#Mag Bay Fishing

[cabosportfishing]

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[greatbritishsimchallenge]

As the guests all gathered around Margaret and George to congratulate them, Frankie stepped outside for some fresh air.

"Here you are!" called Margaret happily as she left the church, "I wondered if you had used my wedding day as a chance for you to run off into the night!"

Frankie smiled sadly, "I wish."

Margaret's face turned serious, "Do you, really?"

"What?"

"Do you mean that? Do you really wish to leave? Go and live your dream of sailing the sea? Even after all this time?"

"No, Mags, you were right. I'm all talk. I could never leave here. I have no money, no real world skills, no idea even where the nearest docks are."

Margaret frowned and thought silently for a few minutes. Then, she began to remove her jewellery, "the nearest docks are in Brindleton Bay. You will need to learn some sort of real world skill quickly, like fishing or handiness -" Her tone was serious and business-like.

Confused, Frankie asked, "Mags, what are you on about?"

"And I would advise finding a job, too," continued Margaret, "So that you can keep yourself fed and get a roof over your head. Here, take these."

Margaret had removed her pearl earrings and bracelet and put them in Frankie's hands, "Selling these and the jewellery you're wearing now should get you enough to get away from England. Perhaps even to buy yourself a simple home in whatever destination you choose."

Frankie was still shaking her head, "Maggie, what are you doing?"

Tears built in Margaret's eyes as she began to remove the necklace around her neck, "I would ask, though, that you do not sell this one. Peggy gave it to me when I was a child. She told me it would be a way for me to remember that she would always love me and always be with me. I want you to take it and remember that both Peggy and I love you and will always be with you."

Frankie started to cry as Margaret tied the necklace around her neck, "Mags, I - I can't."

"Yes, you can," said Margaret softly, "You were always the only one of us that could. You should go now, before mama notices you are missing."

Frankie grabbed her sister and clung tightly, unable to give words to everything she was feeling.

"Never grow up, Frankie," Margaret whispered in her sister's ear.

Start (Iron Age) | Start (Roman Britain) | Start (Anglo Saxon) | Start (Medieval) | Start (Tudor) | Start (Stuart)

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[getoutofthisplace]

Dear Gus & Magnus,

We hit the pool today. Gus is a fish. Magnus floats around, but has no fear. Nene joined us (and took this picture). We ate our turkey sandwiches for a picnic lunch, then Gus and I went back to the pool while Mom and Mags hit the playground, then joined us. I grilled burgers for dinner. Uncle Chris got you two set up to watch Ghostbusters downstairs, and then you rolled into Ghostbusters II, which I thought miiiiiiight be too scary, but you both handled the pink slime and Vigo the Carpathian well.

A good day.

Dad.

Fairfield Bay, Arkansas. 7.1.2024 - 11.26am.

[callsign-magnolia]

I Hope You Dance // Ch. 12

MATURE CONTENT (18+)

A/N: This is cross posted to my Wattpad, so if this seems familiar that is why!

TW: Mental abuse, emotional abuse, slight physical abuse, death and loss.

Description: When Caila meets Rooster, sparks fly. But, she's already married, to a man who she thought loved her, and won't let her go. Rooster will fight for her, he just has to convince Caila to fight for herself.

Word Count: 6.9k

Chapter 11 | Masterlist

As soon as I walked into training the next morning, I knew something was off. I was the first one in and Maverick was quietly staring out the window. "Mav?" I seemed to have startled him. He jumped slightly and even from behind I could tell he was wiping his eyes. "He-hey, Magnolia." I furrowed my brows and set my coffee down. "What's wrong?" He opened and closed his mouth like a fish. "I-Ice-" He inhaled deeply as a few tears slipped. "Pete, you can tell me." I said hugging him. "Ice died last night." I flew back at his words, shocked. "Wh-what? I saw him like four days ago. He was doing so good!" He nodded with his eyes closed. "Warlock told me. Sarah called. He got tired and went to take a nap, when she went to get him up, he was gone." My hand flew to my mouth. "Oh my god. Do his kids know?" He nodded. "They're flying in today." I nodded. 

"Do you know if dad knows?" He shook his head. "I should call him." I nodded as he sat down. "Call mom, she needs to be with him." He nodded and pulled out his phone. I turned and walked out, seeing Hangman, Coyote and Bob coming over. "Hey, hang out here for a minute." They all furrowed their brows. "Maverick is on the phone with my dad and," I looked back in seeing his shoulders shake. "It's not good." I said trying to keep my tears at bay. "What happened?" Coyote asked concerned. "Um, Iceman passed yesterday. He's had throat cancer and he went down for a nap yesterday and when Sarah, his wife went to wake him, he was gone." Everyone was shocked. "I need some air, I'll be back. Will you guys keep everyone out till Maverick is ready?" They nodded as I walked outside, Rooster getting out of the Bronco as I stopped, my shoulders shaking as the sobs hit. 

"Oh, shit." Rooster rushed over, gathering me in his arms. "What's wrong? Everything okay?" I just cried into his chest for a minute. "Honey, you gotta talk to me. I can't help you like this." I tried to soothe myself as he rocked us back and forth. "Ice is dead." He suddenly stopped. "What?" I nodded. "He went to take a nap and he never woke up, Sarah found him." Rooster sighed before holding me closer, kissing my head. "I'm so sorry, Mags. God, I'm so sorry." 

~~~

"Hi mama." I said as I opened my door. "Hi baby." She pulled me into a hug, squeezing me. "Is he okay?" I asked looking out to my dad, he was standing in the driveway just watching as the sun went down. "He'll be okay." She said patting my cheek. "Oh, Bradley." Mama said, looking off to the side. I stuck my head out the door, seeing Rooster walking over. "Hi Mrs. Motley." She yanked him into a tight hug, surprising him. "If you call me that again, I'm gonna have to fight ya." He chuckled as they let go. "You'd probably win." He said before catching sight of my dad who turned towards us. We stayed quiet as he walked over. "Hi daddy." He smiled at me, pulling me into a hug and kissing me temple. "Hey, sweetie." He let go and turned to Rooster. 

"Rooster." He shook my dads hand. "Mr. Mo-Bobcat." I chuckled as he remembered what my dad said the last time he was here. "Come on, I'll get you guys set up in the guest room." I said letting them in. Where's Dahlia?" I furrowed my brows and looked around. "She's out back, sunbathing." Rooster said, easing some of my stress. "Oh, that dog." Mama said and I chuckled. "Watch this." I said leaning back to Rooster. "DAHLIA! COME!" Immediately she rushed in, stopping in the doorway of the kitchen as she saw my parents. She stared at them for a moment before dropping to the ground, watching them. 

All of a sudden she scattered towards them, not able to run straight, crying and whining. "Hi honey!" Mama cried as Dahlia immediately turned her butt towards my mom for scratches. "I have never met a dog with more character." Rooster said in my ear, making me laugh. "She's a handful right?" Dad asked as he pet Dahlia. "Here, let me take y'all's bags." I said as I went over to grab them. "No, I got it." Rooster said taking them before I could get them. "Rooster I could've gotten them." I said as he started up the stairs. "I know, but I've got it, honey." I froze as he rushed up the stairs. I shifted my eyes over slightly to see my parents staring at me. 

"Are you two-" I shook my head at my dad's question, a large smile growing on my face as my arms wrapped around myself. "Not officially. We're waiting till after the mission is over." My mom smiled at me. "Oh my god." I raised a brow. "You're in love." My cheeks flamed red at her words. "Mom." I groaned and she chuckled. "No, seriously Caila." I huffed and walked past her into the kitchen. "And how would you know that?" Mom followed me, my dad close behind her as I pulled out the jug of tea. "Because, he looks at you the same way you're daddy looks at me." Dad chuckled. "And you ogle him the same way your mom does me." 

My mom smacked his chest as Rooster walked in. "So how long are you guys in town for?" Rooster asked, leaning on the counter next to me, his left hand resting behind my back while his fingers gently rub my shirt. "Four days, just spending some time with Caila before she ships out." I smiled at them. "Say, will you be at dinner tonight, Bradley?" I bit my lip, taking interest in my bare feet on the tile. "No, I was unaware of said dinner." Mom eyed me. "You should come, it's at seven." I was uncomfortable as everyone stared at me. "I'll be back." I said making a break for the stairs. 

I sat on the edge of my bed, taking deep breaths. Suddenly there was a knock on the door, "Mags." I took another minute to breathe before getting up and opening the door. Rooster stepped in, closing the door behind him. "Are you okay?" I nodded as he took my hand on his, kissing my knuckles. "Yeah, I just got, overwhelmed." He nodded and pushed off the door, still holding my hand as he sat on the bed, pulling me to stand between his legs. "My feelings are not hurt that you didn't invite me. But I wish you had told me, cause I had something planned for tonight." I pursed my lips, dropping the eye contact. 

"I'm sorry Rooster, I should've told you." He lifted my chin. "Don't apologize. I'm not mad or hurt." I nodded as he kissed my hand again. "But I am curious as to why I was not invited." He smirked at me. "Maverick will be here." His face dropped. "I-I know you two don't really get along and I didn't want to put you in a position." He shook his head. "Hone, honey, no." He stood, placing a hand on my cheek. "No. If you wanted Maverick and I in the same room, trust me I would keep it civil. I would never bring my personal grievances into something like this." I nodded as he kissed me gently. "Hey Rooster?" He hummed as he rested his forehead on mine. "You wanna come to dinner tonight?" He nodded as he smiled. "Anything you want pretty girl, anything for you."

~~~

I was finishing dinner as the front door opened. "Honey, I'm home!" I giggled at Rooster's words, stepping out of the kitchen to see him. He suddenly stopped by the couch, his mouth hanging agape. "Woah, you look... wow." I giggled at his words, dusting off the emerald green tea length dress. "Really?" He nodded. "Honey, you outshine every diamond, every model, every star." He said as he took my hand spinning me gently. "You're too good to me." I said leaning up for a quick kiss. As I pulled away I took time to admire him. He had on black slacks, and a navy button up. 

I could've drooled seeing how his arms were bulging in the sleeves and how I could see some of his abs through the shirt. "Like what you see?" I nodded. "Very." I said pulling him down into another kiss. This kiss was heated, and it made me giddy. "Woah." We jumped apart looking to see Maverick standing there. "Sorry I um, brought that wine that You like and Gina told me to give it to you in the kitchen and-" I held my hand out to stop him. "Mav, it's okay. I'll take it." I tried to remain confident, like our instructor didn't just catch me kissing a fellow trainee. 

"So, are you two?" He asked pointing between us. "We-" "It's none of your business." Rooster snapped and my eyes caught his. I snapped my fingers pointing towards the kitchen. "Kitchen, now. Both of you." Rooster looked to me, a hint of anger in his eyes. Poor Mav looked confused. As we walked in I closed the swinging door, setting the wine on the island and looked between the two men. "You said you'd leave it at the door." Roosters face fell and I looked to Maverick. "I know what has happened between you two, but for once this is not the Maverick and Rooster show. This dinner is for Sarah and the boys, so they know they're not alone, and if you two can't act like respectable grown men, I will happily kick you both to the curb. Am I understood?" They looked to each other. "I said, 'Am I understood?" 

They both jumped slightly, their backs straightening out. "Yes, ma'am." I nodded at their words. "Thank you, now go out there. I'll finish dinner." Mav walked out, but Rooster stayed. "I thought I said-" He came over, his hand rubbing up and down my back. "Let me pour you a glass and help with dinner." He said as he kissed my head. I sighed and nodded. "Corkscrew is in the far left drawer." I said as I leaned up to kiss him quickly. I heard him open the drawer as I turned back to finishing dinner. 

"For the sweetest girl I know." He said wrapping his arm around my waist and kissing my temple. "Thank you." I said before taking a sip. "You tell me what you want me to do, and I'll do it." I smirked and glanced back to make sure no one was coming in. "You could fuck me on the countertops." His other hand fell to my waist, squeezing. "Don't say things you don't mean, because if someone walks through that door, I won't stop." He whispered and a chill ran up my spine. "You could put brussel sprouts in the oven, they're seasoned so they just have to cook for fifteen minutes." He held me for another second before letting go and putting them in the oven. "Thank you, honey." I said as I leaned over for a kiss. 

~~~

I washed my hands as I heard the doorbell, wiping my hands dry and rushing for the door. "I got it." I said as I grabbed the doorknob and swung it open. "Sarah." I smiled at her as she stepped inside, her boys Mikey and Ethan behind her. "Hi guys." I closed the door as Sarah turned to me. "I know you fussed about me not bringing anything, but I couldn't show up empty handed." She said as she handed me the bouquet of pink roses and hydrangeas. "Oh my god, these are gorgeous!" I smiled as I took them. "I'll go get these set in a vase. Dinner is almost ready. Rooster, Maverick come help me set the table." They nodded and followed. "Here's the plates and make sure you put a wine glass and a water glass at each setting." They nodded as they took everything and I put the flowers in a vase before taking them out to the dining room and setting them on the hutch against the back wall.

After I got the food set out we all sat down. "Gee, Caila. I forgot how good your food is." Sarah said as we sat down. "Well thank my mama and my mamaw, I got everything from them." Dinner went well, everyone had a good time and I think it really helped Sarah. After dinner we all moved to sit in the living room, Dahlia laying in the floor waiting for someone to pay attention to her. "You know, this is nice. To be able to hear about dad and talk about him without the 'I'm sorry's'." Mikey said as he sipped on his wine. "Your dad hated people fussin' over him. We'd come back from a mission and your mom would just be cryin' away. He'd always tell her, 'Don't cry over me, it does no one any good.'!" Sarah laughed at his words. "He hated it." 

"In all honesty I just think he hated to see you cry, no matter the reason." Mom said and she nodded. "He didn't know how to handle my tears, it always freaked him out, and oh my god, don't get me started on the pregnancy hormones!" We all laughed. "He was a nervous wreck for both pregnancies." Maverick laughed out. "So Caila, I was sorry to hear about your divorce." Sarah said as she sipped her wine, the room taking an awkward turn. Suddenly she almost spit her wine out and laughed. "I'm just kidding, no i'm not, he was a prick!" I laughed at her words, as did everyone else. "Even Tom hated him, the night at that gala, I really thought he was going to snap." I pursed my lips, smiling into my wine. "But you and Bradley, that's new." I looked down at our intertwined fingers that rested on my leg. "Its a uh, recent development." She smiled at us. "I like it, you two look good together." I looked to Rooster, smiling at her words.

~~~

After everyone left I stood on the porch with Rooster, "I'd invite you to stay, but-" "We usually can't keep our hands off each other." I nodded. "Yeah, and with my parents here." He chuckled and nodded. "I understand. So, I'll see you tomorrow?" I nodded. "Yeah, since we have the day off training we'll be spending the day at Sarah's after the funeral, she's doing a celebration of life." He nodded. "Alright, pretty girl." He leaned down and gently kissed me, I smiled into the kiss and gently ran my hands up his chest until they wrapped around his shoulders, his winding around my waist, rubbing small and gentle circles in my back. A giggle escaped my lips as he dug his fingers into my side, tickling me. We pulled away suddenly when the porch light started flickering on and off. 

"Oh my god." I ripped the door open, "Daddy!" He took off running with a loud laugh, back to my mother who was covering up her laughter with her hand. I stepped back outside and closed the door. "Now, where were we?" I asked before pulling him into another kiss. This one a little more heated, it set a fire in my belly. His hands gripped my hips tightly as mine held his neck. After a moment Rooster pulled away, me catching his bottom lip as he did. "Oh, careful pretty girl. I may just sneak in your window tonight." I bit my lip. "Mm, it's like high school all over again." His eyes widened and he chuckled. 

"And how many boys were you sneaking through your window, Ms. Motley?" I giggled. "None, they were all too scared of daddy and J. Kinda helped that boys weren't interested in me." He bit his lip. "That is still so surprising to me." I shrugged. "It's okay, I mean now I've got a stud like yourself." I said grabbing his collar and pulling him close. "God, I love you." I leaned up till my nose was nudging his. "Mm, not god but close enough." I said before kissing him gently. He pulled away, lifting his hand to run a knuckle down my cheek. "I love you, pretty girl." The smile that grew on my face felt like it was going to split my face in two. 

"I should probably get home before your parents come out here." I giggled. "They would, they're nosey but they mean well." He chuckled before kissing my forehead and stepping down off the porch, still holding my hand. "Do I need to walk you home? Can't have you gettin' snatched out here." He chuckled. "I think I'll be fine. Goodnight, Mags." I smiled as he kissed my knuckles before slowly letting go. "Goodnight, Roo." I watched as he walked the short distance across the yard and up to his own porch. "Hey Rooster." He turned and smiled at me. "Yeah?" I bit my lip pulling on my thumbs again. "Do you wanna go to Sarah's with me tomorrow?" He nodded with a chuckle. "I'd love too, honey." I smiled and watched as he unlocked his door before I went in, closing and locking the door behind me. I leaned against it, fiddling with the necklace I had from Rooster. Looking up I saw my mom on the couch, head tilted back watching me with a smile. 

"Come here, baby. I wanna tell you something." I walked over sitting next to her and curling into her side, my head on her shoulder and her hand in my hair as she held a wine glass in the other. "You know, when I met your dad I was engaged." I furrowed my brows and looked up at her. "What?" She nodded. "Sure was." She took a sip of her wine. "I thought that man was it for me, I was all in. Until your daddy came along and my heart switched up on me." I sighed. "Why?" She chuckled and she inhaled deeply. "He was different. To this day I can't exactly pinpoint how, but something about him kept pulling me to him, to the point that I cancelled a show to go see him before a mission once." I looked up at her. "And your engagement?" She nodded. "Michael was a good man, it wasn't anything he did wrong. I ended things the first time I had the urge to kiss your father, it wasn't fair to Michael for me to be pining after another man with his ring on my hand." I sighed and rested my forehead on her shoulder. 

"I got a letter from the Atlanta court system. Aaron is coming after me for Alienation of Affection." She groaned and threw her head back. "Honey, you say the words and I will make sure he goes missing." I shook my head. "I have to do this all by the book. This is now pulling my career, Rooster's career, into the fight. I have to be so careful with Rooster around base because if the wrong person sees us, it's over." Mom shook her head. "You're going through a divorce Caila." I nodded. "But in the eyes of the Navy, I'm still a married woman. It's still adultery." She shook her head. "This is all bullshit. I should've ran him off the first time I met him." I nodded. "Yeah, we all should've."

We sat in comfortable silence for awhile, just enjoying each others company. "Can I give you some advice?" I chuckled. "You'd give it even if I said no." She ran her hands through my short hair, smiling down at him. "Does Rooster make you happy?" I immediately nodded. "I do love him mama, I have for years now." She nodded. "Don't let him go baby, be selfish, keep him close, and make a love that lasts lifetimes, that y'all's children are going to be telling to their kids, and make it a story. One that you'll tell to your kids because no fairy tale could match." A few tears slipped out at her words. "You guys like him right?" She chuckled and kissed my head. "Honey, your daddy told me that if he came up to him and asked if he could marry you, today. He'd happily say yes." I let out a shaky sigh, as more tears slid out. "He really said that?" She nodded. "He was made for you, Caila. Don't let him go." I nodded. "I won't mama." 

After a few more minutes mama got up. "Well, we have a long day tomorrow. I'm going to bed." I nodded and stood as well. "Me too. Love you." I said as she started upstairs. "Love you too." I made sure all the doors were locked and that all the lights were off downstairs before retreating up to my room. Dahlia already laid across the bed snoring. Her ear perked up as I walked in but dropped back down when she realized it was me. I walked over to my dresser, slipping off my rings. As I looked up I saw Rooster meandering around his room, in only his boxers. I smirked as an idea popped into my head. I walked over to the window, watching him for a moment before he caught sight of me and turned to see me. He smiled and gave me a wave. 

I smirked and slowly slid the straps of my dress down my shoulders, until the dress hit the floor. I stepped out of it and watched as he ran his hands through his hair, locking his fingers behind his head as he watched. I turned and slowly slid the seamless thong down my legs, bending over to step out of them, giving him full view of my ass. I peaked over my shoulder to see he was biting on one of his knuckles as he palmed himself through his boxers. I kept my back to him as I unhooked my bra and slid it off, tossing it to the far corner of the room. I turned and smirked at him, now he was leaned back against his dresser head thrown back as he palmed himself harder. As he leaned his head back up, I noticed his mouth was agape. I bit my lip and turned crawling into bed, laying on my stomach. He picked up his phone and typed something out, after a second mine dinged. I picked it up seeing his text.

Wanna try something?

I smirked and decided to tease him. So I reached up and turned out the light, I watched as his face dropped. I picked up my phone to text him back. 

Nope. Goodnight Lieutenant. 😘

I bit my lip as he furiously typed out a text. His chest was heaving as one hand typed and the other adjusted himself in his boxers. 

You little minx. Better watch out, I'll get you back.

I was getting hot at the thought alone. 

I can't wait Lieutenant.

~~~

Our late night escapades were long forgotten the next day. Standing at attention behind the entirety of the Kazansky family. Funerals have always gotten to me, no matter who they were for. This one was no different. Iceman has been around the family since Jameson was little, we never got to see him much but it was always special when him and Sarah visited and vice versa. Over the years our families drifted apart, we never saw each other as often as we wanted to but when we did, it was like no time had past. I was so lost in thought the first shot of gunfire startled me, making me jump slightly. 

I don't know Sarah is doing it, no tears, no sobbing. She is the perfect depiction of grace and strength. Because watching Maverick slamming his wings into the casket, that almost did it in for me. Jets flew over head, one flying up to perform the missing man formation. After the funeral was done I continued to stand there for a moment, just soaking it all in. "You okay?" I turned to find Sarah walking over and I quickly wiped my tears. "Yeah, it's just... hard." She nodded. "How are you not a wreck, Sarah?" She chuckled and wrapped her arm around my shoulders. "I think between worrying about him for years as a pilot, and his cancer diagnoses. I knew he'd go before me, I never knew when but I accepted that there was probably going to be a time where I would have to live without him." I sighed. "How did you do it?" She shrugged. "The same way your mother did. I leaned on those around me, accepted the help and the love from others until he walked off that ship or that plane and I had him in my arms again. It's what I'm doing now." 

We stood in comfortable silence for a moment. "You know, he loved you like his own. He always wanted a little girl but we got our two boys, he loved them, but a part of him wanted to be a girl dad." I chuckled and wiped my eyes again. "He was like another father to me. God, I miss him." She nodded. "I'm just glad you got to see him last week, when he was still doing good." I nodded. "Me too." She held her hand out. "Come on, there is a bunch of food at my house and if I know you, you didn't eat this morning." I bit my lip, she was right. "I knew I had a high possibility of sobbing until I made myself sick, nothing on my stomach sounded like the better way to go." She walked us over to my parents. "Go home and change, I'll see you guys in an hour." She kissed my cheek and hugged my parents before joining her family. 

~~~

I changed into a white sundress, it was hot out, so hopefully the white cotton will help keep me cool. I was slipping on my rings as a knock sounded on my bedroom door. I looked up to see Rooster standing in the door way. "Hey." I said quietly. My cheeks were red, I've been non-stop crying since we got in the car to come home. "You okay?" I nodded. "I will be." He sighed and came over, pulling me into him. "I feel like I see you crying way too much." I chuckled and pulled back, his arms rested on my waist as mine hooked under his arm, resting on his shoulder blades. "I just feel my emotions deeply, nothing wrong with it." He nodded and kissed my forehead. 

"Let me put my shoes on, then I'll be ready to go." I said as I grabbed some wedges with white straps. I sat on the bench at the end of my bed, leaning over to put them on. "Here." Rooster said bending down, taking them from me. I smiled at him as he buckled the strap on my ankle. "What did I ever do to deserve you?" He chuckled as he slid the other one on my foot. I saw movement to look up and see my mom standing in the doorway, smiling and lifting her phone for a picture. "I should be the one asking that, pretty girl." He said before placing a sweet kiss to my ankle and standing. I bit my lip as he helped me up, he kissed my forehead before turning around to see my mom. We laughed as his face blushed a deep red and he scratched the back of his neck. 

"Hi Mrs. Motley." He said sheepishly. "Bradley." She said in a low tone and he cleared his throat. "Gina." She nodded. "That's better. Now, are you two riding with us or-" "Um, actually do you mind if Rooster and I ride separate?" She nodded. "That's fine, we're leaving now." I nodded and we followed her downstairs. I grabbed my purse as Rooster locked my door. "Jeep or Bronco? They both have the roofs off." He shrugged and took my keys. "Jeep it is." He took my hand and lead me over to the passenger side of the jeep.

"Come on, pretty girl." He said as he opened the door, holding my hand to help me in. I expected him to close the door and walk around but he surprised me, taking the seat belt from my hand and buckling me in. He leaned in and kissed me gently, "Think your parents are watching?" I giggled and nodded. "My mother might be filming." He chuckled as he kissed me one more time before getting out and closing the door. I looked over to see my dad with a smile on his face and my mom grinning like a mad woman and giving me two thumbs up. 

Rooster got in and started the jeep, letting my parents pull out first in their rental truck. "Think I'm making a good impression?" I chuckled at his words. "Keep it up and I think my mother will be expecting a proposal before they leave." He chuckled and grabbed my hand on the center console before pulling out. We drove with the radio turned up on some random eighties station, just enjoying the last of the summer air. Not that it actually get cold out here. I zoned out for awhile until Rooster spoke up. "We're here." I looked up at the house, smiling at the memories that flowed through.

I reached for my door handle when Rooster reached over and smacked my hand. I whipped around to him, my jaw dropped as he got out. "Excuse you, did you just smack my hand?!" He rushed over and opened my door. "Yes, I did." He said as he extended his hand for me to take, I just pouted and crossed my arms over my chest. He sighed and stared at me for a second before stepping up onto the running board and leaning over till he was in my face. "You can either get out, or I'll stay away from you until this mission is over." I pursed my lips. We have one week until the mission and then we will be on the ship for another. I sighed and shifted to get out, him helping me. 

He took my hand as we walked up to the porch and I stopped, turning to him. "Look, I hate to do this. The squad knows about us, but there are other high ranking officials here. As the navy sees it, I'm still married and if they see us, they could strip us of everything Rooster. I don't want that and I don't want to be the reason you lose everything." He sighed and took a step back. "I'm just saying, if we want to keep our careers, no kissing, hand-holding, no lover dovey shit. Save it for the car ride home." I said throwing a wink at him. "I hate this." He muttered and I nodded. "Just behave and I'll give a surprise." I said before walking out to the back yard, leaving him standing still in the foyer. 

~~~

The night went well, but it was so hard to keep my distance from Rooster. All I wanted was to hold his hand or be tucked under his arm, we had to explain everything to the team, because Fanboy and Halo wouldn't stop asking us if something was wrong. "If they see that I'm still technically and legally cheating, they could give both of us a dishonorable discharge." Everyone's eyes widened and Halo locked her lips and threw away the key.

"So, do your parents know?" Phoenix asked, motioning to my parents who were both standing with Maverick. "Yes." Rooster raised a brow at me. "And?" He asked. "They... definitely approve." I said as a smile grew on my face. "So we can expect a wedding, right?" Phoenix asked and my eyes widened. "Oh! Let me talk to you real quick." Her eyes widened. "Our conversation stay between us, why are you goin' around and blabberin' to him?" She laughed as my accent got thicker. "He needed a push!" I groaned and rolled my eyes. "Did you have to tell him everything I said, verbatim?" She bit her lip, looking smug. "Dammit Phoenix!"

Everyone laughed at our interaction. "What's so funny?" Mom asked as she walked over, leaving my dad with Mav and a few others. "Phoenix is runnin' her mouth to Rooster." My mom smirked at her. "Oh , really? What about?" I rolled my eyes and sipped my beer. "I may have mentioned a wedding." My mom smiled and turned to Rooster, placing her hand on his arm. "You know, I know her ring size, as well as ring styles she likes." My jaw dropped as Rooster nodded at her. "Oh, really? Mind writing it down and sending me some pictures?" I threw my hands up. "I can't. I can't!" I said as I walked back inside. 

~~~

"You can't seriously be mad at me." I just continued to look out the window as we drove. "Honey, come on now." He slid his hand to my thigh. We sat like that for a few minutes before he suddenly pulled over, into an empty parking lot facing the ocean. The sun was setting, giving the environment around us a warm glow. "Are you really mad?" He asked as he squeezed my leg lightly, making my lips pull up just slightly. "You're not mad." I pursed my lips to keep from smiling. "You're not mad!" He said squeezing my thigh and burying his face on my neck, tickling me lightly. 

I laughed loudly, gently pushing against him. He sat back in his seat. smirking at me as he rubbed his hand higher up my thigh. "Were you really upset?" I shook my head. "Just... flustered is all." He smirked at me. "So? Does that mean I still get that surprise you promised?" I hummed. "You think you deserve it?" He bit his lip, slipping his hand higher. He smirked at me, "Yeah, actually. I think I do." I bit my lip and reached over, my fingers just grazing the button on his black slacks. "Lean back, cowboy. I got it from here." He smirked and laid the seat back, Rooster growing slightly impatient since it was slow. 

I slid the center console back to make room and laid on my stomach, bending my knees and crossing my ankles against the window. I bit my lip as I popped the button on his slacks, and slowly pulled the zipper down. "Don't tease me, honey. I don't know if I can handle it tonight." He said, his breathing picking up just slightly. I pushed his slacks down, running my hand over the bulge in his boxers. A small groan escaped his lips as I did, I decided to have mercy on him, slowly sliding his boxers down until his cock was free, slapping against his lower abdomen. I looked up at him, seeing his face was flushed, a red tint growing on his cheeks. I reached over and teasingly ran a nail along the vein on the underside of his cock. 

"Shit." He mumbled. I reached over, wrapping my hand around him, giving him a squeeze. "Mags." He moaned out and I giggled. I let go and leaned over, gathering enough saliva before holding my tongue out over his cock, letting it fall from my mouth, coating him. "Holy fuck." He groaned out as he tossed his head back. I wrapped my hand around him again before stroking him slowly. Pulling small moans from him. "Like that?" He nodded his head with a groan as I squeezed a little harder. "Yes, honey." His eyes were still closed so I smirked and leaned over, wrapping my lips around the head of his cock. 

"Jesus!" He jumped, my mouth sinking just a little lower on him as he did. "Magnolia." He moaned my name as I took more of him, slowly working my way down him. "Oh, pretty girl." He moaned out as his hands threaded into my hair. I bobbed my head lower until he reached the back of my throat, making me gag. I pulled back some and Rooster chuckled. "You trust me?" I looked to him, his cock still in my mouth, I nodded gently. He gathered my hair in his hands, gently pushing me down until he hit my throat again, making me gag. "Breathe through your nose, pretty girl." I did as he suggested. I was good for a few seconds before I gagged again and he pulled me off, I inhaled deeply as a string of saliva connected us. 

I smiled and took him in my mouth again, gently bobbing my head up and down him. "That's it, honey." He threw his head back and I hollowed my cheeks as I kept a steady pace, reaching down to fondle his balls. "Woah!" He jumped and I smirked. "You're going to be the death of me." I pulled him out before running my tongue up his cock. "Oh yeah?" I said before going down again, and gripping his balls. After a moment I felt his body go rigid before he pulled on my hair, pulling me off him. "Come here." He said and I happily moved so I was straddling him. 

"God, I love you." He said, pulling me into a kiss. "You'll love me more in a second." I said before reaching between us and rubbing him between my folds. "You have no underwear on?" I shook my head. One hand slid up and wrapped around the back of my neck, the other went into my hair. I felt like I was high, his scent was flooding my nose, making me dizzy. My pulse quickened and my pussy throbbed at the close proximity. "You're such a dirty girl." I leaned forward, resting my hands on his neck, taking his bottom lip between my teeth. "I'm your dirty girl." I looked into his eyes, watching them darken slightly. Suddenly he yanked me down onto his cock, pulling a high pitched moan from me, my jaw dropping at the sudden burn as he buried himself to the hilt. 

"Go on, take what you want." He all but growled out. I bit my lip and started moving my hips against his. One hand resting on his chest, the other resting on his shoulder. "Bradley." I moaned as I leaned my head back. I felt him reach up, pulling my dress and bra straps down before pulling everything down to expose my breasts. "Oh, pretty girl. Look at you, desperate for my cock." I moaned out. "Yeah, need you." He leaned over, taking one of my nipples in his mouth. I moaned out as my hand threaded into his hair. "Mmm, that's it baby girl. Make yourself come on my cock, be good for me." I moaned at his words. "Yeah, just wanna be good for you." I moaned as he released my nipple with a 'pop', reaching up to kiss me. "You're always so good for me, pretty girl. Look at you, all flushed and pink, bouncing on my cock." I nodded. "Uh-huh." It came out as a whine, my legs were burning but I can't stop, I don't want to stop. 

My eyes were closed, in total bliss, so I was surprised when I felt his fingers push against my clit. "Fuck, Bradley." I cried as he rubbed it in gentle circles. "So close, honey. Come on, come for me." His words were spurring me on, I bounced a little faster, rolling my hips slightly as I did. The knot was building within me. "Wanna see you fall apart on me, wanna hear you cry out for me." I was a gasping and moaning mess as I worked myself towards my orgasm, and when it hit I sunk down on him, low so he was buried deep in me. I cried out and my legs shook as I came on him. "Easy honey, that's it." He said as he pushed some hair out of my face. "You did so good, so good for me." I leaned my head on his shoulder as I was gasp for breath, my chest heaving against him. "Sh, you're okay." 

I shook my head. "You didn't-you didn't come." He kissed my temple as my forehead stayed on his shoulder. "It's okay, pretty girl." I shook my head and slowly started rolling my hips. "Fuck, honey. What are you doing?" I moaned out, still sensitive. "Gotta-gotta make you come, Roo. Want you to feel good." He groaned. "You make me feel good, pretty girl." His hands rested on my hips, helping me to rock against him. "That's it pretty girl, nice an easy." He groaned. After a moment his breathing picked up. "I'm gonna come." I picked my head up, leaning my forehead on his. "Come inside me." He bucked his hips into me at my words. "You sure?" I nodded. "It's the least messiest." He nodded and started meeting my thrusts. After a moment he stilled in me, pressing my hips into him. His arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me close as he kissed my chest. "Oh, fuck Bradley." I gasped out as he painted my walls. "You like that, pretty girl?" I nodded. "Mm, love feeling full of you." I moaned out before leaning back, hitting the steering wheel and setting off the horn, making me jump. "You okay?" I nodded. "I'm perfect." I said before kissing him sweetly.

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

Taglist:

@mak-32 @rosiahills22

[ulkaralakbarova]

Strange things begin to occurs as a tiny California coastal town prepares to commemorate its centenary. Inanimate objects spring eerily to life; Rev. Malone stumbles upon a dark secret about the town’s founding; radio announcer Stevie witnesses a mystical fire; and hitchhiker Elizabeth discovers the mutilated corpse of a fisherman. Then a mysterious iridescent fog descends upon the village, and more people start to die. Credits: TheMovieDb. Film Cast: Stevie Wayne: Adrienne Barbeau Father Malone: Hal Holbrook Kathy Williams: Janet Leigh Nick Castle: Tom Atkins Elizabeth Solley: Jamie Lee Curtis Sandy Fadel: Nancy Kyes Andy: Ty Mitchell Mr. Machen: John Houseman Dick Baxter: James Canning Dan O’Bannon: Charles Cyphers Al Williams: John F. Goff Tommy Wallace: George Buck Flower Mrs. Kobritz: Regina Waldon Dockmaster: Jim Haynie Mel: Darrow Igus Bennett: John Carpenter Dr. Phibes: Darwin Joston Ashcroft: Fred Franklyn Grocery Clerk: John Strobel Ghost: Tommy Lee Wallace Ghost: Lee Socks Ghost: Ric Moreno Blake: Rob Bottin Blake (voice): Charles Nicklin Blonde Girl on Bleachers (uncredited): Debra Hill Film Crew: First Assistant Director: Larry J. Franco Director of Photography: Dean Cundey Producer: Debra Hill Original Music Composer: John Carpenter Producer: Barry Bernardi Executive Producer: Charles B. Bloch Producer: Pegi Brotman Editor: Charles Bornstein Production Design: Tommy Lee Wallace Art Direction: Craig Stearns Costume Design: Stephen Loomis Costume Design: Bill Whitten Sound Designer: William L. Stevenson Stunt Driver: James Winburn Production Accountant: Donald P. Borchers Assistant Art Director: Randy Moore Second Assistant Director: Jim Van Wyck Camera Operator: Raymond Stella Script Supervisor: Jeanne Rosenberg Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Richard Tyler Assistant Editor: Joe Woo Jr. Boom Operator: Joseph F. Brennan Makeup Effects: Rob Bottin Supervising Sound Editor: Gregg Barbanell Sound Effects Editor: Frank Serafine Makeup Artist: Erica Ueland Hairstylist: Tina Cassady Makeup Artist: Dante Palmiere Makeup Artist: Edward Ternes Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Bob Minkler Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Ray West Supervising Sound Editor: Ron Horwitz Special Effects: Richard Albain Jr. Gaffer: Mark Walthour Unit Publicist: Ed Pine Unit Publicist: Katy Sweet Sound Mixer: Craig Felburg Grip: David Michels Title Designer: Burke Mattsson Key Grip: Ben Haller Stunts: Mags Kavanaugh Movie Reviews: John Chard: 00:00: 21st April, 1980. The Fog is directed by John Carpenter who also co-writes the screenplay with Debra Hill. It stars Adrienne Barbeau, Tom Atkins, Janet Leigh, Hal Holbrook, Jamie Lee Curtis and Nancy Loomis. Carpenter also scores the music and cinematography is by Dean Cundey. The Californian fishing town of Antonio Bay is preparing to celebrate its 100 year anniversary. As the clock ticks past midnight strange events start to occur around the town, it seems that the town has a secret and that secret is back to make a point… Not as praised as Halloween and The Thing from John Carpenter’s early horror output, The Fog sees the director tackle the ghost story premise. For many who lapped it up back when the 80s began, it still enthrals and holds in its eerie vice like grip, for others in this desensitised age of gore and cgi overkill, it proves to be a film unable to justify the love poured on it by the fans. Which is a shame. Being able to appreciate the craft of John Carpenter back in 1980 certainly helps to avert some harsh criticisms thrown its way, because Carpenter has achieved, pound for pound, a better ghost story on a fraction of the budget afforded big Hollywood genre productions that have been made since. That’s not to say it’s perfect, for it’s not, Carpenter himself has never been wholly satisfied with the final film, this even after re-shooting a third of the film after originally making a picture reliant on suggestion over presence, but with some smoke machines, a synthesiser, a game cast and a spooky revenge story on the page, he’s made a sub-genre classic. Carpenter has so...

[alchemisland]

Green Hell

Vietnaming names they blacked out of docs, alphabet black ops

Men sweat so much they’re made of salt

Heat trapped in by a verdant vault

Riddled fronds mark where they repelled last night’s assault

It’s so hot the gunmetal boils, hotter than I ever recall

Lightless flame and flameless light, the blameless dead in the charmless night

The guns recoil as if in horror

There is surrender with honour

There is – radio shhhed by screeching bomber

Burns from that napalm no balm will salve

A line of pleasant palms bullseyed by missile salvo.

Sailing grenades wailing at eachother like duelling banshees

Sailing downriver no one ever plucked a banjo here

Deliverance, risen up from death or fear.

Purple haze and a whole rainbow of chemicals

Mirrored aviators, copper tache with an attache case that’d stock an alchemist

Green berets caught red handed, the tower of bayoneted babies by now rancid stands for 

Unsure what my stance is, keep my boots planted

Elephantine gods who rose and reigned before the fall, their visage haunting pillars in the jungles under fog

Poison frogs throning logs, lizards the size of dogs, deep sucking bogs, rampaging feral hogs, older things that scarce evolved

Enemy presence here is strong, I can sense a thousand vietcong

Yet I cannot see a single one.

Burnt body clean up, sagging bags tagged boys inside them

War is hell his helm decrees, swoops low brests ruinous debris

Smoke smell on the breeze, a lifetime’s debriefing needed

Heli door leaners disrupt the rice harvest, shot up the crop

They shout sorry when a stray dog cops one, wordless for dead sons

Fevers out here’ll turn a man inside out, shit squirting out red like had rusted spout 

Heavy smoke session, eyes to heaven

Souls of levelled friends ascended

Life the bread’s unleavened present

Heavy rain means heavy shelling, keep Charlie at bay

Practising drills, marching in formation when jungle to single file distils

Can’t have another Tet offensive, mindset defensive

Pensieve hippy soldiers bouldered on witch finger blems

Odour from the open tentflap, disorder in the ranks

Imagine giving them an order

If each death is expensive, here is mounting debt.

Spend your birthday on sandbags

Fewest bloodstains makes glad rags

Bent double like old hags

Two gunners trading fags for mags

Send your sister a thanks card

Fresh socks, my feet wet which never mine met

On my account don’t fret 

By my count six months left

Pray my gun won’t jam, sending best to the fam

Signing off lights are shining on, sun force through dark like a battering ram.

We’re fighting ghosts 

You can’t nuke ideas

Bombing and bombing

And bombing to free us.

The Gunboat sides would scald your hole 

Flotilla fleet like a surface shoal

Forward stole, through gunfire wove

Settling smoke white as peace doves

Bullets spiral  

Turning from horrors to solace of bible

Helis saw in firing rockets

Torture victims left to mock us 

Nothing shocks us

In Hannoi line of mannish boys muddying their waters

Emptied for pointless death in goalless slaughter

The river is brown and murky, teems with scabrous form 

Every vile thing there abounds, even fish sporting horn

Da Nang is loud with bangs, Apache nose with painted fangs.

Enough rizlas to shroud a mummy, forget you miss your mummy

Mist your mind, it feels lovely, sandbags almost snugly

Out here reside villains, valiants, dalliances behind french valances

Shifted power balances, old crumbling residences

If you’re moving, keep moving like a machiavellian schemer

Under torture realized your handlers never laid out the schema.

Skeet bites itch like eczema, exert you to death out here

Every second plants feeler is a life stealer

Never been a kneeler but Rimmon’s altar appeals

An apple is peeled and placed into a stuck pig’s mouth, sides of trout and pints of cloudy stout for portly majors

Men are kept like beasts, beaten like curs, suspended until lamed in watery cages

Stages of grief, meaningless the musings of sages in a rank pit swimming with dire phages

There are no roads between hills tramped passable by steers

Artillery sinks down into bog like a corn king’s torn corpse when the rivers near.

[talltoontales]

- Time to Spare -

Ticking // Prompt by @dailytextprompt (Tumblr)

{Written 02/17/24 (Barely)}

Thirty-seven minutes, I can make it.

A streak of white light tears through the Atlantic Ocean at inhuman speed. The streak dodges and leaps over waves to maintain top speed. Ahead of the streak, a large tanker ship is on fire, people screaming from the deck railing. Rescue boats can be seen sailing toward the disaster.

Thirty-two minutes left...eh, I got time

The streak redirects, heading straight for the tanker. In the span of three minutes, the streak filled half a dozen lifeboats with every passenger that was on the tanker. After dropping the last man off, a glowing white humanoid figure stood before him.

"One hundred and sixteen crew members," says the glowing figure, "also including six cats, a couple of fish, and a ferret. Am I forgetting anyone?" The man slowly shakes his head "no" as he stares at the glowing figure in awe. The figure looks down at their wrist. "Shit! Gotta go! Sail safe!"

The glowing figure leaped back into the water, running off into the distance.

-----

A lightly bruised man slides onto the sandy beach as two thugs saunter over to him.

"What's wrong, hotshot?" asks one of the thugs. "not so big now, huh?" Thug one kicks the man further into the beach, forcing him to cough up blood.

"Oooh, that looked like it hurt," says Thug Two. Before the two could harm the man anymore, a cloud of dust swept across the beach, blinding the three men. When the cloud faded, the two thugs were tied to a light post next to a cop mid-donut. Meanwhile, a very confused nurse looks down to find a cheap emergency kit and the bruised man.

Seventeen minutes. Come on! Pick it up!

The figure races through cities and across highways, leaving a burning trail behind them as they speed through the country. The figure slides into an exit rail, crashing several times until stopping in a mud-filled ditch.

"Ok, a little too fast there," says the figure. They pick themselves up and dust themselves off as they run back onto the road, passing a sign that reads,

"Welcome to Mayday Bay!"

The glowing figure darts through the small town, racing into an abandoned apartment complex for half a second before running back out. The figure then leaves the city and enters a residential area, keeping to the speed limit.

As the figure slows down, their glow fades, revealing a light-skinned man in khakis, a red baseball T-shirt, and worn-down sneakers. As the man heads onto the sidewalk, he slows to an average human's jogging pace. The man runs up to the front door of a house with a mile-wide smile as he looks at his watch.

"Aaaaaaaand with six minutes to spare!" says the man, "Booyah!" He goes to knock on the door but misses it as it opens. A taller woman wearing pajamas looks at the man unamused. "Mag, before you say anything, check it!" The man puts his watch in the woman's face. "Not late!"

"You forgot to rest your watch again, Luke," says Mag without even looking down at the watch. "You're still on Bangui time. 7 am there, midnight here." Luke looks at his watch and then at a nearby clock behind Mag. He deflates as the realization hits him. Luke quickly bear hugs Mag.

"Mag, I'm so sorry," says Luke, "I promise..."

"Save it," says Mag. Luke jerks back at her response. "I set the box to record the finale after you left, and before you ask, yes, I did watch it, and yes, I will tease you about it the entire time." Luke's eyes go wider than dinner plates.

"I don't deserve you!" says Luke.

"Aw babe, says Mag, "no one does. Now, get in here. Dinner/ breakfast is getting cold." Mag starts to walk inside but ends up being bridal-carried by Luke.

"I think dinner/breakfast can wait a few more minutes," says Luke. A faint pink glow radiates from his body. Mag giggles as she wraps her arms around Luke's neck.

"I guess I have some time to spare," says Mag. The two giggle together as Luke kicks the door behind him closed.

.

.

.

.

.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it.

Kinda been slacking on the "writing once a week thing," but still holding strong. Hopefully, I'll get back on top of things next/ this week (I started writing at 11:23 pm and finished at 12:21 am).

If you have any comments, critiques, or criticisms, don't be afraid to let me hear 'em (as long as they're constructive (or funny)).

Stay safe, keep warm, and be kind to yourself and others, and I hope you all had a LOVELY Valentine's Day!

ToonMan, AWAY!

[finest-fishing-finds]

Discover the Joys of Fishing in Mag Bay, Baja California Sur

Baja California Sur is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, and one of its hidden gems is Magdalena Bay, affectionately known as Mag Bay. This bay offers some of the finest fishing in the world, and it’s a must-visit for any angler. Let’s dive into the many reasons why fishing in Mag Bay can be a dream come true. What makes Mag Bay special for fishing? Mag Bay is situated on the Pacific side of…

[crisis-aversion]

In actually blog relevant news I finally watched the G1 TF movie

Spoilers in the tags bc I got carried away

[cabosportfishing]

Tuna Frenzy in cabo san lucas fly fishing. We had a successful day targeting yellow fin tunas using our Simrad Radar. Thanks to our Simrad radar we found the birds about 10 miles away from us.

[hamil-trash24]

Making Good Choices When Boating

Have a more modest Plan B float plan in mind in case weather puts the kibosh on your ambitious Plan A. Your crew still gets to go out and stay safe. (Shutterstock/)

As a boat captain, succumbing to pressure can turn out poorly. Case in point: Capt. Edward John Smith, master of RMS Titanic.

Against his better judgment, Smith acquiesced to pressure from the higher-ups in the White Star Line, which owned Titanic, to exceed safe speeds based on the course he had set through the iceberg-strewn north Atlantic on that fateful night of April 15, 1912.

Smith might emerge as the most tragic, but he is far from the only captain who allowed pressure to affect decisions related to safety. Most captains reading these words have also fallen into this trap. That includes me.

Pressure can emerge in many guises. Often it comes from guests giddy with the anticipation of spending the day on the water. It’s difficult to break the news that the weather forecast has put a crimp in the plans. Seeing the disappointed faces can lead you to second-guess yourself. Yet resisting this pressure is the responsible move.

Among avid boating anglers, the pressure to catch fish can result in crazy lapses in prudent seamanship. It often involves a captain’s ill-advised decision to head out into the teeth of a mean sea, dense fog or driving rain—all in the hopes of catching fish. Sometimes it’s about the pressure to stay for one last cast.

Such was the case one spring morning as two buddies and I were enjoying phenomenal bass fishing—a 5-pounder on almost every cast. The water was calm, but sullen gray clouds hung low. Presently, the air began to crackle and hum. A touch of a stainless-steel rail sent a shock up my arm. “Fellas, we gotta go!” I barked, sensing we were afloat at ground zero of a pending lightning strike.

“Ah, come on! Just one more cast,” my crew responded.

“No way! Lay those rods down and let’s go.” I fired up the motor, and we high-tailed it. Had I succumbed to the pressure to stay, I might not be around the tell the tale.

Sometimes pressure is self-imposed, like the time I wanted to treat my wife to a cruise along the Pacific Coast from San Diego to the Hotel Coral and Marina resort in Ensenada, Mexico, to celebrate our anniversary. However, the night before our departure, a low-pressure system moved in along the coast, bringing with it rain and wind. Come morning, the storm abated, and I decided that we would head out. Unfortunately, residual slop left the ocean festooned with steep, menacing rollers.

Two miles outside the inlet, I realized my mistake, apologized to my wife, carefully came about, and slogged back into the sheltered waters of San Diego Bay. Ultimately, I had let the self-imposed pressure overrule my intuition and respect for the power of the ocean.

Trying to adhere to a schedule brings pressure that no skipper wants or needs. When planning trips aboard my boat, crewmembers who try to establish timetables for returning to port are met with a swift caveat: weather permitting. Call it passive aggressive, but that’s how I resist pressure. On more than one trip, I’ve chosen to spend the night in a protected anchorage rather than face the afternoon cauldron of white-capping waves. My fishing buddies might miss date night, but I always have plenty of food and drink, as well as blankets and pillows for overnighting.

Finally, ego can play a role. Some captains don’t want to appear afraid. This manifests in self-inflicted pressure to -venture out in less-than-ideal conditions. That’s not me, and it’s earned me the nickname Mr. Conservative (no political connotations, please). And I’m good with that because guests who know me well know better than to push me. They know that if I’m out there, it’s because I believe it’s safe, and not because someone or something pressured me to go.

from Boating Mag | RSS https://ift.tt/3gOiLFf

[niqhtlord01]

Humans are Weird: Space Pirates

A merchant’s perspective.... The crew of the transport ship Morbis Ulta were led down into the holds one by one by their captors. Jenka had kept his head down and hoped that the boarders wouldn’t execute him if he just kept following their instructions and so far his plan was working. The battle had been roughly thirty minutes, but for Jenka and the rest of the crew it had felt like an eternity.  The Morbis Ulta had been part of a merchant convoy running shipments between the Mumbari and Slitch spheres of influence. Each of the transport ships in the convoy were the size of a city roughly but only needed a small skeleton crew to manage them. A couple dozen engineers, technicians, and other miscellaneous personnel came out to a total of less than a hundred souls per ship. Most of the remaining manpower needed was filled out by mechanical helper bots.  Additionally the convoy had been given an escort by the merchant’s guild of three Gemini cruisers. Long sleek ships that appeared as slender crystals glistening in starlight, the Gemini were always happy to lend them out when a profit was to be made for an easy job.  There had been no reported danger in the stellar pathways the convoy was to take and the escort was mainly there to clear a path through a asteroid field that sometimes drifted in and out of the route. The merchant’s guild had calculated it would be easier to use the cruisers weapons to clear a path through the drifting asteroids then it would be to reroute around them.  Jenka was on the bridge running diagnostic checks on subsystems when the convoy reached the edge of the asteroid field. The three transport ships had grouped together and the escorts had taken position around the bow, port, and starboard of the convoy. The rear didn’t need protection as the main firepower would be used to clear the asteroids ahead of them.  They had just begun blasting through the asteroids when all hell broke loose.  Hidden in the asteroid belt, three unknown ships suddenly powered up and made a mad dash towards the convoy. The captain of the Morbis tried hailing them several times but was eventually cut off when the Gemini cruisers switched from firing at asteroids to the new ships. Clearly the cruiser commander was not going to take any chances with these new ships and treated them as hostiles.  Energy lances shot out from their guns followed swiftly by a barrage of missiles streaking through the void towards their ever encroaching targets, but these new ships had chosen their ambush point wisely as hardly any of the weapons fire ever reached their shields.  The drifting asteroids acted as a natural barrier and got in the way of the oncoming fire, detonating them into a shrapnel of rock that further impeded the fire. Little did we know that the real danger wasn’t just in front of us, but all around us.  Out of no where a large asteroid smashed into the engines of the Morbis Ulta and crippled her. Jenka remembered being sent flying from the impact and unsteadily rising to his feet to see similar asteroids ramming the other two convoy ships. As one of the asteroids began drifting away Jenka was alarmed to see that booster engines had been attached to the rock and had essentially turned it into a massive missile.  He shouted a warning to his captain who attempted to relay it to the escorts but by then it was two late. From every corner asteroids began moving of their own free will and speeding to the escort ships with ramming speed. One of the escorts took an asteroid right into the bridge leaving it a floating husk voiding atmosphere. The other two switched fire from the enemy vessels and began taking shots at the oncoming asteroids as their gunnery crews began wildly firing in all directions.  To Jenka’s horror he saw a pair of asteroids with a massive chain between them, the kind he once saw at a dry dock on a world he dropped cargo off at. The two asteroids missed a Gemini cruiser but was caught by the chain pulling the asteroids to spin around the escort in a swirling motion until through sheer strain the entwined cruiser was split in half by the ever tightening chain.  The last cruiser didn’t last much longer after that. It had attempted to about face and make a run for it but by then all of the asteroids had begun smashing into it until finally the vessel exploded from the damage.  One by one the enemy vessels pulled up alongside the disabled convoy ships and boarding tubes extended to the airlocks.  The captain had ordered all crews to prepare to repel borders, but honestly Jenka knew the crew would be as useful as a gang of Rakvargs trying to kill a Morgalik with twigs. The real defense would come from the mechanized helpers who were programmed with defense initiatives.  Jenka watch through the bridges security feeds as the airlock doors were blown open and a steady stream of unknown individuals rushed forward. The mechanized helpers were waiting and engaged the borders in hand to hand combat. Their bodies were designed to lift thousand pound cargo containers and easily shrugged off small arms fire.  Jenka began thinking they might have a chance until he saw a massive intruder that appeared to be a Predatoria. The fish like alien rushed several of the helpers and simply ripped them apart with their bare hands as if they were made of paper. Behind them came a far smaller intruder who began throwing small discs that mag-locked on to the helpers and then short circuited them.  It was only a matter of time before the intruders had reached the bridge doors and had blown them open, after which Jenka quickly found himself in his current predicament. After reaching the holding bay that led to the cargo containers behind a reinforced security door. The surviving crew were  put together in a large group. Jenka saw the Predatoria circling them, his mouth wide with a toothy grin as he ran his tongue across scores of razor sharp teeth. Jenka saw the smaller intruder from the screen at a nearby console with a series of wires running to it from a small device. If he had to guess the creature was attempting to bypass security and open the cargo hold doors.  “Captain on deck!”  Jenka’s attention was torn away as the Predatoria made their announcement and the surrounding intruders straightened up.  From down the long hallway leading to the holding bay Jenka could hear a ever growing clanking sound. Through the dark corridor a figure began to take form until finally they stepped into the light of the chamber. To Jenka’s surprise it was something he had never thought to see in person.  A human.  A human woman to be more percise, he noted as his eyes ran along the length of their body. The “captain” as the, Predatoria had called her, was a seemingly young human female. She wore a long brown coat that was nearly touching the ground and a long brimmed hat with a feather sticking out of it.  Underneath the coat Jenka could see a variety of straps and pouches interwoven across a seemingly form fitting black body glove that clung to her like a second skin. Each of the straps was carrying to Jenka’s alarm a different weapon or blade which he imagined she was proficient in. Though the most eye catching feature wasn’t the coat or the hat or the questionable second skin outfit, but a mechanical lump of metal that protruded out where the lower half of her left leg should be.  In the place of flesh was a sleek steel finished section of metal that seemed to be alive as it pulsed and flashed with interconnected wires and lights.  Jenka was drawn away from further observing the captain when a new figure emerged from the hallway. Standing nearly twice the height of this captain, a imposing Hydra lumbered into the chamber on four legs and gazed about with its five heads. These creatures were known to be highly aggressive and yet the human was acting as if only a light breeze had passed her by.  “I will get straight to the point.” the intruder captain spoke. “ I am the pirate captain Amelia Starfeld, and you are all my prisoners.”  She began pacing towards the group of captives and they parted to let her pass. “Do what I say without question and you will all be set free with no trouble. Fail to follow those simple rules and we will not have such a pleasant time.” She reached Jenka and looked down at him as if he was nothing more than a spec of dirt. “Are you the captain of this rust bucket?” The directness of the question left Jenka stuttering to reply to which Amelia rolled her eyes. “Clear this one is not.”  “Wouldn’t be the first time you left someone babbling captain.” The Predatoria joked from the edge of the group. A few of the other pirates chuckled before shutting up when Amelia’s eyes glanced in their direction. “Now is not the time for jokes Mr. Fig.” she remarked.  “Neither is it a time for that ridiculous leg of yours either but you don’t see us complaining about it.” The reply came from over the shoulder of the small alien still working on the terminal.  Amelia firmly planted her good foot in the ground and hefted her metal leg. “Hello? It is a classic pirate motif.” She waved her metal leg for all to see. “All the best pirates from my world had peg legs. Without it it doesn’t complete the outfit.”  “Then all your famous pirates had terrible style.” Mr Fig remarked earning another round of laughter from the surrounding pirates.  “You’re not one to talk either Mr. Fig.” The small pirate remarked again as they pulled out several more colored wires. “You look like you jumped into a dumpster and put on whatever was there.” Mr. Fig looked down at his outfit. “I only wear what I kill. It’s not my fault my prey has terrible fashion sense.”  The small alien finally turned around and flashed a grin under their over-sized goggles. “No, it just means you have terrible sense in picking prey.” The surrounding pirates enjoyed another round of laughter before a warning growl from Mr. Fig silenced them. “If you weren’t so important Mr. Tipples I wouldn’t mind killing you for your tiny outfit. It might make a nice glove to wear so that every time I looked down at it I could remember your last dying breath.”  Amelia stamped her peg leg several times for silence. “That’s enough squabbling you two. My day is busy enough already without fashion talk.” “Yes captain, sorry captain.” came Mr. Fig and Mr. Tipples responses.  Amelia turned her attention back to the captives.  “Simple question then. Will the captain step forward and unlock this door?”  When no one stepped forward Amelia stamped her leg again and the Hydra moved towards her.  “I’m trying to be a team player here,” she said as the several heads of the Hydra wrapped around her, “but my patience does have its limits. Open. The. Door. Now.” She let go of the Hydra who slowly advanced on the nearest captured crew member and began loudly hissing, several strands of drool dripping from its mouths.  “Enough!” Jenka turned around to see the Morbis captain stand up. “I’m the captain of this vessel. If you promise to not harm any of my crew I will open the doors.”  “Bit late for that old timer.” Mr. Tipples replaced the panel and entered a series of key codes. The massive cargo doors began slowly retracting to the cheers of the pirates.  Amelia turned to the captain and smiled. “That was always the plan. We do so abhor violence after all.”  Without saying another word she moved towards the ever growing opening to the cargo hold flanked by Mr. Fig and Mr. Tipples. She was the only one to enter while the other two stood guard at the entrance. “Right lads, you know the drill.” Mr. Fig spoke as he casually pulled something from his teeth and flicked it at one of the nearby captives. “Captain gets first pick of the loot then everything else is divided up.” The pirates nodded eagerly and glanced hungrily at the entrance to the cargo hold imagining what treasures lay within.  Several minutes passed and Jenka couldn’t help but notice that the pirate captain had still not returned. Some of the pirates surrounding them were getting antsy as the time passed and still Amelia had not returned. They cast glances at Mr. Tipples who in turn looked up at Mr. Fig who simply shrugged.  He turned around and called out into the cargo hold. “Captain, everything alright in there?”  No reply... “Captain?” Mr. Fig called a second time with a hint of more concern then before.  The surrounding pirates were now growing concerned and hefted their weapons at their captives. Mr. Fig was just about to step into the cargo hold when Amelia suddenly appeared again from the gloom startling them.  “Jesus captain. A little warning next time before yo-” Amelia glared at Mr. Fig and the sudden look of raw hatred and anger on her face silenced him. Jenka noticed the other pirates take a cautious step backwards as if they knew something that look meant and were just as terrified as the Predatoria.  Amelia moved towards the captain of the Morbis Ulta, not bothering to wait for the other captives to move out of the way she merely shoved them violently out of her path.  At reaching the captain she grabbed him by the collar and lifted him to his feet, her eyes glaring like knives into his soul.  “Did you know what you were transporting?”  The captain stuttered as he struggled in the surprisingly strong grip of Amelia. She slapped him across the face sending him flying back to the floor.  “Did.You.Know?” Her voice was as sharp as a knifes edge as she looked around at the rest of the crew.  Jenka was unaware why the cargo would have upset the Amelia so much. All it was were products being sold to the Slitch Empire.  Without saying another word Amelia stamped her leg three times and once again the Hydra appeared at her side. She gestured to the cowering captain on the ground and spoke only one word.  “Feast.”  All five mouths of the Hydra shot open and the creature surged past Amelia. The captain began screaming as the five heads latched on to him and began biting off chunks of flesh one at a time. He cried and shouted for help as he tried to crawl away only for the Hydra to tear into his legs and pull him back.  Jenka recoiled at once putting as much distance as he could from from the horrific scene before him. Several other crew members rushed to their captains side to protect him but the Hydra turned on them just as rapidly. Teeth latching on to throats before ripping them wide open and leaving the gasping crew members bleeding out on the floor.  Jenka turned away from the nightmare unfolding before him to see Amelia camly walking away towards Mr. Fig.  She whispered something to him, then returned into the cargo hold.  Mr. Tipples looked up at Mr. Fig in confusion but with one glance something was communicated between the two of them. Mr. Tipples nodded and then followed after Amelia into the hold.  “Aim for their legs. No kill shots. Captain want’s her pet to have its meals alive.”  Without further orders the pirate crew hefted their weapons to their sides and began firing into the captives. True to their orders none of the shots killed anyone but sent them sprawling to the floor with cries of pain on their lips from the weapons fire.  Jenka tried to stand but was soon himself gunned down.  For a moment he was distracted by the ground shattering pain in his lower body until he heard a growing hissing sound. He barely was able to turn his head around to see All five of the Hydra’s heads now looking at him with starved eyes, blood dripping from their mouths.  Jenka was crying desperately as he crawled away, struggling for every inch that could be put between him and that monster.  The hissing grew louder and louder as he began to sob and claw his way over other crew members laying down on the cold deck.  The last thing Jenka felt was the tightening grip of five mouths latching on to his back and dragging him kicking and screaming backwards to his painful demise.  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A gruesome finish to a space fairing story for sure, but so many questions are left unanswered.  Why did Amelia suddenly break her word and order the deaths of her captives? What cargo was the Morbis Ulta transporting that could so unnerve the Pirate queen of the asteroid belt? Why did her crew stand back and watch their captain’s pet feast on living people?  Find out in the next chapter of Humans are Weird: Space Pirates, A Pirate’s Perspective. 

[fisking]

Oceans East Offshore from Jordan Montgomery on Vimeo.

Fishing the world famous mag bay off the coast of Cabo San Lucas the Oceans East crew aboard The Shoe catch over 125 striped marlin in just 2 days. Using Custom Troll Camera Systems We show these fish in there true environment.

[lyroa]

Okay, weird and long theory but bear with me. There’s Sidon in it.

So I was thinking about how Yiga Blademasters are really big for their race (Hylian/Sheika) but there would be no reason for them to be another race than Sheika. They are also really into Mighty Bananas. What if the fact that they ate a lot of Mighty Bananas is the reason why they are so tall?

(It’s either that or they are all half Gerudo, which is a theory for another day.)

So that would mean that Mighty Bananas, on the long run, would make someone permanently stronger. But wouldn’t that be true for other Mighty foods?

What if Sidon and his father King Dorephan are both really tall because the Zora family traditionally eat Might Porgry or Mighty Carp?

That would explain why Sidon, although noble and selfless I’m sure, bothered swimming accross the quarter of the entire mag to go risk his life slaying an Octoroc thesize of a mountain that could have killed him: Haneto bay and Lurelin village just so happens to be places where you can fish for them. The fact that he head about this Octoroc in the first place shows that Zora domain has connections to Lurelin village and maintained this contact even though they were going through a periode of Hylilanophobia after Mipha’s death.

Maybe I’m just tired, idk.

[rumpledgoldenweaver]

A Bear In Need Of Rescue

Written for the January @a-monthly-rumbelling prompt “How on earth did you get up there?” It kind of got away from a bear in trouble but I hope you enjoy anyway! Read on my blog https://earlyrisingwriting.home.blog/2020/01/09/a-bear-in-need-of-rescue/ 

Rumple had never felt so relieved as when he pulled into the car park of the hotel, almost immediately finding a space. Switching off the engine he let out a small sigh. Gideon had fallen asleep at some point and Rumple was loath to wake him. Fishing his phone from the glove compartment, he sent Belle a text message saying they were finally here. He decided to wait for her reply instead of getting straight out of the car. He had a slight headache so a couple of minutes quiet wouldn’t hurt. Closing his eyes he gave a small thanks to the car park gods.

Maybe he could book a head massage.. maybe Belle would give him a…

Tyres squealed, an engine roared then a car screamed through the previously silent parking bays jolting both Rumple and Gideon awake.

“What the ever loving fu..”

“PAPA! You sweared! Mama won’t.. PAPA! Look!! it’s a police car!!!” Gideon bounced in his seat.

Sure enough an unmarked squad car hurtled after the first vehicle, disappearing towards the rear of the hotel.

“Your Mama takes us to all the best places Gideon.. come on m’boy, lets go find her before either of those lunatics come back”

“Gideon keep your voice down, the whole hotel doesn’t need to hear you” Belle admonished gently “I know it’s all very exciting but..”

“It was Mama it was! The police car went MEEEMAW MEEEMAW VRRROOOOOOM”

Rumple shook his head “There’s a children’s area in the grounds of the hotel, would you like to go play for a while son?”

“It’s nearly bath time” began Belle

“You really think he’s ready for a bath and bed? He’s bouncing off the walls, he napped on the way here. Let’s take him, it might tire him out”

“Can I take Bear please? Can I? Can I?”

“Okay okay” groaned Belle knowing she was already defeated “but don’t lose him”

Gideon’s over excitement at the police chase was swiftly replaced by over excitement at the play area

“IT’S A PIRATE SHIP!!! C’mon Bear we’re going to sail the seven seas and chase booty!”

Belle nearly choked “He’s going to what did he say?”

Rumple chuckled “Let’s find a bench and sit down, I’m far too old to chase after him. As long as we can see him he’ll be fine”

“Don’t need to see him, we’ll hear him”

Lucy was bored, she’d been at the play area for fifteen minutes with her doll Tinkerbell. There were other children there but they just wanted to play house. Lucy preferred adventure. She spotted a boy, slightly younger than her, chasing round, pretending to sword fight and clutching a teddy bear. Now he looked like fun.

“Hello. I’m Lucy. This is Tinkerbell, she can fly!”

Gideon stopped his sword fight “I’m Gideon. This is Bear.. he can fly too”

“Bears cannot fly”

“Yes they can. Watch!” Gideon threw Bear up into the air with all his might.

In the middle of the pirate ship was a tall mast. Near the top was a mock crows nest. It wasn’t big enough for a child, but it was big enough for a bear. Which was just as well because that’s where he landed with a soft thump.

Lucy looked in horror. Gideon stood with his mouth open “Oops”

“I can’t believe they got away” Weaver strode through the hotel reception. He needed fresh air.  

“They can’t have got far. They have the advantage of knowing the area, we don’t” reasoned Rogers “I’ve asked the local police to put out extra patrols and.. did you hear that? Sounds like a kid in trouble”

Weaver snorted “Kids are always in trouble, it’s what they do”

“Look - over there, in the play area. There’s nothing we can do about the case for the moment. Maybe if we help then the hotel might forgive us for tearing up the car park”

“Okay Batman let’s go save the day”

As is often the case with parents who’s children have got themselves into a scrape, Rumple and Belle were verging on the kind of full scale public row generally conducted through gritted teeth and harsh whispers

“I cannot climb up after him Belle, let me use mag..”

“NO. I’ll go up after him”

“Not in those heels you won’t”

“No shit Sherlock. I’ll take them off”

“And certainly not in that skirt”

“EXCUSE ME? What is wrong with my...”

“Hi” said a dark haired young man who had suddenly appeared by Belle’s side “I’m Detective Rogers and this is Detective Weaver” he indicated a surly looking older man who reminded Belle slightly of her husband “Can we help?”

“It’s our son – he’s stuck. He’s too scared to climb down”

Weaver followed her line of sight, Sure enough there was a young boy clinging on to the mast of the wooden ship “How on earth did you get up there?”

“Bear flew up here. I came to rescue him”

“Oh I see” Weaver nodded sagely “That was very brave, but now you need rescuing?”

“Yes please” whimpered the boy

“Well you’re in luck because Detective Rogers here is the best rescuer I know”

Rogers looked at Weaver “Me?”

“Yes you. Off you go”

“Right then mate, let’s get you back on dry land shall we?” Rogers smiled as he started to climb the small rungs that were set into the mast. He reached Gideon easily “Now then, where’s this errant bear? In here?” he reached into the wooden bucket and retrieved the teddy.

“Thank you” sniffed Gideon

“No problem. I’ll climb back down a little and you follow. You won’t fall, just keep going”

Slowly the two of them made their way toward the ground.

“What’s your name son?”

“Gideon”

“Nice to meet you, I’m..”

“Captain Hook!” exclaimed Gideon suddenly noticing his prosthetic “Mama! Papa! I’ve been rescued by Captain Hook!”

Weaver tried hard to contain his laughter however it exploded out of him in a coughing fit.

Belle and Rumple were mortified “I am so sorry” they both began at once.

Rogers waved it away “It’s fine honestly. If it makes the lad feel better I don’t mind at all”

Rumple handed over a business card “If there is ever anything I can help with, just call”

The two officers started to head off when Weaver’s phone rang.

“Yes” there was a pause then “When? Which direction? Okay” he snapped the device shut “They’re on the move Rogers, come on”

The Gold’s watched the men hurry off in pursuit of their quarry. Rumple presumed it must be the boy racers from the car park. Out of sheer nosiness he used his enhanced hearing to eavesdrop on their conversation. It seemed the reprobates in question were headed out of the city with the local police force giving chase. A germ of an idea took root in Rumple’s mind. Would it be so bad if he gave a helping hand?

“Are you listening to me” Belle’s voice brought him back to the present.

“Sorry.. I was just..”

“Thinking of using magic. I know that look Rumple. Why?”

“I want to help them” he’d learned the hard way about not telling his wife the truth “they got our son to safety”

“Okay.. but there’s no magic here so how can you do that?”

“I don’t need magic as such. Just the dagger” he tapped his jacket where the blade lay hidden “You take Gideon back to the room, he’s had enough excitement for one day. I promise to tell you everything when I’m done”

Belle wanted to argue, but she’d learned some hard lessons during their relationship as well so she simply nodded and did as he asked. It wouldn’t stop her from worrying though.

Rumple waited till she was out of sight then found a bench to sit on set far enough back into the gardens he wouldn’t be disturbed. He didn’t need long. He took the dagger from his jacket, closing his eyes, reaching into the very depths of his soul to give the darkness a prod.

“What can I do for you Dearie”

“Would you like a trip out?”

“Ooh lovely! Where are we going?”

“Not me. You”

“Put your foot down Heller! The cops are gaining on us”

“I’m going as fast as this heap will go. If you wanted faster you shouldda got a car with an actual engine in it instead of a hair dryer!”

“Just get us out of here and onto the main highway” Hades growled

“Hello Dearies!”

The two men shot round to see the weirdest looking man.. Was it a man? sitting on the back seat. He had wild hair, green skin and reptilian eyes.

“What the f… shit!” Heller swerved the car, across the road, to avoid rear ending the vehicle in front then back again to miss an oncoming truck. Horns blared and language flew from the other drivers in their wake.

“I don’t think much of your driving skills” the imp huffed. Waving a clawed hand he took control of the car bumping it up onto the pavement, driving straight into a large overgrown hedge. Heller and Hades made to get out but the Dark One was too quick, a snap of his fingers sent both of them to sleep. Finally he took a small pouch from his waistcoat pocket, emptying the contents – some of the more exotic mushrooms the Enchanted Forest had to offer – over the back seat then disappeared.

Weaver had just got back to his car when the phone rang again. He frowned as the officer related the details of the arrest to him.

“A what in the car? A green skinned imp… mushrooms? That explains a lot. We’re on our way. Thank you Officer Humbert”

“Say what now..?” laughed Rogers “Oh my..”

Weaver grinned “Come on Captain Hook, we’ll wrap this up and go raise a glass to our little green friend”

“Less of the little if you don’t mind Detective”

Weaver looked round in surprise “Did you hear that?”  

Worry started to gnaw it’s way from the pit of Belle’s stomach to the forefront of her mind. Almost an hour had passed since they’d left Rumple in the gardens to do who knew what using means she probably wouldn’t approve of. Gideon was sound asleep on the sofa bed, clutching Bear tightly.

Picking up her phone and putting it back down again did nothing to make it ring. Unable to settle she decided to take the towels left on the bed by housekeeping and stack them in the bathroom. In order of size. Anything to distract herself.

She had just finished reorganising the pile into a pyramid when she thought she heard something. There was a faint knocking sound coming from outside the room. She walked quickly to the door and put her ear to it

“Belle.. Belle it’s me. I can’t.. I can’t get in”

“Rumple! Hang on.. just hang on!”

She turned the lock, pulled open the door only to have her husband almost fall on top of her. He looked very pale.

“What on earth happened? Rumple? Rumple! Are you okay?”

She manoeuvred him to the bed, sitting him down before he fell again.

“So tired Belle, need to sleep..”

“I’ll get you a glass of water and then help you into..” A snore cut off the rest of the sentence. “Bed” she sighed.

At least he was there and in one piece she told herself. So much for this fun family weekend. She supposed she should get him undressed even if the sheer number of clothes he had on meant that would be no easy task. Certainly there were more agreeable circumstances to peel off the layers one by one.

Rumple wasn’t the largest of men but in such a deep sleep he was a dead weight. It took her almost twenty five minutes to complete the task. “Why” she muttered as she put his suit back in it’s bag “can you not wear jeans and a shirt? I bet it doesn’t take that detective’s wife half an hour to get his clothes off”

With her husband a little more comfy, Belle decided a glass of wine was in order. A glint of metal caught her eye, the dagger was lying on the bed next to it’s owner, almost winking at her. Before she could stop herself the blade was in her hands “Dark One I summon thee” she whispered.

Rumple turned on his side and snored even louder.

“Y’know Dearie” a familiar voice trilled behind her “of all the humans I’ve been attached to over the centuries, your husband is easily the most charming”

Belle couldn’t help but snigger “Will he be okay?”

A green skinned hand touched her shoulder “He’ll be fine. Promise”

“What did you two get up to?”

The Dark One giggled “Well Dearie, I got to drive a car, catch some rather pathetic miscreants and I may have left some of those mushrooms from the forest that you were told never to touch as a memento”

“Sounds like fun”

“Oh it was” he grinned “Now I must be going and you Dearie need to get some sleep” he snapped his fingers and disappeared.

Belle felt the tingle of magic, she was now dressed in her nightie, all the lights except Gideon’s small bedside lamp had been turned off and the bed covers turned down. Rumple was underneath them. Belle couldn’t help but giggle when she realised his underwear was now on the floor. Snuggled up against his back Belle soon started to drift off.

“Love you”

“Love you too Mrs Gold”