#5 minutes in and i need a break lord save me.

[autism-corner]

i swear to god i am once again not prepared for what this show is gonna do to my Y-Y at least frenchie looks fucking great <3

[xixovart]

my rrverse headcanons that i will save in my drafts until it explodes

possible tw for mentions of weaponry and violence!! (bullet point no.5)

nico with heterochromia?? im?

a LOT of aphrodite kids are pansexual. somethinf about love knowing no bounds or restrictions to gender because love is a connection to the soul or whatever

actually on that idea a lot of aphrodite kids are under the non binary umbrella :)

spreading the deaf will solace agenda

annabeth goes to a shooting range to relieve stress

she got that from thalia

i just need you to picture how unbelievably destroyed thalia must’ve been when they told her about luke.

alex fierro really likes cupcakes. but he’s like. ashamed of it?? for some reason

one time magnus walked in on her while she was eating some red velvet? hilarious interaction.

“magnus it’s not what ir looks like i swear.”

”what? you use someone’s blood to make those?”

rip bianca di angelo you would’ve loved ratatouille. i don’t know.

kayla really likes mac n cheese. i really don’t know.

chris wnd beckendorf have an unmatched ‘our gfs are best friends but ngl we’re kinda gay for each other’ bromance

percy is REAAALLLYYY good at makeup

thalia is surprisingly good at volleyball?

frank once accidentally knocked down an entire grocery store isle… somehow.

hazel really likes ladybugs

“long day?” “tell me about it. keep em coming.” except it’s kayla pouring will grape soda into a wine glass when they were 12 after a day in the infirmary

unpopular opinion: will relentlessly finds loopholes for rules (and sometimes blatantly breaks them) while nico hates rule-breaking. one was raised in rich 1940s europe and the other is texan. guess who.

annabeth and will bonded over their shared love of true crime podcasts

hazel gossips like a hairstylist

“don’t look at me like that, you’re not my real dad 😒” -11 year old annabeth to chiron after the ares cabin caught fire “unexpectedly. somehow. for no reason.”

percy used to swims in fountains and steals people’s coins

piper blasts chappell roan at unhealthy volumes. so does will. they bond over that

zoë nightshade was in the theater abe lincoln was killed in. don’t know where this came from.

piper and leo were the most chaotic duo that wilderness school ever bore witness to. there were several science room “accidents.” and the food in the kitchens went missing every week “unexpectedly”

magnus hearth and blitz used to sit on rooftops and throw water balloons at tourists. fathers-son bonding i lobe them

frank likes tarzan and kung fu panda an unhealthy amount (he was a horrible influence on hazel)

hazel once made random hand signals at a boy who was bothering her told him she cursed him

bianca was surprisingly good at sports?

thalia had to put saran wrap on every outlet in the house for two months when jason was a year old because he would NOT stop sticking his fingers in them

reyna cannot cook. she only knows how to make a surprisingly good lemonade. it’s insane.

hedge, on the other hand, is a freaking chef. he’s like the love child of a really smart goat and gordon ramsay

annabeth and thalia are both master pickpockets because of their time on the road

luke had a soft spot for gummy bears

silena was very calm and collected but the SECOND this girl stepped FOOT in a rage room she lost her SHIR

mallory hates math. like actually loathes math.

magnus is math smart and mallory is english smart

(book 1) halfborn and magnus are the prank lords of floor 19

alex joined them the second he showed up (he destroyed half the hotel withing his first 24 minutes there? duh?)

cecil hates twizzlers

lou ellen cecil and will are VERY competitive go kart-ers

rachel and hazel are artist buddies and go on drawing dates

chiron gets father’s day presents

someone proposed the idea of achilles and patroclus training nico post-ttc and pre-botl???? stop right now im losing my mind i love this

spreading the multilingual nico agenda

mr. d gave will his tattoo

grover and percy unironically watch rom coms every saturday while eating vegan candy and cry for the characters

grover and rachel’s friendship is INCREDIBLY??? underrated

i think we forget that grover bianca and nico went to school together and bianca and grover were friends. imagine the chaos.

lester and kayla had regular arm wrestling matches (kayla always won btw)

whenever austin’s mad at his cabinmates he wakes them up at the asscrack of drawn by playing we are the champions on his flute.

idk why but malcolm seems very gumball coded.

“wait, where are you going?” “to the brony convention in lietchenstein. where do you think im going????” -canon conversation between malcolm and annabeth

wasian grace siblings wasian grace siblings wasian grace siblings.

ethan is a really bad liar in non-greek related matters

will’s love language is that he points at literally the two most random things and says “us” to nico

“nico look it’s us!! :D” “solace those are two dead leaves on the floor” “yeah but they’re next to each other :)”

sally knows taekwondo. no one knows when or how she learned, she just does and it’s terrifying

alabaster is a plant mom

dakota seems like the type of kid to slump so deep in a chair that he ends up falling off. and then he just like. lays there.

castor and pollux have a concerning attraction to fire

travis stoll likes strawberries :)

connor stoll chunks strawberries at travis from half a km away and calls is “aiming practice”

katie has the temper of a chihuahua

(post-tlo) percy and clarisse pretend to hate each other but they’re actually friends who fight like siblings and it’s surprisingly endearing?

[soscarlett1twas]

Midnight Church Bells

↳ Andrew and his brother sneak out. ↳ 2k words / also available on ao3! ↳ This fic is literally a year old lmao?? I was sorting through docs and found this finished draft, so I polished it a bit and here we are. Please forgive past me if the prose is... how we say 'shit'.

The holidays always snuck up on Andrew the same - sudden and unwelcome, but inevitable. This year, he’d been too invested in his studies, and, surprisingly, his own love life to notice much of withering leaves or decorations, but when he turned on the radio and heard those familiar jingles, he groaned in recognition. 

Really, it was none of those things (despite how much he did tire of those songs) that bittered Christmas for him. It was the fact that once the break started, his family would come calling. And despite all protests, his parents would never let him stay at college during the advent. 

“It’s time for the Lord.” His mother’s voice lifted through the phone he propped up on his dashboard. “And family,” she added after a moment. He resisted the urge to slam his head against the steering wheel, instead opting for biting his tongue. The one time his parents didn’t want him studying. 

Her saying that added to the sting of the season. And family. It seemed that this was the only time of year where that was on her mind. 

Which all led him to the same spot he was every December 24th: Sitting on his childhood bed, with whatever book he was currently reading in his hands, and classical music playing from his phone. 

Reclining into his pillow, Andrew lifted his glasses off and put them on the bedside table, a thumb folding the wings as the other worked as a bookmark. 

Yet he didn’t close his eyes. For one of those brief moments in life, he wasn’t thinking, or sleeping, or doing really anything at all. He was just there, in a limbo between sleep and consciousness, hoping that if he purposely derived himself the next day wouldn’t come as quickly.

And he stayed like that for 5 minutes. Or maybe it was 10, or maybe no time passed at all. But eventually he gave in to rest. No matter what, the morning would come and he’d rather not fall asleep during the already tedious sermons in church. So he set an alarm, put his book on the nightstand, and laid down.

He closed his eyes, and it was like he could hear the ringing already. 

Maybe he did.

A soft patter-ing rang just outside his door, the familiar sound of footsteps on carpet blotting the silence. And just as he was about to roll over, Andrew heard his door creak open, and the silhouette of a man leaned into the room. 

“Want to go on a walk?” He whispered, twinged with a sense of boredom. 

Andrew didn’t even need to turn to know who was asking. “Give me a moment,” he sighed, and motioned to push himself off the bed. 

—

“How did you know I was awake?” Andrew asked, still pulling his overcoat over his arms. 

“Your light was on, I saw it through your door.” His brother responded, turning off their driveway onto the sidewalk. He was slightly ahead of Andrew, but slowed a bit so that they were walking together. 

A cloud of mist formed from his breath as he stuffed his hands into his pockets, pulling the coat closer to himself to save some of his last remaining body heat. A near-midnight flit wasn’t what he had planned, but he’d prefer it than trying to sleep. Besides, this may be the only quality time he could spend with his twin during the break. God knows the time they’ve spent at college has already distanced them enough. 

“So,” he huffed, searching for a topic of conversation. “How have you been?” 

“Fine. Uni’s been beating my ass though - we spent practically the entire week leading up to the holidays in the lab, just sweating over our assignments. Jesus, I’m not even a Biochem major but Chemistry is just not letting up.”

It had been years since he was in a lab, but with the track he was on, he got the stress with ‘crunch time’. “I understand. I’ve recently had to rush a project for my Literary Theory course.” 

“What do you even do in that class?” He questioned, half serious, half mocking. 

“Analyze texts, find out how the culture of the author influenced their works.” He could go on: Literary Theory was one of his favorite classes, no matter how rigorous the course was, but he knew his brother wouldn’t care to hear the details. 

Winding down their street, the two carried on talking about academia with a partial interest, not fully understanding either’s field of study but trying to be supportive anyways. Soughing wind bent branches to a static beat as they approached the neighborhood's egress. By and by they were talking about the more social aspects of their schooling: Andrew’s literature club, the parties either rarely attended, his brother’s friends.

“How has your roommate been?” Andrew asked, kicking a rock under his shoe and watching it roll along the concrete. 

“Good.” He sighed out a laugh. “He’s great, actually.”

Andrew glanced over to his brother, and if the slight warmth in his voice wasn’t enough, the red on his cheeks told him everything he needed to know. He chuckled too, and gave a soft nudge on his shoulder, making them both smile. 

In a weird way, they never needed to tell eachother about any of this stuff. Equal parts the awkwardness that surrounded telling your sibling, your twin of all people, who you were interested in and an unspoken alliance against their parents had kept them from ever openly speaking it. But Andrew knew his brother was into guys ever since they were teens, he just didn’t know if his brother had caught on to his own preferences yet.

The stone made a sharp sound as it drifted over to his brother, who promptly kicked it back to Andrew with the inside of his shoe. 

“Helios, right?” 

His brother hummed in response. 

His mind trailed to the man at his college, the one who he had desperately wanted to introduce to him, and found himself grinning at the mere thought. God, he hoped Isaac would like his brother. 

He opened his mouth, then shut it quickly. What would he even say? He trusted his brother, but to come out was something entirely different, and with Christmas just around the corner? No, he’d wait. Right after, though, he’d tell him. Andrew silently swore it to himself. 

“Honestly, I prefer the dorms to the house.” 

That snapped Andrew out of his thinking. “Really?” 

“Yeah.” He stopped abruptly, and threw his arms out in exasperation. “Isn’t it suffocating to you too?” 

Everytime he was in his room, Andrew could only remember the sleepless nights he spent hunched over and studying. The dining table was a barrage of moments he spent silent as his parents and brother fought. The living room was a danger zone, as he never wanted to catch his parents when they were disappointed in his brother, or worse, him. The whole house could burn down and the only memories that would go with it were the most futile. Worse was, even without flames, Andrew felt like he wadded through smoke every time he was in those walls.

He silently nodded his head. His brother just stared at him, as if he wanted voice confirmation. But how can one speak up against the pyre when its fumes had already scorched his vocal cords? 

After a moment, his brother kept walking, and Andrew followed. “I contemplated not coming back this winter.” He muttered.

“As did I.” Andrew responded, suddenly getting his voice back. 

“What could you possibly be avoiding?” 

A million and one answers filled his head, but none escaped him - no matter what he said, not a single one would measure up to his brother's reasons. So why even bother trying to compare? 

His twin huffed as he turned away, suddenly gaining some distance on Andrew, and he let him keep it. 

For a while, the only sound they made was their shoes against concrete sidewalks and the crunch as they occasionally had to step into snow. Andrew brought his hands up to his face, cupping them to breathe and warm himself up. Normally he kept gloves in his pockets, just in case. But, of course, he just had to forget them tonight. His fingers combed through his hair, forcing him to look straight ahead at his brother's back. Again, he bit his tongue. But wasn’t that what had gotten him into this situation, unintentionally pushing his brother away by not talking? He didn’t understand it, but only continuing the cycle wasn’t going to help anything. 

So he opened his mouth, just in time to slam right into his brother. 

He stumbled, but his brother didn’t flinch. Or even look at Andrew. His eyes remained trained to the tree line, frozen in place. 

Regaining his footing, Andrew tried again. “Dar-“

“Stop.” He whispered.

“No, D-“  

“Shut up, Andrew, just listen.” 

So he did. 

For a few seconds, he didn’t hear anything. His eyes fell where his brother’s were focused, though without his glasses, the details were fuzzy. 

Then, a distant chime hit his ear. 

More followed. 

A symphony of church bells rang, each peal like a glimmer in the air. 

Andrew knew they rang the bells at midnight every Christmas Eve, though he couldn’t remember the last time he had heard them. During mass, he could imagine it would be unbearable. But from here? The sound was quite pleasant. 

As the bells continued, the twins stood there, listening to it all. Andrew was the first to tear his eyes away from the church he couldn’t see, glancing over at his brother through the corner of his eye. It was the first good look he had gotten at him in a long time. 

Andrew hadn’t realized how short a decade was. Though in context of anything else, the last ten years of his life had dawdled. But with his brother? It was like the blink of an eye. One moment they were running and laughing, a mirror image of one another - even the Christmas’ were tolerable. Fun, even. The next, blooming into adulthood - mimics of who they used to be.

In fact, the longer he looked at him, Andrew realized just how much his brother had changed. His hair had definitely grown, locked into a short ponytail that hung low with swooping bangs, and he made the full switch to contacts some time ago. He even got taller, and next to Andrew, he was a lofty inch or two higher. Though that could also be accredited to the boots he wore. (Ashamed to say, Andrew didn’t remember when or how he got them. They certainly weren’t a gift from their parents, but did his brother even have a job to afford them?) He was more muscular, which wasn’t saying much compared to Andrew, but he was certainly leaner. The man never made a mention of continuing his secondary school athletics, but maybe he did as an extracurricular? Again, Andrew was straining to remember specifics. Though, he supposed any reason to play was now null, as originally it was a brilliant excuse to come home late without his parents accusing him of deviancy. 

But he wasn’t too alien to him. There was something still familiar to him, like flecks of gold shining through, no matter how small. After all, they began to sneak out when they were fourteen and are still doing it now. There must be something that still connected them. 

Right?

Just as he had that thought, he missed his brother's pass, and the pebble went flying into a curb. 

They walked in silence for a while longer, bells fading to the wind. Eventually they found themselves back on their driveway, and their silence became deafening as they lightened their footsteps. God knows what their parents would do if they found out they had been out so late.

They followed one another up the stairs, crossed the same hallway, and went to rooms adjoining. There was a time they shared one, but that was before they had moved. 

Andrew slipped open his door, the knob turning slowly as to mute itself. As he slipped in, he turned half-way to see his brother doing the same.

His brother looked up, catching his gaze. 

Andrew saw himself in the reflection of his eyes. They were bitter, burning with… not rage. But a violent form of disappointment. 

Andrew was the center of it. And he could smell the smoke wafting. 

[bubybubsters]

Mother Hens

a/n: yeah… new idea, there goes my WIPs. Sorry y’all! I make no promises of when they'll be out.

wc: 590 + 5

⚠️: not proof read, slightly suggestive

masterlist

*****

You groaned bending over as you pulled out the arrow in your back and side. Slapping a hand over your side you spewed a few billion curses as your wounds slowly, ever so slowly knitted back together. You were so lucky to be a cousin of Thesan’s mate. Only thing you hadn’t inherited were the wings, which you really wanted.

Gathering your strength, you pictured the training ring of the House of Wind. The light and shadows took longer then usual to gather around and winnow you to the House.

Or maybe your magic just didn’t want you to die.

So stupid, you chided yourself, there are fucking wards. But it was too late to save yourself as you plummeted from 50 meters above the training ring. Giving up you closed your eyes, willing your death to be quick and almost painless.

Your body jolted as it slammed into something hard and a yelp of pain escaped from your mouth.

“Easy, sweetheart.”

Rhysand gently landed before sprinting you to the living room where you saw Madja waiting in a very exasperated fashion. Azriel and Cassian swarmed you and Rhys and the last thing you saw was the old healer pinching the Illyrians and taking you in her arms.

*****

Rhys paced outside the door that lead to the sitting room as Azriel leaned against the wall and Cassian alternated between sitting and standing. You had been out for 8 hours and none of them had went on going anywhere and wouldn’t be going anywhere until you woke up. Or, apparently, Madja ordered the, to go somewhere.

Pointing to Cassian and Azriel she snapped orders, “you two go get her some food and water. High Lord go get her more bandages and a blanket. She should be waking soon but be gentle. The knife in her back hit her spine at a horrible angle and she’ll have a scar.”

Rhys sprinted off grabbing all the supplies needed and much more before winnowing back to find Cassian and Azriel loaded with a feast.

“We should have sent someone with her.”

“We never should have sent her.”

“I should have gone.”

All the males spoke at once as they voiced their thousands of concerns and regrets.

Fifteen minutes later the war hardened illyrian warriors were breaking down on the couch about how they’d failed you. (A very funny sight for anyone randomly walking in.)

As in Madja, who was coming to tell the males you had woken and were asking for them, they jumped up to follow the old healer almost trampling her in their rush.

As soon as your door opened, the males started with a rush of apologies and asking at least a billion times if you were alright.

"SHUT IT. I am fine, just a little shaken and it's not your fault. I was most qualified for the job and it was the right choice to send me."

Rhys and Azriel shared a look at their fierce little friends words and Cassian scooped you up.

"Of course sweetheart, we'll just regret it in silence." Rhys winked and they carried you out, past a very exasperated Madja.

"NO SEX. Rhysand I will kick your ass!"

Cassian smirked. "No promises!"

The males made their way to your room and carefully set you on the bed.

Rhys ran a bath while Azriel grabbed the feast they'd prepared while Cassian (lucky asshole as Rhys put it) stayed with you.

"Cauldren help me, do you idiots ever stop being overprotective?"

They smirked at her in unison and shook their heads.

*****

A/n: To that Anon that told me to stop thinking my writing is awful. thank you, I love you! But.....

taglist

@thelov3lybookworm @profound-imagination @stargirl1714

thank you!

[emilybahu]

My Thoughts While Watching 8x01 of 9-1-1:

(Literally no one asked for this and it’s so late, but whatever… I had fun spending an hour and a half watching a 43 minute tv show episode to share my thoughts 🤷‍♀️)

1. Oh this poor man just bought his new plane then he gets caught in a beenado… what did he do to deserve that?

2. Oh crap oh crap! He about to crash!!

3. God damn Gerrard… I hate him with every fiber of my being😠

4. EDDIE I love you, I love you, I love you! But now that Gerrard said he likes the mustache it’s gotta go…

5. BUCK’S CRULS ARE FREE!!! Omg I just love him so much he’s so pretty!

6. Also, Gerrard 🙄🙄🙄

7. 3 MONTHS AGO! Not much of a time jump my ass! LIARS!

8. Who are you Gerrard? Donald Trump? Building a fence (wall)…

9. ATHENA! Hey queen! Oh wait, they making you transport the man who killed your fiancé… yikes 😬

10. He requested her!?

11. Buck… BUCK! What are you doing!? Get away from the ledge!

12. “Don’t jump!” “Why not?” 😀 Buck you know perfectly well why we don’t want you to jump, and it has nothing to do with the quote below.

13. “Gerrard would just make us clean you up off the sidewalk.” This line is hilarious and so not hilarious at the same time!

14. My poor baby boy! Buck come here let me give you a hug!

15. Chimney making fun of Eddie’s mustache 😂

16. Bobby the technical advisor 🤭

17. It’s so funny that there’s a show within the show!

18. Poor Bobby, like it is partially his fault that he’s not at the 118 right now, but you can tell he misses his team 🥺

19. Oh this kid, I love her already! And fair question Mom, what exactly does she mean by “hooking up”?

20. OH NO THE BEEEESSSS!!!

21. Yesss Buck and his fun facts! I love it!

22. Ugh 😑 Gerrard, that’s rude, our favs at the 118 are beautiful! You’re just salty because you’re old and ugly and no one likes you.

23. I’m sorry like half of this is gonna be me complaining about Gerrard… he’s so rude though! How dare he yell at Josh like that, for something he can’t control.

24. No, no, no! The bees got in!

25. No, no, nope! ABSOLUTELY NOT! The bees fucking went down the second driver’s throat!? I’d be outta there in a second!

26. Why did you smack the bee!? Aahhhhhh no!

27. Thank god the girl is okay! Oh damn, of course the mom gets stung too!

28. “Why do I taste honey?” SIR?!

29. Oh god no!

30. This poor kid, this has got to be so incredibly traumatic, she had to give her own mother an EpiPen.

31. God I’m sorry, I just love Buck so much! That little smile when the bee landed on his finger! ☺️

32. Good lord here I go again… what the hell Gerrard! Buck saved the patients and you’re reprimanding him!

33. “It’s a beenado” 🐝🌪️

34. Bobby and Athena house hunting! I love them!

35. Here goes Athena breaking my heart…💔

36. Eeeeeee! Family dinner! I love this so much!

37. Mara calls them Mom and Momma! It’s too cute! And Jee omg I can’t even with her! She’s precious!

38. Awwww Chimney bonding with Mara over Harry Potter! I love that for them!

39. Yes Denny, their boss is a jerk, you are very correct!

40. Eeeeeeee! Tommy! I didn’t think we’d see you in episode one!! Yay!!!

41. Literally I got so excited when I saw the cupcakes and the sign, I thought Chris might be coming back… oh how I was wrong.

42. Oh my boys! I love them so much! I NEED to see more of Buck, Eddie, and Tommy together!

43. I may or may not have actually screamed… Buck and Tommy flirting! They are so adorable together I can’t handle this!

44. Oh Eddie, bless his heart! So excited to talk to Chris and wish him a happy birthday. Meanwhile his son still can’t look at him, even though a computer screen. 😢

45. He made such an effort, just for the screen to freeze and for Chris to leave him hanging. You can see the man’s heart breaking behind his eyes. My heart broke too, but I understand the kid needing time.

46. But seriously seeing Eddie’s lip quiver like that when his mom mentions putting in a pool… PLEASE CHRIS COME BACK TO US! We can’t handle seeing your dad this heartbroken! 💔

47. This woman be here having a midlife crisis, making her own fragrance, only for the bees to crash her party.

48. “Tomorrow is going to be flawless” cue the giant swarm of killer bees just hanging out on top of the tent.

49. Oop her party is ruined…

50. Oh not Buck volunteering Eddie ass the bee bait! 😂

51. “But why me?” “Because you’re the fastest runner!” Stop it now I’m cackling! 🤣

52. The close up of Eddie’s face has me wheezing! 🤣🤣 Oooo he runnin’!!

53. Oh that close up bee cgi is sooo bad it’s hilarious! 🤣

54. Yeah sure, duct tape fixes everything, but why is it in the medical bag!?

55. “I’ve been shot before, I’m pretty sure I can handle this.” It’s funny because the beekeeper was talking to the bees not Eddie! 🤣 (sorry for the excessive use of the laughing emojis I can’t help it)

56. Come on man, Buck is like a little puppy, you gotta give him some praise!

57. And we have Buck with the episode title drop!

58. Noooo Athena! 😢 Come on let me give you a hug! 🫂 So much ✨Trauma✨

59. Ooo this is a fishy situation…but Athena knows what’s up.

60. NO ONE and I mean no one messes with Athena Grant! She knows her shit!

61. She straight up locked this man in a trunk of a car in the middle of the desert! My dude, what!?

62. “Get yourself back to LA in one piece.” Little did she know what was going to happen next…

63. Not the actor being star struck by Bobby, I love that!

64. “I’m gonna study you tip to tail” 🤣

65. Good god Gerrard you got everyone watching Buck like a hawk to make sure he doesn’t deck you.

66. Eddie walking behind Gerrard signing to Buck to cut it out… he tried to help

67. “Broody little pout” 🤣✨

68. Do WE need to remind YOU Gerrard who’s the TRUE captain of this firehouse… news flash it’s NOT YOU!

69. Eddie in the background, we all know he’s got Buck’s back

70. Eeww I just paused on the close up of Gerrard’s mouth… gross. Also, have I mentioned that I HATE this man.

71. Oh my good god! Buck’s eyes are fucking beautiful!

72. Woah, oh wow, that was crazy dude! I seriously can’t tell if Buck snapped and tackled him to the ground, or if he did it to save him.

73. OH CRAP! OF FUCKING COURSE ATHENA WAS ON THE PLANE FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE EPISODE!

[mi-rae07]

Hi it's me again 🤭 Hope everything is alright! If you do take requests still and like the idea, I thought about Hongjoong or Jongho neglecting their relationship, like always being out with anyone else and always at work, eventually lashing out at their partner's last desperate attempts to save the relationship and finally realising what they've lost after months? 👀💕

Choi Jongho : Regret (Part 1/2)

Pairing : Choi Jongho (Ateez) and named character (Na Jieun)

_______________

Jieun : jongho? When are you coming home?

Jieun could hear the sounds of party music and people laughing from the other end of the phone, her hands clenching against the couch fabric as she realized her boyfriend was probably at some party. He had time to go to a party but not being with her?

Jongho : jieun why do you keep calling me every 5 minutes asking me the same exact question! I told you I'd be late so just go to sleep.

Jieun : but what time does 'late' mean?

Jongho : oh lord, do whatever you want but please stop calling me.

Before jieun could reply jongho had already cut the call. Jieun sighed, throwing her phone away as she closed her eyes. She missed him, but she supposed he didn't anymore.

______________________

A week ago :

Jieun : jongho I need to talk to you.

Jongho : not now I'm tired.

Jieun : I don't care-

Jongho : for god's sake it's 2 in the morning, jieun. Give me a break.

Jieun : why do you not have time for me anymore?

Jongho turned around, facing jieun with a frown as he asked

Jongho : what?

Jieun : you never have time for me, but you have time to go around with your other celebrity friends. You never have time for me but you have time to sneak around the company with the other members. You never have time for me but you have the time to attend birthday parties and wedding invites, all without me.

Jongho : what exactly are you trying to say?

Jieun stood up, walking up to jongho as she said

Jieun : what I'm saying is, maybe you're embarassed of me.

Jongho scoffed, looking away as he muttered in disbelief

Jongho : this has to be a joke.

Jieun : is that a yes, then?

Jongho : are you stupid, jieun? You think I told my parents and friends that I was dating you because I was embarassed of you? Bought you flowers every week for a year because I missed our one month anniversary because I was embarassed of you? You think I wear your hairband around my wrist every time I go for a function because I'm fucking embarassed of you?

Jieun pressed her lips together as she realized she'd forgotten about all of that. She'd focused on the bad and forgotten about the good, like she almost always did.

Jieun : I'm sorry, I just overthought-

Jongho : no you aren't sorry. Because you'll keep thinking this, you'll keep doubting me and you'll never stop doing it.

Jieun : jongho-

Jongho : all I ever do is work for us, jieun. Every day I go out there, making music and putting it out thinking about you, about our future. I worry for you every day, so I try my best not to give up on this stupid life. And I think, oh when I come back home and see the person I'm doing all this for, she might just give me a kiss and hold me in her arms while I go to sleep. But no, instead you're out here accusing me of being embarrassed about us.

Jieun looked at jongho with teary eyes as he stepped back, his eyes now distant and closed off as he whispered

Jongho : I'm going to sleep, and please, don't come after me.

___________________________

Present time :

After that jieun didn't want to escalate things further, so she'd kept quiet as jongho went through the same cycle once again, every day. He'd go before she was awake and would come back very late. When she'd try to talk with him, jongho would say he didn't have the time for it and would leave immediately. Even during holidays jongho was working, always, fucking, working.

Jieun was an orphan, who grew up in an orphanage where she had no friends. Back in school she used to be the quiet shy kid so even there she'd make no friends. Jieun had no idea how she'd found jongho and had fallen in love with him but he was the single best thing in her life. Apart from him she had no one, no life. She was all alone in the world.

And now jongho was so far away from her, even while being so close to her. She wanted to just leave.

_______________________

2 weeks later :

Jongho stumbled into his house from how tired he was, looking forward to the week of holidays after this one where he'd get to do…nothing. Jongho let out a tired sigh as he took his shoes off, throwing it away before walking towards the living room. His vision felt dizzy, but he was going to try and find jieun. And soon enough he did, because jieun's voice cut through the dark surrounding, almost scaring jongho

Jieun : finally home?

Jongho : as you can see.

Jieun : I wanted to tell you something, I was waiting for you.

Jongho let out a breath, already feeling even more tired as he muttered

Jongho : not again.

Jieun : don't worry jongho, this will be the last time, I promise.

Jongho frowned as jieun walked closer towards jongho, her eyes glittering against the dim lights as jongho's heart dropped.

Jongho : no why are you-

Jieun : I'm leaving.

Jongho : w-what?

Jieun : why are you so surprised? You should've known your actions would have consequences, jongho. You should've known our relationship was breaking down when I was the only one fighting for us.

Jongho : no, no our relationship hasn't broken down-

Jieun : how would you know, huh? How would you know when you barely even look at me anymore!

Jongho tried holding jieun's hand as he said

Jongho : no listen to me-

Jieun : do you have a proper reason, jongho?

Jongho : jieun I told you before, that I am doing this for our betterment. I'm not going to have enough money to take care of you if I don't work like this.

Jieun : I don't care about money, jongho! I want you.

Jongho scoffed, looking away as he said

Jongho : you're being so selfish.

Jieun : I'm being selfish?

Jongho : yes! You don't go for work, and neither do you cook or clean at home. You're not bringing any money back home, jieun. So all of that burden falls on me, and all I've been trying to do, is fulfill your requirements without even taking a break for myself.

Jieun : so if I cook and clean, are you going to spend more time with me?

Jongho : that is not what I'm saying, jieun. God you don't even seem to understand me!

Jieun : and what about all those parties you attended? Were those for our betterment as well?

Jongho : I do that in order to maintain relationships with them, jieun. I do that so I can make use of their resources in the future!

Jieun scoffed as she muttered

Jieun : you make no sense.

Jongho : I wouldn't to you, you don't know anything about the outside world anyway.

Jieun stared at jongho, trying her best to keep the tears at bay as jongho breathed heavily from all the arguing they'd done.

Jieun : so…so what you're saying is that I'm selfish, I don't bring anything to the table, I'm being immature, unaware, and what, not understanding enough. Is that it?

Jongho : jieun-

Jieun : if you think all of that about me then it means our relationship has already broken down, jongho. This is useless now, and tomorrow morning, I will take my leave.

Jongho stared at jieun as she continued

Jieun : because then you can find someone who'd better suit your standards of living, find someone who's more understanding, mature and can deal with your bullshit. Because I definitely can't anymore.

Saying that jieun walked away, banging the guest room door shut behind her. And the next morning when jongho had woken up, she was already all gone.

____________________________

3 weeks later :

Jongho stared blankly into the recording studio computer, his thoughts going back for the nth time that day to jieun. He felt empty, his house felt empty with all her things gone, and his heart felt empty. He missed her, her touches, her voice, her warmth, her presence. He had no idea why he hadn't stopped her from leaving, but he guessed that at that point even if he were to have said something she still would've left him. Their relationship had been too scarred for him to fix it then.

But he still loved her, even though he'd tried drowning his feelings in a thousand bottles of soju, it still hadn't worked. Jongho knew where to find jieun, but did she want to see him? Would she hate him more if she were to find him at her doorstep?

Mingi : yah! Are you listening to me jongho!

Jongho blinked his eyes, coming back to reality as he looked at mingi who was standing right next to his chair with concerned eyes

Mingi : jongho? What did I last say?

Jongho looked at mingi as if he were in a daze before saying

Jongho : uh, what?

Mingi sighed, plopping down on the chair next to jongho before saying

Mingi : what is wrong with you?

Jongho : nothing. I'm just worried about work.

Mingi : work as in Na Jieun?

Jongho : is it that obvious?

Mingi : very. Jongho if you're this worried about her how about you meet with her?

Jongho : I can't, she hates me.

Mingi : did she tell you that?

Jongho : basically.

Mingi rolled his eyes, leaning back against the chair before saying

Mingi : we can't have you like this, jongho. You're not concentrating anymore, and everyone is concerned.

Jongho : I'm sorry I'll try better-

Mingi : that's not what I'm trying to say jongho-ya. I'm saying you need to fix things with her so you can concentrate on work when you can.

Jongho : but that's exactly the reason why she left me, hyung. Because I concentrated too much on work.

Mingi : well if I were to have a partner who gave more importance to their work and other social events over me, I'd leave them too.

Jongho looked up at mingi as he stood up, patting jongho's shoulder before saying

Mingi : learn to balance, jongho. If you can't, then you're just going to have to lead a very miserable life.

_____________________

2 days later :

Jongho walked towards the Han river bridge at 2 in the morning, his hands tucked deep inside his coat jacket as his eyes darted around the place aimlessly. He couldn't sleep, and he supposed getting fresh air would work. As he looked at the bridge a few meters away from him jongho suddenly thought of the time jieun had forced jongho to come along with her to this bridge a year ago, wanting to see the new year fireworks with him. Jongho had had a concert that same day and was too tired, but seeing jieun's excitement he couldn't refuse.

And then when jongho had seen jieun's eyes sparkling at every firework that burst in the sky, her giggles as the big clock strung 12, and the butterflies jongho had felt when jieun hugged him and wished him happy new year, it had made all his pain worth it. Jongho couldn't stand the next day, but even then he'd still have chosen to come to the bridge that day.

Now new year was a few months away from him, and he had no jieun to go along with him to the fireworks this time. But as jongho got on the bridge his eyes landed on a figure that was leaning against the railing, having a sip of a convenience store-bought banana milk.

Jongho : jieun?

Jieun quickly turned around at that voice, her eyes growing distant at the sight of her ex-boyfriend in front of her. Of course, looking tired as always.

Jieun : yes.

Jongho : what are you doing here so late?

Jieun : why does it matter to you?

Jongho : because this is dangerous, jieun. Someone could do something to you-

Jieun : look around, jongho, there's people all around us. No one's going to do anything to me. Now leave me alone.

Jongho : I'm sorry.

Jieun said nothing, turning back around to face the water as she took another sip of the banana milk.

Jongho : we could try again, jieun. I could try to be better-

Jieun : I already gave you that chance, jongho. Countless times I did and yet you kept going back to what you were before. I'm not going through this shit again.

Jongho : but we love each other, jieun-ah. Isn't this what we do?

Jieun scoffed, shaking her head as she said

Jieun : that is old news, jongho. We don't love each other anymore.

Jongho : I do.

Jieun : well then it's too late.

Jieun threw the empty banana milk carton to the trash before saying

Jieun : because I don't.

Jieun turned around as she gave jongho one last look before walking past him. And jongho could only stare at her disappearing figure, small tears in his eyes. He was right after all, she didn’t love him anymore.

__________________________

Jieun came back home the next evening after a day of work at the city corporation where she'd worked before jongho, feeling like she wanted to just lie somewhere on the floor in her apartment and sleep. But just as she was about to walk past the security gate a man rushed up to her with a boquet of flowers, making jieun frown as she asked

Jieun : ahjussi?

??? : this is for you, jieun-shi. A handsome young man came by a few hours ago and asked me to give it to you when you came back.

Jieun let out a breath, realizing it was from jongho. Jieun smiled and took the flowers from the security before saying

Jieun : thank you so much, ahjussi.

Just as she was about to leave the security said

??? : the young man seems to be very much in love with you, miss. I had a lady too, once. The look in his eyes are the same as what I'd seen in my own decades ago. Love is pure, and eternal. Please don't give up on it.

Jieun smiled, taking a single flower out from the boquet before handing it out to the security as she said

Jieun : I'm sure she loved you as much as you loved her, ahjussi. And I'm sure she always will.

The security smiled, tears in his eyes as he took the flower from jieun's hand before whispering

??? : thank you, miss.

Jieun smiled, giving a small bow to the security before walking away. She looked at the boquet of flowers filled with blue roses and baby's breath, her favorite flowers. There was also a small note inside that read

"I'm sorry, I love you"

Jieun sighed, taking her phone out as she quickly texted jongho

Jieun : don't send me flowers again.

Jongho : no.

Jieun : what?

Jongho : I'm going to keep sending you flowers, jieun.

Jieun : I'll throw it away, in that case.

Jongho : then throw them away, that's not going to stop me anyway.

Jieun let out a groan, throwing her phone back into her bag as she stepped into the lift. Jieun knew there was no point in telling jongho, he wouldn't stop.

_______________________________________

3 weeks later :

Seonghwa : jongho-ya?

Jongho looked up from his computer, his eyes falling onto a worried looking seonghwa as he said

Jongho : yes?

Seonghwa : the CEO wants to talk to you.

Jongho frowned, standing up as he said

Jongho : is something wrong?

Seonghwa : I think so?

Jongho sighed, nodding his head as he walked towards the CEO's room. As soon as he entered the man's eyes sharpened, motioning jongho to sit down on the sofa.

Jongho : is something wrong, sir?

??? : it's been a month, jongho. A month since you've been slacking on work. You're not the same as before, the dance tutors told me that you barely even attend classes anymore, and when I asked the producers they haven't gotten any new work from you either. And then I asked your manager, but he said you haven't had any promo shoots lately as well. So if not any of these, choi jongho, what else are you doing?

Jongho sighed, already having known he would have to face this someday soon. Between trying to make up to jieun by sending her gifts and flowers everyday, and trying to drown his feelings for her jongho had forgotten about work.

Jongho : I'm sorry, sir. I've just been a bit distracted-

??? : except we can't afford that from you, jongho. You're an idol for god's sake, start acting like it. The world tour is going to be scheduled next year and the group album is going to come out within due time. It's high time you start getting to work, or I'm afraid things are not going to end well for you.

Jongho nodded, his hands clenching against his shirt fabric as he said

Jongho : I'll get back to usual, sir, this won't happen again.

??? : it better not.

______________________

Jongho stumbled into the 8th floor of jieun's apartment, half drunk. He already knew jieun wouldn't let him in, but even then, he wanted to see her. He had had a bad day, and all he wanted was to see her face just once, or even hear her voice. Otherwise he was afraid he wouldn't be able to go any longer.

Jongho rang the doorbell of jieun's apartment, the door opening just slightly a few minutes later as jieun's sharp voice cut through the air

Jieun : what are you doing here?

Jongho smiled, leaning against the wall as he whispered

Jongho : I missed your voice, eunnie.

By the use of that nickname jieun had known jongho was drunk, and a drunk jongho was a vulnerable one. Jieun let out a breath as she said

Jieun : did you seriously have to get drunk like this? Couldn't you ask your manager to take you back home after you had alcohol, jongho?

Jongho : I am home, eunnie. You are my home, where else would I be.

Jieun closed her eyes, opening the door wider as jongho fell right into her arms, almost knocking her off of her feet.

Jieun : god you're heavy.

Jongho smiled as jieun closed the door behind them, dragging jongho's half-limp body to the couch before laying him down on it. Jongho stared up at jieun with heart eyes as she removed his shoes, keeping them away before putting his legs properly onto the couch.

Jieun : this is just for one night, because it's too late and I can't drive you back home and you're too drunk to be outside. Leave first thing tomorrow morning, you get me?

Jongho : you're being so cruel, jieun-ie. Do you really have to do this to me?

Jieun : you did this to yourself, jongho.

Jongho let out a shaky breath, holding his hand out for jieun to hold as he whispered

Jongho : won't you at least hold me?

Jieun looked at jongho's hand, not having it in her to hold it. Jongho inhaled shakily, small tears in his eyes as he said

Jongho : I missed you, jieun-ah. I missed you so much and I regret not having gone after you.

Jieun : and you realized that only after I left you, jongho?

Jongho lowered his hand back down, staring at jieun with hurt eyes as she sighed, throwing a blanket over jongho before saying

Jieun : I don't want to see you again like this, so don't let it happen.

Saying that jieun quickly walked away, tears in her own eyes. Jongho shut his eyes tightly as he felt jieun close the door behind her, tears streaming down his own cheeks as he mumbled

Jongho : but I love you.

________________________

[babyblue711]

Devotion

Osferth (The Last Kingdom) x Reader - Part 2 Read Part 1 Here Chapter Summary: War arrives to Rumcofa and you face a decision - flee to protect your family or fight to protect the man you love. Words: 6.1K

Chapter Warnings: NSFW, Some kissing, Violence, Death, War, Mentions of Battle, Blood, and Gore

A/N: Again, we follow along a bit with Season 5 but not all details of the show are mentioned here. The main battle of this story is the one we all know and dread in Episode 5.

@arcielee I will never be able to thank you for being the most amazing beta reader of all time. Seriously, you are incredible. 😘

And thank you @myfandomprompts for the gif 😘😘

You wake abruptly, unsure of what has disturbed your peaceful slumber. Curled under the blankets and snuggled close by is Aethelstan, still fast asleep. Sunlight streams through the small window, casting a gentle glow about the room and you realize you have slept in; ordinarily your day starts before dawn for the both of you.

The tranquility is shattered by an abrupt and insistent pounding on your door, resonating through the room like thunder, causing you both to startle awake. Your heart races in your chest as your eyes snap to Aethelstan, who's already on high alert. In one fluid motion, he reaches for his sword, ready for action. 

“It’s just me… I’m looking for Aethelstan,” Osferth’s soft voice calls from the other side of the door, breaking the tense silence that followed his abrupt knock.

You and Aethelstan exchange a look of surprise as you both rise from the bed. You grab a long, woolen robe to throw over your simple chemise. Your brother and sister both somehow have remained asleep; the festivities from the night before having exhausted them considerably.

Aethelstan swiftly moves to answer the door, his sleep-addled mind momentarily forgetting his lack of attire, clad in nothing but his long shirt and undergarments. You can see Osferth give Aethelstan a quick glance, raising an eyebrow in a questioning look which he ignores.

“There you are,” he says satisfactorily. “We have been looking for you everywhere. Come along, Lord Uhtred needs to see you.” 

Aethelstan groans but nods and you swear you catch him saying what now? under his breath. He steps aside to allow Osferth to enter the warmth of your home. 

“My lady,” Osferth nods at you, his demeanor proper and polite as he casts his eyes respectfully downward once he notices your state of undress. Self conscious, you wrap your robe tighter around you, quickly turning your attention to restarting the fire, using the task as a way to avoid any further awkwardness in Osferth's presence as Aethelstan gets dressed.

“Go on then,” Osferth says to Aethelstan once he’s ready to go, clapping him on the shoulder, “I will be along in a minute.”

Aethelstan turns to give you a small smile before heading out the door. You straighten, fire now crackling merrily in the hearth and look apprehensively at Osferth who is looking uncomfortable. He glances towards your sleeping brother and sister before stepping closer until he’s right in front of you. 

“Did anything happen last night?” Osferth whispers reluctantly, as if wishing he didn’t have to, but his big blue eyes snap to yours as you suck in a breath. 

“No, Osferth. He just came to stay with us,” you purposefully include the children as an indication of how unseemly it would be to do what he’s insinuating while they are in earshot.

His eyes search yours briefly and he nods once he sees the truth staring back at him.

“I am sorry to have asked, my lady,” he says quietly, embarrassed now. “It is truly not my place.”

Then why did you ask? you think to yourself as Osferth, a pink flush to his cheeks, bids you a good day and shows himself out. You let out the breath you hadn’t realized you were holding as your siblings finally start to stir and you busy yourself making breakfast for them.

News spreads around the town like wildfire and you realize Uhtred is assembling his men to save his daughter, Stiorra, from impending doom. Your gut wrenches as you realize the men are off to battle once more. You ask Erik to watch over Liv as you race to Osferth’s cabin, terror gripping your heart. You aren’t ready to be left behind to defend your family just yet.

Osferth is busy assembling his belongings when you burst through his door without knocking, looking small, scared, and windswept. He startles at your intrusion but takes one look at your face and knows immediately why you have come.

“I am sorry, my lady, but Stiorra needs us, we have no time to waste,” Osferth says, grasping your hands within his own. “I know you feel as though you are not ready. I, too, wish we had more time. But I have something for you,” he moves to a corner and takes out a long wrapped package. 

He sets it down in front of you and you unwrap it with trembling hands. A beautiful sword sits in your lap, a single ruby in the hilt. Even in the low light, the steel seems to gleam and the edge is razor sharp, a true deadly weapon, far beyond the sword you have been practicing with in the training yard. You can’t imagine the cost of such a weapon as you look up at him, speechless.

“It was going to be your gift when we finished training, but I do not see the point in waiting any longer,” he says. “Pick it up, see how it feels. I gave your measurements to the smith as best I could.”

You do as he bids, marveling at how supple and balanced it is in your hand, simply feeling like an extension of your arm.

“It is incredible,” you say softly, barely above a whisper. “Osferth, I will never be able to thank you for this priceless gift,” you turn to him, eyes glistening with tears of gratitude.

Bashful as always, Osferth gives you a shy smile, unable to meet your gaze but you can tell how pleased he is to have given you this gift. You watch him for a moment, realizing just how much you do not want him to go; you don’t want to see any of your men leave for conflict again. This is to be Aethelstan’s first battle…you can’t bring yourself to think what you would do if anything happened to them.

Suddenly, Osferth steps closer to you and gently tucks a strand of hair behind your ear. “A good sword always needs a name,” he says gently.

“What is this one called?” you misunderstand, thinking he has already given it a name.

“That is for you to decide,” he says. Inches apart now, your heartbeat picks up at his proximity. 

“I do not want you to go,” you blurt out. Not only because you need more training but because you do not want him to leave you. You have a bad feeling in the pit of your stomach and you don’t understand why as this isn’t the first time you have seen them off to battle.

“I know, my lady, but you are prepared to handle what may come,” Osferth gently lifts your chin with his forefinger, staring into your eyes that are now brimming with tears of sadness as he tries to reassure you.

“Please do not cry,” he whispers with the utmost gentle softness, sounding as though it is his heart that is breaking by witnessing your tears.

“Please return to me, Osferth,” you beg, unable to keep the desperation out of your voice. The words tumble from your mouth as you express all that you have been wanting to say for a while now.

“I need you,” you whisper and with sudden boldness, you lean up on tiptoe and place a gentle kiss on his soft lips. 

His breathing stops as he freezes in place, momentarily stunned by your kiss. You fall back onto the heels of your feet and gaze up at him, longing for him to know your heart’s true intentions. In the space of a heartbeat, you fear his rejection as he does not react for a moment.

Suddenly, he surges forward, grabbing your waist to pull you closer, a hand comes up to cup the side of your face as he lowers his lips back on to yours.  

Your heart soars as he returns your kiss with fervor. Your eyelids flutter closed as you concentrate on his lips on yours, reveling at his closeness, at the way his mouth moves against yours. You feel his tongue pressing against your lips, softly but firmly requesting entry; you open your mouth in response, having never kissed a man so passionately before with your tongue.

As his tongue slides into your mouth, you cannot help the unbecoming moan that escapes your lips which causes Osferth to grip your waist even tighter. The next few moments are spent in bliss as you explore each other’s mouth, tasting each other’s breath, not wanting it to end; you feel like you could kiss him for eternity and never tire of it.

But it all comes to a sudden halt when you hear running footsteps outside the door and Osferth springs apart from you with quick, warrior-like reflexes. You almost fall over from his unexpected departure as you didn’t realize he was quite literally holding you up during your kiss. Your knees buckle and your head is spinning as you stumble, catching yourself on the table as Finan stomps through the door. 

“What’s bloody takin’ ya so long, Baby Monk?” he initially admonishes until he spots you, comprehension dawning on his face as he lets out an, “Oh,” under his breath. But he quickly recovers, giving you a sly smile as he spots the sword that has been left forgotten on the bed; his eyes lighting up even further under his dark brow.

He walks over to you as Osferth resumes assembling his pack and you desperately try not to look guilty at what he almost caught you doing. Finan, either oblivious or just totally unphased, grips both of your hands within his own. 

“You are gonna be just fine by yourself, you know. You have had an excellent teacher and now, you have an excellent sword too,” he says proudly of Osferth, a rare compliment from the Irishman as he normally loves to tease. He squeezes your hands. “We will be back as soon as we can. I promise to return them all safe.” He speaks like he knows exactly what has been weighing heavily on your mind recently.

You nod, not trusting yourself to speak as he gives you a long look. Finan wisely doesn’t linger, leaving you to say your goodbyes with Osferth. 

“You will need this too,” Osferth holds up a scabbard for your sword; the leather is new and stiff.

He approaches with large, gentle eyes, “May I?” 

You nod and hold still, breath catching in your chest. The act of him putting the belt on you, something as mundane as adjusting a sword scabbard, becomes unexpectedly sensual as his eyes never leave yours, his fingers gliding with purpose, ensuring the belt fits snugly. Your heartbeat starts to hammer again as his touch lingers on your waist and hips; your brain goes into overdrive, suddenly wishing for him to touch you more.

But he is not to be distracted, turning and picking up your sword from the bed and handing it to you. You admire its power and beauty one last time before sheathing it in a flourish. Never before had you worn a sword on your hip like this before.

Osferth steps back to admire your appearance, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips and your cheeks flush under his admiration as he looks you up and down. 

“You are ready now, my lady,” he says with satisfaction. 

You return home to fetch your siblings and head back to the square, just as the men are processing through on their horses. Many of the women and children gather to watch the parade of warriors leave for battle. Osferth locks eyes with you as he passes on his white horse, giving you a small, reassuring nod. Aethelstan, on the other hand, is so excited for this moment that he doesn’t even look at you, eyes fixed firmly ahead. Your heart hurts a little; he is too eager for war and bloodshed, you think to yourself.

You grip your little sister’s hand as she wipes her tears on your dress, sad to see the men leave yet again. Dread fills your heart, knowing the dangers that await for them on the battlefield. But surprisingly, your eyes are dry. You must be strong for her, for your family…for Osferth. 

It is as if the lifeblood of the town has been drained away from Rumcofa with the departure of the men. You attempt to go about your business as usual, desperately trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy until rumors start to trickle into your small town. Rumors of the terror Brida has inflicted upon Eoferwic, of the battle that took place once Uhtred arrived with his men. Rumors of an incurable illness that plagues the beloved Lady of Mercia and, most sinisterly, rumors of a snake lurking in Wintanceaster, biding its time, waiting to strike. All this uncertainty does is serve to chill you to the bone; it is colder than the icy breeze that now constantly blows, heralding the arrival of winter. A sense of foreboding hangs over Rumcofa like an ominous cloud.

After weeks apart, the thunder of hooves announces the arrival of the men back from the battle at Eoferwic. Without a second thought, you rush to greet them, your heart pounding with a mix of hope and anxiety. As they ride into the square, you can't help but notice the weariness etched into their faces, the dust and grime of battle clinging to their clothes and skin. Yet, despite the fatigue and the toll of war, their grins remain intact as the townsfolk cheer and give them a warm welcome home.

Relief washes over you as you pick your most beloved men from the crowd, all looking whole and well. As they dismount and lead their horses to the stables, you see Finan and Sihtric’s wives throw themselves into their arms with cries of delight and even from a distance you can hear Finan’s hearty chuckle. You beeline straight towards Osferth, his eyes lighting up as he sees you quickly closing the distance. 

Forgetting about any sense of propriety, you throw yourself into his arms, seeking comfort and reassurance in his embrace, burying your face in his neck, breathing his scent of sweat and horses and dust from the road as he buries his own face in your hair. Uhtred watches you without any surprise; a gentle smile plays on his lips at your open display of affection, as if he was somehow already aware of the tender feeling you harbor for Osferth.

After tending to the horses, the couples all convene at Finan’s house for a hearty meal, with the exception of Uhtred and Aethelstan. Your younger siblings join Sihtric’s children in laughter and play, a delightful sound after so much time spent plagued with worry. As the adults catch up on the latest news and events, they tell you of Lady Æthelflæd’s death and King Edward’s sudden seizure of her throne by murdering the Ealdormen. The women sit in shock at this alarming news of the brutality of the King, not to mention the horrors Brida inflicted in Eoferwic. As the men continue their tales, it becomes increasingly clear that Uhtred's role is tied up as a piece in a much larger game.

Despite the shocking tidings they bring, you feel safe and happy as you sip ale next to Osferth. The heat of his body seems to warm you as he tucks into his stew. Throughout the meal, you both have maintained a comfortable silence, content to listen to the lively chatter of the others and the joyous sounds of children playing in the background. Your mind can’t stop drifting to the last time you were together and you can almost feel his lips against yours again. You wonder if it is the same for him.

Taking another mouthful of stew, Osferth’s gaze drifts over to the sword at your hip. 

“I am glad to see you wearing it,” he says softly. “Have you given it a name yet?”

You nod, suddenly feeling shy. The name you have chosen for your sword is deeply personal. 

“Her name is Freyja,” you say softly with a note of reverence, “Goddess of Love, Battle and Death.” 

You have spent countless hours trying to think of the appropriate name for your sword, until one night you dreamed of war. The terror in your dream was unlike anything you had felt before; it seemed so real. You felt sluggish and slow in your dream, hearing the anguished cries of all of your beloved men and the clash of steel on steel. Osferth screamed your name over and over again. Frustrated that you could not get to them quick enough, you looked down and remembered the sword on your hip and that is when you stopped feeling afraid.

In your dream, you grasped the hilt of your sword and it was as if the power of the divine goddess ran through your weapon into you, giving you strength when you did not feel strong, giving you hope when you felt hopeless, giving you courage when you felt afraid. None could withstand you with Freyja as your weapon. You woke up shortly after, heart racing, sure that it had been real. But all was peaceful, quiet, and calm, still the middle of the night, but you settled on the name right then and there.  

The words seem to tumble out of your mouth as you explain your reasoning to Osferth; you hoped he would understand why you had given your sword this particular name.

The corners of his mouth lift in the first true smile you have seen in a while and he nods. 

“It sounds as if you have chosen most wisely then,” he says, a note of satisfaction and pride in his voice.

As darkness falls, you announce your intent to return home and Osferth immediately volunteers to accompany you and your siblings. They frolic around you with boundless, youthful energy as you walk the moonlit path home, asking Osferth endless questions about his recent travels. He humors them good naturedly, walking leisurely with his hands clasped behind his back. 

“Would you all care for a bedtime story? I can read to you from The Holy Book,” he offers as you arrive back home. You start to decline, not wanting to impose on his kindness any further, aware that he likely longs for the alehouse with Finan and Sihtric, a true way to unwind after a bloody battle and long journey.

But before you can properly respond, Liv seizes the sleeve of his alb excitedly, evidently desperate to have a bedtime story read to her. Despite the fact that you and your siblings had been raised as Danes, you often tolerated Christian ideals and traditions, as the two often mixed within this small town. You kept an open mind, believing in letting them choose their own religious path once they grew older. 

Osferth gives you a shy smile, as if to say you’ve been overruled and you can’t help but smile back. Your heart swells with gratitude, appreciating how effortlessly he connects with your siblings. With a sigh and a nod, you all head into your home and Osferth settles comfortably into the chair by the fire and takes out his book. 

Rarely have you ever seen your siblings so well behaved as they sit at Osferth's feet while he reads to them, easily commanding their attention with his calm authority. You listen as well, more intrigued by his soft and methodical tone than the meaning of the words. His calm voice starts to lull you to sleep, your eyes closing involuntarily - Liv is already fast asleep - but you force yourself to remain awake, enjoying the sense of peace and comfort that you hadn’t felt since the men had left.

That peace doesn’t last long.

The men are home a matter of days when the Dane, Haesten, makes a surprise appearance, bearing grim tidings of the Queen’s death, laying the blame for her demise on Sigtryggr. As Uhtred works to unravel the mystery behind her sudden death, it becomes increasingly apparent that a sinister plot is afoot, one that seeks to pit Dane against Saxon, although no one is certain as to who sows the discord. 

Uhtred soon mobilizes the men, entrusting Finan and Osferth with the solemn duty of guarding the Queen’s deceased body. Sihtric and Aethelstan are dispatched to Aegelesburg to keep an eye on the King, who now sits on the Mercian throne.

Uhtred and Haesten immediately leave for Eoferwic to warn Sigtryggr of the Queen’s death and the evil machinations at play to blame him for her passing.

The tension in the wintry air is palpable as at any moment you expect war to break out. Secretly, you are glad Uhtred commanded Osferth to remain in town with you. The two of you have rarely been apart since his arrival, and with uncertainty clouding the future, you both seem less inclined to conceal your affections for each other, having dinner together almost every evening and a goodnight kiss each night (respectfully away from your sibling’s prying eyes).

Osferth makes it a priority to continue your swordsmanship training in the square, where you test out your new blade. It is the first time he doesn’t go easy on you, pushing you to face challenges that closely mimic the intensity of a real battle. But your new sword is light and sharp; as long as you keep your feet moving, you feel like you actually have a good chance at defending yourself well. At the conclusion of each rigorous training session, you can easily discern the glow of pride in Osferth's eyes at your accomplishment.

The day begins peacefully like any other and you find yourself sitting in front of the fire, letting your sister diligently practice braiding your hair when a soft knock comes to the door. You open it to an unexpected sight.

In the doorway stands Osferth and, next to him, his white horse that he always takes to battle with Uhtred. Your eyes widen at the sight and fear immediately invades your heart….is he leaving?

“My lady, are Liv and Erik home?” Osferth asks with his usual soft voice, although you can see the stress and tension behind his eyes.  

You nod, confused. At the mention of their names, your siblings materialize at your side, eyes wide as they take in Osferth and his big white horse. 

“Would you two like to take my horse to the stables and give him a good brush for me?” Osferth asks them kindly.

Their eyes immediately light up, especially Liv’s since horses are her favorite animal. They nod enthusiastically as Osferth hands the reins to Erik.

“And give him some water too, please,” Osferth asks.

You watch them walk in the direction of the stables, both with a bounce in the step, delighted to be asked to care for a warrior’s horse. 

As Osferth turns back to you, you realize it was just a ploy to speak to you privately as his next words are rushed.

“Let me explain quickly as there is not much time,” Osferth says in a hushed voice. “Finan and I have been on high alert ever since daybreak. There is tension in the air and more strange men about than ever, claiming they are the King’s men. Something is not right. If a fight should break out, I want you to take my horse and run away from here with Liv and Erik. Do you understand?” his big blue eyes seem to burn into yours.

You are taken aback, fearing that war has finally come to Rumcofa, someone just has to cast the first stone.

But a twinge of discontent swirls within you as his words sink in. This is what you had been tirelessly training for, though, the very reason behind Osferth's thoughtful gift of the sword. You can't help but feel a sense of duty and responsibility, a desire to stand and fight alongside him and the others. You open your mouth to voice your dissent but Osferth intervenes, cutting off any protest.

“We are desperately outnumbered, lady. Your siblings are still so young and they need you. I know you trained hard for this moment, but your life is more important to them alive,” his look is intense as he stares into your eyes, grasping your upper arm and shaking you a little, willing you to see reason. 

His abrupt actions cause you even more alarm; he has never manhandled you like this but you realize he is just desperate to protect you. You close your mouth as your eyes search his own and then finally nod, realizing he is right. He lets go of your arm, regret in his eyes as he realizes that he may have been a little too forceful with you before leaning in and giving you the softest kiss on the lips.

“I must go now, Finan needs me on patrol, but promise me you will keep an eye out for danger and flee should anything happen,” he holds your chin in between his thumb and forefinger, tilting your head up to look into his eyes.

“I promise,” you whisper and he finally seems satisfied. He gives you one last long look before hurrying back down the lane into the heart of town. You stare after him, dread filling your heart as you watch him go.

Osferth can’t have been gone but half an hour when you hear a commotion coming from the main square. Fear spikes in your chest, blinding you with panic. He was right; trouble has arrived in Rumcofa but you hadn’t expected so soon. With trembling hands, you rush around your small home, your mind a whirlwind of frantic preparations. You hide away anything of value, securing your meager possessions. Your heart pounds as you assemble a small pack of essential items.

You wrench open the door and the sound of clanging swords is unmistakable. With frantic haste, you grab the leather cuirass that Ingrith had made for you, similar to the one Osferth typically wears. Your fingers work rapidly, securing the protective leather over your chest. It wasn’t as protective as real steel armor or chainmail but it was light enough that it wouldn’t slow you down. Next, your trembling hands fumble slightly as you strap on your sword. Each buckle and strap feels like an eternity, but you can't afford to waste a single moment. Your dagger is next, hastily shoved into your boot as a last line of defense.

You dash out the door with the small pack of supplies, adrenaline coursing through your veins as you sprint to the barn where Osferth has sent your siblings. 

Screams pierce the air, mingling with the clash of steel on steel, and your heart races with a mix of dread and determination. You thank the gods that the barn is nearby. As you run, you see Osferth and Finan in the distance, yelling for order as the King’s men start to divide the townsfolk between Saxon and Dane. They are greatly outnumbered by the soldiers, as Osferth had said. 

Your mind races, torn between the promise you made to Osferth to protect your siblings and the agony of leaving him to face this peril alone. 

You burst into the barn, frightening Liv and Erik, their innocent faces turn to sheer alarm upon seeing your terrified expression and the sword strapped to your side. The chaotic sounds of battle have not reached the peaceful interior of the barn. Comprehension dawns first on your brother’s face as you give him the dagger you grabbed from home, while also flinging the pack at him, which he immediately wraps around his shoulders. Relief washes over you as Osferth’s horse is still fully tacked up and you solidify your plan at that moment. You know they can make a quick escape then. 

“Quickly now!” you exclaim, hoisting your little sister up behind Erik in the saddle. Her face is stricken but everything is happening too fast for there to be tears. You look up at them, “Erik, I want you to take this horse flee deep into the woods. Do not stop until you are well out of harm’s way. I will come find you when the battle is over.”

He nods with terror in his eyes but sets his jaw in determination as he looks down at you. For the first time, you see the shadow of the man he will grow to become reflected in his young face. 

“Now go!” you fling your hands up, spooking the horse away from you as Erik rides out into the muddy lane, urging Osferth’s horse into a run and leaving war behind. Liv’s blonde hair flies in the wind behind them as she holds on for dear life as he gallops away. 

Breathing heavily, your heart aching, hoping they can make it to safety, you run through the mud towards the docks, the last spot you had glimpsed Osferth and Finan.

As you rush into the square, the chaos of battle consumes your senses. Townsfolk and soldiers alike are yelling wildly, innocent people lay injured or dead in the mud. The sight is so gruesome, your brain hardly has time to keep up with the horrors that are transpiring right before your vision. In the distance, you see Finan and Osferth fighting multiple men at once. 

You unsheath your sword in a flourish, an electric energy radiating from the hilt, up your arm and straight into your heart with the weight of the deadly weapon in your hands. The initial terror that had gripped you is replaced by an overwhelming sense of white-hot rage. How dare these so-called “godly” people bring murder and death to your tiny, peaceful town? How dare they attack the ones you love? How dare they single out Dane from Saxon, as if these peaceful people had anything personally to do with the murder of the Queen?

Perhaps it’s your small stature or the fact that you are a woman that makes most fighters overlook you, much to their mistake. Your blade slices through bodies effortlessly as you start to kill with deadly precision. Blood sprays your face, your once gleaming sword is now covered in gore as your mind stops all rational thought while you hack your way towards Osferth, who is struggling to fight so many at once.

As you get nearer to where he and Finan have taken their stand, you recognize one of the men he is fighting; a man you had seen lurking around town before; a man you knew belonged to Lord Athelhelm. Bresal, you think his name is. He unfortunately had requested your services once as the town healer, a poultice for a deep wound. You remember your skin prickling as you patched him up, the hair on the back of your neck standing up. He radiated ill intent and foul play, even then.

Time seems to slow to a crawl as several things seem to happen at once. You see Osferth locked in battle, fighting two men simultaneously, hear Finan’s cry as Ingrith is thrown from her horse, startled by a vicious pack of dogs, and the evil men seem to converge on them as Finan turns to help her, leaving Osferth exposed.

You see it coming before it happens; the wicked smile on Bresal’s dark, twisted face as he thinks he has Osferth cornered. You watch as his arm pulls back to shove his dagger up into Osferth’s side.

Except you get there first.

With a screech unlike anything that’s ever come out of your mouth, you intercept Bresal’s attack.  Your blade flashes through the air, meeting his dagger mid-strike. The clash of steel against steel rings out, and for a brief, intense moment, your eyes lock with Bresal's. His eyes flit over you and an evil grin lights up his face, thinking you are easy prey. 

With a powerful shove, you force Bresal away from Osferth, who is still occupied with his other opponent. Bresal begins to hammer you with powerful blows from his sword, easily the hardest hits you have ever taken and your arms tremble with effort of defending his attack. Again and again your swords clash together and you know you must finish him quickly, you can’t withstand the strength of his blows for long, so you do something both incredibly brave and incredibly stupid.

You charge at Bresal, right into his arms’ reach and see his eyes widen at your sudden proximity; he cannot swing his sword properly since you are so close to him but you realize you have strayed right into the path of his dagger as it slashes upwards towards your face, grazing your cheekbone. Your sword blocks the worst of his attack, catching him off guard with your speed and the dagger slips from his grip into the mud. He backpedals from you now, attempting to put distance between you two so he can properly swing with his sword and you capitalize on his momentum, aiming a hard kick at his left knee, while bringing your sword down on his right arm, slicing it to the bone. 

With his knee kicked out from under him, he falls into a kneeling position and lets out a cry of pain as his arm is almost cut in two. You swivel around him, nails scraping against his scalp as you grasp him by the hair, jerking his neck back so he looks up at you. His eyes meet only black fury and hatred as your eyes promise him death. 

With an animalistic growl, you grit your teeth and shriek in rage as your sword opens his throat as effortlessly as if slicing through butter. Sneering in disgust, you release your hold, allowing his lifeless body to fall to the ground, and you look up, panting heavily from exertion.

Osferth has dispatched his other adversary and is looking at you with wide, staring eyes, as if seeing you clearly for the first time. You both breathe heavily, the aftermath of the intense combat still coursing through your veins. The gravity of the situation becomes palpable as you replay Bresal's attack in your mind. You can sense that Osferth is experiencing the same realization, that survival often hangs on split second decisions.

An icy wind blows your braids away from your sweaty face as he recovers first, blinking rapidly before swiftly moving forward and grabbing your arm. 

“I told you to run,” he huffs, looking down at you. It was the most annoyed voice you had ever heard him use with you. 

“And if I had, you would be dead,” you say through gritted teeth. You hate having to feel like you need to defend your actions, especially since you just saved his life. 

He stares at you for a moment but the battle does not give you time for a longer explanation as the fighting continues all around you. Together, you continue your assault on Lord Athelhelm’s men. You fight in unison with Osferth as a seamless pair, as if you had been doing it for years. 

Upon getting Ingrith to safety, Finan now joins you, giving you a prideful smile at the brutal way you hack through men without mercy. Since their leader has fallen, the soldiers seem less inclined to fight and soon they are fleeing in droves. When the skirmish is won, Finan gives you an appraising look.

“You’ve been holding back on us, I see,” he pants, giving you a nod of approval. “Perhaps we should tell Uhtred we have a new recruit.”  

You manage a very small smile, appreciative of his ability to joke in a time like this. Now that the battle is over and the adrenaline is slowly ebbing away, a wave of sickness washes over you. Sick at what you’ve just witnessed. Sick at the person you became in the heat of the moment, with bloodlust singing in your veins. Sick at remembering the feeling of your sword slicing through bodies. Sick at the number of people who fell to your wrath. The grim reality of battle settles over you; even though they were your enemies, those people would never return home to see their families. You or Osferth or Finan could have just as easily been one of them as you reflect upon the number of times you had missed death by inches. 

Flooded with these thoughts, it all becomes too much to bear and you double over, vomiting spectacularly. Osferth pats you gently on the back as Finan chuckles.

“Such a reaction is common after your first battle, my lady,” he says, voice calm and soft. “Do not worry, it is quite natural.”  

>>>>Part 3

Tags: @peonamay @quinnquinn317 @multyfangirl @cyeco13 @aemondsscar @sylas-the-grim @chainsawsangel @boundlessfantasy @bellaisasleep @fan-goddess @pandemonium105 @megatardisbaby @gemini-mama @bcon24 @lexwolfhale @lauzy87

[llama529orange]

Part 3.Part 4.Part 5

Warning:angst

•For the past few hours, you’ve been staring at the ceiling of your room, embarrassed, while the true owner laughs at you. You actually got sick, and now you don’t have to pretend anymore that you’re feeling unwell to Riddle. The true antagonist laughed at you for three hours because of that while you tried to stop her from teasing and mocking you.

•Meanwhile, as you suffer from fever, nausea, headache, and muscle pain, Riddle visits you every time, checking if you’re alright and bringing you tea and food, just like his mother would when he got sick. Riddle stays with you, taking your temperature while feeding you chicken soup.

•"Come on, Rosie, you need to eat and take your pills" Riddle says, struggling to spoon-feed you as you refuse to eat, not feeling well and hating the bitter taste of the pills.

•"Nooo, I'm not hungry, and the pills taste terrible!"

•"But, Rosie, you're sick. You need to take the pills" Riddle tries to convince you for 20 minutes to eat. "Come on, Rosie! You need to follow the rules—"

•You glance at Riddle, finally taking a bite of the soup. You love Riddle, but you've had enough of listening to his rules, so you start eating the chicken soup, though you have trouble swallowing it.

•Riddle smiles, relieved that you finally agreed to eat. He continues feeding you, even as you protest. After you finish the soup, he says, "Now it's time to take your pills."

•You look at him with an awkward smile, shaking your head. "Noooo!" The whole mansion hears your refusal, just like every time Riddle visits.

•Riddle sighs, clearly having had enough, and tries again. "Come on, Rosie, for me?" he asks, using the same words and expression that always make you change your mind.

•Pouting, you finally give in. "Alright, alright! You win!" Riddle smiles victoriously as you take the pills. Looking at him, you ask, "Riddle, do you promise to come tomorrow?"

•Riddle smiles innocently. "Of course, Rosie!" he promises, ready for the next visit.

•But today was strange. Riddle didn’t visit you, and you thought it was odd. He always came to take care of you, talk about rules, and make sure you took your medicine. But not today. You thought maybe he was running late, though Riddle is never late. Maybe something came up, but the feeling that something bad had happened wouldn’t leave you. You grew more anxious, wondering what could have happened and when Riddle would visit you again.

•You woke up without realizing you had fallen asleep, only to be gently shaken by your waiting maid, who had information for you.

•"My lady, I have news about his young majesty," she said, waking you fully. You immediately sat up, worried. "What happened to Riddle?!"

•"Her Majesty, the Queen, informed the lord, your father, that Riddle would be taking a break from studying with you."

•That was enough to know what had happened. Her Majesty must have found out that Riddle had been sneaking out to play with Trey and Chenya, and she had likely scolded, yelled at, or even screamed at him for such forbidden behavior. His private lessons had probably been canceled, and now you couldn't study together anymore for who knows how long.

•"Thank you. You can leave now, please," you said quietly. The maid bowed her head and left the room, leaving you alone.

•That's when you broke down, crying. You had failed to protect Riddle, failed to help him keep his secret from his mother. Now, all you could do was curl up in bed, sick and crying, thinking about how much you had failed. It was your plan, your determination, but you had gotten sick, unable to help, leaving Riddle all alone.

•All your fears came true. The hope that things would be fine, the hope that you could save him from this, had shattered. You cried, curling up tighter, hugging your pillow. Your sickness worsened, but you couldn’t care less. Riddle's small amount of freedom had been taken away, and now, even the true antagonist was devastated, crying alongside you, having lost their friend.

•But for a moment, you thought that maybe not everything was lost. While Riddle might not have his freedom for now, the Queen might use you as a spy, and perhaps that could help Riddle. It would be difficult, but you were willing to do whatever it took to help Riddle see Trey and Chenya again. You would have to wait to see Riddle, but that didn’t matter you were ready for the challenge.

•For now, though, you had to focus on getting better, making a plan to protect Riddle from his mother's tyranny, and making sure you both got the happy ending you hoped for. But even as you thought about all of this, you couldn’t help but wonder what Riddle was doing now and how he was feeling.

[aimeebishop]

kennedy’s birth story - 10.01.24

It all started Sunday night (9/29). I took my 3rd day-in-a-row dose of just a spoonful of castor oil (about a quarter of the “labor inducing” amount). My “plan” was to take the full dose on Monday night (9/30), so I could go into labor on 10/1 and have my October baby. However, that 3rd dose was all my body needed. I went to bed around 11:30pm on 9/29 and woke up 30 min later to go pee (3rd trimester woes). I started feeling crampy while in the bathroom and hung out there for a while waiting to see if these were just the Braxton Hicks type that I had been experiencing the last few weeks or if it was something more. I went back and forth to bed a few times and my contractions continued consistently. I waited to wake Jesse up because I still wasn’t convinced “this was it”. At 1:45am, after hanging on the toilet a little longer, I stood up to decidedly wake Jesse up & BOOM, my water broke right there. My contractions immediately became more intense. I woke Jesse up and he came in and supported me while I timed contractions and breathed through them. They were about 30-45 seconds long and coming every 1-2 minutes. VERY intense with VERY little rest time in between. I jumped in the shower and he called the midwife to update her. She stayed on the phone with me for 30 minutes at about 3am and after hearing me moan through contractions and be unable to carry on conversation much at all, she decided that, yep, she should start making her way to our house.

Jesse woke my parents up and called in the rest of the troops, my birthing team. Everyone started arriving around 3:30am. I labored in bed for a while longer and then made my way downstairs to hop in the tub for some warm hydrotherapy. At around 5:30am, I got my IV started for antibiotics in labor since I was GBS+ and got checked by my midwife. To my shock, I was only 3.5cm and that was the most disappointing news because I genuinely felt SO MUCH further along. Fast forward…I labored in every single position available: hands and knees, lunges, rocking chair, birth ball, leaning back in the birth tub, backwards facing on the toilet, leaning over the bed, leaning over the counter, exaggerated side lying in bed…. I requested to be rechecked a few times due to feeling like things were moving very fast. My entire labor, I never got more than a 4 minute break in between contractions. They were all mostly 1-2 minutes apart. At around 8am I was 5cm and by 10:30am I was 8cm. And that’s when things stalled…

I was feeling SO much rectal pressure and was grunty/pushy during contractions, trying desperately to go as limp as possible and let each contraction wash over me and through me. Contraction pain is an intensity I’ve never experienced before in my life. You are helpless to do anything to stop them and resisting them only prolongs the experience. Going from 3.5cm to 8cm in a matter of 5 hours was OUCH. My birth team was the most amazing support to me during this time, applying counter pressure, fanning me, hip squeezes, cool washcloths, letting me hang on them so my body could surrender everything. By 3pm I requested to be checked again and I was STILL 8cm with no change to effacement or station. I was desperately needing relief and told everyone I NEED to go to the hospital for an epidural to just let my body relax fully. I remember looking into each person’s eyes, grabbing their shoulders, and pleading with them with tears in my eyes, “Help me, PLEASE, help me.” I cried out to the Lord to help me. I cried. It took about an hour and a half of convincing my team that I was, in fact, DONE. I told my midwife to call the L&D charge nurse, ask who the on-call doc was, save me a bed, and let them know we were headed in SOON. Well “soon” is relative because my birth team kept trying to convince me to stay home: “You’re almost there. You’re so close. You can do this.” But I had been 8cm since 10:45am and I knew my body just needed relief. There was no light at the end of the tunnel if we stayed home. We tried one last ditch effort of walking up the huge flight of stairs (one of the most painful things to do in the thick of active labor) & we did one last vaginal exam in the living room & attempt to reduce the lip and push. Baby girl’s heart rate took a huge dip after my practice push and by that time, everyone was on board with what I had wanted for at least the last hour: we were transferring care to the hospital.

I crawled into the back of my friend’s van on all fours and we drove the 25 minutes to the hospital. I almost thought I would have her in the back of the car during a few contractions on the way there. Upon arrival, I rushed through admission questions at the front desk and finally said sternly and with conviction, “Paul. Just get me to my room. We can do admitting later. Which room am I in? Who’s my nurse? Call anesthesia and have them meet me there. I already have an IV and I’ve already had plenty of fluids at home. My blood pressure is good. Let’s get this show on the road.” Needless to say, my epidural was in and I was comfy about 45 minutes after I walked in the front door. (Awesome work Sutter OB team!) I cannot explain how WONDERFUL it felt to finally have some relief from the pain. I felt like new life was breathed into me and I could actually relax. I looked at Jesse across the room and said, “If this is what labor feels like with an epidural, we’re coming STRAIGHT to the hospital next time. I’m back in business for more kids now.” I hung out with family and friends, took a nap, and got a few more doses of antibiotics. My new goal was to wait til after midnight to deliver Kenn so she could have an October birthday. I asked my nurse not to check me til around 11:45pm. To be honest, I was probably ready to go hours earlier because of the rectal pressure I was feeling but Kennedy’s heart rate always looked beautiful (my L&D brain couldn’t help but keep an eye on it), so I breathed through the contractions and pressure and labored on.

At about 11:30pm, my epidural started to wear off & I began to feel my contractions again more intensely. At midnight, I started pushing and at that point, the pain coverage from my epidural was completely gone. I pushed for almost 2 hours exactly, feeling EV-ER-Y-THING. She crowned for what felt like AGES and at 2:01am, she made her grand entrance. 8lbs 13oz, 20” long. So I got my natural birth after all, just in a very different way than I expected. She stayed on my chest for about 2 minutes, but had a hard time transitioning & was hypotonic and not super interested in a vigorous cry so the NICU team brought her over to the warmer to give supplemental oxygen. Eventually, the decision was made to take her to the NICU to watch her more closely and give her the breathing support she needed / take blood cultures in case she may have contracted GBS. This was all due to her presentation and wouldn’t have been necessary if she came out screaming and crying and oxygenating well. While I’m so thankful Jesse was able to go and be with her in the NICU, I was heartbroken to be left behind in the labor room, unable to hold my girl or do the first skin to skin after waiting for SO LONG to get that moment with her. All test results came back beautiful and she ended up coming back to our room after 15 hours in the NICU. We were able to get a late discharge on 10/2 and head home as a family of three! I’ve never been more sleep deprived in my entire life, but also never more in love and in awe of what my body is capable of creating and enduring. I’ve never experienced a deeper dependence on the Lord and complete surrender and lack of control. While I didn’t end up delivering how or where I wanted, I trust that God had us exactly where we were supposed to be. He is a good God and He can be depended on. His ways are higher and better than our plans for ourselves. I can’t wait to tell Kennedy her birth story someday, about all the powerful women that surrounded her and prayed over her, about her Daddy who never left my side, about the Lord who carried me through, and about how she was worth every single second.

[scribeforchrist-blog]

Going Into the Cave

MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK

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+ Psalm 46:5 God is within her; she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.”

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VERSE OF THE DAY 

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+ 1 King 19:9 There, he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

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SUBJECT: Going Into the Cave

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** SAY THIS BEFORE YOU READ; HERE’S SOME CHRISTIAN TRUTHS **

I AM STRONG

I AM DIFFERENT

I AM LOVING

I AM KIND

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THOUGHTS:

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     Some of us spend a lot of time buried in work, projects, and activities, and we hide under all these things, and these things sometimes can be a distraction; what is your cave? What do you spend the most time doing? Does it help you to emerge in the presence of God, or is it being captivated by something happening in your life? Sometimes, we don’t realize how much time we spend with something or doing something until the Holy Spirit brings us out of our cave and shows us this is what we are doing.

  Elijah went into the cave because he was tired and had enough of the pressure and fear. He allowed the cave to be something he could go into to stay, but some of us use our caves to feel safe. We can't feel completely safe doing what we want; just like Elijah, we must depend on God to be what we need. God wants to show some of us a better way of dealing with life.

  In the other half of this verse, the lord asks Elijah what are you doing here; the lord asks us today, what are you doing in this place that I took you from? What are you doing in this place you have let take over your life? We must let go of the idea that we know what's best for our lives when we don’t. We must seek God more than anything in this world, and a lot of us don’t because we have a full plate of things or we have built a place of comfort in our own life, and God wants us to be comfortable in our life, but he wants us to find comfort in him and not other things.

  The other night, I was playing on my Steam Deck at 8:30 p.m. It felt like a few minutes; it the next thing I know I heard the Holy Spirit say Lui it’s getting late I looked at the time and it was 10:30 pm, and I was so shocked that I had played that long because I usually don’t, and I had things to do. I had wasted so much time just playing a game, but sometimes, we allow what's in our life to distract us so that we don’t see that those things could take time away from God.

    We don’t see how those things could put us away from God because we allow the enemy to tell us it is okay. Don’t get me wrong, God wants us to enjoy life, but sometimes we let go too much that we lose time, and we lose those precious moments to come out of the cave and dwell with God, whatever is in your life that has you deep in a cave place it before God, Elijah told God exactly how he felt which was.

  Verse 4 while he went on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat under it, and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 

  He said I had enough of all this. I am no better than my ancestors; he let God know this is where I am and how I feel. Many of us are balling up much in our heads and hearts, and we think God doesn’t want to hear us complain or talk. He does; this is why he's calling us out of the caves, out of the busy life, into him because he wants to hear how we are feeling. However, you are feeling today, let God know so he can help you come out and eat the bread and drink the living water he has to offer us.

  Psalm 34:18: The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit.”

   Often, we let situations run us into a hole, and it causes us to draw away from God into a cave that we feel is where we need to be. And God is calling us out; he’s near us, and he wants to save us from the broken, crushed spirit; he wants to save us from our hurt and doubt, but do you believe he wants to save you, do you believe he cares that deeply because he does. 

   2 Corinthians 4:8-9 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

   We might feel crushed, perplexed, despaired, persecuted, abandoned, and struck down, but we aren’t destroyed because we have the power of the Holy Spirit in us. That power is so strong that we don’t have to worry or be afraid of anything; all we must do is come out of our cave and dwell in the presence of God , in his presence is peace , in his presence is love ,but we must learn to pull away so we can be with him; we must learn to step forward and out in him, and when we do, we will have everything we need in him. 

  Psalm 138 3 When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me.”

   What does emboldened mean? To encourage us to be bold, God makes us bold to handle our situations and circumstances; we might feel we can handle things the way we want, but we must always see how God wants us to handle our life and things; a lot of times we get so stuck in what’s going then who can solve it all. Who can fix it all? Elijah knew God could help and defend him, but he was also tired. We all have gotten to where we are tired, but we allow things to drive us away; then, to drive us forward, we must allow God to direct us in everything. So, we can find our way back to him. 

    ***Today, our life is sometimes perplexing because we allow things to occur; when I was sitting there playing with my Steam Deck, I was just playing , and I lost track of time, but imagine if I did that every day, I lose track of time, and I lose track of what I needed to do. What happens if I let go so much that I don’t balance my time? When we don’t balance our time with him when we allow our cave to become our everything, we become lost and stuck, and we forget how God moves and forget how great he is, every day we must ask God could you help me get out of this mood, this rhythm ,this routine, could you help get me out of my head and intrusive thoughts.   

    As long as we are trying, he will be there. Elijah knew that God was this amazing God that could do anything; he knew he was all-powerful and knowing, but when fear sits in, we forget it, and we lose all sense of who we are in him. he was a great prophet. He was being used in mighty way through God, and he forgot all of it because of fear; some of us are allowing fear to control us and forget how powerful he is, and some of us are allowing activities to drive us away. Still, whatever it is, be it fear or activities, we can’t allow neither to stop us; we must stop and hear the whispers of God's voice. ©Seer~ Prophetess Lee

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PRAYER

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Heavenly Father, wherever we are in life right now, we give you everything; we give you our situation and activities. We ask you right now to help us out of the things that are keeping us from you, whether it’s a game, a person, life, hurt, or anything else. We ask you to help us see you and thank you for everything. Lord, give us peace, help us be strong, and seek you. Lord, we love you, and we are so grateful for everything. In Jesus' name, Amen 

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REFERENCES 

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+ Micah 7:8 Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.”

 

+ 2 Timothy 1:7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.”

 

+ Nehemiah 8:10 Nehemiah said, ‘Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.'”

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FURTHER READINGS 

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Proverbs 23 

Leviticus 7

Deuteronomy 7

Job 17

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[andichoseyou]

THE ERAS TOUR ASK GAME!

💗Miss Americana And The Heartbreak Prince: it's been a long time coming... what was your opinion on the Lover album when it first came out, and what are your opinions on it now?

💗Cruel Summer: fever dream high... can you remember the best or worst summer of your life? if yes, can you explain why it was the best/worst?

💗The Man: i'm so sick of running as fast as i can... can you name some songs, movies, poems, etc that make you feel powerful? like you could do anything?

💗You Need To Calm Down: we've all got crowns... name 5 female artists (besides Taylor!) that you love!

💗Lover: can i go where you go... what are, in your opinion, the most romantic songs of all time?

💗The Archer: you could stay... at the end of the day, who do you choose? who is your person? your other half?

💗THE LOVER ERA: if you could add one Lover song to the setlist, which one would it be?

🌟Fearless: i don't know how it gets better than this... what was something that you were afraid to do, but did anyway? how did doing that make you feel?

🌟You Belong With Me: been here all along... what are your go-to karaoke songs?

🌟Love Story: we were both young when i first saw you... what were your favorite books/fairytales when you were younger?

🌟THE FEARLESS ERA: if you could add one Fearless song to the setlist, which one would it be?

🍂'Tis The Damn Season: it always leads to you and my hometown... what is your favorite spot in the town you grew up in? was it a restaurant? your childhood friend's house? the school you went to? someplace else?

🍂Willow: i come back stronger than a 90s trend... favorite 90s song?

🍂Marjorie: you're alive in my head... if you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be?

🍂Champagne Problems: i dropped your hand while dancing... what was the last movie/show that made you cry?

🍂Tolerate It: tell me i've got it wrong somehow... rank every taylor swift track 5!

🍂THE EVERMORE ERA: if you could add one Evermore song to the setlist, which one would it be?

♟️...Ready For It?: in the middle of the night... what is the last dream that you can remember? what was it about?

♟️Delicate: isn't it?... what is your favorite taylor swift "question" lyric? (ex: "can i go where you go?" or "remember when you hit the brakes too soon?")

♟️Don't Blame Me: oh lord save me... all time favorite live taylor performance?

♟️Look What You Made Me Do: the old taylor can't come to the phone... what are your top 5 favorite taylor swift music videos?

♟️THE REPUTATION ERA: if you could add one Reputation song to the setlist, which one would it be?

💟Enchanted: this night is sparkling... favorite dress that taylor has worn? it can be on stage, on the red carpet, or just out and about... but it must be a dress!

💟Long Live: we will be remembered... what is your favorite Taylor related memory?

💟THE SPEAK NOW ERA: if you could add one Speak Now song to the setlist, which one would it be?

🧣22: it feels like one of those nights... when is your birthday? how old are you turning? what is something you want to do for it? do you have any birthday traditions?

🧣We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together: like, ever... best way to get over a break up? (romantic or platonic)

🧣I Knew You Were Trouble: so shame on me now... name 5 songs to scream-sing in the car with the windows down

🧣All Too Well (Ten Minute Version): i know it's long gone... what song(s) by taylor would you want a ten minute version of?

🧣THE RED ERA: if you could add one Red song to the setlist, which one would it be?

☕️The 1: i guess you never know... do you prefer The 1 or Invisible String?

☕️Betty: i know i miss you... what taylor swift song do you feel like she wrote just for you? a song that you relate to so much that it feels like she got inside your brain?

☕️The Last Great American Dynasty: 50 years is a long time... if you could write an essay/book/song/etc about any historical figure, who would you choose and why?

☕️August: you were never mine... favorite month of the year? why is it your favorite?

☕️Illicit Affairs: don't call me kid, don't call me baby... top 3 favorite taylor swift bridges?

☕️My Tears Ricochet: why are you at the wake... what are your go-to songs for when you need a good cry? (doesn't just have to be taylor songs!)

☕️Cardigan: i knew you... what is your favorite piece of clothing that you own?

☕️THE FOLKLORE ERA: if you could add one Folklore song to the setlist, which one would it be?

🦋Style: take me home... if you could ask taylor to cover one song, which song would you choose?

🦋Blank Space: if the high was worth the pain... what was the first taylor song you ever heard?

🦋Shake It Off: it's gonna be alright... list ten things that make you happy!!!

🦋Wildest Dreams: i bet these memories follow you around... would you consider yourself an optimist or a pessimist?

🦋Bad Blood: blood runs cold... all time favorite taylor collab? who do you want to see her collab with next?

🦋THE 1989 ERA: if you could add one 1989 song to the setlist, which one would it be?

🍀Surprise Songs: what are your two dream surprise songs that you want to see live?

🌌Lavender Haze: i just need this love spiral... what is the funniest/stupidest rumor about taylor swift that you have seen/heard?

🌌Anti-Hero: too big to hang out... are you a sexy baby or a monster on the hill?

🌌Midnight Rain: all of me changed... do you prefer sunshine or the rain?

🌌Vigilante Shit: don't get sad, get even... post your favorite taylor pictures from the eras tour!!

🌌Bejeweled: a diamond's gotta shine... out of the 4 music videos from midnights that we have, which one is your favorite? which one is your least favorite?

🌌Mastermind: none of it was accidental... what is your favorite "big word" that taylor has used in a song? (ex: Machiavellian, incandescent)

🌌Karma: sweet like honey... karma is cat for taylor, but what is karma to you?

🌌THE MIDNIGHTS ERA: if you could add one Midnights song to the setlist, which one would it be?

[hiswordsarekisses]

How many times He has done this dance with me. 😭 Sometimes the consequences are the very best deliverer. He knows best. 💙 This is a little long but so beautiful:

“There he lay in a mess of emotion on the hall floor. Guilt and fear of a consequence wrecking his little body. Kneeling in front of him I ask for his hand. The sobbing response is ‘I don’t want a consequence.’ It had been thirty minutes of back and forth, the tug of war dance between irrational child and a parent desperate to remain calm. Once again I tell him I love him, stand up and return to fixing dinner. From the corner of my eye I see his body worn from the battle. I desperately want to tell him the future, my heart breaking over his distrust, but I can’t make his choice. I return to him again, ‘Give me your hand,’ I ask. ‘No,’ he replies, ‘I don’t want a consequence.’ ‘I love you son. Do you trust that I love you?’ As he shakes his head no, sorrow floods my soul. Once again, I say I love you, stand and return to dinner. His emotions calm and I return again, kneel, and ask for his hand. From behind him a brotherly voice says ���Don’t do it, she’s mean, she just wants you upset.’ And the flood begins again.

So is this how God feels when I battle his character? He is love and cannot be other. I hear my Father say ‘a consequence is needed, your sin is apparent,’ but instead of trusting his love, I battle. In the wake of guilt and the sorrow of my sin, I can’t see truth. All I fear is the penalty I deserve as I hear voices around scream ‘save yourself, He isn’t good.’

Weary, I return to him again. ‘Look in my eyes,’ I ask. But he can’t...won’t. I see the battle raging inside. ‘I love you, look at my eyes,’ I repeat. His head turns but his eyes look away, up, down, around, determined to miss my gaze. ‘I love you,’ I remind him and wait. Knowing full well this is a choice he alone must make. Exhausted and worn, he looks up. ‘Give me your hand,’ I whisper.

As he timidly reaches out and grasps my hand, I help him up and into my lap.

Rocking and reassuring him, his sobs & body calm as he rests in my grace.

The fight was long and brutal; the war of self against obedience. Control verses surrender. It lasted longer than needed and cost him more emotionally than it should have. The punishment his heart endured was greater than any consequence deserved. And I was broken for him, wishing he would have chosen love and trust sooner.

So my Father whispers, ‘Trust my love. Correction comes because I love you. There is no condemnation, you are my child.’ And I have a choice. Trust Him and surrender to his loving hands or draw my sword, knowing full well battle always leaves unnecessary scars.”

Shauna Thomas

“And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live? Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews‬ ‭12:5-11‬

[deltaruminations]

also, where do you think future dark worlds will be? the more outlandish the better

OOOH. ok so this was actually the last ask i received but it's the easiest one for me to answer so it's coming first

for a total of four remaining chapters (after the dreemurr house), and in no particular order:

the Holidays’ house. the only reason i’d be skeptical of this is because we’re already getting a DW focused on a family home. otherwise i think there are a lot of opportunities there for really interesting storytelling. as a focal point, it could center around the "holidays" (like, fall/winter holiday season) in general, and how that season both serves as a much needed break and recovery time but also brings out and exacerbates familial stress. or it could even just be like... music themed lol. i could see this being a chapter 5/6 location just because of how deep stuff could get as far as info on noelle, dess, the mayor, and their relationships to each other. just really juicy all around IMO

i'm on the fence about the church. on the one hand, i can see why it's interesting to folks as a possibility. on the other hand, it feels a little too... on the nose, i guess, to center a whole DW around explicit Religious Lore revelation and Judeo-Christian Motifs. that's a tricky needle to thread tonally and i could also just see it being deeply unfun for a lot of the target audience, for a lot of reasons. if we get a DW related to the church, i'd expect it to be focused on something other than the church/religion itself, ex. maybe the gang ends up screwing around in the basement and finds a full set of The Lord of the Hammers down there and we get like a Tolkienesque high fantasy that touches in a less heavy-handed way on the requisite motifs of the in-universe religion. the graveyard in particular seems like a perfect spot for some kind of horror-themed location full of ghouls and creepy pizza boxes and stuff (though probably not a whole DW in and of itself). this seems about right for chapter 4 -- a little spookier and darker, reasonably lore-heavy, but still not getting too deep into the stakes of the surface level narrative

the hospital... seems like a reasonable candidate just from the standpoint of story trajectory (ex. it fully makes sense that noelle or any other given holiday might open a fountain in the hospital in an attempt to save rudy). HOWEVER i think the idea of a "hospital"-themed dark world sounds pretty awful, much like the church one but potentially far more insensitive and tonally fraught. which is why i raise to you that the hospital dark world would not focus on the concept of the hospital itself and will instead center around noelle's handheld game system/the Dragon Blazers game while still exploring the themes relevant to her dad's hospitalization and will also be Meta As All Hell. Dark Worlds: It's Literally A Game Within A Game This Time. i peg this for either chapter 5 or 6. maybe 6 for this one, 5 for the Holiday house

chapter 7........... honestly i have no clue. i can see the arguments for both the carnival and the shelter but it's also so far out that i have trouble imagining what either really entails. i also have to wonder how much the narrative might be deviating from the Fountain-of-the-Day structure by chapter 7... i guess at this point i'm mostly in line with the theory that the carnival will constitute the primary DW of the chapter. it seems like that's where everything leads, right? susie's even expressed wanting to bring her darkner buddies to the fair. aside from that -- DW or not, i think the shelter is where the story ends, at least in the "default" ending.

bonus: fully expecting that at some point we're going to see a Neo Dark Fountain and where that leads and i'm hoping desperately that it's fucked up and scary and trippy as hell

all that said i would kill for even a brief foray into an ICE-E's P"E"zza dark world. please toby fox please. even just 10 minutes' worth of it as a joke. i want to see the terrible nightmare that awaits there

[penname-artist]

Tidbits #5

Q & A: We Interrupt This Program To Bring You-

Notice: this chapter of 'Tidbits' is reposted from it's original document of 2021, and may no longer be up-to-date with current headcanons.

Pushing back my hermaphroditism bit again because y’all are so persistent. But, I think this will actually fare well as a lead-up into said chapter. You’ll see what I mean in a minute. On with...more questions! XD

Tanel asks: Okay, does Blade feel protective over his team? especially Dusty and does he think that Dusty is cute little fucker??

Absolutely. Well they all do to an extent, really. Blade may be the battalion chief, but that doesn’t make him the one solely in charge of maintaining his crew. (Actually, one might argue that on the outside, he seems very closed and cold to some)

But that’s just how Blade is. Everyone else has come to learn how to read him, and Dusty in particular is the only one who’s thus been capable of breaking down new barriers. Because of that, they especially will go to lengths to protect one another.

Tanel asks: Would Blade save Cad from a burning house while risking his own life doing so?

XD

Asshat or no asshat, Blade’s putting his life on the line for anyone! That includes Cad, should need have arised to.

Tanel asks: When Blade goes to sleep does he pull his landing gear in and lies down on his belly like a snuggly little cutie.

Or he stays on his wheels whole time?

It honestly depends on the night. He will sleep in duck-mode (that’s what I’m calling it, you can’t stop me) less often than he did in his youth, but on particularly peaceful nights, he’ll allow himself to do so. Otherwise, he sleeps with his landing gear down and ‘locked’ (as a horse might sleep with their legs locked) on a mat, just because it’s easier on his tires than hard concrete. Sharatrap123 asks: Depending on what i am seeing, the PPAA and PWJ can basically eat human food or is it food specialized to be edible for vehicles only?

It’s actually both! Well, in my headcanon it’s both. So, while aircraft and other vehicles are definitely that, machines, their internal bodies have a lot of the same organic qualities that humans or other animals have. It’s the same kind of organic hybridization that makes their mouths malleable and their bodies have a bit more stretch to them. Because of this unique structure, their bodies have evolved to be able to ingest ‘human food’.

And, while oil is definitely their main source of sustenance (assume it’s like honey, in that it contains all of the life-sustaining properties) certain fruits, vegetables and other foods are important in keeping an aircraft healthy.

Funny story though, and I’ll get to talking about this eventually in a Tidbit, there aren’t any living mammals on their planet anymore (though not from reptiles and birds, who are coming back), so what has ended up happening is scientists basically formulated meat that is entirely plant-based (it’s a thing. Actually it’s a thing in our world too, it’s very strange XD) but still looks and tastes like meat.

Sharatrap123 asks: Also do humans exist in their world since i don't know how the heck they can be born or know things…

Headcanon-speaking...not anymore. There’s evidence to suggest people did, in fact, exist prior, but their records are extremely slim. No one is really quite sure what happened to them, nor how aircraft came to be the way they are (they are aware that humans had soulless, organless versions of them, but it’s believed that the two are not connected).

As for how they can be born and ‘know things’...oh you sweet innocent creature… XD

Okie, I’m gonna cover all of this is my next Tidbit (Lord willing I get it out before I get too many more questions again XD) but in summary: Planes and helis do, indeed, reproduce by themselves; their bodies are hybridized constructs with organic beings (some speculate they might have relation to dolphins) which have allowed them their sentience; different types of aircraft have different designs relevant to the ‘how’s and ‘why’s of their reproduction, for example some have evolved forms of hermaphroditism; lastly, they do have live birth as opposed to laying eggs or them being ‘built’ (though I guess technically they still are, in a way..), though they will of course need modifications on their bodies as they grow older to keep them in tip-top shape.

I’ll get into the nitty-gritties in my next Tidbit, hopefully! I’m working on it right now! We gon’ have an aircraft sex-ed, ho’ boy! The funny thing is, it’s not the first public Planes sex-ed, it’s the second (“-I’d have two nickels! Which isn’t a lot, but you know it’s weird that it happened twice-”) so quick but very deserving shoutout to Bobblychicken for their own Planes Anatomy 101!

[stories-me]

Potential Character for Mrs. Kelsey and Tumblr 5/31/2023: 

 Professor Abraham Van Helsing, Monster Hunter and Learned Man: 

 What he’s from: “Dracula”. 

Appearance: (See above). 

Background: 

A polymath of great skill, Professor Van Helsing became interested in fighting vampires when one of them killed his son. 

He ultimately became involved in the events of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” when a former student of his, Dr. Seward, contacted him with regards to an ex-girlfriend of his, Lucy Westenra, who was suffering a strange disease. Van Helsing was able to tell the girl was suffering from the visitations of a vampire, and began trying to keep her from being claimed. Unfortunately, a servant stole the gold cross he urged Lucy to wear and Lucy’s mother cleared out the garlic he placed around the room and opened the window to let in fresh air. 

Ultimately, Lucy died, and became a vampire. Van Helsing helped his allies (Dr. Seward, Lord Arthur Holmwood, and the cowboy Quincy Morris) bring Lucy peace. Afterwards, they began working against the vampire who Embraced Lucy, Count Dracula. Part of this involved Lucy’s friend, Mina Harker (the wife of solicitor Jonathon Harker, who Dracula had engaged in purchasing property in England), who Dracula had apparently developed a fascination with, and who had developed a telepathic link with him. 

Ultimately, he and the others fought Dracula and destroyed the vampire’s Brides (as well as Dracula himself), saving Mina from becoming a vampire. 

How he is like me: 

We both are kind, knowledgeable (in my case, with fan fictions), and want to help others (for example, I sometimes get worried about my peers at Inspire, especially when they freak out). 

Character Discussion with Kelsey: 6/4/23: 

What’s wrong with them?  Can I help them if possible? 

Having no control over someone’s actions and/or abilities to calm themselves down can cause you to come off as being rude or not caring when it’s actually the opposite.  

           Is it fair to say that Michael would prefer everything to be calm and quiet with everyone in an happy mood all the time?  If the answer is yes then you truly worry about someone and wish they weren’t going through whatever they are going through.  You can relate, but sometimes not being able to help them might get you frustrated as well (as in you might fixate on your own moment of frustration and voice your own moment of frustration) 

When someone is going through a moment of frustration at Inspire, it is ok to say “I’ve been there before and it just takes time to be able to control your emotions over a situation that you aren’t able to control with your words (i.e. asking for a break or being able to say this is too hard I need a minute) 

Does Van Helsing get frustrated with those he tries to help that aren’t aware of the vampire’s that are out there preying upon people?  

           “If he does, he likely keeps it to himself” 

Unfortunately for Lucy, it seems like a series of unfortunate events led her to become a vampire and there was nothing any one could really do about it 

[witchblade]

Before going any further, we need to address the elephant (or Mûmakil, if you will) in the room: In the state it was in at time of review, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum was not ready to be played. In my roughly 11 hours of playtime on "Performance" mode on a PlayStation 5, the game crashed over 120 times (yes, I counted; masochist, remember?), averaging about one crash every five minutes. After my 20th-or-so crash, I got the dreaded "save data corrupted" message, only to realize I'd lost half a day's progress upon reloading. In multiple other instances, game-breaking bugs--such as a companion I was charged with protecting instantly dying over and over again for no discernible reason--forced me to restart entire levels, losing significant progress. Finally, during an especially tedious and time-consuming puzzle, the crashes became too frequent to possibly make it to the next checkpoint in time. Determined though I was to get through to the end and make these setbacks feel worthwhile, I threw in the towel at 40% completion, defeated.

every time i hear of games Crashing on Console i feel like im being tricked or pranked