#this particular tradition wouldn't be complete without any of them

[wataksampingan]

The seventh day of the new year in Chinese mythology is celebrated as the day humans were created.

So for you on your birthday, a wish:

O Rat, be shrewd, be light, may you find the way forward

O Ox, be resilient, be patient, may you remain kind to all

O Tiger, be bold, be strong, may you run fast to bring courage

O Rabbit, be graceful, be nimble, may you jump over each obstacle

O Dragon, be powerful, be generous, may you fly free to give life

O Snake, be wily, be flexible, may you move in ways unexpected

O Horse, be swift, be undaunted, may you rise up every time

O Goat, be gracious, be merciful, may you make all warm and welcome

O Monkey, be clever, be resourceful, may you find everything needed

O Rooster, be bright, be alert, may you herald each new beginning

O Dog, be spirited, be playful, may your joy multiply and overflow

O Pig, be full, be peaceful, may you show all how life should be

Happy birthday, everyone.

[radioactivesweet]

I can order Shuumatsu with Thor, Poseidon, Hades and Hercules with a human reader who loves to cook, she is always in the kitchen at home preparing something for them to eat when they arrive! (she likes to cook only at home as a hobby)

Honestly writing about cooking makes me so hungry guys 😭😭btw I believe I might have gone a little of topic o p s as usual

Thor has never minded food nor cooking much. he just saw it as an useful skill that could grant the correct amount of energies - even though with him being a god, he didn't really feel the need to follow any particular diet and didn't feel the need to try any human recipe. There was no point for him to eat human food and had no interest in trying it, before meeting you. When he discovered you passion for cooking, he just thought it was an useful skill to have for surviving purposes, since humans needed food in order to survive. So he just saw it as a way to keep yourself alive, without considering it could be a form of hobby, art or fun. But, after a while, even he couldn't help but notice the way you put your own soul into your cooking. You couldn't completely change his point of view on food, his divine nature prevented him from doing so. But he got to taste and perceive food in a different manner, to actually feel flavours and essences he had never once tasted in his long lifetime. Sometimes he would even go as far as asking you if he could taste whatever you were cooking and took pleasure in just watching you spending time in the kitchen.

Poseidon, similarly to Thor, used to see food just a human's necessity for survival - something which made humans and gods even more different from one antoher. To him it was just another sign of humanity's weakness compared to gods, who had no need for food in order to survive. The fact that humans could find cooking entertaining seemed even more silly and foreign to him - it made no sense. Yet, you seemed so happy and joyful whenever you found some new recipe or way to cook some ingredient. He would observe you mixing and cutting and blending different ingredients together, without any apparent logic. He couldn't understand why you'd spend so much time and effort on it - he saw it as nothing more than a waste. He didn't understand the appeal neither, but he guessed that, as long as it made you happy, he could give it a try. He wouldn't be going to ask you to teach him how to cook nor anything, but sometimes he may be willing to taste what you cooked. He admitted that, after all, human food wasn't that bad.

Hades during his time as the God of the Dead came in touch with many souls of mortals - some of whom told him about human recipes and traditions. Though, he never actually found the chance of trying any of it before meeting you.

The first time he interrupted you while you were cooking, Hades imemdiately got interested in what you were doing, asking what type of dish was that, how you were preparing it, the recipe, the ingredients - he made a lot of questions while keeping a detached tone, so you couldn't really tell whether he was actually interested or wanted to be respectful to you. Whenever he had some spare time though, he would more and more often come and found you while you were cooking, always showing the same amount of interest, even arriving at the point of asking you to teach him how to cook. He wanted to know firsthand why humans enjoyed cooking so much - Hades, thanks to you, understood that company played a huge part in it too. The fact that you were cooking with him made it much more enjoyable.

Heracles feels nostalgic when he first sees you cooking - it reminds him of an ancient age, when he was human and would feel the need of eating. He remembered the huntings and the dishes he cooked with Castor. He had long forgotten the feeling of being hungry and the satisfaction after a good meal. He immediately joins you, even though he doesn't know what you are cooking, but he is here to learn. Also, he reminds some recipes from when he was human, even though he doesn't know if you could cook it nor if the ingredients he used still existed. Either case, he wanted to be your assistant whenever he could and even tried to involve Hermes and Ares too, with atrocious results. He almost felt hungry after you had finished cooking - he knew it wasn't possible, but that simple action of cooking made him feel as if he was human again after thousands of years of being a god. After all, some things never changed.

[opia-tarot]

Hi my darlings, i thought i would post this because i love the asteroid circe and i noticed there’s barely any information on it. These are my notes about the asteroid circe in astrology.

how to calculate asteroids circe is #34

🧙‍♀️asteroid circe in difficult aspect to the ascendant can attribute to a striking appearance. These people are usually very intimidating to others, and even though they're attractive, they tend to not get approached too often. They usually have a witchy appearance. Honestly some of the most attractive people i've met have this aspect without fail. It doesn't matter what sign it's in, so striking and intimidating.

🧙‍♀️asteroid circe in the 3h is a very bewtiching placement. This placement indicates spell binding speech. What i mean is, when these people speak, people are enchanted by them. They can choose to use this in a positive or negative way.

🧙‍♀️circe in capricorn, aries, sag and scorpio are the types of people who don't believe in the overly positive aspect of the occult. These people can't stand hippy dippy throwing up unicorns occultism. These people are usually very refreshing to talk about the occult with.

🧙‍♀️circe 8h. I wouldn't mess with these people, depending on their other placements. I still wouldn’t ahaha

🧙‍♀️circe in virgo are most likely to be green witches

🧙‍♀️circe conjunct mars is such a hot placement. These people have an enchanting sex appeal, they ooze it.

🧙‍♀️asteroid circe in aspect to chiron can use the occult to heal their wounds.

🧙‍♀️circe in capricorn, aries and scorpio are usually fierce or intimidating in some way. They have a dangerous enchantment to their attractiveness. It's the playing with fire placement.

🧙‍♀️circe in difficult aspect to 🌛 may struggle with vengeful feelings towards others. Depending on their other placements it varies. But they tend to get revenge/vengeful quite easily when they consider it necessary. The type of people to curse someone and be like but they deserved it🥺ahaha

🧙‍♀️circe-mc can be known for being very bewitching, enchanting etc. But these people can also be known for their involvement in the occult.

🧙‍♀️circe 3h can be the black sheep of the family. They become a witch (or something of the sort) and go against the family beliefs or traditions

🧙‍♀️circe in aspect to the ascendant people are getting another mention here because they're always bewitching. You can't ignore these people. And you know what's so ironic? They don't do anything to get people's attention, usually they prefer to stay lowkey. People stare at these people like crazy. Btw lana del ray has circe opposite her asc, so point proven ahaha. I can't emphasise this enough. Every attractive person has circe-asc. Now speaking of attractiveness....

🧙‍♀️circe conjunct venus or circe conjunct mars are yummy placements. The maneaters, lady killers and people pullers (yes i made this up)

🧙‍♀️circe-🌛 are the types of people to go off the grid completely ahaha

🧙‍♀️circe in taurus are the witches who are obsessed with candles, incense etc

🧙‍♀️circe 2h could possibly hide their involvement in witchcraft or their interest in it, they keep it secret or they prefer to be private about it

🧙‍♀️circe 6h use witchcraft or particular aspects of the occult within their everyday routine

🧙‍♀️circe in difficult aspect to mc could be percieved as negatively 'witchy', you know the uneducated, judgemental view of witchcraft? idk if that makes sense. If not this, what i've also noticed is people who have the opposition particularly can be enchanting but also seen as unapproachable in some way. push and pull for sure.

🧙‍♀️circe-north node people have a deep resonance with witchcraft or the occult. It has significant role in them finding their purpose. For some of them it is their purpose.

🧙‍♀️most likely to curse their enemies is circe in difficult aspect to mars. I said what i said. My advice would be to not upset these people

🧙‍♀️circe 11h and circe-north node in the same chart are most likely to join a witch coven at some point

🧙‍♀️circe 9h people are most likely to leave religion for the occult or develop their beliefs at some point, something of that nature. Either this or they really like learning about the history of witchcraft and practices etc

🧙‍♀️circe in sagittarius are the chaotic witches. The witches who forget the moon cycles etc ahaha

🧙‍♀️circe in 2h/6h or taurus are most likely to be solitary witches

🧙‍♀️circe in 6h/9h/virgo are most likely to be hedge witches

🧙‍♀️circe-🌛 tend to be nocturnal in some way or their practices are done at night, it's usually when it's more effective. The nocturnal witches.

🧙‍♀️circe in the 5h/leo people usually have some sort of occult hobby, usually tarot deck collectors, crystal collectors etc

🧙‍♀️every attractive person's chart i've analysed has circe-asc or circe mc without fail, every time! I'm getting excited ahaha because i actually get to use my research. If you would like me to make a post on the celebs who have these aspects lmk but anyway. These people attract proper admirers. These people are literally the definition of the song i put in this post. Like they ENCHANT people so effortlessly. I love it.

🧙‍♀️most of the best musicians have circe-chiron, they make genuine, healing art. These are the artists who attract emotionally attached fans, lana for example.

🧙‍♀️circe-mercury people.... your words are POWERFUL (same to circe 3h) so please be careful what you say. Remember words can be spells too. What you say is very impactful.

🧙‍♀️circe can have a similar push and pull effect as pluto. So for example, people with circe opposite ascendant enchant very easily, but people can be very overwhelmed by it, similar to pluto opposite asc. The way people react to them or the way this opposition behaves is similar to pluto, just less intense and more enchanting

🧙‍♀️i forgot to add circe-🌞. So this aspect usually means witchcraft or something within occultism will help you find your identity. Usually these people are drawn to occultism from adolescence. It usually is an essential aspect in finding themselves and their character development.

any feedback is appreciated. If you would like me to post more asteroid notes, or anything asteroid related, let me know. If you have any post requests or ideas message me. I’m back on tumblr now so expect posts more regularly!🔮🖤

©️opiatarot rights reserved 2022

[majesticwren]

being in love with MJF headcanons:

✨friends to lovers✨ dynamic - may you be aware of it or completely oblivious just as Max is, this thing would be going on from and for forever. slow burning, pining and bittersweet. you'd possibly be childhood friends. the kind of friends that met by chance, maybe during a class assignment or at a b-day party, and just stuck together. but you might as well have met recently, the bond between the two of you would be the same.

you'd be the kind of friends that finish each other sentences as you speak.

you'd order each other food just because you know exactly each other taste.

one of you would message or call at the same time as the other is checking their phone only because you tend to think about the other, or miss them, at the same time.

no one ever wants to play the mr & mrs game with you because you two are annoyingly unbeatable. and you always team up. like always. even when you are with someone else.

you rock at giving each other the best presents. birthdays, christmas/hanukkah, random events, they are perfect every time. there's no competition. if you had been involved with someone else at the time, this particular event had caused problems in the relationship. no partner likes to be outshined by the person who is supposed to be "just a friend".

on this note, in his private life, Max is absolutely terrible at remembering dates, events or even appointments. unless it involves you. not that he had been involved much, but when he had been, something like this would never be easily forgotten or ignored by his partners.

you spend so much time together. like an impossible amount of time. you are so used to it that you move around each other's houses like it's your own. not only that, in each other house you've got a spare toothbrush, phone charger, some clothes and your favourite pillow - just in case. you've got each other spare key and the freedom to drop unattended.

you are so used to spending time together being apart for more than a few days is painful.

and with Maxwell's job happens often.

but you get invited to follow him as often as possible.

you are his number one supporter, of course, always. and you must enjoy wrestling just as much as Max does. you have to be careful saying you've got other favourite wrestlers though, especially if they are Max's colleagues in AEW because he can be jealous.

he is jealous regardless.

never once he liked one of your partners and every time it wouldn't work out he would arrogantly say "I told you so", offering one of his cocky smiles, never realising no relationship ever worked for either of you because you were basically involved with each other.

see the thing is, Max is completely emotionally unavailable. He is totally terrified of getting attached to people, which makes him a prime example of the avoidant type - which makes him a walking red flag.

he stuck with you though.

your friends don't like him. they know your relationship with the guy isn't healthy but trying to get you away from Max is impossible.

his friends, instead, adore you just cause they can tell what you mean to him. but getting him to realise as well is impossible - he's just dumb and blind.

and it goes without saying you are basically part of each other's families.

it's tradition for you to spend the holidays with Max's family and more often than not, whenever there's a family gathering, you are also invited.

he has definitely brought you as his plus one at more than one wedding or bar mitzvah.

ever since you danced to fallingforyou, by the 1975, that has become your song. you both listen to it thinking about each other. but you're just friends.

everyone knows you are completely and desperately in love with each other, but you got so good at pretending you were only friends you had no ears for any of it. both of you.

you'd be the kind of friends that are actually a couple in everything but the sexual aspect of things.

he is that kind of guy. he likes to fuck around without getting involved. that's the way he likes it. every relationship he had has been brief and without strings.

that's the way he feels safe and in control.

you know well about all of his conquests and are extremely good at hiding how much it hurts that his choice, in the end, is never you. you are only friends after all.

he doesn't consider the possibility of being attracted to you. not because he is totally unaware of the fact that deep down he is, but because getting there with you would possibly mean ruining what you have.

as already noted, he is big, dumb and blind.

he'd never admit what he feels for you because the fear of being rejected petrifies him.

and you wouldn't do anything to change it either because of a similar fear. to lose him would mean to lose your sun.

you are the kind of friends that hold hands and cuddles, even in public. Max often has his arm around your shoulders and you, naturally, have your hand in the back pocket of his pants. in crowded places, where sits run low, you sit on his lap with ease and zero embarrassments.

you are even used to kissing each other on the lips. not so regularly to be something you are used to, but it is not uncommon either.

you had never fully made out though, that falls into sexual stuff.

you don't do it often. it's generally more of a goodbye thing you do when you know you won't see each other for a long time - just in case.

it all started as a bet someone had thrown and both of you were so stubborn to prove to be just friends you did, in fact, kiss.

And then you kept doing it. softly though, like keeping a secret.

deep down you both know it means something. it leaves behind an undertone of guilt and desire that you both can't shake.

but you are just friends.

a/n1: these headcanons are g/n and can suit anyone. it is absolutely compatible with mjfxadam cole if you like. because it's so totally canon you can't tell me otherwise but i've decided to focus on mjfxyou in general.

a/n2: i've dreamed about mjf and this dynamic last night and couldn't take it out my fucking mind all day. had to write it down. I can't afford to fall into another fanfic - even when this could totally be one and I am cheeky and I've left out all the best parts - but I also do not have time to throw myself into another project and I'm notorious for struggling finishing fics :')

a/n3: don't ask me what this brainrot is. I do not know. don't hold me accountable. sorry about the typos. as I said my brain is rotting away. bye ✨

a/n4: i've fallen into another fic - this is now happening, find it here

[yjyt85r98r]

Aikatsu song reviews: Onaji chikyuu no shiawase ni

Song

This review might not go as in-depth as I want, or I might edit it later, because despite the fact that I like this song, I have not listened to it very many times.

This song feels fairy-like, but not in the traditional "small and delicate and ethereal" way. It's more like a "grand awakening" kind of way. Like taking heavy steps as flowers sprout out of the ground.

I think this is a good song, but I always feel kind of scared to listen to it because the beat is so loud. Aikatsu has done this with a few of their ballads, but this is the first and one of the worst. I get what they're trying to do. They want to give the song a 'heartbeat', to make sure it isn't boring. But in the end, it just hurts my ears and makes me unable to focus on the rest of the instrumentals.

I like how the key change doesn't happen all at once – instead, the song slowly lures the listener in and out of the new key. I find that type of key change far more pleasant and interesting than the kind that happens all of a sudden with no transition.

Anyway, I think that this song is a ballad done right. Ballads sort of have a bad reputation among those who prefer fast-paced songs, and when I hear a mediocre or overly-simple ballad, I can honestly understand why. But I think this one is pretty good. Of course it's not perfect, and I'm sure it's not for everyone, but it's still really nice.

Vocals

The first time I listened to Sakura's vocals, it was in a duet song, and I thought that I would never actively want to listen to a solo song by her. But then I listened to this and changed my mind.

This song makes really good use of her voice's breathy quality. The vocals are mostly soft and gentle, but with surprising bursts of strength that make them much more interesting to listen to. That one low part in the chorus is especially fun... she almost sounds like a completely different person.

Lyrics

I... feel bad insulting the lyrics... but the English translation kind of reminds me of an 11-year-old's first attempt at a serious song. I don't think it's fair to say that about the Japanese lyrics since they contain some pretty high-level vocabulary that maybe an 11-year-old wouldn't know. I think it probably sounds better if you're fluent in the language, which I am not.

But I feel like these lyrics are exceedingly rare for an idol anime. These days, it feels like there aren't that many songs with lyrics about nature, so these lyrics are refreshing. They have a tone reminiscent of a poem or a folk tale, or even a sort of benevolent commandment, which is also quite rare. They feel strangely nostalgic.

Choreography

One of the most ballet-like dances in Aikatsu, outdone only by Aria's performance. It has the same problem as a lot of choreography for slower songs: a bit too much energy. Most of the dance is slow, but then suddenly there will be this fast series of leaps and spins. The dance would be too boring without them, so I don't think it's a bad thing. It's just a thing that happens when choreographing a slower song. If there was any way to improve it, I think that would just be to create a better flow between the energetic and calm parts.

I feel like the choreography of this one might have influenced the choreography of Alicia's song. Some of the poses and movements are similar.

The dance seems like it would be fun to do.

Visuals

This was one of the most visually experimental performances in Aikatsu, or at least in season 1. They had the performer jumping off a platform, moving patterns on the stage, partially blurred shots, plants briefly obscuring the screen, and a sky that changed mid-song. The CGI was starting to get better, and they made full use of that.

And the stage design! It sort of looks like a level of a nostalgic video game, but I couldn't tell you what game because it isn't any one in particular. It just looks really magical. I love the fireflies and the lily of the valley flowers, and how they're so big that it makes the performer look like a little fairy. Sakura's aura matches the visuals so well that could be mistaken as part of the stage. And the way it grows when it first appears is so whimsical. It's all so pretty, it's a shame it was only used in the anime, like, once.

Good points: Good vocals Bad points: Beat is too loud

Rating: 7.3/10 Personal rating: 7.3/10

[vanrouchu]

a canvas embroidered with feelings

Adel hardly has any time outside of his schedule, perhaps it was due to the fact that he does all the work himself — from cutting the fabric to sewing all the pieces together. What he certainly didn't expect was to take in an inexperienced assistant who barely knew how to thread a needle.

— Adel x Fem!Reader, 5.8k WC, She/her pronoun usage

"decisions, decisions…"

Difficult as it was, Adel always preferred to work alone rather than rely on other people and put the quality of his work in jeopardy. He took pride in the fact that he always delivers to his client's whims and needs, often enough, he went beyond their expectations. Though at what cost? His schedule is constantly packed as he tries to chase deadlines, and new commissions are coming in as soon as he finishes one. It was a vicious cycle that made him terribly busy.

Time used for other matters made him think, 'I could be using this time to cut the fabric' or 'the stitches have yet to be done… The deadline is in a few days. His mind was constantly thinking of how to maximize his time and it wasn't an exaggeration if someone said that he was beyond dedicated to his craft. Though some unavoidable circumstances forced him out of his workshop. Like attending a party, for example.

A reputable noble had invited him to a party at his manor to celebrate his daughter's birthday. Adel vaguely remembered that the dress to be used on that occasion was a commission he completed around two to three weeks prior to the invitation (but he could hardly remember who it was for if it weren't for the small note thanking him in the envelope, not when he was already thinking of the pile of upcoming work he has to finish).

If it weren't for the fact that this particular client was someone of high status, along with Merryrose's constant bugging, he would've scrapped the invitation without another thought and continued with his work. He weighed the options and eventually arrived at the conclusion that perhaps attending this party wouldn't be all that bad. If he felt like it, maybe he could just drop by to give his greetings and leave as soon as possible under the excuse that he had pressing matters to attend to.

That's how he ended up in this situation.

He was all dressed up in white, as per the invitation said about the dress code, it was something he threw together at the last minute when he found out all his party suits were either black or some random colour he only used once for certain occasions he could barely remember. He had a wine glass in hand though he took no more than two sips to avoid getting tipsy, he wouldn't be able to hold a pair of scissors properly after the party if that was the case. He looked at his watch periodically, counting down the minutes before he could leave the party.

Three… Two… One—

"Adel!" It was an unfamiliar voice that interrupted his little countdown. He turned his head to find the one who called out his name and was met by an elderly man. It took him a minute to fully recognize him as a renowned designer from another country, he remembered that he specialized in traditional clothing and designs based on them – it was one of the reasons why he became so popular even in other countries. They've met on multiple occasions but their conversations were nothing more than simple greetings and small talk. "It's a surprise to see you here, you always struck me as the type to avoid these kinds of parties."

'It's true,' he wanted to reply. He tried to sugarcoat it: "Well, I don't think it's a bad idea to attend these parties once in a while. There's a different kind of joy you get when you see people wearing the clothes you made, don't you think so too?"

"Haha! Truly, it's a wonderful feeling. I was put in charge of creating the pattern for the decorations and the host was kind enough to extend an invitation to me." His eyes twinkled with delight. "I heard you were the one who designed the dress. Your work is stunning as usual."

"You flatter me too much," Adel shook his head. "I simply delivered what my client asked of me — it's as simple as that."

"Haha! Is that so?" Adel thought that the conversation would end right there and that he could finally leave after bidding goodbye. What he didn't expect, though, was for him to make a sudden request. "Say, would you do this old man a favour and listen to his request?"

'A request?' Adel almost furrowed his eyebrows and donned a frown. Certainly, they weren't close enough for any favours or requests — at least, in Adel's book. But he kept his neutral expression and looked at him carefully, he considered granting his request—whatever it was—given that it wasn't anything too absurd. It would be rude to turn him down outright and the last thing Adel needed was unnecessary rumours floating around him.

"... What kind of request?"

"I have a daughter around your age."

Somehow, he already knew he wasn't going to like where this conversation was going.

"She's passionate about designing and sewing, you see… I guess you can say she takes after me in that aspect, haha! However, I feel rather… unqualified to teach her. These old bones don't work as they used to and I plan on retiring once I'm finished with everything I need to get done." He let out a sigh, "if it isn't too much trouble, could you take her under your wing for a few weeks?"

"... I see." Truthfully, he felt like he was being driven mad. He started regretting ever coming to the party in the first place, this sort of scenario would've never happened if he learned to mind his own business. Most people who knew how to be polite would agree and just get it over with but, unfortunately, Adel wasn't like most people. If he could, he would coldly turn down that offer but that would mean he'd be causing a scene — in front of so many people, no less. He thought about it carefully, weighing the pros and cons.

He fell silent for a moment, even the old designer was starting to get worried that he accidentally offended him. "Three weeks. I'll take care of her for exactly three weeks, nothing more and nothing less. I suppose that's fine with you?"

"Three weeks is plenty. Thank you for complying with such a selfish request, you have my deepest gratitude." There was something off with the way the old designer spoke to him, or maybe the lack of sleep was finally catching up to him. "I'll send her to you at a later date, I'll write a letter beforehand."

"It's no problem. Consider it a favour done between friends," Adel waved his hand. He sealed his fate. "I look forward to meeting her."

"betrayed by his own expectations"

Adel completely forgot about his prior engagement with the old designer. It was as if his brain purposely wiped it off his mind as soon as he got back from the party and started working on clothes once more. He was busy, far too busy to the point that everything else seemed like a blur to him. Overworking wasn't anything new to him but he learned the hard way that he shouldn't wait for the worst to hit him before stopping lest he wanted Volks to watch over him like a hawk.

He couldn't remember how many hours of sleep he managed to get and his calorie intake thus far but what he understood is that his body needed—demanded—to rest immediately if he didn't want the quality of his work to suffer. He wasn't the type to give his clients a half-assed piece of work, he took pride in the fact that each and every piece is carefully made.

That was the only reason why he remembered that the old designer's daughter was to arrive today. After deciding he should rest for a little while, he went to the guild's common room and threw himself into the velvet seat without a second thought. Was it peaceful and quiet? Hardly. The moment Adel tried to close his eyes, Canaan suddenly popped out of nowhere with a pile of letters in his hands and dropped them all on top of the coffee table.

"So many letters… What for? Are they from your assistants again?" Adel massaged his temples. It wasn’t uncommon for Canaan’s assistants to send him a bunch of letters, begging him to come back to the workshop and finish his work.

"Well… Actually, they're all for you." Adel let out a groan as he sat up straight and started going through the letters one by one.

"Commission, commission, commission, invitation, advertisement, and more commission requests…" He absentmindedly listed down the categories of the letters he received and organized them accordingly. He came across one envelope with a floral pattern and a sudden sense of familiarity struck him as he paused, "this letter… was from a week ago."

"Oh, that.” Canaan’s lips fell into a thin line as he tried thinking of an excuse why he only gave the letter to him now when it was sent a week ago. “I was supposed to give it to you as soon as it came since it looked pretty important, but you were so cranky I didn’t want to bother you and have you getting angry at me.”

Adel didn’t waste another second on Canaan and quickly opened the envelope. Sure enough, it was from the old designer — no wonder it felt so familiar, the floral pattern was one of his famous works. The letter read:

Dear Adel,

Forgive me for sending this letter so late after our last meeting. I had to talk to my daughter and make the necessary arrangements, unfortunately, she will only be able to arrive there after a week upon receiving this letter. You’ll have to excuse her behaviour, she has a tendency to talk casually around people and I fear it might offend you — she means no harm. She’s a good child and I trust you will treat and teach her well. I will come to get her after three weeks; for three weeks she is yours to deal with. I wish you luck.

‘Yours to deal with.’ Adel lingered on those words, it made it sound as if his daughter was a lot of trouble and dumped it all into him for three weeks to catch a break. If that were the case, he’ll just give her a bone to chew on while he works. He had no plans on dealing with troublemakers.

But more importantly — it was exactly a week since the letter first arrived to him. Which meant that his daughter was to arrive today. Oh, how Adel wanted to smack Canaan for keeping this from him for a whole week, now he has to rush and get himself ready to greet her. His hair was a mess and his clothes were dishevelled, it would be unsightly to present himself like this. He mumbled a jab at Canaan before standing up, “really… you just had to show me now.”

“Better late than never, I say.” Canaan winked.

“Ugh…”

Rushed footsteps entered the room and before Adel could turn to look at who it was, their voice was a dead giveaway when they started shouting. “Adel! I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” it was Merryrose. “I was so sure that you’d be in your workshop but to think that you’re actually here… It’s kinda unsettling.”

“Oh, shut it, will you? Just cut to the chase, why were you looking for me?”

“Right, right. Someone is looking for you, she says she was sent here to be your assistant.”

“Huh!? She’s here already?”

“Oh shoot, you know her? And here I was telling her that you don’t take assistants." He winced. "Talk about embarrassing.”

He had little time to make a snide remark since he was far too busy running to a nearby mirror and tidying himself as much as can before greeting his soon-to-be temporary assistant. Merryrose took the liberty of leaving the room to fetch his guest and guide them into the common room. Adel cursed him in his head, he was sure that Merryrose was purposely trying to rush him. Soon enough, he heard two pairs of footsteps down the hallway — What was up with his fellow guild members constantly screwing up things for him?

He cleared his throat and took one last look in the mirror before facing the newly arrived guest. Once he saw her, he couldn't help but notice the striking similarities shared between her and her father. She looked presentable and certainly didn't give off a strong impression judging from looks alone but he knew not to judge a book too much by its cover.

What struck him as odd was her hands. If she was into sewing, as her father said, then clearly her hands wouldn't be so smooth. As much as Adel was experienced in his field, he can't help but have a few cuts here and there after some mishaps along with some small blisters here and there — he didn't think he had the most flattering hands given his work but he always covered it up with bandages on his busier days when he's more prone to mistakes.

"You must be the one my father has told me about. Adel, right?" She introduced herself shortly after Adel slowly nodded in response to her question.

"Take a seat," Adel urged her to take a seat on one of the sofas in the common room and drove Canaan and Merryrose away when all they were doing was watching; he didn't want any unnecessary distractions. "So I heard from your father that you have a passion for designing and sewing, I'm assuming that's true?"

She shook her hands violently, denying those claims — whether out of embarrassment or actual denial or something that didn't fall under those two, he didn't know. "No, no–! I'm sure my father was just exaggerating, he likes to do that — he always takes everything so seriously… I'm sure this is just a passing interest."

Adel raised an eyebrow, he was starting to feel kind of irked. "I'm not sure if you mean that or not but I'm not the type to cut corners when it comes to my craft, so I hope this merely being a passing interest doesn't drag down the quality of my work. I plan on assigning you to become my temporary assistant, after all."

"Sort of like an internship?"

"Exactly like an internship."

"Actually, Sir Adel—"

"Adel is fine."

"I don't know how to sew."

"What?"

"I have exactly zero knowledge. I don't think my being your assistant will work very well. I'm pretty sure it'll just drag your work's quality down if my hands touch it."

"Then why would your father send you here with zero knowledge?"

"Maybe it's because he wanted you to teach me how to sew instead." She looked away, "he thinks anything my hands touch is going to get ruined given how horrendous I am with a thread and needle. He's already given up on teaching me, he probably pinned his hopes onto you."

It made zero sense to him why anyone would send someone like her his way — everything just kept piling up. First, her father was under the wrong impression that his daughter was passionate about this sort of thing and asked him to take her under his wing. Second, she turned out to be super inexperienced. Third, the actual request and purpose for this whole visit was to teach her how to sew from the very basics. Fourth, she said she didn't even know how to thread a needle (she asked him what threading a needle meant).

He was finally feeling the headache settling down. He was seriously so baffled by the situation that he was left speechless and a little breathless as if he just ran a marathon. The first solution that popped into his head was to send her back home. "Okay, you know what? You can just go back home and tell your father I'll have to turn down his request after all. I'll send him a formal letter right after."

"Wait, wait, wait! You're sending me home? Just like that?"

"Listen, I've got a tight schedule and I have no time to be teaching you every single thing starting from the basics. Besides, wasn't this just a passing interest of yours? If it isn't important to you, I think it's better to send you home rather than waste both of our time."

Adel turned around and got ready to leave until he felt a tug on his sleeve, he was forced to face her once more. He was surprised to see a determined look in her eyes, she said, "I'm not lying when I say I want to learn. I may have no prior knowledge nor do I have the skills but I can promise you that I'll dedicate myself to learning. You don't have to be super involved — just a few pointers, tips, and maybe some exercises will help me."

Adel paused, "your father can do that for you."

"He was never a good teacher."

"And what made you think I am?"

She smiled, "call it a hunch."

"That's an illogical argument," he let out a small chuckle. He wasn't sure what came over him, the most logical option was still sending her home but after her little declaration, he found himself hesitating. He was still busy, and it was going to stay that way for a few more weeks. He expected an assistant to help him — he gets his workload lessened and the assistant gets to watch his techniques and how he works. He thought it would be a win-win situation but now, it was more like… he teaches her and that's it. It only benefitted one party.

'It's a favour,' he thought and he couldn't help but let out a deep sigh. He signed himself up for this and he thought that the look in her eyes wasn't bad, it may be worth a shot to teach her.

"Tomorrow. 10 o'clock in the morning sharp, don't be late."

"i wanna take it to the basics"

He hasn't slept at all since yesterday. Usually, he can last a few days without sleep (his longest record was 4 days, and he remembered passing out as soon as Volks rushed into his workshop to reprimand him) before collapsing. It was odd that he already felt as if he was about to collapse after one all-nighter. He tried thinking of various ways to maximize his time, especially now that he has an apprentice to teach. It would be easier if she knew the basics but she didn't, so they're going to have to start at the very bottom.

He heard the doorknob turn and saw her figure come in, eyeing every single thing in the workshop in awe. It was short-lived when Adel snapped her out of her thoughts. "Quit dawdling around. Let's start your lessons, I have much to do today."

"Y-Yes!" She gathered herself and walked towards the table Adel was at. There was a small container containing thread, scissors, and needles — all of them the same size. She was thinking that he was going to teach her how to do some basic stitches but her expectations were crushed when he opened his mouth to explain.

"There are exactly 50 needles in this container. I want you to learn how to thread a needle and make a knot. You have to get used to it if you're planning on sewing, you're not allowed to use a needle threader — you're going to have to do them all on your own. That's your first assignment." Adel picked up a needle and thread to show a small demonstration, he managed to get the thread into the hole in one try and made a knot to secure it. She asked him to repeat the knot once more, slowly this time, because he did it too fast.

"... All 50?" Frankly, she thought it wasn't going to be all that difficult. How hard could threading a needle be? All she has to do is put a thread into the needle's hold, right? She'll be over with this in no time.

"All 50." Adel nodded, he turned around and picked up a pair of scissors and started cutting fabric at another table. He didn't bother giving her another glance as he added: "Let me know once you're done."

She sat down and picked up a needle. She grabbed the spool of thread and cut an appropriate length, nothing too short and nothing too long. She tried putting the thread into the hole — it entered the hole but once she tried pulling it, it split into two.

No worries, I can just try again. She thought.

30 minutes have passed and she's only managed to successfully do at least 8. It turned out to be more difficult than she thought, especially when she had to do all of them one after the other. It required concentration she didn't prepare for but, slowly but surely, her hands and eyes started getting more adept at threading. Another hour passed and she was almost done with the 50 needles, and when she was finally done, she called out to Adel with a proud smile. "I'm done!"

Adel turned to look at her and dropped what he was previously doing to look at her work. He scrutinized them all one by one, and she couldn't help but think how strange this whole situation was.

"It's a little sloppy," he said. Though a small smile graced his features when he picked up one. "But it'll do."

"... Then—!"

"I'll be teaching you some basic stitches next, make sure to pay attention."

"Yes!"

A few days passed by with this routine. She would wake up and go into his workshop and learn how to sew from him, he'll give her something to do before she leaves and she'll do it in her free time — the cycle repeats over and over again. Adel can see with no doubt that she wasn't lying when she said she sincerely wanted to learn, he couldn't help but wonder where that drive came from. She was a fast learner, her father must've been such a terrible teacher if he couldn't manage to teach his daughter this much.

It was another day in his workshop, there was a dress he was to deliver tomorrow at exactly noon. Because of that, he was staying in his workshop later than he initially planned to add the finishing touches to the dress. It was another debutante dress, the client was the daughter of a famous marquis from another kingdom — she requested that the dress be adorned with the finest jewels. It took him a while to get it finished because he was forced to work with Canaan and Volks. Volks was fine, the problem was Canaan since it took every ounce of effort to get him to finish assigned work on time.

He was so engrossed in what he was doing that he almost jumped when he heard something being placed down on his table. He looked up and he was surprised to see that it was his apprentice, she was holding a mug of what seemed to be coffee — he assumed that the mug she placed down on his table was also coffee.

She shot him a worried look. "You're up so late."

"I have to finish this." He sighed. If he could, he would've gone straight to sleep. "What brings you here?"

"I was… worried about you. I haven't been here for very long but I noticed that you tend to overwork and push yourself. Honestly, I think it's amazing how you can do that on top of dealing with me but isn't it bad for you?"

"What can I do? It comes with the job." He sighed. "This work is demanding… but I suppose it's just as rewarding. It makes all the effort worth it."

"... I see. That's nice, isn't it? Having something you're passionate about, I mean."

"Don't you have any hobbies or anything?"

"I do! But… I can't really say that I'm passionate about them." She sighed, "it's the same for sewing. I don't have plans on making clothes like you and my father do but…"

"Then, why do you learn?"

"The reason is a little embarrassing. I'm afraid you might laugh."

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. Seeing you try your best is enough to tell me you're not half-assing this, at least." He picked up the mug and took a sip, "thanks for the coffee."

She smiled. "You're welcome. You should head to bed soon, though, I wouldn't want to see you collapse."

He let out a small chuckle. "Don't worry about me, I'm used to it. You, on the other hand… Go to bed. Our lessons start early tomorrow."

Somehow, it feels like they've gotten a little closer.

"abrupt goodbyes"

Ever since that night, Adel felt as if there was a significant change in their relationship. They bantered more often now and made pleasant conversations, though he made sure to not let that cloud his teaching. Though, it was a little weird to him since it wasn't long ago that his opinion of her was a little lower than favourable.

Though what happened next was unexpected — he got a commission from a VIP client last minute. They needed it as soon as possible and what Adel had to go through to deliver was akin to hell. He barely slept, ate, and went out of his workshop. He was so engrossed with work that he couldn't find time to teach her anymore and sent her away. There was a time that he almost snapped at her, telling her not to bother him when all she wanted to do was to show him something she was proud of making.

He cursed that client inside his head. His body felt heavy, and his head had a splitting headache — he felt feverish. He could barely concentrate, his movements were sluggish. He knew exactly what was happening, he was finally reaching his limit after working nonstop for a few days. He set down his scissors and let out a sigh, trying to ground himself until he heard the door open and finally let himself collapse.

~•~

What happened after that was a blur. He collapsed and the last thing he can remember was someone shouting his name. His eyes slowly fluttered open, and the first thing he saw was the familiar ceiling of his room. It took him a moment to process things before the weight of reality finally hit him. He sat up violently and looked for any indication of date and time — he couldn't have slept through the delivery date, right?

From the corner of his eye, he caught her figure sitting on one of the seats, holding what looked like an embroidery hoop. She looked just as startled as he was but quickly regained her composure as Adel questioned her immediately: "What date is it today—!?"

"Adel, you really shouldn't be worrying about that right now. Not in your current state."

"Just tell me!"

"It's been a day since you collapsed. Don't worry, Volks already contacted your client and got an extension for you."

"He did?"

"Mhm."

He let out a sigh of relief. A part of him felt bad but he was more relieved than regretful. Going back to the current situation, Adel felt like his apprentice was acting a little cold towards him — her responses were a bit dry, he noticed. He couldn't help but notice that she seemed to be embroidering something, and her hands were covered with bandages. He decided to ask: "What are you doing?"

"I'm trying to embroider a handkerchief."

"You like embroidery?"

"Remember what we talked about the other night? You asked me the reason why I learn. It's because I like embroidering. I'm not good at it, so I thought learning a thing or two from you might help me."

"I've been teaching you the wrong things then. Why didn't you tell me?"

"It's because I'm so terrible at it that my father even gave up on me. I was afraid you’d laugh if I showed you.” She stood up and approached his bed, placing down the embroidery hoop on his bedside table as if to show him her efforts.

He picked it up; he could barely make out an image. “Is this supposed to be a flower?”

“I-I told you I’m terrible!” She flushed. “But yes, it’s supposed to be a flower.”

“It’s fine. Everyone has to start somewhere, including me.” Adel picked up the thread and needle as he started embroidering. She looked at him with interest, wondering if he was going to fix the mess of a flower she made. Much to her surprise, he started making smaller flowers around it instead. “There’s nothing to laugh about — I can see that you’re trying your best.”

“You think so?”

He let out a small chuckle. Now that he was free from the clutches of work and deadlines for a moment, she swore that Adel looked the gentlest she’s ever seen him.“I used to be terrible at embroidery when I was younger. People could barely make out the image I wanted to make when I showed them. It’s all about practice — as long as you don’t give up, you’re bound to succeed one day.”

Adel didn’t know the reason why he was so talkative. Maybe it was the fever talking, or maybe it was the fact that he saw himself in her that he couldn’t help but blurt out the things he usually wouldn’t say to a mere apprentice. He felt comfortable. “There.” He handed the hoop back to her and she couldn’t help but let out a small giggle. “Is there something funny?”

“Seeing my terrible handiwork next to yours is a little funny. It’s like a toddler and a professional made it side by side, it’s pretty endearing.”

“You’ll learn how to do that soon enough, I believe.” He sighed, “we still have more lessons—”

“Actually, I’m about to go home in a few hours.” She took the handkerchief from the hoop and folded it neatly before placing it in his hands, “I wanted to give this to you as a token of my gratitude for looking out for me all this time.”

“Huh?” He felt his heart drop. It was strange. Why was he so disappointed? “Are the three weeks already up?”

“Unfortunately,” she sounded just as disappointed as he was. “I received a letter from my father yesterday that I’m to be picked up around noon tomorrow. If I’m being honest, I wanted to disappear without another word to you after you ignored me for days because I’m petty.” She pinned her gaze somewhere else, a little embarrassed that she just admitted that. “But it didn’t sit right with me in the end. So I decided to come over and express my gratitude when you suddenly collapsed in your workshop.”

“Aha! So it was you who found me.”

“Don’t sound so happy you figured that out! I was seriously worried about you.” Her lips formed a thin line, “you ought to take care of yourself more.”

“... I’ll keep that in mind next time.” It was strange how he was saying this, “but I can’t make any promises.”

“That much is enough. I know how important your work is to you, I just wanted to give you a little reminder.” She picked up her stuff and prepared to head out. Again, Adel found it strange how disappointed he was seeing her go — he almost wanted to call out to her and tell her to stay a bit longer. No, no, what am I even thinking of?

“Then, goodbye. I hope to see you again some other time.”

“... Yes. Me too.”

Silence enveloped the room once she left and Adel never thought he’d be uncomfortable with it. He looked at the handkerchief she left him once more and examined their handiworks side by side; he smiled, only a little bit. Endearing — that was the word he was looking for. He didn’t know how long it’ll be before they interact once more but somewhere in his heart he wished that by some sort of play by fate that it'd be soon. Once again, he thought it was a strange thought to think of but… it wasn’t unpleasant.

He ran a finger over the embroidery.

“I suppose teaching her wasn’t all that bad… If she wants me to take her back someday, perhaps I’ll think about it.” He paused. “Still… she left so soon. Couldn’t she have shown a bit of hesitation, at least? Argh, what am I even talking about? This is pointless.”

He threw the handkerchief over his bed and a piece of paper slipped out from underneath the folds. Curiosity washed over him as he picked it up. “What’s this? Did she slip this in here while she was folding it?”

It held a string of numbers. It didn’t take long for Adel to connect the dots together.

There’s no way. Why would she—? He felt his face getting a bit warm. He thought he might be misunderstanding the intentions behind the number but it had a little heart next to it so surely it was true to some degree, right? No, no, that couldn’t be it. She showed no signs of interest… is it because I never gave her my personal contact so she decided to give hers instead?

He thought of throwing it away but, for some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to do it so he shoved it in his drawer and never looked at it again. But no matter how much he tried to forget about it—

It was always stuck in the back of his mind.

— I actually have a soft spot for characters that know how to sew and an idea came to me in a dream. Conveniently enough, Adel was a tailor and he fit the idea perfectly <3 cousgshs I don't actually know shit about sewing. My experience at most is attending a workshop at a local church and learning how to sew a button into the fabric. Or maybe the apron we were required to make when I was in third grade. Most of the stuff said here are my own delusions and not backed up by canon.

— I wanted to make Adel really... dense(?) here if that's the right word. I thought it would be fun if I wrote an MC that takes all the initiative rather than the other way around 🤧 Adel is married to his work but it's funny thinking of him constantly thinking of you and doesn't get any work done LOL you'd be ruining his life but it's a new experience for him and he doesn't necessarily hate it <3

[asirensrambles]

CAUTION: Signal Crossing, Watch Your Wires (pt. 1/2)

Sienna, Mi-an, and Elsie are celebrating the Commerce Guild end of month results at the Blue Saloon. Alcohol and a raging crush on the Saloon's proprietor go about as well as expected.

This fic was SUPPOSED to be about my builder telling Rocky she would die and kill for him, then spiraled into whatever this was.

Although commissions were posted over the weekends, Sienna did her best to take it slightly easier on Saturdays and Sundays. She'd finish her guild inspections, see if there were any quick and easy commission postings that she could fulfill with materials on hand, then try and relax a bit or catch up on some sleep and the little tasks that piled up throughout the week.

Saturday nights though, were set aside completely for story night at the saloon. It was the one day of the week Sienna knew for sure she'd get to hang out with Mi-an, Elsie, and other townsfolk. This particular Saturday, they were celebrating last month's workshop rankings. Sienna had kept her top spot, and Mi-an had finally been able to pull past Yan, despite his best efforts at sabotage and underhanded manipulation.

Owen had asked what they were celebrating when Sienna had ordered a full bottle of wine for the three girls. When they told him, Owen had brought out a round of shots along with the wine, telling them both were on the house. He was one of Serena's favorites for a reason. Sienna made a quick mental note to bring him a fresh bunch of sandfish later in the week as thanks, as she picked up her shot glass and said,

"I'd like to propose a toast! On this, the momentous day of Mi-an and me taking our rightfully earned places as the top Sandrock builders, I'd just like to say, fuck Yan!"

"Fuck Yan!" Mi-an and Elsie echoed before taking their shots and hitting the glasses back on the table.

The exclamation drew a few curious eyes, but Sienna absolutely did not care. It was what he deserved, the shit bag. Having started the night on a high note, the girls dove into the bottle of wine. It was polished off in somewhat short order as they chatted together. Mi-an and Elsie were pretty tipsy, well on their way to drunk after the wine was finished, and decided to call it there. Sienna had a good four or five inches, and many more pounds on both of them, giving her a much higher tolerance. Deciding tonight was a night worth getting much more drunk for, she signaled Owen over,

"Hey, do you have any of that Highwind beer still?" she asked.

Owen raised an eyebrow and grinned at her, "You looking to get hammered, builder?" he teased.

Sienna replied with a grin, "I wouldn't say hammered, but definitely not sober."

"You got it!"

There was a commotion by the door to the saloon. Looking over, Sienna saw that Rocky and his crew had come in for their end of the month celebration. Apparently it was a tradition that Rocky took his folks out the last Saturday of the month for a couple rounds on him, then a longer period of the Eufala Salvage crew drinking on their own tabs and shooting the breeze. Seeing them sent a twinge of jealousy through Sienna.

What would it be like to have a boss like Rocky?

The man had certainly made a strong first impression. The first time she'd seen him, he was towering over Yan threatening to grind him into paste. One of her eternal regrets was not letting Rocky do just that. Unfortunately, Sienna had done the morally correct thing and completed the lift for Rocky on behalf of Yan. Nothing she did was for Yan. Seeing him towering over her shit stain of a boss, Rocky had stolen her heart without even knowing it. Unfortunately for Sienna, he was happily married and doted on his wife and child.

One of the largest glasses Owen served beer in suddenly plopped in front of Sienna, startling her. She looked up at Owen, who was grinning widely.

"One, 'not being sober', builder."

She rolled her eyes, "You know my name's Sienna, you goof."

"Yeah, but it doesn't rile you up the way 'builder' does, and that's more fun," Owen replied with a smirk, "Enjoy not getting hammered," he said with same emphasis she'd used earlier before throwing Sienna a wink and walking over to take Rocky's crew's orders.

Sienna let her flaming face fall onto the table. Elsie and Mi-an were oblivious to what had just happened, too involved with each other. Suddenly way too sober for everything that was going on, she took a sizeable pull from the massive stein she'd been gifted. Knowing Owen, he'd probably put it on the house too. Sap.

If she didn't know any better, Sienna would think Owen was flirting with her. Which would be ridiculous, he was just polite and doing his due diligence as a good restaurant and bar owner, making sure the patrons were taken care of. However, the smiles he gave her always seemed to have something in his eyes that made her stomach flutter, and the comment about riling her up - nope not going there!

Raising her head just enough to take another long pull from the glass, Sienna looked over to where Owen was gracefully filling glasses and trading quips with Rocky and his people. Seeing Rocky and Owen next to each other made Sienna groan to herself as she realized, contrary to what Nia believed, she did in fact have a type. That type just so happened to be competent men with beefy arms, easy smiles, and massive hearts of gold.

The table seemed oddly silent, Elsie and Mi-an hadn't said anything in a while, which was more than a bit suspicious, considering how those two talked constantly. Looking over, Sienna saw the two of them were very involved in each other.

"Oi, get a room!" she barked.

The two broke apart visibly flustered. Mi-an just giggled before standing up and pulling a dazed Elsie along with her. Sienna raised her stein at them with a smirk; it was about time those two did something about all the pheromones swirling around them. However, it left her drinking alone on a Saturday night, which suddenly felt much more pitiful than it had other times she'd done it. While weighing the options of leaving early to preserve what little pride she might have left against the desire to use story night as an excuse to stare at Owen without it being weird, a warm arm draped over her shoulder, along with an aura of sweat, dirt, and salvage. Looking up, Sienna saw Venti's warm chocolate eyes sparkling down at her,

"Come have a drink with us builder! We wouldn't be having the successful months we are without your lift!"

Sienna would never admit how much she melted at the offer of inclusion. Beaming, she picked up the still mostly full beer and brought it with her over to the raucous bar. The small group cheered at her arrival. Warmth spread through Sienna at the enthusiastic greeting, although it was tempered by a slight twinge of something more melancholic, knowing she was just a visitor for the night. Still, for the time being, it was nice.

Sienna let their easy banter wash over her, adding a few jabs herself here and there. Things were starting to get fuzzier, the Highwind beer finally kicking in. As she was nearing the bottom of the glass, Sienna watched Rocky throw his arm around Peck and give the man a solid hug. Draining the glass, she slammed it down on the counter, drawing more than a few stares. Ignoring them, she pointed at Rocky and declared,

"Rocky, I would die and kill for you," the other patrons' stares were joined by dropped jaws. For his part, Rocky nodded solemnly, walked over to Sienna, clapped her on the shoulder firmly, and replied,

"I know this, and I love you. I would never ask you to do either of them though."

Sienna nodded sagely, "That's fine, I just needed you to know."

Rocky pulled her in to a crushing hug, which Sienna returned with as much strength as she could muster. In that moment, for whatever reason, Rocky acknowledging her willingness to commit violence on his behalf and flat out saying he loved her, squashed what little remained of her small crush. It defied all reason, but his hug felt like something she might get from a brother or an uncle, effectively writing off any romantic inklings with it. When he finally let go, Rocky gave her a clap on the back and a wide smile. Sienna beamed back at him, then turned to look for Owen or Grace. Her beer was empty, and it would probably be a good idea to have something a little more hydrating.

Owen had just slid behind the bar, presumably to get drinks for another table. Sienna waited until he turned around to call,

"Owen!"

He looked up at her with a strange look she couldn't place and didn't feel like sorting through the buzz that had finally made itself known to figure it out. In a moment, his face was back to its usual pleasant expression. Which was strange too, cause usually he was smirking or grinning at her, or something.

"Can I help you, Sienna?" he asked politely.

She stared at him. What the fuck? The last time Owen had used her name was...hell, she couldn't even remember when. And the way he said it was so professional and impersonal, completely at odds with the man who had plopped her drink down in front of her however long ago she started it. It ate at her in a way it really shouldn't. Well, to heck with it. If he wanted to be the polite and proper one now, she could be the smirking flirty one in his stead. Leaning onto the bar and cupping her chin, Sienna said,

"I could use a tall glass of water after all that alcohol. And if you're not available, well then a large sandberry juice will do."

Owen dropped the glass he was holding.

Sienna's eyes widened as she tracked its descent, unable to do anything to stop it. Owen just managed to shake himself enough to catch it before disaster struck. You could not have paid Sienna to explain why such a stupid line had come out of her mouth. Probably because she was closer to drunk than buzzed, and when had that happened? Regardless, Sienna's little quip had put a bit of that something back in Owen's eyes, but he still looked more guarded than usual. For her part, Sienna was fairly certain a fire extinguisher was going to be needed for her flaming cheeks.

"Thought you weren't getting hammered, Builder," he said slowly, setting the rescued glass back down. Hearing Owen revert back to the usual nickname flooded Sienna's veins with relief.

"Still not hammered."

Owen closed his eyes for a moment, and took a deep breath. He opened his eyes, filled the glass with sandberry juice and slid it across the counter to Sienna. The whole time, he avoided eye contact. Somehow, no one else in the Blue Moon seemed to realize what had just happened. Still without looking at her, Owen said,

"I think we should talk after the story tonight."

Sienna swallowed hard, "Okay," she managed to get out. That sounded immensely ominous. The lack of eye contact was also throwing her for a loop. Thankfully, the nearly drunk buzz she had going on dulled the anxiety building up from what Owen said. Did she cross a line? Had she misread him, and it wasn't actually flirting? Before Sienna's thoughts could spiral any further, Venti was clamoring for her opinion on extracting raw ore versus breaking down scrap and which was more effective for maximum resource acquisition. Grateful for the distraction, Sienna plunged into the conversation head first.

[smiletimeisrunningout]

In honor of sunday a not safe for w // ork headcanon under read more to make up for the complete lack of it:

(read only if you are okay with several k -- inks being mentioned)

it's meant for historical verses but you can obviously apply it to ANY with some light changes (she has access to internet in modern days)

Emma is in some ways very traditional: no threesomes (she's too territorial), no being watched (unless it's 'risking to be seen' but she needs to be almost sure they won't be and then she can happily dirty talk the guy into it), no humiliation kink (she'll fight him), no spanking/hitting/blood except for when it comes from scratches.

In other ways, Emma has also slept with many men. MANY men, some very happy to teach her what she could do to pretty much ruin them since Emma is all too happy to learn (she's more the type to give and give until he can't take anymore because she finds that incredibly hot). So she has learned things that normally wouldn't be accessible to a woman without google/a particular net of friends to explain it to her, such as things she can do to a man that are normally done by other men (if peg--ging was an option she'd go for it immediately, but fingers it is), and she's very into testing the limits of how much at once the man can take, and for how long, and how many times. She prefers tying up to being tied up, but that's also because while she enjoys it, she'd rather give o.ral than to receive it, because she prefers the feelings of having a man at her level to grab and hold close, or 'ts even better if he can pick her up. Not that that's the only thing one can do to her, but in any case she likes being an active participant. She's a very grabb-y person, basically, and enjoys touching his whole body and can be gentle or rough, depending on the moment. She's also a bit-y person but that's a different matter. So as much as he can take, and as much as he's comfortable letting her explore and try to end him, she'll go with those limitations.

Most importantly, she's also the person who doesn't mind giggling and really enjoying it and kissing the guy before, during and after as much as she can.

Goes without saying that given her trauma she'd panic if someone tried to dominate her, but even without that she's naturally one for taking charge (not that there has to be someone who is in charge, it can just be something mutual with no powerplay whatsoever) and dirty/sweet-talk her way into what to do. But she'll go for fun/rough/spontaneous regardless, and she'd like romantic too probably if she ever tried it.

After she's likely to expect to be pushed away though.

[lynnbrcwning]

Merrock Task 017 - Everything related to spring.

first things first: do you like spring? "I would say that I am more of a summer person. Spring is still a little too cold for me. I like the sun and the heat that brings it. The spring still brings too much rain."

what is your favorite thing about spring? "Every thing seems to be coming alive a bit more, it seems. The birds start chirping again, the sun comes out more and more. It sheds a more lively vibe over town."

what is your least favorite thing about spring? "The weather that is so unpredictable. Is it going to rain today? Nothing in the predicitions. One hour later it is just pouring. I don't like it at all."

do you have a vegetable / produce / fruit garden? "Not for the lack of trying. I wish I had but instead I go to the market once a week to get the fresh produce in."

how about flower beds, or things planted in the house? "Those I do. But mostly when Theo comes home with a bouquet of flowers for me. I don't get anything for myself."

regardless of what you do or do not plant, are you good at growing plants? have a green thumb? "I do NOT have a green thumb. Everything seems to die on me, every plant I own. So no, I don't have one."

what’s your favorite flower or plant? "Call it cliche, but I just love roses. Those light pink ones in particular."

what’s your favorite scent that you associate with spring? "The smell of the many different flowers that are growing I would say."

is there a sound that you associate with spring time? "The chirping of birds."

do you prefer sunny mornings or rainy afternoons? "In case you couldn't have guessed yet... Definitely sunny mornings."

favorite thing to do on a sunny, warm spring day? "Get outside with the children, without risking having to clean all the mud after them. I enjoy them enjoying the day the most."

favorite thing to do on a rainy, chilly spring day? "I prefer to stay inside then. Try to read a good book if I don't get interrupted by the kids."

do you celebrate Easter? any traditions you follow for it? "Ever since the children were old enough, our tradition became painting eggs together in the morning and then after a lunch they would've been dry. Theo and I would then hide them in the garden and the kids would search for them. We are running out of hiding spots by now."

regardless of if you do or don’t: favorite Easter candy? "Chocolate eggs. You could bury me in them."

what other springtime holidays do you observe? "None that I can think of this quickly."

favorite place in Merrock to visit in the springtime? "Definitely the woods."

the spring bugs are coming out: do you rescue them and let them out of the house, or grab the nearest shoe? "I'm actually the rescuer. I have a paper cup and a piece of cardboard laying around in spring. Cup over the bug, cardboard being glided under it. Bring it outside. Push over the cup and run while I can."

are you a big spring cleaner? "I wouldn't say a big one, but I do prefer to use the time to sort through clothes that aren't being worn anymore. Or any other items."

do you switch over your wardrobe from cold weather to warm weather clothes? "Yes, warm weather clothes are coming out of storage!"

how about the house: does your decor change for the spring season? do you rearrange furniture? "Oh no, that is not the matter at all. That only happens when I get really, really bored. And that has happened only once or twice so far while living with Theo."

what color makes you think ’spring’? "A soft yellow."

describe your perfect spring outfit: "I think you would say it's a complete mum outfit but... I prefer a white cotton shirt with a denim overall and my sneakers in spring. And if it is too cold, a jacket on top of it."

most adorable looking baby animal that you ever did see? "Up until this day, it is going to be a baby chicken. Chicks are such adorable animals."

what’s a drink that makes you think of spring? "Home made ice tea."

how about a snack? "Pieces of fruit. I love berries."

[luvlyrv]

Uncover | Seulgi x F!Reader

Genre/warnings: fluff, angst, homophobia (religious)

Summary: You quickly learn that while it was easy to be dishonest with yourself, it was nearly impossible to lie to Seulgi.

Word Count: 4.7k A/N: This has been something wracking up in my brain since June. It's kind of embarrassing that it's taken this long but it's a lovechild of my emotions. Enjoy, and I hope you feel things.

Date: 9/21/21

You can't imagine a day without her, because she's always been there. Right from the day you could remember. You bet that she could be your last memory too.

Your first memory has you sitting in the living room playing with your toys as you anxiously eye the other child in the room. Some strangers had rung your doorbell and your mom and dad had welcomed them into the house. Now they were in the kitchen, their voices blending into each other in the background.

The small girl in front of you decided to take the liberty of picking up your toys and playing with them. She ran around playing in the imaginary world in her head. You think that she's having fun and that you want to have fun too, but you can't seem to move from your position. As you slowly try to build up the courage to talk to her she approaches you.

She had been glancing at you from the corner of her eyes too. She watched your shy self idly playing all alone. She found it hard to approach you, scared of you pushing her away or being mean, but she thought maybe it was worth it. You could be a friend.

"Hi!" The strange girl is right in front of you with one of your stuffed toys in hand. "Do you want to play with me? I'm Seulgi!"

"I'm Y/N…"

For the rest of the hour the two of you chased each other in a shared adventure. Enraptured in your own little wonderland until your parents had to pull you apart.

Soon it became a ritual for those strangers, who you later learned to be Mr. and Mrs. Kang, to visit your house. Along them was always their daughter Seulgi, who wouldn't hesitate to pull you into a large hug right before starting a new adventure with you.

You slightly trail behind your best friend. You smile at yourself from the sight of Seulgi happily skipping, somehow filled with even more vigor than she usually has. She's always been filled with much more energy than you, amazed by even the smallest of things. You suppose something truly spectacular must be happening today for her to feel so extra. She turns her head over to look at you, flashing you her perfect smile with her perfect cheeks. The ones you always want to squish when you remind her of how cute she is.

She continues to bounce but slows down to be by your side. One of the favorite parts of your day, and hopefully hers too, would be the peaceful walk the two of you would always share before and after school. It always reminded you of how close you are. How you can always rely on her to listen and to brighten up your day.

She bites her lip while still smiling. She must be thinking about something.

"What's got you so excited today?" You ask her with a giggle.

"Guess!" She pesters leaning into you. A familiar feeling emerges in your chest from the contact.

"You know I'm really bad at guessing…"

"Well why can't you try?"

"All I know is that it has to be something really special, right?" You decide to lean back and push her a little as a tease.

"It is! Mom and dad bought me my favorite ice cream that we can share later today!"

You laugh at her as she continues giving her dumb smile. Seulgi moves in front of you with her eyebrows raised, waiting to hear your opinion about the news.

"Is that it?" You ask still laughing. She pouts a little.

"What do you mean 'is that it'? It's my favorite! And I get to share it with you!" With that you pull Seulgi in for a side hug.

"I'm kidding, I'm excited too."

You enjoy listening to whatever nonsense Seulgi thinks about and decides to spill to you as you guys continue walking. You feel a bit disheartened at the sight of the school building, but looking at Seulgi again is enough to make the disappointment go away.

As much as you wish it did, your schedule wasn't entirely with your best friend. Instead you had to split up as you entered the school grounds to your different classes. Fortunately you shared at least some classes with her, and most importantly lunch. So when you sit down at your desk with nobody talking to you, you don't feel too lonely. The anticipation of being reunited with Seulgi was enough for you.

As usual Seulgi finds your figure sitting down at a lunch table and immediately rushes towards you. She taps your shoulder as she sits down, hurriedly opening up her lunch box, her beastly appetite striking again.

"Oooh." She oogles as the both of you breathe in the sudden aroma of homemade food. You peer over to look at the contents of her lunch box. You swore that you can see the steam coming off of her rice.

"Open up!" Seulgi playfully demands of you. You oblige as she not so carefully throws a grape your way. It would've been lost if you didn't move your head to make up for the completely inaccurate trajectory.

"How are you still bad at this?" You ask her after chewing.

"Maybe I just like to see you work for your food." You laugh at her response as you carefully pick up a spring roll from your box and place it in hers.

"Mom fried it this morning so you better enjoy."

You enjoy the long-time tradition of sharing food and eating in relative silence. That time was short lived though as a small group of girls joined your table. You didn't mind them much, you'd even consider them casual friends. At the same time though, they were bothering you.

You found it strange that despite finally being with Seulgi you felt so lonely. So lost.

Seulgi's popular, you know that. A lot of people try to befriend her and fight for her attention. Being the social butterfly she is she never hesitated to say hello back and return the friendliness. By proxy you met a lot of nice people, a lot of not so nice people, and more. They never really stuck by for you though. They stayed for Seulgi.

You wish you understood why you were so bothered by those that stayed. Why you were always feeling jealous recently. You wonder if it's natural to feel so intensely sick when you watch your best friend's attention be pulled away by several different girls at a time, or laugh at a guys joke. Well, maybe you do know why.

You quietly sigh and push the thought away, instead trying to join in the chatter and laugh with everyone at the table. Just as you were about to calm down and ease into the group a sudden large group of guys and girls approach. One boy in particular seems to be leading the pack. You purse your lips as you silently watch them come over. Seulgi absent-mindedly continues talking, completely unaware of what was about to occur.

You tighten your hands into a ball as a feeling bubbles inside you. You can't place what it is. Is it fear? Anger? Jealously? It's probably both.

The boy also tightens his hands as they grip onto his shirt. You watch him bite his lip and see how a red color crawls up his neck and reaches the tips of his ears. You hold in a breath as he finally arrives at the table and Seulgi looks up at him.

"S-Seulgi." He barely manages to say her name aloud.

"Huh?" She looks at him cluelessly but gives him her full attention anyways.

"I like you! A lot! So if you can, please go out with me!" The boy's words spill out, as if his mouth was a floodgate holding them back. He reaches behinds him and quickly bends over to give Seulgi a piece of red paper, shaped like a heart. He probably wrote about his feelings extensively on it.

Your eyes had been focused on the love-stricken boy. It's hard for you to move your eyes towards Seulgi. You realize now what you're feeling. You fear what you'll see when you look over at Seulgi to see her reaction.

You notice that she's red too, the color slowly blossoming across her cheeks.

Why does this hurt you?

"Erm, ah, thank you." She says out of politeness and bows back. She gives him a smile and that seems to excite him. "I'll think about your confession."

He eagerly nods his head and leaves the table, happy with the results of his actions. The crowd around him seem to think that was a good ending and started whispering and congratulating him. You look back at your table and the girls are murmuring too.

"He's cute, you should definitely go for him!"

"I heard he treated his last girlfriend nicely. They're still on good terms."

"I've never seen you date before. Isn't now your time to explore?"

Seulgi just takes it all in and nods along with what they say. Your head hangs low as you pick at your food. You don't dare look up. You're scared of seeing Seulgi's face again. You're scared that tears will start falling.

It was like the weight of the world had fallen on your chest.

When the bell dismisses you from lunch you quickly go to your next class. You don't say goodbye to Seulgi or any of the other girls. You feel the light graze of Seulgi's fingertips as she tries to stop you, but you're too fast.

The rest of the school day is you trying to focus on studying, and when your last class finishes you're not sure what you'll do. Everybody leaves the classroom before you as you take some time for yourself. Breathing in and out, you mentally prepare yourself to face Seulgi, as if she was some type of monster.

As you exit the building and get near the gates you see a swarm of people with Seulgi in the center. They're probably there to ask about how she feels about the confession that happened. You sigh and almost contemplate leaving without her, but her eyes quickly find yours. Seulgi politely but abruptly says her goodbyes and runs towards you.

As Seulgi's figure grows nearer there's a feeling of satisfaction. It was like you had won some petty fight, and that feeling was able to erase the fear and nerves you had earlier. A smile grows on your face she reaches your side, your bodies automatically matching your steps. You enjoy the warmth when she locks her arm with yours. Not knowing what to say, you let silence fill the space in between the two of you until Seulgi decided to break it.

"So, do you wanna stay at my place for a bit so we can eat that ice cream?"

Seulgi's keys jingle as she unlocks her front door. You follow in after her, putting your shoes away as she dashes towards her refrigerator to retrieve the ice cream from the freezer. You walk up towards her as she hands one to you. Naturally, both of you make your way outside into her backyard.

Her backyard is quaint, housing a nice garden that her mother often tends and one large tree. The two of you rest under it, appreciating the winding arms of the apple tree that has always given you and Seulgi refuge. You enjoy the taste of the ice cream, perhaps the shade was enhancing its flavor. Either way you understood why its Seulgi's favorite. The refreshing taste and Seulgi's presence puts a smile on your face. You feel yourself opening up again as you guys joke and talk about your day in between bites and licks. By the time you finish eating your ice cream she had managed to convince you that she needed your extra help in math. As always you agreed to tutor her.

She argues that you should stay underneath the tree as she gets up to throw away the trash. You watch as she goes back inside the house, coming out again with a shiny apple in hand that was picked only a couple days ago. You laugh a little as you ask,

"Still hungry?"

"Enough for a little snack."

She sits by you and takes a rest on your lap. You brush her hair away as you look into her eyes. You can tell she's thinking about something.

"What's wrong?" You ask her.

"Well, I was just wondering, why were you upset earlier?" She says in a serious tone.

"Huh?"

"You didn't even say goodbye at lunch, and don't pretend I didn't notice you almost leaving without me." There's a hint of hurt in her voice. You feel bad for not keeping your emotions in check better, that you threw a fit over something so small.

"Well," Your voice trails off as your mind struggles to think of a response, "what does that boy mean to you?" You decide to ask.

"Oh so now you want to know about that too?" There's only a slight annoyance in her voice as she gives you an eyeroll.

"I'm your best friend, of course I'm curious." Seulgi huffs at your response. She can't blame you for wondering so she takes a moment to think before answering honestly.

"I mean, I guess they weren't wrong. He's kinda cute, and I know it took a lot for him to say that to me. I admire him for it." She said it in a casual manner, as if it wasn't a big deal. Yet for you it meant everything. And it hurt.

You can't control the frown that found its way on your face.

"Hey…" Seulgi quickly gets up from your lap. She has a confused expression as her eyes scans yours. "Hey, what's wrong?" Her voice is soft as she puts a hand on your shoulder.

Your chest is about to explode.

"Do you like him or something?" She continues to grip onto your shoulder with a confused face. She thinks she was the one who did something wrong. That she's stealing someone away from you, but that was so different from the truth.

"No, Seulgi, I-" You pause to think about what you're going to say. Something was about to come out instinctively, and you don't know whether or not that was the best decision.

"You what?"

She presses you for an answer but you're still thinking. You're thinking about you know you can't handle her possibly being close to someone else. To share all of her laughs with that boy. To smile at him and spend time with him. To do all the things that exists between you and her. Living would feel wrong if you were no longer the one she ran to and spilled her secrets to.

Who are you if not Seulgi's biggest and only confidant? The only one who could soothe her in her darkest moments? The one who understands every feeling and thought just by the way she blinks?

You're intimately familiar with the feeling in your chest now. You think that you know what it is too, but that doesn't make you hate it any less. If you could, you'd sacrifice every fiber of your being to forget that feeling and throw it away. To pretend it doesn't exist. But your wishes don't make it go away.

You can be dishonest with yourself, but it's impossible to lie to Seulgi. Not when she looks at you like that.

"I like you."

The words are barely a whisper but she hears. Seulgi's hand falls off your shoulder and you want to cry again. You said the wrong thing. She was going to think you're disgusting. She would never go on a walk with you again. You'll never smell her perfume again. You'll never hear her laughter again. She'd never touch you again. Never speak to you again.

Her mouth is open slack. Your eyes water and you breathe in, readying yourself to apologize profusely. To rescind the blasphemous words that slipped out of your foul mouth.

"I'm so sorry. Just ignore it. I take it back. I think I'm sick or something, you know, delirious. Just ignore it please. Please." Tears begins to fall down your face as Seulgi seemingly snaps back to reality. She reaches towards you, taking your face in her hands as her thumbs swipe away the tears.

"Oh my god, no, don't cry." She begs you to stop, but you can't.

"I-I'm, I'm sorry." The tears continue to make their way down your face. A horrible sickness wells in your stomach and suddenly it feels below freezing as you shake uncontrollably.

"No, don't be." She hugs you tight and whispers in your ear. "I like you too. So stop crying. For me, please." She strokes your back as you cry, hoping that the touch could settle you down.

It takes a while for you to register what she says, but as soon as you do your body seizes up. You think that maybe your everything, your soul, has shattered into a million pieces from Seulgi's words. How in the world could it be true? It couldn't be, not in this universe, not in this timeline.

Yet it was.

When Seulgi hears your sniffling stop and your body letting go of its tension she separates her body from yours. Her eyes are all you can see, and all you can see in them is pain.

"I'm sorry for making you worried." You felt guilty that she had to see you cry. The outburst at school wasn't great either.

"Don't worry about it" She reassures you by taking a hand in hers, stroking it with her delicate fingers to show you her affection. For several moments you allow yourself to breathe. Seulgi also took the time to process everything, and the two of you stared at each other with the new understanding of your feelings. Time seems to pass so slowly when you observe each other with care.

"Seulgi…" You mumble when what felt like years passed. She understood what you meant when she saw the way you looked at her lips.

In that moment you couldn't care anymore. Neither could Seulgi, it seemed, as you pressed your lips on hers and she pressed back. Greedily, the two of you dived in for a taste. Your lips on hers, her tongue in your mouth, it was something you needed. It was a flavor you could relish forever, perhaps this is what sin tasted like. Yes, this is what they'd call it. A sin.

It feels like everything has changed, but at the same time it hasn't. You still spend every second possible with Seulgi. You spend your time doing the same things. Yet everything feels so different, it feels brand new. Magically, it feels better than before. Is this the power that Seulgi has over you?

Nobody knows, nobody needs to know. After all, you're still Seulgi's bestfriend. Is there really anything different? Maybe just the tighter hugs, the kisses, and the alluring smiles, but that's all. Life is easy this way.

After bidding Seulgi goodbye in front of her house you go home to eat dinner with your family. You come home and greet your parents with a smile as you rush to join them at the dinner table. They share that smile as they take note of your enthusiasm recently. As you eat quietly for a while your mom finally asks you what's been going on to make you shine so much.

"Well..." You debate on what to say. It's been over a month since you confessed to Seulgi but you were still feeling high. You've been holding it for so long you wished you could tell someone. Why not them? You want them to be happy with you too. "I've been dating Seulgi."

"Hm?" Your mom asks you somewhat aggressively for clarification. The sudden stillness in the air alarms you. You look up from your food to see your mom staring as your dad stops eating.

"I-I told her I liked her and she liked me back." You say hoping to clear whatever confusion was occuring. Yet the look on your parents didn't fade.

"What happened?" You father's question sounds more like a statement as he sternly places his utensils down.

"What do you mean what happened? I just told you."

"What happened to make you like this?" His cold voices breaks a little as you notice his eyes tearing up. Was he seriously upset about this?

"You're joking, right?" Your mom joins in with an angry tone.

"Of course I'm not. Mom, she makes me really happy." You struggle to keep yourself composed under the scrutiny of both of your parents.

"Y/N. You are not happy. You're messing with the devil right now and he's fucking up your mind."

"Have you not been doing your prayers?"

You can barely fight for yourself at the dinner table. Your parents argue with and over you, about the causes and the whys. About the signs and what happens next. You cry as you watch your decision unfold into your nightmare.

You knew deep down inside this would happen, but you hoped and prayed that it wasn't true. Perhaps Seulgi made you too happy, too brave. Everything else felt like it was going right so you convinced yourself this would too. You've flown too close to the sun and it backfired. You should've never said anything.

As you try to block out the fight unraveling in front of you you could only scream one thing while crying. "Wouldn't God want to love me? Wouldn't He want you to love me too?"

The scrape of the wooden chair echos as your mom shoots up straight. "I will not house some heathen under my roof. Get out until you realize what you've done to this family."

It's raining. The relentless torrent of water against your body traps in the coldness from the night, leaving you shivering as your feet move on their own. They move to the only other place that feels like home. The only other person that feels like home.

Soon enough you find yourself in front of a familiar door, incessantly knocking. Muffled footsteps come from the other side of the door as you hear locks being undone until the door finally opens. Instantly there's a look of worry on Mr. Kang's face as he takes in the scene in front of him. He quickly ushers you in and shuts the door.

"Who is it?" A voice rings from upstairs.

"It's Y/N!" Mr. Kang yells back, and soon enough you hear a flurry of footsteps coming downstairs. Seulgi, in her tired glory, appears. She rushes towards you as her father went off to find you some towels to dry off with.

"Oh my god, what happened? Why are you here? Are you okay?" Seulgi's honey eyes are glistening with worry. She doesn't seem to care too much about the fact that you're soaked as she embraces you in a hug. Her body soothes you, its warmth penetrating the cold, wet clothes that clung to your body. You let her ground you back to reality before speaking.

"I don't wanna talk about it right now." You barely manage to get the words out. Your throat feels tight, constricted. Throughout the entire time the tears haven't stopped running down your face as it mixed with the rain water. Seulgi rubs your back as her father comes back. Both of them begin patting you dry.

It feels a bit pathetic as you have two people fretting over you so much, but you're too tired to move. Maybe not even tired, but rather stuck in your own thoughts.

"Go get her something to change into. Are you gonna stay the night?" Her dad asks after making Seulgi go back upstairs to find clothes. You just nod in response and follow her.

When you enter Seulgi's room you find her hastily going through her drawers, finding something comfortable for you to wear. After digging through her clothes she hands you some sweatpants and an oversized shirt, much like her own outfit she was sporting. Your hands are in front of you and holding onto the clothing, yet you still can't seem to move much. Instead your lips tremble as you look at the floor. Seulgi sighs as she nears you, unfolding the clothes and looking at your trembling hands.

"Don't make me dress you." She half-teases. When she realizes you can't will yourself to move a grim line stretches across her face. She wonders what has gotten you so riled up to act this way.

Carefully, she removes your clothes and throws them into the laundry pile. Her fingers innocently skim your body as she puts on the clothes for you, with you doing the minimal movements required to help her. Over the years she's already been more than familiar with your body, and the same for you with her touch. Although you can't vocalize it you silently appreciate the care and intimacy she demonstrates.

Soon enough she finishes though and pulls you towards her bed. Sitting you down she places herself behind you after grabbing a dry towel. She begins to dry your hair while letting you stay silent. Another thing you appreciated about her. She let you take your time.

"Seulgi..." Your voice croaks out as if you've aged several decades.

"Yes?" She stops drying off your hair, instead placing the towel down as she wraps her arms behind you and leans forward.

"They know." She doesn't say anything but her body is still for a minute. Afterwards she finishes drying off your hair, at least one of you can stay calm in this situation. That's what you need. "They told me to come back when I come to my senses."

"It's okay. Everything will be okay. We'll figure something out." You let her guide you down on her bed. Your crying had stopped a while back, but the shock coursing through your body didn't. As Seulgi pulled up the sheets and began to hold you you turned around and looked at her. You looked into the eyes that told you everything. Right now they told you that all Seulgi had on her mind was you.

So you think that you should only think of Seulgi too, because you can always forget about the consequences when you're with her. With a kiss on your forehead she tells you to sleep. She gets impossibly closer to you, holding you tight. Holding you as if you are her treasure.

The familiar trees and houses enter your view as you drive down your childhood neighborhood. Your fingers tap on the steering wheel as you listen to the song Seulgi played in the car. Out of the corner of your eye you see her smile at the thought of visiting her parents. It's enough to make you happy as well.

As you near her parent's house you pass by your own. It's been years since you've been inside, years since you even saw it. You're okay with it though, but your mind still wonders how your parents are doing. You wonder if the house is lonelier now, if they ever think about the sparse letters and phone calls you have exchanged and how they always were fights. Do they know you and Seulgi are coming to visit? Will they want to see you?

Whatever the answer is it doesn't matter. The only family you have to worry about is the girl right next to you and her parents. You feel thankful that she's your first love and hopeful that she's your last. Despite how many times your lives have separated you two, how you both dated other people and had your own quarrels, you guys came back to each other in the end. She changed you during your formative years and supported you as the two of you have grown up.

No one else can make you uncover these sides and feelings like she does.

[all-about-seggs]

┗ Love- Lies- Bleeding

Pairing - Geto Suguru x Virgin!reader

Word count- 4.8 K

Warnings - Gaslighting, Corruption kink, snuff (not graphically depicted) and then reincarnation, cunnilingus, fingering, unprotected vaginal sex, adding blasphemy kink just to be safe.

A/n- Geto isn't a yandere here but it's Villan! Geto we're talking about so I think his actions are pretty in line with his current canon! Personality. Though a bit delusional. This is by FAR the longest thing I've ever written.

The gray cobblestones stretching across the shrine clicked against your thick wodden sandles, the quaintness of the place only making it seem unnaturally loud. It's was a regular autumn morning, which soon turned into noon as you felt the bright sun shining right on top of your head.

Having finished your morning tasks you were returning to the main shrine where the senior priestess would give you further things to do. Just the thought of more work non stop made you sigh at your monotonous shrine maiden lifestyle but as you lamented you heard footsteps behind you, the sound of which same as that of your own.

"Hey!.....", You turned around to see your little sister huffing as she catches up to you,

" y/n! He's here again!," The implications of her words made your face heat up, sure you were still a bit green and naive, but you made sure to discreet when it came to 'looking' at that one particular man that always seem to stand out among the hoards of faceless people you saw visiting the shrine everyday.

"How many times have I told you not to phrase it like that! You'll get me in trouble with the priestess!", Scrambling to get yourself together you retort sharply.

"Oh come on! Youre the one who used to stare at him from a distance like a lovesick teenager! Atleast now you're talking to him like a normal person", In terms of liveliness the sound of your back and forth was the only thing the place had.

"Watch it! If someone hears you we'll both get scolded", gently warning her again you find yourself turning back to where she came from. The other part of the premises where the peculiar man would be standing, as usual, in all his serene beauty, on the brigde overlooking the small lake.

A man in traditional Japanese cloths that you rarely see anyone wearing these days came to your shrine everyday, without fail for the past month. Everything from his attire to his elegant long hair left you in a trance and your eyes would naturally follow him.

Something about the fact how he'd always come here but never to pray or wish striked you as odd so at first you just observed and even before completely wrapping the situation around your head you two started sharing numerous conversations of the huge world that was right outside but so far away from your reach, his words fuelled the budding curiosity in your heart, the vastness of which made your trips to the lake, the most refreshing part of your otherwise monotonous daily routine.

Even if all you did was talk, a 'supposidly' demure maiden working in a shrine, skipping on her duties and rushing to the other side of the ginormous area to see a man felt almost elicit, scary even when you consider the consequences that would come if you were to get found out. The charisma his every action held was beyond resistance and you soon found yourself enraptured by the male despite everything.

"This is so pointless" you huffed, smiling out of self pity to hide the more frustrating emotions twirling within you.

"Yet you do it everyday", with a small nudge from her elbow you made your way straight to the lake, forgetting about your obligations as a shrine maiden, the responsibilities, the restrictions and all inhibitions put upon you in the name of god.

With quick steps you soon found yourself at the base of the curved brigde,

"Good afternoon Mr. Geto", your greeting came out in a rush, trying to ignore the warmth of your face, but your attempts at hiding your flustered state didn't go unnoticed by the man in front of you.

" Seems like you've been having quite a hectic day", smiling in his usual serene way Geto gracefully turns his head in your direction.

" Not any more than usual", calming your erratic heartbeat you slowly close the distance between the two of you and stand beside him on the arch of the bridge.

" It's really nice here", He remarked, his eyes sweeping across the tiny fishes swimming near the surface of the lake. You stared at him for a little while before finally asking the one thing that drew you to him the most.

" I always wondered, why do you come here everyday if you don't even want to go to the main shrine to pray?. Surely it's not just for this scenery."

" Hmmm? Pray for what?", Not particularly moved by your question he quizzically tilt his head.

"Well.....you know, the usual, success in job, finding a significant other or maybe even something materialistic? Although I doubt you're interested in the last one", you laugh a little to take the edge off your slightly personal question.

"Dreams come true through steadily applied efforts not praying", with his sage like appearance, his words didn't came off as a shock.

"Not the best thing to say to a shrine maiden but I guess it's somewhat true", Quipping back you just looked at him with a smile, silently revelling on your familiarity with each other.

"What about you? You never look like you're having fun while working here.... As if you're the one who's not satisfied with you're job" His voice took a more serious note and asked the question you always tried to push away but for the first time, you felt safe. Safe in talking about things what most people around you would call blasphemy.

"Yeah well, I wouldn't say it's my life's calling. It's basically following the ideals that has been written by others and just blindly following them day in and day out", just as you finished your sentence you realised how shallow and sad you just sounded but the slightly widened eyes of Geto was what made you mentally kick yourself before you hastily try to smooth things over.

" But! It's not that bad! Once you get used to-", after a few lighthearted words to clear the heavy atmosphere that was building up you were cut off with one long finger hovering just above your lips.

" It's okay, you don't have to worry about being judged with me", not touching your lips he quickly retreats his hand back,

"It's only natural to question your ideals and beliefs when you actually start thinking about them, it's a proof of growing up. I can say it was the same for me as well, I had thought I'd spend my whole life sequestered in 'that' place but...." His gaze takes on a far off quality as his words fade.

"What changed then?", Without even knowing why, you urged him to continue.

"Well, I grew up and realised mine were just idealistic views, far from practical."

"Wait! How old are you now?!", Unable to ignore your budding curiosity you went on,

With a soft flick to your cheek he snorted in amusement, his low baritone made you recognise your own rudeness as you rub the non existent pain off of your face.

"It's not polite to ask strangers their age, regardless of their gender, young lady".

"I'm sorry! It's just, your answer...... Was kinda vague so...." Trailing off, the fact that he didn't owed you any explanations dawned on you making you stop. But the sudden halt in your unabashed questioning didn't go unnoticed by the long haired man so he continued, as if reading your thoughts.

"Everyone's entitled to act idiotically every once in a while but you sure are abusing your privilege", he went on, after a few words of sass.

" It took a while but, I soon discovered my true feelings about the world I lived in and how I wanted to change it", The unshakeable conviction of his voice reverberated through your ears and there seemd to be more to the hint of darkness in his downcast eyes, but further questions left your brain as you felt genuine resolve through his words.

Before you could process what's happening, Geto pulled you in close, resting his hands on either side of the brigde railings, caging you inbetween the low wall and his body.

"How about we run away to a better world together?", not waiting for you to protest he spoke. The words falling from his lips were casual enough to make you overlook the outrageousness of their meaning and your oddly intimate position did nothing to stop your brain from short circuiting.

"The decision is yours y/n but I'll be waiting anyway," his voice seems to trail a little before he bends down, his thin lips ghosting over your right ear, " you see, I hate it when even the good gets destroyed along with the bad", with that he quickly pulles his body back, letting you have your personal space again.

"I'll come back here at 8 'o' clock tonight",

After announcing that smoothly, he turns his back away and walks off to the exit, leaving you gob smacked at his confusing words.You watch him saunter off, still to awestruck to move when you finally take a note of your own unsteady breaths and face that radiated heat rivaling the sun atop.

" Who would- even go along with that crazy idea", your meek words get lost in the now empty place but the longing in your eyes to see what lied beyond your conservative lifestyle was as clear as the autumn sky hanging above.

You turn your back on the place and jog off in an effort to escape your own complicated feelings on the matter. His casually spoken words clawed at your heart, an entire different life was just one step away and it was shocking to even you how much trust you were subconsciously putting in every single word he says.

The conflicting thoughts in your head kept you busy the entire walk from the bridge to at the door of the only home you had known for so many years and never once your feet held such hesitation as you entered the building to continue the tasks you had left behind for the momentary change you craved so much.

The evening passed by in a flash, the thumping of your heart only getting louder with each passing hour. You just got out of your bath and were getting ready to help with dinner when you heard two voices coming form one of the senior priestess's room

"I saw her talking to a man, he didn't looked like a -", their words weren't clear but one thing was. Their topic of discussion was you.

"No he was wearing a hakama", it was getting harder and harder to breath with every second. If they were to tell that to your other supervisors then it would become very difficult for you to live here.

"So he could be from a neighbouring temple, maybe just asking about something general?"

"But weren't they standing too close?"

Listening in from behind the door all you could make out was that they clearly saw you and Geto, but one thing was certain. You were about to be very strictly reprimanded for just having curiosity.

Before you could even think up of some excuses to get yourself out of this mess the previous offer of his night time rendezvous flashed in your mind. It got you thinking, if you were going to be made to stay under supervision for a while anyway then the least you could do was to meet Geto one more time so as to let him know that his idea was indeed crazy and that life wasn't that easy for you to give up on everything you've done until now just on a whim.

You couldn't exactly get to a proper conclusion, sure leaving seemed like the better option but the fact that you'll be heavily dependent on Geto for everything didn't sit will with you either. It's not like you had any other skills or connections and even if he said he'd take you with him, you weren't fully ready to trust him on that. Why would you? It's not like you two were connected or related in any way.

The meeting time was approaching fast and since it's dinner time soon most of the girls would be around the dining area to help. It was the perfect opportunity to slip out unnoticed and come back after explaining things to the kind person who brought a few extra colors in your dull life.

Shakily you made you way to the back door, knowing full well you're about to commit another offense.

In a few minutes you reached the bridge, it was empty right now, indicated that your are ether early or that maybe Geto was actually just messing with you and oddly enough you felt your stomach drop at the thought of the second option.

But before you could overthink out the negative options you sense eyes on your back and whirl around to see a happy looking Geto strutting towards you.

" I take it you have decided to entrust yourself to me?", Greeting you with his self assured words he smiles amicably at you.

" Actually- I've decided to not leave", you say, with both sadness and regret in your voice.

He listenes to you in silence, his face doesn't look convinced no matter how much you explain but he never interrupts you until you're finished.

" So, Is that what you really want? To rot in a place which binds you to unnecessary obligations?", He blankly says, after you're done.

"It's only natural to lose something in order to attain greater things y/n", steping in your personal space again he peers at you face, his eyes were slited enough to hide their true intentions yet leaving just enough space for the moonlight to give them an otherworldly glow.

His beautiful face just centimetres away from yours and before you can finish he grabs you by the chin and delivers a mind blowing kiss.

This wasn't good for your heart. Your previous resolve was melting, just like the rest of you. Geto quickly slipped his hot tongue inside your mouth, exploring every nook and cranny of it.

"Why are you going so far?", You ask, still not entirely convinced.

" Because we are the same, that's why I know what you want and I can give that to you. So trust me okay?", A few seconds pass as you both stare into each other, when you finally heave a sigh of defeat.

" I do want more than just a life of modesty,", having changed you decision yet again you look up at the man in a renewed resolve.

"That's my girl!", Almost excitedly he envelopes you in a warm hug,

"Well y/n? How exactly do you want to celebrate your new found freedom? ", giving his words a suggestive tone he leaned forward to press his lips against your ear, placing light kisses up and down its lobe.

A surge of heat runs through your confounded heart, voice raspy as you reply " Ofcourse I want to do it with you", the snickering above you made you realise the innuendo your words held,

" I meant the celebration! It as in the CELEBRATION OKAY?!", Frantically, you push against his chest to break your embrace, trying to explain the simple meaning behind your previous words but even so, you'd be lying to yourself if you said that the thought of sleeping with him never crossed your mind.

The unmarried virgin criteria you had to fulfill in order to be a shrine maiden was in the past now. So you couldn't find any reason to hold back now.

" I'd be an honor," Geto's melodious voice reverberated through the entire room and you whip your head upwards to look for the confirmation you needed.

With minimal amount of words Geto took you to a near by cottage, saying he atleast wanted your first time to be in a proper place. You thought he was staying at just a room in that cottage but it turned out he had rented the entire place.

For you, it was quite a luxurious thing, while it was something you'd love to revel in, you had other, more important matters to give your attention too.

With a soft click, Geto opens the bedroom door and ushers you in, you breathing coming out irregular, and you were almost shaking in both excitement and nervousness.

What if he doesn't like how I look like naked? Would he like it better if I had shaved? Wait- I hope I'm not wearing my ugly panties today!. While you were freting the small details, the long haired man quietly made his way towards the bed, where you sat, buring his face at the crook of your neck as his arms wrap themselves around you.

"White suites you",His voice rumbled in your ears, his tone as smooth and sweet as honey when he slipped his hand inside the collar of your top, parting the neatly tucked fabric until your chest was exposed. The sudden contact with the air and his hands made your nipples perk up. He fondles them a little while kissing up your neck and shoulders.

Slowly he undos the cloth belts that tied your red hakama to place and eventually you feel them loosen up and then down to the ground, leaving you in just your open white kosode.

Being so exposed in front of a man and that too for the first time made you instinctively cover your chest and crotch, but it was pointless really, because even your hands couldn't hide the dampness of your panties from the sharp eyes that seems to look straight through your meek attempt at modesty.

"Come on, show me everything", his eyes met yours, all attention on you and it was almost disconcerting how vulnerable his eyes made you feel.

Felling a warm rush of blood to your face, you slowly loosen the grip of your hands around your body, letting Suguru pry them off until they rested limply on your sides. Slowly you lie down flat on your back, shyly looking away.

"Getting embarrassed is fine, but there's no need to hid yourself, It's only natural to want to look at your lover's body",He says it with such low, sweet, seduction that your toes curl in response, the word 'lover' ringing in your ears sent your heart in a frenzy.

Slipping the rest of your garments off of your shoulders he gently kisses your ear, licking the contours of your jaw and all the way to the hollow of your throat. His mouth nibbed at the skin beneath as his smooth tongue caressed the marks it left behind.

Soon he latched his lips onto on of your nipples, his teeth grazing the hardened tips pulled a few moans out of you, his long hair tickled your skin wherever they fell and it took everything in you to stop yourself from grabbing onto them.

Moving lower, he soon reached your pussy, already dripping with arousal. You felt his breath on your folds as spreaded them with one of his hand and gave the smooth space inbetween a long lick.

Sucking on your clit with fervor, his arms around your hips traced it's dips and curves as he delves deeper into your moistened sex. Your moans were inevitable at this point, the feeling his mouth in the most intimate part of your body was making you shiver in ecstasy but as soon as he brought his hand near your hole you felt your thighs clench.

"Don't worry I'll only use one finger at a time to get you all nice and ready for later" Gentle reassurances flowed naturally out of his mouth as he covers his fingers in your slick before spreading your pussy more.

His digits push past your folds and buries themselves deep into your throbbing pussy, the sensation of being penetrated both new and arousing. Geto slowing moves his finger in and out as his tongue latches on to your clit again.

The sensations of being licked and fingered together intermingled in your body, bringing you closer to your release in no time. Although it was a good thing you didn't wanted to end it so quickly. He was undeniably good with his hands, knowing when exactly to add another finger or when to curl or rub them inside.

Maybe it's because it was your first time but the onslaught of your orgasm leaves you shaking and moaning wildly in the most unladylike ways you have ever acted. It was embarrassing how much you ended up enjoying while Geto did all the work.

Though he pushes you to your limit you can't help but want to watch his every movement, anticipation building inside you when he raises his head and props himself on his knees to get a better look at your blissed out face. You let out a sigh of longing as he bought his glistening digits to near your face as a proof of you how good he made you feel.

" I'm glad you like it honey", his voice dangerously seductive, he licks his fingers just as erotically, making you embarrassed.

" Let's move onto the part where you cum on my cock now shall we?", His crudeness may have been shocking but right now all you cared about was the cumming part so you let him manhandle your throbbing form until he properly lines himself up against your hole.

Suguru didn't removed his cloths fully, just loosened his hakama just enough to whip his member out.

" Deep breaths now y/n", his gentle guiding eased your mind, and so you relax your body to take him in because even if it's your first time, you were pretty sure he was big enough to make anyone ache.

A warm tingling pain tears through your core which soon mealted into something more euphoric, unbearably good even, making you cry out in ecstasy. He filled you up to the brim and you wondered how bad it will ache tomorrow. As soon as he bottomed out in you, the entire aura of the person about you changed and the room felt like it dropped a few degrees in temperature.

It was not what you'd expected as your first time. Not the painfully rough speed he started with. Not the large hand around your neck that threatened to cut off your air supply. And certainly not the cold, detached look in his face.

Even when your breathing was getting shallower by the second you still writhed in pleasure. It was alarming as to how much you were willing to entrust your entire self to Suguru who was nothing if not composed, keeping his hand firmly around your neck while thrusting his member in and out of your pussy, fucking you like some sort of rag doll.

Long gone was the mild mannered person you looked up at with heart eyes, maybe he was just different in bed, that's what you wanted to tell yourself but the lack of consent and the level of his roughness kept you from doing so.

He eventually let go of your neck, only to flip you on your stomach and shoved his cock inside from an even deeper angle. He didn't let you tap out until you came twice, with your third orgasm approaching just as fast.

The sumptuous heat from his body lingers on yours for sometime even after he pulls himself out

And you felt that the longer you stayed in his embrace, the more darkness seeped into you which would surely make you go numb eventually

You wanted to ask Geto what was happening but a few broken screams were the only thing you could make out, everything was sudden, how the pain made your vision go white to then pitch black and as your consciousness left your body all you could hear was Geto's calm voice.

" Next time you wake up, well be in a better world"

The few rustling sounds of fabric brought you back to the waking world, the dark blue skies outside with flashes of gold inbetween told you it was just the crack of dawn.

You slowly prop yourself up in a sitting position to look around the unfamiliar room.

You catch your reflection in the nearby window next to your bed, you looked the same save for the few indecipherable marks here and there.

" Good morning y/n", Quickly looking at your right, you see Geto just walking out of the bath, his mascular form only covered by a thin cottan kimono.

He was behaving normally, as if the events of last night didn't happen. So normally that you were starting to think you may have hallucinated the whole thing.

Walking towards your sitting form, Geto bends down to cup your jaw and layers his mouth on yours, the scent of his shampoo tingling your senses almost made you forget about everything else.

He breaks the kiss, gazing at your downcasted eyes, the heat from your face made him chuckle.

"Quite an innocent reaction considering all the things we've done", he smirks triumphantly at you, his eyes a mix of dark but intense passion. All the things huh. You thought. Your mind was still in a haze and it was talking longer to process your words and thoughts.

"What happened last night?, I can't remember everything properly", you were expecting straight answers, that how did you passed out or where you exactly were right now but Geto seemed to go off on his own tangent.

You were just like my past self,", were, he said. As if you're something else now. The man in front of you was changing his colors faster than you could comprehend his words and it was terrifying you.

"That's why it's my duty to show you everything that life has to offer, the entire extent of it. As long as you stay by my side.", Not paying an ounce of attention to your shocked state he want on,

" The people you were staying with before were only going to confuse you further, that's why I had to take you away".

"You are the most free and safest at my side, darling. But if you still want your preistess life back then, I'll be your god and you can spend the rest of your life worshipping me instead"

Of course, he didn't saw you as an equal who could stand beside him, you weren't even his lover, just someone below him who he needed to worship the ground he walked upon in. But even so, the fear you experienced just a few minutes ago dissipated, bringing back the curiosity that was at its height whenever he was around.

"Were you lonely?",Geto's eyes trailed up and down your face which halted in their track after hearing your words which oddly resembled pity.

" What-", the previously composed and slitted eyes expanded a little before his expression abruptly shifts, turning serious, making you flinch under its sharp gaze, the animosity that surrounded him contrasted with the previous tender kisses and touch.

With his one large hand he grabbed your face from the base of your jaw, painfully lifting it up until your entire body was a few centimetres above the surface of the bed.

" Listen up y/n, I didn't brought you here to dote on you and the only reason I wiped out your silly little shrine because I can't stand hypocrites who spread false teachings written by equally hypocritical people. It was your job to worship things you couldn't see before and now you have to do the same job for someone you can see. That's. All."

"Ofcourse, leaving isn't an option.I've turned your body into a reincarnated curse. If any of the Jujutsu tech people caught you roaming around, it'll be instant exorcism for you." He lets go of your face and sits next to your form, Geto was quite for a while, giving you time to sort out your own feelings on the matter.

You knew what was happening now. Inbetween those conceited words flashes of the warm blooded man behind the god slipped out and you had to resist the overwhelming urge to comfort the person who just confessed to have burnt down the shire you were living in just until a few days ago. Maybe your thought process was altered just like the rest of you body, or maybe you were always this crazy too.

The source of your sympathy was unknown but the twisted obsession of his was provided you with more solid answers.

Your meeting, the conversations, how you eloped together. All of it made sense now. He wanted to save you from the oppressive state of the place you had spend most of your life in, ofcourse he would. He was thinking of you in ways no one ever had. He loved you in ways no one ever will, or could for that matter.

And you,

You loved him too. You had to.

[seacottons]

[ idol!au ] — ateez x 7/11 employee reader

notes: this is so fucking stupid i'm cackling. some are based on their vlogs : minkiway, achallenz, ateezlog, and 1day vlog.

— hongjoong

"Let's get the strawberry yogurt smoothie."

"But we already got too many custard and pudding cups?"

"Do you want San to mope for the next two days?"

"No?"

"Alright then. So, get the yogurt smoothie."

You hear the commotion and bickering before even spotting the two, a faint smile finding itself onto your features. You most definitely weren't eavesdropping. Their bickering was audible throughout the entire expanse of the small store, and you finally peered up from organizing the display of flavored gum to spot the smaller of the two give the taller an exasperated expression.

"You know I don't like spicy! Why would you even suggest that, you bum?"

"You asked for my opinion, Joong," Seonghwa rolls his eyes, gaze locking with yours in the process. A knowing smile crawls its way onto his visage for a brief second, before it's replaced with a faux look of concern, "Oh! Y/n! Why don't you suggest something new for Hongjoong to try out?"

At the sound of your name being called, the smaller male stiffens considerably, hand nearly loosening around the packet of kimbap in his hands. With a suspicious glare, his head instantly snaps to his friend, who in return sent a friendly smile towards you. Seonghwa nearly laughed at the flustered male in his peripheral vision, before nodding in acknowledgment towards you once you made yourself towards the aisle. Hongjoong helplessly watched as you conversed with Seonghwa, your laughter ringing in his ears like soft, melodious chimes.

The tips of Hongjoong's ears burned red, his hand subconsciously reaching up several times to tussle his tresses and hide the obvious signs of his infatuation and nervousness. Seonghwa's eyes glimmered with mischief as they briefly darted to eye his sweating comrade.

"I really like this one," you picked up a warm pack of the spicy cheese kimbap to offer them a look, your eyes flickering to Hongjoong immediately, "But you don't like anything spicy, right Hong-"

"I'll take it!"

Seonghwa merely casts him a look of surprise, and Hongjoong almost stutters as the taller scrutinizes him. Was he that obvious?

"I've actually been enjoying spicy food for the past few weeks," he claims defensively, shoulders straightening and frame subconsciously leaning towards your own as he quickly picks up a conversation with you, cheeks red and lips tugged up into a jaw-breaking smile.

When the two step out of the small convenience store, plastic bags in hand, Seonghwa waste no millisecond to address the elephant in the room, tone complacent and all.

"You're whipped."

— seonghwa

You stare at the blue cart filled to the brim with yogurt cups, and you give the tall male a puzzled look. You were accustomed to having the eight men from upstairs purchase an abundance of food, from dried goods to ready-to-eat meals, but this was new.

"Seonghwa, is this really for all eight of you? Just.. yogurt," you mused curiously, hesitant hands reaching towards the yogurt cups to begin scanning and bagging them.

"Yes and no," he offers a soft smile, hands reaching towards the number candle display, rolling it to the side in search of the desired numbers. He places a number 2 and 3 onto the counter, and you're even more confused than before, "It's for Hongjoong's cake. His birthday is today."

"Then why do you need the yogurt?"

"The yogurt is the cake."

Your lips form a silent 'oh' as you nodded absentmindedly. The two of you share a moment of silence, before your shared laughter erupts throughout the convenience store.

"How thoughtful of you, Hwa," you drawl out teasingly, gaze unwavering from his chiseled face, "That's cute. I bet he'll love it."

Seonghwa nods silently, a polite smile brightening his features as he helps you with the items and bags, insisting he'll pack up the yogurt while you scan. He had a habit of always needing to help and making sure he wasn't being too much of a bother. His head snaps up once you call his name for nth time, and a faint dusting of pink blooms on his facial features as he meets your gaze, "Oh. Sorry, did you call me?"

You giggle lightheartedly as you finalize the amount of his purchase, eyes curiously meeting his, "If you were to pick a non-traditional birthday cake, what would it be?"

"Ah, tteokbokki," he states without a second to lose, eyes sparkling underneath the fluorescent lights of the store, "it will definitely be tteokbokki."

"When the time comes, I'll gladly make you a tteokbokki birthday cake," you accept the cash from his hands, before closing the cash register with a bump of your hip, hands working on tying the two plastic bags filled with yogurt cups, "I mean- of course, if you don't mind that is?"

A bashful smile nearly breaks his face into two as he accepts the bags, hands purposefully brushing against your knuckles a second too long as he nearly laughs in amusement at your nervous smile, "I'd love that, Y/n."

— yunho

You wrap the damp rag around your lithe finger to wipe around the buttons and crevices of the dusty cash register. Once it was practically sparkling, you decided to wipe away at the glass fridge displays, roughly rubbing the stubborn fingerprints that remained on the surface.

The doorbell chimed, and from where you stood, you were unable to see the customer that had just walked in. The sound of a group of males pierced the silence of the store, along with the rumbling of the vending machines in the corner. Nevertheless, you called out with a warm welcome and hastily wiped the last of the few glass doors. Your co-worker was supposed to be here minutes ago, while you were slaving around cleaning the place all on your own and dealing with customers simultaneously.

Removing your gloves, you internally grumbled at the fact your co-worker was late from lunch for the third time this same week. Stomping your way towards the cash register you failed to remember to add a wet-floor sign onto the area you had just mopped, utterly forgetting about the whole ordeal as you made yourself to the front of the store. As you turned the corner, your sneakers skidded loudly against the slippery tiles, your frame instantly thrown off balance as a clipped yelp left your mouth, hands bracing in front of your face to shield it from any damage.

It took a few seconds for you to realize a pair of arms were secured around your waist, and you silently gaped at the male above you with a stupefied expression.

Of course, it had to be him.

The very same man you've been crushing on for a few months now. The very same man who worked three stories above you.

Yunho was so graceful for someone so tall.

"Oh, thanks," he laughed in amusement at your shocked expression, your hands reaching up to clamp around your mouth in horror, "Are you okay though? You... uh, you should put a wet-floor sign. Wouldn't want anyone suing you for falling, now would you?"

Heaven knows you were never more thankful for your co-worker being late again than ever before. You were so close to him, you can practically smell the cologne sprayed on his neck.

"No! No, of course not! I'll get it right away!"

When you scurry from his arms and to the back to rummage in the closet, Wooyoung's voice and laughter ring out loudly behind you.

"But you fall harder every time we come here! Just sue Y/n alread—" a muffled sound of a punch and a loud squeal of pain followed suit, "Ow! Hulk hands! What was that for!?"

— yeosang

In the late hours of the evening, you found yourself guiding Yeosang through the aisles of the convenience store for a mission he had to complete for a series they were filming. When you spotted no cameras around, you sighed in relief.

"You know you're cheating, right?" You ask as the male crouches down to examine the array of rice balls and other food on display.

"There are no cameras here. No one will know."

You pause momentarily to glance at the security camera nestled in the corner, before rolling your eyes and crouching next to him to aid him in his task. This isn't an uncommon occurrence. Yeosang has come down to the store numerous times to grab items for the vlogs he filmed. One time it was utensils and a bowl, and the other time was an abundance of gummy bears.

"I can't believe you're making me do this for you," you laugh in disbelief as he stands to watch you look around for a particular item.

"You know what my members like more than I do," he muses with a soft smile, "they practically live here."

"Yeosang," you called out with a quirk of your brow, "you live with them. If anyone's capable, it's you."

"I know. I still need your help though."

You internally sigh and get to work, not that you minded in the slightest. Your heart was practically hammering out of your chest the moment he stepped foot inside the store.

"The guys usually get this pack of ramyun almost every visit, along with this rice ball," you arrange the food in his cart, before dragging him into another aisle, "We also got this new shipment of honey rice cakes- I'm sure Seonghwa will like them. He usually prefers the older types of snacks. Wait. Do you need Mingi's diarrhea medicine too?" You joke with a lighthearted laugh.

Yeosang gives you a grimace, and his judging eyes study you for a second too long that has your neck and ears heating up rapidly, "No, Y/n. Mingi's digestive system is doing just fine now.."

Yeosang nods absentmindedly as he's dragged to and fro from one aisle to the next, unable to focus on the words that come flying rapidly from your mouth "..And Hongjoong always tries new potato chips every time he visits, but these are his favorite, I can tell. San likes anything sweet. If there's no more yogurt smoothies left, just get a chocolate bar."

You peer at Yeosang who remained silent the entire time, his unfocused gaze trained on you. With a snap of your fingers in front of his face, he startles at the sudden sound, eyes wide and darting rapidly in confusion, "Oh! Sorry, Y/n. I got distracted there. Did you say something?"

"Cute," you laugh airily at his flustered expression, thumb jutting behind you towards the drink display, "I almost forgot the most important item- coke! You guys are the reason it's always out of stock here."

Taking a look at the clock above the door, you gawp in disbelief as you wait for the male to fish out his wallet, "Yeo, you've been here for the past half hour. They're going to think you got lost."

"No, that's alright," Yeosang mumbles as he hands you a sufficient amount of cash for the items, eyes looking anywhere but your face, "We should do this again sometime."

"Hm," you glance back up at him questioningly, "Sure. Whenever your next challenge is, I suppose. I don't mind helping."

He reaches up to awkwardly scratch his neck, lips pressing together into a firm line before he has the courage to meet your eyes and reply, "Oh- no. I meant.. on our own free time. No challenge. Just us two. Hanging out? Buying snacks?"

You almost stumble over yourself at his words, hands clammy and face burning. Nodding subtly, you fail to realize the goofy, flirtatious smile settling on your face as you hand him the receipt.

"Challenge accepted."

— san

"And they said it tastes like toothpaste! Can you believe them?"

You reached out to pat a hand onto the taller male's back in a caring manner, nodding when he asked you how ridiculous the other members' statements were.

"Yes, of course," you console him as you carefully organized the new shipment of chocolate bars on display, allowing the male to vent to you in the aisles of the convenience store he frequently visited from upstairs. He's also been trying to persuade you to join his mint chocolate cult for the past two weeks now.

"Mint chocolate doesn't taste like toothpaste! Toothpaste tastes like mint chocolate," San brushes a hand through his pink locks, eyeing you for a reply in agreement. You think he only came down here not only to vent, but to also fuel his ego by finding another person to agree with his statements and judge his friends' taste in food- other than Mingi, of course, "don't you agree?"

You nearly laugh at the awaiting gaze that overtakes his features. He was very serious about this topic, so it was safe to assume his older friends bashed the flavor to the point San took it almost personally, "Yes, San. For the hundredth time, mint and chocolate are the perfect pair. They're like.. peanut butter and jelly. Cheese and corn. Strawberries and bananas. And-"

"Me and you."

You think you hear wrong as he quickly dashes towards the ice cream freezer to grab a handful of mint chocolate ice cream pints.

"What?"

"Hm?" he has the audacity to tilt his head in amusement, eyes practically twinkling with mischief, "What's the matter, Y/n?"

How dare he fluster you like this. Your jaw is slack as he walks back over to you with the same, bright smile and dimple on display. The words nearly die in your throat as he looms over you with a look of mock curiosity and innocence, "N-nothing, uh- do you want me to check you out?"

"You're more than welcome to anytime, Y/n. No need to ask."

His smile stretches in amusement as your eyes widen in shock. He knew what he was doing to you. You choked out a response, nodding your head as you made yourself over to the register counter.

Once placing the ice cream pints and eight plastic spoons in the bag, you handed it to the bubblegum haired male, whose eyes crinkled happily, "No need to be shy, Y/n. Sometimes, all you need is," he reached over to press the tip of your nose back with the pad of his finger, "encourage-mint."

His laughter rung like the bell chime that signaled his departure, and before he turned the corner to go back to the entertainment building upstairs, he sent you a quick and mischievous wink.

— mingi

The steam from your ramyun cup swirled up to meet the cold air as you sat alone in front of the convenience store for your lunch break. You watched as people scuttled through the streets in an attempt to avoid the light misting of rain. The cup of steaming noodles helped warm your hands though, and the store awning provided enough shelter from the rain.

Taking a generous amount of noodles in your mouth, you slightly wince at the searing temperature on your lips.

"Y/n? What're you doing out here?"

A voice caught your attention, and your head snaps up to meet the eyes of the well-dressed male standing nearby with a to-go bag in hand. You stare with stuffed cheeks and wide eyes, quickly ducking your head to drop the remaining noodles hanging from your lips back into the steaming cup. You don't know why he's asking a question like that. He, along with the others, have numerously visited the store or were nearby when you were on your lunch break. Even Yunho memorized your lunch schedule throughout the week.

"Mingi! Hi-" you cough out suddenly, hand quickly reaching up to wipe the sauce from your lips. He makes his way over to where you're sitting, before plopping beside you and proceeding to open the bag in his hands. You give him a questioning look, and when he feels his eyes on you, he turns to you with a smile.

"You don't mind if I eat lunch with you, yeah?" He snaps his chopsticks apart and gives you a hopeful look, "You just seem all bored and lonely by yourself."

You stare flabbergasted at his words, before shaking your head almost too quickly after a moment of silence. You didn't mind the lack of company actually, but Mingi was too sweet for you to deny, "No, of course not. But it's okay, you don't have to-"

"One doesn't let their friend eat all alone," he simpers, before eyeing his styrofoam box and thrusting it in front of you, "Here! You should try some barbecue eel. It's perfect for this kind of weather."

The two of you spent the next half hour conversing and stuffing your mouths full of food he had gotten from his mother's restaurant. His eyes sparkled once you complimented his mother's cooking skills, and a contagious smile found itself on his visage as you asked for the name of the place. He slurped another strand of noodle into his mouth before boisterously replying with a raised brows and a bright smile.

"I'll see if I'll have time this weekend to visit it," you accepted the napkin he offered you to wipe your mouth, before crumbling it and tidying up the area. He stands to discard the empty boxes of food and bags before checking the time on his phone.

"I'd love to spend more time with you, but Hongjoong will have my ass if I don't go back in time," he laughs loudly while dusting his clothes to rid himself of any fallen crumb, "Oh! Here's a card for my mother's restaurant! I always carry some with me wherever I go."

You accepted it with a grateful smile, brows knitting in confusion at the numbers scribbled on the corner of the small business card, "Oh, there's a number here? Is it their new number?"

"It's mine," he says while patting your head with a cheeky smile, "Next time, we should eat together there— where it's warm and not out here in the freezing cold."

You gape in awe at him, face flushing almost immediately. Mingi smiles, internally reminding himself to thank Yunho for the idea later.

— wooyoung

"Y/n! I can't believe you betrayed me like this!?"

Peeking your head up curiously, you quirked a brow in the direction of the heaving male, "What are you talking about?"

You place the last stack of cash into the register before closing it shut. The display of candy near the register needed organizing, and you sigh to yourself before you begin working on it. His friends stand outside, in front of the store, conversing amongst each other as they waited for him to finish grabbing 'something extremely important'.

Your friend nearly reached over the counter to shake you by your shoulders with an exasperated cry of anguish, "You told me you'll save me at least one of the BTS cold brew bottles! They're all sold out! Again!"

Oh. Of course that was the problem.

You roll your eyes at his dramatic rant, elbows resting onto the counter as you leaned forward teasingly. You were grateful no one else was in the store while Wooyoung had his meltdown. He would've probably frightened them anyway.

"I told you when the new shipment comes in to save me each version of them!"

"Wooyoung- it's just canned americano. We have plenty more brands to tr-"

"No! It has BTS on the packaging!" He explains quickly, "Don't you realize it's a godsend to have packaged food and drinks with their faces on it!?"

"You're going to throw the packaging away anyway! What's the point?" Your unimpressed face studies his in confusion. Internally, you smile to yourself at his frustrated tone. You love to rile him up.

When you were met with silence, you scrunched your nose in distaste, arms crossing in front of your chest defensively. He looks a bit flustered at your gaze, shoulders shrugging silently.

"Gross! Wooyoung, were you seriously planning on keeping and collecting them? Aren't you overdoing it?"

He lets out an indignant squawk and pins you with a pointed stare, which you returned with a blank blinking of your eyes.

"I don't tell you how to live."

Rolling your eyes, you turn to rummage through your bag tucked beneath the counter, before fishing out two cans of the americano. Wooyoung's eyes open wide in astonishment.

"You're lucky I remembered. My manager only let me buy two."

"Y/n?" He scrambles to the counter to take a good look at the cans, before he finds himself tugging you forward by your head with a loud cry of excitement, to which you groaned in protest, "I knew it! I knew you wouldn't let me down!"

Your face flushes at the close proximity and when the bell chimes signaling a new customer, your heart drops to your stomach in fright. You did not need anyone witnessing this. Wooyoung's grip was relentless as he squeezed your cheeks together and continued to praise you for being the most trustworthy person he knows.

"Wooyoung, how many times have I told you harassing someone isn't the way to express your feelings," Hongjoong's annoyed voice calls out from the front.

— jongho

You attempted to remain inconspicuous as you huddled over your phone over the counter, eyes glued onto the screen displaying the current live video. You swore you could hear their rackety footsteps and shouts from three stories below. You wouldn't be surprised if one of them came crashing down from the ceiling one day. An infatuated sigh and droopy smile tugged at your lips as you leaned your cheek against your palm.

A few minutes later, you had to mute your phone to attend a customer ( because heaven knows how loud and rowdy they get when they're all together. And you didn't need their argument about butts to blast out throughout the store ). To your displeasure, another few came strolling in. You wanted to groan in frustration at their impeccable timing. Of course, Ateez would start a live during your shift, and of course customers came flocking in as if the convenience store was suddenly a magnet.

By now, you've missed a good portion of the live, and some of the customers gave you wary looks as you trembled to hastily bag every item they purchased. You nearly ripped the register out in the process of your haste.

You thought it was finally the last of the burdensome customers, when a handful of bags of chips, ice cream pints, and ramyun cups were placed onto the counter. Sighing subtly, you glance up to give the customer a fake smile, only to gape as the male across from you has his eyes set onto your phone screen.

You feel the force of heat rush to your face like a volcano spitting out molten magma, and with a noise between a strangled gasp and cry, your hand quickly slams on top of your phone to shield the screen and hopefully save the last bit of dignity left in your system. You gripped it against your chest with a panicked grin, and his eyes flickered down and then back up to meet your own.

The last thing you wanted was for the boys to know you keep tab of their activities and projects. You were just supposed to be the friendly clerk downstairs. You muster up the energy to not feel too affected by the questioning stare the other is giving you.

"Well," the male chuckles at your perplexed and flustered expression, "I've caught you red handed, Y/n."

Your smile falters at the accusation.

"It's not what it looks like. It just popped up from my notifications- I wasn't even-"

"Hey, hey!" He suddenly quips playfully, arms out in front of him in defense, "No need to be so defensive. So, I take it you were lying when you said you weren't an Atiny?"

Your silence was a dead giveaway, and his smile only grew wider as you attempted to shrink into yourself.

"Who's your bias?" He tried again, and you laughed it off, quickly changing the topic by asking him how many napkins and spoons he needed for the ice cream. He reached a hand up to brush the red bangs from his eyes, before looming over the register a bit suspiciously. When your head snaps up to give him a look of confusion, his attention is suddenly drawn to the gas medicine displayed on the counter. You sigh in relief as you hand him the bags before wishing him a good rest of the day.

"Y/n?"

Before he bid you farewell from the door, he waved a hand up, mischievous smile plying at his lips, "Nice photocard you have there on your phone."

Your eyes glance down immediately to your device resting on the counter, breath leaving your lungs in embarrassment as the same red-head smiles back at you from your phone. Jongho's laughter can still be heard from outside even with the door shut, and you suddenly wish the floor will swallow you up to save the remaining crumb of dignity you had left.

[galraluver]

How would Lotor win over an Altean Reader who is suspicious of him due to the whole colony harvesting business?

With Lotor's silver tongue I see him being able to win anyone over. I know just what to write

_________________________________________

Keeping the altean colony secret was easier than Lotor originally thought it would be; getting there took a while, but as the years passed he managed to keep it a secret from the entire universe, including his generals. At some point in time there was a certain young altean woman who had caught his eye, he'd never really considered having a romantic relationship with anyone and he really liked (Y/n). Sure, he'd had crushes on people in the past, although every time he was around (Y/n) he felt as though his heart would burst out of his chest; he loved her more than he'd ever loved anyone and he wanted her as his wife even though she wasn't of royal blood. (Y/n) liked Lotor too, almost anyone who met him would fall for his charming personality, but there was something about him and the second colony that put her off. Her best friend, Romelle, agreed with her which made her weary of Lotor's true intentions, although she didn't want to judge him without knowing the full truth.

While Lotor was visiting the altean colony one day in particular he was once again trying to win (Y/n) over; he wasn't used to trying to woo anyone, thankfully he wasn't one to give up so easily. (Y/n) suspected that he was up to something by taking some of her fellow alteans away every so often, but she didn't want to say anything that might make him angry. She had to admit that he would definitely make a great husband; he treated her with nothing but respect and he brought her gifts, a traditional galran courtship method, and whenever they were together he wore traditional altean courtship vestments. However, Lotor often wondered why (Y/n) rejected his affections every time he visited her specifically; she kept the gifts he gave her, but she always seemed a little closed off. It wasn't that (Y/n) wasn't attracted to Lotor, but she didn't fully trust him which led her to be cautious around him.

"(Y/n), you know me well yet you still reject my affections, and I know that no one else holds your affections. Tell me, why do you reject me like this?" Lotor asked the woman he loved while he sat next to her on a large rock near the stream.

"What are you doing with the others? Why are we not able to contact them?" (Y/n) asked him bitterly, narrowing her usually beautiful (E/c) orbs at him; her eyes were a little darker than usual because of her mood, there was something he wasn't telling everyone and she was determined to find out what it was.

"Because the Empire is still searching for me, you know that. I have no wish to endanger our people. For centuries I've felt alone; you have no idea how painful it is to watch everyone around you fall in love. I was always rejected, even as a child, because I am half altean. Please (Y/n), don't be cruel to me." Lotor spoke softly, a cute yet sad expression painted on his face, one that made her heart melt.

(Y/n) averted her gaze for a moment, feeling guilty for rejecting his affection for her; she understood how lonely it could be with almost everyone being in a relationship, but her mixed feelings always got in the way of accepting him as her boyfriend. She didn't have any proof that he was up to something suspicious, so it probably wouldn't hurt to let him into her life as her lover. They were from very different backgrounds, she wasn't even born from royal blood, and yet Lotor chose her to be the person he wanted to spend his life with. While she was busy thinking Lotor felt worried, hoping that she wouldn't completely reject him; it would break his heart if she didn't want to see him anymore. He just sat there, waiting for (Y/n) to make a decision whilst feeling as though he was going to pass out from anxiety.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to treat you so badly. I-it's not that I don't like you, it's just that I've never been in a relationship and it makes me kind of nervous." (Y/n) replied after thinking very hard about it for a few minutes, wrapping her arms around him after scooting over, not minding the slightly awkward position.

"I forgive you, darling. Thank you for accepting my affections, it means more to me than you'll ever know." Lotor quietly responded as he reciprocated the hug, the feeling of happiness overwhelming him; (Y/n) the one person he truly loved and he wanted her to be his future wife, he was going to treat her right and keep her safe no matter what.

Hugging the galtean prince felt nice and the feeling of his warmth made (Y/n) feel safe and warm, she could tell that he meant every word he said. Lotor might have been a cunning trickster, but he would never let anything bad happen to (Y/n); she was the love of his life and she would be his queen when he became the emperor of the galra empire, even though he could never tell her about the second altean colony. If he needed romantic advice he would have to rely on what Dayak taught him and his instincts, although he felt confident that he knew what he was doing. (Y/n) couldn't believe that she accepted Lotor as her boyfriend, thankfully she knew he would always treat her like an empress. There was still a feeling in the back of her mind that he was up to something suspicious, although she ignored it in favor of being affectionate with her new lover.

[megsironthrone]

Meg's Game of Tales: Tale 8

*Familiar characters are NOT mine! The original story of "The Swan Princess" is actually pretty muddled as far as origin, but it appears to be based off a Swedish or German fairy-tale*

Warnings: Swan Princess AU, angst, violence?, a little fluff. Kind of long.

Pairings: Viserys Targaryen x fem!reader

"Are you excited, Brother?" a young Daenerys asked Viserys as they waited once more for the yearly visit from your family. "For what? Another summer with that little brat? Not exactly my idea of fun, Little Sister." Daenerys rolled her eyes. Viserys was always like this when the summer rolled around. He hated not getting his way and never once had he gotten his way when it came to you and your family.

"Well I like Y/N. I can't wait for her to become my sister." A frown made its way to Viserys' face. He despised being reminded of the arrangement between your kingdoms. You and Viserys had been arranged to wed practically from birth. In order to make the idea more "bearable", your parents along with Viserys' decided that you and Viserys would spend EVERY SINGLE SUMMER together. And this particular summer would be the last before the wedding planning would begin. Needless to say, Viserys was not looking forward to it at all.

Growing up, Viserys had found you annoying. You were always trying inject yourself into everything he did. No matter what Viserys was doing outside of his own bedroom/bath chambers, you were there. He never knew if you were simply trying to bother him or if you were trying to get to know him the way your parents wanted you to. And as you grew older, you became close to the guards and other servants in the palace. You were constantly talking to them when Viserys wouldn't talk to you. It was almost like you were flirting with them. Viserys hated it and he grew to hate summers.

The sound of trotting horses reached Viserys' ears and soon enough, the carriage appeared. After a soft scolding from his mother, Viserys straightened up to his full height and he tried not to run as far away as possible. That usual feeling of annoyance and dread began to fill up his stomach while Daenerys chatted away. If she kept it up, Viserys was certain he'd box her ears.

When the carriage pulled to a stop, Viserys held his breath. Your father was the first to step out, offering his hand to someone inside. Viserys was struck dumb when he saw you step down from the carriage, smiling at your father. There was absolutely no way this was the same person that visited him every summer. How had he not noticed how beautiful you'd become?

Your eyes met his and you held your head high as you approached on your father's arm. Your gaze never wavered while you greeted Viserys' family. "Good day, Prince Viserys. It is lovely to see you again," you told him softly with a curtsy. Viserys barely managed to bow before you were all swept up into the castle for preparations for the welcoming feast for the evening.

The feast was, as always, a beautiful and probably over-done affair. But Viserys made it through, his gaze often making its way over to where you were sitting. Whenever you caught him looking, you'd given him a soft smile before going back to your meal. Viserys wanted to speak to you, but he had to wait. When it was finally time to begin the traditional after-feast dance, Viserys couldn't get to you quickly enough.

"Princess," he greeted before sweeping you up in his arms as the music started. For a moment, the two of you were quiet and then began making small talk. All-in-all, things were going well until Viserys made a comment about how beautiful you were. "Thank you, though I suppose that isn't a good enough reason to suddenly be happy about our arrangement."

"And why not? Why should my future queen not be beautiful?" You rolled your eyes. "Beauty isn't what makes a queen, Viserys." Viserys' brows furrowed. "Well, what else is there?" You suddenly stopped dancing and shook your head. "You are an idiot, Viserys. A complete and utter idiot."

With that, you ran off and no one saw you the rest of the evening. In fact, no one saw you the entirety of the next day either. It wasn't until evening that it was discovered that you were missing. The state of your chambers indicated that you had not gone willingly. Viserys instantly saw red. Someone had the audacity to sneak into your chambers and take you from him?! And where the hells were the guards when this happened?! Viserys was livid, executing the two guards that were supposed to be guarding you and your chambers. When he anger was finally spent, Viserys set out to find you.

*time skip*

Viserys spent weeks looking for you. Weeks! And there was nary a sign of you. Viserys was beginning to lose hope and when Viserys lost hope, people suffered. As he searched, Viserys realized why his family and yours had insisted on this arrangement and the summers spent together. You were the only one able to calm Viserys' temper. You could make him see sense. You were the compassionate one. You were everything a queen needed to be. Not just beautiful.

After another long day of searching, Viserys came to a clearing with a lake sitting in the middle. The moon was reflecting off the lake as Viserys sat down on a nearby bench. "Where are you, Y/N?" As expected, no answer came to him. Just a lone swan swooping in and landing on the lake. The swan stared at Viserys, making him a little nervous. That wasn't normal behavior for birds. Was it? Viserys didn't have a chance to think about it when a faint light hit his eyes.

The light grew brighter. So bright that Viserys had to shield his eyes. When he brought his hand down, Viserys was once again speechless. "You came for me," your voice was soft and tears welled up in your eyes. There you were, in the place the swan had just been. Viserys whispered your name and stood up. He barely had time to brace himself before you crashed into him.

"Y/N? What happened to you? Are you hurt?" You pulled away a little and Viserys missed the warmth of having you close. "H-He took me. And awful sorcerer used magic to get into the palace and took me. He's trying to force me to marry him so he can take my father's throne. When I refused, he turned me into a swan. I can become human again when the moonlight hits the lake. That's when he comes to ask me for my hand again."

"He cast a spell on you? Where is he? I'll tear him apart with my bare hands if I have to!" You placed your hand over his mouth and shushed him. "He'll hear you. You can't take him, Viserys. He's too powerful. You'll need the element of surprise. He may have magic but he is not a strong fighter like you." A voice calling your name had suddenly had you jumping away from him.

"You have to go. Go back to the castle and come up with a plan. Any plan. The spell should break if he's dead. Go now. Before he sees you." Viserys wanted to argue, but seeing the fear in your eyes made him do what you said. It was the first time Viserys had ever seen you afraid and that was enough to scare even him a little bit. So he did what you said and returned to the castle to plan a strategy. He would save you. He had to save you.

A few days later, Viserys had his plan and he made his way back through the forest to the clearing with the lake. However, as soon as he set foot in the dark wood, something felt wrong. There was something heavy in the air and a feeling of dread came over him.

Viserys tried to brush it off, but as he pushed forward, the feeling grew. Without even seeing you, Viserys knew you were in danger. He picked up his pace only to stop short when he heard a voice, raspy and eerily calm, calling through the air. "Hurry, little prince. Hurry and I might let you see her one last time." Viserys shook his head to rid himself of the voice, but it simply kept calling to him.

"You thought you could outwit me, but I cannot be so easily defeated. Your princess is dying because of your foolishness." Viserys felt his heart beginning to race and he forced his feet to carry him onward toward the lake. He could feel tree branches cutting at his face and nearly getting tangled in his hair, but he paid it no mind. He would worry about his vanity later. You were his priority. Well, you and making the sorcerer pay dearly for taking you. You were Viserys' and NO ONE took what was his. At least that's how he viewed it in his head. He'd never say that out loud to you. You'd probably slap him.

Finally, just as Viserys was about to give up hope, he broke through the trees to the clearing. Your captor was there, a gloating smile on his face. He didn't look like much. In a physical match, Viserys could easily overpower him. Still, he radiated power like Viserys had never felt before. But the dragon was never one to back down from a fight and this time, the stakes were higher than ever.

"Where is she?" he growled out. The sorcerer simply laughed before stepping to the side slightly. The lone swan laid on the ground, breath hitching more and more every second. You were really dying. "What did you do?!" Viserys shrieked and the sorcerer's disgusting grin grew. "You did this. You and the princess. You could have simply given me what I wanted and this wouldn't have happened. But no. You had to go behind my back. Now, she is dying and there is nothing you can do."

If there was one thing Viserys could not standing, it was losing. The only thing worse than defeat in his eyes was his enemy gloating about the fact. Rage consumed him. Viserys felt hot. Fire welled within him and he was not aware of what was happening until it was too late. The sorcerer screamed in fear as Viserys screamed in agony. His bones were shifting. His skin was changing. Sharp talons grew where nails once were. Wings sprouted from his back. A dragon. A true dragon.

The sorcerer was quicker to react the changes in Viserys, firing some magic spell or other at him. It hit Viserys and the dragon let out a screech of pain. He glanced down at your still form. Fueled on by his need to save you, Viserys steeled his nerves and did the only thing he could think of. He blew fire and before he knew it, the sorcerer was gone. Nothing but a pile of ash.

Once his enemy was gone, Viserys looked at you. No longer a swan, your body was still not moving. Where there was once anger, grief hit Viserys like a sudden storm. His wings and scales disappeared, his limbs shrank back, and the fire in his belly was gone.

As soon as he was back on the ground in his human form, Viserys was at your side. "Y/N?" He scooped you up in his arms and held you to him. For the first time in his life, Viserys felt his eyes filling with tears at the thought of losing you for good.

"You were right," he whispered though it was difficult for him, "There is so much more to marriage and being queen than being beautiful. And you are more than just beautiful. You are everything I ever wanted. Come back to me. As your future king and your husband-to-be, I demand you come back to me." He held you closer to him.

"Who gave you permission to order me around?" your voice rasped out. Viserys let his arms drop a little and he looked at your face to see your beautiful eyes staring back up at him. "You're alive." You nodded and smiled as you tried to sit up a little. "Thanks to you. I guess you really are a dragon." Viserys chuckled. You wrapped your arms around him.

"I love you, Viserys. So much." He didn't reply, but held you more tightly as if he were afraid to let you go. After a moment, you released him so you could look at him again. This time, your face was stern. "But seriously, don't think that just because we're to be married that it means you can order me around!" Viserys shook his head fondly and then captured your lips in a bruising kiss.

(a/n: Okay, so I had this ready over the weekend and just completely forgot to post it because I'm silly. That means you'll get 2 tales this week. These will be the only things I post during my hiatus since they're for a celebration. Anyway, I hope you liked it!)

[mc-critical]

Hello again! :) Do you think if Suleiman still let Firuze stay in his harem instead of banishing her, by still believing her through a spell(?) Would others still support Firuze against Hurrem(or like would they believe Firuze too?) or starting to feel very suspicous of Firuze since she persuaded Suleiman even though he knows she is a spy. Like do you think Ibrahim would try to open Suleiman's eyes or Hatice or Gulfem would try to persuade him to let Firuze go? :)

It's likely for them to believe Firuze's story to an extent. As we saw in E76, they still didn't learn the whole truth about her and Ibrahim's initial investigation confirmed what she said to the sultan. However, if SS decides not to punish her, the matter won't be left alone and further, more detailed investigation might help learn more about Firuze's true intentions. Then some kind of an action would be in order, since no one would be okay with a spy who could endanger the empire itself - personal gain and grudges notwithstanding.

Even if Firuze being a spy sent by Tahmasp remains the only thing they know, I doubt Hatice would keep supporting Firuze against Hürrem. Her biggest priority at the moment is the dynasty and happiness of the people she loves and she would naturally stand against whoever gets in the way of that, whether she supported them before or not. Hence she could also empathize with those that want the same as her in particular situations- i.e. Hatice comforting Hürrem that everything will be fine once SS was sick in E78. It's not only that she, like Hafsa, offers and values familial, moral and emotional support in these cases - Hatice is more than willing to leave any sort of resentment behind if she sees someone who she resented before to view the peace and welfare of the dynasty as most important. And she actually does exactly that with the Firuze case in the show itself, too - a while after she found out everything, she told straight in her face that Hürrem was right about her and that she "infiltrated them (all) like a snake". Hatice reacted the same way Valide did with Mahidevran in E55 - the shock and massive disappointment of what someone she trusted has done, seemigly giving up on them from that point on. Her reaction would simply be an extension to that if SS doesn't do anything. While Hatice definitely wouldn't do a prominent switching of gears like Valide did, or even opt for some lasting alliance with Hürrem against Firuze, she wouldn't at all be against doing something to stop her and even helping a bit with that, either. Because she already threatens the dynasty, she's more than the concubine to win SS over, she's no longer the "traditional" way to knock Hürrem down a peg, while SS is okay with this. So she should be stopped. And even if Hatice somehow gets conflicted over this, Gülfem is there to remind her of the dangers of letting Firuze alone completely. Maybe she won't do something that direct against her, except a talk or two with SS, confrontations with Firuze or finding someone to keep an eye on Firuze, since she can leave the bigger actions to Ibrahim, but she won't sit by passively. She won't act against Hürrem until this is over. After that the "status-quo" in their dynamic may still return anyway, especially if Ibrahim dies in this timeline, as well.

Gülfem would probably talk to SS by both her own intent and Hatice's request. Also she would, again, totally comfort Hürrem in this situation, because she knows what happens won't end well like this and that SS is only being deceived by Firuze.

I see Ibrahim going with it both ways. He would still let Hürrem to be weakened in some way through Firuze, but would absolutely set out to find everything about her and expose her. For Ibrahim SS's wellbeing and feelings are more important than his feud with Hürrem, as seen with him bringing her back from exile in E15, which I doubt he would do if he didn't see SS was hurting so much without her. The Firuze matter is interesting in that from something Ibrahim was very barely involved with, it would turn into him getting more active in it only when it was known she's a spy and investigation was demanded. And if the dangerous spy that became a state matter still wrapped SS in her finger despite of any and all attempts to snap SS out of it that would perhaps be unsuccessful, he would have to work alone, behind nearly everyone's back to figure everything about her out and make sure his sources are as reliable as they can be. Ibrahim is a direct, yet secretive person and I see him being both very direct and very secretive when it comes to Hürrem. I feel he would make it clear to her that he's working on something regarding Firuze, but that work would be more "behind the scenes", not him, say, stopping Firuze from going to SS's chambers (if he hasn't learned about her plan to poison him yet, ofc, if he does, then he would make sure the poison won't reach SS's chambers and would convince Sümbül to stop her from entering.), so Hürrem wouldn't see Ibrahim's efforts until he's fully done and announces the results with evidence in front of SS and Firuze gets her respective punishment. He would want to get results as fast as he can and scold those who help him in the investigation for not acting faster, because SS's life is at stake, but he would still be willing to wait for the right time to show his findings until they're confirmed certain. Ibrahim would perhaps want to deal with Firuze personally and may want for Hürrem not to interfere in this until the whole truth is found (though he knows well he can't stop her). He wouldn't express full support of her that openly and wouldn't ally with her (at least not the whole way, an alliance similar to E73 may be more possible), either, but he would prioritize getting rid of Firuze at the moment and would freely admit that Hürrem wants the same as him, they have the same goal this time around, similarly to, once again, E55.

[acciocriativity]

Yule Ball|| Harry Potter

Pairing: Fred Weasley x Reader // Harry Potter x Reader

Summary: It's been a year since you had a huge crush on Fred Weasley, but you never had the courage to confess it to the redhead. What will change when the Winter Ball takes place at Hogwarts? 

Word Count: 3.2k 

 The fifth year of Hogwarts couldn't be more confusing and crazy, the students from Beauxbatons and the Durmstrang students had just settled in the Great Hall, when the principal made the announcement that it was going to be the joy / despair of all the girls. That's right, with no middle ground. 

- Along with the Triwizard Tournament, the Yule Ball will also take place, just as it is in tradition - he said calmly as always, with a smile on his face. 

 Professor McGonagall explained the details but my mind was already far away, obviously my case is one of despair, not for lack of confidence but for opportunities. There was only one boy I would like to invite, but how would I do that if not more than one word we have already exchanged? I would not like to go with a stranger, a friend at the very least. 

I was already 5 years old at Hogwarts, why haven't I done anything yet? This is easy, two very simple reasons. We are from different houses, as a Ravenclaw I don't have many Gryffindor friends, unfortunately. It is very comfortable to form a social circle restricted to the home itself and I was a shy child, can anyone judge me ??  

I clearly remember the day I saw him the first time, it was the same day that I got my first Gryffindor friend. 

 I was hurrying up the stairs to the first floor, where the library is. It wouldn't be a surprise to anyone, but this time it was more urgent, it was two weeks before the 4th grade exam season and I didn't feel ready for the Arithmancy exam. 

I had barely stepped into the hall when I heard two excited voices talking, I didn't have to look more than once to find out who they were. The Weasley twins had quickly formed their own fame at Hogwarts, the only ones who didn't like them were the targets of their pranks, I still haven't had that bad luck, and probably their Slytherin opponents. 

It was the first time that I had a chance to see them without a circle of people around wanting to buy their limited products or their own friends around, and I didn't imagine what that little moment would do to me.

Although they were identical, one in particular had caught my attention. I didn't know what his name was and I didn't even have time to ask, as they walked to another corridor, opposite where I was. 

It was his warm smile and bright eyes, that enchanted me at that moment and even though neither was for me, I couldn't forget it and I tried. 

Later that day, I was trying to find a specific Arithmancy book when I noticed Angelina, a gryffindor and a year older than me. Difficult not to recognize since she is also popular, being on the Quidditch team but we never really spoke to each other, until that moment. 

- Are you in 5th year ?? I never saw you in any of the classes - I remember her saying looking at my hand, in which I was carrying an advanced potions book.

- Oh no, I like to advance some subjects when I finish studying - I replied calmly with a small smile as I took my book, right next to her head. 

- So are you good at potions? - she asked looking at me and I just nodded before she continued - and could you help me? It's a little difficult to pay attention to the class, when Fred and Jorge are there - she finished with a giggle, as if remembering something. 

From then on, we met at the library when they had no training and during those two weeks we got close enough, but not to the point of mixing our social circles and going out together. 

 I turned to face Angelina, even though she was away she met my gaze and smiled, she knew I felt something for Fred Weasley but I never said how deep those feelings were or she would have managed to help me a long time ago. 

I noticed that she made one of the signs that we invented to communicate when we were far from each other, that one meant that we were going to talk later in my dorm and I just nodded before I started eating. Too bad I didn't notice the attention of a certain redhead, because of my silent conversation with the girl.

 In the months that followed, because Harry's name came out in the Goblet of Fire and the first task was around, the atmosphere became extremely tense within the school and the animosity with the ball cooled. People commented on all sorts of nonsense and I did what I could when something like that happened in my presence, because it bothered me a lot. The whole school was against Harry, basically and I had made it clear that it was ridiculous, even though I didn't know the boy well. 

Because of that, I ended up getting away from some friends who disagreed with me and thought that Potter wanted to get attention again, but the good part is that I ended up spending a lot more time with Angelina in the Gryffindor Common Room, she always told me the password although the Fat Woman didn't like it that much. 

Today is Saturday and one of those days, I left my dormitory early because I had nothing to study and walked unhurriedly through the almost empty corridors. It seems like a rule, teenagers don't leave bed before 9 am. I saw the girl alone in the middle of the Gryffindor table so I walked right over there, sitting next to her. 

- Good morning Angie - I greeted with an excited smile while taking a look at the already full of food table  

- You dreamed of the 10 N.O.M.S. today, didn’t you? - she smiled at me before completing - or was it with a certain someone? 

I felt my face heat up as she laughed at me, the mornings when we are in a good mood usually start with these morning teasing and then we move on to the same topic…

- When are you going to invite Fred to the Ball? You know that when it comes to perceiving feelings, he is slow - she insisted just like every day that I should do something.

- He must have been invited already, It’s almost a month away- I gave her my most common answer, there are some days that I say I would invite him, but that never happened. 

- He is still available but at some point he will be not! Do you really want to see him dancing with another girl? - She looked at me defiantly even knowing the answer.

- If I promise that this time I will ask him to come with me, will you let me eat in peace ?? - I asked, holding her gaze and received a satisfied smile in return. 

 Sometimes I didn't even understand the reason for all this nonsense, at times I just wanted to be able to confess my feelings and if I was rejected, I would just move on. But then I got close to him and couldn't, at least that way I had hope. The gryffindor in me will have the courage today, thanks to Angelina and my stupid promise. 

Gradually the students arrived and among them were our friends. Alicia Spinnet, Dino Thomas, Olivio Wood and Lino Jordan. Soon the trio, Harry, Hermione and Ron came down and then Fred and Jorge with the usual good humor. 

- Good morning girls - they both winked at us at the same time with a smile from someone who’s up to no good.

- Good morning - we answered together but with different reactions, Alícia simply ignored it, I controlled myself not to blush and Angelina just smiled more.

 Fred sat two chairs to the left in front of me and Jorge beside him, there was no way I could talk to him during breakfast and I thanked him for it, but I regretted it soon after.  

- And haven't you became a man yet to ask someone to the Ball, Ron ?? - I heard Fred's super discreet voice, interrupting my conversation with Lino.

 Obviously everyone there turned to pay attention, the teasing between them was always fun, especially in the morning. 

- You didn’t ask anyone too, where's YOUR courage Fred? What are you afraid of ?? - I never had seen Ronald Weasley with such a satisfied smile on his face or an expression so outraged on the elder. 

- I'll show you the courage, look and learn Ronald - he had made a point of getting up and I held my breath when I saw him looking in my direction, it couldn't be ...

- Hey Johnson, do you want to go to the Yule Ball with me? - He asked without realizing my expectations and a piece of my heart breaking after that. 

 She replied an yes after looking at me quickly, I didn't mind her accepting it. They are friends and I already knew that she wanted to go with Jorge, the reason why she had not accepted any invitation until now. I had already thought about what it would be like if this situation happened, in my head it was much worse. 

The next few days followed with little change about Fred, at all times if I could avoid him, I would. Not out of anger or anything, I wanted to take my focus off him. I had declined 2 invitations because I hadn't imagined myself with another guy, and that was going to end. 

Alicia and I had just returned from London, we went to look at some new dress options, as many girls would go to the witch shops nearby. We barely stepped into the Great Hall when Hermione walked out furious and a little upset, she didn't even greet us as she always did.

- What did you do to make her so upset ?? - I asked facing Harry and then Ron, before sitting down next to Harry.

- I just said that she could come with one of us to the Ball - explained the redhead while devouring the food on his plate.

- Now? It’s a month away, I would have been angry too - they both looked at me without understanding and I had to take a deep breath - you don't understand anything about girls, do you?

- She felt like the last option, nobody would like to feel that way, obviously, you should have invited her long before - Ali replied without patience, while the realization seemed to hit their faces. 

 Ron seemed to reflect for 3 seconds before eating again as if nothing had happened, so there were only the three of us left to talk.  

- And your partner Harry? Mcgonagall is going to freak out if you have to open the Ball alone - I commented while getting me some soup. 

- I haven't found the right girl yet ... - he replied a little uncomfortable and looked to the side as if he had remembered something. 

- Not wanting to intrude, but already intruding, you two could go together. Just as friends - she completed as soon as she saw the boy look at us petrified but relaxed shortly thereafter.

- No problem for me, I was thinking about not going, but at least it could be fun - I spoke with a small smile and he nodded. 

 For the rest of the month, I ended up getting closer to him and consequently to the most unbearable couple that ever existed. I love Hermione and Ron, but how can two people be so stubborn? I don't know, it's a mystery but at the same time, it was good entertainment and I managed to disconnect from my feelings for Fred. 

It was getting close to the time to start the Ball and I had barely stopped to think that I would be forced to deal with Angelina and Fred dancing together, even though I had never been jealous of the two before, the scene didn't seem pleasant. 

I took one last look in the mirror analysing my dress, a long red velvet dress with sleeves and a slit up to my thigh that defined my body in the right measure. I was feeling incredibly beautiful the way I was and nothing could ruin my good mood, not even my unrequited crush. 

I agreed to meet my friends near the stairs and there they were, Hermione in a pink pretty dress talking to Vítor Krum further away, Ron was about to explode at any moment and Harry, as usual, seemed to be trying to find an excuse to get out of there and I preferred to help with that. . 

- Hi boys - I said quietly standing on the first step of the stairs and as they had their backs to me, they jumped and I couldn't help laughing.

- You can't come like this and scare others, I almost had a fit… - the redhead put his hand on his heart dramatically, it seems that the hatred has vanished too.

- Everyone will go down the stairs, you should be gossiping in a more discreet place. It's about Hermione again, right? - I asked shamelessly without caring about the complaints about my comment. 

- And why would I waste my time talking about a traitor? - his face went from white to red in a few seconds, it seems that the anger had returned.

- I only know one thing, we can't be late, right Harry ?? In fact, I need to talk to you quickly - I didn't even let him agree and I pulled his arm and walked to a spot nearby without anyone

- Did something happen? - he said while adjusting his glasses and I just denied it with a smile, making him even more confused. 

- I just wanted to give you a break from Hurricane Ronald Weasley but if you want to go back there, I don't mind - I said looking behind his shoulder and there it was, a clear image of the redhead fighting with an innocent student.

- In fact, a few minutes without having to listen to his rudeness is great, not that he's a bad friend, but sometimes it's a little ... too much - he replied with a small smile of thanks.  

 We talked for a few more minutes before Mcgonagall officially announced the start of the party, where we would have to dance first. We had rehearsed a few times, so we weren't ashamed, although I wanted to laugh at the memories that came to mind and I could see the same in Harry's eyes. 

After that moment, the other champions also danced with their partners and then the party really started. I preferred to avoid dancing more than necessary, because that would be shameful but it doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it. 

I was sitting at a table with Harry and Ron because apparently his partner was not very happy, but I decided not to go into that. Until I see Angie approach and place her hand on my bare shoulder.

- Can we talk for a moment?? - She said and by her expression, it seemed to be important. 

 I nodded and as the two continued talking to each other, I preferred not to interrupt and just went with the older girl to a corner with fewer people. 

- Did something happen? - I asked calmly and noticed that she looked towards the direction where Fred and Jorge were with another girl.

- Yes, I already knew it would be a complete mess, since you wanted to come with one person and I with another, but I think you can fix it in time - she said looking back at me.

- I don't know Angie, just with a Time-Turner and a little bit of luck, then I would be able to ask him to come with me. 

- It was wrong but I just overheard him saying something to Jorge, he said he wanted to invite you. I was noticing for a while, I was pretty sure he liked you and I just had the proof - she said with a small smile and then immediately took my hand and continued - I don't want to see you two suffering.

 I barely knew what to say so I preferred to demonstrate it in the best way I could, that is, with a hug even though it wasn't much of a hug most of the time. 

 

- Thank you for telling me but I think I'll be forced to steal your date now - I replied with a small smile and stepped back from her. 

- Someday I'll forgive you for that, but this conversation is for later - she winked at me and walked away to the other side of the party. 

 I took a deep breath and as soon as I looked back in the direction where the twins were talking, I realized that there was no one there anymore and I couldn't help being disappointed. 

- Looking for me, love?? - a voice well known to me spoke at a minimum distance from my back and I immediately turned around.

- Actually, yes, but you came here, so it must be important - I replied with a smile without being affected by his proximity, since it was not uncommon for him to try to frustrate me with this type of provocation.

- Since when is something I have to say unimportant ?? - he spoke in an indignant voice but his smile denounced him - let's go for a walk, what do you think? It’s too full here - he said and then held my hand, how could I refuse such a request? 

 I just nodded and then we left the Hall, walked, still holding hands, to the garden. I am sure that did not fail to pass through the attentive eyes of my friends, but it was not the time to think about that. 

- I know we've only really known each other this year - he started talking and then stopped walking - but I really started to like you a lot - his voice were softer and even a little uncertain. 

- Of course, we all became fast friends - I replied with a satisfied smile, maybe it was mean but I was loving this moment and I didn't want it to end so quickly.

 He looked away and took a deep breath before looking back into my eyes with a lighter expression.

- You're having fun, aren't you? It's pretty funny, isn't it? - He asked and I could see his eyes shine, the kind of glow that appears when he has just made a prank. 

- Yes I am. How could I not be when I left Fred Flirt Weasley frustrated? - I replied holding the desire to laugh, for the situation and the new nickname I invented. 

- I had a much more fun idea, love, you'll like it - he said confidently.

 Before I could ask what it was, one of his hands found my face and the other on my waist, pulling me closer. A second later we were giving our first kiss, the first of many to come.

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