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ya-girl-mc · 3 years

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Hammered

Character: Tsukishima Kei × Fem Reader

Concept: Y/N joins Tsukishima and his colleagues for a night of drinking, but ends up embarrassing him as she gets wasted

A/N: Cause I miss getting drunk and doing stupid shit, hence this fic feat. our salty boi ✌ it was rly fun to write this so,, hope u enjoy it too!!

☆☆ A Haikyuu!! Fanfiction ☆☆

Light filtered through the window blinds, rousing Y/N from her slumber as she pried her eyes open, cursing to herself as she felt a stinging pain in her temples. She was hungover, pretty badly at that, and as much as she wracked her brain to try and recall the events that transpired the night before, it only made her headache much worse.

Shit...I don't feel so good.

As her eyes darted around, she was immediately relieved knowing that she was lying down on the couch in her and Tsukishima's living room, managing to deduce - despite her muddled state-of-mind - that someone must have taken care of her in her drunken stupor.

Gritting her teeth, Y/N tried to sit up slowly, wincing as her temples prickled with pain with every movement. In her peripheral vision, however, was her livid-looking boyfriend with probably the deepest scowl she's ever seen as he stared her down from where he sat.

"Kei...?"

"Did you sleep well?" While the inquiry was meant to be out of concern, Tsukishima delivered it in a monotonous, yet utterly chilling manner which only meant one thing: he was pissed.

"What happened? And what's got you frowning so early in the morning?" She carefully questioned, eager yet dreading to find out how she must have royally screwed up the night before to get him this upset. Her curiosity only infuriated Tsukishima more and Y/N could have almost sworn seeing a blackish aura swirl around him.

"You...you really don't remember a damn thing, do you?"

*****

Fridays were usually the most anticipated day of the week for most members of the working class; however, in Tsukishima's case, he was dreading this Friday in particular.

After a strenuous week at the office, his boss suggested the entire team go drinking to reward themselves for their hard work and as a means to de-stress. But, Tsukishima wasn't keen on partaking in such nights of revelry especially after a long week at work as he'd rather spend his Friday nights and weekends relaxing at home with Y/N. The only reason that he decided to tag along is due to her persistence for him to do so.

Sighing deeply to himself, Tsukishima followed his colleagues as they entered the izakaya, chattering excitedly as they settled in at a long table at the far back. Amongst the clientele for that night, one of them in particular caught his attention, his eyes widening in surprise.

"Y/N?"

She was sat on one of the stools overlooking the kitchen. At the sound of her name, she turned towards its source and grinned widely. "Kei! Fancy running into you here and I see that you're also with your team. Good boy!"

He subtly rolled his eyes and sat down on the stool next to hers, unable to fight off a smile that made its way to his face. "Yeah yeah, if I didn't join them I'd never hear the end of it from you. Anyway, are you here alone?"

"Yeah, just stopped by on the way home from work to pick up some gyoza and katsudon for dinner. But wait, maybe I should have gotten takoyaki, too? Or maybe another serving of gyoza-" Y/N rambled as she grabbed the menu, her eyes scanning rapidly over the items.

He just gazed at her in amusement, completely oblivious to the inquisitive stares his co-workers shot their way. Tsukishima in the workplace was usually placid, reserved, and mostly impassive; seeing his relaxed and pleasant demeanor as he interacted with Y/N was especially intriguing to them, wondering amongst themselves just who that woman was in Tsukishima's life.

Keen on finding out the answer, one of his senpais called him over to their table. It suddenly dawned on him that there was no other choice than to formally introduce Y/N to them. And, he definitely was not looking forward to it as he'd never hear the end of their relentless teasing. "Y/N, would you mind coming along with me for a bit?"

Discreetly straightening her clothes and smoothening her hair, Y/N nodded and followed him to where his co-workers sat, anxious to make a good first impression. At their arrival, they immediately trained their gazes on her, just as eager to find out who she was. "Everyone, this is Y/N, my girlfriend. We live together," Tsukishima stated nonchalantly.

The shock on their faces was borderline comical as they stared back at him, their jaws hanging open in disbelief. "Girlfriend?!"

He sighed, already dreading the uproar they're about to cause. Tsukishima was a private person and rarely talked about his personal life as he maintained a firm work-life boundary. It was not like he was embarrassed to introduce his girlfriend to them; he just perceived the entire ordeal to be troublesome as his colleagues would jump at any chance to find something to tease him about.

Y/N straightened herself and bowed. "Nice to meet you, I'm Y/N. Thank you very much for taking care of Kei - I mean - Tsukishima all this time."

"I can't believe this!" One of his kouhais wailed. "To think that an office drone like Tsukishima-senpai has a girlfriend, and a very pretty one at that. So what the hell am I exactly doing wrong?"

"Believe me, I could tell you everything that you need to hear," Tsukishima retorted and shot his kouhai a dagger-like glare.

One of his senpais, a man who looked to be in his late 30's, leaned over and flicked his kouhai on the forehead as he winced in response. "Stop bad-mouthing Tsukishima when his girlfriend's literally standing in front of you. Anyway, nice to meet you, Y/N!"

They instantaneously began bombarding her with questions such as "how did you two meet", "how long have you been together", "what do you do for a living", and "of all men, why Tsukishima." Unable to keep up with what almost seemed like an interrogation by his colleagues, Y/N smiled sheepishly and shot Tsukishima a pleading look, silently begging him to bail her out.

"That's enough, all of you. You're creeping the poor lady out." Y/N turned to the man that sat at the head of the table; he exuded authority which practically gives himself away as the boss. Bringing up a cup of sake to his lips, he took a sip and eyed his subordinates sternly, yet the amusement in his gaze was palpable as he shifted his attention to Y/N. "Sorry about that, we just didn't expect our lone wolf Tsukishima to have a girlfriend, so we're all excited to meet you. If you don't mind, maybe you can join us, Y/N?"

"Sir-" Tsukishima began to protest as he felt the work-life boundary he stubbornly maintained begin to crumble; but to his surprise, Y/N seemed keen on accepting the invitation, a bashful smile on her face.

"I'd be happy to, but I wouldn't want to impose-"

"You won't, don't worry about it!" He assured dismissively and proceeded to order another round of drinks and accompanying snacks. "It's a pleasure of ours to get to know you and finally get a glimpse of Tsukishima's life outside of work."

Flattered and amused at how especially eager they seemed to know more about their enigmatic colleague and his girlfriend, Y/N gratefully accepted the invitation. "Alright, a few drinks wouldn't hurt."

*****

"Okay, I remember that much...but it still doesn't explain why you're so pissed," Y/N mused, listening earnestly to Tsukishima as he filled her in on what seemed like a disastrous night of revelry caused by her drunken antics.

He sighed and took off his glasses to rub his temples, the events that transpired the night before seemingly traumatizing him. "That's because you got carried away, you idiot."

*****

A couple of shots was all it needed for Y/N to become fully accustomed with Tsukishima's colleagues and pretty soon, they were chattering away like long-time friends while he fixated his gaze on her, his eyebrows furrowing in mild displeasure.

Aren't they becoming a little bit too friendly with her? And Y/N's just two shots in and she's already starting to get tipsy. Geez, this is so troublesome.

"Hey, one at a time please! I'll answer your questions one by one," Y/N instructed quite giddily, Tsukishima gazing at her in concern as she downed her third shot. He didn't want to be a buzzkill especially when she seemed to genuinely enjoy his colleagues' company and vice versa; however, her alcohol tolerance was remarkably low and it didn't take much for her to become fully inebriated. He decided to keep a watchful eye on her instead to prevent any incident from occurring due to her drunken antics.

"So, how and when did you two meet?"

"Kei and I go way back in high school," Y/N began as everyone at the table listened to her attentively. "He was part of our school's volleyball team and looked so cool as he played! That's when I started to have a crush on him, but it was one-sided though."

And there goes her filter, Tsukishima thought to himself, concealing his exasperation by downing his cup of sake, trying as best as he can to drown out the uproar his colleagues caused at her revelation.

"No way! Tsukishima-senpai was a volleyball player? I just can't imagine that!" One of his kouhais exclaimed, completely perplexed at the thought.

Tsukishima was about to reply with another snide remark, but Y/N was quick to interject. "Hell yeah he was, and he's such a great middle blocker to boot. He played so calmly as he read his opponent's moves...ahhh that composure of his is what makes him so cool!"

While he appreciated her attempt to defend his honor, it only increased everyone's amusement as she fawned over him, much to his chagrin. "So Y/N-" One of his senpais grinned sneakily, and Tsukishima pretty much figured out what the next inquiry will be about. "-who confessed to whom?"

"Oh, that takes me way back!" She mused, leaning against the man in question who sat right next to her. "I didn't have the courage to confess since he seemed so unapproachable and indifferent, so I thought about giving up on him. But as we became seniors, we ended up in the same class and became quite close. Eventually, during our graduation ceremony, Kei pulled me aside and confessed! I was so shocked that I started crying and...well, the rest is history."

"So it was Tsukishima here who confessed!" One of his senpais beamed and threw an arm around his shoulder, clinking his sake cup with his. "The revelations just keep on coming and coming."

"But that's amazing though," their boss remarked, completely engrossed in the conversation as much as his subordinates were. "You've been together for such a long time now. It's pretty rare for high school sweethearts to last that long."

Y/N nodded earnestly and downed her fourth shot before Tsukishima had the chance to snatch it away from her hands. "I agree, but Kei is such a caring and thoughtful boyfriend! He may seem like a sour puss on the outside but he's reaaaaaally sweet and very very clingy! But shhhhh...don't tell him I said that, though."

Ugh great, now she's done it. Tsukishima almost had to cover his ears as everyone at the table guffawed, unable to stomach the idea of their placid colleague and the clingy boyfriend Y/N described being the same person. He squeezed his eyes shut, hoping and praying for the evening to be over.

*****

Y/N cringed as Tsukishima helped her recall the things she had blurted out amid her inebriated state, starting to slowly understand the reason why he was so livid in the first place. "Okay...first of all, I am so sorry - with every fiber of my being - for embarrassing you like that-"

"That's not all you did," Tsukishima interjected quite menacingly and pinched the bridge of his nose in an attempt to keep his temper in-check. "As if that wasn't humiliating enough, you managed to exceed my expectations."

*****

A couple more shots later, Y/N was too far gone. She was completely wasted, and Tsukishima couldn't bear to look at his co-workers as they shot each other uneasy looks, the concern palpable in their wordless exchanges. He was utterly embarrassed yet frustrated at himself since she somehow managed to surpass her drinking limit despite being under his watchful eye.

"Heyyyyy, owner! Anotha' round of sake for this table right here, and put it on my tab!"

As Y/N made an attempt to leave the table, she accidentally knocked over a half-empty glass of water, the liquid spilling all over the table as a result. Giggling to herself while Tsukishima's colleagues scrambled to remove their belongings from the table, she attempted to grab a bottle of sake, but he swiftly withheld her attempt to do so, yanking it out of her reach.

"Okay, enough is enough," he reprimanded firmly, setting the bottle down on the table and bringing his face close in an attempt to get through to her. "Y/N, for the love of God, please get ahold of yourself."

"Tsukkiiii...you're hereee!" It was futile, Y/N's glassy eyes an indicator that she was in no condition to listen to reason. She smiled goofily and threw herself into his arms, the sheer force causing Tsukishima to stumble, his arm accidentally knocking over a glass to the floor as it completely shattered as a result.

"Shit! I'm so sorry, did anyone get hurt?" He exclaimed in a state of uncharacteristic panic, his arms struggling to support his drunken mess of a lover as she began mumbling unintelligibly to herself.

"We're good, Tsukishima. Don't worry about it," his boss assured. "But, I think it's best if you take her home, she doesn't look too good."

Yes, good call, that's one way to put it. Goddammit, this is too fucking embarrassing.

Pretty soon, the izakaya's owner approached the group amid the commotion, and with Tsukishima sincerely apologizing and swearing to pay for the damages, he also insisted on paying for the entire group's bill to compensate, but they turned down his offer, advising him and Y/N to get themselves home safely.

Tsukishima thought that the nightmare had ended; apparently, Y/N had more in store as she tapped his boss' shoulder, staring down at him in an attempt to look stern. "Hey sirrrr...can you lay off Tsukki sometimes? 'Cuzzzz...he comes home waaayyyy too late and we barely have enough time to get down and dir-"

"NOOO!" Tsukishima cried out in horror, completely and utterly humiliated as he scrambled to clamp his hand over Y/N's mouth in an attempt to salvage what's left of both of their dignities. However, the force caused her to stagger, her unruly arm knocking over a bottle of sake atop the table. Tsukishima was unable to do anything as he hopelessly watched it topple over, the liquid spilling and trickling down on his boss' lap as he felt every ounce of his life force drain out of his body.

God, if you're listening, then please...I don't care how you do it, but I beg of you...just kill me now.

*****

"ARE YOU SERIOUS?!" Y/N wailed and buried her face in a pillow, unable to bring herself to look at Tsukishima as he unveiled the horrific experience he and his co-workers went through due to her drunken stupor. To say that she was embarrassed was a complete understatement; she was mortified, and it definitely was not an ideal first impression as she mourned for her long gone dignity. "Just kill me, please!"

Tsukishima was practically seething with rage at this point, wishing that the night before had just been a nightmare, yet it was nothing but a cruel reality. "You're embarrassed? How the hell do you think I feel? I lost count of the number of times I had to apologize before I hauled your drunken self home! You literally went crazy, Y/N! How careless, especially knowing that you can't handle alcohol well!"

She deserved to be scolded. Y/N lifted her head from the pillow and looked up at him, her eyes prickling with tears as she wallowed in her shame. "Kei...I'm so sorry. You're right, I was careless and I embarrassed you in front of your co-workers. I really didn't mean to! Oh my god...what if you got fired-" It must have been the after-effects of her hangover that made her an emotional mess as she felt tears running down her face, berating herself for acting in such a distasteful manner - in public and in front of his colleagues, at that.

Tsukishima deeply sighed to regain his composure. He settled down next to his lover on the couch, his hand rubbing across her back as he tried to calm her down. "Don't be ridiculous. I won't get fired over something like that, the boss isn't that shallow. He even called me up as soon as we got home to ask how you were doing."

At his gesture, Y/N bawled even harder, the tears streaming endlessly down her face. "I'm really sorry for ruining your night. I promise that I won't do it again."

"Y/N," Tsukishima began and tipped up her chin, locking his golden eyes with her puffy ones. "Look, I'm even more upset that you weren't being careful. I won't stop you from drinking, but you've got to be more aware of your own limitations. What if I wasn't there with you? What if you were alone and there was no one you trusted to take care of you?"

He's right, I'm such an idiot. I sure as hell won't be drinking anytime soon especially after last night's debacle!

She only managed a nod, sniffing profusely as she fished out her handkerchief to wipe her tear-stained face. "I'm so sorry, Kei. I swear that I'll be careful next time."

"You better be, you drunkard," he playfully retorted, the corners of his mouth subtly twitching upwards at how undeniably adorable she was being.

"So...you're not mad anymore?" Y/N inquired softly, looking up at Tsukishima with pleading eyes. While his earlier rage was now long gone, he did go through quite an ordeal, and he wasn't keen on letting her off the hook that easy as he wickedly grinned at her.

Oh, shit. I don't like that look.

"Sorry Y/N, but you're not getting off that easy. You did humiliate the both of us after all," he stated deviously, his smile widening at the uneasy expression on her face. "So for the next two weeks, you'll be doing all the household chores, and you're on bathroom cleaning duty for the entire month."

She sighed and nodded defeatedly. It was definitely a pain, but Y/N was resolute on serving her punishment to atone for what she did. However, she couldn't help but feel relieved since she had expected something way worse; doing all the household chores seemed quite tame in comparison to what she had imagined.

But then again, this was Tsukishima, and as he sensed her apparent relief, he laid out the pinnacle of her punishment, unable to fight off the sadistic grin on his face. "And, as soon as you're not hungover anymore, we'll be paying each of my colleagues a visit so you can sincerely apologize for what you did."

Y/N gawked at him, her heart dropping to her stomach. "C-come again?" He's not serious. He can't be...right? Right?!

"You heard me." Tsukishima was dead serious. She knew that something was amiss with his household chores punishment; he may be her boyfriend, but he definitely was a sadistic bastard if he needed to be.

"NOOO!" She wailed, completely mortified at the prospect as she began hitting him with the pillow, her hangover being the least of her concerns. "Please Kei, anything but that! I'd rather not meet them again for the rest of my living days, so please!"

Tsukishima chuckled and stilled her movements, staring her down to show just how serious he was. "Well, that just means that this punishment is befitting, right? At least now you'll think twice before letting yourself get wasted again. This will be a good learning experience for you."

Y/N knew that there was no other way to escape from her upcoming predicament. Completely at a loss, she only managed to shoot Tsukishima the harshest glare that she could muster. "Fine. If it will make you happy, you sadistic bastard."

Knowing that he had emerged victorious for this round, he let out a carefree laugh and planted an affectionate kiss atop her disheveled hair. "I appreciate it. Now, let's get that hangover treated real quick."

#haikyuu!!#haikyuu #tsukishima kei #haikyuu × reader #tsukishima x reader #haikyuu fanfiction #haikyuu tsukishima

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gtseven7 · 4 years

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Seven Princes

Summary:

Seven handsome travelling entertainers capture hearts of the crowd by their amazing voices and artisic dancing as they slowly drain their audience’s inner soul magic.

A/N:

This one’s longer than usual and I had fun writing this. Anyway even if I had one this chapter has no relation to the plot whatsover. Promise, I’ll go back on track soon and I swear it’ll be worth it as I had already decided the second part of this story will be deeper and plot driven. it’ll take a while so please bear with me. and for those who still reads this, thank you so much!

prev/next

The strings of the cello resounded all through out the banquet hall as the young women and men dance around each other. With a flirty touch to the hand, on their waists, a fleeting whisper on the ear; it was truly a harvest. May everyone bring home their fated partners. The hall was full of chattering, soft giggles and shoe clattering. It was a joyous night! Some may even be a little drunk, on wine and attention. Leiram, once general of the Hallor knights, turned temporary King, stood proudly on the second floor; overlooking the dance below. Oh how astonishing it is to be young. Ah he's not old, he just feels like one. The recent war took a toll on him just like it did to their Queen Rianon.

"My king, are you not going to join the festivity?" the petite man, who smelled like vanilla and sugar slithered quietly beside him. "Sacho, I told you not to call me that. When the Queen comes back with Indulf, I will no longer be the King." The blonde boy huffed at the taller man beside him. "Whatever you say. So are you not going to dance with the pretty ladies?"

"Why dance with them when I can dance with you?"

They left the banquet hall with a smile on their faces, missing the entrance of the seven men that captured the hearts of everyone even without magic.

When the big wooden doors atop of staircase hall opened, surprise was what the Seven Princes received. Like portrait paintings, they lined up in the middle and strode down the golden grand stairs with elegance that even real royalties would envy. Whispered started to arise in the room.

"Who are they?"

"Oh how handsome they are!"

"I will do my best to get one of them."

"Ah, now our chances shot down to the ground."

"I've never seen them before..."

Yurin giggled to herself, already a bit haughty about knowing who those guys are. She doesn't know much aside from them staying at their inn but the advantage of already talking to them that morning boosted her confidence. It's so good that she changed her dress for tonight.

All eyes were on them. Jaebum in the middle, scouring the crowd with his eyes. It was as if time had frozen, the people were motionless. Just staring at the seven of them. "We really gather attention like this huh." BamBam chuckled lightly as he whispered to Youngjae. The other nodded bashfully. This much enthrallment was still foreign to him, even after all these years. When their feet touched the dance floor, like awakening from the trance they put their audience in, the Hallorians snapped out of their reveries as the music flowed throughout the hall once again. The energy rose as they dispersed and mingled with others. Outside their audacious activities, they are pretty friendly people. Jackson lives to make friends. Of all of them, he garners the most people to flock on him with smiles stretching their lips. From afar, Mark could hear his friend laugh. Their fierce knight even with his guard still up a bit, his face brightens up bashfully whenever a compliment is thrown at him.

"Seunnie really loves crowds doesn't he?" a rhetorical question but Jinyoung nodded in agreement. They were standing quite far from the crowd, observing their friends. Yugyeom and BamBam, that almost never get separated has a herd of their own. Chatting them up easily, their natural charisma just oozes even without spells. "Look at the twins. They're having a great time too." Mark hummed his agreement this time, sipping his wine as he laid his back on one of the ivory pillars. His eyes scanning the throng of people with slight interest. Mark and Jinyoung, the quietest pair in their group exudes this hard to approach aura and mysteriousness. So many ladies and gentlemen wanted to come closer but no one dared to.

Youngjae and his Jaebum hyung were already dancing with girls that were brave enough to ask. The younger of the two had a large grin plastered on his face as he glides on the floor with ease. They were garnering onlookers, wishing it was them who's dancing with the man. Jaebum on the other hand, while less flashy than Youngjae, the woman on his arms was extremely satisfied. The quiet alluring ambiance of the man she's dancing with was enough to melt her. "So, Don Jaybi, what made you come here in our town?" her voice was a just a whisper, in an attempt to sound inviting. Minseo's the daughter of one of the Dukes in their kingdom. Her status was quite well-known, making the others jealous of her. "Nothing much. It was on a whim." Jaebum answered her. A short response was not what she wanted but she'll take it. 'I have to put more effort it seems.' But before she can clutch onto him more, the song ended in her dismay, already missing the feel of his velvety sleeves on her arm. He bowed to her and bid goodbye. "Wait!"

Turning around, Jaebum almost blinded the women looking at him. His half-bun hair swayed from the movement. "Yes?" She gulped in response. "Can you give me another dance?"

She was then cut off by the next song. It was jovial and merry. A song for groups. The orchestra started whistling a funky tune. Minseo lost her chance, huffing her frustration when Jaebum smiled when he saw Yugyeom walking towards him with a bounce on his step. This was just his type of song it seems. Yugyeom jaunted, light on his feet and beckoned his hyungs to follow him. It was Jackson who got to his side first. The whistling came to stop and his raspy voice started singing what he felt. He slid smoothly, grooving to the beat of the music. BamBam, Yugyeom and suprisingly, Jinyoung behind him. Mirroring his moves.

Jaebum chuckled at his friends. Good music really brings them out, he thought. But he won't be left out in this fun dancing. So when Jackson sauntered towards him, Youngjae and Mark close by, they also started becoming one with the beat. Tossing their hankies to the air and catching it, as a gimmick.

BamBam waltzed to the middle as Jackson finished his, the silver haired man calmly took over. Riding the pulse of the orchestra's interesting tune. His legs bouncing with the rhythm, his hands waving as if he was tantalizing the people to look at him and just him. There is no spell at all, perhaps BamBam just exudes this magical presence without magic itself. The song wasn’t half in and everybody feels like its going on forever; a forever they don’t want to end.

After BamBam, moving smoothly from behind him, Youngjae started belting out. In high spirits and high energy, the song escalated as he sang and swayed his hip to the music. The sun that shines brightly, dazzling their audience while their ears are blessed. The boys behind him, adding that extra sparkle. And just as water flows, Yugyeom came in again, hyping up the crowd. The energy on his body, unconfined anymore; sharing it to the people watching. They too were tapping along with the music. With a flirty eye contact with Yurin who he recognized from Clover, his hands fleeted on his tux, teasing her a bit of his inner wear. Those who had been looking almost fainted.

No one expected Mark to be dancing with them, as he had this bored expression on his face since he arrived. But to their surprise and delight, he did join and now’s his turn. His deep voice echoing in their hearts. They realized, he wasn’t just a statue-esque person; cold and unmoving. He was gleaming with life as he sang his words fiercely, a laugh in his eyes. “He’s so cool.” One man whispered, catching himself midway. The Seven Princes enjoys the stage and cheer, this was evident as they had mirth in their eyes and movements as they dance along the whistling of the musicians.

Minseo was waiting for Don Jaybi (he introduced himself as such) to sing. She was sure, he’ll blow her away. He’s just perfect in her eyes. And she’s right. When Jaebum stepped on the middle with a smirk, she knew she’s a goner. She almost missed it when he left immediately, coming close behind dancing was Jinyoung. “What, why did he leave so fast?” But MInseo aside whose eyes were glued to her once dancing partner, the prince like man walked confidently and made hearts fall for him. One by one, they melt at the sight of him.

Youngjae then came back, his voice like an angel, soaring higher than the heavens with Jaebum singing beside him. It was a harmony sweet to the ears and burns the body with longing. Then the seven of them moved forward, all with teasing smiles on their faces suddenly removed their tux halfway. Shaking their shoulders seductively, as if saying ‘come at me’; they had made the night very interesting.

Too bad their Queen who the seven men encountered previously wasn’t there. Oh well, it wasn’t like she did not watch them before.

#Seven Princes #got7 #got7 scenarios #got7 imagines #Im Jaebum #jackson wang #park jinyoung #choi youngjae #kim yugyeom #bambam #mark tuan

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epchapman89 · 6 years

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The Coffee Lover’s Guide To Glasgow, Scotland

When you think of Scotland, what do you picture? Perhaps you imagine rolling hills covered with purple heather, deep lochs hiding a prehistoric monster, highland cows grazing casually as a large man in a kilt walks past playing the bagpipes, plenty of rain. When thinking of a Scottish city, however, many probably picture Edinburgh and its mighty castle, the cobbled streets of the Royal Mile, or the imposing Arthur’s Seat looming above. Many may not think of Glasgow, Scotland’s so-called second city, but that would be a mistake.

Glasgow is a unique town—its evocative nickname is the Dear Green Place—and it has much to recommend it. Several universities, a shipbuilding legacy stretching back hundreds of years, not to mention some glorious architecture and stunning street art. Billy Connolly, Scotland’s funniest man and effective poet laureate, was born here, as were globally influential popsters Belle And Sebastian, which is reason enough to visit. You can spend days wandering its alleyways and gardens, or touring the numerous museums and galleries, and evenings checking out the city’s vibrant live music scene. And that’s before you consider the hospitality and friendliness of the local population. All in all, it’s a city that deserves to be explored.

This extends to its coffee scene: from sleek downtown espresso bars and minimalist design havens to cozy neighborhood roaster-retailers, and popular local wholesale roaster Dear Green Coffee, Glasgow has something for everyone. Here are five of its best coffee spots.

Kaf

One of the newer cafes to grace Glasgow’s bustling West End, Kaf is a sliver of a place sitting comfortably at the end of Hyndland Street, opposite Mansfield Park. Even though it’s only been open a short time, Kaf has immediately jumped to the top of most people’s must-visit coffee spots in Glasgow, as much for its impeccably understated atmosphere and Scandinavian-inspired food as its coffee.

A tiny cafe, taller than it is wide, Kaf can accommodate about 10 people at any one time. The white walls and house plants give it a fresh feel while the large window at the front of the shop lets light stream in, making the whole place feel big and airy despite its small size. A La Marzocco Linea Classic and Mahlkönig EK43 grinder dominate the counter, producing coffee from a rotating lineup of the best roasters around, from Bath’s Colonna Coffee to Foundry Coffee Roasters of Sheffield.

Kaf is a calm, refined, and exquisitely focused cafe, staffed by knowledgeable and friendly baristas. The coffee is meticulously crafted, the attention to detail apparent in each swivel of latte art. This, combined with its peaceful mood, makes Kaf an ideal place to ease into the day, enjoy a coffee, and ponder your next move.

Kaf Coffee is located at 5 Hyndland St, Glasgow. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Papercup

Staying in the West End, Papercup Coffee Company is about a mile and half north then east from Kaf. Located on the busy Great Western Road, Papercup is a definite local favorite. Always bustling, always welcoming, it’s a narrow, galley cafe with a line of tables on the right, a long counter on the left, and a tiny kitchen at the back. The decor is pared-back and uncomplicated, with one major exception: on the right-hand wall overlooking the counter is a mural by the famed Australian street artist Steen Jones (the only one in the UK). A coffee at Papercup is a visceral experience; the slender nature of the space and low tables brings you face-to-face with your drink as it is being prepared.

Papercup roasts its own coffee, just around the corner on Belmont Lane, and offers drinks made via Hario v60, AeroPress, and the ever-present La Marzocco Linea Classic. The baristas work at a tireless pace to ensure the near-constant demand is met, while the tiny kitchen at the back provides an extensive brunch-focused food menu, featuring local, ethical, and sustainable produce wherever possible.

Papercup is a clear choice among the locals and students who populate the West End, meaning it is never quiet, but even if you have to wait for a seat, the end result is more than worth it.

Papercup Coffee Company is located at 603 Great Western Rd, Glasgow. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Laboratorio Espresso

Heading now into Glasgow’s busy downtown, Laboratorio Espresso is situated at the foot of a sleek office building on West Nile Street, just around the corner from Queen Street train station. A stylish, award-winning cafe design matched with a commitment to showcasing outstanding roasters from all over Europe, Laboratorio exudes sophistication in its aim to bring Milanese espresso culture to the people of Scotland.

It’s a compact space, decked out in concrete and wood paneling, but its huge windows and high ceilings make it feel bigger than it is. There are a couple of tables inside as well as a fairly sizable outside seating setup (for those long, hot Scottish summer days). Of course, the best seats in the house are the stools in front of the windows, perfect for people-watching while you sip your third espresso of the day and pretend that you’re in Milan.

Their La Marzocco Linea Classic pumps out espresso from a rotating lineup of Europe’s best roasters, including the Barn and Five Elephant from Berlin and London’s Union Hand-Roasted Coffee. Laboratorio takes great care in choosing its collaborators, ensuring that customers get to sample only the best in-season coffees.

Laboratorio Espresso is located at 93 W Nile St, Glasgow. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Spitfire Espresso

Another central Glasgow favorite, Spitfire Espresso is about half a mile east of Laboratorio, near the campus of Strathclyde University. An open-plan cube on the corner of Ingram Street and Candleriggs, its big windows let in lots of natural light to highlight the red, white, and blue interior. There is a distinctive World War II theme, with model airplanes everywhere, ’50s rock ’n’ roll on the stereo, and the aforementioned color scheme (the colors of the Royal Air Force) extending to the cups, espresso machine—a bright red La Marzocco FB70—and counter.

Spitfire serves Thomson’s Coffee, one of Glasgow’s oldest coffee roasters, using a custom blend fittingly named Gunnerbean. The cafe also offers soups, sandwiches, and house-made cakes, for those looking for something hearty to accompany their coffee, as well as an extensive craft beer menu for a post-work indulgence. Outdoor seating runs the length of the cafe on both streets, and on a nice day is usually filled with customers and their dogs (Spitfire is extremely “dug-friendly,” as locals might say).

The spot is also people-friendly, of course, and the staff is hugely welcoming and engaging, making Spitfire an obvious gathering point for the many students and professionals who live, work, and study in the surrounding neighborhoods.

Spitfire Espresso is located at 127 Candleriggs, Glasgow. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

It All Started Here

It All Started Here is another of the new kids on the Glasgow coffee block, opening in May 2017 in Shawlands on the south side of the city. A permanent home for the successful pop-up stall that has been making appearances at events and markets around town for the past few years, It All Started Here keeps to that pop-up ethos by only being open Friday through Sunday. This is due to owner William Heenan also working a full-time job during the week, but he has plans to hire some staff and slowly expand opening hours, which has just begun with the aforementioned Friday opening.

The menu, for both coffee and food, is simple and carefully considered. It All Started Here’s coffee lineup showcases two coffees—one on espresso, one on batch—supplied by a different roaster each week from all around the UK (and occasionally farther afield). Using a Nuova Simonelli Aurelia two-group, Heenan crafts elegant, delectable drinks; I’m still haunted by the flat white made with Ethiopia Wegida Blue from Strangers Coffee in Norwich, England.

Its location means that those visiting Glasgow to sample the coffee will need to travel slightly farther away, but Heenan’s hospitality and excellent barista skills make It All Started Here a worthwhile coffee destination, as well as a chance to visit a sometimes-overlooked area of the city.

It All Started Here is located at 75 Deanston Dr, Glasgow. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Fionn Pooler is a journalist based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and the publisher of The Pourover. Read more Fionn Pooler on Sprudge.

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