Allows you to choose the origin of where you want the name to be from, whether you want a more feminine vs masculine vs androgenous name (as voted by users), random surname generator, and clicking on the name gives you important info like if there are any famous people with the same name, where it’s from, how common it is, and how people tend to see it, etc.
You can also search their name database by letter or meaning or origin, so if you know you want a character who has a name/surname that starts with an A from Ireland, there’s a whole list for you to choose from.
Census sites
Especially useful if you’re looking for a name from a specific place and/or time period. Just search “(country) census (year)” and you’ll find a database of real people who lived in that place at that time. No one can ever call your names unrealistic again.
For coming up with place names:
Fantasy name generator
This site can basically come up with any name for any person, place, or thing you might ever need. There are also specific generators for different fandoms if you’re looking to make an OC in an established world.
For finding that one word on the tip of your tongue:
One Look Thesaurus
This is my go-to. Not only can you find synonyms like a regular thesaurus, but you can also describe words like “unhappy smile” or “quiet laugh” to find the more specific word you’re looking for.
WordHippo
Works as a thesaurus (very similar to One Look) but also includes search options for words that rhyme, words that contain a specific letter or are a specific length, different word forms, sentences with a specific word etc. etc. It's like Thesaurus++
For coming up with ideas:
Word cloud
When I need to inspire a new idea, I write down all the things I’m interested in (hauntings, academia, lesbians, etc.) and put them into a word cloud to shuffle them next to each other. Sometimes seeing a concept in a new context can spark new ideas!
WWF Discord
This is my discord channel (shameless plug) for when you need to brainstorm off other people but don’t have anyone irl to talk to. We’re also happy to read and give feedback on writing, answer writing questions, or just chat!
For visualizing places and characters:
Pinterest
Pinterest can at times be a bit too sterile for my tastes, but if you use the right words, you can find more realistic photos of places. For example, adding “aesthetic” after basically any word will bring up a more broad collection of photos to help you flesh out places.
This is also a great way to find photos of people and fashion to help visualize characters. I’m bad at describing clothes, so I usually collect photos of outfits to help me know what my characters are wearing. Searching up “character inspiration” will collect more interesting photos and drawings of people who might not exactly be of our world.
(However, to make Pinterest not show you AI results, you have to go into your settings and check the “reduce AI” box. Luckily, it does mostly work.)
Death to Stock
Like pinterest but completely AI free (hooray!) Only drawback is that you have to pay a monthly subscription (about $20 CAD).
Cosmos
Very similar to pinterest but slightly more "artsy". I'm not super familiar with this one but I believe all the photos are human and you can save them and create collections with a free account.
Dupe Photos
Royalty-free stock image site with very Pinterest-core photos!
Minecraft
If you haven’t built your entire fictional city in Minecraft instead of writing, why not? It’s fun.
The Sims
This one is dual purpose because you can not only create your characters in Create a Sim, but you can design their houses. If you really want to go for it, you can bulldoze all the lots in your town and build your world from scratch.
Hero Forge
This character creator is intended for making D&D minis, so it has more fantasy-like options over the Sims if your characters are a bit out of this world.
House Plans.com
I was introduced to this resource through the comments on this post and it has quickly become one of my favourite things to use. If you struggle with the layout of buildings, this site lets you choose beds/baths/sq ft etc. and will show you house plans created by designers that most closely match your specs. You can also search by style instead if you're more interested in the aesthetics.
For checking grammar:
Grammar Girl
Easy to follow definitions and examples, and if you learn better by listening, every article comes with a podcast to follow along with instead.
Grammar Monster
This one is my favourite for checking grammar rules because there’s tons of examples in graphics that helps for any situation.
Reedsy
Among other things, reedsy can connect you to professional editors within your budget.
For writing advice:
One Stop for Writers
This one was recommended from my discord channel and has all sorts of tutorials and resources for the writing craft.
My Blog Directory
Another shameless plug, but if you need writing advice on something specific, you can search through my directory to see if it’s there. If it isn’t, you can always send me an ask about it!
For an alternative to Google Docs:
Ellipsus
Think google docs but without AI. Yay!
Scrivener
A more comprehensive writing software created specifically for writers, however there is a one-time payment to use ($80 CAD).
(will update this list with any more suggestions or resources I discover 😊 Thanks to everyone for your recs!)
trying to explain whitaker and langdon’s conversation!
I’ve seen a lot of people confused about Whitaker and Langdon’s conversation in the break room, and the subtext is doing SO much work. On the surface it sounds like they’re just making a random Gilligan’s Island reference, and a lot of people are taking it at face value because they just don’t understand what’s happening (lol)
FOR CONTEXT: Gilligan’s Island is an old sitcom about a group of people stranded on an island after a boat trip goes wrong. Every character in the series has an obviously defined role in the group.
When Whitaker brings up Skipper and Gilligan after Langdon calls him “little buddy,” he’s reacting to that exact idea of being placed into a predefined role. Even if Langdon doesn’t mean it in a cruel way, that kind of language still implies a hierarchy where one person gets to define the other.
Two episodes earlier (I think…?) Santos tells Whitaker about how Langdon, on her first day as a doctor, made her question her competence and whether she even belongs in the ER at all. So Whitaker is already primed to see a pattern where Langdon (intentionally or not) destabilizes people’s sense of where they stand in the hierarchy.
When Whitaker snaps, it's him reacting to that pattern in real time. And it’s not just about his interaction; it’s also about what has been happening to Santos because, remember, they’re FRIENDS, and he’s looking out for her too.
When Langdon says, “Okay, what part am I?” He’s trying to restore a structured system where everyone has a clear, assigned role, specifically because that’s what he’s been trying to do this entire season. He’s been trying to find his role in the ER since last season. He had a definitive role—he was Robby’s golden boy. But Whitaker entirely rejects that with, “Play whatever part you like, just don’t pick mine for me." He is explicitly saying that Langdon doesn’t get to assign him a fixed identity or position in that hierarchy and that it doesn't matter where he, Langdon, fits in the hierarchy either.
ALSO, it’s really interesting how they immediately start disagreeing about who fits into those roles in the actual ER. Langdon says Robby is the Skipper, which means he views Robby as the clear captain figure, the person at the top of the hierarchy who runs everything. Whitaker pushes back on that and says no, Robby is more like the Professor: someone highly skilled and important but not necessarily the one actively steering the ship in real time. And Whitaker, instead, places Dana as the skipper, which reframes the authority completely. It suggests that, in practice, Dana is the one who actually keeps everything moving, coordinates chaos, and holds functional control over the environment, not just the person with the title.
something i really love abt tshd is how queerness is so intrinsic to the plot without it being the main focus, it’s pretty common in anime/manga where if there are canon queer characters, the word gay or actual queer struggles are never mentioned. but in tshd, yoshiki is very clearly repressed and closeted living in a rural, homophobic town in japan. it’s *suffocating* him, the only person he really had was hikaru but now he’s “gone” but still not quite gone, leaving him tethered back to this town. it’s obviously a super common sentiment among queer people who live in rural areas to want to escape into city.
and i know everyone laughs at this panel for the iconic ell jee bee tea thing. but in context it’s one of the most heartbreaking and relatable scenes in the whole manga imo. the people of this town aren’t just homophobic, but they’re trying to erase the mere existence of gay people as a whole by covering it up. its pretty obvious that yoshiki is depressed, and it’s easy on the surface to think its solely because he literally has a monster possessing his dead childhood friend/crush’s corpse. but its pretty clear that it only strengthened what was already there. (lowkey his themes are very reminiscent of owen in ‘i saw the tv glow’)
it’s hilarious seeing people say “why did they have to make it gay” ever since the anime trailer came out bc truthfully this story would not work nearly as well as it does if it was just some random ass straight couple. i really hope anime watchers look deeper into the narrative instead of just saying “omg its uwu toxic yaoi” or “it’s a horror anime with forced woke gay ppl in it”
synopsis: little moments from schlatt/yours streams, videos, etc. chat doesn’t know you guys are together
warnings: suggestive jokes/flirting, obvi he’s a lil mean but it’s only persona,
reader is written as female
a/n: wait idk how to feel about this one, lowkey most dialogue/clips are take from other streamers and made to fit them. enjoy!!!
———————————————-
“Holy shit, there’s so many creepers” You heard Schlatts voice ring out through your headphones after a few moments of silence. You two had been recording a video for your channel on a minecraft server that you owned and was open to a few of your close friends.
“Don’t go near them.” You replied as you mined a few hay blocks in a desert village, minding your own business.
“No man you- you don’t understand.” He replied nervously as he walked closer towards you with you knowing.
“Schlatt I think you’re fine just-“ You cut yourself off as you started laughing at the hoard of at least 15 creepers following him. “How did that even happen?!” You exclaimed, hitting your desk from laughing so hard and trying to catch your breath.
“We got a bigger situation on our hands.” He replied walking closer towards you, you shrieked lightly and ran in the other direction.
“Don’t come near me!” You yelled through laughter as he laughed along with you.
“But I got you those blocks you have been wanting.” He tried to reason with you as he continued to follow you with the mob of mobs behind him.
“I don’t want them anymore!”
———————
Yumi, Y/N, Schlatt, and Smii7y all sat in a rainbow 6 siege game picking out their characters. You selected a random one and let all the guys talk as you talked to your stream chat. Watching the game load in you quickly unmuted your mic as everyone fell quiet to concentrate.
“Wait should I talk to this random in our game?” You asked as you realized it had filled the last slot with someone random.
“I uh… I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” Smii7y said as Yumi and Schlatt laughed.
“No it’ll be fine watch this.” You replied as you went to hold your push to talk button on your keyboard.
“Hypothetically if this was my first game how would you all feel about that?” You spoke in game chat as Smii7y started to laugh again, waiting for the random to respond to you.
“No.” The random spoke suddenly and very abruptly in a deep voice. Taking you off guard you let out a loud cackle and quickly started coughing, taking a sip from your water bottle as you started thinking of something to say.
“Good thing it’s not my first game, it was just a prank.” You said in game chat.
“A prank?!” Schlatt laughed loudly in the discord call. “That’s the best you came up with??”
“Got me.” The random said causing the entire call to laugh loudly at the response. Schlatts voice to text icon quickly flashed on screen before going away a split second later.
Watching it flash back up again and hearing “I don’t mind first timers, as long as you’re a good girl and listen and do as I say, you’ll be alright.” He replied smug in the game chat causing your character to stop moving, making eye contact with your camera
user1: schlatts always at the scene of the crime
user3: HELLO!?????
user98: oh that’s being clipped and taken out of context
—————————-
You had been streaming for about two hours now, your minecraft stream turned into a qna as your dog had died to a creeper explosion and instead of crying about it, you rage quit.
“Be honest how late did you wake up today?” You read as chat flew past you practically at the speed of light since you were being so responsive to them, everyone wanted a chance to talk to you.
“Uhm not too late, maybe around 10 or 11 AM. I had to take Sasuke to the vet this morning and then hangout with a little uh…. a little certain someone.” You grinned to the camera as you bit your lip and threw your hands up in the air.
“Sasuke is my cat by the way.” You added on as your cat jumped on the stand behind you.
“user44 sent $15: would you date anyone in chat?” your TTS rang out through the stream as a notification appeared in the top corner.
“Thank you user44 for the 15!!” You happily clapped your hands and smiled before responding. “Uhm, I don’t know, i’m not in the market for looking at anyone right now. I’m perfectly content in my lifestyle and I think someone being a fan of me might make things a little awkward.” You answered truthfully and to the best of your ability for being put on the spot.
jschlatt: oh so should i just cancel my 38 month sub
“Girl- what are you doing here.” giggling as you spoke. you didn’t know he was in chat watching your stream, being told he had many meetings today you figured you wouldn’t be talking to him that much till tonight.
jschlatt: i had to piss
jschlatt: so you just hate me now
jschlatt: i’m cancelling the chipotle i just sent to your house
—————————
“Chat STOP sending me edits of Schlatt.” You screamed in frustration but couldn’t help to let out a little laugh. You were doing a media share stream for a few hours where there was ZERO restrictions on what could be sent, but obviously within moderation of course.
“Like, send me Ted or Charlie or LITERALLY ANYONE.” You screamed, grabbing your camera for dramatic effect. A new video popped up, looking at the thumbnail and seeing Ted Nivison*.
“See this is what I’m talking about! Ted is attractive WE KNOW THIS!!” You and Ted were incredibly close and always made attraction jokes together, also to try and draw attention from you and schlatt being together.
“Okay let me hit play on this.” You said as you put your water bottle down and looked at your monitor. Grabbing your mouse and hitting play you smiled at the intro clip of Ted for a few seconds before the beat dropped and it switched to Schlatt. You groaned loudly and threw your headphones off, leaning back in your chair and staring at the picture of Schlatt mid edit where you were recording him and your hand was on his chest as he looked into the camera (actually at you) with a slight smug smirk on his face.
You stayed quiet for a few moments before sitting back up and grabbing your headphones, putting them back on.
“Actually you know what chat, Schlatt kinda fine. You know I keep suppressing this but like look at him.” You talked to your screen as chat flooded with “OMG” “ARE U FR!?!”.
“would you date Schlatt?” You read out before gasping quickly.
“YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!” You replied with fake excitement, bouncing up and down in your chair.
You quickly switched your screen to Schlatts stream and saw him sitting at his desk in a sweater you had gotten him for his birthday a few weeks ago and smiled softly.
user6: OOOOO SHES BLUSHINGGGG
userinschlattstream: would u date y/n?
Schlatt looked at his chat and sighed heavily, staying silent.
“Y/N sounds like a great guy.” Schlatt responded very monotoned and in the opposite of how you sounded answering the question. Your smile fell and you stared into the camera, watching as Schlatt opened your stream on his stream (streamception) and watched himself read the question off and responding.
Schlatt laughed loudly and obnoxiously as he watched your face fall and you look at the camera.
“Never in a million years.” Schlatt laughed out as he watched your stream on mute, you getting up and flailing your arms about in obvious fake anger, you obviously yelling loudly as you picked up one of his ram youtooz and threw it at the wall and then repeating it with another one, kicking it once it fell in front of you.
Still ranting you walked up to your computer and ended your stream mid sentence causing Schlatt to laugh again as your stream screen went black and your chat raided his.
y/n: ur ugly anyway 🖕🖕🖕
————————
“Wait can you get me this one?” You asked Schlatt, holding up a baseball bat as you walked around Dicks with him, softwilly (Nick), and yumi (Blake). Schlatt looked you up and down as you held the bat out to him.
“it’s $200.” You added on as you poked him with the bat. The camera panned to you and then back to Schlatt who was starring at you with a deadpanned look.
“$200? You really think i’m buying that for you?” He asked rudely, in his online persona. “Put that shit back.” He added on, you frowned and put it back on the shelf before turning around and looking around. After a while you followed the group of boys to the register, you quickly grabbed a 6 pack of Nike socks and a redbull.
“What?” You asked as you put them on the counter next to Schlatts stuff. Schlatt turned around to make sure the camera was off before pushing the two items closer to the cashier to pay for them. You smiled as you leaned onto his arm.
“You know i’m going to be going yard off you today right?” You asked him as you both let out a small laugh.
“Yeah I know, we can’t all be d1 college athletes.” He replied as he thanked the cashier and gave Nick the bag of stuff for the video, Schlatt quickly grabbing the bag with my stuff in it and carrying it out.
——————-
“Listeners at home love you to death-“ Ted started speaking in the voice call as you approached Schlatt in his room, handing him something. Schlatt quickly muted his mic so it wouldn’t pick up anything you two were saying.
“Sorry, I know you’re recording but this just showed up and I needed to show you.” You said as you stood in view of his camera, the only thing showing was from your thighs to just about in between your chest and shoulders.
You opened the package revealing a frame* of a little collage of things that correlate to the both of you. Your birth dates, cords of the place you two went on your first date on, the date you guys met, anniversary, pics of you two together, etc.
“Oh it looks nicer than I thought it would.” He complimented it as he took it out of your hands and held it in front of him.
“It appears Schlatt has a woman in his bedroom at the moment, not sure who.” Ted lied about not knowing who, trying to keep the listeners/watchers involved. Schlatt handed the frame back to you as you looked over it again.
“We’ll hang it up when i’m done, ok?” he smiled at you as you covered his camera and kissed his cheek, quickly uncovering it and leaving the room.
———————
“Alright that last room was fucking atrocious… let’s see who we got next- you’re joking…” Schlatt said to his stream as he climbed the next video and the thumbnail of your face came up on his screen. Schlatt put his hands on his face and sighed loudly and exaggeratedly.
“Which one of my mods let this through, I mean how can you do this? You’re being fired after this stream.” He added on in fake annoyance as he read chat, he looked back at the video and hit play.
“Hey chat!!” You beamed at your phone camera, waving before dropping your hand, “Schlatt.” and then fake gagged. He paused the video and threw his hands up in annoyance, quickly hitting play again.
“I know what you’re thinking; ‘Y/N the walls in your room are c/n, why are the walls in here white’ well my friend, let me show you.” Your voice played through the stream.
user3: who’s room is that???
user72: i bet it’s their partners room…
The video cut to you sitting in Schlatts old recording room from the WII days, the lights dimmed, back glowing red over the pope cutout. Schlatt started screaming at his monitor and paused the video.
“HOW DID SHE GET IN THERE?!” He screamed in fake shock at the video, standing up and pointing at his screen. Chat started flying by at the speed of light nearly, some in disbelief while others were putting the pieces together.
“Now let me give you a tour, come here.” You picked up your camera and pointed it at the desk, walking around his room and giving him lore drops of his own recording room.
“This is the first ever Rammie ever made, sitting next to a little Jambo.” You added as you walked over to it and pointed to it, avoiding the framed picture of you two on your first date from way back then.
“Wait what…” you said as you turned around and looked at the shoes on the ground. “Who’s are those?”
“Hello?” Schlatts voice rang out through the video, door swinging open as he looked right at you as pointed the camera at him.
You turned the camera back forth from him to you as the last time you put the camera on him the lights turned red and the video cut off as you started screaming.
“Oh yeah, forgot that happened.” Schlatt faked nonchalance as he leaned back in his chair and watched chat.
y/nuser: when do we tell them
user98: TELL WHAT??
user9: I KNEW IT
——————
instagram: y/nuser and jschlatt have posted!
y/nuser & jschlatt:
🎵: A Dream With A Baseball Player by Faye Webster
———> swipe to view
❤️: 275.8k ♻️ 37.6k
only people y/nuser follow can comment!
y/nuser: so a mets fan and a yankees fan walk into a bar <3
gamerbf!jason who definitely could have taken the high-end setup bruce offered but instead built his own frankenstein rig from scrapped parts because he's stubborn like that. it's definitely held together with spite, but it runs better than it has any right to. "she's got character," he says, patting the case that's literally three different colors.
gamerbf!jason who has three monitors and, when you ask why, says it’s for multitasking: one for gaming, one for crime alerts, and one for playing the video essays he half-listens to.
gamerbf!jason who has a really good gaming chair because his back is already fucked from everything he's been through (y'know...) and he's not about to make it worse. (bruce bought it. he won't admit bruce bought it.)
gamerbf!jason who collects old consoles like the wii, nintendo 3ds, game boy, and original xbox. he loves playing nostalgic games like mario kart and mario party on them, and you beat his ass every single time. he insists he’s “letting you win.” he's lying.
gamerbf!jason who's incredibly sweet to every child, woman, and animal npc in games but threatens every man like they personally wronged him. you've watched him apologize profusely to his horse in red dead redemption 2 for accidentally running her into a tree and then immediately shoot some random guy who "looked at him funny."
gamerbf!jason who gets motion sick from first-person driving games but will absolutely never say it out loud. you've learned to recognize when he goes quiet and still, and you suggest breaks before he has to admit anything.
gamerbf!jason who's god-tier at first-person shooters (obviously) but loves story-based games way more. he'll win a cod match without breaking a sweat, but he's the one who gets genuinely attached to rpg companions and will play through multiple times to see all the endings.
gamerbf!jason who gets genuinely annoyed when games have badly written dialogue or plot holes. will pause to rant about inconsistent character motivations like he's writing a dissertation. "that makes no sense based on what they established in act one—"
gamerbf!jason who defaults to guns no matter how many higher-stat weapons he finds. "i'm loyal." "babe, it's a digital gun." "AND SHE'S BEEN GOOD TO ME."
gamerbf!jason who sometimes pretends he doesn't want company while playing but his whole body relaxes when you sit next to him and lean on his shoulder.
gamerbf!jason who immediately hands you the controller when a puzzle shows up. "you're better at this stuff." he'll watch you work through it with barely concealed fondness.
gamerbf!jason who heard you wonder about game mods one time and took it as a personal mission. the next time you open your game there are like twenty new mods perfectly installed and organized. "just thought you'd have more fun with some options," he says, like he didn’t stay up until 4am making sure nothing conflicted.
gamerbf!jason who leaves his headset around your neck because he “likes how you look in it.”
gamerbf!jason who gets this stupid proud smile every time you say "good job" after he completes a hard fight/quest. it's so genuine it makes your heart ache.
gamerbf!jason who will trash-talk dick, tim, and damian into oblivion during multiplayer matches, but the moment you have trouble with a section he’s suddenly all gentle hands and soft murmurs of “you’re doing great.” he didn’t realize how obvious it was until dick pointed it out. jason banned him from the discord for a week.
gamerbf!jason who sends you screenshots from games without context at 2am. just a beautiful landscape or a funny glitch or a character that reminded him of you. you've learned that this is his version of "thinking of you."
gamerbf!jason who starts asking "you wanna watch?" before starting a new game because your reactions and commentary have become part of the experience for him.
gamerbf!jason who gets protective when you're playing online. someone's being a dick in chat? he's already typing a response. you don't even have to ask. "nobody talks to you like that."
gamerbf!jason who acts like he's just casually playing while you watch, but you've noticed he shows off a little. pulls off combos he wouldn't normally bother with. "were you always this good at parrying?" "...maybe."
gamerbf!jason who's supposed to be teaching you the controls but keeps getting distracted. loses track of what he's saying mid-sentence because you bit your lip concentrating and now his brain is offline.
gamerbf!jason who starts playing games he normally wouldn't touch because you're excited about them. will he enjoy a dating simulator? unclear. will he play 50 hours because you light up when you talk about it? absolutely.
gamerbf!jason who bought a second controller in your favorite color and pretends it was the only one left (he pre-ordered it weeks ago).
gamerbf!jason who has started saying "we" when talking about games. "we should try that new rpg" or "we're stuck on this boss," even if he's playing solo. to him, you're part of it now—whether you're playing or just curled up beside him.
gamerbf!jason who always sets up for gaming nights like it's an event: your favorite snacks already out and the cozy blanket he keeps specifically for this draped over the couch. sometimes he'll roll a joint and you'll just play for hours in that perfect hazy warmth, his shoulder pressed against yours.
a/n: this ended up a lot longer than planned lol. but anyway hi!! new dc + writing blog and looking for moots, so def hmu 😚❤️
ʚɞ Did I say Sun conjunct Mercury in the 10th often shows up as someone whose identity is closely linked to being a voice or authority in their work?
ʚɞ Did I say Moon in the 4th house individuals often change their emotional state by literally changing their home environment?
ʚɞ Did I say Venus square Mars creates a push-pull dynamic in romance where the person desires harmony but feels bored without some friction?
ʚɞ Did I say Planets in the 29th degree of any house often feel a sense of urgency or crisis regarding the themes of that house?
ʚɞ Did I say Mars in the 12th house can lead to ghost anger where one feels frustrated but cannot pinpoint why or where it’s coming from?
ʚɞ Did I say Venus trine Saturn people often express love through boring reliability like checking tire pressure or helping with taxes?
ʚɞ Did I say Moon conjunct Pluto creates a psychic sponge effect where one unintentionally absorbs the unspoken trauma of everyone around them?
ʚɞ Did I say 8th house stelliums frequently attract people’s secrets. strangers will share their life stories with you in a grocery store line?
ʚɞ Did I say Sun sextile Jupiter gives a natural bounce-back quality enabling the person to find a silver lining within 48 hours after a failure?
ʚɞ Did I say Mars in Taurus represents the slow-burn of the zodiac. it takes a lot to anger them but once they are the grudge lasts a long time?
ʚɞ Did I say The IC represents the hidden roots and planets here describe what the person is like when things are private?
ʚɞ Did I say Saturn in the 1st house often makes a person look older as a child but younger as an adult?
ʚɞ Did I say Uranus conjunct the MC suggests a career path that looks like a series of sudden shifts rather than a straight line?
ʚɞ Did I say Grand Trines can sometimes lead to laziness because things come so easily that the person never learns to fight for what they want?
ʚɞ Did I say Pluto in the 4th house suggests that home is a space for deep soul-level transformation including some power struggles?
ʚɞ Did I say Jupiter in the 11th house acts like a social magnet attracting influential friends who open doors the person didn’t know existed?
ʚɞ Did I say Mercury retrograde in the natal chart doesn't make someone slow but instead makes them think backward to find the errors others miss?
ʚɞ Did I say Pallas in the 6th house creates a master of efficiency patterns seeing the quickest way to finish chores that others overlook?
ʚɞ Did I say Juno in Scorpio seeks a "blood-oath" level of commitment where til death do us part is taken very literally?
ʚɞ Did I say Ceres in the 2nd house finds emotional nourishment through physical sensations like good fabric, high-quality food and financial stability?
ʚɞ Did I say Vesta in the 3rd house makes someone very single-minded when studying, effectively tuning out the world around them?
ʚɞ Did I say Chiron in the 10th house often creates a healer in the professional realm who helps others succeed in areas where they feel personally flawed?
ʚɞ Did I say Eros conjunct the Ascendant gives a person a magnetic or powerful physical presence that others find either captivating or intimidating?
ʚɞ Did I say Lilith in the 1st house people are often blamed for things they didn't do simply because they project a rebellious or unapologetic energy?
ʚɞ Did I say Psyche in Gemini finds intellectual chemistry to be the ultimate turn-on?
ʚɞ Did I say A 1st house stellium makes a person their own main character often struggling to see things from any perspective but their own?
ʚɞ Did I say Mercury in a Water sign (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) learns better through osmosis and emotional context than by dry facts?
ʚɞ Did I say Neptune in the 7th house can lead to pedestal syndrome where one falls in love with a version of their partner that doesn’t actually exist?
ʚɞ Did I say T-Squares in a chart act like a motor providing the friction necessary for significant success through sheer persistence?
ʚɞ Did I say Venus in the 9th house often falls for people from different cultures or during long travels?
ʚɞ Did I say Mars square Neptune individuals often struggle with energy leaks finding it hard to stay motivated when the task doesn’t feel meaningful?
ʚɞ Did I say Jupiter conjunct the North Node feels like cheating at life as the right opportunities seem to appear just in time?
ʚɞ Did I say Mercury in the 8th house does not just want to talk they want to analyze the conversation?
ʚɞ Did I say Saturn in the 5th house often makes someone treat their hobbies or creative projects as seriously as a full-time job?
ʚɞ Did I say Moon trine Uranus people have a revolving door of emotional interests and are rarely surprised by anything?
ʚɞ Did I say Empty houses in a chart don't mean that aspect of life is empty but that the soul isn't under pressure to perform there?
ʚɞ Did I say The Ruler of the 1st house in the 12th often makes a person feel like they are a "visitor" in their own life, watching from the sidelines?
ʚɞ Did I say Mercury sextile Pluto provides detective vision allowing the person to instantly read between the lines of a message?
ʚɞ Did I say Sun in the 7th house individuals often feel invisible until others reflect them back?
ʚɞ Did I say Mars in Leo not only wants to win but wants to win with style and a standing ovation?
ʚɞ Did I say Venus conjunct the MC often gives someone a public sweetheart reputation regardless of their private behavior?
ʚɞ Did I say Planets conjunct the DC often represent qualities the person disowns and then accidentally seeks out in their partners?
LOVE AT LATTE LANE! ─ a spinoff of TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY!
જ⁀➴ SYNOPSIS .ᐟ You just came back to Seoul after studying abroad—and instead of your famous older brother Jaehyun picking you up, one of the influencers from Myungnyanghakz, he sends Taesan : the blunt, infuriatingly attractive barista from Tré Seoul who you may or may not have developed a secret crush on through his viral online appearances. Wanting a fresh start—and definitely not choosing it because it’s near him—you take a job at a trendy new café, only to discover it’s Tré Seoul’s newest rival. Now, with both cafés banning staff from interacting, your nonstop bickering with Taesan starts feeling dangerously close to flirting. But when the internet begins paying attention, keeping your identity hidden may be harder than resisting him.
⤷ ゛PAIRING ˎˊ˗ barista!taesan x rival barista!reader (jaehyun's little sister) GENRE(S) ˎˊ˗ smau, slow burn, forbidden love, rivals to lovers, fluff, comedy, angst, mystery WARNING(S) ˎˊ˗ kys/kms jokes, sexual jokes, gay jokes, random timestamps/timeskips, profanities, mentions of food, manipulation, defamation, blackmail STATUS ˎˊ˗ tbc ~
╰┈➤ AUTHOR'S NOTE ! hihi everyone!! 💕 it's been exactly one year since I first posted Terms and Conditions Apply! and honestly I still can't believe the response it got and how much love you all gave it 😭💔 so what better way to celebrate than bringing you back to this universe?? 😉 ~ Love at Latte Lane! is the official T&Cs spinoff and I'm so excited to finally share it with you all!! Taesan has always been one of my favourite characters to write in T&Cs and I felt like he deserved his own story so this came out of it hehe ~ 🥹
a few things before you start reading : I highly recommend reading Terms and Conditons Apply! before diving into LaLL!! while you can enjoy this as a standalone, there's deeper lore, callbacks and context from the main smau that will make this story so much richer 🥹 you can find T&Cs on my masterlist !! ~ also this smau is dedicated to my beloved moot @hollyoongs who designed the most beautiful header for this 😭 she's incredibly talented and I love her so much MWUAH !! 💋
˚⊱ PROFILES ⊰˚
latte losers | jaehyun's groping victims (ft. new additions!)
This one shot is my entry for the 'Dhurandhar secret santa gift exchange' event by @dhurandharsecretgiftexchange!! You are a diva for organizing this event!! Kudos to you 🌷🥳
Prompt by and written for @sweetestsummer 💜
A bestfriends to lovers arc between Uzair Baloch and reader/OC, both being oblivious idiots. A jealous Uzair tries his best to deal with his feelings, but ends up having an angry rain confession!
Special thanks to @obsessedwidskincare for helping me figure out the whole plot (more like she gave me the whole plot 😭) and @kamalkafool for making the plot better by her input!!
THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION. IT IN NO WAY OR FORM ROMANTICIZES, PROPOGATES OR JUSTIFIES THE ACTS OF CHARACTERS OR ANY REAL LIFE PERSONALITY. IT IS SOLELY WRITTEN IN CONTEXT OF THE CHARACTERS OF THE MOVIE.
Your friendship with Uzair Baloch was a knowledge as common as the fact that rehman dakaiti ki di hui maut badi kasainuma hoti hai. It all started when you were in highschool- you were one of the best in your class but only second in maths to uzair, honestly you despised him for being better at math than you. You prayed for him to score less or worse better fail once so you could be the undisputed topper. However you did not expect the way your wish was about to play off.
Six months before your high school finals Uzair’s parents had passed away. You heard the news from your father the evening they died. Your heart dropped in your stomach and you don't know why but you cried for him. You did not see him for two months after that. When he finally showed up after months, it was as if he was a ghost. He was a quiet boy back then but he had friends, he played football annoyingly well, enjoyed praise from the teachers and beating you in tests but now it was all gone.
During your pre finals, on the day of the math exam you were more worried for Uzair than yourself because this also happened to be the five month anniversary of his parents passing. Being seated on the row beside him on the adjacent seat, you could see exactly what he was writing. He, instead of writing the exam, had put his head down after just writing his name. You on the other hand were panicking more about him failing and not being allowed to sit for the final exam, than passing it yourself. You kept trying to draw his attention by whispering his name but it was as if he had gone deaf. When he finally lifted his head up to look at you, you looked around and thrusted your extra supplement at him; it had a few mcqs and short answers- enough to pass the exam.
Unfortunately, the invigilator turned around exactly when he was stupidly holding the cheat sheet like some random newspaper clipping and looked at you in utter confusion. You were caught passing an answer sheet to Uzair Baloch in the very subject you prayed for him to fail in. The principal called in your parents and his brother and sister in law. Luckily because of your clear record, his brother’s reputation and Uzair's parents’ recent passing, you both were forgiven and given a chance to take the exam again.
After the re-examination you approached him to tell him how If his stupid ass had taken the paper and copied the answers this wouldn't have happened, to which he called you stupid for doing this in the first place, he criticized your cheating skills and how you were crazy for trying to help him because you weren't even the best at the subject too- and according to him there were just as much chances of him failing if he copied your answers as had he not written anything at all. From there started an unlikely but a nearly perfect friendship.
Rehman and Ulfat were surprised to find that Uzair had done such a thing but then they realised that it was you who did this- it kind of soothed them that there was someone else who cared for Uzair. After that day on you kept pestering him like an insistent mosquito who did not leave even after a repellent was used. You kept showing at his home, kept trying to get him to study, trying to instigate him -challenge him to do better at the exams than you but the spark was lost. However this did not mean your efforts went in vain. You had kinda become friends with him. He tolerated you- more like you kept doing things and he tagged along, you kept blabbering and he kept listening.
He got to give his finals after the re-examination and passed. Not with flying colours but he did. He sat you down one evening after you had talked his ear off about college admissions and entrance exams - he didn't want to continue. He was going to join Rehman in his business and well, the famously known….extracurricular activities. He thought you would object and leave him, but you didn't. You just squeezed his hand and told him you were with him no matter what.
_____________________________
You were laying on the ‘khaat’ in the verandah of baloch haveli, after a lavish dinner. The said dinner was on occasion of Faizal finally passing his eight grade exams on his third try. The poor child was stressed and math was not his forte. You were just telling Faizal how yor colleges’ resident wanna be macho proposed to one of your classmates who was coincidentally sick that day; and with the worst stroke of luck when the guy went on his knee with a rose asking her out, she turned her face sideways and puked. Yeah, not a very successful proposal. While you were laughing in your hysterics, Uzair came back after a shower- in a loose t-shirt and pajama- tugged at your foot to make space for him to sit. You just lifted your head in response. He sighed and sat down with your head on his thigh.
“Are bhai Aaj toh kamaal ho gaya aakhir kaar humare shehzade ne aanthvi paas kar hi li, warna humein toh laga tha ki kaun isse nakal karwayega- aakhir sabki kismat Uzair jaisi toh nahi hoti.”
(oh boy! Finally at last our little prince passed eighth grade, otherwise we were worried who would let him cheat off of them- not everyone has luck like Uzair)
Rehman said with a teasing edge. While Uzair absentmindedly played with the hem of your sleeve.
“Kya matlab hai aapka Rehman bhai? Nakal Uzair nahi kar raha tha, main karwa rahi thi- dono baaton mein zameen aasman ka fark hai. Aur waise bhi Uzair hamesha hi awaal aata tha, fail toh door ki baat hai. Toh aap in dono ko ek doosre se na mawazein!”
(what do you mean Rehman bhai? Uzair was not cheating off me, I was the one offering-there is a big difference! And anyways he always used to come first in the class, failing a test is not even in question. Please don't compare him with Faizal here.)
“Appi aapne mujhe kyun toda?”
(why did you have to drag me down?)
Faizal who laid in Ulfat’s lap chimes in with a whine.
“Aww, Faizal tum jaante ho ki tum mere second favourite ho, lekin tumhare Abbu ki galatfehmi door karna zaroori hai.”
(aww Faizal you know, you're my second favourite, but your father had a misunderstanding and I had to clear it.)
You try to coo at the boy. It is true he was too much like Uzair but not completely. Faizal struggling with academics was a trait Rehman must've passed down to him, but you just can't prove it.
“Rehman rehne dein, Uzair ki vakalat karte hue y/n se koi nahi jeet sakta.”
(Rehman let it go, you can't win against her when she's defending Uzair. )
Ulfat winked at you. A hot flush spread through your cheeks at the teasing which was only apparent to you.
“Baat toh sahi hai!”
(That is true!)
Naieem whistled which led to everyone dissolving in laughter, except you.
_____________________________
You were standing out of your college gate for exactly seven minutes. Seven minutes too long. Uzair would always be there to pick you up even before you were done for the day. He was late, that too without prior information. When he finally arrived, you were ready to give him an ear full. He got down from the car to open the door for you and as soon as you sat in the car, he put on your favorite song first thing after getting in the car and turned the AC down to your preferred temperature while he himself preferred open windows if he had been with anyone else.
To your surprise a new guy who Uzair introduced as Hamza was tagging along. Hamza had saved Rehman bhai from a surprise attack and was then welcomed into the gang. For the next few weeks Hamza would tag along with Uzair to pick you up and drop you to the college. While Hamza was quiet most of the time, once in a while he would make a dry joke that would leave you laughing with tears in your eyes. This made you from a duo to a trio. Now Hamza was always with you and Uzair when both of them weren't working. As much as you missed spending time with Uzair one-on-one, Hamza felt like a brother you never had, and you assumed he too saw you like a sister.
Like any normal weekday morning, Uzair was driving you to the college and Hamza was tagging along.
“Suno, Aaj shaam ko der se lene aana. Humara astronomy club aaj raat ek meet karne waala hai.”
(listen, come a bit later to pick me up today because my astronomy club has a meeting tonight.)
“Bohot wakt lagega? Main intezaar kar loonga.”
(will it be long? I can wait.)
Uzair insisted.
“Nahi, nahi bohot wakt lag sakta hai shayad. Aaj woh blood moon hai na, toh Jupiter aur Venus dikhenge! Sara muje ghar chhod degi, nikalungi toh phone kar doongi.”
(it might take too long actually. Today we will see blood moon, so Jupiter and Venus will be visible! Sara will drop me home. I'll call you when I leave for home.)
You assured him.
“Aapko Astronomy mein dilchaspi hai?”
(you like astronomy?)
Hamza asked from the backseat, excited.
“Haan! Aapko bhi?”
(yes! You too?)
You clap your hands in excitement. Hamza nodded in agreement.
“Phir aap bhi chalein mere saath! Wahan hum sabko aur khushi hogi agar naye log hamein join karte hain.”
(Then you should join me! The club will be really happy if new people join us)
“Agar aapko ya aapke saathiyon koi aitraaz na ho toh.”
(if your colleagues have no issue with it then, sure)
“Bilkul! Kisi ko koi aitraaz nahi hoga, infact sab bohot khush honge!”
(ofcourse! Nobody will object, in fact everyone will be excited/happy)
He nods in response.
“Theek hai toh aap kal shaam aa jayen mere college ki chutti ke baad, hum wahin chatt par jaa kar set karne waale hain sab.”
(okay then you can come by the college after we are done with it. Our set-up is on the college terrace itself.)
“Aapke paas telescope hai?”
(Do you have a telescope?)
“Haan! Mere paas toh accha hai, Uzair ne pichle saal birthday par diya tha! Lekin humare club ke head ke paas bohot zyada accha waala hai! Uspe humne pichli baar Saturn ki rings dekhi thi!”
(Yes! I have a good one, it was a birthday gift last year from Uzair. But the club head has a better one! We saw saturn's ring with it last time.)
You see his eyes shine in excitement and wonder.
“Tum bhi aaoge na?”
(will you join us?)
You turn towards Uzair, wanting him to tag along with you and Hamza.
“Are nahi, nahi. Mujhe kuch samaj bhi nahi aayega tum log kya keh rahe ho, kar rahe ho.”
(Not really! I won't get what you're saying or doing there)
“Lekin main bataungi na tumhe! Chalo na!! Sachme bohot maza aayega!”
(but I will explain it to you! Please tag along! I swear it will be fun)
“Tum jaao na hamze ke saath, mujhe inn sab mein dilchaspi nahi hai. Tum dono dekho chaand-sitare.”
(You go with Hamza. I don't have any interest in all this anyways. You both go and see starts and the moon)
“Planets!”
You and Hamza both chime in, correcting him.
_____________________________
The astronomy club evening went amazing. Hamza fit right in with your club. You introduced him as your cousin because introducing him as a new member of Rehman bhai's gang was not a very feasible first introduction. Overnight you discovered Hamza was fun to be around! He knew about the planets and stars, even things you've never heard of. Being the same age, you both shared many interests apart from astronomy as well. Which led to you sitting in the back seat with Hamza instead of the passenger seat with Uzair, a couple of times now. Now on days when Uzair was busy, instead of taking an auto which you usually would - Hamza would pick you up also during these trips without Uzair you actually discovered that Hamza had taken a liking for Yalina.
Your father worked as an accountant for Jameel Jamali, which meant he was aware of all the illegal and unexplained wealth he had accumulated over the years through corruption, which also meant Jamali kept your family closer to save his ass, which meant you were ‘practically family’. Friendship with Yalina was four years younger than you but that gap did not feel much larger when all you did was gossip about your extended families, college friends, shenanigans and well men- more like men in her case and a single man in yours. She along with Ulfat bhabhi was the only one who knew about your omnipresent, pathetic and as obvious as an elephant, crush on Uzair. She had a new crush every week but by the weekend she would discover some red flag after intense stalking and drop that crush, like a hot potato.
Imagine your surprise when Yalina and Hamza had started ‘dating’ after both of them had individually tagged along with you to the same astronomy club meets. You were a third wheel at first but to your relief it changed when they started ditching you all together. You still spent time with Hamza but less than before, same was with Yalina - it was so weird and ironic that they were cutting on their time spent with you to spend it with each other.
_____________________________
You were standing in the kitchen, while Ulfat was instructing the cook how to make perfect biryani - the exact way Rehman liked. Meanwhile you were munching on chopped bits of carrots, while chatting with her. Out of nowhere you felt a hand cover yours and the other dive into your healthy snack bowl to see almost all of it gone into the fist of a giant.
Uzair stuffed his face with the stolen carrots while you hit his arm in vain.
He said casually as if you were not there trying to skin him alive.
“Aaj yahan kaise? Hamze ke saath kitabein khareedne nahi jaana? Aaj toh discount chal rha hoga na?”
(Why are you here? Don't you have to go book shopping with Hamza? The books will be at thr discounted price today right?)
He puts his chin on your head and sighs.
“Nahi! Aaj woh kuch aur kaam se bahr gaya hai, toh agle hafte jayenge.”
(Nah, he had some work today, so we'll go there next week"
You cut him off by shoving a cherry tomato in his mouth.
“Haan haan, ab toh Hamza ye Hamza vo. Uzair toh bas naam ke liye hai. Dekhein bhabhi, kya keh rahi thi aap ki, y/n ko mujhse accha koi nahi jaanta? Ab ye baat aap Hamza ke baare mein karein kyunki ab shayad main-”
(Yeah, its all hamza this, hamza that now. Uzair is just a chopped liver. See bhabhi, you said nobody knows her better than i do, but that should be said about hamza now because maybe now i am not that-)
“Bas karo! Itna drama?! Dekha bhabhi issi liye Faizal aisa hai! Issi ki wajah se. Hamza se jalna band karo! Lekin chalo ab tum itna roo rahe ho toh aalam bhai ke yahan doodhsoda aur uske baad Clifton pe bun tikki khilaungi, aur laut te hue ghar chalenge- tumhe main tumhari mann pasand Biryani bana kar khilaungi lekin kabhi ye mat kehna ki tum mere liye sabse zyada azeez nahi ho! Buddhu!"
( can you stop it now! Such dramatics! See bhabhi he's the reasin why faizal too is like this. Stop being jealous of hamza. But since you're feeling neglected, ill take you to aalam bhai's shop to have doodhsoda and fro there to clifton for some bun tikki- my treat- and then we'll go at my place and ill make you your favourite biryani but never ever say that you're not my most favourite! Idiot!)
“Main jalta-valta nahi samji?”
(I am not being jealous!)
“Haan, haan aur main Shah Rukh Khan hoon! Chalo ab!”
(Sure! And i am shah rukh khan. Now walk along!)
And as you had promised you made him Biryani just how he liked- a little thick gravy, more chicken and sticky rice. Nobody in your home including yourself liked biryani that way, but you could adjust a bit for him, afterall he was your bestest friend ever.
_____________________________
June was coming to an end with light rain, indicating the start of monsoon- which also meant it was Uzair's birthday month coming up and you had saved just enough for a nice gift. You were planning on something that he could keep for a long time, maybe a vintage watch or some jewelry he could wear daily.
Uzair was accompanying Rehman for a meeting with the PAC and therefore it was only Hamza picking you up from your college.
“Accha aap busy hain?”
Hamza asked, looking at you from the driver's seat.
(Right, so are you busy?)
“Waise toh nahi shayad main shaam ko sana ke saath Dolmen mall jaane waali thi, lekin woh baad mein bhi ho sakta hai. Kuch kaam tha?”
(Well not really, but i was going to the Dolmen mall with sana in the evening, but i can postpone that. You needed some help?)
“Zaroori nahi, bas woh Yalina ki saalgirah aa rahi hai toh uske liye tohfa lena tha. Uski pasand ka itna khaas andaza nahi hai mujhe. Main bas tasveer bhejun toh aap batana ki use pasand aayega ya nahi.”
Hamza said with a blush on his face, uncharacteristically shy.
“Ohoooo!! Baat birthday gift tak pohoch gai hai? Tumhari kismat acchi hai, main bhi Uzair ki saalgirah ka tohfa hi lene jaa rahi thi. Ek kaam karte hain saath chalenge! Pehle Dolmen mall chalte hain, agar wahan kuch pasand naa aya toh baazar chalenge.”
“Theek hai.”
Soon you found yourself standing outside the mall, while Hamza searched for a place to park. Unbeknownst to you, you were being watched.
_____________________________
Uzair had just been returning with Rehman from a meeting when he saw you standing alone outside the Dolmen mall. He was about to call you out when a light shower of rain started. He quickly asked Siyahi to pass the umbrella he kept in his jeep and all the cars during monsoons because you absolutely hated rain. It had been like this since you both became friends; even his first vehicle was a Jeep instead of a bike he wanted solely because he won't be able to pick you up or take you places on his bike during monsoons, a jeep was open enough for him and sheltered enough for you.
He jogged towards you with the umbrella after a nod from Rehman and reassurance from Donga and Siyahi, that they will look out for Rehman and not to worry.
However just as he crossed the road, Hamza had retired after parking the car, along with an umbrella- which he used to shield against the light rain. Hamza had been there for you before Uzair could reach you and it did not sit well with Uzair, not at all. The burning jealousy made him follow you and Hamza into the mall and then to the jewelry store. He sat at the cafe overlooking through the glass walls of the store.
____________________________
You told the employee Yalina's ring size and described what her preferences were. As the employee kept showing you various designs while you and Hamza argued over what was a better choice.
At last both of you found one that you both liked. It was a delicate, dainty silver ring with curved anterior segment- which had raised flower motifs. It fell into Hamza’s budget and you knew it would look beautiful on Yalina's hand.
“Tum pehenke dekho na, theek toh lag rahi hai na?”
You roll your eyes at his overt gentleness. They were truly a case of beauty and beast.
“Haan, haan kahin tumhari naazuk Yalina ko chubh naa jaye!”
He blushed, averting his eyes. You tried the ring on, it was a snug fit on you but it would be perfect on Yalina. You held your hand out for Hamza to see, he held your hand and brought it close to see. He then smiled and nodded in satisfaction.
It was then your turn to choose the ring for Uzair. You knew what he liked- mostly silver, plain with intricate details or carvings were okay but he did not like chunky or raised designs. You literally looked through almost all of their collection which was not upto the par at all. You were contemplating leaving and surfing through the main market for something he'd like, until you did see one which could be altered just a little to be perfect. It was a little over your budget but Uzair deserved everything.
After you specified the changes you wanted to the employee, you handed the ring to Hamza.
“Pehenke dikho. Aur dusri ungli mein pehen’na.”
“Accha? Angoothi ki nahi balki Ungli ki size-vize sab pata hai. Kaun jaane kaise-”
“Hamza!”
You smack his arm exasperated, while he just chuckled in the response.
“Acchi lag rahi hai lekin Uzair pe aur acchi lagegi.”
Hamza rolls his eyes at your simping for your not so secret crush and best friend.
_____________________________
From an outside point of view it looked like two people- just a couple were buying rings- maybe a gift, maybe to make their relationship official, and it looked the same from Uzair’s point of view too.
Were you in love with Hamza? And you hadn't even told him? Your best friend? Was he even your best friend anymore, with the amount of time you were spending with Hamza lately - yes Uzair was busy but still. He could feel his eyes mist over. He shook his thoughts off and left without sparing another glance your way. What he didn't know was that Hamza had seen him leaving. Hamza knew what Uzair felt for you- had known for a long time- and so Hamza could see the potential of the situation.
_____________________________
The moment Uzair stepped in the haveli, drenched, He made a bee-line to Rehman.
“Bhai, aap Hamza ko shirani sahab ke paas Balochistan bhej dein. Waise bhi usse seekhna hai, teen chaar hafte rahega toh theekse seekh jayega.”
“Uzair, woh tera aur mera kaam hai. Hamza saath aa sakta hai lekin hum mein se ek ko toh jaana hi hoga. Ulfat aur bacche nanihal chalejaynge Quetta aur main-”
“Nahi Bhai, aap nahi jaayenge. Aap rehne dein main aur Hamza chale jayenge.”
After he decided the details of the trip with Rehman, the next day Uzair walked into the factory, late evening. The boys were playing a game of football, but Uzair did not join him.
“Oi! Chal! Donga bada bol raha hai ki aaj woh jeetenge. Humara score-”
Hamza claps Uzair on the back.
“Kaam nahi hai factory mein? Ya Bhai tum logon ko football khelne ka paisa dete hain? Chup chap kaam pe lago, ek bhi galti hui phir dekh lena”
Uzair said loud enough for everyone to hear. The boys sensed a mood and because they did not want to be caught in the crossfire, they scrambled to get back to work.
“Kyun tere liye board chapvaun? Kaam pe lag. Din bhar Y/n ke saath awaragardiyon ke paise nahi dete Bhai.”
“Tujhe iss baat se masla hai ki main kaam nahi kar raha, iss baat se ki main awaaragardi karta hoon ya iss baat se ke y/n ke saath karta hoon ya phir iss baat se ki woh tere saath nahi jaati?”
“Zyada bakwas mat kar, samja? Jitne mahino se nahi jaanta tu, utne saalon se jaanta hoon usse. Tum dono ke beech ho bhi ho usse Mera aur uska talluq nahi badal jaata.”
Uzair stood up, he stood against Hamza as if to assert his point.
“Maine kab kaha humare beech kuch hai. Tujhe lagta hai kuch hai? Waise uski zewaron mein pasand badi acchi hai, khaas mauqe ke liya mera kabootar khaana bhi saja hi degi-”
Before Hamza could finish his sentence, all Uzair sees is red. He lunges at him, grabbing his collar.
“Zaban sambhal kar bol saale, uski taraf dekha bhi toh teri aankhein nikaal loonga-”
Donga and Siyahi, pulled Uzair away before the situation could escalate. Hamza is ushered out of the factory by the two of the boys. After a while when Uzair came back to his senses he asked everyone to leave him alone at the factory.
_____________________________
It was 9:34 p.m. and Uzair had not called you for two whole days. He had his moods but it never even meant that he ignored your calls. Eventually you called Hamza and he told you about the fight they had the very evening - leaving out the innuendo he made to instigate Uzair in the first place. He also informed you about the almost one month long trip to Balochistan on which Uzair and Hamza had to leave for the next week. You were furious if anything, firstly Uzair did not approach you when he had doubts about Hamza and your relationship, then he ignored you and now he's running away and pulling Hamza with him on a month-long trip to the middle of nowhere- where will be almost no way of communicating him if he did not want to talk to you?!
You asked Hamza to pick you up and drop you to the factory because you didn't want Rehman and Ulfat to worry in case the fight turned ugly, and kids did not deserve to see you two fight and choose sides.
The sky was dark and clouds ever darker when Hamza dropped you outside the factory.
“Shukriya Hamza, aur Uzair ki taraf se main maafi maangti hoon. Uska dimag thoda sa ghutne mein hai. Jab usse sab saaf ho jayega woh khud sharminda hoga, tumhe bohot chahta hai.”
Hamza nods in dismissal.
“Zyada jazbaati hai, pata hai. Bohot gussa kare toh fauran mujhe phone kar dena, main lene aa jaaunga.”
You roll your eyes, smiling.
“Jii Abbu! Aur kuch?”
He shakes his head and nods at you to go in.
_____________________________
The factory was quiet when you entered. Hamza had said Uzair was working but there were no lights on. You looked around at Rehman’s cabin but he wasn't there either, neither in the workshop area. Just as you were thinking of checking the first floor- which was more of a pseudo floor because it was only a metal elevated partition that had a platform and then a stairs that led to the rarely used terrace.
Looking around at the stairs you found Uzair sitting on the metal railing at the top of it, smoking. With the smoke that surrounded him it was very obvious he had smoked a couple of them.
“Uzair?”
“Kyun aayi ho yahan?”
He asked, descending from the stairs. You were ashamed to admit but somehow his dishevelled look was a turn on.
“Kya matlab kyun aayi ho? Do din se mera phone nahi utha rahe! Kya masla hai?!”
“Masla kuch nahi hai. Sab theek hai, ghar jao.”
“Nahi! Kuch toh masla hai tumhe mujhse, Aaj se pehle kabhi mere phone nazarandaz nahi kiye, aur Donga bhai ne bataya ki tumne Hamza pe haath uthaya? Dimag kharab ho gaya hai kya tumhara?”
“Toh ye takleef hai tumhe?! Hamza pe haath kaise uthaya maine? Bohot fikr hai uski.”
He threw the cigarette on the ground and crushed it under his boot.
“Kyun nahi honi chahiye? Ye tum jis halat mein ho- kitni ciggerate jala chuke ho? Marne ka shaukh chadha hai? Ya maarne ka? Aisa kya ho gaya jo haath uthana pad gaya?”
“Ussi se jaa kar poch lo. Kyun, nahi bataya usne? Ya tumne poocha nahi? Kisi aur cheez mein mashroof the?”
“Dimag toh theek hai tumhara? Kya bakwas kar rahe ho?! Main aur Hamza sirf dost hain-”
“Accha? Angoothiyan khareedti ho tum apne doston ke saath? Unke haathon se phenti ho? Din bhar ghoomti ho uske saath aur sirf dost hai?”
“Uzair tumhe ho kya gya hai?! Hum bhi dost hain! Tumhare saath bhi main aati thi na? Kya iska matlab ye hai ki humare beech dosti ke alawa kuch hai?-”
“Hum sirf dost hai?”
“Baat ye nahi hai Uzair! Tum kaise bartav kar rahe ho!? Tumhare dimag mein chal kya raha hai?”
“Maine jo poocha uska jawab do. Kya hum sirf dost hain?”
“Main iska jawab nahi doongi! Tum mere aur Hamza ke rishte ko humare beech jo hai usse mawaaz rahe ho? Itne saalon aur kuch mahino ke fark ka kya? Tumhe sach mein lagta hai ki main kisi se mohobbat karoongi aur tumhe bataungi bhi nahi? Issi liye jaa rahe ho Balochistan? Hamza ko mujhse door karne? Aur ye nahi dikha ki tum bhi ussi ke saath door jaa rahe ho? Tum kise saza de rahe ho? Usse, mujhe ya khudko?"
You wipe your tears that had unknowingly skipped down your cheeks. Uzair's face was unreadable.
"Jab apni galti samaj aaye tabhi mujhse baat karne ki koshish karna. Hum mall, tumhari aur Yalina ki saalgirah ka tohfa lene gaye the, aiyaashiyan karne nahi."
Walking away you did not look back. You did not want to cry in front of him but what were you supposed to do when he was the only one you could talk to, about your feelings.
Reaching the door you felt the overwhelming need to leave, you pulled the metal door, it rattled but did not open. You pushed it, and again it rattled but did not open.
“Y/n-”
“Mujhe koi baat nahi karni hai! Bhaad mein jaao tum aur bhaad mein Jaye Hamza. Mardon se doosri karni hi nahi chahiye!”
You pushed the gate hard but it did not budge.
“Meri baat suno-”
“Ye darwaza khul kyun nahi raha!”
You kicked the door hard.
“Pagal ho gayi ho?! Chot lag jayegi!”
Uzair pulls you away from the door by your arm.
“Tum apna kaam karo samje! Main Rehman bhai ko phone karti hoon, kisi ne bahr se band kar diya hai darwaza-”
You pull out your phone from the purse to call Rehman, but before you could even unlock it, Uzair snatched it from your hand.
“Pehle meri baat suno-”
“Bhaad mein jaao tum, mujhe tumhari koi baat nahi sun’ni”
You try to reach for your phone but he hides it behind his back.
“Uzair! Phone do! Mujhe nahi baat karni-”
He still keeps your phone out of reach. You however start tearing up out of frustration and anger.
“Rakho! Rakho apne paas nahi chahiye, lekin mujhe haath mat lagana!”
You walk away towards the other corner to find another door or a window. Uzair kept following you.
“Meri baat toh suno, main Ghar chhod dunga tumhe, lekin pehle sun toh le-”
The windows had grills on them, and you could not see around much in the dark. The panic had sat in and you were close to tears.
“Zabardasti mat karo, tumhe sach mein meri koi fikr hai toh mujhe jaane do. Tum Balochistan se wapas aa jaoge tab baat karenge.”
He sighed heavily, handing you your phone back.
“Raat bohot ho chuki hai. Ghar chood doonga. Tum jab chahogi tab baat karenge.”
He gently held your wrist and guided you through the backrooms to find a small metal door- for a secret exit you assume. He lets you go through first and then he follows behind.
The door opened into a cramped dark alleyway, the only light source was a dim street lamp on the next street. Which was almost of no use because you could not even make out the way you were supposed to go. He walks you upto the end of the alley and to his jeep.
“Hamza mujhe chhod dega ghar, tum ghar chale jaao, sab parehaan ho rahe honge.”
You begin to fail Hamza but Uzair holds your wrist.
“Main Hamza ko Balochistan aane se mana kar doonga. Agar tumhe woh pasand hai toh main tum dono ke beech nahi aaunga. Main Bhai se baat-”
It was as if gods were done with his stupid ass and wanted to tell him to shut up because out of nowhere rain started to pour down as if the clouds had bursted on top of you. In minutes you both were drenched, the idiot though, hovered his hands over your head to shield you from the rain. You were painfully in love with this stupid but you could not take his ignorance anymore! You took a big breath and let out every thought you had in your mind.
“Andhe ho?! Dimag nahi hi tumhare pas?! Matlab tumhe KAISE! KAISE SAMAJ NAHI AATA KI MAIN TUM SE MOHOBBAT KARTI HOON?! Yahan tumhari inhi ahmakana harkaton ki wajah se mujhe ye sab yahan ghatiya keechad aur bheegte hue kehna pad raha hai! Tum beech mein nahi aaoge?! Kya beech mein nahi aaoge haan? Tumhara ye chota dimag HUMARE beech hai! Tumhara izhaar karne ka intezaar karti toh mera menopause aa jaata lekin tumhe akal nahi aati!-”
You had thrown your hands out in frustration, but they cupped the back of his nape like they had their own mind. His lips were warm and cool at the same time against yours- wait what? His lips against yours- Uzair had leaned into your personal space and kissed you in the middle of your rant. The moment you realised what was happening you sucked in a breath and kissed him back with all the fervor and he matched yours. It was as if you both were trying to out-kiss each other, he pulled you in by your waist and as a result you had to lean back to keep kissing him.
He pushed you against the bonnet of his Jeep and pushed you up to sit you on it. Gasping for air you broke the kiss, panting.
You wordlessly pushed his hair back, that had fallen on his forehead, cupped his cheek. You both looked at each other as if you were trying to find words to say but just couldn't, so you leaned in again, hugging him as close as possible, wrapping your legs around his waist. Your hugs had always lasted way longer than a hug between friends should. It was as if you both would practically melt into each other.
After, what felt like forever, you broke the kiss, only to peck each other multiple times while giggling in between.
“Main tumse beintehaa mohobbat karta hoon. Jab maine tumhe aur Hamza ko saath dekha toh laga jaise mere seene dil kheench liya kisi ne. Mohobbat ka matlab nahi pata tha tabse tumse karta hoon. Main nahi jaanta ki tumne Hamza se nahi aur mujhse mohobbat kaise kar li, lekin-”
“Kyunki woh tum nahi hai. Woh Uzair nahi hai. Mere liye toh mohobbat, dosti, aur dushmani ka matalab bhi hamesha se Uzair hi raha hai.”
“Y/n-”
“Tumhe kuch kehne ki zaroorat nahi. Main jaanti hoon. Bas yahan mere saath baarish mein bheegte raho, mujhse maafi maango aur phir har baat par ek kiss chahiye mujhe.”
You loop your arms around his shoulders.
“Lekin tumhe toh baarish bilkul nahi pasand?"
He asked brushing your cheek with the back of his fingers.
"Ab hai."
His eyes were searching yours. He is the reason why you don't hate the rain anymore.
“Waise geele kapdon mein rehne se zukhaam ho jaata hai.”
You said biting your lip.
“Main tumhe ghar chhod deta-”
“Ghar chalo aur utaaro inhe. Tumhare bhi aur mere bhi.”
Who knew sneaking into baloch haveli, that too dripping wet was way easier than you thought, and so was being closer to Uzair than you ever thought possible.
Tags (Dm to be Added or removed from the taglist!):
