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ozis-paradise · 4 years

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ØZI for Tatler

published july 3rd, 2020

[translated by me, proofread by @baobeejun]

Free like water, a born star! From Irene Yeh's son to the new king of popular music, the dazzling star you need to know: ØZI!

Bright red highlighted hair, equally red earpieces hanging around his neck. The boy with eye-catching tattoos is sitting on the make-up chair, skipping his feet while eating breakfast and he exudes a rebellious and free, yet delicate and pure atmosphere. Soon after his debut, he was shortlisted for six Golden Melody Awards last year and won Best New Artist. At the mention of his name, everyone will exclaime admiration and excitement, ØZI seems to have become a synonym of "cool" and "red" among the younger generation.

"I think I'm too rational, 100% rational, I should also be a little sentimental." This cool-looking artist was told by his agent that "his temper is very good, he most likely won't look angry." Isn't it a little unexpected for a rational rapper to be so talkative? Doesn't he also like to drink beverages with either honey or strawberry? Everytime ØZI gives a new answer, people have to reconstruct the imagine they already had in mind of him, contrasting to his appearance there is a vibrant and rich soul ready to stir trouble (in a "catching peoples attention" kinda way). Speaking of his definition of freedom, ØZI jokes "Freedom means that my agent won't call me, no work, blocking my agent's calls!" But in fact, the interpretation of freedom in his heart is somewhat aloof and mature: "Because society has a lot of rules, as far as I can tell, no-one is free; from family, love to friendship, they all have their own rules. But freedom comes from inner stability, it should be "like water", just then you're free. When it is placed in different containers, it becomes it's shape, it can adapt to every environment; to me, this state is freedom, because you can be free from restrictions and confined space."

When asked if he's free now, he mutters "Not necessarily, sometimes I get stuck when my inspiration runs out. It's been a little better lately, it wasn't like water in the second half of last year, instead it was more like ice cubes!" Last year was too busy to think, it was described by ØZI "like the mind is drying out". And because of his plans to go to the United States to relax at the beginning of this year - he didn't expect the immediate outbreak to happen - he got more time to produce, "I'm free now, I'm simply water now!", he smiles.

Living in a prominent family of performing artists - his mother Ye Ailing is an all-round entertainer, his father Chen Wenbin is a well-known photographer - ØZI's creative path can be said to be expected. Because his parents are both in the industry, he grew up in a musical environment ever since he was a child. But when it comes to his own creations, in fact, ØZI liked to draw as a kid. In Junior High, he liked to make and arrange music, in High School he began to write melodies, lyrics, from drawings to producing movies, "creations" of change because as a child, he liked to be "original" about this. He had six Music Videos, all on his iPhone. "At first, my dad said that there were a lot of problems with my Music Videos, so I was trying hard to improve, I learned about lighting and so on, just to prove that my Music Videos can look good, I wanted to get his approval!"

The requirement of children of celebrities is a blessing but it's hard to hold a grasp of it, it's difficult to excuse mistakes. The music world describes it as "to be born a Super Saiyan (means something like "Second-Generation-Star" because he's the son of famous parents). ØZI explains: "I was just lucky to be born into a musical family, I have enough space to be understood and supported. My dad knows what it's like to be a creator, my mom knows what it's like to be a performer. So I had the chance to train to become a Super Saiyan." It's a double edged sword, everyone was paying close attention when ØZI was nominated at the Golden Melody Awards. "After the rookie award, in addition to putting myself under a lot of pressure, I didn't change any of my creative motives and I'm very expressive. So if you don't get rewarded, you get mad at yourself." Maybe stress occasionally hinders his creative work, but at the same time, it's also a sign of determination to succeed and break through the golden sunken ship.

ØZI's first well-known Chinese song "Title" is about not being bind by anything, about wanting to have more freedom, more creative freedom for everyone. He's been making music for his "mission to internationalize Chinese Music" from the very beginning. "The internationalisation is something that not everyone can do, we listen to music from Latin America, Hip-Hop, K-Pop, it's all because of their atmosphere. For me, every artist has their own way of interpretating their culture. It's very important to let everyone know "Oh, that's C-Pop!"" And the new plans of ØZI will be followed by the release of some singles, a new album will also be released this year. He also revealed that he's working on three different projects at the same time now, experimental and core concept types. There's even a project that's "looking for the next stage of ØZI" trying to give his music a new image. "There will be a lot of music you have never heard from ØZI before, some experimental music, I can't reveal much!"

He's 100% rational when it comes to his family, but his sentimental tone betrayed him; when he talks about music, he becomes serious. Introducing his new tattoo is as exciting as being a little boy. His soul is free, but "ØZI" still has a lot of unavoidable restrictions.

"ØZI is the character I created, he's the embodiment of self-confidence, he has to be perfect. The self-confidence this character needs will be infused into my spirit, but this is only one part of it", he says slowly. With his high and straight nose bridge and the fine and smooth line of his chin, ØZI looks somewhat like his mother Ye Ailing; but he has taken off the label of being a celebrity's child, that used to stick on him tightly, a long time ago already. He's ØZI, free like water, a born star.

TATLER discusses with ØZI

What do you do to pass the time that make a perfect holiday?

Go to the beach of an uninhabited island alone or with a group of friends, lie on the beach and drink cocktails, read a book, maybe listen to music, sleep.

What do you like to do the most when you don't have to work?

Playing video games, eating, getting a massage, sleeping, watching Netflix.

If you could have one drink with an idol, who would it be?

Canadian Rapper/Singer Drake! So I can understand his logic of running his OVO Empire and see if I can absorb it and apply it on my own label.

Your motto?

The tattoo on my leg, it's a famous quote from "Batman: The Dark Knight Rises": "Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves up."

Who is your life idol? Why?

Christopher Nolan, the director of "Inception"! Actually, everyone who gives me inspiration for a period of time is my idol.

What would you recommend to watch on Netflix?

I actually watch anything, from serious "13th" to pure entertaining "Too Hot To Handle", I want to absorb different elements.

Please define freedom in one sentence?

Be like Water!

Which abroad city do you want to visit first after the ban gets lifted?

Greece! I went there for the first time when I was shooting the MV to "Paradise Island", and I thought I have to come back when I get the chance to! It has a peaceful charm between the island and the city, it has their own ancient culture and beach parties, everyone is very relaxed and the atmosphere is very cool.

Favourite drink?

Apple Milk or Honey Water, I like the Honey or Strawberry kind.

When your mood is low, what do you do to cheer up?

Playing video games, hanging out with friends, working out.

What games have you been playing lately?

The remake of Final Fantasy 7, the graphics have changed very beautifully.

#øzi #ozi #tatler taiwan #tatler #interview #translated #200703

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ask-de-writer · 4 years

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SEA DRAGON’S GIFT : Part 2 of 83 : World of Sea

SEA DRAGON’S GIFT

Part 2 of 83

De Writer (Glen Ten-Eyck)

140406 words

First draft written 2007

Reproduction in any form, physical, electronic or digital is prohibited without the express consent of the author.

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Users of Tumblr.com are specifically granted the following rights. They may reblog the story provided that all author and copyright information remains intact. They may use the characters or original characters in my settings for fan fiction, fan art works, cosplay, or fan musical compositions.

All sorts of fan art, cosplay, music or fiction is actively encouraged.

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New to the story? Read from the beginning. PART 1 is here

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The Masters sent Mistress Daeron, the Master Roper to Kurin with a question. The short, motherly lady found Kurin sitting quietly on a rope tub by the foremast, tears leaking from the corners of her eyes.

“What is the matter, Kurin?” she asked in concern. “The soundings are confirming your chart. This is amazing to us all. So, why the sorrow? These are not joy.” She traced a tear track with a gentle finger, gathered the child into her arms and rocked her.

“Mistress Daeron, I just miss them so . . . Dad . . . Cat. Why can’t they be here?”

Mistress Daeron nodded to herself. She remembered. Kurin found her father in his hammock. Died in his sleep. And him so young! The terrible things that her mother said as she slipped into madness. It must have been horrible for her.

Then blind Cat took care of her for most of a Gathering. And left her too. At the Weddings, Cat was left standing alone on the Marriage raft, last bride of all, with no apparent groom.

She called out and huge Orcas leaped from the sea all about the Marriage raft to announce his coming. Dark Iren, the Great Sea Dragon, reared up his gigantic head and everyone saw him. They saw five hundred feet of glittering black scales, fins and spines. A legend come to life. Then Cat, the blind woman that everyone knew, leaped into the sea in front of him and moments later emerged, a Great Sea Dragon herself, white to Iren’s black. None other than Blind Mecat. A legend in her own right.

And she’s had nobody since but that sarcastic Master Juris. No wonder she’s lonely.

Mistress Daeron gently stroked Kurin’s head. “Why one of Iren’s Orcas sang for your father while he was so young, you would have to ask Dark Iren in his deep halls. As for Mecat, can you imagine her visiting on the Longin now that she’s a five hundred foot Great Sea Dragon? A hundred feet of her would fall off each end of the ship!”

The ridiculous image got Kurin to giggle, and snapped her out of the funk. Mistress Daeron thought to herself, So that’s why this child is so driven to learn. Keeping new things before her mind keeps the pain of her past at bay.

It was time for the question that she had been sent to ask. “The Masters need to know how long it would take you to teach this skill to other members of the crew?”

Kurin pondered the question before answering. “I think that some competence could be taught in a few Wohans. How fast people learn will depend on how well the individuals can feel the waves and interpret what they’re feeling.”

“Only a few Wohans? That is very quick. Will they be able to make charts like the one that you have demonstrated?”

“No, but they will be able to find their way about safely and locate favorable currents. To draw charts as well, perhaps a Gathering or a bit more. For that they will need to learn some applied geometry, equal area functions, drafting and basic navigational knowledge.”

“Thank you, Kurin. When did you find the time to learn so much?” Mistress Daeron asked, caught off-guard, as even the people who knew her best often were, by Kurin’s array of skills.

“I try to keep busy,” said Kurin softly. “Learning keeps other things away.”

“I see — Why don’t you go and watch the wonder that you have wrought unfold before your eyes?” And keep your sorrows away, Mistress Daeron thought sympathetically.

The crabbers, in the meantime, were pulling up a bountiful harvest, as their cheerful calls and jeers going back and forth across the water demonstrated. Their ring-nets went down with bait and, after ten to twenty minutes came up swarmed with crabs and the occasional lobster. Each boat had five nets equipped with long lines attached to floats. The nets were laid in a circle or a line, depending on the preference of the man or woman in command. They used a boat-hook to snag the lines beneath the floats so that they could pull the trap nets up to empty them into holding nets hung over the transom.

This fishing on reefs, and the techniques by which it was done were classed as Ship’s Business. That meant that it was kept secret from other ships, except under carefully spelled out conditions. This right to secrecy gave the various ships of the Naral fleet commercial advantages over each other.

The Longin was famous for selling live shellfish, like crabs, lobsters, shrimp and assorted clams and oysters. She also sold fine lace work for clothing trims, along with the usual merchandise of a fishing culture. The Gula sold luxury fabrics that no other ship knew the making of. The Mordan sold the finest cordage and cable. Most ships had something that they did best, and protected it by Ship’s Business.

Silor was seething. Between hauling in crabs and lobsters, he glared across the deck at Kurin’s back, where she was pestering the officers at the range finder. They were smiling, smiling for Dragon’s sake! And showing her something. I don’t know how she pulled it off but she’s got me again! Sure, organizing lookouts is important. Strong Skins or Wing Rays could kill someone. Sure bringing the catch on board is important, but anybody can do this! I want to be out in a boat, having some fun, and she’s stopped it, somehow!

His grudge was six Gatherings old. They had been playmates back then. Somehow she had gotten to be Master Juris’s apprentice boat-builder instead of him. The fact that she had advanced to journeyman, needing only the formality of fleet Craft Council approval at the next Gathering, and the apprenticeship was now open, did not help.

After all of these Gatherings it still stung when he remembered Master Juris’s words when he had gone into the boat-shop to talk with the Master Boat-builder about getting the next opening.

“Silor, lad, you will never be an apprentice in my shop.” I didn’t mean to drop that shell scraper, but when Master Juris stooped to pick it up he acted like I had. He held it up and added, “Do you see that chipped edge? It will take Kurin hours to hone it until it’s perfect again. She will take the time and it will be done right. You are too clumsy, too heedless to be trusted with expensive tools of shell, bone or tooth. Now please leave my shop before any more harm is done.”

I was just a kid! What he said made me so mad that I kicked at a building frame. It was supposed to be fastened down so it couldn’t move! How could I know that it was loose! I think my heart stopped when that boat hit the deck and broke its back! I was horrified, that’s why I ran.

It was just an accident! They had no right to tell Alor to take the cost out of my Purser’s account. Kurin is behind all of it! She loosened that frame! It ruined my chances of ever getting any apprenticeship!

TO BE CONTINUED

<==PREVIOUS NEXT==>

Return to the Master Story Index

Return to World of Sea

#SEA DRAGON'S GIFT #Part 2 of 83 #World of Sea #Written by De Writer

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daisyxbuckley · 5 years

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Only Human//Mitch Rapp Series

A/N: Yall this one is long as shit. Holy god lol. Its like 3k+ so I apologize. ANYWAYS, I wanted to do some kind of fluff before we got all serious and shit. There’s some angst if you squint, but other than that I’m pretty proud. Also the song I used is Certain Things by James Arthur.

Description: Ophelia Lane has a past that most CIA operatives would hate to have. The 25 year old is sent back to The Barn to help Stan train the new batch of recruits, including one that is hell bent on getting revenge. Can she keep it together or will a secret that is hidden under the surface come back and haunt her? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It had been about three weeks since Mitch arrived at the Barn and Ophelia barely spoke to him. She realized that he was a man of few words, and though she could carry on a conversation, holding one with him wasn’t at the top of her list. Unless they were training or in class they avoided each other. Their training sessions had been brutal, and Ophelia knew that Mitch was good but she was better.

Slamming his back on the mat, Ophelia pressed on his jugular till she felt the tap and released standing up. “You need to stop lunging in.” She said walking over to her water bottle leaving him on the floor staring at her.

“I don’t lung at you.” He said standing up. “It’s just impossible to catch you off guard.” Mitch grumbled as he took a drink of his own water. Ophelia shrugged and tilted her hair back to get another drink when all of a sudden her legs were swept out from under her. Before she realized what was happening, Mitch was standing over her with her hands above her head and his thighs holding her legs down. Glaring up at him O tried to move but realized that he had a lot more strength than she gave him credit for. “Got you.” Mitch said with an irritating smirk on his face.

Ophelia could feel the weight of his thighs carefully applying pressure to her legs and tried to ignore the fact that his one hand was pinning both her wrists down. Mitch stared down at her with hard eyes trying to ignore how being this close to her was making him feel. Her tank top had ridden up her stomach a bit so he could see how low on her hips her leggings were and how smooth and tan her skin was. Ophelia sighed in defeat when he finally let her up and sat back balancing up on the heels of his feet. The brunette lifted herself up on her elbows and looked at the man.

“You didn’t win. You literally caught me off guard.” She said huffing. Mitch had gotten up and was wiping the sweat off his face as Ophelia pretended to not notice how his t-shirt stuck to his skin defining his muscles and how his workout shorts didn’t define his many ...assets. Sighing she stood up and walked over to where he was standing, taking his water bottle from his hands. Shrugging she took a drink and handed it back. “Well you just spilled mine so I took yours.”

Mitch just stared at her while she gathered up all her stuff and started heading towards the bedrooms. “I’d shower if I were you. You kind of stink.” She said before she walked out. Mitch kept his eyes on her till she rounded the corner then turned away shaking his head a bit. Ophelia was a lot like him, and it honestly made Mitch understand why people hated working with him. Grabbing his bag he followed Ophelia towards the shower, nodding to some of the other guys that passed by.

“Mitch, hey.” Conners said running up to the shaggy haired man. “I need your help with a move that you did in training today. I want to learn it.” Mitch nodded as he followed Conners back to the training room taking one last look at the bathroom at the end of the hall. Mitch and Conners stayed in the training room for another two hours before they both decided they had enough. Clapping him on the back Conners walked out leaving Mitch alone with his thoughts.

Turning the shower off, the man stepped out of the stall and wrapped a towel around his waist. When he walked by Ophelia’s room earlier he had noticed the light was off and figured she was asleep. Getting dressed, he walked out of the bathroom and headed to his room quietly closing the door. Going to his desk Mitch booted up the laptop and looked out into the black night as he surveyed the grounds. He was about to turn away when he noticed a figure in all black running across the yard towards the woods. He almost missed the brunette hair that was swept up into the hood of the jacket and he realized that it was Ophelia. Throwing a sweatshirt on, he quickly ran out of his room and down the hall towards the front door. She was fast and knew these woods better than him, but he wondered what she was up to.

Mitch was silent as he followed her trail through the woods that let to a clearing. The grass was cut and if you laid down you would be able to see the wide expanse of stars that were above. Noticing a figure lying on the ground, Mitch crept closer and just watched Ophelia. Her hair was out of her ponytail and was laid out like a halo around her head. Her eyes were closed as she quietly sang to the music that was playing in her ears. Mitch started forward trying to get her to notice him as he crept up, afraid of scaring her.

“I know you’re there.” She said finally. “I noticed you following me after I entered the woods.” The girl sat up and took a headphone out of her ear as she looked at the man. They stared each other down for a minute before Mitch took a seat in front of her and crossed his legs. Ophelia continued staring at him, refusing to break eye contact before he did.

“Why are you out here?” He asked.

“I needed to think.” Was all O said as she put the music back in and laid down looking up. Mitch sighed and moved next to her trying to keep a good distance. Ophelia took an ear bud out of her ear and handed it to him without looking over and Mitch. He took it from her and put it in listening to the song that was playing in his ear.

“Something about you

It’s like an addiction hit me

With your best shot honey.”

Mitch looked over at Ophelia as she laid next to him with her eyes closed. She moved her lips along to the music and he couldn’t help but focus on the way her tongue swept over her bottom one. How her hand tapped a beat on her stomach, her other hand behind her head. In that moment she didn’t have a hard look on her face, or a sarcastic look that he had grown to know. She looked more like that girl in the picture that he saw.

“I’ve got no reason to doubt you

Cause some things hurt

And you’re my only virtue

And I’m virtually yours”

“You’re staring Rapp.” Ophelia’s voice was like music to him in a sense. It didn’t cut through the silence in a bad way but it made him look up from her lips to her now open eyes. She didn’t have the hard look behind them for once and Mitch was wondering if she was actually starting to open up.

“You said you come out here to think?” He asked her. “What do you think about?” The brunette turned her head back so she was facing the sky. “Trust me when I say Rapp, you don’t want to know what goes on inside my head.” He scoffed at her as she sat up, the music was still playing in his ear as the other earbud fell from hers.

“I’m serious. You ever wonder why I keep to myself..why I'm up here? I’m pretty sure by now you know that I'm not just another trainee.” Mitch nodded to her to show that he wanted her to continue. “I’ve been out of the field for a bit, that’s what happens when you survive a bombing but lose a spouse.” Ophelia picked at her sleeve, hating how she was feeling right now. Vulnerable and exposed was not a good look on her. “When I lost Ronnie...I didn’t know how I was going to go on. I refused to accept another partner, another mission, basically iced everyone out. I sat behind a desk for a year because I didn’t want to lose anyone else.” Sitting up a little straighter, she rubbed her eyes. “Then I just became angry. I ended up going out on a mission a few months ago...and I lost it. It would have ended very badly if I didn’t have the backup I had. That's when Stan and Irene realized that I would be better off here...training the new kids till I was okay enough.”

“Then I came along.”

“Then you came along.” Ophelia said with a ghost of a smile on her lips. “You know, I’ve known about you since day one. The second you popped up on the C.I.A’s radar I knew. I didn’t know your face or your name..but I knew who you were. And when Irene wanted to train you I thought she was crazy.”

“You and Stan both apparently” Mitch huffed out looking down. Ophelia reached her hand out to his and squeezed it.

“You’re good Mitch. And I know that you’ve been through a lot of shit in your life that you shouldn’t have ever gone through. But if you want to do this...then you need to channel that rage and anger into something that will help you. Because if you don’t then it’s going to get you killed.” Ophelia whispered. She knew it was tough, she wanted revenge so bad with Ronnie died that she would of killed anyone to get it...and that mistake almost cost her.

Before Mitch could say anything, Ophelia’s ringtone cut through the silence like a knife. He pulled the ear bud out of his ear as she unplugged it and answered.

“This is Lane.” She said quickly. Looking at Mitch she stood up and motioned for him to follow her. “I’m in the clearing...right now?” She asked with a confused look on her face. “Stan its almost 1 in the morning…..no sir ...yes sir ...yeah i’ll grab him.” She said as she hung up. “Apparently Stan needs, and I quote, ‘our asses in his fucking office in ten minutes or hes going to gut us with a spoon.’”

Mitch shook his head as he handed Ophelia her head phones back and they started towards the house.

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

What the two weren't expecting was Irene sitting in Stan’s office like she was expecting them. Raising an eyebrow at the fact that they both looked like they just came from outside. Ophelia noticed the look and thank god that she decided to ignore it. They both sat down in the two available chairs in the office and looked at each other before looking at Stan.

“4 hours ago, 15 kilos of weapons grade plutonium was stolen from a defunct research facility.” Stan said with no greeting. O noticed Mitch tense up and lean forward. “Right now all we know is that with that much plutonium it's going to cause something high on the disaster scale.”

“So basically the next 9/11.” Ophelia stated as she crossed her legs. “So what are we doing about it?” She asked noticing the look on Stan’s face.

“We are going in. All we know right now is that someone named Ghost has taken control of it.” Stan shot a look at Irene that Ophelia didn’t miss but he continued. “He killed the suppliers and went underground. We don’t know exactly what his plan is with it but we need to stop it.”

Mitch stood up immediately and everyone looked over at him. “Let’s go.” He said gruffly. This was a look that Ophelia didn’t recognize at all.

“We are securing a jet to take us to Istanbul. Go get some sleep, we will tell you when it’s time to go.” Irene said remaining calm. Mitch looked at them all like they were crazy.

“Are you serious? This guy has enough plutonium to take out an entire city and we are playing the waiting game?” He yelled. Ophelia actually jumped a bit at his voice and shot a look at Stan. “You guys wanna wait here and twiddle your thumbs while he what, goes and kills more innocent people?”

“Look here shit stain. No one wants to catch this guy more than us, but unlike you and your reckless ass we have to go through the proper channels. I want to do this right since both Ophelia and I will be out there with you and I really don’t want to have to worry about you killing us.” Stan yelled standing up and matching Mitch. “Now get the fuck out of my office. Both of you.” He didn’t relax till both Ophelia and Mitch were gone and the door was closed.

“Stan..we really need to tell her.” Irene said quietly. Stan sat down and shook his head rubbing his eyes.

“We will tell her when it’s time. I don’t need her getting distracted.’

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

Ophelia refused to go to bed, instead opting to sit in the kitchen and read over what Irene had left her before the Director headed out. It wasn’t much as this guy literally lived up to his alias. Taking another sip of her coffee, she noticed that Stan had walked in. “O in my office, now.” Was all he said before he turned around and walked away. Sighing she got up and followed him in noticing a laptop on his side table. Mitch joined them a few seconds later and looked at Ophelia with a confused look who just shrugged and leaned against the desk.

“You wanted to see me sir?” Mitch asked as Stan stood up from the laptop that he opened and walked over.

“Yeah. Shut the door.” Was all he said and Ophelia could feel the bad feeling in her stomach returning. Mitch shut the door and came into the room further. “So all of us are shipping out soon. We got the jet secured but there’s one more thing we need to go over.” He said as he gestured for Mitch to sit in the chair that faced the window. Mitch sat and Stan walked over and sat across from him. Ophelia was almost afraid to move because of what might be going on.

“You like movies?” Stan asked leaning back.

“Yeah.” Mitch said shrugging. O pushed off the desk and hesitantly walked over to see what Stan was planning.

She tried to hide the audible gasp that left her mouth when Stan turned the computer that had a video playing on it. Ophelia could hear Mitch’s voice on the video sounding a lot different then how it was now. A beautiful blonde woman in a white bikini had a giant smile on her face as she looked into the camera, moving forward.

Rage. That was all Mitch felt. Rage that he had tried to push down started to bubble up to the surface. All he saw was Katrina’s face..how she looked only ten minutes before she died. Her smile, her laugh, everything about her started rushing back from the box that he kept it locked in for so long. “What the fuck is this?” He yelled standing up.

“Yeah..I thought so.” Was all Stan said as he stood up as well with a smug look on his face. Ophelia looked at him with a look that she didn’t recognize. He had used some pretty bad tactics before but this was new.

“You thought so?” Mitch repeated to him. His voice was laced with anger and rage.

“Yeah. Want me to turn it off.” Stan said. The video was still playing in the background and Ophelia could feel her heart breaking for Mitch as he was clearly trying to keep his composure and not look at the video.

“Stan...turn it off.” She said quietly moving forward. She reached out to close the laptop but he smacked her hand away.

“Turn that shit off.” Mitch growled out trying not to let his voice crack.

“Am I supposed to feel sorry for you? I don’t.” Stan said. Ophelia saw the loon on Mitch’s face a split second before he moved and also saw Stan grab the computer cord. Mitch lunged across the table at Stan as the older man wrapped the cord around his neck and pulled him to the ground.

“Stan!” Ophelia yelled as she could hear Mitch struggling to breath. “Stan let him go!”

“Never, EVER let it get personal. You understand?” Stan said evenly before letting Mitch go. The younger man dropped to the floor with a thud. Ophelia ran over as Stan started to walk away, kneeling down to help him up.

“Get the fuck off me O.” Mitch said, his voice raspier than usual as he quickly stood up and glared at Stan.

“We leave 8 am. Be here.” He spat out at Mitch. “I’ll be here at 7:30.” Mitch said stalking out of the room.

“What the fuck was that Dad.” Ophelia spun around as she heard the door shut. She never called Stan anything except sir and his first name. She knew how dangerous it was if anyone found out she was his daughter but she figured alone in his office, it didn’t matter.

“The kid needed to learn.” Was all Stan said as he sat down at his desk. Ophelia came over and slammed her hands down in front of him.

“So then throw him in the woods for three days, deny him meals. I don’t care...that was heartless. Even for you.” The girl was mad. Madder at him than she had ever been. “You know I expected a lot of things out of you...but using his dead fiance as a way to make him focus is the lowest you have ever gone.” She said turning on her heel and heading out the door.

@cxddlyash @xceafh

#mitch rapp x reader #mitch rapp #mitch rapp fanfic #mitch rapp imagines #american assassin #american assassin fanfic #dylan o'brien #stiles stilinski

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milesabovenotch · 5 years

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Our Lucky Chance

BTS x Hogwarts!au

Ravenclaw!Kim Namjoon

Hufflepuff!you

Words: 4625

Genre: Fluff

It’s absolutely devastating for a guy like Namjoon to think about other things beside school or classes, or studies. Moreover, about feelings.

He has that uptight aura of a geek whose nose always buried in books when he actually isn’t. He’s just reserved and saving energy not to socialize with people who’ll exhaust him more, because he always need his alone time. That somehow made him to always find a way to make things easier to do and easier to understand. And this mostly applied to academic matters.

But not for this kind of matter. Relationships, being honest with his feelings, all that jazz. He has seen many from his gang of lousy friends, but teenager Namjoon lacks experience. Especially since he just realized whom he wanted to ask to the Yule Ball. Whom he wanted to spend the so-called festive night comfortably. Which was you, his very recent study-slash-library friend.

“Oh shoot, is it October already?” you whispered as the sudden realization hit you. You both were in the library, on the same spot every week. “Slughorn said the essay should be done by the first week of October and I’ve been practically avoiding nothing but that..”

Namjoon smiled as he too answered your exasperation in whispers, “Well, technically it’s still september 31st, so you still have approximately 7 days until the end of the first week.”

“Yes but even years wouldn’t be enough for Potion.” You surrendered and finally closed your Muggle Studies—your newest favorite subject because you just found a perfect way to learn it, once a week meeting with Namjoon and interrogating him who has a muggle dad about the real muggle world, in a different perspective. You’re a hufflepuff with pure blood lines (not that you care), but your parents went to different houses. Your mother was gryffindor and your father was ravenclaw. They said one family tends to be on the same houses but the theory doesn’t work for your family. But in a way you got a different perspective about each houses and maybe that is why you are rarely judgemental, you are used to think that houses don’t divine the people. You don’t quickly judge a person based on their houses. You have many friends from several houses you met on several very different occasions. You met Gryffindor Jungkook in an addition class of Magical Creatures, you met Slytherin Jimin near the Forbidden Forest to catch Almond, his escaping calico cat. And apparently, they belonged to the same group of friends. A lousy gang, actually. One thing leads to another, it made you meet Namjoon, the street smart Ravenclaw. Slughorn’s all favorite boy.

“I am very lucky to have you here to escalate things up.” you laughed when you finally clear up the table and pack up, “when did you finish yours?”

“Yesterday.” He answered as he squeezed a bunch of new book he’s borrowing from the library to his black book bag, the one he always carried whenever he went to the library.

“Wait,” you suddenly remembered something. Even only once a week meeting with Namjoon, you already know his clumsiness, “Didn’t you say something about meeting Seokjin before dinner? It’s like, five minutes to dinner now, Joon!”

“Crap!”

And he fled, leaving his book bag he just packed. A very Namjoon thing to do.

“Jin! My kindest friend, the most capable, the—“

“Stop your shit Joon, I don’t want to talk to you.” Jin walked past him in the corridor without even looking at Namjoon. He was supposed to meet Jin for his experiment about transforming Pixy Egg to a-popping-firework-egg for Easter or something, basically to make it more festive and he completely forgot that.

“But i have found the book about Pixies!” he searched for the book but he realized he’s only holding his wand and nothing else, “..where’s my bag?”

Jin only rolled his eyes for the nth time,

“There- you- are!”

You came on the exact right time to bring the bag. For a second Jin gave Namjoon a knowing look you didn’t realize when you’re catching your breath after crossing the whole corridor carrying two heavy bags around.

“So you’re the reason I got stood up. How predictable—aAW“ Namjoon stomped on Jin’s feet in panic.

“Despicable, he meant despicable. Thanks, by the way.” Corrected Namjoon. He stopped there to see you grinning, your black and yellow tie a bit distorted and your messily clipped hair is a bit messier than usual, but you still managed to get him whipped anyway.

“No problem. I’ll head to dinner first, bye you two!” his eyes still following your figure getting smaller entering the Great Hall. Even though you are literally smaller by a head than Namjoon, resulting in you always have to look up whenever you two are talking.

“Have you asked her yet?”

Namjoon jolted from his thoughts, he almost forgot he’s standing next to Jin, “-yes i’m still here, brat.”

Namjoon sighed and suddenly remember how determined he’s this morning to ask you to the Ball, but everything just vanished whenever he saw you talking. “Not yet.”

“What makes it so hard, eh?” Jin asked as they walked to the feast.

“What makes—are you kidding me? i’m not you!” Namjoon felt offended, “I suppose you already asked someone?”

“Yeah, i asked Joy, the 4th grader i told you about. And not before turning down Lucy, Clara,..”

And Namjoon chose to busy himself chomping whatever it is near him instead of listening to what Jin said in their table. It is Ravenclaw’s table where Jin’s not supposed to be sitting, but it’s their thing. Even if only two person at first sitting together there, in minutes there will be five more to come. They just came to reunite on whichever house table they chose.

”Oooh, someone’s grumpy here.” ..Taehyung sat next to Namjoon. And then came another curious eyes and ears around from Jimin and Jungkook.

“Let me guess,” Yoongi has always been the quietest to approach them, but then suddenly talking as if he was there all along, “So between us 7, only you who haven’t asked someone out to the Ball?”

“What??” Namjoon felt betrayed, “So you guys already have plus ones?”

“Of course.” Jimin answered while munching the potatoes, “We agreed that today’s the deadline, right?”

“No, we didn’t.” Namjoon protested, “It’s tomorrow by breakfast!”

“Same thing. You only got an hour or two until bed time, what’s the difference?”

“All the difference in the world! it’s tomorrow, okay? Let me just eat my dinner in peace.” The crankiness was getting to Namjoon’s nerves. While the rest of the gang were joking and teasing each other about how they asked their dates to the Ball, Namjoon couldn’t help but looking for you on the corner of his eyes.

You were there, as ordinary as usual. Chatting and eating with your hufflepuff friends, surrounded by some girls giggling about something Namjoon didn’t know, approached by a guy..

Wait. What?

A gryffindor guy, what’s the name, Mino or something? Just approached you boldly on the dinner full of everyone, easily spotted, with a bouquet of rose, something Nerdy Joon would have never done. Besides he would rather not announced it publicly, he also knew very well that you don’t like red roses. You prefer yellow roses or tulips. What he couldn’t believe was that he himself was getting there, he will approach you after dinner before you go to your common room. He was just late by minutes, and here he had to watch you answered to Mino’s request? What a mess.

And by the way you blushed, accepted the bouquet, and teased by your friends (not to mention a big fisting yes! gesture from Mino, walking gallantly back to his table received by his friends as if he’d saved the Wizarding Community), Namjoon knew he’s late late. And suddenly, the grilled chicken in front of him didn’t seem so appetizing anymore.

“Hyung, come on.” Jungkook nudged him, apparently all of them also saw the hurtful scene before, “You know i would gladly sabotaged him, right?”

“Or i could crush him on tomorrow’s quidditch? I could fly the bludger towards him..” Jimin, slytherin’s beater already offering some kind of heroic actions.

“Thanks, but no, that’s a very muggle high-schooler thing to do.” Namjoon sighed and look at you. For a second your eyes met him, and shyly nodded your head and back to eating you soup. “it’s her decision, after all.”

But he didn’t finish his dinner.

“Would you go on a date with me tomorrow?”

That was one unexpected line that came out from Mino. Because the whole castle is on roaring attempt of getting plus ones for the Yule Ball but here he is, only asked you to go on a date with him tomorrow.

“I thought you were gonna ask her to the Ball?” Seulgi besides you gasped when seeing the beautiful roses pointed at you.

“Maybe? But i think we deserve one date for the sake of knowing each other, right?” Mino said nonchallantly, pointing his sharp eyes at you.

You are not one to prepare to be approached like this. You are not that fond of anything done.. publicly. You are not as charming as Slytherin’s Joy, or as bright as Seulgi, or even as pretty as Irene. You are just.. you. The not-so-prepared-for-a-surprise-you. That’s why you blushed when you accepted Mino’s roses. And pretty much no word came out beside a nod. Because no further harm could be done because of accepting one date, right?

The next day Namjoon met you at Potions, because you both were class partner after all, you shared the same cauldron today because apparently Slughorn just wanted a teamwork for this Felix Felicis finishing. Namjoon just hoped that he could be as lucky as this light liquid on his life.

“Why are you so quiet today?” you asked him, “did something happened?”

Namjoon stopped his daydreaming, “No, not at all.” But he’s not a sore loser, with you or not, he’d have to go to the ball and you’re his—well—friend after all, “What’re you doing after this?”

“Oh—“ suddenly you bit your lower lip, “You know that Mino guy from gryffindor?” yeah, as if i didn’t see it yesterday, Namjoon held his breath for a second, “he asked me for a date today, so i said yes.”

“I saw it. The rosey gesture huh.” he stirred the liquid until it turned bright, almost transparent. “what did you do with the poor flower?”

“Gosh, i feel bad so i just left it on the corner of my common room. This morning, a house-elf already put it on a vase, i’m guessing Winky, she likes to decorate.”

“One day i left a note on top of my holey socks and asked any house elf to help me sew it. It ended up with a flower pattern, Winky doing. To be honest i prefered them holey, thank you very much.”

You laughed at how Namjoon grunted. And you thanked God at how Slughorn was seriously talking to Henry who had a football player muggle-dad.

“Actually.. is it okay i have worries for the date? I don’t know Mino that well.”

Maybe, it’s time for Namjoon to take the bait.

So he said, “But do you like him though?” nonchalantly, yet his hand got colder at the same time.

You shrugged. “I don’t know. I just met him twice at his quidditch practice when i was waiting for Yeri, and we just talked for a bit. Do you know him? From the boys?”

He’s a snobbish proud artsy brave young man—impossible if he said the truth, right? So Namjoon just went on saying, “i also met him only on several classes. Jungkook said he’s an okay flyer after all.”

“’Okay’, huh? i bet Jungkook doesn’t want to lose his fair flyer title, after all.” You giggled. “speaking of which, why haven’t I see you fly?”

“the sky doesn’t suit me, girl. Don’t you remember how i tripped every 10 steps? I don’t want to embarass myself tripping up in the air.”

“Hey, i have a very good idea!”

It’s your eyes that Namjoon always hold on to. Your excited eyes, showing some little dimples around your upper cheek. He could see you like this all day and don’t mind at all. But now, he just couldn’t stop, “What?”

“I promised you i’ll go with you seeing the Thestrals, right? Isn’t it tomorrow?”

“Yes, to help me tend them because i can’t see them..” Namjoon is blessed by haven’t seen anyone died. Unlike you, back when you were young and there was the famous War of Hogwarts, before that the Death Eater were dominating. You saw one of your muggle neighbor got killed by a death eater right before your family called you to Disapparate. So, yes, you could see Thestrals.

“We could try riding them!”

“You mean you want to see me floating in the air on a something i couldn’t see?”

“It’s like riding a horse, i promise you. and besides, you could hang on to me in front of you.”

That took an amount of consideration for Namjoon to think.

“Okay kids, wrap up! I will test your Felix.” Suddenly Slughorn called and interrupted your conversation.

“Whatever, i will meet you tomorrow at 4 pm behind Hagrid’s Hut.” You whispered.

Namjoon spent the rest of the afternoon in a blur. He perfectly knew you and Mino would go sightseeing on the lake, to the quidditch field, and he practically had been avoiding almost every window just so he couldn’t get a glimpse of you or Mino. He’d rather not knowing anything.

He’s just lazying around in Ravenclaw’s common room nearing twilight when suddenly a fourth year girl—Doyoung?—approached him.

“Hey, Namjoon? There’s a hufflepuff girl waiting for you outside.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know but she said to pass the message.” And then she left.

He wanted to think that it’s you, with your cancelled or failed date with Mino but would that be harsh?

But he’s right about one thing, it’s you sitting on the stairs just beside the Raven of the Ravenclaw’s common room door. He wanted to believe that it would be him who would lighten up your long face. You looked exhausted and spent, humming to yourself a muggle song—Good together by Honne, introduced by Namjoon through his iPod—while closing your eyes. Namjoon approached quickly and sit beside you.

Of course you opened your eyes instantly, because every movement Namjoon did including some harsh wind blown and a little bit of vibrations on every surfaces he touched, so people will easily know it’s him.

“Hi! Am i interrupting you?” you said to the tall man beside you, whose legs taken up two steps below the one your legs were in.

“I didn’t expect you to come, but no actually.”

“Let’s go meet the thestrals now!”

“Now? An hour before dinner?”

“Yes pleasee?”

And he couldn’t ever say no to that pleading eyes of yours, so he nodded.

Several minutes later after some attempt of stopping by the kitchen and asked for some raw meats from the house elves (one elf even said to Namjoon “Would you like a whole seasoned raw lamb, sir?”) you both were behind Hagrid’s hut, heading to the forest you acclaimed to have been there several times before. Namjoon stayed close to you with his bag full of meat.

The sky had become so orange reaching the twilight, a shade of red around the round sun looking like a perfectly round egg yolk Namjoon had for breakfast. It was not too windy or too dark yet, some said it’s the-

“Perfect weather to fly, don’t you think?” you also stopped beside Namjoon to look up at the sky, “One thing i love about this place is the silhouette of the Astronomy tower. That makes every scenery i see from here a thousand times more beautiful. Aesthetic, like it comes from a paintings.”

“It is a painting, don’t you think?” Namjoon answered, “Done by a whole different Great Force out there that we mere humans couldn’t surpass, even with the most magical magic there is.”

“You now what, Joon. I love how that sound. Perfectly said.” you converted your eyes to a whole another scenery beside you, a built young man looking at the vanilla sky talking about the Great Force endearingly. “You always admit that there’s a Greater Force above us all, that’s why you always walk around keeping your head down. Because you know, we’re not superior enough to feel superior.” You ended that with an endearing smile on your face.

Was that blush you see coloring Namjoon’s face or it’s just a reflection of a phoenix passing by? Nonetheless, it looked good on him. You always thought about how he was the sweetest person alive, with just the right amount of clumsiness to cloud his extraordinary cleverness and soft heartedness. How can someone not like him? Even you think he was so precious, on how he always treated people beside him carefully and little creatures beside him carefully.

And you always liked the way Namjoon simply said your name, like now. “Listen, I—“ he looked like he wanted to tell you something important, but then he got pushed away to your right looking stunned. Of course he was, it’s caused by a young Thestral nosing his bag too passionately, pushing his shoulder to the side.

“Oops, tripped on my own foot.” He finally came to his own wrong conclusion.

“No, Joon. It’s a thestral!” you said excitedly. “Oh my God it’s here.. ��i wish you could see it. No, i didn’t mean it that way, but-“

Namjoon chuckled when he said, “I get your point, silly.” And he proceeded to see you stroked something in the middle of an empty air. Just like how the book and the way you described it, he imagined you stroked its nose on its bony anatomy. You reached Namjoon’s fingers and lead him to stroke the thestral on the previous part you touched. Namjoon made a weird sound between gasp and an audible grumble.

“it feels.. weird? A bit cold and hairy, don’t you think?”

“But it doesn’t have any hair on the part you touched.” You laughed seeing him scrunched his nose, thinking hard about the texture he’s touching.

And after that you and Joon feed the thestrals, because after the first time you and him gave the young thestrals a slice of meat (and Namjoon was fascinated on how the meat seemed to gone bits by bits by itself) several other adult thestrals came to see you guys.

“They’re gentle beings, often being misunderstood because of their looks, Hagrid said.” your eyes soften seeing them eating.

“Sometimes i get what he said, but sometimes he just got too innocent to realize that a giant horned being 10 meters high being capable of breathing fire when approached doesn’t equal as adorable.” You both laughed at what Namjoon said, “We’ve run out of meats, by the way.”

“Then maybe it’s time to fly! Hi there this is our last meat, would you let us fly with you?” you said to a tall thestral you’re feeding on.

Several minutes later you were already sat behind its neck and convincing Namjoon that it’s completely safe up here. With the help of your hand and a wingardium leviosa later, he cramped himself between you and the thestral’s wings. Because of the little space, your back had to completely stick to his chest.

“Sorry if this is uncomfortable.” Said Joon. Part of you felt shy but it’s Namjoon, a guy you knew well and trust completely. So you took a deep breath, reminding yourself that there was supposed to be none to be palpitating about, and yet your heart still gone too fast to your liking. You just hoped Namjoon wouldn’t feel it on his chest.

Little did you know, Namjoon panicked. He didn’t know what to think, where to touch (it’s not like i’m thinking about touching anything, he thought worriedly) but this is the first time he will fly with thestrals, of course he had to be sure about anything. Just like how he had to be sure about something he denied often recently.

“Is it okay if i hold onto the neck?” he said.

“Joon, i know you have long arms but we both will lose our balance that way.” You said after one long thought. “You can hold on to my...waist. please don’t get me wrong there’s no other way! Except you’ll lead this thestral to fly then we should change position?”

“But i can’t fly!? What should i do?”

“Okay.. let’s not panic here. The thestral could feel it. Just..” you touched Namjoon’s flailing hands and made it rest on your waist where he held that awkwardly. “Let’s do this!!” you shouted that happily and encouraged the thestral to fly.

Namjoon has tried flying with broom before. And never, not once he felt anything like this. Namjoon felt like you navigated the thestral gracefully, even though it felt awkward at first to have wings flapping beside his resting feet. But later he got used to it and it felt like he is entrusted to something bigger than him that could take him anywhere he wanted with his wings. In mere seconds you both reached the top of astronomy towers, where the sun felt closer than ever before and you both took a moment to see the beautiful sky upclose. You navigated the thestral to spin and make you both go around the castle twice, looking at students from around the castle walking to the Great Hall because it’s almost dinner, turn south until you reached the end of the forest, and finally flew down near the lake.

The thestral stopped at the open space by the end of the lake. Finally Namjoon climbed down the thestral, thanking him and reached out his hand to help you down. His hands were cold and sweaty as you remembered, and at the same time the thestral lowering his neck to drink from the lake, causing you to stumble down. Luckily, Namjoon was there already to catch you and held you steady on his chest.

Hearts thumped rapidly, you both still had increased breathing from the excitement because of the flying experienced from before. Thoughts on the adrenaline rush can’t seemed to reach higher was definitely proven wrong. Because when your eyes both met for a moment, that second made you both lost on each other’s gaze. You knew Namjoon could clearly see you blush because you, too, could see clearly his wavering eyes and the way his adam apple moved because he gulped.

You both let go of each other after you both went to your senses, and you sat next to each other watching the thestral drink.

“Thanks for the flying experience today.” Namjoon patted your head.

“Thanks for flying with me.” you nudged his shoulder with your elbow. “I sounded like a muggle flying attendants right now.” The silence after your laughter felt assuring, somehow.

“I kinda get it now.” Namjoon said with confidence he found suddenly, “Why you like flying very much. It’s like reaching another experience that gives you strength, in a strangely beautiful way.”

“Fly often, then? Just for your own peace of mind, no pressure.”

“I could never navigate as well as you, though.” He looked at you, sincerely complimenting.

“Thanks, Joon.” You rested your head on his shoulder. “i knew it. I could never be as assured as when i’m with you.”

“What happened? Is it about.. the date?”

“Let’s not call it one.” You sighed. “it’s just an attempt of saving his face between him and his friends, because apparently he boastfully said that he could date any Hufflepuff as well as he could win his first Quidditch game. His friends want prove, so.”

“What??” Namjoon felt his blood boiled, not just because of your proximity but for other reasons, anger, he supposed. “Completely dumb things some Gryffindor would do.”

You nudged his arm out of habit because of his stereotyping about houses, “Well, at least he had the audacity to tell me beforehand. Because, i quoted, he said ‘I don’t want you to get your hopes high or something, because i already had a date for my Yule Ball’ ”

“Shit.”

“I gave him one by saying ‘well you better say thank you because i accidentally saved your face once, and i’m not going to do it again because you will go against me on your first Quidditch game, of course there’s no way i’m letting you win.’ And i left him in an instant to go flying with you. shouldn’t have said yes afterall.“

“Damn, girl!” Namjoon laughed proudly as he circled his arm around your shoulder and stroked your arm. “Didn’t know you could be that savage.”

“I could! But just, i’d rather not experience anything like that again.”

“No way in hell. You could trust me.”

The pause in his voice made you turn your head and looked at his face, “Meaning?”

“Because I..” Namjoon knew it would be his chance, this. Right now. Just you both alone (don’t count the Thestral), not in public. A very Namjoon way to do. “I’ve been meaning to ask you to the Ball.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. It’s been you in my mind all along.”

Your smile grew as you could feel how sincere he sounded, “Joon..”

He grasped your hand between his big ones, and entwined your fingers together before mumbled, “If you would like to, of course.”

“Of course i want too.” you tightened your fingers around him. “I would love to go to the Yule Ball with you!”

His dimpled smile was the most precious thing, following his cresccent eyes. He smiled with his face, he smiled with his whole body, emitting a sense of security you found rarely in anyone else.

“And if things..go right,” he said, “after the Yule Ball, let me tell you something important.”

Your forehead creased, “Why not now?”

“Because,” he stroked your knuckles with his thumb, “dinner has already started, and i’m hungry. Haven’t had anything decent since you told me about your date.”

You chuckled and he stood up still taking your hand.

“And because i think i could feel the thestral nudged me to get him one more slice of meat. Bet Hagrid has some. I owe this one for my flying date today.”

“So i still had a date today, but with you and not with Mino?”

“I’d be most delightful to revised your horrible—erm, encounter, before.”

“That’s settled, then. I had a great date today. Thank you, Kim Namjoon.”

“I thank you, madam.” He pecked the back of your hand slightly before laughing hard seeing your confused yet smitten face.

“that’s cute, but what are you doing?”

“I think Darcy has gotten into me.”

“Who’s Darcy?”

He sighed, “Clearly you have to be more educated about Muggle classics before becoming my girlfr—oops.”

“Come again?”

“Nope. Dinner, now.”

You teased him about his resurfaced shyness. He told you nothing else, just walked and held your hand through the Great Hall to eat dinner between his circle of friends. Jimin teased you both and Jungkook drank a whole pot of pumpkin juice as a celebration of whatever this is. But seeing Namjoon’s laughter, making his effort to eat with one hand because he still wanted to hold your hand below the table, you knew that you were in the right hand all along.

#bts fanfic #bts rm #bts namjoon #bts hogwarts au #bts fluff #bts oneshot #bts scenarios

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epithethq · 5 years

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to start things off, we as a whole would like to say thank you so much to everyone who took the time out of their busy lives to show interest in our little baby here. we would also like to say thank you to everyone who decided to post in the talk tag as well, it was really fun reading what you guys had responded to our questionnaire along with seeing all the amazing aesthetics that were being post ! this last week has been really heartwarming for us both, seeing all these apps rolling in & what not really made things really exciting for us. however, we want to address the fact that even though we can’t accept every single person who applied, we want to say thank you. we do really appreciate every application that we got.

please note that there were a few characters we accepted for alternate skeletons. if you weren’t accepted for the skeleton you applied for, please check to make sure you weren’t accepted elsewhere !! to those who were not accepted, please know that we loved your applications. but we only could pick one between the multiple applications that we had received. if anyone has any questions as to why they were not accepted, please shoot us a quick message & we will gladly answer whatever question you might have. also please don’t hesitate to reapply in the future.

and for our big ending, we would like to congratulate everyone that has been accepted into EPITHETHQ. we are beyond excited to start writing with you all & seeing your muses come to life on the dash ! please make sure to send in your accounts within the next twenty four hours, or send a message to the main if you need a little bit more time. with that being said, under the cut you will find those who have been accepted.

CONGRATULATIONS SOF, YOU’VE BEEN ACCEPTED AS THE AMARANTH. WELCOME TO EPITHETHQ.

i just want to start off by mentioning how much i loved how detailed your application was. especially the parts where you talked about lukas’ family. that’s what really had me going, i really enjoyed reading everything you had to put in your application. i also want to mention the aesthetics & pinterest board you made because ... it was SO cute. thank you for applying & we can’t wait to see lukas on the dash !

CONGRATULATIONS TATI, YOU’VE BEEN ACCEPTED AS THE BON VIVANT. WELCOME TO EPITHETHQ.

can i just start off by mentioning the fact that i love how much madelaine petsch ? i seriously think she’s a perfect fit for the bon vivant ! but what i really want to talk about is how you went about your application. we both really loved the fact that you did a completely different take on the bon vivant & that’s what really had me hooked. i can’t wait to learn more about scarlett !

CONGRATULATIONS ALI, YOU’VE BEEN ACCEPTED AS THE CAVALIER. WELCOME TO EPITHETHQ.

look, i just want to talk about how much i love that you brought brinley back to life. i also want to mention how much i love how detailed your application is. everything you wrote just had me hooked from the start & i honestly cannot wait to see what type of things brinley will bring to the dash !

CONGRATULATIONS ZOE, YOU’VE BEEN ACCEPTED AS THE DIRTBAG. WELCOME TO EPITHETHQ.

as soon as i clicked on the pinterest board you left in your application, i was already in love with stasia. but when i started reading your application that’s when i just knew that anastasia was the perfect fit for the dirtbag. everything that happened to her in her past literally ... tugged at my heart strings. so i honestly cant wait to see what things she brings to our dash !

CONGRATULATIONS FERB, YOU’VE BEEN ACCEPTED AS THE EBULLIENT. WELCOME TO EPITHETHQ.

i was actually really excited when i came on & seen that someone had applied for the ebullient ! it was one of my favorite skeletons to work on & your application really put a good picture in my head on how you envisioned them as well. i really loved your application & can’t wait to see what ace’s sparkling personality brings to the dash.

CONGRATULATIONS DANA, YOU’VE BEEN ACCEPTED AS THE FRAUDULENT. WELCOME TO EPITHETHQ.

i am .. actually .. in love with theo. everything from his pinterest board, his stats page & my god i don’t even want to start on about his bio. i really loved how everything was written & i love how you went into so much detail when you were explaining his background in your application. i really think that theo is a great fit for the fraudulent & can’t wait to see him on the dash !

CONGRATULATIONS FERB, YOU’VE BEEN ACCEPTED AS THE GREGARIOUS. WELCOME TO EPITHETHQ.

the part in your app when you were talking about helene & haley’s relationship i was so in love with their connection. it was such a good thing to read about & then ... that happened & my heart stopped because all i could think about was ?? dAMN why did she have to leave like that ? your app seriously had me going, i can’t wait to see what other things you bring on the dash with helene !

CONGRATULATIONS TALLY, YOU’VE BEEN ACCEPTED AS THE IMPECUNIOUS. WELCOME TO EPITHETHQ.

i honestly started laughing when i first started reading your application because i just started thinking about ways i, myself, would love to start calling charlie by their other names. but overall i really loved the aesthetics you wrote, the pinterest board & just the way you brought the impecunious to life ! can’t wait to see what charlie brings to the dash.

CONGRATULATIONS NORA, YOU’VE BEEN ACCEPTED AS THE KALEIDOSCOPIC. WELCOME TO EPITHETHQ.

rosie rosie rosie, what am i going to do with you ? that’s what i was thinking when i was reading your application because it really had me in my feels. rosie i think is a perfect fit for the kaleidoscopic. we can’t wait to see what things you bring to the dash because from your pinterest, it just gets me really excited to see what things rosie will bring to the dash.

CONGRATULATIONS KAYLA, YOU’VE BEEN ACCEPTED AS THE MELANCHOLIC. WELCOME TO EPITHETHQ.

oh my god kayla, i just want to start off by saying how much i love you & your application. i want to start off with talking about your pinterest board, because that was the first thing you linked in your app & honestly i love looking through them all together. but i really felt like you really took what was given & just ... really brought this skeleton to life. also i loved that you named your skeleton romeo. next i want to mention how much i loved reading about romeo. after reading everything in your application i just really can’t wait to see what romeo brings to our dash. thank you so much for applying !

CONGRATULATIONS BEX, YOU’VE BEEN ACCEPTED AS THE NEOPHYTE. WELCOME TO EPITHETHQ.

ezra ?? we love him. bex ?? we love them !! you get a gold star for doing your best.

CONGRATULATIONS BEA, YOU’VE BEEN ACCEPTED AS THE PHILOPHOBE. WELCOME TO EPITHETHQ.

from the first line of your biography, i was caught !! bea, seren is something special & i am so, so excited to see you bring her to life on our dash. i think she has so much to strive for & so many reasons to be scared & frightened but she has so much to gain by taking her life as her own. i’m so excited to see her grow & flower without the weight of her father’s control holding her down.

CONGRATULATIONS LEX, YOU’VE BEEN ACCEPTED AS THE PRESTIGIOUS. WELCOME TO EPITHETHQ.

wow wow wow. syre is something special & i can’t properly express how glad we are to have him here. you added so much characterization & detail & the both of us were simply stunned by your app !! having him be a salinger is such a cool take & i think he’ll bring a cool personality to the dash. “ instead it landed him in paris ” -- that bit hit hard and all i could think to myself was damn. we cannot wait to see what you do with him & we’re so excited to have you and him here !!

CONGRATULATIONS BRENDA, YOU’VE BEEN ACCEPTED AS THE PRISTINE. WELCOME TO EPITHETHQ.

my heart aches for josie & i genuinely think that she is the perfect fit for our pristine !! i can’t wait to see her become the person she has always meant to be. i want her to grow to be more than her insecurities and fears. i love your aesthetic you wrote for her,and i love your pinterest board even more. i can’t wait to love our pretty-in-pink girl even more !!

CONGRATULATIONS CAS, YOU’VE BEEN ACCEPTED AS THE QUIXOTIC. WELCOME TO EPITHETHQ.

whoa. that’s really all i can say. i am so excited for you to bring the quixotic to life because i was really struck !! i loved how you started us off with an aesthetic for callie, and i love how you started with an overview of her character traits. we really got to dive right in to see callie !! continuing to read, i was so sad reading about her time in high school, & reading about her & her brother, luke. i think i am just as heartbroken as she is ?? you really gave us so many little details that made her feel real & i think she is spectacular.

CONGRATULATIONS IRENE, YOU’VE BEEN ACCEPTED AS THE ROGUE. WELCOME TO EPITHETHQ.

maybe being in paris will give rome the wake-up call he needs, but until then we are both so excited to have him as our rogue in paris !! i think that his recklessness and view of the world make him unique & something different than a lot of the characters on the dash. i am so, so excited to see how he grows & changes with the plots & events we’ll have to throw at him.

CONGRATULATIONS GI, YOU’VE BEEN ACCEPTED AS THE SPITFIRE. WELCOME TO EPITHETHQ.

wow. vesna is just ... wow !! your writing & in-depth section is beautiful & i was just so taken with her. i feel so deeply for her & the tragedy of her past is something that makes her so haunting. i love how you want to make her “ rise from the ashes ” & i cannot wait to see you do that !! she deserves the world & i hope she gets it. you have so many things and ideas for her & i am so excited to see her come alive in your hands as our spitfire.

CONGRATULATIONS KRIS, YOU’VE BEEN ACCEPTED AS THE SYBARITIC. WELCOME TO EPITHETHQ.

i don’t know how to say this, but both nina & i were so caught up in this app. it was honestly so great for us to read !! i love the traits you gave her & was in love from the beginning. i really love how you write. your word choice was stunning & it was all so beautiful. i am so excited for cecilia & her duality of girlish joy & machiavellian deceit. i think she is very strong-willed & bold & she’s honestly something unlike the rest of our characters. we loved all of your details & we are so excited to see you & her here !!

#accepted.

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wineanddinosaur · 3 years

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Jarod Sleet Is Proving There Are Many Types of Wine Drinkers — ‘Not a Monolith’

Jarod Sleet is the assistant winemaker for ROCO Winery nestled in Newberg, Ore., within the Dundee Hills AVA. Sleet has spent the last three and a half years heavily involved in nearly every aspect of the winery’s functions. From hiring harvest interns, to hand-harvesting grapes and printing labels, to facilitating wine tasting events for club members, Sleet really does it all — and much more. One of Oregon’s most highly rated wineries, ROCO has a heavy focus on sparkling wines, which are a favorite of Sleet’s.

Sleet was born and raised in Kentucky, where cooking was a huge part of his culture and upbringing. At the age of 20, he wanted to change up his scenery, so in 2002 he sold his belongings and moved out to the Pacific Northwest, ultimately landing in Portland, Ore. During this time, he was doing a lot of introspection — ultimately establishing his Queer identity.

After turning 21, he pursued culinary arts, which very well led to his passion for wine. Sleet is truly a shining star in the Willamette Valley, consistently breaking down barriers in hopes of creating a better pathway for those who come after him.

VinePair chatted with Sleet about his journey in the wine industry thus far and what we can expect from him in the future.

[Ed. note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.]

1. What does an assistant winemaker do, and how unique has this position been for you?

I think the role of an assistant winemaker differs a lot depending on where you’re at. Here at ROCO Winery, we’re pretty small — larger than boutique, but still fairly small — and I do a little bit of everything. Most of the year, I am the only one in production. Then the harvest time comes around, so we hire three interns for six to eight weeks, then they’re gone again.

The job includes managing the small plot in front of the winery by hand-harvesting those grapes, operating forklifts, operating machines, running analysis for the winemaking processes, and so much more. I’ve even led wine tasting events for our club members for the holidays. It is awesome to experience each aspect from grape to bottle to tasting rooms, and being able to explain that process to people is an amazing experience.

2. What has been your favorite vintage out of any of the three Oregon wineries you either currently work for or have previously worked for?

This is a really tough question because I feel like I’ve learned so many different things at each place. I feel that my internship with Archery Summit in 2013 was the most interesting, though, because it was a dual-internship. I worked for three months in the vineyard as a viticulture technician and then transitioned into the cellar as a lab tech. I got the opportunity to use my science background for the lab tech to run analysis, as well as my agricultural background for the viticultural side. Through and through, I would say it was such a well-rounded experience. I got to apply so much knowledge into action — it was great.

2013 was a fairly cool vintage from the end of summer into fall, with a lot of rain from mid-September into October. You could notice drastic differences in wines from this vintage throughout the Willamette Valley due to when producers decided to pick their grapes.

3. Who have been three of your greatest mentors in life, and what has been your biggest takeaway from each?

Well for one, I loved both of my grandmothers, rest their souls, and my dad’s mother Irene Sleet was my first mentor in life. She had such an amazingly positive influence and impact on my upbringing. Her coaching me about gardening and cooking at a young age truly helped inspire me in so many ways, as my love for food and hospitality was born through those experiences and drove me to pursue cooking professionally as a result. She was also a strong independent Black woman whom I love and respect so much.

Second is my professor, James Cassidy at Oregon State University, who was a soil scientist. I learned an enormous amount from him, and he carried himself as having such a positive outlook on life. He did an amazing job of helping me network with people in this area and is probably one of the reasons why I’m here in this role today. He introduced me to a number of winemakers and grape growers in the Willamette Valley, which opened that door for me to really thrive, so I’m grateful for him.

Lastly, my boss now — Rollin Soles — who is the owner and winemaker of ROCO Winery. He’s an incredible person with a great sense of humor, a wealth of knowledge, and working for him has been awesome.

4. What has changed in your workplace since the pandemic has started, and how have you adjusted?

This has been an ongoing adjustment throughout the year. The production time of the year has been fairly unchanged, as I’m socially distant in the cellar on my own by design. I do share an office, but we are well over six feet apart, and we maintain wearing masks whenever we’re in the office. We stagger our lunches so we minimize contact with each other.

The biggest change has been to how we handled harvest this year. Normally, we have a large gathering, where everyone from vineyard to sales gets together to have food, a glass of wine, and camaraderie. That was unable to happen this year. Maintaining the safety and wellness of everyone is definitely our priority, so albeit it’s different nowadays, hopefully we will get back to some sense of normalcy in the future.

5. Do you have any aspirations that you would like to achieve within the next 10 years?

Absolutely! I would love to take over the wine program here at ROCO Winery one day or even start my own label. There’s so much I feel I have to learn, and applying real-world experience will definitely help, too. I’d say five years is a realistic timeline to do this, because by then, it will be possible for me to gather the experience needed. We’ll see how it goes.

6. What’s been the most difficult part of your career so far?

Establishing myself here on the West Coast away from my family has been one of the most challenging things for me to do, in general. In my career, it has been proving that I should be here. On paper, I have the knowledge, so applying that physically, as well as knowing that I can succeed, has been the biggest obstacle to overcome.

7. Who has been your greatest supporter throughout your journey in wine?

My mother! She’s been my greatest support in everything in life. She’s always the one who’s like, “You’ve got this.” Having that person believe in you is amazing. She would even encourage her friends to frequently buy wine from the places I’ve worked for, so that’s been really great!

8. Do you feel like the wine industry has done enough to provide adequate inclusivity in Black and Brown persons?

Short answer: no. Long answer: It is a realization that the industry is having, and it is still in its infancy.

9. What is it like being a Black man in the winemaking side of the business?

Well, sometimes it seems like a lonely road. I don’t see a lot of people that look like me in Oregon in general, so in the wine industry it isn’t much different. There’s definitely a greater presence of Black and Queer winemakers in California, but I am oftentimes the only person of color in the room and feeling like, “do I belong?”

I won’t say that I’ve been made to feel like I shouldn’t be here, but it is a battle with myself sometimes, as I have to affirm with myself that I have a seat at the table. Overall, in my experience, my voice is heard, I’m respected among my colleagues, and people do seek my input to add diversity to work that we’re doing here in the Willamette Valley.

10. What is the greatest thing you aim to bring and continue to bring to the wine industry?

Accessibility of wine. There are many facets to this idea, but one of the first points is having more financially accessible wines which could help capture a larger and more diverse audience. Then, we can work on how people perceive wine drinkers. I want the wine to become more fun and not as structured, so we can diversify the people that drink wine. For example, my buddy Bertony of Abbey Creek Wine hosts a hip hop and wine night. It would be amazing to show the world that there are many forms of wine drinkers and not a monolith.

11. Beyond where you work and the wines that you make, what have you been drinking lately?

I am a bourbon guy at heart. When I’m not drinking a lot of wine for blendings and tastings, I’m typically drinking bourbon, as that’s one thing me and my dad share. We’ll send bottles of bourbon back and forth to compare and contrast, and when I come home, we visit distilleries. My go-to lately has been a newer distillery called Rabbit Hole. They’ve just made it out to Oregon, and they have sherry-cask bourbon that is really delicious.

I’m also still trying more sparkling wines. Every time I go to the shop or the market I aim to try something new to diversify my exposure because there are a lot of wineries in the Willamette Valley making sparkling wines now. Exploring local bubbles has been fun!

The article Jarod Sleet Is Proving There Are Many Types of Wine Drinkers — ‘Not a Monolith’ appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/jarod-sleet-roco-winery/

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johnboothus · 3 years

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Jarod Sleet Is Proving There Are Many Types of Wine Drinkers Not a Monolith