#Did she maybe have other plants??? That were taken over by mint??? And she surrendered to her new mint overlords???

[coral-canary]

Wh…. Why does An have what looks to be seven (and presumably more) mint plants in her room….???

Isn’t. Isn’t mint like. Infamous for growing like crazy. Like a single pot can last you for life type crazy. Why. Why does she have seven. An how much mint do you have. Are you ok An. There’s not even anything else on the balcony is she planning to turn it into a greenhouse. For mint.???? Has she been taken over by the mint??? Is the mint forcing her to do this???? Is the mint planning world domination???? Is An willingly helping the mint achieve world domination????? Did she sign a contract with the mint???? Does the mint pay her???? I need to know.

[cygnetofthesea]

First Kisses: Westallen AU

Inspired by a true story in which my older brother recruited my older sister to go after a kid who kissed me at a wedding when I was four and popped his balloon in retaliation. I have no recollection of it but they both tell the story every few years lol  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Special thanks to @barryslightningrod for inspiring me to turn it into a WA fic! Hope you guys like it! <3

Barry fidgeted with his bow tie for the hundredth time, grunting in frustration. His stubby little fingers tried to wrench it off but to no avail. It didn’t help that he was fighting to keep a firm grip on his red balloon. He knew his mother wanted him to look spiffy for his cousin's wedding but he wondered why wearing a cloth that choked him had to be a part of that.

"Oh, Barry."

He heard an amused chuckle from above and saw his mother approach with a bright smile. Her eyes twinkled in the light and even though he was annoyed with her for making him wear such a monstrosity, he couldn't help but sheepishly let go of the bow tie.

"Mommy, I don't want to wear this anymore," he whined.

She crouched down to his level and swiftly took it off. "There. All better?"

Barry smiled brightly and nodded vigorously. "Thanks, mommy!"

And before she could get out another word, he flashed off to where he saw the other kids chasing butterflies.

As he approached, he noticed a little girl in a frilly lavender dress with a flower crown atop her head. He was so captivated by her beauty that he slowed his steps as he took her in. He cocked his head to the side listening to her tinkling laugh as her eyes shone brightly. Her brown skin was so pretty and looked nice against the color of her dress and wondered why he didn't have the same pretty color himself.

He slowly approached her, his balloon still clutched in his hand, bobbing around. When he got closer, she turned around and looked at him curiously before smiling wide.

"Hi, I'm Iris!"

He doesn't say anything suddenly nervous and at a loss for words. His mom and dad would always say he had a tendency of never catching a breath as he chattered endlessly. They would sure eat their words if they were to see him now.

When he doesn't say anything, she prompted him. "What's your name?"

"I-I'm Barry," he replied softly.

Her eyes lit up and Barry felt his heart jump in his chest in a way he never felt before.

"Hi, Barry! It's very nice to meet you," she said politely, sticking her hand out to him.

He was caught in her smiling eyes that before he knew what he was doing he leaned in and planted one right on her lips, his eyes squeezed shut. He didn't know how long he kissed her but it felt forever before he jerked back, eyes wide.

She looked at him strangely and Barry could feel his cheeks burn bright. They may have been as bright as his balloon. He thought this is what people did when they liked each other, but clearly, she didn’t like him back. To save face, he thrust the balloon into her hand and ran off.

He ran back to his mom and climbed onto her lap, burrowing there for safety. Maybe if he stayed with her long enough, he could forget about the whole thing.

His mother had gotten him another balloon not too long after. Perhaps she had assumed his distress was as a result of his absent balloon and Barry was not about to correct her. It wasn't long before Barry forgot the incident and entertained himself with his balloon. He had run off to play with his cousins and was in the middle of showing it to one of them when he felt a tap on his shoulder.

He turned around curiously and saw tall a tall, dark-skinned boy, who looked to be about a couple of years older than himself. He had pretty skin like the beautiful girl he had seen earlier and looked up at him in awe. But then he caught sight of the frown on the boy's face.

"Hey, don't kiss my sister!"

"Uh…huh?" Barry asked in confusion.

"I said, don't kiss my sister!"

And before Barry knew what was happening, the older boy grabbed Barry's balloon from him and stomped on it.

Barry was too puzzled and taken aback to say anything as the tall boy stomped on it until the aluminum popped and deflated. He only looked on with wide, curious eyes as the boy turned to him and pointed threateningly at him.

"That was a warning."

Barry looked down at his empty hands and then at the boy's retreating figure. He stood in shock for a moment before shrugging his shoulders and running off to catch up with his cousin.

Little did he know that boy would one day become one of his best friends.

 Twelve Years Later

"Dude, I am so going to end you!"

Barry bit his tongue as he pressed harder on the buttons of his control. "Keep telling yourself that," he retorted as he tilted his body as if he was in the game.

His car was miles ahead of Wally's on the screen and he had no doubt he was going to win the game without effort. After all, he wasn't known as the Fastest Man Alive for nothing. True, most people referred to him as that when he was out on the track, but still…

Barry concentrated on the screen, sitting at the edge of the couch, tasting the victory when Wally casually made a remark.

"Iris asked about you the other day."

Barry's grip on his control loosened as he turned to look at Wally with wide eyes.

"Wha.…?"

But Wally only smirked at the screen ahead before jumping up in his seat.

"Hah! Suckerrrrrrr!"

Barry whipped back around to look at the screen only to see Wally's car zipping past his and towards the finish line.

"You've got to be kidding me," Barry grumbled.

"Hey, you snooze, you lose Also, when are you going to tell my sister you're in love with her?"

Barry tossed aside his remote control and lunged at Wally. The boys wrestled on the living room floor, taking turns on gaining the upper hand that they didn't notice the presence at the doorway.

"Hope I'm not interrupting the lovefest over here."

Barry's body jerked in surprise before roughly pushing Wally aside. He could feel his already heated cheeks burn as he meets Iris's twinkling eyes.

"Iris," he breathed, his chest rising and falling from the exertion. "H-hey, hi."

"Hey-hi, yourself," she replied, plopping down on the sofa chair across from them. "What was it this time?"

Wally straightened up with a smirk and turned a sly gaze toward Barry. "Barry's just a sucker."

While Barry turned a glare his way, Iris tossed a square pillow against Wally's chest.

"Oh, like you're not?"

"Nope," he chuckled. "Not like Barry. See, he's--"

"OK! I think that's enough of the fun," Barry interjected, scratching the back of his neck. "I'm going to get some ice cream. Iris, mint chip?" he asked without thinking.

"Yes, please!"

He shuffled away, fully aware of his slip-up and the fact that his skin was probably beat red at this point.  He was rummaging in the freezer, looking for Iris's favorite ice cream when he felt a presence in the room. He closed the door shut to be met with Wally's smug face.

"Can we not do this right now?" Barry grumbled, pulling a bowl down from the cabinet.

Wally shook his head and let out a sigh. "Dude, you've been in love with my sister since we were like what? Five, six? It's about time to just come out with it."

"I can't. It's going to ruin everything," he said morosely, even as he began to fantasize telling Iris and her falling into his waiting arms.

"You know, I wasn't just messing when I said Iris was asking about you the other day.

Not for the first time that afternoon, Barry whipped around to look at Wally with wide eyes. "What?"

"Yeah, she was saying how you never seemed into anyone and wondered if I knew anything."

"She-she did?" he asked in astonishment before dropping his face into a glare. "I swear to god, Wally if you're screwing with me--"

"I'm not!" he exclaimed, his hands up in surrender. "Hey, this is my sister we're talking about here."

Barry paused scooping Iris's ice cream and thought about it for a minute. He couldn't help feeling hopeful that Iris seemed interested in his love life. But then again, what if she was only interested in the way siblings were mildly interested in who their brother or sister was dating? Like the way Iris had inquired about Linda before she and Wally got together.

That deflated the hope quicker than it appeared. "I don't know, she could just be asking to be nice."

"Nope. Trust me, I know my sister." When Barry stilled looked skeptical, Wally sighed in exasperation. "Look, if you don't shoot your shot, you may never know what could be."

"Aren't you the one that popped my balloon because I kissed your sister all those years ago?"

"Hah, yeah," Wally admitted with pride. "But that was then, this is now. And right now, my sister is into my best friend and there isn't anyone else I'd rather her be with."

Barry felt touched by that, his heart warming as he looked at Wally.

"Hey, don't get all soft on me, man. And if you tell anyone I said that I'll kick your ass."

Barry held up his hand his fingers spread. "Scouts honor."

Wally saluted him before grabbing the entire tub of mint chip ice cream and a large sundae spoon. 

“Hey!” Barry protested. “I wasn’t done scooping.”

“Yeah, well, Iris isn’t the only one that likes mint chip. Peace!”

He whirled out of the kitchen in a flash while Barry shook his head after him. Wally always had too much fun messing with Barry but he had to admit, as an only child, it was nice to have a brother. He had often wished his parents would give him another sibling, but when Wally took him under his wing--after apparently forgetting even threatening to begin with--Barry forgot all about his wish since the universe found some way to fulfill it. 

Even if it was in the form of a gangly kid who put him in a headlock one too many times.

Barry looked down at the pathetic single scoop of mint chip in the bowl before scouring the freezer for more ice cream. He couldn’t very well bring Iris an empty bowl, knowing her. 

After he managed to scrape off the last of the chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, he took a deep breath. No way was Wally telling the truth. Right? And even if he was, it’s not like he even knew for sure. 

He peered around the kitchen doorway and watched as Iris clacked away on her laptop. He didn’t know if he ever saw her without it. A burgeoning writer, it was glued to her as a newborn is to a mother. 

He didn’t know if he should or even would make a move, but he knew he couldn’t hide out in the kitchen forever. He slowly walked toward her with the bowl of ice cream in hand. 

Iris looked up at his approach and beamed at him before noticing the lone bowl. “What, no more left?”

“Your brother is a bottomless pit,” Barry replied, handing it over to her. 

“Says the human vacuum.”

Barry flushed as he plopped down next to her. “Hey, I need all the fuel I can get on the track.”

“Mm-hmm.” She smirked over a spoonful of ice cream. “Well, lucky for you, I can share.”

“Oh really? Is that a recent development because I remember you literally growling at me just the other day when I reached for your cronut.”

“Eh,” she shrugged nonchalantly. “You ‘say tomah-to’, I say ‘tomato’.”

“No, you said ‘GRR.’” Barry lunged toward her threateningly. 

Iris backed away, giggling, hugging the bowl to her chest. “Hey! You’re going to make me drop my ice cream. It’s the last of it left.”

“It’s ok, I’d get you more.”

She straightened beside him again, bringing her closer to him while looking at him carefully. “Oh yeah?” she asked softly.

He swallowed thickly as he returned her soft gaze and nodded jerkily. “Y-yeah.”

“Why’s that?”

He doesn’t say anything for a long moment, simply letting his eyes flicker down to her lips, suddenly very conscious of the heat emanating from her body. 

He looked back to her eyes and saw that he was caught staring. The tips of his ears burned as he looked away quickly, scratching at his neck in a vain attempt to shield its brightness from her. He could feel her 

“How come you’re not as bold as you were when you were four?” she asked suddenly, her voice so soft he thought he might’ve misheard her.

The words stunned him, rendering him speechless for a moment. “W-what?”

She smiled wistfully. “You were a lot more forward when you were four. But not now. Why not?:

“I um...I think I realized that there’s a lot to lose. Too much to be worth the sacrifice.” Her eyes widened slightly before she nodded slowly. “I think you’d find that there’s a lot to gain, actually.”

“Really?” he whispered. 

She nodded in reply, her eyes flickering to his lips.

“Or maybe it’s just my turn now,” she said before she closed the distance between them, gently pressing her lips against his. 

He inhaled so sharply that he almost choked on his breath. He panicked when Iris pulled away. 

“Was that ok?” she asked, biting her lip in uncertainty. 

He eyes followed the movement of her teeth against her plush lip and he nodded jerkily before meeting her gaze again. 

“Yes! Yes, yes...yeah, that was completely and totally ok.”

“Ok,” she smiled. Her eyes flitted to his lips and he didn’t wait for her to make a move before he leaned in a softly kissed her before moving in again to catch her lip between his. His tongue tentatively peeked out, exploring her top lip as her hands gently slip from his shoulders to his neck.

“Barry,” she gasped. 

He let his hands carefully slide to her waist before hoisting her closer until she was practically on his lap. Before he could worry if it was too much of a forward move, he felt Iris wrap her arms around his shoulders, pulling herself flush against him. 

He groaned into her mouth as his body filled with a burning heat. He could feel himself losing air even as he slid his hand up under her hair to keep her in place while he angled his lips to explore more of her mouth, absorbing as much of her taste and pleasured sounds as possible. 

“Mm, Iris...Iris.”

He could feel her heart racing against his chest in tandem with his own and it wasn’t a surprise when she finally pulled away to catch her breath. 

She pressed her forehead to his, her eyes still closed as her chest heaved. But Barry kept his eyes open, needing to make sure that he wasn’t actually dreaming. His eyes grew heavy with the touch of her fingernails against his scalp, but he fought against the sensation. 

“So,” she began, her tone breathy. “Would you say it was worth the risk?”

He waited for her to open her eyes before gazing into her beautiful brown eyes. “Yes. Without a doubt.”

Her answering smile was so sweet and bright, his heart absolutely ached at the sight. He could feel it melting in the way it always did ever since he first saw that beautiful, heart-stopping beam and that twinkle in her eyes that followed. 

“I’m glad.”

As Barry leaned back in for another kiss, he thought about how he was a damn lucky guy. 

And boy was he glad he kissed her first all those years ago. Four-year-old Barry knew exactly what he was doing.

[karlaaqualight]

Legend of Zelda: In the Land of Spirits Ch.2

Hi there! Here is Chapter 2 from In the Land of Spirits. Again. I accidentally erased the post, my bad.

I apologize for the messy writing and grammar errors. English is not my native language. And it’s quite short although added a few things.

I need to improve my writing skills. XP

***************

Chapter 2

She was surprise he was still breathing.

Deep lacerations. At least two broken ribs. Three broken vertebra. Maybe only bruise. Blood loss. Not to mention the bite of one of the most deathly snakes.

And yet, his body refused to give up. It was terrifyingly impressive. How can someone withstand so much pain?

She felt her insides wrench every time his screams of agony echoed thought the cave as she used her healing. Placing bone and tissue back together. Repairing was needs fixing. Until he is utterly limp under her hands.

She washes him clean from the dried blood and sweat, dirt and tears with a small piece of cloth. She tried not to look too closely, to give him some sort of dignity. Still, she couldn’t help but notice he was fit, muscles lining every limb, rippling over his abdomen.

She did the same with his red hair and brush it as best as she could, and let it loose. The young man shivers with fever, and when he whimper from time to time she comforts him.

After a while, his eyes stayed closed, but this was a different quality of sleep than his earlier, half-delirious dips into unconsciousness. Some of his natural gray color was already coming back, and the sweat, dried blood and grime had already been cleaned from his skin.

She looked down at the stranger. She could see him better now and she realized he was handsome in repose. Amazingly tall and strong, he was muscled as a ferocious warrior. His hair with long waves of brilliant red.

Tentatively, she reached out and brushed a few locks of hair off of his face, tucked them back behind one pointy ear. Something lurched in her heart, and some quiet, logical part of her brain told her that this was dangerous. But he was a sigh from the Spirits and that was enough for her.

When she spotted him and his companions, she decided to not intervene. The magic surrounding their territory helped her people’s cover. The strangers would roam the jungles for days, probably months, before they could find her tribe. It had happened before. And those few that had found them, well, they never came out alive to tell the tale. Imani took a interest of the red haired warrior, much to her disapproval. Then the obia ambushes him and he fights him with great effort but courageously nonetheless. And she knew that event  was a sign. Although, she still doesn’t know her feline friend’s true intentions towards the man.

She found herself just looking slow up and down of his breathing. A small smile drew on her lips– remembering the word he had spoke to her moments ago.

When she had been washing him, he barely regained his consciousness. He drank, with a little trouble, the remedy she made for the snake venom and his body was fighting it.

He had opened his tired eyes and looked at her disoriented. With difficulty, he brought his burning hand to touch her cheek. The gesture took her by surprise, but she did not turn him away. A lazy smile spread on him face.

“Beautiful,” the warrior said weakly in a strange language.

She stilled, her eyes widened for a moment but she quickly composed herself. Placing her hand on his cheek, she pressed her fingers on his temple. Warm energy released from her finger tips.

“Ssshh,” she only said. And the warrior instantly closed his eyes, falling to sleep once more.

He then sighed in relieve and surrender to slumber.

~~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~

He slowly opened his eyes at the soothing sound of rain still falling in a distance and the considered warm of a fire. He doesn’t know where he is, sorts through the information his senses are giving him. All he can smell was the dirt and herbs, it’s warm, feels distinctly subterranean, so he must be in some kind of cave.

He sat up slowly; his head began to pound from a sudden rush. He groaned, passing his hand on his face. It then that he becames aware of the heaviness in his limbs, the steady solid beating of his heart, the soft wind of his breath. His red hair tumbled down over his shoulders as his eyes inspected the space around him.

Kerugan observed confused by all the small jars, plants, and fabrics pushed against the a few corners of the space. Including his clothing neatly folded near him. Someone certainly has been lived here.

At the sudden crushing sound, he snapped in the direction of the noise so fast his neck hurt. He found a pair eyes glowing in the swallowing darkness. The same ones that made him get lost. They were moving; getting closer.

He widened his violet eyes saw a leopard coming out of the dark.

The animal glances at him intently as he sat in a considered distance. Kerugan stayed frozen, his muscles tense, afraid to make any sudden movement. He may no longer be in pain but he was still weak.

“You are awake.” Kerugan jumped, startled by the female voice that spoke up. He was surprised to find a woman standing nearby the entrance of the cavern.

He couldn’t see her face clearly but he could feel her sight piercing. She was curvy and had slight muscles. Kerugan frowns when he fights through the fog in his mind and remembers. She was with him before he passed out.

The leopard makes a movement and he quickly turned his attention to it.

“Do not fear, he is tame,” she walked closer to the fire. Pausing to move away her hood. “When needed.”

Kerugan’s breath was taken away momentarily. She had dark short hair, trimmed to her left side. Her cheekbones are wide and pronounced. Her skin glowed like honey and her full lips red as strawberries. While she tosses more wood to the fire, he notices the face-paint; a series of red and white dots on her forehead and  a white line that traveled from her lower lip to her chin. Once she is done with the wood, she takes her damp, long loincloth and wrings it.

But what caught his attention the most were the pair of eyes that seemed to glow while staring at him.

“Where–?” Kerugan cleared his dry throat. “Where am I?”

“My place.” She answered nonchalant.

“Ah I see.” His gaze moved around the interior once again before falling on to her. “It is…nice,” Was he trying to be polite?

She smiled slightly. “I don’t live here if that’s what you mean.”

Her firm sight crossed his, deep and piercing and hypnotic. “How do you feel?”

“Fine, thank you.” Kerugan lied. He was a little dizzy actually but he wouldn’t dare to say it; she was a stranger.

“So, were you the one who saved me?”

She nodded. “Yes, I am.”

“And you brought me here…”

“You were dying.”

“Well, yes.“

“You fought an obia,” she murmurs absently. She moves to the jars and takes a small vase.

“What?” Kerugan asked.

“An obia,” the woman said immediately. “My people can kill or run away from almost anything else. But even the most expert warriors, avoid them.” She served some green liquid in a small vase. “You’re blessed to be alive. The amount of wounds that were inflicted on you, you should be dead but your body has almost completely healed.”

Suddenly, everything began to flash back into his mind, his blood running cold at the memories of the creature that attacked him. His hand immediately shot to his lower back, groaning by the strain of pain. He traced the skin and noticed a scar. It was considered board and smooth, she must have had used magic to heal him. An alarm go off in the back of his mind. What other things she did while he was unconscious?

“Here,” the young woman offered him the small vase. “The venom is still in your system. This will help.”

His violet eyes wavering slightly as he reached out to take the cup. He drank gently and efficient, griming at the taste. “Thank you.”

“Thank Imani,” she gesture her head toward the leopard. “He guided me to you.”

Kerugan turned unsure to the animal, which was still, staring at him. The big cat huffed, in indifference maybe? He wasn’t sure.

After a moment, Kerugan discreetly stares at the woman while she searches for something in a leather bag. When she turned her back on him, he saw the scars. The claws of a big animal all along her shoulder blades. And he had the strange temptation to touch it.

He frowns, pushing away the feeling with a shake of his head.

She then kneels beside him, gesturing his right hand. “May I?”

He allowed her to hold his hand, his so much larger and warmer.

Soon, Kerugan was left mesmerized by her eyes. They were blue and green, like the clear waters of the ocean. Her black eyelashes, copper skin and face paint made them stand out even more. Some of his uncles and cousins were blue eyed but he had never seen such brilliant color before. It made her look like something different, something ethereal. And nothing like Varden described from the natives of this land. Could she be from the tribe he and his sister came to look for?

She worked efficiently taking away the bandage. She inspected the the bite, which is clean and not as swell as before. She opened a big leaf, in its center has some kind of lotion with a vague scent of mint. Taking a small portion, his savior takes his large hand in her small and delicate one and massages, spreading the lotion.

Her fingertips are soft, warm as they travel over his skin, coaxing a response from Kerugan that had never happened by only touching his hand, leaving him contrarily thrumming and pliant. He could feel the power coursing through her, humming under her skin like lightening contained. Blood fizzes in his veins, plumping his skin and heating his ears…and other places. But it also frightens him and he make a monumental effort to not clap his hand away.

He tries to concentrated on something else, so turns his head to look at the leopard. The animal, forelegs crossed, narrowed his eyes ever so slightly, giving the impression he was judging the Northern. And he highly unsettles him.

Kerugan is so centered on the feline that misses the faint smile on the woman’s lips.

“How long have I been out?” Kerugan said quietly, watching her wrap the new bandage.

“For two day,” the woman replied. “You caught a high fever while your body fighter the venom of the snake.”

He cursed under his breath. Audlin was going to kill him for sure.

He glanced at the woman as she disposed of the old bandages and made a long pause, purse his lips as if studying her.

“Why I can understand you?” Kerugan inquired carefully. “I hear you and your language is foreign to me. But I know what you’re speaking. I understand your words in my mind.”

She frowns, shifted her sight to the ground. Thoughtful and slightly thrown off. “I…don’t know.”

A long silence followed only interrupted by the crackle of the fire and the rain outside. The woman stretch her arm to take a small fruit from a basket, and bites it. When the scent of fruit struck in is nose, his stomach protested greatly. A light blush of embarrassment appeared on his cheeks. The woman just smiles at him.

“You must be hungry,” she reached out again, this time to take the basket with fresh fruits. At the sight of it, his mouth watered.

She moved to him once more and put the basket on his lap.

“Eat, rest,” she stood with a blanket on her hands to where the large feline was. “Tomorrow will be decided what to do.”

Kerugan eats ravenously, nearly inhaling each mouthful, staring at the young woman laid down where the leopard -Imani- is curled.

The animal’s breathing is slow, huffing warmly across the grain dirt. He moves his paws slightly to make room for her head. And when she rest her head between his belly and the ground, Imani bend his neck to place his head beside her.

When he finished with the basket, Kerugan clears his throat, unsure.

“I’m Kerugan, oldest son of Vidar, Hesir of the clanThorhalla of the North, and Princess Kanisa of Hyule.” Kerugan announced gently.

She smiles to herself, as she covers with the warm tunic. Her eyelids already heavy.

“I am Seze, daughter of Nxingha, leader of the Siri Tribe of Zaire.”

~~~

I hope you enjoy it.

I work for @figmentforms, @s-kinnaly, @mintiture, @blueganon, @ridersoftheapocalypse and @mrneighbourlove.

Go check their work. They are amazing.

Kerugan belongs to @s-kinnaly and @ridersoftheapocalypse.

Seze and Imani belongs to me.

Previous chapter: http://pantheon-for-a-muse.tumblr.com/post/157284257054/legend-of-zelda-in-the-land-of-spirits 

Next chapter: soon.