#i hope to get as much done during the holidays before work sucks the soul n energy from me again | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

kylesvariouslistsandstuff · 1 year

Text

Why I'm Looking Forward to ELEMENTAL...

This has been on my mind lately, as ELEMENTAL is inching closer to release.

I've been reading it everywhere... Something to the tune of: Pixar has lost its touch, its soul, they've been going downhill, etc. etc.

I get intense deja vu whenever I read a sentence like that...

Because around this very same time, a DECADE ago, in the year 2013... Pixar was also going downhill, they sold out, they lost their touch, their soul, Disney was poisoning them now that they owned them, blah blah blah-

And this was back when they had only released two movies in a row that didn't live up to the imaginary thing that is called "Pixar standards": Those very movies were CARS 2 and BRAVE. A prequel to MONSTERS, INC. was just a month away at this same time in 2013, which ended up getting a similar reception from these skeptics... We knew a FINDING NEMO sequel was in the works, in addition to a few originals. They didn't have high hopes for the studio's future.

When INSIDE OUT came out in summer 2015, after a whole calendar year without a Pixar movie, it was declared a comeback. But later that year, during the holiday season, THE GOOD DINOSAUR came out, and it was all "Pixar is dead!" again. People were freakin' hyperbolic, I tell 'ya... Strangely, I do remember that nonsense somewhat dying down once FINDING DORY came out, the following summer in 2016. As if they either accepted that their favorite studio was no longer going to make movies that they wanted to see, or they found something else to latch onto... and subsequent complain about that thing, too. Maybe the return of STAR WARS was enough of a distraction for these nerds? That's the king of complainer-heavy franchises right there!

So, I'm old enough to remember when Pixar was going downhill. It seemed like they've been going downhill, huh? Ten years of going downhill? Where does the hill end? Is it a very steep hill... Is it a cliff? Are they tumbling down Mount Everest or something?

But what's particularly alarming to me is this... There's a good-sized gaggle of people who genuinely want... John freakin' Lasseter to come back to Pixar and be their leader again!

Yet back in 2013, according to people who were insisting that Pixar was done for, it was *Lasseter* that was the problem.

That he was ruining Pixar with his dictatorial way of running things, his aggressive franchising of CARS, firing directors off of their movies, and mandating every director there except his favorites (Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich, Brad Bird) to make the movies the way HE wanted them to be made. That he was their worst director, as CARS and CARS 2 "proved" that... Though apparently the guy never directed TOY STORY 1 & 2, and A BUG'S LIFE. (Oh, but that one sucked, too. Apparently. Also, Lasseter pretty much stole CARS wholesale from Jorgen Klubien. To me, Klubien and the late Joe Ranft are very much the directors of that film.)

Now a lot of this is true, Lasseter was a micromanager indeed. He removed a lot of up-and-coming directors at Pixar that didn't meet his "criteria", and this was true even before The Walt Disney Company bought Pixar and made him supreme leader. He screwed over Jorgen Klubien and essentially erased him from the creation of CARS, a movie he pitched and blueprinted and mapped out. Jan Pinkava was booted off of RATATOUILLE, but did receive co-director credit in the end. He also wasn't quite thrilled about then-outsider Brad Bird coming into Pixar with a superhero action picture, but Steve Jobs had Brad Bird's back and eventually, Lasseter was all-in on Bird. Then once he took over? Brad Lewis, Brenda Chapman, even veteran Bob Peterson, all fired from their movies. An unnamed director got booted off of MONSTERS UNIVERSITY as well, Gary Rydstrom got taken off of NEWT, and the studio ended up canning that film anyways.

Nothing was done about this, as Pixar scored box office hit after box office hit, and sometimes Oscars to go with that... Nothing was done, until Lasseter was rightfully outed for sexual harassment during the Me Too movement in late 2017. With that, Pete Docter assumed his Chief Creative Officer role in mid-2018. Ever since Pete took over, not a single movie made at Pixar since then lost its director, and to me... All the newer films feel quite unique to one another, and feel like the visions of their respective directors. They have gotten one Oscar since then, for SOUL in 2020, LUCA and TURNING RED were nominated in their respective years. Only LIGHTYEAR lost money at the box office, had a hard time appealing to audiences, and got a slightly more mixed reception from critics. Everything else is a COVID case... Not that box office and Oscars mean anything, but under Lasseter they seemed to easily rack those things up regularly. With one or two major exceptions here and there. Just an observation, that's all.

So now... They want him back? Am I reading that right? But they all insisted that he had to go, and that the 2010s Pixar was all bad original movies (save for INSIDE OUT and COCO) and "unnecessary" sequels. Keep in mind, these same people *demanded* an INCREDIBLES sequel from Pixar... And the Venn Diagram of folks who disliked INCREDIBLES 2 that never shut up about how "bad" it was and those who demanded that the sequel be made in the first place is probably a circle.

These same complainers clamor for the Pixar of yore, the studio during its so-called halcyon days... And yet they're dismissive of the new movies they make that are trying new things (the old Pixar of 2003-ish would've never greenlit LUCA or TURNING RED)... And the movie that's going back to the classic "what-if" premises that directors Lasseter/Docter/Stanton/Unkrich indulged in? Oh, it's "generic Pixar", "it looks like a parody of Pixar", "it's as if an AI generated a Pixar movie"...

What do they want, then?

If they make a movie that's just like TOY STORY or FINDING NEMO or RATATOUILLE or UP, it'd be written off as "trying to replicate the past". If they do something new and fresh, it's "mid" or whatever, "go back to what you did best."

This studio has released 26 films, and in a month, 27. Not all of them are going to appeal to you anyways. They have yet to make a movie that I myself personally dislike, but that's just me.

I sometimes think that Pixar's earliest films hit these particular folks hard because they were made during a time when American feature animation was in a weird state. That initial "Renaissance" period wore off, Disney was having trouble, other studios were releasing 2D films that flopped and got bad critical scores, and it seemed like Pixar (and some early DreamWorks) hit that sweet spot. Nowadays, everyone's making big animated movies, and there's innovation happening elsewhere as well. New Pixar movies share the space with films like INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE, PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH, THE MITCHELLS VS. THE MACHINES, Guillermo del Toro's PINOCCHIO, etc. etc. We also have a wider Internet than ever before, streaming, whole libraries at your fingertips... Maybe back in 2003, you had so-so internet connection and a PC with a boxy monitor, and it seemed like Pixar was the only game in town.

But also, early Pixar was smaller, much more tight-knit you could argue. Ostensibly, it was a bunch of nerds riding around on scooters and wearing Hawaiian shirts, like the place was a blast to be at, each new movie of theirs a test for them, it was them going big or going home. Every new movie of theirs seemed like a pending flop... that defied all expectations, each movie worked on critics and audiences. Their contract back then sucked, and they weren't allowed to make sequels to their movies, TOY STORY 2 was strongarmed into being a Pixar-made sequel and not the direct-to-video B-team picture it was originally meant to be. There's definitely a particular feeling, an early-era excitement to the stretch of films made from 1995 to around 2004, and after the Disney buyout, Pixar's atmosphere is no longer the chimp and the wacky guys on scooters. In reality, Pixar was always cutthroat. Lasseter was always egotistical (again, just ask Jorgen Klubien), it was a studio and a business just like everything else. There also exist people who are not in love with that studio, and maybe only enjoy a handful of the movies they made during their so-called heyday.

I've long loved Pixar films. MONSTERS, INC. was the movie that made me a fan of theirs, though I had seen their first three films made before that. I've seen all of their movies in theaters except the three movies that went straight to Disney+ during the pandemic. That being said, I am able to differentiate a studio from its filmmakers. Early Pixar is largely the work of Lasseter, Docter, Stanton, and Unkrich. Or what I like to call "Team TOY STORY". Lasseter directed TOY STORY, everyone else listed were a major part of that movie, and were a major part of TOY STORY 2 as well. Unkrich co-directed TOY STORY 2, MONSTERS, INC. and FINDING NEMO. Andrew Stanton co-directed A BUG'S LIFE and then was main director on FINDING NEMO - which he conceived, Pete Docter conceived and directed MONSTERS, INC. They're all John's guys, his buddies, his magic circle, or as Jorgen Klubien put it in an interview with the Skull Rock Podcast: His knights of the round table, "The Beatles of Pixar"... Then there was Brad Bird. Again, a relative outsider, didn't get the warmest welcome, but became a solid part of Lasseter's circle because he had backup, and his movie ended up being a big hit. Team TOY STORY and Brad Bird were "early Pixar": A bunch of liked-minded guys out of Cal-Arts in their 30s and 40s with a lot of creative freedom making the animated movies they wanted to see, and using cutting-edge and always-evolving technology to make them.

But those days were over after Lasseter took complete control and solidified his Brain Trust. Who knows how a movie like BRAVE would've been received in 2012 had he not fired Brenda Chapman from it, the very movie she conceived based on her motherhood. Better? Worse? Same goes for Bob Peterson, what would his GOOD DINOSAUR have been? It was always *very* telling to me that the post-2010 Pixar movies everyone seemed to agree on being pretty good were the movies directed by Pete Docter (INSIDE OUT, SOUL) and Lee Unkrich (COCO)... and that everything else was subpar. But... They'd either say those movies stunk because Lasseter controlled them too much, or they were just bad because they weren't made by their favorite directors.

And that was even more evident to me after Lasseter was sent packing. ONWARD, Dan Scanlon's first original Pixar movie after directing MONSTERS UNIVERSITY, was "good but not Pixar good" at best, and the same non-criticism was thrown at Enrico Casarosa's LUCA as well. There is no such thing as "Pixar good", you actually mean "I don't like it as much as the movies made by Team TOY STORY." You like those select few directors, then, not the studio itself. And that's fine! The studio is merely the building where these movies are made, it's not the author of the movies... That'd be like calling ABBEY ROAD your favorite Abbey Road Studios album, not your favorite Beatles album.

Also worth noting: Brad Bird had directed THE IRON GIANT before coming to Pixar, and he's directing RAY GUNN for Skydance Animation - with Lasseter as his boss again, may I add. He's the only person in the original Pixar director lineup of filmmakers to have directed an all-animated feature somewhere else. Pete Docter's only animated movies are Pixar films, ditto John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, and Lee Unkrich's.

Lasseter's no longer at Pixar, Pete Docter likely is done with directing after SOUL, Andrew Stanton hasn't directed there since 2016 and likely won't be back for a long while because he's trying to do more live-action stuff, Lee Unkrich straight up retired, and Brad Bird - again - is off at Skydance.

I don't really subscribe to the whole collective thing. The original appeal of Pixar, to me, was it being a place where directors could come in, pitch a wild idea, and make that wild idea a movie that Disney or the other studios at the time wouldn't have made. Problem was, it looked that way on paper. In reality, it was Lasseter's show. It's not anymore, and Docter is not like Lasseter, he wants the people at Pixar to tell their stories... THEIR way. That's very exciting to me, and I feel it has shown in a lot of their most recent films.

This is why I'm interested in seeing ELEMENTAL, I'm game to see what director Peter Sohn has in store. He previously directed THE GOOD DINOSAUR, which he took over from Bob Peterson of course, but this is his movie from the ground up. He has said that it is based on his experiences as a son of Korean immigrant parents in New York, his coming of age in the 1980s, but told using people made of the four elements living in a city based around said elements. I'm there for the personal story more so than the premise, but from what I've seen of the movie itself, it's fascinating seeing characters where every part of them moves. Flowing water, ever-burning fire, etc. They're very very animated. This must've been a lot of work!

Anyways, ELEMENTAL... When do the tickets go on sale? I'm looking forward to it, I hope I enjoy it!

16 notes · View notes

springalwayscomes · 3 years

Text

Make It Right

Plot: Life in quarantine sucks, says Jin. We can make it better, you say. Truth is, you make it all right.

Pairing: Jin x Reader

Genre: Humor, Fluff, Established Relationship

Wordcount: 1.5k

Content Warning: swearing

Author’s Note: This is the last fic of this project and I think it’s a good ending. I hope this little gift I made made you smile and brung at least a little amount of happiness to your holidays. Thank you for reading, if you want to check out the other three fics of this project you can find them on the Life Goes On Project Masterlist. Again, happy holidays!

The sun is almost gone, and Jin is still sitting on that sofa, eyes fixed on his phone and long legs stretched out on the soft pillows. He’s been there since this morning, barely getting up for lunch and immediately going back to his safe place right after. His expression doesn’t give him away, not even a little bit. Usually he’d be laughing while looking at his phone for such a long time, watching comedians video on YouTube, but this time it’s totally different. And even though you’re sure he’s trying to hold himself back, you can see there’s something wrong.

«Jin?»

His shoulders raise, stay still for a few seconds, gaze still fixated on his phone before he slowly - finally - raises it, his shoulders falling down as he exhales.

«Yes?»

You stand still, worried eyes on him and hands down on your sides, Jin’s face slightly lights up at your view, but the happy look in his eyes doesn’t lasts longer than a bunch of seconds.

«Are you okay? You seem sad, did something happen?» you take a few steps, testing the waters as your boyfriend lowers his eyes back onto his phone. It’s Christmas Day, you hate to see him like this - especially today -, he should be happy and celebrating.

You know what could be going on, all the stress of this endless quarantine - it shouldn’t, but it’s actually quite stressful waking up at 12 and having nothing to do for the whole day -, and not spending today with his family or yours like you usually would, the feeling of missing performing and the cheers of the fans.

«Nothing,» he fakes a smile «I’m okay»

At this point, you reach down for him, tilting his head with your index. It’s nothing, but your touch brings Jin back to life - just the slightest -.

«You’re not,» you pout «I can see it. Tell me what’s going on inside your head?»

Jin doesn’t really want to bring your mood down, he knows you felt as low as him the last days but decided to look at things from a different view. Quarantine doesn’t necessarily have to be boring and gloomy, and he thought that just enjoying his free time without really worrying about it would’ve worked. Apparently, it didn’t, and he’s just feeling as low as you a few days ago.

«Life in quarantine sucks» he just bursts out, he lets his hands fall limp onto his tights without considering he’s still holding his phone, which hits his right thigh and makes him squeeze his eyes shut. Just the view of his expression makes you smile. He always had this power, the most beautiful face with the most comedic character, such a drama queen.

«Weren’t you the one who told me to “get up and enjoy it”? There are things to do too here, it’s still Chris-»

«Forget all the shit I said. It just sucks!» his face is almost red as he bursts out in a scream and gets up from the sofa, his phone falling on the floor and his face blanking out for just a second. Then his eyes fall shut once again, the pain of the phone that just hit his foot making him hiss. «See? It sucks!»

You hold back a little laugh as he sits back on the sofa, checking his phone for any damage. Not a single scratch, only his foot is red now.

«Alright, it sucks. But we can make it better, slightly less lousy. You’d be in your house anyway tonight, Christmas dinner was up to us this year, shouldn’t we at least have it?» you try. Jin huffs, raising a hand in the air at your direction.

«I don’t have enough desire to live to get up» he explains himself, already smiling at your expression. As if trying to lift a 5’10’’ man wasn’t already enough of an effort, he pulls you towards him and you end up in his lap in the blink of an eye.

«Can’t we just stay here?»

«You really aren’t going to eat on Christmas dinner? Noodles, bulgogi, kimc-»

«Get up» it’s all he says before you both start laughing out loud at his mood change. His laugh makes you feel lighter and brings you back to life, happiness filling the air as you turn around and watch his white teeth and his big smile, eyes sparkling. It really makes you feel lighter.

«We can still celebrate» you murmur, Jin nodding as his laughter dies out. Apparently, laughing just a little brung him back in a good mood, of which you’re definitely happy a part.

«I just feel lonely. I’ve got you, but it’s... Christmas shouldn’t be like this» his tone is more serious than before, not acting as a comedian anymore. His hand reaches your hip and gently strokes it, light touch that reminds you of how much you love him.

«I know, baby» you smile softly. It’s true, Christmas shouldn’t be like this. Thankfully, you’re not completely alone. Jin is been a great company during the quarantine and more than ever the only reason you smiled until now during these endless days. The least you could do is do the same for him now.

«But it’s still Christmas, and you’re not completely alone. I’m here with you, and I-»

His lips are on yours before you can do anything about it. It’s sudden, and you’re taken aback at the beginning, but the warm feeling of his arms around your stomach and the tickling of his hair at your forehead remember you that you should probably kiss him back, because missing a kiss from him would be just a maddening thing to do. His fleshy lips are soft against yours, his tongue in your mouth moves delicately and the feeling in your chest is low key the same as when your mother used to hug you every Christmas after giving you her gift; fondness, love, happiness, joy. Just differently.

As you part, your eyes opening and the haze in your mind finally becoming thinner, you can’t help but look at him with wondering eyes. Jin understands them but doesn’t answer. What you don’t know is that his heart is beating like crazy, just like the first time. He needed to kiss you to remind himself he still has something to celebrate for, someone. Christmas can still be Christmas, after all. You make it Christmas.

«Let’s go make dinner» he mumbles.

Thirty minutes later the kitchen is a mess and Jin can’t do anything else but boss you around, playfully slapping your ass right after calling each other names like lazy ass, your tongue sticking out at him.

Your playlist echoing in the room keeps you company as you both prepare the noodles, your hips moving on the beat of Make It Right and his lips letting out melodies without even realizing it.

When the noodles are done too, all he can do is stare at the full plates on the counter as you put the pot into the sink.

The eternal night with no end in sight

It’s you who gifted me the morning

Can I now hold that hand?

Oh oh

I can make it right

He sings just like before, but it’s inevitable how his eyes shift to your figure while saying those words now.

His thoughts are silent, just like his love for you right now, but his body needs you close. He reaches out, his hand grabbing yours, holding it and feeling your cold fingers intertwine with his as he looks at your face.

«I can make it right» you smile at him, humming to the song.

Hell yes, you can make it right. It doesn’t matter what that “it” is, you can make anything, everything right for him. And he’s totally fine with it.

Truth is, life in quarantine would have really sucked without you, life in general would suck without you. This Christmas would suck without you, all of this would be just as useless as this song sings, anything other than you.

«You can» he smiles at you.

One, two, three, four, five kisses on your lips - seven now - and his stomach is rumbling, the romanticism of the moment turning out into laughters and sparkly eyes.

Jin wards off to take the cutlery from the drawers as you decide it’s time to bring your dishes to the dining room, placing them on the table and releasing a sigh of relief. This Christmas is certainly different, but you’re spending it with the right person.

Coming back to the kitchen to help him take the rest of the things in the other room you find him with the bowl of kimchi in his hands, his ass sticking out from time to time on Suga’s part of Make It Right, rapping his soul out as he awkwardly attempts to twerk.

«Jin?»

«Ah!» he screams, stuttered and shocked of being caught. His eyes open widely, and the bowl hits the floor, kimchi falling down to the ground and making a mess.

«Fuck, I wanted to eat that!»

Life Goes On Project Masterlist

76 notes · View notes

gustafsnightangel · 3 years

Text

Shattered Lives Ch 36 Pt 1

The days between moving in with Gustaf and New Year’s Eve were filled with never ending chores, because despite Gustaf wanting her to relax and take it easy, Sildie wanted her apartment done. Boxing up the remaining things she put them in storage, still not at ease with getting rid of anything just yet. The hard reality of what if they split still plagued her mind, once bitten twice shy. She had to keep it real, had to think of the long term back up plan in case it all went to hell in a hand basket, especially with four children in the mix. Even more of a chore was deciding on whether to keep the furniture or sell it, what to do with the apartment, did she leave it all as it was or rent it out, sell it, renovate it? Then there was the unpacking of all her stuff in Gustaf’s apartment, their apartment, cleaning, trash pick up, the list never ended. She’d come to the realization moving just sucked.

“Ok stop.” He said one night as they sat for tea and pulled her into his lap. “You haven’t stopped all day. Let it be.” He grabbed and kissed her fingers as she went to tidy up the stack of papers on the table and secured her body to his by wrapping those outrageously long limbs around her and kissing her neck.

“Sorry, I just wanted to get it all done so we can enjoy the New Year’s Eve party.” She huffed.

“You keep running around like this you won’t make it to the party because you’ll be exhausted and asleep by seven.” He kissed her neck and bit down gently. “Let it be.” He growled as she struggled against him to free her arms so she could just tidy up those papers and be done. “We can deal with the rest after January second.” He would stipulate a time as well if required.

“Fine.” She sighed and gave up, relaxing into him. “I just wanted it clean.” She mumbled taking a sip of her tea when he finally let her go, pushing those papers further away from her, she wasn’t going to budge him on it. He was right of course, she’d been hell bent on getting everything squared away before the end of the year. “I just want to start fresh next year.”

“I get it love, I do, but I also want to see you relax.” He kissed that one spot below her ear that made her weak for him.

“That’s not playing fair.” She sighed, that clever mouth bringing her undone.

“Didn’t say anything about playing fair.” He chuckled. “Ready for the party?”

“I guess, just nervous. It’s your family and we’re leaving the kids there overnight.” She was terrified, first night away with grandpa and she had all sorts of horror stories running through her head.

“The kids will just be upstairs with dad, they’re close and with someone I trust emplicitly.” Stellan and Megan had jumped at the chance to have the kids stay over. “I think Valter is staying as well so Brendan will have someone older to hang with and Oona is staying over to hang out with Lily.” He sipped his tea and squeezed her to him.

“I know I just worry.” She mumbled, feeling a little stupid.

“It’s your job, but don’t, they’ll be fine. It’s not like they have far to come if they need us.” It was handy that his dad lived in the same building a few floors up.

“What time’s the party?”

“Starts at six and goes all night, we can disappear whenever.” He kissed her neck and sucked on her pulse. “You and I are going to have an adult New Years.” He growled, her sinful giggle made his cock twitch, he had a plan, an erotic one.

“Are we now?” She leaned back into him and snaked a hand up the back of his neck and onto his scalp, toying with the soft dusting of hair, he’d let it grow out over the holidays.

“Mmm hmmm. We’re taking this year out with a bang.” He smirked against her skin.

“Oh god Gustaf that was terrible.” She scoffed and laughed at his pun.

“Yeah, but accurate.” He kissed her temple and sipped his tea. “I also booked the cabin for January 4 through 15. A little longer than planned but the few extra days were free with the deal.”

“That sounds so good. The kids will love it. Anything we need to take care of first?” She turned so she was sitting sideways on his lap. The kids weren’t the only one looking forward to some time away. She wanted to decompress with just the six of them, giving the kids time to bond with Gustaf. It was important, for all of them.

“Just clothes and maybe some snacks, board games. There’s lots for them to do outside, but it might be good to have some indoor activities in case we get a storm. We’ll need something for them to do that’s not TV and video games.”

“It’ll be a good break. Give you boys some bonding time.” She kissed him sweetly.

“Yeah.” He smiled and hung his head thinking.

“It bothers you doesn’t it? The dad thing.” Her fingers trailed his scruff and he looked at her, those eyes of perfect blue, she drowned in them every time.

“Not bother, more, different, I just need to get used to the idea.” Her kiss was tender. “It sounds so weird to my ears.” He chuckled. “If that makes any sense at all.”

“I’ll talk to them.” She said gently.

“No.” He shook his head and kissed her hard. “No. Leave it alone. They need to do what feels right for them too love. It’s just not something I ever expected from the boys. Lily I can understand, she never knew Quinn, but the boys, it was a shock, still is.” He tangled his fingers into her hair and kissed her, long and slow. “We need time, that��s all.”

“Just know I’ll talk to them if it’s too much.” She wouldn’t see him wrecked over it, hurt over it.

“No.” He smiled at her. “That’s something we need to figure out for ourselves. The four of us need to be comfortable with it and work through the awkwardness of it.” He kissed her softly. “You can’t bail me out of this one love, and I don’t want you too, not if we’re going to be a family. It’s important to them and to me that we work through it no matter how much it terrifies the hell out of me.”

She studied that handsome face, her finger playing with his scruff. “You’re a good man.” He dropped his head and her hand cupped his cheek. “You are. Look at me.” She kissed him sweetly. “Not many would do what you’ve done for them. It makes you so special.”

“I love you, I love the kids. It’s pretty simple really.”

“Sweet man I know you do, and I hope you also know that we love you too, so much.” He kissed her, the slow devastating kiss of the only man that could render her incoherent.

“My goddess, you and the kids are my world.” He rested his head against hers. “It’s been a good year. Sure there’s been some shitty bits in there, but I met you. You’re one of the best things that’s ever happened to me love.”

“A crazy woman who blubbers in your lap after sex, with four kids in tow.” She chuckled. “Yeah, the best.” Her tone thick with sarcasm.

“Wouldn’t change it for anything.” He grinned. “And I blubber, you fall apart.” He flicked her nose playfully.

“Me either.” Her chuckle light. “I think we make a pretty good team.”

“We do.”

“So confident.” She giggled.

“Just calling it how I see it. You make one kick ass mum you realize that right?” He said softly.

“I wouldn’t go that far.” She scoffed.

“Don’t sell yourself short. Four happy kids after what they’ve been through, that’s pretty fucking phenomenal.” Yes he knew he’d been a part of it, but she needed to hear it. Their lives had turned to shit in a blink, she had brought them to a place where they were thriving. He tried to keep the nudge out of his tone, the one that told her he wanted kids with her. Not your choice mother fucker, he cautioned silently, leave it there. He would not manipulate her no matter how much he wanted it. “Come on.” He said tapping her thigh and squeezing. “Bed, sleep. We’ve done enough for the day and I have a need to hold you close.”

“You don’t give yourself enough credit either.” She said softly as she stood and took the teapot to the sink.

“You did all the hard yards love. Take a moment here and there to look at them, really look at them, they’re happy. Sure they’re still grieving and will continue to, but they’re happy.” He tucked a wave of copper over her ear. “You did that, you should be proud of it. Especially as there are so many other ways it could have turned out. Take the win love, you deserve it.” He kissed her sweetly.

“But you’ve helped where I couldn’t, you give them the missing pieces.” She kissed him tenderly. “Remember that ok?”

“I’ll remember. Bed. Come on.” He took her hand in his and tugged it to get her moving.

They snuggled in bed, Sildie almost passing out as her head hit the pillow. Sleep always took her hard, or maybe that was because she didn’t stop during the day, he thought with a wry smile. He let his mind wander as his fingers stroked her head, lips kissing her brow, breathing in her scent soothed him.

The last few days had settled him once he realized Lily was safe and Ana wasn’t going to get through the front door. His nightmare had scared him to the deepest parts of his soul, the thought of losing Lily, any of the kids had him rethinking his life. It wasn’t just him now, he had a family, responsibilities, that if he fucked up, they would feel the repercussions. He would be better, work at being a better man for them.

Next year would be busy, twelve week shoot starting in February, a premier, and hopefully more work. Maybe he’d take something closer to home, he thought, it caused him physical pain to think about being away from them for so long. They’d figure it out, they’d make it work, it was just going to tear at him.

He was hoping Sildie took the partner offer, she’d worked hard for it and wasn’t going to let anything get in her way if she decided to take it. A nanny, a housekeeper, something to take the load off when he wasn’t here. His mind chewed it over, flitting from one idea to the next until he drifted. His last conscious thought before joining Sildie in the sleep world was of a brood of kids of their own, it was often on his mind. The heart wants what the heart wants.

“Ok Lily, I’m coming. Good grief.” Sildie groaned as Lily screamed her head off through the monitor.

“Uk?” Gustaf mumbled as she pulled away from him.

“Yeah I’ll get her I’m awake now anyway.” She grumbled.

He watched her pull her robe on, the silk hiding all those delicious curves, and grinned into the pillow. The things he was going to do to her tonight, he mused as he listened to Sildie soothe Lily through the monitor.

“Lily bear, my goodness.” She cooed picking up the screaming child.

“Mum mum mum.” She sobbed as she snuggled in and hiccuped, the tiny girl was well beyond it. “Let’s get you cleaned up huh? Then some snuggles?”

“Mum mum mum.” She was a hot mess, tears and snot, that little flushed face.

“Yeah yeah, I’m here.” She sighed as she cleaned her up and dressed her in some warmer pajamas. “Were you cold little lady? Hmmm? Is that what it was? Cold and needed a snuggle?” She sat in the rocker and tucked the blanket in around her as she curled her in.

He hugged his pillow and smiled at the softness in her voice. There was no doubt in his mind she’d be a good mother, if she could only hear herself with Lily, with the boys. Getting her to see it for herself without pushing was another story.

“And you’re not going to drop any hints either asshole. Her body, her decision.” He mumbled to himself. “God I want kids with you.” He whispered into the dark as Sildie started to hum to Lily.

Pulling the covers back he climbed out of bed and found some clean sweats. It was ridiculous to be up at 4 am when they had nowhere to be until 6 that night. Padding out to the kitchen he put the kettle onto boil and dumped the tea leaves in the teapot. After the tea had steeped he poured Sildie a cup and took it in with him to Lily’s room. He smiled at the sight, his heart melting and constricting all at the same time. His two best girls fast asleep in the rocking chair. Placing the tea down he took a throw from the bed and covered Sildie up, propping her head up with a pillow so she wouldn’t get a crick in her neck. He took her tea back to the kitchen, closing the door behind him.

Drinking his tea alone he had something to eat before heading into his workout room to burn off some energy, hopefully he’d be able to nap later in the day. Slipping on the gloves he started out light, letting his body warm up before going a full hour until his muscles screamed at him.

There was no anxiety, no anger, just the ebb and flow of thoughts and ideas. Things he needed to do next year in his career, with the kids, Sildie, his life had changed, dramatically, from single to father of four. He stopped suddenly and tapped the bag lightly with a fist thinking as it swayed.

“I guess this is how you feel my lovely lady.” He murmured to the bag as he thought on that epiphany some more. “Drowning doesn’t seem to cover it.” He muttered. “Single to father of four.” Maybe that was why the whole dad thing was brutally overwhelming him, he thought, maybe it had been too much, too soon. “Single to father of four.” He repeated and continued with his workout.

His thoughts drifted to their future, what he wanted, what he wanted to give them, provide for them. Sure, he wanted kids of their own, and that decision was out of his hands, at least for the moment. The punch landed softly when marriage fluttered into his mind, he still wasn’t sure if she’d want to be married, or if he was even ready to take that plunge again.

His first marriage wasn’t bad, it wasn’t a picnic either with his addiction hanging over them both like a consistent third partner in the relationship. That was half the problem, their relationship was already on shaky ground before it had even had the chance to grow, to flourish. “I’m a different person now.” He muttered, and he was, he was clean and sober for a start. He’d disassociated himself with toxic people, mainly Ana, but there were more. Greedy, lecherous people only interested in him for what he was, his fame, or money, or his family connections. That’s where Sildie was different, she saw him for who he was, fucked up bits and all. Yes, he was different, he’d changed, and had the most incredible woman in his life. “Next year.” He said softly. “Sometime next year I’ll be asking you.” He grinned. He just had to figure out if it was something she wanted. “That’ll give me something to plan while I’m on set.” He chuckled.

Ripping the gloves off he sat for meditation and let his body relax, inviting the calm in. His breathing leveled out from the exertion and the peace flooded into him. This was a peace he’d fought hard for and a peace he was only able to obtain because of Sildie. She hadn’t given it to him directly, she’d given him understanding, support, and compassion. She’d given him a reason to be a better person, a reason to fight his demons after Ana, because if he was being honest, that fucking bitch had almost put him in the bottom of a bottle again. He’d been teetering on the edge when he’d save a few wayward oranges on Sildie’s threshold.

This year had taught him a lot and given him much more. He’d had his bad days, but the good ones had outweighed those dramatically. Most of all he’d stayed sober, he’d stayed clean, and his state of mind was clearer than it had ever been. Calm and peace settled in his mind, and he’d not been at peace with himself like this for a long time, if ever.

Getting to his feet he wiped down the bag and stowed his gloves before heading for a shower. By the time he surfaced in clean sweats and a t shirt, the boys were at the kitchen island for breakfast.

“Where mum?” Brendan asked as he started making pancakes, Gustaf’s lips twitching a smile at his endearment for Sildie.

“She’s curled up with Lily in the rocker. Lily woke up screaming at four this morning.” He yawned, putting the kettle on to heat up for a fresh pot of tea.

“Ouch.” The teen winced.

“Yeah. It was a little rough.” Gustaf chuckled. “Let them sleep, we’ll stick to quiet time this morning ok?” He looked at the twins and they nodded.

“Can we play Harry?” Finn asked as he snatched a hot pancake from the plate.

“Volume down low and we might go for a walk later, get out for a bit if the weather is good, so no grumbles when we do ok?” Both boys nodded, they knew the rules, grumbles meant shortened game time. “What about you B? What are you up to today?”

“Chokladbiskvier, I thought we could take them to grandpa’s tonight.” He said flipping a pancake.

“Only if you want to, there’s no need to. My dad has the party catered.” Gustaf saw the kids eyes light up. “Christmas is for family, New Years is a little more of a party.”

“I want to.” The teen grinned.

“Then have at it. And. Yum.” He elbowed the kid playfully before pouring the water over the tea leaves.

“If I have time I might even make Kladdkaka.” Brendan said on the sly.

“Shit kid you’re killing me.” He groaned.

Once the boys had eaten and off to do their designated quiet time activity, Gustaf settled into the one seat with his book, content to have some down time of his own while his girls slept.

“Mum mum mum.” Lily said softly, tapping Sildie’s face with her tiny hand.

“I’m up.” Sildie said, inhaling sharply. “Hey there little lady.” Lily crashed into her and hugged her tight. Sildie smiled as she kissed the toddlers head. “Shall we get cleaned up and go have some breakfast?” She laughed as Lily bounced, happy and content on her lap with her usual chatter for her dad dad. Her ass was asleep and she smiled at the throw and pillow tucked in around her. Gustaf had obviously come to check on her at some point. With a clean Lily she shuffled out to the kitchen and a wonderful smell of warm cookies. Brendan had been cooking up a storm again and she was so thrilled for the boy, something that brought him so much happiness in a year where things had gone to shit in more ways than one. They’d all come a long way since their parents passed. Maybe Gustaf was right, maybe I am good at this mum thing, she thought and then snorted before kissing Lily’s head. It was only better because of Gustaf, she was drowning before he came along and swept her off her feet, cleaning pasta sauce from her floor.

He loved that look on her face, her body, she’d slept and slept hard, total relaxation. Saving his page he got up and wrapped his arms around her waist as she sat Lily in her high chair with a pancake.

“Morning lovely lady.”

“Morning.” She yawned. “Did you get some more sleep after this one made a ruckus?”

“No, but I’ll take a nap later.” He kissed her temple and let his hand wander under her robe out of the line of sight of the boys. He growled and palmed a breast gently. “Fuck I love the feel of you.” He nipped her ear as her soft moan escaped, that spot below her ear betraying her as he kissed it. “You might want to nap today, you’re gonna need every ounce of energy for what I have planned for you tonight kitten.” He murmured, turning her so she faced him. He gently gripped her chin and kissed her slowly, patiently devouring every inch of her mouth. She was breathless and struck mute by the time he let her up for air.

“I love it when you kiss me like that.” Her chest heaved, pussy throbbed, god she wanted him to bend her over the table and fuck her.

“I know.” He kissed her again tenderly. “Sit down I’ll get you some un mangled pancakes.” He chuckled at seeing Lily’s shredded breakfast on her high chair table, the child quite content making an absolute mess of herself and offering crumbs to Sildie.

The man certainly knew how to kiss a woman, she thought as she sat near Lily and watched Gustaf walk to the kitchen. How was it he made her tummy flip just by looking at those thighs, that ass, the roped muscle of his arms, those hands? Because you know what’s under all those clothes, the little devil on her shoulder whispered, and you like what he does to you, all of it. “Yes I do.” She muttered and smiled as Lily tried to feed her some squished pancake.

After Sildie had eaten Gustaf forced her into the one seat with her book. With his hands braced on the arms of the chair he leaned down and kissed her. “I don’t want to see you get out of that chair unless it’s for the bathroom.” He murmured and kissed her again. “Rest love, please. You’ve been burning the candle at both ends these past few days and I don’t want you burning out or getting sick.”

“Only if you rest too.” She trailed a finger down his jaw, over his scruff, along the column of his throat, before fanning out her fingers over his chest. That chest, she thought, all hers and damn it if she didn’t love curling into it, the safety and security she felt when she did.

“I’m going to entertain Lily, which is rest enough.” He kissed her again and left her to read.

She watched him stretch out on the floor, his body caging Lily against the corner of the room, she’d have to climb over him to get out. Looking around the apartment she smiled, the twins quietly figuring out the next puzzle on Harry Potter, Brendan in the kitchen baking, experimenting with whatever flavors he desired, happy. On the last day of the year, there was this surreal calm that had enveloped the apartment and the people in it, and she couldn’t deny that it felt really good. Gustaf was right, the kids were happy, she’d brought them to a place where they could be settled and start their life again. It wasn’t just her though, she thought, as she watched Gustaf. They were happy because of this gorgeous man laying on their floor playing with a child that wasn’t his by blood, but his in every way that mattered. He’d given them a home, a family unit.

I want more days like this, she thought, that was her goal for the coming year, more time with the kids, more time with Gustaf, more peace in their lives. What about making partner, the little voice in her head said softly, what about your dreams, your hopes? If Dana could manage her own firm and three kids with another on the way, I sure as shit can manage the four she handed me, she thought with an indignant huff. She’d thought about what Gustaf had said, get a housekeeper, a nanny, she didn’t have to do it on her own anymore so why make it harder on herself? A housekeeper would be helpful, laundry, pick the kids up, get dinner on, especially if she was working late, and especially when Gustaf was away. The only issue was cost, because she wasn’t going to expect Gustaf to pay for it all. Quinn and Dana had used one but they had dual income, maybe she could get Alice to come work full time? Do the half and half payments with Gustaf? “Now there’s a thought.” She mumbled and kept reading.

She was so engrossed in her book she didn’t notice Gustaf had fallen asleep until Lily started to get upset that dad dad wasn’t playing with her anymore. Sildie climbed out of the chair and lifted the child out from her makeshift compound. She took her to get changed and had Brendan watch her for a moment. Kneeling beside Gustaf she gently lifted his head and placed a pillow under it, grabbing the throw from the couch she covered him enough to keep his torso warm, he was out cold and she couldn’t bring herself to wake him.

“Sleep love.” She murmured, before collecting Lily from Brendan and sitting with the child to read to her.

He woke up with a tiny child using him as a jungle gym. The place was quiet apart from Lily chattering dad dad, how long had he been out? Those lips he craved pressed against his temple and he snaked an arm around Lily so she didn’t fall as she flopped over his hip with a giggle.

“Time to wake up sleepy head.” Sildie murmured, kissing his temple.

“Wow I bombed.” He yawned rolling to his back.

“You did. It’s nearly four.” Her chuckle was humorous.

“What! Shit!” He huffed. “Didn’t mean to sleep that much.” Scrubbing a hand over his face he sat up and pulled Lily into his arms, the child hugging her dad dad. “Did you get a nap?”

“Sort of, this one crashed out for about two hours. We snuggled.” She helped him to his feet and went to make tea as he wandered into the kitchen, Lily curled in, that wonderful cookie smell still lingering on the air.

“Damn those look good.” He said to Brendan at the sight of the chocolate coated Chokladbiskvier.

“These are for us, I packed up the rest for the party already.” Brendan said quietly.

“I can have one?” Gustaf grinned at him like the big kid he was at heart.

“Yeah.” B chuckled shyly, the teen was still getting used to having free reign of the kitchen.

“Yeah?” His eyes sparkled as Brendan pushed the plate over to him. Instead of taking one or two, Gustaf grabbed the entire plate and took it to the table.

“I meant one cookie.” Brendan laughed.

“Ahhh but you didn’t stipulate. I’m taking one. One plate, that just happens to have all the cookies on it.” He bundled the kid into him for a hug. “They look and smell divine. I won’t eat them all I promise.” He chuckled.

“You have to watch this one.” Sildie said to Brendan as she brought the teapot to the table.

“Apparently.” The kid laughed and hugged Gustaf tightly.

“Go take a shower and get cleaned up, make sure you’re packed for tonight.” Sildie said gently. “Finn, Liam, you too. Finish up your game, go pack and get cleaned up.”

“Mum mums cracking the whip.” Gustaf mumbled to Lily, kissing the girls head as he snagged a cookie.

“I heard that.” She scoffed and stared at him, the cheeky twinkle in his eyes made her smirk as she poured the tea.

“Keykey.” Lily chattered to Gustaf, her little hand squeezing in and out of a fist at the cookies.

“You want one?” Gustaf handed her half a cookie and she demolished it. “Chocolate fiend.”

“You good with her while I go shower?” Sildie said sipping her tea.

“Sure.”

“No more cookies.” She chuckled as that little hand reached out for another.

“I don’t blame her they’re really good.” He kissed Lily’s head and pushed the cookies away from her. He needed to stop eating them too or he’d end up the size of a house.

Sildie showered and dressed, hiding a new set of black lace under her dress. It was a simple figure hugging black wrap dress with a plunging neckline and knee high skirt, enough to have her man drooling before she set foot out the door. She topped it off with a string of moonstone beads.

“I’m going to take Lily’s por...” His sentence stopped there as he laid eyes on her, all wrapped up in black velvet.

“Going to take Lily’s what? Where?” She smirked biting her bottom lip wickedly.

He stalked across the floor, those long powerful legs eating up the hardwood flooring. Gripping her chin gently he looked at her, those ice blue eyes finding his from under her lashes. “That’s a very dangerous game to play kitten.” He growled, that low rumble making her pussy ache for him. His kiss was slow and sensual, yet demanding, his thumb gently prying her lip free from between her teeth. “One day you’ll tease me once too often.” He warned. Oh how he wanted it to be tonight, he thought, silently begging her to do it again.

She felt the power ripple off him, his presence unmistakable raw domination and she loved playing this game with him. Would he spank her tonight if she pushed him, she wondered? Her body betrayed her as a shiver skittered over her.

His low chuckle against her lips told her it hadn’t gone unnoticed. “Finish getting ready kitten, I need to take Lily’s portable crib upstairs.” He murmured, lips ghosting hers seductively before he devoured her mouth, leaving her breathless. “I can’t wait to taste you.” He purred as he pulled away from her.

He left her dazed as he walked out of the room chuckling. Collecting Lily’s crib and the boys overnight bags he headed to his fathers. This would be a New Years she wouldn’t forget in a hurry, he’d make damn sure of it. A night to leave all the shitty bits of the past twelve months behind them and start fresh tomorrow.

By the time Gustaf came back for a shower the boys were dressed, and Lily had her sunflower dress on. It was a favorite of his, something he’d found on sale before Christmas and bought it on a whim. Simple yellow gingham with embroidered sunflowers along the hem, perfect for his little ray of sunshine.

She couldn’t help it. Biting down on her bottom lip she groaned softly as Gustaf came out of the bedroom a while later in black thigh hugging denim and a crisp white shirt. His eyes met her across the tops of the boys heads and she saw the smirk twitch at his lips, he knew what that shirt did to her. Moving over to her he pocketed his phone and keys before brushing her blood red stained lips with his thumb, prying it from her teeth again. “I’m not beyond putting you over my knee tonight kitten.” He growled before kissing her, slow and erotic as her system trembled. “Mmmm, you like the sound of that don’t you.” It wasn’t a question, because he knew damn well what the thought of it did to her.

“We need to go.” She choked, breathless and wanting.

“Yes we do.” He kissed her sweetly. “Were not done.” He growled as her finger trailed the patch of chest peeking out of his dress shirt. “Nowhere near done.”

“You’re not playing fair.” She murmured.

“All bets are off tonight kitten.” He nipped her ear playfully. “Nothing I do to you tonight will be fair, but you’ll be begging me to do it over and over again.” He added before stepping away and picking Lily up. “Well don’t you look like the little ray of sunshine you are.” He said kissing the girl until she giggled while Sildie attempted to get her hormones under control. Damn he knew how to get her going, and that shirt, she wasn’t going to be able to keep her hands off him.

They locked up the apartment and climbed in the elevator, Liam pushing the button to Stellan’s floor. “I like this dress.” Gustaf whispered, his hand cupping her ass giving it a squeeze.

“Then you’ll love what’s under it.” She purred, those eyes so seductive as he chuckled before kissing her.

“Fuck I love you.” He grinned, kissing her hard as the doors opened, that wicked smile of hers making his cock throb.

The front door was wide open, Megan greeting them and getting the kids settled, Lily was determined to stay with Gustaf for the moment and snuggled into his neck. Sweet girl I know how you feel, Sildie thought, that’s where I want to be snuggled right now too. Truth be told she wanted to get her hands on him and under that shirt, and he smelled so damn good, pure freshly showered male. With a squeeze of Gustaf’s hand she ventured into the kitchen with Brendan and the cookies, Eija wrapping the kid in an excited hug. Here we go, she thought, jump in the deep end, sink or swim with his family, because she couldn’t stay glued to Gustaf every time she was around them.

“You and I need to talk Kladdkaka.” She said lifting the lid of the container holding the cookies, snagging one and biting down. “God yes, and these.”

“About what?” Brendan asked looking slightly puzzled.

“If it’s ok with your mum I want to hire you to bake for my Sunday brunches.” She said digging out another cookie.

“For real?” Brendan’s eyes went wide as dinner plates.

“For reals kid. My brother told me you were good so I took a full Kladdkaka home with me from Christmas Day and fed it to my staff just to be sure. They asked when your first shift was.” Eija chuckled.

“But what about school and hockey?” He looked at Sildie for some help, way out of his depth, but not wanting to blow this chance.

“I think we can work something out.” Eija said gently. “We can do just the Sunday brunches for the moment, get your feet wet, see how you like it, how you go when school starts up. I can send you the order Monday, you send me the list of ingredients I’ll have them delivered. Don’t change anything from what you use now, that’s what makes it yours and special. Same brands, same everything, don’t change a thing. I was thinking you could cook Saturday and then let me know when they’re done and I’ll pick them up.”

“Every Saturday?” Brendan asked and felt his heart sink.

“No, we can do one weekend a month to start. I don’t want it to be too much. And the bonus is I’ll pay you.”

“Like a job?”

“Like a job dude.” She chuckled.

“Sick.” Brendan looked at Sildie. “Can I? Please?” Sildie could see him holding his breath, the excitement at the offer, his body vibrating.

“A few conditions. School comes first, your grades drop, you’re done. Just like hockey.” She said bluntly.

“No argument from me on that one.” Eija said honestly. “Your grades drop kid, I’ll kick your ass myself.”

“Ok, I figured that was a given.” Brendan chuckled.

“Eija’s the boss. You don’t get to tell her what you’re baking, she tells you.” Brendan nodded. “Half your pay goes into the bank, no exceptions. The other half you can save and spend on whatever you like, within reason.” She smiled at him. “Other than that if you want to give it a try, then do it. If you want to think about it, then take some time to think on it. It’s a huge deal, be sure it’s what you want before committing to it. That makes it fair for Eija as well.” She watched him chew on it. The kid wasn’t impulsive to start with, but she wanted to be sure he was thinking about things before making a decision.

“Can I think about it Aunty Eija?” He asked quietly.

“Of course.” She elbowed him playfully. “And it’s just Eija, the Aunty thing makes me feel old.” She chuckled.

“Oh, sorry.” He cringed, feeling he fucked up his chances right off the mark.

“It’s fine kid.” She hugged him tightly. “You weren’t to know.”

“I should have asked first.” He mumbled and Sildie ran her fingers through his hair to soothe.

“It’s ok love she’s not angry.” Sildie said softly.

“Live and learn slick. I don’t hate it, it just makes me feel old, like my brother.” She chuckled. “Alex is a dinosaur.” She said loudly, knowing her brother on the other side of the room heard it as his head snapped to her grinning, Brendan couldn’t stop the snort. “That’s just between you and me by the way.” She chuckled and smiled as the kid lightened up.

Valter came past and hijacked their conversation, stealing the teen away so he could help kick Finns ass.

“He’s a good kid.” Eija said when it was just the two of them, handing Sildie some champagne.

“Not for me, I don’t drink.” At least not anymore and especially when there was a gorgeous man in a white dress shirt just across the room making eyes with her. She wanted to be stone cold sober when he fucked her tonight, she wanted to remember it all. “He is. Brendan’s been through a lot, took a lot on when Quinn passed. They’ve never had aunts and uncles, grandparents. It’s all new for them. Your brother gave him back his childhood, and a family.” She said quietly and cracked the seal on a bottle of water, emotions bubbling up.

“Goose is a special guy.” Eija’s honesty struck a chord in Sildie’s heart.

“He sure is.” Sildie said wistfully as she watched Gustaf, that lean body moving so gracefully. His gaze eventually caught hers from across the room, probably sensing she was watching him. Biting down gently on her bottom lip she smirked as the fire lit in his eyes, could feel the growl ripple from him silently, her finger twirling the string of beads around her neck.

He had to check the audible growl, the overwhelming urge to storm over there, strip her down to the black lace he knew was under that plush velvet dress, and spank her until she screamed, begged him to take her.

“I’m glad he met you.” Eija said softly.

“He makes me ridiculously happy, makes the kids happy.” Sildie smiled.

“He deserves someone like you, Sildie. Someone that loves him for who he is, not what his occupation is, or who he can connect them with.” Eija’s voice caught with emotion. She knew her brother had struggled, with addiction, with Ana, with anxiety and anger. He’d finally met someone that loved him for everything he was and more.

“He’s a very sweet soul.”

“I heard about your work party.” Eija said carefully. “Gustaf talked to me, in case anything gets dragged up in the media.” She added seeing the anger flare in Sildie’s eyes, nervous fingers tapping the island countertop.

“Fair enough.” She banked the fury, this whole Ana thing was bigger than her and Gustaf, it touched this entire family, she thought as she looked at Alex. She had to remember that.

“For what it’s worth I’m sorry.” Eija said quietly.

“Eija you have absolutely nothing to apologize to me for. Or like Gustaf likes to tell me, you don’t get to apologize for her. Ever.”

“Well if you need a hand burying the body let me know, I’ll grab the shovel.”

Sildie snorted. “Gustaf was right, we are so alike.”

“Nobody fucks with my brothers, especially Goose. He’s been through too much.” Eija was scrappy, and that’s what Sildie liked about her. She spoke her mind, told it to you straight, no bullshit, and no fucks given if it hurt your feelings. And she was fiercely protecting of her brothers, especially Gustaf. “Is your friend going to be ok?” She asked. Sensitive and emotional under it all, but fierce. “The lawyer?”

“I don’t know, the last I heard from Lucas she was out on bail, I don’t know when or if a court date has been set yet with all the holidays. I’m hoping it’s just a quick hearing and he can move on.”

“Will you keep me in the loop?” She asked.

“Sure, as much as I can. Lucas can’t tell me much as it’s an ongoing investigation, but if I hear anything I can text you.” She studied Eija. “You want to see her go down in court don’t you?”

“You bet your fine ass I do.” Her tone full of fire. “I want to see her fucking face when karma pays that bitch a visit.”

“No outbursts, no contact, no disruptions. If you do it could hurt Lucas and potentially drag Gustaf and yourself into the middle of it.”

“You’re right. You’re absolutely fucking right.” She sighed. “Damn it.”

“That’s what she’ll be trying to do. She wants a reaction, don’t give her one. Promise me Eija, or you’ll get no updates from me.” Eija could see she wasn’t fucking around. “It can get much worse from here, for you, Gustaf, me, my kids, I’m trying to stop that from happening.” Sildie needed to reign Eija in, if not things could get complicated.

“I promise. I want to know what’s going on but yeah, I get what you’re saying.” She looked at Sildie and saw the fear her brother had mentioned. “She won’t get near your kids Sildie. Goose won’t allow it.”

“I know, I’m more worried about what it’ll do to him.” She said softly, the terrified look in his eyes that morning he’d had the nightmare haunted her. “I can’t watch her shit storm take that peace he’s fought so hard for from him too.” Sildie looked at her and had to say it, just to be absolutely clear. “Don’t make me lawyer you. Because I’ll do it to protect those I love Eija, including you, especially your brother. He’s gone through too much to carve that bitch out of his soul, I don’t want this thrown in his face more than it has to be.” Memories of Gustaf burning the notebook flittered into her mind, the baby bootie.

“I don’t want this to hurt my brother either. You have my word, I’ll behave. I just want to see her go down.” Eija promised.

“I’ll see what I can do when or if it goes to trial. At the moment it’s just between Ana and Lucas. With a bit of luck we’ll be left out of it.” Wishful thinking, Sildie thought, but she had to hold onto something.

“Sounds good to me. Goose was right, you’re scary as fuck when the lawyer comes out.” Eija grinned.

“Oh, I can be scarier.” Sildie stated bluntly. “Gustaf knows just how scary.” She added thinking back to the night in his workout room where he’d spiraled and she’d let him have it.

“No doubt.” The muttered reply making Sildie smirk.

He watched her as she spoke to his sister, happy that they seemed to get along, admired Sildie for having the balls to clear the air with Eija on Christmas Day, that hadn’t been easy. His woman in black velvet, curves on full display, the way her fingers toyed with that damn necklace. She caught him staring, the shy smile with a hint of the erotic goddess he knew was under it all.

“You’re so fucking gone over her.” Bill snorted, playfully punching him in the shoulder.

“Yeah.” His goofy grin said it all, totally smitten. “And this one.” He added, as he picked Lily up when she wandered over to grab him by the leg. “My Lily bear.”

“She’s the cutest thing.” Alex said, coming over to stand with them. Lily eyed him and snuggled into her dad dad, she still wasn’t too sure of the oldest brother. She would be with time, Alex was just never home long enough for her to get used to him.

Sildie watched as Gustaf put Lily down, Oona waddling over and grabbing his leg, the two girls dancing and bopping at his feet. Her heart melted as he took a hold of Sam’s three month old, his hands dwarfing the baby, but it was his face that sucker punched her. Gustaf sat and cradled the baby, joy and adoration pouring from him. Did she want that with him, could she give that to him, she wondered, as the all familiar questions kept repeating in her mind like a cracked record?

They spent the early part of the evening apart, Sildie was determined not to hang on Gustaf like a lost puppy. She was a lawyer damnit and this was just his family. She had to get used to being around them, with them, and without Gustaf as a safety net. There would be times he would be away and they would visit, and she wanted to be comfortable visiting them, with or without the kids.

She smiled as Alex walked over and put Eija in a loving headlock, she missed that playfulness you could only get with a sibling. The both of them keeping her entertained and helping her to relax. Alex was reliving an exceptionally funny story when Gustaf caught her eye, that smoldering look that had her almost crossing her legs as her pussy throbbed. His gaze raked over her body, undressing her as it went, the heat rising in her. How did he do that, she wondered? Not to be outdone she nibbled on her bottom lip and saw the desire flash in his stare. Running her tongue over her lips she swore she heard his groan before he whipped out his phone. A moment later her text tone went off.

You’re playing a dangerous game kitten, unless you’re begging me to put you over my knee and spank you with an audience you need to stop.

She could practically hear the growl as the words leapt off her screen. Looking at him from under her lashes she bit her lip again and twirled a finger around the moonstone beads.

Promise?

She texted back and grinned wickedly.

He had to check the groan at her words, his cock twitching, he wasn’t going to make it until midnight if she kept up with her current sinful teasing, he was uncomfortably hard in his jeans as it was. Trying to have a conversation with his family while hiding a massive boner was difficult. Sitting on the arm chair he half tuned into the conversation, half watched his seductive goddess move through the room. Those curves, that mane of silk copper, those cherry red lips he wanted around his cock. The sight of her was seduction enough.

He watched her talk with his father, the slight shift in her emotions clear to him, but not anyone else. She was trying so hard to put her grief behind her and have a good night, making the effort to get to know his family where most others hadn’t bothered to take the time. First rule of the new year, he thought, love this woman with every part of my soul, every second of every day, show her how incredible she is.

“I’m sorry I upset you the other day.” Stellan said gently as he grabbed Sildie another water.

“You didn’t. I’m still processing a lot of grief, it gets in the way sometimes. If anything I’m the one that should be apologizing for running out of there so quickly, it was rude.” She’d felt bad after he’d helped them move the display cabinet that day.

“No need. You’re still finding your feet after the rug was ripped out from under you. It couldn’t have been easy with four kids on top of it.” Stellan watched her carefully, he didn’t want to dive into it too much and have her freak out.

“It’s no picnic.” She said softly.

“It’ll settle, give it time, lean on Gustaf, on us. We’ll do everything we can to make things easier on you and the kids, especially when Gustaf’s away. Anytime, day or night, Megan and I are just a short elevator ride away and she works from home most of the time.”

“Thank you.”

“I know Gustaf’s said it and I’ll say it too, you’re not alone anymore Sildie. This family sticks together, we help each other out. Sure we bicker and fight, but when we need to we rally, no questions, no judgement.” Stellan pulled Megan over for a kiss before they settled into a conversation about safer topics, his statement resonating with her, family, support, love.

She could see the pride Stellan had for his kids, what they’d accomplished, the lives each one of them had carved out for themselves. In the short time she’d been with his family, Gustaf resembled Stellan the most. That same warmth and kindness she felt with Gustaf she felt from Stellan, the apple hadn’t fallen far from the tree. As they talked and each sibling drifted in and out of the conversation she realized how much she’d missed out on growing up, how much she missed her brother, her parents. The slow seduction from across the room throughout the night was tantalizing. Those subtle suggestive looks, the nibble of her bottom lip, the flirtatious knowing smirk he’d give her as he blatantly undressed her with his eyes. It wasn’t until 11:30 and the younger kids had gone to bed, that Gustaf stole her away from talking to his father to dance, Stellan grinning as Gustaf waltzed her around the room.

“It’s a promise kitten.” He growled at her ear as he pulled her close and swayed, the soft jazz filling the apartment. “The things I’m going to do to you.” He dipped her slowly and kissed her throat. “I should punish you for tormenting me from across the room too.” His tone was that seductive timbre that made her pussy throb. “My sex kitten in black velvet.”

She bit down on her bottom lip to push the issue and he gripped it hard, borderline painful. It always amazed her at how he managed to skate that line between pleasure and pain so deftly. Still dancing he kissed her, slow, sensual, devouring. “Don’t push me kitten.” He purred, his lips ghosting hers as he let her chin go, fingers trailing her body to wrap around hers. “You may get more than you bargained for tonight.”

“God I hope so.” She purred, those ruby red painted lips kissing that one spot on his neck that turned him to mush. “I want to feel you daddy.” She whispered.

“We’re leaving the minute after the new year.” He dipped her again. “Because I can’t wait much longer to have you. Dancing and teasing is one thing, but I want you bound and begging.” He kissed her, tongue teasing hers. “And you will be begging.”

“You keep kissing me like that and we’re not going to make it home.” She muttered as he held her close. His low chuckle rumbled from deep within his chest.

“You’ll make it home, I don’t want an audience when I fuck you slowly until you scream my name.” He felt the shiver ripple through her body, now doubt in his mind she’d be wet for him. “I’m going to take my time with you, tie you up, take you apart an orgasm at a time.” His kiss was slow and sinful and if he kept talking to her like this she was going to orgasm right in the middle of the party. “Mmm you like the sound of that don’t you kitten?”

“You know I do.” Her gaze found his, the seductive blue looking back.

“Just say the word and we’ll go.” He smirked, knowing she’d want to dance some more and see midnight, time was it’s own seduction. He twirled her around the room, content to feel her let go and have fun. This was the happiest and most carefree he’d ever seen her.

“I see where you get your jazz gene from.” She chuckled, she had to change the topic or she’d embarrass herself. “Your dad has good taste in music, that’s what we’re were talking about before you whisked me away.” She laughed as he dipped her low.

“Fuck me I love that laugh.” He murmured, his lips grazing her temple as he grinned like a fool. “Dad and I are a lot alike.”

“You are. You have the same smile.” She said softly and kissed those lips she craved. “The same kindhearted soul.” He looked at her, eyes drowning in hers.

“It takes like souls to see each other.” He tucked a wave of copper behind her ear. “I love you.”

“I love you too sweet man.”

Gustaf closed his eyes and swayed with her, the joy and happiness on her face as he held her close, the tender touches as they talked and got lost in each other. He was, as Bill had put it, gone over her, so completely. This was what he wanted of for her, the happy bubble, he’d see she got more of it.

“My Sildie.” He murmured as the countdown to midnight started. “You’re the best thing to come into my life.” He rested his forehead against hers.

“Thank you for walking into mine, into ours, you are my everything love.” She felt so at peace with him, the world on the cusp of a new year, new beginnings, a fresh start. As the clock chimed midnight he kissed her, slow and long, a silent promise that he would take care of her, take care of the kids, become the family he so desperately wanted with her, and they so desperately needed from him.

“Sweet man, I love you.” She whispered, before deepening the kiss. She wanted him, this, family, the feeling of being loved for who she was, baggage and all.

“I love you too.” He squeezed her tightly and danced her around the room. “Now those are the best first words of the new year.” He chuckled and dipped her, that laugh making him deliriously happy.

“There’s so much love in this room.” She said softly as they swayed, the slower song drifting them along with it.

“As family should be love.” He smiled kissing her head and breathing in her scent.

“Thank you.” She murmured.

“What for?”

“For giving me a family.” She whispered and closed her eyes, the stray tears falling as he danced with her cheek to cheek.

“Don’t cry love.” He kissed each cheek, the saltiness of her tears making his heart break.

“Sorry, they’re mostly happy tears.” She chuckled.

“It’s ok to miss them love.” He murmured kissing her tenderly. She was happy, yes, but the undercurrent of grief made things more difficult for her.

“I just hate when it bubbles up like this.”

“Better it bubbling up than holding it in.” He said gently, which he knew she did on a daily basis. She held so much of it in it was a wonder she could hold it together at all, he’d be a wreck. “Talk to me love.” He leaned back slightly as they continued to dance so he could see her face. “It’s New Year’s Eve, air out the mental laundry.” Her laugh was more a snort.

“I wouldn’t even know where to begin.” She scoffed

“Try.” He whispered before dipping her low.

“It sounds silly.” And she wasn’t sure of what his reaction would be.

“So let it sound silly.”

@hausofobsession @ill-skillsgard @grandpa-sweaters @authentic90skidd @tuckersgirl @fairlyfallacy @flowers-in-your-hayr @raewritesfiction @stinkerbelle007 @kamie-b @mrsaugustwalker @skrsgardspam @loliwrites @trippedmetaldetector @lihikainanea @fay-walden @nandadb

#gustaf skarsgard #shattered lives #gustaf skarsgard fanfiction

7 notes · View notes

nalulovelife · 3 years

Text

Secret Santa for @petri808 !

I’m soooo sorry this is late! I was really trying to cram a lot in, and I bit off a bit more than I could chew. So, I really put my heart and soul into this fic! It’s Christmas related and really fun. It is a modern AU, but I suppose you can interpret some things differently and make it in their time. I hope you like it!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Christmas Cuddles 🥰

Natsu promised! He promised to be home by Christmas. But low-and-behold, he’s not here. Ughh...I’m sure you’re confused, maybe just a bit, but let me take you back to the beginning of the week, the 21st, when all this drama started...

I quickly shot open my eyes at the sudden loud noise that arouse from behind me. I’m generally not a light sleeper, I don’t wake up easily at all, but this noise freaked. me. out. Even though my eyes had shot open, they were still heavy and droopy. I sat up almost immediately and grabbed whatever was in my reach.

“Who’s there!” I yelled, but in a mildly croaky, I-just-woke-up, voice. I had grabbed the big, fluffy pillow I was sleeping on and pointed it at the window behind me. It was silent for a moment and I thought ‘well, maybe it was just a dream’ as I was about to reset my pillow in its rightful position, I heard a stifled noise.

“Pffffftttttt!!” The noise sounded. I squinted at the figure that had opened my window and was sitting on the window sill. Only ONE person would do that, well, him, and his crazy blue cat.

“Wha- Natsu! What are you- It’s 1:00 in the morning!” I yelled at him, his voice finally breaking out into high pitched laughter. He clung onto the window above him with his hands, laughing hard enough to which he had to. I groaned and rolled my eyes, laying back down and covering my face with my fluffy pillow. Once he calmed down, he finally spoke.

“C’mon, Luce! It’s all just fun and games!”

“Not when someones braking in!” I yelled at him through my pillow. He stood, more like sat, in silence for a while - as did I. I quietly stared at the pillow covering my face, waiting for him to do something. I waited a few more minutes, still in complete silence. Then I heard him moving. I could feel him staring at the pillow above my face, as he did this often. W-well, I don’t cover my face w-with pillows like, all the time, he just stares at my face a lot while I’m sleeping! Now that just makes him sound like a stalker..! Well, back to reality. I then felt the pillow move, just slightly, before it was lifted from my face. My hands were like noodles, they slid off the pillow quite easily. He threw the pillow from his hands onto the floor. We were staring at one another, eyes agape. I was laying down on my bed, and he was hanging on my bed frame - like a child, might I add - in front of the window he was just hanging on. He began to lean down, - I have no idea how, but he did - as I began to lean upward, propping up my elbows on my bed. We became close enough, close enough to feel each others mild breath on each others skin. In a boldly fast, yet, hot, move, he kissed me. Of course, who was I to oppose. It was a light and gentle kiss, but full of passion. It was just one kiss, then we pulled away. He did some weird maneuver, then plopped down next to me on my bed. He let out this big, disgusting, yawn, I scoffed at his boyishness.

“So, what’s up Luce?” Natsu spoke grinning at me.

“Ugh your disgusting.”

“Tell that to the cute smile on your face.” Natsu backed talked, making me realize my ginormous smile that had crept up on my face. I blushed momentarily, but when I saw him blushing, I laughed, I realized what he said.

“Did you...Did you just say that I was cute..?” I smiled, teasing him.

“Ummmmm...No? Yeah, no. No. No no no no-”

“Yes you did!”

“No I didn’t!”

“Yes you did, and don't you say you didn’t!” We bantered back and forth, laughing when we were done. He gave me a peck on the cheek, and we both settled down a bit.

“So, where’s happy? You’re always, like, walking him or carrying him around in a matching backpack.” I spoke as I laughed.

“Oh, he’s sleeping. I want him rested in the car ride for the trip, or else he's gonna be a cranky kitty!” Natsu spoke in a little baby voice - more like kitty voice. I was a little confused, however.

“Trip? What trip?” I asked Natsu, confused.

“Oh, yeah. That’s what I was coming to talk to you about...” Natsu spoke, losing the happiness in his voice, sounding very lets-get-to-buisness.

“Uh, ok?” I said, kinda weirded out.

“So, work called. They said I need to check out some business thingy over in Clover. It’ll be a ton of meetings and it’s very urgent, apparently.” Natsu spoke. I suddenly had this feeling of dread and sadness crawl up my spine and into my shoulders.

“Clover?! B-but Clover is 9 hours away! Natsuuuu!” I yelled in annoyance. He very rarely has work complications, and especially not during the holidays. He’s even off on Christmas!

“Luce, I know your upset-”

“No! You can’t call me “Luce” right now! You’re being a...a...a butt-head!!” I yelled at Natsu. He looked at me a caressed my cheek with his soft palm. I calmed down instantly. Damn that ass knows how to push my buttons!

“Luce, I know your upset, and we have plans for Christmas, but I promise, I promise promise promise I’ll be back for Christmas Eve. At the absolute latest, 12:00 on Christmas morning. We’ll have Christmas cuddles on Christmas! Lucy, I promise...” Natsu spoke softly. I tried to keep it together. I wouldn't meet his eyes.

“S-so, w-when do you leave...?” I asked, obvious sadness in my voice.

“My plane leaves early tomorrow morning. I can stay the night if you want.” Natsu spoke, still in his soft, calming voice. I finally met his eyes and pulled out a tiny smile.

“O-ok” I spoke. He hugged my waist and we laid down together, cuddling.

“You promise?” I asked, my eyelids becoming heavy again against his hot torso.

“Yeah, Luce. I promise it’ll be the best Christmas ever-” I fell asleep, as he paused his speech. I heard a light chuckle.

“Night, Luce. Love you.”

‘Love you too.’ I spoke in my head.

Early Morning - Dec. 22nd

I woke up the next morning at 8:00, and hour later than usual. Damn Natsu, probably kept me awake too long.

“Natsu! You kept me up-” I paused. He wasn’t there. My eyes made their way into a frown. He was gone. He had left. Without saying goodbye, well, at least to my conscious mind. I rubbed my eyes and glanced over to where he had been sleeping. I saw a slightly crumbled piece of paper, he probably got it from my notebook. I turned it over and read his note. It was simple. The usual “I’m sorry, Goodbye, Love you” thing that guys - and girls - do in movies when their leaving. Usually, they don’t come back. I decided to text Levy, to see if we could hang out, maybe do some late Christmas shopping. She agreed, and we were off about an hour later. We ran into a lot of the other girls there, and we started hanging out with them too. It was a great way to occupy my time. I even got Natsu a little something, I know he’ll love it.

Afternoon - Dec. 23rd

Today is present wrapping day. I thought I would invite the girls over again and make a day of it, they were a great distraction last time, but today their all spending time with their boyfriends. Soooo...It’s just me and Plue, he’s the cutest dog ever! I tried texting and calling Natsu this morning, but it didn’t deliver, he’s most likely in a rural part of Clover, they have NO service there whatsoever. All I just keep thinking about is Natsu! He leaves occasionally for longer periods of time and I do just fine! So, why am I like this now?

“Ugghhhhh!!” I sighed.

“Boys are so stupid!”

Late Afternoon - Dec. 24th

I scrummaged through my closet to find the dress I had bought two days ago. It was perfect for this Christmas party Gramps was hosting at his giant academy. Gramps made this great academy for training of certain talents, that’s where all my girlfriends - and Natsu - and I all met! They’re my closest and best friends. We’ve been there for years, well, our studies actually ended there a while ago, but Gramps actually shut down the place because he liked us so much. Gramps is the best. It sucks that Natsu isn't here, he and gramps have a great connection. He’d also gets hella crazy and rambunctious, his specialty. I was in the middle of changing in my bedroom when I heard a knock at the door. Levy said she’d be coming to pick me up so I assumed it was her.

“Come in! I’m almost ready!” I yelled. I heard the door open and close.

“Good, cuz we’re- OH MY GOD!!” A voice yelled, an almost masculine voice. I looked up.

“OH MY GOD! Gray!! Turn around!!” I yelled at Gray, who was really embarrassed. Hell, I have the right to be more embarrassed than him! He’s the one who saw me in my bra and underwear.

“Gray! I am so so so so so so sorry!! I thought you were Levy!”

“U-um I-It’s ok...I should’ve...announced myself.” Gray said. I was trying to zip up my gorgeous red dress, but it wasn't working.

“shit...” I mumbled.

“What’s wrong?” Gray asked with concern.

“Nothing...It’s just... I can’t zip up my dress. Could you...maybe...help?” I asked awkwardly.

“U-um are you dressed?” Gray asked, also awkwardly. I sat in silence for a moment, dumbfounded by his stupidity.

“Well, if I’m asking you to zip up my dress, then what the hell do you think?” I asked Gray. He cautiously turned around and walked towards me. I turned around and moved my hair. He was still awkward. Boys are so bizarre. Gray also went to Gramp’s academy.

“A-alright. You’re all zipped up!” Gray spoke. I turned around and looked at Gray. He looked surprisingly nice, and he hadn’t stripped yet! Although, he was missing his tie. I chuckled.

“Gray? Where’s your tie?” I asked, still laughing a bit.

“Uhh yeah. Juvia...sort of...tried to tie me- she just took it.” I laughed more at Grays predicament.

“Levy’s here, by the way. She’s driving. She just asked me to get you.” Gray spoke as he lead me out of my apartment. I glanced at my phone; I felt a buzz in my hand. I looked at it with hope in my eyes, wishing it to me Natsu. However, it wasn’t. It was some notification from the local library. My eyes became filled with disappointment.

“Hey, Gray?” I spoke.

“Whats up?”

“Have you...Have you heard from Natsu at all?” I asked with hope streaming through my voice.

“W-well um no n-not really...?” Gray spoke, but in a jittery sort of way.

“Wait! Has he reached out to you?! Is he on his way? Will he be here in time? Is he o-”

“Lucy! He will be here. Just...trust me.” Gray interrupted me. We moved in silence until we reached Levys car. Gray opened the door for me.

“Hey Lev!” I yelled to her.

“Hey Lu!” She yelled back. My question to her was the same as my question to Gray.

“Soooo...Any word from Natsu? Has Gajeel heard anything?” I asked, again, with way too much hope in my voice.

“I’m sorry Lu, but neither of us have. He’ll show up though! I just know it!” Levy spoke to me in her usual bubbly voice. But if he’s not here yet, and no one’s heard from him, then chances aren’t likely that he’ll be here intimate for Christmas.

“If he’s not at the party by 11:00, then you can come crash with me. Maybe the girls would like to join!” Levy spoke with excitement. I smiled, a Christmas sleepover with the girls sounded awesome.

“Ok, thanks Lev”

_______________________________________________________

“So...that’s the story. And now it’s 10:45, still no word from Natsu, and I’m depressed...” Lucy spoke with sadness. All the girls looked at her with sadness in their eyes, but also with a consoling touch to make Lucy feel better.

“Awwwee...I’m so sorry Lu. At least we can have an awesome sleepover tonight at my place!” Levy spoke with excitement, again. All the girls loved the idea, and as did Lucy. That being said, all Lucy wanted to do was spend Christmas with Natsu.

“Ah, what the hell. If he’s not here for Christmas, screw em’! I don’t need that jerk! I’ve got you guys! Now, let’s get drunk and have the best Christmas hangover ever!” Lucy yelled with promise, snatching a beer from a waiter strolling through the party. All the girls looked at her with surprise.

“Hell ya! Now you’re talking my language, Lucy! WoooooHoooo!!” Cana yelled, drinking out of her huge barrel of beer.

“Cana! Don’t encourage her!” Mira yelled at Cana.

“And you know why...she can’t be hungover on Christmas. EEEHHHH It’s so exciting!!!!” Mira whispered at first, out of Lucys range of hearing, then yelled loudly, much to Lucy’s range of hearing. Everyone shhhed Mira.

“What’s exciting?” Lucy spoke, intrigued. All of the other girls facepalmed at Mira.

“O-oh just the epic sleepover we’re gonna have! Yay!” Mira spoke, saving the surprise. Lucy nodded at her good excuse, believing it.

“As excited as I am about about the sleepover, don't you guys all have boyfriends to cuddle with on Christmas?” Lucy asked, taking large sips of her beer. Cana took Lucys bottle of beer mid-sip.

“Hey!” Lucy yelled at Cana.

“You’re too much of a lightweight to be drinking on Christmas Eve, plus, we could be Christmas cuddling with our boyfriends, but trust me, it’ll all be worthwhile when tomorrow comes. And no one wants you drunk on Christmas, Lucy. That would suck!” Cana spoke to Lucy. Lucy smiled. Lucy was about to speak, to say a ‘Thank you’ but then Cana started chugging the beer Lucy had once been sipping on. Lucy decided not to pipe up. Just to relax, and spend time with the girls. They laughed and talked until 12:00, and then decided to start their sleepover. The girls said goodbye to their boyfriends, and went over to Levy’s place. They played weird Christmas games and laughed for hours. at 2:00 in the morning, Lucy was handed a glass of water from Mira.

“Have a sip!” Mira spoke. Lucy felt as though everyone was watching her take a drink. She grabbed the cup of water and took a sip, next thing she knew, she was out cold.

_______________________________________________________

Lucy yawned loudly as she slowly opened her eyes. She looked around where she was, and came to a realization.

“I’m in my house?! On my bed!?” Lucy yelled, very confused.

“Did my friends drug me?” She asked sarcastically. She knew her friends would never drug her, much less drug her then bring her back to her apartment, but it sure as hell felt like it. She sat up and looked around some more. She didn't see her friends. She was incredibly confused. She got up and decided to keep on her cute Christmas PJ’s. She walked around a bit, testing the waters to make sure she and the girls didn’t do some crazy shit. She sat back down on her bed, seeing that everything was ok. She grabbed her book from her nightstand and started reading. Only then did she realize...

“IT’S CHRISTMAS!!” She yelled, completely forgetting the date. Right as she was about to run into the living room, the heard a-

“Meooowwww~” Lucy turned her head to see a “happy” blue cat rubbing up against her leg.

“Happy!!!” She grabbed Happy and hugged him so tight against her face. Another realization hit.

“Wait a sec. If you’re here Happy, then-” Lucy stopped. She began running down the hall of her apartment, Happy cuddling up against her. She began to notice rose petals on the ground as she ran, however, the only thought on her mind was seeing Natsu.

“Natsu! Natsu are you there!?” She shouted as she ran. She was coming up on the living room.

“Natsu! Nat-” She paused. She stopped. Her whole world had stopped. She lightly dropped down Happy and covered her mouth with both hands. She started to tear up. In front of her, was all of her girlfriends, and all of her awesome guy friends standing around looking at her. And there was Natsu. Down on one knee, with a tiny red velvet box in his hand. Lucy fell to her knees. She started to cry.

“Lucy” Natsu spoke, with the absolute sweetest, calmest voice imaginable. Lucy was shaking, shivering, exhilarated.

“U-Um, I’ve...for” Natsu spoke, nervous and stuttering, Lucy chuckled at his nervousness. Gajeel and Gray kicked Natsu in the back to get him in the right headspace. Natsu used all his strength to keep from hitting them back, well, almost all his strength. He used a lot of it to get up the courage to actually propose. Natsu breathed in.

“Lucy, I’ve...I’ve loved you for my whole life. Well, not my whole life. I’ve only known you for a few years...b-but I’ve loved you ever since. First as a best friend, then quickly after, as a girlfriend. And now I-I hope I can love you...as my wife.” Natsu spoke, blushing and happy. Gray and Gajeel facepalmed. They had basically helped Natsu develop this big, sweet, speech(with the help of the girls), and he just skipped to the end. All the girls were teary eyed, though, especially Levy. Eventually the guys even smiled, happy for their friends. Lucy was crying along with the girls too. She couldn’t believe this was reality. She pinched her hand to see if it really was, and she was so so so so happy it was.

“Lucy...” Natsu spoke. Lucy was anticipating the big moment.

“Will you...marry me...?” It was silent for a moment. All that was in the air was the suspension affecting those whom were watching the proposal, and Natsu and Lucys eyes staring at each other for the longest time. Lucy arose to her feet, and walked close to Natsu. She then got back on her knees and caressed his cheeks, he was still holding the ring out.

“...yes...Yes! Yes yes yes yes!!!” Lucy screamed as she hugged Natsu. He hugged her back. Along with everyone else in the room, Natsu’s eyes started watering too. The pair started to kiss, everyone watching was just staring at them. After a few moments of them kissing, - with everyone still staring - someone spoke.

“Ummm we should probably leave them be.” Gray and Gajeel said in unison. Levys eyes watered magnificently.

“You ok, Lev?” Gajeel asked Levy.

“*sniff* yeah, just *sniff* happy for her.” Levy spoke. Gajeel lead her out of the apartment, hand on her back.

“Love you, Lu!” Levy spoke, before the two left the apartment. Just as they were about to leave, Gajeel and Levy heard Natsu mumble something in Lucys ear, then Lucy laughing, then them making out again. Gajeel shut the door. He put his arm around Levy.

“C’mon, shrimp. Let’s spend some time together.” Gajeel spoke. Levy nodded happily.

__________________________________________________

Lucy laid in bed, being cuddled and hugged by Natsu. She was staring at her hand, more so the gorgeous diamond that sat upon it. Natsu, noticing this decided to speak.

“You like it, huh?” Natsu asked snuggling Lucy even more and resting his head upon her shoulder.

“It’s beautiful...When did you get it? I never saw it. And I’m always snooping around your stuff.” Lucy smiled. Natsu chuckled at her cuteness.

“Well, I got it on that “business trip”.” Natsu put in quotations. Lucy turned her attention to Natsu, looking confused at him. Lucy had it written on her face: Natsu, explain.

“So, when was on the plane, it was announced that the meetings were cancelled, well, more so postponed. But since I was on the plane, I never got the notification. Once I got off, I tried to find another flight back to Magnolia, but they were all booked, so I couldn't fly out until the time in which the ticket I had bought said, which was late the 23rd. So I decided that I should wait it out. I was resting in my hotel that morning, and I fell asleep. Then I woke up from a dream. I quickly got out of bed and got dressed and headed to the ring store thingy. You see, I had been planning to propose to you for a few months, but I just didn’t know how to go about it or when to do it. My dream, crazy as it sounds, told me everything I needed to know. So I bought the perfect ring, that I knew you'd love, called the boys and told them to spread the plan, then the plan was to get on the plane and spend Christmas Eve with you, then propose. But my flight got delayed, and I didn't end up leaving until late the 24th. Luce, I’m sorry I wasn’t here. But, hey. At least you got one hell of a Christmas present.” Natsu explained. Lucy chuckled at his .

“Speaking of Christmas presents, I got you a little something.” Lucy spoke. She released herself from Natsu arms and pulled out a perfectly wrapped gift from under her, their, bed, and handed it to him. He opened it, smiling. Without finishing unwrapping it, he looked at it, and smiled more. It was a picture of the first time they met. They met outside of Gramp’s academy on their first day there, and back then, Levy was a vivid photographer, and she took pictures of everything. She took that picture of when they first, and gave it to Lucy for her to throw away, or keep, and Lucy kept it. She decided to Give it to Natsu since he never saw it before. He stared at the picture for a moment, then looked back at Lucy, who was looking at him. He kissed her, vigorously, for a while. They then cuddled for the rest of the night eventually falling asleep.

“See, Christmas cuddles...Luce...”

___________________________________________________

The End! I really hope you like it!

14 notes · View notes

afterthelastreset · 3 years

Text

Rules Of One’s Soul Ch18 Date P2

(mak belongs to @wasted-church )

The usual blurs of red and pink swirled around and the halls and into the minds of the common and wealthy around the dark world. Infecting their very consciousness on the drunken ecstacy of love so would it seem. The pheromones of roses and fine chocolates seemed endless wafing through the air as an endless stream of love poisoning. It was the grand reason for this very holiday.

Love.

Love can be a powerful thing can it not? He's seen people go to war for the ones they loved. He's seen people do terrible, horrible things in the name of love. It's a powerful emotion. So powerful they had a king named after it after all. But it wasn't just bad things. Good things came from it as well. He'd happily smile at the many happy couples and happy laughter of children running around throwing paper hearts at one another along the halls or happy squeals from the occasional hathy when they receive a love letter or confession from their lovers. It was a beautiful sight he wouldn't deny, but perhaps it might've been a bit much for him sometimes. But on the other hand-

He flipped his hair back and looked back into his mirror. Who could deny his looks? He was rather good looking compared to all the other darkners. Who else had flowing white glowing hair that delicately draped around his perfect eyes and fluttering lashes? Who else could say they had many admires willing to buy something they don't need just to be near him?....Perhaps King Diamonds, but respectfully he was a marvel in his own way. His scales usually sparkled brightly and being the richest of the four kings of course meant he'd have a fair amount of suitors himself hoping to get a piece of his riches and royal status. But the king couldn't compare to the likes of him in other ways. He didn't have the charm or grace he posessed surely. He didn't have the charisma or confidence, or the romantical know-how to woo the lady of his dreams.~ And he had chosen the perfect one to court. Sure. There a few.....difficulties.

One being that she was already courted and dare say.....already married to someone. In technicality he had already lost before he even began, which should've been enough of a red flag for him to stop while he was ahead. To stop himself from doing something stupid- But we all know how the saying goes.

Love is blind.

He had to tell her. Even if she never returned his affections. He could live with the rejection, but he couldn't just keep his emotions about this whole thing up any longer.

Her surprised face when he turned up with an assortment of roses he knew she would like. Smile on his features....A frown on her face and worry in her voice.

"Rouxls. You have to stop this. You don't understand what this could do. Do you understand me?"

"Rouxls?"

"ROUXLS KAARD!! YOU TRAITOROUS SCUM!!"

****************************************************************************

"Rouxls, Rouxls?"

The worm made a yelp sound and dropped what he had been previously holding. He fell backwards onto his rear and balls of yarn bounced near his feet before going to a stop. His lungs heaved in and out sucking in that sweet air and his eyes blinked blankly at nothing in particular- He flinched and snapped his head up when a hand gently gripped his shoulder, meeting the eyes of a concerned floating purple man who blinked back in confusion.

"Are you alright, alright?"

"W...Wha-," was all he could get out in his confused stupor.

"You looked frightened, frightened?" His head tilted to the side and blinked. "Like Lancer when his nightlight went out. Are you alright, alright?"

He froze when Rouxls pulled his shoulder away from him and averted his eyes. "I-...I willst best f-fine....Nothing that hasn't happened before."

Jevil's eyebrows rose. Nothing that hasn't happened before? Does he just freeze up every time someone asks him on a date? A pit of guilt suddenly made itself present in his stomach and his eyes widened in a sudden thought. Did-...Did he do something wrong? No, no. He couldn't have! He followed the steps Seam had told him to follow during their little truce. Professional, polite, helpful- Didn't he do everything right? ..Did those little remarks during candy picking sent him the wrong impression? Rouxls slowly shifted getting Jevil's attention directed back towards him. The worm slowly reached a hand out and shakily grabbed onto the counter the register sat upon, Jevil reached his hands out as if to help, but a blue hand was held up to stop him. Rouxls took a shaky breath in and released it slowly with a shudder, carefully pulling himself up to his feet. His legs felt like jello and he worried he might fall over again, but he put on a stern brave face and forced himself to stay still. He remained silent for a moment. ...Hands on the counter. Eyes closed. And taking a few deep breaths. Jevil watched it all with a very confused look....What was that all about?

Rouxls tilted his head down towards his feet silently, catching the attention of the floating clown. Staring at the few balls of yarn that he had dropped. Ever so silently, he slowly turned his body and reached down to pick up the wool strands off the floor. ".....I-" Jevil flinched at the eerily calm voice of the worm. Didn't he just have a scare a few moments ago? "-apologize for mine rude reaction. I amst usually not l-likest that around ....c-coworkers."

Jevil tilted his head. Coworkers? ....Oh. Lancer did give him his royal title of Court Jester back, he guessed that did make them coworkers. But wait. ....Did that mean that-? His stomach instantly dropped when the thought hit him. Did Rouxls not see him as anything but another co-worker? Is that why he never...returned his own affection because he saw their relationship as nothing but 'professional'?! Is THAT why he was so angry all the time? Because he always saw it as 'unprofessional behavior'?! His ears dropped as he looked back to the worm who had stood back up. He gave the yarn a tired look before turning back to the counter and setting them within their proper place silently.

"....Rouxls,Rouxls?"

He paused. "Yes, Jevil?

Rouxls gave a small look over his shoulder to address his attention to Jevil, who smiled weakly at him. "Um.....Did you hear , hear my question?...Question."

A pause-

Rouxls sighed. The kind of sigh that sounded tired and done. "Yes. Yes, Jevil. I did."

He gulped. "And...what does the Duke, Duke think?"

Silence.

".....I-" He looked back towards the counter. "I..think now may be a...n-not so good time to do anythinge of the sort. I-...I amst sor-"

He stopped when he felt something latch onto him. Freezing up on instinct. Soul starting to thump hard against his chest, something curled into his back and something muscular coiled his upper arm from behind. His body reacted in his pupils shrinking and his ears drooping....Something pressed into the back on his shoulder and..he slowly turned his head-

Jevil was- ....He was- Soul thumping hard- A flushed feeling washing over him. As Jevil....hugged(??) him. Well...maybe hugging. He was looking at him with a uncertain expression and his arm were around his upper back and tail found it's way around his upper left arm. The two stared at each other for a moment before Jevil cleared his throat.

"It...Looked like you could use a hug,hug." He dared to give a uncertain smile. "The young prince told me of your sadness, sadness....He told me a hug, hug always made you feel better."

Rouxls just stared at Jevil for a long moment. Just staring silently. Jevil's smile slightly faded, had he had something wrong, maybe he shouldn't have done this. But upon questioning the young boy about his father's habits, he said he always loved his hugs. Didn't he enjoy them from his destined soulmate too? "Heh" Jevil's train of thought was derailed when he heard that one small chuckle escape from the Duke's lips. Followed by another...And another- The duke chuckled to him self and shook his head, laying his upper body onto the counter by this elbows. A...smile on his face. And not the nervous kind!

"Thou art a funny man, Jevil." Another chuckle escaped from his mouth and one of his hands came up to rub over his face and push some of that snowy white hair away from his forehead. "I nay believe I'll ever understand thee but thou art a....undeterred little worm."

"...Does this mean Im forgiven, f-forgiven?" He took his face from his hands and turned to give Jevil that smile. The jester's soul thumped harder when he gave what he finally wanted.

A smile of true happiness.

"I supposeth so. Considering thou willst be more considerate to mine....p-personal pereferences?" Jevil was too eagerly to nod his head yes against Rouxls's shoulder, settling down into his space perched upon him and letting out a content purr sound. ..Which made the duke do a double take- The fool could PURR?! "...Art thou going to just stayest there for the rest of thine day?"

Jevil hummed cracking an eye open at him. "It depends, depends. Maybe I can be convinced to go somewhere else, else if my previous question is answered, answered."

A look of confusion is what he got. Question? WHat questi- Oh. ...Right. The thought of going on a date with anyone was enough to make him tired, but ...with Jevil? Well he guessed he should've seen it coming. Rouxls's had suspected Jevil had wanted to ask him to the ball from the very beginning, but a wrench was from into the works when Seam beat him to it-...Wait. Did that mean that Seam tricked him into inviting him?! That sneaking old cat! Oh he would definitely be having a talk with Seam later about this whole thing, but right now he had another thing to worry about. And the question that needs answering is....Would he do that?

One look in the jester's hopeful bright eyes and wagging end of his tail, compiled with the thrumming purring coming from his throat and nuzzling into his shoulder- ....His soul gave a throb and without a second of self control he gave possibly the greatest or worst answer he could have given.

"Yes."

He froze. There it was. All out without his control. Jevil on the other hand gasped, his mouth wide open, eyes widening until they looked like two golden coins against the black of the whites of his eyes. Before contorting his mouth into a happy smile, a happy whine escaping his throat, the end of his tail thumped relentlessly against part of his arm. By the way Jevil stared at him, you would think he just agreed to marry the fool. His smile became wider. Mind racing with: Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap, oh crap-

Ding!

The front door suddenly flew open and standing in the doorway was a common rudinn guard, he gave the two a confused look and they just stared back awkwardly. After a few seconds, Rouxls cleared his throat and gave the rudinn one of his signature smiles as a greeting.

"Greetings! I amst sorry but mine shop tis closed for restock and repairs. Funny that didst not deter thee.~ " He gave a small wink to the random guard who flushed a light green and stutter a small 'uh' to the Duke's flirtacious words. Jevil however gave them his own jealous filled glare. "Art thou one of mine admirers, Worm?~ ...ACK-"

Jevil climbed higher onto Rouxls shoulder and gave a hug that pressed both their cheeks together. "Hehehe. Im your admirer, admirer.~"

Rouxls gave a strained smile and cleared his throat again. "Thank thee Jevil, but I do believe this is unprofessional in front of mine dear customers." His voice sounded slightly irritated.

"Oh. But where's the fun, fun in that?"

Rouxls opened his mouth to speak, but that was cut short when he felt Jevil not so secretly place a kiss to his neck near his jaw line, staring at the Rudinn, who already looked weirded out enough as it was and only felt weirded, with a jealous narrowed glare. As if to dare the newcomer to just try something sneeky. ..What really resulted was the duke giving a high pitched girly squeal and a hand flying up to push the invader's face away from his. Jevil giggled at the new game of keep away and turned his face into the blue hand that was pushing his cheek and giving it a small peck. ROuxls gave an undignified yelp and pulled his hand away with a light blue already spreading across his face.

"Jevil you...you...SNAIL!," he yelled in a squeaky high pitched voice.

The Rudinn slowly slithered backwards out of the shop, the two arguing among themselves, they didn't notice the sound of the bell jingling or the sound of the door closing.

#fanfic #seaxls #seavil #jeam #nosuit #rouxlvil #rouxvil #rouxls kaard x seam #rouxls kaard x jevil #rouxls x jevil #rouxls x seam #seam x jevil #jevil x seam #jevil x rouxls #seam x rouxls #rouxls kaard #jevil #seam #deltarune

2 notes · View notes

kaistarus · 4 years

Text

Clickbait(YouTuberAU)--Chapter7

Pairings: kiribaku, tododeku

Words: 5,006

Summary: A lot of great things came with being a big name YouTuber, but along with those perks were some serious drawbacks. One of the biggest being your lack of personal privacy.

Due to just one video, Kirishima's least well-kept secret has become a viral sensation, and now he has to deal with the repercussions from both the YouTube community and the public. Hopefully, those he's dragging down with him won't mind...

Notes: I love these idiots so much:) this chapter made my soul happy lmao

Ready the whole thing here

Kirishima tapped his foot repeatedly against his bedroom’s carpeted floor while aggressively brushing his teeth. All his laundry was haphazardly strewn across his room in hopes of making an outfit decision easier. But in actuality, it left him staring at a zebra-striped tank top for twenty minutes confused why he owned it in the first place. The only progress made had been kicking his winter apparel into the far corner of his room to be dealt with who knew when and increasing his dental hygiene to a level his mom would finally be proud of. In other words, nothing that benefitted his date with Bakugou.

Kirishima groaned exaggeratedly and left to find the others in the main area of the house. He had wanted to at least try getting ready on his own, but reluctantly accepted he was too out of practice. And Bakugou was no baby step back into the dating scene, so he couldn’t afford any embarrassing mistakes.

Mina sat comfortably at the kitchen island, swinging her feet and leaning heavily on the granite countertop while watching her laptop screen. She paid no attention to the scene behind her of Kaminari struggling to decorate a Christmas tree while Sero stood next to him with the camcorder, filming his efforts with an entertained smirked. Kirishima took one glance at Kaminari tangled in colored Christmas lights and decided it wasn’t worth asking.

“I need help,” Kirishima said through a mouthful of mint toothpaste. Mina gave him a disgusted look and Kirishima rolled his eyes, going to the kitchen’s sink to spit and rinse out his mouth before continuing, “help me.”

“Pre-date panic?”

“He’s been panicking since last night,” Sero said, angling the camera in their direction. “He did three loads of laundry this morning.”

“I didn’t have anything to wear.”

“I didn’t know you went through three loads of outfits on one date,” Kaminari said, throwing the string of lights onto the ground once released from their constriction. “I must have a different definition of hiking.”

Kirishima glowered at Kaminari. “What are you even doing?”

“Setting up for a skit?” Kaminari said. He popped open one of several cardboard boxes marked ‘don’t open till x-mas’ and started pulling out cases of ornaments. “Some of us are lonely and still have jobs to do.”

“But our Christmas tree?”

“It will probably be fine.”

Kirishima wanted to argue, but he knew it could be worse. He would never recover from the morning Kaminari filled the living room walls with borderline sexual fanart of himself. It was a whole otherworldly type of pain— he actually felt his eyes burn and his mind start rotting. Just thinking about it sent a shiver down his spine.

“Are you almost done? We still need to get supplies for my video.” Mina turned to Kirishima with a mischievous smile. “I’m giving me and Kaminari beards. I saw it in a dream, so I must make it a reality.”

“If someone helped me it would go a lot faster.”

Sero just waved the camcorder at him as his excuse. Kirishima and Mina both shrugged in response.

“I could do a lot of things, but that’s not one of them,” Mina said. She flipped her laptop closed and gave Kirishima an elevator glance. “Alright, first we need to change your outfit.” She said, pointing to his pajama shirt. “Then we need to get food in you because I know you’ve been starving yourself from nerves.”

“Obviously, we have to change my shirt. That was my whole issue.” He said, ignoring her latter comment. She raised a dainty eyebrow to show that it didn’t go unnoticed which sucked. If he threw up during the date that was on her.

“C’mon,” Mina hopped off the stool and gestured towards his bedroom. “You have much to learn in so little time.”

“Five hours is little time?”

She shot him a teasing look over her shoulder. “So much to learn.”

He trailed after her and was surprised at how quickly she went to work once they were in his room. She kicked items off to the side, picking up various shirts to hold up to his chest before tossing them over her shoulder without a care for where they landed and continued the process without letting Kirishima in on the system. He didn’t bother asking and let her take control of the situation. He was too busy stressing about the cocky smirk that wandered into his mind whenever he stopped actively distracting himself.

Out of nowhere, Mina chucked a long-sleeve at his face. He peeled off the red shirt and held it at a distance to discover it was his favorite Crimson Riot shirt he’d bought in college. “This?”

“It’s the most authentically you shirt I could find,” Mina said. She kicked more clothes around the floor before mumbling, “now pants.”

Kirishima was taken back. He guessed the point of dating was authenticity. He tightened his fist around the cotton fabric and focused on the faded logo across the center. He wondered how long it would take Bakugou after truly knowing him to realize that Kirishima wasn’t worth his time.

A pair of athletic shorts slapped him in the face, and he ripped them off. “Mina!”

“Stop being self-deprecating and help me find socks.” She raised her eyebrows at him challengingly. Kirishima sighed. He sunk down to the floor to rummage around the mess of clothes they’d created, attempting to remember where the sock pile had originally formed. A few feet away Mina pulled out a pair excitedly from under a few sweatshirts and waved them in the air.

Kirishima chuckled at Mina’s antics. He could do this. He just had to remember that even if everything went wrong and Bakugou completely hated him, he would still have this. Mina would still come over every day doing things like putting fake beards on them, Kaminari would still be putting Christmas trees up nowhere near the holidays, and Sero would still be encouraging the chaos and recording their memories. He just had to try and remember that he would still have his friends no matter how today turned out.

He threw a shirt at Mina after expertly blocking her own clothing toss and they began a full-on war. He laughed while burying her with piles of his now questionably clean laundry.

Yeah, he thought. He’d be okay.

~*~*~*~

He changed his mind. He was absolutely not going to be okay.

Kirishima tugged at his athletic shorts nervously. He hadn’t been able to settle since he’d seated himself in the passenger side of Mina’s car and the squirming only got worse the closer they got to Brush Canyon Trails. It had been easier for him to push back the reality of his situation until Mina had started the engine and it hit him full force that he was actually going on a date with Katsuki Bakugou.

He was going to throw up the toaster waffles Mina shoved down his throat.

“This is a bad idea,” Kirishima said, adjusting a white bandana over his spiked hair. “We should turn around.”

“Eijirou. You would never forgive yourself if you stood that boy up.” Mina said, making a sharp right turn. Kirishima’s stomach sunk as the dusty trails came closer to view. She was right, of course, living with that regret would be infinitely worse than anything Bakugou could throw at him. Kirishima let out a pathetic whine and sunk deeper into the leather seat.

Mina whipped into the entrance of the trails and parked somewhere that probably wasn’t legal. Kirishima let his eyes skim over the people mulling around the popular park’s entryway. Brush Canyon trails were the best hiking paths in LA, having various levels of difficulty winding through the brush and what greenery the mountain could provide; however, the view of the city and Hollywood sign also made it a popular tourist attraction. A family of five unloaded too many supplies from their van for Kirishima to believe they were locals, a girl in workout apparel stretched her legs while her German Shepard laid beside her bored, and a pair of teenage boys in too little clothing for the chilly weather checked over their cameras. When he first came to LA he felt awkward recording in public, but now he didn’t even think twice when there were vloggers on every street corner.

Among them he spotted Bakugou, sitting casually on a flattened rock and scrolling on his phone. He was dressed perfect for overcast weather—sweatshirt, athletic pants, nothing fancy—but Kirishima’s heart still skyrocketed when his mind registered who he was staring at. Part of him thought Bakugou wouldn’t show up.

Fuck. This was actually happening, wasn’t it?

“Do you think he’s been waiting a while? Should we have left earlier?”

“Ei, we are ten minutes early. You are more than fine.” Mina clapped her hands together and met his eyes with excitement. “Are you ready?”

He wasn’t. He’d spent all night imagining every possible scenario, and still seeing Bakugou actually sitting there sent his nerves in a frenzy. “I don’t know if I can do this Mina.”

“You can.” Mina grabbed his hands and gave them a gentle squeeze. “Ei, you are the greatest human I know. You might not believe it in here,” she poked his forehead, “but you are way out of that boy’s league.”

Kirishima nodded halfheartedly. He looked back at Bakugou and tensed when they made direct eye contact. Kirishima gave a small wave through the window and received a finger gun in response. Mina started snickering as Bakugou looked at his hand confused before quickly hiding it behind his back and changing his gaze to his sneakers.

“You’ll be fine. If anything goes wrong just text me and I’ll be here.” Mina said while nudging him out. Kirishima took a deep breath once completely out of the car waving goodbye to Mina as she pulled out of her parking spot. Kirishima was officially on his own. He could do this.

“Hey,” Kirishima called out and he willed his heart to calm down. He hadn’t even been here a full minute and if it kept that up he’d pass out halfway through their date.

Bakugou nodded in acknowledgment but had his eyes locked on Mina’s retreating car. “You could’ve told me you needed a ride.”

“Oh, I mean… Mina was on her way to get beards and hair-dye anyway. So, it wasn’t a big deal.”

Bakugou cocked his head to the side, mulling the statement over. “Do I want to know?”

“Probably not.”

“Perfect,” Bakugou stood and slung a USC drawstring that had been resting beside the rock onto his back. Kirishima thought it was pretty extra to bring a whole bag for a water bottle but didn’t want to insult him this early on. Bakugou gestured towards one of the trails and Kirishima gladly let Bakugou take the lead for their hike. “So, is there a fucking method to your guys’ madness or what?”

Kirishima scrunched his nose as he thought. “Maybe? I just try to make it fun.” Kirishima kicked a large rock that lay in his path. “Last week I turned our swimming pool into a ball pit just because I could.”

“You’re something else,” Bakugou said with a thoughtful expression.

“Thank you!” Kirishima chose to take that as a compliment, following it with, “so, are you all packed for New Orleans?”

“I know the routine. I’ll pack my shit when I get home.”

Kirishima found it interesting how easily Bakugou moved through the paths, confidently passing other locals as if he owned these trails. Kirishima had no issues with Bakugou navigating the way, it meant he could take more time to admire the view—both LA and the ash-blonde beside him.

“You’re almost done for this season, right?”

Bakugou nodded. “A few more.”

“What do you do on off-seasons?” Kirishima asked. He never entertained the idea of taking even a week off. In four years of uploading twice a week, Kirishima had only missed once. He uploaded the day after too, so it honestly barely counted.

“Prepare for the next fucking season,” Bakugou side-eyed him. “We might be adding some new shit.”

Kirishima straightened and faced him more properly. “New? Like what?”

Bakugou hesitated. “I’m not supposed to…” He glanced around as if making sure no one was in hearing distance. “It’s kind of my own segment. Not ghost bull shit.”

“That’s awesome!”

“Yeah. I’m actually kind of—”

“Excuse me,” a pair of teens stood in front of them. The taller teen had her long hair held back with a baseball cap and behind her hid the younger boy, barely peeking out around her shoulder. “Are you RedRiot?” The girl asked.

Kirishima’s eyes widened. “Yeah.”

The shorter teen stepped out and his face blossomed into a wide grin. “You’re my favorite YouTuber.” He tugged onto the girl’s t-shirt. “I told you it was him.”

She swatted his hand away. “He watches you every day. It’s kind of annoying having your theme in my head all the time, no offense.”

“None taken.” Kirishima got recognized a decent amount, but no matter how often it happened it never felt real “What’s your name?”

“Damien,” he said, bouncing on the balls of his feet. “My favorite vlog was when you painted Chargebolt’s car to look like a giant croc.”

Kirishima smirked proudly and he heard Bakugou snort behind him. That was a great video, and Kaminari only stopped talking to him for three days. Worth it.

“Are you that guy from the ghost hunting channel?” The girl pointed a finger at Bakugou, and he stiffened.

“I’m not a ghost hunter.”

“Whatever. Hey, we have to get going.” She pulled her phone out of her pocket. “Can he get a picture with you?”

Kirishima opened his mouth slightly, but the teen had already saddled up next to him. He had no issues taking pictures with his subscribers—if it wasn’t for them he wouldn’t be living out his dreams. He just felt the situation a little awkward given his current circumstance. The two were quick to scurry off after their photo, waving their goodbyes which Kirishima mirrored. He found Bakugou smirking at him amused rather than annoyed.

“Does that happen a lot?” Bakugou asked, continuing the hike as easy as they’d stopped.

“Uh, more often lately.” Kirishima adjusted his bandana uncomfortably. “I would give anything to meet every single person that watches my channel but…” Kirishima wrinkled his nose as he searched for words. “Sometimes I wish I could go out without being recognized.” He waved his hands frantically. “That sounds ungrateful. I love them and I didn’t mean—"

“No,” Bakugou quirked his lips into a small smile. “It’s not selfish to want to feel normal sometimes.”

Kirishima sighed in relief. He enjoyed seeing this side of Bakugou—soft and relaxed. The Bakugou that didn’t have a crease between his brow or a sneer to his lips. Of course, every version of Bakugou was fantastic, but this one felt uniquely special. Like it was reserved for specific moments and people and Kirishima got to be one of them.

“That’s why I don’t have any verified social media,” Bakugou added smugly. “I don’t have to constantly put on an act for subscribers.”

A record scratch sounded in Kirishima’s mind. “Verified what?”

“Social media?” Bakugou rolled his eyes. “You honestly thought that I could be in this dumb ass community and not have some sort of social media account.”

“I guess not… Can I have it?”

“No.”

Kirishima’s jaw went slack. “You can’t do that.”

“Who says?” Bakugou smirked challengingly and Kirishima cursed every god that made him so fucking attractive because it made it really hard arguing with him.

“Me.” Kirishima crossed his arms. “I at least want a hint.”

“I follow you.”

Kirishima whined. He had millions of followers on Twitter, so that was the most garbage hint Bakugou could possibly give him. “That’s not fair.”

“Not my fault you’re mister hotshot YouTuber.” Bakugou snorted. The grin he wore told Kirishima he was having too much fun with this. “Another mile up there’s a resting spot. We should stop there.”

Kirishima grunted in agreeance. “Fine. But just so you know. I can only assume you’re Twitter is a fan account dedicated to me, and that’s why you won’t let me see it.” Bakugou’s cheeks tinted red and Kirishima perked up. “Holy shit. Is it?”

“What the fuck? No. Fuck off.”

“I don’t know. That blush is pretty telling. You can just admit it. This is a safe place Bakugou. No one will judge—”

Bakugou shoved his hand in Kirishima’s face and he laughed as he was half-heartedly pushed a few steps back. Bakugou jogged ahead to get away from Kirishima’s teasing but paused after a good distance. Kirishima felt a pleasing flutter pass through his gut when Bakugou glanced back at him uncertainly as if worried Kirishima had actually taken offense or something. He sent him the most reassuring smile he could and hurried to catch up to Bakugou’s side, and once he reached him the pleasant feeling lingered. Kirishima felt it the entire hike upward as they bantered over nonsensical topics, and that warmth lasted long after they reached the clearing Bakugou had mentioned.

The resting point was on a ledge that overlooked Los Angeles. There were several wooden benches near the metal fence blocking people from accidentally stumbling over the rocky mountainside. Kirishima ran straight over to the rusty railing while Bakugou hung back to use one of the water stations—fountains heightened for both people and pets. No matter how many times Kirishima saw Los Angeles he felt like he was seeing it for the first time. There would be a new graffiti painted somewhere he’d been thousands of times or a new store popped up out of nowhere. The people changed the city as fast as they came.

He felt pride that he could call this place his home.

“It’s amazing, huh?” Kirishima said wistfully when he heard Bakugou approaching.

Bakugou leaned against the railing beside him and shrugged. “It’s alright. The mountains are cool. Ocean’s close.”

“We’re so lucky.” Kirishima’s grip on the metal tightened. “If I could tell middle school me that I’d end up here. He’d lose his shit.”

“Middle school me would be pissed,” Bakugou said humorously. Kirishima raised an eyebrow at the surprise response but Bakugou waved it off. “I was an asshole kid. This wasn’t really my game plan.”

“Game plan?”

“Good grades. College. Job.” Bakugou shrugged his bag off his shoulder and wandered to the cleanest bench. “It took a lot of convincing to get me out of that mindset.”

“What changed your mind?”

Bakugou eyed him carefully and hesitated before saying, “someone said some shit that resonated with me, I guess.”

“Well, they must be pretty awesome if they were able to do all that.” Kirishima plopped down beside Bakugou and watched him dig around in the drawstring bag. He was impatient to see what Bakugou had been carrying around the whole time.

“He’s okay.”

Bakugou pulled out two plastic containers—one red and one orange—and handed the red box to Kirishima. He took it with a confused half-smile and gently popped the lid off, hyperaware of Bakugou’s watchful gaze. Kirishima’s jaw dropped at the rows of onigiri inside.

“Did you make these?” Kirishima asked. They looked nicer than anything he’d ordered from any take-out restaurant.

“So, what if I did?” Bakugou asked. He scrunched his nose and took a large bite of the snack in his own container, avoiding Kirishima’s fond smile.

Kirishima’s chest felt overwhelmingly full at the implications of Bakugou spending time making these for him. He took a moment to just sit with that feeling before carefully biting into his treat and slowly savoring its taste. Unsurprisingly Bakugou was perfect at everything he did. He stole a glance back at Bakugou, and his now calm expression while he picked at his food.

Bakugou looked, for lack of a better word, beautiful being haloed by the slowly setting sun. His hair was a soft peach from the sun’s orange hues and his tanned skin practically glowed. For the first time, Kirishima was able to appreciate his barely visible freckles dotting the bridge of his nose and the fullness of his eyelashes. He could try to hide it behind scowls all he wanted, but Bakugou was a pretty boy through and through. Bakugou leaned against the bench at ease, yet still, his presence dominated the space around them. Kirishima felt honored knowing he was granted access to this private view.

“What are you looking at?”

Kirishima reeled himself back to reality. He met Bakugou’s red-tinted eyes filled with confusion. Kirishima’s brain lagged too many steps behind his mouth when, without permission, he blurted out. “You.” Kirishima followed up with a quick apology when Bakugou went slack jaw.

“It’s fucking whatever,” Bakugou said. Kirishima started berating himself for ruining what could have been a perfect first date when Bakugou continued, “this is going well, right?”

“What?”

“Like the thing that we’re,” Bakugou gestured between the two of them. Kirishima’s eyebrows shot up when he understood.

“The date?” Kirishima asked. Bakugou nodded his head a few times. “I’m having a good time… are you… having a good time?”

“It’s pretty above average.”

“Then, yeah. I’d say it’s going well.” Kirishima grinned dopily as he shoved another bite of onigiri in his mouth, swinging his legs beneath him. He caught Bakugou grinning in his peripheral and his heart soared.

Yeah. This was going great.

It didn’t take them long to finish the rest of their food and begin their descent down the mountain. Once they noticed the sun had begun setting, they agreed it was best to head back since the park closed at dusk. Kirishima was reluctant for their time together to end but was having an easy time distracting himself with Bakugou’s current state.

“So obviously I just wanted to go home, but fucking Deku decided that it would be a genius idea to just hop the fence when we hadn’t gotten legal permission to be on the fucking premises.” Bakugou threw his hands in the air. Kirishima’d learned quickly that Bakugou played up a bad boy image, but was actually a goodie two shoes, “and Todoroki comes in like the lovestruck dipshit he is and boosts him over. No one is listening to me, like always, and now Deku has a broken leg and is stuck on illegal grounds. And we’re all fucked. And I had to fix it.”

“Dude, what the hell.” Kirishima tried containing his laughter to speak. “You should record this stuff. Do behind the scenes or something.”

“I just said it was all illegal, were you even listening?” Bakugou nudged him with his shoulder and Kirishima chuckled, pushing back. He thought back to the mention of Bakugou’s roommate and wondered if that was a bad date conversation.

“Hey, speaking of Todoroki…” Kirishima drummed his thighs uncertainly before deciding, fuck it. “Why does he hate me?”

Bakugou’s pace slowed and his face contorted. “He doesn’t hate you, he just... hates change?” Bakugou frowned to himself. “It’s not my place to talk about things, but his family was kinda fucked.” Bakugou turned to him and shrugged. “He acted the same around Deku at first if that helps.”

It didn’t. Kirishima was left with more questions than answers but felt like it was an inappropriate time to delve into the topic. For now, Kirishima could work with the idea that Todoroki would one day warm up to him like he did Midoriya.

Except without the lovey-dovey part obviously.

Their walk down the mountain was much faster than the hike upward, and they reached Bakugou’s car faster than Kirishima wanted. For how nervous he had been he was even more disappointed that their time together would be ending. He reached for his phone to begin texting Mina that he would need to get picked up soon.

“I’ll give you a ride home,” Bakugou said. He unlocked his older-looking car from a distance and didn’t bother waiting for Kirishima’s response.

“Are you sure?” Kirishima stumbled over his words. “I can just text Mina and—”

“Don’t be stupid I can drive you home.”

Kirishima’s heart had never leaped so high at being called stupid. The door creaked when Kirishima opened it and his first thought was how insanely clean the interior of the car was. Compared to the fast-food wrappers that littered Kaminari’s dashboard and the empty Starbucks cups that filled Mina’s flooring, Kirishima forgot what the interior of a car even looked like. He was able to step in without throwing items in the backseat and it was an enlightening experience for him.

He realized once they were confined, he had miscalculated how different that would feel compared to the spaciousness hiking provided. Kirishima became hyperaware of everything: Bakugou’s breathing, the rhythm of fingers tapping against the steering wheel, his squirming in the seat as he drove, and every time he reached for the radio the hairs on Kirishima’s arms rose. The air had shifted to something not quite awkward, but not comfortable enough that Kirishima didn’t feel like he shouldn’t be trying to break the silence somehow. Especially since they were already halfway to his house without speaking.

“So, that was fun,” Kirishima said. “I mean, I had fun. Did you… have fun?”

Bakugou raised a confused eyebrow and, not taking his eyes off the road, nodded his head. Kirishima gave him a thumbs up. “Awesome!”

He quickly tucked his hand to his hip and looked at himself angrily in the window’s reflection. He did not just give Bakugou a thumbs up… what the hell was that? He should have just let them drive in silence. Kirishima wanted to smack his forehead against the window but controlled himself to stop from looking even more like an idiot.

Minutes later Bakugou pulled into Kirishima’s driveway, and they glanced at each other awkwardly.

“So…” Bakugou started, his tapping on the wheel increasing. “We should do that again then?”

Relief spread through Kirishima and he nodded in agreeance. An uncontrollable grin spreading across his face.

“Cool.” Bakugou bit his lip and looked anywhere that wasn’t Kirishima. “I’m not really great at this shit, but I feel like we… I don’t know… vibed?” He ran an anxious hand through his hair. “Shit. That sounded dumb, but you know what I meant. I don’t hate spending time with you? That sucked too, I don’t know how to—stop looking at me like that.”

Kirishima’s heart felt overwhelmingly full against his chest and he gazed softly at Bakugou. He couldn’t push down the fond smile resting softly on his lips if he wanted to. “Like what?”

“Like… I don’t know… like you fucking—”

“Like I like you?” Kirishima asked. He didn’t bother fighting off the stupid side of his brain from running rampant. Not when Bakugou was blushing a soft red and pushing his lips to pout like that. “I’m not sure I can Bakugou.”

“That’s so fucking lame.” Bakugou countered.

“Probably, but you’re the one asking me on a second date so what does that say about—”

“Can I kiss you?”

Kirishima froze. Bakugou’s cheeks and tips of his ears could now rival Kirishima’s hair and from his deer-in-headlights look, he was about as surprised as Kirishima from the question that popped out of him. “Fuck. Sorry, I shouldn’t have—that was weird. Just pretend I didn’t—”

Kirishima cupped Bakugou’s cheek tenderly and Bakugou snapped his mouth shut. Kirishima tried not to overthink what he was about to do, losing himself in the specks of red in Bakugou’s gaze now filled with something akin to hope, stirring a fire in the pit of his stomach. Bakugou’s eyes flickered downward to Kirishima’s lips and he moved without thinking, pulling Bakugou the final distance.

He’d admit the kiss itself wasn’t great, they hadn’t exactly hit their mark on the first go and even with his hand guiding Bakugou they managed to bump noses, but the moment was perfect. Kirishima felt consumed by the firewood scent he would forever connect to Bakugou. Bakugou’s hand clutched tightly against the fabric of his shirt and gave it a whole new reason for being his favorite apparel. And when he felt Bakugou start to smile against his lips, Kirishima knew that if he could remain in this moment for the rest of his life he would. Pulling away from Bakugou was one of the hardest decisions he’d ever made.

They rested their foreheads together for a brief second like there was a magnetic pull that made it too difficult to separate immediately before Bakugou leaned away. Kirishima whined internally at the space between them.

“So,” Bakugou said, a genuine smile creating dimples on his cheeks and filling Kirishima with pride. “I get to see you again then?”

“I’d like that, yeah.”

Bakugou nodded.

Kirishima stepped out of that car with disappointment at having to say goodbye and giddiness that he’d see him again both swimming around his stomach. He waved goodbye as Bakugou drove away with a dopey grin plastered onto his face that would remain well into the next day. Kirishima took a deep breath, placed his hands on his cheeks and smushed them together as he giggled to himself.

He had gone on a date with Bakugou. He would be going on more dates with Bakugou. He had kissed Bakugou.

He would get to kiss Bakugou more.

Kirishima smushed his cheeks harder as the thoughts swirled around his mind. He closed his eyes to better feel the cold nip at his exposed skin, the wind flow through his hair, and his heart threaten to burst from his chest. He wanted to memorize these feelings. To truly live in this moment.

This was rare for him. He never wanted to let it go.

#kiribaku #kirishima eijirou #bakugou katsuki #bakusquad #bnha #bnha au #clickbait #youtuber au #boku no hero academia #kirisquad #i love these idiots so much #you aint even ready for this shit #<3

24 notes · View notes

i-live-in-a-yellow-submarine · 3 years

Text

Ultimate Beatlemania Tag!

Right off the bat, thank you so much to @johns-prince for tagging me! It took me forever to get around to filling this out, but I did it! I kind of don’t know people though so I don’t really know who I’d tag...I’ll just throw @toughbaby-buggybaby in because why not, you can do this if you want!

Anyway, this is gonna be a long post, so prepare yourself if you decide to read this.

How long have you been a fan?:

Okay well this is a little complicated to answer properly, but I’ll do my best. I’ve been listening to their music ever since I was little, and I’ve always adored it. The only problem was that I was either too young to think “Oh, this is The Beatles, I like them a lot!” or I just had no clue that it was them. I have that problem with a lot of bands that I’m into now actually. My dad always forgot to tell me “Oh by the way, you’re listening to insert band name here,” so now I’m catching up.

But if we’re talking about when I decided to sell my soul to these four dorks then it was about a year ago. I got really into their music because of some family members that had come visiting for the holidays, and they were all about The Beatles. One of my cousins would play their songs for me on the piano, as well as some of Paul’s solo work. After that I went in a spiral of just investing myself in them, so now they own my life.

Favorite Beatle:

How dare you make me choose. I love them all and refuse to pick between them-

Really though, I adore each of them so much and it’s really hard for me to make a concrete decision, especially since I tend to go through phases. I always conclude with George though because I just relate to him the most personality wise and admire him in a lot of ways, plus I think he’s gorgeous.

Favorite era for music:

I assume we’re talking about their specific eras in their own music? I hope that’s what this question is. If not, I personally like music from the 60s to the 80s, kind of bleeding into the 90s.

For the bug boys specifically, I think at the moment I’d have to go with everything.

Favorite era for lewks:

Again, if we’re talking about in general, I honestly don’t have an answer?? I’m not into fashion whatsoever, I just walk around wearing hoodies and jeans no matter what. The extent of my fashion knowledge is me seeing something I like and thinking “nice.”

For The Beatles, I honestly don’t know either. I thought they usually looked good in one way or another, (with a few exceptions that we’ll be getting to, don’t you worry) though I’ll always have a soft spot for their moptop era because they just looked adorable all the time. Also, those four looked amazing during their teddy boy days. I’m weak for teddy boy John and George.

Favorite song:

This is a really hard question to answer because I have so many favorites but I’ll try anyway.

This Boy is what I’m gonna start with, because oh my goodness it’s beautiful. John’s voice makes me feel so many things in that song, plus the harmonies behind it are just- mwah. Amazing. Along with that, In My Life never ceases to make me emotional for pretty much the same reasons, and the lyrics of course. The acoustic (???) version of While My Guitar Gently Weeps also has the same effect and I can’t deal with it.

When I’m Sixty Four has always been a favorite of mine from the start. A big part is because I’m a biased clarinet player and love every bit of it, plus Paul’s vocals in that one are so crisp and clear and I can’t handle it. And while we’re on the topic of Sgt Pepper, I also love With A Little Help From My Friends. I always get so happy when I hear Ringo’s voice, and this is one of my favorite songs that he sang.

Probably an unpopular choice for a favorite, but I’ve always really liked For You Blue??? I don’t know why, it just makes me laugh and all giddy for some reason. Honey Pie has the same effect on me as well. That song makes me bounce around like I’m a little kid again, and I adore it. It’s pretty much the same with Martha My Dear too, and also it makes me think of Martha which is always great.

I’m also a fan of their solo work and still branching off into it, but I really like Somedays, Blood From A Clone, and I Know (I Know).

Sorry I went on a tangent I just really appreciate music-

Favorite Album:

I’ll try not to rant on this one because again, I love them all. But uhhhhh, the first album I listened to all the way through (and also the first original record I received, my prized possession) was Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. It holds a special place in my heart for that reason, on top of it just being all around amazing. But if you asked me to pick one album that I had to stick with for the rest of my life, right now I’d have to go with Let It Be or The White Album.

Unpopular/Controversial Beatles opinion:

Oh boy, I don’t want to go into details very much because I don’t feel like it, but I’d have to say my belief that the Lennon-McCartney relationship was romantic in some way. I know that one is controversial because…I mean just take a look around.

A song everyone loves but you dislike:

I honestly don’t know really, I don’t think I dislike any of their stuff, or at least I can’t think of any at the current moment. I don’t have many people that I can get opinions about their songs from, but I do know that I don’t go crazy over Yesterday like some people do. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a pretty song, I just have others I prefer much more than it.

A song everyone dislikes but you love:

Again, I don’t really know what songs people collectively love and don’t. I do know that when I listened to Lady Madonna with my mom for the first time, I was absolutely vibing and she was not having it. My step dad wasn’t either, and it’s the same situation with The Long And Winding Road. Those are just between three people’s opinions but shhh-

Your fantasy involving The Beatles:

Gosh, if I were able to have met those four and been one of their friends, it would just be a dream come true. Talking to them and just spending time with them is something I wish I could do, just to be there with those brilliant humans would be amazing. I admire each of them for different reasons, and if I got the chance to have been their friend for years, I could die and be happy.

Tell us about the moment you knew you were a fan:

Looping back to what I said at the start, I’ve technically been a fan of their music since I was a little kid. But talking about the time I unknowingly handed my soul to them, I’d have to say around my last birthday.

A while back I was - and still am - all about the Legend Of Zelda franchise. I’d finished up all the manga that I’d bought based off the games, and wondered if I could find other stuff to read that was like it. Then the world of fanfiction showed itself to me and I just thought “Oh boy, this is a bad idea, but who cares, I want content.”

Fast forward to the point where I was really into The Beatles musically. I wanted to know more about the actual people making the music, so during the process of learning more about them, I remembered the deep and dark depths of fanfiction websites. Thus, I discovered that McLennon was a thing and immediately needed to know why. I literally read my first McLennon fanfic on my birthday.

Basically a month later I’d fallen completely in love with these four guys, their music, and McLennon.

Did you ever have a genuine ‘The Beatles suck!’ phase before becoming a fan?:

Oh no, I could never! This band had been drilled into my mind as one of the greatest of all time by multiple family members, so I just went with it. My dad would talk about them and I’d find them fascinating, even though I was much younger. In fact, I have a fuzzy memory of him driving my brother and I to the beach one time many years back, and he was talking about Norwegian Wood. He never actually told me that was the name, so I forgot shortly after. Then a couple years go by and I’m listening to it for the first time in who knows how long and go “Wait! That’s the song he was talking about!”

Favorite Beatles Book:

I actually haven’t read any yet, but I really want to. I’ve been thinking about getting both of John’s because I’ve heard that they’re quite entertaining for the right people, and based on what I have read from them, I think I’d really like them. I would love to get more after that, but that’s where I’d start.

Thoughts on the old generation of fans:

Having family members that fit in that category, I don’t have any problem with them at all. I mean, they were there during the time of The Beatles, and they always have interesting things to say about them and fun stories to tell. In my own experiences some of them can be a bit condescending with their views and opinions because they were alive during the time, but I know that not all the people in that generation are like that.

If Hollywood were to make a high budget Beatles biopic, what is one thing you desperately hope they include?:

Lots of things really. If I had to go with one, I really would want them to show just how much those four loved and cared for each other, especially the bond between Paul and John. I feel like the breakup, which is a very complicated topic in it of itself, tinted the media’s view to the point where some people believe that they hated each other, which is far from the truth.

I assume they would get their personalities right?? But if that’s something high budget biopics don’t guarantee, then that too. I just want to see their lives done right, with the important factors and people in their lives shown in the right light too. I know that’s a lot to ask of a biopic and probably will never happen, but I can dream.

Do you read/write fanfic?:

Yes, I do both. I wanted to become a better writer and artist, so I use The Beatles and other fandoms I’m a part of as a creative outlet in that sense. There are also so many amazing creators out there that I adore, so why would I not pay attention to the great things people have made?

Are you the only one in your family/friend group to enjoy them?:

No, but also yes? It’s kind of weird actually. Family wise, I have a lot of family members that at least like their music, so I can talk to them when it comes to that. But when it comes to the boys as people, I really don’t have many family members who know much or care. I can rant to my mom because she just takes it all in even though she doesn’t have a clue what I’m talking about, and I infected my brother with Beatlemaniac as well, so now his favorite is Ringo and we talk about them a lot with each other.

Friends wise, I have two that enjoy them. My closest friend is a musician and music is really important in her family, so she’s been listening to a number of bands since she was basically a baby. I talk to her about anything and everything, which also means I rant about everything involving The Beatles. As far as I know, she doesn’t mind and likes talking about the McLennon tea. The other loves all music and she’s been listening to some of their stuff since she was young as well, but it was when I was getting really invested in The Beatles that she also did.

Are you a shipper?:

Yes, yes, and yes.

Addressing McLennon first, I don’t necessarily see it as only a ship, I believe that those two were in a romantic relationship of some kind. But I’ll save those opinions for just a little bit-

Of course when roaming around in the fanfiction world for that good McLennon content, I was bound to find other ships. Obviously my heart belongs to McLennon, so I can’t see Paul or John in any other relationship. As a result of that, I found comfort in Starrison and think it’s precious, though that’s purely just a ship in my book, so I love and put their friendship first. It definitely doesn’t fall into the same boat as McLennon for me.

Favorite movie starring/made by them?:

Over the past few months I fell in love with Yellow Submarine, which I am going to make count in terms of this question because it’s quality content. I love the humor, the artwork, the designs, the story, the music, everything. I just love it all.

Do you believe in McLennon?:

I’m sure you know the answer to that by now.

General opinions on McLennon?:

This post could go on forever if I actually let myself say everything I wanted to. I’ll try to keep it brief because I’ve rambled for long enough as is.

As I already stated, I have a firm believe that McLennon was real. No, is real. Paul shows his love for John to this day, and I’m sure John is reciprocating it wherever he is right now. Everything that they went through together just takes me on the most emotional rollercoaster to ever exist.

I was in the middle of making a list of just all the little things about their amazing relationship, but I realized there were so many that I could fill books about it all, and there would still be so much that we don’t know about. In the end, what John and Paul had was theirs, and the glimpses of it that we’ve been lucky enough to see are beautiful, heartbreaking, and everything in between. The love they shared lives on in the music they created, and I’m just glad to be able to experience it in that way.

If you got to change ONE thing about their history, what would it be and why?:

Oh this is a hard one for sure. I think if I were able to change something, it would be how the breakup played out. Altering factors in their lives so that they had been able to communicate with each other (specifically John and Paul) properly so they were on the same page with each other in what they needed and wanted probably would have softened the blow of the breakup for them, if it were to even happen.

Preventing the alcohol and substance abuse that was dealt with during that time and onward would most definitely have made things better as well, along with everything that happened with John’s association with Yoko. If they had just been able to keep their issues under control with help from people qualified to do so, I think things would have turned out much better for all of them. Then again, it’s such a complicated topic and there are so many things we could change for the better that I don’t have a set way to answer the question.

What song has the best vocals?:

I’m about to go on a tangent again, sorry-

I love the vocals for When I’m Sixty Four. Everything just sounds so clean in that song. I also really love how Paul sounds in Michelle and She’s Leaving Home, with the background feeling all calm so his voice kind of pops.

Girl leaves me feeling like a puddle and I don’t know how to handle it. It’s a similar situation with Do You Want To Know A Secret and This Boy too. The vocals just make me feel things.

John’s voice in Across The Universe and Julia sounds so sweet and sincere, and it always calms me down. I don’t really know why I love it so much, I just think the vocals are wonderful and almost insecure.

I think my favorite performance vocals wise has to be If I Fell though. The way Paul and John’s voices blend perfectly shows prominently in this song, and it’s absolutely beautiful.

What song do you feel had no effort put into it?:

Los Paranoias, but I don’t care and vibe to it anyway.

What is a well talked about moment in Beatles history that you genuinely believe to be false?:

I’ve been thinking really hard about this question but I can’t really think of one off the top of my head that holds much significance. I know there are plenty, but how glorified John and Yoko’s relationship was just seems so artificial to me the majority of the time. I know that isn’t really a moment per say, but it’s the only thing I could think of.

What is something you KNOW to be true, but often gets erased in their history?:

The biggest one that comes to mind right now is definitely the majority of the things involving Yoko throughout the breakup of the band up until John’s death. Honestly, I’ve read and thought about it so much that I just don’t really feel like going into much detail, but in general a lot of the things Yoko did seem to be brushed under the rug.

Least favorite look from a Beatle(s):

Need I say more?

Really though, I don’t have a care for the facial hair John and Paul had in 67, and again later on with their beards. I think they just looked better without it, when you can see their whole face. There’s also the underlying struggles they were dealing with at the time that brought on those messy looks, which makes me more sad than anything.

Favorite look from a Beatle(s):

I’m just gonna list my favorites for each of them and then my favorite pictures or gifs of them because why not.

How I Won The War John is beautiful and I can’t explain why, he just has that special something. I also have a thing for 64-66 John in hats-

Honestly everything from 63-66 is great for Paul. He looked pretty much the same to me during that time period, just with his hair gradually getting longer.

He also had his moments in 67, after he got rid of the mustache (that’s how I feel about John in 67 too)

I could go ahead and say just about everything for George honestly because I’m weak for him. But to pick absolute favorites, then I’d go with 65, 67, and The Rooftop Concert.

I absolutely adore 63 and 64 Ringo to no end. He was just adorable no matter what.

For the whole group together, I think my favorites would be their Shea Staduim or A Hard Day’s Night looks. They make my heart melt.

Anyway, that was a lot of rambling and I definitely didn’t need to write as much as I did, but what can you do? Thank you again for the tag! On the off chance that anyone sees this and wants to do it, go ahead! Peace and Love <3

#tag games!#any gifs in this do not belong to me! I don’t remember who made them sorry :<

1 note · View note

95liners3rdmember · 4 years

Text

Worth It

Chapter Three: Monday Morning

Word Count: 4052

Chapter Two: Saying Thank You

Today’s been a day already and I haven’t even made it into work yet…

I woke up to my grandmother calling bright and early at 5 am. My heart and soul needed to talk to her as she calmed me of my nerves about today. She reassured me that all of my hard work wasn’t going to go to waste. I may have shed a few tears after ending our call but I was wide awake and energized.

Then as I was getting ready to leave my apartment, my sisters call me as they left school. Nat and Nikole were dropping hints about how they wanted to come and visit me while they were on break. Which isn’t a bad idea but I’ll have to figure out a good time so they aren’t just sitting around my apartment. But there’s no way I can take a week off just a month after starting. It will most likely be during the holidays so I can spend a little time with them.

But I think the thing that threw me off the most was Namjoon waiting for me in the lobby with a hot coffee in hand. He had a cocky smile on his lips as he took in my wardrobe choice. Thankfully yesterday I went by the company to drop off a bag full of spare clothes because there’s no way I can dance in my current outfit. As he handed me my cup, the other’s pass us sluggishly to the waiting vans.

“Can I ride in with you?” Namjoon gave me his signature smile and the next thing I know we are in my car sitting in morning traffic.

My fingers tap anxiously against the steering wheel, I really can’t be late on my first day. Namjoon chuckles before turning down the radio.

“Calm down, you have almost 45 minutes before you’re supposed to be in the office. Worst case just call in and tell them that we’re stuck in traffic.”

He’s surprisingly calm and I feel somewhat better but I just want to get into the office already. Yesterday I was supposed to relax and take an off day but I was too full of energy and I was already given approval to come in, so I went and organized my office. I also went through a few run throughs of each song that way I wasn’t rusty before teaching the group. The last thing I wanted was to look unprofessional in front of them.

“Looks like the traffic is letting up here, after that we should have no problem getting there.”

Namjoon scrolls through the map on his phone and my body relaxes in the seat as we pass by the backed up exit. Just as he said, the road clears out and we’re at the company sooner than I thought. Smiling at him, I pull in and park. My stomach feels like it’s doing back flips and spins as I look at the large building. This is it. It’s finally my first official day as a BigHit employee.

“I guess I’ll see you in an hour. Hoseok has the disk with the detailed moves on it.”

“See you then! Have fun.”

We both exited the car, my bag tucked tightly under my arm as I read through a last minute email and sip my coffee. Looks like the schedule changed just a little, scanning our badges we enter the lobby and both go our separate ways.

My heart starts to pound in my chest as I stand in front of the large frosted glass door. Taking in a deep breath, I pull the handle back and I’m greeted by a room full of staff. Bowing politely I take a seat in the vacant chair. There’s a large packet in front of everyone and I can’t help but quirk an eyebrow as I sit and read through it.

It’s going to take me a little longer to get through this, yes I’ve been studying for years but I’m still slow on reading Korean. Reaching into my beg I pull out a small notebook and a pen so I can start making notes.

“Good morning everyone. Today we will be going over the details of the next tour and upcoming award shows. Also, I want everyone to welcome Ms. y/l/n. She will be taking over the dance and choreography department.”

There’s a small, quick round of applause which makes my heart flutter.

“Thank you everyone. I can’t wait to get started!”

As each of the directors goes over their roles and the upcoming events my head starts to spin. There’s so much I need to get done in such a short amount of time. The tour is starting after the new year and the award shows want the group to perform and I need to make a few new opening moves for each. It shouldn’t be too hard but it’s going to require a few all nighters.

Under the table I feel my phone vibrate in my bag, it’s not too loud since all of the stylists are talking about who to partner with and what the concept will be for the tour. I look around and notice that everyone else has their phones on the table so I guess it will be okay for me to have mine. Bending down I fish out my phone and see that it’s the group chat Taehyung added me to.

J-Hope: Jungkookie and V are getting impatient for you to get here.

Kookie: Hurry up Noona! I wanna dance.

Locking my phone, I smile and look back up at the presentation board where tour locations and stage options are being shown. From what it looks like the next tour is going to be amazing.

“Ms. y/l/n would you mind sharing what you’ve made so far?” Nodding, I make my way up to the front with a copy of the disk I made. Passing it over, I feel my palms start to get sweating and my throat feels tight.

“These are the main songs that will be performed and recorded for music videos. I didn’t get to make these with the members so there will have to be some changes made. Also, I’m going to let them decide the style for their solos.”

Around the room other staff nod as their eyes are glued to the screen. Nervously I fiddle with the ring on my finger as the videos come to an end. I let them keep the copy since I have the original saved on my laptop and another copy.

I’ve never been one for giving presentations or public speaking. Dancing has always been my way of expression. So as of right now I want to crawl into a hole and disappear. I can’t gauge everyone’s reactions as the videos end. They probably wish that the old choreographer was still here.

As the videos end I’m waiting for the room to stay completely silent.

But once again I’m proven wrong.

The stylists are all smiling and whispering energetically about how this is going to be one of the best sets ever. Or how well I’ve incorporated their style.

Smiling I walk back to my seat with a little more pep in my step. Today just might turn out to be a better day than I thought.

For the millionth time,it feels like, I tighten the band of my ponytail that sticks through the ball cap. I silently scold myself as I suck in a deep breath as a sigh over takes my body, I shouldn’t have stayed so late at the studio last night touching up the dances. During the meeting I didn’t feel too stiff or sore but now that I rushed to change and get to the practice room on time I feel each and every muscle tense up.

Walking through the doorway of the large practice room I see the boys all goofing around with their previous dances. All laughing and having a good time relaxing. It makes me want to go slightly easier on them but I know that’s not why I was hired. Sucking in another deep breath I clear my throat to make my presence known.

“You guys ready?” I ask loudly as I make my over to them. As I scan over them I feel slightly underdressed and overdressed at the same time. They each have their own style even in the practice room.

“We watched it over a few times and followed along for the most part.” Nodding at Hoseok’s statement, I can see that Jin and Namjoon are a little apprehensive about it. I knew that it would be harder for them, that’s why I’m going to spend more time with them individually throughout the week. I have no doubt that Hoseok will help me as well.

“I’m going to line you up and then go through the first few moves. Sound good?”

Time seems to go by quicker than I thought and before I know it their managers and other staff are carrying in bags full of food for lunch. Some of the boys have dropped onto the ground and are working on catching their breathing. I can’t say I didn’t work them hard, we were able to make it through one full run through before calling it a day. Sure it wasn’t perfect by any means, that’s going to take some time, but at least they are memorizing the choreo.

“Food…” Jin groans out as he makes his way over to the table and throws himself into the rolling chair. It spins slightly which causes him to bump and shake the whole table. Some of the staff check to see if he hurt himself while Jungkook tries not to laugh at his accident.

“You all did great today. I have no doubt that you’ll have this one down quick.” I huff out between breaths. My legs are killing me from doing so many one on one run throughs of parts. I forgot how sore I was after making these routines, I may just have to soak in an ice bath later.

I get a few smiles and a few nods in agreement as they move over to join Jin at the table, but there’s one person missing. Jimin rewinds the video and rewatches from the beginning. He stands in place and tries to go along step by step. I can see a glint in his eyes that I know all too well...snatching my hat off I move over to him with a slight frown.

“Jimin, you need to eat. We can worry about polishing the moves up the rest of the week.” His eyes cut over to me and I can see the annoyance. He doesn’t want me to interrupt his personal time, honestly I’m the same exact way when there’s a new choreo to make or a new routine to learn. But right now he needs to take care of himself.

“I’m fine.” There’s a slight edge to his voice and I don’t want to push him too far. Sighing, I turn my head towards the others who are trying to watch secretly but failing terribly. Namjoon just nods his head in a way that tells me it’s not worth arguing about.

“If you want to work on it tonight we can but right now you really do need to sit down and take a break. You’ll run yourself down if you keep this up everyday.”

That strike a nerve as his body stops moving completely. Whatever determined glint that was in his eyes is completely gone as he turns towards me. I would never take Jimin as the intimidating type, but I can’t help gulping under his gaze.

“I know my body better than you do y/n. I’ve been dancing just as long as you have. And I can learn it on my own.” His tone is completely different than anything I’ve heard so far. And the way he makes it seems like he could learn it faster without me strike my own nerve. He moves past me and mutters something inaudible which makes my annoyance rise. Turning on my heels swiftly I shove my ball cap back on my head and head towards the door, snatching up my bag that’s sitting by the threshold. Not caring that it slams shut behind me.

I retreat to my office and shut the door, softer than the practice room so I don’t draw any more attention to me. Tossing my bag on one of the small chairs, I round the side of my desk and sit down to look through the emails. But for the first time since I arrived in Korea, there's no emails waiting for me. So there’s nothing else for me to do except to look through the packet from this morning about the upcoming tour. I guess I can start there.

But my mind can’t think of anything except for what just happened in the practice room. I thought Jimin and I were getting along well enough but I guess I was wrong. My sister was right about getting close with them. I should’ve rejected all of the offers from everyone except Namjoon since I’ve known him for so long and I already have an established friendship with him. Once again my little sister proved that she’s wiser than I am.

Ugh, I can’t just sit here and mope around I’ve got work to do.

Jumping up, I grab my bag and make my way to an empty practice room. The only way I’m going to clear my mind is if I dance for a little bit and listen to the song over a few times to get some inspiration.

Thankfully I end up at the practice room furthest away from where the members are. Setting up my camera on the tripod and getting a playlist, my phone beeps with a text message alert.

Namjoon: Where did you go?

Ignoring the text, my cap gets tossed to the side and I retie my hair up into a large messy bun. Sucking in a deep breath I close my eyes and roll my head to relax my shoulders, trying to relieve the tightness building in my neck. Slowly opening my eyes I bend down to tighten my shoe laces and once I pop back up I press play on my phone.

The first couple of songs are just warm ups, things I’ve done before. In reality they are a warm up for what’s about to happen. My body moves with each beat as I let everything escape my mind except the music and the choreo. It’s nice to get back to the basics, to reset my mind. If I want to do my best for BigHit and BTS then I need to mentally check out for a few minutes and recollect myself.

When Fire starts playing, my lips quirk up as the beat quickens. My breathing gets heavier as the song goes on, my muscles burn and sweat drips down my forehead. But it ignites a spur of energy I didn’t think I had. Smirking once the song is done, I peel off the sweatshirt I was wearing and go down to just my sports bra and leggings. Normally I try to keep some decency when I’m at work, even when it’s unbearably hot, but since I won’t see anyone else the rest of the day I’m in the clear.

Once the first beat of Fake Love starts playing, I take Taehyung’s place. I’m going to run through this song seven times. Each time I will be taking the different spot of a member. It may be overkill but at this point I don’t care.

My muscles scream at me but I couldn’t be happier. After running the choreo a few times inspiration struck me. I abandoned the dance floor and fell into the floor with my notebook. Scribbling my ideas down, my lungs gasp for breath while sweat drips onto the paper as I sketch out a box like contraption. It may not be ready in time but I could always have this in my back pocket.

A few more ideas are jotted down but I jump in place when I hear the door rattle. Good thing I locked it but it’s useless when the door has a window down the center of it. Moving quickly I tug on my sweatshirt and turn off the camera. Going to the door I suck in deeps breaths to try and calm my racing heart. There’s no one in the hallway, but I have a strange feeling someone was watching. Moving back into the room I pack everything up and check the time, it’s almost 5. I really didn’t get much done but at this point I just want a shower.

The hallways are quiet as I move sluggishly to the safety of my office. Maybe after I shower I can swing by Namjoon’s studio and check out what he’s been working on. But then there’s a chance I’ll run into Jimin and that’s the last thing I want right now. I should just let it go but it seemed like he doubted me. And that the last thing I need on my first day.

Emerging from the female locker room, I feel lighter and my mind is clearer. At least I brought plenty of backup clothes because knowing me I’m going to be staying overnight or really late for the next few weeks. Rolling up the sleeves on my light blue button up I walk back to my office just to drop everything off. Before going to the shower I texted Namjoon and asked me if I could come by his studio, luckily he instantly replied giving me the green light.

Since it’s so late in the day most of the other staff have left the building for the day like normal people. Us workaholics will be here until we physically can’t take anymore. Namjoon is bad about it but he’s told me horror stories about Yoongi staying here for days on end without leaving. The most I’ve ever stayed is about two days before I was dragged back home by Nat.

Knocking on the door of his studio, I wait out in the hall and tap the toe of my shoe on the tile. My stomach feels uneasy, probably since I haven’t had any real food to eat, but also because I’m nervous to run into Jimin.

A loud click snaps me from my thoughts as the door opens just enough so I can grab the handle and let myself in. Namjoon’s hunched up at his desk editing away, the monitor above him showing me every small movement and adjustment he does. Watching him in his element is fascinating.

“You sure left in a hurry after practice.”

“Well hello to you to too Namjoon.” Rolling my eyes I drop down into the vacant chair next to him. My forehead falls to the desktop and my hair fans out everywhere creating a curtain to hide from him.

“Y/n, you did an amazing job today. I heard from Bang PD that he really like what you’ve created and can’t wait to see it in person.” That statement makes my stomach twist in knots and flip a dozen times. I haven’t even had the chance to meet him in person yet, everything has been through computer or through an assistant.

“But Jimin...he’s hard on himself and very critical of everything. I warned you about it before you took the job.” Namjoon’s tone isn’t harsh, actually it’s softer than I’d imagine. A deep sigh leaves my lips as I turn my head sideways and remove the curtain of hair to look at him. There’s no use trying to hide my feelings about it considering we’ve known each other for so long.

“I know I took it too personally, but I can’t help it. I spent so much time on all of these dances Joon...I guess...I feel like he doesn’t trust me or have faith in my abilities.” My eyes sting a little as I let out my pent up frustration. Mentally I’m smacking myself for being so emotional. The last time Namjoon saw me like this it wasn’t good...

“BigHit wouldn’t waste their time or resources for anyone that’s not up to their standard. Jimin knows this as well as the rest of us. You just have to let him come to terms and build a relationship with you on his own.” Namjoon stopped moving the mouse and turned his attention away from the screen to look at me. His eyes are soft as he pats my back gently.

“We had a talk with him though. Jimin’s tone was too harsh and we let him know that. After you wouldn’t answer my text we all went looking for you.”

Crap. So they did see me practice.

“How many times did you end up running through it?” There’s a guilt in his voice that I’ve never heard before, a tone that makes my heart tighten and feel heavy.

“Four or five before I stopped to write down some ideas. How much did you all see?” That’s a loaded question but it needs to be answered. Because if they saw me when I was topless then I need to make sure to wear lighter shirts from now on.

“Most of us stayed up until the second time around. Although Hobi and Jimin stayed until you finished.” Namjoon scratches his neck nervously before continuing to work on the song in front of him.

“Fantastic, looks like I can die of embarrassment now. Let my family know I love them.” Being dramatic I gently tap my forehead against the desk top before letting out a groan of defeat.

“Drama queen. It’s not bad though. I think it showed Jimin that you take everything you do seriously and that you aren’t playing around.”

Neither one of us talks for a few minutes, the only sound in the room is the clicking of his mouse and blips of music. My eyes feel heavy as my muscles start to relax after being abused for so long. Then my stomach growls and the room goes completely silent. Crap.

“I’m guessing you didn’t eat since you left practice. Go home and rest. Since you were hidden all day I’m going to assume you didn’t see the schedule for tomorrow.” Looking at him I wait for him to continue filling me in on everything I missed.

“We have a photoshoot tomorrow so you have a free day to work on ideas and concepts.”

My body reacts by sitting straight up and looking at Namjoon with wide eyes. A wide smile breaks out across my lips. So I can spend an entire day uninterrupted working. Perfect. Might as well get an early start.

“I’ll leave you be Namjoon. See you Wednesday I guess, be ready to dance your feet off.” Giggling I wave goodbye and run out of his studio with my new burst of energy. There’s a spring in my step as I pass by Yoongi and Hoseok’s studios. Both booming with music, but in Hoseok’s I can hear multiple voices talking. They probably are meeting up to talk over the tracks.

Going straight to the breakroom I start to make myself some coffee and pull out my phone to try and order take out. Once I get some food in my system I’ll be set and ready to go. Placing my order and paying, I leave instructions that I will meet them outside once they arrive.

“Thanks for making more. I’m going to need it.” I jumped at the sudden voice and turn to see Yoongi walking in the room with an empty cup. Shuffling to the side with my cup, I get ready to leave the room but his voice stops me again.

“Don’t stay too late y/n. You worked hard today.”

“No promises Yoongi. Have a good night.” I bow slightly as I go to exit the room but before I get out of earshot I hear him mumble something that made me smirk.

“You are just like us.”

#BTS jimin #park jimin #jimin x reader #bts smut #bts fanfic #park jimin fanfic

17 notes · View notes

ninjasmart · 4 years

Note

Ninja, how do I know if I'm meant to be with someone? I like someone from afar. He ofcourse doesn't know my existence. On one hand I don't have any expectations and I tell myself it's just a stupid crush. But sometimes I feel a such a strong pull, almost like our destinies are about to get intertwined soon. I don't know what's happening, I keep on getting minor hints that keep on reminding me of him. How do I know if this is just a stupid crush or can I expect something more from the Universe?

I hit the post before I could answer so here it is.

First, thank you for asking about this. It’s a cardinal rule in this Universe to not interfere unless you’re asked for help.

Second, even if you have mad compatibility aspects with someone it still does not mean that you are meant to be with that someone. Esoterically speaking and even astrologically, for connection can be counted the first time you lay eyes on each other. Preferably in person, but zoom is also an option these days.

From that moment on whatever aspects you two have could potentially play out. If you don’t meet for real it’s really not it. A further relationship cornerstone is when you exchange sexual energy. It is not my place to give advice to others about how often with how many and how quickly to have a sex with a guy. Everyone has a life and personal responsibility for it.

What I would mention is two things. Every man you sleep with, you exchange life energy and karma with him. The woman gives the man receives. If the guy has a bad karma you take it onto yourself. This is what we women do - we transform the bad karma of the man and give him life force, creative energy so that he can conquer the world.

I personally go to great lengths - I mean, past life regressions, akashic records, astrology, tarot before I sleep with a guy. Two things I want to figure out about him - does he have the type of karma I don’t want to deal with (I once had the mistake of sleeping with a guy who turned out to be into financial fraud and 365 days after I cut it with him I finally stopped having people from all over the place stealing money from me) and the second thing is - what’s in it for me. If a guy can significantly uplevel his life just buy having me in his life, why should I give him my energy. It’s not a given. What does he have to offer in return? Will he be kind, dependable, protective, will he be a user. I wanna know what’s in the water before I jump with both feet ;)

The second thing about sleeping with a guy is that he connects with you and for 7 years he draws from your life force. That’s why it’s a good thing for a weak man to sleep with a lot of women and not a good thing for a woman to sleep with a lot of guys. She’ll be depleted of feminine energy and there’s even some women who turn into strong male energy where they find weak men and suck their life force.

The next key date for a relationship is betrothal - could be with a ring but even a promise to be together or to “never forget you and always be in your heart” is a betrothal that should not be taken lightly. This is the time when each of the partners brings their ancestral karma in the mix. The final stage of a young relationship is marriage. This is the time when the two people form their own energetic nucleus which has some mix of past relationships, family karma, personal karma and past lives of both partners but also has its own energy. Then there’s changes with each child that comes to the mix but that’s another story.

With all that - if you have not seen someone in person it is more important to find out what that hope / dream / obsession / fantasy is giving you than to drill more into when what and how to meet the guy or girl. So here’s my advice for you:

1. Leave it to God. Some things are not in your hands. Allow the Higher Power to be on your side and to bring you the best life conditions for the expansion of your soul and the best life lessons you might have.

2. If you really want to do something about it and you are a woman - do not act like a man about it. There’s so many women today that have forgotten how to be a woman. A woman does not go out into the world to meet her destiny. A woman harnesses her feminine energy at home. She dances, she cooks, she cleans, she makes handmade stuff. That’s how a woman becomes energetically powerful and attracts what she wants in life.

3. You can do a Parvati offering, if you’re a woman. For 16 Mondays wear all white, cook all white food (rice, milk, cheese) and ask for Goddess Parvati to help you meet your soulmate. Just remember to not name names. You might thing someone is your soulmate but you might be b*shi**ing yourself. So ask for the man you’re connected with the red string of fate to come find you, to come closer to you.

And believe that it can happen. A man can literally travel 17 hours just to meet you for afternoon tea. Because he wants to and because he can.

4. What’s the payoff of holding on to this dream? Be very specific about it. I’ll give a few examples:

- You’re lonely and dreaming and fantasizing about a man is filling up the loneliness void in your life, plus it’s cheaper than drinking till you blackout.

- It’s an addiction that looks harmless at first glance but it really isn’t. It seems that you’re not hurting anybody, just lusting about a person you have never met. It’s innocent, no harm done. Right? Wrong. You’re sending him your life force, you’re gifting it to him with zero return to you, you’re also closing yourself vibrationally to an available guy who can actually find you, you give off the “I’m taken” vibe and that’s a strong repellent to men who are ready for relationship and commitment

- It’s a way to avoid reality because reality is sh***ty and in your dream reality you can be as glam and victorious as can be.

Well I have some news for you. Life is a mess. Most likely your life will be a disappointment, will not happen how you wanted it to happen, things will go sideways and you won’t be able to do anything about it, you’ll ask yourself more than once in your life - what’s the point, what do I do now, this is a dead end, why are others happy, in love, with money, with career, with kids, without a care in the world and I am not like them, I’m back at square one, I can’t do this any more. And let me tell you - it doesn’t matter where you’re born, what color your skin is, how well you were raised, how much you have or don’t have - you will go through this. Everyone does.

And finally, what I really wanted to tell you. It is a choice to obsess about someone. It’s a choice to not live in the reality of your life. Many people do it. Many people escape reality with food, mindless sex, spending on stuff, holidaying all year long, watching netflix or porn or news all day long. But that’s all that is - an escapism, a choice to not face reality but live in a fantasy world (I do it too. I’m not above it all. I watch c-drama to practice my mandarin but really, to have that fairy tale ending where the good girl gets the guy). Same with drinking and using drugs or smoking or junk food/dolce foods. Just that with the vices that can kill you faster it’s more obvious that it’s not good for you. With escapism not so much. It’s the same as consumerism. You think you need stuff but then covid comes and you realize that people who care for you are more precious than the next thing you can buy.

I’ll leave you with two things you can think of.

1. Ask yourself: Why do you really want this person? What’s the benefit for you?

2. If you knew that holding onto “I want That” is going to push That away from you (you may think that you focus on “I want that” but you actually focus on “I don’t have that” and you push it away) and if you knew that with this dream you’re keeping the space for the most amazing man or woman to come into your life and thus are missing out on opportunities to actually meet your happiness (even if you have a soul contract with someone if you do not meet during the time to meet a soulmate and a husband / wife, it’s not going to work, speaking from experience), would you still subject yourself to a future of single woman / man with cats and dogs? Or would you take full responsibility for the missed life while high on escapism and look at your reality exactly as it is and maybe go from wherever you are in life.

#twinflame soulmate soulcontracts

5 notes · View notes

hide-in-imagination · 4 years

Text

“Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Christmas Sucks (or perhaps not)” - A Simbar Oneshot

Helloo ⭐️ I finally finished this! I’m so excited, it’s been so long since I wrote something so light, and it’s also the first time I write a Christmas story, so I hope you like it. The title is supposed to be read at the rhythm of ‘Jingle Bell Rock’, by the way. And this story is an AU so some stuff is different from the show.

Now, I know it’s still November, but I wanted to show you guys this and see what you think. I don’t plan on posting it on my other sites for a while, so consider yourselves beta readers! I’d really love to know your opinions.

Without further ado, enjoy!

Christmas was the most depressing season.

Anyone who said otherwise was either lying, selling something, or was just too carefree.

Ámbar envied the last bunch, she really did, because she dreaded Christmas season. Where most people bought eggnog and tree ornaments and counted down the days to meet with their families and have a nice time, Ámbar bought herself a bottle of liquor and made her own countdown by drinking one good-sized glass every day.

Don’t take her wrong, it’s not like she hated Christmas or something. (And who could really hate getting presents? Even if you didn’t like them, you could sell them and get free money). She wasn’t an old grumpy lady, too bitter to find joy in anything. She was quite young in fact, only 25, with a college degree, a great job—basically at the best time of her life.

It wasn’t that Ámbar hated Christmas; it was that Christmas was the time of the year in which everything that was wrong in your life got highlighted like a neon sign.

Christmas season was the time when everyone was supposed to be happy, and excited, and just, well, be jolly. And it was that social dictamen of having to be happy that pointed out the stuff you weren’t so happy about. Like, for example, the fact that her parents were out in a business trip (as always) and only sent her a Merry Christmas through text message, or the fact that she couldn’t stop wondering if her biological parents were out there making Christmas arrangements with an offspring they did keep, or the fact that she would have to endure a Christmas dinner party with the cousin that she despised, or the fact that all her friends were going to be spending the holidays with their boyfriends while Ámbar hadn’t had a lasting relationship since a douchebag cheated on her with the previously mentioned cousin.

The icing on the cake? Her ex-douchebag would be there too because he was still with her cousin.

Honestly, the rest of the year Ámbar didn’t give a shit about all of that. Yes, her parents traveled a lot and had always placed some very high expectations on her, but they loved her, and they had spoiled her rotten in the material department, so she had always had pretty much anything she wanted. Ámbar always knew she was adopted so she had had years to come to terms with that and she was okay with it. The thing with Matteo (a.k.a the douche) had been a long time ago and it’s not like that relationship had been very profound to begin with. Her cousin Luna had apologized profoundly, many times, and even though Ámbar still found her obnoxious, she had buried the hatchet. And last but not least, Ámbar didn’t even need a boyfriend. She was happy for her friends that had one of course, but she was perfectly content on her own. She loved her job and having a relationship would just take time off her busy schedule.

Ámbar liked her life, it was a pretty good life, but like she said before… Christmas. The goddamned you’re-a-fucking-failure-if-you’re-not-conventionally-happy Christmas.

Considering her reservations, one would wonder why she was even going to the Christmas family dinner anyway. The truth was that, albeit her feelings about Christmas, she went every year, and the reason behind that was that it was her grandpa who held it.

With her parents always traveling for work, Ámbar had in big part been raised by her grandpa. He wasn’t like the typical grouchy old man who did nothing but complain and yell at the television. Her grandpa was the life of the party, an eternal young soul; in fact, she swore he had more spark inside him than her. She loved him with all her heart, and ever since she had moved out of the house to her own place, she made it a point to visit him at least once a week and attend the Christmas dinner party he threw every year at her old house. (No matter how painful those could end up being.)

So, like every year, she made her way to her childhood house earlier than everyone else to spend some time with her grandpa. Christmas carols were already playing softly when she crossed the front door. Her grandpa saw her immediately and received her with a strong warm hug that she happily returned. The instant he let go, he grinned widely at her and told her she looked absolutely beautiful, making her blush. Ámbar had put on a sleeveless red A-line dress with a bow on the chest (no one could say she didn’t have Christmas spirit like that, right?), accompanied by black heels. She hadn’t done anything with her hair (why bother, she gathered) and instead just let her blonde strands fall freely over her shoulders. She thanked her grandpa with grace (she knew there was no use in trying to convince him that she didn’t look that different from usual) and told him he looked very handsome as well with his black pants, white shirt, golden vest and bowtie.

She also praised him for how beautiful the house looked. He had done a really great job with decorations; every wall was filled with tinsel garlands, Christmas ball ornaments, and lights of different colors. There were also some Santa Claus dolls scattered around, and the Christmas tree in the corner of the living room was as huge and shiny and beautiful as always. She had also seen on her way in the lighted reindeer he always put at the front yard of the house. Ámbar remembered how she loved to climb on top of it when she was little as if to ride him (not when the lights were on, of course). She had continued to do so until her weight was too much and she had actually sunk its back a bit. She had cried when she noticed, but her grandpa had told her that it was okay, that now that dent made it even more special.

-----------------

Over time, all the guests arrived at the house, slowly filling the place. This year, it consisted of three pairs of uncles and aunts, including Luna’s parents (whom Ámbar greeted kindly because they were actually very good people and she didn’t blame them for their daughters’ mistakes), one older cousin with his wife (who was pregnant, Ámbar noticed, and she congratulated them happily) and one older cousin with her four-year-old son and husband. (Last year, their son had thought it was funny to throw ball ornaments at her back when no one was looking. She internally prayed something like that wouldn’t happen again.)

Ámbar stayed talking with her grandpa until the staff he had hired for the event announced that dinner was ready. Her grandpa invited everyone to go to the dining room and take a seat at the large table, impeccably set and filled to the brim with different choices of salads and drinks.

Ámbar immediately pondered which would be her venom of choice for the night. Getting drunk at friends’ gatherings was normal, it could even be the point of it, but getting drunk at a family event could almost surely mean humiliation for the rest of her life. Therefore, Ámbar always kept her consumption of alcohol to one glass during dinner and one afterward. Just enough to endure hours of pointless small talk and, if lucky, manage to have fun.

Just as everyone had taken their seats, the front bell rung. Her grandpa told everyone to remain sited while he stood up to go open the door. He loved playing host. And considering that there were only two people missing in the reunion, it wasn’t surprising that he wanted to receive them.

“Luna!” Grandpa’s voice resounded vibrant and happy. “We were waiting for you!”

Talk for yourself, Ámbar thought.

Indeed, after about a minute of muffled conversation, Luna appeared through the dining room’s doorway. Late, as always. Ámbar swore her cousin was always running from one place to another, she seemed incapable to plan ahead and organize her time. Judging by how some brown strands had broken loose from the side braid she had put her hair in, that day was not an exception.

What did surprise Ámbar though was that Luna didn’t only arrive with Matteo like she said she would but also with another guy by her side. Did her little cousin have a harem now?

As Luna greeted everyone and apologized for being late, Ámbar observed the new guy. He was tall but not monstrously so; about 1.80 she’d say, with brown hair and eyes. His skin was tanned and he had a boyish look to him. While Matteo wore a grey vest and black-tie combo, the stranger wore a dark green checkered shirt over black fitted jeans. It made him look more casual, but not less groomed for it.

Luna, clothed in a pink dress so very like her, introduced the guy as Simón, a friend from College. Simón greeted everyone with a friendly smile and an awkward wave of his hand. His voice was smooth and nice. It was clear he felt weird about being there but tried to hide it. Not like anyone could blame him, being surrounded by other people’s relatives that had nothing to do with him. As everyone greeted him back politely, his eyes made a quick scan around the room. When they connected with Ámbar’s, Simón’s smile faltered a little.

It was a flash reaction, but Ámbar noticed. She felt a little proud of it too, but then she remembered that most people there was middle-aged and deemed that catching his attention was in fact not an achievement.

The trio sat down and it was only then that Ámbar noticed there had been three empty seats on the table. Apparently, Luna had told their grandpa in advance that her friend would be coming— And thank god for that, because grabbing another chair, plate, and silverware just for him while everyone else stared would’ve been very awkward.

After the food was served, one of her aunts, the one that liked to call herself sociable but Ámbar would actually call nosy, asked Simón why he wasn’t spending Christmas with his family. ‘If I may ask’, she added all politely at the end, as if she hadn’t already voiced a question that could very much make him and everyone else uncomfortable if his family had kicked him out of the house or something.

Luckily, Simón didn’t seem fazed at all. He just casually explained that his family had been stranded on another country due to a snowstorm, and since it had been with such short notice, he hadn’t been able to join them over there.

“Well, we’re more than happy to have you,” her grandpa said with a warm smile.

Ámbar felt a little twinge of comradery towards the stranger. The number one unwritten rule of the social dictamen of Christmas was that you were supposed to spend it with family. Just the fact that he had ended up on his own was sad, but it was also sad that apparently his whole family had gone on vacations without him. Did they have a bad relationship or was he just busy? Maybe he had a demanding job that he couldn’t abandon for a couple days? Maybe someone had to stay to take care of the pets? Did they even have pets?

What did she care anyway?

Well, since the whole ordeal would last a good couple of hours, she had time to kill— might as well spend it making up scenarios in her head about the guy.

And if she was 100% honest, he wasn’t a pain to look at. Not underwear-model gorgeous or sex-appeal-off-the-charts-let’s-have-a-one-night-stand-with-him hot; but he was cute. She liked his smile. And he seemed to smile a lot. It seemed genuine too, not a I’m-surrounded-by-strangers-smiling-is-my-self-defense kind of smile, but a real, happy one. It probably helped that no one tried to smother him with questions after the rude one her aunt made, allowing him to just enjoy the food and converse with Luna and Matteo. He seemed to really get along with them.

At one point, his eyes connected with hers and Ámbar rapidly moved her gaze away. Had he caught her staring? Well, she wasn’t exactly staring, it was just short glances she threw his way from time to time out of curiosity, but maybe he’d think she had been staring and that would be very embarrassing.

For the rest of the dinner, Ámbar made a point of not looking in his direction unless absolutely necessary.

-----------

By the time he talked to her, Ámbar had already picked the names of the three imaginary dogs he owned, had pinned him to be a social worker working in a very difficult case of child abuse because of which he couldn’t leave the country (the jury was still out, but she had faith he could win it), had picked imaginary jobs for his parents which allowed them to spend on plane tickets and accommodations abroad, and had deemed him single for at least six months now.

(The last part was only for her own amusement.)

After dinner, everyone had moved back to the living room to chat and joke around merrily. For about half an hour, Ámbar had done small talk with her relatives, but after the third comment from her aunt Susan about how at her age she was already married with children, she excused herself and moved to stand next to the snack table.

It was as she was nursing her already half-empty glass of wine that Simón came to stand by her side.

“Hi, can I join you?” He asked shyly. “You’re the only one who looks my age and I don’t feel like being the third wheel all night.”

Ámbar looked over his shoulder and yes, indeed, her little cousin and Matteo were flirting and being all adorable for some, cringe-worthy for others.

“Yes, of course,” she replied, showing a welcoming smile to make him relax. She spun toward the table to grab a small silver tray and offered it to him. “Christmas cookies?”

“Oh, thank you,” he smiled and grabbed a gingerbread man.

Ámbar put the tray back and played with the glass of wine in her hands only to have something to do with them. She stared forward, pretending to be appreciating the cheery view of people talking and laughing around the Christmas tree— Anything to not show she was nervous. Especially when she could see him staring at her from the corner of her eye. Was he checking her out? Did she want him to?

“So, um, Ámbar, right?”

Ámbar finally turned to face him. With his eyes focused on her, the fluttering in her stomach got a little stronger, but she managed to keep a casual demeanor.

“Yes. And you’re Simón?” She said more like a question than a statement, even though she had already memorized his name. He didn’t need to know that.

Looking a little more loosened now that she hadn’t ignored him or told him to get lost, he smiled at her and offered a hand in greeting. “Simón Álvarez. Very nice to meet you.”

Ámbar placed her glass in her left hand to shake his hand. “Nice to meet you too,” she said half chuckling, amused by the formal gesture. Judging by the way his smile widened, it had been the intention.

“So, where are the rest of the Álvarez?” She asked curiously and took a sip from her drink.

“In London,” he replied. “My mom had always wanted to go there, and everyone got excited with the idea of experiencing Christmas season covered in snow like in the movies, so there they went.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Looks like that backfired spectacularly.”

He laughed. “Yeah, it did. Well, it did for me. Them? I think they’re having a blast. They’ve sent me like a hundred pictures and my little sister won’t stop posting Instagram stories.” He chuckled and then sighed. “I wish I was with them.”

“Why aren’t you? I mean, why didn’t you go with them?” Ámbar asked and felt herself fill with anticipation. She’d finally get the answer to the question she had been turning around in her head all night.

“I would’ve loved to, but I had a concert with my band and I couldn’t abandon them.”

Okay, that is so not what she would’ve guessed.

Now the original question was answered, but Ámbar had a thousand new ones.

“A concert?” Was the first one that left her lips.

“Yeah. Not like a huge thing, we’re not very known… yet,” he added, whether out of confidence or to try and convince himself of it, she didn’t know. “But still, every opportunity is important and it’s amazing to connect with the audience. You know that they’re there to see you, that they could’ve chosen any other thing to do but they chose your music, and when they sing back the lyrics to you it’s just…” He took a deep breath and exhaled contentedly. “It’s really magical. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s great.”

All the excitement with which he talked and the sparkle in his eyes was captivating. Ámbar didn’t know if she loved something that much. She found herself wishing she did.

“So, you play?” She asked him, wanting to hear him talk more.

“Yeah, I play the guitar and sing too.”

Sing?

“Really?”

Simón chuckled lightly at her surprise. “Yes, really. Why?”

Because you can’t look like that and sing, that’s unfair, that’s illegal.

Stuck in denial (and even almost a little angry because, seriously, it wasn’t fair), she blurted:

“But Luna said you two met in College.”

It was only after it was out of her mouth that she realized how bad that sounded.

Lucky for her, he just laughed.

“You can study music in College, you know?” He said with an eyebrow raise. Thank god her foot in mouth seemed to amuse him.

“Yes, of course, sorry. How silly of me.” God, was she blushing? She’d better not be blushing.

“Nah, it’s okay,” he said laid-back. “It’s funny to be pinned as a College dropout who turns to music to rebel against the system.”

She wondered what he’d think about her version of his life where he was fiercely battling to take a six-year-old girl away from her physically abusive dad and alcoholic mother.

Not like she was ever going to mention that.

“I never said anything about rebelling. In fact, you look the complete opposite of a rebel. I’d know,” she said bringing her glass to her lips, “I was one.”

A glint appeared in his eyes and he crossed his arms, turning to face her completely.

“I’d ask more about what I look like, but I’m more interested in what you mean by you being a rebel,” he said, everything in his manner telling her that she had his full attention.

Ámbar just dismissed it with a shrug. “It was a phase I had in high school. Black clothing, dark makeup, dyed hair; you know the drill.”

He rose his eyebrows impressed. “Really? And what pushed you to go full emo?”

“Punk,” she corrected. “And it was a mix of things. A lot of changes in my personal life, including Luna stealing my boyfriend—”

“Oh.”

“—But mostly it was discovering that no one really like me.”

He frowned and his arms fell to his sides again. “What do you mean?”

Ámbar paused, considering whether she should tell him or not. It was a long time ago, but it was personal, more than she’d like to admit. And it wasn’t a very cheery conversation topic, she didn’t want to bum him.

She could’ve just said ‘forget it’ and talk about something else; it would’ve been easy... But something in his expression, in his gaze, told her it would be okay to tell him.

“I was popular in high school. Every girl wanted to be me, every boy wanted to get with me… I was very proud, and selfish. After the whole thing with Matteo, I found out that many people knew about his cheating and no one had deemed to tell me, not even the girls I thought were my friends. Everyone was even rooting for him, encouraging him to cheat on me because I was a bitch and I deserved it.” She took a sip from her glass, swallowing the bitter taste that remembering that time left in her mouth. “So I thought ‘Fuck it.’ If they think of me as a mean girl, then I’ll be one. I don’t need any of them.”

Simón stared at her looking deeply dismayed.

“Ámbar, that’s…” One of his hands reached up as if to touch her forearm, but he seemed to think better of it and lowered it again. “That’s terrible. I can’t believe not even your friends supported you.”

She shrugged. “It’s okay. Eventually, I came to realize that I pretty much deserved it. I wasn’t exactly nice. I manipulated people to get what I wanted, attacked people who got in my way…”

He shook his head. “That’s not excuse for everyone to stab you in the back,” he retorted emphatically. “If they had a problem with you, they could’ve come straight to you and say it instead of laughing secretively at you getting cheated on. No one deserves that.”

Her eyes searched his for long moments, looking for any kind of falsity or pity, but all she found was sadness and anger on her behalf.

No one had ever said that to her before. There was always a ‘but’: ‘Yes, Matteo shouldn’t have done that, but…’ ‘Luna made a mistake, but…’ ‘Ámbar, I know what I did was wrong, but…’

No one had ever taken her side like that.

After a while, she cleared her throat and lowered her gaze. The moment had stretched too long and the energy in the air had changed in a way that she couldn’t keep his eyes anymore.

“Well, it’s in the past. It helped me figure out who I am and who I wanted to be, so I think everything turned out for the best.”

“I’m so sorry that happened to you, Ámbar,” he told her genuinely. Then he paused, and she was about to change the topic completely when he added: “But I agree. You grew into a very amazing woman.”

Ámbar’s eyes jumped back to him, wide. His expression was earnest, just as before. It didn’t budge under her gaze nor showed it was a joke.

She felt herself blush and deflected on instinct. “You don’t even know me.”

“I’ve seen enough,” he replied easily, almost with conviction. “But feel free to tell me more about yourself,” he told her with a playful twinkle in his eyes, matching his smile. “Maybe you’ll change my mind.”

The obvious intent behind his word had Ámbar fighting to quench a smile of her own. “Or maybe I’ll bore you to death.”

“I’m willing to take my chances,” he told her, staring into her eyes.

The question was: was she?

Ámbar drank the last of her wine and turned to leave the empty glass on top of the table. She turned back around, playing with her fingers. She took a breath, opened her mouth—

“Oh my god, you guys, look!”

Ámbar almost jumped at the high voice, haven momentarily forgotten that there were other people in the room. She turned her head to see her cousin Sara smiling excitedly with an arm raised.

Ámbar frowned and looked up to where she was pointing.

Immediately, her heart stopped in her chest.

Hanging above her head, between her and Simón, was a green bouquet with white small berries that could not be mistaken as anything else but mistletoe.

Oh, come on! Ámbar screamed internally. Who hangs mistletoe right next to the snack table?! That’s like pushing literally everyone to kiss!

Then again, that might have been the strategic idea behind it. She could totally see her grandpa thinking it’d be funny.

Be that as it may, it didn’t change her current situation.

Ámbar lowered her gaze toward Simón and their eyes met. She could see his gaze drop to her lips and then move back up. He kept his eyes locked to hers, searching. A silent question.

Ámbar could feel her heartbeat going at a thousand beats per hour. He hadn’t moved a muscle and yet she was already that affected. She had been affected the whole evening if she was honest, and that scared her because she wasn’t usually like that. He was just a guy, she didn’t even know him, not really, and yet… And yet.

It felt like an eternity passed like that, with both just staring at each other, but it was probably no more than a couple seconds; it was her heart going into overdrive what made everything else seem in slow motion.

Then something changed in Simón’s eyes. The intensity disappeared and was replaced by something that looked like understanding. Ámbar saw him let out a breath (which made her realize that she too had held her breath at some point) and then a sweet smile formed in his face.

A second later, he leaned down and placed an equally sweet kiss on her forehead.

“There.”

Boos and complaints could be heard around the room, calling him boring, but Simón just laughed and appeased everyone with a smile.

Ámbar was left reeling. A lot of feelings mixed within herself: relief, disappointment, confusion, giddiness...

She thought he was going to kiss her. He clearly wanted to; she could see in his eyes. But he didn’t. Were many others would have, he chose not to take advantage of the situation.

That was what pushed her forward to grab his face, pull him down and kiss him on the mouth.

‘Woooo!’s sounded around them, but Ámbar lost focus on everything that wasn’t Simón’s lips on her own. He had been caught by surprise, but soon his mouth was moving with hers, discovering, tasting, and his hands rose to hold her waist gently.

It was the most tender kiss Ámbar had ever been given. She melted against the softness of Simón’s lips and got drunk on the smell of his cologne. Everything felt so wonderful she almost lost herself and deepened the kiss, but thankfully, her brain maintained at least some part of its functions and she was able to remember that they had an audience. And not just any audience— her family.

Reluctantly (and embarrassed, because she didn’t know how long the kiss had been but it most probably had been longer than necessary), Ámbar pulled away and opened her eyes. She immediately found his gaze and saw that his eyes were staring back at her with something that resembled awe. She became aware of his heartbeat under her palms, seeming to be trying to break free of its confines and reach her. Her own heart seemed to have similar thoughts.

It was the heartbeats that made her realize she still had her hands on his chest (they had fallen there at some point without her conscient knowledge) and his hands were still around her waist. Rapidly, she snapped out of it and took a step back, breaking the intimate embrace. She joined her hands in front of her and turned to everyone with a very practiced smile, speaking with a grace and casualness that she definitely wasn’t feeling.

“Okay, tradition’s fulfilled, show’s over, you can all go back to your lives now.”

She received a couple chuckles but people did just that, getting back to whatever they were doing before the public display they forced on her. Maybe she got looks from some of them, maybe not; to be honest, Ámbar had mastered long ago the ability of looking at a crowd without focusing on anyone in particular, avoiding eye contact flawlessly.

Even after everyone’s focus was somewhere else, Ámbar kept her eyes forward, unable to turn around and look at him. Awkward silence fell between them and she found she couldn’t bear it, so before she could stop herself, she started rambling out of control, words and words running out of her mouth in seemingly one breath.

“Why do people have to kiss under mistletoe anyway? I mean, where did that tradition come from? What does it mean? Does it bring good luck or something? Why would it? It doesn’t really make sense, does it?”

Simón, from his part, seemed barely articulate.

“Uh, I… I don’t,” he cleared his throat, “I don’t know, I’ve got no idea.”

“Yeah, me neither.”

Silenced stretched between them again, still awkward.

Simón broke it this time.

“I, um… I think I like it though. The tradition.”

Slowly, they turned their heads and met each other’s gaze. After about three seconds, both broke into a fit of giggles.

It was a nervous laugh, but it was the good kind of nervous. Ámbar hadn’t felt like that in a very long time, and suddenly, that wasn’t scary anymore. She liked it, and the fact he seemed to feel the same made her inexplicably happy.

When they stopped laughing, they just smiled at each other; simple and easy. Simón offered the tray of cookies to Ámbar and she grabbed one gratefully. He grabbed one for himself and both enjoyed them at ease.

So, okay, maybe Christmas wasn’t the worst time of the year…

Or maybe it just depended on who you spent it with.

…

#simbar #simbar fanfic #simbar fanfiction #simbar fic #My Writing #short writings

33 notes · View notes

stand-of-fish · 5 years

Text

Just a Taste

A/N: I honestly hope I finish this. Should be 3 or 4 chapters in total, maybe less. I don’t know too much about African culture and how it all works at this time of the year but it’s just me incorporating vague themes for a fic. So hope I’m not stepping on toes or anything like that with this fic.

Summary: You get to meet King T’Challa who seemed to be a big fan of America’s Halloween. Especially Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Funnily enough, you dressed as ripe little Mina for the taking.

Tags: Blood and Blood Sucking, Instant Attraction, Biting(vicious and otherwise)

Warnings: 18+, Death

For my sisters and aunties out there needing black fantasy and fiction for us and by us. All my love. Definitely not nervous about this. Not nervous at all lol.

1.7K+ words

................................................................................................................................

T’Challa wondered what was going on with himself as he stood in front of the full body-length mirror. He had been sweating heavily as a blast of pure, hot hunger, which hit him an hour ago raged on. He attempted for the third time to stretch the arms of his dashiki inspired blazer, which clung tight to his arms and showed off thick muscles with no success.

Being uncomfortable and hungry was just not on the agenda of the King’s tonight.

He gave up with a shake of his head and thanked Bast that he was able to blot away the unwanted moisture on his forehead and neck after a few minutes of meticulous drying, making sure that he got every spot. The towel, barely dampened was handed off to him per his request by a server who could not keep her eyes off of him. Her eyes, unnaturally predatory- roamed his body before taking her time to leave. He shivered and smiled graciously, if not uncomfortably at her before thanking and sending her away. After all, it paid to be polite even in the face of possibly compromising situations.

He was supposed to be the predator after all. But that one. He’d have to watch out for her as he filed away her face for later use so he could avoid her.

Not wanting to deal with her lust or anyone else’s adding fuel to the fire, or even bringing about the monstrous side of himself too early into the night before getting a chance to enjoy the celebration- he barred entry of his rooms to everyone but the Dora Milaje. He wasn’t impulsive or dangerous. Just grumpy and even more hungrier than before.

Thinking about the meal he leisurely enjoyed not even 24 hours ago. He was under the assumption that he could make it through the day with no hindrances such as this. He always fed a full day before events and meetings because it was never good to deal with stress on a full stomach, especially for him. Vampires rejecting blood because of their bodies stress factors never bode well for any one vampire. They either sweat it out or vomited point blank unless they could quickly find a bathroom. Otherwise, the room wouldlook like a scene from the original Carrie film as she went on a vengeful, murderous rage. It didn’t help that his fangs, now that he thought about it, slid out so quickly from their hidden spaces in his gums which made him groan in bliss- the sweet pressure being lifted from his head.

With everyone on his team throwing their all into a Wakandan inspired Halloween party after Shuri had told him and their mother about it 6 years ago. She made sure to show him holo-vids, photos and even planned invites to other celebrations accordingly. T’Challa could not deny being a bit jealous himself that his sister had been able to enjoy those parties while he’d had to stay back and deal with diplomatic and international affairs.

He. Was. Hooked.

They’d made it tradition to host a festival or party every year after that moment. The small Panther Clan had come to love every bit of the holiday with its spooky decorations, costumes, candies and traditions behind it. Especially the pumpkin-carving.

It was so easy to try to incorporate things from their culture into it and create a mix by tracing traditional clan and tribal masks into the largest of pumpkins and painted with family colors by elders and children. The last bits which were the preferable Kimoyo bead lamplight that switched on and off with a snap of the fingers and levitated, gave off no heat. They made the decorative plant-based ornaments shine like no other.

Seeing his people in Wakanda and America coming together to just enjoy themselves this way always made him happy. He was surprised and awed at seeing his and his sister’s ideas, really her work firsthand. It made for integration with home bases go smoother than anything else they’d ever done. Schooling and better job opportunities for their brothers and sisters and their children, a close second. They were the number one priority by all means to build trust and support; but having the funds and proper locations for safety, security and functionality was always preferable.

Halloween had made him hungrier than any other time of the year for whatever reason. He once briefly considered it being what the Americans called it- the Harvest Moon, which could’ve been a possibility that aided in affecting him but quickly brushed it away. He wasn’t superstitious but he did have sets of religious and magical practices that he followed within his own culture.

He was ever curious about mortals who would dress up as supernatural creatures and parade around as if they were nothing more than masks, stories. They were very brave to parade around as creatures they didn’t know existed beside them, truly roamed the world. It was for one night anyway so why bother?

Giving himself a cursory once over and sniff before nodding in confirmation that he was ready to go down to the party as soon as he was notified of the last guest arriving.

Okoye approached the doorway of T'Challa's open wardrobe hesitantly. “My King- Are you alright?” She asked after some time, frowning. She stepped further into the room and noticed that her King was silently brooding. His was a little paler than usual, almost like a ashy tone took ahold.

He looked to be in the beginning stages of his hunger.

It didn't feel right. She escorted the numerous donors to and from his personal quarters herself and assumed him to be adequately satisfied after he signaled he was done for the night just the other day. She immediately stepped forward and offered up her wrist.

She inquired again, but softly this time sympathetically. “My King?”

Snapping out of his almost trance, he looked at her and politely declined. Covering his mouth, he muffled out, “I should be fine Okoye. I still do have blood in the cooler.” He motioned to the compact fridge with a clear door with his free hand. Three drawers stacked on top of the other holding bags of cold blood that would be quick and somewhat filling until he could get his next warm meal.

Okoye waited a moment for any change. T'Challa's eyes crinkled in delight and appreciation at her thoughts of him as she tapped the bottom of her spear on the floor before excusing herself.

This was one of those moments where he needed a little time to get his thoughts together.

One hour later~

T’Challa sighed and snatched a packet of Universal blood out of the cooler and snarled before biting into it. Careful not to make a mess of his outfit for tonight, he sucked the thick, cold blood down quickly and greedily. Once the plastic crinkled with emptiness in his hands, he threw the empty packet into the trash with precision from his chair. A booming voice as soon as it made it into the basket came from nowhere. “A perfect 3 points brother! Are you ready for the party? Everyone is accounted for and gathering into the main room.”

Shuri walked over to her brother and began brushing off invisible dust from the shoulder of his blazer and handed him a hat which perfectly added to his look.

“You look good brother!”

“So do you sister.” He glanced curiously at her well put together cosplay of a character from a show she called Cannon Busters. S. A. M. as he recalled. From a ‘fire anime’ as her and her American friends mentioned.

T’Challa stood and grinned down at his sister before hugging her tight. Thinking about the not so recent fight slash inner country war that happened with Erik and traitors from their country who believed violence was the answer. It wasn’t as if T’Challa was blind to his people’s plight outside of Wakanda. He just didn’t know what to do or how to react to it all, admitting that he was foolish not to take a stand for what was right. It took for a near death ass-beating, a spirit talk with his Baba and some serious soul searching to truly realize how beneficial it would be to reach out with resources his people needed. Their people everywhere regardless of who liked it or not.

Shuri snatched back, yanking T’Challa out of his musings and patted his shoulders once more.

“Well I think that’s enough of that brother.” A knowing and sad smile ghosted her face as she dragged him from his wardrobe and room. “Come, we must see everyone and their ideas for this year. You might even get new features on your suit brother!”

“A tease sister, the suit is fine as it is so nothing funny this time. I'm onto you.” He linked his arm through Shuri’s and dutifully followed where she lead.

With a soft shlik, his fangs pulled back into their homes. The move reminding him of how his hunger was abated for now but he would still have to be careful around the guests so that there wasn’t any unexpected feats or surprises.

A comfortable pause fell over the Udaku siblings on the short journey to the downstairs wing where guests waited.

“Shuri… Do you ever find yourself hungrier during this time of the year?”

Watching her face for any similar symptoms, Shuri shook her head no.

“Maybe it is just you brother. There are more people than last year’s celebration showing up so it may be just your hunger. Excitement maybe. Is that why you had an emergency blood packet?”

He nodded after a pregnant pause, noting that since he had become the Panther, he’d grown thirstier than he generally was. Never taking more than 1-2 liters of blood from designated donors who lived near the house he currently owned and resided in.

Maybe this was another effect of him being stronger, faster, smarter after being brought back to life. He needed to compensate for the changes in his body and mind.

“Well, let us get to this party before we are late and Mother kills us both.” Excitement in his tone as they grew closer to the music seeping out double doors ahead.

“Agreed brother.” Shuri nodded and sped up toward the main hall where four Dora were standing guard, doors open to guests piling in from the foyer still.

With a nod, they acknowledged their King and Princess, who adjusted her wig before hooting and running into the crowd, joining her friends.

................................................................................................................................

Cannon Busters is a pretty great anime that was recently released on Netflix. Everybody black was in on it so I had to go and represent by watching. I did my best so I hope ya’ll enjoy it.

Tags: @thehomierobbstark @twinclaws @thorsthot @killmoncoochie

#t'challa #bp #black panther #supernatural #halloween #dashiki #costume #vampire #king #halloween party #blood sucking #blood drinking

3 notes · View notes

shyanlibrary · 6 years

Note

My boyfriend just broke up with me, could you recommend some fanfics to cheer me up? Thanks!

I’m very sorry, sweetheart. Here’s a fluff and comedy list (no angst):

And Longer If I Can by poetdameron

Summary: After Shane makes an "odd" question, Ryan can't stop thinking about the possible implications of it, obsession over the one conclusion most likely to (not) be: Shane is breaking up with him sometime soon.

Rated: T

Commentary: I wrote this one, so here’s a comment in it: “Oh my god!! I’m crying this was so intense and so sweet! That was the cutest [SPOILER] I’ve ever heard of and I loved how you really managed to build up the suspense so eventhough the audience knows it would be something like a proposal it was still tense and interesting leading up to it. Love your fics!”

under the stars by sincerelyleah

Summary: “I promised myself I would never fall in love with you. But it was four am, and we were laughing way too hard. I felt happy for the first time in a long time, and I knew I was screwed.”

Rated: G

Commentary: A sweet something you will be glad to have read once you are done. I loved it, it’s so sweet and warm, it makes me truly happy.

don’t you (forget about me) by ghostwheeze

Summary: Shane and Ryan are in love. There’s a proposal.

Rated: G

Commentary: Like I said before, I’m a sucker for proposals and this fic is just— it has a twist to it that is gonna make you scream. I love it.

Just The Thought Of His Touch (My Mind Explodes) by poetdameron

Summary: Ryan has the perfect height for forehead kisses, so what else can Shane do but kiss him?

Or, five times Shane kissed Ryan's forehead and one time Ryan kissed him first.

Rated: T

Commentary: I wrote this one, so here is a comment on it: “This is so sweet! I was smiling the whole time with how cute they are and aaaah, the idea of Shane kissing Ryan's forehead is so warm and soft, it makes me all sappy and jelly. The last part is so cute, too. Ryan worried for Shane and making him promise to be not die! SO CUTE! I'm gonna read your other fanfic now!”

if we’re gonna do this, we gotta do it now by floatingonthelehigh

Summary: “How did you convince me to come here again?”

“My irresistible charm, of course.”

Ryan’s mouth settles into a hard line. He’s not wrong.

(Shane gets Ryan to come to an old abandoned house with him. One of them, and you’ll never guess who, gets more than a little freaked out. Featuring: pure terror! confessions of love! and a somewhat-terrifying framed photograph of a woman!)

Rated: T

Commentary: Pure, sweet, loving fluff. Ryan gets a little angry at Shane but he deserves it, but at the end everything is right. I love this fic.

you want a piece of my heart (you better start from the start) by doctorkaitlyn

Summary: No Summary (Shyan College AU stories)

Rated: E

Commentary: Such a sweet AU. I’m not big on College Aus, but this one won my heart with how charming and original it is. I love the first fanfic, and the other two are just as lovely and warm.

mystery item by rycan_toucan

Summary: ” – okay. remember last week when you, jen, steven and i went drinking and i had, like, eight and a half shots of whiskey?“

“i specifically remember the half, yes.”

“impressive. anyway, i ended up not passing out when i got home and did some high quality online shopping, instead.”***

ryan bought a thing, they both find it extremely funny and have a good time.

Rated: T

Commentary: The boys are so silly and happy in this little thing, oh my God, I’m smiling as I remember this fic.

the proposal(s) by ghostwheeze

Summary: Two times Shane and Ryan pretended to propose and one time it was real.

Rated: G

Commentary: I tagged this as “chicken soup for the soul” because that’s what it is. It’s so cute and fluffy. I love it.

gayer than expected by juniperprose

Summary: Ryan sees Shane in his new glasses, and realizes that he may be less straight than he originally thought.

Rated: G

Commentary: NFNFINEIFRO, this one is so funny. I mean, just look at the title. Also, juniperProse is one of the best authors out there, you are gonna love this one.

i would like that by crimsonflowerz

Summary: The third person who knew Ryan was trans was the ghost that haunted his apartment.

Rated: T

Commentary: This one fanfic is the sweetest thing I’ve read and I love my boys so much in it. Ryan is precious and wonderful, and so damn relatable, while Shane is just– amazingly sweet and protective. Honestly, the way the author wrote them has me crying still and I’ve read this wonder a million times by now.

the lube fic by inkstainsonmyhands

Summary: Someone sends Ryan a 55-gallon drum of lube, and Shane finds a good use for it.

Rated: Not rated (M, I think)

Commentary: Like I have said before, Joey is the best and he always gives us the best content. This one is hot and funny. Also, it’s in his oneshots anthology, Between a Crucifix and the Hollywood Sign. This fic is so much fun… and has daddy kink, though.

por favor, sweetheart by carrieonfighting

Summary: Two dorks raise a baby and don’t even realise they’re doing it together until it’s too late

Alternatively, Ryan Bergara is Trying His Best Thanks

Rated: T

Commentary: This adorable fic made me so happy when I first read it, I want everyone to feel the same way. Boy, this is perfect. I really like this author’s narrative and POVs, this is strong writing at its best, and I really hope you enjoy it.

unsolved by areneecz

Summary: The fluff-fueled antics of Ryan Bergara and Shane Madej.

Rated: M (but not really, is like T)

Commentary: OH THIS ONE. It’s so good, so pure, so cute. Shane calls Ryan “sweetheart” and I just fucking MELTED.

seasonal affective (but you affect me more) by cactsu

Summary: Shane finds and calls a stranger’s number during a drunken night of looking through a phone book. Definitely an odd decision to make on his part, but it’s probably the best decision he’s ever made.Maybe this Christmas won’t suck so much after all.

Rated: G

Chapters: 4/6

Commentary: One of the most charming and wonderfully written AUs I’ve read in this fandom, with amazing characterization and dialogues. Shane’s POV is wonderful and the dialogue just perfect. I love this fic.

things you said in the moonlight. by idkspookystuff

Summary: Ryan invites Shane to spend the night, only he hasn’t told his boyfriend he’s transgender yet.orryan’s trans, he gets his period, and shane loves him despite everything.

Rated: T

Commentary: Such a sweet little fanfic that I love with all my heart. Trans Ryan AU, he and Shane had just started to date and everything is cute.

perfect by skepticseptic

Summary: They knew there was something going on between them. It was only a matter of time before one of them made a move.

Rated: G

Commentary: PURE, BEAUTIFUL, SOFT, FLUFF. You are going to die happy reading this one, I mean– it’s so beautiful and also based on one of my favorite songs in the world.

what’s the point of this again? by touchinghearts

Summary: When Ryan invites Shane back for a holiday week to meet his family during a big reunion, it doesn’t even occur to Shane that it could be a big deal.

Rated: T

Commentary: One of my favorite fanfics in the entire fandom. It’s heartwarming and portrays the best of all worlds Ryan’s multiple cultures have. It also has the wonder of having them in one of the best ways I have seen their relationship writen with one of the best endings overall. It’s a really sweet fic, everyone should read it.

keep you like an oath by spoopyy

Summary: "I’m in love with you,” Ryan says, desperate.

“No, you’re in love with the views.”

Rated: Not rated. (I’d say T)

Commentary: I’m all for fake dating and this fic is the only one that has actually explore this sort of AU in the fandom. It’s a lot of fun to read and Shane’s feelings are so intense, when Ryan has the realization that he has feelings for Shane is just– so good. All of it is amazing. This author, man. I’m so sad they aren’t posting anymore because their fics are some of the best in the whole fandom.

Unsolved Coffee Crimes by NightWinds

Summary: Ryan works at Unsolved Coffee Crimes, a café that specializes in not only coffee, but also crime solving!

Rated: G

Commentary: Beautiful piece right here! It has such a fun and cute concept in it, one of the best plots, and it escaltes quickly. Shane is just wonderful in this, I loved him with all my heart and just– this fic is really beautiful.

the supernatural’s not out to get you by kathakoito

Summary: Shane is cthulhu. Ryan’s a skeptic.

Rated: G

Commentary: Listen, I bookmarked this fic at AO3 as “WHEN TENTACLES ARE CUTE” and that’s all you need to know about it. This is one of my favorite fics in the fandom.

i think i’m still turning out by the_tenerife_sea

Summary: Shane is starting to think Ryan is using him for his baby, considering how much he’s already talked her up to all of their coworkers and friends.

____

Or the one where Shane is a new parent, and Ryan is always there for him (and his daughter, of course).

Rated: T

Commentary: This is actually part of a series, a good one if you may. It’s fluffy and it shows the good and bad of having a child, especially when one is not prepared. I’m not all that okay with the way Sara was writen, but it’s part of the story to some degree. Other than that, the truth is that it’s well writen and it’s sweet.

the holiday by anotherlostblogger

Summary: Up-and-coming LA producer Ryan Bergara and NY Times food columnist Steven Lim are both unlucky in love and eager to get away from their hometowns for Christmas. When they do a house-swap for the holiday season they might find more than they had initially expected.

HOO BOY everyone strap yo'selves in and get ready for the 2006 romcom mashup of your life.

Rated: M

Chapters: 11/12

Commentary: The Holiday is one of my favorite movies in the world, and this fic is based on it. A literal romcom! With two of my favorite ships! (shyan and standrew)! I need you to read this asap and be free of sadness, this is one of the cutest most warmest fics out there.

Like Sugar by poetdameron

Summary: Sunday mornings were never interesting, so Shane was totally not expecting a half naked guy sleeping on his couch, changing his every day just by existing.

Rated: T

Commentary: I wrote this one, from a comment on it: “This is adorable, they're so smitten and dorky and awkward when they realize they really want to go for it, and Ryan using the sugar excuse to finally move things along cracked me up. What goofs

something a demon would say by east (westage)

Summary: Ryan wants to prove that Shane is a demon, and/or an alien, and Shane just wants to ask Ryan out on a date.

“The jig is up, Shane Madej! I know what you really are!”

Rated: G

Commentary: This fic has one of my favorite endings of all time. It’s fun and funny, and characterization is wonderful. Also, Shane has a not-so-secret crush on Ryan and it’s adorable.

Do You Take This Man by touchinghearts

Summary: Ryan’s new favourite nickname for Shane is ‘husband’.

Rated: G

Commentary: Beautiful fic! A small piece with the purest, most wonderful fluff. Ideal for when shit is going down and you just need to smile a little. Also, great narrative and dialogues.

conflict of interest by spoopyy

Summary: Shane is a high school science teacher who really hates his job. He bumps into a passionate, but lonely history teacher named Ryan, who just might make teaching worth it.

Rated: Not rated.

Commentary: In this AU, Ryan and Shane are both teachers, and is the literal best thing in the world. A complete feel better fic, chicken soup for the soul, that doesn’t fall in the category of fluffy and simple. No, it’s so much more. It’s beautiful. It explores an actual relationship between adults and how two people fall in love as they get to know the other better.

fresh eyes by inkstainsonmyhands

Summary: Soulmate au where when you reach 18 you stop aging until you meet your soulmate? After a few years of being roommates (they were roommates through college and then just moved in together afterwards) shane and Ryan realize they’ve been slowly aging together (Bonus points if one of them realizes first and has to bring it up to the other person)

Rated: T

Commentary: This soulmate AU is such a cute little thing, I love it. It’s like a bunch of wonderful tropes in one well written and perfect fic.

mausoleum by ghostwheeze

Summary: How about…. Ryan and Shane are stuck in a room for some reason (Maybe the doorknob broke off…?) And Ryan is absolutely terrified. The sexual tension has been high between the two for a while and so Shane decides… fuck it, and does something to distract Ryan ;)

Rated: T

Commentary: This fic has something… something that makes me love it, and I’m sure you are gonna love it, too. It’s so good and hot, even if they are just— not doing... you know what, and yeeeeet. I love it.

maybe, kinda by babbyspanch

Summary: Ryan is having a tough day. Okay, tough week. Alright it’s been a tough few months but he’s got it handled okay? He’s handed over the editing of Unsolved to a team and now… well he’s still distracted, but he’s trying.

But, Shane just makes it really hard to focus.

Rated: G

Commentary: Such a sweet fic, man. I love the fluff in this… and the pining!

not-so spooky stuff by boysandghouls (blindedbythetomlinsun)

Summary: There’s a guy here. Shane has no clue if he works here or not, but, like, oh my god.

He’s scared. Of the animatronics.

“Now’s not a good time,” the guy snaps, but it’s hard to take him seriously when he flinches every time the motion-sensitive robots start to move.

“Just leave the corner,” Shane suggests, still chuckling at the sight.

“I don’t know how!” the man protests, yelping as one of the robots brushes against his shoulder. He immediately makes a beeline for Shane, staying at his side.

“What do you mean, you don’t know how?” Shane parrots incredulously.

or: Shane and Ryan accidentally get locked inside a Spirit Halloween after-hours.

Rated: G

Commentary: Shane’s POV in this fic is wonderful, It may be my favorite in thew hole fandom. He is so damn funny, and it melts so well with the story, it’s incredible. The dialogues here are great, too, especially because the characterization is very loyal to their actual voices. The plot is original and just fun. You gotta read it.

me and you by saturninemartial

Summary: “Have you ever thought about getting married?”“That’s a loaded question if I ever heard one.”“Never mind, forget I said anything.”

Rated: M

Chapters: 2/2

Commentary: The start of a series I’m very interested in. This lovely fic has all I love in my fluff: love, cuteness, marriage proposals and sweet lovemaking.

and i’m puffing my chest, getting red in the face by pissedofsandwich

Summary: “Zack’s going to be there?“ Shane asks, masking his… whatever it is he’s feeling in his chest, with nonchalance.

Ryan blinks. “Yes?”

Well, never mind dancing with the fucking sun. He’s Icarus, wings melted and falling face-first into the asphalt.

Or: Shane is definitely not at all jealous of how close Zack and Ryan are getting during the making of Sports Conspiracies. Except that he is.

Rated: T

Commentary: One of my favorite fanfics that also has jealous!Shane and one of the most funniest climax ever. All their co-workers are damn angels, you gotta read this, it’s incredible. Also, kudos to poor Zack having the rage of a jealous Shane Alexander Madej with a cup of coffee in his hands.

Thursday: Turquoise Taupe by shaniacbergara

Summary: Shane Madej’s hometown is…well, a little bit different than most. He and Ryan take a trip there.

Rated: G

Commentary: One of my favorite fics in the fandom. It has an original idea and it’s the first with this crossover that inspired a lot of fun things during the week it was posted. And as for the story, I really like the way Shane and Ryan’s relationship is writen, and how important it is to Shane that Ryan knows where he is from, and his family. The end of this fic is one of my favorites. Enjoy!

breathe out so i can breathe you in by trxshmxuth

Summary: They’ve been tiptoeing around each other for months now, walking on ice so thin that Ryan can practically see the sexual tension swirling and raging underneath. Ryan’s almost afraid that when the ice finally cracks, he’s not going to be able to resurface again.

On their next Unsolved investigation, the ice breaks.

Rated: M

Commentary: Another kinda cute smut fic that I love. I can’t say much because it’s short os you gotta read it, I’m just gonna say– it’s nice. Also, arousal from fear is something… that happens. I love it.

kiss me like you mean it by rocketshiptospace

Summary: “Hi,” Tall man says, taking in the sight in front of him. “I’m sorry, I heard banging and yelling and I just, are you okay?”

“No. Yes. Maybe,” Ryan says, slowly standing back up on two legs again. “My door won’t open.” He eventually ads, when him and Tall man have just stared at each other for a few seconds.

“That’s unfortunate,” Tall man says, smiling at him. He has a really nice smile. “But it happens. It’s an old building, you know. Doors get stuck sometime. Here, let me try,” He steps past Ryan, and places his hand on the door handle. The door swings open like it’s nothing.

or, Ryan’s apartment building plays matchmaker

Rated: G

Commentary: I second this rec. This is such a wonderful AU, so sweet and fluffy, and interesting with this idea that the building they live in is, in fact, kind of alive. And ships them. Yes, a building is all of us. And man– just the situations they are put through, it’s all so good. Incredibly sweet. The ending is wonderful, I love it.

a short history of almost something by cooliohoolio

Summary: "I think I’ll wait another year.“

Shane’s in love with Ryan, and will get around to telling him. One of these days.

Rated: Not Rated (G)

Commentary: This fic is… so damn cute. All of it. The scenes with them out in the grass, looking at the stars, are wonderful. It’s really a cute thing to read for when you are in a bad moment.

~ On tumblr only:

shyan dressed up as skysolo for halloween by @ghostwheeze - Commentary: This whole fic is cute and funny as hell. Also, Steven’s costume is everything.

trans ryan wants a baby by @faequill - Commentary: THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE FICS IN THE WORLD. I love it so much, it’s wonderful.

shane has a question for ryan by @en-sam-malas- Commentary: Oh my God, this is one of the cutest things I’ve ever read! It made me all giggly and red.

#shyan #shyan fic #skeptic believer #answered #recs #rec list #personal recs #fluff #humor #multiple #Anonymous

90 notes · View notes

pixiealtaira · 5 years

Text

I was tagged by @chocoholicannanymous to post the first lines of the last ten fics I wrote...on. They all were WIPs..all of them. It might be a bit embarrassing to admit that this doesn’t even make a dent in the WIPs in progress. Nope...not a dent.

I realize I tend to long first paragraphs often, so I went with between 3 and 6 lines...

Pretty much nothing as a name...so I’ll refer to it by the title of the doc.

So, with our further fluffiery...from what I worked on latest to ten back....

1) Modeling AU ---glee WIP

Santana, Rachel and Kurt were filling the condiment bottles and chatting as they watched while the group of 4 singing wait staff finished their last song. Or rather Rachel and Santana were chatting and Kurt was trying to ignore them while not letting them know he was ignoring them, or at least not letting Rachel know he was ignoring them. He wasn’t incredibly happy with anyone that moment, although he was at a better place with Santana than with Rachel. It could have been because he and Santana had had it out a bit earlier so the air was partially cleared, but not cleared enough for him to be helping her chat with Rachel.

2) NaNoWriMo 2017 ---- glee wip, also second part to the story above but nano wants new works...so I made it one (this year nano was a failure...ended up with too much family drama going on and the son was a senior in highschool)

Kurt Hummel trudged into the costume workshop attached to the theater department at NYU. He wasn’t sure Rosie, who he was supposed to meet up with was even there yet, as it was ridiculous o’clock in the morning, but the back entrance door was open so he figured someone responsible was inside.

“hello?” Kurt called out.

“In the room with the sewing machines, back right hand door.” Kurt heard yelled back to him.

3) NaNoWriMo 2016 ------glee wip...again this year of nano was a failure...but that was because I was sick for most of it

The summer after Blaine’s massive meltdown and tantrum and the subsequent break-up was looking to be…difficult. Horrid. Soul crushing. Kurt saw no relief from it. There was no one to ease the feeling that somehow he was solely to blame. He had no one to talk to, really. Artie blamed Kurt and wouldn’t give him the time of day. He was the only one still in New York City. He hadn’t heard from Elliot or Dani since before he was bashed back in February…he remembered asking about why he hadn’t and getting a vague brushing off and then the bashing happened and then every moment was focused on Blaine again…making sure he wasn’t feeling inadequate or ignored. And no body at work spoke with him, at least not at the diner.

4) CM-Glee cross --------Criminal minds Glee crossover WIP...I am determined to finish this and it’s companion fic...I will...at some point

If one had asked, which of course no one ever did, Spencer Reid would have actually told that anyone who’d asked that he would have rather been anywhere else than where he was. He’d have liked to have had the opportunity to give some input, to have some options! Yes, he’d had some …issues, especially when things were dealing with teens, but it wasn’t like everyone else he worked with had always done everything exactly right each and every time either. (Morgan and any pretty women they worked with in any way shape or form…for example. Hotch stopped Spencer from talking before he got that pointed out though.) These weren’t even really teens, for the most part…at least not high school students. Out of the six deaths, only one was a student. Spencer did not see the reason Hotch had stared at him the whole time he gave his lecture on not letting themselves get too emotionally involved. Nor did he see why HE and HE alone had been left at the police station when they arrived. He was actually an agent, for Pete’s sake.

5)nanowrimo 2013 ------glee and criminal minds crossover WIP...yes you read that date right,however this ficis over 80000 words and I think could be finished quickly if I could just get past one fricking scene

After Kurt’s summer from hell, Kurt Hummel had hoped that things would be better for the school year, or at least the same things wouldn’t be bad. He was really tired of the repetition of misery that was his life lately. However, when it came down to it, school had been going just like it had the year before. Granted, he’d only been tossed into the dumpster once so far. (He suspected it was because he was harder to toss this year after putting on a few inches in height.) However, the locker slams had become brutal again and slushies were still a routine.

6) why Kurt speaks fluent french ----I suck at titles. Glee WIP. Somehow half what was written for this got lost...on some hard drive or flash drive was another 5000 to 10000 words, but I have not been able to find it so we spent a bit over the summer rewriting.

Elizabeth Hummel looked around the parking lot of Hill Side Elementary School, and wondered once again where the hill that she’d figured it was named after actually was. It certainly wasn’t anywhere near the school. False advertising…that ought to be a good reason not to have Kurt go to there, although she was pretty certain her husband would disagree. Elizabeth hated the school. She had hated it from the start, really…from the moment they got the letter in the mail that told them that due to the schools nearest them being under construction still and the next closest school being under renovation and so only being able to house half the students it generally did…her child was slated to go to Hill Side.

7) Kurtoberfest day 16 holiday recipes --- WIP, almost done, maybe, au where Finn is alive

Kurt remembers the day Finn Hudson’s career path was chosen. Finn had come to New York to ‘hang’ with his brother and sneer at Rachel and torment Santana. (Ok, Finn said he’d come to hang with Kurt, but he spent more time sneering at Rachel and tormenting Santana than hanging with Kurt, to the point of refusing to go site seeing to places Finn had wanted to see in favor of bugging the girls.) Kurt and Finn had been watching old comedies waiting for Rachel to get back so Finn could bug her when Kurt switched from Sister Act to Kindergarten Cop. Finn had never seen Kindergarten Cop. Kurt was frankly dumbfounded about that fact, seriously. Kindergarten Cop was like a staple of movie viewing. Finn watched Kindergarten Cop with an intensity that Kurt had only ever seen him give to 45 buck steaks and a basketball ball game on TV once that Finn had bet 300 dollars on. Finn didn’t even notice when Rachel came stomping into the loft and then left again.

8)Kurtoberfest prompt 17 harry potter au ---glee and HP crossover

When Harry Potter left Britain, and the wizarding world, he decided to run to someplace he could get lost in. He beat dear old Voldie, he’d won the damned war for them, and all he got from it was fits from people who didn’t like how he did it…he should have used magic, not non-magical means and he certainly shouldn’t have used a snake to help…and proof of just how manipulative certain people had been in his life, which thankfully the goblins had helped him with after he proved to them he did not sign anything giving anyone means to form marriage and partnership contracts with anyone. Half the Weasley’s weren’t talking to him, and he was fine with that after finding out that Ginny had been feeding him love potions because he wasn’t responding the way she wanted and that Dumbledore had sold him off to her mom, essentially in trade for her pledging the aid of all her children to Dumbledore’s cause. He also didn’t appreciate that Dumbledore had promised Harry’s magic to the ministry in exchange for the ministry turning a blind eye to certain things Dumbledore had done…like sealing his parents wills with no authority to do so.

9) Severus Snape meets a Small Harry What If ----Harry PotterWIP one of like 8 with this name in my WIP folder. This one has a big harry and a small harry and is a bit dark

As Severus Snape watched over Flitwick’s classroom, full of Gryffindor third years, he cursed the fact that the quarantine of a house also included their head of house. He cursed the outbreak of – what was it…ah, yes… the Chicken Pox – some silly Muggle disease a first year had brought back with them after a family gathering during the short spring break which had spread through the Ravenclaws like a wildfire.

10) T and T Kurt....Glee WIP Just how did Kurt’s tiara collection get started?

Elizabeth Hummel looked around the dressing room area of the pageant and briefly contemplated her sanity…or lack of…in getting involved with it all. She was tired of the tantrums and whining and screaming done by both mothers and children. Luckily her child wasn’t involved in any of that. Her child was seated off to the side.

“Katerina Bates, please come stand by mummy.” Elizabeth called.

The child slid off the chair they were seated on and hopped over.

“Elli. Not Katerina.”

“Katerina today. You can be Elli tomorrow.”

Yeah....there were six other in that Kurtoberfest bunch being worked on, three other HP and three other CM fics..because I told myself I would finish a WIP this summer and my mind said NOPE, Will no concentrate on One. Nope Nope Nope.

Also wrote lines for beans for Clever Jack and the Magic Beanstalk because of course the magic beans needed a whole mini scene song and dance number to themselves...of course they did.

1 note · View note

ohmygoodnessgraciouss · 5 years

Text

Christmas (Batboys x Reader)

Christmas at Wayne Manor is absolute chaos. As soon as it's November 1st, Bruce has a huge tree placed in the center of the entrance and inside the Grand Hall. Later, it's decorated by two dozen maids with glass ornaments that look like they could break by a simple touch. The lights on the tree turn on only when Thanksgiving Day has arrived, and the trees are so bright that it's almost hard to look at them.

Later, Alfred is organizing servants to decorate the railings of all the stairs with pinecones and poinsettias galore. Silver tinsel and bells go by the doors and around the frames of any archways. Everything outside is covered in Christmas lights that give the grounds an elegant look for Christmas. During galas and parties, ice sculpture ornaments hang from the trees by the gates that have lost their leaves.

In all, Wayne Manor looks gorgeous for the holidays, but there is one problem. Everyone is always busy and it seems like you can't escape the bright lights and fake Christmas presents for even a second. The worst part is the constant Christmas music you swear Jason is playing just to annoy everyone. It's usually just a bunch of Carpenters and Amy Grant songs. Occasionally there's an Elvis Presley or Nat King Cole song in the bunch.

Damian is constantly chasing Titus to rip off some sort of Christmas headband that Tim sticks on him. Sometimes it's reindeer antlers, and other times, it's an Elf hat. Either way, it's hilarious to watch him chase the dog for a while.

Dick is about as excited for Christmas as you can get. He loves the holiday and tries to wear an ugly Christmas sweater every day until Christmas. On the 25th he forces everyone to be up by 5 AM and in pajamas. Bruce tries to get into everyday clothes, but Dick drags him out before he can try it. Even Alfred comes in in semi-casual clothes. Of course, he doesn't want to do it, but it is his master's wishes as Dick tells him this every year.

Let's start with the week before Christmas when the Wayne Foundation holds its annual Christmas ball. Hundreds of businessmen and women arrive to talk about their profits over the year and how they're hoping to get out of the red before the next fiscal year. Dozens of reporters come in, eager to talk to the Wayne children. In reality, every single one of you is bored the entire night.

"I can't believe he won't let us drink," Jason grumbled while the two of you sat in a dark corner of the room. Green, red, silver, and gold decorations filled the ballroom.

"Because he knows you'll drink the night away and make an embarrassment of yourself," You replied.

"Dick's always making an embarrassment of himself but he's allowed to do whatever he wants, right?"

"Dick has no shame. Bruce has given up on trying to make Dick look like he's an heir to the fortune someday."

"The last time he was at a ball, he drank so much that he started telling everyone to call him Ric."

"Maybe he has some shame. Definitely going to be in the family photo album Babs is making," You laughed.

After a man asked to dance with you, you decided it might not have been the best idea to wear heels. You went through several dances before you could finally escape, where you stumbled upon Tim.

"Hey Tim," You greeted him. He looked up from a stack of papers that he was currently holding to flash you a smile. The papers looked like they were blank. "What are you doing?"

"Escaping news reporters and women. If I make it look like I had unexpected work to do, no one approaches me except you and Bruce."

"Let me guess, you got the idea from Barbara?"

"She was the one who gave me all these papers."

"Well, at least she gave you something to do. I just had to dance with a half a dozen men who looked the same."

"Just because they're all in a tux doesn't mean they look exactly the same appearance-wise."

"Yeah, well, you dance with these heels on and tell me if you stop worrying about how you'll burn the shoes later and start worrying about what everyone looks like. I could've danced with Damian for all I know."

"Speaking of Damian, where did he go? Don't tell me he somehow escaped this."

"He better not. I'll personally kill him if he did."

"You know Bruce's rule, (Y/N)."

"Right. I'll just break all two hundred and six bones in his body."

"There you go. Wait, is that him?" Tim asks and points to someone across the room.

Sure enough, there was Damian standing and talking to a bunch of people. He looked bored and like he wanted to get out of there. You've definitely felt that way before and you felt bad for him now, so you decided to help him out.

You quickly made your way over to the crowd and pushed past to Damian. "Damian, Tim told me that he needed your help with some paperwork he forgot to file this afternoon. If he doesn't get your signature tonight he's going to be in a world of trouble with Bruce."

"It's his own fault, isn't it? Well, if I must. Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen," He flashed them a very faint smile, one that Bruce has been trying to teach him for the past week.

He quickly walked off with you and you could see by the look in Damian's eyes that he was thankful. "I have no idea why I have to be here. I don't even celebrate this idiotic holiday," He complained.

"You have to make a good impression for Bruce by looking like the perfect blood son to all of his shareholders. It's only a few nights a year that you have to do this, so suck it up."

Damian rolled his eyes and you continued your way through the party. The rest of it almost seemed like fun until Jason finally grew tired of it all. Thus, your night at the party ended with you dragging him out as he stuck any kind of food he could find into the cheese fountain. Yes, that included strawberries and even blocks of cheese.

Later that week, everyone went up to the local mall to see Santa Claus for pictures. Why? Because nearly everyone was a child and wanted to go see Santa except Damian. He was dragged along with you because he needed to see Christmas.

Santa seemed to be shocked at a huge group of adults wanting to get a picture with him, more specifically, people who either knew the Wayne family or was a part of it. He still continued to be jolly and take the picture with them.

"And what would you like for Christmas?" He asked Damian.

"The souls of the damned."

The Santa stopped for a moment, unsure of what to say. Before Damian could say anything else, Santa laughed. "Well, I'll see what I can do about it since you've been a very good boy."

Both you and Tim couldn't stop laughing at him. Everyone else was buying the pictures so Tim walked up and grabbed Damian's hand. "Don't bother getting him anything, he'll be on the naughty list for a while once you hear about everything he's done."

Christmas Eve almost seems like a typical day until about 5:00 PM. Bruce finally gets home from Wayne Enterprises and goes into his office to wrap presents. You'd think he wouldn't be into doing that, but he seems to really enjoy wrapping everyone's gifts.

You, Dick, Jason, and Tim spend the time watching all sorts of Christmas movies. Your list varies greatly. It'd start out with A Christmas Story, and merge onto It's a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street. As time progressed, you'd start watching Edward Scissorhands or The Nightmare Before Christmas. Damian would join the four of you once it reached Die Hard or stupid Syfy movies like Santa Slays and Santa Jaws.

Alfred would spend all of Christmas Eve making sure that everything was perfect for tomorrow. Even though the maids cleaned the room that had your tree in it about a dozen times, he would vacuum the floor and dust the shelves all over again. Sometimes he would reposition some of the ornaments and tilt the star into a perfect balance. He enjoyed doing it, and he would sometimes peek into the other room to see everyone watching movies.

By the time it reached 10 P.M, you would load up the NORAD Santa Tracker to see where Santa is currently. Dick loved getting to watch as the virtual sleigh moved across the map, and later started a game. Everyone had to guess the country by only the name of the town that Santa was heading to.

"He's heading to Moscow."

"Russia, duh," Damian would answer quickly.

"Athens."

"Greece," Tim chimed in.

"Izmir."

"Don't know, don't care," Jason would say as he got the eggnog out.

By 11:00 P.M, Bruce would tell you it's time to go to bed. No one would say a word because you all knew what that meant. He was coming down with all the presents, and that meant even the ones from Santa. Apparently, Santa was too scared to come to Wayne Manor every year because he knew who everyone was. Santa wasn't stupid. Coming into a house full of vigilantes in the middle of the night might not be the best idea.

Once it was about 4:30 A.M, everyone could hear Dick slowly come out of his room to check out the tree. It was no secret, and it was like clockwork for him. Everyone could get a maximum of six hours of sleep during Christmas before they wake up to Dick's face in front of them, eager to open presents. Sometimes you wondered if he was just a child in an adult body, but who were you to judge?

He'd usually wake you up first because you'd take the longest to trudge out of your bed. Because of this, you would be able to sneak into the kitchen to start heating up water for hot chocolate. You had done this every year so far, and sometimes you'd see Alfred come into the kitchen, pulling the mugs out.

You'd make enough for everybody and Alfred would help stick the marshmallows in. You placed mugs of it on all the tables as one by one everyone came down. Tim first, then Jason, then Bruce, and Damian would come down, with Dick following shortly with a bloody nose.

The entire morning consisted of everyone unwrapping presents and thanking each other. The fireplace would have a couple of logs burning inside as everyone cheered and laughed. Of course, everyone had to save a couple presents for each other because Barbara, Cassandra, and Stephanie couldn't come over until later in the day.

It almost seemed like you were just the average family and not a big group of superheroes that go out every night.

When it was the afternoon and the girls walked into the Manor holding dozens of gifts, it was like Christmas morning all over again. More hot chocolate was made, everyone laughed and played games, it was perfect. Except until you were done unwrapping presents.

Tonight's Christmas dinner was turkey, stuffing, and an assortment of sides to choose from. You, Jason, and Alfred cooked the dinner, and it was a long an stressful few hours. You fought with Jason for ten minutes on whether or not the "tent" of tinfoil is removed from the turkey in the final hour.

The sides were carefully prepared by Alfred as he listened to the two of you fight. Since it never got hostile, he didn't bother with breaking it up until the turkey was about to burn. Bruce and the others could hear it from across the Manor, as they watched a new movie Barbara got.

In the end, Christmas dinner was perfect as everyone ate around the table. The only problem was when Stephanie was bringing out the desert, a lovely chocolate pie that Alfred made yesterday, and she slipped. The pie went flying and splattered all over the ground. Most of it fell onto everyone's shoes, but for poor Tim, some of the whipped cream that was on top flew right into his face. Everyone felt bad, but they couldn't help it when Damian started laughing. That's right, Damian Wayne laughed.

To finish off the night, everyone told the funniest stories they had for the year. Whether if it was on patrol, or when Dick fell down the stairs and quickly brushed it off as being his new invention to go down the stairs faster. You, Bruce, Alfred, Tim, Dick, Jason, Damian, Barbara, Cassandra, and Stephanie had fun all Christmas day.

Even Titus had a little bit of fun for the ten seconds he was able to snag some of the chocolate pie off the ground.

If this was how they would wrap up their year, they were happy with it. For once, a Christmas in Gotham City seemed peaceful, silent, and right.

Merry Christmas to all.

May your December 25th be spent with the ones you love, and may you find happiness for even just this one day.

If you don't celebrate Christmas, happy Tuesday. I hope your day is great, something good happens, and remember, stay fabulous. <3

21 notes · View notes