#I thought making him 25% slower would be ok but there was almost no difference

[donuts4evry1]

fun fact

Someone told me a way to make Renpy characters speak slower (using the "what_prefix" and "what_suffix" attributes for the character class) and now Katsuo speaks 75% slower than other characters, no matter what speed you've set the game to.

He also chirps at the end of every sentence

[magicforjournals]

The Green Dress (A Story About Loki)

Chapter 5 - Gravity

This is long overdue and I apologize! I hope you like it !! Taglist is still open :)

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Warning : Explicit (18+)

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You’re sitting on the couch, giggling, as you’re watching Loki fumble through your cabinets and drawers in the kitchen, looking for a bottle opener for the wine. He had insisted on ordering pizza for you, since the dinner you had prepared for the two of you was no longer edible, and you had agreed it was a great idea.

“Got it!” he says, waving the bottle opener proudly. A wave of desire washes over you again as you watch him walk over to you, his pants falling loosely on his hips, shirt unbuttoned, his perfect body just taunting you.

He plops down on the couch next to you, smiling tenderly, as you brush his hair out of his eyes, no longer combed back. You can’t help but smile, feeling complete with Loki by your side. The pure happiness you felt in his presence was so overwhelming to you, you’d never felt like this before. Without even knowing him that well, you feel like you belonged together, it was almost magnetic, two pieces of a puzzle fitting perfectly together. And as much as you loved this pull between you, it scared you. Terrified you to your very core. And for so many reasons. Loki was… well Loki. He had, in the past, caused so much pain and destruction, to your world, even to you. Granted, you were one of the lucky ones that had not lost family members or friends in the attacks, but you had lost the first home you ever bought. Even though you were never overly materialistic, that loss still stung. But Natasha was right, everyone needed a chance at redemption, and you were not against it. On the contrary, you were a teacher, it was deeply ingrained in you to bring people to see the best in them, to work hard to become a better version of themselves. But, you didn’t want to become a lifeline for him. You didn’t want anyone to depend on you that way. It was different with your students, but Loki was a grown man. In fact, he was a god, from an entirely different world and, you, you were just a simple mortal. How could you make a relationship work? How could you ever measure up to his existence? You just had so many questions, so much was just standing in the balance, too many uncertainties.

“Are you ok?” Loki asks, gently stroking your face and bringing you back to reality.

“Yes,” you smile back at him, pressing your head softly against his touch.

“Would you like some wine?” He offers, handing you a glass.

“Thank you very much.”Nodding slowly.

“Anything for you.” He adds with a wink, making you blush.

“I realize there’s not much we know about each other,” you start, grabbing a slice of pizza, bringing your bare legs under you. After you had finally decided to get out of bed, solely because of your rumbling stomach, you had thrown on the same oversized t-shirt from before and slid on a pair of lace panties.

“Not much indeed, what would you like to know?” Loki answered, his gaze locked on your thick thighs he desperately wanted around his face again.

“I.. uhm… everything?” You chance.

He laughs, your heart swelling at the sound. “We’ll be here for days, my darling,” he replies, stroking your cheek once more, igniting another fire through your stomach.

“I want to get to know you,” you whisper.

Grabbing his own glass of wine, he snuggles in next to you, adjusting his position to face you and resting a gentle hand against your arm. “Well I was raised on Asgard, as you know.” He pauses, hesitates before continuing in a soft voice. “But I was born on Jotunheim, home of the Frost Giants.”

“Oh,” is all you can manage, shocked by the revelation. You had heard of the Frost Giants from Thor’s stories, but you never knew that Loki was one of them. If Thor had ever mentioned it, it certainly wasn’t when you were around. “What happened to your biological parents?” you ask, your voice barely audible.

“I know nothing of my birth mother, but my father is Laufey, King of the Frost Giants.” That made sense now that you thought about his last name; Laufeyson. The connection had never occurred to you before. Loki takes a deep breath, “Odin found me when he came to Jotunheim, waging war against the Frost Giants. I had been abandoned in a temple by Laufey, he had deemed me too small and weak to be a Frost Giant and had left me there to die. Odin brought me home and Frigga, my mother, raised me as her own, making sure my Frost Giant appearance remained hidden to others. She did it to ensure my safety. I was a child, and I didn’t understand why she would keep me away from a lot of people, or made sure I didn’t get in trouble, but also treated Thor differently. It was all to keep me safe... I miss her.” He whispers. You knew about the horrible fate Frigga had succumbed to. It had taken quite the toll on Thor, and you couldn’t imagine how hard it must have been for Loki to lose his mother. He looks up at you, his beautiful green eyes filled with tears, pain and grief apparent in them. As a single tear falls down his cheek, you realize that this seemingly confident, strong man standing in front of you is still profoundly grieving the only being he truly loved and who truly loved him.

Putting your glass down, you reach over to grab his and set it on the coffee table. Slowly, you climb into his lap, wrapping your arms around his neck and pulling him into a deep embrace. His strong arms wrap around your waist as he pulls you even tighter to his chest, hiding his face in the crook of your neck as he sighs softly, whispering a low “thank you” against your skin. Pulling away, Loki cradles your face and gazes into your eyes before kissing you ever so softly. You whimper quietly in his mouth, drawing him closer and tightening your thighs around him. The kiss turns into one steamy and full of passion, every kiss he gives you surpasses the previous ones in intensity. It sends shivers down your spine as he runs his hands up your back and into your hair. You could stay here and kiss him forever. With a sigh, he pulls back gently, a quiet protest escaping your lips as he chuckles at your reaction. Blushing violently, you hide your face in his neck, muttering a sad “sorry”, which only makes him giggle harder.

“It’s okay darling, don’t apologize,” Loki whispers in your hair. “I just have to restrain myself, I could spend hours just tasting you.”

The sound of his deep voice as he whispers those words so close to your ear transforms you into a puddle in his lap and you hope he won’t be saying things like that again, or you’ll soak his pants.

“Why don’t you tell me about yourself?” He asks, running his hand up and down your spine. “All I know is that you’re a teacher and you are friends with the Avengers. I want to know more about you.” He adds, tucking a strand of your hair behind your ear as you turn your head up to meet his eyes.

“My life is pretty boring,” you chuckle. “Is there anything you want to know?”

Loki smiles at you and cradles your face. “I want to know everything.” You laugh before he adds, “why don’t we just start with your favorite food?”

“Uhmmm tough one…” you answer. “I really love sushi, it became my favorite when I moved to the city. But, my mother’s lasagna will probably always be my favorite.”

“You’ll have to make it for me then!” He says, all smiles.

“I would mess it up ! No, no way!”

“Well then, we’ll have to practice to make the perfect lasagna won’t we?” He says, playing with your hair. There’s that we again, you think.

“It’ll take years.” You chance, waiting to see what his answer will be.

“That’s okay.”

“What’s your favorite food?” You ask. “Is it some dish from Asgard?”

“No actually. It might shock you, but I love human food a lot more than Asgardian food.”

“There’s no way Loki!” You laugh. “How can our food be better than Asgardian food?”

“I don’t know,” he replies softly. “It just is. I absolutely love your food! And I do have a preference for pizza, if you couldn’t tell.” He adds, pointing to the box on the coffee table.

Laughter fills the room as you both sit up to grab a slice of pizza. You eat in silence for a little while, just basking in each other’s presence. Once you finish your slices, you lean back down against his chest, cuddling up in his lap.

“Can I ask you another question?” Loki whispers in your ear.

“Mmmhmm,” you nod softly.

“How old are you?”

“I’m 26,” you answer simply, shrugging your shoulders. “How old are you? I mean, do gods even age?”

“Yes”, Loki chuckles. “I do age, just extremely slower than humans... “ Pause. Hesitation? “I was born in 965 A.D.”

“WHAT?!” You shoot up in his lap as if someone had shocked you. “You were born in 965 A.D.?! But that would make you…” Your nose scrunches up as you’re trying to figure out how old Loki really was.

“1054 is the number you’re looking for,” he answers you. 1054 years old… that is… too many lifetimes.

“How… How does that translate in human years?” You whisper, still profoundly confused.

Loki sets you down gently on the couch next to him, and covers you up in the blanket you had discarded while climbing into his lap. “Well, it’s hard to really know how old I am in human years. Asgardians live for approximately 5000 years.” An audible wheeze escapes your lips as you take that in. Loki would outlive you. He would also forget you. “However,” he adds, wrapping his arms around you. “I’m not Asgardians, and I’m unsure on how fast the Frost Giants age. If I were to take a guess, based on my knowledge and research about my origins, I would say that I should be around 28 years old. But it’s really hard to tell, after all I’m younger than Thor by almost 500 years, and he would only be 25 years old.” You shake your head, trying to make sense of all the information that was just thrown at you. Thor was older, but acted - and was - only 25. Did that mean that technically, Loki was even more immature than his brother sometimes? He said he should be around 28, but was he really? Age was never really a big concern of yours. Obviously too young or too old wasn’t ok, but Loki was ancient.

“Does my age bother you?” Loki asks, and his worried tone snaps you back to reality.

“Oh!” you gasp yet again. “No… Not really. At least I don’t think so.” You answer honestly. “I thought you were older, but 1054 just took me by surprise... God, you’re really old Loki!” You say, laughing loudly.

“Yeah I know, my back’s been killing me lately too!” Loki says, following you in your laughter.

You keep laughing as you rest your head on his shoulder. What were you expecting? That he was the same age as you while he comes from a different planet and is a literal deity?

“If there is anything that bothers you about my origins, you would tell me, right darling?” Loki asks after your laughing spurt.

“Yes, of course.” You reply. There was so much you wanted to ask him about where he thought this - you two - was going, how he felt about you, but it was too early for that. You’d only kissed him a handful of times and had slept with him on an impulse. Not that you regretted it, no, never, but it was too early to think of you two as anything else than what you were in the present moment.

You shuffle around on the couch as Loki bends over to grab a slice of pizza and your wine glass, which he hands you. “Could I ask you a couple more questions about your life?” He asks politely.

You giggle as you nod your head.

“Tell me about your family,” he says.

You cuddle up next to him as you tell him about your younger sister and brother, how your parents are still as much in love as the day they met, how your entire family; aunts, uncles and grandparents, are all tightly knit. You tell him how your family is one of the most important parts of your life, how they have always supported you in any decisions you made. You start giggling as you tell him that your parents had even supported your decision of nursing a baby bird, that had fallen out of its nest, back to health when you were about 9 years old. Your mother had no idea how to properly feed a bird that young, or even what to feed it, but it didn’t stop her from doing research and helping you get that little baby back to its parents.

“You are so loving and compassionate,” Loki says, in a soft voice while staring at you with loving eyes. “I’m certain that you are an amazing teacher.”

“I truly hope so. I only want what’s best for my students.”

“I am positive that you are the best teacher out there. I’m curious, what made you decide to become a teacher?” He asks.

“I-I’m not sure... “ you answer. “I always knew that I wanted to help people. I could have become a nurse or a firefighter… but for some reason, teaching was always my calling. I used to help my siblings and the kids in the neighbourhood with their homework every week when I was younger. I guess I just always thought of myself as a teacher.” You add, shrugging.

Loki puts a gentle hand on your cheek, turning your face towards his and giving the softest and most passionate kiss yet. “You are truly amazing,” he whispers against your lips. A goofy smile spreads across your face as he praises you.

“What about you, always wanted to be a trickster,” you ask, winking at him.

“Oh, you think you’re funny! I should change you into a frog.”

“Oh my God no, please have mercy Loki, please!” You plead, moving away from him as quickly as you can.

“Too late!” He grabs you by the ankles and pulls you back towards him, trapping you in his arms. “Now you’re my prisoner, however, maybe I should keep you like this, I like you better as a human.” “What a compliment, O mighty Loki.” You tease him.

He starts laughing, as he pulls you in closer.

“You know, in the past, I would’ve given anything to hear people call me that... Not anymore.” He says, stroking your cheek. “You know... I regret my actions. I’ve come to the realization, in the last couple of years, that power was my way to feel retaliate. I thought that if I had power, I could be important, people would notice me like they noticed my brother. I was really angry with everyone, with the world, for what had happened to me as a child. I didn’t realize that my mother had tried to protect me, a baby that was brought to her quite unexpectedly. I was angry with Odin for treating me differently. I was angry with Laufey for abandoning me. I was angry with Thor for always seeming so perfect…” Loki pauses, taking a deep breath. “It wasn’t until after my mother’s death and I took my father’s throne,” he offers you a crooked, apologetic smile, “that I truly realized that power wasn’t what I thought it was, it wasn’t happiness. I had lost my mother, and I could never tell her how truly grateful I was that she had taken me in, loved me and raised me as her own. I have made my peace with my father and my brother, and I have been working relentlessly to make up for my past actions… But I know that trust, once broken, isn’t easily fixed.”

“You know,” you say, taking his face between your hands, forcing him to look into your eyes. “Everyone is deserving of a second chance.”

“But what happens if they mess up their second chance?” He whispers between your hands.

“Third time’s a charm,” you shrug. “I used to be angry at you Loki... for attacking the city, destroying homes… my home. B-”

“I destroyed your home?!” he interrupts you, sitting up quickly, pushing you to the edge of his lap. “How.. When.. I-I’m so sorry.” He adds, tears slowly filling up his eyes.

“It’s ok. I mean, I’m over it now… I think at the time it was harder because it was the first home I had ever purchased. But I had just moved in, barely any of my things were there. So I didn’t lose everything.” Loki looks at you in horror, you can see the pain in his eyes as you tell him how his attacks on the city affected you.

“I should leave,” he says, trying to lift you off of him, as you repeat over and over again that it’s ok. “You should not be here with me, I’ve hurt you. You should be angry with me. Why are you not angry with me?!”

“Loki,” you say, your tone firm, grabbing his face between your hands again. “It’s in the past. The house, it was just wood, something that can be rebuilt. I’m ok, my belongings are ok, I didn’t lose anything that was extremely important to me. A house is just a house.”

“No, it was your home.” He whispers, avoiding your eyes.

“You’re wrong,” you tell him softly, his eyes darting back up to meet yours. “My home is wherever and with whoever I choose it to be.”

“I’m sorry,” Loki says quickly before bringing your face to his and kissing you passionately. He keeps kissing you with more and more passion, whispering soft “sorrys” as his hands make his way up to your hair, fingers getting lost.

You moan softly as you bring yourself closer to him, slowly grinding your hips along his lap. He wraps one arm around your waist and pulls you in tight, deepening your kiss. You can feel him getting harder under you, pushing gently against you and making you so wet. In one quick movement, you’re on your back on the couch, Loki towering above you.

“I’m so sorry for the pain I’ve caused you,” he says softly. “I know I can’t make it up to you, but I need you to know that I will try. I will beg for your forgiveness if that’s what it takes. You are important to me. I don’t know why, but I can’t stay away from you, I can’t stop thinking about you. I need to be close to you.” He adds before kissing you again, almost desperately this time, making you moan. You want him, you want all of him. You were mad, you were upset, but what’s past is past. And Loki seems genuinely sorry about his past, and you believe in second, even third chances. And right now, you just want his lips, his hands on you.

You wrap your arms around his neck as he kisses you, pulling him closer, needing his body against yours. Loki moves his lips to your neck, sliding his hands down the length of your body, grabbing your thigh tightly, a moan escaping your lips. You grind your hips up to meet him, rubbing against his erection. You want him inside of you, you want to feel him pulsing and throbbing as he makes love to you. Slowly, his hand that was groping your thigh moves to the inside of it, making its way to your panties. You feel him run a painfully slow finger along the lace of it, right over your needy clit and you gasp, begging him to just touch you. Pushing the fabric to the side, Loki starts drawing little circles around your clit as you pump your hips up, trying to get the friction you desperately need. He chuckles as he starts rubbing faster, and then he slides a long finger inside of your soaking folds, replacing his finger on your clit with his thumb. Catching your lips again, trapping your moans in your throat, he starts pumping his finger, getting faster and faster before he adds a second finger, driving you closer and closer to the edge.

“Fuck Loki, I’m gonna cum,” you moan out.

“Cum for me darling, cum around my fingers.” He groans at you.

His words alone push you over the edge and you whimper loudly as you cum all over his fingers, walls clenching down around him, your body shaking from your orgasm.

“Such a good girl,” Loki says, bringing his fingers to his mouth, tasting you.

With shaky legs, you stand up, stripping out of your shirt and soaked underwear. He looks at you with hungry eyes, devouring every inch of your body. He watches you as you kneel down between his legs, undoing his pants and sliding them off. His dick is bulging under his boxers and your mouth waters at the sight of it. Slowly, you reach for it, rubbing your hand along the length of it, Loki’s moan escaping his lips. He lifts his butt up for you to slide off his boxers, releasing his throbbing cock. Grabbing it in your hand, you stroke him slowly, licking the tiny bead of precum pearling at the tip, before licking the length of him, making him groan under your touch. Standing up, you straddle him on the couch, lining him up with your soaking cunt. Gripping your hips, Loki gently pulls you down on him, his thick cock filling you beautifully. You stay there for a second, savoring the feeling of each other, before you start to ride him slowly. Leaning his head back on the back of the couch, he moans as he grips your hips tighter, letting you ride him at your own pace. Leaning down to kiss his neck, you grind your hips on him, making him growl under you. You begin to ride him faster, harder, bouncing on his lap as his dick hits that spot inside of you that you didn’t know existed until tonight and you feel yourself getting closer as you ride him.

“F-Fuck, you’re so big Loki.” You moan, grinding your hips, looking for some kind of friction on your clit to get you off.

“Don’t talk like that, I- I won’t last.” He replies, his hand dipping in between the two of you, thumb starting to rub tight circles around your clit as if he understood your grinding.

“Oh fuck Loki!” You scream as his digit meets your tiny ball of nerves.

“I-I’m so close, don’t stop.”

Gripping your hips tighter with one hand and rubbing faster with the other, Loki brings you to your fourth orgasm of the night. You let out a choked out scream as you cum all over his dick, walls again clamping around him, and milking him as he cums with you. Slowly, you ride out your orgasms, holding each other close. Loki cups your face as your body starts shaking, and kisses you gently.

“You are amazing,” he whispers against your lips.

“I could say the same about you,” you whisper back. “However, I now need a shower.” You add giggling.

“I will take my leave then, give you some privacy.”

You flutter around him before any words leave your lips and he smiles at you, feeling you clench. “I don’t want you to leave.” You say.

“Alright darling, I won’t leave until you ask me to.” He answers, stroking your cheek and tucking a strand of hair behind your ear.

Getting off of him and walking to your bathroom, you can’t help the smile that spreads across your face. Loki follows close behind and wraps his bare arms around your waist as you turn the shower on. Showering together, you keep teasing one another, lathering soap up excruciatingly slow, lingering touches, soft kisses. There’s a moment where he freaks out, turning almost hysteric, as he rubs soap between your legs, realizing that he came inside of you twice tonight. With a laugh, you reassure him that you’re on birth control and there’s very little possibility you’ll get pregnant. He let out the biggest sigh ever, telling you he should’ve been more careful regardless because he didn’t want to upset your life.

When you step out of the shower, you notice the clock for the first time that night and gasp at how late it is. Following your gaze, Loki apologizes for taking up so much of your time.

“Don’t you dare apologize, tonight was amazing.” You say, getting up on the tip of your toes to kiss him.

Wrapping his arms around you again, Loki kisses you back before whispering how the thought of leaving you tonight pains him.

“Stay,” you whisper back.

“Are you sure?” He asks.

“Yes.”

As you lay in your bed, Loki’s arms wrapped around you, you can’t help but feel at peace. You’ve never felt this happy before, never felt like you truly belonged somewhere. But in Loki’s arms, you feel complete and slowly, you drift off to sleep.

———

The sun coming through your window and warming up your face is what wakes you up the following morning. Loki’s arms are still around you and you can’t help but stare at his angelic face. His black hair all in disarray from sleeping with wet hair, his face relaxed with sleep, you could look at him forever. Glancing over his shoulder, you see that your alarm clock is showing 7:45am. You overslept! Classes start in an hour, and you need to be at school before 8:30.

“Loki,” you say, gently shaking him awake. “Loki, we need to get up. We overslept, I’m gonna be late for work.”

“Mmmm…?” He groans at first. “Oh! I’m so sorry!”

“Stop apologizing,” you laugh. “Just get your butt out of my bed.”

“Yes ma’am!” He says, shooting up and running to the living room to put his clothes on.

Rushing to your closet, you throw on your favorite dress with a pair of nylons and knee high boots before putting your hair in a bun and wiping the mascara from under your eyes. Thankfully, your makeup from the night prior wasn’t really smudged and was therefore acceptable for you to wear at work. Grabbing your glasses, you walk out to your living room to see Loki by the front door, with your bags in hand and a banana plucked from your kitchen counter along with your to-go coffee mug. You see the coffee machine is shutting off after use.

“Breakfast,” he says, waving the banana at you. “I’m driving you to school, so you can drink your coffee and eat.”

“Loki, you don’t have to.”

“I insist, you’re late because of me.” He argues. “Let’s go now!”

You giggle as you grab your coat and keys, locking your door and making your way to his car. The ride to school isn’t a long one and you chomp down your banana while he sings along to the music on the radio, making you smile.

As he pulls up in the parking lot, he tugs on your shirt, pulling you in for a soft kiss. Sighing against his lips, you wish you could stay with him all day. Loki gets out of the car and walks around to the passenger side to open your door.

Extending his hand to you, he helps you out of the car, wrapping his arm around your waist and pulling you into his chest. “Can I see you again tonight?” He asks, flashing you that smile that makes your inside twist.

“Not tired of me yet?” You giggle in his arms. “I would love to see you again tonight, but it’s test day today, which means I’ll have about 60 copies to grade tonight. My coffee machine will be working all night.” You add.

“How about I come to cook you an amazing dinner, which I promise won’t burn this time,” he winks at you. “I just want to make sure you eat a proper meal. I’ll leave afterwards if you don’t want me to stay, I promise.” He proposes.

“Uhmmmm….” You reply. “That does sound tempting. Pick me up at 4 then?”

“It’s a date darling.” Loki says, leaning forward to kiss your lips softly.

He grabs your bags out of the back seat and kisses you once more before letting you go. As you walk away, you feel an emptiness settle in the pit of your stomach. You can’t help but turn around to see Loki standing, driver side door open, watching you walk away from him. The way he’s looking at you, adoration in his eyes, makes you want to run back to him. This feeling between you, this attraction, this need to be with the other, it’s as if gravity itself was pulling you towards each other. Unexplainably, you knew, at that moment, that he was your world now, and you were his.

@kingtwhiddleston

[the-acid-pear]

Scarface was too fucking boring, didn't make it past chapter 3, but that's good, because that means Baki-Dou time 😍

Time to read the fourth book in this series! Excited to see Musashi <3

Chapter 1

COLORS

Baki please stop flexing

A FELLA SAYING THE SAME I SAID WHEN YUJIRO PULLED HIS SOB STORY, FR GO TRY SOMETHING ELSE! What happened with that whole "i don't care about fighting" eh Baki?!

Chapter 2

HOHO ALI JR???

ah no :/

HOLY FUCK is this quality bad!

He wants to taste defeat i see

TOKUGAWA PLEASE STOP SMOKING

Oh they removed the... Egg in the back of the neck, nice

God this guy's tits so fat 🥵

FINALLYYY HOW LONG SINCE WE SAW A FIGHT IN THE ARENA? A PROPER FIGHT I MEAN

Chapter 3

He doesn't even know 🐍

DON'T BRING THAT FELLA HERE RETSU KICKED HIS ASS IN TIME. RECORD

Oh i saw fanart of this scene

Baki, it's your fault that you are bored, you fucking teen

This shit boring ME

Chapter 4

Oh, goroukou is a title

I like how the prime minister is becoming a recurrent character

I thought he said babe for a sec-

That little "oh~" is a bit sus, are the old men... No, it can't be 😳😳😳

I'm fucking choking fuck

GOD ALMOST READ THAT AS JOHN CENA 😭

"yes <3"

These ppl never learn

Chapter 5

What a way to go, a la gamzee /j

This dude so weird lmao

FAHDGAHDH king

Dude he has huge round eyes tf you talking bout?

IGDUFSUEASEUURSS he's such a freakkk 😭😭😭

This is the most wtf thing Baki has pulled, remember when this was about fighters fighting? I don't know enough about science for this shit either man

Okay so their hug wasn't Tokugawa being touchy like he is, this guy is even worse, se juntaron el hambre y las ganas de comer HSHAFSFG

Chapter 6

Baki's dead

Katsumi about to kill get killed by my grandpa i see

ALSO KATSUMI OG HAIR WOOO

Katsumi bro don't be so happy over nearly killing him-

I love seeing him get better tho

Uwaadgsgsjdga 😍😳🤤 twisting my hair irl,,, ����

Finally Motobe remembered he was a character here 😐

FSGSHDAHDA KOSHO PLS

I LOVE that they got dark lips again

IM SORRY GOUKI HOW DO YOU KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT EVERYONE?! LTDKFsjyrd 😭

Jack's scar looks cool ngl

Retsu living the good life lmao

AND HOW DO YOU KNOW, GRANDPA?

Hana just doesn't care, smartest Baki character lmao

Idk what they talking bout but good for em <3

Cum basement

Chapter 7

SHOW US MUSASHI'S COCK

Obsessed he thought his heart was failing 😭

Dude you can just hear the heart beat of your friends/opponents just like that? 🤨

Notice Gaia in the top left 🥴

WHY CAN HE RECOGNIZE EACH OF THEIR HEARTBEATS AAHSGA

Thick 🥵

Unironically built different

Chronic back pain if you ask me, that's how I stand to relieve my agony

Did. Did you just call him a femb-

STOP SHOWING ME PANELS FROM VAGAMOND

I love John sm lmao

Mr Musashi has 2 (3?) dads

Chapter 8

HAIRY LEGS 🥴

Those things look like boobs

Bet you would know eh SHAFADB

They jerked off the mummy?

Reminds me of eye surgery

AFjshAFDGAJAHAF

Mf came out the tube ripped af 😭

Chapter 9

Everyone is so feminine lately good ol Kureha fell behind 😭

I like his bandana tho it's cute

OH HE TOO? AND HE'S NOT EVEN THAT STRONG

Fat tits 🥴

Eheojeudkshs 😖😳👉👈

JACK STOP YOU ARE BIG ENOUGH ALREADY

HOLY FUCK

You know like i understand Baki, he is at the highest he can be rn, NO ONE can defeat him, but the rest? Like c'mon y'all just beat each other up or something

Ah, the miracle of birth 😍

Chapter 10

I love how all these two do is hang out together in bars, boybosses

TF IS UP WITH THAT ICE? AHDHS

I love what they have

Hana thinking of getting his 4 limbs broken again i see

WOOO!! Nice cock Mr Musashi 😳

HANAYAMA PLEASE 😐

Chapter 11

I love those freaks

I just now I'm seeing the little scars on his cheeks from the fight with Spec ☺️

I love the fact that Musashi has hair in his legs BUT not his arms like ??? Okay king

Heated scientist moment

HOHO POGGERS 👀

Chapter 12

UTSURAARSDFAFA sibling goals

GIRLBOSS 😍

URAURUSYRSAESGA IN LOVE???

Holy shit she's amazing

Chapter 13

And his ass is very thick too 😳

Those fucking sunglasses, obsessed

Debatable, he got struck by lightning :/

HE WAXES HIS HAIR? OMFG OBSESSED

WHY IS HE WEARING THAT LMAO 😭

Nooo they censored the cock again 😔😔😔

DO IT QWEEN 💅

STOP SAYING SHE'S GONNA FUCK THE CLONE

"I'm exciteddddd" "ok."

Chapter 14

You just hate seeing a girlboss win

She truly is amaizing

Also i just realized spirits have been showing up since the first book so this isn't so crazy lol

MF HOW IS THAT GONNA HELP 😭😭😭

THE LITTLE BUBBLES AND SPARKLES... I BET HE DID 🥺

Chapter 15

WHY ARE HIS TITS SO ROUND AND FAT GODDAMN IT,,, 😳😖

Glad seeing some things never change

He looks so much like Jun

IGSITSURAURZES EPICCC

Someone question if Yujiro knew how too write obsessed,,,

Chapter 16

Goddamn it you got even older in the past 3 or so chapters bro

Mouth to mouth soul transference

OHHH

HIS EYEBROWS FELL HOW IGDUTSITDIYDIGD

Some mf got turned on by this HELP 😭

Chapter 17

I love how Yujiro and Hana are still getting ready to throw hands while this happens lol

Okay yeah that was super disrespectful honestly, guy is having a chat :/

HAHAGSJAHA obsessed

God i thought it was Hana the one grabbing some random lady for a second AFDJSJSSJS

He cute af ngl

POOR GUY MUST BE SO CONFUSED OMFG,,,

Fsr I'm surprised he can talk, like it should be obvious but in all the fanart i saw he never said a word, also, he's so damn respectful 😍

Chapter 18

Idk he was never that clever /hj

Hehehe blood

I love how John can only sit that way

The size of his balls lmao

Coward won't even fight with his dick out smh :/

God he mad cute-

Chapter 19

I MISS THE DEATH ROW FELLAS FUCKKK

Hm i think this random tiny bald man is not Tokugawa but someone that looks awfully similar to him

YEAH NO SHIT I FEEL SO BAD FOR HIM, HE MUST BE SO DAMN OVERWHELMED

Apparently there was a cameo, i don't know enough about anime to know or care

Chapter 20

He's tripping balls

Tokugawa should have gone a bit slower with this poor guy, this is like a lot to process at once <:/

Nvm he's doing better than me

Oydirsusefs look at himmm

WAIT A FUCKING SECOND OMFG DIDN'T DOPPO FIGHT THIS GUY?!

SOMEONE ELSE RECOGNIZED HIM HE ISSS

Chapter 21

OHDIRAYEASURRSUURS HE DOESN'T KNOWWW FFS

Musashi be like °_°

LOOK AT THAT SMILE LMAO

He's just chilling, mentally killing this dude

Murder baby

Chapter 21

The way his eyes are drawn is so cool

YRAURSUFSIDTGA

And he jokes too! Wow I'm in love 😍

(nsfw) CAN YOU HANDLE DICK LIKE THAT TOO? 😍

WOW

I TAKE BACK THAT QUESTION

I remember a show where you would bring your own knives and swords and go thru a bunch of test, Musashi should have been one of them

Mf truly is like :]

I love how he didn't buy it

I can't wait for him to fight Yujiro 😍

Chapter 23

He truly is 😌

ATFJAIDQYSF OBSESSED

He was happy this time at least, 5 times he lost already btw

Tokugawa truly in unhateable lmao

Chapter 24

IM SORRY, HIS LEG???

Oh I forgot Musashi does that

JAGSKSGSKSGS HIS FUCKING FACE I CAN'T 😭

I miss when translators would add notes i don't want to google shit myself :/

"I'm hard as rock" /j

Chapter 25

Look how happy he issss

MUSASHI POG MUSASHI POG-

I love how Tokugawa can't believe he got it first try and it's trying to lie now sjdakdyv

This mf is actually making me insane what the actual fuck i don't know what he has but he's gonna make me act up 😳

Mf be shadow boxing too dammit /j

Baki please

Chapter 26

OLD MAN JUST WANTS A PUBLIC TO SEE THIS LMAO

Look at the size of Baki's eyes holy fuck lmao

He's gonna yeet him!

OH NOOOO

FIRST HIS DAD NOW MUSASHI, THIS GUY CANT CATCH A BREAK LMAO

Chapter 27

How little time passed? They have barely moved

Yeah you did it last book too Baki

King shit

Chapter 28

AKSGSKGSJSGS KING

I love how he only now realized

Okay no he has a point

I love how he just calls him boy

Look at that smug face

I trust Musashi but at the same time he, really should be walking around this new world alone. Now, if i were to accompany him... 🥴/j

Baki please

Chapter 29

I love how soft the artstyle suddenly got, like if done big a big brush

Yujiro you just insulted every single anime character in history

Baby Baki's just like "Ok."

I like how Yujiro looks here

AUGHHJF HE'S SO BABY 🥺

HOHO badass

Chapter 30

He died 😔

Idiot hasn't even beat he 0.5 reaction seconds lmao 🤣

HOHOOOOO?!? 👁️👁️

"my curiosity exceed my fear!!" I RESPECT THIS MAN SO MUCH??

Chapter 31

AMAIZING HONESTLY

Fighter to fighter communication

SHIT LOOK AT THE STATE OF THAT HAND

He's just gone now LMAO

I honestly don't mind Baki being weak against this, he never fought against a two handed swordman, this is new territory

Chapter 32

Oh his really tripping balls now this is why he shouldn't be alone

NVM HE'S STILL DOING BETTER THAN ME ON A DAILY BASIS, I HAVE A LOT TO LEARN FROM THIS MAN

I just now realized he's barefoot

Nice ass king

The policemen are quite nice

He's very cooperative but i can't blame the cops either

Chapter 33

Yeah no shit that must be so insane

IF YOU HADN'T DROPPED OFF SCHOOL THEN...

That's kinda funny but idk man he's right i think

He's just like :3

I love how he isn't picking up a fight out of malice but rather just instinct like, he can't understand shit that is going on

YOU ARE SO RIGHT BAKI IT ISN'T BORING FOR ME EITHER

Chapter 34

Don't you fucking dare shave him Itagaki

It's funny how it took 2 books and a half for Baki to start being a protagonist

Holy fuck did Baki add height or is Miyamoto that big?

Wow how perfect i ran out of space just now!! Having fun with this book ngl :]

[jynxes]

Leather n’ Red - Reggie Peters

Summary: Much like the deceased boys of Sunset Curve, Duchess died right before the gig that could’ve been her band’s big break. Thing is, she left the dark room a little earlier than they did, made a couple friends and learned a few tricks. What will happen when she and the boys can be seen when singing with Julie, the only alive person that can see them all?

Paring: Reggie Peters x Duchess Himura (OC)

Word count: 4.5k

Warnings: Mild swearing

A/N: Here’s the first chapter! This is all I have prewritten so the next chapters will be a lot slower coming out, school being a pain in the ass and all.

♪°•°∞°•°♪°•°∞°•°♪°•°∞°•°♪°•°∞°•°♪

Chapter One // Holy Shit! You’re Sunset Curve!

I've been here about two months now and I've grown familiar with the Molinas, even though only Carlos can see me. Carlos has a sister named Julie. From what I've gathered Julie is in the music program at her school, but she hasn't played or sang since her mom died, I feel really bad for her and I wish I could help. Carlos and Julie's dad is called Ray and he is an amazing father, always willing to help his children in any way he can, he has a kind heart and although he doesn't even know I exist he's kind of unknowingly adopted me.

Carlos has taken to calling me Dee or DeeDee and whenever Ray or Julie ask him who Dee is, he just says a friend from school. I call him Calo or Carlito in response and he seems to like the nickname.

I've also managed to make a ghost friend. Billy is lots of fun, he's helped me get up to speed with a lot of pop culture and slang and stuff. Also while he's a daredevil he's also a bit of a dork, he's really made the transition to ghost life a lot easier and a lot more fun.

I was walking down to the garage when I hear a song I haven't heard in a while, Now or Never by Sunset Curve, and then suddenly I'm falling again just like I was when I left the dark room. When I open my eyes, I see that I'm in the studio, and that I'm not alone. I hear groans from next to me and there are three guys there, we all begin to pick ourselves up and I look at them, they seem familiar.

They all let out a couple 'Whoa's as they stand up, then one of the guys looks around and raises a hand, "How did we get back here?"

Then Julie looks right at us and starts screaming and pointing, which makes the boys scream and jump, which makes me scream. What can I say? I like being included. Julie runs out of the studio and the guys turn to me with questioning looks on their faces.

"Who are you?" the blonde one asks.

"I'm Duchess, wait- you can see me?" I ask.

"Yeah, wait- you can see us?" the brunette retorts.

"Yeah, ghosts?" I question.

"Ghosts," the black haired one replies.

"I'm sorry, you said your name was Duchess?" the blonde one asks for confirmation and I nod, "I'm Alex."

"Nice to meet you Alex, and you two are..." I trail off, looking to the other two.

"I'm Reggie," the black haired one responds with a goofy smile.

"And I'm Luke," the brunette says, putting his hand out for a handshake which I oblige to.

"Wait a minute," I say, snapping my fingers, "You three look familiar, but I can't quite place it."

"Oh! We're in a band," Luke says, with a golden retriever smile, "Sun-"

"Holy Shit! You're Sunset Curve!" I exclaim.

"She knows us," Reggie says looking at the other two proudly.

"Well, yeah! You guys are awesome!" I say.

Then we hear footsteps and I grab them, "She's coming back, let's hide!"

Julie then walks into the studio cautiously holding a cross out in front of her and scanning the area.

"Are you still here...whatever you are?" she asks, still scanning the garage. She walks to the piano and drops her hands to her sides, "I know I saw something. I'm not crazy."

This prompts the boys and I to poof behind her.

"Well we're all a little crazy," Luke says with a grin, causing Julie to throw the cross in front of her again, screaming.

"Oh my god! Please stop screaming!" Alex pleads with her and she obeys.

"Who are you, and what are you doing in my mom's studio?" she demands, quite fairly, I mean how would you react if three dudes and a gal just showed up while you were listening to music?

"Your mom's studio?" Luke questions, walking towards Julie and she shoves her cross in front of him, causing him to raise his arms in surrender, "This is our studio," Luke says cockily, which does NOT check out.

He begins circling around her, shifting across the piano as she chases him with the cross, "Trust me, my... The grand piano is new, and... and... and..." ," he stammers, getting off the piano as Julie shoves the cross in the rest of our faces.

He then screams, "My couch!" through some giggles before throwing himself onto the couch I've been sleeping on for the last couple of months. He sighs happily before looking at a guitar beside the couch, "That is definitely not my six-string."

He sits on the couch for a second, looking really confused before looking around the studio and at the ceiling. He then walks over the coffee table asking, "Can you give me just one second?" while Julie still shoves the cross in his face, causing him to stammer and back up to the boys and I, "Just...give me a second. Thank you."

He then brings the guys into a huddle, which I decide to stay out of. I instead walk over to Julie who, surprise, shoves the cross in my face.

"I come in peace and mean no harm," I say, raising my arms in surrender. "I don't know these guys so I'm just gonna stay out of their huddle, is that okay?" I ask, Julie just shrugs her shoulders but keeps her cross in front of her keeping me at arms-length.

The guys whisper in their huddle for a few moments and while I don't hear much, I think they called Julie a witch. I mean, I don't know much about witches, I think Wiccans are pretty cool, but I don't think they hold crosses, I think that's kinda the opposite of witches, but whatever.

Julie and I share a look and then we here Alex say "Ok, let someone," he puts his hand on his chest, "with a softer touch handle this."

Alex then proceeds to walk a couple feet from the others and look at Julie and I, then he yells, "Why are you in our studio?"

Wow, so much for a softer touch.

Julie gives him a look before stepping forward and pushing her cross through him, she pulls it out and looks at it, "Oh my gosh! How did you do that?" she demands.

I step closer to the boys and Alex looks a little fed up, "Clearly, you're not understanding," he turns to us, "She doesn't get it. Okay, look. We're ghosts, all right? We're just four ghosts, and three of us are really happy to be home. So, thank you for the flowers. They really brighten up the room," he says sarcastically before stepping back to the rest of us.

Luke then pipes up, "We're in a band called Sunset Curve."

Reggie chimes in, "Tell your friends," and I smile, thinking of how I used to say that.

"Oh, them, not me, I'm not with them," I stammer, realizing Julie might've thought I was.

"Last night was supposed to be a really big night for us. It was gonna change our lives," Luke says seriously. It confuses me because they died like ten years before me, wait- they were probably in the dark room even longer than I was. Shit, how am I gonna break it to them?

Alex leans into Luke and kinda whispers, "I'm, uh...I'm pretty sure it did."

Julie shakes her head, lowers the cross and takes out her phone, "This is freaking me out," then she holds the cross in front of us again.

Luke is the first to question the device in her hand, "What is that? What are you doing?"

"It's my phone," Julie deadpans, before smiling to herself, "No! Stop talking to them. They aren't real. There's no such thing as cute ghosts."

Reggie smirks at this, "Oh, think we're cute?" making Julie give him a look, they seem to be earning a lot of these Look™'s so they do.

Julie begins tapping on her phone and Alex seems interested, "Who ya callin'?"

"I'm Googling Sunset Swerve," she looks at us.

"Sunset Curve," we all correct her, Reggie and I even drawing curves in the air.

Julie looks back to her phone and reads what it says, "Whoa, there is a Sunset Curve. You did die. But not last night."

The boys all look confused and I know now that this is the moment of truth, even Julie looks confused as she tells them, "Twenty-five years ago?"

Reggie is the first to object, "What? No. No, no, no. Th-th- that's impossible. After we floated out of the ambulance, all we did was go to that weird, dark room where Alex cried."

It seems like Alex didn't appreciate the call out and so he begins to protest. In a very high-pitched voice, "Well...I don't think...I think we were all pretty upset. Okay."

"But that was just like for an hour," Luke says, looking to Julie again, "we just showed up here."

Julie shows us her phone, "Look. I'm just telling you what my phone says," and the boys all lean in to see the writing, "See? You died in 1995. When you were 17. It's now 2020," she reveals.

The realization on their faces is almost heart breaking, Reggie being the first to speak, "So, this is the future?"

Julie rolls her eyes and takes back her phone. Alex then seems to go into panic mode, "Wait. So... So, it has been 25 years? I have been crying for 25 years? How is that possible?!"

"Well, you're a very emotional person," Reggie immediately rationalizes.

"I am not!" Alex protests, emotionally.

"Wait, what about you? Sunset Curve was a boy band," Julie turns to me.

"Oh, I was in a different band," I begin, "Called Moonrise Edge. We were kinda big locally in 2005, we started because of Sunset Curve, actually."

The grins on the boys' faces were enormous as I continue, "I was also gonna have a big gig before I died."

Then Carlos walks into the garage and I hold my finger to my lips when he sees me. He talks to Julie, "Thought you were afraid to come out here."

The boys part for Carlos to have an unobstructed path to Julie. He smiles crossing his arms as he asks, "You talking to your ghost friend? How does he look? Is he hideous?"

I giggle at the questions, I know that was half his intention, so I let him have this one.

Alex moves and looks at Reggie, "He can see you," I snort at the accusation.

Julie, being a dumbass, looks to Alex and says, "No, he can't."

Carlos looks around him and I cover my mouth, trying not to let it slip he can see me, "What?" he asks.

Julie just shakes her head lightly and tries to change the topic, "Uh...what do you want?"

"A normal sister, for starters," I had to bite my lip so that I didn't laugh at that one, "Stop being weird and come eat," I wink at him and he nods his head so discreetly I almost missed it, then he leaves.

We all turn to Julie and you can almost hear the cogs turning in her head.

"He couldn't see you," she states dumbly. I'm gonna let the boys handle this one, lying to your new friend isn't the best way to start a friendship.

"Yeah. I mean, that's..." Alex trails off, "usually how ghosts work."

Julie sighs and walks to the entrance of the garage.

"Look, I'm very sorry for what happened to you all, but this isn't your studio anymore. You have to leave," she lays down the law. This is gonna make it very awkward for me, I've been staying here these past few months, I can't just up and leave, I've got nowhere to go. Julie begins to leave but then Luke stops her.

"But wait. We..." he trails off as she turns around, "We didn't get your name."

"It's Julie," she states simply.

"Cool," he chuckles, "I-I'm Luke-"

He cuts himself off as Julie brings back the cross of doom, "by...by the way. And this is," he waves his hand and Reggie takes over.

"Reggie. I'm Reggie," he smiles, "Hey."

Luke then points to Alex, "And..."

"Alex. How's it going?" the blonde boy asks.

"And finally," Luke points to me.

"Oh! I'm, uh, I'm Duchess," I stutter, not expecting to be included in their little intro thing.

Luke then shows us off with his hands, softly saying, "Ba-da."

Julie eyes us all before shrugging, "Okay?" and walking off.

We all look at each other and Reggie breaks the silence with a goofy smile, "Julie seems nice."

"Did you miss the part where she kicked us out or..?" Alex asks rhetorically and when Reggie looks stunned, he just sighs, "Yes. Okay."

They then all look at me expectantly, "What? Why are you looking at me?" I ask.

"Moonrise Edge, huh?" Luke smiles that golden retriever smile.

"Yeah," I say shyly, "My cousin's friend showed me your demo and I fell in love with it, so I showed my friends Dani and Mari and together we formed Moonrise Edge. The name was a joke at first but it kinda stuck."

"Well, I think that's adorable," Luke says with a shit-eating grin.

"Shut up," I say, playfully punching his arm.

"So, how good were you guys?" Alex asks.

"We were alright I guess, good enough to be asked to be the opening act for the Orpheum," I say nonchalantly.

"The Orpheum? Dude that's rad! How did it go?" Luke questions me.

"I... I wish I could tell you, I actually died before I got to play," I sigh, tugging on my red and black striped sleeves.

"Oh, sorry, we are so sorry," Alex apologizes immediately.

"Yeah, dude, we had no idea," Luke says sincerely, "Wait, you're alright with me calling you dude, right?"

"Yeah, call me dude, bro, whatever you want, man," I say, glad to have more friends now. As much as I love Carlos, he's still a kid and he has school and all, and he's living! So it's fun to have dead friends.

"You okay there Reg?" Alex asks the bassist, "You're a little quiet."

"She's just really pretty," Reggie mumbles and I feel myself blush.

"Thank you Reggie," I look down at my red converse, "You're not so bad yourself."

"Hey, wanna go see what Julie's doing?" Luke begins bouncing on his toes.

"Sure, lead the way," I say, grabbing Reggie as we follow Luke.

"She said she was going to ea- Aw, whatever, they're already halfway there," Alex sighs before following us.

We walk through the door, Alex, then Luke, then me and then Reggie behind me, who trips before standing up straight. I then turn and see Tía Victoria is here, which can only mean that she's here trying to help the Molinas but is secretly kind of annoying them instead.

"You've gotta rip that band-aid off and get the pain over with," Victoria says, it becomes clear to me that she's talking about them moving to a new house.

We all walk over to the table and Julie yells, I put my fingers to my lips signaling her to shut it, and we all stop suddenly. Julie realizes her mistake as Victoria and Ray give her strange looks. Carlos looks to me and I just mime zipping my mouth, so he does.

"That's me. Ripping off the band-aid," Julie chuckles awkwardly trying to hide her mistake, "Aah!"

Carlos points to her, helping her hide her slip up.

"There's my brave girl," Victoria says, holding Julie by her chin before turning away.

Luke takes this as an opportunity to talk to Julie.

"Hey, Julie, I really like what you guys did with the place," he says, standing close to her.

Julie slips up again by sternly telling Luke, "You shouldn't be here."

Victoria gasps and assures her, "Oh, I'm just here to help, mija."

Julie looks around worriedly and Alex pulls Luke back, "I think that's our cue to leave."

"I mean, you should be at Pilates," Julie corrects her previous statement, hugging her aunt, "Thanks for bringing us food."

She gives us a Look™ and Reggie turns to us, "We should've called first."

"No doy!" I say, grabbing his and Luke's arms and begin dragging them out.

"Hey! You pulled me here!" Reggie protest.

"Shhh, doesn't matter," I say, putting a finger to his lips and he shuts up.

We get back to the studio and Luke sees a piece of paper on the piano.

"What's this?" he asks, reading over it.

"It looks like a song," Reggie says, reading it over Luke's shoulder.

"It's really good," I say, also reading it.

Then I remember something, "Hey, did you guys leave your stuff here, because there are some old instruments in the loft."

"Yeah! Thanks Duchess!" Luke says.

"No problem, here, I'll help you get them down!" I say, poofing up to the loft and slowly bringing down Alex's drums, the others can get their guitars no problem. After they get their stuff down they admire it all.

"Want us to play something for ya? A little private Sunset Curve concert?" Reggie asks.

"Sure, if you guys don't mind," I say, sitting on Luke's couch.

They count off and then start playing, they sound great and it's pretty fun to see Reggie and Luke hopping around when they're playing guitar.

Then Julie walks in and my eyes widen, she does not look happy. She stomps her feet and starts yelling.

"Guys! Guys, stop! Enough! Stop! Cut it out!"

Luke is the first to notice but instead of stopping he starts riffing. Reggie realizes next and immediately stops playing, then Alex realizes and while stopping he does a little ba dum, and smiles. I get off the couch and walk over to the guys as Julie folds her arms and begins scolding us like children.

"The whole neighborhood could hear you. I thought I told you to leave."

Instead of taking on board the scolding we all think of something else, Luke is the first to say it though, "Wait. People can hear us play?"

"Yes! And so did my dad and my brother!" Julie rants, furiously.

Alex stands up and Luke and Reggie remove their guitar straps. Alex is next to speak, "W-w-wait. Wait. So, only you can see us, but everyone can hear us?" he sounds super excited and it's adorable.

"I mean, what kind of ghosts are we?" he asks.

"Who cares, man? People can hear us play!" Luke is super stoked about this fact, bumping fists with the rest of us ghosts.

"We might be dead, but our music isn't" Reggie smiles proudly, bumping fists with Alex and me.

"Wait? Can people hear me play?" I raise an eyebrow and they look to me.

"I don't know, maybe?" Luke says, handing me his guitar, "Let's find out!"

I begin with a small riff and then Ray walks through the garage door, and I take off the guitar and set it down. "I think so," I whispered.

"Dad!" Julie looks to him.

"Hey," he responds, and we all look to him, "Just making sure you're okay."

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just had to turn off the CD player. It was a bit delayed, you know, because it's old," she lies.

Ray turns and looks at us ghosts, well, at our instruments, he can't actually see us. "Wait. Is this the junk that was in the loft?" he asks, and honestly I'm offended on the guys' behalf.

"Junk?" Luke says, not happy with the description of the band's equipment.

Ray moves over to Alex's drums and taps them with his hands, Alex does not seem happy about this, this doesn't faze Ray though.

"Some of this stuff's in pretty good shape," he comments, putting his foot on the pedal and circling his hands on the cymbals a couple times, "Hey, maybe we can make a couple bucks."

This is the last straw for Alex, "What? Yo, stop touching my drums! Tell him to stop touching my drums!"

We all kinda look to Julie, because come on man, this is Alex's stuff, but Julie just shrugs her shoulders. When Ray finally steps away Alex tends to his cymbals.

"I liked that song you had on," Ray comments.

"Sweet!" Luke exclaims, "We're Sunset Curve."

"Tell your friends," Reggie and I chime in and Reggie gives me a smile.

"It's just an old CD I found," Julie explains, emphasizing on old, ouch.

"Well, still, it's nice that you're listening to music again," Ray tells her, and it is, Julie hasn't really done much to do with music at all since I got here, he then flings his hands through Luke and Reggie, "Out here you can play whatever you want, whenever you want."

The guys gasp, not used to lifers phasing through them, they smile, and Reggie clearly thinks that Reggie is doing some good parenting, "That's nice."

Julie doesn't really care for this commentary, opting instead to forget we're ghosts and tell us to, "Stay out of this."

Ray, the poor guy, thinks she's talking to him and apologizes, "I-I'm sorry, honey. I didn't..."

Julie panics and immediately tries to correct herself, "Oh no, no, no, no. Not you. I mean... Uh... Er...You know, give me a minute," she grabs her dad's hand and leads him to the garage doors.

"Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey. We're gonna figure out this music program thing," Ray reassures her.

"Thanks, Dad," Julie thanks him, she puts her hands on his and then juts her thumb towards the doors and he leaves.

Reggie and I wave to him, me out of habit, I've basically adopted him as my dad, I help him out here and there when he doesn't know it. It's mostly just moving his keys or phone towards him because he always seems to lose them.

Julie closes the door and the guys, and I begin to converse. "He likes our song," Luke smiles.

"Oh yeah. He doesn't count," Alex quickly objects, "He's a dad."

"He may not be the demographic, but he still likes it," I protest.

"Why can't you guys just be normal ghosts?" Julie questions and we turn to her, "Hang out at an old mansion. I hear Pasadena's nice!"

"Ugh!" she huffs and leaves the garage.

"I think she's warming up to us," Alex states sarcastically.

"Yeah, I've always wanted to go to Pasadena," Reggie says, head in the clouds.

"Gimme a second guys," Luke says and he poofs out.

"What is he doing?" I ask Alex and Reggie.

"He's probably going to talk to Julie, maybe try to convince her to let us stay," Alex explains.

"Yeah, he's always been passionate about music so finding out we can still play, and people can hear is like a massive deal for him," Reggie continues.

"Let's go see what she says," I say and all three of us poof out of the studio.

"I'm sorry you had a bad day," I hear Luke, "But three guys just found out that they had a bad 25 years, and a girl found out she had a bad 15 years, and then they found out that the one thing, the one thing they lived for in the first place they can still do. That's pretty rad."

Personally I think it was a great speech, until he ruined it with the super old outdated slang.

"You're right," Julie says, "It's just..."

"Your bad day," Luke finishes for her, "Yeah, I know."

He turns around a bit the guys and I kinda hide, "Look, I'm sorry we came into your life, but...what I just felt in there actually made me feel alive again. We all felt alive again. So, you can kick us out if you want, but we're not giving up music," he starts to get really excited again, "We can play again. That's a gift no musician would ever turn down!"

Ouch, that's gotta sting for Julie. She just looks at him with a deadpan face and he sighs.

"You gotta know that. Clearly, your mom was into music," oof, bad move Luke.

"Was," Julie corrects, with sorrow in her voice, "She passed away."

Luke face contorts as he realizes, "I am... so sorry."

"Yeah, we... we didn't know," Alex pitches in.

Julie just sighs, "It's all right."

She then takes a second to think to herself, "None of you have seen her anywhere, have you? From wherever you're from."

The guys and I shake our heads as Alex speaks, "Um... No. no, I mean, you're kind of the first person we've seen."

"Yeah, but she's not dead, so it doesn't answer her question," Reggie points out.

"But I am, and I'm the first ghost you've seen," I chip in.

"Yeah. I think she knows what we mean," Alex says exasperatedly, before turning back to Julie, "I'm sorry for your loss."

"Thanks," Julie says, then she apologizes "Sorry I got mad. You guys are kinda good."

This makes Luke perk up, "Kinda? Y-Y-You know that likes 25 and 15 years of rust just getting dusted off," he makes a dusting motion with his hands and all of us ghosts smile.

"Yeah. Do you play the piano too?" Reggie questions, I wait to see how she'll tackle the question curiously because I know that she did.

"No. No, I don't play," Julie immediately denies, there's my answer, "That was my mom's stuff in there."

"No way. She's an amazing songwriter," Luke comments.

"She's incredible," I add on.

"She was," Julie looks at the ground, "Wait. How would you know?"

Luke opens his mouth, then closes it before opening it again to speak, "There's a song on the piano. If it's hers..." he trails off.

"Your mom was really talented," I finish for him, "Like super talented."

Julie nods before looking to all of us, she begins to walk away before turning back to us, "I guess... if you need a place to stay... you can stay in there," she gestures to the garage.

We all begin to smile as she continues, "There's a bathroom in the back and a couch that turns into a bed if you still use any of that stuff."

"Dibs on the shower!" Reggie raises his hand before I can get a word out.

"Damnit!" I swear and the others look at us weirdly.

"I just really like showers," he explains.

"Same, and sometimes the occasional bath," I continue, and he snaps his finger pointing to me in agreement.

The others shake their heads at us, and Julie speaks again, "This..." she shakes her head and gestures to us ghosties, mainly Reggie and I, "This is just too weird."

She then leaves, closing the gate behind her. We all squeal and chuckle, high fiving each other and go back into the garage.

♪°•°∞°•°♪°•°∞°•°♪°•°∞°•°♪°•°∞°•°♪

[himbowelsh]

25 for the intimacy prompts and andyeddie? Id youre ok with pacific characters of course :)

intimacy prompts  ( accepting! )

25.  dancing

highkey this is my first time ever writing them, and i’m not sure i got their characterization down, but i was excited  ---

A pub in central Melbourne, just skirting the heart of the nightlife district — it stands to reason on a night like this, it wouldn’t be empty.

Still, Andy hadn’t expected just how crowded it would be. Every marine and their brother, it seems, is taking advantage of their temporary leave. Not all of them have passes, no doubt, but they’ve all slipped out tonight to enjoy themselves... Melbourne is a completely foreign city, where none of the locals know their names, and there are so many uniformed men about that it’s easy to melt into a crowd. There’s no better place to get lost.

“I think,” he remarks over the deafening band, passing Eddie a fresh drink, “we should try to find another place.”

“What?” Eddie hollers back — or so Andy gathers from the motion of his mouth. The actual sound is swept away in the crowd.

“I said we should go somewhere else!”

“Yeah!” Eddie nods enthusiastically, though one look at his face let’s Andy know he didn’t pick up a word. His eyes glitter with amusement, mouth tight at the corners like he’s fighting back a grin. “You sure are, Skipper!”

“You need to work on your lip reading,” Andy declares.

“Good drink!” says Eddie, and takes a sip to prove it. 

Andy nurses his own beer, leaning his weight back on his heels as he surveys the chaotic crowd. It must be a fire hazard, so many men packed in here... they’re practically body to body on the dance floor, bashing into each other with every wild swing step. This is a recipe for a brawl. Say a few hot-bloods look at each other the wrong way after a few pints too many... but for now, it’s peaceful. Chaos, sure, but a kind of peaceful chaos. The kind that two officers, passes in their pockets and the ability to look the other direction, have no need to break up at the moment.

Instead, Andy soaks in the pulsing music, and the familiar presence of Eddie at his shoulder. Eddie’s always there; he’s the most consistent thing in this entire, chaotic war, and Andy depends on him as much here as he does in combat. A dance hall is a battle field of a different kind. While becoming familiar with one, Andy’s fallen out of practice with the other; it’s been a long time since he was out dancing.

There were dances aplenty back at Bowdoin. Andy never missed a single one, but it wasn’t out of real desire; as  football captain, it was simply expected of him. He couldn’t let the team down; even when forced to turn down invitation after invitation, from girls with rouge on their lips and hope in their eyes, he always felt a pang of regret. Most of the time, they were mere acquaintances; he could never understand why they pinned their hopes on a date with him, but they always seemed to wilt at his inevitable response. Andy was not a man for swinging and revelry. He never... felt inclined. Same for the cheerleaders who blew kisses across the practice field, or the sweet girls in short skirts who served the team refreshments during the games. Andy attended each party because it was expected of him, but he never put any more of himself into it. He smiled, he was polite, and went home at the end of the night usually-sober, with plans for the next day’s practice running through his head.

“A naturalborn captain,” one of his teammates teased him, “but a hell of a bore at parties.”

Maybe so. Andy isn’t entirely sure what he’s even doing here, out on the town tonight. It hadn’t been his first idea... but Eddie suggested, insisted, and he’s learned in a very short time that he’s awful at denying Eddie anything.

A weight presses against his arm, and Eddie murmurs over the crowd, something Andy doesn’t catch. When Andy turns to look at him, Eddie’s closer, craning towards Andy’s ear. They end up almost nose to nose, and Andy chuckles after a beat, leaning back.

He expects Eddie to echo his earlier suggestion, eager to make themselves scarce. Instead, he’s surprised. “How ‘bout a dance?”

Andy spins back around. This time, it’s his turn to mouth, “What?”

“A dance!” Either Eddie’s better at shouting over a crowd, or Andy’s suddenly so alert he can make out every word. It helps that Eddie’s miming the motions as he speaks them. He’d make a terrible mime.

Andy casts a glance around, hoping the distraction masks his obvious reluctance. To his relief, there are no free partners in sight. Every single woman has been claimed by a marine already... and there are about three men in the pub to each woman, so the ratio is skewed. Most of the men who haven’t been able to find a partner are crowded around the edges of the room, drinking and talking among themselves. The girls are busy in the center of the room, flitting from Marine to Marine with each song. If they want to claim a partner for the next dance, they’ll probably have to get in line.

If he wanted to disguise his hesitance, relief is no doubt clear in his eyes when he turns back to Eddie. “There’re no partners,” he replies, gesturing around them for emphasis. “Afraid we can’t do it.”

“Funny,” says Eddie, and Andy only catches the words because he’s watching him so raptly. “I’ve never known you to be afraid of anything.”

Nothing in the world, from gunfire in the rainforests to corpses piling on a white sand beach, can stop Andy in his tracks as neatly as that stare. Eddie stares like he knows something you don’t, and wants to make sure you at least know that much, even if he’s got no intention of letting you in on the secret. Sometimes Eddie’s stares are promises... and sometimes they leave Andy feeling cursed. It’s hard to tell what this one means, but it sets every last of his nerves alight, vibrating with a nervous energy that he’s only ever felt before a big game or battle.

Why the hell is Eddie looking at him like that?

Maybe he misheard, or misread the motion of Eddie’s lips. That’d explain it. Andy take comfort in that thought, and another long sip of beer. It chills his insides, offering him an alternative to the sweltering Melbourne night. Part of him hopes it will deliver him from Eddie too... but when he looks over again, the other man is still watching him, intent as ever.

He could come up with something smart to say, but the effect’s lost when you can barely hear yourself think. He could try to lure a girl off the dance floor, even if it means they have to share her. He could take the lead out of the pub, trusting Eddie to follow at his heels, like he can always be counted on to do.

Instead, Andy holds out a hand — and, before Eddie can process it, takes his friend’s in his own. “Alright,” he says. “Let’s dance.”

Eddie’s gaze lingers on their joined hands for a few seconds, and Andy sees the question there... but then Eddie looks up, and his face is set, and he’s wearing that familiar determination. Something in Andy gets stronger too, strong enough to pull Eddie out into the sea of dancers.

Whatever tune the band’s struck up, it’s a roaring good time. When carried by such lovely music, it’s impossible to hold still; in the midst of a sea of people spinning and swinging, Andy and Eddie are forced closer. For a moment, it feels like all eyes are on them — two officers, two men dancing with each other in public — but Andy doesn’t have to look hard to realize they’re not the only ones. A number of guys have joined up with each other, in lieu of female company. On a night like this, with drinks flowing and music playing, it’d be a shame to not enjoy it.

Eddie certainly is. His earlier miming did absolutely no credit to his dancing skill; he’s light on his feet, moving with a grace few people in the hall, even the ladies, can mimic. He more than makes up for Andy’s clumsiness. When Andy sways, uncertain of the steps, Eddie shows him; a twist here, a turn there, take a step here just to avoid being slammed into by another couple... honestly, most of the dance is just trying to avoid crashing into other people, but the longer they go on, the more Andy finds — to his own surprise — that he’s having fun.

Eddie’s wearing his grin again — that restrained, close-lipped smile, teasing at something more without ever really revealing it. He’s good at that, leaving Andy wondering. He wonders where Eddie learned to dance... wonders if this is his first time dancing with a man. Eddie slips into leading so naturally that he must be accustomed to female partners... but Andy, never a natural on his feet, does not mind being led. It’s so much easier to follow in Eddie’s wake, focusing only on his smile and the light touch of his hands on his forearms. He moves them both along. Andy trusts in him with every step, and Eddie returns it threefold every time they avoid crashing into another dancing couple.

“You’ve got a talent,” Andy declares after the first song fades away into a slower second. There’s no need to mime; they’re close enough to hear each other over the din.

“Don’t go complimenting me now,” Eddie replies. “I’ll get all bashful.”

“That would be a shame. We’re getting along so well, this far.” 

“I’ve gotta tell you, Skipper...” Eddie leans in closer, and it feels intimate somehow, the way his words graze Andy’s cheek. “You’re a fine date, but a shit dancer.”

“And you’re a gentleman, clearly.” Andy fights back a laugh as he leans back, unwilling to give Eddie the satisfaction. His cheeks feel warm, but that could be the drinks, or the crowd, or the exertion... a thousand excuses that don’t involve Eddie’s rough hand, so gentle around his wrist. “You know this song?” he asks, eager for a distraction.

“A bit. Heard it on the radio, but never tried to play it myself before.” Eddie’s lips twitch. “My old girl’s not much for love songs. She gets jealous.”

Andy’s struck dumb, in the few seconds it takes to realize Eddie’s not talking about a girlfriend back home, but his much-doted-on guitar. Talk about the love of a man’s life. “That’s a shame. You treat her so well.”

“Sure, but I’ve never danced with her like this. She’d be snapping her strings with jealousy about now.”

Andy can’t help chuckling. For a moment, his gaze flutters away... but when it strays back, Eddie is still watching him, with an expression on his face Andy can’t hope to decode. The curve of his lips is an enigma. That brightness in his eyes, flaring and crackling like firecrackers on the Fourth of July, draws Andy in and refuses to let him go.

He’s making more of this than it is. Were there other options, a beautiful woman at hand, Eddie would not be dancing with him. That dark gaze would be sparkling at someone else, that smirk reserved for another person’s pleasure. Whatever hum of exhilaration buzzes in the pit of Andy’s stomach, there’s no good reason for it… because whatever this is, it’s not intimacy. It isn’t theirs.

“I see,” Eddie says, and Andy’s attention is jerked rapidly back to the present. “You’re caught up in your own head. Even while dancing. No wonder you’ve stepped on my toes twice now.”

“Have I?” He hadn’t noticed. Andy’s alarmed to realize how close he came to doing it a third time, but when he looks up, Eddie looks painfully tolerant.

“I’ve had worse.”

“Not from me.”

“Nah.” Eddie’s eyes soften. “But if I win a Purple Heart for dancing with my captain, I’m not inclined to turn it down.”

Maybe that’s what this is to Eddie — a favor. Maybe he just thought Andy needed the release of a dance so desperately that it was worth biting the bullet himself. Would he have come out tonight, were Andy not with him? Would he be enjoying himself more?

Something in his face must falter, because Eddie catches it. A line appears between his brows as they draw together; a second later, he turns them both, Andy drawn along by the momentum. He almost loses his footing, but Eddie’s grip on his upper arm steadies him. He ends up half-braced against the other man; as he straightens up, he unconsciously leans into Eddie’s chest.

“Now, don’t think I’m trying to sweep you off your feet or anything…”

Andy draws back to blink at him.

“Because I’m not.” Oh yes, Eddie is inappropriately amused now. He's finding this entire situation hilarious. While his lieutenant’s sense of humor occasionally soars three feet to the left of Andy’s head, he can never resent it. Not in the face of that smirk, or the way Eddie’s eyes gleam like turquoise gems buried in the sand. Even if it’s at his expense… Andy would like to see Eddie happy forever.

“You’re hardly courting me,” Andy replies with a restrained smirk of his own, as they spin out of the path of several more couples. “We’re just dancing.”

“Completely casual thing for men to do in a time of war.”

“I prefer this sort of dance to one with a dagger at my throat.”

Eddie’s gaze seems to linger on his throat for too long, but Andy can’t be certain. His heart is pounding so hard, it’s drowning out the music. Can’t Eddie hear it? Can’t he feel it?

To distract from his own anxiety, Andy gives Eddie a short tug. It nearly takes him off his feet; Eddie huffs in surprise, steadying them both with the casual grace that never fails him. His hand trails down Andy’s arm as they sway in time to the music. It’s absurd how breathless Andy feels. They’re not dancing that hard; he’s got no excuse.

“Out of breath, Skipper?” A glaze of concern masks the obvious tease. “We can sit, if you need to.”

“After just one dance?” Andy crooks an eyebrow. “I’d be disappointed in myself.”

Eddie’s hand finds purchase on his elbow and stays there, guiding them both along. Andy’s own hand came to rest somewhere on his shoulders, but they wander as if they’ve got a will of their own. He doesn’t realize he’s touching the muscles of Eddie’s back until his dance partner shifts against him, rolling his shoulders in time with the music. Andy jumps, and begins to move on instinct… but Eddie’s grip on his arm tightening urges him to stay.

“So long as you’re alright,” Eddie says, holding his eye for a beat too long. Andy stares back at him; somewhere deep down, a well of resilience he hadn’t realized he possessed, the same one that got him through Guadalcanal unbroken, forces its way upwards. He nods, jaw setting, and a tension in Eddie’s face melts away.

“Alright, then.” He looks relaxed — truly relaxed, for the first time since they got here, and it can’t be blamed on the drink alone… Andy’s heart stutters in his chest at the way his Lieutenant smiles, and he finds himself grinning back. Eddie Jones in peacetime is handsomer than any white-sand beach of glittering coastline this part of the world can provide. He’s all those things and more, rolled into an impeccably competent package, and Andy’s holding him in his arms.

To think, just a month ago, neither of them thought they’d make it off that island in one piece. Who could have imagined this?

Here and now, with Eddie leading them both along to the music, Andy feels… content. Content, maybe, for the first time since this entire war began — happier than he’s been since finding Eddie alive after a brutal firefight, when reports first pinned him as KIA, happier than he was seeing Eddie emerge from those jungles, mud-splattered but whole. This sort of war doesn’t allow men much happiness. If they find it here, in a last-resort dance that might mean everything or nothing at all…

Well, Andy will settle. He’s gotten good at that.

“When’s the last time you danced?” Eddie inquires, leaning in to murmur the words in his low, husky tone.

Andy doesn’t lean back. Instead, he lets his answer brush Eddie’s cheek as he replies. “This is a first for me.” His hand steadies itself on Eddie’s back, the other running slowly up his arm. The other man relaxes against his touch. Andy smiles. “And I’ve got to say… it’s a dance to remember.”

[ecmlol]

“ I don’t know. I’ll have to ask my mom. Why?”jude asked

“ well there is a guy name bigbro925 that catch my attention. He thinking the picture is tacky and youit would look better in black and white.”

“ well his birthday would be 9/25 if he’s old because I was a early morning baby I think my mom said something like 12:10 so if he was born 11 minutes before me that would be the day before.”

Noah clicks on bigbro925 page.There are a lot of pictures of dogs, food and landscapes.

“ gotcha you. I found selfies kinda”noah shows jude

“ wow that’s just amazing. “Jude says as he sees the first picture of his brother.

Brandon is sitting on a couch with a goatee and a clean cut hair style that looks very much like Jude’s .

“ I don’t know how it’s even possible that you could be even hotter. You’d look great with a goate.” Noah say

“You think?”

“ definitely “noah say.

“ next year for your birthday I’ll grow one for you for a couple of weeks.”jude says

“ only if you want to”noah say

“ sure why not I like the extra sleeping in time in the summer.”jude says

“ me too.I miss your longer hair too.”Noah says running his hand over Jude’s newly cut hair. Noah give Jude’s hair a little tug at the nape.

Noah smiles and kisses Jude’s cheeks. Jude gets goosebumps

“ so do you think I should respond to your brother? “

“ I don’t know but I think you want to.”Jude say

“You know me so well” noah smiles

Noah goes back to his picture and goes to the comments.

“ I will let my husband know. Send” noah say.

Noah looks at Jude and shrugs.

“ I’m trying to be nice to him. You don’t want to antagonize someone like him. I maybe nuts but I’m not stupid.”

“ you said it not me “ jude says with a small smile.

“ haha let’s get going you don’t want to be late to meet officer Murray.”

Jude and Noah headed to the bathroom to get really for the day.

Noah is driving because he wasn’t staying at work he was heading to his old apartment to check on Jamie after dropping off jude with his personal body guard.

Jamie is sitting on the couch doing homework when there a knock on the door.

At first Jamie didn’t know if she should get it or just sit there.

“ Noah should have his key” jamie says to herself. Jamie gets up and takes the headphones off her belly.

Earlier in the week pax sent flowers to the apartment. Normally Jamie would have gotten rid of them but she felt like the apartment need some color.

The door opens and Noah pokes his head in.

“ you dress?”

“ yeah of course”

“ ok just checking” noah walks in carrying a body pillow.

“ is that for me ?”jamie say as she gets up.

“ of course “

“ I’m really happy you came over. I felt her move this morning!This time I know for sure it was her and not gas!”jamie says will a smile.

“ that so awesome. I can wait to feel her kick. If that’s ok”

“ of course “

“ thank you”

“ oh I started to put the headphones on my belly so she can hear yours and Jude voices. I don’t know if she can head it but that’s when I felt her move the first time for sure.”

“ thanks I want her to be comfortable with our voices if that’s even possible.”noah says

“ I’m sure she will. I think you have a nice voice I’m sure she will think so too.

The pop of colors from the flowers on the counter catches Noah’s eye.

“ owww flowers.”

“ yeah about those pax sent them to say sorry”

“He hasn’t been back has he?”

“ no not yet but I’m sorta thinking he will come by at some points.”

“ you don’t think you might need a restraining order do you?”

“I hope not that seems a little extreme don’t you thing. I can handle myself.”jamie say

“ ok.”noah says

At the arena Jude and Murray are doing Jude’s daily walk around. This is the time of the day that jude sees the progress on any repairs that are being done on the arena.

Jude and Murray make small talk as they walk the arena.

“Have you seen the new lays potato chips?”Murray asked

“No I haven’t my husband loves chips though what flavor s are they” jude asks

As Murray tells jude about the pizza flavored chips she gets hit with the feeling that they are being watched.

“ oh those sound good”

“ they taste just like pizza.”

Murray steps a little closer to jude.

“ do you feel like we’re being watched?”

Jude look over his shoulder he sees something move in his peripheral vision.jude quickly turns. Off in the distance jude and Murray hear someone knocking things over like someone is running into thing as they try and get away.

“ Sooo I know it’s none of my business but why am I here.”Murray ask.

Jude has a quick flash back of the first time jude was at Noah’s apartment.

“ Well my husband thinks I’m in danger ...”

“Of....”

“ my ...brother”

“ oh..”

“Identical twin brother “

“ well fuck us.a evil twin. No wonder why my boss told me to pay close attention to your cloth and hands”

“ my hands?”

“ your rings. You wear a lot of rings for a man.”

“ ah ok.”jude wears his engagements and his wedding band and the devil chapionship ring.

“In the back of my head I sorta thought about a double or something. I looked you up and you have one sister but nothing about a twin.”

“ well I just found out and I haven’t even spoken to him yet. Your very good at your research my sister has been mentioned once In social media.”

“Your husband mentioned her once”

Jude nod.

“ ok we need a plan.

Jude sighs

Jude is tired of all the passwords and plans. It seems like Noah is coming up with something new everyday. Even Their back up plans have back up plans. Why should she be any different.

“ ok what’s the plan?” Jude say with fake interest not wanting to make her feel like he is undermining her trying to do her job.

Around the corner Brandon is fumbling to get away when he runs into Snow the security guard.

“ ah huh” snow say.

“ sorry .”

“ your fine what’s the rush and where’s Murray at?”

“ bathroom. I have to go”

“ well have a good one. Mr. kinkade.” Snows says and heads in the same direction as Brandon.

A few minutes later jude and Murray come across Snow.

“ Mr kinkade it a pleasure to see you as always”

“ hi have you seen anything unusual today?”Jude say

“ matter of fact I have your brother just left.” Snow says.

“ you know? How”?”

“ I use to work closely with your father. Let’s say we keep I touch.”jude has never noticed how well groomed the older man is or how expensive his taste in watches are.yes he’s head of security at the arena but what’s his story? Jude thought.

Wow married to a reporter for a couples of weeks has already starting to rub off on him Jude thought to himself.

“Your father and me go all the back to before you two were even born. I was a police officer that came to a call at a accident your father had. Our long time arrangement didn’t happen until a few weeks later when we met again when I was working a side gig at a underground club he use to visit. And the rest is history as they say”

“ wow I had no idea my father has friends.”

“ your father has acquaintance.”

“ ah.”jude says

“ I must go check on something. Always a pleasure. My lady“He tips his hat to Murray and nods to jude before walking away.

“ oh he’s interesting.” Murray say

“That he is “jude says

A few hours later noah picks up Jude in the back of the arena. The proper passwords and are exchanged.

Noah smile and leans in to give Jude a quick kiss. They both wave to Murray and drive off.

“ how is everything at the apartment?”jude ask

“She felt her kick this time it was for real .”Noah say

“Let me guess it was gas last time.”

“ yes I love that your doing so much baby research “ noah say

“ well I’m all in . I want this too. I never thought I would have almost everything I have ever dreamed of before I’m 30. I’m willing to go the distance to get it to.”

“ ok this isn’t some kind or foreshadowing to darth Judius is it?”noah says

“Haha noah Don’t Jedi sometime walk a fine line between the light and dark side.”

“ as much as the geek talk is turning me on there is a down side of Luke crossing the line.BAM hello Kylo Ren”

“ I have full faith that you will rein me in if you think I might cross that line.”

“ let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

The week went by quickly. Jude and Noah started to get in to a nightly ritual that they both enjoy. The trips home are a ping pong of their daily going ons and trying to figure out what’s for dinner. Once home Noah tends to start stripping out of his cloths at the door. Jude finds is funny and endearing that Noah is down to his underwear by the time he makes it to the bedroom.At first Jude thought Noah was trying to Initiate sex every night until noah stopped him and informed him he just wanted out of his clothes.That was after the fifth blow job in a row. How was jude to know.Jude on the other hand opts for a slower strip down in his home office. Noah heads to the living room to play video games while jude works in his office most of the time. Tonight Noah has something else in mind.

Noah puts down the game control and pads to Jude’s office.

“ hey I’m going to call my dads want to say hey.” Noah asked .

“ we do need to put that in the schedule don’t we . Family phone calls.” Jude looks up at Noah like he wasn’t that happy about it.

“ three minutes ago you seem like you were in a better mood what’s wrong?”

“ zero”

“ oh?”

“ yeah he’s coming to town and wants to see me”

“ I thought you blocked him”

“ I did but not from email.”

“ oh.”noah crosses his arms over his bare chest.

“ it’s just league business noah”

“ he’s in the European league so what business does he have with you?”

All of a sudden jude looks guilty.

“ ah ...I’m not really ready to answer that”jude say in a uneasy tone.

“ come again jude you can’t just tell me your ex is sniffing around and not tell me why. Don’t start shutting down again. You have been so open with me.There is no reason for you to clam up now”noah says as he crosses his arms over his chest.

“ Nono”Jude gets up and walks over.noah sides steps Jude.

“ Nono? Really?Wow you really have to tell me what’s going on now”

Jude walks pass noah and have a seat back at his desk.

“ your not going to let this go are you?”

“ no I’m not”noah says as he sits on the couch across from Jude’s desk.

Jude sighs

“I’m not ready to talk about this noah. I promise something that I can’t deliver now “

“ so you promised something to zero?”noah ask

“ yes.”

“ what did you promise jude?”Noah asked

“ I don’t want to talk about it noah can’t we enjoy our evening? We can call our families and dance to a few songs. We can have fun tonight your way.”

“ This ride is closed until further notice. “noah says

“ Noah come on I’m too embarrassed to tell you that I wasn’t joking about the 6 sexual favors comment when I got the devils.”

“ wait one of your backers is zero?”

“ you can say that.”

“ Jude...”

“ Fine all of my backers are zero. Of course I have the small investors but zero is the main backer. I never even told Lionel. I told him he owed me for humiliating me by walking out after proposing to him.he is the technical half owner of the devils.It was his idea to tack on the delayed break up sex sessions.”

“Wow Jude. So when were you going to tell me about this little arrangement? Our daughter high school graduation maybe? Or when I walked in on you two having sex?”

“ Noah I had to. I couldn’t think of anyone I could strong arm that kind of money out and don’t say my dad.”

“ well atleast with your dad you wouldn’t have to break a vow”

“ we were not married at the time ! You can’t blame me for not seeing the future.

“ so you didn’t see a future with me then even if it was short term?”

“ Noah I had feeling for you then that I was scared of. I figured I’d screw it up and you would leave just like he did. I never thought I’d be married noah. Please don’t be mad I never thought he would ever want to “collect” on it and if he did I didn’t think I’d ever have anyone that would care if he did “collect”jude say

Noah looks closely at Jude . All the emotions that are clearly on his face are hard to look at.Noah knows that he’s telling the truth. Noah’s frustration starts to melt away.this is part of the messiness her loves about him and a side effect of that love.

Noah gets up and hugs Jude.

“We will figure this out.”noah says

“We ?this is my fault my mess to clean up”

“ do you you want to sleep with him ?” Noah ask . Jude shakes his head no .”it’s not like he has it in a contract.”noah say

“He said if I don’t show up he will come out as co owner of the devils “

“Oh” noah says

“ I’m screwed”Jude say

“ not yet. We can figure something out.”

Jude breaks the hug first.

“ let’s not let my problem ruin our Friday night.”jude says

“ your problems are mine now jude. I just said that. We are in this together “

Jude sighs and walks over to the couch to have a seat.

“ this is two weeks away let’s talk about your game day tomorrow. Hell let talk about anything but this.I think we have all the snack you need.”

“ yeah we should be good “noah sighs

“ what time is everyone coming over tomorrow “

“ around 11“

“ oh ok that’s not bad”jude says

Jude walks out of the office and Noah follows him out.

Jude turns to Noah and smiles.

“ so what do you have in mind for tonight?”

“ how about you come over here a and I’ll turn on the stereo and sees where our feet take us.”

Jude walks over and Noah turns on the stereo . Lately noah has been working on Jude’s slow dancing.

Wicked games by theory of a deadman comes on.

“I like this song” jude says

“ me too and You are getting better.”

“ I have a very patience teacher”jude says

Jude and Noah slowly swirl around the livingroom in almost a sexy way. They are only talking to each in a whisper that sends chills down Jude’s back.

“ I love the feel of you in my arm.” Noah says in Jude’s ear.jude sighs and leans in closer.

“ this is nice . It’s like we have our bubble back.”

Jude and Noah dance for one more song and then head to bed to Jude’s disappointment.

Jude wakes up to noah getting dressed in a tank top and a pair of basketball shorts.

“ what time is it?”jude asked

“1030 I wanted to make breakfast for us before they got here how does smoothies sound?”

“ ok I guess I need to get up”

“ no you don’t have to get up yet .Relax Jude.

Jude lays back down and curls up. It’s amazing how well you sleep when you know you have someone fully in your corner. There is something about falling asleep with someone’s arm flung over you or your head on on someone chest just before falling asleep. Jude smile to himself. Is he worried about zero ? Yes is he worried about the baby situation ?yes but knowing noah has his back makes a big differences to Jude.

The blender goes off in the kitchen and a few minutes later Noah comes in with two tall cups.

“ Dane ? Love you asleep?”

Jude rolls over and smiles at noah.

“ here”

Jude looks in the cup and smell it.

“ chocolate and strawberries?”

“ and half the refrigerators “ noah say as he sips from his metal straw.

Jude takes a sip. As Jude sips he stares at Noah.

“ ah is something on my face?”

“ thank you for being you.”

“ ah your welcome?”Noah looks confused

Jude chuckles to himself. Jude thinks to himself it’s too early for a heart to heart.

“ what’s on your mind my Dane?”

“ just thinking about how grateful I am to have you”jude said screw it because he wants to keep his word to be more open.Jude is shocked that Noah is still here after the talk last night about zero. He didn’t yell or walk out .If zero was his husband last night and not Noah jude would be wondering where he spent the night at.

“ oh..well I’m lucky to have you too Dane “ Noah kisses Jude’s cheek.

The intercom goes ok.

“ hey dude rise and shine.”

“ that Mike”

Noah hops up to let mike in.

Jude gets up and gets dressed in a pair of jeans and one of Noah’s Zelda T-shirt .Jude didn’t want to stand out .he wants to look like one of the boys.

Jude walks out to see 3 men he has never seen before besides in pictures.They don’t seem very happy to be here.

“ ah this must be the new Mr. nice to finally meet the guy that stole my teammate .” The 30 something Chris Pratt look alike says with a edge of hatered that made jude want to turn around and go back to bed.

“Mike don’t be a dick. You can walk right back out that door guys.” Noah says crossing his arms

“Ah hey” jude says from across the room

“ hey nice digs. Yeah still live in the hood though” mark says.

Mark is shorter than everyone else in the room. He looks like he’s might be part Asian to Jude.

“ longtime no see pussy whipped ”

Jake says as his looking around the living room and drops his bag on the floor.

“ hey I get it I have been busy if you guy want to be a asshole to my husband you can all leave.”noah say

Jude doesn’t feel very welcomed at all. After a few seconds of awkward silences. Everyone starts to laugh and properly greets jude with a hand shakes and a hug which catch jude off guard. After the last congratulatory hug , hand shake and apologies jude feels like he can be the hostess with the mostest as Noah would put it

“ did you plan this” noah say.

“ you could have told us asshole.”Mike says with a smiles

“ yeah your getting cursed out the next time you see my lady “jake say

“ what are we chopped liver” mark says

“ I’m so sorry It was a last minute thing. “ Noah says

“This is my fault. I rushed him into it” jude says

“ how about we do this can we have a dinner here to make up for it.” noah say looking to jude to see if he’s cool with the idea.

“ I don’t see why not. Not sure when we can do it with the up and coming season.”

All the gamers seem willing to come for dinner and didn’t mind waiting.

“Good now that that’s settled so who’s ready to get there ass whooped?”Noah says with a smile.

“ man get out of here with that shit” Mike says

“Not a chance dude”mark say

Jude notices Mark keeps looking at him.

As the guys set up the living room how they like it, Jude notices that everyone has there own gamer chair and yeti cup with there perfered drink in it. Jude steps out the way and just watches as they move furniture .when did noah put things on the legs of the couch to make it glide across the floor with out scratch the floor.

Jude smirks and nods his head at noah ingenuity.

“ don’t worry we will put it all back”mark says with a smile and a wink.

“ watch it” noah says from across the room.

Noah makes a gesture that means I’m watching you to mark. Jude has no idea why .

Jude ‘s face must have showed it.

“ really man you didn’t tell him” Mike say

“What that in a nother life mark and I where more than just friends for like 5 seconds”

“ what?”jude say

“ dude what were you thinking?”Jake says

Jude gives Noah a look that he knew he need to talk to him in private.

Jude heads to his office.

“ don’t start with out me”

“Someone in trouble”Mike says

“ man I hate to see what the punishment for this is going to be” Jake say

“I’m sure it will be epic “ Mark say with a smirk.

Noah follows Jude to the home office.

Noah closes the door behind him.

Jude takes a seat at his desk.

[oldironwarrior]

Squat till ya drop

February 17, 2019

Squat till ya drop

Ok going on from my last article about which exercises to use I looked at the stuff I had written and I did think this looks so simple on paper and not a very effective way to train …… of course this is not quite the whole story let me explain.

So squats would always be my first choice in any routine because they are or should be brutal and I wouldn’t want to do them last as well as it’s the biggest exercise you can do.

So how do we perform a deep knee bend or in modern terms a squat…. well I always use a power rack simply for safety’s sake but also you can put the safety rails at the height you would like to drop to giving you a good indication to where you’re at. Now how deep is the right depth ????? Well that’s a very good question which has been asked many times ……back in the day I was taught to go as low as possible so my butt almost sat on my calf’s and that’s what I used to do, now the reasoning for this was a full range was required to build muscles which to some extent is true but with squats there are many factors that can limit going so far down age for one us oldies struggle a bit more with depth but other factors such as body shape and size, for example a tall guy will put his back into play much more as he descends and this may make his lower back fail far too early so I recommend finding a sensible depth that suits you if you can go full depth fine if parallel suits you fine too, just try to achieve as much of a range of motion as possible.

When I first started HIT training I probably could achieve several reps with three 20kilo plates per side in normal training so imagine to my dismay what I thought when only one 20kilo plate was loaded on each side ……I thought is this guy joking !!!!! The guys name was Mick Moran who you paid to train you one on one.

So stood under the bar I picked it from the rack he says descend until your calf’s touches your bum pause and slowly stand up ……. so I did thinking what’s the fuss ???? No no he says slow down and then stood in front of me follow my finger down he says so I did ….. it took about 4 or 5 seconds to drop maybe more as I was a newbie then a 1 second pause at the bottom…. now follow my finger he shouts at me so 2to 3 seconds to stand up …… don’t lock out at the top was the cry I heard and don’t stop at the top straight back down son!!!!! Ok I said he says if you can talk you’re not working hard enough!

Now as I ground out the reps the main theme was slow no slower “what’s the rush have you got somewhere to go” he screams at me.

One good tip he gave me was look up at the ceiling focus on the ceiling it will keep your back flat …. it’s true it does !

Now I got to ten reps breathing quite hard and starting to struggle…. keep going he says 20 is the number we are aiming at, so I managed to get to 15 …. don’t stop is the cry and keep your form ….. slow down !

When I hit 20 reps I was breathing like a train and could hardly hold my shit together but at least 20 was achieved so I started to re rack the bar …. what the f…..k you doing he says keep going you haven’t failed yet !!!

I managed another 3 agonising reps and only when I couldn’t stand back up ( there was no rack back then ) him and sue his wife takes the bar off me and I collapsed to the floor….. a bit pathetic I felt.

This was it legs done but the workout wasn’t done another 10 exercises were thrown at me with no rest each station was set up ahead of me and the same criteria was used on each station except the reps were only 12 for upper body. Dips chins rows presses curls all thrown in for good measure it took about 25 minutes to complete I then threw up.

So the set of squats took 4 seconds to lower 2 seconds to stand and a definite 1 second pause at the bottom a grand total of 7 seconds times that by 23 reps that’s 161 seconds that’s 2 minutes 41 seconds it took to perform the set ….. my whole body was under tension for that length of time and time under tension is really the important factor here !

Now the critical factor is more weight must be added the next workout and so on but only in very small increments…. back then the squats were performed 3 times per week but that’s ok to start with but as the weights on the bar become higher and higher more rest is required between workouts….. something that took me a while to realise and it took even longer to convince Mick as he really did believe 3 times a week was the only way.

One thing to remember here as the months wore on the weights lifted higher and higher and the body grew stronger and bigger I also needed no cv the sheer intensity of the workouts sorted that bit out.

Another factor in reducing the weekly squat sessions was the mind I simply couldn’t face squatting with all that intensity 3 times per week I started to dred it not enjoy it.

The solution was to do 2 totally different workouts still full body but leg extensions and leg curls were done in the second workout and no squats and the workouts we’re alternated….. the results were fantastic as my mind was back in gear and my body was recouping better so more and more weights were going on the bar.

But again after several months I reached a plateau this time we cut my workouts down to 2 per week and again the results started to come again ….. each time we have given the body more recovery time each time it yielded results.

So think it through basic work done properly and an ever increasing overload!

Stay strong warriors ��

[neewtmas]

{#34} i’m her boyfriend // newt au (part iv)

fandom: the maze runner

pairing: newt x reader

word count: 2,2k words

request: by @newtsslut

summary:  after everyone went to different colleges, the original friend group decides to meet up again and newt asks an important question

part i / part ii / part iii

masterlist

"I'm back, love!" Newt's voice rang through the small dorm as he closed the door and you could hear him shuffling out of his warm winter coat before he made his way to your room, steps almost inaudible on the smooth wooden surface of the floor.He knocked and waited for you to call him to come in before he opened the door to stick his head into your room. "I finished classes for today, love." 

You turned on your chair, smiling widely at your boyfriend of almost 5 years. "I know. I heard you", you said, pulling out your earbuds you had in to listen to relaxing music while preparing for your next exam.

Newt opened the door fully and stepped in, walking over to your desk and bending down to kiss you.

You responded by deepening the kiss and pulling him closer to you, feeling sparks in your whole body. Even after 5 years of being in a relationship with him, your feelings never decreased, but actually grew stronger. and he never failed to make your knees go weak.

When you broke the kiss to breathe again, you gave him another quick peck on his chapped yet soft lips and turned around, picking up your pen again. Newt wrapped his arms around your chest from behind and laid his chin down on your right shoulder, careful to not add to much pressure and weight on it to not hurt you. "What are you doing?"

You sighed, adding another sentence to your paper and scribbling down some notes next to it. 

"I got an important test tomorrow and i'm low-key freaking out. I studied so much yet I still feel like I've done nothing."

Newt planted light kisses on your cheek and neck. "You're gonna ace this test, I know it. Your too intelligent not to ace it", he mumbled in between kisses, causing a light blush to tint your cheeks red, partly because of his compliment and partly because of the way his lips felt against the soft skin of your neck.

"Thank you, Newt. But I gotta finish this, and you're not exactly helping me to concentrate. How about you order some pizza and we're watching some movies when i'm finished?"

"Sounds great, love," he answered and pulled away, but not without cupping your cheek with his right hand to gently turn your face to his to give you another kiss. 

You kissed him back, but soon lay your hand on his chest to push him firmly away from you. "Newt. What did I just say?"

He groaned but reluctantly stood up and walked to the door. Before he left the room, he turned around again. "Same as always?" 

You nodded and blew him a kiss, smiling. "I love you, Newt." He stuck his tongue out to you and left the room. Seconds after he closed the door you heard him yell from the kitchen: "Love you too, Y/N"

You shook your head at your dork of a boyfriend before you put the earbuds back in and concentrated on the textbook in front of you again.

You and Newt spent the rest of the evening cuddled up on the comfy couch in your dorm, eating pizza and watching movies, occasionally interrupted by quick make-out sessions.

After the credits of the last movie rolled over the screen, Newt stood up and stretched, his shirt riding up and exposing a bit of the skin of his muscular stomach, not failing to make you stare.

"Like what you see, love?", he asked with a smirk while ruffling through his hair. You smirked back and looked down at yourself. "Yes, I do actually. Don't you think my outfit looks great today?"

He laughed and extended his hands to help you up. "You know, I miss the movie nights with the others", you told him as you walked towards the bedroom.

He immediately knew who you were talking about. "I know me too. How about we meet up again sometimes? Just like in old times."

You stared at your appearance in the mirror, smoothening out the slight crinkles at the hem of your dress, feeling a hint of nervousness. It had been months since you'd last seen Teresa, and you were scared you somehow wouldn't be that good of friends anymore.

After you graduated high school, all of you went to different colleges, and even if you still texted almost daily with everyone, you'd only meet up a couple of times. You missed them dearly, as well as your high school days where you all had seen each other every day. 

Now you had managed to arrange a meeting with Teresa, and you were really looking forward to it, even if you were slightly disappointed that no one else seemed to be interested in meeting up with you.

You had called everyone, Minho, Thomas (who now were a couple), Brenda and Teresa, but only the latter had agreed and the rest had declined with more or less good excuses.

You sighed, left the bathroom with a last look in the mirror and walked over to Newt who sat at the small table in the kitchen and typed away at his mobile. He looked up and smiled as he saw you and stood up, stuffing his mobile in the pocket of his sweater.

"You look pretty, love", he said and planted a kiss on your left cheek before he played his hand on the small of your back and pushed you gently forward. "Let's go."

Newt opened the car door for you after he pulled up on the opposite street side of the restaurant you two would meet Teresa.

You intertwined your hands and crossed the street, entering the restaurant.

As soon as you entered, your gaze fell across the room and you realized that not only Teresa was present, but also Thomas, Minho, and Brenda.

You swirled around to Newt, who smirked proudly at your reaction. As you wrapped your arms around him in happiness, he whispered: "Surprise, love." You beamed brightly while you dragged him immediately over to the table your friends sat at.

They stood up and you hugged everyone tightly, not able to keep the smile from your face. 

"Why are you here? I thought you ‘had things to do’?", you asked as you hugged Thomas.

He chuckled. "Well, Newt told me to decline. He wanted to surprise you." 

"That definitely worked, even if your excuse was really lame", you laughed, before you all sat down again.

Later that evening, after all of you had finished their dinner, you sat around the table, a glass red wine in front of everyone. 

"Hey Teresa, is that a ring on your finger?", you asked curiously as you noticed the slim golden ring on her right ring finger as she brought up her wine glass to her lips.

Teresa blushed lightly and nodded, a happy smile tugging on her lips. "Yes." You let out a suppressed squeal of happiness for your best friend. "And who's the lucky one?", you smirked, even if you already knew the answer. 

Brenda, who sat next to Teresa, raised her hand to show the shiny gold ring on her finger, smiling widely. 

"How long are you two together now?" asked Minho with a glance on your intertwined hands on the table. "Should be a little more than five years, right?" You shook your head. "Five years tomorrow, actually." 

Thomas frowned. "What? You sure? I'd have thought 5 years and two or three months. Since you never told us how long you were together before we knew." 

You gasped in disbelief, looking over at Newt. "Oh. We never told them, did we?

Newt shrugged. "They never asked."

"What did you never tell us?", asked Minho, exchanging glances with Thomas. 

"Well, we weren't together before you found out.  Actually, I found out the same way as you", you explained, then looked over to Newt so that he would continue.

"Well, I've liked her for a long time, but I never acted on it because I was too scared of rejection. And when I heard you talking about how Y/N never had a boyfriend before, and I realized how uncomfortable she was I walked in and kissed her. To be honest, I was really scared that she would just hit me afterward, and I never expected her to kiss back. But she did, and since then we're a couple."

It was silent, everyone stared at you before Teresa began laughing. "I can't believe it", she choked out between fits of laughter. 

"Now what you told me about tonight makes so much more sense!", Minho smirked and nudged Newt with his elbow, who suddenly looked pretty nervous. "That means you two are together for five years in exactly-" he pulled out his mobile"- exactly 25 minutes." 

As he spoke, he gave Newt a meaningful glance. You squinted your eyes at Minho. What was he up to? 

Newt had gotten significantly paler in the last minutes, and you threw him a few concerned sideglances, which he didn’t notice since he was fidgeting with his almost empty glass. 

You leaned closer to him, squeezing his hand. "You ok? You look pale."

He didn't react, but as you asked again, he snapped out of his trance.  "W-what? No, i'm ok. Just...need a bit fresh air." With that he hastily got up, almost sweeping his glass off the table at the action and rushed out.

"What? Wait! Do you want me to-" 

You turned back to the others. "What was that? What's up with him? I'll go after him."

You stood up, but Minho immediately stopped you. "No, I'll go. Trust me, he doesn't need you right now." With that Minho was gone too.

"What?" Now you were really confused. Why was everyone acting so strange? Did you do something? Was Newt angry at you? 

Brenda played her hand on top of yours from across the table and squeezed it gently. "Calm down, everything's ok. Just wait."

You glanced anxiously over to the entrance, where Newt and Minho had vanished minutes ago.

Twenty minutes later, Newt and Minho came back. Minho gave Newt a pat on the back and said something you couldn’t understand before he came back to the table and sat down opposite to Thomas. 

Newt followed slower, and he didn’t sit down, but took your hands and pulled you up from your chair.

He took a deep breath and cleared his throat. "Y/N, in -" he took a look at his watch"- in three minutes we are officially together for five whole years. And I don’t know about you, but I not only loved you for this five years - the best years of my life, may I add - but since the very moment I met you for the first time ever. The decision to just go for it and kiss you back then was the best decision I ever made in my whole life and I never regretted it for a second." He chuckled."Well maybe I was a bit scared as you dragged me out of the room, but still. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, and I hope you know that. Y/N, I love you. Always have, always will." With this, he pulled you into a passionate kiss, pressing you close to him.

His speech had brought tears to your eyes, and you could barely keep your voice from cracking as you broke away and looked him in the eyes, almost getting lost in them.

"Newt...i'd have never in my life thought that I would end up with someone so perfect for me like you, and I couldn’t be happier. I love you too", you whispered, tears glistening in your eyes.

"So -" he cleared his throat nervously "- so you would say yes?"

You frowned, "Say yes to what?"

Newt slowly lets go of your hands and sank on one knee, holding up and opening a small blue velvet box with a beautiful ring in it.

"Y/N Y/L/N, will you marry me?"

It took you a few seconds to actually comprehend the question he just asked, but after you did, you covered your mouth with your hands in shock and couldn't stop the tears from running down your cheeks, probably ruining your makeup.

"Oh god, yes Newt, yes, of course, i will marry you!", you choked out between sobs, furiously trying to wipe away the tears from your cheeks. 

Newt's whole expression lit up with the brightest smile you've ever seen and he took your left hand to slip the gorgeous ring up your ring finger before he stood up. 

He pulled you into another kiss, making your knees weak and your head spinning as you forgot everything around you and just concentrated on the heavenly and blissful feeling of Newt’s lips against yours and the utter happiness spreading in your whole body.

thanks for reading:)                   want to request something?

[blissfullylostinarabbithole]

Kiss Me Better (23/25)

Pairing: Bucky x Reader, Loki x BFF!Reader

Word Count: 1k

Summary: Your face hurts.

A/N: We’re near the end, guys! Holy Roly Poly! Only one alternate scenario this time, but I have ideas for a couple more.  Again, I didn’t tag anyone for it, but the link’s at the bottom for anyone who wants to read it.

<< Prev .  Series Masterlist  .  Next >>

After you agreed to finish out Goblet of Fire with Bucky, you walked back to the tents in silence. The air between you was still thick with tension, but what was left of the animosity dissipated with every step you took. With a final, shy smile, he bade you goodnight and went back to his own tent.

You tried to go to sleep, but your head was reeling over what had just happened; what had been happening. Bucky said he didn’t want to go back to how things were before everything started, but the way he kept flip flopping on the issue made you unsure as to whether or not he really meant it. It was harder the last time you were on the receiving end of his disdain, and you weren’t sure you could handle it if you got your hopes up only for him to change his mind again.

The next morning, Bucky had gone with Steve on a hike, and they weren’t due back until the evening. The rest of you went on a more manageable hike, then went for a swim in the lake. Natasha bet she could catch more fish than Clint using only her hands, and the two set off to a different part of the lake, vowing to catch enough fish for the rest of the trip.

When they left, Wanda sighed and used her magic to encase several fish in a ball of water, amusing you, Tony, and Sam. When you tired, you and Wanda lay on your towels, enjoying the sun and the sounds of the forest. Eventually, Tony and Sam left, leaving you alone.

“Y/N, I don’t know what happened while we were gone, but everything’s changed between you and Bucky, hasn’t it? Why are you still so tense around him?”

You sighed, not knowing how to answer. “I don’t know. I thought it was going to get better, but then it got worse, and now he’s trying to be nice… I guess I’m just waiting to see if he reverts back again.”

“I don’t think he will,” she assured. “The dark cloud that surrounded his mind when he was near you isn’t there anymore.” Sensing the doubt and discomfort in your silence, she changed the subject wondered aloud who would win the bet between Clint and Natasha.

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

Bucky was a little disappointed to find you weren’t at the camp when he returned. He looked to Steve, silently imploring him to ask the question he didn’t dare to.

“Hey, where are Wanda and Y/N?” Steve complied. During their hike, Bucky finally told him everything, including how terrified he was at the prospect of losing you to Matt.

“Sunbathing by the lake,” Sam replied boredly, flipping the fish on the fire.

“Those look about ready,” Steve turned to Bucky. “Why don’t you go get them? It’s nearly dinner time.”

Without a word, Bucky nodded and headed off toward the lake. After some prodding from Steve, he’d spilled his guts, leaving nothing out. He’d told him being nice was a good start, but because of Matt coming into the picture, it might be too little too late, and suggested he figure something a little bolder out. He had no clue what to do, and every step he took felt heavier than the last.

When he reached the lake, you and Wanda were speaking in hushed voices. Not wanting to intrude, he cleared his throat, catching your attention.

“Food’s almost ready,” he kept his voice steady, watching you as you put an oversized shirt over your swimsuit.

“Good, I’m starving!” Wanda smirked at you, and took off running. “I’ll meet you guys there!”

Cursing her under your breath, you kept your eyes on your things as you picked them up. Despite what Wanda said, you still weren’t sure he wouldn’t have a change of heart, so you did your best to keep your eyes trained anywhere but where he was.

“Let me help you,” he purred from right beside you, making you jump. He’d just been nearly 20 feet away. “Sorry,” he smiled sheepishly.

“How are you so quiet on gravel?” you demanded, curiosity overtaking your embarrassment.

He threw his head back in laughter, the sound bouncing back at you through the trees. “It’s a special power,” he teased. “May I?” he gestured to the things in your hands.

“Yeah, alright,” you smiled, handing him your book and your towel. “How was your hike with Steve?” you braved, biting your lip in anticipation.

“Exhausting. In more ways than one,” he grumbled the last part. “How was your day?”

You made small talk, not noticing you both began walking slower the closer you got to your camp. Every few steps, Bucky’s hand would brush against yours, yet he stayed close. Little by little your apprehension eased and you became more animated, stomach fluttering every time he smiled, encouraging you go on.

His smile faltered when he smelled the smoke and began to hear the chatter of your friends. You were nearly there, and he still hadn’t done anything bold as Steve suggested. He cast you a side glance, eyes raking over your bandaged areas, and got an idea. Before you were within view of the others, and before he could lose his nerve, his hand shot out to stop you. When you turned to him and gave him a puzzled look, he swallowed thickly and took a steadying breath.

“We missed one last night,” he said, voice breathy.

You arched a brow. “Missed what?”

“A scrape.” He raised a hand to your face, finger hovering over your cheek. “Right there.”

“What?” Your hand shot up to feel yourself, leaving you even more confused. “I don’t feel anything.”

“You sure? It looks painful.” He reached for your hand, lowering in from your face. “Here, lemme-” He leaned in and planted a quick kiss on your cheek, face beet red when he pulled away. “There. You should be fine now.” He smiled tightly and sped off to the camp, leaving you unable to breathe and your heart trying to burst out of your chest.

A Monkey Called Steeb

~ ~ TAG LISTS ~ ~

Permanent -  @melconnor2007 @ria132love @psychicwitchphilosopher @sireennotsiren  @silence–in–the–library @thefridgeismybestie

Avengers - @majd943

Bucky - @cassandras-musings

KMB -  @winter-in-wakanda @fuckmewintertucker @ihaveanobsessenproblem @the-wintergirl@ek823@learisa  @hardboiledegg21 @rishlo @annie-are-u-ok @sebstanwassup @winter-prime@LIBUSGRACE@GYPSYCAT111 @xchaoticbloodx @magellan-88 @debbielovesbucky @sjt2510@dairyfarmher9@frackinawesomeninja @just-another-fanfiction-writer @barnes-toddpartnersinheartbreak @the-witching-hours12-3  @rachelle-on-the-run @evra-von-what @socialheartbreak

[shame-on-nyall]

Ok, if you asked this or you are a friend of this person or agree with this person, please, I beg you, unfollow me immediately after reading this post. I’m not even sure why I have more than 5 followers anyway, lmao, but okay, hear me out.

First of all! When an artist sketches a character and does not color in their skin it does not mean they think the character is white or even light-skinned! This only would have mattered if the artist posted a finished colored piece and McCree’s skin was still much lighter than his default model’s skin tone, and even so, one could still argue that they color picked from the other much lighter-skinned models because those exist too. So already this ask is starting on shaky ground.

Furthermore, what about the drawing makes one think McCree was white? I, an artist, saw a sketch in the artist’s particular style, which doesn’t have that much difference in key facial features between an Asian and a white person, so for all I can tell, McCree could be part Asian, part white, part Hispanic, part Native and part black, and uhh, Hanzo could be part white and part Australian aborigine and part Pacific Islander. Like, that’s just this person’s style???

Next, why couldn’t McCree be a white person? I know everyone believes he must be part native or have Latin ancestry because that is a reasonable thing to believe if the character is born in the Southwest United States, and I believe that, too, as a person living in the Southwest. But I also kinda have assumed that his father or grandfather or whoever must have British ancestry as well to explain the last name McCree (unless he just made up his name, also possible.) So sure, he is most likely not 100% European Caucasian mayonaise white if he was born in the Southwest United States decades from now, but again, we don’t know that, and sometimes people choose to identify as white even when they aren’t technically so, so there’s that as well.

Another thing, drawing a skinny and busty genderbend with no flaws is an artist opinion. Anyone can interpret a genderbend of a fictional character any way they want, it’s not wrong or right because guess what, it’s not based on a character model that currently exists, it’s someone’s imagination. Even if the genderbend model does exist, it can be an alternate universe! I have every reason to believe that young McCree is skinny (well, he seems broad-shouldered but fairly lean as a young man) and extrapolate that to a female version. He also had both arms until at least 25 years or so, so I also didn’t have to draw him with his cyborg arm. Plus, it’s a sketch, I sometimes forget tattoos and scars on a sketch because I’m excited to post the sketch!!! I try not to, but sometimes I do! I’m very excitable!

Also, this whole ask was worded in such an arrogant and entitled manner to a person whom I believe speaks Korean, who was so disturbed enough by it to delete their post so I had to go their twitter to find the image to use as reference for female leggies. Would not a “I’d love to see a 37 year old female McCree in your style with cyborg arm and really cool bullet scars” or something similar be a considerate and graceful grown-up thing to add?

And last but not least, how is harrassing a fanartist who drew this art in their spare time for free and shared it to the English-speaking fandom on Tumblr helping the cause of feminism and equal rights for all in any way? Imagine instead of smugly hitting send on this rude as heck ask, you took a deep breath, looked out the window and considered:

1. writing a check to a local women’s shelter or clinic

2. volunteering to be a big brother or sister to children who need assistance

3. walking dogs at an animal shelter 

4. messaging a friend who has been struggling with school or work and letting them know you support them 

5. writing a letter to an editor of a fashion magazine saying that you hope they include more plus-size models or models with scars and skin discolorations and that they are doing a good job not photoshopping Beyonce’s skin lighter, etc

6. literally anything else!!! anything else would positively affect how women and people of color and people with disabilities are treated in this real world instead of maybe making almost no difference at all in the online fandom of one video game

Look, I’ve been there. I once was a 19 year old university student, exposed to new ideas about justice and fairness and diversity. My little close-minded sheltered brain was suddenly opened to concepts I admired and wanted to desperately share. But I was poor, had no transportation, no friends at college, and the only way I could communicate was through the internet (Myspace and uhh... deviantart? Livejournal?) I’ve said things like this before and years later, I wish I hadn’t because I sounded like a fucking asshole. I meant well, and I thought everyone could perceive my good intentions, so I thought it gave me the right to say whatever. But I know now that it probably hurt a lot more people than it helped, because I was losing allies, alienating would-be friends, giving social justice a bad name with my rudeness and unwillingness to consider other people’s thoughts because I was so sure I was right. I didn’t know back then, I was extremely introverted and somewhere on the autism spectrum, I had no experience expressing myself carefully or effectively online, and no one told me what I should have done instead. (in my partial defense, the internet was a new thing back then.) So that’s why I’m telling everyone now.

Internet activism really helps your ego, and sometimes you want and need that. But helping out in real life is much better in the long run, even it’s harder and slower work. If you really want to criticize a fanartist or fanfic writer because you can’t help anyone in real life, then go ahead. But get your facts straight, be an adult, make that person proud to have learned something from you instead of ashamed and bewildered.

Anyway, I was really pissed and needed to get that off my chest lmao. I did a lot of work at women’s shelters and interned at Planned Parenthood so I get really angry and defensive when artists who are most likely female and not white or cishet get these rude af criticisms because I know they came from a good place. But like... Nazi ideology came from a good place, too. Comments like these censor and intimidate, and they don’t censor and intimidate the fat cats in Hollywood and the old out-of-touch men in capital cities, they censor and intimidate people who struggle to be accepted, people like us.

Just think twice, my dudes.

Ok, I’m done. Back to shimada bros content... later. Thank you for reading. Unfollow me now. Unless you really want to stay on this train lmao.

[eddiejpoplar]

We Race the Nürburgring 24 and Live to Tell About It

Considering I’m about to sleep on a bench in the back of a truck while still wearing a sweaty race suit, I feel on top of the world. I’ve just had one of the greatest driving experiences of my life: hammering into dusk at impossible speed, howling past slower traffic, and looking on in awe as the leading pack of GT3 cars muscle past in a shower of sparks, flames, and attitude. The Green Hell at its most heavenly on a balmy, dry evening and my race car—a 500-hp AMG GT4—getting faster and faster in the cool, dense air. If this is what the Nürburgring 24 hour is all about, sign me up forever.

Even better, my teammates and I have concocted a plan to maximize our night running: We’ll double-stint because conditions are so good and save our secret weapon—five-time DTM champion, four-time Nürburgring 24 winner, and all-around legend Bernd Schneider—for the morning. Rain is forecast, and Schneider’s experience and freakish talent will make all the difference. I sleep as sound as can be for two hours or so.

Waking up under harsh LED lights is a bit of a shock. My back aches, and one of my legs is numb where it’s rested over a gear bag. But what’s worse is that sound. It’s a faint but unmistakable “shhhhhhh” at first, like aluminum foil being swished around the room. Then it builds to a gentle but insistent drumming. Rain. My heart sinks. The precipitation that was scheduled for 6 a.m. has come early. And it isn’t going anywhere until well after the race ends at 3:30 p.m.

“Don’t be an ass. Keep it out of the barriers. Be brave.” The latter is key.

My double stint starts in 20 minutes or so, at 2:30 a.m.—just when the rain really kicks off. As I stumble out of the truck and into the garage, Pim de Wit, our performance engineer (he looks at the data and tells us why we’re slower than Schneider), tells me, “Monsoon rain, possibly ice rain [he means hail, but it sounds so much scarier when a German spits out ‘ice rain’] is coming fast.” I nod confidently. Then head for the restroom.

Rain is of course a part of racing. But rain at the ’Ring is different. It’s somehow bigger, wetter, and more dangerous. And the sheer scale of the track, its hemmed-in narrowness and its total lack of runoff areas, make it hugely intimidating even for the experienced. Me? I’ve done the N24 before but always in mercifully dry conditions and in cars slower than our monster AMG. We’re running in the top 25. Falling into the cold clutches of those endless shimmering barriers is the stuff of nightmares.

So I wait in the pit lane, sky flashing great purple streaks of lightning. Christian Gebhardt, another of my teammates, brings the car in, and I rip open the door, pull out his radio and drink connectors, and stand back for him to climb out. Then I fold myself into the seat. He straps me into the harnesses, and my earpiece chirps to life. It’s Marius Dietrich, our race engineer, calm as can be. “OK, Jethro, reset fuel, select driver position four. You have new wet tires. We expect more and more rain. Sixty kph in the pit lane, watch the white line on pit exit.” Then a pause. “Take it easy.” And with that I’m given the signal to join the mayhem.

At this precise moment I long for a track with endless runoff areas, an overzealous race director throwing out the red flag at the first hint of drizzle, and a nice, quiet car. This is the other side of old-school no-holds-barred racing, and suddenly it seems more foolhardy than heroic. But I have just a few seconds to contemplate what’s ahead. The moment I cross the line at the end of the pit lane, there’s no thinking time. That’s probably for the better, as surely I’d just pull over, park it, and hitch a lift to the hotel bar. We all would.

The Nürburgring at night is the ultimate challenge. Five-time DTM champion Bernd Schneider has seen it all but still describes it as “undriveable.”

The N24 combines the modern grand prix circuit with the craggy old Nordschleife to make a circuit of more than 15 miles. That means for the first minute or so there is some margin for error on the smooth Formula 1-spec tarmac. It’s a great chance to get a feel for the car and work some heat into the tires. Racing “wets” are amazing things; the AMG still has loads of braking capacity and surprisingly good traction. I’m running engine map one, which saves fuel and reduces torque, but it still reels in everything but the fearsome GT3s at an alarming pace. Weirdly, I’m not so worried about the corners. I can feel the understeer or oversteer build. Hydroplaning, on the other hand, scares the bejesus out of me. Just how quickly can I go on the faster sections before I start floating and sail into the barriers? Erm, who knows?

Turning left for the first time from the expanses of the well-lit GP track and being swallowed up by the darkness of the Nordschleife is unforgettable. I distinctly remember saying, “Here we go … ” aloud to myself. Then, silently, giving myself a set of simple instructions: “Don’t be an ass. Keep it out of the barriers. Be brave.” The latter is key. Your natural instinct is to creep around as carefully as possible, but to do so just sends your confidence spiraling into the pits of hell. Tires lose temperature, the ABS starts working overtime, the car runs away from you on turn-in as the front tires skate over the surface and the rear tries to bite you as soon as you dare think of opening the throttle.

I know this because my first lap indeed plays out like a nightmare. I’m not brave, and the car and the track punish me over and over again with scary near misses. Think back to your school days and the moment of panic when you realize you haven’t prepared nearly enough for an exam. You get a hot feeling up your neck and a sudden burst of furious heart pumping that literally shakes your ribcage. Now imagine that half-second physical reaction to swelling panic coming over and over again. You’re drowning. That’s a wet lap of the ’Ring in the dead of night.

Our AMG GT4 races in the SP8T class—allowing more aero and boost. The car laps the Nürburgring in about 7 minutes; only the factory GT3 cars are faster. When it’s dry. But it’s never dry.

The second lap is slightly better, but I still feel like I’m walking the car around the circuit. When I make it back to the GP section and begin lap three, I’m determined to start actually driving. So I pick up the pace. I keep the throttle wide open on the straights even when the speeds creep up to 150 mph. I brake a little later, turn in a bit harder, and use the wider “wet line” more confidently.

Every lap there’s a new crash and more yellow flags and Code 60s (at the scene of bigger crashes, a 60-kph temporary speed limit is imposed), and my car feels a little better. I wouldn’t say I’m driving fast, but nothing comes past me except the odd super-committed GT3 car, and I’m picking off other GT4s pretty easily. Even so, this really is endurance rather than enjoyment. My internal coaching is now interrupted by proper shouting: “This is horrible. … Why am I doing this? … Please stop raining!”

Finally, after 11 laps, my stint is over, and the plan for me to do a double is abandoned. I hand over to Schneider, or “Five-Time” as he’s known within the team. The No. 190 Mercedes disappears into the gloom and the spray as I stand in the pit lane soaked from sweat, exhausted, and so, so relieved. I wasn’t an ass. I kept it out of the barriers. I was brave. Eventually.

After the Nordschleife’s oppressive darkness, the pit garage feels floodlit and weirdly disconnected to the mayhem playing out on the track. “Good job, mate,” Pim says. “Nobody around us was going as quickly.” I glance at the screens, and we’re running in 22nd. I am utterly elated. Then I realize the race is barely past the halfway mark just as Fabian Jung, team manager, delivers a line that almost floors me. “Bernd is in for a double. Then it’s you again. Sorry.”

Sunrise brings little respite as the fog rolls in and the rain gets harder. It gets so bad that the race is stopped then restarted despite weather worsening. No. 190 survives the mayhem. AMG builds a hell of a race car.

Those incredible, earlier laps in the dry—sun setting and the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 flinging the car along with a sense of unstoppable force—seem so long ago. Flying into the Foxhole in sixth gear and keeping the throttle pinned to the bulkhead into the compression at the bottom, jumping over the big rise before the fast left of Schwendenkreuz at well above 150 mph, working through the endless third- and fourth-gear twists and turns toward the end of the lap and feeling the GT4’s incredible stability—it’s all out of reach.

I won’t feel the euphoria of a fast, dry lap again, nor will I get the amazing physical sensation of leaning and leaning on the car and it pushing back, barely shrugging at what you ask it to do. Now it’s just rain and survival. I eat a schnitzel from a cardboard box and go back to my bench. Sleep doesn’t come easily. But I do sleep. A bit. And when I awake the plan has changed.

Patrick Simon, who’s experienced and very, very quick, will be in next, so I can relax. Schneider has seen it all before, but even he looks a little ruffled. “How was it?” I ask. His eyes widen. “No grip. Understeer, oversteer … all the time.” He mimes the car slipping out of his hands. “It’s ****ing dangerous.” I’ve been with Schneider for the best part of a week, and it’s the first time I’ve heard him curse. His thoughts mirror mine exactly.

I hope this sense of impeding dread doesn’t make me feel ungrateful. To be a part of this event is pure magic, and even in dire conditions there are moments you just can’t buy: rushing into the dark with lightning splitting great chasms in the sky; GT3 cars dancing past, front wheels a blur as the driver catches every mini-slide; the rear of the cars sparking over curbs or into compressions. Every lap is a privilege. But the stakes are high in every sense.

And so it continues. Another fearsomely slippery stint, this time with the added bonus of heavy fog and more near misses. More unbelievably exciting overtakes and more shouting into my crash helmet. Through it all, though, the AMG GT4 just keeps going. Passing slower cars and hanging on gamefully to the GT3s. The race is stopped for fog then restarts. Fittingly, Schneider takes the checkered flag. We finish 22nd overall, first in class, and with only GT3 cars ahead of us. It’s over. Thank God. Take me home. Can’t wait until next year.

IFTTT

[jesusvasser]

We Race the Nürburgring 24 and Live to Tell About It

Considering I’m about to sleep on a bench in the back of a truck while still wearing a sweaty race suit, I feel on top of the world. I’ve just had one of the greatest driving experiences of my life: hammering into dusk at impossible speed, howling past slower traffic, and looking on in awe as the leading pack of GT3 cars muscle past in a shower of sparks, flames, and attitude. The Green Hell at its most heavenly on a balmy, dry evening and my race car—a 500-hp AMG GT4—getting faster and faster in the cool, dense air. If this is what the Nürburgring 24 hour is all about, sign me up forever.

Even better, my teammates and I have concocted a plan to maximize our night running: We’ll double-stint because conditions are so good and save our secret weapon—five-time DTM champion, four-time Nürburgring 24 winner, and all-around legend Bernd Schneider—for the morning. Rain is forecast, and Schneider’s experience and freakish talent will make all the difference. I sleep as sound as can be for two hours or so.

Waking up under harsh LED lights is a bit of a shock. My back aches, and one of my legs is numb where it’s rested over a gear bag. But what’s worse is that sound. It’s a faint but unmistakable “shhhhhhh” at first, like aluminum foil being swished around the room. Then it builds to a gentle but insistent drumming. Rain. My heart sinks. The precipitation that was scheduled for 6 a.m. has come early. And it isn’t going anywhere until well after the race ends at 3:30 p.m.

“Don’t be an ass. Keep it out of the barriers. Be brave.” The latter is key.

My double stint starts in 20 minutes or so, at 2:30 a.m.—just when the rain really kicks off. As I stumble out of the truck and into the garage, Pim de Wit, our performance engineer (he looks at the data and tells us why we’re slower than Schneider), tells me, “Monsoon rain, possibly ice rain [he means hail, but it sounds so much scarier when a German spits out ‘ice rain’] is coming fast.” I nod confidently. Then head for the restroom.

Rain is of course a part of racing. But rain at the ’Ring is different. It’s somehow bigger, wetter, and more dangerous. And the sheer scale of the track, its hemmed-in narrowness and its total lack of runoff areas, make it hugely intimidating even for the experienced. Me? I’ve done the N24 before but always in mercifully dry conditions and in cars slower than our monster AMG. We’re running in the top 25. Falling into the cold clutches of those endless shimmering barriers is the stuff of nightmares.

So I wait in the pit lane, sky flashing great purple streaks of lightning. Christian Gebhardt, another of my teammates, brings the car in, and I rip open the door, pull out his radio and drink connectors, and stand back for him to climb out. Then I fold myself into the seat. He straps me into the harnesses, and my earpiece chirps to life. It’s Marius Dietrich, our race engineer, calm as can be. “OK, Jethro, reset fuel, select driver position four. You have new wet tires. We expect more and more rain. Sixty kph in the pit lane, watch the white line on pit exit.” Then a pause. “Take it easy.” And with that I’m given the signal to join the mayhem.

At this precise moment I long for a track with endless runoff areas, an overzealous race director throwing out the red flag at the first hint of drizzle, and a nice, quiet car. This is the other side of old-school no-holds-barred racing, and suddenly it seems more foolhardy than heroic. But I have just a few seconds to contemplate what’s ahead. The moment I cross the line at the end of the pit lane, there’s no thinking time. That’s probably for the better, as surely I’d just pull over, park it, and hitch a lift to the hotel bar. We all would.

The Nürburgring at night is the ultimate challenge. Five-time DTM champion Bernd Schneider has seen it all but still describes it as “undriveable.”

The N24 combines the modern grand prix circuit with the craggy old Nordschleife to make a circuit of more than 15 miles. That means for the first minute or so there is some margin for error on the smooth Formula 1-spec tarmac. It’s a great chance to get a feel for the car and work some heat into the tires. Racing “wets” are amazing things; the AMG still has loads of braking capacity and surprisingly good traction. I’m running engine map one, which saves fuel and reduces torque, but it still reels in everything but the fearsome GT3s at an alarming pace. Weirdly, I’m not so worried about the corners. I can feel the understeer or oversteer build. Hydroplaning, on the other hand, scares the bejesus out of me. Just how quickly can I go on the faster sections before I start floating and sail into the barriers? Erm, who knows?

Turning left for the first time from the expanses of the well-lit GP track and being swallowed up by the darkness of the Nordschleife is unforgettable. I distinctly remember saying, “Here we go … ” aloud to myself. Then, silently, giving myself a set of simple instructions: “Don’t be an ass. Keep it out of the barriers. Be brave.” The latter is key. Your natural instinct is to creep around as carefully as possible, but to do so just sends your confidence spiraling into the pits of hell. Tires lose temperature, the ABS starts working overtime, the car runs away from you on turn-in as the front tires skate over the surface and the rear tries to bite you as soon as you dare think of opening the throttle.

I know this because my first lap indeed plays out like a nightmare. I’m not brave, and the car and the track punish me over and over again with scary near misses. Think back to your school days and the moment of panic when you realize you haven’t prepared nearly enough for an exam. You get a hot feeling up your neck and a sudden burst of furious heart pumping that literally shakes your ribcage. Now imagine that half-second physical reaction to swelling panic coming over and over again. You’re drowning. That’s a wet lap of the ’Ring in the dead of night.

Our AMG GT4 races in the SP8T class—allowing more aero and boost. The car laps the Nürburgring in about 7 minutes; only the factory GT3 cars are faster. When it’s dry. But it’s never dry.

The second lap is slightly better, but I still feel like I’m walking the car around the circuit. When I make it back to the GP section and begin lap three, I’m determined to start actually driving. So I pick up the pace. I keep the throttle wide open on the straights even when the speeds creep up to 150 mph. I brake a little later, turn in a bit harder, and use the wider “wet line” more confidently.

Every lap there’s a new crash and more yellow flags and Code 60s (at the scene of bigger crashes, a 60-kph temporary speed limit is imposed), and my car feels a little better. I wouldn’t say I’m driving fast, but nothing comes past me except the odd super-committed GT3 car, and I’m picking off other GT4s pretty easily. Even so, this really is endurance rather than enjoyment. My internal coaching is now interrupted by proper shouting: “This is horrible. … Why am I doing this? … Please stop raining!”

Finally, after 11 laps, my stint is over, and the plan for me to do a double is abandoned. I hand over to Schneider, or “Five-Time” as he’s known within the team. The No. 190 Mercedes disappears into the gloom and the spray as I stand in the pit lane soaked from sweat, exhausted, and so, so relieved. I wasn’t an ass. I kept it out of the barriers. I was brave. Eventually.

After the Nordschleife’s oppressive darkness, the pit garage feels floodlit and weirdly disconnected to the mayhem playing out on the track. “Good job, mate,” Pim says. “Nobody around us was going as quickly.” I glance at the screens, and we’re running in 22nd. I am utterly elated. Then I realize the race is barely past the halfway mark just as Fabian Jung, team manager, delivers a line that almost floors me. “Bernd is in for a double. Then it’s you again. Sorry.”

Sunrise brings little respite as the fog rolls in and the rain gets harder. It gets so bad that the race is stopped then restarted despite weather worsening. No. 190 survives the mayhem. AMG builds a hell of a race car.

Those incredible, earlier laps in the dry—sun setting and the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 flinging the car along with a sense of unstoppable force—seem so long ago. Flying into the Foxhole in sixth gear and keeping the throttle pinned to the bulkhead into the compression at the bottom, jumping over the big rise before the fast left of Schwendenkreuz at well above 150 mph, working through the endless third- and fourth-gear twists and turns toward the end of the lap and feeling the GT4’s incredible stability—it’s all out of reach.

I won’t feel the euphoria of a fast, dry lap again, nor will I get the amazing physical sensation of leaning and leaning on the car and it pushing back, barely shrugging at what you ask it to do. Now it’s just rain and survival. I eat a schnitzel from a cardboard box and go back to my bench. Sleep doesn’t come easily. But I do sleep. A bit. And when I awake the plan has changed.

Patrick Simon, who’s experienced and very, very quick, will be in next, so I can relax. Schneider has seen it all before, but even he looks a little ruffled. “How was it?” I ask. His eyes widen. “No grip. Understeer, oversteer … all the time.” He mimes the car slipping out of his hands. “It’s ****ing dangerous.” I’ve been with Schneider for the best part of a week, and it’s the first time I’ve heard him curse. His thoughts mirror mine exactly.

I hope this sense of impeding dread doesn’t make me feel ungrateful. To be a part of this event is pure magic, and even in dire conditions there are moments you just can’t buy: rushing into the dark with lightning splitting great chasms in the sky; GT3 cars dancing past, front wheels a blur as the driver catches every mini-slide; the rear of the cars sparking over curbs or into compressions. Every lap is a privilege. But the stakes are high in every sense.

And so it continues. Another fearsomely slippery stint, this time with the added bonus of heavy fog and more near misses. More unbelievably exciting overtakes and more shouting into my crash helmet. Through it all, though, the AMG GT4 just keeps going. Passing slower cars and hanging on gamefully to the GT3s. The race is stopped for fog then restarts. Fittingly, Schneider takes the checkered flag. We finish 22nd overall, first in class, and with only GT3 cars ahead of us. It’s over. Thank God. Take me home. Can’t wait until next year.

IFTTT

[jonathanbelloblog]

We Race the Nürburgring 24 and Live to Tell About It

Considering I’m about to sleep on a bench in the back of a truck while still wearing a sweaty race suit, I feel on top of the world. I’ve just had one of the greatest driving experiences of my life: hammering into dusk at impossible speed, howling past slower traffic, and looking on in awe as the leading pack of GT3 cars muscle past in a shower of sparks, flames, and attitude. The Green Hell at its most heavenly on a balmy, dry evening and my race car—a 500-hp AMG GT4—getting faster and faster in the cool, dense air. If this is what the Nürburgring 24 hour is all about, sign me up forever.

Even better, my teammates and I have concocted a plan to maximize our night running: We’ll double-stint because conditions are so good and save our secret weapon—five-time DTM champion, four-time Nürburgring 24 winner, and all-around legend Bernd Schneider—for the morning. Rain is forecast, and Schneider’s experience and freakish talent will make all the difference. I sleep as sound as can be for two hours or so.

Waking up under harsh LED lights is a bit of a shock. My back aches, and one of my legs is numb where it’s rested over a gear bag. But what’s worse is that sound. It’s a faint but unmistakable “shhhhhhh” at first, like aluminum foil being swished around the room. Then it builds to a gentle but insistent drumming. Rain. My heart sinks. The precipitation that was scheduled for 6 a.m. has come early. And it isn’t going anywhere until well after the race ends at 3:30 p.m.

“Don’t be an ass. Keep it out of the barriers. Be brave.” The latter is key.

My double stint starts in 20 minutes or so, at 2:30 a.m.—just when the rain really kicks off. As I stumble out of the truck and into the garage, Pim de Wit, our performance engineer (he looks at the data and tells us why we’re slower than Schneider), tells me, “Monsoon rain, possibly ice rain [he means hail, but it sounds so much scarier when a German spits out ‘ice rain’] is coming fast.” I nod confidently. Then head for the restroom.

Rain is of course a part of racing. But rain at the ’Ring is different. It’s somehow bigger, wetter, and more dangerous. And the sheer scale of the track, its hemmed-in narrowness and its total lack of runoff areas, make it hugely intimidating even for the experienced. Me? I’ve done the N24 before but always in mercifully dry conditions and in cars slower than our monster AMG. We’re running in the top 25. Falling into the cold clutches of those endless shimmering barriers is the stuff of nightmares.

So I wait in the pit lane, sky flashing great purple streaks of lightning. Christian Gebhardt, another of my teammates, brings the car in, and I rip open the door, pull out his radio and drink connectors, and stand back for him to climb out. Then I fold myself into the seat. He straps me into the harnesses, and my earpiece chirps to life. It’s Marius Dietrich, our race engineer, calm as can be. “OK, Jethro, reset fuel, select driver position four. You have new wet tires. We expect more and more rain. Sixty kph in the pit lane, watch the white line on pit exit.” Then a pause. “Take it easy.” And with that I’m given the signal to join the mayhem.

At this precise moment I long for a track with endless runoff areas, an overzealous race director throwing out the red flag at the first hint of drizzle, and a nice, quiet car. This is the other side of old-school no-holds-barred racing, and suddenly it seems more foolhardy than heroic. But I have just a few seconds to contemplate what’s ahead. The moment I cross the line at the end of the pit lane, there’s no thinking time. That’s probably for the better, as surely I’d just pull over, park it, and hitch a lift to the hotel bar. We all would.

The Nürburgring at night is the ultimate challenge. Five-time DTM champion Bernd Schneider has seen it all but still describes it as “undriveable.”

The N24 combines the modern grand prix circuit with the craggy old Nordschleife to make a circuit of more than 15 miles. That means for the first minute or so there is some margin for error on the smooth Formula 1-spec tarmac. It’s a great chance to get a feel for the car and work some heat into the tires. Racing “wets” are amazing things; the AMG still has loads of braking capacity and surprisingly good traction. I’m running engine map one, which saves fuel and reduces torque, but it still reels in everything but the fearsome GT3s at an alarming pace. Weirdly, I’m not so worried about the corners. I can feel the understeer or oversteer build. Hydroplaning, on the other hand, scares the bejesus out of me. Just how quickly can I go on the faster sections before I start floating and sail into the barriers? Erm, who knows?

Turning left for the first time from the expanses of the well-lit GP track and being swallowed up by the darkness of the Nordschleife is unforgettable. I distinctly remember saying, “Here we go … ” aloud to myself. Then, silently, giving myself a set of simple instructions: “Don’t be an ass. Keep it out of the barriers. Be brave.” The latter is key. Your natural instinct is to creep around as carefully as possible, but to do so just sends your confidence spiraling into the pits of hell. Tires lose temperature, the ABS starts working overtime, the car runs away from you on turn-in as the front tires skate over the surface and the rear tries to bite you as soon as you dare think of opening the throttle.

I know this because my first lap indeed plays out like a nightmare. I’m not brave, and the car and the track punish me over and over again with scary near misses. Think back to your school days and the moment of panic when you realize you haven’t prepared nearly enough for an exam. You get a hot feeling up your neck and a sudden burst of furious heart pumping that literally shakes your ribcage. Now imagine that half-second physical reaction to swelling panic coming over and over again. You’re drowning. That’s a wet lap of the ’Ring in the dead of night.

Our AMG GT4 races in the SP8T class—allowing more aero and boost. The car laps the Nürburgring in about 7 minutes; only the factory GT3 cars are faster. When it’s dry. But it’s never dry.

The second lap is slightly better, but I still feel like I’m walking the car around the circuit. When I make it back to the GP section and begin lap three, I’m determined to start actually driving. So I pick up the pace. I keep the throttle wide open on the straights even when the speeds creep up to 150 mph. I brake a little later, turn in a bit harder, and use the wider “wet line” more confidently.

Every lap there’s a new crash and more yellow flags and Code 60s (at the scene of bigger crashes, a 60-kph temporary speed limit is imposed), and my car feels a little better. I wouldn’t say I’m driving fast, but nothing comes past me except the odd super-committed GT3 car, and I’m picking off other GT4s pretty easily. Even so, this really is endurance rather than enjoyment. My internal coaching is now interrupted by proper shouting: “This is horrible. … Why am I doing this? … Please stop raining!”

Finally, after 11 laps, my stint is over, and the plan for me to do a double is abandoned. I hand over to Schneider, or “Five-Time” as he’s known within the team. The No. 190 Mercedes disappears into the gloom and the spray as I stand in the pit lane soaked from sweat, exhausted, and so, so relieved. I wasn’t an ass. I kept it out of the barriers. I was brave. Eventually.

After the Nordschleife’s oppressive darkness, the pit garage feels floodlit and weirdly disconnected to the mayhem playing out on the track. “Good job, mate,” Pim says. “Nobody around us was going as quickly.” I glance at the screens, and we’re running in 22nd. I am utterly elated. Then I realize the race is barely past the halfway mark just as Fabian Jung, team manager, delivers a line that almost floors me. “Bernd is in for a double. Then it’s you again. Sorry.”

Sunrise brings little respite as the fog rolls in and the rain gets harder. It gets so bad that the race is stopped then restarted despite weather worsening. No. 190 survives the mayhem. AMG builds a hell of a race car.

Those incredible, earlier laps in the dry—sun setting and the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 flinging the car along with a sense of unstoppable force—seem so long ago. Flying into the Foxhole in sixth gear and keeping the throttle pinned to the bulkhead into the compression at the bottom, jumping over the big rise before the fast left of Schwendenkreuz at well above 150 mph, working through the endless third- and fourth-gear twists and turns toward the end of the lap and feeling the GT4’s incredible stability—it’s all out of reach.

I won’t feel the euphoria of a fast, dry lap again, nor will I get the amazing physical sensation of leaning and leaning on the car and it pushing back, barely shrugging at what you ask it to do. Now it’s just rain and survival. I eat a schnitzel from a cardboard box and go back to my bench. Sleep doesn’t come easily. But I do sleep. A bit. And when I awake the plan has changed.

Patrick Simon, who’s experienced and very, very quick, will be in next, so I can relax. Schneider has seen it all before, but even he looks a little ruffled. “How was it?” I ask. His eyes widen. “No grip. Understeer, oversteer … all the time.” He mimes the car slipping out of his hands. “It’s ****ing dangerous.” I’ve been with Schneider for the best part of a week, and it’s the first time I’ve heard him curse. His thoughts mirror mine exactly.

I hope this sense of impeding dread doesn’t make me feel ungrateful. To be a part of this event is pure magic, and even in dire conditions there are moments you just can’t buy: rushing into the dark with lightning splitting great chasms in the sky; GT3 cars dancing past, front wheels a blur as the driver catches every mini-slide; the rear of the cars sparking over curbs or into compressions. Every lap is a privilege. But the stakes are high in every sense.

And so it continues. Another fearsomely slippery stint, this time with the added bonus of heavy fog and more near misses. More unbelievably exciting overtakes and more shouting into my crash helmet. Through it all, though, the AMG GT4 just keeps going. Passing slower cars and hanging on gamefully to the GT3s. The race is stopped for fog then restarts. Fittingly, Schneider takes the checkered flag. We finish 22nd overall, first in class, and with only GT3 cars ahead of us. It’s over. Thank God. Take me home. Can’t wait until next year.

IFTTT

[jitsuda-blog]

Chiang Dao Camping

The reasons that I am writing this blog because I think I fall in love with trekking. I think I understand now why people like to go trekking.

I am inspired by a book called “Born a crime” written by Trevor Noah. I like the idea that he wrote about his life, born in South Africa in English language which allows people from different parts of the world to understand and enjoy reading his experiences. And I am one of them. So, I hope that my messages will be seen by people, in India, Africa, small islands, small towns in other parts of the world somehow. I apologize for my broken English. I honestly would love to share my latest experience.

And most importantly, I am amazed by beauty of nature. Nature has so much impact on me. I also appreciated everyone in the trip who had helped me along the ways that were full of difficulties and wonderful adventures.

26 November 2017

My parents drove me to Chiang Dao Camping office (Chiangmai, Thailand), where I first met up with guides or porters and other trekkers whom I would be spending the whole 3 day journey with.

It was my first time going trekking alone. I had invited some friends, but they were not free to come, or they did not want to come, I was not so sure. But, I really wanted to go. What should I do?

Since I am always  inspired by Iroamalone website, which is created to advice how a woman can travel alone, I saw the possibility that I was not going to be in the jungle alone, I could just follow the other tourists. Besides, I actually am an adult. There is nothing for  me and my parents should be concerned or worried about that much.

It was 8.30 AM. There were total 10 trekkers and 2 porters for this trip. We all sat at the back of the pickup that would bring us to the trekking starting site.

Once the pickup passed the National park office, the speed began  faster. The driver sped up while running on the super rough road.

“Ahhhhhh!!!!! Ohhh Noo…..!!!! Ouch!! Ouch!! Seriously!!!” My butt bumped up and down the seat.

“Do you have to go that fast?!  I do not wanna die here. There is no seat belt. What if the car accidentally get off the road and go down the hill?!!!” I was crying inside. And I believe that everyone felt the same way, they all grabbed the bar tightly. It was such a fast and furious ride. [Later on, when we finished the trip, we complained about the fast ride to another driver, he said it is hard to bring the pickup full of people up on the high mountain if they go by slower pace. And they are experienced in driving to the area.]

Even I was panic on the intense ride, I still noticed the scenery along the rough road. It was foggy. I saw orange garden, with small little shop in the front, selling oranges and some snacks. The ride was not that bad actually.

It took one hour and a half on the scary ride, we finally arrived safely at the starting site. We grabbed lunch pack and 2 bottles of water and put into our bags.

The driver who is also the manager of the tour, He showed us the map and explained the directions.

Way up to the campsite: 8.5 km (4 - 5 hours walk)

Way down from campsite: 6 km (3 - 4 hours walk)

��                                    Then, it was time to start trekking.

“Wowww…. isn’t it pretty?!!”  The track was narrow, so we all had to walk as one row. The weather surrounding was a bit cooling, but I  thought there was no need to wear long sleeves yet, because I would be sweating later.

The flower is called “Tian Nok Kaew”  you may see that  they look so much like small little parrots. [Nok Kaew means Parrot].

We stopped a while for lunch break. The sticky rice with fried pork and sausage filled up three quarters of my stomach. Around 2 PM, we reached the campsite. We stayed right below the big mountain. We rested a while, enough to recharge the energy to hike up to the big mountain that evening for sunset. 

OMG, I realized that climbing up to this mountain was not easy. It was very steep, certain path was tough, the narrow track was full of rocks. Further away by just inches was just nice cliff. I started to get out of breath. I breathed in and out deeply to calm myself. It seemed like the porter noticed my reactions. He stopped and called out for everyone to take few breaks along the way up. This was  the most extreme exercise I had ever done in my life.

Almost one hour later, I finally caught up with some other trekkers, we reached the top of “ Doi Luang Chiang Dao”,  at least  the ground on the top was flat enough for me to walk easily. [Doi Luang means big mountain].

Wowww........

Is this real?!!! I breathed in the fresh air deep down into both of my lungs. The aching from climbing suddenly went away. I could not feel anymore pain by just looking at the breathtaking view in front of me. I sensed only lightness and peacefulness. Was I dreaming? Last five minutes I was still suffering from the rocks and scary cliff. We were at 2,225 meters above sea level.

Others were checking their phone signals or finding their best spots for shooting photos. They probably could not wait to tell their love ones of what they just experienced.

The porter has been very nice, he liked to show us the different locations on top of the big mountain.  

At the end of the day, the sun disappeared slowly from the sky. It was time for me to climb back to my tent in the darkness (of course I brought flashlight with me). It was easier coming down, but still it was scary for me.

Next morning, I woke up around 4.15 am. We were heading to another mountain called “Gew Lom” for sunrise. The sky was full of stars, it had been long time that I had not seen that many stars so obvious.

Climbing up to Gew Lom was not easier than the day before. It was hard because it was dark and more slippery. Again, I was suffering with catching up my breath and trying to keep my body moving through the hard track.

At a certain part of the way to Gew Lom, Pi Ling, another porter, flashed the flashlight  up to a cliff, and we could see the reflection of an animal called “ Liang Pa” which is mountain goat. “They like to stand on the cliff” Pi. Ling said. [ Pi means older brother].

About an hour of climbing in the darkness, We once stepped on the top. Pi Ling prepared hot Milo (chocolate drink) for us. What could be better than having hot drink above the cold mountain. 

                                      And... the sun started rising....

After the sun had fully risen, we just enjoyed taking photos for a while. Pi Ling quickly presented us an interesting flower. The flower would break and spread out its seeds whenever we give slight squeeze or even when the rain falls onto it.

I  enjoyed making the flowers broken for a while. Then, we got hungry, so it was  time to climb back for breakfast. 

Oh my gosh, the way down was even more slippery. My walking stick did not help much. I needed to hold the trees and rocks nearby to help balancing myself.

Pi Chai, our chef, cooked wonderful dishes for us in every meals. I could not believe that up on mountain I still could enjoy tasty food. I needed to restore lots of energy. After breakfast, we all were happy to rest. We would start another trekking in the afternoon at 2 PM, this time we would go to another mountain linking to Gew Lom. Which means we would need to hike up to the same path as the morning, and continue further away another 25 minutes. That sounded so far away for me already.  However, after I had done hiking up and down mountains twice, I really gained much more confidence that it would be possible for me to go further.

There was a little cave hiden underneath the top of the mountain.  It was impossible  for us to go deeper inside, since the the entrance was too small. 

It was chilling up there. Pi Ling again was preparing hot drinks for us as usual. We were just looking for spots to sit down and could not wait to enjoy the drink until....we heard unexpected sentence.

“ Oh No !!, I forgot to bring the kettle” Pi Ling spoke out loud enough for us to hear. 

We were stunned for seconds and tried to process what we had just heard.

“ It is ok ” we all responded him with little bit sadness. I can just drink the cold Milo then. I still needed to restore some energy.

This afternoon, we could see only fogginess on the sky and surrounded the mountain. The sky was still unclear and it was almost time of sunset. We decided to go back to the campsite because of the heavy fog. We missed sunset.

Tomorrow would be our last day, we planned to go back to Doi Luang Chiang Dao, to see the stars and sunrise another time. 

5 AM, we reached the top, but still the whole mountain was full of fog. It was 15 Degree Celsius, with breeze. I could not stand the wind. I hid myself in front of the wood signage. Of course we still hoped that the sky would open soon, we waited until we were sure that the sun had been risen. The weather got warmer. “It is ok, I do not see sunrise, I still can enjoy the cloud!!”

let us go back to our tents for breakfast and get ready for long trek all the way back.

This is our kitchen. Pi Ling and Pi Chai were packing their stuffs.

On the way back, the sky opened,  I believed that the mountains showed up to say goodbye to us, or maybe to give us encouragement to get through the new hard track. The way back was very different from the way we came. 

It is 6 km, which is shorter distance, but seriously, walking down the long steep hill really hurt my knees. Pi Chai helped accompanied me from half way to the end. Other trekkers were walking very fast. I was very careful to step down the slippery path. I did not want to get any injuries, my knees already got hurt and tired. Pi Chai guided me all the way through and giving me some green oil to massage my knees. I was not sure to try. But since it is just herb, I finally tried. I liked the smell of it, though. “Not bad”, I felt less painful later on. We walked passed by bamboos jungles, wild bananas jungles, high rocks covered with moss all over them. Wow, this was like unusual landscape for me. It was like dinosaur era. I probably watched too much movies, or I got too tired until I became blurred.

OMG, I finally saw the same pickup  waiting in the front. I came as the third place, by the way:))

Thank you all friends along this trip, it was nice to meet you all. Thank you for help taking photos of me. Thank you Chiang Dao Camping for arranging  the program efficiently. Thank you porters for being so kind, funny and sharing your stories. 

                                                                            Nature is really amazing = D

 Last pic was shot by Ja with her GoPro (thank you so much)

                                                      Expense details(3 days,2 nights program)

Trip: 2,750 bht per person

Sleeping bag rent: 200 bht per night

Luggages : If you need porter to carry your bags, the price is 120 bht per kg ( mine was around 4 kg)

Further inquries please contact Chiang Dao Camping Facebook page

Additional information

There is no water for showering, the porters prepared only water for drinking and washing face or brush your teeth. 

Toilet: it looks like a hole with wood board for a person to stand on and squat to do your business,  they covered with black plastic net to make like small restroom. The smell is terrible. One of the porter said they will change new hole every month. It is better than nothing, I think.

Phone signals: AIS or One2call signals can be found on top of the most mountains. Truemove can be found only at Gew Lom mountain (mine is Truemove, I could make a call there). 

Phone signals cannot be found at the campsite and along the trekking tracks.

Accommodation: one tent can fit one or two people. I stayed alone in a tent, which was located near to other people’s tents. 

My opinion: Suggestions for trekkers ( trip during November) 

The weather can be 10-15 degree C at night  until early in the morning. It can be windy on top of mountains.

1. The sleeping bag from the campsite is not warm enough, you should bring extra sleeping bag or extra blanket. I, myself was suffering from coldness. Some other trekkers asked for extra sleeping bag even they already brought ones from home.

2. You may bring additional cushion/air cushion to put on top of the mat in the tent, so that it helps to prevent coldness transferring to your body at night. 

3. Bring some snacks or sweets if you have high metabolism, you will always feel hungry and you can share snacks to your friends too. There is no snacks available at the campsite. They provide only food, water, Milo and coffee.  Each usual meal may not last for long hours in some people.

4. Bring hot water bottle with you, because the water for drinking is as cold as water in a fridge. you can ask the porters to boil water for you to spare.

5. It is better to join 3 days 2 nights trip, because there is possibility that the sky can be foggy and you will miss sunrise or sunset if you stay just one night.

[booksmel]

Alone, Together

There are a lot of ways to create a fulfilling life. People get their self-worth from a lot of places. Mine has always come from the feeling I get when I achieve goals. I rely heavily on the satisfaction that comes from a job well done – the way it makes me feel when I can say with confidence “Yes, I did that” carries me and makes me soar. It backfires sometimes when I fail and I beat myself up (which happens a lot), but the feeling I get when I’m successful at something makes up for it. I’m sure some psychoanalyst could come up with reasons why I need this feeling and why it drives me so much (and in fact I once had a boss at an old job try to do just that), but the reasons why are less important at this point in my life than just embracing it and trying to make it work for me. In many ways, I think this is why I am drawn to the marathon distance in running. It’s about setting a goal, executing on a plan, and pushing yourself to your absolute limits. And the feeling of achievement that comes along with that is second to none. I travel a lot for work, I’ve traveled a bunch for leisure, and I’ve traveled a little for races. I am a great solo traveler – I like the feeling of being alone among many for a short while. But all of the times I’ve traveled alone, it’s been for work. My destination always waited for me, full of people I could spend time with and socialize with and talk to for a few days before going home to my family. I’ve never traveled alone for personal reasons, and I’ve never once run a race where I didn’t have anyone at the finish line waiting for me. All that changed with this trip. I flew to Chicago by myself, with the intention of running the marathon alone. I had friends in the city, several fellow runners who were in town for the same reason, so I knew I would see a couple of people here and there. But for all intents and purposes, I was on my own for this one. I was originally supposed to have friends with me but it ended up not working out, and I felt compelled to go by myself anyway. I did it this way mostly because I wanted to see if I could. I have no problem spending time by myself and in fact I love it most of the time. But can I do it for 2 whole days, and can I throw the hardest race distance in there with virtually no moral support in person? Can I do this truly on my own? This, to me, was the biggest challenge of all. To go through the city doing the hardest thing possible to my body, and to not have a single familiar face through any of it. I would have to rely on my own grit and determination to be able to power through. When you’re alone at a race, a couple of interesting things happen. You see things from a different angle, almost as an outside observer to someone else’s human moments. At the expo, I walked around watching people try on shoes or get samples of energy gels, and saw people talking to each other about how excited they were. I was excited as well, but I silently walked and absorbed the energy of other people. In addition, sometimes you end up having those human moments yourself, with perfect strangers. One of the traditions for many people at a race expo is to have your picture taken with your bib number in front of the sign saying what race you’re running the next day. But if you’re alone, you need someone to do that for you. In my case, as I waited in line to do just that, I ended up chatting with a woman behind me. I asked her to take my photo, and she said of course. It turned out she was alone too, so I took her photo and we talked for a few minutes while we waited our turns. We shared a couple of brief stories, introduced each other, and then each left as we walked into the sea of people separately, alone once again surrounded by thousands. It happened on race day as well. I woke up early and ate breakfast and dressed alone before the sun came up, trying to harness the nervous energy I was feeling. I was able to put all the lights on and play music, since I didn’t have to worry about waking anyone up. But I also didn’t have anyone to wish me good luck in person and give me a hug before I left, which was a little hard though I did get a few early morning text messages from friends and family that helped. But in the elevator, I met a man who was also running and though his wife would be on the course, he was running alone. We walked the mile to the entrance together, shared a few stories, and generally kept each other distracted as the tension built on the walk over. We said goodbye, wished each other a good race, and parted as I ducked into Starbucks to get the coffee I so desperately needed that morning. As I waited in my wave at the starting line, I was fidgeting with my fuel pack and accidentally kept elbowing the girl next to me. I finally apologized after doing it three times, and we ended up having a great conversation. We were both from Boston, and had both run the Boston Marathon as charity runners for Team Eye and Ear, but in different years. I traveled halfway across the country to find someone just like me, in a perfect stranger at the startling line. We wished each other a good race, and after we crossed the starting line we separated. I never saw any of these people again after the small exchange I had with each of them. I hope they all had a great race day, and though they don’t know it, they each played a role in how my day went so I really appreciate that. The race itself was a bit of a blur. It was too warm of a day to have good race conditions, so I ended up having to change my expectations. And as it turns out, the chaos of the layered Chicago street system means GPS doesn’t really work well. So I didn’t really have a working knowledge of the data I needed at any given time. Throughout the whole race I was doing math in my head based on my current times and trying to figure out my estimated finishing time, and wondering if it was possible to meet my time goal. Despite that challenge, I ran by feel and generally felt fantastic up to the halfway mark and was on track. The spectators in Chicago are some of the best I’ve ever seen, with amazingly clever signs and the loudest cheering; I took my headphones out at mile 19 so I could just take it all in during the last hour or so. I saw at least a dozen “I’m proud of you, complete stranger!” signs, which I thought was so kind. I don’t know if those people know how much it means to those complete strangers, but I hope they do. The second half of the race was much harder than the first, which is to be expected. Generally I was feeling ok, even though I was running a little slower than I would have hoped. But once we hit the 20 mile mark, the sun was high in the sky and not a single cloud was blocking it. There’s also virtually no shade in the last 10k, so the heat had more of an impact than it might have otherwise. I ended up having to walk a bunch in the last 3-4 miles. At that point I knew my time goals were out of reach, but I also knew that I was guaranteed a significant personal best time regardless. Every time I stopped to walk (maybe 4-5 times total in the last 4 miles, the only time during the race that I had to walk), I checked in with myself to make sure I really needed to. If I walk right now, is it worth missing the time goal? If I keep running, will I even make it there Ultimately I finished with about a 5:04 time, which was not my “aggressive” goal or even my “realistic” goal. But it was a 25 minute increase over my previous best time, so I hit my “worst case” goal, which was to PR. And the fact that I was able to improve so much in a year is its own accomplishment so I’m proud of the fact that I was able to do that. That is a product of 16 weeks of training 6 days a week, and the product of a family at home that is endlessly supportive of me following my dreams. I’m still chasing a sub-5 hour marathon, and also one that doesn’t have some sort of weather issue hurting my potential. But the mantra is “run your own race” – I absolutely ran my own race that day and I left every single thing I had in my body, mind and soul on the streets of Chicago. I always tell my son that the most important thing is to be brave when doing something new and to try his best in all things, and if he does that I’ll be proud of him. The outcome isn’t as important as the attempt. I feel confident that I have embodied this and I am proud of the example I’ve set for him in this journey. I went to Chicago to run a marathon by myself to prove that I could do it alone. In the end, I was never truly alone. I did end up seeing a couple of friends, including one who ran her first marathon ever, which gave me so much joy to see her achieve that. And those one-off, brief conversations with strangers made my soul lighter for a moment. I was able to phone and FaceTime many of my friends and family before and after the race, which reminded me that though I didn’t have anyone there with me that day, I had dozens of people all over the place who were thinking of me and hoping I succeeded. It can be hard to not have anyone there in person, but knowing that someone is thinking of you and is proud of you is an amazing feeling. A PR, some great food, and a few small human connections in a world of avoiding eye contact with strangers, and I was reminded of all the things that make us all great together. The marathon to me is a manifestation of our ability to put everything aside and just focus on one thing; to challenge our limits and push ourselves to the brink. It’s beyond just the day of the race; it’s the months of training where we talk about nothing but training or obsess over fuel or skip parties because we have to prioritize and be a little selfish sometimes and our friends and family are kind even though they want to roll their eyes when we bore them. It’s creating a situation where we can look at the medal hanging on the wall and think to ourselves “I did that, so I know I can do ANYTHING the world throws at me.”   I can’t wait to do it again next year.