#“females won’t date me!!” have you considered not making them fear for their safety when around you.

[ferocioustrout]

incels will say the worlds most violent misogynistic thing that genuinely makes you scared for you life around them and say it’s fine because it’s “just a joke” and then start crying and shitting themselves about misandry when women pick the bear

[giorno-plays-piano]

Vicious

Part II

Pairing: Steve x reader, Bucky x reader, Thor x reader, Loki x reader, Peter x reader

Warnings: yandere, obsession, stalking, possessiveness, theft, all characters are adults.

Words: 1891.

Part I

Summary: Transferring to Stark Academy that has only allowed to take in female students last semester, you realize you are just one of three young women among hundreds of students. Your things are constantly being stolen, and soon you begin fearing for your safety.

P.S. To avoid any confusion, I changed the name Savages -> Vicious.

________________________

The next day you spent doubting your own decisions. Was it really wise to leave everything to Steve? How could he find those students all by himself and deal with your problem? Could he really stop them from acting like that? You thought once again it would be so much easier to ask for a transfer, but you had already given him your word to meet him today at 5. It would be very inappropriate not to come when he was trying to help you.

When the time came, you were sneaking in the student council room as if you were some petty thief. You were afraid people would start talking: if everybody knew who stole your things, they would understand you came to Steve for help like a little girl. It was embarrassing - even in a situation like this. Besides, somebody could be following you since at 5 pm the academy was almost empty.

By the time you reached the right door, you heart was beating as if you had just run a marathon. You really, really hoped Steve found some solution, and you wouldn’t have to be humiliated by the student advisor for wanting to leave the school.

Opening the door, you saw a couple of students on the sofa and quickly stepped away, afraid the student council was still having a meeting, “Ugh, sorry!”

“Come in, please,” Steve said calmly behind the door, and you shyly got in again, watching four other guys staring at you with interest. “We’ve been waiting for you.”

“What, they too?” You were so perplexed by his words you forgot your manners, speaking of others as if they weren’t in the same room. “I’m sorry, I mean, I didn’t know you were involved.”

Wait, were they the ones who stole your things? Did Steve bring them here for you?

“No need to be so nervous.” One of them, a guy with long, jet black hair forming waves around his shoulders told you, motioning you to come closer and sit in one of the chairs opposing the sofa where he sat. “We’re here to help you.”

You remembered his name was Loki. A mathematic genius, he was considered one of the top students of the academy.

“That’s right! Come, come!” Seeing Peter among others was surprising, but his smiling face made you calm down a little, and you smiled at him in return. 

No, they weren’t those guys who stole your underwear, for sure. Apparently, Steve asked them to join you because they knew something and could give you a hand in finding those bastards.

“Thank you for agreeing to see me.” Feeling a little self-conscious among five different men you'd barely known, you landed on one of the chairs and saw that the other two were Bucky and a captain of the academy’s basketball team, Thor. “Did you find out anything?”

“Yes,” Steve said with a loud sigh, “I know exactly who they are. I can hand them over to the school’s officials and get them expelled by tomorrow, but that’s not the real issue here.”

You felt the chills ran up your back. What did he mean by the real issue?

“Is there something else?”

When you saw Loki smirking at you, you suddenly realized you were among five strong men in the student council room on the fifth floor where most classrooms were already empty. If you screamed, nobody would even hear you.

“Stop it.” Bucky’s angry voice cut through the silence, and you saw him literally burning a hole in Loki’s face. “Don’t make her scared, freak.”

Obviously, he wanted to say something offensive to Barnes in return, but Steve silenced them both with his icy glare. Loki sent him an innocent smile while Bucky snorted and rolled his eyes in irritation. It felt like they were in the middle of some school play, and you bit down on your lower lip, having a feeling something was going horribly wrong.

“The thing is, even if we got those ones expelled, it probably won’t stop the others from doing something similar.” Steve leaned up against a desk with his arms crossed over his chest. “I feel terrible admitting it, but many of our students are completely wild. I’m afraid they might keep harassing you.”

“Oh.”

You averted your eyes, realizing your attempts to find a solution were futile. Obviously, Steve could do nothing - he wasn’t a knight in shining armor, ready to protect you day and night from those delinquents who followed you everywhere. As you thought before, the one thing that could help here was leaving the school for good.

Shit, you didn’t know how to explain it to your family, Even your friends thought it was too bizarre to be true and laughed at your worries, saying you probably lost your things yourself. You would have to find a better excuse for a transfer in the middle of the semester.

“Well, anyway, thank you for trying,” you nodded and smiled apologetically at him as if it were your fault, “tomorrow I will talk to the student advisor about my transfer. Sorry for the trouble!”

“I don’t think it’s real to get transferred by now. It’s passed all the deadlines.” Shaking his head, Bucky raised his voice, and you felt suffocating.

Apparently, you would really have to skip a whole year of school. Explaining everything to your family, looking for some garbage job to have enough money to rent a room and pay your bills... Fantastic.

“You don’t have to do that. I’ve found another way.” 

Immediately, you raised your head, your pupils dilating.

“You see, the reason they are doing that is because you have no one to protect you. They know the administration won’t take it seriously because they’re a bunch of old misogynists, and you also have no means of protecting yourself. It would be better if you started dating someone, someone strong enough to make these guys back down.”

Steve looked deadly serious for someone saying such nonsense. A boyfriend? Now? Was he for real? Did he think you'd be using someone like your personal shield? Besides, even if you chose the strongest guy at school, it didn’t mean he would be stronger if several people attacked him.

But when you shared your thoughts with Steve, you saw others smiling at you as if they knew you would say that, and you felt uneasy.

“That’s true. That’s why you need more than one boyfriend.”

“What do you mean? How can somebody have more than one boyfriend?" Puzzled, you stared at him wide-eyed as if he said something stupid.

What on Earth did he mean by that? Were you to have your own squad of bodyguards at all times while you were in the academy? This was so foolish you couldn't believe someone like Steve said it out loud.

But then you caught glances of five men in the room and forgot how to breathe for a second. They weren't serious, were they? Steve didn't assemble all these guys here to make them into your boyfriends. It was preposterous even thinking of that, right?

Right?

"Please tell me it's not what I think it is." You muttered, crossing your arms over your chest as if trying to protect yourself.

"Why are you being so nervous?" Baring his teeth, Loki smiled at you. "Some other girl would be happy if five men were to be her boyfriends."

"It's a joke, right? You're all joking."

You hoped to see any of them laughing and nodding their heads, saying they simply wanted to cheer you up, but all you saw was a guilty expression on the faces of Bucky and Thor and the excitement of others. They really gathered here to offer you this.

"All of us here," Steve looked upon others, becoming a little displeased when his gaze fell upon smiling Peter, "are perfectly capable of helping you. If each of us were to accompany you one day a week, others won't be so brave. I'm sure they will no longer be a nuisance to you if they know what we can do to them."

There was something very dark in the way Steve said that, and for a couple of seconds you weren't sure whether you have to be more scared of him rather than those who was stealing your things.

"But it would be very uncomfortable for everyone, wouldn't it? I mean, going with me everywhere, not using your own time as you'd like. And, well, surely, others will see that we won't act like a real couple, so they might still keep harassing me. I don't think it would work."

Apparently, Loki was bored with this talk, you thought as you heard him clicking his tongue in annoyance.

"Then don't pretend. Act like a real girlfriend. Kiss in public, hug, go to the cinema together, what else girls do?"

"Wait, you mean, with ALL of you?"

"Yeah? Do you think anyone gonna be against it?"

You very much hoped they would be. Being followed by someone like your bodyguard was one thing, but having a real boyfriend was very different. Did they really want to pretend to be lovey-dovey with you? Act like you were close to them?

Oh. Of course, they would. They belonged to the same kind of touch-starved barbaric men they were trying to protect you from. They would do all those things to you, too.

You realized you were crying only when Peter flew off his seat in a hurry and squatted down beside you, taking your shaking hands in warm his.

"Please, don't cry. Nobody's gonna force you into doing anything, I promise. You will only do things you're comfortable with, ok?" Handing you his pearly white handkerchief, he smiled to comfort you. "No one of us gonna say anything."

"And if she starts dating one of us for real? What's then?" It was Loki again, cocking his head to the side and obviously provoking Peter to yell at him.

"We'll be ok with that, too."

The silence felt heavy. As you opened your eyes, Peter's handkerchief in your hands, you realized it was Thor who spoke for the first time, and the way he looked at you softly made you feel a little better. Despite the fact you knew little of him, for some reason, it felt like you would be safe with him - certainly safer than with Loki.

"Naturally, if any of us will bring you discomfort or do something unacceptable, you need to let us all know, and we'll decide what to do with that person." Raising his voice, the head of the student council made everyone to turn their head to him. "We will be meeting here, in this room, if anything happens. Each of us will give you our phone numbers. We will also make a schedule who accompanies you every day of the week."

It seemed he no longer asked for your opinion if you even wanted it to happen.

__________

"Bucky will be with you on Mondays, Loki on Tuesdays. Wednesdays are Thor's, on Thursdays Peter will be following you, and on Fridays it will be me going with you. Of course, if you need any of us to watch over you on weekends, feel free to contact whoever of us you like more."

Part III

Tags: @finleyjayne @alexakeyloveloki   ​@helenaeisenhower @villanellevi @hurricanerin ​@inlovewiththefictionalcharacters @chris-evans-indian-fanfic @navegandoaciegas @rosalynshields @brattycherub @sllooney @angrythingstarlight @lookiamtrying @buckysbunny @stargazingfangirl18 @dillybuggg @literate-lamb @cosicas-cuquis @sarge-barnes-sir @buckybarnesplumwhore @jaysayey @megzdoodle @gotnofucks @lux-ravenwolf @ximebebx @jeremyrennerfanxxxx123 @sourpatchspinster @biiskuitx @iheartsebandchris @lovelydarkdaydream @soleil-dor @illyrianprincess @vampirestrawberries @stupendouslovegarden

[astrella-writes]

prompt | @ssoftlydreaming​ asked: nfjsja ok from sweet home can you do lee eun-hyeok and basically he has to decide if he should risk the danger of everyone in the apartment complex or save reader who is outside and struggling to survive.

warnings | female pronouns, angst, spoilers for episode one of the netflix adaptation of sweet home, if you haven’t watched episode one complete then this won’t make much sense, panic attacks, the general horror of sweet home, eun-hyuk being a logical pain in the ass, somewhat of an open-ending.

word count | 1.7K

author’s note | i hope this satisfies your masochistic desires! i’m honestly so happy to have angst as my first request, and that isn’t sarcasm at all.

The sound of his descending footsteps echoing throughout the concrete stairwell became background noise to Eun-Hyuk as he stared at the unanswered messages he had sent you well over an hour ago. This was strange behavior coming from you, considering you usually responded back within minutes. Not wanting to jump to conclusions, he tried to think of a logical explanation to calm his increasing worries. Perhaps your phone died on your walk home, or you had to work over-time without a chance to inform him.

He was certain some minor inconvenience caused your abrupt absence, although he couldn’t shake off the unnerving feeling settling like a burden of tense muscles upon his shoulders. Realizing there wasn’t much more he could do, especially since all the calls he gave you went straight to voice mail, he decided to wait patiently for a reply from you and try to keep his thoughts clear during the meantime.

Eun-Hyuk stuffed his phone into his pocket as he finally reached the half-open double doors that led out onto the first floor, his ears immediately picking up on the commotion before he looked over at the front entrance that was blocked by the shutters. A group of people stood dispersed nearby, talking amongst themselves and watching one resident in particular as he tried tugging on the metal bracing that barely budged. The man sighed, dropping his arm and admitting defeat as he walked away from the shutters, mumbling to himself.

‘First the elevators aren’t working, and now this?’ he thought to himself, unimpressed with the current situation, especially since he had work that night. He wasn’t the only one annoyed by the circumstances as the surrounding people openly expressed their vexation. Although, unlike most of them, he remained calm and simply observed the scene with his hands in his pockets. Multiple residents spoke loud enough for him to catch on to the fact that the security guard was missing, which made little sense considering this was an issue for him to resolve.

“Excuse me?” a feminine voice sounded from behind him, causing him to turn around and look at the woman. “Do you have any service on your cell?” Despite having just been on his phone, Eun-Hyuk was so preoccupied with his thoughts regarding your whereabouts that he didn’t notice the minor detail of whether he had any service.

Pulling out his phone and unlocking it, he immediately dialed your number, taking the possibility to hopefully connect with you and find out where you were. When his ear met with a high-pitched ringing, Eun-Hyuk lowered the phone, lost in thought for a second before looking at the woman.

“I guess not,” he said, watching as her face dropped in disappointment and she turned to walk away, but he stopped her with a question. “What’s going on here?” 

The woman hesitated, wondering if anything was even worth sharing considering she would give him more questions than answers. She went on to explain how every main exit had been closed up, locking everyone inside. Although she speculated someone was behind this, she had no idea who it was and for what purpose it was done. 

The explanation caused Eun-Hyuk to swallow thickly before turning his gaze towards the concealed entrance. He stared for a moment, silently wishing for your safety.

                                                          ―――

A shrill ringing penetrated your ear, causing you to jerk your head away from your phone and hang up on your attempt at calling Eun-Hyuk. With a frustrated cry, you threw your cellphone upon the ground, hearing the shattering of the screen as it smacked face-first against the concrete.

On the verge of tears, you made yourself as small as possible in the alleyway's corner, pulling your knees up to your chest as you rested your forehead on top of them. Your breathing grew increasingly more labored as the sensation of dread and pure hopelessness consumed your mind.

Eun-Hyuk’s words repeated in your head during times like this, when you were at risk of having a panic attack. Stay still. Take slow breaths. Think of something nice.

You squeezed your eyes shut, allowing the gathering tears to flow freely down your cheeks as they gathered at the tip of your chin. Forcing yourself to take in deep breaths, your trembling body gradually stilled. Eventually, your thoughts morphed as you focused on your breathing, rather than the surrounding chaos.

Think of something nice.

Eun-Hyuk’s face filled your mind, the sight prompting a ghost of a smile. You recalled your first meeting which occurred almost a year ago, when you had just moved into Green Roof Apartments. Someone had suddenly removed the towering stack of boxes you were carrying from your hold, and just as you were about to thank the person for helping, you realized you recognized him.

It turns out that you both used to attend the same high school, although you weren’t in the same class, your friend group interacted with his friend group quite a lot. Seeing his face brought back all those times at lunch when you would sneakily try to steal glances at him without your friends noticing. They noticed, of course, and teased you relentlessly about your crush but they were nonetheless supportive. They even proposed setting you two up on a date, because a ‘little birdie’ told them he had been crushing on you too.

Unfortunately, you were in such denial that someone as handsome as him had feelings for you, and rejected the offer. He was simply unobtainable, the extent of your relationship never surpassing polite greetings and friendly smiles until you both graduated and never saw each other again. Or at least, that’s what you assumed would happen.

It seemed fate gave you two another chance, unsatisfied with your prior silent pining and not acting upon anything. Considering you both matured immensely, talking came easy, and it wasn’t long before a much deeper connection began blossoming between the both of you.

His sister reacted indifferently when she walked out into the hallway one day, only to witness the both of you moving suspiciously away from each other, as if trying to conceal something. She caught on immediately, especially since her brother had been mentioning you quite often.

“Seriously? He’s the best you can do?” She scoffed, eyeing her brother disapprovingly before pushing between the both of you and walking off. You stared at her retreating figure in shock, oblivious to the smile on Eun-Yoo’s face as she disappeared down the stairs.

Once his sister found out, Eun-Hyuk became increasingly more open in terms of your relationship. And eventually, after a long week of his sister degrading him for not moving to the next step, he asked you to be his girlfriend. It wasn’t the most romantic of set-up’s; he had knocked on your door and asked you so casually that you wondered if he was joking.

When he assured you he wasn’t, you almost knocked him off his feet from the abrupt hug you gave him, accepting his simple proposal.

The memory faded, and the realization hit you like a truck. Eun-Hyuk was waiting for you, and you couldn’t give up on him. Taking a deep breath, you got up from the ground, trying not to focus on the screams and sounds of destruction in the distance as you lightly jogged towards the entrance of the alleyway. You peered behind the wall and looked both ways. The coast was clear; it was now or never.

                                                           ―――

You raced around the corner, narrowly dodging the attention of a nearby monster as its head popped up from one of the many dumpsters lining the brick wall of Green Roof Apartments, the location you had been trying to reach from when this all started.

The sound of metal creaking, which you quickly recognized to be the shutters descending, urged your aching legs to run faster as the darkness before you faded the closer you got to the entrance. That’s when you noticed Eun-Hyuk struggling to keep the shutters open as a distraught woman crawled towards him. He reached out a hand towards her, just as he looked up and made eye contact with you. His eyes widened at the sight, although bloodied and bruised, you were very much alive. You smiled at him, relieved, feeling safe already.

That was until you heard a rustling coming from your right, along with animalistic groans, as if something was just stirring back to life after being immobilized and ready to lash out again. A flurry of panicked voices came from the lobby of the apartment, everyone watching in horror as the hunched-over silhouette of the monster with a snake-like tongue began recovering to its full height.

Luckily for you, the monster disregarded your presence as it ambled towards the entrance. You stood frozen in fear as the shadow of its body passed over you, the sound of its languid steps lulling you into a trance as your body trembled lightly. 

It was perceptible that trying to run past it would end in your demise, leaving you stuck on what to do. Your pleading eyes drifted towards Eun-Hyuk, hoping he would come up with a plan to distract the monster long enough so you could make a break for the gap underneath the shutters he had been holding open - a perfect enough size for you to slide under.

He stared you dead in the eyes as he dropped the shutters; the metal clanging loudly against the tiled floor. You blanched, staring back at him in disbelief. A semblance of guilt took over his features, and you shook your head in denial. 

Your eyes stung with tears, and you wondered whether to cry and beg for him to help you or keep the remaining bit of dignity you had left. The monster suddenly shot its tongue within the gaps of the barred metal and Eun-Hyuk disappeared from sight as he dodged; the trance you were in instantly dissipating as you came to terms with the situation.

He left you to fend for yourself, surrounded by a horde of monsters. You weren’t sure whether to give up or keep going, considering nothing seemed worth fighting for at the moment. 

Did he regret it? Of course. Would he do it again? Without question. Eun-Hyuk would sacrifice anyone to keep his sister safe, even you, and even himself.

[bookaddict24-7]

REVIEWS OF THE WEEK!

Books I’ve read so far in 2022!

Friend me on Goodreads here to follow my more up to date reading journey for the year!

___

145. Verity by Colleen Hoover--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I read this one with a friend and honestly, I think it was a fantastic idea. This is the kind of book that begs to be discussed. Chiefly among the discussion that followed us finishing VERITY, my friend and I wondered if Hoover was okay because her writer's brain comes up with some DARK stuff. While I'm taking a star away from the at-times cheesy writing that usually haunts thrillers, I thoroughly enjoyed this and felt all of the emotions thrown at me. I felt the disgust, the anger, the fear, and yeah, okay, the spicy spicy smut. This book had so much more smut than I was anticipating. Excuse me while I drink a glass of water because Jeremy, my man, you get that bed time. I think the atmosphere of the house was bleak and I felt that nervous tension in the air that the MC described. I think Hoover did a good job creating that sense of something wild happening, but I think it would have been nice if the MC wasn't the typical illogical female MC who moves into a place full of tragedy after only know a dude for like...a few days. I think the greatest win of this book and why I recommend it is because of the rollercoaster ride of emotion. This book is DARK. Imagine a story told from a truly villainous person--that's what parts of this are. And then you're left wondering what was the truth all along. Who do you truly trust? I think that final sentence is what you truly need to discuss with someone who's read the book. I'm normally not a fan of thrillers and to be honest, for a while there I was wary of this one--especially every time the MC did something less than intelligent with her safety. But hey, as she says many times, she's an expert in thrillers so she's got this. If you want to get into Hoover, I recommend that you consider that this is very different from her other books. I feel like this one is sexier than the other books but a hell of a lot more triggering. I won't include triggers because spoilers, but I highly recommend checking them out if you DO have triggers you try to avoid.

___

146. Jennifer Chan is Not Alone by Tae Keller--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I feel like this is one of those pivotal middle grade reads that needs to be read more. Yes, the alien facts and such are intriguing, but I think this book is important because of its take on bullying--even the author's note about their own experience being bullied as a child. Jennifer Chan is someone who is Different. She walks into the MC's life with a bang and slowly begins to change the way she views the world--but not in the way you might think. There is such a stigma in middle grade about being different and standing out that Jennifer is an immediate threat to one of the characters. A certain set of actions is enough to make the bullying begin and to be honest, that's how it happens. I think Jennifer believing in aliens is a way of showing kids that they can have out there interests and that it's okay to be a little different. It's also a way of hoping for an escape from a world that just refuses to understand you and if it's happening to you, your grief. I heavily related to that aspect of this book--grief accompanied by the bullying. But I think Jennifer was an amazingly strong and mature character in the face of cruelty. There are several times where the MC tries to tell us that there are rules for surviving and this whole book is like a counter-argument to that. While the hunt for Jennifer is the plot, I think what drives the story is the need for empathy and for standing up against bullying. The MC mentioned at one point that she didn't do anything when the bullying was happening so how can she be at fault? But we all know that not doing anything is sometimes even worse, especially when you have the power to say or do something. This book will hopefully show younger readers that different does not always equal bad or bully bait. Kids can be so cruel and when they're faced with someone who challenges their perceptions of normal and social hierarchies, one of the only things they know is to resort to cruelty. Anyway, this book was really good and dealt with heavier topics that sometimes don't make it into middle grade books. Bullying, consequences of our actions, anxiety, depression, grief, self-esteem, broken or dysfunctional families, and other important topics are touched on here and if any of that triggers you, proceed with care (especially if you are an adult with a history of being bullied, or a child currently being bullied. Hopefully this book will help you process your current experiences.)

___

147. Dominicana by Angie Cruz--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

TW: Child bride, Physical abuse, cheating, SA (nonconsensual sex during an arranged marriage is still not okay and will forever be a TW), racism, political upheaval. I remember when I first came across this book. I remember thinking that it looked interesting, but it probably wouldn't be a book I would like very much because I wasn't too into literary fiction. I'm thanking present me for ignoring the wariness of past me. This book was a fantastic read, even if it had moments where I just wanted to hug the MC. There were so many relatable moments in this book. Being an immigrant, specifically from a Latin country, I could relate to a lot of the topics mentioned in this book--even if our stories were separated by decades. We left Cuba because of the special period and because we, like many other people, thought life would be easier and better in Canada or the U.S.A. I have seen this mentality over and over again with new immigrants who share their stories. The dream is to make it to Canada or the U.S.A. so that you can take care of your family back home. Since I came at a very young age, I myself didn't have to work but I remember my parents working their asses off. There is this rose-coloured glasses way of viewing other countries when your goal is to just leave your current situation. The MC's mom's habit of never asking how she was and assuming that she was living like a queen is a perfect portrayal of that disconnect. The constant asking for money and supplies was another thing that really hit home, too. I think the MC's complex relationship with the people that come and go from her life speaks to her naïveté and her innocence (especially because she's so young). I thought it was heartbreaking, but I loved seeing how she starts finding her own way and makes her own decision to potentially break the cycle of these forced situations in the future. Also, her abusive relationship with her husband is what I imagine was a sad reality back then and even now. Those parts were rough to read--especially when she begins to exhibit her self-defence poses when she thinks she's in danger. Also, I highly recommend that you listen to the interview the author does with the audiobook narrator at the end because it adds to the conversation so much, especially because this story was so inspired by her own mother's experience. If you're seeking out more Latine stories about the immigration experiences and incredibly relatable moments, I think you'll really enjoy this one (even if there are some heartbreaking moments).

___

148. The Fervor by Alma Katsu--⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

TW: Racism, Cheating, Creepy bugs While I did enjoy this, it wasn't entirely what I thought it would be. I really appreciated the commentary on the Japanese Internment Camps during World War 2 because I learned more about that dark part of history. I thought it was really smart to combine that topic with Japanese folklore to create a spooky read--this helped it be more atmospheric. I also enjoyed having some of the different narratives because it helped make the story feel more rounded, especially we got to see the story from multiple sides of the situation. What I wasn't a big fan of was how...not scary this was? The war crimes are horrible and I felt many emotions when it came to the characters and the people affected by the events of this book, but I feel like the literal horror was a bit tamed. But granted, I can see how this could be more of a metaphorical horror story with splashes of actual horror situations thrown in there. For example, a lot of the situations where sick people actually attacked others were more hearsay and after the effect than actually seen things (by the MCs). That was a little disappointing. I enjoyed this book overall, but if you're expecting something that will keep you up at night, this will probably be too tame for you. But this was a great view into the horrors, treatment and disregard of Japanese Americans forced to live in these internment camps.

___

149. Island: Shipwreck by Gordon Korman--⭐️⭐️⭐️

Short and intense, this book was entertaining and made me immediately check for the next two books at the library. I love stories like this one about shipwrecks and kids surviving against the odds. I did like seeing the story from the perspective of all of the young characters and their personalities. Korman also has this ability to write a book for younger readers that doesn't feel too young. This would be a great and quick read for the summer if you just want a simple adventure!

___

150. Island: Survival by Gordon Korman--⭐️⭐️⭐️

I just looked at the date that this series was published and omg, I would have been the same age as one or two of these characters LOL. This is an older series and you can kind of tell because of how these kids talk and handle their situation. Also, the constant reminder of the Discovery channel brought back memories of my own childhood in front of the TV. I'd binge so much Discovery tv that I should have really turned out smarter. There was one arc in this that was kind of annoying, but I liked how all of the characters came together to solve their problem. The character growth in this wasn't too big, but that's okay because there's one last book in the series!

___

Have you read any of these? Would you recommend them?

___

Happy reading!

[gladerwolfstarkimagines]

Zuko x female reader series: Part Six

After leaving the firenation you and Zuko track the avatar down, break into a fire nation prison and you get into a fist fight with Sokka...but your fun summer aside, It all comes down the agni kai between Zuko and Azula. Although you’re only there for support you end up doing more harm than good for Zuko...

Part One here

Part Two here

Part Three here

Part Four here

Part Five here

Tagged: @taeeemin​ @creation-magician​ @kaylove12​

The first meeting

After leaving the fire nation you’d found the avatar pretty easily and now it was just the matter of convincing him not to attack you that was the problem. Zuko rehearsed his speech to an audience of you and a frog you’d befriended and you and said frog glanced at one another not convinced as Zuko finished his speech. Zuko saw you expression and groaned “this is stupid! I’ve dragged us out here for no reason, they’re not going to let us stay”. You shook your head “no they will it just depends on what you say! Come on we can get this right! Try again but this time maybe don’t seem so...teriffied?”. Zuko sighed but tried again.

Zuko wouldn’t let you come with him the first time he approached them incase they reacted badly and you agreed only because one fire bender was less intimidating and punchable then two fire benders. Despite all your rehearsal the inital meeting didn’t go well but Zuko eventually managed to get the gang to agree to your presence. He only had to risk getting attacked by them and then save their lives from an assasin, almost dying in the process, but he came back beaming to tell you the gang was expecting you. Zuko led you to their camp and the gang came into view, each and every one of them staring at you. You stared back, putting names to faces and Zuko stopped infront of Aang. “Aang, erm everyone this is y/n, she’s a firebender so she can help teach you aswell”. Aang smiled at you hesitantly but the two water siblings huffed and the earthbender just frowned. “Nice to meet you, cool airbison” you said in greeting and Aang couldn’t resist a smile “thanks his name’s Appa!”. “He’s glorious” you grinned “can i stroke him?”. In reply Appa licked you and you made a noise of disgust and suprise. Aang laughed “that means he likes you! He must smell Zuko on you”. You exchanged a raised eyebrow with Zuko but smiled back at Aang “great I made a friend already!”. The water tribe girl, Katara according to Zuko, made a noise and rolled her eyes walking away. Her brother and the earth bender stared at you but seemed equally curious as they were angry at you, which for a first day you took as a win.

The gang’s reaction to you and Zuko

Straight away you could tell the gang was confused how you and Zuko worked. You knew Zuko had mentioned you were dating but still the gang all seemed shocked at the concept. The Zuko they knew was so different to the one you knew and even though Zuko was never one for PDA even watching him be casually sweet and attentive to you was like seeing a completely different person from the angry man they first met. The day after you arrived Aang started his firebending training and Zuko asked you to help. You were more than happy to but soon realised something was wrong with Zuko. He trired showing Aang the forms but he didn’t have any fire. You basically ended up demonstrating everything to Aang while Zuko got more and more stressed that he couldn’t do it. Aware Zuko didn’t perform well under pressure you told Zuko you should break away from the training session to give him and Aang time to bond. You’d barely been back at camp 10 minutes when Zuko and Aang came into view on their way back to camp, training apparently abandonned. Aang reached you first and explained Zuko still couldn’t fire bend. You looked up the hill to where Zuko was slowly sulking his way back to camp and frowned, he looked sad, his body language defeated, head slumped. You weren’t having this and without a word to the gang marched over to Zuko.

The gang’s POV

The gang watched super confused, and partially fearing for your safety due to the look on Zuko’s face, as you marched over to Zuko. You reached him and they all held their breath. They couldn’t hear what you said but whatever it was made Zuko more upset, he exploded, gesturing wildly to where him and Aang had been training and they all recognised that temper. What they hadn’t seen though was someone control it. You touched Zuko’s hand and his whole body seemed to deflate. You gripped his hand and stared speaking to him calmly with a small smile on your face. Zuko sighed but smiled too and you hugged him tightly. They were all shocked when Zuko sunk into you and wrapped his arms around you burying his head in your neck. You seperated and said something making Zuko smile and took his hand leading him back to the camp. Sokka raised an eyebrow but Katara rolled her eyes “so he’s kind to his girlfriend, big deal he still tried to kill us”.

Zuko and Aang’s went on a fieldtrip to re-learn firebending and when they returned the gang all watched amazed as Zuko animatedly told you details of what had happened. None of them had ever seen the boy smile let alone talk so happily, it was odd. You smiled at Zuko brightly and after he’d told you everything he seated hismelf beside you an arm around you. You leant into him, tracing his hand around you, and Zuko grinned at whatever you were saying. "Is anyone actually buying this?" Katara asked watching and Sokka frowned "what the fire duo?". Katara nodded and Aang shrugged "they seem pretty happy maybe Zuko was always tring to kill us because y/n wasn’t with him". Katara scoffed as Sokka nodded like that was a plausible excuse for trying to kill them.

The first fight

Your first argument with the gang was with Sokka and unsuprisingly it was about food. The daily rations had just been split 6 ways and there wasn’t much of it, something the ever perceptive Toph noticed. "That’s it for food?" she asked when Sokka passed her a bowl and he sighed "yes there’s not much to go around now there’s 6 of us". You were sat nearby and thought the tone Sokka used was very pointed but didn’t comment.  Aang frowned "so we'll get more food, no big deal". "I mean it kind of is a big deal" Sokka sighed "it was hard enough the four of us and now there’s six of us...”. “I needed a firebending teacher Sokka you know that” Aaang shrugged and Sokka rolled his eyes. “Yes and I get letting Zuko in to teach you but do we really need to be responsible for every run away from the firenation?" Sokka asked talking about you. "First it’s his girlfriend but what next? His whole extended family? His gardener? This is hard enough as it is without Zuko’s girl tagging along". "Zuko’s girl? Tagging along?" you asked loudly and Sokka jumped seeing you’d heard. “You think that’s what I did?” you smirked "I was no use to Zuko during the escape, I didn’t help him get here or anything?”. “I didn’t say that” Sokka started but you cut him off “and we brought food too so i’m not the reason food’s short, you’re the one who eats like a horse. I’m just as much an asset as Zuko". Sokka raised an eyebrow "really because he’s a fire bending prince". "And i’m a fire bending navy expert, what can you do?". Sokka blushed "well i....". "Water tribe right?” you said not giving him the chance to repeat himself “but you can’t water bend can you?" you asked smirking as the boy glared "i can still fight" Sokka cried. "Really prove it, fight me" you grinned. Sokka frowned "i’m not going to do that". "Why because i’ll beat you?". "I’m a warrior of the souther water tribe" Sokka argued and you rolled your eyes "big deal i’ve been sparring with Azula Mai and Ty lee since I was 7, have you ever played fire knives with Azula? I don’t think so, you’ll be easy". Sokka glared and you knew you’d triggered him. "Okay no bending" Sokka said and you nodded "sure and no weapons, that includes boomerangs". "Guys are you sure..." Katara started but Toph shushed her “shut up Katara I want to feel Sokka get his ass kicked”. You and Sokka stood feet away from each other and Sokka smirked looking past you to Zuko "don’t worry i won’t hurt her too much" he said cockily and your anger peaked. You were going to teach this water tribesmann who was useless.

_ _ _

The fight over, you and Sokka sat beside one another on the floor. Sokka held an icepack to his head for the swelling, it was the only injury you’d given him Katara couldn’t heal, while you inspected the red mark from where Sokka bit you when you had him in a headlock. "I’m sorry about that" Sokka blushed "i don’t usually bite, it’s not noble for a warrior to do". "Any victory is a victory no matter the means...even if you lost" you replied. Sokka frowned but you smirked at him to let him know you were joking and Sokka laughed. "I let you win". You raised an eyebrow and Sokka sighed "okay maybe i didn’t but there’s no shame in losing to a better opponent". You grinned "friends?" And Sokka nodded "friends".

Zuko and Katara’s POV

Zuko and katara watched you two confused. You’d gone from arguing, to physically attacking one another to now laughing like old friends. "Is she...does y/n always fight people?" Katara asked hesitantly. Zuko shrugged "usually not physically but yeah she does that, does your brother usually bite people?". Katara shook her head "nope just your girlfriend". "I don’t know if i should be offended or pleased?" Zuko frowned.

The prison break

True to your promise, after you fight you and Sokka became fast friends mainly because you had the same reckless energy and it was utter chaos when you two were brainstorming ideas. Zuko was kind of jealous at first but you reassured him he’d always be your best friend even if he was your boyfriend and Zuko didn’t mind as much. Sokka didn’t object to you coming with him to rescue his dad and considering you actually knew where the prison was considered you a pretty important asset.

You were meant to stay on the ship during the prison break but that idea went to pot as soon as the steam made the ship useless. So you entered the prison with Zuko and Sokka and soon enough Zuko got caught. You managed to get the job guarding his cell though so could keep an eye on him when there was an announcement important guests had arrived. Your plan to escape was soon so you ditched your guard uniform and headed to your meeting point when you came across one said important visitor who spotted you straight away.

Mai.

You swore inwardly but tried to offer a friendly smile incase she was in a forgiving mood "hey Mai...". A knife was embedded in the wall next to you and you nodded "okay okay, before we start trying to kill each other any chance you'll accept my apology, realise me and Zuko didn’t mean to hurt you and let me go?". Mai sent a knife for you and you used your bending to only just knock it off course. "Fine i guess violence is the answer" and launched into an attack. You didn’t want to hurt Mai so mainly avoided her attacks in an effort to tire her so you could then take her out carefully. The best way to do that was to make her lose focus. You’d been told your best weapon in a fight was your mouth, you could make people angry and lose concentration easily and so tried to use some of that now on Mai. "Also just to clarify i’m not fighting you because of Zuko, i mean two girls fighting over a guy is so gross and demeaning i’m fighting you because you’re trying to stab me! Alright? Okay good, just wanted to make that clarification". "Stop talking!" Mai cried and you smirked, it was working. You carried on talking nonesense, apologising for that time at school you’d accidentally fell on her in gym, that time at the dinner party you’d knocked her drink over, that time when you were eight and called her knives dumb etc, until finally Mai’s anger peaked but it didn’t make her an easier opponent, the anger seemed to fuel her. Mai threw a knife and before you could move it landed in your arm. The pain was red hot and more intense that any burn or hit you’d been inflicted before. Angry and barely thinking you retaliated. You yanked the knife out of your arm and sent it right back at her. Mai hadn’t been expecting that and neither had you. It cut her hand and you stared "Mai i’m sorry...". "Stop apologising" she cried trying to attack you again “fight!”. “I don’t want to fight you” you cried and Mai glared “well i’m not letting you go, this doesn’t end until me or you can’t get back up”. You winced “I hate to disagree with you but no”. You shot a wave of fire at her knocking her back against the door of a cell. “Sorry” you winced and kicked her in the chest. She tumbled into the room and you slammed the door shut. Mai beat her fists against the door in rage and you grimanced opening the eye hole. "Mai i’m sorry but I’m not fighting you so this way I don’t have to, i hope you can understand that and some day we can maybe be friends again" and then rushed away. Your escape was still in motion and you had serious time to make up for. You ran down a tunnel and shot out into the sunlight of the main yard. You spotted Zuko and Sokka and worked your way through the crowd to them. You reached Zuko and the others and were panting hard "Mai’s here...very angry...we need to go". Zuko nodded gripping your hand "yep that seems wise, let’s go!". “The barge is this way” Suki cried and you all took off running again.  

You’d finally reached the barge with minimal trouble when the pain in your arm flared and you held it awkwardly trying to ease the pain. Zuko spotted the blood on your arm and frowned “Y/n!”. "It’s fine" you smiled seeing his worry and he shook his head ripping a piece of fabric off his shirt “No it’s not, here”. He wrapped it around your arm tightly "i’m sorry we'll get you back to Katara soon" and squeezed your hand. You smiled and Zuko looked at you for a few more seconds before he had to turn away to help Sokka. Mai wasn’t the only one in the prison, Azula and Ty lee were here too of course. You watched the fight from the barge, furious you couldn’t join in but your arm was making you feel faint so you knew fighting was not an option for you. Azula and Ty lee appeared to be winning but thanks to Mai you got away. You cheered for Mai as she attacked the guards, taking out multiple men at once and Zuko looked at you confused “y/n she just stabbed you”. “But she saved us Zuko” you smiled “my apology worked...that or she just wants to kill us herself...no it’s hopefully the first one!” and then you prompty fainted from blood loss.

_ _ _

When you came round you were back at camp, arm healed courtsey of Katara, Zuko asleep at the foot of your sleeping bag. You sat up carefully not wanting to wake him but Sokka didn’t get the memo. “Y/n” he yelled seeing you and rushed over. Zuko jolted awake and stopped Sokka from touching you “don’t she could still be sore!”. “I’m fine Zuko” you smirked but still he pushed Sokka away from you so he could hug you first. “You worried me when you fainted...I had no idea your arm was that bad...i’m so sorry”. “Don’t be” you smiled “i’m fine aren’t i? and we got Sokka’s dad! and Mai might have forgiven us! All in all it was a good trip”. “Only you could think you almost dying was a success”. “Almost” you said pointedly “almost dying Zuko”. Zuko rolled his eyes and kissed you making Sokka groan “ugh I think I’ll take my hug later...” and left you and Zuko alone.  

The campsite

Azula soon found your hiding place in the western air temple forcing you to move to a camping ground and there was a limited number of tents. Katara was trying to sort out the sleeping arrangements but she miscalculated.  "And y/n you can share my tent" Katara announced, her long and careful explanation finished and you and Zuko exchanged a look. "That’s sweet Katara but i’m fine bunking with Zuko". You’d barely finished your sentance when Sokka spluttered in suprise. "But you can’t do that" Sokka cried and you raised an eyebrow "why not?". "Because you’re dating" he cried but you and Zuko shrugged "and?". “And? well it’s...it’s against the rules! I’m not allowed to share with Suki, tell them Katara!" he cried pushing his sister forwards who frowned awkwardly. "Well we’re older than you" you shrugged and Zuko nodded "and smarter". "Plus we’re engaged" you pointed out and everyone’s eyes widenned "what?". "Is she lying?" Aang asked Zuko shook his head "i mean no...just i didn’t actually ask her my father did it for me but yes, technically speaking we are engaged". You nodded to Sokka "are you and Suki engaged?". "Well no..." he blushed. "Then that’s why you can’t share a tent" you retorted and pulled Zuko’s arm as you went into the tent "night guys". Zuko followed you as Sokka called out protests and Katara just sighed "leave them alone Sokka". Sokka stared mouth wide-open before an idea formed in his head and he started towards Suki’s tent. "Go to your own tent Sokka!" Katara called and Sokka cursed "ow come on!".

You moved around campsites pretty regularly after that incase Azula found you again and ended up in an old villa Zuko’s family owned. Everything was going fine, you had a beach day, Zuko and Aang got better at firebending, you even managed to drag Zuko to the theatre and then Aang went missing. With Aang gone Zuko figured the only person who could take on his father was his uncle and so you set out to find him. Zuko recruited an old friend to help and you soon found King Bumi and the white lotus who took you to Iroh’s camp site. Bumi told Zuko the tent Iroh was in and you saw Zuko tense and fear covered his face. “Don’t worry” you said patting his arm “your uncle will forgive you, just tell him what you told me and it’ll all be okay”. Zuko nodded but seemed unable to do much else, he looked paralysed. “Can you...can you come with me?” Zuko asked softly and your heart exploded in sympathy. “Of course I will” you nodded hugging him tightly. The others all dispersed and you and Zuko walked arm and arm to the tent. Zuko took a breath before entering and you looked at him “ready?”. He nodded looking at you before fixing his eyes on the tent opening and he stepped inside. You followed a few steps behind and saw Zuko look around before his posture slumped. It took a few seconds for your eyes to adjust but Zuko filled you in on what was happening “we should go he’s asleep”. You frowned knowing Zuko wouldn’t get any rest until this was done. “Why don’t we wait for him to wake up?”. Zuko looked at you before nodding “yeah okay”. You sat crosslegged on the floor beside one another waiting for Iroh to wake up. The hours stretched on and on and you felt sleep trying to take you but you resisted. You kept ahold of Zuko’s hand letting him know you were there with him. You were sure the time felt far worse for him and weren’t going to leave him, even if it was just to sleep. When Iroh did move Zuko jumped and you swallowed. “It’s okay” you assured him and he nodded standing up. Zuko moved forwards and you didn’t follow. This should be between him and his uncle, but when Zuko started to cry your heart did crumple slightly. Just as you were begging Iroh to forgive him already he wrapped Zuko into a tight hug and, also crying, forgave him. Tears fell down your cheeks too as you smiled at the sight of Zuko and his uncle. Iroh noticed you when he opened his eyes and he smiled warmly.  "Y/n get in here" Iroh grinned holding out a hand to you. You blushed “ow are you sure? I mean this is your family moment...I don’t want to intrude”. Iroh scoffed "any girl who visited me in prison and snook me snacks is family in my eyes". You grinned and Zuko frowned "wait you visited my uncle in prison?". You shrugged "not too often about once a week". "How did i not know this?" Zuko asked and you paled "i purposefully didn’t tell you, i wanted you to work out your feelings on your own, i hope you’re not mad". Zuko shook his head "of course i’m not mad now come here". You smiled and stepped forward to join the hug between Zuko and Iroh.

Afterwards you caught Iroh up on everything he’d missed and Zuko explained his idea to have Iroh overthrow Ozai. Even as Zuko said it you got the feeling it wouldn’t happen, you could tell by Iroh’s reaction he had something different in mind. When Iroh said it wasn’t him who should be the new firelord you knew where he was going, you’d already been suspecting Zuko should have more say in how the fire nation was run and Iroh apparently agreed. "Me? Firelord?" Zuko asked "but i can’t...". Sokka, Toph, Katara and Suki just looked to you, now very used to you giving Zuko pep talks and you were on it. "You can" you smiled taking Zuko’s hand "i figured you’d have to do it for a while now and you’ve proven yourself Zuko, you can do this". Zuko stared at you blankly as his uncle joined in, listing the reasons why Zuko would make a good ruler. Zuko gripped your hand tighter as what you were both saying set in. "Okay" he barely whispered "i’ll go see Azula and become..." he swallowed and you smiled "you won’t be facing her alone" you told him and Zuko beamed at you.  

The Agni Kai

Judgement day here you and Zuko returned to the fire nation so he could fight his sister. Katara accompanied you as you figured you’d need a healer no matter who won. You landed in the courtyard and told Appa to fly away in case Azula tried to hurt him. You stood behind Zuko, beside Katara, waiting for the fight of his life. If he won he became firelord, if he didn’t...lets just say there’s no way Azula would let any of you live. The fight began and you stayed out of the way of Azula and Zuko’s duel as much as you could. With the comet fueling their bending it was one of the most intense fights you’d ever witnessed but Zuko was performing well. As Azula started to lose you could see her eyeing her surroundings for a way out and she fixed on you. You were ready for this, back at camp Iroh had warned you about this and given you a crash course in deflecting lightning, you pushed Katara back and readied yourself to deflect your first lightning bolt ever as it hurtled towards you. Zuko yelled out chasing it but was too slow, not that it mattered. You caught it and using the technique Iroh had taught you shot it right back at Azula. It worked and you were thrilled until you realised Zuko had been running towards you and was now right in the path of the deflected bolt. The bolt struck both Zuko and Azula within seconds of one another and sent them both flying back at the force. The smoke cleared and you went cold as you saw Zuko smouldering on the ground. "Zuko" you yelled rushing to him, it had hit him on the shoulder and the wound was badly burnt. "Katara" you called and she rushed over. "Heal him! Please! please!" You pleaded "i didn’t mean to hit him, i didn’t know he was so close". Katara worked and you stared at Zuko’s burn, the burn you’d given him until his breathing evened out and you gasped in relief. "I’m going to go make sure Azula’s okay and bind her" Katara told you and you nodded barely even listening as you cradled Zuko "Zuko are you okay?" you asked "Zuko i’m so sorry!". "Don’t be" he smiled weakly "i should’ve learnt long ago you don’t need me to save you, when did you learn to do that? More secret visits with my uncle". "Maybe" you smiled before frowning at Zuko’s burn that would surely form a scar despite Katara’s help "i can’t believe i did that to you". "Don't' Zuko said moving your gaze to his face "you did it, we did, we won". You nodded smiling and hugged him, carefully, but none the less passionately.

When Zuko was well enough you helped him to stand and walked him to the balcony overlooking all of the firenation. Zuko looked over the city below and you followed his gaze. It was still barely light but dusk was approaching and small lights were lighting up around the city. They news would be spreading as you stood here that Zuko was the new firelord and the war was finally over. You smiled standing beside him "surveying your new kingdom? Looking for a place to build a statue of yourself?". Zuko tutted but smiled. "This doesn’t feel normal" he sighed "this...that i’m...". "Firelord" you smiled "Firelord Zuko". Zuko nodded "it even sounds weird you saying it". You smiled and wrapped an arm around his waist. Zuko didn’t hesitate to wrap his around your shoulder. "It sounds weird now but you’re going to be an amazing Firelord Zuko, you’re kind and smart and actually want to help people! We haven’t had a firelord with that mentality in...well forever! I have total faith in you". Zuko sighed "i’m glad someone does". "Hey" you said tilting his face to yours "remember what i said to you on that ship all that time ago, i never lie about important things. You will be an amazing Firelord Zuko, just you wait and see". Zuko smiled and kissed you softly. You smiled stroking his cheek as you kissed him back. Zuko broke away but pulled you to his chest wrapping his arms around you. You smiled looking out at the city. "With you with me i can’t mess this up too badly right?". You smiled "that’s right, together we can handle this".

2 years later

"Y/n" Zuko groaned as you messed with his hair but he didn’t push you away. You’d been on your longest voyage since you’d been dating and honestly Zuko wouldn’t push you away from him even if you were stabbing him he’d missed you so much. You’d returned this morning after a 6 month naval trip to the water tribe and Zuko had left your side once. He had to leave for a small disaster in one of the colonies and that had killed him but now he was back in his rightful place beside you and that was all that mattered. You were messing with his hair, trying to get his hair free of the crown he’d had to put on to attend his crisis meeting. You were never of a fan of anything restricting Zuko’s hair and finally yanked the clip from his hair and smiled as it fell down in all it’s glory. "There" you said patting his shoulders and Zuko shook his head blowing a piece of hair out of his face. "Y/n you know i can’t have my hair down all the time". "But why not? You’re the Firelord and now is the time for important changes!". Zuko rolled his eyes but smiled "and this is the big change you think i should make?". You nodded "ow yes, you need to look respectable as Firelord and with your hair down you look really really good" you sighed and Zuko smirked. "Well i’m glad you like it but it’s not practical, how would i even wear my crown?" Zuko asked and you frowned before pushing him down so you could reach his head. "Hmmm maybe we could fashion a little stand, or pin some pieces to hold it in place...". "That sounds like a lot of effort" Zuko commented when you gasped "or you could plait it!". "Plait it?" Zuko asked and you nodded. "I saw lots of men with plaits in their hair in the water tribe on my visit, Sokka’s dad has one and it looks very good on a man". Zuko raised an eyebrow "you think Sokka’s dad looks good?". "No...well yes Hakoda is hot but you’re missing the point, let’s do your hair like that!". "No i think we should go back to the Hakoda’s hot part..." Zuko commented but you hushed him and pushed him to sit on the floor as you fiddled with his hair. Zuko sighed but liked the feeling of you playing with his hair so smiled and closed his eyes. You were gentle and your touch soft so Zuko relaxed into you until you abruptly stood up "done!". You showed Zuko himself in the mirror and he smiled "wow it does look good". "I told you" you grinned when the door opened and Sokka walked in. You’d brought him back from your trip as a suprise for Zuko and he’d wasted no time settling into the palace and letting himself into rooms without knocking apparently. "Zuko where do you...." Sokka started before he stopped dead in his tracks seeing Zuko’s hair. He started laughing with glee while crying "water tribe!" multiple times as he pointed at Zuko "you’ve got a water tribe hairstyle!". "Yeah y/n apparently thinks they look good on the men in your tribe" Zuko said raising an eyebrow, still not over your comment about Sokka’s dad, but you weren’t listening. As soon as Sokka heard you could plait hair he’d grabbed you "do mine! do mine!" and shook his hair loose. Zuko watched as you pulled Sokka’s hair into a plait delicately until it looked like his. "Finished" you smiked and Sokka rushed to the mirror before laughing at himself in glee too. You smiled as Sokka grabbed Zuko "we look like twins!". Zuko raised an eyebrow but you saved him the effort of replying "now do mine Sokka!". Sokka complied and you made Zuko watch so he could do it for you when Sokka wasn’t here.

Plaits all finished it was quiet a sight, the three of you sat together with matching hairstyles. You had a games night and then relaxed and chatted. You soon fell asleep against Zuko, your journey and reunion with him tiring you out too much to wait for Sokka to leave, and unbothered Zuko and Sokka carried on chatting.The conversation went quiet and Sokka looked at you "is she asleep?" he whispered and Zuko frowned "y/n?" he called but you didn’t stir "i think so". Sokka smiled "so wanna see the necklace?". Zuko nodded and Sokka went into his pocket pulling out the betrothal necklace Zuko wanted. "I had Piandao help me make it like you wanted" Sokka told him and opened the box. Zuko didn’t want a design exactly like the water tribe one, the fire nation was different and so a different necklace was needed. The one he asked Sokka to make was thinner, with a black cord crisscrossing several times before dipping down where a red stone sat, glimmering in the light. Zuko grinned, it was exactly like he’d imagined it. "Do you think she'll like it?" Sokka asked and Zuko nodded looking down at you "yes". "Well she better or she’s never going to say yes to marrying you". Zuko gulped, that was true but Sokka hit his arm "i was joking, of course she'll say yes, she loves you more than anything, anyone can see that just watching you two together". Zuko smiled down at you asleep against his chest and thought about the proposal he’d prepared. He was going to take you to your favourite restuarant, a tradition you’d still kept up even after he turned into the firelord, and treat you to your favourite foods. Then you’d walk back to the palace through all your favourite spots in the gardens and end up by the turtle duck pond. He’d have your turtleduck come over with the necklace securely attached to his back and Zuko would ask you then and there. "I hope so" he sighed when you moved in your sleep suddenly. "Zuko can we go to bed" you yawned "i’m tired and the light is very bright". Zuko and Sokka froze as you sat up and you frowned "what? Did i drool or something when i was napping?". They both sighed in relief, you hadn’t heard. "Yeah we can go to bed" Zuko nodded and Sokka stood up "i’ll see you guys tomorrow" and sneakily left the box on a table for Zuko. You were oblivious already pulling the covers back to get into bed. Sokka grinned at Zuko and made his way to the door "night y/n" he called and you said a sleepy reply before face diving into the bed. Zuko smirked closing the door and turning the light off before joining you. You sighed sleepily as Zuko snook closer to you and pulled you against him. You shuffled your head getting comfy against him and eventually stopped "goodnight Firelord" you said sleepily and Zuko smirked, he still hadn’t gotten used to it but he liked how it sounded when you said it. "Goodnight y/n" he smiled kissing your head but you were already asleep. "I really hope you say yes" he whispered before resting his head beside yours and going to sleep.

You said yes of course.

______

So that’s it! I had to get in a comment about Zuko’s hair progression one last time because honestly that was one of the greatest things about the whole series. This was kinda hard to write cus so much happened once Zuko joined the gaang but i tried to split it into parts so hopefully it wasn’t too disjointed 😐

Thank you for all the likes and support it means a lot :)

[copias-thrall]

I had an idea How would a demon!Papa III be in heat with his mate that is a rather shy female s/o (the s/o being human in this case)

It is not something unknown to the two of you. Papa III is a demon, and demons have heat cycles. Being an older man, Papa III’s cycles are a bit more regular …but for demon he’s still considered young, so his ruts still pack a pretty potent punch. Before giving in to his feelings for you, how you would receive him during his cycle almost had him giving up—an unmated demon going through a heat with a partner is uncomfortable; one going through a cycle without a mate is painful. How could he ask that of you, knowing your disposition? Knowing if you refused to sate him, he’d have to take a temporary lover?

Luckily you pushed him to confide his concerns in you, and the two of you have had many subsequent conversations about expectations, consent, and safety.

*heat sex; hard biting; knotting*

“I will be very, ah—insistent, little one. Aggressive. Like a beast.”

“But not a mindless beast.”

“Sí. Not mindless—merely … distracted.”

“Will you hurt me?”

“Perhaps a little, mia cara. Some biting, a few scratches. But not in the way you mean, I am thinking.”

“And if you can’t take it, amore?”

“I can.”

“If you can’t.”

“Will I be in danger if I try to leave?”

“I may beg and plead, but I won’t bar you. But I would need a proxy, cara. The damage to myself I would do …”

“So I will take it, now hush.”

The thing about Papa III’s heat is that it’s not an exact science (when Papa III tried to explain to you it’s a ballpark of days and not a guarantee, you had to level him with a look—“I know, my love. I get a period every month.”). So while you both know the week, the day and the hour are still unknown factors.

Papa III’s mini fridge is stocked up with coconut water, and he has a whole crate full of protein and granola bars. The kitchen staff is on call for any other needs (like the meat freezer full of choice-cut steak). You have gotten permission for heat leave from your Abbey duties.

It’s midmorning when one of Papa III’s Ghouls comes to fetch you. It’s not a surprise, but it is two days earlier than the date circled on the calendar. You don’t bother changing or performing your morning toilet—you nod in understanding to the Ghoul, and you grab your prepped duffel bag.

When you enter Papa’s quarters, it’s the smell that hits you first: it’s not an unpleasant smell, but it’s strong—a musky, salty aroma that still manages to smell like Papa’s own spicy-flower scent. The Ghoul ushers you to Papa III’s bedchamber; when he opens the door, the smell hits you like a slap to the face full force, and you stagger back as if physically hit.

Papa explained that you might be affected by his scent; while humans don’t experience heat and scent the way demons do, he warned that you might experience it as the feeling you get when getting a whiff of him from a shirt—but on steroids. It’s a very pleasant loverboyfriend-type smell, and without your permission, your mouth fills with saliva.

You’re taken out of your haze a bit when you see Papa III curled in the fetal position, panting, around a pillow. He’s naked—sheets in a tangle around his ankles—and his skin is slick with sweat; his face has no trace of paint on it. You cry out at his distress, and make to go for him—when you’re stopped by a warning growl.

Distracted by Papa’s smell and appearance, you hadn’t noticed that the Ghoul with you had been affected too. Its fangs are bared and glistening, its eyes are glowing yellow beneath its mask, and its tail is stuttering back and forth. You freeze, trying to remember the orientation video on feral Ghouls. It growls again low in its throat before hissing at you and arching its back in an obvious challenge. While the orientation video warned never to get between a Ghoul in heat and its mate, it DID NOT cover what to do when the mate was yours. 

The Ghoul snaps its jaws at you and flashes its claws. You know you’re not supposed to even think about fear, but you’re on a hair trigger—you can’t run, you can’t leave Papa, and you can’t fight this Ghoul. Your eyes cast about the bedchambers for anything that could be a weapon (surely he would understand if you used that frankly intimidating-looking huge dildo as a bludgeon, right?), but you and the Ghoul are both suddenly caught off guard by a clap and a low, throaty growl.

The both of you snap your heads toward Papa III, who is on his knees—chest heaving and glistening—fists clenched and eyes glowing red.

“Ghoul,” rumbles Papa in a voice that seems to come from within him and everywhere else all at once. The Ghouls whines. “Ghoul, you are not welcome. Leave us.” The Ghouls eyes you again and seems to vibrate. “ Now !” bellows Papa, and—while it does let out a sad keen—the Ghoul hastily retreats out of Papa III’s bedchambers and his suite.

Papa crumples as soon as he hears the door slam, and you go to run toward him, but he manages to gasp out, “The door, mia amore! Lock the door, per favore!”

You hesitate only for a moment before dropping your duffle and alighting to the door of his quarters. You turn the lock, then you sprint back to his bedchamber, making sure to latch that door behind you as well.

Papa III is once again curled in on himself and trembling. You’re quick to scramble into the bed—his nudity is a lesser concern to you than his obvious wretchedness. You take his head in your hands and guide it to your neck—something he advised you would comfort him. His nose snuffles around until it finds the right spot and then presses into you. He takes a couple of deep inhales before his arms come around you and pull you into him, squashing the pillow that is trapped in between you two.

“I am sorry, amore. Mi dispiace. It came on so fast.”

You stroke his head. “Shh. It’s ok, love. What do you need?”

When the two of you had talked, Papa III had outlined how his rut usually went down: a sudden onset of fatigue followed by a mild fever; an increase in body temperature coupled with the inklings of arousal—all of these irritating, but manageable symptoms. These harbingers were supposed to alert Papa of the more intense waves to come—the spark of arousal turning into a burning itch needing to be scratched; the spike in body temperature; the cramping. But if Papa III’s current state is any indicator, he’s sailed through all his pre-heat symptoms and is now firmly in Stage 2.

Papa whines and you can feel him restrain himself from rutting into you.

“Please, cara … please. I need—”

Despite all the talks Papa III and you had and all the pep talks you gave yourself in the mirror, you’re suddenly hit with a spike of anxiety. The moment is here. Papa is going to fuck the shit out of you now. He must sense your trepidation—or maybe the sudden tenseness in your body—because he squirms away from you and literally puts you at arm’s length. Even as he’s rutting into the bed he’s apologizing to you.

“Forgive me, amore.”

Your heart breaks a little, and you’re quick to pull him back into you. You knew this was coming, and all you want is to ease your Papa through his ordeal.

“It’s ok, Papa. What do you need?” you ask again.

He presses plaintive kisses to your collarbone.

“Just you, mia amore. Just you.”

“Well. You have me.”

While you obviously intended to follow through on your assertion, you weren’t quite expecting Papa to give a snarl and roll on top of you immediately. He takes to your nightdress with his hands and teeth, tearing it down the middle to expose your nudity beneath. You give a surprised yelp, but Papa doesn’t even pause in his ministrations as he bites at your collarbone and squirms in between your legs. His knees spread your thighs apart, and when his hard cock encounters your panties, he just reaches down and rips them away as well.

Now, your Papa is always a conscientious and considerate lover. He’s all light touches and slow care with you. He always sees to you first, and he doesn’t adhere to any 1:1 ratio in terms of orgasms—which always seems to end in your favor. But tonight he is actually a man possessed. As soon as your panties are dealt with, his cock is poking at you as he whimpers in frustration. You do your best to reach down to guide him into you while he clutches your flesh; eventually he manages to press into you all on his own, stiffening and letting out an honest-to-god howl as his cock sinks further into the tight embrace of your cunt.

His mouth latches onto the juncture of your neck and shoulder, and he sucks at the tender skin there as he begins to pound frenetically into you. Even though Papa III warned you that he’d be taking his pleasure from you, the reality of it is a little overwhelmed. 

And yet.

Also a little arousing.

Papa pins you into the bed with the weight of his body and his vehement thrusts—there’s little you can do but go along for the ride—but it’s still him. It’s still his currently intoxicating smell and the sounds he makes in ecstasy; it’s still the planes of his body mashing against you and the hardness of his cock inside you.

The fire of arousal heats you, even if it’s not enough at the moment to sate you. You let Papa rut into you and mewl against your skin. The two of you have been working on your comfort in vocality—but tonight there’s no problem. Your breathy grunts and high moans only serve to egg him on as he uses the velvet slick of your cunt to ease the burning of need compelling him on. The stiffness of his cock plunges into you again and again and again—and you can feel as your slick leaks out around him and down his balls.

And oh.

Oh God.

OH SWEET LUCIFER ON A GODFORSAKEN BICYCLE.

The two of you had talked about the possibility of his knot making an appearance—something that happened to him only ever in a rut, and even then being half-human made it a rarity—but you’re still wholly unprepared when the sudden protrusion tugs at your entrance. It’s … extremely stimulating, and you moan out—which only causes Papa III to speed up impossibly. You begin to wail and clutch at the sheets as his knot gets bigger, tugging and pressing at you. Some small part of you is anxious about the way you sound and how you’re acting—but the rest of you is screaming at Papa III to Shove it the fuck in already.

The mounting pressure suddenly pops into your cunt, and you can feel it expand. You scream out—not a breathy scream of ecstasy—but an actual throaty scream at the intensity of it all as you climax hard. His knot fills you in a way you didn’t know existed and how it presses into all the right spots has you cumming 2 more times with demi-orgasms before your head clears enough to realize Papa has broken the skin of your shoulder as you’ve milked him, and he’s now contentedly lapping at the blood seeping out of the bite.

It’ll probably hurt like a bitch later, but right now Papa III has started rolling his hips and is grinding his knot into you. Bursts of pleasure spark behind your eyes, and you suddenly notice you’re rolling your hips too.

“Ah, ah, amore—so tight!”

You wrap your arms and legs around him, and the two of you grind at each other. The sweet pressure of his knot is inescapable—no matter which way you go, there’s stimulation, and soon you’re arching and clamping hard around him again. You hadn’t even noticed it was deflating until you feel his knot expand again, and he howls—trying to jerk into you but unable to fully thrust as he climaxes again.

“Santanas,” he gasps as he falls back down on to you. “Cease moving, little one. Unless you wish to be caught all night.”

“Ok, Papa.”

You’re definitely feeling sleepy, and you let yourself drift off as Papa applies soft kisses and gentle nips to your collarbone. When you wake, it’s because Papa is rolling off you—cock now soft. You feel the trickle of his cum leak out down your thighs as he folds a cover over you, and you wonder how uncouth it would be to use his sheets to wipe it off. Your train of thought is interrupted when you hear Papa whine as his hand hovers over your shoulder.

“I hurt you.”

“You warned me.”

He tsks and attempts to leave the bed, but he’s still in the throes of his rut, so all he accomplishes is teetering on wobbly legs and swooning back onto the bed.

“Papa!” You scootch over to him to gather him up. He trembles a little, and you’re not sure if it’s from his effort or the sweat cooling on him. 

“I’m getting you supplies.”

Your hand finds your nightgown—and then you remember it’s useless; you think about winding the sheet around you—but Papa’s currently laying on the other end, and you don’t want to upend him. Finally you see his favorite slinky robe, and you decide he won’t mind if you commandeer it for the time being.

Once you’re decent, you retrieve a carton of coconut water and a protein bar. You do notice that your shoulder is beginning to throb and sting. When you look up, you see that Papa III is watching you with glazed eyes.

“My phone, per favore, amore.”

You shift the other two items and grab the ancient rotary. It takes a bit of maneuvering, but you manage to get back onto the bed and over to Papa with all your treasures. You place the phone in between the two of you, and you let him dial as you crack open the water and peel the wrapper from the bar. As he murmurs into the receiver, you hand him bite-sized pieces of the protein bar and the carton to drink from. What you can tell from his end is that a nurse is being sent up to bandage your shoulder, but that she can’t tarry because apparently Papa triggered his Ghoul’s rut, who then went back to the Ghoul dorms and triggered a while outbreak of heat cycles, thus overwhelming the infirmary.

When he hangs up, he curls back around you, his cock already plumping to hardness once more. He ruts into your leg, and getting him to eat the last bit of bar and the rest of the coconut water is an exercise in futility, so you put them aside. Papa III squirms on top of you, his hard cock poking at you once again.

“Papa!” you gasp. “Papa, the nurse! I’ll have to let her in …”

“She has keys,” he says into your skin.

“But—” 

His dick drives home, and you gasp again.

“Need you, cara,” he keens as he begins to thrust into you again.

It goes much like the first time—Papa plunging hard and fast into you until his knot swells, locking the two of you together and setting off a feedback loop of pleasure as his swollen flesh presses into you and as you clench around him until a ceasefire is called. He bites a pillow instead of you this time, but his fingers have left crescents in the skin of your ams.

A sharp rap at the door of his bedchamber startles the both of you.

“Are you quite done, your Dark Excellency?” comes a muffled voice.

“Sí,” calls out Papa hoarsely.

“Papa!” you squeak. “I-I’m …”

He groans.

“Un momento,” he yells louder. Though you can tell it takes some effort, Papa rolls the two of you over so that you’re on top. He artlessly begins to pile the covers in a nest around you, and you take the hint to recinch the robe.

“Come!” he shouts.

There’s the sound of the key turning in the latch before an infirmary nurse, in her starched white habit, bustles into the room with a medical bag. You cast your eyes down as your face grows hot. 

“Sister Aggie,” says Papa III.

In a dry, deadpan tone, Sister Aggie says, “What did you do this time?”

Papa pets your thighs under the covers. You try not to clench down on his knot.

“Show her your shoulder, amore.”

You look up at her from under your lashes and you hesitantly peel the robe back from your shoulder, while still trying to keep yourself covered. She makes a tetch noise, but otherwise remains clinical in her approach to the bite. Whatever she swabs on it stings, and you hiss, flinching. It’s enough to make Papa moan and twitch, but Sister Aggie gives him such a sharp look that he just pants and clutches at the sheets. She’s just about done applying a sticky gauze over the bite when she sees the nail marks, and she pulls the robe down further for access despite your squeak of alarm at almost being exposed.

She fixes a stern gaze on Papa III.

“Your new mate isn’t a Ghoul, Dark Excellency. If you can’t be more careful, I would medically have to suggest you do use a Ghoul proxy—Lucifer knows there are enough of them on their own cycle right now because of you.”

Papa is shaking a bit, but he manages to assure Sister Aggie that he will be gentler with you.

“I’ll be back to check on you every several hours. I’m not sure why you didn’t already put a request in for wellness checks, Dark Excellency. 

“Private,” he pants out—and you know he means your privacy.

“Not anymore.” She catches your eyes. “Has he eaten?”

“U-Uh … I-I—some coconut water and most of a protein bar. He—ah!”

You grunt as Papa starts to grind up into you, moaning. Sister Aggie keeps talking to you as if Papa isn’t about to cum in you again and isn’t babbling at you in Italian.

“He’s going to need a lot more sustenance after this round. I heard from Ghoul 0 that he was up most of the night before you joined him. I’ll let the kitchen know, but you have to make sure he eats.”

You’re trying to pay attention, but Papa’s knot is pressing into you again as he rolls his hips, ratcheting up the throbbing in your cunt. You must’ve zoned out, because Sister Aggie is snapping her fingers in front of you.

“Sister—do you understand?”

Your cheeks burn, but you manage to nod at her. “M-make sure he eats. Got it.“

“I’m holding you to that, Sister.” 

She clicks her medical bag shut.

Papa moans and starts to twitch into you.

Despite your best efforts, the sudden, multiple pressures into you propels you over the edge.

“Oh god,” you punch out, and you curl over as you orgasm, your eyes closing shut as your clit pulsates and you clench hard around Papa III’s knot. You feel it inflate fully again as Papa snarls then catapults up—smacking your mouth hard as he captures your lips, grunting into your mouth as he cums again.

“Spiacente, little one,” he gasps afterwards. “Spiacente.”

As you pet at him, you turn to apologize to Sister Aggie, but she’s already gone.

When Papa pulls free this time the mess is … a lot more to deal with. Papa basically passes out, and—on shaky legs—you make use of his showerhead to clean up. You bring out a warm washcloth to clean him up as best you can, blushing as you hesitantly wipe between his legs (you were afraid that would wake him up and set him off again, but he dozes through all of it). 

As promised, the food from the kitchen is delivered (by another Sibling—they’re apparently keeping the Ghouls away from Papa III until the heat cycles dissipate), and you bring it into the bedroom. At the smell, Papa stirs and cracks open an eye.

The meal is steak—bloody for him—rotini, and buttered beets. You wolf down all of your food and down the rest of the open coconut water. Papa eats the steak and must be babied into eating half of the other portions, plus a fresh carton of water.

He’s giving you That Look again, but you’re not quite up to being knotted again, so you give him an enthusiastic hand job, making sure to squeeze and massage his knot. When he climaxes, his cum shoots out in force and lands hot and sticky on you with every squeeze of his knot that you give. By the time he seems finished, the amount of his cum that you’re covered in is almost comical. Papa presses into you, smearing it around both your bodies as he growls at you.

“Such a waste. Every drop should be in you. It should be filling you up so that you grow fat with my child.”

Even though Papa warned you he’d probably feel compelled to talk of breeding you, you’re still a little embarrassed at his words. You’re not expecting him to scoop some up with his fingers and try to finger it back into your hole. You attempt to squirm away, but at first he’s very insistent on getting it all into your cunt; you have to draw on your reserves to sharply tell him No before he stops—and even then he whimpers at you before dozing off again.

You wish the showerhead was long enough to reach into his bedroom.

It’s a very long few days. Despite Papa’s promise, he still manages to mark you up with scratches and bruises that make Sister Aggie cluck her tongue—though none bad enough for her to make good on her threat. You do your best to let him have you, but your human physical limitations are such that you just can’t handle multiple knotting in such quick succession—as amazing as they ended up being. Occasionally Papa will use your mouth, but he’s actually too afraid he might accidentally choke you with his knot that he’s more willing to let you jack him—even if that proves to be an inferior method of release.

He does have toys—the pocket vagina and tenga eggs getting the most use, and then that dildo you’d been prepared to use as a weapon (you’d been reticent to use it on him at first, but after watching him fuck himself on it, you quickly became eager to control it). He tried to convince you to use the strap-on on him, but you’re just not there yet.

Day 2 was the peak, and the hardest day—he’d been a begging mess and you’d felt you’d spent most of the day caught on his cock. On day 3 you’d noticed him slowing down, and by day 5 his knot had stopped swelling. You’d helped Papa III with his bedding and soiled towels, and the two of you had taken a very long bath full of epson salts and rosewater.

Day 6 is completely indulgent—Papa’s rut very obviously over—but he insists that recovery is absolutely a part of the heat cycle. As you lie on his chest encircled in his arms, you certainly aren’t going to contradict him.

He sighs and kisses the top of your head.

“You are still here, mia cara.”

You place a kiss on his pectoral. 

“I’m still here,” you agree.

[nekoannie-chan]

Lover’s game

Pairing: Steve Rogers X Mutant Female! Reader

Word count: 1111 words.

Summary: Memories of some moments from your relationship with Steve minutes before your wedding.

Warnings: A little angst.

A/N: This is my entry to the @cockslut-padalecki​‘s Lisa’s Back to the Movies Writing Challenge with the song:

“Take my breath away – Top Gun- Berlin”.

Flashbacks are in italic.

My native language is Spanish so I wanna improve my writing skills in English if you notice any mistake please let me know and I will correct it.

I don’t give any kind of permission that my fics be posted in other platforms or languages (I translate myself my work) or the use of my graphics (my dividers are included in this), I did them exclusively for my fics, please respect my work and don’t steal it. There are some people here who make dividers that anyone can use, mine is not this type, please look for the other’s people. The only exception is the ones I gifted ‘cuz now belong to someone else. If you find any of my works on a different platform and is not one of my accounts, please let me know. Reblogs and comments are always welcome.

DISCLAIMER: I don’t own Marvel’s characters (unfortunately), except for the original characters and the story.

My other media where I publish: Wattpad, Ao3, ffnet.

If you like it please vote, comment, and give me feedback to improve my skills and reblog. 

Tags: @sinceimetyou​ @saiyanprincessswanie​ @navybrat817​ @realfbi​ @angrythingstarlight​ @pandaxnienke​

Watching every motion

In my foolish lover's game On this endless ocean Finally lovers know no shame Turning and returning To some secret place inside Watching in slow motion As you turn around and say

 Steve held his breath while the tie was settling in, he couldn't deny that he was very nervous, he had finally arrived on the day of the wedding, during the last few weeks he had taken care of anything that could ruin the day, and he wasn't going to let anything bad happen on such an important date for you. You had lived so many things, you had to separate at different times.

Take my breath away Take my breath away

 Steve was sure he hadn't seen you while the STRIKE team was chasing them, suggesting Natasha go to your apartment, although he really needed to know if you were also HYDRA and you'd only used it, the last thing if it was true, it would leave him devastated. 

You grumped when the bell rang again insistently. Who bothered you in your holiday week? Besides, you were having a dream, which you'd like to put into practice with Steve later. 

When you opened the door, you kept your eyes squinting and your face was noisy. 

"Steve? Nat? What are you doing here? Why are you covered with dust? Were you playing in the mud or what happened to you?” 

They both saw each other and then saw you. 

"Can we come in?” Steve asked suspiciously. 

You set aside to let them through, you sighed, surely your holiday week was over and you were going to have to help them, even though you first needed to know what was going on. 

After they told you everything, you were stunned, you'd never suspected the team you belonged to. You even understood that Project Insight had a different aim. 

"How do we know you don't belong to HYDRA?” Natasha questioned. 

"First, I didn't know my team was, second, I wasn't there when you were attacked, actually I didn't even know about Fury until you told me and third, I knew project Insight was something completely different from what you're telling me.”

 Watching I keep waiting Still anticipating love Never hesitating to become the fated ones Turning and returning To some secret place to hide Watching in slow motion As you turn to me and say

 "Steve, are you ready?” Bucky questioned, taking him out of his self-absorption. 

“W-what? Sure, it's about time, isn't it?” Steve replied. 

James only shook his head trying not to laugh, and then he pulled his friend, it was better to hurry to prevent him from fleeing because of panic in the last minute. 

You saw your reflection in the mirror again and laughed a little as you remembered how you had met, you still remembered with satisfaction your ex-boyfriend's face when he found out about your relationship with Steve.

  Take my breath away

 That day, the training had ended in a fight, you and Rollins had started arguing, he still didn't want to accept that you had already ended your relationship and he claimed you'd had a date with someone else.

 "STOP ARGUING! YOU'RE ADULTS, ACT LIKE ONE!” Brock shouted annoyed. You ignored him and you kept arguing, yet you shut up when you saw Fury come in followed by Steve. At that time you were informed that the missions would be done along with him. 

"Hi, I'm Agent Y/N Y/L/N," you introduced yourself once Nick left.

 Through the hourglass I saw you In time you slipped away When the mirror crashed I called you And turned to hear you say If only for today I am unafraid

 Natasha put the necklace on you and then hugged you. 

"You're beautiful, but it's time to go, in a few minutes you'll become Mrs Rogers.” 

"I hope nothing interrupts this moment...” 

“Are you hesitating?”  

"No, not at all, I'd just be terrified that something would happen or Steve would regret it," you replied. 

"He won't, you've been through a lot, but if you don't want to get married, I'll go tell them...“

You and Natasha had been friends since you entered the Organization, even considered yourselves sisters even if biologically you weren't. 

"I never said I wasn't getting married, I'm just nervous," you interrupted her. “It was very difficult when we had to flee, I was terrified that he would be sent to the Raft and me to a Mutant Detention Center.” 

"You two deserve to be happy," Nat said.

 Take my breath away Take my breath away

 You heard noises in the living room while you were in the kitchen, you took the sharpest knife, even though you had an arm hurt by the last mission you'd gone to, you wouldn't hesitate to defend yourself if necessary, not to say that you would also use your powers.

 "S-Steve? Why did you come in through the window and not through the door? "You inquired at the same time that you put the knife down. 

"They're watching you, they're looking for me, and I can't get in through the front door.” 

"What did you do?” 

"I didn't sign the Accords and there were some problems with Bucky...," he shut up, took your hand and looked you right in the eye. “Did you sign the Accords?” 

"No, I just refuse to do it.” 

"We have to get out of here without being seen, I have to take you to a safe place before they take you as a hostage.” 

"How are we going to get going?” You said they're watching my house.” 

"But not the roof.” 

You opened your eyes as big as you could, what Steve proposed sounded too dangerous to you.

"A-Are you sure? I remind you that I have a hurt arm and despite having powers I do not think I can survive from a fall from the roof...” 

"Doll, I will make sure that nothing bad happens to you, just take as fast as you can the important things and we will run away, what do you think?” 

You nodded, you went all the way to the bedroom and kept some things, and then he helped you up the roof. 

"Walk slowly and carefully, there is nothing to fear," he whispered. 

You were trying to take firm steps, however, it seemed impossible, probably only a few seconds passed, but it seemed like an eternity to you. When you finally got to the shelter, he told you everything that had happened, for safety he was going to leave you there, he didn't want anything bad to happen to you.

 Watching every motion In this foolish lover's game Haunted by the notion Somewhere there's a love in flames Turning and returning To some secret place inside Watching in slow motion As you turn my way and say

 "Little sis’ if you want we can run away, hide and no one will find us," Natasha joked as you walked towards the entrance. 

"It sounds tempting, but I'll decline the invitation, Steve's waiting for me.” 

Nat nodded, you stopped right at the entrance and helped you position the veil the right way.  

At the altar Steve was already waiting for you with a big smile, finally, the dream you had had for a few years was coming true and nothing was going to stop it. 

The ceremony began, you blinked a lot making a great effort not to cry, and it seemed implausible that this day had finally arrived, your dream was being fulfilled. 

After you accept to become a wife and husband, you kiss.

 Take my breath away Take my breath away Take my breath away Take my breath away

[crossroadsimagine]

Hello!! (xD this is the missing part 1 thanks!!) I'm requesting for a match-up for One Piece (male match) and Sailor Moon (female match). I'm a female who is compassionate, easy-going (few things make me angry), curious, humorous (I laugh at a lot of things), spontaneous and has a great sense of responsibility and love for family, but I'm also careless, a daydreamer, overthink things, and easily moved! Loves plant-life + animal life, especially succulents and GIRAFFES, but less so with roaches

☰ Matched with Ace

Ace will show that he’s interested in you right away upon meeting you but really not too much in a romantic way, he doesn’t flirt with you or anything like that in the beginning but does show an interest in getting to know you and be friends with you. He more so falls for you over the time of getting to know you which means it’s likely that it isn’t until months later that he will actually realize he has romantic feelings for you and consider asking you out. 

When he does go to ask you out it is very random but he will try to ask you out when the two of you are alone, and he won’t seem very worried or nervous about asking you out either. Even though he actually can be a bit nervous it’s just that he doesn’t really show it, he is happy when you agree to go out with him and will feel compelled to take you on a date right away, taking you out to a nice restaurant or even just a café or something simple. 

When the two of you begin dating, he really is very laid back, loving and patient with you, he really doesn’t rush the relationship or have any real expectations for the relationship or how you should be. He is a very good listener and invests a good amount of his timing learning more about you and he really will want to learn as much about you as he can, you past, plans for the future, your favorite things, your family and loved ones, hobbies, likes, fears everything. 

Though that doesn’t mean he absolutely remembers every detail about you but he can surprise you with the things he does remember, but he will not push you to keep talking or tell him every detail overnight. 

Especially if you are not comfortable opening up to him immediately, he is patient and will earn your trust over time and will prove to you how reliable and loyal he is to you and how he will never hurt you and protect and defend you from anything and anyone. He is fiercely loyal and protective of you and takes your safety very seriously, which means he takes it very seriously if anyone were to judge, criticize or talk down to you, he won’t stand for it at all. 

Just like if he notices someone taking advantage or you or using you or anyone even friends or family being hurtful or abusive towards you, he will not allow anyone to be toxic in your life. He will want you to be as happy as possible and if anyone is threatening your happiness in any way, he will deal with it, though he doesn’t get aggressive or physically hostile but he can become very stern and even a bit threatening if he has to. 

You are very compassionate, easy going and like to laugh and laugh at a lot of things, and he will adore seeing you happy and laughing. He does tend to be very spontaneous and adventurous and likes taking you new places and experiencing new things with you, which you love doing new things and he will like hearing about where you would like to go or things you would like to do or try. 

He is very loyal to you and will treat any of your dedicated loved ones just like family, which means he can also be protective over your loved ones as well as you, which you have a great sense of responsibility and love for family. You have a tendency to buy small gifts randomly just because you happen to think the person would like something, and he will appreciate anything you give him as a present, though he can be pretty surprised whenever you do give him a gift especially if it is randomly. 

You really don’t get angry very easily and not much makes you mad anyways and you really do not like confrontation and it is your very last resort. Which you really won’t have to worry about arguments because Ace is not one to lose his temper with you or to argue, that doesn’t mean the two of you will never disagree on things but he will always talk things out with you rather than get mad or raise his voice, though there’s not much that really makes him angry. 

You do often time tease to show love which Ace won’t mind at all and can find teasing and sarcasm from you pretty amusing, you can also over think things from time to time and day dream pretty often. Ace is also very affectionate with you and you are an affectionate person, you can be playful and mischievous which he’ll find cute and he really isn’t very romantic but is loving and cuddly. 

He will play with your long dark hair when he’s next to you and you are fairly short which makes him develop a habit of touching your head or hair, leaning against you and resting his chin on the top or your head or on your shoulder when hugging you or sometimes when cuddling with you. 

Over all he is very loving, supportive and caring with you and will reassure you whenever you are having a rough time or having doubts about what you are doing or feeling discouraged. He helps to build up your self-esteem and supports any and all of your dreams and goals, he treats you as a partner and trusts you completely staying at your side through good and bad times because he won’t see a future without you in it.

☰ Headcanons between the two of you

■ Likes taking you new places and traveling with you because he will love to see you experience new things and being able to do new and unique things together. He makes a point to take you anywhere you talk about even if it’s something like a certain festival or parade or to a particular café he won’t hesitate to take you anywhere you want to go.

■ Will surprise you with small gifts such as little house plants or items with giraffes on them, like stuffed animals, little figures, flower pots, stationary or notebooks. He’ll get you things just because he was thinking of you but really doesn’t expect anything in return but will absolutely adore and really appreciate anything you give him.

■ Very loving and affectionate with you and doesn’t really seem to mind PDA much at all, almost like he doesn’t even pay attention to people around the two of you. Which means he can be very positive towards affectionate acts whenever the two of you are, and he will often instigate affectionate acts with you, especially holding hands.

■ Is very trusting, open and honest with you and will even come to you often when he needs to talk things out or get advice or suggestions on a situation, that doesn’t mean he will never act impulsively but with most major things he will want to hear what you think on the situation.

☰ Other Possible Matches

◐ Raye

She is very loving and caring with you and really shows a genuine curiosity in your hobbies and interests, such as your interest in plants particularly succulents, and she really pays close attention to the things you like and enjoy because she will like tailoring presents for you towards what she knows you will really love. She isn’t particularly romantic but can be very thoughtful and considerate, but at the same time she can have a temper from time to time, which means she can argue a bit or get annoyed if you push or tease her too much. She likes cuddling and hugging with you but really prefers it when the two of you are alone at home, she will really like spending with you in relaxing and laid-back ways. Movie nights or a picnic under the stars getting some take out and talking and cuddling with each other.

◐ Kaku

He is patient, understanding and a very good listener he encourages you to talk to him about anything and will like listening to you talk and talk about things you are particularly passionate about. He is peaceful and doesn’t like to argue and he really doesn’t get mad very easily and can calmly discuss problems and differences, but this also doesn’t mean he never gets annoyed because he does at times. He is not really romantic but that doesn’t mean he can’t be thoughtful and do nice things for you because he will on occasion, even surprising you with small gifts or bringing you home flowers from time to time. He can be a bit uncomfortable with PDA especially at the start of the relationship but does come around to it and enjoys hugs and being close with you when the two of you are alone.

[marshmallow-phd]

White Out

Part of The Untamed - EXO Wolf Universe

Genre: Supernatural, Wolf Au

Pairing: Kyungsoo x Reader

Summary: Bouncing place to place was just how lived your life. Settling down just wasn’t in your plans, especially with your past. But when you meet Kyungsoo, there’s suddenly a future in front of you that you never imagined possible. With both enemies and friends of the pack arriving in town, you’ll be pulled into a danger that you never asked for. Will you stick around for Kyungsoo or will you do what you do best and run?

Warning: none

Part: 1 I 2 I 3 I 4 I 5 I 6 I 7 I 8 I 9 I 10 I 11 I 12 I 13 I 14 I Final

**

Your heart was pounding in your chest. Never in your life had you ever seen someone with bright red eyes. Meeting them now, you knew they were danger, but you couldn’t tear yourself away. You clung to Kyungsoo, your source of safety and protection. You assumed if you stuck close to him, you’d be alright. However, he disagreed.

“(y/n), run, now!” Kyungsoo hissed as he started pushing you towards the back exit. The terrifying group of men began stalking towards you all, slowly with each step taking forever, like a cat playing with a mouse before it pounced.

You shook your head, tearing your eyes away from the group to look at your mate. “No, no, I’m not leaving you.”

He pried your hands off of his shirt and away from him, shoving you into Ji Yeon’s arms, who quickly locked you in. “Go, now!”

Before you could continue arguing, Ji Yeon cemented her hold on you, dragging you towards the exit while the other mates followed behind. You caught one last glimpse of Kyungsoo, whose back was to you, before the door slammed shut.

A crash made you flinch when you’d only taken a few steps. You looked back to find a fresh dent big enough for a person to make in the metal door. Skidding to a stop, you tried to turn back around and make sure that it wasn’t one of the boys that had been thrown into the door, but Ji Yeon’s grip was too strong on your arms. Snarls and growls echoed inside, but there was nothing you could do.

The six of you made it to a car in the far parking lot. Ji Yeon finally released you, only to shove you into the back seat once the car was unlocked, where you were trapped between Kimberly, Ming, and Jiyoung. Hae In jumped in the passenger’s seat just as Ji Yeon zoomed out of the parking lot and away from the pool hall.

“Are we seriously just going to leave them there?” you screeched.

Ji Yeon took a sharp turn to the left, making your shoulder collide into poor Jiyoung, who looked just as scared as you felt.

“Listen, (y/n),” Kimberly sighed. “You’ll learn it in time, but being mates with a wolf means when they tell you to run, you do it. No questions asked. Once they make it back home, then you can ask all the questions you want and yell as much as you’d like. Until then, you follow orders. Their first priority is to make sure we’re safe. They won’t take no for an answer, so it’s better to just go with it.”

“That’s not right,” you argued. “Relationships are supposed to be equal. Why can’t the protection be a two way street?”

Hae In turned around in her seat. “It is a two way street, (y/n). But you also have to trust Kyungsoo.”

You did trust Kyungsoo. He’d opened you up like no one ever had before. You loved him. But you needed to know that he was okay. You needed to know that he would still be there when you opened your eyes.

“Maybe we should just tell her,” Jiyoung whispered.

Whipping your head around, you furrowed your eyebrows at one of the quieter mates. “Tell me what?”

“Kyungsoo said no,” Ming reminded her. “It’s his choice what to tell her and what not to.”

You weren’t going to buy that. “Tell me what?” When no one answered, you repeated louder, “Tell me what?”

Slamming on the breaks, Ji Yeon turned around in her seat. “You want to know what’s going on? That group with the red eyes that ruined date night? They’re hybrids. Part werewolf, part vampire. They kill anything in their path because they can. It’s because that asshole Kris that they’re even coming after the others in the first place. He just couldn’t stay away! He had to come back and bring his curse with him!”

You shrank back, never have seen Ji Yeon like this in the few times you’d interacted with her. Tears were brimming in her eyes. The brave, controlled façade was cracking away, revealing that she was just as fearful and worried as the rest of you were.

“I’m sorry,” you whispered, dropping your gaze to the floor.

Ming wrapped an arm around your shoulder. “You have nothing to apologize for. We’re all just worried. There’s still a lot of things Kyungsoo hasn’t told you. I suspect because he doesn’t want to frighten you away.”

You wanted to argue. You wanted to insist that you wouldn’t have been frightened away. But, it made sense. Running was what you were good at. If he really was keeping things from you to make you stay, you couldn’t entirely blame him. Your history was against you.

Ji Yeon faced back towards the steering wheel, speeding along the road through the woods.

“Why are the hybrids after Kris?” You asked. “What’s the curse?”

Kimberly made a face. “It’s not a real curse. Ji Yeon’s just being dramatic. Do you know why Kris and the others left the pack in the first place?”

You nodded. And then your eyes widened. “You mean… the wolf that Kris killed in revenge… was one of them? The people who had barged into the pool hall are the same ones who’ve been chasing Kris? He actually managed to kill one of them by himself?”

How was he able to do that? Granted, you didn’t know the extent of the hybrids’ strength and power, but you remembered Kyungsoo calling the the pack that was hunting Kris special and hard to outmatch. Ji Yeon called the hybrids ruthless killers.

“Mhm,” Kimberly confirmed. “No one’s sure how he did it considering the fact that hybrids are so strong they could crush your bone with just a pinch. But he did it. And, honestly, I’m curious to know how.”

Slowly but surely, your brain was putting all the pieces together. And you didn’t like the look of the big picture at all.

Thanks to Ji Yeon’s speeding, you made it back to the farm house in record time. You all scrambled out of the car and up the porch to the inside of the house.

“Junmyeon!” Ji Yeon screamed. “Junmyeon!”

Heavy, quick footsteps tumbled down the stairs. Junmyeon emerged from the hallway. By the way he looked, he must have been sleeping in bed. He had on an old worn out t-shirt and gray sweatpants. His hair was disheveled and he was trying hard to stifle back a yawn. Every other time you’d been around Junmyeon, he’d been so put together like the professor that he was. Seeing him like this was strange and made you forget for a split second why you all were in such a hurry to find him in the first place.

“What is it?” he asked, eyes scanning your worried faces. “Where are the boys?”

“Hopefully out of the pool hall,” Ji Yeon replied. Her tears were dried and she was back to looking like the alpha female, leader of the mates.

Now Junmyeon was fully awake. “What do you mean ‘hopefully out’? What happened?”

Ji Yeon’s eyes flickered over to Kris, who’d just emerged from the kitchen. “The hybrids are here. They found us at the pool hall. We got out while the rest stayed behind.”

Without waiting to hear anything else, Kris ran out of the living room, leaving the house to possibly go join in on the fight. Junmyeon groaned but didn’t stop him.

“Tao! Sehun! Luhan! Chanyeol!”

The remaining pack members came running into the living room.

“What’s going on, hyung?” Chanyeol asked.

Tao searched the crowded. “Where did Kris go?”

“The others are in trouble,” was all Jumyeon would explain. “Luhan, Chanyeol, you’re with me. Tao, Sehun, stay here and watch over the girls. Signal if anyone not friendly comes near the house.”

Sehun moved to protest. “But, hyung–”

“Those are my orders, Sehun,” Junmyeon snapped. “Stay. Here.” He turned to the older wolves. “Let’s go.”

They all ran out while Tao, huffing, collapsed down on the couch. Sehun was pacing back and forth, too pent up with energy to do the same.

“How did they find you?” Tao asked, his previous annoyance melting away to genuine concern.

Hae In shrugged, “No clue. We’re all just having a nice time and suddenly they came strolling through the door. Amazingly, they didn’t attack right away.”

Tao growled. “They like playing games. Secrecy also isn’t their priority.”

“How are they even possible?” you asked under your breath to no one in particular. You didn’t think anyone would actually care to answer, but Tao did.

“A lot of things are possible,” he sighed, running a hand through his dark brown hair. “I mean, look at us. Not to mention the witches…. But these guys, they took the possible too far.”

Cautiously, you sat down next to Tao on the couch. The others in the room – minus Sehun – settled as well, either on the floor or in other empty seats. Keeping your focus on the one who was actually giving you answers, you asked, “How did it happen?”

“Luhan is the one who knows more about this,” he admitted, “but I paid a little bit of attention. Apparently, they’re like us. Born wolves. But they decided that they wanted more power, to be at the true top of the food chain, so they tracked down some vampires to turn them.”

“That’s doable?” you asked, confounded. From the legends you’d heard, mixing the species wasn’t possible.

Tao nodded. “For some it is. Ten went searching for the vampires, only six made it through the transformation.”

“And how did they do it?” Jiyoung asked before you could. She was sitting on the floor a few feet in front of you, her eyes glued on Tao. Her knees were pulled in close to her chest with her wrapped tightly around them.

“Typically, if a wolf is a bit by a vampire, we get sick for a few days.”

Sehun scoffed. “‘Sick’ isn’t exactly how I would describe it.”

You turned to the youngest wolf. “Were you bit?”

“I got a little mouthy,” he smirked. And then it slipped away as he reminisced about the consequences. “Any physical movement was like being stabbed over and over again with a hundred knives. Not to mention I couldn’t keep anything down for days. Not exactly something I’d like to repeat.”

“I don’t think anyone would,” Kimberly mumbled.

You pursed your lips. “But you didn’t turn into a vampire – or a hybrid, I guess.”

“It doesn’t work that,” Tao clarified. “You have to exchange blood. And that’s what they all did. Found a small nest of vampires willing to try it and they allowed themselves to be food before drinking the vampire’s blood. A few days later, they woke up. And slaughtered the nest.”

“Just because?” you gaped. Those vampires – granted, you didn’t know them from Adam and they could have been murderers for all you knew – had given those wolves what they wanted, in turn just to be killed.

“Probably testing out the change,” Sehun suggested.

You looked back and forth between Sehun and Tao. “And what exactly did change?”

“You mean besides super strength, super speed, and super senses even greater than ours or a vampires?” Tao mocked. He simply rolled his eyes at your dirty look. He sighed. “They can’t change into wolves anymore. You know that weird man-wolf-thing they like to do in the movies? It’s more like that now. They’ll never be full wolves again.”

“Not to mention their fangs are more like tusks,” Sehun murmured.

“You’ve seen them up close?” Ming questioned.

Sehun nodded. “I was in the diner that night. One of them started to transform after Kris punched him. It was… scary.”

“Unnatural,” Tao added acidly.

Hae In gave him the side eye. “I don’t think you’re one to talk considering werewolves were created by magic.”

“Magic is technically natural,” Sehun whined. “If Soomi was around to hear you say that, she’d turn you into a tree!”

“Who’s Soomi?” you asked. This name was a new one.

“She’s a witch,” Kimberly answered. Then smirked. “And Junmyeon’s crush.”

“Junmyeon’s… crush?” you repeated skeptically. Wasn’t he the one who was against non-mate relationships?

“It’s never going to happen,” Sehun clarified. “It’s just fun to tease him about it.”

Ming suddenly stood up, heading towards the door to the front parlor. “I can’t stand waiting in here. I’m going out on the porch.”

Tao jumped to his feet. “But-”

You followed Ming out. “Me, too.”

No one else tried to stop you as hurried to catch up on Ming’s heels. She was already sitting down on the porch swing when you hit the cold night air. Neither of you were wearing coats or other protective material, but you didn’t care.

For a few minutes, it was silence, both of you just scanning the empty field, searching for any sign of your mates in the dark. Your breath was visible as it floated from your lips and your body shivered to keep warm.

“Yixing isn’t a fighter,” Ming whispered suddenly.

Your eyes widened at the sudden confession as you turned to her. “What do you mean?”

A small smile pulled at the corner of her mouth. “He’s a gentle soul. Can’t stand to hurt anyone. He’s studying to be a doctor. He likes the idea of helping people, healing them. He’s not built for fighting them. But I need him to come back.”

You weren’t sure what to do or say. The urge to comfort her now as she did for you in the car itched in your arm, but you couldn’t bring yourself to do it. Affection towards other people that weren’t Kyungsoo was still difficult for you. You felt guilty, but not knowing what else to do, you just sat there quietly.

“Kyungsoo can hold his own though,” she reassured you. “He’s always been able to take care of himself.”

Nodding, you rubbed your hands together to try and warm them up. Then you straightened up.

Something moved on the horizon. You squinted, trying to get your eyes to adjust and concentrate even with only the porch light to illuminate your surroundings. Then they began to really emerge from the trees.

“They’re here!”

You jumped up to your feet, running down the steps and into the field. One of the many silhouettes in front of you sped, coming closer until you could see his face. You collided with Kyungsoo, breaking out into tears as the others clamored out of the house behind Ming.

Reunions were happening all around between the wolves and the mates, but you blocked it out, just taking in Kyungsoo and the fact that he was there, alive in front of you. Taking a step back, you looked over your mate, taking in the scratches and blood on his face.

“I’m okay,” he said in a strained voice. That was worrisome. You figured he’d be happy that he made it back to you. His arms were taut around your waist, clinging to you.

You reached up to his face, running your thumb over his cheekbone. “What happened?”

Before Kyungsoo could reply, Hae In started yelling.

“Baekhyun? Baekhyun!”

Junmyeon, with his shirt and sweats now torn nearly to shreds, ran up to her, holding her in place. “Hae In, I need you to calm down. Please.”

“Where is he?” Hae In gasped. Still getting no answer, she started fighting against Junmyeon’s hold before escalating to punching him in the chest. “Tell me where he is! Why isn’t he here?!”

“Hae In, calm down, please.” It was obviously how much Junmyeon was fighting to remain collected himself.

She broke. Tears flowed down her face as her knees buckled, caught just in time by the alpha.

“Minseok,” you heard Ji Yeon say, unable to take your eyes off of the usually sarcastic Hae In as she sobbed in Junmyeon’s arms while he rocked her back and forth. “Where is Baekhyun?”

“They took him,” Minseok replied in a dead, monotone voice. “The hybrids took him.”

Kyungsoo pulled you in closer and you buried your face in his chest, conflicted. You felt your eyes start to water in sympathy for Hae In, but you almost felt tremendous guilty as you were thankful it wasn’t the one who held you now that was at the mercy of the deadly hybrids.

[masslessobtrusion]

Yikes, This is the kind of shit I send to Arielle. I was freaking out. I am very distraught and worried. Scared. I think I might die. How else am I supposed to feel? I have no one to calm me down. I am left to make assumptions as to why.  It’s a summary of what the last week or so has looked like. I don’t even know if I feel like this or if my brain is searching for answers because of how I feel like something is seriously wrong with my physical health and I am in panic mode. I lose touch with what is real when I have no one to keep me attached to it. Yes, I need reassertion some times. My throat and chest. I may not be able to speak much longer. But I have no human beings to talk to. I am totally flipping out. Here: These are the thoughts that go through my head. I often send them to her. It probably freaks her out. How can I not think like this? Maybe if people started treating me different? She probably wants me to die so I can stop bugging her. I want to stop bugging her too. I want this to stop. I don’t know how she feels so my mind races to wild assumptions. I’ve tried asking her about it. She won’t speak to me about it. Boundaries. She can’t explain what they are and I’m not allowed to ask about them. I never got an answer, I have brought up boundaries 2-3 times I believe. I told her I’d rather talk about why she feels the need to have them in the first place. To fix what I was doing wrong. Asked where she learned it from. No answer. I made crude statements about people and she answered with a how dare you text me when I’m sleeping. Leave me alone type of text. I apologized, I believe. I was really worried that morning. I have turned up the craziness a lot in the last week. I have been to the ER twice this week. I feel like I’m not going to be able to breathe soon. I am very anxious about going to another doctor tomorrow. My voice is about 75% gone. My pitch is becoming higher and higher as less air comes out. Burping, vomiting, is extremely difficult. I have barked at her about if she so indoctrinated by a gender studies degree that she refuses to be nice to a man who has been abusive to her, admitted it, explained why, and apologized many times. I have asked to be told about what kind of communication I am supposed to have with her. That I don’t know these things and I am in a very bad state of mind. I am in an abusive situation.   I have called her names and used her as an emotional support animal/punching bag. She barely talks to me. I ask how she feels and she doesn’t talk. I don’t know if I’m hurting her. I ask. She doesn’t say. 

Tell me how to communicate please. You’ve known me for 10 years and know what I’m like when I get like this, but I have NEVER been as bad as I am right now. This is on the level of the 2019 freakout. But I’m being way nicer and not saying fucked up hateful shit. I was taking a shit ton of xanax and god knows what else. Is that excuse good enough. That was a terrible fucking experience I was in the hospital for 10 days with a broken jaw and almost died. I have apologized and explained many times and barely get a response. I think she is occupied with other things in her life. Work, romance, fitness, hobbies, concerts, fun. That’s great. I don’t know if it’s intentional. I’ve explained how fear of abandonment is a big trigger of mine. I don’t feel assure about her intentions. Maybe I can do something different and learn from it, so I don’t do it to other people or her again. I have been making strides to improve my mental and physical health and it is getting worse. I sit in filth and regularly get told that I’m a worthless piece of fat shit that can’t do anything, fucking drug addict piece of shit! That’s what my Dad STILL says to me. After everything I’ve written about, there’s so much more too. He still spews hatred towards me.  I have tried to put a stop to my parents abuse. This is why they hate me right now. I asked them to stop calling me fat and worthless. They refused.. I’ve told Arielle that I feel like she is cold and distant in the past. I’ve told her I felt like she can’t relate to a situation like mine because she has safety net after safety net. A loving family. A living wage job given to her. She lives in a safe wealthy area where poor people aren’t allowed. It’s a destination for the wealthy and elite. Pretending to be poor in college is a novelty for people who grew up in that area. It’s beautiful and people are nice. I loved it there. That was my experience living there for 8 years. She is a fit attractive female. She’s pretty. She feels that makes her a victim. I think that makes her one of the luckiest and most privileged humans on the planet. I fear that she is too indoctrinated to hate men or possibly considers me racist and sexist. Am I racist and sexist. Probably. I’m a lot of things. I still deserve help when I’m literally fucking dying and begging. She has the means to focus on whatever makes her happy. I just want to be around people who aren’t mean to me and will listen to my health concerns without telling me I’m crazy or on drugs. A wealthy inheritance to secure her future as well as a successful business. Will I live long enough to inherit my parent’s house and shit? I don’t know. It’s probably going to be taken by creditors or spent on drugs. 

My parents control my life and refuse to admit they don’t know what they are doing. They are abusive towards me...STILL. To this very day.

I am screaming, hey this is what is going on! Help me. Tell me what to do. The doctors tell me it’s in my head. It’s allergies or anxiety and I should TRY to stop doing drugs.

Things are getting REALLY fucking bad. So, my mind is thinking of every possibility possible. Are the Indian doctors racist and dismissive towards me? Does Arielle want me to die because she feels I’m sexist and racist? Oversharing, honesty, and not having much of a filter have always been an issue for me. Every single fucking human being has told me to fuck off. When I met Arielle. I was a very different person. For real. I was such an arrogant douche when it came to how I slept with women and shit. I honestly felt like no girl wanted to date me. So, I just fucked them and acted like I didn’t want a relationship. I wanted to date Arielle early on. She was young. I flipped out on her. Cut myself and sent her pictures of it in 2011. That was bad and the only/last time I’ve done that to someone. Did she like me better when I just wanted to fuck her though. When I asked her if she wanted to have sex in 2018.  Every doctor I have seen tells me to stop doing drugs. What the fuck, I’m not on fucking drugs. They took a drug test the second time I was in the ER on Friday. I can get drugs and do them IF I want.  I don’t have an issue obtaining them. I’m not smoking. I’m not snorting anything. The only drugs I have done are edible marijuana and a couple of one-off benzo last month and last year. That’s not going to even contribute to these issues. If anything it would probably help greatly reduce the unpleasantness of my symptoms. Snorting or smoking heroin 100% fuck up my throat and chest. I have been explaining what has been going on.

Can you please, be here for me? I promise. I just want a human being who knows me. The appointment is tomorrow at 1145am. This is very scary. I don't have anyone to talk to. I promise. The Roxanne lady has been helpful to talk to at times. She is a bit weird sometimes, but she has listened to me for years and always talks to me. She tells me about her life too sometimes. She's an older woman from Georgia. I have talked to her on the phone. Name/number checks out with google. She is currently an estate attorney and I started talking to her in 2017-18. She didn't believe I was a heroin addict because of how I wrote or something. Thought my stories were far fetched. Years later, she told me that she found her husbands body after he shot himself and she wanted to be there for me, to give me someone to talk to.1hNot be here physically. But yeah. I'm really worried.1h1 week. You set the disappearing message time to 1 week. I just sat outside by my Mom. I feel off. There are huge bruises from the IV, they aren't healing. This has never happened before with bruises like that. I feel light headed. I told her that I know she did everything out of love. That I know she thought she was doing the right thing. She said, she messed up and started talking about how it was a very hard time for her, because her Mom died. I told her in regards to this health issue. I told her that I messed up. I have been screaming for help and I just wanted someone to help me. I told her that I might die. This is serious. She said, "oh hun...". Then, she started telling me about how she thinks I shouldn't tell the doctors I did heroin. I said that they need to know what caused this. This is serious. She said, "I know, but I think they dismiss you when you say that, just think you should try it.". I said, doctors shouldn't treat people who did drugs differently. They don't know why that person did drugs. There are doctors out there that will be compassionate towards people who did drugs. This was very stressful. Then, she demanded. "IIIII want to talk them!".1hShe still doesn't get it. 1hThis would be the most fucked up thing I have ever done to someone, in my life. It's not a manipulation tactic. I'm not making this up. This is real. I am being as honest as I can be. Please, I could just use some comfort or something. I have nothing here. Besides a cat, a hat, and a dog.23mI used the bathroom. My mom said, "I think I am going to go up and talk to them.". I said, I don't know. I don't know if that is possible or a good idea.20m4 her: I'm at work, haven't been able to reapond9mRespond9mI know10mGlad you have an appointment tomorrow9m

me: Thanks. Me too.9mBut this is it I think. I'm going to get the bad news and I've probably been right about it. It won't make me feel better.9mWould you have a bit of time to chat later. Or if there is an emergency.8m her: I might have time later4m me: I'll probably go to bed around 8-9.2m

[candlefright]

The Blob (1988)

This is less of a new venture and more of a reflective blurb. 

Can we all just sit down and talk about the underappreciated remake; the ooky spooky oozy woozy gobbling wobbling Blob?

Please be advised that reading further will result in potential spoilers for the film listed in title and related films: so if you haven’t seen The Blob (1988); come back when you have, or abandon all hope, ye who enter here…

I was a thirteen year-old babysitter the first time I watched this movie. When you babysit, you inevitably wind up with some free time when the kid lays down for bed and you’re waiting on the parents to get home. A brief period of time where you get to feel semi-adult, and for tweens like me, steeped in my own burgeoning angst, a scary movie was the closest thing to a thrill I could touch without putting myself in danger. I popped some popcorn, I pulled out the snacks I couldn’t have when the kid was up. I hopped on-Demand (some of you might not remember on-Demand, I feel old writing it out) and found Chuck Russel’s The Blob. I was already familiar with the hokey but legendary original from 1958. I figured it was within my fear threshold; nothing to worry about, why not dive in head first?

Let me start with the facts, The Blob opened on August 5th in 1988, sandwiched between Cocktail (July 29) and Young Guns (August 12). In the commentary and in interviews, director Russel has attributed the film’s lack-luster success with the competition it faced hitting the box office. It’s true, Cocktail grossed nearly $12 million opening weekend and was given extended runs of up to ten weeks in some theaters. Young Guns fared about as well, breaking $7 million in it’s first week and packing theaters for nearly eight weeks in some locations. The Blob, however, grossed only nearly $3 million, with what has been estimated to be about $9-10 million budget, and averaged a modest two-week run in most theaters on average. (Source: The Numbers)  

Now, over thirty years later (and 60 years since the original), the film has respect, but in my opinion, not nearly enough.

The horror snobs will tell you that The Blob remake doesn’t stand up in comparison to films like The Fly, or it’s cosmic-horror cousin, The Thing. I’m calling bullshit. The remakes of The Fly and The Thing are phenomenal, refreshed versions of influential films, and The Blob deserves equal respect. While The Fly and The Thing leaned on the edge of a very serious, professional revamp; The Blob dared to poke fun at the tropes of the original, and then willfully and literally fed a tired stereotype to the beast. They also framed a female as the unlikely hero while illustrating her journey in a subtle way that only young girls with experience in microaggressions can understand. While The Fly and The Thing are remarkable remakes, and remakes that I cherish and love; they both center on the male persona. The Blob invites the strong female perspective and openly challenges the idea of the strong male lead.

Shawnee Smith plays the role of the high school cheerleader. Her doe-eyed stare is one of the first things we encounter during a scene that I appreciate for it’s illustrative power. The setting appears deserted until this scene. A small town lured into sleepy stasis right before the introduction of each leading role. The silence is dispelled by cheers and stomps; the entire town is at the local football game. So we see, this is a small town. Everyone knows each other by name. Children grew up together here. There is a delicate shell of community waiting to crack under the flat foot of impending doom. This scene is fragmented by the cheers of the crowd. We see Meg the cheerleader (Shawnee) pining over the freshly sacked, dazed Paul (played by actor Donovan Leitch Jr.) who comically asks her out on a date right there on the ground, still counting the cartoon birds orbiting his skull. He feels like the stereotypical male character, the re-imagining of Steve McQueen’s Steve from the original. The football player and the cheerleader; this feels like the serendipitous event that would normally predate a love story.

Meanwhile between claps and thunderous booms, the camera flashes to our third lead role: Brian Flagg (played by actor Kevin Dillion; yes, Matt Dillon’s brother.), the skid row rebel with a bad reputation and seemingly no concern for his own safety; as expressed by his weak attempt to jump a broken bridge on his motorcycle (of course, bad boy). 

We’re seeing what feels like an immediate dynamic between the three; notice they will be relevant and can speculate the potential relationship they will have with one another. We can see Meg as the girl next door, Paul as the white knight in football gear, and Brian as the trouble-making instigator who will almost certainly be butting heads with Paul. Spoiler alert: all of these initial assumptions are true. 

Brian Flagg is your classic bad boy “fuck you, won’t do what you tell me” burn-out who is known by name at the local police station. Granted, this comes as no surprise in a small town, but his relationship with Sheriff Herb (played by my Walking Dead favorite, actor Jeffrey DeMunn), who warns him to watch his behavior now that he can officially be considered an adult in the eyes of a judge. Brian scoffs this off characteristically, butting out his cigarette and rolling his eyes in the way boys with authority complexes tend to do.

The film proceeds down a long, horrifying snail trail of goopy gore and apocalyptic dread. If you’ve seen the film, I won’t bore you with one great long write-up of each scene, but I will pick out my favorites.

At the local pharmacy, Paul and his wannabe frat friend Scott Jeske (played by actor Ricky Paull Goldin) lurk around. Scott needs to pick up some skins for what he hopes will be a lucky night with his squeeze. This is the bait-and-switch that totally eviscerates McQueen’s role in the 1958 original. Without our knowing, Scott has inherited Steve iconography, and we get a peak at the nature of high school boys and their burgeoning sexuality. We see the other side of popularity, of the jock reputation. Chivalry flies out the window, and we laugh at Scott when the local priest reverend Meeker (played by Beware! The Blob!’s Del Close) grills him on his participation in the church. All the while, waiting for a pack of condoms to be delivered by the pharmacist. I still laugh wholeheartedly when Mr. Penny, the local pharmacist (and Meg’s father) stands between the good reverend and Scott and asks: “You want the ribbed, or the regular?”

This joke is only further extended past the punchline when Scott denies that the condoms are for himself, but rather for his friend Paul, who he says is too nervous to get them himself. Moments later, Paul will come to retrieve Meg. He encounters Mr. Penny, who peers over his newspaper and, with wide eyes, delivers one of the most memorable lines of the whole film: “Ribbed.” (Fun fact: the condom scene was based off of a real event from the director’s life.)

Paul and Meg’s date is interrupted when they nearly reduce a homeless man to a skid mark on asphalt. A homeless man whose hand has been completely engulfed by our star; the lovely baby blob. Brian is in hot pursuit, trying to calm the old man in that I’m-damaged-but-I-have-a-heart kind of way, earning him some gentleman points and drawing him into the triangle we ruminated on earlier. As expected, Paul and Brian immediately butt heads. It’s clear that the jock/bad boy dynamic is completely in play, here. Paul wants Brian to stay, basically accusing him of foul play- while Brian is quick to want to disengage. Meg is stuck in the middle, focusing on things more important than a pissing contest: like the wounded man they’ve helped into the car. What follows once they reach the hospital is quite honestly one of the most terrifying scenes I ever watched as a young girl.

Paul’s death hit me like a Mack-fucking-truck. Even as a kid, I had immediately cataloged him as a main character. He was safe, untouchable, the football superstar. The McQueen legacy. I read about this scene. Leicht really was under all of that slime (mostly composed of a thickening agent called methocel), struggling for air. Comparable to being waterboarded, Leicht crawled inside a large base shell and was covered in the flimsier material before it was pulled and dragged over his face to create the harrowing effect. 

Oh, my gods. How my face mirrored Meg’s in that moment. I remember pausing the movie and getting out of my chair, earnestly shocked and frightened. I was thirteen, and shaking. I was disgusted, terrified, and stunned. I gathered myself, and stomached the rest. Watching Meg struggle to free Paul, only for his arm to slough away into a soupy mess- it will always stick with me. To this day I will re-watch this scene and marvel it as one of the first films to ever solicit my interest in the special effects industry. 

Alterian Studios was responsible for these unholy effects, including special effects legends like Tony Gardner, whose film credit list reads like a Walgreen’s receipt; Chet Zar (who had a credit in Dark Man for his special effects prowess), and the incredible Bill Sturgeon (who had a hand in several favorites and cult classics such as Army of Darkness, Hocus Pocus, Aliens, and Killer Klowns from Outer Space). The work of this team, those mentioned and unmentioned, is really impressive. Practical effects were always a part of the horror scene, from the very beginning; but the 80′s really welcomed and embraced a new age of creativity. It wasn’t enough to just produce a monster anymore, it was about fooling the audience into believing these things could climb right out of the screen and swallow you whole if you dared to look away. While the crew in charge of legends like The Thing and The Fly will forever be shining stars in any fan’s lexicon- The Blob only smoldered, and now rests as a sort of hidden gem that I feel nobody gives a second glance. Which is shameful. If you’ve seen The Thing, The Fly, From Beyond, Event Horizon, or any other FX-heavy horror: The Blob should most certainly have a place somewhere in that collection. No excuses. 

After Paul’s death I was primed for the rest of the movie. I really was, my sense of safety was shattered and I was on the edge of my seat with sweating palms. Who was going to be next? The blob dissolved people!? I was stuck between fear and fascination. Paul’s death is a showstopper, an absolute mess that deserves more recognition than it has received, and to place it beneath the visualizations of its like-films is just a shame. Watch Paul’s face as it stretches and then deflates and slips away into the ambiguity of the blob; with streams of syrupy red blood streaming into what looks like a sentient tumor. 

Scott’s death is also an honorable mention. I appreciate this scene mostly because of what it represents to me as a fan of the original: the burning effigy. Scott represents what is left of that football player icon. He’s also a total sleaze who, for some reason, has a fully stocked bar in his trunk and a collection of class rings to toss out like party favors. His karma comes so quick, he watches his dates face cave in like a sinkhole, then gets swallowed up himself. 

Scott’s death felt like a high-five. The demise of the jocks resonated with me; pointed out the bad in both of them- how chivalry could be just as boring as sleaze. These men weren’t special, they were poignant representations of the type of boys we all fall in love with: The white knight, who uses his chivalry as a means to assert dominance, and the sleaze- who uses sheer charisma to assert dominance. Watching both of these boys literally melt away within the first 30 minutes felt like a deliberate act of kicking that tired, overused trope out of the picture. Which just leaves us with leather-jacket McGee; Brian Flagg.

Another one of my favorite scenes is when Meg chews Brian for being so damn apathetic. She looks him in the face, searching for help in what is a helpless situation, and he totally dumps on her. His fuck-me-fuck-you attitude completely ignites her. She said what I was thinking as a girl:

“You act like you're different, you put on this big show, but you're just like everybody else in this town, you're full of SHIT, Flagg!”

This is the moment where Meg completely rejects what would be a characteristic stereotype. 

It is so important, how her exhaustion eclipses her next-door nature. How as a female character, she blinks away the obscurity of the male-savior trope and calls a spade a spade. Dressing rebellion up in a leather jacket doesn’t make a hero. A hero spits in the face of apathy, the way Meg does to Brian, confronting his bullshit “I don’t care” attitude with her own intuition. Pretenders don’t survive horror movies. Hell, even heroes don’t survive horror movies always, and Meg makes that poignantly clear by throwing Brian’s crybaby hungry boy attitude back into his face. The apocalypse is a little more urgent than your abandonment anxiety or survival complex, Brian. This is final girl energy, that utter rejection of fate, that “fuck fate, I will change it with my bare hands” sense of responsibility. Meg is a small town girl, a small town hero- and a bad motherfucking bitch.

So, needless to say, Brian quits pouting and hops on board. Is it because he’s got a thing for Meg? Does she remind him of his place in this spiraling catastrophe? Is she a love interest? His motivation felt driven by his attraction to her, perhaps his own responsibility- feeling obligated to shield the token sacrificial lamb from an inevitable end. Whatever it is that drives him, he resigns himself to helping her- and the horrors star to accumulate around them. Including the death of a cook (sucked down the drain almost comically), and the death that gave me a panic attack: the sweetheart waitress Fran Hewett (played by the lovely Candy Clark). 

Fran’s death was scary because it fully described, without mystery, what it felt like to be aware of your own approaching death. She scrabbles in the phone booth like a trapped animal, dialing 911 in search of Sheriff Herb. When his head floats into her line of sight, half-dissolved and digesting within the Blob, terror sets in like a death rattle. The shots of this scene are claustrophobic and stifling. We feel her raw terror, we see her as the individual who cracks in the face of death- the real sacrificial lamb of the film. Her role, though small, was innocent and wholesome. We’ve all known a waitress by name, we’ve all been treated special by that woman who seems to channel maternal energy. Watching her die feels like peering down the barrel of a loaded gun. She braces herself against the booth and then the glass breaks, engulfing poor Fran in a mass of agonizing pink gloop. 

This scene was filmed using a mock-booth that was only 3ft tall, with an articulated doll made of Candy. They blasted the doll with air mortars to create what was the world-ending scene of the film for me. I myself am claustrophobic, and this entire experience sat with me long after I watched the movie. I would have nightmares of being trapped inside a photo booth, surrounded by pink, waiting to be burned away to slime.

The blob gets bigger, angrier, and more effective. It infiltrates the local theater through the air ducts and wreaks havoc for a strobe-festered horror on the crowd inside. Children are swallowed up, girls peel off the floor like melted bubble gum, and our main characters juggle the chaos with the introduction of the fucking government.

That’s right, the Blob is a scientific experiment gone AWOL. I’ll give kudos to Brian for his role in their involvement. Where Meg believed in the integrity of the government, Brian sets her straight: these people are worse than the thing they created. I’m not trying to say not to trust the government (now I am, don’t trust the government), but the film definitely winks at what is a very real concern. The danger of government experiments, what would happen if something like this actually took place? My first thought was that they were going to nuke the city, blow it to smithereens the way we saw in Return of the Living Dead. However, it seems that they don’t intend to do this, instead these hazmat poindexters want to sacrifice the whole town to the “specimen”. They scare the public into believing Brian and Meg are “infected” with a pathogen related to the Blob. One of my favorite supporting characters, the lead scientist Dr. Meddows, does his best to manipulate the public into a sense of ease. He seals Meg, her little brother, Brian, and a fellow colleague in the sewer in order to preserve his specimen. Human life is expendable. He meets his deserved end by literally getting sucked out of his suit (a comical, entertaining way to see someone go).

I won’t leave without mentioning the death of the melt veteran from Robocop; actor Paul McCrane’s deputy Bill Briggs. Dude literally got folded in half hamburger-style and was never seen again. Props to that effect, was very cool. 

Like the blob in the original, this blob doesn’t do the cold. Long story short, they run a truck full of CO2 into the big pink mess and freeze it into tiny shards. The good reverend from the beginning has lost his mind throughout all of this, and I suppose, in honor of open endings, saves a piece of the blob for the day his senile ass wants to bring about a second coming.

Though Meg and Brian both live through the entire ordeal, the film is still satisfying. You root for them the whole time, you bite your fingernails and wait for the moment a pink tendril comes out to end it all. 

The Halloween movie had underwhelmed me as a child. I wasn’t checking every room of the house for a masked man. I was looking in my sink and my shower for signs of a color out of space. I could rationalize a murder. I couldn’t make sense of a manufactured organism getting out of control. I couldn’t rationalize or shake away the fear of being enveloped in viscous sentient acid. 

Say what you will about The Blob remake. Say it isn’t as influential, you’re lying. Say it isn’t as entertaining, you’re definitely lying. The Blob is a hilarious half-satire about the things that scare us the most: things we can’t understand nor control. It taps into the same vein of supernatural fear that cosmic classics like The Thing and The Fly boast about. 

If you haven’t seen it; do.

If you’ve seen it but not in a while: go back, sit down, pop some corn, settle in, and take it in. Take it in for the silly filming errors, the drifting booms and clockable reflections, the subtle mistakes in FX. Appreciate it for what it is, a sci-fi thriller that isn’t afraid to make fun of where it came from. 

Stop spending as much time comparing films that pushed the limits of what are now very modern special effects. Appreciate the handiwork of the practical magic involved in making this shit come to life. With the rise of CGI, films like The Blob are going to become increasingly more difficult to find. That’s not necessarily a knock on CGI, I have appreciation for it as a separate medium- but practical effects will always have me by my balls.

Enjoy craftsmanship, watch The Blob.

[slrlounge1]

Best Camera Straps and Holsters of 2018

If you’re like me, even if you are proud to show off the branding of your shiny new camera, the strap that is generally included with most DSLRs just doesn’t cut it when it comes to your style, form, and function requirements. The strap you’ll need while shooting a red carpet or wedding will often be totally different from the one you use while hiking with friends & family. The good news is there are an incredible amount of third-party straps & holsters to choose from.

To help you decide which strap and/or holster is right for you, we’ve created our list of the Best Camera Straps and Holsters for Photographers, updated annually. These lists are based on our personal experience as working photographers combined with extensive research from other reputable sources online.

If we missed anything, or if you have any recommendations on what we should consider for next year, please comment below!

Best Camera Straps

Just like all of our other photo & video accessories, most photographers will have at least two different camera straps in their arsenal that gets switched out depending on the situation. Myself, I’ve got six different straps and holsters and I use each and every one of them. In fact, now that I’m writing this article, I realize that a few of them are due to be retired and replaced with updated versions.

Peak Design Slide Sling Strap (Our Choice)

Our Winner for Best Camera Strap.

The Peak Design Slide, (or Slide Lite), Camera Sling Strap is one of the favorites on the market and for most people we’ve spoken too. It’s a versatile strap that can be used as a standard neck strap as well as a sling or shoulder strap.

It comes with several attachments to work with a plethora of camera systems and integrates seamlessly with the Peak Design Bags & Clip System. The Slide strap is internally padded and both (the Slide and Slide Lite) are made from nylon webbing. There is a grippy side designed for when you’re wearing the strap as a shoulder/sling to help prevent slipping. Both straps have dual quick-adjusters to provide quick and easy adjustments to the length of the strap with easy reconfigurations.

Check the prices from our preferred retailers below:

Amazon

B&H

[REWIND: The Best Camera Bags In 2018 According To SLR Lounge]

BlackRapid Curve Breath Camera Strap

Our 2nd Place Winner for Best Camera Strap.

BlackRapid has quickly become one of the most trusted names in camera straps. The Curve Breath is an update to one of their original straps that improves upon its previous model with a new mesh material to improve airflow (or “breathability”) and still offer an incredibly comfortable padding.

The cross-body strap, which is optimized for female photographers, places the camera at waist level to give you quick and easy access while offering you the ability to go “hands free,” letting it hang safety and securely when you need a break or have to use your hands for something else.

Check the prices from our preferred retailers below:

Amazon

B&H

ONA Presidio Camera Strap

Our 3rd Place Winner for Best Camera Strap.

The Ona Presidio Camera Strap is our choice for a sleek and retro-looking camera strap to match the rest of your gear and style. Made with Italian Tanned Leather, this strap is also padded with soft neoprene and chrome buckles to allow for easy length adjustments.

The quality material in this strap will ensure that even the heaviest of gear won’t be too much of a strain over the course of a day. This strap is also available in a waxed-canvas design for $30 cheaper if you’re looking for a similar style on a budget.

Check the prices from our preferred retailers below:

Amazon

B&H

Best Camera Holsters

While some holsters are technically still a part of the strap category, they’ll provide you with some extra versatility and comfort that a “normal” camera strap can’t provide. Used on their own or in tandem with the camera straps mentioned above, the holster systems will give you a “quick draw” feel that you won’t soon forget.

Holdfast Gear Money Maker Holster (Our Choice)

Our Winner for Best Camera Holster.

The Holdfast Gear Money Maker is a sleek and stylish dual camera holster that not only looks fantastic but functions even better. If you’re a wedding or event photographer, you’re used to having to carry around multiple cameras and lenses, so back & neck pain are nothing new, but the Money Maker helps alleviate that.

This strap is designed to carry one, two, or three cameras all while evenly distributing the weight to reduce the pressure on your lower back.

Available in a variety of colors, (and materials now), the Holdfast Gear Money Maker also boasts a clip design used to attach a sail to a boat, giving you an extra sense of security for your gear.

Check the prices from our preferred retailers below:

Amazon

B&H

[REWIND: Camera Strap Review | Money Maker Camera Harness By HoldFast Gear]

Spider Camera SpiderPro Single Camera System V2 Holster

Our 2nd Place Winner for Best Camera Holster.

Spider Camera’s SpiderPro Single Camera System V2 Holster is a solid favorite among photographers who prefer to not wear straps for their system. On top of the comfort bonus, you no longer need to worry about neck burn and chafing from a full day of running around with one or more straps over your back. The hip holster system frees your upper body by making use of a “utility-belt” style with a quick draw locking system, giving you both quick access and secure safety for your gear.

The belt is padded for comfort and system wear prevention with a triple-action lock system to ensure it doesn’t unbuckle accidently. And for those concerned about the mounting plate preventing you from attaching additional accessories, fear not! The mounting plate system is designed so that you can attach tripod mount/plate or similar accessory as needed for quick shifts in your shoot.

Check the prices from our preferred retailers below:

Amazon

B&H

Peak Design Capture Pro Camera Clip V3

Our 3rd Place Winner for Best Camera Holster.

One of the great things about the Peak Design Capture Camera Clip V3 is you can attach your camera to pretty much any existing belt or strap in your arsenal. Strap onto your pants belt, your backpack straps, or some of the Peak Design bags have specific reinforced loops designed for the Clip.

This system uses an Arca Swiss style quick release plate that can withstand up to 200 lbs of force while still providing instant access to your camera with its quick-release lock. The plate can also be used directly as a tripod mount if needed, giving you some extra creative freedom.

Check the prices from our preferred retailers below:

Amazon

B&H

How to Choose The Best Camera Strap or Holster

The thing to keep in mind when choosing your strap and/or holster is the size of your camera, as well as the entire kit that you use on a day-to-day basis. While something like the Holdfast Gear Money Maker may catch your eye for its style and design, if you’re only using a single small mirrorless system, it may be a tad overkill for your current needs. Thankfully, the main part of the selection process will come down to how it fits on you, personally.

You’ll have to be mindful of the room your gear will need to sit properly in the strap/holster and on your body. If a particular belt or strap is too tight, it’ll be pretty hard to get to and use your camera quickly. If it’s too loose, you run the risk of bumping and damaging your gear.

Be sure to try these things on for yourself to find the right fit for you and then start evaluating what additional features you want based on your work and personal habits.

The other things to consider are the materials the straps and holsters are made from, how adjustable are they, if they can support attachments, and the number of cameras (or accessories) they can accommodate.

Summary

Here is a list of all the gear discussed in this article:

Peak Design Slide Sling Strap (Our Choice)

BlackRapid Curve Breath Camera Strap

ONA Presidio Camera Strap

Holdfast Gear Money Maker Holster (Our Choice)

Spider Camera SpiderPro Single Camera System V2 Holster

Peak Design Capture Pro Camera Clip V3

What did we miss? Please give us feedback so that we can check out other bags and keep this list up-to-date.

from SLR Lounge http://bit.ly/2CFx5ut via IFTTT

[lottiexrose-blog]

Plots Galore

Dear Soldier. [male only]

Muse A picks up the address of a soldier, Muse B, stationed overseas in a local charity program. They send a care package and a letter, but don’t really expect to hear back from them. Weeks pass, they forget, and then in their mailbox they find an envelope from the soldier.

It goes from there, and sooner or later, that random soldier, becomes, to Muse A, their soldier. Letter writing leads to phone calls, phone calls lead to skype sessions, weeks folding into months. Muse B excitedly let’s Muse A know they’ll be coming home, and now they face the decision, will they meet?

Muse A or Muse B is in a relationship already. Muse B gets injured and is sent home, with Muse A deciding to help care for them.

The Artist and Their Muse. [male or female]

They sit across from you and you wonder how they exist. You want to break them down until they’re nothing but foundations, searching for cracks in their make-up to figure out the how, why, where. They are beautiful, elegant, so bold or timid, all soft curve or harsh angles. It’s the curve of their lips, the flutter of their eyelashes, the blush on their cheeks. It’s the paleness or the darkness of their skin, the folds, the bruises, the scars. It’s the warm hands, the cold hands, the soft hands, the calloused hands. It’s the stories on their skin.

They are beautiful. They are objects. You love them as one might fall in love with a painting. You can try to understand, but you’ll love them for what you see and what you imagine. Not them. You don’t even know them. But you love them all the same, so intensely and deeply and passionately, in ways that will never truly make sense.

[whoever takes this storyline will be the muse]

Be Wild and Beautiful. [male or female]

Muse A and Muse B have been together in life for many years, and life has come before romance. Muse A has begun to sink into a state of sadness, withdrawn and at times self-loathing. Muse B cannot stand to see the one they love in such a state and so they decide that a weekend away is in order. Not just any weekend away either, they will stay in a grand old mansion; there will be romance, there will be formal dress up, they will dance and know what it is to be in love, even if just for a night.

Twist: Muse A and B are friends. Muse B is in love with Muse A and this grand gesture is a declaration of their love.

Show Me Your Scars. [male or female]

Muse A is a paramedic. One night they are called to a house after a domestic disturbance call. Muse B is lying on the carpet in the living room in need of medical assistance.

Muse A does what they can for Muse B and when they arrive at the hospital feels unable to just leave them there alone.

Muse B’s recover takes some time and every single day when Muse A is not on shift they come to the hospital room to visit Muse B and help them however they can. They bring flowers and books, TV shows, board games, sneak in the food that Muse B likes.

The two become good friends over that time, and those feelings grow for Muse A, they begin to fall in love with Muse B.

The night before Muse B is to be released the above exchange happens and Muse B kisses Muse A.

Are the feelings reciprocated? Can Muse B open up about it all and let Muse A help them heal more than just their physical scars?

I Don’t Want to be Alone. [male or female]

Muse A is known to most as the weirdo on the beach. Muse A is seen most days sitting alone down the beach, often at sunset, journal in hand writing or painting or just staring at the waves.

Most people assume Muse A is an eccentric writer or artist and think little of it or of Muse A, leaving them to their own thing.

Muse A is in fact cursed with their loneliness, the water at the beach is the only thing that calms the storm in their soul and makes them feel part of the world. They watch day turn to night, writing about their dream for their own life to transform as each day does, to change as the tide does. But days go by and Muse A remains a lone, like a grain of sand on the beach that no one ever notices even though it makes up the greater picture.

Muse B works at a cafe near the beach and notices Muse A each day as they head for the beach and sit, barely moving. Muse B feels a strange affinity with Muse A and is trying to get beyond their own crippling shyness and approach Muse A, before the loneliness claims Muse A.

By Candlelight. [male only]

Muse A and Muse B have been friends for years and secretly in love with each other, though neither has ever had the courage to tell the other or cross the line that will take them from friends to lover. The fear of losing their friend has always been too strong. Muse A has opted instead to date while Muse B just pines away for Muse A.

One night they are watching movies together, it’s storming outside and the storm causes a power outage. They set up candles and cuddle up together under a mountain of blankets. In the candlelight they start talking about secrets they have and Muse B admits they are in love with Muse A and they hate Muse A’s partner for having them.

By the light of the candles they share their first kiss and as it finishes the power flicks back on as if the power went off just to get to them that moment. Muse A now has to decide where their heart truly lies and where they go from here.

Muse B knows they can’t go back now, it’s all or nothing. If Muse A won’t be with them, they will have to walk away and break their own heart to begin again.

Protect the Child. [male only]

Muse A is pregnant, the father of her child, a scientist at a local genetics firm,  is acting strange and she follows him to a hotel in town. Muse A knows what floor he has gone to but is unable to follow too closely due to being heavily pregnant and loses them not knowing what room they’ve gone to.

She starts door knocking expecting to find him having an affair. The second door she knocks on Muse B answers, for a moment they look at each other like they know each other and then Muse A keeps door knocking. Two doors down Muse A knocks and a man with a gun answers the door and tries to grab her.

Muse B appears  grabbing Muse A before getting her to safety.

Muse B is an agent in place monitoring a meeting that Muse A’s partner is attending. Muse A has been discussed, the child the subject of the meeting. Muse B must now protect Muse A and the unborn child and stop the child’s father, and the people he is doing business with, from getting hold of the child. The buyers planning to remove the child and smuggle it out of the country.

Muse B must get Muse A out of the hotel and somewhere safe before she falls into their hands.

Twist: Muse A goes into labor, and Muse B is there for her through it all, helping her give birth in a safe house. Muse A and B fall in love.

Forever & Always. [personal favorite | male only]

Muse A & Muse B have known each other since they were in the playpen. They have been everything to each other, no matter what it was the other needed. Since they grew up in the same circle, he also comes from a family with a lot of money.

When Muse A moved to the city for college, they mostly lost contact – until she went home for her father’s funeral. She was in a really bad place, and he came to the city and stayed with her for a few months or so, filling whatever role she needed at the time. It’s been 2 ½ years since he went back home, and they haven’t spoken since. Things happened between them while he was here, and Muse A regrets using him to fill the void in such a way, but can’t help herself when it comes to him.

His part to play now, is that he has a business opportunity in the city (or a different reason), so he relocates. He happens into her place of business, unknowingly of course. This is where they reconnect, awkwardly considering they know each other’s deepest, darkest secrets. They fall back into the relationship they had when they were younger, with the obvious stresses of adulthood, business, and actual romantic relationships.

Keep in mind: As they were growing up, he would be whatever she needed. He’d play the role of protective big brother at times, other times they would be lovers, etc.

The Wrong Place at the Wrong Time. [male or female]

Muse A works at a little book store, they love working there, it suits their quiet personality and books have always been their best friends. One night they forget their phone at work and head back in opening the door in time to get covered in blood as their boss murders someone. They discover that the business has always been a front for more illegal dealings and now that they know their boss wants them shut up. When Muse A runs off, their boss notifies the police and pins the murder on them.

Muse B is a bounty hunter and gets the call about Muse A and goes after them. Muse B is the first to track down Muse A. They easily capture Muse A and start to take them in. Muse A tells Muse B everything hoping that Muse B will believe them and help them. Muse B does believe the story and decides to protect Muse A. They go on the run from both law enforcement, other bounty hunters and Muse A’s boss and their associates.

I Dreamed A Dream. [male or female]

Every morning when muse a wakes up, they can always remember one aspect of their dream. within each dream, the same person keeps popping up. They’ll be working in a cafe which muse a goes to with their friends, or performing at a concert which muse a is watching, or starring in a tv show, even just a passer-by in the street. The freakiest part is that muse a doesn’t know this person. They’ve never seen them in real life - until one eventful day.

Muse b is introduced as the new barista at the coffee shop muse a works in, and muse a can’t help but recognise them from somewhere. Completely bemused by this mysterious person, muse a watches the new employee closely, staring at them and trying to figure out who they are.

One day, muse a figures out why it is that muse b seems so familiar, and confronts them about it.

muse b has also been seeing muse a in their dreams, and has been avoiding them because they are freaked out by them. once confronted about it, muse b fesses up, and the two need to figure out what to do with this newfound information.

Fairy-tales & Fatigues. [male only]

When a soldier returns home from active duty, he shares a joyful reunion with his significant other. Romance rekindles the moment the pair sets eyes on each other; for a time, it’s as if they never spent a minute apart, though it’s been several years since they’ve had more than a video chat to hold them over. The lovers are finally able to start building a life together and plan their fairy-tale wedding. Only, it doesn’t take but a few weeks for the soldier’s experiences abroad to start impeding their efforts. Gradually, he becomes listless and quiet. Sometimes, he’s eerily distant and angry without provocation, bordering on violent. Saying that the adjustment to civilian living is more challenging then he first assumed it would be is an understatement.

But the couple’s love is strong and neither is willing to give up just because there’s a few demons to fight. At their breaking point, the soldier’s love takes him to the spot where they first met. Then and there, they make a pact to stand together and never fall apart.  [Things could continue with a wedding, maybe kids, etc., and then something happens that takes him back to his PTSD. At this point he does become increasingly violent/abusive, though due to their pact, she vows to stay with him even if it means her life is on the line.]

RA to the Rescue [male or female]

Muse A is an RA (Resident Advisor) for a freshman dorm on campus. Muse B is a freshman in Muse A’s dorm who loves nothing more than to break the rules, which happens to irk Muse A’s by-the-book nerves. When Muse B’s parents drop by campus for an unexpected visit, Muse B is in no shape to see them because they were partying so hard last night. Seeing that Muse B is finally about to get busted for their bad behavior,Muse A quickly runs interference to give Muse B time to get themselves presentable. The visit goes well enough not to draw suspicion thanks to Muse A’s quick thinking. When Muse B’s parents leave, Muse B breathes a sigh of relief– until Muse A points out that Muse B now owes them.

Partners in Crime [male or female]

Muse A, a tenacious crime boss, is frustrated by yet another news headline about a big crime bust in the city which has ties to their own illicit operations. It seems that the mayor’s been making good on his promise to eradicate crime as of late (probably because he’s looking to run for Senator in the upcoming elections) and that ultimately spells trouble for Muse A. It’s only a matter of time before someone from the Mayor’s camp comes sniffing around Muse A’s nightclub, which operates as a front for their money laundering, but Muse Awants the Mayor dealt with before that happens. As fate would have it, Muse A isn’t the only one who wants the Mayor gone.

Muse B, the Mayor’s child, sees right through the tele-prompted speeches, contrived family photo ops, and the empty promises of a crime-free city. Muse B has seen and heard their father conducting his own illegal practices and knows firsthand that the Mayor is not a good man. Muse B has lost all respect for their corrupt father and only feels disdain and fear toward him. It’s by coincidence that Muse B enters Muse A’s nightclub after a volatile confrontation with their father, but it isn’t a coincidence when Muse A recognizes Muse B and invites them to the VIP area to talk. In this secluded area of the club, Muse B spills all of their concerns to Muse A and Muse A offers protection in exchange for information. Muse B agrees to spy on their father for Muse A with the understanding that, at the opportune moment, Muse A will get rid of the Mayor.

A Little Surprise. [male only]

Muse A is annoyed when someone rings their doorbell late at night. When they answer the door, they’re even more annoyed to come face-to-face with their ex,Muse B. Muse B, typically smug and rude, looks panicked and makes a plea for Muse A’s help. Bitter about the sour ending of their relationship by Muse B’s fault, Muse A is poised to slam the door shut in Muse B’s face. Just before they can, a pint-sized kid peers out from behind Muse B’s legs and asks to use the bathroom. Muse A may loathe Muse B, but they aren’t heartless, so they let the child in and begrudgingly also Muse B. While the child is in the bathroom, Muse A demands an explanation from their ex. Muse B breaks down and explains that the child is theirs but they only recently found out. The kid was left at their door by their other parent and they’re freaking out because they have no idea how to raise the child, especially not alone. Muse B came to Muse A for help because they have no one else to turn to. Muse A is sympathetic, mainly for the child, and only because of this does Muse A agree to help.  

A Parent Trap. [male or female]

Unable to afford a plane ticket home this year, Muse A resigns to grabbing a TV dinner for one at the local supermarket and flying solo. They don’t expect to bump into their ex’s (Muse B) parents in the frozen food section nor do they expect to receive an invitation to spend the holidays at their cabin in the mountains. Muse A honestly doesn’t think it’s a good idea to accept, but when Muse B’s parents insist that Muse B will be happy to see them, Muse A agrees to join. Muse A packs a bag and drives up the cabin the following afternoon, hopeful for a pleasant reunion with Muse B, whom they still have feelings for. Only when Muse B answers the door in stunned silence, it’s immediately clear that Muse A is the last person they expected to see on this family vacation. It doesn’t take long for Muse A and Muse B to realize that Muse B’s parents are scheming to get them back together. But will the parents’ efforts—paired with a romantic atmosphere and plenty of opportunities for cozying up by the fire—do the trick?  

Camp Do Over. [male or female]

Years after graduating college, Muse A feels stuck.  Working a nine to five desk job, every day seems the same and they can’t remember a time where they were actually happy with their career.  It’s time for a change, but they don’t know where to even begin as far as starting to make it goes.  When they overhear a conversation two coworkers are having in the break room about a summer camp for adults, however, their interest is piqued.  A quick google search and five hundred dollars later, they’ve signed up for a week in the mountains with complete strangers that promises to make them feel like they did years ago, when things were easier.

Camp is everything they hope it would be too.  From the moment they arrive, all the stress from work and life in general is completely forgotten.  Muse B is a counselor at the camp, roughly the same age as Muse A, who helps show them that they still have the ability to enjoy the simple things.  

Lean On. [male or female]

Muse A, who was diagnosed with seizure disorder in their early teens, has finally succeeded in convincing their parents that they’re ready to go away for college. The family is concerned about this decision since what started out as simple absence seizures (where Muse A merely appeared to be daydreaming for several moments/minutes) has progressed to include more serious symptoms, such as involuntarily muscle jerks and full-body convulsions. Muse A has been managing their condition responsibly for several months leading up to this change and wants to further prove to their family as well as themself that they’re not fragile and they can be independent. Being so distant from home, starting over in a new environment with no familiar faces and with unforeseeable stresses is going to be challenge, but Muse A is going to give it their best shot.

Muse B is a fellow student who shares an introductory course with Muse A; this is their first time being far from home as well. One day when Muse A begins to convulse in the middle of a lecture, Muse B is the only one to spring into action rather than stare in confusion/fear. When the episode is over and Muse A and Muse B are able to talk, Muse B shares that they have a relative who also has epilepsy and that’s how they knew how to help. Muse A is embarrassed at first, doubting if they made the right decision to move away from home, but Muse B provides encouragement and offers companionship. Muse B is happy to look out for Muse A when necessary, and Muse A is happy to have a friend who won’t treat them like a patient like others so often do.

Sea-side Secrets. [parental role | male or female]

It’s the final summer before Muse A and all of their friends move in separate directions, figuratively and literally, in pursuit of higher education, job opportunities, etc. So Muse A and friends pool all of their money together and rent a house in the nearest seaside town to have an unforgettable last hurrah. When the group arrives at their destination, they’re a bit underwhelmed by the house. The accommodations aren’t as pristine as the online ad claimed, but it’s on the beach and the boardwalk within walking distance offers plenty to do so it’s not a total loss. Restless and low on groceries well after midnight, Muse A and pals stroll to a 24 hour snack stand/diner at the start of the nearby pier. When someone at the table sends a dish back to the kitchen, the cook (Muse B) comes to the table with a re-fire and a sincere apology. Muse A can’t help but have a weird feeling wash over them as the friendly cook chats with their group and offers them advice on things to do while they’re in town. There’s an eerie resemblance and particular mannerisms that Muse A recognizes as similar to their own. It takes Muse A a few days and a little bit of lowkey stalking, but they ultimately come to a stunning realization. The kind cook is actually Muse A’s long-lost parent whom they thought had passed away because that’s what they were led to believe by the single parent who raised them.

Does Muse A spend the rest of their summer trying to avoid Muse B and failing or actively seeking answers and pushing to create a connection? Will Muse B want to get to know Muse A if/when the truth comes out? Have they known about Muse A’s existence this whole time?

[slrlounge1]

Best Camera Straps and Holsters of 2018

If you’re like me, even if you are proud to show off the branding of your shiny new camera, the strap that is generally included with most DSLRs just doesn’t cut it when it comes to your style, form, and function requirements. The strap you’ll need while shooting a red carpet or wedding will often be totally different from the one you use while hiking with friends & family. The good news is there are an incredible amount of third-party straps & holsters to choose from.

To help you decide which strap and/or holster is right for you, we’ve created our list of the Best Camera Straps and Holsters for Photographers, updated annually. These lists are based on our personal experience as working photographers combined with extensive research from other reputable sources online.

If we missed anything, or if you have any recommendations on what we should consider for next year, please comment below!

Best Camera Straps

Just like all of our other photo & video accessories, most photographers will have at least two different camera straps in their arsenal that gets switched out depending on the situation. Myself, I’ve got six different straps and holsters and I use each and every one of them. In fact, now that I’m writing this article, I realize that a few of them are due to be retired and replaced with updated versions.

Peak Design Slide Sling Strap (Our Choice)

Our Winner for Best Camera Strap.

The Peak Design Slide, (or Slide Lite), Camera Sling Strap is one of the favorites on the market and for most people we’ve spoken too. It’s a versatile strap that can be used as a standard neck strap as well as a sling or shoulder strap.

It comes with several attachments to work with a plethora of camera systems and integrates seamlessly with the Peak Design Bags & Clip System. The Slide strap is internally padded and both (the Slide and Slide Lite) are made from nylon webbing. There is a grippy side designed for when you’re wearing the strap as a shoulder/sling to help prevent slipping. Both straps have dual quick-adjusters to provide quick and easy adjustments to the length of the strap with easy reconfigurations.

Check the prices from our preferred retailers below:

Amazon

B&H

[REWIND: The Best Camera Bags In 2018 According To SLR Lounge]

BlackRapid Curve Breath Camera Strap

Our 2nd Place Winner for Best Camera Strap.

BlackRapid has quickly become one of the most trusted names in camera straps. The Curve Breath is an update to one of their original straps that improves upon its previous model with a new mesh material to improve airflow (or “breathability”) and still offer an incredibly comfortable padding.

The cross-body strap, which is optimized for female photographers, places the camera at waist level to give you quick and easy access while offering you the ability to go “hands free,” letting it hang safety and securely when you need a break or have to use your hands for something else.

Check the prices from our preferred retailers below:

Amazon

B&H

ONA Presidio Camera Strap

Our 3rd Place Winner for Best Camera Strap.

The Ona Presidio Camera Strap is our choice for a sleek and retro-looking camera strap to match the rest of your gear and style. Made with Italian Tanned Leather, this strap is also padded with soft neoprene and chrome buckles to allow for easy length adjustments.

The quality material in this strap will ensure that even the heaviest of gear won’t be too much of a strain over the course of a day. This strap is also available in a waxed-canvas design for $30 cheaper if you’re looking for a similar style on a budget.

Check the prices from our preferred retailers below:

Amazon

B&H

Best Camera Holsters

While some holsters are technically still a part of the strap category, they’ll provide you with some extra versatility and comfort that a “normal” camera strap can’t provide. Used on their own or in tandem with the camera straps mentioned above, the holster systems will give you a “quick draw” feel that you won’t soon forget.

Holdfast Gear Money Maker Holster (Our Choice)

Our Winner for Best Camera Holster.

The Holdfast Gear Money Maker is a sleek and stylish dual camera holster that not only looks fantastic but functions even better. If you’re a wedding or event photographer, you’re used to having to carry around multiple cameras and lenses, so back & neck pain are nothing new, but the Money Maker helps alleviate that.

This strap is designed to carry one, two, or three cameras all while evenly distributing the weight to reduce the pressure on your lower back.

Available in a variety of colors, (and materials now), the Holdfast Gear Money Maker also boasts a clip design used to attach a sail to a boat, giving you an extra sense of security for your gear.

Check the prices from our preferred retailers below:

Amazon

B&H

[REWIND: Camera Strap Review | Money Maker Camera Harness By HoldFast Gear]

Spider Camera SpiderPro Single Camera System V2 Holster

Our 2nd Place Winner for Best Camera Holster.

Spider Camera’s SpiderPro Single Camera System V2 Holster is a solid favorite among photographers who prefer to not wear straps for their system. On top of the comfort bonus, you no longer need to worry about neck burn and chafing from a full day of running around with one or more straps over your back. The hip holster system frees your upper body by making use of a “utility-belt” style with a quick draw locking system, giving you both quick access and secure safety for your gear.

The belt is padded for comfort and system wear prevention with a triple-action lock system to ensure it doesn’t unbuckle accidently. And for those concerned about the mounting plate preventing you from attaching additional accessories, fear not! The mounting plate system is designed so that you can attach tripod mount/plate or similar accessory as needed for quick shifts in your shoot.

Check the prices from our preferred retailers below:

Amazon

B&H

Peak Design Capture Pro Camera Clip V3

Our 3rd Place Winner for Best Camera Holster.

One of the great things about the Peak Design Capture Camera Clip V3 is you can attach your camera to pretty much any existing belt or strap in your arsenal. Strap onto your pants belt, your backpack straps, or some of the Peak Design bags have specific reinforced loops designed for the Clip.

This system uses an Arca Swiss style quick release plate that can withstand up to 200 lbs of force while still providing instant access to your camera with its quick-release lock. The plate can also be used directly as a tripod mount if needed, giving you some extra creative freedom.

Check the prices from our preferred retailers below:

Amazon

B&H

How to Choose The Best Camera Strap or Holster

The thing to keep in mind when choosing your strap and/or holster is the size of your camera, as well as the entire kit that you use on a day-to-day basis. While something like the Holdfast Gear Money Maker may catch your eye for its style and design, if you’re only using a single small mirrorless system, it may be a tad overkill for your current needs. Thankfully, the main part of the selection process will come down to how it fits on you, personally.

You’ll have to be mindful of the room your gear will need to sit properly in the strap/holster and on your body. If a particular belt or strap is too tight, it’ll be pretty hard to get to and use your camera quickly. If it’s too loose, you run the risk of bumping and damaging your gear.

Be sure to try these things on for yourself to find the right fit for you and then start evaluating what additional features you want based on your work and personal habits.

The other things to consider are the materials the straps and holsters are made from, how adjustable are they, if they can support attachments, and the number of cameras (or accessories) they can accommodate.

Summary

Here is a list of all the gear discussed in this article:

Peak Design Slide Sling Strap (Our Choice)

BlackRapid Curve Breath Camera Strap

ONA Presidio Camera Strap

Holdfast Gear Money Maker Holster (Our Choice)

Spider Camera SpiderPro Single Camera System V2 Holster

Peak Design Capture Pro Camera Clip V3

What did we miss? Please give us feedback so that we can check out other bags and keep this list up-to-date.

from SLR Lounge https://www.slrlounge.com/best-camera-straps-and-holsters/ via IFTTT