#ALOS THANKS! ENJOY THIS DRAWING OF BABY

[libelelle]

UPPIES ACCEPTED!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your baby drawing give me cuteness aggression. Your baby drawing make me want to squish them like gummy bears and also tuck them in gently. I love your baby hogs <- being very normal

it seems a baby poofball is politely requesting some uppies from you.... will you accept........

(thank you very much, whenever you draw babies it also makes me want to squeeze them an irresponsible amount)

[g0ry0re0]

Billy (Burn, 2019) - Headcanons

Description: [18+ MDNI] AU where Billy survives the film's events and settles down with you in a secluded town. You start a small garden, build a tiny chicken coop, and raise some kids together. / Billy x GN!Reader

General Notes: Random Headcanons/Moments, No Mention Of Conception/Adoption (it’s completely up for interpretation), No Mention Of Your Children’s Gender, Use Of “Daddy” (in reference to Billy), The Word “Parent” Is In Reference To The Reader, Mention/Eating of Candy, Mention Of Billy’s Burn On His Face (film), Purely Lighthearted, Light Amount Of Cursing, Mention Of Smoking

Author’s Note: Feeling domestic as hell and I was having trouble with my other fic so I decided to have fun instead. :) Thank you to @killerpixel for inspiring and creating some of these with me! Enjoy. <3 <3 Word Count/Bullet Point Count: 1,120 Words/51 Bullet Points

Your kids decide to draw with chalk on the driveway and Billy can’t bring himself to hose it off (that is until it rains), so he parks his shitty Camry on the dirt instead to make sure it doesn’t get messed up

He keeps a drawer full of their crafts/drawings, he does not have the heart to throw them out and probably never will

One of the crafts is literally a bent paperclip colored with red marker

Billy helps a lot in the garden and with the chickens, so the kids make him a set of “tools” out of paper and glue for him to use when he works (this made him cry)

He sings badly for them to help them sleep and tells them bedtime stories in funny voices, he gets embarrassed when you overhear him [thank @xcherryerim for this one <3]

When the kids are old enough, they eventually ask him about the burn on his face and he makes a different joke every time

“Oh, I was riding my motorcycle and a monster that hates motorcycles attacked me! Don’t ride motorcycles unless daddy takes you, okay?”

“Stop! You’re going to scare them, Billy!” “Okay, fine… So anyway, then a giant humanoid moth came out- ”

“Daddy, you met mothman?!” “Yeah, I met mothman! Your parent was actually married to mothman when I met them.” “Billy!” “You have moth-baby sisters and brothers.” “Billy, I’m leaving you and I’m taking the kids.”

The next day he makes mothman shaped pancakes, it becomes a running gag in the family

He manages to find mothman costumes for the kids for Halloween that year, so there are a bunch of tiny mothman’s running around the house and neighborhood

When you and Billy take them trick-or-treating that night, he has to (reluctantly) stop them from scaring the other kids on purpose (he is laughing the entire time)

Billy absolutely takes advantage of the “candy tax” and eats some of their candy as he looks through it, much to their disappointment

“I need to make sure there’s no poison!”

“Aww man, that one was poisoned…”

He pretends to collapse on the ground and scares the shit out of your children

Once they realize he’s messing with them, they dogpile on him and he looks to you for help

“I’m being crushed to death.” “Good, you deserve it.”

Soon after, the kids pass out on the couch surrounded by candy and still in their mothman onesies where Billy carries them all to their beds and kisses their little chocolate-covered foreheads

They definitely wake up sick the next morning from eating too much candy (he let them so you make him clean up after their mess)

Circling back to his burn, he’s applying scar gel/treatment on his face and he explains to his kids that it helps his face heal and stops it from hurting

They immediately start applying all of the cream to his face frantically and he lets them

“If I put more on, it’ll stop hurting faster!” “That’s not how that works, my love.”

“Daddy’s dying!” “No! It’s okay! I feel so much better now, baby, you helped so much!”

Before you know it, the entire tube is gone and Billy’s face and neck smell entirely of aloe vera

“I fixed daddy’s face!” “Hmm… I don’t know, I think it needs more lotion. The other half is still a little funny-looking.” “Hey!”

Billy is folding the laundry and putting it away when he puts his own underwear on his head to make the kids laugh, soon they all put their clean underwear on their heads and take a selfie to send to you

Billy is giving one of your babies a bath and he gives them a funny little soap beard to show you while giggling

Very shortly after, the baby flicked soap into his eye

“Babe, my eye burns now.” “Aww, just like the rest of your face…”

One day, he takes the kids for a ride on his motorcycle (they were small enough to sit in front of him and he went at 5 mph up the street and back) and you got mad at him anyway

To make up for it, you make him pamper you for the next week (more than he does normally somehow)

Despite how terrified you were, your kid looked really cute in that big ass helmet

When it snows, he dresses up the kids and plays with them, building snowmen and pouring snow down the back of your sweater (this gets him in trouble again)

One time he threw a snowball at the back of one of your kids' heads, it was very small and mostly cushioned by the hood of their jacket but they went down face-first into the snow anyway

He was trying so hard to hold back his laugh as he helped them back up

He’s shoveling snow from the driveway one day and accidentally tosses some onto one of your toddlers

He feels really bad until the kid laughs and he does it again

Billy takes the kids to a community waterpark during the summer with his fake denim print swim trunks and they push him into the water

They’re playing marco polo and he loses sight of them for a total of 3 seconds because they decided to hide under the lawn chairs (he cries when you and him go to bed that night)

He also made sure the kids were absolutely slathered in sunblock when they went, but he forgot to put some on himself

The burn on his face gets irritated because of this and it makes me a little grumpy for the next few days, which leads one of your kids to bring him a flower from your garden

“It’ll make daddy’s red half feel better.”

He keeps the flower in his wallet until it turns to dust

One of your kids’ first words is your name, which kind of makes Billy jealous

The same kid takes their first steps toward him later on and Billy brags about it for the next year

Billy tries to quit smoking as soon as you start raising kids, but he still smokes outside sometimes when they’re not around

One time, one of them catches him and he can’t think of a good explanation for what he’s doing

“Oh, this? Uhh… it helps, um, with daddy’s… anger issues and stuff. It calms him down.”

The next day, at breakfast, your kid turns to you worried and a little sad

“Daddy turns into a dragon when he’s angry. Is he gonna eat me?”

Billy immediately throws out his last pack and doesn’t touch a cigarette for a long time after that

Masterlist Link

Divider: saradika and saradika-graphics on tumblr Gif: lomapacks on tumblr

[okkalo]

Okie! If requests are still open, I'd like to see what you think of this scenario:

Beach vacay, reader gets a sunburn (can be mild or lobster-y)

How would Ryusei, Reo, and Kunigami help their bbg?

Thank you!

Ps, I LOVED the "ily" hc you posted! They were very cute 😍

hi again! i’m glad u enjoyed the other request! and thank u for another req 🤭 this one hit close to home bc i literally just got a sunburn the other day but anyways i hope u enjoy!!

warnings: reader is suggested to be a girl in reo’s

characters: shidou, reo, kunigami

shidou

- ABSOLUTELY laughs at you.

- and just know that if you get on his nerves he will smack your sunburnt part

- might feel bad depending on how you react

- brags about how he doesn’t burn and only tans after laughing at you

- i would say tell him to shut up or something but once again he will smack your burn

- once he actually sees you upset he will start to care a little bit

- doesn’t really help with the burn though, he just treats you nicer

shidou had just gotten out of the shower, hair damp and towel around his naked waist, when he saw you wincing and breathing out a small ‘ow’ while putting on aloe. his carefree stroll immediately stopped while his posture slumped, his cocky face turning more serious at the sight. he gave another sigh as you winced once again at the pain before walking up to sit in the space next to you.

a small smirk decorated his lips at the glare you send his way, expecting him to start adding more salt to your wound. “hey, hey, i’m not gonna do nothin’. my baby’s in pain and i gotta make em’ feel better.” he spoke with a suave voice, snaking an arm around your shoulders to pull you closer to place a gentle kiss on your neck. as much as you hated to admit, a few kisses from him definitely did make you feel better.

after a few more kisses from him you decided to end it there, your eyes roaming to his still naked lower body. you sighed, giving him a soft kiss on the lips before pushing him away, turning your attention back to your bowl of aloe vera. “go put your pants on, ryu.” he huffed, not wanting to follow someone else’s orders, going straight back in for your neck to pepper some rough kisses on your burnt skin. good luck with that.

reo

- he makes sure to keep your skin protected at all costs

- buys you expensive sunscreen and always tries to bring some source of shade because he doesn’t want you burning

- but it just so happened that you guys had been a part from each other when you got the burn

- when you walk in to your shared place with reo he just sighed, dropping everything he was doing to go get aloe

- scolds you while making you sit on the bathroom counter with him rubbing aloe into your skin

“this is why i should’ve gone with you,” he sighed, scooping up a clump of aloe before gently rubbing it on your thigh, his face in a focused frown. you remember him whining about how he wanted to go with you. you knew the real reason he wanted to go with you was to see you in a bathing suit and get to put sunscreen on your bare skin.

“it would’ve been weird if you had gone.” you sighed right back, tired of his complaining. “you would’ve been the only guy, weirdo.” you stated, watching his brows furrow as he raised his head to look at you with an offended face.

“i can be one of the girls!” he exclaimed, drawing a laugh out of you. you could only rake your fingers through his hair before patting his head. he sighed at the lack of response, eyes dropping once again to focus on your burnt leg. he would come up with another complaint in the next five seconds.

kunigami

- would probably be a worrier like reo except less extreme

- he would always try to put sunscreen on you when you were out in the sun that day

- he gets distracted that day, however, meaning he didn’t get the chance to remind you to put on the protectant

- feels HORRIBLE once he checks back in on you and sees you burnt

- immediately takes you home, occasionally cussing under his breath on the way home for his lack of notice

- starts a cold shower for you

“i should’ve remembered,” he mutters under his breath as he turns shower knob, water immediately following afterwards. he’s been like this for the past ten minutes, constantly muttering something new that he should’ve done.

“ren, love, it’s okay. the burn isn’t even that bad, babe. besides, i should’ve been the one to remember, so stop blaming yourself.” you finally sighed out, voice soft as you tried to comfort him by rubbing his arm. he turned over to you, face still in a frown as he saw your reddened state.

“it’s my job to remember, but i’ll stop.” he let out a deep sigh, bending down to pull you into an embrace. one hand wrapped around your back to rest on your waist while the other rubbed your upper back. “go ahead and get in, i’ll join in a few.” he said after a moment of silence, placing a small kiss your shoulder before pulling away from your arms. you made sure to give his arm an extra squeeze, a reassurance that it was okay, before he walked off.

unedited thanks for reading!

[daveslutstaine]

A big thank you to my amazing mutual @blackccelebration for tagging me in this ^_^ 💗

1 - Are you named after anyone? I can confidently say no. My name is very, very uncommon from what I've come to experience, so much so that even speakers of my family's native tongue can't pronounce it correctly either 🙃. I do have a cousin with my name, and I think she was named that because her mom liked my name, but other than her, I've never known anyone else with my name. That and my parents admitted to coming across my name in one of those baby naming books, so yeah!

2 - When was the last time you cried? Well, I didn't exactly cry so to speak, especially since I was in front of people at the time, but I did shed a few tears in private recently after hearing about the passing of one of my loved ones. It was early two weeks ago, on a Monday or a Tuesday, I can't recall the exact date to be honest.

3 - Do you have kids? Eh sort of. My younger sister sees me as her mother figure, and because of that I've gotten into the habit of calling her "my baby" as a result. So as of right now, she's about as close of a child of mine as it's gonna get

4 - Do you use sarcasm a lot? Actually no I don't. You'd think I would, but I pretty much go about my day to day life not using much of it, surprisingly

5 - What's the first thing you notice about people? The sound of their voice and the eyes. Everything else comes second, but those two things are the first ones I always focus on first when I meet someone for the first time

6 - What's your eye colour? Brown, though it's a very dark brown that most people mistake for black. The color is much easier to see in the sunlight rather than in non-natural light

7 - Scary movies or happy endings? I can go for either, but my preference does lean on scary movies, but hey, those can also have happy endings too!

8 - Any special talents? I've been told I have quite the affinity for cooking! I can also clap with one hand! It pisses my sister off when I do it, not because it's weird or anything, but because she can't do it and makes her mad 😂

9 - Where were you born? In the US of A, specifically the south. I'm from a fairly quiet area of the states; nothing too notable happens around here, but honestly I prefer it that way. We get a lot of natural disasters and really fucked up weather, but funny enough, it's become a tradition around this place to go outside and watch the storms and tornadoes rage outside so long as it isn't headed towards of us of course. This place can fun sometimes

10 - What are your hobbies? I have a few but because of nursing school, I can't have as much fun with them as I used to. I draw, I paint, I read, I play the guitar, and I garden. Gardening and guitar playing my two favorites though. Really looking forward for the spring so I can place my plants outside again so that they can get some better sunlight. I do have them in an area where they'll survive just fine, but one of them is really fussy and doesn't like being indoors too much. My aloe vera on the other hand loves being inside and surprisingly enough, hates being outside in the sun. No seriously, this plant that has evolved for hot and sunny climates is somehow doing better in a relatively dark area of my house than she was outside in the warm sun. I remember I had to bring her indoors once because she was getting really brown and was beginning to wither, but as soon as I brought her in, she got really green and healthy again. That plant confuses and frustrates me to no end

11 - Have you any pets? Nah. My parents don't want animals in the house and my sister and I don't have the time or energy right now to take care of animals. I do want one someday, but as of right now, the only living beings I'm sticking to is my plants

12 - What sports do you play/have played? Does karate at the age of 10 count? I'm not a big sports person tbh, but I do enjoy the occasional mini golf game (if that counts) at the arcade place here. It's an indoor black lit golf course with a neon pink dinosaur in the middle of the course. Far better and way more superior to actual golf

13 - How tall are you? I'm unfortunately 5'2 or 157.4 cm. I'm very short

14 - Favourite subject in school? In grade school it was English/literature. Right now, it's pharmacology considering it is surprising easy to me

15 - Dream job? Ideally, it's composer/musician. I would love to finally not be burdened by Sounds and Ideas but unfortunately I struggle to put my thoughts out properly into the world, so nursing is gonna have to do it for now. It's interesting though. But yeah, if I could, I would be writing an entire overture on Hans Christian Anderson's "The Shadow" instead

Anyway I now tag @professor-cold-ramen @polska-tankietka @alisia-stardust @umi-no-ko @frogressive-rock @musicacuantica @ishootcops @yesterdaysanswers @sturmxundxdrang @darkoverstar and anyone else who would like to do this <3

[withcolebrock]

A Little Too Sun Kissed

Summary: Y/N gets a really bad sunburn and Colby takes care of her.

Requested: yes?

Warnings: swearing??

Word Count: 1,568

Authors Note: oh my god when I saw this idea I about wanted to die from how adorable it was to me. Also I have had sunburns to the point where I was literally turning black and blue so this concept made me feel all warm and fuzzy. I hope you guys enjoy it! because I enjoyed writing it!! This is my Gif!

She entered the bathroom, holding her pool towel and her phone. She threw the towel into the laundry bin, and placed her phone down onto the bathroom counter. Looking into the mirror, her eyes widen at the sight of her face and chest. Her skin was bright red from the sun.

It had been months since the friend group got together and hung out in one giant group. Most of the day was spent either swimming in the pool, laying out in the sun, or playing some random games. It hadn’t crossed her mind to put on sunscreen, since she was never one to burn. Even if she did, it would tan her body within hours of the burn occurring. She took a hold of her swimsuit strap and moved it, checking the line. Definitely a huge difference.

Turning her body, she checks her back seeing the sun burn was even worse along her shoulders. “Fuck,” she sighed as she brushed a few pieces of her hair away from her face.

Soft footsteps enter the bathroom, shifting her gaze from the mirror. Her eyes land on a shirtless Colby, running his fingers through his wet hair. She smiles, as he lifts his head glancing in her direction. Colby’s eyes look her body up and down, while frowning. “Damn, baby, that looks like it hurts,” he said walking towards her, placing his phone down onto the bathroom counter. She shrugged her shoulders, resting her hand ontop of the countertop.

“It’s fine, it’ll be gone by tomorrow,” she sighed, looking up towards him meeting his eye. He rested his hand along her cheek, running his thumb along her cheek. His eyes looking over her rosy cheeks.

“Are you sure?” he asked softly.

“Okay fine it hurts,” she sighed while taking a hold of Colby’s hand, dropping their hands together. His bottom lip falls into a pout, as his eyes look over her redden skin, “But I was just going to shower then put some aloe on or whatever. It’ll be fine,”

“Okay come on then,” Colby said while letting go over her hand. Her eyebrows furrow as she watches him walk away from her. Walking towards his bathroom door, he locked it. He continues to walk towards his giant walk in shower, and turned it on. The water begins to shoot out, creating mist from the heat almost immediately. “Well, let’s get in the shower,” he said nonchalantly.

“Colby,” she scolded while walking towards him cautiously.

He laughs, “Not like that,” he holds her chin, lifting her head up. He looks down towards her with a pout to his lips, “Let me take care of you,” he leaned down and pressed his lips against hers briefly. He pulled away with a small smirk toying to his features. Both of them quickly take off their swimsuits, Colby places his hand under the water checking the temperature. He adjusts the temperature, hoping it will not be too hot. He walks into the shower first, letting the hot water run along his body.

He holds out her hand pulling her inside, under the water. She hisses as the hot water runs along her skin. She pulls her body away from the water, closer to Colby. “Slowly, Love,” he rested his hands on top of her hips, slowly pulling her under the water; helping her as much as he could. He’s been sunburned pretty bad and knows how much it hurts.

~~~

She wrapped the towel around her body as she stepped out of the shower, Colby followed, wrapping one around his waist. Colby unlocks his bathroom door, peeking his head out checking to see if anyone was in his room; for some reason. Noticing that no one was there, he pulls the door open, walking out of the steaming bathroom, Y/N follows him out of the bathroom. The temperature change from the bathroom into his room was drastic, the cold air hitting her skin created goosebumps all over.

Colby quickly throws on a pair of boxers and sweatpants, throwing his towel into a basket full of his laundry. “I’m going to run downstairs and grab the aloe. Why don’t you throw on a tanktop and some shorts or something,” Colby suggested while he ran his fingers through his wet hair. She nods while walking towards their shared dresser, she technically didn’t live with him but most of her stuff was at his house. “Want a snack, too?”

“Just water would be good, I’m not that hungry. Thank you Love,” she sighs as she pulls open her draw in the dresser. Colby hums as he leaves the bedroom, shutting the door behind him. He runs downstairs, walking towards the kitchen. As he enters the kitchen, he is met with Sam, Katrina, Jake, and Tara who were all sitting together drinking White Claws.

“Hey guys,” Colby sighs as he walks past the group towards the fridge. He pulls it open taking two water bottles and the bottle of Aloe Gel. He shuts the fridge and places the items onto the counter.

“The group is filming a video in a little bit, are you and Y/N gonna join?” Sam asked as he pulled his drink towards his lips. Colby walked towards one of the cupboards looking for something to snack on until they all order postmates for later.

“Probably not,” he sighed as he pulled a box of Cheez-Its out, “Y/N got sunburned pretty bad, she’s not feeling good.”

“Oh no,” Tara hissed, “How bad?” she glanced towards Jake, who was already looking down towards her.

“Bad, her shoulders are bruised, like they are getting purple,” he sighed as he took a hold of the waters, Aloe, and the Cheez-Its. “We are just going to watch a movie, I want to keep my eye on her.”

“Oh of course, man,” Jake commented, “We’ll let you guys know when we are ordering food,” Colby nodded as he carried all of the stuff up the stairs towards his room, he knocked on the door with his elbow. With all of the stuff he was carrying he couldn’t open the door.

“Baby,” he yelled, “I can’t open the door,” he chuckled from outside of the room. Y/N walks towards the door, pulling it open smiling. “Okay, so I got everything, I know you said you weren’t hungry but I got Cheez-Its anyway,” he dropped everything onto the bed as she closed the door behind him. Walking towards the bed, she crosses her arms over her chest. “Sit,”

She sits down beside him, giggling softly. Picking up one of the waters, he hands it to her, “Drink please,” she gladly takes it and starts drinking it. Colby pumps the Aloe bottle twice into his hands before taking a hold of her arm. He delicately places his hand onto her shoulder running his hand down her arm, spreading the Aloe slowly.

“That’s fucking cold,” a stifled laugh falls from her lips as her eyes watch over Colby. He was biting his bottom lip in concentration as he smoothled the gel over her skin. He puts more gel into his hands as he turns her body, reaching for her other arm.

“It feels good though, right?” he asked innocently, his tone was so subtle and soft. She smiled as her eyes met his, she nodded while looking back down towards her skin. He slowly ran his hand along her arm covering every part that had a little bit of red. “Here, Love, lay down,” he whispered as he tapped the bed, she listened as she cautiously laid down onto her stomach. Colby slowly began to cover the rest of her skin with the gel, making sure every part that was red was covered.

She sits up from the bed after Colby covered almost her entire body with the gel, she watches him add more to his hands, “What, I’m covered enough,” she whined tilting her head back.

“I know Babe, just have to get your face, then I’ll be done,” he smiled as he delicately ran his fingers across her face, he smiled softly as his eyes flickered down towards her lips. He quickly shifted closer to her pressing his lips against hers, “All done, my love,” he whispered as he wiped his hands along his sweatpants. He stood up taking the gel with him, “Just gotta let it all dry,” he sighed placing it onto his side table.

After a couple of minutes of them deciding what movie to watch, and letting the gel dry; they decided on watching Inside Out, one of her favorites. “Colby, can you grab me a hoodie? I’m cold,” she chuckled. Colby nodded as he walked into his closet, taking a hold of an old XPLR hoodie. He walked towards the bed handing her the hoodie. He rolled onto the bed, adjusting the pillow under his head.

Y/N laid down beside him, facing her body towards him. Resting her hand onto his cheek, she whispered, “Thank you for taking care of me.” He took her hand from his cheek, pressing his lips against her knuckles.

“No need, love,” he whispered as she turned her body away from him. He wrapped his arms around her body. He pulled her body close to his, resting his head onto her shoulder. He pressed his lips against her jaw, before turning his attention towards the movie.

[lavenderradionoises]

Can You Hear the Winds Changing? - Part 4

More Iiaare content! I love this girl so much and cannot wait to write more but for now, enjoy the little snippet of Iiaare’s past because I despise writing strategy meetings

You can find previous parts HERE

Warnings: violence, implied body mutilation, past abuse Iiaare’s eyes flitted between the two siblings in front of her and the many sweets between them, wondering whether the two stole the sweets from the cook. Usta had stormed out of the physician’s chambers moments earlier, threatening to get Captain Nexros to string the twins up by their toes. The two ignored the princess in favor of introducing themselves to Iiaare. 

“Now that the Mistress of ticks up royal asses is gone, hi, my name is Alos, I serve in the king’s private guard,” the twin with hair curling under their ear introduced themselves before taking a bite out of a piece of cherry pie.

Iiaare nodded in greeting.

“Be nice. Usta may be haughty, but she’s still a lot better than majority of the nobility,” The twin with elaborate braids chided before turning to Iiaare. “I’m Elos. I also serve in the king’s guard, and as you may have guessed from the princess’s earlier threat, Alos and I are twins.”

Iiaare nodded again, trying to make herself more comfortable on the bed without causing the wound on her side to reopen. As she adjusted the pillow, her head spun, and vision blurred before sharply focusing on the strangers. 

“But I’m the better looking twin,” Alos said with a wink.

Iiaare raised an eyebrow, unsure whether this was normal for the short haired twin.

“Ignore them,” Elos sighed before gesturing to the mountain of sweets. “Want one?”

The servant was unsure how to respond. Since the knights held a higher rank than her, she knew that eating with them would be improper. On the other hand, she had not eaten since the previous evening, and the lack of food was certainly not helping the headache that had come and gone since she woke up. 

As if sensing her confusion, Elos quickly grabbed the nearest sweet, a honey cake, and handed it to her.

“Don’t worry about rank with us, darling. Eat to your heart’s content. With the way Alos eats, they're a practically a pig already.”

Alos, mouth full of pie, made an indignant noise, spewing crumbs across the bed sheets.

Elos raised an eyebrow at them. “Srr, sweetheart? Abysmal manners.”

Iiaare felt her cheeks and neck begin to burn, still unaccustomed to the casual flirting of the palace. As she took the slice of honey cake from Elos, the servant did not miss the mischievous glint in Alos’s eyes that reminded her too much of Aion’s manservant, Ernaeis, when he decided to dump buckets of worms into visiting noble’s beds.  

“So, little one, we told you our names. How about you tell us yours? I bet both your name and your voice are prettier than the haughty yet beautiful princess Usta,” Alos said, leaning on their interlaced fingers, elbows balanced on their knees. 

The servant’s gaze snapped from the cake in her hands to the knight as her stomach churned, and knots began to twist in her chest. It was not the first time someone had asked her to talk, but for some reason, the thought of revealing her muteness to these two, having them recoil in disgust as so many others had, terrified her"

Just as Iiaare was about to show that she had no tongue, the door burst open. A boy resembling the twins walked in with shaking hands and frantic eyes that Iiaare swore she met before. 

“If you two leave me alone to deal with another war council on my own again, I am going to find every poison in this city and make you both drink it.”

“Hello, brother dear,” Alos greeted the newcomer.

The boy huffed before closing the door and making his way over to where the group was sitting. Iiaare watched him as he sat down. Something was familiar about his brown hair and the way he spoke, but the memory trying to break through the locked rooms of her mind made her head spin even more.

Elos waved her hand in the direction of her brother, “This is our baby brother, Kuxon, the three of us are from a border village near Flatband, so you will have to excuse his accent.” 

Kuxon looked at her, and it suddenly clicked: the boy, his face, and the memory that had been tugging at her. Iiaare only managed a tiny gasp before the room spun one final time, and she fell into blackness.

~

Drums sounded as two children no older than seven were led to a platform raised and ready to be burned. Fire mages stood at the four corners, waiting. Villagers, who had gathered to watch the execution, muttered amongst themselves.

“Filthy street rats finally getting what they deserve.” 

“Are you sure it was the boy? Isn’t his family at the capitol?” 

“I heard they never wanted a third child, especially after those cursed twins were born.” 

“Kolia, the traveling merchant’s wife, also says that one of them decided to become a boy.”

“No wonder they abandoned the son. It’s bad luck to have twins, let alone twins of different genders.”

Iiaare heard all of these as she struggled to make her way to the front. She felt the wrongness in her bones, a child should not be burned at the stake because she needed food to survive, and neither should anyone who helped that child. 

The kids were being chained to the platform as Iiaare passed the last row of spectators. 

“Stop!” She yelled out. When she was ignored, she ran up onto the platform, pushing mages and guards out of the way with all her ten year old strength. 

Iiaare’s mind skipped ahead in the memory to when she was being loaded into a cart in the middle of the night with a man telling her that the village had found her a job as a servant to a noble. Iiaare wanted to protest but couldn’t from the pain in what was left of her tongue. The sizzling sound of a hot knife meeting flesh plagued her mind. When the darkness closed in around her again, it was almost a relief.

~

The memory was cut off by distant voices calling for Iiaare and a harsh light invading her vision. When she blinked her eyes open, the first thing she saw was Aion, and who she guessed was everyone from the guard in conference at the foot of the bed. The servant’s heart fell ever so slightly at the fact that Usta was not there until she felt a hand running through her hair. 

“You’re awake!” Usta’s voice exclaimed from beyond Iiaare’s line of vision, causing everybody to turn to her, “ Are you alright?” 

Iiaare nodded before attempting to sit up. With Usta’s help, she was able to maneuver herself to lean against the backboard of the bed relatively comfortably and without jolting the stab wound too much. 

Once she was properly sitting, she registered how many more people were in the physician’s office. Along with the royal siblings, two more individuals had joined: a man with a missing arm and a woman that reminded Iiaare of the statues of the goddess of the hunt.

“Are you sure you’re alright?” Elos asked, taking Iiaare’s left hand between her own. 

Iiaare nodded again. She began drawing a knife and a fire on the sheets with her free hand where Usta could see. 

“A knife and fire?” The princess questioned.

Iiaare gave her a nod in confirmation before pointing between Kuxon and herself, then making a fist with her fingers sans her thumb and sliding her thumb across her face. 

“A knife, a fire, the boy, and your tongue being cut out?” Usta asked. The twins gasped, and the rest of the guard stopped their discussion, opting to listen to the conversation. 

Iiaare tapped her pointer finger a couple times in the princess’s direction to indicate that she was correct. 

Elos’s hands tightened around Iiaare’s and Kuxon’s face when white as candle wax.

“Iiaare…cut out…” He mumbled before his eyes grew round, “It was you! You were the girl!”

“What are you talking about?” Elos questioned her brother

“Auriol and I...the day they were going to...were going to….”

“Wait, so you’re saying that Iiaare was the girl who saved you?”

“It sounds crazy, but...look, she knows!” Kuxon moves the wrist guard off his left arm, revealing old scars where handcuffs would have sat, “They told us you’d been taken away...they told us you’d been executed.”

Elos moved her hands from Iiaare’s to the servant’s shoulder and addresses her solemnly, “You saved our brother’s life. Thank you.”

The loud sound of a candle popping five times startled the occupants of the eerily quiet chambers.

“Well, I guess I should head down to the kitchens and ask them to bring up some food for us,” Aion offered before practically fleeing the room. The servant noticed the slight shaking of his hands and knew that it would be a while before the prince returned. Kuxon sat on the bench the prince was previously occupying. The younger boy began replacing his wrist guard but stopped when Iiaare signaled for him to give it to her so she could lace it up for him. 

“I suppose this is as good a time as any to introduce the Captain and Lieutenant.” Alos said, turning away from her brother’s scared wrist, before pointing at the man with a missing arm, “This is Captain Nexros. And that over there is Lieutenant Iaastil, the second in command.” 

Iiaare waved at Nexros and Iaastil. 

The door opened just as the captain was going to say something, revealing Aion and Ernaeis carrying several plates of food. Setting down the plates, Aion turned to address the rest of the occupants of the room with a grim voice.

“Well then, shall we update those who missed the meeting of their next mission?” 

[seotellite]

5:00 P.M.

Warnings: curse words

1.6k words

“Hide it there!”

You and your best friend Haechan are both out of breath from trying to chase the little pup around his and your brother’s dorm room.

“Why is he so fast at running?!”

“it bit me!”

“Stop overreacting Haechan, it barely has teeth!”

Your head was starting to pound and you knew the two of you are screwed, because no one really planned this. It’s hard to ignore a puppy okay!

The two of you were out and about in the sunny streets of Seoul and there you see a sign at a whimsy café’s glass door that said “Puppies for Adoption” written with a pink marker with small drawings around it. The café itself looked cozy at the same time adorable, it didn’t look sketchy at all. You’re itching to get in there and play with the puppies. You were immersed at the simple thought of getting to pet the little doggos. Haechan tugged on your jacket’s sleeve while inching closer to the café’s door.

“Y/n, let’s play with the puppies before we go home, please?”

The boy did his best aegyo, it was unnecessary since you were up for his plan anyway. You were sure that he had his ways and has everyone wrapped around his finger. That adorable fucker.

“We will only play with them. We can’t adopt one, my complex doesn’t allow pets and I’m not sure with your dorms.”

“but Wayv hyungs have 3 pets.”

It came out of his mouth as more of a mumble but you were sure that he was responsible enough not to get carried away you weren’t so sure about yourself though. When you entered the café, you were greeted by a high-pitched bark coming from a tiny little dog. It had caught your attention since it was all alone, and went to play with it in the pen while the both of you were waiting for you drinks but you suddenly got curious as to why it was alone, you thought there were more? You stood up from the play mat to go to the owner of the café to ask about the other puppies, she looked few years older than you and looked really kind.

“Miss, is that dog the only one?”

“He’s the tiniest one, because of that, no one really considered to adopt him. If you are willing to adopt him, I hope you do since we really want to give him a home, we have 5 dogs at home and couldn’t take care of more and your boyfriend seems to be enjoying the little one’s company.”

“Oh no, we’re not together.”

“I’m sorry dear, you two would look great none the less.”

You were shocked at what the owner told you but the feeling of sympathy for the little pup washed over you. Your heart broke, and clearly Haechan’s as well. He looked like he was about to cry and went to pick up the tiny dog from the pen since they allowed customers to play with the pups they have for adoption and took him to your seats, he gave the pup belly rubs while it was laying down his lap. He heard everything due to the small space but brushed of his feelings instead and continued on playing with the puppy.

At last your drinks arrived. As you expected, it looked really pretty, too pretty for a drink. It was unexceptionally amazing, it was sweet but not that it would turn you off after a few sips the fresh berry flavours are dancing their way around your tongue, which you loved. On the other hand, Haechan looks like he’s enjoying the puppy’s company over the drink but you didn’t mind. All of a sudden, he looked at you with big eyes. Oh no.

He lifted the puppy up to your face and it licked your nose, and in that exact moment, you were sure you couldn’t leave the poor thing. It was like magic, like the dog had a spell on its saliva. You were overreacting but you swore no one would resist it! The both of you fell in love with the small dog and it would break the both of your hearts to not give it a permanent home.

You went to the register again to sign athe papers for adoption while Haechan was waiting for you with the puppy peacefully resting in his arms, you took a quick glance at the boy and he had apparent heart eyes for his newfound friend. He held it like it was an actual newborn baby, you found it really cute. Haechan looked so soft with the puppy, if only he couldn’t hear you, you would have squealed, the sight was that adorable it made you feel all fuzzy, not to mention he matched the café’s interior design so well, he was wearing a light brown fuzzy sweater paired with jeans. It looked like Christmas, it was so cute.

As the two of you were walking down the street to their dorms with you holding the small dog with a blanket wrapped around it like a baby, he nudged your side with his free hand, he had two paper bags of pet supplies filled with every single toy you could find, clothes and of course the essentials. Some of the plush toys you bought together were bigger than the puppy, for future use of course.

“You do realize that we’re coming back with a puppy right.”

You flashed him your most awkward looking smile hoping that he’ll get your point, you were scared since you were older than him for a few days, but he insists on calling you “noona” anyways. You had to be the much responsible one, but there’s no turning back.

So here you are, trying your best to now hide the puppy somewhere inside their dorm room, beads of sweat are forming against your forehead and you just received a text from your brother that him and Doyoung are on their way home from their schedule.

“what the hell do we do now?”

Haechan sounded fazed, why did the two of you adopted a dog when you were planning to hide it anyway? And as if you can even hide a pet. Now, you’re starting to feel bricks in your head, you didn’t ask to be in this situation but you had to take responsibility due to you and your friend’s decision.

“You were the one who looked at me!”

“What does that even mean?! You signed the papers!”

Your voices were rising as the argument went on, thank God no one was in the dorm unit besides you two or else the others would have locked you both in separate rooms knowing hoe none of you liked losing an argument.

“So it’s now my fault?!”

“That’s not wh-“

Suddenly you heard a beep from the door meaning someone just came in, as soon as the door opened the puppy who finally came out under the bed, ran to the door and started jumping around the person. Johnny looked at it as if he saw a ghost, he looked at it for a moment before switching his gaze between you and Haechan who just stood there looking at the ground.

“Johnny oppa…”

What the actual-? You didn’t expect Lee Haechan would call your own brother “oppa”, oh God. A knot was forming in your throat since you found his way of consolation disturbing but hilarious.

“dumbass.”

The boy glared at you while you were still trying your best not to burst out laughing. This isn’t a good time for laughs since your big brother was standing by the door frame with the dog just staring at his slippers, but his was still standing there like a statue waiting for the one of you to explain. If Haechan calling Johnny “oppa” is funny, then Johnny looking that intimidating from the head almost down to toe took it for you, he was wearing his Totoro slippers for Pete’s sake.

“So we saw a sign…”

Now you were about to shit your pants, he wasn’t even answering his roommate.

“There were puppies up for adoption, it said. But that puppy was left alo-“

“And you two decided to adopt it without telling us?”

You wanted the ground to swallow you whole, pissed off Johnny wasn’t good Johnny, you didn’t want to be in the same room as him whenever he was all riled up. He doesn’t do anything but that’s scary, him doing nothing, like he got struck by medusa he was goddamn intimidating, good thing Doyoung came into the room to check in.

“The two of you need to take responsibility for this though.”

He pointed at the puppy still sitting there doing a staring contest between him and your brother’s totoro slippers. Doyoung started laughing, is he okay? They’re so odd.

“John, looks he’s staring at your slippers.”

Your brother shifted his gaze towards the dog and let out a defeated sigh. Finally, he did something, but you and Haechan are still afraid to make a move. Still testing out the waters?

…

The four of you discussed it to Taeyong and he was fine with keeping the puppy, just as long as you would agree to watch it when no one was home. Who were you to not agree?

“See, told you they would love Jwi.”

“You didn’t tell me that?!”

“Oh…”

Jisung begged Haechan to name the puppy “Jwi” for some reason. Jaemin and Jeno spoiled the pup with treats and a bed. Jwi, was living the life.

1601 words

masterlist

[polar-stars]

Mika, Noboru and special guest Chloé !!

Thank you for asking, baby 💕

Mika Aldini:

- Mika is an excellent dancer but she’s also damn good at swimming actually. She’s pretty fast and also has a lot of endurance.

- Ever since she’s been there the first time, Mika dreams of opening a branch of Trattoria Aldini in Verona. Takumi offered to get right down to it, but little Mika forbid it and stubbornly proclaimed she wants to do it on her own once she’s grown.

- Quite a few of Mika’s cloths have some sort of Hibiscus-Pattern on them. The reason for that is that when she was a child Ikumi, whose favorite flower is hibiscus, dressed her up in a lot of clothes that had the flower on them. She’s just kind off used to it, even if hibiscus is not Mika’s personal favorite flower (She still likes them though so)

- Mika’s primary school textbooks are full of little hearts she scribbled there when bored.

- Mika has been planning her wedding ever since she is 10 years old. She’s still unsure where to spent her honeymoon though: Maledives or Paris.

- Two of her other favorite travel spots are Miami and Rio de Janeiro. Her mother bought a holiday home in Miami actually.

- Mika’s holy trinity of movies is “Titanic”, “Dirty Dancing” and “Sleepless in Seattle”

- Mika really loves Aloe Vera drinks.

- Mika also really loves Katsudons. They’re one of her major comfort foods as Ikumi often made them for her throughout her youth.

- Mika’s favorite aquatic animals are dolphins and turtles (and uh....Crocodiles if they count)

Noboru Shinomiya

- Noboru ALWAYS has tablets for headaches with him. Every day. He does not take one every day, but he does get headaches rather often...so he just has them with him just in case.

- Noboru’s grandmother (from his father’s side) is probably the biggest fan of his painting skills. Her whole house it at this point full of his landscape drawings.

- One of Noboru’s favorite periods of art is impressionism. He really loves Claude Monet’s work.

- Noboru greatly adores meerkats. But he wouldn’t want anyone to know.

- Noboru makes pretty good coffee according to Shigeo Eizan (and mind you, the guy has standards when it comes to that). Noboru’s personal faves are Cappuccino and Mocha, but he’s pretty experimental when it comes to coffee.

- Noboru really enjoys an sweets that make either use of nougat or almonds. He also eats quite a lot of almonds on their own. Chestnuts is something he really loves as well.

- One of the people Noboru does actually look up to is Megumi. As Hinako Inui’s son, Noboru has a good idea of Japanese cuisine after all and he really enjoys Megumi’s take on it and her philosophy. He is also a bit of a fan of Nene though and read almost all of the essays she occasionally publishes.

- Noboru made 10 champagne and 10 strawberry-vanilla macarons for Harumi when she became president of the French RS.

- Noboru’s favorite stories as child were the works of Jules Verne.

- His favorite ice cream flavours are hazelnut and vanilla.

Special guest of Kosmima - Secret Service, Chloé Davis

- Chloé is a massive cheapskate who always tries to save money wherever she can. At the same time, she loves coffee to death...which often leads to her complaining over how overpriced they are.

- Most of Chloé’s money is probably not spent on coffee but tights being really. She wears transparent tights to work but she constantly rips them. The longest a tight of her lasted was probably one week. So she always has to buy new ones.

- Her (and Daniel) often go to eat fast food, because it’s cheap.

- Chloé does not drink nearly as much as Daniel but when she does she either drinks gin or vodka. Nothing else. She hardly ever gets drunk though.

- Chloé does not like things that are overly sweet, like classic American cupcakes for example. That makes her sick.

- She’s afraid of rollercoasters. She wouldn’t want anyone to find out but she hates them.

- Chloé keeps up with politics and the news, not just the ones of her country but also the rest of the world as well, and has a rather good understanding of it.

- Because Daniel often deals with hangovers, Chloé does most of the driving. Sometimes she just leaves in the morning without him and leaves him a message saying: “Get there yourself”.

- Chloé does have a soft spot for high heels. Every 5 months or so, when she feels proud with herself possibly, she rewards herself with a pair.

- Her Humor is super dark.

[megalony]

The three of us

A single dad! Ben Hardy idea I came up with which I hope everyone will like.

Taglist: @marshmallowmae @butlegendsneverdie @langdonzvoid @jennyggggrrr @luvborhap @radiob-l-a-hblah @rogertaylorsbitontheside @chlobo6 @rogertaylors-lipgloss @sj-thefan @jonesyaddiction

Ben Hardy masterlist

Enjoy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ben smiled at the toddler sitting between his legs who was helping Ben to plant some flowers into pots for the front garden. Both Lola and Lily seemed to have a fascination for flowers, they seemed to come back from the shops with a new flower each time. Their house was practically a garden on the inside and out, they had vases and pots of flowers in the living room, on the dining table, a vase on the kitchen windowsill. Now they had decided to have a few flowers in the front garden, per Lily's request.

Lola turned her head so she could look up at Ben sitting behind her, a bright smile on her features as she started patting down the compost in the pot that contained a small rose bush.

"Very pretty." Ben commented, helping pat down the compost before glancing around the garden to see where to put it. "Where's this one going, baby?" He questioned, hooking his elbows under her arms to lift her to her feet since both their hands and arms were covered in compost. A smile pulled at his lips as he watched her toddle around the garden before pointing to the step that led to the front door of the house. Getting to his feet Ben picked up the tub, walking over to his youngest girl before placing the tub in the corner of the step.

Reaching out, Lola took hold of the blue plastic watering can to begin watering the roses.

"Alright, Lily we're gonna go wash our hands, you coming in or staying out here?" Ben questioned as he headed over to the six-year-old, reaching his hands out to her as she giggled, swatting him away not wanting him to get the mud on her.

"I'll stay here." She responded since she was talking and playing with their neighbour Abbey who was a year younger than Lily and her sister Jasmine who was four years older than Lily. They had only been living in this house for six months but in that time Be had managed to make a sort of enemy with their neighbour who was Abbey and Jasmine's mother. She wasn't the nicest person and she made a point of anything and everything she disliked or anything Ben did that annoyed her. So he responded in much the same way.

She had clearly shown she was surprised and not in a good way when she asked where Lily and Lola's mother was, only to learn that Ben was a single parent.

When Ben had left his ex and took the girls with him he ended up staying with his parents for a few months. He had a big movie to work on and he couldn't find a place to live straight away, go to work and care for the girls. So his parents had kindly offered to have them stay with them so they could help with the girls until Ben's schedule was cleared and he had found a place to live. He found a perfect place with the only downside being the neighbours.

Ben wasn't so fond of Lily playing with Jasmine, she was much like her mother and she had made Lily anxious from time to time. But Lily liked to play with Abbey and she couldn't just tell Jasmine to go away.

"I'll come get you when dinner's ready." Ben responded, leaning down to kiss her forehead before he headed over to Lola. Gently taking the watering can from her hands, setting it down before opening the front door. Letting Lola wander inside before following after her. Hooking his elbows under her arms again Ben picked her up, laughing at the surprised giggle that escaped her lips as she wriggled. Pulling her legs up and kicking out as Ben wandered into the kitchen, gently sitting her down on the counter next to the sink so he could begin wiping down their hands and arms. Thankful neither of them had gotten their clothes mucky which was an achievement for Lola.

"Daddy!" Lola squealed, trying to get his attention. When he turned his head from the taps he was switching on to look at her, his nose scrunched up and his eyes closed when she planted her hands on his cheeks. He could feel the mud clinging to his features as he leaned forward when she tried to pull him closer. Smiling when she pressed a kiss to his lips before patting his cheeks.

"You cheeky thing." He mumbled before putting soap onto his hands and beginning to clean his hands and wrists. Reaching over Ben gently took Lola's hands in his own, tugging on them so he could hold them under the taps as she started clapping her hands when Ben put soap onto them. "Okay, you hungry?" Ben questioned when he finished washing and drying both their hands. Reaching over he picked Lola up, settling her on his hip as he wandered over to the cupboard next to the fridge, having only just opened it when Lola reached in.

Her grabby hands latched onto a packet of spaghetti, waving it like a wand in front of Ben to gain his attention to what she wanted to eat. Leaving the actor unsure whether she actually knew what it was or just simply thought she would grab that.

"Spaghetti? Alright, you're the boss." Ben commented when she nodded, still holding it out to him until he got the message and took it from her. Setting it on the counter as he grabbed a bottle of pasta sauce too. Sitting Lola on the counter with the ingredients as he started to turn on the gas and grabbed two saucepans.

Opening the packet for her Ben let Lola take hold of it, concentration clear on her face as she grabbed one stick of spaghetti and held it out to Ben. A smile taking over her features as they continued like this for a while as Ben indulged her. Letting her feel like she was helping until he knew they needed to speed things up or they would be there forever. Taking one out he waved it around like a wand before handing it to her, knowing that would occupy her for a few moments so he could add more spaghetti into the pot of boiling water. Moving to put the sauce in the other pot before Lola held out the piece he had given her.

"Thank you, baby." He responded, taking it from her and setting it in the pot as she smiled, obviously thinking she was cooking or helping. Going to the fridge Ben grabbed the block of cheese before rummaging around in a draw for the grater and a bowl. Glancing to Lola when she tried to take them off him clearly wanting to help.

"Me... me!" She clapped her hands to get his attention, her hands managing to grab the bowl. Frowning when Ben shook his head at her, knowing she would most likely drop it and he wasn't risking her hurting herself.

"No baby, I'll do this and you... can you hold these for me instead please sweetheart?" Reaching over he grabbed two plastic bowls that she wouldn't be in danger of breaking. Not wanting her near the grater. Smiling when she nodded, taking the bowls and setting them down beside her, moving them around a few times unsure where she wanted them on the counter as Ben started to grate the cheese. Handing her some to keep her happy as she finally decided to keep both bowls on her lap instead as if to protect them. One hand held the bowls as the other held the cheese she was happily munching away on. Her eyes focusing on watching Ben.

Seeing that everything was about done, Ben turned off the cooker before reaching out for Lola. Pointing to where one of the bowls was to be set before placing her in the highchair as she held the pink bowl to her chest. Looking up at Ben with eager eyes and a smile that made his heart melt.

"I won't be a minute, gonna go get your sister." He pressed a quick kiss to her temple before heading down the hall to the front door.

Opening the door Ben glanced around for a moment, surprised to see Lily sitting down on his left, watering the rose bush he and Lola had put there earlier. Both Abbey and Jasmine were in their garden doing something or other. The smile on Ben's lips faded to a frown of concern when he noticed Lily was sniffing like she was or had been crying.

"Lily? What's wrong sweetheart?" Moving over, Ben sat down on the step as he reached out for her. One hand taking the watering can from her as the other gently pressed to her chin so she would look at him. His heart sinking to his stomach when he saw that she was crying just a little. He didn't say anything for a moment or two as he picked her up, sitting her on his knee causing her to instantly bury herself in his chest. Her arms wrapping around his middle as he hugged her back. "You gonna tell me what's wrong?"

Lily pulled her head back enough so she could look at him, seeing his brows were raised as he waited to be told what had happened in the ten minutes he had been inside. She lowered her head, pressing her face back into his chest when an angered look came onto Ben's face when he noticed her eyes flicking between Jasmine and him. She had said something to Lily, he just knew it.

"What did she say?" Ben tried to keep his voice level but he couldn't help the tinge of anger that entwined with his words. He didn't like Jasmine being around his daughter because she made Lily's anxiety worse and he knew she could be spiteful when she wanted. He wasn't having her say whatever she wanted to Lily and think it was fair or that she could get away with it, he would talk to her mother if she had said something rude this time. "Lily."

"Mum didn't leave because of me, did she?"

Ben felt like he couldn't breathe. His chest tingled but he couldn't work out if it was from the sudden lack of air or from his nerves that were beginning to spark like they had been set alight. Lola was only little, she wouldn't remember her mother and she didn't even call out for her, she knew Ben was her parent and that was enough. With Lily it was different, she was still very young but she hadn't forgotten her mother. She had always been more attached to Ben than her mother, always that little bit anxious like she felt out of place around her mum whereas with Ben she was fine, she was comfortable and happy. So living with him and him alone was not a problem for her.

She had been told her parents had split up and she had been given the option of who she wanted to live with and that was Ben. She made no comment on wanting to see her mother who clearly didn't want any more contact with her. Lily seemed to be fine with cutting all ties with her so Ben didn't bring up the subject.

"No, you me and Lola left. We were the ones who moved and that was my choice, it wasn't to do with you sweetheart. Is that was Jasmine said to you?" Rubbing his hand up and down her arm Ben took a moment to calm down, his head turning to the right to glance over at the other two girls who were looking over. "She's just saying that because she doesn't see her dad and she's stuck with her mum. Come on, dinner's ready." Setting her to her feet Ben kissed her forehead, pushing himself up as he kept a hand resting on her shoulder.

His eyes glancing over to the girls, knowing Jasmine had heard some if not all of what he said before he walked inside after Lily, closing the door behind them before they both headed into the kitchen.

"Do you want dinner?" Ben questioned, his eyes burning into Lola's as a playful smile pulled at his lips when she wouldn't hand him her bowl thinking he was going to steal it. A giggle escaping her lips as she handed it over, watching Ben take the one from in front of Lily and get one for himself. Serving up dinner and putting the plates and utensils in front of both girls, sitting down so he was between Lily and the highchair Lola was in.

His eyes drifted between them both, his concerned gaze falling to Lily time and time again as a silence started to wrap around them all.

"Do you miss her?" Ben couldn't help but ask quietly. He didn't want to ignore this if Lily was beginning to miss her mum after nearly a year of not seeing her. She hadn't said before that she wanted to see her mum again so Ben simply assumed she was fine here with him and Lola. He knew his youngest wouldn't be asking to see her mum and soon enough she wouldn't even remember her either. But Ben would never stop Lily from trying to contact or see her mother if that was what she wanted.

"A little." Lily shrugged as she answered before eating a mouthful of spaghetti, her eyes drifting up to lock with Ben's.

"Did you want to see her? I can call her if you want, you don't have to feel like you have to say no, I don't mind if you want to." Ben was the parent who had cared for Lily this past year. He was the one who was there when she couldn't sleep, the one who she crawled into bed with after a nightmare. He was the one who took her to school and picked her up, the one who helped with homework and played games with her. Ben did everything for and with her but that didn't mean she couldn't ask to see her mother. If she wanted to he would oblige, he didn't want Lily thinking because she lived with Ben she had to not see her mother.

He wasn't even sure if she would even want to see Lily, he hadn't had a lot of contact with her since he and the girls moved out. She asked once or twice how they were but that was it, he couldn't promise Lily she would want to see her but he could at least try if that was what she wanted.

"No... I like it just the three of us."

Ben couldn't deny the utter relief that he felt upon her answer. If she had said yes there was a high chance her mother wouldn't want to meet or even have a simple phone call with her. That would crush Lily and could possibly make her more determined to see her mother again. Ben liked things the way they were, he could bring up his girls on his own without any interference and everything was fine. Both girls seemed to like it being the three of them so that was how things would be.

"Sure?" Lily hummed in response as she nodded, leaning into his side as he wrapped an arm around her. Moving to kiss her temple as he couldn't stop the smile from pulling at his lips. "Alright then... just the three of us."

Just Ben and his girls, exactly how he liked it.

[artificialqueens]

twenty seven club (Branjie) - PinkGrapefruit

A/N - 

PLEASE READ

Hey! Like most things I write, I started this on a whim and apparently it’s okay. I heavily recommend checking the tags because it’s a little dark in places. It’s written to ‘27 club’ by adore delano and focuses on the relationship between brooke and vanjie. thanks to Q-tip for beta-ing me like the goddess she is and telling me that what I write is mostly not insane. Since I use a lot of flower metaphors there will be a dictionary at the bottom of the page and I in no way intend for this to glorify mental illness or substance abuse. other than that, remember As usual, all work is my own and although this is based on real people, both the characters and the story are my own interpretation and therefore fully fabricated. Enjoy! x

*

All of his dreams

Are in the fast lane scene

These habits go so fast, he can’t see

I watch you as you dance. The freedom it gives you, a drug I can never take away. The ribbons bind your legs like a bouquet, all lean orchids, pussywillow and dreams. You smell of coffee and cigarettes like I suppose all dancers do and I inhale your second-hand smoke like it fuels me. Like knowing it was once your air too gives me another reason to stay alive. In reality, it just means that your burdens are my burdens, the likelihood we will both submit to cancer exponentially higher with each lungful I take in. It will fill my windpipe with tar and make footholds of my lungs and I care too much for this shit. It will climb me like I used to climb you but as each inhale draws it into my body, it will never have the passion to finish me off.

I pray at the altars of peace and hope, for you to come down off your pedestal and face me for once. I wish that life has not crossed you the way it crossed me for I am more resilient than you. You have crumbled under the weight of your own tutu and I am here only to rebuild what I can. You are more bandaid than flesh these days. Your problems circle you like thunderclouds, rolling in and settling for a week or three as you find your footing. The grey matches the cigarettes and the carpet and your eyes. The tacky residue of the old bandages builds up like moss over time, all the same, stormcloud grey burnished and raw.

Over time the moss turns into foxglove and wormwood and something akin to the flowers my mamma used to grow in the tin cans under the kitchen window. I learn to recognise the smell of blood with the roses and how despair turns the foxglove a pale blue in the right lighting. How your ribs could grow orchards between them if you weren’t so impatient. You plant watermelon seeds between your teeth and they crunch when you bite down. The sound they make identical the sound of new pointe shoes when you would break them in on the balcony. You smoke in the rain now, claim it’s not cliche because it makes the flowers grow. I laugh something hollow and deeply unnatural. The smile you give me scares me. It is deeply unnatural.

Baby lost his mind

Nobody gives in time

The drugs are worth it

Or so it seems

I watch you in the dressing room. I am a drag husband at your gigs and I wait to see whether you need a smoke break or just my attention. It is always the former. Your nails are far enough into the soft flesh of your palms that I can see them compressing beneath the shiny black acrylic. You like this outfit because you don’t have to prune the marigolds from your spine. The way they wove through you like the grief they are supposed to show, unyielding to the weedkiller I slather on liberally every night. As you undress I watch you, their pale yellow shines like moonlight in the old LEDs and it’s beautiful. You’re beautiful. And then the main light turns on and I see what everyone else sees and I am disgusted by what I have done. The way I have allowed you to abuse what we both loved will haunt me and I am sorry. The marigolds do not shine like the moon but like a warning sign, bright and clear. Every flower that has inhabited your skeleton calls you a different name, pumps you full of feelings I was never taught about in school because they are not nice to feel. Foxglove for insecurity and wormwood for bitter absence.

I scream but you do not hear me. My vocal cords are entangled in ivy for faithfulness but we must call it what it is. It binds me to my words, keeps me imprisoned in my own body as I try to help to no avail. I watch, as if a spectator, as I fail to find the right words. You see the way I am looking at you, my eyes wet, licked with the pity I cannot speak. My tongue is bound by my fear of hurting you but seeing you like this I don’t know how that’s still a hypothetical. God, everything about you is a hypothetical. I sew your pointe shoes with thorns in the ribbon, in some fucked up part of my head I hope that it will deter you but you feel the pain like burning embers of a fire. You dance upon the coals and it’s beautiful but goddamnit Brooke. That’s not what I meant to do. This crumbling facade of perfection is about to crack wide open and you will fall like the petals of asphodel.

I hear choirs in your cries. Every sob is a new verse. Every break is the steady hum of the shower.

I’ve been trying and I’ve been buying

And I’ve been lying and I’ve been crying

And that’s how I know

Our love isn’t what it used to be, then again neither is the economy so we all have our crosses to bear. What used to be an altar to the powers of love and good food, that which used to burn bright in the temples of our bodies, sputters like a flame choked with fumes. Fumes of whatever it is you burn to keep the demons away. I couldn’t say. It smells like losing hope and if that’s too poetic for you, it smells like gasoline. Anger. Like how the tears drip down my face at the mention of you, hot and wet like acid. Like the tracks will burn into my skin like brands. Like this is the way it ends with me forever reminded of you, the way you are burned into my skin.

I pray for relief from this fiery hell you’ve built but all I see are the scars of where you tried to claw your way out. The walls mottle ash and dirt bound together by blood pacts and long forgotten promises. I am a long-forgotten promise to you. You choke down Marlboroughs just as often as you cough them back up but these petals are no blue roses, they are red dahlias. Every breath sounds like a betrayal of what we hold close, the noise of the fire louder in my ears than the lighting of your matches. I take Lobelia and put it with orange lily to make a bouquet I would never give because I am not cruel enough for that. Instead, I replace the malevolence with ambrosia and the hatred with hand-picked daisies, add babies breath and cowslip, keep the smile tacked to my face when all my muscles are pulling down. I ignore the vital notion to run in favour of watching you tear yourself apart. I ignore the urge to save myself, I’d rather save you.

All of the legends

Die at twenty-seven

They all went to heaven

All of the legends

You have long passed twenty-seven and I am glad because had you not I believe you would have fallen to the same fate. Luckily for me, you are healing. An eglantine rose among a bed of nails, all rusted and ready to impale you at any moment. We stood on the balcony at dawn, watched the sunrise as we mourned the loss of the foxglove, shuffled in the age gladiolus and gorse as the seasons changed around us. Your cigarettes no longer bloom green willow, but mayflower, rustling in the breeze. The menthol doesn’t burn my throat as I breathe it in, use my diaphragm as a trampoline to ricochet up my trachea. I bandage your wounds with azaleas, want to grow new hope in old sins, wash away the past and create new memories in the grooves of your ribs.

Some days I watch you dance. You move as though you were never stiffened by the thorn-apple that once locked your joints tight. As if you no longer carry the burden of what we did on your body, old wounds scarred over with white heather. An armour of sorts, holding you up so that you never fall the same way again. When you cough, there are no flowers. Your lungs are clear and happy and you tell me inhaling doesn’t taste like witch hazel anymore. The smile on your face is something I could look at for years. Within it, whole worlds could live and die and I’d be none the wiser.

I realise I am in love with the idea of loving you. It drips from my mouth like honey, sweet and sticky. It ensnares and encapsulates and every syllable you utter is trapped within. It feels like a warm summers day but smells like rat poison and I bite back the feeling of falling because I know that when I do it will hurt. Instead, I worship your body like a temple. We rebuild it from the ground up, new foundations to new roofing. The slate is clean and untouched. We wipe the blood from the walls, replace old brick with stone. A symbol of strength and unity. The only thing that grows is honeysuckle. Neither of us has it in us to worry.

All of the legends

Since I was eleven

All went to heaven

All of the legends

It’s been months. We lay in a field of sunflowers, the stalks high above our heads. My head is on your chest as we look at the clouds. I know if I felt around I could find the faint scars of wormwood by your hip, overflowing through the pale skin. I don’t dare check. Instead, we lay there calmly, relaxing in each other company. We laugh at the clouds and when the sun gets too hot, we sit beneath a peach tree and feed each other. I watch as the sweet juice, drips down your chin and as I laugh I feel the whispers of aloe catch in my throat. I cough it down and wipe the juice with the pad of my thumb, lingering for a second. We kiss and it burns in my stomach, reigniting the fire that you dampened back when you smoked something heavier and washed it down with whiskey.

When the night gets dark, I walk you home - to our home. We kiss on the doorstep like teens and I laugh as you cannot unlock the door. When I wake up the next morning, the room smells of sex and heliotrope. I ask if we can lay there forever, you just kiss my forehead and pull me closer. I bask in the warmth of your body, allow sleep to wash over me like waves, lapping at the shore. You bury your head in my hair and tell me that I smell like Pomegranate. It is only later that I remember my shampoo is apple.

I’ve been trying and I’ve been buying

And I’ve been lying and I’ve been crying

The flowers come back. You cough up hibiscus as 3 am, the blood spattering the tiles of the bathroom and you wash the taste away with a Marlborough. ‘For old time sake,’ you tell me as if I don’t know what you’re doing. The marshmallow pink mixes with the red to create an unpleasant blush shade that mirrors your chest as you take deep drags. When you stub it out you make vague promises of not doing it again. I call your bluff and you laugh and tell me to ‘come here baby’. When I comply, we kiss and you taste like almonds and lost causes.

For a moment I could have sworn we were okay.

And that’s how I know

A single rainflower left at my doorstep. A quiet kiss on the cheek and you were gone.

That I don’t wanna go

*

Flower Dictionary:

Aloe - grief Ambrosia - reciprocated love Azalea - fragile, gratitude, take care Babies breath -innocence, purity Blue Rose - i love you but i can’t have you Cowslip - winning grace Daisies - innocence Eglantine Rose - a wound to heal Foxglove - insecurity Green Willow - false love Gladiolus - strength of character, honour, conviction Gorse - love in all seasons Heliotrope - devotion Hibiscus - delicate beauty Honeysuckle - bonds of love Ivy - faithfulness Lobelia - malevolence Marigold - pain and grief Orange Lily - hatred Orchid - refined beauty Peach - immortality Pomegranate - hell/ the underworld Pussy Willow - goodwill Rainflower - i love you back, i must atone for my sins, i will never forget you Red Dahlia - betrayal and dishonesty Sunflower - loyalty, longevity White Heather - protection

[mishamoonberry]

Plush Toys

baby that’s what i do CH 2 - FFN / AO3

Just so you know, this fic doesn’t have any chronological order whatsoever. So what I wanna write will be written, time skips comes and goes, sometimes we will jump to the past, etc etc.

Enjoy reading!

This chapter includes Pein’s and Kisame’s opinions of Akatsuki’s newest recruit!

Warning: goofy Akatsuki, also this chapter takes place after an amount of time skip

It takes one Kakuzu one look at Akatsuki’s poor money management, and it is with pure horror on his face that he snatches the position of treasurer (and the considerably hefty amount of money as well as its bank book) from Zetsu’s white fingers.

“If you don’t understand how money works, then why are you managing it?!” He says, the tone almost taking a shrill one that he thinks is entirely justified. The book is filled with doodles of poo, and Kakuzu doesn’t want to know why. Zetsu and his strange obsession of poop are not in his top list of the things he wants to know about.

Zetsu, the little fucker, simply shrugs his shoulders. His black half is missing, probably latching onto another aloe vera guy like the creep he is.

It still weird him out a little bit that Zetsu is not a single entity, but one of many.

(My name is Legion, for we are many)

Kakuzu rolls that thought—the thought that sounds like Hayato and his morning routine of reading the bible—away from him swiftly, like how he does everytime he gets new people speaking in his head in the voices of his past Family. Still, really, it’s strange that there’s only one Black Zetsu but so many White Zetsus. It’s jarring, a lot more than finding out that Yuni is apparently an alien.

(And he still thinks that’s something is wrong with the Zetsus).

(Particularly Black Zetsu).

(He is glad he doesn’t have to spend much time with the black half, really).

“Well, nobody wants to do it,” is Zetsu’s eloquent reply, and Kakuzu wonders why Pein didn’t just do it himself or, like, appoint Konan-san or something; the woman looks capable and responsible enough, definitely better than the poo obsessed white-person-cannibal-thing!

(He wonders if he was recruited because of his money managing skills).

(It can’t be, right?)

(Right!?)

(It must be because he’s cool or something, or because of his S-rank reputation, not his money managing skills!)

(He kills people for a living, for God’s sake!)

(Honestly, while the Tsunayoshi in him is insulted, Kakuzu can’t help but to preen. He does love money, so it’s nice to be acknowledged that he knows how to handle his babies).

Zetsu grins at him, and Kakuzu feels like he won’t like what comes out of Zetsu’s mouth later.

His intuition is spot on, of course.

“So I just took the position, cuz somebody has to, right? And besides,” he grins unrepentantly, “it’s fun to doodle on it.”

“…”

Kakuzu wonders if he’ll get marked as Akatsuki’s traitor if he burns Zetsu with his dying will flames. Zetsu is, after all, many. Losing one won’t be that bad. Losing one won’t hurt at all.

That’s right, Kakuzu thinks viciously, his hand lightly sparking flames. It’s just one, he won’t be missed that much.

“Please refrain from murder inside the headquarters, Kakuzu-san,” Konan’s smooth voice interrupts his murderous thoughts and Kakuzu pauses, the sparks of flames on his hands dying like blown candles. Konan’s eyes focus on them for a moment, finding it intriguing that she finds no smoke or burned clothing.

The miser turns to the only woman in the group (and a very pretty one at that) and stares at her with a gaze that conveys his very emotions and thoughts, particularly about Zetsu’s doodling habit, something that the White Zetsus only do when they’re bored.

(Well, Konan thinks, that, or they go out to eat some people.)

“While killing your partner isn’t really recommended,” Kakuzu raises an eyebrow at the leeway she gives him—not recommended doesn’t mean he’s not allowed to, after all—and listens as she continues, “it will be a hassle to clean it up here. If you wish to kill, cleaning the headquarters from the mess will be your responsibility.”

It is then her lips twitches upward for a second, betraying her amusement at this event, and Kakuzu has to wonder if this is her way to smile or smirk.

(It reminds him of Bianchi, somehow).

The woman’s yellow eyes gaze at his green ones for a little while, some sort of camaraderie passing between the both of them, before she nods and saunters away, probably figuring out that Kakuzu has listened to her words and won’t end up killing Zetsu (yet).

Kakuzu, after watching the woman’s retreating back, remembers the mess of an accounting book in his grasp, curses, and makes a beeline to his room to fix the data or… just… whatever can be salvaged and saved from this mess.

They both ignore Zetsu, who is pointing at himself and loudly protesting about the apparent worth of his life.

XXX

Pein doesn’t really know what to think about his newest treasurer.

Being someone who loves money almost as much as he loves his own life, Kakuzu is obviously doing his job fairly well (even if he’s a bit stingy when a request to buy something is esteemed one-sidedly as unnecessary). The traitor of Taki also manages to effortlessly juggle between his work as a treasurer and his missions—although with Akatsuki still being a rather new missing-nin organization, missions are still far and inbetween—as well as his hobby to collect bounties or, well, what he calls as vacation time.

Well, as effortlessly as he can, Pein guesses.

There were times when Kakuzu had to shoo Zetsu away when he was counting money and cataloguing the data while sitting in the headquarters’ lounge, or when he threw a book full of doodles of poo and biceps and muscles and even some poorly drawn genitalia to a snickering White Zetsu.

Kakuzu bought Zetsu a drawing book, sometime later. A thick one.

And coloring pencils.

And crayons.

Lots of crayons.

Pein won’t say it, but Kakuzu seems more like an exasperated father trying to maintain his difficult children than a murderous and blood thirsty missing-nin sometimes.

Kisame fits more into that “blood thirsty” picture, and even Pein finds him sometimes cooking in the kitchen with a blue apron decorated with a stitched picture of a shark and the words ‘fishes are friends’.

(Pein finds out later that it’s a gift from Kakuzu).

(Pein finds out Kakuzu likes to stitch, in which, okay, it fits his fighting style, but he also stitches things for fun, and now he seems more like a mom than anything).

(Pein finds out Kakuzu stitched a mini aloe vera Zetsu doll and gave it to Zetsu for safe keeping).

(The White Zetsus fight over it sometimes).

(Pein wonders if Kakuzu stitched him something and just haven’t found either the time or the guts to give it to him, because Konan got herself a mini Yahiko doll and she loves it).

(…Sometimes, he wonders if he recruited the wrong ninja to be in Akatsuki. Why is his newest recruit so domestic?)

(Kakuzu of Taki is an S-rank missing nin who steals hearts from his village’s elders, why is he so domestic?)

But Kakuzu is strong, and Pein acknowledges that. Not as strong as Pein with his Rinnegan, of course, but the man truly deserves the S-rank he gets within the bingo books.

His movements are swift and agile; he’s sure of his own power and is not overconfident. Kisame, who has gone with the miser to a few missions together, says the man has managed to finish the mission as quickly and efficiently as he could, sometimes even ending it in one blow, probably making the blue skinned man pout over the loss of his chance to fight.

And then, there’s the matter about his flames…

Zetsu and Konan both had told him about the sparking of flames on Kakuzu’s hands—flames that curiously enough didn’t leave smoke or burn marks after they disappeared—that appears whenever he gets fairly irritated or tense.

A kekkei genkai, perhaps, and of a new kind as well, considering his family didn’t have such a thing, according to the information Zetsu gathered about the miser.

That, or it’s just a new jutsu the guy came up with in his long life as a shinobi.

But he hasn’t exactly used the flames for some reason.

Not on missions, where he totally can handle them without the help of his ‘flames’, and not even during the spars he sometimes does with Kisame and rarely, Konan herself.

(She seems to be quite fond of him, although Pein doesn’t know why. He rarely ever interacts with the missing nin outside of necessity, after all).

It makes Pein… curious.

As a leader, he probably can inquire the miser about it and demand a demonstration about the flames.

But Pein knows Kakuzu loves his freedom, the so-called Vacation Time and Leisure inbetween Missions, as Kakuzu himself so eloquently put it.

Or what’s left of it anyway.

He probably will be reluctant to do it, considering he hasn’t truly talked about it to shown it to anyone else blatantly. Although Kakuzu has shown that he is wary of Pein and his power.

If worst comes to worst, he’ll probably lose a very skilled treasurer.

Well, whatever, Pein muses, closing his eyes.

As long as it doesn’t affect the organization and its goals negatively, he shall not bother.

He believes the time will come when it gets revealed to him, anyway.

Soon, soon.

XXX

Kisame thinks Kakuzu is amusing.

True, he lives up to his reputation. Kakuzu is curt, ruthless and definitely lethal. Undeniably, he’s also a really skilled shinobi. In Kisame’s standards, he’s an important, strong ally, and has the potential to be a formidable opponent.

(Although Kakuzu is funny, too, since he saw Kisame looking at the mini Zetsu doll and offered to make him one if Kisame wanted, and when he said he didn’t need such a useless thing, the man got up and made him a freaking apron.

An apron, with a picture of shark and the word friend.

Then Kisame saw a small shark plush sitting in the lounge’s sofa and he laughed).

But Kisame is also not blind, thank you very much.

Although Akatsuki hasn’t made any real moves toward their goal in acquiring the jinchuuriki—save for the three tails in the Mizukage who is already effectively under Uchiha Madara’s influence—it has begun to collect information regarding them.

He’s seen Kakuzu’s flickers of emotions—emotions that are quickly and expertly hidden underneath a blank mask—when he saw the jinchuuriki’s information, and Kisame knows why.

Children.

Some of the jinchuuriki are children.

And Kakuzu, ruthless as he may be, is largely known for his penchant of sparing children, even young Genin or Chuunin that he seems to judge through his own criteria, because he killed some twelve year olds and let some others in the same age live before, and sometimes even women or pregnant women in particular.

This is one of the reasons as to why civilians don’t hesitate much when they approach Kakuzu for mission requests.

Out of all troublesome traits to have, he has to just have his fondness of children.

There will be some problems with the extraction, when the time comes, considering Kakuzu’s apparent weakness toward children in general.

Or, we can just wait until the children are old enough, Kisame thinks with a grin. That way, Kakuzu won’t be adverse to capturing and killing them, would he?

If there’s anything Kisame knows, Kakuzu respects and finds thrill in fighting strong and skilled shinobi. Older jinchuuriki are bound to fit those criteria. Kakuzu will find no qualms in fighting them; he’ll even be honored, if Kisame’s predictions of his traits are spot on.

Still, it’s a long way to go, he muses. Akatsuki still needs to find a name of its own to be feared among the Hidden Villages, to gather enough information and funds, to gather more members, before they can think of capturing those jinchuuriki.

For now, he’ll settle with gathering and getting to know new members, as well as watching how things go around the amusing miser.

Still, that plush toy, though, pffft.

XXX

Aaand done! What do you think?

Pein thinks Kakuzu is weird, and rather intriguing, especially his flames, while Kisame thinks Kakuzu is both funny and also someone that could potentially turn against Akatsuki simply bc of Kakuzu’s (or Tsunayoshi’s, really) fond feelings about children.

It’s Tsunayoshi’s memories at fault. He keeps on remembering Lambo, I-pin and Fuuta.

(Also, he cannot contain his need to make a plush shark. He just can’t. The temptation is too high).

Some of them have been influenced by Kakuzu’s Sky Flame’s harmony quality, can you figure it out between the lines? Tell me who you think has been enchanted by his flames and has potential to be his ‘guardians’!

Review please!

Next chapter: Konan and Zetsu’s thoughts about Kakuzu

[callanpurcell-blog]

work in progress post/person

A LOT CAN HAPPEN IN A YEAR

From June last year... “Hey Olivia, I just wanted to send you a massive message of encouragement and respect for the things you're doing for yourself. I'm in the midst of where you were a little while ago; trying to find funding ($40,000) for my college tuition. Ive finished my first year of studies and have two more to come. It sucks so much that there are people like us who live and breathe this art, and want to make ourselves better people and this world a better place through theatre, but money gets in the way of achieving those goals. It's clear though that you're unstoppable, and your path is one less trodden, going to workshops and intensives etc. Obviously there's more than one way to smash out a life in the theatre, and it's of great importance to remind people that acting school isn't necessarily the only way, and it's not the end of the world if it doesn't work out that way. Best wishes heading your way! Callan”

Saying bye to mum and dad was hard. A hug or four and before it hit me, I was beside a gentleman from Amsterdam who believed this generation can’t live without social media. We spoke a while and laughed a lot; swimming through topics of Australian foods, occupations, the red light district, the time he was deemed a pedophile when he took a photo of a man in a reindeer costume although the mother thought he was taking a photo of her child, the time I went to Uluru and found an overwhelming sense of belonging when the sun woke up behind it, Brexit, where the young people were during the vote for Brexit, the confusion of the air hostess when I asked for pepper but she came back with pepsi, the hilarity of Ad, the Amsterdam gentleman reclining his chair- causing the knees of the sleeping woman behind to wrap around her ears as her feet were on her fold out table, and the marvel of the amount of languages Ad could speak. I just flicked back to facebook and read that being grateful, or speaking of things that you’re grateful about is one of the most effective ways to combat heavier times. I’ll write my happenings very quickly from my first day, just for the archives, but then I’ll dive into the delicious selection of things that make me smile or have made me smile this last month. -Flying over London: that’s a big cloud -Flying into London: still, in a big cloud -Getting out in London: still in the big cloud -Tube strikes--travelled from terminal 3 to 1, 1 to Picadilly line, Picadilly line to Hammersmith, Hammersmith to Monument, Monument to City Thames Link, City Tames Link to West Hampstead, West Hampstead to Kilburn, Kilburn to St John’s Wood, walked from St John’s Wood to Belsize Park. -Inbetween: Damp ground, damp clothes, drizzle. -People pushing and stabbing with the umbrellas and huffing and cursing and yeah, a lot of pushing in- what the fuck?

Ok, that done and dusted. I just can’t let it harden my heart. I’ll learn to find the sunshine inside me.

I stand by the fact that it’s vital to ride through negative emotions just like the positive ones. If I push them down or go all zen and try and ride above them, I won’t a) ever let them out so they’ll just fester like the 16 capsicums I found in the fridge last year at my old sharehouse and b) i wouldn’t have the experience of negotiating myself and my ability through them to get to the other side. I thought that’s what I was training to do, again and again, night after night. Australia was easy for me. Every day is like a day at the baths. Glorious, yes, but easy. Keep it coming, London. But maybe give me a break on Sundays. Sundays are day of rest, remember?

AUSTRALIA.

A. warm welcome from the sun where I fell asleep at the baths and woke up with really serious sunburn. It was a familiar feeling- not being able to lay on your back for longer than 2 minutes, and applying Aloe Vera every other 2.

B.elvoir St seeing Girl Asleep; a play I’ve been wanting to see for about 5 years now. I also left a letter for a hero of mine, Matthew Whittet, asking him if I could work with him.

C.

D.ear Evan Hansen screaming out of the speakers while salty summer air flooded in from the windows. Tyran, how I missed you, brother.

E.pic

F.ish and chips from Stockton. The scollops were practically just batter. I also bought a BBQ chicken. We got out of the 39 degree heat, chucked the air conditioner on and dug into the best Australian meal: chicken and chips with chicken salt.

G.lenrock Lagoon reminded me of what it was like to see with senses other than the eyes. The journey from the carpark to Merewether Baths and back was glorious and worth every step. I’d made a ham and pickle sandwich to eat halfway.

H.earing wild dingoes in Central Australia as I laid in my swag looking up at the stars. Ok, well staring at the stars; making sure I didn’t draw attention to myself as they were drinking water about 5 metres away from me. I didn’t want mum to be the next one in line to say “A dingo ate my baby!” because, let’s face it, I’ll always be her baby.

I.nitiating the walk up Heart attack Hill. The first part to the path across King’s Canyon. Looking up it, you saw people in the distance, like ants. I’ve only had that feeling once before...when I was looking at California Scream in Disneyland.

J.ust spending time with family. Enough said. Especially with Harper though. Her look so intent. She’s a very good listener..and very cheeky. Seeing Uncle Gerry and Aunty Deb too were highlights

K.eeping true to the impulse of the letter. Another letter. A spontaneous yet respectful letter to a girl who had the most gorgeous smile at the baths. I guess that’s the only downside to not having a mobile. But I wrote my name and drew a wave, so we talked still.

L.ying with mum in bed like I was 10 again.

M.ilkshakes with dad at Warners Bay, and him letting ME pay for them...

N.ew years the way I like it. Quite, and symbolic. Spending the first few seconds underwater and being ‘rebirthed’ by gasping for air when I came to the surface. I love symbolic stuff like that. 

O.ld friends and family popping up out of nowhere.

P.opcorn and jersey caramels at the old lake cinema. This was the first time in a long time I didn’t care about rustling wrappers or sniffing or fidgeting, because it was just fun. It was another reminder that actually I AM able to just go watch a film or play and enjoy it because it’s an activity I get to do with the people I love. Rustle away!

Q.uiet conversations on verandahs with friends and really good chicken salad and fruit and new dogs and forgotten gifts.

R.olling around in Maitland with drama kids. Doing workshops back with Annie’s kids from Upstage reminded me that theatre is for everyone, and so is acting. You do lose perspective being at drama school, and think that it’s all a perfect little bubble...but in reality, some of the best comedy or drama I’ve seen play out is from a 4 year old trying to do his laces.

S.unrise at Uluru. Sitting in the red dirt, seeing exactly when the core of the sun rose from the earth with the rays around it.

T.he Universe had some gems up her sleeve. Tarni Kate Beau Renee Erin Daniel Hayley Dom Max Peter Kathryn Bridget

U.nderestimating the beauty of 106.1 classic FM. It gives a nice, lyrical quality to a Newcastle summer.

V.isiting Newcastle Art Gallery and the Newcastle Museum

W.hen Yong, a South Korean kindergarten teacher told me that when she first met me on the Uluru trip, she thought I’d be a “naughty boy”. I was both aroused and confused, but I think she meant ‘bad boy’ because my cap was on back to front at the start. I said I loved my mum and dad though, so there’s no way I was. 

X.tra special memory:

Y.oga and finding freedom in active meditation. Thanks Bridget xx

Z.inc and sunscreen. The smell will always take me back to summer. The colours will always take me back to the 80s.

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10:54 Newcastle Baths 31.12.2016

‘Be the Sunshine Kid the World Needs.’

new music - INSTEAD OF - the ‘go to’ genres new books - INSTEAD OF - the kids books more veggies - INSTEAD OF - just chocolate more water - INSTEAD OF - pepsi swimming - INSTEAD OF - sleeping in yoga - INSTEAD OF - ‘just nothing’ active meditation - INSTEAD OF - ‘just stillness’ kisses and cuddles - INSTEAD OF - playing cool romance - INSTEAD OF - reality checks listening - INSTEAD OF - waiting to speak water - INSTEAD OF - bed risks - INSTEAD OF - regrets honesty - INSTEAD OF - political correctness focus - INSTEAD OF - indecisive heroes - INSTEAD OF - enemies anticipation - INSTEAD OF - anxiety healthy challenges - INSTEAD OF - obstacles encouraging - INSTEAD OF - forcing understanding - INSTEAD OF - replying commitment - INSTEAD OF - pussy-footing boiling hot - INSTEAD OF - luke warm passion - INSTEAD OF - playing it cool naked - INSTEAD OF - out of touch drawing - INSTEAD OF - nothing at all checking in - INSTEAD OF - checking out seeking knowledge - INSTEAD OF - desiring it doing - INSTEAD OF - saying invincible - INSTEAD OF - invisible warrior - INSTEAD OF - worrier star-gazing - INSTEAD OF - stone-kicking people person - INSTEAD OF - hermit singing - INSTEAD OF - silence just because - INSTEAD OF - this is the meaning of life discoveries - INSTEAD OF - decisions howling at the moon - INSTEAD OF - howling in your room honesty - INSTEAD OF - “INTERESTING...” questions - INSTEAD OF - answers using weight - INSTEAD OF - pushing against surrendering - INSTEAD OF - locking clarity and cleansing - INSTEAD OF - chaos change - INSTEAD OF - talking about change touching - INSTEAD OF - seeing sensing - INSTEAD OF - analysing planning - INSTEAD OF - procrastinating your journey - INSTEAD OF - theirs your drum - INSTEAD OF - theirs your love - INSTEAD OF - theirs saving - INSTEAD OF - spending BREATH. JUST MORE BREATH. AND MORE IMAGINATION AND COLOUR. London is my bitch - INSTEAD OF - I am London’s bitch sharing - INSTEAD OF - shame cleansing - INSTEAD OF - clutter negotiation - INSTEAD OF - right way / wrong way soul - INSTEAD OF - sight MORE SOLAR PLEXUS experimentation - INSTEAD OF - expectation making time - INSTEAD OF - finding time sweaty body - INSTEAD OF - not...sweaty intuition - INSTEAD OF - institution conversation - INSTEAD OF - confrontation beautiful thoughts - INSTEAD OF - bashing ones

[thezacharywinters]

At the Club

@hope-robinson

Hope watched as Zach left the club and bit her lip as she smiled. She shook her head before going back to finish things up. The day went as expected, more people were starting to fill the club as the night got later and tonight she saw more of crowd which made her really happy. She was scared it wouldn’t be like it was but every day, little by little, she could see it starting to return to normal. She was getting ready to leave when she bumped into someone causing them to spill their drink on her. “Shit.” She said softly as she looked down at her clothes before hearing someone apologize over and over. “Hey it’s okay. Mistakes happen.” She said looking up to see the guy and offering him a soft smile. “Uh let me get you a new drink, don’t worry about it’s on the house. It was my fault anyway.” She joked before turning to the bartender and telling him to get another round on her. She was walking away to go change her clothes, when she felt them grabbing her wrist and she winced pulling it back to her.

“Sorry.” He said after seeing her reaction and she just shook her head. “Not your fault.” Hope said quickly dismissing it and returning her hand to the side of her. She saw him looking at her wrist but he quickly looked back up at her and continued with what he was trying to say, “Right...um well I thought I should help you. You know I did spill it on you and you are kind enough to pay for a whole new round. Let me give you something?” He suggested. “You have a pair of women’s clothes I can change into with you?” She asked teasingly. “No, no, that would be weird. But lucky for you I am a doctor and I can help you with your wrist.” He smiled.

“You’re a doctor?” She asked, not believing it as the guy in front of her looked no older than her and was dressed quite casually. She knew the type of crowd that partied at her club and a doctor certainly wasn’t someone that would be there. “Well...no. But I know a better solution than covering it with makeup.” He said. Hope’s face dropped and she shook her head. “No I’m fine. Thanks. I’m just going to change. Enjoy the drinks.” She said before turning away and heading to one of the private rooms. 

“Wait, shit sorry.” He said after grabbing her wrist again and seeing her wince. “Look okay, I know you are a princess and I am not hitting on you. I’m just...I’m trying to be helpful. So please let me. It is the least I can do.” He said pleading with Hope. Hope opened her mouth to say no but he quickly continued to talk, “I literally won’t leave you alone until you say yes.”

The siren sighed as she just nodded, not wanting to draw anymore attention to her and the guy then she was getting at the moment. “Sure, come to the back with me. We have a first aid kit or whatever there.” She replied before seeing the guy smile and nod.

They walked towards the back and headed into her private office before she closed the door behind him. “Just give me a minute to change.” Hope said before grabbing a new dress and going to the bathroom and locking the door behind her. 

“You didn’t tell me your name.” She said, speaking to him through the bathroom as she started changing.

“Oh sorry it’s Jack.” He replied

“Its okay I didn’t ask.” She replied coming out and laying her clothes on the desk. “It’s nice to meet you Jack, I’m Hope.” She smiled.

“I know, I mean...I have seen you around before. I mean not that I’m a stalker or anything. I just I’m a siren so I grew up watching you. I mean again not like that I just mean-” Hope laughed and cut him off as she smiled, “I know what you mean. I’m sure I gave you quite a show while I was growing up.” She said moving to get the first aid kit and handing it to him.

Jack just smiled as he shook his head, “No you were a pretty cool royal. I mean not only are you a hybrid but you like didn’t care. You made your own rules which was pretty cool to a 14 year old boy.” He joked. “And not to mention you are gorgeous...sorry. I also know you are married.” He said shyly as he took the kit and placed it down on her desk. “No, no, I mean I am married but thank you for the compliment. I appreciate it.” She said sitting on the desk and handing him her wrist. “Now if you fuck it up more I’m gonna have to kill you.” She teased. 

Jack laughed as he started wiping the makeup off her wrist. “Wow okay, the pressure is on.” He teased her back. The room took on a comfortable silence as he put aloe on her wrist and starting wrapping it. They didn’t really talk about much, just what it was like growing up as sirens before he was done and looking down at her. “There you go. Good as new.” 

“Thank you.” She smiled standing up and realizing how close they were when she did it. “Oh sorry.” She said trying to move before feeling him grabbing her waist and holding her in place. “Okay...Jack please let go.” Hope said looking at him. He looked at her for a few seconds before starting to lean in. 

[Zach]

Zach knew that it was taking Hope a bit longer than usual to get home so he headed back to the club. He couldn’t find her out on the floor so he figured she was bringing drinks to one of the private rooms or starting to clean them. Seeing the male with his hand on her and leaning in, Zach walked over and pushed them apart. “Sorry, about that, but I believe my wife told you to let her go.” He growled as his eyes turned red as his could feel his hand applying quite the amount of force to Jack’s wrist which should have triggered the male to let her go. 

[Hope]

Hope felt someone pushing them apart and quickly realized it was Zach as she could hear his growling soon after. “Zach stop, you are going to hurt him.” She said taking Zach’s hand away from Jack’s and holding it. She could see the male was in a lot of pain and she could also feel the anger that was radiating off of her husband. “Zach it’s fine. Calm down.” She said looking at him.

[Zach]

When the other let go he could feel Hope taking his hand. His body instantly calmed down a little bit as he heard her words. “He was going to kiss you and you and I both know what that could do. What if I didn’t make it back? He could have killed you.” He says while looking at her. 

[Hope]

“I know but acting like that isn’t going to save me. He was just making a stupid mistake. I’m okay. He was just helping me.” Hope said before turning to see Jack starting to leave. “Shit, Zach you know people are just starting to come back as it is, now I have to worry about him telling people that if anyone so much as looks at me you will hurt them.”

[Zach]

“If I didn’t push between you when I did we both know he would have kissed you and you tend to not see it coming most of the time and that isn’t your fault but that is just something I am aware of so that is why I act quickly when it happens. I know that if you caught me in the same situation you would have done the same thing. You don’t have to worry about him telling people if he is dead.” He explains before going over and shutting the door before Jack could leave. “Sorry where do you think you are going? We weren’t done talking to you.” 

[Hope]

“Zach…” She stopped as she watched him move over to close the door. She sighed softly knowing what was going to happen and just moved the first aid kit out of the way. She knew Jack would probably say something stupid to make Zach even more upset and then it would just get worse from there. People will notice he’s gone you know?

[Zach]

Just let me handle it please. He tells her. “I am sorry about earlier with the whole wrist thing. I didn’t mean to hurt you that badly. You have to understand Hope is my life and I will do anything to keep her safe. Here.” He took out some of the fairy dust he had in his pocket and sprinkled it on Jack’s wrist so that it was healed. “Think of it as a peace offering. I am sure you can forget about this misunderstanding since you have a family of your own. And I know you definitely wouldn’t do anything to hurt your wife or family.” He watched as the male nodded before saying thank you. 

[Hope]

Hope watched Zach and though watching him kick ass to defend her turned her on, there was something very sexy about him taking the high road and not letting his anger control his actions. She bit her lip as she never took her eyes off of Zach until she heard the male say he would keep quiet if they paid him. She just rolled her eyes and moved to write a check. “How much?”

[Zach]

When they mentioned something out of their price range he shook his head, “Sorry that won’t do. We can’t afford something like that. No one can and here I thought we were making progress.” He frowned before his hands went to the other’s throat before ripping out his vocal cords. “Sorry, can’t let anything happen to my family if you decide to spill what happened. You understand right?” He asks before licking the blood from his fingers. 

[Hope]

Her eyes widened when she heard the male’s price and she knew she couldn’t afford that. The only person who could was her father but what was she going to do, ask him to pay her blackmailer. She watched Zach rip Jack’s vocal cords out and bit her lip. “Just kill him baby.” She said moving to grab Zach’s toys. “You know, I keep them just in case you need them.” She smirked.

[Zach]

“Why kill him? This is part of my job.” He smirked before picking up the body and dragging it over to the wall before changing him up. Zach of course treated the wound before wrapping the male’s neck so that he wouldn’t bleed out too quickly. “You know...I never thought you would fall for that family line. I know you. I know your family. I know what you have done and while you might think that the whole innocent act is cute and that women will fall for it. It just doesn’t sit right with me.” He tells him before walking over to where Hope had put out his toys. “Where to start…what should we start with baby girl?” 

[Hope]

Hope watched Zach move the body and smiled as he headed over to her, “Hm I think it should be fast and painful. That way I don’t have to wait very long for what I want.” She purred in his ear as she let her hands run over his body. 

[Zach]

“It’s not painful if it is fast. But we can do what we want while he bleeds out?” He smirked before going over and locking the door. Walking back over to his toys he takes out a long edged saber toothed saw. 

[Hope]

“But I’m horny.” She pouted watching him pick his weapon of choice.

[Zach]

“Give me a minute, how about you strip out of that beautiful outfit of yours.” He says before grabbing the eye-ball baller. He then goes over and takes out the male’s eye balls and letting them fall to the floor before using the saw and stabbing it in one of his lungs. “Oh sorry that has to hurt.” He smirked. 

[Hope]

Hope nodded as she started stripping out of her dress and let it hit the floor. She moved to sit on the desk and started letting her hands run over her body before letting her fingers go under her panties and play with her clit.

[Zach]

Zach put the tool down once he finished as he walked over to Hope after licking the blood from his hands. “Aren’t you just beautiful?” He smirked before going to his knees as he watched her play with herself. 

[Hope]

She bit her lip as she slid two fingers into herself and watched Zach lick the blood from his hands. “Fuck you are so hot. Seeing you like that always turns me on.”

[Zach]

“Mhm seeing you always turns me on.” He smirked before letting his tongue slide over her clit as her fingers went inside of her. 

[Hope]

Hope threw her head back as she thrusted her fingers faster and moaned as he licked her clit. “Fuck me…” She moaned. “Zach...will you play with my nipples.”

[Zach]

“Of course baby girl.” He purrs before letting his hands come up and his fingers rolled and pinched her nipples between his finger tips. 

[Hope]

“Ah…” She moaned as she lay back against her desk. Her eyes blazed red as her pheromones filled the air. 

[Zach]

He slides his tongue inside of her alongside her fingers as he brushed it against her sweet spot wanting more. His hands massaging her boobs as he growled to bring her more pleasure. 

[Hope]

Hope’s hips bucked wildly as the pleasure raced through her body. “Fuck I’m gonna cum.” She moaned loudly. “Fuck...fuck…”

[Zach]

He shifted his tongue to make it grow inside of her. Cum for me baby girl. He growled while speeding up his motions. 

[Hope]

She couldn’t hold back any longer as her back arched and she moaned out Zach’s name loudly as she came. “Fuck Zach.”

[Zach]

Zach made sure to lick up every last drop. “You know I am going to fill that pussy with all my cum. You might end up pregnant after this.” He smirked before kissing up her body and taking her nipple in his mouth before gently nipping at it.

[Hope]

Hope smirked as she licked her fingers clean. She watched him kiss up her body and moaned as he wrapped his lips around her nipples. Her back arched as she could feel herself getting horny again. “I wouldn’t mind that daddy. I want another baby. So you should fill me up with all that hot cum.”

[Zach]

Zach doesn’t hesitate to unbuckle his pants and push them down as his erection springs up and hits his stomach. “Come here baby girl.” He purrs before lining himself up and pushing into her. His hands moving to her hips as he holds her in place. 

[Hope]

She bit her lip his erection hit his stomach. “Fuck daddy.” She moaned as he lined up against her. She moaned his name loudly as he slid into her and she pulled him down to her. “I love you so much.”

[Zach]

Zach thrusted into her hard and fast as he kissed her passionately when Hope pulled him down. “You feel so good baby girl...I love you so much too. Fuck I love you so much.” He moaned. 

[Hope]

She moaned against his lips as she could hear her desk squeaking under her. “I’m sorry for letting him in here.” She moaned as her nails dug into his hair.

[Zach]

He growled as he snapped his hips into hers. “Now you know better for next time don’t you baby girl?” He growled while his eyes turned red as his body started to shift while inside of her as he tried to control himself. 

[Hope]

Hope could feel him growing inside of her and screamed in pleasure when he picked up the pace. “I promise I won’t do it again.” She moaned. “Fuck you feel so good.”

[Zach]

“Good girl.” He lets the growl rip from his throat as he could feel himself getting close. “You feel so fucking tight baby girl.” He purrs before letting his hand move down to rub circles against her clit. 

[Hope]

Her back arched when he rubbed her clit and her legs trembled around his waist. “I’m gonna cum daddy.” She moaned.

[Zach]

“Cum for me baby girl.” he growled while looking at her before kissing down her neck .

[Hope]

Hope clenched around him tightly as she moaned out his name and came.

[Zach]

Zach thrusted into her and filled her with his cum as he hit his peak and came deep inside of her. “I love you so much.” He purrs. 

[Hope]

“I love you more.” She said smiling as she could feel his cum dripping out of her.

[Zach]

“I think that is impossible.” He smiles before kissing her happily.