Ever Listen To A Song Absently But Then Hear A Random Lyric And Be Like... "did They Really Just Say

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Alright. I made you all suffer enough. Chapter 17 is up to relieve that terrible cliffhangers. We're getting down to the wire now, babes. Thinking one last story chapter then a few wrap ups before the epilogue. I really steamed through this story this time.

the whole "gentlebeard" vs "blackbonnet" debate is so funny to me bc it's obviously both, it just depends on the situation. gentlebeard is when they're sharing soft smiles and sweet marmalade and looks of adoration. blackbonnet is when they fuck nasty

PSA

Just a heads up, there are bots going around on AO3 accusing people of using AI. Considering the timing, this is likely AI bros' retaliation for AO3 users calling them out for scraping their work. Examples of what you might be sent:

Screenshots from here.

If you get a comment like this, just report for spam and delete.

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I'm hoping to get chapter 12 up tonight but I may have drank too much wine with dinner so my focus is not the best right now. If not I promise you'll get two chapters tomorrow at least.

Here's once of the songs for the chapter to keep you interested!

I'm sick as hell, guys. I'm not gonna be getting any chapters done anytime soon. I'm sorry!🤒😷🤕

sometimes i need to remind myself that i'm writing fanfiction for free and i'm allowed to have a shitty sentence or two

Please comment on my works! I am a starved writer duck. I need them bread comments!

"i don't comment on ao3 because i don't wanna be annoying or weird" skill issue + you greatly underestimate the power dynamic here, writing multi paragraph comments is like feeding a bunch of deeply insane and possibly starved ducks at the park and watch them go completely mad over having received a piece of bread

16, Marko

16. "You like me?" "Just figured that out, huh?" with Marko

This is the cutest thing I’ve written in a while UGH thank you for this request <3

Also you can def tell in reading the Marko pov that I’m currently crushing on an either completely obvious or completely uninterested man, we are fighting for our lives out here 💀

Includes: gn reader, total fluff, Marko has a crushhhhh

The night after asking Marko to pretend to be your boyfriend and scare off an overeager surf nazi, you realize he isn’t acting like himself.

“Okay- what’s going on Marko? You said you were okay with helping last night, why are you suddenly being all… weird?”

He looked at you for a moment, thinking as he bit the inside of his cheek.

Marko truly couldn’t believe you were this dense. From the moment you’d crossed paths on the boardwalk he’d been smitten. He thought he was being obvious! He’d flirted 24/7, he took you for joyrides on his bike, he’d brought you gifts and trinkets- hell, he’d let you wear his damn jacket! How had you not put it together? Were you just that disinterested? He knew he was treading dangerous ground, you being a human and all, but he just couldn’t let you go. The thought of you truly not wanting anything to do with him to this extent was killing him.

Then, last night, you’d basically asked him out, just to keep a surf nazi who was in love with you off your ass. He agreed, of course he did, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t bitter about it. During the (fake) date he was able to just play it off and have a good night with you on his arm, but after 24 hours of steeping in the reality that he’d probably never get the real thing, he was pissed.

“I helped you, didn’t I? What’s the problem?”

You frowned at Marko. He did help you, and you appreciated it, but then he started acting all cold. Sure, he’d been nothing but sweet to your face, but you knew him well enough to see through it. He’d barely said a word to anyone all night. He’d turned down your offer to cheat the rigged carnival games out of all their cheap prizes, or terrorize the comic book store kids that were convinced he was a vampire. It wasn’t like him.

“I don’t know- you’re just not yourself. If it was gonna make you act all weird you could’ve just turned me down. I’m sure Paul or Dwayne would’ve done it.”

You’d had the time of your life being on his arm last night. It felt right, just a comfortable step further from your usual dynamic. Maybe it was mean, but there was a reason you’d asked him to fake date you specifically. You wanted to know what it would feel like.

Marko’s brows furrowed. It’s like you were trying to make him jealous on purpose. Dwayne or Paul absolutely would’ve walked you around the boardwalk all night, happily and knowingly driving him insane.

“No. I said yes, I wanted to do it, I did it, and I’d do it again, okay? I’d do anything for you, you know that”

Despite the reassuring words, he still looked just as mad, prompting a sigh from you. He was being ridiculous.

“Then why are you being like this?”

After a drawn out silence, Marko stood up, resigning himself to facing your rejection. He couldn’t believe that you just didn’t know how into you he was. If you really hadn’t gotten it by this point, he had a feeling it probably wasn’t mutual.

He gently took your hands in his, looking you in the eyes with a sigh.

“Last night was great, and I fucking hate that it was great, because I want it to be like that all the time. I want us to be like that all the time.”

He was explaining it to you like you were stupid, and with how long it took you to process, it might have been warranted.

Holy shit. Marko wanted you for real.

“…You like me? Like, actually?”

He scoffed out a laugh, eyes going a little wide.

“Just figured that out, huh?”

It all made sense. Of course he’d been pissed, he’d been hoping for a night like this for months, only for you to give it to him all because of another guy.

“I thought you were just being you! Hell, all of you flirt with me, and everyone else on the boardwalk. I thought it was just what you did!”

He couldn’t help but be endeared by how wrong you were. If he wasn’t concerned about you thinking he was crazy or dangerous or both, he’d inform you that none of the other people they flirted with were ever seen again. You weren’t like any of them.

“I mean yeah, it is, but have you ever seen anyone else wear this jacket? I wasn’t just flirting with you”

Your face went red remembering how heavy and comforting the jacket had felt wrapped around your shoulders. Come to think of it, you’d wondered at the time why all the guys were looking at you crazy when you had it on. You couldn’t help but laugh.

“Yknow… if I’d have known that, I would’ve just asked you on a real date last night”

His eyes lit up. Did you just say what he thought you said?

“Really? I mean, you still totally can-”

It’s not that he’d thought he had no chance with you, but after months of pining he was bound to lose a little hope. This was what he’d been fantasizing about since the moment he’d met you- well, that and other things.

You grinned, removing your hands from his to wrap around his shoulders.

“Marko, will you go on a date with me?”

He smiled just as wide, not taking a moment too long to wrap his arms around your waist, pulling you flush with him.

“I thought you’d never ask, dollface”

i am completely fine in an “i have been mentally unwell for years” kinda way