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listen-to-the-inner-walrus · 1 year ago

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so i have a soft spot for the 2006 film poseidon which is a film i reckon about 24 other people remember existing since warner bros lost like $70million on it, and i just like, need to talk about it.

its a loose remake of a 1972 film, and overall, its a very silly film, however its also connected to massive advancements in oceanography, and through that connection, also connected to an incident that could have killed around 10000 american recruits during ww2 in less than an hour.

and i cannot stop thinking about this stupid film so please enjoy this stupidly long post no one is going to read because I Need To Infodump.

so poseidon (2006)...

it's a very of its time disaster film with your group of plucky survivors trying to overcome more and more obstacles as they desperately fight for safety. among them, youve got kurt russell as an ex nyc firefighter and mayor because its 2006, of course you do. emmy rossums here because of course she is (again, its 2006), and surprise richard dreyfus is here as a gay naval architect who survives the film. fergie even has a cameo and its honestly a crime that the song she sings for it is not on spotify.

but the film is also very much not a of its time disaster film, because production decided to not update the setting. and i have absolutely no idea why. and its confused me for years now because its an easy fix.

see the 1972 film (the poseidon adventure) and the book its based on, both take place on an ocean liner, and that makes sense for that time.

contrary to popular beliefs, ocean liners =/= cruise ships.

during the late 19th century and most of the 20th century, ocean liners were all the rage, because if you wanted to go from liverpool to new york, they were your best bet.

with the invention of steam engines, they were no longer dependent on weather, and once wood was swapped for steel, they were at serious less risk of sinking. this meant they could run reliable trips from point a to point b and back again. they were essentially buses for the ocean. thats what titanic was btw.

while less popular due to jet travel in the 70s, people were still using them. the ss michelangelo sailed her maiden voyage in 1965, and ran for ten years still. it does make sense for both the book and film to take place on an ocean liner.

it does not make sense for the 2006 iteration to take place on an ocean liner, but it does. and its not even an ocean liner turned cruise ship like the rms queen mary 2 or the ss france/ss norway. there were no ocean liner only businesses operating in 2006 because you can now take a plane rather than a five day trip across the atlantic.

but in poseidon (2006), the rms poseidon is not a cruise ship. it is an ocean liner, and designating it as rms means it is also delivering international royal mail. theres even a plot about a stowaway aboard the ship which is just a tad bit bizarre. its such an odd choice not to simply update it so its a cruise ship. most people dont know the difference between them, theres no reason to specify that it is an ocean liner.

(its especially odd because the gay naval architect apparently knows the vessel very well which, sir, who is paying you to draft up ocean liner designs in 2006??)

weirdly enough though, the film does decide to update the actual cause for the disaster, which will bring us back to the ww2 point.

the general gist of the story is that some environmental event causes the ship to capsize (turn upside down in the water), and our heroes have to escape the ship.

i have attempted to read the book, but i didnt enjoy it and i was getting a feeling that the author, paul gallico, was antisemitic. he was. he specifically expressed it by saying jewish folks love basketball because its a game specialised for tricky characters, to paraphrase. yeah no theres also basketball antisemitism going on.

in the book, its an underwater earthquake that causes the ship to capsize. the quake created a 90ft wave (put a pin in that, we'll get back to it) which i believe hit the ship side-on, after the ship fell into a deep trough.

i have no idea if this is possible irl as im just an autistic with a special interest in ocean liners.

in the 1972 film, its a tsunami that hits the ship. i believe the tsunami is also caused by an underwater earthquake (again, put a pin in that) which would hit the ship on the side and cause it to roll right over (put a pin in this too btw).

again, i dont know about the veracity of this happening irl. i know tsunamis are related to underwater earthquakes, but as far as i know, they dont form into the massive wave until the wave is closer to shore?

but anyway, in the 2006 film, the capsizing is caused by a rogue wave.

as aforementioned, my special interest is ocean liners so i know quite a lot about rogue waves and i dont know how much of that is common knowledge so time for another abrupt explanation of niche topics.

so rogue waves, what are they? well, theyre big fuck off waves. descriptions tend to put them anywhere from 50ft high to 100ft (10 stories high).

for a wave to be considered a rogue wave, it needs to be more than twice the height of any other wave in that region. theyre unpredictable and often occur out of nowhere. theyre more common in some specific regions like off the coast of south africa, and are distinct from tsunamis. they can occur both in the ocean and on the great lakes.

for centuries, sailors have told tales of them but like krakens and sea monsters, they werent believed. this is partly due to survivorship bias because if youre in a wooden sailboat and get hit by a rogue wave, youre not going to survive. it was only after advancements in ship building that people began to survive them. and even then, its not guaranteed.

some theorise rogue waves were responsible for the sinking of both the ss munich/munchen and the edmund fitzgerald.

still, it wasnt until one was recorded by a research post in 1995 that rogue waves genuinely became a serious topic within oceanography.

however, we did have credible reports of them hitting ocean liners long before then. both the rms lusitania (in 1910) and the ss michelangelo (in 1966) were badly damaged when they ran into rogue waves bow first (head-on). they both fell into deep troughs before the wave hit and both of their bows sustained serious damage. three people lost their lives on the ss michelangelo.

(damage done to ss michelangelo)

despite this, it was preferable for both vessels to hit the wave head-on. both were ocean liners with bows designed to break through waves, and designed to be able to keep sailing even if the bow was caved in.

(fun fact: if titanic had hit the iceberg head on, there was a very good chance she wouldnt have sunk)

now you might want to know why we know it was preferable to be hit head-on, and why i specified the ship would have been hit side-on. this is how the ship was hit in the 2006 film also. and well, this is when were getting into ww2 territory.

the lusitania and michelangelo are not the only ocean liners to encounter a rogue wave. this also happened to the rms queen mary in 1942.

just some quick background on the queen mary; she was launched in 1936 and built with the goal of stealing the blue riband (the record for fastest journey for a passenger line from southampton to new york) from the ss normandie, owned by french line. queen mary was owned by the cunard line whose reputation partly rested on speed. both the lusitania and mauritania (both cunard ships) had won the blue riband at some point. in 1942, queen mary held the blue riband and was considered the fastest passenger liner in the world.

at that point though, she has been requisitioned by the admiralty for the war effort and was acting as a troop ship. a very effective troop ship as she averaged 28 knots in speed and they managed to up her capacity from around 3300 (including crew) to 16000.

she also was owned by cunard line who have a long history of conferring with the admiralty during peacetimes. their ships were designed with spaces left for guns and weapons. part of why the lusitania was sunk by a u-boat in ww1 was her secretly carrying firearms back from the "neutral" america to the uk despite it still being a passenger ship. the admiralty knew queen mary would be a massive benefit in a war.

this isnt to say that she was perfect, however. she was a famous roller. see, when youre building a ship, you expect it to roll somewhat on any difficult seas. to combat extreme rolling (which can be fatal), ships are built with their centres of buoyancy and gravity close together. this reduces rolling, but can cause very sudden lists (tilts). as queen mary was a big fuck off ship, it was assumed she wouldnt roll badly, so she was designed with a slightly bigger gap between those centres which caused very slow rolling from side to side. this often felt like the ship would never right itself, and as handrails were not considered necessary at first, passengers had to shuffle down hallways.

cunard took her in for repairs and added stabilisers to lessen the roll. they also added handrails. it didnt fix the rolling, but it was bearable and not considered dangerous. she soon became a superstar liner, and again, a very good troop ship.

hitler had even put a monetary bounty specifically on the queen mary for whichever submarine could shoot her, with the iron cross promised also. this did not come to pass.

(rms queen mary as a troopship)

what did come to pass, however, was a 92ft high rogue wave smashing into her portside (left). this is the absolute opposite of what you want to happen.

there was an attempt to steer her head-on into the wave but ocean liners that size take two miles to stop moving. they also couldnt risk too sudden of a turn because they were in the atlantic in a storm. this attempt to change course is repeated in the 2006 film and is also unsuccessful.

so now when the wave hit queen mary, it caused her to begin listing to starboard (right side) because a 90ft ocean wave just smashed into her. and she began to list. the portholes broke and wager poured in, making the list worst.

at first, it was 15°, then 20°, then 25°, 30°, 40°, 50°, 52°

then she stopped. and she stayed there, listing 52° to starboard. she was nearly capsized. and what must have felt like hours for those 11000 recruits and crew, she just stayed there, nearly on her side in the atlantic ocean.

and then finally, she began to right herself, one degree at a time, until she was back steady as if nothing had happened.

the technicians had later examined the ship and estimated that if shed listed just 3° extra, they would have capsized and sank, taking 11000 men with her.

so i imagine at this point, if youre even reading this anymore, youre like okay, kai, we get it, you dont wanna get hit broadside by a rogue wave, do we need all this detail?

and well, no. you dont need to know it and i dont need to tell it but here i am, telling you so.

but it is very relevant to poseidon (2006) because remember how its a remake of a film based on a book? and that book was written by the basketball antisemite? yeah, so paul gallico was on board the queen mary when this happened.

and this is what inspired him to write the book.

obviously, at the time, we didnt fully understand rogue waves so gallico explained it as an underwater earthquake, but we know now it was a rogue wave.

and so the 2006 film honours that and makes it a rogue wave. they never really explain it so unless youre insufferable like me, you might just be like what the fuck? is that poseidon (god) doing that?

but im gonna redirect your attention to the fact that the queen mary was 3° away from capsizing and that 3° could have caused an entirely different outcome to the war.

if she had capsized, she would have taken 10000 recruits with her and the allies would have lost their best troop ship. morale would have been affected because back then, ocean liners were household celebrities. they were adored by residents.

im not a historian, and especially not a war historian, so im not gonna be like oh look alternate history where the nazis won oooh how edgy?

but like, just a few more feet of water on that wave and parts of ww2 would be so different.

it also would have affected the cunard line massively after the war, and the white star line (titanics owners) as well. i believe their merger was after ww2.

also, gallico would have died so his book wouldnt have existed, neither would the film adaptation or the remake. it all just comes back around like a never ending carousel of feral seahorses.

but anyway, away from all the existential crises. i wanted to actually address what made me want to write this stupidly long post in the first place:

an article i skim read that addressed the veracity of the inciting event in the 2006 film, aka the rogue wave.

after a mostly accurate explanation of rogue waves and at least one misuse of cruise ship for ocean liner, the article concluded that a rogue wave hitting an ocean liner like that was simply so unlikely, it was basically impossible.

and if youve got this far in my ramblings, you might be able to understand the level of bafflement i felt reading that.

because while it is a fair conclusion as it is a very unlikely thing to happen. but THIS FILM EXISTS BECAUSE A ROGUE WAVE SMASHED INTO AN OCEAN LINER AND NEARLY CAPSIZED IT

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joysmercer · 1 year ago

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what countries do you think the anubis residents live in post-grad? i keep seeing people saying all of them go to uni in america but that seems unrealistic.

mara, willow, and alfie would stay. i can't think of any reason why they'd leave except if they got a scholarship or something, and given the tor fiasco i doubt willow (or alfie) would qualify and mara's too practical for all that (expenses would still be A Lot) when oxbridge are right in her backyard.

kt and eddie would go home. neither have a real reason to stay in the uk and i think they'd both miss their family. although i can see kt taking on a job (photographer?) that allows her to travel so often that she doesn't really have a permanent place she actually lives in lol. eddie probably goes back to the uk on occasion with patricia.

patricia would go to the us. she doesn't seem particularly close with her family—at least enough to want to stay close to them for the next three years—and i think she'd like the adventure, plus eddie (and nina and amber, canonically, and kt) would be there too. she probably comes back for visits, though.

joy and jerome, as much as i would love for them to live next door to p/e as adults, they would probably stay in the uk, again because they have no real reason to leave. when they earn enough money via jerome becoming a big-shot businessman and/or joy repeatedly being invited to organize the met gala or something, they buy a second home near wherever patricia and eddie happen to be and plan their (business) trips around holidays whenever possible :)

mick, I think, would go to the us for uni on a full-ride D1 scholarship (I'm thinking UCLA for soccer). he qualifies for the olympics/fifa/world champs/whatever at some point during those four years. I can see him staying on after and having a successful college coaching career, but around his early-30s he'll make the move back home (either the uk or australia idk).

fabian would stay in the uk for uni. he studies abroad somewhere in new england for a semester (idk is that a thing in the uk?) or does a 1-year masters at an ivy or something just to see what the hype is about, but i don't see him moving permanently for the same reason as most of the others on this list.

nina is obviously in the us at the end of her senior year and i don't think she'll ever go back to the uk willingly, although she does find herself dragged there far too often (in her opinion) either by amber, a vengeful god, or her publicist (who doesn't understand why she's so averse to promoting her latest potentially-blockbuster movie in the country it's set in).

amber is also at fashion school in nyc during season 3, which she presumably continues in for uni, although maybe she drops out once her designs take off. I can see her moving to the us permanently (mostly because that's where nina is) but traveling around the world for work frequently. she and joy switch-off organizing anubis reunions every other year-ish, and she goes back home (with a somewhat-reluctant nina in tow) for those.

#asks #anon #what a fun question ty!!#house of anubis

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sketch-mer-6195 · 1 year ago

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I know I'm a day late. But that doesn't make me less of an American to not remember what had happened on 9/11/2001. I remember being with my dad and baby brother. I was just 6 years old and my dad watching the Today Show per his morning routine. And all of a sudden, our local news station showed the images of first tower billowing smoke.

My dad called my grandmom asking if she was seeing what was happening. At the time, she was living in her apartment in New Jersey and could see the smoke across the Hudson River. I hardly remember all that had happened. But I remember going to our Unitarian Church that following Sunday and how our pastor explained to all the children that we were safe, we were okay, and that we pray to those who were lost or in pain.

Every year since then, my brother and I always stayed either close by or away from our dad because he was mad, sad, and in grief of what had happened to his home and so many friends and loved ones that he knew were gone. It had grown to the point where I told my dad that we stop watching documentaries or movies about 9/11 because it would bring his rage and we wanted him to be at peace.

On February 2008, we traveled from where we live now to New Jersey for a fishing convention that my dad was invited too. Staying with family and enjoying our time in the melting winter, snow, and loved ones my Uncle took us to New York City as a treat for my brother and me as we never been. Taking the train from Jersey and into NYC the very first stop that we made and got off at was at the World Trade Center. Before the Freedom Tower was constructed and when the memorial was even finished. I remember my brother and I excited to see one of the two perfect squares in the blue sky. All I could say, for a 12 year olf at the time would say.

"Wow, now that's a big hole in the sky!"

But my uncle gently pulled us away from the chain linked fence that separated the platform from the construction site and ushered us to our dad who was crying. His sister-in-law, my aunt, and our little cousin were hugging my dad who was sobbing in the middle of the place and my brother and I were soon told that we were at where the Twin Towers stood proudly until that fateful day.

From there, I will never forget the site how it was before the created the infinity pools and the memorial museum. Two huge dirt holes in the most magical city the world has ever seen. Yeah, many would say otherwise. And many have told me that its not all that cracked up to be. But it holds a special place in my heart. Not because my dad is from the Big Apple. But my family started their lives in that magical city. We have our family name on Elis Island's records. And I may be from the deep south...

I am proud to say I'm a New Yorker as well.

Please, if you have never watched the live showing. Watch this with open hearts. Forget what you think about New Yorkers. They are people, from all walks of life. And we, as a country, ran in to help our fellow neighbors.

youtube

Never forget and love each other.

#september 11th 2001 #9/11 #never forget #we are united #Youtube

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rimouskis · 2 years ago

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delaying sleep by waxing poetic for a new city

I think there's a good chance I might just have rose-tinted goggles welded onto my face. I have fallen in love with nearly every place I've been this year. new york city was no different.

I'd always thought I wouldn't like NYC. it was too big, too grey, too busy, too dirty for my tastes (or so I'd been told). I'm reminded of something my old best friend from high school (the one I had the one-sided falling out with re: wedding stuff this past year) told me after she and her family visited it years ago: "Oh, you'd hate it."

reader, I did not. I loved it. I loved it so very much.

I am so captivated by place. it's always been that way. it consumes my creative work. the place of a thing is its own character! it makes or breaks a story. it is, in fact, the most important part to me. and new york is so deeply itself, so embodied with its identity and way of life!!!

I was enchanted by how people there are so... it's like they're in parallel play with each other. everyone moving and traveling and going about their days—rarely interacting, ideally never interacting—but nonetheless Doing Life side by side. that's something I miss a lot about being a child and living with my family: going about my day just knowing that the room next over, my sister is going about hers. I really value the intrinsic sense of community and Being A Part Of Something that gives me.

nyc is like that on steroids. everything is happening all the time. move on the sidewalk to avoid the couple walking toward you. keep an eye on the unwell man on your subway car—you'll be fine, but be aware. duck around the gaggle of tourists on the platform and blow through the turnstile. laugh when the cop who's definitely committing entrapment by leaning on the emergency exit door and keeping it open tells you to swipe your metrocard again, it must not have read the first time. weave through the crowd. move with it. take the train with it. live with it.

I have a relative who lives in sunny sunny los angeles, and she messaged me to express her disgust at how dark new york was. my photos had a filter on them, I tried to explain, but she was unmoveable. she'd fallen out of love with nyc a long time ago. their subway was filthy, their streets were dark, and their infrastructure was always a few seconds from flaking out on you.

it's ALIVE, I wanted to say. YES, that's all true, but god, is it lived-in. it's like how any good film props master will have scuffed up all the clothing and equipment in a movie: it's LIVED-IN. it's USED, by all these PEOPLE, and are these PEOPLE not enchanting? in their chic all-black outfits? wearing their full faces of makeup on the subway? bundled in their black puffer coats and studiously ignoring each other as they move through life in chaotic unison?

I don't know. I see her point, and her long-ago adoption of the sunny coast was the right choice for her, but I was just so enamored with everything nyc was. it was so ITSELF, you know? it had a firm identity and a concrete way of life. almost like a confidence. confidence is sexy! it's enchanting.

aside from my newfound love affair, I had so much fun. I was there for like 72 hours and it was awesome how much we packed in. I caught up with an old friend who I haven't talked to in genuinely 8 years (she got SECRET MARRIED and there was a RIFT with her SISTER who I ALSO KNEW and she has settled into her skin SO securely)! I got to see a BROADWAY show! I ate DELICIOUS PIZZA.

I went to Michigan and fell in love with it. I went to Seattle and thought to myself: the life I wanted to have here is probably something I could have, in time. And now I've gone to NYC and realized that I want more than the tiny bite of it I got. I want to be there again, longer, for more. Hell, I might even be able to live there for a part of my life.

I love that about myself: my adaptability. I can take ANYTHING I'm given and make it work. I can be anywhere. I can be anything. I want to be everywhere. I want to be everything.

and baby, new york has everything.

#hot take though: pigeon bagel's egg bagel > the one I had in NYC #SORRY! I STAND BY THAT OPINION THO

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morethanmonotonous · 3 months ago

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Coming and Going 26.8.24

Saying goodbye to people is making this feel really real. Like, not ‘having your visa back’ really real (which I fucking hope to god comes tomorrow), but real. Standing out the front of the place in Marrickville hugging Keira while we sobbed into each other, her telling me how proud she is of me, and how excited she is for me to live my dream is something that every little sister could dream of hearing from her big sister. The profound, soul moving hug between Celia and I was so powerful and something that anyone would be so fortunate to experience, to know you’ve met your friend soul mate out of all of the billions of people on earth. How lucky you are to have people unconditionally supportive and who will always put in the effort to feel involved in your life and in your corner through literally anything.

Seeing so many people on Saturday night at our farewell was the most beautiful experience and one I count my lucky stars to have, even at the ripe age of 31 (I know I’ll read back on this as humorous because it’s pretty young and to be honest - I do see myself as quite young still so don’t worry!). To have over 20 people who love and care for you is a magical thing but what is more than the number of people there is the volume of pure love radiating in all directions, between them, to me, from me, and I can’t quite believe that little Jade as a child grew into the kind of “woman” who goes to the pub with her husband and has so many people who love her and are going to miss her when she moves to New York to live her literal dream.

It’s still so surreal and I know this is a common theme in my writing at the moment but being able to process the big change we are about to make is really difficult, even surprisingly so when we have had what feels like 10 farewells (like John Farnham) and have been away for 6 months 2 x in a row recently and pretty much gone most of the last

2 and a half years. I am familiar with the ‘leaving’ part, but it’s the ‘arriving and making a life’ bit that’s crazy. The gigs we can go to, the domestic travel to middle of nowhere towns, the visiting the Caribbean, Canada, fuck knows where else that’s close to NYC, the getting into weird sports and seeing stuff like monster trucks and Nascar and Ice Hockey and random state fairs, the Halloween (or I guess ‘fall’ in general), huge theme parks, tattoo artists we can visit, sitting around the park with a joint and a book, going to a cool gym that’s not too far away from home, having snacks in the house that I can just eat and know what food I have available around, an office to go to and have weird and awkward conversations with colleagues, but then also awesome juicy, supportive ones that blossom into friendships, seeing the same people around at gigs, finding bars or clubs or whatever the night life looks like there (are pubs as much of a thing?), learning all kinds of weird shit about consumers and retailers and brands, feeling foreign as hell and how funny that’s going to be.

I fucking hope I like it, or if I don’t like it, that it’s a really cool and interesting and exciting story that I can tell afterwards. I am still in the camp of thinking that life really is just about collecting cool stories with cool people so I hope I can continue that and even if my general outlook on life shifts at some point, that I’m fucking stoked with how it all turns out.

It’s so hard not being able to be in multiple places at a time. That of all of the interrogative words, the “where” is so crucial in my existence. That, and “when” when it comes to time zones and phone calls. I am so deeply sad about the time I am going to miss with my nieces and parents in particular, that every time I see them they are older and that’s completely irreconcilable with the reality I want to live with everything that I am. I am so devastated that to do what my soul tells me I want to do that I have to give up so much. It’s not fair that I don’t just want a normal life in the suburbs near where I grew up with all of the familiarity but at the same time I am so grateful that I am the kind of person who does the thing and seeks the great perhaps. But two things can be true at once and it’s okay I feel the painful lows as well as the drunkening highs of this experience because I genuinely think these moments are the reason for everything, the dizzying feelings in the spectrum of emotions that as a human who is alive. How fucking cool is the opportunity to do something so scary and huge as a grown up.

I do think that the car accident, compounded with Tim dying really changed it all for me. I think it was a stark and profound example of why we need to do crazy shit and really enjoy life - it’s all temporary. Like so many emo songs talk about, it’s all a bunch of fleeting moments in life and if you’re not actually really really happy, you need to change things. Take chances, find home, take these huge leaps. As Keira said this morning, I really feel like I am strapped into a roller coaster and the floor has dropped out and I am about to go on this huge ride and it’s scary but I’m full of all of this anticipation and excitement and nerves. So many extreme feeling all at once. I know it would be a lot more intense if I knew we were going on a particular date.

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mariposaperfection0826 · 4 months ago

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Three members of the Scott family were driving back from a dance competition. They had been up at five am on a Saturday to compete, only to have her papers lost and not allowed to compete. They were joking, listening to music, and hanging out on the way back home. A car jumps the divider on the highway. It drove the wrong way towards the car. Lyra shouted at her dad about the car. It smashes into them head-on.

When Lyra wakes up her ears are ringing. She unbuckles her seatbelt and smashes out the window of the back seat. She crawls through, cutting herself on the small pieces of glass. EMTs rush over as she collapses. "My parents," she points at the car.

"They didn't make it sweetie. Don't worry, you're safe. SHIELD is here to protect you. After discovering she has nothing more than a few scratches, the EMT checks her out and sits her down with Firefighters. She is clutching a stuffed animal after it was offered to her. She rides in a police car to the station. She informs them that her brothers are at their house. An officer is sent with her to get her stuff from her house and her brothers. They get to the house and after a long discussion, they pack their stuff. Lyra walks into her room. She picks up her large duffle bag and starts to pack with her superhero suit at the bottom. She grabs her favorite outfits, dance shoes, and grandmother's jewelry box with all of her jewelry in it. She grabs a couple of sweatshirts and adds them. She takes out her travel backpack. She packs her computer, phone charger, earbuds, a couple of her favorite books, two notebooks, two tiny pistols (in a secret compartment), and her spell book, a gift on her eighth birthday. She grabs her stuffed Toothless plushie, puts her backpack on, grabs her duffle bag, and her violin case, and walks out of her room for what might be the last time. She sees her brothers with the same solemn faces. They put their bags in the trunk of the police cruiser, and hop in the back seat. The ride back to the station was as quiet as the one there even with the addition of two people. They unload from the vehicle back at the police station. Seeing a familiar man standing in the little office that was for the three Scotts made her smile. "Hey, Uncle Nick." Despite the circumstances, he still hated the nickname.

"Kid, how many times do I have to tell you it's Fury?" He says joking. He loved the three kids he had watched as a loving Uncle grow up.

"About a thousand more times," Lyra replied sarcastically.

"Why did I have to recommend Carol as a babysitter?" He jokes with the same sarcastic tone. Andrew runs at Fury and hugs him

"Uncle Nick, are you going to take us in now? Are we going to be official agents?" Fury shakes his head.

"No, you guys are still too young, even with all of your nightly activities." He gives the three of them a knowing look. The twins Lyra and Kaden had been heroes in the nearest city for about four years. Two years ago Andrew joined them for training and the easy patrol areas. They trained almost every day. They even had super suits that they made themselves. They were not very protective, but they hid their identity well. "We are going to help find some relative that will take you in, if not, we'll let you live with the Avengers." The siblings nodded in agreement. The kids sit down at the desk as Nick Fury leaves to talk with their social service worker. They sit in the small for what feels like hours before a happy woman in her forties comes in.

"We found you a relative to stay with. It's your mom's cousin, Tony Stark." The two older ones look at each other and roll their eyes. They had heard about him from Uncle Nick, and they didn't want to be associated with him. They didn't want to move to NYC from their small town just outside Nashville. They would have to completely revamp their schedules and patrol routes for the bigger city. So, begrudgingly, they pack their bags into the back of the social worker's van and get on the road to their new home in New York. Lyra mostly listened to music, Kaden read some of his history novels, and Andrew played on his phone. He had gotten it two days ago for middle school and emergencies. They stopped at two rest stops before getting to a nice motel right outside of the city limits of NYC. They have a full night's sleep and wake up in the morning ready to meet their new guardian.

#mcu #marvel #avengers #autism #fanfic #magic #faye

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discjockeyetc · 5 months ago

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14 hours, 7 states, 850 miles.

Our day began at 4:00am when our phone alarms started to go off. There wasn’t much packing to do except for bathroom stuff.

After the last few details and double (and triple) checks of everything, we got in the car and started our journey.

Departure time: 5:20am

Starting mileage: 69000 (anyone care to guess what our ENDING mileage will be?)

It was actually 68999, but Jill made me wait until it got to 69000 just after we left our neighborhood. LOL!

We drove about 850 miles over almost 14 hours and traveled through ALL these states:

That's a lot of states to cover in 14 hours!

Before heading to our AirBnb in Newark, we stopped for dinner at this cool little pub.

Bello's Pub & Grill -- Newark, NJ

As our trip started to get closer, we started discussing what we wanted to do while we're in New York City. We really only have two days, so we had to prioritize. Figuring we'll be back to NYC at some point (and the fact that many of it's iconic landmarks and touristy places aren't going anywhere) we decided to skip stuff like the Statue of Liberty and museums.

The weather is supposed to be pretty rough on Sunday, so our activity will be a bit abbreviated. Instead, we decided to do much of our exploration on Monday. We plan to get up at the crack of dawn on Monday to get out and enjoy the day. The weather is supposed to be PERFECT, so we're going to make the very best of it.

On our way to our destination in Newark, we decided that we would get tickets to see "The Great Gatsby" musical on Broadway! Real talk... this was Turner's idea. She read it in school this past school year and LOVED it. I have to believe that pretty much ANY show on Broadway is worth seeing. :)

The Great Gatsby

It's been a LONG day, and now that we're settled in to our temporary home, we're going to crash for the night. Our vacation is off to a great start!

#new york city #vacation #canada #family vacation #bucketlist #nova scotia #road trip #travel #bar harbor #great gatsby #broadway #newark #south carolina #north carolina #virginia #west virginia #maryland #pennsylvania #new jersey

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apexart-journal · 8 months ago

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Day 15 in NYC, 10:03 pm

This morning, I had some time to relax at the apartment and watched a documentary about the democratic system in America, from its inception to the present. It felt like expanding and summarizing the various historical sites I've visited on other programs. I understood and saw things much clearer. Thank you. It would be humorous if Thailand tried to make documentary about democratic also.

At noon, I went to THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY to play Jagging. It was a bit confusing at first when introducing myself, but then they taught me. I started with throwing one ball, then two. Some people who had been practicing for a long time could see my incompetence, so they ended up teaching a few others (now I don't feel embarrassed to do something bad anymore). One person who came to teach was very focused. After finishing, he stood up and hugged me. I felt awkward and stiff. I stood still, focus, and then gradually threw the ball while singing in my head. Oops, I got it! When I go back to Thailand, I'll buy some and practice again. Nie came by while I was resting and we chatted. We got to know each other more and had some deep conversations. I felt much better.

After strolling around the library for a while, I volunteered for the Wounded Warrior Project. This charity program has only been around for 8 months. It's about fitness for wheelchair people. I volunteered to help with stretching (my knowledge of yoga from ten years of practice was very useful today). I was very focused because it's something I'm good at. I held their hands gently, sending love, synchronized breathing with the her, and always remembered to save my back, just like the teacher taught.

The older sister I first approached seemed hesitant. He probably saw me as a kid (the first time students meet me, they rarely believe I'm a teacher). She refused to talk and just ordered. At one point, we both forgot where we left off counting. I awkwardly said "14," and we both burst into laughter.

After that, she didn't stop talking. She told me about pushing a wheelchair around, traveling here and there. She used to love biking a lot, with a bright smile. Each person, each story, I walked home with a full heart.

#Pare Inchang #Inbound from Chiang Mai

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tshatshke · 2 years ago

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Artist Interview: Arielle Routhier

Welcome to the third edition of our Artist Interview series. We send the same interview questions to each of our featured artists as an optional part of their feature and each artist gets to choose which questions they answer. Our aim for this project to uplift community and highlight the people behind the work. If you know a little bit about the person who made your new jewelry, we believe it can become a little bit more precious.

Arielle Routhier is a jewelry maker and designer living in New York City. You can read her bio here. She is part of our October-December 2022 artist rotation.

Interview questions written by Madison Hirsch.

What are some of your earliest memories related to jewelry?

My earliest memories of jewelry have to do with my mom, the jewelry she would wear and shopping for jewelry together. My mom has always been a bracelet gal and I definitely inherited that love of stacked bracelets from her. From a super young age I remember my mom always wearing her Cartier Love bracelet, and the way it would slide against her olive sun kissed skin. At some point she lost the screw and ended up having a jeweler solder the bracelet shut because she couldn’t afford to have Cartier fix the bracelet, so it truly became a permanent fixture on her. When I turned 16 my mom gave me the bracelet, and I’ve been wearing it for 13 years now. While away at college, overseas traveling, moving to NYC, I look down and she’s right there. Every now and then people comment on the bracelet; some saying how they can’t wait until theirs picks up the marks and adventures of life from wear and tear, some asking if it’s real because of the lumpiness and lack of two screw motifs. I love the imperfections. I love when I look at my wrist I still see my mom, despite having a much paler complexion. I love that to me THIS Love Bracelet signifies true love.

My other core memory of jewelry is going to Goodwill with my mom after school. We would always scavenge the jewelry cases, particularly the vintage one in the back. We would find the coolest pieces! Mexican buckle bracelets, Czech glass brooches, micro mosaics that were missing pieces but were so special like the paintings found in the MET. Whenever we’re together in NYC, Florida or anywhere in between we always hunt for the Goodwills and their jewelry cases! I attribute my love for antiques/ vintage and my appreciation for the well made to these cases. Ultimately, my desire to make timeless high quality items that can tumble around jewelry boxes for generations and still be desired to wear are a direct result of these afternoons.

What’s your favorite metal to work with? Why?

Ah this is tricky! In college I always preferred to clean/polish sterling castings, but I wasn’t working with gold yet. Now, most of my pieces are gold, and with that comes a little more mindfulness and care in how much is being ground off and polished... When I’m working with silver, I don’t feel as guilty if I end up wanting to change the form of something and grind it off resulting in a nice size pile of sterling silver dust. I love silver, yellow gold and platinum (a new venture for me!) I can say I’m not a huge fan of white gold, although I have made some pieces here and there, the rhodium plate needed to get that bright white (which eventually wears off) is not my thing!

What’s your favorite gemstone right now? Why?

I love how you added “right now” haha! My favorite gemstone is a Ruby. The deep, moody, romantic red hues just truly make my heart sing. An unheated ruby with wisps of inclusions... Oh my, I actually have cried over one in particular because of how magical it was! Its not about size but color for me. I included a photo of the ring/ruby for you to see what I’m talking about! Emeralds are a very close second... But I like to WEAR my jewelry, so I would end up cracking these beauties far too easily.

**Ok forreal, if you look into that ruby, I think I might cry too if I saw it in person.** When and how did you start making jewelry?

I’m sure we all started beading and making string friendship bracelets once our little fingers would allow it! I started making metal jewelry when I went to college at Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah Georgia. I was about to graduate with my BFA in Graphic Design and minor in Advertising, having an existential crisis about life. My mom told me to take some time and figure out what I wanted to do, what made me happy before I left college. I always loved jewelry, so I signed up for an intro class the following semester and the rest is history!

Why did you keep making jewelry?

Simple, it makes me happy! I love carving wax, making people things that matter and mean something to them, I love talking to my casters and stone setters, I love creating pieces that make others happy and feel strong and beautiful! How did you come up with your brand name/alias?

My brand is me, Arielle Routhier! I love my name and it looks pretty in a serif or sans serif font ;) What process(es) do you enjoy the most and why?

I absolutely LOVE carving wax! I use both hard and soft wax for my pieces. All the rings are hard wax, and rings are my favorite pieces to make because I feel they are for the wearer. Wax is a soft material, even the hard wax, it’s super malleable and can be worked with a simple touch, heat or my trusted flex shaft. I appreciate how wax lends its self to be formed and also pick up the process , meaning texture. In college we were initially taught how to hand finish pieces WITHOUT MACHINES, literally by hand with sandpaper... I think this gave me an appreciation for what happens from start to finish, and the nicks and bumps. I would spend so much time polishing off the fingerprints and “imperfections” but about 6 years ago when I moved to NYC I started celebrating those prints and touches. I think they give a very real and human feel.

In this realization and moment of AH HA I came up with my Living Prints. These are not only a celebration of marks but of life!

The first one made was in sterling silver of my print and my mom wears that same one every single day. I’m never far! Each Living Print is truly 1 of 1, just like your loved one. We have made pendants, and charms, multiples and singles, double sided with two people, diamonds and sapphires wrapping around the edge, or rubies and citrines nestling the bottom. We’ve made prints of cats and dogs, best friends, grandparents, parents, children and siblings. We have had people reach out at all points of life, and they are able to carry their loved one over their heart forever.

What inspires your designs and how has that changed over the years?

My work has always been heavily influenced by forms and textures found in nature. Growing up in South Florida and spending entire summers with my family meant long days combing the beach and diving in the ocean. One of my favorites to collect would be coral growing on a stick. There’s the contrast of land and sea, you see how this organism latched on to the stick for life, and built a home, and perhaps my FAVORITE part of the whole thing is you can see how the current was flowing based off how the stick was bent frozen in movement.

My current pieces are still rooted there, but being in the city I can see how I have begun to juxtapose the rigid geometric elements with these “growing” forms. I also have started collecting wood antique furniture bits and bobs like finials or joints. I think this might be a new vein of inspiration for me!

What do you hope people will take away from seeing your work? What do you hope people will take away from wearing your work?

I hope people are intrigued, and want to explore the pieces. I hope they feel beautiful, bold, fun and unique. The majority of my jewelry is purchased by people shopping for themselves, mostly women. Sometimes for accomplishments, birthdays, milestones, a big pay day, or just because. I love that we are in this time where women are empowered and want to treat themselves to the nice things, the heirloom pieces that are forever, not just fleeting trends or feel it must be gifted to them. What are some of your hobbies off the bench? How often do you try to make time for them?

I’ve always loved plants, but this year I really got into the garden in our back yard. We are lucky to have our own backyard in BK and we have taken full advantage of it! We planted vegetables and flowers, and a fig tree that’s nearly touching our ceiling! I love my three rose bushes and the herb garden big time. I take time for the garden every single day, coffee in the morning, most of my jewelry photos are in the garden, and time to just enjoy the space.

A new thing I’ve been getting into is live life drawing on Tuesdays, a little rusty for sure but definitely fun!

I’m not sure if this is a hobby, but I do love to browse auctions. Not for anything in particular, and most of the time I don’t purchase things, but I do find pieces to research and I enjoy the never ending supply of inspiration I find.

Do you like cooking? (if you do) What’s your go-to meal right now?

I love to cook! My boyfriend and I have been really good about going to the farmers market every Saturday and buying groceries locally, this has made cooking more fun! Also, this Spring we sowed some seeds for our first garden, so we’ve had fun picking and utilizing things we’ve actually grown into our meals. I love pasta, homemade noodles of any shape with some type of sauce, vegetables, meat or seafood I’m up for it all! Right now I’ve been big on heirloom tomatoes on/in everything, sadly we’re coming to end of tomato season.

Tell us about your family! Born or chosen, live with them or not, human or furry. How do they affect your bench practice or business decisions?

I live in Williamsburg with my boyfriend Michael who is also an artist and our two boys, Coconut who is a Shih Tzu and Mr. Gus the Yorkie. Mic and I met in November of 2019 ~in the wild~ of NYC and have been together ever since! Michael is a full time artist, he paints mostly portrait work with acrylic and oils, draws with all mediums including digital and his newest venture is custom skate decks. That being said, we have a studio in our apartment! Having a space we can both work together has been so fun and a constant space of inspiration and experimentation. We can show each other what we’re working on, feed off each others ideas and have a fresh set of eyes on what we’re working on as individuals. It’s really awesome!

While the dogs can come down into the basement and hang with us while we work, unfortunately Coconut can’t go to the DUMBO studio with me. We’ve tried a few times and aside from his white paws becoming black from compound etc. he always gets an upset stomach! Mr. Gus just eats everything, so studio is a no go for him! I’m one of five girls, and all my sisters live down in South Florida where I am originally from as well as my momma. Hmm how do they affect my bench practice and business decisions? They are 5 women that all have varying styles and tastes, they love to share their thoughts on designs, or things I should make. They also love holidays and put in their requests and hints plenty early!

Favorite things to listen to while you work: (be specific! I want audio books, podcasts, artists, albums, songs, and/or dj’s) Okay so... I’ve been told this is weird... When I’m at the studio I’m one of those people that usually doesn’t listen to music. It could be a red flag for some haha If I’m carving wax in our home studio (I don’t do any metal finishing in the house because of the pups) I will usually just put on my Spotify discover and it can be all over the place, or my boyfriend put on a podcast like Jay Shetty or Steve-O, The Office / Always Sunny or a comic, I have no idea who they are to be honest, but it is an entertaining listen! Last weekend Michael and I went to see Florence + The Machine, so that’s been on heavy repeat. Looking at the latest that’s played and Drake definitely makes appearances, Future Islands, Diana Ross, Empire of the Sun, MGTM, Latto, Frank Sinatra...We’re all over the place here! At Tshatshke, we aim to uplift jewelers who align with one or more of our values of holistic sustainability as we define it to relate to the planet, the economy, social issues, community building, and craftsmanship. In what ways do you hope to uphold an ideal of holistic sustainability within your practice and your business?

Since moving to NYC I have always used recycled metal when casting jewelry and I have to say I have seen SO many jewelers and designers utilize this ability! I think it’s one of the easiest ways we can do our part to minimize our footprint. I’ve also tried my best to make sure that all materials are fair trade, especially stones.

I will always celebrate jewelry’s traditional roots, the artistry and craftsmanship that run centuries deep. That being said, building a community that shines light on all the facets of the jewelry world is important to me. The family of wonderful people we work with to create our jewelry come from all over the globe. Both casters we use are family, and from South America, finishers from Turkey, and CAD designers whose parents moved to America from China. Mothers and fathers, siblings, cousins and uncles, all intertwined to make beauty. All men and women who I am absolutely honored to work with, learn from and experience life together!

#handmade #jewelry #jewellery #sterling silver #solid gold #gold #bespoke #fine jewelry #craft #craftsmanship #artist interview

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cjsinkythoughts · 4 years ago

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The Conversation

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Avenger!Reader

Word Count: 7661 (Don’t come at me - you guys asked for it)

Warnings: !FATWS Spoilers!, Cursing, Fluff, Feelings, I Dunno What Else, This One’s Pretty Chill, Except The Ending, But You’ll See When You Get There

A/N: Here it is! I was hesitant about posting it because that means we’re getting closer to the end and I’m such a nostalgic bitch! I’m definitely gonna cry next week when the last episode comes out! Anyways, I’ve got a few things to talk about:

I think this is one of the most important chapters I’ve written and I’m excited to see your reactions to it. It is longer, but you guys asked for that, so you got it! Also, I’m loving the Asks, Comments, and Reblogs. I try to respond to all of them. I have work in a little bit, so I won’t be able to until after, but I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. Ask me anything; about my series, the show, any of the movies, personal stuff, I really don’t care. If you’re not comfortable, that’s totally fine! Every like means so much to me!

I know it’s not the end yet - we’ve got one more episode and a list of One Shots to get through - but there’s a definite feeling of this series coming to an end, and I just want to thank you all for the support and love you’ve been giving it! I’ve really enjoyed writing these characters and this story! It’s very, very special to me and I’m glad I’ve been able to share it with you lovely people!

On that note, be kind to yourselves and others! Thank you again for reading! Excuse any mistakes - this isn’t beta’d! Enjoy and stay tuned!

FATWS Masterlist

cjsinkythoughts Masterlist

!SPOILERS UNDER CUT! (Sorry for the gifs I just love them so much and he’s so pretty and this part is technically two parts so...you get four!)

“Louisiana.” Bucky hummed, looking around the airport.

You rolled your eyes. “You’re not gonna find anything interesting about Louisiana in here, doofus. Let’s call an Uber.”

“An Ooper? What the hell is an Ooper?”

You giggled, shaking your head and grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the luggage carousel. “Uber. It’s like…a taxi service. But there’s an app on your phone to get a driver instead of waiting for one on the street.”

“Oh.” He blinked, tilting his head. “That’s…helpful.”

You laughed again, stopping in front of Carousel 3, where your flight from New York was assigned. You went back to New York to grab a bag with clean clothes and other necessities, along with taking a real shower for once. It was nice to be back in the States, as much as you loved traveling. It’d been a crazy few weeks and you were ready to just relax.

“Do you think there were any problems with Sammy’s present?”

Bucky shook his head. “Nah. Especially considering they know who we are.”

You snickered at his slight grumble. They had had…problems at the other two airports - first the one in Sokovia then JFK in New York - considering Bucky’s entire arm was metal. It’d taken a full hour before they actually let you go, and by that time they had to give you a new plane because yours had left.

“Seriously. Who else has a fucking metal arm and has 1917 listed as their birth year on their Driver’s License?” You giggled again. That was also true. They thought he was messing with them. It wasn’t until you stepped in a few minutes after they asked Bucky to step to the side, seeing Bucky get frustrated, that they realized Bucky wasn’t pulling their legs.

“Well, we’re here now and that’s all that matters.”

He nodded in agreement, watching for your bags, his hand finding yours when he realized how many people there were. “Do you know where he lives? I didn’t even think about it.”

“Yeah, don’t worry. He invited me over once. I declined, but I saved the address.”

“He…invited you over?” Bucky frowned.

You gave him a look. “I’m sure he invited you, too. You just never checked his texts.”

He licked his lips, tilting his head. “Yeah, no, I know, but I mean…why didn’t you go? Weren’t you two just talking about how you wanted to meet his nephews the other day?”

“Yeah, but I had gotten a tip on Wanda at the time and I didn’t want to miss the chance that she was there. He told me it was fine. I still felt really bad. I could tell he was a bit disappointed. I think it was one of the boys’ birthdays. Or something. I don’t remember. Is that bad? Yeah, probably. I really should remember. Maybe I should keep track of birthdays on my calendar or something.”

“Doll.” You looked up to find him giving you a magnificent smile, teeth and all. “You’re rambling.”

“Oh. Am I? Sorry. I didn’t realize.”

He shook his head quickly, squeezing your hand. “Don’t apologize. It’s cute. I’m just not used to you talking so much. You kinda did on the phone sometimes.”

You shrugged, pushing down the heat crawling up your neck at his words. “I rambled a lot to Steve.”

“Oh.”

His face fell, making you scrunch your eyebrows up in confusion, nudging him slightly to grin at him. “It’s nice to have someone to ramble to again, though.” There was that smile again. You were stopped from saying anything more when you noticed some kids pointing and chattering excitedly at a gleaming silver box coming around the corner on the conveyor belt. “There it is.”

He looked over his shoulder, dropping your hand and stepping over to grab it, lifting it effortlessly. You didn’t know what was in it or how heavy it was, but you were sure it felt like a feather to him.

“Alright. Got our bag, sweetheart?” You lifted up the duffle in answer and he jerked his head towards the doors. “Let’s get outta here, then. Call that Booper or whatever.”

“U-B-E-R! Ub-er!” You threw your hands up, following him as he started walking towards the exit. “What’s so hard about it?!”

He just gave you a little smirk over his shoulder.

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

Bucky kept asking the Uber driver questions about his job. The guy was super nice and patient the whole time, a thick southern accent lacing his answers. Southern hospitality was no joke and apparently had no limit as Bucky asked about his experiences, listening intently and telling him his own stories of taxi drivers in NYC.

When you got to Sam’s sister’s house, Bucky, being Bucky, tipped the driver half of what you paid for the ride, thanking him for his time and energy, before getting out.

“You’re so adorable, you know that?” You teased him as you stepped up the porch stairs and knocked on the door.

He rolled his eyes, a tint of pink dusting across his cheeks. “He was nice.”

You hummed at his defense, the smile never leaving your features. After a moment, Bucky raised his fist to knock again. “Jesus Christ! Don’t fucking knock their door down!” You grabbed his wrist and lowered it.

“Sorry. I forget sometimes.” Bucky informed you absentmindedly, tilting his head to peek in the window. “I don’t think anyone’s home.”

“They’re probably at the docks, then.”

Bucky raised an eyebrow. “The docks?”

You nodded, gesturing for him to follow you. “Yeah. They have a boat, remember? He talked about it last week.”

“Oh right. The one he’s trying to convince his sister not to sell.”

“Yeah.” You confirmed. “I’m pretty sure it’s that way. I don’t know how far, but we can call the Uber back-”

Bucky scrunched up his face and shook his head. “Nah. I don’t wanna bother him again. We can walk.”

You gave him an incredulous look. “It’s literally his job to drive people around.”

“Well, yeah, but what if he’s got other people to drive?”

You lifted his metal knuckles to your lips. “Trust me, Buck, I’m sure he’d rather drive you than anyone else.”

“Thank you?”

Swinging your now linked hands, you gave a firm nod, letting him know it was, in fact, a compliment. “You are so very welcome.”

The walk was a lot longer than you thought it was, and you ended up on Bucky’s back after he kept complaining about how you “shouldn’t be walking this long” and you were “injured” and you “needed rest’”. You’re not sure how a shoulder wound affected your ability to walk, but you relented and let him carry you the rest of the way to stop his whining.

“You forget, you did pull your thigh.”

“That was, like, three weeks ago! Yeesh!”

You finally got to the docks, which were bustling with people. Bucky set you down and raised an eyebrow which you shrugged in reply to, before heading over to where you spotted Sam with a few other older men.

“How do we get it off the truck?” You heard Sam ask, pointing to a large boat engine part in the bed of a beaten up truck. Scoffing as Bucky lifted it up without breaking a sweat, you leaned against the truck. Bucky grunted and set it down, looking at Sam.

“You’re welcome.” What a punk. “Just dropping this off.” Bucky lifted the case and set it where the engine was previously, Sam coming to stand on the opposite side of the truck as you. “You can sign for it and I’ll go.” You snorted, shaking your head, making Bucky shove your shoulder - the uninjured one - playfully. “I called in a favor from the Wakandans.”

Sam looked at you curiously. You shrugged and shook your head. “Don’t look at me, Sammy. He wouldn’t tell me what it is. He’s all hushy hushy about it until you say so.”

Before Sam could reply, there was a squeak and hissing over at the boat where steam was coming from a few pipes.

“Sam!” You knew that was Sarah from pictures Sam showed you. You stayed up by the truck, pulling yourself onto the bed while Sam tried fixing the pipe, Bucky butting in to show him how to do it properly.

“Why didn’t you use the metal arm?”

You saw Bucky lift up said metallic limb. “Well…I don’t always think of it immediately. I’m-I’m right handed.” Letting out a laugh, Bucky turned around and scowled teasingly at you. “And what’re you laughing at?!”

“Nothing!”

“Well then get your ass over here!”

You rolled your eyes, hopping down from the truck as Bucky asked if Sam wanted help with the boat. You leaned against a wooden post, grinning when Sam looked at you.

“I don’t have any plans.”

Sam gave a small smile, jerking his head back. “Yeah.”

You jumped down onto the boat to follow him, looking over your shoulder and stopping with an amused eyebrow raised as Bucky introduced himself to Sarah. “I’m Bucky.”

“Ah…Sarah.”

“Sarah.” Bucky repeated her name, before walking towards you, a grin still on his lips.

“Careful, Barnes. That playboy Steve warned me about is coming out.” You nudged him with a smirk, ignoring the feeling of your stomach dropping.

He rolled his eyes, kissing your head as he passed you and Sam to go where Sam was gesturing. “Don’t worry, Y/N. You’re still my doll.”

Sam raised an eyebrow, falling into step besides you and lowering his voice. “Conversation?”

“Hasn’t happened.” You informed him through clenched teeth as he groaned.

Sam gave you a list of chores that needed to be done to clean up the boat, giving you a quick tour and letting you know where all the tools needed where. You set to work immediately.

Sanding down, replacing old parts, cleaning, polishing and painting over the things that didn’t need replacing. They didn’t let you do any heavy lifting because of your stupid shoulder, but you were still able to help.

Sam had turned on some music for you to listen to, so you danced around the boat while cleaning. Turning your head when you felt a pair of eyes on you, you smiled when Bucky snapped his head back down to the wood he was sanding down.

“Gonna dance, Barnes?”

He looked back over, shaking his head. “Nah. I’m good watching you.”

Rolling your eyes, you got back to work, continuing to bop to the music, fully aware that he was watching you now.

A little while later, you were repainting the edges of the boat orange, when you looked over and noticed Bucky playing around with a paint scraper…sitting right on the edge that you had just finished repainting a few minutes ago.

“Buck!”

He looked over, eyebrows raised. “Yeah?”

You bit your lip, trying to hold back your mischievous grin. Shaking your head, you waved dismissively. “Never mind!”

He gave you a confused sort of pout, before shrugging and continuing to fidget with the tool. It wasn’t until later when he got up to help Sam tear the metal plating off the edge that it came to light with Sam chuckling and raising an eyebrow.

“Sit in something there, Barnes?”

“What?”

Bucky craned his neck back, eyes widening when he saw the orange paint on his ass, contrasting with his jeans. You let out a cackle and he whipped towards you, pointing at you accusingly, although the small uptick of his lips let you know he wasn’t really mad.

“Y/N!”

“No, no, no!” You laughed, sprinting across the deck, shrieking when he grabbed your waist and spun you around. You gasped when he grabbed a paint brush and painted an orange stripe right down the front of your shirt. “James!”

“Justice, sweetheart.” He breathed in your ear with a chuckle.

You shook your head, wiggling out of his hold. “This is a nice shirt!”

“You should’ve thought about that before.” He smirked, crossing his arms. Your eyes caught sight of Sam behind him, who raised an eyebrow and the bucket of paint he was holding. You nodded with a little giggle, making Bucky’s eyes narrow. “What’s so funny over there, do - holy shit!

You guffawed as orange paint dripped down his head, Sam standing innocently behind him with the now empty bucket behind his back. “Samuel!”

“Oops?”

“I’m gonna kill you!”

“Try me old man!”

“Fuck!

“Doll!”

“Oh my God!”

Paint, orange and white since those were the only cans they had out, flew across the deck, paint brushes being used like fencing swords.

You found out too late that wet paint was a little bit slippery and you slid on a huge puddle, sending you, not onto the ground below, but over the side of the edge into the water.

“Doll!”

“Cher, you good?!”

The three of you looked at each other, stunned for a moment, before bursting into fits of laughter and you nodded. “I’m good!”

The boys helped you get back up onto the dock, Sarah appearing with towels she conjured up out of thin air. “Let’s get you into dry clothes. Do you have-?”

“We’ve got some. We got a bag.” You told her with a grin, facing the guys. “You two should clean up some, too. Sammy, you’ve got a little something right there.” You pointed to your cheek, his own having a giant white splotch from his temple to his jaw. “And Buck?” You sniggered, gesturing to the whole of him. “You’ve got a lotta something right there.”

“Ha. Ha.” He looked down. His top was practically tiger print, drenched in orange with white here and there, and his ass still orange as well. His hair, which had been plastered to his forehead, was starting to dry now, and it only made you laugh some more thinking about what a pain it’d be to get it out. For him, at least.

“God. Can’t even have a relaxing day on the boat with you two.” Sam jested once you finished up and joined him and Bucky, who had just finished dumping out some water buckets. Bucky had changed his shirt and it looked like they tried wiping their faces, but Sam still had small lines of white down his face. “How ‘bout a couple of drinks? Surely you can’t ruin that too.”

“Ruin?” You gasped in mock offence. “Sammy! I just made the day more…interesting.”

Sam chuckled, ruffling Bucky’s hair, which still had orange streaks in it. “Let’s go get some beers.”

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

You chatted for a bit, mainly you and Sam with you asking how Sarah and the boys were while Bucky with your legs in his lap, just listening to you two and sipping at his bottle. You had his hand in your own lap, wiping it down with a rag due to the paint that got on it.

“You’re lucky this is vibranium, you know.” You commented off handedly. “If it was your other one, it’d definitely get stained.”

“And who’s fault is that?” Bucky shot back with a teasing grin.

“Sammy’s.”

Sam spluttered. “Wh-what?! You started it!” You laughed, shaking your head.

Falling into a comfortable silence with just the water and birds chirping as your soundtrack, you downed the rest of your drink, which Bucky took as finished. “Well,” you moved your legs to let him stand up. He leaned forwards to clink his bottle against Sam’s and you stood up and stretched. “Gotta catch our flight tomorrow. Get a hotel room for the night.” Sam gave you a look to which you rolled your eyes at as Bucky set down his bottle and grabbed his jacket. “Crash, you know?”

“So you’re just gonna set me up like that, huh?”

“Well I don’t wanna make it weird for your family.”

“Just stay here.” You laughed as Sam babbled on about how nice the people were here, grabbing the jacket Bucky handed to you. It was getting a bit chilly from the breeze on the water and the sun going down. Plus, that water was cold.

“But don’t flirt with my sister.”

You cackled at Bucky’s face, that turned serious, his head shaking. “No.”

“‘Cause if you do I’ll have Carlos cut you up and feed you to the fish.”

“Can’t hold back the dog, Wilson. It’s been stuck in a kennel too long.”

Bucky turned to you, grabbing your jaw and squishing your cheeks together. “You know what? You need to shush. You’ve been snippy all day.”

You just smiled as innocently as you could with your lips being held by his metal fingers. “You’re too fun to mess with.”

He pecked your nose. “As long as I’m the only one you’re messing with. I’ll be right back.” He let you go and spun around, maneuvering around the boat in a way only a trained assassin could do.

“Oh my God, please! Please just put me out of my fucking misery! You’re killing me, cher.”

“What?” You gaped at him.

“Don’t act innocent!” Sam huffed, giving you a pointed look. “If I have to watch you two make googly eyes at you one more fucking day with neither of you doing anything about it-”

You rolled your eyes. “Oh come on, Sammy-”

“Don’t ‘come on, Sammy’ me! And don’t come at me with that ‘he doesn’t like me back’ bullshit. If you think for a second that boy wouldn’t follow you to the depths of the fucking ocean, you’re blind as a bat, woman.”

You shrugged, pushing up the sleeves of Bucky’s too big jacket. “It just…hasn’t come up.”

He deadpanned, shaking his head and standing up. “That’s it. I’m done. You two are driving me insane. I’m gonna lock you in a room until you have the conversation that needs to be had the next time either of you does something stupid.”

“Yikes. That’s gonna be quick.” At his look, your smile dropped and you nodded. “Okay, okay. I’ll…I’ll bring it up later.”

“Tomorrow or nothing.”

“Sam-”

Sam tilted his head, brow creasing. “Is it still Steve? Is that what this is still about? Because he’s gone, and he’s been gone and you need to get over it-”

“No. It’s not…” You sighed. “It clicked the other day. When we were hanging out. Steve left and, yeah, I might always love him, but Bucky…God…I love Bucky, Sam.”

The man grinned proudly. “I’m glad to finally hear you admit it. So what’s the problem?”

“It’s still complicated, right? I mean…he’s his best friend and I’ve never dealt with stuff like this before and-”

Sam’s smile dropped and he groaned again. “Imma head out. I can’t take this. Dumbass and dumberass. I swear to God.” You sniggered a bit as he grumbled, walking towards the ramp to climb off the boat, just as Bucky reappeared.

“Hey-”

“Nope! Not right now, Barnes! I can’t handle it! I can’t!”

Bucky gave you a weird look. “What’d you do?”

You chuckled, shaking your head. “Nothing.”

“Well, c’mon, doll. Sarah said she’s gonna make gumbo for us, whatever that is.” He held out his hand as you walked over.

“You’re such a city boy.” You teased lightly, taking his hand and letting him help you pull you onto the dock. You shoved the sleeves of his jackets up again since they slipped from the first time. “Let’s go get some dinner. I’m starving.”

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

“We have the couch and a mattress we can pull out, I just have to make Sam get it from the attic-”

“That’s alright. The couch is fine.” Bucky waved dismissively while you nodded in agreement.

Sarah raised an eyebrow at you two. “For both of you?”

You blinked, exchanging a look with Bucky, before shrugging and turning back to her. “Yeah.”

“Don’t fight it, Sarah.” Sam peeked out from the hall. “They’ve got a weird relationship.” You stuck your tongue out at the man while Bucky rolled his eyes, dropping your duffle bag by the couch. “How mature, Y/N.” Sam mimicked your action.

“Uhm…okay. Let me set up the couch for you then.”

Once everything was set up, you and Bucky thanking her for dinner - delicious and you’d never seen Bucky smile so much, the boys having kept him highly entertained throughout the meal - and for letting you crash, Sam and Sarah headed to their rooms, the boys already having been tucked in for the night.

“Are you gonna sleep on the floor?” You asked quietly, sitting down on the couch and doing the things for your night routine you didn’t already do in the bathroom.

“I think I’ll be okay.” He sat besides you. “I’ve been doing fine the past week or so.”

You smiled at him. “That’s good. Alright.” You stood up and stretched. “Let me just make sure everything’s in the bag and ready-”

You yelped when his arm wrapped around your waist, pulling you into his chest, shifting down to lay against the couch’s arm. “Do it in the morning.” He yawned, looking up at you tiredly. “I wanna go to sleep.”

“Then go to sleep, Buck. I’ll be right back.” He shook his head, his hold tightening as he sunk deeper into the couch.

“No. I fall asleep better with you.”

You rolled your eyes but grinned, settling down with your legs between his, your chin resting on his sternum so you could still look at him. He beamed, but you could see the exhaustion settling in, and he grabbed the blanket Sarah left over the back of the couch and draped it across your back, over both of your legs, before his arms crossed snugly under the covers at the small of your back.

“Dinner was nice tonight. I haven’t had a meal cooked like that in ages.” You hummed.

He nodded in agreement. “I think that’s the first time I’ve sat around a table with a family since the 40′s.”

You raised an eyebrow. “Did you like it?”

“Yeah...kinda makes me wish I had my own.”

“Your own what?”

“Family.”

You bit your lip, shyly avoiding his gaze. “You’re my family, Buck.”

A light kiss was pressed to your forehead, his fingers bringing your gaze back to his. “There’s no one else I’d rather have.” The room lapsed into silence again, the clock ticking on the wall, the low sound of crickets outside.

“You have really pretty eyes.” You mumbled, tilting your head slightly as you studied them. They always held so much emotion in them, especially in contrast to when you first met him as Soldat. They matched the water you fell in, and you wouldn’t mind falling over and over into them.

“Yeah, well, you’re just really pretty inside and out, so I think you’ve got me beat, doll.” He whispered back.

“You know who else is pretty? Sarah.”

He nodded with a hum. “That’s true. But I meant what I said. You’ll always be my doll.”

“So you’re not gonna ask her out?”

He gave you a weird look as you traced his sharp jawline absentmindedly. “Nah, sweetheart. It’s just…some harmless flirting. Except on Sam’s part.”

You gave a soft huff of laughter. “Yeah…he’s gonna strangle you. It is nice to see you like that, though. Flirty. Relaxed. Happy.”

“You make me happy, sweetheart.” He hummed, nosing your temple. “The road trip helped. I’m learning everything from you. Maybe not the flirting, but the carefree part.”

You blinked at him, finger stopping for a moment as you thought. “Oh…”

You felt his fingers dance up your spine, making you shiver slightly. “What I would give to know what’s goin’ on inside that pretty lil’ head’a yours, doll.”

“I just think it’s funny you’re learning how to be carefree from me…when I just started learning how to do it myself.”

“Oh yeah?”

You nodded, your finger continuing its path down his jaw. “I think it started with the goats.”

“The goats?”

You nodded again, resting your cheek on his chest, watching your finger move up from his chin. Once you got to the end of his jaw, you lightly scratched his scruff. “In Wakanda. Our goats.” You weren’t looking at him, so you didn’t see the way he physically melted at your words, his eyes going soft, his lips turning up slightly.

“Our goats, huh?”

But your tired brain wasn’t really processing what he said, instead focusing on the features your finger was now tracing - over his lips, up his nose. “You’re pretty too, Buck. Did you know that? Inside and out.”

He craned his neck to kiss your forehead. “Go to sleep, cuddle bug.”

Nodding, you nuzzled into his chest, finger feeling over the bumps and indents on the dog tags resting near your head. You tried going to sleep, but you kept shifting, your mind not shutting off.

“Hey, sleepyhead, I’m trying to, you know, sleep.”

“Sorry.” You apologized meekly. “I just…I dunno. I can’t.”

“Are you comfortable?” He peeked open and eye to look at you questioningly. You nodded. “Is it too hot? We can take the blanket off. I know I’m a walking furnace-”

You shook your head. “No. I don’t know why. I just can’t sleep.”

He licked his lips thoughtfully, before cradling your head and guiding you back down to his chest. “Lay down, sweetheart. Relax.” He stroked your hair, moving his head down to rub circles in your back muscles, pressing down harder when he felt knots.

You hummed, your eyes closing. “That feels good.”

“Shshsh. Just go to sleep.” His lips pressed against your head once more, lingering a bit longer than they usually do, as you felt yourself drift off. You cuddled his side, throwing a leg over his waist, before nodding off, only barely hearing his words. “Attagirl. There we are.”

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

“Doll?” You felt a shift underneath you and groaned, your eyes barely cracking open. “Hey, sleepyhead…it’s okay. I’m just gonna slip out from under ya, alright? Gonna go help Sammy with somethin’.”

You raised an eyebrow, letting him move you against the cushions as he sat up on the edge of the couch. “Sammy?”

“Yeah.” He bent over and kissed your cheek. You stretched out your limbs, about to rub your eyes, when he stopped you, kissing the inside of your wrists. “No. Not you, doll. Go back to sleep.”

“Bu’...’m gonna help.” You slurred out, looking at him with confused, squinty eyes.

He chuckled, shaking his head. “It’s okay. Rest. You can help when you wake up again. Okay?” You mumbled out an “okay”, bringing the covers up to your chin and snuggling deeper into the cushions. “There ya go, cuddle bug. Good girl.” There was another kiss, one to your temple this time, before you slipped back into unconsciousness.

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

The next time you woke up was because of a clatter in the kitchen. You yawned and sat up, stretching, eyebrows furrowing when you realized Bucky wasn’t with you. It took you a moment to remember your conversation, which you half thought you dreamt.

“Boys!”

“Sorry!”

You chuckled at the shouts, rubbing your eyes. “I am so sorry!” Sarah apologized, looking over at you from the stove. Trying to make the boys breakfast before school. Do you want anything? Eggs? Cereal? Toast?”

“Uh, cereal’s fine.” You stretched out your back again, before throwing back the covers and standing up, a little shakily.

“You wouldn’t happen to know where Sam went, would you?”

You raised an eyebrow. “Uh, I think him and Bucky went to fix something on the boat. I don’t for sure, though.”

Sarah groaned. “He probably went to fix the stupid water pump which doens’t need fixing. Dumbass.”

You chuckled, padding over into the kitchen. “Yeah. I just work with him. I can’t imagine growing up with him.”

“Trust me; some days you want to throw him in a box and send him out to sea. Bowls are in that cupboard.”

You snickered, moving over to grab a bowl from the cupboard she pointed to. “That’s how I feel with Bucky. Sam is less often, but when those two get together…it’s a full zoo.”

She laughed at that, nodding as she got out the milk and a few boxes of cereal for you to choose from, handing you a spoon. “That I believe.”

“Thank you.”

“Of course.”

You started pouring your cereal, watching in slight amusement as she got the boys ready for school. “Bus is here! Get out the door! Bye! Love you! Make sure you take those extra lunches to-!”

“Yeah, mom! We know! Love you too!”

You gave a slight smirk as she huffed, looking around the kitchen at the pans and dishes left out. “Kids, huh?”

She gave you a smile. “Yeah. They’re a handful, but I wouldn’t trade them for anything. How about you? Any thoughts of kids?”

“Me?” Your eyes widened, nearly choking on your food. “Oh God no. Not right now, at least. I don’t even have a solid house right now. My life’s too off the walls for that.”

“And Bucky?”

You raised an eyebrow as she leaned on the counter. “Bucky? What about Bucky?”

“Does he want kids?”

“Uh…I dunno.” You shrugged, clearing your throat as you remembered your talk last night. “Kinda makes me wish I had my own.” You quickly pushed his words aside. “He hasn’t told me.”

“Wait, wait. You two…aren’t together then?”

You blinked, your eyes widening again. “Together? Me and Bucky? No…why? Did Sam say something?”

Her expression morphed into one of disbelief, crossing her arms. “Sam didn’t say anything. You guys did. Are you seriously expecting me to believe you aren’t together?”

“We’re not! I mean - he was flirting with you yesterday-”

“Right, okay. Honey, that’s flirting. And it’s harmless. The way he follows you like a puppy and you look at him like he hung the stars? That’s feelings. And that’s a lot more impactful than flirting.”

You frowned in contemplation. It was really that obvious? You were really that blind? This whole time? You knew Sam knew - but you just figured that’s because he’s been there since it started. And Sharon knew for the same reason. But Sarah? The woman you just met the day prior and had barely had a conversation with?

“It’s, uh…” You chewed on your cheek, swirling your cereal around. “It’s complicated.”

Sarah didn’t look impressed. “Do you like him?”

“I’m kinda in love with him-”

She shrugged, not letting you finish your bashful statement. “Then I don’t see what’s complicated about it.”

And that was that. She turned to clean up breakfast, leaving you alone with your thoughts.

You thought it was more complicated than that. I mean…you were in love with your best friend. Who left you. With the guy you had feelings for who just so happened to be your best friend/crush’s best friend. And now you were completely in love with your best friend’s best friend, but your best friend still had a piece of your heart.

But…you loved Bucky. And he was here. And Steve was not. And when you put it that way…you guess it wasn’t so complicated after all.

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

You snickered as you walked up behind Sarah, the woman berating the men for not leaving the water pump along like she asked.

“Hi, Sarah.”

Sam shot Bucky a warning look, who grinned, but you were surprised to see Sarah ignore him, sending you a knowing glance instead, before turning back to Sam. “I told you specifically that the water pump was not the problem, and yet, here you are.”

“Yep, Samuel.”

You chuckled, Bucky shooting you a wink. “Yeah, Samuel.”

Sam narrowed his eyes at you, turning to Sarah. “In our defense, you were supposed to be done long before you woke up.”

You nearly facepalmed at his “defensive” and you were trying so hard to hold back laughing as she told Sam off, sending them away.

“I don’t wanna hear a peep from you.” Sam pointed at you, but that only made your chortles come out, and you didn’t even bother hiding them. “She’s a very mean person.”

“It’s tough love.”

You giggled as they started arguing, slipping an arm around their waists, their arms instinctually coming up to your shoulders.

“Oh my God. A prowess?”

“Yes, Y/N. A prowess.”

“You know, maybe if you someone let me help-”

“Hey, woah! You were tired! I let you sleep! I was being nice!”

“Too late now. I’ll be lucky if Sarah lets me within a hundred feet of it!”

“She got you so good, Sammy!”

“I agree with Buck for once! You’re too snippy right now! And c’mon man! Stop flirting with my sister!”

“It’s my natural charm.”

“Charm? What charm?”

“Ouch, doll! That one hurt!”

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

“Okay.” You stepped out of the bathroom, walking over to the couch and setting the bag down on it. “I’ve got everything packed. We’ve got a little over an hour until we need to head out which gives you two time to go set something up for Sammy and maybe even a bit or training before we leave.”

Bucky frowned. “You’re not gonna come out?”

“I will in a bit. I just got a phone call I need to take.”

Sam narrowed his eyes. “Government call?”

You gave a mocking smile. “Can you guess what they want to talk about? It’s okay. I’ll survive. It’s only a phone call, so I can always hang up. Pretend I didn’t have good service. I do it all the time.”

“I’m sure you do.” Sam chuckled. “In that case, I’m gonna go grab some stuff and get the shield.” As he walked out, he made sure to mouth at you behind Bucky’s back ‘conversation’ making you swallow thickly. You were planning on talking to Bucky anyways, and with Sam’s insistence…

“Okay, so, I was thinking when we get back-”

“Can I talk to you?”

Bucky stopped digging through the bag, blinking at you in surprise at your sudden burst. “Uh…well, we already are, so yes.” He chuckled, straightening and crossing his arms.

“I wanna have the conversation.”

He was left stunned, once again, his mouth opening and closing and his weight shifting form one foot to the other. “Like…that conversation? R-right now? Are you sure?”

You winced at her nervousness. “Sorry, sorry. I know it’s kinda…I just…I need to talk about it. Now.”

“Okay, okay. No, that’s fine. Don’t apologize. I just wasn’t expecting it.” Bucky cleared his throat. “That’s all.”

“Okay…” You breathed with a small nod. You opened your mouth, but Bucky shook his head.

“I hafta say this first; I didn’t mean to hurt you by telling you about Steve. I-I dunno what I thought. That it’d give you closure or something. I dunno. But it hurt you and I’m sorry. That wasn’t my intention.”

“Buck-”

“I was jealous. And guilty. And mad. And upset. I still am. Kinda. I guess. I dunno.” Bucky shook his head, running his hand through his hair and all you could do was gape at him as he started confessing to you. “Remember when we danced? In Madripoor? Doll…I don’t wanna dance ever again if it’s not with you. I fucking love you, Y/N. And not in the way we’ve said it before. I’m in love with you. I have been for-for a while now. I just - you were Steve’s. Steve loved you and you loved Steve and that was that and I was just the broken childhood best friend. But Steve left and he told me to take care of you and I didn’t know what to do with that, because you still love Steve. I think. I dunno. And I didn’t want to break what we have because you’re all I have left of him. You and that stupid shield. You’re my family. My home. I really meant it when I told you that. And that’s why I couldn’t tell you. Because it means too much for me to break what we have because I fell in love with my best friend’s girl. You know?”

He looked at you with pleading eyes, begging you to understand, but your brain was still trying to process what he was telling you.

“Oh God…” He groaned. “And now I just told you everything and you’re looking at me like that wasn’t what you wanted to hear and now I’m thinking this wasn’t the conversation you were thinking it was going to be-”

You were moving across the room before you could stop yourself, pulling him by the teal Henley you knew was comfortable having worn it to bed before when you visited him in New York, and slanting your lips over his.

His breathing hitched and he froze, and for a hot second you thought you made everything worse, but then he was kissing you back and his hands were on your hips and he was pulling you closer and it felt so fucking good you didn’t want to pull back for air.

“Shut up.” You muttered when you finally did pull back, your forehead against his, your eyes clenched shut. “Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up.” You pulled back to look up at him, chests heaving against each other, your eyes prickling. “I’m not good at this. I’m not good at opening up. I only ever was good at it with Steve but Bucky…I’ve been doing it with you. This whole time and I didn’t even realize it until the conversation in the car.”

He reached up to cup your cheeks, wiping away the relieved tears that were falling from the weight you were finally getting off your chest.

“I love you. I’m in love with you. How could I not be? After all that time in Wakanda? I was never Steve’s girl, Bucky. I wanted to be. Dammit, did I wanna be, but I wasn’t. Not really. And he’s gone. But you’re not. And I don’t know why it took me so long to see that. That you’re the one in front of me. You’re the one who held me when I needed it once he left. You’re the one that would listen to my rambles that I’m just realizing was most of our phone calls. You’re not just the broken childhood friend. Don’t ever think that. I don’t pick up the phone at five in the morning after searching for a friend until two for just anyone. Even Steve’s best friend. And I’m such an idiot because I’ve been pushing away my feelings all these years for Steve and then I let them out with you at the wrong time, because I love Steve, Bucky, but I’m not in love with him. Not since I fell in love with you. And I know it doesn’t make sense, but Steve was the first one I cared about and that’s just how I feel and I can try to explain, but-”

His lips crashed onto yours again and you could taste the salty tears that were pouring down your cheeks, but you didn’t care. He was holding you and he was kissing you and it was even more perfect than you thought it’d be.

“You’re adorable when you ramble, but Jesus Christ, shuddup, doll.” He breathed. “Just tell me you love me. Tell me you love me just a fraction of how much I love you.”

You looked up into those ocean eyes, your own shining with earnest affection. “James Buchanan Barnes. I love you.”

“That’s all I need to know.” He murmured against your lips, holding your head against his, still wiping away your tears. It felt like with each one that fell, you felt lighter and lighter. Like they were taking away every fear and anxiety you held within you for the past six months.

“Alright! I was thinking we could just set up in these trees out here - holy shit! Is it done? Did you do it? Did I miss it? Has the conversation been had?”

Bucky chuckled as you giggled. “He has the worst timing.” The last two words were loud enough so Sam could hear, although the man heard the whole sentence.

“I’m gonna take that as a yes!” Sam cheered. “Halle-fucking-lujah! Finally! I was that close to locking you two in the attic.”

You shook your head at Sam’s personal celebration, drowning the rest of his words out as you looked at Bucky, who swept his thumb over your cheek catching one last tear, before pecking your lips.

“I finally get to kiss where I really want to.” He spoke softly, kissing your lips again. “Are you mine, doll?”

“I thought you said I’d always be your doll.” You answered cheekily. He grinned, kissing you again, pulling you against him by the hips.

“Okay, okay! That’s enough! We get it! You’re in love, finally, but I don’t wanna see it anymore! Now will you come help me with this shit?”

Bucky left one more lingering kiss on your lips, before you pushed him away reluctantly. “I’ll be right out.”

He nodded, moving over to help Sam carry the things he’d gathered.

You watched them put it all up from the window, gnawing on your cheek as you spun your phone in your hands. Coming to a decision, you tossed your phone in the duffle bag and walked out with it just as the boys finished.

“That was a quick phone call.” Sam raised an eyebrow.

You shrugged. “Didn’t call them. If they really need me, they’ll find me.”

Bucky grinned as you set the bag down under a tree, pecking your lips when you got close enough for him to grab by the waist to hold you against him. You rolled your eyes, shoving him playfully away and giggling as Sam let out a groan.

“Alright. Let’s see what you’ve got, Sammy.”

><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><

Bucky knew he needed the tough love talk Sam was giving him. He needed to hear it. Because, deep down, he had known it all along, he just refused to believe it. He tried doing it. Making amends. He knew he wasn’t though. And of course he knew immediately who that one person would be.

“And hey.” Bucky looked at him. “Let me tell you what. Telling my girl all that you told her? That’s a good start. I’m proud of you. Both of you. You’re already happier. I can see it in your eyes.”

Bucky chuckled, shaking his head as he thought of the gorgeous woman he nearly let slip through his fingers. He looked over to the house, where she was inside somewhere getting ready after suddenly deciding she needed to shower before they left. “I was stupid.”

“Yeah you were. You both were. I’m so relieved it’s over.” Sam nudged him. “Treat her right, Buck. She deserves it.”

“I know…I just hope I can.”

Sam shook his head. “Uh-uh. Don’t do that. You were just starting to use that cyborg brain of yours! She chose you. And before you say anything,” Sam cut Bucky off from speaking as he opened his mouth to object. “She chose you before Steve left. It just took her dumbass this long to realize it.”

Bucky nodded, a small smile on his face. “Yeah…okay…” Before he could say anything, the goddess herself stepped out, jogging over, looking absolutely amazing in her jeans and his t-shirt. “Good talk.”

Sam laughed at his quick ending of the conversation as she came up besides them. “Talking about me?” She asked cheekily, eyes shining. Bucky couldn’t help but take her under his arm, pecking her lips. Now that he could, he didn’t think he could stop. He was addicted to say the least.

Throwing Bucky a wink, Sam shrugged. “Just all the things that get on our nerves.”

“Ha ha.” She rolled her eyes. “We better get going.”

Bucky and Sam clapped hands. “You know Karli won’t quit.”

Bucky smiled. “Ah. You call us when you have a lead and we’ll be there.”

Y/N stepped forwards to give Sam a hug. “Anytime, Sammy.”

“Eh. Anytime between noon and midnight.” Bucky corrected. “Or noon and ten. Noon and five…you better just call at noon to be safe.”

Sam rolled his eyes. “Sure, sure.”

“Not necessarily as a team.” Bucky continued, grabbing the bag, getting Y/N back in her spot at his side under his arm.

“Nope!”

“We’re not that good.”

“Definitely not.”

“We’re professionals.”

“Definitely.”

“And, uh, we’re partners.”

Sam snapped, pointing at him. “Coworkers.”

“But we’re also a couple of guys with a couple mutual friends.”

“Ones now gone and you’re dating the other.”

“So we’re a couple of guys…with a badass to help out.”

“I can live with that.”

“Perfect.”

“Oh my God.” Y/N let out that laugh Bucky could never get enough of, shaking her head at the two of them. “You forgot dumbasses.”

Sam shook his head. “Nuh-uh. That’s your couple name.”

“Dumbasses?”

“Oh yeah.” The three of them came to a stop, Bucky and his girl - God he loved confirming it now - facing Sam. “Thanks for the help, guys. Meant a lot.”

Bucky patted his shoulder. “Of course.”

Y/N shot him a wink. “Until we meet again, Sammy.”

“Until then, cher.”

Bucky couldn’t stop his grin as she wrapped her arms around his waist, the two of them starting to walk to the main road where she already ordered an Uber. He looked down at her, kissing her lips for the nth time in the past hour.

“I wish I didn’t wait so long,” he told her seriously. “But I’d wait a thousands more centuries if it meant I get to call you mine.”

She giggled, shaking her head. “You’re such a sap! But…” she moved up to kiss him and his heart stuttered. He knew he had a goofy grin on when she pulled back, but he couldn’t help it. Especially when she laughed again. “I have to agree with you on that, Buckaroo.”

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vgriffindor · 3 years ago

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Sapphic September

A colleague pointed out to me that it was #sapphicseptember, and while I’m not always one to jump on literary trends, I like the idea of this one. I firmly believe there’s a double standard in popular media that prioritizes m/m relationships, and that they’re shown as much more acceptable and family friendly, while w/w relationships are still somewhat hidden and/or fetishized.

So let’s fix that a little, shall we? Here are a few great reads that I’ve loved, some recent and some not, that feature wlw relationships at the front and centre of the story, to help you fill out your #sappicSeptember (or any other time of year, really) reading bingo card! If you’ve got more, reblog and add; wouldn’t we love to see a great reading list get traction?

THE MIDNIGHT LIE by Marie Rutkoski (YA, Fantasy, Magic): Lush, beautiful prose and enchantment. Nirrim is an orphan who makes a risky deal with the flirtatious and mysterious Sid. Together, they embark on an adventure through the luscious and prohibited world of the High-Kith, in order to solve the mystery of Ethin’s past. Lots of themes about facing your past and who you really are. Some deliciously steamy moments, and heartfelt ones, too.

ONE LAST STOP by Casey McQuiston (Adult, Time Travel, Contemporary): Definite Millennial vibes, and lots of found family as August, a young woman in her mid-twenties, moves to NYC and meets the charming and bold Jane on the subway. Everything about Jane seems perfect, but as sparks fly, they discover that Jane isn’t able to leave the Q Train - in fact, she hasn’t left it since the 70s. Fun and cute, and the romance is pure sexy, heart-rushing, sparkling exhilaration.

A MASTER OF DJINN by P. Djèlí Clark | (Adult, Fantasy, Steampunk, Mystery, Historical Fiction): Cairo, 1912. Fatma is one of the Ministry’s only female agents. She’s independent and tough, so it’s no surprise when she’s called to the city’s strangest case: a secret brotherhood is murdered by a mysterious man calling himself the dangerous and magical al-Jahiz, returned from the dead. Fatma and her clever girlfriend Siti must get to the bottom of the matter, and see if the imposter really is who he claims to be, before it’s too late.

THE PULL OF THE STARS by Emma Donoghue | (Adult, Historical Fiction, Nurses): Spend three days in a Dublin Maternity ward with the tough and compassionate Nurse Julia Power. Up to her elbows in life and death, she’s fighting alongside the women who are her patients, and the Great Flu of 1918 means that the hospital is overwhelmingly short-staffed. Assigned to Nurse Power is the young, bright, Bridie Sweeney, and though the pair is at odds at first, the next few days’ battles will bring them closer than they imagined. Tightly written, heart-in-your-throat atmosphere, and be prepared for intense emotion.

UPRIGHT WOMEN WANTED by Sarah Gailey | (Adult, Speculative Fiction, Dystopian, Western): A quick, feisty and vibrant take on the Western. Esther is escaping the conventional life of marriage and expectations that her family wants for her. She stows herself away in the book wagon of the Librarians; a guerilla group of badass cowgirls fighting back against the corrupt government and distributing illegal materials and hope. Fresh and fun and packs a hell of a punch.

A LESSON IN VENGEANCE by Victoria Lee | (YA, Dark Academia, Mystery, Paranormal): Felicity and new girl Ellis are students at Dalloway School, and team up to investigate the mysterious deaths of five previous students, rumoured to be witches. Nice and haunted, great for back-to-school vibes, and, heads up, has quite a spicy scene.

LAST NIGHT AT THE TELEGRAPH CLUB by Malinda Lo | (YA, Historical Fiction, San Francisco Chinatown): During the 1950s, the Red Scare was in full force, and Lily Hu and Kathleen Miller are two young women who are facing the loss of everything to keep their love. Immersive and slow, but beautifully worth it. Makes you wonder when lesbian bars will see the light of day again.

WHY BE HAPPY WHEN YOU COULD BE NORMAL? by Jeanette Winterson | (Non-fiction, memoir): I don’t read a ton of memoirs, but if you’ve never read Winterson you’re in for the ultimate treat. This is a beautiful story of an author’s life (Winterson came out as a lesbian when she was 16), but also, you’ll be wanting to highlight just about every line in it; her writing is gorgeous. (My own copy is full of highlights and notes, and is actually currently on loan to a friend, which is why I don’t have a pic of it!)

THE MOON IS ALWAYS FEMALE by Marge Piercy | (Poetry): I know that Saphho is the obvious choice, but we already know her, so let’s come up with something a bit different. This is a small collection, and I’m not super into poetry but since the pandemic has messed with my focus, I’ve discovered a lot more of it. Piercy’s style is stunning; sharp and deep and lush, all at once. There are some beautiful hard-hitters, and “Limited but Fertile Possibilities are Offered by This Brochure” reads like a heart-pounding, wlw, rally cry.

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coltenpierce · 2 years ago

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algee smith & he/him/ cis male ‷ watch out , colten pierce has crash-landed into roswell !! they look twenty-seven years old and celebrate their birthday on the first of april they are from queens, nyc, reside in tripp’s trailer park and are currently working as clerk at alien gulch. one thing you should know about them is he thinks we are all in one giant simulation.‷

Name: Colten Pierce Age: 27 Sexuality: Bisexual (closeted bisexual) Occupation: Clerk @ Alien Gulch + traits: loyal, adventurous, emphatic listener - traits: self-destructive, reckless, impulsive

tw: addiction mention, car accident mention, death mention

Colrten was born to a young mother who only ever wanted to love her son and give him the best life possible. Unfortunately for a young mother at the age of sixteen this was seemingly impossible, especially when there was little to no support coming from the parents of the mother or his father (who was just as young). When she was seventeen, Colten’s mother ran away with him and some random guy who promised her the world.

The guy turned out to be a real piece of work. One year into the relationship was filled with anything but the honeymoon stage. Two years into the relationship with his mother the man ended up leaving her pregnant with Colten’s little sister and disappeared from their lives entirely.

The older Colten got the more the tried to help his mother out. He loved her efforts in attempting to keep a stable income but it was not an easy upbringing to say the least. By the time he was ten Colten felt like a full grown adult, especially when it came to caring for his little sister.

His mother, bless her soul, worked two jobs and one odd one every so often in an attempt to keep the household afloat. For the most part, it was Colten caring for his little sister, Sophie.

(tw: accident, death) One day while Colten was out visiting the park with his sister tragedy happened. He normally didn’t get distracted from watching Sophie…except today. He was arguing about a basketball game score when one of the kids he was in the middle of arguing with pointed in the direction Sophie was running off to. By the time Colten turned to see what was happening all he saw was his sister disappear beneath a semi truck and the rest was a tragic story.

Colten never forgave himself for that either. It showed in the way he became more detached from everyone around him, how he often woke up in a cold sweat and screaming, and it showed in the way he cried almost every night while holding Sophie’s favorite stuffed lamb.

And his mother changed after that. She no longer seemed as kind towards him as she had always seemed. When he cried for Sophie she would only roll her eyes and drink more. Her boyfriends got worse too. Overall, life got worse.

Much like his mother, Colten ran away from home at seventeen. Unlike his mother, however, he didn’t run off with someone who promised him the world. He ran off to find himself in the world and at the same time travel. He took his guitar and some clothes with him.

His guitar (Lucy), and singing, had always been a natural talent for Colten. It’s a talent he used to make money as he lived from city to city. He had always dreamed of becoming a rockstar one day, but that was just a dream

From eighteen up until recently the guy has been struggling with drugs. He has tried multiple times to lean off either, but in the end, as much as he tries, Colten always falls back into old habits. It’s to the point that the guy doesn’t see much light anymore and has accepted that this is who he was meant to be. Someone who is just waiting for the next high in life in a lot of ways.

He found Roswell, New Mexico and honestly ended up enjoying the small town from day one. He found a home in Tripp’s Trailer Park & a job as a clerk at Alien Gulch. It’s been about a year now that he’s living in Roswell and he doesn’t see himself moving any time soon. Although he’s become more discrete with his habits, he still silently struggles with his addiction. He has a big heart and uses it to help any youth he see’s that may be homeless or in need of a helping hand. You can often find him voulnteering at the nearest soup kitchen or shelter. If not then he’s offering his spot to anyone who many need a place to crash in for a night or two.

He really loves attempting to lift the spirits of today's youth and help them out as much as possible. He isn’t shy, either, to talk about his addiction to them and tell them the horror stories is has brought. Even if he doesn’t mention he still struggles with it on and off. He’d do anything to help the youth of today out as much as possible. Anything to prevent anyone from going through the path he went on.

You’ll always catch him causing a ruckus somewhere over something. Always ready for a laugh and to bust out his guitar at any open mic night.

He’s bisexual. He hasn’t opened up about it because he’s very shy about his sexuality. He’s never had a real boyfriend or gone all the way with a guy, but he’s often thought about it. He has kissed guys here and there but he’s always chalked it up to them just being drunk and it meaning nothing.

Oh...please don’t get him started on how we all live in a simulation and glitches in the matrix. He WILL NOT shut up about it once you do.

#roswellintro #tw: addiction mention #tw: car accident mention #tw: death mention

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sfb123 · 3 years ago

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The Final Goodbye - Chapter 4 (Finale)

Book: The Royal Romance, Book 2

Pairing: Liam x Riley

All characters belong to Pixelberry.

Description: In a slight canon divergence from book 2, Riley reaches her breaking point with the engagement tour and decides to restart her life when the court gets to NYC. Can the rest of the group clear her name, and convince her to come back before it’s too late?

Catch Up Here

Rating: PG (I think there are a few swear words in there, very angsty, but otherwise pretty mild)

Word Count: 2,525 (sorry, this is like twice as long as the others, but it’s worth it, I promise!)

A/N: We’ve made it to the end of the story. I appreciate you all so much for indulging me in this. I guess, technically, this is my first completed series (I promise, I’ll get back to Sapere Aude and A Taste of Cordonia soon!), so that’s a pretty exciting milestone for me. I really hope that at the end of this, you consider it worth your time.

I gush way too much over her, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop, because I’m truly blessed that we stumbled upon each other, so shout out @jessiembruno for all of your help with this, and with everything. I may have in person friends I go for walks with, but you’re still at the top of my list.

Tags: Listed below. If you’d like to be added or removed, just let me know!

Maxwell, Drake, and Hana sat in silence on the couch in Riley’s hotel room, reflecting on the day’s events. Bertrand had told Maxwell that he found her, but nobody else had seen or heard from her since. They weren’t sure if she had seen Tariq’s statement, and were even less sure it would matter.

Hana broke the silence. “I can’t believe we did it.”

“I can’t believe Riley isn’t here. We should all be victory dancing right now.” Maxwell replied.

Drake patted Maxwell on the back. “She’ll be back, she has to be. There’s no way she went through all of this just to give up in the home stretch.”

There was a gentle knock at the door, all three of them jumped up in the hopes that it was Riley. Maxwell ran to answer it, revealing Liam on the other side. “Oh, Liam. Hey.” Maxwell stepped back, allowing Liam to enter.

Unable to contain his grin, Liam entered the room and approached the group. “I had a feeling you all would come here. I came to see you as soon as I could.” He looked around, noticing that Riley wasn’t with them he turned back to Maxwell and noticed his nervous expression. “Where is the woman of the hour? I wanted to personally offer my congratulations.” His face fell as he noticed his friends fidgeting, unable to make eye contact with him. Even without his years of training, he was easily able to read the tone of the room. He knew something was wrong.

“Liam...why don’t you sit down for a minute.” Drake placed a hand on his shoulder and attempted to guide him toward the couch. Liam shrugged him off.

“No thank you Drake, I came to see Riley. If she’s not here, just tell me where she is and I will go to her.”

“We ah...we don’t know.” Drake awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck, unable to meet Liam’s gaze. “This morning, after you left, Maxwell and I came to check on her and she wasn’t here. It looks like she never came back to the hotel last night.”

Liam felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. He took a moment to compose himself, looking around the room at the sad faces of his friends. “She...she’s gone?” His voice barely above a whisper as he took a seat, afraid his legs were going to give out. “But you found Tariq, it’s over. Her name has been cleared. We finally have our chance to…” He dropped his head, cradling it in his hands. Hana sat beside him and wrapped a comforting arm around his shoulders. Drake and Maxwell looked at each other. Nobody knew what the next move was.

Liam sat in silence, his mind reeling with countless thoughts. All of the things he should have said, should have done. From the coronation, where he should have called her name, despite everything; to the previous night when he should have run after her the second she stepped off that stage. Maybe if he had gotten to her, he could have convinced her to stay just a little longer. He was so focused on retracing his mistakes over the last several weeks, that he did not hear the sound of a throat clearing at the door. It did get the attention of everyone else in the room, however. Their heads all snapped over to see Riley leaning against the doorframe, an awkward smile spread across her face. “Hey guys, what did I miss?”

The sound of her voice broke him from his thoughts. He looked up, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. Watching as she addressed the room, he took note that she was not meeting his eyes. He was preparing himself for the heartbreak that was about to come. She was only here to get her things, he was sure of it.

“Riley! You came back!” Maxwell ran to her full speed, pulling her into a hug so aggressive that her feet lifted off the ground. Once she was standing again, he pulled away and took her hand, rushing her toward the group. “What happened? We were afraid you were gone forever.”

There was an apprehension in Riley’s face that they hadn’t seen since the early days of the social season as her eyes scanned the room. She was trying to collect her thoughts and explain herself without letting it all explode out of her at once. As her eyes traveled in Liam’s direction, she moved her attention to the floor. She was sure he was upset with her, and if she saw any kind of sadness or disappointment in his face, she knew she would completely lose it. She focused her attention back on Maxwell, “You thought I was gone, and you still went through all of that trouble to go get Tariq and get him to make a statement?”

“Of course we did. You’re our friend, and we promised to help you.” Maxwell replied.

Riley took a shaky breath, trying to keep a handle on all of the emotions rushing through her at that moment. “I gave up on myself, and you guys kept fighting. I don’t think I will ever be able to thank you for that.”

She approached her friends individually, hugging them and speaking softly to each. Liam’s heart raced as he watched her move closer and closer to him, afraid for what that moment would bring. As Riley and Hana separated, Liam stood from his spot on the couch, taking a deep breath, preparing himself for what was about to come. For the first time since she had arrived, Riley and Liam locked eyes.

“Hi.” It was barely audible, but it was all Riley was able to choke out at that moment.

“Hello Riley.”

Tension filled the room as Liam and Riley stared into each other's eyes, each afraid to start the conversation. Drake, Maxwell, and Hana looked at eachother. “Alright, we’re going to take off. Brooks, good to have you back. We’ll see you in the morning.”

Drake and Hana walked toward the door, while Maxwell approached Riley. “Celebratory field trip to Coney Island tomorrow, Little Blossom. It’s going to be great!”

“MAXWELL!” He jumped at the sound of Drake’s voice, and rushed out of the room. Shutting the door behind him.

Liam decided to make the first move, he motioned toward the couch, “Would you like to sit?” Riley nodded and sat on the couch, turning her body so she was facing Liam, he did the same. “So...you left.” Riley nodded again, still struggling to speak. Liam needed to get the question out there, if this was going to be it, he needed to know now. “Do you...does that mean...have you changed your mind? About us?”

Riley’s eyes went wide, she wasn’t sure what to expect when they spoke, but she was not prepared to hear Liam question her love for him. “Liam, no! This wasn’t about us, about you even. It was about me.”

He reached for her hands as he took a brief sigh of relief. “Then talk to me Riley, what happened? Why did you leave?”

“It was just becoming too much, we were at that UN thing last night, another night where I had to watch her on your arm. She had sent me earlier in the day to pick up her wedding ring. I guess that was kind of like a reality check for me, that the wedding was coming. Time was running out. You’re supposed to be getting married in less than a week. Finding Tariq was starting to feel impossible. I was going to have to go back to Cordonia and watch you marry her. I know I told you that I would want to be in your life regardless, but as we got closer to a reality where I was going to have to live as your secret, I realized that I couldn’t do it. I can’t live my life like that, in a country where I have been ostracized, just to have little glimpses of a life with you. I love you more than anything, but I couldn’t live the rest of my life like that. I figured, since we’re already in New York, it would be easier to just break away now and try to restart.”

“Why didn’t you talk to me? Tell me you were feeling this way, we could have talked through it together. You just disappeared.” He brought a hand to her cheek, brushing away the tears that had fallen as she was speaking.

“I couldn’t tell you, I wouldn’t have been able to follow through with it if I did. You would have looked at me with those eyes, and said all those beautiful words that make me all mushy inside and I would have agreed to anything you said.”

The tears Liam had been trying to hold back slowly began to break free with her confession. He never wanted her to feel forced into anything, especially not by him. This whole thing had been his fault. She didn’t feel like she could be open with him, or she felt like when she was, he would railroad her into choosing his wants and needs above her own. That was never the life he wanted for either of them. “Riley, I am so sorry. The last thing I ever want is for you to feel like you can’t talk to me. I know that it has been...difficult for us to find moments to truly connect, but I had hoped that in those moments, we were being the best versions of ourselves. I had no idea I was so far off.”

“Liam, remember during the social season, all of the times where we would sneak away, or you’d spend an extra couple of minutes with me? You would always tell me how you were being unfair to the other suitors, and you were breaking the rules.” He nodded, a small smile playing across his face at the memories of their time together. “Your feelings for me were making you do things that you never would have done before. That’s what this engagement tour has been for me. I made a promise to myself a long time ago that I would never be ‘the other woman’, I would never come in between someone else’s relationship…”

“But you were never…”

She put a hand up to stop him from finishing his sentence. “...I was never the other woman, because your heart belongs to me. I know, that was your way of rationalizing it, and I love you so much that I started seeing it that way too. I would make excuses, that it was only temporary until we found Tariq, that Madeline had told you it would be ok. And I know she did, but I shouldn't have been ok with it. I compromised who I was, who I have been my whole life, because of my feelings for you. That’s not ok.” She took a deep breath before continuing. “Liam, I want to be with you, more than anything, but not if you’re married to someone else. I deserve to be the only woman in your life, and on your arm, for show or otherwise. If you can’t give me that, I need to walk away.”

“Riley, my feelings for you have never changed, nor have my intentions. Now that the scandal is behind you, we can look forward to a future together, just the two of us. There are a few arrangements that need to be made, some conversations that I will need to have, but I need you to understand that everything is going to change from here. Our moment is right around the corner, if you can just stick with me a little longer.”

There was a rawness and vulnerability in his eyes that caused Riley to completely break down. As she began sobbing, Liam pulled her to her chest, his own tears falling freely. They sat there for several moments, purging the emotions they had been working so hard to hold back.

When they pulled away, Liam held Riley’s face in his hands staring deeply, desperately into her eyes. “Please Riley, just bear with me until the court leaves New York. If you are not satisfied with where things stand at that time, I will completely understand and support your decision to stay here.”

Riley blinked away the last of her tears as she considered Liam’s proposition. She slowly nodded her head, which was still being cradled in Liam’s hands. “Ok.”

He could barely hear the words escape her lips, but it was all he needed. Liam kissed the tear stains on each of her cheeks before placing a tender, lingering kiss on her lips. “I love you Riley, I love you so much. I promise, we’re going to get our forever.”

Riley wrapped her arms around Liam’s neck and pulled him into a tight embrace. He brought his arms around her, gently rubbing her back. “I love you too, Liam.” They sat in each other's arms, each comforting the other without saying a word.

“I should head to my room and try to get some sleep.” Liam broke the silence, standing and extending his hand to Riley. “Walk me to the door?”

She nodded, taking his hand and standing, leading him to the door. “You could stay here if you wanted.” She looked at him coyly.

“Riley my love, there is nothing I want more right now, but I can’t do that to you.” He brought her hand to his lips. “You’re right, you deserve to be the only woman in my life, and I am still technically engaged to Madeleine. I heard everything you said, and if anything more we’re to happen tonight, it wouldn’t be fair to you. To either of us. Just know that you will be the only thing on my mind until we are together again.” He leaned down, kissing her deeply, as he wrapped his free hand around her waist.

“Will you at least come with us to Coney Island tomorrow?” She asked hopefully.

“Only if you promise to ride with me on the Ferris wheel.”

She smiled, and Liam felt his heart skip a beat at the sight. It was at that moment that he knew they were going to be ok. “I think that can be arranged.”

He pulled her close for one last lingering hug. “Then I will be counting down the seconds.” He pulled away, kissing her on the cheek. “Goodnight, Riley.”

“Goodnight Liam.”

They shared a final smile before Liam exited the room, shutting the door behind him. Riley changed into her pajamas and got into bed. That night, she slept better than she had during the entire tour. She knew there was still a lot that needed to be figured out, and that it would likely be an uphill battle, but she was one step closer to walking up that hill hand in hand with Liam, and that’s all she had ever wanted in the first place.

Permatag:

@anjanettexcordonia @athena-penrose @bbrandy2002 @chemist-ana @choicesficwriterscreations @choiceskatie @cordonia-gothqueen @cordoniaqueensworld @emkay512 @gabesmommie1130 @gkittylove99 @hopelessromanticmonie @iaminlovewithtrr @jessiembruno @kat-tia801 @khoicesbyk @kingliam2019 @lucy-268 @marshmallowsaremyfavorite @mile9213 @mom2000aggie @pixie88 @queenrileyrose @secretaryunpaid @sweatyrysconnoisseur @tessa-liam @theroyalheirshadowhunter @twinkleallnight @txemrn

The Final Goodbye:

@ao719 @burnsoslow @busywoman @itsjustwinter @ladyangel70 @mainstreetreader @shanzay44

Liam x Riley:

@jared2612

Liam:

@amandablink

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