where you met Seokmin for the second time.

It was a normal bleak day. The free coffee spread out in a table outside the library still tastes stale. But its free. So you took one and proceed inside. Finding the only table strategically placed near direct sunlight. The vast gothic library might be your favourite place in the building, but it doesn’t hide the fact that the mostly vacant place are often dusty and dank.

Frowning deeply, you twirl the pen in your fingers. Hoping the calculus problem will solve itself. Blowing a puff of air into the bounded books, you’re fighting the urge to open the window bigger and chuck the probable historic artifact out into the green lawn outside. Being in the royal academy doesn’t mean that you have your future perfectly laid out on a parchment paper. Being an only daughter of a mere merchant and a retired royal midwife lands you this track. You’re perfectly thankful, as its open many ways to a higher opportunities. But living alone among all the oddball bunch of power hungry people isn’t much to your liking.

Sometimes you just want to cook. Simply cook just for other people to fill their appetite. Become someone ordinary and needed.

Your mind wander that day. From the slightly cool breeze flowing through the small gaps of the window and into how quiet the library has been. None directed to the materials in front of you. And none of the usual muffled shuffling and pages turning that’s easily associated to the library.

Odd. But your mind are nowhere to notice the minuscule oddities.

That is until a single sound echoing closer to you. One feet planted into another against the old wooden floor until it stopped right in front of your table. Looking up, unsure, you registered that the person stood before are Seokmin, but your reflexes had truly betrayed you that day. It left you gawking like a bird that has lost its bearing. Mouth wide open as your eyes transfixed into Seokmin’s face. All stoic yet isn’t rigid, not necessary cold but there’s a certain aloofness that had left you wondering that the newly crowned king has been missing some warmth in his life.

With your eyes still trained on one another, millions of thought running through your mind regarding any reason that TheKing would pay you a surprise visit. You barely even registering that said king has taken his seat across you. On a dingy old, probably slightly askew library chair. His personal detailed security are posted in every aisle, all within reach on any sudden distress, but far away enough to not let any conversation between you both made audible.

“You know who i am?” Seokmin begins, still with unchanging expression on his face. You can only nod as Seokmin clears his throat to seemingly prepares himself. “You’re Y/n right?” You can only blink as an answer. Genuinely flustered at the simplest of question. “I’m gonna get this done and over with. After mom- the queen had passed, she had left a few pages of wills. Most are unmentionable to you, or even me for that matter, but there are one item. She’s hoping for you to be the next queen.”

“Pardon me, but by the next queen do you mean-” Even your own thought sounds ridiculous in your head, unable to let your lips to even finished the words. It hangs around the air, floating with the cold breeze.

“Yes.” Seokmin nodded in resolute. “It means to be my wife.”

In total years of your whole life, you met Seokmin only twice.

That will change drastically starting now.

Because the young king are unfortunately a good person, loves his mother, and a true believer in good of people. No matter how hard it is to find and how cold he looks outside.

In the event of the late queen questionable passing, Seokmin are left with myriad of tasks and none are personally directed to him. Until the royal attorney handed him the last page of his mother’s will. All filled with only your name and a mention of who your parents are, it continues to her last plea of wanting Seokmin to made you his wife. The next queen.

The request baffled him. Plagued his nights, even before his coronation.

His mother is not the most sane nor logical person he met, but still is his mother. Between the long intricate weaving of time in his life, there are threads where his mother had provide a sense of understanding of what’s good and right in his whirlwind of life. Other than that, his mother might be seen arranging a plan to built unusual building and organization which ceased to be useful. Or firing the head historian of the national museum because they forgot to change the monthly banner exhibition.

Her reputation precedes her. But in the reality of the kingdom ruled in a mixed monarchy, strangeness are the air that most people breathe everyday.

But this strange ‘request’ from the king baffle you the most.

What drove you wilder are you having to go through a class of algebra right after. And only after that, you drag yourself back to your dorm and sat on the ratty old sofa. Only after that your mind eventually caught up on the event on the library.

You scramble to fish out your phone from your bag and quickly dialed up your mom. The light of sunset streaming through the blinds somewhat calms you down as you waited for your mom to answer.

“Hello darling-”

“Mom.” You paused, breath hitched after the soft crackling noises that followed your mother’s voice. “Didn’t you used to work in the palace? For the queen?”

“Yes.”

“Today i got a very strange request. From the king.”

“The king? Lee Seokmin?”

“Yeah. He asked me to be his wife.”

There was silence on the other side. The soft crackling slowly increases to a rustles and shuffling as you realized your mother are moving away somewhere before she could talk about the matter more closely with you.

“Darling,” your mother begins. “H-how? This is no matter to joke about.”

“Mom, me going to this school is already ridiculous enough. Do you think i’m about to add more ridiculous things on top of that.”

“We’ve talked about this, you have every right to go to that school. You’re smart, intelligent and more logical than half of the people that goes there.” Your mother sighed as she paused. “So, it’s really Seokmin? Why though.”

You know it’s a serious matter, but your mother’s innocent question can’t help to draw a smile to your face.

You then explained the event of the day. Mostly about Seokmin. How he left you with his personal number that you can reach and you also explained that he’s doing this out of the late queen’s will.

“And who knows what other things she might’ve mentioned for me. How does she even know me? Is it wrong that i didn’t want to believe any of her words? She’s not a very reliable person, you know. Throughout her life.”

“She’s just a very kind person. For the brief time that i know and cared for her. Rest in peace her soul.”

Upon your mother’s word, you felt a little lump in your throat. Feeling like you just judged a person based on no less than zero personal interaction. The queen could be the most genius person, but you could never knew that.

But it seems like the whole kingdom currently shares your sympathy.

“Mom, what do you think i should do?”

“If you think that this offer is a mean to escape. Then i believe you already know your answer. And before you want to deny that it is not an escape, darling i know you best.”

True.

Your mother know you hate this place. Your mother also knows that rejecting the placement on the royal college will resulted in unimaginable repercussions. Especially is said placement is gifted by the late queen herself. Your mother also know how you’re aware of how sorry she is for you.

“How do you feel mom?”

After a long stretch of silence, your question startles your mother across the phone.

“About?”

“Having a king as your son-in-law.”

Your mother laughs. You terribly missed hearing it.

//

In theory, the process of being married are clear to you. In theory.

In your weird and somewhat absurd reality, the process of your own marriage went like a whirlwind of tornado hitting you on a perfectly sunny afternoon.

After a short and concise phonecall to Seokmin, which surprised even yourself when the man managed to answer the call at 2 AM. Why are you calling in such hour? You don’t even know yourself.

On the call, Seokmin assures you that the conversation are secure and that he is alone. You’re thankful that Seokmin doesn’t bombard you with question right away. He lets you stretch out the silence. Until you ask him the question that’s been bugging you the whole time.

“Why? Why do you want to do this. You could’ve ignored your mother’s request and went on with your reign.”

“I don’t know how it looks like to you or other people in the world. But i very much love my mother. And the kingdom she left me with. There could be anyone for me to be married to, but- but my mother chooses you. Meaning she somehow believes and trusts you above all.”

“And, do you? Trust her?”

“I trusts her kindness.”

You remember that night, the phone call that you wordlessly ended after Seokmin’s words.

The next day, as if you’re already expecting the sleek black mercedes that picks you up in front of the dorm, you had packed most of your necessities into a duffle bag. On a foggy morning, you left your old life behind.

Welcomed by Seungkwan, Seokmin’s very own PR person/assistant, he lead you through the quiet hallways of the palace and into Seokmin’s very own residence. He assures you that you will have your very own on-site guide and helpers to get you acclimate around the palace. Be it navigation, manners, or any single important point to watch out from other people inside the court. Seungkwan was kind, but you only feel like he’s kind enough because its his job. The ipad he hold on and scroll through the timetable felt like a weapon.

Half of yourself felt thankful for your past education in the royal college, it gets you familiar enough to any person of interest in the palace. As well as attuning your dull senses to the hustle and bustle of the palace around the big day of your marriage.

At least you can choose between sand and beige for the dinner napkin.

For the couple that’s advertised as long time friend and has been secretly close to each other, you barely sees Seokmin. Even when you’re lounging in the parlor where he usually spend the morning getting briefed by Seungkwan or occasionally the head of military. Who you hasn’t yet formally introduced to.

Heck, you’ve caught glimpse of Seokmin’s security more than the king himself.

That’s how your palace life has been so far.

Until the day of your wedding. For the reason of still in mourning of the late queen, you and Seokmin gets to have a more private wedding in the palace rather than the usual extravagance of the past occasion.

Definitely not to blown your cover that you’re not Seokmin’s old childhood sweetheart. And only happened to be here because his mother’s late insanity bequest.

Annoyingly, it was a beautiful day. The perfect weather as most flowers has begin to bloom.

You’re mostly fiddling with the material of your glove. As beautiful it is to compliment your wedding attire, the material felt itchy on your skin. You decided having it off for awhile isn’t a treason. While being gifted a moments of silence as you wait for the ceremony to start, you heard a knock through the door. Soon it opened to reveal Seokmin.

“Sorry, am i disturbing you?”

“Oh, no, not at all.” You tries to scramble off of your seat.

The elaborate wedding dress however, making you regret not paying attention to how the stylists has helped you to do the most minuscule things such as sitting down. Because now you almost tripped from one of the part of said wedding dress. It happened so quickly and you can feel a double heart attack incoming, one from the fear of ripping apart the beautiful piece of clothing and the other from the possible impact of your body to the cold marble floor.

But it never came.

You unconsciously closed your eyes to prepare for the pain, but instead you’re propped into a sturdy body as hands keeping you secure. One wrapping around your waist and one to your flailing hand.

“Are you alright?”

You snapped back to your surrounding once you realize Seokmin has leaped to your rescue. But of course, you wobble on your steps. Managing to be free of Seokmin’s hold around your waist, yet his hand still held yours to keep you balanced.

“I’m good. Good.” You paused, heartbeat racing and painfully aware of how Seokmin has his hands around yours. “What’s up?”

Great way to playing it cool.

“I- i know i’m not supposed to be here, but i just want to give you this.”

Seokmin fished out something shiny out his pocket. You barely registered the object as Seokmin easily wrap it around your wrist. Your eyes travels back and forth from Seokmin and to the bracelet. The shine of both the jewelry and a small smile on Seokmin’s face felt blinding all the same.

“It was my mother’s. An old one. Because i remember her wearing it when i was little.”

“Your highness, it’s too much.” You paused, catching the slight change in Seokmin’s face upon your words. “I mean it is beautiful, obviously. It might be too precious for me to wear.”

Even from the brief moment you look at it, the intricate details and the shine astound you. You’re thinking about the bracelet.

“I think my mother would love to see it on you. Especially on a special day like this” Seokmin trained his eyes around the bracelet, and eventually to the hand he still held.

In the silence, the weight on your hand grew tenfold. You couldn’t decide whether it’s from the bracelet or from Seokmin’s touch.

In fairness, you should’ve known that being his wife meant having Seokmin close to you and acted like you both shares a deep affection for each other. Emphasis on act.

You feel like you’ve failed even a basic of interaction.

Seokmin didn’t dare to look at your face. Choosing to keep his eyes down and to the span of your wrist and to the connected hands. Eventually he gently lets you go after making sure you’re on your sure footing and nod to you one last time before making his way out.

He stops before opening the door. Turning on his feet and facing you once more.

“And please, just call me Seokmin.”

The next time you see Seokmin, it’ll be down the aisle. With your father by your side. Clinging to his arm, you tries to mask the nervousness. Matching your breathing with every step you take. You had thanked any god that you didn’t cry when your father hugged you just before the door to the chapel opened. His whispers of support with every steps you take.

You had foregoes the glove altogether. You didn’t missed the stink eye the stylist has given you upon that decision. But couldn’t care less.

By the end of the aisle, Seokmin bowed his head to him before accepting your hand. Given reluctantly from your father. You felt the warmth on Seokmin’s touch. It ease your mind a little. Despite the somewhat stoic expression he’s wearing.

Seokmin looks stunning up close. You tries to steal glances every now and then because the officiates are doing god knows what part of the tradition to marry you two. By the looks of it, Seokmin are tuning the words like you, just the same. You inspect the high cheekbone, taut. And a few visible beauty marks adorning just the side of his face. You almost flinch when he faces you altogether.

“…i do.”

Shit, it’s your turn.

“Do you, Y/n Y/Ln take Lee Seokmin to be your husband. Care for him, comfort him, and protect him with all you might, while also honouring him as the King of this court, the very one you resided?”

You hadn’t paid full attention to the question directed to Seokmin, but the ones for you sounded more like a threat by the end. You pray to say no and just flee this instance. Your head almost spinning, quite matching the racing heartbeat that drums your chest ever since those door opens to your new future.

Everything is set in motion the moment you took the chance to call Seokmin that night. But it all felt too real when you see the many pairs of eyes sets to you. From the ones that swore to protect you and varies to ones that wouldn’t hesitate to use you to fulfil their plans. You brought this situation on your own, you might as well held on to the one thing that you believe will protect you.

“I do.”

You squeeze Seokmin’s hand a bit. Scared if the strength leave your body suddenly.

“And with this, and the power vested in me, i declare you both husband and wive.”

With a swift motion. Much like an organized, choreographed sets of movement, Seokmin leans closer and kissed you. Brief enough to not be an awkward peck. He held your hands tighter when the piano and string quartets brought their version of Liebestraum to a crescendo as you slowly pulls away and faced the crowd behind you.

“I present to you. The new queen for his majesty, king Seokmin.”

There are cheers around the room. Spot of tears of your mother by the corner of your eyes. You can’t bear to look directly at her. Fear of her action mirrors at you.

Beside you, Seokmin finally smiles. His eyes creases to a moon, stretching down to his lips that’s opened to his rows of pearly whites. You blinked at the sight, thinking about how unfamiliar it looks to you. You felt privileged.

You have to get used to this.

\\

The reception later that night was something else. Seungkwan kept giving you thumbs up, assuring you that you’re doing great. Seokmin seems like he didn’t need assurance to keep up the act. He remained by your side, keeping you close, and holding your hand to give off the effect. He also often whispers to you who’s the old man in uniform which currently making his way to the two of you.

You feel like your teeth went dry with the amount of smiling you’ve done that night. Your feet is also killing you.

“Hey, do you want to get out of here?”

You and Seokmin are quite far away from the guests, so you have no worries of anyone eavesdropping. But him saying this to you in private, during the most public appearance you’ve done throughout the brief time of being a queen? It sent a jolt of surprise through your body.

You’re snapped back when you hear the melodic sound of Seokmin’s laughter. His hand rests on your hips naturally.

“I don’t mean it to sound so sleazy.” He paused to look down at your choice of footwear. Silently noticing how you squirmed and shifts your stance every now and then. “I meant that if you want a little break from all of this?”

Seokmin looks back to the crowds mingling around the vast hall of the main palace. It’s been decorated beautifully. Although modest. Keeping with the lowkey and private vibe. Totally not because of the plan of rushing the wedding.

You took a deep breath, holding on to your third glass of champagne. Scanning the room of people that’s keeping conversation to themselves, but you know the talking points of said conversation. You and Seokmin.

So you decided to pushed through. Treating this like the first test. If you disappear now, you’d feel like you’re losing with the mental game. Seokmin only hold your hand tighter. Before turning to another general- whatever, who had come over to give out congratulation.

Seokmin vacate your side at times. Hushed conversation with his head bodyguard. Wonwoo. Who introduced himself formally just yesterday. Making your way to the snack bar, as you eyed the wide array of finger foods.

“I wouldn’t eat that if i were you.” Your words stopped the hands reaching out across for the beef tartare. “At least not that one piece. Have the one right there, i think that’s still fresh.”

“Why thank you. You save me from a possible food poisoning.”

“Yeah, that one looks like it’s been sitting out here for too long. You have to look for a fresher ones.” You reasoned to the stranger. Clad in a nondescript black suit. Looks too meticulously tailored and with a hint of silk shirt, so he couldn’t be a part of Wonwoo’s team. You remember the one lesson mentioning that the royal guards, head by Wonwoo wore strictly wool shirt.

“Yoon Jeonghan.” The stranger offer his hand, which you accept gladly.

“Hello, i’m Y/n.”

“I know you.” Jeonghan smiled a little. Controlled, and meaningful, while his eyes kept to you. “I mean, yeah. You’re kind of the person of interest here.”

“Why it should be, it’s my wedding day.”

“That’s correct.”

You can’t help to feel like Jeonghan are watching your every movement to study you. Like keeping you in check out of suspicion. But you remain calm. Fighting through this interaction while Jeonghan doesn’t break his gaze at you. Seemingly noticing your awareness.

“Oh, pardon me i haven’t fully introduced myself. I’m the chief of police. A friend of Seokmin.”

You blinked through Jeonghan’s words. Mentally scolding yourself for not keeping more tabs toward the man in front of you.

A man of power which possibly checking out your cover.

“Ahh, of course. Seokmin tells me about you sometimes.” You calmly replied.

Jeonghan only laughs. Somehow it worries you.

Moments later, as absurd as the brief conversation goes, Jeonghan left you abruptly after a stretch of uncomfortable silence.

Not long after, Seokmin comes to you with Seungkwan in tow.

“So, here’s the plan.” Seungkwan begins, huddling you and Seokmin close. You can spot Wonwoo a few meter behind Seokmin. “It’s late and frankly i’m tired with these fake people. You both can sneak out and my team can slowly ushered these party to end.”

“Will it be okay though?” Your concern are quickly brushed off by the two.

“If you want to stay these crowd can lasts until the sunrise. And fear not, because we have all the resource to keep them so.” Seungkwan points out.

“But i don’t want that. They’re essentially partying on the tax money. So if we sneak out, Seungkwan and his team have a reason to break this party.”

Makes sense.

You agreed and Seokmin wastes no time to laced his fingers through yours. He lead you through a few people and then a quieter hallway. Behind, you can hear the hurried footsteps of Wonwoo and his team. You braced yourself for a long walk back to Seokmin’s residence.

Oh yeah, it’s yours too now.

\\

When you steps into the kitchen at the break of dawn, you spotted Seokmin. Hunched over the quartz countertop with a few papers scattered around. The warm lighting only manage to light up himself while the rest of the room remain dark. The sun are barely in the horizon.

Seokmin noticed you with a nod, then turning back to the paper in hand.

Last night, once the front door of the residence closed, Seokmin immediately lets go of his hold. He mumbled a quick goodnight before turning in to his room. You waste no time to abandon your heels and carrying it back to your own room. Adjacent by Seokmin’s.

Woken up by your darn body clock, and an additional hangover, you tries to busied yourself with making yourself an early breakfast. Yet your eyes couldn’t help but glance at the way Seokmin still has his dress shirt and trousers from yesterday. If you’re nosy enough you’ll also spot his leather shoes are still well on.

But you focused on whisking your omelette.

After two fried bread and a glass of juice, you manage to finish your plate. On the other side of the large countertop. Seokmin by the other end.

You feel like you should leave. Ruffle no feathers on Seokmin already troubled mind. But you feel like a plate of omelette wouldn’t hurt him.

Of course you had learned all of Seokmin’s food restriction. So you’re sure of the safety of the food.

“I made too much omelette, you should have some while it’s still warm.”

Your words catch Seokmin’s attention. His eyes glance to you and the yellow buttery  warmth that you had sneakily slid into his vicinity. You mumbled a good night before leaving Seokmin to his own device.

You slept in and only woke up when the sun is high.

After getting ready and scrolling through your phone for your schedule, you could hear loud shuffling footsteps from the parlor. You curiously follows it, exiting the room and walking down the hallway. There was a little commotion, loud argument thrown around the room, strangely the sound came closer to you.

“Oh, Y/n-”

Almost loosing your footing from the surprise appearance of Seokmin and his close friends following behind, a hand shot up and steady your faltering balance. Preventing you to eat shit in front of some probable generals.

“Hello, good..morning?”

“It’s well past noon.”

“It’s the day after their wedding, shut it.”

“You both. Clam it.”

There’s following murmurs and voiced out thoughts from Seokmin’s friends. You try to hide the embarrassment that’s spreading from your neck.

“I, er, i have some urgent meeting. Seungkwan can assist you for today.” Seokmin hurriedly pivot around you, his hands slowly retracting while eyeing his friends to follow him. “I’ll be in the study if you need me.”

With that, out goes Seokmin and in goes Seungkwan.

You tries to keep a straight face but the initial embarrassment never left your mind. Even after Seungkwan led you to the palace tea room and a few garden. Even after he introduces you to the PR team that will follow you.

You had secretly anticipating some sort of hostilities towards the position you earned. But you had never thought it would come from someone as close as Seokmin’s own close friends.

“…and then, you can prepare for tours and visits. The first one, since you- Y/n.”

“Huh? Yeah?”

“Are you listening to me?” Came a stern question from Yeri. A new assistant assigned to you. Now that you’re officially a queen.

“Tours?” You answer abashedly.

In the late afternoon, you had offered Yeri a quick break with tea and then begins her briefing that’s barely making it’s way to your attention. You only mindlessly sipping the warm chamomile as Yeri rambling on across the kitchen island.

“Sorry, i’ll pay attention.”

Yeri sighed, glancing at her wristwatch before making her way to your side. Your eyes follows as she take a seat and not-so-gently placed her ipad on the table.

“I know this is hard. And so sudden. But you’ve been so good, all that etiquette classes and all the royal bullshit.” Even in her whispers, you can hear Yeri’s strong and her aura of determination. “I am sorry i couldn’t help to assist you sooner, but now i’m here. I will help you. But you have to help me too, these visitations and tours are important to build your public image to the people. Also it will be the foundation for your own defense against anyone who would want to harm you.”

Yeri’s words rings in your mind that night.

She left after you prepared dinner, not before she repeated the whole itinerary for the upcoming visitations and tours. You tries to help with managing things that you can truly do. Simply because, you don’t wanna be seen just parading around the country in sleek cars and clothes. You truly want to do something within those public appearance. Yeri gave you nods of approval before scribbling plans as she munched on the wagyu-don you had whisk out in hurry. Her hums after each bite sends your worry away for today.

The next morning, you’re woken up early again. Although there’ll be no going back to bed.

You dragged your feet into the kitchen, desperate for a cup of coffee to keep you awake in the early hour. You don’t expect the coffee machine is occupied by another person.

“Good morning.”

You can only manage a hum as a reply. Partly conscious of how you must’ve look, just crawled out of the bed and in your mismatching pyjama.

“You want some coffee?” Seokmin asked you, after the noise of the coffee grinder had ceased and he skilfully tamping and operates the coffee machine.

“Yeah sure.” Came your reply.

“Americano okay with you?”

Can’t really find the words, you ended up nodding lightly. The sun barely peeking out from the blinds covering the huge windows, and Seokmin is awake and offering you coffee. You shook your head to gets your head back into your senses.

“Do you not sleep?”

Your question doesn’t came unprompted. His shirt doesn’t have a noticeable creases that shows if he’s slept in it. Instead, it looks like he’s sat leaning on his back the whole night.

Seokmin gaze at you for a moment, caught off guard from your question.

“I fall asleep in the studies. After the others gone.”

“Your friends?”

“Yeah, you can call them that.” Seokmin chuckled, pouring the espresso into cups before the hot water to finish the Americano. He wastes no time to take a sip of the scalding hot drink.

“Do you want breakfast?”

“You know we can call the cook to came over and do it for you right?”

“I know.” You already picks up a pan and turn on the burner. “But i like doing it by myself. Why? Am i not allowed to?”

“No- no, i just don’t want you to think that you have to cook and clean around the place.” Seokmin waves his hand hastily.

“Don’t worry i won’t clean. I’m not good at it. I just love to cook, i might need someone to do groceries though.” There’s a sizzle coming from the pan, it follows the rhythm of your knife against the chopping board.

Seokmin suddenly feels his appetite growing from the new sight in front of him.

\\

“Remind me again why we should give you sweatpants?”

“Yeri, would you rather i run sprint or getting tackled in the football fields? Either one, I can’t do in vintage Dior dress. Now give me a pair of sneakers too. I know you packed some on the trunk.”

Yeri huffs before signalling to someone. You chuckled in victory, handing Yeri your previously worn heels. Then you make a show of stretching in front of her. The smile remain on your face.

Today was your visitation to a school on a countryside. Coincidentally, the school celebrating a sports day. Luckily you were invited to participate.

“Okay, you can run.” Yeri eventually answers, before typing away on her phone. Presumably to report to someone.

“Yeri, sprint and football both required running.”

“Alone, please run straight and alone. I can’t have you get tackled or hit with a ball. Sprint it is.”

You smile in victory, Yeri huffed before scanning your surrounding. There are a sizeable crowds taking place. Both student, parents, and teachers keen to the spectacle of the new queen running and possibly even stumbling on the concrete.

You don’t know what came over you. Saying yes to the invitation with no hesitancy whatsoever. The tour was getting a bit exhausting in repetition. Waving and shaking hands with people you barely know. Your smile had begin to turn too fake for your liking. So the minute you’re offered an invitation, you quickly agreed. Needing some sort of change.

You’re aware of the crowd around you, scattered bodyguards mingling. You don’t fear for danger, only of embarrassment. In case you pathetically stumble on an untied shoelace. But you appreciate the certain anxiousness that came over you. It distract you from the situation inside the residence.

“Please, please don’t get hurt. Or fall embarrassingly.” You can hear Yeri softly whispers as you took your position at the start. Beside you, a few chosen parents and teacher stood in line.

“Weird, you’re reading my mind.” You said with a smile.

“For someone who’s scared of falling, you’re looking too chipper your highness.”

You have gotten close with Yeri. Spending days almost together will do that. It also doesn’t help that she’s the only one who treats you kindly. Like another human being.

You gave her a reassuring pat before shooing her away. The MC has announced that the sprint is about to start. You sighed before taking your position.

Just like it’s name, it passes by quick. The shotgun signal at the start and your body moves. Legs reacting to the sound as you grit your teeth in determination. In theory, your body know the mechanics of running. So you let your heart pumps adrenaline and your legs move, one after the other.

Before you know it, it was over. Yeri came rushing to you, a little skip in her step as you eventually finishes the length of 100 metres. You can only catch your breath, fighting the urge to lay down the floor. You truly underestimated the importance of warming up.

“Oh my god, you didn’t fall.” Yeri whisper through a smile.

“Do i win?”

“One of your competition is the PE teacher. You stood no chance.”

“Well. I think i sprained my ankle for nothing.”

You only grin when Yeri hissed beside you.

The whole ride back to the palace, Yeri looks like her hair burned down. Muttering how Seokmin would have her head. You waved off the thought as you walked limply beside her. Skilfully avoiding people to minimize unwanted gossips among the court.

Eventually arriving at the empty residence, you went straight to the sofa and plopped down. While Yeri hurriedly fetching you ice to compress your ankle. The sight of her fussing over you brought a warmth in your heart. A complete opposite behaviour from your own husband.

“Well at least the public likes it right?” You tries to lighten the mood, but Yeri throws you a glare.

“Okay maybe it was a good idea to build your image. I admit defeat  your highness.”

You raises your palm for a high five but only left hanging.

Suddenly a loud banging of door being opened stole the attention. It came from Seokmin’s study. The sound of people arguing then became audible to you.

“Well then we can tell them to fuck off.”

“Seokmin, we have to be delicate with this.”

“I have tried but-”

“You’re being stubborn.”

“I will if it’s the matter with the government and those darn ‘nobles’.”

Before you could avoid any eyes, Seokmin appears in the parlour. Welcomed by the sight of Yeri compressing ice to your raised ankle. And still clad in a sweatpants.

Wonwoo cleared his throat to break the silence. Immediately, Seokmin turns to him and gather his scattered thoughts.

“Chan, please update me on the situation. And know that the argument still isn’t finished.”

The other, Chan—who you had learned is a five star general, huffed a sigh before bidding a curt goodbye and left the residence with heavier thuds in his steps.

There’s a lot of glancing around the room. The tension are rivalling a mexican stand-offs. Who would talk first and opened the can of worms on what’s going on. This is totally not how you imagined today will went out.

“Okay, how about we called it for today? Would you look at that! It’s time to get off work. Come on everyone let’s step out.”

Seungkwan bites the bullet. Ushering people to shuffle out of the residence and left you with Seokmin. Yeri gave you an apologetic look before stepping out. Dodging your silent plea for help as she handed you the cold compress.

After the front door clicking close, Seokmin broke off of his frozen state and silently sit near you. It felt like ages since you saw him. Being on packed touring schedule and Seokmin holed in meetings of his King duty, you had unknowingly missed being in his presence.

“Tough day at work?” You begins, feeling out the mood as you kept the ice on your ankle. Seokmin only chuckles.

“I almost burst a blood vessel arguing with my friend. So, yeah, tough.” The exhaustion are apparent in his voice. “You? Care to explain what happened?”

“Long story short i should’ve done more warmup before doing a 100 metres sprint. Now i have a slight sprain.” You gestures to your ankle. Seokmin’s eyes could bore a hole to your leg.

The initial tension still remain in the room. Seemingly growing higher since not it’s only you two in the residence. Seokmin return his gaze to you.

“Are you sure it’s not bad?” Seokmin peruse, only now you could catch the tiredness lines along Seokmin’s face.

“I walked here, i’m fine. Been through worse.” You tries to brushed over the attention. Not used to getting it from people. Certainly not from Seokmin.

“Please be more careful next time.”

You nodded with a tight smile.

Feeling assured, Seokmin leaned back at the sofa. Eyes closed and sighing in abandon. The tension within himself broke after his question to you. No other people around, not even Wonwoo posted in the corner.

“Care to tell me what the argument was?”

Seokmin tries not to be surprised at your question. He knows that you’re aware of how the meeting in his studies often ended up in raised voices and disappointed faces by the end of the night.

You also never tries to pry, but it seems like Seokmin needed the care.

“I’m sorry you have to see and hear that everyday.” Seokmin huffs. “I’m trying to implements law to keep the nobles in check. But know would’ve known that they had their corruption runs deep. And Chan kept being worried in case there’s a civil unrest if i suddenly change the rules around.”

“Wow, the nobles are doing corruption?”

Seokmin lifted his head at your question, but immediately broke into a smile as he realizes your sarcastic notion.

“I just wanted things to be better.” Seokmin silently admits.

“Everyone does. You just have to keep your head Seokmin, remembers that everyone here will help you.” You said it so mindlessly, unaware of the weight of it.

“Thank you, for all the help. I appreciate all the meal you cook and the snacks too.” Seokmin laughs, the bright tone sets a smile on your face.

“Well you’re welcome. I’m a whiz at the kitchen right? You need all the snacks with the all nighter you’ve been pulling.”

Seokmin cleared his throat. The new feeling of being nagged at is a thing he hadn’t felt in a long time. You tried your best to keep your focus on your ankle, knowing that looking at Seokmin might spark another burst of embarrassment. Turning you red all over.

“Have a good night.” Seokmin mutters before abruptly leaving you.

\\

You’re thankful for Yeri to rearrange your touring schedule to a halt. Letting you take interview in the residence as your ankle slowly heals. The downside are the increasing amount of people that will see you and Seokmin right at the residence. It keeps you on your toes to keep up with the act. That includes the new arrangement of your sleeping situation.

Because which newlyweds who rushed their wedding would sleep on a different room?

A fake one.

So Seungkwan suggested you to avoid getting to your room. At least not directly from the hallway. You need to go to your room through the connecting door from Seokmin’s room. You almost laugh that day when Seungkwan brought up the idea. Trying to brush over who would pay that much attention to you. But your laughter slowly dies down when Seokmin, Seungkwan, and even Wonwoo stare at you incredulously.

You comply. Seokmin assures you that the lock in the connecting door are working perfectly fine.

“You want to have lunch now? I ordered Vogue they can come in an hour or so. They already sent the clothes, you can take your time.”

“Lunch sounds good. Have you reviewed the location where they want to shoot?” You said as you massaged your neck. Who knew posing for pictures is so hard.

“I talked with Seungkwan too, he suggested one in the parlour and one maybe in the studies since his majesty will only return late. Vogue can only concur with us.”

“Seokmin’s studies?”

Upon Yeri’s confirmation, your curiosity grown. That’s the one place you haven’t yet explore in the residence. You’ve been amazed at how the residence has been designed. A modern place where a crown prince used to spend his free time. Somehow decorated homely enough for you to feel a sense of coziness instead of alienated.

An hour quickly passed by and the vogue stylist has kindly directing you through poses after they set up some lights and camera. The picture in the parlour was done in a jiffy. You held back a skip before entering the study room. All while skillfully answering the questions from the interviewer.

“As we let the staff set up the light, can we talk about this space?” The interviewer queries.

“Well, simply put, this is where the work gets done. Quite literally.” You paused, realizing that Seokmin has entered the room. Silently stood behind Yeri and a few of the floor staffs. He barely walked pass the door, but you can notice him easily. “We share the space to do meetings and read whenever we have a free time. There’s an old fireplace, carved a long time ago for the second queen as a present. It was derelict when they were found ten years ago. Hidden in the room no longer used in the old palace. But the late queen, Seokmin’s mother, are determined to restore it, and she beautifully placed it here. Quite a hidden gem if i must say.” You smiled, giving yourself a pat in your own back for remembering the history lesson from a few weeks ago.

“I think it’s good to make this one look more natural, so we won’t have you posing like earlier. We can just continue with the interview and the photographer can snap a few framesa in the middle.”

“I trust the photographer to capture me in a good light.” You replied, hiding your nervousness behind a smile after seeing that Seokmin remain at his spot. Seungkwan and Wonwoo flanked him, following to be your audience.

You return your attention to the interviewer. Already pointing at the array of vinyl displayed on one side, as well as a guitar. You slowly lead her to it, hoping the image training paid off well. Seeing how tense Yeri are behind the camera.

Half an hour felt like a lifetime. You managed to answer well throughout, also not forgetting to be as natural as possible to avoid sounding like a robot—Yeri warned you the whole morning about this. In the closing stage, you’re seated on an old chair by the window, behind you are the fore-mentioned fireplace. The photographer quickly captures it before the interviewer’s last question.

“Lastly, we’ve noticed the king’s affinity with art. But we can’t seem to identifies any of the paintings hung. From the hillside view in the parlour and the few scattered in this studies. Can you tell us who the painters are?”

The question caught you off guard. Sure you’ve noticed the various painting around the residence, even the main palace. But not one tutoring session has explained it to you closely. You tries to remain calm, gripping the armrest of the chair like it’s a lifeline. Behind the camera you can see Yeri is ready to step in and stopped the interviewer.

“It was my mother.”

The whole room was silent, recognizing the answer came from the king himself. Seokmin has his hand in his pocket, painting the aloofness around himself and the visiting staffs. He made his way to you, a smile so bright you almost forgot to breathe.

“As you might know she graduated top of her class from an art college.”

You stood to welcomes him. Seokmin’s hand wrapped naturally around your waist. He gave you a small squeeze to snap you out of it. Smiling back at Seokmin before to the camera.

“Her majesty does love to paint. As you might know she often gifted it to a few places around the kingdom.” You added, thanking your memories from watching news in the TV. “I hoped i can live up to her standard. Although i am not as skilled in art as she is. At least i can be as kind as Seokmin to the people. Despite the short time to getting to know each other.”

You’re unaware, but Seokmin kept his gaze to you. Absorbing your words as he kept caressing your back. He’s well aware that you’re prepared to answer any question in this interview. Yet this last one surprises him. Kept him thinking about your words and actions.

You heard a few snaps of camera before the interviewer declared the interview is over. Yeri and Seungkwan cordially bid them goodbye as well as discussing the output matters. Throughout the whole time of cleaning up, Seokmin never left your side until the last crew eventually escorted out of the residence with the security team. It was well pass dusk and Yeri eventually bid her goodbye.

And then it left only Seungkwan and Wonwoo discussing over in the parlour.

“Thank you. I truly didn’t know it was the queen’s painting.” You admit, earning a smile from Seokmin.

“Don’t worry, not many knows. It’s like a private collection.” Seokmin has retracted his hand around you, but he kept close as you both making way to the middle of the studies. There’s an air about him now, vibrating and giddy like he just came back victorious from whatever battle he faced outside.

“You look different. Happier than you were this morning.”

You quickened your steps, trying to catch a glimpse of Seokmin’s face. To which he turned completely sideway upon your sudden attention. A bubbling of laughter in his throat. You almost felt bad for not hearing it. But also relieved, about the air around him that has changed. The tiredness might need time to fix, but at least Seokmin smiles more.

How you had wish for the night to end just like that.

“Seokmin…”

Wonwoo’s voice was never that grave. Barging through the door of the studies, startling both you and Seokmin. Which wastes no time to follow Wonwoo, you instinctively follows. Closer to the parlour where you can hear the sound of the TV blaring the news.

There’s a nagging feeling in your chest. Even before you can see that Seungkwan are holed in the corner, in what seemingly a deep and serious call. Wonwoo, now with Seokmin by his side are merely a few metres from the TV. The images, even from afar astound you. It was not long until every phone in the residence rang. Seokmin takes one offered by Wonwoo.

In trance, you kept your eyes on the news.

“A tragic fire broke out in a school in the rural area. The fire suspected to have caused by defective electrical equipment that had sparked off from one of the facilities in the school building..”

Your gasp filled the foreground of the somber room. The news from TV serve as a gut wrenching background.

Not far, Seokmin eyes bore to the floor, lost it’s focus as he listens to the call. Seemingly briefing him of the situation. As minutes passed, the strain in Seokmin’s face grew. Matching the rigidness that has start ever since he enters the room.

“It’s Jeonghan.” Wonwoo provides an answer.

“The chief of police?”

“The very one.” You turn a questioning look toward Wonwoo. Wanting more information than what’s being televised. Wonwoo sighed, “Jeonghan is involved because the area is one of the place he’s currently investigating. A few of noble family members and some minister are suspected in corruption. Mainly causing a lack of development around the area.”

“Is it hindering the fire department?” You tries to conclude. Wonwoo solemnly nod.

“It’s not yet aired but until now there’s still not enough fire truck in the site due to the poor condition of the road. And the fire are predicted to the spread into the forest and possibly civilian houses if the firetruck situation remain as of now. They’re trying to dispatch a helitanker but the area is a bit far away.”

“Is there any casualties?” Your question brought a faltering look from Wonwoo. The stern bodyguard looks like he’s weighing his own choice.

“Y/n you…”

A sudden booming noise from a door being closed shut catch the room’s attention. You can see Wonwoo and Seungkwan exchanging a knowing look before Wonwoo sent a signal through his comms.

“Keep the perimeter around the lake garden. Make sure to not be visible to Arthur. But keep him in your sight.”

As Wonwoo informs his team, you eventually realize that Seokmin was the source of the noise. He had stormed off of the residence and into the dark garden. The mention of Seokmin’s codename caught you off guard.

As a newcomer, it didn’t take you long to figure out Seokmin’s habit. Especially if you have a whole crash course to learn about him. But looking closer and privy to the night and morning where he’s not forced into the spotlight, it helps you learn that Seokmin, despite his status and somewhat cold expression he wore, is a kind man with a beautiful smile, who loves his mother and thrusted upon the responsibilities of making the kingdom a better place.

You couldn’t think of a much bigger burden to bear than this.

The night tapered down to a grave silence. Seungkwan and Wonwoo left one by one, having to attend many meetings and checking up on Arthur.

It’s well passed midnight when you found yourself remain wide awake. It’s not that you’re even trying to sleep. Gazing out the window in your room, you can almost see the moonlight bouncing off of the lake surface afar. You haven’t heard any signs of Seokmin returning. Worry eating away your mind.

Avoiding your phone and the tv, in the dark, you sit on the sofa in the parlour. The light from outside are bright enough for you to see Seokmin if he returns.

You can’t deny that the worriness you felt stem from a feeling you had come to avoid nowadays. Seeing glimpses of Seokmin privately, far from the eye of the media, and fighting headstrong against the law constructed decades ago just to see a sliver of justice.

You fell for Seokmin’s little smile whenever he sees you whipping out an omelette in the morning. You fell for the mere second you see Seokmin teasing Wonwoo just before they head out of the residence door.

You fell for something so close but so unattainable.

Because what is your presence other than a queen from contract. Kept just as a pawn. To keep Seokmin’s defense tight from the corrupt nobles’ lackey he could possibly be paired with.

It’s smart actually. To hell with a love match, keeping the new king’s circle tight with a person you know would never back stabbed you might be a tactic as old as time.

Your thought are abruptly cut by the sound of the door clicking close.

You pushed the ache in your chest aside when Seokmin avoided your gaze altogether. The tightness in his jaw matches the frown on his eyebrows. He marches quick to his room. Your steps following close behind. Gazing closely on the connecting doorway as Seokmin paces around his room.

“Seokmin, they’ve managed to put down the fire. At least it didn’t spread to the woods.” You try to comfort him, but only met with an empty gaze pointed at you.

“Two teachers and two firefighters.” The fact doesn’t fly by you. Eventually finding out the casualties, only so far. “If i could catch the people responsible for this! If could just implement the law faster, maybe this doesn’t have to happened.” The words seething through Seokmin gritted teeth. You understand his anger, trying to calm him down so he could think clearer.

“There’s only so much you can do Seokmin. And its not being angry with yourself.” You pointed out, but the scornful smile tugging on his lips shown you otherwise. So spiteful of such anger, yet it’s being falsely targeted to you.

“Of all the things i can do as a king, i haven’t been able to do one right thing. Not one. This corrupt kingdom is just a fruit of labor from someone as selfish as my father. I never asked for this.”

Seokmin’s voice turn to a low hiss of whispers, but the sentiment remain. The tragedy has turned his vision askew. He’s no longer angry at himself, now you get sucked in to his diatribe of ‘woe is me’. You took a deep breath to calm your own frustration down.

“Wake up your majesty, nobody asked for any responsibilities. But alas, they’re born into situation. And that also includes you. The people suffering doesn’t have time for you to weep over your own fate like this. They need their king. They need your love and care. It’s the first thing they need.”

“What good is love going to do? I can’t even marry one that i love! I’m tied down with someone i barely know.”

It hurts. Knowing that Seokmin barely feeling half of what you do and being the target of his anger.

Seokmin catch a second the moment the words left his lips. He regretted it immediately but make no action to says so.

His pride wouldn’t let him.

Although the same pride couldn’t bear the sight of you looking small by the doorway. Nails almost scratching to the wall as you gaze to the floor. So Seokmin turned away, cowardly plotting way to escape another mess he brought upon himself. Just because he can’t control his frustration.

“Then you must love me.” You blurt out. Desperation in your words as tears brimming hot around your eyes. Unfocused gaze yet it sets towards Seokmin. His turned back, straight and wide as ever. The burden weighing them almost went unnoticed if you only see Seokmin from the media.

But you aren’t. You see him differently, quietly, by his side.

You meant to say it out of spite. Taunting Seokmin to try to love one thing before even a thousand more. But half of you found yourself begging. Maybe more than half.

You must have it. Love. His love. Because not of the principle that you’ve been fed throughout your whole life, or the thought of being one of Seokmin’s failure, but because you feel like Seokmin needed it as well. A place to care without burden, without a mask, and without boundaries of his affection.

“What is my love? Why does it mean so much that i love something— someone?” A hoarse laughs escaped his lips. A defeated one. To what it still came untold. But the weight, it pours down to his body like gravity, bending him down to his knees. “Why should i love when obviously it means nothing. Nothing. When the one i put my faith into came to stab me at my back.” His voice tapered to nothingness, blending to the quiet sound of the room.

You approach his hunched figure with sureness, stopping in front of Seokmin. Not long until you joined him on the ground. Cold and somewhat unfeeling.

“Then give your one last chance to me. Faith, all and everything. Even your disappointment. If there’s still some left, then let me beg for your love. I might not be able to fix all that is wrong, but i am willing to help in every other way. Give you time to passed this testing time and let you be who i know you are destined to be. A wise king.”

Time. Then time will be the hurdle you has to face.

Maybe after time, Seokmin will love you too.

\\

If you pretend that night didn’t happened, maybe it really doesn’t. What truly compels you to say such things to Seokmin? You must’ve went nuts. Out of embarrasment, you don’t even tell your mom about the outburst when she calls you in the morning.

The next morning where Seokmin is already out of the residence the moment you open your eyes.

Thankfully Yeri has arrange a meeting for you and a few relief organization to plan a food donations for the suffering areas. It keeps your mind busy at least. Rather than replaying every words you utter that night and feeling more and more pathetic as each day passed.

You were about to exit the meeting room when Yeri hold you back and reminding you of an additional events for tomorrow.

“You know, the public wants you to give out medals to the captain of the fire station.” Yeri said once only you both remain in the room.

“Medals? They are not even done cleaning up the debris and building the emergency school for the children. Do you think the public are celebrating too quick?”

“You and i both know this isn’t about the public. Some of the royal family members want this over and done with as quick as possible.” Yeri reasoned with a huff. You can’t help but sigh, completely understanding her position. The main palace might already be arranged and decorated already for this occasion as you both speak.

“And you and i both know and those ‘royal family’ might as well have a hand in the corruption.” Yeri only gives you a tight smile upon your words. Offering a comfort with a touch on your shoulder.

“Let’s talk about it later. Come let’s have a lunch, i’m sure Seokmin is nearby.”

“Does he have meeting in the palace?”

After Yeri’s affirmation, you make a quick trek back to the residence. Muttering something around you want to cook lunch or forgetting to turn off the oven when Yeri’s questions your incredulous action. To be fair the royal dining hall is closer, so scurrying back to the residence just to cook is absurd.

But right now you’d choose to fill up your step counter rather than possibly meeting Seokmin. Or worse, talk to him.

Unfortunately the sight of you making a quick walk back to the direction of the residence instead of walking alongside Yeri to the dining hall is witnessed by Seokmin himself. He was staring outside into the garden when he spot you across. Behind him was a loud chaos noise of his friends arguing which another amendment should be introduced the fastest. He could’ve stayed at home for this. Watching movies he hadn’t finished or the book he has put back down. Seokmin could’ve just had Seungkwan for the report, but here instead. Like yesterday, and a few days before.

Seokmin realizes he’s been avoiding to see you. He realizes when he felt hungry despite having a full breakfast cooked for him from the dining hall. He felt sleepy despite the amount of caffeine he consume nowadays.

To be fair he should be feeling guilty about this. On top of the apologies he should be saying to you, Seokmin avoided you. He, the one person who brought you here. Who dragged you into this mess, and created more mess. Seokmin felt himself shrinking. He’s a king of a nation, he shouldn’t be feeling like this. His father’s words rang clear in his memory.

The words that brought the mighty king to his own demise.

His mother would be disappointed with Seokmin if he keeps up with this act.

Seokmin took a deep breath, concluding that apologizing to you is the first thing he do once he’s finished for the day.

“Seokmin if you’re done gazing longingly outside, we still have to plan for tomorrow.” Jeonghan’s voice break his thought.

Right, medals and firefighters.

Unfortunately for Seokmin, he return back to the residence and welcomed by the sight of you sleeping. He doesn’t mean to peek but the connecting door was not closed properly and he couldn’t find you everywhere. You were sleeping with three pillows. One for your head, one on your back, and the last one you hugged. By your side, the ipad screen are still showing whatever show or movie you ended up sleeping on.

His guilt grown. Even from your sleeping form, Seokmin could tell that you’re exhausted. Needing support even in you sleep. How lonely you must have felt until you uttered those words after Seokmin’s anger.

‘Don’t cry!’

‘Don’t smile!’

‘Don’t show them your weakness!’

‘You’re in line to be a king. Act like one!’

The memory of his father was never a fond one. That’s why Seokmin prefers to be with his mom. The stern reminder rang in his head, but Seokmin has grown numb to it.

\\

“How the heck does this happened?” Yeri mutters low enough only for you to hear. You could imagine her usual stoic face remained unchanged, but you knew her head must have been running awry. You kept your face straight.

“To be fair, the invitation did say for them to be dressed in uniform.” Your response met with a huff from your side.

Seokmin stood a few steps ahead on a pedestal, currently placing a medal around a framed picture of what you recognized as one of the firefighter fallen victiom the fire. The very picture held by a very disheveled fire captain. Still in his dirty uniform you had expected worn during the fire. Behind the captain, the lieutenant are clad the same, holding another framed picture. Waiting for medal.

When asked for pictures, Seokmin nodded pointedly to the two firefighter before stepping back aside. Your poker face is tested today, because Seokmin resorted to stood beside you, as the two firefighter stood side by side with the framed picture in their hand. Medaled and held proud.

The murmurs around the royal hall grew louder.

The invited spectators, consists of few selected media, high ranking generals, and nobles broke into hushed conversation.

You still haven’t understand what is the need of those nobles being here, but then you remembered the banquet that will be held later. Some people does use any excuse just to have a party.

After the pictures taken, you and Seokmin are escorted out of the hall, and after that, the two firefighters. Once safe into the hallway and the door behind you close, there’s a collective sound of exhale from around you. The lieutenant stopped before Seokmin and gives him a hug. You presume they know each other.

“It’s been awhile, your majesty.” The lieutenant whispers before pulling back. Hand remain on Seokmin’s shoulder.

“Shut up Mingyu.”

The lieutenant—Mingyu, smiled brightly at Seokmin. Although Seokmin can’t seem to shown the same. A heaviness settles among the crowd when Seokmin look at the retreating figure of the fire captain. You could see from afar the hi-vis stripe of the uniform slowly growing smaller before taking a turn at the corner.

“I hope you understand him. It’s nothing personal.” Mingyu remarks with a sigh.

“Please tell Seungcheol that i’m sorry.” Seokmin voice sounded low, he kept his voice close to his friend but you manage to catch it.

“We both know that it isn’t your fault Seokmin. It’s not your fault that when we filed for the development of fire prevention system around the area, it was never processed for two years straight.”

Seokmin is silent. It was never meant for a jab, but the fact hurt still. The fact that it continues to happened now under Seokmin’s reign as a king.

Mingyu, gives Seokmin one last friendly pat before bidding everyone goodbye. You quickly offers him a bumbling bow.

“Oh, hello. We haven’t officially introduced yet. You must be Y/n. I’m Mingyu. I’m sorry we have to meet like this. See you later.”

The large physique truly deceive you. The young lieutenant, have the energy more resembling a huge puppy. While you steal a glance to Seokmin, you can’t help but think that the two presumable friend have quite the polar opposite vibe.

“Seokmin, i’ve been informed that the visitors have started to crowd the diamond hall.” Seungkwan break the silence.

“Is that where the banquet are held?” Seokmin questions earned a quick nod. “They couldn’t be more subtle about it huh? Choosing the biggest room for eating and drinking things they don’t deserve. The last thing we know is they invited a whole string quartet or a DJ for entertainment.”

Seokmin couldn’t hide his frustration, the words spewing out of his mouth surprises you for a moment. But you understand his frustration. And so does Yeri, Wonwoo, Seungkwan, and the people around you. Seokmin might just be the only one brave enough to say it out loud.

Seokmin cleared his throat, a tinge of embarrassment on his face is visible before he turn on his feet and march on the long hallway. The security team following quick with Wonwoo on their tail. Seungkwan motion for you and Yeri to lead the way. The three of you eventually walked together.

“Hey Seungkwan,” You begin as you walk. “Was that um, planned? For the lieutenant and captain coming in all dirty and with the framed pictures?”

You felt a sense of relief when Seungkwan nodded. Even with a tight smile. The, you can hear Yeri’s dramatic gasp before a resounding sound of her smacking Seungkwan’s arm.

“When invited to be medaled, at first Seungcheol didn’t even agree to come here. The fire station didn’t even have time to mourn and they’re still busy helping the neighbourhood to distribute some disaster relief. Mingyu of course is following Seungcheol.”

“Then, what changes their mind?” You found yourself asking, though your gaze fixed ahead. Past the broad shoulder belonging to Wonwoo and into the black hair far ahead that you came to recognize.

“Seokmin of course. He gave all the idea of what happened back there. Even providing to stash the firefighter gear and the pictures somewhere for the two to change into. Because none of them wouldn’t make it past the front gate if they dressed like that. Eventually Seungcheol agrees. I don’t even know if they will be at the banquet or not.”

Of course Seokmin would persuade them to come. Because Seokmin knows the repercussion they’ll face if they reject a royal invitation. If only Seokmin can cancel the invitation and the event itself of course it would be easier.

If only Seokmin has that power.

What he held seemingly only the illusion of it. Because if he declares war against the old and powerful nobles, they would certainly fight back. Colluding with the government and creating unrest among the people. It would cripple the economy of the kingdom.

Seokmin couldn’t certainly sleep with that.

“Y/n, are you ready?”

Your confusion hangs off the air for a moment. Until you realize that you’re arriving at the diamond hall. The noise of peoples can already be heard.

The feeling of exhaustion already clouded your nerve.

The plan of sneaking out later is already in your mind.

\\

It wasn’t easy but you pull it off.

Of course you informed Yeri, as if she doesn’t have a tracker on you.

The diamond hall are fully packed by people. If not conversing on a stock blatantly, they’re laughing off of a pointless matter. You almost feel sick from the sight of grubby hand fighting over any filled glass of champagne. After an hour, you begged Yeri to sneak you out. You can’t hear more of obscene gossip passed among the nobles and socialite.

Yeri eventually agrees. Showing you to the blind spot exit and you thanked her repeatedly before walking off.

She makes sure to remind you to avoid any eyes and have your phone on. You waved her goodbye before following the hidden hallway. A light skip in your steps.

Passed the empty gallery, and the hall of portraits, you looked around the big library before deciding that the place is too eerie to stay alone. Eventually you found your hideout in the palace old keep. Now only a staircase tower.

You walk down the dusty stairs, taking off your heels before, circling the wall and decidedly stopping a few steps before the lower window. The big window overlooks the side garden of the palace. The background of green hills providing a picturesque view. It reminded you to one of the painting in Seokmin’s residence.

You wonder if the cherry blossom trees would bloom in time.

With a sigh, you take a seat on the stairs. Although your ankle has gone significantly better, wearing heels and walking around the big palace still wear your legs out. You might as well asked Seokmin to change a law to allow you to wear sneakers daily.

That is if you have a chance to talk to Seokmin. You’re not dumb enough to realize that he’s been doing the same thing you do. Avoiding each other. You cringe yourself once again to the memory of that night. You tries to calm your mind instead, listening to the sound of the blowing breeze outside the window.

Suddenly, your peace is disturbed by the sound of the door opening and closing. You followed the sound down. Craning your neck down the banister. To your surprise, you’re met with the sight so familiar.

“Seokmin?”

With the same surprise painted on his face, Seokmin climb up the stairs. Never leaving his eyes off of you. Lost at what to do, dusting off any dirt on your hands and dressed. Among the confusion, you ended up bowing your head to him.

“No need to be so fidgety or courteous around me. Where’s the one who scolded me a few nights ago?” Seokmin tries to joke, a small smile played in his lips but it flutters away as fast as the wind. He cleared his throat to hide the embarrassment.

Leaning against the big windowsill, his gaze turned to where yours were a moments ago. Stuffing his hands to the pocket of his trousers, you began to relaxed a little. Fidgeting the hem of your dress before taking a seat back on the staircase.

“Well, that very one is still here. She just have an unfortunate choice of footwear for today’s event.” You chuckled, slightly massaging your sore calf.

“And it brought you here? Walking up the stairs with those unfortunate choice?” Seokmin’s head jerked towards the abandoned Prada heels. Neatly put against the wall under the windowsill.

“You think too highly of me. In fact i walk down the stairs. ‘Unfortunate choice’ already abandoned in my hand.” You laughed, impulsively throwing a jazz hands after pointing out where you enter the staircase tower. “How do you even found me here?”

“Well i happened to live here longer than you. In fact this was the very place i run to each time— each time things get rough.” Seokmin admitted silently. “Well, young Seokmin i guess. ‘Cause things get rough almost everyday nowadays, and i can’t just find the opportunity to visit this place each time.”

Imagining teenager Seokmin, fleeing his then security detail and climbing up the stairs to hide brought a smile to your face. Never in your lifetime that you would think that a young crown prince shares a humanly side as almost all population of teenager. Finding their own way to shape up the world when the real one starts to crush down on them.

You certainly remember yours. Hidden bushes of wild roses where there’s only enough space for you to crawl and be safe under the envelope of nature. It has seen your tears and lonely thoughts. Does Seokmin share his too? Sitting small by the massive window, among the cold walls and dusty staircase. Legs curled up or probably scraped when he stumbled to the hard floor while trying to sneak out.

“Weird flex, but ok.” There’s a resounding laughter from Seokmin. You couldn’t find any reason to not love it. His laughter bouncing off the stone wall, loud and free. Simply laughing from your little joke.

“Guess it is, but i am me. So…”

Deciding to love this side of Seokmin is easy.

As easy as agreeing to marry him. Or even begging him to love you a few nights ago. You’d be lying if you feel a little disheartened at the minimal changes Seokmin has shown to you as days passed. It feeds to the thought that all he feels towards you is apathy. That you clearly doesn’t mean any—

“I am, terribly sorry about that night.” There, Seokmin finally says it. A tonne of weight felt like its been lifted from his shoulder. “And about what you said,” hesitation dripping from Seokmin’s voice. He’s turned from the window and facing you fully. The warm sunlight painted his cheekbone beautifully, but you keep that to yourself. “Do you mean what you ask for? Can i— can i trust you? Will it be enough?”

It’s cold when you make your way to Seokmin, barefoot against the floor. His eyes never left yours, trying to find— read your answer. He’s met with a subdued smile, your hair looks glowing when its met with sunlight from the window.

Entranced.

“You trusted me to be your wife didn’t you?”

He thought he shouldn’t be, but the words somehow excites him. Rushes of adrenaline flow through his vein, atoms that spark his nerve. Warm his soul with every blink of your eyes. The same one that entranced him when he lift up the thin veil on your wedding day.

“That, i do.”

Relief immediately adorned your face. Relaxing every muscle in your body as you extended your palm to Seokmin. He fights the urge to grab it and pulls you flush, for now his self restraint won. Or does it considered as a win if he doesn’t have you by his touch?

“For now, that’s enough.” You assures Seokmin, who still stood stunned staring at your hand. “Maybe it will not be in some time by the future. Then, you can ask me for more.”

When Seokmin still hasn’t took your hand, you bit your lower lip. The sudden realization that you’re once again, begging for him. For whatever it is that you thought would let him open himself to you andase his struggle. When Seokmin remain statued, you flinch away. Pulling your hands back to your side and make a quick swipe at your abandoned shoes before trying to scurry away down the stairs.

Emphasis on ‘try’.

Because Seokmin’s quick reflex has stopped you even before you make even one step passed him. Well, as quick as he can after the brief moment where he short-circuited just by the sight of your offer of physical contact.

“Pardon me— i,” great he even stammer. Grimacing to himself, Seokmin tries to push his self-deprecating thought for later time. He tightened his grip on your elbow, bringing your attention back to Seokmin. “I do. And i will. I trusted you, for now.”

The proximity and the low baritone you rarely hear from Seokmin, it sent a jolt down your spine. Rendering you speechless and hitched your breath. Your eyes eventually casted downwards to Seokmin’s grip. He slowly loosened said grip. Reluctantly at that.

And with that, you make your leave. Heels in hand, and feet still bare as you climbs down to the tower’s exit door.

The small cloud of dust you left behind send Seokmin blinking his eyes. Confusion and a new feeling settles on his shoulder. Shaking his head to try to compose himself, Seokmin thought tonight’s dinner will be an awkward one.

Yet he can’t help to look forward to it.

next chapter

[totallynotslothhh]

HOLD ME TIGHT PT.2

pairing: joost klein x fem!reader

word count: 4,380

warning: angst, smut, fluff, spanking, crying, smoking, fwb

description: The relationship between Joost and y/n seems to be going well, seemingly about to evolve, but an event drastically shifts y/n’s perspective, starting to make everything crumble.

author’s note: Hi everyone, you have no idea how eager I was to publish the second part. I absolutely love writing heartbreaking and painful stuff, you’re going to have to suffer a little, BUT FEAR NOT, I’m already working on the third part, which I’ll try to release by the end of this week, or at the latest, the beginning of the next. Please be patient. While I was writing this fanfic, I had a vivid image of Joost in 2022, so I based everything on that version of him. However, since I kept the descriptions pretty broad, I think you’ll be able to imagine him from any early era in his career.

That said, I’ll leave you to the reading now, and I’ll see you soon (probably with some meltdowns).

big kisses!

(sorry if there are grammatical errors, I tried my best, English is not my first language!!!🙏)

part.1 part.2 part.3

——————————————————————

The first rainy days of September had started to appear: grey, cloudy days, with the humid air that still hinted at the summer heat, yet gently pushed you into the thought of the cold that was soon to come.

I inhaled from the cigarette filter, savoring the bitter but damnably familiar taste of smoke, staring out at the courtyard of my apartment and the street that stretched out from my bedroom window.

-You’ve been smoking more since you started seeing Joost.-

It had been two months since my first time with Joost.

Two months since the subject of my thoughts and worries had shifted. Two months since someone had come into my life who I didn’t yet know would become the most important person in it.

We had built a relationship of unstable balance. There was always a little piece of my day dedicated to us. Whether it was in the morning, afternoon, or evening, a quick text, a call, or a meeting, whether there was sex or not.

Sex was the major protagonist of our encounters and desires. It’s true, our friendship had become mostly physical, but there was always a margin of interest in each other. We shared a mutual affection that went beyond just the act.

It showed in the small things, things that seemed small but were actually huge.

For example, he remembered the brand of cigarettes I smoked, what foods I liked and disliked, he knew how to handle me when I was sad, knew what to do when I was nervous, could read me just from a glance.

I had become an open book. Even if I tried to pretend I didn’t care about him, I couldn’t pull it off: do heart-eyes come with every look?

-Your heart’s beating fast.-

Feeling that explosion of emotions terrified me: the thoughts that always drifted to him in my free moments, the desire to see him, that kind of anxious excitement before meeting up, the chills running over my skin the moment our eyes met. That wave of sensations scared me. I didn’t want to fall in love, didn’t want to start something new, especially since the wound from my last love was still fresh.

No longer bleeding, but still open and fragile.

So fragile that a single touch could make it bleed again.

Joost was healing a wound he hadn’t caused. Without knowing it, he was soothing me with a beautifully calming rhythm, slowly making me trust him.

-Did you sleep more last night, or am I wrong?-

But it wasn’t time yet.

Would that time ever come? I didn’t know.

What I did know was that this relationship would end. Like everything else, even the good things come to an end.

Especially the good things.

The question was: would it end by evolving into something deeper, or would it break under the weight of our anxieties?

-Breathe. Relax. Enjoy the moment.-

I sighed, letting the smoke out through my nose. I rested my chin on my palm, holding the finished cigarette with the other hand.

That day, I felt particularly overwhelmed. I’d been working all morning, hadn’t carved out even a tiny bit of time for a break. Cigarettes were my “break,” if you could call it that: two minutes of filling my lungs with filth, paradoxically relaxing. Paradoxically warm.

I chuckled at the thought, glancing at my desk. It was messy and mirrored my state of being perfectly: scattered papers, small pencil sketches covering their surfaces alongside important notes, my laptop dying and about to shut off.

I took one last drag, then crushed the filter on the cold windowsill and finally closed the window.

Sniffling, I returned to my spot and checked my notifications.

No notifications.

-I want to be with Joost.-

I furrowed my brow and, without thinking twice, opened our chat, filled with quick messages but also silly or meaningful conversations. When we couldn’t see each other, any excuse was good enough to stay in touch.

Just a few minutes to make sure we weren’t letting go of each other. Holding on to that safe place.

“Wanna meet up later?”

Sent today at 5:16 PM.

Surprisingly, I got a reply immediately, before I even had time to put my phone down.

That was strange, considering Joost usually took forever to answer a message.

A carrier pigeon might’ve been faster at showing signs of life.

Sometimes I almost felt lucky to have him in my life. He was always busy with creative work, but still made the effort to give you attention.

“I was just about to text you and ask the same.”

Sent today at 5:16 PM.

That message brought a shy, stupid, useless smile to my face. And as soon as I realized it, I shook my head, biting down on my lower lip.

-Was he thinking about me?-

“At your place?”

Sent today at 5:16 PM.

“Come over when you’re free.”

Sent today at 5:17 PM.

So, after reading that last message, I turned off my phone and stood up, stretching and mentally cursing the version of myself that had bought chairs as uncomfortable as they were beautiful.

Needless to say, I left work on hold, weighing the desire to see the guy who gave me orgasms worthy of divine classification, against the need to finish the work I had piled up.

A good worker would’ve chosen wisely.

At 9:00 PM, I was in his bed.

My exhaustion gone after yet another round of sex that served as a release from those heavy, endless days. The simple feeling of his lips on my body, his hands in my hair, his gaze on me, and his dick buried deep inside me while he praised me and told me how beautiful I looked naked. Well, it made me feel good.

My head rested peacefully on his chest, legs tangled in the white sheet and with his, while I lazily caressed his calf with the top of my foot. I felt his fingers softly travel across the warm skin of my back, his calm breathing rising and falling beneath the hand I’d placed on his chest, playing with the hair there, mimicking his movements.

The welcoming silence thundered in my ears. His heartbeat set the background to the thousand thoughts flowing gently through my mind. The feeling of truly being wanted cradled me.

It was those moments.

Those moments I lived with premature nostalgia, thinking of when we’d part, of how much I’d miss them when I’d be alone, of how stupid I was for starting something like this.

“What are you thinking about?” His deep, raspy voice, thick from silence and exhaustion, made me shrug, caught slightly off guard.

“Nothing” I answered in a whisper, letting my hand glide across his stomach and down his side, trying to cuddle closer. In response, he gently turned toward me, letting me curl into him even more.

“Liar, you’re too quiet” he said, wrapping me in his warm, pale arms, brushing a hand against my cheek, which was now tinged with a soft blush.

“Just tired” I whispered, almost not wanting to break the silence between us.

I looked up at him, seeing his eyes, now narrow slits, likely trying to focus on me. He looked so innocent with that little curious pout, without his glasses, and with messy hair.

“Hungry? Want to order something?” he offered, stroking my cheek with his thumb, keeping his gaze on me, at least as much as he could.

“Maybe later” I nodded, savoring the warmth his palm gave me as it cradled my face. Touch was definitely a language that went beyond words. It was an expression of love that reassured me I wasn’t making a mistake.

Physical closeness made me feel safe, made me feel wanted.

“I really want to kiss you” he murmured a moment later, making me smile as I felt the grip of his other hand tighten, more eager, on my bare waist. I looked at him and noticed the hint of sleep in his expression. It made me laugh, because I already knew where this would end: kissing sloppily, filling the room with wet sounds, soft moans, and giggles.

“How will you do that if you can’t see?” I raised my eyebrows, watching his confused frown fade as I reached toward the nightstand and grabbed his thick glasses. Both his hands slid to my hips, and I felt his lips lazily rest on my shoulder.

“I still don’t get how you manage to see anything” I shifted slightly, putting his glasses on him and holding his face to lift his gaze toward mine. His sleepy expression hadn’t changed, but his eyes were more focused now, filled with desire, mirrored in the way he gripped my warm, tingling skin.

This boy made me feel everything.

In seconds, I leaned in and pressed my lips to his. We started kissing, our tongues dancing inside each other’s mouths. I felt his breath growing heavier, his grip dropping to my ass. I kept one hand on his face and the other resting gently on his chest. He bit my lower lip and pushed his hips involuntarily against my thigh, his half-hard length pressing against me. He squeezed one cheek and kept kissing me hungrily.

I moaned into his mouth and instinctively brought my other hand to his cheek too, caressing him with my thumbs and pulling myself closer.

I felt overwhelmed, and it was the most beautiful feeling, because I knew, no matter what, Joost would be there to handle it.

He pulled away for a second to look at me. To observe my flushed cheeks, half-lidded eyes, glossy lips parted just enough to breathe. He gently pushed me under him, letting his hands explore my waist again.

“I could kiss you without stopping” he murmured warmly against my cheek, making me smile and move my hands to his shoulders. He began kissing his way from my cheek to my lips, then down my body, leaving little bites that drew soft moans from my throat.

“I’m bringing you to my next concert” he whispered against the warm skin of my chest, looking up at me but never stopping his trail of kisses.

“What?” I giggled, running my fingers through his hair and pulling him up for a kiss. I hadn’t quite caught the meaning of that sentence, I was more focused on how wet he’d just made me again.

-Didn’t catch it, or didn’t want to?-

“You said you’d like to come. I got you a backstage pass” he repeated, kissing my lips again before nestling into my neck, not giving me time to fully process it. I paused, eyes widening, pulling away slightly to stop him from kissing and distracting me more.

“Really?” I whispered, laughing and halting my hands in his hair. He looked up and locked eyes with mine.

“Yeah, You told me once you’d like to be there.”

I had told him. Almost a month ago. And he had remembered.

He had remembered that tiny sentence buried in a much larger conversation about his budding music career.

“you remembered it..” I whispered, unable to hold back a smile, which brought one to his face too. I felt his hands grip my hips, and his face disappeared from my view as he buried it once again in my neck.

“Of course I did. I remember everything you tell me” he said, sliding a hand between my legs, pressing his middle finger against my clit, then moving it between my already wet lips. I clenched around nothing, arching my back slightly and grabbing a fistful of his blond hair.

“You like it when I touch you, huh?” That phrase made me shiver and moan, writhing under the continuous pressure at my throbbing center.

“Yes… don’t stop- keep.. keep going” I murmured with closed eyes as I felt his fingers slowly push inside me, deepening the sensation alongside the bites he placed on my skin.

“I can’t wait to take you backstage, to fuck you, to cover your mouth while I pull your hair” he murmured. That image only heightened everything, his fingers curling inside me, his thumb circling my clit. I bit my lower lip, my breath quickening as chills ran down my spine. The heat from his body, the sheets, and the pleasure itself was so comforting I could’ve melted right then and there.

I felt his hips press against my thigh, his growing hardness brushing against my skin.

“Please, Joost…” I whispered, opening my eyes and tugging gently on his hair to lift his face. He did so, increasing the rhythm of his fingers, eyes locked onto my expression, entirely lost in pleasure.

“Turn around” he instructed softly, withdrawing his fingers and bringing them to my lips. I opened my mouth and welcomed them, tasting myself as I sucked them hungrily. His breathing grew heavier, his arousal harder against my leg, and his smile deepened as he pushed his fingers further into my mouth. I licked them thoroughly before releasing them.

“You’re beautiful. Always” he whispered as he slowly sat up, supporting himself on his knees to give me room to turn over. I rolled onto my stomach, tucking my shoulders in and arching my back deliberately, accentuating the curve of my hips.

“I’ve always thought you were beautiful, but seeing you naked beneath me… you’re even more” he said, making me blush and bury my face into the pillow. His hands took hold of the soft skin of my backside, giving it light taps and gentle squeezes as he leaned forward, trailing kisses down my spine, focusing on the dimples just above my hips.

After a few moments, I sensed him move away to grab a condom left ready on the nightstand. I raised my hips slightly, feeling exposed. When he returned to the bed, he didn’t take long to land a sharp smack on my right cheek, making me gasp and moan into the pillow, the sound fading into the rhythm of our heavy breaths.

He slid into me, gripping my hips tightly with urgent hands, which soon after struck my skin again, reddening it. He plunged his full length in and began to move at a steady pace. That position was one of his favorites: I could tell by the way he groaned, the way he caressed my back, the way his voice faltered with each thrust. I was starting to understand those parts of him too.

“God.. I- fuck..” he moaned roughly, driving into me with force, pressing his chest to my back, panting against my ear, leaving wet kisses on my shoulder. One of his hands smacked me again before grabbing both cheeks, spreading them slightly, as if to remind me he was in control. The pleasure was overwhelming. My face was pressed into the softness of the pillow, one hand clutching the pillowcase, the other buried beneath it. The sound of our bodies meeting filled the room, layering more heat between our naked skin and the craving for a physical pleasure that somehow calmed the soul.

I tightened around him, moaning loudly as his fingers moved to my clit again, adding an electric edge to the sensation.

“Come for me, baby, come” he whispered through ragged breaths, keeping the same intense rhythm, his circles on my sensitive bud pushing me closer to the edge. His other hand found mine, intertwining our fingers, still gripping the pillowcase.

I felt my legs tense, breath caught in my throat, and the knot of orgasm unraveled, taking me over in seconds. I closed my eyes and let the wave crash over me, breathless, as Joost continued his movement until he followed, spilling into the condom, giving his last thrusts meaningless, still clutching my hand like it was the only anchor he had.

He covered me in kisses and caresses, the urgency of sex now wrapped in the softness of intimacy.

“Of course I did. I remember everything you tell me.”

That sentence echoed in my head for days. It was etched into my heart, engraved in my memory. He was taking me to one of his concerts because he had read between the lines of my words. He was taking me to his show, and all our friends would finally see the kind of bond that held us together.

We had done everything in secret without even meaning to. It wasn’t about hiding, we had just kept things private.

It wasn’t supposed to be more than sex.

Supposed to, because whether I liked it or not, I felt it that day.

Something romantic was growing. I was becoming more aware of the bond forming between us, strengthening with each passing day.

I saw it in his eyes. I saw it in his smile. I felt it every time we were together, heard it in the whispered words, in the how are you? he’d send me throughout the day.

The fear was slowly slipping away. I was starting to let go, to trust him more and more.

-You’re moving forward. Letting yourself be led by the depth of the passion that binds you… isn’t that what love is?-

And finally, the day of the concert arrived. A day that was meant to be the most beautiful of all, the fullest, the most emotional. I would finally see him perform, I’d see him on stage, full of life. I would be there for him.

A day that was meant to mark the beginning of something deeper.

But happiness crumbled all at once. Reality hit me in the face, suddenly. My eyes saw what they shouldn’t have seen, not during that time, not on that day, not in that moment.

Not in those fragile, delicate moments.

It was the morning of that fateful day, a quiet and strangely peaceful Saturday.

There was something in the air, tranquility tainted by the joy of being part of such an important event for Joost. I had decided to go for a walk, planning to stop by the supermarket and grab something quick for lunch with him. After that, we’d leave together. We’d go together. I’d be with him all day.

But everything changed when I found myself walking down the aisles of that supermarket, torn between which instant ramen to get, trying to remember the favorite of the guy with whom I had, more than once, shared that simple meal.

I turned my head slightly.

Maybe it was an involuntary movement.

Maybe deep down I knew I was about to ruin that day for myself.

Or maybe it was just pure coincidence that led me to do it.

But I saw him.

I saw my ex-boyfriend standing right there, next to me, mirroring my action, holding two different packs of ramen. Probably to share with his new girlfriend.

My shoulders tensed, and without realizing it, I tightened my grip. I stood there, staring at his body, leaning casually on his right leg, his face caught in some sort of indecisive thought… And just his presence, so coincidental, so close, froze me.

My knees started to tremble. I could feel my heart pumping faster, sending blood coursing through my body. My mind was completely fogged.

I was so disappointed, so angry, and so sad that I got swept away by the confusion that took over my thoughts.

And it all got worse when our eyes met, when I saw the surprised look on his face. And then, that smile.

That damn smile I used to be so in love with, so lost in…

And for a moment, I was almost afraid of it.

“Hi, y/n.” Hearing his voice again didn’t do me any good, not at all. It caused a painful tightness in the middle of my chest.

My breath caught in my throat.

Every muscle in my body tensed.

He stepped closer, and I forced a weak smile.

“Hi” I answered coldly, shifting my gaze back to the ramen that had now taken on the role of distraction puppets, something, anything to keep my mind off his presence.

-Is your heart beating fast for him too?-

“It’s been a while since we, uh… saw each other” he continued, his tone almost regretful, dripping with guilt. In three years, I had never heard him sound like that.

“Yeah” I replied, lifting my gaze again, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw how he was looking at me.

“I never really got the chance to apologize… for how I ended things.”

-Why was he telling me this? Why now?-

“It’s fine. I guess our paths were just meant to part” I replied simply, feeling the tension in my shoulders release just a little.

But… he had made the effort to say sorry.

Maybe…

“How are you? You look good.”

He slipped into my thoughts just like he used to. I smiled at that memory, nodded slightly, and let out a sigh I hadn’t realized I was holding.

“I’m good. And you?” It came out naturally, as if some part of me still wanted to know. And that scared me.

-You should hate him for how he treated you.-

We talked for maybe ten minutes. The most adrenaline-filled, fastest ten minutes of my life. Ten minutes that ruined my day, and the days that followed.

He said he’d like to see me again, to “talk things through, over a cup of tea.”

But would that really solve anything?

Was my racing heart just a reflex?

Or was I still caught up in him?

Did his presence matter as much as Joost’s?

-Did Joost matter as much as him?-

That question, that thought, those words, they haunted me the entire day. They made me distant, stuck in my head, detached from reality, drowning in guilt. Every time Joost reached for my hand, for my gaze, tried to read what was going on inside me. Every time he sought even the smallest touch, I felt myself sink deeper into the dark pit of guilt.

I could see it in his eyes, he wanted to talk to me.

He wanted to ask what was wrong.

But he didn’t have the mental space for it, not on that day, not like that. His face showed worry, but I gave him no room to ask. If he had asked too much, my guilt would’ve broken me, I would’ve cried. And that would’ve made things worse.

That day was his.

And I ruined it.

I ruined everything because of my mood.

I was finally backstage with all our friends, Joost’s team, and Joost himself, who was getting ready for the concert. I held a plastic cup with something alcoholic in it. The atmosphere was buzzing: nervous energy, joy, laughter, light teasing.

It would’ve been warm, welcoming… if I weren’t drowning in this internal mess. I lifted my gaze and looked at Joost from afar. He was laughing with a mutual friend, probably at some joke they’d shared. I heard his laughter from across the room and my expression softened.

A wave of pain hit my stomach, only slightly dulled by the sparkling liquid I swallowed.

-Why am I acting like this?-

My eyes dropped to the dark floor. My thoughts were clouded with images of both men.

I shouldn’t have been thinking about my ex, but how could I not?

“You sure you’re okay?” Joost’s voice startled me, a mix of concern and warmth. I met his gaze and smiled, but he didn’t smile back.

This time, he saw through me.

He knew I was lying.

“Yeah, hey, don’t worry about me.” I said, placing a hand on his arm, squeezing his shoulder, trying to stay close.

“I know something’s off. You’re not having fun? You don’t feel comfortable?” He asked again, clearly worried but I detected a flicker of irritation in his tone.

I couldn’t tell him what had happened that morning.

Not then.

That would’ve been cruel.

“Joost, really- don’t worry… I’m fine” I insisted, brushing my lips gently against his cheek and giving his shoulder another caress. He forced a smile. Pretended to believe me.

But the tension between us was unbearable.

When he came back to me after the concert, he was buzzing with energy, his white tank top soaked in sweat, face flushed, hair tousled. He couldn’t wait to hold me.

I saw it in his excitement, the adrenaline coursing through him. Everyone congratulated him, but I stood aside… feeling like I didn’t belong in that explosive moment of joy.

And as he came toward me, all I could think was that I can’t handle this. His energy, his light, it’s too much for someone like me.

-I have to talk to my ex. I need to know what he wants to clarify.-

That thought, beating in my head since the morning, was shattered in one instant. Joost cupped my face and pressed his lips to mine.

Time froze.

I tasted his freshness, felt his heart beating against my lips, his breath caught in the branches of his lungs, his hands holding my face so close. I kissed him back. But the weight of the moment broke me.

Everyone had seen us. And instead of feeling enchanted… I felt horrified.

Terrified.

Tears welled in my eyes. I gripped his wrists and when I pulled away, I couldn’t even look at him.

It felt like I had betrayed him.

“Hey…” His soft, breathless voice wrapped around me like a thread. He gently moved, trying to lift my face toward his. The tears slipped down freely.

I bit my bottom lip and shook my head, overwhelmed by shame.

“Please, talk to me, tell me what’s wrong.” His pleading made it painfully clear I was the problem. I was the one hurting this still-forming relationship.

Maybe it wasn’t even going to form at all.

I held back sobs, eyes shut tightly.

I felt so small in front of him.

“This morning, I saw him… and I don’t know if I’m ready to move on.”

I confessed. I didn’t even have the strength to look at him.

I had ruined everything.

Me and my insecurities had ruined it all.

And I didn’t want to ruin Joost.

That pure soul didn’t deserve it.

[serxinns]

hii!!!!! can i request yandere class 1a hc/fic w reader that doesnt have quirk but fights ballerina/gymnastic move??? (like she does combat and fights back w elegant/flexible move in a way) ?? or maybe just a reader who doesnt have a quirk but still strong enough to fight ppl and gets accepted in ua?? i hope this isnt too much, love your works!!! ❤

The Elegant Hero

A/n: I can't beleive I worked on this and finished it all in one day! Yippee for me

Tw: slight bullying mentioned, cruel treatment against quirkless, ofc obsession behavior and unhealthy behavior and more if you're uncomfortable with. These topics that's gonna be included in the books don't read

☆prologue☆

your life was pretty interesting and would I say lucky? Yeah lucky your father was a professional fighter as your mother was a former ballerina star but retired due to personal reasons and now teaches young ballerinas, when they found out that you had a combat quirk (for example bubble quirk where you make bubbles to bounce across) they felt devastated and worried true to the harsh treatment on the quirkless and weak quirks, so at the ripe age of 5 you remembered you woke up with ballerina shoes and combat equipment on your bed with your parents smiling faces staring at you

day and night your parents will give you ballet and fighting classes it was fun at times but you hated the flexible training like when your mom kept putting you in uncomfortable and sometimes painful positions, Your father's combat lesson was always fun tho it was filled with life lessons and his stories of when he was just the same age as you he equally let you right with your hands feet (you mostly use your feet) and teach you how to pin someone down

but on the downside you couldn't exactly make friends or knew how to socialize many of your mother's students either envy you or just avoided you for being quirkless, some even made up rumors that your mother was just going easy on you just because you were her child,

even in middle school you were a but of a outcast but had a few friends a few girls would pick on you then and there trynand pick a fight at you but when you easily pinned down one at the snotty brats they left you alone here and there, one day at class your teacher announced that Ua was passing out applications for students with poteinal to join everyone eyes including yours brighten up you always wanted to be a hero to prove something or atleast make a change!

"Would anyone like a application!" The students hands all raised excitedly whispering to their friends with confident that they were gonna get in UA easy "may I have a flyer?" That one question made everyone silent and turned towards you some started snickering and whispering to their friend(s) even your teacher was flabbergasted "y/n are you sur-" "I am" you stood up and walked towards the front of the classroom to get a flyer ignoring all the snickering and mockery your clown of the students did you were gonna prove them wrong all wrong

The entrance exam was in 2 months and and that was good enough training time you spend your whole summer break training hard even your parents were a little worried occasionally checking up on you while you were either working on your flexibility or kicking and punching a punching bag in your parents training room

When it was time for the exam safe to say you were nervous and feeling a bit doubtful about yourself but you took a deep breath and head on to the start of the exam the students all lined at the starting line "Students ready.. in 3 2 1! Go" the flare gun shot and the students were flying, running and even teleporting

You use your ribbon wand to pull the medium villians towards you and kick them into a oblivion you smirked the suddenly you saw a robot foot about to stomp you untill a girl use wht seem to be a floating quirk but she was a struggling you then use your ribbon wand wrapping the 2P robots legs to restraint it and destroyed it "that's some amazing teamwork kids! Keep up the good work!" The loud intercom announced referencing to you two, the girl smiled at you mouthing a "thank you" as you did the same and went back to destroying more robots

Suddenly a huge crash came out the sky and there a injured boy was falling out the sky you and the short brown girl from earlier witness this and acted fast using your ribbon and aiming it towards the boy wrapping him up whike ochako slapped him which made him float gently down midway a small old lady came in cane in arm as everyone questioned why she was here she gave the boy a big fat kiss on the cheek which made his arm turned less purple in seconds! "You two make a pretty good team!" As she walked away

As you were leaving to turn back a the girl ran after you breathing in all "Hey I just wanted to say thank you.. back there" she smiled warmly "I should be thanking you! You saved my butt out there! With that quirk I'm sure you'll be getting in!" Then girl blushed at your comment as she bowed down to you " yea your quirk is too i really love how you use your ribbon wand and those moves!" You giggled at her statement which confused "Oh I wasn't using my quirk to quite don't have one! This ribbon weapon was something my mother and father put together!" Her eyes bleamed even more a at the mysterious and elegant kid as the two of you talked on the way out of ua unaware that a freckled kid was behind them listening to their conversation

"U-Um excuse me!" The two of you turned around to see a green hair kid with freckles looking all nervous and stuff "I'm so very sorry about having to save me you 2 really tried your hardest!" "Oh it's no problem we're just glad your ok!" Ochako agreed also showing kindness to the boy "if it's ok that I can walk with you as well?" He questioned and you happily agreed although ochako was a bit bummed out but brushed it off cause the more the merrier right?

As the 3 of you were talking and rambling on about hero stuff and teenager things a blonde hair boy glared at the trio as he began to walk towards his home

on the 1st day if school you were a but nervous you didn't expect to actually be accepted to Ua but Luck you guessed luck on your side your parents made sure you packed all your stuff and look atleast decent in the car your parents were busy chatting away about different topics that weren't really interested you instead you were mentally preparing for the students if they even decided to harass you since middle school and high school students weren't no different when it comes to others that seem "weak" in their eyes

As you arrived to your destination your parents waved you goodbye and drove away leaving you alone, you looked at the big school "this is it... this is where a building is gonna decide my fate" you then followed the other students walking into the school building...

☆ headcannons ☆

• as you search for your class in the endless halls of Ua you weren't paying attention to the school map you picked causing yourself to bump into someone "oh my apologies!" A person with no face nor mouth or.. anything! The only thing you can see was their uniform and by the looks of it it seems like a girl because they were wearing a skirt "Oh it's ok! I get that alot are you heading to Class 1a too?" You nodded, so now you and her are going onna mission to find the class!

•as you finally made it just in time you could see izuku and Ochako happily waving to you as you did the same Ochako patted a empty desk right besides her as you quickly made it there which to izukus defeated having to sit by the blonde hair kid instead of you

•as class ended while you were walking to your next period you sat next to a Red haired boy with sharp teeth, another blonde hair kid with a Black lighting strike, and a girl with seem to be earphones hanging off at the end of her ears, the red hair kid you later to find out his name was Kirishima, and his buddy Denki, and the girl who everytime tries to made slide and flirty comments at you and she would insult him which was jirou they were all nice individuals and such fun people to talk to

•Kirishima was talking snd whining how hard the classes were whike also trying to encourage himself as you did the same trying to make him comfortable while denki was either tryna get your number or just wanna be annoying but jirou your lifesaver kept zapping him with her earphones or walking him with the book as the 4 of you talked the most close they felt with you heck they felt they wanted to be even closer to you

• at the cafeteria you were pulled by Ochako and izuku to sit with them you were introduced to 2 new people one you recognize as shoto todoroki the father of the famous number 1 he endevour and Iida younger brother of the pro hero idk his name) shoto was mostly quiet just adding in a few words here and there when it was focused on him while Iida was chatting away about school safety and how he'll be a great hero just like his brother

•on the next day of training all might announced it was time to battle! Hero's vrs villians! But all might wasn't done just yet he brought put a huge clothes rack with Hero costumes in it as everyone cheered excited to show off their costume your costume was a ballerina outfit but with protective heavy gear especially on the legs with a mouthpiece to go with it ochako, izuku, Kirishima, and hakagure excitedly went up to you complimenting your outfit as you blushed cleary flattered

•A pink hair girl and another girl with a pony tail even compliments yours costume as well you avoided eye contact with the ponytail girl tho since her outfit was a bit..revealing! You felt a bit guiltily but the girl who is named momo was either not noticing it or wasn't paying attention rather she found it kinda cute while the pink hair girl was asking alot of questions and complimenting everything that you couldn't keep up with her

•at training you were paired up with Izuku and the blonde hair kid with iida you were nervous since this kid kept eyeing and staring at you intensity and it seems like izuku had the same reaction too "don't worry we got this izuku!" Your encouragement of words brighten up the boys spirit he wanted to win this not just to prove he's gotten stronger to his childhood rival but for you..

as the round start the two of you were running in the abandoned building untill a explosion came outta nowhere, standing infront of you was a boy with red glowing crimson eyes with a mask on with giant grenades hanging on both his arms "I'll stall him you go to the bomb!" You nodded as you ran the other way "You seem to be attracted to this quirkless deku" "they aren't just that they're more then that!" Bakugo smile turned sinister "really? well why don't I go over and see for my self!" As he was about to use his quirk izuku quickly grabbed him and slammed him on the ground

"I. Won't. Let. You" Izuku's expression darkened watching as the boy who bullied started to get pissed eyes staring intensity around at as they bpth started fighting ruthlessly, meanwhile you managed to get to the bomb here Iida was guarding at you "Hey you over there!" "Crap he spotted me" You then revealed yourself to the villian "stop right there! hero!" You quickly dodged iida's attack then aimed your ribbon wand wrapping the bo,b up and trying to pull it towards you, iida noticed and grabbed onto the rocket trying to pull it back "crap... this isn't working change of plans!"

You then grabbed a couple of rocks not so big to hurt him and threw it at the villian as iida was about to brace himself You and time to grab the rocket in time "Hero's win!" They announced you smiled in victory, "nice job out there hero!" You chuckled at iida's villian accent "thanks villian you tried to you were such a workout honestly!" As you and iida got out of the building you see izuku being carried off heading to the infirmary he spotted you and mouthed a "congrats" to you as you did the same in a worried manner

"Good job I guess.." you turned to see the same blonde hair kid from before "um thanks!" "Guess your not just a quirkless loser I guess" you narrowed his eyes at him "wow harsh" deciding to let it go and go meet up with your new friends today was very exhausting

•as the days go by you started hanging out more with your classmates more you started meeting new students with special abilities but you always have a werid feeling or have been seeing stuff

•like how you were busy talking with Ochako and you could've seen Denki giving her a glare but waving happily to you, or how Momo wouod occasionally invite you to hang out in her house or make study dates for just to two of you even if the classmates asked she'll make a Excuse

•Bakugo would degrade you at any opportunity he can get calling you a quirkless loser and stating that you need someone to protect which was werid so you tried your best to avoid him which he didn't like that at all so he started being LESS mean to you occasionally teasing you whenever you make a mistake or when you make a spelling error calling you dumb at every second Kirishima or his newly found gang would stop him but knowing him he still does it

•Sero would manipulate you into spending more time with you as like "I found this area here or there wanna come!" And would beg and guilt trip you into coming into you finally agreed He follows you around like some sort of lost puppy, his hands always on some part of your body

•mina was basically your fucking dance parther she begs you to teach her how to dance (even tho she's a fucking professional at it) and during you session would insisted you to play romantic songs ONLY romantic songs she wants to feel like you actually going along the lyrics living out her very own fantasy sometimes iida and izuku would join as well which ruins her fun

•Kouda is a absolute cinnamonroll he loves seeing you being drowned in his animal friends! The way your so gentle with the birds and how you nuzzle your cheeks against the rabbits and snakes his heart can't even take it anymore your just too precious!

•Sato bribes you like hypnotize you with your favorite treats to onky spend time with him and only him, get easily mad if anyone tries to take his pastries (denki, mina sero, or even bakugo) that are meant for you he insults them saying that they were for you and ONLY for you

•Tokoyami is mostly quiet around you as well like todoroki but he's more of the observation type he wants to know about everything about you whenni said everything I mean EVERYTHING to your likes and dislikes and your family and friends everything he and Todoroki would even team up to get as much info, don't get him wrong he thinks your very capable of yourself in the battle field but he can't help but worry as shit thinking about all the worse case senarios that could happen to you

•tsuyu is will prob act the most normal even tho she's just as obessive as then rest of them but she can managed it for now she convinces you to stay close by her whenever your friends started bickering over you getting any chance she can get to feel your body warmth when it's winter she's the most clingy when cold she clings on you like stitches to the point it can be suffocating at times

• Aoyama is your basically worshipping you to the GROUND like your elegantly and graciousness just gets him on his knees for you he starts going to dancing sessions to impress you on his move makimg you play all sorts of songs that includes slow dancing, ballet just anything he just wants to be as close as you as he can be as return he'll teach you French! And treat you cheese!

• at training they will cause up a storm about who will be your parther for sparing to the point aizawa just says "fuck it!" And be your parther to everyone dismay, your gonna get tugged in different directions by everyone to the point if you ever need a break you will need to be extra quiet to sneak away and hide for a while

•even at the bath scene where mineta was about to climb the wall majority of the boys lose it seeing that rodent bakugo even assist todoroki you know it's bad and izuku just let's him as the other boy find ways to get the pest down.. while the girls on the other hand try their best to cover you as best as they can while tsuyu and jirou gets read to beat the shit out the little grape

[lysreadsbookssometimes]

So I was thinking about the batmobile earlier and how they use it on patrol.

Wayne Manor and therefore the Batcave are pretty much on the edge of town and the bats use the batmobile/their other vehicles like bikes to get into the city.

Now when they are there, they move mostly by grapple or parcour. Which makes sense, you wouldn't really beat up a goon, get in the batmobile, drive three blocks and park it again. I assume they park it somewhere and then go on patrol.

A standard patrol is most likely circular, so they end up back at the batmobile. But what if they have to chase someone? Or something happens that draws them to the other side of the city? What if one of them gets injured and they need to be transported? The batmobile is parked somewhere, so what happens now?

I imagine the following possibilities:

1. The batmobile has self-driving capabilities. I can't really tell how good that would work in Gotham, and i don't know how that would work for the bikes.

2. There is a bat on batmobile-duty. They spend the patrol night chilling, watching tiktoks, reading a book etc. and just wait for a pickup.

3. There is a remote driving system, probably accessed by Oracle as well as the batcave. In the necessary moments Oracle grabs a controller and GTAs the Batmobile to the location.

4. There are Batmobiles hidden throughout Gotham and after such an incident happened, a few batkids need to go for a drive and pick up/drop off the various batmobiles at their spots.

I don't know which one is the most likely, and all of them have so much Batfam Chaos potential. Maybe all of them are true. Allow me to present some of these chaotic scenarios.

Red Robin, severly sleep deprived: *nearly hits a lamp post*

Batmobile: *avoids the post, speeds up* *steering wheel moves under his fingers*

RR: What?

Oracle, via comms: for the love of god just take a nap I'm taking you home

Nightwing, after a chase: great, now i need to walk like 5 kilometers to the car.

Red Hood: There is a batmobile in a garage like two streets down

NW: what?

RH: don't you have a map?

NW: a map of what?

RH: of the batmobiles

NW: what- no. No i do not. I will be having words with someone.

Batman, after patrol: There are still two bikes and a batmobile on the streets. Go pick them up.

Red Hood: alright, which one of you idiots is allowed to drive?

Nightwing: Damian put your hand down.

Gothamite: *crosses the street* *nearly gets run over by batmobile* *stares to see it driving off without a driver*

Phone: *beeps*

Text message: very sorry, still working on the self-driving. Have a coffee on me, heres a coupon code for batburger. -O

Red Hood: *peacefully reading a book, legs on the batmobile dashboard, a thermos of tea in the cupholder*

Oracle, via comms: Hood, Spoiler has been injured, i am sending you the adress for pickup.

Hood: How bad is it?

Oracle: Not life-threatening. She wanted to go on but Batman refused.

Hood: so she can wait a bit more.

Oracle: what?

Hood: They are about to have the big love confession and i am not waiting on that because B is overprotective.

Oracle: I just googled your book. Pick up Spoiler now or I will make you listen to Spoilers for the entire series.

Hood, starting the car: Jesus O no need for warcrimes

(I am fairly new in this fandom, if there is something in canon that i missed/got wrong please correct me)

[crazilust]

My thoughts on these placements

based on my last lover. PSA: this might be biased. don’t take it TOO seriously, it’s mostly for me to purge this relationship. LETS GOOOOOOO !!

1. Gemini rising

Have you ever felt hella special to someone and then you see them interact with someone else and you’re like “oh. i’m… i’m just another one of their friends.” this is what it feels to be around a gemini rising sometimes. most of the ones I know, are either extremely popular, know alot of people or at the very least just hang out regularly with a bunch of people (might just be colleagues and not necessarily friends but they’re often surrounded). And they have this way of making you feel special, and funny and entertaining but most of the times, they’re the ones controlling the discussion and the flow of it.

when it came to my ex, he knew so many people and every person he was interacting with, he knew a little detail about them, and it made the person care so much about him. Even though he didn’t as much. Somewhat flimsy, it’s hard to know a Gemini rising’ true intentions with you.

2. Sagittarius sun

Sags don’t have the best reputation in my book, and he certainly didn’t help the stereotypes. The thing with Sags sun that I find hard to understand is the constant lie they have between who they truly are and who they want to be. It’s a constant battle of “don’t look too hard into my flaws bc soon enough I’ll be this grandiose super star and therefore you can forget about the awkward nerd you have in front of you.” Most of them are nerds, truly. But they hate it. As opposed to Aquarius sun’s desire to be different and their ability to stand on their two feet even tho they’re being outcast, a Sag sun’s deepest fear is to be seen as the weirdo they are. (that unfortunately they associated with being a loser)

If you’ve never been close with a Sag, you’ll be the first to deny this claim. “What?? The Sag I met was THE life of the party! No weirdo here.” or “The Sag I met was a boss ass btch, she had everything under control and very educated!!”

And that, my friends, is what we call a front. Sure, they can be the life of the party, usually very keen on getting their diplomas, but if you don’t know them, that’s the only part of them you’ll get to see cause it’s the part they deem acceptable.

I’m not even gonna comment on the commitment issues, cause yall… you know it already lmao.

3. Virgo moon

Nobody hates an underdeveloped virgo moon more than they hate themselves. So critical, judgemental and harsh. They notice absolutely everything that you do and instead of going to you and confront you about the issue, they’ll keep it in, and throw it back to your face the minute it’s convenient for them (when they effed up). Very hard to love because they simply can’t accept that you love and accept their own flaws. I remember my ex asking me litteraly all the time “How can you love me if I’m not as pretty as before” (it was in his head, he was just as cute) “How can you love me if I don’t have a job?” (He had lost his job for only 2 months at that point) No matter what I’d say, he couldn’t believe that I loved him wholeheartedly, no matter what.

Sometimes, when I look at a virgo moon, unevolved ofc, all I can see is pain. Virgo is an already hard sign to have imo (sorry!) but in the moon placement, it’s just sad. These natives are so harsh on themselves and accept no help whatsoever. And if you do try, they’ll do everything to push you away and trust me, one thing Virgos do is succeed.

4. Libra Mars

As a scorpio mars, libra mars is not my favorite placement. But as I checked my vedic chart and I do, in fact, have a libra mars, I hate that I understand why they act the way they do.

They care so much about everything being perfect, everyone getting along and most importantly being at peace with the ones they love. The cliches are true for a reason, they dislike conflict and yes, are passive agressive but it’s because they don’t want to lose the people they love with petty drama.

So they don’t say anything, and they accomodate even tho that one thing irritated them and then when you confront them about something, they bring you everything you’ve done wrong for the past six months. That’s the part I hate, ofc, but I also hate that I get it.

I get it. They’re the biggest people pleasers and when they don’t say anything about something that upsets them, they actually think they’re doing it for the greater good. They obviously analyse everything you’re doing wrong, but they don’t mind not saying it cause they’d rather be at peace with you. So how dare you don’t do the same for them?

That’s the mentality. Unfortunately for them, it brings bigger conflict because then you feel betrayed they never said anything to begin with. UGH.

SPEAK YOUR MIND, Libras of any placements actually <3

5. Sagittarius Mercury

If you consider yourself soft, delicate, sensitive, do not date a Sag mercury. These people are ruthless. As friends, I find them hilarious and fun to be around, but as lovers I would never do that to myself again. Just never <3. They are very blunt (which doesn’t mean they won’t lie! We’re talking about a Jupiter ruled sign here yall), but in a way that won’t make you feel good about yourself. They’ll often use humour to attack you and then use it as a shield the moment you call them out on it (i.e : It was just a jokeeeeee!)

Gives very good advice, I’ll give them that. I think sometimes I can have a little bit of tunnel vision and with Sag mercuries, they’re able to tap you on the shoulder and be like “Have you consider this tho?” in the most casual way and you’re like “oh.. no. yes. you’re right”

6. Aquarius Venus

If you love the friends to lovers trope, you’ll just love dating an Aquarius venus because that friendship-like relationship will be the foundation of your dynamic. Everything feels fun, the complicity is at an all time high.

But the commitment.

Now, I’ve read multiple times here that Aquarius venus is actually very committed to the person they love when they like you. Well, I guess I wasn’t his person cause I only felt the commitment phobia.

Anyways, I still loved the dynamic of the relationship, but I can’t lie, it didn’t feel serious at all.

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~••~•~•~•~•~•

Well that’s all for me, today. Love yall!!

Remember, these are the big 6 of my ex so it is biased nothing to take too personal but if it applies and resonates, great💛

B.

[duckyhowls]

House of the Dragon Fanfiction Clichè's to definitely avoid.

If you're interested to know 🤗

Okay, let's begin with the basics. Here are the top clichè things in a typical House of the Dragon fanfiction. Most of these pop up in around 98% of stories out there. And since you all always make the character female, that's how I will be addressing them in these clichès. Be mad 🤡

(1) Being the child of Rhaenyra, Alicent, or Daemon.

Just three characters, but the probability of at least one of them being your characters parent is around 87%. Don't get me wrong, this doesn't bother me all that much, but come on guys, give us readers SOME originality!

(2) Being a secret love child, typically of one of these men: Daemon, Cole, or Harwin.

Guys, this was cool back when season 1 first premiered. Now it just makes fanfiction repetitive. Like, the plot twists are just not hitting the spot anymore.

(3) Being one of Rhaenyra's "strong bastards"

This is so typical. If you are Jace's twin you earn extra cliche points. ESPECIALLY when it turns into a plot twist of not actually being Harwin's child and you're either Daemon's or you are Laenor's only true born. Like, come up with new ideas or just scrap it, on god.

(4) Becoming the dragon rider to either: Vermithor, The Cannibal, Grey Ghost or Seasmoke.

I know this is a big one. Personally, I've seen way more Vermithor than Cannibal ones, but I'd say it's an easy 50/50. Other times it's Grey Ghost, which is just utterly boring in my opinion (mostly because yall forget you have dragons half the time until it's important), or it's Seasmoke after Laenor "dies". Like, why can't you do something creative and maybe just claim an already existing dragon after a characters untimely demise? Every time someone makes their character claim Vermithor, I roll my eyes. Like, we get it, you want a big ass dragon.

(5) Laenor is a good, attentive father.

But only to the character for some reason, and dotes on her, but not the boys? Wake up, he's a cool guy but a pretty lowsy family man. He loved the boys, but he loved freedom more. He just wasn't built for that kind of life.

(6) Viserys just exists to be chronically dying background character.

Where is the interaction with anyone other than copying down already existing scenes? If you write a fic for example and claim he "adores" his grandchild via Rhaenyra (let's assume you are), then why is he just there and having zero interaction? Where is the bonding that backs up the fact he adores said character? Also, this guy was a very significant character in the entire show/book, and you guys just let him die in the background, like...

(7) Having your character have a Daenerys based complex.

For example, you give her more than one dragon. You USE Daenerys as a face claim (I can't stress enough how unoriginal this all is), and some fics even copy her quotes and the fact she can speak Dothraki. Then you give a BS excuse as to how she knows the language. So uncreative it's basically copywrite. It's even worse when you use Drogon as your dragon. You know, there is one fic I found through tiktok where the OC's name was DAENERYS, and her dragon was named DROGON. Like, grow up. Its obsessed fans like you make her character unlikeable. Stop it. It's cringe. Stop trying to be her.

(8) STOP USING CIRI FACE CLAIM ON FUCKING GOD.

Omg, we get it, she has white hair 🧍🏼‍♀️😭 But ya'll she looks like an alien that took crystal meth. The actress is pretty but the costume design in the Witcher for her was lame as hell. Too many authors use her. You know how many goddamn tiktok slide shows I've seen of people promoting their crappy books with Ciri as their faceclaim? I immediately scroll. Its almost as bad as Daenerys.

(9) Owning Dark Sister without actually having your character EARN the blade.

It just is either gifted to her for absolutely zero reason or she just has it in general. Like, how many times do I have to read about the sword being gifted to her by Daemon?! If you want the sword so bad, make your character go through obstacles throughout the story and EARN it. Its just lazy writing.

(10) Having absolutely zero interaction or connection with people outside of nobility/royalty.

Examples being the common folk (blacksmith, bakers, whores, etc), merchants, foreigners, soldiers, maids/servants, slaves, witches, humanoid creatures, the free folk, sailors, travellers, bards, theatre people, etc. I never see friendships or any sort of actual interaction outside of royal characters, and barely interaction with other lesser important Houses such as Redwyne, Manderly, etc. Its always just made up characters from House Stark or House Martell or something like typical like that. You guys barely write any outsider interaction - and brothel visits barely count! Where are the relationships outside of the castle walls?!

(11) Forgetting that the character has a dragon (if she has one, which is most likely a yes, don't lie)

You guys always forget you have a dragon and a close bond with said dragon. This is in EVERY SINGLE FANFIC. Make sure to write scenes here and there of your character spending time with the dragon. Its also good details if maybe your character talks about their dragon often like the way you losers would dote and yap about your cats and lizards or something emo like that. STOP FORGETTING YOUR DRAGON!

(12) Coming up with the crappiest and most non thought through Valyrian sounding names for characters AND dragons.

Examples of crappy names I've seen are: Daellya, Caellayna, Jaenarya, and Daenyares (again, stop trying to be Daenerys). Stop. They're shit. They're poorly thought through. Come up with something that sounds pronounceable and not an absolute tongue twister. It's not clever or cool. It's stupid and lazy. Dragon names that are stupid include: Haelyx, Onyxys, and sometimes even Valyrian names that are FOR PEOPLE. These names just sound so lazy and emo. Think of something that readers would remember, look back on, and not visibly cringe. I've seen someone name their dragons things like Daeron and Maegor before and I knew then I had to quit reading for the day.

(13) Forcing all the characters to like the reader.

Bro, come on, its so unrealistic. I saw a tiktok slideshow once of someone's fanfic. The caption said "everyone in love with my character" then proceeded to show every important person in the entire show. Mainly the hot ones. Newsflash! They're all hot. Like, stfu and let your character have enemies that aren't just Cole. Smh.

(14) Making the character a party girl in a medieval fantasy AU

Guys, this is a world where the only "rave" youre going to this weekend is a brothel orgy or a play in the streets that acts out political propaganda. Like, you ain't attending a Diddy party unless it's Larys' and we all know he doesn't have the funds or the legal right to throw a party at the Red Keep.

(15) Being Helaena's best friend, or being nice to her.

I love Helaena, but yall need to stop doting over her through your writing sometimes. Give it a break. She has her flaws too and I bet if ya'll knew her irl you'd be so awkward around her. I'm tired of pretending she isn't a complicated character.

(16) Helaena being written as an airhead or dumb vibes.

She's not an airhead she's just antisocial, amongst other things (towards family anyhow). Write her as unnattached, not a day dreamer. And also, even worse if you give her crappy riddles that sound like they're written by a 2 year old. Helaena has shown to be very aware and very smart.

(17) Normalising Cole, Otto, Daemon and Alicent hate.

We get it, their flaws outshine the good parts. But again, realism. Enough said.

(18) A stable boy romance phase.

Like bruh. Nobody asked for this. We get it, you like the Borgias, but nobody came to watch you smack lips with a dirty stable boy you just met and probably would forget about within 2 chapters. I wish I could say more, but its ALWAYS a stable boy.

(19) Aemond's "hmms".

Guys, he hummed probably 3 times throughout the show and you suddenly think it's a habit. Aemond is silent most of the time. He's a silent, calculative snake. I love him, but whenever I see you guys write "hm" I die a little inside. It's not a habit. Everyone makes that noise.

(20) Dragonstone and The Red Keep.

Why is it always a constant setting? Unless you're on dragonback or confronting Aemond at Storm's End, you're either at the castle in Kingslanding, or the one on Dragonstone! Like, you guys got so many other settings to take advantage of: the city, the beach, the Kingswood, small villages, other nobles castles, Essos, the mountain ranges, etc. Like its a fantasy world, come up with something even like secret hidden places or ruins and stuff.

Anyway, I am done yapping and being mad. If you guys have any other cliche things to add, I'd love to hear them in the comments. This also helps me avoid writing this stuff as a HOTD author.