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shijiujun · 3 years

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ZZH + GJ x ELLE TW | Interview (28 April 2021)

Translations for the separate online interview the both of them did with ELLE Taiwan:

Talking to SHL GJ and ZZH | "Life can be simple as long as we do our best in the things we love" - 18 liners fulfilling their dreams

What do ZZH and GJ think of each other?

(1) With ZZH

Since the start of SHL, ZZH's role was set so that he only had three years left to live, hinting at the possible tragic ending early! Invested fans cried a lot & left ‘warning’ messages for the scriptwriter & director: "Even if it's unrealistic you better let him live!"

And when he was free during work the day before, ZZH accepted the online interview and was asked about his ZZS role and he, who usually dotes on his fans, said, "Thanks everyone for affirming/recognizing my acting skills, don't cry!"

ZZH's portrayal/acting was received very well by fans and his dynamic acting skills were revealed in many different directions because of SHL. He was praised to have nine faces, which means that aside from being well-rounded in his portrayal of happiness, anger, sadness, delight and other emotions, ZZH managed to interpret (his role) in a well-rounded way, with just a gaze and how calm he was from head to toe.

Taking on this role in SHL, ZZH says that his heart aches quite a bit for ZZS: "Towards his role, I can't say that I can give him any strength, but what I can do, is quietly feel and understand him."

Talking about his partner Gong Jun, ZZH attributed the success of the show and the efforts put into it to the team, and also praised GJ for being really professional, and fans look forward to be able to see the both of them work tgt in the future.

With a face that's gentle, handsome and has no bad angles, ZZH is most pleased with his defined nose. You may not know this, but in actuality, ZZH is not gentle/quiet at all! He likes to exercise and gym usually, through training, he fills his thoughts with positive energy.

Speaking about his Weibo UN "Crazy ZZH", we can't help but ask, is he a person who goes crazy (I guess, have a lot of fun, party like mad) without limits in private? ZZH says: "I chose this username to reflect a way to live - if I don't go to the extremes I will never accomplish anything.”

"I just feel that the things I'm passionate about I should do my best in them, for example, the craziest might have been when I was in university, I rode my bike solo all the way to Tibet!" He finished the journey step by step and because of this determination, it's reflected in his attitude towards filming & how meticulous he is. A lot of scenes that required fighting, ZZH communicated repeatedly with his teacher while learning and while he injured himself a bit, he said: "We must be responsible towards our roles, this is how an actor should be.”

"Thanks to everyone for recognizing/affirming me (as an actor), we'll continue walking the road together!”

ZZH who is currently filming for a movie, promises that he'll definitely meet his TWnese fans in the future if given the chance. May 11 is ZZH's birthday and when asked about how he plans to spend his day, he casually says that it's in the planning, and as for birthday wishes, he said without hesitation, "I definitely hope everyone is healthy, and happy everyday!"

(2) With GJ

After SHL was broadcasted everyone fell for it completely, especially for GJ's role WKX. He managed to rank first in terms of entertainment tv influence. While he was free during work, GJ interviewed online and talked about the scene where his hair went white.

GJ: "My heart aches truly for WKX, I know a lot of fans cried because of him, thank you all for liking this show but I still hope everyone spends everyday happily!"

He says he was once an 18-line actor & only started becoming popular on his 12th show, & thus he always cautions himself to head towards his dream with his feet on the ground, step by step. This special attitude is also reflected in the way he works; no matter the fighting or more dangerous scenes, GJ always does his best: "I don't know how many shows I've filmed! For fighting-related ones, I am thankful to the wushu laoshi and all the staff's guidance/protection, and once again under their training I safely completed this show, showing everyone the best shots!"

Aside from good acting skills, his styling was well-liked by fans especially when he wore that red outfit, he was endlessly charismatic "My fave is also the red outfit, and this outfit is also my most expensive one, hah!"

The rain scene left the greatest impression on him: "SHL is show with the most lines out of all that I've filmed so far; because a lot of WKX's lines are poetry, memorizing them really challenges comprehension and memory power, the toughest one was the rain scene, I have to adjust the emotions of the crying scene while in the rain and there're endless huge lines I have to recite, it definitely is challenging."

Those who follow him know that GJ is a simple person in private and in the interview he mentions: The happy thing about work is being able to earn money! Very few artistes can so blatantly say they wanna earn money, and as an employee who is passionate about earning money and finds joy in that, aside from buying a house so his family's quality of living increases, what does he wanna buy?

"I wanna buy a car! I really like cars a lot!"

In contrast to his cold, princely image, GJ's straightforward and blunt character has captured the hearts of his fans, especially when he sings in front of everyone unabashedly, taking on the title of "perfect (lack of) pitch", it is very adorable that he is willing to expose his weakness. But altho his singing skills are lacking, there's one skill that GJ has! And that's cooking! Because of the family rules set by his grandpa, the ppl in the kitchen in the Gong family are all the men.

GJ says: "It's true! The women in our family don't have to cook, it's all the men doing it. My grandpa, my dad, are all like that!"

Basically it's no challenge for GJ to come up with a table of dishes. His signature dish is fish and when asked if his future other half really doesn't have to cook, that it can all be left to him, GJ says warmly, "Of course~"

And as a chef, GJ's build is on the taller side, "I really like to eat but I will control my diet. I gym often and try to eat less oily stuff. When I was in uni I was pretty fat, baby fat, but I lost that weight."

When asked which part of him he likes the most he says, "Hands! But I like em all! Because my parents gave them to me!"

During the interview it is not difficult to feel the deep relationship he has with his fam, especially when we chat about his grandpa. Aside from thanking his fam for the support, GJ is most thankful to his grandpa who has given him positive energy and encouragement until now, the person who he respects the most.

SHL did very well, in private who takes care of each other more btw GJ and ZZH?

Both of their answers are the same: "In reality we take care of each other, because we're really good friends and in the production group we naturally take care of each other.”

Their chemistry and friendship extends to beyond the show and fans have also made plenty of creative CP works to share, we also anticipate their next work together!

#shan he ling #word of honor #shl cast #shl #woh #zhang zhehan #gong jun #shl interview #long post #from this #we know that #whoever marries gj is one lucky bij #gj is well aware his hands are like #awesome #zzh as always is someone to look up to HAHAHA

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half-filled-inkpot · 3 years

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Go Stream Your Name Engraved Herein NOW

I’m tired of people dismissing the depth and beauty of works because they don’t understand the cultural and historical context and are unwilling to delve deeper. I’ve heard the vocal confusion and dismissal of the short film Bao and the complaints that the Mahjong scene in Crazy Rich Asians was too long and too difficult to understand for people who’ve never played Mahjong. But I won’t let this mentality negatively frame the reception of Your Name Engraved Herein. I’ve read too many interpretations of the movie that will influence how many people will watch it and hinder appreciation for it and I cannot sit idly by. So here’s why I appreciated and loved Your Name Engraved Herein and think that what other people interpreted as shortcomings are actually in fact strengths.

In 2019, Taiwan approved same-sex marriage, marking a step of progress in Asia. Reviews of the film Your Name Engraved Herein view that this forward direction should be celebrated more throughout the film, believing that the heavy mood and painful scenes of bigotry hindered the potential of the film. Many have thought that the toxic values of the past dominated the film’s atmosphere, casting a somber mood and making it difficult to stomach. But I think these elements were essential in reminding us that not everyone had the opportunity to love openly and celebrate, and although Taiwan has made progress, what about those that grew up under a time where such rights were denied?

I think the film is an intimate and beautiful homage to the people who lived through such a difficult time and had to fight for such rights--the director’s own experiences, the reference to activist Chi Chia-wei. Despite the tough topics and the painful bullying that we see, I think the film ends with beautiful light and hope.

Spoilers ahead

Where critically acclaimed and famous Taiwanese films like Us and Them and You Are the Apple of My Eye use flashbacks to create an air of nostalgia and to remind us that maybe all we have to share is our past, untouchable memories, Your Name Engraved Herein uses flashbacks and time leaps to instead paint a more hopeful future. Their first love was an epic story. It’s painful realizing that they never got the same privilege as so many of us to have a happy family or spend life together, growing old. But where the protagonists in Us and Them and You Are the Apple of My Eye only have the past, our Jia-Han and Birdy have the future for the taking. Jia-Han’s younger self once held reservation and denial but he has instead transformed into one willing to accept his love and act on it, searching for Birdy despite the years. Despite the time and distance, they still share the same lively and youthful banter. While one may interpret the ending scene of what could’ve been and what they were cheated of, I like to think of it as a reunion instead. They are finally able to return to maybe the most tumultuous but also happiest time of their life. Now, with the recent change in Taiwan, they finally have a chance to make more memories together.

I loved the framing of the story and think it demanded audience engagement. The movie opens with Jia-Han meeting Birdy. We then see that Jia-Han is reminiscing about his story with Birdy to the priest from Montreal that works at the Catholic all-boy’s boarding school. Immediately, Jia-Han’s and Birdy’s connection is apparent. They have furtive glances, genuine concern, and intimate moments. Birdy at first seems free-spirited, without fear of the opinions of others and authority. He’s vocal, righteous, and a bit rebellious. Jia-Han, in contrast, is more timid, constantly aware of the opinions of others and the rules. While he knows what is wrong and feels bad about it, he often follows or acts as a complacent party. But as Birdy and Jia-Han witness the detaining of activist Chi Chia-wei, we see that Birdy is more introspective and serious, unable to turn a blind-eye of the issues still prevalent despite the recent end of martial law in Taiwan. And Jia-Han, in the presence of Birdy, is more carefree and happy. It’s as if they have switched and turned off their outside persona. Birdy’s impulsivity gives Jia-Han joy and only Jia-Han’s presence can qualm Birdy’s inner thoughts and worries. We get to see how these characters deeply value each other. As the evening sets and the world around falls to slumber, it feels as if they are the only ones in the world and we, as viewers, are fully immersed in their story. The cinematography is halting as we see them zoom around in the city alone, untouched and in their own worlds.

Jia-Han feels as if the world revolved only around them. So when Ban-Ban walks into the picture, I was awed by Jia-Han’s portrayal of jealousy and felt his pain because he was unable to walk by the side of Birdy in the way that he wanted to. The actor’s body language sells a stellar performance, but it is the dialogue and outburst at the father who is attempting to tend to Jia-Han’s wounds that show Jia-Han’s raw and powerful emotions. Whether or not it was intentional by the director, I think at this moment we question the timeline and framing of the story. What events led up to this moment with Jia-Han’s major head wound? When the priest says “If he doesn’t love you, don’t force him to” and “care doesn’t necessarily mean love,” I was stunned by this exchange, thinking that it was quite evident that Birdy and Jia-Han had love for each other. But then it made me ponder if this narrative told only from Jia-Han’s point of view was a deliberate choice made for us to question perspective and reality, how our vision becomes tainted when our feelings are involved. The powerful performance and film raised such immediate questions, causing wonder as we viewed the film in real time instead of afterwards, which made for a delightful and thought-provoking experience.

In a truly climatic point, we finally see how all of the events led to the current moment. We see how Jia-Han gets a head injury and how the priest becomes his confidant. This pivotal mark not only has an approximately two hour momentum, but it is also powerfully performed by our two leads who at this point are passionate, protective, and broken-hearted. We witness a full range of love. Initially, at the beginning, we saw subtle and restrained affection, fleeting touches, and silent companionship. But as the story progresses, we see that these feelings can no longer be bottled. There are moments of visible and passionate concern and instinctual attempts at protection. This development shows the complexity, beauty, and pain of love. It is truly a breath-taking thing to see come alive on screen. While Jia-Han at this point becomes ready to vocalize and admit his feelings, Birdy is unable to and their lives diverge.

A time leap gives us privy to Jia-Han’s closure. After he visits the resting grounds of the priest from his high-school days, he is able to offer his support to who is hinted to be the priest’s lover, reassuring that he was a good man, that the love was true, and that he will go to heaven. The reveal that the priest is gay encourages viewers to rewatch the dialogue with this new information to help drive our new interpretations.

Already, I have re-watched this tear-jerking film a number of times. The steady pacing makes each scene seem essential despite the long 1 hour and 54 minute run time. Yet it passes quickly and we are left yearning for more. Aesthetically pleasing, the beautiful shots underscored by the accompanying, swelling music provide stunning visuals. As the camera focuses on the two leads, their outbursts don’t appear as overly done or too dramatic. Rather, the performances feel heart-breakingly real. In part, I think this is built on the focus on the details. The camera seems to linger a little longer on the faces of the actors, making us fully digest what they are conveying to us. This attention to detail highlights everything spoken and unspoken.

I highly recommend this film. It reminds us that not everyone is fortunate and we all still have room for progress. But simultaneously it is tender and heart-warming, moving and touching, poignant and thoughtful. The powerful dynamic between the leads, the artistic filming, and the strong performance elevate this film to a truly inspiring, epic love story. Everything about it feels deliberate, personal and handcrafted gift for us to truly treasure. So I will cherish it and share it and I hope you do too.

#Jia-Han #birdy #your name engraved herein

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war-sword · 4 years

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the ilvermorny exchange (7)

Part 7 | index | masterlist

summary: You’re an Ilvermorny student, and you’ve applied to the International Magic Student Exchange Program to attend your sixth year at Hogwarts instead. You and your friends are excited to go to school overseas, but a certain blonde prefect has decided to personally make your exchange year suck. You decide to give him a taste of his own medicine. (draco x reader, enemies to lovers, female reader) words: 5,050 A/N: i unfortunately must say ‘welcome back’ AGAIN because it took me an embarrassing amount of months to create this chapter. sincerely sorry. at least i have something to offer in apology this time! anyway i won’t bore you too much ;) hope you all enjoy (look how this taglist has grown 🥺 and if you’re new and want to be added, just send an ask) taglist: @tragically-cordelia @mhftrs @2pumpkin-pasty @gingerlouisgirl @seriouslynotfunny @clockworkherondale @cherrie511 @songforhema @marvelrose @acciodracoo @eltanin-malfoy @socontagiousimagines @drawlfoy @purplelittlepup @trashysara @imatoiletpaper @laureldrakefics @definitely-not-spider-gwen @candune @wolfsbxnee @bubblybubbubs @nerd-domland @fricktheitinerary @bored-and-bothered @shawn-is-bruh @droppingthegloves

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The last time you remember being this excited for your first day of school was when you were eleven. The second you open your eyes and remember you’re in your dormitory, and not in your room at home, you feel wide awake. After the usual first day chaos of getting ready, you– along with Stella and Grace– meet Draco in the common room to head to breakfast.

The Great Hall is already bustling, the outer tables packed with lower years filling up on their first Ilvermorny breakfast. Grace spots Alex and Ginny already seated at a table with Chris, and you make your way over.

“Hey guys,” you say cheerfully as you all sweep into chairs. Warm breakfast foods cover the table, and you happily scoop grits onto your plate.

“Hey,” Alex and Ginny say in unison. Chris merely waves his hand, eating and already engrossed in a piece of paper he’s scratching away on with a quill.

“You got yours already?” Stella says, peeking over Chris’s shoulder from her place next to him.

“Yep,” Chris mumbles around a mouthful of toast. “And it’s so fucked up. I hate Herbology, and they always want to put me in it instead of my free period. I need that, otherwise I’ll never pass Ancient Runes!”

You watch in your peripheral vision as Draco very neatly arranges his breakfast on his plate. He’s being uncharacteristically quiet, but he at least looks more relaxed than he did last night. “Schedules?” He asks when he notices you looking.

“Yep. Alice should be bringing ours soon.”

Sure enough, about five minutes later Alice comes over to the table with a dwindling stack of papers. “Finally, I saved you guys for last.” She hands you, Stella, Grace and Draco pieces of parchment with your timetables on them. You give it a quick once over as she moves to the opposite side of the table. “Is it alright if I sit with you guys this morning? Everything else is getting full.” She gestures to the chair beside Ginny.

“Of course,” Ginny says, moving her bag out of the way.

Alice slumps down and pulls off her cloak, her sage-green Head Girl badge prominent against the black of her uniform shirt. “I swear I know everyone in Horned Serpent, but every year it seems like there’s at least five people I’ve never even seen.” She shovels eggs onto her plate unceremoniously. “I hate schedule duty.”

“You’ll never have to do it again, though,” Stella points out, lifting her fork. “But while you’re at it, can you tell Angeles that I want to switch to–”

“No.” Alice says flatly. “Once the paper is delivered, my work is done.”

Stella groans dramatically. Alex nervously picks at her omelette. “If stupid James doesn’t hurry up with ours, I am going to kick him in the balls.”

You put your schedule next to Draco’s to compare. You’ll have N.E.W.T. Potions together on Mondays and Wednesdays, and to your delight you see he has History of Magical Painting and Photography on Wednesdays and Fridays as well. “You signed up for it?” You beam at him.

“Of course,” he says, smiling back. “You asked. And why not, it should be easy. What the hell is there to know?”

You shrug noncommittally. “And I’ll get to kick your ass in Potions again.”

Draco’s mouth drops open in false shock. “You’re not going to be my partner?”

“Uh, when Grace is in that class? Think again.” You turn back to your food with a smirk.

“Yeah, back off my Potions partner.” Grace puts her hand on yours for emphasis. “I’ve called dibs since second year.”

“Yeah, and you hoarded all your combined knowledge so I failed my freaking O.W.L.” Stella interjects.

“You were always shitty at Potions anyway, Stella.”

The familiar voice makes you all jump. Even though you knew he was coming, the sight of James standing behind Alex and Ginny with papers in his hands is enough to make your insides shrivel up.

There’s a long stretch of silence at the table as everyone stares at him, Stella especially. If looks could kill. James seems blissfully unaware as he holds out the pieces of parchment to Alex and Ginny. Alex snatches hers away without a second glance, but Ginny takes hers with a look of amusement.

“So, how was everyone’s summer?” James asks, continuing to stand there.

No one says a word.

You’re pushing your grits around on your plate– they’ve gone cold and now taken up the consistency of the remnants that Hiccoughing potion leaves in the bottom of the cauldron. You look across the table at Alex. She’s pretending to be engrossed in her schedule, but she senses you watching and looks up to catch your eye. You watch her bite her tongue and squeeze her eyes shut to keep from laughing. Next to her Ginny is doing something similar, both going entirely unnoticed by James who’s right behind them.

“Well, clearly I didn’t spend mine brewing potions,” Stella finally says, scathingly.

You wish you could melt into your chair. Into the floor. You don’t even dare to look over at Draco.

Chris, the only one at the table who’s not radiating ‘leave-us-the-fuck-alone’, shifts awkwardly in his chair. “Mine was fine.”

“Did you not have your birthday party this July, Chris?” James asks.

“Uh, no. We were in Taiwan the whole time.”

That was a lie. You had gone to that party.

More silence.

“Okay, I’ve got to go. More schedules to give out, and all.” James says, but he’s now entirely empty-handed. “Catch you guys later.”

The relief around the table is palpable the second James is out of earshot, weaving his way between the tables.

“Fucking asshole,” Stella grumbles, flipping off his retreating figure.

Meanwhile, Ginny has broken out into giggles. “Galloping gargoyles, Y/N! Alex told me he was terrible, but I can’t believe you dated that wanker.”

Now you definitely want to melt into the floor.

“You what.” It’s not even a question that comes out of Draco’s mouth, and it’s dripping with revulsion.

You slump down into your chair and let out a pathetic groan, covering your burning face. You feel absolutely mortified.

“You’re right, Ginny,” Grace says, totally ignoring your meltdown. “I think he does spend most of the day mentally jerking himself off for being so fucking funny.”

“I wish you’d gone through with kicking him in the balls, Alex,” Stella adds.

“Uh, Draco? You good?” Chris interrupts. This gets you to move your hands down from your eyes. Just a bit.

Draco’s staring at you like he’s never seen you before in his entire life. Oh no. Is he really that pissed? “What?” You ask, putting your hands out.

“That bloke is your ex?”

“Uh, yeah. Unfortunately.”

This time his mouth is open in actual shock. “Y/N… I’m like, an eleven.” Draco points across the Hall to where James is now seated with his few friends. “He’s like, a two.”

Alex and Grace explode into laughter, and Ginny’s giggling only increases.

“Yes, I know, look how my taste has matured,” you drawl, but inwardly you’re glad he’s not already halfway across the Hall with his wand drawn.

Draco is back to staring at Jame’s mop of mousy dirty-blonde hair with disbelief. “What a dickhole.”

Stella has gone into a coughing fit.

“Can we stop talking about this,” you plead, running your hands over your face.

“You mean you never told Malfoy about him?” Ginny gapes. “Sorry, then. But also not sorry because the look on his face right now is priceless.”

“It wasn’t important.” You grumble. The rest of breakfast is just a lively session of making digs at James, in which you do not partake but also don’t bother stopping. It’s not like any of your friends are lying.

Ginny is taking it all in with a wonderful glow, meanwhile Draco just looks more and more disgusted. By the time eight o’clock rolls around, you’re more than ready to head to Potions. You make the hike to the western side of the castle and to the classroom for your year with Draco and Grace. Grace picks a table for two near the side of the room, and Draco watches as you set your things down.

“You were really serious, then.” Draco says.

“Deadly.” You make a shooing motion. “Bye!”

Draco turns up his nose. “I hate you,” he says decisively, and sits down a few tables in front of you. You pull your potions book from your bag and then rest your forehead on it, letting out a long sigh.

“I also thought you were kidding. But thanks for not ditching me.” Grace says.

“Bros before hoes,” you mumble. How had your morning taken such a turn already?

You keep your head down while Grace narrates the room for you. “It’s gonna be a small class again this year, it seems. Oh hey, Sarah’s here. And Robert. Aw, he’s going to sit with Draco.”

You lift your head to rest on your chin instead, to watch as Robert introduces himself to Draco and sits down next to him. Robert plays on the Thunderbird Quidditch team with Alex, so you’ve seen him around. Draco says something to him and they both turn in their chairs to look back at you and Grace. Robert gives you both a friendly wave. Grace pats your head once they’ve turned back around.

“Had you not told Draco about James?” She asks, her tone changing to something a little more serious.

“No. I dunno, we’re not really… ugh it’s hard to explain.” You trace the letters on the cover of your textbook. “Casual isn’t the right word. We are more than casual. Maybe we’re both just very… secure? We’re just having fun, we don’t really talk about all that emotional stuff. It’s only been official for a few months. Besides, James was almost two years ago. And he sucks. Who cares?”

Grace hums in response. “Well I haven’t known him very long, but Draco did seem a little shocked. Just tell him the story about how James is a piece of shit and be done with it. Um, and it might be something to do soon, considering that he’s in this class.”

You look up at Grace, and then turn your head the other way to see where she’s looking. James is coming in the door, eyes sweeping the now almost-full room for an empty space. You drop your forehead to your book again, not particularly caring if it leaves a red mark. “Fuck me.”

“Lighten up, Y/N.” Grace pats you again as you hear the door close and your teacher, Ms. Zenik, walk in from outside. “It’ll be fine.”

Several hours later you sit near Draco in one of the hallways with big windows, already doing your Potions knowledge pre-exam sheet during a free block. This is another one of your favorite halls, and it’s got a fountain on one side that’s decorated with moving ceramic cherubs, collecting water in tiny jugs that they mischievously pour over students who get too close.

Draco’s scratching away at his pre-exam with his stupidly elegant handwriting. You push your shoe against his, trying to engage him in a game of footsy.

“Y/N, stop,” he says flatly. Your second attempt gets you a little shove from his elbow.

“What’s wrong?” You ask, already knowing the answer.

Draco makes a big deal of setting his quill down and blowing on his parchment to dry the ink, before closing it in his Potions book. “So, when were you planning on telling me that your ex is one of everyone’s favorite topics of discussion, and you know, just telling me in general?”

You sigh, setting your own pre-exam to the side. “It really is not that big of a deal, I swear. I swear!” You say again in response to Draco’s raised eyebrow. “It’s just that you’re the first person I’ve dated since. And there was a long time in between, I suppose. And I didn’t tell you because I didn’t think it would matter. You coming here was a surprise, remember? I never thought you would have to interact.”

“Okay, but still. Based on the way everyone reacted makes it seem like there’s a little more to it.”

“James and I started dating in fourth year,” you begin. “We dated for a year and a half. We were just stupid and young and thought we’d be together for a long time. But then he just broke up with me totally out of the blue. I was a mess for months.”

“He didn’t seem to care. He told me he was going to ‘give me space’, and wouldn’t even look at me or talk to anyone around me for an entire week. Even now we barely speak, it’s just too weird. He totally ruined it. That, and I heard from Jason he was talking to some other girl barely a week and a half after it happened.”

Draco’s got that disgusted look back on his face again. “What a piece of shit.”

“Yeah.” You rest your head in your hand. “He’s a dick. And insanely annoying, as you saw. But… I feel a little bit bad for him.”

“What?” Draco snaps. “Why? That's one of the shittiest breakup stories I’ve ever heard.”

“Yes, I know, I know,” you say. “It’s just that he barely has any friends, now. We were friends with all the same people before and while we were together. Chris was his best friend since first year. Everyone took my side after our breakup. Jason is one of the only people who will hold a full conversation with him anymore.”

“If they all stopped being friends with him, why does he act like they still are?” Draco asks.

“I don’t know! He’s an idiot. Maybe he feels bad. Or his two brain cells can’t string together the thought process that’s needed to evaluate human interaction.”

“So far, I’m definitely seeing the second one.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right.” You turn and put your hand on Draco’s leg. “Just one favor though– don’t go bothering him. Even if he’s annoying. All that shit was a long time ago now, I don’t need you going after him all high and mighty. I just like to forget about it. Please?”

You give him your softest look, and all you get in return is one of Draco’s best unbothered faces. “What makes you think you could stop me from hexing him into next week?”

“Draco! Come on, I don’t want people to think you’re one of those fly-off-the-handle boyfriends.”

“I am not,” he says staunchly. “My retributions are always very exact and calculated, I’ll have you know.”

You roll your eyes. “Can I at least ask for you to keep the overt ass-kicking to the Quidditch field?”

Draco considers. “Alright, fair.”

Since the hallway is almost entirely empty, you scoot as close as you can get and swing one of your legs over Draco’s lap. “Seriously.” you point your finger for emphasis. “Don’t go stirring the pot. Like I said, he barely ever talks to any of us. This morning was kind of an anomaly.”

“Okay, okay, I get it. Annoying, a right idiot, so dumb he can’t even be bothered with. Sound good?”

“Check check check.”

Draco takes one of your hands and presses his lips against your knuckles. “I’d also like to make it clear I would never do that to you.” He gazes up at you from under his lashes.

You purse your lips together to hold back your grin. “Thanks.”

You break at the same time, dissolving into laughter. Draco wrinkles his nose up. “That was weird, hm?”

“So dramatic!” You tease. You press a kiss on his cheek anyway and watch his blush blossom from the contact.

“Alright, onto more important things. Tell me about the Quidditch.�� He lets go of your hand to tap on your leg that’s still draped across him. “Tell me tell me tell me.”

“Ugh, I don’t know!” You pull your pre-exam back into your lap and lick the end of your quill. “I don’t even know who’s Captain for Horned Serpent this year. Ask Alex at lunch, she can tell you who to talk to, I’m sure.”

Draco curls his lip. “Merlin, you’re so useless.”

“Ooh, wait, or ask Gao when you get back to your room. He’s always been on the team. Except he might be skipping this year, he’s taking like, three extra N.E.W.T.s.”

“Well jokes on you, because that was a test and you failed,” Draco says, pushing you off his lap and pulling his own parchment back out again. “I already talked to Robert about it this morning.”

Your jaw drops. “What? Fuck you!”

You give him a shove and he pushes back. “Hey, quit you’re going to make me smudge–”

Draco is cut off by your loud gasp as icy cold water runs from the crown of your head and down your face. You wipe the water from your eyes and see Draco has a hand clapped over his mouth.

“You are cursing too loudly, young lady!” A tiny voice comes from your right, and you turn to see one of the cherubs glaring at you, empty jug under its arm. “You better watch your language, or there’s more where that came from!” It flies off in an angry huff.

Draco starts laughing deeply, and you flick some water at him. “Ah, hey, don’t get my homework wet!” He shields himself with his Potions book.

“Suck my–” you whip around to look at the fountain, where all the cherubs are waiting and watching with their beady little stone eyes to see what you’ll say next. “Toe.”

“Ooh, sorry. I’m not really into that.” He gives you a patronizing look.

You shove your parchment into your knapsack and get up, off to a bathroom to assess the damage to your hair.

༄

You felt slightly guilty of not finding the time sooner, but Ms. Bell didn’t seem at all bothered when you knocked on her classroom door on your second weekend.

“Y/N! Come in, I’m glad you were able to come hang out today.” She beckons you in, and moves all the papers she’s been grading off to the side of her desk.

“Me, too.” You say, sitting down in the chair she pulls out for you. “I want to start by saying we’ve all been enjoying class a lot.”

Ms. Bell beams. “Really? I’m so glad. Tell me what you think about the scrapbooks!”

Stella was the only person who ended up joining you and Draco in your favorite teacher’s new class. The class was tiny, barely fifteen students. Draco’s prediction of it being easy had so far come true, but that was mostly because you were really enjoying the material. You’d been taking so many notes your hand was cramped by the end of each class. There was apparently a lot to learn about the evolution of magical art and photography.

“The scrapbooks are great,” you said, referring to the new way Ms. Bell was having you all take notes. “Stella’s is very neat. Mine is alright, but I think it’ll get better as we go on. I’m not really sure how I want to structure it.”

“So far I think yours has been looking very good. And Draco has some of the loveliest handwriting I’ve ever seen.” She reaches into her pile to pull out the worksheet you turned in earlier in the week, his tight and neat cursive covering the page. “Do you know how he learned to write like this?”

You shrug. “Fancy European stuff. I think it’s impossible to read. It was so embarrassing when I would have to make my mom read out parts of his letters for me over the summer.” It’s a memory that makes you want to cringe. After the third letter, you’d really had to bootcamp yourself into learning more of his cursive.

Ms. Bell smiles. “I think it is very sweet how you met while you were on your Exchange year. Tell me some more about Hogwarts. Did you learn lots?”

“Not so much schoolwise,” you muse. “But I did in general, I think. They had a much more comprehensive and hands-on Magical Creatures class over there, that was cool. But no wandwork classes.”

“Ah, I have heard that,” Ms. Bell hums. “So without it, what was Defense Against the Dark Arts like?”

“Pretty horrifying, I gotta say. Also very hands-on.” You thought back to your many lessons with Professor Lupin. While some were not so bad, you distinctly remember crying through several classes. It was scary, being expected to face so many real threats, with your previous classes being mostly textbook only. “I think it’s something Ilvermorny could improve upon here. Although, I guess there’s not much need…” You trail off, not even wanting to say ‘He Who Shall Not Be Named’.

Ms. Bell nods, understanding where your trail of thought was headed anyway. “Speaking of, did you see him very often? Harry Potter?”

Now this was a part of your story you’d been dying to get to. “He was one of my first friends,” you say with a grin.

“What!” She gasps.

“Yes,” you say. “His best friend’s sister is that redhead girl who’s here on Exchange right now, Ginny Weasley? I think she’s in your History of Magic class.”

“Merlin, she is! So her brother is very close to him?’

“He apparently spends the summers with them.”

Ms. Bell is in a daze. “That’s incredible, Y/N. To be able to know the Boy Who Lived like that.”

“Well, he’s just Harry to me. And he’s pretty terrible about consistent letter sending. My other friend is much more timely.”

“Who’s that?”

You launch into a brief overview of your time at Hogwarts, telling her how you and Hermione became friends over Potions work, and moving into things like your little Christmas party and your sorting hat prank (glossing over a few details, of course). She very patiently sits and listens to the whole thing, and you appreciate how much she’s paying attention. You’re not sure what you’ll do without your favorite teacher to talk to when you leave school.

“It sounds like I’ll be needing to watch out for Jason this year,” she teases. “Although, I have to tell you we were all informed of that little escapade already. Principal Rittler read us all the letter she received from Dumbledore before we all went home for the summer. She could barely get through it, she was laughing so much.”

You gasp, clapping a hand to your mouth. “She knows? Everyone knows? Aw, Knuts.”

“What did you expect? From what I heard you caused quite a stir over there with it after someone apparently remembered it all.”

“Yes,” you say glumly, remembering that very clearly. Professor Trelawney had gone about yelling and screaming to the other teachers they’d been brainwashed, and Dumbledore had to set her straight himself. At least, that was the logical assumption everyone had been under. Why else would she have gone from hysterics to her normal level of paranoia in between lunch hour and dinner two days after?

When your eyes trail over to the clock in the corner of the room, you gasp again. “I’m so sorry, but I’ve got to go. It’s time for Quidditch trials.”

Ms. Bell raises an eyebrow. “You’re going?”

“Yes. I mean, no! I’m going to watch. No, I’d never dream of doing that.” You wave your hands in front of you. “I just told Draco I’d be there.”

“Okay, just making sure I hadn’t missed another new development,” Ms. Bell laughs. You both stand and have a quick hug.

“See you on Wednesday!” You call as you run from the room.

The Quidditch pitch is a good twenty minute walk from the fifth floor of the castle too all the way across the lawn, even if you’re moving fast. It’d been a good three years since you’d gone to watch Alex try out, and beyond that you were pretty sure each Captain did their tryouts differently. Even though you were going to be a good fifteen minutes late, you were sure you would be able to catch some of the action.

You finally reached the Quidditch structure, panting and sweaty, dreading all the climbing you were going to have to do up the stairs to be able to watch from a good spot. A group of people were seated in one of the boxes near the middle; if you went and sat a few rows above you were certain that would be sufficient.

Finally, you plop down and start to fan yourself, sweat rolling down the back of your neck courtesy of Massachusetts’ residual summer heat and your extreme cardio session. Clearly you’d been too sedentary over the summer.

Squinting against the sun, you scan for Draco. He’s quite easy to spot with his light hair and pitch black broom. The Horned Serpent Captain, Travis, seems to be testing for a good keeper, having one person throw the quaffle while someone defends the goal posts while everyone else hovers off to the side. Draco is leaning on his broom, looking bored. From this distance, he probably won’t even notice you.

Ugh, should’ve just stayed with Ms. Bell, you think. Or gone back to the dorm… I have that stupid wandwork practical this week.

Draco’s practically falling asleep on his broom out there. You watch his tiny form, his hair moving in the blissful breeze that’s also drying your sweat. The sound of people saying your name brings you out of your daydream about Draco’s hair.

“Y/N! Come down here!”

Below you, the large group of girls is beckoning you to join them where they’re sitting. A little reluctantly, you get up and walk down the sets of bleachers.

Some of them you recognize from your year, like Maddie and Ginger. The others look vaguely familiar, but their tan skin and brown hair that’s been permanently turned into glossy sheets from daily Sleekeazy potion use blend together, and you feel like you’ve run into a group of identical octuplets.

You focus on Maddie and Ginger, the ones you do know. “Hi guys, how are you? Did you have a nice summer?”

“Mine was great! I went to work everyday with my aunt at the MACUSA, like an intern,” Maddie says. “New York is soooo crazy– tons of muggles!”

“I bet.”

“Mine was nice, thanks for asking,” Ginger says appreciatively. “How was yours? I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever.”

Ginger returning your question does not go unnoticed by you. “Mine was nice, too. And yeah, I guess it’s been a little over a year, huh?”

“Ooh, that’s right!” Maddie says. “Where did you go again?”

“Hogwarts. England.”

The unnamed clones all Ooh the same Ooh. “Was it fun? Different?” One asks.

You shrug. “It was a lot of fun. It was a great experience.”

“Okay, we’re so glad you’re here because we have a question,” another girl jumps in, wasting no time now that the formalities are past. “That guy, with the white-blonde hair, you know him right? What’s his name?”

“I’ve seen him sit with your friends at meals and I know y’all are in the same house,” another adds rapidly. “He’s from Hogwarts, too, right?”

“Super dreamy, look at those arms,” says a third, and a few others hum in agreement.

For a moment, you feel furious that all these girls had been drooling over Draco while you’d been visiting with Ms. Bell. It quickly dissipates, however. A cavalier sense of satisfaction fills your chest at getting to say, “that’s Draco. He’s my boyfriend.”

They all gasp in unison. “You’re kidding me,” Maddie says, in a tone that kind of makes you think she’s not joking and actually hopes you are.

“How did you manage to snag that, Y/N?” The first girl asks.

“Pretty much acted like I hated him for four months straight.” You decide to play dumb at their obvious digs, but you’re starting to regret giving any of them the time of day.

“Wow, and it worked?”

“If I had a guy like that after me, I don’t think I’d waste any time.”

“Well, I didn't really. He didn’t like me much either,” you grind out.

For the rest of tryouts, you try to tune out their babbling. Eventually they move on from Draco to another player, then another. You feel gross being an accessory to their objectifications, but Ginger at least tries to ask you a more normal question every now and then.

As soon as Travis is finished with his assessments, you bolt from your place on the bleachers and down to the rail that surrounds the Quidditch green. Draco catches your eye and walks over.

“And here I thought you were going to skip,” he says, watching you jump the rail to land on the grass.

“Oh, no, it was interesting.” You wrap your arms around his waist, looking up at him. His hair still looks nice and windswept. “Can you do me a favor and kiss me?”

Draco cocks and eyebrow, but swings his broom around to rest on your lower back, pulling you closer. “Sounds suspicious. Why?”

“No reason,” you giggle as you lean in. You divulge yourself in running your fingers through his hair, and relish in the sound of girlish squealing coming from high up in the bleachers.

Draco pulls away after a few seconds and turns to look, but you push his jaw back towards you with a finger. “Don’t.”

“Y/N, what the bloody hell are you getting me into?”

“Nothing!” You chime, wriggling out of his grasp and hopping the rail again. “See you back in the dorms,” you say with a parting wink.

Draco throws up his hands in exasperation. You fight the urge to look back up at the bleachers as you walk away, and consequently miss the Thunderbirds coming out for their tryouts with Alex on the other side of the field, James among them.

◈◈◈

A/N: i hope I can start updating this more frequently again. and I know the index has said nine chapters for a while now, but i’m pretty sure i’m bumping up to ten. love you guys and thanks for sticking with me <3

#the ilvermorny exchange #draco x reader #draco malfoy x reader #draco malfoy imagine #draco malfoy #draco malfoy x you #hp fanfic

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illusionsym · 9 months

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230731 DElight Party Taiwan via sj_dne_official

#super junior #eunhyuk #donghae #delight party taiwan #twitter: dne

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mymemoirs · 3 years

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Unrecorded Memories and Missing Taiwan #8

This is gonna be my last post for this series because I am left with only one week worth of story. Yes, my 2018 summer exchange story is coming to an end. I'm so glad it's going to be over because there's so many things I want to write in my next post.

32) Monday came and each groups presented their presentation in front of the class. My groupmates and I presented our presentation. It went smoothly and there were no real pressure compared to my AI presentation. Unlike the AI presentation, there was no grading for our presentation and thus no recognition of who's the best presenter in our class. Well, I think this way we can just be neutral and enjoy everyone's presentation. Although, to be honest, I can't remembered any of the presentations during this class compared to the AI class.

Okay, this is really out of context, but I have to admit that the Indian students I met are confident and good presenter. One presenter in particular presented like Steve Jobs. His talk is inspiring and full of hope (well, his expressions especially) even though he's just explaining about an AI that creates lyrics for music.

Now, back to topic *laughs*. So, after everyone in the class finished their presentation, I think we were dismissed quite early. I don't really remember what I did that day. The only clue I have of that day is a photo of the 7-Eleven near the campus. I think knowing well that I will miss that place, I just took a photo of it for my memorabilia. Well, sure enough, I do missed that convenience store. They have everything! I always bought my breakfast there. Sometimes I even have my lunch or dinner there. It's such a memorable place. I really love how the convenience store really depicts 'convenient' very well. It's very different from the convenience store in my country. Oh, and I think it's open for 24 hours. Like, seriously, this is too convenient!

7-Eleven store besides Asia University Campus. Look at that infinite supply of foods with chairs and tables. I just love so many selections of foods to choose, I really miss Taiwan's 7-Eleven.

33) On Tuesday, our professor suddenly told us that we were going to have a campus tour. So, off we go around the campus with our professor as the tour guide. It's not like we don't explore the campus but after the tour, I realize how big the campus is and how little exploration I did. There were so many places, BEAUTIFUL places around the campus. But the only thing I did whenever I finished classes was to go back to my room and rest. I don't really explored much except when I get lost. I also didn't visit other friends in different dorm buildings which is located quite far from my own. Now, that I think back, it's really too bad that I don't do much exploring but that's also one of the reason why I would still want to go back to Taiwan if I had the chance. I'm only in Taichung before and there were a lot of cities in Taiwan I haven't explored yet. I'll love another chance to explore the country.

The first half of our class (before lunch) was spent on touring the campus. After that, on the second half of our class, we went to an art museum in Asia University. I think our professor was out of ideas on where to take us and since most of us never visited the art museum that was actually located in the campus. He suggested that and we all went along, although, we must pay for our own entrance fee to enter the museum. However, I think it was discounted. I vaguely remembered paying 100 NTD for that.

The museum itself is called "Asia Museum of Modern Art" located in Asia University's premises. I actually had to pass through the museum every time I went back to my dorm. It have this amazing architecture that's also one of its selling point in my opinion. The architect of the building is a Japanese man named Tadao Ando. I just have to go gaga on him after searching more about him and his works. What a talented man he is! It even shows in the museum I went.

He's a King of Concrete because his works mostly uses concretes and the museum I went was made of concrete. It was also not painted and that's really interesting to see a building not painted but still exudes such a classy and modern look. There's also one spot in the museum that's very popular. Since the building is triangle, the corner of it have this eye fish effect if we took a picture from that corner. Just take a look at this picture below!

In one of the corners in Asia Museum of Modern Art.

As you can see, being in the corner allows people to see both sides of the wall, making an effect of using a wide lens or fish eye lens. I saw Tadao Ando's other work too in the internet and I am officially a fan of his work now. He really have piqued my interest in the world of design. I'm in love. *laughs*

Since it was an art museum, there were a lot of art works ranging from pottery, paintings to very abstract object. According to the guide, the museum have different arts displayed there depending on the exhibitions. I don't really remember what exhibition or what theme I am seeing when I went there but I was mostly focused on the architecture of the buildings. Walking around and seeing people taking pictures. I don't really take pictures which is kind of a bummer but I don't think I feel comfortable asking people to take a picture of me. Most of my pictures are taken in a group or by my classmate's initiative.

I took a picture of this because of the meaning behind the words which is very simple but deep. You read it downwards and from right to left, it would be translated as: "In Beauty, there are great pain and ecstasy"

34) After our trip to the museum, we can go back to our dorm. That Tuesday was actually the last night for my roommates since their classes had finished. So, we decided to eat outside and find a cafe where we can chill near the campus. The campus is actually very convenient since there's a lot of shops near it. I actually enjoyed eating around there to be honest. Ah, now I really miss my student's life. Hahaha.

When we went to the cafe, we ordered waffles and shared it among the four of us. While we were eating, the cafe owner suddenly approached us and offered another serving of waffles for free. That is actually quite surprising for us but we received it with delight. Who wouldn't like a freebies right? However, I had a feeling the reason we got that free waffle was because my roommates were attractive. Or maybe it's just because we were new customers and he wanted to gain repeating customers. Which is me *laughs* cause I brought another friends to that cafe again but we weren't lucky to receive a free waffle again. Oh yeah, the name of the cafe is 唯享时刻 (Enjoy Moments) which have a very cute exterior. I think that's the reason why the four of us is interested to try out that cafe.

Anyway, while being on the topic "being treated/ getting freebies" cause you're attractive, it's only when I went to Taiwan that I do saw this kind of thing. I mean back in my country, it's really rare to see my friends being treated or offered by strangers 'cause we're really scared if that actually happens. Heck, I even saw it twice happening with my roommates since one of my roommates were especially attractive. Aside from the cafe, there's this one time when we went to a minimart to buy our breakfast for tomorrow. The cashier actually didn't charge one of my roommate for something she brought it was as if he was treating her. It was actually amusing for me to witness that, their conversation goes like this:

Cashier: *scans barcode of the stuff, leave out an item and then says the price*

Roommate: Um, you forgot to scan the banana.

Cashier: Oh, no, it's alright. It's for you.

Roommate: Um, okay... *while giving the money* Thank you.

This is not really the exact conversation since I forgot if the cashier even said anything at all about giving it to her. I am not beside or behind her when this happened and I remembered the cashier being meek but he was definitely attracted to my friend. Because after going out of the minimart, the rest of my roommates who also went to the same class with her, tease her and said that this is not the first time the cashier treated her. And I think that's also part of the reason why they chose to shop at that minimart.

Last picture together before my roommates leave Asia University.

Anyway, back to to the cafe moment, I was really sad that we had to part ways tomorrow. Iris and Karen were going to stay in Taiwan for a while but they will go to a different cities tomorrow. Vincy, on the other hand, will be going back to Hong Kong. I can't remember every conversation we had, but I do miss them from time to time. I don't know if they feel that way towards me because our meeting is really such a short period of time and I actually rely on them as my roommates. We still had the WhatsApp group chats but it's always me who initiate the conversation in the group but even if we're not close, they really leave behind such a deep impression on me. I do hope I can meet them again.

35) The next day, on Wednesday, we have our class as usual. Our professor invited other lecturer to teach us about Fintech that day. There weren't much to mentioned for this day except that my roommates all went to their respective destination and we parted ways. I did have the chance to eat my lunch with Vincy before I sent her off in front of the campus. Aaaah, now I really miss them and the moments I had with them but life must go on and that's the thing about making friends across countries. You need to go back to where you belong.

On Thursday, the professor told us that we're going to have a farewell party and ask us to gather in a cafe near the museum. The cafe was actually managed by an alumni of the university and I think that's the reason why our professor wanted us to go there. Although, I don't know if the cafe still exists since it doesn't show up in google maps. With the pandemic that's happening, I felt it cause businesses to go bankrupt but at the same time new kind of businesses went viral during the pandemic.

During our farewell, everyone is having a light snacks and coffee, conversations, picture taking, etc. I don't quite remembered how the event unfolds in the Entrepreneurship and Creativity class farewell compared to the AI class farewell. I think the professors only gave some short speech and we also watch some videos before we received our certificates. The owner of the cafe also gave her speech about the cafe which really fits our class.

Receiving the certificate of completion from the professor.

After the farewell party, everyone is free to go. I usually hang out with my Thai friends when I'm on this class but instead of going out with them, I went out with my classmates who came from the same university as I am. It's funny that I only get close with them on the last day. I think they've told me that they felt I was not really approachable especially since I always hang out with my Thai classmates. I don't really deny that because I personally felt the time is so short to be friends with everyone and I'm the type to focus on one group of friends rather than getting along with everyone which I think is impossible for introverted me.

It's a good thing that I do get along with them eventually. I am also grateful that they invited me to go out with them 'cause I don't think I'll go anywhere that day if they didn't invite me. Although, initially I think they just invited me to get a picture together in front of the campus as the representative of our university. After that, they find me approachable enough to ask if I had any plans and would like to join them. Since I love travelling and am not the type to plan most of my days, I gladly accept their offer.

So, off we go to their dorm since they had to take care of some stuff (like preparing to go out, do a little packing, pray, etc). Since, I'm ready to go out and have done most of my packing, I don't mind going along with them to their dorm. It's also the first time I visited other dorm buildings aside from my own. Their dorm rooms are actually quite different compared to mine. They had inner toilet in their rooms while in my dorm the toilet is outside of our rooms. While I am there watching them, one of the classmates actually offered to do some makeup on my face and I let her do it. Although, I don't really have a picture of it unfortunately.

Me and my classmates from Airlangga University

After that, we went downtown to get our lunch since the food in the cafe is just light snacks. It was quite late when we grabbed our food, I think around 2 or 3 in the afternoon. We went to subways since they're craving for it and I also think it's halal for them. I actually enjoyed talking with them, they're funny and expressive. However, in terms of a travel buddy, I don't think I can get along with them because they only visited shops and more shops to buy the stuff people ask them to. Of course, they charge for it which is very business minded of them but I can see they're struggling with their baggage too.

We were outside for the whole day. Since, I had no makeup remover, I had to follow them to their room to use it. Afterwards, I left their dorm because I had prior plans with two of my Thai classmates (Phoom and Benz) to eat together since this is our last night in Taiwan. I remembered only eating with both of them even though there are other Thai classmates who didn't joined us that night.

While walking to our meeting point, I actually thought how beautiful the night view is around the campus. There were couple of places I went during daylight but it looks so different and beautiful with the lights. The moon was very bright that night too. Tbh, those kind of moments actually reignite my desire to travel again and even during that time I already missed Taiwan. I'm sure people who travel or on a holiday have those kind of moments where they miss holidays even before it ends.

Now, back to our dinner. We ate our dinner in a beef noodle shop near the campus which is actually very popular because it's close to the university and it also tastes quite good. Although, I don't think we can eat that everyday because it's quite costly compared to other available options (around 100 NTD). But when's the perfect time to eat a bit costly dinner than the last day, right? I personally enjoy talking to both of them even though they are much older than me since I knew they were a master's student around their 30s. After eating, we went to a minimart where they bought beers and then we walked back to our respective dorms since my dorm buildings aren't the same with them.

36) Friday, my last day in Taiwan! Everyone who's going back that day went to the meeting point in front of the campus where we will board on a bus that's heading to the airport. We say our goodbyes to the remaining friends who's going to stay, taking pictures together and just spent some time chatting before the bus arrived. Most of my classmates are going back directly to their countries but I was heading to Singapore instead because I have relatives living there.

The moon is so tiny but trust me, it really caught my eyes. Seeing it with your own eyes does feels different.

We all went home that day. It was really a memorable month for me and I am grateful that I get to experience all of this. I have always wanted a student exchange experience while still balancing my college life and this opportunity came through. Having this summer exchange on 2018 was one of the best highlights I had during college. While on the plane back home, I sat near besides the window and I was able to see a full moon shining brightly and beautifully. Although my phone didn't do much justice to the grandeur I saw, I really wanted to share with everyone the picture of it to end this series.

- Reina

PS. Thank you for reading this series, if anyone ever read it. I really appreciate it. Even though there are certain events or timelines that I'm not completely sure of, I find writing and sharing about the memories I had in Taiwan as a fond thing to do because it's really a memorable one that I just had to write about it. I also find this process - digging up past memories - to be a good exercise for my brain.

#Taiwan #Asia University #Summer exchange #Taichung

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monabela · 4 years

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ha! here I am for the last day of @aphrarepairweek2020, magic, with another pairing I think is very interesting but had never written before. this was a lot of fun, and I really like this little au, tbh. I feel like there could be more stories in here. I guess I alluded to a bunch of pairings, but they’re really not important and can be Ignored :)

~~~

the bard’s song

pairings/characters: Iceland (Egill)/New Zealand (Riley), Liechtenstein (Erika), Hong Kong (Leon), Taiwan (Mei), Seychelles (Angélique), Latvia (Raivis) + mentioned Moldova (Luca), Australia (David) & Norway (Einar)

word count: 3182

summary:

Egill really wishes Riley’s stupid D&D character would stop trying to seduce his own character. Mostly, he wishes Riley would try to seduce him instead.

~~~

“Well, Riley, if you insist…”

Egill can feel his eye twitch while Erika gestures wearily across the table at Riley, who looks poised and ready and far too pleased with themself.

“I guess you can roll to seduce the Owlbear. You know what to do,” Erika finishes. Riley is already throwing the twenty-sided die. On Egill’s other side, Leon is shaking with suppressed laughter, like he wasn’t the one who brought the menace of Riley Greenwood and their weirdly seductive halfling bard into their D&D group.

Riley actually pretends not to know what exactly they’re rolling for or what to add, as if they don’t try to seduce literally every NPC Erika throws at them, and then triumphantly declares it’s a seventeen. Egill pushes his hands into his hair, groaning. Erika just gives a resigned sigh, planting her elbows on the Monster Manual behind her little wall of books.

“It’s going to attack you anyway, I hope you know.”

“Can’t hurt to try,” Riley replies cheerfully.

“It literally can!” Egill says, and then he has to bite his lip and look away when Riley grins one of those mischievous grins of theirs, one that makes their eyes crinkle up and pulls at one corner of their mouth. Leon, who had just managed to calm himself, starts giggling again, and Egill elbows him.

“Egill, it’s your turn,” Erika says. He consults his character sheet.

“I could see Riley’s dumb bard being stupid, right?”

“Don’t talk about Minto like that!” Riley interjects, crossing their arms. “He’s wonderful and everyone loves him.”

“His wisdom modifier is minus two,” says Mei, who somehow always remembers everyone’s stats. Well, not that that particular tidbit is hard to remember. “I didn’t know you could get minus two.”

“Minto is special and I bet Yawen is jealous.” They raise their eyebrows at Egill. He sighs again.

“Well, I guess Dûrion is going to try and get Minto out of harm’s way.”

Riley beams from across the table, and it somehow makes Egill’s skin tingle.

It’s very likely that everyone in their casual little D&D party is aware that it isn’t an accident, at least on his part, that Minto and Dûrion, Egill’s high elf artificer character, are so often off on their own or just helping each other out in their sessions. It’s embarrassing as fuck, of course, but Egill has long since given up on trying to do anything about it. Soon enough, Leon or Raivis or another one of their friends will do something dumb, and Egill’s crush on Riley will be completely forgotten. Maybe even by Egill himself, although that seems unlikely to him at this point.

Riley might be aware of it as well, or they might not. They’re notoriously difficult to get a read on. Even Angélique, who has known them the longest, seems to have trouble with it. Egill thinks Riley enjoys it that way.

“Right, that’s fine,” Erika is saying, pushing her short hair behind her ears. “Tell me what Dûrion’s going to do, then.”

Egill manages to save Riley—well, Dûrion saves Minto from being eaten—and the rest of the party make quick work of the monster guarding the cave that contains whatever horrors Erika has in mind for them. For such an innocent-looking woman, she sure has a twisted imagination.

“Now that we’re out of combat,” Riley says, once Angélique’s druid has distributed some healing spells, “can I roll to seduce Dûrion?”

“Yes!” Angélique shouts, adding, “That’s in-character. Rovanon’s very keen on love.”

“Aryax hates love, and also Rovanon,” Leon puts in.

“Aryax hates everything, he’s just an excuse for you not to help.”

He finger-guns at her, and she shakes her head, smiling.

“So,” Riley says, “can we get back to Minto seducing Dûrion?”

“Maybe Dûrion isn’t interested in being seduced,” Egill replies, raising his eyebrows and hoping he isn’t blushing.

“Does Dûrion want a long-term relationship?”

“Aryax vomits in disgust,” Leon says.

“No!” Raivis yells. “Daina immediately hides. Last time Aryax vomited, he barfed lightning everywhere and nearly killed her.”

“Not my fault Daina’s human.”

Erika, as per usual when they go off on tangents like this—which is most of the time—looks both pained and amused.

None of them are really cut out for Dungeons & Dragons, Egill thinks, at least not in any serious way. The whole thing started as a joke in his first year of university, with just him, Leon and Erika, because the three of them were procrastinating on assignments and wanted to have something to do. Egill had been the DM, because it was his idea and his brother did tabletop RPGs, so it was assumed he’d know how it worked. He did not.

His brother, Einar, was the one who pointed out how crap he was at it and that Erika would probably enjoy being the DM more. Leon keeps trying to convince Einar to join a session, and Egill spends much of his time trying not to think about his best friend’s weird crush on his brother.

In the four years since then, the three of them have accumulated the rest of the party. Raivis dated Erika for a while, and took over her character, Daina. He stayed after they broke up, having become a good friend to Egill over that time. Mei was Leon’s roommate for a hot minute, and Angélique was her friend. Riley, in turn, was Angélique’s friend, but Leon is the one who convinced them to join after they came to watch one day. Their last party member, Luca, is studying abroad at the moment, so his character has been captured and they’re technically always on a quest to free him, but Egill thinks it seems likely Luca won’t return to be Raivis’s roommate ever again, so their wizard will probably die.

It’s a shame. Luca was the only useful person. Certainly more than fucking Minto.

“Don’t take off your clothes!” Mei is yelling at Riley. Egill blinks dazedly.

To his disappointment, Riley isn’t actually taking off their clothes, just crossing their arms petulantly, only the edge of the intricate tattoo on one of their forearms visible.

“You’re on a mountain,” Erika reminds everyone. “If Minto takes his clothes off, I will need a saving throw to see if he freezes.”

“It’s fine,” Riley says, “he’ll bask in Dûrion’s hotness.”

Dûrion only knows ice spells because Egill thought that would be a cool theme to have, but he doesn’t point that out.

“Aryax vomits lightning,” Leon says, reaching for his dice.

“No!” Mei yells.

“At Minto,” he adds.

“I can’t believe Minto died,” Angélique says drily. “Can Rovanon have his bagpipes?”

“No one can have Minto’s bagpipes because Minto isn’t dead yet,” Erika interrupts before they descend into chaos again. “Leon, is Aryax actually attacking him?”

Leon nods, in response to which Riley throws Egill an imploring look, which is just unfair. He tries to frown back, but Riley just smiles in a surprisingly soft way he’s never seen before, pushing their brown curls out of their face, as if they know Egill will help anyway, and not just because Dûrion has a good alignment.

Leon elbows him, and he snaps back.

“What?”

“Aryax missed,” he says sadly.

“Oh!” He turns to Erika. “Is anything on fire?”

She considers this for a moment.

“Yes. Minto’s bagpipes are on fire.”

“Nice.” Leon grins, and even Riley has to laugh at that. Egill decides Dûrion definitely won’t use a spell to douse those flames, and hopes Riley doesn’t remember anytime soon that Minto has more bagpipes. He exchanges an anxious look with Mei, who obviously does remember.

“Are we ever going into this cave?” Raivis asks.

“Daina is hidden, no one can hear her,” Erika reminds him.

“Guys, where’s Daina?” Angélique says, pretending to be distressed. “She must have gone into the cave! We have to help her! Rovanon charges into the cave.”

“I can’t believe Rovanon died,” Riley says. “He will be remembered. Minto composes a song for him on his… Flute, I guess.”

“Make… Make a performance roll for how good the song is,” Erika says, probably just to annoy everyone by making Riley look at their character sheet and remember they have no flute, because Minto traded it for more bagpipes.

Riley rolls the die, and starts to giggle. Angélique and Raivis peer over, and groan in unison.

“Erika, I’m delighted to tell you… It’s a thirty-three on how good the song is. Does everyone cry?” They lift the die to show off the twenty they got.

“Everyone weeps and your bagpipes are magically restored,” Erika confirms, much to everyone else’s horror. And, while Riley holds both hands up for high-fives that go unanswered, “And I think we’ll have to end it there, because I have to go.”

“Boo,” Mei says, winking. Erika ducks her head, cheeks turning rosy, and Raivis raises his eyebrows, looking between them. That’s pretty interesting.

“Sorry. Everyone, remember where you are.” She makes some notes behind her book partition before starting to dismantle it.

“Well, Rovanon is apparently in heaven,” Angélique says. “Mei, can Yawen come and get him? She can fly.”

“Possibly,” Mei muses. “We’ll see what Erika thinks.”

“I think Rovanon is in a cave and can see in the dark because he’s a half-orc, so he’s probably not dead,” she says, putting her bag on her lap and starting to stuff her books into it.

“Aw, I never get to fly,” Mei says, sadly. Angélique pats her hand. “Thanks.”

“I’ll find a way to make you fly,” Erika tells her, pushing herself backwards. Mei makes a face at the whole table. That sounds ominous.

Everyone puts away their dice and character sheets. Leon sweeps the blueberries he was eating into his bag wholesale, as he usually does. Egill is afraid to find out what the inside of his bag looks like.

Mei pushes the door open for Erika, who smiles gratefully up at her and wheels herself into the front room of her brother’s bakery. They’ve been meeting here for a while now, but he still won’t give them any free pastries. Luca had been getting through to him, but, well…

“Hey, Riley,” Angélique is saying, walking backwards to the door while looking at her phone, “do you want a ride? Me and David are going to the beach, we could drop you off. Or you can come along, if you want.”

“Ah, sure, because my middle name is Third Wheel,” they joke. “I’m good, thanks. Tell Dave he’s an idiot for me.”

“Will do. Bye, everyone!” She flits off, almost tripping over Erika’s wheelchair as she somehow always manages to do. “Sorry!”

Raivis just waves, slinging his backpack over his shoulder and picking up his longboard. He hurries through the bakery, apparently still convinced Erika’s brother hates him for breaking up with her. Riley chuckles next to Egill, hands in the pockets of their maroon pants. They rock back on their heels when Egill looks down at them and smile at him while Leon exits as well, crunching on something he unearthed from his bag on the way.

“Well,” Egill says, absently pushing his tongue against his lip piercing, “guess I should go.”

“Yes. No.” Riley blinks and takes a deep breath. They smooth an errant curl off their forehead. It bounces right back. “Actually, I wanted to ask…”

“Do… You need a ride with me?” Egill asks. “It’s no problem, I’ve got a spare helmet.”

“No. Well, I mean, hell yeah, that sounds amazing,” they reply, hazel eyes lighting up. “But no, that’s not it.”

“Okay.” Egill watches curiously while Riley fidgets with their belt buckle. He doesn’t think he’s ever seen Riley fidget before; they always seem to know what they’re doing, even when what they’re doing is pretending to be unaware what’s going on when they most likely caused it.

“I wanted to know… Well, I know Dûrion isn’t interested in being seduced and all, but I kind of hope you are.” They gesture helplessly as Egill’s breath hitches. “I’ve got a feeling you are, and I’d like to try, eh? I’d like to—I like you, is what I’m trying to say. And I’d like to take you on a date?”

“Okay,” is all Egill can say, dumbstruck. And then, “Really?”

That, thankfully, gets him one of those smiles that pulls at Riley’s eyes and makes them twinkle.

“Yeah, Egill, really. You’re interesting, and I like that.”

He pushes his tongue against his piercing again.

“And also, that’s ridiculously hot and I don’t think you’re aware,” Riley blurts, eyes wide.

Egill stills, biting his lip, and just blinks down at them.

“It’s offensive.”

“Sorry?”

“Minto almost died because of that, you know? It’s distracting as fuck.”

“You’re, hm… You’re better at hiding it than I am,” Egill stutters. Laughing, Riley grasps his forearm, thumb stroking the pale skin as if on instinct.

“You do realize I’ve tried to seduce you and no other party members during every session for the past six months?”

“I—Riley, it doesn’t work like that!”

“Yeah, I get that now.” They shrug apologetically. “I thought it was fairly obvious. Everyone else seemed to know. I thought maybe you weren’t interested, but then it seemed like you were so I thought, you know, take a page out of Minto’s book and try it.”

Looking back, sure, it’s perfectly Riley to go about—about flirting so completely backwards, because just flirting like normal people do seems to be how Riley communicates with almost everyone. They can’t seem to help it. Egill thinks it’s charming. Mostly.

“That’s fair,” he says.

“I guess it works better for me than Minto, eh?”

“Unsurprisingly, yeah.” He wants to say something about Riley being much more attractive than fucking Minto, but doesn’t quite know how without embarrassing himself to death, so he just bites his lip again and smiles. Luckily, Riley seems a little unsure of themself as well, for once. It’s strangely bolstering. Egill leans a little towards them, catching the hazel gaze.

“Woo!” Mei suddenly says, from by the door, and Egill jerks up. “Sorry! I left my hair tie.”

Flushing, Egill just stands there awkwardly, with Riley still holding his arm, while she grabs the accessory and then pauses by the door on her way back out.

“Good for you guys,” she says, then flashes a peace sign and disappears back into the bakery. Riley clears their throat. Egill huffs.

“Well, that saves us the trouble of having to tell everyone,” Riley says, chuckling.

The idea of this being something that’s serious enough to tell their friends about is exciting. Mei is a notorious gossip, so Egill thinks Riley might have a point. He leans back over again, cautiously touching their shoulder, and they grin up at him, hair brushing his hand. It’s as soft as he always imagined it would be, and the curls bounce as they move their head.

By the quirk of Riley’s mouth, they can read the desire to run his hands through their hair on his face, which is probably still red too. Riley’s tan skin is only slightly flushed.

He bites his lip. Watches Riley’s eyes widen again, lips parting. Some eyeliner has smudged on their eyelid, and this is the first time he notices just how many faint freckles there are scattered across the bridge of their nose. It’s exhilarating to be able to look.

“So, you said something about a spare helmet?” Riley asks, a little breathier than usual, their eyes still fixated on his mouth.

“I did.” He takes a step back, then a step forward, back into Riley’s space. A wayward curl brushes against his nose, where the top of their head is, as they look up. “Where do you wanna go?”

“Well… I’m hungry. We could go eat something.”

Egill pulls out his phone to check the time. It’s going on five in the afternoon. He nearly drops his phone when Riley touches his hip, but smiles when they aim a questioning look at him. He isn’t very used to dating, hasn’t done so in a while, but this is good. And, really, he didn’t know if Riley dated at all; he’s never heard anything about it.

Evidently, they do.

“We could go for dinner, then?” He thinks about it. “We should take something out to the boulevard, it’ll be nice.”

Riley nods, grinning.

When they both start towards the door, Egill bites his lip and reaches for their hand, knocking their fingers together. Grinning even more, so much it almost looks painful but is very flattering at the same time, Riley grasps his hand and swings it between the two of them as they leave through the bakery.

Outside, they wave merrily at Erika and Mei, who are chatting on the sidewalk. Mei grins. Erika raises her eyebrows, resting her elbow on her bag and her chin in her hand. Egill blushes again, and Riley squeezes his fingers.

“Have fun,” Erika says, sketching a little wave. Just then, Raivis flies past on his longboard. He slows down and grins an uncharacteristically vibrant grin before speeding off down the winding street. Egill blinks after him.

“Hey, Erika!” Angélique calls from the passenger seat of a Jeep reversing out of the parking lot next to the bakery, poking her head out of the window. “I have—”

She hits her head on the top of the car when she spots him and Riley, and swears loudly, which is rare. Riley snorts, knocking their shoulder into Egill.

“Yeah, me too!” Erika calls back to Angélique, laughing.

“I regret this already,” Egill says, turning his head just enough that Riley’s hair blows into his face again. Riley just grasps his arm with their free hand and leans even more into him, so it isn’t all bad, really.

From the Jeep’s driver’s seat, Riley’s best friend, David, shouts something as he drives by, and they flip him off in response, letting go of Egill for a second. Angélique laughs, and David honks as they drive off.

“Come on,” Egill says, pulling Riley with him to the parking lot, where his motorcycle is. It used to be Einar’s, but he finally painted over the emblems his brother put on it, and it really feels like it’s his now. Riley gets an excited spring in their step as they near.

Of course, Leon is there, because why wouldn’t he be, sitting on his bicycle and looking at his phone. He glances up, thick eyebrows twitching.

“Oh, nice,” he just comments, and looks back down.

“Text Luca while we’re at it,” Riley says, dry as bone. Leon smiles.

“Maybe. Hey, I could text Einar.”

“Fuck off,” Egill tells him. He winks, puts his phone away, and bikes off.

So they finally leave, Riley hanging on to Egill and whooping excitedly at every turn and bump on the way to the boulevard, and the evening is wonderfully sun-soaked and bright, and Riley tastes like cheap wine at the end of it, so all in all… Maybe that dumb bard is good for something, after all.

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