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bindy417 · 5 years

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At the Edge of the Ocean: Part 4 (Olicity AU)

A/N: Hello lovely readers, I’m so excited to be posting the fourth and final part of At the Edge of the Ocean! Thanks so much for hanging in there with me and letting me indulge in this Olicity mermaid AU. Your enthusiasm has been mermazing!

If you haven’t caught up, be sure to read Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. I also created a playlist of songs related to the themes of this fic if you want to check it out.

Happy reading, and let me know what you think!

Pairing: Oliver Queen and Felicity Smoak

Rating: T

Summary: AU. Oliver almost drowns when the Queen’s Gambit sinks and is saved by a mysterious creature. When he learns that his savior is actually a beautiful mermaid named Felicity, Oliver can’t decide if he’s more shocked by her existence or the fact that he feels such a strong connection to her. Coming from two different worlds, Oliver and Felicity must decided if their love is true and what they’re willing to sacrifice to make it work.

Disclaimer: I don’t own Arrow or any of its characters. Except for the Olicity edits with my watermark, the rest of the images and gifs aren’t mine.

Oliver pumped his arms and legs to reach the surface. His lungs strained against the need to inhale, his last stores of oxygen depleted. He almost made it to the surface when something grabbed him by the ankle and dragged him back down.

(Gif via tenor.com)

He squinted in the darkness of the salty depths and shouted when his father’s face emerged. Robert Queen’s eyes were clouded like milky marbles, his skin pale and bloated. Part of his torso was missing; a large bite mark was imprinted into his skin.

His father hadn’t survived. He’d been lost to the depths, and now he wanted Oliver to join him.

(Gif via Wattpad by voidsenses)

Thrashing against Robert’s hold, Oliver finally broke free. A flash of pink colored his peripheral vision. Scales glistened, and he felt oddly comforted. His mind struggled to remember why this vision before him wasn’t a threat but his salvation. The ethereal golden waves of hair floating around the most beautiful face he’d ever seen caused his memory to return.

“Felicity,” he whispered, though it came out as a bubbly garble in the water. She was the mermaid who saved his life. His very own angelfish.

(Original source: www.taylorswiftisreallyamermaid.com)

Felicity started crying, and it tore at his heart. Why was she sad? Oliver tried to swim toward her and found himself frozen in place.

“Oliver, help me!” she called to him. “Please!”

“I’m coming,” he tried to reply. Once again his words could not form. His voice sounded muffled and far away.

A dark figure was moving in behind Felicity, and fast. Her pleas increased, and Oliver fought even harder to reach her.

The mysterious figure was big and ominous. A shiny set of razor-sharp teeth suddenly gleamed through the murky water. It was a shark, he was sure of it, and Felicity was dead center in its path. Although her tail thrashed, she also couldn’t move.

The deadly creature was almost upon her.

“Felicity,” Oliver shouted in warning, suddenly finding his voice. “Get out of there.”

“I can’t,” she replied, sobbing. He’d never seen her so scared. “Don’t let me go.”

“I won’t.”

“Promise me.”

(Original source unknown)

“I promise.” No sooner had he made his vow, the giant shark opened its jaws and consumed Felicity in a single bite.

(Original photo by JadeAlexis18 via We Heart It)

Oliver screamed as his heart ripped in two at the gruesome sight. A wave of dizziness hit him, and he was no longer in the ocean; instead, he was surrounded by a sea of people. Faces came in and out of his vision, shouting to one another.

“Oliver! Oliver!” called a familiar voice in the chaos.

“Mom?” he croaked. Moira Queen came into view for mere seconds before Oliver’s vision blackened.

He remained in the darkness for a long time. Though his body lay motionless, his mind raced. There was no time for rest. He had to get back to Felicity. The look on her face as he promised to never let her go haunted him. He begged her forgiveness.

When Oliver’s eyes finally opened, one thought stayed with him.

“Felicity,” he murmured, disoriented.

Blinking several times, Oliver took in his surroundings. The darkness he’d inhabited before was replaced by a bright white ceiling, walls, and floor—a stark contrast from the palette of colors of the island.

“You’re awake.”

The unfamiliar voice startled him. He hadn’t known anyone was next to him. The older woman smiled kindly.

“Welcome back, Mr. Queen. Your mother and sister will be so thrilled to know you’re awake.”

“W-Where am I?”

“Starling General.”

“Starling…” He was home. “How?”

“That’s a long story. Best you hear it from the doctor. I’ll go fetch him.” She finished checking his vitals and wheeled away her device.

Oliver groaned. His body was stiff and his head groggy. The last time he’d felt like this, he’d had the worst hangover of his life.

His headache worsened when the memories came flooding back to him. The shipwreck. Felicity rescuing him. Discovering she was a mermaid. Their time spent together. The giant mutant shark. Felicity on land and him falling even more in love with her. Their last night spent together. Then her walking away from him as he drifted into unconsciousness.

Now he was back in Starling, apparently.

The doctor, a middle-aged Asian man, entered the room minutes later with the same nurse in tow.

“Mr. Queen, hello. I’m Dr. Barton. I’m the physician overseeing your recovery. Good news is your vitals are strong—despite the state we found you in,” he explained. “Your blood test showed you’d ingested a very potent barbiturate. We couldn’t identify it, but the lab said it originated from some type of marine life. Do you remember what you might’ve been exposed to on the island?”

“I don’t know.” He really didn’t, seeing as though it was Felicity who’d slipped it to him.

“Are you sure? This substance, it’s quite intriguing,” the doctor persisted. “Some of my colleagues think it could have substantial medicinal purposes.”

“I don’t know,” Oliver repeated. The doctor studied him until the hopeful expression on his face disappeared. Wanting to change the subject, Oliver asked, “How did I get here?”

“Fishermen passing by the island saw your smoke signal. They took you aboard and contacted the proper authorities to bring you back here.”

“How long ago was that?”

“A few days.” The doctor’s expression turned sympathetic. “I’m sorry to ask this, Mr. Queen, but the authorities need answers. Do you think your father or anyone else aboard the Queen’s Gambit could’ve survived?”

Oliver shook his head. “No. They’re dead. It was just me.”

“You’re sure you were alone?” he questioned.

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Oliver answered, “Yes.”

“Who’s Felicity?”

His eyes widened. How could the doctor possibly know about her? Panic shot through him, wondering if she’d somehow been captured in her attempt to get him help.

Anticipating his next question, the nurse chimed in, “You muttered her name quite frequently when you were under.”

Trying not to show his relief, Oliver said with a straight face, “I’m sorry, but I don’t know anyone by that name. It was probably just a side effect of whatever was in my system.”

The doctor wrote in his chart while the nurse stared at him intently. She seemed to know he was lying--she’d heard him say Felicity’s name upon waking--but was nice enough not to call him on it.

“Very well then. Dana will help you get cleaned up. We’ve already notified your family that you’re awake. Your mother is on her way. Later, the authorities would like to get a statement from you. They have a lot of questions about what you endured.”

“Okay,” Oliver muttered, already dreading the interrogation that would come about his experience.

The nurse, Dana, set up the shower for him in the bathroom. She also got him a razor to shave and cut his long, tangled hair. She was a chatty Kathy and told him all about her early days working in a salon. Oliver was pleased with the short cut she gave him. He didn’t want his mother to see him looking like some wild jungle castaway.

Nervous butterflies wreaked havoc in his stomach. Oliver couldn’t believe he would actually see his mother again after so long. He wondered if she looked exactly as he’d last seen her. He wondered what she would think of him. Oliver may look more like himself after a shower and shave, but he was a far cry from the son Moira had known.

He couldn’t yet change into his normal clothes, but at least Dana provided him with a set of pants and a t-shirt to replace his johnny.

Oliver stood by the window, taking in the bright lights and bustling streets of the city when the door to his room opened. His mother’s soft gasp as he turned to face her made his heart clench.

“Oliver,” she said tentatively, almost as if she was afraid to spook him. Her hair was shorter; the lines in her face more pronounced. Her eyes, however, were filled with the same love and concern she’d always directed his way.

“Mom,” he replied, overcome with emotion.

“Oh, my beautiful boy,” Moira said, choking back a sob. She reached for him and pulled him into a tight embrace.

Oliver cradled her as she cried into his shoulder. He nuzzled her hair, taking in the familiar scent of her perfume and shampoo.

It truly hit him then: he was home.

~***~

The tall, strong foundation of the Queen mansion looked like a safe haven in the distance. It had always been Oliver’s refuge in the past—whether it be from bullies as a child or his troubles with the police and paparazzi as a teen. The mansion still brought him comfort now, but Oliver knew what existed out in the big wide world—and there was no escaping reality this time.

“Your room is exactly as I left it,” Moira informed him. “I didn’t have the heart to change anything. I always had hope you would return.”

Oliver observed the foyer with its hardwood paneling and double grand staircases. At the bottom stood their long-time maid, Raisa. Her face had a few more lines, too, but her smile remained warm and bright.

“Good to see you, Raisa.”

“Welcome home, Mr. Oliver.” She addressed Moira, “Mr. Merlyn called. He wants to join you for dinner.”

“Wonderful,” his mother replied. “Oliver, did you hear that?”

He’d heard, but his attention had already turned toward the stairs. At the top stood his litter sister—well, maybe not so little anymore.

She’d grown in the time he’d been gone. Her light brown hair was longer, and it wasn’t straight but wavy.

“Hey, Sis,” he said, fighting the tremor in his voice.

“Ollie.” She beamed and quickly made her way down the stairs. “I knew it. I knew you were alive.” Thea threw her arms around him. “I missed you so much.”

Oliver held her just as tightly back. “You were with me the whole time.”

(Original source: http://bit.ly/2manMyA)

“Oliver, honey, why don’t you go up to your room and get settled in before dinner,” Moira suggested.

Oliver was thankful for the reprieve. The onslaught of emotion overwhelmed him.

True to her word, his mother had left his room exactly as it had been. Oliver took it in, feeling a wave of nostalgia, before showering. He needed to wash away the journey home and time in the hospital.

When he finished and emerged from the bathroom in a towel, he felt refreshed but no less at ease. After his time away, in what was a different world, everything that was once familiar was now unrecognizable.

(Gif via gfycat)

The face in the mirror was a stranger. The marks on his body permanent reminders of all that he’d been through. There was only one reminder he wanted, but that mark couldn’t be seen. Yet he felt it, right in his heart where Felicity had changed him forever.

~***~

After dressing, Oliver made his way downstairs. He halted in the foyer, noticing a framed picture of his father and him many years ago. His fingers grazed the portrait. The grief and despair threatened to consume Oliver—feeling fresh now that he was back in his family home.

The front door opened behind him, startling him. The corner of his mouth twitched at the sight of his best friend.

“What’d I tell ya. Yachts suck.”

He smiled. “Tommy Merlyn.” The friends embraced.

“Glad you’re alive, buddy.”

“Me too.”

Dinner passed in a blur. His family and Tommy attempted to make conversation, but Oliver didn’t feel much like chatting.

So he let them babble about the Super Bowl games he’d missed and TV shows he needed to catch up on.

Then Thea asked, “What was it like there?”

The room went silent.

“Surreal,” he answered, remembering the night the Gambit had sank and he’d been rescued. The moment Felicity finally revealed herself to him was burned into his brain. Being back home now, a part of him feared it had all been an illusion.

“Tomorrow, you and me are doing the city. We have a lot to catch up on,” Tommy interjected with his usual attempts to lighten the mood.

“That’s a great idea,” Moira agreed.

“I was hoping to swing by the office,” Oliver said.

“There’s plenty of time for all that. Queen Consolidated isn’t going anywhere. But I’ll arrange a tour for us on Thursday. Walter Steele has taken over as CEO. He’ll be thrilled to see you.”

Oliver watched his mother, detecting the uptick in her voice and the way her eyes brightened at the mention of Walter. Just as quickly, he dismissed the thought. She was probably just excited about his return. They were all trying to make the best of his homecoming while avoiding the cause of his disappearance.

~***~

Oliver stood at the water’s edge, staring out at the reflection of the moon on the water’s surface. The Starling City Bay was calm at night. So different from the active tides of the island. He came here on the nights he couldn’t sleep, which was often.

A month had passed since his return, and Oliver did his best to get back to his normal life. He had dinner with his family, hung out with Tommy and Thea, and shadowed Walter at QC. His body was in Starling, yet his mind was still on the island. The first night back had been the hardest. He couldn’t sleep comfortably in his bed—tossing and turning in the dead of night. Eventually, he ended up on the floor, sleeping in front of his open window, needing fresh air.

Oliver hadn’t even known he’d been dreaming until his mother came to check on him.

Startled, he’d grabbed her by the neck, ready for a fight. Oliver apologized profusely. He’d never purposefully harm his mother.

“It’s all right, sweetheart,” she’d comforted him. “You’re home. You’re home.”

He’d been calling for Felicity in his sleep again. His mother had questioned him the next day about it. Oliver avoided answering, knowing the truth would make his family view him as crazy. Sometimes he wondered if he was. Being back home, in the real world, made it easy to question the realness of all he’d endured.

Oliver thought he’d been putting on a brave face until one day Thea took him to the graves behind the mansion—one belonged to him, the other to his father. Seeing his name carved into it, along with the emptiness he felt, Oliver wasn’t sure if it wasn’t the truth.

“I felt closer to you when you were dead,” Thea had told him, after sharing how she’d come out to talk to him when times were tough. “I know it was hell where you were. But it was hell here, too. You gotta let me in, Ollie. You gotta let someone in.”

Oliver had already let someone in. But how could he tell his sister his sadness came from losing someone he’d loved during what was supposed to be the worst time in his life—and that the emptiness he felt while at home made him want to return to the island to find her?

~***~

Expecting his mother to be alone, Oliver halted outside the doorway to her study when he heard a much deeper male voice. The British accent immediately gave him away: Walter Steele. Oliver couldn’t say he was surprised. His mother hadn’t come out and said it, but something was going on between her and Walter. He saw the way she looked at him and detected the tenderness in her tone when she said his name. A part of him felt irked that she was taking interest in another man in his father’s absence; it was just barely over a year. But then Thea’s words popped back into his head, and he understood why his mother may have sought comfort during tragedy from someone who’d been a trustworthy and loyal friend all these years.

(Photo via Fusion Movies)

Oliver was about to turn around, deciding to ask his mother about Thea’s upcoming birthday later, when he heard his name.

For a moment, Oliver thought they’d spotted him. He was about to reply and step through the doorway when his mother’s hushed voice made him halt.

“No matter what the doctor says, I know my son. Something is wrong. It feels like he’s not even happy to be home. Like his body is here but his head is elsewhere.”

Oliver frowned. His mother wasn’t wrong, but he thought he’d at least been hiding his true feelings better since Thea had spoken with him.

“Of course he is glad to be home,” Walter reassured her. “Moira, Oliver has been through a harrowing experience. His being withdrawn is to be expected. Besides, I saw the papers. He and Tommy went to a club last night. They looked to be having a good time.”

“He didn’t stay long. He left early and wound up at the Starling City Bay. He was there for hours until he came home.”

“How do you know that?”

Oliver wanted an answer too. Was his mother keeping tabs on him?

Sounding chagrined, Moira admitted, “I hired someone to follow him.”

“Moira,” Walter tsked.

“I needed to know, Walter. I’m worried about him.”

“Visiting the bay doesn’t seem so bad.”

“He barely eats or sleeps. He spends more time with his archery coach than he does Tommy or his other friends. I don’t think he’s even been on one date since he’s returned—”

“Archery,” Walter interjected. “What sparked his interest in that?”

“He mentioned something about hunting his own food on the island, though I don’t understand why he would need to retain that skill now. Not to mention the questions he was asking the head of marine research in Applied Sciences.”

“Moira, I didn’t tell you about his meetings with Dr. Fielding to worry you. Oliver taking an interest in QC is a good thing.”

“Walter, I spoke with Dr. Fielding. He said Oliver was asking questions about strange creatures…mutated sharks or something to that effect. Don’t you find that odd?” Oliver peeked around the corner and saw his mother’s concerned expression.

Oliver bristled. Dr. Fielding had sworn that whatever they discussed would remain in the strictest confidence. Now his mother knew all about Oliver’s private research project.

“He was lost at sea, Moira. Maybe he was curious—”

“Perhaps he saw something when the Gambit went down.”

“Saw what?”

Moira hesitated. Then: “I haven’t told anyone about this, but I hired a special team to investigate the Gambit’s sinking—after the authorities decided to give up the search. They found it and…”

“And?” Walter prompted, listening intently. Oliver also leaned in closer.

“They said it looked as if the ship had been torn apart. Not by natural causes but…they found strange bite marks.” She shook her head, as if she couldn’t believe what she was saying herself. “I’ve asked Dr. Fielding to examine it.”

“It couldn’t hurt to look into the matter.”

“I fear what Oliver has endured may be even worse than we thought. I worry he might do something if he doesn’t get help. I know this psychiatrist—”

Oliver reared back, having heard enough. No matter what his mother said, he wouldn’t go to a shrink. One mention of King Shark and his mermaid girlfriend would either land him in a straight jacket or cause his mother to extend her investigation into the Gambit’s demise. He had to find another way to appease his mother and move forward with his plans. Time was running out.

~***~

Laurel was looking for him. Ever since he’d returned home, Oliver’s ex-girlfriend made it no secret she still had feelings for him. Laurel believed his return was their second chance, and Oliver didn’t have the energy or patience to convince her otherwise. He couldn’t deal with the wounded look of disappointment again. Instead, he stayed in the shadows sipping his drink, observing the people around him.Tommy’s parties always drew a large crowd. Even Starling’s elite couldn’t pass up free booze, food, and the occasional party drug.

Not long ago, Oliver would’ve been among them—drinking and hooking up with a pretty face that could distract him for the evening. As an outside observer now, he wondered how he could’ve ever found this lifestyle fulfilling. Tommy, not to anyone’s surprise, was loving every second of the attention. He stood by the bar talking to Joanna. She was beautiful: tall and dark-skinned, with legs for days. She also happened to be a friend of Laurel’s.

While Oliver was glad to see Tommy enjoying himself, he would much rather be at home continuing his research. Reports had surfaced of missing fishermen not far from where the Gambit sank. Most of Oliver’s spare time was devoted to figuring out a way to get back on the water and destroy that mutant monster.

He thought back to his conversation with the marine biologist at QC, and his advice about dealing with marine predators, when something moved out of the corner of his eye. Oliver bristled, sensing a large, hulking presence. His head swiveled, and he saw that it was a tall, muscular man in a suit. Some of the tension left his body when he realized it was only a member of Tommy’s security. With so many people in attendance and the unlimited supply of booze, his friend couldn’t be too careful about certain guests getting out of hand.

(Gif via The Arcade)

The man’s attention was trained on a guy several feet away. Oliver recognized the shaggy brown hair and smug smirk. It was Max Fuller—his long-time rival. The two had never gotten along—and that was before Oliver had slept with his fiancee during their rehearsal dinner. Not his finest moment, but Max was no saint either; he pretended to be better than everyone else—the creep.

“Good to keep an eye on that one,” Oliver told the security guard. “He’s trouble.” The recent rumor was Max wanted to create a nightclub—with much of his investment money originating from his lucrative side dealing of drugs.

“Thanks for the tip,” came a gruff response. “Although I’ve heard the same about you, Mr. Queen.” His dark eyes spared him a glance before surveying the room once more.

Oliver blinked in surprise. It was rare that someone was so blunt with him. “No need to worry about me tonight.”

“I figured as much when I saw you standing in the dark corner by yourself.”

“I’m fine,” Oliver answered, perhaps too emphatically.

The man smirked, though not with derision. His brown eyes looked almost sympathetic. “I said the same thing when I got out of the service. It takes time to feel like yourself again—if you ever do.”

“You were in the military?”

He nodded. “The Navy.”

“Navy,” Oliver repeated, his interest sparked. “You were a…?”

“Navy Seal,” he proudly answered.

“How did you end up here?”

“I’ve been asking myself the same question.”

“If a better opportunity came along, something that actually pertains to your skills, would you be open to it?”

“Depends on what it is.” The man wasn’t looking at him, but Oliver could tell he’d caught his attention.

“It doesn’t involve chaperoning a bunch of drunken trust fund kids. It’s much more important than that, and dangerous.”

The man turned toward him, scrutinizing him. Oliver must’ve passed his inspection because he said, “I’m all ears.” He held out his hand. “John Diggle.”

“Nice to meet you, John. I’m Oliver Queen.”

~***~

Dig—as John preferred to be called—held a fry halfway to his mouth and paused. “Have I seen what?”

Oliver repeated his question. “Any anomalies in the water?”

During Tommy’s party, Oliver and Dig had planned to meet the following day to discuss Oliver’s proposal. They decided on Big Belly Burger, which wasn’t too far from John’s apartment in The Glades. It was less likely someone would recognize Oliver and, also, Dig’s sister-in-law worked there as a waitress.

They’d ordered lunch and made small talk at first—discussing their backgrounds as they waited. Hearing about John’s time in the service, Oliver couldn’t help but feel guilty for the time he pissed away since high school—partying and getting in trouble instead of using his money and celebrity to make a difference. But everything was different now.

“Anomalies like what?”

“Weird, unexplained sonar findings. Possible abnormally sized creatures…” he trailed off, taking in Dig’s perplexed expression.

“Not really,” Dig replied. “Have you?” It came off like a sarcastic comeback, but his eyes were probing.

Oliver took a sip of his shake, buying himself time to work up the nerve to say, “It wasn’t a storm that sank the Gambit that night.” When Dig remained silent, Oliver continued, “There was something in the water.” He took a steadying breath. “A shark.”

“A shark,” Dig repeated, skeptical.

Oliver nodded.

“What, like Jaws? Even if there was a large shark, a yacht that size—”

“It was gigantic and it…it had hands. It wasn’t normal.” Oliver added in a rush, “I know what I saw. It tried to get me on the island too.”

“If that’s true, then how did you manage to get away from it in the first place?”

“A guardian angel.” His heart ached at the mention of Felicity. Oliver pressed on. “Look up news reports in the area. More ships have gone down and fishermen are missing.”

“Look, Oliver, I’ve been through trauma. Sometimes the mind can play tricks—”

“The threat is real,” Oliver insisted, not backing down.

“Say I believe you”—the frown on Dig’s face said otherwise—“what do you want from me?”

“I can’t let that thing continue terrorizing everyone. I want to put a team together to take that thing out once and for all. That’s where you come in. You’ve got the training and connections.”

“If you’re so concerned and sure of what you saw, why not go to the authorities?”

“Because they’ll probably assume I’m crazier than you think right now. And there is something else in the water…something just as rare but worth protecting.”

(Gif via Gifer.com)

Dig sat with his hands folded, contemplating.

“Whether you believe me or not, I’m willing to pay top dollar for your expertise. Think about it and let me know.” Oliver stood and threw money on the table to cover the bill. “If we’re going to do this, we can’t wait much longer.”

~***~

His knuckles turning white, Oliver gripped the railing of the boat. He inhaled the crisp, salty air as his eyes frantically scanned the surface of the ocean. The water appeared calm for now, but Oliver knew it was simply a cover for the danger that lurked in its depths.

He still couldn’t believe that he was back on the water—and on a military vessel, no less. Dig had accepted his offer, though his belief in his story was tenuous. He’d called on a former colleague from the Navy, Lyla Michaels. She was no longer in the military but still did contract work for another government organization. The ship was named the Amazo, owned by some group called ARGUS, but Oliver had never heard of that organization before; Dig said that was the point.

Besides the fact that he was hunting down a giant killer shark and searching for his mermaid girlfriend, it was nerve wracking to be back at sea. His mother would freak if she knew he was there and not on a guys’ weekend with Tommy. Oliver barely slept on the journey over. Every time he closed his eyes, his mind would take him back to that terrible night he lost his father. He prayed this voyage wouldn’t be a repeat. He’d done everything he could to prepare this time around—including getting a much larger boat.

(Image via YouTube video by The Govenor)

The crew Dig and Lyla had put together were also former military. It consisted of four men and two women. They didn’t know the details of the threat they sought before boarding but were aware this mission was highly dangerous. Dig waited to brief them once the ship arrived at the proper coordinates. According to Dig, they didn’t care what Oliver thought he saw. As long as they were getting a fat paycheck, they’d go along with anything.

They’d set up the industrial-sized reel and line. Besides chumming the water, they attached a large slab of raw meat to a giant hook and tossed it out the back of the boat.

The first couple of days that passed drew only regular sharks that hunted in these waters, and nothing out of the ordinary showed up on the sonar. Until day three.

“Whatever it is, it’s big and moving fast,” said Helena, the female technician. “And it’s headed straight for us.”

“Arm yourselves,” Oliver advised.

“We haven’t determined the extent of the threat,” said Lyla. “It could be an enemy sub for all we know.”

“It’s got the bait,” shouted Lawton, nicknamed Deadshot, as he engaged the mechanical reel. It was pulling in the line, though not without difficulty.

“It’s the shark. If we’re not careful, he’ll kill everyone on this ship. Just like what happened to my father and the others the first time.”

“This vessel has faced much worse. We can handle Jaws,” she replied.

Oliver prayed once again that Felicity was far away from what was about to go down. But his prayer was uttered too late; his eyes caught a streak of pink beneath the surface. For a second, he wondered if it was just his imagination. But then Lyla cocked her gun.

“There’s something else in the water.”

“No, don’t shoot. That’s not it,” Oliver exclaimed. He leaned over the edge, trying to track the movement, but Felicity had already gone under.

The end of the line surfaced. To their shock, the slab of meat was left untouched.

“Where’d he go?” Slade questioned.

“Oliver, get away from the edge,” Dig warned.

Helena’s voice crackled on Lyla’s radio. “He’s here! He’s right next to the boat!”

It happened so fast, they barely had a chance to react. King Shark sprang out of the water, his giant hands reaching out. Dig spun around, sprinting off the bridge, and dove back onto the deck of the ship just before the bridge ripped away. The boat tilted forward and then swung violently back upright. They were all swept off their feet.

“Son of a bitch,” Dig hollered, trying to right himself.

The shouting started when King Shark’s large fin surfaced. It tore through the water, parting it in giant waves as he circled the boat.

“Fire!” Lyla ordered.

(Image via @dailyflarrowgifs)

Bullets rained down into the water, but did little to stop the creature from ramming the boat once more.

Oliver grabbed his bow and readied an arrow.

“You know how to use that thing?” Dig asked.

“I made sure of it.” He knew guns wouldn’t work on King Shark, and it seemed all of those endless hours spent practicing his archery were about to pay off. Only a specially made arrow, courtesy of QC’s best manufacturer, or harpoon could inflict the damage needed to take down the mutant creature.

To Oliver’s surprise, he’d picked up on the skill quickly and had become an excellent shot. Yao Fei, his instructor, said Oliver was one of his most gifted pupils.

“Aim for the areas we talked about,” Dig reminded him.

Eyes, gills, nose, Oliver repeated to himself.

“He’s under the goddamn boat,” Slade cursed, dropping his gun and pulling out a blade. “When he comes back up, I’ll make sushi out of him.”

(Image via Comic Vine)

A boom sounded from the hull, sending a shudder through the ship. Seconds later, it happened again.

“He’s trying to punch through the hull,” Lyla realized.

“Shock him,” Dig ordered.

“What?” Oliver questioned.

Lyla gave the order to Helena as Dig explained, “This boat has the ability to send out a shock of electricity. It’ll get him away from the boat.”

Felicity.

“You can’t send out shock waves into the water. The local sea life—”

“It’ll be contained to the immediate area. It’s mostly used if we’re being illegally boarded or dealing with a submarine at close range. It’ll probably work better than our guns—at least until we can get a clean shot.”

Oliver shouted when he saw the lines of yellow streak through the water around the boat. Suddenly, the pounding stopped.

“He’s retreating,” Helena said.

Two more of the crew members reported from down below. King Shark hadn’t broken through the metal, but he’d significantly dented it.

“Helena, get ready for when he comes back and turn up the voltage.”

“No,” Oliver argued. “You’ll kill the other sea life too.”

“It’s our best weapon against him,” Lyla explained. “If he does any more damage to the boat, he could sink us.” Before he could argue, she added, “With all due respect, Mr. Queen, you hired us for this job and we’re going to get it done.”

Oliver looked to Dig. “It’s our best bet right now,” he said, siding with Lyla.

Felicity had been close by. Oliver had seen her. She might not have been shocked the first time but if she was still swimming around the area, she’d be hurt for sure. Dead fish were already floating to the top of the water, and a wave of guilt crashed over him. He had to do something.

While Dig and Lyla gathered the group to re-strategize, Oliver discretely made his way over to the stern. The problem was they couldn’t get a clean shot of King Shark. Although the boat was large enough where he couldn’t easily destroy it, it also served as an advantage for shielding him. The only way to get a clear, direct hit would be to get as close as possible.

Making a split-second decision, Oliver quietly released one of the two jet skis stored in the back. Listening over the comms, he learned that King Shark wasn’t far off but conveniently out of range for the shock to work. They hadn’t injured him, but they sure had pissed him off.

The cache of weapons was also at the back of the boat. Oliver loaded up on more arrows and collected anything else he thought he’d need before mounting the sleek black jet ski, now in the water. It looked like a mini stealth tank with its giant rims and panel of buttons. Oliver knew the basics, having been on jet skis for multiple vacations during his young life. This one also had a stretcher attached to the back, which he assumed was used for rescues. Oliver did a quick study and then fired up the engine; he heard shouts behind him as he sped away in the opposite direction.

Oliver went as fast as he could in an attempt to put some distance between himself and the boat. All the while, the tiny voice in the back of his mind called him crazy and every other unflattering name in the book. He couldn’t believe he’d done something so reckless, and yet he knew it was necessary. After a few minutes, Oliver glanced over his shoulder. He did a double take when he spotted another jet ski closing in. It was Dig.

Knowing he couldn’t outrun Dig forever, Oliver went a little further out before cutting the engine. Dig was furious. If looks could kill, Oliver knew he’d already be reduced to chum in the water.

Finally, Dig was beside him. “Are you out of your goddamn mind?”

“Look, I know you’re pissed but—”

“You hired me to protect you and then you go traipsing off into unknown waters with a mutant predator lurking around. What the hell is wrong with you?”

“You can’t shock the water.”

“Not now that you’re in it. Your jet ski will be disabled.”

“I know. That’s why I did it—to stop you. I told you King Shark isn’t the only inhabitant of these waters. You could hurt innocent creatures.”

“If you’re worried about Flipper—”

A splash caught both their attention. Then he heard it: “Oliver.” Goose bumps broke out on his skin as her soft, melodic voice washed over him.

“Felicity,” he murmured.

The duo whipped around to see her floating toward their jet skis. She pulled herself onto the stretcher, revealing her slim torso and glorious pink tail. Oliver scrambled to face her and instinctively reached out. He crouched down and pulled her into a fierce embrace—not caring she was soaking his clothes. Their lips naturally sought each other—meeting in an even more passionate kiss. She tasted of salt and Felicity, and he held her tighter.

“As soon as I saw the military boat, I knew it was you.”

“You left me.”

“No. You were rescued. It was time.” She stroked his cheek.

“You promised you’d come. I waited.”

“I wanted to. So badly. But I couldn’t until we got rid of King Shark.” Her brilliant blue eyes were pleading. “Please understand. I’ve missed you so much, Oliver. Not a day has gone by that my heart hasn’t ached to return to you.”

“I missed you too, Angelfish. I couldn’t sit back and do nothing. I need you to be safe.” His eyes roamed her beautiful face, taking in every detail of her blushing cheeks and perfect, parted mouth.

(Original gif via @fangirlishsite)

“Your hair is so short.” She smiled. “You look even more handsome than I remember.”

He cupped her cheek and grazed her lips. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” She gasped, but not from the kiss. He followed her gaze.

Oliver had forgotten about Dig, whose wide-eyed stare and slack-jawed expression revealed his utter shock. His lips moved but nothing came out. He just kept glancing between Felicity and her tail.

“Is your friend all right?” Felicity whispered.

(Gif via @dailyflarrowgifs)

“Dig, this is Felicity. She’s the one who saved me from King Shark when the Gambit went down. Felicity, this is John Diggle. He’s my bodyguard and has agreed to help me take out King Shark.”

“It’s nice to meet you, John,” she greeted him.

“Nice to mermaid—m-meet you,�� Dig stuttered.

Felicity gave Oliver a concerned look. He replied, “I trust Dig. He won’t say anything.” He shot Dig a stern look of his own to make his point. “He’s here to help.”

“Thank you—the both of you. I know I said this was a mer problem, but we really need all the help we can get. My village has allied with a few others to take out King Shark. We have a special poison that I concocted, but our weapons are no match for him. They can’t penetrate his skin. When I saw your ship, I knew I had a chance to lure him toward it.”

“You used yourself as bait?” Oliver replied, the disapproval heavy in his voice.

“It’s no different than your plan. I can’t just sit by and let him terrorize my home any longer. Besides, I had some help from a friend. He’s the fastest swimmer in these waters.”

“Do you have the poison with you?” Dig questioned, finally snapping out of his stupor.

“Yes.” Oliver hadn’t noticed it before, but Felicity had what looked like a netting purse tied around her waist. She reached inside and pulled out a vial.

“If we lace a harpoon gun with it and have a direct shot—”

“Then we could kill King Shark,” Oliver finished.

“Exactly.”

“You can’t get this on your skin. It’s extremely potent,” Felicity warned.

“We’ll be careful,” Oliver assured her and looked to Dig. He nodded back. “Let’s get to work.”

~***~

Oliver and Dig sat on their jet skis, bobbing up and down atop the choppy water, waiting. Before carefully lacing their weapons with Felicity’s concoction, they’d traveled farther away from the Amazo. Lyla and the others would surely be searching for them, and they couldn’t chance them showing up and thwarting their plan. Thankfully, the jet skis had stealth capability.

“You ready for this?” Dig questioned Oliver. The sun was setting in the sky, casting pink and orange hues across the horizon. They had to act before darkness set, or else they’d be even more vulnerable.

Felicity had gone back into the water to relay the plan to the others. When it was time, she sprang up from the water and waved her hand in signal before disappearing again. Oliver forced himself to stay focused, as his mind wanted to wander and marvel at her beautiful form.

“I’m sorry I doubted you,” Dig murmured his apology several minutes later.

“I get why you’d be skeptical,” Oliver said in acceptance. “You can make up for it by helping me kill this son of a bitch.”

With the binoculars trained to his eyes, Dig said, “He’s coming. Get ready.”

Oliver squinted, trying to see into the distance. Something red flashed by beneath the water. Trailing behind was a giant fin slicing through the surface.

“Come and get it, you bastard,” he muttered.

“Time to make shark soup,” Dig declared and revved the engine on his jet ski.

The pair took off speeding, zigzagging this way and that with the red underwater blur so as not to give King Shark an easy target. Finally, Dig swirled around and raised his harpoon gun. King Shark was coming straight for him. Just before Dig was able to pull the trigger, the mutant monster disappeared under the water.

Dig cursed, frantically searching for his target. Oliver also had his bow and arrow ready, but he was just as blind. He whipped around upon hearing a splash behind him. He just barely stopped himself from releasing the arrow at the sight of Felicity. She yanked herself up onto the stretcher in the back.

“He’s hunting from below. You have to move. NOW!” she shouted.

Dig hesitated, wary of dropping his defensive stance. He’d just begun to lower his weapon when a huge set of jaws engulfed the underside of his jet ski.

“Dig!” Oliver exclaimed, watching in horror as his bodyguard tore off the cuff from his jet ski and dove into the water to escape certain death. King Shark’s mouth closed around the vehicle, chomping it in half. Sparks flew.

“Get out of here,” Felicity ordered.

“I can’t leave Dig,” Oliver replied.

“My friend has him. He’ll keep him safe.”

Before Oliver could object, Dig was whisked away under the water—nothing but his harpoon gun left floating behind. Felicity extended her tail and managed to slide it closer. She took hold of the gun and shouted for Oliver to go. He did as she instructed, speeding them away from the wreckage that was Dig’s jet ski.

“He’s following us,” Felicity said.

“What should I do?”

“Keep going. There is a rock formation up ahead.”

“Do you know how to use that thing?” he replied, referencing the gun in her hand.

“Aim and shoot, right?”

He smirked. “Right.”

The ride was rough as they sped above the water, bouncing up and down from the waves.

“You okay back there?”

“Yes, but hurry! He’s gaining on us!” She yelped as she was almost tossed aside from a rather large wave.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, keep going!”

The rock formation Felicity spoke of finally came into sight.

(Photo [which has been cropped and edited] by 12019 via Pixabay)

It wasn’t wide, but it was high. Oliver pulled right up next to it. He retracted his bow and tossed it in his quiver over his shoulder and reached for Felicity. The only way to grab her and climb was to sling her over his shoulder.

“I feel like the catch of the day,” she jokingly lamented.

Oliver couldn’t help but chuckle. Only Felicity could bring a smile to his face during a time of crisis. His muscles strained to climb the rough terrain. One false move and they’d go tumbling down. King Shark watched them and circled—probably hoping they’d slip and fall right into his eager mouth.

They reached the top, and Oliver set Felicity down. Back to back, they surveyed the threat below. King Shark kept springing out of the water and circling, attempting to find a way to get at them.

Out of the corner of his eye, Oliver noticed Felicity’s tail had transformed into legs. She stood up with her gun, mimicking his stance and movements to track King Shark. It was by far the sexiest thing he’d ever seen, he thought, before scolding himself to refocus.

When King Shark sprang out of the water once more, Felicity took her shot. She missed his body but did hit his tail. The harpoon sailed clear through, and he thrashed about in pain.

“So close,” she muttered.

“He’s wounded at least. Will the poison start working?”

“It should weaken him somewhat, but he needs a much stronger dose for his size.”

They scanned the water. Oliver had expected King Shark to keep thrashing and jumping out at them, but their surroundings had become oddly calm.

“Maybe it did work after all,” Felicity murmured.

“Maybe…” Something still didn’t feel right.

Suddenly, King Shark sprang out of the water. But instead of diving back under, his giant arms and webbed hands clung to the rock. The impact startled them as the ground beneath their feet shook. Felicity screamed as she lost her balance and toppled over the side. Oliver shouted her name and dove to catch her. He ignored the sharp pain as the hard, jagged surface scraped his skin. He caught Felicity’s arm before she slid all the way down.

Tears filled her eyes as she watched King Shark slowly but surely dragging his body up the side of the formation. His movements were somewhat sluggish, leading Oliver to believe that the poison was having an effect. It wouldn’t be long before he reached Felicity, though.

“Oliver,” she cried.

“I got you. I got you, baby,” he reassured her.

“Oliver, you have to shoot him! Shoot him now!”

Oliver had the perfect shot now that King Shark was exposed and vulnerable. But when he’d dove to grab Felicity, his quiver had been tossed aside. In order to grab it, he’d need to let go of her first.

Felicity seemed to come to the same conclusion, and a solemn yet resigned expression formed on her face. “Oliver, you have to let me go.”

He shook his head vigorously. “No.” He tried pulling her up, but a sharp pain in his arm prevented it. It felt like he’d torn something inside.

“You have to. It’s the only way. It’s more than just my life on the line.”

Oliver clutched her tighter. “You’re the only one that matters.”

“Oliver, please…”

King Shark was inches from Felicity. Soon, she’d be in his clutches. Calling forth every last bit of strength he had, Oliver heaved her up and over with a painful grunt. He rolled over to grab his quiver and pressed the button to expand his bow. He shouted from a mix of strain, pain, and determination as he whipped around, coming face to face with King Shark.

(Gif via gify.com)

Oliver stared into the monster’s cold, dark eyes and deadly grin before pointing the arrow straight at it and releasing it. It pierced his eye and blood sprayed out. King Shark jerked backward, losing his hold. His large, lifeless body hit the water with a gigantic splash, soaking them.

“You did it,” Felicity said in awe.

Oliver turned to her, noticing her tail had reappeared. “We did it.”

“You saved me.” Her eyes were beaming. “Thank you.”

“Always.” He drew her into his arms, where she stayed for long minutes. “Call us even,” he whispered against her ear.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

They didn’t pull apart until another loud splash interrupted the moment. They looked down to see the red blur and then a soaking wet Dig on the rocks. He coughed and then heaved.

“Not everyone can handle Barry’s speed,” Felicity said sympathetically.

“You’ll have to thank him for me.”

“He’s right there if you want to do it.”

For having such speed, Oliver expected Barry to be a large, buff merman. But he was actually quite sleek and skinny--which probably made more sense since he could glide through the water so easily--with a youthful face.

Oliver waved his thanks, and Barry waved back. The merman looked to Felicity expectantly, who’d gone quiet.

“Do you need time to say goodbye?” Oliver asked.

“Yes.”

“I’ll wait then.”

She shook her head. “I’m not saying goodbye to him.”

The sadness in her eyes made Oliver’s heart sink. “No. Not again. You can’t expect me to leave here without you.”

“I have to stay.”

Hurt and exasperated, Oliver replied, “Felicity, if you don’t want to join me on land, then just say it—”

“No, I do. So badly,” she interrupted. “I just…this is my home, Oliver. My family and friends are here. I can’t just up and leave them, not without making sure they’re all right after this. Please understand.”

When Felicity put it like that, he could see her point. Not to mention the crazy story he’d have to make up to explain her sudden appearance to the others. But it didn’t lessen his disappointment. “Of course,” Oliver muttered.

Barry made a signal, and she nodded. “Your ship is headed this way.”

“Then you better go before they find you.”

Felicity stroked the angles of his face, as if committing them to memory. She leaned in for a kiss and lingered there. “I’ll be with you soon, my love.”

“I’ll never stop waiting for you.”

Felicity smiled. And with a splash, she was gone.

(Gif via WiffleGif)

~***~

Despite the chill in his bones, Oliver sat on the beach by the bay as he did every night. He watched the tide, searching for any dark shapes or figures. He’d spotted quite a few seals this past month. Once the wonder of their presence wore off, he fell into an even deeper despair. Felicity promised she would find him, and he believed her. Oliver just wished it’d be sooner rather than later. He missed her so much it hurt.

After another hour, with his teeth chattering, Oliver stood up and dusted the sand off of his pants. His mother would probably have a fit if she knew he’d wore his good tux for tonight’s benefit to the beach. At least with Dig on staff as is bodyguard and driver, he didn’t have to worry about his mother spying on him anymore. Dig had kept his word and didn’t tell anyone about what he’d seen. In Felicity’s absence, he’d thankfully made a friend he could trust.

Oliver turned to leave when movement from the corner of his eye caught his attention. Something had washed up from the water. Oliver was ready to dismiss it, like all the other times, when he noticed its shape. The creature was small and curved.

Oliver watched, fascinated, as it arched its back. In the silvery moonlight, its long tail split in two, forming a pair of legs.

(Original image via annebuy.com)

“Felicity,” he murmured.

As if she’d heard him, the shadowed figure stood. Oliver watched, entranced, as the moonlight from the water’s surface glowed on her skin. His mind must be playing tricks on him again—as he’d imagined a moment like this so many times before. Each time Felicity would approach him in the same way, like she was walking on water.

(Image via El Brillo Del Mar)

Finally, she stood before him—bare, with her beautiful body on full display.

It wasn’t until her fingers grazed his skin that he came to his senses. “You’re here.”

“I told you I’d return to you.” She rested her hand over his heart. “I’m home now, my love.”

(Gif via @olicitygifs)

Wrapping her up in his embrace, Oliver closed his eyes and breathed her in. “Yes, you are,” he replied, and kissed her.

(Gif via @whoeveryoulovethemost)

The end.

#Olicity #Olicity fanfiction #At the Edge of Ocean #Olicity mermaid AU #oliver queen #felicity smoak #OlicityFanfics #OlicityEdits #mermaids #part 4 #update

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a-mellowtea · 4 years

Text

The Greatest Kingdom | RWBY Volume 7 Chapter 1 Review

Now that my hype has died down a respectable amount, I think I’m clear-headed enough to express my thoughts on the RWBY Volume 7 premiere. I’m going to hold off on posting this until it’s publicly available and everyone comfortably knows what I’m on about, so by the time of reading, this’ll be a week-or-so old.

Going into Volume 7, I have to say, I was extremely excited. Volume 6 was a little bittersweet for me: a solid mix of things I liked and didn’t, where one didn’t really overshadow or completely take away from the other. The hiatus between Volumes 6 and 7 was also particularly exhausting, on both a mental and emotional level, and while that may sound over-dramatic, I’m sure many can attest to how much of a drag it all was.

However, Volume 7 set us up somewhere I’ve been aching to see more of for a while: since Volume 2, if I’m honest. That being, of course, the Kingdom of Atlas and its defunct partner, Mantle. There’s so much rich potential for story in Atlas and, as “The Greatest Kingdom” revealed, CRWBY was set to dive right in, to some fairly pleasant results.

We open the Chapter with a shot panning down through the night sky, with our typical emphasis on the shattered moon. This is the first Volume, though, wherein we are aware of its true nature: how it got to be that way and, appropriately, the raised stakes now quite literally looming over our heroes’ heads. There is something more immediate to attend to, however, revealed as the shot finishes moving: the Atlesian air fleet.

I’m not certain if this was mentioned anywhere too openly, but Volume 7 Chapter 1 was originally intended to be the finale of Volume 6. I seem to recall Neath Oum, the voice of Ren, making comment on how an important moment was shifted because of this change (which we’ll get to in a bit). Point being, the Volume picks up exactly where Volume 6 left off, with the heroes’ stolen air ship, Manta 5-1, being welcomed home by an Atlesian officer. It doesn’t feel all that much like the premieres of the past; simply a continuation, though I’m hesitant to label that as a good or bad thing.

“But we are here,” Jaune then insists to the group. “We got the lamp to Atlas, so I guess we land and get some answers.” It’s obviously not going to be that simple -- wouldn’t be very interesting if it was -- but that’s something that stuck out to me. The heroes, this little hiccup aside, have accomplished the majority of their mission. They made it to Atlas, which was as far as they presumably intended to go (Yang, V6Ch6: “We can’t stop until the lamp is safe”). They’re our heroes, of course, so something will keep them going, but I am interested to see exactly what does push them to continue a fight they now feel is rather pointless. James has a line in the trailer about how “until now, I believed it was impossible to truly turn the tide against Salem”. I do wonder what that could be, and moreover, whether or not our heroes will inform him of everything they learned in Volume 6.

Back in the Chapter, Weiss warns that if they land in a stolen air ship, there’s no way they’ll be heard out or get a chance to speak with Ironwood. Now, I promise this is the only time I’ll mention further gripes with Volume 6 but honestly: you couldn’t’ve realized that sooner? That should’ve been the first thing on their minds when they decided to take such a risky course of action: is this really going to get us where we need to go when we know that the Kingdom of Atlas has closed its borders? It doesn’t matter that the air fleet is deployed aggressively; they should have accounted for the fact that they wouldn’t just be able to waltz right up Atlas. Yet somehow they seem to have forgotten about that until this rather convenient -- or inconvenient -- moment.

After Weiss perks up and remembers she can contact her sister, we get our first look at Mantle proper, and it’s wonderful. Literally down-to-earth, the dirty streets and brown-grey color palette intermixed with neon signage gives it something of a dystopian feel that is incredibly unique. Here, we get our first look at General James Ironwood since Volume 4 (discounting the Volume 7 trailer), and the presentation is telling. On an enormous neon holographic display, looming over the city of Mantle, and though his words are a promise of safety, he makes them at a distance. I doubt this is intended as screaming ‘dictator’, but merely showing a divide; one that is certainly not good. Yang and Ruby share a remark that he looks tired and Qrow wonders worriedly what he’s been doing (a year is kindly added to my life every time Qrow calls him “James”, and yes I will die in this rarepair hell). Indeed it seems that, in the month and a bit since Weiss left, things have taken a steep turn for the worse, with constant Atlesian patrols and surveillance drones in the streets. It’s certainly looking bleak, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love this set-up. The shot with the children lobbing a pebble at a drone, then hiding from it, in particular does a good job solidifying that this has become a norm, but an unwelcome one.

Weiss continues to insist that Winter can help them, but our first look at the eldest Schnee sibling begs to differ. It appears as though she’s upholding the military law placed over Mantle, and this seems to shock Weiss a good deal. With that off the table, Maria interjects that she knows someone who can help them.

Now would probably be a good moment for a quick aside to mention how wonderful of a job Jason Liebrecht does as the new voice of Qrow. The difference is noticeable, but I found it wasn’t enough to completely throw me off: at least, not for long. It’ll take some getting used to, but the character is no different, and Jason’s performance is solid.

Our heroes head out into the streets of Mantle, and we get a bit of light exposition from Maria about the Kingdom on the walk, after Yang continues to be everyone’s favorite brash blonde and kick subtlety out into the middle of the street where it is summarily smashed by a truck. I don’t have much to say about the encounter with Rupert the Drunk other than it felt perfectly in-place for what we know of Atlas and Mantle, and that Maria’s right: these kids have no concept of keeping a low profile when it counts. Not that I can blame Weiss; I honestly probably would have done the same. Although, given that we do see Rupert’s blue-beanie’d friend in the trailer, and how the shot pans back to show Winter, I’m willing to make a bet that this particular man will let someone in Mantle know the lost ex-Schnee heiress is back.

And then we’re introduced to Pietro. He is wonderful. Please protect.

The scene itself plays out as fairly lighthearted, until Yang and Blake bring the topic back around to the situation in Mantle. From there, we hear what we were basically expecting: James is scared (”paranoid”, as Pietro corrects), and it seems like our heroes aren’t the only ones having a hard time figuring out who to trust. I’d be hard pressed to believe that, given the Volume’s opening and the circumstances, the Queen virus from Volumes 2 and 3 is completely out of the picture. As it was so succinctly put by a fellow Redditor: this Volume is going to break this man.

Weiss steps up to ask about the Council and Winter, but it’s quickly sidetracked by Pietro recognizing her, and then Yang by the arm that he, presumably, built for her. The revelation that Pietro knows Team RWBY isn’t given much time to sink in before the alarms out in the street begin to blare and it becomes time for the premiere’s obligatory -- but honestly, very well done -- fight scene.

And now I will make my own obligatory aside to praise the music. The guitar piece in this fight is not done by Jeff Williams, as many probably expected, but is rather Alex Abraham’s work. I’ve seen a good handful of people I mentioned this to be surprised that he even plays guitar, and yes; yes, he does. And he kicks ass at it, if that wasn’t obvious enough.

While I saw the fight scene a handful of times before the Chapter premiered, thanks to RTX and again about three days before hand when it was released through Entertainment Weekly, I’m still incredibly impressed by it on a technical level. It’s a fight scene mostly for the sake of having a fight scene, but it looks damn good. Qrow, Oscar and Ruby’s sections stood out to me the most as having some solid choreography and camera work.

And then in a somewhat jarring shift in tone (will this show ever decide if the Grimm are a threat or not? Will power levels ever not give us a headache? Find out... sometime! Hopefully!), we get the aforementioned big moment: Penny, our resident robotic ray of sunshine, is alive and well!

And... kinda honestly makes our heroes look like jobbers? I say that fondly, and with a good deal of chuckling, because I do recall that Monty (or perhaps it was one of the boys?) mentioned Miles and Kerry were fairly averse to having a character use lasers specifically because of how powerful they are. In any case, it makes for a spectacular entrance, and I do especially love Penny’s graceful little flair of a pirouette up to the moon before she lands.

I will say perhaps my one gripe with this episode isn’t Penny’s return, but Ruby and the others’ reaction to it. It doesn’t break the episode, but allowing for comedy over what should have honestly been a very emotional moment for our lead didn’t sit right with me, personally. It’s treated as though this was almost expected, or at least a possibility they knew about in-universe, not a “holy crap, we saw her get torn to shreds”. Just because the audience expects it doesn’t mean the characters would, and I think I was simply expecting more from it. Then again, this is only Chapter 1, so we’ll see where they go with it.

After Penny blasts off to go save another quadrant of the city (she is now its official protector, after all), and Maria is brilliantly oblivious, RNJRWBY and QO are, in an unsurprising turn of events, apprehended by Ace Ops (ASOPS, Atlesian Special OPerativeS, would make a lick more sense, but ah well). I’m a bit concerned about the big ensemble this Volume, but I love the no-shits-given Chad vibes off their leader, Clover. It seems as though his Semblance, or character inspiration at least, is good luck (spinning a horseshoe, wearing a rabbit’s foot and has a clover as his emblem), and I cannot wait for him to have some dynamic with Qrow.

And Clover summarily lists off how many rules they’ve violated in the city in the span of about 10 minutes. Maria: hums, nods, fucks off. Basically one big “welp, he’s got ya there kids”. Bless her snarky soul; I hope this isn’t the last time we see her.

And, yes, thank you very much: these are the consequences I was hoping for. It’s likely to just get them where they need to go -- we wouldn’t have a Volume if they were in jail for all of it -- but they did still break the law and that’s that as far as Atlas’ forces were ever going to be concerned. I’m contented with something surface-level on that front.

We end the Chapter with our heroes arrested, in the back of a transport, and looking like they’re reevaluating their life choices. Cue the new OP!

Briefly: visuals of the new intro are solid, the staff of Creation being behind Monty’s name is really damn clever, “Trust Love” is a wonderful pop-y theme, Penny’s a cinnamon roll, someone please save James from all this bullshit.

Overall, a strong continuation off the previous Volume, but again I’d be hesitant to say it felt like a “proper” premiere. It’s very different from the feeling of previous ones, which can be chalked up to the fact that it wasn’t supposed to be a premiere but a finale, so ultimately I cannot fault it for coming out like neither. It was a good introduction to Mantle, the dynamic of the lower Kingdom, and left me in anticipation of what’s to come, which is such a refreshing feeling.

I’m hopeful and excited for the rest of the Volume. Let’s see where this roller coaster ride takes us.

#rwby #rwby volume 7 #it was solid #also LOVE the OP #catch me swooning over Qrow's new look #in fact all the new looks are growing on me #oh and Robin Hill!#she's gonna be neat #ace ops too #so much cool stuff #i'm just worried they won't have time for it all tbh

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rpgmgames · 6 years

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April’s Featured Game: Folkloria

DEVELOPER(S): folkloriarpg ENGINE: RPGMaker MV GENRE: Adventure, RPG SUMMARY: Folkloria is a lighthearthed turn-based RPG set on a floating island inhabited by mythological creatures. You play as Weaver, a young and unassuming griffin determined to rescue his family from the clutches of Dr. Zeralidius, a shady businessperson from the world below the clouds who plans to modernize the peaceful island.

Our Interview With The Dev Team Below The Cut!

Introduce yourself! *Oi! I'm Domino, a wannabe artist. I've been drawing all my life, a passion I inherited from my father, but only recently I decided to publish my work online. Through the years I have tinkered with basically all iterations of RPG Maker, making silly short games with my friends before attempting to develop something full-fledged.

What is your project about? What inspired you to create your game initially? *Domino: Folkloria is a very simple, cartoony turn-based RPG which spices things up with timed hits, counters and a variety of partners. The game takes place on a floating island inhabited by anthropomorphized mythological creatures. The protagonist of the story is Weaver, a child griffin determined to rescue his family from the clutches of Dr. Zeralidius, a shady businessperson from the civilized world who wants to forcefully modernize the island. Along the way he will meet new allies like Lauper, a thousand-year old phoenix who needs his help to drive Zeralidius out of the island, and Akinai, a kitsune merchant who will supply them with the best items she has to offer. I still haven't shown all the party members, but among them are a buff minotaur lady, a shy but frightening wendigo and a sculptor gorgon.

What inspired me to make a game was the indie scene in general. I have always dreamt of being a game developer since I was a kid, and when indie games first started becoming really popular I thought to myself "Hey, I could probably do that!". The folklore theme of the game was decided completely at random. When I first created the character of Weaver with my friends years ago, we wanted to make a traditional 2D platformer. We came up with a griffin character since being part lion and part bird he could fly, run fast and use its claws to attack. That decision alone basically shaped up the rest of the setting, and I started populating the game's world with different mythological creatures.

How long have you been working on your project? *Domino: The game in its actual state was started at the end of 2015, but the basic setting and characters (specifically Weaver, the protagonist and Zeralidius, the villain) were conceived as far back as 2012. I didn't pay much attention to it during the following years since I was working on another unrelated project with some friends, but after things fell out with them I decided to revisit the concept and flesh it out.

Did any other games or media influence aspects of your project? *Domino: Of course! If it wasn't obvious enough, the game is heavily influenced by Nintendo RPGs, especially the Paper Mario series. I always loved the simplistic approach towards the RPG formula those games have, and I also adore turn based combat with timed button presses. I think it keeps the player engaged. Graphically, Mother 3 was a big inspiration. The art style of that game just resonates so well with me, with that colorful palette and the black outlines that make the sprites stand out so much.

Have you come across any challenges during development? How have you overcome or worked around them? *Domino: The biggest challenge was overcoming the limitations of the engine itself. I chose RPG Maker because it's very easy to pick up, as I'm mainly an artist and I don't know anything about coding. But as time passed, I noticed that even when using countless scripts I couldn't achieve the battle system I had in mind for my game, which required timed button presses and numerous character animations. So one day I decided to try making the battle system from scratch, using only common events and script calls, and it worked smoothly. In the end it felt extremely satisfying to see something like that work as intended, and by experimenting with script calls and variables I at least learned something about coding.

Have any aspects of your project changed over time? How does your current project differ from your initial concept? *Domino: Like I said before, the game was initially conceived as a 2D platformer. Then, when I picked up the project again years later, I envisioned it as a bare-bones boss rush RPG with Weaver as the sole playable character. As I started adding more features like partners and equipment, I felt those would be wasted in a boss-only game and I finally decided to include random enemies. Since then the game hasn't changed much, but to this day I always find myself revisiting minor stuff like the design of some NPCs (and I should seriously stop doing that!).

What was your team like at the beginning? How did people join the team? If you don’t have a team, do you wish you had one or do you prefer working alone? *Domino: I prefer to work alone, as I am very picky about how characters and gameplay aspects are handled, but I still enjoy receiving feedback. I have a very close friend who doesn't actively work on the game, but always tell me what I'm doing right or wrong, and I find his help invaluable. So far I'm doing well one-man-armying the project, I will have to find a composer sooner or later though, since making music is the only thing I can't realistically do by myself.

What is the best part of developing the game? *Domino: Animating the character sprites and seeing them interact in battles is incredibly satisfying to me. Being an artist at heart I'd say spriting in general is my favorite aspect of game development. Another thing I absolutely adore is worldbuilding, researching the mythical beasts from all around the world and trying to incorporate them in the game by giving them my own spin.

Do you find yourself playing other RPG Maker games to see what you can do with the engine, or do you prefer to do your own thing? *Domino: I haven't played many RPG Maker games, but I did enjoy LISA the Painful and OneShot immensely. I was impressed by how far these two games in particular pushed the RPG Maker engine to its limit.

Which character in your game do you relate to the most and why? (Alternatively: Who is your favorite character and why?) *Domino: Self-inserting isn't something I like to do in games, so this is a hard question for me, but I think I can relate with Weaver, he mostly keeps to himself but he's always willing to help his friends and family.

Looking back now, is there anything that regret/wish you had done differently? *Domino: Yes, I regret not having started working on this project earlier and wasting too much time during the planning phase.

Once you finish your project, do you plan to explore the game’s universe and characters further in subsequent projects, or leave it as-is? *Domino: Absolutely! I would definitely love to expand the game's lore further through comics and other side projects.

What do you look most forward to upon/after release? *Domino: The sense of accomplishment of having completed and released a game! But deep down, the thing I'd love the most is having fans of my work and seeing my characters drawn by other artists.

Is there something you’re afraid of concerning the development or the release of your game? *Domino: The whole marketing part scares me. I really don't know how to promote my game, so getting it noticed is going to be pretty tough for me.

Do you have any advice for upcoming devs? *Domino: Oh man I am bad at this. I'd say... when starting, keep the scope of your game small. Make something that you, as a player, would enjoy playing. Don't try to follow trends and, most importantly, value every bit of constructive criticism, but remember that you can't always please everyone!

Question from last month’s featured dev @plueschkatzeart: How do you keep yourself motivated? *Domino: Sharing my progress on the blog for everyone to see is what keeps me motivated. Since I set myself the goal of posting at least once a week I've become more productive than ever. Of course, the positive response I receive from my followers also help. Another thing that encourages me to keep working on my game is seeing other developers succeed; that gives me hope and drives me to do my best!

We mods would like to thank Domino for agreeing to our interview! We believe that featuring the developer and their creative process is just as important as featuring the final product. Hopefully this Q&A segment has been an entertaining and insightful experience for everyone involved!

Remember to check out Folkloria if you haven’t already! See you next month!

- Mods Gold & Platinum

#rpgmaker #pixel games #indie games #pixel art #rpg maker #rpg maker mv #gotm #game of the month #folkloria #folkloriarpg #interview #upcoming games #april #april 2018 #2018

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officialkmi · 6 years

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UNDERRATED ARTIST: 24K

Okay, so when it comes to “24K,” I’ve heard of them, but I never got the chance to really delve into the group. They were a group I said I’d check out later, but they always slipped my mind. So, they’re naturally my first underrated group because even I’m guilty of not giving them the attention they deserve. And boy do they deserve it!

First thoughts

So, to get my first thoughts, I actually checked a KPop group website, which lists member info and details about them. This is usually what I do when getting into a group because I feel nervous over ages. I’m not exactly a minor anymore and I like listening to idols closer to my age. It doesn’t feel awkward having a bias in the group, that way. The first thing that popped out to me is their style. The photos released for “Bonnie & Clyde” are just really cool. They are all using the same color palette and style, which I don’t see as much for boy groups. The style will usually be the same, but matching colors aren’t usually something I associate with boy groups. The age range of the members is really good for my generation. I think it works well for high school age students, college age students, and even fans out of college (like me, though I’m only 21). The oldest is a 90 liner and the maknae is a 99 liner. It’s not often that you see a smaller group with a nine-year age range, but I think it works really well since it means it can attract a variety of fans.

One thing that I think is very important to note is that the members have social media. They have both instagram and twitter. I’m active on both, so I love being able to see posts by artists and see what they’re doing. To have a group where the members each have an instagram/twitter gives the opportunity for fans to see them interact while also showing if they interact with any other idols on social media as well. (ex: I’ve seen members of KARD interacting with each other and other artists).

Initial Bias

When I first get into groups, I try to pick a member that sticks out to me the most. It makes me more likely to look into the group because I want to learn more about this member. By time I’m done learning about that member, I’ve also learned about the others and slowly come to learn that there is no such thing as having just one bias in a group.

The member who caught my interest the most is Jeunguk. Looking at his profile, he’s a 93 liner, so four years older than me. He also fits my typical type when it comes to biases: a rapper (there are exceptions to this...but not many). I think, if I’m being honest, his hair is what caught my eye. Reading about his love of dance really catches my attention, especially. To me, choreography is one of the things that I love of boy groups. Especially ones with the sound that 24K has. Just listening to “Bonnie & Clyde” tells me that they should have great choreography that I love (spoiler alert: they do).

Favorite Songs

Okay, so, I didn’t listen to every 24K song, but I kinda listened to a few pieces here and there to see which ones popped out and then listened to the full length of those. It was really hard to choose, though. The newest EP, especially, has such a wide range of music that it really shows their abilities. For me, my top three would be:

1) “Bonnie & Clyde” (Bonnie & Clyde) - this song is exactly my type. It kinda makes me think of some of the sounds I hear from groups like NCT, which are my primary pick for drive to work songs. Even though I usually hate strongly dislike songs about girls because, hey, I can’t really relate or make myself say, “Hey, this song is towards me,” the sound of this one is too good not to love! It’s something which really gets me pumped and, if I could dance, I’d definitely love it. I also recommend watching the MV because that is my ideal video. It’s colorful, has amazing editing, features the guys being guys in many parts, and really highlights their choreography. For a song like this, you need to highlight the choreography because choreography is what makes this kind of sound really work.

2) “Only You” (Addiction) - okay, so the song name sounded like it’d be a ballad. Which is fine, I love ballads, but they’re hard to pull off as music videos (and “Only You” does have a music video). Let me tell you, I was completely wrong. This music video may be one of my favorites of all time. The use of color, of props, the balance of matching outfits but also unique ones. This is an ideal video that makes my video editing heart swoon. However, the strength of the song isn’t just in the music video. The song itself is amazing! It’s so catchy and the chorus just hooks me so well. I’m honestly listening to this one on repeat as I type because it’s just that amazing. I didn’t expect to like it as much as I do and I’d like to know why I wasn’t told about this song sooner.

3) “BINGO” (The Real One) - Okay, so this choice shouldn’t surprise anyway who knows I’m a fan of Boys Republic and Stray Kids. It’s got that real dark feeling to it that makes you pumped to listen. It’s the kind of song I’m looking forward to buying on iTunes when I’m not broke again and I can hear my coworkers yelling at me for singing to myself at work as I fold (yes, I’m that coworker, but usually you can’t hear me). However, I should definitely note that, while the song is amazing and the video and acting in it are great, you shouldn’t watch the music video for “BINGO” if you have the following triggers: guns, violence, blood, death. It’s one of those videos where they decide to kill the group members (there’s another group that did that...but I can’t remember which one).

I promise I’m not just lazily choosing songs that having music videos. This group is one of the few that I can say has multiple MVs released in a row that I like. (So, multiple comebacks where I love the songs + the music videos + the sound). I think I know...three groups off the top of my head that have been this successful at making me fall for them. It’s amazing that I’ve never listened to 24K, though, because they’re exactly my type and I really owe it to the person who contacted me about them because my life has clearly been lacking up until now. They even did the suit jacket without a shirt underneath before everyone else did (in “Only You.”)

You’ll like them if you like...

I feel as though fans of groups like NCT will definitely love them because I can see similarities in the sound (in a good way) which will attract fans of either group to each other. Additionally, if you like Boys Republic or Stray Kids, you may love some of the older work they have. The intro of the Bonnie & Clyde EP may also attract the love of fans of groups like BTS who like the Outros on BTS’ CDs or other rap-heavy tracks. For me, I’m a huge fan of Korean rap so I especially love songs that are rap-heavy (and ballads. I’m versatile. Oops).

Final words

What I love about 24K is that they have a variety of sounds, meaning they can appeal to a variety of fans. It threw me off when listening to the Bonnie & Clyde EP since it’s only a handful of songs yes there’s a lot of variety there. Usually for an EP, I like the sounds to be more uniform. I felt as though I might’ve skipped a few songs on the Bonnie & Clyde EP because they did jump around a lot in my ears, but “To.For You” would’ve made it on my ballad playlist and I’d definitely listen to “Bonnie & Clyde” every day before work for a good month before I got tired (then it’d be one I wouldn’t skip if it came on shuffle, but I wouldn’t add it to my five I must listen to during the drive). If you know anything about my music habits, you’d know that’s a compliment. Even with BTS’ newest album, only three songs are regularly listened to by me. Four if I’m in the mood.

I do hope to see more from 24K. I’d like to get the chance to learn more about the members and eventually call myself a 24U. Wish me luck and pray that I have a good paycheck since I’ll be buying a few songs of theirs once it hits!

#officialkmi #official kmi #kmi #korean music industry #music #underrated artists #24K #24U #bonnie & clyde #bonnie and clyde #bonnieandclyde #bonnie&clyde #kpop #korean pop #music recommendation #music recommendations #review #suggested artist

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dutycxllsforanarchive · 6 years

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- - Twilight Sparkle x Rarity - - 'One-Sided Crush' - -

(( I never posted this soooooo I decided I might as well now? Might post up another one I did too uwu ))

Rarity walked into the castle, fixing her mane, and scraping her shoes on the 'dirt' carpet.

"Ugh," she stuck her tongue out. "Twilight needs to clean this again. Oh well, I was asked to visit, not to criticize." She shook her head, and began walking up to Twilight's room. She stared at the crystals in the walls, and the new banners embedded with Twilight's cutie mark. Near Twilight's room, a new stained glass image had been made in honor of Celestia. Rarity stopped to bow for a moment, before gently tapping on the door.

"Twilight!~" Rarity sang. "It's Rarity! You asked me to come visit you, doll?"

Moments later, the door glew, and opened to show Twilight, finishing adjusting her crown. "H-Hi Rarity! I'm so glad you could make it. There's something important that I've wanted to tell you for a while. P-please, come in!" She stepped out of the way, motioning with her wing to the bed. Rarity lifted her head high, trotting inside to the bed, and sitting delicately on the edge, her tail putting itself over her hooves. Twilight padded over, hopping up next to her and sitting down.

"What is it you'd like to discuss, Twilight?" Rarity eyed her. "You look... stressed."

Twilight let out a sigh, her ears falling. "It's cause I am, Rarity... It's just... I have been thinking about Flash so much lately..."

"Oh..." Rarity felt her feelings fall. She blinked to clear her thoughts enough to speak again. "So... that's what this is about... you still haven't been able to come clean with your feelings..."

"It isn't just that, Rarity," Twilight turned her head to the other mare; her eyes were soft, and glossy.

Silence fell between the two for a few seconds. Twilight had shut her eyes, her head turned down. Rarity was getting quite worried. "Well, then what else could be bothering you, darling?"

"Flash," Twilight said straight, lifting her head, and opening her eyes to stare back into Rarity's bright blue ones. "And how I feel about him. I feel like my feelings have changed, Rarity. I feel like... like I like somepony else now."

"Well, why in Equestria would you think that, Twilight?" Rarity spoke up. "He is a kind, gentle, handsome pony. A Royal Guard, too, in fact. Plus, he seemed quite protective of you and Sunset Shimmer when the vines tried to invade the Crystal Empire. He seems like the perfect pony for you, and you seemed to like him quite a lot! Why would you think your feelings have changed after all he's done for you?"

"Because..." Twilight looked down to the floor, and turned her head away from the other mare. "I haven't felt that fluttering feeling when he sends me letters anymore. I haven't blushed so bright red when I hear him say my name, or talk to me, or look in my eyes... and I've seen him with Sunset Shimmer so much more often than me. I think he likes her instead."

"Darling..." Rarity let a whimper escape her. "Are you just... jealous?"

"Jealous?" Twilight let a weak laugh escape her. "I don't feel jealousy or yandere-like qualities when I see them. In fact, I feel quite happy for them... But, Rarity, I do think I know the real pony I like."

Rarity's ears perked, and she stared up at Twilight. "Who?"

The Empress in front of her smiled, light reddish blush creeping onto her cheeks. "You."

Rarity's face lit up. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, her face flushing deep red, and her eyes sparkling like thousands of gem stones. "M-me? Y-you... you like m-me?"

Twilight laughed. "Why wouldn't I? You're beautiful, generous, so fancy, and perfect... You're kind to your friends, even strangers, and you don't always let your appearance judge how you see other ponies or even what your heart wants from you. I see why Spike liked you so much, even for more than just your looks."

Rarity's face couldn't possibly get anymore red. She let a soft, adorable giggle escape her. "Twilight, darling, you flatter me..."

Twilight smiled widely. "I mean it, Rarity. And there's much more about you I love. Your dressmaking skills, your voice... how you always know how to be so kind, and so happy when things are tough. You have such a high place in society, yet you stay true to yourself and your friends. Your home. Simple dresses, with a little extra fancy. It's all you have, and it's all you've ever needed. And besides, you give the greatest compliments."

Rarity giggled. "How's this for compliments?" She cleared her throat, standing up. "Even before you got your wings, you shined like a real princess, so loyal and strong, kind and sweet, smart and organized; you had it all, darling! And don't even get me started on looks. That vibrant purple coat, your mane is the perfect palette of colors to fit your name, your wings are so perfectly and beautifully aligned, it looks like there's no mistakes in it at all! And those beautiful, bright, royal purple eyes... I could stare into them for hours, darling... And the way you speak! As a Princess, you should be a royal speaker like Luna and Cadance, but you don't act or speak like it, and I love that so much. I love that even as royalty, you still think of yourself like a small town pony. A smart book worm, a teacher, a spell maker, but on the outside... you are royalty. You have the crown, the chestplate, your emblem is all over Canterlot! But that doesn't stop you from just being yourself. And that's most important... You're just like me. You have such a high society role... and let you still act like a small town pony, who's quite smart and beautiful if I do say so myself."

Twilight's jaw was wide open and a large smile was glued onto her face. Her face glowed as bright as the pink in her mane. Her eyes were open wide, sparkling and shining. Her chest hurt from how much her heart was beating. Her stomach felt sick from all the butterflies.

Rarity smiled, that small, soft smile she always managed. "And here's another 'compliment' for you, darling." She scooted over, putting her hooves on the Empress's shoulders. "If you really do believe you love me as much as you said, then, I reciprocated your feelings. I love you too, Twilight Sparkle."

Tears pricked in Twilight's eyes. Her mouth shut, but she still smiled widely. "I do love you, Rarity. I really, really do. And honestly, what I had with Flash was a one-sided crush. I should've went for you from the start... When I first came to Ponyville, you were the most beautiful mare I would ever find. I wish I had gotten with you sooner, to be honest. You're everything."

Rarity giggled, gently kissing Twilight's cheek. "I could say the same about you too, Darling." She gently hugged the Empress, feeling her warm arms wrap around her back. She lay her head gently on the other mare's shoulder, her face heating up more feeling a kiss be planted on her cheek.

"Here, Rarity..." Twilight pulled back, staring into Rarity's eyes. "How about you stay in the castle for the night?"

"I would love to, dear," Rarity nodded. Twilight smiled more before leaning in. Rarity shut her eyes, pushing herself forward and gently kissing Twilight. The two pulled back after a minute with a small smile, and love in their eyes. Twilight curled up on the bed, and Rarity snuggled up close to her. Their arms wrapped around eachother tightly. Twilight used her magic to slip off her shoes, chestplate, and crown. Rarity did the same to herself, sliding off her shirt and shoes, and dropping them onto the floor next to Twilight's outfit.

"Actually, Twilight, do you mind waiting a second?" Rarity sat up.

"Why for?" Twilight spoke up.

Rarity got up. "This is why." She trotted to a mirror, using her magic to teleport over a makeup kit. She started slowly and delicately taking off her lipstick, and her eyeshadow. She then smiled, putting her kit away and climbing back into bed with Twilight.

The purple mare giggled. "You don't look the same without your make up on."

Rarity laughed. "You don't look the same without your crown."

Twilight used her magic to pull the blankets up over them. "Fair point." Rarity cuddled close, wrapping her arms around Twilight and leaning her head onto the mare's chest. Twilight smiled, setting her chin on Rarity's head, and shutting her eyes. She kissed Rarity's forehead, mumbling a good night to her, and then letting the comforting hooting of Owloiscious lull her to sleep.

#hope you guys liked it!!#fanfic #mlp #mlp:fim #my little pony #my little pony: friendship is magic #twilight sparkle #rarity #twilight sparkle x rarity #twilight x rarity #raritwi #rarity x twilight #next generation

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herlikings · 6 years

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I know this is 3-months overdue but better late than never, right? Here’s me trying to make a comeback. Let’s see how long I can last until my next hiatus lol.

2017 was definitely another year of beauty obsession and consumption. Probably one of the best years in the field’s industry for impressive trends and expressive creations, too.

For the rest of this post, I will be discussing my favorite products of 2017. Not all categories are included and not all highly talked-about products will be discussed (i.e., I do own the Huda Beauty Desert Dusk palette and the Jaclyn Hill x Morphe palette, but I haven’t had time to play around with it).

Let’s start off with skincare...

I’m at that age where I want to focus more on my skin, but also do not know exactly what I need for my age and skin type. However, among all the skincare products I recently started to accumulate, these three have been my tried-and-true for awhile...at least enough for me to continue repurchasing.

1. I love to my Clarisonic with the brand’s own cleanser, don’t get me wrong. However, I personally feel like my Clarisonic does not get down deep in my skin like an exfoliating scrub. After using St. Ives Fresh Face Apricot Scrub my skin feels more refreshed and cleansed. The added texture from the walnut grains, with the light smell of the apricot extract, is a pleasant way to wake myself up in the morning, especially for mornings after a long-wear of makeup. I personally keep my bottle in my shower.

2. I classify my skin to be more on the normal/oily side of the spectrum. I often go through phases of dry patches on my skin especially once fall and winter comes around. I like to believe my skin is a bit sensitive after some failed trials with facial masks, so I wanted a moisturizer that I knew wouldn’t irritate my skin. I used the Neutrogena Hydro-Gel Moisturizer for Very Dry Skin for awhile but it was alright. I repurchased it even thought I felt as if my skin was not fully hydrated; it felt like the gel sat on top like a hydrating primer. I forgot how I was convinced to try Philosophy’s Renewed Hope in a Jar Moisturizer in the first place but I’m glad I was willing to try it out during my time with Ulta Beauty. A little does go a long way but my skin always feels firm and perfectly hydrated (but not too hydrated).

3. I am still trying to get my mind wrapped around the use of micellar waters but I find this one to be especially handy in my kit. I like to use this with a cotton pad after using a makeup wipe. This is also my go-to product when I need to take off my stubborn falsies. It’s super gentle on my natural lashes but strong enough to take the lash glue off.

I truly believe foundations was one of my highly purchased product for 2017. In the past, I rotated between 3-4 different foundations because I did not want spend a lot on just one bottle once I run out (aka I preferred to wear drugstore foundations as often as possible because of it’s pricing compared to high-end formulas). However, I started to notice the benefits of investing in prestige foundations for many reasons (i.e., coverage, finish, and color match [!!!]).

Disclaimer: I am not including primers this year. To me, I feel like I didn’t find at least one primer that made me go, “WOW this is amazing.” Nonetheless, I still use primers as part of my makeup routine since I already have some in my kit.

1. Another tried-and-true that I constantly mention: Make Up Forever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation. Medium to full coverage. This formula isn’t heavy on my skin; extremely lightweight and easy to blend. Little-to-no white cast. Also, this is one of the foundations in my collection that has the most spot on color match with my skin.

2. I was a bit hesitant to try this brand because no one really talked about it on social media. When I used to work at Ulta Beauty, a Fiona Stiles representative actually convinced a couple of my staff members (including myself) to not only try out the products but to purchase some as well (during this time of our training, the brand was on sale). I absolutely loved how smooth the Fiona Stiles Matte Finish Foundation Concentrate made my skin look. Since it is a concentrate, it does have a mouse-like consistency and is definitely my most full-coverage foundation out of the three favorites. With that being said, a little goes a long way for me. I also prefer to use this with a sponge. The finish isn’t completely matte - more of a satin finish if anything. Then again, maybe that’s because I prefer to apply with a sponge.

3. How can I not mention Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Foundation in my favorites? This is the first, and for now, the only product I have purchased from Rhianna’s line. I was going to wait on purchasing this foundation right away but a lot of my favorite beauty gurus I follow said nothing but good things. I’m glad I caved in and bought it. The first time I tried this on, I was just going out with some friends for a movie night. Applied this foundation a couple of hours before heading out just to see how it would wear. Caught a late movie and arrived home past midnight. As soon as I got home, I checked the mirror and oh my...I was so impressed with how it lasted - it still looked natural and felt lightweight. My oil was probably breaking through a bit at that point but not as bad. I was just obsessed and impressed with how my skin looked after many hours. This foundation became my go-to foundation for the rest of the year. As much as I tried to use a different foundation, I could not stay away from this. I prefer to use a brush for this foundation to get a fuller coverage, and then sometimes I go over the layer with a damp sponge after. I learned that tip from a Sephora associate at the mall and I can see why she does that extra step. This is such a great product that I decided to pack it in my traveling kit for some of my trips. The only thing I would critique about this product is the packaging: the cap feels flimsy so I’m always scared to pack it as is (I actually “repack” in it’s original packaging for my trips). I also don’t like how the pump gets dirty easily because it’s hard to clean sometimes.

2017 was the year of I learned to be more appreciative of concealers.

1. My ultimate favorite concealer of the 2017 is the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. When Ulta Beauty finally started to sell NARS during my time of employment, I was so excited to try the concealer because that meant that I can 1) see what the hype was all about and 2) use my employee discount on it haha. I fell in love immediately. My favorite part about this concealer is that it blurs out the appearance of lines and wrinkles. When the NARS representative came in to give a short training, he mentioned light-diffusing technology, which helps give one’s complexion a radiant, natural look. It is also a medium-to-full, buildable coverage.

2. Colourpop Cosmetics continues to impress the beauty industry with their phenomenal products at affordable prices. Their No Filter Concealers are full-coverage, similar to Shape Tape (but has a thinner consistency) for a fraction of the price. First, I got shade Light 20 only because it was rumored to be a similar shade compared to my other concealers. When i first tried it out it appeared too light..much lighter than my Shape Tape. However, it looked perfectly fine once blended out with a sponge. Yes, maybe a tad bit lighter than what I’m used to but definitely usable. The next time I made a Colourpop purchase, I ordered shade Medium 30 hoping it would be a better fit. This shade works for me but for days when I do not want to put a full face on; it has enough coverage to blend in with my skin if I don’t put any foundation/base on. Blends seamlessly.

3. Last but not least, of course I had to include Tarte Cosmetics Shape Tape Contour Concealer. Full coverage. Better color match, in my opinion, compared to the shades Colourpop currently offers. Even though it’s a thicker consistency, it doesn’t feel too heavy or drying. A little goes a long way.

I tried numerous of bonzers this past year from undertones to formulas. These stuck out to me.

1. Tried-and-true my LORAC PRO Contour Palette. They did come out with a cream contour/conceal palette, but I still preferred their powdered version. I love this palette so much that I already hit pan on the banana powder and the large bonzer pan. Blends out easily. I always recommended this over the ABH contour palettes when I was working at Ulta Beauty.

2. Another tried-and-true: Benefit Hoola Bronzer. Can’t go wrong with this either. This has the perfect amount of neutral-gray undertones to provide a natural shadow in definition. Can also be used to contour.

3. When Colourpop released their pressed powder highlighters and bronzers, I was excited to try them. The highlighers are okay, but this Pressed Powder Bronzer in “Afternoon Delight” is impressive. It blends out so easily without leaving any streaks. This shade is perfect for my skintone - it’s warmer than the Hoola bonzer but not too orange or red.

I was totally obsessed with the glow this past year.

Disclaimer: I did not include any blush this year because I did not find one (other than the Amaretto in the BECCA split pan) that I gravitated to the most. I do have plenty of blush options, though.

1. The BECCA Cosmetics Split Pan Shimmering Duo in “Prosecco Pop/Amaretto” was ultimate my travel buddy of 2017. Brought this with me on most of my trips more than any other product. Prosecco Pop is a warm gold shade which allows it to pop without being too intense like it’s white gold sister, Champagne Pop. Amaretto is a beautiful blush - it’s not too brown to look like bronzer, but adds natural flush on the cheeks. Plus, having two products in one made packing a no brainer.

2. My initial thought when I swatched this highlighter was, “OH MY GOSH. Why didn’t I purchase this highlighter sooner?” Ofra Cosmetic’s Rodeo Drive is surprisingly, yet stunningly, so intense that you need to apply with a very, very light hand. One sweep across your cheekbones and you may blind someone. You should have seen my facial expression when I first applied it... *jaw dropper*

3. Colourpop’s Super Shock Highlight in “Wisp” is another one of my tried-and-true products, of course. This gold-champagne color and cream-to-powder formula adds a nice glow-from-within. Almost always packed this in my makeup bag when I traveled. Sometimes, I layer this under a powder highlighter to make my glow long-lasting and extra poppin’ throughout the day.

I didn’t know how else to name this category but it’s all related to the eye-area.

1. For the first time in a long time I did not mention my MAC Fluidline Brow Gel... I still love that product, though. The only reason I replaced it with the Anastasia Beverly Hills’ Dipbrow in “Dark Brown” is because this was my most used brow pomade of the year (mostly because I used the tester when at work). I started off with a darker shade to balance out my black hair I had going on earlier in the year, then switched to this as the black was fading out. A little goes a long way, but I still have to be careful with the amount of pressure I put on my hand + the amount of product on my brush during application.

2. I think I found my new favorite eyeliner. Caved in and tried Stila’s Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Liner in “Intense Black” after recommending to Ulta Beauty shoppers. It is one of the best selling eyeliners at Ulta Beauty and my personal favorite compared to KVD’s. This eyeliner doesn’t smear and it glides on easily. The felt tip brush is flexible but doesn’t wear out. I’ve tried other liquid eyeliners similar to Stila’s but this forsure is still the best I’ve ever tried. Best believe I have a backup in my kit.

3. 2017 was the year I started to comfortably and causually wear false lashes. I loved Ardell’s Studio FX Wispie lashes until this Eylure Luxe Faux Mink Lashes in “Opulent” came into my life. It’s fluffy and soft; the band isn’t thick and is easy to work with. The first time I glued the pair on, I almost forgot I was wearing it. That is how light it felt.

A lot of brands released numerous of eyeshadow palettes all throughout 2017.

As mentioned earlier, I may not discuss all the breakthrough products of 2017, such as the Jaclyn Hill x Morphe palette or the Huda Beauty Desert Dusk. I do have both of the palettes but just haven’t touched them yet, or at least used them enough times.

1. Another tried-and-true to mention: Tarte Cosmetics Tartlette in Bloom. When I got this around the time of it’s release, I did not want to use any other palette. I wanted to mention this in this year’s favorites because it’s still one of the few products that works best on me over time. The amazonian clay formula is easy to diffuse without losing it’s pigmentation. It may have some fallout but I’m okay with it since it’s easy to blend out. The colors are great all year long. I recently got Tarte’s new Toasted palette but haven’t had time to play with it yet. I am certain that’ll be just as amazing as this Tartelette in Bloom.

2. Everyone’s favorite, Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance. I think I mentioned in a previous post how much I absolute love the brand’s eyeshadow formulation - definitely one of my top favorite out there. This palette is clearly more bold in color scheme compared to the Tartelette in Bloom, but still flattering for different looks and on for different skintones. Created some of my favorite looks with this palette. A bit more fallout than Tarte and not as buttery, but smooth enough to work with. However, I think this has deeper color payoff than Tarte. In other words, it’s still worth it.

3. I kept debating whether or not I should purchase this palette but I’m so happy I caved in. This Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette is especially perfect for both summer and fall. The colors included can create both a warm, orange look or a deep plum smokey-eye. Probably the best set of formulation across the eyeshadow pans in the Naked palette series.

Last but not least, my favorite category...lipsticks. I own a lot already yet still continue to purchase more than necessary. I have a problem.

1. When I worked at Ulta Beauty, Nudestix was my go-to brand to upsell. Not only is the brand’s focus on easy-to-use products for people on-the-go, but it was also one of my favorite brands to personally use. These products are 1) perfect for busy people like me, 2) easy to pack (you can fit about 4 stix in one case, which also includes a mirror inside), and 3) almost most of the products are multi-purpose. When I had to get ready before operation hours I would run to the Nudestix fixture and create a look within 5 minutes. Guests constantly asked what I products I used on my face and later left with a couple Nudestix. My favorite lipstick they recently created is the Magnetic Matte Lip Color in “Boho.” When I had to set up the fixture and saw this color on the model, I knew I had to have it on my lips. It screamed “Coachella,” “90′s vibes,” and so much more to me. On my lips, it eventually feels a little bit more drying than expected but worth the color. It’s also long-lasting if properly moisturized beforehand.

2. Another nude to mention is the Kylie Cosmetic Lip Kit in “Dolce K.” I owned other shades before Dolce K but tend to gravitate to this shade more than the others. I barely use the lip liners (just because it’s easier to apply liquid lipstick when on-the-go), but the deep, beige nude color is a flattering nude on my complexion. I like the formulation of Kylie’s liquid lipsticks, too - long-lasting and not too heavy.

3. So here’s a funny story. When I moved back home and started to unpack my makeup collection, I found two unopened MAC Lipstick in “Whirl.” With that said, I keep one in my bag at all times no matter what. This dirty rose shade is one of my favorites because it’s not too pink nor too dark; it’s a great shade for some added color.

4. Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipstick in “Leo” has more of an orange undertone compared to the others, but it’s still a nude that works on me. According to the site, it’s “a true honey brown.” Pretty accurate. I purchased numerous of Jeffree Star liquid lipsticks all at once, but Leo is the only one that I tend to gravitate to the most. As much as I like Leo, I’m more of a Pisces (lol get it).

5. Last but not least, Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in “Bow n Arrow.” I love this shade so much. Probably the lightest nude I would and could actually wear. This fawn nude color is very neutral in tone, in my opinion. I tend to wear this when I have a dark, smokey eye.

AND THAT’S ABOUT IT.

That’s my take on my favorites from 2017, justified with my own personal experiences and opinions.

I wonder what will standout to me in 2018... Or maybe I should just use up everything I currently have in my kit... Only time will tell.

#makeup #beauty #bblog #beauty favorites #bblogger #ontheblog

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believe-that-you-can-my-friend · 7 years

Photo

Okay, another prompt is here! Sorry for not updating sooner, it’s a long fic once again lol! It is sad, angsty (I was listening to a lot of Placebo while writing so yeah) and it turns hot and heavy close to the end but then some fluff concludes it; basically it has it all! :P Warning for mentions of violence, mild language and sexual themes. I hope you like it darlings and you don’t mind that I combined your awesome prompt ideas! Thank you so much for requesting! And to the rest of you, enjoy! <3

A small summary to tie the three prompts together: After an abrupt break up, Betty is left broken and confused by Jughead’s sudden behavior. Once finding out that he had joined the infamous gang of their small town, the Southside Serpents, Betty sets her mind to sneak into their lair with the only way she knows best. Along with the help of a sudden ally that she comes across on the way, they vow to save Jughead’s soul at all costs.

(The long dialog in italics is a flashback)

“Stars hide your fires;

Let not light see my black and deep desires.

The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be

Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see…”

The black velvet of yet another eerie night had spread over the small town of Riverdale, the otherwise picturesque scenery of the alight sky now fearful and pitch black, an ominous sign and a bloodcurdling setting. It coordinated with her jet leather attire, her raven hair and the ghastly temperament that oozed from the cold-blooded sound of heels against dirty and wet asphalt. “Stars hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires…” Every click of stiletto punctuated each word her mind whispered on a loop to the depths of her subconscious, green eyes shining deadly through the darkness, like those of a wolf in hunt for its prey.

If anyone were to run into her on the street, they wouldn’t recognize her; nothing tied her with the image of the nonpareil younger daughter of the Cooper clan. Betty Cooper was dead, locked in the comfort of lavender and chamomile amongst collared sweaters and preppy knitted cardigans. For how long it was yet to be decided but, for tonight, the golden-hearted girl that everyone left behind was put to sleep under the naivety of false ambition and hopeless dreams. Her alter ago was there to deal with the mess the tedious angelic spectrum of her character always seemed to make.

“The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be, which the eye fears, when it is done, to see…” Again from the top, the verse kept twirling around her mind, disrupting her already turbulent mental and emotional state. It was Macbeth, it was morbid, it was his favorite amongst all the dark things he loved. She could picture him sitting on her window bench, a worn out issue of the Shakespearian tragedy held like a priced possession by his tender hands, as he kept reciting it to her with his soft and animated voice, light breeze filling the room from the open window and twirling his gloomy curls in unison with the cheerful butterflies in her stomach. Maybe she should have known that some dark thing would steal his heart at the end; and she was never dark around him. Maybe sometimes rough around the edges and coal grey but never full dark, no stars like he desired. Maybe if she knew, she wouldn’t have that image in her head of him leaving, walking away from her and getting lost in the night, as she cried for him to love her and her whole palette of colors.

“I can’t do this anymore. I thought I could but it’s getting too much and I just feel suffocated with everything that’s going on, my novel and my dad and…” Jughead took a deep breath, hands buried in the pockets of his jeans and face a mask of apathy.

“With me?” Betty bit her lip, feeling tears whaling in her eyes. They were in her bedroom as always but something had shifted in the air, like their safe place had been shuttered by a malicious wind, leaving a bad feeling inside the girl’s chest.

“Especially with you.” He raised his head to look at her with cold blue eyes that burned a hole in her heart.

She flinched, trying to form a smile but failing; this wasn’t his typical behavior. “Juggie… I don’t understand, did something happen, did I—”

“Whatever this is, I wanna stop it.” He cut her off, determined and cold again, so cold that made her beautiful face freeze in a mask of sorrow, her heart dropping at the statement.

“This? Us became this?” it was an incredulous almost whisper.

“Relationships are just tedious and a waste of time. I wanted to try it but ultimately it doesn’t work for me.” Jughead mumbled like it was nothing, like their magic meant nothing.

She scoffed; she was getting upset and rightfully so. “So what? That was just a-a test drive for you? An experiment for your novel, or, I don’t know, a free taste of Betty Cooper? What was it, Jughead?” the green in her eyes turned cold too and her frown deepened between her eyebrows, demanding explanations and demanding them fast.

“All of that, none of that… I guess I saw the chance and I took it. I needed the change of paste.” Shrug; aloof, meaningless shrug.

“What about all the ‘you’re the one for me, Betts’, ‘I’ve been in love with you since forever’ and the letters and the texts and the stupid post-it notes in my locker every day? Your looks, your touches, your whispers, was all that just an act?” the stupid tears spilled from the corner of her eyes but Betty didn’t care at this point, she didn’t even notice, too worked up and angry and disappointed and desperate to wake up from this nightmare.

“I can’t be the guy that treats you all sweet and tender or waits around for a goodnight text. That’s not me; those things don’t mean anything to me.” Jughead remained calm and collected, body a statue and eyes never darting from her face, speaking with a monotone voice like somebody had written all that for him to memorize and say them out loud.

Betty shook her head in disbelief, gulping to ease the chock of her throat. “I don’t even recognize you right now.” She truly didn’t even know the boy that was standing in front of her; he wasn’t her long-time friend, he wasn’t the boy she fell in love with, he was just a complete stranger.

Jughead replied in a heartbeat, unfazed. “And I haven’t been able to recognize myself with you. I’m not Archie, I’m not a golden varsity star, I’m not a prince charming and I’m not gonna become one for you.”

“I never said that I want that!” she exclaimed in exasperation, arms flying in the air, annoyed that everyone thought that she belonged in a perfect glass ball.

“And I never said that I wanted someone so naïve and fragile in my life!” he spat back with venom, the first and only time he had risen his voice at her, eyes turning into pools of petrifying black, long gone their soothing sea blue shade.

Betty gasped, taking a step back at his outrage but mostly his words. “Is this what it is? I’m not good enough for you?” it was as if he punched through her chest, like his hands had an iron grip around her heart and now it was at his mercy, barely holding by a threat, before getting ripped out by the person that made it beat the fastest.

His eyes flattered, like he hesitated or got hit by the same hurricane of sorrow as Betty and he dropped his head, before continuing. “I told you, I’m no good with relationships and I can’t be in one, not with you.” He avoided the question expertly.

Betty wasn’t going to have any more of his excuses. “I’m not good enough, say it! Somebody finally must say it! If you are so damn honest with me right now, fucking say it!” she was angry, she was hurt, she just needed him to stop, to say that everything he said was a prank or a lie because if he was going to confirm her statement she would be gone, gone into the abyss of self-loathing and depression, pushed into it by the boy that she believed was about to save her at the end.

“No, you’re not.” He gave her that push. She fell. Her heart lay at his feet and his hands were forever stained by its color.

“Just leave.” Her voice was broken and raspy, no air in her lungs for her to spare anymore.

“Betty…” it seemed like a plead and for a second Betty thought that the old Jughead was back, the one that would never do that to her, but she didn’t let herself get fooled once again by him.

“Leave! You wanted out, right? There! There’s the door!” the only thing she was seeing now was blood through her crying eyes and she gave him a hard push, the boy stumbling back with a pained and horrified expression. She pushed him again, he stumbled again, he tried to grab her wrists but she slapped his hands, his chest, his arms with venom. “My pathetic and naïve and stupid self are letting you go, you don’t have to continue your charity work here, you’re off the hook!” she stepped back, huffing the untamed locks of hair that had fallen from her ponytail, not perfect anymore like the rest of her. Jughead hesitated like he had more to say but she didn’t want to listen anymore, so she shouted to silence his hateful words that kept playing like a nightmarish mantra in her head. “LEAVE!”

She hadn’t left her room after that. Hadn’t unlocked her door, hadn’t eaten, hadn’t let in a constantly knocking Polly or a constantly dropping by Veronica, hadn’t answered any of Kevin’s calls, hadn’t opened her blinds every night that Archie was desperately texting her to do so. She hadn’t been crying – it seemed like her eyes didn’t have any more tears to shred – she was just watching the ceiling and the way the lamp flickered, before it died completely like the whole world inside of her. And when a week of her living and breathing on her bed had passed and her mom was adamant for her to continue her brilliant academic career and not waste her potential for a boy that was proven as impulsive and selfish as his father – her mother’s words, not hers – Betty walked through the doors of Riverdale High like the most miserable excuse of a zombie. At this point she didn’t even care if she would face him or not, bump into him on her way to English or sit next to him during Chemistry because she didn’t feel anything anymore, he had made her emotionally unavailable just like he proudly always claimed to be.

But he wasn’t there; and he hadn’t been there exactly a week just like her.

“He packed up his things and left that night; he was in frenzy. I tried to stop him but he just burst out, leaving some papers to my dad for the school. He got transferred, moved away to live with his mom.” Archie had informed her one day at lunch, while she was starring off to the horizon, her empty eyes scary to her friends that felt like they were walking on thin ice around her anymore. She blinked once, signalizing to the redhead that she had indeed heard him. Let him run, she had thought instantly; that was what he knew best.

The revelation hit her that very night when once again she was vigil and staring at her nonworking ceiling lamp; she kept refusing to change it with a new bulb, it was personal at this point, it represented her shut down inner self. Betty was wrong. That wasn’t Jughead’s typical behavior. He had never ran away from his alcoholic dad, he had never run away when things got ugly with his living situation, he had never ran away from anything to be honest. And a small part of her insisted that there wasn’t sincerity in his eyes that awful night, even though his words still stung like a flaming iron on her heart. Jughead wouldn’t run because he always accepted consequences.

So Betty tightened her ponytail and begun her sleuthering again, alone this time. And her stubborn self brought her here tonight, at the wrong side of the tracks, at the place that nobody really dared to set foot in, let alone good girls like she was supposed to be. So she put her raven armor and balanced sexily on her heels as she made her way to the most infamous bar of Riverdale, the hang-out place of nobody else but the Southside Serpents.

Betty halted her pace for a moment to examine the place from afar. It looked filthy and ghetto-like as she had imagined from all the rumors she had heard going around. She was scared; not for her or of what she was about to do but for him and the version of him she might come across. Maybe it was too late, maybe he indeed belonged to a place like this. Whatever it might be, Betty needed to know with her own eyes, needed to save him if there was even an iota of a chance of him wanting to be saved.

She unzipped her black leather jacket with determination, revealing her lacey black push-up bralette and her rich cleavage as bait to whichever scum would be proven useful to her. Betty knew that they wouldn’t reject her. Provocative underwear, a mini skirt – the girl having altered it even more to barely reach under the curve of her ass – and a pair of black leather thigh-high boots – she believed bikers would appreciate more a pair of sexy boots than her elegant black pumps – the girl was confident that she had the golden combination for a free pass to their private territory. She looked seductive and devious, the black wig making her feel mysterious and a perfect temptress, and she swiped the pad of her ring finger to the corner of her lips sexily to keep their Seduce Scarlet color intact, before licking the excess lipstick off her finger with a wicked smirk. Betty started walking to the entrance with newfound confidence and the air of the badest woman in town.

Sauntering through a row of vintage Harley and BMW motorcycles, she was welcomed with loud whistles and filthy talk from some disgusting looking men that were lounging on their bikes smoking and drinking beers but she paid them no attention, setting her seductive eyes to the buffed bouncer at the entrance of the small bar. He looked intimidating but, with a slutty smile and an extra sway of her hips, Betty was able to slide inside the bar without questions asked and an approving nod towards her ass from the guy that was nearly her dad’s age.

The interior was exactly like she had imagined it to be; filled with clouds of smoke, strong smell of alcohol and occupied with testosterone. She wasn’t there to judge or write an article however, she was on a mission, so she held back her need to vomit and her snarky comments, letting her prying eyes take a quick scan before they landed on the person she was interested in; the man responsible of recruiting new blood in the years-long tradition of biker members.

He was around forty, average in height but with abnormal board shoulders that he had certainly achieved from steroids and other illegal substances and his coal hair was in frizzy curls all the way down the middle of his back, gathered in a loose ponytail at the back of his neck. He was covered in tattoos, his hideous black muscle shirt revealing all the abstract designs and his profile screamed danger, regarding the sharp edges of his jawline and his bony nose. Betty didn’t even flinch; she just took off her jacket while eyeing him with venom, before throwing it over her shoulder and cat-walking to where he was sitting at the bar.

The clicking of her heels and her killer legs left him no chance but to stare shamelessly, Betty leaning on the barstool next to him with a cold but cunning smile.

“Are you gonna buy me a drink or you’re just gonna sit there and stare?” she challenged him with a raised eyebrow and she saw him smirk in a disgusting way that indicated that his intentions were nothing but honorable, while giving her an once-over, his pitch black eyes lingering again on her legs as he licked his lips. Betty felt again the need to vomit.

“A beer for the lady and two shots.” He ordered the creepy barman without sparing him a glance and Betty smiled at him again, sliding on the barstool and crossing her legs seductively. “You’re a new face; haven’t seen you around before.” He licked his lips again now gawking over her cleavage, never bothering with her face.

“Just passing by. I’m more of a free spirit; don’t belong to a city or a man.” She had to be flirtatious and play her role well for her plan to work. So she put extra seductiveness in her voice and an extra shade of wicked lust to her otherwise innocent eyes.

“I like the sound of that.” The man hummed, the first time looking up at her, getting a little awestruck by how beautiful she looked. He raised his beer bottle and she did the same in order for them to crack them, Betty proceeding to take a sip of the foreign liquor. Hopefully it wasn’t that bad so she puckered her lips more seductively around the tip, feeling his eyes upon her. He was a goner.

“So what brings you here, doll?” he slurred the words and came a little closer with his constant disgusting smirk.

“I need to be entertained and what’s better than with a pair of devilish looking biker guys?” Betty leaned closer too, despite the fact that he was reeking of beer and nicotine, biting her lip for extra effect, the man watching the action, and his pupils dilated from sexual arousal.

“You have a thing for riding, huh?” he smirked in what he thought was a sexy way, staring at the red on her lips, and she returned the smirk with a cold expression, not that he noticed.

“My specialty.” Betty whispered sensually and she saw him leave a light, dark chuckle before he was leaning forward for a kiss. The girl held her pointer on his lips, halting his movement. “Nah-uh, do your shot first.” She ordered playfully, like she was teasing him, and he pulled back to comply, the both of them drowning the liquor bottoms up. Betty turned away from him and flinched. She wasn’t exactly sure what this was, maybe whiskey regarding the color and the taste of petrol it left in her mouth, but she could definitely feel her insides burning.

“So you seem like a tough guy.” Betty stroked his male ego while brushing her fingers lightly over his bicep, tracing his snake tattoo, the man following the action of her hand with a pleased, proud grin. “I like that in a man.” She licked her lips in a roguish manner, before taking another sip of her beer and twirling her tongue around the tip for effect, green orbs focused on cold black ones. He chuckled intrigued.

“You wanna know what I like in a woman?” he said in a clever tone, thinking that he was the master of flirtation, and Betty batted her eyelids expectantly, like she was hanging from his lips. “Me.” He raised a cocky eyebrow, his expression cold and dirty and the girl felt a shiver run down her spine, her survival instinct kicking right in, before she brushed it off and giggled naughtily.

“You’re funny too.” Her pointer run down the middle of his torso, Betty giving him her most dirty and sexual smirk, and he slid a hand on her bare waist, the girl stiffening at the feel of his calloused and filthy fingers against her skin, her smirk trembling on her lips. He just thought it was a sign of desire.

She took a deep breath; she couldn’t back down now. She needed invitation to the private lair of the Southside Serpents and there was only one way to get it. “But you know, I’m gonna need something more to” she leaned closer, inches away from his chapped and alcohol glistering lips, and continued with a sultry whisper “kick me in the mood.”

His face turned stone cold and a devilish lust made his pupils dilate. “What’s your poison, dirty girl? Alcohol, drugs… Name it and you’ll have it.” Putty, he was putty on her hands and internally Betty congratulated herself.

An arm came to rest on his shoulder, giving him an amazing view of her breasts pushed up and offered for him. “A little bit of both… Maybe some friend of yours too… I’ve always liked it crowded in the bedroom…” her voice was colored heavily with sexual innuendos and he saw him gulp, as he pictured the sexual scenario she offered focused on her bee-stung lips. His fingers dug on her hip, his nails grazing violently the soft skin, and Betty jumped scared at his animal antics but the action only made her fall forward against him, chest heaving against his cement-like one.

He gulped again, looking shamelessly down at her breasts before focusing back on her face with a threatening desire. “Even though I don’t like sharing my playthings, we might as well use you for a test drive, huh? There’s this new addition, larky kid, naïve blue eyes…” Betty’s breath hitched at that, her heart drumming wildly in her chest, not scared anymore of the man that hand an iron hold around her waist but scared of her speculations coming true. “You can make a man out of him, right doll?” he titled her head up by her chin, Betty eyeing him with disgust and hatred “See if he is anything like his coward of a father or if he is one of us, venomous like a snake, a predator ready to skin its victims alive.”

Betty could feel her anger burning her alive. Her hands bawled in fists but refused to let herself bleed; she needed her anger, she needed to be the predator tonight. Because it was indeed true; Jughead Jones had joined the Southside Serpents. And she would fight until hell froze over to save his broken heart at all costs.

“Well, I always had a thing for new meat.” Betty formed her best vicious smirk, its undertones dark and vengeful, the man chuckling darkly at her spank and wicked mind. “Lead the way then.” She pulled back and swung her leather jacket over her shoulders, him watching her ass swaying by and brushing his thump over his down lip thinking about all the dirty things he was going to do to her, before dropping some cash over the bar and following her, mesmerized by the provocative way her boots rubbed against the back of her thighs.

Loud whistles started again once there were out the door, the same guys congratulating him with the best choice of words for the dirty fuck he had landed, but Betty paid them once again no attention, eyes focused on the road in front of her and her blood bumping up in her veins viciously. He dropped an arm around her waist, the girl too wound up with anger to even flinch, and made her round the corner, leading them to a dark alley.

“Damn girl, tonight is my fucking lucky night.” He spat next to her ear in a fearful whisper and inhaled a rich dose of her feminine perfume, Betty closing her eyes in disgust. “I can’t way to hit that.” His palm slid down her ass and then squeezed forcefully, making her jump and squirm away from him lightly, not actually succeeding in gaining any room to breathe and a tiny whimper appeared deep in her throat as he felt him groan and dive in for her exposed neck. She shut her eyes more fiercely, wrinkles forming at their corners from the strong wave of repulsion that washed over her instantly, but she was willing to pay the price, she was ready for it.

His chill-raising breath caressed her sensitive skin; she whimpered again, her hands turning in fists in defense. But as long as she started recalling all the possible self-defense moves she had read on the internet the sensation was gone, Betty feeling herself being pushed lightly to the side and his revolting smell of cheap cologne and nicotine disappearing, before a gravely male voice and the sound of cracking bones erupted through the darkness.

“Funny thing; I’ll be the only one doing the hitting.” The sound of bones colliding with bones echoed again, accompanied with a pained grunt and Betty snapped her eyes open, disorientated for a moment, before taking in the scene in front of her. A tall, well build man was throwing punch after punch to her previous tormentor that was now lying on the pavement moaning in agony, his snake decorated leather jacket coordinating with the one the foreign male was sporting.

“She’s barely seventeen, Jack, did you know about that? Did you even care before forcing your filthy hands on her?” a forceful kick was delivered to his stomach and Betty jumped at the sound, rounding the duo to face the profile of her savior. He was beaten up himself, a fainting bruise decorating his left eye but he looked good, she dared to think that he even looked handsome for his age, with his high lightened cheekbones and unruly raven curls. An image flashed before her eyes, a memory of the same man stumbling outside the police station about a year ago, hangover and ashamed, as he tried to negotiate with his son and gain back his trust. That man back then looked helpless and even scared but tonight he was changed; tonight he was the infamous FP Jones that everyone had warned her about. And, as surreal as it sounded, right now he was defending her honor.

The man on the wet pavement, Jack, as FP had addressed him, spit some blood on the wet cement next to him. “What’s your problem, FP? You screwing her or something?” he rolled up in pain as the other man kicked him again in the stomach, a payback for his offensive words towards the girl.

“My problem is you taking advantage of innocent kids, that’s my fucking problem!” FP growled pushing his shoulder with his shoe hard for the man to drop on his back, panting.

Jack laughed darkly through blood-stained lips. “Your son is in good hands, no need to worry.”

Betty’s ears perked at that, the girl taking a step forward in reflex. FP’s anger caused a threatening howl to rip through his chest at the mention of his first-born, grabbing the other man’s lapels and dragging him up against the wall like a rug doll. “Where is Jughead?” he growled every word, stone cold face against his smirking one.

“Where he belongs.” He replied with hatred.

“WHERE IS HE?!” FP pushed him back against the brick wall with force, spitting the words against his face with venom. Betty’s chest jerked at the sound.

“Paying for your sins. And paying for them silently.” The man spat, squirming against his hold but failing to break free.

“Is he at the house?” the father demanded but the other man kept silent. FP pushed him again against the wall, harder this time, not even interested in repeating his question and Jack let a loud cry and a groan, before coughing violently.

“He’s staying with us now.” Was his only response before FP uncurled his hands from his jacket, the man dropping to the pavement with a loud thud, too weak to hold his own weight.

Jack’s cold eyes connect with their audience, the one and only Betty Cooper. “You set me up, didn’t you, you whore?” he narrowed his eyes bitterly, his tone delivering an unspoken threat that he was about to seek revenge.

He had barely the chance to finish his sentence when a malicious punch was delivered to his jaw, his face flying to the side and his bones cracking audibly, before FP had a strong hand on his cheek, squeezing his face between him and the bricks of the wall behind him. “Don’t you dare talk to her like that ever again or come closer to her, you hear me?” he whispered in a petrified tone of voice. “As for my son, be prepared to pay in the most torturous and slow way.” He set him free, taking some steps back, breathing heavily and huffing away the stray curls that had fallen on wrinkled forehead. “Scram!” He ordered with a tilt of his head to the side and, as if he was compelled, Jack stumbled off the wall and run away in fear, before sending a last deadly glare at Betty’s way.

FP took some deep breaths to ease his nerves and soothe his boiling anger before turning around the face the girl, not wanting to scare her even more than he might have already. She looked confused, even sad, but hopefully the older man noticed not signs of fear on her emerald green eyes.

“I guess introductions are in order.” He spoke soft this time, rubbing his pained and slightly bloody knuckles. “I’m FP, Jughead’s dad.” He offered her a small but sincere smirk.

Betty blinked a couple of times to gain her composure and wrap her mind around what had just happened. Finally registering that she was standing there being impolite, she shook her head to snap out of her thoughts and address the man in front of her. “I’m—” she didn’t get to continue though, FP cutting her off.

“My future daughter-in-law, I know.” His grin grew a little, turning a tad teasing and even proud, the girl opening her mouth in a surprised state and a loss of words. “I wasn’t father of the year but my son’s crush for you wasn’t hard to miss, really.”

The teen blinked and curled her arms over her chest, subconsciously covering her nudity a little and getting defensive as Jughead’s hurtful words still echoed in her mind. “Apparently, it wasn’t strong though.”

FP sighed. “I get things between you and him are…rough at the moment?” he guessed correctly and the blonde scoffed; rough was an understatement. “Betty…” the man continued softly. “Whatever happened between the two of you was just him protecting you. He would never dare hurt you of all people, if he didn’t think that was the only option in order for him to set you free.” He explained, knowing that his son was way too selfish to destroy the thing he loved the most.

“I don’t need protection; I can handle myself.” She replied stubbornly, chin titled up.

“Yeah, I kinda saw that.” He let a slight chuckle in teasing, eyebrows shooting up and Betty felt another punch in her chest at the, what seemed to be, a trademark move for the Jones men. “What were you thinking coming to this place?”

“I want to bring him back; he doesn’t belong in this filthy swamp.” Betty proclaimed determined.

“I want that too.” FP agreed with a curt nod.

There was a moment of silence, before Betty knitted her eyebrows in confusion. “Why did he do it? What is he trying to prove?” she couldn’t wrap her mind around his possible motive; he loathed that gang and whatever it had done to his father. The girl couldn’t comprehend what reason pushed him at such an extreme take of action.

The answer came from FP’s stone cold voice. “They are trying to frame me for the Blossom murder, Betty.” He confessed and she gasped lightly. “Jughead thinks that by stepping into the wolf’s dent he is going to slaughter the beast at its core.” He went on to explain then how the Southside Serpents kicked him out and dethroned him after he drew a line and tried to reduce their illegal activities, how vengeful they became with hiding Jason’s letterman jacket on his wardrobe and planting numerous other evidence against him, Jughead finally snapping and insisting to play the hero for once in his life, secretly stepping into the gang and becoming one of them with the notion to ultimately unravel the tangled ball of thread that led to the end of the labyrinth.

Betty had her solemn focus on him until the older man had nothing more to say. Things were way clearer now. A part of her felt relieved that she was indeed right and she wasn’t yet again fooled by another jerk of a guy but mostly Betty felt irritation and anger towards him that he didn’t trust her enough to open up to her about his problems and let her help him, but instead chose to add more salt on her still open wounds. “And what are you gonna do about that?”

“I’m going to save him.” FP stated in a heartbeat.

“Count me in.” her response was equally quick and filled with confidence.

The older man hesitated, light brown eyes soft upon his son’s golden-hearted girlfriend. “Betty, that house… It’s not a good idea for you to tag along.” He didn’t want to drag her more into his world of illegality and misery and he had a feeling that his son wouldn’t appreciate that too.

Betty though had other plans. “I don’t care. I’m finishing this with or without you.” She had come here for a mission and she wasn’t going to back down until she had a chance to say everything she had to say to the boy that always sacrificed everything for the people he loved.

“He’s my son; I would go to the ends of the earth to fight for him.” FP stated fatherly, holding his posture valorously.

Betty’s face turned into a mask of utter determination, ready for the big fight herself. “Then let’s go bring him home.”

“Stay behind me, don’t look anyone in the eye and act as casual as you can.”

Betty stuck with FP’s hushed instructions as they made their way through the dilapidated building that was used as the headquarters of the Southside Serpents. Both with steady steps and an air of self-assurance, an unorthodox duo dressed in black and appetent for revenge, they were passing by every delinquent of their small town, attracting glances and suspicious murmurs. Clouds of smoke were making every room foggy, alcohol was once again filling the air and disgusting male chuckles along with shrieking feminine giggles could be heard all around from the people that sat alone, in pairs, in large groups drinking, rolling joints and exchanging any kind of illegal pill that could bring them ephemeral euphoria. It was the first time that Betty actually feared for their lives. As for Jughead, she was trying just to be hopeful.

They arrived at a wide area, what seemed like to be a big lounge room decorated with numerous not matching couches and wooden coffee tables, a pool table, a large round table for poker games and booze in each and every surface. FP stopped for a minute, Betty halting her pace abruptly behind him as well, before the man started walking again, light brown eyes set cold upon a deadly looking man at the center of the round table. He was the new leader of the Southside Serpents.

He noticed the new-comers immediately. “FP Jones! What a delightful surprise!” he opened his arms in a grand gesture, pushing away the two female companions by his sides. Betty held back her need to gag. “Did you finally snap out of your ridiculous vanilla phase and came to make amends?” he wondered teasingly before his grey eyes landed on her, shameless scanning her from head to toe, probably undressing her in his mind. “And bearing a great peace offering as I see.” He approved of the eye-candy with a flirty nod and a wink her way. Betty barely faked a smirk.

FP’s posture was tense; there was tension between them, she noticed. “I’m not here to talk. I’m taking my son back.” He stated sternly.

“How fatherly!” the other man mused. “Thank God that boy of yours didn’t inherit any of your sentimental nothings.” He chuckled darkly, the other men around the table chuckling too, while engrossed in their game.

FP scoffed. “Alright, I guess we’re not gonna do this the good way. So you either tell me where Jughead is now or tonight is going to turn into one of your worst nightmares.” He delivered the threat low in his throat, menacing and with all the anger that was boiling inside of him.

“Do you really dare threaten me, Jones?” the man in hierarchy shot up from his seat. “With just a snap of my fingers I can make you rot in a prison cell for the rest of your pathetic life, I can make you one with the ground, I can make your precious little son nothing more but seed for the worms that crawl around the cracks of your pretty little suburban, previously happy, household.” He painted the gruesome picture expertly and Betty felt a chill rising up her spine but mostly felt like losing her mind at the possible scenario of him getting his hands on Jughead. She felt FP shaking at her side too, fingers flexing and unflexing, minutes away from losing all his calm and beating him to death for even daring to speak about his son but tried to keep it together, knowing that him lashing out now would have the opposite effect.

“Go on, test me, sign your verdict.” He spoke with an air of confidence that seemed devilish and came to stand in front of the father, inches away from his stone cold face. “I promise you, you won’t even be able to recognize your son after I’ll be done with him.” He spoke the words slowly, eyes narrowed and voice colored with determination, not a doubt that he was unable of doing that and even more.

FP didn’t even have the chance to flinch, as the hurricane next to him erupted in full force. The man that up until now spat bloody threat after bloody threat collided with the wall, his scalp bouncing back painfully, as the girl that everyone kept pushing around and underestimating forced her forearm against his larynx, eyes murderous and body shaking with blood rising anger. FP made a move to take action but two men shot up from the table too, restricting him.

“WHERE IS HE, YOU STUPID ASSHOLE?!” her words were nothing but howling groans, delivering clumsy punch after clumsy punch to everything that she could reach; his jaw, his cheek, his nose, the older man taken aback by the psycho side of the girl he previously found nothing but fuckable. “WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM? ANSWER ME, ASSHOLE! WHERE IS HE?!” the gang leader snapped out of his surprised state, annoyed and angry by her outrage, grabbing her wrists, only for her to deliver a hard kick of her knee to his groin, making him double over in pain, now himself fuming in anger too.

“Get off me, you stupid bitch!” he roared and sent her flying to the across wall, Betty’s eyes snapping shut at the pain on her backside, as she slid to the floor seconds before all hell broke loose. FP broke free from the strong hold of the two men by elbowing the one on his left on the nose and then punching the other on the ribs, causing them to stumble back in pain, as he reached forward for the disgusting man in power. More men joined in a flash, not to pull them apart but to fuel the fire more, too drunk and angry at the world to care where they aimed their fists, and soon enough the area was turned into a giant ring, grunts and cracking bones and swear words echoing as a background music. Betty quickly rose to her feet, determined to walk through the chaos and search for Jughead herself, but a hand grabbed her elbow and pushed her back, a redhead woman with a beer bottle in the air ready to attack her for the disrespect she had previously showed towards their precious leader. Betty dodged the flying glass out of pure luck and fisted her red curly hair with a grunt, the girls stumbling around battling for dominance, until Betty won with a harsh push that sent the woman rolling on the floor.

Two more women appeared; Betty huffed, brushing away the ends of her now disheveled hair. Her dilated, cold and dark green eyes darted momentarily to FP beating the crap out of the crowd around him and then back at the women that smirked, walking in threat towards the little girl, but she wasn’t so little and fragile as everyone thought. She was determined to not leave this house without seeing him and if Betty Cooper set her mind onto something she sure as hell would execute it, no doubt whatsoever. Her eyes caught the pool table next to her and she reached for the cue stick lying on the edge, snatching it and breaking it in half over her bare thigh in one swift movement. She saw the women’s eyes flicker at the action, surprised and a tad concerned about the change of events; Betty smirked. This is for Jughead, she thought, as she started sauntering forward in a dangerous way, twirling the half stick around her fingers of her right hand and tilting her head up, eyeing her enemies with hatred and venom, like a true Amazonian conqueror.

She wrestled with the first one; she lost the half stick on her left hand but succeeded in knocking her out by a hard kick of her heel against the woman’s knee. Cockily, she rose to her full height and straightened her back even more, the adrenaline of the fight and the taste of sweet victory making her drunk and irresponsible which gave the other woman the chance to snatch the other one of Betty’s weapons, sending it across the floor with a thud. Betty panicked and immediately felt a sting against her cheek, the woman slapping her hard and causing her face to roll to the side, the blonde gasping at the faint taste of blood that appeared in her mouth. She raised her scratched knuckles to fight back but suddenly the woman wasn’t in front of her anymore, but pushed over against the pool table, and she was being dragged kicking and screaming further away from the chaos by someone that had a strong hold around her waist from behind.

A metallic black door let an icky crack as it got pushed opened, Betty still huffing and puffing and trying to break free from the stranger’s hold. The building’s roof unfolded in front of her and the man let her go, almost soft and tender, before Betty’s antennas caught the sound of the door snapping close and she turned around, ready to claw whoever was trying to violate her once again. But what she came across had her gasping in shock.

“You.” Betty spoke in almost a whisper, the rollercoaster of emotions inside her chest not letting her form another word, let alone a full sentence. Jughead was there in front of her, same and totally different at the same time since the last time she had seen him, screaming for him to get lost. His face looked paler, if that was even possible, with black waves messier than ever, his beanie not there to secure them in place. Betty felt a punch in her gut at that; it seemed like he had lost his innocence overnight, that he had become a whole different person. His full black attire and that dreadful snake-decorated leather jacket backing up her thoughts.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” he spat to her face, orbs pitch black from anger. He wasn’t glad to see her and that was crystal clear.

“Me? What the fuck are you doing here?” she spat back with equal venom and accusatory tone in her voice.

Jughead straightened up his back, defensively. “I have my reasons.”

“And I have mine.” Betty chinned up, curling her arms under her breasts; two could play this game.

The boy closed his eyes, exhaling deeply to soothe down his irritation, pinching the bridge of his nose before continuing in a slow, ‘the calm before the storm’ voice. “Do you have any idea in how much danger you just put yourself into? God, Betty, I swear you have zero common sense and survival instinct!” he chuckled with no humor at all, bringing his hand to mess his raven hair just out of spite.

Betty scoffed, chuckling herself too. “Oh, this is rich coming from you!”

“Excuse me?” he narrowed his eyes at her. “I’m here for a purpose; I’m here to keep my dad back on track, to protect him, to protect you for God’s sake!” his arms pointed at her in exasperation, the girl shaking her head with another scoff. “But you just go and make it so damn difficult!”

She interrupted him, with equal ire in her voice. “Yes, of course, I’m sorry for being an inconvenience and an obstacle towards your way of becoming a martyr! Brand news; nobody asked you to save the world, Batman! Take the testosterone down a notch, will you?” she threw in mockery with a set of eyes narrowed and bitter against his, despite the fatigue, still terribly handsome face.

Jughead warned her with a look to not push him more. “This is not a joke, Betty.”

“Am I laughing?” she raised her voice, dropping her arms at her side in anger because, seriously, she had had enough. “Was I laughing when you stupidly marched into my room and filled me up with your lies? Which, by the way, congratulations, they were so successful in making me doubt myself once again and fuel so many shut down insecurities! Nice work there, buddy, much appreciated!’ she huffed and then groaned in irritation, seeing him standing there drowning in self-pity like he always did.

“I never meant to hurt you and you know that.” He said in almost a whisper, eyes for the first time soft on her face, sending a pinch of guilt to Betty’s heart for shouting at him. Her piled-up fury won though.

“No, I don’t know that Jughead!” her voice was high-pitched and colored with how unfair she found the whole situation. “Apparently I don’t know a lot of things about you. I didn’t know that you could be that stupid for example!” she threw the adjective with venom that made him flinch. “Or hurtful or mean or unfair to the people you claimed to love the most.” She added another low-blow.

“Stop it.” He begged, a chock closing his throat and his chest rising and falling with difficulty now.

“No, I’m not gonna stop it!” Betty shouted. “Are you pleased with yourself? Is your plan going smoothly? What’s the deal, huh? Are you gonna disappear for a couple of months, a year maybe, and then come back as a great conquistador and demand for me to kiss the ground you walk on? Say thank you, bow down to your greatness and generosity?” her lips were running a mile per minute and her words stung and Jughead couldn’t listen anymore, the pain in his heart was unbearable too but she needed to get everything off her chest, to finally let him know how awful he had made her feel.

“I’m not a fool to expect you to return back to me after everything that I’ve done.” His voice was controlled, soft and his eyes were glued to the ground in shame.

Betty groaned loudly, raising her arms in protest and irritation. “Ugh! Stop being so self-loathing for a moment!”

“What do you want me to say?” it was Jughead’s time to snap. “That I was wrong? Fine, there you have it! I’m an asshole and I loathe myself for hurting you; I can’t even look myself in the mirror after that night, I’m that much ashamed for what I’ve done to you.” He took a deep breath and Betty’s eyes flickered at the range of emotions that purred right out of him. “All I can think is those three fucking words I spat to your face and your trembling lips and the mascara running down your cheeks and that chilling “leave” you shouted in my face, breaking me whole.” He snapped his eyes closed with force, reliving the events of that night, like he did every night that followed, the memory of her sorrow-filled face and her heavy words imprinted in his mind like a nightmare that was never going to end. “I know I destroyed everything. And I’m going to hate myself for the rest of time for reneging on the only promise that mattered in my life.” He concluded with honesty and integrity in his eyes, like a man who fought a war and lost in the worst possible way, carrying around the guilt of his actions.

She didn’t know why but she launched forward. She didn’t know why but her hands circled his neck for dear life and her lips collided with his in a desperate need to feel him, to see if her Jughead was still there, under the cold interior of the look he was trying to sport. And when his fingers dug on her hipbones and his mouth opened against hers with a deep sigh of a man coming home and a low male moan of need that was all the confirmation she needed for her heart to start beating again, restarting after so much time that lay useful at her feet.

The kiss wasn’t soft or tender; it was needy, raw and aggressive, with tongues battling hotly and teeth scratching the soft flesh of their lips, marking them and making them bleed in a desperate need to hurt each other for being a pair of idiotic and impulsive kids. Jughead felt her graze his scalp with her nails, pulling his hair and angling his head more and more to violate his mouth with her sinful tongue and the only thing he could do was moan and grunt, pulling her closer and closer, wanting to disappear inside her body and shallow her whole. Her body was hot against his thin layers of clothing, soft and hard at all the right places, now registering that she was practically naked and remembering the moment she saw her ready to attack those Serpent women, dressed in the sexiest set of clothes he had ever seen in his life, looking like the epitome of lust. He groaned at the image and attacked her mouth more, Betty moaning as her back arched even more, head bobbing back from the force of his kiss and teeth biting hard on his down lip, having him flinch with pain and drag his nails under her leather jacket over the skin of her back as payback, Betty instantly gasping inside the kiss.

Their bodies were rolling in frenzy and Jughead started walking backwards, trying desperately to find a wall to trap her between it and his body or something to sprawl her over and show her just how much he had missed her. The back of his knees collided with something cold and he felt himself being pushed to sit down, losing the sensation of her lips and her body and snapping his eyes open, searching desperately for her. He saw her standing over him, a sensual goddess illuminated by the moonlight, and his knuckles turned white while holding the cement bench he found himself sitting on. Looking at him straight in the eyes, both their pupils dilated with lust and want, Betty used his shoulders to straddle him, throwing her smooth leg over his lap seductively, before rolling her hips to rub exactly over his forming bulge, Jughead biting his lip without breaking eye contact, feeling her heat through her miserable excuse of panties. She smirked pleased to herself, and dove down again capturing his lips, the boy violently groping the back of her thighs and urging her to rub more intensely against him.

“Were did you find these clothes?” he murmured, too far gone into sexual haze, dropping his lips to suck on her neck loudly, wet lips littering her sensitive skin with purple hickeys, Betty loving it and tilting her head more to the side to give him better access, pushing her heaving breasts more against his chest and leaving deep sighs and tiny moans, feeling him hard against the place he wanted him the most. “Fuck…” he swore, grabbing her hips and grounded them more on his hard-on, his hips bucking up against her in need and making her roll her head back with a low moan, Jughead finding the chance to nibble at the hollow of her neck.

“Had them for a while… They make me feel good; powerful.” Betty explained with difficulty and between heavy pants, caressing up his hair before crossing her elbows behind his neck. “You like me all badass like this, huh?” she whispered against his lips, circling her wet underwear over his jeans and letting one of her deepest, most sultry moans, seeing him flicker his eyes in pleasure, cheeks flushed and nails painfully digging against the small of her waist.

“I almost died when I first lay eyes on you. And when you broke that cue stick, damn, babe; that was so utterly hot.” He breathed the last word in a harsh male voice and suppressed Betty’s pleased smirk with his lips, rolling his tongue in coordination with his hips, feeling her whine desperately, scratching the side of his neck painfully.

“Touch me…” she whispered in a needy plea, down lip getting stuck between his teeth and causing her to flinch in pleasurable pain, Jughead groaning and fisting her leather jacket, forcefully pushing it off her shoulders, her helping him with equal urgent movements until it was just a mess on the cold cement. Chills ran down her spine, not from the cold but from his presence and his lips and his hands that were everywhere, exploring her body in a desperate need to trace the paths of skin he knew like the back of his hand and had terribly missed all those time they were apart. A hand came up from her waist to massage her breast forcefully, both moaning against their opened lips and the other one delivered a heavy caress from the back of her thigh all the way under her tiny skirt, palming her ass, fingers creeping under the lace of her underwear.

“You drive me crazy, Betts… I can’t even think straight…” he spoke breathlessly, dark locks of hair pocking his eyes and head titled to the side as his girlfriend went in for his neck, creating her own fair share of hickeys, Jughead watching the actions of his hand against her full breast mist leaving wet kisses against her shoulder and collarbone.

Her tiny hands dropped from the lapels of his leather jacket to the belt of his dark, ripped on the knees jeans, quickly undoing the hooks, feeling him pull back to look at her.

“I don’t have any condoms on me.” He was looking at her through hooded eyes with dark red and swollen lips and board chest painfully rising up and down under his black band tee, physically hurting at the thought of them stopping but still being responsible and respectful.

Betty undid the button of his jeans, going in for the zipper. “I don’t care, I wanna feel you inside me…” she breathed with dark desire against his lips, her hand sliding inside his opened now pants and under his boxers, closing around his hard member, the boy throwing his head back in reflex, mind foggy and lips hissing at her long-missed touch.

The girl bit her lip, leaning to lick and suck at his Adam’s apple, loving the vibrations of his male moans against her abused lips. “You need me as much as I need you, right Juggie?” she mouthed against his soft skin while squeezing him in her hand and pumping him more forcefully, feeling him mumble something incoherent in agreement between his heavy pants and occasional grunts. “I guess I’m good enough right now, yeah, I am…” she whispered out of the blue, before grabbing his chin to line his lips against hers but, even though lost in the world of pleasure, Jughead had registered the commend, frowning inside the kiss before pulling back.

“Betty, why did you say that?” he tried to calm his breathing and get his mind to function, the fact that her hand was still buried inside his pants not really helping with the situation.

She was looking at him all flushed, her cheeks rosy and her eyes wide in desire and wonder like every time he was doing miracles to her body, and even though her black wig was throwing him a little bit of he still could see his Betty; but right now his Betty wasn’t her original self.

“It’s fine; if you want me like that, I’ll be like that.” She wasn’t saying that with venom or with the ulterior motive to hurt him or to indicate that she was holding it against him but with true, genuine desire to be the one he wanted to be with, to match his expectations in order for him to not leave her again in the future. And at that moment Jughead hated himself a ton more, if that was even possible.

“I can be dark, I can be not fragile and girly all the time. You saw that today. I can be the type of girl you want, Juggie, I promise.” Her voice broke with emotion because she feared that this was just a spear of the moment, that when the passion was over and she would return back to her preppy clothes and pastel dresses he wouldn’t be interested in her once again, his love for dark things would succumb his maybe love for her. She started leaving desperate soft kisses everywhere, against his lips, his jaw, his cheeks, his eyelids, whispering I promise over and over again for him to believe her, to let her occupy even a small place inside his heart. Because she needed him, she was in love with him the way she read in books or saw in films and losing him again would surely be her undoing.

Jughead grabbed her wrist delicately to push her hand off his still painful but not a priority right now erection. He saw in her eyes the disappointment as she thought that was a hint for his upcoming rejection but he was quick to shush her this time with a tender, long peck on her wobbly lips.

“You are the only type of girl I want, Betts.” He told her with all the honesty in the world, hands cupping her cheeks and baby blues focused on her bluish green ones, trying to pierce through her soul. “This, the clothes, the hair, the attitude is just a façade, a veneer that comes and goes. I want the real Betty Cooper that hides underneath it all. The one that gets excited over strawberry milkshakes and snorts when she laughs and cries at emotionally click bating videos on YouTube and dances in her underwear at whatever girl song is trending at the moment but can also drive you to the wall with her stubbornness, end you with a snarky comment, make you die laughing with a grimace and have you stare in awe with how educated and cultural and wickedly smart she is.” Jughead finished his little speech with a small, loving smile wanting to say more, vowing to himself that he would say more at another time and he would not stop reminding her that she was the perfect one for him for years to come.

Betty was at the verge of tears at the moment, heart fluttering inside her chest at his words and biting her lip not to breakdown. “It’s just, what you said—”

He cut her off, closing his eyes momentarily in regret. “The things I said to you that night was the biggest lies I ever said in my life.” He sighed heavily. “I need you to believe me, Betty.” It was his time to plead now, eyes connected again. “I wanted you to give up on me, to hate me in order for you to be safe. And safe was away from me and my crazy, misery filled life.” He dropped his head in embarrassment.

Betty caressed his cheek to make him face her again, thump brushing affectionately over the corner of his pouty lips. “But being away from you is making my life a misery. You became something vital for me, Juggie. All this time, I wasn’t living, I was just barely surviving.”

“I know.” He admitted with a deeper pout, Betty frowning at that. “I was a mess too, sulking around and keeping to myself or getting irritable by the slightest of things; ended up getting in the crossfire many times for that.” He chuckled lightly, Betty frowning more and her heart dropping at the sight of the faint red around his left eye that she had now came to notice, her fingers coming to trace the disappearing shape of a punch, Jughead squirming lightly and shaking his head at her, indicating that it was nothing for her to be concerned of. “So Joaquin pulled me to the side one night and told me all the things that Kevin kept blubbing to him about you; how you disappeared from school and then when you came you weren’t yourself but just an empty and lost girl wandering around with no purpose.” He explained with a sigh. “I was so close to give everything up, this stupid plan and my stupid ways of proving what’s right, and come beg for forgiveness, kneel down on your feet if needed. And when I finally made up my mind and said “screw this, I’m gonna let her know, explain everything and if she’ll have me, stay by her side for as long as she desires” I saw you with Reggie, him walking you at your door and you actually smiling at him, bright and dashing like you can only master.” Jughead flinched at the terrible memory, fingers turning cold against the skin of her waist. Betty didn’t even remember that incident.

“I ran back here like a man caught on fire; I was fuming! Fuming that I was so pathetic to give up on you, fuming that Reggie Mantle was proven to be the luckiest man on the planet.” His anger grew even now that he had her in his arms, Betty obviously having chosen him over Reggie and every other Reggie. “But then I remembered the smile I saw you giving him and I thought it was time to let you go. Because you seemed happy and my only intention was for you to be happy.” He told her truthfully and with glassy eyes, the blonde cupping both his cheeks now and leaning down to give him a loving kiss.

“He was just helping me find you. He knew a lot about the Southside Serpents; Jason had shared pretty much everything with him. Reggie was actually the one that helped me locate the man that recruited you.” Betty explained, wanted him to know that their relationship was secretly business.

Jughead grimaced in disbelief. “Well, who would have guessed?” both of them chuckled light. “So…No Reggie?” he wanted to make sure.

“No Reggie.” She shook her head no. “And you really didn’t mean all those things, right? ‘Cause I’m telling you I won’t handle a repetition of that behavior ever again, I’m going to kill you, Jughead Jones, I swear!” she pocked his chest in fake threat.

“I’ll hand you the gun myself.” Jughead vowed morbidly with a curt, serious nod. “You are the definition of imperfectly perfect, Betty Cooper. You don’t need anything else to make you even more brilliant than you already are.” He whispered truthfully and with a head over hills look under his eyelashes, feather lightly bringing his hand to slide the raven wig off her head, blonde tresses pouring like a waterfall over her angel-like face and making him smile awestruck. “Now that’s my girl.” His breath caught in his throat at how stunning she looked, still not believing how such a girl kept fighting for somebody like him.

Betty smiled the dashing smile he had terribly missed and went to join their lips before a male voice, shouting in worry from inside of the building, interrupted them.

“Betty! Betty, where are you?”

“Is this my dad?” Jughead frowned in utter confusion, the two teens snapping their heads to the direction of the door.

She slid off him quickly, smoothing down her skirt and pulling over her shoulders her discarded on the floor leather jacket. “You might want to zip that up.” Betty bit her lip, trying to hid her teasing smirk while looking at his unbuttoned pants and his still prominent bulge, Jughead shooting up like he was hit by a lightning bolt at the realization, struggling a little to get himself intact – Betty smirking even more at that and earning a scoff and a “it’s all your fault” back but out of his amused smiley lips – but he finally succeeded right on time when his dad burst through the door to the open rooftop.

“Thank God, here you are! Are you ok?” FP’s eyes were on the girl who nodded, surprised to see that he had survived the huge fight with just some minor scratches, a faint red cheek and bloody knuckles.

“Dad…” Jughead addressed him with a small voice, glad to see him and glad that he was here to fight for him.

FP turned to the voice, now registering that it was another person at the balcony with them, his face brightening up instantly and his chest deflating with a relieved, happy sigh before launching forward to envelop his son in a tight hug.

“You are not allowed to do that ever again to me, you hear me?” he demanded in fatherly concern, patting his head and squeezing his shoulders, thanking whoever was responsible for keeping his son safe.

“I’m sorry, dad.” Jughead apologized with a small, emotional voice, clutching his shoulder blades. Being accepted back by two of the most important people in his life was truly the best feeling in the world.

FP pulled back, grabbing his cheeks. “No more of you playing the adult and the savior, okay? I’m here now; I told you I’ll be back on track and I am so please stop thinking that everything is your responsibility, alright son?” he patted his cheek in affection and Jughead nodded, feeling a burden getting lifted off his chest. “We’ll discuss it more at home.” They had a lot to talk about but he had a feeling that everything was going to be alright after all.

“But I guess I shouldn’t be that worried about you anymore. This girl right here is ready to drive to hell and back to assure that you’re ok, Jug.” FP patted his shoulder, smiling at Betty who was standing a little further behind Jughead, wanting to give them privacy.

“I know.” The boy turned to smile at her too, Betty offering him back a wide lovesick grin. “Still can’t believe it though.”

“Oh, you better do! Lured Jack Gaulden, offered some mean right hooks to Alfred Murrow, didn’t back down when she was surrounded by those women… I mean are you seriously dating a superhero or something?” FP was smiling proudly at the girl that had his son’s heart, Betty looking at the ground in modesty with a shy smile and resting her laced fingers over Jughead’s shoulder, as he curled an arm around her waist, immensely in love and proud himself.

Jughead’s smile froze momentarily, registering his dad’s word. “Wait a minute. Did you use Jack Gaulden to bring you here?” his voice raised an octave at even the thought of him near her. He knew his reputation and he knew the way he was treating women, dreading that Betty actually had to experience something like that.

Betty hesitated, stuttering her words. “Well, I tried but you know, he got a little handsy” Jughead’s posture stiffened at that, eyes instantly filling with rage so Betty was quick to continue “but your dad was there and everything is fine, I promise.”

“I’m gonna kill him, I swear, I am going to now.” Jughead launched forward, Betty holding him back by his shoulder and his father blocking his way, placing a hand on his other shoulder in reassurance.

“I gave him a lesson, don’t worry. All is good.” FP assured him and Jughead huffed, looking at Betty, ready to go on with his plan of shredding the bastard to pieces if she wanted him to, but the girl just shook her head and smiled, telling him silently that everything was now in the past.

“Let’s get out of here, okay? The more we stay, the more we’re asking for trouble.” The man urged the two teens, their job here successfully done, before walking in front to check for any possible threats.

“Betty” Jughead took her hand, stopping her as she took a step to follow his father. “Thank you.” He told her simply, his eyes holding so much gratitude and emotion that made her knees a little weak.

“You would do the same for me.” Betty stated what was 100% true, Jughead would have jumped straight into fire for her, and cupped his cheek before pecking him once. “I love you.” She whispered in the most sacred and pure way.

“I love you too.” Jughead whispered in the same manor, caressing the hand that it was against his cheek, his nose brushing affectionately over hers, tiny dimples adoring the corners of his lips as he gave her a boyish smirk.

“Come on, let’s get you home.” Betty curled an arm around his waist and Jughead dropped his on her shoulders, kissing the top of her head. Tangled up with each other, they walked towards their happy ending, Betty’s short raven wig forgotten on the cold hard rooftop. She wasn’t going to be needing that anymore.

#bughead #bughead fanfiction #bughead fic #bughead prompts #betty cooper #jughead jones #riverdale #riverdale fic #riverdaleships #otp:sundaes & plaids #mywriting

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idolizerp · 5 years

Photo

LOADING INFORMATION ON HONEY’S LEAD VOCAL MIN AHYOUNG...

IDOL DETAILS

STAGENAME: n/a CURRENT AGE: 21 DEBUT AGE: 18 TRAINEE SINCE AGE: 15 COMPANY: MSG SECONDARY SKILL: n/a

IDOL PROFILE

NICKNAME(S): princess ahyoung, pageant queen, the next miss korea. INSPIRATION: she was inspired to become an idol due to a concert she attended as a child, and has never stopped dreaming about being on-stage ever since. SPECIAL TALENTS:

she can do a near perfect vocal impression of the pokémon pikachu and jigglypuff.

ahyoung often wins displays or competitions of aegyo or visuals on variety shows.

she’s great at makeup, and posts short tutorials on her instagram page sometimes.

NOTABLE FACTS:

if she could choose one place other than korea to live, she’d choose italy.

ahyoung is often the member that cheats on her diet, and gets in trouble for it.

she’s a terrible chef, and the other girls in honey don’t let her cook at all.

she loves eating spicy food, and doesn’t like most foods that aren’t spicy.

she aspires to be like all of the members of 99 entertainment’s heaven.

IDOL GOALS

SHORT-TERM GOALS:

within one year, min ahyoung hopes to reveal a sweet solo début to honey’s impressive audience, and in doing so, launch herself into stardom even more. all of this happened by chance, after all, and she’d be foolish not to take advantage of all of the perks that come with being an idol. her fanbase is growing a lot, and at a quick pace, so she wants to take advantage of this sooner rather than later. she simply wants to be seen as an individual that can stand on her own without using her other members as a crutch. to say she’s self-absorbed is a bit of an understatement, but it’s a dog eat dog world and she truly refuses to get bitten… even if she has to do the biting herself.

LONG-TERM GOALS:

after a lofty career in honey, as a solo artist, and eventually a model, ahyoung plans to start her own cosmetics and fashion conglomerate. with the help of her parents’ connections and being a powerhouse name in all of asia, she’s confident that she’ll be a success. after all, by this point, she would’ve gathered high viewership on her personal youtube channel, and non-stop attention from being a member of honey. additionally, with all of this, she’d love to launch her own variety show similar to ‘get it beauty,’ but she’ll take things one step at a time; never wanting to keep her eyes off of the prize.

IDOL IMAGE

with one swipe through her aesthetically pleasant instagram account, ahyoung was direct messaged by casting executives from msg entertainment; her use of pastel color palettes, stunning high definition photography, and stunning selfies that resembled print ads instead of simple uploads to a social media platform drawing them into wanting to sign her to their company. their belief, at the time, was that she’d blossom into a young woman whose looks were almost otherworldly, and clad with an eye for detail and seamless beauty, they knew that the korean public, at large, would fall as head over heels for as they did. in their mind, she was the perfect candidate to make anyone — men, women, or whatever else — believe in love at first sight. so, when she signed to the company and began her trainee journey, it was clear that she would hold a bulk of the visuals within whatever girl-driven collective they planned on revealing next. so, when that time finally came, she was instructed to almost flirt with the cameras whenever they were pointed at her; long lashes batting their way, kisses blown towards the lens, and an almost effortless display of saccharine sweetness that only honey’s namesake could produce. she was golden, she was delightful, and people almost couldn’t get enough of her whenever the group performed on television or in concerts. many fans claims that, due to her charms, that she’s the camera man’s favorite, and that her fan-cams are always the best amongst her group, but their opinions are subjective. some criticism she has is that she showboats too often, and that she never lets the other’s have a center spotlight for themselves as she’s constantly thinking of ways to steal it from them.

in a lot of ways, the critiques she receives are factual, but she doesn’t have any plans to stop and correct them. what for fix what isn’t broken? if msg wants her to reveal just how extravagant she truly is, then she’s going to take every opportunity, large or small, to do so. however, now that honey’s direction seems to be leaning towards something that harbors a slight sex appeal to it, she wants to make sure that she keeps her stance in the group in a stronghold. so, she convinces stylists to let her don blouses with lower necklines, skirts that are a bit too high, and whatever else she can to show off the very facet of her personality that she’s been forced to suppress due to her group’s earlier concepts. now, she’s able to fully encompass, and captivatingly portray, the role of a woman whom all men want, and all women are envious of, and she’s never felt more like herself in her career. sure, playing coy and acting coquettish before male fans, cameras, and variety show hosts has worked in the past, but she looks forward to seeing how far she can take her feminine sexuality without besmirching msg entertainment’s reputation. after all, she’s got to keep in their good graces if her future goals rely on them, and their almost powerful control over her.

IDOL HISTORY

I. dark chocolate colored tresses cascaded down the length of a petite back, one leg crossed over the other beneath her desk as min ahyoung prepared herself for yet another day of class at the prestigious private academy that her parents decided upon sending her to. if it were up to her, she’d simply have stayed homeschooled and in the comfort of her own usual surroundings, but mother and father deemed it necessary that she become more social, that she make friends instead of tinkering around with clothes and cosmetics all day long. it hadn’t been as simple as they made it seem to create long-lasting relationships with people, but what she had managed to do was enchant most of those around her. there was a cadence to her voice that sounded like honey on warm toast, like soft wind chimes drifting in a delicate springtime breeze, and those around her were intimidated by how seamlessly ethereal she seemed. how on earth was a girl like her real? being treated like a living doll, at that time, didn’t please her, but she took all of the compliments thrown her way in stride; so many of them in awe of her s-line curvature that blossomed earlier than most, or how her the whorls that fell atop her head in a naturally waved fashion differed from other girls’, and truth be told, all of this was almost giving her a big head; her ego stroked so generously by her peers leading her to believe that, in a sense, she was untouchable; too good for friends. however, today was going to prove itself different, and all it took was the serendipitous drop of a pencil onto the ground; the pesky writing utensil rolling its way over to the floor beneath a boy seated diagonally behind her. pivoting around, she watched him pick it up, write a note down, then pass it back to her; a piece of paper attached to it. curious, she turned to face the front of the class again and opened up the letter, and within it read a sweet nothing that ended with a phone number. glancing back over to him, she smiled; simpering at how adorable his approach to dalliance was. maybe she wasn’t sacrosanct, after all? maybe she was doomed with the somewhat ‘painful curse’ of being beautiful? knowing that someone was brave enough to make the first move on her impressed her so, and after classes ended and she returned home for the remainder of her night, she sent him a text message; eager to interact with someone that wasn’t going to simply stutter nervous flattery toward her. II. vanity… what a deadly sin, and little-by-little, it was sinking its herculean claws into the quite fragile form of what was left of one min ahyoung’s humility. at the delicate age of fourteen, she had learned that she could use her physical form to enchant, use it as her siren song to attract people to the water before she drowned them, though up until this point, it had only been used to convince her smarter classmates to complete assignments for her, or to trick convenience store clerks into giving her free snacks every once in awhile, but now that she’s one year wiser, she’s mastered it to a degree, so her confidence has grown. back then she feared being ‘untouchable,’ but now, she’s learned to embrace it. after all, who would dare point their fingers at someone who resembled that of a seraph, who carried herself in an almost frail fashion whenever she needed to. her image mattered a lot to her, and she fought to make sure it was kept unstained, and she did so to many by curating a masterful instagram account. each photo was beautifully captured, and she made sure it she used the same filter, the same editing process, so each post was appetizing to the eyes, and it had gained somewhat of a following from those she had never met before. with a follower count that was quite high for its time, she knew that her appeal wasn’t only working on individuals she knew in person, but she was able to capture the hearts of those from a screen, too. it was then when she was approached, when none other than an entertainment company had fallen into her clutches, and for a brief moment, become trapped much like many others. had they known that she was the daughter to a wealthy family? were they only interested in her due to the riches that sat pretty in her mother’s account? there were so many queries, but she had the answer to none, and that made her all the more curious. with an invitation to a private audition held by them at a time where they weren’t actively seeking anyone via an open casting call, she found it peculiar, but fascinating all at once. would they be like the boy who picked up her pencil and beg her to be theirs, or will they play hard to get and make her work for it? with approval from her parents, she had a meeting with casting team and, like with most, her wit proved successful. sure, she didn’t have any polished talent, and sure, she never thought once about becoming an idol, but when life handed her a treat, she made sure to indulge in it, and this is one that she was happy to digest; one that seemed worth the risk. even after a subpar to pitiful display of vocal, dance, and rap, they decided to take her on as a project; to mold a girl so beautiful into one that didn’t only possess a diamond visual, but an affinity for various artistic talent. at the time, ahyoung thought she could simply skate on by with personality alone, but that was an ignorant fate to foresee. III. after only one year into her trainee experience, ahyoung started to regret making the choice to walk blindly into the fire; to teeter along the tightrope of what preparing for a début meant to many who chased this dream from the time they were born. having never had to work for a single day in her life, she was taught that in order to make it in life, a substantial amount of effort and drive was needed, and in the beginning, she lacked all of that. so, whenever her lot of instructors would become frustrated at her lack of progress, or would scold her for not taking any of this seriously, she would try to utilize her charm, or to play the victim so they’d take it easier on her, but many of them were relentless with their critiques, and it didn’t help that she had an audience of other girls whom were from similar walks of life as she; girls who were pretty, girls who had money. though, one thing that they had that she lacked was ambition, was talent. instead of making her scared or insure, it simply made her angry. why were they like that, and why was she so stubborn? gradually, she was beginning to lose every ounce of ego that had been borne within her, but in its place came an infernal need to win; to succeed in what she was tasked to do. despite earlier wonderings, she wasn’t going to let her mother’s name go down in vain, and with that, she surrendered to the motions of a typical trainee underneath the watchful eyes of msg entertainment, and she started to work. whether it be hours spent at a piano plucking away at keys of ivory and onyx until her voice matched pitch, or missing much-needed nights of sleep to learn choreography, she wanted to be the best; she wanted to earn that praise that she’d been given up until this point that she’s missed since agreeing to all of this. it was a long journey uphill, and it was one that drove her wild, but it left most around her flabbergasted. instead of slacking off in lessons, she actually applied herself, and that strong foundation was able to propel her forward into bigger, greater things. it didn’t happen overnight, of course, but as days turned into weeks, weeks to months, and months to years, she was able to convey a body of work at each evaluation that she felt proud of. she discovered that she adored to dance, and that it was the perfect release of suppressed stress from all of life’s woes. ahyoung also unveiled that earning praise was far more rewarding than expecting it from everyone, and when the sweet compliments that she longed for began to pour in again, she somehow felt whole. so much so that, in the end, when she was selected as a member of honey, she knew she deserved it. being able to stand on-stage and be admired by millions wasn’t a right, no… it was a privilege, and one that she could say she acquired with her own blood, sweat, and tears. IV. may 29th, 2015 came equipped with a landslide of emotions, both golden and grim. leading up to this point, ahyoung had hoped that she’d have been placed in the dance line of the all-girl collective she was selected for, but instead, she was made into a vocalist; the one beneath that of the main. befuddled at their decision, it took sometime for her to understand their reasoning behind it, and the truth of the matter was that she, out of the rest of them, had an easier time reaching high notes; the natural range of her voice extended upward with less tension. yes, the main vocalist was mostly in charge of belts, but whenever she wasn’t around to do so, or when her own voice failed her, they needed another they could fall back on for that support, and one min ahyoung fit the bill. she’d still be able to create beautiful lines with her body, yes, and she’d definitely still be able to show off her newly discovered passion, but it was disheartening knowing that they deemed her not good enough to add a second title after ‘lead vocal.’ just when she thought she would get a break from proving herself a formidable asset to honey, a new flame was lit within her, but now, she wanted to make sure she stole everyone’s attention on-stage; to show that her performance was just as valid as her ever-developing voice. so, when lights went up on the début stage of their first single, ‘like ooh-ahh,’ she took every opportunity necessary to milk her visuals, her skills, and the charms that she was introduced to only a few years into the past. they’re what got her here, after all, so why not use them to the absolute best of their ability? now, though, even after honey’s made quite the name for themselves in korea, and truly, all over the world, ahyoung is reveling in all of the attention that she’s been given; the group’s popularity something she didn’t expect completely, but welcomed in with a warm embrace as their star continued to rise higher and higher into the velvet sky of fame. apart from a few attitude scandals on variety shows, and possibly some small scale wardrobe malfunctions mid-performance, she’s managed to escape unscathed. of course, she’s subject to online hate, but she attributes that to status as opposed to those foul words having any basis. she and her group-mates are hot topics nowadays, so she’s gotten used to her name being tossed about in the press or on gossip blogs. not only that, but she’s opened herself up to even more criticism by starting a youtube channel in her name. though, all publicity is good to some degree, and she’s content with where she’s at now, but she can’t help but yearn for more, so all the while, her mind is constantly working to find new ways to call the spotlights to her. even if it sometimes annoys her friends, or brings negativity into her circle, ahyoung doesn’t feel fulfilled unless she’s being praised. like tinkerbell, she needs applause to live.

#id.bio #id.honey #id.msg #id.kim sohee #id.elite

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