#IC 1284

[chibinotan]

Red and Blue Nebulae

[cosmicfocus]

IC 1283

Towards the galactic centre.

Nebula in Sagittarius Image exposure:180 MinutesImage Size:1.55º x 1.01ºImage date:2023-07-11 This image shows a very busy region of the Milky Way, located in the general direction of the galactic centre. IC 1283/1284 (centre) is an emission nebula about 17 arc-minutes in diameter, It is accompanied by two smaller reflection nebulae, NGC 6589/6590 (a double patch of nebulosity, one arc-min…

[eat-limes-bitches]

Hell Hath No Fury Like A Farmer Socrned

PAIRING: Female Rancher! Reader x Mafia Boss!Bucky Barnes

SUMMARY: When his lover is snatched from her ranch, everyone better watch out, and not for the reason they all thought.

WARNINGS: Cannon-level violence, mentions of blood, fighting etc.

Word Count: 1284

A/N: Wow here we are! My first AU! I had this idea while I was a work the other day and thought it was funny. Sorry if it is not that coherent but I tried. If you guys want to see more of this pairing send me some ideas! I'd love to try some more of these two!

Enjoy! <3

Divider by Rookthorne

James Bucky Barnes was known for many things, brilliant, cold, ruthless, fierce ruler of the Brooklyn mafia, amongst many other things. One thing he was not known for was his cool temperament when someone he cared for was in danger which is why his two most trusted men, Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson hesitated outside of their boss's office door, not sure how they would break the news. After sucking a deep breath, the pair walked into the room. Bucky sat at his sturdy redwood desk, feet propped up as he leaned back in his lavish office chair. His gaze snapped from the contract to his men standing in the doorway before returning to the papers in his hand as he spoke.

“How may I help you, gentleman?” His deep voice reverberated across the room.

“They’ve got her, boss,” Sam stated evenly, ice dancing across each word. Bucky was on his feet in an instant, staring down the mean in front of him.

“What?” He hissed, any other person in his company would have shivered at the venom lashing out of his words, but it just caused Steve to sigh looking his boss, his dear friend in the eyes.

“They got Y/n at the farm this morning. They just sent in a live video feed that Stark has pulled up in the conference room no-”

Before the words could finish leaving Steve’s mouth, Bucky was shoving past them and all but running down the hall to the conference room. He burst into the room to see Tony messing with the camera feed while the rest of his most trusted men sat around the table, staring at Bucky waiting for his reaction. Bucky walked over to his chair placing his hands on the back of it as he stared at the screen playing the live video feed of Y/n sitting there, tied to a chair with some plastic-coated twine, no doubt from the truck she was in earlier that morning.

Bucky’s eyes traced over her frame, looking for any injuries. If there was so much a hair out of place he thought as his ringed fingers gripped the plush material even harder, causing his knuckles to turn white. As he continued his assessment he landed on her face and it was then that he sucked in a breath, taking notice of how her once soft lips were now busted up and the small gash across the bridge of her nose. What caused him to let out a breath was the overall look on her face. She was livid. Her jaw clenched tightly, her once sparkling eyes dark with fury, he could practically see the rage pouring off of her. Evidently, the guards standing on either side of her took notice as they began to shift uncomfortably.

She's going to be fine. Bucky thinks to himself as he lets out a small sigh of relief.

Bucky pulled out his chair and sat down calmly, catching everyone in the room, including Steve and Sam who had joined the room just a few moments ago, off guard. He cocked his head sideways,

“Will you let them know that we are all present Stark? That seems to be what they are waiting on.” He spoke, his tone even and calm causing everyone to share looks as Tony patched in the audio.

“Afternoon Barnes.” A voice called out as a figure walked around from behind the camera revealing Brock Rumalow, the leader of the rival mob who had been fighting with the Barnes Corp. For many years.

“Looks like you are starting to slack, she was an easy grab.” Rumalow sneered as he approached Y/n, walking around her chair as he ran his hand up her arm and wrapping a hand around the back of her neck causing an even more crossed look to appear on her face.

“Such a shame, I don’t understand why you would let such a pretty little thing out of your sight.”

The atmosphere in the conference room was tense. Everyone knew about the sweet little cattle rancher Bucky fell in love with many months ago. He had finally brought her around during the Christmas party last month where she was loved by everyone who was able to talk with her. However, she was new to this world, his world and so everyone was worried about her the moment they heard she was taken, but watching her now, she didn’t seem the least bit scared, more annoyed than anything, causing confusion to ripple through the air, but no questions were asked as Rumalow continued speaking,

“I believe she has a few things to say to you, James.” He crowed walking away from Y/n with a pat on her cheek, returning to his position behind the camera while she let out a loud huff.

“Yeah, I got some things to say alright. If you aint here in the next hour, I’m gonna be walking home myself. I got a mare due any day now and these asswipes didn’t bother to close the cattle gate after they got me so now all the cattle are probably running amuck stressing out poor Parker.”

Bucky let out a soft chuckle, only Y/n would be worried about her poor farm hand while she sat tied down to a chair by her boyfriend's rival gang.

“I got the location of the camera Buck,” Tony calls out from behind the computer, “It’s only a few blocks away, in that old warehouse on the junction of 5th Avenue and Bakers Street.”

Bucky brushed invisible dust off his pants and started to speak when there was a large commotion coming from the video feed.

Everyone watched in pure shock as Y/n snapped the twine holding her in place, jumping up and kicking a chair at one guard and wrapping the now wrecked twine around the other's neck yanking him down to the ground, his skull hitting the floor with a sickening crack.

Once the guards were dispatched, Y/n glanced to her left before darting off in that direction, the shock of her escape must have finally worn off of Rumalow because everyone, except for Bucky, jumped to their feet as gunshots began ringing out behind the field of view of the camera. There is a loud metallic “thwang!” before Y/n returned to view, holding an old shovel with a small smattering of blood on it and an even more disgruntled look on her face as she examines her once clean cream and blue plaid shirt that was now ruined by a few small patches of blood.

Bucky smiles as he hears a few curses leave her mouth along with a “I just got the blood out of this shirt”.

Y/n then walks up to the camera, letting out a huff as she picks it up and starts making her way towards the side exit. She glances down at the camera before she starts speaking,

“By the looks of it, you have 45 minutes to get here before I start walking, which believe me you do not want me doing that. ‘Cause I swear to God and all that is holy James Buchannan Barnes if that foal is on the ground by the time I get back I’m whooping your and everyone else in that room's asses.”

Bucky chuckles and stands up looking at Sam and Steve as he motions for them to come with him to the garage to pick up Y/n.

“It looks like she had them after all.” Bucky muses as they enter the elevator. The other men nod in agreement as Sam then says, “Remind me to never piss her off.”

[gryffinclaw-imagines]

Remus Lupin x Reader - A snowy escape

Character: Remus Lupin

Reader: Fem!Reader

Word count: 1284

Requested: No, but feel free to request a fic:))

Summary: That bloody potions essay has you stumped! So much so, that Remus has offered to spend his Saturday helping you with it instead of going to Hogsmeade. Which, in itself, isn’t all that bad...

Warnings: Nothing, just pure fluff

A/n: Can you tell I love everything snow and wintery by this???

PLEASE DON’T COPY OR STEAL MY WORK. REBLOGS ARE APPRECIATED;)

"I guess I just can’t see why it makes a difference...” You confessed, your nose buried deep within the pages of your potions book. “Well, lacewing flies make the potion a lot more powerful.” Remus replied calmly, his patience astounding you. You would’ve given up on yourself if you were in his position. 

“Ugh... Christmas break can’t come soon enough!” You exclaimed, closing the book. A silence fell upon you for a moment, and you noticed just how empty the library was. Everyone was at Hogsmeade, enjoying themselves, drinking hot chocolate, maybe even enjoying a hot meal at The Three Broomsticks. “Thank you for helping me, Rem.” You looked him in the eyes, trying to convey just how grateful you were. “No problem, Y/n. I’ll always help you if you need it.” The boy gave you a sincere look, making you blush (just a tiny bit), before grabbing a book from the table. 

“Here,” he handed it to you, his fingers brushing lightly against yours. “Chapter 17.” You opened the book, but the words seemed unreadable, your mind somewhere else. You felt childish for getting so caught up on a single touch, but you couldn’t help it. Since fourth year, this boy had been making your stomach flutter with excitement. The simplest things could set it off, and you were quite tired of it by now, if you had to be honest. You were not tired of Remus, you could never be. However, you were tired of longing, tired of staring at him for too long, and tired of your expectations. You’d liked him since fourth year, and now, two years later, you figured it was too late. If he liked you too, surely something would’ve happened by now.

“Lacewing flies not only give the potion its significant shimmer, but they also increase the potion’s effect by 72%, as opposed to the cheaper replacement; rosewing beetles.” You read, finally able to concentrate. “That’s a good point to add,” Remus nodded, pushing your essay towards you. It was almost done, but you didn’t feel confident about it. “I’ll write it down, then.” You reached for the ink, sighing. 

“What’s wrong?” Remus asked, his brows arching. “I just feel bad for making you stay here with me...” You confessed, writing a phrase on your parchment. “Hey, you didn’t make me do anything. I chose to help you myself.” He took your hand, making you look at him.

“If you ask me,” he continued. “It’s 100% worth-” “LOOK!” You exclaimed loudly, pointing at the window behind him, earning you a somewhat aggressive shush from Madam Pince. “It’s snowing!” You whispered, smiling brightly at the boy in front of you. “We need to go outside! Get your coat!”

“But what about your essay?” He asked while you were already putting everything away. “It’s fine! It’s almost done anyways. Get your coat, Rem, we’ll meet in the courtyard!” And off you were, parchment in hand, running off to your common room to get your coat. You were too excited to notice his wholesome smile and corresponding blush as he watched you run off.

***

The sharp cold hit you as soon as you stepped outside, making your cheeks glow as you buried your chin further into your scarf. The courtyard was dead silent, and it seemed abandoned, making it look magical in a non-wizard way. You strolled over to the fountain and let your fingers run over the light coat of frost on the ice cold stone, before sitting down on its ledge. The calm seemed to hit you in a way nothing else could, potion’s essay forgotten. You’d definitely made the right choice to abandon your homework and enjoy the snow. It was one of your favourite things. Winter with snow. Winter without snow was just plain gray. Boring. Winter with snow, however, awakened a feeling in you like no other. It felt special as it always seemed to bring an opportunity for making memories. The nostalgic feeling reminded you of your childhood, playing in the snow with your family, building snowmen, drinking hot cocoa after a long day outside, the feeling of warmth coming back to your fingers once you held a warm mug in your hands a vivid memory. You toyed with the end of your scarf, deep in thought. Not for long however, as something cold and soft hit your shoulder, making you shriek in surprise before turning around.

“Remus, I’ll get you back for that!” You yelled as you saw who’d thrown the snowball. “Oi, everything’s fair in snow and war!” He replied, already taking cover behind a bush. You laughed before gathering a great amount of snow in your hands and throwing it at him, missing by a few inches. “Was that the best you’ve got?” He teased before throwing another snowball, also missing. “Well, you’re not that good yourself!” You answered as you turned to watch where the ball would land. “Rule number one,” Remus began, making you turn back around. “Always have a tactic.” He stated smugly while throwing another snowball, hitting you smack on the left shoulder.

“Ok, that’s it!” You let out before charging at the bush where Remus had taken cover, making him flee from his hiding place. He was fast. A little faster than you, always a couple steps ahead, leading the two of you out of the courtyard and a little of the way towards the great lake. You had to think of a plan. This wouldn’t go well for you if your plan depended on catching up to him somehow. So you came up with another idea as you spotted a giant soft pile of snow, practically calling your name. You ran over to it, calling out for Remus.

“Ouch, Rem! I think I sprained my ankle!” The words made him stop running to come help you out, exactly as you’d hoped. “Which one? Let me see… Can you walk?” He sounded genuinely worried, and for a second you felt bad for tricking him, but your mischievous side got the better of you. “Yea, it’s right here…” You pretended to bend down a bit before grabbing his coat and pulling him down with you, right into the pile of snow.

“Hey!” He exclaimed, followed up by laughter. “You cheat!” He turned to look at you, and you couldn’t help but taking a split-second to take him in. Pink cheeks and nose, golden curls peeking out from underneath his knit beanie, a couple of snowflakes stuck in his hair. “Everything’s fair in snow and war.” You replied, shrugging the best to your abilities while lying down. He let out a warm chuckle before sitting up and looking towards the lake, gesturing for you to do the same.

The view was simply stunning. A snowy landscape like you’d never seen it before… or rather, like you’d never noticed it before. The sun was beginning to set, shining down onto the untouched snow through a hole in the clouds. It glittered and glimmered, once again reminding you of that wintery magic you’d felt a whisp of earlier. It was as if nature had conjured up the glittering snow, just for the sake of it. Just for you. It was mesmerising.

“My mum used to tell me that the glittery snow was fairy dust.” Remus suddenly confessed in a soft whisper as if not to disturb the beauty. “It sort of is, don’t you think?” You replied, happy that he saw the magic too. “Yea.” He simply agreed, enjoying the view just as you, readjusting his position to be closer to you.

Neither one of you mentioned the way his pinky lay on top of yours, curling around it softly.

[kiliinstinct]

20 Questions for Fic Writers

Thanks for tagging me! @celestialtitania

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

56 and uhh.. wow. I guess if we include my Genshin account that would be 58? Wait! My Psued also has some so the total is actually - 74! Damn, that's more than I was expecting actually.

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

This is also going to take some calculating...

okay, the total from my mainaccount and it's pseud and my genshin account: 388,886. Kinda blew my mind to see that total lol

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Mainly Fairy Tail, but I've dabbled in Yu Yu Hakusho, Yuri On Ice, Naruto, Legend of Zelda and have begun to write for Genshin Impact!

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Imma count this down- first being the lowest to the highest.

Soft Caress with 234 Kudos

Wake Up Call  with 474

Have You Missed Me?  390

Flame's Desire 702

Mistletoe Claim  with a total of 1284 Kudos. (and i still don't understand WHY!?)

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

It's 50/50. I like to reply when I can, but sometimes I'm in a rush or busy (or half asleep) when I see the comment and then completely forget about it until later. By then I feel awkward replying. ^^;;

6. What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Uhh, I haven't.. ended.. the angstiest fics yet. But, since you're looking for an ending, I guess Sun in the Rain  ? Since it's dealing with grief and loss of parents?

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

How is this even harder for me to think of? Uhm, maybe I'll go with Fire Sprite No. 5 ? But there's a few others up there, I think.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

I'll be honest, hate is very rare on my fics. (And I'm very grateful for it.) Usually I just have people pressuring me to update and guilt tripping me rather than outright hating on a fic. And some of the hate I received years ago is just funny to me. The worst one I ever got I just ignore because it was hardly worth my time.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Yes and.. the smut kind? (I do not understand the question o.o)

10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?

Only one! And for some reason I never posted it to A03 .. that's weird, I could have sworn I had. Anyway! The Forgotten Temple was a NatsuxLevy fic crossed over into the world of Breath of the Wild that I wrote for a friend. It's the only crossover I've ever done.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Once that I'm aware of! The Matching Scale had one person come to me to let me know someone had stolen it, but the fic was deleted days later. There's one other multi-chapter out there that's based off of it, but that writer got my permission to use the plot before they posted it.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

I've been asked 3 different times if someone could translate, but never saw the end result of that. I'm totally down for people to translate my work if they ever wanted to though. Just so long as it's credited and linked to the original.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Yes.... and no... and.. yes? Okay, there's a few of them but they're not finished so I was never able to post them... Ahem...

14. What's your all-time favourite ship?

... Favorite? I'm supposed to have one all-time favorite? Seriously? No. Can't be. There's no way. I've got too many to pick one above all else.

My current Hyper Fixation is TravelerxXiao from Genshin Impact. (Though I'm partial to AetherxXiao rather than Aether's twin sister version of that ship.) Nalu is the one that gave me the most inspiration in Fairy Tail, but I also have a few crack ships that I adore in FT as well, Like CobraxLevy (Or FreedxLevy.. or.. there's a lot of Levy ships don't judge me.) and GrayxLoke. Then there's Sesskag in the Inuyasha fandom... Zelink in Zelda... Zutara in ATLA... and let's not get me started on characters I ship in books or I'll be here all day/night.

15. What's a WIP you want to finish, but doubt you ever will?

As far as I'm concerned, every single published wip that I have not listed as discontinued WILL BE FINISHED. I'm determined to ensure they are. As for the unpublished ones though.. there's two that I don't think are going to make it outside of the planning and partial writing stage.. which is kinda sad to think about, but I simple can't add more to my plate than I already have.

16. What are your writing strengths?

I'm told I'm good at keeping characters ic even in au settings, so I guess I can see that's a strength, but covering the emotions and inner workings of a characters mind is probably where my biggest strength is. If there are any others.. well.. you tell me?

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Description- especially if I'm mixing it in dialogue- or trying to remember when I need to at least give the reader some idea of how a character looks. I get so worried about over describing that I end up not describing enough at all! It's a problem.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

Eh, if it's like.. for the setting, where some characters use a different language and don't know the main one, I think it works if done well. Especially if you're trying to show someone who's bilingual. If it works for world building and has been done well, then I'm not going to complain. Asides from that, I usually avoid it and get thrown out of the story when I see it .

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Yu Yu Hakusho and Inuyasha... on an old old old account that you will never, and I mean NEVER, find.

20. Favourite fic you've ever written?

Uhhh... there's that word again. How can I just pick one child over the other? (Flame's Desire.) I can't just pick favorites like that when I have children running around all wanting attention from me - (Flame's Desire.) It would simply be unfair to pick one above the others when they're all so near and dear to my heart - (Flame's Desire.)

Anyway, I'll go with Flame's Desire, as well as the current Genshin Fic I recently wrote and am still editing so it's not posted yet. lol

Tagging, but you don't have to do it.

@pencilofawesomeness @thehylianidiot @genavere @classysassy9791 @phoneboxfairy @grayseyebrowscar @cobrakiin @sandwitchstories @teleiapotami + anyone who wants to steal this

[ao3feed-torchwood]

Gunning for Pain

https://archiveofourown.org/works/50849746 by USS_Genderprise John knew when the best time to sneak up on Jack was. He knew the best place from which to fire, and once Jack’s chest was full of holes, he knew the best place to stash his body, too. Kinktober day 15: non-con, shotgunning, temperature play. Words: 1284, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Series: Part 15 of Kinktober 2023 Fandoms: Torchwood Rating: Explicit Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Rape/Non-Con Categories: M/M Characters: John Hart (Torchwood), Jack Harkness Relationships: Jack Harkness/John Hart Additional Tags: Temporary Character Death - Jack Harkness, Murder, Guns, Chains, Non-Consensual Bondage, Ice Play, Temperature Play, mentions of cannibalism, Oral Sex, Non-Consensual Oral Sex, Shotgun, Gunshot Wounds

[ohanatravelsbydaniellex]

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[ticiie]

week 19: public coming-out

prompt from the off-season winter sport challenge

characters: Gino Caviezel, Marco Odermatt

length: 1284 words

author's note: the prolog aka pt. 1 can be read here

I meet Gino in a rooftop-bar close to the main station. The sun is shining and he’s already helped himself to an iced coffee. We haven’t seen each other in person in a while so when he spots me, he gets up and gives me a short hug. It’s obvious that he’s in an intense training state which is why I’m even more happy about our meeting fitting in his tight schedule. His first race of the new season is due in 3 months. Ever since he gave his debut in the world cup, I had gotten several chances of spending time with him, and over the years it grew into a professional friendship. He’s no longer the impatient kid I got to know so many years ago. The man that is sitting in front of me looks content. Arrived. 

“So, tell me, why am I here?”, I ask after a bit of small talk. The mood changes and suddenly, I don’t know what to expect. Gino had asked me to meet him here today, it had been his idea so I assume it must be important. 

“I’ve come clean about a lot of things recently. Stuff that I have been dragging around for a very long time but never had the courage nor the energy to tell anyone”, he starts. I swallow. “And since you are perhaps one of the only journalists I actually trust, I wanted to tell you.” 

“You’re starting to scare me. Don’t say this is you telling me you’re retiring?” 

He chuckles and shakes his head. I sigh in relief. 

“It’s not about the sport, at least not in general.” 

---

Night has settled across the valley, yet the temperature refuses to drop. Gino is leaning against the banister of the balcony, his gaze fixed to a point in the distance that had been swallowed by the darkness a few minutes ago already. He’s clutching his cell phone with both hands. Unnecessary, considering the fact it was still half an hour until 11pm. Until the interview and his personal statement would go online and with it, the reactions would come in return. His heart skips a beat. Gino is so lost in his thoughts he doesn’t hear the sliding door behind him open. Marco takes a stand next to him. Neither of them says a word but Marco eventually releases Gino’s cramped fingers from the phone. He tosses it on the chair closest to him and replaces it with his own hands. Gino turns towards Marco reluctantly. 

“It’s going to be okay”, the younger one whispers. “You’re a role model. And I'm proud of you.” Gino forces himself to look at his boyfriend who rewards him with a gentle smile and a soft kiss to his lips. 

“I hope you’re right.” 

---

One week later, Gino finds himself sitting in front of a giant mirror and swarmed by a young woman who’s trying her best to make him look less like a walking corpse. The past days haven’t been the easiest for Gino and it got visible in the dark shadows beneath his eyes, the pale skin and the fingernails chewed to the blood. Through the speaker, a cold voice announces the show would start in 30 minutes and that all guests should please gather by the side entrance in 15 minutes. The makeup artist notices Gino tensing up. She catches his gaze in the mirror. 

“Are you nervous?”, she asks. 

“Can you tell?” 

She laughs and while she continues to bring the length of the hair in the back of Ginos neck into line, she says: “I think you’re doing an amazing job. You can be proud of what an impact you’ll have, not just on your sport but on every other as well. You’re a role model.” 

Her words loosen the knot in his chest a little. “You’re quoting my boyfriend with that.” 

“Well, your boyfriend must be a very smart man then.” 

She squeezes his shoulder for a second and Gino appreciates the comforting gesture. The moment gets interrupted by a knock at the door and second later, the host of the show steps into the dressing room. He’s dressed in a perfectly fitting suit, the grey hair combed back, just like the public knows him. 

“Hello, Gino! Welcome and thank you so much for taking your time.” His smile is of honesty and Gino is more than glad that he gets to do the talk with him. 

“Thank you for having me.” 

“We wouldn’t want to miss it. Did they talk you through the questions already? Is it okay or do you need us to change something?” 

“No, don’t worry, it’s perfectly fine. I don’t want to cause any more work than necessary. I’m happy I get to do it like this.” 

“Very well then. I’ll see you in a bit.”  

Rainer leaves the room again and Gino tries to calm himself by taking a few breathes. If only Marco was here. They had talked about it right when Gino had gotten the invitation from the national television and they had agreed on it being too risky. Of course, Gino understands. Still, Marco’s presence would certainly make Gino feel a little less out of place. He pushes the thoughts about his boyfriend into the back drawer of his head and focuses on the task in front of him. It’s the first time he will talk about his coming-out while facing a camera and he assumes everyone would be feeling a bit nervous in a situation like that. His phone starts to vibrate due to a call coming in but Gino ignores it. He doesn’t trust his voice enough to make an appropriate impression. It’s probably just Marco anyways and if it’s that important, he’ll leave a message, Gino thinks. The makeup artist then announces she’s done with her part and Gino thanks her, gets up and follows the directions through the seemingly endless hallways of the studio like he was being told earlier this evening. It’s fine, he tells himself. You’re doing the right thing. 

“Hi, Gino, this is Curdin speaking. Mauro gave me your number; I hope it’s alright. I read the article and I just wanted to tell you that you can be really proud of yourself. And if you ever need help or just someone that listens, don’t hesitate to call me. As long as there’s still so little of us, we should try and be there for each other. Anyways, that’s about it. Congratulations and have a good evening.” 

---

The media’s interest in Gino doesn’t ebb away after his appearance on TV, but he starts to grab a hold on it. It gets easier to ignore the unkind comments on his social media accounts and to focus on the ones that tell him to keep going, to stay true to himself and to not let anyone get into his head that he’s worth any less. Marco helps Gino as good as he can, which is not easy considering that he decided against coming out as well. Gino would never even dare thinking about pushing Marco to that step. But every now and then, he’s able to tell that Marco is struggling. He tries to hide it, especially in front of Gino, but the older one still notices. It’s the chewing on his thumbnail and the nights he spends wide awake, going through stats and training data from former pros. Both of them are helpless in their own ways and both of them hate it equally. The only thing they can do is telling the other that yes, it’s going to be harder for a bit longer. But eventually, it’ll all be worth it. 

[quiltofstars]

IC 1284 // John Bozeman

[windupnamazu]

ABOUT FFXIVWRITE || FILLS TAG || AO3 MIRROR ☆

total word count: 32109 words + 1858w* longest fill: DEBONAIR - all i need’s a fraction of your happy heart (1888 words) shortest fill: SPECULATE - a mog by any other name (363 words)

see my ao3 mirror for full oc mention credits! * bonus round! surprise!

☆ || marked entries are ones i really like!

01. FOSTER: don’t fly the nest just yet lunya, linnet, colala, gyosei || post 5.3, maybe || 941 words no one wants to take the blame and lunya doubts she can be a parent.

02. ABERRANT: the eternal wind and the star traveler lunya/g’raha || genshin impact au || 574 words barbatos, g’raha, whatever he wants to be called—is kind of a weird god.

03. SCALE: out of sight and none shall see lunya & iris & lunya berithgar || pre-calamity || 659 words a young lunya learns the art of gutting fish.

04. BALEFUL: just a memory lunya || pacific rim au || 1113 words before she became a jaeger pilot, lunya lost her family.

05. CHERRY-PICK (extra credit): if you give a babycorn a mushroom lunya & babycorn & cherrypit || ??? || 829 words mushroom hunting shouldn’t be like herding cats, but here we are.

06. AVATAR: saturday night question ☆ lunya/g’raha || mmo au || 947 words g’raha tries a certain hit mmorpg with a free trial going up to level 60.

07. SPECULATE: a mog by any other name lunya, nyneve, tala || post-shb i guess || 363 words lunya is not sure nyneve deserves her archon marks. 

08. ADROIT: and remember me, sweet bravery  kotone & kanon || stormblood || 1415 words kotone comes home, but does she really?

09. FRIABLE: just to be seen by my eyes  ☆ lunya & sirius || post 5.3 || 972 words lunya makes bug juice. harvesting cochineal doesn’t look right.

10. HEADY: would you sing it back to me? lunya/g’raha || post 5.3 || 872 words lunya would like one little sip of champagne. she deserves it.

11. PREACHING TO THE CHOIR: master’s mend   lunya and «balefire» || the 7th astral era || 664 words a bit of rest has never done anyone any harm.

12. DOMICILE (extra credit): all of the answers, i’ve found in your eyes lunya/g’raha || post 5.3 || 793 words there’s no place like home, there’s no place like home!

13. ONEIROPHRENIA: in the rocking of the cradle  ☆ lunya & sirius || pre-arr || 872 words yeyema doesn’t quite recognize herself in the mirror after the calamity.

14. COMMEND: the leash we could do   lunya & friends || main street au || 1345 words dogsitting is easy when you're the one leaving the dogs with other people.

15. THUNDEROUS: bolt to the blue   lunya & zaya & friends || post-shb, pre 5.3 || 921 words lunya and zaya take the wrong kind of notes from their meeting with noctis.

16. CRANE: ufo catcher my heart!  ☆ lunya & mint & illya || modern au || 744 words three lalafell enter an arcade and only two leave because one got stuck in a claw machine.

17. DESTRUCT: the blessed rain after the drought lunya/g’raha || post-shb, pre 5.3 || 1440 words the kakushi are just clean up crew for the demon slayer corps, so why's g'raha being rescued by one of the pillars?

18. DEVIL’S ADVOCATE: wow, this is just like 1984! lunya & alphinaud & alisaie & emet || modern au || 884 words lunya has opinions. so does alphinaud. so does emet-selch.

19. OBLIVION (extra credit): mmo gamer rising: revengeance ryne/gaia & lunya/g’raha || mmo au || 1549 words let's go mid, lesbians, let's go!

20. PETRICHOR: in the middle of all of my justices  ☆ lunya/g’raha || weathering with you au || 1032 words it'll take a miracle to save the first from drying up. the exarch knows where to find one.

21. FECKLESS: no, these days i tend to lie h’lios || pre-arr || 970 words not all coming of age stories involve patricide, but this one wants to.

22. FLUSTER: and you will never be lonely  ☆ lunya/g’raha || howl’s moving castle au || 1263 words in another universe, lunya gets to be the senior citizen.

23. SOUL: if i knock on the door that entwines us together  ☆ lunya/g’raha || soul eater au || 1284 words lunya is a meister and g'raha is her weapon. together they harvest the souls of evil humans, but today they wait for ice cream.

24. ILLUSTRIOUS: the party don't start til they get through my 50+ titles lunya/g’raha & friends || post 5.3 || 654 words between the ~25 of them, the warriors of light have enough titles to take up a whole guest announcement period at a ball. so they do.

25. SILVER LINING: a night's calling lunya & haurchefant & reese || post-dw || 1116 words haurchefant has some things he needs to clear up for the girl who saved his life.

26. TREASURE HUNT (extra credit): for the voyage is long and the winds don't blow melmeltan & coco & lunya || pirate au || 1593 words a bride flees her arranged marriage and winds up on a pirate ship.

27. BENTHOS: waltzing the waves, diving in the deep   lunya/g’raha || aquarium au || 1188 words a little mermaid gets a new tail, and lunya loves her work.

28. BOW: covered in all the coloured lights lunya & zaya & friends || circus au || 1404 words you can't please everyone with tour stops.

29. DEBONAIR: all i need’s a fraction of your happy heart  ☆ lunya/g’raha & friends || post 5.3, pre 5.4 || 1888 words rahapunzel, rahapunzel, cut your damn hair!

30. ABSTRACTED: eyes on me  ☆ lunya/g’raha, majj, nyneve, theo || 7th astral era || 1820 words some meddling friends hold a miniature interrogation

+31. SUNDER: ride home   lunya/g’raha || 5.3 || 1858 words if i were to tell you that this isn't the end—that we will meet again—would you believe me?

[mystarypi-astronomy]

This is IC 1284 - a stunning nebula located in Sagittarius. ✨✨✨

It’s located between 2 beautiful interstellar objects: the Trifid Nebula and the Swan Nebula. This dusty region is also in the southern part of our own Milky Way! 🌌🌌🌌

Taken by me (Michelle Park) using the Slooh Canary Two telescope on June 18th, 2020 at 23:57 UTC.

[plus-size-reader]

Stranger

Zuko x Plus size!reader

Word Count: 1284 words

Warnings: none

Summary: Finding Zuko in the Northern water tribe and hiding him away from the others. 

——————————————————————————————————

“What are you doing here?” you barked out, holding your knife high as you looked at the firebender. He had just crawled out of a hole in the ice, and as far as you were concerned, he was the enemy. 

After all, the soot in the sand made him look as guilty as anything else. 

However, the man didn’t even look phased at your appearance as he tried to breathe. It must have been strange for him, being out of his element…

Good. 

“I asked you a question” you repeated, glaring daggers at the man though you had no idea what you would do if he decided to enter into a fight.

You could hold him off for a while, but eventually, he would likely best you. The waterbending you did know was very minimal, all things considered. 

“I heard you” he grumbled out, sitting up slowly. 

It was a casual movement, compared to what you had been expecting, but you didn’t let up your guard. After all, you had no idea what he was capable of but you weren’t going to let him leave this cave. 

If he got out into the city, there was no telling who he could hurt. Not that he really looked to be in the position to hurt anyone right now. 

When he pulled his wet hood away from his face, you saw that he was covered in bruises and marks, making it obvious he had been hurt before now. 

If he was weakened, you may have had a fighting chance at taking him down. 

“Who are you?” he asked finally, taking note of the fact you hadn’t relaxed since he’d arrived here. What kind of person just hung out in the cold like this? All alone. 

It baffled Zuko, and that was saying a lot. After all, he loved to be alone and understood the benefits of solitude, but this was a tad excessive. 

You sighed. 

Firebenders always talked so much. “They call me Y/N. Who are you? What are you doing here?” you repeated, trying to get all the information you could out of him.

He didn’t seem like a threat, but you couldn’t let yourself think that way. He was fire nation, and he was dangerous. He was the enemy and he would kill you if he got the chance. 

You couldn’t forget that. 

“Are you a fire nation soldier?” you asked then, not even letting him answer the first set of questions you had fired off before it hit you. If he was, you should have just shoved him back into that hole now. 

Your people were on the verge of full annihilation and you couldn’t allow him to get out of here. 

“No.” 

It was an answer, but not a very good one. Especially not considering all the things you had asked him just now. Though, if you knew anything about Zuko, it wouldn’t have surprised you. 

“I’m here for the avatar. Once I get him, I’ll be on my way” he assured, shocking you. He didn’t want to kill all of you? You didn’t believe it. 

You had never met a firebender before, but from what you had been told, that wasn’t true. The fire nation brought nothing more than death and destruction and this stranger would be no different. 

“You’re freezing” you pointed out, noticing the way he shivered as he sat. Firebenders didn’t belong in the north, and he should have known that. 

Not that you could really blame him. 

“It’s cold” 

A lot of attitude from someone who would be drown if you so much as called for help. 

“Get up” you decided finally, offering a hand to the man, ignoring the obvious danger you were facing by doing so. You should have just kicked him into the water, but you couldn’t do it. 

It wasn’t in your nature to condemn someone to their death, knowing you could stop it. 

“You really don’t want to hurt my people? As long as you get the avatar” you clarified, helping him to his feet. It didn’t make any sense but Zuko nodded. He didn’t care about these people, as long as he got the avatar. 

That was what he’d come for, after all. 

“Do you know where I can find him?” He asked, looking at you with a newfound interest. Perhaps you had a use to him after all, even if you were a bit annoying at first. 

You did.

It was wrong to give Aang up, you knew that, but it was too dangerous to let anyone else into this place. You had to protect your people first, and you had to assume that the avatar could handle himself. 

After all, the fire nation could tear this place apart, and you couldn’t allow that.

“I’ll take you. But first, you have to warm up. You’ll be no good frozen solid” you teased, not getting much of a reaction from this stranger. He clearly was not easily amused, but you didn’t care. 

For some reason, you felt like there was something about this stranger, something that you couldn’t just ignore. He was a person, he felt things and had weaknesses. 

It was something you’d never imagined would be possible in the devils of the fire nation. Perhaps that was what prompted you to believe in him so much, but in any case, you couldn’t go back now. 

You needed to help him. 

“Will you tell me your name now? Or do I have to keep calling you stranger?” you wondered, walking with the man to your home as carefully as you could. 

No one was around these back ways right now, seeing as they were preparing for a war, so you didn’t have to worry about getting caught with him. 

If you could get a fire started, or at least get him out of the cold, you could get him out of here before anyone else had to find out about a fire bender in the northern water tribe.

It was the most you could hope for. 

“Zuko” he grumbled out, keeping close to you though you were only serving to annoy him more and more as you kept talking. You didn’t seem to understand what was at stake if he let the avatar go. 

Though he shouldn’t have been surprised. 

You didn’t seem to understand much about what was going on at all outside this small island. If only he could make you understand...it would be so much easier.

“You’re the prince, aren’t you?” you realized, putting together everything you should have realized right away. From the scar to his determined way of speaking, you should have known.

They talked of his banishment on every corner of the four nations, and you should have recognized him. No wonder he wasn’t just some heartless killer.

He really wasn’t a soldier. 

“Not anymore�� 

It was so flippant, and you could hardly believe it. He was the prince, he would always be the prince, and he should have known it. “Don’t say that, it isn’t true” you reasoned, sitting down beside him on the ice. 

It didn’t make any sense that you were so emotionally involved with him already, or that you cared so much but that was just the effect that Zuko had on you. 

He was so powerful, and for being the first firebender you’d ever met, he wasn’t some monster. He was just someone who had been dealt a really rough hand by someone who should have cared for him. 

It wasn’t fair but that was just the truth.

It was what he’d been through. 

“Whatever you say, stranger” you teased, knowing this conversation was far from over. 

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 3.19

1277 – The Byzantine–Venetian treaty of 1277 is concluded, stipulating a two-year truce and renewing Venetian commercial privileges in the Byzantine Empire. 1279 – A Mongol victory at the Battle of Yamen ends the Song dynasty in China. 1284 – The Statute of Rhuddlan incorporates the Principality of Wales into England. 1452 – Frederick III of Habsburg is the last Holy Roman Emperor crowned by medieval tradition in Rome by Pope Nicholas V 1563 – The Edict of Amboise is signed, ending the first phase of the French Wars of Religion and granting certain freedoms to the Huguenots. 1649 – The House of Commons of England passes an act abolishing the House of Lords, declaring it "useless and dangerous to the people of England". 1687 – Explorer Robert Cavelier de La Salle, searching for the mouth of the Mississippi River, is murdered by his own men. 1808 – Charles IV, king of Spain, abdicates after riots and a popular revolt at the winter palace Aranjuez. His son, Ferdinand VII, takes the throne.[4] 1812 – The Cortes of Cádiz promulgates the Spanish Constitution of 1812. 1831 – First documented bank heist in U.S. history, when burglars stole $245,000 (1831 values) from the City Bank (now Citibank) on Wall Street. Most of the money was recovered. 1853 – The Taiping reform movement occupies and makes Nanjing its capital until 1864. 1861 – The First Taranaki War ends in New Zealand. 1863 – The SS Georgiana, said to have been the most powerful Confederate cruiser, is destroyed on her maiden voyage with a cargo of munitions, medicines, and merchandise then valued at over $1,000,000. 1865 – American Civil War: The Battle of Bentonville begins. By the end of the battle two days later, Confederate forces had retreated from Four Oaks, North Carolina. 1885 – Louis Riel declares a provisional government in Saskatchewan, beginning the North-West Rebellion. 1895 – Auguste and Louis Lumière record their first footage using their newly patented cinematograph. 1900 – The British archeologist Sir Arthur John Evans begins excavating Knossos Palace, the center of Cretan civilization. 1918 – The US Congress establishes time zones and approves daylight saving time. 1920 – The United States Senate rejects the Treaty of Versailles for the second time (the first time was on November 19, 1919). 1921 – Irish War of Independence: One of the biggest engagements of the war takes place at Crossbarry, County Cork. About 100 Irish Republican Army (IRA) volunteers escape an attempt by over 1,300 British forces to encircle them. 1931 – Governor Fred B. Balzar signs a bill legalizing gambling in Nevada. 1932 – The Sydney Harbour Bridge is opened. 1943 – Frank Nitti, the Chicago Outfit Boss after Al Capone, commits suicide at the Chicago Central Railyard. 1944 – World War II: The German army occupies Hungary. 1945 – World War II: Off the coast of Japan, a dive bomber hits the aircraft carrier USS Franklin, killing 724 of her crew. Badly damaged, the ship is able to return to the US under her own power. 1945 – World War II: Adolf Hitler issues his "Nero Decree" ordering all industries, military installations, shops, transportation facilities, and communications facilities in Germany to be destroyed. 1946 – French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Réunion become overseas départements of France. 1958 – The Monarch Underwear Company fire leaves 24 dead and 15 injured. 1962 – The Algerian War of Independence ends. 1964 – Over 500,000 Brazilians attend the March of the Family with God for Liberty, in protest against the government of João Goulart and against communism. 1965 – The wreck of the SS Georgiana, valued at over $50,000,000 and said to have been the most powerful Confederate cruiser, is discovered by teenage diver and pioneer underwater archaeologist E. Lee Spence, exactly 102 years after its destruction. 1969 – The 385-metre-tall (1,263 ft) TV-mast at Emley Moor transmitting station, United Kingdom, collapses due to ice build-up. 1979 – The United States House of Representatives begins broadcasting its day-to-day business via the cable television network C-SPAN. 1982 – Falklands War: Argentinian forces land on South Georgia Island, precipitating war with the United Kingdom. 1989 – The Egyptian flag is raised at Taba, marking the end of Israeli occupation since the Six Days War in 1967 and the Egypt–Israel peace treaty in 1979. 1990 – The ethnic clashes of Târgu Mureș begin four days after the anniversary of the Revolutions of 1848 in the Austrian Empire. 1998 – An Ariana Afghan Airlines Boeing 727 crashes on approach to Kabul International Airport, killing all 45 on board. 2001 – German trade union Ver.di was formed 2002 – Zimbabwe is suspended from the Commonwealth on charges of human rights abuses and of electoral fraud, following a turbulent presidential election. 2004 – Catalina affair: A Swedish DC-3 shot down by a Soviet MiG-15 in 1952 over the Baltic Sea is finally recovered after years of work. 2004 – March 19 Shooting Incident: The Republic of China (Taiwan) president Chen Shui-bian is shot just before the country's presidential election on March 20. 2008 – GRB 080319B: A cosmic burst that is the farthest object visible to the naked eye is briefly observed. 2011 – Libyan Civil War: After the failure of Muammar Gaddafi's forces to take Benghazi, the French Air Force launches Opération Harmattan, beginning foreign military intervention in Libya. 2013 – A series of bombings and shootings kills at least 98 people and injures 240 others across Iraq. 2016 – Flydubai Flight 981 crashes while attempting to land at Rostov-on-Don international airport, killing all 62 on board. 2016 – An explosion occurs in Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey, killing five people and injuring 36. 2018 – The last male northern white rhinoceros, Sudan, dies, ensuring a chance of extinction for the species.

[ao3feed-yurionice]

won't you catch me dear?

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3mnlZkM

by Withstarryeyes

Yuuri’s lips have grown numb, buzzing like his blood has decided to sting him where it flows across the pink tissue. He feels as if swept under a wave and his legs buckle, his hands doing nothing to hold him up even where they’re tight against the wall. 

Viktor reaches him just as his knees connect with the ice, and Yuuri lets his hand fall to rest against the chilly wall. He breathes heavily once again, feeling heat echo throughout his whole body. “I don’t feel good,” he slurs, and Viktor’s hands are on him. His long fingers rest under Yuuri’s armpits, steady and like cylinders of pure heat. 

Yuuri pants for a little longer, sure he’s going to be sick, even moving quickly to the side, ready for his stomach to heave but it only makes his vision grow darker

Or...Viktor is there to hold Yuuri up when he breaks

Words: 1284, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Yuri!!! on Ice (Anime)

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Katsuki Yuuri, Victor Nikiforov

Relationships: Katsuki Yuuri/Victor Nikiforov

Additional Tags: Character's Name Spelled as Viktor, Fainting, Overworked, Exhaustion, Collapsing, Hurt/Comfort, Worried Victor Nikiforov, Established Katsuki Yuuri/Victor Nikiforov, Supportive Victor Nikiforov, terms of endearment, Fluff, Soft Victor Nikiforov, Anxious Katsuki Yuuri, Yuuri doesn't take care of himself, Little Sun, heavy on the comfort, Fluff and Hurt/Comfort, Happy Ending, Post-Series

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3mnlZkM

[bnha-mha-imagines]

12 Days of Christmas! 2019 Special

Toshinori (All Might) x Reader

Prompt #2: Ice Skating

Word Count: 1284

Warnings: None

“Come on, Toshinori, it’s going to be so much fun,” you tried to convince him, tugging on his sleeve slightly. His expression was still one of uncertainty, telling you that he was still feeling uneasy about going out. Ever since his retirement after his last showdown with All For One, he’d been acting rather peculiar about certain things. He’d always insist on carrying things for you, he’d always refuse to stop when he clearly needed a break, and he didn’t like to go out as much as he used to.

You could tell that his poor health and appearance was a big insecurity of his, as if he felt the need to prove he was still capable of things. You know it was a hard transition for him, going from being the number one hero to a retiree. After helping so many people for so long, he was struggling to relax and accept help himself. 

The worst part of it was that he wasn’t as confident in himself. Although everyone still regarded him with the utmost respect and admiration, he still felt embarrassed to be in his smaller form...and this broke your heart. “Toshinori…” you prodded him gently, eyes softening. When he raises his eyes to meet your gaze, he smiles a little sheepishly. 

“Ah… when you look at me like that,” he mumbled quietly, placing a hand on the top of your head and pulling you into him. His hands held you so gently, you knew you were already winning him over. “All right, my love,” he sighs into your hair, and you feel yourself smile into his chest. 

You let him hold you for a few more seconds before pulling away, your smile shifting further into an excited grin as you take his hand in yours. Pulling him to the doorway, you quickly take a scarf from the hook and reach up to wrap it around his neck. “We need to keep you warm!” you doted over him, reaching up to grab a hat.

From beside you, Toshinori chuckled, a deep sound that always filled you with warm fuzzy feelings. “You’re always so caring,” he commented as you pulled the knit hat down upon his head, giggling when his hair poofed it up.

Stepping up onto your tiptoes, you press a sweet kiss onto Toshinori’s cheek. “Of course I care,” you say, popping back down onto your heels. “I love you!” You fix your gloves before opening the front door. Toshinori’s cheeks pinkened, though he tried to play it off as the cold tickling his exposed skin.

All bundled up, the two of you make your way to downtown, admiring the lights and wreaths hung around the city. Toshinori’s larger hand encased yours, and despite the chilly air, you felt warm. Finally reaching your destination, you grinned up at Toshinori. “Have your skates?” you asked, and a second later he lifted up a big pair of ice skates for you to see. 

After sitting on a nearby bench and changing into your ice skates, the two of you hobble over to the public ice rink. The outdoor rink downtown was smaller than most indoor ice rinks but it had a certain charm that attracted a lot of the locals. Pretty string lights hung from the bare tree branches above, casting a golden light across the glossy surface of the ice. Reaching the entrance to the rink, you release Toshinori’s hand to grab hold onto the wall of the rink. 

Throwing back an excited look of anticipation to him, you step over the edge so that the blade of your skate makes contact with the ice. Once you were certain that you had your balance, you release your hands from the wall and take a few steps out further onto the ice. Turning, you look back at Toshinori, taking notice that he had yet to enter the rink. 

On his face you could read all of his nerves and insecurities beginning to manifest again. His eyebrows were slightly knit, and his eyes were full of concern as he watched you. “Come on, Toshinori,” you encouraged him as you leaned forward, hands outstretched for him. 

With your words, he seems to find the will to step onto the ice and enter the ring. Cautiously, he grabs onto the wall and you glide over to meet him. “(Y/n), are you sure about this?” he asked, slowly following the curved edged of the ring. Seeing as he was walking instead of skating, you couldn’t help but giggle.

“Oh, Toshinori, of course I am! Here, give me your hand,” you say, reaching out for him again. Shakily, he peels away one of his hands from the wall and grasps your smaller one. “Just try to relax, darling. You don’t need to be the best skater, this is all just for fun!” 

He nods his head slowly, giving your hand a gentle squeeze. “Right, right… of course you’re right,” he smiles, exhaling to release some of his nerves. It seems to work, and together you slowly make a few trips around the ring. Eventually he releases the wall, the both of you clumsily gliding along the ice. There were a lot of skaters who passed you, having more experience on the ice, but neither of you paid them any mind. Though you were less than graceful, you were enjoying the challenge together.

“Toshinori, we should try a move,” you gasped, noticing a few skaters practice their own routine moves. He gave a hearty laugh, turning to look at you. 

“(Y/n), we’re barely standing, do you think we can do anything more than that?” his words were playful, and you in turn laughed. 

“Let’s try it!” you smiled, intertwining both hands with his. “Here, it goes like this.” You were clearly improvising some strange move, but Toshinori smiled anyways and went along with it. Following your lead, he lifted his arms with you as you slowly tiptoed a spin under them. 

“Yeah, yeah, that looks really good!” he mused, holding in a laugh at your cloddish little movements.  

You start to chuckle, but it quickly turns into a yelp as your skate slips from under you. Feeling your weight begin to fall, your hands grasp for anything, taking hold of Toshinori’s scarf. His head is pulled close to yours and his arms move quickly, catching your back and suspending you midfall. 

Cheeks flushed, you look up at him. The tree lights above shine onto his hair, giving him a slight, golden rim light. For a moment you both are still, and you feel your heart pushing against your chest with every beat. “Are you alright?” Toshinori asked, cheeks a little pink. 

You sputter, quickly releasing the scarf you were still pulling. “O-Oh, yeah I’m fine, sorry!” The scarf goes slack, hanging as he helps you back to your feet. Cheeks flaring, you clear your throat and fix the scarf back snuggly around his neck. You could hear a few excited whispers from your side, and your eyes shift to look at two older women as they whisper adoringly over the both of you. 

“A-Ah...they’re talking about us,” you fix your hat, a little embarrassed. Toshinori smiles at you, leaning down to press a longer kiss onto your lips. Though you were flustered, you still return the kiss. 

Pulling away, he rubs his thumb on your cheek affectionately. “Aww, let them watch,” he reassured you. “We’re having fun. That’s what you said right?” Feeling moved at his newfound confidence in himself, you pull him into another kiss, pressing a few on his cheeks as well.

“Of course, my darling,” you cooed, grasping his hand once again.

[love-fireflysong]

Day 17: Sunrise

Fandom: Until Dawn Character(s): Chris Hartley, Ashley Brown, Emily Davis, Sam Giddings, Mike Munroe Words: 1284 Rating:Teen (Until Dawn) Author’s Notes: Honestly, how can anyone not write Until Dawn when the prompt is sunrise? And because it’s apparently angst week over here in my brain, here’s some more of it! Think of this as happening in the same universe as Baby It’s Cold Outside... if only because I made it so Ash is wearing Chris’s sweater.  Also, lets be real here, Sam’s back would have been destroyed in that explosion. Just saying.

The events of the last few minutes had all been more of a blur for Chris, with only the occasional moments of blinding clarity and razor-sharp focus. One moment Ash’s body had been warm under his arm, helping to support his weight as the two of them and Em slowly trekked through the tunnels beneath the lodge. The next, the pain in his ankle forgotten as the three of them ran down the long halls and up the stairs, three Wendigos hot on their heels, and pushing past Sam and Mike.

The focus sharpened at the sight of a fourth Wendigo balancing on the hanging sculpture in the main room, and he had frozen just before the door leading outside. He could hear the thunderous sounds of four sets of feet as everyone else clamoured up the stairs, before they too froze. And then the three Wendigos that had been chasing them made their appearance too.

And then a blur as Sam yelled, Mike moved, the larger, newer Wendigo ripping off the head of one of the ones that had been chasing him, and he took the chance to run outside. The cold air was biting on his face and he stumbled, falling to the snow and his hands burning at the sudden sensation of cold. Chris turns back to the lodge, desperate for someone, anyone, to make an appearance in the open doorway.

The blur remains as he watched Emily rush out, and that’s one of them at least, but he can’t help the fear pooling like ice in his veins at the sight. Ash had been right behind him, hadn’t she? So where was she? A million images pass through his mind in a second. Of her being torn apart by one of the things inside, of two of them ripping her in half lengthwise, of deadly sharp claws digging into her face, and he puts his hands on his knees to brace himself, desperately trying not to throw up at the images.

His eyes never leave the door though.

Seconds later, though it felt like hours despite the blur in his head, Ash too lunges out the door, and the sharpness returns. Her hair is vibrant red against the green of his sweater, and she’s so alive that he nearly cries out in immense relief at the sight. She pauses only for a moment as she runs, her eyes catching him standing not far off, and she changes course to collide straight into his arms, her arms wrapping like a vise around his waist as she nearly bowls the both of them over into the snow again.

Chris returns the embrace with everything in him, tired as he is, and he knows that despite the possessiveness of the hug, that both of their eyes aren’t looking at each other, but at the lodge. Eyes desperate for the last of their group to emerge from the darkness there, but limbs still shaky with adrenaline as they refused to move just in case.

Mike is the next to emerge, tripping over the doorway and nearly falling ass over tea kettle is the process, but alive and looking over his shoulder as Sam thankfully follows, not far behind him. Then, suddenly and without warning, the lodge explodes behind her.

The force of the explosion is what finally sends Chris and Ash down into the snow beneath them, and Chris is amazed that he still somehow has the presence of mind to turn them over. He is then pressing her into the snow, his back to the burning maelstrom that once the lodge as she presses her face into his chest, and shards of broken glass and pieces of burning wood fall around them.

Seconds later, she is looking up at him with wide eyes, and is giving him a deep, desperate kiss that he is helpless but to return, when there’s a scream behind them. They separate and he’s trying to help Ash to her feet, when there’s another scream, this one louder and more frantic and filled with horror, and for the life of him, Chris can’t tell whether it’s Em or Sam.

He turns to see Sam lying feet from where she had been when the lodge exploded, unmoving and the white snow now speckled red and black around her.

The blur returns as he stumbles to where she is laying scarily still with Em already at her side, Mike groaning nearby as he slowly stands up, his arm hanging loosely from his shoulder, and freezes when he looks down at her in abject horror. Chris understands why when he gets closer. Her back is a mess of burns and melted fabric, and her blonde hair singed to almost her scalp. He blinks, and then he’s next to her on his knees, frantically grabbing at snow and piling it onto her back as Em and Ash help, and Mike tries to do what he can one-handed, and that hand two fingers short. There’s a sob muffled in the snow, and Chris can’t help the relief he feels to know that while she’s not okay by any stretch of the imagination (though are any them?), she’s still alive.

The heat of the flames from the lodge is sweltering at his back, and it’s at odds with his hands, red and sore with cold, as he piles handfuls of snow after snow onto her. Turning her back into a kaleidoscope of reds and blacks, of pinks and whites.

Another blink, and there’s a deep whirling sound above them that reverberates through Chris’s bones. Em next to him shouts in joy and he pauses with his shoveling to stare up at the quickly approaching sight of the helicopter above him. He watches Em stand up and run to where the copter is setting down, but continues with Mike and Ash in burying Sam in snow.

A new blink, and Sam is loaded face down onto a stretcher, a foil blanket covering her back as they load her into the helicopter, and one of the guys is in the process of trying to fix Mike’s dislocated shoulder. Chris realizes that he can’t feel his hand, and looks down to see that Ash had grabbed it in both of hers and was clutching so tight that, despite being pink from the cold only moments before, both their fingers are now bone white. He shudders at the color, but does not try to extract his hand. 

Blink, and the guy that was helping Mike is now talking to them, or at least to Ashley, because Chris can’t make out a word he’s saying with all the frantic buzzing going on right now. They are led to the copter, and the person tries to separate Ash from him—or him from Ash—and they both start yelling and gripping the other tighter until they are finally allowed to sit together. Hands still clenched so tight that they may as well be a single unit at this point.

A final blink, and the copter is taking off into the sky, leaving the flames still burning at the misshapen silhouette of lodge below them. He looks around the cabin of the vehicle, at Sam lying belted stomach down to the stretcher with the occasional muffled whine or sob of pain. At Emily staring daggers at Mike, and him and Ash, before placing her head into her hands. At Mike, who is just staring blankly at the lodge and at his mangled hand. At Ash, who has buried her face into the side of his shoulder and quietly crying there. The world comes into focus at a jarring realization.

He doesn’t see Josh anywhere.