#zion t soft pack

[may-bonne]

letty/mia fic recs!

this post only covers ao3, and it's an abbreviated list! the extended list, with additional recs, fic hosted on livejournal and old femslash archives, meta, art, and vids, is on my dreamwidth.

Red Sky at Night by dirty_diana. <2000, E. I think this is my favorite of the Letty-comes-back-after-the-first-movie fics. They both feel very true to character, and the way Letty takes care of Mia is just the right mix of sweet and rough around the edges.

Letty feels hot, fire beneath her skin. It's weird, Brian was always cool, like sunsets and lemonade, like nothing could touch him.

Such a Pretty Girl So Tired and Waiting Down Below by sinuous_curve. <4000, E. These are the most-kudosed fics in the tag for a reason. They're both set during the fourth movie - in the first, Mia ties Letty's wrists to the rear-view mirror and fucks her with a screwdriver and the whole thing is just delicious and they feel absolutely real. The second has scorching hot strap-on sex, crossdressing, perfect Mia, and perfect Letty. It's also very sweet and fun in a way that a lot of fourth-movie fic isn't, since so much of it is colored by the knowledge of what's about to happen to Letty. sinuous_curve's Mia also accepts Letty for who she is completely without being passive, which is a fine line to tread.

Mia laughs. “You got something you want to do with that, boy?” She turns her head and manages an awkward kiss on corner of Letty’s mouth. “I like you like this.”

Damage Done and Goddamn Golden Boy by escritoireazul. <1000, T. These are sort of two sides of the same coin, set before and during the first movie. escritoireazul does both one-sided attraction and smouldering jealousy really, really well. Damage Done has a really good, plausible Mia, and I think you understand exactly what she wants from Letty. Goddamn Golden Boy is from Letty's POV - knowing Mia's with Brian, knowing that maybe part of Dom wants to be. Completely note-perfect Letty.

“You’re better than them,” Mia hears herself say. She takes another gulp, and it’s so sweet and cold it burns her throat.

like a star across the sky by escritoireazul. <3000, T. This is the middle fic in a series of three, and the most Letty/Mia-centric. It's another Letty-comes-home fourth-movie fic. For its length, there's a lot of complicated history packed into this, and it's really wonderful.

She blinks hard. She’s not going to cry. Letty doesn’t. She just gets things done.

Something Quite Like Home by escritoireazul. <2000, G. Pre-slash - Mia and Letty leave the state together after the first movie, and go to the library. This one has an interesting take on Letty, kind of different from anything else on this list. It's very domestic without being cloying.

She's got her sunglasses and Mia's walking next to her and the soft thwap of her sandals is almost music, almost the rhythm of Letty's pulse.

Laundry Day (Extended Version) by escritoireazul. <2000, T. Short, sweet, hot, and I think about Mia sitting on the washing machine in her black bra with a rip in the back all the time.

"You gotta relax sometimes." Letty's voice goes rougher, and she pushes away from the edge of the wall, saunters up to Mia.

Adrenaline Junkies by rsadelle. <1000, T. This isn't really femslash, but I think it's a really lovely, subtle look at the ways in which Mia and Letty understand each other. It's set post-Fast Five, but it was written before the sixth movie came out, so there's no amnesia.

Mia thinks about all the things she knows have happened to Letty, and all the things she doesn't.

Something of Her Own by Ceares. <1000, T. This one has teeth; it's sort of hopeless in a nice way.

Letty is hers for six weeks and then Dom comes home off the circuit.

...i feel weird about recommending my own stuff because i obviously can't be objective, but the tag is like 50% me at this point, and it's hard to sort through. personally, i like are you with me now?, next of kin, star witness, rapt, zion, and me, i disconnect from you.

[fromzion]

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[kyuricz]

✎ …zion.t layout ♡ ˎˊ˗

ᵈᵒ ⁿᵒᵗ ʳᵉᵖᵒˢᵗ

☞ … 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘨 𝘪𝘧 𝘶 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵

request are closed for now, sorry ♡ᵎ

ownkji on twitter

[theempirekhh]

ᬽ͟͟͞͞▓⃟ 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝐲 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒋𝒂𝐲 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒌 ♡⃕ ⌇. . .

𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒐𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒈 ₍☁⁾۪۪

𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕

[naptoons]

V-Day Concepts:

So happy Valentine’s Day!!! To everyone even if you don’t have one love yourself !! Treat yourself!!! Consider your friends your valentine or your animals!! You don’t need a valentine it’s not really necessary, as long as you know you have people that love you that’s all that should matter🤍

Austin:

I feel like Austin would do something very simple, he would probably take you to the beach teach you how to surf. He’d call you at a certain time knowing how you love your beauty sleep. “Hello?” you answer groggy “get ready bubs, I’m on my way” Austin explains and without your answer he hangs up, making your furrow your eyebrows in confusion, adding more to his plans. Getting dressed you slip on a t-shirt and some shorts. The weather wasn’t too cold but it wasn’t too hot either. Twenty minutes later Austin pulls up to your house, you walk out getting in the car to see the mocha haired boy smiling harder then a kid on Christmas.

“Why are we doing?” You ask with a rasp still.

“I guess you’d have to wait and see beautiful”

Arriving to the beach, there was a table set out with roses and candles, Austin smiled at how your eyes were sparkling like fireworks. He grabs your hand walking you guys to the table he pulls your chair out, then pushing you towards the table. “I can in a t-shirt and shorts to a dinner Austin!” You exclaim through the lump in your throat.

“Well, I wanted you as rare and organic as you are, no makeup with me baby” Austin smiles, you smile as he grabs your hand kissing you knuckles one by one “happy Valentine’s Day” he whispers you gasp not realizing today was Valentine’s Day. You knew it was this month but you didn’t really care for the day that much. After you guys ate y’all waited a while before getting in the water, none of you bought swimwear , literally as raw as he wanted it to be. Austin taught you to surf seeing your fear and happiness in spilt seconds.

NICK:

I feel like nick would do something kinda bigger but not so big it causes a lot of attention. I feel like he would take you out to dinner and watch a movie back at the crib on a projector. Nick was already at your house because he spent the night over helping you with your college homework. His fingers caressed your skin softly looking at the time on his phone as it showed ‘6:45 pm’ , nick taps your thighs softly trying to wake you up, when tapping you was futile he started to kiss your face softly and slowly. Your hands sliding through his hair smiling when his lips attach to yours. “How May I help you?” You ask still smiling

“by getting dressed, we’re going out tonight” Nick mumbles against your neck because you’ve pulled him in a hug.

“Hmm, but what if I wanna stay in all night?” You mumble, nick shakes his head tickling you, you let out a sharp scream almost falling off the bed. After the both of you take a shower nick said he had to pick up some stuff from the store. So you got dressed did your makeup and patiently wait for nick. As if on time he knocks on the door. Opening the door he has a bouquet of roses sitting on a top of assorted cheesecake platter along with chocolate covered strawberries. “Nick...” you whimper in admiration, nick walks in the house giving you a quick peck on your lips, and placing your gifts in the kitchen.

“The big bear I wanted to get you isn’t coming until tomorrow , blame amazon prime” nick expresses, you walk up behind him and hug him. “I love you...” you choke, nick spins around in your arms titling your head up to him “no crying!! can’t ruin a hardwork ma’s” he cleans your tears with a napkin. Nick reserved a table for y’all on a rooftop, letting you see how beautiful his hometown was at night, he loved taking you to his hometown, cause you’d be shocked at the scene everytime. Throughout the whole night he just got lost in your eyes. Occasionally picking up in the conversation until you yelled at him “nick! Are you listening?” You smile bigger than ever tonight “not really you’re just to fucking beautiful ma” his accent finally comes out, that’s when you knew he was serious. After dinner you went back to the house seeing him pull down the projector he installed in the living room, sliding in the CD. Half way into the movie, it stops showing text upon the screen, “I’ve finally found out what true love is, I realize I deserve happiness, so now there’s only one thing to do” Nick then pulls out the box in his jacket, getting on one knee, you gasp covering your mouth, your body shaking in shock.

“Will you marry me y/n?” Nick smiles “trust me I have more words to say after this” shaking your head he grabs your left hand sliding the ring on, almost falling off the couch to hug him, he kisses all over you. “God I love you” he repeats with every kiss.

EDWIN:

So with Edwin I feel he would be a little more extra than nick and Austin combined. He’d probably check off your bucket list. So on there you wanted to go ice skating, stargazing and to a sea aquarium. Not only was that on your bucket list you wanted to take a trip to universal studios. So Edwin planned all of it for you. As you were packing your bags Edwin runs in with a bouquet of your favorite flowers “good morning amor, sorry for waking you up this earlier, but it’ll be worth it I promise” he bends down to your level kissing your head softly you grab the flowers out of his hand smiling. Even though you were pretty upset at him for waking you up literally 8am you knew you couldn’t be mad at him “all done here?” He asks grabbing your hand to stand you up.

“Yep, all done” you answer, the boys woke up early to send you guys off on y’all road trip Zion being the extra one he is he advises you to wear a helmet cause Edwin drives crazy. Nick disagrees and says that’s the right way to drive. After hours of driving you made it to the hotel. Y’all rest and the next day the adventures start. He took you to the aquarium, holding your hand as you stare at the jellyfish, his smile increasing the more you gasp and rant. It’s been a while since edwin has dated someone he just wasn’t ready. He just wanted to focus on music, live his life and be happy. But you came by and just changed the moral of the story.

You wasn’t part of his plan, but now everything he ever does revolves around you, you look up at edwin who looks brain dead, just blinking slowly. “Edwin you’re spacing out again” you giggle, his smile appearing again showing off his marshmallow teeth, he pulls you in and kiss you softly. “You’re to beautiful mami, that’s why I keep spacing out” Edwin answers you. Later that night you guys went ice skating. He got on the ice holding your hand as you tried to stand on the ice. Letting out curse words with tiny screams, Edwin just laughs at your cuteness “you think this is funny? I’m going to crack my spine” you exaggerate, Edwin scrunches his nose up laughing at you harder his fingers intertwined with yours. Edwin never takes his hands off yours teaching you how to skate little by little, in that short span of time you caught on quick. The next day edwin woke you up after 11am to eat breakfast, and took you to universal studios. You saw the sign and screamed. Your back lifting off the seat and looking around.

Edwins lips curve slowly, his hands caressing your inner thigh, you turn your head back to him, smiling harder you grab his chin squeezing his cheeks in your hand you give him a soft peck, laying in his shoulder.

“I love you so much” you mumbles

“Impossible, but I love you more babygirl” Edwin says before he kisses your head.

Throughout the day y’all tried to ride everything , when with fast passes it was nearly impossible. It was time to go back to the hotel, you were exhausted from all the walking, the hot weather, but you don’t regret it at all. If you could do it all over again. You sure as hell would. Sliding the key card on the lock you twist open the door seeing the rose trail you turn around and punch edwin’s chest. “Happy Valentine’s Day baby” he whispers on your earlobe and hugs you around your waist.

ZION:

I feel like this would be y’all first Valentine’s Day, cause he really wasn’t looking for love and you had to many heartbreaks. So you caught zions eye and obviously he worked hard to have your heart in his hands. And he wasn’t planning on stopping even though he had you. So Valentine’s Day was kinda special for you, you don’t really ask for much, just and I love you text. But he said you deserve everything and more. You deserved to be treated the way he saw you. As a queen, a goddess. Zion had took you to get your nails done, your eyebrows, paid someone to do your makeup, earlier he reserved you a spa treatment. He went above and beyond for you.

You got home after Zion had you running around getting pampered, you went to the room confused by the dress covered in a transparent bag, with the tag on it and everything. A box of Louis Vuitton sitting on the floor, a note was attached to the dress picking it up you read the more Zion left you “get dressed mamas, we’re going out tonight, you thought I would stop spoiling you after I finally got you?” Smiling you shake your head you unzip the transparent cover revealing the beautiful black glitter short dress, you open the box seeing a sliver strap heel. Fifteen minutes later, Zion knocks on your door, dressed in all black to match with you, he offers you to grab his hand. And you see a whole horse and a carriage.

“No way Zion...” you whimper, Zion slides your hand in between his. “Yep, this ain’t a dream mamas” he proudly smiles. Helping you get into the carriage you cross one leg over the other while his hands were on your knee caressing it with his thumb. “You look beautiful” Zion compliments you.

“Of course i do, you picked it all” you laugh

“Nah, it picked you, anything looks good on your fine ass” Zion eases you up and down. You guys went to an art museum that recently just opened, he remembered how excited you were about going to that museum so he figured today was the day that he could take you and so presently they also had a indoor dinner lounge on the backside of the art museum so he also reserve that for the both of you walking around and admiring the art wow Zion is admiring you he figured it was time to give you a promise ring that he has bought for a while but hesitated because he was scared he would overwhelm you.

“Hey mamas?” Zion says has he fidgets with the box in his jeans pocket you turn around smiling as he grabs your left hand caressing it softly with his thumb “ so you know how I promise that I would do everything in my power to keep you and to love you, now I’m promising to never leave you and to forever make you happy no matter what happens to us or no matter where I go even when I’m on tour I promise to always be there for you and to always be the shoulder you need” he pulls out the ring and slides it on your finger. “ I promise that one day when the time is right I will be your husband”

You throw your arms around his neck crying on his shoulders, “aw mamas you’re so fucking beautiful”

Afterwards you guys at dinner and sat in his car watching the stars.

BRANDON:

you guys were at the prettymuch house in his room. You just woke up twenty minutes ago. Brandon busted in the room with an assortment of paints and canvases. “We’re painting!” Brandon yells “I see that baby” you giggle, getting out the bed you pull down Brandon’s hoodie and sit on the carpet, he hands you a canvas and a bottle of water. After three hours. Y’all were both covered in paint from the neck down, laying on your back playing with his fingers. You turn to look at him on the corner of your eyes. “So what did you paint bubs?” You asked smiling.

“You’ll see in a minute but first..” he pulls out a bandana and covers my eyes “grab my hand” Brandon mumbles, while this is going on Zion takes the painting and goes to the backyard, he sits you down on the chair in the backyard throwing a blanket around your shoulders because it was kinda chilly. “Brandon?” You whisper “yeah baby I’m here” Brandon answers “are you ready to see the painting?” He nervously asks. “Yeah” you answer once you open your eyes you see a painting of you and Brandon , with the words ‘will you marry me?’ Brandon is down on his knees smiling at the tears flowing down your cheeks. “You mena everything and more to me, and to make you my fiancé would just be a fucking goal to me, falling in love with you is just as important to me as music, you’re my dream baby, so will you marry me?” You nod your head hearing his members scream and whistle as he slides the ring on your finger.

Afterwards you guys cuddled in a tent watching a movie on the projector, he begins to play with your fingers. “Hm I love you” you whisper then kiss his knuckles softly “I love you more” he tilts your head up to kiss him, smiling in between his kisses. “Happy Valentine’s Day Babylove”

[pinkbubbles-and-bigtroubles]

Fuck it, why not?

You're one of the hospitality coordinators working at the resort where they're doing all the pretty much/Cnco promo and press stuff. They've been there for two days and making sure they were taken care of and staying out of trouble had exhausted you. You were supposed to have the night off, but you knew if you left the property you'd get called right back. The guys were having a pool party at the main pavillion, but you just wanted to relax.

You changed into a bikini under a baggy t shirt and shorts. You rolled up two Swisher sweets and headed to the staff clubhouse. It was closed for the night but you had a passcode that could get you in. You turn on the hot tub and light the blunt waiting for it to heat up. It only takes a few hits for you to relax and start to feel a little floaty. It's then that you hear coughing from the shadows and nearly jump out of your skin

You whip around and see a silouhette and a bright orange glow. Then you see the blonde dreadlocks as he stands up.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" You snap annoyed that you're not alone.

"Your boss gave me the code. Said this is where we could smoke up, no cameras," he walked towards you exhaling from his mouth, inhaling it back in back through his nose. "I got some good shit, you want try?"

You nod and he touches his blunt to your lips and you slowly suck in smoke through your lips as he watches.

"I like the way that looks, not gonna lie," he gives you a lazy smile and your try to ignore the flutter it gives you.

"Nice, very nice," you cough, backing away. "How'd you talk my boss into giving you the code?"

"That was Chris's doing," he sat back down. "In fact he's gonna show up as soon as he can sneak away. You know he thinks you're cute right?"

You looked away, a couple of the guys had been flirting but that's just how they were around girls. Not that you hadn't had some fun with guests before but your didn't make it a habit.

You slid into the hot tub water covering your body up to your neck. Sure enough minutes later you heard voices as Richard and Chris came into view stopping cold when they saw you.

Feeling a bit self conscious you turn on the bubbles as the guys greet Zion and borrow his lighter. In no time Chris is leaning against the hot tub asking you a million questions and giving you cheesy pick up lines. You can't take him seriously but he's charming you regardless. Richard is winking at you from behind Chris and keeps letting you hit the blunt, brushing his fingers against your skin each time. Little touches on your cheek, your neck, his thumb brushing your lips all while looking you in the eye to make sure you know it's not by accident.

"We've been practicing all day and I'm sore," he told you. "Mind if I join you?"

"Not at all," you grin letting your mind consider the possibilities. Feeling bold, you stood up and leaned over the edge of the hot tub to grab a beer out of your bag.

You wiggled your ass in the air a bit and heard Chris mumble something in Spanish. Richard stripped down to his boxer briefs and hopped in before you could sit back down. Chris quickly followed and you noticed he was already getting hard. You swallowed when you realized he saw you looking at his dick, you weren't expecting a skinny guy like him to be packing like that. You had a good buzz going, you always got horny when you got high, and having three hot guys pay attention to you was getting you worked up.

Chris sat super close to you, his arm around your shoulder, his free hand touching you under the water. Richard sat off to the side and pulled your feet into his lap rubbing your legs and making sure you felt he was hard. Chris was making a joke and you were laughing because you were high but you were too busy watching his tongue to actually listen. Zion wandered over and leaned down whispering in your ear, "want a shotgun mama?"

You nodded and tilted your head back as he put his lips to yours blowing smoke from his lungs into yours.

"Give it back to me," he commanded and you did but instead of inhaling he let the smoke escape before taking the opportunity to kiss you.

When he pulled back he shrugged at the other two, "y'all wanna bullshit," he laughed taking another hit and blowing out little puffs of smoke like a dragon.

"Damn girl, you're feeling wild tonight?" Chris asked winking and sticking out that damn tongue again.

"If you don't keep that tongue in your mouth," you mumble before realizing you said it out loud.

Chris leaned in and gently cupped your chin in his hand turning your face towards his. "Or what Mami? You want to see what I can do with my tongue?"

Your heart was pounding, and before you could overthink you threw caution to the wind.

"You talk a lot of shit, you really think you can do something?" You scoff, rolling your eyes while squeezing Richard's thigh.

"You want me to go, give you two some privacy?" Richard asks.

"I don't mind if you watch, or do more than that," you grin at your own insanity as you stand up. You sat on the edge of the hot tub with your legs slightly open.

"Ready when you are papi," you wink at Chris and his jaw drops.

He tugs your bikini bottom off and spreads you wide open eyeing you hungrily. You shivered as his tongue probed your soft folds, gasping as his lips wrapped around your sensitive bud. Chris looked up at you from in between your legs and it was insanely hot.

Richard pushed your top to the side tugging on your nipple while Zion had one arm around your waist, holding you steady and kissing your neck. Chris knew what he was doing, tongue fucking you until you were desperate and needy before backing away.

"You need to taste her man," Chris told Richard as they switched places. They were both skilled but in different ways. Chris was teasing and tortuous while Richard was dominant and determined sucking and nibbling on your pussy until your toes curled.

"Oh God, I'm gonna cum," you moaned and Chris tapped Richard on the shoulder, switching places again. Chris wasn't teasing now, he inserted two long fingers, twisting and pumping, hitting every spot as he swirled his tongue on your clit. Richard's mouth was working over your breasts while Zion kissed your neck and your orgasm was soon crashing down upon you.

It was so intense you knew your were squirting all over Chris's face but he didn't stop greedily lapping you clean until you were breathless and quivering. Only then did they stop to let you catch your breath.

You laid back and thought for a second, "guys I really still wanna fuck, but I've only got two condoms."

You laughed as you heard the guys discuss the situation deciding on rock paper scissors to break the stalemate. Richard won the first round and you were thrilled, getting on your hands and knees for the Dominican daddy. Chris and Zion tied twice and Chris was freaking out until he won round three and you wondered if you hadn't taken on more than you were ready for.

Zion didn't pout or act like a bitch about it so you offered to suck him off in a bit.

Richard smacked your ass before lining his dick up with your wet, waiting entrance. Richard hit it hard, pounding into your pussy hard and fast as he rubbed your clit and pulled your tits. He had you whining and begging him to fuck you harder as you came a second time, his balls slapping against your thighs as he slammed into you. His grunts got deeper and quicker and you squeezed your walls around him as he approached climax. His hips stuttered and his fingers dug into your hips as his orgasm hit.

Chris kept you bent over but did something different. He sank his cock into you, loving the way you moaned as he stretched your pussy with his thick shaft, but then held still as you let Zion fuck your face. You were able to concentrate on sucking him off while feeling so wonderfully full. Chris and Zion both showered you with praise on how hot you looked and how good you felt. It wasn't long before you felt Zion release hit hot sticky load into your mouth and down your throat. Chris took this as a cue and fucked you slowly watching your pussy swallow his huge cock before pulling almost so the way out. "please Chris, don't tease just fuck me daddy,' you whined clenching around his cock.

In response he pulled out completely and turned you around sitting you on the edge again. He put your arms around his neck and your legs around his waist before driving his cock back inside you. Long swift deep strokes combined with his fingers expertly moving on your clit had you a moaning mess beating your feet against his ass in uncontrolled pleasure. "Cum for me baby, let me feel you again, squirt all over my cock," he sucked on your neck and you let go cumming and shaking uncontrollably. Chris held you and bit your shoulder his own climax overtaking him.

When you'd both come down everyone got dressed and Richard helped you out yourself together. Zion had another blunt going and you were sleepy and satisfied but not ready to call it a night. After you guys smoked out you made them pick up the clubhouse and Chris walked you to your room. You were almost asleep when there was a knock at your door. You found Chris on the other side and you knew you weren't going to sleep anytime soon.

@yatusabess @anninhiliation @spookymashton @toofadedtofight

[nickmuch]

c.z.k - high school (part 1)

PART 2 / PART 3

Note: another day, another nothing-to-do-at-work-so-imma-write moment! This time for my baby z bc why not. Also, this ended up being WAY longer than expected. Wrote nearly 5 pages, but that’s what happens when you’re bored

I walked down the hallway quickly. The bell would soon ring and I really didn’t feel like being late to class. Again. On my second official day on this new school. So, I picked up my pace thinking it was a good idea, but oh boy was I wrong. Keyword: boy.

Suddenly, I bumped into something and fell down. When I looked up, I saw a tall boy with pretty tan skin. He was beautiful. His hair was twisted into dreads and pulled together by a baby blue scrunchie to securely get them out of his face. He had mesmerizing deer eyes, his lashes so long and beautifully curled. And his lips. Oh god, his lips. Slightly pouty and parted. A hand was stretched out in front of me. He spoke first, making me abruptly stop staring at him and turn my gaze low.  “You good? Did you hurt yourself of something?”. Grabbing his hand, I allowed him to help me on my feet. “Erm … no, it’s all good. Sorry, I wasn’t really looking because I- “. The ring of the bell interrupted me. “- was gonna be late to class. And now I am” I finished. He gave me a quick nod before slowly making his way down the other side of the hall, probably already wondering what stupid story he had to tell his teacher for being late.

“Honestly, if you are allowed to skip, then I am too”. Startled by the voice I turned around just to be met by my friend Edwin. Beside him, a boy with glasses and tousled dark hair waved at me shily. We weren’t even really friends yet. My parents were no longer here so his mom decided that as the daughter of her best friend, I should stay with them from now on instead of a shelter or relative I didn’t even know. Truth be told, I hadn’t seen the Honorets in years since my mom used to always visit them on her own during her business trips to New York. However, they made me feel welcome and home quite immediately, so I didn’t feel uncomfortable with staying with them. At first, Edwin protested a little bit because me moving in meant that he had to room with his two little siblings, so I could have his.

“Edwin and friend of Edwin, go to class”. Rolling my eyes, I tried to make my way down the hall. “Mrs. Robertson won’t let you in her class now anyways. She doesn’t tolerate tardiness” his friend spoke. “And you are?” I asked kind of annoyed. “Oh, that’s Brandon” Edwin chirped in. “And we” he gestured between the three of us before locking his arm with mine and the other with Brandon’s. “Are going to enjoy this beautiful free lesson”. And thus, we reluctantly followed him into the empty art room, so he could finish his painting while Brandon and I just mingled around, occasionally saying a thing here and there.

“Ed, I am hungry! We’ve been in this room for hours now. Haven’t you finished your painting by now?” Brandon complained. I just agreed with an exaggerated nod of my head. “Ugh, fine! You guys are too uncultured to understand the true beauty and excitement in this. An artist needs their time and full concentration to paint a masterpiece and-” he rambled without an end on sight.

“Is he always like this? I’ve only been here for a week and most of my time was spent with the kiddos anyways”. His friend laughed and answered with a genuine smile and nod. “- but since it’s time for lunch now anyways and I am starving, I think it’s time for a proper break”.

Happily, we jumped up and dragged him behind us to the cafeteria. After getting our food, they slowly made their way towards a table in the back of the lunch room. Three guys were already sitting there talking and when we got closer, I noticed a familiar face. My cheeks burned under his heavy gaze. “Guys, this is my friend I told y’all about” Edwin turned to them to fully introduce me. “… so this is Austin” he pointed to the boy with the anime backpack on his side of the table. Austin gave me a quick smile before the shorter boy with a base cap on his head spoke up. “I am Nick. Nice to meet you”. He shook my hand firmly and sat down.

“And this is –“

“Zion” the boy from earlier interrupted Ed. “Uhm, yeah. This is Zion. Thanks for interrupting, man. I am totally used to this by now” he complained about his friend, which made the rest of the group laugh. Everyone, but me and Zion. His eyes never left mine when I sat down between Ed and B. It made me feel nervous to have a guy stare at me like that. It wasn’t even a staring, but more like an observing. I felt like he didn’t like me, though. His gaze made me feel uncomfortable and like an intruder to their group. Shaking my head slightly, I tried to join the conversation between the other four. “This party will be massive!” Nick exclaimed. “It’s the beginning of the school year, everyone will go. Trust and believe!”. Brandon and Austin seemed so hyped about it already, dragging Nick into their own little conversation to plan everything for the upcoming night. “We’re going, right?” Edwin asked me precisely.

Honestly, it was really nice and cute of him to include me in everything and making me genuinely feel like a part of his family and friends. He had even introduced me as his “twin sister from another mister” to our teachers. Our math teacher was very confused by it and asked Edwin how that was even possible, to which he only answered with “Mr. T! With all due respect, but you’re asking too many questions, sir. She’s my twin sister that used to live somewhere in Canada or something, ion even know. T’was Canada, right?”. He didn’t even give me a chance to answer him. “Doesn’t really matter. What matters is, that she’s here and she’s here to stay! And we might not look alike and she might have a different last name”. This made me cackle. “But! She’s still my twin sister and that’s all to know”. Mr. Toya seemed to regret even asking by the way he had already dragged Edwin out of his class in hopes of making him stop talking.

“Sure” I answered him with a soft smile. It was clear that they wanted to go and I didn’t want to be the party pooper by saying no. “Great! Aye yo Z, you picking us up by 8 then?”. That’s when I noticed that his eyes were still on me. Zion nodded shortly without ever breaking eye contact.

Later in the evening I found myself in Edwin’s room – or how he liked to call it “the twin closet” since more than half of it was full with boxes of mine and also his clothes. He sure had more things to wear than I did, though. “Look, if you wear this white crop t-shirt” he rummaged through a box of mine. “And this silky thingy here” he was holding up my darkish red silky jogger pants. “Plus your white air force one’s and this dope black fanny pack” he handed me all the items. “Then, you won’t overshine my fit and we gucci”. His smile was so dangerously serious that it made me not want to mess with him when it came to outfits. So, I just gave him an “Okay”, and got up to get dressed in the bathroom.

Even though, I didn’t feel like going, I still found myself in the backseat of Zion’s car quietly humming along to the Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR song that was playing. It was nice and chill rather than too loud and hype on our way to the place. The boys didn’t even let him finish park the car before running off to god knows where in the house. “I guess it’s only you and me then, tonight” he said. I was okay with this, even though his presence did make me feel nervous since I couldn’t really read him as easily as I could with the rest of PRETTYMUCH. Apparently their 5-person-group had a name due to the fact that he used to over-use the word back in middle school and thus, it just stuck with them from then on.

“Z! Over here!” A girl with long and straight dark hair waved from the other side of the front yard. Her black dress was cut low in the front, complimenting her curves perfectly. With her heels-clad feet, she tried to make her way over to him. “Shit, gotta go! You on your own, I guess”. He rushed over to her before she could reach us, giving her a tight hug and leaving me all by myself in a foreign neighborhood of a foreign city with foreign people surrounding me. Great.

I spent most of the night in the kitchen, drinking some soda out of a blue solo cup. A couple hours had passed and three drinks later, I found myself wandering around the big house trying to find the bathroom. The one on the ground floor was obviously occupied by some horny teenagers, so I went upstairs. On my way down again, I heard faint music playing from one of the rooms.

Curiosity took the best of me and even though there was a high possibility I was going to walk into a couple trying to have fun, I still decided to open the door. To my surprise I didn’t find anyone in there trying to do the deed, but instead I found Zion sitting on the edge of the bed. One hand playing with his cup and the other gripping onto his phone securely. He didn’t even notice me with his eyes lowly staring at his feet.

“I sure hope it’s just some water you’re drinking”. His head shot up, tensing, before letting loose once he realized it was just me. “It’s coke. No alcohol. I don’t really drink”. He gave me an all over look before motioning for me to sit down next to him. The bed was small, so our legs were touching.

“What happened to your lady friend? Why are you chilling here all alone?” I wanted to know. After all, they did seem very familiar earlier. “Asya? Nah, she’s just a good friend of ours. A bit like a little sister”. Understanding what he said, I nodded and just continued to aimlessly look around the room. “And for the all alone part” he spoke up after a while. “I don’t feel like partying.”. “Yeah, same” I breathed out.

“Tell you what?”. He looked up with his full attention on me now. “You seem stressed and I think you might need someone to talk to that’s not part of your little PRETTYMUCH group” grinningly I said. With my hand I pushed his chest to make him lay down on the bed. Zion obliged and I waited for him to get comfortable before grabbing his phone to play another song. “Now tell me”. My head rested right next to his and my body was pressed right on him. Every inch of my left side was touching him somehow. “I’ll start then if you want?” I figured it would be easier for him to open up that way. With that, I told him about it all. From the reason I ended up in New York to Edwin’s glorious idea that I would be his twin. “I should’ve known. Edwin and his egghead always on some weird shit, I swear.” He had said in realization. Also, I let him know about my worst and best childhood memories, or the first time I tried to sneak out and how my dad caught me. Basically, everything that came to my mind.

“I don’t know what to say. It’s hard for me to talk about feelings and stuff” he finally said after I was done talking. No more stories were left to be told, I think he knew me better than I knew myself by now.

“Oh, so you like someone? Feelings and all?”. Patiently I waited for him to answer. This time, it was me who searched for his eyes to lock them in place with mine. For a second, I could feel him stop breathing. The soft voice of Bryson Tiller took over the room.

“There’s a time and place for all this

This is not the place for all this

Is there a reason why you’re saying all this?

And can we talk about it later?”

His gaze flickered between my eyes and over my face. “Maybe”. He licked his lips nervously. “Kinda. Or maybe not. I don’t know”. He grew more and more anxious by the second and I was sure he thought he was doing a great job by keeping a poker face, but really he was horrible at it. I could finally read him and to tell the truth, I didn’t mind what I found out.

Now, my heart started beating faster and doubt was slowly taking over me. Yet, I still said “Then find it out. Just take the risk”. With one last inhale of air, Zion took all of his courage and leaned in, capturing his soft lips with mine. It felt different, but a good different. A different I could get used to. My hand cautiously crept up his arm, delicately going up and down while we found a steady rhythm. A small moan escaped his lips. I silently prayed to god and begged him to make this moment last forever. He didn’t seem like a stranger to me anymore. It was as if we’ve known each other longer than we really thought, but at the same time this was crazy. All of this was crazy. Yesterday, I didn’t even know the name Zion existed. And yet, here I was, him kissing me and gripping my thigh. (I’ve been listening to Phases on repeat for days now, can you tell?)Promptly, he pulled away with full force. “I can’t, I mean we- we can’t! We shouldn’t” he bursted out. “Edwin is gonna be so disappointed in me when he finds out”. I wanted to silence him and say how that wasn’t true, but next thing I knew, the door flew open revealing – of course because the universe wouldn’t let me kiss a cute boy in peace for once – Edwin. Behind him the other three reluctantly followed like lost puppies. “So, I put two and two together and my senses did not betray me! I had a feeling y’all were up to something nasty in here!”. With a sigh, he was interrupted by Austin. “He’s lying, someone saw how first Zion and later you went in here. And for some odd reason, Eggie is playing protective brother”.

“Okay, so whatchu tryin’ to tell me is that we goin’ home cause Ed had some to drink and you need my car?”.

“… Yep”.

Zion abruptly got to his feet, pulling me up with him in the process. The ride home was actually quite peaceful. Nick and Brandon fell asleep, all cuddled up while Austin tried to stop Edwin from drunk texting some random girl he hadn’t talked to in years. We drove them home, one after another left. When we arrived at the Honoret house, Edwin was quick on his feet. “I need my bed” he mumbled, rushing into the house.

This left me and Zion alone. Shily, I dared to turn my head towards him trying to see the expression his face held. “You know …” he began. His voice sounded a little shaky, yet it didn’t stop him from saying what was circling around in that precious head of his. “I think we can. And I think we should”. The smile on Zion’s face was contagious, I couldn’t contain myself from smiling back. Before walking to my front door, he gave me a long chaste kiss on the lips leaving me dizzy and occupied with my own cloudy thoughts.

“I think so, too” I whispered to no one in particular but myself while drifting off to a much needed peaceful sleep.

NOTE: I legit wrote all of this today in like idk 3 hours?? Whew chile, but it was worth it because I passed some time. Only two more hours left at work and I have nothing to do. Might start writing another imagine to pass some more time.

[summerrrluvvv]

Chapter 1:

Music Featured in This Chapter: Sound Track Now Available On Spotify

Sweet Life by Frank Ocean

Bad by Wale

Neighbors Know My Name by Trey Songz

So Gone By Monica

Tye:

 “The best song wasn’t the single, but you weren’t either, living in Ladera Heights, black Beverly Hills” I sang along to “Sweet Life” by Frank Ocean as I was packing. In almost 48 hrs., I was going to Miami. Every Summer we take an annual Girls Trip that we take every year with all my girls but only this year it was just the four of us. “Knock, Knock” I got up and looked through my peephole and seen it was Samar. “What up homie?!” He said being playful. “Stop Samar I’m busy, I got to pack and shit” Samar was my best guy friend that I so happen to have feelings for, but I never told him. “Oh yeah Miami with the girls omg girls trip fun times were going to sip margaritas and party and fuck on the beach yeah Miami” Samar said imitating a female. I rolled my eyes. “You gone be down there too aren’t you for Lit and Wild Festival why you over here talking, probably got Hella hoes lined up” He pretended to pop his collar. “Well the ladies do look cool Samar” I pushed him out my way. “Nigga you aight” I lied. Samar was fine as hell he had fly ass swagger. “Nigga I’m the shit what about oh boy um what’s him Lipton Tea?” He asked. I rolled my eyes. “Quinton, Q for short dumb ass” I said sitting down folding my cute swim wear. “Where you going in that baby ass one piece?? You are doing only fans?” He asked me. I bust out laughing. “Samar shut the fuck up!” I said to him. “Nah for real that’s for Q dawg?” He asked. Quinton was my little fling over the semester he was sweet, but shit was not there for us. “Quinton and I are over, shit was getting out of hand” I told Him. “Good” He simply said. I looked at him. “Well yeah cause its gone be plenty of fish in the sea of Miami” I said doing a little dance. “Look at you just fast ass little girl” I laughed at Samar acting disgusted. “Well I’m going to let you finish packing Tye, Ms. Matthews if you nasty, see you in Miami fam, I’m going hit yo line” he told me before leaving. I smiled at the thought of Miami being my time to finally tell him how I felt.

 Zion: 

“Come on Z baby, why you got to play so hard man” Jacquez kept saying to me. He was a guy I was talking to that got caught up in his feelings. I told him what the fuck it was, now he wants to stalk me. “Jacquez move out the way I got to take my next guest” I said. I was a cashier at Gucci. “Z man you playing with a nigga emotions and that’s fucked up” He said. I sighed and palmed my face. “Jacquez don’t make me call security, this why we can’t be cool, I told you don’t get attached to me I not with none of that lovey dovey shit now please honey stop making a fool of yourself its so many hoes in this mall you can try stop pressing me” I told him. He sucked his teeth in. “Man fuck you, you ain’t nothing but a hoe anyways acting like you high and mighty bitch” He said and knocked my credit card pamphlets off the register. I looked at the customers and smiled. “Ok next guest” I said, cause fuck him. After work I headed home, I called Melody on my way. “Hey girl what’s up??” She said. “Tell me why that nigga Jacquez popped at my job this time girl like nigga the dates where nice I appreciate you going down on me all the time but time is up sir I’m bored next caller!” I said. Melody bust out laughing. “No, I feel you, I been out here trying to date and nah I am not feeling it” She said. “Don’t get me wrong Mel, I want the love and shit it’s just easy to stay protected than to be so open, fuck these niggas till I get a nigga that knock my socks off, like them bitches fly right off like swoop” I told her. We both started laughing. “Z get the fuck of my line with this shit girl I’m screaming, maybe you can get you a boo in Miami or something” Mel said. I scrunched my face up. “Nah it’s a girl’s trip, I’m going to be with my bitches getting litty in the Miami City, I just got my fashion nova swim suits in the mail today, we going to have fun” I tell her. “My swimsuits from Pretty Little Thing came in today too, plus I went shopping and got me some cute ass clothes at this little hood boutique” She said. We talked all the way till I got home. “Aight Mel, I got to go in the house, Ima see you at Tye’s on Friday”. “Aight girl bye” We hung up and I gathered my things to go into my house.

 Melody:

 “Let’s keep it soft and warm with the quiet storm on V103 yeah”. Trey Songs “Neighbors Know My Name” started playing as I drove on the highway home from Lenox Mall. As I was driving, I got a call from my sister Tamia. “Yes TiTi” I said annoyed. “Guess who followed me back on IG?” She asked. I shrugged. “I don’t know Ti, who?” I said. She sucked her teeth at me. “Girl Isaac, I was like boy bye what do you want?, he gone leave you cause he say you do too much and don’t love yourself saying don’t hit his line and shit but months later gone follow me and then gone say how is everybody, aka how is Melody I see she fine as hell now and I’m trying to slide through” My sister said. I slightly laughed. Isaac was my ex-boyfriend of 5yrs. He was the love of my life and I was crazy as hell over that nigga but he broke my heart and it took a little minute to heal and then I finally was able to let go, he been doing his T-shirt business and shitwe still follow each other. I just stay lowkey because I am waiting till Miami to post my post break up glow up pics. I lost weight, got me a bomb ass job, I am glowing, skin on fleek, booty popping like I am happy for the growth, and who I am becoming. “Ti, I don’t care about Isaac anymore, don’t mention him to me anymore it’s been 6months and I’m doing amazing he can kiss my ass” I said. “Well ok then, I’m just informing you, so you won’t be surprised that’s what big sisters do” She said. I rolled my eyes. “Tamia thank you for the update I’m good, I’m going to call you before I leave for Miami” I said. She sighed over the phone. “Okay bye rude ass little girl” She said. I palmed my face. “Tamia don’t start” I said. “Mmmhm” She hung up the phone. When I got to my apartment. My dog Yoda was waiting for me, she was a yorkie. “Hey baby” I said as I picked her up. I got undressed and unwind and sat on my couch scrolling through IG. I was curious to see Isaac page, as I scrolled and looked at his pics. He still looked good, it took me sometime to be able to look at him again without crying but now I can do it and not feel anyways. “Hey girl, you pack yet?” Tye texted me. “Not yet but Ima bout too” I replied. “We bout to be in Miami Bitch” Tye texted. All I could think about was the fine ass men in Miami, get me a little fling, hang with my girls and being free.

 Ariana:

 I got out my car and slammed the door. I was heated as fuck. My boyfriend had finessed me and took my virginity then broke up with me for some new bitch. I pulled up to his apartment ready to fight. I went to his door and banged on it like I was the motherfucking police. “Marlon open up this got damn door now!” I yelled. His neighbors peeped out they doors. “Hi the fuck”. I said looking at them. Some bitch swung open the door with Marlon behind her. “Bitch leave my man alone, he done with yo unexperienced ass” She said. I walked up on her. “Wrong bitch mam” I said. She smirked at me. “Do something” She said. I pushed her the fuck back to get to Marlon. “Aye chill Ariana damn” He said as I was hitting him. “Get off him” His little Chihuahua cried. I pushed her back until Marlon got the upper hand and pinned me to wall. “Calm yo ass down Ari, I told you what it was, I just wanted yo virginity that’s it, sorry I played you now get the fuck out” I pushed him back and slapped his bitch. “Fuck this shit!” I said mad as hell. I had tears in my eyes, but I didn’t drop them until I got in my car and drove home. Why did I let him do me like that? I want to kill him so bad. What the fuck! I thought to myself. I called Tye but she didn’t answer, I called Mel and she was busy too. So, I called Zion. “Hey Ari, you good?” She asked. I started crying. “No, fucking Marlon played the fuck out of me, he told the whole campus we fucked and then he dumps me for Chantelle Davis. The thot as bitch, get me out of Atlanta now!” I yelled. Z sighed. “What did you do Ari?”. “Uhm I kicked down his door and smacked his chick just to let him know Ariana isn’t having it” I said laughing through my tears. Zion laughed. “Of course, that’s classic Ari right there, but girl we bout to be lit so this shit don’t even matter” She said. I agreed Miami is so needed I needed a break. We got off the phone and I blasted So Gone by Monica till I reached my destination.

Supporting Characters:

Marlon Thomas: (Keith Powers)

[chaos-weekly]

wraparound porch

When someone in Salemsville died, half of the town came to the funeral. Everyone was connected somehow. If someone didn’t show up, they stuck out like a sore thumb. It stirred up drama.

About forty people showed up to Dante’s funeral: the surviving Alighieri family, Indy and the members of the Davis family who still lived in town, Magnus Black and his family, Zion (who sat alone on the opposite side of the aisle as the black family), friends of his Indy recognized the faces’ of, people she assumed were friends and had never met, old teachers, a few neighbors, a woman named Reina who couldn’t stop staring hateful at her, three cops, and a girl Indy assumed was a journalist based off of the notepad she was scribbling in. The rest of the attendees were bikers. Each one of them looked like they would rather be anywhere else-- like the church made them uncomfortable-- except for an oddly somber Thorn. 

If someone asked Indigo to tell them anything about the service, she wouldn’t be able to tell them much. It was short and sweet. There was no luncheon after; her younger brother had complained about that. It was a closed-casket, not that it mattered much to her since she’d already seen his body. Micah gave an eulogy that she cried reading and Indy cried listening to. 

She could also tell you how she felt like everyone was looking at each other and judging them. They were looking for answers, or rather someone to blame, but they wouldn’t get them. Not with the cops whispering loudly to each other about the evidence pointing to suicide. Not with all of the answers being on the flash drive Indy told Thorn to guard with his life. No, the answers were out of reach for them. So they’d turn to the gossip mill.

Indy slipped out to the church’s wrap-around porch during the old church hymns at the end. Dante used to write blasphemous replacement lyrics when he was coming down from his highs. The preacher today had said that he was an angel in heaven now, singing in the choir. And sure, Indy hoped he was in a better place, but she could only picture him in black robes scream-singing “Amazing Hate.” 

She leaned against the railing, eyes glazed over staring at the town in front of her. There were a million thoughts and feelings running through her head, but it was hard to process them in a setting that was supposed to celebrate his life and was doing so in a way that made him unrecognizable. The Dante she knew was a hurricane on legs, a disaster and a half. He always knew where he was going but never how to get there. He was brilliant and wild and didn’t care what other people thought about him. The way his mind worked was so beautiful, and she was so lucky to have been able to see it so intimately. She was lucky to have been able to see him so intimately.

God, he’d loved her. 

The pick-up in the beating of her heart let Indy know that this appeared to be the root of all of the feelings she was having. Sighing frustratedly, she walked blindly to the rocking chairs and plopped down.

“Want a smoke?” someone offered after a moment. Indy jumped, eyes refocusing on her surroundings to see Thorn sitting in the rocking chair next to her and holding out a mostly empty pack of cigarettes. She pulled the pack from his hands and threw it over the railing.

“That is so bad for you. Cut that sh-t out,” she muttered, getting a shrug in return. “How long have you been out here?”

“Long enough for you to toss my cigs,” he replied. He didn’t sound annoyed in the slightest.

“Which was how long?”

“I left mid-eulogy.”

So he’d seen her out on the porch from the minute she’d walked out and hadn’t said anything. Great. It was a good thing that Indy was too tired to be embarrassed.

They sat in complete silence, just rocking back and forth. They were still rocking as people left, passing right by them. Indy’s mom stopped for a second to ask if she was coming to lunch, but Indy just shook her head. She’d make her way home later.

Everyone was pretty much gone when Thorn finally asked:

“How’re you feeling?”

How was she feeling? The question made her laugh dryly. 

“Guilty,” she admitted. There was no follow-up to that, they just rested in the weight of her honesty. It was heavy.

“He told me he was into some deep water before I left for college and I didn’t do anything about it,” Indy began.

“And you feel guilty for not asking any questions?”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I don’t think I would’ve been able to help him. I mean, I encouraged him to leave town, but the only other thing I can think that I could’ve done knowing the information I did was go to the cops, and that would’ve been a nightmare for obvious reasons.”

Again, there was no follow-up, but it was like Indy could feel his unspoken question hanging in the air. 

“He was in love with me,” she admitted quietly. “We were hooking up. Whenever I was home. And then this past summer it kind of somersaulted into some semi-dating thing. Come the beginning of August, he wanted to go and put a label on us. He told me he loved me. I just didn’t feel the same way and didn’t think I ever would.”

His eyes had never left her face. Thorn had listened to every single word she said. Indy didn’t know if anyone, much less a man, had ever been this invested in the emotions she had to share.

“So you feel guilty because you didn’t love him back,” he said.

“Is that stupid? Because I should’ve. Aside from the drugs and the informant business, he was a great guy. If he’d made it out of here, he would’ve pretty much been perfect.”

“Any reason you have for not loving someone is a good reason. If you have to search for one, you probably don’t love them.”

“Yeah, but the drugs and stuff weren’t permanent. I could’ve worked on that with him--”

“Love isn’t a project, Indy.” His eyes were peering into her soul. She swallowed hard. Her nose burned like she could start crying again at any moment. Thorn may have seen the pink beginning to rise in her cheeks, because he leaned back in his seat and looked away from her for a moment.

“I know,” she whispered. “And to be honest, I hate fixing people.”

“You just stole my cigarettes from me and tossed them into the road,” Thorn replied teasingly. “But seriously, Indy, you have nothing to feel guilty about. You made the right decision.”

She nodded, sucking in a shaky breath. 

“You’re right. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

They returned to silence, staring at the town that had seemingly gone back to normal immediately after the funeral. How could they just carry on with their lives like this?

“I’ve got to get home,” Indy said, standing up after feeling her phone vibrate for the thousandth time. 

“Need a ride?” He stood up too, towering over her. She didn’t feel small next to him, though. It was probably because she wasn’t intimidated by him in the slightest.

“No, I think I’m just going to walk. But thanks for offering.”

“Sure,” he replied, shrugging. “And just to be clear, this conversation never happened.”

“Oh, of course not,” Indy replied. “I’d never talk to you about the kinds of things we just talked about.”

“Likewise.”

She was sure she saw the corners of his lips turn up into a small smile, but she chose to say nothing and give a soft smile in return.

“I’ll see you later,” she said, waiting for his signature nod before turning and walking towards home.

It would take a while to feel less guilty about not loving a man who definitely checked a lot of boxes on her imaginary Dream Man checklist, but this was a start.

[memorylang]

February’s Holidays in America | #50 | February 2021

Been feeling great! 2O2I goes well for me. I’m excited to have received more word from the Peace Corps that they’ll be in touch when they have a final timeline for reinstatement. Till then, I’m savoring my weeks still stateside. 

February 2O2I encompasses many holidays, including Lunar New Year, U.S. Presidents’ Day, St. Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday. Some Americans may consider the Super Bowl a holiday, too! (Ah, if only Kansas City could make lightning strike twice this year.) Anywho, this month’s tales are on how I’ve spent my holidays. I’m ecstatic to have gotten in another national parks trip!  

Lunar New Year 2O2I

I begin these tales from Lunar New Year’s. (I’ll double back to recount January adventures toward the end of my tales in this blog story.) This year, my LA sister who was in wanted to celebrate the Lunar New Year with more activity, so she’d returned to Vegas, she decorated, we wore red, and we cooked. 

We made dumplings and 包子 /bāozi/, which were tasty. I enjoyed getting to show my sister how Mom had shown me how to pinch them. I remembered too cooking with my Mongol host family two summers ago. This year, our older brother and his girlfriend came over to celebrate, as well as a couple of my sister’s friends. 

This year’s Year of the Ox is my zodiac year. It’s the first one I remember, since in that year when I’d turned 12, I’d been still adjusting to life in Vegas after having moved from Indiana with my family the year before. Here in 2O2I, though, at what was midnight in China, I called our relatives over WeChat. We chatted briefly in Chinese and English. Many got confused about which of my sisters was which, which amused me. I felt glad to have gotten to reconnect. 

For the rest of my friends and relatives, I shared photos from Tsagaan Sar 2O2O. Last year, I hadn’t posted much amid hastily packing as a Peace Corps Volunteer to evacuate Mongolia. This year’s been calmer. 

Later that Lunar New Year’s Day, I and my national parks friends like Victor Del Valle embarked on a new adventure, this time to Utah’s sites. Having my driver’s license felt empowering. 

The Mighty Five

By our trip’s end, I’d reach 14 national parks! I look forward to getting to share these experiences with folks abroad who want to visit the States. 

On Friday, our first day, my friends and I visited Canyonlands National Park then Dead Horse Point State Park. I enjoyed seeing the canyons within canyons. Since the Wednesday before was a virtual high school reunion, I decided to wear my ol’ student council shirt. 

That night we checked into this awesome and affordable place, the “Rustic Inn” in Moab, Utah. I recommend it to anyone coming through the city. It was so fantastic that I wrote a Yelp review. 

On Saturday, we reached Arches National Park early, standing below the iconic Delicate Arch before rain picked up. Despite the cold wind and rain, I loved the hike to the Double O Arches. The trek involved rock scrambling what I call the ‘rock vault’ and walking across elevated slabs that I consider the ‘train cars.’ On rock scrambles, I felt like Spider-Man. Across the elevated slabs, I felt like Violet Evergarden or Captain America. We’d taken so many cool photos that day that my recap post for social media contained numerous photos from Arches. 

For the Feast of St. Valentine, that Sunday, Feb. 14, my aunt who’d visited last summer had mailed ahead candy. Her gift was a pleasant surprise. Coincidentally on that Sunday, my friends and I saw Capitol Reef, to which she’d taken me last summer. But, my friends and I entered from a different side than when I’d seen with my relative. My friends and I also hiked to Cassidy Arch, along a remarkable trail that I hadn’t seen on our first trip. Though I first overshot the destination by a half-mile, I enjoyed the sights! That arch reminded me of Sedona’s Devil’s Bridge. 

"A surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one”

On Monday, my friends and I had meant just to see Bryce Canyon but fate had other plans. Winter snow and ice limited our Bryce options such that after experiencing its safe sites we went to Zion. Still, we enjoyed the Dr. Seuss-like sound of “hoodoos” and questions like, “What do the hoodoos do when who doesn’t?” 

Zion felt like Disney, with its wonders at every turn. I’d never seen rock formations like those of the park. Its overlook path, which my friends insisted wasn’t even one of its best hikes, blew my mind. I wish that we’d had more time to see Zion. Our time was short. I resolved to return someday. 

Up next is Redwood National Park in a few months! I’m so excited. Redwood was one of the first national parks of which I’d heard when I was young in Indiana reading about California. I hope that those tall trees are amazing indeed. 

From 2O2I’s First Week 

Presidents’ Day made my friends’ and my trip possible this month. So, in honor of Presidents’ Day, I want to share some January 2O2I experiences with its major event, Inauguration Day! With all that led to it, this year’s was one to remember. 

I kick off my Inauguration Day stories with Wed., Jan. 6, an especially tense day for Americans. That morning, I’d been still in Reno, having arrived to ring in the New Year. That Wednesday, my folks and I were following results from the Georgia run-off election. Georgian friends said not to hold my breath. Well, I felt amazed to see that the two Democrats won. 

But later that day, when I and my D.C. friend were to begin our usual 3 p.m. EST video call on my week’s Bible readings, we began with a different conversation. She asked me if I’d heard about what was happening at the Capitol Building. I hadn’t. She said that police were trying to protect Congresspeople from rioters who’d broken in—American rioters. 

I hadn’t imagined that day that I’d be praying for the safety of our leaders, but I felt moved to do so. I tried not to let the news get to me, too much. I hoped that things would sort themselves out. I’d underestimated. 

“What a year this month has been” 

The next Monday, Week 45 (Jan. 8–15), I felt a bit ashamed to try explaining to my group of Mongols learning English about the U.S. Capitol events. I wasn’t certain about the facts, beyond that rioters opposed the certification of our November election’s results. Ultimately, I suspected that the media had overplayed the drama of the events. Still, I felt ashamed that not outsiders but American citizens had attacked our own Capitol. 

That week’s Sunday, I also attended and later spoke at a Zoom service in remembrance of my late supervisor, Rich Siegel, co-chair of the Honors Community Advisory Board for which I’m secretary. Many on the call wondered what that man, a champion of the American Civil Liberties Union, would have thought about the violence at the Capitol. He would surely have condemned it. After our service, I spoke briefly in gratitude for Rich’s mentorship. A woman at the service contacted me with thanks for sharing my experiences with him. 

On a later week, my English-language learners in Mongolia asked me to weigh in about my trust in the election results. I explained my usual position that I tend to believe whatever our courts conclude about the security of our processes. Our courts declared the election secure, so I trusted our results. Regarding America’s Capitol riots, to my amazement, my Mongol friends compared them to moments in Mongolia’s young democratic history of riots outside of their parliament building and leaders resigning. I felt strangely comforted by similarities. 

Inauguration Day

At last came Wednesday, Jan. 2O. I was back in Vegas, glued to the telly from dawn till dusk. This was the first Inauguration Day I could recall when I wasn’t in school, so I decided that I’d watch the whole thing. By that day, I’d also finished much of the yard work and had even gotten halfway through the “Kafka on the Shore” book to which I’d been listening. 

On Inauguration Day, I kept downstairs with a Snuggie, sitting in a soft rocking chair with a space heater between me and the TV. I set the telly to a channel showing four stations at once—this time showing CNN, FOX, MSNBC and the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC). I liked most the JCCIC broadcast since its hosts sounded passionate about our inaugural setting, having usually given tours of the Capitol. Commentators felt delighted that despite the violence just two weeks earlier, the area was safe and secure now. 

I felt a little disappointed to learn that President Trump had decided not to attend the inauguration, instead taking off quietly from Washington. I’d loved seeing U.S. Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama gathered. I hope that in the future, Trump stands among them as a fellow past leader of our great nation. 

Inauguration

As President-elect Biden and VP-elect Harris arrived, I felt moved. I remembered my time as a young journalist reporting live during Election Night, November 2OI6. Seeing our new administration arrive in January 2O2I, I remembered the faces of people, many of color, who had felt saddened half a decade prior. 

Though I live in Vegas, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy much Lady Gaga’s performance of the national anthem. Generally, I’m not that interested in her music. Well, I felt awed. I found her rendition of our anthem among the most moving versions that I’ve heard. She performed in ways like a guide on our nation’s musical journey. 

In terms of speeches, I enjoyed hearing Rev. Dr. Sylvester Beaman bring to light important issues of diverse communities and felt blown away by the poet Amanda Gorman. Her words resonated powerfully. Her references to “Hamilton” were wonderful, too. That the Biden-Harris administration had given the green light to this magnificent speaker of my generation gave great hope. 

Inauguration Night

I spent the rest of Inauguration Day texting friends as I watched the feeds on traditional Day 1 activities of new U.S. presidents. I especially loved watching that afternoon the Biden-Harris administration’s first press conference. We’re returning to transparency. 

That evening, I saw the virtual concert commemorating our day. I enjoyed seeing talks and performances by Bon Jovi, Foo Fighters, Yo-Yo Ma, Broadway stars and John Legend. New to me yet delightful still were “Better Days (feat. Justin Timberlake)” by Ant Clemons and “Colors” by Black Pumas. Our sun set on what felt for many a renewed nation. 

I didn’t see much other inauguration coverage besides a James Corden treat. He’d made a parody of “One Day More,” which I showed many. I found its lines, “What a year this month has been,” and, “Politics are dull again,” so comical. 

As days went on, I felt delighted to see Dr. Fauci on TV looking far more chipper than during preceding weeks. I felt amused by Stephen Colbert’s return to jesting about political norms instead of contested facts. Thus our world turns. 

Back to Reno

After my Week 49 (Feb. 11–16) Mighty Five Utah parks trip with my friends, I returned from Vegas to Reno. That Tues., Feb. 16, I got to drive the hundred miles from Tonopah, Nev., to Hawthorne, Nev.! I felt delighted. Seeing the sunset while listening to my friend’s party music evoked joy in possibilities of where I can go and what I can do in life. 

The next day, Feb. 17, was Ash Wednesday. That day I returned to my college parish since I’ve been singing for this year’s virtual “Living Stations of the Cross” production. Revisiting the parish and chatting with our staff returned to mind among my favorite undergrad experiences. Meanwhile, our student coordinators have worked so hard to make their office into a recording studio. I look forward to sharing our performance video when it goes live this Lenten season. 

With Ash Wednesday as the first day of the season’s fasting, I had a bagel and tea for breakfast then water throughout the day. That evening, after a series of delightful meetings, I saw a long-time friend when he had a moment free. The homie was Darren Dang, one I’d met when we’d lived in the same residence hall, fall 2OI5. 

That afternoon, Darren and I visited Roberto’s Taco Shop down the street, where we caught up like we’d done a couple years ago, before I’d graduated the University. COVID causes weird circumstances, but we make the most of them. Coincidentally, I’d reconnected too with a mutual friend, through a Pokémon GO group chat when I’d asked what I’d need to do to complete the week’s challenge. 

My friend wished me Happy Lunar New Year in a traditional Vietnamese greeting! I enjoyed that greatly. I knew informal New Year’s greetings in Mandarin and Mongolian, so I said those in exchange. Seeing long-time friends warms my soul. 

Lent 2O2I

Later this February marks the first anniversary since I learned that I’d evacuated from Mongolia. So by the time I next blog, I’ll have been back in America for a year. Expect March tales to feature my reflections. I’m coming back to Vegas in March to see off my LA sister before she moves for work in Seattle! 

The rest of February, I mean to focus on singing for the church production and revising my research for resubmission by early March. I’ve enjoyed seeing WandaVision while not working. My language and outreach projects continue. 

This Lent I've also resumed my habit of praying a rosary a day in addition to daily walks and stretches. I've added, too, Niebuhr’s Serenity Prayer. Let me know if you'd like to pray with me! For now, I leave you with this copy of the text that I’d found cited on Wikipedia (195I): 

God, give me grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, Courage to change the things which should be changed, and the Wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.

Living one day at a time, Enjoying one moment at a time, Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace, Taking, as Jesus did, This sinful world as it is, Not as I would have it, Trusting that You will make all things right, If I surrender to Your will, So that I may be reasonably happy in this life, And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen.

You can read more from me here at DanielLang.me :)

[dfroza]

A sign of restoration

and of rebirth that is illuminated by the writing of Scripture (to conserve spiritual truth) is seen in Today’s reading with a point of renewal beginning with these lines from Psalm 18 for the 18th day of Winter, here & now as january 7 of 2020:

But me he caught—reached all the way

from sky to sea; he pulled me out

Of that ocean of hate, that enemy chaos,

the void in which I was drowning.

They hit me when I was down,

but God stuck by me.

He stood me up on a wide-open field;

I stood there saved—surprised to be loved!

God made my life complete

when I placed all the pieces before him.

When I got my act together,

he gave me a fresh start.

Now I’m alert to God’s ways;

I don’t take God for granted.

Every day I review the ways he works;

I try not to miss a trick.

I feel put back together,

and I’m watching my step.

God rewrote the text of my life

when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 18:19-24 (The Message)

and lines of the same Psalm mirrored in The Passion Translation:

His love broke open the way

and he brought me into a beautiful broad place.

He rescued me—because his delight is in me!

He rewarded me for doing what’s right and staying pure.

I will follow his commands and never stop.

I’ll not sin by ceasing to follow him, no matter what.

For I’ve kept my eyes focused on his righteous words

and I’ve obeyed everything that he’s told me to do.

I’ve done my best to be blameless and to follow all his ways,

keeping my heart pure.

I’ve kept my integrity by surrendering to him.

And so the Lord has rewarded me with his blessing.

This is the treasure I discovered

when I kept my heart clean before his eyes.

Lord, it is clear to me now that how we live

will dictate how you deal with us.

Good people will taste your goodness, Lord.

And to those who are loyal to you,

you love to prove that you are loyal and true.

And for those who are purified, they find you always pure.

But you’ll outwit the crooked and cunning with your craftiness.

To the humble you bring heaven’s deliverance.

But the proud and haughty you disregard.

God, all at once you turned on a floodlight for me!

You are the revelation-light in my darkness,

and in your brightness I can see the path ahead.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 18:19-28 (The Passion Translation)

to be accompanied by lines of wisdom from chapter 7 of the book of Proverbs:

Stick close to my instruction, my son,

and follow all my advice.

If you do what I say you will live well.

Guard your life with my revelation-truth,

for my teaching is as precious as your eyesight.

Treasure my instructions, and cherish them within your heart.

Say to wisdom, “I love you,”

and to understanding, “You’re my sweetheart.”

“May the two of you protect me, and may we never be apart!”

The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 7:1-5 (The Passion Translation)

and a sign of restoration is seen in the reading of Today’s paired chapters of the Scriptures beginning with the closing chapter of Zephaniah that starts with a word of correction and Judgment, followed by rebirth:

[Sewer City]

Doom to the rebellious city,

the home of oppressors—Sewer City!

The city that wouldn’t take advice,

wouldn’t accept correction,

Wouldn’t trust God,

wouldn’t even get close to her own god!

Her very own leaders

are rapacious lions,

Her judges are rapacious timber wolves

out every morning prowling for a fresh kill.

Her prophets are out for what they can get.

They’re opportunists—you can’t trust them.

Her priests desecrate the Sanctuary.

They use God’s law as a weapon to maim and kill souls.

Yet God remains righteous in her midst,

untouched by the evil.

He stays at it, day after day, meting out justice.

At evening he’s still at it, strong as ever.

But evil men and women, without conscience

and without shame, persist in evil.

“So I cut off the godless nations.

I knocked down their defense posts,

Filled her roads with rubble

so no one could get through.

Her cities were bombed-out ruins,

unlivable and unlived in.

“I thought, ‘Surely she’ll honor me now,

accept my discipline and correction,

Find a way of escape from the trouble she’s in,

find relief from the punishment I’m bringing.’

But it didn’t faze her. Bright and early

she was up at it again, doing the same old things.

“Well, if that’s what you want, stick around.”

God’s Decree.

“Your day in court is coming,

but remember I’ll be there to bring evidence.

I’ll bring all the nations to the courtroom,

round up all the kingdoms,

And let them feel the brunt of my anger,

my raging wrath.

My zeal is a fire

that will purge and purify the earth.

[God Is in Charge at the Center]

“In the end I will turn things around for the people.

I’ll give them a language undistorted, unpolluted,

Words to address God in worship

and, united, to serve me with their shoulders to the wheel.

They’ll come from beyond the Ethiopian rivers,

they’ll come praying—

All my scattered, exiled people

will come home with offerings for worship.

You’ll no longer have to be ashamed

of all those acts of rebellion.

I’ll have gotten rid of your arrogant leaders.

No more pious strutting on my holy hill!

I’ll leave a core of people among you

who are poor in spirit—

What’s left of Israel that’s really Israel.

They’ll make their home in God.

This core holy people

will not do wrong.

They won’t lie,

won’t use words to flatter or seduce.

Content with who they are and where they are,

unanxious, they’ll live at peace.”

So sing, Daughter Zion!

Raise the rafters, Israel!

Daughter Jerusalem,

be happy! celebrate!

God has reversed his judgments against you

and sent your enemies off chasing their tails.

From now on, God is Israel’s king,

in charge at the center.

There’s nothing to fear from evil

ever again!

[God Is Present Among You]

Jerusalem will be told:

“Don’t be afraid.

Dear Zion,

don’t despair.

Your God is present among you,

a strong Warrior there to save you.

Happy to have you back, he’ll calm you with his love

and delight you with his songs.

“The accumulated sorrows of your exile

will dissipate.

I, your God, will get rid of them for you.

You’ve carried those burdens long enough.

At the same time, I’ll get rid of all those

who’ve made your life miserable.

I’ll heal the maimed;

I’ll bring home the homeless.

In the very countries where they were hated

they will be venerated.

On Judgment Day

I’ll bring you back home—a great family gathering!

You’ll be famous and honored

all over the world.

You’ll see it with your own eyes—

all those painful partings turned into reunions!”

God’s Promise.

The Book of Zephaniah, Chapter 3 (The Message)

and Psalm 7 also speaks of God eventually making things right for those who trust in Him and in His grace, especially when wronged for no reason:

A David Psalm

God! God! I am running to you for dear life;

the chase is wild.

If they catch me, I’m finished:

ripped to shreds by foes fierce as lions,

dragged into the forest and left

unlooked for, unremembered.

God, if I’ve done what they say—

betrayed my friends,

ripped off my enemies—

If my hands are really that dirty,

let them get me, walk all over me,

leave me flat on my face in the dirt.

Stand up, God; pit your holy fury

against my furious enemies.

Wake up, God. My accusers have packed

the courtroom; it’s judgment time.

Take your place on the bench, reach for your gavel,

throw out the false charges against me.

I’m ready, confident in your verdict:

“Innocent.”

Close the book on Evil, God,

but publish your mandate for us.

You get us ready for life:

you probe for our soft spots,

you knock off our rough edges.

And I’m feeling so fit, so safe:

made right, kept right.

God in solemn honor does things right,

but his nerves are sandpapered raw.

Nobody gets by with anything.

God is already in action—

Sword honed on his whetstone,

bow strung, arrow on the string,

Lethal weapons in hand,

each arrow a flaming missile.

Look at that guy!

He had sex with sin,

he’s pregnant with evil.

Oh, look! He’s having

the baby—a Lie-Baby!

See that man shoveling day after day,

digging, then concealing, his man-trap

down that lonely stretch of road?

Go back and look again—you’ll see him in it headfirst,

legs waving in the breeze.

That’s what happens:

mischief backfires;

violence boomerangs.

I’m thanking God, who makes things right.

I’m singing the fame of heaven-high God.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 7 (The Message)

to be concluded by the paired chapter with Zephaniah 3 of Acts 11 where we see the True Message of grace shared as a seed that has spread throughout beautiful mysterious earth for nearly 2,000 years:

By the time Peter and his friends from Joppa returned to Jerusalem, news about outsiders accepting God’s message had already spread to the Lord’s emissaries and believers there. Some of the circumcised believers didn’t welcome Peter with joy, but with criticism.

Circumcised Believers: Why did you violate divine law by associating with outsiders and sitting at the table with them for a meal? This is an outrage!

Peter patiently told them what had happened, laying out in detail the whole story.

Peter: I was in Joppa, I was praying, and I fell into a trance. In my vision, something like a huge sheet descended from the sky as if it were being lowered by its four corners. It landed right in front of me. It was full of all kinds of four-footed creatures that we would call unclean—I could identify mammals, snakes, lizards, and birds. Then I heard a voice say, “Get up, Peter! Kill these creatures and eat them!” Of course, I replied, “No way, Lord! Not a single bite of forbidden, nonkosher food has ever touched my lips.” But then the voice spoke from heaven a second time: “If God makes something clean, you must not call it dirty or forbidden.” This whole drama was repeated three times, and then it was all pulled back up into the sky.

At that very second, three men arrived at the house where I was staying. They had come to me from Caesarea. The Holy Spirit told me I should go with them, that I shouldn’t make any distinction between them as Gentiles and us as Jews. These six brothers from Joppa came with me; and yes, we entered the man’s home even though he was an outsider.

The outsider told us the story of how he had seen a heavenly messenger standing in his house who said, “Send to Joppa and bring back Simon, also called Peter, and he will give you a message that will rescue both you and your household.” Then I began to speak; and as I did, the Holy Spirit fell upon them—it was exactly as it had been with us at the beginning. Then I remembered what Jesus had said to us: “John ritually cleansed people with water through baptism, but you will be washed with the Holy Spirit.” So, if God gave them the same gift we were given when we believed in the Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, who was I to stand in God’s way?

There was no argument, only silence.

Circumcised Believers: Well then, we must conclude that God has given to the outsiders the opportunity to rethink their lives, turn to God, and gain a new life.

The believers who were scattered from Judea because of the persecution following Stephen’s stoning kept moving out, reaching Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. Until this time, they had only shared their message with Jews. Then some men from Cyprus and Cyrene who had become believers came to Antioch, and they began sharing the message of the Lord Jesus with some Greek converts to Judaism. The Lord was at work through them, and a large number of these Greeks became believers and turned to the Lord Jesus.

Word of this new development came to the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch to investigate. He arrived and saw God’s grace in action there, so he rejoiced and urged them to remain faithful to the Lord, to maintain an enduring, unshakable devotion. This Barnabas truly was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit, full of faith. A very large number of people were brought to the Lord.

Barnabas soon was off again—now to Tarsus to look for Saul. He found Saul and brought him back to Antioch. The two of them spent an entire year there, meeting with the church and teaching huge numbers of people. It was there, in Antioch, where the term “Christian” was first used to identify disciples of Jesus.

During that year, some prophets came north from Jerusalem to Antioch. A prophet named Agabus stood in a meeting and made a prediction by the Holy Spirit: there would be an expansive, terrible famine in the whole region during the reign of Claudius. In anticipation of the famine, the disciples determined to give an amount proportionate to their financial ability and create a relief fund for all the believers in Judea. They sent Barnabas and Saul to carry this fund to the elders in Jerusalem.

The Book of Acts, Chapter 11 (The Voice)

my personal reading of the Scriptures for Tuesday, january 7 of ‘20, also the 18th day of Winter

[peaceofmeme]

AAC 2017 .01

Day 1: Who is your bias?  Why are they your bias?  Explain everything you love about them!

To put it simply: Kim Myungjun (MJ).  As for the why, it’d be a much shorter list to tell you why you shouldn’t stan him (i.e. a complete blank sheet of paper). I’ll try to explain why I love him (and why you should to) to the best of my ability without combusting too much.

Talent. Have you hear MJ’s vocals? No? Let me bless you then because truly his vocals are an gift from God (or Buddha, Allah, Krishna, or any higher being that believe in).       Sofa - First off, I love Crush and I love it when idols sing his songs. I wish (and would give my first born child for this to happen) that MJ had covered the full song. His voice is beautiful and very full-sounding. Plus, we know the boy can hit his high notes.      사랑에 빠지고 싶다      Did I mention the high notes?      케이팝플래닛      사랑.. 그 놈      Vocal Compilation      뻔한 멜로디 - !!!! You must watch this. Zion T. is another soft spot for me and MJ and Bin KILLED it. And fuuu-- Have I mentioned his high notes?? I mentioned them, right?? No?? Well, THE HIGH NOTES!

Personality. MJ is the group’s happy virus and it is very clear why. He is always a bright, sunshine ball of energy and he always seems like he’s just so happy to be wherever he is. He is a major goof ball and whenever I’m in a bad mood or having a rough time, I know I can look up videos of him with the rest of ASTRO and feel better. Also, his sass. We all know the M in MJ stands for Most-Sass. My favorite meme that I use quite often is of him telling Rocky to get out. 

     Weekly Idol      Compilation 1      Compilation 2     Try not to laugh (Astro) 1     Try not to laugh (Astro) 2      Try not to laugh (Astro) 3

Hashtags.  This says a lot about his personality as well. I LOVE the boy’s hashtags. They’re so silly and sometimes stupid, but that’s why I love them. In a recent post, he signed it with #BeCarefulOfColds #IfYouGetSick #I’llScoldYou. He also signs off with random names, such as M-Kiss, M-Karp, M-Raincoat. Just today, he posted about the heat wave warning and signed it M-Hot and told AROHA to be careful. I love him so much, I swear to god--

His body. Now, before you go thinking that this is going to be a “Oh my god, he’s so sexy” comment-- hold on a moment. Yes, MJ is a very attractive male (and them thighs-- girrrrlll please), but I want to talk about the fact that he doesn’t have abs. And I love that. Not because I dislike abs. I don’t feel one way or the other about them. Rather, I LOVE the fact that in this day in age where people are judged for their bodies and idols are being forced to diet and starve themselves (some opting to do it themselves) to become the “picture perfect” idol that they believe audiences want, MJ hasn’t changed himself. In fact, when most idols wouldn’t dare to show their stomach off if they didn’t have at least a 4 pack, MJ showed his soft, flat tummy at ASTRO’s first concert and I was SO proud of him for doing so. He is perfect exactly how he is and I wouldn’t change anything about him.

Honestly, I’ll stop there before this post gets too long. But seriously, send me an ask about my love for MJ or talk to me about him and I will literally talk your ears off about how he is just perfection. Also, definitely gush about him in my asks as well because honestly the boy deserves all the love and I’d love to meet other MJ stans ♥

my previous answers

the challenge