The Game

The Game

Streetlamps flickered, creating shadows that were and weren't there. The air was fresh against your skin. The moon shined and the clouds hid the twinkling stars. You, a lone soul, walked the city at night.

Whether it was the midnight or the evening shift, you were better acquainted with the likes of the moon than the sun. That lonesome night, you strolled your way home from another shift at the ER.

It was a brutal one.

An older woman had nails lodged in her fingers from a nail gun mishap. A young teenage boy had been hysterical by her side. Presumably, he was the cause of the nail gun mishap. A middle-aged couple had been throwing up blood. That was a fun sight to see! One little girl had gotten a throwing dart to the eye. She was looking forward to wearing an eye patch at school.

Consoling people was the most exhausting part of being an ER nurse.

You wanted to go home.

For some odd reason, the trek home was taking even longer than usual. Maybe you had accidentally taken a wrong turn? With the light being scarce, it was hard to tell.

You pulled your phone out of your work bag, hoping to get a sense of where the hell you were.

As soon as you clicked it on, there was a notification filling up the screen.

It read: DO YOU WANT TO PLAY?

There were two options below, yes and no.

You'd seen enough horror movies to know better. Not to mention, you didn't have the time nor the patience for this bullshit. So you didn't press anything at all.

After all, you had a cat named Hangry to feed at home.

You put your phone away, just for another screen to pop up in front of you.

"IF YOU WANNA GO HOME Y/N, YOU'D BETTER COME PLAY!"

The same yes and no options flashed below. This shit was cursed!

You scrambled backward, only for another screen to appear.

And another. And another. And another!

"What the fuck, stop!"

The screens engulfed you with their angry flashes.

You tightly shut your eyes as they pressed against you. You were falling, and as you opened your eyes, you saw that you had accidentally hit the "yes" option.

The mob of screens disappeared and were replaced with colors. You were baffled.

A new window said, "YOUR GAME WILL BEGIN MOMENTARILY."

Then an automated voice spoke, "Your game will begin in ten..."

The colors flickered all around you like lightning.

"Nine..."

You felt the nausea of the middle-aged couple coming on.

"Eight..."

Were the stories true?

"Seven..."

Were you going to die?

"Six..."

The colors picked up the pace, blinding you.

"Five..."

Were you going to die? Like the others before you?

"Four..."

You refused to believe it.

"Three..."

All you wanted was to go home and sleep!

"Two..."

However, this was THE GAME.

"One!"

And you intended to win.

Even if it was only so Hangry the Cat could eat!

How to write a kiss

Rebloggable version, as requested by davrosbro. :)

Oooh!  Yes!  I love kisses.  Kisses are where it all starts ;).

Okay, first, remember that a kiss is much, much more than just lips.  It is lips, but also tongues, teeth, eyes, faces, hands, noses, bodies, heartbeats,  breath, voice- and most importantly, a kiss is emotions.  A kiss without emotion is just wet mushy lips stuck together.  Ew.  Gross.  The most important part of a kiss isn’t the how, but the who- because of the emotions between the two people.

Okay so:

lips- Lips can slide, glide over each other smoothly, or they can be chapped and rough and dry and get stuck on each other.  They can match, top-to-top and bottom-to-bottom, or they can overlap, with one person’s top or bottom lip captured between the other person’s lips (yummy).  If there is lipstick or chapstick there is lipstick or chapstick flavor, otherwise, lips don’t have a taste (can you taste yours?).  Lips also can smack- the sound of two of them coming together or pulling apart, because they’re wet and warm and soft.

tongue- Tongues are always wet, and always warm.  They’re very versatile.  They can trace over lips, teeth, or another tongue.  They can be smooth and graceful or teasing and flicking.  When tongues are involved, there is drool.  It’s only sexy when you like the person you’re kissing, or else it’s kinda gross. :P

teeth- teeth can clack together awkwardly, or teeth can bite down sensually.  A person biting their own lip is cute, a person biting another’s lips is sexy.  A person biting gently is sensual, a person biting roughly is sexual.

eyes- Eyes can be wide open with surprise, half-lidded with desire, fully closed with pleasure.  Eyes can gaze lovingly, lustfully, wistfully, hungrily, seductively- it all depends upon the emotions of your characters.  Have them do whatever you like, but don’t leave them out- give them at least a mention!

faces- Faces are what the lips are attached to.  Noses bump, cheeks flush, ears turn red, foreheads either wrinkle or relax.  Kisses can leave lips, quite easily, and become kisses on chins, cheeks, noses, foreheads, ears, necks, throats.  Kisses on noses or foreheads are cute and adorable, kisses on cheeks are sweet, kisses on chins, ears, and throats are very sexual.  And a kiss on the lips can be all of those! <3

hands- Hands are super-important.  In order to describe a kiss, usually you want to also describe the hands.  Where are they?  Does one character have their hand behind the other’s head or back, holding them close?  Are they on someone’s shoulders pulling them near, or pushing them away?  Fingers brushing someone’s cheek or palms grabbing someone’s ass convey two very different kinds of situations, even if the kiss itself is exactly the same.

noses- Noses are annoying.  They easily get in the way, especially for first kisses!  People have to tilt their head to one side or the other, and if they don’t, noses bump.  I’d only mention noses if a kiss is supposed to be awkward or uncertain or nervous.

bodies- bodies are either close together, or far away.  Someone can be surrounded comfortingly by someone’s arms, or terrifyingly trapped by them.  Bodies are warm or hot, they are calm or nervous, relaxed or tense.  Body language says a lot.  Is your character pulling away, or moving closer?

heartbeat- Hearts can beat fast or slow, and that’s about all they can do- but there are lots of reasons why they do!  A heart can beat fast with fear or excitement or nervousness; a heart can pound with lust or race with terror or sing with joy.  Hearts can glow, cower, or shatter.  When you really want to drive the emotions of a character home, mention the heart.

breath- To me, the most consuming part of a kiss is the breath.  The air that someone else has just breathed going deep into your lungs is very intimate.  Lips and tongues don’t have a taste, but breath does.  Each person’s breath tastes different, smells different, and surrounds a person differently than anyone else’s breath.  Breath can be warm and sweet, breath can be hot and sexy, breath can be hot and frightening.  It is something that is very present and should not be left out.  A lot of writers leave breath out.  And it’s so important; it’s the most intimate part of a kiss.  Someone else is breathing into your lungs, and it’s either heaven or it’s hell.

voice- Voice conveys much, even without words.  A voice can groan, whimper, gasp, moan, catch, whine, scream, sigh.  Voice can convey emotion powerfully, and while some kisses are silent, usually they’re not.

emotion-  Emotion is the most important- and the thing you try not to say.  You want to describe it, through all of the things above, so that it’s perfectly clear what your characters are feeling, without you ever using the “feelings words”.  If they’re in love, their bodies will lean close, their eyes will smile, their voices will giggle softly.  If they’re nervous, their palms will sweat, their noses will bump, their voices will shudder.  If they’re afraid, their muscles will be tense, their faces will grimace, their lips will not open.  Emotion is the color that you keep inside your mind as you write; it’s the base line that drives the description behind everything else you say.

Wow, that was a lot!  Gosh I hope it wasn’t too much!  Keep in mind not every kiss has all these things- this is just a list of things to consider when writing a kiss, and based on how long of a kiss you want to make.  Keep in mind that typing “they kissed for a long time”…that’s six words, it takes half a second to read, so that’s a short kiss!  If you want a long kiss, you need long sentences that make the reader linger.

So maybe to start off, pick three things on the list to describe in your first kiss.  Don’t try to do it all- that would be too much for even the most epic kiss.  Just pick what’s most important to this particular scene, to these particular characters, and describe those parts along with the lips, and you’ve got yourself an awesome, emotional kiss. <3

Emotional Vulnerability Theory

On November 27th, 2020 at 7:43 a.m. I created a theory about whether or not people are capable of emotional vulnerability.

Back in ancient times, women were expected to maintain their household and children. Society demanded that men went to war and hunted for food. From this information, I concluded that being capable of emotional vulnerability depended on your society and their expectations for your sex. An emotionally vulnerable person to me is someone who can feel any emotion (depression, anger, jealousy, etc.) and then communicate that emotion to others without fear of judgment.

Historically, men expected to partake in war and hunting. That made them less capable of emotional vulnerability. The reason being, war and hunting both require one thing: being able to kill. Killing another being demands that you disregard your humanity. To become proficient at killing, an individual disregards any feelings of remorse. From this, it was reasonable that men could not allow themselves to be emotionally vulnerable because experiencing the vulnerability of any kind made them appear weak or incapable. With war, sadness, anger, and remorse were an experience. Since being sad and remorseful were and are considered signs of weakness, men turn and have turned to anger. Being angry meant that you were strong and capable of slaughtering an entire army. Men were strong, hardworking husbands and fathers. Men repressed feelings of sadness and remorse regarding their actions. And so that was what they did.

The emotional vulnerability of women fluctuated throughout history. In some societies, they expected women to be reserved. Due to this standard, women in these societies repressed their emotions. Other women were allowed to express themselves, so they felt anger, sadness, etc. Women expected to tend to children and the household. Women were supposed to be loving mothers and wives. Because of this, women allowed themselves to feel and experience sadness. Being sad was not a sign of weakness, it was another emotion that got felt. 

If the roles of the two were reversed, with men being the caretakers and women the providers, history would have unfolded still. Wars. Empires and kingdoms and territories and tribes. Agriculture. Children. Education. Cultural exchange. Science and mathematics. Men would have struggled for their rights like women did and currently are. Sex has nothing to do with anything. Vaginas and penises are only sex organs. Because you are biologically male, you do not have to repress your emotions. Because you are biologically female, you do not have to take care of your household. There was a choice here, and it cannot depend on your biological sex. It should depend on you and what you want to do. Do you want to be emotionally vulnerable? Okay, cool. Do you not want to be emotionally vulnerable? Okay, cool. As long as this was what you wanted, then others should respect your decision.

Aside from societal expectations, there is a multitude of factors that could influence the capability of emotional vulnerability. Some important things to consider are an individual's childhood, mental health, school life, friends, morals, etc. Let me emphasize again how sex is not a contributing factor to someone's emotional capability. 

Here’s an articulated version of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s “We Should All Be Feminists”:  https://ameforeignpolicy.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/we-should-all-be-feminists.pdf

The Zodiac as Jessi Songs

ARIES = SSENUNNI

On idol shows and competitions, this song is played whenever shit is about to go down. And for good reason. “SSENUNNI” means strong, independent woman. Jessi in general is all about confidence, which you Aries rock! Combined with the dope outfits and putting a man in an arm bar, Jessi’s SSENUNNI suits your sizzling energy Aries! 

TAURUS = Drip (Feat. Jay Park) 

Taurus you are materialistic. You are about that money. Visuals. Success. Food. Riches. Comfort. Drip accompanies a lot of those things! Aside from beats, Jessi’s husky voice, and even more killer outfits, this song features Jay freaking Park. Everyone knows once you make it big, all the people beneath you will envy you. Jessi has a fun time mocking such people and showing her success! Something I’m sure you’d relate to, Taurus. 

GEMINI = Who Dat B

Hello there, Gemini. You have the blunt of stereotypes in the zodiac I’m afraid. I’m terribly sorry for that. To me, you are quick-witted, authentic, and won’t hesitate bitch! (Sorry I had to reference a vine somewhere...) But seriously, you won’t hesitate to call someone out. You won’t hesitate to make your own success. So all in all, you’re Dat B, Gemini! 

CANCER = Down

Cancer you also have a lot of stereotypes. Fuck them. You aren’t a crybaby, you cry because you give a damn! You never disappoint either. You’re caring, loyal, and incredibly perceptive. You pay attention. With the tropical beat, Down goes perfectly with summer. Down is about how Jessi doesn’t want to disappoint her partner and how she doesn’t want to be disappointed in return. This could be sexual or in terms of love that’s meant to last a lifetime. But either way, it might be likely that Jessi simply wants to get some! And so should you, Cancer.

(Please don’t hate me for this lol.)    

LEO = Boing (Feat. 창모)

Leo the Lion...you’re imposing, charismatic, and dramatic. Boing is a good song for you for a couple of reasons. First off, the music screams flair. Secondly, you’re a motherfucking boss ass bitch. This song is a mantra for that. Finally, you like to be the center of attention. (There’s a reason why the Sun is your planet so in other words you’re literally the center of our entire solar system!) So all in all, you could say that Boing would probably be on your movie’s soundtrack. Get to work, you Leo! 

(I would highly recommend looking at this translation if you don’t understand Korean, a lot of the Korean lyrics might resonate with you! ---> Translation)    

VIRGO = Gucci 

Hello Virgo! You’re hardworking, practical, and notice the little details most miss. Now I know that there isn’t anything practical about Gucci, but we all know that if you wanted to be rich, you could definitely make it happen. You make yourself what you are, and Virgo you are the bad motherfucker in the room. Screw what anyone else says, you’re also Gucci.    

LIBRA = Arrived (Music Visual)

Here’s the official audio my fellow Jebbies!! ----> https://youtu.be/Vuk3p1bBfKo

Hi, my dear Libra. You are perceptive, charming, and fabulous. You don’t tolerate shit from other people! People take notice when you walk by. You are the flowers in the chaos. You know when someone is bullshiting. Like could you please teach me your ways? You would do anything for your loved ones. They matter a lot to you. Just like Jessi would for her Jebbies. So tell everyone that you’ve Arrived, and grace us with your presence!  

SCORPIO = WET (Also by FLOSIK)

Scorpio, you give your all or nothing. This could be in various aspects of your life, but for obvious reasons I selected this song for you. Sex. You make it hot and heavy Scorpio, and honestly we like it. You’re a strategist, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this showed in your financials. You’re coming for that cheddar, Scorpio. And that’s why WET is totally for you. (Not to mention that you’re a water sign lol.)   

SAGITTARIUS = NUNU NANA

Sagittarius, you share this sign with Jessi herself! You don’t give a shit what anyone else thinks of you. You are always yourself, even if others don’t respect that. Positive, blunt, and hilarious are a few things to describe you, Sagittarius. Just like Jessi, you’re always trying to give others more. Whether it’s a more realistic outlook or more laughter, you give it. It’s really all or nothing. And to sum it up, the choreography and visuals in NUNU NANA are everything.   

CAPRICORN = Put it on ya (Feat. BM and nafla)

Capricorn, you are ambitious and disciplined. Just like Jessi, you’re always doing big thangs and keeping it 100! It doesn’t hurt to unwind once in awhile, although that’s what you might believe. All eyes tend to be on you because of your impressive hustle. All work and no play makes Capricorn a workaholic. Enjoy, Put it on ya. Just do it. 

AQUARIUS = Spirit Animal

Greetings, Aquarius. You are witty, aloof, and innovative! To say the least, I wouldn’t want to engage in a battle of wits with you my friend. A spirit animal is an animal that represents who you are. Jessi, is your spirit animal. When Jessi talks, others listen. It’s the same way with you because you know what you’re talking about. You are revolutionary and others likely look up to you. You don’t care what others think either. Aquarius, you are my Spirit Animal.    

PISCES = Numb

I bid you welcome artistic, devoted, and sarcastic Pisces! You are highly in turn with your emotions. The visuals and lyrics in Numb might very well appeal to you. Sometimes when the feelings become too much, it’s better not to feel anything. People numb themselves with music, hobbies, physical exercise, alcohol, and or drugs. In Jessi’s case, it’s liquor. How do you numb yourself I wonder? All in all, Pisces, I feel that you might relate to Numb.   

Stay

Description: Your awfully protective husband, Shoto Todoroki, finds out that you’ve been planning to leave him... 

DISCLAIMER: Begging, Power Play, Cussing, Torture, Claustrophobia, Spousal Abuse, Yandere, Just...Don’t Try This At Home Okay? 

Red smears and taints the white, icy cage. Red oozes from Y/N’s battered knuckles and forearms.

Across the room, stands none other than Shoto Todoroki. He’s been silent this whole time. Watching you. Always watching you.

He had watched your pack your bags. Purchase an untraceable, drugstore phone to call someone. Someone that wasn’t him. That someone will be taken care of, after you of course.

“Shitoroki, let me out right now!” You bang against the solid walls of your prison.

Again and again and again.

To no avail, Shitoroki remained silent. You remained trapped. Fucking bullshit.

You aren’t clueless as to why you’re in this...predicament to put it simply. If you take Shoto holding you unwillingly hostage as simple that is. Todoroki probably had cameras installed around your house. He had seen you preparing for your great escape!

This time you shiver, and not because of the cold. Your husband is a fucking creep. You wanted to insult, divorce, and, to be candid, murder him. But Shitoroki has the power here, and he can kill you. Quite easily considering your quirklessness. So you decide to play with the man before you...

“Shoto, what is it that you want from me?” Shaking and trembling, you wrap your arms around yourself. Trying to warm your scantily dressed figure.

The man grins and places both hands onto your prison. Looking at you to do the same. You comply, the chilly barricade is the only thing separating you two. Aside from the fact that Shoto is fucking psychopathic.

You hesitantly smile back.

“Y/N, you understand why I have to do this.”

Shoto Todoroki and his freaking hero complex.

You look down towards your feet, to hide your repulsion at what you’re about to say.

“I do. It’s to protect me from the outside world.”

You put on a show, looking up with the gratitude face Shoto had fallen madly in love with the first time he saw it. The first time he saved you.

“Y/N, you clearly understand why you must never leave our house. And yet, you still have the audacity to plan to leave me? To leave us?” His voice cracks.

He tosses your packed bags in front of you, now chuckling. “You wouldn’t have gotten far.”

You attempt not to cry in frustration. The bags are lit aflame. Your anger skyrockets.

“Fuck you, Shoto! You call hypothermia a solution, jackass? I refuse to get down on my knees and beg. I want to go outside again! You weren’t always like this.” You sigh and throw your hands up.

“You’re not my savior! You’re not my hero! The truth is that YOU ARE A VILLAIN!” 

You mentally slap yourself across the face and begin to pace back and forth around your cage.

“What didn’t I see?”

“How could I have been so ignorant?”

“Why did I ever fall in love with you?”

An ice shard impales itself into the wall behind you, mere millimeters from your face.

You stop, nearly dead in your tracks.

Your anger had bested you. You fucked up. Royally.

“Y/N. Oh, my sweet Y/N.” Todoroki draws a little closer.

“Is this how you truly feel?”

You bite your lip and sniffle. You aren’t sure how to respond without freezing to death.

Shoto notices you bite your lip. He notices your every breath. Every blink. Every tremble. Every gulp. Everything. Why did he have to notice you?

You gaze into the man’s grey and turquoise eyes.

“Shoto Todoroki. If you love me, let me go.” You drop to your knees, holding yourself together by a bare thread. “I won’t deal with you, or this shit anymore. I won’t talk about it. Because we both know what’ll happen to me if I do.”

He blinks in response.

You plead your case further. “You have a bright future, Shoto. You’re a professional hero. The public won’t even miss a quirkless nobody like me. This isn't love that you’re feeling. Love isn’t one-sided. This is an irrational obsession that will... ruin both of us in the end.”

Like earlier, you place your hands onto the ice. Expecting Todoroki to do the same.

He doesn’t.

Instead, the young man turns around and begins to walk away.

The walls of your confinement start to close in.

“Shoto! Shoto Todoroki!” You pound on the cage walls with your frozen hands. Desperation outgrows your dignity.

“Don’t leave me here! Please, please come back! Don’t do this to me!” You beg.

He continues to walk away, leaving you to the horrible fate of being crushed to death.

The walls press, cram, and enfold all around you.

“I’ll be good! I promise. I swear it. I won’t leave without your permission again! I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry! Don’t you know how much I adore you? “

No response.

“Please, please let's stay together forever!”

The walls leisurely, albeit surely surround you.  

So this is it.

This is how your quirkless, matrimonial-centered life ends.

Is this how you die? Not even of your own volition? This shit sucks. 

“Well, I’ve died and gone to heaven.” You weakly laugh.

You see a light at the end of the tunnel.

“Until death do us part, Y/N.” A deep voice murmurs, scooping you up into their arms.

What the actual fucking fucked-up of all fucks?

You’re still alive.

Freezing, wet and quaking. And still very much alive.

Yet again, you are trapped in the embrace of Shoto Todoroki.

You realize that you’ll only ever escape him, when hell fucking freezes over.