#Maybe I'll catch up after summer holidays

[penny-hartzs]

I don't think i have the mental capacity to watch season 3 of The Bear right now 🫠

[bestedoesmeow]

what about us?

daniel ricciardo & ex!gf reader

request :Heyyyy, could you maybe do a Daniel Ricciardo x Ex-GF!reader where they run into each other at a vacation(they’re both alone), and as they spend time together, they realise they’re not over each other. It could be a mix of one shot and smau

song to listen while reading: pink - what about us

You see him standing there, his gorgeous smile on his lips, holding his beer. His body moves lazily with the rhythm, his lips syncing with the lyrics, "Oh, as long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive." He talks to the person next to him, effortlessly beautiful, just as you remember him. Suddenly, his eyes catch yours after years. It's the first time in years; you had avoided watching him race, laugh, or be interviewed to avoid eye contact, even from the screen. To forget him: his smile, his touch, his laughter.

Your blood rushes through your veins, your hands slightly shake with the contact, your cosmopolitan leaves stains on your white dress as he makes his way towards you. His steps drawing closer, your heart beats louder, heavier, faster.

"Enchanté," he says, as if trying to remind you that after years, you're in Paris again. Together, but not like before.

"Enchanté," you manage to say, hiding your shaky hands by placing your drink on the nearest table. His eyes are even brighter, more beautiful than you remember.

"It's been years. What are you doing here?" he asks, a big smile on his lips.

"Here for a holiday with a few friends. What about you?"

"We're on summer break; came here with some of the guys from the grid," he points to three guys dancing and drinking next to the cocktail table.

"You look fantastic," he adds, probably unaware of its effect on you.

"Thank you. Yeah, you too," you stutter, trying to smile and avoid flashbacks of your last night together upon hearing his voice.

8 YEARS AGO

"I know, I understand you have to move there, and I fully support you, but what about us?" you say, tears filling your eyes. His hands cup your cheeks, and he gets closer on the couch. Tears well up in his eyes as he watches you cry, perhaps for the last hour.

"We're going to be okay. We can try long distance, FaceTime every night. You can visit me, and during breaks, I'll come here, huh?"

"Promise you won't let me go? Won't get tired of me, the FaceTimes, the long hours of traveling."

He presses his nose to yours, breathing slowly to hold back tears. "I'd never, ever get tired of you, Y/N. If there's something more important to me than my career in F1, it's you. Nothing in this world can take me away from you," he says, leaving a peck on your lips.

"I promise too. I'll try my best to make this work, what we have."

He left home three days after your conversation, and you decided to break up in the second month of the long distance. He was aggressive, stressed, busy. You decided to give him the break he seemed to want. He didn't say anything, but he cried for hours in the motorhome, had the worst qualifying sessions. Meanwhile, you left your house, moved back in with your family, and changed schools.

It wasn't truly over, of course. No one came into your life during those years, not even in Daniel's case. All you could think of was him: the late-night talks, the way he touched you, the way you loved each other.

He was a beautiful trauma.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

"How's everything going? Are you done with school?" he asks, while you're lost in memories.

"Oh yes, I'm teaching at an elementary school in Boston now," you say, catching him looking you up and down.

"I'm so proud of you, Y/N. I always knew you'd be a great teacher. Look at you."

"I'm proud of you too. You look great in the Red Bull suit," you say, mostly confessing. "I knew all of this would bear fruit."

"You've always been so supportive. I can never thank you enough," he says.

"So supportive that I couldn't bear anyone with any less supportiveness. I am- was addicted to you," he panics, swiftly changing the word.

"Is there anyone? Has there been anyone?" you ask, the words coming out unexpectedly.

"No, it was never after you, and I don't think it ever will be after you."

"I missed you, Daniel. I missed you for days, weeks, months, and years. I learned how to cope with it, but I never learned enough to forget you. You'll always be my favorite person," you say, tears welling up in your eyes. Your hands cup his cheek, and your body shivers with the touch, contact after years. His eyes well up, and his lips curl into a painful smile.

"Thank you, baby. Thank you for everything you sacrificed for me. I love you, I love you forever," he says, kissing the palm of your hand.

"Thank you for showing me what love is, Danny. I'm so thankful. Maybe we're meant to be in another universe?" you say, bursting into tears with your last words. His arms pull you into a tight hug, his lips moving on your hair, leaving peck kisses.

"I don't think I'll be leaving you now that I've found you."

[when-gravity-has-fallen]

Background details/me blabbing about my askblog yaaay!! Mostly because it's difficult for me to get motivated as it is! Plus maybe after being inactive for 2 years (rip 💀) this will help pique interest? Idk I just wanna talk about my sillies tbh. And the Axolotl needs a break you know? My guy's watching over an entire multiverse.

First off. The post about my LGBTQIA+ headcanons here: https://www.tumblr.com/craycray-wolf/737090570384703488/while-in-wait-for-the-book-of-bill-already-hard?source=share

It's still accurate to how I feel about the characters...mostly. In the time since I made this post, I have since been converted to "Grunkle Stan is bi" and I'm now preaching the Good Word 🤟

Anyway with that now amended, here's some stuff!

I originally made the majority of the posts about where everyone is now back in 2022, when I intended to have the blog launched as part of the 10th anniversary of Gravity Falls airing.

Well clearly that didn't pan (🩷💛💙🍳) out but maybe it was so it could instead coincide with all the revelations from TBoB! Life is kinda a beautiful thing sometimes.

Anyway point being, I'll have to tweak the timeline a bit. Which is fine because I wanted Dippin Dots and Mabes to hold some jobs before college anyway so really my lack of updating is just an excuse for this. That's the major point I could think of but if I didn't properly consider others please sound off 📣 (yes I'm a cringe emoji user AND I'M PROUD)

Soos and Melody are still attempting to conceive because they want at least one bio child if they can but they're working on adoption.

Many assume Gus Burnside to be missing or worse dead. But maybe... he's still out there somewhere...with his physical body fulfilling a deal. But y'know! No one can say for certain!

To be completely honest I'm still figuring out my interpretation of Bill's backstory. Sorry about that.

Though the reason the Axolotl has contacted our dimension to begin with has to do with his concern...about a certain someone. And who better to give a helping hand than the fandom and the Zodiac?

Since Stan taught Wendy how to hot wire vehicles and whatnot, they one day found a fairly intact Harley motorcycle in the dump. They fix it up together and Stan declares it hers. This is where her Harley previously mentioned in other posts comes from.

When did this happen? I've always assumed the Stans come back to land from time to time, including some summers. So likely during summer but a holiday could work too!

Mabel loves being a passenger. Dipper not so much unless he clings tight. Wendy installs a seat back at some point and this helps ease his anxiety. A little. He likes seeing the scenery though so he'll bare through it if asked to ride. Not to mention he cares for Wendy and thus doesn't want to deny her sharing her joy.

Robbie probably figured out he wanted to be an anime artist while doodling in college classes he wasn't paying attention to. Either he was in generals or some other degree at this point. He only drew in private during high school.

THIS NEXT SECTION WILL BE SHIPS 🚨 YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED

Pacifica during her high school/diner years thought she like liked Dipper. And well, she was Dipper's rebound crush so at around 15 or so they dated for a while. Pacifica however eventually realizes she's actually a lesbian and was misinterpreting her care for Dippin Dots, as well as thinking she only had so many options initially. Dipper realizes it was to cope with Wendy.

Therefore they cut off romantic ties on good terms and continue to be good friends.

(I have nothing against Dipcifica, it's cute. I'm just personally a Mabcifica person and enjoy my lesbian Pacifica hc)

In their early college years Mabel and Pacifica become girlfriends, LET'S GOOOOOO

Candy and Dipper have began to catch each other's eyes... they've healed from the events of Roadside Attraction in the years since and now they can have a healthier relationship in several ways. I WILL DIE FOR THIS SHIP OKAY

Fiddleford and Ford are sweet old man boyfriends. Though romance baffles Ford it makes enough sense with Fiddleford.

Stan is Stan. Though maybe all of his family coming out awakes something in him... something new to explore about himself...

Past Billford will likely be discussed at some point, though they haven't been a thing for decades and it was toxic to begin with.

Grenda and Marius are of course married ❤️ Candy, Mabel, and Pacifica were her bridesmaids. Mabel and Candy were piling over each other trying to get the bouquet, though Wendy catches it. Uninterested in marriage she throws it back out and reflexively Dipper catches it. After confused for a solid moment he tosses it and finally Pacifica then catches it.

_________

SHIP SECTION FINISHED ⚠️

The Pines Twins revisit Gravity Falls every summer until their high school graduation. Well *maybe* they go one more after graduation but then they have job schedules to contend with.

One of those summers (probably when the Mystery Twins are 15) their parents surprise them with a visit! But then they start to question everything because y'know. Weird town.

Eventually the truth comes out about everything, and they better understand their kids.

It wasn't the easiest summer but an important one.

They let their children return because they know how dearly they love their time there, albeit with ground rules established.

As for their jobs, Mabel was a barista and Dipper restocked shelves at a grocery store.

Dipper now has come to care for his birth name and birthmark. He still likes going by Dipper but he insists that only those close with him use the name. The only reason he still wears bangs is that his hairstyle is just comfortable and familiar. This also keeps his birthmark special as only some get to see it (in full).

Mabel still loves knitting and sweaters, but she's experimented a lot with fashion throughout the years. She now has more variety in her wardrobe than sweaters and skirts.

The twins live in dorms with a couple roommates and return back to their childhood home during holidays and summer. They intend to live in Gravity Falls once they get all their education/credentials.

Waddles is an old man but still kickin'. The parents were initially upset with his presence but were convinced by Stan to begrudgingly keep him. They grew to care for the piggy as well.

The family cat (Sniffles) has since passed :(

They have a dog (Honey) now though! She was a puppy from a dog Dipper once dogsat. The owners didn't realize said dog was preggo. It was a whole thing. Anyway Mabel loves putting her in cute outfits that match Waddles, something she used to do with Sniffles.

Mabel is a k-pop multistan (originating from Candy and Grenda introducing it to her) and absolutely loves drinking boba/jelly milk tea. Dipper likes the sound of k-pop music but isn't a fan the same way his sister is. He likes milk tea but the boba pearls themselves freak him the heck out.

There's a lot more but I'm blanking 🤪

[toomuchracket]

First hot day of summer holidays BBQ in the park with sweetheart George. Early romance so he's trying to impress and do the cooking, your friends turn up with a frisbee and Matty brings some beer/ciders that he's stolen from his dad. Maybe George takes his top off when it gets really sunny and asks you to suncream his back 🤭🤭

you get a text from george that morning asking if you're up for it, and he ends up picking you up a couple of hours before you're meeting everyone else so you can do a supermarket run together for supplies - he's quite lovesick when he sees your pretty sundress and you give him a tender kiss as you get into the car, and then walking round sainsburys with a trolley picking out burgers and whatnot is so domestic that it drives you both a little bit insane and makes you go all giggly. anyway, like you said, george is trying to be all masculine and impressive, so he's like "yeah no it's cool i'll take charge of the grill", and it's actually quite a bonding experience for you and matty because you're both a bit 😬 about the thought of george barbecuing raw meat lmfao, so you just kinda sit with the stolen-from-tim peroni and go "are you sure that's cooked right through? cut it first, g" lol. but it's fine, the food is good, and after you've had a post-lunch rest it's time to play frisbee; george gets into a routine of lifting you to try and catch it, so naturally you do end up in a tangle on the grass laughing your heads off and kissing a little bit. by this point, flatmate girly has rocked up with a box of ice lollies, so you have one each before the boys all get a notion to play football - george decides to chance riling you up by taking his top off, but you uno reverse it by saying "c'mere, babe, let me put sunscreen on you" and quite gratuitously rubbing all over his chest and back before kissing his nose like "there you go. play good" and leaving him all dazed. and it's a gorgeous sight, watching him get all sweaty and into it, blowing kisses to you whenever there's a little break in play; you're quite thankful for the sunset, when you can get george alone in the car and have a snog before he drops you back home. just a lovely day, really <3

[jensensfanfic]

A CONFESSIONAL ESSAY

[or: a part 2 to 'kissing montage']

pairing: imogen heaney x f!reader

prompts: heartstopperweekly's week 1 prompts -> 1: summer break/holiday) & 3: "Please help me with my homework. I'll owe you one."

word count: 2.2k+

warnings: flirting, established relationship, an almost-love confession, reader literally runs away from her feelings, anxiety

a/n: this was written for week 1 of @heartstopperweekly. it can be read as a standalone fic, but i do recommend reading my fic, "kissing montage" first for the best experience. also, idk if the 'essay themes' mentioned would actually be a thing, but let's just pretend for the sake of this fic

—☆—

Imogen flops onto the bed face first, and the contents of her pencil case all fall out and roll onto the floor where you have your own stationery and books spread out into organised spaces. You hear her begin to talk, but it's muffled due to the pillow her face is now buried in.

"What was that, Im?" Laughing, you rise to your feet and plop onto the edge of the mattress. "Didn't quite catch it."

She lifts her head just long enough to repeat herself. "I said we only have a week left to finish our summer homework, and I have no idea what to write for my English essay."

Imogen slams her face back into the soft pillow and groans loudly. You shuffle up the bed and lay down, peppering her shoulder in little kisses to get her attention.

Imogen sighs and then rolls over to face you. "It's your fault, you know?"

"Excuse me? What's my fault?"

"This... I could've had this stupid essay done already, but you're just so d—" She cuts herself off.

"'So', what?" You lift your brows and wait for her to explain the blush that starts to spread over her cheekbones, but then she suddenly shifts. "Hey, come back and tell me why this is my fault."

"Just forget I said that." Imogen slides off the bed and back onto the floor, picking up her book again to find a blank, lined page. She starts to draw a cloud with little lines coming out of it. "Come on, help me brainstorm ideas."

You follow her to where she's sitting with her legs crossed on the carpet and pull out your phone.

"Wait, what are you doing?" She asks, leaning over to try and look at your phone screen. "You're not gonna help?"

"I'm taking a break."

"But I need you! Help me, please!" She tries her hardest to plead with you, eyes wide and lips pouting. Reaching over, she lightly ghosts her manicured nails over your arm rhythmically.

You'd be lying if you said that the feeling didn't send shivers down your spine; make you want to give in, and then lean over and kiss her– homework forgotten.

"Nope." You shake your head, rapidly blinking heavenly thoughts of flicking her hand away and pulling her over you. "Not until you tell me why it's my fault that you can't write your damn essay."

She huffs, and you hear the little thud of her pen dropping onto paper as you continue playing a game on your phone. You purposefully turn up the volume and grin.

"Really?"

"Really." You look over the screen at her and wiggle your brows. "You can't just blame me and then not tell me why."

"It's just a stupid thing. I didn't mean it, alright." She rolls her eyes. "Just... ugh! Please help me with my homework. I'll owe you one. You're so smart and so creative and so good at—"

"Hold up, hold up, go back. You'll owe me one?"

"Yeah, anything." She perks up, desperate to keep you interested in the possibility of a deal. "We could, uh... go out after? Maybe a cinema date? Or we could order in pizza? I'll pay for it."

You drag your bottom lip in between your teeth and look up at the ceiling, thinking, then shake your head. "I'm not really feeling like going anywhere... or pizza."

"Okay, okay..." Imogen glances around her room. "Um... ooh! You can pick one of my plushies to keep. You can pick any one that you want! Besides my queen frog, of course."

You look over at the green frog plush sitting on her nightstand, a little crown on top of its head. You briefly remember when you'd given it to her years ago, when you were both in primary school and your friendship was beginning to bloom into something special; into a forever kind of deal.

You smile, but you don't answer, so Imogen carries on looking around her bedroom until she spots something lying under her bed.

"What about this guy?" She plucks the Luigi plush that she'd practically stolen from you at the arcade almost a year ago. She waves his arms around and pats his head. "I know you still want to steal him right back after I kidnapped him from you."

"Hmm." You reach out like you are going to take him, but then pull back just as quickly. "Nah. I'll have plenty of chances to reclaim him when you're not looking."

Imogen sudddenly throws her head back, and tosses Luigi across the room, making you flinch a little. He bounces off the door and lands perfectly upright in her laundry basket.

"God sake! You're so annoying." She exclaims.

"Rude!"

"You..." Imogen ignores you and she now looks both equally annoyed and nervous, the second emotion puzzling you. "You want me to tell you why I said it's your fault, don't you?"

"Ha, you know me well. Oh, yes." You smile. "I sure do, Im. I'll help you figure out an essay topic for the low, low price of..." You clap your hands against your legs, creating a drumroll sound effect. "Revealing why this is all my fault."

Imogen looks exasperated, but there's a hint of amusement in the slight pull at the corner of her mouth. Her lashes touch the bottom of her eyebrows when she rolls her eyes again, dramatically.

There's also a feeling of nervousness that momentarily washes over your own body and mind. You worry that she might be about to say anything that could cause discord, or a fight.

What if she was about to say something that would upset or anger you?

It's not like you had never had arguments as a couple before. After all, you had been going out for almost a year. When they did happen, it would usually be resolved in true Imogen and [your name] fashion; with a long talk, a couple of emotion-desolving jokes and lots of kisses.

Before you can overthink too much, Imogen groans loudly before saying, "You better not make fun of me. This is dumb."

"Im, I would never."

"Okay, fine!" Her head falls and she fixate on her fingers, starts to pick at a loose thread on the lilac-coloured cardigan she's wearing. When she speaks, her voice is quiet and shy, not like her usual bubbly self at all. "It's because of you. It's your fault because of... you."

"What does that mean, I don't—"

"Ugh! It's because you're so freaking distracting, okay!? You're cute laugh, and your face, and you're so pretty it's very annoying." She looks up like she's asking for help from a higher power. Continuing on, her eyes drop back to her fidgeting fingertips. "Ugh, it's so embarassing... but, I can never concentrate when you look at me the way you do— like that! Like you are right now! I can't focus when you're always so... you!"

You could swear that your heart literally flips inside of your chest as you hear the words tumble from her lips. It takes several minutes after she's finished to say anything back.

"I..."

One word is all you can manage before you take a steadying breath and try to regain a slither of the confidence you had been wearing before her outburst of honest affection. It takes a moment, but you find it, shuffling closer to Imogen.

"You find me... distracting, huh?"

You bump her shoulder with yours, in the space where her cardigan has fallen down to her inner elbow. The familiar sensation of tingles chase themselves all over your body at the innocent, yet intimate press of skin against skin.

It feels like fireworks.

"That's why you can't decide on an essay topic?"

Imogen tries to turn away, but you swiftly take one of her hands, stopping her. You use the other hand to take her chin between your thumb and fingers, and guide her face to look at you properly.

The rose-coloured shadow that dusts her cheeks is now visible, and you find it both adorable and a huge compliment towards you; making you feel all kinds of lovely and warm and prized.

"Im, that's so sweet. And you know I find it hard to get anything done around you as well." You lean forward and kiss the corner of her mouth. "All I want to do when I'm with you, is grab your gorgeous face and kiss you forever."

Imogen's fingers interlace with yours as a small, shy laugh escapes her. She finally replies, tinted cheeks still evident and pleasantly hot under the tender stroke of your thumb. "Really?"

"Can't you tell?" You move impossibly closer and peck the space between the top or her nose and her forehead. "That's why I can't stop looking at you, but I never thought you noticed, to be honest."

"Well, I wish you would stop, so I can get some work done."

"I don't think I could stop if I tried." You rest your forehead against hers and smile. You chuckle then, repeating the same phrase that has become your thing since you began dating. "I really, really like you."

She hums, content. "Hm. I really, really, really like you, too."

Imogen's hand comes up to hold the back of your neck, and you stay locked in the moment for as long as it takes for you mind to come up with an idea, dragging you out of the bubble moment and causing you to pull away.

Imogen's looks dazed and confused, her hand hovering in the air from the sudden loss of contact. "What— Come back! That was nice!"

"Sorry, I just got an idea for your essay."

"Really? Okay, wait a sec." Imogen's eyes widen, and then she reaches for her book and scrambles for the pen she wants; a purple one with a little fuzzy ball on the end. Once found, she rest the book on her leg. "Alright, tell me your brilliant idea."

"You can write about me." Imogen smirks and quirks a brow.

"I— ha— I don't mean that in like, a self-centred type of way. I don't mean you should write about me, specifically, but the theme is romance, right?"

"Or friendship, or family relations. Basically any type of relationship... it's pretty vague."

"Well, maybe you could write about chemistry, like in a relationship. Like ours." You pause for a beat. Imogen's smile is fond as she patiently waits for more. "It could be about how two people can become drawn to each other. How they can feel so connected that sometimes it's all they can think about, to the point where it becomes, you know... distracting."

"Mmhmm." As Imogen nods along excitedly, practically transcribing every word you say into her book, you start to feel breathless. You find yourself pressing a hand against your sweater covered chest.

You try to push on, wanting nothing more than to help Imogen, despite the beads of sweat suddenly adorning the line of your hair.

"Write about how it can actually interfere with your day, thinking about that person and how much you crave being around them, and how much you lo— uh, how much you... like them." You such in a sharp breath, wiping your now-clammy hands on your jeans. "Like being around them. Yep, okay."

You stop abruptly, and Imogen glances at you with expectant, sparkly blue eyes. Her head tilts in the way you've always found so alluring, and she gestures with her hand in a way that says 'carry on' without words.

"Uh— yeah... just write about... all that, and—"

"Wait, keep going, please. This is great." You blow out a breath, and Imogen frowns. "Are you okay?"

Your skin prickles with goosebumps when Imogen picks up your hand and runs her thumb gently over your trembling hand.

"Wait, are you feeling okay?" She puts down her book and lays a hand on your cheek. "What's wrong? You've gone pale, babe."

"Oh... God, don't call me that right now."

You shove her hand away, and immediately notice her mouth fall slightly, a hurt look crossing her features. "I'm sorry, I—"

"No, no. No, don't be, just—" You quickly pick up your phone and stand up. "I need to get out of here."

"You're leaving? But—"

"I have to..." You mumble, then swing open her bedroom door. "I have to go home."

"Wait—" You hear Imogen rustling around as you run down the stairs.

Once you've reached the door and gotten outside, you close the door and lean against in for a quick breath. "Oh, my God."

"What just happened?" You hear Imogen's mother say from inside, her voice prompting you to starting running again.

As your pulse races and your body moves on impulse, your mind reels with the words you are certain were about to spill out of your mouth if you hadn't left when you did.

It's not as though you don't want to tell Imogen how you've been feeling for the past few weeks now... it's just incredibly daunting to think about what her reaction could be.

That night, you don't get any sleep whatsoever as your mind acts like a never-ending camera roll of possible ways a confession like that could have gone; all of the awful, perfect and heartbreaking ways.

"Ugh!"

—☆—

Taglist: @whereimwritingfrom @wqxianwriting @httphayn @imdoingbetternow (lmk if you want to be added or removed to all future imogen fics!!)

[dannyphannypack]

Happy Holiday Truce @ghozteevee !

I'm so sorry about the wait! I'd say the holidays got away from me, but I think procrastination is pretty true-to-form for me. Something I'll definitely work on in the New Year. I really hope it's still January 3rd for you!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this little story <3 I took some inspo from two of your prompts: post identity reveal family outing and sibling bonding. The sibling bonding is in the first quarter or so, the parental bonding is in the last bit. Also, the conclusion definitely ran away from me! Very Brother Bear vibes up in here. I hope that's okay!

Enjoy! :3

Word Count: 3280

Danny gasped awake with a shiver, barely catching the green of his eyes as it caught on the shiny, canvassed ceiling of their tent. His breath fogged in front of him, visible in the quickly dimming glow. It served as a warning of what he already knew had awoken him, but it was nice to get the confirmation anyway: there was a ghost nearby.

He rubbed the crust from his eyes as he allowed his brain time to wake up the rest of the way. The good news was that it didn’t feel like anything overly powerful. The bad news was that if it tripped his Ghost Sense, then it was powerful enough—and more than likely causing havoc, because it was clearly feeling some big emotions and those emotions usually amounted to some brand of anger. It also felt distinctly feral, and given their locale, it was safe to bet it was an animal spirit of some kind. Those could be especially unpredictable, and he wasn’t in the mood.

Danny looked over at the sleeping bag where his sister slept—seeing in the dark hadn’t been a problem for a long time, with or without the aid of glowing eyes—and he watched the slow rise and fall of her chest as she quietly snored. Now, whether or not to wake her was the question. The Ghost Assault Vehicle would be the safest place for her if things went haywire, but undoubtedly she’d be worried and clingy and want to help, which he also wasn’t in the mood for.

Ultimately, though, safety overruled whatever annoying sibling feelings she might stir up. Danny dislodged himself from his own sleeping bag and crawled across the floor to her, the waterproof fabric beneath him making rustling noises all the way.

“Psst,” he whispered, setting a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Jazz.”

“Whazzat?” she asked, jerking. “Danny?”

“Hey. There’s a ghost.”

Her eyes blew open. “Like, here? Now?”

Yeah, maybe he could’ve handled that better. “Not yet,” he amended. “But I’m heading out. You should probably get in the Gav, just in case.”

“The G-A-V, Danny, not the ‘Gav.’” It was an old argument, one they hadn’t really argued over in years. Danny figured that Jazz probably found it endearing now that she was out of the house and missing him for most of the year. She sighed as she sat up and reached for the ground, hands fumbling towards her glasses. “You’re going alone? At least tell Mom and Dad first. And help me with a light, please.”

Danny summoned a ball of ectoplasm and sent it floating up towards the domed ceiling, where it lit the whole tent in a dim, soft blue. He grimaced. “I was kind of hoping you’d do that.”

Danny’s parents had been informed of his little secret only a week ago, and all-in-all it had gone down pretty well. The timing had been strategic, of course; Danny was going off to college at the end of the summer, and his parents needed to know why their newest ghostly ally would be disappearing from Amity for the entire school year (barring holidays and emergencies, if all went well). Going to college was a failsafe he knew he hadn’t needed, but wanted anyway—seeing alternate timelines where his parents were accepting of his after-school activities was very different from actually experiencing it in his own, after all. They’d reacted much as expected, though. Surprised. Excited. Sad. Guilt-stricken.

Jazz looked at him with something that bordered on pity, and it made him squirm. “I can if that’s what you really want, Danny,” she allowed. “But you know why I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Okay, no need to get all mopey about it,” Danny deflected, clambering up to his knees (the tent wasn’t tall enough to stand, which kind of put a damper on his whole ‘stoic’ front. Not that he’d admit that). “It just…still feels weird. But I can do it!”

Jazz raised her hands in fake surrender and fought a smile. “Yeah, yeah, you’re a big boy now, I got it.” She unzipped her sleeping bag and cast the cover aside. “I’ll go hide. Though…if it’s big enough that you needed to wake us up, maybe you should do more than just let them know.”

“Like?” Danny asked, just to be obstinate. He knew what Jazz was hinting at.

Jazz rolled her eyes. “Like ask for help, you big dummy.”

Danny sighed. It’d be the first time working with them since…“I don’t know if we’re at that level yet, Jazz.”

“You were before you told them,” Jazz pointed out with a raised brow.

“It’s different,” he stressed.

“Okay, well, different or not, you need to tell them you’re leaving, at the very least.” Jazz crawled over her sleeping bag towards the door and unzipped it with a practiced, fluid motion. “After you,” she said with a dramatic gesture towards the dark campfire and forest beyond.

Danny grumbled as he passed, and once out of the threshold he let the ectoplasmic ball lighting the inside of the tent wink out, just to hear Jazz’s indignant “Hey!” from behind him. Seconds later he heard (and saw) her flashlight click on behind him; ectoplasm-powered and too big for its own good, Danny was sure that thing created its own light pollution. He refused to use it on principle.

Danny walked the short trek to his parents’ tent and crouched to get the zipper, deciding against intangibility just in case one of his parents was awake enough to notice a shadowy silhouette phase through the wall. On the other side, Jack snored with the force of a train engine; Danny could swear it was rattling the zipper out of his hands as he fumbled with it.

The inside was dark, but Jazz’s flashlight outside cast long shadows across the floor. Danny moved out of the way so that the light could hit his parent’s faces; Danny knew his mother would have in ear plugs, so this was really the only safe way of waking her beyond shaking, which Danny knew from experience could be…startling, sometimes.

He watched her brows furrow before her eyes squinted open. She rubbed at her eyes with one hand and took an ear plug out with the other. “Danny? What happened?”

“Um, there’s a ghost,” Danny said (muttered, more like). “I was gonna go—”

“Hold on, I can’t hear you,” Maddie said, turning to shake her husband. “Jack, wake up. Danny needs something.”

“Whazzat?” Jack yelled, in much the same way as Jazz. Like father, like daughter. “What happened?”

“Uh,” Danny said, feeling tenser now with both their attentions on him. “There’s a ghost.” He pointed north. “Half a mile that way, maybe. Getting closer. I was gonna go deal with it, but I told Jazz to get in the RV just in case.”

Maddie frowned. “You were gonna go deal with it? By yourself?”

Danny glanced behind him, where Jazz was giving him a thumbs up from across the campsite. “Um, no,” he lied, turning back around. “You guys can come. If you want. You don’t have to.”

“Of course we want to, Danno!” Jack shouted. He had positively lit up, like grogginess wasn’t and had never been an issue for him. “I’ll go get the Fenton Grappler!”

“Do you know what kind of ghost it is, sweetie?” Maddie asked, still watching him. “What equipment do we need to bring?”

Danny hadn’t thought that far ahead. “It’s an animal, I think. It feels pretty feral. It’s not that strong, either, but—”

“Animal spirits can be unpredictable,” Maddie said, echoing Danny’s earlier considerations. “Alright, we’ll bring the capturing gear.” She paused. “If…that’s okay?”

Danny almost laughed; he’d never heard his mom sound so unsure when it came to ghost hunting. “That sounds good, Mom,” he said. “I’ll go get my boots on.”

— — —

Danny led the way through the timber with his parents, feeling a little silly in human form but unwilling to change nonetheless. It was nice to walk, sometimes, even when flying would be quicker and less taxing. And he could pass his feet intangibly through those pesky fallen branches and thorny bushes, so really it wasn’t all that worse than strolling down an Amity sidewalk. There was, he told himself, no other reason he might want to stay human in this scenario. He certainly wouldn’t feel uncomfortable otherwise.

“Are we getting close, honey?” Maddie asked after helping Jack over a rotted trunk.

The irony wasn’t lost on Danny; he’d asked the same question on the RV ride there. He felt around in his chest, feeling for the speed at which his core buzzed it’s steady warning, the strength of the tug. “Nearly there,” he promised.

“That’s a real neat trick, Danny-boy,” Jack praised. Danny could hear the smile in his voice. “You know, I always wondered how Phantom heard wind of a ghost faster than we did. Didn’t I, Mads?”

Danny kicked at some dead leaves and sticks at the ground, embarrassed. “That ghost alarm you guys developed works similarly. It maybe doesn’t have quite the range, though.”

Maddie hummed, contemplating. “And that’s what woke you up tonight?”

“Yeah.”

Maddie reached out to set her hand on his shoulder, stopping him. He closed his eyes before he turned to face her, bracing. If he hadn’t caught on to the concern in her voice before, he was definitely feeling it now. “How often do ghosts wake you up?” she asked, quiet.

Danny opened his mouth to lie and then thought better of it. That was a habit he was determined to break with his family, whether they’d like the answer or not. “Once or twice a night,” he admitted, slowly. When Maddie made a pained noise, he quickly added, “Usually it’s nothing to worry about, though, so I just go back to sleep. Like, at least half the time.”

She bit her lip. Guilty. “You shouldn’t have had to deal with that, hun.”

“Can we not do this?” Danny pleaded. These were the kind of conversations he’d been trying to avoid for the past week. “It’s my fault for not telling you guys, not your fault for not noticing.”

“We know that’s how you feel, Danny,” his mom allowed. She shared a glance with Jack from over her shoulder. “But we can’t help but feel like some of that lies on us, too. For noticing the clues but not acting on them in the ways we should have.”

“We want to know now, though,” Jack said, coming up behind his wife. “Warts and all.”

“Is this an intervention?” Danny asked, nervous. It felt like his core was constricting in his chest. “Because I get enough of that from Jazz.”

“It’s not an intervention,” his mom denied, pinching the bridge of her nose. “It’s just…Why haven’t you turned into Phantom yet, Danny?”

Danny wasn’t sure if he heard that right. It felt like the conversation had spun 180. “What?” he asked.

“This isn’t exactly an easy hike, sweetie,” she said. “Mostly uphill, through brambles and across fallen trees.”

“It’s been fine,” he argued. “I’ve been phasing through most of it.”

“If we were Tucker or Sam, you would have flown us there,” Maddie finished, and, well, he couldn’t deny that logic. “So why haven’t you?”

Danny frowned. “I didn’t think we were at that stage yet.”

“We’re not on a date, Danny; we’re your parents,” she sighed, shaking her head. “There is nothing you could do that would make me stop loving you. I changed your diapers; I should know.”

Danny frowned. If she had said that two weeks ago, before they’d known, he might not have believed her. He did believe her this time, but it was marred by something else—this aching, squeezing feeling in his chest, riddling his core with fear and anxiety and confusion and—

Oh. That wasn’t from him.

“Look out!” Danny yelled, grabbing hold of his parents and shoving them to the ground. His shield came up just in time: a glowing black bear, absolutely massive for its species, came barreling down upon it, scratching and growling and baring sharp, sharp teeth with saber-toothed tiger levels of length. He flinched against its strength but held steady, keeping his hands in front of him to feed ectoplasm into the bubble that surrounded them.

Perhaps realizing that its efforts were futile, the bear backed away, roared once in warning, and then took off running in the opposite direction, taking a moment to pause awkwardly at a hollowed tree stump before disappearing over the hill.

“Okay,” Danny breathed, allowing the shield to dissipate. There was that conversation out the window. He was almost grateful for it; he’d always been better at fighting than he was at talking, and staying human during this battle was quickly becoming a moot point, anyhow. “Alright, here’s the plan: you guys follow from back here, and I’ll fly up and cut it off from the front. Sound good?”

He was about to run off then, but Maddie grabbed his chin and twisted him to face her. Her eyes scanned over him faster than Danny could even blink, checking for injuries at a near-inhuman speed. 

Once he got over his shock at being grabbed, he started to squirm. “Mom, stop. I’m fine,” he murmured, trying to turn away to hide the way embarrassment was quickly flooding his cheeks with red.

Once satisfied, Maddie nodded and placed a chaste kiss to his forehead. “Be safe,” she commanded in a no-nonsense voice, like he’d be grounded for a week if he came back injured. Then, she finally let him go.

“You too,” he said, turning away. Squeezing his eyes shut, he transformed—focusing on the way his core bloomed outward instead of the stares on his back—and took off into the air.

Going on a bear hunt. He was sure there was a kid’s song about that.

Danny followed the tug in his gut from the sky; it was even stronger now that he’d transformed and they’d gotten…acquainted, for lack of a better word. He couldn’t shake that weird anxious worry in his gut—the one that seemed to be emanating from the bear in waves—but he could fight through it, and that’s what mattered.

Animal spirits were all instinct and emotion, wrapped up into something tight and cohesive that ectoplasm wouldn’t have trouble latching onto. Usually that something was governed by anger, which, as far as Danny knew, was the strongest emotion in a living animal’s arsenal. Human spirits could end up governed by that too, but there was more nuance to the reasoning behind anger with a person: jealousy, revenge, even loneliness could rearrange into different flavors of the same base emotion. It was easier to assuage because of its complicatedness; when there was a direct physical link to someone’s anger, there was something to solve.

It was more difficult to get angry animal spirits to move on. They were angry at everything and nothing all at once. The whole world fueled their anger, and so there was little that could calm them down.

Fear, though…He’d never met an animal spirit governed by fear, or worry, or whatever anxious instinct this bear’s ectoplasm was releasing. Maybe he could turn this into a happy ending, for both him and the bear. He hoped he could, anyway.

Danny dived down in front of it, and from the way it twisted backwards and picked up its pace in the direction opposite of him (the direction towards his parents), it seemed the bear could sense him, too. He went intangible and picked up the pace, letting trees and leaves fly through him at a dizzying pace. Finally, the forest opened into a little clearing, and Danny threw up a green wall at the end of it, where the bear was trying to escape. It skid to a halt so fast it left deep gashes in the dirt, dropped something fuzzy and black from its mouth, and turned to face him.

Danny froze. There, curled beneath the ghost bear’s legs, was a single cub. It peered out from behind her, oblivious to the danger and curious as to the reason for their night’s interruption. More importantly, it did not glow like it’s mother. It was still alive.

Mother Bear growled a warning at the same time Danny’s parents started crashing through the brush nearest her. “Stop!” he shouted out, holding out a hand despite his parents not being able to see him. “Uh, stand down!”

“Danny?” His dad called. “What’s going on?”

Mother Bear was looking increasingly frantic. Panicking a little himself—whether from the emotions that he was accidentally leaching off her or the situation, he wasn’t sure—Danny made a split-second decision and thrust a dome over the top of her and her cub. It would shield them from any sudden bear attacks, true, but it also served as makeshift protection from any Fenton weaponry.

He trusted his parents not to shoot him. He wasn’t sure if he trusted them not to shoot Mother Bear.

“It’s safe now!” Danny called to his parents. “Um, leave your guns outside the clearing! And walk slowly!”

Danny was almost surprised to hear them listening. He didn’t know why. He had to stop doubting them.

“Oh,” Maddie said when she breached the tree line. Mother Bear rotated to face her and Jack as they stepped out, gnashing her too-long teeth and backing further over her cub to put it safely beneath her belly. It peeked out from beneath her paws. “It’s…a mother.”

She sounded shocked. Danny concurred.

“Come over here,” Danny told his parents. “Behind me. I’m gonna try something.”

He stepped forward as his parents came around the dome. Mother Bear watched them walk until they’d settled behind Danny, and already he could feel that fear worry stress easing, just from having all potential predators in-sight instead of surrounding her.

“Danny,” Maddie warned when he took another step forward. “Bears are extremely protective of their young.”

“I know,” Danny murmured, keeping his voice low. He inched forward, getting lower to the ground as he walked. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

Mother Bear snarled statically, touching on Ghost Speak but unable to form full coherence. Worry, is what Danny was able to read from it. Worry. Baby. Danger.

Danny switched tactics, changing to Ghost Speak as he set his hands gently against the wall of the dome, emanating as many calming emotions as he could summon. Calm. Safe.

She flinched, but her teeth were shortening, growing less sharp. Baby Bear yawned beneath her, a kind of squeaking hum. Almost like a puppy. Like Cujo, maybe.

Calm. Safe. Danny promised, at the same time voicing sentences in English above the Ghost Speak’s static: “It’s okay. You’re safe. I won’t hurt you. I won’t hurt him. You can let go. I’ll protect him. It’s alright.”

Mother Bear swayed, grew smaller. Promise. She growled. Staticked. No-nonsense voice. 

Promise. Danny responded.

Baby Bear nuzzled into Mother Bear, and she licked at his cheek as her body grew brighter and began dissipating, moving on. Baby Bear purred and purred.

She looked at Danny. Looked behind him, where his parents stood. Mother? she asked. With the emotions clogging her speech finally gone, he could actually understand her.

Danny nodded. “Yeah. That’s my Mom.”

Good. Mother Bear hummed, closing her eyes. Safe.

She disappeared, her glowing green fragments scattering on the wind.

Danny turned around to face his parents, and for the first time noticed that they were both crying. That was okay. He was crying, too.

He cleared his throat. “So. Anyway. Where’s the nearest Animal Sanctuary?”

[senka-mesecine]

Ok now, you told me to be annoying with asks so I'm gonna (sorry not sorry💟)- how about this weird idea. Could you write a little something about O'Neil walking in on something he shouldn't have witnessed, maybe he walked in/overheard his sargerooney being particularly sweet with reader? OR Something better or something way worse than that? 😈 I'll leave that choice up to you. And Red being the way he is, he puts that image in his little keepsake box so he can pull it out the next time he's gonna need a favour or something. You totally don't need to write this, I've just been thinking 🫡💟 love ya!

The Angel, Huh?

Robert Barnes x Reader (Feat. a Meddlesome O'Neill). @woman-with-no-name

―

This was the only time in centuries anyone's seen Robert Barnes on R&R

Only time O'Neill has seen him, that's for sure.

Should've been a day marked in the calendar in red like a national holiday.

Up there with Thanksgiving.

Getting that cocksucker to stop fighting and go on a fucking break was like getting flies off of shit on a hot summer's day, which is why Red figured the whole situation caused so much...well...uh...universal uproar; even though nobody had the balls to actually be loud and open about it unless they wanted the attention of the man of the hour himself, which was always a bad idea. So, conspiratorial murmurings it was. Thing is, boys were talking and when boys talked, Red had the habit of listening and eating that crap up. Supposing he was curious himself and in any other situation, he figured he'd ask Chiefrooney about it himself, but as things stood...Barnes actually hung up the old magazine for three whole days and that was so shocking, Red wasn't sure how he'd vocalize anyone of his questions in the first place. Maybe why he was waiting for him at the hotel's front door, catching him exit, all of this, this whole situation, so strange Red found himself lighting a cigar, feeling his hand shake. A venue for military personnel in Hawaii, he might've slightly abused the fact that he knew which room Bob stayed in and he might've just, in equal measure, done some eavesdropping in the hallway. For all but five seconds, but still. Honestly, what he heard made him nervy. The man out of the hour busts out of the hotel's front door sauntering down the stairs still in his military fatigues and Red nearly jumps at the sight; Barnes was the only man alive, possibly, on vacation still in his green slacks, admittedly, with his sleeves rolled up --- a sign of relaxation or as close as Bob would allow himself to get to it. Red gleeful digs his teeth into his lower lip looking down at his own get up. He had one Hawaiian shirt and one pair of bell bottom jeans he intended to wear them to their maximum capacity these couple of days, admittedly, in the company of his bucket hat; a precaution against the sun. The contrast was just something, is all. Like they were headed to two entirely different places.

Sarge looked like he was off back to war.

And Red like he was about to order some Mai Tais on the nearest beach pier.

-"Hiya there, uh, Bob! Enjoying the break, huh? Enjoying the weather, huh? Seeing you out of the jungle is like seeing a fish playin' a trumpet. Can hardly believe it myself, uh-oh."-

He calls after him, rambling, keeping up pace, practically running after the man who didn't intend to stop; he was certain Bob noticed him but choose to tactically ignore him, stubbornly marching forward, down the street. Didn't even do as much to throw him a mean as shit, judgmental side-glance to appraise what he was wearing. Nah, nah, he wasn't getting off the hook easily. Something was going on here.

-"Why don'tcha take a picture, Red. It'll last'ya longer."-

Is all Bob says, not even looking back at him, just adamantly walking forward.

Red takes a long drag out of his cigar, feeling a wicked smile creep forth.

Now was his chance.

-"So, that her, Bob? That the lucky lady, huh?"-

Red feels himself grow emboldened, teasing deliberately and he swears he's never seen a man halt in his tracks so abruptly, so suddenly, doing a seamless turn on his heels at the very second the words were spoken, like an angry bull about to impale him on his horn in the middle of the street. All the playfulness evaporates and O'Neill's face to face with Barnes, and even in the mellow, warm sun of Hawaii, Bob still looked frightening as all shit, the vista doing nothing to soften his demeanor or features, perhaps causing them to seem even sharper than usual in a space that was so very open, wide and as light as this; like placing a piece of artillery in a flower garden. Especially now, when his buttons were clearly pushed, his eyes positively shark-like. Oh, so Red guessed correctly; what got Bob away from active combat was a woman. Story as old as time. He came to Hawaii for R&R to meet up with someone. You. He's sure heard some funky noises from behind that hotel door, uh-oh. But, judging by Chieferooney's reaction? It was confirmed. Was official. The O'Neill investigatory skills never fail.

-"What's it to you?"-

Bob questions and it was Red's turn to feel cocky.

Doesn't even bother dipping the ash hanging askew from his cigarette. He just lets it fall to the ground on its own because he didn't intend to miss a second of this. He wiggles his eyebrows. Taunting.

-"I don't know, angel, you tell me, huh? Huh?"-

Red cocks his head and he doesn't even have a solid moment to properly gloat.

At the mention of that moniker, Barnes jumps, piercing through his personal bubble.

Red's hands come up, defensively, as a shield.

He stands his ground against the one man tornado, but, holy shit, geez.

What's this? Kill O'Neill season!? Kill O'Neill the Cupid? Batshit.

-"Hey, hey, hey, easy there, tiger!"-

He jitters, only partially joking and on the other side, very seriously so, feeling his body shake. Last thing he wanted was Bob getting genuinely angry. Didn't matter if they were surrounded by palm trees, pina coladas, civilians and servicemen on a break, he knew the man would flat out throw him into the nearest magnolia bush and kick his ass, leaving him for dead in a nearby sandy ditch, baby. All of this had a humorous side to it, admittedly. Lucky for Bob O'Neill was as big of a love expert as he was. -"Got'cha real riled up, didn't I! Heh-he!"- Red chuckles into his own chin as Barnes holds his gaze for a couple of seconds to drill the point home that he wasn't in the mood, only to turn back and around and continue going where he was going with all the determination in the world. All Red could do was follow. What, they served for as long as they did together and he wasn't even going to tell him who you were!? C'mon. -"You know, I knew there had to be a reason because I told myself; Bob leaving The Nam voluntarily!? The Bob I know!? That fella'!? Uh-oh, uh-oh, ain't no way! No way! There gotta be something there! An agenda!"- He rants away, doing so to the outline of Bob's back as the man practically marched on in front of him in wide strides, not seeming terribly pleased even though his face was entirely turned and even though he wasn't exactly saying anything. Some of the guys didn't really believe that Sarge was here with them in the first place; they told him he was full of shit. Making crap up. Some of them devised entire conspiracy theories he was downright here to kill someone; covert Ops mission, blacklisted and all that. From the higher ups. They made bets on it. But, Red? Red discovered the real truth. Like Red knew he would. Catching up with Bob, or rather, feeling Bob allowed him to catch up with him, Red takes this as a sign he's allowed to make another joke. -"And now I know what it is, Sargerooney. The agenda! Yeah."- He quips, finding Bob gruff. Gloomy. Giving him a dark stare once they halt on vaguely desolate part of the coastline, in the relative shadow of the hotel; balconies and windows lining its facade. He catches the Sarge staring in that direction with a gaze he could only describe as unfathomable.

He was a little too quiet and intense. Even for Bob.

Red imagines you being kept behind lock and key on the other side of one of those balconies and it seemed so in line with the Bob he knew the notion sends a chill down his spine.

He knew what would cheer the man up and diffuse the situation. He pulls out a pack of Marlboros from his pocket, along with a lighter. An olive branch, of sorts. Offering a cigarette. Offering to light it too. To his shock, Robert Barnes hesitates, not accepting the gesture immediately, body as rigid as a rock, eyes travelling between the box and O'Neill's face, still seeming like he was ready pounce back into a fighting stance any minute, his thick, meaty fingers half-coiled, like a claw. Like all he lacked was the grip of an M16's handle around them and the momentary absence of his firearm while on vacation was like the feeling of a phantom limb after the actual flesh has already been cut and amputated. Red gulps heavy and loud.

Chief was pissed.

-"C'mon, Bob, uh, don't be like that."-

Red whines, feeling his lip shiver. What? Was this relationship that serious then?

Bob, in love!?

Geez, man. For Pete's sake. Gotta be a cold day in hell.

And here he thought it would be great blackmail fodder. Casually, in a joking way, between compatriots and all that. When he wanted extra privileges and perks. He just felt that strategically brining up the fact Robert Barnes had a girl he was soft and sweet on and who he referred to as angel behind closed doors was so crazy that Sarge himself wouldn't want the story to grow legs and start running, but by the looks of it --- it was gonna be Red who's gonna have to start running soon, the vice grip around his guts subsiding only when Bob actually decides to have mercy and reaches out, taking a single cigarette out of the white box and popping into his scarred, scowling mouth, without saying thanks, without saying anything actually, waiting the zippo to do its thing. Desperately in want of forgiveness and in equal measure fascinated with everything going on, like someone who just stumbled upon a rare insect, Red's hands shake as he apologetically and with clumsy speed brings the lighter's fire close to the filtration's tip, watching it erupt into embers and smoke. Most cocksuckers grow mushy when they get all googly eyed over a broad, but if anything, Chief only seemed to grow even scarier.

-"Your secret's safe with me, uh-oh."-

Red reassurances nervously, shaking his head vigorously, thinking that maybe, just maybe, Bob won't always be in such a foul mood and that he'll still be able to collect a favor, sometimes, occasionally, when the time is right. But, geez, you must've been really something to get Sarge so tense, huh? Part of him growing more curious by the second, the other side of him borderline daunted by the prospect of you. Another question bites him in the ass like a red ant there and then, unbidden, whirling around amidst the tempest of his desperation, curious and anxiety.

So, did Bob and Missus Bob need a best man or something?

The inquiry remains unasked, and they stand on the pier smoking together in silence.

[joelmillerbabygirl]

UNSPEAKABLE

Hey, here's the second chapter.

Summary: The usual summer's barbecue.

August fifteenth was an event for Emma's parents.

Her father was of Italian descent, and August fifteenth, also known as Ferragosto, was technically a religious holiday as far as Emma remembered, and it was a tradition that Carl had decided to continue... basically, it was just a day when he could grill as much as he wanted. 

That morning, she went with her mother to buy the last things for the party, and when they returned, their garden had been transformed. In addition to the usual flowers, there were tables and chairs everywhere, some balloons (because her mother loved them), and the speakers that Emma had set up to play music, a playlist that she had created.

She knew she would have to engage in many trivial conversations, so she had planned to eventually escape the chaos to smoke somewhere.  Her father wouldn’t approve of her smoking, so like a fifteen-year-old, she would hide, already longing for that cigarette.                   By six o'clock, family friends were arriving, but unfortunately, none of her friends were there; they were all still on vacation, except for Iris, one of her closest friends, who would be back the next day.

The chit-chat began; everyone greeted her, asked how she was, about university, work, what she was doing there, and how much she had grown. 

Sarah and Joel also arrived. 

Sarah immediately got lost among the other kids, and Joel came over to say hello.

"Hi, Emma."

"Oh, hi Joel. How are you?"

"Good, well, Sarah has already run off, but she says hi." 

"I see she's having fun, well, that's good."

They laughed; neither of them was probably cut out for these kinds of events.

Joel moved on and went over to Carl.

After that moment, Emma tried to drink as much beer as possible without being noticed and avoided the small talk about food and the weather. She noticed that some women were eyeing Joel the way lionesses eye antelopes, and she was impressed by her mother's dedication to setting up that poor unsuspecting man. She shook her head and chuckled; on one hand, it was almost a comical show, maybe she had found something to do. Her mother was really diabolical, a sort of Mrs. Bennett.  She wandered around for a while, eating, drinking, and watching the ladies and her mother who kept introducing the predators to Joel. Some of them were quite charming, actually.

It was time to smoke her beautiful cigarette; the sun was slowly setting, and behind the garage, no one would come to bother her. She slipped away, avoiding a couple of kids who were chasing each other. She leaned against the cold wall and sighed. She had managed to escape and no one had seen her. She smiled to herself and lit the cigarette.

"Do you have one for me too?"

She coughed in surprise, the smoke having gone down the wrong pipe. With tears in her eyes, she looked at Joel Miller as he apologized.

"You scared me," she said in a hoarse voice.

"Sorry, bad timing."

Emma handed him the cigarette and lighter in silence, trying to catch her breath.

"Thank you," he said as he lit the cigarette and handed the lighter back to her.

Emma nodded.

"Who are you hiding from?" Joel asked curiously.

"My dad. You?"

"Your mom."

Emma laughed.

"I'm sorry, she's trying to make you meet the woman of your life at a barbecue."

He blew out smoke.

"Soon, I think she'll hold an auction, and I'll go to the highest bidder."

Emma laughed again.

"You can escape, I'll cover for you."

"No, what about Sarah? I can't leave her behind as a prisoner."

"True, no prisoners."

"I think I just need to be patient, eventually, they'll stop, maybe it's just the summer."

"Maybe, I'm sorry she organized all this, it can't be pleasant."

"Organized since when?" he asked with an incredulous smile.

"Oh well, I think for a while now. It's almost comical, don't you think? From the outside, it's quite a show."

"Hey, watch out, or I'll tell your dad you're smoking behind the garage."

Emma raised her hands in surrender.

"You win. Well, I'm going, but I'll say I didn't see you."

"You're very kind. I'll keep your secret."

They smiled at each other.

Emma returned to the party, with a slight smile on her lips. She met Sarah.

"Have you seen my dad?"

"Yes, I just saw him by the garage."

The little girl ran off, and as soon as Emma looked away from her, her mother appeared in front of her.

"Have you seen Joel?"

Two choices: tell the truth or save him from her mother.

"I think I saw him go to the bathroom a little while ago."

"Oh, okay, thanks," and she vanished.

It was becoming quite amusing; Joel had to come out of hiding and was immediately targeted by some women, but her father, perhaps in a moment of pity for his friend, pulled him out of trouble and took him over to the grill.  Emma watched the scene with a smirk that didn't go unnoticed by Joel, who returned it with a slight roll of his eyes.The party soon came to an end, and when they said their goodbyes, Joel thanked her.

"I know you covered for me with your mom earlier, I'm grateful."

"Don't mention it, it was too much even for me to handle," she joked.

The Millers went home, and Emma spent the evening cleaning up and listening to her mother talk about which woman was most suitable for Joel, while Emma silently listened to her ramblings, occasionally chuckling

Lemme know if u like it and if u have some suggestions!

[morganwrites12672]

OK what about Robin pining after you, like she is down BAD, and you love her back of course so you surprise her by confessing your feelings first over the holidays or idk maybe she tries to confess first! There are confessions and pining and dumb butts in love!

Omg yes! Thank you for requesting my favorite lesbian!

Robin Buckley x Reader

' Beautiful '

Robin thought you were the most beautiful girl in the world. She thought you were beautiful with your hair down and curled, she thought you were beautiful with it in a messy bun. She didn't care, you were gorgeous no matter what.

Hell, she even found you hot in sweatpants and a family video vest. On those lazy days that Keith made you come in, on days you had off, you wore sweats, messy bun, and your stupid green vest. Robin thought you were the most beautiful girl ever.

She watched as you come in with your hair in a messy bun and jeans. She couldn't help but stare. You were beautiful. She tried not to stare but Steve would nudge her far to much for it.

You made her knees weak. The way you were just absolutely beautiful without even trying. It drove her wild. How could someone be so normal yet so special at the exact same time?

She saw you almost every day yet every time her breath was taken away almost like you were Marilyn Monroe.

She was in love with you. Everything about you she loved. The way you laughed at her jokes and the way you stacked tapes. She loved you.

Little did she know you loved her to.

You loved the way she smiled. Her smile was the best, her eyes would slightly crease due to the big grin.

It was beautiful.

You loved every little detail about her. The way she moved to the way she would roll her eyes and insult steve. Their banter always made you smile.

----------------------------------------------------------

Robin watched as you came into family video that day. You were pissed, it was fucking Christmas Eve. Keith had made you come in due to the fact that he had the flu.

Robin also just happened to have been working that day. Steve definitely didn't catch on to the pining and soon found it unbearable, so he had called and told Keith to call in sick. And that he had to ask both you and Robin to work.

You were in a Christmas sweater your mom had bought you and a pair of flats jeans. Your hair was tossed carelessly into a pony tail. Robin couldn't keep her eyes off you.

What Robin didn't see was that everytime she looked away you were looking at her. Both of your glances times so perfect that the other never saw them.

You couldn't stop staring at how Robin looked. Her hair was tossed in a bun, a Christmas sweater adorned her figure, and some old jeans. She was fucking beautiful.

You had just looked away but had to glance back, your eyes locked with robins. You both stood frozen. Both of you had been caught blatantly staring at the other.

"I, you looked really beautiful," Robin blurts and you blush. Robins cheeks turn a deep crimson, she had been caught. The months of secretly wishing it was you who loved Robin, we're over.

"You to, " you reply. Robins blush turns a whole nother shade of red. You didn't think it was even possible to be that red. Little did you know Robin was thinking the same about you.

"How long have you been staring?" Robin asked nervously. Maybe you had been staring for longer, or long enough to not make her look like a creep.

"Ever since that summer we worked with Steve at scoops ahoy," you reply. You must of sounded like a creep. That was almost a year ago.

"That's not bad, I started staring at you fall of '84. You were new to Mrs. Clicks class, I couldn't keep my eyes on the board," Robin vents to you.

You weren't the only one. You had noticed Robin a lot more at school after the summer of '85. She was beautiful. Her personality was like sunshine on a cold day.

"So, I'll pick you up at seven?" You ask, "If that's okay." You nervously pick at the sleeve of you ur sweater.

This could go very right. Or very wrong.

"Pick me up at seven," Robin said beaming. The party would understand that you both had to cancel. They would live.

"See you then beautiful," you say and walk to the store room. She waves to you and you wave back.

You had a date with your dream girl. Robin had a date with her dream girl.

----------------------------------------------------------

Requests are open! My pinned post has everyone and everything I write for!

Please reblog if you enjoyed. It helps spread my work and help me get more recognition.

[seishironagi2]

A Love Across Eras

A/N: I recently found the best dividers. I love the ones from @saradika-graphics. and I absolutely adore daisies, so those are the ones I chose to use. also. today is my birthday :p. (June 10th, I just forgot to post this. Sorry, my loves)

summary: final goodbyes hurt more than you thought, but then again, goodbyes never are final.

James Sirius Potter x muggleborn!reader

word count:

warnings: none

read the previous parts: part one part two part three part four part five

Sirius hugged you tightly, his tears making a wet puddle on your shoulder. you pat his back softly, letting him cry it out.

upon looking around the room, you see James the first on Albus, as he hugs the boy. Albus was never good with comforting people who were crying.

and seeing him trying to do so and failing. miserably. was hilarious. you couldn't help but laugh. causing everyone to look at where you were laughing.

"w-what're you laughing at," Albus says, clearly flustered as he pats James back, unsure how to react.

"You look so stupid right now. I can't." You say as you laugh,causing sirius to just sob harder.

"Siri.. hey, don't cry. I swear we'll meet again, hm? I won't have it any other way." You say comforting the boy

"Y/n, you have two shoulders, right? take this one." Albus says as he hands James to you.

"Now, now stop your crying and let's have some fun on your last day hm?" You say as you pat the boys shoulders

"alright. bet." sirius says as he stands up, causing you to give him a look. you slowly move James to your James' lap, letting him rest there.

"sirius black. were you pretending to cry your heart out all this while." You say calmly as you slip your shoe off.

"uhm yeah. what did you think of my acting skills?" He responds smugly while crossing his arms.

"Sirius, I advise you to start running." your James says as he rubs other James' hair.

you smile at him, throwing your shoe at the boy.

"no! not my face. it's my 2nd best attribute!" he says as he runs around the dorm.

"oh yeah? then what's the first." You say, running after the boy.

"My hair, of course." he says, throwing his hair behind his shoulder.

"well then maybe I'll just cut it all off." You say, finally catching him,his screams echoing through the room

minutes later, you two sit in front of Albus and Remus. your hair was dishevelled, and Sirius had a bruise on his cheek.

"Now, what do you say?" Remus says as he looks at the two of you. both the james' in a corner sliently laughing as they hug each other.

"Sorry, y/n." he says

"Sorry, siri." You respond

"and?" Albus adds as you go in for the hug.

"good job." The two say in unison.

"since it is our last day tomorrow. maybe we can sneak out to Hogsmeade?" Your James say

"Yeah!!, I'm craving a nice warm butterbeer." You say smiling.

you reach out to your james, ruffling his hair as you sit on his lap.

"so what's the plan again? I zoned out." Albus says as he rubs his eyes.

"well tomorrow morning, 11am we meet here and y/n has to reverse whatever spell she put here. then we head to hogsmeade and chill there." Remus says rolling his eyes.

"Siri, come and talk to me outside. Will ya?" You say, grabbing his hands as you take him to a small balcony at your house.

"siri. Do you know how the summer holidays are starting soon?" You ask, smiling at the boy who nods.

"yeah. I'm spending the summer at james' this year." he responds wondering where your going with this.

"can you do me a favour?" you ask smiling softly.

"Yeah, y/n. anything." he says, smiling back

"You'll be going to your house for the last time, right? I want you to take regulus with you." You finish smiling softly as Sirius gives you a bewildered look.

"I'm not supposed to tell you this. but if he stays in that house for any longer. he will die in the next year." You say softly as the boy's eyes fill with tears.

"he's not one of those typical slytherins, siri. he's doing it because he has to survive." You finish as the boy erupts into tears, holding you tightly

after a while, sirius calms down, a determined look on his face as he walks back into the room, you following behind.

"now what?" albus asks as he looks at the two of you while Remus walks over, taking sirius' face in his hands.

"did you cry more?" he asks, a soft and caring tone in his voice as he hugs sirius.

"Now. we get ready to leave." You say, grabbing the bag filled with your notes before you all walk back into the hallway.

you point your wand at the door, "domum abire." You mutter, before whooshing sounds are heard.

making your way downstairs into the common room as James takes the bag from your shoulder, putting it on his as he holds your hand, occasionally rubbing his thumb over your knuckles

"Let's go home, boys." You say before putting the number in, waving bye-bye one last time as the whooshing sound comes back,this time, taking you guys back to the future.

"my god, james, you are never doing that again." you say, standing up as you dust yourself off

"My mistake for being a caring boyfriend, I guess. what else must a not sigma male like me do." he jokes

albus rolls his eyes as he stands up.

"y/n, this isn't the right year." he says as the two of you look shocked, seeing most of the marauders and regulus.

"my gods, angel you had one job." james says groaning as sirius engulfs you and albus in a hug

"you're back!" he says as you hear a younger harry asking his dad who we are.

"fuck you y/n." albus says, flipping you off

it's so late as I write this so it has not been proofread. goodnight

[alder-saan]

The Path of Poisons .4

Asphodel

Larissa Weems x gn! OC

The Path of Poisons masterlist . [01] . [02] . [03] . [04] . [05] . [06] . [07] . [08] . [09]

words count: ~1.8k

WARNING: I'm translating this from French to English. As it takes sooooo much time to do it myself, I use an automatic translator. BUT neutral doesn't exist in French so even if I proofread to change every "he/him/his" or "she/her/hers" in "they/them/their" I might miss some.

"Ugh, shit!"

"Well, I'm glad to see you too, Rei."

Rei looked up from their phone. Thalia was in front of them. This time she was wearing green overalls and a flowered shirt, with a braided straw hat to hide the snakes in her hair. The Weathervane was their usual meeting place, now that the summer holidays had begun. They met several times a week in the mornings to catch up on old times. After all, it had been almost five years since they had seen each other. Rei had dyed her hair red. A dark red, rather, so that the colour would look natural. He was wearing a cream shirt and brown trousers.

"Sorry, Thalia. It's my editor who says he can't edit my book at the moment, I still have to work on it. Except I'm going to start running out of money, you know? I was counting on the sales of this book to bail me out."

"Well, you know, there are ways around that."

"Like what?"

"A botany teaching job just opened up at Nevermore. And you're more than qualified."

Rei took a sip of their coffee.

"In botany, maybe. Not in teaching."

"Think about it, even if it's only temporary, it might make your situation a little more secure."

"I don't know if I really want to…"

see Larissa Weems again.

"to teach a bunch of insolent kids."

"They're very nice, for the most part. Besides, I can teach you a lesson if you like. We've got all holiday for that. Oh, I'll have a lie-down, please," she said, calling out to the waiter."

"Listen, it's nice of you, really, but I'd rather ask the florist if she doesn't want to hire me for a few months."

"As you wish. But know that if you change your mind, I can always plead your case to Mrs. Weems. She's very understanding, you'll see."

"I'm sure she is."

Their tone seemed a little dry. Thalia frowned.

"Hey, Rei. Just because you're having a bad day doesn't mean you have to be that nasty."

"Excuse me, this whole thing is getting on my nerves," they sighed.

"Well, do you have any plans for this morning?"

"I'm going to go to the florist."

"Oh, by the way! I found an old photo album of Nevermore from the years you were there but I don't see you… Wait a minute."

She rummaged in her huge backpack, pulling out various things: an umbrella, tissues, a water bottle, a jumper, another hat… and then the photo book. Rei took it and opened it. They searched for a few moments before pointing to a picture of a darker-skinned girl with disheveled black hair, wearing a uniform that was half-stained and torn in some places.

"Oh. My. God. Is that really you?"

"Haha, yeah, no wonder you don't recognize me. I don't think anyone would guess it's me."

"But you've had surgery?"

"Not at all, and that's the crazy part, I just changed a lot."

"Now that you mention it… But it looks like you've changed your ethnicity. In this picture, you say you are a Cree, I believe you. But today, your white-passing spoils everything."

"Yes, I don't know why it did that," they laughed, "miscegenation sometimes has strange results."

They turned a few pages and found themselves better combed, but still wearing the same shabby uniform. Next to them was Larissa Weems, with her arms wrapped around them, as if to cuddle them.

"Oh! That's Larissa! She's changed very little, though. Well, she has, a little, but you can tell. You look close in this photo."

Well, it's… It was probably time for that talk. In any case, Rei couldn't hide their past with Larissa forever. They leaned their back on the backrest, crossed their arms and legs, and looked outside, staring blankly.

"To tell you the truth, we were. But we didn't leave each other on very good terms. I'd even say it was on very bad terms."

"Oh, really? Why would you say that?"

"I don't want to tell you. Thirty years have passed, Larissa Weems then and Larissa Weems now are not the same person. What she did is in the past now. I hope she wouldn't do the same thing today."

Thalia had a pout on her face that meant "I'm worried about you… and I like gossip, too"

"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?"

"I'm sure. Especially as she's your boss, I don't want to put her life on display in front of you. And to be honest, she's the reason I don't want to be a teacher there. I don't want to see her again."

"But still, at the hospital…"

"She was sleeping. And then you know my curiosity. I wanted to see how much she had changed, physically at least. Please don't tell her I'm back. Don't tell her it was me. I think she'd be uncomfortable, too."

Rei laughed nervously.

"To be honest, I don't know if I would have moved back if I'd known she was there. Anyway, now that I have, I'm not going to move again just for her."

Speaking of the devil…

Rei turned pale. Mrs. Weems had just passed the window and was heading towards the entrance. They motioned to Thalia to put the open book away, and pretended to drink their coffee peacefully. Their friend did not understand such a reaction, she had not seen Larissa, as her back was to the entrance. Mrs Weems went first to the counter to order and then saw her colleague

"Oh, hello Mrs Kedlan!"

Thalia understood.

"Hello Mrs. Weems, this is my friend, who I think I've already told you about."

"Raine Asphodelus, nice to meet you," Rei agreed, standing up and holding out her hand to the tall woman.

"Likewise, Larissa Weems," she replied, shaking their hand.

They had agreed with their friend and former colleague Raine Asphodelus, author of The Book of Plants and Legends, to impersonate each other if the situation called for it. It was Raine who started it by impersonating Rei to the brother of one of their exes who came to beat them up.

"I wanted to thank you personally for buying me these flowers. It was very kind of you."

"It's nothing, I hope you like shrubby everlastings. These flowers are not to everyone's taste."

"I especially liked the symbolism."

The principal smiles. Shit. Larissa had become so beautiful. And then her eyes… Her eyes. It just brought back all the feelings they'd had for her in the past. Her outfit fit her so well, as if it had been made just for her, a very light blue that only enhanced the blue of her eyes. 'Pull yourself together, Rei,' they thought, swallowing their saliva.

"Dearest, are you all right? You don't look fine…"

"I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm just a bit lost here, I haven't been here long."

"Oh, when did you arrive?"

"The night you were attacked, I think. That's terrible, you were very lucky to get away…"

The waiter gave Mrs Weems her order.

"Very lucky that Avareïda Hydrurga had the idea of writing a book on poisoned plants I'd have to contact her again, by the way and have a student who had read it find me. I'll leave you now, I have to tell the police about my attack. I only came to get a coffee to go. Have a nice day. Oh, Thalia, I'll be calling a meeting for Mrs Thornhill's replacement soon, so I'll email you a schedule so you can all vote on what time works best for you."

"No problem, Larissa. Have a good day."

"Have a good day too."

The woman left. Rei fell back in the seat.

"FUCK."

"That's clever, I'll have to call you Raine now," Thalia said sarcastically

"You can keep calling me Rei and it won't be a problem."

They slumped on the table, one cheek against the wood, both arms on the seat.

"Why does she have to be THAT beautiful?"

"Wouldn't you like to give her another chance? I mean, professionally speaking… I'm telling you, she's a really good person. She helped me a lot when I was having problems with my family. And then she didn't recognise you!"

"I'll think about it… But if I accept, it's under the name of Raine Asphodelus. I really don't want her to know it's me."

Larissa was walking back to Nevermore, a little confused. Raine, huh? There was something about them she liked. Their eyes, maybe. She parked her car and got out. She liked this stranger. Maybe she was going to ask Thalia for their contact… She wanted to have fun, to get to know someone. Her near-death experience had opened her eyes. She didn't want to end her life alone. She wanted to find someone. She went upstairs to her office and walked to a door next to the fireplace. On the other side was the room she slept in during the week. She looked in the mirror. She had grown old. She should have done something about it before. Besides, most people her age were either already with someone or didn't want anyone. She felt ridiculous. Not attractive enough. Too old. She felt like she was waking up after a battle.

And then she remembered Ava.

Ava wore what she liked, even if her clothes had holes in them. Ava was strong. Ava didn't care what others thought. And that was why she liked her. She wanted to be like her. She walked out of her room and out of her office. It was strange, the empty corridors. Every major holiday she felt a little empty. But she still had work to do. She had to look at all the admission files for the next year. So there was no time to daydream.

______________________________________

The romance officially begins!

[askpowersides]

Roman, do you ever catch up with family through other means? Like a video call on a laptop? I'll be honest, I'd be really sad if I could only see my family twice a year. Especially with the two times being so close, might as well be one. Maybe you could even be snuck out to see your family sometime in the Spring/Summer months?

Ah, I'd love too but...I don't know me and my family aren't really on the best terms either. I love my mom and dad, but they love the fact that I'm a hero more than they love me really. They text me "good job we're so proud" after every speech but.... they're kinda only talking about my job when I'm around.

Me and Remus, on the other hand, aren't really close anymore. We used to be inseparable practically the same kid, but work kinda drove me and him apart. He acts nice on holidays, but he never texts or calls otherwise.

Actually, I take that back. Sometimes he'll send me photos of things that look like dicks.

[charis23]

Drarry Fics

The Day Before the Wedding

Rated: E. Words: 39k. By: Kbrick

Harry's getting married to Ginny tomorrow. The problem is that he can't seem to get beyond today. (Harry gets stuck in a time loop on his wedding weekend).

Away, Away

Rated: E. Words: 121k. By: Aelys_Althea

Abandonment didn't sit well with Harry. Not at all. After the calamity that was the end of the Triwizard Tournament and the dismissal of his friends over the summer, he decides: enough is enough. He's done. Done with it all. He just wanted to get away. But the Wizarding world, as it happens, isn't quite finished with him. No matter how far he runs, it always catches back up to him. Years after turning from those who left him, Harry is dragged back to that world once more. Many find him far changed from the boy who'd once known. Some - some very few - even like that change. Draco Malfoy just happens to be one of those chosen few.

Tea and No Sympathy

Rated: E. Words: 70k. By: who_la_hoop

It's Potter's fault, of course, that Draco finds himself trapped in the same twenty-four-hour period, repeating itself over and over again. But the more Draco repeats the day, the more he realises the uncomfortable truth: he's falling head over heels for the speccy git. And suddenly, the time loop feels like a trap. For how can he ever get Harry to love him back when time is, quite literally, against him?

Vis-à-Vis-à-Vis

Rated: E. Words: 49.9k. By: Vukovich

Harry's assignment was simple. Close out Draco Malfoy's missing persons case so he can be declared dead. But who's making withdrawals from Malfoy's vaults? How is a death omen-turned-Unspeakable involved? Is an organization known as the Moirai to blame?Harry brushes it off until he can't. Until The Prophet is flooded with sightings of dead people. Until Robards throws himself on his sword. Until Ron turns on his own family. Until Harry scarcely trusts his own reflection in the mirror and trusts the stranger in his bed even less. Until all that stands between war and peace is Harry, a name plate, a stadium of murderers, and Draco Malfoy. God save the Ministry.

Stop All the Clocks (This Is the Last Time I’m Leaving Without You)

Rated: E. Words: 44k. By: firethesound

Living with Draco was difficult; living without him is unbearable. But if there’s one thing Harry learned from the war, it’s that even when one life ends, the rest of the world goes right on living.

flashback, warm nights

Rated: M. Words: 13k. By: warmfoothills

“What’s killing me is that I actually quite fucking like Christmas, festival-for-a-personally-irrelevant-religion-turned-commercialised-garbage-holiday though it may be, and now I’m stuck in the perpetual almost-there of it all with an idiot who gets himself cut up every time no matter how differently I try and do things!” “Killing you?” Potter asks. “I thought I was the one who’s about to get my torso sliced into?” Draco gets stuck in a time loop while the golden trio (plus draco) are horcrux hunting.

The Auror Calendar

Rated: E. Words: 21k. By: melanie_bxx

It's like Firefighter Calendar, but with Aurors, and magic, and six idiots who won't admit their feelings. Featuring Drarry, Blairon, and Theville in one story

The Place Where They Go

Rated: T. Words: 64k. By: chunksy

"You can talk to me, i'll listen for hours." "Maybe that's your problem...". "What?" "Listening to me."

After the second Wizarding War, Harry and his friends return to Hogwarts one final time to finish off their educations. Harry struggles do come to terms with being alive while many of his friends are not. Draco is having trouble dealing with the slander from his classmates due to his position in the war. Harry can't help but take notice of Draco, and how much he has changed, and how much that confused him. Nightmares, Astronomy, paintings, and many lost sketches later, how will they act on their new found epiphanies?

Running on Air

Rated: T Words: 74k By: eleventy7

Draco Malfoy has been missing for three years. Harry is assigned the cold case and finds himself slowly falling in love with the memories he collects.

Turn

Rated: E. Words: 306k. By: Saras_Girl

One good turn always deserves another. Apparently.

(Just the most gorgeous Drarry book ever.

Slight spoiler for storyline:

Harry gets placed in an alternate universe where he and Draco are dating, and he begins to find out he doesn’t hate the idea…)

Nor All That Glisters

Rated: E. Words: 110k. By: sweet_sOrrOw

Lonely and frustrated on house arrest, with no prospects for the future, Draco begins brewing Felix Felicis in an attempt to improve his lot. Just in the short term, of course. He isn’t a total idiot.

But before long he finds himself with a thriving business, a nice flat, some actual (albeit irritatingly Gryffindor) friends, and a very satisfying sex life. What’s more, no-one is hexing him in the street. And Harry Potter is single, and gorgeous, and giving Draco decidedly interested looks.

Stop taking the Felix? You must be joking…

Blairon and Drarry in Number Twelve

Rated: E. Words: 49k. By: cabes

After the Battle of Hogwarts, Blaise and Draco find themselves under house arrest for two years with Harry and Ron. They must repair the home to its original magical condition. Join Blaise & Ron and Harry & Draco on an exploration of their loves, fears, and sexual passions.

Until It All Comes Undone

Rated: E. Words: 38k. By: MysticKitten42

Following his confrontation with Voldemort, Harry returns from King’s Cross Station completely changed. He wakes up at Privet Drive with no memory of his past, the war or magic. Petunia, widowed and suffering from empty nest syndrome, is only too happy to turn Harry into Dudley 2.0.

But something’s not quite right. Plagued by recurring nightmares, Harry can’t help but feel something is missing. A bottle of his cousin’s LSD helps him to forget his worries… Magic may not be real, but the hallucinations and the hot blond he meets all feel pretty magical to Harry.

Having turned his back on his family, Draco is determined to start over and do the right thing. But he’s never made good decisions when it comes to Harry Potter. When Potter—presumed dead, but very much alive—unexpectedly returns, Draco will do anything for a second chance. Even if it means pretending not to know who he is…

where all the veins meet

Rated: E. Words: 146k. By: eight_of_wands

It's the summer of 1998. The battle is over, and Voldemort is dead, but Harry still has more questions than answers. Who is he without a piece of Voldemort's soul in his head? What is he supposed to do now?

His friends try to help, but the only thing that can hold his attention—one of the only things that ever has—is Draco Malfoy, out on parole and weirdly hanging around the British Museum.

As they keep running into each other, Harry sees that Malfoy is different, and he wonders if he can be someone else, too.

Featuring rumpled band shirts, poker games everyone hates, fumbling sex, and a Harry going a little mental over how wands even work.

Harry Potter and the Welcome to the World of Grey

Rated: E. Words: 456k. By: sobsicles

When Harry fails to keep his anger at bay and Voldemort possesses his mind, the events that follow lead him down a long road to realizing the world isn't as black and white as it seems.

Chaos, hilarity, and tragedy ensue with a Dark Lord being honest all the time, a rival becoming something else, and a world demanding to be saved. Featuring frightened Death Eaters, deep conversations with a monster, Pureblood traditions being ridiculous, and the fight to do the right thing with no true options.

Harry's life just gets more and more bizarre with each passing moment.

(Or, the one where Harry's life gets split in half, and he has to figure out how to bring it back together.)

A Melody of You & Me

Rated: E. Words: 64k. By: academicdisaster

Draco Malfoy has a Christmas choir competition to win, and Harry Potter has an orphanage that needs funding. When Luna Lovegood intervenes, they agree to help each other out: Harry will join the choir if Draco chooses to sponsor his charity.

But agreeing to work together also means getting to know each other again - in new and unexpected ways.

Ft. a chaotic festive choir, scheming friends, a healthy dose of mental health issues, one very irritating ex, and boys learning how to love and be loved.

Everything Black

Rated: T. Words: 66k. By: General_Jellyfish

If you had a chance to do it over again, make things better, would you take it?

or

Harry fakes it 'til he makes it.

OR

Harry -somehow- accidentally goes back in time.

The Pain We Share

Rated: T. Words: 223k. By: Aili_Souma

Draco Malfoy had been sick almost his entire life, or at least he thought so, until words started to form on his skin: I must not tell lies.

As it turned out, there were still a lot of secrets from the first war to uncover. How exactly Draco was going to get out of the mess he apparently inherited, was also still to be discovered.

The Bolthole

Rated: E. Words: 54k. By: aideomai, Tepre

Harry is a hoarder, Draco is grief-stricken, and both are capable human adults who can definitely spend a month in a cottage in the Cotswolds together without ever talking about the time they slept together in eighth year. Yeah, no, totally.

Five Weddings and a Potions Accident

Rated: E. Words: 19k. By: lauren3210

In which Harry thinks he’s a playboy, everyone else knows better, and Hermione will kill Seamus if Ron tries to collect on that bet.

Harry Potter and the Future He Doesn’t Really Want, Thanks

Rated: E. Words: 70k. By: orphan_account

It was addictive, the feeling of Draco Malfoy telling him things in a soft voice early in the morning. Harry felt like he was taming a wild animal, or petting a cat that hated everybody else. This train existed outside of time, that was the only explanation Harry could come up with as to why Malfoy was actually having a civil conversation with him right now.

That Old Black Magic

Rated: E. Words: 77k. By: bixgirl1

Centuries ago, marriage contracts were the norm — ready-made alliances between families, expected and complied with, without complaint. But norms have a way of changing, and when a long-dormant contract flares to life, Harry has to navigate an unexpected splintering of the path he'd thought would be easy after the war... with Draco Malfoy.

(Arranged marriage trope but they hate each other at first)

[songofsaraneth]

ok i finally realized i FORGOT to actually post any update here about Kazul's tank upgrade whoops! It has been a whole Saga. Mostly because the guy I buy tanks from took (Boaphile) his website offline in 2021 just as I was ready to place an order... i thought maybe he was just updating it (since it looked like it was last revamped in perhaps 1995), but after 6 months, it was STILL offline.

So I did what any normal, hinged person would do and used the wayback machine to get to the archived version to track down his phone number and call him. Turns out he wasn't dead but he DID have to have rotator cuff surgery so said he wouldn't be able to make tanks again until summer 2022 at the earliest. I'd been hoping for earlier but Kazul was still under 6ft so I was like ok fine. Well September 2022 the website finally started coming back online in bits and pieces (while now more modern i would not actually say it is more Functional, and there are still now Lorem Ipsum text blocks here and there, but whatever). Spring 2023 the banner that things were under construction finally disappeared and I placed my order!!

At the time the advertised wait time was 12 weeks. I checked back in June, and there was another banner saying they were flooded with orders so had temporarily closed them to catch up. Ok, sure, running behind. August comes around and I'm like ok I should have an update by now at least and played phone tag for a few weeks... and eventually discovered that my order had gotten lost along the line somewhere (as in the printer paper with my tank details on it telling them what to build, not a whole tank lost in the mail). Sooooo i got put at the start of the queue for the next batch and FINALLY it shipped and arrived at the end of November. To compare the first order I placed took pretty much exactly 10 weeks back in 2017 so I do think this was just bad timing and fluke. However... they forgot to include the thermostat i also bought :| So I had to wait another 2 weeks for that to ship out to me too.

ANYWAY. I finally got it in mid December, but didn't want to throw a whole new section on the week before i left to visit family for the holidays. So I didn't set everything up til January. I'll put all those pics in another post because this one is already long and not that interesting but I shall keep the timeline on record here in case I need to reference it ever. Here's a pic of her though because why not :3

[razrgrl]

Holiday Adventures: The Final Chapter

A month and a half later, I have my car back.

It turned out that I did need a new transmission. I had been second-guessing myself and worrying that the car was fine and I overreacted so that was oddly reassuring.

Then reality set in.

I started the inevitable siege of calling the dealership for updates, talking to the manufacturer about the warrantee, and dealing with the rental car company.

Enterprise Car Rental was great -- except that they were charging me an arm and a leg for the car. The only other option for rental cars I could find in Schenectady was Hertz... and the costs were not that different.

If I lived in Schenectady, I might have found something else. But I don't. I live over an hour away. My car was in Schenectady and I don't have a lot of options for people to chauffeur me around for a whole day.

So I closed my eyes, sent a little prayer of apology to my future self, and put it on my credit card.

You know how -- when things seem a little too good to be true -- that there is always a catch? The 10-year, 100K, bumper-to-bumper Kia warrantee is like that.

I found the catch.

My little Kia is a great car. It's seen me through some bad stuff and kept on keeping on. Kia seems to be pumping out these cars a bit faster than they really should be, though, and the quality seems to be suffering a bit.

...Issues like engines randomly catching on fire, security problems so massive that there are whole gangs of thieves making a career out of stealing Kias, transmissions suddenly letting go....

Kia will fix everything under the warrantee as promised but there are a lot of Kias out there to fix. If you need service on your Kia and it is still under warrantee (because getting a repair done by someone who isn't a Kia dealer immediately voids your warrantee) then be prepared to get in line.

It is a looooong line.

Additionally, the warrantee states that it does not cover rental cars while your car is being worked on -- which the customer service people at Kia deeply regret to inform you of. Loaner cars are 100% provided by the dealers. If the dealer is having trouble keeping their cars in stock (or just don't feel like dealing with loaners), there won't be any options the Kia owner waiting for a repair.

I coughed up nearly $4,300 in rental car fees. After many phone calls, I'll get about half of that reimbursed from Kia -- maybe sometime next summer.

Maybe.

I also had the added complication of being in a rural part of the country where there aren't a lot of options for, either, Kia dealerships or rental cars. The nearest dealership is an hour away, making the thought of any future repairs daunting.

I'll probably trade in my cute little Kia once I have it paid off. I'll get something that has more dealerships in this part of the country.

[cantsaythetword]

Ice skating / "You look like a newborn Giraffe!" For the Umbrella Academy siblings??

(Maybe they all go ice skating together and TRY to bond as a family)

Christmas in July - Family Time

~A/N  - Tis the final day of christmas in july (EDIT: it was meant to be but i didnt get finished in time hehe...)

Thank you guys for being so patient about these fics!

Just a heads up, I'm only up to about halfway through season 2 of UA so if there's anything that seems off with this it's cause I'm not finished the series lmao.

That being said, I'm still referring to Viktor as Viktor, cause that's just how it's done with deadnames and stuff lol.

- Enoy! ~

Tag List: @mysterious-marvel

Masterpost Link 

The Hargreeves siblings weren't usually ones for family outings.

Especially not the light hearted summer-holiday-vibes kind of outings.

But, here they were out on the ice rink, at varying levels of success.

Of course Allison and Klaus were like swans on a lake. Gracefully gliding past couples and families alike, even adding a few tricks here and there. Luther and 5 were surprisingly decent, especially considering Luther's size and the fact that most of 5's life was spent in an iceless apocalyptic wasteland. Even Viktor was getting the hang of it, able to gently slide along next to the wall.

Then there was Diego.

While usually one of the more agile, stealthy members of the group, the poor man could barely keep his feet underneath him.

As he desperately clung to the wall of the rink with both arms, Allison coasted by him with a laugh.

"Diego, you look like a newborn giraffe!"

He responded with nothing more than a scowl and a stumble.

Klaus was next to glide past. "Oh lighten up honey..." He smiled tauntingly, emphasizing his point with a swift jab to Diego's ribs.

Diego gasped, twisting away from his brother's hand. Unfortunately, he seemed to twist a little too far, as his feet shot out from underneath him.

As Diego fell, Klaus laughed back at him, "aw I forgot you were so ticklish."

"Shut up." Diego grumbled, his face beginning to redden as he climbed back onto his feet.

"Or what grandpa?" Five smirked. "Gonna fall on us?"

"I'll kill you all." Diego glared.

"Like that'll happen." Viktor chuckled, boldly pushing off from the wall and letting his momentum carry him past his brother.

With a newfound determination for murder, Diego dragged his body along the edge of the rink after his siblings. Being the slowest of the group, it was a futile effort. But one Diego was willing to attempt nonetheless.

"At this rate you'll catch us when we're 70." Luther laughed from behind, digging his hands under Diego's armpits and half-carrying the man a few meters.

"LuthER-!" Diego yelped, squirming in his brother's grip but flat out refusing to make any sound resembling laughter.

Once he finally escaped Luther's grasp, he fell onto the side with a grunt - somehow still standing.

"You're an ass." Diego shouted after his attacker, pushing himself forwards with more determination than ever.

You can imagine how well that went.

Lap after lap, Diego would be tormented by his siblings with little hope of retribution. A poke to his side, a squeeze on his hip, even being grabbed and dragged (or carried) along. All the while barely being able to move in fear of being dropped and falling onto the cold floor once more.

Eventually, Viktor got a little too brave.

He had snuck up behind his brother, letting his hands sneak up to Diego's neck. The moment his fingers made contact he almost got a very uncharacteristic squeal out of his brother.

But all it took was an awkward uncontrollable slide of Diego's left leg to completely trip Viktor (and take the knife-wielding assassin down with him) onto the ice. And, with the speed that the other 4 were going at directly behind the pair, they were physically unable to stop themselves from tumbling on top of the Diego Dog-Pile.

The stupidity of the situation mixed with the laughter buildup of the last 10 minutes (not to mention the pressure of his 5 siblings on top of him) finally caused Diego to break.

Helpless giggles poured out of his mouth, and his siblings quickly followed suit. Laughing both at the whole scenario they had found themselves in, but also in surprise at Diego's sudden burst of what could only be described as joy.

Yes, they were far from the most functional family in America.

But they had their moments.