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chaconnehoonie · 4 months

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Obsession-(follow up) L.HS

✶ Heeseung X Fem! Reader

->This is a follow up to the first part, but you may read it alone if you please, reading the first part is just recommended to get the full story.

Synopsis- Your relationship with Heeseung proves that sometimes you’re forced to make commitments and sacrifices for those you love.

WC: 3.4k

Warnings: toxic relationship, cursing, insecurity, derogatory terms, smut, angst

Smut warnings: dub-con(?), oral(m) somnophilia, kissing, unprotected sex, spanking, rough sex, orgasm denial

A/N: I know I posted the first part to this a while ago but I felt so disappointed with it that I wanted to write something to follow up with. I’m also terrible with my writing schedule so hopefully this will get me back in the game, enjoy!

This is fiction and the scenarios are completely fake and from my brain, none of the characters are like this in real life, MDNI!

Heeseung was trying to be a good boyfriend. Sure, there are moments where he frustrates you or makes you question your relationship. But relationships are all about making commitments, right?

You’re committed to Heeseung- of course you’ll do whatever it takes to be with him. You’ll put up with his mood swings or his trust issues, accepting that he may just be a naturally jealous person.

He makes it hard, though, as he’s too jealous sometimes. He always has trouble believing you only have eyes for him, whether it’s when a stranger is checking you out at a party or you’re being too close for his liking with your best friends—who just so happen to be guys.

God, you love your friends, but it’s clear that Heeseung doesn’t. You don’t expect him to, of course, however you expect him to accept your close bonds with all three of them. They were existent in your life before him, after all.

You can’t bring this up around him though, as he gets quiet each time, stuck in his thoughts and fears of you leaving him. Being the understanding girlfriend you are, you decided to show him just how special he is to you.

✶.

Heeseung sits alone on the couch in your living room, mindlessly scrolling through Netflix in search for new movies or series to start. Since the beginning of your relationship, you both decided on having movie nights every Friday; cuddling up on the couch together with a warm blanket and a plethora of snacks.

You haven’t come home yet, sending him a quick message to let him know you’d be stopping by a grocery store for snacks, then you’ll speed home to see him.

He sits there and waits, grabbing a bag of chips to munch on, watches trailers for new horror movies with stupid plots and terrible actors, then waits some more.

What’s taking you so long? It’s not like you would stand him up, it’s not like you can stand him up—he’s in your house, anyways. Maybe the checkout line is taking too long. Maybe you stopped to buy some alcohol too, or what if that’s what you were planning but forgot your ID in the car?

What if he’s actually going the wrong rout and you had gotten into an accident? Or decided you didn’t like him anymore and wanted to sneak off with someone else before seeing him tonight- “Baby?”

Heeseung jumps at the sound of your voice, quickly turning around to see you shutting the front door, hanging your keys and slipping off your shoes. He had been so caught up in his thoughts, he didn’t even hear the front door opening.

Your face holds a concerned look, rounding the couch and placing your bags next to Heeseung before dropping to your knees in front of him. “You okay? What happened?” Your hands gently caressed his knees in hopes to comfort him, knowing he’s a sucker for physical touch.

He only shakes his head and pulls you to sit next to him. “Nothing, pretty. I just really missed you.” His voice sounds unsure, but you decided to accept his answer, knowing he hates being pushed to open up.

“I missed you too, cutie. I actually bought something I want to show you.” You peck his nose and his eyes light up in excitement. “I need to go prepare it in my room, but I’ll be back out before you know it.” You smile at him and he nods quickly. “I have to use the bathroom anyways. Perfect timing, I guess.”

You place a soft kiss on his upper lip before grabbing one of your bags and rushing upstairs while Heeseung makes his way to the bathroom. He takes a long look at himself, analyzing his features and taking note of how much better he’s been looking since he’s gotten with you. He’s taken care of himself more, focusing on eating healthier and getting haircuts more often, as well as doing some skincare and shaving his facial hair.

He really feels better with you, smiling to himself in the mirror when he realizes that he’s truly in love with you. He loves you—and he hopes you feel the same way.

After flushing the toilet and leaving the tap running for a minute, Heeseung makes his way out of the bathroom, pausing when he sees you wrapped up in your blanket, waiting for him on the couch.

Walking up hesitantly, he smiles anxiously at you. “What did you wanna-“ he’s cut off when you throw the blanket off of yourself, sat prettily with the most delicate lingerie adorning your body.

Black lace cups your breasts with thin straps hardly covering your shoulders, matching black lace panties sitting high and tight on your hips as the fat of your hips and butt jut out around the material.

Heeseung stands in front of you stiffly, mouth hung open and eyes locked on your figure. Siting up, you reach a hand towards his face and place it under his chin, gently forcing his jaw shut.

“Do you like it?” Your voice is soft and sultry, provoking him to finally touch you. He strokes your head, feeling your soft hair under his fingertips. He’s so in love with you— just that touch sends blood straight to the weight between his legs and he’s suddenly too weak to stand.

Sitting on the couch, he pulls you onto his lap without breaking eye contact. “I’ll take that as a yes.” You giggle and cup his cheek, pulling him into a kiss that only lasts a second as he’s murmuring against your lips. “Yes- fuck, yes.”

You gasp when he pinches one of your nipples through your thin lacy bra. Pushing his tongue into your mouth, he plays with your own in a mess of drool and moans, all while rocking your hips against his.

He pulls away to moan loudly, resting his head on the back of the couch. “I’m glad you like it.” You kiss his neck, licking his jaw slowly before sucking a mark into his skin.

“The boys helped me pick it out.”

His eyes shoot open at this, quickly sitting up and looking you in the eyes. “The boys?” He furrows his brows, confused, but also hurt. You let the boys-Jake, Jay, and Sunghoon, not only see you in lingerie but pick it out? For your boyfriend to see later on?

“What do you mean they helped you pick it out? Like you went to the store together and let them chose it? They seen you in it?” He sounds like he’s going to cry, voice cracking but there’s also a hint of anger.

You nod, eyes wide and worried. “Well, yes. I asked for their opinions because they’re also guys, you know? I thought that’d be the best way to figure out what you’d like…” you trail off as you take note of the irritation appearing on his face.

He finds no point in complaining, no reason to explain why he’s so hurt. Instead, he pushes you off of his lap rather harshly and you land on the soft cushions with a quiet ‘oof’. Of course he didn’t mean to be so aggressive, but with the way he stomps to the front door and angrily grabs his keys, slamming the door shut as he leaves, you can’t help but tear up at his angry demeanor.

Was he really that upset? Over your friends helping pick out a gift, for him? Sure, maybe you didn’t have to wear the lingerie while showing them but Heeseung should know by now that your relationship with your friends is nothing more than platonic.

Deciding you’re too heart broken after being left so alone and exposed, you head to bed early. Well, not exactly early if 11pm was anything to go by, definitely too late for Heeseung to randomly leave and expect you not to worry, but early enough for you to sleep off the mental pain and end up in a better mood in the morning.

✶.

You wake up as an odd weight hits your cheek, repeatedly tapping on your face as you feel the warmth radiating onto your skin. Your eyes open slowly, blinking a few times to fully wake yourself up.

It’s still dark, but you can make out the silhouette of someone standing uncomfortably close to you. Taking in a sharp breath, you turn to your alarm clock and note that it’s around 2am, quickly reaching to turn on the bedside lamp.

The light flickers on and Heeseung groans, quickly reaching his own hand to switch it back off. While he does that, you notice the way he’s fully clothed, save for his hard-on that’s currently face-to-face with you, peeking out from above his sweatpants.

“What-“ you’re cut off as he places a finger upon your lips, slipping it between them and into your mouth to tug your jaw open. You can’t tell what he’s doing with the lights off, but you don’t wonder for long as you suddenly feel his tip entering your mouth, sliding against your tongue.

You’re stiff, laying there in shock as he uses your mouth for his own pleasure, biting his lip with a groan. Heeseung has grown to be more comfortable around you, no longer trying to impress you in order to get you to like him, yet instead trying to impress you to get you to keep liking him—always outdoing himself to prove he’s worth your love.

However, he’s still shy at times, especially intimate times, so seeing him fully take control of you, take advantage of your sleeping figure, is new to you. It’s kind of arousing, but after what happened earlier you just can’t get yourself to enjoy it.

Especially with the way he grips the back of your head and shoves himself fully into your throat, holding you there until you gag and drool onto the ground. The position is awkward; he’s standing in front of you while you’re laying on your side, head hovering off the bed just enough to miss the sheets as your spit strings onto the wooden floor.

He lets out a deep moan, mumbling to himself about how wet and warm your mouth is, but not directly speaking to you. How could he speak to you after what you pulled earlier? Why would you deserve praise for going out and prancing around like that with your friends, basically slutting yourself out for them?

What you do deserve is the harsh thrusts of his hips as he fucks your mouth, pulling your hair harshly as he keeps your head in place while his cock suffocates you. You try to breathe through your nose, but you only choke and whine around him as tears blur your vision, not like you can see much in the dark, anyways.

He groans louder, thrusts harder, grips harder, all while you lay there and take it. He lets out a particularly loud moan as he pulls your head towards him, shoving your face far enough to touch your nose to his pubic bone, and then he’s cumming down your throat.

His hips are still as he twirls strands of your hair between his fingers, holding you in place as his release fills your mouth.

Finally pulling out, he breathes heavily before stuffing himself back into his sweats. He makes his way to the bathroom, situating himself before coming back to bed and wrapping an arm around you, pulling you close enough to be his little spoon. It confuses you, but you’d rather have this than have him stay angry at you.

“Thank you, pretty.”

✶.

The next day goes by smoothly, Heeseung acts completely normal when he goes to work for a couple hours, then coming home as you prepare lunch.

You’re glad he has work early enough for him to be done by the afternoon, but sometimes you wish he could stay in bed with you just a little longer than leaving at 5am, but at least he gets to come back at 1pm and spend the rest of the day how he pleases. You quickly learn though, that today he decides to use the day as he pleases by pleasing himself.

As you put ramen to boil and chop vegetables, humming a random song to yourself, you hear the front door shut. It doesn’t slam, so you know Heeseung isn’t angry, at least not enough to show it.

He walks up behind you, grabbing onto your waist and you smile, turning around for a kiss. He grips your chin, turning your face back to the counter and speaks lowly in your ear. “Keep chopping.” His voice is stern and you know he’s serious.

You hesitantly pick up the knife again, slowly cutting the vegetables as he pulls down your pants, panties going along with them, leaving you bare and exposed for him. It was only last night he was using you for himself, maybe he’s repaying the favor?

That idea is quickly shut down as you feel his tip prodding at your not very wet entrance, wincing at the stretch of the head doing its best to make its way between your folds. Of course you’ve both have had sex without foreplay before, but that was after a while of kissing and obvious arousal.

This time, he fills you up dry with only his precum coating your walls. You whine at the pain, stepping closer to the counter in an attempt to get away from him, but he only manhandles you back towards him.

Pulling out to the tip, he gives you a second to breathe before he pushes himself all the way back in, continuing with rough thrusts. He lands a loud slap to your ass, leaning forward and biting onto your shoulder. You cry out in pain, trying to take his cock the best you can while he uses you once again.

He’s fucking you, skin to skin, so that must mean he’s not upset anymore. You try to convince yourself as he thrusts harder, hands bruising your waist and hips as his knuckles turn white from holding you so tight.

He’s more vocal this time, moaning into your ear as you bounce between him and the counter top, knife now laying further away from you and vegetables roll off the counter, landing with a hard thud on the floor.

You moan as he picks up the pace almost inhumanly fast, wet sounds showing signs that you’re finally aroused enough, the slide of his cock against your walls is no longer painful.

He pushes your upper half forward more, fully bending you over the counter as he lands a harsh slap against your ass, echoing through the kitchen along with your high pitched moans.

His thighs slap against the back of your own, wet and covered in slick as you can’t hold back the squelching noises your pussy makes while being stuffed full.

“Oh God, Hee…” You whine but he’s tired of hearing you, placing his palm over your mouth to muffle your moans. “I don’t wanna hear it.” This confuses you, mainly because he’s always loved hearing your noises—proof that he’s pleasing you right. But now, he suddenly doesn’t want to hear them? Going as far as covering your mouth to shut you up?

Even with this hurt side of you, the pleasure is undeniable and before you can process it, you’re close to orgasm as Heeseung lands another harsh slap against your ass.

“Hee-baby, I’m gonna cum!” You pant heavily, inhaling a deep breath in preparation for your orgasm, only for it to be taken away from you. “No you’re not.” Heeseung slides his wet cock out of you, instead spreading your ass and pushing himself between your cheeks.

You scoff, now frustrated and in pain, wondering if this is what blue balls must feel like. You try to reach back and slide him back in, but he grips your wrist, pulling both of your arms back so your cheek lands harshly onto the counter top. Wincing, tears start pricking your eyes and you try to squirm away from him.

“Not letting you…d-don’t deserve to cum.” He grits through his teeth, pushing your butt cheeks together tightly as he thrusts, still keeping his fast pace.

Leaning forward, he rests his forehead between your shoulder blades, finally releasing as ropes of cum spurt out of his tip, landing across your back and staining your shirt, some reaching your hair to find in a sticky mess later.

You’re both panting, catching your breaths after whatever kind of rough, angry sex session that was. Still confused, you try to turn around, calling out to your quiet boyfriend. “Heeseung…” your voice is soft and comforting, and as much as he wants to accept it, he just keeps you turned around.

“Just- don’t.” That’s all he says before tucking himself back into his jeans and walking upstairs. The bathroom door shuts, still not slamming, but you can now tell that he is definitely still angry at you.

✶.

“So, what? He’s upset that we helped you and now you guys are having hot steamy hate sex?” Jake laughs to himself, taking a bowl of ramen from Sunghoon. A bowl of ramen you cooked for Heeseung.

You sigh, playing with your own ramen as you push it around the bowl with your chopsticks. “Yeah…I was cooking this when he came home and he just…did that.” You trail off at the end, not wanting to go into detail because no matter how good it felt, you were still hurt.

“Waitwaitwait.” Jay mutters with his mouth full, swallowing harshly before speaking again. “This ramen doesn’t have a special ingredient, right? His cum shot didn’t fly into here and now I’m consuming his babies?”

“Dude! What the fuck is wrong with you!?”

“Come on- I’m trying to eat here!”

“You’re actually disgusting.”

Sunghoon gags as he imagines the scene playing out, downing his glass of water to calm himself. You pat him on the back as he keeps gagging, mainly to piss off Jay who now regrets what he said.

“Okay, Hoon. You can stop now, I get it.” Jay rolls his eyes, picking up his beer bottle and taking a sip while sending glares towards his friend.

Your face drops to your palms, sighing again as you think about these past two days. “He left like an hour before I invited you guys over.” You speak up, eyes teary as you bite your lip. “He didn’t eat…didn’t say goodbye…he just left.” You break down, a sob escaping your lips at the thought of your boyfriend leaving you so alone and embarrassed.

“Do you know what this means?” Sunghoon places a hand on your shoulder, squeezing lightly to ease your tension. You shake your head no, confused as to what he’s implying.

He sighs, looking between Jake and Jay, then back at you. “This means you’re going to have to choose.” Your eyes widen, shaking your head more aggressively now.

“What do you mean choose?” You can’t believe they’d recommend something like this. “You know, choose if you want to stay with him. Let him treat you like that, let him get away with those things.”

He grabs your hand, keeping his eyes locked with yours. “Or you can choose to stay with us. Keep being our friend, let us save you from this disaster.” His words hurt, but you know they must be true. “He just…” you inhale a shaky breath, “He just needs time. We’ll figure something out.”

Yeah, that’ll fix it. You’ll figure out a way to keep Heeseung happy and stay close to your best friends. Hopefully, without cutting any ties or creating an awkward atmosphere. But you’ll do whatever it takes to keep each of your boys happy.

#enhypen smut #enhypen x female reader #heeseung smut #lee heeseung smut #enhypen angst

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evlia · 3 months

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How about clegan modern au with bookshop owner gale and john who enters the shop by accident to buy a present for someone and he has no idea what he’s looking for, just browsing through the shelves and gale approaches him to ask if he needs some help and when john looks at him he realizes what love at first sight means. When gale offers him help and starts describing some of his favorite books, john doesn’t understand a single word, because he’s just staring at gale’s face, his blue eyes and full lips. He does buy something at the end but has no idea what it is.

John keeps coming back. Too often actually, he simply cannot read so many books in such short time but he just needs to see the pretty bookseller and asks for gale’s recommendations every time.

John obviously has no idea that gale is anxiously waiting for his appearance every time and that he became his favorite customer. One time he asks john what did he think about a certain book and when john smiles sheepishly and says that those books are a present for someone else, he assumes he has a partner, because no one buys so many books for just a friend.

I’m thinking john is losing his mind at some point because no matter how much he flirts with gale he just doesn’t seem to get it or he doesn’t care, he barely shows any emotions, maybe a shy smile or a little blush but nothing else.

At some point john straight up asks gale “is there any book about you know.. uh… like longing for someone or like having a crush on someone…?”

Gale, idiot that he is, just starts browsing through the shelves with a concentrated look on his face and john wants to scream.

He keeps dropping hints tho, every time he visits the shop he keeps asking for the books about crushes, longing, one sided love, unrequited love and all that and every god damn time Gale actually finds him books that fit the description. John leaves angry and grumbling about stupid boys every time and gale’s heart sinks every time because john must really love whoever he’s buying the books for.

At some point john just can’t take it anymore, can’t look at gale’s pretty blue eyes and lips anymore. He all but marches inside the shop one day and before gale manages to say hello he goes “is there a book about dense, cruel and stunningly beautiful bookshop boy and a fool who’s absolutely in love with him and not being able to get his point across?” Gale looks at him with wide eyes and john thinks that he finally gets what he’s saying but then

“I think there’s one with…” and john is going to kill him

“For fuck’s sale, Gale, I don’t actually need a book, haven’t read a single book I bought from you, there’s almost a wall full of books I bought just to have an excuse to see you”

“You wanted to see me?”

“Yes, Gale, I wanted more than to just see you !”

Gale smiles all shy and endearing and looks at john with a teasing glint in his eyes

“you could’ve just asked me out and not buy a whole damn library you know, but I guess you need to be a little educated to realize that”

John looks at him like he wants to slap him at first but there’s a smile on his face when he tugs gale towards him and catches his lips with his own.

#clegan #buck x bucky #i’m a bit (very) drunk and hopefully this makes sense #I just love bookshops and bookshop aus

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belovedmusings · 6 months

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Heaven knows I ain't getting over you.

Choso Kamo x You x Suguru Geto

Explicit Themes 18+ (🚫Minors DNI🚫)

Part seven of the 'Two + One' story. Click for story masterlist.

Guitarist! Choso Kamo is your boyfriend, and he finally notices that his bandmate, Suguru may feel some type of way about you. Now, it's up to you to decide whether you want to come clean about your own feelings for Suguru, and your subconscious may just decide for you.

Relevant tags: sexual tension, thoughts of infidelity, characters with questionable morals, Suguru is hot, Suguru has piercings and tattoos amen, Choso is sweet and loyal, slow burn, no "y/n" for immersion, 2nd POV, reader has no defining characteristics, explicit smut, missionary, nipple play (fem receiving)

Recommended songs to listen to while reading: Just Pretend (Bad Omens), Is There Someone Else (The Weekend), Undisclosed Desires (Muse)

A/N: I'm starting to think Bad Omens ghostwrote this fic the way that entire album fits this story perfectly. Also, just for clarification, the italic texts are yours, and the bolded texts are Suguru's! The drama is getting real and it will continue to build. Enjoy ;)

Read on Ao3 if you prefer!

Or read below cut:

Things return to a semblance of normalcy.

Choso continues to work with Curse Manipulator.

Suguru doesn’t text or call you, despite having gotten your number, and you sort of let it be.

You greet Choso when he comes home, and you’re both happy to see each other.

The two of you even have a better sex life than you’ve ever had now that he’s become bolder with you.

But it feels like you’re walking on thin ice. Microcracks are undulating beneath the weight of your steps, the frigid void of water beneath beginning to seep through. There are no indications. You just feel like something is off.

He isn’t acting like anything is wrong…but it’s almost as if things are too quiet.

This purgatory drags on for about a month until one night, when you’re home alone and you get a text from Suguru.

He noticed.

You pause as soon as you read it. He noticed? What does Suguru mean by that?

What?

I’ve been asking about you more, he asked me what was up.

Then I told him the truth.

Your heart full-on drops into the pit of your stomach.

What did you say?

I said I think you’re attractive.

Was that all?

Well, I also said I have no intention of usurping you. That I respect him and your relationship.

But I wanted to tell you because he’s probably going to bring it up.

So be prepared.

The way he’s talking, it sounds like the two of you have to cover something up. It’s like it’s a late-stage affair rather than just the metaphorical dance-around-the-fire the two of you have been engaging in.

Is it still bad? Yes. Is this text conversation proof of that? Yes, again.

Okay…

Thanks for the heads up.

Also,

I’ve been wanting to text you but I wasn’t sure what to say.

Anything is incriminating, right?

Not necessarily…you could ask me how my day was or…I don’t know, bring up a new movie or song or…

Maybe it just feels that way because of how I feel about you.

And how I know you feel about me.

It’s not innocent.

You have to set the phone down for a minute to gather your bearings. What game is he playing? You haven’t heard from him in a month and now he does this?

Your hand picks your phone back up and you type out a reply.

When you talk like that, of course it’s not.

How can I see what your face looks like right now without you being here?

What do you see?

Your eyes are heavy. There’s a weight in them. You’re probably holding my hand again.

I wish I was.

Good god, you can’t catch a break.

Should you really be flirting with me after you told my boyfriend you were attracted to me?

He just thinks it’s one-sided.

He doesn’t know you feel the same.

So now I have to pretend like it is?

You have a choice to make. Tell him you’re attracted to me or just act surprised.

You mean, lie to him either way?

What other option do you have that won’t end in disaster?

He has a point. You can’t say it’s more than attraction, then he’d catch Suguru in a lie also. He’d realize it goes deeper than how he made it seem. So what?

Be half-honest, or lie completely?

Anyways…how was your day?

The abruptness of the text has you laughing aloud in the silence of your living room.

It was fine. How was yours?

Just worked. We’re getting close to finalizing the album, then the next steps will come.

What are the next steps?

A music video for the title track, press run, and a tour. It’s going to be our biggest album yet.

As you read it, the gravity of it all hits you.

Choso is part of a successful band. And it’s on the trajectory to get bigger and bigger. All of the proper groundwork has been laid—they’re local stars, and with a music video and the team Suguru has secured to help with promotion, their music will find new fans all over the place. With that comes touring, traveling all over the country and even the world…it’s huge.

Wow.

I can’t believe this is all happening.

It sounds like a lot, doesn’t it?

Well, yeah. You’re going to be proper rock stars.

Haha

You’ll be along for the ride.

Choso’s going to want you there. And I will too.

You’ll see everything we do.

That sounds fun and intimidating.

It does, right?

But it’s exciting. Choso is exactly what we were missing. With him we’re going to make it.

I feel proud.

You should.

A question pops into your mind.

Was it always your goal to have fame?

Haha, well, I admit I am a bit of a show-off.

I just think everything happened to put me in this position.

That makes sense. I feel special, getting to know you guys before you get big. I’m your first groupie.

Haha, come on, you’re more than that. So much more.

I know. But I really am a fan. Your music is all I play recently.

Yeah? What song is your favorite?

Strange. You wrote it about your life, right?

I did. It’s sort of an autobiography. I’m surprised that’s your favorite, it’s one of the only songs of ours that’s really personal.

Why are you surprised? I remember when you told me about that stuff. Hearing it in a song was beautiful.

You sound so open and honest when you’re singing.

Oh, I see…

Was I not when I told you?

No, I meant I could feel your emotions because of how you sang it.

It’s breathtaking.

When you compliment me like that, it goes straight to my head.

Coming from you, that means the world.

I’ll make more meaningful songs in the future.

You don’t have to just because it’s what I like.

No, I want to.

I have some things I want to say.

You know, you’ve inspired me a lot.

You groan out loud, laying back on the couch and rubbing at your face in frustration. What are you supposed to do with that? This doesn’t sound like ‘no intentions of usurping’.

Luckily (or unluckily) the lock in your front door turns, indicating the return of your boyfriend.

You close out of the messaging app and lock your phone, hoping to ignore that text the rest of the night. With that you pretend to have been watching whatever show is on television as he walks in.

Immediately, his smile is tight as he greets you. “Hey.”

Oh god, here we go.

“Hey, baby,” you reply, giving him a smile as he moves to sit beside you after removing his shoes. He gives you a kiss on the cheek, arms winding around your waist. “How was it today?”

“It was okay,” he begins, his eyes meeting yours for a moment before they flit away. “I had an interesting conversation with Suguru.”

You steel yourself. “Interesting how?”

“Well,” he hesitates, pulling away and resituating himself on the cushion beside you, fiddling with his hands for a moment. “Lately, he’s been asking a lot…about you. At first, I didn’t think much of it. But then Larue randomly said today ‘you should bring her by again, Suguru won’t shut up about her.’ I didn’t realize he spoke about you when I wasn’t around. It got me thinking…why would he be talking about you like that? Then he mentioned you again, how you haven’t been around, and then I decided to just ask him what it was about once the other two guys left.”

You take a breath. “Um, okay…and?”

“And he told me he was attracted to you. Like, straight-up. I mean, he reassured me he wasn’t going to do anything about it, but I…I don’t know. I mean, he’s Suguru. He could probably have whoever he wants. If he went after you…”

Moment of truth. Who will you be?

“Um…” You begin, heart pounding as you find your words, “well, that’s…”

Choso’s eyes flit back to yours, waiting to hear what you have to say.

“Well, I…thought maybe he did…”

“You did?” Choso asks, “You thought he was interested in you? Since when?”

“I don’t know, I just had a feeling.” Okay, so now you are a liar. Guilt starts fortifying deep in your gut. “I-I mean, I didn’t know for sure.”

“Oh,” Choso frowns, “So…I mean…what do you think about it?”

The correct answer is to tell him there’s no chance in hell. But hell is where you currently are, and you’ve entertained Suguru enough already, so what does that do for anyone?

You sigh heavily. “To…to be honest…I mean, he is an attractive guy, but I would never leave you for him, not in a million years, Chos’.”

Choso’s face is unreadable for a second, and you immediately begin regretting what you just said.

“So…” He breathes out, brows furrowing slightly. “What I’m…hearing is that you two are attracted to each other?”

Back pedal, back pedal, back pedal.

“I meant that he’s just a good-looking guy. You know? And he’s nice, but that doesn’t compare to what you and I have. We have history and intimacy, baby, I would never let him disrupt that.”

Haven’t you already, though? Liar.

“But what if it was different? If you met him first, and then me? If you had the history and intimacy with him? Would you still want me the same?”

Can he see right through you? This has potential to blow up in your face. You need to put this fire out now.

“It’s not that serious,” you shake your head, taking his hands, “I’m in love with you, Chos’, and there are tons of good-looking guys out there, that doesn’t mean that I like them or want to be with them!”

“So you don’t like Suguru like that? It’s just that you think he’s good-looking?”

“Right.” Wrong.

Choso sucks in a deep breath, reaching up and taking his hair out of their ties to rub at his head. “Well…I…I trust you, obviously, it’s just weird.”

“Y-yeah, that’s understandable.”

You’re lying to the man you love. This who you are now, isn’t it? A bad person.

“I don’t need to worry, do I?”

“No,” you say in a rush, “baby, I’m yours, okay? I love you so much. You are the best. And nothing will take me away from you.”

He looks at you for a moment before moving closer, wrapping his arms around your waist and hugging you. “I’m just so afraid you’ll fall out of love with me. You’re my world and it’s unhealthy how much I love you. I’d sooner let you walk all over my heart than leave me.”

Each word twists the dagger he’s lodged in your heart harder and harder.

All you can say is, “I love you,” like an apology, squeezing him tightly in your arms.

“I love you,” he replies, tightening his own hold on you, and despite all of the words you exchanged, it doesn’t feel like you’ve reached a resolution at all.

You’ve just dug yourself a deeper hole.

____

“I want to keep going,” Suguru stares up at you, his mouth at the line of your shirt, dangerously near the top of your breast. You’ve seen this before—you two are in your living room all alone. Choso’s at his brother’s house. This is the part where Suguru pulls away and says he won’t go further.

Except, he doesn’t do that. He pulls you onto the couch. You wind up beneath him quickly, and he doesn’t stop. His greedy hands tug your shirt down, exposing you to his eyes, and his pierced lips wrap around a nipple, large palms on your hips, gripping them like you’ll float away if he doesn’t hold you down.

You feel the bead of his tongue piercing on your stiff peak, and can’t stop the gasp of his name.

“Suguru!”

He smiles up at you, that infuriating crooked grin, his hands working expertly to get you naked. His mouth kisses, tastes, and marks any expanse of skin he can touch, and before you know it, you can’t even remember if either of you had been wearing clothes in the first place. All you feel is his hot skin on yours everywhere.

He hovers his face over yours, molten sunset eyes locked with yours.

“I’m gonna kiss you.”

“You shouldn’t.”

“Don’t care.”

His mouth devours yours as a parched traveler attacks an oasis, and you moan at the taste of his mouth, the warmth of his tongue on yours, and you just let go. Your hands thread into his beautiful black tresses, cupping his face, kissing him with all of the desire in the world.

Then, he’s inside of you.

It knocks the wind out of you, dislodging the kiss so you can cry out another, “Suguru!”

He groans, and then he’s moving, thrusts coming quick and hard, like an animal mauling its prey, carnal and so so delicious, your hands find his chest, his neck, his abdomen, his arms, his hips—you want to grab onto any and every part of him but nowhere you touch is enough, you want to become one with him.

He goes harder and you can’t stop saying his name. It’s an incantation, evoking a side of you that you’ve never known, that you’re afraid of, that you vy for.

“Suguru…” it tumbles freely, “Suguru, Suguru!”

He takes you to heights you’ve never been to before, and you feel light as air yet far away like you’re at the bottom of the ocean. He fills your lungs, it’s impossible to breathe when it’s this hot—

Your eyes snap open. A hand is on your shoulder. Eyes are on yours.

But they don’t belong to Suguru.

You’re in bed with Choso, and your blood suddenly runs cold.

You were dreaming.

The resignation in his eyes says it all.

“You…were saying his name in your sleep.”

---

A/N: evil cliffhanger oopsies...hope you enjoyed!! Also, I changed the cover art for the story 'cause it looked a little too cringe. This one is still cringe but tastefully so. Okay, d out!

Please don't copy or repost, but feel free to reblog and share!

Taglist (comment here or my masterlist if you want to be added): @jaegerstan222 , @cosmicstarlatte , @dabisdolly , @moonriseoverkyoto , @propheticfire , @bontensbabygirl , @crlyhairedwxtch , @alittlebirdahgaselx , @okkovtsu , @notbellasstuff , @uchihabbynic , @polaroidnana , @childofilluvatar , @shadowfoxy , @jordan-network , @dreamtravelersade , @unmatchxd , @lucyrocks86 , @spineyy , @k3lbade , @xxbuckpoppi , @naughtygobbo , @slammynics , @roseambers , @luvingyouwasreallyhard , @hinachaaan , @redladyrae-blog , @spiteless-xo , @slutforaz , @bellaabee082 , @thedorklingqueen , @delayedrage , @poopwons , @pandisastergod , @username23345 , @sleazymac-n-cheesy , @forest-haven , @midnaamethyste , @bihanspookies , @mysteriouskiller1 , @liyahthings , @makingtimemine

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dreamerschroniclesofstories · 10 months

Text

Goodbye, Tommy Shelby.

A/n: Hey guys, this is my first fic after finishing my previous series, if you haven’t read it then please do and leave a like or any opinions. It’s all appreciated!. Also, I recommend listening to ceilings by Lizzy McAlpine whilst reading since i listen to it whilst writing this x.

I DON'T GIVE PERMISSION FOR MY WORK TO BE REPOSTED ONTO A DIFFERENT SITE OR TO BE TRANSLATED.

Summary: Amelia has been in love with Tommy since she was 17.Today’s tommy's wedding day and Amelia can’t cope.

Word count: 1,575

Ada always told Amelia that there were “plenty of other fish in the sea” and she could do better than her brother, Tommy Shelby but Amelia had her doubts. The idea that there is someone else out there for her was ridiculous. If there were then why had she wasted twelve years of her life loving Tommy Shelby.

It’s to late now, Tommy was getting married and Amelia still felt like the seventeen year old in her room giggling about how Tommy smiled at her. The lead up to the wedding was the worst, every time someone spoke about how beautiful the wedding will be or how Tommy and Grace look more in love as the days pass would cause her heart to feel like, at any minute, it would crawl up her throat and jump onto the floor to be crushed by the passing carriages in the streets or even by the drunken’s getting thrown out of the garrison after closing time.

She knew she was being stupid, she was 29 and still pining over a man who clearly didn’t feel the same emotions she felt for him. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stop loving him. The day before the wedding, Amelia decided she couldn't stay in Birmingham any longer. she would leave after the wedding, maybe go to London or even go to new York, she didn't care where, just a place that Tommy Shelby isn't.

Tommy's wedding day.

Amelia hadn't slept the night before, every-time she would try to sleep and close her eyes, all she could see if Tommy's' face, which in turn caused her to silently sob knowing she had lost the man she loved so dearly. She decided to write a letter to Tommy, to give him after the wedding. Confessing her love.

Four hours.

Four hours until Tommy gets married. Amelia was sat at her small kitchen table, holding her freshly brewed tea whilst Ada walks around talking about something that Amelia wasn't listening too. Amelia stared into the dark gloomy depths of her drink, slowly sinking into her sadness as the minutes pass. Ada had placed a plate full of bacon, eggs and sausage, stating that it would be a long day but Amelia couldn't get herself to eat anything, if she does she knew she would bring it back up anyway.

Ada stops her frantic movements when she realises that Amelia hadn't eaten or moved since she sat down “ it will be alright Mia” she whispers reassuringly. Using her nickname given to her by the Shelby family.

Amelia looks towards Ada, the corners of her mouth lifting ever so slightly “ yeah, hopefully” the brokenhearted woman murmured.

Two hours.

Two hours until Amelia leaves, everyone had arrived at Tommy's' house threes hours before the wedding, needing to help set up the rest of the decorations before the wedding had to start. Amelia had been at the house for nearly an hour and she hadn't said a word. Every-time Tommy goes to talk to her, she quickly leaves, pretending that she was going for a smoke break or going to find the toilet. She knew that if she spoke a word to Tommy, she would break down right there, in front of him and in front of the guests that were arriving.

Amelia was stood by the fountain outside of tommys house, holding a cigarette between her lips as she watched the water flowing into the small concrete pond that surrounds it. Amelia was wearing one of her nicest dresses, she had it kept in the back of her wardrobe for special occasions. The gorgeous deep blue garment was embroidered with sliver sequins, though the dress was formal, there was a merriment in its nature and beautiful folds, making it easy for one to run but also to waltz. Amelia knew it was the perfect dress to wear for when she runs off before anyone sees. She didn't want the dress to stop her.

Amelia was in a trance like state, staring at the water. She failed to notice Polly walking over to her. She knew Polly wasn't stupid, Amelia knew Polly knows about her feelings for Tommy. Amelia jumps slightly when she feels a hand on her shoulder.

“ you'll catch a fever if you stay out here” the older woman warns.

“ i prefer to be here then in there” Amelia admits, taking a puff of her cigarette then slowly blows out the smoke “ its very overwhelming with everyone rushing around” she quickly covers herself.

Polly lights her own cigarette and raises an eyebrow at Amelia “ if it was my choice, i would want Tommy to marry you instead of grace” she confessed.

Amelia sighs, her eyes glossing as the tears in her soul become tears in her eyes “ it wasn't meant to be pol” she whispers, her voice quivering. She takes a deep breath as she glances at Polly, the waterline of her eyes threatening to spill out, she knew she had to tell Polly she was leaving, since Polly had treated her like a daughter since the day Ada brought her over for tea for the first time.

“ whats on your mind?” the older woman quizzed, holding her cigarette between her fingers, her dark eyes narrowing suspiciously.

Amelia chuckles and shakes her head, around Polly you can't keep a secret because she'll know automatically “ i'm leaving pol, after the wedding”

it's time

Its time for Amelia to watch as her life collapses, its time she had to sit in the crowd and pretend her heart wasn't shattering into a million pieces as if her heart was made of glass. She was sat in the second to front row with Polly, Ada, Ada's son and Michael.

The wedding had started half an hour ago and for that thirty minutes her tears came freely, like an overflowed storm drain. Luckily, the people around here wouldn't think differently then her being happy for the couple. However, Polly and Ada knew differently.

As the priest announces the newly wed husband and wife, the Shelby brothers and graces family surround the couple. Amelia knew this was the time she had to leave, she looks around to make sure no one was watching, once she knew it was safe she turns around and walks towards the double doors leading to the corridor. She turns her head and glumly smiles, seeing the smile on Tommy's face. She was happy for him, he deserved to be happy.

As Amelia walks outside, the air hits her face, the tip of her nose immediately turning red. Amelia wraps her arms around herself as she begins to rush towards the carriage that was awaiting her with her bags. Her fingers ached in the bitter winter wind, as she clenched and unclenched them trying to keeping an feelings in the tips. As she climbs into the carriage, she looks out through the window noticing Ada and Polly outside watching her, she waves slowly as the carriage leaves.

Once the carriage disappeared, Polly stomps out her cigarette then turns around, walking back into the house, on a mission to find Tommy. Once, Polly found him, she wraps her hand around his wrist “ Thomas come with me” she whispers, taking him to his office.

Tommy's office.

Polly closes the door as Tommy walks over to his desk whilst putting a cigarette between his lips “ what is it pol, ey?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.

Polly walks over to his desk, picking up the envelope from the oak desk “ Amelia has left, this is for you” Polly explains, walking back over to the door “ you are stupid Thomas, if you didn't see it” Polly utters, leaving Tommy's office quietly, leaving Tommy alone.

Tommy sits down at his desk, immediately opening the letter, leaning back in his seat as he begins to read the handwritten letter.

Dear Tommy,

As i sit here, the night before you get married to someone who is not me, My heart is breaking because i love you Tommy. I love you with every fibre, every cell, every pore of my whole body. I love you, every good part and every bad part of you. It's been such an amazing journey since we first met, but our journey has come to an end. I hope you and grace get the life you are hoping for. How can i put into words something I've never experienced before until recently. i'm dead Tommy, yet very much still alive. You have allowed me to see the power of love, from point A to point Z. I want you to be happy Tommy, have someone experiencing that smile you keep locked away. I don't regret anything that I've felt for you. However, There is one thing i wish you could have seen, it's the things i did for love. For you. Letting you go is forever the hardest thing i'll do in my life but i want you to know you are the most amazing person, the only person i'll truly love with my whole heart.

I know you don't love me, i'm sorry i fell in love with you. i'm sorry i had to leave on the happiest day of your life. You deserve more. i'll hold these last twelve years so damn tight in my heart. I just hope you will too.

Goodbye, Thomas Shelby.

A/N: Well that was an emotional journey wasn't it? i hope you enjoyed this fic. Leave a like, comment , re-blog. Its all appreciated so much xx

#peaky blinders fanfic #tommy shelby imagines #tommy shelby fanfic #peaky blinders x reader #peaky blinders masterlist #peaky blinders fandom #tommy shelby angst #tommy shelby x oc #tommy shelby imagine #tommy shelby #tommy shelby x reader #thomas shelby imagine #thomas shelby fanfic #tommy shelby fanfiction #thomas shelby fic

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marknee · 2 years

Text

bts fanfics i think shakespeare and queen elizabeth i would’ve gossiped about.

chapter ii. ✷ chapter iv.

KEYS ON SEVERITY OF SHAKESPEARE’S STATE:

( ✮ ) — you can’t lie, shakespeare’s got a mouth on him.

( ♬ ) — they’ve ordered everyone out the room. peering through the window as we speak.

( ✎ ) — someone tell him to put that poor teacup down.

( ♛ ) — her majesty royally gasped. she’s clutching her pearls, bless her.

THE SHAKESPEARE SERIES.

WARNING: keep in mind, some of these authors are very strict on the rule that no minors should read their work if they’re underage, and i will honour that. but, at the end of the day, i am not your parent. so, there’s that. but heed my warning wisely. any smut or 18+ content is highlighted in bold.

NOTE: we’re on part three already? damn, times flies. if you’re new here, welcome to the shakespeare series where i write essays about fics that would absolutely annihilate shakespeare — hence the name. if you haven’t read the past two chapters, you can access them in the masterlist above! let’s get into it.

⠀

( ♛ ) MATILDA — by @babystrcandy

!! yoongi x reader | 141.8k !!

brothers best friend au, angst, fluff, eventual smut.

my therapist would absolutely adore this fanfic. maybe i should recommend it to her. or just send her the link. she’d be thrilled.

this series is dedicated to anyone who felt like the second choice, the one always forgotten about, the so-called disappointment, the people pleaser, the perfectionist, the one whose family has let them down over and over again.

reading this, alike reading anything else, transports you to another world. however, the difference between this one and all others, is this makes you feel safe. secure. a safe place. a sanctuary you never realised even existed, where you feel accepted and loved. it takes the idea of home and really drills it in.

if you find yourself relating to this story, like i did, i want to you to know i see you and i truly hope one day you find everything you were deprived of growing up. you deserve peace. you deserve love.

while you’re at it, go give this author some love for seeing us, listening to us, and validating our experiences. and for writing such a beautiful story.

⠀

( ♬ ) DILF JK — by @venusiangguk

!! jungkook x reader | 85.5k !!

strangers to lovers, dad!jk, friends with benefits, smut (18+), fluff.

if some army’s weren’t such delulu’s and so consumed by the imaginary idea that they’ll one day marry a bts member and live happily ever after, this is the type of shit we’d actually get. but no, we’re forever plagued by fiction because of a few overly obsessed wankers.

rant aside, dilf!jk is a concept. one that needs to be studied and researched for my own personal needs. because i thought dilf!namjoon was dangerous (and he most certainly is), but dilf!jk is a whole other… thing? being? story? i’ll leave that to the researchers.

personally, i love when authors mould fiction and reality into one body. they blend the two concepts together to create something beautiful, and this was duly noted within the topic of the age gap. deciding on something real for the benefit of both parties in a fictional story is so fucking applaudable. or perhaps i’m just an angsty fucker, sorry.

most definitely worth all the tissues and all the cheek aching. talking from experience.

i mean, it’s got ‘dilf’ in the title, is that not enough? it’s what made me click, anyways. i’m a dilf lover through and through.

⠀

( ♬ ) A SERPENT’S FLOWER — by @jimlingss & @dovechim

!! jimin x reader | 34.2k !!

fluff, smut (18+), lil angst, hogwarts!au.

realistically, you knew at some point in this series there would be a harry potter!au thrown in somewhere, didn’t you? i mean, come on now. and i’m so happy this is the first one.

this two-parter and it’s sequel both are both due the respect they deserve. the perfect opposites attract trope? enemies to lovers? with a quick-witted slytherin reader and an even wittier hufflepuff park jimin? fuck me, don’t mind if i do.

i never say a fanfic has everything. but this fanfic has everything. character, romance, humour, angst, wit, the list goes on. it’s a fanfic buffet: it’s got it all, and you just help yourself.

and i realise some people don’t read the sequels to fanfics (i know), but i beg of you. read the sequel too. if anything, i think the sequel was my favourite bit. and i know some people don’t like the pregnancy trope, but i’m telling you there definitely is a time and place for it. and this is the time! and the place! trust me.

did i cry at the end of this fic? i can’t remember. but the probability is higher than i’d like it to be.

⠀

( ✮ ) ZERO GRAVITY — by @luxekook

!! namjoon x hoseok x reader | 11k !!

space!au, poly!au, angst, smut (18+), crack, fluff.

if someone doesn’t drop me on a spaceship with two of the hottest men on the planet in the next fortnight, i’m suing. don’t know who that’ll be yet, but some poor sod will have his hands full, that’s for certain.

i love space!au fics with my whole heart and ass. honestly, every time one comes up on my page, i have to save it. it’s a reflex at this point, they’re just too good. you know what is also too good? the built up tension within this fic. jaw-dropping.

i’m not giving out any spoilers, but the author really said, bonk— here is the nastiest smut you’ve ever read in your life. take it, or get fucked. and of course, i took it. but nothing really prepares you for that atmosphere change. not even the sex club was remotely ready. and it’s a sex club.

not going to lie, before writing this essay, i actually went back and read it again, just to make sure i was in the right mind the first time i read it. and yep, sure was. it’s just shocking how insane this fic is.

btw, anyone fancy a visit to throbbing disco sticks? i need a word with the person who came up with the name. and perhaps a kiss too.

⠀

( ✎ ) NO CHOICE (NEXT TO YOU) — by @gukyi

!! yoongi x reader | 13k !!

college!au, frat boy!au, neighbour!au, enemies to lovers.

miscommunication. my lover in fanfics, my worst enemy in real life. hence why i love this fic so much. because it’s not real life. (unfortunately).

we’ve all done that thing where we’ve accidentally eavesdropped onto something we shouldn’t of and one thing leads to another and boom, you find yourself misreading the whole situation. and you’re lying if you say you haven’t.

well, that’s this fic for you. times a thousand. honestly, enemies to lovers fics never do me wrong. they’re always a joy to read — the thrill and the very, very prominent sexual tension keeps you excited, waiting on the edge of your seat to see how everything plans out.

my point? this fic never bores you out. read it a thousand times and it still feels like the first. and not a lot of fanfics have that power, i’ll tell you that. a few, yes. but not a lot.

don’t take reading this for the first time for granted. wish i had that privilege. jealous.

⠀

( ✎ ) THE PRINCE’S CINDERELLA SYNDROME — by @jimilter

!! jimin x reader | 39.4k !!

cursed!jimin, supernatural!au, strangers to lovers!au angst, smut, fluff.

this fic altered my brain chemistry permanently. there’s no going back. i’m officially ruined, you guys. i don’t even know who i was before i read this. it was just- bang, clean slate.

to begin with, i thought ‘this bitch saw him twice and her knees buckled. what the fuck.’ but then i realised that bitch is me, and the so-called him is referring to thee park jimin, so really. i got it. who wouldn’t absolutely power move it after seeing such a sight? i might just jog a little. sprint on a good day.

i would happily write a five thousand word essay for you on how fucking good this plot slash idea was, and an additional ten thousand on how sad, but i don’t think my fingers— nor my mental state would be able to go through that. not again. please.

but as i mentioned in the last fic above, do not take reading this for the first time for granted. however, only because you will lose all rationality.

shakespeare most definitely plagiarised this fic. he wrote it down and her majesty knows. that’s why he looked so proud of himself at tea. the sneaky fucker. just he wait until i tell @jimilter.

sobbing. again. or is this the fourth time?

⠀

( ✎ ) ALWAYS IN MY DREAMS — by @kookskingdom

!! namjoon x reader | 15.4k !!

soulmates!au, fluff, angst, minor character death.

i mean, i already sleep too fucking much. only being able to meet my soulmate through my dreams would just make me comatose. you’d never hear from me. ever.

and yes, you saw the tag. it’s another soulmate!au because everyone knows how much nini loves her hopeless romance. but! who doesn’t. they’re too good to scroll past. so when i finally read this, i knew it was going in the series.

the unknown certainty between the pair of when their next encounter would be with each other, causing them to cherish every single second, that. that’s what i want please. someone who drinks up my existence knowing we will soon part from each other. i cannot.

i love, love, love the concept of soulmates, fate, destiny, whatever. the whole shabang. i bathe in it. so, of course, this fic was a big hit with me. and if that too is your thing, and you love the idea of two souls being intwined inside and out, this is your golden ticket.

@kookskingdom is mentioned in this chapter twice. but can you blame me? you find a ticket to the chocolate factory, of course you’re going to hold onto it as tightly as possible.

⠀

( ✮ ) VOICEMAIL — by @joonary

!! seokjin x reader | 7k !!

fluff, humour, friends to lovers, college podcast!au.

you know those dramas where both the two main characters are so completely smitten with each other to the point you’re practically screaming at your screen for them to “just kiss already!” but won’t because they’re hopelessly oblivious, even though everyone is telling them how in love they both are? yeah, that’s this fic. in a nutshell.

though in their defence, i feel i would definitely do the same. but still, does it stop me from getting frustrated with them? no. i was absolutely raging.

this cute story was so, so sweet i was practically clutching the phone for an emergency appointment to the dentist. my teeth were rotting with all the added sugar, like hello? my teeth? but just like chocolate is, it’s addicting. and you can’t stop yourself.

perhaps i’m just a sucker for friends to lovers fics, but this one particularly caught my attention. it’s 5k of pure infuriation, and 2k of fluff.

but so worth the impatience.

⠀

( ♬ ) FALL IN HATRED — by @jimlingss

!! seokjin x reader | 20k !!

divorce!au, angst, fluff, smut (18+), marriage!au.

first bullet point is just the thought of fuck me, ‘cause where do i start with this?

separation — in some ways — is the easy way out. you just get up and leave. walk out, whatever. boom, just like that. but the emotional repercussions are what make it so distressing. making that daunting decision to leave something— someone in our past, may be one of the hardest things we humans ever have to do.

this fic goes through the rough battle of what it means to be committed to a person. the battles of finally giving up on someone you once thought the world of. and honestly? that may be my worst fear. for someone to love me so deeply, and then lose that over time to see me as nothing more than an inconvenience of their past.

never been through divorce. hopefully you, nor i, will ever have to. but after reading this, i don’t think we have to experience it.

this amazing, yet painfully angsty fic does it for us. and a fucking incredible ending.

⠀

( ♛ ) THE ROAD TO RADIANT — by @kookskingdom

!! jungkook x reader | 25.9k !!

gamer!au, streamer!au, fluff, angst, smut, rivals to friends to lovers!au.

this got a crown on the shakespeare state chart purely for the fact i have never played valorant in my life, and single-handedly managed to impress my friends — who are obsessed with said game — about my newfound knowledge of gaming, purely from this fic alone. felt like a fucking genius.

i was going to add this to part four, but i genuinely had to swap some fics around to put this baby in. i found space for her, so she’s here. and deservedly so. why wait?

this fic does a very good job of highlighting the deep misogyny and sexism that runs within the gaming community towards women. like, can women not be good at gaming too? do people really believe gaming is purely a man thing? is this really the society we live in? yikes.

and if you do happen to read this fic and reach that argument scene with jungkook, please let me know. i want you to know i, too, was absolutely fuming. phones were thrown. naughty words were said. angry voice messages to said best friend were recorded.

final special mention for the smut scene. had me sweating like a sinner in church. lord have mercy.

⠀

( ♬ ) BRASS AND STRINGS — by @jimlingss

!! namjoon x reader | 113.7k !!

slice of life!au, fluff, slow burn, college!au, music!au.

take a shot every time this author is mentioned within this series. you’ll end up blackout pissed. it’s a shame they left this platform, but i hope they’re doing well. their fics have really left an impact on me. and i’ll forever be grateful.

ah, yes. the cheesy clichéd trope of the mean girl and the nerd. a mix of two completely different personalities and flavours that supposedly fit together like two broken pieces of a puzzle. the very foundation of a 2000’s romcom. an iconic pairing that has been hammered into us by the media since day one.

it’s the opposites attract that lured me in initially, but it’s the character development throughout the story that nestled itself into my heart, and got me to stay. this fic holds dear to me still.

i have gatekept this fic long enough, and i am trusting you to bear it with love and extreme care. like you’re holding a small, fragile baby in your arms. do not let me down. please.

one more thing, don’t share this with shakespeare. every time he’s brought it up, i’ve told him it was a really weird dream and he’s only just started to believe me. yes, i feel shit about it, but it has to be done. the man’s a menace.

⠀

( ✮ ) TANGLED WEBS — by @ughseoks

!! jungkook x reader | 14.1k !!

spiderman!au, soulmate!au (yup), angst, fluff.

if any of you say a word about the second tag, i will fight. i will never stop recommending them. me and the soulmates!au are soulmates. irony at its finest.

i genuinely wish spidey!jk was a real adaptation. because even though andrew is my favourite spiderman, i fear there is a large difference between the pair that separates them. andrew can play peter parker. jungkook can (re: could) play peter parker. but could andrew play jungkook? no.

in this fic, the whole characterisation of both jungkook as spiderman and the soulmate!reader is so well written. you can perfectly picture jungkook being that awkward high school boy by day, and secret superhero vigilante by night. i mean, fuck me. how is he not knackered all the time?

mixing in that final zest of soulmates!au everyone (re: me) loves, you’ve got yourself a hell of a plot line.

romeo and juliet were not soulmates, shakespeare. they were children. why aren’t you taking notes? stop talking to the queen. she’s tired of all your bullshit. and so are we.

⠀

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dinadumas · 11 months

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Hiiii~

Dear novels lovers, I sincerely want to recommend you one of the best works I've read. So if at the moment you are in search of something interesting don't pass by!

This novel actually has a manhwa with the same title, so if you're not interested in the novel you can find and read the manhwa! It does not have any plot discrepancies from the original.

"Turning" by Kuyu (쿠유).

It's a novel in the bl, fantasy, and omegaverse genre.

Wait wait. Those who now thought that the omegaverse is not interesting or poorly written, you are sorely mistaken! The novel itself doesn't pay that much attention to this genre, so you won't feel any discomfort while reading it! I even forgot about this genre at times. (Although most of the hot scenes are related to it, but you'll be satisfied, I promise.)

There are approximately 970 chapters in the original, and 305 are available in English (free).

If you are already a bit interested, please read the description first~

Yuder was a commoner Omega who rose to the top with his ability.

When he woke up again after being falsely accused and executed, he was back 11 years ago before everything began.

He must not repeat the same mistake he did before.

A chance to get back……

To survive, and to save the world, now he had to save the man he had killed!

Are you more interested? Jesus, I love you already. Keep going!

If you want to hear the opinion of someone who has already read all the chapters available in English, @armed-teddy-bear answered some questions especially for you!

Q : Dear reader, please tell us what you liked most about the novel "Turning" by Kuyu?

Teddy : It’s hard to pinpoint a single part of it, since all of it is perfect in my eyes. The characters are well-written and never act like walking tropes with no common sense, the worldbuilding is one of the best I’ve ever seen, the intrigues are taking and all well-linked together to form an enduring mystery and drama that, as of 300 chapters, is still just as interesting…

If I really had to pick, I would say the relationship between the two protagonists is honestly a high point. Heavily influenced by the past only Yuder can remember, it still manages to progress naturally while never having a boring moment. Every scene where the two of them interacted became one of my favorites.

In short, I would say: If you think you’ve read a novel like this before, no you haven’t. In my opinion, this novel is the best you could achieve in the genre of rebirth/time travel.

Q : Do you think the omegaverse genre is ruining the novel?

Teddy : It’s not a problem to me at all. But there are a lot of people who are uncomfortable with it. I don’t understand why exactly, but it’s like that.

On the contrary, I think the way Turning handles it makes it even more interesting. It hasn’t played too much into the story that far, so it could even be ignored by people who don’t like it, but I think it adds to the story quite a bit by adding more worldbuilding to the “awakeners” characters and the powers of this world.

The reason given for why it happened in universe is also good in my opinion. 👍

So it’s a complete OK for me!

Q : Can you highlight any flaws in the novel?

Teddy : I became the number one fan overnight. In my eyes, Turning can do nothing wrong.

But if I try to see it from someone else’s eyes… Maybe the length would be too long for someone else. You have to wait 200 chapters for the main couple to kiss for the first time, and at times you see characters and situations being set up.. and then you don’t see them begin to unfold for another 50 chapters!

There’s also a very, very large cast of characters, some of them named only to never properly appear… although that can also be seen as a quality! The novel feels very realistic and profound thanks to this, as allies and antagonists fade in and out of the storyline in accordance to the plot, never overstaying their welcome or standing uselessly in the background of a scene.

The supporting cast is also characterized and explored, even if they don’t stay for long, meaning that every character is inherently interesting. It’s thanks to this length in chapters and depth in characters that the novel gains in worldbuilding and intrigue with each new chapter.

Q : Please tell potential readers why they should not pass by this novel?

Teddy : Not reading Turning means passing by a novel that can and will satisfy anyone!

If you don’t like romance, then you’ll find your happiness in the worldbuilding, magic systems, and political plots.

And if you don’t like worldbuilding, magic systems, and political plots… well, think again! I thought I didn’t like those either before, but reading Turning, I found myself on the edge of my seat with every word. Everything is explained clearly and logically when it comes to intrigue, making it easy to understand and all the more interesting — but that doesn’t mean it’s lacking in emotions either! This novel masterfully meshes both plot and character building, making each moment count.

But most importantly, you’ll miss reading the developing relationship between Yuder and Kishiar, which I think is the biggest appeal of all. I’ve never rooted for a couple more in my life. Despite a past together filled with pain, they still manage to be one of the healthiest and most sincere relationships I’ve read in a long time.

So, to whoever is listening, please read Turning. You definitely won’t regret it.

Wow if you read to the end we really appreciate it! Thank you for your attention.

Please read Turning~

#manhwa #novel #turning novel #turning #yaoi bl #Boys love #bl manhwa #bl novel #터닝 #Teoning #Please read turning #Please

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morganbritton132 · 2 years

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I love your tiktok saga 🥺 I legit wake up each morning and run to the tag to see what giggles I'm in for. Just wondering, because my brain is made of soup--what health problems does Steve have? (based on his Canon injuries obvs, but what do you have him living with?) happy new year and thank you for bringing so much joy to the steddie tag!! ❤️

Thank You and Happy New Years to you too!!!

The Steve that lives in my head basically has the symptoms of the Steve in (something happens and I’m) head over heels by GibbousLunation on AO3, which I highly, highly recommend if you haven’t read it.

The Eddie Munson Tiktok Saga Steve has epilepsy and seizures, migraines, balance issues and forgetfulness, and like, disassociation. I’m not sure if that’s quite the word I’m looking for but basically, Steve’s mind sometimes will go offline but his body keeps going. I think every character in this show has a healthy dose of PTSD but I think Steve’s would come with a restlessness because his first reaction is to protect. He’s been in positions where if he froze up or hesitated than he or someone else could have die.

So when his mind blanks out, his body keeps the motion going just on instinct and sometimes, he’ll just leave the house because I think that’s terrifying. I think it’s scary to come back online in a different place than where you went to sleep and I think it’s equally scary to wake up and find your front door open and your husband missing. I think this just provides a good amount of angst for Steve but also for Eddie because a lot of his PTSD would probably center around people who were trapped inside their own minds. I also think seeing someone have a seizure would remind him of Chrissy.

I also think that Steve would struggle with bouts of anger or irritation (which hasn’t really been a part of the Saga because it’s more of a fun thing and realistically you’re probably not posting your arguments on the internet) because I think he’s a very independent person. I think he wants to be perceived in a certain way and once people realize that you have a condition or a disorder then they start to be careful around you. Sometimes they start treating you different or like you’re fragile, and I think that would bother Steve. He’s not fragile. He’s not broken. He saved the world and he’s coping with the consequences of that, but he still saved the world. None of it makes him weak and he doesn’t want to be treated like he is.

<- Last Post | Next Post ->

#this was wordy #I spend too much time thinking about this fictional man #also read the fic! it’s so good!!!#steve harrington #eddie munson tiktok saga #eddie munson

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schizotypal-culture-is · 25 days

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Do you work on a queue? Also unrelated any good stpd resources

Sent in: Aug. 29, 2024

Yes, this blog runs on a queue! (Unless there’s no asks, and we haven’t queued up any posts of our own!) That’s why the submissions are posted with the “sent in” date, so people can have a general idea of how far out their ask may be.

As for resources, it result depends on what it is you’re looking for. General info about StPD, symptoms and diagnostic criteria, the psychopathology and neuroscience, etc.

GENERAL INFO

Because a lot of the scientific studies and journals can be extremely dense and full of specialized vocabulary, I recommend starting with Wikipedia and “pop science” articles, to at least get yourself familiarized with the disorder. There’s no shame in using these sites. They’re written in plain, easy to understand English.

Just make sure they’re not the only resource you use for research, whether that be for self diagnosing, or just trying to understand the disorder better (for yourself or someone else).

Wikipedia

Mayo Clinic

Psychology Today

Cleveland Clinic

A lot of these articles tend to be very copy-and-paste and will repeat the same general information about StPD, such as symptoms and potential causes.

Once you feel like you have a good grasp of the disorder on a superficial level, you can start to dig a little deeper.

A BETTER UNDERSTANDING

NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov and PubMed are two sites that are an archive of scientific and medical journals, essays and studies. PubMed seems to be making the move to hide things behind a paywall/login, but NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov has all the same content as PubMed.

National Library of Medicine (General Info)

A Current Review (July 2014)

Diagnosis And Treatment (Oct. 2018)

If you see a journal hosted on PubMed, you should be able to copy and paste the title of it into a search engine and get the same essay hosted elsewhere that’s accessible without payment or login credentials. Sometimes they will be a PDF.

THE FULL PICTURE

As you read through studies and journals, you’ll find things you’re unfamiliar with that require further reading and research on their own.

In order to fully understand StPD, I personally recommend reading up on:

Attachment Theory (Disorganized Attachment leads to splitting in PDs)

Key Concept: Splitting (Black & White Thinking)

Narrative Self and the Theory Of Structural Dissociation (Splitting in PDs are why they’re narrative self disorders and part of the TOSD)

Theory of Ipseity Disturbance/Minimal Self Disorder (leading theory for schizo-spec disorders)

Schizotaxia/Schizotypy (schizotypal personality spectrum)

Psychosis, Brief Reactive Psychosis

And if you want: schizophreniform, schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders. This research doesn’t have to be extensive though. The difference between these disorders is duration of psychotic episodes (and the presence of depression or a bipolar disorder in schizoaffective disorder). Researching these will just give you a better understanding of StPD quasi-psychosis and brief reactive psychosis vs the other schizo-spec psychoses.

I once again recommended that when researching these topics, to start with Wikipedia and pop science articles/blog posts to try and get a superficial understanding of the concepts before digging into scientific literature.

Something else to note, while we use “quasi-psychosis” and “schizotaxia” in a strict, cohesive way, there’s no actual standardized language when it comes to talking about… well any disorder, really. Sometimes schizotypal personality disorder will be abbreviated as SPD, or some other way. Schizotaxia and schizotypy may be used interchangeably, and “quasi-psychosis” may be defined in any number of ways. Two studies can be taking about the same thing but use different terms, and that makes researching really difficult! The more you read, the more you’ll understand StPD as a whole and the better you’ll get at understanding what an author is conveying, even if they’re using their own language to describe something!

BLOGGERS

Here on tumblr there’s @schizotypalpd-culture-is , and @cluster-a-culture-is !

There’s not a lot of StPD specific bloggers that post consistently, given the nature of the disorder (social anxiety, paranoia, disorganized thinking, etc). I’d recommend checking the StPD tags often/following StPD tags and following bloggers that make content you find relatable and/or informative. If anyone has a blog they like, or would like to share their own blog, feel free to!

I don’t know about social media outside of tumblr, such as Reddit, X, TikTok or YouTube. If anyone has any suggestions or recommendations, please feel free to leave them in the reblogs or comments!

Good luck, and don’t feel discouraged if you feel overwhelmed. It’s okay to take your time. It took me years to understand all this stuff I’ve listed here in this post!

#anonymous #schizotypal personality disorder #stpd #actually schizotypal #actually stpd #resource #information #attachment theory #black and white thinking #theory of structural dissociation #ipseity disturbances #schizotaxia #schizotypy

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lily-fics-11 · 7 months

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The Cynic and The Sweetheart

You are cynical about love but Robin, the hopeless romantic with a secret crush, tries to convince you that love is real.

Warnings: not beta read, cynicism, a little bit of angst, a little bit of fluff, kissing/making out, revelations about sexuality

You enter Family Video, and your sort-of-friend Robin is behind the counter.

“Hey Y/N!” She seems happy to see you. You two run in different social circles but frequent the same parties and have classes together.

“Hey, how’s it going?” You ask with a smile.

“Good, I’m good. Are you looking for anything specific?”

“Not really, I’ve got nothing to do tonight so I figured I would watch a movie.” You sigh. Your best friend had said that she would hang out with you tonight but she bailed on you at the last minute to go on a date.

“Why don’t I help you pick something out,” Robin offers.

“That sounds great, thank you.” Even though it’s her job, you appreciate her taking the time to help you out after being blow off by your friend.

Robin heads down one of the rows of videos. You follow her until she stops scanning the shelves and pulls something out.

“Sixteen Candles” she says, holding the video out to you. “We just got it in, I saw it when it was in theatre, it was great.” You can tell she is a fan of the movie by the way she talks about it so you feel bad not accepting the video and rolling your eyes by accident.

“Robin, I appreciate your help, but I don’t think you know me well enough for this. In all honestly, I wouldn’t be caught dead watching a rom com.” Any of your close friends would know better than to recommend a rom com to you. You don’t blame Robin though, even though you were more than acquaintances you were not quite friends.

Robin looks shocked to say the least. “You don’t like rom coms? Who doesn’t like rom coms? Everyone loves rom coms!” She almost sounds offended.

“Me I guess. I’m just, not a fan, you know?”

“No, I don’t know. Like at all! I don’t get it, what’s not to love about romance and happy endings?” She is defending rom coms like her life depends on it.

“Because love is just a concept, Robin, it’s intangible!” You are just as defensive as she is.

“Love is absolutely real!” She seems very protective of this concept.

“Alright then, prove it to me,” you laugh knowing that making reality out of fiction is an impossible task.

“How am I supposed to prove it? I can’t just prove that love is real. Love and romance means something different for everybody. I wouldn’t know what the definition of love and romance would be for you, especially if you don’t even know it yourself. Haven’t you ever had a crush that makes your heart beat fast? Haven’t you ever felt the magic of falling for someone? Haven’t you ever had a perfect kiss? Haven’t you ever had someone look at you like you put the sun in the sky?” Robin is absolutely flabbergasted.

“No,” you just laugh more. “I’m still in high school. Isn’t it kind of intense? All of that at such a young age?”

“Well, I haven’t exactly experienced most of that myself. But I’ve read so many romance novels and watched so many movies and listened to so many love songs. Love just seems like something to strive for. It seems like falling in love would make the sun shine brighter,” Robin explains slightly in distress.

“Other people might have a definition of love, but I don’t. Because no one would ever feel that way about me, so I would never let myself feel that way about someone else. I understand that love is real for some people, but it’s just not real for me.” You try to clarify, stubbornly attempting to prove your point.

“I’m sorry.” Is all she has to say about that, looking like you just crushed her dreams.

“Why are you sorry?” You question.

“For starters, a life without the prospect of love is like a puzzle you can’t finish because there is a piece missing. But also because I can’t imagine what it’s like feeling as if no one could ever love you. I wouldn’t wish that upon anyone. Not even my worst enemy, and you’re a good person.” She looks genuinely concerned about you.

“Don’t worry about me, Robin.” You laugh again, trying to make light of what has become a deep conversation “I’m just being realistic.”

“What if you’re not?” She suggests.

“What do you mean?” You are not exactly sure what she is trying to get at.

“Y/N, what if you’re not being realistic? What if there was someone out there who felt drawn to you? That would kiss you if they got the chance? What if there was someone who saw you for who you are, not even caring that you don’t believe in love, because they could see themselves falling for you?” She offers that all to you, reserved but hopeful.

“I don’t know, Robin. I’ve never really thought about it. I guess I just have faith in my assumptions.” You shake your head, trying not to let her into it. You never intended to have a philosophical conversation. You just wanted to watch a movie.

Robin puts the video back on the shelf and then takes a step towards you. You are not sure why, but you also don’t question it.

“Just play devil’s advocate for a minute. What if you found out that your assumptions were wrong? Would that be enough to sway your opinion?” Robin seems well intentioned but you really aren’t sure why she is bothering. What does she get out of this? She is, however, starting to make you think no matter how hard you are trying to resist.

You ponder over what could persuade you to view love and romance differently. You eventually come to the conclusion that “I guess I would need some proof, like an experience that made it tangible for me. I guess it would take someone genuinely liking me, or kissing me and actually meaning it. Not just any person could convince me. It would have to be real and special.”

“So what you are telling me is that if someone genuinely wanted to kiss you, they should do it?” She’s got an air of curiosity.

“I wouldn’t want someone to kiss me that I couldn’t see myself with. But I guess if I let someone close enough to kiss me, why not? Neither of us would have anything to lose.” You tell her all this hoping to have satisfied her curiosity. You expect this to be the end of the conversation. There is no one else to turn to and it’s not like she is going to romance you. And she is definitely not going to kiss you.

That imaginary prospect sparks something in you though. You had never really thought that much about kissing anyone because kissing boys seemed like the only option. But the new found option of kissing a girl, that is intriguing. Your head begins to spin.

Robin takes another step towards you, leaving less than a foot of space between you. She reaches out her hand to brush a piece of hair off of your face.

“Is this close enough?” She asks with a smirk. Robin seems to be testing the waters, as if she were following the steps you have given her. But that’s ridiculous. Right? You are just letting yourself get carried away. She’s only gotten inside your head to prove her point. Right?

There is something about the way that Robin looks at you that causes a fluttery feeling in your stomach that you’ve never felt before. It reminds you of the way people describe their first crush or first kiss.

But now you are met with Robin’s pretty face, beautiful smile, and, now that you are looking deeply into them, alluring blue eyes. Something about Robin and this conversation has practically changed the chemistry of your brain and triggered a part of your imagination that you didn’t know existed. You can hardly believe it. But god is she endearing. You’ve quickly come to the conclusion that if it were with a girl, kissing was something you were interested in. Especially if that girl was Robin, who has taken the time to challenge your cynicism in a way that no one else ever cared enough to.

“I… I… um. Yes. I would say that’s, um, close enough.” You squeak out nervously. Your heart is racing from the attention that no one has ever given you before. You feel drawn to her like a magnet.

“So you are sure, you wouldn’t mind if I…” Robin begins but you cut her off, taking another step so you two have mere inches between you. “Just shut up and kiss me.”

Robin leans down towards you and you can feel her smile against your lips as she kisses you, as if she’s been waiting for this moment for a long time. At first you are both standing there a little awkwardly. But you just can’t seem to get enough of Robin. So you get as close to her as you can, your bodies pressed together, and you wrap your arms around her neck. She follows your lead and grabs your hips, clumsily at first but once her hands are settled in their position she tightens her grip. Robin was pulling you in as if she were trying to get closer despite the absence of space between you. Does she feel the same gravitational pull you feel towards her? The way that Robin holds you in place against her and insatiably kisses you starts a fire deep within you. You can tell that she really means it. She kisses you with an intention you didn’t know she had. You never imagined that another girl could make you feel this way.

You have no idea how much time had passed when you hear the door open. You and Robin quickly separate yourselves from one another and try to act casual. But you are unable to take your eyes off eachother or stop smiling.

“You know what Robin, I think I’ll take that movie,” you tell her nervously. Now that you have had this revelation about her she is making you nervous. Is this a crush? Is this more?

“Really?” She asks, sounding surprised and looking excited.

“I think you’ve started to convince me that romance is all that it’s cracked up to be.” She looks a little disappointed when you tell her that, “only started?”

You lean towards her and whisper in her ear with a smirk: “I think you should come over after work and watch this movie with me. You can finish proving your point.”

Robin’s jaw drops and her eyes go wide. She takes a moment to recollect herself.

“You will be a firm believer by the time I’m done with you.”

Thanks for reading, lmk what you think:)

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chocolatori · 2 years

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Tendou recalls when he realized he had fallen in love with you.

It didn’t start off as a romance, and it wasn’t even a friendship either but he does recall the first time he ever saw you. It was a hot summer morning when you first walked into the door of his dainty cafe accompanied by the soft chime of the bell, the first time you have walked into his life.

It was odd that you struck him so much at first glance. He wasn’t exactly looking for love at that time, but he knows for sure that he wants to fall in love at some point in his life. One that he often reads in his shoujo mangas, he had always been curious if falling in love would be something like that. If it would be as euphoric as the stories and movies he has seen.

You became a regular customer since then. He had never known that his thoughts could be too sweet like the chocolates he makes. He never wanted to be near to you but he always deeply regret the moments he could have been close to you or the moments he could have talked to you. He always struggled to compose himself in your presence and his heart could beat so fast like a parade of soldiers on a marching spree.

He vividly remembers the first time you made a conversation with him. You are kind, he thinks. It was a mundane question, something along the lines of what was his favorite on the menu. Because apparently, you haven’t tried everything on their menu yet.

Since then, you would ask what he could recommend on their menu and it wasn’t the same vanilla latte you would buy every day. And since then he has found himself making something special just for you.

You started making conversations with him, about how irritating one of your professors are to how you were always on the run to catch the train just not to miss a class.

And he always listens, and he never interrupts.

And sometimes he wonders if you also talk about these things to someone else. If there’s someone who’s also this eager to hear your stories.

He never had the guts to ask for your number, but he was able to get your name at least. You call him Tendou, and sometimes he would wish you call him by his first name.

It’s one of those really slow days where there aren’t really many customers that come in, but that always changes everything once his favorite customer has arrived. He gave your order and he was ready to see you off already when you suddenly spoke to him.

“Who is responsible for the music here?” You ask, and he turns to you.

“Oh, that would be me too,” Tendou replies with a smile.

“For real?”

“I have always loved the music that plays here, one of the reasons I kept on coming back here aside from the food,” you chuckle.

“I guess we have the same music taste then,” he quips as he props his arms on the counter.

“I have always wanted to talk to that person,” you tell him.

“I think I kind of have a tiny crush on him,” you trail off.

“Just tiny?” he inquires.

And you laugh, your laugh that soothes his mind and lightens his day.

The truth is he hates summer, but that one summer morning changed everything.

He does not like the muggy, sticky, claustrophobic, hot days. He does not like the bugs that buzz and bite and the insect repellent at night, but he’s willing to spend his entire life with every season of you.

#im supposed to be working on my statics homework but inspiration suddenly visited me : D #haikyuu fluff #hq fluff #hq x reader #haikyuu x reader #haikyuu imagines #hq imagines #haikyuu drabble #hq drabble #tendou satori fluff #tendou fluff #tendou satori x reader #tendou x reader #tendou satori imagines #tendou imagines #haikyuu scenarios #hq scenarios #mai.works

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mamahersh · 1 year

Text

Mamahersh’s Post-MAG-200 Fanfic Recommendation Mega Thread

@a-mag-a-day

In celebration of us finishing The Magnus Archives (even if I admittedly fell off around S2 and have been mostly lurking since then), I have compiled all of my fave post series fics for your enjoyment! I will be grouping them in some big, general categories, which I’ll list above the read more here. Depending on the size of this post, it might start looking a bit like that “Do you like the sky?” post But I can assure you that I have read all of these and can give them my stamp of approval!

If you finished the series and were wishing for your best boys to finally be happy, then boy howdy do I have some fanfiction for you!

Time Travel

Somewhere Else

AUs

Uncategorized JonMartin Fluff

By these categories, we should hopefully cover all the recommendations I have, and I hope you all find some new fics! (or enjoy rereading fics you haven’t enjoyed in awhile)

TIME TRAVEL

where there’s a will, we make a way by bubonickitten

"So, what does happen if an Eye learns to See within itself?

What happens is this: the Archive Beholds the Watcher – and the Watcher blinks first."

________________________

Jon goes back to before the world ended and tries to forge a different path.

Probably my fave time travel fic in this fandom hands down; it is also currently the longest whilst still unfinished. While I try not to recommend unfinished fics that I am uncertain of their return to activity, this is a big exception and personally I love everything about it! It’s got Jon dealing with trauma through the lens of his speaking only in Statements, Martin being saved from his downward spiral into the Lonely way earlier in S4, Georgie actually sticking around, Basira having a better grasp of the situation and being more understanding about it, and everyone generally sticking close to character while managing to buck parts of the narrative. I cannot recommend this fic enough, and I very likely already did back near the start of S5.

Something’s Different About You Lately by thesnadger

Jonathan Sims has been head archivist for just a few months, but he has memories of holding the position for years. He remembers monsters, and darkness, and the end of the world. Somehow, he'll have to keep everyone safe from what's coming. Meanwhile, his assistants can't understand why their prickly jerk of a boss has gone sappy all of a sudden.

So TMA time travel fics that focus on Jon going back tend to come in two varieties. There’s the “Jon’s mind goes back and replaces himself/inhabits his past self’s body” and then there’s the “Jon physically goes back so there’s two Jons”. The first two on this list are of the first variety, and if I remember right this was one of the first I ever read. However, I recommend this one specifically because this has an amazing ending. Like, it might just be me, but many of the endings in these feel relatively unsatisfying because there’s magically a third option where Jon comes out unscathed while saving his S1 archives crew from the Horrors. For whatever reason, it was incredibly satisfying having a fic that didn’t shy away from the options presented in S4 and S5 and I love how they characterize everyone in this one as well.

100 Seconds to Midnight by starspangledbread

Jon and Martin find themselves back in 2011 after attempting to release the fears from their reality. The world is the same one they left behind, but now something has come back with them. They have a chance to destroy the fears once and for all, but it proves harder than expected. Who knew that the best laid plans could be thwarted by nosy co-workers, office romance, the inevitable learning curve of being a time traveler turned grifter, and the refusal to believe in subtlety?

Did someone say Extinction!Jon? This also is a part of a series, though the true sequel to this one is currently unfinished (though it should eventually be completed and only has one chapter to go). An excellent romp, I definitely recommend if you’re looking for something kinda dark, some comedy, a little OOC, and Martin being able to embrace his crime side in the name of saving the world.

Yesterday is Here by CirrusGrey

"Who the hell are you?" Jon could feel his hands shaking. The man laughed, taking a step forward and raising a hand to point at him. "I'm you, from the future!" he said, then swayed, eyes going unfocused, and collapsed to the floor in a dead faint. -------- Post-season-four Jon and Martin time travel back to the season one Archives.

Written by my fave (and most prolific) JMart author, we have a perfect example of the other kind of time travel fix it fic in the form of Jon physically travelling to the past to try and save the world. As expected by someone I am calling my fave JMart author, we’re going to be getting double dose on the JMart. I highly recommend if you’re looking for something that starts a little bittersweet, but then ends in copious amounts of fluff.

Reverb (Series) by Wolftraps

Undoing the apocalypse would have been enough for Jon, if all his people survived. Without them, Jon's only recourse is making it so it never happened in the first place. He's going to do better this time.

Summary from the first fic in the Reverb series, I highly recommend the first two fics in this series for different reasons. “The Reverb in These Holy Halls” is a great time travel fic that takes some really interesting turns by the end and unlike most fics actually has Jon try to keep Tim safe by keeping him out of the Archives pre-S1. However “Gossip” I recommend if you enjoy those fics formatted to look like official communication of some kind. It’s got people outside the Archives trying to figure out what’s wrong with them during the events of the first fic, and while it would be very confusing to read without the first fic, I’d almost say it’s worth it if you aren’t feeling the tags on the first one. Really fun and entertaining, you can’t go wrong with either one.

The Triumph of Galatea (for Acis is transformed) by TheOestofOCs

Statement of Hazel Rutter.

Jon couldn’t stop reading.

The Fears, however, are a bit more powerful than Jonah gave them credit for. Jon opens the door, but the world can’t hold what’s on the other side.

Time falls through, instead. Past becomes present, and the future is undone.

Statement begins.

Another fic I definitely recommended back at episode 160, but is well worth the second recommendation and/or re-read. Time Travel, but what if Jon could control as well as go into the dreams of the assistants/other Eye aligned people instead of just his victims’ dreams? Very good, even if unfinished, though the author seems likely to finish someday. Check out their other work as well, it’s all very good and has my fave Circus themed fic written to date.

a map of what matters most by gruhukens

“Is that a body,” Tim blurts before he can stop himself, rising to his feet. Martin looks, if possible, even more scared.

“He’s alive!” he hisses, almost defensively. “It’s not - it’s not Gertrude again, I didn’t kill him, he just – I don’t know what happened to him, I just found him in the stacks like this.”

“And you dragged him up here?” Tim says, and then registers several things at once – the build, the hair texture; the little round scars peppering a pair of thin hands and an awfully familiar face. “Wait, is that Jon?”

----

Jon stumbles back into an earlier Archive, looking for a way to fix the world. (Or, mom says it's my turn for the obligatory time travel au)

Directly inspired by CirrusGrey’s fic that I recommended earlier, this is another: Jon travels physically into the past fic. This one though is far more bittersweet than “Yesterday is Here”, but still an excellent read and does a great job at fleshing out the relationships between all the characters.

Saving the Universe: For Dummies by GhostChoir

Finding a man bleeding out in the alleyway was not what Elias wanted to do today. And he certainly didn’t mean to befriend him. But things never did go how he expected.

****** A Post-MAG200 Jon meets a 1970s Elias, an Elias from before he was corrupted by Jonah. Together, the two of them learn to cope with grief, drink more tea than any two people should be able to consume, and commiserate over shitty bosses. Oh, and just for the hell of it, they stop an apocalypse along the way.

Now for a change of pace: What if Jon time travels to the time of early Gertrude and Elias pre-Jonafying? A very good fic is what! While it’s been awhile since I read this, I do remember it’s quite good and deserves a chance. Note: this is NOT Jonathan/Elias, so my apologies if you were looking for that, but it is two very lonely men getting to just have a reliable friend in times of trouble.

A Little Game of Cat and Mouse by Paptato

“Jonah Magnus.” The cloudy silhouette snarled as it’s hand clamped tightly around Jonah's ascot. That was indeed his name, but Jonah couldn’t begin to fathom what he did to have it spat out with such hatred.

But nonetheless, Jonah was a gentleman and he would kindly address the angry figure as politely as possible, “Yes, and you are?”

“What?” The form spluttered as it slowly came into focus. Ah, yes. That probably wasn’t the proper response to being held at gunpoint by a random stranger. Must have been the blow to his head.

(Or in which Jonathan Sims goes back in time and tries to pull a Terminator, but fails and Jonah Magnus finds a new mystery to solve.)

This is that Jonah Magnus/Jonathan Sims enemies to lovers fic your friends warn you about in a good way. It’s not done, but I think it’s still being updated very slowly. Even if all I ever read is the currently released 11 chapters, I will consider it my one exception to my dislike of Jonah/Jon. As you can probably guess by the description, it’s a time travel fix it where Jon gets shunted back in time to when Jonah was still very human and still trying to figure out the Fears. The Web keeps Jon from explaining his circumstances or anything to do with Jonah’s future in particular, but this is a good thing and they both get to learn how to be more human in a world that previously was very antagonistic to those goals. It’s got a heavy dose of comedy, plenty of romantic tension, and lots of both surprising and unsurprising cameos. If you enjoy Dracula Daily, you’ll probably enjoy this imho.

Déjà Vu by CirrusGrey

Sasha remembers being unmade. Tim remembers being Unknown. Jon and Martin remember being unwound. All of them think they're the only one. -------- The S1 crew wakes up in the past with memories up till the moment they died.

So, here’s another one that’s got quite the spin on it. As you can see from the description, this one is where S1 crew all get their minds sent back in time to the time right around Jon’s first statement if I remember right. Another CirrusGrey fic, so it heavily leans on JonMartin, but otherwise it’s a wonderful exploration of the four S1 characters and ends on a very hopeful note!

oh my darling, just a moment of your time by IceEckos12

The Institute is visited by a pair of time travelers, and Jon has an important question for Tim.

Have you ever had a oneshot that just kinda guts you unexpectedly? While this might not do this for everyone, this is an amazing oneshot that gets right the point. I love it a lot, because of all of the fics where future and past meet each other, it very rarely if ever is addressed that past Jon was a douche. Or well it is but past Jon doesn’t necessarily have a character moment from it. Here he does, and despite the briefness of the fic, the author does an amazing job of giving Jon and Tim a moment while making an almost critique of the TMA time travel genre. Highly, highly recommend, and it won’t overstay it’s welcome if it doesn’t end up being your thing.

The Severing of Webs by chlodobird

After Jon kills the world, he travels back in time. Once there, he gets ready to change the future, to save his Assistants, and to watch as everyone learns to hate him again.

Unfortunately, the tapes wrap around him like a fly caught in a Web—he can't move. He's trapped reliving the original timeline, stuck acting out his past actions like an actor rehearsing his lines.

Sasha will die. Tim will die. Martin—

(Jon screams inside his mind, and someone hears him. Fate is not as immutable as he fears.)

This one is a brand new one! While basically all of the others on the list have been out/updating for over a year at this point; this lengthy oneshot just released this month. tbh, very excellent, which is why it has made the list. Also, quite the twist on the usual premise, where being sent back into his head is actually a bad thing this time. Ends with a giant pile of fluff, but who would I be if all my time travel recommendations were not also fix-its?

Somewhere Else

it will be this, always by bluejayblueskies

Jon coughed again, and blood stained his lips and blood stained Martin’s hands where they pressed against Jon’s back and blood stained the floor beneath them and help, they needed help.

Martin doesn’t remember shouting. He barely remembers the faces that had surrounded them, wide-eyed and terrified, all utterly unfamiliar.

Jon and Martin wake up somewhere else. Jon begins a slow path toward physical recovery, and several important, long-put-off conversations are had as they begin to navigate a new world that they hadn’t thought they’d be alive to see.

So, I’m sure you all have gathered that I have qualms with how much disparity there is between canon and fanon Jmart. This fic is painful, but is the most in character depiction of post 200 JMart fallout I have ever read. The ending is very cathartic, and takes a “realistic” approach to what happens to Jon and Martin as they begin to navigate their relationship after they both had betrayed each other so thoroughly in the leadup and culmination of MAG 200. If you don’t want them immediately making up, this is the fic for you. They get there, but by all that is good do they take their sweet time getting there.

Out There, Somewhere by Artyphex

"I'm sorry, you were found alone."

Jon survived the apocalypse and now will go to the end of this new, unfamiliar world to find Martin again.

So I think I’m just getting all the angsty ones out of the way first lol. Another slow burn, this fic is Jon’s recovery in the new reality while he also searches for what happened to Martin. Since I don’t post the tags, I will say this ones does feature “Eventual Happy Ending”, and I do promise that both Jon and Martin made it to the new reality and lived. But Jon and Martin both get to pine and cope for a while before that happy ending tag comes into play. It’s incredibly well done and explores their characters really well. Personally, I kinda enjoyed the Reddit saga because people mistaking Jon’s pleas for Martin as an ARG is very typical internet and 100% I would have bought into that at age 13.

Of course I need a therapist. I need ten therapists, working round the clock building me a bionic coping mechanism. We have the technology. by MartinKBlackwoodESQ

A story set somewhere else.

I’mma be real with you all, if I believed that characters could write and publish their own fanfiction, I would be halfway convinced the name is accurate. All joking aside however, this is a “crack treated seriously” fic but with characterization so on point I can consistently hear the voice actors when I read this. Admittedly, it’s made easier by it being written in transcript formatting, but if you’re looking for a hilarious time where TMA is suddenly is turned into a buddy cop adventure where Jon and Martin go to a universe where the Fears hadn’t been till their arrival, and they have doubles that already exist there who are living fairly normal lives till the TMA Jon and Martin crash land into their reality... Well this fic is one I cannot recommend highly enough. It also has a sequel, and it is also well worth the read, even if it appears to be on a bit of a break in it’s updates.

Worlds like phyllo pastry by neworld

After episode 200 Jon finds himself alone in a world very much like the one he left but fractionally different. It's so similar he finds versions of his former friends existing happily in the world. Unfortunately they have never met him in this universe and have no idea who he is.

This one’s unfinished, but personally it’s well worth the read as is. Not sure how I feel about the most recent chapter, but the story up till that point is a really fun spin on “Jon and Martin get shunted to a new reality” where Jon learns how to feed in a way that doesn’t cause problems facilitated by the new reality, and re-meets all the people who he lost till this point and has a very silly antagonistic relationship with his alternate self. While fic might be more of a guilty pleasure, it still is written in such a way that I would rank it high enough for this disorganized list.

Death Is The Easy Way Out by traveller19

After having killed Jonah Magnus and ended the Change, Jon and Martin should finally be able to rest. Rest, however, proves impossible when Jon falls ill. What's more, he begins having vivid dreams of their dead friends - Tim, trapped in the destroyed Archives, and Sasha, trapped outside of them. As Jon's condition quickly worsens and the line between dream and reality begins to blur, love is all he and Martin have to hold on to, because hope is a dangerous thing.

Did someone say sickfic??? But for real, this fic has an amazing balance between an A plot and a B plot, and keeps both at the right level of tension throughout. While this is a sickfic heavy one, it also features Tim and Sasha as ghosts trying desperately not to be. There’s also a lovely sequel and plenty of fluff by the end, but this is a rough ride. ALSO, if you or a loved one had covid / any respiratory illness that caused them to be hospitalized with pneumonia and it could be trigging to read incredibly on the nose descriptions of that experience, this fic is not for you. Or very cathartic. :/

Castaways by CirrusGrey

Welcome to the Castaway Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a safe and secure landing to those lost souls banished from their home worlds by the influence of Fear.

If you wanted saccharine JMart in a new reality where they get therapy and meet old friends from different realities, this series of (mostly) one shots is for you! As you’ve probably come to expect when I suggest CirrusGrey, the writing is fantastic, the ship dynamics are exemplary, and the character are on point. There is so much to say about this series, but mostly, if you want Jon and Martin healing and then settling together and becoming the stereotypical married couple, then this is it. It’s not done, but it is wrapping up, and I hope you all if you haven’t seen this yet enjoy it as much as I do. And for those long time readers who have been reading it longer than I’ve been in the fandom, here’s your friendly reminder that it exists.

Do Before I Die by SupposedToBeWriting

Somewhere Else, Jon can't seem to shake the strange apathy that now plagues his life. Everything reminds Martin of the end of the world. For a change of pace, he and Martin rent a campervan and go on a road trip. Their mission? To fulfill the 'bucket list' Martin made when he was eighteen and lonely. Jon's looking forward to the beach.

Jon and Martin go on a Road Trip accross Britain. It’s just a wholesome and hurt/comfort as it describes. An excellent romp, and the character studies are wonderful. The Planetarium still sticks with me.

ours is a distant shore (series) by pantsoflobster

“If they ever found out about us, we could make things really complicated for them," Jon said. Martin gave a thoughtful hum and then a loaded pause before he said, “Or simpler.” “What?” “We could, you know…” Martin then made mischievous eyes at him in lieu of expanding. “What?” Jon said, thoroughly lost. “Wouldn’t it be a bit fun to sort of... nudge them in the right direction?”

Months after they arrive Somewhere Else, Jon sees himself in the shop.

Summary is from the first fic in the series, this is a fun little romp for those who hated Martin’s defeatism over his and Jon’s relationship in MAG199 and want to see what would happen if instead he accidentally kick started an alternate version and his and Jon’s relationship Somewhere Else. It’s all very silly, tho the last fic does lean more into the hurt/comfort tag than the previous two. Over all though, if you’re looking for a little crack, a lot of fluff, and Jon and Martin being silly this is a good time.

Written in the Stars Will Have to Do by GentlemanCrow

“Yeah well, god knows why, but he thinks you hung the moon, so you might try treating him at the very least like a human being once in a while.”

It was such a small thing. Small words for a small feeling cloaked in a chintzy veneer of idiomatic dismissal. A trembling little bird cupped in his scarred and battered hands and smothered. Or so he thought. Sometimes trembling little birds turn out to be phoenixes, and those who looked to someone else to hang the comfort of a wise, silvery moon in the sky already have the hammer and the picture wire at the ready.

As far as Jon was concerned, the moon only rose on their Somewhere Else because Martin deigned to pull the strings every night, not him.

This is another one of those JMart Somewhere Else fics masquerading as a Safehouse fic that made me want to cry. It’s just, so wonderful, and once again we have themes of healing, but this time through getting a hobby and sharing it with your significant other. The writing is lovely and really gives off the stuffy academic musings I would expect being in Jon’s head (which we are for the duration of this fic) but adds a layer that I didn’t realized I needed till I read it.

On Errantry by ZaliaChimera

Somewhere Else, Jon and Martin discover that their new home has a very special sort of guardian, and Jon seeks judgement from an unexpected source.

They do say that cats purring can heal...

A cute one shot that deals with Jon’s lingering guilt from S5; this is a wonderful tale from Somewhere Else featuring a giant Cat, Martin being supportive, and Jon trying to reconcile his second chance. Very sweet and fluffy, guaranteed!

Lost, Unfound, But Not Forgotten by Elynn

They didn’t find bodies. Or anything pointing to where they may have gone. In the center of the rubble, what Georgie assumed to have once been the top of the tower, was a puddle of dried, crusted blood, and the outline of bodies in the dust and scorch marks. And she knew that wherever the Fears had gone, Jon and Martin had gone with them. The last victims, snuffed and dragged away with them. --- In the weeks after the Eye-pocolypse, Georgie Barker begins the painful process of mourning her best friend.

So, I know I’m very focused on Jon, but I have one fic of Georgie here that’s 10/10. Post 200, Georgie and Melanie eventually goes to clean out Daisy’s cabin of Jon and Martin’s things for Basira (or something like that) and Georgie finds a journal of Jon’s that he kept whilst there. It’s just as bittersweet as you’d imagine, but it’s fantastically cathartic to read and in our MAG 200 feels, this is a good one for closure.

Not Quite Somewhere Else by hawkfurze

Or you can find it on Tumblr HERE

A special entry to finish out this section, I have a long running comic from Tumblr user @hawkfurze who made a TMA x Infinity Train crossover. While I had not watched the show previously (only seen the trailer/pilot from back before it got picked up by CN), the comic is still easy to understand and explains the Infinity Train parts in such a way as to not need any prior knowledge. I highly recommend this comic for anyone who wants a visual treat delving into the relationship and psyches of Jon and Martin as they try to escape into the next reality.

AUs

Two Graves by SupposedToBeWriting

Jon sends the fears far from Earth and flees London, leaving the others to assume the worst. He settles in a small village and opts to live there quietly until he dies, a self-imposed penance. This plan is foiled when the first former Avatar shows up - and Jon realizes that every domain-keeper in the apocalypse still has some faint connection to him.

After a year of being a shoulder to cry on for confused and distraught former Avatars, Jon leads a moderately happy life. He has a flourishing garden, a cat, and some company. All of that comes crashing around his ears (or his head) when a familiar face shows up to his cabin, demanding answers.

This fic is in my top 5 fics of TMA fandom. No contest. It has some of the best healing from MAG 200 for Jon and Martin and tbh the world I’ve seen. It’s got that incredible hurt/comfort and the ending makes me cry tears of joy every time I read it. If you read any JMart fic on this list, please read this one if you can only read one. While I was tempted to put this in a different category, this seemed like the best place to put it.

What Comes After by Mornrandir

More than a year after the apocalypse, the world is starting to move on. Georgie, Melanie, and Basira have learned to move on and get back to living their lives. Then Martin reappears- without Jon- and they have to learn to begin again.

A series based around the initial above description, each entry in the series follows the healing of first Martin, then Jon, then both of them together. While I am a Jon-centric woman, if you are of a more Martin-centric leaning, this first fic in the series should scratch that itch. The final entry is very sweet, and the second definitely has a unique reason as to why Jon shows up so late to the after-Fears party.

The Watcher’s Cows by lenioia

He still remembers the first cup of tea Martin brought him. That’s where it began, not with the dog incident. A sweet and strong blend, reasons for appearance unknown, how could it taste so good, also unknown. Jon stares at what will be the last cup between them. His miserable parting gift. Where it’ll end.

Alt Mag 200, or in a slightly kinder universe which differs by exactly one cup of tea, Martin is the one who switches plan last minute, and Jon’s last half-backed scheme, for once, works.

An AU splitting off MAG 199/200, where Jon’s plan actually happens, but instead of it being quite so bleak he finds a new path with the help of Martin. I know the original ending of the series is probably the most hopeful one realistically, but we all enjoy our fixits here, so this is a really sappy “by the power of love” Jon and Martin save the universe and still get to live in it AU. Highly highly recommend, and it finished within the last 8 months, so it’s “on the newer side” as it were. If you haven’t read it, give it a shot, and if you’ve read it and it’s been awhile now’s a good time to read it again.

The Eyespot Chronicles (series) by SupposedToBeWriting

To Martin Blackwood's surprise, he wakes up in the ruins of the Magnus Institute. He thought he would be dead. The world is back to normal, the Entities are gone, and everyone realizes that it's finally over. The only sticking point is that Jon isn't exactly the Jon that went into the apocalypse. Never one to give up, Martin is determined to make a life for himself and his boyfriend. Even if he is a giant moth.

Summary taken from the first in the series, this trilogy of fics covers Jon and Martin’s attempts at healing in a world that remembers what happened. The first fic focuses entirely on Martin’s struggles, the second on Jon’s, and the 3rd (as you might guess) focuses on them both. The series is excellent, and if you’ve got the fortitude for canon-typical emotional constipation after having just experienced MAG-200 it’s well worth the read.

Another Guest for Mr. Spider by Dribbledscribbles

Jon isn't eating his statements like he should.

Mr. Spider doesn't like it.

Written in transcript format, this AU considers the idea of what if the Web was more hands on it it’s approach to getting Jon to Become more monstrous; or at least not starve himself out. Incredible read, you need an AO3 account though. But I have never been that spooked by a Statement or encounter before I read this fic. If you DO NOT like spiders on you or in your mouth and you don’t like reading about it either, potentially hold off on this fic, or at least skip from where Mr. Spider says “Open your mouth. Do not move.” to when he says “Wash it down with this. Now.” But yeah if you didn’t get enough spider trauma from canon, this fic gives it in spades! (And if you want Mr. Spider getting his comeuppance, you get that too ;) )

Illicio by ThatOneGirlBehindYou

As the new Archivist debates between life and death, the Eye ponders on what to offer him in order to avoid an encore of the unfortunate situation with his predecessor.

-----

Gerard Keay opens his eyes at what feels like fuck-ass in the morning, inside a room with far too little space and far too much dust.

A long form AU of what if Gerry Keay was brought back by the Eye to convince Jon to stay on team Monster if you will. Goes all the way through MAG-200, has some great twists and turns, and manages to turn into an “Everyone Lives AU” as well. While it is currently updating, it’s updating every week on Saturday till it finishes, and she only has 2 chapters left. If you’ve managed to never read this, now is certainly the time for it! It is Jon/Gerry/Martin, so if that’s not your exact cup of tea I’d still say give it a shot.

we should ride this wave to shore by ClarionGlass

“archives research & statement envestigation” Timothy Stoker renamed the group “drinks drinks drinks” Timothy Stoker changed Sasha James’s nickname to saucy sash Timothy Stoker changed Martin Blackwood’s nickname to martini kart Timothy Stoker changed his nickname to stonked stonked: so how bout it lads saucy sash: oh god. A TMA group chat fic where the worst problems they have to deal with start with "h" and end with "angovers"

Right, I don’t tend to read chat fics, I’m going to be honest with you all. I have two exceptions and this is one of them. It goes interesting places, the characters are not completely OOC, if it they are at least it’s consistent OOC and not in a grating way. But in all seriousness, I recommend this because of how it ties in with MAG 160 and 200; as well as how the sequel deals with canon S5. The sequel isn’t finished and is slow to update, but I am still recommending at the very least the first one. It’s a good romp and I highly recommend.

Ask an Exec: How to Navigate Cultish Colleagues, Soul-Stealing Bosses, and the End of the World at Work by shinyopals

I've recently been unexpectedly promoted to lead a department in my organisation, wrote the anonymous emailer.

As there was no one working here when I arrived, my manager, who is head of the organisation, had promised me the choice of my own assistants. However, without warning, he simply presented me with an additional assistant. This new assistant’s first act on his first day was to let a dog into the office. It took several hours to catch and clean up after this dog and it has only been downhill from there. I admit I'm not entirely sure what to do with this assistant now I'm stuck with him. I'm hoping you have some advice?

Kind regards, New Manager

Abigail Bailey runs a successful management advice blog. One frequent contributor is from a workplace with some... issues.

While this isn’t quite an AU and is basically canon compliant, I’m putting it here because it’s a “what if Jon was an avid seeker of advice on a management advice blog?” AU. It’s beautifully formatted, and features very in character interactions. If you are a sucker for the TMA trope: how do normal people react to the weirdness at the Institute, then this is a great fic for you. I know it’s probably one of the most popular things to have hit the Jonathan Sims tag on AO3 in recent months, but this is just me reminding you all it exists and well worth the re-read.

JMart Fluff

Author CirrusGrey

Literally anything by them. I think I probably recommend them every time I talk about JMart, but I think on AO3 they are both the most prolific and one of the best writers for the tag. Pick almost any fic they’ve written for TMA and it’s probably JMart. There’s too many fics of their’s to recommend, so I’ll just link you straight to their profile and you can go swimming from there lol.

Jon’s Moving Castle by IceEckos12

Martin Blackwood may not have a perfect life, but he does have a good one. That is, until a series of magical encounters leave him with an unfortunate curse. Out of other options, he goes to the wizard who lives in the moving castle for aid.

Life never goes how he intends it to, though.

Basically Howl’s Moving Castle, but with a TMA spin. You don’t need to have seen the movie to understand what’s going on, and honestly while it sticks fairly close to the movie, it doesn’t stick so close that it feels constrained by it in places where it wouldn’t make sense in the AU they’ve set up. It’s a very sweet JMart fic with a satisfying conclusion.

The 101 Kidnappings of Jonathan Sims (and Other Inconveniences) by beetlejoos

Martin Blackwood never applies for a job at the Magnus Institute. The universe seems determined that he meets Jonathan Sims anyway. But is it Fate, or something more sinister, that keeps bringing the two of them together?

Right, this mostly crack treated seriously. It’s got hurt/comfort, but it’s fairly light hearted throughout. As one could guess by the title and description, Jon is repeatedly kidnapped and brought to wherever Martin is living/working at the time. While it’s not done yet, and not on a schedule, the chapters that are out thus far are well worth the read. That and there’s some cute fan art for it that’s linked to in the end notes. But I recommend this because it’s got that vibe of S1 Jon meets S1 Martin outside of the Institute and romance (eventually) happens. Very fun read if you haven’t read it yet.

i think we’re alone now + alone-verse (series) by milliganopen

Just a couple of guys breaking into a basement. What could go wrong?

Getting trapped in your apartment with your boss, that's what.

Season 1 re-imagined if Jon and Martin had been trapped by Jane Prentiss together.

Initially I recommended this back when we had hit MAG039/022 because it was a great AU to Martin’s Statement where Jon also gets trapped in Martin’s apartment during Martin’s no good very bad 2 weeks of worm siege. HOWEVER, the author has since continued this series and is slowly working their way through canon one season/fic at a time. They’re currently on S3, and I am definitely keeping an eye on it for whenever the next update happens. If you haven’t had the time to check it out, it’s got some very good JMart moments, and their relationship manages to move faster than a glacier.

Fate, or Something by HermaeusMora

"You can't be serious." Jonathan Sims raises his eyes at last to properly look at Georgie, expecting her to laugh and make some quip about finally getting him to put the damn book down, at least.

"Well, I am," she shoots back.

He sets his book aside and turns fully towards her, betrayal clear on his face. "A blind date, really?"

Jon makes the frankly terrible decision to go on a blind date with one Martin Blackwood. Fate ensues. AU where Jon and Georgie are still friends, Georgie likes finding dates for her friends, Martin doesn't work at the institute, and everyone is just a bit happier while canon spooky stuff goes on in the background. Takes place juuust barely pre-canon in the beginning but catches up quickly. Inspired as usual by the wonderful conversations with my friend RavenXavier/somuchbetterthanthat.

A fun AU that challenges the idea that Jon and Martin are incompatible a la MAG199. Excellently done and well worth the time to check it out.

Diary by luftballoons99

Not for the first time since they ran away together, a camera reel of all the things they don't know about one another whirs behind Martin's eyes, and he can't help but look at all the sprawling magnetic tape and wonder if they’re going to wind up a romance or a tragedy.

or: Office parties, garage bands, and the joy of being known.

A bit of a bittersweet mostly fluff oneshot focused on Jon and Martin having a night in at the Safehouse and talking about good things from their pasts. (Warning, the sequel is rated E(xplicit) for a reason, so I am only recommending Diary. Both are stand alone however.)

Weaving My Heartstrings by arms_full_of_hyacinths

At least he was someone. Someone who could deal with the spiders. That was probably the source of the nerves unspooling like magnetic tape to fill Jon’s stomach with buzzing static butterflies.

Yes, Martin was much bigger than a spider. He was probably the kind of person who cupped them in his hands and talked to them as he walked them out into the garden, which shouldn’t be giving Jon a burst of warm feeling at all, since his preferred method of spider disposal was simply to squash them on sight.

Martin likes Jon almost as much as Jon hates spiders. When a statement from an institute employee sends them spiraling into the center of a complicated web, they'll need to rely on each other if they want to make it out alive.

Bit of an odd suggestion to close us out, but this one is a fun almost episodic plot about an original Statement and the shenanigans Jon and Martin get into trying to research it. It’s very good, features some very on point S1 Jon and Martin along with a bit of a fast forward on their relationship throughout.

And with that, I’ve probably overstayed my welcome lol. I hope you found something new to read! If not, I at least hope that you had fun rereading some old faves. This has taken me a day or two to compile and format, so I hope you all enjoy in whatever capacity that ends up being! Happy end of A Mag A Day, and it was a joy walking alongside you all. Congrats to A MAG A Day blog owners on all your hard work for the last ~210 days and with this post I wish you all a very fond farewell.

#a mag a day #the magnus archives #mag 200 #tma fic rec #fic rec #jonathan sims #martin blackwood #jonmartin #jmart #georgie #melanie

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smok3r7 · 2 months

Text

One Door Closes & Another One Opens

Joel x OFC!Divorce Lawyer

Explicit, 18+

Long Time No See

Main MasterList & Series Masterlist - My AO3

Summary: She’s a divorce attorney and he’s a husband looking for help to save his daughter, and himself, from his gambling addict wife. Renae Russo is a woman who fights for her clients and wins. She’s satisfied with her life and what she does - but she wishes she could have a little more. What happens when Joel Miller becomes her client and an old flame of Renae’s reignites in the same breath?

Chapter Summary: Trying to fill the void in her heart isn't easy, especially when she doesn’t want to. But when the unexpected happens, she can’t help but leap into it.

Word count: 5.8k

—

"So what do you like to do for fun?" Renae forces herself to ask Jack with a forced smile. Across from her is a guy she met on Tinder, and she doesn’t want to be here but Ally forced her to get out there again since the whole…Joel situation, as she called it.

Jack leans back in his seat, resting his right arm on the back of the booth, a small smile playing on his lips, "I love going on spontaneous road trips, exploring new places, trying out different cuisines-"

Renae raises an eyebrow, not expecting such an adventurous answer.

“How about you?"

Renae fidgets with her coffee cup, feeling out of her comfort zone. She glances around nervously, realizing she hasn’t been on a date in years. Ally's voice echoes in her mind, urging her to give Jack a chance. Taking a deep breath, Renae musters a smile and replies, "I enjoy camping, hiking, and reading mystery novels - when I have the chance."

She sips her coffee, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement as Jack eats his Caesar salad across from her. “Well, those all sound like cool things, I haven’t been camping much,” he says as he smiles back, clearly trying to keep the conversation moving smoothly. Renae smiles back and continues to tell him about some campsite she’s been to and that she recommends for him to visit.

But a thing she can’t stop herself from doing is comparing him to Joel. She left for his own good, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t miss him. Jack is nothing like Joel, though also similar in weird, abstract ways. Jack is a couple years younger than Joel, they act very differently.

He divorced his wife of five years about three years ago and he has an eighteen year old son, who just graduated and is going off to college. His hair is a striking shade of strawberry blonde, buzzed cut, giving him a rugged and edgy look. His piercing green eyes are very similar to Renae's, carrying a hint of mischief and wisdom. Despite his mature demeanor, there is a youthful energy that emanates from him, drawing people in with his charismatic presence - what made Renae decide to meet him for lunch.

Jack's unique combination of features sets him apart from most, making him both intriguing and approachable. But Renae finds herself unsure if she's ready to open up again, to let someone new into her life after the intricate experience with Joel.

She must’ve gone silent, because next thing she knows is Jack reaches across the table to hold her hand gently, a reassuring smile on his face. “Sorry,” she apologizes, quickly retracting her hand from his and giving him a small smile to reassure him that she’s okay.

Even though underneath her skin, she’s not.

Renae misses Joel terribly. She longs for the easy banter, the comforting presence she felt with him, even through texts and late-night phone calls. This past year has been a challenge without him by her side. Renae has always prided herself on her independence, but there was something about Joel that made her feel stronger and more hopeful a year ago. She can't quite put her finger on it, but she knows that his absence has left a void in her life that no one else can fill. Even a cool and attractive guy like Jack.

Work hasn’t even felt the same since her and Joel went their own ways. The last year has been really slow for her, mainly because she’s not picking up cases like she should, or she knows she could. Every day at the office feels like a struggle as she navigates through the paperwork, phone calls, and court with a heavy heart. Her distracted mind keeps wandering back to memories of Joel, the sound of his laughter, the touch of his hand, the smell of sweat and cologne.

But despite the emotional turmoil, Renae tries her best to focus on her work, pushing through each day with a mixture of determination and sadness. Finally, she seems to have found a new rhythm, a new purpose in her career, and a newfound strength within herself. She’s not sure what she would do otherwise, her job has been her life for too long to just up and leave.

As Jack takes a sip of his water, he looks at Renae with a curious expression, "Do you like your job?" he asks casually. Renae hesitates for a moment, torn between her true feelings and the desire to maintain a facade. She wants to tell Jack that she loves her job, which she truly does, but her recent struggles have dampened her enthusiasm.

Deep down, she knows that her current state of mind has nothing to do with her job, but she can't bring herself to admit the real reason to Jack. With a forced smile, she replies, "Yeah, I do. It's just been a bit challenging lately. Court has been pretty time consuming, but what isn’t nowadays? " Jack nods understandingly, unaware of the underlying truth that Renae is desperately trying to conceal about Joel.

“How do you like real estate?” Renae quickly returns the question to Jack, who’s more than happy to answer. But as his answer drags on, Renae finds herself bored and honestly unimpressed. She can’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment as he rambles on about properties and market trends.

She prefers a man whose hands are calloused from hard work, not smooth from signing contracts. Jack and Joel couldn't be any different. Jack, with his impeccably manicured hands and polished demeanor, seems to be everything Renae doesn’t want in a partner. However, Joel, with his rough hands and rugged appearance, had a raw magnetism that drew her in instantly.

“…Veronica has been trying to steal this property from me for a couple months now, and I just am sick of it…” Jack briefly stops her train of thoughts, she fakes a small head nod like she understands so he can continue.

But as he does, Renae finds herself sitting here on a date, contrasting the two men… And there’s no way Jack can be the one for her.

As Jack continues to talk enthusiastically about his latest deals, Renae realizes that maybe they're just too different. She longs for someone who can fix a leaky faucet or build a bookshelf, not someone who thrives in the world of selling tactics.

She needs someone like Joel.

—

“…I’d try out my sea legs.”

“But you ain’t got no legs, Lieutenant Dan.”

Renae can’t help but mimic the so-familiar dialogue of Forrest Gump as she sits in her room, freshly showered, with Frankie curled into a medium-sized ball in her comforter-covered lap with her phone next to her. Which is open to her and Joel's messages, frequently going between the movie and her screen.

She can’t help herself. Scrolling through their old messages, a wave of nostalgia washes over her, and a faint smile appears on her face. Their meaningful, intimate, and silly conversations make her heart ache with longing and sorrow.

Oh, how Renae misses it.

The easiness of it all, no arguments with Joel. Phone calls that went for hours, silence never settling for more than a few seconds. Every conversation felt like coming home after a long journey, neither running out of things to tell the other. They could talk about everything and nothing at all, their connection deep and effortless.

But then, life happened. The divorce was finalized, and Renae had to let him go, more for his daughter than anything. Now, the memories of those long conversations linger in Renae's mind like a bittersweet melody.

She wonders if Joel thinks about those moments too, if he misses them as much as she does. Almost everyday, she picks up the phone, ready to dial his number, but she doesn’t. She can’t bring herself to do it.

So she re-reads their conversations… All the time.

“You are one of a kind Rae… I never knew a girl like you could be so funny.”

“I’ll take you out on the pontoon so you can lay out, while I float us down the river… You’ll love it.”

“Darlin’… You don’t need to apologize. You’re a busy gal’, I’m not gonna hold you back.”

“Sarah and Ellie decided it was a good idea to prank me or somethin, today… by pushin me off the boat while I was fishin.”

Deep down, she understands that holding on to whatever they had, or what she thought they had, is doing her no good. Especially if she’s going to do nothing about it.

With a heavy heart, Renae sighs and sets her phone aside, realizing that sometimes, love means letting go. As she goes back to her tv, where Forrest Gump plays, a sense of disappointment washes over her, knowing that she simply can’t move on from him like she wants.

Even a year later.

The memories of their late-night conversations and dreams they shared and didn’t, replay consistently in her head, day and night. Their words, filled with hope and passion, linger in the quiet corners of her mind, like whispers of a forgotten melody.

Renae finds herself drifting back to those moments as she calmly pets Frankie and quickly forgets about the movie she put on to distract herself, reliving the laughter and the deep, heartfelt talks that brought them closer together.

Despite the passing of time, the connection they shared remains vivid and unshakeable to Renae, she can’t shake it. It's as if Joel's presence lingers beside her, guiding her through life's twists and turns.

But the thing is, she knows deep down that Joel feels the same way, that their love was too strong to fade away.

She wants to reach out, but fear holds her back, the fear of rejection, of being vulnerable. She wants nothing more than to reach out to him, to bridge the gap that has grown between them. Yet doubt clouds her mind, whispering cruel lies of inadequacy and unworthiness.

In the quiet moments of the night, or when she’s distracted, she will replay their last conversation, searching for clues, for signs that he still cared. And she remembers him trying his damn best to keep his composure from crumbling in front of her, so maybe there is some hope.

Renae finds herself at a crossroads, yet again. Torn between the yearning for love of her heart and the fear in her soul. Can she gather the courage to reach out to Joel, even for a simple conversation, or can she let him slip away, forever lost in the shadows of what could have been?

—

Last week, Renae was asked by Ally and her husband Daniel if she wanted to join them in their trip to Palo Duro Canyon State Park, just outside Amarillo, Texas, the following week. Feeling adventurous and needing a change in her life, even if it’s just a small trip, she decides to go.

She calls off of work for two days, Monday and Tuesday, and starts packing things up for her three day vacation. She figures she’ll drive there and meet them, only because they both are staying longer than three days and Renae can’t get that much time off.

This morning, she wakes up ready and high with energy, filled with a sense of adventure that pulses through her veins, barely needing her coffee to get her going, something she usually needs everyday. The thought of exploring the breathtaking canyons and discovering the diverse trails and plants ahead fills her with exhilaration. She has missed this feeling, and as she sets out on her way, she promises to herself to never go this long without being adventurous again.

The solo two hour road trip is easy enough. Traffic isn’t terrible for a Sunday afternoon and her music is loud through her speakers and open windows. Renae is about as carefree as she can be at the moment.

With each passing mile she can feel herself getting closer and closer to nature's wonderland, where the beauty of the world envelopes her in a sense of freedom and joy. The sun kisses her arm that hangs out her driver side window, the wind whispers secrets in her ear, and the earth welcomes her with open arms as she drives down this windy road.

Next thing she sees is this picturesque cabin that Ally and Daniel have rented for the week, and she feels like she is entering a world of magic. Goosebumps form on her arms, even with the warm sun shining on her. Parking her car next to Daniel’s pickup truck, she steps out and the scent of heat and wildflowers fill her senses immediately.

Ally and Daniel come out to the porch, beaming with excitement to show Renae around their temporary haven. The cabin is a cozy retreat in the desert but scattered with large trees, it’s a charming rustic feel that instantly makes Renae feel at home.

“How was the drive here?" Ally asks, helping Renae unload things from her car. Renae takes a deep breath and leans against the vehicle smiling, grateful for her friend's thoughtfulness.

"Not bad, any longer though I woulda’ been exhausted!" She admits, wiping the beads of sweat from her forehead. The two friends laugh.

“I don’t blame ya,” Daniel laughs with them, carrying the cooler from her trunk.

"Well, you made it at a good time!" Ally tells Renae as they walk through the decent sized cabin, dropping her bags in front of the couch in the cozy living room. “Daniel just got done grilling chicken tacos for dinner- my personal favorite of his.”

Mhmmm, Renae smells the sweet aroma of grilled chicken tacos fills the air coming from the open back door, making her mouth water.

“God, I’m starvin’ too!”

The two girls leave the room and find Daniel in the backyard, with a big grin on his face, proudly presenting the sizzling tacos to his friends on a big plate right off the grill.

The warm summer evening feels perfect, the suns starting to set so the heat isn’t too brutal, she’s with good friends and good food, at an even better location for the next couple days.

As they enjoy the delicious meal, Ally asks Renae how her date with Jack went last week. Renae's honest response catches Ally off guard as she admits that she hated it. She elaborates on how Jack talked non-stop about himself and his stupid real estate deals, and showed little to no interest in really getting to know her - just the basic questions that everyone asks.

“All he talked about was his damn business, but in a cocky ass way, ya’ know?” Renae gets annoyed from simply talking about it again, “Oh- and how Veronica keeps stealing his properties or somethin’. Like, if you’re into your coworker, just tell me!”

Ally listens intently, offering sympathy and understanding, but also laughing with Renae about it all. “Jesus, girl,” she says, “Sounds like you got out at the right time with that one.”

Renae laughs as she swallows a bite of the garlicky chicken, she’s relieved to finally share her true feelings about the disastrous date and not have to worry about Ally’s reaction. “I am stayin’ away from the apps forever now… Fuck those things!”

“I don’t blame you!” Ally agrees, raising her hand for a high five from Renae, who smacks her hand enthusiastically.

Between laughs, a comfortable silence settles over the tables, everyone savoring their food, the delicious chicken with lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese all wrapped in a corn tortilla. Renae can’t remember the last time she ate something this good.

After a few minutes, Daniel asks, “Have you heard from Joel at all?”

Renae about chokes on her food, not expecting to hear that name at all this vacation. She watches Ally instantly scold him for asking about Joel, knowing the painful history behind it. Renae quickly composes herself, hiding the rush of emotions flooding back at the mention of Joel.

She forces a smile and casually replies, "No. I haven't and I’m not sure if I wanna,” she confesses, swallowing some beer that Ally had grabbed, “It’s been just over a year, so… Why now, you know?”

Daniel senses the tension in her voice and swiftly changes the subject, but Renae's mind drifts back to memories she had buried for this trip, wondering if fate had brought up Joel's name for a reason.

It’s hard for her to shake the feeling that Joel's sudden reappearance is more than mere coincidence. Is this a chance to rewrite their story, or is it a reminder of the past she has worked so hard to forget?

—

“You comin’, slow pokes?” Renae laughs as she rests by a large clay canyon, Ally and Daniel a few yards behind her. “Yeah, yeah, shut up!” Ally hollers back with a smile, Daniel laughing behind her.

They set out early this morning, leaving the cabin around eight, eager to explore the rugged beauty of the canyons and the desert. After hiking for a few hours along the winding trails, Renae marvels at the towering rock formations and vibrant wildflowers that scatter the landscape.

Renae's steps are rhythmic, the sun warming her skin and the breeze refreshing her spirit. Her thoughts drift between the beauty of the surroundings and the turmoil within her heart. Thanks to Daniel at dinner last night, the thought of Joel keeps creeping in more and more. This hike was supposed to be her escape from it all, which it still is, but not as much as she would like, a temporary reprieve from the chaos of her life - which is exactly what she wanted when she decided to come.

As she climbs higher, leaving Ally and Daniel to catch up with her, she leaves her worries behind and feels a sense of freedom wash over her. However, no matter how hard she tries, she can’t help but glance at her phone occasionally, hoping for a message from Joel, even though this trip isn’t supposed to be about him.

Her thoughts drift to him, now navigating the uncharted waters of single-dad life. She wonders how he's holding up, what struggles and triumphs he faces daily. If he’s found someone knew for him and his daughter, someone who’s able to be there for him. Her mind wanders to Sarah, hoping she's finding joy in her endeavors. She can't help herself from wondering if Annie is finally complying with the court order or if she's still dancing on the edge of defiance.

The canyon echoes with the mysteries of their lives, reminding Renae of the fragile threads that connect them all.

She contemplates sending him a gorgeous picture of the desert that she got earlier this morning, but she stops herself. She thought that would be just a little weird, no contact for a year but then a random photo? It just doesn’t make sense, at least in Renae’s mind.

But even with all that playing in her head, she’s content to be alone in nature, finding solace in the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other.

Finally reaching the highest point of their hike, Renae feels her heart race, her legs burning from the steep climb. She takes a moment to catch her breath, then turns around to face the canyon spread out before her. The sun at its highest point, casting a golden light over the jagged cliffs and deep ravines.

Renae's breath catches in her throat at the beauty of it all. She knows the other two will be joining her soon, but for now, she has this moment all to herself. She closes her eyes and lets the cool breeze wash over her, feeling a sense of peace and accomplishment wash over her. This is a moment she will never forget and always cherish.

“God damn Russo,” Daniel huffs behind her, “I thought you said you haven’t done this in awhile.”

Renae laughs, her ponytail swinging as she turns her head. “Well, it’s like ridin’ a bike, you never really forget,” she replies, teasing him, causing him and Ally to chuckle. But she’s honestly just as surprised as he is, she didn’t think this was going to be as easy as it is.

The sun beats down on them, casting dappled shadows from their bodies at the top of the canyon. Ally and Daniel sit down next to Renae, who’s still standing, catching their breath and taking in the beauty around them.

Renae smiles at him, a glint of mischief in her eyes. “Worth it, right?” she asks. Ally nods in response after downing some water, her heart full, grateful for this adventure with her husband and best friend.

“Yeah,” she whispers, “I think so too.”

—

“Bianca, don’t go too far please!” Renae yells to her niece, who yells back, I won’t, as she races around the playground, her laughter mixed with dozens of other kids fill the air, echoing Renae's heart with joy. Gia, with her baby Aliya, admires Bianca's zest for life and the way that Bianca just adores her little sister, much like how Renae and Gia used to be. The bond between the two sisters watching the young ones play was unbreakable, rooted in shared memories and unspoken understanding.

The afternoon sun casts a warm glow on the playground, bringing a sense of peace and contentment. Renae can’t help but smile as she sees Bianca making new friends, even if it is just for the weekend they’re here, her spirit contagious to those around her. It’s moments like this that remind Renae of the beauty of family and the magic of childhood.

“How are you doin’ Rae? With the Joel situation,” Gia asks, breaking the calm silence between them as she rests Aliyah on her thigh, feeding her small bites of cut up fruits.

“You want the truth?” Renae defeatedly asks her, and Gia nods her head.

“I thought I could move on. I mean, just a couple months ago I went hikin’ with Ally and I found myself thinkin’ of him the whole three days I was there.” She sighs, “I miss him so much. I don’t know why I left, we could’ve figured it out,” Renae's heart feels heavy as she opens up to her sister about Joel, constantly playing with her soft curls and trying to hide her anxiety.

Holding Aliyah on her lap, Gia listens attentively as Renae speaks. The weight of regret and longing is evident in Renae's voice as she admits how much this whole thing has messed with her. Gia's eyes fill with understanding as she tries to comfort her sister, not really knowing the pain she’s going through, but trying her best to understand.

“How long has it been?” Gia asks, still feeding Aliyah, making sure she doesn’t choke.

“It'll be a year and six months, next week…” Renae reluctantly tells her sister, “It’s ridiculous, I know-“

“No, it’s really not, Rae… You’re healing in your own way, even if that means still being in the same spot you were in a year ago. Everyone deals with shit differently.” Renae’s head perks up from staring at the woodchips beneath her heels, you really think so? Gia warmly smiles, yes, I do, causing Renae to smile back with a small tear in her eyes.

Suddenly Aliyah burps loudly, loud enough to think that this burp came from a man - not a twenty month old toddler. “S’cuse me,” she shyly giggles, causing Renae and Gia to burst out laughing, breaking the sadness that was swallowing them both.

After the laughter between them dies down a bit, Gia reaches out and places a comforting hand on her sister's knee. "It's never too late to make things right, Rae. Maybe it's time to reach out to Joel and see if you can work things out," she suggests gently, “And if it doesn’t work out…then you gotta let him go, for good.”

Renae looks into Gia’s eyes, a glimmer of hope shines as she contemplates her next move, “Maybe you’re right…” Renae admits, looking away from her sister to look for Bianca and when she finds her, she can’t believe her eyes.

Her heart races as she sees Sarah sitting with Bianca on the swing set. That can’t be- no fuckin way. She has never met Sarah in person, only seen pictures Joel had shown her. But the resemblance is uncanny. Could it be a doppelgänger? However, before she can process what’s happening, she sees him.

Joel.

Memories flood back, the very same ones she was just venting about to Gia - the laughter, the tears, the love that once bloomed between them. Renae was not prepared for this unexpected encounter, she was planning on reaching out to him in a couple days.

Then just like that, Joel looks up from the swings and spots Renae, and it’s almost like he’s seen a ghost, his face pale, his jaw nearly hitting the ground. Renae, flustered, tries her best to smile but she only gives a small wave instead, not moving from the bench. In that moment, time stands still as Renae grapples with her emotions, torn between the past and the present. The story of their unfinished love about to unfold once again.

Joel smiles back and bends down to tell Sarah something before he starts walking towards Renae, his heart pounding in his chest.

“That’s Joel?” Gia quietly asks Renae as she gives Aliyah some toys to play with on her blanket on the ground, all Renae can do is subtly nod her head. “Holy shit… I can see why you’re struggling’ so much,” Gia chuckles to herself, stopping herself from drooling at the sight of the handsome man coming in their direction.

Renae’s heart races as Joel gets closer, unsure of what to expect, what to say, or what he’s even going to say. As he reaches her, Joel nervously clears his throat and says, "Hey Renae, I've-uh been meanin’ to talk to you… Do you, uh- do you wanna grab some dinner later?” Renae can’t believe what she just heard, Gia smirking next to her.

She softly smiles, a wide grin spread across her face, unable to contain her excitement. "Pick me up at seven?" she asks, feeling a rush of emotions at the thought of reuniting with Joel after a year and a half.

Joel is just as thrilled as Renae. The spark between them has never dimmed, despite the passing time and distance. “See you at seven, Rae,” he smirks along with a subtle wink and a higher level of confidence than when he walked up.

Before Renae can say bye, or anything, she sees Bianca right behind Joel. "Aunt Renae, I'm hungry," she exclaims, squeezing herself between Renae and Joel. With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she continues, "Sarah and Ellie said there's a cool ice cream spot down the street... Can I go with them?" Joel raises an eyebrow at the sudden request, Sarah and Ellie peeking out from behind Bianca, their expressions a mix of excitement and playfulness.

Almost like they know exactly what they’re doing.

Suddenly Gia bursts out laughing, her contagious giggles filling the air. Joel and Renae can’t resist joining in, their laughter blending together in harmony. Renae feels like a weight has been lifted off her shoulders, the tension of the moment dissolving into laughter.

As Gia wipes away the tears, she looks at Joel and sees pure love and affection in his eyes as he stares at Renae. As a baby sister, she couldn’t be happier for Renae, it’s what she needs and deserves. It’s been too long since she’s had a win for herself.

“What’s so funny?” Bianca asks, highly confused and before Renae or Joel can answer, Sarah and Ellie whisper in her ear. And then it seems like it clicks, like she all of a sudden knew all the history between her aunt and her new friend's dad.

—

Renae gets lost in Joel’s chocolate eyes again, the warm eyes she fell for a year ago. She never thought she’d be able to look at him again, let alone go out to dinner with him. And not as her client, but a possible significant other.

Sitting across from each other in the cozy restaurant, the air between them crackling with unspoken words, Renae feels a rush of emotions she hasn’t experienced in a long time. Their conversation flows effortlessly, filled with laughter and meaningful words.

Renae can’t hold back the question that’s been on her mind since they sat down, she gazes into Joel's chocolate orbs, the flickering candle casting a warm glow on their faces. She’s been debating whether or not to ask it, but for her own peace of mind, she has too.

"Has this past year been as hard for you as it has been for me?"

Joel pauses his chewing, his expression softening as he reaches out to take Renae's hand that rests on the white tablecloth table. She sees him take a deep breath through his nose and out his mouth, like he’s thinking hard on the question.

"It’s been one of the hardest in my life," he confesses with glossy eyes, “N’ I think that says a lot.”

Renae feels her heart swell with love and gratitude as she looks into Joel's eyes across the table. Her stomach flips, her lips tighten into a small smile, and her eyes full of love. The year apart seems like a distant memory now, as their connection feels stronger than ever.

With a gentle smile, she tightens her grip on his hand, feeling the warmth and familiarity that it brings. Joel returns her gaze with equal affection, silently conveying the depth of his true feelings for her. In this very moment, Renae knows that despite the pain they faced, their love has only deepened and grown over time.

“More wine?” The waitress asks out of nowhere, causing Renae to jump back in her seat, letting go of Joel’s hand. Please, she accepts with a head nod. Red wine fills both of their glasses, before she walks away leaving Joel and Renae to continue their conversation. The dimly lit restaurant is a perfect setting for Joel and Renae to enjoy their night together, nothing too busy and nothing too empty.

With each sip, Renae’s words flow effortlessly, forging a connection that transcends the noisy chatter around them. “I tried dating a few times,” she confesses to him as she cuts into her steak.

Joel's eyes sparkle with interest at her words, “N’ how did that go?” He can’t help but smirk, the wine affecting him more than he thought.

Renae takes a bite of steak, savoring the flavor for a moment before giving Joel a face that is full of sarcasm and humor. After she swallows she tells him,“Fucking awful!” Causing Joel to burst into laughter. Renae can’t help but laugh along with him, the two of them sharing a moment of genuine joy.

Simple moments of connection like these are what made their friendship so special, where they could be themselves and exchange playful jabs without missing a beat. It’s what has Renae hooked on him, yearning for more and more each time.

Joel wipes away a small tear, still chuckling, as Renae rolls her eyes with a smile, chewing her steak while Joel takes a sip of wine. “How’s single dad life treatin’ you?” she asks, her tone teasing yet filled with genuine curiosity. Joel looks at her with a mix of amusement and contentment, grateful for the easy camaraderie they've always shared.

"It's a wild ride, that's for sure," he replies, a hint of exhaustion underlying his words. Renae nods understandingly, “Sarah loves havin’ just me in the home. She told me that all Annie does is talk shit ‘bout me when she’s there, but Sarah knows she’s talkin’ out her ass.”

Renae stops chewing, almost choking as she swallows the food at the sound of his words spill from him. “Are you fuckin’ serious?” Even though she knows Joel absolutely loves his daughter and did what he had to do to save her, Annie has no right to speak like that to her own daughter.

Joel lets out a soft sigh, gazing into the distance for a moment before replying, “Yep. I hate that Sarah’s in this position, but she’s twelve - almost thirteen, so she understands her mom and me.” Joel admits, shrugging his shoulders, “I’m kinda hopin’ Annie just stops showin’ up to pickups. It would be so much easier…for everyone.”

Renae senses the weight of his words, enough for her to almost feel like she knows exactly what he’s going through. His nonchalant shrug couldn't conceal the underlying turmoil caused by Annie's presence. She sees the conflict in his eyes, torn between compassion and self-preservation.

Despite his resolve, the lingering pain of past memories still haunts him and Renae can sense that. She silently vows to support him through this emotional battle, knowing that healing take’s time, but believing that one day, Joel will find peace when it comes to Annie.

“Well,” Renae gently starts, catching Joel’s attention immediately, “There is somethin’ that can be done, through the court, if you wanna do it. I’m not gonna push you because the court takes a lot out of you.”

“No. I can’t- Sarah can’t go through that.” Joel stops Renae from going more into it, “I’ve done my research ’bout the whole thing, but I just can’t put Sarah into that.”

Renae swiftly shakes her head, completely understanding Joel's wants and needs. She knows that he doesn't want his young daughter to go through the emotional turmoil of a custody battle in court. One that has already happened as Sarah’s almost thirteen, and at some point she can’t just tell her mom that she doesn’t want to be around her anymore.

So Renae gently places a comforting hand on Joel's hand across from her once again, offering her support and reassurance in this difficult time.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought it up. So tell me, what else is new with you?

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