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#anyway even though I spent too much time on this now I wish I'd spent more...
peridots-pixiwolf · 1 year
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yknow I play a lot of hard games but usually not "took 73 days to beat" hard
#aka gUESS WHO JUST BEAT RAIN WORLD. AFTER TWO AND A HALF MONTHS#rain world#peridots-nonsense#i got into subterranean like a week ago but have been mostly hanging around by the worm grass shelter for 20 cycles#i went to every region (even if i only spent a couple minutes total in drainage lol). met every echo besides the farm arrays one.#got every passage achievement (every one besides dragon slayer/wanderer in outskirts and industrial within my first few weeks of playing)#and never used a passage anyway. three months!!! rounding up a little! for a game that can be beat in less than 20 cycles.#dh was twelve days (though i'd played through part of it years earlier). stray was seven hours. insc was only a couple days.#i've done two separate ultkill playthroughs so not sure which to count but both were less than a week#hk was actually just over a month. may 24 to june 26th. which is still so much less than this. bftes about a month too#i remember how even just a week into rw i felt like i'd been playing it forever...even just a week in i knew it would be one of Those Games#where i wish i could play it over for the first time again. boy was i right. it almost felt like a second life at times#i loved just running around in certain areas building up stores of food and spears and vulture masks#(what comes to mind are / HI_S02 / CC_S05 / SI_S04 / SB_S07. the first two felt like home!)#(* up in the sixth tag i missed the friend. i was relishing in hubristic bloodlust especially in CC so i didn't have much time for taming)#if the tags here seem particularly incoherent i only falsely apologize. i'm just. reminiscing. i don't think i can do anything else#my heart was pounding as soon as i reached the depths. after 325 cycles. 116 hours. two and a half months. it's over.#maybe a little dramatic but hey it took up an invariable portion of my life for a fifth of a year so. it's just interesting#anyway. a standard ''i took too long on this and now the sun's rising'' goodbye to you tag-wanderer
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outeremissary · 1 year
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Just the art from this prompt post.
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matrixbearer2024 · 2 months
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Vox x Reader Headcanons: Fiancé Edition
Fiancé!Vox x gn!Reader
A/N: MY BRAINROT IS BRAINROTTING OKAY I JUST NEEDED TO DUMP THIS STUFF SOMEWHERE AFTER SEEING ALL THE WIFEY ALASTOR AND LUCIFER STUFF- LIKE I LOVE THOSE TWO BUT LEMME YEET IN MY BELOVED SAMSUNG TV NOW YALL- THIS COULD MOST LIKELY BE OOC COMPARED TO CANON BUT LIKE- LET ME DREAM I WANT THIS FLATSCREEN SO BAD P L E A A A S E-
A/N: This little thingy would have both an SFW and NSFW portion, mostly because I'm a depraved little shit and I am downbad for a 7ft bipedal television with issues-
SFW HEADCANONS:
Now first off, y'all probably would've been dating a long long while before this mans would pop the question.
I feel like he'd know that he wants to marry you, but he's so unsure of it plus he's concerned about how that would affect you in all of it.
Like, oh great if this gets out suddenly you've got one of the biggest targets on your back because you're the technology overlord's fiance and soon to be wife/husband.
As if you hadn't already when you both started dating-
Vox is a perfectionist so I'd imagine he would try so so hard to get everything completely flawless for his proposal.
But nothing goes his way that day, none, nada, zilch-
That's just his luck, totally not because it got screwed over by a certain radio demon for shits and giggles.
But he ends up asking you anyway, though a bit indirectly because it slips during his irritated rant.
"I can't believe they managed to spill wine all over me back there! All over one of my best suits as well!"
"Hun, we could always send your suit to the professional cleaners. It's okay! We can always just go someplace else next time too-"
"No! That- ugh! I had all these plans today and they were just ruined! I wanted everything to be absolutely perfect for when I was going to propose to you-"
"You were gonna what-"
Vox immediately shut up once he realized his screwup then.
So much for keeping it a surprise!
That's kind of how you ended up with a diamond ring on your finger that night.
And that's how Vox ended that really stressful day with an extremely satisfying night.
He ditched work the next day and just spent it being all over you.
Yes he admires the ring on your hand from time to time, this man just stares.
You can betcho ass that ring is expensive as fuck too.
Like as if this man didn't kiss your hands enough, that new accessory marking a new chapter of your afterlives just makes him do it more.
He's actually kinda housewife material if you squint-
This man can cook and clean, and as a bonus he's filthy stinkin RICH.
Bro I need me one of these holy shit-
If he wasn't clingy enough before, oh boy get ready for this.
He will always have an appendage on you at all times, a hand on your lower back, your hip, in your hand-
Or he'd just have you in his lap while he worked on stuff in his office.
Also, Vox being possessive as all hell if someone so much as just stared at you too long-
Please that goes straight up to 1000% when you agreed to wear that ring.
You guys planning to get hitched doesn't stay secret for too long though.
With Valentino and Velvette sticking their noses in Vox's business as a daily pastime anyhow-
Hence why a lot of sinners started shipping you two.
And oh goodness the ship wars.
Sometimes Vox wishes the internet wasn't really connected to his brain-
The magazines went wild with that one too-
Cuz imagine, the richest and the pride ring's probably most esteemed bachelor-
Aside from Lucifer probably, Vox's marketing and PR team are insanely good at their jobs-
Was now off the market and due to get hitched with you.
I'd imagine even if Vox doesn't post anything on social media, you or Vel would-
Literally like those married couples on TikTok or something with a whole bunch of cute shit.
You can best believe the most cracked out shit happens while you're both engaged though.
"Oh this is Vox, he's my ex-boyfriend."
"... You have got to stop saying that. I'm their fiancé."
You did not stop saying that.
Actually you wouldn't stop saying that even when his title upgraded to husband.
Not that Vox cares, your shenanigans were what caused him to gravitate towards you in the first place.
And until now they're what keep your relationship fun and interesting.
"Hey hubby, ooooh~ you're looking like the hottest thing in all of the pride ring despite having just rolled out of bed."
"Hahaha, good morning to you too doll."
It doesn't register what you called him at first until he's had his coffee and then it clicks.
You play it off attempting to be coy until he replays the video of you greeting and calling him that on his face.
His. Face.
Sneaky little shit that's what-
He doesn't really respond to any other petname now, you've dug your grave.
"Vox."
"Vox."
"Vooooooxxxx-"
"What? What?? What do you want???"
"Can you peel this orange for me?"
"Really? That's it? Why don't you peel it yourself?"
"Because it tastes better when you do it?"
He does it eventually, hell if he's in a particularly good mood he'll even feed you.
That's always kind of how it goes when you ask him for things.
If it's something you want/can buy though?
You're already in possession of his credit card, just get whatever tf you want HAHAHAHA-
He's still a busy bastard though so it's not really much different from how it's like when you guys were dating-
But he genuinely tries to balance his work a little better to spend more time with you.
This man is such a workaholic though you end up having to drag his ass out of his office to rest anyway.
Again, nothing new from when you were just dating.
You guys jokingly throw around your soon to be marital titles in private.
Vox kind of feels like a kid in a candy store when you do, just giddy and excited for what's to come.
Not to mention he now has a partner in crime when he riffs on Alastor!
He'd be over the MOON if you just joined his chaos.
The radio demon probably wouldn't give a shit, he's just built different like that-
You both get so comfortable that you almost forget that you have a wedding to plan and set a date for.
Until Velvette asks about it and you're both just: "Oh. Right."
Your fiancé's schedule is so fucking packed though it was nearly impossible to.
This guy was going to work himself to death before you could tie the knot lmao-
But eventually you both got a date and venue settled, so that was one step closer.
NSFW HEADCANONS:
Okay so like, I know sinners can't actually copulate unless you're Lucifer but that's besides the point-
And Vox isn't really a family man at all-
But boy oh boy if he didn't have it before-
This man would have an insane breeding kink after you both got engaged.
This man wants to see you stuffed.
Literally doesn't matter if you're riding him or he's just impaling you on his cock-
This guy just wants to fill you up so bad.
I'd also think that you guys would be screwing around a lot more often after he popped the question-
Something about emotions constantly running high and dopamine being one hell of a drug.
I think Vox is a switch, so I'd also imagine he'd be more inclined to let you dom him every now and then.
Or when he just wants to be a bratty little shit please go ahead and tame him, he likes it.
You can kind of get away with more stuff when you're both engaged.
Like tease him a whole ton and he just bites hook, line and sinker.
It's already gotten to the point where the power in the tower would die often enough that Velvette herself has gone through some crazy lengths to cockblock her colleague.
Speaking of, Vox would probably use you as a stress reliever after work if you let him-
Like he will just fuck you stupid until all you say is his name because this guy is addicted to hearing it.
Or he'd let you fuck him stupid until he's so far into sub space he forgets about his shitty day.
Cuz if it's rough, it's rough with you two.
But on the gentler side-
It's just as addicting and if not probably a little worse.
Though you would probably be the one taking initiative/domming whenever you both have gentle rounds.
I'm all for Vox being able to switch some of his parts cuz he wanted to/can.
So y'all have fucking choices when it comes to wrecking this idiot.
Like a multiple choice exam, literally shotgun the fuck outta those answers like you deteriorate his mental.
And consequently the entire city's power grid.
"GODDAMNIT! VOX! (Y/N)! NOT AGAIN!!"
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woso-dreamzzz · 4 months
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Call Up
Hardersson x Teen!Reader
Part of The Big Adventures Universe
Summary: You get called up
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Your first senior call up happens when you're seventeen (nearly eighteen) and still playing at Arsenal.
You've got a day off before the derby against Chelsea so your mothers have flown out to support you and, somehow, you've ended up at Millie Bright's house.
You're surrounded by your Momma and Morsa's old teammates (and a few of the Arsenal girls who were on the team when you were very little). There aren't enough seats for everyone but you're happy to sit on the floor in front of Momma and let her slowly card her fingers through your hair.
It's one of the things you've missed about being in England. You miss the little things about Momma and Morsa like this. You know they miss you too because there's never a day where they rearrange your daily video calls or don't send Leah around to your apartment when they think you're feeling especially sad on the call.
You miss them. They miss you. But you all know that it's best for you to be here, in England. You're still the second choice keeper but you know that if you keep working hard then by your eighteenth birthday, you'll have managed to clinch the number one spot.
After the derby, it's international break and you know that, while the senior teams are calling everyone up this week, you need to wait a few more days until the Denmark youth team sends for you again.
You've settled in well in the under-nineteen squad and you know that there's a round of friendlies coming up soon that you're excited to be apart of.
"The third choice keeper broke her arm," You can hear Morsa complain about the Swedish team," It was such a freak accident. It was gory to even watch. I almost threw up."
You don't pay much attention though, leaning back easily into Momma's hands. You're not paying attention to anything actually because you almost miss the vibrating of your phone on your leg.
You don't recognise the number but you pick it up anyway.
"Hello?"
"Is this y/n?" A professional-sounding voice asks," The Arsenal keeper?"
"Yes? Who is this?"
"Excellent. I'm calling up on behalf of the Swedish Senior team. I'm sure you know by now but our usual third keeper has been injured. We're offering you the call up in her place."
"W-What?"
You must sound especially panicked because everyone in the room has turned to look at you in confusion.
"I understand that you usually play for Denmark's youth teams but we've had our eye on you for a while. We've got a round of three friendlies coming up, one for each keeper, and would love to have you with us."
You feel frozen in place, capable of nothing but blinking.
"I..."
"Sorry," The person says," I'm getting ahead of myself. I understand completely if you wish to stay with Denmark. You're such a talent. Forgive me for wanting to have it on my team. I understand if you need to discuss this with your mothers as well. Do you need some time to think about it?"
"No!" You say quickly.
You've never really thought about a senior team call up. You just kind of assumed that Denmark would be the obvious choice. You've spent so much time in a Denmark shirt that you just assumed Sweden didn't want you anymore.
"You've already come to a decision?"
Your feelings on this call up must have already been decided. It must have been decided for years in some deep, hidden away part of your brain because there's no need to even think about it. There's no need to even discuss it with Momma and Morsa.
Somehow, you think you've always known the decision you would come to.
"I'd love to join you for the friendlies."
You can hear the person's smile through the phone. "Excellent," They say," The details will be sent to your email as well as your agent's, who I'm sure will forward it to your mothers. Just in advance, what would you like on your jersey? Your name or Eriksson-Harder, like your Denmark jersey?"
You make eye contact with Momma, who looks increasingly worried the longer you stay on the phone. "Harder-Eriksson," You say," Please."
"You've got it. I'll see you very soon, y/n."
"Yeah, you too."
The call ends and you stare at your phone for several seconds.
"It's a bit early for the youth team call up," Morsa teases," You're changing your name? Does Eriksson-Harder not cut it anymore for Denmark?"
You blink. "More like Harder-Eriksson suits Sweden better."
"Sweden called you up?" Momma asks," That's strange. You've never had any problem rejecting their call if it came before Denmark's before."
You shake your head. "No, it wasn't the youth team. It was the senior team."
The room's quiet enough to hear a pin drop.
Morsa's voice goes hoarse. "What?"
You look at her. "I got called up for Sweden's senior team."
Someone else in the room, Leah, you think, says," Holy shit."
Momma pulls you into a hug. "Harder-Eriksson?" She asks, eyes glistening with tears.
You manage to shrug. "Morsa got Eriksson-Harder when I played for Denmark. You get Harder-Eriksson when I play for Sweden."
Morsa is still frozen in shock, looking much like how you feel. Her hands are shaking a little as she crushes you in her embrace. When she pulls away, she's crying too.
"Magda," Momma says," Why don't you call Frido? I'm sure she'd want to know."
Morsa nods robotically. "Right. Yes. Frido. Would want to know. Yes."
"And you," Momma says fondly, cupping your face and kissing your forehead," I think you should call a certain retired keeper, shouldn't you?"
You've already got Zećira's contact lined up on your phone.
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woneuntonzz · 2 months
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competitive academic rival!eunseok x overachiever, afab!reader
“ started with a spark,¹ now we're on fire.² ” ; (2/2)
warning/s: cussing, violent thoughts
content: songfic, enemies to lovers, academic rivals, fluff, incy-wincy bit of angst, very lovey-dovey i'm actually attached, mention of other idol names for world building !!
wc: 7.4k!!
⋆⭒°。⋆ i feel like we've made it pretty far, now we're stargazing ☄️ ; inspired by The Neighbourhood's Stargazing 🎶
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It was a joke when Yunjin said Eunseok might take her place as your one and only best friend, but you figured there might be a slight truth to it. It wasn't that you'd dismiss Yunjin entirely, it's just that overtime, one instance of being project partners will become a sort of regimen for the two of you, him trailing behind you, calling out, “Partner, wait up!” as you walk to wherever you're headed. 
You would still exchange playful banters —some not sounding very playful at all— and would still contest each other during class recitations, but it was all fair and square, unlike before where it'd be blood, sweat and tears, not in a literal sense of course. 
“You should write this part. You're great at expressing your opinion.” This time, you two partnered up for statement writing —that supposedly was for a group of three.
“You really think so?” you tilted your head at him, jestful taunting hinted in your voice.
“Yeah. You're beautiful.” 
You knew he wasn't finished speaking, but a part of you wished it had ended there.
“—your narrative I mean. If there's anything I'd like to correct, I'd say you take a little too long to get to the point, but overall your writing is great.” you nod, flailing away the lost hope in your eyes.
It's been three months since you've grown to treat each other like a friend. It was something your past selves would've never foreseen, like a switch had been accidentally turned on. 
You wouldn't change a thing, though. Even if everything was only by chance, you wish it would stay till after highschool graduation, or, till all of your senses died out —till you were sure there was no way of seeing or hearing him ever again. 
The thought was so unhinged for you at first, but denying is for underdogs, and you were no loser. 
Considering the time you've spent with him, a big part of the blame is on him. Well how could you not blame him? when your conversations were at its tamest, he would resort to saying things that made you think more than when your history teacher would throw around riddles for you to figure out what he was trying to teach. 
“You really like green? that's kind of gross.” you scoffed at his comment after he'd observe that most of the things you owned were of your favorite color.
You hold up your phone, showing the back of your fern-colored phone case. “It's fern. Maybe you're thinking about a gross shade of green —why does it matter to you anyways?”
“I just thought you'd like a different type of color, like blue.” he slightly shrugged, his eyes wandering to the keychain dangling at your bag's zipper.
“I like blue, but I see it all the time, everywhere, so my eyes are kind of tired of it at this point.” you gave him an innocent smile, one that would soon falter when he replied,
“You see me all the time, I hope you like me too.”
What kind of idiot says that? —you were determined not to emit much of a reaction, you feared it might be too much for the both of you, and that he might be just that friendly with those he considered friends. Of course I like you. —you weren't sure though, if it was only harmless feelings you'd have for a best friend, or if it was this almost electric sensation that made everything else around you fade away from the void of your mind as you isolate yourself with the thought of him. 
After two weeks of somewhat careful reflecting, you realized that it was the latter. 
He'd accept his feelings around the same time you did, but he most certainly caught it first. He'd tell himself that you never minded his incidental wording, not realizing just how bad he was at reading people. He just wouldn't catch the way your eyes would linger from where they last situated after he spoke because he was too afraid to look at you long enough to catch your reaction. 
You were both so convinced that you did such a great job of hiding from each other, but the people around you could say otherwise. 
Eunseok would start biting the inside of his cheek when Shotaro told him, “You know what you two remind me of? like a very, painfully slow basketball game.”
“Come again?” his friend laughs at him, poking fun at the confusion plastered on his face.
“She likes you too, I mean, why else would she stick around you and always be your partner?” The idea made him bite into his bottom lip, reminiscing about the way things used to be before the near fallout —the essay incident. 
She's a people pleaser —but he couldn't just say that, and he knew you struggled with it too, he just wouldn't figure out why just yet. “She just finds it hard to say no to anyone.”
“Okay, partner.” Shotaro's teasing had him shaking his head.
It was something he wanted to help you with, saying no, taking care of yourself first. You kept giving and giving, it was something he never understood about you when he knew it's normal to be tired, angry, sad, and it's most certainly normal to refuse to save yourself from the anguish.
With you, he chose to be careful. He wanted you to be comfortable with him, to be ready when you finally him why you would always say yes to everyone, why you were so stubborn and so willing to give so much of your time and energy for the benefit of someone else who wouldn't even bat an eye if you got hit by a speeding truck.
It pained him to see you fake your keenness whenever Yuri, Ahra, or some other piece of shit chased after you in the hallway. They'd never directly say it, but they were basically asking you for their grades, all while you had to make sure yours were better than last quarter's results.
If you weren't taking care of yourself, he would, as much as his courage allowed him to.
The end of the school year was just right around the corner, you were busy all month preparing, elections for next year's student council were being held before the end of the year.
Eunseok was already a part of the student council, he was a public information officer, a very recognized one at that, but this time he was running for president. 
He wanted you to run alongside him, as his vice president, but you were afraid that it was way beyond your limits. You have been a part of the student council before, the year he transferred in your school, you were a peace officer, but that's the farthest you've gone. You've lost elections the next year, and the current year, you lost the public information officer position to him.
Still, he was able to encourage you to run for secretary. And like he promised —though not verbally— he helped you throughout everything.
“I haven't gotten much sleep last night, sorry for drooling on your sleeve.” you lazily tried to wipe off the wet stain on his forearm that you had accidentally napped on whilst he explained something about initiatives, you couldn't quite recall.
He had actually stopped speaking when he saw the way you tried to fight your drowsiness. He felt bad for almost laughing, but the way your eyelids would shut itself and you forcing them open only to fail seconds later, he thought it was adorable. 
“It's okay.” he moved his forearm, it was a signal to tell you to lie your head on it again. “You can rest.”
Your mind was still a bit hazy. You wiped your eyes and you would keep doing so, progressively becoming more forceful until he stopped you by taking ahold of your wrist. “Hey, stop, your eyes will hurt.”
He looked at them. He could almost feel your exhaustion, but even through it he could only see how lovely the color in your eyes were. 
“Sorry, I was just up all night doing…” What did you do? oh, right,
“Someone else's work? don't be sorry. Give yourself a break, please.” you would lock eyes with him when he said please, his voice was pure silk, gliding through the very cracks of your soul, it almost made your eyes brim with tears. 
The elections would roll around. You two would be inseparable by then, leading people to think you were running for vice president since he was with you more than he was with the actual running vice of your partylist. Even then, if they were being honest, they'd vote for the two of you. The pair of you were like a premium package in the market, two perfectly flawed individuals promoting your ambitions to the whole school. 
Your confidence flourished like never before, and the stutter you always had when speaking, you were way past it. You received so much support and encouragement, not only from him, but also from your best friend Yunjin who ran for vice president and other candidates in your partylist. 
You were happy with how everything was turning out, and so was he. He was confident you'd get the spot, not even caring any longer if he lost. He just wanted to see you succeed in something you've worked so hard to achieve for so long. 
“I hope I get it this time. I've been beating myself up for not having enough confidence to get myself into bigger opportunities.” he heard you say to Yunjin when you were all getting ready to go home. 
He didn't need to say anything because your friend was already there to assure you, but his stare was enough to tell you that he cared. He wanted you to know that he believed in you, more than you believe in yourself.
The sequel to your odyssey wouldn't be announced till the next school year began, but until then, you two would keep contact. It would start off with him popping up in your notifications with a little, hey how r u —which would shortly be followed by, it's eunseok btw.
yeah ik it's u —you laughed quietly to yourself, legs against your chest as you got comfy on your living room sofa. i alr have u saved in my contacts.
he would immediately reply, oh right
—lmao
You would subconsciously pucker your lips as you typed, whats up?  
the sky? —you physically cringed at his reply, funny for being so unfunny.
bro? 😭
bro…
idk it's been two weeks
since school ended?
yeah
and it'll only take like less than a month till we're back
but suffering is for the weak 💪
right 💪
kinda miss it too
props to u for missing school ig
i meant to say you
lmao
It was normal to say things like that to your friends, you and Yunjin say it to each other when you reunite after a considerably long time of not seeing each other, so, this must be… normal, right?
that's oddly sweet of u
hbu?
same
it's not the same w/o ur annoying ass
annoying or not
i know u love my ass
eww????
Maybe not his ass. 
You two would go on with your little convos every other day, that would soon turn into everyday, to every other hour, into phone calls.
would it be weird if i asked to call rn
why
u wanna?
yea
feeling lazy to type jus saying
call me then
You thought maybe you sounded too sure of yourself than you actually were, cause when he called, you fumbled, trying to fix yourself before you answered —it was pointless since it was an audio call and he won't even be able to see the pillow lining marked on your face from laying down for so long as you chatted with him. 
He also had no reason to feel lazy at all, in fact the only activity he'd been up to is on his phone, talking to you. He just wanted to hear from you again, because at that point you two still had sixteen days left before you got to see each other again.
“Y/n” he spoke as soon as you picked up.
“Eunseok.” you said back, imitating his tone. 
“The voting results are out, I'm looking at it right now, on my laptop.” you could almost hear him gulp before he spoke again. “We got it.”
You yelped, but rushed to cover your mouth. “Shit, is that for real?”
“Yep. It's for real alright.” his smile was wide, like the one he wore when you finally accepted his offer to be his project partner.
“Oh my fucking —thank you Seok. I love you, I love you guys so much, holy shit.” his eyes were wide open as he listened to your celebratory exclamations. 
You loved him? He knew it was your utter excitement speaking, but deep down he just wished he could hear it again, just those three precious words.
──────────﹒★﹒﹒──﹒﹒★﹒──────────
Time flew by, but not like how it usually would. This time it actually seemed to be a little slower. Maybe it was because you spent the majority of your break talking to him, which you didn't even think was possible. What was even there for the two of you to talk about outside of school? you two had never gone below surface level conversations, then suddenly he was approaching you in school all smiley while holding a cup of iced coffee?
“Drink up Sleepy, my favorite dwarf.” he sounded so sweet, but it was a tease. 
Suddenly your height became a topic of discussion, comparing you to one of Snow White's seven dwarfs, and he'd pinpoint the one who was most like you. Sleepy, always sleepy —and also pretty small. You weren't even that small, he was just a bit —no, he was a total tease. You'd mention it was your dad's genes, then it would turn into you telling him that you and your dad weren't really close at all. 
It was a drastic shift, but he learned to appreciate the trust you've granted him by telling him those things, and he would find out about the emotional neglect that went unnoticed by you yourself. 
You carefully took the cup from his hand, and with a smile you said, “Thank you, Seok.”
If back then he hid his emotions from you and everyone else, now he had his smile on full display, facing its very cause, you. He had learned how to read you now, and he knew he was getting somewhere when your voice had started to soften at certain times. Your voice that was usually dominant, almost sounding demanding in a way, he would be one of the few who would hear it completely disappear, and taking its place would be a sound he could only describe as his sweetest dreams.
Hearing you speak again in face to face for the first time after a while felt unreal almost, he felt ecstatic from your voice alone, so much so that he almost forgot that he was to be announced as student council president that day.
During orientation, you would be declared as student council secretary, and he's the president —the president who stood next to you instead of his designated place, next to the vice president. Yunjin stood where he was supposed to be, you noticed and whispered to him, “Hey, go back to your position.” but he'd just chuckle at your furrowed eyebrows. “Seok?”
His gaze was fixated on you, and it was like the whole world stopped for the two of you. “Hmm?”
“Congratulations, and, thank you. I really owe you one.” he chuckled again, and all you could see was him. 
“You don't owe me anything, but thank you for trusting me, congrats Sleepy.” his smile caused your mind to almost lose itself, eyes wandering down to the glint on his lips. 
Suddenly you wondered if they would feel as soft as the words he had spoken to you. You were ashamed that you would think that about your best friend, but he was thinking the same thing, eyes fixated on your velvet lips.
Nothing would come out of it, for fact, it would be as if nothing ever happened. But you both knew, the way you looked at each other was different. Heck, you could never even spare anyone else a second of eye contact. At that point, you two knew each other well enough, as opponents, and eventually as close friends. Now he just had to figure out how to know you as his lover. 
──────────﹒★﹒﹒──﹒﹒★﹒──────────
The two of you would be busy as ever and being together in those situations served as a perk, for even with the urge to just throw away your paperwork and drop out of school, you were able to continue with each other's motivation, each other's smiles, each other's voices.
—each other's touch. “Are your hands okay?” 
He eyed your fingers that had green guard bandages on them. You've been writing a lot, not only for being a secretary, but also for the ridiculous amount of school work you had piled up and had to finish before the end of the week. 
He was hesitant, but you kept yourself busy and it gave him a push to just go for it. Moments later, your writing would be interrupted as a hand reached out for yours. 
“Rest for a while. We have plenty of time before the next period.” was all he said as he enclosed your hand in his grasp. 
His touch felt warm, relieving you of the pain and the pressure everything's been giving you lately. When he moved his thumb against your skin, you just wanted to drag him with you and run away from everything and everyone. 
Realization would only hit you when from a distance, you saw a few of your classmates looking at the two of you, then whispering to each other. 
“Hey Y/n, I hope you're not too busy—”
“What?” Ahra had approached again, but this time Eunseok answered for you.
“Oh, I just needed help with the gen bio activity.” she eyed your linked hands.
“Right, just give me your paper, I'll sort it out for you.” Ahra handed you her activity sheet, but it was Eunseok who'd snatch it from her hand and retort,
“You people can't do anything for yourselves? Jesus.” he had an ill-tempered glare that he kept on the paper he held, but he gave your hand a gentle squeeze. “If you need it so badly, I'll do It. Fifty bucks.”
“But I don't have fifty bucks on me right n—”
“Then go find someone else to pester.” he says as he hands Ahra's paper back to her. 
Ahra takes it and walks away in shame, and spite. Why did he have to be there to ruin everything?
You were worried Ahra would be up to speaking ill of you to others like past classmates have done to you before, but he reassured you.
“They don't have to matter, besides, you're not obligated to take responsibility for their own.” just think about you and I —he finishes his words in his mind, not afraid to admit, but afraid to say it. 
Even if he didn't say it, you were already thinking it. Because why would anything else matter when you had him and he had you. The summit of your dreams used to be these superficial things, and now it would be a future, a future of a better life, living off of pure contentment and bliss. A future together.
It would all remain unsaid, but you could feel it with each other. 
Through him, you would learn to say no without much thought of the consequences all you had to think about is his fond eyes greeting you once you've successfully overcome your struggles. 
And through you, he learned to be more open and considerate. He would finally see things from others' perspectives, helping him understand what he needed to do as the president of the student council, and as your… 
Well, what was he to you? What were you to each other?
The label would be unclear to everyone, and to you both, but you were sure that you had something. You shared the same feelings and the same longing whenever your time with each other was cut short.
It was almost as if your only reason to go to keep attending school was to see each other and be with each other. It was easier to stick around with one another since you were both major parts of the student council, so when people asked if you two had a thing, there was only one answer.
“Well, we run the student council.” and apparently you ran in each other's minds too. 
sleepy  
don't force yourself to go to school tmrw ok?
but there's literally a presentation
and?
if u present with a stuffy nose and phlegm in your throat would that be any better?
no…
good
u better rest and not tire urself with ANYTHING else
oki
thanks seok :>
miss u alr lol  
u know i miss u more
it's so hard to bear with these ppl without u around
see? this is why i need to go to school...
hell no
get ur ass some rest
i'll see u when u feel better <33
It was usually you who would be too sick to go to school, and he quickly picked up on your routine of going to school with allergies that'll turn into a fever by the end of the day, and you would be out of school for a day or two, and he'd always make sure to check in on you through messages or calls.
Soon enough though, he'd show up outside your house. It was a risky move, but he was always lucky enough that your parents weren't around to see him. 
“You're really outside my house? Are you crazy?” you sneezed into your phone right after you spoke.
You heard his sweet chuckle from the other line. “Yeah, cutie. I have something for you, can you go down? or is there a way for me to get in? Is it through the doggy door or your bedroom window?”
Your laughter was weak due to the phlegm in your body. “Wait, wait, I'll open the door for you.”
Somehow, the thought of seeing him gave you enough energy to rush down the stairs to welcome him. 
You ended the call on your phone as you opened the door, and there he was. “Hey Sleepy, looking real groggy there.”
A playful glare made its way onto your face, and he'd laugh loud enough for you to hear despite the distance.
“Can I come in?” of course you let him in.
He had about two hours before your parents came back. He got you food, very warm and comforting seaweed soup and a cup of warm lemon tea. 
He watched you eat a couple bites, very slowly and feebly. He grew worried about the way you struggled with just holding the spoon up to your mouth. “May I?”
Honestly, why'd he even ask? he would do it anyway even if you refused —in this case you weren't even able to utter a reply. He takes the spoon, and feeds you, being very gentle, even wiping away some stray soup from the corners or your lips and your chin. 
Luckily, you weren't too sick to miss his enamored eyes and for a moment he'd stop feeding you, wiping your bottom lip, allowing his gaze on it linger. Flustered, you'd bite down on it with the strength you had. 
He chuckles, looking down for a brief moment. “You're so adorable.” —and a soft pinch to your cheek.
──────────﹒★﹒﹒──﹒﹒★﹒──────────
Your final year in highschool has finally ended. Elation coursed throughout your body when you received your medal as salutatorian, and of course, he was your valedictorian.
All those years he thought he was graduating with not much to look forward to. It was life, he graduates, and graduates again, then he'd be out making big contributions to the economy. But now, you would be in his list of aspirations, because at that point, none of you have ever thought of confessing, but still looked in each other's eyes like they were the only ones that existed. 
The day of your graduation, he'd run to you —which startled you a bit— and carry you by your sides, spinning you once before settling you back down again. All you could hear was each other's laughter, and he'd engulf you in his embrace.
“We've made it pretty far.” —and you both wanted to go further, further from what you already had, a reassurance, a settlement.
You two would keep constant contact the whole time you prepared yourselves for college. It could be a miracle, or maybe it was truly meant to be —you two got into your dream university. 
In all honesty, he never had a dream university. He'd only have one when he heard it from you. “Yonsei seems like a great university.” —his dream will always and only lie with you.
You spent your days talking, daydreaming about college life. You both knew it wasn't something to daydream about since it would only get harder from then, but it was driven by the thought that all this time, you would still be together. Still, none of you would outrightly say it. 
“Imagine we'd get forced to drink with our seniors.” you let your phone lay close to your head on your bed as you spoke to him on call.
And to that he replied, “I'd never let that happen.”
You laughed, and it was the most beautiful song he's ever heard. He ended up laughing with you. 
“I'm serious.” he adds, still laughing. 
“I know, Seok. I know.”
The time would come eventually. You two would be in two different departments —he was in computer science— but fortunately, your seniors seemed to only know one place where they could pressure the freshmen to their favor.
Eunseok walks up to the table where you're at, you two have had your eyes on each other ever since you've step foot in that place. 
He held onto the strap of his shoulder bag, looking into your honeyed eyes. “Let's go home.”
Everyone had their eyes on him, then on you. “Woah, woah, and who's this pretty boy? Why are you cutting our Y/n's fun so short in the night huh?”
“Y/n doesn't drink.” your seniors looked at you and you nod, keeping your eyes on him.
You extend your hand out to him, and soon you would feel sanctuary. 
No other words were said as he pulled you along with him to the exit, not minding to spare the others another look. His hand still held onto yours as he walked you back to your dorm room. You were both quiet the entire time, your social batteries drained to its very limits from the orientation activities and the higher-ups pressuring the both of you to join them waste away.
Before completely letting go of you, you would both stop in front of your door, facing each other. 
“See, I told you so.” you laughed at his playful jabbing.
“Okay, my firefighter. Thank you for saving me.” his eyes wandered down to your lips once again, but they would shift back up to your forehead.
He wipes the bit of sweat on it with his thumb, letting his palm slowly glide down and rest on your cheek. 
“I said no, you know, but they kept insisting I come with them.” his hand went from your cheek to your chin, gently taking a hold of it.
“I know Sleepy. It's alright. It happened to me too.” 
You wondered what would happen next. The tension had only grown stronger, it was only the two of you in that hallway, it was you, him and the desire dispersed throughout the silence of the halls —but nothing was salvaged from it. The looks in your eyes yearned for the feeling of each other's lips, but he held back. 
His hands cupped your face, slightly squishing your cheeks together. “You kinda look like Keroppi.” a bittersweet chuckle leaves his mouth. “Good night, Y/n.”
Before he could walk away, your embrace would stop him, and he'd hug back, almost not wanting to ever let go. His hand wandered to the back of your head, gently caressing your hair. 
“Good night Seok.”
That night was definitely one to remember, one that made you realize, he's always loved Keroppi, does that mean he loves me too? —maybe you were taking it too far, but it wasn't impossible. You saw it, you felt it, his amore through the feeling of his skin against yours. 
Every moment you've shared with him felt like a push, just say it, just do it, but none of you would budge. 
Your best friend Yunjin was in the same department as him, she didn't see you as often as he would, but when she did, she wanted to just push your faces into each other, just kiss already —she'd think to herself as she observed the two of you just being so lost in each other.
At one point you'd feel bad for not spending as much time as you used to with her, but after talking to her about it, she reassured you that she wasn't an obligation for you to worry about, but she'd always be there when you needed her, and of course you would be there for her too. 
You thought you were lucky that both of your favorite people were in the same department, shared the same classes, that way it was easier for you to see them and hang out simultaneously. 
Doubt would start swimming around the oceans of your thoughts —one day you were set to meet them in the campus library. Your pace was a bit speedy, wearing such a gleeful smile, you walked to meet them again after the longest week of your life. The campus library was huge, but it wouldn't take you a while to spot them.
Your first instinct was to run up to them, but maybe it was your exhaustion that had stopped you from doing so and instead just stand there for a while, watching them laugh together from a distance, and they would get so close to each other that your breath almost hitched. 
You felt insecure, but also hated yourself for even allowing these feelings to surge. They're also good friends, your best friends, you were more fond of one of them for sure, but you both loved and cared for them just as much.
Your worries would subside once you were finally seated next to him. Your eyes lingered on each other's allure, it was quite clear that you two had this certain look reserved for each other. 
“Oh, look. The project partners are back again.” —your harmonious laughter would fill your ears.
At first it came easy, but then it wasn't.
Being in different departments meant seeing them from afar walking side by side, and you would find that they would be together a lot more than before.
When they'd meet with you, they were together, almost all the time. At first you thought, it was easier that way for them, and for you especially. 
Then love month came around. Everyone was busy preparing booths for the Feb Fair celebration. It was three days long, and everyone wanted it to be perfect, single or not, it was three days of just love, love for friends, family, for him.
Just a few days before Feb Fair started, despite your efforts of searching for him everywhere you could, sadly, your efforts would be futile. 
hi seok
been looking for u everywhere
u busy? —delivered, 4 hours ago.
sorry 
shit sorry 
i am kinda busy
but not like usual
it's for something vv special :))
that's nice 
you have any plans for feb fair?
anyone asked u out yet?
even if anyone did i would reject them lol
would u reject me then? —read, 10 minutes ago.
it's okay roppi lmaooo
tbh i'd say yes w/o u even asking
really?
so it's settled then?
you got it :3
shit
i got the prettiest date for feb fair 🙈
You seemed to have forgotten about the roots of your agitations once you've gotten a chance to talk with him again. 
You made sure you would look the prettiest when you were with him. You wore a blue dress, he never said it was his favorite, but you did see it quite often in the items he owned, and some in his wardrobe.
But maybe you should've gone for green. The first day of Feb Fair, entering the area of festivities, a band playing some overrated love song would serve as soft background music for everyone else indulged in the love, it's in the air as they'd claim.
Maybe this would be the day, the day you would finally admit to each other's feelings, confess.
You walked around, taking in the luminous fairy lights, and the fake flowers that accompanied them. Even if they were artificial, they were still really pretty, and you would be the living depiction of those flowers, your dress flowing with the cool breeze as your eyes glimmered with the stars. 
When he saw you, his whole world stopped. You were suddenly the only one he could see. He wished he was quick enough to rush over to you, hold your hand, but you were gone, like the wind. 
You had seen him handing over a bouquet to your best friend —Yunjin, and at that moment you thought she looked so perfect that you thought your presence was unwanted. 
Maybe it was a mistake, maybe he didn't mean it at all. Maybe you were only meant to be a bridge for them. 
That night, you would lock yourself in your room, ignoring the calls and messages in your phone and your own roomate. You just kept yourself under your covers. 
“Hey, um, Y/n, Eunseok's outside.”
“Please tell him to go away.” you cried out. 
And your roommate would do just that. His heart would sink, but it was a lot worse compared to when you had first rejected his efforts of asking you as his project partner. 
It was like the past all over again. There you cried all alone, then, it used to be because of an essay and his egocentric self, now it was because of a bouquet, and his fleeting promise. 
He just hoped he could talk to you again.
y/n it wasn't what you thought it was
i'll explain to you when we meet again
please
i'm sorry
i'll wait for you by the water fountain tomorrow —delivered, 10 hours ago. 
be my partner, please? —delivered, 30 minutes ago.
It was the second day of the Feb Fair. You were still isolating yourself in your room. You wondered where they could be. You still hadn't opened your phone so you thought, maybe they're together, like they always were.
You hopelessly sat on your bed, munching on some snacks. Suddenly it would hit you that all the food you had in your pantry was from him. Holding back your tears, you would let the packet of gummy worms fall down on your bed, with you feeling defeated. 
Feeling like you needed to move, you got up from your bed, weakly opening your closet. 
I should've worn the green dress. —unlike the blue one, it was more casual, and the most important detail of all, it had a cute little frog on the right chest area. You let your finger trace the frog imprint, almost tearing up again. 
Closing your closet, you turned around, ready to plop yourself back down onto your bed, but your phone lit up again. 
maybe tomorrow? :)) —read, 4 minutes ago.
When he saw that you had read his message, he wore a hopeful smile. Maybe, just maybe, you'd show up the next day, or maybe in the night. He promised that this time, he won't skimp on his words, he was going to tell you everything.
It was already dark, nearing 9:00 pm when he had messaged you. You were admittedly worried and guilty for making him wait till that time of the night. 
Reading through his messages again, you knew you needed to show up. Because you trusted him. Trust, you almost forgot. You have given him so much of it. 
The next day, you got up relatively early, at least earlier than your roommate. She'd wake up to you already dolled up.
“That's a cute dress.” she said, she had her hands against her sides, looking around for a while before asking, “Um, if you don't mind, are you and Eunseok… okay now?”
“We'll be alright.” the tiredness in your voice was still evident, and so your roommate would just give you a smile, nodding as she left to go to the bathroom. 
You were going to make it right. This was the final push, you would finally tell him how you've felt about him, from the very start of it all up to now when you longed for him.
Still at the water fountain, Eunseok sat there anxiously. He sat there, and in his hand was a box. It was all, and everything he had kept of you, and if ever he lost you —and he prays to God it would never happen— he'd have your memories in this box, his most cherished ones.
6:00 pm, his eyes grew a thin layer of water as he watched everyone else with such loving eyes and sugared laughter. He looked up at the sky, and he thanked it for being so full for that night, full of glittering stars. He took it as a sign that you would come soon, because last night there were no stars at all, and you didn't arrive. 
“I'll be your partner.”
He froze in his spot, stare still fixated on the constellations above him. 
He stood up, bringing his gaze down to you. You eyed the box he held with both his hands, “Y/n.”
Your eyes lit up, hearing his voice emit your name very faintly. You let him walk closer to you, just enough for you to see his eyes glisten against the fairy lights. 
“The flowers, well, I helped Yunjin look for them. They were meant to be for someone else, she won't tell me who. I'm guessing it might be Chaewon since she kept asking me about her, if you remember, Chaewon's my cousin.” —well shit. Isn't it just so easy to be stupid?
“Sorry.” he hurriedly used one of his hands, hesitantly reaching out for the one he's been dying to hold since the day he thought he'd lose you, for the second time.
“Don't be sorry. Please. I should've…” he glanced down at your entwined hands, your hand was cold. “... just told you that…”
Again, he'd struggle to find his words and you'd bring your hand up to his cheek, “Seok?”
“I like you and I think I'm in love with you —no, I am. I…” he was almost breathless, and you'd gently move his head to meet his soft eyes. 
“Song Eunseok, I want to be your partner, in the long run, and maybe, till I can no longer write essays and make grammatical errors, will you be my partner —for life?”
Eunseok had always dreamed of going to space and seeing the shimmering little specks of wonder up-close. He knew they were just fiery rocks, but unlike him, who others would describe as still and emotionless, these rocks shined, and they were beautiful. You are so beautiful. He'd finally have a star to himself. His dreams, driven by his childhood imaginations, were coming true, in the form of you.
Finally, he would lean in, finally feeling your plush lips against his. You're as sweet as he imagined. 
“Till I can no longer correct you, I'll be your partner.” he uttered against your lips.
Later that night, you two would be seated on the ground, leaning your backs against the base of the water fountain —he'd let you use his arm as a cushion for your back, well, he insisted. The fireworks had already died down, and you two were still there.
You were going through the box he had prepared for you. 
“You kept this?” It was the essay, the nameless copy. 
“Yeah, but look, look.”
He had written stuff all over it, and drew a bunch of Keroppis. And he had checked it like how your English teacher back then would, with one singular correction where he wrote, you missed a word miss know-it-all, doesn't matter though, i miss you more.
“When did you do this?” he watched fondly as you chuckled, reading through his little notes and doodles.
“I checked that essay the day you rejected my 'partner proposal' for the second time.” you looked at him wide-eyed. 
“You… missed me then?”
“Yes?” 
Then you'd see receipts of every breakfast coffee, every ice cream meeting —you never called it a date because you were just being professional, every candy packet and every wet wipe purchase he had ever made for you, all stapled together with little tmi's on them, y/n really likes green. i should buy more green shirts.
You chortled. “Don't laugh!”
“No! I just think it's really cute!”
wait holy shit, i wish i could draw well THE WAY SHE SMILED AT ME. i won. fuck everyone. 
“You've liked me for that long?” looking into his eyes again, you'd melt into his loving stare. 
He had been watching you smile through his sweet little shenanigans that you never would've thought he'd been up to this time. “Yes, I have.”
You bit your bottom lip, still your smile showed through it. With a gulp, you'd place a quick kiss on his lips, making him freeze once again. 
With an innocent smile, you went back to rummaging through the box. “Wait, this was my favorite pen. You hid it?”
“I've been using it around you ever since I got it, I thought you'd notice.”
“I just thought you used the same brand. Shame on you, thief.”
You would laugh together for the rest of the night, reminiscing about the past, how you both hid your painfully obvious liking for each other, and then a moment of silence. 
You admired the array of stars that shined throughout the body of the sky as you laid your head on his shoulder, his hand holding yours like it was its only purpose. 
“Thank God Yuri plagiarized your essay.”
You playfully hit his knee, laughing out, “What do you mean?”
“Just imagine, If I never realized my feelings for you, I'd never make an effort to ask you as my project partner, and we'd stay the same, me still a jerk, and you…”
“Still saying yes to everyone? Well, that makes sense, but, what if we're really meant to end up where we are now?”
“We are meant to be, aren't we?” You felt him place a kiss on your head. “So, what's your opinion on officially being my girlfriend?”
You sat up, startling him a bit, but he'd chuckle once he saw the cheeky grin on your face. “You know how you've always taught me how to say no?”
You giggled when you saw his smile diminish. 
“Well, you're no idiotic low-life, so yes, Eunseok, I'll be your girlfriend.” he leans in and hugs you, and you both fall over. “Wait what the fuck.”
“Sorry, sorry.” he helped you get up.
You would get lost in each other's eyes again, and eventually your lips were linked once more. You had your arms wrapped around his neck, and his hands on your waist. You pulled away, and you'd laugh at each other's breathless states.
“I honestly don't know why you still asked me to be your girlfriend when I asked you to be my partner for life.”
“I'm an anxious man, okay? but I just really wanted to be sure, and I wanted to ask for myself, that was the initial plan anyways, I can't believe you ruined my plan.”
“Excuse me? you seem to sound so offended now.”
“So what if I am?”
The stars were once only a tiny glimpse of hope for him, now drew the two of you. First two very distant stars, one shone blue and the other shone red, the blue star almost died, but the red star gave some of her flame, and soon they would ignite the fire they would share. 
She said yes, finally. —he knew you'd ignite his flame again, and with an unspoken promise to himself —and to you, he'd grow to love you more and more, every single day.
Fin.
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would you like to go back?
> take me back
> no :)) (thank you for stargazing with me)
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aimbutmiss · 3 months
Text
So, we know that Shanks didn't leave East Blue after the Loguetown incident. He heard of Yasopp's fame as a sniper and went to recruit him. Then we skip to Foosha, after he's formed a crew, where he meets Luffy. And we all know how the story goes from there. He stays there for a year, leaves for the Grand Line and is recognised as as a yonko six years later.
Now, here's the problem: That "skip" from Loguetown to Foosha is a whopping 12 years. What the fuck was this man doing all those years??? We have no idea. All we know is that he regularly dueled with Mihawk and had that infamous fight with Blackbeard that left him with his scar (exact time unknown). But other than that? Absolutely nothing.
Here is what we do know though: Benn Beckman is from the North Blue, and Lucky Roux is from the South Blue. So, Shanks was just possibly going around all four blues recruiting people before going into the Grand Line? Makes sense. Except 12 years seems like an awfully long amount of time for that... Especially considering in the main storyline of One Piece, not even a full year has passed, ignoring the timeskip.
Blackbeard was part of Whitebeard's crew back then too, so he must have been in the Grand Line, right? So either;
A) Shanks entered the Grand Line once before, had his fight with Blackbeard there, and came back to the East Blue for an unknown reason. Or,
B) Blackbeard left the Grand Line for whatever reason and they had their fight in one of the four blues.
I think option A is more plausible. But that begs the question, what was Shanks doing in the Grand Line if not building his reputation, and why did he come back to the East Blue? The most accepted theory (I think?) is about what Roger said to him after returning from Laugh Tale. Whatever information was passed between them (which made Shanks cry btw, so maybe he also told him he'd be dying soon?) it must have been somehow related to Joy Boy, even though we can't exactly know what it is. Roger has said that he was sad about missing Joy Boy's time, being a bit early. And he's also said that he wishes his son would be the one to find One Piece even though he didn't have a son back then. So, if Shanks was aware of Joy Boy and the devil fruit, he probably spent his time in the Grand Line looking for it, after forming a reliable crew for which he traveled tne whole world. When he eventually found it, he stole it, and brought it to the East Blue. Why? Who's in the East Blue? It's Ace. It's always been Ace. Shanks wanted to fulfill his captain's dream and pass on the title of new generation's hope onto his son. That's why he told Buggy he wouldn't look for the One Piece, which led to their falling out. Buggy always believed Shanks would become the next Pirate King, but Shanks knew he wasn't meant to be the one, it was Ace. But things didn't go according to plan when Luffy ate the fruit. We have two possibilities once again. Either;
A) Shanks saw Roger in Luffy before the boy ate the fruit, and arranged it so that he would find it and eat it.
Or,
B) Luffy found and ate the fruit before Shanks saw his potential by pure coincidence.
I honestly don't know which one it is, and I don't think it matters much. Either way, Shanks' plan didn't go like what he had in mind but fate made it so that things would work out anyway. Only after making sure the future was in safe hands could he go on to the Grand Line once again to make a name for himself. He did say that he bet his arm on the future after all.
So, what do you think?? I think this theory makes the most sense but I'd be interested in hearing other opinions, or add ons to this one.
Also, six years in the Grand Line before becoming an emperor is quite long too, I think. I wonder how Shanks rose to that status? Who was his predecessor and what happened to them?? Or was there no predecessor and only three emperors??? (I've seen people say Rocks pirates ruled the seas and the emperor system didn't exist yet but let me remind you all, Rocks pirates disbanded at God Valley when Shanks was only one year old. So emperors have existed for more than 30 years probably.) Shanks probably had a plan for his second (technically third) journey on the Grand Line too but what was his goal this time??? So many questions about this man and I didn't even bring up the case of how he was found by the Roger pirates exactly during the God Valley incident, which is a very important event that ties into so many plot points. And inside a treasure chest of all things??? This guy drives me insane STOP BEING MYSTERIOUS STUPID RED HAIRED MAN
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thatfreshi · 7 months
Text
"Unlucky Draw" (Uni AU p. 15)
There's finally some fluff guys!!!!!!!!!
tw - anxiety, discussion of weed
Since Halsin's little break-up escapade happened, you actually do get the chance to see Astarion later that night. As of recent, he's been throwing himself into his thesis project more and more, to the point where most of your time hanging is spent with him looking through books and asking 'do you think this sounds right?'
"You know you can take a break, right?"
"I could, you're right, but then I'd just be wasting time. And I'm not allotted much time to work on this."
The two of you are comfortably sprawled across his mattress, like teenagers at a sleepover. You roll over and shut his laptop.
"C'mon, you've been staring at that paper for like two hours."
"And what else should I do, my darling Tav? Maybe stare at the ceiling in silence? Or scroll mindlessly on my phone until I don't feel like moving anymore?"
"Ugh, no! I don't know, take a coffee break. You're probably not going to sleep anyways."
Your best friend almost looks peaceful like this, wrapped in a cozy sweater and sweatpants, always wearing long socks because he gets cold too easily. You find yourself lingering on the thought longer than normal, wishing he could feel that comfortable warmth all the time, wondering it might be like to share in it.
"Tav, are you listening? God, maybe we should just stare at the ceiling in silence."
"Sorry, just spacing out. What were you saying?"
"I was saying, how I should probably cut back on the caffeine."
"Really? Astarion Barista Ancunín, are you turning your back on your beloved espresso machine?"
"Look, I'm not happy about it, but I've been far too anxious as of late. My nerves are on fire constantly, jumping at every little noise I hear. It's irritating, to say the least."
"I thought being caffeinated was how you dealt with the insomnia though?"
"Oh it very much is, which will become a problem soon enough, but I just can't be this nervous constantly."
It's something that you've definitely noticed, how quiet and fidgety he's become recently.
"You considered smoking weed? I know Gale says it helps him zen out, especially when it comes to art stuff."
"Nope, makes me paranoid."
"Damn, unlucky draw I guess."
"You're telling me. I smoked one time back in high school, couldn't sleep for hours, kept thinking someone was out to get me or something."
You start to get lost in the peace of the moment again, the fact that you're able to talk about shit that doesn't matter, how the light from the bedside lamp hits his eyes just right...
"Are you alright? You seem, out of it."
"Sorry, just thinking about what Halsin said to me."
"I can't believe he just broke things off like that, without a reason."
You swallow hard.
"He, he said it's because he thinks you like me? And that he doesn't want to get in the way of that?"
There's silence for a moment, that you jump to fill.
"But that's not true right? We're just friends, I don't know where he would've gotten that idea from."
"Right, I don't know either... sounds like you dodged a bullet with him."
"Yeah, probably so."
God, has he always looked like this? Damn Halsin, damn all those things he said, damn Gale for even playing into it. You remind yourself that Astarion's right, that this doesn't need to get any more complicated than it already is, that he has enough on his plate.
"Now, am I allowed to go back to my thesis now? Or do I need to have more mandatory break time?"
You playfully sigh.
"I guess you can do productive things or whatever."
"Well, in that case would you like to come read what I have?"
"I'll look at it, but you have the cool narrator voice, you have to read it to be like a professional author."
He rolls his eyes, and you go to sit next to him, looking at the thousands of words he's typed at this point. Astarion starts to read it out loud, editing tiny things as he goes, forever a little perfectionist. After a while, the voice becomes too soothing, and you fall asleep there next to him, letting your head hit his shoulder.
"Tav?"
Out of the corner of his eye, he sees you knocked out, clearly exhausted. He doesn't stop reading though, worried if he does that he'll somehow ruin the sleep he's let you stumble into. So he spends the rest of the night rereading out loud and talking to himself, occasionally asking you things that you don't answer. After many hours pass, and the wee hours of the morning arrive, along with the clock turning to say five AM, he puts his laptop aside, and asks you one final question.
"Why do you insist on pulling my heartstrings the way you do?"
And it falls on your sleeping ears, never truly getting through.
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ask--eggman · 1 month
Note
if it isnt too sensitive a topic, would you be willing to talk about your grandfather? were studdying his work in my collage course and id like to know more about what role he played in your life
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Hrmm. Well... I suppose I can appreciate the interest and how you've come to me as the best source, instead of haughty old historians that have written some silly books you might've read, who may dare claim they know as much about my grandfather as I do or feel they have anything interesting or valuable to say!
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Now that the thought of all of you on that course learning about him through such ridiculous means is getting me all riled up, I feel like I can't NOT say anything now.
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I never met him, I was born a little too late for that. It wouldn't have been possible as he spent most of his final years stationed in a top secret research center in space and they weren't letting just anyone up there without a good reason. MY reason obviously should've been a good one and if they wouldn't have thought so, they'd be wrong!
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If only I could've been the one on the ARK with the honor of learning directly from the man himself, instead of that other member of the family who took it for granted because as far as I know, she didn't even want to be a scientist, so she was around all that knowledge and opportunity and never even took advantage. Ugh.
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Anyway. For as long as I can remember, he was a part of my life, through the words of others. Being the greatest scientist of his time and therefore the most important and notable member of the family at the time, naturally he was going to be the common subject!
Especially being that I was lucky enough to be born as the son of his son. That's something I was proud of from the moment I learned, as early as I became an actual sentient being with thought. Which was earlier than the development of your average child of inferior intelligence, by the way!
So of course, I was immediately fascinated. His long, impressive, successful career as a scientist, making many groundbreaking advancements in the world of science and always striving to accomplish more immediately became one of my greatest fixations.
My father's past and business was such a bore in comparison, even if it did end up becoming useful to me later as a source of income for me to get myself off the ground and pursue better, far more interesting and valuable things. Anyway, let's not get too off topic here.
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Naturally, I wanted to learn more about my grandfather in any way I could, through reading about as many of his recorded ventures and accomplishments that were made available to the public and that I could access.
A lot of it was from the news and much older books than later published garbage out there today. I was very precise and careful with my sources, only getting them from those who got their information directly, observed his work themselves and the most important and valuable of all, the things that were published by himself!
This was only as much of what was revealed to the public about his work, mostly pre-the-ARK-type-stuff because they obviously weren't sharing any of the top secret operations going on up there to the outside world. I didn't get any more access to it than anyone else, though I certainly would've deserved it.
I also had a more personal look into him with a couple of photos, though not as many as I wish. Most were from being a parent to my father and uncle but the rare few outside those fascinated me most. He had also written letters to my father, though they were quite a bit older because contact was very rare.
They didn't tell me as much about what he was getting up to on the work side of things but I was interested in learning about the person he was too. I'd perk up whenever I did find him mentioning or at least alluding to things he was working on. Or the rarest but most valuable parts of him documenting a day or two of life!
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It wasn't that long until I learned of his passing. I didn't know the details, nobody told me and now I understand that it's because they didn't really know themselves, obviously, but I just assumed it to be because of old age at the time. I was disappointed that it sealed the fact that it was absolutely impossible for me to ever meet him.
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Anyway, then I got access to some of his lecture tapes! I'd try to put myself there and imagine that I was his student as I watched. It really did feel like learning directly from him, the closest I could get to the real thing. It was very informative in a few areas I was interested in and very inspiring. I still hold a lot of valuable knowledge from them today.
There was nobody else in this family I felt connected to the same way. He was my hero for being a man who was passionate and devoted to science and made a name for himself by leading an impressive successful life, making an impact and being praised for his brilliance worldwide. I wanted the same! To be recognized and hailed for my own intelligence and potential I already started to recognize in myself at a young age.
He helped me realize my passion and who I wanted to be, I knew I needed to be a brilliant scientist too! If he could do it and become so famous and renowned, so could I! Finally, people would focus on and talk about me in the way they really should, remember my name and hail me for my genius and skill as I deserve! He gave me the hope and the desire to work hard and achieve my goals.
And so I started setting my own goals and trying to create my own things. I wanted to be a great scientist just like him but of course I had to eventually stray from the trail of his footprints and take my own path, to prove my independent genius and potential. It allowed my intelligence, knowledge, and experience to continue to expand. And look where I am today, now I'm the greatest scientific genius of all time!
But decades later we would cross paths again when I recovered his diary. I was thrilled to get my hands on something so precious and valuable and finally learn from him on truly the deepest most personal level, where I'd learn about the research facility and a top secret project he was working on and decided to get some use out of it!
That didn't quite go as planned in the end and I ended up finding out things I wish I hadn't as he'd planned to destroy the world, including his own grandson... To find out after all those years that the very person you held such deep admiration and idolization for was almost the one who caused your destruction... I don't want to talk about this any more.
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Well, there you go. Some information from someone much more knowledgeable and actually equipped to speak on the matter.
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tennybird · 4 months
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I have opinions about TotK. This is your spoiler warning if you haven't played/finished it yet. Also all of this is, once again, just my opinion on it and not a decisive fact! I will probably misremember things!
Anyway.
Okay so basically as someone who got it on release and beat it within a week, I'm a little underwhelmed by the game now that I'm looking back over half a year later.
It's not a terrible game! I'll say that first and foremost. But after waiting so long for it, and trying so hard to not hype myself up for it (failing horribly at that), it feels just a bit... same-y. The story is nice, and it's different. The boss fights and abilities you gain during your travels are nice. Everything else, though...
I like the map having stayed similar, with enough changes that I have to relearn some areas. The Depths are really fucking cool, and figuring out on my own that they're a negative of the overworld was incredible! But the sky islands were a little disappointing, I think. When we were told we'd be in the sky a lot, I thought there'd be more large islands like the tutorial one that you could walk around on. More references to Skyward Sword, too. It feels to me that they put more love into the Depths than the sky, in a way.
I like the main story. Figuring out Zelda was the Light Dragon (but not really believing it until the final Tears), and that she'd essentially spent thousands and thousands of years trapped inside herself, was AWESOME. Every cutscene involving her as the Light Dragon hit me hard, and I felt genuine sorrow everytime I saw her floating around the sky.
...That being said, I DO wish we could have a game where you get to actually travel with her. I WANT her to tell me about the minor lore of the world! I want to know about the various flora and fauna, and I want her to talk about Hyrule's history! Zelda is part of the royal family, and I'd imagine that part of her studies pre-BotW she'd have to learn about the history of her family (especially because of the importance of the Goddess' blood...). With how pre-BotW went between her and her powers, and her and her father, I'd imagine she'd make it a point to learn more about their history that ISN'T just the prophecy.
I, personally, did not like most of the temple boss fights. I can't really explain much of why- except for Queen Gibdo. I HATED Queen Gibdo because of all the smaller Gibdo chasing you, trying to chase down Riju for her power... It was a lot of things stacked on each other, and simply not my thing. Colgera was an absolute favorite however! The boss theme is AWESOME, the mechanics of being in the air and having to watch for projectiles, as well as crashing through the ice sheets to take it down? VERY, VERY FUN. Climbing through the sky just to get to the temple itself was one of my favorite experiences. Going up and up and up, and finally reaching the top where you break out above the storm clouds and see clear skies...
A thing that bothers me about the temples is that the cutscene at the end, where the ancient Sages gifts their powers to the new ones... I feel like they could've spent a little more time making them different, even if that meant more time in development. I would be okay with that! I think games should be in development longer in order to produce a good, finished product! Anyway.
The fight with Ganondorf was fun for me. I get SUPER immersed in it, so it was a fearful moment when I thought I'd beaten him, only to see his health bar fill again... and then go offscreen. And the DEMON DRAGON FIGHT? Holy SHIT.
I just wish there was more... substance to the game, I guess? It feels weird saying that. There are more things to do, but it's missing something I can't name. Something BotW had, but is now gone. I like TotK, like I said. It's clearly had love put into it, and I'm glad the developers spent more time on getting it as close to the perfect image they wanted as they could. Maybe it's just cause I've spent more time with BotW (over 300 hours), but I think I'm a little biased towards it. Maybe I'm just getting older and grumpier about vidya games, too. Who knows!
If you read all this, cool! I will reiterate that this is simply my view on it! If your view is different, good!! I'm happy to know there are people out there who enjoy it more than I did. Or if you hate it more than I do, maybe you have other things you want to point out about it that I missed.
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nahida-official · 4 months
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a very merry sumeru christmas !
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christmas notes compiled together :3
NOTABLE MESSAGE OF SHAME:
from. hat-guy (@the-wanderer-official) What a *wonderful* year you've spent annoying me. It was so special, I don't think we will need any more ever again, so I think it's time to return to your knitting or old lady ramblings. In the gift below I have enclosed a few mora to tide you by as Haravatat slowly falls apart from it's lack of funding. I hope you enjoy finding a new job that will hire someone as old as you. Sincerely with annoyance, the wanderer.
"Hey! Hat Guy.. I think you've perhaps forgotten that i can read all these messages. I told you to at least TRY to be nicer."
Cloud said: Merry Christmas!
from. alhaitham (@alhaitham-official) Happy Holidays. (have a nice time yall -mod)
:> said: STAY SILLY GUYS!!!!!! BE SKRUNKLY AND AWESOME TOO BUT I KNOW Y'ALL WILL DO THAT ANYWAYS
from. corruptdhaitham (@corrupted-haitham-official) This is useless to me. Still, have a nice time or whatever. (happy holidays and such. -moddie)
from. madame faruzan (@faruzan-official) Lesser Lord Kusanali, I give you a cookie. You are a wonderful archon. Hat Guy, may you die in the trenches. @autistic-alhaitham, I am telling you. You meowed at me. You cannot fool the one and only Madame Faruzan. Kaveh, youngster, stay as you are. You are wonderful for someone coming from the loathed Darshan of Ksharewar. @niloupalata you as well are pleasant, truly. And to the lot of you, happy holidays. Except Hat Guy. I hope your holidays are the worst.
"Awh! Many thanks, Madame Faruzan for the cookie. ..But you too. Watch your words. I told you both to be nice or I'd suspend you from "
from. Adi @adi-cat-anon Happy Holidays, and best wishes for the new year! I'm glad I got to meet you all.
from. dunyarzad^^ (@dunyarzad-official) Ohhh!!! Lesser Lord Kusanali!!! You have been such a nice archon!! You really were the one thing keeping me alive back when I was despairing through my Eleazar!! Thank you so much! And now that I've recovered, I can finally go around on my own and since the new year is rolling around, I'd love to take the opportunity to make new friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"It's nothing, Miss Dunyarzad. I'm glad I could help! Happy Holidays to you!"
from. kaveh (@kaveh-official) haitham please decrease my rent
from. Candace. (@candace-official) Have a happy holidays, everyone.
from. hat guy (notable message of shame above)
from. love anon (@l0ve-anon) Yall better be ready to see chaos. I will bring it to someone so be ready /pos (bringing up my flirting game)
"I.. I don't know who you are but I do suppose you have a happy holidays? Please try to refrain from causing too much of a major ruckus in Sumeru, though. :3"
from. zzz anon make sure y'all slept before Christmas
from. Bard (@namelessbard-official <-i believe? correct me if I'm wrong!) Venti(@venti-official)--I love you and I'm so proud of you <3 carry on my litle elf!
from. Fang, Annie (@the-chaos-siblings) Fang: Merry chrisler! Annie: Merry Christmas!
from. Cyno (@general-mahamatra-cyno-official) Merry Christmas. Where does Santa keep his coat during the year? The Claus-et.
"What a wonderful joke from the General Mahamatra! Hehe!"
test tube said: I genuinely cannot see whatever i picked god help me Merry Christmas if we open these on Christmas Day then I am currently suffering at a party I was forced to go to aaaaaaaaaaaaa
"Oh.. : ( I'm sorry! I hope you'll at least have fun at that party to some extent."
from. the Doctor (@dottore-official) I was told to leave a note if i wanted more funds, so happy holidays I suppose.
from. Zandik (@zandik-official) What is this for..? Even though I don't know, here. Take this. +1 Gears acquired.
from. Sohreh!! (@sohreh-official) Happy Holidays!! Oh, this is so exciting! I wonder who will get this card... I don't know, but to however gets this, have a happy holiday season!
from. layla (@layla-official) Hot coffee everyone?.. I can mix it with chocolate if caffeine isn't to your liking.
from. Tighnari (@fennec-tighnari-official) happy holidays to you all! and please no one get injured, I'm not dealing with this during the holidays.
from. Hydro!Kaveh (@hydro-eidolon-kaveh-official) Hello! I'm sure most of you are in my memories somewhere, but I'd like to let you all know that you are in my thoughts around this special time of year! My Haitham told me a little bit about the holidays and what they mean, but I'm definitely still a little lost on the fact. Otherwise, I know it is a time to decorate a tree and appreciate those that you love, and I want you to know that I love each and every one of you! (I think) Have the best holidays ever!
"Awh! May you have the best holidays ever too!!"
from. serendipityanon (@serendipity-anon) Hello all, I've knitted quilts for each and every one of you in a different color! I'll put them under the tree as well~ I have several pots of tea to share with everybody, and of course I brought fairy lights! Everyone has to take a set home to decorate their home~ I hope everybody has a wonderful day and and incredible holiday season! Love, serendipity-anon
from. collei (@collei-official) Happy holidays to everyone !! :D from. webttore (@webttore-official) I don't know why I'm here ig I'm from Sumeru? But I'm in Mondstadt rn. Anyways I'm gonna steal gifts and kick kids -Webttore
"Get out. We do not condone that here that is not holiday cheer."
from. Xinyan (@xinyan-official) Wherever Yoimiya (@yoimiya-official) has disappeared to, I hope she's doing well.
"Everyone have a happy holidays! From the Goddess of Wisdom and the rest of Sumeru! Directed at not just the people of Sumeru, but truly everyone out there!!"
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thestoriesthatweweave · 3 months
Text
In honor of Valentine Day: a passage from the time travel au sequel that I had to cut but still really like, ft. Esen and Ouyang and teeth-rotting fluff.
Under the cut, no knowledge of the time travel au needed to read it.
"I do, a little," Esen said, and paused for a moment. He had still been stroking Ouyang's hair, and now he brought a strand of it up to his mouth and pressed his lips to it. "Not about this, precisely, but about fantasies that you wouldn’t actually want to come true, but that are easier than reality." Another kiss, this one to the tip of Ouyang's ear. "I used to daydream about being a girl, sometimes, when we were young, because that way I could have married you."
Ouyang had spent the entire conversation with his face comfortably nestled in the hollow of Esen's shoulder, but this made him look up, almost unconsciously. "You wanted you to be the girl? Not me?"
Esen frowned. "I didn't actually want to be a girl. But I wanted to change you even less, so of course it had to be me."
"Even if you'd been a girl we couldn’t have gotten married anyway," Ouyang said, instead of any of the other things he might have said, such as I don't even like women. "You'd have been a noblewoman and I would still have been a eunuch slave. If I'd been a woman, I could have been..." he trailed off. He found he couldn't bear to say it.
Esen said it for him. "My concubine? You would have loathed that and we both know it. I was twelve, and even then I knew better than to wish for that."
"You were twelve," Ouyang repeated. He felt oddly lightheaded. "Have- have you been in love with me for that long?"
Esen hummed. His hand moved, from the back of Ouyang's head to the side of his face, one finger tracing his brows. "I must have been. But I didn't realize it for a long time, not until after I joined you in Yingtian."
"You wanted to marry me when you were twelve and you didn't realize you were in love with me until two years ago?"
"You know I can be slow sometimes - will you stop laughing at me! I never laugh at you."
 "I'm sorry," Ouyang said, though he really wasn't. His back twinged, but he still pushed himself up to press their lips together. It wasn't a very good kiss: he was still snickering, so their teeth knocked together wildly. "I love you," he said, once he drew back. "Never change." 
Esen was smiling. He always looked so happy, whenever Ouyang said it, even after two years. "I love you, too," he said, very warmly, stroking Ouyang's cheekbone with his knuckles, "so much."
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falling-heights · 10 months
Text
☆ Arthur Morgan ☆ -  I gave you all
Pt. 3 (Final part)
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Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3
Word count: 1.6k
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"I t w a s a l o n g t i m e a g o .
I t d o e s n ' t m a t t e r a n y m o r e .
A n d y e t I c a n n o t l e t i t g o .
I c a n n o t l e t i t g o . . . "
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A reason?
With eyes idly looking downward to the side, your mind lulled to memories you had not wished to relive. A grimace of a dull ire echoed behind your gaze, and haunted your visage.
"It's simple, really," Gathering an amalgamation of blood and saliva, you spit out to clean your mouth a little more. Your little tumble left quite the gash along your inner lip. Chunks of buccal tissue were expelled with your spit, you were sure. "I'd had enough."
The answer to 'everything' was easy, as you saw it now. You began your little story.
It was becoming all too predictable.
Your friends, if that's what they were, would continue without change, going about their lives, reaching the inevitability that they would all end up dead for petty crimes. Their debts would inexorably catch up to them, yet they seemed inept to it.
They continued, at the hope of finally reaching a point where they might be able to stop. If they had a little more money, a little more time, a few more lives to add to the insurmountable tally. Though, that point was never reached. It wasn't enough. It never would be.
No matter what you or anyone else did for the hope of changing times, change would never come. It was some absurd paradox. That by taking and killing, one might hope they don't need to take or kill.
And all of them, even Arthur followed it like some kind of mad religion. Putting their faith into some senseless cause as though the beliefs they followed would allow them to find happiness in the end.
You were the only one to see what would happen next. You felt your time coming to a close. And the death of a gunslinger and a criminal was not one you chose to accept.
You did not want this to be your only triumph. To be a thief. A vagrant-
A killer.
No, more, you had thought, you were done. Although, leaving freely could have never been an option. Abandonment was worse than betrayal. You had seen others, others who had become enlightened to the truth try to leave quietly.
They never survived long.
So, betrayal was the only option. The only choice you had if you wished to truly be free from both the law and the lawless.
Two thousand. That was all they offered you for your word. Your bounty alone was worth at least three times as much, yet you still took it. You took it and ran.
Two thousand. Less than you were worth. Certainly less than the lives of those whom you'd called 'friend' or 'family'. Yet, two thousand was what cost them their lives and freedom in exchange for yours.
Two thousand was all the Pinkertons thought you and they were worth.
Of everything else, that was one of the things that lingered the longest. The time that small sum of cash lasted was, in itself, a sin you believed absolution would never forgive. A few weeks, and it had already bled dry. The last few coins were spent on a small meal and a large bottle of whiskey.
Your horse, though loved, was sold for your train ticket. And your guns, gifted to you by your worst regret, were buried deep in the earth, somewhere up near Rhodes.
Perhaps if you had asked for more, it wouldn't have felt like such a waste. Although you truly doubted any amount they offered could have made you feel any better. It would have gone dry regardless, and you would have nothing left to excuse the decision.
It wouldn't have mattered anyway. Everything would have ended the same. You, here, awaiting the decision of a man you gave up for little more than pocket change.
He listened to your story silently. By the end of it, you felt hot tears rolling down your face every few seconds, though your disposition showed no indication of how you were feeling. Having to face the demons of your past is something no one wants to experience, and for you, it seemed to have renewed every moment since then of shame, guilt, and grief.
But you sat there, deflated, unmoving. Barely even breathing. Some of this may have been procured by the blood loss you were suffering, but you couldn't tell. Your legs had been numb for a while now. Your eyes were hollow as they stared at nothing, hoping for nothing, only thinking of what might happen in the next few seconds. Beyond that, you had no worries.
"How many survived?" Did you truly want to know? You suppose it wouldn't hurt any worse knowing the extent of damage caused. Who, if anyone, had died that night.
He glanced at you, his eyebrows twitched for a moment, confusion laced his eyes, before realization struck.
"Oh," He scoffed in disbelief. "You don't even know what happened..."
"No, I left before they came." You shook your head. It was hard to look him in the eyes. Admitting you planned when to leave, to avoid what would happen to everyone else, as though your actions were more malicious than intended. "I read the newspapers for a few weeks, but nothing ever came up. Nothing in the obituaries either. I just… hoped for the best."
"No… no," He grimaced, and grunted to himself. "That is a luxury our kind is cannot afford. They don't pay respects to us like they do normal folk, you ought to know better than that, sweetheart."
He let out a long sigh. It was raspy, as though squeezing through years of lung abuse. He was silent, mostly, thinking to himself. His eyes scanned what few stars could be seen beyond the trees overhead. By now, they were at their brightest. Though the moon wouldn't show her face, the forest below was brightly visible.
"I suppose… you deserve to know," He finally said. Removing his gaze from the sky, he stared at your leg, pondering something. He was fiddling with his hat, rotating it in his grip. When it seemed he had found his answer, his eyes met yours, and a sick sort of grin possessed his lips. "I doubt you have much more time left. Might as well tell you."
Resting his head against the trunk, he raised his face once again to the star-burned sky. And for a moment, you joined him, wondering what it was he sought in them. Your leg was throbbing, and you ached to untie the bandana, to allow it some reprieve from its futile effort. To uncork the wound, and let it all out. Yet, you were waiting for his answer, so you refrained.
"Tilly was the first to get shot. Before we knew what was happening," He spoke quietly, reserved. Having to speak of that night resurfaced unwanted memories and images in his mind. His voice seemed distant. "Hosea was next."
"They took Jack, and Abigail was shot twice trying to stop them." You listened as he continued, choking back your emotions. You knew your hopes for the best was the result of selfish avoidance. It was just some silly ploy to keep yourself from going insane. But the thought of someone like Jack being thrown into the situation seemed to finally crack that hope. "He'd be a grown man by now, I think. We never found out what happened to him. Probably made him some kind of ward of the court."
"Dutch, Molly, Grimshaw-- all them were killed in crossfire. I didn't see how the others went, just after it was over," His eyes were vacant, and he fell silent for a few minutes. Whether out of respect for the dead, or for the pain it caused him, there was no way to tell, but his jaw was clenched, and body tense. Your chest was tight, unable to hold back the stress of his words. Tears that you thought would have dried up seemed to find a second life, freely pouring from your glossy eyes. You couldn't hardly see anything through them. "And the reverend, he was probably too drunk to know what was happening. We found him stabbed just outside his tent."
"Oh, god," You finally broke out of your silent stupor, covering your mouth with your hands, choking back a slew of sobs. Arthur found himself staring at you in a morbid curiosity. Almost as though he found your reaction to be a slight surprise. What sort of terrible person could have done this to their own people? Turned them in to be slaughtered as though it didn't matter. And you seriously thought there was any hope for redemption?
What a joke.
What a pathetic thing you were.
You seethed, finally letting a small whimper escape your quivering lips. Your chest hurt in ways you couldn't understand. Pain was something you thought you understood, but not like this.
"Sadie, Charles, Sean, and John made it out that night," He sighed. He began to unbutton his shirt. Pulling it to the side, you were met with a ghastly sight. Two scars, sat right between two of his ribs. You glanced at them and met his stare. If only you had the strength to show your pain, your regret for doing this to him. "Some weren't as lucky. I don't know what happened to Mary-Beth or Karen, or even Micah. That rat ran off and never came back. Haven't seen him since. I wanted to blame him for all of it, but then, where had you gone? Only for us to find your tent had been nearly cleaned out. When we returned for the bodies, wasn't nothing left in there, save for some old souvenirs…"
"You had this coming a long time, my dear." He spoke with little pity. Standing up, he brushed off his pants and hat, and approached your weakening state. "I'm just glad I weren't the one to put you down."
 By now, you becoming lightheaded, either from overexertion, or your worsening state of health, or both. You could hardly sit up any longer, having to lay your head against dry, dead leaves and moss. He stared down, for a moment, saying nothing, studying the exquisite emotions on your face, the fear in your eyes. Though a small part of you was grateful he had decided to wait for death to arrive, rather than end things himself. You would not have gotten these last moment with your former lover had he not.
He kneeled beside you, lifting you into his arms gentler than you deserved. He cradled you, wiping your leftover tears from your face. He stared into you, for what you imagined was his chance to watch the life leave your eyes.
"I think this could have all been avoided," You whispered to him, bittersweetly. "Somewhere, sometime, back then. This must be my greatest failure. Do you expect I'll see any of them?"
"No," He said calmly. He watched you drift into a comatose state, though you continued to breathe in his arms. " I don't imagine you will."
In another moment of quiet thought, Arthur studied your face. It was slick with sweat and caked with dried blood and dirt. Yet, he somehow found you to be just as beautiful as you were so many years ago. His hatred had been fighting his other emotions for some time now. Tonight, at the first sight of you, at Sean's mention of your name, he wanted nothing more than to shoot you dead. To finally rid himself of the rage that had lingered since that night almost seven years ago.
Yet he couldn't find it in himself to do it, to kill you. And even now, more so now than before, something prevented him from leaving you here in this forest.
Raising himself, still held against him, he carried you towards his black shire. Laying you against the front of the saddle, he climbed up onto the horse. Your limp body sat caged between his arms as he grabbed the reigns.
If you were to die, it would not be now. He was under no obligation to make any sense of it. Not to himself, or anyone else.
He was not ready to let you go. You still had much to suffer for, yet, death did not seem fitting for him just yet. Or, perhaps, he found death to be a fate too merciful for your crimes.
But even he couldn't deny the truth that lay deep down in his subconscious. A tiny, unapparent part of him could not let go. An illusion of possibility haunted his mind. An idea that things could still be any different.
You were spared of death, but, perhaps, your new fate is far worse.
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eleni-cherie · 8 months
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a thief's end ✨ || bts • myg - chapter 1.1
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"so eager to be in a headlock again?"
"only if it's by you."
he thought he was done with the criminal life and ready for some peace and quiet. but his plans collapsed in the form of a strange girl who was in trouble.
© 2023 | eleni_cherie
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masterlist: here
— genre: thief au, gangster comedy, adventure, romcom, humour, angst, fluff, sexual tensiON, slowburn, mutual pining, strangers to lovers s2l
ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSE. CHARACTERS NOT NECESSARILY LIKE THE REAL PERSONS. ALSO VERY UNREALISTIC PLOT LOL - JUST PRETEND READING A MANGA/COMIC OR WATCHING A FILM, REALLY.
SUGGESTIVE THEMES. MENTIONS OF VIOLENCE & BLOOD (BUT NOTHING TOO GRAPHIC, IT'S STILL A COMEDY!)
»»»
"I just realised.. this is my first time in Europe."
Soyeon's random confession made Yoongi perk up from where he was leaning on. Offering her an aknowledging hum.
Both were standing against a stone fence, seperating the pavement from a slope behind them, while waiting for the other two to return with a new car. They knew everyone would be on the lookout for the silver mercedes and besides, the bullet holes in it would draw unwanted attention from locals and police as well. So a new car would be saver. 
However, this would usually only take a couple of minutes, so Yoongi began wondering what was taking them so long.
Meanwhile, her eyes caught a waiter at a restaurant down the street walking in and out, greeting random people passing by, some walking their dogs some not, seemingly being acquaintances. It was such an odd but also nice sight. And it made her realise that she was in fact in a different country.
She might've been there already for days, but most time spent locked up in a room so it hadn't really sunk in that she was in fact in Europe. And that for the first time in her life.
She looked curiously around, taking in the different architecture, shining warm under the streetlights and all the noises. Mainly chatter coming from the restaurant and crickets' buzzing. 
"You've been here before?" she asked then, tilting her head to Yoongi who had been suspiciously quiet all the time.
Her words interrupted his train of thoughts and he blinked for a moment. "N-no. But we've been in Italy a couple of times over the years.."
She hummed, admiring the scenary again. "Must be nice to travel so much."
"It's nice if you got time to actually enjoy it. But it's also quite exhausting.."
"You sound like an old man!"
Her teasing made him scoff playfully. More giggles errupting from her and he smiled. He liked her like this. Carefree, without worries and fright.
"Wished I travelled as much.." she exhaled then and looked up at the dark sky past the streetlights, "If it hadn't been for this situation right now, I'd have never left Korea."
"It can be exciting. But you'll eventually miss home, sooner or later," he mumbled and glanced at his phone, wondering where the other two had been. And even though he was trying to downplay it, she could sense the heaviness of the topic in his voice.
"You ever miss home?"
He paused, a torn poster catching his attention for a moment when he realised he had never given thought to it all those years. "I.. I don't know," he answered honestly, shoving his phone back into his pockets, "Never had a close bond with my family anyway. Except my mum and.. well.."
"And your uncle?"
His lips curved into a sad smile and he nodded.
They grew silent once again.
Getting tired of standing, Soyeon pushed herself up onto the stone fence in a swift move, taking a seat on it. A breeze brushing past her cheeks from the open space of the hill behind her.
She sensed there was something different about Yoongi that night. Sure, he wasn't always the most talkative one but for some reason he felt so.. distant and aloof. As if he was miles away in his mind.
She sighed, biting her lips in a guilty manner as she suspected knowing the reason for his strange behavior. 
"I.. I think I owe you an apology," she slowly began then. Her words causing him to frown.
"Why?"
She huffed, arching an eyebrow at him. "Isn't it obvious? If I had listened to you.." Her gaze fell in shame. "I tried keeping you away from the mess but ironically only dragged you more into it.. and now you even had to come all the way here to Italy to bail me out. So I'm sorry."
Yoongi remained silent, his stoic glance laying on her for a moment more before he shook his head and glanced back at the torn poster of some italian singer. "If someone should apologise it's me.." he quietly said then. The embarrassment of having failed still lingering in his chest like a heavy rock.
Soyeon only looked at him puzzled though, a small 'huh?' leaving her lips. Waiting for him to elaborate.
He dragged a sigh when seeing he had to actually say out loud what he'd tried to suppress these past days. "They got you right in front of my eyes. Twice. Okay? And I couldn't do anything about it." Ruffling his hair in frustration, he turned around to rest his hands on the stone. Staring out at the silent city spreading in front of him when all the stifled emotions crawled back. "Fck. If I was more cautious.. I should've protected you from these guys, but I couldn't. And at the end you were the one protecting me. And that's why.. I'm sorry."
Hearing that made her swallow hard. She never expected him to feel bad or even guilty about that day. Mad and angry at her for acting so foolish? Most certainly. But not guilty.
Slowly she turned her head to the side, seeing his afflicted expression. A deep crease between his brows as he was propping himself on that stone fence. She didn't want him to feel bad about it.
After all, those past days of uncertainty and loneliness, one of the memories that kept her company besides those of her family and friends - who were probably wondering why she wasn't replying to them anymore during her 'vacation' - was the one of the weeks prior. The memory of him and the short time they had spent together.
"Don't be an idiot," she whispered, looking at him with sorrowful eyes. Her hand engulfing his which was placed next to her, "It's not your job to look after me all the time, so don't feel guilty. None of this was your fault. It was mine."
He huffed a breath, glancing at her briefly before redirecting his eyes to the scenary in front of him. Arguing would be pointless, he knew she was just as stubborn. So he dragged a sigh into the night air. "Let's just say it's both our fault then."
She laughed but eventually nodded, accepting the compromise. "Fine." Leaning in closer to him then, she placed a light kiss on his cheek. Observing his expression softening. "Thank you for coming here and helping me. Again."
He gave her a small nod, a shy smile tucking on his lips as he looked away. "Anytime." 
Taking his previous position of leaning against the stone fence, he went back to looking out for any sign of Taehyung and Jimin, who were taking way too long. Hearing Soyeon yawning into the palm of her hand then. A sudden tiredness overtaking her and she rested her heavy head on his shoulder. Making him tense for a moment before he smiled to himself. Wrapping his arm around her back, his fingers lying on her waist. Giving it a light squeeze.
"I didn't ask you earlier, but you're okay, right? They.. they didn't hurt you, right?"
She nodded when seeing him glancing down at her with concern in his eyes. And she rolled her eyes. "I'm fine. Great, actually," she ensured him with a grin. Hearing him sigh in relief when another breeze brushed by.  And she heaved her head from his shoulder, her hand reaching out to cup his cheek and forcing him to look at her dark irises. His rushing mind calming under her soft touch. And she frowned while staring at his pouty lips. Making him wonder what made her pretty face so upset.
"Why are you endangering yourself for me?" she whispered then, more to herself than to him. Finding his eyes again.
"You know the answer."
Yeah, she remembered. Back on the rooftop when sharing their first kiss. However, she was still dissatisfied with his explanation, adverting her eyes from his again. Unsure of what it was that dissatisfied her so much, finding it both, incredibly sweet and highly irrational. What was she supposed to make out of this? Or him? He kept confusing her all the time, but maybe that was his charm. What laid beyond his cool and mysterious aura, a sweet and caring side. And she felt herself falling more and more for it.
Her lips found his, startling him for a short moment before easening into her. And his fingers curled around her waist as he deepened the kiss, pressing her more against his side when suddenly the loud noise of a roaring engine echoed from down the street. Causing their lips to abrubtly part and he sighed disappointedly. Already knowing who it was.
Brushing a streak of hair off her face, he pecked her lips one more time before taking her hand to help her get off the stone.
And as they walked to the red Fiat that had come to a halt in front of them, ignoring the grins of the guys in the driver and passenger seat, Yoongi could already spot the reason for them taking so long. Three pizza boxes stacked neatly on the backseat when entering and another opened one on Taehyung's lap. The younger guy already munching on a piece of pizza when throwing them an innocent grin.
"Was hungry and thought we could all do some late-night snack."
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Half an hour and four empty pizza boxes later the car parked in an alleyway behind their hide-out. An old fashioned Italian building in the north-east of the city. Having avoided any main streets where they could've come across police.
Everyone was tired and yawning when stumbling inside and climbing up the stairs. Soyeon's hands clutched around the fabric of Yoongi's blazer that he had given her due to her sneazing with the open car windows. It was way too big for her, but she didn't mind as she always preferred oversized clothes. Especially if they smelt as nice as his. And she trotted behind them, following them into the apartment.
Taehyung switching on the lights, ready to hit the couch when suddenly recognising a bunch of people in front of them. All pointing their guns at them. And he rolled his eyes. "Seriously now?"
"Hey!" Jimin pushed Taehyung aside with a huge grin plastered on his face as the other three held up their hands. "Pops! What ya doing here?"
"What I told your friend there," Seokjin grinned, motioning with his chin to Yoongi who was looking unimpressed. "If you guys get back to business, I'll come back as well."
"Really, pops," Taehyung dragged a sigh then, rubbing his eyes, "Your timing's miserable as always."
"Yeah, any other time I'd be happy to see you and your entourage.." Jimin pointed at Jungkook and Skylar who were standing at Seokjin's side, "But it's been a long day and we're dog-tired, so can this wait till tomorrow?"
"Why are you tired?" Yoongi mumbled behind him with a frown, "You literally drank two espressos back to back. You should be awake all night."
Jimin shushed him over his shoulder before grinning at Seokjin again who had ignored their little quarrel. The agent shook his head, laughing under his breath then. "Ya! Don't complain, it was you who purposely led us here after all." He glanced at his younger colleagues then, giving them a nod to which they moved, lowering their guns and instead got their handcuffs out. And Yoongi screwed his eyes shut, throwing his head back. 
This was exactly what he'd wanted to avoid. Getting his friends involved and arrested. And yet, it came as it had to come. Interpol got them again. Even if they had been prepared to sooner or later face Seokjin and his agents again, since they had indeed led them to Florence on purpose, it wasn't supposed to be this early. Catching them unprepared.
Yoongi couldn't help but give Taehyung and Jimin an apologetic look as they got handcuffed by Jungkook and Seokjin, to which they just shook their heads, assuring that it was alright while Skylar put handcuffs on him. Tucking at him lightly. 
"Wait," Seokjin told her suddenly and stepped forward. Only now noticing Soyeon who was standing there behind Yoongi. Her short hight letting her go unnoticed among the taller guys.
"And who are you?"
Soyeon blinked, feeling exposed and anxious not knowing what interpol would do with her. "J-Jeon Soyeon."
The agent carefully examined her to figure out if he'd come across her before. Having a sudden light-bulb-moment then. "Are you the one with the stolen necklace?"
The young woman froze, swallowing hard before nodding. Fearing she'd now get arrested as well. However, much to her surprise Seokjin only cocked a brow at her, seemingly puzzled himself he laughed out. "What are you doing here with these dorks?" His brows furrowing then voice lowered. "Did they make you participate in any crime?"
"N-no, no they didn't!" she stuttered, her voice becoming more determined then, "That crazy rich guy kidnapped me and these three here saved me." She gestured to them with a smile.
Seokjin narrowed his eyes at her for a moment, concluding she spoke the truth. And frankly, he wasn't the slightest surprised by them doing something like that. Another reason he had a secret soft spot for these specific thieves, although he'd never admit that for obvious reasons.
Besides, it didn't matter. It didn't change the fact they were wanted criminals.
He turned to Jungkook and Skylar then with an amused expression. "Guess we just found out the answer to our question." Facing Soyeon with a nod again. "We'll take your testimony at the station."
"She won't get in any trouble, right?" Yoongi asked worriedly, glancing at her then at Seokjin. And Soyeon smiled at him in awe. Even with an agent holding him handcuffed and arresting him, he still bothered for her.
Seokjin oy rolled his eyes at the question. Lightly pushing Jimin out of the door, causing him to stumble against Soyeon. "Told you already, she won't."
And the four got escorted out.
»»»
"I'm gonna be honest," Skylar spoke up then after a long time of silence between her and Jungkook. They were sitting in the car, following the transporter with the captives and Seokjin through the narrow streets of Florence when she felt the urge to speak up her mind. "I got mixed feelings right now."
Jungkook, who had nodded off shortly due to the late hour, thinking that Jimin maybe wasn't so wrong in proposing postponing the arrest to the morning, stirred up by her voice. Glancing at her with knitted brows. "Huh, what? Why?"
"Because.. I don't know," the blonde sighed, stopping at a traffic light. "We had put them behind us, didn't we? I, at least, had accepted that with them settling in Taiwan, we wouldn't cross paths ever again. Even inspector Kim had accepted it and went to the research unit. And I was kinda glad we wouldn't have to deal with them anymore..?"
Jungkook hummed, stretching his arms. "Yeah, I get it. I also thought that chapter was closed." A yawn left his lips then. "I mean, what's the point in arresting them if they simply escape again anyway."
"Exactly.."
"But see, it's our job. We wouldn't do it right if we just let them slide."
Skylar's glance fell on the steering wheel. Not able to deny his words and yet, a tiredness overcame her. "You're right, I guess.."
"Hey, Sky, look at me," he said softly and her eyes slowly wandered to him. Seeing him grin boyishly. "You're the team leader now, don't forget that. Even if they escape again, it's up to you to make it as hard as possible for them to do so."
And the younger agent couldn't help but smile at this.
He always found a way to encourage and assure her whenever she doubted herself or the job. And she loved that about him, his never-ending enthusiasm.
She leaned over towards him then, placing a quick kiss on his cheek before the light turned back green. Quickly sitting back, she drove off. Ignoring Jungkook's astonished expression that was soon replaced by a mischievious smirk.
"During work? Thought that was frowned upon," he said, stifling a chuckle.
Skylar simply shrugged, smirking. "There's no one here to see us though."
The older guy sighed and leaned back with a chuckle. "Sky, Sky, Sky, since when are you so loosey-goosey? Did I finally get through to you?"
Peeking at him, a fond smile tucked on her lips as she turned into the street of the interpol branch office. "Maybe you did rub off on me a little bit over the years."
They arrived at the station. Assisting Seokjin in leading the thieves inside.
The loud noise of a phone ringing suddenly being heard. Making everyone look around when Jimin glanced at Soyeon over his shoulder, winking. "You should maybe pick up that call," he said with a lopsided smirk, before getting nudged further down the corridor.
Soyeon's eyes widened and she looked down. Realising the ringing was indeed coming from her. She patted over the blazer until coming across a cellphone in the pocket. Wondering if it had been there all along. "H-hello?"
"Jimin, whe- Who are you?" An upset sounding female voice answered on the other line. Soyeon blinked confused and lowered the phone to actually read the caller ID. 'Bella-baby'.
Her brows rose. This was Jimin's phone. When did he-?
She quickly turned away, continuing in a more hushed tone. "He's in a situation right now.. I'm Soyeon."
"Oh.. let me guess, they got arrested again?"
"Y-yeah."
"By pops?"
She was about to ask who Arabella meant, when she remembered them calling agent Kim like that. "Y-yeah, by him."
"Oh!" the older girl exclaimed excitedly, "Were Kookie and Skylar also there?"
Soyeok blinked, taken-aback. Not having expected such enthusiasm when talking about the people who arrested her boyfriend and his friends. "Ehm, yeah. Agent Jeon and Blake were also there."
"Aw, just like back in the days!"
Jimin watched her quickly excusing herself and rushing to the restrooms, fearing of any agents eavesdropping. And he smiled to himself, knowing exactly who the caller was when they were led through an office room with several desks. Spotting another two agents at a corner. The gang immediately recognising them from a few years ago.
"Ayy," Jimin laughed out with a wide smile, "I know you guys! Thanks for taking care of those idiots back then." 
Hoseok and Namjoon exchanged a glance when seeing the three thieves being brought into the back cells.
"Should I say 'you're welcome'?" Hoseok whispered irritated to Namjoon, to which his colleague only shook his head with a dismissive look.
"It was our job, we didn't do him a favour."
Hoseok nodded in relief, seeing Seokjin coming their way then. "So, apparently our mutual friend Felipe is now also involved in kidnapping," he laughed dryly, shaking his head as he pulled out a chair to take a seat.
Namjoon huffed at this new information, folding his strong arms in front of his chest. "That's quite the progress from mere art smuggling."
"And enough to hold something against him in exchange for info," Hoseok mumbled, "At least I hope so. He's currently our only potential source to getting closer to his business partners."
While the art smuggling part of Felipe Rossi's business fell under Seokjin, Skylar and Jungkook's department, the organised crime part fell under Hoseok's. And some specific parts of his business partners' crimes fell under Namjoon's special victims department. Resulting in the two partnering up with the robbery department again just like a few years ago.
"You think he'll sing though?" Seokjin wasn't fully convinced, doubting the plan would work out this easily. "According to the rumours that Morita isn't to be trifled with. Perhaps he'll prefer going to prison than snitching on him."
"Perhaps, but it's worth a try."
»»»
next chapter: 1.2 here
Don't forget to like, reblog & leave feedback!♡
It motivates me to keep writing :)
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danses-with-dogmeat · 10 months
Note
Hihi! Caught you just in time to send in one request. Congratulations on your 1.5k followers! You worked hard for it ❤️❤️ Your writing is SO beautiful!
May I request mirelurk queen for MacCready, "c'mere you"?
Ahh, thank you so much! <3 And absolutely, this is just precious with sweet Maccy. 🥺
It turned out more hurt/comfort than just fluff, but still, cute and (eventually) happy and lovely and Mac. What more do you need to know?
Anyways, I hope you enjoy!
The frigid nighttime air felt like a punch in the chest with each heavy inhale, and MacCready's knuckles cracked painfully as he clung to the railing of the porch outside your Sanctuary home.
"This has gotta stop." He whispered, tilting his head back to look up towards the stars. Puffs of his warm breath spilled out into the air, shielding the bright, shimmering speckles from his sight with the haze. The wetness in his eyes only made matters worse, his unshed tears cooling with each moment he spent outdoors, away from his warm place in bed beside you.
He couldn't go back in yet, though. Couldn't wake you when you slept so peacefully. Between the two of you, your pasts, your traumas, your loss... Deep sleep was hard to come by, and he couldn't steal even one precious wink from you, on account of his own nightmares.
Especially when it was the same as always.
There were variations, sure, but this one... This one had left him not only with the overwhelming panic and grief, as his memories of that fateful night with Lucy and Duncan always did, but it left him with a crippling guilt that stuck deep in his gut. It was uncomfortable, churning out memories and wishes, thoughts and hopes all surrounding the son he hadn't seen in... over a year now. If the letters were sound, then Duncan was alright, the cure was beginning to work, but still, he was too weak to travel, they'd said. On the surface, he was getting better, but healing was exhausting work, especially for someone so young.
And what the heck was he doing? It had been over 200 years, and you had seen your son more recently than he had.
That was just sad. It was pitiful.
Mac shook his head as his hands turned numb where they grasped at the wooden railing.
"Poor excuse for a father..." He growled through his teeth, a disgusted look surely hanging from his face as he thought of his priorities, of his actions these past couple months.
Months.
I could've been there and back twice by now, if I'd left right after sending the medication.
What am I doing?
"You okay?" Your sleepy voice sounded from the threshold of the front door as you peeked out at him.
MacCready almost jumped at the sound, too lost in his own thoughts to have noticed your approach.
"Y-yeah." He stammered out, "All fine. Just... Y'know."
"Yeah." You said, your voice sympathetic. Knowing.
He continued looking out into the darkness, towards the rest of Sanctuary. Then he felt your arms around him.
Your chin rested on his bony shoulder as your hands wrapped warmly around his waist, causing a chill to run up his spine from the sudden temperature change.
"Don't wanna talk about it?" You asked him softly.
MacCready shook his head before allowing it to tip sideways, bumping affectionately into yours.
"Mkay. Well, I'm here for you, either way."
His breath released shakily at that, and MacCready closed his eyes, leaning into the feeling of your warmth against him.
"I know, Sole..."
He almost left the next bit unvoiced, the thought that was lingering at the front of his mind, but it slipped through like water between grasping fingers. "But maybe you shouldn't be."
"Hm?" Your head snapped backwards, forcing his own to jerk as it lost the point of contact on which it was resting.
"I don't know..." He continued, "I just... I know you're here for me. You're here for me, and you're there for your son, even after everything, after 200 years and him being older than you now, even with the Institute and all the crappy stuff they've done, you still talk to him, still see him. A-and you're there for Preston, and Cait and Curie and Nick, with all of their own problems, and with all of your own still, too, and just... How the heck do you do it, baby? When I can't even-- I've only got one person, or um, two now, I guess, but even when it was just Duncan..."
His sleep-addled brain could hardly keep up with his mouth as it poured the thoughts from his head unfiltered.
"Woah, Mac, sweetie, just slow down." As if to prove a point, you slowly unraveled your arms from around him, encouraging instead, for his body to face yours as your hands grasped his own. They were icy to the touch, and you rubbed your fingers over them to bring the feeling back.
"Duncan knows how much you're doing for him. He knows that you had to leave in order to help him. And I know, too. I know how much you care about him, I see it every day, hear about him every day, see the way he makes you light up. Even just the mention of him. And me? You wanna know how I help so many others, how I was able to stay strong as I went into the Institute, how I made myself cope with Shaun being so... well, not what I expected?"
MacCready shrugged at your question, ocean-blue eyes still downcast.
You released his hands, moving to hold the sides of his face between your palms, pouring emphasis into the tender caress.
"It was you, Robert. I saw you, struggling for everything out here in the Commonwealth, scraping together caps and false leads on a medication that maybe didn't even exist, all for Duncan's sake. I saw you missing him every day, but still working tirelessly to save him, to see him again one day. And then, even after you mailed the cure out, you put that off."
He flinched at that statement, but your hands stayed glued to his cheeks.
"You put that off to help me, and I... It couldn't mean more to me, okay? I never would've... Seeing the way you always thought about Duncan, with every decision you make, the way your love for him bleeds into everything you do, even with how far away he is, that made me want to be a better parent to Shaun. Whether he was the baby I remembered, or the child I saw in Kellogg's memories, or the older man he turned out to be, I wanted to be there for him the way I saw that you were there for your boy."
You noted the way his lip quivered, the way his eyebrows drew together beneath his sleep-mussed hair, and felt relief flowing through you at the thought that your words were getting through to him.
"You inspire me, Mac." Your thumb wiped away the lone tear that rolled down his cheek. "Every day, you make me want to be better, and you've helped me with... everything, more than you could know."
As though one of you had offered it aloud, both you and MacCready leaned into each other at the very same time, falling into another warm embrace.
"I was so lost out here in this new world, until I found you. I wouldn't be half of who I am now, without you being there for me." You told him with a sniffle, your voice heavy with emotion.
"Okay, okay, lady/man! You can stop now." Your partner chuckled tearily, his chest trembling against yours. "I'm already crying, you don't need to keep droning on."
Your shoulders shook as you returned his laugh, still holding onto him tightly.
"I didn't mean to make you cry, I just wanted to tell you the truth."
"'Didn't mean to make me--' okay, yeah, whatever you say, Sole."
You giggled again, before pulling away.
His eyes were startling, even in the darkness of the late night. The tears brought out their sheer, sapphire vibrance, and you found yourself lost, awash in them as he looked at you with such fondness.
"Thank you, though. It really... I needed to hear it. My dream, just made me feel like shi-- ahem, like crap."
You nodded knowingly at that.
"You miss him. I think you're just trying to compensate it for it when you're asleep."
"Maybe." He shrugged. "I do miss the little rascal... But we'll see him soon, right?"
You smiled sadly, grabbing one of his hands with your own again as you nodded vigorously to him.
"You just say the word, baby. We'll go tomorrow, if you want."
He grinned, broad enough that his crooked teeth peeped out from between his lips.
"Tomorrow, eh?"
"That's what I said, right?"
"Sure is..." With that, Robert leaned forward, pressing a light kiss to you briefly. "I love you, you know that?"
Your eyes shone as you looked into his, seeing his own truth reflected there, and you nodded to him.
"I love you too." You echoed sweetly, "Now, c'mere, you. Let's get back to sleep. Big day tomorrow, after all."
You started pulling him along with you as you stepped through the front door and back into the house.
"Sleep? After all that? You're crazy."
Though he couldn't see it, you rolled your eyes at him playfully.
"Okay, maybe not sleep. But... cuddling, then. At least."
"Oh yeah, I can get on board with that."
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moa-broke-me · 1 year
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The first time she hit him, he was shocked.
Not because he hadn't been hit before. But because all those people that hit him were cold and cruel and drunk. And she was nothing like that. She was completely sober, and she was normally so warm, so loving and kind and sweet. Even she looked surprised, glancing down at her hand and back up at his face like she was having trouble connecting the dots.
He was, too. One moment, she was screaming in his face, and the next, she was standing there in silence, and his cheek stung. He could even feel a small cut from the gem in her engagement ring.
It was a long time before either of them spoke, but eventually, she broke the silence.
"... Don't look at me like that. You know I didn't mean it, right?" She asked, her voice straining to be even and calm, but wavering with barely-disguised desperation. "I'd never hurt you on purpose, I just get so wound up sometimes and... I act without thinking. I'm so sorry, baby."
Leo nodded. "I-I know. It's ok." He cringed at his stutter, making him look weak, making him look like a kicked puppy. Which, in all honesty, is exactly how he felt. "Well, if you're so sorry, can you, um... P-patch me up, at least?"
Her expression soured. "You know how to do it yourself, don't you?" She asked. "The bandages are in the medicine cabinet."
He nodded and smiled, walking off to the bathroom and locking the door behind him. He decided not to dress the wound right away, and instead to take a shower.
So she wouldn't hear him crying.
She used to make him feel happy, make him feel... Safe.
From there, it only got worse. Now, every nickname, every touch, was nerve-racking. When she hugged him, it felt like a snake coiling itself around him, sizing him up to see if she could swallow him whole.
The anxiety got so bad, he could barely even eat. She judged him when he did, anyway. The only times he didn't feel ashamed was when he snuck to the fridge in the dead of night and frantically stuffed his face. Even then, there was the looming threat of her wandering down for the bathroom or water and seeing him pig out.
It was like one moment, she was the perfect, loving girl that he proposed to, that he would die for, and the next... She was unrecognizable. And all he could do was sit there and take it, and wait for her tantrum to be over so she could apologize and say she didn't mean it, and the cycle would start again.
If he ran, she would just throw something at him, and he didn't fight back because even when she threatened his life, he still loved her, and still didn't want to see her hurt. After a while, he didn't have the strength to anyway.
He didn't wanna call the cops, because nobody would believe him, and he didn't want to be believed, really. He loved her. He didn't want her to go behind bars, he just wished that she would stop. None of his friends knew, either. Come to think of it, he hadn't seen his friends in a while, at least a month or two. Didn't even call them, and every time they called him, he kept it short and acted like everything was normal.
He didn't work either, she insisted he stay around the house, living off of her dad's inheritance money. He rarely had an excuse to leave the house, which he supposed was a good thing, because his leg ached from one of their more intense fights. He should've gone to the hospital, but she reminded him that they're living on a fixed income.
And he was still gonna marry her. Because he's spent too much of his life alone, and nothing is worse than that.
One night, though, things went too far.
"You never even talk to me anymore, let alone come to me when you're upset! I hear you crying, y'know. But do you ever cry for me? No! You cry for your mommy." She yanked him closer to her by his hair. "Your mommy is dead and has been for years, move the fuck on!"
That was it. He couldn't take it anymore. He'd been beaten and broken and insulted and screamed at and he'd taken it all in stride, but that was just too far. He wrenched himself from her grasp and caught his breath for a minute. "... Y'know why I never cry for you? That's why."
"Oh, what, because I'm not dead yet?"
"Because you're mean!" The words ripped from his throat before he could think.
She looked more enraged than he'd ever seen her before, and grabbed him by the collar. "I'll show you what mean looks like."
He just realized that they were at the top of the stairs. He was waifishly thin by now, and it took no effort for her to throw him down the stairs.
He woke up in a hospital room, noticing the single flower on the side table. It was from Calypso, he thinks she called it a tiger lily. And despite all the trauma and cynicism, for a moment, he smiles. For a moment, his heart flutters, seeing her name in beautiful cursive script that he can't read. She loves me! He thinks. Somewhere deep inside, she does love me!
She does this every time, makes a big romantic gesture to apologize for hurting him, and the trick never gets old. Because even though, deep down, he knows he's been had, he pushes it aside and indulges in the rush of love he feels anyway. It's the only comfort he can get these days.
The door opened, and in came Jason, sitting next to him. "Hey... Heard you fell down the stairs. I hope you remember who I am."
Leo laughed a little. "Yeah, yeah, I remember."
Jason smiled, and then held up a bag. "Oh, Nico bought you this earlier yesterday." He pulled it out, and it was a red floral silk tie. "It's, um... For your wedding tonight. Well, I guess that'll be postponed now, huh?"
Leo looks down at the tie, and he knows he should be happy, but he feels his throat tie in a knot. "About that... I, uh..." This had been on his mind since that first incident, but he banished the thought before it could form. "... I'm not so sure about the wedding anymore."
"Really? Why?"
Suddenly, he was shaking, and he couldn't form words, and his bottom lip was trembling, and oh god... He was crying.
Jason tried to put a hand on his back, but he flinched, and started to panic, breaking into sobs. "Hey, hey, it's ok... It's ok, Leo, it's just me."
He started to calm down, but he was still so scared. He'd always been so scared.
Jason stared at him for a while. "... I'm gonna kill her."
(does anyone want a part 2?)
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kazecoping · 7 months
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for admin oliver: 1. what books does gilbert actually like, since i rmr reading that serge tries to get him books but he can be kind of picky with them? 2. can you go more into detail about gilbert's addiction and the reocvery process for that? also which part of recovery/withdrawal/etc is he currently at 3. this might need a tw idk but can you also delve more into gilbert's current issues with eating and the psychology around that? how has the accident impacted them? 4. since his thoughts around auguste start to change in this au and he realizes how bad auguste really was, how does that impact his thoughts on other characters from bonnard to rosemarine even?
claps hands! that's a lot, i have been successfully entertained ... thanks for asking, i shall now answer in a way that hopefully satisfies you!
as always with these long asks, the answer is below the cut! warning for drugs and eating disorder talk, i'd try to be as subtle as humanly possible but ... it's kazeki, so. yeah.
I. gilbert's reading preferences
it's mentioned during his backstory chapters (so around volume 4-5) that he took a liking to erotic novels when he was little, and judging by that scene in volume 11 where he recites something along those lines i'd say that preference hasn't faltered.
so, he enjoys erotic novels, pretty obvious and a canon fact.
but i think he'd also like books on animals, since he doesn't have one at the moment the closest thing he has is a book.
we never talked about the kinds of books serge got him (they were scattered around the room, anyway) but they didn't get much attention from gilbert. he reads them, sure! but he doesn't particularly care for the stories or their contents ...
he'd like very dramatic books, too ...
NULL'S EDIT: Serge definitely did not bring him erotic novels., even if that sort of thing could actually have helped him heal his autonomy or sexuality or familiarity or what not he would Not have done that ghsdhf. But, he definitely would bring him stories, dramas, the 25 cent romance prints (there might be some dicey stuff in those, he is not proofreading them) at a certain point in the story they did find a bible and had a laugh about that
II. addiction, recovery, withdrawals ...
he used the initial withdrawals as a way to inflict pain in himself (so, self-harm)
opioid withdrawals are physically painful, they have a variety of symptoms such as nausea, goosebumps, sensitivity to light, hypertension and, in his case, he had hallucinations at the start (not 100% sure if this last symptom is medically accurate, though!)
anyway, he wasn't having a fun time. it was awful.
he stopped taking the drugs despite having them at hand (as null mentioned)
thankfully, it seems that opioids stay in the system for a few days (not entirely sure, since we don't exactly know what drugs gilbert was taking ... hence why i'm talking about opioids in general) so that's good, but he was jumpy and miserable for a bit longer since he was really, really dependant on them + his body is already a little fucked up and very weak, it probably took longer ... paris messed him up.
but, right now, he doesn't crave them. the little bottle they had is hiding somewhere in a box and gilbert has forgotten about its existence by now. though, he wishes he could go back to them, since that at least helped him "go away" for a moment. i guess he's going to go back to his old habit of daydreaming to make time go by faster.
Null's Edit: It's common for cases of extreme disassociation to alleviate some feelings of addiction. At a certain point, when he decided he needed to go cold turkey off everything, Serge basically took the bottle they'd spent their lifesavings on and hid it. Gilbert does not know where it is. No Opium for Gilbert.
III. disordered eating and "coping" with his current situation
he's been in and off in regards of that, to be honest. sometimes he's hungry, and sometimes he goes so long without eating ... a day or two at most.
he has always struggled with food, that's not a new thing for gilbert (or serge as an spectator, for that matter)
he relapsed (more like, he got worse than he already was) shortly after the accident, yet he kinda had to start eating more so his wounds would heal (bodies need calories and nutrients to do so, and while it wasn't nearly enough, he managed to do it)
he's not truly recovered, he may never be without the aid of a specialist (and they are expensive! he's got a whole lot of issues to take care of, sadly.) but he's hanging in there ...
he doesn't really have a reason to starve himself now, serge is tending to him most of the time already after all! and his reasoning of "maybe if he (auguste) is close to lose me he will appreciate me more" doesn't apply here for the most part, but he's gotten used to eat only when his body can't handle its hunger, or when he's in the right mood.
he's eating, sure, but he doesn't eat enough for someone his age and height.
also, keep in mind that he's pretty depressed, he doesn't feel the need to eat because his appetite has been affected by everything (stress, sadness, just the way he is)
it's mainly out of habit than him actively starving himself, though that also plays a part in what he does ... he's unwell.
the accident only made things worse, though he doesn't really care about weight gain (even if it's not preferred) or beauty, it's partially a need for control (everything is out of his hands and it feels WRONG) and partially because he's sad.
he's so, so sad.
IV. more thoughts about auguste and bonnard (and rosemarine)
so, auguste is out of the equation.
he started to realize that all the stuff that happened to him wasn't normal at some point. he already knew it was wrong (hell, serge told him that a billion times! of course he had to realize at some point) but he was in denial for some more time.
he feels gross, in a way. gilbert already felt weird over the whole thing because he never genuinely liked sex, he was just taught to crave the pain that came with it, he was taught that intimacy was supposed to be painful, and bloody, and disgusting ... and that he didn't have much of a saying in it, anyway.
he was a child, it obviously didn't click until now (or maybe it did, he just chose to ignore it.)
so, i went over his thoughts on auguste in a past ask but, i didn't mention that he (knowing that auguste is his dad) really feels in a different way towards him. sure, he's angry and grossed out, but he's also very affected. not only did he live in a lie for so long, but the person he needed the most (his dad) is the one who did most of the damage.
he hates him, but he can't help but imagine how things could've been if only auguste wasn't the way he is.
bonnard doesn't occupy most of his thoughts, but he doesn't particularly like him. he's not important enough to gilbert, even if he still has nightmares of the day he first touched him, of the blood, the pain, the fact that he entered survival mode upon waking up ...
yeah, no. he doesn't like bonnard, he hopes to never see him again.
rosemarine is a complicated subject, i have yet to reach the paris volume so i'm not sure if his relationship with gilbert improved in some way (i think it sort of did? he was the one who helped him and serge leave, right?) but i know for a fact that he resents him for not doing anything to protect him when he was at laconblade.
sure, auguste had threatened him (gilbert doesn't know that, though, in gilbert's eyes rose didn't do anything because he simply didn't feel like it), but rose didn't do anything about it for around 5-6 years. that makes him an accomplice.
rosemarine allowed that to happen and engaged in the abuse (physical abuse, at least) probably more than once, so ... yeah, he doesn't hate rosemarine, but he doesn't know how he can sleep at night knowing that.
sorry if i was unclear in any points! let me know if that's the case, pretty please . . . i probably spaced out at some point 🌀
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