#10 - 12 am 'return package'

[segretecose]

infl*encers will post their #busy day to do list and it'll literally be a list of normal things normal people normally do in their 1 hour off work on a normal day without anyone hearing anything about it

[wardenparker]

Vampire Waltz - ch 17

Max Phillips x female reader Co-written with @absurdthirst

A mysterious inheritance, sprawling mansion, eccentric roommates, friendly bat, and coven of New England witches are the newest chapter of your life after being unceremoniously dumped and kicked out by your boyfriend. For Max, the biggest change in his life is you, and what exactly he's going to do about the fact that he is stuck living with you as long as his sire continues to punish him for that incident at his last office...

Rating: Mature, but this blog is always 18+ Word Count: 9.1k Warnings: *Blanket warnings for this series: deceased parents, cursing, food, blood and blood drinking, depictions and references to abusive relationships. Anxiety and trauma responses. Self-worth issues.* Honestly, not many warnings here. Mostly fluff and some sexy flirting and blood drinking/talk of biting. Summary: On the night of the Samhain ball, your long-anticipated return home is marked with tears, hugs, and a very important announcement. Notes: Next week's epilogue will be the official end of this story, my darlings, and I am so grateful for every single one of you who has come along for the ride!

Ch 1 ~ Ch 2 ~ Ch 3 ~ Ch 4 ~ Ch 5 ~ Ch 6 ~ Ch 7 ~ Ch 8 ~ Ch 9 ~ Ch 10 ~ Ch 11 ~ Ch 12 ~ Ch 13 ~ Ch 14 ~ Ch 15 ~ Ch 16

"Miss Allison, I promise you that everything is under control." Mrs. Taylor has watched Allison work her very hardest to finish the plans on the Samhain ball, and she has done wonderfully. Far more wonderfully than Allison herself would ever take credit for. Now, though, it is up to Mrs. Taylor and the rest of the staff to get the buffet tables and innumerable chairs set. "Please go and get dressed. We will take care of everything from here. It is going to be a wonderful night."

“Are you sure?” She bites her lip and wracks her brain, running through the mental checklist that has been swirling through her mind and double then tripled several times.

"This is not, as you like to say, my first rodeo." The elder vampire chuckles at the expression and motions toward the stairs. "There is plenty of time. Take a shower or even a bath. Relax yourself. Get dressed. It is time to enjoy your night."

“Do you think we ordered enough blood and donors?” She asks worriedly. Vampires from all over are descending on the estate and some do not drink from blood bags, so concessions had to be made.

“Mr. Finchley counted through the bags this morning and Renee is meeting each of the donors as they arrive.” Mostly students from the neighboring college, the set of a dozen voluntary donors for the night have signed contracts for financial compensation that they are permitted to back out of at any time if they should decide — and they will also be provided with enormous care packages made by the Taylors regardless of how long they stay or how many guests partake of their blood. Mrs. Taylor has baked and cooked enough in advance for each of them to essentially have a week’s worth of free food and Mr. Taylor went through enormous trouble to find them all manner of health and self-care items as well as other goodies. “Mr. Taylor had offered to speak to everyone but Renee thought the young ladies who signed up might be less intimidated if she was the one to greet them.”

“That would be best. I can also meet with them. Explain how it is for a human.” She offers with a slight blush. Last night she and Eddie had indulged in that particular activity after the conversation they had and she loved it.

Mrs. Taylor smiles at Allison’s blush, not calling attention to it but certainly noting the happiness in the young woman. Things appear to be going quite well. “I’m sure they would be comforted to hear from you.”

“Then I will meet with them when they are ready.” Allison decides with a smile. “Please have someone inform me when that is?”

“They have been asked to arrive by nine o’clock tonight.” The mantle clock beside them reads just after seven, meaning there truly is plenty of time. “The Master is taking it upon himself to greet any trick or treaters we might have tonight, so do not feel you need to rush in readying yourself.”

“He loves children, doesn’t he?” Allison asks, tilting her head and smiling at the thought of the elder vampire greeting kids and cooing over their costumes.

“He does.” Mrs. Taylor nods. The same expression of soft admiration paints both their features and the housekeeper clasps her hands a moment later. “Would you like a tea tray for your room? Or any help getting ready?”

“Some tea would be lovely.” She admits before she thinks about something else. “Is— has Dolly’s room been prepared for her return?” She asks softly, as if asking about it might jinx things.

An enigmatic smile from Mrs. Taylor is not the reassurance she is looking for, but the vampiric housekeeper has plenty of her own secrets as well. “All is prepared for. Truly, there is nothing for you to worry about. You should try to enjoy yourself tonight, miss.”

“Were you nervous when you were human?” Allison asks in wonder. “Or have you always been so self-assured?”

“Oh goodness no.” That actually illicits a small laugh from her and Mrs. Taylor shakes her head. “It took a good century or so to find my calm, dear girl. Before that I was as nervous as a spring bride in the morning. I simply learned to…what is your phrase? Fake it ‘til I make it. Eventually it just sank in.”

“Good to know.” She’s more assured than some, but this is her first big event and she feels like she needs to prove herself worthy to Eddie’s sire.

“Everything will be just as you wished it to be.” Mrs. Taylor promises. “Now go on. I will bring your tea up myself.”

“Thank you.” Allison flashes her a grateful smile before turning around and doing as she says.

The artfully made Alice in Wonderland and Mad Hatter costumes that Eddie found for them are hanging in his closet and Eddie himself is sitting on the bed with a copy of the party itinerary in his lap when she walks in. "Hey baby." Almost instantly, he's at her side with his arms around her. "Did Mrs. Taylor banish you from the ballroom to get ready?"

“She did.” Allison huffs out a laugh and shakes her head. “I was told that she has it completely under control. But I want this to be perfect.”

“It will be.” He squeezes her tight and presses a kiss to the top of her head. “If I suggest we take a shower will that actually relax you a little? Everything is going to be great, baby.”

“It depends.” Allison admits with a grin. “Will you…feed off me again?” She asks quietly, amazed at how much of a rush of endorphins it can be.

Eddie’s chuckle is deep, tinged with equal parts amusement and desire. “I will. Because I can smell how badly you want me to.”

Biting her lip, she grins and bats her eyelashes at him. “You don’t seem to mind it.” She reminds him, finding it intoxicating when it fires him up. He loses control for a split second when he starts to drink.

With his hands on her hips, Eddie whirls Allison around and starts walking her toward the shower with urgency. “Alright. Let’s go. Very important shower to take.”

Her laugh is one of delight and she’s ecstatic that one day, she won’t have to secretly worry about growing old and leaving Eddie. She’ll be right there with him. “Baby?” He hums and she giggles. “Can we still do this once I’m changed?”

“Shower together?” He huffs at her playfully because he knows that isn’t what she meant. “I mean we can, but vampires don’t sweat so we don’t need to wash as much.”

She snorts and rolls her eyes before she turns around to start undressing. “You know what I meant.”

“We can,” he stresses the second word and tugs off his t-shirt. “But the thing that’s weird about it is that if you drink my blood and I’m the one who turned you…it doesn’t quite taste right. It’s like an evolutionary red flag, or something like that. To prevent vampires from consuming their kin. So if you want to keep doing this, and you want it to taste good and give adrenaline and all that? I would recommend that we ask someone else to change you.”

“Would you mind?” She asks quietly. Changing a person into a vampire is also quite intimate and she doesn’t want to upset him.

“I would prefer you chose someone you know well, if it isn’t going to be me.” He can understand her choice is entirely her own, but to make another vampire is a deeply intimate and meaningful relationship. It’s why so many refer to those they have sired as their children.

“I was thinking about asking your sire.” Allison admits. “Since he approves of me.”

“Hmmm.” Eddie kisses her cheek this time, pretending to consider something he already knows is a good idea. “Are you sure you want Max for a big brother?” He teases.

She snorts and shrugs. “He will be either way.” She admits, knowing that Eddie will always be around Max. Plus she kind of likes the other vampire for his treatment of you.

“I guess that’s true.” Eddie grins, though, and helps Allison out of her last few items of clothes after turning on the hot water for them. “To be honest, I thought you might pick Mrs. Taylor, but I have no doubt if we ask him about it later, he will say yes.”

“I hope to have more of a sisterly relationship with Mrs. Taylor.” Allison admits. “Although if your sire thinks it’s a good idea, I would be fine with that.”

“I doubt dear old dad will object to siring you. But be prepared for him to make a very big deal about it.” Eddie rolls his eyes fondly. “Dramatic son of a bitch.”

“You’re dramatic in your own way.” She teases, sliding her hands up his cool chest and grinning at him.

“I’ve been well trained, I guess.” He huffs, but pulls her into the shower with him. “I’m glad you seem to like it.”

“Oh I do.” She promises, standing on her tip toes to kiss him. “I absolutely do.”

******

"This place looks incredible!" Tracy squeals, throwing her arms around Allison almost the second she's inside the house. "Holy shit, holy shit everything is amazing. And what is that smell? Are you burning incense in the house or something?"

“The food.” There’s probably some incense burning as well, but all the human food is fragrant. “You look incredible!”

"Oh, this old thing?" Tracy giggles as she twirls around in her Clueless costume and poses like a model. She and Candance and one of the other women from the coven decided to come as Cher, Tai, and Dionne tonight. "As if, right?"

“No, you look amazing, I don’t think there will be a pair of eyes that don’t stop on you and admire.” Allison gushes, grinning at the other woman. “And you’ll be dancing all night.”

"I can't believe how good the house looks and how good you look!" She jumps forward to squeeze Allison tightly again. "Everything is perfect."

“Yes it is.” Since the shower and getting dressed, she’s calmed down. It’s too late to change anything and what will be, will be. She’s left it in Mrs. Taylor’s capable hands.

Tracy bites her lip as Candace comes up beside her. “Any sign of…?”

Allison sighs, chewing on her lip worriedly and glancing around. “Not yet. But knowing Max, he will make it as dramatic as possible and arrive at midnight like some reverse pumpkin fable.” She snorts, hiding her own nerves behind the facade of humor.

“Oh god, you’re right,” Candace snorts. She reaches to hug Allison tightly and shakes her head in some sort of fond exasperation. “And he’ll have figured out how to cue Phantom of the Opera entrance music or something.”

“That would actually have been a wonderful idea!” Allison gasps. “Next year. Next year’s theme is decided.”

“All of Broadway, or specifically Phantom?” Tracy giggles at the idea, already on board.

“Phantom.” Allison knows you would love the idea. “We could honestly have a Broadway themed ball every year.”

“Different time periods, different Broadway shows, different literary influences…” Candace sighs dreamily. “My vote is for a Jane Austen ball.”

“Ohhhh that would be wonderful.” Allison sighs as well, enchanted by the idea. “It would be a very proper ball.”

“What would be?” Eddie, who had been at the front door making sure the signs for parking and entry were clear enough and in the right places, now comes up behind his girlfriend and slips one arm around her waist.

“Hi.” She beams at Eddie and sighs at the idea of him in a Regency era suit. “A Jane Austen ball.”

“Ooo, you would love that.” He coos softly and presses a kiss to her cheek. “Mr. Finchley is out front to help with parking and direct people who haven’t been here before. The first cars were pulling in when I came inside. I thought you ladies would like to know.”

“Oh, it’s time.” Allison panics for a split second but Eddie’s hand on her waist steadies her. “Then I guess you and I should stand in and greet the guests.”

“And we will man the donation table.” Tracy grabs Candace’s hand. One of the main points of the night is still to collect for charity, and every party goer is supposed to be bringing in a canned or boxed food item for the local food bank. Between the food drive and proceeds from ticket sales going to nearest women’s shelter, the night should end up being a rousing success on all fronts as long as everyone has a good time.

“Thank you.” Allison throws them grateful smiles, happy that she has such a good coven to help her.

“Come on, love,” Eddie encourages her. There is a broad, proud smile on his face and he kisses her other cheek this time. “We have guests to greet.”

“Yes we do.” In your absence, Allison wants to be the best hostess so the reputation of the party grows. This could be a success for years to come.

The first half hour or so of arrivals is a trickle. Coven members, the teachers and students from the dance studio that you and Max had gone to. Some of the museum docents from the local preservation society have arrived as a group in full costume. A few folks from the charities benefiting from tonight’s collections also arrive in their festive Halloween costumes, and a smattering of students from the nearby college as well. It’s over an hour into the night when a sleek, black sports car with tinted windows that Allison doesn’t recognize, pulls up under the porte-cochere and Mr. Taylor looks particularly amused — or even smug? — when he opens the door.

“Allison!” Though you haven’t aged a day to the naked eye, the way you hold yourself is different now. Over a hundred years changes a person, and the trauma that had once governed all of your actions has melted away to be left far in the past. But a straighter spine and surer shoulders are not what matters now. Not as you haul yourself out of the car in the beautifully elaborate gown that you wore to the first Samhain ball you ever attended — the one thrown by your abuela in 1885 when you decided to stay in the past. You and Max had thought it was a symbolic choice to wear the same clothes tonight.

Eddie’s eyes widen when Max pops out of the driver’s side and zips around to immediately take your hand, smirking slightly at the surprise and delight of the people gathered who recognize them. “I told you we haven’t missed the dancing.” He muses to you as he guides you towards the receiving party. “Edward, you look magnificent and that is saying something considering the gorgeous creature next to you.”

“What in the hell?” Eddie’s eyes widen at the deeply obvious change in Max’s demeanor and he can’t help a deep, amused laugh at how giddily you and Allison are greeting each other as he steps forward to either shake Max’s hand or give the bastard a hug. He can’t really figure out which. “Well, goddamn. You—you really did stay, didn’t you?”

Max takes the other vampire’s hand in a firm shake and drags him forward for a hug. “We couldn’t leave.” He admits shamelessly. “That time, the people, it was exactly what we both needed.” He pulls back and grins at Eddie. “But it’s damn good to see you. We missed you both.”

“We missed you, too.” As nervous as they were, and as worried as they were, it’s extremely obvious that whatever had happened, it was a positive decision. “But where the hell did you come from? And how did you leave in the first place? And when were you? We have so many questions.”

“We’ll explain it all.” Max promises. “Dolly has a lot of information to share with the coven. Including Mrs. Astor’s grimoire.”

“I’ve missed you so much.” You cling to Allison happily, drowning in your long-missed friend’s affection, before pulling back to look at her. “You look so happy, honey. That’s so good, and I’m so, so glad to see it.”

Max smirks slightly, sending Eddie a knowing look. “Eddie, you finally made your move.” He hums in approval. “Good, relationship bliss looks good on you both.”

“Come inside,” Eddie insists, practically dragging Max with him and Allison wraps her arm around yours to do the same. “We want to hear everything.”

“Of course you do.” Max is teasing, but if the situations were reversed, he would be hounding Eddie for the details. “First, how long have we been gone? Dates have kind of blurred.”

“About three weeks.” Allison tells him, still clinging to your hand. She’s still reassuring herself that you’re both real. “How long has it been for you guys, though?”

He glances at you and grins before he looks back at Allison and Eddie. “You tell them.” You urge with an indulgent smile since Max has been so excited about this.

“Only a few years.” Max insists. “One hundred and one.”

“So…you went to 1922?” Allison asks, confused because that doesn’t seem to track with what they found in their research.

“Not quite,” you admit, knowing the whole situation probably seems very complicated. “We went to 1885, and came back from 1986. A few weeks before Max was set to be born. You really don’t want to hop around in your own lifetime if you can manage it.”

“So you can move around through time?” Eddie asks, mouth hanging open as every one of his theories is being explained.

“It was by accident the first time.” The admission is a little sheepish, but you look very proud just a second later. “I’m actually quite good at it now.”

“What happened?” Allison demands. “We were thinking something happened to you when your grandfather told us.”

“Unfortunately for him, my ex decided to surprise us on our date.” It’s been a century and the hurt is gone. Not even a sting remains. Derek is no more than a blip in your past and there are now very long stretches of entire decades where you even forget he ever existed. “I tried to keep him away from us with a protection spell but my spellbinding made it go haywire, and instead of protecting Max and myself from Derek, I protected all three of us from that moment in time. It sent us back to the exact same moment, but in 1885.”

“I knew you had to be spellbound!” Allison gasps. “How did you— did you see your mother?” She asks.

"My mother has been my closest friend for a hundred years." It was difficult, moving in and out of each other's lives at times, but with both of you being functionally immortal for that time you both understood that sometimes there was no choice but to be apart. "She even called me the day she met my dad." It was a phone call you had been waiting for, unfortunately. Knowing what would ensue in the coming years, you and Max had taken it as a cue to get out of the country for the remainder of your time in your own past.

“I’m so glad you got more time with her.” Allison glances at Eddie nervously, aware that your grandfather’s announcement tonight might devastate you.

"Then why do you look as though you had lost my favourite sweater?" You reach for her with both hands and squeeze her shoulders gently. "What's wrong, Ali? The place looks amazing, you look happy, and we're finally home again. It should be a night to celebrate."

“It is.” She promises, shaking off the feeling and sending you a smile. “Your grandfather will be happy to see you.” She promises.

"He should be expecting us." Out of anyone in literally all of time, your grandfather has always been the one person most informed about when and where you will be, your plans, and anything else you could conceivably need. He's been a wonderful father figure to Max and a doting grandfather to you, as well as an invaluable resource.

“He is.” Allison assures you. “In fact, he was the one to tell us you would be back tonight.” She admits with a rueful grin. “Guess we shouldn’t have doubted him.”

"He's the last person we spoke to before we left 1986," you admit, but you also shrug. After hanging up with your grandfather, you'd definitely spent the next few hours enjoying a nice dinner and fucking all over your empty house. Max's absurd '80s power suits had ended up to be just a little bit of a turn on for you. You're just not quite sure how that happened.

Max smirks, reaching up and caressing the back of your neck as you are obviously thinking about the same thing he is. “That was a lucky year.” He teases softly.

"Very lucky." Your own smirk meets his and for one happy moment you forget anyone else exists, just sharing an amused glance with your soulmate. It may be more than a hundred years later, but you still fall a little more in love with him every day.

He arches a brow and licks his lips. “No one would miss us for a few minutes, would they?” He asks, even though he knows he can’t sneak you away for a quickie.

Allison snorts in amusement, shaking her head at Max seemingly not changing at all in his core, despite the changes in his manners on the surface. "It's your house, guys," she reminds you both.

“No.” Max shakes his head and smiles at your friend. “My wife has waited way too long to see you again to sneak her off.” He admits with a chuckle. “And I’ve been told if I mess up her hair before our first dance, there’s hell to pay.”

"It'll be Gladys Vanderbilt's debutante ball all over again," you tease. The fond roll of your eyes is nothing but love after so many years together. "Although..." Looking up at him, you flash him a sly smile. Hearing him call you his wife still hasn't gotten old. "It's been what...fifty years now, since the last time we had a wedding? We might be due for another one."

“You’re married.” Eddie is the one who practically squeals it. He has known Max to be staunchly against being tied down, but that was before you. “How many times have you gotten married?”

"Um..." The look you and Max share is vague confusion, as between the two of you, you try to count out the different weddings you have celebrated over the decades. "1885...1923...1946...1967...and the last one was 1980. So five times. And I guess that's not quite fifty years ago. More than forty, though."

“Oh my god.” Allison whispers, glancing between you and Max in amazement. “Five weddings? Max you are just….” She shakes her head and throws her arms around him while looking over her shoulder at Eddie. “You have a standard now.”

“Sorry Eddie,” you tease, enjoying the easy lightness of being with your friends again. The urge to just continuously hug them and not let go is very real. “Although it is fun. And parties these days are so much more casual than they once were. That makes it a bit easier. Or at least less forbidding to plan.”

“I want to experience that.” Eddie admits, reaching out taking Allison’s hand. “We have decided that Allison will become immortal soon.” He announces after she gives him a soft smile of encouragement.

“Oh, honey!” Your eyes flit between both of them before you bundle them both up in a hug with a beaming smile. “There is so much life to live. You’re going to love it.”

“I can’t take Eddie’s blood like you can with Max.” Allison doesn’t mind that, not really. All that matters is that Eddie wants her. “And Eddie doesn’t want to…outlive me.”

“I think it’s an oversight on the universe’s part that you aren’t soulmates.” The connection they have is so strong and their love so sure, you would have just assumed it if you hadn’t been around when they started dating. “It’s wonderful to hear that you’ll be able to be together.” Glancing over your shoulder, you smile at your own partner. Your other half throughout all of history. “Forever is quite fun, I have to admit.”

“You don’t look a day older.” Allison smirks as she takes in the changes you have brought back from the past. Self-assurance looks amazing and you seemingly glow. No longer the scared woman she had met in a farmer’s market, you are almost intimidating, and your entire aura radiates powerful magic.

“That’s a combination of Max’s blood and Audrey Hepburn’s face cream.” You smirk conspiratorially. “I’ll guard that potion with my life, since you won’t be needing it once you’ve been changed.”

“Interesting.” Her brow wings up at the mention of the famous actress, realizing you must have met her at some point. “Hepburn was a witch?”

“Particularly good with charms and potions. And she was fun. You never hear about her being fun, but she was great.” Beside you, Max has one arm around your waist and he hums proudly. “Max was a movie producer after the Second World War.”

“Really?!” The squeal is loud and enthusiastic and all heads snap towards the group. “Oh— that’s— I can’t believe we didn’t find you.”

“We were using different names at that point.” It had been essential to learn how to craft and re-craft new identities. Luckily, your grandparents had been fountains of information. “And Max only produced, so it’s not as though we were in anything.”

“Still.” She shakes her head and giggles. “The stories you can tell. What else have you two done?”

"I'll tell you everything starting tonight," you promise her, as the four of you step deeper into the house. It's good to be back at Chateau-sur-Mer again. To you and Max it has been just a few years since the last time you were here, but that's long enough to miss it. "But tomorrow you should come over to our house for dinner."

“Your house?” Her eyes widen and Allison frowns in confusion. “Dolly— th-this is your home. Cookie willed it to you, remember?”

"I know." And it is good to be back, but you rub Allison's arm affectionately. "But to avoid complications with my family through history...Max and I built another house here in Newport."

“When?” “Where?” Allison and Eddie ask at the same time with identical sounds of bewilderment.

They've reached a place where they have the same voice sometimes and it makes you smile softly. "You know that little gothic house on the beach that has basically been abandoned for the last couple of decades but somehow never decays? Seacliff Castle?" Beside you, Max smiles proudly. "It was finished in 1888. Max and Yayo designed it with the architect who built this place."

“You are kidding me!” Allison’s screech can raise the dead and she looks like a kid who was just told she was going to Disney and getting a puppy. “I have always wanted to tour that house, but no one knows who owns it. But it was you all along?”

"Come over tomorrow and we'll show you the whole place," you promise her, giggling happily at the absolute glee in her reaction. "But tonight? I want to see what you've done with the ball. I know it's going to be amazing."

“I have been so nervous.” She admits quietly. “But I think we have everything. Including donors for those who don’t eat bagged blood.”

“Mrs. Taylor and Yayo would never let you have anything less than a perfect night.”

“Do I hear my name being taken in vain?” From a nearby dark corner, your grandfather emerges into the low, atmospheric lighting of the great hall.

Max chuckles as he hears his sire’s voice. “Always.” He shakes his head. “Dramatic like always,” he jokes, having told you that your grandfather would make a dramatic entrance.

“I have learned that there are some things which are expected of me,” he jokes pleasantly. “Your journey was not difficult, then?”

“No.” Max reaches out and shakes his sire’s hand warmly and pulls the elder vampire in for a hug. “Cookie did not stake you for keeping our true relationship a secret, I see.” He jokes, even though everyone already knew that.

“She was…not happy.” He clears his throat distinctly remembering that particular fight with his soulmate. Cookie had been furious to find out that her beloved granddaughter and the witch she had been so fond of for a hundred years were one and the same.

“Hopefully she understood eventually why we had to keep it from her, and from Annie.” The contact with your mother had lessened over the years but she had never demanded that they choose sides, something Max had been grateful for – for your sake.

“She did understand.” He is sure of that, considering how very much it had been discussed. “But she regretted not being able to dote on you both as her grandchildren.”

“She did dote on us though.” Max protests and shakes his head. “She treated us like we were family and she loved Dolly like another daughter.”

“She did.” His sire nods, knowing it is the absolute truth. He sighs though, with a theatrical shrug of his shoulders. “But you know Cookie. My darling girl loved titles.”

“She was a special lady.” Max has a fonder appreciation for the older woman, even more so with the knowledge she had known who he was when he first arrived and still had kept her word to her husband to not say anything.

“She was remarkable.” Your grandmother may not have been perfect — in fact she was decidedly less than sometimes — but that was what made her so incredibly special to you. She had never demanded that perfection from you or Max that she tended to expect from Annie. Perhaps it was for the best that she didn’t know how you were at the time? You’ll never quite know.

“Yes, she was.” For a brief second, amongst those he is closest to, your grandfather’s grief shines on his face. Missing the other half of his soul as vividly as the day she had passed in his arms.

“I’m sorry, Yayo.” The only one of the four younger beings whose instinct is to reach out, you bundle your grandfather up in a hug. “I miss her, too. Her and Mom.”

He accepts the hug, squeezing you harder than he would have before you started taking Max’s blood. “Thank you, muñeca.” He hums softly, not missing the way that Eddie and Allison shift slightly. “I will be reunited with them soon.”

“You never know when the people we love can come back to us,” you hum, but the look on your grandfather’s face makes you hesitate. “But…somehow I don’t think you’re talking about that…?”

“Because you are bright.” Yayo praises softly, cupping your cheek and smiling at you mysteriously. “It has always been my plan to join my soulmate in her afterlife.” He admits. “Since she decided to end her mortality. I have only extended my time in this existence to make sure you were well settled, my darling muñeca.”

“Oh…” You don’t cry much anymore, but tears well up behind your eyes instantly. Saying goodbye to the last of your family is not something you had prepared for tonight. “I—but—the family?” He has so many more responsibilities than just your immediate family, you can only imagine that he was preparing for this for a very long time. Or else made a lot of decisions very quickly.

“Is your family now.” He reminds you softly. “Although I have decided to name my successor tonight.” He smiles proudly and hopes that you will not be too upset at him.

“This night is much more important than I thought, then.” Stepping back from him, you settle against Max’s side and try for a smile. Your grandfather is doing what will make him happiest and you have to respect that, even if it is rather a big shock.

“You will understand.” He promises, smiling at the group and then motioning towards the ballroom. “Let the evening begin.”

******

The evening, as Yayo so elegantly termed in, is incredible. With the party starting so late and the buffet being available to guests all night long, it seems that the ebb and flow of partygoers is constant. Music plays, people dance, and the lingering masses of vampires throughout the house are generally met with curiosity from the humans who find them fascinating — though they don’t quite know why. Those who are attending as donors are spoiled immensely and some have been given guest rooms for the night, but for the most part they seem to be an altogether dreamy sort of drunk to the unaware humans present. It is not until Yayo disseminates word to his extended family of brooding immortals to meet in the morning room that any sort of tension cracks the enjoyment of the night.

Max holds your hand, aware that you are upset, and he wishes he had some insight into this talk. As close as he had become to the older vampire, he hadn’t had a clue he was planning on giving up his immortality. “It will be alright.” He assures you softly, squeezing your hand.

“I know.” You squeeze his hand tenderly and lean into his side, long ago having learned how to be close even while wearing large gowns. You just wish you had had more notice. Time to prepare. “He just has to be dramatic as hell about all of this. Calling a family meeting in the middle of a ball? Very Yayo.”

“He likes to make a scene.” Max snorts, lifting a brow when the servers bring around glasses of blood and champagne for the guests. The one who stops in front of you, hands you a specific glass. “It’s white grape juice, madam.”

The barest sniff of sweet juice proves she is telling the truth, and you smile gratefully. Even after a hundred years? Alcohol holds no appeal for you whatsoever. “Thank you,” you acknowledge with a smile. “My husband prefers something a little richer, if you don’t mind.”

“Mr. Phillips.” Another glass is handed to him and he sniffs it politely.

“Hmmmm AB negative.” He smirks. “Someone put some thought into planning this.”

"Allison said she left blood menus to Mrs. Taylor." There is no mistaking that your friend took the responsibility of planning tonight seriously, and divvying tasks out to the appropriate people when delegation benefited the situation.

“Then I will have to thank her.” Max takes and sip and hums in approval. “But later.”

"Has he started yet?" Eddie and Allison slip into the room beside the two of you, already having said hello to the extended vampiric family earlier in the night.

“Not yet.” Max eyes the elder vampire. “I think he was waiting for something.”

"It's always something," you hum, sharing a grin with Allison as the same passing waitress who served you and Max returns to offer Eddie and Allison drinks before exiting the room. When she goes, she shuts the morning room door behind her.

“I would like to thank everyone for traveling to attend tonight.” Yayo’s voice never seems to raise in volume but it booms around all of you clearly. “Not only is this a worthy cause to humans dear to my heart, but it is also a special night for our future.” There is a smattering of polite applause and you lean into Max's side even while Allison does the same with Eddie beside you.

“All the vampires here, I have personally sired.” He reveals with a pleased smirk on his face. Considering there are no fewer than two dozen vampires in the room, a small murmur ripples through the younger of that number. The elder vampires chuckle with the knowledge. “And tonight…” He holds up his own glass of blood. “One of you will replace me as the elder vampire. Leader and mentor to the future.” He announces. “I have decided to join my soulmate in the afterlife.”

The limited, mannered responses are gone in an instant, replaced by an audible gasp and murmured exclamation as the members of your extended — very extended — family all look around the room to see if anyone knew this announcement was coming. Eyes fall on you more than anyone else, wondering if your grandfather will take his biological family into account in this decision.

“I know that a lot of people have wondered who would take my place. And at one point in time, I had imagined my grandson-in-law, Max Phillips, to lead our pack.” He turns his head and acknowledges him with a smile. “However, there is another that I have in mind, since Max will be busy with juggling a new role.”

New role? You look to Max with confusion, but it's clear from the furrow in his brow that he has no idea what your grandfather is talking about either. If anything, his expression is more akin to crestfallen than anything else. He's fallen short of whatever expectation his sire had of him...

“Years ago, I made a mistake.” Yayo admits to the men and women he considers his children. “My Annie, my daughter with my soulmate; I felt she was destined to leave the coven of witches and her soulmate Emmanuel would be the perfect vampire mate. I ended up losing my daughter and never got to properly apologize for placing so much emphasis on the wrong things.” He pauses for a second. “I want my granddaughter and her husband to focus on the most important role of all. They will be becoming parents.”

Enthusiastic is the word for the applause this time, though the reaction from you and Max — the people being announced — is pure shock. "H—how?" How could he possibly know that? Especially before you do?

Your grandfather chuckles, seeing the confusion and bewilderment on your face. “Your smell, my dear muñeca.” He explains with an enigmatic smile. “I have had the pleasure of smelling a vampiric pregnancy before. That is why your soulmate had not been aware either. There is a sweeter note to your blood.”

Honestly, you might be more embarrassed about having it announced in front of so many people if you weren't so flabbergasted by the news. With your jaw practically on the ground and your eyes watering, your free hand goes to your stomach while your other squeezes Max's so tightly you would be afraid of hurting him if he weren't a vampire. You're so shocked that you didn't even notice Allison take the glass from your hand or the proud uncle expression on Eddie's face.

“I want my family to focus on being there, being the best parents they can be.” He admits selfishly with a small shrug. “Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?” He jokes. “Max however, will be vital to the next leader. His own wisdom far greater than my own, and I feel that he will make Edward Perez the best leader vampires have ever had.”

Eddie's gasp is even more audible than your own when he hears his sire say his name. For that matter, it's been almost ten years since he used his mortal surname, and hearing it spoken so proudly is a kind of gratification that he can't quite express. While it's true that his sire — the entire room's sire — had given him more than ample guidance over the decades, Eddie hadn't ever considered himself anything too special. Not until he had started giving him more responsibilities in the last few years. Not until Allison had come along with her staunch and unyielding belief in him. Now it seems like all of that is coming to a head, and he steps forward hesitantly to stand up beside his sire.

“Eddie has been the best vampire that I could have imagined.” Yayo admits. “And Max— he has held a special place in my heart from the very beginning. I know that with Eddie in charge and Max advising him, our numbers will grow and your bonds strengthen.”

If there is any doubt or dissention from the other vampires of the clan, not a word of it is spoken in their sire's presence. Instead Eddie accepts a few nods and a whistle or two from his extended family and looks back at Allison to flash her a smile before putting his hand out to his sire. "I will do everything I possibly can to live up to this responsibility, and the faith that you've placed in me."

Max smiles, still a little shocked that he had not known you were pregnant. Leaning close and inhaling your scent to recognize the sweet, floral undertones to your blood for what it is. He had just imagined it was because modern food was processed with more sugar than in the past.

“I can’t be that far along, can I?” You whisper to him under the commotion of vampires now moving forward to shake Eddie’s hand or meet Allison for the first time. Many of them had not bothered to meet the younger vampire’s partner earlier in the night but they are making the effort now. “I mean…” you look up at your soulmate with disbelieving tears in your eyes, beaming an enormous smile at him. “I haven’t even missed my period yet.”

“No.” Max can’t help but lean closer to smell you again, addicted to the idea that you are carrying his child. If his own tears are concealed by your neck, that’s just a coincidence. “Your smell hasn’t been sweeter for long. Only a few days.”

“It’s sweeter?” Somehow that is just about the cutest thing you’ve ever heard — that pregnancy can and does make your scent sweeter instead of anything else — and the water behind your eyes presses at them again.

“It is.” Max hums softly, smiling at the newfound knowledge. Committing this smell to memory. “We will have to make sure you stay healthy, my love.”

"It's a damn good thing that I mined abuela for information about carrying a half-vampire baby while I still had the chance." The hand you have on your stomach curls in, conscious of the corset under your dress but knowing that there isn't anything but a tiny little bundle of cells in there right now. "Holy shit...pregnant..."

“I can’t believe it.” It’s not like you’ve been trying but you also have gone over one hundred years without protection. Max had quietly assumed children weren’t to be and had never mentioned it so he wouldn’t worry you. The relief that he can give you a child is one that would make him cry, and he will later on when it’s sunk in.

"I just sort of assumed..." you murmur, leaning into his side and burying your face at his shoulder. In this room you can be quiet as a whisper and everyone will still hear you, but they have enough respect to pretend otherwise. "After so long...I figured it was just...not in the cards."

“It just wasn’t our time yet.” He murmurs softly, smiling at the thought that you are carrying his little baby biter. “Do you want some of my blood or should we find a vintage you like for when the baby demands more than you normally take?”

"Abuela said she ended up drinking a glass of blood at almost every meal in her second trimester." Of course the word trimester hadn't been used in that conversation, but you had made copious detailed notes for yourself after any conversation in which vampire pregnancy or children rearing was mentioned. "I guess I'm going to have to figure out how to drink it when it isn't from you. Maybe mixed with hot cocoa? Or even decaf coffee."

He chuckles. “Actually, you might like it in tomato juice.” He suggests. “Keep you from thinking about it too much.”

"That's not a bad idea." The hand you have in his tightens reflexively, keeping him close and savoring these first few moments of realization. "We'll try a little bit of everything. It's going to be a very interesting nine months, considering I'm only the second woman in the world to carry a vampire's baby."

“I mean technically….” Max grins. “You’re a quarter vampire yourself. A little more than that every night.” He winks at you salaciously.

A momentary snort of amusement breaks a little bit of the bubble of worry that was starting to form in your mind, and you nudge him with your shoulder. "A hundred years later and you can still never resist joking about that."

“Babe, if I ever stop joking about that, you just go ahead to push that stake through my heart.” He jokes, knowing that you would never think about something like that.

"It'll never happen," you laugh, knowing as well as he does that some things will just never change.

“I know.” He bites his lip and grins at you. “So we haven’t had a wedding in this time.” He ventures. “What do you think about a shotgun wedding?”

"Oo, we've never had one of those before." An elopement, a grand party, a trip to City Hall, a backyard barbecue, and a small town bash — all of those you've done. But a shotgun wedding would be a new one for the two of you. "I think it's perfect."

“Now…we have to find out who’s holding the shotguns.” He jokes, pulling you close and pressing his lips to yours. “Do you want to wait until the belly is huge or before?”

"We may not get a chance to have me showing off a baby bump in a wedding dress ever again. I think we have to take advantage of it." He can obviously feel the way your heartbeat has risen, smell the way your adrenaline is singing, but that tender bump of his heart when he kisses you makes it all a perfect symphony.

“Completely agree.” Max nods seriously. “The wedding should be themed. Obviously.”

"Baby themed or cowboy themed?" You ask, laughing but slightly afraid to hear the answer.

“Oh no.” He snorts and sends you a grin. “Hillbilly, shot gun wedding.” He tells you, enjoying the idea immensely even if you would never agree.

Both of you snort, knowing it isn't the kind of thing that you'll ever do, but that joking about it is it's own kind of fun. "Water guns as favours for every guest and a Beverly Hillbillies impersonator to marry us?"

He chuckles and nods. “Something like that.” He jokes before he looks at you seriously. “I do want us to be married officially before the baby is born. In our true timeline.”

"I have no problem with that." Somehow you have a feeling this will be the wedding that matters most to him, whereas the one nearest and dearest to your heart was the one in 1885 where you were surrounded by your family and new friends. Setting both hands on his chest, you lean in to kiss him again and smile softly. "We'll make this one perfect for you, love."

Max knows that after one hundred years of family with your mother and grandparents, he should not have familial hang ups, but he does. “I don’t care about perfect.” He promises. “I just want to do right by you and our child.” He admits. “To be everything my father said I would never be. A good husband, a good father. A good man.”

"Those are the things you are, Max." It never hurts to remind him once in a while. You know that. But you also know that sometimes he has to prove it to himself more than anyone else. "And I'm very proud to be your soulmate."

“I never want that to change.” The Max of before might not have said that in front of a room full of vampires, but he doesn’t care. If they know nothing else about Max Phillips, they should know that he is devoted to his soulmate.

It takes a little while for the hubbub to calm down, but when it does, Eddie squeezes his arm gently around Allison's shoulder on one side of him and looks to his sire and shakes his head in near disbelief. "This is...it's a surprise. I have to admit."

“You don’t think you deserve it?” Max asks, clapping his vampiric brother on the shoulder and even though he’s disappointed for himself, he’s proud for Eddie. He understands why Yayo didn’t name him as the next head of the clan. He would be too distracted by your pregnancy and Eddie is levelheaded where Max is not.

"We're the two youngest, and you're soulmates with his granddaughter," Eddie reminds Max, turning to clap his brother on the shoulder. "You can't blame me for expecting the choice to go in another direction."

“Nah, you deserve it.” Max tells him honestly. “You’re the better vampire and you know it.” He smirks. “Now we just need to get you to act like it.”

"Good thing you're home, then." He laughs, grinning even as he shakes Max's hand with a force that would break a mortal's bones. "We'll catch up with you in a second," he intones, glancing back at you and Allison hugging a few feet away. "I need to talk to our Father about something."

“Of course.” Max flashes him a grin and a wink. “I’m going to go flirt with my wife and your girlfriend.” He teases before moving back to your side protectively.

"Actually..." Allison slips away from your side to take Eddie's outstretched hand. "I'm...part of this conversation. But when we get back out there, I'm stealing you for a dance. Okay, twinkle toes?"

“Oh?” His eyebrows raise furiously but he nods and wraps his hand around your waist. “Hope you’re ready to glide around the floor. I’ve had over one hundred years of practice with Dolly.”

"That's exactly why I'm stealing you," she teases, giving you both a small wave before turning back into Eddie's side to broach the topic of her own siring with the vampire who just stepped down as head of his long-lived clan.

“I wonder if everything is alright.” Max frowns slightly as he looks at the retreating pair and then back at you. “How are you doing, my love?” He asks, cupping your cheek.

"Wonderfully." The glass of grape juice is still sitting nearby and you pick it up, wanting the small comfort of a drink in hand. "In fact, I think when we go home in the morning, we should celebrate."

“How should we celebrate?” Max asks with a grin, even though he’s got some idea.

"Hmmm..." you tease, pretending to think very hard about it even though you already know the answer. "I was thinking...by the same way that we made the little nugget in the first place."

“You mean you want to have sex on the balcony overlooking the ocean and waving to the boats as they pass by?” Max grins as he licks his lips.

"I'm so glad we decided to have a house by the water," you groan softly, humming at the memory of just a few days ago — it was still 1986 but you were back at Seacliff, getting ready to travel back to your own true timeline. "Excellent idea. Extremely good."

“I know.” He grins at you. The house has been a lovely refuge for the two of you. It had given you the separation you needed from mother and grandmother so you didn’t spill the secret.

"So Eddie's head of the vampiric family, huh?" Wrapping your hand around Max's arm, the two of you drift back toward the ballroom at a leisurely pace. "And you'll be his right-hand. That's a hell of a lot of responsibility while we're growing our own family."

“I think that’s why your grandfather didn’t want me to take over.” Max admits. “Although, don’t tell Eddie I said this, he’s a better fit for the job.”

"You're a good pair." You admit that you had balked a little at the time, but when Max had wanted to go check on Eddie's human parents in the few years before he was born, the late 70s and early 80s had actually ended up being a blast. Eddie's little hometown in Northern California was comfortable and fun, and you’d lived a very basic suburban life for a few years. Max had barely stifled tears the day your neighbors had brought little newborn Eddie home from the hospital.

“We’ll see.” Max doesn’t argue but his hand slides down to your stomach proudly. “I’ll honestly be more focused on you and the little biter.” He has already filed the paperwork to ‘inherit’ the money he has made over the past generations. Restraining himself and not taking advantage of his insider knowledge too badly.

“That’s what you’re going with calling the baby, huh?” You raise an eyebrow at him but still end up smiling. You’ve wanted this for so long, it almost doesn’t matter what he calls them.

“I can call them a little pup.” He teases, his chest puffed out proudly. “That’s what baby bats are called.”

“That’s actually kind of cute.” The smile on your face widens again and your hand rests over his on your stomach. “Which is appropriate, since you’ve always been my Cutie.”

His shy grin is always something that makes him look younger and despite the years, he still is bashful about the way he had become a bat to spend more time with you. “Need to find a bat mobile for the crib.” He jokes, “or I’ll just change and flap around to entertain them.”

“It will end up being both.” At the edge of the ballroom, you beam at him proudly and hold out your other hand. “First dance as expectant parents?”

“Always.” Max takes your hand and kisses the back of it. You had mentioned how much you loved the gesture when you had first watched Titanic when you were younger and while back in the 1800s it was extremely appropriate. Now he knows that two hundred years from now, he will still kiss the back of your hand to watch the burst of delight in your eyes. “Waltz with me. Today and every day, my love.”

______

Master Tags: @pixiedurango @chattychell @winter-fox-queen @lady-himbo @artsymaddie @princess76179 @paintballkid711 @missminkylove @pedrosbrat @ew-erin @sarahjkl82-blog @sharkbait77 @justanotherblonde23 @lv7867 @recklesswit @mylittlesenaar @f0rever15elf @gallowsjoker @steeevienicks @athalien @sherala007 @skvatnavle @thatpinkshirt @jaime1110 @girlimjusttryingtoreadfanfics @goodgriefitsawildworld @greeneyedblondie44 @littlemousedroid @harriedandharassed @churchill356 @ajathegreats-blog @haylzcyon   @beardsanddetectives @kirsteng42 @ladykatakuri @adancedivasmom @madiebear @tanzthompson @emilianamason @bigsdinger @xocalliexo @pedr0swh0r3 @avaleineandafryingpan @charlyrmv @avidreader73 @iceclaw101 @loveslide @elegantduckturtle @becsworld @julesonrecord @its-nebuleuse @itsrubberbisquit @mikeyswifie @guelyury @lizzie-cakes @for-a-longlongtime @vabeachazn @purplerain04 @weho2kcmo @madnessofadaydreamer

VW: @haileymorelikestupid, @miraclesabound @nastiasnow @vabeachazn @oberynslady @grogusmum @kittenlittle24 @8-900 @survivingandenduring @ktmadden86 @inept-the-magnificent @missladym1981 @sweetnsaltyclussy @survivingandenduring

My Masterlist!

[thebibliosphere]

Hey gang, small update on the Hunger Pangs hardbacks. I’ve only got 12 books left to ship but I’ve unfortunately ran out of my packing materials and need to wait on it arriving. It looks like shipment will be the middle of May, which is longer than I’d hoped for but probably good news for my hands/wrists.

After doing 5-10 boxes whenever I could due to migraines, after being given the okay to return to work in late March, I shipped a whopping 115 boxes in April, including when I was out of action for a week following the ER trip.

Proud as I am of that accomplishment—and so happy that so many people are enjoying their boxes!—it took a toll and now my hands are suffering.

So, rather than try to find alternative packaging materials, I’m going to wait for the shipment and let my hands rest and hopefully prevent any lingering injury.

Thanks for understanding 💖

The good news is I’ll have more time to write, but I think I’ll be using my dictation app for a while 😅

[whipplefilter]

Michigan (2024)

Earlier this week, I was feeling very wistful about NASCAR’s return to Michigan. It’s the first Michigan race we haven’t been at in person in a long time (2020 notwithstanding). It used to be my home track. I’ve driven my car on that track; I’ve ridden in the pace car on that rack; I’ve designed wraps for the exhibition pace cars for that track; I’ve waited out SO MANY RAIN DELAYS at that track, and have driven to that track so many times only to drive home without a race due to rain!!! I love MIS. <3

In classic Michigan form, it rained this week, too. But MIS looked soooo racey this year—it felt fast and wild the whole time, and the various aero Events in this race were kind of nuts. Those early sweeping passes as the lead cars went side by side were a sight to see! And then there were the less fortunate aero moments, like people getting loose fast, and whatever in the heck happened to the 7.

I will say, when the broadcast was like “the 5 says he’s getting looser faster than the others, so the team has made an adjustment to address this” I was like, lmao, that’s not going to go well, because he already said that yesterday. But I don’t think the booth would have any reason to remember that because they are not watching the 5 with the same single-minded neurosis as I am. AND LO AND BEHOLD!!!

THE 5 DID NOT HEED THE BUDDHIST CALENDAR’S SAGE ADVICE

Don't be too tight or too loose.

I had a work thing from 10-12 so I didn’t even get to see KL race today before he wrecked out. ToT So I’m glad it was fun to watch him yesterday, at least.

The 7’s flip was... weird. I guess it’s a function of how fast and how aero MIS is, and being superspeedway-ish without running the superspeedway package, but in this day and age, how does a car single-spin and then get airborne without hitting anything (like grass) that would flip him? Since in the last few years I feel like SO much has gone into making sure the cars have as much reason to stay on the ground as possible.

I was also impressed by Bowman’s late save and the fact that the entire field managed to avoid hitting Ross when he spun, especially considering when KL spun the same way he managed to take out HALF THE PLAYOFF BUBBLE. 😂⚰️💀

[lol-jackles]

why did the agents of CAA move UTA. if they are the biggest one, why did their agents leave?

A few reasons. Some agents were originally from UTA and then returned to UTA because the original bosses they clashed at UTA are no longer there. Other agents didn't like CAA's new business model that expanded into sport clients and so more resources were allocated into that area. UTA took advantage by stirring the pot and promising new and returning agents bigger paydays i.e. partnerships, which was what Jared's agent Jason Heyman took.

"The expected influx of talent from Heyman and Lesak in particular greatly enhance UTA’s ability to package film and TV projects soup-to-nuts, pairing showrunners and screenwriters with marquee stars and directors." - (X)

The agents messaged CAA their letter of resignation at 9:15 am and then arrived at UTA by 10 a.m. to start their new jobs. CAA reacted by mounting a scorched-earth investigation on how the largest defection in history happened under their nose.

After agent #12 left CAA for UTA, we joked that in order to stanch the commission bleed from the missing 150+ actors and talents, CAA should just call themselves UTA and hope some of their agents stay out of confusion.

With that said, talent agencies poach from each other all the time, it's business 101 in every industry.

[rastronomicals]

4:19 AM EDT July 11, 2024:

Led Zeppelin - "Nobody's Fault But Mine" From the album Presence (March 31, 1976)

Last song scrobbled from iTunes at Last.fm

Much in the same way that the lyrics to The Beatles' "Glass Onion" acknowledged with a nod and a reluctant wink the gnostic cult of Paul-is-Dead, the packaging of Led Zeppelin's Presence acknowledged the I'm sure at-least-somewhat-discomfitting fact that their group had long since become the most humongous rock band in the world.

By the time of The White Album, and by the time of Presence, respectively, things had gotten to the point where expedience was no longer expedient. The Beatles had tried not to feed the conspiracy theorists, and Zeppelin--modest at least in this one regard--had stayed away from licensing lunchboxes and appearances on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert. But at a certain point, things get so big, and so plain, that they become the elephant in the room.

Presence seems to be Zep's acceptance of their own status (beyond even their own control) as Big Dumb Object, an enormous artifact of unfathomable consequence.

That's dumb as in "incapable of speech," not as in "stupid," just so we're straight. But since we're there, let me note that Presence perhaps more than any Zeppelin album save II demonstrates that a certain amount of stoopidity is unavoidable or even desired if you're going to play the cock-rock game.

Plant's lyrics to "Achilles" reference some etching or the other of William Blake's, so my point is not to disparage Zeppelin's obvious operational intelligence. Still, Zeppelin were all about contrast: I dare you to check out the live video from '77, and tell me that Plant's suggestive mannerisms as he sings the band's 11-minute epic aren't a little stoopid . . . .

Ah, but I digress, 'cause the key concept here is not "Dumb" but "Big." Think thunder. Think "Hammer of the Gods," if that helps.

After four albums where at least part of the idea had been to leaven the heaviness with keyboards or acoustic instruments, Presence was a return to the undiluted bombast of the second album. Guitar bass drums voice recorded in a mere 18 days--not necessarily simple, but certainly direct.

The instrumental contrasts that for good or ill had been there on III, IV, Houses of the Holy, and Physical Graffiti were absent on the band's seventh album--and maybe that's why it's long been their least popular. Funny thought, that: maybe Zeppelin were so goddamned popular not because of the parts that rocked, but because of the parts that didn't!

I don't want to go overboard, however. I don't want to make it sound as if Presence were a piece of the nascent pub rock of the time, because the very first track belies that. "Achilles" is the third longest studio track for the band and features perhaps Page's most intricate guitar orchestration, with as many as 12 overdubs. It's routinely described as proggy, or even Yes-like (and if you don't believe that, consider that Dream Theater is one of the many acts who have covered the song). And note that Jonesy is playing an eight-string bass.

Leave it to this band of contrasts to feature a 10-1/2 minute song about a Greek demigod with painstakingly multitracked guitars on their back-to-basics record . . . Presence is perhaps Led Zeppelin's most misunderstood album, but for Page Plant Jones & Bonham, that may have been The Object all along.

File under: The Object Of It All

--

[forabeatofadrum]

El WooWoo! I have finished Persona 4 Golden (mom holy fuck-) so I have something to share again. Thank you @artsyunderstudy, @bookish-bogwitch and @that-disabled-princess for tagging me and @martsonmars, @wellbelesbian, @whatevertheweather for the Sunday tags.

I just got home from a local Pride event. It was a lot of fun, especially the part where I hit a homophobe with a protest sign. Everybody clapped.

First off, I have revised my submission for the @klainefanzine2025. There's one part I'm stuck on, so I might ask one of the beta's to help me out here. Tenses in the English language are wack, you know? (Although... Dutch isn't much better.) (Sexy fokschaap, anyone?)

AND! I DID WRITING! LJUBILI SE! As I keep saying, I am stuck and I think I will remain stuck. I last published chapter 9 and my head is still :p when it comes to chapter 10, 11 and 12, but I just finished chapter 13! 🥳

Have some of that for this fine Wednesday:

The doorbell rings. Cooper jumps up. “My package!” he runs off towards the door, and Quinn and Blaine share a look. It’s probably Denise. They’ve told their families that Quinn’s “friend” is joining them, but Cooper must’ve forgotten that in his excitement. And they’re right. Cooper returns without a package, but with Denise in tow. Ideally, Denise would’ve come to the Anderson house with Blaine and Quinn, but she had an appointment. “Dee!” Quinn says and also gets up. She introduces Denise as her friend. Judy already knows Denise a little bit, but Blaine’s parents have no idea who she is. If their families think it’s weird that Denise is here, they don’t show. In fact, Cooper seems very excited to her again. He immediately shakes her hand, puts on a dazzling smile, and asks her all kinds of questions about herself. Blaine and Quinn share another look, although this time they’re amused. Blaine’s brother is flirting with Quinn’s girlfriend right in front of their noses.

Lil reminder: Cooper met Denise at the airport!

And now, the weather: @quizasvivamos @coffeegleek @caramelcoffeeaddict @raenestee @tectonicduck @nightimedreamersworld @urban-sith @you-remind-me-of-the-babe @confused-bi-queer @special-bc-ur-part-of-it @larkral @cutestkilla ​ @facewithoutheart ​ @shrekgogurt @rockitmans @bitbybitwrites @shame-is-a-wasted-emotion @esilher @kurtsascot @blackberrysummerblog @nightimedreamersghost @ivelovedhimthroughworse @thnxforknowingme

[felassan]

Spacelab9 have revealed more details about the upcoming Dragon Age Vinyl box set. (It's a 70 track collection which will include songs from DA:O, DAII, DA:I, DLC and also some DA:I bard songs.)

I found this new info blurb about the cover art really interesting 👁️ (emphasis mine):

Deluxe package features all-original artwork by Dragon Age Concept Director Ramil Sunga and Lead UX Artist Danny Richardson, created exclusively for this album set. The beautifully detailed artwork presents a pictorial timeline following the lore of the Dragon Age series, beginning at the dawn of the Golden City, throughout the City's Fall and culminating in its re-emergence as the Black City, seat of the Old Gods. [source]

hello??? (the announcement blogpost for the vinyl contained the flavor text "From the land of Thedas, at the dawn of the Golden City".)

they also announced that the pre-sale for the box set was scheduled to begin April 27th (can't see it atm unless I'm missing it, maybe it's not yet started?) and that on the BioWare Gear Store it will begin on May 10th. each outlet will offer their own exclusive color variant of the vinyl.

lastly they also posted the full track listing (emphasis mine):

"DISC 1 SIDE A [DRAGON AGE ORIGINS]

1. DRAGON AGE: ORIGINS (2:49) 2. ELVES AT THE MERCY OF MAN (1:21) 3. RUINS OF OSTAGAR (1:18) 4. THE COMMON DWARF (1:24) 5. THE PARTY CAMP (0:44) 6. THE DALISH (1:18) 7. DARKSPAWN IN THE WILDS (1:13) 8. HUMAN NOBILITY (1:21) 9. URN OF SACRED ASHES (1:01) 10. JOIN THE GREY WARDENS (1:53) 11. BATTLE THE DARKSPAWN HORDES (1:05) 12. MAGES IN THEIR CHANTRY (2:01) 13. LELIANNA'S SONG (2:33)

DISC 1 SIDE B [DRAGON AGE ORIGINS]

1. THE CHANTRY'S HUBRIS (3:16) 2. THE NATURE OF THE BEAST (1:30) 3. TAVERN BRAWL (1:15) 4. THE DALISH ELVES ENCAMPMENT (1:18) 5. FERELDEN AT WAR (2:57) 6. KING EDRIN (1:32) 7. CHALLENGE AN ARCH DEMON (3:12) 8. THE CORONATION (1:03) 9. I AM THE ONE (HIGH FANTASY VERSION) (4:02)

DISC 2 SIDE A [DRAGON AGE II]

1. DRAGON AGE II MAIN THEME (2:03) 2. HAWKE FAMILY THEME (2:00) 3. QUNARI ON THE RISE (2:04) 4. LOVE SCENE (1:39) 5. VISCOUNT (1:29) 6. TAVERN MUSIC (2:11) 7. KIRKWALL ARRIVAL (5:13) 8. ROGUE HEART (3:12)

DISC 2 SIDE B [DRAGON AGE II]

1. JOURNEY TO DEEP FEAR (2:55) 2. MAGE PRIDE (4:03) 3. KIRKWALL TOWN ACT 2 EXPLORATION (2:05) 4. DARK DAWN (3:22) 5. FENRIS THEME (2:30) 6. NIGHT ATTACK AND VICTORY (1:56) 7. DESTINY OF LOVE (3:25)

DISC 3 SIDE A [DRAGON AGE: INQUISITION]

1. DRAGON AGE INQUISITION THEME (2:52) 2. THE WRATH OF HEAVEN (5:25) 3. ESCAPE FROM THE FADE (1:14) 4. CALLING THE INQUISITION (1:59) 5. IN HUSHED WHISPERS (4:49) 6. THE WESTERN APPROACH (2:07) 7. JOURNEY TO SKYHOLD (1:48)

DISC 3 SIDE B [DRAGON AGE: INQUISITION]

1. THE DAWN WILL COME (1:58) 2. ORLAIS THEME (2:44) 3. THE SCAR (0:56) 4. SIEGE OF ADAMANT (1:14) 5. WICKED EYES AND WICKED HEARTS (3:35) 6. THEDAS LOVE THEME (1:59) 7. CHAMPIONS OF THE JUST (3:55) 8. SACRIFICE (1:01) 9. RETURN TO SKYHOLD (2:13) 10. EPILOGUE (1:10)

DISC 4 SIDE A (BONUS DLC TRACKS)

1. I AM THE ONE (DARK FANTASY VERSION) [DRAGON AGE: ORIGINS] (4:10) 2. MAIN THEME [DAI DESCENT DLC] (2:58) 3. AFTERMATH [DAI DESCENT DLC] (1:29) 4. DARK SOLAS THEME [DAI TRESPASSER DLC] (3:01) 5. QUNARI ATMOSPHERE [DAI TRESPASSER DLC] (2:41) 6. LOST ELF THEME [DAI TRESPASSER DLC] (3:58) 7. D'READ KODA (1:08) [HIDDEN TRACK]

DISC 4 SIDE B (DRAGON AGE: INQUISITION - THE BARD SONGS)

1. ENCHANTERS (3:23) 2. GREY WARDEN (2:12) 3. I AM THE ONE (1:58) 4. ONCE WE WERE (2:10) 5. RISE (1:26) 6. SERA (1:45) 7. FALL OF THE MAGISTER (3:01) 8. SCOUT LACE HARDING (2:08) 9. THE SLIGHTEST ONES (2:28)" [source]

👁️ Hidden track - "D'Read Koda"? ^^ Koda like a coda? (of interest here is that the recent Mass Effect vinyl collection contained some previously unreleased and some rearranged/remastered music.)

[source]

[dramalets]

Darling @blneobin tagged me in the 10 BL characters you want carnally thing. I am a dumb lil gray ace queer so I expect I have a different definition of want carnally than some 😂. But I will persist regardless. (I picked gals and guys because 🤷🏻‍♀️)

Mork - My Ride

He’s a puppy dog. He just wants to love and be loved in return and I would never ever get tired of looking at that dimple. Also you get his awesome uncles as throw in bonus. No way to lose here.

Ink - Bad Buddy

I just love her so much. I’m a useless lil femme with a competency kink a mile wide and dang does she hit it. The way she’s so sure of her self and what she wants, but is never arrogant about it, and how she treats Pa like the princess she is. A dream.

Pisaeng - Be My Favourite

Patient, loyal, great at love and excellent at self reflection. (Maybe I do just want a dog, damn.) The sacrifice he’s willing to make in episode 12 just got me right in the gut. I’d loved him the whole series but that was the Cherry. I’m just a Kawi looking for my Pisaeng.

Yu Na - Semantic Error

I’m ace not blind. I need this women to pin me down and tell me off. *ahem* Where did that come from. Anyways. She’s stunning, funny and a great friend.

Jim - Moonlight Chicken

He’s absurdly beautiful firstly. But I also love the way he learns. He admits his faults and works on them, that’s a decent human being right there. Plus Y’know he must be great in bed because Wen was HOOKED from the off. 😂

King - Bed Friend

Right. Not only is this man’s beauty a reason to believe in god he’s also just a wholly good bean. He never pressures Uea, he always meets him where he’s at, and he LEARNS. He makes mistakes and he admits those and learns from them. Cat kink aside he’s a great example of husband material.

Korn - Together with me

Listen, is he perfect? Absolutely not lol. But he’s the original standard for muscle bound Himbo pups and I adore him. (And those kisses? God damn.) *that gif is not Korn but if you search Korn you get the band so shh.

Tinn - Laws of attraction

The entire package. Hot, sweet, protective and good with kids. Those arms????? Get out.

Nim - The Warp Effect

Honestly she’s just hot, confident and gets very delulu when she’s in love. She can box me anytime she likes. (High key also wanted to pick her partner Molly too so you get a gif with both ✌🏻)

Pure - My gear your gown

This is a weird pick I realise 😂. Pansexual king, problematic in a lot of ways but loyal, loving and kind. Also he does actually listen to Folk and I feel they actually probably would have had a healthy relationship long term. Idk man. He’s just a great friend, confident in sex stuff and funny. Also v pretty. (All his gifs are from Shadow and fuck me I am NEVER watching that.)

If you read this far 😽

If you’d like to do this pls do! (And tag me.) It was a fun waste of time.

[naoyaslut]

The Hills Ch. 22

pairings: ran haitani x fem reader+18!

warnings: torture, mention of blood, blood and violence, minor fluff, cliffhanger

wordcount: 2.8k

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22

It was just about dusk.  Naoto Tachibana had just returned to his apartment, tearing off his suit jacket before hanging it on the coat rack beside the door.  Closing the door behind him, he began to empty his pockets setting his cellphone down on the coffee table in his living room.  

He was getting nowhere with this case.  Ivy hadn’t brought him any viable information on Ran Haitani or Bonten as a whole.  Even though he suspected Haitani to be involved in Kenji Oh’s murder, he had absolutely no way to prove it.  

Attempting to blackmail Y/N L/N didn’t work either.  If anything, it backfired.  Sighing in frustration, Naoto turned his head toward his cell phone, the vibrations from the small device rattling the glass tabletop of the coffee table.  

It was an unknown number; this was normally how Ivy contacted him.    

“Tachibana,” Naoto pressed the phone against his ear and his eyes widened in surprise at the sound of Ivy’s voice.  It was low, she sounded winded, her voice hoarse as she spat out her words hastily.  

“I-I have some good intel on a shipment of narcotics coming in on Saturday,  Bonten is expected to pick them up at the pier in a shipping container.  I have the serial number written down, are you ready?  And be quick about it,”  

Naoto stumbled toward the coat rack, taking a pen out of the chest pocket of his suit jacket along with a small notepad.    

“Go ahead,” he replied,  

“KBCR 068121”  Ivy inhaled, her voice shaking lightly.”  Saturday, 1 AM sharp is the pick up on the east side of the shipment yard, near the security booth… I have to go, I’ll contact you soon,”  

“Wait-”  

The call was disconnected immediately, and Naoto quickly slung his jacket back over his shoulders before stepping back out into the evening.  He was heading back to the office, he had to let Vancouver know about this.    

Sanzu disconnected the call with Naoto on Ivy’s burner before dropping it on the floor and crushing it with the heel of his boot.    

“Great job sis,”  Sanzu smiled big and wide, his perfect teeth fully visible.  “Now that that part is taken care of, you owe us something,”  

Ivy shrank into herself, her jaw tensing as eyes followed Sanzu as he walked behind the chair she was tied to.  Sanzu and Rin had relocated her from Tantra to an abandoned warehouse.  The floors were covered in thick plastic and an old, rusted metal table in the middle of the room with an assortment of tools that she assumed belonged to Sanzu.  

Most of them looked brand new.  Knives, vice grips, a razor, and a couple of syringes still in their sterile packaging.  It was a lot.  Sanzu was the resident torture expert, and she knew exactly what was about to happen to her.    

After the call disconnected, Ivy had long since gone quiet breathing in long drawled breaths to try and calm her shaking nerves.    

It was just her and Sanzu in the room, Rin had stepped out for a smoke. And Ivy’s eyes watched in fear as Sanzu rounded the table before snapping on a pair of latex gloves.  He turned to her with his eyes bright and unassuming while snapping on a facemask.  

“Normally I’d strap you down to the table for this, but I honestly think we’ll be okay if I just sedate you a little,” Rounding the table once more, Sanzu pushed the chair Ivy sat in closer to the metallic table until she was chest level with it.  “It should be pretty quick anyway,”   

Ivy choked on the breath she was inhaling, coughing to clear her airway and whipping her head around to the entrance to see if Rin had returned.  He was still nowhere in sight.    

“What are you going to do to me?” Ivy huffed, teeth grinding heavily against one another.  She was pretending not to be afraid, but yes, she was crazy.  But Sanzu was on a whole different level than she was.    

Sanzu picked up one of the scalpels from the table and began to remove the plastic keeping it sealed, he looked at the doorway for Rin as well ignoring Ivy’s question.    

“Rin, let's go let's get this over with!”  

Rin answered back a moment later sticking his head into the door, he had his burner pressed against his ear.   

“Ran is sticking with his girl tonight, he won’t be able to make it,”  

Sanzu simply shrugged and his free hand knotted itself into the hair of Ivy’s hair located at her nape.  Without any hesitation, he slammed her face first into the metal table, the dull thud of her skull echoing about the empty warehouse.   

Ivy gasped out in pain and shock, her eyes blinking profusely as the pain and tears began to flood her frontal lobe.  The first impact stunned her, but the second one caused her vision to darken and she soon realized that she was lying in a puddle of her own blood against the table.  

Now, barely conscious Sanzu pressed her face against the table so that she was at least a little bit still before the sharpened edge of the scalpel began to slice into the outer edge Bonten tattoo that had been etched behind her ear.  

Ivy screeched in pain in response, her body tensing under the searing pain of the sharpened instrument cutting through her skin.  

“Just keep still, I’m nearly done,” Sanzu responded lazily, his eyes focusing on where her skin split open like molten butter. He was enjoying this, and he was calm about his reaction completely opposite of Ivy whose arms were pulling desperately at the restraints around her arms. “There, easy-peasy"   

Sanzu removed his hand keeping her in place against the table and removed the piece of flesh before tossing it on the table in front of Ivy.  

Ivy reeled back so hard; the old wooden chair flipped backward crumbling underneath her weight. She was screaming at the top of her lungs, her face red, smeared with snot and tears.  

“S-Sanzu, what the fuck did you do?!” she screamed, still tugging at her arms in an attempt to free herself.   

“Sorry, boss's orders, had to remove the ink, don’t worry though, I won’t be the one to kill ya” Sanzu laughed under his breath tugging his flu mask down over his face. “Ran may get that honor,”  

Rin stepped back into the open warehouse, his burner phone still in hand, and began to talk to Sanzu about what? Ivy wasn’t paying attention.  

She was too focused on the stinging pain in her throat, biting her tongue so that she wouldn’t scream any more than she’d need to.  

The chair that she was tied to was now in pieces and Ivy was able to get to her knees quietly enough, before sprinting toward the open exit of the warehouse.   

Rin frowned seeing Ivy moving out of the corner of his eye before he shoved his phone into his pocket.  

“S-shit, she’s getting away!”  

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  

It had been a few days since you were locked at home, alone, with one or two cars watching the house. Ran was still irate. You could sense it. And even though you had a scheduled appointment today, it was very obvious that he didn’t want to let you go.   

You were getting an accurate measurement of the baby today and another ultrasound that you assumed Ran would get a kick out of since it had been a while since he had been to any appointments.  

Idly, you searched the waiting room of the doctor's office to see if you could get a glimpse of your “husband”, who had been constantly walking in and out of the building to smoke. He insisted that he wasn’t smoking, but you could definitely smell the lingering odor, no matter how long he stayed outside and sprayed himself over with cologne.  

“Mrs. Haitani, the doctor is ready for you now,” An older nurse popped her head out of a locked door to make eye contact with you, and in response, you looked around the room again. He was still outside. It caused you to sigh in disappointment as you stood up, pulling the hem of your dress back down over your knees.   

“Is something wrong?” the nurse asked, she must have read the gloomy expression on your face.   

Smiling in response you shook your head before walking in her direction.   

“No, everything is fine, I’m ready to go back,”  

The nurse nodded again, pushing the door open wider and stepping aside. Her eyes went past you briefly, her smile widening.   

“Is this Mr. Haitani?”  

Glancing over your shoulder, you nearly jumped out of your skin at how Ran had crept up on you. You didn’t hear him approaching at all.  

He responded before you could, addressing the nurse only, he didn’t even spare you a glance.   

“Yeah, that’s me, are we ready?”  

Your shoulders drooped in dejection at his obvious method of shunning you, it made you feel unwanted and as if he didn’t even want to be here in the first place. Pressing your lips into a thin line you glanced back at the nurse trying to control the tears that you were holding back.  

“Mrs. Haitani?” the nurse asked, a bit of worry in her voice.   

“I’m ready,” you forced a smile, and Ran followed you back to one of the examination rooms.   

At the risk of unnerving your husband any further, you sat quietly in the room while the nurse took your vitals. Blood pressure, temperature, and even a urine sample to run for any abnormalities within your body.  

Ran did the exact same thing, he was deathly silent, and his eyes focused on his phone which was seemingly the most interesting thing in the entire world at that point in time.  

When the nurse finished her workup, she patted you on the shoulder after having lean back on the automated table, reclining it backward, and moving the sonogram machine over so that the specialist would be able to use it when she entered.   

“Alright, the tech will be right in let us know if you need anything!”  

“Thank you,” you breathed, smiling so hard that your cheeks had begun to hurt.  Things were awkward still between you and Ran. And it made you feel sick to your stomach, pretending things were okay and they really weren’t.   

At least they weren’t from your end. All Ran saw was that he was protecting you by shutting you out and keeping you locked up in a tower as if that would simply solve all of your problems.   

You were on the verge of tears, pinching your bottom lip between your teeth to keep it from wobbling and your face twisting into some ugly crybaby face.   

“Ran,” You whispered, hoping to get a word in before the technician came back into the room.  

He looked up from his phone hesitantly, those bright eyes of his widening in surprise when he saw your face. It was scrunched up in an impossibly cute way, tears gathering at your lashline while you tried to contain them.   

He felt bad and was confused as to why you were so upset all of a sudden. (Men am I right?) Leaning forward in the chair he was sitting in, he reached forward his hand swallowing your smaller one in his palm.  

“What’s wrong-”  

The technician knocked and pushed the door open to enter and stopped while only a few steps inside the room. She took a quick look at both of you and quirked a questioning eyebrow.  

“Is... everything ok?” she asked out of the blue.  

Pulling your hand out of Ran’s you quickly wiped at your face to be sure there weren’t any tears visible. The last thing you wanted was for the medical staff to think that there was something else going on.  

“Everything is fine,” you interjected, forcing the fifth smile you had for the entire day.   

Everything was routine, the technician gifted both you and Ran with yet another sonogram photo, one was 3D and the other was classic black at white that had the details of the size of the baby.   

Baby Haitani was measuring a little over 7months, which meant that you were further along than originally anticipated. It would be possibly 2 months before the baby could come, maybe even sooner.   

Your throat tightened while staring at the 3D sonogram, you could see everything. Her little nose, her eyes, there were separate pictures of her toes. It was a little breathtaking to see it all so soon.   

Ran seemed to be rather blown away if you will as he threw his arm over your shoulder staring down at the image. She had his nose, you could see, and although not extremely detailed her face looked as sweet as could be, he was in love.  

“Can’t believe the little bean is actually a baby, I can already tell she looks like you,”   

There was something giddy in his voice as he scrutinized the ultrasound, pulling back to press a kiss to the side of your temple.   

You stopped in mid-stride pressing the sonogram to your chest and giving Ran all of your attention. Things seemed better, for sure. But you still needed to talk, you felt off.  

“Ran... we need to talk when we get home,” you suggested, nibbling on the corner of your bottom lip.   

Ran nodded in agreement urging you to continue moving to the exit, he fished out his cell phone that had started to vibrate in his pocket before he looked at the incoming number that was on the screen.  

“Yeah, I know baby... I’ve been acting like a spoiled brat,” It was Rin calling his cellphone, answering the call pressing it to his ear pressing another kiss to your cheek. “We’ll talk when we get home,”  

You nodded in relief, a faint genuine smile etching its way onto your lips. It seems as if things were slowly starting to return to normal between you and Ran, especially after this doctor's visit. You were grateful he was there today and even more excited to plan for your baby’s arrival. You two hadn’t even thought of any names yet.  

Pushing through the double doors of the private doctor's office, you pulled the sonogram from your bosom to stare at it once more. Ran was still walking behind you, talking to someone over his cell phone. He seemed agitated now, storming through the doors with the phone still against his ear as he nearly screamed into it.  

Hastily he grabbed hold of your arm, pulling you towards the black SUV the two of you rode into the appointment.  

“And when was anyone going to tell me that? She’s been missing for 2 days? There’s no fucking telling where she is!”  

The sound of sporadic gunfire ricocheting off the black SUV and the nearby building caused you to flinch before Ran pushed you down behind one of the open backseat passenger doors.  

You opened your eyes as the sound of gunfire died down, a black vehicle skidding off down the road and out of sight.  

“W-what was that?” you mumbled, your hands unwinding themselves from Ran’s suit jacket to run them over your belly to be sure you weren’t injured. It sounded like it was gunfire, unfortunately, that wasn’t the first time you had heard it.  

Ran didn’t respond immediately but was pressing a number into his phone and waiting for them to pick up on the other end.  

“Are you alright?” Ran asked, his eyes scanning over the front of the hospital to be sure that whoever had fired at the two of you was long gone. It appeared the coast was clear.  

Pressing your hand into a spot on your shoulder you rubbed at it slightly, now aware of a faint stinging now that all of your adrenaline had worn off.   

The grey dress you were wearing was becoming uncomfortably sticky against your skin, the sharp pain pulsing even more as you pulled your hand away. Something was wrong.   

You could hear your heart thundering in your ears once you caught a glimpse of a red substance staining your fingertips.  

“Get someone over to 4th street we're on the side of the maternity ward, someone just unloaded a fucking submachine gun in front of the doctor's office,” Ran stood up reaching down to bring you up with him. “Are you alright?”  

His heart nearly stopped as he stared down at you in shock, your hands covered in what seemed to be your own blood and a pool of the same-colored liquid gathering underneath you from your spot on the sidewalk.  

You appeared to be in shock, your hands grasping at the hem of your dress to see where all of this blood was coming from.   

“R-Ran... what’s going on?”  

“Here, c’mon I gotta get you back inside the hospital...”  

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Tuesday, November 28

Buffy: (comes into the room) Well, it's official. Chris and Eric didn't come to school today. Xander: That's no coincidence. Willow: Maybe they finished their project. Buffy: God! What if it worked? What, what if that poor girl is walking around? Xander: Poor girls, technically. Buffy: What could she be thinking? Willow: And what are they gonna do with her? Giles: (comes in also) I don't think we need to worry about that just yet. I spoke to a press person this morning about the remains. The police have finished sorting through them, and apparently they found three heads in the dumpster. Buffy: They only had three girls. Giles: Precisely. Willow: So, they don't have the whole, uh, package? Xander: Heads must be no good. Huh. I found 'em attractive enough. Well, obviously I'm not as sick as Chris and Eric.

~~Buffy Episode #14: "Some Assembly Required"~~

[Chaptered Fiction]

Exposure Ch. 1-5/5 (COMPLETE) (Buffy/Spike, E) by thoughtsofahouseplant

Blood and Chaos Ch. 64 (OC, Ensemble, M) by Aetheron, quote_Amy_unquote (Sannah_banana)

Goodbye to Everything That I Knew Ch. 9 (Buffy/Spike, M) by My_Barbaric_Yawp

Cultivating Chaos Ch 15 (Spike/OC, Ensemble, M) by BunnyQuill

Hope is the thing with feathers Ch. 2 (Buffy/Spike, unrated) by wildflowerr_wildfire

Return of the Soulless Vampire: BTVS S9 Rewrite - a WWS story Ch. 44 (Buffy/Spike, M) by Hoomanbeans

The Text Message Memories of Buffy and Spike Ch. 1-25/25 (COMPLETE) (Buffy/Spike, T) by julikobold

California Sun, Chapter 12 (Buffy/Spike, T) by To Be Hers

The Neighbor's Point of View, Chapter 59 (Buffy/Spike, Ch. 59) by the_big_bad

Wraith, Chapter 3 (Buffy/Spike, M) by simmony

Crash and Burn, Chapter 22 (Buffy/Spike, E) by NautiBitz

(Buffy/Spike, ) by

Bad Necromance, Chapter 3 (Buffy/Spike, M) by Rea

Cherry On Top, Chapter 6 (Buffy/Spike, E) by Maxine Eden

[Images, Audio & Video]

Artwork:Buffy and Angelus by artsying-ifer

Artwork:Wine of the mother. Death of the innocent. (Willow) by pzyii

Artwork:Spike by loser-magoo

Artwork:Character Sketches by vu-prod

Artwork:Spike & Drusilla by pocketsizedann

Artwork:Buffy & Spike by thegothicalice

[Fandom Discussions]

Top Five Episodes of Buffy that don’t have Faith in them but do make you think of her by coraniaid

part of me thinks that Season 4 would work a lot better if the Initiative had heard of the Slayer before by coraniaid

my vote for the most unfairly criticized episode of each season by coraniaid

Beer Bad definitely isn’t the worst episode of Season 4 by coraniaid

Top 10 Spuffy fics I’ve read (Nov 2023) by mcgnagallsarmy

thinking about wishverse buffy. by sunflowerlesbian99

it’s not that I don’t get why the scoobies get hate in certain parts of the fandom by jennys-calendar

Why I relate to Buffy Summers as a chronically ill person by buffyrouge

BTVS Percy Jackson AU Characters by unseentravler

Was Tara Maclay from Buffy the Vampire Slayer fridged? by wasted-women

In which episode did your favorite character actually become your favorite character? by JellyfishDry9464

Buffys fashion choice. by Hairy-Membership-461

Tail man in season 5 by snowblind2022

Best acting skill of your fave character's actor? by Sudden-Star-7190

Why do people hate Xander so much? by imnotokaywiththis_

SMG declares there’s “too much sex” on the show by RealisticAd4054

Characters you identify the most with (and why) by Archonate_of_Archona

Does every monster/demon just punch and kick? by MasonicPleb

wasn't Sunnydale hot? was there a reason willow had so many warm looking hats? by milkmamasilk

Vampire MMA by Virtual_Row_8445

First-time watcher. How is this show real by LateRegistrationz

What's something from season 1 that you thought was good? by george123890yang

Is this scene from an actual episode? by Taeolian

(S)layers of foreshadowing by not_firewood_yet

Am I the only one who hated Angel, gave it a chance, and was won over? by Singaya

PUBLICATION: Return to the Hellmouth by kcmurdarasi

PUBLICATION: Angel Season 4: Trying to Make a Better World by andrew-heard

[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]

PUBLICATION: Why Sarah Michelle Gellar Turned Down The Role Of Cordelia Before She Got Buffy by Slash Film

'

PUBLICATION: James Marsters Is Proud of Subverting Expectations With 'Buffy' & 'Torchwood by Collider

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Join the editor team :)

[abubblingcandle]

unofficial Febuwhump Masterpost

So this is for Febuwhump as I am a sucker for challenges to push me to finish fics lol. But when I was signing up to do Febuwhump like the one rule was to post on the day and in order which I am just not going to be able to do so I'm doing this unofficially not tagging or looking to "win". Just using the prompt list as inspiration :) It'll probably take me another 6 months lol anyway.

This one is also going to be mixed fandom as some Strike Back will fall in here too

1 - Helpless - Dutch Courage Ch4

The team start to realise that this is not a joking matter when Nelson Road is broken into by Jamie's stalker. Jan manages to coach Jamie to continuing with his life and the greyhounds band together

2 - Solitary Confinement

3 - "Bite down on this"

4 - Obedience

5 - Rope Burns

6 - "You lied to me" - A Treatment Room Doors Moment Ch3

Roy recovers from his surgery, prickish through and through. Jamie is being ... weird about football. And Roy receives a care package.

7 - Suffering in Silence

8 - "Why won't it stop"

9 - "I love you"

10 - Killing in Self Defence

11 - Time Loop

12 - Semi concious

13 - "You weren't supposed to get hurt"

14 - Blood Stained Tiles - Where the Hell is the Karma Ch5

Jamie returns to London to continue his recovery now he is free of captivity

15 - "Who did this to you?" - A Treatment Room Doors Moment Ch4

Roy and Phoebe make an impromptu trip to Blackpool to see Jamie play in a preseason friendly. Jamie has an emotional breakdown in front of a statue of a Blackpool legend

16 - Human Shield

17 - Hostage Situation

18 - Too Weak to Move

19 - "Please don't"

20 - CPR

21 - Unresponsive - The Little Black Book

Will Jensen's back up plan started off wholesome. Then it became precautionary. Then it became necessary.

The story of Will's little black book of files through tales of his relationships and career

22 - "You weren't meant to be there"

23 - Presumed Dead

24 - "I'm doing this because I care about you" - An Effective Echelon Ch1

When Jamie is rejected by Man City and Richmond in one day, he is in dire need of someone to take his anger out on. Who else would be better than Roy Kent? Get into a little fight, get punched, maybe feel something again, go home, job done.

What this plan doesn't take into account is Roy inviting him inside and giving him a bed for the night ... and not punching him in the face!

25 - Found Footage

26 - "Help them"

27 - Left for dead

28 - "No ... not like this"

29 - Not Allowed to Die

[evrenergy]

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[whentherewerebicycles]

trail snaps & a pip streeeeetch from yesterday. I’m two days away from testing but I feel sure in my heart that I’m not pregnant. it’s fineeeee it’s fine but I’ve been doing budget calculations and it looks like I will probably need to pick up a second job (college consulting work again sigh) so I can keep funding this whole process even with the salary cut. I have a few options in mind and will apply for my top choice one this weekend I think. I feel ethically very bleh about the industry but I do genuinely enjoy the actual student work and it’s good to have the option in my back pocket when I need to make extra $$.

got a bunch of errands done yesterday whoooo and also got two new cookbooks I cannot wait to dive into. I have a couple more returns to do (ah returns the bane of my existence) but am waiting for two packages of potential work clothes to arrive so I can do everything at once. the patio table I ordered arrives sometime today so I’m hoping to assemble that to see if it’ll work! and I want to do a little replanting of the flowers and herbs I bought yesterday if I can find soil.

so let’s see here’s the day:

5:30-7:30 coffee, lounge, emails, planning

7:30-8 shower/get ready/breakfast

8-10:30 work on foundations module, ping AS about rescheduling, work on tasks as assigned, print quince return label

10:30-11 CD mtg to review module

11-12:30 finish up tasks as assigned

non-work stuff:

email AU to confirm time

assemble table if it looks good

exercise (some combo of dog walk, gym run, and/or skate depending on whether my sister is coming over today or not)

maybe plant herbs if I have soil? if not maybe run and grab some this afternoon?

finish scrubbing sap off deck (did about a third of it yesterday with moderate success)

do a 10 min ‘all too well’ tidy of the house lol just want to put things back in order a bit

measure outdoor wall for wall tapestry (not sure if it would look good but I’d love to cover up that ugly siding somehow if I can)

do laundry

grocery run

[whatdoesshedotothem]

Sunday 8 January 1837

8 40

12 10

no kiss finish hazyish morning and F36° now at 9 35 am and breakfast and sat talking till 11 – with A- helping her to tidy the kitchen chamber and pack (school things etc) till off at 2 – what with Cookson inside and packages, we had not much spare room – a minute or 2 at the school going – to unloaden – and returning to look about the grates newly re-set etc – Mr. Wilkinson did all the duty – preached 22 minutes – from the 1st Epistle general of St. John ii. 17 – found 2 Miss Mill-house Rawsons and the 2 Miss Thorpe Priestleys at Cliff hill – about ½ hour there – Mrs. AW- asked me to stay to tea – said I should have been happy to stay but the road was slippery and bad, and there were carriage candles, and no moon – left A- to stay till Wednesday – home at 5 35 – till 6 ¼ tidying the blue room and washing hands for dinner at 6 ½ - just before dinner wrote and sent by Frank note to ‘Robert Parker Esquire the Square’ inclosing a check (dated tomorrow no.     ) for one hundred and fifty pounds five shillings and sixpence bring the amount due to Mr. Wainhouse up to the 8th instant dinner in ½ hour – came upstairs at 7 – had John Booth – gave him the Halifax guardian for his song John to take to A- at Cliff hill in the morning – wrote on the envelope ‘à quoi pensez vous? à ce que je suis triste? vous avez bien raison ['what do you think? to what [why] am I sad? You are quite right]  Mr. Husband not at home (as I returned home this evening) – I have written him word to be at the school at 12 at noon on Tuesday – coffee – Looking over Ellis’s Tariff till 8 – Letter from Messrs. Gray – dated yesterday Mr. Watson will leave York for here on Tuesday morning – Roydelands to be included in the security – had just written all the above of today till 8 ½ - then wrote to Messrs. Gray to go tomorrow morning – shall be glad to see Mr. W- on Tuesday – then till 10 40 making memoranda and calculations about coal – fine day F40° and high wind and fair now at 10 50 pm

[rastronomicals]

5:05 AM EDT September 15, 2024:

Led Zeppelin - "Nobody's Fault But Mine" From the album Presence (March 31, 1976)

Last song scrobbled from iTunes at Last.fm

Much in the same way that the lyrics to The Beatles' "Glass Onion" acknowledged with a nod and a reluctant wink the gnostic cult of Paul-is-Dead, the packaging of Led Zeppelin's Presence acknowledged the I'm sure at-least-somewhat-discomfitting fact that their group had long since become the most humongous rock band in the world.

By the time of The White Album, and by the time of Presence, respectively, things had gotten to the point where expedience was no longer expedient. The Beatles had tried not to feed the conspiracy theorists, and Zeppelin--modest at least in this one regard--had stayed away from licensing lunchboxes and appearances on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert. But at a certain point, things get so big, and so plain, that they become the elephant in the room.

Presence seems to be Zep's acceptance of their own status (beyond even their own control) as Big Dumb Object, an enormous artifact of unfathomable consequence.

That's dumb as in "incapable of speech," not as in "stupid," just so we're straight. But since we're there, let me note that Presence perhaps more than any Zeppelin album save II demonstrates that a certain amount of stoopidity is unavoidable or even desired if you're going to play the cock-rock game.

Plant's lyrics to "Achilles" reference some etching or the other of William Blake's, so my point is not to disparage Zeppelin's obvious operational intelligence. Still, Zeppelin were all about contrast: I dare you to check out the live video from '77, and tell me that Plant's suggestive mannerisms as he sings the band's 11-minute epic aren't a little stoopid . . . .

Ah, but I digress, 'cause the key concept here is not "Dumb" but "Big." Think thunder. Think "Hammer of the Gods," if that helps.

After four albums where at least part of the idea had been to leaven the heaviness with keyboards or acoustic instruments, Presence was a return to the undiluted bombast of the second album. Guitar bass drums voice recorded in a mere 18 days--not necessarily simple, but certainly direct.

The instrumental contrasts that for good or ill had been there on III, IV, Houses of the Holy, and Physical Graffiti were absent on the band's seventh album--and maybe that's why it's long been their least popular. Funny thought, that: maybe Zeppelin were so goddamned popular not because of the parts that rocked, but because of the parts that didn't!

I don't want to go overboard, however. I don't want to make it sound as if Presence were a piece of the nascent pub rock of the time, because the very first track belies that. "Achilles" is the third longest studio track for the band and features perhaps Page's most intricate guitar orchestration, with as many as 12 overdubs. It's routinely described as proggy, or even Yes-like (and if you don't believe that, consider that Dream Theater is one of the many acts who have covered the song). And note that Jonesy is playing an eight-string bass.

Leave it to this band of contrasts to feature a 10-1/2 minute song about a Greek demigod with painstakingly multitracked guitars on their back-to-basics record . . . Presence is perhaps Led Zeppelin's most misunderstood album, but for Page Plant Jones & Bonham, that may have been The Object all along.

File under: The Object Of It All

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