#very tired of this not getting paid business and not living with me parents

[mxwhore]

[personasintro]

Mutual Help | #37

↳ 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬; in order for you to pretend to be his girlfriend, he helps you with your sexual desires ⏤ he calls it mutual help

⇢ 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: jungkook x reader

⇢ 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: fake dating au, fluff, angst, smut, slow burn

⇢ 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: explicit language

⇢ 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 10.7k+

⇠ 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯. | 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐱 | 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 ⇢ 

Haneul is absolutely incredible.

He makes sure to prove that to you on every date and it's not him doing it purposely. It's you who thinks that every time you laugh, smile or just look at him being him. He's become a person you talk to all the time, even if it's just simple text messages, and has become a constant person you hang out with whenever you get the chance.

Ever since Friday happened, you exchanged your numbers in hope of your date, he has shown you how much interested he is in you. He even texted you if you got home safely that night and ever since then, you've been texting nonstop. And by nonstop you mean exactly that, the whole Sunday full of you being on your phone texting him as you planned out your date which happened the next day.

Monday. Your first official date. It was simple, just right for your first date as you got the chance to know him even better, this time without your friends' prying eyes and loud music surrounding you. He took you on a nice dinner, the only right time in your schedule considering you had work that day. You had an hour or so to make yourself look more presentable, trying to freshen up and cover the tiredness off your face.

The dinner was nice, he paid even though you insisted on splitting up the bill. You felt bad, knowing he had a part-time job in a bookstore nearby his college. Haneul insisted, stopping you before you could voice out your concern and distracted you by taking you for a walk alongside Han River.

It was so romantic with the moonlight and street lights, his fingers intertwined with yours as he gave you a shy smile trying to hide his blush. As much as you were shy the first time you held hands, you felt like it's even bigger deal for him as he confessed you couldn't leave his mind after he first met you. He confirmed Yejun's words of him coming to the club in a hope to see you there.

"I'm not a stalker, I promise," he laughed sheepishly that night, "I told my friends about you and they wouldn't let me live ever since, so they would purposely drag my ass there but I can't say I didn't want to go because I wanted to see you again." He told you, your heart warming immediately as you told him that's very sweet and cute of him.

He's more reserved than his friends and if it weren't for you, he would decline their constant nagging of going partying. But he admitted that he doesn't regret going because it means he'd probably never met you.

That night you had your first kiss.

Every day from Monday, no matter how tired you were from your work and Haneul busy with studying and attending class, you've always made time for each other. Went out on dates, from going to watch a movie in the cinema to another dinner. It doesn't really matter where he took you, all that matters was just two of you being two cute people having dates.

Haneul, originally from China but he and his parents moved to Korea when he was five, has stolen your heart and you couldn't say no when he asked you on your fourth date to be his girlfriend. That night you invited him to your place and opened a bottle of wine while talking and watching the movie, cuddling on your couch.

Kisses became much more intense and not just as innocent as before. Making out has become an act that happened on a daily basis as soon as you were safely in your apartment, the only place where you could be alone since Haneul lives in a rented apartment with two of his roommates. He proved to be even more controlled, not letting his hands linger on your skin for too long until you had to take his hands and put them on your ass while you were making out, sitting on his lap.

With Haechan, you moved naturally as things felt right and you feel like you were mostly affected by the curiosity of intimacy, so you wanted to take things further each time you spent together.

But now that you're dating Haneul, you knew more about those things and explored just enough that you became the person to guide him. From what he told you on one of your dates while you were talking about your and his exes, he had only one girlfriend before you and apparently it wasn't anything serious. And that one time you were making out on your couch again, grinding against each other to drive away that thirst, he confessed that he never had sex apart from blowjobs in his previous relationship.

He seemed to be a little embarrassed about it at first, but you assured him there was nothing wrong about being a virgin and you could take things slow. From his point of view he was a twenty, soon to be twenty-one, year old adult in a college with almost no experience (apart from handjobs and blowjobs) whatsoever. Guys his age, roommates, are wild and seeking for sex at every opportunity. But that's what makes him different, better and maybe that's why you started to like him to the point he has become your boyfriend.

"I like you so much," he confessed against your lips, "I don't think I can wait any longer."

So, you experimented and tried to get to know each other more intimately, see what the two of you like and what works the best for you two. You haven't had sex as soon as he confessed his want for you. You felt just the same, wanting to take another step in your maybe short relationship but it doesn't matter because it felt right. Still, the two of you got to know each other's bodies differently with a couple of handjobs, blowjobs and him exploring your own body with his mouth and fingers.

"I told Kiko."

You pause for a second, hands lingering against the cotton material of a greyish sweatshirt as you glance at Jungkook, who's standing beside you holding shopping bags of clothes you've managed to buy.

You're leaving tomorrow to spend some time but most importantly Christmas with your family. As you spoke with Jungkook on the phone yesterday, the two of you had decided to hang out together while you do the final round of Christmas shopping. Most stuff you bought is ordered anyway, already packed nicely to be given.

What Jungkook has just said doesn't come as a surprise, considering he has talked to you about this topic before and you encouraged him to do it. There's no need for him to elaborate more since you already know what he means and is talking about.

"And? How did she react?" you ask mindlessly, taking out the sweatshirt to have a proper look.

The truth is, you're acting way more nonchalantly than you really are and you're trying not to show too much interest in this particular topic, even though you're curious how she has taken the fact you were hooking up with her now boyfriend. You told Jungkook you respect his decision and you do, still trying to remind yourself of that sometimes, but you do hope she had at least a bitter feeling after hearing it. It's only fair for how much she hurt him.

"Surprised? And good, I guess." he answers with a murmur.

Humming, you turn the hanger where the sweatshirt is hanging from around, looking at Jungkook. "What do you think? Will Jimin like this?"

Jungkook sighs, not surprised by the lack of reaction you're giving him but at the same time he can't say he was expecting much. He just thinks you deserve to know that Kiko knows about you two.

"Yeah," he nods to answer you.

"What size should I buy him?" you think out loud, glancing at the label to see what size you're holding right now.

"Medium, he's tiny." Jungkook answers, causing you to snicker as you take the sweatshirt with you since it's medium. It looks a little oversized anyway, so it should fit just right.

"Be glad he doesn't hear you," you chuckle, the two of you turning around to make your way towards the cashiers as you put a hand on Jungkook's back, pushing him forward as he looks cluelessly at you. The poor guy has been shopping with you for the last hour and half, sighing every time you've excitedly led him towards another shop.

Jungkook reacts with a snicker, knowing how whiny and offensive Jimin gets whenever someone teases him for his height and size overall. That someone is usually Jungkook.

When you pay for the clothes you bought for Jimin and your dad, Taehyung's coat is already bought and safely put in one of the shopping bags, you make your way out of the shopping center. In the garage as you approach Jungkook's car, he pulls out his car keys and opens the car from a distance.

"So, did you tell her about us too?" You can't help but go back to the previous conversation which seems unfinished.

"Yeah, well I didn't tell her why we hooked up or anything. I just said we did," he tells you as he opens the truck, loading your bags there while you do the same thing. "Don't worry, I wouldn't talk to her about your sexlife." he reminds you, looking at you to make sure you look him in the eyes as he says it.

That makes you smile. No matter how much Jungkook loves Kiko, he thinks about you too and is considerate automatically without you even telling something.

"I know you wouldn't," you tell him softly, "And it's not like I'd mind it that much anyway, I don't think I'm embarrassed about the fact that we simply agreed on hooking up because I wanted to experiment."

"Still, it's a private and quite intimate topic. I don't think she needs to know any details, she knows the main thing and I think that's enough." he shrugs, closing the truck with a soft thud as all of your shopping bags are placed there.

As you think about it, you do feel a little weird knowing that you and Jungkook hooked up and are completely fine. Not always though, these are just moments when that thought crosses your mind and it's more like bewilderment. Overall, you're glad it hasn't affected your friendship in any way. Still, you've seen him naked, you've experienced what it feels like to have sex with him and you don't think it's something you'll forget. Not necessarily because it was one hell of a ride, but because it's a simple fact. You're not thinking about this every day but there are moments when you're completely bewildered how your friendship works. As long as none of you make it weird, it won't be. You've talked about this numerous times together after all.

Just like what happened with Yoongi. You went back to normal without any problems.

It's more like 'Wow, we pull this off without destroying our friendship or making things weird'. Mainly talking about Jungkook here. Can you even consider Yoongi as your friend? You don't hang out outside work, you just manage to give him a handjob in his brother's office. Oh, fuck. You've to stop thinking about this, it's starting to give you a headache.

You let out a chuckle at your thoughts, just when you sit in the car while Jungkook starts turning on the temperature and pulls out his phone to turn on his playlist. He looks at you, chuckling at your own chuckle. "What?"

"Don't you feel weird knowing we've had sex and are completely fine? Like we forgot it happened in the first place." you speak out your thoughts, mainly amused by them in the first place as Jungkook seems to think about your words for a moment as he shrugs.

"I didn't forget, I remember everything." he cheekily grins, poking the tip of his tongue to the inside of his cheek cockily as you push him in the shoulder while laughing, ignoring the rush of heat in your cheeks.

"Oh, shut up."

"Honestly, I think it doesn't have to be weird if we're fine that it happened. I mean, the both of us are living our own lives and are in a different stage with our relationships." he tells you once your laughs calm down, voice tender but serious at the same time.

"Yeah, I guess you're right," You knew he would always send comfort to your rather overthinking mind."Speaking of our relationships. Do you think I could invite Haneul for New Year's Eve?" you ask, meaning to ask him this for quite some time as you and Haneul talked about your plans for Christmas and NYE a few days ago.

He said he'd spent it with his friends, usually partying, but now he'd like to spend it with you. So, you thought Haneul could join you and your friends. Jungkook is bringing Kiko, Jin has a wife and probably everyone else is bringing a plus one.

Jungkook starts the engine, glancing at you for a moment as he opens his mouth. "Yeah, why not," he shrugs, one of the songs by Billie Eilish already playing from the speakers as you grin at him excitedly. "I'd like to meet the guy anyway." he mutters, causing you to groan.

"No, don't do that." you whine, "Stop acting like my dad."

Jungkook cackles, scrunching his nose as he drives from the underground garage to the main road. "I'm not, I just can't wait to meet him."

It's been around a week since you've told Jungkook about Haneul. You've told him pretty much at the very beginning about him, after your first or second date. You've never had any secrets with Jungkook (minus the incident with your car) and you often tell him things he could live without not knowing, so sharing your private life with him is like a daily routine. Sharing a new person in your life is quite big news, even though you haven't made a big deal out of it and simply told him you're seeing someone while talking with him on the phone.

He hasn't had a huge reaction, nor were you expecting one as he asked about Haneul and how you met him. So you told him everything, from how you went and what an amazing guy he is.

"Don't," you whine through a giggle again, "If you're gonna try to intimidate him, I swear to god. Haneul is such a sweet guy."

"He better be, or I'll kick his ass." Jungkook says, making you laugh again as you start groaning.

"You won't be kicking any ass. Haneul will pass your vibe check, I just know it, he's great. He's treating me right and brings me roses every time he sees me, even though I told him specifically he doesn't have to do that. How sweet is that?"

"Don't you prefer peonies over roses?"

"Not the point," you grit through your teeth, ignoring Jungkook's proud smirk. "He really is great." you gush over your boyfriend again, sighing a content smile as Jungkook snorts under his breath.

"Alright, alright, I get your point. I wasn't trying to intimidate him, by the way," You cock your brow at him, pursing your lips. "I'm just saying I'll let him know what happens if he hurts you."

Rolling your eyes, you hide your smile by looking out of the window. "Alright, alright, Mr. Jeon."

He rolls his eyes playfully, snickering under his breath. There's a beat of silence for a moment, Jungkook silently singing along to Billie's song while thrumming his tattooed fingers against the top of the steering wheel. "You know," he glances at you when he stops at the red light, giving you a toothed grin. "Maybe we could go on a double date."

You see how the corner of his lips twitches when he sees your glare. "Don't push it." you murmur through clenched teeth, fighting off a smile when you hear Jungkook's bubbly laugh as he steps on the engine as soon as there's a green light.

The rest of the ride is spent with Jungkook's soft singing and brief conversations. Jungkook is leaving for Busan in two days, taking some editing work with him to spend more time with his family. From what you understood, he's going alone. Not that it matters whether Kiko is going too or not. She went to Busan to spend Christmas with Jungkook and his family last year. It looks like they've decided to spend this holiday separately. You're not sure if she's going to Japan for a few days, probably not since it wouldn't be that convenient considering you're going on NYE trip on 28th and maybe her family is coming instead of her. Well, if she's going to Japan she could stay there and not come back.

You almost cackle loudly at your bitter thoughts, knowing if Jungkook could hear them he would be disappointed. But not surprised, right?

Somehow the universe seems to have its own twisted way of punishing you with endless and bitter thoughts about Kiko, it seems like God or whoever is up there loves her, because your eyes almost bulge out at the sight of Haneul in front of your apartment building. You don't notice him, not until Jungkook parks his car and the two of you get out of it.

He waves at you with a bright grin, your eyes widening as Jungkook follows your line of vision. He hasn't seen Haneul yet, he hasn't even met him in the first place. You thought your best friend meeting your boyfriend will wait until the NYE trip, that's what you hoped for. It's not like you don't want them to meet. Considering your previous conversation with Jungkook, you feel like you haven't made it clear enough for Jungkook to save his protective persona. You're more nervous for Haneul meeting Jungkook than Haneul himself, who's already walking towards you with the still same bright smile.

It's even worse when you both stand in front of the truck, Jungkook opening it as he turns to you, lips already curved in a satisfied smirk. "Looks like I'm meeting your little boyfriend."

You frown, ready to tell him to piss off and maybe threaten him a little (not that it'd help but you'd still feel better), but it's too late when you hear Haneul.

"Hey, I was just about to ring you." Haneul says when he's in a closer proximity.

You give him a smile, taking a few steps towards him as he welcomes you with a sweet peck. You shyly pull away. "Hey, I thought you'd come later." you tell him lightly, seeing him shrug as he hides his hands into his burgundy jacket pockets.

You made plans to hang out one last time before you depart to your hometown to see your family. He was supposed to come in half an hour.

"Yeah, my class finished earlier," he simply answers, eyes shining as he's looking at you with that adorable smile. You're about to say something, your own lips curled in an adoring smile but before you can open your mouth, Haneul's eyes shift to Jungkook.

Jungkook naturally came up in your conversation on one of the dates when you were talking about your and Haneul's friends. He has a very important place in your life, he's your best friend after all and you don't have any reason not to mention him. You still remember Haneul's interested expression when you told him your best friend is a guy. When you started talking about Jungkook and your friendship, he quickly understood that you and him are very close.

Yet, not even once he questioned your friendship and looked like he's suspecting anything, like most of your friends or people who simply don't believe in a friendship between a woman and a man. He even told you that's cool, since most of your friends are guys. One of the reasons Haneul is so understanding and sweet. He's different and very kind.

The topic of you and Jungkook hooking up before hasn't been the right topic for any of your dates. You weren't about to spill your private sexlife at him on one of your first dates while you talked about your friends. You'll tell him, you know you can trust him now that he's your boyfriend. You just wanted to see whether your relationship is going to be something more serious. But not that you're dating, it's only fair for him to know what happened between you and Jungkook.

You would lie if you said you're not slightly frightened about his reaction. But you're not going to keep that away from him, now that he's about to meet Jungkook and probably see him more often. You can kind of relate to Jungkook when he said he can't be between you and Kiko. You're not in the same situation but the thought of them hating each other makes your stomach clench with uneasiness.

Haneul already knew you're with Jungkook, shopping for some last minute presents. Not even once he showed a sign of jealousy or something negative, not even now as he smiles at Jungkook.

"Hey, I'm Haneul." he tells him lightly, grinning as your heart swells at his cuteness. You watch him outstretching his hand towards Jungkook.

You don't realize you're eyeing Jungkook from the side, sending him warning daggers not until he glances at you before he takes Haneul's hand and shakes it.

"Jungkook." he introduces himself simply, giving him a faint smile in greeting.

"I've heard so much about you," Haneul starts, letting out almost like a nervous chuckle, your lips pursing as Jungkook gives you a teasing grin.

"Have you?" he muses, still smirking at you as you roll your eyes. "Glad to know you haven't forgotten me." he teases you, pinching your cheeks as you slap his hands away.

"Don't make me aggressive, Jeon." you warn him, hiding your amused grin as Haneul stares at the odd interaction between you. Still, he's grinning almost amusingly at you both. It's because he probably hasn't seen you being annoyed and this kind of playful before.

"Aggressive, isn't she?" Jungkook looks at Haneul, grinning as he points at you while you slap his finger away.

Haneul laughs, throwing his head back in laughter as he looks at you. "I don't think so, she's totally harmless. Right, princess?" Haneul teases you, wrapping his arm around your shoulders as he pulls you closer. You purse your lips at the pet name, shyly avoiding Jungkook's eyes.

It feels different when he calls you that in front of someone else in your presence – Jungkook out of all people.

"You're in for a wild ride," Jungkook snorts, ignoring your glare as he cackles under his breath. "Should I help you with the bags?" Jungkook asks, holding your shopping bags as you quickly snatch it from him as he starts grinning at your rapid reaction.

"No, you should go," you dismiss him, thanking Haneul as he helps you with the bags. "You already met him, so kindly shoo away."

"Oh come on, don't be so rude," Jungkook feigns a whine, shutting his truck. "I'm not that bad, am I Haneul?" he spreads his arms as if the answer is obvious, looking at Haneul who shakes his head with a breathy laugh.

"That's debatable." you mutter, grinning innocently at Jungkook when his amusement falls and he sends you a glare.

"You see? Women. You drive them home, walk behind them like a puppy for two hours in a shopping center and she gives you this attitude," Jungkook complains, tsking as he playfully looks at you and you snort at his playfulness. "Lucky for you I've somewhere else to be."

"Ah, such a shame." You're the one who feigns a pout this time, devilishly laughing at his glare.

Just like nothing happened, he's outstretching his arms for you as you chuckle and walk into his arms. "Call me when you get to your parents, alright?" he murmurs as he hugs you.

"Uhm," you hum against him, nose digging into his cold and padded jacket. "Say hi to your parents from me."

"Likewise." he says when the two of you pull away.

You nod, waving him off as he's already going back into the car. You and Haneul make your way towards the apartment building, cold spreading on your already red cheeks.

"Well, that was something," Haneul chuckles, aiming at the meeting of Jungkook. "He's a cool guy," You hum, opening the door for the two of you as your kind boyfriend takes all the bags from your hands.

"And a strong one." he adds as you chuckle, frowning in confusion.

"Strong?"

"He almost cut my blood flow when he shook my hand." Haneul chuckles, noticing how you're not surprised, not even a bit.

How could you, Jungkook looked suspiciously fine, so you're not surprised he did something like that.

"I'm sorry about that." you chuckle, pressing the button of the elevator as the door opens and you step in.

"No, it's okay. It's good that he's protective. Luckily for him, you don't need his protection anymore. You've got me." Haneul jokes, wiggling his brows as you giggle before he leans down and kisses your lips.

"Yeah," you breathe out a chuckle, "Just don't tell that in front of him."

You both laugh, making your way to your home. Haneul is the first one to take the shoes off and you kindly ask him to put the shopping bags into your room, warning him not to peek inside since there are some presents for him too. He promises he won't look, cutely grinning at you as he goes to your bedroom. As you're taking off your jacket, your phone vibrates with a new message.

Kook: isn't he too young? 

You can hear the teasing in his voice even through the message, knowing he's just being his annoying self. You won't let him get to you. You laugh at the message, thumbs already moving to text him back.

"Fuck you"

His response comes in a few seconds.

Kook: you wish

You gasp at his message before an amused smirk plays on your lips, your thumbs already writing your response.

"Oh wait already done that"

Snorting, you send him the emoji of a middle finger too just for the right measure, shoving your phone into the pocket of your jeans. You just know he's cackling at your response and you shake your head, chuckling to yourself as you follow Haneul, ready to hide your presents until you can safely wrap them.

"...you know what he's like. He basically interrogated me in the middle of dinner. At least he wasn't showing his set of knives this time."

His childhood bedroom is swallowed in darkness and silence as he lays in his empty bed, hand clutching the phone to his ear.

Jungkook laughs at that, trying to silence his laugh by pressing his lips together. Everyone has already gone to bed and the last thing he wants is for his mom to scold him in the morning for being loud.

The story of your dad's knives is quite remarkable. You've never been that kind of daughter to sneak guys to her home when your parents were there, or even if they weren't. From what you've told Jungkook, from the period when you didn't know each other, you weren't that kind of girl to bring any guy to your home. It wasn't intentional, you just didn't really find any guy to invite home.

Even though you don't admit it or think that, you've always been beautiful. You were cute as a kid and beautiful even in your teenage years when most of the kids would have a glow up. You didn't need that. Jungkook has seen your childhood pictures a few times and no matter how many times you waved him off, brushing off his comments whenever you got embarrassed at him for looking at them in the first place.

"Oh god, this is so awkward. How could I have worn that?" You'd always whine, snatching the picture from his hands as you hid it with flushed cheeks.

Everyone thinks they had a bad looking phase, if not – they're lying. Even Jungkook's photos from his own childhood and teenage years are proof of that. He'd had the same reaction whenever his mom showed you those pictures, wanting to snatch them from your hands as he started screaming out of embarrassment.

Cute bunny. That's what you always called him when you saw twelve years old Jungkook with a bad haircut and bunny toothed grin.

However, Jungkook doesn't think you had a bad phase. It's simply true. You've lost your baby fat over your teenage years and even though some pictures might've been cringe-worthy, he didn't see why you were freaking about them so much.

You had to be aware that you're not ugly. The amount of guys that used to bother you with their intrusiveness speaks for it. You hate intrusive people, guys even more.

And whenever you'd mention any guy to your dad, teasing him because you liked his protective dad reactions because they were funny, he'd always show you his knives and inform you how sharp they are. You and Jungkook would always laugh about it, not that Jungkook has witnessed your dad doing that. It's just enough he heard you telling him that.

It became this joke that seemed almost forgotten, until you've just mentioned it.

Your father is a funny guy, he's not some psycho that would actually hurt anyone. Still, like every father, he's protective of his precious daughter that gets her looks from him. Your dad used to be a heartbreaker, not intentionally, his handsomeness even surprised Jungkook when he saw his pictures from a young age. It runs in the family, that's what he thought while looking at your family's pictures.

Apparently, you mentioned Haneul over the Christmas dinner, so your dad asked a lot of questions which is understandable. Now that you're older, your father is more fine with guys being around you.

But instead of trying to snatch any guy that would be able to fall on his knees for you, you always pushed them away. It kind of stuck to you until this day. Having a boyfriend and wanting to have a relationship is different. The amount of guys Jungkook had to push away from you and tell them to fuck off because you found them annoying and kindly asked Jungkook to take care of it whenever you went clubbing, is huge. Sometimes you didn't even have to tell him, all it took was one glance and Jungkook was already on his way to you. On the other hand, men in clubs think they can do anything just because they're out having fun, trying it on every girl. It happens to every girl in the club, not just to you.

Maybe that's one of the reasons you don't enjoy clubbing that much. You do enjoy it when you're drunk and have friends around you. It makes you feel safe.

"How was your Christmas? I saw the photos on Instagram, Haru is so freaking cute." he hears you gush over his little niece, causing Jungkook to smile as he remembers her big eyes and a big smile when she saw all the presents.

Jungwon, Sona and Haru stayed at his parents' house as well. As much as Jungkook loves his family, he's happy there's finally silence and his eardrums are not ready to burst.

"Great," Jungkook chuckles, "Everyone's finally sleeping. As much as I love Haru, she was crying for like half an hour and stopped just like fifteen minutes ago."

The whole time Jungkook was calling with Kiko, Haru cried through most of it and it was so loud that even she could hear it. Mentioning her, Jungkook has told his parents that they got back together when Jungkook's mom was asking about Kiko.

"She should've come here too then!" Jungkook's mom said when she found out.

"She's spending it with her family." Jungkook easily replied which is true. He wasn't lying when he said that.

What his parents don't know is the fact that Jungkook didn't ask her to come to Busan with him. He's happy they're back together, but he also acknowledges there are certain things that are different now and he wanted to spend this year with his family only. Them getting back together still feels fresh in some kind of way. So they talked about it and came to the conclusion it'd be better if they celebrated this family holiday with their own families.

Kiko was fine with it. Something tells him the only reason she was okay with not going with him this year, is the fact that she's probably embarrassed even though Jungkook's parents don't know anything about why they broke up because he didn't tell them.

"She's a baby. Babies cry." He hears you giggle, your own voice hushed meaning you're in your room too and everyone's probably sleeping as well. Well, it's almost midnight so it would make sense.

"I know that," he points out and you can perfectly imagine his frown, thanks to his slightly offended but feigned tone. "I kinda wish they went home."

"Jungkook!" he hears you exclaim, giggling right after as he starts laughing with you.

"I'm joking, I'm joking!" he exclaims back through his laugh, trying to muffle it with his hand.

You both giggle, trying to calm down. "Listen, I talked with Jin and told him you're bringing a plus one. He's fine with it, just thought you should know."

"Yeah, thanks." He hears the smile of appreciation in your voice.

The two of you talk for a couple more minutes, voices already sounding tired before you decide to end the almost thirty minutes long call.

"Y/N?" you hear Jungkook murmur, his own voice thick with sleepiness and raspiness as he hears you hum. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, Kook." He hears you smile, already hearing you falling asleep as he ends the call, finally allowing himself to rest.

That is until he hears Haru's cries from the other room again, causing him to sigh as he lies on the side, grabbing one of the pillows and pressing it onto his ear. Yeah, he wasn't lying when he said he wishes they went home.

"Bring your boyfriend sometimes."

Those were the words your dad said to you once you were leaving, ready to go back to Seoul. Your boyfriend. You're not surprised he didn't say his name, knowing your dad it was his way of teasing you or he simply forgot what his name is. At least your mom playfully rolled her eyes, swatting her husband in the chest.

"What he means by that, is that we'd love to meet him sometimes." she corrected, glancing at her husband with raised brow as you snorted.

You might not live with them anymore, but you know them very well. Especially your father and his tactics and role of being a protective dad.

"Don't give me that look," you told him, tugging your suitcase with you. "There's no need to be protective, even when you meet him. Jungkook made sure of that."

"I've always liked him." Your dad said, the words aimed at Jungkook as you simply chuckled at how relieved he seemed to look, knowing there is at least one person being as protective of you as your father.

However, you're not sure what your dad would think if he saw you right now.

The moans ripple from your throat, your cheek pressed against your pillow as you spread your legs even further apart to give Haneul enough space for him to thrust deeper. Now is definitely not the time to think about your father and their possible future meeting, you plan on introducing him to your parents and family. That can wait though.

After you came back to Seoul, relaxed and fully excited to see Haneul again, you met the same day you arrived back home. He came with a bouquet of roses, welcomed you with a kiss as you both started talking about your Christmas and the days you were apart. You exchanged Christmas presents too, your heart swelling at Haneul's cuteness as he kept smiling whenever you opened one of his presents for you. One thing led to another and things got much more heated which slowly led to Haneul confessing that he's ready and if you want him, he'd love to take another step into your relationship.

Maybe you're moving too quickly, although you don't think about it that way. Everything you do together seems natural and you both enjoy it. So, you agreed. That night you took Haneul's virginity while riding him before he fully dived into the world of sex and orgasms. And you've been more than happy to cooperate, desperate for his touch too.

"Let's do it again." Were his words when you brought him his first orgasm that night, your own orgasm ripped away from you since he came much faster than all those times when you gave him a blowjob.

There was nothing embarrassing about it. It's the first time he has ever experienced that feeling of being inside someone else and you made sure he knew that, showered him with kisses on his red cheeks and face full of embarrassment.

"You should take a break." you laughed at his determination of having sex again.

Twenty minutes later and you were doing it again, this time Haneul taking the control as he lasted longer and snapped that knot in your stomach, finally bringing an orgasm to your eager self.

A day later and you still can't keep your hands from each other. Haneul has stayed at your place ever since you've come back from your parents' house and those days have been spent with nothing but sex and constant cuddling. Since he's free from classes, thanks to the winter break, he brought some of his clothes to your place as you'll straight go from here to the cabin to celebrate New Year's Eve and spend a few days there to just relax. Your departure is scheduled tomorrow, still having two days to settle down in the cabin before the New Year's Eve comes.

The buzzing of your phone shakes you out from the pleasure as you groan, reaching for your phone. Haneul stops, still staying inside of you as he peeks at you from his fucked out state. You look at your phone, eyes widening at the name flashing on the screen.

Jungkook.

For some reason, your stomach drops at the absurd situation of him calling you right now while you're in the middle of something. You ignore the call, turning off the buzzing by pressing your volume button as you turn to Haneul.

"It's Jungkook," you explain, "I'll just call him back later."

He nods, leaning down to kiss you before he starts pulling out before he thrusts. You make yourself comfortable, the side of your face meeting the softness of your pillow as you sigh in content as the pleasure slowly builds back in.

He's barely in his third thrust as your phone starts to buzz again.

"Continue." you tell him over your shoulder, hearing him groan in response as he listens to you.

You do the same thing, turning off the buzzing. This way you don't cancel the call, Jungkook is just going to think you're not answering because you don't have your phone with you. Having sex while your phone keeps buzzing would be distracting anyways, so it's better to turn the buzzing off. Putting your phone back on your nightstand, you moan as Haneul's length brushes against your sensitive spot while he groans at your walls tightening around him.

"Crap, I don't know how much I'll last." he groans, hands gripping your hips as you moan in response.

You feel yourself getting there, orgasm approaching as you clutch your sheets between your hands, telling Haneul you're close. He picks up the pace, bottom lip tucked between your lips, you encourage him to go harder before your phone starts to buzz again. The two of you groan at the same time, Haneul stopping his movements and this way your orgasm is gone in a second. Your lips curl in disappointment and frustration.

"Just answer him." Haneul sighs, pulling out of you, his length slapping against his abdomen as you bite your bottom lip at the sight.

Freaking Jeon. You sigh, reaching for your phone as you accept the call, already pressing it to your ear.

"Yah, where are you?" Jungkook speaks as soon as he notices you've accepted the call, his Busan accent coming through as you snicker.

"Hello to you too," you say ironically, chuckling right after. "Sorry, I was busy." you murmur, glancing over your shoulder at Haneul whose lips quirk up in a smirk, mimicking your own as you suppress the giggle that wants to ripple from your throat.

"Busy doing what?"

And he calls you curious.

"Just packing my stuff." you reply, clearing your throat as you feel Haneul's hands on your spine slowly coming to your ass cheeks.

You glance at him, raising his brow as he innocently shrugs and just traces his fingers on your exposed skin. Your thighs are starting to ache from the now awkward position as you hear Jungkook's voice again.

"I was just calling and checking in with you. Who are you driving with? We still have space in my car, I was wondering if you want to go with us." The caution in his voice is noticeable but somehow he remains soft and calm.

As much as you'd love to ride with Jungkook, knowing the rides in his car are always better than the chaotic duo consisting of Taehyung and Jimin. However, the thought of you spending a four hour long ride with Kiko in the same car is a huge no. You'd rather walk there than share a car with her. You get the feeling Jungkook knows that, that's why he sounds so cautious, but at the same time he's his usual self, sweet and caring, to ask just in case you'd want to go with them.

"Oh, no it's fine. I already talked to Jimin yesterday and he--ahh," you gasp as you feel Haenul's length pressing back inside you as you stare at him with widened eyes.

Index finger on his lips, he tells you silently to keep quiet as you bite your lip.

"You good?" Jungkook asks unsurely, the worry in his voice obvious as you feel your heart beating fast against your ribcage.

"Yeah, yeah, what was I saying," you nervously chuckle, biting into your lip again as Haneul picks up the pace. Fuck, you hope he doesn't hear the sound of your and Haneul's skin slapping, even though he still holds somehow steady and not that fast pace, so the sounds of your explicit actions are minimal.

"Oh yeah, I talked to Jimin and we're going with them. They still have two places left, so..." you trail off. Not from the awkwardness of declining Jungkook's kind offer, but from the fact Haneul reaches down between your legs and circles your sensitive bud of nerves.

You gasp into the pillow, momentarily forgetting Jungkook's on the phone as you hear your name coming from his lips. The low and slow tone as he says it completely goes unnoticed by you, until you hear him again.

"What are you doing?"

It's a simple question, yet the knowing tone in his voice causes your stomach to drop for the second time as you clear your tone. Your instinct reacts automatically, the need to get an orgasm is strong as you embrace yourself to keep your voice steady which you're doing an awful job at.

"I gotta go, I'll call you later." And you end the call before he can utter a single word, tossing your phone away as Haneul gets rougher and faster with each thrust.

The slight embarrassment comes right after you come around Haneul's length, his own orgasm filling up the condom as he goes to dispose himself off it as you lay on your back, staring at your plain ceiling. Jungkook's low tone rings in your ears and with each passing second you realize that fuck, Jungkook just maybe heard you while you were having sex with your boyfriend. There's a chance he probably didn't know what you were doing.

Yet, it's his voice and that tone stuck in your mind for the rest of the night. You don't call him back that night. He doesn't either.

Jimin and Taehyung come to pick you up the next morning, stuffing Jimin's almost full truck with your and Haneul's suitcases for a good five minutes until it can be shut. Just like you predicted and already knew, riding in the same car as Taehyung, it's guaranteed there won't be a minute of silence. The four hour ride is long, mainly filled with Taehyung's passionate and loud singing that to be fair, makes even you laugh. The social butterfly he is, once Jimin scolds him and tells him to shut up, he starts to make conversation with Haneul who's sitting right behind him, politely and friendly answering any of Taehyung's curious questions.

Thankfully, he doesn't bring up Jungkook and you 'dating' which makes your stomach clench uneasy for the entire ride. You still need to tell him it was all fake, before he could accidentally spill it out and before you can tell Haneul about it. Fortunately, whenever Jungkook's name somehow pops up in one of Taehyung's stories, he doesn't mention anything about you and him. Even Jimin gives you a thoughtful look in the rear mirror while he's driving, giving you a slight smile.

It's not until you've to make a stop at the gas station because Taehyung drank a lot of water and needs to use the restroom, that Jimin turns to you and gives you an assuring smile. While Haneul went to grab and buy some snacks for everyone, it's only you and Jimin in the car.

"I told Tae not to bring up you and Jungkook 'dating'," He even makes air quotes which makes you chuckle, "I just told him it might be uncomfortable for you and Haneul too if he brought that up."

"Thanks Jiminie," you give him a smile, "You're a literal sweetheart." you tell him honestly, fully realizing his kindness.

"I know it's not any of my business, but I think you should tell him soon if that's what you're still planning to do. You know Tae, sometimes he doesn't realize he spilled something after it's done."

It's true. You love Taehyung and you know he's having your back just as much as Jimin does. The only difference between him and Jimin is that Taehyung means no harm but has a big mouth especially when he's enjoying himself, meaning whenever there's alcohol. There's no doubt there will be lots of it once you arrive at Seokjin's cabin.

"Yeah, I know," you sigh, "I'll tell him as soon as it's possible." you promise more to yourself than Jimin, already seeing Haneul and Taehyung laughing while walking out of the gas station with a huge bag full of snacks.

Surely, that was Taehyung's idea.

The rest of the ride is more calm while Taehyung stuffs his mouth with snacks, silently listening to the casual conversation happening between you, Jimin and Haneul. It's until Jimin informs everyone that you're five minutes from the cabin, that you pay more attention to your surroundings. The road is snowy but Jimin manages to drive safely and slowly up the hill. You can see a few cabins along the way until you ride more up the hill, the place more separated from the rest of the cabins.

You can already see a few cars parked in front of the wooden cabin, recognizing Jungkook's car almost immediately as your eyes widen.

"This is the cabin?" you ask, staring at it completely thrown off by its appearance. It's massive.

You knew it'd be a bigger size since a lot of you are coming and from what you've heard from Jungkook, there are enough rooms for two people sharing one bedroom. You didn't expect this cabin to be so big and modern, reminding you of those cabins they portray in American movies. It even has a set of huge windows in the middle of it, if it weren't for the daylight you'd be able to see inside. If this looks so magical from the outside, you're not sure how beautiful it must look inside. Even the huge trees behind it make it even more magical and breathtaking.

"Yeah, Jin's parents are loaded if you couldn't tell." Jimin answers, chuckling as he parks behind Jungkook's black Mercedes.

Everyone unbuckles their seatbelts, not wasting any time to just sit in the car and admire the surroundings behind a window. Jimin opens the truck, handing everyone their suitcases as Taehyung starts waving at Hoseok and Jin who are standing in the distance. They wave at him, or at everyone as Taehyung rushes with his suitcase to meet his friends.

"Tae, you forgot your bag!" Jimin shouts at him, holding Taehyung's duffel bag but the younger one easily ignores him even though he obviously heard him. "Dumbass." Jimin mutters, earning a giggle from you.

Haneul helps you with your suitcase, grinning at you when you look at him to thank him with a smile on your lips. He's already holding his own suitcase that Jimin so kindly handed him. When everyone has their suitcases and travel bags, leaving the truck empty, Jimin shuts it.

"Hey, you guys made it!"

You glance at Jungkook who's happily grinning and walking towards you. He's wearing a dark green sweatshirt with black jeans, his favorite black padded jacket unzipped which you'd usually scold him about considering it's cold.

"Hey, yeah, we had to make a stop at the gas station because someone had to drink the whole water bottle." Jimin ironically snickers, already annoyed at Taehyung for leaving his stuff for Jimin to carry as Jungkook's eyes look at you.

You quickly jump into action, shaking your head. "Don't look at me, it wasn't me. It was Taehyung." Jungkook chuckles at your quick need to clarify.

"Obviously," he playfully rolls his eyes, stretching his arms to hug you as you hug him back. He does the same thing with Jimin as he helps him with Taehyung's bag, giving a nod to Haneul in greeting. "Everyone's mostly settled, so you should pick your rooms fast."

Jin is already approaching you, welcoming everyone with a bright smile as he shares his enthusiasm with everyone coming.

"Come, I'll show you the cabin and you can pick any free room." he offers, taking the bag from Jungkook's hands.

In the distance, you notice Namjoon walking into the cabin with a woman next to him as they hold hands. Oh, you totally forgot he has a girlfriend. It's nice to see him again. Even though you've only seen him once, the camping trip is still very memorable in your mind for many reasons, Namjoon is a cool guy. He was very easy to talk to and very sweet, which you don't get those vibes from a lot of people, especially when it's the first time you meet them.

"Hey, I got you something. Can I steal you for a moment?" Jungkook asks, eyes focused on you as you respond with a nod.

"Will you pick our room please? I'll be right there in a second." you tell Haneul, taking your suitcase from his hands insisting he doesn't have to carry it since his hands are already full with his suitcase and your travel bag. The least you can do is take care of your suitcase.

"Yeah, sure." he smiles, leaning down to kiss you which you happily welcome as Jin calls out for him.

"There will be lots of time to be all lovey-dovey, come on!" Jin yells at Haneul, causing him to blush as Jimin's bubbly laugh resounds. You catch him slapping Jin's arm teasingly while the older cackles loudly, leading them to the cabin when Haneul catches up to them.

"What's up?" you ask Jungkook as he wraps his hand around your wrist and gently tugs you towards his car.

"I wanted to give you this later, but I've been driving this in my car for a few days. Plus, I think you might put a good use to one of those things." he answers, cheekily grinning at you as he opens his own truck.

Not going to lie, you're kind of unsure about what to expect. The last time he surprised you with a gift... he shocked you too much with it. However, you couldn't put a good use to that gift. Not without him which was so freakin frustrating that you wanted to smack it against the wall. It's safely hidden underneath your bed for no one to see.

You look into the truck, seeing nicely wrapped up presents as your features soften, already staring at Jungkook. "You brought me Christmas presents?"

Presents. Not a present that you and Jungkook agreed on, since you don't want him to waste his money on you by buying you multiple things. You're both too stubborn not to buy anything for each other, so you settled on one present instead. Looks like he can't keep his promise while he just innocently grins as if he could read your mind. He doesn't have to, your expression says it all which you're completely oblivious about.

"You can unwrap them later," he says, taking one of the presents that is wrapped in gold wrapping with little snowmans on it. "I think you could use this one though."

You take it, quirking your brow at him, still not approving he bought you more than one present. But Jungkook doesn't care, nudging his head in the direction of his present to urge you to open it. You do, the glimpse of light yellow fabric is just enough to give you a clue what it is. Your mind is already going back to that time you've last seen him, as you shopped for Christmas presents.

"Wow, this is cute!" you call out, nudging Jungkook to get him out of your way as your eyes stay focused on the light yellow knitted sweater that's hanging on the rack. 

You hear Jungkook snickering but he follows you, getting to you as you're already reaching for it and examining it from close. "Isn't it pretty?" you ask, eyes sparking as you look at Jungkook.

"It is." he says simply, causing you to roll your eyes at the lack of his reaction. Typical man. 

You dive your hand into the sweater, trying to find the price tag which takes a few seconds as you pull it out and check the price. The price spills out of your mouth in a shocked and disapproving manner as you scoff. 

"Are they serious? They want this much for a simple sweater?" 

The truth is, the sweater is completely soft and without doubt warm for this cold weather. You could probably afford it, but you're trying to save as much money as you can for your car and presents for your friends and family. That's the main priority right now. Besides, you've a lot of clothes and this sweater for its price is just not worth it. 

"It's not even that pretty. Just put it back." Jungkook says, taking the sweater from your hands as he hangs it back while you pout. 

You want to argue with him that it is pretty but you know you don't need it. So you just sigh, focusing on finding a decent present for Jimin as you already make your way towards the men section. Jungkook trails behind you like he's been doing for the past hour.

"You bought me that sweater?" you almost yell, eyes widening at Jungkook who seems to be genuinely happy to see your reaction as he bites into his lower lip and nods. "But I thought it's not that pretty." you tease him, glancing at him as he innocently grins.

"I just said that so you'd put it back," That explains while he took it from your hands before you could even take one last glance at it. "I went back to buy it after I drove you home."

Your heart warms at the new information, your shoulders slouching as you pout at his kindness. You can't believe he went back and bought it for you. The price was ridiculous for such a piece of fabric, even though you secretly love it. Well, maybe not that secretly judging from the way your eyes sparkle when you look at the sweater. It's not the fact you actually got it. It's the fact Jungkook put the effort to buy it for you, not caring about the price or the fact he had to go back to the shopping center after walking around there with you for two hours.

"You're such an idiot." you murmur, sniffling as he starts laughing at your current state.

"One way to show your gratitude." he jokes, causing you to glare at him.

"It was too expensive." you point out. Of course, you're grateful he bought it for you. You'd be grateful nevertheless of what he'd buy you. You don't like when people spend their money on you and Jungkook tends to do that a lot. With your approaching birthday, you're not sure what he'll buy you then.

You always try to buy him something useful and of course, something he'd love to have. But it's incredibly hard to buy him something since most of the things he wants, he simply buys for himself. When he had his birthday in September, you invited him to dinner, a Korean barbeque, along with Taehyung and Jimin and gave him a cute bunny key-chain. It was after you went back home and stumbled on this open shop with stupid but cute things. Taehyung went there immediately, so the three of you waited outside for him as you just browsed through the rack of key-chains outside. You joked the bunny looks like Jungkook which he rolled his eyes at but grinned nevertheless of you teasing him. It's not something he'd obviously buy for himself and it's not something useful. But you went inside and bought it for him.

"It can be your lucky charm." you simply told him when you gave it to him.

He grinned cutely, scrunched his nose as always as he put the keychain onto his keys, dangling with it in the air.

"I don't care," Jungkook tells you, ignoring your comment of the sweater being too expensive. "I even washed it for you."

That's true. There's no trace of the price tag, which is usually cut off anyways before you give it to someone as a gift. But as you bring the sweater to your nose, you recognize Jungkook's fabric softener right away and you gush at the sweet but soft smell.

"Thank you." you tell him, pulling from the sweater as you hug him.

He laughs, hugging you back. "It's nothing."

"It's not nothing, Kook," you murmur against him, pulling away. "I've got your presents with me too."

Yes, Jungkook isn't the only one who thought about this. He's also not the only one who bought more presents than just one. You're guilty too, but only because you had a suspicion he'll do this.

Jungkook playfully rolls his eyes, snickering at you as you proudly grin at him, your face screaming 'See? You're not the only one'.

"We can just unwrap the rest of it later, with Tae and Jimin too." you think out loud which Jungkook nods to, agreeing with you since he brought their presents with him too.

Jimin and Taehyung have also brought their presents for you and Jungkook too, so like every year, you're going to unwrap them too and witness their reactions to your presents while unwrapping them.

You clutch Jungkook's present to your chest, ready to join the others until Jungkook stops you with a soft 'hey', his hand grabbing your wrist. Staring at him curiously, you hum in response.

"What was that call earlier?" he asks, your throat getting dry right away as you're trying to keep your natural and automatic reaction at bay.

You can't read Jungkook's expression at all, it seems like he's asking you a casual thing but in reality, he's mentioning yesterday's call. He definitely heard something, you're not sure if he knows or not, but all you can do is act like nothing happened. The fact he's bringing this out of nowhere makes you embarrassed because this has never happened before. You wouldn't care about it if he didn't just bring it up.

"I don't know what you're talking about." you tell him casually, lips pressed in a tight line as he lets go off your wrist with an amused chuckle. Okay, he definitely sees right through you. What did you expect, right?

Still, you don't give him that satisfaction of giving him a reaction as you hold your head high and raise a brow at him.

"You're awful at lying, I told you that many times." he jokes, shaking his head at you as a frown makes its way to your face. "Lighten up, I'm just teasing you."

Still, you clench your jaw in the same embarrassment as you can feel your cheeks heathen up. Thank god for the cold outside, your cheeks are already red from it.

"I'm not lying." you pathetically state, knowing he doesn't believe you a single word as he chuckles again. Lowly and deep.

Your breath catches in your throat when he leans towards you, lips dangerously close to your ear as you can feel his hot breath against your skin.

"I think you forgot that I know how you sound when you're getting fucked."

If it could be realistic, your jaw would hit the floor at how easy he says it, your heart almost jumping out of your chest as your insides tremble with something you can't put your finger on. Is it an embarrassment? Excitement from the words he just said to you? Why would you be excited? That doesn't make sense. Jungkook has a great way of talking and choosing his words, making anyone flustered.

"Hey, there you are!"

Before you can try to get some word mess out of your mouth, there's a feminine voice you recognize in a second coming your way. You look behind Jungkook to find Kiko approaching you, wearing just a cardigan as she hugs it closer to herself. Great, just what you needed right now.

You're still in shock from Jungkook's honesty and bluntness to fully grasp the fact, there's Kiko approaching the two of you until she stands beside Jungkook.

"I was waiting for you, I already picked our room," Kiko smiles at Jungkook, directing her brown eyes to glance at you. "Hi, Y/N." she says, somehow cautiously and you'd mentally snicker at how careful she seems to be while facing you again, if your head wasn't screaming at Jungkook's bluntness. Your own eyes stare at Jungkook who simply watches you waiting for you to say something.

"Hi," you let out a dry greeting, not even hiding the fact you're not pleased to be in her company. "I should pick our room too." you murmur, walking away from them with an annoyed huff as you hear Jungkook sigh.

"What are you doing here in the cold wearing just this? You'll get sick." he scolds Kiko gently and when you glance across your shoulder, you see him pulling her closer to his side to warm her up.One glance at them and you're ready to fume, especially at the sight of her in her full princess and innocent glory. Just great. When you thought you could actually make it through this trip without feeling annoyed.

[bajis-wife]

Retro wave

Synopsis: Every individual has something that they are missing or lacking in their lives, whether it be a person, a purpose, or something else entirely.

Will they be able to fill those gaps and find satisfaction or a purpose, or will they be left perpetually incomplete?

And what better way to describe this journey and character development than in a fan fiction? Where they embrace life to its fullest, make mistakes and grow while hiding their true flawed tint, that lost it's meaning long ago.

Will she finally achieve her childhood dream of becoming an artist? Using their smudged and sketchy colors to paint on the canvas of her life, or will she settle for more sophisticated one's?

Will the painting in the end be enough to engrave the memories passed together?

Warnings: Swearing, explicit profanities, illegal doings, VERY LONG.

Notes: This is the full version of my story on wattpad ‘Retro wave’ until now there are only five chapters if we count the prologue too, I only want to get some feedback and attention for all the work i put in it and for the readers to enjoy it as this isn’t your usual insert self story.

The background of the character is already decided and specific although the appearance is not, so you can perfectly put yourself in it without reading Y/N or anything annoying like that.

New topic, tattoos.

Often seen by those stiff elders with a closed mindset as something bad, permanent and idiotic.

How about I give you my perspective of it?

Tattoos aren't just stupid impulsive mistakes that last forever, they are one of the best ways someone can ever express themselves with; Words are useless to describe someone compared to the feeling of your fresh virgin skin being inked, making whatever part of your body a masterpiece. Flamboyantly taking away the virginity of your flesh.

Am I romanticizing it too much? Probably, but honestly who cares when you're being paid to do what you love?

After my last customer headed out, I took a deep breath and walked into the foyer of the shop which I personally customized, from the soft lighting to the comfortable furniture.

As I sat on the couch, spreading my limbs to then relax them, breathing in and out slowly, closing my eyes, focusing on the deep dark of my mind as existential thoughts started to flow into my brain.

Out of all I focused on one only.

Am I even making a difference?

This day surely has worn me out as it brought me to thinking about something so distant when I'm still young and beautiful.

Why bother thinking about legacy? I'm here now making most of the present moment, my future isn't written yet so screw legacy. I'll deal with that later after I've had my fill of fun and adventure, so don't talk to me about it.

I'm too busy living the dream, your dream.

It's reassuring to know that in my chaotic existence I'm not living under a bridge and have a place to call home.

But even chaos is born from something or someone; And I was born from my immigrant parents in Italy, just to be sent to my home country.

What a way to start life huh?

Only a couple months old and my parents already had enough of me, sending me to my grandparents with the excuse of learning their and now apparently my mother tongue.

Jokes aside, they loved me from the bottom of their hearts.

Four years later I came back to finish the remaining two of kindergarten and finally start primary school.

But oh boy, from there my life has been a downhill roller coaster of emotions. As childhood optimism had brain washed my mind into thinking it was going to be a wonderful experience.

Not realizing that from the very first day of school I was thrown into the cage of lions.

For the first, second and third year they weren't nothing but buzzing noises in the background, as I felt drained from being in that class.

As now I was in fourth grade, and already tired of everyone there but him.

Now you might wonder who this kind soul is?

Simple, my first love.

Brown wavy locks that gently swayed every time he tilted his head, capturing my gaze with those dark brown eyes.

With that little beauty mark under his right eye, that everytime he offered me one of his sweet smiles would make my heart melt.

But the thought of seeing him every day made me push through all of that.

I could relate to thinking it was simply him and I against the world. But there's more to the story. Love is blind, as they say, and we sometimes need time to accept it, one way or another.

Certainly being served the fact that he likes another girl in our class, wasn't the best.

I felt as if the world crashed onto me.

But maybe the other girl didn't feel the same? Maybe all of this was one sided love like most of the time between kids, I could just go and ask her if she feels the same.

Simple as that.

I was relieved to find out she didn't feel the same, my burdens lightened; Not realizing that by doing this little thing to relieve myself I broke his trust.

Making him the new target of mockery in our class, as that girl couldn't keep her mouth shut.

The classroom isolated me too, labeling me as the snitch, well deserved I guess?

But what hurt me the most was him slowly distancing himself from me, it was a gradual process. Yet the most painful for me, and heartbreaking for my parents to watch their daughter suffer from it.

After finishing my fourth year, I was transferred to a different school, one where I was welcomed with open arms. Spending my last year of elementary school there, forming good friendships as I grew more confident with each day.

I learnt the fine art of blending in while also standing out in society. Once I completed my fifth year in elementary school, I started my middle school journey, confidently prepared for whatever came my way.

However, fate had other plans.

I ended up being way too overconfident, and it bit me in the butt.

The universe had a way of humbling me and remembering me nothing lasts forever, each and every time you start from zero with the help of your past experiences.

So now you ask me how would I describe those three years of middle school?

Hell.

This time I was fortunate enough to have a loyal friend who was alongside me, Anastassia.

Together we helped each other and formed a lasting bond that would only become stronger as time went on.

She was one of those friends that even you meet again after a long time, I'm talking about months and years. It felt like time stood still with her.

Anastassia made the time fly by before you knew it, and with her by my side, I felt a timeless sense of comfort and peace. Whether we spoke of distant memories or made new ones together, it was as if we had never been apart.

After we finished middle school we had to part ways, she chose to focus on studying languages while I wanted to study art.

High school offered a much-needed fresh breath of air. There people seemed too occupied with their own personal struggles to bother with my actions, which brought back my laid back confidence that mixed with the release of dopamine.

I no longer felt restricted by the confines of social expectations or the constant judgment of others, instead focused on exploring who I was, and what I wanted from life in a less constrained and more meaningful way.

In less words I stopped caring about what others thought.

This newfound sense of freedom allowed me to truly come into my own, and shaped me into who I am today.

From studying there I also got to meet two wonderful girls that today moved and live with me in San Francisco.

First I came across Lara whose light brown shoulder length locks were highlighted with buttery blond highlights. Her eyes were surrounded by thin metal square frames, which perfectly empathized their beautiful vivid hue of maroon.

Lara's aura was like a magnet for those around her, drawing people like moths to a flame. Drawing the attention of boys who lusted for her and girls who envied her, leading to gossip and telling vicious rumors about her. Yet these attempts of destruction failed, as she continued to radiate joy and positivity.

Truly looking up to her for it, wondering what her secret was.

And so, the truth was unveiled.

One day, I found her smoking cigarettes in the school bathrooms, and the habit gradually became something I expected to find her doing from then on.

I had no intention of dictating her choices.

However, I still held hope that she would make a conscious effort to stop the unhealthy coping mechanism of smoking.

But despite her habit remaining the same until this day, many things about Lara have changed over the years.

Her hair for example, her once buttery blonde locks now styled in a choppy cut, with a side-fringe and even a bold red dye job to top it off.

These changes have altered her previously bubbly image, giving her a more mature and confident flair, though it's hard to say if that is simply the result of growing up.

Her charming and bubbly personality remains as captivating as ever, and she has not lost any of the charms and magnetic personality that constantly goes in contrast with Lia's one.

The living room everyday was an area of contention, Lara's smoking habit often irritated Lia through the smell that easily flowed through the apartment, as the confined space made it difficult to avoid breathing the smoke.

Arguments between them would always end in Lara sulking in the corner, while Lia walked away fuming from anger.

I don’t blame for her intolerance towards smoking.

She was an open-minded person, but when it came to smoking, she had zero tolerance. So, it's only natural that she would be upset whenever she caught Lara smoking inside.

Anger issues weren't the only trait that characterized her.

No, not at all.

As those curls of hers kept her craziness in check, but it somewhat from time to time it managed to escape from those lips of hers, making her say the most mean and absurd statements sound true and convincing.

If her lips were mean, then her eyes shall be the sweet ones. Green and hazel hues coloured those irises, as they held such beautiful mystery and charm.

And yet they also held a glimpse of her fiery anger and held up frustration, which sometimes exploded out, turning her captivating eyes into fireflies that burned through my soul.

A mix of raw emotion and magnetic influence made her memorable and endearing, as her presence was one that was hard to forget.

Lia truly was a girl of many colors and contradictions.

Although the two women have brought their fair share of excitement and adventure into my life, there's always room for more.

If the gods offer more and more delicious fruits on the branches of life, it would be a shame not to indulge in a little more of what makes it sweet and delicious, wouldn't it?

After all, life is made interesting by new experiences and challenges we encounter, and who are we to deny more enjoyment?

Not knowing I've jinxed for good my future, for thinking like that.

As the sound of the phone alerted me about a new message.

Unfortunately not notifying me about the consequences it will bring to my unsure future.

The number was unknown, but as I read the message and realized it was from Lara, I let out a sigh as I shook my head.

I was used to her borrowing other people's phones to send me messages or call me when her iPhone died, but I still felt a slight sense of annoyance.

Constantly reminding her to change it into maybe one of some other brand, whose battery didn't die immediately after being charged.

Fuck the aesthetic. Even an eighty year old could last longer in bed than those phone batteries.

With a groan, I rose to my feet, taking the keys of the shop out of my pocket as I slid one sleeve than the other of my cardigan.

I held onto my phone in one hand while the shop keys were in the other, as I exited the door.

After the store was properly locked up, I set my sights on the parking lot where I had left my 2006 BMW M3. Talking about it, it was probably the best deal I had scored in my entire life.

Quickening my pace while searching for my keys as I neared the parking lot, making my way over to the red sports car that stood out among the other vehicles, looking like a beast ready to devour the roads with its raw power and beauty.

After finding them, I unlocked the car and sat in the driver's seat, ready to drive away.

Starting the engine as now the powerful roars could be heard, feeling the humid air come in through the slightly open window, breathing the fresh yet familiar scent of the night.

With everything set, I put the car in drive and started making my way to the exit of the parking lot.

Speeding through the freeway, with wind coming through the window making the end strands of my hair fly back as adrenaline pumped into my veins.

But it soon came to an abrupt halt as I found myself stopped at a red light.

Letting out a frustrated sigh, traffic rules were sure pesky; Still I had to follow them, while I waited for the annoying red light to become green.

As the smooth, soothing tunes of "House of balloons" by the Weekend filled my car, my mind was at ease and my soul at peace.

Enjoying myself before the storm, commonly known as Lara, could enter my car.

Talking about the devil, there she was on the other side of the road talking with someone.

A man to be precise.

They still continued conversating, as I focused on the new individual.

His shaggy butter blonde strands swept to the side and his imposing lion tattoo were hard to miss, as they commanded attention.

Shifting my gaze at the now green light, I stepped on the gas pedal and proceeded toward the roundabout, making a sharp turn as I went back to them.

Parking my car just a few feet away from them as I yawned, hitting the horn two times to let her know I was there.

With a jolt, Lara turned to my direction to then say something to her companion earning a chuckle from him, while she motioned for me to come over.

Weird, she usually doesn't involve me with her flyings—What was she trying to pull here?

Frustrated from the long day of work I just compiled with her request, exiting my car and shutting the door behind me as I approached her and the man.

I looked at them to notice the blonde's stare was on me, probably he wanted me to burn holes into my skull for interrupting his moment with Lara.

At least that's what I believed until I was in front of them as he offered me a supposed charming smile.

"Nice to finally bump into the talk of the town." He made a little dramatic pause to then add.

"The name's Madarame Shion, but you can call me sir, if you're into that kind of thing." A devilish grin spread across his face as he introduced himself, his voice dripping with sarcasm and bravado.

You only needed to hear that, to know that he was the type of man who looks better with his mouth shut.

Eyeing Lara as she looked confused about Shion's introduction, considering her words before putting on one of her best smiles and finally breaking the awkward silence, "He is just a little full of himself today, don't mind him."

Wrapping her arm around his as she tried to justify him.

"I wouldn't call it being full of myself, more like pointing out the different possibilities my little minx." He remarked with a toothy grin, only a few inches separating his face from hers.

There was clearly something between them, but no way I was letting that guy try to woo her in some way.

"Right, a little minx huh?" I interjected with a sneer as it was now time to put this guy into his place.

And I surely didn't mind doing that.

"Well, if you're going to be throwing around names, then I suppose I can call you a douche." Locking eyes with him while my lips rose into a mocking smile.

Shion seemed more amused than annoyed by my response, as if he enjoyed this back-and-forth insult exchange.

Licking his teeth to then speak "If she is my little minx... Then you shall be my little vixen." This time leaning closer to me as he was trying to control the situation, perfectly knowing how to get under someone's skin.

It was futile trying to beat him this way, as it seemingly was his best field.

This would have taken time to bring him down from that supposed throne he believes he is on, and embarrass him when he is with Lara so she would leave him, but right now i didn't have the time nor the patience to do so.

So I did what I should have done from the start.

"It's late we should get home Lara," Motioning for her to come as I gave one last glance at Shion before saying "It was shit meeting you, hopefully I won't see that ugly face anymore."

Opening the door of my car as I waited for Lara that was still hesitant to leave.

"Why can't we stay out a bit longer? I mean, it's Friday night and we don't have anything to do tomorrow..." She said trying to convince me as her voice was dripping with disappointment at the idea of returning home so early.

Still I gave her one last look as an ultimatum, and she didn't do anything but walk in my direction complying to my order, sighing like a little kid since she was in no place to argue when I was the one driving.

The only one still calm was Shion watching us intently with a smug smile on his face as he added "Oh yeah? You're pretty annoying yourself,"

Both of us were already in the car as it didn't take much before we exited the momentary spot where I parked it.

"But that's what makes you endearing. Sweetheart" He concluded talking to himself.

Leaving him there, as the speedometer raised and lowered its pointer.

The car ride was silent until I stopped at a red light taking the opportunity to look at her, so maybe she will fill in the blanks and explain what the hell I needed to interact with him.

To which she just responded with, "Do I have something on my face?" Saying this as she moved the rearview mirror towards herself to check.

I was now looking at her like she just killed my family.

"How many times have I told you that the rearview mirror isn't to check yourself out!" Examining exasperated as I tried to fix the mess she just caused, only for her to start fiddling with the car radio as she browsed through the different channels.

Finally settling down for one to then look at me as she leaned into her seat, "So what do you think about Shion?"

To which I answered.

"I'm thinking about how much weed you've smoked to even see something in him," sighing to then add.

"Lara I'm seriously thinking you have a talent to find self centered assholes."

This story continues with a man whose ambitions drove him to obsession.

Kisaki Tetta, a man who both instills fear in others and arouses hatred. Not just any ordinary criminal, but rather, one of the men who rules the darker depths of the criminal underworld of Japan, pulling the strings behind the scenes and manipulating those below him to his will.

All in order to find peace and escape his weak past self, who failed to stand-up to the cruelties of this unjust world. By any means necessary, he sought to reach the position that he currently holds.

No one could oppose him, not even her.

Tachibana Hinata, his sweetheart. The girl in which words and praises he found shelter, words that even his own mother didn't say to him if there wasn't any perfect test score that accompanied his request of appreciation.

Her kind and straight forward personality truly caught him in its embrace. Making his past self desire more kind from the young girl. She was truly his first love, or at least in his eyes she will forever be.

She had saved him mentally, and yet he was unable to save her physically that fateful afternoon when they first met their hero.

Hanagaki Takemichi, a walking wannabe defender of justice. Mock him how much you want for being beat up after making his entrance, still he was able to offer her comfort and protection when she needed it.

He truly admired his bravery and was thankful to him for saving his muse, if taking the hit instead of her was considered saving.

Then so be it!

Next time he will be the one protecting Hina.

But there wasn't a next time and there never will be. Hina didn't get into trouble, and after that day her parents enrolled her in some self defense classes.

Yet their life's took different paths after they graduated elementary school, forced to part ways by the wishes of their parents.

Still managing from time to time to cross paths when going to buy groceries, it was fascinating to think about their friendship, going from being close friends at school to distant acquaintances outside of it.

He adored those moments he got to spend with her, her voice was so smooth to get him to space out sometimes

—Life was still good for him.

Or so he thought, till the start of the second year of middle school. Hina started to space out multiple times while they talked, which was very unusual for her.

This left the young man feeling confused as he tried to make sense of her behaviour. It was like she was physically there but her head was elsewhere.

In conclusion there was something else going on beneath the surface that Kisaki was unaware of; Still it wasn't that big of a mystery as she later confessed that she and Takemichi go to the same middle school.

Until here it was all fun and games.

Fool, he shouted victory too early and as a result he was taken back to discover she had been harboring feelings for the boy since their first encounter.

Otherwise from Kisaki, Hinata was and never will be a bystander especially when she was in love, more than ready to battle for Takemichi's one.

And weeks later in a spring evening, he was welcomed not only by allergies but also with the news of her being in a romantic relationship.

With none other than the crybaby hero himself.

He should have understood it by now, nothing good in this world comes for free and lasts forever.

He could cherish them from afar and trust them to not do anything stupid, but if he didn't take matters into his own hands; He would be just a passing phase for the lives of the two lovers.

His mind was a mess as many of his beliefs became doubts, but about one thing he was certain. He wanted her, the thing he lacked for that made him fall in love with her.

What his beloved considered pure platonic friendship for him became a full time obsession, not essentially on her but also on her so-called boyfriend.

Takemichi, the admiration he had in his regards

didn't take much time to turn into resentment and disgust.

Beginning to despise everything about him; Starting from that new bleach job that he got done, making him look even more of a bigger prick than he already was.

Ruining Hina's image with his choice of joining the delinquent world like many of their peers.

Sure he remained the same brave idiot he knew, still he became nothing more than a trouble maker to the public eye.

Always wondering why girls often romanticized being in love with delinquents, fantasizing any possible love story with them.

Couldn't they be happy with a regular guy?

How could troublesome and dumb clowns like them be attractive to girls?

Maybe it was their appearance? The charisma that some of them had?

No, it became crystal clear now. It was the seek of thrill in their life.

To have someone who will protect them, go on late motorcycle rides, boys who aren't afraid of judgements.

He was just a gifted boy with an average and easy life. Waiting for his happiness.

He had nothing to offer to no-one, destiny couldn't do anything with his useless life.

This was a big mistake he had made; Waiting for people to walk right into his life, and then expect them to stay. Only one person did, Hina.

But even she could walk away like she walked in. He couldn't afford losing her.

And there he is thirteen years later. Still hasn't lost hope on having a relationship with her.

Looking through the car window, gazing upon some carefree birds flying in the afternoon sky;

The sun gave its last rays for the day, as the chilly air hit his face hinting the approaching of fall season.

How he wished to spend a peaceful evening like this with a cup of tea in his hand, enjoying the warmth of the sun while he still had the chance.

Instead he was in a car driving him to attend a meeting regarding the incompetence of his subordinate.

His appearance was absolutely flawless, with silken vanilla blond hair pulled back by a touch of old and practical gel as light danced across his blue scrutiny eyes which gazed at the horizon through the glasses he wore.

His outfit was a sharp beige suit, perfectly complemented by a tie that matched the hue of his eyes like no other combination could.

Finally entering the gates of the unique complex of coloured buildings. Tinted glass hiding the different illegal doings inside of them, prostitution being the main of course.

After all these were the Haitani headquarters.

Waiting for him in front of the main building was Hanma Shuji, his infamous right-hand man, a crazy bastard ready to do anything for some thrill and action.

His tall, lanky figure made it easy to distinguish him from the sea of people entering and exiting the structure.

Those golden irises bore sharp and fiery glares which were contoured by the lens of the glasses covering the man's eyes.

His gaze was lazy and casual as he searched for something to pique his interest, constantly moving from place to place and person to person.

Just when he spotted a familiar car pulling up, the bland expression was quickly replaced by his trademark mocking grin.

In just a split second he was standing at the curb, ready to open the door for Kisaki.

Without a moment to spare ready to greet him and show his efficiency and promptness.

Jokes on you, he just wanted to taunt him even this early in the morning by making various snarky comments.

After opening the car door, their usual dynamic began to play out.

"Kisaki! I see that you're perfectly on time and busy as ever…Wonder if you ever take a break?" Breaking the ice with a bit of light-hearted teasing, to then afterwards ask.

"What would the occasion be, if I may ask?" His boss didn't even give him a glance as he started to walk towards the entrance.

Hanma couldn't do anything but follow right behind him, this was a classic behavior Kisaki had in his regards, how could he blame him though?

He knew he was annoying and used that to his advantage, but these games weren't so effective on his superior.

Walking straight ahead to the elevator, it seemed like Kisaki was cutting in half the lobby. Which was teeming with low-ranking scantily dressed prostitutes.

To which his subordinate being the gentleman he was let his eyes wander around, like he hasn't seen this already multiple times.

Shamelessly observing his surroundings, and all of them had a good package, just saying.

And when he got to the elevator there was his boss waiting for him, spitting the most vile and hurtful words to him and his dick.

But honestly he couldn't care less of what the shorter male said, if he was alright with anything that brought him to feel the thrill.

And to top that off, what would be more satisfying than seeing the one that offered him that fall apart? As his childhood dreams shatter.

Silence filled the elevator ride, until unexpectedly the shorter one broke it.

"Has Shion updated you on his progress? Because from what I've been told, he's been wasting time smoking weed and drinking,"

'Annoyed' wasn't quite the right word to describe his attitude. Instead, he was getting fed up quickly with Shion's bullshit, I mean who wouldn't?

Despite the length of time that they'd worked together, Hanma didn't grow weary of his boss' behavior, enjoying the show whenever he could; Like it was just an ordinary day in the office for him.

Prior to dismissing the subject as unimportant, "It's not my problem that you chose someone so incompetent for such an important task."

Earning a sharp glare from his superior to then backfire.

"Oh really? Wonder who advised me to send him for it, you know what? You're right; It's my fault for listening to some worthless bastard like you."

Hanma raised his hands and casually replied, "What can I say? Guilty as charged." Accepting his guilt as a sign of amusement and carelessness, dismissing his boss concerns completely.

"Wow we got a comedian over here?" His companion said with a sarcastic tone. "You certainly seem to be enjoying this, don't you?"

He surely was.

"If you're enjoying this so much, how about you go fix his mess?" Kisaki snapped back with a sarcastic tone followed by a challenging statement, saying, "Surely you won't mind, since you find this so amusing."

By sarcastically stating that Hanma wouldn't mind, he implied that fixing the situation was his responsibility in the first place.

"Oh please, who got your panties in a twist? Why the hell should I be included in this? It's his fault man."

He very well knows how much of a selfish and reluctant individual Hanma Shuji is; loves to laugh about someone else's mistakes, but dream on to actually seeing him helping them.

"It's not for you to choose to do so, Reaper. It's an order." With these words, his superior made it clear that this was not a request but a demand that as his subordinate had to follow.

And of course his tongue-in-cheek nature had to butt in along with his nonchalant attitude, nodding his head in a gesture of mock obedience saying, "Then I shall comply with your request, my sir."

But he very well knew his and Shion's life's were at risk, which honestly added more thrill to the thing.

Then a ding concluded his last thought, indicating that they reached the top floor, letting his boss exit first to then follow right behind.

Two male figures were walking into the halls of the police station, one proceeding with his fast peace while the other tailing right behind him, trying to lose the distance between them attempting to reason with his companion on a matter this last one didn't understand.

Or let's rather say he didn't want to understand...

"Kazutora, can you be reasonable for one time? You can't decide to do things on your own, especially now that you're in an organization!" There he goes being ignored by his friend, again.

Chifuyu was concerned about Kazutora's behavior, as the latter was consumed by guilt and self-blame due to Mikey's disappearance.

It turned into casual sex in a futile attempt to escape his own guilt and the memory that haunted him.

"Let me put it in a language you can comprehend. I'm exhausted at having to deal with so much paranoia every day," With a slight turn and a sharp exhalation, he faced Chifuyu, his eyes tired as he continued.

"If we continue like this, someday that picture on that board may turn out to be our single and final memory of Mikey!" For once, he truly did understand him, lacking the desire to blame him instead he wanted to free him, just like he did when he saved him from the grip of an abusive father.

It was explicit that his friend blamed himself for Mikey's crimes, and Chifuyu couldn't reason with his stubborn ass.

"Have a nice day Matsuno." With this last statement he made his way to the stairs.

He only hoped he wouldn't do anything too reckless like he did in the past...

But he clearly underestimated his companion.

In a certain way, he was able to relate to Kazutora, as the latter was similar to his younger self of thirteen years ago.

However if he in his teenage years failed to accomplish a much simpler rescue plan, statistically talking it's not like his friend had a much bigger chance of succeeding, if not lower.

Arriving at a point where he wondered if he should drag Baji's corpse out of the grave, revive him with some kind of ritual, so he could knock some sense into Kazutora's head, first with punches and then words as he usually did back in the day.

Seriously speaking though.

The concept of a gang originated from the ambitions of Mikey but especially Baji during their childhood; As the last one idolized Shinichiro, the older brother of the first one.

Also best known as the commander of the first generation of the Black Dragon, the most powerful biker gang in Tokyo back in the 90's.

The duo harbored the desire to follow the footsteps of their idol, wishing to create a gang of their own and live out their youthful fantasies.

So when the right time came, with the help of those who would eventually be known as the core members of its creation, namely Sano Maniiro, Riyuguji Ken, Baji Keisuke, Mitsuya Takashi, Hayashida Haruki and Hanemiya Kazutora, they officially gave life to Toman.

Even if the latter ended up in juvenile detention, it didn't stop the enlargement of it.

As the gang was more than just a part time thing, as it had a cherished place in the hearts of the captains and their vices.

And three years later it was living fully its era of gold, being recognized as one of the most powerful biker gangs of Tokyo.

But with the fall and loss of Baji, one of its linchpins, it became more and more fragile as time passed, somewhat still managing to have their influence over the city.

Thanks to some scum of members doing dirty work to archive it.

One thing was known for sure by the members, if Mikey was in command with Draken alongside him everything would have gone just fine.

Not knowing that the commander lost both of his parents at the age of three, being raised by his older brother Shinichiro and grandfather Mansaku who taught him the ways of karate, from which he made a name for himself in the streets.

The Sano siblings were just like a group of bowling pins, put in line one after the other connected by bad luck.

Another individual who had a lack of luck was Kurokawa Izana, their non-blood-related relative, fruit of the love of a Filipino woman and man.

Unfortunately, after her companion died, she found herself looking after the young boy on her own. Until she crossed paths with Masaru Sano, father of Shinichiro and Manjiro.

They became lovers and were together for a brief period until she passed away as well.

But he wasn't so heartless to not take the young boy with him, taking him under his wing as he went to live with his new flame, Karen.

And at that moment, they also had an infant daughter, Emma. Who he left behind as he also made his departure to the underworld.

Not even after she just turned three, her father's last paramour abandoned her in front of the Sano household, as she took her leave, and never returned back.

While she was introduced to her half brothers, her previous one wasn't doing very well.

Unlike her he was dropped at an orphanage, left to himself.

But despite the hardships, there was still hope for Izana as Shinichiro sought after him tirelessly.

After his grandfather had a talk with him, and nominated the young boy that lived together with Emma and Karen before they all parted ways. He was determined to locate him, to hopefully make him become a new member of the family.

And he does find him, instaurating an amazing sibling bond between him and the soon to be Sano.

Making him believe in that fairy tail, where everyone gets their happy endings but the villain.

Over time Shinichiro begins to talk about Emma and Manjiro too, giving him updates and telling him their adventures hoping to fuel the curiosity and excitement of the younger boy, but no success.

One thing he did fuel though, the young albino haired boy's jealousy in the regards of Mikey.

Believing the boy was trying to separate him from Shinichiro, he refused to let another loved one get snatched away from him, as he viewed the older sano sibling as a father-like figure in his life.

Taking a firm stance against the notion of letting the boy take the only thing remaining that could fill the void that the loss of his parents had created in his life.

But either way he had to be taken away from this world to early repent for his sins.

And just like this the bowling ball had hit one of the side pins that would later take two more down with it.

Starting the countdown for the lives of the other two Sano and our one and only Kurokawa.

Second to fall was Emma, Izana following right behind her leaving Mikey now all alone.

Waiting for the ball to eventually hit him.

So yeah he became a somewhat untraceable suicidal crime boss, in flip flops.

Ok he sounds too silly if we describe him that way, but he is Mikey so being silly is —Correction was his nature.

And what better way was there for the search to continue other than staging a reunion with the past division captains of Toman?

Reviving the organization, as now it slides sides and cooperates with the law to extend the reach of effectiveness in the search.

Working together while risking our lives for a better cause, which was stopping Manjiro and making him exit from that corrupted mentality so his name won't be stained by different numerous crimes.

That was our main goal, while the police wanted Bonten to fall apart, trying to capture most of its executives and associates, slamming them into jail and leaving them to rot there.

Lunch break; And those four motherfuckers were still in the office discussing business, well actually, only two of them were seriously discussing business while the other pair had discarded their jackets, loosened up their ties and opened the first buttons of their white shirts as they were busy hugging and laughing, just being the regular obnoxious drunk duo.

Remembering embarrassing past experiences, until the alcohol would no longer make them feel it's stung on their throat.

"Do you remember that intoxicated exotic dancer who wanted to provide you with a lap dance, but accidentally slapped you with her tits in your face?" The older Haitani inquired and then added, "I have never laughed so much in my entire life, I tell you!"

This was one of the many amusing escapades that they lived through together whilst being part of the Tenjiku and later the Kantou Manji Gang.

Chuckling his pal added.

"She was worse than a bitch in heat, the impact that came with it, and the weed effect nearly sent me to the depths of Hades, no cap!" This statement earning a snort from Kisaki,

while Rindou had become accustomed to dealing with drunk imbeciles.

So this was very common for him to not say usual in his daily life.

"If you ever require a prostitute's services for your trip into the so-called land of freedom, you know who to contact. I have a few fresh faces this week, and who knows maybe they can help you enjoy it to the fullest!" Ran's face broke into a smug and happy grin, as he offered his ex comrade the opportunity to indulge in some pleasure even out of the state.

However, the younger Haitani was clearly unamused by this show of generosity. He may not have shown it explicitly, but his mind was filled to the brim with irritation.

"Hold your horses, until we don't receive the order or further instructions we can't start any new negotiations with third parties, so refrain your fantasies together for another time." Collecting his papers and putting them into a folder.

Kisaki got up after he finished his paperwork, as his presence wasn't needed anymore.

"If you excuse me gentleman. I have some other important matters to attend to, so now I'll take my leave."

Matters my ass, he just wanted to leave as soon as the meeting was over, since the next few days will be brimming with work-related responsibilities and meetings; So he needed as much rest as he could get.

He might have the brain of a genius, but a brain doesn't work if it's not taken care of.

Rindou was about to tell him to get his dog with him, but it was already too late as the other business man was already out of the door.

Leaving him with not one, but two annoying drunken pricks.

He hated his job, at first it was fun until there wasn't any thrill in his life as everything was now routine.

He very well knew that once you get in Bonten, you can't leave.

Not alive at least.

Exactly, in exchange of what they always wanted as teens, they had to give their freedom and loyalty in return. But they didn't have any other choice.

Or let's say he didn't have any voice in chapter...

Two best friends, on the balcony; Violating the now deep black color of the sky with white and gray free spirited hazes.

The smoke danced along that void which gave the buildings a defined shape, floating lazily into the darkness of it, disappearing into the night sky just as soon, almost seeming like it was absorbed by it.

While I absorbed Lara's blabbering about Shion, as nicotine gave me the patience I needed for it.

"And when our eyes locked into a curious dance, I wondered; Who could he be? What has he seen in his life to make him pick my eye?" She concluded by taking another hit from the cigarette.

"It's a waste of effort, Lara. Just by viewing him one can tell he is more of a rake than a real-life criminal or thug, whatever he claimed himself to be,"

"You should really raise your standards, for your own good." I sighed out, flicking the back of my cigarette as the ash dropped down the railing into the street.

"Is that so? Funny coming from a woman who sent nudes to her lover before they even hit their third month, I doubt you're in a position to speak about such matters of morality." She retorted, rolling her eyes dismissively.

"Really? You're picking something that happened almost a decade ago so you could counter what I have just stated?" I replied, as the tone of my voice was disappointed while my face displayed an irritated grimace.

"Il lupo cambia il pelo ma non il vizio." She shrugged, looking to the side.

"Can you please listen to me, and stop behaving as if you own the world while I'm trying to advise you?" I was now furious, dropping my cigarette on the balcony tiles, firmly stomping on it and kicking the butt out of the railing.

"This individual is not good for you, I am trying to help you not get another heartbreak, like the one you had in junior year; With a guy who by the way was seven years older than you!" Rubbing my temples while I spoke in an attempt to soothe the headache that I was starting to feel, as I added.

"You want me to remember my mistakes from the past? Fine by me, have it your way, but don't think I won't reciprocate since you're no saint either." I concluded as now I was fully annoyed, while my eyes betrayed the fury I felt towards her shitty remarks.

"You always get your way! It's honestly so annoying how you establish your argument as definitive truth, and nothing can prove them wrong in any circumstance," Lara stated, unable to suppress emotions as her voice rose to match mine, expressing the pent up frustration and the feeling inferior to me even if she was older.

"I know I'm stupid and keep making the same mistake over and over again," She declared, as if she had nothing to lose by making me see her vulnerable side.

"But it's too late as now I'm addicted to that type of person, despite the fact that they will fuck me up." As she continued to vent her feelings to me, her voice became lower and lower.

There always was a sense of beauty she saw in her circumstances, no matter how bad they were. Despite the challenges, she would always point out a hint of good and cling onto it.

Nonchalant of the consequences.

"Let's join Lia on the sofa, and enjoy the match of football. We shall discuss this another time." I exhaled deeply, trying to turn her attention to some light entertainment.

"But I haven't finished my cigarette!" Protesting, as she held the carcinogen stick between the middle and index finger of her right hand.

In no time, the cigarette was swiftly thrown over the railing, by me as it flew down to the street where it crashed on the ground; Putting an arm across Lara's shoulders, guiding her inside.

Welcomed by the triumph screams of Lia, spinning around in the air her team's scarf, as apparently gli Azzurri had scored against the Brave Blossoms.

Her joy was palpable even to the neighbor next door, as he banged his fist against the wall while cursing at us to keep it down. Reminding us that it was late, and there were other people residing on the second floor.

We did nothing but laugh to our heart content at it.

"We'll surely try, cariño~!" I shouted back in a playful tone, with a hint of flirtatiousness in my voice.

I had a soft spot for our neighbor, Mr. Garcia; The handsome Spanish teacher, who recently moved into the condo weeks prior. With his suave personality and dazzling charisma, how could one not?

His anger issues were on another level though, maybe those were the reason his wife divorced him.

But one thing I know for sure, I would have chosen Spanish instead of French in middle school if he was the teacher.

As only the idea made me caliente between my legs.

Only to be dragged back to reality by Lia as she sat us down on the couch, to then accommodate herself between me and Lara, keeping us at a short leash, so to speak.

"It would be appreciated if you kept your lustful scenarios to yourself, at least until this match finishes." Lia expressed with a tired sigh.

"Oh come on what's wrong with letting your fantasy run a little wild? Plus who wouldn't fall for a dilf like him-" I answered as Lara playfully hit my shoulder chuckling, before Lia cut us off putting both of her index finger on our lips.

"Shh shut it for now..." She whispered strictly, eyes glued onto the screen of the TV.

The camera now shifted its focus to Tommaso Allan, who had the ball passed onto him by one of his teammates. In a swift and decisive move, he rushed forward, and successfully managed to overcome an opponent who had initially blocked his path. He was in the process of searching for an ally to pass the ball to, when Kanji Shimokawa suddenly tackled him to the ground, catching him by surprise and seemingly causing him to lose the ball.

"Now that's a hunk!" Lia remarked as she viewed the slow-motion replay of the action on the screen.

Only for me and Lara to shut down her affirmation.

As the game progressed, the Italian team was in advantage, netting two more touchdowns, prompting Kanji to utter a series of curses in the meantime, his anger being quite apparent.

Takeomi glanced sideways at his companion, cigarette between his lips, taking a long drag before saying. "You worry too much buddy,"

"They are playing on their home ground, with that huge advantage I'm sure they are just being a little playful with the opposing team just to put on a show and then get serious reversing the situation."

To which the fake blonde answered with a serious demeanor, "One thing I know for sure, and that is their victory over the Azzurri. I'm not taking another loss from our national team." He stated.

To which the other male answered.

"Then try not to get any white hair from the stress, it would ruin that dye job." Taking a long drag from his cigarette as he talked to his colleague.

While their two younger superiors played pool in the background, the pink-haired freak wasn't having any bullshit from his smoke addict of an older brother.

"Can you shut that trap of yours and stop smoking like you're mourning someone!? It's so fucking annoying to smell the smoke of your cheap cigarettes!" Talking, more like spitting words as if he was speaking with the lowest scum on earth.

"Suck it up Haruchiyo, your weed is no better." He firmly stated puffing out the smoke.

"It's Sanzu to you Akashi, stop acting like we're close and playing family, we both know you suck at it." Snarling while he glared at the older male.

"Fair enough, I just thought you missed my figure as an older brother." He laughed to himself.

While his little brother scoffed at his antics, dispising him from the very bottom of his heart.

Applying some chalk on the cue stick, as he got ready to make his strike.

"You talk as if you've died, which unfortunately you didn't. Anyhow, who would miss such a parasite as you?" With a swift and precise motion hitting the little white ball, as it went rolling full speed colliding with the brown one, "The world would just lighten from such burden if you did." He concluded as the ball fell into the hole.

"Oh- come on now, you talk as if I've ruined your life, or in this case as if I was the only one that did-" Being cut off by Mochi esulting as the Brave Blossoms finally scored a point after a back and forth between the two teams.

"Take that, you pasta eating bitches!" He was aware that the Azzurri were still ahead of a point but had so much faith in his team to win, as his nationalism kicked in.

When the two charismatic figures of Bonten entered the room.

Or more like one entered while having the arm of the other on his shoulders, as he helped him walk inside.

"Ahoy there, mates! Terribly sorry to keep you all waiting, I was busy chugging down copious amounts of liquor." Stumbling forward for a couple of steps as he gripped tightly the fabric of his brother's suit, the older Haitani made his entrance.

"However, I've recovered somewhat and I'm ready to enjoy some time together with you beautiful, beautiful people!" The man drunkenly declared, while his sibling dumped him on one of the minibar stools.

"Stay put, alright? Don't do anything dumb." Putting his brother in a position where he wouldn't fall off the stool from squirming around.

"I'm not a kid anymore, Rindou. I can take care of myself, even when I'm tipsy. Seriously, don't you trust me?" He proudly stated.

"There's nothing to be so proud of, Ran." Only to be cut off by the other, "I mean, I know how to handle my booze!" As the two got into a back and forth over the situation, which only got more chaotic and interrupted Kokonoi's efforts to concentrate and get some work done.

The ladder was immediately caught by their words, as he grew annoyed by all the interruptions to his work.

"Can you stop being so loud!? I'm trying to focus and you're making it almost impossible!" He snapped, his patience quickly running out with the ruckus.

The younger Haitani was already fed up after all the bullshit he had to deal with today.

As the situation wasn't helping, and his patience was quickly running out. He was ready to explode, and this slight form of provocation pushed him over the edge.

"Screw off, dick cheese! This isn't a place for work. Stop thinking about more ways to make money when we don't need it right now, you capitalist prick!" He exclaimed not able to control his temper anymore, as now he just wanted to exit the room not wanting to completely lose it.

And he did just that leaving his drunk sibling over there with the other lad, quickly making his way to the elevator.

Ran, being the drunken flirt he is, decided to break the silence between them with a bold claim, "Don't listen to him, gorgeous. You can consider this room your workplace, and if anyone else says otherwise, let me take care of it. I'm quite the big deal around here." Clearly still drunk from the alcohol, he mistakenly thought the white haired man was a woman.

Who seemingly caught his attention so he wanted to shoot his shot and earn some chuckles from, but he only received a disgusted glare from his comrade.

"For the love of all that is holy, please just trip over a knife and leave me alone." He face palmed in utter exasperation, as just the idea of having to deal with Ran's drunken antics was just too much for him to bear. He returned to typing on his laptop, trying his best to avoid Ran and hoping he wouldn't interrupt him again.

He was wrong, Ran was right behind him, his arms draped over his shoulders as he leaned over to whisper in the other man's ear, "Oh come on, don't you like attention? Especially from such a charming man like myself." Continuing to hit on the supposed woman he believed his comrade was.

"I like respect and boundaries, don't you know personal space is a thing? Stop being a creep and keep your goddamn hands to yourself, geez." Wanting the other to get the point and leave him alone, he wasn't going to sugarcoat his words to not sound offensive.

Still the rather tipsy individual took it personally.

"Me a creep? Please, I'm a gentleman." He started, quickly retracting his hands from his companion's back.

"Is there any difference? A gentleman is just a more patient and pleasing wolf in sheep's clothing" He retorted with a roll of his eyes, not impressed by the behavior of his companion.

“Don't be a killjoy, sweet cheeks! Why waste those lovely locks if you aren't gonna put them to good use? Maybe they'll look even better with my fingers through them and you on your knees." He said with a cocky demeanor, leaning on the counter holding his head and looking dreamily at his colleague back, as if imagining the various things he wanted to do with 'her'.

Ran was high on his own fantasies of romance and sex, while Rindou was high on their own professional success.

Making his way to their boss' office to report the process of their successful deal with Kisaki, hoping that their superior, Mikey, would be pleased with that accomplishment and tell him and Kokonoi to begin making the necessary investments into their new deals.

Rindou, after stepping out of the elevator to the top floor, was met with the warm glow of the sunset as the sun was slowly setting in the horizon. Within thirty minutes, night would fully sweep over Tokyo, giving the window one last glimpse before heading to the boss' office.

Firmly stepping through the double doors, closing them behind him. He glanced up at his boss, making eye contact with the man piercing black irises.

Despite his lanky and short stature. He was the epitome of 'don't judge the book by its cover.'

As his presence was intimidating, making the executive quick mental note to keep the report short; The faster, the better.

"How did it go Haitani? Hopefully you gave a good image of Bonten." He asked even though it seemed more a threat, making the thirty year old man stand straight.

Breathing out, relaxing as he recollected his thoughts, he started to give his report about today's meeting he and his brother had with the heads of the Tenjiku criminal organization, Kisaki and his left hand man Hanma.

It was hard for Mikey to remain calm and focused while listening to Rindou talk about them, considering the men were the ones who caused the death of two of his siblings. Still, managing to stay silent and not show the frustration he felt.

With a quick hand gesture shutting the other man up, before he inquired, "Was Hanma much of a hassle during it?"

Rindou quickly shook his head, "He was knocked out shortly after Ran got him to try some of the new booze we ordered from China," he explained before adding "Just as you had told to operate."

Another hand gesture telling him to continue, as he complied with his boss' order.

“He wanted to have some other drinks so we gave him a vip pass to one fo our most known nightclubs, for later we prepared a royal suite at one of our five star hotels.”

Instead of going through all this trouble he could have shot that adrenaline freak, leaving him to die alone like a bastard in the corner of a cold and lost alley, people wouldn't even notice about his disappearance. Nobody would care honestly, not even the police.

But his boss' orders weren't optional, and Rindou would much rather follow them and tolerate the other annoying asshole for that short period of time, than suffer the wrath of Mikey's so-called 'loyal mad dog.'

As being skinned alive by him doesn't sound so appealing to no one. Whatever he has to do he will do it, and get the job done.

"He will depart to San Francisco tomorrow at 7 am sharp. At least this is what I know from the information Kisaki gave me." He concluded, fixing his tie as he awaited further instruction or questions from his superior.

After a long period of them just staring at each other as silence surrounded them, the boss moved his arm over the landline, his fingers pressing a button before speaking.

"Kokonoi, come to my office and bring Ran along with you." The boss says to the other person on the line, in a firm and clear tone.

And not even five minutes after three people enter the office out of the two requested.

"I was told there was going to be some top-notch food here," The still intoxicated individual exclaimed, ready to engage in whatever entertainment that was happening currently. However, despite this, the pink haired individual accompanying this person mentally scoffed and was annoyed by his drunken behavior.

Nevertheless, the person's sotic expression remained in front of the king that he followed, regardless of the irritation caused by the inebriated idiot.

With Kokonoi right behind them, closing the doors after entering with his laptop in one hand a dossier on top of it.

"You told me you were taking me to your hot female friends, but I see no beautiful babes, no sexy girls, just a bunch of ugly dudes in an office." Rather disappointed by the lie Kokonoi told him to get his ass moving as soon Mikey required their presence there, Sanzu wasted no time in dropping Ran on the leather couch like he was a sack of potatoes.

"My hot bitches-" was as far as the drunk individual's complaining got, because he was abruptly interrupted by Sanzu placing his hand over his mouth, trying to shut him up, only to have it licked away in the process. The other man was disgusted by the behavior of the drunk individual, and his annoyance was starting to show.

"What the hell you freak!" he exclaimed, clearly surprised and not expecting this to happen. He quickly pulled his arm back, Kokonoi offering him a handkerchief as he proceeded to walk towards Mikey.

Placing his laptop and the folder on the desk of this last one, as he began to state the analysis he made about how much would their earnings rise out of assimilating Tenjiku into Bonten, with the ultimate goal of absorbing them completely after removing the top two heads.

"What about Madarame Shion?" Sanzu questioned about the third head, Kokonoi confidently responded by saying.

"He is no threat. He's easy to bribe with some money and power, maybe be generous and add a couple of women for him too..." He paused looking at Rindou before continuing.

"But if his appetite isn't satisfied by that, two bullets can shut his mouth for good, and make him grateful that we ended his life quickly." Showing no hesitation or remorse as he made his statement, clearly not bothered by the slightest to have a guilty conscience.

As long as it serves the greater interests and goals of the criminal organization he loyally serves, fill his pockets and mouth, he will do that and much worse.

"What do you think, boss?" Sanzu looked to Mikey for an answer, waiting to make sure they were all on the same page.

Ready to follow whatever came out of his mouth.

As his boss was still contemplating the situation, thinking about the best move to make. Finally deciding to go along with the plan suggested by Koko, believing that there shouldn't be any trouble with the third head of Tenjiku as long as they had a fool-proof plan to bring the man over to their side, and if not get rid of him.

Pulling out of the folder the documents before giving it one last adjustment, as he and Rindou put their signature on them, handing them to Sanzu and Mikey so they could do the same, as they both read what the contract was about before signing too.

Officially declaring their agreement, now they just had to wait for the outcome, and ensure that everything proceeded according to plan.

"Now we have time to give this to Kisaki, while I need you to give this to Hanma as he will go overseas tomorrow morning." Kokonoi directed Rindou, sticking out with his hand a piece of paper from the folder for him to take.

In the middle of the nightclub, surrounded by the loud music and boisterous atmosphere, is a man. Average height and a lean type of build, with a face that is so charming even now when it displays nothing more than indifference.

He was familiar if not used to having ladies of the night by his side as they swayed along the music, one in particular, his favorite.

The young woman was basically a walking feast for the eyes, her figure a perfect example of what the male gaze perceives as the ultimate beauty.

As she back faced him, his hands under hers as she guided him to feel every curve he already knew of her body, as they moved along the rithm of the music.

Still failing miserably when it came to Kazutora, as his mind was elsewhere, and she was nothing more than another Saturday night for him.

And while she tried to win his attention for hours, only to see her efforts fail, something much simpler had managed to get the job done. And that was a buzz from his phone, tucked away in his jeans pockets.

Quickly making his way across the nightclub towards the bar, presumably intent on finding a way to end his night on a more positive note. However, the woman was not about to give up that easily. She followed closely behind him, trying not to loose him in the sea of people.

When he reached the bar, the man paid for his drink, before giving the woman some gas money to call an Uber. This sent the signal loud and clear that he had enough partying for the evening, and the lady was forced to accept defeat.

He needed to fully focus on the task at hand he gave himself, still he wasn't no ungrateful bastard as he bid her a swift goodbye, planting a quick kiss on her cheek as a sort of consolation.

Walking out of the club leaving her behind. Reviewing the intel his most trusted subordinate had sent him.

"Roppongi huh?"

Haitani's well known turf. Still half of their subordinates liked to say they were loyal, in reality they are just a bunch of dumb assholes that with a little money and lies you could buy.

Cracking the engine to life as soon as he got on his motorcycle, a loud roar filled the mostly empty parking lot due to the late hour.

Taking a hold of the handle bar, rubbing it to gain more speed. He then performed a half circle turn to then speed off down the wet streets of Shibuya.

The streets were empty, except for the occasional low-life thugs or wannabe gangsters. He enjoyed nights like this, as it was just him, his motorcycle, and the cool wind that brushed across his now rosy cheeks. The blonde streaks in his hair blew freely, adding even more beauty to this moment.

Taking the exit onto the highway, it started to get boring.

Until he noticed a luxurious car in the distance, it seemed to be a black Mercedes-Benz.

Surely expensive to maintain, from the looks it seemed it was brand new. Although he couldn't see the owner, unfortunately as this rich bastard had black tinted car windows. But surely he seemed to be in deep thought as he moved with a slow monotone peace.

Then an idea came to his mind.

Letting the car gain a good distance, before going at maximum speed just right beside it. The roars of the motorcycle surprised the driver that much he swerved off into another lane. Luckily, the driver hit the brakes with all his might saving the car from making an accident.

Kazutora burst into laughter, not caring about the person in the car he almost killed. According to him, it was the driver's mistake to be distracted and wandering off with their thoughts while on the highway.

And since he considered himself to be a good cop, he saw it as his duty to remind him of this simple rule.

In his style and way of doing it.

The two figures that exited the car didn't catch his attention for long, as the situation had given him enough fun for today. Turning back to focus his attention on the road and on his true goal that night —visiting one of the night clubs owned by the two charismatic brothers.

Unbeknownst to him, the ones that he almost made go astray were none other than the two brothers, and the psychopath with a pink mullet of their superior.

The younger Haitani was outraged after the incident, and furiously started shouting calling the driver of the bike all sorts of names.

"That bastard!" The man yelled, his tone raging with fury.

In spite of his subordinate's outrage, Sanzu saw comedy in the situation and couldn't help but crack up.

"Calm down, bro. This is hilarious. it almost felt like we were going to die there," His coworker said with a wicked grin, as he closed and leaned into the car door.

Rindou was now fuming with outrage as the Joker wanna be continued to go at it.

"What? It's not my fault nor his that you drive like an old lady," The individual shrugged, unconcerned.

"You sick fuck! That damned bike almost caused us to crash! I might drive like a grandma, but who does he think he is acting like a maniac on the road?!" Storming back to the car, upon reaching it he opened the car door and forcefully closed it behind him.

Sanzu stayed out of it, sighing in annoyance as he left the younger Haitani some time to cool off, before they could carry on with the task given by his king.

While all this chaos happened, Ran was in the back seat, knocked out.

And not even five minutes after they were back on the road.

The speedometer showed numbers escalating rapidly, reaching higher digits after mere seconds had passed.

Street lights pass their bright ray on the car bodywork, somewhat trying to clean it from all the shady businesses that they have used it for.

Chase Atlantic blasting from the radio, as the man with the pink mullet sang along the lyrics. Only to be interrupted by the news.

"It seems that the trend of illegal car races came back, California has been full of reports. Especially in the cities of San Diego, Los Angeles and lastly but not least San Francisco."

As the news reporter continued their broadcast, Sanzu lowered the volume as he looked at Rindou before saying.

"Seems like Shion is already at work." He snickered still looking at whom he was speaking to.

While the other guy thought nothing but how idiotic people were to follow a trend, just to be known as some sort of crappy underground superstar. Not knowing how much of a hypocrite he sounded.

He and his older brother did follow the trend of being delinquents too, but they had more style and charm than those scraps.

"San Francisco huh?" He mumbled to himself.

Rindou only knew the city thanks to the books at juvie.

Remembering it's characteristic monuments such as Alcatraz, the ruthless prison known world wide, the Golden Gate Bridge; A red and white vortex that makes you enter a colorful mix of colors and cultures, where cheap and expensive coexist.

These were the words that the author of the book chose to describe the city.

Hanma tomorrow would go there to help Shion, his old gang pal, as the mission given to him by Kisaki wasn't such an easy task.

They should be there just for a few days, just to find a good location out of the public eye, and then be back in Japan without getting noticed.

The police have been on their tails in this period of time, with the help of that damned Toman.

As they reunited the gang, this time to find and bring back Mikey and his fucked up mind. With Takemichi being none other than the leader, yes that's right a weak bitch like him is the top dog.

He was good with words, Rindou admits, but words can't bring you anywhere. Violence must accompany them, at least that's his ideal.

Still he found it hilarious how they believed that with the power of friendship they could bring back his boss, who honestly just needed to be sent to a psychiatric hospital along with his loyal mad dog that was now sitting beside him looking at his phone.

But at least they had the balls to do something he would never do, and that was going against Mikey.

As if it wasn't Sanzu hunting him down for betrayal his subconscio would take his place. Guilt tripping him of leaving Ran alone, breaking the promise they had made at each other from the very start.

He couldn't handle the type of life without anyone beside him, like he had Ran for his entire life.

So running away was, and forever will be just a fantasy.

Since we were into the topic of old friendships, two other old friends were seeing each other right now after many years.

Junpeke, a once lively individual, had become much more tame over the years. His once stylish and edgy haircut was still the same, but his spark seemed to have been lost.

And now he happened to work at one of the many clubs the Haitani owned, he was just a low ranking subordinate of theirs nothing really special.

Still Kazutora found a way to use the position of his old friend in something useful to him, otherwise he wouldn't have bothered meeting him again after all these years.

Both of them not wasting much time, walking though the dark corridors headed straight for a door that was labeled 'Staff Only'.

Once through the now closed door, they entered an area that was most likely a dressing room, as Junpeke immediately got to business, pulling a waiter suit, from the nearby closet handing them to Kazutora.

As the latter changed into them pretty quickly, taking out keys and wallet from the orher pocket of his jacket along with his phone.

"Now that i have completed everything you've asked me for, it's time for you to hold up your end of the deal," Junpeke stated, a smug smile made it's way on his face as he added.

"Give me the money, and you can go and do whatever your heart pleases with Hanma." As if he wasn't in a dangerous situation at all.

"Of course, a deal is a deal after all." Kazutora seemed used to his arrogant behavior as he searched though his jacket pockets, pulling out two rolled stash of twenty five bills worth ten thoused each.

For you folks that don't want to do math, it's basically around four thousand dollars.

Not wasting anymore time the other took it and began to count them.

"What? Don't you trust me Junpeke?" The man with long hair pulled back and tied into a low ponytail asked his former friend, however the ladder didn't respond to him.

He looked around to make sure everything was left as they found it, then both took their leave walking to the door.

Not all bad things come to harm you, and Kazutora had learned one important rule during juvenile detention, and that was; Never let anyone walk behind you, especially when doing shady business.

Of course the ex-juvenile delinquent took this opportunity, knocking his childhood friend unconscious, sending his live location to one of the police officers he had under his command, and carrying the man outside the back exit and dropping him inside a dumpster.

After successfully taking Junpeke out of the picture he went back inside the building, now walking through the corridors that brimmed with sex workers that offered him lustful gazes and sweet chuckles.

He payed them no mind, as they were only doing their job.

Entering the large underground club lounge of the hotel, he was met with a scene of chaos. Music blasted in the background, ladies dressed in vibrant colours and styles moved back and forth, forming a veritable bouquet.

Just as he was taking in the sight, his eyes scanned the various tables as they came across the man he was looking for, he was surrounded by a circle of ladies, as they stuck to him like glue or looked to get closer.

Hanma Shuji, a man with many words for him, but clown was the most fitting, as his lazy smile was exactly the same of a fool.

And Kazutora couldn't wait to wipe it off his face, as it would look better when he will shove him behind the bars.

As if by fate, a tray carrying two alcoholic drinks was suddenly placed in his hands by a waitress, confusing him for a waiter, shouting at him to bring it to the table where the infamous reaper was.

And of course after knowing that how could he not spit into the drink to top it off?

Not a smart idea to do it in the middle of the dance floor, as he was grabbed by the collar from a bulkier man with an angry expression on his face.

If you were at a club and brought a drink, only to see a waiter spitting into one of the same type that you ordered, it would certainly put some doubts in your mind about your own drink.

And since alcohol can often make one's inhibition lower and impulse control harder to manage, it's now wonder that the man got so aggressive in a quick time span with Kazutora.

"Who do you think you are, spitting into drinks like that?!" In the midst of the loud music and partying, the sound of that sudden shout got the attention of those nearby.

As the partygoers turned their gaze towards the source, witnessing the man violently shaking the 'waiter'.

This situation surely ruined the cheerful mood there was in the club, as people didn't know if the accusation was true or simply a misunderstanding.

"If you don't want to give us our money's worth, then don't bother working here at all?!" Kazutora didn't even bother defending himself, he was too busy getting his face sprayed with spit from the angry shouts of the other man.

This whole situation ruined their night, as his voice surely would give the others a headache if this continued.

But one in particular.

And that was Hanma Shuji of course.

Making his way through the crowd of people as he left all the ladies behind, and when he got there he was met with the familiar face of Kazutora.

Seeing his ex comrade getting into a heated confrontation, how could he not intervene to help him? Jokes aside he quickly made his way to the two, putting his hand on the angry customer's shoulder, before saying.

"Now now, what's with all the hoopla?" he asked with a somewhat dismissive tone, taking the situation lightly.

But this seemingly innocuous gesture seemed to spark a fire in the customer, who was now fuming with anger.

"Who do you think you are, you bastard?!" he growled at Hanma, his voice practically dripping with fury. "I'm a powerful criminal, you think you can just go and mess with me like this?" he continued, his rage growing with every word.

Hanma, however, remained unfazed and replied to the customer's threats with a lazy smile, "Or what? What are you going to do? Enlighten me," he retorted, his lazy smile remaining on his face despite the customer's rage.

"Are you challenging me?! I can take you and break you like a breadstick, you lanky beanpole!" The customer shouted, angry at Hanma's continued lack of fear and respect for him.

"You don't seem to be in the right mood, mister." He said before adding "How about you go on a little timeout and drink some water, hm-?" And that was it, the final straw.

Suddenly Kazutora was free, as the man who was gripping on his collar turned to the taller male.

"I'll kill you four eyes!" He shouted, finally snapping.

"Four eyes? Make it six, because from how drunk you are." The other one had enough, and decided to resort to physical violence. As he ran at Hanma, fist ready to punch him hard on the jaw, determined to wipe that lazy smirk off his face.

Still as we all know this was a piece of cake for the reaper, as he dodged the strike with ease. Getting under people's skin was his profession rather than being a criminal, this was routine for him.

Kicking his opponent's feet, making him trip and fall on the dirty dance floor, that from the various partying of the night was all sticky, either from drink spills or obsolete substances.

As the bouncers came and took the man on the floor, as he continued to sprout profanities at the two.

Once the chaos of the situation subsided, Kazutora understood it was his cue to leave and get out of there. His plan being ruined by some drunk bastard.

Hoping to slip away unnoticed, but he was way too positive and confident in his skills not to notice Hanma's hand on his shoulder.

"Not even a 'thanks, old friend?" The familiar voice cut through the air. Even if he was facing the other way, the ex Valhalla number three could feel his ex superior lazy smile.

"Hanma, long time no see," he said, "You've changed quite a bit, and it seems like you've acquired the habit of grabbing people by their shoulders?" He said with one of his best fake smiles he could manage to hide his irritation.

"I could say the same for you," he responded humorously, "you still look as fresh as new! Mind telling me your secret?" With a light-headed tone, he joked about his friend's transformation.

"Oh, y'know. Just grew my hair out a bit," lightly tugging some rebel strands of hair framing his face, "and eleven years of prison did their work." He playfully scoffed.

"You're as sassy as ever, huh?" Hanma replied teasingly, "How about we get some drinks and catch up on the lost time?" Wrapping his slender arm around his old comrade's shoulders, who seemed to not be interested in having to chit-chat.

Ultimately, he accepted the offer, ending it with "Why not?"

Both perfectly knew who the other was, but just for tonight they'll forget it over a few glasses of Mojito.

[dreamingcloudie]

❛❛ In which; Dottore as a streamer... ❜❜

✎ ❛❛ I'll have to admit, this character is quite... alluring.❜❜

Pairing(s): Streamer!Dottore x (kinda) Game-Character!GN!Reader (Mordern AU)

Genre/Format: N/A (headcanons)

Warning(s): wrote this at 6am without thinking straight so possible grammar mistakes and sentences that don't make sense

Notes: There really isn't much of x Reader here, sadly :( I might write more of this in the future but idk

I know i have requests to do but this idea came out of nowhere and it was too tempting to not write something for it— I've only written headcanon once so this is short. I have no idea if I'm doing this right 💀

Let's be real, this guy would probably stream live torture on the darkest part of the internet

BUT, let's just pretend in this AU he's not an evil doctor man <3

He is a tired university student who majors in biology and thrives to earn a position in the medical field

And that means becoming a coffee addict and endless nights of staying up late to study 

Sleeping? What's that?

I can see him being so focused on his studies to the point where he doesn't interact with the internet much

If someone showed him a popular meme he wouldn't understand 

Boomer

L

Due to how busy he is, he doesn't have the time to find a job

He lives off of the money his parents send him every month lol

That was until someone introduced him to the wonders of the internet…

One of his friends—Childe, told him something about a streaming platform and he should go check it out

And that night when he got home, he pulled his laptop out and searched for it

He also learnt that people can earn money streaming whatever

For instance, most of the people streams "let's plays"

He scrolled down a little and he found people streaming… questionable things, and he was baffled they get paid for it

So that means, he could stream anything he wants and he'd earn money from it, as long as he has a certain amount of viewers 

Say less

And an account was made 

This basically becomes his part-time job now

He usually streams to tutor struggling students and you best believe they were very thankful 

He'll sometime do "study with me" streams too

As he takes his fifteen minutes breaks from studying, he'd talk to his viewers 

And when I tell you this man has the driest humor ever—

That's what got his channel to grow

Viewers would clip his dry ass jokes and post them onto other social media platforms, which caused his view counts to blow up

As he got more and more popular, his viewers would beg him to do gaming streams

With how dry his humor is, they thought his commentary would be gold…

And they're absolutely correct, they get to see a different side of him too 

Surgeon simulator is the very first game he was introduced to by his fans, to get him interested in gaming

Man's cursing every time when he accidentally drops something

"Now, we put this lung over— Shit."

Cue chat spamming the Kek emote 

It's been months since he started to stream and things are going pretty well for him

He comes back home from his lectures today to find his Discord server is filled with loads of fans telling him to check a game out, mostly because of a certain character

The general chat is flooded with hundreds, and I mean hundreds of pictures of them

And Lo and Behold

It is you

The moment he first has his eyes on you, his jaw drops

God DAMN YOU LOOK FINE AS HELL

Not to mention that harness you have on you—

Ahem

Anyways

He doesn't even know who you are or what game you're from

But man he's head over heels for you already 

The next time he starts his stream, the first thing he says is:

"Everyone was going crazy on Discord yesterday about a game character. And now my question is…

"Who are they and which game are they from?"

Babygirl took his first step into the world of simping <3

[mr2swap]

The babysitter

I hate my job normally people who work as babysitters say that, but Charlie is a very special boy maybe too special for his own or my good, How every weekend Charly's parents went out to their "business" meeting Or at least that was his excuse to get rid of his little monster for the whole weekend.

I would have quit my job long ago if I didn't need the money for my university, I have to admit that this job has its advantages: I can work only on Saturday and Sunday and get paid like any other employee.

But here I am again in the body of this annoying and pampered little dwarf, Charly has a strange ability that allows him to exchange the bodies of him and another person, in this case, me throughout the weekend was the only way his parents could control that he did not get into trouble during his “business” trip

The first time Charly exchanged our bodies, I panicked when I found myself in Charly's small and delicate body of a 12-year-old boy, especially because of how huge and imposing my body looked from the height of a small child. -I think the one who has to take a bath is now you, isn't it? "Charly"-He held me with his now bigger and stronger arms and dragged me against my will towards the shower, seemed to have fun playing "big brother"

I tried to resist how I could but in Charly's small body he forces me now it wasn't enough to contain the university man who had me under his power. It was really humiliating to have to put up with him treating me like a little boy or his toy. -Oh, come on! Stop crying “Charly” If you are a good boy I will return your body to you before my parents arrive-

 He quickly undressed me and got me into the hot shower and started playing with me like I was some kind of doll. I was still too shocked to have my body in front of me to even try to escape from this weird situation after the shower. She dried me off and put her little superhero pajamas on me and led me to the dining room - "your" parents stopped eating this, and you won't get up from the table until the whole plate is clean-In front of me was a plate full of rice and vegetables that I had to eat until I was full surprisingly I ate a lot less than I was used to.

 After dinner, he carried me up the stairs and into his room, decorated with various Marvel movie posters. He put me in bed and tuck me in,-rest little baby on your parents will be here soon and don't worry he has been a good boy, so you will get your body back this time-

He locked the door and left me in the dark for some reason I was very tired, and it was still 10 p.m., I assumed it was because of the body I was in now while trying to sleep I heard the sound of the television on the floor of downstairs who knows what the hell he was doing with my body, I didn't even know at the exact moment I fell asleep the camera was so comfortable I was so tired I couldn't resist.

Hours later I opened my eyes I was no longer in the boy's body or his room now I was in the living room with him with his parents looking at me with a small innocent smile, They sat with me and explained the whole situation with Charly and his little "gift" Before I could react to all the explanation and say anything I was offered a big wad of cash, and offered to watch it for the entire next weekend Damn if you don't need the money I'd really like to quit.

This routine continued for several months. I came home, Charly stole my body and I fought to get it back and in the end, I got tired Little by little Charly got used to being an adult he started going out in my body with my friends and pretending to be the only advantage I have in Charly's body It's, so I can concentrate on my studies and doing my homework at the university Although it's a bit difficult to get used to using the computer with such short fingers.

This weekend as soon as his parents left Charlie we swapped our bodies he took my car keys and gave me a little kiss on the cheek - I'm sorry shorty I have plans all weekend, so you know what that means mommy I leave food in the fridge and I don't want to see you awake when I get back - hours passed And I had no choice but to bathe, dress and feed Little Charlie's body as if it were my own.

- Oh damn! Charly managed to get into my Instagram again where is he?, I hope he's not drinking again In my body last time I woke up with a huge hangover in some roadside hotel with a naked man next to me, I guess I'll have to charge extra, therefore-

You can read my more than 200 stories on my patreon and at the same time support me to keep writing more stories.

[corrodedcoughin]

Omg thanks to your "Eddie throws himself a funeral party" post I literally cannot stop thinking about Stripper! Steve. (absolutely no pressure to do anything with this btw! I'm just aaaa! at your idea)

Like omg. Did Steve get into stripping bc he got cut off and disowned by his parents and desperately needed any job that would take him? Did he seek the job out bc he thought it'd be fun? Why should he be ashamed of exercising, entertaining, looking hot, dancing, and then getting paid to do it??? Fuck yeah

Side note the image of best friend Robin stealing a pair of Steves clean tearaway pants bc she wants to know what it's like to rip them off is very funny to me. She has them on over her jeans. She's had a glass or two of wine and is standing in the middle of Steve's living room awkwardly trying to rip off a pair of tearaway pants that are far too big for her

AHAHHA!!! Please come join me!!! There’s enough stripper Steve for everyone! Funny story Robin actually got the call handler job first through a college friend but obviously platonic soul mates cannot be separated so Steve applied for a job there too. He wasn’t fussy about position, just handed his CV in and hoped he’d get to keep working with Robin.

The employers took one look at Steve when he came into the office and told him he has hired. As a stripper. He took a moment to adjust but thought if it means he gets to work with Robin, he’d do it. (That’s what he tells people, the truth is the ego stroke at the immediate job offer was enough to sway him. He thought it would be a fun job and he was tired of retail).

And Robin plays with ALL the stock! She’s got horrendously ugly nipple tassels that she stuck to Steve’s chest and they both ended up almost crying trying to take them off him without waxing his chest (Robin tears might have been from laughter shhhh). She’s got a feather boa that she loves and wears in the office because she feels it gives her a ‘better phone voice’ nobody’s argued with her yet.

As soon as Steve finished any gig he’s on the phone to her, giving her the run down of any drama or funny stories. She gets a little worried when she doesn’t hear back after the Munson party, tries to call the person who booked and gets Eddie on the phone ‘hello, Eddie’s fun funeral, Gareth speaking’ and Robin thinks she must have the wrong number, she must have written something down wrong but all her records tell her she’s right???

‘Hi. Um…im sorry, this is going to sound so insensitive and im so sorry but…did you hire a male stripper for your event?’ Robin is smacking herself in the face as she says it. Knows she’s going to get in trouble from her manager

‘Sure is! Can’t spell funeral without fun! He’s a little busy with the man of the hour though’ she can hear laughter and loud music through the receiver. Steve is stripping at a funeral, for the dead guy?

‘Ummm I’m sorry but I don’t think company policy allows for stripping for corpses. I’m going to have to refund your booking. Please send Steve back’ Robin is way out of her depth. What the fuck is going on? How did she let this happen?

‘Ah no dude he’s alive, very alive by the looks of things. And sos your employee. I dont know who’s having a better time to be honest’ Gareth sounds sane but Robin doesn’t know if she can really make that call over the phone for a guy who books strippers for funerals where people aren’t dead.

[larcenywrites]

how would Tony (young and regular/older Tony) react if you need to have your wisdom tooth removed and he's gotta take care of you? like, calm you down before the surgery, accompany you to the orthodontist, take care of you during post-op? and you're all sensitive and upset and feeling shitty and miserable :(

It’s been 8 years since I got all of my wisdom teeth removed but that shit was awful and sometimes the scars flare up and hurt to this day 😭 also my fav story to tell is that after my surgery I was so fucked up on those pain meds for a while (mine took a lot longer to heal than normal and hurt so bad so I took the hard stuff longer than most people lmao), and I played Mass Effect 1 all day every day, and completed it like three or four times over the course of a week 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 my two friends got theirs removed during the same summer as me, and there’s went so smoothly??? Like one had no paid after day 2 or 3 and was eating like normal on day 5, and my other friend took a while before chewing felt more normal but she said her pain wasn’t bad after the first day??? And I literally felt like I was dying for almost two weeks 😭

Young!Tony might have gotten his removed too! 3 or 4 years ago probably, but he’s been through it! He’ll drive you there and back, but on the way he’s probably not the best at comforting you 🤧 He’ll tell you it’s not that bad, and then proceed to tell you all about how he woke up mid-surgery 😭 he thinks it’s kinda funny, but it’s not when you’re about to be in that position :( If you’re anything like how I was after mine, instead of being loopy and stumbly afterward, you walk to the car (mostly) on your own (only stumbling a little bit) after being very grumpy and mean to both Tony and the doctor 😃👍 who thankfully think it’s funny, and Tony only annoys you further when you’re staring through the window with an angry glare and he’s busy asking you how you feel or if you remember anything. Yeah, you feel like shit! No wonder you’re so grumpy! He tries to stay quiet for the rest of the ride 😔 but he’ll put on your favorite songs :D He also made sure to put a towel on your lap maybe or maybe not after Maria advised him to beforehand…

If you don’t already live together, he’ll pretty much try to live in your house for the week even though your parents might be right there to also take care of you 🥺😅 buuuut blood makes him a little squeamish, so helping you replacing those first cottons balls might be a little bit of a hassle, meaning: he’ll be wearing gloves and will be visibly disgusted 😭 but you’re too out of it to notice anyway! The first day, you’re probably doing a lot of sleeping :( but he’ll sleep with you :D propped up with you on some pillow and just watches every movie you own! You probably can’t talk really good either that first day or two, which sucks because all Tony does it talk 😩 well, maybe it’s not so bad then? You also won’t be alone in having to eat things like Jello and pudding and mashed potatoes, because he’ll probably eat them too 😋 It kinda gives him an excuse to only eat vanilla pudding all day 😅 He can’t really help you feel any better besides being surprisingly on time for any medication, and while he promises to take you to your favorite restaurant as soon as you think you can eat real food (which is hopefully after the first week unless you’re like me, then it takes almost two 🙃), but that might kinda make it worse because it gets real boring only eating the few soft foods on that list 😭 And it’s frustrating honestly. Don’t feel bad about randomly crying when he brings you a cup of jello 😔 He’ll be like “wait, was that the wrong thing, I’m sorry 😰” and then he has to sit through your mini rant about being tired of feeling awful 😞 and there’s nothing he can do so he also feels awful 😞 But, at least you kinda have an excuse to sit in bed all week and watch movies or play games? Each day will feel a little better :)

Now older Tony, he’s been through a few surgeries, though it’s been years since this particular one. You can rest assured, at least, that you’ll have only the best doctors and best medical advice and stuff? Nah, it’s still stressful ^^;; Tony’s been through lots of surgeries, and he’ll assure you this is one of the easier and most routine ones! It’ll go fine! You won’t be able to eat normally for at least 5 or so days, so he’ll be sure to take you wherever you want to go the day or two before, too 😘 If you’re super freaked out, he’ll try his best leading up to it to avoid any mention of it unless necessary tbh. He’s suddenly around much more, trying to butt it on daily routines and work, chores or cooking, asking you’re opinion of blueprints or about vacation plans. But it’s pretty unavoidable when he’s driving you there :( He’ll ((technically)) be with you the entire time! He’ll be there when it’s done! It may not feel like it in the moment, but he was right when he said you’d literally be out of there within five minutes! Well, from your point of view anyway. You’re probably a little wobbly on your feet, and hopefully not trying to wriggle out of his guiding grip on your shoulders 😅 And sorry to tell you, while you won’t film it, he’ll purposefully be trying to get you to say ridiculous things and asking you all kinds of ridiculous questions 😔 And tell you all about as soon as you’re feeling better!

He made sure to buy all your favorite yogurts and he’ll even make some soups! Luckily he’s seen plenty of blood and had plenty of surgeries, so blood doesn’t bother him and he doesn’t mind having to help you clean up. And though you’re on bedrest for a few days (the surgery may just be in the mouth, but dental pain really takes out all your energy 😭), at least that means he (finally) has to take a break from work to spend all day with you 😁 though, it’d be better for both of you if you weren’t in pain and so over it :( He feels really bad that there’s not much he can do to help you feel better :( You may get a little snappy with him because you feel so bad, and he tries his best not to let it get him down 😔 But he’s still persistent in trying to find way to keep you entertained and keep your mind off of it (sorta). Puzzles, video games, napping as best he can with you- whatever helps! And when you start complaining about having to eat the same stuff all day, he’ll promise to pick up whatever you want as soon as you can eat better!

And either way, the biggest challenge for him is trying not to instinctively kiss your cheek before bed when your laying next to him 😭 those first few days everything hurts, and he hardly knows what a gentle peck is, so he’ll have to remember to swoop to your shoulder of top of your head that first week 😅

[sukimas]

I suppose part of it is that i still exist in a world where it feels like I don't really fit? Like, physically. Most laboratory spaces are sized for adult white cis men, so (considering how much of STEM academia doesn't fit at least one of those demographics) finding solutions to a world that's a couple of sizes too large is something I and lots of others still have to find their way around. That's part of it, I guess...

But I think there are other parts, too. Most of what I remember from being scolded as a child is adults being so very afraid; things are poisonous or sharp, people are dangerous, you can't go walking around on your own because you'll get lost or get hit by a car. I never got the impression that I was a nuisance for what I did. Now, what I said was a different story. Most people really hated that I had developed opinions by that point in time. Some didn't, but I think that a great number of adults have the idea in their heads that kids don't really develop strong opinions on things until they're ten or so; I don't think that's the case. I think I was better able to articulate them than my peers, but I had peers who felt just as strongly about things as I did, and just couldn't find a way to say it.

"It's not fair, and this is why" is something that certain types of people just hate to hear in a squeaky, high-pitched voice. Maybe the literacy is related to it, somehow; I don't think I ever had the impression that I was tired of being taught things and having to learn things. If anything, I was constantly angry that people wouldn't teach me things. People simply refused to explain anything, because they thought I'd not be able to understand it. At the time, I felt like this was lying, and I still do.

I don't think I had significant problems with forgetting things, either. I know for a fact that many things I did by choice were chalked up to my forgetfulness; I don't know for sure at the time if I had the theory of mind to realize that adults expect kids to forget things, but if I did, I likely used that to my advantage. (Or disadvantage; I really hated brushing my teeth. I didn't like the fun toothpaste flavors for kids, I liked mint.) I know I had enough theory of mind to lie to adults about some things by then, but that might have been because some of the adults in my life were bad enough at lying that I realized that you can just not tell the truth sometimes.

I can't say I didn't ever want attention I couldn't have, or to go places or to do things I wasn't allowed to- this Was a big city, after all, and my parents were busy often. But more often than not the attention I wanted that I couldn't have came (or, well, didn't come) from peers, rather than adults. When adults were around, they paid attention to me. This wasn't always a good thing. When they weren't, they didn't, and I made myself busy doing interesting things alone.

I broke my arm when I was five. I was running down a hill to the playground, tripped, and fell on a sprinkler head hidden in the grass. My mother took me home afterwards, gave me painkillers and ice cream, and called my father to let him know. He didn't believe her, and when he came home at the end of the day and I was crying in pain (as we hadn't gone to the hospital yet) he yelled at me about it. My parents argued for a while (my father claimed we didn't have the money, which I now know was not true) and eventually my mother took me to the hospital, where I got a cast and a sling. It took about five weeks to heal, more or less.

Being five years old is about being vulnerable and helpless while everyone around you knows it and reacts to it in different ways. You aren't strong enough to enact change on the world yet, so you rely on the good graces of others to make it a world that you can bear living in. As you grow older, people remain just as kind or cruel as they were, but it doesn't affect you as much, because you can build a world apart from them. You know more information and your brain runs faster; you're bigger and stronger; you're more agile and charismatic. But the world still isn't the right fit for you. You'll have to shape it yourself, still; yet now you have the ability to do so.

[echantedtoon]

Dragon's Treasure Ch1 Not Cannon. Please Go To Ch2

(EDIT: THIS CHAPTER IS NO LONGER CANNON TO THE STORY AND THE REAL CHAPTER ONE IS AFTER THIS. PLEASE GO ONTO THE NEXT CHAPTER TO BEGIN THE REAL STORY.)

You never cared. Why would you? I mean you had better things to worry about and you were just so tired of hearing about it over and over again. What was that power you ask? Why the gym challenge of course! ...Well not specifically the gym challenge or the league in general. Oh no, no, no. They were fine. However it was one Gym specifically. One Gym LEADER specifically. Growing up in a town just a few miles away from Hammerlocke you heard AAALLLLL about the famous dragon type gym and it's gym leader as a child. In fact...it was ALL everyone ever talked about.

"Did you hear what the gym leader of Hammerlocke did!?" "He defeated an entire rampaging dragonite!! BY HIMSELF!!" "Did you know the gym leader's renovating the gym? I wonder if it's to fit more people into the stadium!" "The gym leader's retiring after all this time did you hear? I hope whoever the guy gets to replace him isn't some wimp like the Turrfield stadium leader."

And so on and so forth. Don't get me wrong. Nothing ever happened in your small town with just a couple stores and a small school and nothing major meant that people were bound to turn their attention towards somewhere to pass the time. And being a town near Hammerlocke it was only natural that the residents clung onto that. Every single bit of news whether good or bad was like a parade went through the town and gossip ran rapid. You didn't mind of course..At least for a while you didn't. As a young child you were excited whenever the league or anything involving them was brought up whether by your friends or parents but after a while it got...predictable. It seemed like every other conversation was something involving Hammerlocke, the gym, or league. You understood that it was a real important part of Galar and your town but every time you even tried to talk about something else it would ALWAYS somehow round back to those things. So much after a while it got so annoying so you just..ignored it. Going as far to not pay attention really much at all to the news besides hearing what people said. Oh? The old Hammerlocke gym leader retired and got a replacement around the time you were sixteen? Ok. His name was Rai bread or something like that. You didn't know. You blocked it out after someone mentioned him for the HUNDRETH time that very hour. All you just wanted was to graduate school and go on your merry way. Which was exactly what you did. Your parents were hoping to maybe send you to Hammerlocke for a job or maybe even put you as a canidate for the next gym challenge but you shot down every attempt they brought up. Even when they surprised you with a rare shiny ponyta hoping to encourage you to battle more. All you wanted to have a peaceful quiet life AWAY from all the Hammerlocke talk. So you worked hard, got good grades to graduate early, and by the time you were twenty owned a small house out of town and in the woods and began your own business of art and selling the berries from the multiple fruit trees that grew around your house to the local supermarket. Didn't make a whole lot of money but it was enough to get you buy and paid your bills so you couldn't complain. You even found your calling. Once and a while you'd look through your town's pokemon center and go through the abandoned rotomi boxes sometimes finding a shiny. So you'd rescue them. You've always hated the thought of someone just buying and trading these poor creatures like figurines. You couldn't bare to think of what would happen if someone did that to Cotten so you did what you could. It was small but it still made a difference for these little guys. The only problem was....That you were living RIGHT outside Hammerlocke. Literally. All you had to do was trudge up the giant hill just up the road from the woods and you could see the city from the top. But you were far away enough to not be bothered by it so it was fine. A couple people in town knew you as the shiny collector but that was fine. In fact..That's how it all started. When one day you received a phone call from an old friend. You were just cooking breakfast with your little babies excitedly hoping around your feet staring at the stove top where your made oran berry panckes, when your phone rang. So naturally using one hand you reached over and grabbed your phone using your shoulder to hold it up to your ear as you spoke.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Y/n! It's so good to hear your voice!", came a young woman's voice on the other side of the line.

"...I'm sorry. Who is this?"

"Y/n. It's me. Lillian?" Your brows rose in instant realization. "Look I realize this is all sudden but there's a reason I called."

The realization made you recognize the voice. Lillian! One of your childhood friends from highschool! You hadn't seen her since she moved to Hammerlocke Junior year. Last you heard she got engaged last year. Wonder why she was calling now? Maybe she wanted to give you an invite to the wedding.

"Lillian!," you happily said smiling while also gently pushing Lagoon back with your foot as he tugged on your pants leg, "Hey, Girl! I haven't heard from you in forever! How are you?"

There was a pause from the other side of the line before she sighed. "Not good I'm afraid." Her next sentence sent you for a loop. "I broke up with my fiance."

You paused for a long moment processing what she had said. "...What!? Why?! What happened?!"

"Turns out he was going on dates with his EX behind my back!," she spat angrily, "UGH!! I can't believe I spent three years with this guy!! Can you believe it!?"

"Oh Arceus. Lilly, I-I'm-..I'm so sorry."

Lillian sighed over the phone. "No. It's fine. Not your fault. I'm just still salty over this entire thing I guess."

"Well that makes sense, but why did you call me then?"

"Hm? Oh! Right! I called you because I have something you might be interested in." Your brow rose further and Lillian took your silence as a cue to continue. "My EX gave me something I don't want anymore. I can't look at it without it reminding me of him!"

"And you thought I'd want it or something?"

"EXACTLY!!"

"....Why?"

"It's a Goodra." Your brows shot up and your mouth opened- "I know, I know! It's a big surprise. But hear me out m'kay? It's like...totally gross and slimey and he knew I didn't like it anyways but I thought it was sweet of him....When he first got it for me at least." You opened your mouth again- "Like..The thing isn't mean. Goodra's are the friendliest dragon types and it's true. She's really friendly and she behaves fine and does what I tell her. The only problem really is that I can't stand anything slimey! Eck! You know what it's like, right?" You rose a brow more. "Right! So since I dumped my ex I figured you'd be the perfect one to take care of her!"

"Why would you think I would be the one to take a Goodra of all things off your hands? Do you know how big they get?"

"I know but you collect shinies right?" That made you pause. This thing was a SHINY Goodra? "And you have all that space in the woods! PPPLLEEEAAASSSEE Y/N!!" She begged. "I don't know what else to do with it or who else to turn to and my dunderheaded ex won't take her back! At least I know if I hand it over to you she'll be safe and have a good home. Can you come to Hammerlocke and get her please?"

You stood there over the hot stove and pancakes smelling delicious....and gave a sigh. Man. What a way to spend a perfectly good Thursday morning.

"Fine. I have some free time this weekend. If you give me an address I can meet up with you there."

[translucent-at-best]

Scatter-brained...

I be stuck on that water challenge tag like I was stuck on that bussit tag a while ago. I fully get why men be so mesmerized. I really do.

Stepping on an elevator smelling good only to be told how good I smell by the other people on it never gets old. A Black woman told me I smelled "diiiii-viiiiine" yesterday. She wasn't wrong 😌

I'm tired of being so far away from my family and not being able to do anything about it when somebody dies. I'm tired of my family dying. I'm tired of grieving and no one around me knowing and having to keep working and showing up like I'm not. I'm just tired.

The amount of Black men who will exclaim "Protect Black Women" but at the same time pretend they have no earthly idea who we need protection from is wild. Is it all men? No. Is it always men? You know good and gotdamn well. Stop deflecting and start calling your homeboys out.

I've never experimented with a hairstyle and not liked it. It's been relaxed, natural, big chopped, braided, twisted, dyed, curled, and cut. And here I go, being cute as the fuck every single time. The nerve of me.

Somebody I know wrote and self-published a book, which is a huge accomplishment. I finished that book a couple days ago. Still haven't told them. It's... pretty bad. I need to figure out some way to not lie, but also not say that it's good and... I'm struggling. And I'm also mad at the editors (plural) that were paid to make sure it didn't end up looking exactly like it ended up looking. Just plot holes and spelling and grammar errors galore. I shudder to think about what it must've looked like before the edits.

I had two friends over the other day and since I'm still balling on a budget due to this upcoming move, I cooked for us instead of ordering food. Made a big pot of pasta and just knew I'd have leftovers to pack for lunch for a few days. One. I had one day of leftovers. Them niggas had multiple helpings and took food home. I'm glad and flattered that they loved it so much, but shit.

These past few days have been teaching me... I'm a counselor wherever I go. Whether it's my job title or not. it's just who I am. It shows up in my conversations and dealings with people all the time. Not in the sense that I take on an expert role and tell them how they should live their lives, but in the sense that... I'm very good at making others feel comfortable around me. Comfortable to the point of telling me all their business. It's not something I ask for, it's not something I set out to do, but it happens. Often.

Now that I'm a month out from my last retwist and my roots are getting fuzzy, I'm noticing a lot more gray hairs than I remember having. I'm used to seeing a good two or three, but the other day I counted at least 10 of them bitches on one side of my head alone! I'm not mad at it, but it did surprise me.

I'm proud as fuck of my credit score. Saying that out loud feels like bragging, but this is my page, so... 🤷🏾‍♀️ Me and my roommate applied for an apartment we want and the score they came back with for me? Shiiiiiiit I'm out here lol.

Coco Gauff said, "Debt? I don't know her. I didn't go to college so I don't have student bills and my parents never put me in a position to have debt." What an iconic answer. Love that for her lol.

[sergeantnarwhalwrites]

My Characters as Excerpts from poems I wrote/started

Note: A lot of my poetry is shit I write to vent and to get my thoughts down really quick. So a lot of them are intense and very scattered in thoughts. XD Also some of these excerpts are from the same poem. And the second one under Digits is the whole thing I think? I forgot I wrote it. 

Cosma

Or did that sound a little to manly?

A bit overconfident.

Arrogant?

Who cares about that preconceived notion.

Social constructs are so boring and toxic.

I'm trying to live my life without getting kicked to the side in silence.

I ain't whimpering under some notion

That denies every positive motion

And takes a shit on people's emotions.

Drowning a bitch like it's a bottomless ocean.

and 

I'm like a beat drop

Aggressive and ear shattering

Not everyone's cup of tea

But I fall hard and unexpectedly

Arc

I

I

I

I

Well

I

I'm just a facet to be manipulated and utilized regardless of the will of the land.

Cause everybody else deciding what the land want.

Maybe the land is desiring my demise.

and 

You know that parent thing where they lie to you for years.

Build that lie for years so they can stack that hypocrisy.

Stacking like a mason stacks bricks.

Exceptionally!

Tharion

Make America Great Again

It makes me want to recoil beneath my own skin

Cause those words breathing down my neck

And touching me without consent.

Every time I see a red hat I feel myself shivering at the thought that

That some fool really believe they the hero in this story.

Thinking they a vigilante as they walk over the corpses that defied their warped reality.

Greeter

We could all get into that insta baddie business.

So post all your business.

We seriously mean that shit.

Talking like I'm right beside the vibrating speaker

Filled with base.

Like damn I'm screaming over the longest beat drop I've come to face.

I have to leave them lying there in distaste

Force them to remember my face.

and 

I'm so tired

Tired of trying.

A warmth covers me.

A bit too much to be comforting

It covers me.

I cave.

It was so easy too.

I'm exhausted.

Digits

My clothes have absorbed too many tears

Soaked and dragging me.

Pulling me down gradually.

My knee hit the ground

Then the other.

My stomach reaches my soul that's been lying on the ground since forever.

And my head finally taps the ground.

Bro I've K.O-ed

A little further would've been a fatality.

and 

You in your feelings?

You... 

In your feelings?

Ha been kicking those bitches to the curb

Since they started piling on.

Your a fool for letting them cling on so long.

But go on player.

You get paid to carry this out.

How can you allow such a thing to happen

Without some green on the side.

Makes the job worthwhile.

Damn player

Getting played by your emotions.

Donnie

I sold my soul today

Because I couldn't afford that all too high price of living another day.

I've been settling for far too long

Need to stick my hand into the boiling water and stir the pot.

Because my hand is the best utensil I got.

and 

Getting beat down like Rocky's dumbass in a match.

One two bop.

One two bop bop.

Three four badap.

And bitch I'm collapsing.

Hitting the ground so fucking hard

I've bounced a bit

My body reverberating cause it's a broken machine.

Rumbling and tumbling cause that shit can't keep going.

Hollis

Pull up the social media.

Spread the fucking word.

Even I know social media is absurd.

Spread the fucking word.

I see y'all typing.

Go ahead and get to writing.

We ain't hiding.

We ain't shying away.

I want to be all over your social media page.

Green

I'm one wrong word away from losing it all.

But if another motherfucker tells me to take a deep breath I'll risk it all.

Cock back a fist like every white radical cocks back a gun

Let that bitch go and don't let a motherfucker run.

and 

Guess I've been doing a Rocky.

Letting my head get beat in

Till I go brain dead

Can't tell you what my plan is

Struggling to speak over my incompetence

That's got the speaker on full blast

So strong the windows rattling

And after a while, I take to aggressive actions.

Taking my fucking body and slamming it against.

All those opposing things that discredit.  

Peace

I know my throat is bleeding

But shit!

I'm still going to scream.

A bitch needs a victory!

and 

We

Don't

Think

You

Deserve

The

Things

You're

Asking

For.

Shut up and listen.

Who told you to put your thoughts and feelings into this?

Absolutely disgusting.

You're not good enough to get the full cut!

You're not rich enough

Sorry, I meant valuable enough!

Crap did it again!

Not worthy enough!

Bleeep enough!

Elliot

Fill the silence.

Your voice is stronger than mine.

My voice is feeble

After years of idling

Idling is this weird abyss.

Scream out your feelings little man.

They can't always be forced within.

and 

But you've proven unworthy

Dumb, deaf, and you don't care to listen

I'm--

You're not even good enough to be an honorary mention.

Saz

You ever look into his unblinking eyes?

The purple dinosaur out to steal your kids.

Trying to give the affection their momma wouldn't give.

Run from the big purple dinosaur.

That man gonna steal your kids.

Won't resist giving these kids an unhealthy squeeze.

As he seizes the product of your unwanted accident.

Julie

So I opened my arms wide and screamed up to the sky

"I regret being here. I regret being alive."

Now I'm here.

Soulless, never truly knowing if the breath I'm breathing is mine.

But I kinda like the absence of mind

Cause now all the bad thoughts ain't even mine.

and 

I remember being unabashedly myself and being mocked by family members.

Mocked by strangers.

Mocked by students dragging themselves through the day with superficial grins and words that burned like a snake's venom.  

Mocked enough to take a step back and watch from the outside.

Cause getting mocked enough will twist the mind.

And I hate to admit it but it twisted mine

Ian

I'm tired of diving so deep into my thoughts.

The pressure of the water crushing my bones.

Sending my organs oozing out of orifices I've never even thought of.

I can imagine myself sinking.

Sinking so damn deep there ain't no more light.

And my corpse is a snack to the mysteries beneath.

I'm exhausted.

Damn I'm exhausted.

and 

But I joke about it now.

And like the seagulls that swarm the bay they all laugh with me.

Not acknowledging that they were the same ones laughing at me.

Mocking and excluding me.

Because I only fit one thing in their teen perspectives, far to shallow to conceal my body.

[pbandjesse]

I am happy to be home. But it was hard to come back here to James not doing great. They tried to do to much while I was gone and were exhausted and in bed when I got back. I'm just glad I can be with them again.

Today was a fun day. But I didn't get enough sleep so that was a little rough. I felt quieter. But I was happy.

I was up until almost 3 last night. Which wasn't smart but I couldn't get my brain to go off. And I woke up a lot so that was hard.

When I got up I went to wash up and get dressed. And then I heard my brother out in the living room so I tried to rush so I wouldn't miss them. And so I ran out of there half finished getting dressed to at least give them a hug before they had to run to work.

So that made me happy. And it was good to see my parents. I finished getting dressed. Did my eyeliner. And went to chill in the living room.

We all talked for a while. I checked in with Jess and she would come get me around 1030. In the mean time me and my parents just talked. About religion mostly. About how just be sure you find solace and comfort in the bible doesn't mean I will. Which dad looked really surprised by that which was surpringing to me. I always love the talks we have. I joke about how aren't you glad you spent all that money on me for college, made me really smart.

Jess came and got me.

Both her and my mom were yelling at because I came out in the rain with no jacket. But I would run to my car to get my jacket and would be very cozy for the rest of the day.

It was nice hanging out with Jess. We were quieter. I think because I was tired and so I wasn't as active in conversations. But I really enjoyed listing to her about her new job and how well it seems to be going. I'm so proud of her.

We went to Starbucks first and got drinks. And it was rainier then we expected. So we went right to the mall to walk around inside. I got pretzel bites. And we walked around and it was fun.

After looking in some toy stores. Getting excited when we saw mall kids like we were back in the day?! And then we went to color me mine.

And while it was not as good as amazing glaze, it was fun! The first worker wasn't very friendly and kind of snipped at us for not having a reservation. And she said we would have to be done by 1. Which was almost two hours away so that was weird. But we got our table by the window and picked out our pieces.

We went with milk cartons. Just funky fun enough. And I was excited to make it all cute. I did put the sides I designed in the wrong order but no one but me will care. I still think it looks great and I hope it comes out cool. Jess's has fruits and veggies on it and looks so good. Her drawings have gotten better and better lately I swear. The new job must be helping.

After we finished and paid we would walk the mall more thoroughly. Went to see Santa for a minute. Looked like a really good one. We went to bath and body works. But it was wildly busy so we had to wait in a line just to get in.

We got a candle and a few hand sanitizers. And waited in the very long line to pay. Which I didn't mind because I was enjoying chatting and people watching.

Once we were done we decided going to go to friendlys for lunch. I know I went there for dinner last night. But it's easy and familiar and Jess can eat there so it worked.

And it was a nice meal and we had lots to say. I enjoyed the conversations. We talked a lot about her job and travel and things in our lives. Like we talk constantly so when we are together it's like. You get more nuance and details. It's good. It makes me happy.

We didn't want to say goodbye yet so we went to the Restore to look around. They had lots of goofy stuff and it was fun. I liked a lot of things but would only buy one thing. A hinged box shaped like a house. I love it. I don't know what we will use it for but I love it.

We also stopped at Marshall's and I got body oil and she got dry shampoo. And I just love doing little things with Jess. It's my favorite thing.

Jess took me back to my parents after that. She was all frowny saying goodbye. But we will see each other soon!!!

I spent the next hour hanging out with my parents. There was some drama when Sophie freaked out at the other dogs because she's jealous. I think they should rehomed her. She should be in a house without other animals if she's that jealous. I will see what I can do to help but poor Gracie and Molly are so chill, they don't need to be beaten up on!! But Mom was obviously upset about it. I just want to help.

I would pack up my backpack and get everything to the car soon after that. I wanted to leave around 4. And I was pleased when my GPS found a way for me not to have to drive to Philly first. So I did not have to drive directly into the sun.

It was a long drive home. And I would have to stop for gas. It was a beautiful drive home but it was long and I was getting tired.

I was really happy to be home. And I made pretty good time getting home a little before 630.

I brought all my stuff inside. And the house was dark and quiet. Where is James? They were in bed. Not feeling well. They would get up and change and ate some fruit and felt a little better but I was upset to see them so poorly.

We would chill on the couch. Opening mail and our advent calendars. James even got me a new one that is squid facts? Amazing.

I would just rest on the couch while James did some podcast editing. I had Mac and cheese. James are some bread. We just had some quiet time together. I missed them so much.

I washed my hair and got cozy. And now we are in bed. I have to dry my hair still. So I will do that before bed.

I don't have to do anything tomorrow. Completely free day. I'm going to work on my quilt stuff and catch up on my temperature blanket. And I hope it's a restful day.

I hope you all have a great night tonight. Sleep well and stay cozy!

[derireo-galge]

My world | 4,1k | yoonmin✍🏼

Jimin's ex husband passes leaving 9 kids & 4 ex spouses behind. Jm is 5th among them. One day a social worker tells him he's eligible to adopt the youngest child. None of the others are fit to take them so he decides to try and do his best.

[ sfw, past angst, soft yoonmin, happy ending ]

Yoonmin visuals:

1. Jimin

There are those types of streets in any city, filled with skyscrapers and strict lines.

And there are also others. Those, other type of streets are quaint, chipped at the edges, with buildings not very tall and not all that new.

But there's a certain mentality people that live or work there have.

There's a nice little community, understanding and full of artistry and uniqueness. 

That's what Jimin believed in.

And that kind of street was exactly where Jimin lived and worked.

He found the place several years ago and having looked at the small neighbouring businesses and taken notes of infrastructure he decided to settle there.

His life story might not be that interesting, he knew.

He believed he came from the privileged environment.

His parents owned their own businesses and he never really lacked anything material. But living a luxury life abiding by the plan that has been designed for you wasn't for him.

He wanted to connect his life with his first love.

Art.

He loved everything he ever tried, every direction was fascinating for him. And having recognized that his painting was something not only him but other people enjoyed he was deretmingly set on being an artist in life and paint to support himself.

His parents would never agree to that. They've always been against something that wouldn't bring lots of wealth, well, in their opinion.

Jimin wouldn't let them have it easy.

He tried running away, getting in trouble, failed courses and sold off expensive belongings to buy art supplies.

Nothing seemed to have been working. Until he received a sudden proposal from them.

***

- A marriage??

He was standing in a fancy dining room, full of meaningless interior details (branches in a pot? That's some art there). The news felt like thunder booming right above his head.

- Only for a year, Jimin. We need that connection right now. After that term you can divorce and we won't oppose to your chosen way of living.

Distaste for his craft sounded clear as a day. But this time they needed something they couldn't just take from him.

- I don't even know them, mother! Why me? Jihyun-ah is of age too.

He knew he hit a sore spot there.

His younger brother managed to get a well paid job outside their parent's companies and almost totally cut ties with them, claiming he has his own life to live.

Having seen the way they treated Jimin he put blood, sweat and tears into getting away as thoroughly as he could. Last time he's seen his baby brother was over a year ago.

Jihyun succeeded. It was Jimin, who was the fool that still helped out people who maybe didn't deserve his kindness at all.

- Listen, it's the least you could do for us, for providing for you, for…

The young man put his best listening filter on and mulled things over.

It's not real. A fake marriage just for connections abroad.

It's a year if his life and instead he gets the rest of what is fated for him in peace with his love.

Don't get him wrong, he was truly grateful for living a comfortable life, despite the lack of emotional element. Sometimes he'd think he was exaggerating and he should listen to everything his parents say and do everything they asked.

He used to think that way.

Until he met his best and only friend. That's how he got help in learning his self worth.

But he also knew how to compromise.

Eventually, he agreed.

***

Jimin moved the curtain and situated his freshly finished painting on the windowsill.

His eyes were tired and he was feeling dizzy. He was so immersed in the process he skipped drinking even plain water.

He went for his stack of mineral water and hastily took a few gulps. 

The feeling was almost as amazing as one he got after finishing his works.

He felt pleasantly exhausted, like all the negative energy accumulated in his body overtime splashed out on canvas whilst creating something beautiful.

He sighed. He was done for the day and could do whatever he wanted.

Jimin threw his beige plaid shirt over the black turtleneck and left it unbuttoned. Brushing his hair with his fingers he deemed himself ready and petted his cat Dean before exiting the door.

He was anticipating a pleasant evening strolling the streets and eating somewhere cozy. Putting his lofi spoty playlist on he went down the old set of stairs.

2. Yoongi

He was running out of time. For real. 

He's been getting this feeling all his teens and college years - that he's running out of time, he has to work harder, more efficiently, do everything possible to reach the goals he set and then some more.

Those have been some dark years for sure.

His only carer - Moonbyul - did everything she could so he could live comfortably and have everything he needed. He ended up in the orphanage at a really young age of two.

Both his parents divorced just after he was born and he's been passed between them for a while with their shared custody. But then they both remarried and started their own respective families. And none of them wanted to drag the past into their new beginnings.

Luckily he had an aunt who always wanted to have a child. But a sickness she withstood in her childhood left her infertile.

She was preparing to adopt anyway when she heard the horrendous news - her younger sister was moving abroad for good to have a happily ever after...without her first child.

Maybe his own lifestory inspired Yoongi to become a social worker. 

He graduated with good marks and decided to choose the easiest route - work for the government.

All throughout his training and then first years on the job he witnessed many things, awful places, woe, irresponsibility and misfortune.

But there has been so much good as well. Families reuniting, finding each other, building things from the very start. Witnessed so much love a parent or a carer can give to a child and vice versa.

That's why despite it being sometimes a heartbreaking job it was also rewarding. Today was his first day in a department of international adoption and descent.

He's been taking additional courses in international law and believed it can become another area he can go a lot of good in.

The new case he received didn't seem to be complicated at first.

An elderly gentleman, resident of the United Kingdom recently passed away. His ex-spouses were offered and accepted custody of his children, all except one.

There were nine children and five ex-spouses, no current one. Child services deemed the families of first four financially stable enough for two children each. They were all residents as well. That left one child, the youngest.

Yoongi raised his eyebrows a little, seeing the familiar Korean name - Moonbin.

It was a child out of wedlock, but with a parental certificate in place. 

Birth mother was a resident of a completely different country and she was of Korean descent. Sadly, she passed away not far after giving birth.

The child services, having looked at the matters proposed for the fifth spouse to gain custodian rights, even though they lived abroad - to be exact, here. It was advised as a better option for a child. Hence why the case landed on Yoongi's desk.

He looked through the personal records. Park Jimin had his marital status for a year, then came a mutual divorce. No children were adopted during the marriage and the young man's records were clean.

The department would be suggesting adoption more because of his family's money and status, but he did have a stable income on his own.

The next step would be talking with the potential foster and adoptive parent.

The information was confidential so he decided to visit him at his registered address.

Yoongi looked at his watch. His shift was coming to an end but why putting off for tomorrow something that can be done today?

He put the address in his maps app and saw it wasn't that far away from his place of work, considering the size of the city. If he walked he would probably be there in half an hour.

3. Jimin and Yoongi

Yoongi didn't remember the last time he has been in this part of the city.

They were old avenues weirdly merged with newly built office towers.

He turned to the street that had last century's houses, beautifully painted, adorned with old-fashioned banners with names of small family businesses.

He has been walking around, checking his app and looking for the numbers on the houses when he accidentally bumped at someone, dropping the folder with his case papers on the pavement. He rushed to crouch and pick them up.

- Ah! I'm so sorry, I didn't see you!

A sweet voice reached the social worker's ears and he looked up from where he was gathering everything and almost dropped it all again.

There stood not just a pretty boy with astonishingly beautiful features, there stood Park Jimin himself.

The said young man bent to help Yoongi with his papers and saw a picture of himself.

- Is that... me? - He looked confused and then scared so the other reassured him:

- Yes, it's you, I've been looking for Park Jimin? I'm a social service officer from department of international adoption and descent, Min Yoongi. I've come to the address stated in the system to speak to you.

- Adoption? What? - Jimin looked just confused right then, to Yoongi's relief. - But I never dealt with adoption. Unless... it's about me? - he chuckled cutely, eyes still on the other's face, wary.

- Not regarding you as a child, no, - said the officer with what he hoped a reassuring smile.

Park Jimin, being just a couple of years younger than him, didn't look his age, somehow the glow of the evening sun was making his features more youthful.

- Am I in trouble, officer, - he tried to joke but as he was fiddling with the long sleeves of his sweater it was clear he was nervous.

- I'm sorry, - he said, - That was really lame of me and you're on duty.

- Already not, but I would really like to proceed with this today. You have nothing to worry about. Is there a place where you would be comfortable to talk?

Jimin looked around and sighed. The park wasn't private enough and his home wouldn't be an option he'd be completely comfortable with.

- It requires to be private, right? We can go to my studio. It's not far, you were actually really close to finding me.

He pointed behind himself, at a two level stone house, painted pink and white.

As they approached the building, documents finally back at Yoongi's hands, he saw a banner "Serendipity. Art studio."

- This is a beautiful name, - Yoongi uttered, looking at closed blinds on the windows of the studio, and then higher, at the second floor with colourful curtains and flower pots. The glass was decorated with sticker designs.

- Thank you, - Jimin's smile was less hesitant as he was unlocking the front door. - Please come in. There's a couch and a table where we can settle comfortably.

Yoongi was trying not to open his mouth as he was looking everywhere he could. The walls were covered in paintings, shelves with art supplies were nicely merged with flowerpot stands.

And overall everything looked, for the lack of a better word, artsy, interesting, beautiful.

- Would you like a drink? - Jimin offered and Yoongi politely declined.

- Just want to lay everything in front of you as soon as possible.

Jimin nodded and listened with wide open eyes, then with a hand covering his mouth. His eyes were glistening with a range of emotions but he kept calm until Yoongi finished telling him everything he had to know.

- But why not anyone in that country? Because of her grandmother or something like that?

- Yes, she's eligible for descent. And because the best possible carer for her - which would be you - lives here.

- I see, - Jimin chewed on his lower lip. The news were astonishing.

Surely he and his ex arranged spouse weren't in contact but he was sad to learn about his passing.

A little amused about the other children, but not surprised - the other families had similar income and amount of their own kids to deal with on top of newly added ones.

And now, somehow, this man thought he was capable of caring for a child too.

He considered having children in the future but not that soon.

Then he remembered his nana telling him, that it's children who come to them, not the other way around.

And maybe it's the universe sending an angel his way.

- This is a lot to take in, Yoongi-ssi, - Jimin rubbed his face with both palms, looking a little lost.

- Take your time. You could just foster for a while before someone proceeds with adoption. You could not do anything at all.

It's your decision that you don't have to make now. But hopefully soon. Because the amount of paperwork that needs to be in order is huge and the sooner I start the better. Especially knowing it's an international enquiry.

- Okay, okay, - the young man nodded, eyeing all the paperwork spread on the table, - Definitely not fostering to then just pass her further. I'm no specialist but I don't think it's good for the kid.

- I'd say it's your decision, again. But personally yeah, I'd either not do anything or proceed with adoption, having thought everything through.

- Can I have time to think?

Yoongi nodded assuringly.

He was gathering papers and forms for Jimin to fill out at home, putting them into two separate clear folders - depending on his decision he'd have to complete one of them.

Or fill out a simple form if he chooses not to have anything to do with the kid but something inside the officer was telling him, it's the beginning of a long story with a happy ending.

***

Jimin was nervous.

It was a weird mixture of good kind of anticipation - he now saw something else instead of the future he painted to himself last week - and dread.

He could vividly imagine his parents' reaction to the news and long fruitless talks where he argues: there are no stranger kids.

You can let a child inside your heart no matter where they came from.

Blood or not, children are better off with parents, even if it's a single dad that fits all required criteria.

After all, no services could measure Love and the unique Bond they have.

And Jimin already started feeling something unraveling inside his heart: it was working to expand in his chest, to make room for Moonbin.

He shared the news and all his thoughts to Tae and while the other was adamant of not wanting children for himself he was ready to support any decision his best friend would make.

He did add that he'd be the coolest uncle and that made Jimin even more secure in his reasoning.

His parents, well. They will have to live with the fact that he had his own life.

He spent all of the last night deep in his accounting books, bank records and savings. Researched the prices for everything, closest nurseries, child benefits and living standards.

It seemed like the technical side of the matter was well covered.

His decision... he felt it was right.

So when he walked into Min Yoongi's office he had red rimmed eyes, disheveled hair and a smile on his face.

Yoongi looked at his face and immediately read it like a book. It was a firm yes.

4. Moonbin

Jimin has lost count how many times he met up with Yoongi for the last half a year.

First it was just him dragging piles and piles of paperwork to the elder's office from various places and government bureaus - about his income, about his property, his education, registry as an entrepreneur, medical records, police records, bank statements…

The younger never thought it was possible for a person to leave such a big paper trail.

It all seemed a bit bizarre to him while Yoongi wasn't phased. He probably dealt with mountains of papers every day.

Jimin watched him working efficiently, mesmerized by his lovely face, strict brows creased in concentration, strands of hair falling on his forehead.

After papers were in order they started meeting up in the youngers studio.

Not that it was a plan, but once the younger called Yoongi's office to confirm one of the requirements for a size of a nursery room and admitted he had no clue what he was doing.

The officer came that evening and saw Jimin in a headband and overalls splashed with various paints.

He looked so cute and adorable, lips in a pout and cheeks puffed. Yoongi blushed with every look on him. He liked how Jimin was independent and strong willed. And very attractive

Jimin invited the elder upstairs to have a look at Moonbin's future room.

He was moving gracefully, strong hands holding the brush, dainty fingers covered in colours.

Yoongi was impressed.

The smaller room that was on the plan of the building was just a square on a piece of paper to him until he saw with his own eyes how Jimin turned it into something else entirely, breathing life into the grey walls in forms of painted plants and clouds and rainbows.

He watched the younger paint the walls with care and excitement that was familiar to him. He's seen many parents who were exactly like this. 

He was more and more sure every day that they will make a beautiful family.

He was telling the younger about the standard sizes for the child's furniture and sleeping place, simultaneously writing notes so Jimin can use them as a guide later.

- Will you buy everything new? - he asked. Jimin stopped to mix another colour and smiled brightly.

- Depends. Is it required that everything is new? If not I'll put some pieces together myself, I have lots of materials for it.

- You surely can, - said Yoongi and sighed, having the younger a small smile.

He had a good feeling about this.

***

By the time Moonbin arrived and the date of her and Jimin's meeting was near he was a nervous mess.

He was pacing around the room, putting clean clothes, brand new and passed on alike, on the wardrobe shelves while Yoongi was sitting with Taehyung, answering the avalanche of questions.

It was almost time to go so Tae just all but kicked Jimin out with advice to walk and chill a bit.

Yoongi was chuckling at the younger's affronted expression but offered some encouraging words.

- She knows you a little already, - he said, - She is shown your pictures often. You won't be a total stranger. It's amazing how a two year old who can't say much can tell you from many photos already.

- It is. Thank you for everything you've done for me, Yoongi-ssi. - He looked at him mischievously, - Yoongi-hyung?

The officer chuckled.

- Fine! We will still see each other often. Moonbin has to attend Korean classes until she knows the language at a level where she can be accepted in nursery. +

The language centre is in the building I work in, so there's a high chance we meet. Or you can come anytime for any questions.

- Already planning our meetings, I see, - Jimin replied sassily.

They both laughed.

Yoongi liked his personality a lot. It was always easy and fun to talk to him.

Moonbin was in good hands. He felt accomplished.

He led Jimin to the playroom and heard a quiet gasp.

The artist had hands on the sides of his face, eyes open wide and trained on one of the children playing with some toys, talking with one of the social workers.

He almost physically felt his whole being focus on this tiny human in a pretty suit and with most adorable pigtails.

- Ready, Jimin-ah?

The young man nodded silently, stretching his hand to squeeze Yoongi's in a gesture of gratitude, and moved to walk inside.

Yoongi saw how the little girl recognized him. They were both standing on different sides of the room, hesitant.

But both were smiling.

He blinked away tears.

Every time all the hard work was worth moments like this. Now if everything goes well, Moonbin can stay with Jimin permanently after a month of frequent visits.

He looked at the younger’s face who just emerged from the playroom. His eyes were wet but the smile was so dazzling it could rival the sun.

Yes, these were the moments he lived for.

5. Moonbin, Jimin and Yoongi

Yoongi was at Jimin's place again. He was on the couch with Moonbin sitting next to him, turning pages of a bright colourful book.

It's been several months since she attended classes and she could speak a little, not different from most children her age.

Yoongi was a frequent guest in a small flat above Serendipity art studio.

First he was there with checkups or to help Jimin with some things. Then the younger offered him to stay with them longer.

Moonbin too got used to hanging out with uncle Yoonie.

She was first to run and greet him, immediately chatting and showing him all new toys, drawings and clothes she liked the most.

Yoongi was totally wrapped around her little finger just like her dad.

If spending time with Jimin before, exchanging playful banter and easily talking about everything that was on their tongues was nice, this was even better.

Jimin and Moonbin, both charming, both fit like two pieces of puzzle, were a force of nature.

The case was closed and Yoongi didn't feel guilty for spending time with a new family. They would take walks in the evening on weekdays or go somewhere on Sundays.

Jimin didn't have that many people to support him besides his hyung and Tae so Yoongi suggested they meet with his aunt.

Moonbyul was ecstatic to see and spend time with a toddler again. 

And it was nice for a child to have more people to talk and play with.

It was great to have another set of hands to help and a good word of advice.

One Sunday they came over to her place again but to their confusion she asked if she could spend the day with her alone.

- I don't mind but what do we do now?

Yoongi easily figured out the maneuver and suggested they go somewhere together.

- We hardly ever get the chance to do something on our own. Let's have coffee? Just you and me?

***

Jimin thought all they will be doing is talking about Moonbin but it wasn't the case. He was having the time of his life with Yoongi sharing stories from his and his friends' lives, from work and his university days.

His hyung was so easy to talk to, so easy to like. He was pretty and mature, with a clear talent for storytelling. He was a warm person, a supportive friend and a reliable partner.

Jimin would be lying if he said he hasn't imagined all three of them as a family at least five times a week.

- Hyung? - he asked tentatively when he felt a lull in the conversation, - Is this a date?

Yoongi lifted his eyes from the cup and saw Jimin's reddened cheeks, and shy posture. He dropped his gaze back down.

- I'd like it to be. If that's what you want too.

He felt the other's hand touching his own.

- I'd like that very much, hyung.

Jimin was smiling with giddiness.

- I know you have a lot on your plate, Jimin-ah, but we could go slow?

Truly, that was just perfect.

- Yeah, - the younger exhaled, - Let's do that.

As they were standing outside the cafe on the quiet street Jimin suddenly asked:

- Hyung, just technically, how slow is slow?

Yoongi laughed out loud. Jimin was unbelievable. With all the little habits and love for plants and talent for painting. Yoongi was totally gone for him.

He quickly kissed him on the cheek and pulled him into a side hug.

- Let's find out for ourselves, shall we?

~the end~

Bonus

[theawakenedstate]

I wanted to take you a little bit behind the scenes of my Inspiration behind Why I created this book. 

I remember it like yesterday, 

It was around 2013-2014, I was on Maternity leave after just having my son, Godric.  My love came home really upset. 

he said he just lost his job and we had NO CLUE how we were going to make it now. 

Both of us not working, living at my parent’s at the time and a newborn – so we were also sleep deprived on top of it LOL. It was messy.  We were both deeply upset, I remember that holiday we didn’t buy presents – My mom bought us a few things for the Baby we could give from ‘santa’ and that was really it. I felt devastated… Around Spring – I was really desperate for Change, and I was tired of feeling panicked about depending on others and having chronic money anxiety. 

I was telling myself ‘I just need a SOLUTION. Some type of Change or perspective shift, i cannot feel this negative and hopeless.’ I need hope! 

And with that simple intention, one of my internet friends and i were chatting.  She told me she wanted to share a book with me on her Kindle, it was called “The Magic” – Maybe you’ve heard of it?  I was desperate for just a shred of hope so I read this book daily religiously and followed along – It was a 28 Day Gratitude Challenge to teach you how to Attract what you want Via the power of Gratitude. (featuring the early teachings of the law of attraction)  This was my second introduction to Manifestation. I knew of the concept of ‘thoughts create reality’ BUT – I never really experienced it before. 

my gratitude jar from 2014

I set intentions each day and I put them in what I called ‘My gratitude jar’  – i didn’t even have a journal! Lol it was tiny pieces of post it paper that i wrote on and put in this jar. (sidenote, that jar got broke when i had a massive money uplevel, 2 apartments –  years later )  this book gave me hope, wonder, inspiration and I started experiencing a 360 degree shift in my mindset. 

And then MY REALITY STARTED SHIFTING.

I went from feeling really bitter, annoyed, desperate and slightly negatively depressed to focusing on ALL the good in my life.  I was so positive out of nowhere, appreciating the food I ate to nourish my body, appreciating the bills & checks I paid, grateful to have a warm house for my baby, instead of feeling resentful that i didn’t have my own home –  and so forth! 

My perspective started shifting and as a result from that – My reality started changing. Within those 28 days, things got WEIRD – 

the more I set gratitude intentions – I started having big shifts physically: 

+ I started losing a ton of my baby weight and easily fit back into my pre-prego jeans.  + I started attracting Free things LIKE CRAZY – giveaways, discounts, Free Gifts, random encounters, Money in the street, Random money. Like money everywhere.  + We Attracted my Love a good-paying job to help us start to save money I felt inspired that if we really wanted to make something happen, we had to start saving money – We started Saving money for our own apartment, startng with literally $20 a month. it was nuts lol. 

So many crazy things happened during that time period in such a short amount of time. 

– resulting in us finding a crazy affordable 2 bedroom apartment for only 550 for rent special the entire year including water and most utilities – except electric ( which is pretty cheap considering how nice it was) most places around town were starting at 990 or $1020 ) – I started the website! This website. which resulted in starting the business.  – I discovered Digital courses for the first time – which is a big part of my business. 

And From all of this – I became OBSESSED with trying to figure out Why, That very simple gratitude challenge produced such a 360 Mindset Shift. 

I needed to know WHY. 

I was literally obsessed with figuring out Manifestation and how to get better at it, I started questioning why could i manifest some things easily but not others?  Why could I manifest a New Car but Not a house?  Why did it work easily on non-resistant things – but not as easily on BIG things like, owning a house, six figures or millions of dollars! And As my experiments grew – I started creating my own Mindset Challenges – that worked FASTER, Easier and as a result Helped me Believe in Manifesting. 

In the beginning, there was a ton of disbelief,  “like HOW did i even manifest that?!”  “How did i manifest that money, what even happened?”  How did i move out soooo fast once i applied gratitude?!” 

I was out of the house in a MONTH – after setting intentions about it.  I was in so much wonder, disbelief, and doubt – at the same time I was obsessed with doing it with bigger things. 

And I knew my problem was Self-belief. I didn’t BELIEVE I could do it. So I started playing with Challenges and it flipped the entire game for me.  I made it similar to what i learned in the 28 day Magic days of gratitude challenge – but I changed all the exercises to actively support my Self-belief. 

And My First one I called it,  The Awakened bliss Creator Challenge – a 30 Day challenge to Awaken your BLISS as a co-creator of reality. 

Here’s the thing, most teachings completely dismiss this step and yet it’s the most important piece of the puzzle. 

It isn’t that you can’t manifest.  It isn’t that you can’t manifest BIG things. 

It’s your DEGREE of BELIEF towards BELIEVING you can attract and have that thing.  It’s your self-belief. 

What I started to realize, very quickly was the more i did challenges – I was consistently building up my self-belief that I could manifest what I want.  And As I kept doing it – It became easier and easier to manifest. 

Part of the Journey of creating this book and sharing it, is the realization that,  I know what it’s like being on the other side of that!  In Self-doubt, Disbelief, confused, Hopeless and Lost on your direction in life – not really sure if you’re going anywhere.  I totally Get it,  The origin of this book – is made so that anyone can pick up these pages and learn to manifest within 30 days or less.  Anyone who is willing to discover the magic – will experience it themselves and most importantly, you will begin to know and experience – You are more powerful than any situation, circumstance or obstacle in your pathway. Your Belief is what will take you far. 

And When you Believe in yourself?  WATCH OUT WORLD – 

You can do anything. 

but first, it starts from within, 

it’s an inner game

and that means, 

If you’re not changing your perspective, no one will do that for you either. 

Don’t you feel it’s time for real new beginnings?  Grab your Copy today and see for yourself 😉  Awaken You Power to Manifest: A 30 Day Manifestation Challenge 

Transformation is Always Possible, Change is only a moment away for the highest good of all, But you have to get intentional about it.  it’s bizarre how much life can change when you start to get more intentional on WHAT YOU WANT FOR YOUR LIFE.  🙂 

Dec. 2013 June 2022.

A lot can change in 9 years!

P.S. It’s the Final Weekend on the Anniversary Sale for Awaken Your Power to Manifest: 30 Day Challenge workbook! https://www.amazon.com/Awaken-Your-Power-Manifest-Manifestation/dp/B09RM5XH2S/ref=sr_1_1?crid=30VK4EXDP3CLK&geniuslink=true

You can get your OWN printed copy for only $9.99 for the Anniversary Sale on Amazon right below – that’s over 60% off it’s original price. 😮😯🤭

Also – We’d love to hear from you Readers! What did you Manifest? What did you love about the challenge? Give us a comment on FB or drop a review on Amazon.

Thanks so much for your Support!

Happy Manifesting 😘

READY FOR MY MANIFESTING CHALLENGE! P.S. S. International Link:

Awaken Your Power to Manifest: A 30 Day Manifestation Challenge

https://www.theawakenedstate.net/i-cant-believe-i-manifested-that/

I Can't Believe I manifested that...

I wanted to take you a little bit behind the scenes of my Inspiration behind Why I created this book.  I remember it like yesterday,  It was around 2013-2014, I was on Maternity leave after just having my son, Godric.  My love came home really upset.  he said he just lost his job and we had […]

[tomboyjessie13]

Upscale Mall - Cairo, Egypt Spring 11:45 AM

A few days after the whole affair with Daniel J. D'Arby, Mariah and Midler took Medea to a convoluted but very fancy looking mall to make up for the incident, as well as the cancelled baseball game that started it all, the mall in question was large and easy to get lost in if you're not from Cairo.

Medea: *Getting tired while carrying their bags* Phew, I never thought I get exhausted in a mall.

Mariah: You don't have one in Morro Bay?

Medea: We do, but not as big as this, frankly my mom wouldn't even let me go to the mall because she thinks that they're a danger to smaller locally owned businesses.

Midler: Ooooh I hate it when parents do that.

Medea: Eh, I don't really blame her, she was born and raised in the countryside and appreciates the simpler things in life compared to the hustle and bustle of Cork. Besides, I mostly sneak off to the mall without her knowing just look for some sports goods and to hang with fri-...I mean, congregate with former classmates. *Huffs sternly*

Mariah: Who needs them? They just abandoned you for your ex.

Medea: Right? We've been friends since grade school, and this is how they repay me? Siding with a cheater?

Midler: They're so fake.

Medea: That's what I'm saying! *Sighs sadly*....I just wished they've listened to my side of the story....

Midler: Well, you got us now, we're all a bunch of misfits thrown away by society for whatever reason, Lord DIO is the only person who saw that we all deserve a second chance, *swooning* that's one of the reasons why he wants to become god of the new world~

Medea: Hm... If you say so...

Mariah: How about some drinks? *Starts walking in the direction of the food court* I heard a Taiwanese man just opened up a pop-up cafe and I want to try that out.

Midler: *Follows* You mean the one with the "bubble tea"?

Mariah: Yeah.

Midler: Sure why not?.....*Looks back* Meds?

Mariah: *Looks back to* Hm?

Medea: *Standing in front of a sports store's window, eyes sparkling. The girls walk to her and finds that she's looking at a white and fuchsia pink American letterman jacket with black and white lining* O3O

Midler: Ooooh, that's a cute jacket~

Medea: *Hyped* It's not just a normal jacket, it's a letterman jacket that only high school and college athletes dream of wearing, football, baseball, basketball, tennis, you name it.

Mariah: My aren't you a tomboy?

Medea: I've always wanted to buy one of these, but my mom keeps wanting to buy me dresses instead even though I didn't want them... Huh? *Sees the price tag and sees that it reads: £2000, this caused her to yell out in despair:* AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH! *Slaps her hand on the glass window* IT'S NOT FAAAAIR! *Slams her back on the window and slides down, disappointed* If only D'Arby Elder didn't take my money...

Midler: Oh, chin up, Meds. Enyaba will let you have your allowance back in two days.

Medea: *Pouts* Yeah, with DIO paying me like he's still living in the 1800s.... housemaids get paid less than butlers.

Mariah: *Cringes* Yeesh, yeah that is a bit of problem...*She remembers* OH! That reminds me! 

Medea: What?

Mariah: Ok, hear me out: You and the boys get paid based on your ranking in servitude, but all of us agents who go out into the world performing tasks under DIO's name get paid quiet handsomely regardless of who we are or where we're from, as long as someone he dislikes gets assassinated, the money we stole gets laundered, or the Speedwagon Foundation's secrets gets spilled.

Medea: *Perks up* No fooling?

Midler: It's true, I always have enough bread on the table because I assassinate his enemies ^o^

Medea: *Stands up* But what does that have to do with me?

Mariah: Isn't it obvious? House servants get compensated the same way as the rest of us if they perform the same missions as us! Last month I've dated Kenny and he mentions how he'd wished that he had more money to fix up his new bedroom, so I asked Lord DIO to let him come with me on my mission and he got paid the same amount as me for his participation.

Medea: Huh, I was wondering where he ran off to...So what you're saying is I have to collab with an active agent so I can get paid like them?

Mariah: Yes :-)

Medea: *Hyped* YOOOOOOOOOOOO! 8-D

Midler: SHU! Keep it down! We're incognito!

Medea: *Calms down* Right, I'm sorry. Anyway, are you guys open for a team up?

Mariah: Sorry but no, i'm having a week off.

Midler: Not me either, I got hired for a hit in Madagascar and have to leave tonight.

Medea: *Frowns* Oh, ok, *gives the girls their shopping bags* i'll go find someone else then. 

Mariah: I strongly recommend checking in with Lord DIO first, you know how he gets when people don't report in.

Medea: I know, *starts leaving* see ya later girls, I got some money to reclaim!

Midler: *Waves bye to her* Good luck, Meds.

TO BE CONTINUED

That bit of Medea despairing over the price tag was loosely inspired by "Ed Edd n Eddy"

[tooboredtothinkofaname]

Now that i think about it I was such a let loose kid, i had so much freedom it was too much. I had to upbring myself and raise myself and figure out what are the virtues. Nobody guided me, told me what is right and what is wrong, nobody told and presented to me the ideas. And in a way you could think sure it's so great to have such autonomy, not being shoved ideology down your throat and yeah i have a lot of good traits because of this. Critical thinking among others right?

Yeah but

Ugh maybe i'm too hard on my mother sometimes. She did her best, surely. But because i had to become my own and her parent sometimes nobody ever taught me how to live, how to be a person. My mother, very autistic, very introvert, very domator stay-at-homey, very busy, very workaholic, very people pleaser could never teach me things i needed. I wasn't taught anything in my upbringing straightforwardly. Only as a response to traumas i figured some self-defense mechanisms, i just reacted to whatever came in whatever instinct driven and least harmless way possible. Only guidance i got from my father was to not open the door when someone's knocking, not to answer the phone to not let anyone know we're home and to be an asshole because that's what's gonna get you things (and then add the surprised pikachu meme when i used all that against him like..?)

So i just lived along. Home alone, computer, early internet, solitude, books, toys, nature, TV, lots of TV. So i raised myself. School was occasional as i just stopped going at one point because what for? To get bullied by peers and teachers? To waste my time there? To get up super early, go through stressfull public commute with people in it? And then get back home tired and for what? What was the purpose? Some imaginary lines drawn in an imaginary book next to my imaginary name? What. The. Fuck? I had it ALL at home! All i needed, where I controlled everything and did whatever the fuck i wanted all day. Some day i'll grow up, some day i'll show them and they will all see. It was still long years ahead of me to become an adult so i had plenty of time to prepare myself right? What do you mean you need education to get a well-paid job to have money for doing things you like? You mean i have to deliberately enslave myself to do what i want? I already do what i want! What do you mean i need good grades to get to Good uni to get the Good education to get the Good Job? That is imaginary! It's out of reach now, it doesn't give an actuall material gratification now, it's all a concept a kid's/teenager's mind can't grasp on just yet. And NOBODY could give me another reason for doing such draining, pointless, boring things other than "well it's just how it is, you just have to".

So i didn't, could you blame me? Would you call me stupid for pointing that out at 13? No adult could ever explain that to me so how could i follow them?

People get jobs without education and looking crazy. It's all about if you can put your potential, talent and skills to good use. School grades never reflected someone's intelligence and worth anyway. And fuck do i agree with my kid self holy shit i was right. But i didn't realize life is gonna be so damn harsh if you don't follow the regular path. Or did i? Nothing about my life was normal except for the fact that i had different sex parents and was white in a 97% white country. Everything else about me was fucked up and the world didn't dissapoint to point it out.

So why would I ever care to be afraid of following an unusal route when my whole life looked like this? I had 2 choices: either I bend myself over for the normal standards, clench my teeth and just do what everyone expects me to hoping i will not go insane in the process OR i could just do whatever i was already doing, being a weirdo creep my own way but at least being true and (relatively) confident about it.

Idk i just needed to let it out. But yeah i lack life skills for a reason and sometimes i wish someone would just tell me what to do with a good reasoning. But i don't think i'm that much different from others in this.