#Cavell Group

[thorsenmark]

A Distant View of Mount Edith Cavell from the Banks of the Athabasca River (Jasper National Park) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: While walking around the Alpine Village Jasper in Jasper National Park with a view looking to the south with the Athabasca River flowing by and a backdrop of mountains.

[ajortga]

for i can't help falling in love with you

pairing: vada cavell x fem reader

summary: not only are you new and in almost all of vada's classes, but the more you get to know each other, the more you hang out. she starts to think maybe your friendship is more than what she thought it was, she's feeling something she knows that you shouldn't feel for a friend.

word count: 10.1k+

a/n: this is the longest fic i've ever written, this is fluffy and sweet, spent way too long on it but nonetheless, not regretful!

based off a request! this is for my vada <3ers

-

R transfers, V sees her almost all the time and eventually starts falling for R, V then embarrassingly asks R out for dinner! Just plainly puppy love, literally not much but I find these types of tropes sooo comforting, u can change some up a bit!!

-

It’s loud, bustling, chaotic every single day in the cafeteria.

As soon as the bell rings around the hallways and into the classrooms for lunch break, everyone slams into each other and sprints to the front of the lunch line. Vada even remembers while she walked with Nick some boy tripped in thin air and fell to the floor. She couldn’t help but laugh a little. That was until Nick and her found out he had to get stitches to repair his nose. 

She laughed even harder, she couldn’t help it.

Vada slurped her slushy as she kicked her feet, talking with Nick who was drinking an iced latte.

“In a sense, slurpees are better than coffee. You don’t have to immediately shit diarrhea as soon as you plop on the toilet.”

He agrees, rolling his eyes, “Yeah but who would want slushies every day? They stain your mouth.”

“Well would you rather have a temporary colorful tongue that can be seen as cool, or stay in the bathroom while crying for help?”

It seems like as soon as she said it, Nick gagged as he held his stomach.

“You have 30 seconds before you're going to shit your pants,” she states, looking at him up and down. He wasn’t moving.

“Nick, go!” Vada yelled as she choked on a small giggle, watching Nick run to the bathroom holding his pants up to his sides.

As the baggy clothed brunette watched her best friend race to the bathroom, she clicked her tongue and shook her head. Vada slurped on her red slushy. 

She was waiting for Nick until she noticed someone with a jacket wrapped around a tank top with her headphones on and book in one hand. You. She’s never seen you before and it was almost certain she’s seen everyone at least once before to know their name. She was bored, so she just watched.

You were folding a gum wrapper into a heart while you followed Mia into the girls restroom. Mia was always the one to give student tours when she could. You must’ve been new. But then you came back out without your jacket, holding it in the other hand as she saw Mia’s slushie spilled all over your jacket. She could almost hear how she was apologizing over and over again and you smiled it off, showing her how it was okay and you could clean up when you got home. 

Then she took you back to her friend group, seeing the way your hair went side to side as you walked. Before she could watch you even more, Nick called out her name.

“I just took the biggest shit of my li- what are you looking at?”

She hears him but doesn’t turn his way,still looking a little, “Just someone who I think is new. Mia is giving her a tour.”

Nick said a small “ohhh..” in response, “Well what’s so exciting about that?”

“Mia accidentally spilled the slushie we bought this morning on her jacket by accident.”

“That’s so not cool, she must be cold having to take that off, was she mad?”

“No, she just brushed it off, smiled in a somewhat assuring way, and gave Mia the gum wrapper she folded before Mia took her back to her friend group.”

“Ooh. She’s patient then.”

“Yeah.”

-

After lunch passed, Vada realized you were in almost all her periods, well only the ones she attended. Sometimes she was late from Amelia hogging the bus. You kept to yourself, gave shy smiles as the teachers introduced you.

But as the next day rose she was back at school again.

Her favorite class was her film class, it was like a free period and she got to touch cameras and watch movies at least twice a week.

She sits in the corner of the room, she likes the way she can look out the window and see the sight of the sky while also seeing her own reflection.

FIlm class is oddly comforting, music always plays before the period begins. She places her phone on top of her desk.

So for the third time that day, she sees you walk through, with your backpack hung over one shoulder and the other with a book. She wants to feel surprised, almost strange how you end up in her class, but instead she almost feels a sense of gratefulness. 

She doesn’t want to stare. But her eyes betray her, because in one second her eyes are on you. New students weren’t regular, well in her core classes, sure. But film? Almost never. She watches the way you wait by the teacher’s desk, waiting, unsure, not knowing if you should tap her shoulder or just wait until she notices you. Usually, Vada and Mia would sit together, but sometimes on bad days, they would have to move from talking and laughing too much. So they stuck to sitting diagonally and passing notes in the back of the classroom. Finally, the teacher notices you and the smile she gives you is almost too happy as she rubs your shoulder and stands up.

“Alright everyone,” she quiets down her music, “..usually during film I’d let the music keep rolling, but just for today I’d like you to greet our new student who just transferred here. Her name is Y/N.”

People around the class say awkward hi’s, random waves, some of the girls stare at you and awe, and even some of the well-known guys look at you, eyebrows raised and Vada can almost feel their want for you. 

It makes her roll her eyes in disgust.

You do an awkward wave, wanting to shrink into the floor, a smile tugged at your lips.

“Okay sweetheart, there aren’t many options for seating since this class is more compacted than my others. But you can sit next to Vada.” Ms. Valentina points at Vada, “She’s the one in the very back, the open seat behind Mia.” 

Your eyes almost light up when you notice Mia’s in your class, giving a small nod and trying to squish into the back. 

Mia waves at you, shaking your shoulders to show her excitement as you sit down. Vada can almost smell the sweetness of your shampoo when you sit. It smells like ripe strawberries with the fulfilling scent of roasted marshmallows. She wants to sniff your hair, but you’re already pulling out your notebook from your backpack.

“Hey girl!” Mia whispers, turning around to face you as you smile.

“Hey slurpee stainer,” you joke, your voice is soft, airy, melodic. Not like anything Vada’s ever heard. Sure she’s heard many voices, but yours sounded like a lullaby to shush a baby to sleep if you wanted to.

Mia giggles, slapping your arm, “I said I’m sorryyyy. I’d say I’d take you shopping on the weekends! Don’t use that against me,” she scolds, and that makes you laugh, you cup your mouth to contain the giggles and Vada can hear an adorable squeak come out from it.

“I know, don’t be sorry, I was just joking, I’ll just wash it when I get home,” you whisper.

Before you two could talk again the teacher spoke, “Okay guys, it was a long day yesterday and I was planning on printing out some papers for assignments two days prior, but our school printer broke and the ink on mine is hanging on for dear life.” She pauses, everyone didn’t know where she was going with this, “So I’m just going to roll a movie, you guys can choose but I really don’t have much. You can talk, keep it low and hey, if you’re sitting around Y/N, lighten up the mood and get to know her.”

There were random okays and suggestions. As Ms. Valentina kept reading aloud the names, it was almost certain that Shrek was going to be chosen. For the third time this month. Until she spoke out a new suggestion, and everyone chose La La Land instead.

As she played the movie off the projector, Mia scooted to you.

“Okay, so no pressure, buttt my dad's gone today and I know you said you didn’t have homework. If you don’t want to, it's completely understandable, but me and Vada,” she gestures to the brunette sitting next to you, with her hands clasped together and looking at you with interest, “We sometimes go on pool runs or just drive to the nearest seven eleven. Honestly, it’s whatever. But if you wanna hang, I can give you a ride back home, let you drop off your stuff, and we can get to know each other more at mine. What are you thinking?”

Your lips tug into a thoughtful grin, telling Mia she doesn’t have to because she accidentally spilled her drink on you. But Vada kept staring at you. The blonde glanced at her, she saw her basically staring at your side profile, then back at you before giving her a light leg nudge that you didn’t notice. 

“No no! Don’t feel pressured, just know that” Mia breathes and pats your forearm reassuringly, “..that I think we should hang out more, kay? You don’t know how many people don’t get mad when someone spills something on them. At least you’re someone who's patient as hell.” She makes you laugh as you think again.

“Okay, I’d love that,” you respond, simply. 

“Then it’s set! Just meet us at that broccoli lookin’ tree, kay?”

-

As soon as the bell roars and everyone starts opening the gates like it’s the ones they’ll see in heaven, you squish into the crowd of people and look for this broccoli looking tree Mia was referring to. It didn’t take you long.

The only broccoli looking tree was the only tree that was stranded from all the poofy and leafy looking trees, and you could see her with the other brunette that you sat next to in class. You think her name was Vada. You didn’t want to ask, if you did and Vada wasn’t her name, you might as well crawl into a hole. 

Mia immediately greets you.

Vada kicks at dirt beneath her, smiling a little foolishly, she realizes when she thinks how silly she might look to you. Her silly smile slightly fades to a more soft one to try and not seem weird. Instead you feel like she might feel uncomfortable with you, maybe she’s closed to people she meets at first. You hope that it doesn’t stay that way

“Get in!” The blonde smiles, and you swerve into the backseat as you drive off to the nearest seven eleven.

Mia’s car smells like flowers, you almost feel a little carsick from the leather and floral scent mixed together. You smell something else though, sweet plum and fluffy musk. You think it’s Vada, you can almost smell her shampoo from here.

It’s a little quiet, Mia talks to Vada, you try not to disrupt so you pretend you're looking at the window staring at literally nothing. It’s like the blue-eyed girl can see the way you try to keep to yourself and don’t want to be involved when you don’t think you should. So she bumps the music up.

Vada wants to talk to you. She can feel this urge for her heart to make her mouth open and speak. But for some reason she feels nervous. It’s weird, she’s usually open and starts off with teasing. Why can’t she speak now? Maybe it’s because.. Vada doesn’t even have a reason to know, she just doesn’t know.

“Dude, how is there traffic already to go to a fucking seven-eleven? We literally just left school.” Mia murmurs, tapping her shoes to the music.

Vada turns around, to look at the cars behind her, maybe to check how many are behind her.

That’s what Mia thought, but Vada wondered what you were doing. She's never met someone that tries to be considerate, to be polite and not wanting to interrupt anyone at any time

She notices the way you take the opportunity of the slightly opened window to take a breath of fresh air and let that small crack to let the small breeze blow through your hair. She sees the way you twirl your necklace up and down, side to side, then spin it around your fingers. She notices how you don’t notice her, so you don’t look at her, you look at the sky, the small baby cows, the cars. 

It’s like a pencil is engraving into her mind to write all the details she sees. But she doesn’t know why. 

Your figure slightly leans into the window, closing your eyes to rest. Maybe you’re thinking about Mia and what a good friend she is. Maybe you’re thinking about wanting to get to know her, Vada. Maybe you’re thinking of how long it’ll take for you to blend in into this place. Maybe you’re thinking how your place didn’t have many cows everywhere. Maybe you lived in the snowy mountains, or the coastal shorelines where you could take a dip in cool water every summer morning.

She sees your eyes flutter as the car slowly stops. Her body tenses and turns back to the front, you’re already at seven-eleven. 

“It’s honestly kind of warm outside, I can turn on the AC on this thing if you don’t wanna go,” Mia says, finally turning around to look at you rubbing your eyes.

“No, no, it’s ‘kay, I’ll come, gotta exercise these legs anyway.” You say, opening her door and following suite with Mia and Vada. The small concreted rocks crunching beneath your shoes. 

Mia obviously wants to check out the candy section, but Vada wants another slushy. 

���Hold up, I think they have the candy they didn’t have when I checked the other time. Vadaaa you can just roam with Y/N. I’m not sure if you guys had seven-eleven where you lived.” She peeks into the candy section and with a spin of a corner she’s gone.

Vada stands there, awkwardly. She feels like if anything, you should be the one standing there like that. You stand there, looking at the slushies. Cola, blue raspberry, cherry, mountain dew, honestly you didn’t know if you should get one.

“Do you want to get one?” Vada asks, the first time you really heard her speak.

Your ears perk, turning to face her, “I’m not really a slushy person,” you speak softly, “I’m a little thirsty though.”

Vada smiles at that, “I like the cherry flavor and blue raspberry, but you gotta swirl it a certain way for it to taste the way I really like it, y’know?” She speaks, you nod, noticing her baggy basketball shorts and oversized shirt.

She walks closer, she can smell the same sweetness of your scent. Strawberries and roasted marshmallows. Your scent is oddly comforting, a scent where anyone would hug you longer and never let you go to smell it forever.

She stops before you can process anything, slightly backing away and focusing on the slushy dispenser.

“Okay. So like, I know you’re probably not supposed to do this but I just put my index and middle finger under the dispenser and,” she stops, looking at you, “make sure you wash your hands though,” she laughs. “But if you don’t know what flavor, just lick it off your fingers.”

Vada can almost sense you suppressing your laughter, “Seriously! I don’t give two shits about those security cameras. Honestly we go here so often we could get a free slushy and not pay.” She places her fingers under the dispenser of the cherry blast and presses the button, stopping it and licking it off her fingers.

It’s like she’s teaching you. She likes the way you’re interested and really looks like you want to learn.

“Do you want to try?” The slightly shorter brunette asks, her voice trying not to seem pressuring at all.

You think, looking at her fingers as she wipes it with a random brown napkin and throwing it away in the trash, “Okay,” your smooth voice responds before approaching beside her.

You use your index finger and place it under the blue raspberry one.

“This one?” Vada questions, when you nod she presses softly on the dispense button.

Your giggle from the icy cold makes her feel like the happiness she feels when she makes a small child laugh.

Vada turns to look at you and smiles, taking off her hand off the dispense button and watching you lick your fingers. (they were clean I promise)

“I like this one,” you say, making a small eye contact glance with her.

“Do you want it? I can pay.”

“It’s okay, I’ll see what’s at Mia’s home, I seriously don’t think I can finish the small one alone!”

-

Vada gets to know you more the more Mia invites you. She notices the way you open up, instead of trying to politely look out the window so you don’t disrupt conversations that you aren’t sure what their about, the car is lively,

Loud.

The music is always turned down now, giggles are filled, sometimes there are jokes about classes, teachers, people, the past.

Sometimes there are questions, family, hobbies.

Vada learns you have two siblings, a much younger and much older one, older brother, younger sister.

You like to read and write, play the guitar, bake, you love going on sunsetty and late night drives, it makes her interested in that part.

When you told her, a part of her wanted to tell you, ‘I like late night drives too.’ Maybe she’ll drive you around the freeway on a summer weekend in the future.

She likes the way you include her, how you always include people to make sure they never feel lonely.

She begins to notice the way your smiles aren’t shy anymore, they’re genuine. She can feel the way you’re opening up to her, from the way you look at her in a way she doesn’t remember. You look at her like she feels like she’s the only girl you’re looking at. She sees how your eyes soften in your irises the more you listen to her speak.

-

Vada never thought she’d experience jealousy for the first time in her life.

Sure she’s felt it before, when her fists clench when she had gotten second place when she was younger. It was like an ember. But this time, it was much stronger.

It was during some school event her high school came up with, couples day or what not.

You sat next to Vada and Nick during lunch, Mia with her friend group usually at this time. You were huddled up to Vada, munching on some chips with your hair up. 

“Omph, I think jazz is better than rock honestly,” you say, muffled with chips in your mouth.

“Mmm, reasonable.”

After taking a long refreshing sip of water, you and Vada stand up.

“Nick, me and Y/N are gonna meet up Mia in the hallway, ‘kay? See you weirdo,” Vada walks along with you as you two laugh with each other over random gossip.

As you see Mia in the distance, wanting to wave her over, your friend Liam grabs you by the waist, his hands gentle, flowers in his hand.

You almost jump. You met Liam around the first week of school, he was sweet, gentle-man like. He offered to study with you in the library after school. 

“Y/N, hey,” he says, his voice like syrup. Too sweet for your liking, “Sorry for pulling you away. I just wanted to tell you something.”

You saw how Vada stood on the side, awkwardly, not to mention how she was glaring at Liam.

You turn back to the curled hair blonde in front of you, “That’s ‘kay, what is it?”

Liam hands you the flowers he was holding, leaving you, almost confused, your face heating up.

“Look, I know I didn’t know you for long, but you’re sweet, you know? No one ever has to talk bad about you and to be in this school as a person like that is rare. I kind of, you know, like you. You’re pretty, really smart, and have a personality of gold. I know you don’t really like me, but I’d like to know what you think.”

You stare at the flowers held in your hands, your hands feel clammy. 

“Liam.. This is really sweet. I appreciate.. You know, you thinking of me in that silver lighting. It honestly, in a sense, makes me feel proud. Thanks. I, I think I need some time, I never thought of you as the kind of person I’d be in a relationship with. But maybe with time if we get to know each other.. You know.. Gosh I’m sorry.” Your voice trails off, a tight smile on your lips, seeing the way Liam nodded immediately in understanding. You felt bad. Rejecting the sweetest boy you ever knew in this school, you just never saw him as something more than a brother.

“Don’t be sorry Y/N, that’s okay, I know what you mean, I just wanted to tell you before it got out of hand, but hey, now that I told you, as long as we stay friends that’s okay. That won’t change any friendship right?”

“I promise,” you assure, smiling a little.

Liam nods again, flowers in your hand as he gives your shoulder a gentle squeeze and leans in to kiss your forehead.

He then walks away and you look down at the flowers in hand.

“Okay, that was cheesy as hell,” Vada says, her voice almost annoyed, maybe from waiting to see Liam’s monologue.

“I didn’t even know he felt that way about me.”

Vada rolls her eyes, “Of course you don’t,” you can’t help but feel almost hurt from her words. It’s like she was calling you oblivious, ignorant.

“Why would he even give you flowers? Gosh, he’s going wild for you, you barely even know him. He’s doing too much for someone like you right now,” she scoffed, slightly, not knowing why someone that you haven’t known for a while would give you flowers so early when you didn’t know him that well. But she worded it so wrongly.

Offended, almost wounded, insulted. Did Vada really think you were the kind of person no one would like? Did one of your closest friends find you in a sense, unlovable?

Vada saw the way your figure tensed, your eyes narrowing, before looking like they were about to cry.

Shit. 

God she’s never seen you cry before. Vada felt her heart almost shatter, seeing the way your eyes were beginning to fill with tears. She didn’t mean it in a rude way, god now that she thinks about it, that’s one of the rudest things she could say. 

She didn’t mean it, Vada doesn’t even know why she said it, maybe she just didn’t think Liam was right for you. 

She felt jealousy, and she could feel it herself. Maybe she wanted a sweet guy too.

Or maybe she just wanted you.

“God Y/N, I didn’t mean-” Vada reaches her hand to your shoulder and immediately you shrug it off. 

“You don’t think that I’m lovable enough to truly be loved, is that what it is Vada?” You say, your eyes sharp, “You don’t think I’m capable of deserve someone like Liam? How do you even see me?” You murmur, looking obviously, something Vada never wanted in the first place, in disbelief to even feel a tear slip down to your cheek.

“No, I swear I just-”

The bell had rang, and before she could try to apologize, and run after you, you squeezed into the crowd of people, heading for the class Vada knew was the only one you didn’t have with her.

Mia watched from a distance, seeing how tears poured from your eyes as you pushed through the crowds of people.

-

It’s tense, sort of, when Mia drives to her house.

You’re not talking to Vada, headphones are in, basically screaming that you’re closed off right now. Vada wants to talk to you, but she doesn’t know how to apologize for something she didn’t mean.

You look at the window outside and she feels like this might’ve gone back to stage one, it might take weeks for you to open up again.

But yet again, you’re Y/N, she knows you too well to know that you would never try to ignore her for that long.

Mia has to turn up the music again, something that hasn’t really happened for almost a few months, making small talk with Vada.

When you get to her house, Vada holds the door for you, you don’t look at her, just mumble a small, “thanks.”

“Shoot, sorry guys, if you guys are okay with staying here for half an hour or so, that’d be great. I completely forgot I had to stay after school and drop off one of my friends,” Mia immediately slaps her face, grabbing her bag for dance as she looks back, “Fridge is open if you guys want snacks, remote is in the cabinet under the couch, and all those joints ‘n stuff are in the back. K, love you, see ya,” Mia says, blowing a funny air kiss before shutting the door.

Now it’s awkward, out of all days of course Mia has a practice.

It’s quiet, your headphones are hung around your neck, kicking your feet against the carpet uncomfortably, you don’t know if you want to speak.

“Please, can you talk to me?” Vada pleads, making you almost flinch.

“I’m sorry for what I said today, I swear I didn’t mean it in a mean way towards you. I hope you know me well enough to know I would never mean it, okay? I was just getting a little upset over the fact guys would try asking girls out when they don’t know them that much, you know?.. Um.. Yeah. I guess I got a little overprotective. So I’m sorry. I hate when we don’t talk, it makes me feel like you hate me and stuff.”

You look at her, tugging your bottom lip between your lips, then you breathe, “I don’t hate you Vads. I promise. I just got a little taken aback and I honestly felt a little hurt from your words, especially since I knew you weren’t the kind of person to say those things in a mean manner. I forgive you. I really care about you, it was just weird today. I already felt bad rejecting a sweet boy I met and I wasn’t expecting to have my feelings hurt about it, I know you didn’t mean it.”

“I swear I didn’t, I just didn’t think Liam should’ve asked you so early, I didn’t even think you gave any signs.”

You giggle, making Vada’s shoulders relax from your icy facade beginning to melt, “You sound jealous.”

“Oh, nuh-uh.”

“Mm..” You mutter, not believing her, and making her groan. 

Vada quickly changes the topic, realizing how red her face was. 

“Do you wanna.. Um, go outside? Take a breather for a bit.”

“Okay.”

As you two close the sliding door, Vada sits down next to you, the silence is now comfortable. Her eyes begin to linger on the pack of cigars in front of her.

“I know you’re not the kind to smoke, but do you wanna share a blunt with me?” Vada asks, softly, it’s a question that you know if you say no, she’ll completely get it.

You hesitate, you never smoked before, let alone want to. But you look at Vada’s eyes and your head nods yes.

“Okay.”

You can see the excitement on her face, she makes a small squeal as she begins to roll the blunt, lighting it up with a lighter, you see her brush off some of the dust. 

She places her lips on the cigarette, inhaling softly, before exhaling the smoke and a plethora of smoky fog wafts around you.

Her soft eyebrows raise, her eyes flicking to the blunt and your eyes, offering it to you.

Vada hears you breathe, she can almost feel your breath on her face as you look at the cigarette.

“A little help here?” You ask, voice tiny, shy. 

“Okay baby,” Vada jokes, seeing the way your lips try not to smile, but fail miserably.

Vada scoots closer to you, so you two are huddled up and she takes your hand, “Okay, you always spin your led pencil in class, just hold the blunt similarly.” She feels the warmth of your hand and it makes her breath hitch. She puts the blunt between your index and middle finger, in which you make sure to hold with grip. Vada taps on your thumb, “Up,” her voice instructs, in which you support your thumb to hold it.

“Hey, now you got it!” she pats your shoulder, like a ‘yay’

She leans closer to you, your face is mere inches apart as she gently places the end of the cigarette in your mouth. Immediately the smoke fills your senses and you look at Vada, she coaxes you, “Inhale, not too much.” You inhale, wait for a moment, then exhale. 

“There you go, you’re making me feel like a teacher Y/N,” she clicks her tongue.

She sees the way you exhale through your mouth, and the smoke fades in front of her face, you take another hit, this time you’re full on staring at Vada, with your doe eyes deep into hers. 

The smoke wafts around her again, and when you pass it to her, you lean into her. Hearing how her breath hitches, your body pressed against her.

It goes like that for a while, puff, puff, pass. Where Vada offers the blunt to you, but instead of taking it with your finger, your lips part and your teeth nibble on the cigarette for a moment. 

It’s like a game. She doesn’t know if it’s the humor you’ve grown, or the teasing. The teasing. But the way you make eye contact with her while your lips capture the blunt you two have shared makes her stomach stir.

While you smoke and you feel the ease of tranquility wash over your senses, Vada grabs some munchies, cookies, some donuts Mia bought the other day, and some potato chips.

She can’t see you. But she knows you’re staring at her, she can feel the way she senses she’s being watched. 

You’re there, staring at her, looking down at her baggy clothing, then looking back up while she puts down the snacks. Your cheeks are flushed, you hear the way the music on your phone is beginning to fade, because you’re here, staring at her. 

You think you may have taken too many hits, it’s a different kind of high. You just want to take the potato chips and grow wings. Fly away from this place and go to Italy.

Vada notices, you look spaced out, but you’re staring at her. Not as captivated as you were once before, so she nudges you and you immediately look back up at her. She’s high, she sees a glint in your mesmerizing eyes. A glint that makes her want to pull you closer.

“I feel high,” you state, you don’t notice how you sound till your speech is slurred.

“I think we’ve caught on to that,” Vada laughs, with a roll of her eyes as you snack on potato chips.

“I feel like you're prettyyy Vadss.. Pretty dope and badass,” you say, your fingers showing a peace sign and Vada busts out laughing.

“You have some nasty high that makes you use my kind of slang huh Y/N?”

You’re staring again, except the only difference now is she can tell what kind of stare it is. And this time it makes her feel weird, she can’t put her finger on it.

“Oh yeah, uh huh, yeppers,” you murmur, munching on potato chips and throwing it across the outside couch you sat on, “Can we have a cheese pizza instead with tickling my pickling pickle?..”

Flying. You feel like you’re flying, breathing out and in that smoke. Vada feels like she should be laughing but by the time she feels that she already is.

The cigarette in your hand gets twisted and her footsteps on it, cracking it.

“Think that’s enough for today Y/N, you’re not speaking from the heart.”

“Pickles?”

“No.”

“Dill.”

“No pickles!”

“Yes pickl-No!!!-okay..”

Finally, Vada drags you inside Mia’s house, carrying you to the couch and tossing you on it.

“WeeeEeeEEeEEE,” you’re acting silly. Vada has never seen this care-free, childish side in you. 

“I think you’re gonna need to sleep this high off sleeping beauty.”

“I can’t sleeeeeep.”

“Well you need to sleep,” Vada forces, authority lacing her voice. You make a grumble. 

“Okay fine,” the small cushion on the couch shifts from you moving around so much. Vada watches you in the corner of your eye, finding it a little cute the way you are right now.

She was going to buy some dill pickles while you closed your eyes, but you seemed like you couldn’t, making Vada sigh and approach you.

“Scooch,” her voice rings in your ears, rubbing your hair softly as you make a tired, grumpy sound and scoot a little, your body wrapped into a marshmallowy blanket.

She doesn’t think she would do this, but if she can make you shut up a little bit, and feel your warmth, maybe it’ll be okay. The shorter brunette feels the way you curl into her body and melt like putty. She doesn’t think much of it, what you two are sharing right now.

Vada feels fond, to let you feel safe in her arms, is something she will always cherish.

Her voice hushes you, pressing her lips to your forehead, while you murmur about pickles. The whispers begin to die down, like the ending of a symphony. She cuddles you, you nudge your nose into her chest, “Don’t go Vads..” your voice is barely heard, but she can hear it, “Stay.”

“It’s okay Y/N, I’ll be here when you wake up.”

“Promise?”

“Pinky,” her pinky raises up and interlocks with yours.

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

“Now sleep angel,” her voice is teasing, but part of it she feels like you’ve grown on her, this childish side that she finds sweet.

You don’t respond, of course you don’t, because as soon as she looks down at you asleep on her chest. And by the time she can even process, Vada is asleep with you.

Mia comes home seeing you two sleep together, taking 5 photos and even having the time to take 2 polaroid pictures of you two wrapped into each other.

“Those two are going to be together soon.”

-

It’s the fourth time you’ve watched Shrek in film class. 4 damn times for 2 months.

Vada is starting to tick, you giggle at it. But she finds Shrek so iconic, she can’t bring herself to hate it. Well for now.

“I fucking feel like I can actually memorize each line by now,” she mutters, it makes you and Mia laugh even harder. 

“Why doesn’t Ms. Valentina choose the movies after that? It’s always just Shrek 1.” 

Vada doesn’t even know by now. 

The lights turn off, the only sunshine you can see is from the warmth of the sun that creeps into the blinds. The best part of having film in this period is that she always has it first on Fridays. Which means when the light switches turn off, it’s the queue where everyone pushes the desks and gets comfy, the desks stay on the side for the rest of the day.

After grunts and small clatter of water bottles falling down from people pushing the desks, everyone crawls to their spot in their own little friend group they have. 

Vada already has the couch in the back of the classroom reserved, she doesn’t give no shits, if she’ll fight for it she will. 

You find it a little funny, since you remember how people stopped trying to fight, she’s persistent. 

She pats the seat next to her and you sit next to her. Mia sits next to you. 

And for the rest of the period you three gossip, curl into each other, and chatter.

-

Once again, at the end of the school day, you, Vada, and Mia are laying together on the couch with several blankets and stuffed animals stacked on top of each other.

“Pass the popcorn please,” you nudge Mia, who’s holding the large popcorn box filled with buttery popcorn (that she kept when she ordered a jumbo sized popcorn box from the movies, that cost 10 damn dollars.) Mia passes it to Vada, which munches on a handful, then hands it to you. Of course with you ending up with some popcorn thrown into your hair.

You happy snack on the popcorn, munching and crunching. Vada and your hands dig into the bottom with the richer buttered popcorn. The brunette’s cheeks feel warm from feeling your hand. Maybe from the blanket. Maybe from the heat of the popcorn. Or maybe something else. 

Mia regrets asking Vada for a movie recommendation. As soon as she sees Vada search up ‘Sh’ on the search bar, she groans, seeing how Vada clicked Shrek. 

For the second, fucking, time, today.

As the movie begins to roll, the blonde whispers, “If I have children, I’m never gonna let them watch this. It’s been playing way more than enough and I am not risking having to play it every morning when I’m older.”

Vada snorts, “I’m going to tell your children that it’s a great movie, so great that they’ll play it morning and night.”

It goes like that for the next 30 minutes, you two are snug, with a fluffy weighted blanket draped over the three of you as the movie continues.

As the forty five minute mark surpasses, Vada is distracted in the movie. She’s seen it 4 times, yet she’s still watching it. She feels a faint pressure press against her shoulder, she brushes it off, she knows that it’s her brain signaling her to stop watching the movie.

She doesn’t.

But as the minutes pass, the pressure stays, if not stronger.

She feels curious, turning her head away from the projector to find you asleep peacefully on her shoulder. Vada’s eyes soften at the sight of your lips parted, gentle breaths blowing on her neck from your lips and the white of the blanket covering your chin. You’re asleep, and it brings her back to you two asleep on each other the other day. But this time it feels different. You two aren’t high.

You were curled up to her, with your legs tucked and faced to the edge of the couch. She’s seen you asleep before, when you were so tired one hung out that Mia lent you your room. Vada only peeked inside to see you asleep and still like a rock. You aren’t the kind to fall asleep easily, let alone snore. But Vada could hear a soft snore fall from your lips.

Vada can’t help it, but she feels a grin trying to form on her face, as you curl up to her, she tucks a hand around your waist to pull you closer. Now your hair is draped all over her shoulders, she sniffs it, nudging her nose to your hair. Your shampoo smells again like strawberries. 

Except this time it smells more intoxicating.

It smells so lightly sweet. But it makes her feel dizzy, her nose to the top of your head, relying on your scent to comfort her. 

You shift lightly, a soft murmur being made as your eyes slightly twitch, but fall asleep just as fast when she takes a strand of hair in her fingertips and curls it. 

As you're asleep and Vada is focused on you, Mia mumbles against her, quiet enough to not wake you. The TV was already loud enough, plus you were all the way in the corner.

“You like Y/N,” she says, and it wasn’t an opinion, it was a rhetorical statement.

Vada slows down with her fingers curling in your hair, turning to face Mia.

She feels a stutter get caught into her throat, “Uh, w-wait what?”

“You like Y/N,” she says again, her blue eyes looking at Vada, searching for an answer. An answer she already knew, she just needed to hear it from her.

“N-no, what? Mia, what makes you think that?”

It sounds stupid to the blonde, a small laugh coming from her, she speaks quieter so you can’t hear her, although you’re knocked off asleep.

“Well, to start off, since she stepped into our film class for the first day, you couldn’t stop staring at her Vads. And when I invited her so we could get to know her better, I’ve never seen you so quiet with someone until you met her. You’re always so open to meeting new people. At first, I thought you were nervous,” Mia laughs, finding it almost unbelievable when she says it out loud, “and never thought the Vada Cavell would be nervous to meet new people. But you look at her like the missing puzzle piece you’ve taken years to find. You look at her like she’s given you the light to your universe.”

Vada wants to roll her eyes, tell Mia how insane she is, she wants to throw her hands in the air. But she doesn’t want to, she doesn’t want to wake you up, she just wants to press her lips to your forehead and tell you that everything is okay when you wake up. 

But it all comes down at her at once. She can’t believe it herself. Well she knew she felt something. The the way she sees things now. Where she’d walk into a library filled with books and think, “Y/N would love it here.” Or when she’d smell the aroma in the air when Amelia and her mother would bake cookies together, and can’t help, but think about you. 

Mia herself has a guitar, and when there are days when you can’t make it, Vada spends two hours as her best friend talks to her to practice. So maybe one day, when she sees you pull out her guitar, she’ll say, “I can play it too.”

And when your pretty eyes already reveal the yearn you feel to hear her play, she’ll play all the songs that she’s practiced while she eagers you to cuddle up to her. Then you’ll realize they are all your favorite songs. Because Vada spent every two hours when you’re not there to practice for you. 

She hears Mia keep speaking, “You bring her up every time you can, okay? You’re reminded of her everywhere you go, and I’ve never seen you or her look at someone the way you do with each other. Remember that day you two first met? The whole car rode to seven eleven, you were staring at her staring at the window.”

“You’re falling for her day by day Vada,” Mia says, and the brunette can see the way Mia begins to smile, “You just don’t notice it until you realize how much she means to you. You used to refuse to take the extra guitar I had, but when you saw the way she played riffs, you took it and played songs that you knew one day you would want to play for her.”

Mia pauses, then speaks again, “You should’ve seen how shattered she was when you grew over protective of her and said some things that came out wrong. You didn’t see the way as soon as she left for 5th period she was going to cry. Come on, and you two fucking fell asleep with each other. It’s like I’m reading the slowest burn wattpad book in reality.”

The shorter girl is still stroking through your hair, as you’re asleep with soft snores coming out of your mouth every once in a while, still trying to process something she knew was true for a long time.

Vada doesn’t want to admit it, but she exhales a breath she didn’t know she was holding, “I don’t know. I just feel really fond of her I guess. She’s grown really special to me and I think she’s someone I never knew I needed in my life. She’s there to you know, listen. Or be open to whatever..” Vada plays with the string of her oversized shorts while letting you nuzzle to her neck. “I guess she’s more important to me than I thought.”

Mia silently squeals, nudging Vada’s shoulder, “You can’t not convince me she likes you too, okay? Now you better fucking confess or I’m going to do a backflip and crack your neck open.”

-

Vada hasn’t felt nervous since she met you, but today she was nervous nervous. She bought sky blue, pink, ivory, and sweet apple tulips. 

It feels so cheesy, but she’s fucking here for it.

She prepares a basket with everything she knows about you, lego flowers, a cow stuffy with some random coquette bow attached to it, (that she may have not asked your older brother what animal you liked.) As soon as she shopped, the cute little cow with the laced bow wrapped around it was calling for her.

She fills the basket with kisses, tears off the most beautiful, raw pieces of poetry, she read and thought of you. She tears the extra copies of the songs she played on the guitar because of you, and adds it as scraps. 

And of course, she adds small fairy lights, then attaches all the photos she has with you. She has never been more thankful for Mia always taking 2 polaroids whenever you take one together, so she can keep one and add it to her memory book.

She’s anxious, picking at her fingers, it’s like when she first experienced the shooting. Except this is a hundred times worse.

Mia drops her off Saturday morning, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze, “The worst she can say is no,” and by the way Vada clenches the basket she has for you, Mia quickly adds, “Which is a .00001% chance. Trust me, I’m sure she’ll say yes.”

Vada rolls her eyes, clearly not helping easing her anxiety as she closes the door and approaches your door, knocking softly.

When it’s open, she’s greeted with the sight of a newly awoken you, looking sleepy, but she thinks it makes you even cuter.

You’re wearing the plaid pants she lent you, she remembers you couldn’t stop wearing it because it was so comfy. She let you have her extra fourth pair. She found it funny whenever she saw you waddling around in her oversized clothes.

“Mhh..” You keep rubbing your eyes, a yawn escaping out of you, “Vads it’s 8AM on a Saturday morning, what’s going o-” you finally open your eyes to have a nervous fidgety Vada with tulips, some Valentine's day throwup basket and a heart shaped balloon.

Vada takes a deep breath before pushing the tulips towards your way, “Okay, Y/N, I don’t know what to say. But I wanted to tell you for a while now. I notice the way I bring you up everyday, or how long my gaze lingers when you’re in the same room as me. Or how I find a way to bring our friendship up every second I can. I’ve grown the motivation to do the hobbies I’ve seen you once do. And.. I’m not the person to.. Get nervous when I meet people for the first time. But, you’ve been someone who I feel protective over, and you’re special to me in a way where you’re someone I didn’t ever think I needed in my life. But meeting you has really made you be the highlight of my day. I didn’t think it was possible to feel butterflies, let alone these fluttering sparks when you’re near. Or to realize the feelings I felt when Liam gave you flowers and wanted to ask you out was jealousy. It just feels right to have you with me, here. You’ve really distracted me from all the things I’ve found stressful, and no one has ever been able to do that. I didn’t even think it was possible. I-I don’t even know how, but it was like some invisible string tied us when I met you, but I’m so thankful you’re in my life. And it’s so weird to say this now..” 

Vada pauses, catching her breath and trying not to make eye contact with you, but she can see your cheeks getting rosy. Your hands are full with her flowers. You certainly don’t look awkward like you once did with Liam. More like, overly shy now. You’re blushing. And this time your hands don’t feel clammy. This time, you’re so desperate to feel her hands on your waist and have your hands tucked around her to hug her.

Vada gulps and blurts out almost too quickly to comprehend, “But I like you. Will you go out for dinner with me this Friday night? I get if you don’t feel the same, and I just want you to know I don’t want our friendship to be ruined at all but-”

“Vada, I’d love to go out with you.” You interrupt, wanting her to shut up and kiss you. To do all the sweet things you thought of when you smoked with her, to fly with her and carry her home.

“R-really? You’re not just saying that?”

“No. I think.. I don’t know, I think we’ve grown really really close, in a way where I never had someone that I could rely on so much. I really didn’t think meeting you could, you know, make my day a hundred times better, and I always felt confused with my feelings, you know? In a way where I feel like friends shouldn’t feel the sweet way I think about you?”

“Yeah..” Vada murmurs, “Yeah,” she says, more understanding.

She turns to you, you look like spring. The season, with your hands filled with flowers, your hair perfectly ruffled and your hair curling in your ends. Vada speaks again, “Do you want to give us a try? You know, I just don’t ever want us to not be friends one day because we didn’t work out.”

“Please,” you whisper, and when you say that she immediately pulls you in for a hug. 

This hug is just as comforting as all the other ones she’s given you in the past. But now, the thought of this hug being something more isn’t there anymore. Because it is something more. It makes you bury your nose into her chest.

Mia smiles in the distance, snapping a photo of you two hugging, “Those two love birds, I called it.”

-

Friday night

Here you are, in a black dress you remember you fell in love with when you went shopping. It was a simple dress where your shoulders were exposed, a laced neck and you put on some hoops. 

The dress was not too short, but it stopped a little before your knees. 

And of course, a string tying the prettiest bow on the back of your waist, you didn’t want to admit it, but you felt pretty when you looked at the mirror. 

Your mother dropped you off outside of the restaurant Vada reserved. 

She kisses your cheek goodbye, winking for good luck as you wave and watch her go. Now you kind of regret not bringing a jacket. You should’ve brought the leather one you were thinking about at the last minute, and decided not to.

Your headphones are plugged in, you’re 15 minutes early, and as the minutes tick, you feel colder from the sun beginning to set.

Cologne by beabadoobee is playing, you ruffle your curled hair, till you feel the music abruptly stop and your headphones being wrapped around your neck.

You can hear Vada’s voice, ruffling your hair, “Hi,” she says, not more awkward than you feel right now. You feel her gaze linger on your figure, and suddenly you feel hot, the cold you felt 5 minutes ago was completely gone. 

She rubs your shoulders, and you can tell what you’re wearing just made her fall much more for you.

What she’s wearing is not Vada. Not her basketball shorts and oversized tees. This is Vada, in all black with the lightest makeup, you can still see the freckles you love. Her hair is half up half down, and you brush her bangs to the side.

“Vads,” you breathe, and the way you call her that makes her heart pound ferociously, “You look pretty.”

“I tried my best, how do I look, silly pretty girl?” Vada twirls her dress, making you laugh.

“Like something Vada would never wear, but I love it.”

“You’re the one to talk, all soft and shy girl wearing something that I would definitely not stop staring at this whole evening. It’s perfect. You’re perfect, come on Y/N,” she tugs your wrist slightly, noticing how your wrists are decorated with the bracelets you two made together in the past. It makes her smile while she points at it, “Good decoration choice.”

“Only for the best.”

As you two enter the restaurant, you reach for Vada’s hand, she can see the way you’re searching for her. Like a puppy whining for its mother. She drifts her hand towards you and interlaces it with yours.

The place is dimly lit. The only light is from the sunsetty view and the fairy lights that are hung. 

It’s romantic.

And you feel all blushy, like some teenage girl in a friends to lovers book.

Vada feels the way you grasp onto her hands, your fingertips squeezing, she can already tell you’re nervous, she calms you down with a circle with her thumb on the back of your palm. 

You two sit next to each other, looking at the menu.

It’s getting a little cold, and you shift, “Okay, not to ruin the mood, but I have no clue what in the hell I should get,” Vada laughs, the Y/N humor she knew was clearly showing.

“What about we share some alfredo and their bread? Their bread is so filling and to die for.”

You nod, to go with the flow, “Okay Vads, whatever you think is good must be yummy.”

You two order and spend the time talking, by the next 15 minutes of waiting, you’re cuddled into her, playing with her hair.

“Hey, you’re messing my hair up silly.”

“I like playing with it. It’s very smooth!”

Vada presses her lips to your temple, rubbing your cheeks to make your blush more apparent.

“Stop that.”

“Well I think it’s cute when your face is all pink.”

You make a quiet whine, Vada still smells your toasted marshmallow and strawberry scent. The scent she could never get tired of. The intoxicating sweetness.

A few moments later with cuddles and talks, your food arrives and you share the noodles, digging in. Vada drapes your hair back so it won't fall into the sauce. As you eat and munch, Vada twirls the noodles on her fork and brings it to your lips, looking into your eyes. You look back up at her, feeling tiny as you open your mouth and she feeds you. You feed her back, letting her rub the small speck of sauce on your cheek with her thumb.

“Stop being so shy,” Vada whispers, nudging your nose to hers.

“I’m just nervous, I’ve never done this before,” you whisper back.

“Well, it’s just me, nothings gonna change, I swear, maybe I’ll throw more pillows during pillow fights though,” she jokes, and that makes you nuzzle your nose more to hers.

You press your lips to her cheek and continue snacking on bread rolls and dessert.

-

“The stars are really bright today,” you say, your hand in Vadas as you two are staring at the scene above you, the sunset long gone and replaced with the light from the moon.

“Wellll, I think that just means that we’re amazing for each other, huh?”

“Maybe.”

“Nope, it’s a yes.”

“Yep.”

The heat you felt when you first saw Vada when your date began was gone, you were cold. No doubt did the girl not notice, seeing your slightly trembling figure. She drapes her leather jacket over you as you make a small noise of appreciation, sniffling your nose. The jacket immediately warms you up, you pull it to your shoulders more.

Her soft eyes look down at you, and she sees the way the stars reflect off your eyes, those eyes. She feels lucky to be able to be greeted by them every single day you’re around.

“Thank you for today,” you finally breathe, and Vada boops your nose.

“Well thank you for always being sweet and silly. I wouldn’t trade this moment for anyone else.”

You boop her nose back, sharing a slurpee that of course you got from seven eleven. It brings her deja vu. To remember how you first politely refused on buying a slurpee when you first met Vada. Then beginning to use the trick she taught you to poke your finger under the dispenser and lick your finger. Then buying your own small slurpee. Then to share it with one straw. 

As you two reach her house, she twirls you on the porch and lifts you up, making you squeal and giggle. It’s quiet, comfortable silence as she looks down at your lips. And she knows you want her too. Your legs wrap around her, and you lean and press your lips to hers. 

She feels sparks and a flock of butterflies stirring in your stomach when you’re around, but as she feels your soft, warmth of your lips on hers, she feels fireworks. Electricity shocking her whole body. She hears you make a soft moan of longing, something you wanted for so long. She wanted you for so long too. Her lips press against yours more, feeling your desperateness as she leans more pressure onto you. You taste like sweet strawberries, indulging on the way you make a noise of wanting more more more of her lips as her tongue runs over your bottom lip.

You both pull away, panting, cheeks flushed, your body feels like it’s flaming into oblivion, she grabs your waist tightly, then a small smile forms on both of your faces.

“I’m pretty sure you kiss during like.. Your fourth date.”

“Oh,” Vada says, faking to look sad before cracking up a grin, “Oh well, we’re too in love with each other and we broke that! Too bad, so sad.”

You giggle as she twirls you around and brings you into her room, kissing your neck along the way, she tosses you into the bed and you squeal, kicking your legs as she crawls next to you.

“Come here,” she whispers, you scoot closer to embrace and she wraps her arms around you, switching the fireplace on and playing some music in the background.

She spoons you, but you turn your front to be pressed to her chest, feeling her kisses on your neck and her fingers ghosting along your jawline.

“Pretty girl,” she coos, seeing the way you were a little tired, “Sleepy?”

“Yes.”

You bury your nose into her, her sweet, musky, coconut scent comforts you. The way your scent mixes and it just smells so… Your eyes are fluttering before you can come up with a thought. You stir in Vada’s arms, feeling her arms wrapped around your waist and your limbs tangled together.

“Don’t let go, stay,” you whisper, like you once did before in the past.

“I won’t, pinky promise, I’ll be here baby. Go to sleep, okay?”

You both begin to fall asleep, with polaroids hanging off you wrapped around vines around Vada’s bed. There was one with you two holding slushies and showing off your purple tongues, another one with you two in a group photo, one that Vada loved the most, where you two were cuddling. 

miaa: you owee meee omg u guys r adorable, update me tmmrw vads

Your pinkies interlock and your cuddle up to her. She can see the way your eyes twitch from closing. She knows you’re asleep when she hears your breathing begin to even out. And she definitely knows she’s your comfort, because a soft snore slips out of you no longer than 5 minutes later.

[nouvxllev]

hey! can i get something like... Vada cavell x Fem reader? R is in a bar playing pool but she is terrible at it. Vada is enchanted by R and approaches her but R doesn't pay much attention to Vada. Vada then makes a bet that if she wins the pool match against R, she will get a kiss.

you can make the ending with R liking Vada and going home with her. smut if you want and g!p if u want

first fuck

Pairing: G!p!Vada Cavell x Fem!Reader

Summary: ^^ request!!

Words: 4.0k (was not expecting this is THAT long)

Warnings: smut. i think thats painfully obvious. but also a little fluff, bottomvadabottomvadabottomvadaholyshit, i love a confident to awkward little guy vada cavell

a/n: thank you for your request anon!! much appreciated, hope ive fulfilled it

masterlist.

Vada wasn't what you'd call someone who's great at pool, 8ball, or billiards, whatever you'd call it.

She'd boast about being 'somewhat decent' at the game even though her skills barely lined between the basics and knowing nothing at all.

She manages to win a few games here and there, but she doesn't really think winning a game against her 11 year old sister would be much of a win situation.

You on the other hand, the prettiest girl that Vada was definitely not watching for the past 20 minutes trying to pocket atleast one ball, basics were definitely not your thing. Or maybe you just skimmed it all and let it go through the other ear with how absolutely terrible you are playing.

Not that Vada has any room of say. But watching you focus so intensely on the cue stick only to somehow to sink the 8-ball in every match is almost adorable to her.

She couldn't tear her eyes off of you for even a second—it's suffocating.

She couldn't care less watching an idiot struggle lining up her shot for what felt like the hundredth time this evening surrounded by, seemingly, your group of friends.

Yet she could. She could say she was head over heels for you, enchanted even.

Vada, perched on top of the edge of one of the bar tables, a wry smile slowly coming up to her face as she watched you, drink in hand while she swirled it around, the ice slowly melting but her gaze on you remained frozen.

She heard how your friends cheered you on for the hundredth time, giggling while they watch you horribly fail and pocket the cue ball. They were ganging up on you quite fast, like there was some bet going around that if you win they'll probably give you 100$.

"So are you just going to keep watching that girl or are you going to come with us?" Nick creeped up, hand in hand with Mia, slightly kicking one of the legs on the chair, almost tumbling Vada down. Though she would rather die in her own hole than admit that she was someone light-weight.

Vada almost got knocked off if not for her getting a grip on the edge. "Kick my chair one more time and I will make my fall so damaging your wallet should be the one being hospitalized." She scowled, even if it looks like a pout more than anything.

"Scary." Nick rolled his eyes, almost darting his tongue at Vada if not for Mia nudging Nick, shaking her head while letting out a sigh.

"We're gonna play beer pong with the others. You coming, Vada?"

Vada hesitated for a moment, she could play pong where she was an absolute beast at, or she could stay and horribly pine for a girl she just saw like some weird stalker.

It's an easy choice.

"Mn, no thanks," she squeaked out, nodding slightly, "You guys go ahead. I'll catch up with you later," she replied, mustering a half-hearted smile before averting her gaze back to you.

The two let out a shrug, a 'suit your self' kind of shrug as they headed towards the table of those stereotypical cups you'd see in highschool parties, surrounded by her other friends. She could almost regret her decision if not for you catching her eye just for a slight second.

With a deep breath, as well downing what was left of her drink in mere seconds, she pushed herself off the edge of her seat and made her way over to your table, steeling herself for what she hoped would be a move of confidence (or maybe to fuel the lack of.)

And of course she'd regret it right away when she was already 2 steps away from you.

God, you were pretty. So, so, so pretty. Like her breathing capacity slowed down to a minimum.

Her hands made her way to that one ring on her pointer finger, fidgeting as she felt her heart pound in her chest and making its way up to her ears. She felt a flutter of nervous excitement in her stomach, like butterflies. But it wasn't just flying around, no, it was definitely eating her from the inside. In a good way.

She cleared her throat, trying to sound casual but not like that voice you'd do when it's awfully obvious you've been staring at them for a while.

"Uh," she started, or maybe stammered. What a way to go, Cavell. "Hello, do you—would you mind if I join in?" She stood at the left side opposing yours, fidgeting with her hands.

No response.

She didn't miss how her heart shot up a pitch when you glanced her way for a brief second before returning to that focus you had.

Maybe, at that point, it was Vada's cue to stop talking, but she persisted anyways, "I'm pretty good—okay maybe not that good but I do know the basics. You know, how to pocket a ball or two... is it alright if I play a game with you?" What an absolute lady charmer, Vada.

But again, no response.

It's sad how she sounded like if a man embodied a 7th grader who still used the same reduce and reuse horrible pickup lines was a 5'3 19 year old woman.

Vada bit her lip, so maybe it actually was the time to shut the fuck up. Or maybe not. Downing a glass of beer wasn't technically a way to stitch one Vada Cavells mouth up even if you tried.

So as some last-ditch effort, and something she wouldn't normally do if she had the mental capacity to stop her brain, Vada slammed a couple of $100 bills onto the pool table.

If someone were to ask where in the fuck did she get all her money from she'd probably answer that she's been waiting for this day. (Even if it was the money to pay her large amount of debt for Nick.) It was safe to say it caught all your attention.

"Could I make a bet with you?"

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

You weren't getting a fucking thing.

Pool wasn't your strong suit, more so not your forte. Maybe agreeing to joining a game with your friends might not have been the wisest move you've done. Sure you pocketed some balls, but they were either by a long shot or the wrong ball.

When you got that invite via text, you figure you'd just join in for a while then bail when things either, a, get messy and they have to drag you in for a possible aiding and abetting crime that would mess up your whole record, or b, becoming the designated driver for your friends who'll be blacked out like a light switch.

No person who has the mental capability and their frontal lobe intact would see either options to be appealing.

The balls scattered on the table after a near perfect break, which was the only thing you were good at you noticed, and your attempts to sink them into the pockets were met with more misses than hits.

To say that your patience was wearing thin was an understatement, and you have half a mind of stabbing your friends in the eye with the cue stick.

Your friend slung her arm over your shoulder, unable to contain her laughter. "Oh, this is sad to look at. You should just give up the 100$, y/n. It's been, what, 5 rematches? That's not even counting the times you accidentally hit the wrong ball."

You roll your eyes, hearing everybody laugh around you before sighing as you tried to line up your next shot, "I'd rather die before I have a negative symbol to my name." You retorted, mustering up the confidence and that one comfortable hand position that wasn't doing you any justice.

Of course, it doesn't. It always doesn't. How was it possible that you were hitting every corner but the one you're supposed to hit!?

The others let out an empathetic little 'ooooh...' even if you knew they were tiring their asses out not to laugh at you.

"Knowing that you have a 100$ and nothing is crazy, and that's even sadder."

And that's when you heard a loud slam when you were about to make your shot, expecting it to be one of your friends' hands messing you yet again, so imagine your surprise when you looked up to find the most amount of money you've been offered your whole entire life.

You blinked, your grip loosening on the cue stick as your gaze repeatedly looked down at the money and at the girl, "Hello?" you asked, raising an eyebrow.

You knew this girl was watching you ever since she walked up to the table, yet you never seemed to pay attention to her, so you hadn't taken a good look at her until now.

Oh you were fucked.

She was gorgeous.

To say that your curiosity was piqued was an understatement, it was definitely caught. Trapped, even. "A bet?" you repeated, the flicker of interest in that one word was something you needed to work on, "what kind of bet?"

She nodded, a smile coming out of her lips. A dimple. Shit.

Her gaze was locked onto yours, you didn't even notice how all your friends dipped the moment the cash was slammed onto the table. "Yeah, is that... cool with you?" she leaned against the table, you didn't even notice she was only wearing a pair of basketball shorts and an oversized tee. "I'm Cavell. Vada, Cavell."

It looked hot on her more than it should've.

"We play a game of pool, think that's obvious enough," she chuckled, "If I win..." Vada paused, you could see her thinking as she stared off, "you owe me a kiss. But if you win," her fingers tapped on the bills of cash laying around, "I'll give you this. Maybe even double."

There is in no universe, no world, does the prettiest girl you have ever seen just proposed a bet with the stakes of a kiss and a couple hundred dollars in hard cash.

And it's almost concerning how you'd burn all the stacks of cash just to lose and kiss this girl. A stranger, yet she was one of those strangers who you'd absolutely go down on.

Maybe you had too much to drink when you gave a silent nod and accepted her challenge.

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

It's only been a few minutes into the game and you're giving half a mind to throw the game all together and pull Vada into the nearest stall and makeout with her.

You'd have to remind her that it's you should be plotting the cue ball then shoot. Not wink at you with that insufferable smirk on her face, take the cue ball from your hands, and pocket her own ball.

You're pretty good yourself, you noticed. You started taking on a different approach to cue spins, and you were getting the hang of not accidentally shooting the wrong ball.

Yet your thoughts became increasingly tempting, each one more distracting than the last.

Every time she leaned over the table to line up her shot, you couldn't help but stare at the way her hair often fell in loose waves around her face, her shirt falling against her movements.

That distracting in a way you could almost gauge your eyeballs with the cue stick to remind yourself to focus and tear your gaze away from her. Quite literally.

You lined up your shot, to say that your fingers were trembling was an understatement, they were fucking palpitating at this point. You try to ignore it yet it felt like every nerve in your body was relying on this damn point in your life, like they don't have anything better to do than make your body function normally.

It would only take one solid ball to make your shot and you can get to finally shoot the 8-ball.

"Oh shit right, I didn't get your name."

Of course, Vada of all people, would only ask this question now.

Your mind goes blank for a moment. Shit, shit, shit.

"Oh, uh, it's…" you stammer, feeling like a complete idiot for forgetting your own name in front of her.

Before you could even speak, she's leaning in even closer, her perfume taking your senses, a scent that you could almost overdose in and would gladly take either heaven or hell.

"It's y/n," you finally manage to say, the rush of relief never felt more satisfying than the words leaving your lips.

The built up tension in your mind eases slightly as you meet Vada's gaze as you turn your head, her smile widening into a ray of sunshine that warms your heart. It's captivating, almost mesmerizing, and for a moment, you find yourself lost in the warmth of her gaze.

And maybe a little too captivating to the point you miss the unmistakable sound of balls clacking against eachother as they fall into the pockets, watching in disbelief as Vada pockets her last striped bal and the 8-ball all at once.

Oh, fuck me.

"Forgot to tell you that you ran out of time, y/n." Vada smirked, a full-blown shit-eating grin crossing her face.

"Oh my God." You curse under your breath, standing up slightly, even your posture looks defeated. "So not well-played." You jokingly quipped, placing down the cue stick and crossing your arms.

"You owe me something." She inched a little closer to you, her voice too fucking intoxicating for you to handle. You feel a shiver run down your spine as you step back just a slight, her head tilting upwards and a glint in her eyes that makes your heart race even faster.

"Impatient much?"

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

"S-shit, wait... "

You gasped for air, stumbling into your apartment. Your breath caught in your throat as you felt Vada's hands falling to your hips and desperately clutching your waist, her body rutting against yours, feeling her clothed erection grinding on your heat. Fuck, you could tell she was big.

Her arms wrapped around you, pushing you against the door in frevor with your heart pounding in your chest as her lips met yours in a heated kiss, her mouth parting to intrude yours.

A sudden surge of desire and hunger shot through you as she claimed your mouth, closing your eyes as you hear her groan inside of your mouth all while she took you breathless.

"I thought you only wanted a kiss," you managed to murmur between kisses, your head tilting to grant her even more access, "Now you take me home to your apartment?" Her touch travelled down further, cupping the swell of your ass, feeling every curve you had in an agonizing desperation.

You'd think making out with Vada in more than 10 minutes in a bathroom stall would satisfy the both of you, yet you're here. In her apartment, feeling her hardened cock bucking against you.

Vada whined, her breath warm against your skin, a smirk gracing your lips at her sound, "I want more," she almost pleaded, "I need more," she whined, "please." Her fingers traced your jawline, your eyes meeting hers that almost begged you to take her.

You nodded frantically in response, your lips parting as your hot breath hits her skin, having no trust by letting your mouth run off rather than shoving her bulging cock down your throat until it fits perfectly in your mouth, pleasing her in every way possible.

Without hesitation, you lean in and kiss every inch of her skin, feeling her abs flex under your touch while you left wet kisses in her wake as you trailed down on your knees, letting your fingers slide into the waistband of her shorts and boxers, her garments offering no purpose to hide her painful erection.

"W-wait, y/n," she stopped you, her hands hovering over yours as she looked down on you with the prettiest doe eyes ever. "I never—I never done this before."

You looked up at her, your eyebrows raised, almost having to withdraw your hands from her, "You're... serious?" It was hard to imagine someone like her never had sex, yet it spurred you on even more knowing it was her first time. Her first fuck with you.

"Well, I have," she explained, her voice slightly trembling, " Close enough. We stopped before we got to actually fucking."

"Sorry, just—" she gulped, her hands leaving yours and tangling them into your hair, "just warning you. I'm not that experienced. Well, I have watched porn—"

"Vada." You stopped her just before she could tell you more, but you couldn't deny that it was extremely adorable for her to do so, "don't worry baby, I'll take care of you."

You wink before letting her boxers hit the wooden tiled floor, her veiny and pulsing cock sprining out and slapping against her abdomen, your eyes widening at the sight of her while your mouth watered and your cunt throbbed with want, needing her cock plowing into you.

"Fuck, Vada, you're huge," you gasped, your fingers wrapping around her dick as you guided the throbbing length to your lips, her pre-cum coating your already abused mouth.

You could sense Vada smirking above you, her ego boosting by the slightest compliment, but fuck she knows she's big.

You looked up at her, your eyes glistening with the faintest hint of lust as you started stroking her dick.

Quiet moans escaped her lips, her hips repeatedly bucking against your fingers while her head was thrown back, her fingers tightening their grip on your hair as you took your time tracing lazy circles around her leaking tip.

Every stroke you made on her had her cock twitching, almost begging for release, whines escaping her mouth every minute, she was pleading for more yet you gave her nothing.

"God, you look so pretty like this, baby, just for me..." You panted, it was intoxicating, maddening, the way she responded to your every movement with desire written all over her, especially when you call her that. She was never much of a dominating one, you noticed.

"Y/n, please… oh, f-fuck!" She threw her head back when you sped up, hearing her labored breaths, the way she would occasionally gasp your name in a broken moan all while you looked up at her like you've done nothing, how could you not tease her just the slightest bit?

You slowed your movements to a halt, drawing out her pleasure in the most agonizing way possible, tilting your head just a slight bit, "what is it, pretty girl? Tell me."

"Wanna—shit..." she moaned, "wanna cum'n your throat, baby, please..."

"Of course, pretty girl," you chuckled softly, leaning in to kiss her hardened cock while wasting no time in shoving her dick down your throat, gagging around her as you feel her erection stretch your lips as you took her deeper and deeper.

Vada's hips bucked around you, her moans growing louder and louder. Your name kept tumbling from her lips in broken moans and cries, her other hand hovering over her mouth yet it never muffled her erotic moans.

"Y/n, fuck, your mouth feels so good around my dick," she moaned, her words sending a shiver along your spine all the way to your dripping pussy.

You gagged around her pulsing length, feeling every crevice and vein inside your throat, your throat constricting as you struggled to take her size.

Spit dripped from your lips, going no where but to her balls and onto the floor as you tried to take her in.

With each thrust of her hips, each gasp of pleasure wanted you to take her in more and more.

You close her eyes, the taste of her on your tongue, the feeling of her throbbing length filling your mouth, the erotic sounds of her moans and your gagging around her dick—it was all too much, and yet not enough.

"Gonna cum, oh God, m'gonna cum..." she took a handful of your hair, trying to push you in deeper, chasing her high, "can I cum? Baby, please, I wanna cum so bad, please, pleasepleaseplease..."

You remove your mouth from her dick, hearing her groan and whine at the slightest bit of distance from your mouth and her cock, releasing it with a little pop all while you lick your lips, the faint taste of her still lingering on your tongue.

"Have a little patience, Vada," you cooed, going to your feet and taking off your undergarments, Vada's eyes immediately shooting down at your wet pussy, watching how her eyes wanted to take you all in, how she wanted to slam you against the bed and fuck you till early morning.

You let your arms stretch over her shoulders, trapping her in as you leaned in, your clit bumping with her twitching cock. "We've got all night, baby. Just wanna have you ready before you fuck me."

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

"Vada! F-fuck, m'gonna cum again... gonna cum all over your cock, oh God!"

Throwing your head back, the only sounds that filled the room where the sounds of skin slapping against skin, the sloppy and wet squelch of your pussy as you went down on Vada's cock for the 4th time this evening.

Your words were barely coherent, your hips bucking and squeezing uncontrollably against Vada's cock all while your face was red and flushed from all the orgasms you've been receiving from her and giving her, tears streaming down your face in pleasure and pain.

The only sounds that filled the room were the sounds of skin slapping against skin, the sloppy and wet squelch of your pussy as you rode Vada's cock for the fourth time this evening. Each thrust of your own body left you gasping and moaning in heaven with Vada as she stared at you with her lips parted.

Her hands found peace on your waist, guiding your body with each movement you had on her, showing Vada how to perfectly cowgirl, your ass bouncing every time you hit the base of her cock that painfully stretched you until your puffy folds got used to her size.

Your own hands found their way to her chest, feeling the delicious flex of her abs as your tight walls squeezed around her dick.

Yet, you were running out of stamina, your pace slowing down as you started to grip on her chest a bit more tighter than usual.

Of course, the ever sweetest girl, Vada Cavell, noticed this almost immediately as she cooed, "you alright, y/n?" She moaned breathlessly, her cock still sensitive from you, "we could take it slow if you want—"

"No…" you panted, going to a halt. You couldn't stop now, not when you were so close to the edge, "don't wanna… wanna cum'n your cock… please," you whined, though you weren't resuming to your natural pace of fucking yourself into her.

You collapsed onto her, feeling your eyes closing shut and your body relaxing against Vada, her scent mixed with sweat was oddly comforting all while you melted into her embrace.

Vada sighed against you, her heartbeat against yours was all she needed after a few hours. Gently rubbing your back, she kissed your shoulders, praising you everytime her soft lips landed on your skin.

"You're perfect, have I ever told you that?" She whispered, "the prettiest girl. I don't know what I would do if I didn't offer you that bet." She then chuckled, making you chuckle against her back, pulling her into a tighter embrace as you whined at the loss of her cock inside of you.

"How's that for your first fuck?"

"Better than the shit I've take. Like, way fucking better." You both laughed.

"I'll draw you a bath, 'ts just a few steps away from my bedroom anyway." Vada got up after she laid you down comfortably on her mattress that was awfully stained with your and her juices. She put on a new pair of boxers before kissing you on the forehead, smiling against your skin.

"You're the sweetest, V." You smiled dumbly, yet Vada looked at you with tenderness and fondness in her eyes, like she didn't just fuck a stranger well into late night. But, she might just be falling in love after all.

Vada laughed, a smile creeping up on her face, bringing out her dimples, "V?"

"'ts your nickname," you slurred "Don't you like it?"

She took a moment before responding with a kiss on the lips, her soft ones meeting yours, "I love it."

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

V: So... so are we official? Like girlfriends girlfriends, we're not just fucking around? Oh my God, don't tell me this is just a one night stand. Y: Vada, I thought that was already established when I repeatedly came around your dick yelling 'I love you.' V: Rrrrright, but what if Y: Vada, we're girlfriends. Alright?

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

another a/n: been mia for probably weeks now, so sorry about that!! especially to those who have pending requests. ive been focusing on my studies recently AND i got hit with the worst cases of writers block. so thats two of them. but now since ive got maybe a free schedule, i can focus more on writing requests! thank you so so much by the way and stories might be posted a lot more late than usual. anyway,

[bobbin-buckley]

Dumb Game

Vada Cavell x Gamer!Fem!Reader

Summary: Vada thinks R’s game is dumb and tries to distract her, it works out too well

Warnings: Smut, Oral & Fingering (R receiving), praise, kinda getting caught? R is just on a chat with friends, hair pulling, slight overstimulation, right into the smut

(Just a Drabble, I got bored)

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

“V-Vada..please I can’t…”

Vada’s slender fingers pumped in and out of your completely soaked cunt. Her fingers and the seat below you were already drenched from your previous orgasm.

Yes, it’s been your second orgasm now and Vada wasn’t happy yet. You’ve basically neglected her all day because you were mad she wouldn’t have sex with you the previous night. Because she was hanging out with Mia Reed all yesterday.

So you’ve just been playing video games ever since she came over to hang out. Letting her whine on your bed and be annoyed alone, and you can’t tell if you regret it.

Cause here you are being pleased while playing your game.

She was on her knees, her head between your thighs as she sucked on your filthy sensitive clit, fingers curled into your sweet spot.

Fuck you were a mess. Cum all over your thighs and gaming chair, panting..but quietly since you were on a group call with your friends.

You told Vada that you should mute before she began to fuck you, but she said no. Making it harder for you to stay quiet, and focus on your game.

“Mamas you gotta’ be quiet for me…don’t want em’ knowing what I’m doing to ya,” Vada husked from below you.

“I-I can’t baby…” you whispered, your hands digging into her dark hair..tugging gently when she hit a good spot in you.

“Yes you can.” She gripped your thigh with her free hand, spreading your legs more so her fingers could go deeper. “Be a good girl for’me yeah? Be quiet.”

It was getting harder to be quiet. Her fingers sunk deeper in you and you tried to restrain the urge from just screaming for her. Though you had to admit it felt so good.

Vada knows how to please you well, she knows the good spots that make your back arch beautifully. Making your eyes roll back enough you think they could get stuck that way.

She had such an effect on you. It was driving you crazy.

“Yo, you’ve been afk for a long time Y/n. You alright?”

You heard your friend through your headset. Not a good time right now. You thought to yourself.

“Gonna answer him baby?” Vada said below you, now her fingers were on your clit..rubbing it gently. Teasing you

Vada chuckled when you huffed, “I-I’m fine Nick. Just..period cramps…ya know, girl stuff.” Your girlfriend rolled her eyes at your lie.

“Alright then- get better soon, we’re almost done with this match.” He replied, making you sigh in relief when he stopped talking to you.

“That was close love, would’ve been bad if he knew what we were doing.” Her voice was driving you crazy, low and raspy. She knew what she was doing. “Unless you want him to know…”

“Vads…” you said, clearly needing something from her. She was just rubbing your poor abused clit. Her eyes trailing your body, seeing how you were sweating in the seat. She could smell your sex, it was so strong..she might as well get high off it.

“Yes mamas?” She looked up at you with lust, and trying not to smirk so much. This was fun for her

She loved watching you struggle, that’s why teasing was her favorite thing ever. So pda was a struggle at times.

You struggled to speak, cheeks flaring a bright red. “Fuck’me please…eat me out..” you begged, running your hands through her hair.

“Yeah? Want me to eat you out baby? Wanna make you cum all over my tongue?” Vada praised against your pussy lips, licking through them. “Beg for it. And tell me I’m more important than your dumb game.”

“I-I..fuck..Vada, need you so m’bad. Y-you’re more important than..m-my dumb game..just please. I can’t take it anymore…” Vada smirked at your begging, now fully giving in.

“That’s my good girl.”

She licked up from your entrance to your clit, repeating that pattern. She did that for a while before plunging her tongue into your aching hole.

She was desperate to make you cum

“Mm’ m’close baby..so..so close.” You groaned, your back arching and pulling her hair. Your stomach boiled up a strong sensation, edging for your release.

Vada grinned, rubbing your clit with her thumb faster, tongue plunging deeper inside you. She was so good with her tongue, you swear it’s her secret talent. Not so much of a secret anymore

“Oh god baby…” your eyes rolled back, toes curling once Vada hit your sweet spot repeatedly. She replaced her tongue with her fingers again, curling them deep.

“Cum, cum on my fingers babe. Wanna see you come undone in front of me.” She sat up a bit to examine your face and body.

Your body felt overstimulated as you finally came with a snap, your cum drenching her fingers once more. It was so much it leaked past her still moving fingers onto the seat and thighs.

Your legs were still shaking violently even as you started to relax. She slapped them lightly, more as a playful matter.

Vada examined the cum that was all over your thighs and her fingers. “Jesus- you’ve made such a mess pretty girl.” Vada kissed your cheek, smirking. “Now get off your dumbass game and fuck me too.”

You somehow got to win your game though

;)

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

Short but needed some Vada smut

[bingwriterxo]

my tears are becoming a sea

pairing: vada cavell x reader

summary: in which you have to wait, and wait, and wait

warnings: descriptions of school shooting, blood

word count: 900+

author's note: highly suggest listening to 'my tears are becoming a sea' by M83 while you read

Cops surrounded the perimeter of the school, their radios chattering and the sirens on their cars screaming. Students were scattered along the parking lot in groups, holding onto one another tightly; tears slid down their faces so quickly that no one bothered to wipe them away. Teachers frantically tried to do head counts and swallowed down bile when they couldn't account for a child. Parents were desperately attempting to push through the police barriers, yelling the names of kids they prayed were outside.

You found yourself shell-shocked in the back of an ambulance, your eyes trained on the front doors of the school while an EMT bandaged your wound. A bullet had just barely skimmed your shoulder--enough for blood, but not nearly deep enough to need real treatment.

You had already scanned all of the faces that you could see, yet none of them were who you were looking for. None of them were Vada, and a rock settled in your stomach at the thought that she was still in there--there, where gunshots could be heard and screams were filtering out the windows.

Time was moving slower, each second that passed feeling like an hour, each minute feeling like a decade. For every moment that went by in which her head of brown hair or her face full of freckles didn't appear, you swore that you could feel a piece of your heart break.

And then, the gunshots stopped. There was silence from within the school.

You scrambled to stand as the first line of kids walked out, their clothes bloodied and their bodies trembling. No one missed the tears that cut through the grime on their faces; no one could ignore the cries that fell from their lips. A shiver ran through you when Vada wasn't among them.

You hopped down from the ambulance, ignoring the calls of the EMT, and pushed your way through the horde. No one tried to stop you. No one wanted to get any closer than they already were.

The police tape held you back from rushing forward. You were forced to stand there, behind that yellow line, and wait. You were forced to hope that you'd see her walking out, uninjured and alive.

You watched as your classmates walked past, into the arms of their friends, into the arms of their parents. The blood on them was passed from skin to clothing. A few of them were ushered to the ambulances, the blood painting them red coming from their own wounds.

Then, another line of students. More faces you recognized from classes, or the halls, or the football team, or the pep band. More students who looked like their legs were about to give out, who could barely seem to breathe without sobbing.

Still no Vada.

Anxiety was choking you, its strong hand squeezing your lungs and making it impossible for you to take a breath. You gripped the police tape like it would help and ignored the pain that shot through your shoulder. It didn't matter, not when she still wasn't visible.

The principal walked out, face buried in his hands as he wailed.

The gym teacher followed, his jaw clenched and silent tears rolling down his cheeks.

You saw your math teacher, one of the lunch ladies, a janitor.

Each person that exited the school made it harder for you to breathe, made your tears fall faster, made your hands tremble more. Each person that wasn't Vada made you pinch yourself, wishing that you would wake up from the nightmare.

One after another, students tumbled out of the doors, and the longer you waited, the more you prepared yourself for the fact that she may not walk out.

A boy from your history class; a girl you had asked to the dance back in middle school; Quinton Hasland; a teacher that should've retired years ago but never did; Mia Reed, her hand gripping tightly to--

"Vada!" you shouted, your voice cracking with relief as you saw her.

Her head whipped in your direction, and you sobbed at the sight of her, your breath finally returning to you. Her eyes were wide and her lips moved, saying something that you couldn't hear over the rush of blood in your ears.

She let go of Mia and sprinted to you on shaking legs, ducking under the police tape and launching herself into your waiting arms. You caught her with a strength you didn't know you possessed, your injury screaming but your mind only focused on her--her weight pressed against you, her hair in your face, her nails digging into your back.

"You're alive," she cried into your neck, tears drenching your shirt and turning it even darker than it already was from your wound. She was trembling viciously. "You're alive. I didn't--I wasn't--"

You held her tighter, like she would disappear if you didn't. "You're okay," you mumbled against the top of her head. "You're okay. I've got you. You're okay."

Vada choked out a breath and pulled back, eyes scanning your face. "You're alive."

You nodded, hiccuping. "I'm alive. You're alive."

She kissed you with salty lips, pressing herself into you as much as she possibly could, like you were the air she needed to breathe, like you were the only thing keeping her alive.

"We're alive," she muttered when she buried herself back into your neck. "We're alive."

[todaysdocument]

The DC branch of the NAACP brought lynching statistics to the attention of President Wilson on July 1, 1918. 

“[African Americans might] ask if it were worth while to send their sons and brothers to make the world safe for democracy when America, their home, is not safe for them . . . “

Record Group 60: General Records of the Department of Justice Series: Straight Numerical Files File Unit: 158260

Transcription: 

[[left aligned]]NATIONAL OFFICERS

President:

   MR. MOORFIELD STOREY

Vice-Presidents:

   ARCHIBALD H. GRIMKE

   REV. JOHN HAYNES HOLMES

   BISHOP JOHN HURST

   JOHN E. MILHOLLAND

   MARY WHITE OVINGTON

   OSWALD GARRISON VILLARD

Chairman, Board of Directors:

   MAJOR J. E. SPINGARN

Treasurer:

   OSWALD GARRISON VILLARD

Director of Publications and Research

   DR. W. E.B. DUBOIS

Secretary

   JOHN R. SHILLADY

Field Secretary:

   JAMES WELDON JOHNSON [[left aligned]]

[[centered]]The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

OFFICIAL ORGAN

THE CRISIS

NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

70 FIFTH AVENUE

NEW YORK CITY

WASHINGTON, D.C. [[centered]]

                                                                                                     July 1, 1918

The President,

  Washington, D.C.

Sir:

  The District of Columbia Branch, National Association for the Advancement of colored People, numbering upwards of 7,000 members in the District of Columbia, respectfully invites your attention to the attached clipping from the Washington Post giving authoritative figures for lynchings in the United States for the past six months.  Issued at a time when it appears that the fury of the German blow may fall at any time upon American troops, these figures will not be happy reading to the thousand of colored Americans whose sons and brothers will help to stem this blow.  A people less loyal than those represented by this Association would ask many questions upon reading these figures.  They would ask if it were worth while to send their sons and brothers to make the world safe for democracy when America, their home, is not safe for them; if the lynching of women is a fair sample of the treatment they may expect from the nation which was (and rightfully) shocked beyond expression by the execution of Miss Cavell; if this great government really includes them in its laudable program for world betterment.  Finally, they would want to know if the President, speaking the demands of this country for freedom for the oppressed peoples of distant lands, either knew or cared whether his words were being compared by the civilized world with the attached record of unpunished and unrebuked lawlessness.

  This Association believes, Mr. President, that you owe it to

[page 2]

The President - Sheet 2

yourself to express your disapprobation pf the lynching of colored men and women.  We gather from the press that you are to deliver a speech on the 4th of July.  May we suggest that this would be a fitting time to include in your remarks some assurance of your belief that the lynching of colored people should no longer be tolerated in this country.

                                                                             Respectfully.

                                                              DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BRANCH

                                                  National Association for the Advancement of colored People

                                                  By:  Archibald H. Grimke (Signed)

                                                               President

[page 3]

158250-64                                    Misc.                                 7-1-18         7-12-18  W

  Archibald H. Grimke

            Washington, D.C.

Calls attention from Wash.Post giving authoritative figures for lynchings in the U.S.A.

                                      Fitts Herron

(The article from the Washington Post)

Tuskegee, Ala.,  June 30 --  Thirty-five Persons were lynched in the United States in the first six months of this year, according to announcement by the division or records and research of Tuskegee Institute.

   The total exceeds by 21 the lynchings for the six months of 1917 and by 10 the number during a similar period in 1916.

   Thirty-four of the 35 persons lynched were negroes.  Three negro women were included in the list.

   Eight lynchings occurred in each of the States of Georgia and Louisiana, seven in Texas, four in Tennessee, two in Mississippi and on in each of the States of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina and South Carolina.

[intheshadowofwar]

19 June 2023

The Imperial Metropolis

London 19 June 2023

So I was just settling into bed tonight, thinking about what I needed to do tomorrow, when I had an inkling that I’d forgotten to do something. Something important. Now, I’d had my meds, so it wasn’t that, I’d eaten dinner, showered, all that good stuff, so what could it be?

Oh. Right. Log.

I woke up very early this morning to get the train from Edgware to Victoria, meeting the group at our hotel just before nine. We proceeded from there to Westminster Cathedral, briefly exploring that building and looking at the Martyr’s Memorial within, before carrying on to the somewhat more famous Westminster Abbey. After a brief interrogation of the statuary on Parliament Square, we went inside.

I highly doubt Westminster Abbey needs an introduction - it’s Britain’s most famous church, and dozens of kings and dignitaries are buried inside. To this day, Britain’s heroes are commemorated in these hallowed walls - Isaac Newton lies next to Stephen Hawking, and there’s Prime Ministers from Pitt to Wilson. It’s absolutely packed, of course, but I’d say it’s well worth a look. The main reason we visited, of course, was the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, the representative of all Britain’s (and previously the Empire’s) war dead. It is interesting, considering the secular nature of most WWI commemoration, just how Christian the tomb is - but I suppose it ought to be, given its place in an abbey. Still, one must remember that he ostensibly represents the Catholic and Jewish soldiers of Britain, not to mention the Hindus and Muslims of the Indian Army.

After the Abbey, we proceeded up Whitehall, looking at the Cenotaph, the Women’s Cenotaph for the Second World War, and the statue of Field Marshal Haig. We went through Horse Guards (Life Guards on duty today) and observed the memorial to the Foot Guards, and then carried on via the Royal Marines Memorial next to Admiralty Arch (a Boer War Memorial, as I can’t escape my thesis topic) to Trafalgar Square. We broke for lunch here, and I had mine in the crypt beneath St. Martin’s in the Field church. It was a nice little cafe, and only a few sandbags and posters away from looking like something right out of the Blitz. Maybe I shouldn’t give them ideas.

After lunch, we looked at the Edith Cavell Memorial. Cavell, for the uninitiated, was a British nurse in Belgium shot for supposed espionage on 12 October 1915 - the monument is tall and heroic, a real ‘King and Country’ sort of thing; the words are even emblazoned on it. This makes the addition of a quote from Cavell in the 1920s - “Patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred in my heart for anybody.” - a rather curious juxtaposition. Still, it is well worth a look if one is at Trafalgar Square.

From St. Martin’s, we walked down to the Victoria Embankment Park, where a small memorial to the Imperial Camel Corps is situated. There was a brief discussion of Australian troops on leave in London, and then we carried on back up to the Strand and over to Australia House. Australia House, they say, is ‘our house’ in London; but security arrangements had fallen through, preventing us from going inside. Canada and New Zealand, we were told, are not so paranoid about security, and we would have had no problem going inside.

On the other side of the road was the St. Clement Danes Church, which served as a centre for Anzac and Armistice Day services for Australians in London during the interwar years. Today it’s the official church of the Royal Air Force. Statues of Air Marshals Dowding and ‘Bomber’ Harris stand sentinel outside, and the floor is marked with the crests of various RAF, RAAF, RCAF, RNZAF and affiliated squadrons. A panel lists the RAF’s VC and GC holders - notably Guy Gibson, commander of the Dams Raid in May 1943. Gibson’s been in the news lately - the conversion of RAF Scampton into a refugee torture chamb- I mean internment centre has placed his office and the grave of his dog under threat. Many people are very emotional about this grave - yet, in an absurdly farcical situation, they absolutely cannot mention it’s name. (The dog was black. The name rhymed with trigger. I’m sure you can put this one together.)

We broke up shortly after, and after a quick visit to Foyles and a brief rest at the hotel, I went with the professor and a few others to Skygarden. This is basically a garden and cafe on top of a skyscraper, and the views are spectacular. Best of all, entry is free. On the way home I fell down the stairs at Monument, and now there’s a big lump on my left arm. These things happen I suppose.

Tomorrow, we head to Green Park to interrogate the memorials there, before spending the lion’s share of the day at the Imperial War Museum. If it goes anything like today did, it’ll be a blast.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 10.12 (before 1970)

539 BC – The army of Cyrus the Great of Persia takes Babylon, ending the Babylonian empire. (Julian calendar) 633 – Battle of Hatfield Chase: King Edwin of Northumbria is defeated and killed by an alliance under Penda of Mercia and Cadwallon of Gwynedd. 1279 – The Nichiren Shōshū branch of Buddhism is founded in Japan. 1398 – In the Treaty of Salynas, Lithuania cedes Samogitia to the Teutonic Knights. 1406 – Chen Yanxiang, the only person from Indonesia known to have visited dynastic Korea, reaches Seoul after having set out from Java four months before. 1492 – Christopher Columbus's first expedition makes landfall in the Caribbean, specifically on San Salvador Island. (Julian calendar) 1654 – The Delft Explosion devastates the city in the Netherlands, killing more than 100 people. 1692 – The Salem witch trials are ended by a letter from Province of Massachusetts Bay Governor William Phips. 1748 – War of Jenkins' Ear: A British squadron wins a tactical victory over a Spanish squadron off Havana. 1773 – America's first insane asylum opens. 1792 – The first celebration of Columbus Day is held in New York City. 1793 – The cornerstone of Old East, the oldest state university building in the United States, is laid at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 1798 – Flemish and Luxembourgish peasants launch the rebellion against French rule known as the Peasants' War. 1799 – Jeanne Geneviève Labrosse becomes the first woman to jump from a balloon with a parachute. 1810 – The citizens of Munich hold the first Oktoberfest in celebration of the marriage of Crown Prince Louis of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. 1822 – Pedro I of Brazil is proclaimed the emperor. 1849 – The city of Manizales, Colombia, is founded by 'The Expedition of the 20'. 1856 – An M 7.7–8.3 earthquake off the Greek island of Crete cause major damage as far as Egypt and Malta. 1871 – The British in India enact the Criminal Tribes Act, naming many local communities "Criminal Tribes". 1890 – Uddevalla Suffrage Association is formed. 1892 – The Pledge of Allegiance is first recited by students in many US public schools. 1901 – President Theodore Roosevelt officially renames the "Executive Mansion" to the White House. 1909 – Foundation of Coritiba Foot Ball Club. 1915 – World War I: British nurse Edith Cavell is executed by a German firing squad for helping Allied soldiers escape from occupied Belgium. 1917 – World War I: The First Battle of Passchendaele takes place resulting in the largest single-day loss of life in New Zealand history. 1918 – A massive forest fire kills 453 people in Minnesota. 1928 – An iron lung respirator is used for the first time at Boston Children's Hospital. 1933 – The military Alcatraz Citadel becomes the civilian Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. 1944 – World War II: The Axis occupation of Athens comes to an end. 1945 – World War II: Desmond Doss is the first conscientious objector to receive the U.S. Medal of Honor. 1945 – The Lao Issara took control of Laos' government and reaffirmed the country's independence. 1959 – At the national congress of the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance in Peru, a group of leftist radicals are expelled from the party who later form APRA Rebelde. 1960 – Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev pounds his shoe on a desk at the United Nations to protest a Philippine assertion. 1962 – The Columbus Day Storm strikes the U.S. Pacific Northwest with record wind velocities. There was at least U.S. $230 million in damages and 46 people died. 1963 – After nearly 23 years of imprisonment, Reverend Walter Ciszek, a Jesuit missionary, was released from the Soviet Union. 1964 – The Soviet Union launches the Voskhod 1 into Earth orbit as the first spacecraft with a multi-person crew, and the first flight without pressure suits. 1967 – A bomb explodes on board Cyprus Airways Flight 284 while flying over the Mediterranean Sea, killing 66. 1968 – Equatorial Guinea becomes independent from Spain.

[roomchailimited]

A Journey Through Canada’s National Parks: Untamed Beauty and Adventure

Canada's national parks are a testament to the country's vast and varied landscapes, offering a refuge for nature lovers, adventurers, and those seeking solitude in the wild. This journey through some of the most breathtaking parks in the country showcases the untamed beauty and thrilling adventures that await in the great Canadian wilderness.

Banff National Park: The Crown Jewel of the Rockies

Banff National Park, Canada's first national park, is a must-visit for anyone exploring the country’s natural wonders. Located in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, Banff offers a stunning array of landscapes, from rugged mountain peaks to turquoise lakes. Visitors can hike the scenic trails around Lake Louise, drive the Icefields Parkway to witness the Athabasca Glacier, or soak in the natural hot springs. Banff’s charm lies not only in its majestic scenery but also in its accessibility, making it an ideal starting point for a journey through Canada’s national parks.

Jasper National Park: Wilderness at Its Wildest

Just north of Banff lies Jasper National Park, the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. Jasper offers a more rugged and remote experience compared to Banff, with its vast wilderness areas, abundant wildlife, and fewer crowds. Adventure seekers can hike the trails to Mount Edith Cavell, paddle on Maligne Lake, or explore the Columbia Icefield. The park is also a designated Dark Sky Preserve, making it one of the best places in the world to stargaze and witness the northern lights.

Gros Morne National Park: The Untamed Beauty of Newfoundland

On the eastern edge of Canada, Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland and Labrador offers a completely different landscape. This UNESCO World Heritage site features dramatic cliffs, fjords, and the ancient Long Range Mountains. Gros Morne is a paradise for hikers, with the challenging Gros Morne Mountain trail offering panoramic views of the park. Visitors can also take a boat tour through Western Brook Pond, a stunning fjord carved by glaciers, or explore the unique geological formations of the Tablelands.

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve: Coastal Wonders of British Columbia

Moving westward, the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve on Vancouver Island showcases the rugged beauty of Canada’s Pacific coast. The park is divided into three distinct units: Long Beach, the Broken Group Islands, and the West Coast Trail. Long Beach is perfect for surfing and beachcombing, while the Broken Group Islands offer kayaking adventures through a maze of islands and inlets. For those seeking a true challenge, the West Coast Trail is a multi-day trek along a historic trail that tests even the most seasoned hikers.

Fundy National Park: The Highest Tides in the World

On the opposite coast, Fundy National Park in New Brunswick is home to the highest tides in the world, a natural wonder that draws visitors from around the globe. The park’s dramatic coastline is shaped by the powerful tides of the Bay of Fundy, which rise and fall by up to 16 meters (52 feet) twice a day. Visitors can explore the sea floor during low tide, hike through the lush Acadian forest, or take a scenic drive along the Fundy Coastal Drive. The park is also a gateway to the Hopewell Rocks, where towering rock formations stand as a testament to the power of the tides.

Exploring Canada’s National Parks with Roomchai Limited

Embarking on a journey through Canada’s national parks is an adventure like no other, and Roomchai Limited is here to make your experience unforgettable. Our expertly curated travel packages include guided tours, comfortable accommodations, and all the necessary arrangements to explore these stunning landscapes. Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or a nature lover seeking tranquility, Roomchai Limited offers customized itineraries that cater to your every need.

Conclusion

Canada’s national parks are a treasure trove of natural beauty and adventure, offering something for every traveler. From the towering peaks of the Rockies to the rugged coastline of the Pacific, and the ancient landscapes of Newfoundland, each park tells its own story of Canada’s untamed wilderness. With Roomchai Limited, you can embark on this journey with confidence, knowing that every detail has been taken care of, leaving you free to explore, discover, and create lasting memories.

[batfamfucker]

The Fallout *Spoilers ahead*

Okay, I both love hate the ending because there's obviously a part of me that wants to know everything that happens after this, so many things we don't see that we would still want to see. Do Vada and Nick make up? Do her and Mia start dating? Are Vada and Quinton okay? Does she get to go to dinner with Amelia, etc. But also, it's so fucking clever with its message. The whole point is that we will never know. The final news report she sees is exactly what makes this movie so fucking heart wrenching. It's a circular ending, which, although heartbreaking, is so perfect, because unfortunately, it's a cycle. The US government doesn't learn. We don't get to see any of thse kids move on or what happens next, because the minute they might actually start moving on, it happens again to another set of kids, and it just gets passed around. It never ends, so we don't know how the movie is supposed to end. We don't get to see how these character's lives play out. We're left stuck as an audience because they're stuck in a never ending cycle of injustice and trauma. It's tragic but gets the message across for what this movie represents. I have also never seen a movie that depicts modern day teens so accurately, especially in response to trauma. It's genuinely such a lively movie, with casual representation thrown in too which is *Chefs kiss*. No big coming outs or anything, because that's not the focus, but it's still there, and it's natural, as it is in real life. It's just so refreshing to see, especially from a movie that's main goal was never to even provide that kind of rep, but rather representation of how real the pain and trauma that comes from shootings and inaction is, and how different that trauma can look for different people. It's treatment of such subjects is honestly some of the most realistic I've seen when it comes to Gen Z especially. It's so amazing and is definitely one of my favourite movies now. I genuinely cannot recommend this movie enough and it's a shame it's a movie for a singular streaming service rather than a cinema realeased one, because it genuinely deserves to be seen.

[thorsenmark]

Mount Edith Cavell (Jasper National Park) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: It had been many a year since I'd last seen and walked around taking in the views of this mountain. For this image, I zoomed in to capture the peak itself but also a little bit around of the ridge lines and nearby peaks. Kind of like a view across the glacial valley to the mountains beyond...

[brooooswriting]

Master list + request guide line

Guide line

Master list isn’t always up to date

Natasha Romanoff

Daddy

Girls

Too late

It’s you?

Lake (kinda part two to it’s you)

Not so easy

You would never

You know how to ride?

Worth it

Cheater

Relationship?!

Coach

Scars

You’re homeeeee

Childish

Only you

Take my love

Break

Welcome to the family

Super super soldier

Reasons

Wanda Maximoff

Flirt

I fucked up

Oh darling

Kate Bishop

Group dates

Bestie

Scarlett Johansson

Set

I’m sorry

Tell me you won’t leave

Hailee Steinfeld

More than benefits

Wanda X Natasha X reader

Poor Y/N

Wednesday Addams

A plushy?!

All the other pretty girls

Jenna Ortega x reader

Situations 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Truth or lie?

Kiss

Stunt

Funny story

Long time ago

Should have told ya

See you again

Tara carpenter x reader

PTSD, anxiety

Trust

Stray dog

Own world

Wreck

Motherfucker

Vada Cavell x reader

Where were you?

Sam Carpenter x reader

Poisoned

Five fucking years

Just a little whipped

Whyyy?

You for real?

Oh honey

Melissa Barrera x reader

Yo shorty

Anxiety

I need you

Bartender and murderer

Margot Robbie

You so small

Leighton murray

My idiot

I meant to

I’m here for you

Tutors to lovers

Oh I know

You’re better than me

Softie

[cottboll]

Still OG Monster School

(Google Translate)There are some photos taken by Spider of what the students did on the 10th anniversary

Skellington made snacks for everyone, but only one for each monster.

Creep ate two cakes secretly and was caught by Spider's camera.

Multus is enjoying the music, but the head on the right intentionally doesn't look at the camera.

Endie told Ghist that she should express her heart to Multus. Can she succeed?

Met Cavell and Mucus in the library, but Cavell had a little difficulty in extracting a book he wanted from a group of books.

Witton and Zombiesvine fight in the arena.

Finally, Spider gave himself a selfie.

But because Spider didn't dare to go to Zupay, Zupay didn't show up, but I made a MEME for him:

That's all(*^ω^*)

[clove-pinks]

Portrait of Charles Dashwood as a Midshipman, Samuel Woodforde, 1800.

In terms of the duties young gentlemen were expected to perform, disparities in the age, maturity, and compentency of individual boys produced a wide range of professional experiences. On the one hand, there was Midshipman Hamilton Davies, who served as yeoman of the powder room at age ten. [...] On the other hand, Boteler described messmates indulging in childish games of leapfrog, immature practical jokes, and frivolous pursuits which, in the case of a young midshipman who fell and drowned while trying to catch a bird, could prove deadly. William Dillon, too, described the strange dichotomy of boys growing up aboard active men-of-war. At age ten, Dillon was carried around in the arms of the seamen who served as 'sea daddies' and taught him the ropes. By thirteen, however, the stunted and scrawny Midshipman Dillon was expected to use deadly force to defend his ship's watering boat from the predations of a group of Indiamen bent on ransacking his stores.

— Samantha A. Cavell, Midshipmen and Quarterdeck Boys in the British Navy, 1771-1831

[meanbihexual]

Dialogue Prompt: ❝ You and me, working together. Taking down the galaxy. What do you think? ❞

Finally finished this one! I know it took forever, so I hope it was worth the wait!

Best Friends

(Adira Cavell x Kallie Vosh)

CW: ableist language, fantasy racism (on the part of the bad guys)

Note: This takes place in a weird hybrid of @sithwarblade 's and my own AUs. Adira is my OC, Kallie is hers, background OCs belong to one or both of us.

Adira felt the angry surge in the Force an instant before the group of her fellow Padawans came into view. It wasn’t something she was accustomed to, not on Tython, and for a quick second she felt a cold needle of fear jolt through her spine—just last night, hadn’t Tarsi Celwick said there was a Sith Lord hiding in the caves behind the waterfalls, waiting for Padawans to wander into his lair so he could sacrifice them on his altar of bones and feast on their insides—

She shook her head roughly, both to dismiss the thought and chastise herself. There were no Sith here, no matter what Tarsi whispered to her bunkmates after lights out, and even if there was, which there wasn’t, she was nowhere near the waterfall caves, anyway.

Her feet continued to carry her along the dirt path she traveled, worn into the grass of the training grounds by the steps of countless Padawans and Jedi before her, and as she rounded a clump of tall lipanaberry bushes she came face to face with the source of the anger lancing through her mind. A small girl, probably about Adira’s age, with blue skin, red eyes, and short, messy black hair stood atop a small boulder with fists clenched and jaw set, emotion rolling off her like ocean waves.

Adira felt her eyes widen. Of course, Padawans didn’t possess the same level of control over their emotions as the Masters, but they were rarely powerful enough to project their feelings through the Force, a fact that Adira’s own teachers often told her she should be grateful for when she failed to contain her own excitements. This girl, though, had the Force around her roiling, and as Adira moved closer, she could sense other things behind the fury: shame, embarrassment, a bit of self-righteous pleasure at the violent setdown she was about to deliver to her tormentors.

Tormentors they clearly were; the loose half circle of  boys before her were not subtle in their abuse, and Adira could hear their taunts from a dozen meters away.

“I don’t know why they didn’t just kill you when they found you, you little freak.” The boy who spoke was the obvious ringleader, the biggest of a group of big humans. They all wore the braid, robes, and training saber of a Padawan, even if their behavior made her doubt whether they deserved that title, and looked to be a few years older than she and the other girl. Adira felt her jaw tighten and her fists clench, unconsciously mirroring the other girl’s position. She hated bullies, and part of her—a really big part—ached to throw her lot in with the girl and see how much damage they could do before the Masters pulled them apart, even if they were outnumbered, and, judging by the boys’ ages, two or three combat classes ahead of her.

Any other time, she might have leapt right in, but it was just her luck that less than five minutes ago she had been released from an interminable lecture on all of the paths available to a Jedi before they resorted to violence, ending with the promise of extra chores for a month if she got caught fighting again. Adira really didn’t want to spend the rest of the summer with her evenings tied up in kitchen duty, especially not for a fight she was likely to lose, and badly. Which meant she needed a plan…

The boy continued hurling insults as Adira closed the distance between them.

“Anyone can tell just by looking at you that you’re only good for target practice. You’re lucky I don’t have a lightsaber yet or I’d—“

“Cut off you own hand, I bet,” Adira interjected as she stopped nearby, too tired of his vitriol to let the boy continue for one more moment. “There’s a reason they don’t let horranths carry lightsabers,” she continued when the group turned to look at her. “I don’t think they’ll make an exception for you.”

The boy looked shocked for a moment, as if no one had ever insulted him before, but he quickly snapped back.

“You're one to talk, blank face,” he sneered, confident and smug with the laughter of his lackeys at his back.

Adira found herself unsurprised by the fact that he only knew enough of Mirialan culture to know that their tattoos marked personal achievement, but not that they weren't permitted to get those tattoos until they reached puberty. She rolled her eyes at him; why did the meanest and stupidest people always have to shout the loudest, like the rest of the galaxy didn’t already know how mean and stupid they were? Her anger drained away and was replaced with a tired sort of contempt. She still wished she could give him a few marks of his own, but more for the benefit of the silent, angry girl on the rock than herself.

The boy continued his assault without waiting for a response.

“I heard Sith don't take alien scum at their academy. That's the one thing they've got right, I guess.”

Adira barely heard him. Her gaze was trained behind the group of bullies and her mind was rapidly forming a plan. She returned her attention to the boy and adopted a bored expression.

“I don't have time for your barking, little dog. Go beg some scraps from Master Quilb.” Then, though it went against every one of her instincts, she turned her back on the group of humans and faced the Chiss girl, whose anger, she noticed, had faded to an almost undetectable level.  

Adira didn't even have time to speak to her before the first blow fell across her shoulders. It hurt, but not as bad as she had expected; her opponent relied on brute strength more than technique, and it showed. Adira's plan, however, counted on him being a better combatant than she, so she used the momentum from his strike to propel herself forward, tucking into a ball at the last second to lessen her impact against the ground. She stayed there, arms curled around her head for protection, waiting…

“Padawan! Drop your training saber this instant!” The voice thundered across the training grounds, and Adira was reasonably sure that every Padawan within earshot had immediately thrown their weapon to the ground.

Knowing that they would never dare to attack her with the attention of a Jedi on them, Adira gingerly unfolded her body and sat up in time to see Master Jallo striding up to the group, his normally cheerful face grim and focused.

“Padawan Berik,” he said in a low voice, placing his hands on his hips and pinning the boy who had struck Adira with his serious gaze. “What were you thinking, to attack an unarmed Padawan? One who is younger than you, and who had her back turned?”

Adira stopped listening. She had no doubt that Master Jallo would punish the offenders suitably; she had more than enough experience in that department, and if any of them got off with less than a week of extra chores and an ethics essay, she’d eat her tunic. No, their consequences were of no concern to her—she was much more interested in studying the Chiss girl.

She remained standing on her rock, watching the proceedings before her with those wide, red eyes. She wore the same white cotton tunic and loose pants that Adira and most of the other Padawans did, although hers were much neater than Adira’s own, which were covered in enough dirt and grass stains that it wasn’t strictly accurate to call them white anymore. Her black hair was cut short, barely brushing her eyebrows in the front and sticking up in one hundred different directions in the back. That hair was the wildest thing about her, and it made Adira smile.

Adira could no longer sense any emotion from her, anger or otherwise. Her clenched fists had relaxed and her face betrayed more of a nervous surprise than the tension it had earlier. Adira wondered whether she was shocked at Adira’s own actions, those of Master Jallo, or something else entirely. Maybe she just wasn’t used to seeing people get in trouble. She didn’t seem like the sort who normally got up to mischief, that earlier spike of anger notwithstanding.

Adira sidled closer to the rock, closing the few steps between them so she could speak quietly to the girl.

“Don’t worry, you aren’t going to get into trouble. You didn’t do anything wrong,” she whispered, careful to keep her voice low enough that she didn’t interrupt Master Jallo. “What’s your name?”

The girl looked at her uncertainly for a few seconds before she answered. “Kallie.”

“Kallie. That’s pretty. I’m Adira.”

Kallie nodded shyly. “Hi.”

“Hi.” Adira flashed her a wide grin.

“Padawan Adira.” Master Jallo’s voice pulled Adira’s attention away from her new friend. The group of boys was gone, subduedly headed across the training grounds in the direction of the Jedi Temple, though Master Jallo was still here, his focus on Adira now. She was gratified to see that he held a training saber—he must have confiscated it from the Padawan who hit her.

“Yes, Master Jallo?” she answered, her voice bright. He raised an eyebrow at her.

“A horranth?”

Oh. Oh. Of course those womp rats would blame their actions on her! Her eyes blazed as she drew herself up to her full height.

“He said the Jedi should have killed Kallie, and he was threatening her, just because she’s a Chiss!” Her words were too loud, fierce in their defense of her actions and her friend, but she didn’t know how to quiet them. “I did call him a horranth, but he was acting worse than one! At least horranths—”

“Padawan.” Master Jallo held up one large hand, the one that wasn’t gripping the training saber. Adira glared silently for a moment before catching the exaggerated rise and fall of his chest, all of the sudden remembering what she was supposed to do when she felt overwhelmed by emotions.

Closing her eyes, Adira sucked in a great, deep breath through her nose, inhaling for a count of four, holding her breath for another four count, and finally releasing it through her mouth for the same amount of time. She repeated the action until she felt in control, then opened her eyes once more.

“I’m sorry, Master Jallo,” she said in a small voice, scuffing her foot against the ground and not looking at him. “I didn’t mean to lose my temper, with you or those boys. I just wanted to protect Kallie. What they were doing wasn’t right!” Here her eyes snapped up to his, a trace of the old righteous fury flashing within them.

“You’re correct. It wasn’t right, and I will be making sure they understand why myself. But why didn’t you come to one of the Masters in the first place?”

“Um.” Adira stared blankly at Master Jallo. Why didn’t she go to a Master? She didn’t know. “At least I didn’t technically get into a fight?” she offered up, not really expecting the words to get her out of anything, but figuring she should make the point just in case.

Adira thought she saw a smile twitch into life at the corner of Master Jallo’s lips, but she must have imagined it because the next instant he looked as serious as ever. “You won’t be punished for defending your friend, Adira,” he sighed. “And I am glad that you didn’t resort to fighting.” Now he really did smile. “I guess all that kitchen duty finally paid off?”

Adira grumbled something incoherent as he continued.

“Next time, though, please bring something like this to one of your teachers. That’s what we’re here for, you know.” He turned to Kallie. “You too, Padawan Kallie. You can always come to us for help.”

Kallie nodded hesitantly, answering so quietly that Adira had to strain to hear her. “Yes, Master Jallo. Thank you.”

Master Jallo returned her nod. “Well, then, I’ll leave you to it.” The girls watched as he walked away, crossing a broad patch of grass to the group of teenagers he had been instructing in combat forms before their interruption.

Adira watched them for a moment, captivated by their fluid motions, before turning back to Kallie, who had scrambled down from her perch atop the boulder and was scurrying towards the outskirts of the training grounds.

“Hey, wait!” Adira called, running after her and grabbing her gently by the arm when she caught up. “Where are you going?”

Kallie stared at her, that same surprise from earlier stamped across her features.

“I don’t know,” she answered, looking around blankly. “Just…away. No one wants a Chiss around, anyway.”

“That’s not true!” Adira protested. “The Barsen’thor is a Chiss, and everyone knows she’s the Council’s favorite Jedi!” She crossed her fingers behind her back at that last bit; while it was true the Barsen’thor was a Chiss, Adira had no idea who the Council’s favorite was, or even if they had one at all, but it seemed the sort of position the Barsen’thor might possess, and besides, Kallie needed to hear it.

“Really?” Kallie asked, her eyes alight with interest.

“Really!” Adira confirmed, uncrossing her fingers as she returned to a stricter version of the truth. “I even met Master Tal’shan’ri once. She was amazing! I bet those stupid boys wouldn’t say anything about you being Chiss if they’d seen her.”

“I didn’t know there were other Chiss Jedi,” Kallie said.

“I bet there’s even more than one. We can look in the library later, but first…” Adira looked around, made sure no one had approached them unnoticed. She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Can you keep a secret?”

Kallie’s eyes widened a little, but she nodded.

“Great!” Adira grabbed Kallie by the hand, pulling her back to the path Adira had been taking when she first happened upon Kallie and the bullies. “I can’t wait to show you—“ she stopped in her tracks, Kallie bumping against her side at the unexpected stop. “Do you mind getting dirty?” Adira asked, eyeing her friend’s pristine white clothes.

Kallie shook her head. “I just never had a reason to.”

“Now you do,” Adira said with a grin, and then they were off, Adira leading the way, Kallie stumbling excitedly behind her as they left the path, heading up a steep, sparsely wooded hillside. Adira chattered as they climbed, telling Kallie about the time she met the Barsen’thor, and about kitchen duty, and how she was pretty sure she could tame a manka cat if she tried hard enough, and how she shouldn’t believe anything dumb old Tarsi Celwick might tell her because that girl is definitely a liar.

At first Kallie mainly listened, gasping and nodding and asking for details at appropriate spots, but as they left the thin woods and scrambled along a rocky ridge, clambering over boulders taller than they were and kicking tiny avalanches of scree in their wake, she began to open up as well. She told Adira about the time she was sneaking to the library after hours (“You do get into trouble!” Adira laughed delightedly) and saw Master Safiya, the actual, real-life Jedi Battlemaster, kiss a man on the lips, and how if you promised to be very still and quiet Master Quilb would let you hold the injured baby guid he was nursing back to health, and, back in the shadow of the trees once more, that if you brought Master Mirvue a basket of lipanaberries she would make lipanaberry pancakes for breakfast the next morning.

By the time they reached their destination, the late afternoon sun was just starting to skim the horizon. Adira led Kallie through a gap in the trees onto a large, rocky outcropping that jutted out of the side of the mountain. Below them, the ground fell sharply the hundreds of meters to the Tythos River, which wound through the bottom of the valley like a smooth, silver ribbon.

Kallie gasped at the sight of the wilderness laid out before them. “How did we get so high up?” she asked, her feet inching forward in a cautious shuffle.

Adira plopped down on the ground next to her, pushing limp and sweaty strands of hair away from her forehead and tucking them back into the haphazard bun tied on top of her head.

“We started out higher than you think. The Temple is behind us, and it’s already pretty far up in the mountains. The river winds around for a bit and then there’s this massive waterfall—I can take you there sometime, too, if you want—and then it comes out into the valley on the other side of the ridge, and that’s what you see now.”

“Wow.” Kallie stood and admired the view for a while longer before she came and sat down beside Adira, much more gracefully than Adira had done a few minutes prior.

A companionable silence wrapped around them as they sat, basking in the warm glow of the sun’s final golden hours, serenaded by the sounds of the birds and small animals of the forest at their back, neither realizing that this small moment of peace was everything the Jedi had ever taught them.

After some time, Adira reached out her hand and found Kallie’s, entwining their fingers and giving a gentle squeeze.

“I think we should be best friends,” she pronounced, voice quiet but filled with firm surety.

“I’ve never had a best friend before,” Kallie said, her words just as soft, examining their pair of clasped hands. “But we aren’t in any of the same classes, or the same dorm.”

“So?” Adira asked, turning to face Kallie fully now, not loosening her grip on the other girl’s hand. “We don’t have to be, and anyway, that changes every year. I bet they would put us in the same dorm if we asked nicely. They’d probably think you’d be a good influence on me.”

Kallie considered, laughing a little. “That’s true. I’ve never had kitchen duty and you have like one hundred times!”

Adira giggled as she continued. “And we won’t be Padawans forever. After we’re Jedi, we can get a ship, and go wherever we want! You and me, working together. Taking down the galaxy. What do you think?”

“I think,” Kallie said, the widest smile Adira had seen from her yet spreading across her face, “that I’m going to have a lot more chores to do soon.”

“What? Why?” Adira was confused by her words, and even more so by her apparent happiness about extra chores.

“Because my best friend is a bad influence!”

[bingwriterxo]

miscommunication

pairing: vada cavell x reader

summary: in which you and vada are really bad at the whole 'talking' thing

warnings: none

word count: 2300+

author's note: this was a request! the end convo might be a little confusing, but it's supposed to be! they have a lot of feelings and unsaid words, ok??

“So, like, what’s the deal with you and Vada?” Nick asked, glancing toward you.

The two of you were at his house, laying in his bed side by side, and talking about whatever came to mind. Usually, there was an energetic, babbling brunette between you, chatting your ears off and barely letting either of you get a single word in, but not this time. No, this time, Vada was at Mia Reed’s house, much to your discontent.

You clenched your jaw. “What’re you talking about?”

He twisted to lay on his side, his elbow digging into the mattress and his hand supporting his head so that he could look down at you. “I’m talking about the fact that you’ve been stewing in…whatever the hell you’re feeling right now…ever since Vada texted saying she can’t make it.”

You scoffed, thinking about the texts that the girl had sent in your group chat half an hour ago.

V ;) (6:47pm): can’t make it

V ;) (6:47pm): going to mias

V ;) (6:47pm): sorry

“I just think it’s rude to cancel on your best friends when you’re literally supposed to be hanging out with them at the time you cancel,” you said.

Nick hummed, pulling his lips tight. “Sure. That’s definitely why you’re upset.”

You sat up, eyes narrowed in suspicion and eyebrows drawn together. “Why are you saying it like that?”

He shrugged. “I just think that, maybe, you’re…jealous.” He said the last word carefully, like it would be the fuse that set off the bomb that was you.

“And why would I be jealous?” you pushed.

“Well, because you and Vada are doing”--he gestured with his hands--“whatever the hell you two are doing--”

“Friends with benefits, Nick,” you interrupted. “It has a name.”

“Yeah. That.” He rolled his eyes. “Whatever. My point is that you obviously have feelings for Vada, and our idiot friend has no idea, so she thinks it’s okay to just fuck around with whoever she wants.”

You chuckled dryly. “First of all, Vada’s not an idiot.” You paused, thought for a moment. “Okay, sometimes she’s an idiot.”

“Yeah, you got that right,” Nick muttered under his breath.

“Secondly…you think she’s fucking around with Mia?” you asked, voice cracking. Tears pricked at your eyes as you waited for him to answer, suddenly feeling too vulnerable.

“I mean, she hasn’t said anything about it, but they’ve been spending a lot of time together.”

You gulped. “Whatever.” Your eyes flitted around the room. “Just because I have feelings for Vada doesn’t mean she can’t fuck around with who she wants.” You shrugged. “It doesn’t feel great, sure, but…our situation isn’t exclusive or anything. If she wants to sleep with…Mia Reed…then she can.” You glanced down at your hands, trying to ignore the hurt building around your heart. “It doesn’t matter to me,” you finished quietly.

“Y/N,” he said softly, drawing your attention back to him. “You can talk to me about this, you know that, right? I’m not gonna run and tell Vada, okay?” He offered you a pitying smile. “I know it hurts you, and I know you don’t want to tell her about your feelings, but you should talk to someone.”

You shut your eyes, hard, and when you opened them again, you shook your head and sighed. “It’s okay, Nick. I’m fine.”

“Y/N--”

“Can we just talk about something else?” You bit your bottom lip. “Please?”

He sighed. “You know, you should try to take your mind off her. Maybe…hook up with someone else?” he suggested. When you glared at him, he said, “Wait, wait. Listen. If you hook up with other people, it’d probably help with your feelings, you know? Maybe you wouldn’t hold Vada in that…godly light you do.”

“It wouldn’t feel right.”

“Well, you said it yourself: you and Vada aren’t exclusive. It’s not like you’d be cheating on her or anything.” You mulled the thought over, and, when you didn’t respond, Nick continued with, “Just think about it, yeah?”

* * *

“Vada?” Mia asked as she opened her front door. “What’re you doing here?”

Instead of offering a response, Vada pushed past her and beelined to her bedroom, leaving the blonde to catch up. When she did, the brunette was pacing around the room, and, for a moment, Mia was positive that she’d end up burning a hole in the floor.

“Dude, what’s wrong?”

Vada turned to her, eyes wide and bottom lip pulled between her teeth. “I’m going through, like, a serious crisis right now.”

“O…kay…” Mia stepped forward, placed a hand on Vada’s shoulder, and guided her toward the bed. She sat her down, but the brunette’s leg wouldn’t stop bouncing, and Mia sighed. “I thought you were supposed to be with Y/N and Nick right now. Why don’t you talk to them about it?”

“Because Y/N is the crisis,” Vada admitted meekly. She glanced at Mia. “Every time I think about her, my heart starts racing, and I can feel my entire body get…oddly warm, and it's like I constantly itch to be around her.”

Mia’s eyes widened, her mouth falling open slightly as she whispered, “Oh.” She smiled softly, excitedly. “You like Y/N.”

Vada shook her head fervently. “No. No, I--I can’t.” She stood and began her pacing again. “I can’t like Y/N because we’re supposed to be best friends…who sleep together, I guess, but that doesn't change the fact that we started off as best friends. And--and, our…benefits thing, it’s supposed to be no strings attached, just fun, so I can’t like her, because she doesn’t like me back. Plus, that’s, like, illegal in the world of friendships.” She took a deep breath in and looked at Mia. “Isn’t it? Tell me it’s illegal, Mia.”

“Vada, it’s okay if you like her,” Mia said. “I feel like that’s bound to happen in this situation. I mean, you’re best friends, and you’re having sex. You’re kind of…basically…a little bit…in a relationship, if you think about it.” She shrugged. “So it makes sense that you’d have feelings for her.”

“No, you don’t get it. Y/N…she doesn’t see me that way. She just…doesn't.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I know her.”

Mia hummed. “Have you asked her?”

Vada groaned and threw her hands over her face. “No, I haven’t asked her!” she whined into her palms. “Why would I ask her? Then she’d pick up on my feelings. Duh!”

“Maybe that’s not a bad thing?” Mia said. “I mean, Y/N could like you back, Vada. It’s not an impossibility.”

“Yes it is!” She peeled her hands away from her face to look at the other girl. “Y/N doesn’t like me. End of story. But”--she sighed--“I do like her. So, what am I supposed to do with that?”

Mia grimaced. “I really think you should talk to her.”

Vada groaned again. “You are no help!”

* * *

“Nick, I really don’t wanna go to this,” you said as the boy parked outside of Mia’s house. Through the windows, you could see flashing lights, the silhouettes of people you were sure were your classmates, and a haze of smoke.

Nick turned to you. “It’ll be fun, Y/N! You can either get drunk out of your mind or…do what we talked about.”

“Nick--”

He raised his hands in surrender. “All I’m saying is that if Brittany from math happens to flirt with you, don’t turn her down, okay? She’s hot, and I know she’s into you.”

You groaned. “Fine. Whatever.”

You climbed out of the car, slammed the door shut, and ignored Nick’s smug grin as the two of you walked to the front door. Just before you were about to push it open, he spun on his heel, and said, “Also, Vada’s gonna be here.”

“Nick!” You hadn’t talked to the girl since she flaked on your plans the other day, and you weren’t exactly keen on seeing her, the idea of her sleeping with Mia floating through your head.

“What?”

“I hate you, you know,” you grumbled.

He grinned. “Sure you do, tiger.”

The entire party was a whirlwind. One moment you were entering the house, the next you were downing your fourth or fifth shot of the night, and the next you were standing in Mia’s kitchen as Brittany from math batted her eyelashes at you and offered you a sly smile.

“I feel like I never see you at these, Y/N,” she said.

You nodded lazily, the alcohol fogging up your mind. “Yeah.”

“Well…” She ran her hand up your arm until it rested on your shoulder. “I’m glad you decided to come tonight.” She flashed you a grin as her eyes ran down your body. “You look really good.”

Nick’s idea was pounding at the front of your mind, and you knew what he’d say if he were there: Just kiss her! However, you hadn’t seen the boy since you first arrived; he had mysteriously disappeared.

“Thanks,” you said, smiling. “You look good, too.”

“You think so?” She was leaning closer to you, her hand tightening on your shoulder.

“Yeah. Yeah, you look…great.”

Her eyes flitted down to your lips. You gulped and dragged your tongue across your bottom one. She seemed to take the nervous action as one of invitation, and suddenly she was a breath away. You could feel her short puffs of air on your lips, but all you could think about was the fact that she wasn’t your brunette best friend, and that she was taller than you instead of shorter, and that her eyes were blue instead of brown. You hated it.

You were pulled out of your thoughts by the sound of a cup hitting the ground and a drink splashing across the floor. When you glanced over Brittany’s shoulder, you spotted Vada standing feet away, her eyes wide and pooling with tears, her mouth agape like she was ready to sob.

She caught your glance and turned away quickly. You watched as one of her arms drew up, hand likely swiping across her face, and your stomach dropped. You glanced back at Brittany, who looked like she was more than ready to pounce on you.

“I’m sorry,” you rushed out before slipping away from her quickly, leaving her no room to argue. You pushed through the crowd, trying to keep your eyes on the head of brown hair that you could see scurrying away. “Vada!” you called desperately. “Vada!”

She didn’t slow down. Instead, she seemed to pick up the pace, and you cursed, finding it more difficult to get past people. You didn’t bother to apologize for any drinks you spilled, or for bumping into couples making out, or for ignoring other people trying to talk to you. You just needed to get to Vada.

Finally, you caught her outside, where she bent over, her hands on her knees, and, at first, you thought she was throwing up. You were quickly proven wrong, however, as you heard her gasping for air, trying to keep her sobs at bay.

You approached her slowly. “V,” you said quietly, placing a hand on her back. She whirled around and took a step back, staring up at you with an expression that could only be described as pure hurt. “Vada…”

“Don’t,” she warned. “It’s fine. I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine, V,” you said, taking a step forward. “Listen, what you saw back there--”

“Is fine,” she interrupted. “We’re just best friends with benefits, and…and you don’t like me, and that’s fine.”

You furrowed your eyebrows, confused. “What…? Why would that matter?”

She scoffed and glanced at her feet. “Yeah, why would that matter?” she repeated sarcastically.

“Vada, I’m being serious.” You took another cautious step forward and ducked down a bit so that you could look her in the eyes. “I understand if you’re upset, okay? I mean, I get it…but, you know, we should probably talk about it?”

“There’s nothing to talk about.”

You huffed. “Fine. If you want to close yourself off like this, then fine. I know how you operate, V, and I know I’m not gonna get anything out of you like this. I just…I want you to be okay.”

She looked at you. “Is that why you were kissing Brittany? Because you want me to be okay?”

“I don’t even know what that’s supposed to mean!” You threw your arms out to the side, let them fall and slap against your legs. “I’m just trying to--to forget about the whole…friends with benefits shit right now and just be your friend, Vada.” You slumped your shoulders. “Can you just talk to me?”

“I like you, okay?!” she shouted suddenly, clenching her eyes shut. “I like you, and you obviously don’t like me back, and that’s fine. I’ll deal.” She ran a hand down her face. “You should probably go back inside to Brittany.”

Silence blanketed you, filling the air as you took in her words.

“You like me?”

Vada bit her bottom lip and sighed in defeat. “Yeah. I do.” She looked at you. “I’m sorry.”

“I thought you were--Are you not sleeping with Mia, too?”

Her face scrunched. “Why would I be sleeping with Mia?”

You shrugged. “I don’t know. You guys have just been spending a lot of time together, and Mia’s, you know, conventionally attractive, and Nick brought it up, and I just…I don’t know. The idea stuck with me, I guess.”

“Well, I’m not sleeping with Mia. I don’t…” She shivered. “I can’t even think of Mia that way.”

“Oh.” You furrowed your eyebrows. “So, you like me?”

“Do I have to say it again?”

You chuckled suddenly, and Vada watched you. “Dude, we’re fucking idiots.”

“W--what?”

“I like you, too, Vada.” You shrugged, looking around sheepishly. “I just didn’t say anything because I thought that you were, you know, not into me like that.”

“But…Brittany?”

“Nick wanted me to try hooking up with someone else to distract myself from you.” You scoffed. “Obviously it didn't work. But, I mean, we didn’t--I didn’t kiss her. I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

Her eyes widened as the realization hit her, and she laughed. “Oh my god, we are literally so stupid!”

“I know,” you said. You took a step forward, cupped her cheek with your hand. “So, does this mean I can kiss you, then? You know, in a more romantic way than friends with benefits?”

Vada nodded. “Yes please.”

Before you even had the chance to pull her in, she was pressing her lips to yours, melding them together like she never wanted to be separated from you again. And, honestly, you didn’t think that sounded half bad.

bonus: “you know,” mia said as she watched you and vada in the backyard. “we’re pretty good at this whole meddling thing.”

“yeah,” nick agreed. he took a sip from his drink. “we really are.”