#Personally I feel like we moved on way too fast from the horse thing. Where did they come from? WWX couldn't have brought them.

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Normal boy spotted.

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[maryonmega]

You didn't ask

It's an idea that came to me in a dream and I posted on AO3 a few days ago: Vaugardians have the capacity to turn into dragons. There's some brainstormed lore too, but I'd rather leave it open for any future additions.

I call it Draconic Vaugard AU!

Again, thank you, @chimerical-daydreams for the designs

You wake up feeling like shit.

No surprise there. You heard the Head Housemaiden tell you to rest and not use craft for a while, then used craft again not even plural hours later.

Not that you regret it.

Your body is stiff and sore, but you can still move your neck enough to look out the window. It's clearly well into morning now. The House doesn't loom over you like a haunted castle anymore. The birds once frozen mid flight now cross the sky as free as nature intented.

On the bed besides yours, Odile is already awake and flipping through the familytale you got her two days ago. Her craft exaustion is not as bad as yours. She didn't loop through time hundreds of times then cut through the House alone then turned into a wish craft titan. But she did stop you from looping. That took strenght.

You hear footsteps up the stairs. Careful, but still noisy.

"Frin!"

Despite the soreness, you smile.

"Bonbon."

They're not as careful now, marching to beside the bed you're in. They have a tray in hands, and an excited look on their face.

"The tall lady said you need to rest, so I didn't wake you up, but you still have to get your strenght back, so you better eat too! But Dile also said you must have had my snacks a bunch of times, so I made a breakfast I'm sure you didn't have in forever school!"

My, someone's hyper. Not that you can blame them. You have to get better, than you all can get on your way to Bambouche.

"Thank you, snack leader, for providing."

Bonbon nods with pride, and puts the tray on your lap.

You try to sit up. Your arms give in before you can rise too much.

"Oh! Right! I have to tell everyone you're awake!"

You hear them rush down. The weight of the tray a tempting thing over your lap. What's this? Punishment?

Odile smirks at you. She must have noticed. Traitor.

"Good morning."

"Please, spare me. I just woke up."

"I haven't said anything. Yet." She marks and closes the book, her attention fully on you now "How are you feeling, Siffrin?"

"Like I got stomped on by many horses."

Odile nods, serious.

"Thank you for your honesty. Please be honest with the person taking care of your medication, too."

"I only lied two times!"

"You've been like this for a day and a half. And spent half of that time unconscious."

She's got you there.

There's footsteps again. More than one set this time. Bonnie bursts into the room like it's a competition. You're kind of scared they'll hit their face on the foot of the bed for a moment but they stop on time. Mira and Isa come in at a more reasonable speed.

"See? They're still awake! And tried to move, too!"

"Already?" Mira looks actually glad. Good "You really recover fast, Siffrin. Uhn, don't force yourself to get good faster, though. You might strain yourself."

You try to give her a thumbs up. Your arm is sore.

"Need help, buddy?"

Embarrassing~

You still nod. Isa gets beside you to help prop you up and sit against the headboard. You can see your breakfast now. No wonder there was good weight! Bread, jam, juice, cut fruit, even a couple chausson aux pommes. Someone takes the "regain strenght" expression seriously!

"Thank you." You offer your best smile and scoop up a piece of peach with the spoon "You're a peach."

You got a laught. Morning victory.

Chomp!

Stars, without the smell of burning sugar lingering all the time you can actually taste food!

"So, Siffrin..." Mirabelle sits on the bed, opposite side from Bonnie "Where are we?"

"In the clocktower."

"What happened two days ago?"

"We unfroze Vaugard."

"And why are you and Madame in bed rest?"

"Craft exaustion."

"He is conscious. Good!"

She claps her hands and straights her back.

"Am I losing something?"

On the other bed, Odile put the familytale on the headboard.

"You see, we intent to-"

"WE'RE GOING TO NILLE AS SOON AS YOU CAN STAND!"

"Boniface!"

"Sorry! But yes! You just need to get to stand again!"

"Well, being able to stand is just the The reference. Walking would be much better." Isa adds, and gives a half chuckle.

You swallow your food and look at him just to have a focus point.

You know just because you can walk doesn't mean you should walk long distances, specially as soon as you're able. Sure, if your friends want to go as soon as possible you can endure it, but...

"Isn't that a little risky?"

"A little, but it's faster." You can't argue with Mirabelle on that "That's why I think you should go on Isabeau." Wait, what? "He's bigger and his shape makes it easier to get a grip lying down. You can get some rest! I guess? You should probably do a test first? I know Madame Odile will be better too so she can go on me."

What?

Beside you, Isa nods.

"Right... Are you really okay with flying, Madame?"

What????????

"I'll survive, I guess. As long as Mirabelle doesn't mind getting more ties than a race horse."

"He, I'll survive too."

"Wait? What?! Fly?!?!"

Bonnie pouts.

"Of course we'll fly! The birds unfroze too, so it's safe now!"

"No! I mean, I know, just-!" You take a bite of one of the apple pastries. Delicious "How are you even going to do that?! And you're talking like it's no big deal!"

"Because, it's not?" Mira is looking at you with confusion "Wait, you don't know?"

"Don't know what?"

"We can turn into dragons."

...

You pinch your arm with nail.

Ow.

You're still here.

Wait a minute!

"You're pulling a prank on me!"

Odile opened her mouth. Before she spoke, Bonbon took a leap back, and-

It wasn't done in a flash, but, once it was, Bonbon was like a big eel with wings.

You think you're going crazy.

"Wh- I- You- Why didn't any of you do that all this time?!"

This time Isa responded.

"We didn't need to? Sure, flying is fast traveling, but you saw the birds, we didn't want to risk it. Tents and inns made to accomodate dragon forms are too expensive for long traveling. And, you saw Bonbon just now, it's not exactly puf and done, so not a good option when ambushed by an angry sadness."

This makes so much sense it's somehow making you feel crazier.

Little dragon Bonbon landed beside your legs on the bed, legless body slithering over the sheets. They look adorable.

"Why didn't anyone tell me?"

Mira looks embarrassed. Oops, you said something wrong.

"I thought you knew." She looks away, fidgeting with her fingers.

How would you know when nobody tells you?????

"And, it's not like we talk about this all the time. It's weird!"

When your bafflement wears off, half of the breakfast is gone.

"How is it weird to talk about being dragons?!"

"Well Sif, think." Isa places a hand behind your back "It's just how Vaugardians are. Just another part of our lives. It would be like going to a place where people are like "Hello, I'm human", y'know?"

You nod.

...

No. You're not petting Bonnie like a dog. That's still a person.

You down the rest of your fruit.

"Why did you need the orbs, then? Couldn't you just, break down the gate?"

Silence. Were... Were those months of traveling for no reason?

Mira visibly holds back from picking at her nails.

"Siffrin, do you know what the orbs are?"

You're quiet, then shake your head.

"They're craft breakers. Very powerful craft breakers."

"Okay, what does that have to do with not breaking down the gate?"

"Houses of Change have shield craft on the outside. It's a particularly powerful craft, made by multiple people at once. So nobody can be made to break a House from outside. Even if multiple people do so as dragons."

... Oh.

"Combine with the time freeze, and it would be a lost battle. Thankfully, five orbs were enough to break the time craft. But, if they weren't, hopefully they would be powerful enough to break the shielding."

Oh.

Just... outside? Does that mean that the insides are breakable?

They are. You know they are. You broke that counter. Does that mean the other doors were breakable, too?

If... If you weren't so hasty to freeze yourself, would them decide that turning to try and break the door was an option?

"Something on your mind Sif?"

LIGHTLESS CODE LIGHTLESS CODE THINK OF SOMETHING!

"So all those stories about hoarding dragons are racist?"

Mira gives you an awkward smile.

"I, don't really want to say yes. Every tree bears bad fruit, and the loud ones get more noticed. If there's any type of predisposition, it's to get hyperfixations. For exemple, you can say I "hoard" classes."

You hear Bonbon make a noise, and see them wiggle and land on the floor. A bit of time, and they were a smiling human again.

"Oh! Oh! I guess I hoard recipes, then!"

"Interesting." Odile hums, and her gaze gets in your direction. What- "Do you hoard anything, Isabeau?"

Isa gives a big nod.

"Friends!"

Mira's face goes from awkward to pondering, and then realisation.

"Wait! So those cuddle piles after getting the orbs...?"

"Sleeping over my hoard."

You can't help but chuckle. He looks so proud, too!

"Why the surprise? Isn't your room on the last floor with dorms, Mirabelle?"

Mira starts stuttering. Poor lady. On the other side, Bonnie pouts.

"That's dumb. I don't sleep over recipe books."

"Maybe your time will come. You don't know."

Mira's turn to give a mischievous smile.

Stars, you could hear them for hours.

"Okaaaay, so, I'll have to see if I can safely ride Isa?"

You hear a squeak, and the hand on your back gets taken off so fast you hang way from the headboard for a couple of seconds.

"Sif! Don't say it like that!"

"Why? It's what I'll do, right?"

Odile is smiling so broard. What?

"Young one, you need to learn some Vaugardian idioms with urgency."

You blink.

You've been really left out, haven't you?

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

You're able of walking! A little bit. You need help to walk more than a couple of meters, but it's progress! Progress enough to do the test, it seens.

Bonnie lets go of your hand and gives you a pat on the side.

"Ask to get down if you need to, okay? Don't need you falling off and needing extra rest to recover from broken bones!"

Of course that's how they say it.

You nod.

"Alright, Za! Do the thing!"

"Your wish is my command!"

Just like before, it's not a snap of fingers.

You're not sure what you were expecting. You didn't expect Bonnie to be a winged eel. You think whatever came would take you aback.

Isa looks like a large lizard with wings, scaly and with a set of horns. Curiously, still regornizable. You... actually like that.

He lays on the floor, and moves his tail, inviting. Mira helps you get on his back, then backs off to where Odile is waiting with a saddle and chains. You can't judge her.

Another little scene, and you see Mira in all her glory. She looks like a mix between a snake and a bird, full of feathers. Regornizable. Bonnie too. All three are regornizable on those forms.

Hum, maybe that's why body craft is still prevalant. Maybe they don't really control how the forms will be without it.

You're unsure of what to do with your hands, then finally decide to just grasp the horns.

It's not so odd when you feel him lift into his paws. It is when he spreads his wings and starts lifting. And lifting. And lifting. You see the ground get farther. Without thinking, your grip tightens around the horns.

You... think there's an ulterior motive to choose this.

They must have missed flying.

[lunatyklines]

OVER THE GARDEN WALL (P.1) - a collection of lines from the beloved animated spooky season classic. a rp meme. *adjust pronouns and wording as needed

❝ Wait, wait a second. Uh … [name]? Where are we? ❞

❝ Do you think it's some kind of deranged lunatic with an axe waiting out there in the darkness for innocent victims? ❞

❝ Well, you're slapping yourself, and I'm answering your question, and– ❞

❝ This guy sounds loony. Maybe we should make a break for it, if we can. ❞

❝ We may need to knock him out first. ❞

❝ I dunno. Sometimes I feel like I'm just like…a boat, upon a winding river…twisting, towards an endless black sea… ❞

❝ Did you know, that if you soak a raisin in grape juice, it turns into a grape? ❞

❝ Ugh, you're not helping at all. ❞

❝ Aw, beans! Where is that frog o' mine? ❞

❝ You have beautiful eyes. ❞

❝ Oh, holy moley, hot dog–!! ❞

❝ That was the plan, remember? Knock him out! ❞

❝ Can you turn me into a tiger? It doesn't have to be a magical tiger. ❞

❝ [Name], stop talking to a bush. ❞ 

❝ Oh– do you like waffles? ❞

❝ Pumpkins can't move on their own! Can they? ❞

❝ You find this place as creepy as I do, right? ❞

❝ So, it's some kind of weird cult. They seem nice enough. ❞

❝ Okay. You're in denial. That's fine. ❞

❝ I'm really just looking to leave here. As fast as possible. ❞

❝ You'll never convict! You have no proof! ❞

❝ I simply have to punish you for your transgressions. ❞

❝ I told you this place was bad news! ❞

❝ Maybe they're gonna bury you out there. ❞

❝ Yes! I want your help! ❞

❝ I guess in some ways, I'm trying to get home too. ❞

❝ I don't have to tell you anything. ❞

❝ But we have to do something fun. ❞

❝ We can just keep walking silently, you know? ❞

❝ Hey! What? I'm not a pushover. ❞

❝ The world is a miserable place, [Name]. Life isn't fun. ❞

❝ We need to do our part to make the world a better place! ❞

❝ School?! Not today. ❞

❝ You're late. You know the rules. ❞

❝ Oof. That lady's got some baggage. ❞

❝ So, my theory is hot dogs are not actually dogs, regardless of what they teach you in school. ❞

❝ Oh boy! Mealtime! ❞

❝ This is way better than being chased by a gorilla. ❞

singing ❝ Oh potatoes and molasses, if you want some, oh just ask us~ ❞

❝ I just wanted to have fun, change the world, and make it a better place. But I just made everything worse. ❞

❝ You're a stubborn jerk. When are you gonna give this up? ❞

❝ If only something would go right for a change. ❞

❝ Okay, I think he's asleep. Let's go steal his stuff. ❞

❝ All he ever did was steal my heart away. ❞

❝ I found a duck. Do you know how to make eggs from a duck? I'm hungry. ❞

❝ Finally some good luck. Let's go to this creepy tavern and ask for some directions. ❞

❝ Curse you! Curse you! You'll die someday and I'll laugh! ❞

❝ What kind of person goes out chopping trees in the middle of a thunderstorm at night? ❞

❝ You don't need directions. You follow that compass inside your heart. ❞

❝ Uh … no, I think we need directions. ❞

❝ [Name] was amazing! He sang a song, rode a horse, and saved you from the axe guy! ❞

❝ I was thinking more like flat-out stealing from him. ❞

❝ I want to steal. ❞

❝ Yeah! I want to see the ghost! To the painting! ❞

❝ Afraid of a ghost? Ghosts are just floaty things. ❞

❝ It's stuck. Well, guess we just have to spend some quality time together. ❞

❝ Don't change the subject. ❞

❝ How about you tell me about your darkest secrets instead? ❞

❝ My secrets are too secret. ❞

❝ Now who's avoiding the question? ❞

❝ I secretly whisper poetry to myself in my room at night. ❞

❝ It looks like there was a struggle – a violent struggle. ❞

❝ I can't thank you enough for helping me to face my fears. ❞

❝ It's a rock fact! ❞

[ectocs]

The Dirubael

What can I say. I think it's enjoyable to interpret things a bit strangely, as if I'm an alien who saw a handful of earth animals and has to guess the rest.

Fast doodles + some bonus stuff (gif warning) below :), plus the usual chatter:

Black, big as a horse, tail of an elephant. Easy-peasy, picturing a big ungulate thing. Jaws of a boar. Okay, huh. A few ways to interpret that, but I'm going with some tusks. Not too out there.

Unusually long horns that it can adjust... now that's something else. I wanted to imagine a reason as to why it could move the horns. This included any number of mechanisms -- literal horns that moved through strange muscle attachments in a socket? Interesting, but not sure how to convey that through art. Maybe 'horns' like a beetle has horns -- either part of their exoskeleton or as mandibles?

The description of how it fights is interesting. It obviously needs to be able to move its horns, then, or at least look like it's moving them.

I did a few very very basic doodles (by my standards), first of cattle... mostly water buffalo... to get a feel for their head shapes. In case you wonder what I'm doing when I'm not making 'decent', more complete sketches, it's this. Consider this extra behind-the-scenes stuff.

With the last one I played around a bit with the horns, but only barely.

At this point I decided to switch to something more boar-like, with a dash of beetle, but I couldn't come up with anything I really liked:

My issue was coming up with anything that could move, or even fake it. I started making that open-mouthed mandible boar, getting basically nowhere, when I had a thought.

What if we expand on that spiky bug limb idea. Bugs love having spiky limbs. More limb, less... uh... mandible or horn.

Inspired by mantids and an OC of mine, I created the first real sketch:

It looks like horns. From a distance -- because who would realistically want to get close to this -- it would look like horns, and like they were moving. Personally I like to imagine that they charge or stab with them, rarely extending their 'arms' save for pulling down vegetation from higher. I mean... trampling things underfoot seems like a better defense mechanism really...

I took a few cracks at drawing it but has struggling to refine it. I drew it once in a basic form, but couldn't do it again. That's when I decided to take things an extra step.

BEHOLD, THE MIGHTY SPORE DIRUBAEL:

Yeah, so. I made them in spore. Modded spore, specifically. No idea if they can appear in my world, but they're in there now, so maybe.

I walked this guy around and took a few screenshots as references before leaving. I did ask for some animated avatars, though. And I'm glad I did. I love this thing.

Here's a failed screenshot where I accidentally whacked my spacebar while moving my meaty hands to the mouse.. truly, a majestic creature, this is.

[targaryen-realness]

Witching chapter 4

Title: Witchling

Pairing: Osferth x Druidess!Reader

Warnings: Canon depiction of violence, mention of slavery, wounds and scars, magic, historical innacuracy (sorry medieval Scotland is not my specialty), talk about faith and christianity. The reader is fem but there is no physical description except for the fact she is a scot from the Highlands. Spoilers for season 3 of the Last Kingdom. 

for this chapter: suicidal thoughts, strong use of magic, not very christian friendly (sorry), slight nsfw 

Summary: As they are riding away from Winchester, Osferth and Lord Uhtred’s group come across a mysterious woman. She needs help but the power within her is obvious. Captivated, Osferth hopes she will stay, but as Uhtred asks her to travel with them, he cannot help but wonder what is going on in his lord’s head.

Notes: Thank you for the love on the previous chapters! Sorry for the delay on this one but I’ve been writing the Aemond fic too haha Hope you will like it!

Tags: @lugiastark @afro-hispwriter @aphroditesmoon @carlottalhn @dothrckis @mynameisbaby9

“We are leaving for Coccham”

You were already preparing your horse when Osferth told you you were all leaving soon. You knew Uthred would not want to stay any longer in Winchester, only wanting to return to his home. You were happy to leave, the charm of Winchester having worn off very fast after your night here. 

“I know. Do you need help to pack things for the children?”

You had returned late into the night, and had gone to sleep almost immediately. You were drained from your energy and you slept without a dream. You had woken up with a very curious Stiorra watching you, waiting for you to say something. 

He had not said a thing about yesterday, and had not asked you any question. You could see the sadness on his face and you felt helpless. 

“Were you close? With lady Gisela?”

“Were you close? With lady Gisela?”

He seemed surprised but nodded, handing you a bag at the same time. 

“When I left the monastery, I did not know where to go. She was always good to me, she cared for me and allowed me to stay in her home. I liked her a lot” 

He was such a good soul, you thought. Then you realised he probably never had a mother and it suddenly made sense. She was the first woman to ever open her arms to him in a motherly way. Your heart broke for him as you remembered the feeling of your mom’s arms around you, the gentle way she would caress your head, kiss your cheeks. 

“She sounds like a great person. 

-She truly was. People were not kind to her here, because she was not a christian, but at heart she was kinder than most christians I’ve met.”

The words resonated in the room and you looked at him shocked. 

“You do not mind? Your friends being heathens? 

-Absolutely not. As long as they are good people, and they are, I do not care for their faith.”

He licked his lips finally looking at you. 

“I thought that if you did not like me, it was because of this. Of the fact I am a druidess.”

He seemed taken aback by your statement, his mouth closing and opening but no words seemed to come out. 

“I do not hate you Y/n”

You released the breath you did not know you were holding. 

“I never said you hated me, I said dislike.

-Well I do not dislike you. Quite the opposite”

It was your turn to look like a fish out of the water. He chuckled when he saw your expression but did not say a thing. 

“Thank you” you blurted out without thinking. 

“For what? 

-Since I’ve been with you all, I feel like I can be myself again. After what happened, I thought I would stay sad all my life, that I would never move on. I don’t think that anymore. So thank you, for not letting me die on the side of the road, and for caring for me. I care for you too”

You had said way more than you wanted to, but it felt good, for it to finally come out. He smiled at you and you felt your cheeks getting warm. He was so pretty. More than any man should be allowed to be. His smile lit up his face and it did not help you could see the slight blush on his cheeks. 

“We should keep packing. Lord Uhtred will be back soon”

And you did, in silence mostly, trying not to act too awkwardly. You could not help the smile that was stretching your lips. It was Finan that disrupted that blissful moment with his loud voice:

“We have a problem, everyone in the house now”. 

“You killed him? How did you even do that?”

You were speechless as you were walking back and forth in the living room under the gaze of Osferth and Uhtred. 

“I told you what he said. 

-I do not blame you for hitting him. I do not blame you at all actually. It’s just, you are a very unlucky man”

He looked at you, a look of desperation mixed with anger that made you lift your hands in sign of surrender.

“I made this for you today. Maybe it will help a little. It won’t fix your predicament but it’s supposed to protect you.”

You approached him and put the necklace around his neck. It was similar to your own, but it was a different Ogham that ornate the front of the wood pendant. You kept the piece of wood in your hand for a second before saying a word under your breath. You let it fall back on his chest and he looked at it uncertainly. 

“Have a little faith, Uhtred of Bebbanburg, you are starting to make me question myself. 

-I would not dare” he answered, taking Stiorra in his arms. You pinched her cheek playfully as she smiled at you. 

“Maybe I should make you one too, would you like that?”

She nodded sweetly and you smiled back. Uhtred’s children were courageous, for sure. The chaos in their life did not seem to phase them as much as you would have thought. For that, you only had admiration for them. 

“Sister Hild!”,Uhtred, the oldest son of Uhtred, shouted. 

You turned around to see the abbess enter the house. She simply chuckled and led the boy toward his bed. 

“Lord, there can be no bloodshed. They are throwing insults out there, but they will soon tire of that.”

She smiled at Stiorra and called for her, the little girl hopping off of her father’s lap toward the abbess. 

“There will not be bloodshed” he answered and you looked at Osferth, worried for the lord. 

The sadness and tiredness in his voice was obvious. In a matter of days he had endured more than a lot of men could have put up with. 

“You should say that to Steapa. His head is hurting from thinking.”, Abbess Hild said. She looked as lost as the rest of you. 

“Is there a solution? 

-I did nothing wrong. 

-Uhtred”, she sounded exasperated. 

“You killed a monk. A holy man, and not for the first time”

You wanted to ask if that horrible man being a monk was really that important. He was still a horrible man, cruel and vile. He had said things about Gisela, and you apparently that were so degrading, Uhtred had not even repeated them to you when he came back. It was still funny to see how christians were able to categorise the importance of life. Being a holy man could be a cover for being the most atrocious monster that earth has ever borne. The reality was that now everyone in Winchester knew you were no christian, and that everyone had lied for you. You were not safe here. 

“The real question is why in god's name, is she still here? And her too? Two witches inside your house, really. 

-I am not your concern, witch”, answered Skade, and you almost laughed. 

“I did not intend to kill the monk, nor do I regret it. 

-It was fate”, finished Skade. You doubted it was fate. Everything happened for a reason, that was what you had been told since you were a child, but it did not mean you could not question it. 

“Fetch Beocca. Ask him to bring the demands of the King.

-I will tell Beocca that you are ready to talk and to listen. Be sure that you do.” 

She turned her head toward Skade and said: “It would help if you cut her throat”

Abbess Hild did not look at you, but you still felt the pressure of the blade on your throat. 

“He cannot.” she marked a pause, her next words resonating in a sinister manner, “He dare not”. 

The silence was heavy once sister Hild was out. You could feel the eyes of Skade, not looking away from Uhtred. She was plunging her claws deeper in his flesh each passing days. You were scared you were not acting fast enough. 

“Tonight Lord… You will break your oath to Alfred. You will have-

-Quiet. I have enough of your voice”

The words came out of your mouth before you could stop them. 

“It is a new beginning. 

-We do not care about what you have to say. 

-You do not? I am sure the lord will be happy to know you knew about his wife’s death but did not say anything”

The silence that followed her statement almost crushed you. You did not let your eyes leave her face, you did not dare to look at Uhtred or worse, Osferth. 

“I did not know she was gonna die. 

-You did. You told the other dane on our way to Winchester.” she smiled at you. 

“There is a difference between smelling death and knowing something will happen” you turned toward Uhtred who was looking at you, lost. 

“I did not know exactly. I could not have told you even if I wanted to. And when I understood, it did not matter anymore”

He did not say anything, but Skade had succeeded. Osferth had turned around on his chair, avoiding you, and Uhtred was doing everything in his power to avoid your mere presence. You found yourself in another room, Stiorra sleeping near you as you were munching on a piece of meat. You heard father Beocca enter the house but did not care to listen. The only thing you could tell was that as the voice increased in volume, the tears rolling down your cheeks also did. The little girl looked at you, probably awakened by the screams.

“Why are you crying?” she asked, her sweet voice making you smile and whip your cheeks. 

“Sorry, I’m just a bit sad. That happens sometimes.

-I’m sad too. Everyone is sad lately. 

-I know. I am sorry about your mom.”

You were expecting cries but no, she looked at you and in her eyes you saw the deep sadness she was hiding so well. 

“I didn’t want her to die. It’s unfair”

You sat on her bed, not knowing if it was appropriate for you to do. You took the little girl in your arms, doing your best to comfort her. She hugged you back, and the little sobs that you could hear from her almost broke your heart. 

“I know. But your mom would be very proud of you. You are being very brave”

You caressed her hair gently, soothing her the best you could. You did not know how much time had passed while you hugged the little girl but you finally heard the door open and turned around to see Finan. 

“We need to go”

His eyes lingered on you and the little girl before he closed the door. You put Stiorra back to bed, caressed her hair one last time and closed the door gently. Sihtric, Finan and Osferth were looking at you, Uhtred was gone. 

“Uhtred is gone, he will come back with a new agreement or we will have to flee. 

-Are we going to leave the children there ? 

-They are not at risk. We are, especially you, now that everyone knows you are no christian.”

Finan had said this in a tone he has never used to address you before. It was harcher and colder. You gulped, trying to find the comforting eyes of Osferth or Sihtric. 

“You think I have something to do with Gisela’s death? That I saw it? Could have prevented it maybe?”

They did not answer. 

“There is nothing I could have done to save her because I was on the other side of the kingdom. I knew she was dead, that’s all I saw. I did not ask for this. 

-All you have to do is break this curse! Then you will be free to go wherever you want!

-How can I do that inside a christian fortress! All I’m asking is a couple of hours in a forest! Then I’ll get the answers you want and will disappear from your life forever. You will not need to worry about me anymore.”

Your words seemed to take Finan and Osferth by surprise as Sihtric stayed impassive. You turned around and left, seeking your bag with the little belongings that you had left. You returned to the main room and heard a commotion outside. Uhtred stumbled inside and you saw the blood dripping down of him. 

“We need to leave right now.

-You’re hurt”

He took your wrist and dragged you outside. 

“Wait Uhtred!” 

You were pushed against your horse and without a word you mounted it. You could not think about anything, the only thing you remembered from this moment was the loud noise of the horses hooves and the screams of the men that were hunting you down. You had no idea how many hours you raced through Wessex like this. You had no idea where you were supposed to go. You were lost, amongst men that you once thought could be your friends, but that now seemed to be so far away from you. You were riding at the back, between two men you did not know the name of. You were lost in thought, sadness and loneliness were plagging you. You had almost forgotten the feeling. Now, on top of this you were scared for your life. You were not afraid that Uhtred would kill you, you know he would not. He was leading you to your certain death though. You were making your way to the danes. To Gorn probably. You knew that the moment he saw you he would kill you. You were contemplating slitting your own throat before he could get to you. You prayed for the entire ride. Lugh, the god you worshipped and to whom you had dedicated your life, stayed silent. So far away from your sacred land, could he even hear you? You had felt him there in Wessex, during Gisela’s funeral. You knew it. You thought of the pendant around the lord’s neck. Maybe you should not have given such an artefact to a man you barely knew. Maybe putting your life on the line for men who were using you wasn’t the best idea. For a moment you contemplated running away. Where would you go? With what silver? In what direction? The reality was that you were the safest here. It was a terrifying thought. And what about your promise? You were not the kind to break your engagements. You were a woman of your words, you had been raised with honour, and you will not break it. Even if it meant you were going to die. You were distracted by the conversation between Skade and Uhtred, and the piercing voice of the witch. 

“Then you will remain cursed!”

No one said anything but you saw Uhtred tense. The Lord was going to die if it kept going. Your bad feeling kept getting worse as you saw his state deteriorating with the hours that passed. You were seated around a fire, not with Uhtred and the others but with Skade. They were talking, and with the weak light of the fire you were able to see Uhtred’s ashy face. 

“Did they already get bored of you?”

You ignored her. Getting closer from the fire, seeking its warmth. 

“You are powerful, I will give you that.” you told her finally.

“My gods are not to mess with.”

In your head you were chanting the name of Eochu Ollathir, god of the sciences and protector of the druids and druidesses, and his daughter Brigid, guardian of the purifier fire. The fire became increasingly warmer, almost too much, and when you plunged your hand into it, owning a gasp from the men that were seated nearby, you did not feel the heat, or even the pain that you should have felt. Everyone was silent, even Uhtred and his circle, when you said: 

“Mine are not either”. 

You stood up and left for the forest that was all around you. You needed to be alone with your thoughts. You walked in the same direction far enough that you could still see the weak light of the fires, but enough so that they could not see you. Your goal was not to get lost. You sat on a rock and contemplated your surroundings. The cold wind was caressing your face, as you lifted your head you admired the night sky. The stars were shining like you had rarely seen them. For a second you felt yourself transported back to the Highlands, to the mountains of your childhood, to the orange and yellow forests that you loved so dearly. To the lake that reflected that very same sky you were looking at. You felt the tears slide down your cheeks but you could not stop staring. You smiled at the fond memories as the feeling of homesickness settled in. 

“Are you okay Y/n?”

It was the sweet voice of Osferth that got you out of your reverie. You turned around, whipping out your tears as fast as you could. 

“Are you crying?”

He seemed so sad for you. You could hear it in his tone, see it on his face, in the way he walked toward you to sit on the same rock as you. 

“You should not have come here ? What will the others think ?”

Your voice was trembling and you did not dare to look him in the eyes. 

“They won’t think anything. I think you scared them all to death.”

You laughed at that, trying to make it sound as sincere as possible. 

“Did I scare you too?”

You turned around and smiled at him, and you saw in his eyes he did not believe that fake smile for a second. His hands were fidgeting on his lap the last time you had looked at them, so you could not have helped the little move of surprise that you had when one of his knuckles gently caressed your cheek. You realised you were still crying. The feeling of his skin against yours was something you could not describe, but you were hypnotised. You did not realise you were so close to him, the heat of his body burning you more than the fire you had put your hand into a few moments ago. His eyes, blue like the most beautiful spring sky, were reflecting the same intensity as yours. 

“I am not scared of you Y/n. I think you are a gift from god. This is the only explanation. An angel.”

He almost whispered it. You were coming closer, eyes still not leaving his, but you were now feeling his hot breath against your cold skin. 

“If the church says otherwise, I will tell them they are wrong. If you are a demon, then maybe I am not worshipping the right god”

The weight of his words was heavy on your shoulder except the guilt of deflecting an honest man from his faith would be a thing you will have to deal with later. Because right now you wanted to kiss him. You wanted to kiss this man until he was tired of you because you were not sure you would be able to one day be tired of him. So you did. You pressed your lips against his. He did not push you away but he froze against your body. 

“I’m sorry I-

-No! Please”

It had come out in a pleading tone, and the red on his cheeks was a good indicator of his desperation. So you kissed him again, and again. His lips were surprisingly soft, and you loved every second of those kisses. You felt yourself get more heated, that familiar pressure in the pit of your stomach slowly settling in. 

“Y/n” he whimpered against your lips. 

You loved it when he said your name. When he said it, screamed it, whispered it, and even more when he was saying it as if you were some sort of deity he was devoting himself to. 

“We should go back” you said. If you kept going, you knew it would be more and more difficult to back down. 

“Give me a minute.” he said averting your gaze. “Just to catch my breath”

You raised an eyebrow in question, but you understood. 

“Oh”

You chuckled and he looked at you offended. You caressed his right cheek gently, trying to contain your laughter. 

“Do you want me to stay or do you need some alone time?”

He looked exasperated, but you could see the hint of a smile on his lips. 

“Go away from me temptress.”

You laughed again before kissing him one last time. He looked dumbfounded and you were delighted by his expression. 

“You are not helping me. 

-Maybe I don’t want to”

You walked away, your heart feeling lighter than it had when you made the same path before. When you stepped back into the camp, all eyes were on you, especially Finan’s. 

“Where is Osferth?

-He is coming back soon, don't worry.”

He looked at you suspiciously. 

“I did not kill him and bury his corpse in the forest Finan, you can sleep soundly.”

Sihtric laughed at that and you could see the corner of Finan’s mouth lifting.

“I’m sorry. To be honest I don’t really know why I am even apologising. But if you had the impression I broke your trust, I didn't mean to.” 

They looked at you surprised. 

“If I had the ability to help Gisela, I would have done so. But I couldn’t.”

You did not wait for an answer and left them to think. You did not see Uthred on your way to the fire where you were sitting previously. Skade was not there either and for some reason, it made the absence of the lord even more worrisome. 

[brainyxbat]

Chapter 15: Dash for a Miracle! Alabasta Animal Land

(episode 110/111)

"I see them!"

"After them!"

Smoker calmly put his weapon away, as Marine officers ran after the Straw Hats. One noticed him not moving, and stopped. "Captain, aren't you going after them?"

He gazed downward with hesitation. "No. I'm too tired."

"You're too tired?"

"Hey..."

"Sir!" He saluted.

"It's no use going after those guys. Tell them to stop." Smoker looked out at the ocean. "And have everyone assemble here. Contact HQ too. Tell them to have all military vessels in the vicinity of the Kingdom of Alabasta gather here, to this land."

"You're calling for reinforcements? But Captain, I'm not sure our superiors will be willing to move those ships against such a small number of pirates."

Smoker turned to him with a hard stare. "When did I ask for the opinions of our superiors?"

"Er, y-yes sir! Right away!" He began running after the other officers, waving his hands. "Hey! Come back! Come back here!"

-

Meanwhile, Chopper got lucky with hitching a ride on a giant, speedy crab, along with Lashes. "Hurry!" He ordered, and sniffed the air. "Mm-hmm, this way. The scent of Nami's perfume is getting stronger."

"Hey, we're not, by any chance, just going to run all the way to Alubarna like this, right?!" Usopp wheezed.

"That's right, Lashes!" Nami remembered. "Where has Lashes gone?!"

"Now that you mention it, this town has a stable, or something!" Luffy realized. "Let's get horses!"

"But the Marines are in town," Vivi pointed out.

"Not to worry," Sanji smirked, "Look in front of you."

It was Chopper! "Hey, guys!"

"A crab?!" Usopp gaped in shock.

"Chopper!" Venus beamed.

"That's a Moving Crab!" Vivi said.

"Looks yummy!" Luffy remarked, drooling just a little, just before it stopped in front of them. "Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! That's awesome!"

"Hop on board!"

"We get to ride it?!" Luffy exclaimed. "Woo-hoo!" He reached, and launched himself on one of the eyestalks. "The pleasure's mine!"

"Its face looks kinda iffy, doesn't it?" Nami remarked.

"And you've got yet another amazing thing in tow, huh?" Sanji followed her, as she went to climb onboard.

"He's Lashes' friend," Chopper explained, while Vivi, Zoro, Usopp, and Venus were lifted up on the claw, "Lashes was born in this town, and has lots of friends in the area. He is kinda pervy, though."

"Why am I not surprised," Venus smirked sarcastically.

"Amazing!" Vivi gushed. "Moving Crabs are always submerged under the sand, so they're very nearly phantom crabs!"

"This guy's pretty fast, isn't he?" Zoro asked.

"Guys, hang on tight! All right, let's go! We're off!" With a snap of the reins, the crab began scuttling along sideways.

Behind them, a large gold hook flew over ominously; Vivi screamed in terror when it began to drag her away! "What?!" Zoro's eyes widened, as everyone gaped. "Stop, Chopper!"

The crab was forced to stop, with Luffy struggling to balance on top of its eye. "It's him!" He glared. "Why, you...!" He launched up to Vivi, threw her down on the crab's back, and took her place.

They were shocked to see the captain being dragged away. "Hey! Luffy!" Zoro exclaimed.

"That idiot!" Sanji fussed.

"Luffy-san!" Vivi watched in horror.

"You guys go on ahead!" Luffy ordered. "I can handle this myself!" He landed on his upper back. "Make sure you deliver Vivi back to her home! Make sure, now!" He smiled confidently at his tense crewmates. "Make sure, now."

"That idiot," Zoro smirked, before turning to Chopper, "Hey! Go, Chopper! Keep going, to Alubarna!"

"G-got it." A tearful Chopper reluctantly snapped the reins. "We're off!" With that, the crab continued on the path.

"Hold on!" Usopp protested. "Hey Zoro, are we leaving him behind?! Hey, that's cold! That's cold of you! From now on, you've got to protect me, got it?! Where do you get off, always doing this?!"

"Luffy-san!" Vivi cried, as Nami held her back.

"It's all right, Vivi! He'll be fine! I feel sorry for the other guys. After all, there isn't a single person that Luffy has gone after before, who has come out all right."

"Listen to me, Vivi," Zoro chimed in, "He will keep Crocodile under control. The moment that rebel army started running, the time limit on this land was set. Once the royal army, and the rebel army meet, this land, the Kingdom of Alabasta, will be gone. If you are the one and only hope for preventing that, then you have to survive, no matter what. No matter what might happen to any of us, from now on!"

"B-but..."

Sanji watched Rainbase slowly disappear. "Vivi-chan, this is a fight that you started. You're the one who ran out on this land years ago, and challenged this unknown organization to battle. However..." He smirked, and began walking away, "Don't go thinking that you're fighting alone anymore."

"V-V-Vivi!" Usopp shivered behind her. "Don't you wor-wor- don't worry! I'm g-gonna..."

She stood on her feet, now more determined. "Luffy-san! We'll be waiting for you in Alubarna, okay?!"

Luffy smiled, as her voice echoed through the desert. "Yeah!"

-

A while later, as Zoro was pumping iron with Lashes adding extra weight, Usopp was sharing one of his tall tales. "Then, that's what happened! That's when I said to him, "You bowlegged bastard!" That's when it started. Ever since, the crabs of the world have been bothered about being bowlegged."

Chopper, naturally, was in awe. "So that's why they walk sideways, huh?"

Venus smirked, as she listened from sitting on Lashes' back. "Uh huh. Incidentally, at the time, there was something jumping up and down behind him. It was a lobster."

"So lobsters- they're crabs, then?"

"Yeah, they're crabs." Usopp laughed cheerfully at Chopper's bewilderment.

"Zoro, you're just wasting your energy doing that, aren't you?" Nami scolded.

"Shut up."

"Just leave him alone, Nami-san," Sanji said, "If those guys aren't doing something, they can't keep focused. They're not that adept; especially..." He puffed some smoke, "That muscle freak, now that he's had a taste of the level the Seven Warlords have."

Zoro managed to overhear the jab. "Hey you, what are you trying to say? Go ahead, and spell it out."

"Ah, you want me to say it? You're scared. You're worried that maybe Luffy might lose." The others were silent at that.

"Who, me?! Scared, you say?! Why, you...!" Zoro raged. "Fancy eyebrows!"

"That does it!" Sanji turned back to him. "Now I'm mad! You... Moss Head!"

"What?!" Zoro threw the weight aside, knocking Lashes and Venus on their backs.

"Ow," She grunted indignantly.

Their foreheads collided. "You wanna go at it?!"

A punch to each of their heads from Nami abruptly ended the quarrel. "Cut it out! This is pointless!"

"She's strong!" Chopper gaped.

Usopp looked on silently, noticing the crew's agitation. 'They are who they are. Everyone's a bit worked up. Now's the time for me, the vice-captain, to...'

"Take it easy, everyone," Vivi assured, "Luffy-san won't lose. I mean, we promised him, didn't we? That we'd be waiting for him in Alubarna?"

"You seem more worried than any of us, don't you?!" Usopp confronted.

"Ow!" Vivi yelped when Nami knocked her forehead.

"You should just worry about the rebellion."

Sanji sat up from laying on his back. "Sorry about that, Vivi-chan."

"If you have to cover for us, we're done for," Zoro pointed out.

"All right then, switch your minds over to "Alubarna"!" Nami commanded. "Let's go, Pincers!"

"What's that?" Zoro deadpanned.

"A name for the crab."

""Pincers," you say?" Usopp asked.

"No good?"

"Nothing wrong with it."

"From the brilliant mind behind the name "Lashes"," Venus drolled.

"I heard that!" Nami snapped.

-

"Me, go to Alubarna?" Tashigi asked in surprise, "We're chasing after the Straw Hat pirates, right? Or are we reinforcing the royal army?"

"It's up to you," Smoker replied from his cycle, "You decide what to do when you're there."

"You don't mean that! Exactly what is going on?"

"You just follow your sense of justice." Smoker pulled on his gloves. "Whatever happens, I'll accept responsibility."

"Captain Smoker, where are you going?"

"Something sudden came up. I'm heading out to sea. Be prepared to receive communication from me at any time, Tashigi."

"Yes, sir."

He pulled his goggles up over his eyes. "Keep a close watch on where this country ends up. Whether it falls, or whether it survives, something is sure to happen to mark the start of a new age." With that, he drove off.

"Sergeant... sergeant!" Tashigi turned behind her back to see an officer, with dozens of others close behind. "Your orders?"

"Right." 'Keep a close watch on where this country ends up,' Smoker's words ran through her mind, 'Whether it falls, or whether it survives, something is sure to happen to mark the start of a new age. 'She lifted her glasses to her forehead. "We're going after the pirate Straw Hat Luffy, and everyone under him! All hands, reinforce your gear! Prepare to depart for Alubarna!"

"Yes, sir!"

She glared into the distance. "Straw Hat Luffy..."

-

"What?! We can't cross the river with this crab?!" Usopp shouted fearfully.

"Moving Crabs are creatures of the desert, so they don't take to water," Vivi explained.

"But it's a crab, right? A crab! Not a lobster! Do something!" Usopp fussed. "Hey, this is a problem. Not good; look here." As Venus jumped down from Lashes' back, he took out a map, and pointed to the river. "If we just blithely swim across this river, as wide as a sea, we're not going to make it in time! And look! After we cross the river, there's still dozens of kilos worth of desert! If this crab can't get to the other shore, are we supposed to run from there on?!"

"We don't have any choice," Nami frowned.

"There's no way we'll make it in time! It's absolutely impossible!"

Sanji turned around, and saw the river approaching quickly. "Uh oh. Hey, the river! I can see the Sandora river!"

"What?!" Usopp crawled over for a look.

"Do something, Pincers-kun!" Nami pleaded.

"I know!" Chopper shot up in realization. "Pincers loves dancing girls!"

Eager to help, Venus leaped to her feet, and whipped her jellabiya off, letting her dancer outfit from Sanji be seen. "Will this do?"

"Probably."

"Holy crap!" Sanji swooned, along with Lashes.

"Give it a rest, would you?" Usopp grumbled, but was unheard.

Chopper noticed Pincers' eyes looking in the awkwardly dancing Venus' direction. "Ah, he's looking this way!" On cue, they began going at an even faster rate. "We're accelerating!"

"Venus-chwan!" Sanji gushed.

"You've now messed up two animals with all this nonsense!" Zoro scolded, her, as she stumbled from the change of speed.

"Hey, whatever helps," She shrugged.

"All right, pervy power!" Chopper cheered.

"I could've done that," Nami sulked from next to Vivi.

Usopp snapped his lingering gaze away from the young witch. "So what has this solved? Chopper!"

The crew watched tensely, as they were closer and closer to the river. "Go!" Chopper commanded. Just then, Pincers began running along the river like it was dry land! "He did it!"

"Hey now, this crab is incredible!" Sanji remarked. "I don't believe it!"

"Whoa, way to go!" Usopp cheered. "It's a miracle! Just stay on the water, and run! Run, run, run all the way! Go! You can make it! Keep going! You can do it! This crab can do it!" He stopped at the crab slowly descending, as she ceased her moves. "Hey, what's this?! Am I imagining things, are we sinking? We are sinking, here!" When they were submerged, he surfaced angrily, keeping ahold of a weakening Venus, and her jellabiya. "Stop sinking, you crab!"

"No time to whine about it," Zoro began trudging on, with Chopper on his shoulders, "Keep moving forward."

"H-hold on a second!" He followed him and Vivi, turning to the latter. "Aren't there any boats? How many kilos to the other shore?"

"About 50 kilos."

"Who can swim that?!"

Chopper turned back, and waved his hoof. "Thank you! Thank you, Pincers!"

"This is no time to be casually waving goodbye!" Usopp scolded. Just then, a giant being surfaced right in their path. "What?!"

They all screamed in terror. "It's a rare Sandoran catfish!" Vivi pointed out. "They're only, very rarely seen!"

"You don't have to explain that!" Usopp glared.

They were petrified when it dove back down. "Also, humans are their favorite food!"

"You might tell us that first!"

Out of nowhere, the catfish appeared to be getting attacked, though none of them were moving. "Hey, let go!" Zoro tried to push Chopper back, when his hoof was over his eyes. "I can't see anything in front of me, you know! Chopper, let go!"

Usopp shouted in surprise when the attackers surfaced. "The Kung Fu Dugongs?!"

The crew settled on the defeated fish's back. "They say they won't neglect their senior pupil," Chopper translated.

"Well, it's not like we're Luffy's pupils, or anything," Usopp frowned.

"Still, they saved us," Vivi pointed out.

"All right, just a little farther! Hang in there!"

Before long, they were back on dry land, on the other side of the Sandora. "Thank you!" Vivi waved to the Dugongs.

"Bye-bye!" Chopper waved with her, as did Venus, who was now back in her jellabiya.

"Things have been going smoothly," Zoro remarked, "Can we make it?"

"That's a tough one," She replied, "Even riding on Lashes-kun, I'm not sure there's enough time."

"What's more, he could only carry, uh... three of us!" Usopp pointed out. "And if Baroque Works is going to attack, it will be from here on. Isn't there any way for all of us to act together?" Everyone tried to think, but they were all silent. "Damn, there isn't any, huh?"

Nami turned back at the sound of a stampede, and noticed a cloud of dust. "Look over there!"

"What, is it the enemy?" Usopp looked on tensely "A-a-are they here already?!"

Vivi watched the horizon, and was surprised. "N-no! That's... Karoo!" Close behind him was more giant ducks, all sporting different headwear. "And the Supersonic Duck Squadron!" They all skidded to a stop in front of the crew. "You've come to get us, haven't you?!" They all saluted in confirmation. "Karoo!"

[missnobodymadness]

───── ⋆⋅ Nirvana⋅⋆ ─────

"For a good while I was proud of myself for not losing my humanity to this new mercilessly reality, ended up paying the price for such naivety with my own face, yet, I still resist; I resist because the moment we allow our humanity to go, we are nothing more than walkers with functional brains and if that is all that awaits us I'd rather join the dead.”

General

Name: Nirvana Meaning: Bliss Date of Birth: 14, November Age: 24+ Zodiac: Scorpio Gender: Female Pronouns: She/Her Sexuality: Bisexual Species: Human Ethnicity: Caucasian-American Music theme: Still looking :( Status: Alive

Appearance

Height: 5’4” / 1,62m

Weight:  154lb / 70kg Skin color: White Eye color: Blue Hair color: Caramel brown Hair length: Long Scars/Birth marks/Tattoos: Half of her face was burned (Right side) Body modification: None Other features: None

Relationships

Biological Family

Mother Nichele

Father Victor

Siblings Theodore Gary

Partner None

Children None

Other family None

Other relationships

Ezekiel (Good friend and sometimes ally) Carol (Friend and inspiration) Tara Chambler (Close friend and love interest) Waldo (Best friend and next in line for leadership) Hera (Best friend, dead)

Education & occupation

Place of Birth Greer, South Carolina

Current place  Morgantown, Newburg, Maryland

Group Havencliff

Affiliation None

Occupation Cleaner (Pre-Apocalypse) Leader of Havencliff (Currently)

Personality

Nirvana is an easy-going and open-minded person with a very chill nature but lots of things have changed since the moment her very close friends and group members betrayed her.

Positive traits

Understanding Friendly Hard worker Ambitious Trustworthy Good listener Cautious (Later on)

Negative traits

Low self-esteem Naive Too emotional or the actual world Stubborn Altruistic

Likes Nature, zoology, especially horses, writing

Dislikes Fire, violence, airplanes, liars

Trivia

Before the apocalypse took place, Nirvana worked as a cleaner to save money for the veterinary medicine course she intended to take.

Nirvana is a person with a contagious positive and relaxing energy, in general people tend to feel good in her presence.

Despite being poor, she always had a lot of love in her life, with good parents and family overall; losing what’s left of her biological family destroyed her but she knew she had to be strong and keep going for her people.

Likes to fight for her goals and doesn't like to use shortcuts or get help from people to get there.

Nirvana loves nature and was camping with her family when everything started, far from the city, totally unaware of everything that was going on, their camp was invaded that night and because of their ignorance most of her family ended up dead, expect her and her two siblings, a younger sister and an older brother.

Together they tried to get back to the city but it was already taken by the walkers, luckily for them, they found a car with some fuel left and were able to escape and drive to North Carolina where they eventually found a safe zone led by a mexican who offered them a place to stay while they recovered.

They found out about everything that was going on with them but the stay didn't last long, as a hoard of walkers started to move towards their safe place while most of them were asleep.

Nirvana was able to escape with her two siblings once again while saving another person who would later be the first member of her group.

Nirvana meets Tara Chambler way later when the Alexandria group finds out about the current Havencliff safe zone, their relationship as friends grew fast and strong, Nirvana started considering her as a close friend and eventually fell in love with her really hard but she knew Tara was dating Denise at the time and there was nothing she could do about that.

Nirvana refused Rick’s alliance offer as she already knew about the existence of the Saviors and wanted to keep her group as safe as possible, however, she provided Alexandria with food several times.

Havencliff’s safe zone used to be placed at Leonardtown, in the state of Maryland, which was around 80km away from Alexandria.

After the betrayal from her friends and group members, their safe place was completely burned down and they had to move again, settling around Morgantown, a community in Charles County, Maryland, considerably closer to Alexandria.

The Havencliff group has lost members from several other groups, such as the Oceanside and The Kingdom, some decided to stay.

Havencliff becomes one of the most productive groups after the move, owning herds, flocks and crops; they also fish as their safe zone is next to an estuary.

Map of the safe zones the Havencliff group claimed:

1st one is the old location and the second is the current one.

__________

Artworks done on the following Picrews:

https://picrew.me/en/image_maker/2033441

https://picrew.me/en/image_maker/1706331

[eddiegettingshot]

as a writer lapsed catholic and a queer person i feel like making a possible eddie queer discovery arc or him struggling with it would be beating a dead horse after a couple episodes lmao

also i think itd be interesting to see him continue to figure himself out AFTER buddie goes canon because itd be dumb to be like “omg i like cock! time to get married and live happily ever after” especially with everything eddie has going on repression wise

no literally i agree. unless eddie literally goes through another self-loathing spiral - which no one wants to watch - this whole dragged out self-discovery thing independent of buck would be kind of ridiculous to expect (and you all know that i will not entertain eddie being reduced to anything for buck's sake so i hope it's clear where i'm coming from on this).

and also, it makes so much more sense character-wise for eddie to continue to grapple with this stuff through the lens of a relationship/his connection with another person (which is what i said about eddietommy too lol). unlike buck, eddie's very good at being in his own head - it's translating that stuff to "real life" that's difficult. that's why (if we even want to lend this storyline any credence) he was able to recognize pretty easily that he moved too fast with marisol but struggled between breaking up with her and just taking a step back. so it would be way more interesting to explore his issues if he has to think about how they affect buck in a way that they never did before

[waltwhitmansbeard]

go on, claim my heart: chapter seven

see my masterpost for what came before this. inspired by @romeoandjulietyouwish's medieval au.

Scanlan Shorthalt is a man of adventure. Of course, to him, adventure can be found while singing bawdy tunes for pennies in taverns and whorehouses across the continent or surreptitiously swiping coin purses from the pockets of rich men whose wives he'd later bed, but adventure, like beauty or musical talent, is a matter of taste. In his personal tastes, adventure has little to do with the danger or heroism he so often waxes lyrical about in his performances, although he's never been allergic to creative liberties. No, Scanlan goes on his fantastical, uproarious, lascivious, ridiculous escapades for one reason only: the stories.

This story, the one in which he currently finds himself at the juicy part of the rising action, did not begin the way Scanlan would have predicted. Just yesterday morning, he had awoken in one of his favorite places, Pike Trickfoot's bed, only to see the radiant gnome to whom he finds himself entirely besotted throwing clothes on, which is one of his least favorite sights. She filled him in on the terrible thing that had occurred in the night, and on her upcoming sojourn to the city-state of Whitestone to retrieve the stolen child. As incredibly sexy as Pike's easy bravery was, he felt this foreign, uncomfortable tug in his chest, which, after dismissing the initial fear of his years of drinking to excess catching up to him, he identified as worry. The thought that she might not come back, that her final words might fall on someone else's ears, that his arcane talents might not be there to keep her around—Scanlan has rarely been so moved to act.

Which is how he has ended up here, on the back of a horse, clinging more tightly to Pike's waist that is strictly necessary, listening to a story he knows will make a truly captivating tragic poem some day.

"I was a boy when the Briarwoods came to Whitestone," Lord Percival says. Scanlan tries not to let his grudge toward the Master of Development for not allowing him to incorporate his incredible weapon into some of his court acts distract him from the narration. "It was but a month before my ninth birthday. Julius had promised to take me hunting for the first time to mark the occasion."

The troupe is traveling at a fast trot, trying to make quick time while not tiring out the horses, so the sound of hooves is not too great to eclipse the pain in his voice. Captain Vex'ahlia reaches over to squeeze his arm briefly—oh, the worst kept secret in Zephrah playing out before his very eyes.

"They were kind, at first. From what I recall, they were requesting access to some area beneath our castle. I couldn't tell you why. My father denied them, and that night...that night they went on a rampage."

Princess Keyleth does not seem surprised by Lord Percival's words, though she does brush tears away. The others, however, look just as horrified as Scanlan feels. He has a sickening feeling he knows where this story is going.

"My sister Cassandra was three at the time. The youngest of us. She awoke at the sound of the commotion and ran to my room." He falls silent for a few moments. "We found our sisters' bodies as we ran for help. I managed to pull Cass around a corner just before she could see Lord Briarwood sink his teeth into Oliver's neck. I don't remember how we escaped the castle, but I do remember saying to her, 'We made it, Cass,' just before a strange bolt of sickly green light flashed out of nowhere." Lord Percival's jaw is clenched so tightly, Scanlan worries he'll crack a tooth. "My baby sister died in my arms. I could not mourn her. I had to run."

Even with the noise of their travel, there is an uneasy silence among the group. Scanlan is a master at finding the levity in all manner of dark moments, but this...this is beyond even him. He is simultaneously regretful of and thankful for his impulsive decision to join Pike on this journey to the scene of such a slaughter.

"Percy..." Vax (Vax'ildan? The Champion? Is he some kind of prince now? Scanlan has yet to figure out what's going on there) seems to be chewing over his words before he says them. "That is...gruesome. I am sorry that such a calamity befell your family." There's a clear but hanging in the air that he does not want to say aloud.

Lord Percival does it for him. "But you want to know why they took Vilya, all these years later."

"Yes."

"I wish I knew. If I had known that those villains posed even the smallest threat to your daughter, believe me, I would have intervened. The fact of it is, I had let myself believe that the Briarwoods were part of my past, something that could no longer affect my life." He swallows thickly. "I apologize for the error."

"Percy." Princess Keyleth, who had been placed at the center of the group for her protection, urges her horse forward to ride alongside Lord Percival. "As...distraught as I am, I do hope you know that I do not lay the blame for any of this at your feet. Your suffering did not cause ours."

Lord Percival lays a hand on her shoulder. "I ran from Whitestone a scared child, but I return a man intent on avenging my family and felling these devils once and for all. I will not know peace until they are dead and your child is safe in your arms."

"Great," Grog deadpans. "How do we kill 'em?"

All eyes turn to Vax, who looks back, surprised. "Why would you all assume I knew?"

"You're the assassin," Scanlan points out. "This is...what you do, is it not?"

"I do not have any experience in assassinating vampires."

"There's also your connection to the Raven Queen," Pike adds. "I mean, if the Briarwoods are steeped in the necromantic arts, surely she would be interested in bringing them to their knees."

At that, wide-eyed realization flashes on Vax's face. He pulls his horse to a dead stop, and Grog, who had been trotting behind him, nearly collides his own horse into him. Everyone else must pull around to not get too far ahead, and Princess Keyleth asks, "Vax? What is it?"

"She warned me."

"Who?" Captain Vex'ahlia asks.

"The Matron. Months ago, before Vilya was born."

Scanlan watches the princess's eyes flash dangerously. "What do you mean she warned you?"

"I thought you were both going to die," he explains, his tone edged with a pleading for understanding. "She came to me in a dream, told me...told me that death and undeath were coming for my family. I was so sure..." He drifts off for a moment, then continues. "But then you were alright, both of you, and we had a child, and I..." His voice falls to a whisper. "I thought the danger had passed."

Scanlan finds a sudden interest in a nearby tree branch, and he sees Pike and Grog doing the same, eager to be looking anywhere but at the princess, who, after a long, agonizing silence, snaps her horse's reins and tears off down the road. Vax groans out, "Kiki...," but before he can follow, Captain Vex'ahlia cuts in front of his mount with her own.

"Let me, brother." Without waiting for permission, she chases the distraught princess down, leaving the rest of the party to look awkwardly at each other.

Lord Percival trots over to Vax and pats his shoulder sympathetically. "Come. We should keep moving." At that, the remainder of the party resumes its previous clip. Scanlan, not having to focus on steering the horse, watches Vax closely, sees the abject misery in his every line. He realizes now that he's stepped into a much stickier quagmire than he had originally anticipated, and though he does still worry for both his life and Pike's, he is ultimately glad he's joined this little troupe; all of this will make an excellent story some day.

[ga-yuu]

Yoritomo & Yoshitsune - Chapter 6

----Part 1----

???: "----You don't have to beg like that."

A strange glow obstructs my view.

Yoshitsune: "For he, who tries to defile that kindness, deserves retribution."

Yoritomo: "I agree. You did well, Yoshino."

(Yoritomo-sama! Yoshitsune-sama!)

The soldiers rustle in surprise, then call out their names in a mixture of screams.

Yoshino: "You came...to save me."

Necromancer: "But, how----"

Yoritomo: "We each felt uncomfortable with the way the war was going, so we joined forces to find out."

Yoritomo-sama's briefly explained the situation in front of the soldiers...

----FLASHBACK----

---A few hours ago, they both met on a small hill overlooking the battlefield.

Yoritomo: "Hey, Yoshitsune."

Yoshitsune: "...Why are you here? What happened to your subordinates?"

Yoritomo: "Strangely the battle is winding down. I've decided that it's safe to just tell them what to do now and get out."

Yoritomo: "Yoshitsune, you came here alone because you too felt something strange right?"

After hesitation, Yoshitsune opened his mouth.

Yoshitsune: "My skin tingles and the wind feels like it's complaining in my ears."

Yoshitsune: "Whenever there's this kind of chest-thumping, there's always turbulence."

Yoritomo: "----As ever, a man with an unusually keen sense of battle."

Yoritomo clicked his tongue in amusement.

Yoshitsune: "What do you mean? Yoritomo. What are you thinking?"

Yoritomo: "I told you this fight is bending strangely. The number of corpses has, at some point stopped increasing."

Yoritomo: "Either the necromancer is preserving the corpses for some reason, or...."

Yoshitsune immediately grasped the meaning behind the words and his eyes widened slightly.

Yoshitsune: "He move out of our sight and called the dead."

Yoritomo: "I see that as the more likely option, given the state of the war."

Yoshitsune: "So where might they be?"

Yoritomo: "Don't know yet. Unlike last time, there are too few decisive moves."

While conversing, their eyes explore the terrain below them.

Eventually, Yoshitsune pointed to a certain point.

Yoshitsune: "----That's."

Yoritomo: ".....!"

Yoshitsune: "The corpses over there aren't making uncontrolled movement."

Yoshitsune's wide-open eyes are somehow filled with a horrifying deep colour..

Yoritomo knew that at such times Yoshitsune could see things that could not by others.

Yoshitsune: "They are not trying to slaughter the soldiers they're engaged with...."

Yoshitsune: "They are trying to stop movements by carefully surrounding them so that not a single person escapes."

Yoritomo: "So they're trying to cut off contact with the other soldiers and keep information from us?"

After a brief exchange of glances, Yoritomo and Yoshitsune kicked their horses' bellies at the same time.

Yoritomo: "If that's the case, then their target, it's probably----"

Yoshitsune: "...Yoshino."

----FLASHBACK ENDS----

(They noticed the discomfort without receiving a message....)

Yoshitsune: "No further explanation necessary."

Kicking away the swarming corpses without any difficulty, Yoshitsune paid with his sword.

The corpses' hands, still reaching towards me, are now slashed away by Yoritomo-sama's sword.

(They both are fast!)

Necromancer: "...I never thought my plan would mess up like this!"

Necromancer: "Kill them! Kill both the heroes!"

Yoritomo: "A classic example of how easy it is to say."

----Part 2----

Necromancer: "Kill them! Kill both the heroes!"

Yoritomo: "A classic example of how easy it is to say."

After saying it off in a leisurely manner, Yoritomo-sama calls out to everyone.

Yoritomo: "Now, it's time to fight back."

Yoritomo: "I am proud of your tenacity in fighting your way to this point."

Yoritomo: "You have kept the hope alive."

The eyes of the soldiers burn and they exert their last strength.

Soldiers: "YYAAAYYYY!!!"

They all stepped towards the corpses and swung their swords gruffly.

I hide behind everyone to stay out of the way as much as possible and watch with bated breath.

(No one die, please...)

Escort 2: "Dear god....we're almost there!"

Yoshitsune: "Pray to something more reliable than god."

Yoshitsune: "If you're a samurai, then have faith in your sword."

True to his word, the moment Yoshitsune-sama's sword was unseathed, he pounced under the moonlight.

The next thing I see is the corpses screaming and turning into ash.

(Such overwhelming strength...)

The soldiers followed, pulled by the indescribable aura.

Necromancer: "Kill Yoshitsune first!"

The necromancer shouts and the corpses rush towards Yoshitsune.

(...The corpses don't hesitate because they have no fear of dying. I didn't realize how horrible it was)

Countless hands try to entangle themselves in the arms and legs of Yoshitsune.

Yoshitsune: "....."

Several corpses grabbed his sword and Yoshitsune-sama stopped moving.

Yoshino: "No!"

Yoritomo: "----Yoshitsune!"

Yoshitsune: "....! Ah...."

(Ah)

Yoritomo-sama threw a sword at Yoshitsune-sama, who caught it in mid-air.

The corpses are swept to the side in a flowing motion.

(But, Yoritomo-sama!)

Necromancer: "How pitiful. You want to sacrifice yourself in place of your brother?"

Yoritomo: "Well."

Waves of corpses swarmed around the unarmed Yoritomo-sama.

(No....)

Yoshitsune: "....AAAHHHHH-----"

Yoshitsune-sama kicked the ground and slid in front of Yoritomo-sama.

Yoshitsune: "Die!"

(Ah...)

My eyes widened at the sight of what was happening in front of me. Yoshitsune-sama is fighting off the corpses that are swarming around Yoritomo-sama.

Yoshitsune: "He's mine. Don't you dare touch my prey."

Yoritomo: "..Haa. Don't look so deadly. Your men will have nightmares."

Yoritomo-sama instead picked up Yoshitsune-sama's sword.

He slashed the corpses that was about to attack Yoshitsune-sama from the side.

Yoshitsune: "Have you lost your mind?"

Yoritomo: "Hm?"

Yoshitsune: "What were you trying to prove by throwing your weapon away?"

Yoritomo-sama accepted the shooting glances with aplomb.

Yoritomo: "You saved me, anyways."

Yoshitsune: "What if I chose not to? Or what if I didn't make it in time?"

Yoritomo: "Shut up. Of course I knew you would make it in time."

Yoshitsune: "............"

Yoritomo: "Be cautious of your surroundings, Yoshitsune."

With trememdous speed, the two men cut down the corpses while.

Before they knew it, they were back to back, as if it had been natural from the start that this would happen.

Yoritomo: "But you'll still do whatever you want no matter what I say, right?"

(Is he asking to...'trust him', right?)

Yoshitsune: "----Then."

(Yoshitsune-sama's eyes have changed)

Yoshitsune: "From here on, I'll do whatever I want. I'm don't want to here your complaints."

----Part 3----

Yoshitsune: "From here on, I'll do whatever I want. I'm don't want to here your complaints."

Yoritomo: "Suit yourself."

Yoritomo: "Actually no. Wait. Hold back a little, or it's gonna be a pain."

Yoshitsune: "---Can't hear you."

Necromancer: "What the hell are you two doing!?"

Necromancer: "You two hate each other. Then why are you two fighting together?"

Yoritomo: 'That's a complicated story to say right now."

Yoshitsune: "If we meet in the Underworld one day, I hope you will tell me what it was like to die for the second time."

Yoritomo-sama and Yoshitsune-sama's sword tips flip and step in simultaneously from both sides.

The next moment, before the corpses that Yoritomo-sama destroyed, were reduced to ashes.

Using his crumbling shoulders as a springboard, Yoshitsune-sama leapt high into the air.

Necromancer: "AH...!"

Yoshitsune-sama's sword pierces deep into the Necromancer's chest.

The swarm of corpses that rushed in fell before Yoritomo-sama's white blade and could not reach Yoshitsune-sama.

Necromancer: "No, I..."

The necromancer's body slowly returns to ashes.

And disappeared into the blowing wind.

With the destruction of the necromancer, the day's fighting came to a complete halt.

.............

(I'm so glad, it's over....)

At midnight, when the moon was high in the sky, we pulled back to the encampment.

After the soldiers have disbanded, I joined Yoritomo-sama and Yoshitsune-sama in a bonfire.

(I'm a little worried about their heroes power going out of control)

Yoshino: "Once again...thank you for saving us."

Yoritomo: "No, we were late in finding out his plan and you have to go through all that."

Yoshitsune: "If Yoshino had been injured, I don't know what would have happened to me."

The two men removed their magical earrings and went back to normal.

Yoshino: "But still, I never thought you two would come and fight together...it was like a dream."

Yoritomo and Yoshitsune: "........."

They looked at each other as if to say something and then looked away.

(Awkward...)

(When they were fighting together earlier, it felt like their hearts connected)

(If only you two could talk a little more about it now that the aftermath of the co-operative fight is still fresh in your minds....)

Yoshitsune: "...I have to go."

Yoritomo: "...Ah yes, Yoshino, I'll send you to your tent."

Yoshino: "Wait!"

I stopped both of them immediately.

Yoshitsune: "What is it?"

(Um)

-----Options-----

There's this thing....(Yoritomo +4/ Yoshitsune +2)

Aren't you hungry? (Yoshitsune + 4/ Yoritomo +2)

---------

Yoshino: "Aren't you hungry?"

Yoshitsune: "...Don't worry, I learned how to make rice balls. This time I'll make them myself."

(Okay, no more excuses this time!)

Yoshino: "No no. Actually, I don't feel very well."

Yoshino: "So can the three of us...spend time together? Just a little longer."

Yoshino: "Of course I want you guys to rest, if you're feeling tired..."

Yoritomo: "....Yoshino."

Yoshitsune: "Why?"

Yoshitsune: "If you're concerned about my powers going out of control, then don't worry. I'm fine."

Yoshitsune: "Now that I know, how it's gonna happen, I'll call you soon as I feel any discomfort."

(Instantly rejected...)

Yoshino: "No...Actually, I'm scared."

Yoshino: "I'm sorry, but I want both of you to be with me."

When I said that aloud, I realized that I actually felt that way.

Yoritomo: "......"

Yoritomo: "It's rare to see you begging so cutely like that. So I'll stay."

Yoshitsune: ".........I don't mind either."

(....! Thank god)

Yoshino: "Thank you both of you."

Yoshitsune: "But I'm not confident I can have a conversation that will lighten your heart."

Yoshitsune: "Sorry for being so boring."

Yoshino: "That's fine....all I want you two is to speak your heart out."

Yoritomo: "What if all you think about are random stupid thoughts that will make you look dumb, then?"

Yoshino: "That's fine too."

Yoritomo: "Nonesense. I'm embarrassed to have such a lame conversation."

(It's probably Yoritomo-sama's concern to put us in a joking mood)

I have been saved by this far-reaching kindness many times in my time as a member of the SHogunate.

Yoshitsune: ".....It's hard."

----Part 4----

Yoshitsune: ".....It's hard."

Yoshino: "Hard? Why?"

Yoshitsune-sama sinks into thoughts, hesitating to put them into words.

I waited for a while for him to continue.

(Yoshitsune-sama is a honest man)

(He takes what I say and tries to respond in such an honest way)

Yoshitsune: "I'm angry with myself."

Yoshino: "eh?"

Yoshitsune: "Yoshino, I put you in danger."

Yoshitsune: "And yet---I was in the height of battle when I defeated the necromancer."

Yoshino: "Eh?"

Yoritomo: "I don't know."

Yoritomo-sama opens his mouth quietly staring at the bonfire.

Yoritomo: "As far as I know---Yoshitsune, fighting is your one true love."

Yoritomo: "Now that we've rescued Yoshino, what do we need to worry about?"

Yoshitsune: "I."

Yoshitsune: "Yoritomo, once when I was trying to kill you, I was drowning in anger and hatred, not elation."

Yoritomo: "That's exactly what you're doing now."

Yoshitsune: "Another reason I can't forgive myself is that, of all people, I lost myself in this fight with you."

Yoritomo: "......"

(Yoshitsune-sama is trying to convey something---)

I knew that, so I kept my mouth shut.

Yoshitsune: "When our backs were together and when we were wielding swords..."

Yoshitsune: "I knew exactly what you were thinking and how you were going to act and it was palpable to me."

Yoritomo: "...I was annoyed by your messed up moves, that's all."

Yoshitsune: "Don't lie."

Yoritomo-sama's eyes widened as if Yoshitsune-sama caught his lie.

Yoshitsune: "There was no hesitation in your movements. Because you saw my heart in the same way."

Yoritomo: "........"

Yoshitsune: "Why?"

Yoshitsune-sama grits his teeth sadly.

Yoshitsune: "You have no shred of interest in me, except as a potential enemy."

Yoritomo-sama sighed softly and looked at me.

Yoritomo: "Yoshino, you told us last night to be honest with each other, right?"

Yoshino: ".....! Yes."

Yoritomo: "You said that I have to say my thoughts even if they are silly, right?"

Yoshino: "----Yes!"

Yoritomo: "Okay."

Yoshitsune: "....? What are you saying?"

Yoritomo: "Yoshitsune."

Yoshitsune: "What?"

When his name is called with a straight face, Yoshitsune-sama braces himself."

Yoritomo: "You idiot."

Yoshitsune: "!?"

(What!?)

Yoritomo: "You flat-faced."

Yoshitsune: Wha-Huh?"

Yoritomo: "You oversensitive dumbass."

Without caring Yoshitsune-sama angry red face, Yoritomo-sama continued making fun of Yoshitsune-sama.

Yoshitsune: "You, you....you black-hearted man."

Yoritomo: "You airhead."

Yoshitsune: "....You evil."

Yoritomo: "You troublesome baby."

Yoshitsune: "What the hell are you trying to get at?'

(They are arguing like children. Like two young siblings having a fight....)

Yoritomo: "Aww, did the oversensitive problematic baby, run out of swear?"

Yoshitsune-sama bit his lip.

Yoshitsune: ".....You rationalist, wearing a mask of an ideal shogun."

Yoritomo: "So what, Mr. Idealist?"

Yoritomo: "If idealism could save people, I will retire being a Shogun tomorrow."

Yoshitsune: "I suggest you start going around handing out bribery today so you don't get shot in the dark as soon as you retire and lose power."

An invisible spark flashed between their eyes.

Yoshitsune: "----You cold-hearted man."

Yoritomo: "I know."

Yoritomo: "But, what do you know about me?'

Yoshitsune: "......How should I know? You never say anything to me."

Yoshitsune-sama punches Yoritomo-sama's chest, but is was a powerless one.

Yoshitsune: "You abandoned me."

Yoritomo: "Yes."

(....Maybe, Yoritomo-sama wanted to extract his true feelings from Yoshitsune-sama)

Yoshitsune-sama voice was also shaking.

Yoshitsune: "I respected you. I really wanted to support you!"

Yoritomo: "I know."

Yoshitsune: "I hate you."

Yoritomo: "Oh yeah, but I never hated you though."

----Part 5----

Yoshitsune: "I hate you."

Yoritomo: "Oh yeah, but I never hated you though."

Yoshitsune: "....Mm."

Yoshitsune: "Don't say that now---"

(Yoshitsune-sama, Yoritomo-sama...)

----As long as there are non-negotiable convictions, the tragic past cannot be changed, no matter how many times it is repeated.

But no one knows the future.

Yoshitsune: "....I'm the only one who can hunt you down other than death."

Yoshitsune: "Until then, I'll protect your back."

Yoshitsune: ".....For now."

(....! That's)

Yoritomo: "----Yoshitsune."

Yoritomo-sama's eyes widened.

Then he smiled softly.

Yoritomo: "You're a hundred years too early."

Yoritomo: "Usually, it's the big brother, who protects his little brother."

Yoshitsune: "...."

(Ahh....finally)

(They both finally confessed)

I can feel the back of my eyes getting hot.

Yoritomo: "I'm going to be having a hard time protecting your back. So hold back a little bit, you daredevil."

Yoshitsune: "I don't need unnecessary care from my...."

Yoritomo: ".....?"

(What's wrong?)

Yoshitsune: "My..my..."

Yoshitsune: "My god, it looks likes it's going to rain."

Yoritomo: "The sky is clear."

Yoshitsune: "It's in my heart."

Yoritomo: "What's wrong? Did you get so emotional?"

Yoshitsune: "Stop making fun of me...bro..ther..."

Yoritomo: "....!"

(He just called 'brother'...)

Even Yoritomo-sama looked speechless for a moment----

Yoritomo: "Heh, did you just call me, brother?"

Yoshitsune: ".......yes."

Yoritomo: "Hehe. Guess I was right. You are getting emotional."

Yoritomo-sama smiles gently.

Yoshitsune-sama gripped his fingertips restlessly.

(This is such a huge development)

(Because if these two fight to protect each other, there's nothing to be afraid of)

Yoritomo: "Yoshino, why are you crying?"

Yoshino: "Ah...sorry, I'm just happy for you two."

When I was about to wipe the corners of my eyes in a hurry, Yoshitsune-sama grabbed my hand.

(Eh?)

Yoshitsune: "Your eyes will turn red if you rub too much."

He looks into my eyes seriously and I forget to blink.

This caused one drop that could not be contained to drop.

Yoshitsune: "---You're beautiful."

Yoshino: "...Mm."

Yoshitsune: "Maybe it's because I think these tears are for us."

Yoshino: "Yoshitsune-sama."

Yoritomo: "Yoshitsune....you always make moves on Yoshino when you get a chance, don't you?"

Yoshitsune: "...!"

Yoshitsune: "I just wanted to convey what I think----"

Yoritomo-sama shrugged.

Yoritomo: "Then be clear when you show gratitude. Yoshino might misunderstand."

Yoshitsune: "....."

Yoritomo: "In my case, I purposely make her misunderstand me."

(What do you mean!?)

Yoshitsune: ".....I get it."

Yoshino: "Eh."

Yoshitsune-sama took my hand and stared into my face.

Then quietly kissed the back of my palm....

(Ah....)

A low fever spread from there.

Yoshitsune: "Yoshino, thank you."

Yoshitsune: "Without you, I would never have thought of making up with Yoritomo."

Yoitomo: "...There he goes again."

Yoshitsune: "I don't know what you're talking about."

Yoshitsune-sama suddenly looked away.

Yoshino: "Um....anyway."

Yoshino: "I should be the one thanking you!"

The stares directed at me from both of them were strangely embarrassing and it made me want to flee the scene.

Yoritomo: "---It's time for you to go to bed."

Yoshino: "Ah...that's right."

Just as the three of us were about to go...

Yoritomo: "Nn..."

Yoritomo-sama gave out a faint sound and stopped.

Yoritomo: "---This is."

Yoshitsune: "....! Maybe his powers are going out of control?"

(Oh god! We have to stop this now!)

Yoritomo: "......Ah, but it doesn't seem as serious as yours."

Yoritomo: "Yoshino, can I ask you to help me?"

Yoshino: "Of course."

Just then Yoshitsune-sama turned to look at the both of us.

Yoshitsune: "....Wait. Yoshino, are going to do the same thing you did to me, to my brother?"

[neko-naruto]

Chapter 2

Summary: The dawn of the first day, sparks fly much faster than George expected and he isn't sure if he's ready too handle the attention just yet.

Authors Note: @sobredunia CHAPTER 2 BE UPON YEE! I was gonna post this later in the day but couldn't wait that long, so heres the second portion of this fic

George and Sapnap stood outside the castle walls, waiting patiently for Dream too arrive be it by steed or by carriage, maybe even on foot, George was a little bit anxious. Either he was going to blow this entire thing by acting too genuine or Sapnap was going to blow it by acting too much like he always does. They don't talk while they wait, instead Sapnap tosses the dagger in his hand up and down trying too get a spin with his throw and George sits on the ground, chin resting in his hands. To say George is a little bit bored would be a gross understatement, if anything he feels like he's dying and that time refuses move, the cool breeze doesn't do very much to alleviate the tension between them.

Sapnaps is usually out back training around now while George sits on the sidelines with gauze and disinfectant at the ready and cheers, with a side of exaggerated yearning just for shits and giggles, it gets a rise out of Sapnap. If not training they would be hanging out in Georges room, Sapnap watching in awe as George practices his own abilities, he got them mostly from his fathers side of the family; plant magic and a hint of animal as well. Where his father excelled at fruits and vegetables, George is much better at the dangerous plants alongside fungus, the prince doesn't speak to the animals as much as his mother insists he should, he doesn't care though- it's his little way of telling her too fuck off because his throat dries up whenever he tries to actually say it.

"George," Sapnap begins, George gives a nod of acknowledgement, "if he tries anything I'm doing it twice as effective."

"You'll get flustered way too fast Sap," George said standing up as he did so leaning into Sapnap who leaned away, hand pressed to his chest gently, "see?"

"Please, it's just that there's no need too put on a show yet," Sapnap said, leaning into George and wrapping a hand around the princes waist, that had George flustered, "but trust me, I won't let him take you away from me or the kingdom, I just hope you don't mind the taste of brimstone."

"Why would I have too worry about the taste of brimstone?" George asked, Sapnap smiled, his blunted claws threatened to tear the fabric of the princes shirt and it made George shudder ever so slightly.

"You'll figure it out," Sapnap said, releasing George on the sound of a horses click of hooves, he was quick too act a little bit stoic again, he can't go too far just yet, it would be a bit overkill to let the foreigners first sight of George be pressed against a drake hybrid.

As the steed came into view, pelt black as night, with a dragon kin riding it, or was it a harpy? It was hard too tell given feathered wings but scaled and clawed hands, splotches of scales were on his throat and chest and most likely his legs as well. George simply stared at him as he hopped off of his horse and walked over too the prince and his guard, Sapnaps gaze was deathly and the foreigner was affected by it in one way or another. Still he walked over too George, taller, only by an few inches, beastly blood adding too his stature no doubt; he grabbed Georges hands and placed a kiss to the back of it, George had to refrain from laughing at the formality, Sapnap stifled a snicker himself.

"Prince George I take it?" he asked, George nodded.

"That's me, and you must Dream, this is my personal guard Sapnap," George said, gesturing to Sapnap who gave a small a nod of acknowledgement.

"Before we get any further into this, do you have any scars?" Dream asked, the question came so far out of left field George had to pause before answering, gesturing to his shoulder.

"Karl," he pointed to one on his neck, "cooking," he pointed too a bite mark on his shoulder, "and my old pet."

"I'd love to hear the full story later," Dream said before George led him into the courtyard, sticking to the fungus and stone forged into winding pathways across the entire kingdom, Sapnap followed close behind.

Their walk through the castle was full of seemingly random questions and chatter, George answered them but his mind was in other places- the scent of food, the way Sapnap gripped him, whether or not this plan will work. To Sapnap it felt the questions were calculated, but he couldn't put his finger on how exactly they were all linked into the same thing, whatever that thing may be. Sapnap made sure to stand close to George, made sure to brisk hands, made sure to keep it naturally casual until he was bold enough to link their hands- Dream noticed, the slight glance and pause made Sapnap smirk. He didn't let go of Georges hand even as they came too the dining hall where not only did Georges parents wait, but a portion of the castles staff as well, which meant that Karl, Quackity, and Wilbur were there.

"You can sit wherever you like," George said as he sat down, Quackity to his left and Sapnap to his right even though Dream should be sitting one of those spots and Quackity opts to move because he recognizes Dream as a hybridized amphiptere, the harpy sits next to Karl instead.

"George, I trust you gave our guest a tour of the castle?" Georges father asked, George shook his head.

"I planned on doing so after we eat, it's not often that chefs and royalty eat in the same room," George said, reaching for a fork, waiting patiently for someone else too start eating.

"I see then, let the feast commence!" Georges mother stated, she sounded agitated that George didn't bother showing off the castle already.

The dining hall was louder than it has been in years, mostly conversation between the workers, but Dream and George did talk, if they didn't his parents would be beyond disappointed. Although the conversation was a little bit stressed on Dreams end because George refused to let go of Sapnaps hand, going so far as to rest their hands on the table so everyone could see. Sapnaps eyes were trained on his meal, but he could feel Dreams glare, in doing so he doubled down, releasing Georges hand and opting to rest it on his thigh instead; that caused a small stutter in Georges speech. Sapnap had to repress a smirk when Dream attempted to grasp Georges hand, the prince refusing to interlock fingers despite the foreigners trying, little details, George understood how to work someones psyche and was doing so perfectly.

Dream continued too prattle off questions as everyone ate, completely oblivious to Quackity jotting down details under the table on everything Dream was saying, clearly intent on trying to formulate what kind of guy he is. Sapnap could see Quackity writing with ease and shot a small glare, the harpy stopped right away, unsure of why Sapnap would want him to stop- all information is good information in this case even if it doesn't get used. Dream doesn't catch Sapnaps grip on Georges thigh tighten, only hears the faint catch in Georges breath and how his face heats up, he glances to Sapnap whose eating again, zero noticeable attention on George. And George, George is feeling a little bit conflicted being caught in this situation, he's trying too stay formal because his parents are right there six seats down and Sapnap could care less.

"Do you have any magic?" Dream asked, his claws were digging into his palm, other hand still attempting to grasp Georges.

"Plants from my father, animals from my mother," George explained, lifting Sapnaps hand from his thigh gently, Sapnap got the message and retracted his hand, "I, on occasion, make use of weaponry, short swords mostly."

"Interesting, I've never met a prince versed in swordsmanship," Dream said, resting his chin his hand, elbow propped on the table, he looked curious, invested even.

"I taught him myself," Sapnap butted in, George pressed on his foot begging him not to go on without saying anything, he went on, "He's amazing at pinning people down, even better at dominating on the field." Sapnaps smirk was undeniable, the smug look on his face enough too get him killed if he was part of a different court, it made Dreams blood boil a little bit- notions of being dominated by George be damned, this guy was going to be the death of him.

"Is that true George?" Dream asked, eyes locked with Sapnap.

"Oh trust me, I wouldn't lie about being pressed between a wall and the prince," Sapnap said before George could even open his mouth, he was taking this to far too fast and he didn't care despite his previous worries, he needed to see how far he could get under this guys skin before getting a physical reaction.

"I can't wait to test out your theory during our honeymoon," Dream retorted with, smiling a little bit as George groaned in embarrassment, shakily taking another bite of his serving, hoping neither of his parents heard, "how do you even get away with George?"

"I have benefits you couldn't begin imagine, being a personal guard has its perks," Sapnap said, his tail wrapping around Georges waist a little bit, he made a small, surprised noise akin to a squeak when Sapnap yanked him close.

"What kind of perks could being a lowly guard have?" Dream asked, invested in where this conversation despite the fact his future spouse was in some guard arms and not his own.

"Too put simply, George is very, very invested in my life, he never leaves my side," Sapnap said, the statement, although logical and true, shot a bullet of jealousy straight through Dreams heart and Sapnap could see it on he face, he released George who was swiftly grabbed by Dream, "of course, the prince is all yours legally, and there's not much I can do about that, he'll miss me when he's gone."

"I highly doubt that he'll miss some smug guard when he has a ruler like me," Dream said, confidence in his tone overbearing as he grips Georges waist with one hand, resting at the small of his back, using the other to draw a blunted claw along his neck and jaw, "trust me."

"Guys, can I eat now?" George asked, pointing too his plate of food, he was released, Dreams hand resting on his thigh, it didn't have the same effect as Sapnap did, or George was great at hiding it.

Most of their conversation was lost in the clamorous murmurs of the crowd and Georges parents didn't hear it, George was beyond grateful for that, he was currently trapped between a dumbass taking things way to far and one of the least fuckable guys at the table. He was staring at Wilbur who sat directly across, trying his hardest to not focus on the conflict between Dream and Sapnap even though one half of it was was fake and felt all too real. The hum of conversation around him was loud enough too distract him almost entirely from Dreams affections, but he still paid enough attention to give a reaction. It was clear to Karl and Quackity that George hated being trapped between two sources of affection, but he's powering through for the sake of the plan- if everything goes right Dream will leave within a week and George will never have to be smothered with so much attention again.

"To the kingdom!"

A cheers was set in place and almost everyone raised a glass to the notion, because even though they had conflicted feelings towards how royalty likes to treat them, they'll always cheer to the notion of a potentially better ruler. Glasses clink here and there before bottles of wine are passed around, made of the finest homegrown grapes and only made in small batch, the flavor was the only reason George even took a single sip. Normally he hated alcohol, it was all bitter too him (the taste of hops made his skin crawl), even the ones with a mixture of fruity flavors, this was the only exception to his hatred of alcohol, Karl was of similar tastes.

One glass later and George is excusing himself from the table where everyone else stays for seconds and thirds, Sapnap reluctantly follows him as its his duty to do so even though he would rather stay at the table for one more round. Dream stayed behind and started conversing with Quackity, the harpy extremely intimidated in the presence of Dream- harpys used to be finger food for large scaled beasts before elvin, fae, and human crossbreeding, and Dream was indeed part large, scaled, beast.

Sapnap follows George down the halls, all the bats are either in the dining hall or somewhere else which lets them speak freely, but neither of them do so. Sapnaps still holding a wine glass, the base is gold and encrusted with jewels, George knows that he can trust whatever he comes out of his mouth having watched Sapnap win multiple drinking contests and stay sober before he became a personal guard. Only after they make it to the floor Georges room sits on does George open his mouth, glancing up too check for mothers bats, none, then he speaks.

"Dude what in the fuck was that?" George questioned, his tone laced with agitation and confusion, Sapnap shrugged his shoulders, sipping on the wine.

"It was me or Dream, who would you rather pick?" Sapnap asked, raising a brow, George hated the fact he had a point.

"Good point, but don't you think that was too far, parents could've seen," George said, fear of either parent realizing their plan immense, if they did they would surely execute Sapnap on the spot- and George won't admit it, but he doesn't know what he'd do if Sapnap died.

"Wasn't that the entire point of this plan?" Sapnap asked, following George back to his room, still swirling the grape wine in his glass, the aroma absolutely superb.

"No, the point was to scare off Dream, I don't want anyone getting executed because of me, they'll off you if they think you're the problem, if they think Dream is the problem they'll send him off for sure," George said, explaining his train of thought in a way he hoped made sense, "but that's too hard to do, so we have to get rid of Dream privately."

"Right, so you want me to put on a show whenever your parents aren't in the same room as you and Dream, otherwise be a stone faced guard?" Sapnap asked, it sounded a lot less fun than just playing it up no matter the circumstance, but, a part of him didn't really want to fuck it up and disappoint George.

"Yes, is that too much to ask?" George asked, his tone was genuine in a way that Sapnap rarely heard, desperation clear, he just wanted his plan to work so his life can go back to normal as soon as possible.

"No, I can ease up, although I expect that you'll especially ham it up if Dream thinks we can't seem him, if he gets nosy you know? I want to spark some drama," Sapnap said, taking one last sip of his wine before placing it down on Georges bedside table, "a kiss or something, that really gets peoples blood boiling."

"Yeah but, to be honest I haven't had much practice kissing, parents are very, very picky and overprotective," George said, he sounded embarrassed even though everyone in the castle already knew his parents were just like that, not his fault that he doesn't get around all too often, nobody in the castle town is bold enough to try and kiss him anyways.

Sapnap took a deep breath before walking over and grabbing his hands, eye contact triggered reflexively. Sapnaps hands heated up nearly too much for it to be bearable for George, but he still waited for Sapnap to speak- he would deal with the heat of the sun to hear Sapnaps voice. He doesn't know where loyalty and devotion blur and switch places, he doesn't care too look into it either, afraid of the answer, he'll keep telling himself he's just loyal.

"We could try practicing if you think that'll help," Sapnap offered, hoping the nervousness didn't seep into his voice too much.

"We don't need too, winging it hasn't failed anyone yet," George said, glancing to the side a little bit, Sapnap brought a hand to his chin, redirecting Georges gaze back up too meet his own.

"Yeah but, practice makes perfect, right?" Sapnap asked, before he could back away and try to take it back because hats way too bold for some guard, George leaned in.

Sapnap tasted like grapes, the aftertaste of the wine, his lips were a little bit cracked and the scar going through them was a discernible texture. It was like a spark, it kind of fired, it kind of happened, but it was too slow to call an inferno of an experience, more like a warm blanket. It was just nice, even if fake and short lived, it was still something George wouldn't mind doing again, only for the plan to succeed of course. But even pulling away that sweetness of grapes lingered on Georges lips and the silence was overwhelming in a good way.

"For someone who claims to not have much practice kissing, you're certainly a lot better then you give yourself credit for," Sapnap said, stepping back, Quackity was walking in from the balcony his face was red and he had fang marks where neck and shoulder met- he couldn't have, could he?

"So you guys are never gonna guess who almost got laid, or cannibalized," Quackity said, his tone was a different pitch than usual, drunk.

"Quackity, did you seduce Dream?" George asked as he walked over to Quackity, helping the harpy keep his balance as he walked him over.

"Nope! Poor boy can't hold his wine for shit, he decided to try and take a bite, or maybe he was trying to fuck me, it was an entire thing though," Quackity explained, "he kind of, got his senses back, his stupid amphitere blood lets him power through it faster- he was offa me in a second once he realized what he was doing."

"How many drinks did he last?" Sapnap asked, sitting down next too Quackity who held up two fingers, "wow, a total loser, how many did you have?" Quackity shrugged his shoulders.

"Quackity, you need to stop doing that," George said, grabbing a quill and ink, jotting down 'tried to cannibalize Quackity' on a piece of paper, writing 'what we know' above it in reference to Dream.

"Twas fun, Karl was handing out piggy back rides," Quackity said, George mumbled a curse under his breath.

"Sour you wanted to leave so soon?" Sapnap asked smugly, George shot him a glare.

"No, where are the others?" George asked, sitting down on the other side of Quackity.

"They got put on dish duty," Quackity said, then there was a knock on the door, George stood up and made his way over, greeted with a face he was growing to hate.

"What brings you to my quarters Dream?" George asked, his tone was sharp as a sword.

"Your parents sent me up here, they said that we'll have to share a room," Dream said, keeping eye contact with George and trying too stay formal despite the urge to start throwing accusation as to why Sapnap was acting so brash.

"You're room is down the hall, first left, third door down," George said, vaguely gesturing with his hands as he did so, he needs to get Dream away before he realizes Quackity is around, sparks will surely fly.

"And you're sure we shouldn't share a room, we only have a month in your castle, shouldn't we use that time to get to know each other?" Dream asked, he clasped his hands together and George looked him up and down, trying to read him to tell if he was serious, he was.

"We can get to know each other sometime later," George said, waving off Dream as he went too close the door, Dream held it open and George turned back to meet Dreams gaze with one that could kill a man, "what?"

"I didn't have a chance too give this to you sooner," Dream said, handing a small bag to George, he snatched it and shut the door on him, sliding down it a little bit.

"Who was it?" Sapnap asked, George groaned and walked over as he spoke.

"Dream, gave me a gift," George said, dropping down beside Quackity who had wings spread awkwardly as he rubbed his bite wound, George gently nudged estranged wings back into a more comfortable position.

"Open it up," Sapnap said, curiosity intense as George pulled out a small crystal, he didn't recognize what exactly it was, but it glimmered a seemingly impossible amount.

"A crystal," George said blankly as he held it up and turned it around in his grip, the blue light reflecting off of it was mesmerizing, it was small enough too fit on a ring, "a really nice one at that."

"Yeah, looks like he really cares, his heart is going to be shattered when our plan succeeds," Sapnap said, Quackity nodded at the statement almost solemnly.

"Absolutely, I'll make sure to drop by the training grounds when I give him that tour tomorrow," George said placing the crystal back in its small bag, "I'll be yearning for you on the sidelines."

"You better be," Sapnap said, smirking a little bit as he did so, "I'll make sure to put on a show just for you."

"You should just put on a show for yourself," George countered with, Quackity still caught between them, he fell back onto the various cushions.

"It's not as much fun when no ones there to watch me strut my stuff George," Sapnap explained, shrugging his shoulders, he threw a couple colored sparks back and forth between his hands.

"You really like impressing the ladies don't you?" George asked, nodding to himself, the answer he got wasn't one he expected.

"Who said I was trying to only impress the ladies?" Sapnap asked, Georges face started too burn up at the implications, it had the fiery warrior smirking.

"Save quips like that for when Dreams around," George said, groaning into his hands as he did so, how could one guy leave him so ruined? Especially with a fake act, he didn't understand how an act could leave him so affected.

"I'll add to the book of smart remarks for later," Sapnap said, faking writing something down as though he was holding pen and paper, George smiled at that.

[alyssalikestoreadbooks]

Yours Truly - Abby Jimenez

"Dr. Briana Ortiz’s life is seriously flatlining. Her divorce is just about finalized, her brother’s running out of time to find a kidney donor, and that promotion she wants? Oh, that’s probably going to the new man-doctor who’s already registering eighty-friggin’-seven on Briana’s “pain in my ass” scale. But just when all systems are set to hate, Dr. Jacob Maddox completely flips the game . . . by sending Briana a letter.

And it’s a really good letter. Like the kind that proves that Jacob isn’t actually Satan. Worse, he might be this fantastically funny and subversively likeable guy who’s terrible at first impressions. Because suddenly he and Bri are exchanging letters, sharing lunch dates in her “sob closet,” and discussing the merits of freakishly tiny horses. But when Jacob decides to give Briana the best gift imaginable—a kidney for her brother—she wonders just how she can resist this quietly sexy new doctor . . . especially when he calls in a favor she can’t refuse."

Read Date - July 2024

Length - 416 pages

Genre - Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit

Rating - 6/10

Stars - ★★★☆☆

Notes - The book starting out with the Doctor Death talk is interesting, because it paints the scene for distrust between Briana and Jacob. I think its also really cool that Jacob has representation for anxiety disorders. It’s written very well, and the interaction between Jacob and his brother and ex partner is fascinating. He wants to try to accept them, but internally he never will. why would he? Briana misunderstanding Jacobs reason for being there is so aggravating but i understand why they used this plotline, as it's very dramatic. The reveal that Briana’s brother is on dialysis and dealing with chronic depression was heartfelt and It changes his sickness/illness for me, because its much bigger than just being hospitalized. Jacob having a miscommunication with Briana was played out well (and not annoying unlike other miscommunication tropes) where she comes to realize that she’s the asshole in the situation, but she too wasn’t meaning too. It was just a bad week for her. Her brother is sick, and it makes sense that she would be a bit triggered by the things he’d said out of context. I think the letter writing is SO CUTE and it such a smart way to counteract the miscommunication trope because it instantly fixes it, and its true that writing is easier to express your thoughts because you have time to think and respond instead of being put on the spot. I think Briana saying the thing about “yours truly” was so cute and its like!!!! you said the thing!!! The phone call between the two was so cute and i love how fast they bond together. The closet lunch scene was a great way to describe symptoms of overthinking with anxiety, and i like the way it all plays out. Jacob donating a kidney is insanely kind, and goes to show what kind of person he truly is. Briana finding out he’s the donor was a slightly tense moment but its quickly resolved The fake dating plot was very nice and i like how involved the two get with each other. Amy accusing Jacob of going too fast with Briana was interesting because you never usually see that in Fake Dating tropes. Briana mishearing the argument and refusing to date Jacob is a little annoying. no elaboration needed, i just hate the miscommunication trope. It doesn’t get resolved for quite awhile, and it was sad to me. I like how Jacob and Briana interact with each other, and i hate that a lot of the book is spent pushing them apart, even if it makes sense. It just seems like there’s such an easy fix and they aren’t doing it. Briana choosing to move in with Jacob for a few months is interesting and they slowly patch up their relationship to what it used to be before Jacob confessed his feelings for her. Briana’s mom is very annoying for me, but i understand where she’s coming from. She has none of the information we do about the relationship. Brianna assuming that everything bad happening with Jacob is related to his anxiety is also a little annoying because its just another miscommunication that they could work through if they just talked. Jacob finding out that Amy is pregnant and having a panic attack was such good representation of GAD and I really did love the entire scene. Her admission of love was a good conclusion to the miscommunication. The spice in this book is extremely poetic (in my humble opinion) and is played out nicely. The next conflict of Briana not wanting to be with him and coming out of a Post-Nut-Clarity was interesting and smart. The talk between the grandpa and Brianna was SO SWEET!! I cant explain it but her giving in and giving him a cigarette is just so cute, and he took all the precautions!! The reveal between Amy and Brianna was cool and shows that she wasn’t a villain in this story, just a person who makes mistakes. I also like that they finally communicate with each other!! finally!! Seeing Nick again was such a shock i wasn’t expecting. And him and his WIFE are pregnant? insane! It triggering her own trauma with miscarriages and men is realistic, and i’ve seen some people say it came out of no where, but i believe the foreshadowing was there. The reveal that Briana is pregnant was SHOCKING. I genuinely wasn’t expecting that when it happened, but it explains the breakdown 10x more. The two having to work through their own issues alone before the transplant was cool for me, because its realy the first time they’ve been apart since the start of the novel. Briana reading Jacob’s diary was a sweet scene, and her trusting him was nice. I liked the ending and the wedding and i think the two are a cute couple together. This was a really tricky novel for me because i liked some parts, but really hated other parts. And on top of this, the parts i do hate are pieces that other people love and adore!! obviously this is alright, but it just makes me feel like the odd man out. 

[twoq24]

I'm walking toward a large white building on a university campus when I see a guy in a tan suit riding a brown horse. He's riding really fast and I'm rather impressed by it. He pulls the horse to a stop at the bottom of the stairs at the entrance of the building and gets off and runs up the stairs. I decided to go check out the horse but it's not a horse, it's like some goofy inflatable lizard looking thing and its laying flat on the ground. It doesn't have hooves, it has feet with little claws on them. Its eyes are goofy looking like a joke. Makes me laugh. I go up the stairs and into the building. I'm walking down hallways and finally end up in a lounge area. I've got a backpack with some clothes in it, mostly t-shirts. No one is around and I find a place and sit myself down. Nothing is going on. I don't see anyone. Then I decided to take a walk around. I'm thinking I need to go see my old professor Reece. I'm wondering if I should sign up for some classes but I don't really need to do that at all. Finally I make a loop around back to the lobby. More people are sitting around in chairs. I pass a woman by the door to the hallway that leads back to where I started. On the way I see a ramp rising off the floor that goes up to a small square window or door. The wall and the ramp are painted white. The window/door is unfinished and I ask myself should I go up and look through it? I don't and keep moving. Now for some reason I'm stripped down to my boxer shorts I'm wearing and now there's some people there and someone famous has brought a portfolio of large prints. After some moments go by I walk by this famous person over to the table and read one of the posters. It's all a list of suggestions and services that this person provides about how to improve your life. I read through them (all I can remember is they seem sort of ridiculous). As I'm reading through them I glance over at a well dressed woman. I think she is a faculty member and we communicate without speaking. Like some sort of telepathy. Basically we're saying that this famous person should pack it up. I wanted to talk to this famous person but they're gone now. There's a weird stuffed blue and red toy animal nearby. Looks sort of like a dog. Then what happens next is quite remarkable. I'm sitting in my underwear next to a very nice looking woman. She's wearing a red plaid flannel shirt and jeans. Short straight black hair and perfect white teeth. She has a great smile. I think she is a single mom. She has a copper wire. The kind used for electricity and it's coated in white plastic with the copper exposed at the end and exposed about six inches down. She's bending it back and forth. Then somehow I have a copper wire too but smaller gauge, thinner. We both proceed to bend our wires back and forth. If you do this long enough the wire will break. Anyway the whole vibe is just great and I feel we're kind of making a bond together over bending those wires. Maybe it's an art project I'm thinking of. Anyway she's a very pleasant person. Never seen her before in my life. She seems full of good things. I go back to my pack and gather up my t-shirts and clothes. Now she's moved over and is sitting in a chair and I take my stuff over and sit in a chair across from her. The chairs are close together. I start putting on my pants. My pants are jeans too. Just like hers. They're kind of new and hardly faded at all and I show her how our jeans match. I start singing some old Fred Astaire song,

"… I'm puttin' on my top hat, Tyin' up my white tie, Brushin' off my tails. I'm dudin' up my shirt front, Puttin' in the shirt studs, Polishin' my nails, I'm steppin' out, my dear, To breathe an atmosphere

She's singing along with me. She's smiling. We're having a great time.

[the-firebird69]

Guy buys a McLaren and regrets it! #shorts

I think it's more appropriate to say you can lead a horse to water but my husband is saying is perfectly content with it he's just got to do a couple things extra but it runs great so I say I don't think that you're very smart person about that but didn't get to look at it looks like he's perfectly happy with

Hera

What the hell is this doing up I can't believe it and happy New Year everybody yes happy you kind of rolling around have a good time and remember my phone fell out later on it was there it was cold and it was still working what A night that was I drove home I just bought it and I couldn't get out of it it was hell it says he's just like Mom you have to swing your feet out I kind of pull yourself up so I tried it it works and I felt great so grateful and it was nice I didn't have to do that in the parking lot and stuff

Jason

You got to be kidding me we have to get you out of there this place is a nightmare what did you do he said he farted on his mouth like everybody here he's learning from his environment is a baby this is ridiculous his body is out of a three-year-old of his race you're crazy as hell this is not this whole thing is nuts it's probably him he's just creative Jesus Gone wild that is reviving a Pontiac of all companies is that it took me like years to find this it's the only way for me to make money and get my part of gold so I've had it with that talk too I don't need any more of it maybe some more green beer would be good tonight

John Gallagher

I'm not really out there with that pissy boy what is he pissy says yeah it sounded pissy and it tasted pissy it's like a pissy theme I was so pissy nothing is doing is working now he knows everybody else is I want one of those cars it's really nice and fast and powerful it doesn't look it and that's why and boy I saw you get up and move in the car that's how you run as fast and I can't believe it that's ridiculous where do you get the energy he says it's surely not from absorbing it from Ken he does it a little I can feel it. Who's with you people you mutants he says it's electric that's terrific this car looks like a lot of fun and it's the tempest and I want to get one it'll probably go around racing people and winning

Ellie

I'm going to get one too this is a great idea and we're going to buy them and hopefully Trump will make them

Bja

We're not fighting as hard as other people are it's arguably over stuff but really is bad but really this will help these cars are great

Trump I just had a thought he might get one of these because the repo Man is driving one but then again everyone's fooling around with the cars that one is a four-door

Olympus

We better stop but no this is good it's really helping out and he's going to start making the car and he's going to modernize it a little and keep it simple and he's going to make it quick and rude the way they made him back then is quick he's going to try and make it that way too

Thor Freya

I should be able to at least meet Meghan Markle in production and I didn't try to at least meet it but she wants the car and she's a fan it's like everybody is I saw that little guy getting the car and started up and start moving right away I've never seen him do that stuff he's telling her to get in the car now and she moved it and I got in and locked the doors started it is looking around and just took off that guy was pissed but he was being a jerk I can't believe what a weird guy that turns out to be he's strange

Trump

[existentialmagazine]

Review: Wild Horse’s newest infectious indie-pop tune ‘Attraction’ glows through romantic storytelling and a charismatic sway

Boldly bearing their fifth single of the year, the rising indie-pop group Wild Horse are on a roll with their success and momentum of what has been a very busy year for the trio. Touring and gigging across England to get their new music in front of new faces, Wild Horse are just as dedicated in putting on a live show to remember as they are in putting out tracks you can’t get enough of - and their newest ‘Attraction’ fits the bill perfectly.

Glowing in with their signature groove and sway, ‘Attraction’ cascades through your eardrums right from pressing play with all the much-loved charisma and charm that Wild Horse always have to offer. Laced between a sensual electric guitar riff and floating vocals airily gliding through a loose higher range, ‘Attraction’ establishes itself to be an intimate treasure that’ll in many ways leave you swooning. It’s not long before it’s pushed forward by a thumping scattered beat, propelling the song along with a much-needed energy and rhythm while a building backing sound effect leaves you awaiting the choruses’ explosion. Falling into place with more dominant guitar strums, heavy beats and a looping guitar riff, Wild Horse maintain their personal feeling sound while bumping up the spirits, an atmospherically soaring assortment of instruments that continues its’ warmth the entire way through. Keyboard keys add a subtle vibrant edge as the track progresses, keeping things exciting in terms of progression while limiting their palette of sounds to one that’s upbeat but tender all the same. At two and a half minutes long, ‘Attraction’ doesn’t waste a second of its time with you, infectiously wrapping its colourfully infused sound into your brain and always leaving you wanting just that little bit more.

As per their speciality of songwriting, ‘Attraction’ is yet another glowing romantic serenade that Wild Horse have utterly perfected at this point, writing straight from the heart but always edging in a painful depth to their every sweet word. Written by their frontman Jack Baldwin, ‘Attraction’ soars out as a fast-paced anthem delving into attraction at its highest forms, at times leaving you hurting - whether that be from yearning to advance their relationship, or never being satisfied with what they get unless they’re entwined 24/7. Seemingly romanticising someone from afar, ‘Attraction’ looks through rose-tinted glasses at an overwhelming new crush, mesmerised by their every move: ‘when I see you moving like that, wish you’d do it like that for me.’ Singing ‘I don’t really know if this is too far, but I always think about you when it gets dark’ , Wild Horse also entangle lyricism that’s multifaceted in interpretation, alluding to both potential lust as well as the intimacy of the night’s solitude. But this love is almost too much, like an all-consuming obsession that leaves them pained when there’s any distance between them: ‘it’s getting to the point where it’s hurting.’ It’s clear their emotions are almost out of control in lyrics like ‘it ain’t even been two weeks, but I know it’s you’, falling head-over-heels at first sight without thinking deeper. As Wild Horse continue to tear apart the constructs and perceptions of love we all share, their every word and song allows for an insight into relationships and raw emotion that’s not always flowers and rainbows, showcasing imperfect humanity in its purest form.

Check out ‘Attraction’ here to enjoy Wild Horse’s ever-addictive sound with a more meaningful message than you’d expect.

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: Unknown

// This coverage was created via Musosoup, #SustainableCurator.

[keefwho]

April 24 - 2023

9:24 AM

I feel like there’s some kind of stigma against sticking with the people you love. At least around where I’m at. It’s almost like everyone is expected to up and rush off to their career or dream or whatever and are meant to leave everyone behind to meet new people. I got that treatment and still do. Personally I have old plans to live in the same town as my childhood friend when he gets back from the air force but when I tell mom that, I get “Are you just gonna copy him your whole life???” Like, no, I just don’t have anything keeping me tied to one place so I have the luxury of following someone important to me. If I wasn’t moving near him, I’d be staying around here with my family or moving to live near another friend. I don’t want to partake in this “leave everyone behind” mentality that was pushed on me and others since high school. I’d prefer to think people are more important than careers or personal dreams to an EXTENT. Obviously people should follow what they want to do in life but for people like me who aren’t quite sure or are content with what they are doing, it’s best to stick with my friends. 

Really this rant is all about expectations put on me by others. Basically me and everyone in my class were told “Go to college at all costs. You will be leaving everyone you know behind but don’t worry because you will make new friends :)” I didn’t even WANT to go to college, but I did. And guess what, the friends I made there were gone as soon as college was done and I was left with NO ONE but the friend who decided to stick with me because maybe he too realized how important it was to stick together. 

Or maybe it’s all about not giving up even if you get separated. I know there are some people I would never give up on under any circumstances. But I’m a loyal person. 

Its a bold claim but I think depending on each other is underrated. Not in an unhealthy way, I think it’s a delicate balance to “depend” on someone in a healthy way but it is possible. Normal even, because that’s how we used to be not even that long ago. It’s part of that tribe-like mentality. 

5:00 PM

I’m very aggro today. I don’t like how angry I can get sometimes at seemingly nothing. Not that I do anything with it. But I end up feeling like a bad person with such baseless negative emotions. Well I guess they aren’t baseless, they all have a root in something. Right now I think it’s jealousy and maybe a bit of being fed up with having to put up with people in general. 

11:56 PM

Today was mid. I was productive at least. During stream this morning I was having a ton of trouble with the commission getting the colors right and more or less gave up for the day because I have all week to do it. I figured it would be best to stop until tomorrow. Other than that I worked on some sketches. I really wanna get all the sketches on my desktop finished as fast as they get replenished. I have some minor fear though that it might be weird how many of them are of a certain horse but I shouldn’t feel like that at this point. I shouldn’t have ever felt like that. The fact is I have commissions and then things I actually WANT to draw. If I didn’t have commissions then I would probably have more art variety with my personal drawings but at the moment I only have enough creative energy to work on what’s most important to me and that is art of my own OC and the bestie. In my heart thats what I want to draw and I will not limit myself because of some silly thoughts. I know what I’m doing is welcome. 

I did everything I was supposed to today and got very tired. The afternoon didn’t have as much relaxing as I’d liked but it was okay. I mostly just watched MoonMoon and then finished the night off with some Mother 3 in call. 

I’ve really been struggling developing that elusive sense of self. Probably because it’s a fairly obscure concept. But I know something is wrong because of how I perceive myself and how hard it is to relate to others. One of my biggest goals is to form more meaningful connections but it’s hard to do that when I don’t have myself figured out. There’s too many points to go over in detail but I know I need to work on being more present rather than caught up in my own thoughts, and I need to work on seeing myself and my interactions with others as being current and dynamic rather than a sort of pre-scripted event. I know that line of thinking comes from my personal belief system that I and the others around me are pre-determined characters. I always think things should go certain ways with certain people. For instance, if I speak with someone I haven’t seen in a long time, I would likely think that they must be doing so much better than me and I should be humble in their presence. They probably want nothing to do with me and see no value in who I’ve become. It would be wrong of me to even think otherwise. That obviously not true but thats the kind of way I think about myself sometimes. I can’t see certain situations going any other way than I’ve pre-determined for my character and it’s extremely limiting to how I operate and the kind of friends I can make. I’d probably consider this one of my biggest flaws and something I’m still only beginning to tackle. 

This might have something to do with my environment. It doesn’t help that I feel like I’m in a place that is completely unchanging. I don’t get out and see people actively doing things with their lives. My parents seem to do the same things over and over. The house never improves. It’s like I’m stuck in time sometimes. I have to constantly seek out and make note of actual changes like an online friend’s schedule or how my art is doing or new games coming out. Small things like that are the only sense of change I get but I don’t think it’s enough. But thats why I’m trying to get off the property if only I can keep finding a good reason to.