#But in other news you can still get most of last year's holiday horses on their site as well.

[short-horse]

Yes, truly a limited edition item when last year's traditional sized holiday horse, Snowbird, is still available on their website.

[aethon-recs]

Tomarrymort HOLIDAY SPECIAL 🌿🍒🎄🎅❄️☃️🎁🦌🎀

Christmas in… February?? Sure, why not!? 🎄❄️🎁 See below for a selection of my favorite fics posted over the last holiday season (20 – 31 December 2024), many of them festive or holiday-themed, all either completed or one-shots 🤍 Check them out if you get nostalgic for the holidays sometime this year!

*

A Life, Stolen by @riverxsong-ao3 (T, 5k, complete)

The Battle of Hogwarts has ended. Voldemort is dead. Harry has told no one that he was a Horcrux, not even Ron or Hermione. He owes it to Ginny to tell her, especially after her own encounter with a Horcrux five years earlier. But Ginny has a secret of her own, one which Harry will regret hearing for the rest of his life.

a pale horse by @ictyn (E, 7k, complete)

Harry, a penniless orphan, struggles to survive under the superstitious judgement of his isolated puritan community. One day, a vile omen is left before the church, an omen which portends only doom. The elders choose to cast Harry out, sending him as a sacrifice to a crumbling castle where a demon is said to lurk and reap souls for the Devil. The Dark Lord waits within, ravenous for the taste of his blood and the sweetness of his soul.

Adhesion by @telelli-writes (T, 5k, complete)

Overachieving sixth-year prefect Tom Riddle is on the fast track to be Head Boy next year, a Department Head by thirty, and Minister for Magic by forty. Harry Potter, Quidditch star and the most popular boy in school, doesn't factor anywhere into those plans or Tom's life. Until Professor Slughorn pairs the two of them together on a Potions project.

AITAH For Seducing My Co-Worker To Get Cadaver Parts? by @jadedandconfusedao3 (E, 3k, complete)

A mysterious person who works for the Department of Mysteries Necromancy Department is in an unusual predicament and needs help from the internet to try and navigate the terms of his terrifying but rewarding new relationship. Chaos ensues.

anxious gods at a fey hour by @endlessburningdarkness (E, 16k, complete)

Auror Riddle has a bad day, unsurprisingly, the fault lies with Minister for Magic Potter. Potter’s ability to attract trouble should be studied by the Department of Mysteries as a heretofore undiscovered magical phenomenon. Tom isn’t about to take it lying down.

Bitter Weather by @known-concepts (T, 1k, complete)

Harry has spent a miserable life in the shadows of his parents. Voldemort's footsteps are tempting in comparison.

Blood of the Covenant by @solelyseeking (E, 10k, complete)

Perhaps more than Parseltongue ran through Tom's veins. The Gaunts carried a hunger in their blood- not just for power, as is their right- but for each other. Tom thinks of the way their legacy had dripped from Harry's tongue, later that night, as his wrist works beneath the covers. He feels no shame for his urges. Tradition is sacred, after all. And Tom had always wanted a family.

Cerulean blue by @albondiguilla007 (T, 5k, complete)

Voldemort and Harry adopt their younger versions and spend the summer in Ottery St Catchpole. They spoil them rotten and get sunburnt. That’s it. Oh, and they nap.

Change Me by @valkyrie-chemist (E, 17k, complete)

Harry Potter had grown up listening to tales of the cursed Lord Voldemort. Trapped in his mysterious manor, the man—the monster—was said to be crueler and more hungry than Death itself. So why then, Harry thought, was the groundskeeper still alive? What sway did Tom Riddle have over Lord Voldemort to stay his wicked hand when Harry had so brazenly trespassed on his lands? Whatever it was, it was not enough. For try as he might, not even Tom could persuade the monster to let Harry leave.

Cold Mornings by @valkyrie-chemist (G, 1k, complete)

“Hey, wake up.” He wants to sound annoyed but can tell he’s failing miserably. Stupid morning voice. “V.” Voldemort breathes in slow and deep before letting out a groggy and put-upon hum. The arms around him only tighten.

CONQUER by @ictyn (E, 8k, complete)

Blood dribbles from Voldemort’s ruined lips. Harry’s gaze catches on the sinkhole of his mouth, red and wet and inviting, a spring trap with ambrosia as the bait. Gravity shifts beneath his knees and Harry finds himself leaning down, forward, forward, forward, until he’s tasting that mouth, the copper and charcoal, the same thing Tom tasted like the last time they kissed, thirty years ago on the charred remains of a battlefield. A kiss to seal the dissolution of their vows, their rings, their promises to have and to hold. A kiss that started a war, a war that neither could ever win.

his love life and death by @noctelier (T, 5k, complete)

Tom Riddle doesn’t get sick. His immune system, just like the rest of him, is extraordinary. Incomparable. No one would dare suggest otherwise. Which is why everyone goes silent when he starts to cough. Or: Tom contracts Hanahaki Disease, knows what he must do about it, and decides he’s better than all that (until he doesn’t).

Ho, Ho, Ho by @moontearpensfic (E, 3k, complete)

Tom's parents take him shopping at the mall, where he scopes out snake paraphernalia and a Santa Claus with pretty green eyes.

How to Stop a Budding Dark Lord: Books. Lots of Books. by Lytri (T, 2k, complete)

Harry is certain that he can prevent Tom Riddle from becoming a Dark Lord by bombarding him with birthday presents.

inhibit by @ictyn (E, 11k, complete) 

The war is lost. The resistance has fallen to the strength of Voldemort’s dark army. Harry cuts a deal to save his loved ones by becoming the Dark Lord’s bonded spouse. In order to survive his wedding night Harry takes a potion that removes all of his inhibitions—and the Dark Lord won’t know what hit him.

it was christmas eve, babe by @ohyondermemphis (G, 3k, complete)

Maybe everyone deserves a second chance on Christmas.

Mistletoe Managed by @tommarvoloriddlesdiary (T, 3k, complete)

“What’s so bad about magical mistletoe?” Harry asks. Hermione sighs, “Well, magical mistletoe won’t let a person go until they share a heartfelt kiss... So he’ll be there a while.”

Naughty Or Nice? by @dragonaireabsolvare (E, 2k, complete)

What do you give the baddest, naughtiest boy of them all? You spank him and rail him nicely against the wall.

No Ribbons, No Tags by @chaos-bear (E, 3k, complete)

Harry finds a strange creature in the mountains of his snowflake home.

O Come, All Ye Faithful by @shyinsunlight (E, 3k, complete)

The sanctity of midnight mass requires dignity, composure, and absolutely not dropping the thurible when Harry fucking Potter walks in fifteen minutes late. Harry, who hasn’t darkened the church door since last Easter, and who’s apparently decided Christmas Eve is the perfect time to make his triumphant return to worship.

picture-perfect by @aitafrog (G, 1k, complete)

Tom loves Harry. Harry loves Christmas. And now, unfortunately, Christmas is Tom's problem, too.

seven by lilacscented (T, 7k, complete)

Harry meets Tom Riddle on the first day of school. He has just turned seven. “So you’re like me,” he says, a statement, not a question. “Meet me in the woods later this afternoon.”

Silence Before the Execution by @liquidluckandstuff (T, 3k, complete)

Instead of dying at the battle of Hogwarts, Voldemort was captured. Now, Harry is being asked to execute him. He decides to sneak down into Azkaban to talk to Voldemort one last time to hear his final words in peace. Too bad there is this hole in Harry's chest where the horcrux used to be, or it would be a lot easier.

Since We've No Place to Go by @marrythemonstersao3 (G, 2k, complete)

In Godric's Hollow on Christmas Eve, Harry accidentally wishes on a shooting star that things could be different. A few streets away in Bathilda Bagshot's house, a bright light flashes, and soon Voldemort, Nagini, and Bathilda wake up without their memories. Harry has no idea how different things are about to get.

Speak in Tongues by @moontearpensfic (E, 5k, complete)

Harry bakes a birthday cake for Tom. It has been said, after all, that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. But nothing in Harry's world ever goes quite the way he expects.

some enchanted evening by @theonceandfuturequeenoftarts (M, 2k, complete)

When the Minister's office catches word of an assassination attempt, Auror Harry Potter steps in to save Minister Tom Riddle. (Who happens to be her partner.) By Polyjuicing as her. Surely this will go well.

stumbling into wonderful by @satflesk22 (E, 5k, complete)

The Ministry sees fit to meddle at Hogwarts in an attempt at curtailing rising pureblood sentiments, to try and lure prospective recruits away from the Dark Lord Nott. Unsurprisingly, the Heir of Slytherin is stuck together in a room with the Chosen One. The worst part is probably that it bloody works.

The Betrayal (and Boon) of One's Own Biology by @riverxsong-ao3 (E, 7k, complete)

Tom Riddle had always known he was destined for greatness. As a young wizard, he was certain he would present one day as an Alpha - strong, powerful, in charge. When he did not, he came to accept that he must, in fact, be a Beta. Then, one day, everything changed.

The Descent by @chaos-bear (E, 5k, complete)

Secrets, grief and blood magic collide in the depths of the Austrian Alps.

tell me, baby by @theonceandfuturequeenoftarts (T, 1k, complete)

Last Christmas, Harry tried to give Draco his heart. It didn't go very well. This year, he's just trying to stay sober enough not to embarrass himself like he's sure he did at last year's Ministry Yule Gala. (He wouldn't know, since he doesn't remember much of it.)

To: Anonymous by @blackseatwenty (G, 2k, complete)

After a failed Transmigration Ritual, Tom Riddle is cursed by the Soul Keeper to endlessly visit alternate universes where his other selves live happy, successful lives. He cannot harm them, his cruel fate is to watch them for eternity. Harry Potter, because of the ritual and a fucked up rule with Death, is magically bonded to Tom, forced to follow him wherever he goes.  And in every new universe they land, it's always Christmas.

Unwinding the Minister (Hypothetically) by @ramabear (E, 4k, complete)

It's the end of December and Head Auror Harry Potter finds himself in the Minister's office once more and he can't help but wonder, how much the young, uptight Minister really just needs to unwind for a night. And how much he'd be happy to help.

what a Christmas to have the blues by @theonceandfuturequeenoftarts (G, 1.5k, complete)

Harry told himself he wouldn’t let Tom wreck his Christmas, and he hasn’t. He spent the day with his family in everything but blood and enjoyed himself. But that doesn’t mean he’s able to go on completely unaffected.

with elder; in yew by @virgil-anon (E, 8k, complete)

When someone breaks Tom's wand, he's furious and as broken as his trusted yew. However, Tom’s Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, Professor Evans, is mysteriously able to fix it for him.

whenever you want me (you've got me til the end of time) by @toast-ranger-to-a-stranger (T, 1k, complete) 

The first time it happens, Harry thinks it’s nothing more than a coincidence. The second time gives Harry some amount of pause. The third time, as usual, is the charm.  And, really, Harry should’ve known better.

*

[natthehorsewitch]

A story in manifestation

Let me tell you a story about witchcraft and manifestation:

On November 9, my beautiful Jake (Del Mar WSS) was found deceased in his stall. The day was filled with grief and tears, phone calls no one should have to make to his insurance, trying to organize a necropsy on a holiday weekend, and then trying to find transport for his remains to the university so he could get the necropsy done.

Jake’s breeder (we’ll call her K) was in disbelief when I called and told her the news but she (from over an hour away) managed to organize transport for Jake AND get the necropsy started on a Saturday of a holiday weekend (have I mentioned it was a holiday weekend?) During one of our many phone calls back and forth this day I had made a joke about Kyle, Jake’s full brother from this year and how I could buy him now. (She’s produced two horses I’ve called in love with on sight and they were Jake and Kyle. And both times I was unable to buy them right away because life).

After all the chaos was over and I was at home the breeder called me and told me that someone had flown from Texas to California to look at Kyle and she was sending her trainer to look at him the following Thursday and organizing a PPE for him. Nothing was expected to pop on the PPE and nothing really did. There was apparently one anomaly that our vet didn’t think was a big deal. He’s only 5 months old there’s a good chance he’s going to grow out of it. (I personally think rads on baby babies are pretty pointless as so much can change as they grow.)

Ok. Well, if it’s meant to happen it will, I thought. Over the next two days, in my grief I became physically ill at the idea of Kyle going to another home if I didn’t throw my hat in the ring, so I did. I told K I was interested and I would match the offer and waive a PPE. She of course refused to sell him out from under these folks (because she’s a good and moral person which is why we are friends). The trainer came out and seemed to like him as well and was impressed with my friend’s breeding program. At this point, there was no reason to believe he wouldn’t sell. I went to check out her other babies last Saturday and there was no zing with any of them except Kyle. Kyle was so much like his brother but not like him at all, but the most attractive thing: his brain works the same way as his brother’s. They weren’t the same horse but they were similar in the ways that mattered to me. That caused me to buy Jake in the first place.

I immediately went home and did a manifestation meditation. I did a meditation where I envisioned I owned Kyle and what that would look like. Then I wrote his name and birthdate and my name and birthdate on a bay leaf, both sides. Wrote his name on a black chime candle (he is black). And lit it.

I prepared a jar, cleansed with with dragon’s blood incense, and in my cauldron mixed lotus (lock opening) rose (luck) star anise (luck) dandelion(wishes, also represents Hecate and it was her night!), a “fortune” mixture I was given (Haven’t the foggiest what was in it but I needed some “Fortune” and thus it made its way into the spell), and some of his brother’s hair. I put that mixture in a small jar with a small piece of green aventurine and tiger’s eye. I sealed the jar with the wax from the candle over the cauldron, burned the bay leaf and used it to light the remnants of the spell herbs and hair on fire. Then I let the candle burn all the way down and placed the jar near my token of Epona and my hematite horse carving on my altar. I did all this with him in my mind, envisioning him coming home to me.

By Monday I still hadn’t heard. I charged a citrine shaped like a moon. I carried Ehwaz, Jera and Uruz in my pocket with the citrine. And Monday night I came home and did a repeat of the spell (sans hair though because that’s now a precious commodity), put my tokens around a black chime candle carved with his name and my name to charge them and let the candle burn all the way down.

Yesterday, I carried my tokens again and K called me around 10am to tell me that against all odds, the buyers mysteriously passed on him and did I want to work out a deal. I did and I signed a contract and now I own Kyle!

Everyone: meet Kyle (registered as Divination WSS because how I got him was ~ m a g i c k ~)

I was thinking about changing his name to Death Valley WSS (the breeder’s name theme is places in California and his sire’s name begins with a D) but that gets mixed reviews and my mom is absolutely against it and he’s her grandchild now .

If you read this whole thing, please comment because you deserve a cookie.

alt text for all photos: photo of a black colt with three white socks

[asksakitherito]

Good Evening Saki,

Since the Village is beginning to decorate for the season of winters crest, I felt it was time I begin planning for Christmas in this new age.

Back in my own time I was quite used to spending the season alone training in the mountains to sharpen my skills while others were lazing about singing songs and celebrating. I lost my parents fairly early on in life and felt that a family-based holiday such as this was simply unrelated and pointless to me.

However, Tulin the other day asked me what I was getting him and he seemed remarkably upset when I informed him the answer was nothing as I was going to leave over the holiday season to give you and your family space to celebrate together without my intrusion.

I feel...a touch guilty for upsetting the boy, so perhaps I could...drop by with a present for him? If I wasn't intruding, of course. I do not wish to interrupt your family's traditions. I can just leave it at the door if you'd prefer.

Admittedly I've never had to aquire anybody a Christmas present before and I'm particularily unsure where to start. The boy already has a decent bow and enough arrows to last a lifetime - what more could he need? I considered providing him with some high power explosives but I expect you may disapprove of such a gift. Some marbles perhaps?? Do children of this age still play with marbles? They were all the rage when I was a boy, I have no idea what fledglings enjoy now days. Are yoyos still 'cool'?

I know that the winter celebrations are most important to people and I respect that you and Teba likely feel uncomfortable bringing up my invasive presence roosting with your family like an overgrown fledgling without their own nest, so I want you to know that I am perfectly used to spending the season elsewhere, I'm certain I can locate a suitable roost somewhere out of your way, it is what I have always done. All I request is that you inform me whether you would like me to leave before Christmas eve or just for the day - and whether you'd prefer I keep my distance until the new year or whether it is acceptable for me to return for the fleeting days of December?

Revali. Teba and I expected you to stay in for the holidays, please don't feel the need to stay away. I speak for both Teba and Tulin when I say I hope you chose to join us for Christmas and New years. However if you don't want to stay you do not have to, it is entirely your choice Revali. (However I will be making honey candy, I believe I found a useable recipe)

In today's society wooden toys are popular, young girls play with wooden dolls and boys with wood horses, Tulin's last one broke the day he got it. So I'd recommend getting him something durable.

I will be buying him paints for him to use, so if you do he could decorate it as he pleases. Maybe that will help him to be more careful with it.

[lunarubra]

This is me blabbing away and trying to make sense of this crazy moment that's my life... Kind of like a PSA, without a real structure.

(Let's start with an apology, this was supposed to be short, just a couple of lines long, asking for some forgiveness for being so absent, and it turned into a small vent about my crazy life. Synthesis has never been one of my strongest features, apparently.)

Life has been crazy lately. April, May, and June are always hectic months for a teacher, and this year looks like it's going to be even worse. Right now, I'm juggling a full teaching post, a university research, a social life with a partner, a new kitten bringing me everyday dead lizards (she is a serial killer in disguise), and being selected as an internal commissioner for the high school diploma this year. And no, the last one is not an honor; it's more like a punishment for younger professors who don't have the authority to say no to older colleagues, plus a ton of paperwork and two more months of work while everyone else is on holiday. Yuppie for me. But joking aside, I'm not complaining about my job. I'm happy to teach, and compared to a lot of other jobs out there, I feel privileged to do what I'm doing. I love my kiddos, and even though most of the time they behave like dunderheads, teaching supports my creativity and gives me so many insights into my life.

But let's get to the point of all this. I am feeling slightly guilty for not being as active here as I should be and for not having enough mental energy and time to dedicate myself to writing more. To my lovely mutuals, I'm in awe of all that you're posting right now. I apologize for not replying and commenting on your amazing content as much as I would like. I just wanted to say, it's not because I'm disappearing; I'm just really busy, and I can't wait for the moment when I'll feel more chilled and can treat myself to all your new chapters, moodboards, and all the amazing content you're creating. I know I am being a small silent weight in your tag list, so thank you for still including me <3

About "Shadow of the Sea," I have a chapter ready and one WIP of the following one. I want to post the one that's ready sometime in the next week, but after that, I'm not sure when I'll be able to write the next one. So Jiyan and Cillian are taking a small break. I'm going to continue the story; this is not a goodbye. I have many ideas and plans for those two idiots; I'm just waiting for some writing energy and time in my schedule.

And yeah, I understand if you're thinking, "Are you aware that your blog and story are read by less than 10 people and no one really gives a damn?" Yes, I am aware, and this post is mostly for me, writing it down it helps me a lot, giving some sort of clarity. However, I've had the chance to meet amazing creators since I got busy on Tumblr again a couple of months ago. People who supported me and helped me, so this is more me trying to explain why my support isn't at its 100% right now and trying to excuse myself since I feel like a horrible mutual right now.

Ah, one last thing, maybe the only thing that will pop up on my blog are some "Slow Horses" GIFs. Thanks to Alex, @cillmequick, Jackson Lamb, and River Cartwright have become my new obsession, and creating GIFs is one of the few things that calm me after a busy hectic day and make me use some of that creative energy left.

I think that's it. Please still free to write me and contact me about my fic, blog, shenanigans; I will try to reply as soon as possible. Sending you all a big hug if you arrive till the end of this long long lengthy text xD

[twtd11]

Tumblr, it is time. It is time for me to tell you about this year’s lesbian hallmark-esque movie from Tello Films. To wit:

A Holiday “I Do”

Much like Christmas at the Ranch, which I talked about last year, this movie is, well, more charming than good. Also like Christmas at the Ranch, it takes place at a horse ranch. Or farm? Or stables? It’s never quite clear except that they make some money from giving riding lessons.

Somehow, as has been pointed out to me, the marketing for this film completely ignores the whole horse aspect of the movie. Maybe because they didn’t want the audience to think it was Christmas at the Ranch 2.0? Which is fair considering that is, in fact, basically what it is. Maybe Tello Films has a hook up with some horse people?

Anyway, we have our lead, Jane. Here’s the sich with Jane: Jane had big career aspirations but she met a boy, thought she fell in love, had a baby, then divorced the boy because she realized she was gay. She and the daughter moved in with mom when Jane’s dad died. I can’t remember the daughter’s name and IMDb isn’t helping me out here, so I’m just going to call her the kid.

The kid likes to say droll, sophisticated, self-aware things that sound exactly like what you expect a kid to sound like in a movie about lesbians made by queer people, but which have no relation to how kids actually talk. Yes, kids can be droll and sophisticated and self-aware, but this kid’s voice was 100% constructed by an adult who maybe hasn’t spent a lot of time around kids. I mean, I haven’t spent a lot of time around kids that age either, but I’m pretty sure they don’t sound like this kid. But still, the kid is funny most of the time, so it kinda works.

Back to the plot:

So Jane is alone and lonely and there’s an obligatory speed dating scene where we meet a bunch of stereotypical lesbians which wants to be funnier than it actually is. She goes home and laments her singlehood. But she can’t lament for too long because Jane’s ex-husband and his new fiancée are about to arrive in town. They’re in town to get married and Jane is in charge of the bachelor party. You see, the ex husband is also Jane’s best friend.

Here’s a question (which is never answered): if the ex-husband’s only connection to this small town is that his ex-wife lives there, why did he choose to have his wedding there? We never get an answer for that question.

After all of that set up, I finally get to introduce the love interest. Her name is Sue, and she’s the lovely couple’s wedding planner!

To facilitate shenanigans, the lovely couple goes off to the airport to pick up the fiancée’s parents and they get stuck there overnight because of the snow. This means that the bride isn’t there to taste the catering and do other things the bride should do before the big day (personally, I’d think you’d want to taste the cake and the catering more than a day before your wedding, but I’ve never gotten married so what do I know?) Jane, who is instantly enamored of Sue, happily fills in as the bride to taste various foods. They get side tracked with sledding and a mid day yoga break (who stops in the middle of their work project and is like, yes, I’ll go to a random yoga class now?).

There are several quirky side characters that play various parts in the plot. Some of them come off better than others. The evil banker who isn’t really evil because we’re undermining that trope, was particularly a stand out for me. She knew her job and she was totally in.

I’ll leave the conflict/climax/resolution to you, dear reader, should you feel the need to spend $7 to rent it. I feel like it was worth my money.

And in another parallel with Christmas at the Ranch, I spent most of the movie wanting the leads to kiss and then when they actually got to this kiss, damn it was awkward.

[patrickcharlton-oshea-author]

Waging War, An Age of Steam And Sorcery Novel. Chapter 12

“So, what you’re saying is that last time you were in this region was about a week after launch?” Peter asked as they drifted along the road in no particular hurry. Everyone was in or on a mount but they weren’t pushing for a land speed record by any stretch of the imagination.

“Thereabouts, yeah,” Pham replied, looking out at the peaks of the mountains as they approached the foothills. He shuddered before continuing. “Woz has been back, as you can see, but I never wanted to return. Some bad memories buried in them hills.”

“Does that mean we’re close to your starter town?” Dani asked as her horse whickered and shied away from a rock spat out from under Pham’s tyres. “I’d like to see where this bromance began.”

“Whit's fur ye'll no go past ye,” Warren responded, “but we’re not headed in that direction today.” He pointed up towards a speck on a low hill off the main road to the north. “That’s our destination up there.”

With Peter’s persistent lack of transportation situation temporarily solved in the form of a cart being pulled by Pham’s mount, they’d made great time. Peter had initially griped about the cost of the cart, the rickety construction, his misgivings about riding in another vehicle he had no control over, the lack of brakes, the colour of the sky and anything else he could think of because he was in a griping mood that day, but even with the rigid suspension transmitting every bump up through his spine to make his head rattle it was honestly better than being stuck at home in his grandmother’s house. 

It was Peter’s worst nightmare. All of his aunts and cousins were visiting from the mainland and all his cousins were girls, ranging in age from two years younger than him to eight years older. The few uncles he had, as most of his aunts were either divorced or had wives, had remained at home. Probably luxuriating in the short holiday, being able to eat and drink what they liked and wander the house sans pants, Peter thought. I wish I could.

 Due to the crush of bodies in the tiny house that morning he’d been forced to eat breakfast alone in his room, as all the seats in both the dining room and lounge had been taken, then berated for a solid thirty minutes for dripping milk from his cereal on the hallway floor by multiple women, passed from one to the next as they all had to get their ten cents in. It didn’t matter that it was a tile floor and took the work of seconds to wipe it up. It had been an utter relief that today was a Saturday and he was able to escape the house the moment he could slip away unnoticed and make his way up the hill to his favourite login spot. Still, a portion of the black cloud had followed him. One without any visible silver lining, he still had to return before dark.

An itch on his arm prompted him to check his character sheet, where he found that he’d both learned and earned several increments in the skill Teamster. As virtually every action he took in The Age of Steam and Sorcery seemed to be correlated with a skill, Peter was starting to find that his list was getting so long as to be almost unmanageable. In the end he just sorted it from highest value to lowest and elected to ignore anything that didn’t make the first page. Much like a Google search, he thought. “So, what’s the plan?” he continued out loud. “I was party leader before because I was the only one who had the Geas, but now that we all do, shouldn't one of you guys take over?”

“Depends. What’s your level now?” Pham called over his shoulder.

“Uh, three?” Peter nearly tumbled forward out of the cart as Pham slammed on the brakes. The other two brought their mounts to a more respectable halt.

Pham whirled around in his seat. “How the frak are you still only level three after all that we’ve been through?”

“Take it easy,” Peter complained as he righted himself. “It’s not my fault we’ve staggered from crisis to crisis. We’ve played with our new gear exactly once. The only downtime we’ve had recently has been when we went shopping and even then we were essentially running non-combat quests. Like this armourer we’re off to see. It’s great that we’re getting new equipment - but did it have to be from a shady operator who lives all by himself on a random hill in the ass end of nowhere?”

“Herself,” Warren corrected. “And yes. We are going to need some very specific resistances built into our armours and she’s the only one I know of that can do it.” He spurred his mount into motion again.

“What’s with tall, dark and surly today?” Dani asked Pham, bringing her horse in close to his contraption. “In fact, did everyone take grumpy pills this morning? I expect that sort of thing from Warren, but even Pete’s cracking the sads. Did something happen?”

Pham tapped a gauge on the cluster in front of him as he thought about how to answer. “Pete’s a whiner, I thought we all knew that. Well, when he’s not some terrifying abomination with eyes that are windows into the void between dimensions that is. Netflix probably cancelled his favourite show after one season or something. But what happened to Woz, and me, that happened a long time ago. Woz’s tale to tell, but. Not mine. We weren’t on the best of terms the first time we visited The Archology. Decisions were made. Prices were paid. And not all by him.”

“I’ve said I’m sorry a thousand times Pham,” Warren rumbled without looking back. “I don’t know how to make it better.”

“And I’ve said I don’t blame you. It was the only way.” Pham reached into a pouch at his waist and extracted two small spheres. He popped one in his mouth and expertly bounced the second off of Warren’s helmet with a dull clang. It landed in the dirt and Peter recognised it as a sweet of some sort. “We agreed at the time and nothing changed since then.”

“So, you going to tells us about it?” Peter asked. All the mystery was exasperating him. “Before we walk into the Underdark and face Drow armies with Aussie accents?”

“There’s no Drow, it’s an Ancient dungeon. Look, I can’t do this, not right now,” Warren kept looking dead ahead. “It’ll make more sense when we’re inside the Archology.”

They rode the rest of the way up the mountain trail in silence. The only sound was the creaking of the wheels, the clopping of hoofs and the hissing of the winds whipping through the tall grasses that bordered the road. They’d left the treeline behind long ago and the cold of the breeze that had sprung up was finding every crack in Peter’s armour. His already dark mood soured further. I could have stayed home and had the same experience, the little voice in the back of his head muttered. At least I’d be warm.

Eventually they reached the end of the path where it terminated in a slate hut with a hitching rail outside and a great chimney in the centre of the roof belching black smoke into the sky. It looked like a civilised volcano.

Warren dismounted and secured his mount, motioning for the others to do the same. The second they had, the front door of the hut slammed open, allowing a scorching gale to pass over them. Peter blinked rapidly to re-moisten his instantly dried eyeballs. They waited for something else to happen, but when nothing did they entered the gloomy building. Inside the door the air was even dryer and smokier than what had rushed out, the interior one large open space with a massive glowing forge in the centre that lit everything with a hellish glow. The walls were lined with many and varied devices and pieces of armour. The most normal ones were brass inset leather vests, helms and bracers. Attached to the brass bits were tools like screwdrivers and spanners, some on chains so they couldn’t be dropped, some on actuated arms that looked to be able to move on their own. Again, these were the most normal pieces. The more esoteric items had functions he could only guess at.

A ratcheting, clicking noise came from below a wrap-around workbench on the far side of the forge. The part of the device visible above the worktop looked to be a comfortable leather armchair inside a cauldron. A sleek steam engine sat behind the back of the chair with the smoke stack protruding a foot above where the occupants head would be. Peter was reminded of Thomas The Tank Engine’s evil twin they’d fought beneath Averton, but much smaller. And lacking the murderous intent.

The source of the clicking ratchet extracted themselves from underneath the workbench. A four-armed vision straight from Geiger’s nightmares greeted them. Its black, chitinous skin of its limbs reflected the glow of the forge, and a wasp-like bulbous head protruded from a patchy cloak stained, burned and torn in so many places it barely covered the monstrous form. “Hello there!” it greeted them in an incongruously cheerful voice. 

“General K’Gnobeh,” Warren bowed.

“Pshaw,” K’Gnobeh dismissed, waving the arm with the socket spanner in it. “I left the military a long time ago. It’s just K’Gnobeh now, or Armourmaster if you want to be extra formal. What brings you to my neck of the woods?” Were it not for the slightly extended sibilants and pronounced glottal stops, it could be the voice of someone in a London alley trying to sell you a “Rolex” that would stop working before the end of the street.

“Armourmaster, I met you in the first Faction Wars, ‘just’ is not a word I’d use to describe you,” Pham spoke up from the doorway. “It was said you died in the artillery barrage on the keep.”

“We met, did we?” One insectoid hand reached up to tap at his chin while another returned the spanner and socket to their assigned positions on a nearby toolboard. “Wait! The pale elf! Yes, I recall your face. You were the most inquisitive Traveller I’d ever met. Still are, in fact. Did you ever get that mechanical man working?”

“I did, Armourmaster. And thank you for all your help,” Pham extracted his mech from his inventory and placed it on the ground. He polished a non-existent smudge from the domed top proudly. “I couldn’t have done it by myself.”

“You’re welcome, but it is the last you’ll get. That was the deal I struck with your kingdom, few know I lived past that day and none bar the king can know how. Now, come in, pull up a pew and we’ll have a cuppa and speak of happier times.” K’Gnobeh stepped around the workbench and they saw that his bottom half was made from a dark, polished metal that, while it resembled the chitin of his torso, didn’t have the lustre of the live skin. Looking closer, Peter realised that K’Gnobeh’s lower left arm was made of a similar metal as well, the segments cennected by ball joints with a greater range of movement than the natural elbows. K’Gnobeh used those extra degrees of freedom to snag mugs from the shadowed pegboard as he passed and laid them around a small wooden table. “What brings four such Travellers to my door? Not my pretty face, is it?”

The four arranged themselves around the table and watched as the armourmaster poured the tea. Peter still had zero clue as to what species he was, and didn’t want to offend by guessing. He took a tentative sip, expecting tea made in a forge to taste metallic, but found it an excellent Assam blend that didn’t even need milk. Warren dumped four lumps of sugar in and then topped the cup up to the brim with moo juice.  Pham added a tot from a hip flask before offering it around, which everyone declined. Dani just cradled her cup and breathed the steam.

“K’Gnobeh, we’re going to need protection that you alone are qualified to provide,” Warren began, “we’re headed into the Archology. Again.”

K’Gnobeh’s face was already difficult to read, but now it took on an even more inscrutable expression. “Are you pulling my leg? It’ll come off, you know.” When it became obvious that Warren was serious he continued. “You know what’s in there, right? I don’t think, even after all these years, that anyone has ever defeated The Wight in The Black. Travellers have mostly given up even trying.”

“That’s why we’ve come to you.” Warren put his cup down firmly, looking off into the distance as though the walls of the forge had turned entirely transparent. “We know what’s down there, well, Pham and I do. You’re the only one I know of who can make us these.” He pulled a set of blueprints from a pouch on his belt. The scrolls they were written on looked old, cracked and faded.

Pham drew in a sharp breath. “You kept those?”

“What are they?” Dani asked.

Warren flattened the designs out across the table, aligned so that K’Gnobeh could read them. “The Archology was intended as the last holdout of the Ancients in their war against… something. We never found that out. But their defences were on par with stuff in the real world. Physical damage we can soak up with normal armour. Elemental damage can be negated by potions and such. The Ancients had access to something like nano-tech and radiation. After the Wight killed us, I was… obsessed, I’ll admit it, with getting back at it. For what it did to me, and to her. Pham drew up designs for protective clothing, to be worn under armour, but we could never find anyone with the skill or materials to actually make them. Eventually we came to terms with the fact it was beyond us. Max level players with full raid parties have gone in and never come out.”

“And you think this is a good place to grind for levels?” Peter asked incredulously. 

“Nothing says you have to go all the way to the bottom,” Pham pointed out, one finger raised in the traditional ‘point of order’ position. “In the upper levels there are some really good grind points, with places to rest and even vending machines with health potions, and if we hadn’t challenged Warren's cousin in a race to beat the dungeon that’s where we’d stay.”

“That’s why we need the protective gear,” Peter nodded, understanding dawning. “In order to beat that ass, we’re going to have to be the first to clear the dungeon.”

“It’s why he picked it, the skunner.” Warren crossed his arms as his face darkened. “Death in that place comes nasty. Even though there’s a chapel on the first layer to respawn, I don’t know anyone who’s ever come back and tried again. He thinks I’m not man enough to see it through.”

“Well, death doesnt’ bother me,” Peter shrugged. “Armourmaster, sir, can you make these for us, please?”

The armourmaster took the blueprints to his workbench and began sifting through drawers and cabinets around the room. “I reckon I can. It’ll take a day or two, but I’ve got all I need here. One issue, I can’t cover your wings when they’re out. Can you fold them in tighter? And do you want your mechanical arm covered?”

Peter wriggled and twisted in his seat, pulling his wings in closer. He tucked the tips in alongside his legs and folded the rest as close to his back as he could. “Can you make the back loose enough to cover them like this?”

“Surely can, and the arm?”

“Covered, please. The less customisation the better, I think.”

K’Genobeh returned to the table with a measuring tape. “I’m already going to have to allow for this one,” he flicked the tip at Warren, “a looser back and a clipped off arm are nothing.”

[ozma914]

Happy July 2nd, Kevlar!

John Adams, signer of the Declaration of Independence, Second U.S. President, and all around unpleasant guy, had this to say about America's Independence Day:

"It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shows, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations, from one End of this Continent to the other, from this Time forward--forever more."

 In other words, he thought it would be a pretty big deal, and he was right. Those Founding Fathers, they were smart cookies. Adams, Tom Jefferson, the guy who kept putting his John Hancock on things, and of course Bill, the Earl of Rights ... They were generally good, smart men, who only wanted to, you know, overturn the government.

Of course John Adams also said this:

"The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epoch in the History of America."

Wait.

The Second?

Nobody's perfect.

"Hey, bud--let's party!"

Actually, Adams had a point: The Continental Congress did indeed approve a motion to change the United Colonies into the United States on July 2. It was the first big bureaucratic boondoggle, requiring the government to print up new letterheads, buy rubber stamps, and change the seal on the Presidential Podium. Not to mention they had to fund an army.

But, in yet another classic case of putting the cart full of red tape before the red, white and blue horse, the Congress then spent two days editing the Declaration of Independence before they finally approved it--on July 4th. So that date got printed at the top, and eventually led to our National holiday.

The Founders didn't care. They hated John Adams so much that they didn't take any of his suggestions for bells, bonfires and such, anyway. Adams' last words, as he died on July 4th, 1826, were: "Thomas Jefferson still survives. Why isn't he setting off fireworks?"

Adams didn't know that Jefferson had died five hours earlier. Jefferson's last recorded words were: "Is it the Fourth?" When offered painkiller, he added, "No, doctor, nothing more. Make no noise that would make that ass Adams think we're celebrating."

As a result, the first recorded noise complaint to police didn't take place until the night of August 24th, 1814, in the city of Washington. I just happen to have transcripts of the call to police:

"This noise has been going on for hours. I have kids, and I have to get up early to go to work!"

"Sir, you don't understand: The British are burning Washington!"

"Well ... can't they do it more quietly?"

Ironically, the first recorded celebration of Independence Day was on September 13 of that same year, 1814, during The War of 1812.

 (I suppose it's for the best that we didn't call it The War of 1812-1815, which doesn't roll off the tongue so well.)

The British were not huge John Adams fans. Still, they had it on good authority that Adams was busy in Massachusetts, debating with its legislature the best way to spell Massachusetts. (A name definitely decided by committee.) So they brought all their cannon, mortars, and rockets, in an attempt to crash the party being thrown at Baltimore's Fort McHenry.

But the Americans manning the fort had a secret weapon: a giant American flag, made of Kevlar.

Most people think Kevlar was introduced in 1971, but in reality Benjamin Franklin invented it accidentally in 1784, while trying to invent a stronger condom. Apparently he was still fuming about his son William being named Governor of New Jersey--royal Governor of the colony of New Jersey, on behalf of the King. Not long before he died, Franklin was heard to say, "I'll never have another child! ... well, hello, ladies!"

It's not recorded where he said this.

Your flag may vary.

 The Kevlar was adapted into a flag, allegedly by one of Franklin's great-grand-daughters, and repelled everything the British could throw at it. This led an onlooker to write a poem that was later turned into a song:

Oh, say, can you see,

blocking Franklin's pee-pee?

No latex surrounding--

 but this stuff can take a pounding.

The lyrics were later changed by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

So it took a lot of time and history type stuff, but in the end Adams was right about the holiday, if not the date. From one end of the continent to the other, we make noise, flash lights, burn stuff, and generally annoy each other. I'm not sure if everyone doing that stuff actually gets why ...

But we're still here.

I can see my house from here!

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

If you really want to have fun on an Independence Day picnic, bring along a book that has the American Flag on the front.

Also, don't forget there's an author interview with me up at Canvas Rebel:

canvasrebel.com/meet-mark-r-hunter/

That the new Storm Chaser and Storm Squalls are up for sale on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mark-R-Hunter/author/B0058CL6OO

And that the Coming Attractions ebook is free for July on Smashwords:

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ozma914

http://markrhunter.com/

https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/"Mark R Hunter"

And remember: Starving authors don’t WANT to starve.

[danishmuseuminterns]

INTERN BLOG - 5 DAYS IN DENMARK

Last week, I was back in Denmark for my little sister’s Confirmation. After being away for over three months (can you believe I’ve been at MoDA for over three months now?), it was a very happy moment when I was greeted by my boyfriend and friend at the airport in Billund.

First stop was a visit to my grandparents, who live on Funen. We had a delicious lunch with rugbrød (almost as good as Deb’s), pickled herring, eggs and frikadeller, and of course for dessert – an ice cream cone from Vaffelhuset in Kerteminde – one of the best in Denmark (In my opinion AND the opinion of numerous votes). Even if it was a bit rainy the first two days, I thoroughly enjoyed the Danish Spring weather.

I had been tasked with doing my sisters hair for her Confirmation on Sunday, so on Saturday we had a little trial to make sure our visions were the same (it was, I had a sigh of relief). We also had time to say hi to both of my boyfriend’s parents and most importantly, their beloved pets!

Sunday was my sister’s confirmation and we got up early to get her ready. Even if the Confirmation is a Christian celebration, most Danes would probably describe themselves as “culturally Christian”, following Christian holidays and traditions because its part of our culture. My family is not particularly Christian either, but the Confirmation is a symbol of children getting older. Boys usually dress in suits and girls traditionally in white dresses, even if it has kind of evolved into white dresses, jumpsuits, and suits (take Princess Isabella’s beautiful, white suit from her confirmation last year). I love how traditions like these can evolve with the times. My sister wore the prettiest white dress with lace detailing. My sister has been taking classes and going to church to prepare for the confirmation, something her whole class in school does, unless they choose not to. In her class they were 27 students, so quite a big group! The day started with church were all the families watch their child get confirmed. Then, some kids get picked up from church in a fun vehicle. Some in fancy cars, some in tractors (this is Southern Jutland after all), and there was even a wheelbarrow and a few horses! This is planned by friends and family, and my sister was picked up in a fun, pink car! 

Then there’s the party where family and friends attend. I held a speech, and I only cried a tiny bit - so I’m very proud of myself. Even if the confirmation isn’t really that significant for the course of my sister’s life, it’s still very special to have a day that was all about her, and I’m so proud of her – she’s smart, curious, and funny – and very loved.

The rest of the time was filled with walks in the sunshine and delicious food and seeing my family and friends. I also had to stock up on a few Danish and European snacks that I want the other MoDA people to try – let me know if you want me to get back to you with their opinions – I only chose delicious snacks! I also had to swing by the yarn store to pick up the single skein of yarn I’m missing to finish the sweater I’ve been working on since January, so that I can finally wear it!

Even though I enjoy Elk Horn and MoDA, I was a little home sick, so being back was much needed and now I’m ready for the last 2,5 months of my internship, that’ll include a LOT of fun things – Tivoli Fest, Sankt Hans, a special guest, a new intern, and more spring and summer weather is coming,

NEXT STOP: SEATTLE, WASHINGTON!

[komotionlessqueenmm]

Imagine # 997

Gif NOT mine.

If this gif is yours (or you know who's it is) please let me, so I can give you/them credit.

Gif credit goes to - @interludearchive (Unless told otherwise.)

Year posted - 2022

Title : Gods & Monsters - With : Winter Soldier

⚠️Warning(s) - None that aren't obvious.

📝Note(s) - I was inspired last night by the above song for this fic. Enjoy.

🎶~In the land of Gods and Monsters

I was an angel living in the garden of evil

Screwed up, scared, doing anything that I needed

Shining like a fiery beacon~🎶

Initially your holding cell was no where near the Winter Soldiers, but after he came back from a mission, particularly fired up. He had heard you singing to yourself within your cell, and broke in before anyone could even think to stop him. You had of course been terrified as he stalked towards you, but immediately calmed down when he just sat down on the floor beside you, his eyes cast to you expectingly. Understanding what he wanted, you began singing again just as the guards rushed in. They were astonished to see how calm he had suddenly become, and quickly let their superiors know everything that had happened.

🎶~You got that medicine I need

Fame, liquor, love, give it to me slowly

Put your hands on my waist, do it softly

Me and God, we don't get along

So now I sing~🎶

A day later you were moved to a new cell, one beside the Winter Soldiers. Concrete walls surrounded both cells, but within they were divided by metal bars. Ensuring that he could hear and see you at all times, while also keeping you both apart just in case. Not that Winter couldn't break through the bars if he really wanted to. It was more of a precaution to ensure there wouldn't be any funny business. That wouldn't happen unless they said so. Most nights Winter lay on the ground beside the bars, and just observed you while you slept. But not once were you afraid or uncomfortable with him, if anything he brought you just as much comfort as you did him.

🎶~ No one's gonna take my soul away

I'm living like Jim Morrison

Headed towards a fucked up holiday

Motel sprees, sprees and I'm singing

"Fuck yeah, give it to me"

"This is Heaven, what I truly want"

It's innocence lost

Innocence lost~🎶

Agents in HYDRA started referring to you both as the Beauty and the Beast, which only made you roll your eyes everytime you heard it. Winter didn't care however, all he cared about was listening to your voice. And today was an especially infuriating day for Winter, so much so, that listening to you sing wasn't enough. He needed to feel you, so as usual he lay on the floor beside the bars. Slipping his metal arm through the bars, laying it out for you to take. Knowing how much his arm worried most people, he was pleasantly surprised by how quickly you accepted his hand. Laying yourself on the ground, you nestled against the bars, his left arm now wrapped around your waist.

🎶~ In the land of Gods and Monsters

I was an angel looking to get fucked hard

Like a groupie incognito, posing as a real singer

Life imitates art~🎶

A ghost of a smile graced his lips as he turned onto his side, slipping his other arm through the bars, and wrapping it securely around you. "You have beautiful eyes." You had murmured softly, your faces so close yet still so far apart. He didn't say anything at first, he just stared into your very soul, finding his anger and frustrations washing away. "You don't belong here." He whispered with a horse voice, clearly it was the first time he had spoken it some time. "Neither do you." You hummed back, smiling softly when he squeezed your sides delicately. That was the most you ever spoke to the Soldier, but it was more than enough for you to adore him.

🎶~ You got that medicine I need

Dope, shoot it up, straight to the heart, please

I don't really wanna know what's good for me

God's dead, I said, "Baby, that's alright with me"~🎶

As the years went by, you were eventually brought out from your cell, to assist with his debriefing. Meaning you were there to convince him to talk the few times he would refuse to. You were also forced to watch them wipe his memories, every single time. Reminding you, that he wouldn't truly remember who you are. But no matter how much they tried, he was always drawn right back to you, it was like you were connected in a way they couldn't corrupt. It was also a good way to keep you in line, threatening to hurt him even more whenever you would rebel, or even say something they didn't like.

🎶~ No one's gonna take my soul away

I'm living like Jim Morrison

Headed towards a fucked up holiday

Motel sprees, sprees and I'm singing

"Fuck yeah, give it to me"

"This is Heaven, what I truly want"

It's innocence lost

Innocence lost~🎶

When they finally accepted the fact that you were imprinted within Winters mind, they started putting you on ice along side him. Fearing what he might do if you died while he slept, and he woke without you to keep him calm and in line. And they never dared hurting you while he was within the facility, but when he was away that was a whole other story. As many of the agents took pleasure in hurting the one that the infamous Winter Soldier was so obsessed with. You never told him about it though, knowing it would only make matters worse for both of you in the end.

🎶~When you talk, it's like a movie

And you're making me crazy

'Cause life imitates art

If I get a little prettier, can I be your baby?

You tell me, "Life isn't that hard"~🎶

Nearly a hundred years old now, you find that something is eating away at Winter. Something had happened on his last mission, and he was acting rather odd. You never inquired about it, knowing he wouldn't want to talk about it, considering you're under constant surveillance. But within time you would come to understand, he was remembering is past. After he broke you out of HYDRA'S hold, you both fled into hiding. Sticking together because neither of you had anyone else, or anywhere else to go. And despite getting away from HYDRA, you still needed eachother dearly. Especially when the Winter Soldier became James Buchanan Barnes once more.

🎶~ No one's gonna take my soul away

I'm living like Jim Morrison

Headed towards a fucked up holiday

Motel sprees, sprees and I'm singing

"Fuck yeah, give it to me"

"This is Heaven, what I truly want"

It's innocence lost

Innocence lost~🎶

[wenellyb]

Is Sambucky Canon or Not?

TL;DR: Yes, it is

I've seen some people saying that they only see friendship between Sam and Bucky, and I can understand that. Because depending on your education, the environment you grew up and the kind of media you’re usually exposed to, you will have a different interpretation of different situations, in real life or in TV. Just let me insert a short story before I dive into the Sambucky topic:

My best friend's uncle is in his fifties and has been living with his roommate (a man) for more than 10 years. They lived together, went on holidays together but officially were just roommates. My best friend wondered if they were a couple, but never talked about it to her parents because it wasn't her business. Two years ago, they decided to come out and get married. My best friend's parents and his parents were genuinely surprised, they were not expecting that, at all, not even a little bit. Let me tell you that it didn’t even cross their mind that it was a possibility, at all. For them, it had always just been two men who had decided to live together because they were single. And preferred to have a roommate rather than living alone.

What I want to say with this story is that people will see what they want to see, or what they're used to see, or what they were raised to see. It’s human.

What I mean is that you will have different perception of a same event, depending on your own circumstances. And I think the writers of TFATWS were counting on that a little bit when it came to Sam and Bucky’s relationship. They obviously didn't want to make some big announcement or big love declaration.

And yes, of course, I have my own circumstances as well, influencing the way I see things. I have shipped SamBucky since Civil War, when they were supposedly enemies. I never expected anything to happen between them on screen. But then they got a show together and I was so so happy about it but I didn't expect anything other than friendship between them.

I was perfectly fine with that because a show was already more than enough: my man Sam Wilson was becoming Captain America, the show was great, the characters were great, their interactions were great, and this wasn't a love story anyway but a superhero show. I thought that here was no way the showrunners would ever go there. I changed my mind after episode 5. I tried to stay objective, but it was clear to me that the writers were hinting at a relationship that went beyond friendship between Sam and Bucky. In some of my previous posts, I explained that there are some scenes and writing choices that make absolutely no sense if you read them as a scene between two friends. I can link them if anyone’s interested.

Side note: I would like to know if one person on this website can tell me what was up with Bucky's behavior with Torres (in episode 5)? What other explanation is there, if not jealousy? It's a scene they chose to keep, so it was probably written this way, there must be a reason. Please I’m begging someone explain it to me. I'm genuinely asking, because otherwise that scene alone is canon Sambucky.

After episode 5, I was convinced they would make Sambucky canon, one way or the other and I started speculating about the ways they could do it. What I said was that if they did make Sambucky canon, they would do it in a very subtle way, in order not to make it too obvious because that’s generally how Marvel movies deal with love stories. And also because they wouldn’t want to scare away their homophobic audience ( I guess Disney needs their money...who knows)

So here are the scenes of how I imagined SamBucky becoming canon and the comparison with reality:

1.

- What I thought we could get : AJ and Cass calling Bucky "Uncle Bucky" - What we got: AJ and Cass running up to Bucky and playing with him. This point is interesting because it’s also related to the point I made about how the environment you grew up in influences your perception of things. I grew up in a big family and I know that, at least in my family, kids don't run up to an adult like that just because it's their uncle’s friend or just because he's nice... There's a real bond there. They haven't seen Bucky just that one time when he slept on the couch. They're obviously close. But some people might just see this as kids being kids. Also, if you watch at how the kids were fake punching him, they were really coordinated with Bucky. They have done this plenty of times. 2.

What I thought we could see: A non-explicit scene where we were supposed to draw our own conclusions. I thought they could show us Bucky staying over for the night, and the last scene would be an empty couch, meaning we would have to understand that Bucky slept in Sam's room this time.

-What we got: Bucky arriving in Sam's car ( A few people on Tumblr pointed out that it was the car Sam was driving in episode 1) So here again we have a scene that a lot of people will not notice. But they still chose to put it there. 3.

What I thought could happen: Sam asking Bucky to stay in Delacroix

What we got: Bucky wrapping things up in New York, as if he was leaving the city for good and coming to Sam's party as if he already knew everyone there. You can read my take on this here. 4. What I thought could happen: The scene in the trailer where we see them looking in the same direction and then we get a shot from very far away where they're holding hands but it’s not so obvious because they are being filmed from a disctance. -What we got: The scene in trailer and then a blurry shot of Sam holding Bucky and then fondling with his neck to find the best spot to rest his hand on. So none of the scenes I was imagining happened exactly like I had imagined, but it felt like all of them happened but in a different versions, which is still crazy to me. If it had been only one scene. I could probably understand the people who see them as just friends. Actually, I still do understand the people who see them as just friends, because everyone has their own interpretation. What I am saying is that they are NOT being portrayed as just friends. There are TOO many scenes in the 6 episodes for it to be a coincidence. One or 2 would be ok but friendship doesn’t explain everything:

The therapy scene (not the therapy scene itself since it was improvised) but the therapist saying she had heard a lot about Sam and wanting them to do a couples’ therapy

Bucky following Sam no matter what

Sam saying ok as soon as Bucky says "do it for me"

Sam asking "what about Bucky?"

Bucky starting to touch Sam whenever he has the chance

Bucky being the one to bringing the suit for Sam

The boat repairing montage

Bucky wanting to stay at Sam's place, when a hotel room would have been more comfortable than a couch

The second day of boat repair in closed quarters with an intense staring scene.

And there are so many other scenes, soft touches, looks,...

These writing choices are not a coincidence, it’s not involuntary, and it’s not fan service ( Fan service is the roll in the flower field scene, or the therapy session). This is them telling a story.

Let’s not even talk about the scenes in Endgame:

Sam comforting bucky at Tony’s funeral

Sam looking up to Bucky for approval before accepting the shield from Steve.

So yes, Sam and Bucky are canon in the sense that Peter and Gamora were canon in the first movie, or Wanda and Vision were canon in Captain Civil War. Meaning that there was no big moment, kiss or anything, but the show is consistently throwing elements clearly showing Sam and Bucky as a romantic item and hinting at a lot more than friendship between them.

It is normal that some people have a different opinion. Because it is extremely rare, in big productions like this to have two male leads with romantic feelings towards each other, so not a lot people who see it will interpret it as such (I don't think it ever happened). You’ll see what you’re used to seeing.

I guess it also depends on what you expect from a love story. For me, the storyline between the characters, their scenes, their chemistry, the way their feelings towards each other are described, are the most important. The kiss scene is just there as a bonus, but I don't need it when the love story is told perfectly. If you’re used to seeing love stories with many kissing scenes, that’s what you will be expecting to see in most love stories.

If you're only used to seeing male friendships in superhero or action movies. The 1000th time you see men interacting in that type of movie or show, you are more likely to assume it is a friendship and nothing more, no matter how many codes and tropes usually associated with romantic movies, the writers and show makers are using.

Add to that the conviction that Disney would never approve Sambucky in a million years, and there you go, I can understand the people who see only friendship.

But, just think about it, if we had the same show, same scenes, same dialogues, but minus the action scenes and the project was being marketed as an Indie movie, would you think they were just friends or a blossoming couple?

If you read Sambucky’s relationship like a friendship: some scenes don't make sense. If you read it like a developing romantic relationship: it all makes sense. "When you hear hoofs, think horse, not zebra" If a writer or a film director chooses a last scene with a romantic setting and the two leads are staring at a sunset, smiling repeatedly at each other and then walking away together with one of them touching the other's neck, with a love song in the background, maybe friendship isn't the first thought they had in mind.

Some people may say “I see them as just friends” and other people may say “ I see them as lovers” and both are fine, because people have different perceptions, and that’s ok.

What I am saying is this post is that the show and the writers are portraying them as more than just friends, they’re portraying them as two characters who are romantically involved.

Perceive what you want but that’s how they are being presented in the show.

Bucky’s therapist said that the exercise she gave them was for couples who want to figure out what kind of life they want to build together. Then, the show ends with Sam and Bucky, staring at a sunset together, looking in the same direction.

“Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction. “  - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

What else do you need???

This show had more romance than half of the Marvel projects out there. Not every love story needs a kiss (for now...)

We'll see in their next projects which direction the writers want to go with this. But since it was said that the writer on the movie is the same as the writer from episode 5, there's no doubt in my mind that we'll keep seeing this dynamic. I don't think they would have made the same choices if this had been a movie. But I won't complain that we got this. I hope they keep this going even if it stays subtle like in the show. Just hope they will add one explicit scene where one of the characters acknowledges their relationship. But even if we only ever get this show, it’s already a great love story. Let me know what you guys think and sorry for the typos and grammar mistakes, I was tired when I wrote the last part. I hope it still makes sense!

If you think they're only being portrayed as friends let me know why! I would also like to know about the way you see this!

[fanficshiddles]

Losing Control, Chapter 9

Emilia woke up completely disorientated at first, she rolled over on the large bed and groaned, every single muscle in her body ached. And when she tried to sit up, she realised most of her aching was concentrated between her legs.

She managed to hobble to the bathroom, she couldn’t believe how sore she was. And she thought it had been bad when she went horse riding once years ago on holiday. This was a whole new level of pain.

After refreshing herself in the bathroom, she went back into the bedroom and hauled her dress on. She hoped to sneak through and straight out the door, but when she stepped out of the bedroom her nose was drawn towards the kitchen as she could smell bacon.

Her weakness.

But she was SO sore. She looked towards the door, then back to the kitchen. But the ache all over her body was making her just want to go for a hot bath. So she made her way towards the door, but the bastard that caused this agony quickly appeared on front of her, blocking her way out. Damn his long legs.

‘Where you sneaking off to?’ He raised an eyebrow and reached out towards her.

She backed away and shuffled away from him around the room. ‘No, no, no, don’t touch me. You did this to me!’ She growled at him as he stalked after her across the room, so she went behind the sofa, glad of something between them.

Loki chuckled. ‘You certainly weren’t complaining last night, especially as you were the one to beg me to fuck you.’

‘It’s not funny, i’m walking like I’ve shit myself! You’ve broken me!’ She screeched at him and then tried to run away as he suddenly darted round the sofa towards her.

‘I can make you feel better.’ He smirked as he chased her around the room, making her squeal as she then ran into the kitchen, after almost getting caught by him.

She ran to the other side of the island counter. ‘Please.’ She whined. ‘I’m too sore.’

Loki chuckled again and slowed down, he walked carefully towards her. He reached out and captured her wrist when she didn’t run, pulling her into him so he could put an arm around her back, keeping her trapped against him.

Emilia swallowed hard as she was held against his body and she looked up at him. ‘Just feed me and let me go.’ She pleaded.

‘Hmmm.’ Loki cupped her chin and stole a kiss from her, leaving her slightly dazzled at the softness of it. ‘Apart from your physical aches, are you feeling fine?’ He asked, genuinely concerned as his fingers fanned out softly across her cheek, making her skin tingle. Though she willed her body to stop reacting to his touch.

‘No.’ Emilia huffed, making Loki raise an eyebrow in alarm, until she continued. ‘My professor has just fucked me into oblivion and now I can’t fucking walk!’

Loki threw his head back with laughter, then he moved away from her to check on the bacon. When he glanced back at her over his shoulder, he saw she was still just stood where he’d left her.

‘Are you going to take a seat or continue to stand there like a deer in the headlights?’

She glared back at him, willing him to burst into flames right there and then. But alas, he didn’t. So she decided to take a seat instead. She winced when she sat down. Yeah, she definitely couldn’t wait to get to the safety of her flat and have a nice hot bath.

Loki soon served up bacon butties for them both and then joined her, winking at her across the table as he sat down. Earning a roll of the eyes from her in return.

Emilia moaned when she bit into the buttie. ‘Oh god, this is so good.’

‘That moan sounds very familiar.’ Loki grinned at her.

‘Stop being a perv. You’ve had your fun.’ She said with her mouth full.

‘Oh no, pet. We’re just beginning our fun.’ He purred in a sultry manner.

Emilia almost choked on her bacon. But she swiftly got to her feet and started heading for the door with her buttie still in hand. ‘Right, that’s it. Thanks for the bacon… But not for the agony I am in.’

Loki let her run this time, but did call to her from where he sat. ‘Your body will accustom to it soon enough. We will work on your stamina, don’t worry.’

The response he got was his door being slammed shut, making him laugh to himself.

As soon as Emilia got into her flat, she wolfed down the last of her buttie while she ran the bath. Throwing off her dress, she quickly brushed her teeth before then sinking into the tub, at last.

‘Ahhh, yes.’ She groaned as the hot water lapped at her skin, instantly making her aches and pains feel a bit better.

She parted her legs and slipped a hand down, she winced at how sore and sensitive she was now. Her outer lips were still a bit puffy, making her whine as she just lay back and relaxed. Doing her best not to fall asleep in the water.

For the rest of the day, Emilia spent it lazing around her flat, having some naps in bed and watching TV with plenty of chocolate and crisps. Just what she needed after being fucked like that from her rather hung professor.

Even though her body was still sore when she went to bed that night, she couldn’t help herself from playing with herself for a while, thinking about him… He was under her skin, and she hated it so much.

-

On Monday morning, she had Loki’s class first thing. Part of her was dreading seeing him, she had deliberately left a bit later than normal that morning to avoid him in the hall.

When she got to his class, she managed to sneak in amongst the other students to get to her seat.

Loki did look directly at her when everyone settled down. She swore she saw a slight smirk from him too.

‘Where were you Saturday? I thought you were coming to the party. You missed one heck of a night!’ One of the guys said to Emilia from a few seats away.

��Something… came up. Sorry.’ Emilia said, trying not to look towards Laufeyson and to keep her cheeks from blushing.

‘We’re planning another at the end of the month, hopefully you can come to that one.’ Her friend grinned at her.

‘Yeah, I’ll try.’ She smiled back.

‘Alright, settle down everyone. I know it’s first thing on a Monday morning and you’re all still reeling over weekend antics, but with exams coming up soon its time to buckle down.’ Loki said firmly to the class, halting all conversations.

Emilia kept quiet mostly during class at first, but then she couldn’t resist answering one or two of his questions with snarky remarks as usual, getting under his skin, in more ways than one.

He pinched the bridge of his nose after she answered rather cockily again. ‘Emilia. If you don’t have anything constructive to answer with, do not raise your hand again.’ He growled at her.

‘But I thought that everyone’s opinion was valid, Sir?’ She asked in such an innocent tone, but Loki could see the cheekiness in her eyes and he so desperately wanted to take her into his office to punish her again.

‘Stop with the cheek.’ He warned.

Emilia was rather enjoying riling him up. And after what he did to her at the weekend, she decided to try and get back at him. Perhaps get him flustered and lose professionalism.

When everyone was supposed to be writing, she looked up and caught his eye. She slowly licked her lips, then put the end of her pen in her mouth after lavishing it with her tongue, putting on a bit of a show as she sucked it in and out.

Loki glared hard at her, but felt his trousers tighten. He remained sitting behind his desk, not wanting to give any of the other students a scare.

Taking it a little further, she unbuttoned the top few buttons of her blouse, then deliberately leaned forward a bit.

She could tell that she was getting to him, the way he did look a little flustered as he had to clear his throat before continuing. He seemed to shuffle on his seat a few times, too.

Loki managed to calm himself down for nearer the end, so he was able to stand again and wander around the class while they all had a big open discussion.

They ended up talking about Loki’s children in the mythology. How he had sex with a stallion.

‘You’d know alllll about that, wouldn’t you, Sir? Since you are called Loki, after all.’ Emilia blurted out, earning a few low snickers from some other students.

Loki stopped on front of her desk and glared down at her.

‘See me in my office at lunch… And button up your blouse, this isn’t a nightclub.’ He barked at her.

The class murmured a low, ooooo. Making Loki give everyone some extra research to do for the following day. Emilia wasn’t very popular for that.

But she had her own worries to deal with. She was rather embarrassed after what he said, and annoyed that she had let him get one up on her.

When lunch time rolled round, she reluctantly went along to his office. Not wanting to risk what the consequence would be if she didn’t go. Knowing Loki, it wouldn’t be good.

But she instantly regretted it when she walked into his office, and he told her in a terrifyingly dominant tone to shut and lock the door behind her.

[deviliciousdev]

✨appreciation post for the types✨

- from your local intp🖤

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

✨The Intuitives ✨

entj (the commander)

Where to even start, as an intp i have a special place in my heart for entjs and that place is my whole heart. Your ambitious nature makes you charming and intriguing, but the fact that you're secretly a nerd and love learning new things no matter what the topic (and are a whole baby✨ aka the little spoon) is the reason you're simultaneously the intp's best friend and soul mate. 💖

p.s you're not mean, you're hilarious, and i love that you're the best out of all the types at roasting people.

entp (the debater)

ah yes the other half to the "nerds of chaos" dynamic duo. your determination and open mind, provide for some of the best times. if two types were ever the most similar to the point of twins, it would be the entp x intp best friend dynamic. truly there is no one i trust more to tell literally anything to. you're someone who will never belittle or judge in high horse way. but still be honest and leave nothing out. if you feel a way you say it, with no guessing or game playing. and your humor and pet peeves are the exact same as the intp's and as i'm sure you'll agree. being able to hate the same things and laugh at little kids eating shit (even though we're not suppose to 💀) is the pinochle of best friend twinning. (at least for xntps lol)

intj (the architect)

ohhhh, you, you little minx. and i know you hate being called that, which is why it would be your contact in my phone. your lowest points are probably the thing intp's (unlike everyone else), like the most. you know what i mean... don't pretend you don't... *whispers* your lil melt downs, when ya get real serial killery... *snorts with laughter* oh don't worry you're still the superior being. 😏 in all honesty what would the intp be without you... that was rhetorical! stop listing things! anyway, your organized methodical approach is so satisfying. and your smooth intellectual burns that go over most people's heads, brings true peace to all NTs souls. thank you for your service. 🙏

enfj (the protagonist)

you're the main character. and i mean really. when you're at your best, at a large scale, you can lead generations, save those in need, do some seriously rob stark from game of thrones type shit (the most beloved stark by the people and the best leader tbh) on a small scale, you motivate those around you to charge into battle even when we literally just live in the city and are trying to get through college and the corporate world. 💀 even the rogue, pride themselves on being individuals intps, would follow you into the fire. and it's not just because of your charisma either, you actually think in big terms and care about things and people. keep being the king/queen in north (what they called rob stark when he fought for the North's independence)

enfp (the campaigner)

ok not gonna lie, i was so excited to get to yours... you are so incredibly enthusiastic and confident and some how self deprecating at the same time. you are genuinely fun. like the definition of fun. if you were a dog you'd be a golden retriever. no matter how bad things get, you are the one that can make someone smile. your laugh is infectious and no one and i mean no one, can make an intp laugh soooo hard like you can. you can make anything interesting. your idealistic humor has had me crying laughing in the canned foods isle of a grocery store, while you held onto the cart holding a can of bean sprouts, even though we were there getting ingredients for waffles and french toast... like how did we even get on that isle?? why were you holding a can of bean sprouts?? who's to know when you're both intuitive perceivers. ilysm, never ever change. 🖤

infj (the advocate)

you're the best person to go to for advice. genuinely. no matter what you think about yourself (that day lol). you see things in people that they don't even see in themselves. you care about those around you so much to the point you don't like talk about your own troubles. it takes time for you to open up, but when you do, you can be just as weird and hilarious as intps and sometimes more so. we always have fun doing seemingly mundane things like watching crappy horror movies or making frozen pizza. you plan THEE most incredible parties and activities. like seriously some of the best holiday/travel memories i have came from your mind and your company. you bring a gentle order to the chaos of life. my thanks for your being and your infj services transcends words. so i'll just say fannnkksss 😁.

infp (the mediator)

the most opposite and simultaneously most similar to the intp. you are thhheeeee bessttt. you make everyone around you feel comfortable. i can always come to you when i feel like i'm losing my fucking mind and you always know how to explain emotions and human interactions to me. not to mention giving some real slap in the face advice that is much needed! so helpful, one of the best wingmen/match makers, and probably the funniest type when drunk (next to entj). you can chill and watch movies all day or go out to a winery and have a great time. i swear no one is more quotable. we still say hilarious words or sayings you've said years ago and has now been developed into our everyday vernacular. people seriously underestimate you and you do the most and never look for praise or self-aggrandizing ass kissing. you are the LAST person to be a teacher's pet and are one of the most selfless people i know. keep doin you boo 👻

*stay tuned for a letter to the sensors✨*

[lennies-blog]

Mick Schumacher Interview Sky Sports Austria 01.02.22 - English Translation -

Hey! Here’s my translation of the German interview with Mick that was published earlier today on Sky Sports Austria :)

Please excuse any potential mistakes ;) Enjoy! 

https://www.skysportaustria.at/mick-schumacher-exklusiv-ueber-die-letzte-saison-und-seine-ziele-fuer-2022/

Interviewer:         First of all, great to see you! Great that you’re here after this break. I read that it is now 49 days ago, the last race in Abu Dhabi and it is still 49 days until it starts again. So, again, a happy new year to you, we also see each other again for the first time, and tell us, how are you? How was your winter break?

Mick:     Yeah, thanks, a happy new year to you, too! (I: Thanks) We had, yeah, we had a great time. I think that it was needed after such a long season, but I am, yeah, already ready to get going again. I think the best would be to just drive a race tomorrow already, but I think we still must wait a bit for that. I can see the car soon, in its entirety and yeah, hopefully be able to drive it soon in Barcelona.

I:            Mick, we talk about that a little later, but first, the question again, that I think a lot of our listeners will be interested in, you have probably been on holiday? Take us with you, where have you been?

M:         Ehm… yeah, I have been in the USA, in Texas, on our ranch and yeah, we spent a great time together, we’ve been with the horses, we’ve driven around with the buggies, and just done a lot of activities to just clear the head, to see something different and do other things, and I think in America you can do that quite well, also because of the liberty you’ve got there. I mean, you probably drive over an hour to get to most places to get your groceries or whatever, and yeah, we just felt comfortable there and just a lovely time.

I:            What does a perfect day on the ranch look like?

M:          Ehm.. well you basically get woken up by coyotes every day and yeah, simply just (be) with the horses. Well, I usually just watch, but I also had the chance to basically test my sister’s best horse. That does feel pretty cool and is interesting, of course, but in the end I like a number of horses more, packed up in the back of an engine. But it was nice, of course. You can then usually decide what you want to do and I have put together a little home gym for myself in the spa facilities of my sister, was able to train well, and you can also run well there, we have quite a big area and therefore have the space to go on a run, be able to see wild animals, and yeah, just have a good time.

I:            Was there anything on your holiday that you have learned, maybe, something where you really invested some time that you weren’t able to do before?

M:          Regarding driving, or..?

I:            No matter what, maybe horse riding (*Mick chuckles*) or another hobby?

M:          Yeah, I’ve done archery for the first time, that was quite funny, was also going pretty well, then, for example, horse riding - I’ve done that 4 years ago (he could’ve said “several years ago” as well, he mumbled), done some competitions as well (back then), but of course, I quit for race car driving, but it was a lot of fun now, to ride in a group as well, and yeah, learned some new things, but the head was already focussed on this year, to see what we can improve which is why I have been in contact with the team nearly every day, to see what the car looks like this year, what gaps we still have at the moment, but I still think that the positives really are positive and that we therefore can be quite happy again, but ehm.. we have to see how it will actually look like on the racetrack when we get to Barcelona and Bahrain, but I think we are all quite confident.

I:            You definitely had a great time on holiday, that’s great to hear. You mentioned the new car, the new regulations, everyone I super excited for that, how it will look like. You just said that you’re in daily exchange with the team – in what extend can you actually prepare as a driver, we also talked about it last year a lot, when it came to new racetracks you were in the simulator, do you also have those options now? To sit in the Ferrari simulator? With which data? Is it the Haas data already? Tell us something about that, how the preparation looks like for you specifically.

M:          Well, regarding that specifically I cannot tell you that much, yet, but I think that in general the exchange is there, I roughly know how the car has been developed in comparison to last year, also regarding the numbers, what is expected from the car, how the car will act in the curves, well, hopefully will act – we don’t know that, yet – but I think that I can already prepare for that, I roughly know how to approach the curve so that I know how to get through the fastest way possible. And as I said I can only test it when it’s time for the first test, but I can already prepare mentally.

I:            How do you do that?

M:         Well, by having that exchange with the team, having the numbers - the changes from last year – and I know how I drove last year and I therefore have to adjust it accordingly and have a good idea of what is ahead of me this year.

I:            When you address the team - the closest contact you had on the weekends was with Gary Gannon, your race engineer and I just read a long interview with him where he said that he still doesn’t know if the constellation will stay the same in the coming season, do you know more about that?

M:         For us, there won’t be any major changes, we had a few mechanics that left, a few that joined, but Gary and Mike and Ed will stay (*Mick smiles fondly*).

I:            That’s some great news. This new concept that will be in place for the car, as well, what do you think will be the biggest change? Can you find words for that already before the season starts?

M:          Ehm.. yeah, I think the car will definitely be a bit stiffer, the car will be jerkier (was kind of German slang but means that it will buckle more?) to drive, we have the smaller tyres, well the bigger tyres but the smaller side walls, which will then make the car completely stiff, well stiffer. There will probably be a lot of change to the driving style which you have to adjust to, but in the end I have made the experience in Formula 2 where you go from a 13 inches to an 8 inches, so I kind of know what to expect, but I think that the Formula 1 car will feel different, since the car is completely new. It is basically made for the 18 inches, whereas the Formula 2 was made for the 13 inches but had been modified to the 8 inches.

I:            So the Formula 2 experience could help you in that regard, that’s what you also said before the last season when we met in Munich, I can remember that quite well. When we talk about setting goals, what goals have you set, with the team, first of all, but also for you personally for the coming season?

M:          I think we would be satisfied if we could constantly appear in Q2 and get some points here and there. That is of course a personal goal but also a goal that we have as a team, which is why we therefore have to push and give it our best, but there’s a new mix, there are the new regulations, everything does not fully know which way to go, some other teams have been set back to zero and hopefully it can give us this little lead above the others since we started that early.

I:            On a scale from 1 to 10, 1 really bad and 10 really good, where would you put yourself for the last season? Which grade would you give yourself?

M:         I think it is hard to give a grade there, I was satisfied with my season, there were of course a lot of things where we could have improved, which we could have improved, but I think that, overall, I really feel comfortable I the team, I feel comfortable in the car, and I think that we had some good races and I think that is what we wanted, what we expected but in the end we missed a few points, like getting points, but I think all in all we can be happy with the season.

I:            Did you catch that the drivers voted you into the top 10 of the current drivers? If so, what does that do to you, were you happy about that, because you have to admit that is quite an honour as a driver from a team that is always at the back, always has to fight, usually just against his teammate, to get such a tribute from the other drivers?

M:         Yeah, that was definitely really nice and I was really happy about that. To be honest I think that I didn’t expect something like that, but I am definitely happy about it, and that it gives me some kind of boost for this season to really prove myself and show what I can do and hopefully with a fast car.

I:            Now it’s year 2 for Mick Schumacher in the same series, that has always been significantly better that the first one. We just talked about setting goals, if you personally look at your history in Formula 1, from feedback that you were able to give to what you have learned about the car, do you also have set goals to approach the season to say: “This or that is what I want to achieve personally”?

M:          Yeah, there are definitely some points that I personally want to improve, outside of as well as inside the car but I think that in general all the junior categories really prepared me well for it, I basically always did the same thing I do now, which means debriefs, we always talked about what had to be discussed over the weekend extensively, and that I am always constant with the feedback, so that I present my feelings, but also say “I would need the car this way to have it drive faster”, to give them a direction instead of just saying what’s missing and let them do the job, that I can actively involve myself to get us across the finish line faster. And those are just some points that I want to develop more, where I try to actively say “This is what I want inside the car”, just to have all these setup changes quicker.

I:            Okay, that sounds good. That’s something we’re going to have a look at when it’s time. Mick, I looked into the testing days again, now it’s six, obviously a few more that last year, but if you take a closer look, it’s actually 3 days per driver. What do you think? Is that enough to get a good feeling for what’s coming in Barcelona and Bahrain, where we will be, too, of course, as Sky Team?

M:          Well, of course we would prefer to drive every day. I think that it would of course be the best preparation, but in the end it’s the same three days for everyone else, too. So I have to be content with that, to bring out the best in myself. Ehm.. but I think the year – we know the racetracks, I know the race tracks, I always know what’s ahead of me, also on the weekend, which means that this “Rookie feeling” probably won’t be there anymore, but that I feel like I am rather a part of Formula 1 as just having joined (it).

I: You had the feeling, also from the last season, that as a bystander, or a journalist in that case, you could see you accepting the role of the team leader more and more, at least that’s what I thought, in terms of your demeanour from what we could perceive from the outside but also from what we could see from the box, for example that you always went over to your mechanics, no matter the result. How do you judge your constellation in that season also with Nikita, which has been, let’s say very rough and turbulent in the beginning? In the end it seems like things were smoothed over a bit. How would you assess the situation for this year?

M:         I think for us it will simply be important to work as a team so that we can get the most points for the team. In the end I can only look at myself, which is what I will do. I will do my best, what he will do in the end, he must see for himself. Ehm.. yeah.. but I know where I stand, I know where my place is in the team, and I have to concentrate on myself.

I:            I had the feeling at the beginning of the season that he always added fuel to the fire and held back more later on in the ‘second act’. There have been some situations in the paddock, his idea of you to visit him in Moscow por example, did that happen?

M:          Eh, no.

I:            Ah, okay, that didn’t happen. Did you have any contact during the winter break?

M:          Ehh, yeah, just minimal. I think just how you would text among teammates, like “Happy New Year”, and yeah (*laughs*)

I:            Mick, one question about Ferrari. You are the reserve driver for this season - in these turbulent days you never know what will happen and how quickly an opportunity might occur to drive a race. What significance would that have for you to be able to drive with a Ferrari on a race day?

M:          Well, of course it would be nice to sit in a Ferrari, but I still think that our main goal is, or that our main focus would be on Haas, but if the backup is needed with Ferrari I will be there.

I:            What is your mid-term goal then? Ferrari always comes up, also in Interviews, now in preparation with the talk with you is Stefano Domenicali, who has been asked – and who also has a great Ferrari history with your father, with Michael, and shaped a great era – how would you assess that overall? Would that be a short-term goal to achieve? To have a (now the next part is a guess, cause his sound glitched) permanent seat in Ferrari?

M:          I think that I haven’t occupied myself with that yet, my goal this season is to be as far up front as possible with Haas, to take the team as far up front as possible, and what will happen in the future remains to be seen. It probably also depends and what will be possible with Haas this season and if I present myself well there it will hopefully go into the right direction next year.

I:            The next upcoming race will be the Race of Champions. We will be there live with Sky. It will be crispy cold, have you checked the temperatures there, yet?

M:         Yeah well, sub-zero temperatures (C°) of what I saw and we have to hope for that, (I: -20°C) because well, otherwise, (without the) ice, that wouldn’t be that good. But I think it is a great thing, it’s always a lot of fun and I think that the race on ice is quite positive, I think that it could be quite helpful for us in Formula 1, if it is wet and we would know how to drive the car so that it will stay on track.

I:            The German Dream Team, together with your friend Sebastian Vettel – how was the exchange there within the last few days? Was there contact already, I don’t know, about your arrival or what else there is planned?

M:         We will all arrive a little bit earlier, I think on the evening of the 2nd, I’m not a hundret percent sure when, but we’re definitely both really excited. He’s going straight into the race without practice, while I go into it with practice. Well, we’ll see if it will be worth it to have driven on ice beforehand, but I think that we’re there to have fun above all, but of course want to give it our best to bring the Nations Cup back home.  

[wherethingscomebackx]

Top 25 Larry Fics of 2020

h 2020 was HELLISH. So thank you to all the writers, and I mean ALL of them, who kept us occupied as the world continues to burn.

You may be familiar with these lists:

Top 25 Larry fics of 2016

Top 25 Larry fics of 2017

Top 25 Larry fics of 2018

Top 25 Larry fics of 2019

We’re going on our 5th year!!  As always, I read a lot of fic and the majority of it is Larry. I like making lists and I like Larry so I thought I’d do some minimal research of the top 25 larry fics published/completed in 2020 in order of least to most kudos (with links). All of these fics are top notch so you should all check them out!

25.) a trail of honey through it all by @yvesaintlourent (27k)

The boy in front of him, well really, the man in front of him, was like something out of a confusing wet dream. Built, tall, tan and muscular, his skin glistened with sweat after a long day of working outdoors with his hands. He was wearing a cut up old American football shirt, the bottom hem was torn and the sleeves were cut off to the point where the t-shirt was really just a loose tank top. The shorts he had on had clearly been full length jeans at one point, and were now just crudely cut off above the knee. His white socks were pulled up too high on his calves, and the brown work boots he had on were old as fuck, the leather peeling along the edges of the soles. Curly brown hair stuck out from the edges of his backwards snapback, and there was a smudge of grease wiped along his brow bone. The smattering of hair along his jaw proved that he hadn’t shaved in a week or two, the hair growing in thicker across his upper lip and around his chin. His sinfully bowed mouth was pink and plump, and Louis was suddenly hyper-focused on the way that he chewed at the toothpick stuck between his lips. He looked like he needed a shower. Louis wanted to lick him.

Or, the TPH fic we’ve all been waiting for.

24.) even the best laid plans by @falsegoodnight (25k)

“Anyways,” Louis stresses, narrowing his eyes, “just let me say it and then rate how terrible of an idea it is on a scale from one to ten.”

“Alright,” Zayn agrees, sitting up expectantly.

“I want to ask Harry Styles to take my virginity,” Louis blurts, holding his hands out for emphasis.

The way Zayn’s eyes bulge is almost comical. “Negative infinity,” he says, voice choked. “Negative infinity times negative infinity.”

“Technically, a negative times a negative is -”

“Really negative infinity,” Zayn corrects himself, shaking his head wildly. “Louis, what the fuck?”

-

Or, Louis wants to have sex with someone and decides Harry is the perfect alpha for the job.

23.) A Distant Hazy Light by @greenfeelings (76k)

Life’s pretty ordinary for Harry. He lives with his best friend, got into university just like he’s planned, and manages to support himself just fine for an unbonded omega. If he sustains that lifestyle by getting paid to help alphas through their rut every now and then, that’s nothing to be hung up on. Until he’s hired by an alpha that turns everything upside down.

Or, Harry’s working on taking Louis’ walls down, until he builds his own up.

22.) Ghost Note Symphony by whoknows (96k)

Louis is on tour when he first hears about it. It’s all over the news – Harry Styles Attacked By Fan runs in headlines for days. It’s not even just the gossip rags, either. Actual journalists are covering the story. It would have been impossible to avoid hearing about it. Technically, Oli is the one who tells Louis about it, but it’s not exactly being covered up. Harry doesn’t answer Louis’ text asking if he’s alright, but that’s not really surprising. They haven’t spoken for months, and it’s been a lot longer than that since they’ve had a real conversation. The sting of the text going unanswered is still there, less painful than it might have been a few years ago.

It’s not that it’s easy to forget about, exactly. Louis has a whole life outside of One Direction now, though. So Louis goes on with his life, figuring that if Harry was seriously hurt he would have heard about it by now. He might currently be in the same country as Harry, but being on opposite sides of it puts enough distance between them that putting it in the back of his mind is easy. There’s nothing Louis could do, even if he thought Harry might want him to.

That’s why everything that happens next comes as a complete shock to him.

21.) Until by @allwaswell16 (38k)

Rural Eagle County, Colorado wasn’t the type of place to find a famous musician or actor. At least not until songwriter Louis Tomlinson showed up with pop star Niall Horan to visit his uncle’s horse ranch, and they just happened to find themselves next door to a reclusive former movie star.

20.) Strangers in Love by sweetums (42k)

Louis wakes up to find himself in a marriage with the last man he thought he'd ever end up with.

-

Prompt 51: An amnesia fic where louis and harry were enemies to lovers but after an accident, louis only remembers those memories that him and harry hated each other. now harry has to fix it. I think something like this less dark and less angsty compared to other amnesia fics and it could be funny

19.) A Long Way From The Playground by Pink_Sunsets (170k)

One Direction is broken up. They broke up five years ago. That should be the end of the story, right?

Harry is finished with One Direction. He now has a new life, one with two kids and a successful solo career. And he’s happy.

But a call one night from management flips Harry’s whole new life upside down, and he’s forced to face the life he had left behind.

As well as a certain blue eyed man who had left him behind.

18.) my love’s not simple (it’s fragile) by @falsegoodnight (27k)

“Can I take you out tomorrow?” he asks. “My shift ends at 7 but we can go for dinner at 8.”

Louis is silent for a few seconds and then, “Like… on a date?”

Harry swallows thickly. He hasn’t done this in years, hasn’t ever wanted to. “Yeah.”

He’s worried he’s misread things but then Louis raises his head to kiss Harry’s cheek. “Yeah,” he says easily. “Sure.”

Tension leaves his body swiftly. “Are you sure?” asks Harry. “I know we’re both so busy but I can’t not try with you, Lou.”

“Neither can I,” says Louis. “I think we can figure it out. I care about you a lot Harry. We’ve known each other for a week, but I already like you so much.”

-

Or Harry's new job is threatened by his impending rut. Desperate for a solution, he allows Niall to introduce him to Louis, an omega whose heat begins the same day. They click.

17.) Cocaine for Breakfast by @harryeatsburger (309k)

“It’s an easy job.” He continues, as if Louis wants to listen. “Like I said, a few trips. Parties, students, nothing dramatic.”

Louis gazes over to Harry. He’s looking thoughtful now, eyes on the green like he’s talking more to himself than Louis.

“Clubbing, drinks. Whatever, the business is just a side thing.”

That’s not how Louis remembers it to be, “You lying?” He honestly can’t tell.

Harry shakes his head slowly, meeting Louis' eyes.

“No,” He answers almost toneless. Harry clears his throat, “I won’t put you in any dangerous situation.” His voice is sincere, Louis can tell he means it, his jade green eyes glinting with truth.

or, - Louis Tomlinson is a drug addict, sent away from his beloved party-scene to recover. There, he discovers that small towns have just as much access to drugs as London did, plus something even better that he just can't get enough of. That something is a boy with green eyes and bouncy curls named Harry Styles. -

16.) Tastes like Strawberries by @sadaveniren (4k)

I’m stressed. I’m nesting and demand cuddles. Come over

Harry frowned and double checked who the text was from. Yup, it still said Louis - Grad, which meant it was from Louis from his grad school.

aka Louis texts Harry by mistake. It works out

15.) the way the storm blows by @rbbsbb (21k)

Louis doesn’t have a habit of thinking about Harry’s dick.

That would be weird, seeing as they’re best mates, and they share a flat, and they’ve spent holidays at each other’s family homes. Their friendship hasn’t ever risen to a point where Louis should want to see his mate’s dick, and he’s happy to keep it that way.

Except, all that Louis can think about is exactly that. The size of it. The shape. The amount of people it’s been in.

Maybe it’s the tequila talking, or the fact that Louis’ just recently walked in to an eyeful of Harry taking turns on some slags that he’s never seen before, but. Louis’ mind can’t stop obsessing over the idea.

14.) bruise you like a peach by @falsegoodnight (40k)

There’s two reasons Harry despises Econ.

The first is that it’s boring as fuck. The second reason is a bit more personal, a bit more focused in a way. As in it’s focused on one specific thing, or in his case, person.

His name is Louis Tomlinson.

13.) Watching The World Fall by whoknows (11k)

This segment has been going on long enough that Louis knows what’s coming before James starts in on it, trying to sell him on something he knows that Louis wouldn’t normally be buying. But there’s four cameras surrounding him, and an audience watching him expectantly, so if Louis wants to continue convincing people that he’s doing just fine, he’s going to have to go along with it.

“We have a whole host of single men backstage waiting to meet you, Louis,” James tells him. “We want to help you find love tonight, on Late Late Live Tinder. Is this okay? Do you want to play?”

It actually kind of makes sense that his first date after the break-up is going to be just as public as said break-up. Something like coming full circle.

“Alright, James,” Louis agrees, hopping down off his stool.

“Okay, come down to the stage,” James says. Louis can’t even tell whether the excitement in his voice is genuine or not. “Right now, come on down!”

12.) Quiet People Have the Loudest Minds by @2tiedships2 (38k)

Broadway shows were one of the few things that could keep Louis’ attention for a full two hours without needing to move about. But not tonight.

The alpha next to him was both infuriating him and practically turning him on at the same time. He needed to leave. The alpha, that is. Louis was staying.

Or the one where Louis is a nonverbal omega who has accepted the fact that he will never find an alpha that will treat him as an equal. On the other hand, he’s never met anyone like Harry.

11.) The Wrath of the Emerald Eyes by @purpledandeli0n (85k)

His chin is grabbed harshly, facing the two deep green eyes that have been getting on his nerves for the past ten minutes. The smirk on the man's face does not vanish. The grip of his hand on Louis' chin does not soften, his thumb at the side of his lower lip.

His smile widens as he answers Louis' question, ''My name is Styles, but you will call me Captain."

•

Pirate AU

10.) Canyon Moon by @eeveelou (40k)

For as long as Louis has remembered, he has been promised to be mated to Harry, his best friend and the future pack alpha. But Louis’s heart belonged to the forest and to the hunt more than he could ever imagine it belonging to Harry.

Then Harry’s father dies in a violent accident, and Louis’s future alpha disappears on the wind.

An A/B/O Lion King AU

9.) We Both Got Nothing to Hide by lovelarry10 (43k)

“Talk to me, Lou.”

“I can’t,” Louis mumbled, knowing he genuinely couldn’t say it. He couldn’t admit to what he was doing. “Don’t ask me to say it, because I can’t.”

“Then… I’ll try and guess. You’ve… got some stuff of Harry’s. Something of his to make it smell like him?”

Louis just nodded, eyes fixated on the floor. This was humiliating, but he knew Zayn wouldn’t stop until he found out what was going on.

“Okay. Like… a blanket, or a comforter or something?”

“Kind of…”

//

Omega Louis has a secret nest. Alpha Harry keeps losing his clothes.

8.) sleeping on our problems by @falsegoodnight (67k)

I’m in love with you, Louis thinks. He feels empty, weighed down by his sadness and the loss of Harry inside him just moments ago before his knot finally went down.

There’s moments where he’s sure Harry feels the same. Like now, when he’s gazing down at Louis with so much adoration and tenderness. It’s like they’re both on the cusp of something more, but neither of them ever say a word.

His confession is on the tip of his tongue ready to slide out like honey, and yet he remains silent. They both do, looking at each other and recognizing the reluctance mirrored in each other’s eyes. It’s then that Louis realizes they’re both scared.

-

Or Louis sleeps with Harry and they have more than just catching feelings to worry about.

7.) like it’s a game by @soldouthaz (32k)

there is little harry hates more than truth or dare.

and louis.

6.) before we knew by @falsegoodnight (39k)

“C’mon Lou,” says Zayn after a moment, He sounds even more exasperated than before. Louis sort of has a knack for exasperating people, especially people like Zayn who aren’t usually bothered by his brattiness. “Can’t you give this guy a chance? Harry Styles? Aren’t you curious about him at all?”

Despite his best efforts, Louis still flinches at the name. He really shouldn’t be so affected after all these years. He’s seen the name printed down the curve of his waist in obnoxiously and uncommonly large loopy letters every single day since his sixteenth birthday eight years ago. He’s very familiar with the name Harry Styles.

It sounds pretentious and Louis hates it.

He hates everything about his supposed soulmate.

He hates his large handwriting that stands out like a claim on his skin whenever he’s walking around shirtless. He hates his pretentious name. And now he hates his supposed curls and green eyes and dimples.

-

Or Louis has been skeptical of soulmates for years so it seems like fate when he finally bumps into the owner of the obnoxiously large signature printed into his skin since age sixteen: Harry Styles, a human rights attorney who is firmly against soulmates.

5.) Mine Would Be You by @crinkle-eyed-boo (114k)

Louis blinks his eyes open, his eyelids fluttering as the room swims around him. He takes several gulps of beer once he confirms that he’s definitely not hallucinating, that the very first portrait Harry Styles ever painted of him is hanging on that wall.

Louis stares at the wall, his heart jackrabbiting in his chest as he realizes that there’s not just one painting of him, there’s five, the portraits lined up like they’re some sort of storyboard depicting the rise and fall of his deepest love. His greatest heartache. A pain that cut him so deep that he left the fucking country, severing all ties with his life in New York, now suddenly surrounding him as if he’d never left.

Fucking shit motherfucker fuck.

Louis returns to New York City five years after he left it – and the love of his life – behind. He didn't intend to see Harry again, but fate has a funny way of pulling them together, whether they like it or not. After making a begrudging truce, they both start to wonder: Would it be so bad if history repeated itself?

4.) You’ve Got My Devotion (Hate You Sometimes) by @harryrainbows (95k)

Harry was in the biggest boy band in the world. He was also one half of the best (or worst, depends on who you ask) kept secret relationship in the music industry.

Now, almost five years on, after One Direction has broken up, and Harry and Louis' relationship has as well, a video threatens to put everything at risk.

One determined Irishman, a massive publicity stunt and two begrudging exes are all it takes to bring One Direction back to life and maybe, just maybe, Harry and Louis' mangled love life too.

Or: Harry and Louis are forced to fake-date after an old video from when they were dating emerges.

3.) The Space Between by @lads-laddylads (39k)

Harry Styles is the alpha rockstar who can’t sleep and doesn’t know why.

Louis Tomlinson is the omega PhD student who helps him figure it out.

2.) Nothing But You On My Mind by @absoloutenonsense (83k)

Louis Tomlinson is a PR manager hired to improve the image of royal bad-boy Prince Harry Styles. Unfortunately for him, that means being faced with the Prince's constant innuendos, incessant dirty jokes, and relentless flirting. Louis just wants to make it to Princess Gemma's coronation; once she's crowned Queen, his contract is up and he never has to see the Prince again.

1.) Collision by @tequiladimples (224k)

Mythology/Fairytale!AU in which Louis is a dainty fairy with a temper who wants to be intimidating and Harry hurts people. Naturally, they hate each other.

(Featuring Liam, the big and not-so-bad wolf who’s got a thing for humans, Zayn, a human with supernaturally good looks, and Niall, the cupid who just wants his job to be easier.)

[bitsandbobsofwriting]

The Magic Reveal fic we deserve, in which Merlin gets as angry as he deserves to get:

Part 2   Part 3   Part 4   Part 5

Don’t get me wrong I LOVE a magic reveal with a Merlin who feels bad about lying. I love a reveal with Arthur being furious and Merlin crying but then they talk it out and all is well. I think it's pretty in-character for Merlin to want to see Arthur come to his own conclusions about magic, without being influenced by Merlin’s opinions

BUT I also kinda wanna see Merlin get angry? Like, why should he feel bad about hiding himself in a kingdom where "himself" gets him nothing but a pyre?? Yeah, he and Arthur are close, but unless you've lived with a secret like that (one that will get you shunned, hated, or even killed) then, and I CAN'T STRESS THIS ENOUGH, it doesn't matter How Close you are with someone, how certain you are that they would never hurt you, or care either way, it will almost ALWAYS be scary to tell them. So like. Let Merlin get angry:

I'd say Arthur has been king for maybe a year at this point. He's still a new monarch, still a lot on his plate, BUT also still plenty of time for him to have repealed the ban on magic, or at least started working on it.

But he hasn't.

Granted he hasn't executed anyone in a while (banishments and prison time are the norm, executions are only used nowadays for high treason). BUT the law still remains, it's still technically punishable by death, to be a sorcerer.

Arthur and Merlin have little hunting trips, when Arthur is getting too stressed and losing too much sleep, when he trains the knights too hard and snaps at even Gaius, Merlin (or sometimes even Leon, if they're both being grumpy arseholes) insists that they leave the city for a day or more, to go hunting.

The council have been told it's so the King can keep up with his fitness, can keep familiar with his lands, and keep his skills sharp (he only has enough time to train with the knights a couple times a week nowadays, a far cry from the several hours he used to do every morning without fail), and that keeps them satisfied.

The Gang (the Knights, Gwen, Gaius, and Morgana (she's good in this because that's what I want let me have this)) know the truth, that sometimes the two of them just need a few days to goof off and be themselves, to finally get some time to relax. They'll grab a couple hares and maybe a stag on the way back if they can, so they can at least pretend that's what they've been doing the whole time.

These trips can last anywhere between a day, to two weeks, and Arthur leaves the same set of instructions with the council and the knights every time:

"The safety of Camelot’s people is your highest priority. I leave Sir Leon in charge of everything to do with the knights, patrol, and should any form of conflict arise. If there is an emergency, you are to consult the Inner Council (I don’t know if that's a thing but let's say it is; its The Gang), and send a squire on horseback to fetch me immediately. There's one boy in the troupe who always manages to track me the down the quickest, so make sure he's the one sent, Sir Leon knows who I speak of."

(He's improved over the years, but Arthur is still very... cagey, when it comes to compliments, and his trust. Leon will never mention it, but the fact that Arthur leaves the safety of the kingdom to him, without hesitation or worry, makes him feel greatly honoured. That is the highest form of trust Arthur is capable of giving.)

~

ANYWAY I feel like most of this has just been backstory so let's get into it:

Normally it's Merlin or Leon who demand that the trip needs to happen.

This time

It's Arthur.

Arthur has tried to ignore it (he's trying to get better but he's not great with emotions and stuff, the big dummy) but Merlin has been in a sour mood for weeks now. He's been quiet and withdrawn, snappy, and has been avoiding Arthur whenever possible.

At first it was easy to ignore, when it started a few months ago it was barely noticeable to anyone who didn't know the two of them Very Well, but in the last few weeks it's become a problem.

Arthur reckons a trip might do them some good. Merlin can relax, and will either get over whatever is bothering him, or be comfortable enough to talk to Arthur about it.

So they head out. Merlin doesn't seem too happy about the trip but he doesn’t complain.

(Odd in itself, if Merlin is unhappy about something he usually makes it known.)

The first couple of days are... odd, to say the least. It seems that every time Arthur notices Merlin relax, he quickly tightens up again. One short, joking conversation is followed by a few more hours of painful, awkward silence.

Arthur comes to the daunting realisation, that if he wants to help is friend (and the love of his life but like... baby blondie has hardly reached that conclusion himself, he might need a bit more time on that) is to confront it head on.

So they're settling down in the evening. The fire is roaring, the horses have been fed and watered, dinner has been eaten, and the two of them are sat at opposite ends of the fire (Very Odd, they're usually glued at the hip, especially when it's just the two of them).

Arthur looks at his friend properly for the first times in a while and he Does Not Like what he sees.

Merlin is visibly exhausted, big bags under his eyes, and his skin paler than normal, scowling ever so slightly into the fire. Shoulders tense, and hands gripping each other until the skin on his knuckles is white. And despite all that, Arthur thinks that Merlin looks more sad, than angry.

Maybe Merlin notices Arthur's staring, they hold eye contact for a little while before Merlin becomes sort of... resigned?? To the fact that he's gonna have to have this conversation whether he wants it or not? He goes to say something but before he can, Arthur interrupts him:

"So Merlin. How do you think I'm doing so far?"

(Which is a stupid thing to say, really. But Arthur is, as we've already established, extremely emotionally constipated, and he figures that finding out what's wrong with Merlin indirectly, and then subtly fixing it behind his back, is a far better idea than asking him to his face.)

Merlin clenches his jaw and looks away it this, his reply and his body language clearly sending different messages:

"You know what I think. You're going to be a great king."

Arthur thinks : "(Going to be? I've been king for a year, there's been no war and far fewer attempts on my life than when I was a prince. There's been a good harvest, all diplomatic meetings have gone well, and more peace treaties, and trade agreements, have been signed in the last twelve months, than in the ten years before it. I know I can still do better but... does Merlin not think I'm good?")

Arthur says : "Going to be? I think I'm a pretty great King already if I do say so myself."

"Then why ask? Besides. There are a few things you haven't done."

Merlin's tone is biting, even though he tries to force it out casually. Arthur notices. ”There are a few things you haven't done”... that means something specific.

"Hmm. I suppose. What things did you have in mind then, Merlin?"

Arthur also tries to sound casual, but the question comes out very pointed

Merlin desperately doesn't want to say it out loud, in fear of revealing too much of himself, so he goes with the vague answer of:

"Promises were made. I guess I just figured you weren't the type to break them, that's all. I'm sure you'll get there in time."

Merlin sounds sort of hopeful there. But the sort of hope that he's been living with for years, the sort of hope that has a layer of sadness and resignation laying over the the top like a tablecloth.

Arthur notices:

"Promises?" He doesn’t want to talk too much or too loudly, in fear that Merlin realises that he's speaking openly and clams up again.

Arthur has realised, over the last year or two, that despite their closeness, despite the endless conversations they seem to have, he doesn't really know all that much about Merlin. He knows he doesn’t spend as much time picking herbs, or in the tavern, as he and Gaius would claim. He doesn't know his favourite colour, or season, or holiday. He doesn't know when abouts his birthday is, or what he likes eating. He doesn't know much about his childhood, he's never mentioned his father.

(Despite all this, he's still in love with the idiot, but again, a revelation for another time.)

Merlin responds "To the druids. You promised they would be welcomed, that magic would return. I know your opinions on magic-"

(The manservant visibly shuffles at this, uncomfortable.)

"-but I figured a promise is a promise. Keeping your word had always seemed so important to you. Before."

Arthur notices the past tense. Like Merlin doesn’t believe that Arthur holds importance to his word anymore:

"I'm not my father Merlin. There have been no executions just for the sake of it since I took the crown."

Merlin’s reply comes quickly, in a harsh tone:

"Yes I know that. But your fathers law still remains. It's technically still punishable by execution just to exist as a sorcerer in your kingdom."

(Arthur notices the thinly veiled disgust in Merlin's voice when he mentions Uther. Arthur knew that Merlin disliked the previous king, but he didn’t think he hated him that much.)

Merlin is getting more and more visibly frustrated at this point. Both at Arthur, and the topic of conversation, but also at himself, for letting himself become so worked up over something he'd sworn to keep Arthur away from.

"You really didn't like my Father did you Merlin?" He says it with a chuckle, trying to keep the conversation light and casual.

(This is NOT a conversation that should be light and casual, his friend is in pain, and revealing more of himself than he ever had before, this should be serious. But Arthur isn't quite sure how to do that, so inappropriately light and casual is what he goes for.)

Merlin responds with a quiet, but forceful:

"I hated him. I still do. He's your father, I know that you're not him, and I know you can't help your heritage. But I'll never forgive Uther for what he did. And I'm not angry that he's...gone."

Arthur's very much taken aback at that. He knows everyone has... strong opinions on Uther, but they've never voiced it in front of him.

"Why?? I mean I know he put you in the stocks a couple of times, but so have I to be fair. Why do you hate him so much?"

(This is the point Merlin gets angry. Or angrier. This is when he stops trying to hide it, stops trying to hold it in. Arthur hadn't gotten angry at Merlin for talking about Uther in such a way, he was just curious. Merlin had been planning on telling him the truth at some point anyway, so he might as well do it now, with no one else around, and Arthur in a goodish mood.)

Merlin jumps up, clenching his fists and staring Arthur in the eye for the first time since the start of the conversation, breathing deeply.

Arthur is taken even further aback at Merlin's sudden unwillingness to hide his true reaction to the topic at hand, but he doesn't say anything, and just waits for Merlin’s response

"Why?? Why do I hate him? Maybe because he was blinded fear and selfish hatred."

Merlin stops and looks away, but doesn't sit down, still tense.

I imagine he's waiting for Arthur to say something, but he doesn’t, opting to wait for Merlin to carry on himself, unwilling to remind Merlin exactly who he was talking to, and about what.

After a few moments of silence, Merlin continues, getting angrier with each word as he paces:

"Your father, the Great King Uther, murdered thousands of people. He committed genocide, because he insisted on blaming other people for his own mistakes. He didn't pay attention to the fine print, and killed his own wife and in return, he executes THOUSANDS of MY people. Just for daring to exist. He was so full of hatred, but he, of course, was infallible so it MUST have been someone else's fault. He was incapable of admitting his own mistakes and the injustice that went unpunished is indescribable, he was a tyrant, and a murderer, and I'll never forgive him."

(Arthur knows the truth about what happened to his Ma in this story, I don’t know how, he just does. And it's a topic of conversation he avoids like the plague.)

At the end of his little outburst, Merlin stills. He is shaking as he glares at the floor, and is more furious than Arthur has ever seen him before.

The King notices the little slip up.

"Your people?" He says, so quietly it's a wonder Merlin hears it.

Merlin freezes at this, at the realisation that there's no real way he can play this off. He was planning on telling him at some point anyway. They're miles away from the city in the middle of a large, barely tamed forest. If he needs to run for his life, he could get away easily enough.

"Yes Arthur. My people. You really should've let me speak first."

Arthur is reminded of the fact that Merlin had opened his mouth to say something, before he'd interrupted him at the beginning of the conversation. It felt like it was hours ago now, but it was really only a few minutes.

The King isn’t nearly as shocked as he thinks he should be. He knew there was something odd and secretive about Merlin, and he'd considered that he might have magic in the early days, but that hadn't been a genuine consideration for years.

He wants to be angry, and selfish, and furious at Merlin for lying to him all this time. But after hearing Merlin’s little speech, does he really have any right to? 

Yes, Arthur hadn't executed any sorcerers, but he also hadn't changed the law. He hadn't stood up to his father and he certainly hadn't tried to stop the executions before he was King himself. Can he really blame Merlin? For being scared? For being angry?

"You're a sorcerer." It's not a question. It's a statement. In his mind he knows the truth, but it needs to be confirmed, out loud, by Merlin himself, before they can move the conversation on.

"Yes."

And that's all he says. Arthur waits. And when he's tired of waiting, when he realises that Merlin isn't just gonna carry on talking this time, he speaks up:

"And?"

"And what, Arthur? What do you want me to say? That I'm sorry I lied? Yes, I feel bad for lying to you, but I'll never apologise for protecting myself in a kingdom that would see me burn. And I would do it again in a heartbeat"

Arthur nods. He's tense, but he notices that he isn't scared and he wonders why, after all, as far as he was aware magic had only (almost only) caused him pain and fear. 

(In the back of his mind he knows why he's not scared. Merlin doesn't have an evil bone in his body, and he's met the druids, he knows that some magic users are peaceful.)

He looks up at Merlin to see him staring at him, a sort of challenging look on his face, like he was daring Arthur to prove him right. Daring him to be selfish, and angry, and just like his father.

But when Arthur looks deeper. Really Looks at Merlin. He sees the fear, Arthur has no doubt in his mind that Merlin could escape, or even fight him off, now, if he needed to. But Merlin is scared.

If that wasn't enough to break Arthur's heart, the quick glance that Merlin throws to the space a few feet from Arthur's side, is.

Arthur looks over slowly, eyebrows furrowed, to see what Merlin glanced at so fearfully. His heart shatters when he realises what it is. Arthurs sword, sat underneath his bag, just out of his reach. Merlin thinks Arthur is going to kill him. Merlin is scared. Of Arthur.

Arthur looks back at Merlin, disbelief and gut wrenching sadness on his face. He resists the urge to jump up (knowing it would just panic Merlin) as he speaks, trying to keep his tone calming, but it comes out rushed and desperate anyway:

"I'm not going to hurt you Merlin, I swear. I'm...sorry, if my actions and words have led you to believe that I would EVER see any harm come to you."

It's over the last minute, the anger and fear from Merlin, that forces Arthur to realise the legacy he's dealing with. That Uther had done so much damage, had struck so much fear into Merlin, that it didn't matter how close they were. Any subtle, deliberate ignorance of the law wasn’t enough. Any small compliments, or defence of Merlin, wasn't enough.

As long as the law remained, as long as Arthur left his fathers legacy intact, with not even a small attempt to dismantle it, Merlin would be scared of him.

Merlin relaxes only slightly at Arthur's words, gulps, and glances once more at the sword before sitting down again. He’s still tense as he stares into the fire once more.

"All these years you've been putting your life at risk, to stay at my side. You could've quit at any time. You could've stayed in the relative safety of Ealdor, but you didn't. Why? I want to know everything Merlin. You... you mean a great deal to me, and it pains me to see you in fear. And I know it's no one’s fault but my own, and I want to fix it. So the whole story, from the beginning, I want to know."

It's Merlin’s turn to be taken aback now. In his mind, everything he's said and done in the last few minutes should be making Arthur angry. The disrespect of Uther, the tone of voice he had taken, the shouting. All of that even before the admittance of his greatest secret. But still Arthur wasn't angry, he was confused, and maybe hadn't quite processed it yet, but mostly he was just sad, sad that Merlin had to be angry on his own. Sad that Merlin had to be fearful on his own.

So he does. He starts at the beginning. His mother sending him to Camelot so Gaius could train him. Saving Arthurs life that first banquet. Saving his life again a few days later. And again. And again. And again

He talks about all the small insignificant magicks he did: cheating at dice games and keeping Arthur's bath water warm and making sure the fire stays lit through the night and helping the knights sleep when they're out and about.

He talks about all the big magicks he did: killing Nimueh and being the last Dragon-Lord and Balinor being his father, and all the great battles he had won and all the times he'd saved Arthur when Arthur hadn't even realised he'd been in danger.

He talks about everything in between. About every lucky fallen branch and every lucky rockslide and every lucky solution that wouldn't have worked without Merlin... nudging it in the right direction.

He talks and talks and talks until his throat is sore. And Arthur stays silent, unwilling to interrupt, listening intently and saving any questions and queries until the end.

After an hour or so, Merlin hesitates, but Arthur can tell that there's something else. Something he's not saying. Something that in Merlin's mind, is the scariest truth of all. So he stays silent, and waits for Merlin to continue:

"The old man that you think killed your father. Dragoon, the sorcerer who kept popping up but was never in the same room as me? That was me, in disguise."

He looks nervous at this and looks up at Arthur. Before, he'd been explaining everything with a blank but resolute look on his face, still staring into the fire (that hadn't been fed in well over an hour, but was still going strong).

Arthur just looks surprised, he'd never considered that Dragoon had been anyone but himself.

"I tried Arthur. I may have hated your father but I tried to save him. But the pendant around his neck stopped it from working and healing magic has never been my strong point anyway. I really did try."

Arthur nods at this. He figured there had been no reason for the old sorcerer to kill his father, and after consulting Gaius and realising the truth about the pendant, he didn't blame him. Though he never told anyone, not even Merlin, why would he? His manservant had never even met the guy.

"I know. I'm sorry, it can’t have been easy, thinking I blamed you for his death all these months. I'm sorry Merlin."

Merlin looks surprised but quietly grateful. Over the course of the last hour of explanation he had slowly become more and more relaxed, realising that Arthur really meant it when he said he wasn't going to hurt him, and just wanted the truth.

Merlin was still scared, and a big part of him still believed he'd probably be banished at the least at the end of this conversation. But it still felt good to get it off his chest.

"But you still haven't answered my question. Why? We didn't know each all that well those first few weeks. Months even. We practically hated each other at the beginning. But you stayed anyway. Despite hating me and despite being in constant danger. Why?"

Merlin once again hesitates at this. He tried his best but even after all these years, he's not quite sure how to navigate conversations about destiny, especially his own, and especially how it's tied so intrinsically with Arthur’s.

Instead he says:

"What do you know about Emrys?" He really needs a starting reference for this part of the conversation, and at this point, the best way to get it is to ask directly.

Arthur goes to question why, but Merlin has been nothing but honest and straight forward with him, so he trusts that it’s important, and answers truthfully:

"Not much. A few Druids have mentioned him to me before. Apparently they've been seeing him in prophetic dreams for centuries, the Druids have quite a few "seers" in their ranks. He's meant to be some great sorcerer, whose destiny it is to bring Magic and peace to Albion, with some King or other at his side. I never payed much attention to it, I hardly believe in visions of the future."

Merlin nods at that:

"You've got most of it. Emrys is meant to be the most powerful Warlock to ever walk the earth, past, present, and future. When Uther started culling sorcerers, an astronomical amount of magic was poured back into the earth all at once. The Triple Goddess took that magic and put it all in one place, in one unborn baby, in the hope that said baby would grow into his power, and restore balance and compassion to the world. The Druids call him Emrys but it's just a title, like King, or Sir, not his real name. He, and the Once and Future King, are meant to rule with the support of one another, uniting all of Albion under the King’s rule, and bringing magic back into the land. Emrys and the Forever King, two sides of the same coin, their destinies interwoven."

Merlin goes silent at that, and Arthur thinks he knows where this is going, but he Needs the confirmation:

"What's that got to do with anything?" is quietly muttered.

"You're the Forever King Arthur. And I am Emrys. Though it's weird enough when the druids call me that so just... let's stick with Merlin alright?"

"All those times you said I would be a great King, all those times you had unfailing faith in me, was because of destiny?"

Arthur tries not so sound hurt, but he’s never cared for, or believed, in destiny. Up until now he'd thought Merlin had had faith in him as Arthur, his friend, not as some prophetic Once and Future King that Arthur was afraid he would never be.

"At first, sure. I was angry, that my destiny had been decided for me. That I couldn't just ignore it because if I did then the world would never know peace. I never asked for that responsibility I just wanted... I just wanted to keep my mother safe. I wanted to learn how to be a physician and use my magic to help and entertain and brighten the world. Just a little bit. And suddenly I had this big important role to play. I hated it. But I did it anyway, kept you safe. And then I got to know you as a person and you weren't your father. You Love Camelot, you Love your people, you're a good man who does everything in his power to help those around him, even if they don't deserve it sometimes. And suddenly, having my destiny be to help you to greatness... well, it didn't seem so bad anymore. Maybe it was your destiny to be that Great King from prophecy, because you were already a good man."

Arthur is speechless at that. Tears gather in his eyes but neither of them mention it and he doesn't let them fall. Merlin had been almost as nice as that in the past, but never so fully, and with the weight of the truth behind it, it seemed much more meaningful.

Merlin gives him a sad smile before he continues:

"I'm your servant until the day I die Arthur. I have faith that one day, you'll do the right thing."

Arthur suddenly remember the whole point of this conversation. That Merlin was upset and angry that he hadn't repealed the ban on magic yet, that Merlin was still waiting on him. Waiting on him to do the right thing. Waiting on him to fulfil his destiny.

~

Maybe they head straight home? Merlin walks into Arthur's chambers the next morning to find him already up and pacing, making a start on the repeal?

Maybe Arthur demands they go to the closest Druid settlement so he can consult them on how he should go about it? Merlin’s knowledge of magic is great and all, but neither of them were alive before the purge, neither know how it would work practically.

All I know, is whenever Merlin first comes across Arthur working on the repeal, determination in his eyes, he cries a little. That everything he sacrificed is finally paying off.

I also know, that the first time Arthur timidly asks Merlin to show him something magical (maybe that's straight after this tiring conversation, or maybe its days later, back in the safety of Arthur's locked chambers) Merlin cries even harder, Arthur is still scared of magic, how could he not be. But he loves and trusts Merlin more than anything in this world, and he wants to learn to not be scared anymore.

~

THIS IS COMPLETED!!

All 5 parts have been posted:)

If y’all want my thoughts on anything specific, let me know✌