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ofw-job-orders · 1 month ago

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Filipino Media OFWs in Bangkok: Blockchain, Health, & the Path to Economic Reintegration

The sun beats down on Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok’s bustling artery, as Maria scrolls through her phone, checking the latest cryptocurrency prices. A former television producer from Manila, Maria is one of the thousands of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Thailand, navigating a life far from home, grappling with unique challenges, and exploring new avenues for financial security. Her story, like that of many media professionals working abroad, highlights the complex interplay of ambition, sacrifice, and the constant search for better opportunities.

The narrative of the OFW is deeply ingrained in the Filipino psyche. Generations have sought employment overseas, contributing significantly to the Philippine economy through remittances. While the typical image of an OFW might be a domestic worker or a construction worker, a growing segment comprises skilled professionals, including those in the media industry. Drawn by the promise of higher salaries and international experience, these individuals often leave behind established careers and families to carve a new path in foreign lands.

Bangkok, a vibrant hub of Southeast Asia, has become a popular destination for Filipino media professionals. The city’s burgeoning media landscape offers opportunities in journalism, broadcasting, advertising, and public relations. Yet, the allure of international experience often comes with its own set of challenges. Long working hours, cultural adjustments, and the constant pressure to perform can take a toll on physical and mental well-being.

Maria’s experience echoes this reality. The demanding nature of her job as a video editor for a Thai production company often requires her to work late nights and weekends. The pressure to adapt to a new work environment, coupled with the emotional strain of being away from her family, has led to sleep deprivation and anxiety. “It’s a constant juggling act,” she admits, “trying to balance work, personal life, and staying connected with loved ones back home.”

Physical health challenges are a significant concern for OFWs, particularly those in demanding professions like media. The long hours, sedentary lifestyle, and often unhealthy food options can contribute to various health problems, including obesity, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. Access to quality healthcare can also be a barrier, especially for those in lower-paying jobs or without comprehensive health insurance. Maria, for example, has been experiencing persistent back pain due to long hours spent in front of a computer. Finding affordable and accessible healthcare in a foreign country has proven to be an added layer of complexity.

In recent years, a new dimension has been added to the OFW narrative: the exploration of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies. The decentralized nature and potential for high returns have attracted many OFWs, who see these technologies as a means to achieve financial independence and secure their future. Maria, like many of her colleagues, started researching cryptocurrencies in 2020, drawn by the stories of significant gains and the possibility of creating a safety net for herself and her family.

The timing of this exploration is significant. The COVID-19 pandemic, which began around the same time, significantly impacted the global economy and highlighted the vulnerabilities of traditional financial systems. Many OFWs faced job losses and reduced income, prompting them to seek alternative avenues for financial security. The pandemic also accelerated the adoption of digital technologies, making it easier for individuals to access information and engage with online platforms related to cryptocurrencies and blockchain.

While the potential of these technologies is undeniable, it's crucial to acknowledge the risks involved. The volatility of cryptocurrency markets, the potential for scams, and the lack of regulatory frameworks in many countries necessitate caution and thorough research. For OFWs, who often have limited financial resources and may be less familiar with these technologies, it is essential to approach this space with informed decision-making and a clear understanding of the potential downsides.

The eventual return home is a constant thought for most OFWs. The dream of reuniting with family and building a stable life in the Philippines is a powerful motivator. However, the economic reintegration of returning OFWs presents a unique set of challenges. Finding suitable employment opportunities that match their skills and experience acquired abroad is often difficult. The disparity between salaries offered in the Philippines and those earned overseas can be a significant deterrent, forcing many returning OFWs to accept lower-paying jobs or face unemployment.

This is where resources like OFWJobs.org (www.ofwjobs.org) play a vital role. Platforms like these provide a bridge between returning OFWs and potential employers in the Philippines. By connecting skilled professionals with relevant job opportunities, they facilitate a smoother transition back into the local workforce and contribute to the overall economic development of the country. The site offers a range of resources, including job listings, career advice, and information on government programs designed to support returning OFWs.

The government also has a crucial role to play in supporting the economic reintegration of returning OFWs. Investing in skills development programs, providing access to affordable financing for entrepreneurship, and creating a conducive business environment can empower returning OFWs to leverage their international experience and contribute to the growth of the Philippine economy. Furthermore, strengthening regulatory frameworks for emerging technologies like blockchain and cryptocurrency can create new opportunities for OFWs and foster innovation within the country.

Maria’s story is just one example of the multifaceted experiences of OFWs, particularly those in the media industry. Their journey is marked by sacrifice, resilience, and a constant pursuit of better opportunities. While the challenges are real and often significant, the unwavering spirit of the OFW, coupled with supportive resources and proactive government policies, can pave the way for successful economic reintegration and a brighter future back home. As technology continues to evolve and the global landscape shifts, the narrative of the OFW will undoubtedly continue to evolve, reflecting the changing dynamics of work, migration, and the pursuit of a better life. The exploration of new technologies, like blockchain and cryptocurrency, may become an increasingly important part of this evolving narrative, offering new avenues for financial security and empowerment.

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littlebum-india · 1 month ago

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Making the Most of Motherhood : The Benefits of LittleBum’s Detachable Hip Seat Carrier

Motherhood is an extraordinary journey filled with love, joy, and memorable moments. But let’s face it being a mom is also physically demanding. Between feedings, diaper changes, and endless cuddles, the weight of carrying your little one can take a toll on your body. That's where a detachable hip seat carrier comes to the rescue, offering both comfort and convenience to busy moms. At LittleBum.in, we’ve designed the LittleBum Detachable Baby Carrier with moms in mind, ensuring that you can make the most of motherhood without feeling the strain.

What Makes the LittleBum Detachable Hip Seat Carrier Special?

The detachable hip seat carrier isn’t just any baby carrier; it’s a game-changer for mothers who value both practicality and comfort. Unlike traditional carriers, a hip seat carrier offers more support for your baby’s hips while evenly distributing the weight across your body. This means no more sore shoulders or back pain!

The Blue Ocean Detachable Hip Seat Carrier and the Silver Hills Detachable Hip Seat Baby Carrier in our collection at LittleBum.in are ergonomically designed to ensure maximum comfort for both you and your baby. Whether you’re out for a walk or simply doing household chores, the detachable hip seat allows for better posture and flexibility.

The Versatility of a Detachable Hip Seat Carrier

One of the key benefits of our Hip Seat Detachable Baby Carrier is its versatility. The detachable seat can be used on its own for quick, easy carrying, or you can attach it to the full carrier for added security. This flexibility is especially useful for moms who need to adapt to different situations quickly whether you're in a park, at home, or traveling. Our Infinite Detachable Hip Seat Baby Carrier is designed to make every moment of motherhood a little easier.

Additionally, the Yellow Pyramid Detachable Hip Seat Baby Carrier offers a comfortable fit for babies of all sizes, ensuring that your little one is snug and secure. The materials are soft, breathable, and perfect for all-day wear, giving both you and your baby a cozy experience.

Supporting Motherhood with Convenience

Motherhood comes with its own set of challenges, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. The detachable hip seat baby carrier lets you enjoy more freedom while still keeping your baby close. Whether you’re running errands or enjoying a day out, our LittleBum detachable baby carrier makes it easy for you to bond with your child while keeping your hands free.

The design is not just about functionality, though. At LittleBum.in, we understand that every mom has her own style, which is why our carriers, like the Silver Hills Detachable Hip Seat Carrier, come in a range of modern, stylish colors to suit your preference.

Conclusion : Make the Most of Motherhood with LittleBum

Why sacrifice your comfort when you can have both style and functionality? At LittleBum.in, we offer a variety of detachable hip seat baby carriers that make it easier for you to carry your baby without the strain. From the Blue Ocean Detachable Hip Seat Carrier to the Yellow Pyramid Detachable Hip Seat Baby Carrier, our carriers are designed to support you through the beautiful journey of motherhood.

Explore our collection today at LittleBum.In and enjoy motherhood in a way that’s comfortable, stylish, and hassle-free!

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theideaofyou17 · 6 months ago

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The Magnetic Pull of "The Idea of You": A Journey into Love, Fame, and Self-Discovery

In a world where glamour and fame often overshadow the depths of human connection, Robinne Lee’s "The Idea of You" stands as a beacon of authenticity, drawing readers into a whirlwind tale that transcends the boundaries of celebrity culture to explore the raw, unfiltered essence of love, passion, and self-discovery.

At its heart, "The Idea of You" is a story of unexpected encounters and undeniable chemistry. Solène Marchand, a sophisticated art gallery owner, finds herself swept into a mesmerizing romance with the enigmatic Hayes Campbell, a member of the world-famous boy band August Moon. What begins as a chance encounter at a concert evolves into a passionate love affair that defies societal norms and challenges both Solène and Hayes to confront their deepest desires and fears.

Lee's narrative prowess shines brightly as she delves into the complexities of love in the limelight. Through Solène's eyes, we experience the intoxicating allure of fame juxtaposed with the profound vulnerability of human connection. As Solène grapples with the exhilarating highs and devastating lows of her relationship with Hayes, we are reminded that beneath the glitz and glamour lies a longing for authenticity and genuine connection.

What sets "The Idea of You" apart is its fearless exploration of age, desire, and societal expectations. Solène, a woman in her forties, navigates the treacherous waters of a romance with a man half her age, defying societal norms and challenging readers to confront their own preconceptions about love and age. Lee's portrayal of Solène is both empowering and relatable, humanizing her struggles and triumphs in a way that resonates deeply with readers of all ages.

Beyond its captivating love story, "The Idea of You" serves as a poignant commentary on the nature of fame and the sacrifices required to maintain a public image. Through Solène's journey, we witness the toll that relentless media scrutiny and public perception can take on one's sense of self-worth and identity. Yet, amidst the chaos of fame, Solène discovers the power of self-acceptance and the importance of staying true to oneself, even in the face of relentless scrutiny.

Lee's masterful storytelling is further elevated by her richly drawn characters and vividly rendered settings. From the sun-drenched beaches of Malibu to the glittering streets of Paris, "The Idea of You" immerses readers in a world brimming with passion, glamour, and intrigue. Each page is infused with palpable emotion, inviting readers to experience the highs and lows of Solène and Hayes's tumultuous romance firsthand.

As the story unfolds, Lee deftly explores themes of identity, ambition, and the pursuit of happiness. Through Solène's journey of self-discovery, we are reminded that true fulfillment comes not from external validation or material success, but from embracing our authentic selves and following our hearts, no matter where they may lead.

In "The Idea of You," Robinne Lee has crafted a captivating tale that transcends genres and defies expectations. Equal parts romance, drama, and coming-of-age story, this novel is a testament to the enduring power of love and the resilience of the human spirit. Whether you're a hopeless romantic or a skeptic of love's grandeur, "The Idea of You" is sure to captivate your heart and leave you yearning for more. So, dive into the irresistible world of Solène and Hayes, where passion knows no bounds and love is always worth fighting for.

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themovieblogonline · 8 months ago

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Stopmotion Review: A Terrifying Live-Action and Animated Horror

Robert Morgan, primarily known for his striking and macabre short films, makes a seamless transition to the feature-length format with Stopmotion, a live-action/adult animated psychological horror film that effectively blurs the lines between creator and creation. Co-written with Robin King, Morgan’s feature debut is a dark and mesmerizing exploration of art, obsession, and identity, anchored by a compelling lead performance from Aisling Franciosi. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Debr5KI1QIU Franciosi stars as Ella Blake, a young woman grappling with the heavy burden of finishing her mother Suzanne's (played by Stella Gonet) final stop-motion film. Suzanne, a celebrated animator now incapacitated by arthritis and later a coma-inducing stroke, leaves Ella with not just the technical challenge of completing a film, but the emotional weight of fulfilling her mother's dying wish. This premise sets the stage for a narrative rich with metaphors for creation, loss, and the tangible remnants of those we love. The integration of live-action and stop-motion animation is seamless, serving as a testament to Morgan's roots in animation and his profound understanding of its potential to tell deeply human stories. The animated sequences, though fantastical, convey a sense of tangible emotion, becoming a visual representation of Ella's internal struggles. However, it is when Ella decides to embark on her own project, inspired by a mysterious girl in her building, that the film truly delves into its horror elements. The shift towards crafting a stop-motion film about a girl evading an ominous entity called the Ash Man ushers in a new layer of narrative complexity. The film expertly navigates the dichotomy of creation and destruction, utilizing eerie stop-motion figures to reflect Ella's unraveling psyche. The psychological depth of Stopmotion is further accentuated by Franciosi's performance. Her portrayal of Ella's descent into obsession and madness is nuanced and deeply affecting. She ensures that the audience is rooted in her perspective, even as the narrative spirals into darkness. The supporting cast offers solid performances that round out the film's emotionally charged atmosphere. One of the most commendable aspects of Stopmotion is its willingness to delve into the more unsettling facets of creativity. The film doesn't shy away from the ugliness that can accompany the act of making art. The sacrifices, the obsession, and the toll it takes on the creator's mental health. The inclusion of disturbing imagery, particularly in the film's climax, may be off-putting to some viewers. However, it is undeniable that these elements serve a purpose in highlighting the destructive power of unchecked creativity. However, while Stopmotion is an impressive debut, it is not without its flaws. At times, the film's pacing feels uneven, particularly in the middle segment. This is where the narrative meanders slightly before finding its footing again. Additionally, some of the plot developments feel predictable, detracting from the overall impact of the story's climax. Despite minor flaws, the film is captivating due to its unique blend of animation and live-action. Moreover, the film’s conclusion, though jarring, is a bold choice. It will undoubtedly leave audiences pondering the nature of the story they have just witnessed. It raises questions about the cost of artistic endeavor and the blurred lines between fiction and reality. Stopmotion is a formidable debut from Robert Morgan, offering a unique and thought-provoking horror experience. Morgan's film combines animation, strong performances, and a compelling narrative, showcasing their ability to blend psychological themes with genre elements. Despite some minor hiccups, Stopmotion is a must-watch for fans of psychological horror and animated cinema alike. It serves as a reminder of the medium's potential to explore the deepest corners of the human psyche. Read the full article

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14-monterozo-marry-grace-r · 1 year ago

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Title: "A Journey of Strength: Rising Above Adversity and Redefining Family"

The story begins with judgment, harsh whispers from judgmental neighbors, labeling her with a term that echoes through the narrow alleys—words that cut deeper than any blade. She, once hailed as the most beautiful and renowned in her community, finds herself at the center of a storm that would shape her destiny.

As she invites us into her world, she speaks of vulnerability and the struggles that accompany a life marred by exploitation. The dichotomy of acceptance and exploitation, the clash of societal norms with personal choices, unfolds in a narrative that questions the foundations of morality and societal expectations.

She found the strength to break free from the chains that bound her. With the support of her children, she faced the daunting task of rebuilding a shattered life. The journey to redemption, however, was not without its challenges. The scars of the past, financial burdens, and the haunting memories of a life once lived in opulence lingered like shadows.

In the face of societal judgment and disdain, she clung to her newfound strength. The dichotomy of her life, from the opulence of a pseudo-happy existence to the struggle for survival, becomes a powerful narrative of human resilience. The sacrifices made for the sake of her children, scattered across the globe, reflect a mother's unwavering love that transcends physical boundaries.

As the holiday season approaches, she grapples with the fear of being forgotten by her children, questioning whether the sacrifices she made will be remembered. The impending new year brings with it a mixture of hope and trepidation, as whispers of an impending threat loom on the horizon.

She calls out to her children, expressing a simple desire for love and acknowledgment. The plea is not just a cry for attention but a declaration of the enduring strength that lies within her, a strength that has carried her through the darkest nights.

The mind of judgmental whispers and societal scorn, a woman's story unfolds, revealing a life marked by exploitation, resilience, and the unyielding bonds of a fractured family. "Minsan May Isang P*ta" by Mike Portes takes us on a rollercoaster ride through the complexities of human relationships, societal expectations, and the pursuit of redemption.

The narrative opens with the protagonist's confrontation with the harsh labels thrown her way by judgmental neighbors. As she lights a cigarette, she invites us into her world—a world where beauty and fame gave way to a tumultuous journey of self-discovery.

The protagonist reflects on her encounters with those who sought to exploit her vulnerability, leading to a tumultuous series of events that challenge societal norms and expectations. The dichotomy of acceptance and exploitation becomes a recurring theme as she grapples with the consequences of accepting those who were drawn to her.

The narrative takes a dark turn as she recounts the encounters with foreigners who feasted upon her body, an experience clouded with conflicting emotions. The vivid description of her struggle to resist and the peculiar allure of one perpetrator's touch paints a haunting picture of the psychological toll of exploitation.

Despite the traumatic experiences, the protagonist finds solace in the apology and care offered by one of her exploiters, complicating her emotions and leaving her questioning the nature of the relationships she forged. The narrative explores the blurred lines between abuse and twisted affection, revealing the intricate layers of the protagonist's psyche.

The turning point arrives when, with the support of her children, she musters the strength to break free from the toxic cycle that threatened to consume her. The journey to liberation, however, is not without its challenges, and the protagonist grapples with the aftermath of financial ruin and the haunting memories of a life once lived in opulence.

The narrative shifts to the protagonist's attempts at rebuilding—a journey made even more daunting by the uncertainty of whether she was truly freed or merely caught in another web of deceit. The story becomes a poignant exploration of the struggles faced by those who escape exploitation, only to be confronted by the harsh realities of starting anew.

In the face of societal judgment and the challenges of rebuilding, the protagonist stands firm, driven by the need to show her children that she can be a pillar of strength for them. The narrative weaves a tale of ambition, dreams, and the relentless pursuit of a better life, showcasing the protagonist's determination to rise above adversity.

As the story unfolds, we witness the dispersion of her children across the globe, each facing their own trials and tribulations. The protagonist's reflections on motherhood and the sacrifices made for her children resonate, emphasizing the enduring power of a mother's love that transcends physical distance.

The narrative takes an emotional turn as the protagonist grapples with the fear of being forgotten, especially during the holiday season. The impending new year brings both hope and trepidation, as whispers of a looming threat add an element of suspense to the tale.

In the protagonist calls out to her children, expressing a simple desire for love and acknowledgment. The plea serves as a powerful declaration of the enduring strength that lies within her—a strength that has carried her through the darkest nights.

conclusion,

"Minsan May Isang P*ta" unfolds as a narrative of resilience, redemption, and the unbreakable bonds of family. The protagonist's journey, marked by exploitation and societal judgment, becomes a testament to the indomitable spirit that can rise above adversity, redefine one's narrative, and reclaim the essence of family.

the quiet corners of every neighborhood, stories unfold, often untold, bearing the weight of triumphs and tribulations. Such is the narrative of a woman whose life, once cast in shadows, now stands as a testament to resilience and the unwavering spirit of survival.In the face of societal judgment and disdain, she clung to her newfound strength. The dichotomy of her life, from the opulence of a pseudo-happy existence to the struggle for survival, becomes a powerful narrative of human resilience. The sacrifices made for the sake of her children, scattered across the globe, reflect a mother's unwavering love that transcends physical boundaries.

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danivaralfjustincruz · 1 year ago

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"Minsan my isang p*ta" by Mike Portez

This short story delves into a complex web of exploitation, manipulation, and the struggle for identity and familial connection. It raises profound questions about love, sacrifice, and the haunting impact of being used for personal gain. The narrative confronts the harsh realities of relationships built on exploitation, where the protagonist's quest for love and support leads to a cycle of suffering and debt.

The story emphasizes the profound pain of being used and discarded, especially in the context of intimate relationships. The protagonist's yearning for genuine connection is overshadowed by the manipulation and poison of those they trusted, leaving them deeply indebted and questioning their own worth.

Furthermore, it sheds light on the intergenerational impact of this struggle, highlighting the complexities of parenting across different countries and the emotional toll it takes on the children left behind. The author's contemplation of their children's behaviors reflects the cycle of exploitation, where the offspring, despite education, mirror the same pursuit of temporary riches and capitalize on their parents' struggles, possibly as a means of survival in a harsh environment.

The fear of being exploited further in the future and the plea for remembrance and defense showcase the vulnerability and desperation of the protagonist. Their desire to break free from the cycle of exploitation and prioritize familial bonds over material gain underscores the story's poignant theme.

Overall, this story unflinchingly portrays the intricate layers of exploitation, love, and the agonizing pursuit of familial connections amid a landscape of manipulation and deceit.

"Equality" by Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou, a renowned American poet, civil rights activist, and author, used her powerful words to tackle issues of social justice and equality throughout her illustrious career. One of her thought-provoking poems, "Equality," serves as a poignant exploration of the quest for true equality in a society marked by racial divisions and injustice. In this essay, we will delve into the poem "Equality," analyzing its themes, literary techniques, and the significance of Angelou's message.

1. Themes in "Equality"

Maya Angelou's poem "Equality" primarily explores themes of racial discrimination and the struggle for civil rights. The poem reflects the deep-seated inequality that permeated American society, particularly during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Angelou's words shed light on the oppression faced by African Americans and the unyielding fight for equal rights.

2. Literary Techniques

Angelou employs various literary techniques to convey her message effectively. The poem is written in free verse, allowing her to express her thoughts and emotions without the constraints of a rigid rhyme or meter. Her choice of words is vivid and evocative, drawing the reader into the experience of racial injustice. She uses metaphors and symbolism to vividly illustrate the struggle for equality, turning everyday objects into powerful symbols of oppression and hope.

3. The Significance of Angelou's Message

"Equality" is a powerful and emotionally charged poem that serves as a call to action. It highlights the urgent need for social change and justice in a society plagued by racial prejudice. Angelou's poem encourages readers to reflect on their own roles in the fight for equality and to take a stand against discrimination and injustice. Her words inspire hope and determination, emphasizing that the quest for equality is an ongoing struggle that demands unity and unwavering commitment.

Maya Angelou's poem "Equality" stands as a testament to her remarkable ability to use poetry as a tool for social change. Through her powerful themes and literary techniques, she paints a vivid picture of the quest for equality in a society divided by racial injustice. The poem remains relevant and compelling, serving as a reminder that the fight for civil rights and social justice is a shared responsibility. Maya Angelou's legacy endures in her poetic works, and "Equality" continues to inspire and challenge readers to work towards a more just and equitable world.

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storytimewithnova · 1 year ago

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Unselfish Desires: Shona's Last Wish for Her Twin Brothers.

Plot Summary: Shona Miya, a 16-year-old girl, faces a challenging reality as she battles a terminal illness. With an uncertain future, she decides to create a short bucket list that includes typical desires like traveling to new places and experiencing novel adventures. She's cautious not to make the list too long or extravagant due to her limited time.

However, at the very top of her list is a deeply personal wish that touches her heart profoundly. Her final and most significant wish is to witness the success and happiness of her twin brothers, Atsumu and Osamu, without her presence by their side. She yearns to see them thrive and flourish, knowing that they are content with their lives.

Determined to make her last wish come true, Shona dedicates every moment of her life to ensure her brothers' success and happiness, even if it means stepping aside from her role in their lives. The story follows Shona's inspiring journey as she pours her love and support into her brothers, guiding them toward their dreams and aspirations.

The plot beautifully captures Shona's selfless and heartfelt desire to see her twin brothers thrive, making it a heartwarming and emotional tale of love, sacrifice, and the unbreakable bonds between siblings.

Shona Miya had always been aware of life's brevity, but that awareness became painfully magnified when she received the devastating news of her terminal illness. At the tender age of sixteen, Shona's future seemed bleak, clouded by uncertainty and the knowledge that her time was limited. Faced with this harsh reality, she made the courageous decision to create a bucket list, a collection of desires she hoped to fulfill before bidding farewell to the world.

Carefully considering her limited time, Shona composed a list that consisted of modest wishes. She dreamt of exploring new places, meeting different people, and experiencing thrilling adventures. But among these desires, there was one deeply personal wish that held the utmost importance to her heart.

Shona's final and most significant aspiration was to witness the resounding success and genuine happiness of her twin brothers, Atsumu and Osamu. From the moment they were born, Shona had felt an indescribable bond with them. Despite her illness, she yearned to see them thrive, knowing that they were content with their lives.

Determined to make her last wish come true, Shona selflessly devoted every moment of her numbered days to ensuring her brothers' triumph and joy. She recognized that her mere presence might hinder their growth, and so she decided to step aside, providing them with the room to flourish independently.

Shona became their unwavering pillar of support, silently guiding them toward their dreams and aspirations. She poured her love into them, determined to equip them with the necessary tools and guidance for the journey ahead. Whether it was providing a listening ear when they faced challenges or offering words of encouragement during moments of doubt, Shona was always there, her smile masking her own pain.

Her brothers, Atsumu and Osamu, were deeply touched by Shona's unwavering commitment to their happiness. Inspired by her incredible strength and selflessness, they pushed themselves to new heights, motivated by the knowledge that their successes would bring her an immeasurable amount of joy.

As time passed and Shona's condition deteriorated, her role as their guide began to take a toll. The weight of her illness became heavier, and completing her bucket list seemed an impossible feat. Yet, she found solace in the realization that her brothers had become amazing individuals who would continue to appreciate the world around them long after she was gone.

In a remarkable turn of events, Atsumu and Osamu discovered their sister's unfulfilled bucket list. Overwhelmed with both love and a renewed sense of purpose, they devoted every ounce of their energy to completing Shona's dreams. They traveled to the places she had longed to visit, they indulged in the adventures she had yearned to experience, and they felt the world through her eyes, their sister's spirit forever intertwined with their own.

When Shona finally closed her eyes for the last time, she did so with a profound sense of contentment. She had witnessed her brothers' success and happiness, knowing that they would continue to thrive long after her departure. Osamu and Atsumu, forever grateful for the love Shona had bestowed upon them, carried her memory in their hearts as they embraced the future with gratitude, courage, and an unbreakable bond formed by the inspiration of their beloved sister.

Thus, Shona's story served as an embodiment of the power of sibling love, sacrifice, and the legacy one can leave behind. Inspired by her favorite character, Oikawa, from a beloved anime, she had emulated his unwavering spirit and indomitable will. Through her selfless acts, Shona had not only touched the lives of her brothers but also became an inspiration to those around her, reminding them that even in the face of adversity, love and determination can transcend the limitations of time and leave an everlasting impact.

And as the sun sets on Shona's story, her brothers, Atsumu and Osamu, stand hand in hand at her gravesite, their love for their sister never fading. They close their eyes, feeling her presence, knowing that her last wish had been fulfilled.

The world continues to turn, and life goes on. But in the hearts and minds of those who knew Shona, her spirit remains a guiding light, a reminder to cherish every moment, to pursue dreams relentlessly, and to always embrace the power of love.

For they say life is short, but the impact we leave behind can ripple through eternity. And Shona Miya's legacy, her selfless love and unwavering support for her brothers, will always be remembered as a testament to the incredible strength of the human spirit.

In the end, Shona's bucket list may have been left unfulfilled, but her brothers, Atsumu and Osamu, picked up the torch, carrying her dreams and desires with them. And in doing so, they not only found success and happiness but also discovered a profound sense of gratitude for the gift of having had Shona as their sister.

Though her time may have been cut short, Shona's impact on the world and the love she shared transcended the bounds of time and space. And in the hearts of those who knew her, her story will forever echo—a reminder of the extraordinary lengths we will go for the ones we love, and the lasting power of our selfless acts.

For in a world where life is indeed too short, Shona Miya's story teaches us that the greatest gift we can give is the happiness and success of those we hold dear. And in that, her spirit lives on, a beacon of love and sacrifice, reminding us all to seize every moment and fill it with the boundless beauty of selfless love.

Years passed since Shona's passing, but her memory remained an ever-present force in the lives of her brothers, Atsumu and Osamu. Each milestone they achieved, every victory they celebrated, was dedicated to the sister who had sacrificed so much for them.

Osamu became a renowned chef, opening his own restaurant that garnered critical acclaim and a loyal fanbase. He had honed his culinary skills, driven by Shona's love for food and her encouragement to follow his passion. Every dish he cooked carried a piece of her spirit, a taste of the sister who believed in him when he doubted himself.

Ateumu, on the other hand, immersed himself in the world of literature and became a celebrated author. His novels resonated with readers, touching their hearts with well-crafted characters and stories that explored the complexity of human emotions. Through the power of his words, Osamu kept Shona's memory alive, forever grateful for the sister who had nurtured his love for storytelling.

Despite their success, Atsumu and Osamu never forgot the debt they owed to their beloved sister. Each year on her birthday, they would gather at her gravesite, sharing stories of their triumphs and struggles, all the while feeling her presence in the wind and the memories that lingered in their hearts.

But it wasn't just her brothers that Shona had impacted. Throughout her journey, she had touched the lives of countless people who had witnessed her unwavering dedication to her siblings. The story of her selflessness and love spread far and wide, inspiring others to cherish their loved ones and to live each day with purpose and gratitude.

Shona's legacy went beyond her family, inspiring a charitable foundation in her name. The foundation's mission was to support children and families affected by terminal illnesses, ensuring that they received the care and support they needed during their most challenging times. Shona's spirit of selflessness lived on through this organization, offering hope to those who faced similar struggles as she once did.

As time went on, Shona's story became an unwritten chapter in the lives of those who came across it. Her tale served as a constant reminder of the strength and resilience of the human spirit, of the bonds that tie families together, and of the transformative power of love.

They say life is short, and for Shona Miya, that notion couldn't have been more true. But her time on this earth was not measured merely in years or experiences. It was measured in the profound impact she had on those she loved and those whose lives she had touched.

And so, as the years turned into decades, Shona's story continued to inspire new generations, to remind them of the extraordinary potential that lies within every human soul, and to teach them that even in the face of adversity, love, sacrifice, and the unbreakable bonds between siblings can conquer all And as the sun sets on Shona's story, her brothers, Atsumu and Osamu, stand hand in hand at her gravesite, their love for their sister never fading. They close their eyes, feeling her presence, knowing that her last wish had been fulfilled.

#haikyuu #angst #themiyasiblings #inspired by Oikawa's last wishes

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swordofsun · 2 years ago

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I realized I don't actually talk about what I read on here. At all really. So, let's do a top 5 books of 2022 to end the year!

In no particular order:

Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty

I can absolutely see why people didn't like this book. It's told non-linearly and spends a lot of time making sure you know the back story of each of the characters. At the same time it really dives into the toll being the amateur detective always solving murders that just happen conveniently near to them could take.

Mallory Viridian runs away to an alien space station because if there are no humans around then no one can die and force her to solve their murder. All is going to plan until the space station decides to allow other human visitors. Soon enough there's murder, mayhem, and a mystery to solve.

I personally thought this was a great time. Fun mystery, lots of twists and turns, absolutely bonkers aliens. You know that post about the character who is objectively bad at everything, but somehow manages to kick everyone's ass because she's just that crazy? That character is in here. It's a good sci-fi murder mystery.

The Valley and The Flood by Rebecca Mahoney

I first picked up this book in 2020, decided I wasn't in the right frame of mind to read it and put it down. Picked it back up a couple of months ago and holy shit was it good. This is a book that straddles the line between urban fantasy and magical realism. It explores memory, trauma, ptsd, and how grief changes you as a person. It also explores having compassion when it would be easier to hate and fear the other.

Rose Colter is almost home, but she can’t go back there yet. When her car breaks down in the Nevada desert, the silence of the night is broken by a radio broadcast of a voicemail message from her best friend, Gaby. A message Rose has listened to countless times over the past year. The last one Gaby left before she died.

So Rose follows the lights from the closest radio tower to Lotus Valley, a small town where prophets are a dime a dozen, secrets lurk in every shadow, and the diner pie is legendary. And according to Cassie Cyrene, the town’s third most accurate prophet, they’ve been waiting for her. Because Rose’s arrival is part of a looming prophecy, one that says a flood will destroy Lotus Valley in just three days’ time.

Saint Death's Daughter by C.S.E. Cooney

This book was a joy from beginning to end.

Lanie Stones, the daughter of the Royal Assassin and Chief Executioner of Liriat, has never led a normal life. Born with a gift for necromancy and a literal allergy to violence, she was raised in isolation in the family’s crumbling mansion by her oldest friend, the ancient revenant Goody Graves.

When her parents are murdered, it falls on Lanie and her cheerfully psychotic sister Nita to settle their extensive debts or lose their ancestral home—and Goody with it. Appeals to Liriat's ruler to protect them fall on indifferent ears… until she, too, is murdered, throwing the nation's future into doubt.

Hunted by Liriat’s enemies, hounded by her family’s creditors and terrorised by the ghost of her great-grandfather, Lanie will need more than luck to get through the next few months—but when the goddess of Death is on your side, anything is possible.

This is a story told from the perspective of the necromancer destined to sit at the left hand of the ruler of land built on blood magic. Where great feats of necromancy that results in the complete destruction of neighboring lands are held up with reverence. Yet, it's funny and kind and filled with love. Also at least one undead army.

Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher

This was a delight of a fairytale. Not a retelling, just a new fairy tale filled with familial love, found family, and a dog made out of bones. It's about the limits of sacrifice and how far would you go to save your sister.

Marra is the third daughter of her kingdom and sent to live in a convent. She's happy there, but both her sister's were married off to the prince of a more powerful nearby kingdom. One shortly after the death of the other.

Eventually Marra is forced to face the truth about the prince her sisters were forced to marry and formulate a plan to kill him that won't result in more harm done to her surviving sister or their kingdom. She goes to a powerful gravewitch for assistance and from there sets about toppling a kingdom, saving her sister, and maybe finding some love along the way. She definitely makes a dog out of bones.

This was just fun in the way T. Kingfisher does it. Charming quest story. The people they pick up on the way all have their own trials and tribulations. Most importantly, I think, is that Marra doesn't even like the sister she sets out to save (and the sister doesn't like her back), but sometimes something so bad is happening you have to stand up and fix it.

Dead Silence by Stacey Kade

This is horror sci-fi. I found it genuinely terrifying to the point of staying up too late trying to get to a less scary part before going to bed. There are some weak character moments, but the horror elements make up for it, in my opinion.

A deep space repair crew, made up of a motley cast of characters, receives a distress signal from a long lost luxury cruise liner. Facing unemployment after they return home from their last mission they all decided the risk is worth the reward to claim salvage rights. Along the way they'll have to figure out what happened to the ship and it's inhabitants, how did it end up so far away from where it was supposed to be, and are they really seeing the dead walking the corridors.

Spooky space shit. Good read.

So, five of the best books I read this year.

#books #recommended reading

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bluespruce25 · 4 years ago

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A Life for a Life to Balance the Scales

CW: Suicide/Self-sacrifice

Follow #L4LBS for updates | Up on AO3 | Previous Chapter

Chapter 2 of 5: We Go Together

Lena was working alone in her lab to destroy the last vestiges of Non Nocere and considering where to next apply her mind and energy. She needed a new project but had lost faith in her own ability to create and innovate for good. She stood in front of her lab table, tablet in hand, flicking through files and noting ideas. It was taking longer than anticipated because, despite her best efforts, she found her thoughts frequently turning to Kara, to Supergirl, to Kara Zor-El; to that infuriating blonde who almost ruined her life. The time for berating herself for not seeing it sooner had passed. Now, she was working to reconcile the three of them in her mind, hoping to find an answer there that would provide clarity and direction on how to proceed. She wasn’t sure if she had forgiven Kara, but she was finally ready to admit that she still loved her; admit to herself that is; this was not something she would ever admit to Kara. If the revelation of Kara’s secret had proven anything, it was that Kara could not possibly return her feelings. Kara could not be in love with her and yet lie to her every moment they spent together. The way Kara treated her, that was not love. Then again, Lena asked herself with a sigh, “What do I know of love?”

Lost in her daydreams, Lena almost missed the notifications that popped up on the screen of her monitor, then on her tablet, as they filled her displays with increasing urgency. Startled out of her reverie by a particularly aggressive alert in bold red text, Lena swiveled to her computer and started frantically typing.

“No. No no no no no, this can’t be right. This doesn’t make any sense.”

“Unless.”

“Oh god, Kara !”

Lena grabbed her tablet and her bag and ran out the door of the lab.

---

Alex was standing at the war table in the middle of the control room looking wistfully at the second floor balcony. She could just make out the tops of heads where the Superfriends were gathered around Brainy when Lena Luthor came crashing into her line of vision.

Alex was momentarily stunned because there was no universe in which Lena Luther crashed into a room. As Lena flailed herself into a full stop in front of Alex, the agent managed to close her mouth and regain her composure, if just barely.

“It’s Kara, the Sun. Have you seen these readings?”

“Woah, woah there killer. Slow down.” Alex put her hands out as if to steady Lena.

“Alex! Have you seen these readings?!”

“Lena, what are you talking about?” Alex asked as Lena pulled her tablet out of her bag and thrust it in front of Alex’s face.

From what Alex could tell, LuthorCorp’s satellites in deep space had picked up on a massive solar flare. These readings showed one of the most prolific solar flares ever witnessed on Earth.

“Lena, I know. We all saw this two days ago. It’s been all over the news ever since. We are still seeing the geomagnetic storms today. Power has gone out all over the city and half of the country’s servers are down. So much for cloud computing.”

“Alex.”

Alex, looked up. She had never seen Lena Luthor look this disheveled, even with about a dozen assasination attempts in her frame of reference. Lena’s expression was almost wild. Her hair was somewhat disheveled and she was still breathing heavily from running into the room. The flush was resting high in her cheeks and her eyes were wide, frantic. Alex cocked her eyebrow and grasped Lena’s elbow, waiting for her to collect herself enough to elaborate.

“Look at the energy readings. Look at the radiation signature.” Lena was jabbing her finger into the tablet hard enough to make an audible noise.

Alex went pale and looked down at the tablet with new understanding. She felt as the blood drained out of her internal organs. She suddenly didn’t feel quite steady on her own two feet.

“Lena…” Alex said, though barely a whisper. “Lena, these indicators... I don’t know anything that would show up like this...not unless.”

Alex looked up at Lena expectantly, waiting for Lena to tell her that she’s wrong; waiting for the prodigal genius to explain the real reason why the solar flare is giving off readings that would only be possible if a Kryptonian had flung themselves bodily into the sun.

“Alex. Where’s Kara?” Alex opened her mouth, “I...she-,” but she couldn’t finish her answer. Lena repeated, “ Where. Is. Kara? ”

Alex continued to stare unseeing at a nondescript point in space somewhere in the vicinity of Lena’s face.

“ALEX, WHERE IS SHE?! ”

Lena was screaming at Alex and tears were raining down from her cheeks onto the cool polished marble of the DEO floor, but Alex couldn’t move. Alex couldn’t think or breathe or move.

---

Eventually, the sound of Lena crying out wordlessly in pain snapped the agent out of it. She turned on her heel and addressed Vasquez at the control panel.

“Pull up everything we have on the solar flare two days ago. I want radiation signatures, energy readings, thermal imaging, EVERYTHING WE HAVE. And I need it NOW.”

“Yes, ma’am. Right away, Director Danvers.”

Alex was lost in her own thoughts while her agents worked, this cannot be happening. She wouldn’t. She couldn’t do that to us. She doesn’t even have powers in space. It’s not even possible. How would she even get there?

Alex’s body went cold as realization washed over her. Reaching for her phone, she dialed Clark. She turned to face Lena, as she spoke into the phone, “Clark, it’s about Kara. No time to explain. I need you to go to the fortress. Now. As fast as you can. Call me when you get there.”

“Thank you, Clark.”

Lena was standing with her arms down, holding her bag with both hands in front of her. She had regained her composure and the mask Alex was so used to seeing had slipped back into place. The only hint of thoughts hiding behind it was the flash of panic in the way she moved her eyes; the set of her mouth, her lips pressed so thin they may as well be nonexistent, as if she could press her mouth closed hard enough to keep her pain contained inside.

She opened it carefully to ask, “Alex, when did you last see her?”

“She was here two days ago checking on Brainy. She said something about making Lex pay for his crimes and…” Alex reached out and grasped Lena’s left bicep. “Lena, I think she was saying goodbye.” Alex turned to face the empty foyer, the balcony Supergirl used as a personal entrance. “Oh my god. Kara, what have you done?”

“Alex... Director Danvers! ,” Lena grabbed Alex’s arm and shook her as Alex tried to bury her head in her hands, “What did she say about Lex? What was she going to do to him? Does she know where he is?”

“I don’t know. She didn’t say. She just said that he had to pay. That she had to do it for all of us. Lena, I’ve never seen her like that. I think...I think Kara was going to kill Lex.”

“Lex hasn’t been to LuthorCorp in two days. It came up at a board meeting this morning. I assumed that he was skipping town because Brainy had been found and Leviathan defeated.”

Lena turned to Alex again, interrupting her pacing, “Alex, what if she did it? What if Supergirl killed Lex Luthor?”

“Supergirl does not kill.”

“Then where is she?”

***

One thing no one counted on, certainly not Lex, was that Kara had spent a lot of time thinking while she was at the Vanishing Point with all the other Paragons. She still had all her powers, including her superhearing. There was no time at the Vanishing Point, no sun to rise or set, no rhythm to life but the rhythm they gave it. Their bodies were frozen in a moment outside of time and space. The only cycle was the unending dance of sleep and awareness. It had been her little secret that when she couldn’t rest, couldn’t turn off her mind, she would listen to the heartbeats of the other Paragons. Just like she did with Alex’s in Midvale and Lena’s in National City. It was the soundtrack to her misery, her anchor in the void. It was a coping mechanism; meditative almost. It wasn’t too long until she had memorized the heartbeats of every Paragon; including Lex Luthor.

You see, he might have known every power she possessed through his copious research on Kal El, but there’s one secret she’d never given away to anyone. One trick that only she knew, and for once, she could be one step ahead of him in his sick game of chess. She would only have one shot to play this card.

So there she was, hovering high over LuthorCorp, sending out her hearing all across the city, looking for the signature heartbeat she had decided to stop forever.

It took longer than she expected; hours in fact. She knew it would be difficult. Lex traveled in lead-lined and soundproofed cars, and lived and worked in lead-lined and soundproofed rooms. He had built his whole life around thwarting Kal El. But even Lex Luthor had to leave his bubble of safety occasionally.

As soon as he stepped out of the car, she heard it. On the corner of 8th and Main. Using her x-ray vision she narrowed in on a barber shop. Of course his vanity would be his downfall. The beginnings of a smile lifted the corner of her mouth, but it didn’t last long as she steeled herself for what came next.

Lex was lounging in his favorite barber’s chair at the very back of the shop, a warm towel over his face in preparation for his first close shave since Crisis, and boy was he looking forward to it. Lex was a regular at Al’s Corner Shop. He had been relieved to see it still standing in the same place after his return from saving the universe, it was the one thing he hadn’t considered in his adventure with the Book of Destiny, but he was glad that his rare oversight hadn’t cost him the best shave he’d ever found.

As he sat there with a smug grin plastered on his face under a hot towel, he heard the bells on the door jangle against each other when another customer came in. He lost track of the footsteps as he ruminated on the pros and cons of bribing Al to work for him exclusively in the comfort of his own home. His smile faltered as he realized that the footsteps accompanying the new customer were still moving closer, too close. They should have stopped and deposited the offending stranger in a chair further down the row, closer to the door. Instead, the footsteps came to a stop right behind him. He barely had time to rip the towel off his face. He started to stand, ready to unleash a torrent of vitriol on the person arrogant enough to interrupt his only time of relaxation, when he saw the blue and red of the suit standing over him.

He froze.

“Supergirl, ” he hissed. He sat back down hard into the chair. His mind immediately started spinning his go-to villain speech, as he straightened his shoulders and smoothed his features into calm neutrality. He decided to start with, “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Before he finished the lilt on the end of the question, he was airborne. It seemed that Supergirl was no longer tolerant of the melodramatics of villains’ speeches and heroes’ pleas. He would have found this an amusing discovery, were it not that he was currently being flown across the city at mach speed; his body thrown helplessly over Supergirl’s shoulder like a sack of potatoes. He lost consciousness as they broke the sound barrier somewhere over Saskatchewan.

***

They were gathered around the war table. Alex was bent over a tablet studying the latest readings, Nia was standing behind Brainy who, against everyone’s advice, was out of bed and sitting in a wheelchair looking up at the control room screens trying to piece together any other possible explanation for what Lena had already deduced.

Kelly was pacing behind them, on the phone with James who was at his gate waiting to board the first flight back to National City.

Lena was standing off to the side, her bag still held in both hands in front of her. She looked like a statue, so still that no one had noticed her in almost an hour. Lena remembered a time when she had been at the center of this camaraderie, when her advice had been sought and she had been intimately involved in reviewing the data and making the plans. Now she was just a witness to other people’s pain. “I will not let them be a witness to mine,” she thought as she checked her dispassionate mask vigilantly. Her hands went to the watch stowed in her purse, to the button she had been pressing over, and over again for hours. She knew that if Kara were still on Earth, she would have found a way to be there by now.

---

Everything stopped as soon as Alex’s phone rang on the war table. They all rushed to the table. Even Lena was stirred from the shadows to move towards the lifeline on the other end of the call. Alex put it on speaker for the Superfriends to hear:

AD: “Clark...”

CK: “Alex, she’s not here. Hold on, is that the crest off her suit? It’s just sitting here, like it’s on display or something. What is going on?”

AD: “What do you mean the crest? Does it look intentional? Did she put it there?”

CK:“Alex, I don’t know. Kelex said that she was here two days ago with a man and then. Hold on.”

[In the background, they heard Clark ask Kelex, “What pod? Show me.”]

AD: “Clark, what’s going on? Was that Kelex? Does he know where she went?”

CK: “Alex. [Clark’s voice was muffled. They heard him sniffing through his nose.] Alex, she’s gone. She took my pod. Kelex said she programmed it to fly into the sun. He tried to stop her but she commanded him.”

AD: “The sun? Clark-”

CK: “Alex, that’s not all. Kelex said that she brought someone here with her. He showed me the surveillance. It was Lex. She brought Lex here and she injected him with something. Alex, I think Lex...is... is dead. She put him in the pod and she flew off into the sun with his body.”

CK: “...Alex? Alex, are you there? Alex ?!”

Alex couldn’t hear him anymore. Alex couldn’t hear anyone or anything. Alex couldn’t move or speak or think. She barely registered as the phone dropped out of her hand and smashed to pieces against the polished concrete of the DEO floor. She saw everyone’s eyes on her, watched as they moved toward her in slow motion. She saw their mouths move, their faces twist in shouts, but she heard nothing.

“ Kara-”

The tilting world blinked in front of her eyes once, twice, and then everything went black.

***

Lex came-to a while later in what could only be the fortress. “You know, Supergirl, this isn’t quite how I imagined my next visit to the Fortress of Solitude, but I have to thank you for helping me get here,” he said with narrowed eyes and a smug lopsided grin on his lips.

Kara wanted nothing more than to wipe the smirk off his face with a backhand to the mouth, but she kept her composure. His time to taunt was nearing its end, and he hadn’t yet come to realize it.

Bound to his chair with the crystalline ice of the Fortress, Lex surveyed his surroundings. He noticed that his transmat portal watch had been removed at some point and he looked up just as Supergirl seemed to finish x-raying his body for any other devices.

“What do you want?” Lex asked, uncharacteristically lacking in snark this time.

Supergirl said nothing as she fiddled with a syringe full of clear liquid.

His eyes grew three sizes as she walked over to where he was sitting.

Without fanfare, without speeches, or explanation, Supergirl inserted the syringe into his carotid artery and depressed the plunger fully; only then did she speak.

“Lex Luthor, you have murdered countless citizens of Earth. You have been sentenced to 31 consecutive lifetime sentences. You broke out of prison while serving that term and promptly murdered again. You were largely responsible for the mass extinction event known as Crisis and are, therefore, responsible for the deaths of untold trillions. For these crimes, and those you will inevitably commit in the future, I cannot allow you to live.”

Kara turned her back to Lex and sighed, “You should have stayed dead when Lena killed you the first time.”

Lex raged against his bonds, “What have you done to me?!”

He felt his limbs getting heavier. It was getting harder to keep his eyes open. Kara leveled her gaze at him, her eyes full of pity and sorrow.

“It was the most humane way. It will be over soon. You won’t feel it; I made sure of that. If you calmed down, it might even be peaceful.”

Lex broke out into a toothy smile. “You’ll never come back from this. Killing me will haunt you until the day you die. And as a Kryptonian, you’ll have eternity to agonize over this choice. It will eat you alive. You may kill me, but you will never survive it, Supergirl ,” he spit the last word back at her; his eyes barely open, his head starting to sag off his shoulders, his posture slipping.

Supergirl closed the gap between them, slowly, deliberately. She reached one hand gently under his chin and raised it so his eyes could meet her own.

“You’re right Lex. This time, we go together.”

His eyes showed just the barest flicker of confusion before he went slack. Supergirl dropped to one knee, hanging her head as she listened while his heartbeat slowed, and eventually came to a stop. She x-rayed his chest, just to be certain and found it still, eerily still.

---

The one thing Lex Luthor never counted on, could never understand, was that not only would Supergirl sacrifice her life to protect her friends, but after Crisis, she would sacrifice her soul. It just so happened that she was destined to sacrifice both to kill him.

Kara let out a shaky breath as she knelt next to Lex’s body. She didn’t know how to feel. She’d never once killed on purpose. It went against everything that she was; everything that she believed in. Kara knew that as Lex’s heart stopped beating, Supergirl ceased to exist.

Kara stood and, without using her powers, she peeled the crest of the great House of El off of her suit. She couldn’t bear to wear her house crest any longer. Where she was going, she had to go alone. El Mayyarah had gotten her far, but it couldn’t go with her to meet her end.

Kara cleansed Lex’s body in the Kryptonian way and gave him full funeral rights in the only manner she knew. She gently placed his body into the back of Kal-El’s repaired pod and climbed into the pilot’s seat.

It was a tight squeeze for both of them, the pod gave Kara flashbacks to her time in the Phantom Zone, triggering what would probably be her last claustrophobia-induced panic attack. The dead body of her arch nemesis laying just behind her didn’t bring her any added comfort.

Once she recovered, she took a deep breath and sealed the pod. She raised her hand to the pad in front of her and began to key in the coordinates for their destination. Halfway through, she had trouble making out the Kryptonian glyphs through her blurred vision. She reached a hand to her cheeks and noted with detachment that it came away covered in warm wetness. She raised her eyebrows but couldn't reach deep enough to be surprised.

She wiped her eyes and carried on entering the coordinates. Once she was done, she turned to Kelex standing outside the pod at the command module. “Kelex, initiate the launch sequence.”

“I feel it is my duty to warn you that the coordinates you have entered - “

Kara mustered the last piece of courage she possessed. She raised her chin and steeled her eyes, and in a decisive tone Kara declared, “I am Kara Zor-El, Last Daughter of Krypton, and I command you to initiate the launch sequence.”

Taken aback, but bowing to her authority, Kelex replied, “As you wish, Kara Zor-El. May your journey bring you peace”

With that, Kara felt the pod rumble as the engine kicked on for the first time in over thirty years.

With one last look at Kelex, she was flung out into the atmosphere on a parabolic trajectory into space.

***

Small sounds started to grate against her consciousness. She could hear incessant beeping and murmuring. As she opened her eyes, Alex’s field of vision was flooded with the harsh, white lighting of the med bay. After a few moments of blinking her eyes into focus, she could make out the medical equipment and the dark blobs around the edge of her vision solidified into her friends’ faces. Nia & Brainy, James & Kelly, even Clark was there standing vigil over her.

As she blinked again and looked up to the tall figure looming over her, she let out a sob, not expecting to see J’onn’s worried eyes looking back at her.

“J’onn...Kara…she-”

“I know, Alex. I know.” J’onn whispered in a soothing tone, trying to keep the tears from spilling over, “just get some rest for now. We will talk more when you’re ready.” He carefully brushed her hair off her forehead and leaned down to place a gentle kiss on the top of her head. With that, he moved towards the door.

“Alex?”

The agent turned back to look at him as he paused on his way out, an earnest look on his face.

“I love you; so very much.”

Alex just nodded, pressing her lips together to stop the sobs from escaping.

The rest of her friends followed shortly after, leaving with soft pats on her knees and feet, squeezes of her hand, mumbling words she just couldn’t care enough to try to decipher.

As they funneled out one by one, only Kelly remained. Even Brainy wheeled himself away from the bed next to hers to give them their privacy. The idea that he shouldn’t be out of bed lest he compromise his recovery briefly flitted across Alex’s mind as she pursed her lips, but it just wouldn’t stick. She couldn’t bring herself to care about anything, or anyone. She closed her eyes against the torrent of feelings and memories that threatened to overwhelm her.

“Hey,” Kelly started softly, “talk to me. What are you feeling?”

Alex just shook her head, eyes closed and mouth shut firmly against whatever she might have said.

“Okay. Okay, it’s okay. Can I just sit here with you? Hold your hand?” Kelly asked.

Alex dipped her head just enough to be taken as acquiescence. The agent would’ve given anything to go back to the void of unconsciousness. She ran her fingers through her short hair, remembering the days before the DEO where she drowned her own feelings of failure in the bottom of a bottle. Somehow she knew that Kelly wouldn’t let that kind of self-destructive behavior slide this time. Alex sighed and dropped her chin to her chest. She might as well start talking because Kelly was nothing if not patient. They both knew who would win the waiting game.

Alex’s voice cracked as she attempted to untangle her thoughts, “I have always, always, had faith that the universe would bring her back to me. Through everything, when her brain was altered on Red K, when Cadmus and Lillian kidnapped her and Mon-El, when Mon-El left and Kara...” Alex choked back a sob. Now that she’d started, she couldn’t stop, “...when Supergirl tried to destroy Kara Danvers. Every single time she set off into the multiverse with Barry. Even during Crisis. I always knew that she would come back to me; that she would find a way back. She’s the god damn Paragon of Hope for christ’s sake.” Alex threw her hands up and out towards the end of her bed in an exasperated half-shrug.

“This time is different, Kel. This feels... real.” Alex looked up into Kelly’s eyes, trying to convey wordlessly the feeling settling over her, the finality of it. “I don’t think she’s coming back from this one and I don’t -” Alex sobbed uncontrollably so that Kelly just barely made out her next words, “- I don’t know who I am without her.”

Kelly took the hand closest to her on the bed in both of hers. She thought of a million things to say, a million ways to reassure Alex that there was far more to her than her relationship to sister, that she was her own person before Kara came into her life and that she would be her own person now. She considered trying to reassure her that everything would be okay, but immediately the therapist in her shot that idea down, hard . This would never be okay, even if someday Alex would be. Kelly sighed softly and eventually settled on silence. She crawled into Alex’s bed and held the red headed woman until she drifted back to sleep, spent from the grief spilling out of her in endless tears.

As she slept, Alex muttered the same thing over and over, one name, Kara.

It was Kelly’s turn to cry, softly so as to avoid waking Alex. She let the tears flow freely and tried to keep her body from being wracked by the sobs threatening to crush her resolve. She reached out to gently cradle Alex’s cheek, pulling her even closer. “I’m so sorry, Alex. I’m so sorry.”

---

“Alex, it is time. Enough of this. You cannot stay in bed like this any longer. We need you, Alex. The rest of us still need you.” J’onn implored Alex, but there wasn’t even a flicker of recognition across her face. Alex wasn’t there. She was awake, but the lights were off and no one was home. “Alex, it’s been a week. You have to get up and you have to get out of bed.” Still nothing, Alex just stared straight ahead out of the glass panels of the wall in front of her. She hadn’t said anything since her brief discussion with Kelly. She wasn’t eating, and for the time being they had been giving her IV nutrition, but if she didn’t eat that day they were facing a feeding tube. J’onn said as much, but Zombie Alex gave no indication that she’d heard him.

J’onn sighed. Hands on his hips, he turned away from her to face out over the DEO. He watched as Eliza held Kelly outside Alex’s room. He shook his head, mind made up. He had planned to wait until she recovered, but there was no sense in that now. If he didn’t tell her now, then she may never recover, and then, what was the point. He walked over to sit on the edge of her bed and Alex’s eyes flickered to his for just a moment before darting away again.

“She left you a message, Alex.” J’onn said softly. “She recorded her goodbyes on Sunstone Crystals in the pod. She sent the pod to Earth, but the solar flare knocked it off course. It landed on Mars. That’s how I knew to come back. That’s why I’m here.”

This seemed to rouse something in her. Alex looked at J’onn, the emptiness in her eyes breaking his heart, but he couldn’t force himself to break contact.

“Alex, you have to listen to her. You have to give her the chance to say goodbye. You owe her that much.”

Alex’s eyes snapped back straight-ahead. She opened her mouth for the first time in almost a week, “I don’t owe her anything.”

J’onn sighed and patted her leg, getting up to leave. He paused and said, “When you’re ready; I’ll keep it safe for you.”

He hazarded one last look back at her before leaving, her cheeks were glossy with tears as she cried silently. Alone.

***

Kara had hours to kill until they reached their destination. She had to do something to drown out the voice in her head, the voice of the dead man on the floor behind her seat; to drown out her own doubts and regrets.

She decided to use those regrets as inspiration; to use her last few hours to continue her work as the Paragon of Hope, even if Supergirl was no more. Taking out a handful of Sunstone Crystals - small, pale, and long, about the size and shape of a tube of lipstick, albeit more angular - she set to work saying goodbye. She knew that her friends would never understand, but at least it could bring her some peace on her journey.

Alex.

Alex would never understand. Kara was so grateful that Alex had Kelly. She knew that Kelly would help her sister navigate her grief. The therapist in Kelly would never allow Alex to fall into the dark, but that didn’t mean that Kara can’t try to do her part to help give Alex some closure.

What do you say to everyone who has loved you, supported you, and guided you when it’s time to say goodbye?

---

Kara placed the last Sunstone Crystal in the console as her destination loomed before her. She wiped her eyes, closing them before the last tear could fall. She powered down the engines of the pod to give herself a moment more time, to decide how to do this. She programmed the pod to hover in place while she made her preparations. She pulled out a small metal box and placed it between the empty, broken stitches where the crest of the House of El used to sit. Slowly, the enhanced suit that Lena designed for her unfurled, covering her usual suit and then encapsulating her face in a helmet-like design. If she was going to have enough time to finish her plan, she had to have some protection from the raw violence of open space. Kara placed a hand over the crest she knew she no longer deserved to bear. She had forgotten that Lena’s suit would also bear the crest. Apparently, it was her fate to be unable to escape the shadow of her family; of her lost world and her responsibility to Earth.

Taking a shaky breath, Kara opened the pod hatch, exposing them to the full elements of the sun. Kara couldn’t fly in space, but with the pod hovering in place, she could maneuver around it, as long as she stayed tethered.

She got to work extricating Lex’s body from the pod. A process that was much more difficult than getting him in originally. It wasn’t helped by how intensely she felt her powers, the energy of the yellow sun coursing through her. “ At least I can’t hurt him, ” she thought sarcastically.

Finally, she got him out of the pod. Then she grabbed a Kryptonian shroud, her old cape, originally a piece of Kal El’s baby blanket. She wrapped it around his supine body and whispered a Kryptonian prayer as she secured it to the best of her ability.

She turned toward her target and closed her eyes for a moment, soaking in the rays of the sun. As she opened them again she gazed upon it. The source of her power, of her identity on earth, was now closer than any human could survive. She turned Lex so the head of his body was facing the sun and she gave him a gentle send off. She watched as his body drifted closer and closer to the surface of the sun, gaining speed as the gravity increased, until suddenly in a flash of light he was enveloped in the surge of a solar flare. Kara continued to hover next to the pod for a few minutes, allowing this new reality to sink in, a reality where Lex was dead; where Supergirl killed him; where she, Kara Zor-El, personally escorted him to the sun where he was engulfed in this bright, glowing source of energy and life. It was poetic, she thought, that his body should return to the very thing that gave her and her cousin their powers. That he should return to the very thing that made the people he hated most in the world.

Kara sighed. She couldn’t delay the inevitable any further. It was her turn to return to the sun, to the source of her power. It was her turn to be cleansed of her crimes, to be cleansed of murdering Lex.

“I do not kill.”

She said it to herself, but also to Rao. She had violated her most sacred moral oath and she must now pay the price. Her purpose was once to protect Kal El, but since landing on earth so many years after him, it had transformed into protecting the citizens of Earth. Now that she had murdered a human, she could no longer be a force for good.

Kara tugged once on the tether to bring her back to the pod. Without getting in, she reached her hand up to program the coordinates of Earth. She programmed the pod with a delay so that it could record her final moments. She rested her hand for a moment on the console, taking a deep breath as she drew from the calming force of her home planet’s presence in the pod. Opening her eyes, she detached the tether and placed it back on the seat. She hit the autopilot button and pushed off as the hatch slid itself closed. Turning her back to the pod, she pushed off of it with one arm to float gently towards the sun.

As the sun got closer and closer, Kara spread her arms wide, bending her left leg slightly at the knee, like she used to do so often when hovering on Earth just before she landed somewhere. She closed her eyes as she felt the gravity pull her in, accelerating her towards her end. At the last second, she lifted her chin and met the sun as an old friend. She felt no pain, as in a flash, she was welcomed home.

***

Next Chapter

#L4LBS #Content Warning: Suicide/Self-sacrifice #Supercorp #Grief and mourning #Stop making Supergirl sacrifice herself for no reason #Exploring the toll her sacrifice takes on loved ones #Written before S6 plot announced #Was already mad about it #Stayed mad about it

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swanqueensalad · 2 years ago

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You got me talking Dark Emma! Oh Jeez, From the Emma Side. I don’t know if I can send an ask this long but I’m soo gonna try! Sorry for Grammar/Word Vomit.

When they were doing Dark Emma I was hoping for more from Emma! She was an Abandoned street kid from the foster system, they barely graze that.

Yes she knows the reasons why, they briefly touch on that in S2 but, they never touch on that trauma full on, I would have LOVED to have seen Emma in Foster Care. To show what they meant in S1 when she was let her background out with Henry at the original castle. (I think that’s the scene.) S3 We See “Lost Girl” we hear the feeling and the story of her being alone but we don’t really see very much of it I don’t think.

To have seen Dark Emma touch on that would have been awesome because like you said, the antithesis of what she is as the savior. So much to unpack I would have loved to have seen fate and destiny come up here. (especially if S6 was going of be as weird as it was.)

I’d love to see Emma be pissed about her destiny as the savior, the toll it took on her. Show more on the insanity of the darkness Her background of never being anything special to, 28 almost 30 and being The Savior- to the Fairytales.

I’d love to see the Snow/Charming/Emma family dynamic here to. It’s the antithesis of Emma! Show the angst there and the complexity you built.

What are your thoughts on this subject? I’d love to hear this in correlation to your thoughts on Regina and well being the castor to all of this and the Emma/Regina Dynamic.

Sorry for this Chaos. 😂

-Runs Away because I don’t do this-

don't apologise or run away! this is such a good ask, loved reading through it. i agree with you 10000% and when i talk about the wasted potential of this arc, a huge chunk of what i mean is how much was there to be explored in emma as a character. exactly what you said, her childhood, her lingering resentment, her relationship to her role as 'the saviour'...

so of course i am going to take this opportunity to do an emma companion to yesterday's ramble!

so yeah, the giant antithesis you talk about; going from being nothing, to being the saviour, to being the dark one. that's SO MUCH and none of it was ever explored properly. emma swan was honestly one of the most interesting protagonists whose 'reluctant hero' journey was actually complex and understandable unlike many and... yup, they abandoned it all in favour of silly stories about a sexy pirate man

again, i want to draw the focus to the season STARTING with emma sacrificing herself for regina. for emma as well as gina, this was huge. i don't think emma ever saw herself as the great destined saviour/hero she was, so her sacrifice in terms of that was never a big intentional thing - she just saw the woman she loved in danger and could not stand to let it happen. she had to save her no matter what the cost, and if the cost was her own goodness, well. emma never put as much stock in that as everyone else did for her anyway. she made a promise to regina that she would help her find her happy ending. and she did.

i really think emma acted out of pure instinct and panic. we know it is her instinct to protect regina above anything, even her own safety. she didn't think it through. she just threw herself to the darkness to save her, and then...

then she would have to deal with the fact that she did that. in front of all her family. in front of h00k. they SAW that raw panic in her, they saw that her priority was regina over herself, over her place in her destiny, over the man she was supposed to love. this was the closest emma ever came to a public declaration of her feelings imo and in emma's gay paranoia brain too, i'm sure.

so while we have regina grappling with how and why emma could do that for her, we have emma suddenly fucking buried in defensiveness and trying to recover from that lapse in her own repression. this is why every time regina tries to talk about it with her she shuts off. refuses to confide in her parents, though we all know snow sees and knows deep down. this is why it makes sense for her to cling to h00k as a beard, a distraction from her greatest heroic act of love

(but at the same time, emma does not regret it. she kicks herself for being reckless and not thinking stuff through, but she does not regret it. she would do it a hundred times over if she had to.)

it also makes perfect sense she trusts regina with her dagger over anyone and she rationalises this well (she has frequently been the one to keep regina in check, to look after the bigger picture and they both know they know each other better than anyone, enough to make those decisions) but then again, this pushes her deeper into defensiveness and repression to counteract the fact rumple gave belle his dagger (as a fucking marriage proposal too)

i would have loved to see emma grappling with the things you mentioned. i would have loved a return to the complex emma of season 1: because through s1, we saw emma grow and develop from a very closed off, defensive loner who wanted nothing to do with anyone, to a fiercely protective mother and eventual reluctant hero. but that journey was not easy.

like you say, emma grew up alone. it's implied she stuck up for herself most of the time because if she didn't, no one would. she had to learn at a very young age how to hang on to her food, her possessions, her time. she was a skilled thief and used to living out on her own. she was incredibly resilient and selfish and closed off because ever since she was a kid, that was how she survived. she didn't know any different.

and then of course she let neal in and he betrayed her in the worst way, and after that adult emma found her way to a job she liked and was good at (that often involved beating criminals up... hello unresolved anger) and lived in her shitty apartment by herself, taking 'care' of herself in same, bitter, bare minimum way she had always known as 'normal' . she learned very early on she was not special.

and then... she suddenly is the most special. the fated hero, destined to rescue her family and all their people, and of course she doesn't believe in anything, she believes in survival and harsh realities, but god she starts to believe in her son, to love him, to let him in and want to protect him and fight for something and then everything is real and she has almost no time to reconcile any of this before she is thrown off on one adventure and the next

i love the arc with her and snow in 2a where they slowly reconcile their former friendship with the new parent/child dynamic, but so much more was there to be explored. emma grew up with so much longing and resentment for both parents and then finding out they are snow white and prince charming? not great for a morally grey lesbian with identity issues, or for any kind of realism, plus so much more pressure to be some hero she never wanted to be in the first place

(and THEN on top of that her burgeoning darkness bursting out of her throughout 4a with nowhere to go, and the realisation of how terrified her parents were that she wouldn't be the perfect hero, of what they did to maleficent just to ensure she would be... fuck)

dark swan arc SHOULD have given emma the space, time and capacity for darkness to explore all of this.

to process in a way she had never been able to before, because she was too busy having to be the hero

well. now she's not the hero anymore, is she? now she is the dark one and oh boy does the darkness have a lot of repressed stuff to feed on...

i wanted to see emma exploring all that pain and fury of her childhood self. i wanted to see her finally snapping at her parents and letting everything out, some kind of climactic scene where she tells them they weren't there for anything, they chose to give her up, that she never asked for her destiny, never wanted it

and i wanted to see SNOW (my beautiful, complex, well written and real snow of the early seasons) dealing with all of this, coming to terms with what they did to mal and feeling that grief and guilt, mourning emma's lost childhood and trying to comfort regina through it while knowing emma needs this. that she deserves this.

i wanted dark one emma to be more like, well, emma.

not like every other villain, pretending to taunt and murmur threats and everything else they forced on her for no reason. i wanted to see emma at her darkest: bitter, selfish, cut off from her feelings and those of the people around her, dismissive of their fairytale bullshit. making the most harsh and grating jokes about things. not giving a fuck about anything or anyone. swaggering and messy and defensive

a dark emma who would be dismissive of hook and weirdly obsessive about regina (pushing her around and taunting her like season one emma but with the added years of connection, complexity, willingness to die for each other with no willingness to speak about any of it at all)

an emma with the voices of all the dark ones in her head, vocalising all the things she usually never let herself think, pushing her over the edge

(and of course, i wanted regina's true love's kiss to be what pulled her out of it. but i also wanted emma as the dark one to have the genuine time to work through all her unresolved issues, to release all that pent up anger and frustration that was never quite reconciled.)

#long post #since it has been requested #im gonna talk more about emma with dark one's memories of regina in my next longpost ;)#thanks for this ask bro i really love the excuse to talk about all of this #once again i did not reread this #we die like men #swan queen rambles #swan queen meta #emma swan meta #regina mills meta #dark swan meta #dark swan thirst gang RISE #dark swan analysis #swan queen #emma swan #regina mills #sq

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bleachhaven · 4 years ago

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Congrats on 1500 followers😊😊😊 can I request NSFW headcanons/scenario of Shunsui coming home late and waking up his wife for sex💋 Thanks!!!

Yes please goddamn it! I love these request for everyone’s favorite Bleach husband!

I have many feels about this man and I intended to write headcanons but this turned into a scenario instead. So this turned out to be almost 1900 words. I clearly got carried away, and it is evident that I have thought about this scenario way too much. I won’t apologize for it. Shunsui seduced me by simply existing!

Kyouraku Shunsui comes home late to wake up his wife for some lovin’ (smut)

One would think that after 10 years of being the new Soutaicho, Shunsui would be able to come home at a decent time. He does have two, not just one, fuktaichos after all. But that’s not the case most of the time. The Soutaicho’s work is never really over and definitely never on a time that was convenient for him or the people in his life.

With both him and his wife being in the Gotei 13, their busy schedules almost always ensures that they keep missing each other even if they do indeed live in the same house.

Sure they’d carve out time to be with each other, plan elaborate date nights overlooking sunsets with extravagant picnics...but still his job did take its toll. Some nights they’d both be home at a relatively decent time but they would be far too exhausted to do anything other than take a quick shower and go to sleep.

Lately, it’s been busier than most. The new Taicho of the 13th Division was being finally appointed. Kuchiki Rukia was an exemplary candidate, and Shunsui had every faith that she would do right by the division that was once held by his beloved best friend, but the paperwork for the new appointment and subsequent transition was, to put it mildly, a pain in the ass.

Today had been hectic. His last responsibility had been to visit the 13th Division’s barracks and make sure all the finer details were finalized with Rukia. Sure, someone else could have done it and he would have passed it on to the nearest unsuspecting subordinate had it been any other division. But it wasn’t. It was the 13th and the 13th was always Juu’s. Shunsui had to do it himself. It was the right thing to do.

However, that hadn’t really gone well at all.

The official business was, of course, successfully concluded. Nanao-chan had taken care of everything, and Rukia was not only ready but eager to take on her responsibilities starting tomorrow, after the official announcement at the Taichos’ meeting.

Except, walking past the Ugendo, and being reminded that Jushiro wasn’t there...it had put him in quite the dark mood. This announcement meant an ending he really was not yet ready to face. The 13th would no longer be Juu’s. Just another reminder that his best friend was gone and never coming back. It was...just painful in a purely illogical and gut wrenching way.

He’d wandered the seireitei streets, hoping to lose the cloud over his mind so he didn’t take it back home to his unsuspecting wife, but it hadn’t helped much.

When he finally got home, she was fast asleep. Maybe that was for the best. If she had been awake, she would have definitely wanted to talk it out with him. She could sense his mood in an uncanny way. But Shunsui wasn’t in a mind to talk. Not tonight.

They weren’t the kind of couple to wear fancy nightclothes to bed. In fact, they both chose not to wear anything at all. Shunsui’s body anyway ran quite warm and clothes would feel suffocating, so he slept fully nude. When he first met his wife, she loved her cute pyjamas and sexy négligée. Of course he couldn’t resist her in them. But after a while, he succeeded in convincing her the benefits of sleeping nude. Now, he knew, she wore nothing but panties under the covers.

He quickly took a shower to wash away the day’s grime and dried himself before dropping the towel on the floor. His wife would have his head for him leaving it there but...he had a lot on his mind tonight.

He slowly walked up to the bed and stood there for a moment looking down at her. She looked so peaceful as she slept. No concerns furrowed her brows, and her lashes rested upon her smooth cheeks. She was sleeping on her side, facing the side on which Shunsui slept, her hand reaching out as if she meant to hold him. As if she yearned for him in his absence.

The sheets were bunched up, barely covering her. One shapely calf teased him, inviting to be touched. He had no intentions of resisting he temptation. He slowly ran his hand up her calf, feeling the smoothness and the firmness of her leg all the way up to her knee. He kept moving upward, lifting the sheet as he went, to rest his hand on her thigh.

She stirred a bit, and twisted away to lie flat upon her back. He quickly retracted his hand. He didn’t want to wake her. Not yet anyway.

When she moved, the sheet moved with her, unwrapping her like she was his favorite candy ready to be devoured. Her curves in all their glory were bared to his eye.

Her nipples were already pebbling, teased by the cold air in the room. He aided the task by moving his index finger up over her abdomen, his touch so slow and feather light. He flicked a nipple and watched it stand upright as if begging for his mouth.

His mind made up, he climbed up on the bed. He took his time, unrestrained by anything demanding upon him. Tonight, even his wife couldn’t distract him by trying to pleasure him. Instead, he got to explore her body as he wished to do so.

He moved over her delicate neck, the back of his hand caressing the soft skin there. Usually, whenever they made love, he worshipped her body as if it’s the only religion he’d ever known. But tonight, his mood was different. Tonight, he wanted to devour her, not delicately or lovingly, but with a passion that would consume them like an inferno. It was already burning him inside, this desperate need to take her, and take her hard. Tonight he wanted to sacrifice them both at the altar of his darkest desires.

Almost as if she could sense his thoughts, her eyes opened to look up at him, a bit confused and still half asleep. “Shunsui?”

“Shh...” he hushed her.

“Is everything okay?” she asked, her voice still husky with sleep. There it is again...that uncanny ability to read him like an open book.

He stared into her eyes, and she easily read his intentions. “I don’t want to talk about it, love,” he told her. “I just...want you.”

She didn’t say anything more. She simply held out her arms to pull him into her embrace. He fell into her, perhaps even crushing her, his body settling right between her spread thighs.

Their kiss was almost fervent with need. At least that’s what it felt like for him. No gentle romancing tonight. No soft seductive kisses or delicate nibbles. His mouth devoured hers, teeth biting into her full bottom lip. The wiry hair on his chest rubbed tantalizingly against her breasts. They both marveled at the contrast -soft curves against hard planes, smooth skin against the roughness.

One hand wound up in her hair at the back of her head, holding her still as he took what he needed from her. The other hand moved between their bodies to reach down and find that his earlier ministrations as she slept had her wet and ready for him.

“I don’t think I can wait, petal,” he whispered, scraping his teeth across her jaw. His hardness pressed against her soft thigh told her as much anyway.

She reached up and sunk her hands into his hair, undoing the ties. The pull on his scalp was painful but strangely arousing. Her gaze bore into his, and it drove him insane to see the same intense desire reflected back at him. “I’m not asking you to wait, Shunsui. Fuck me. Now.”

With well practiced rhythm, he buried himself in one thrust. Face to face, pressed up close like this, he could see her eyes close shut, and her teeth bite that lip as he stretched her. A bit of pain mixed with pleasure. It amazed him how even after all this time, that first slide into her wet heat could still feel like the first time he was ever inside of her. It had him ready to burst in no time already, and he hadn’t even moved yet.

“Love, I don’t think I can go slow tonight,” he said, apologetic that he might not be able to make it good for her like he was wont to do.

She wrapped her legs around his hips, taking him even deeper if possible. “I didn’t ask you to, did I? Just fuck me already, Shun,” she said, biting his ear playfully. His wife was a sassy little thing that drove him crazy sometimes.

With one hand resting by the side of her head for leverage, he held on to her hip with the other as he began to move. Considering how much bigger he was compared to her, he had to hunch a bit, but this was his absolute favorite position. He felt close to her in every possible way and he got to see just how she looked when she came apart for him.

As he moved over her, thrusting deep, her moans filled their room, like music to his ears. “Yes...god, yes. Just like that...” His wife loved to let him know just how well he was doing at pleasing her.

His thrusts became faster and harder. He was so close. So close that he was afraid he might cum before her, which he had never done in their entire marriage. But she was right there with him, taking his desires into her lithe little body as if she was made for him. The harder he went, the more she took it, finally until they both burst into pieces...his tension easing away as the intensity of the orgasm eased in.

They were both gasping by the end of it, trying to catch their breath. It has been a long time since they went at each other like this - intense and fast. A definite contrast to their slow, sensual lovemaking.

He realized his hand was still holding tight to her hip. He let go and reached up to cup her face. “Did I hurt you?”

“Mmmm...I don’t think so,” she moaned, stretching a bit, the movement hardening him all over again. Her eyes widened in surprise at his non-existent refraction period. “Again? Really?”

He grinned lecherously down at her. “I can’t help it when I have such a sexy little wife, now can I?” he asked teasingly. Playfulness was always a good distraction, and he wanted her distracted enough that she wouldn’t question him about the reason why he had woken her up in the first place.

By the time they were finally done with round two, the exhaustion of the day caught up with Shunsui, and he was out like a light, cradling his wife. The last thing he thought was how lucky he was that he had someone who truly understood him and what he needed.

She gazed down at his sleeping form with a sad smile. She knew her husband was troubled, and it was clearly evident that he was not willing to talk about it. After all, you weren’t with someone for years and years without learning to read everything they did and didn’t say. And with Shunsui, it was always the things he didn’t say or hid behind a playful seductive remark that revealed more.

She wouldn’t press him. Not until he was ready to tell her, which she knew with experience would happen sooner than later. So she pressed a soft kiss to his stubbly cheek, and settled down next to him. His arms unconsciously wrapped around her, cradling her in his body heat. It was always easier to fall asleep when he was next to her, so that’s just what she did.

Written for the

✨ 1500 Followers Celebration ✨

…and requests for this are officially now closed.

Thank you to everyone who sent in their requests! I had a blast writing them ALL. This blog is officially at 1600!!

We shall have another celebration at the 2000 milestone :)

—

Normal Ask Box is open for requests so send in your Bleach fantasies today!

Or check out more of my work through the Masterlist here!

#kyouraku shunsui #shunsui kyouraku #shunsui x reader #smut #bleach headcanons #bleach imagines #bleach #1500 followers celebration

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pandoricpies · 3 years ago

Text

SSO Horrors

A post diving into how dark this franchise’s storyline gets and ideas for a horror game that will never actually be created. SPOILERS for the SL books and SSO storyline.

This idea originally came to me after reading the second book of the SL trilogy, The Legend Awakens. Props to Helena Dahlgren for the Pine Hill Manor scenes in that book; I was completely left on the edge of my seat the entire time. Linda’s whole experience was definitely an unexpected thriller for the children’s genre; cutting her leg on a broken window, exploring an old creepy mansion owned by the centuries-old psychopath that was targeting her, her friends, and their horses, being chased down halls and having to barricade herself in rooms to be protected from the apparent non-human dark riders (not to mention the way Dahlgren describes the animal sounds and scratching that they made, chills), and, to top it all off, nearly dying from sepsis due to her cut becoming infected.... if that’s not horror game material, I don’t know what is.

If you can’t already tell from the title of this post, I am a huge fan of the horror genre. The suspense-packed and often deep moral stories are always a fun watch/read. I personally am currently making my way through some classic Stephen King books that I haven’t read yet which was sort of what inspired this post.

Taking a look at SSO’s storyline on the surface level, we see a classic dark vs. light story, with horses and female heroines as the main points. However, there are quite a few darker elements hidden among the story quests, most of which would only be noticeable to the eye of the older audience of the game. The potential for this plot to be upped to a more mature level as far as darker themes go is definitely there. Regardless, the already existing underlying themes have some heavy themes...

- Teenagers, around the ages of 15-19, have been tasked with saving the world from a demonic entity. They have been granted special powers to do this with. These powers however can be extremely dangerous, as we see with both Alex and Catherine with their Lightning Circle incidents, in which they almost killed living beings. These factors combined would no doubt take some sort of psychological toll on the Soul Riders, as they are so named.

- Brainwashing and cult-mindset was a huge theme brought up with Justin’s kidnapping. He was abruptly cut off from the outside world, had his memories removed, and his mind artificially filled with thoughts of Garnok and world domination. It’s clear when he is rescued and goes back to his home that he’s depressed; his Midsummer dialogue a year back was “My dad thought it would be good for me to get out. I don’t do that much anymore” (not exact but close enough). When he talks to his mother during the memories quests the first thing he jumps to seeing her pregnant with him is “I wonder if she’d would be so excited if she knew all the terrible things I did”. To add to that, upon getting Justin back home, Thomas tells our character “If he keeps having these dark thoughts, I’ll have to turn to the druids.” That in itself was pretty unsettling. All this dialogue was put there to draw attention to the mental affects of literally having your brain tampered with.

- Elizabeth’s story was probably one of the saddest in my opinion. She had to stand by while her friend group fell apart, one going on to die, one going missing, and the other two continuing to split away from her. She then felt it was her responsibility to make up for her sisterhood’s failures, staying with the druids and eventually helping recruit new Soul Riders. Seriously though, imagine that. She saw what pain the magical war brought to her and her friends; knowing that she was pushing four more kids into a situation like that would’ve been devastating (here comes the morals vs. duty idea). Our character must have been a whole other level of that feeling. She saw what Catherine went through with her magic - the fear, the near madness. Then of course she goes on to imprison her close friend’s son (it appeared from the quests that she was closest to Catherine so that just adds to the pain). And to end it all, she sacrifices herself to save a girl who she considered a daughter.... jeez. - Catherine is another issue here for obvious reasons. A teenage girl is entrusted with goddess-level powers, then nearly goes psycho from the inability to control them. You can clearly tell from her last few diary entries how exhausting that was and how happy she was to finally have a somewhat normal life with her husband and son.

- And finally of course we have the DC gang. Mr. Sands is a basket case all on his own, a man who has used mind control (arguably in my opinion one of the creepiest forms of dark magic out there) on numerous victims including his own grandson, a man who legitimately worships a demon, and not to mention has it out for a bunch of teenagers. His whole backstory with Rosalinda made me feel some sort of sympathy for his character (he watched her nearly be drowned to death), and I’m actually quite curious as to where they’re going to take that. Also, The Nightmare Institute? That could be a horror game within itself. All we know so far about that place is that humans and animals are tested on with dangerous materials (ex. Mr. Anwir). Let’s not forget to mention the dark riders who apparently have animal qualities now? (as it was described in the SL books) Ok so we can clearly see that SSO’s storyline gets a bit dark. But just imagine; a Pine Hill Mansion first-person POV game, where you’re in a situation similar to Linda’s, or even one in DC or the Nightmare Institute. Honestly this entire storyline could be turned into some Resident Evil plot lol.

But that being said, as much as it’s fun to speculate these types of things, I enjoy SSO’s storyline just the way it is. It’s enjoyable for me as an older player, but it’s also filled with great moral stories and motivation for young children, especially girls. I love the atmosphere of female empowerment, and it’s especially unique to SSO because around the time of it’s initial release, that wasn’t seen much in video games.

Might start during these ‘chat’ or ‘random things that come to my mind’ posts more often.

#star stable #SSO #star stable online #pine hill manor #mr sands #Dark Riders #darko #dark core #sso dark core #sl books #soul riders

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decennia · 3 years ago

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i give u free reign to infodump ab all of the knights and the og army bc i am vv intrigued agjgssgsh

THERE IS SO MUCH HERE OMFG MORAL OF THIS STORY NEVER ASK ME TO INFO DUMP BECAUSE I WILL TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF IT—

I've separated it into sections:

The Knights of Walpurgis, and the motivations for their assigned sins.

Dumbledore's First Resistance, and the motivations for their assigned virtues.

The dynamics between the opposing contenders.

Given the sheer volume of information, I've included a cut. Please enjoy this manip that I am still very proud of.

THE KNIGHTS OF WALPURGIS (later known as Death Eaters) Tom Riddle (Pride)

Pride and arrogance were very large contributing factors to Tom Riddle's downfall in the end, and honestly, the whole idea for the gifset came from Florence + The Machines' Seven Devils playing while casually thinking of Dagrim and Tom, and then about how perfectly Tom would fit as Lucifer.

Dagrim Patil (Avarice)

When questioned about what she wants, and what Riddle promised her in exchange for her unwavering loyalty, her response is, quite simply: everything. Dagrim grew up starved not for affection, but recognition. And what she was denied in childhood, she would take in adulthood by force. Her philosophy is that if something is worth wanting, it is worth taking.

Cantankerous Nott IV (Lust)

We know so little about Theodore Nott's father from the source material, other than he was elderly, and he raised Theo himself. And that he was a Death Eater, of course. His name is an ode to his ancestor, the Cantankerous Nott who created the Sacred Twenty-Eight pureblood directory. I assigned him "lust" purely for the events leading to the conception of his son (sis, it gets messy).

Abraxas Malfoy (Envy)

Abraxas Malfoy envied Tom Riddle to the point of a half attempted mutiny. He was quickly put in his place, his co-conspirators made examples of, and spared only for his close friendship with Dagrim, who pleaded for his life. Riddle, who trusted Dagrim to a fault for all she'd done to earn it, conceded. Abraxas would later prove himself to Riddle again, regaining his seat among Riddle's favoured generals. He was the one who taught Lucius to never disobey the Dark Lord, and he was not a kind teacher.

Ulysses Mulciber (Gluttony)

Indulgence and excess, spoiled rotten and filthy rich. The Mulcibers were the richest of the Sacred at one point in their lives, rivalled only by the Malfoys. Ulysses never knew the meaning of "enough," and was a glutton not only in all manners of vice, but also for cruelty, dealing it out carelessly with little to no regard for the repercussions he was well protected from by his noble standing and wealth. He was one of Riddle's greatest allies and sponsors, and instrumental in his rise to power.

Carmilla Avery (Wrath)

Carmilla was in the year above Riddle, and was quick to anger and slow to calm. Her temper was legendary, and even her younger brothers – also admitted into the Death Eater ranks – feared her. She had an untempered fury, a rage at the world for no reason at all. She developed an unhealthy codependency with Abraxas Malfoy, who served to have a soothing presence over her. People seldom survive crossing her, as her reputation dictates.

Serafine Lestrange (Sloth)

Serafine is not lazy (as the sin "sloth" would suggest), she just lacks the motivations to pursue the goals that are expected of her. A particularly bright witch, and a wealthy one too, she never applied herself at school for she didn't see the need. Instead, she fell into a fascination of the Dark Arts, where she met Riddle, perusing the Restricted Section. She is rather discontented with life, disillusioned from already such a young age. She initially joins Riddle's gang for the excitement of it all.

DUMBLEDORE'S FIRST RESISTANCE (later known as the Order of the Phoenix in its official conception in 1970)

Albus Dumbledore (Patience)

Name a man more patient than Dumbledore, I'll wait. Better yet, he'll wait, because he's patient as hell. So patient, in fact, he waited until after Harry's supposed death to come to him as a hallucination and tell him about how he was a Horcrux.

Rathin Patil (Temperance)

Temperance is abstinence, and I wanted to explore the kind of toll having his sister so far gone into the dark would have on any man, let alone one who really cared for her and wanted to do right by her. Rathin is not a perfect man, he is still fallible, and unfortunately, he develops a dependent comfort in inebriation when Dagrim disappears with Riddle. He pulls himself back together, especially when he becomes Isaiah Moody's partner at the Ministry, and he begins to pursue Miraya.

Miraya Varma (Diligence)

Methodical and persistent, Miraya Varma earned herself a position at the Ministry immediately out of Hogwarts where she would later go on to form her own task force within the Ministry specifically designed for the interrogation and recommended sentencing of dark wizards and witches. She has been known to put her duty first, up until the birth of her son, Divyansh Patil, father to Padma and Parvati.

Isaiah Moody (Humility)

For a very long time, people seldom knew the Moody name, and that was the way Isaiah liked it. He believed that his line of work would endanger his loved ones (in spite of his wife being in the same profession) and so he never took credit for the numerous arrests he made. It was Isaiah who suspected something was strange about Morfin Gaunt's arrest while investigating the Riddle Massacre, and consulted Dumbledore about it. Once his identity was discovered and he was viewed as a threat by Riddle, an attack was made on his heavily pregnant wife, jeopardizing her and his unborn boy's (Alastor) life.

Minerva McGonagall (Chastity)

Mini Minnie is seventeen, my dudes. But not only that, Minerva grew up with a religious father (he was canonically a reverend), who probably taught her his values. Also given the fact that Minerva was the first of the younger generation to participate and involve herself in the war (she sought out Dumbledore and enlisted herself into his Resistance, fearing her family would be made into another statistic if she didn't at least do something to intervene), she really didn't have much time to think about something as arbitrary as the concept of virginity. Also, it's the 1950s.

Corinne Scamander (Kindness)

Corrine is honestly the greatest. She has all of the tenacity of Tina, and the best qualities of Newt. It was Dumbledore's previous bond with Newt that encouraged him to recruit her, and she willingly accepted, because of course she would. She'd always been the soft spoken girl with a tender touch and a love for life, and she was often the advocate for hope in the resistance. She was adept in a few healing charms she'd learned from her father, and was something of a specialist in magical beings, proving herself to be highly valuable while Riddle was expanding his ranks with all manner of dark creatures.

Declan Diggory (Charity)

Sacrifice is in the Diggory blood, and Cedric's grandfather, Declan, was not the first to prove it. He also, unfortunately, wasn't the last, but he sure was one of the best. Selfless to a fault, Declan would willingly get hypothermia if it meant someone else would have warmth. Diggory's contributions to the war effort consisted of offering sanctuary and shelter to muggleborns who received death threats, and orchestrating the evacuations of targeted muggle residences. He was the leader of a small faction of the resistance, including, but not limited to: Fleamont Potter, Enoch Longbottom, Wilhelm Shacklebolt, and Ramona McKinnon.

DYNAMICS (just the contenders for now because this is hella long)

Albus Dumbledore vs. Tom Riddle

Adversaries, a fair deal of mistrust and guilt from Dumbledore's side (upon reflection, he'd been the one to introduce Tom to the wizarding world; even though he knows that if Riddle had been left unchecked, the risk of him becoming an Obscurus would've resulted in catastrophe all the same). Riddle sees Dumbledore as nothing more than a foolish old man, a pest, and an obstacle to overcome at first, but learns to begrudgingly respect Dumbledore's strength and mastery of magic (after all, Riddle only knew him as the Transfiguration teacher before, and thought the accounts of Dumbledore's victory over Grindelwald had been exaggerated to great effect). Riddle's hubris was believing he could defeat Dumbledore on his own, thinking himself already stronger than Grindelwald ever hoped to be.

Rathin Patil vs. Dagrim Patil

Rathin had always been very protective of Dagrim, and loved her dearly, although his acts of affection were often misinterpreted as pity and condescension. This only served to push them further apart. When Dagrim turned to the Dark Arts and found solace in Riddle, it revolted Rathin, as he was hugely against the corruption the Dark Arts has on the performing witch or wizard, and wouldn't wish it on his worst enemy. He still very much loves her, and it hurts him to fight her. Dagrim, on the other hand, finds catharsis in duelling her brother, believing it to be justice for the way her parents treated her and the little he did to dissuade them.

Miraya Varma vs. Cantankerous Nott

A mutual respect and an academic rivalry, Cantankerous and Miraya were not friends by any means, but not enemies, either. Cantankerous even went as far as to warn Miraya of an impending attack, allowing her to evacuate the building. But although he knows she's clever, he also knows that she's incredibly stubborn, and displayed little surprise to find her awaiting him in the now vacant building. They are equally matched, and their unique relationship spans several decades, even into Cantankerous' failed run at Minister for Magic, and Theodore and the Patil twins' time at Hogwarts. She was present at his trial following the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, and watched as he was sentenced to life in Azkaban for his crimes as a Death Eater.

Isaiah Moody vs. Abraxas Malfoy

Given his profession, Isaiah has a lot of enemies on the Sacred Twenty-Eight who are loyal to the Dark Lord. One such enemy is Abraxas Malfoy. When Tom gets word of Moody's involvement in solving the Riddle Massacre, he sends Malfoy and a newer Death Eater, Evangeline Rosier, to hinder the investigation. Abraxas and Evangeline were responsible for the attack on Isaiah's heavily pregnant wife, who, if she hadn't been an Auror herself, would've never survived. Alastor Moody was prematurely born at St. Mungo's following the attack, and all of Isaiah's efforts were turned on exacting vengeance on those responsible. Malfoy went into hiding, but Isaiah, ruthless, managed to hunt down Rosier. She died under questioning, setting in motion a vicious cycle of vengeance between the Moodys and Rosiers. Once Isaiah had been killed by Evangeline's brother (Evan [who was named after her] Rosier's father), Abraxas deemed it safe to rejoin society.

Minerva McGonagall vs. Ulysses Mulciber

On the list of things Ulysses loathes, he would put half-bloods above muggleborns (although he turns a blind eye to his Dark Lord's blood status when it conveniences him). Half-bloods only serve as a reminder of the lowest and weakest of his kind; the unworthy muggleborns, the lecherous blood traitors, the vermin muggles. Mulciber prides himself as something of a "purifier," and finds great enjoyment in pruning family trees that have been poisoned by muggle blood into purity once more. He takes a great interest in Minerva McGonagall, given that she is an incredibly powerful witch at such a young age, and he wonders how glorious she would've been had she been a pureblood (a twisted and untrue belief among the Sacred Twenty-Eight during that time). Minerva, the threat of Mulciber weighing heavily on her, places her family under Dumbledore's protection. She vows to stop Mulciber and his perverse idea of justice.

Corinne Scamander vs. Carmilla Avery

It didn't take much to enrage Carmilla Avery, and Corinne had been caught in the tempest Carmilla's fury since the day they'd met. Carmilla, who took great pleasure in picking on people she deemed lesser, made a target out of Corinne, perceiving her kindness for weakness. During their time at Hogwarts, Corinne had gained the attention of Avery for being a blood traitor and a muggle sympathizer, which only strengthened Carmilla's vindication. Corinne, who had been friends with Rubeus Hagrid prior to his expulsion, and who had almost fallen prey to the basilisk when she had heard Myrtle Warren's cries from the bathroom, never lowered herself to Carmilla's level nor did she rise to any of the challenges. This hurt Avery's ego, as she thought this was Corinne's way of claiming herself better than her. It wasn't until after Hogwarts that Carmilla's growing resentment came to a head, and, without the protection the school offered Corinne, Carmilla was looking to finally put an end to the blood traitor line of Scamander.

Declan Diggory vs. Serafine Lestrange

Declan and Serafine were childhood friends who drifted apart during their time at Hogwarts, particularly when she fell in with Riddle's crowd. She is viewed by Dumbledore as having the power to sway the entire outcome of the war, for if Serafine could be persuaded into leaving Riddle, her cousins (one of whom is the father of Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange) would surely comply, and the families who held the Lestranges in high regard would be inclined to follow. This makes Declan and Serafine key pieces in Dumbledore's game of strategy. However, Serafine was disowned long before she defected from the Death Eaters, leaving the Lestranges firmly in Riddle's grasp. Although Serafine claimed to feel nothing for Diggory, she still refused to deal any real harm to him when they duel, in spite of having ample opportunity to do so; something which Riddle picked up on. She was later forced to torture Declan in front of him to prove her loyalty to the Dark Lord, something which Declan permitted her to do, knowing she had very little choice in the matter. He was left for dead, but Serafine would later secretly return with Corinne to get him medical attention. She gives her son, Francis, "Declan" as a middle name.

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themovieblogonline · 8 months ago

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Stopmotion Review: A Terrifying Live-Action and Animated Horror

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obxlife · 4 years ago

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Empanadas and Alfajores (JJ x Latina!Reader)

A/N: Yes finally a Latina reader. I am so excited about this! I’m going to be writing with a lot of Spanish in between but the most important parts are going to be in English. Also I got super carried away with this but I just love it!

Pairing: JJ x Latina!Reader

Word count: 5,843

Request: Heyy!! Could you do one with JJ where she id new yo de obx and she talks spanish and ks very sassy? I don't know If It makes sense. Ty♥️

Warnings: Swearing (both English and Spanish) and a lot of FLUFF

EMPANADAS AND ALFAJORES

The Outer Banks did not have many Latino families. You had investigated this before moving, and you were sure that, due to the fact that there weren’t many of them, discrimination towards your family was sure to come.

You were moving to the Outer Banks from South California due to your father’s job. He worked as a lawyer, and he had heard about a job opportunity on the islands.

This was what brought you here. To Kildare County.

You hated it. Leaving your friends behind and submerging yourself into a community that was sure to not treat your family well. From what you had seen during the drive to your new house, most of the island’s residents looked pretty conservative.

You were worried about your parents, mostly. You and your siblings could speak English almost perfectly, but your parents still had accents that proved that they were immigrants.

Along with the fact that your family was bilingual, you were pretty sure you looked Latino as well. All of you had skin that was naturally tan, and dark brown hair that was long. You just felt as if people could tell you weren’t truly from the United States, and that would often make you nervous.

You envied the Latinos with white skin. The ones that were descendants of Europeans and had adopted the Latino culture. They were just as Latino as you and your family were, but they didn’t suffer from even half of the harassment you had to endure.

Despite all of the discrimination you had lived because of your origins, you liked being Latina. It defined you. And it was something you would never change about yourself.

The car parked, and your younger siblings, which were triplets and a nightmare, hopped out of the car in front of the one you were seated in. They had been excited to move, and couldn’t wait to explore the new house you were all going to live in. Your father had been the one to sacrifice himself and drive them, while you and your mother were driving behind him, alone in the smaller car your family owned.

Your mother sighed, not wanting to deal with the three small children yet. So, she turned to you. “Mi amor, I know this isn’t what you wanted, pero te prometo que it will be okay.”

You only nodded, pursing your lips together and twiddling your thumbs. “Can I go out and just walk around or something? Puedo volver before it’s late.”

Knowing how much the move was taking a toll on you, your mother nodded her head. Then she exited the car and began to scold your siblings, yelling at them in fluent and angry Spanish.

“¿Cuántas veces les tengo que decir que se comporten? ¡Lucy, vuelve ahora! ¡Diego, Lucas, no la empujen!”

Rolling your eyes, you reached for the handle of the car and left. You pulled your hair into a ponytail before heading down your driveway and towards a restaurant you had seen on the way.

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

‘The Wreck.’

That was what the sign of the restaurant said. You imagined it was a hit with the tourist, seeing as it was strategically placed between two beaches which were filled with people. You spared a look inside and noticed that the restaurant was also packed. However, there was an empty seat at the counter.

Opening the door, you walked in with as much confidence as you could muster. Your confidence fell when you crashed into a body and tumbled to the floor.

“Mierda,” you muttered out while standing up. You rubbed your hand over your butt and looked down to find that before you lay a dark-skinned boy.

“Ay, Dios mío, I am so sorry,” you told him, extending your hand out for him to take. He did, and with your help he stood up.

He shook his head. “Don´t worry, it was my fault.”

“Are you kidding? I literally rammed into you. I don’t know who I thought I was, stumbling in here like that.”

The boy just laughed. “It’s fine, really. By the way, are you new here or something? I’m pretty sure there’s no one in Kildare that speaks Spanish.”

You nodded softly, expecting the classic questions to follow from his lips. Where are you actually from? How long have you lived here?

“Oh, cool. So you moved here?”

You nodded again. “Yeah, I moved into the yellow house on Gordon Street.”

“Oh, really? I live right around the corner from there! And my dad owns the market by the docks, just two streets over from Gordon.”

“Oh, nice. So have you lived here for a while?” you were trying to make small talk, as you had liked the boy standing before you and he had been nice enough to speak to you.

“Try my whole life. But it’s fine. I love it here.”

You smiled at him as you both moved to the side, allowing someone else to exit through the door you had been blocking. He suddenly stretched his hand out. “I’m Pope.”

You smiled. “I’m Y/N.”

While still being connected by your hands, Pope almost fell onto you because of a boy that had jumped on his back. The boy was blond and white and had spiky teeth that reminded you of the stories your mother would tell you about the Chupacabras. His blue eyes were shiny and alight with mischief, reminding you of Diego and Lucas.

Pope let go of your hand and tried to push the boy off. “JJ! What is wrong with you?”

JJ laughed, getting off Pope and wrapping a hand around his shoulder. “Just came to see why you were taking so long in the bathroom. We were waiting for you, bubba.”

JJ then turned towards you and his jaw fell slack. You didn’t take notice of this, as you were looking at Pope, who said, “Yeah, I was held up by Y/N here. She’s new in the OBX.”

JJ shook his head lightly, trying to act normal. “Pleasure to meet you, baby.”

You didn’t like that. At all. You hated when guys were just the biggest flirts, and this guy seemed to fit right into that category.

You rolled your eyes a bit, not trying to come off as rude, and took the outstretched hand he placed in the space between you. You held onto it, shaking up and down before trying to let go. He wouldn’t let you.

“Aren’t you going to introduce yourself?”

“Ay, por favor. I’ll do what I want,” your sassiness broke out. You covered your mouth with your hands and widened your eyes. You couldn’t believe you had already been sassy to someone. In the place where you lived before you had gotten into a lot of problems for being sassy, and you had promised your parents that you were going to control yourself here in the Outer Banks.

Pope pressed a balled-up hand to his mouth trying not to laugh as JJ’s expression fell. Pope couldn’t contain his laughs any longer and broke out, while JJ shoved him and smiled towards you.

“Sassy and you speak Spanish? You’re a dream, Mamacita,” he tried to flirt with you once again. You groaned out loud this time. The boys seemed to enjoy your sassiness, so you decided not to hold back.

“Look here, Papi,” you spoke, sarcasm dripping from each word. “If I wanted to flirt with you I would have done it by now. Y por favor, don’t call me ‘Mamacita’ ever again.”

JJ was bewildered. He had never met anyone that had flat out rejected him before. Staring at you, he tuned out the world around him and ignored the conversation that was going on between you and Pope. He watched Pope grab onto your arm and drag you to where the rest of the Pogues were. And JJ stood there, staring at you go along with his best friend.

He decided that he really liked the view.

Catching up to the two of you, JJ ran to be by your side. He reached your arm just as Pope was done presenting you to Kie and John B.

You smiled at them and began to speak to them casually, getting to know them better. They were making you laugh, even JJ, and you were happy that they were there to cheer you up. If they became your friends, you wouldn’t really mind moving away from your previous home as much as you imagined. They seemed fun and adventurous and nice and loyal. And they seemed a lot more diverse than other groups of teens you had seen.

You had decided that they would be your friends.

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

Diego, Lucas, and Lucy were a mess. A mess meaning that they were a royal pain in the ass. And sometimes you were the one that had to take care of them, especially when your parents went out for business dinners or dinner dates.

You had been living in the OBX for about three months now, and your father was trying to sign a business deal with some real estate companies that ruled the rich side of the island. That was why you were staying home tonight instead of heading out with one of the Pogues like you usually would. They had asked you to babysit.

You were happy in the OBX, much to your surprise. Discrimination towards your family didn’t happen often, and you were always defended by your friends. It was mainly the rich that were offensive, but it became easier and easier to ignore them once you realized that everybody else on the island did that as well.

“¡Callense!” you screamed out at the triplets who were screaming at the TV screen. “I’m trying to concentrate over here.”

Your homework lay before you on the table, and you could barely concentrate on it with all of the screams in your house. School had started recently, and it was a lot harder than your previous one. The Pogues would sometimes help you (mostly Kie and Pope), but you liked trying to do things on your own first. If you couldn’t do it then you would call one of the brainiacs over to help you.

Another scream left Lucy’s mouth and you groaned again. You were going to need help with them.

You fished your phone out of your bag that was resting on the table. You opened the messenger app and sent a message to your group chat.

Y/N: HELP! I’m babysitting for my parents and the three devils are driving me insane. Can someone please come over?

Pope: Sorry, Y/N. I’m working with my dad tonight.

Kie: I’m working a shift! Sorry babes.

The hottest boy ever: I’m coming over!

You glared at the name JJ had put to his contact and changed it back to what you originally had saved it as: Imbécil.

You sighed now having to deal with JJ too. Whatever, at least maybe he could distract your siblings and leave you alone so that you could study.

Not even twenty minutes later you heard a knock on your door. JJ stood there grinning from ear to ear.

“Hey, Mami,” he said. ‘Mami’ had become his new nickname for you, even though you hated it. You felt like one of those stereotyped Latinas on TV.

“Hey, loser.”

He frowned but then brought his hand up to your hair and ruffled it. You swatted his hands away and opened the door wider for him to come in. He brushed past you, your arms coming into brief contact. Tingles rose from the contact.

You hated the fact that you were attracted to JJ. He was funny and hot, you had to admit, but he was also the most infuriating person ever. He liked to push your buttons and bother you to no end. The worst part of it all was that Kie said that he was trying to flirt with you.

You had scoffed. “Como si de verdad te creyera.”

You closed the front door and walked to catch up with JJ. He was almost at the living room door before you held onto his hand and pulled him around.

“What?” he asked you.

“I just want you to know that they’re extremely annoying and loud. So just -- be ready.”

He nodded before joking, “I’m all of those things too, Mami.”

You rolled your eyes. “Yeah, how could I forget? I was just warning you, idiota, but whatever.”

With that, both you and JJ walked into the room where your siblings were. The loud seven-year-olds were still screaming. They stopped when they saw JJ at the door.

“¡Un cabeza de pipí!” Diego exclaimed. Your face dropped with mortification at what he said, and you hoped that Lucy and Lucas would not translate what their triplet had screamed a few moments ago.

“Diego!” you screeched out.

“What does that mean?” JJ asked under his breath, turning towards you. He hadn’t met your siblings ever, and he was surprised to find them laughing at him. “Did he say something funny? Should I laugh?”

You smiled at him, trying to pretend as if your brother had said a joke for everyone. “Yeah, just laugh along with him.”

JJ began to laugh, not very sure of his actions, and this only egged your siblings to continue laughing at the blond boy by your side.

When you sobered up you scolded your brother in Spanish, making sure that JJ did not understand a thing about what was going on. You made your siblings promise to speak English and to be nice to JJ (you knew your mother would be mad if she heard a word about this).

“¿Lo prometen?”

They only nodded. With that, you turned towards the table you were working at but noticed your stomach grumble. Looking at the time on your wristwatch, you turned to the kitchen instead, realizing that it was almost dinner time. At least for you, it was. Your parents had always disliked how people in the States ate extremely early, and they had maintained the custom of eating at around eight o’clock (which would have been early if you still lived in your country of origin).

“JJ have you had dinner yet?” you called out to him. You could hear him talking to your siblings and asking their names.

“No! Why?” you stayed silent as you began to cook. Empanadas sounded great about right now, so that was what you decided to make. You placed your phone on the counter, playing some of Morat’s, a Colombian band’s, songs. You whispered along to the lyric and danced a little as you continued to hear JJ talk and joke around with the kids. He suddenly appeared in the kitchen with Lucy on his shoulders and one boy hanging on each of his legs.

“I need help,” he spoke out. You set the dough you were kneading down and spun around to face them.

“A ver, sueltenlo. Vayan a ponerse pijama por mientras. Y vengan en veinte minutos para comer.”

With that, the boys had sped off to their rooms, and Lucy wiggled to get off JJ. He reached up and set her on the ground. As she followed behind Lucas and Diego, JJ asked, “What are you making?”

He turned his back to the counter and stretched his legs before him. His hands were rested on the tabletop, making his elbows bend back. His green hat was blocking the kitchen’s light from his eyes and his blue shirt was tight against his body from his position. His face was looking in your direction, as you began to spread the dough and roll it out.

“Empanadas.”

JJ frowned. “What are they?”

You laughed a little before replying. “They’re fried dough with filling inside. The filling can be sweet or salty, but where I’m from, we normally eat them with cheese or pino, which is meat with some seasoning. But we’re not frying it cause I’m too lazy.”

JJ nodded. His eyes were trained on your fingers, looking at you leave the dough to rest as you began to work on the filling. Only then did he notice you were slightly dancing to the music coming out from your phone. He tried to strain his ears to listen to it until he caught on to the fact that he didn’t understand anything at all. It was in Spanish.

“What are you listening to?”

You kept on swaying around, almost done with the meat filling for the empanadas. You placed it in a bowl before turning to him. “It’s a Colombian group called Morat.”

JJ raised his eyebrows at you, surprised that for once you were responding to him in the same manner you would usually reply to Pope.

You kept on preparing dinner, not even realizing what he had realized about you. However, you felt JJ staring at you, so you decided to ask, “Do you want to help?”

The blond boy was surprised. He was bad at cooking but you seemed to be working on the easiest part of the process. He had noticed you scoop up some of the fillings onto the circular cuts of dough and folding them in half. He nodded at you.

“Okay, so you have to scoop only one spoonful of the pino onto the dough. Then you fold the dough in half after putting a bit of water onto the edges of the dough. Like this.”

You showed him how to dip his finger into the little cup with water before rubbing the water onto the whole circular edge of the dough. You looked back at JJ, his eyes concentrated on your finger.

“After that, you fold the dough in half. But make sure that the stuffing is far away from the edge. And then, using a fork, you press the edges down so that the empanada is sealed and complete.”

JJ nodded, finding the instructions easy enough. He began to help you, shooting glances at you every once in a while. You didn’t seem to notice at all, completely concentrated on the music (which you were singing under your breath) and on the food. Once you had both finished, JJ helped you place the empanadas onto a tray so that you could put them in the oven.

Closing the door of the oven you headed towards your phone, deciding to change the music up a bit. You played one of your old playlists, which contained some of Reik’s old music, as well as some Juanes and Miguel Bosé. Shifting around the kitchen, you moved JJ aside to clean the counter and to wash the items you had used to prepare the empanadas. JJ was enchanted by you, watching you dance around and sing to the music he couldn’t understand at all. All he could understand was that he was slowly but surely falling for you.

Just as you were done washing, Lucy came into the kitchen. She was wearing her pajamas and she had clearly showered. Her wet hair was enough fo you to know that.

“¿Me puedes cepillar el pelo?” she asked you holding up her hairbrush. You shook your head saying, “Iba a hacer el postre. Pero JJ te lo puede cepillar, si quieres.”

Lucy nodded at your suggestion. You turned towards the blond boy that was still staring at you, transfixed on your mouth that always seemed to look kissable.

“JJ? Would you mind brushing Lucy´s hair?”

Even if JJ didn’t want to do it, he couldn’t say no to you or to your sister’s puppy eyes. He nodded his head as Lucy pressed her brush into his large hand and turned towards him. He didn’t know what he was doing but he tried his best, basing his actions on what he had seen in movies and TV shows. He tried to be as gentle as possible, not wanting to pull her hair out or anything.

In the meantime you analyzed what you could prepare for dessert. You noticed that you had some butter cookies and some dulce de leche. If you had chocolate then you could prepare alfajores. Checking the pantry you noticed that there was chocolate. Excitedly you pulled out the ingredients.

“Where’s Diego and Lucas?” JJ asked Lucy as he was halfway done with her hair. Her curly hair was long, and it took him a lot longer than he had expected to brush her hair.

“They started watching a movie.”

“Why didn’t you watch it with them?”

“Because I need to comb my hair,” Lucy stated. The tone of voice she used made it seem as if it was the most obvious answer in the world. JJ laughed, being reminded of the sassy tone you would usually use with him.

“You’re so sassy, Lucy. Just like Y/N,” JJ confessed. This earned an offended gesture from both of the girls in the kitchen. He only laughed harder.

You put the chocolate in a bowl and in the microwave. Lucy realized this and asked, “¿Estás haciendo alfajores?”

You nodded, causing her to smile. You smiled back at her, glad that she was just as excited for dessert as you were. Right at that moment JJ said, “All done, princess.”

Lucy beamed at what he called her before running off with her hairbrush in her hand. JJ stood from his spot and walked to you, noticing how you opened the cookies and the dulce de leche.

“What are you making now?”

“Alfajores. It’s dulce de leche between two butter cookies and dipped in chocolate.”

JJ’s eyes widened at how good they sounded (even if he really wasn’t sure what dulce de leche was) and grabbed two cookies. He began to help you.

Little feet could be heard running through the house, and Lucy returned to the kitchen. She pulled a chair right between you and JJ and stood on it. Her little fingers latched onto two cookies, wanting to help.

“JJ, put some dulce de leche on Lucy’s cookies,” you told him as the microwave began to beep. You put some kitchen gloves on knowing that the bowl was going to be hot, and pulled it out. Setting it onto the counter you began to mix the chocolate around. “C’mere, Lucy, you can dunk the alfajores in the chocolate.”

Lucy gave the cookies she was holding to JJ and grabbed onto one of the already made cookie sandwiches. She dumped it into the chocolate and then pulled it out, placing it on a plate that would go into the freezer later. You helped her through the process, making sure that her chocolate-covered fingers didn’t touch the counter or her clothes.

JJ paused his actions halfway. He was on the last pair of cookies, but he couldn’t help but stare at you and your sister. You were both singing the lyrics to whatever song was coming from your phone, only stopping to speak to each other in Spanish. Your hair was in a bun on the top of your head and Lucy’s was tied back. Both of you would scrunch your nose up at the same time when dipping the cookies into the chocolate, and you would both laugh together when the cookie would slip from your grasps.

Shaking his head, JJ decided to finish the last cookie sandwich. Ever since you had arrived at the OBX, he had tried to get over the fact that you were clearly not into him, but that didn’t seem to work at all. The more he tried to push you out of his head, the more he felt he liked you.

Once you had finished preparing the alfajores, you passed the plate to Lucy for her to put into the freezer as you began to wash the bowl you had used. JJ approached you and began to dry the dished that were already washed from before, when you had finished the empanadas.

“You know? You’re a good sister,” JJ said suddenly. Your cheeks grew warm and you smiled at the compliment. It was true. Even though you would often deny it, you loved your siblings more than anything.

Trying to ignore the feelings that rose from JJ’s compliments you replied, “What? No ‘Mami’ this time?”

JJ laughed but shook his head. He continued to help you around the kitchen, setting the table with you and pulling the empanadas out.

“Can you go get the triplets, please?” you asked him.

JJ went into the living room where Diego and Lucas were staring at the TV screen. “Your sister says it’s time for dinner.”

The two younger boys turned towards the blond, curiosity in their eyes. “Are you our sister’s boyfriend?”

JJ’s eyes widened, as Lucy walked into the room. “Yes, he is!”

“No, I’m not, Lucy.” He turned to the boys. “I’m not.”

The boys just giggled along with their female triplet, before jumping over the sofa and pounding into the kitchen. JJ simply pressed his hands to his blushing cheeks, ordering them to go back to normal before stepping into the kitchen.

When he stepped back into the room that was now filled with Y/L/Ns, he noticed you were serving the empanadas onto everybody’s plates. Two for each of the triplets and three for him and you, each. He smiled before sitting down in the seat next to.

“No coman con las manos. Mamá se enoja si hacen eso,” you reminded your siblings as they reached for the food with their hands. Begrudgingly they took hold of their cutlery.

JJ cut the first empanada into smaller pieces and brought one of them up to his mouth. It was amazing. His eyes were wide as Diego laughed at his reaction. You turned to look at him and smiled.

“You like them?”

JJ moved his head up and down, shoving more empanada into his mouth. He couldn’t wait to try the alfajores.

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

Once the triplets were in bed you moved to the couch to work on your homework as JJ watched a movie. He had his legs perched on top of the coffee table before the couch and your legs were thrown across his lap. His right hand rested on one of your calves, moving from left to right, distracting you from your homework. You were too tired to do it anyway, so you placed it onto the coffee table.

Turning towards the TV you noticed that it was in Spanish and frowned.

“Why are you watching it in Spanish?” you asked JJ.

JJ shushed you, before whispering, “So I can learn.”

You furrowed your eyebrows and sat up, removing your legs from his lap. He pouted at the loss of contact but his eyes never left the screen. You pushed your body closer to him so that your legs were touching.

“Why do you want to learn Spanish?” you asked, genuinely curious as to what he would answer.

Your voice was almost a whisper, and suddenly the air around the both of you seemed to thicken. JJ finally broke his stare away from the TV to your eyes, before smiling. “So that I can understand you.”

You blushed but didn’t turn away from him. “Why would you want to do that?”

Now JJ blushed. “Because I want to get to know you better. Believe it or not, I think you’re really cool and sassy and different from everybody I know. And I want to know you. All of you. And your culture and being able to speak Spanish is a part of you.”

Your smile widened to the largest JJ had ever seen it. You wrapped your arms around JJ, almost wanting to cry. Nobody had ever cared enough about you to learn about your culture and to learn Spanish or to even show an interest in learning those things. You felt a single tear escape your right eye, not even realizing it until JJ had pulled you back and swiped his thumb under your eye. JJ smiled at you, his hands on your waist.

“No one’s ever done that for me before,” you told him.

“Then I’m happy I’m the first.”

You hugged him again. With his arms still around your body, you said, “If you want I can teach you how to speak Spanish.”

“Nah,” JJ said while shaking his head. “I bet you’re too sassy to be a teacher.”

You pulled back and lightly punched his chest. “Shut up.”

JJ only continued to laugh and pulled you towards him again.

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

“Yo me nombro JJ.”

“Wrong.”

“Yo soy nombre JJ.”

“Wrong.”

“Yo tengo nombre JJ.”

“Still wrong,” you sighed.

“I give up! Spanish is too hard for me,” JJ replied as he fell down onto your bed.

It had been a two weeks since you had offered to teach him Spanish, and you had spent almost every afternoon after school together trying to teach him. But he wasn’t good at all.

“You got this JJ. I swear it’s only practice,” you told him, rubbing a hand up and down his arm to comfort him. He latched onto the fingers of that hand and pulled you down on top of him. He enveloped you in his arms and said, “Let’s just nap together.”

You groaned and laughed at the same time. “You’re never going to learn if you convince me to nap every afternoon.”

“I don’t care,” he said in his usual sleepy voice. “Just speak to me in Spanish for a couple of minutes and I’ll be out.”

As you began to talk about random things in your room (JJ would occasionally stop you at words he knew), you began to move your hands up and down his chest in small circles. Over the past week, the amount of body contact between you two had exponentially grown. You went from not touching each other ever to cuddling and napping together. The Pogues had felt this shift in your relationship, as well, and would often tease you and JJ.

“What happened between you guys?” Kie had asked one afternoon you had gone with her to the Wreck. You shrugged your shoulder, as you truly didn’t know.

Something had changed between the two of you the day he had helped you take care of your siblings, and now he was over at your house all the time. Your parents loved him (even though they teased you because he couldn’t speak Spanish and you had always said you would date someone who could speak Spanish), and he spent almost as much time with you as he did messing around with the triplets. You loved that he got on amazingly with your family, and you loved how he would ask everybody in your house about your customs and traditions and culture.

You continued to speak in Spanish until you were certain he had fallen asleep. Then, you slipped out of his arms and began to work on your homework. You concentrated on it for an hour, until you grew way too frustrated with it to continue.

“¡Pero que estupidez!” you exclaimed while shoving it in your backpack. You heard JJ chuckle behind you, startling you. “I thought you were asleep.”

“I woke up a while ago,” he said, stretching. “You wanna go downstairs and cook something?”

That had become your activity together. Cooking something traditional of the Latino culture. He had loved the empanadas and the alfajores so much that he had wanted to try everything there was to eat in your culture.

“We could try making cocadas,” you told him. “But I’ve never made them before.”

JJ hummed and closed his eyes again. He was still tired for some reason. He stretched his hands out for you to take only to pull you down on top of him. “Then let’s stay here. I don’t want to cook with your mom right now.”

You frowned. “I thought you loved my mom.”

JJ nodded. “I do, but your dad told me that you always giggle about me with her. He said you were being mean.”

That was true. You blushed and hid your face in his hands. “Sorry. We just find you cute, though.”

JJ smirked, opening his eyes and looking down at you. “You find me cute, Mami?”

You groaned. “I hate that nickname.”

“I know,” JJ laughed out, breathily. “That’s exactly why I use it.”

You stayed in silence, staring at each other. Your fingers danced across his feature, tracing the outline of his nose and of his cheekbones. JJ did the same to your features but with his eyes. You leaned a little closer to him, wanting to brush your fingers by his hairline, but the movement had surprised him and caused one of his hands to move to your waist.

“Hey,” he brought you out of your actions, making you separate your hand from his face. You looked down at his eyes and put your hand to your side. He quickly grabbed it and placed it on his face again.

“Hola,” you said while continuing to trace his features.

“How do you say ‘I love you’ in Spanish?”

His voice was soft and velvety. You liked how it reached your ears, and his statement made your cheeks blush.

“Well, there’s two ways to say it. The first is ‘Te quiero’ and you mainly use that in a platonic way. It’s for your family and friends. Or for someone you’re dating but aren’t ready to actually say ‘I love - love you’ yet.”

JJ nodded in understanding. “What about the other way?”

“The other way is ‘Te amo’ which is more romantic,” you said as your fingers fell down the bridge of his nose.

He stared at you, trying to imagine what you would say and react if he said what he wanted to say to you right now. He didn’t know if you would want him to say what he wanted to say, or if you would even understand him through his bad pronunciation.

“Y/N,” he called out. You hummed in response, your finger tracing his right eyebrow. “Te amo.”

Your finger froze right in the middle of his right eyebrow. You looked down from your finger into his eyes.

“Really?”

JJ’s cheeks were flushed. More than you had ever seen them. “I - I don’t actually know. All I know is that I feel great with you and that you make me happy and that I want to learn Spanish for you. No other girl has made me want to learn something for them.”

You smiled at what JJ said. “You make me happy, too.”

JJ didn’t even hesitate when he connected your lips. He pressed his hand to your neck and the other to your waist as you moved your hands to the back of his neck. He brought you a feeling of tranquility and of excitement all at the same time. Your heart seemed to speed up and slow down at the same time. Your lungs seemed to inhale and exhale at the same time. Your stomach seemed to swallow itself and explode at the same time. You loved every moment of the kiss, and you could feel both of your smiles pressed together.

Once you both pulled away, you sighed and continued to trace his face as if nothing happened.

“How do you say kiss?” he asked you a few seconds later. His voice was a bit deeper than before and you giggled.

“Beso.”

“Can I ‘beso’ you again?” JJ asked, making you stare down at him.

“Wrong!”

“I don’t care, just kiss me already.”

And so you did.

#outer banks #obx #obx netflix #jj maybank #rudy pankow #jj maybank x reader #jj maybank x y/n #jj maybank x latinareader #jj x reader #jj x y/n

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