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hozierandco · 3 years ago

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Henry Cavill x Reader / Lessons / SMUT

A/N: Henry has to learn how to play golf for a film but his teacher may teach him a bit more than golf. In which Henry is a clumsy cinnamon roll. Inuendos intended, sorry not sorry. SMUT: oral sex (female receiving), vaginal sex, teasing, cursing, cumshot. Read at your own risk.

For the sake of a film in which he would play an aristocrat, Henry had to know how to play golf. He had agreed to it though he never had one single piece of knowledge on the matter.

Him who had done life-endangering stunts was not going to abandon for golf. He had three weeks before the beginning of the set and had decided to spend his holidays at a golf resort off in Scotland where he was determined to master the skills to that sport.

Y/N had been working at the Baurheid Club for the past five summers. The rest of the year, she lived in Glasgow but since her uncle was the club's manager and since she knew all about golf, she kept on working there.

The season was about to start and she was in charge of giving private classes for top-notch clients. Her rock solid privacy was celebrated by all and she was the perfect fit to deal with bankers and members of the idle class. An actor was about to complete the list.

"Y/N, here's the list of your clients for the next week"

Three names as each client required all attention. Quality over quantity was the motto of the club on that regard. The second one rang a bell to Y/N: Henry Cavill.

"Why does that name sound familiar? We've already have him, perhaps?" Y/N asked to Olivia who was welcoming the clients in the resort and who happened to be a close friend to Y/N.

"He's an actor, you fool" she replied in a moment of rest from the wave of clients "A handsome one too, lucky you!"

Instead of rejoicing along with Olivia, Y/N just hoped he was not the megalomaniac kind and that he wouldn't be a nightmare to work with. She went on with her day, many things had to be fixed before her first classes the next day.

Henry arrived by the entrance desk where Olivia acknowledged him and welcomed her just like any other client, in spite of her shouting internally. He had packed the bare minimum so his installment was brief.

The next day, it was almost noon when he woke up so he took himself out to the cafeteria.

Y/N had finished her first class of the day with a young member of the Dutch royal family and was gaining back the main accomodatio, up to the staff's lunch room. She had not changed clothes as she was not to meet any client.

Or so she thought.

"Oh, come on now!" Y/N heard someone grunting in her back as she was about to open the door to the place where she had left her food. She turned around only to see a frustrated Henry Cavill.

"May I help you, sir?" Y/N asked.

"Yes, please!" Henry jumped on the occasion "I'm looking for the lunch room but I always end up in this corridor... It's a bloody labyrinth there", he added holding back a nervous laugh.

Henry came back from his frustration as his misery was coming to an end with Y/N's arrival and that's on his way back that he noticed just how splendid Y/N was.

"Please, let me be your guide"

"Thank you very much. By the way, I'm Henry"

"And I'm Y/N", she responded making the connection with the photograph of Henry Olivia had shown her on her phone.

Along their journey to the lunch room, the two of them made some small talk while Y/N had to keep her composure. Olivia was right, he was bloody handsome. Even more so that on any photograph. And besides, he was visibly not a douche but an angel, making her feel at ease early on in their conversation.

As they arrived by the cafeteria filled with expensive furniture, the actor accompanied his "thank yous" with an offer: "I'm all alone at the resort, I could use some company for the lunch"

It was tempting if it wasn't for the fact that Y/N and the whole staff wasn't allowed to eat with the clients.

"Oh I see..." Henry said as Y/N explained the situation "But what if it's the client's decision. Isn't the customer always right?" he completed, glad he had found this trick to make her stay.

"Well, I suppose that it's the rule, yeah..." Y/N had been upset to decline the offer but she figured that indeed, she could stay a little while. Besides, the cafeteria was big enough for her not to be seen by anyone.

"It's a yes, then?"

"Yes, it is"

"So, what do you do here anyway?" Henry asked her as he came back from the buffet.

"I'm a golf instructor"

"Well, in that case, I'll probably see you on the green"

"About that, I should probably tell you that I'm the one who's gonna take care of your lessons for as long as you stay"

"I cannot wait. Though I should apologise in advance"

Y/N quizzed him by fixing his eyes. Shit, those eyes... Don't stare, don't stare, Y/N thought.

"I'm probably the worst golf player in Britain"

***

"You want to hold it like that" Y/N informed the way to seize the putter as she placed herself behind the impressive stature she had in front of her.

She could not believe that she was giving in the cliché of being glued to get someone to play golf.

Henry had not exaggerated, he indeed was pretty bad. In fact, he lacked of coordination and Y/N had to constantly remind him of how he was supposed to swing his body.

"May I?"

"Yes!" Henry was relieved to hear that he would get more help from her as she suggested than she could grab his arms to show the move.

She took his arms by the elbows. Henry being in a polo, she could feel all of his muscles under her touch.

"There, that's right! You've got the move. Now try to hit the ball"

And Henry executed himself but failed to even graze it. He snickered and then gave in a frank laughter that Y/N echoed.

"Right, you're gonna need to spend more time with me, Mr. Cavill"

"It's all I'm dreaming of. Dinner with me tonight in the garden?"

The class ended and for Y/N, it meant the beginning of her third and last class of the day.

As it was only 4 pm, Henry joined the games room where he had a view on the green where Y/N was helping an old lady to practice.

Of course, Y/N was too busy to notice him but it didn't stop him to smile like a child at her.

He was admiring her grace and her air of benevolence when a man came to him "She's a beauty, isn't she?"

Henry nodded at the stranger who in turns carried on "It must run in the family"

As Henry took his eyes oof of Y/N to see whom he was talking to, the stranger introduced himself "I'm Max, the club's manager. Y/N's uncle"

"Oh! How do you do? I'm Henry"

Max nodded, knowing very well who his select guest was.

"Is she a great teacher to you?"

"For sure. It's just that I'm a terrible pupil"

Max laughed along with Henry "Ah, son, she'll make a great player out of you"

The dinner happened. Henry had changed into another polo paired with camel chinos.

Y/N too had changed into a strapless floral dress with brown sandals. She greeted Henry as she sat down in the grass on which Henry had displayed a basket of fruits.

They started drinking and talking as the moon rose in the sky.

"I've talked with your uncle this afternoon"

"Oh have you? He's quite something, isn't he?"

"That he is. According to him, you're the greatest teacher out there"

"And you doubt it?"

"I'll try to be as good as a lamb for you"

After dinner, Y/N suggested that they take a walk around the resort. Any way to make the night last longer was worth seizing.

Everything was calm. No one around. Under their feet, the grass was slightly wet as dew had started forming and tinting their shoes.

Y/N took off her shoes, soon followed by Henry who had not done something as spontaneous as throwing a picnic in a very long time.

With their shoes in their hands, they carried on walking on the grass as crickets were going for a symphony and more and more windows got dark afar.

"It's been ages since I hadn't spent a lovely night like that" Henry sighed with pleasure "but that being said, I should hit my bed if I want to be at the top of my performance for my strict instructor"

The two of them had gotten very close to one another "If I stay now, I'm staying the whole night" Henry commented as Y/N's lips were dangerously close to his.

"I would let you" Y/N replied.

***

Henry and Y/N had met regularly apart from the times set for the classes over the last two weeks and if Henry had barely gotten better, the two of them had grown fond of the other. They had kissed on the fourth night, but both of them were not craving for more. Henry did not wish to rush things, nor did Y/N though the tension became unbearable.

"Do you think your uncle would kick you out if you spent the night at my room tonight?" Henry ventured as the class was over, wishing that he could kiss her right there, on the green.

"I wouldn't mind being kicked out if it meant spending the night with you" Y/N answered as she put back the clubs in the trolley.

After they finished eating at their favourite spot, Henry seized Y/N's hand and together they traveld to his room.

As Henry opened the door, he preceded Y/N,cupping her face with his hands to make her follow him in the suite.

He shut the door behind her and took her in his arms, only letting go on her after having carefully laid her on the bed.

"It is my turn to teach you a lesson, baby", he purred in her ear as he had let his lips wander from her legs to her face.

He placed his body over Y/N's but suddenly he got repentant and cursed "Fuck, I came here with nothing..."

Of course, Henry had no plans of making love to his instructor when he had booked holidays at the resort and found himself caught off guard, without protection for the night.

"In my purse" Y/N told him where to look.

"You might just be the most prepared teacher ever"

"Just grab it" Y/N begged him as he was going for encores, giving another sequel of kisses to her skin.

Henry ripped the scabbard and took his apparel out of his trousers, dressing it for the occasion.

Gracious God! There was lot to look at...

Fully erect, Henry came back in bed where Y/N was trying her best not to stare at the length.

"You sure about this?" Henry inquired as he aligned himself.

"Never been more sure in my whole life"

Henry then slid his member, inch by inch to be sure that Y/N was coping with what she was given.

He was just half through when it began to hurt.

"It's alright, doll!" Henry consoled her "I'm sorry, I'll go slow, I promise"

Henry found his way out as he had an idea to ease the process. Y/N still under him, he got down on her and made a feast of the flesh flashing before his eyes.

There was no doubt: he was much better at this than with golf.

As Y/N looked down at the face that had found shelter between her legs, she noticed just how dedicate he was. He was giving it all the attention required.

His eyes were glistening by the feeble light above their head.

Henry's cock was beating a rhythm of its own, pleased at it was that Henry was able to make Y/N moan with just his tongue and fingers.

The resort was known for "its quiet nights" and "tranquil setting" but tonight, Henry was eager to go off the rails.

It did have the expected effect on Y/N since her lair had gotten damp. Henry let her come back from the mountain she had climbed before he dived inside.

This time around, the whole length got in no sooner said than done.

"You're just so gorgeous!" Henry articulated with difficulty as he was carrying his moves, putting more energy by every second that went by.

Y/N's fingers borrowed the path drawn by his torso which was dripping with sweat "You're one very good student. And a very hot one too"

Henry's heart was pounding in his chest as he lifted Y/N's legs to put them by each side of his spine. That way, he reached a new spot with the tip of his penis which made Y/N pant with his name on her lips.

"Henry!" she cried her lungs out through the dark of the night. The tranquil nights long gone.

"Come for me, doll!"

She didn't have to hear twice as she was unleashing her falls.

But Henry was insatiable. Though teased twice by the sight of Y/N coming for him, his cock was still showing no sign of weakness.

He was willing to let go of her lover to give her some rest while he would take care of himself but Y/N stopped him as he was about to take off the condom.

"I wouldn't mind a third lesson" she told him "Let's change the angle. Show me how your swing's going. As for your stamina, Mr. Cavill, it got much better"

Y/N got on all fours, spreading her legs for Henry to come up behind her. As he entered the well, Y/N stretched herself so that she in turn allowed more of Hnery to get in and out.

Henry was admiring the view as he held Y/N by her hips, pounding her.

In and out, fast at first, the sounds of his cock hitting the bottom of her cunt.

Then Henry who got tired of the the action - and who was not going to hold it back for very much longer as Y/N's moans were rushing his climax - got slow, savouring every second he had ahead of him before he would come too.

Sensing that Y/N was close to get her third orgasm as she got tight around his cock, he decided for her to come to do so as well, and hoped that it would arrive soon.

She did come, shouting and laughing as she came back.

"I don't want you to come in that. I want to see you coming for me, Henry"

Henry then quickly removed the piece of latex which was soiled with pre-cum. The sole fact of taking it off almost made him come.

Henry kneeled on the bed by the level of Y/N who was laying down and emptied himself on her stomach.

"I cannot wait for our next class" Henry said in a sigh as he rested his limbs by Y/N.

#henry cavill #imagines #henry cavill imagines #smut #oops i guess #mind that i wrote smut in the train for the sake of science #henry cavill x reader

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wakeup-awg · 2 years ago

Conversation

Christmas Crazies

Alex: The time after Thanksgiving went by in a rush, they didn't really have much work to do then and Alex was ready to just spent the time at home with his family. It was going to be Avery's first Christmas, first Christmas as a family of five and he knew while it was gonna be freezing cold, they would have a good time and be lucky enough to be cozy and warm in their home. Christmas Eve came and went. Alex woke early Sunday morning, something he'd grown into more wih each kid since he really wasn't much of a morning person when he first met Sophie and all the years before that. He rolled over in the big bed to find his girlfriend and wrap his arms around her, figuring the kids where still fast asleep when he heard something ripping, like paper was torn. He sat upright in bed and could see a small figure by the Christmas tree they had set up in their bedroom, happily opening the few presents they had placed underneath, figuring it would be nice to habe them to themselves away from the craziness of their kids unwrapping their presents. "Oh no no no. Willa, noo!" Alex scrambled out of bed and towards the little girl picking her up before she could reach for another present. "Those are not for you."

Sophie: The weather in the northeast was freezing, something she was still adjusting to from even years in Britain. It felt and reminded her of nights back filming game of thrones where it was bitter cold in Iceland and Ireland. Still it gave the Christmas feel and having Alex home for the holidays was something special. It was Avery’s first Christmas with them, their little family that just made them feel complete right now. The morning was early and they weren’t to the age where their kids were waking them up at five am yelling to get up to open presents from Santa. When Alex snuggled back into her she dozed back off in the warmth. Their gifts had been put in their room in hopes of a morning of sharing presents together before the babies but when the ripping noise happened Alex was out of bed and Sophie sat up seeing the presents or at least one or two semi ripped open. Apparently they hadn’t secured her crib closure properly the night before and she has gotten out. Rubbing her eyes she yawned before glancing at the presents. “Well it doesn’t look like she fully unwrapped everything? Maybe we should give her her stocking until we can get her back in her crib it’s too early for their presents.”

Alex: Of course Willa wasn't impressed when Alex picked her up and he could see she was ready to start crying and screaming and Alex sighed, putting the half-opened present down and cuddling her into his chest. "Shh, those aren't for you but I'm sure Santa brought you something else." He looked up to see Sophie sitting up in bed and he nodded. "Yeah we probably should. Can you take her? I'll get the stocking and start some coffee for us," he murmured, walking over to the bed so Willa could curl up with her momma instead and Alex stiffled a yawn as he slipped from the bedroom and downstairs. He started the coffee maker and then grabbed Willa's stocking so she'd have something to unwrap and be happy about before hopefully going down for a bit more sleep.

Sophie: Reaching her arms out she took the little girl who was fussing and not happy. “Santa definitely brought you some fun presents but it’s too early baby. You need to sleep until your brother and sister are awake too.” She glanced at the clock, five in the morning, of course. Willa would be the one to jinx that it was too early for those five am wake up calls. She rocked the little girl humming to her as she fussed lightly before Alex returned. “Okay do you want to open your stocking before you take another few hours for sleep?” She murmured shifting her as she yawned.

Alex: Alex returned with the stocking and smiled as he saw Sophie trying to calm their daughter down from fussing. It was these moments where you realized how little Willa still was, after all she was only two and a half now, not even. He got back into bed and held the stocking out so Willa could take it, and thankfully that seemed to cheer her up enough to calm down and scramble out of Sophie's arms to have more space on the bed to open her stocking. "Feel like next year wear gonna be sitting down by the big tree at this time in the morning, watching her and possibly Noah ripping open their gifts," Alex chuckled.

Sophie: Sometimes it was so easy to forget that Willa might be the big sister but she was still a baby herself. That she was still learning and growing and figuring out Christmas for herself. When she got her stocking she was much happier as she ripped open the little wrapped gifts and pulled out the few unwrapped gifts. “Feel like we’re gonna have to come up with a plan to keep the kids from doing that I know some parents just put out unwrapped presents from Santa so we could do that and bring out the wrapped gifts after that since any of them opening the others gifts eventually will cause problems.” She chuckled.

Alex: "So many problems," he laughed softly knowing it was going to be a mess if one of the kids went and opened someone else's gifts. Willa was spreading her presents and the ripped paper on the bed around her and Alex smiled as he watched her, taking in the things she got and looking genuinely happy and excited for the little things. "Let's hope this tires her out enough so she sleeps some more.."

Sophie: “We will figure it out. We might have to put the Christmas tree in a spare room that we can lock the door and then open it when it’s morning but we have a little time I hope.” Though willa was already proving maybe not. Willa was ripping the presents and waving around the little toys as if showing them off and all excited now babbling. “I was hoping we’d get to do our presents first but wasn’t expecting five am.”

Alex: "Let's say we still have one more year," he joked, knowing that they probably had to think of something for the next year already. Willa seemed so happy and showing off her new toys that Alex was excited to see her with the big presents later that morning and he smiled softly just watching her. "Wasn't expecting this early either, but we'll make do. Half opened gifts at the crack of dawn? At least we'll have coffee," Alex chuckled. Willa was happy with her toys but thankfully eventually found herself tucked in between her parents and he caught her starting to doze off so he hummed a soft tune until she actually fell asleep and he could carefully pick her up to bring her back to her room, this time making sure she couldn't sneak out when she woke up again. He went downstairs, taking a moment to let the dogs out into the freezing cold and then grab some coffee before heading back up to the bedroom. He put the mugs down by the bed and then moved onto it, bringing himself over Sophie with a grin curled onto his lips. "Merry Christmas, baby."

Sophie: “We can hope. I want to be able to enjoy Christmas mornings with our kids.” Which she knew that they would be able to, there was no doubt they would but they’d have to get creative when they were little and had no impulse control. “Thank goodness we have coffee or we might not survive today.” She said with a soft giggle. She was curled up with one of her toys before she fell asleep thanks to Alex humming and he brought her back to her room. He was gone for a little bit but he returned with coffee setting it down before he crawled over her slim frame and she cupped his face, thumb brushing over his cheek. “Merry Christmas, baby.” She murmured back. “I love you.”

Alex: "Never thought coffee would be the elixir to get me through Chrismas days," Alex laughed softly. And maybe later that day, during dinner it would be the wine and not the coffee. He smiled as he returned, crawling over Sophie with elbows on each side of her to hold himself up as her hands came up to cup his face." I love you, baby," he murmured before leaning in to capture her lips in a soft kiss, humming against her lips.

Sophie: “I mean coffee is the elixir that gets us through a lot of things babe.” Especially when they had three kids under three. A smile tugged to her lips when he said that he loved her and leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. Her lips moved against his in soft peppering kissed. “I love you. I love you so much.” Her breath soft and airy between each kiss as she murmured again how much she loved him.

Alex: He chuckled softly against her lips, humming at the peppered kisses and eventually lifting his head a little bit to look at her. "Think we should have some coffee and see how many of the presents are still wrapped.. Then we can hopefully curl back up for a bit before the kids wake," he suggested, stealing another soft kiss before starting to push himself up.

Sophie: “We probably should check.” She said “but here I thought you’d just be happy unwrapping me for Christmas not your gifts.” She teased as he pushed himself up and she gave herself a moment and pushed herself up following suit to lean against the headboard.

Alex: He playfully rolled his eyes. "I just don't want the coffee to get cold and go to waste," he said with a grin. "Doesn't mean I'm not planning on unwrapping your too." He pushed himself up and off of her so he could get out of bed and when Sophie sat up, he handed her one of the mugs. "Am I gonna have to bring the gifts here or are we gonna sit by the tree?" he asked, sipping on his own cup of coffee.

Sophie: “Mhm well your gift of unwrapping me might be taken back by that time so you’ll have to deal with that then.” She chuckled as she slipped out of bed and pulled a throw blanket over her and took her coffee over to tree and sat down. “Think we should always unwrap them by the tree.” She said taking a sip before setting it down and sorting out the presents including the half unwrapped ones.

Alex: Alex watched her wrapping herself up in the blanket and he chuckled. "I don't quite see you taking that back," he teased slightly before moving to the tree with her. "We should get you one of those blanket hoodies, those are so much more practical than this blanket," he murmured as he sat down cross-legged beside her. They dug into the presents, opening one each to gauge the other's reaction and when the last one was opened, Alex leaned over." You spoiled me. Thank you, baby."

Sophie: “You never know I could surprise you.” She said even if she knew that was probably not true. “We’ll those would be nice but I’m gonna get another blanket and I’ll probably end up dozing off by the tree after presents since it’s just nice to lay by the tree.” She said with a shrug. When they were done opening up the presents she smiled, “I think you spoiled me just as much. Everything is perfect. Thank you.” She said too pecking his lips before getting up and grabbing their full blanket and curling up on the floor near the tree.

Alex: He laughed softly when Sophie curled up on the floor and he watched her for a moment, shaking his head a bit. "That can't be more comfortable than the bed." Though he knew it was closer than the bed after all. He had finished his coffee by now and figured Sophie had too, so with everything unwrapped and opened, they could curl up and enjoy the quietness for a little bit longer.

Sophie: “The bed might be more comfortable but how many times can we say we can curl up under the Christmas tree early on Christmas morning after our presents?” She said as she snuggled under the blankets and sighed out happily. Alex had spoiled her for Christmas, probably more than she deserved but she couldn’t have felt happier knowing he did because he wanted to.

Alex: She had a good point and Alex had to give her that. So he smiled ans shrugged his shoulders. "Alright," he murmured and then moved to lay down next to her, tugging at the blanket so he could sneak in underneath with her, his arms tugging her in, legs tangling together. "If we're gonna end up with backpain, I'm totally blaming you," he joked.

Sophie: She felt Alex move and slip under the blankets with her. She felt his arms and legs tangle with her body and his warmth immediately. “If you end up with back pain I’ll be sure to get you and old man gift set next Christmas.” She teased as she snuggled back into him.

Alex: He huffed out. "I don't need an old man gift set," he murmured. "A massage though? I'd take that." He grinned slightly as she curled more into him and he hummed, enjoying this for a moment to be curled up with her, the only light in the room the lights on the Christmas tree and it really was nice to lay like this. He hummed softly after a moment, then start to let his hands wander, a grin starting to spread on his lips. "Do you wanna go back to sleep?" he asked softly.

Sophie: “I am not giving you a massage because we had a cute nap on the floor.” She murmured chuckling. “I’ll get you one of those things that you can reach and give yourself your own massage.” She grinned, “or I’ll pay jack to do it.” Giggling falling from her lips knowing that Jack totally would do it. She felt his hand move and then continue to wander her skin. “Well isn’t that what you said, coffee, presents, and sleep”

Alex: "It's your fault we're on the floor, I don't want a thing to give myself a massage," he chuckled. "Oh no, I don't know I rather want your your hands on me, not Jack's..." He hummed at her words and chuckled softly. "I said curl up not sleep.."

Sophie: “I said you could get back into bed babe.” She chuckled shaking her head. “We’ll I already know you rather have my hands on you I do know that very well. “Mm I’m pretty sure you said more rest and your wandering hand isn’t exactly resting babe.”

Alex: "What am I supposed to go to bed for when you're determined to lay here?" He grinned slightly, nuzzling his face into her neck as his hand slipped under her shirt, fingers tapping against her skin lightly. "My hand is resting just fine. They like to take you in. You can tell me to stop if you want me to," he murmured, "but I'm still hoping I get to unwrap you."

Sophie: “To be more comfortable.” She pointed out, if that was what he was looking for. She felt his hand slide under her shirt and she shifted a tiny bit more towards him out of instinct. “Still hoping? I mean I guess one more present wouldn’t be the worst thing for you.” She murmured. “And it would be something new to do it practically under the Christmas tree.” She grinned. She turned her head, “let you unwrap me and then make love to me sounds like a Christmas gift we both deserve.”

Alex: "Still hoping," he repeated, letting his hand wander up over her skin lightly, bunching up her shirt a little in the process. "I'm not gonna undress you if you rather want to nap," he added. Though when she thought it'd be a nicd gift for the two of them, he let his lips brush against her neck where he was nuzzling and moved his hands so he could tug at the hem of her shirt and then start sliding it up. He pushed himself up enough to be able to take the fabric off of her and hummed before sinking back down against her, shifting so he was actually on top of her this time.

Sophie: “Well on Christmas I don’t want to not give the best gift of all. And it better be considered the best gift still.” She giggled as his hand slip up her shirt and his lips brushed her neck and she mewled softly. Feeling him shift his body sliding on top of her after he pulled off her shirt leaving her topless under him. Her fingers coming up and brushing through his hair as she moaned low in the back of her throat.

Alex: "You? Definitely the best gift I could ever ask for," he murmured. Once her shirt was off, he shifted on top of her and smiled as their eyes locked, her fingers tangling in his hair and he hummed softly. "There's more clothes to unwrap," he said softly, leaning in to capture her lips in a soft kiss, then started trailing kissing along her jaw and down her neck. His hands slipped down, tugging at the hem of her pants before he broke away to slide down her body so he could take her pajama pants off, tossing it to the floor somewhere around them.

Sophie: “Mm that’s the right answer I want to hear.” Since anyone would want to be the best gift. She felt him shift and move his body enough to slide down her pajama pants and toss them to the side. “I think we need to get some clothes off of you if you’re gonna have the proper Christmas gift, or else it just won’t work babe.” She said as she pulled up his own shirt and tossed it away her body shifting to find his mouth and lingering a slow and passionate kiss on his lips.

Alex: A smile tugged at his lips at her words and he moaned softly when he felt her hands on him, pulling up his shirt. He helped her get it off before sinking back against her and he groaned softly into their kiss as her lips lingered against his, a slow and passionate kiss he happily sank into more.

Sophie: Their mouths moved heavily against each other but not in a dominating way but more a passionate intense kind of way. Her hands reached down to find his pajama pants and pushed them down enough for him to kick off onto the floor leaving them bare against each other.

Alex: Their clothes were gone quick, leaving them fully naked together once he had kicked his pants off and he smiled into their kiss slightly, hands starting to wander her skin, brushing against it softly and letting it slip between them to brush his fingertips against the side of her breasts and then down, over her hip and to her thigh, gripping her leg gently to tug it up a bit, guiding it up enough to tug around him and letting him settle more against her. He shifted his hips slightly, pressing into her some and moaning into their kiss.

Sophie: She felt his hands start to explore her body his hand sliding between them to her breasts until she felt his hand slid further down and grab at her hip naturally guiding her leg up and around him feeling his weight settle more against her body. When he shifted his hips her mouth parted as he moaned into her mouth followed by her own throaty mewl her lips nipping at him gently as her hands traveled down over his back.

Alex: He felt her lips nipping at him, causing him to smile into their kiss and he hummed as he felt her hands wander down his back. He pressed his hips down into hers, loving the friction and the feeling. He focused on kissing for a moment, lips moving against hers lovingly. Eventually his hand slid between them as he shifted a bit so he could adjust, bringing his length to her core so he could slide into her, slowly, inch by inch sinking into her.

Sophie: His mouth moved with hers. It wasn’t dominating and rough but heavy, passionate, loving. Her body shifted as she felt his hand guiding his length to her and starting to slide into her slowly, his hips gently pressing into her inch by inch as she broke the kiss and tipped her head back moaning out his name.

Alex: Sophie shifted with him, making it easier to adjust and guide himself so he could slowly sink inzo her, hipw pressing gently into her more until he was inside of her fully. "Soph," he breathed out, head falling against her shoulder, lips pressing against her bare skin there. He wasn't eager to move quickly with her, to fuck her roughly. This was more about being connected, being with each other, loving each other.

Sophie: His whispered breathed out of her name sent a shiver down her spine. It was so much more passionate and loving. It was about being connected with each other in the moment. Making love together which sometimes they didn’t get to do all that often when they were wrapped up in the lust of it. “God.” She breathed out, “I love you so much.” She whimpered her fingertips gripping gently into his sides wanting to take and touch as much of him as possible.

Alex: He turned his head a bit to bury his face in her neck, muffling his moan a little bit. He pressed down into her a little more while his hand gripped into her hip slightly, touching her, wanting to feel her as he pulled his hips back a little bit and then sunk back into her, a slow shifting and moving for a little bit od friction and feeling but more so focused on being connected so closely. "I love you, baby.. So fucking much," Alex murmured against her skin, then lifted his head a little to be able to capture her lips in another kiss again.

Sophie: There was something about the way Alex said so fucking much. It wasn’t like she didn’t know that, they would be together three years next year so she knew that he loved her but hearing it, just how much, and how they had built this life for each other was something that was enough to make her feel all kinds of emotions while he pressed into her. Her lips pressing down onto his shoulder peppering soft kisses with a soft little sniffle from the emotions coursing through her.

Alex: His hand slid up her side, almost trying to slide under her to pull her more into him, bodies so close together as he settled for a slow rhythm of thrusting his hips, more focused on them, being inside of her, the way they were so close and connected this way. He heard her soft sniffle and he hummed nuzzling more into her neck and kissing her skin gently as he felt her lips peppering kisses onto his shoulder.

Sophie: His hand managed to pull her a little to change the angle of her hips so he could push deeper inside of her, be even further connected with her. His mouth left soft kisses against her neck as she sniffled again feeling emotional between the twinkling Christmas lights, and just the feeling of them being as connected as two people could possibly be. “Do you know how much I love you?” She breathed, “I’ve never loved anything the way I love you.” Of course she loved their kids but it was a different kind of love. The love she felt was an all consuming kind of love you could only hope for but somehow here she was with the man of her dreams.

Alex: The way he pulled her in gave him a little more room to push in deeper, pressing more against her with each soft thrust of his hips. "I have a fair idea," he murmured with a soft chuckle, lifting his head to look at her, take her in and lock eyes with her. He couldn't really put into words how much he did love her, he was sure she could tell from the look in his eyes.

Sophie: “Mm do you though?” She asked because as silly as it seemed it was easy to say it but she really hope he knew it. She knew for him it was much harder to put into words his feelings especially about relationships as he looked up at her and she gave him a small smile nodding her head she knew he loved her a whole lot, she just loved moments where it became more about that when she knew sometimes things were rushed.

Alex: "Yeah," he murmured softly. Their eyes were locked momentairly and movements paused as he was snuck deep inside of her before Alex brought his hand up, cupping her face and leaning in to give her a loving, passionate kiss. He stseted rolling his hips slowly again, humming into their kiss at the feeling.

Sophie: Their eyes held each other for a few moments, and she could feel the swelling of tears in her eyes. Not out of sadness but just pure happiness with him. His hand cupped her face and she kissed him heavily before feeling his hips roll and she moaned into his mouth.

Alex: His thumb brushed against her lips as he cupped her face before leaning in to kiss her. He rolled his hips agaun when Sophie moaned into their kiss. He settled for a slow and steady pace, shifting his hips more into hers but barely picking up the speed so they could enjoy just the moving together

Sophie: Feeling his thumb brush over her lips she let her lips press a kiss to his thumb before his lips captured hers in a kiss. His pace was slow but steady, enough to enjoy the movement and not feel like they weren't getting enough from the movement. Her nails gently scraped down his back her body arching into his.

Alex: He let the kiss linger, lips moving with each other heavily as they enjoyed this moment together. "Mmh, Soph.." Alex hummed into their kiss before breaking it and letting his forehead resr against hers. "This feels so good, baby," he murmured, letting his hips press a little more into hers.

Sophie: His mouth mumbled against hers as he kissed her. His breathing heavy as it rested against her head. His hips pressed into hers a little more and her moan grew louder. "So. Fucking. Good." She panted an almost tight whine leaving her lips.

Alex: They were fully tangled up on the floor already and yet seemed to still try to get closer together by hips pressing down more. He was breathing hard as their foreheads rested together and he locked his eyes on her briefly before closing them. His hand that had been cupping her face moved up into her hair, tangling in it slightly as he held her in, to him. "I cannot be close enough to you," Alex breathed out, stealing a kiss from her lips before letting his drop so he could bury his face against the side of her neck again.

Sophie: His hips pushed down and dragged into her more. "Al!" she gasped, feeling him fill her as she hitched her leg over his leg to change the angle. As his fingers gripped into the strands of her red hair she gasped again, her fingers trailing heavily down his sides, "Fuck, yes. I want more of you." she breathed knowing they were as humanly close as possible and yet it was like they were trying to crawl into each others skin even more as she shifted and she bit down into his shoulder gently for more of a reaction from him.

Alex: He felt her shifting, her leg tangling more with him, hitching over his to bring them even closer and it really was like they could never get close enough. He sucked in a breath and let out a gasp when he felt Sophie's teeth against his skin, the way she bit down into his shoulder. "Soph," he let out again, nipping at her neck and tugging at the strands of red hair lightly. He could feel that bubbling sensation of his release starting to grow and let out a soft growl at the feeling.

Sophie: His gasp spurred her as she shifted her mouth and gently but down again against his skin leaving little love bites along his shoulder. His own teeth nipping at her neck. Her back arched her hips pressing forward and grinding against his pubic bone with his cock buried deep inside of her as she felt that familiar heat growing between her legs so desperate to reach

Alex: He was sure there were gonna be marks by the time they were done trying to be so desperately close together, but Alex didn't really care because it was hot. "Fuck.. Baby," he almost whined out, groaning as she started grinding her hips into him. "I'm so fucking close, baby," he husked into her ear before nibbling at the earlobe and then pressing a few kisses against her neck again.

Sophie: She knew she was leaving little bite marks along his shoulder. Hopefully he wouldn’t need to take his shirt off for any reason for the next few days. Grinding her hips into him they started to get messy, lose a little control especially when he said he was close. Her head nodded whimpering his names her breathing heavy and choppy as she gasped as felt the walls wrap tightly around him. “Alex! I’m coming. Oh god I’m coming.” She cried her body spasming hard against the floor under him.

Alex: The closer they both got to reaching their release, the messier their movements got too. They were still not going at a very quick pace, more so making sure to be deeply connected, feel every thrust of his into each other and Alex groaned at the feeling, the heat building up. He cursed out when he felt Sophie's walls wrap tightly around him, muscles tensing as he felt her coming around him. "Yesss.. Fuck, Soph.. Baby," he moaned thrusting into her a few more times before he too reached the high they were just always hoping for, releasing deep inside of Sophie.

Sophie: Her body continued to spasm against the floor as she felt his thrusts get heavy and hard more so to push deeper and deeper before hitching one last time hard into her his hips pressed and pinned to hers as she felt him twitch inside of her again and again against her tight walls filling her with his release as her body collapsed onto the floor with a small thud her breathing ragged as she gasped for breath her eyes closed at the feeling of him coming in her still coursing through her.

Alex: It was a blissfully good feeling to reach their highs so closely together, almost at the same time and really both trying to just get each other through it. Alex moaned softly as he felt Sophie sink back against the floor and he rested more onto her, hips slowly moving to guide them through their orgasms until he came to a halt and took a moment to just rest against her, trying to regulate his breathing, eyes closed and a soft smile tugging at his lips. "Mmh, god, Soph.."

Sophie: “Mm keep calling me god and you’re gonna give me a complex on Christmas, Al.” She breathed, “but good to know I’m that good in bed for you.” A giggle leaving her lips breathlessly as she brushed her fingers through his slightly damp hair. “So was this your favorite Christmas present?” a playful grin on her lips

Alex: He laughed softly and rolled his eyes though a grin spread on his lips. "In bed... On the floor," he murmured, brushing his nose against hers gently. "You're just that good." He really wasn't even lying. He genuinely felt like he had the best sex he ever had with her. They were so in tune with each other, fully trusting each other and they never got bored. "Would've only been better if it was wrapped with a ribbon and a bow," he teased.

Sophie: “Mhm you’re definitely going to give me a complex that I’m the best.” She teased with a soft laugh as he laid still buried inside of her. They did have a great and healthy sex life. They knew how to balance and please each other. “Mm maybe if you ask and hope really really nicely you could get a nice ribbon and bow late tonight for a last present. I’m not saying you will. You have to be a good boy for those kinds of gifts.”

Alex: "I mean.." he trailed off with a chuckle, because to him she really was. He hummed, happy to be laying with her, so closely together and still connected. "Mmh, when am I not good to you?" he grinned cheekily before leaning in some to kiss her lips.

Sophie: “I didn’t say you had to be good to /me/ babe I said you had to be a good boy.” She teased as he kissed her, giggling against his lips. “Only good boys get special Christmas presents babe, that’s how it works.” Though obviously if he wanted her in ribbon and bow shed make it happen at some point too.

Alex: "Oh and how is one considered a good boy? Will I still get you with a ribbon and bow if I end up getting a tiny bit drunk with our guests over dinner tonight?" he chuckled softly. He brought his hand to her cheek, brushing his thumb over lips and sighing softly." I love being this close to you."

Sophie: “Depends on how drunk if you’re too drunk and you miss out in your ribbon and bow that’ll be all in you babe.” She warned but she would never stop him from drinking and enjoying. “I love being this close to you too. You know we should keep in mind doing this one night and snuggling up like this. We haven’t fallen asleep connected in awhile.” She pointed out brushing fingers across his face. “But next time in the bed will be nice.”

Alex: "I'm not planning on getting black out drunk," he chuckled. "Maybe I'll be a little.. Tipsy though." Alex smiled when Sophie brushed her fingers over his face, eyes looking at her, watching her as he hummed softly. "Mmh, yeah, that'd be nice." He often started feeling too hot while sleeping, having to strip off the blanket for a while but he never even considered that when they had fallend asleep this way. "The bed is so much more comfortable than the floor to sleep on," he murmured.

Sophie: “Well you know I would never tell you how much you can and can’t drink babe.” She said, “so if you wanted to get black out drunk I wouldn’t stop you but you’d potentially miss out on all the fun because I am not gonna attempt sex with you so drunk.” She reasoned but she knew he had no plans of it because it was Christmas and with the babies around he was never like that. “It is more comfortable to sleep on but sex under the Christmas tree was fun.” She grinned

Alex: He playfully rolled his eyes. "I'm not gonna get so drunk," he told her. He nuzzled his face in her neck and smiled against her skin. "So much fun," he said with a nod. "Kind of really hot too," he added, lifting his head to grin at her. "Are you comfortable enough to lay like this for a bit or do you want us to get up?"

Sophie: “I know, I would hate if you broke some of the kids toys because you were too drunk. You’d have two very unhappy babies and one screaming newborn because her siblings are upset.” She pointed out. “I’m comfortable if you are unless you need to get up.” For now she was comfortable she knew they’d have to get up because the kids would wake and Christmas would officially commence but sometimes just being connected with your partner was nice

Alex: "I'm not gonna break anyone's toys," he chuckled. "There are going to be parents for guests.. I'm so not going to get black out drunk in front of them," Alex laughed softly. "I'm perfectly fine.. You're very comfortable." He was still mostly resting on top of her, so he could tell.

Sophie: “Good Willa would be very upset if you broke her Barbie dream house by falling on it or something.” She teased giggling softly. “We’ll I’m glad I’m very comfortable I would think I would be too bony but I guess my boobs can make nice-ish pillows for right now.” She said laying her head back with her eyes closed.

Alex: "You're not too bony," he murmured as he rested his head on her, closing his eyes. "You are perfectly fine the way you are." He pressed a kiss to her neck to prove his point before nestling sgaknst her.

Sophie: A smile tugged at her lips, “you always say the sweetest things.” She murmured as she brushed her fingers through his hair again as she did it more to relax him as he nestled himself comfortably into her body.

Alex: He closed his eyes, nestling more against her and he smiled when he felt her hand in his hair, causing him to hum softly. He knew they couldn't actually sleep on the floor like this. It was gonna be time for the kids to wake up soon and Christmas craziness would catch up with them but for a moment, he just wanted to relax. "I love you," he murmured quietly, almost mumbled and muffled by her neck the way he nuzzled into her.

Sophie: They laid there for a little bit and she smiled hearing his words. "I love you too, Alex." she murmured, her eyes still closed. Sophie laid their a bit longer with his weight on her before she heard noises coming through the baby monitor, well, one of the baby monitors since they had three of them set up. "Mmm I think that's our warning it's time to get up and start the official Christmas fun." she chuckled softly.

Alex: He almost groaned a little as he heard what Sophie was referring too. It wasn't that he wasn't happy to watch the kids open their presents, but he'd been a little too comfortable laying like this with Sophie. "Was this not official Christmas fun?" he asked, a small grin curled onto his lips as he shifted and lifted his head to look at her. "Mmh, maybe this just counts as adult fun..." He took a small moment to kiss her before starting to push himself up, huffing out at the loss of contact as he slid out of her. Standing up, he helped Sophie up too before stretching. He headed for the bathroom after checking the baby monitors to make sure they were just fine still and then once he had used the toilette and splashed some water in his face, he grabbed some comfy clothes from the closet to put on. "I can go get Avery," he offered to give Sophie some more time to get ready.

Sophie: When he asked she laughed, "Oh this was Christmas fun but this was a very different kind of Christmas fun." she laughed because it was. "It was adult Christmas fun. After all, adult fun would have been just in the bed, not under the Christmas tree." she teased. Alex slipped out of her and she scrunched her face, and was helped up, grabbing a towel that was on the floor and attempting to clean herself enough before heading into the bathroom to clean herself up. "Thanks, there is bottles in the fridge you can warm up since I'm sure she's hungry." Even if she could nurse she liked to pump so that Alex could get bonding time to feed Avery as well. After slipping into the bathroom she cleaned herself up before putting herself into Christmas pajamas and then moving to get Willa and Noah into their own Christmas morning pajamas and helping Willa downstairs while carrying Noah. "Let's go see if Santa came and visited."

Alex: "Just so we're clear, you can never tell me I'm not romantic now, I totally made love to you under the Christmas tree," he smirked. He got dressed and let Sophie take some time to clean up and get ready too while he nodded and headed for Avery's nursery. He picked up the little girl and cooed go her, taking her downstairs and shifting her into one arm so he could get a bottle from the fridge and warm it up, testing the temperature before holding it so the baby girl could drink. He smiled when he heard Sophie coming down with their other little ones. Willa was tugging at hed mother's hand to get to the living room quicker, causing Alex who was settled on the couch, to laugh softly.

Sophie: "Have I ever said you /weren't/ romantic in general babe?" she asked, "Plus I tend to love when you fuck me too, so..." she grinned before closing the bathroom door knowing that would leave his head spinning a little. Willa was pulling on her by the time they got downstairs. "Willa don't pull, that's not nice." she said shaking her head as she got Noah set up in his little spot before she got Willa to sit down very obviously excited her little face in awe of all the presents under the tree. "Did we go overboard you think?" The room was literally half full of things she had gotten and wrapped and left out between them and Santa. Either way she showed Willa her side of presents and Noah his side and then knew Avery only had a few presents since she was so little she was just happy to be getting a fully belly tucked in Alex's arms as she sat on the floor Willa ripping into presents but Noah he was trying to eat the paper. "No, Noah.. not the paper."

Alex: Alex scrunched up his nose a little and groaned as Sophie closed the door behind her. Not that he could actually take any more time for anything like that now, with the kids awake. "Are you hungry?" he cooed to Avery as he picked her up and tucked her into his arm. He let her suckle on the bottle already as he moved into the living room and sat down just when Sophie brought the other two downstairs. Willa was all too excited, ripping into her presents while Noah seemed to think it was food, causing Alex to laugh. "No buddy, you can't eat that... We should've just gotten him snacks, babe.."

Sophie: "Noah no." she said trying to wrestle the paper away from the little boy who just squealed when she did. Every time he ripped the paper trying to eat more of it. "Everything just right in his mouth." Even when the toy was unwrapped he would attempt to put the toy in his mouth. Which she knew was normal it was his way of exploring and figuring things out. "There are some snacks wrapped, little the little baby goldfish in their stockings.." she said "But he's gonna put anything in his mouth. "OOOOH!" Willa squealed when she saw the big barbie dreamhouse in the corner of the room and ran over to it. "I think someone found her big present."

Alex: "I mean, the wrapping paper tastes exceptionally tasty," he grinned, obviously joking. Avery was suckling away and he looked down to make sure she was still good, tucked in his arms and he smiled softly. Willa's sudden squeal caused Alex to look up abd laugh as the littls girl ran over to the big barbie house they had gotten her. "She literally fits into it," he laughed.

Sophie: “Obviously.” She rolled her eyes as she helped him open another one of his presents before handing it to him for him to attempt to play with as Willa was obsessed with her new Barbie house. “All that matters is she likes it and she has about fifteen different dolls to unwrap to go with it and a few baby dolls to unwrap too.” She said as she got up and moved to sit next to Alex on the couch. “And merry Christmas little Avery are you all excited for your first Christmas.” She cooed

Alex: "So much better than the toys, what are they for anyway," Alex chuckled. Willa was all over her big gift and he knew she'd be busy playing with it for a while now. He glanced at Avery and smiled when she was done with the bottle. He leaned over to place the empty bottle down and then shifted the little girl to burp her before settling her back in his arms, smiling at Sophie as she sat down beside him. "Say I have a full belly now, momma, it's a great start to the day," he cooed softly.

Sophie: "Just a bunch of baby toys, you know developmental toys, so if he chews on them it's okay. One of them is a little play keyboard, don't tell Rian or he'll be very upset." she laughed. Once Alex burped her and settled her back in his arms she was kicking her little legs and stretching to cuddle up into him and she smiled. "She's got such a full belly she's gonna be fast asleep soon." she murmured rubbing. her belly before glancing around. "You know I know three kids under three is crazy but look I think we're pretty lucky." she said looking at their little family.

Alex: "I wanna hear you say that once she's mobile enough to move around the house. We're gonna be chasing three little ones before we know it and they're totally outnumbering us," Alex laughed, though he reached out to rest his hand on Sophie's thigh and giving it a gentle squeeze. He knew they were lucky, all of their kids were generally happy and healthy babies and it was moments like this you really realized how very lucky they were.

Sophie: “We’ll put them on leashes.” She said laughing when he said they would be chasing around three little ones and totally outnumbered. “But I’m just guessing you’ve learned to stop leaving babies in my vagina so we should be good now.” She grinned before giggling as she glanced over to Willa who was now ripping into more of her presents. She leaned into Alex and rested her head against his shoulder because even if they were out numbered she knew they were pretty lucky.

Alex: "Excuse me, this wasn't all me," he reminded her, chuckling softly as he watched Avery happily kicking her legs before starting to settle, eyes slowly falling closed. Willa was off to unwrap more presents and Noah was chewing away on one of his toys. It was a whole mess, the living room was covered in ripped paper, the kids right in the middle of it and the dogs sprawled around all the chaos. "Do you want them to give the dogs their new toys?" Not that the dogs didn't have enough stuffed toys already, but especially Peyton often destroyed his stuffed corn, so he usually got a new one of those for Christmas

Sophie: “I mean… it was though last I check no one else left them in me.” She said grinning. When Avery managed to start falling asleep she got up and picked her up moving her over to the pack and play and tucked her in. Noah was opening another present, “make sure he doesn’t eat the paper babe.” She said as she headed out to get the dog toys. “It feels so weird I’m missing our Bazzy boy.” She said softly as she grabbed the bag and called the dogs and dumped the massive amounts of toys out. Immediately Peyton was grabbing the stuffed corn and running while percy grabbed a toy and porky grabbed a ball.

Alex: He let her take the sleepy Avery to tuck her in and shifted off the couch to sit on the floor with the other too, keeping an eye on Noah and guiding him to rather try to eat the toy then the paper. "Let's open another one, maybe we'll get an actual snack this time, mh?" he chuckled softly and helpdd Noah grab something else. He looked up when Sophie returned and he nodded slowly. "Yeah, feels weird celebrating Christmas without him ripping up his presents," he said. "Maybe Noah learned from him last year, thinking the paper is to chew on.."

Sophie: “Maybe he did, he’s living Christmas for him.” She gave a small smile as the dogs ran in different directions with their toys and Sophie came to join them on the floor and popped Noah’s pacifier into his mouth so he couldn’t keep trying to eat the paper in between. “Snacks are in the stockings.” She said as she leaned back into the couch as she helped Willa open another present which was a doll she “oooh’d” over. “I think she’s loving all she presents. She’s been very spoiled this Christmas.”

Alex: When they were both settled on the floor with the kids, Percy came trotting over with his toy to rest by them, as he flopped down he pretty much pressed against Alex’s leg and he chuckled softly. “Excuse me?” he asked, reaching down to pet him. “They’re all so very spoiled,” Alex murmured, but he really didn’t mind. He loved to watch how excited they were about everything. It was so worth all the spoiling.

Sophie: She glanced over and looked at the chunky corgi that was flopped next to Alex with one of the new toys. "They are all spoiled. Dogs, kids." she chuckled. A smile spread on her lips as she leaned her head against Alex's shoulder, "This is a pretty special Christmas wouldn't you say?" she murmured. "They are going to nap so hard once they crash. So we should probably get them some breakfast soon."

Alex: “They are so spoiled,” he murmured, mindlessly scratching Percy’s back as he chewed on his toy. Alex turned his head a little to press a kiss to the top of Sophie’s and smiled. “You think we’ll actually get them away from the presents for breakfast?” Though their chances probably weren’t awfully bad since they all just loved food.

Sophie: She smiled when he kissed the top of her head. “Willa may have a bit of a melt down, Noah will be happy to see food.” She said their little chunky boy did love food now that he could have it. “Did you think bagels and cream cheese? Pancakes? Waffles?”

Alex: "The last time I made bagels for breakfast I ended up having to share mine with both of them - definitely no bagels today,” Alex laughed. “Pancakes would be just fine.. - am I in charge of breakfast?” he asked, glancing over at Sophie as he pet Percy. Willa was squealing again as she ripped up the last present and plopped down in front of the big barbie house to start playing.

Sophie: “You say that as if you wouldn’t have to share any other breakfast with them if they wanted.” She laughed because she knew it was true. “Doesn’t matter I can make breakfast or you can or we both can.” She didn’t mind either way. She knew they had gotten a lot of presents but Willa was done with hers finally and playing. “Ten bucks she’ll be around to open the rest of Noah’s and Avery’s eventually.” She laughed.

Alex: “Let me hope I can enjoy my breakfast in peace,” he laughed, though he knew she was right. He’d share for sure if the kids wanted some. “If we’re both gonna be in the kitchen who’s stopping Noah from eating the paper, huh?” Though he was happy with his pacifier right now, that could easily change. “We can’t let her open all of their presents.. can we?”

Sophie: “Are you saying I don’t need to dress up in ribbon and bow I can just make it you eat your breakfast as your Christmas delight.” She giggled. “I mean I don’t think we should she might get the idea she can open all presents remember upstairs she was opening ours. We can let her help opening Avery’s maybe.” She said. “And Noah we can put him in his high chair with some fruit while we cook to spare him eating paper.”

Alex: “Not saying that at all. Though I hope you know I don’t /expect/ you to dress up for me..” He watched Willa play and Noah too and shrugged his shoulders. “How do we stop from opening everything if we’re not in the room with her? I’m not sure she’s gonna care if we tell her no..”

Sophie: “I know you don’t expect anything babe.” She rolled her eyes. “Don’t take things so seriously.” When he asked how they were gonna stop her she shrugged. “We’re gonna probably have to get up earlier and earlier every year until they’re old enough not to open presents like that.” She said. “For the next few years.”

#para;xsophsturns #{christmas crazies}#{pgraphs}

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marzipanandminutiae · 3 years ago

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OT3, 17 and 30?

17. War AU

30. Holiday AU

"But she will be home for Christmas, won't she? Surely..."

Thomas smiled fondly at his sister. "You know, fifteen years ago you wouldn't have given a damn about Christmas."

"I still don't," Lucille said sharply. But her expression remained pensive. "I give a damn about Edith being here."

With a sigh, he passed the letter across the back of the sofa. There was a faint ripping sound as her nails dug into the upholstery- five more tears in the ancient velvet for someone to mend. Likely the woman who'd put them there.

Her voice was dangerously calm. "I can barely make head or tail of this; they've marked out half of it. Thomas, what does it mean?"

"It means there's no likelihood of anyone getting from Belgium to England in the near future. Let alone in a week. And by the sound of it, she couldn't be spared anyway."

A heavy exhale from behind him, but mercifully no further damage to the furniture.

"I don't see why she had to go. It's not as though she knows any more about nursing than any other woman in Britain."

Thomas grabbed her hand gently, not looking, not needing to, and stroked the back of it with his thumb. "Would she really be our Edith if she didn't go haring off into danger at the slightest provocation?"

#ask #anon #cpeak #ask meme #ask game #trope mashup #I have a whole headcanon about Edith the WWI Nurse #just ask my friend Mari

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yestolerancepro · 2 months ago

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Hi there thought I would draw your attention to this episode of Rip off Britain Holdays which includes a segment on Cruise ship holidays and how accessible they are for disabled people the report is 18 mins into the programme and runs to about 11 mins its from the BBC Iplayer so have 11 months to watch it

#Rip off Britian holidays #disability #cruise ship holidays

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heavens-bookshop · 4 years ago

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squiddz <3!!! i am very curious about 'tony vol 2' and 'summer lovin happened so fast'!

Hello hello!

AH YES our boy tony. Tony vol 2 is the rough outline of a sequel to this ficlet I wrote for the events Name The Author event! It’s meant to be a bit of pwp with Feelings, where they basically bang in the bathroom at the back of a pub. Here’s a lil snip!

He was here somewhere. Even if Crowley hadn't already mentioned he'd been skulking about this area working a few temptations, Aziraphale would have known. He could feel the dense ripple of something occult, could smell the hint of sulphur and scorched wood that lingered underneath the stench of tobacco and stale beer.

Sure enough, he spotted Crowley sitting further down the bar, chatting away to a middle-aged man in a chocolate brown suit. The hazy pub lights seemed to soften all the demon’s sharp edges, turned his shoulder length hair a rich chestnut. He smiled broadly at his conversational partner, top lip still embellished with red hair, and his easy demeanour with the human made something jagged and horrible twist in the bottom of Aziraphale's stomach.

Crowley caught sight of him over the man’s shoulder, and Aziraphale’s heart climbed into his throat. He waved off the human and weaved through the crowd at the bar until he was standing close enough for Aziraphale to smell his cologne.

"Aziraphale, what… what are you doing here?”

The desire that had been slow burning in Aziraphale's abdomen suddenly glowed red hot, and without thinking, he leaned forward and put his mouth next to Crowley's ear.

"Looking for you.”

As for summer lovin, this was a fic I had wanted to write based on a list of prompts someone posted last year called Summer Omens. I wanted it to be Az and Crowley taking a little holiday to the seaside after Armageddon, and I wanted to set it in the part of England where I grew up! I sadly only managed one prompt (lmao rip me) but I might try it again this summer!

In hindsight, Aziraphale wasn't entirely sure why he’d expected anything else from a seaside getaway in Britain. Of course it was going to be cold. When Crowley had suggested going away for the weekend, he'd harboured fantasies of strolling along the pier and holding hands on the beach, a kitsch room in an old B&B and romantic seafood dinners by candlelight. They’d hopped in the Bentley and drove north out of London, through the flat East Anglian countryside, until they reached the coast. Once Crowley had parked up along the promenade, Aziraphale excitedly scrambled out of the car, able to taste the salt on the air before he’d even managed to get the door open.

Then he’d laid eyes on the North Sea, murky and turbid with no way of knowing what he was stepping into, and his enthusiasm faltered.

Now he stood rooted to the spot, Oxfords dangling from one hand, the rolled-up cuffs of his trousers brushing the backs of his knees, and watched as another wave dashed against Crowley’s legs before retreating with a hiss.

Thank you for asking about my stuff!

#sungmee #ask meme #wip game #tony two!!!!

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neil-neil-orange-peel · 4 years ago

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tw // eating disorders for the name of the song but I’m Not Bulimic by Lower Than Atlantis would be a really good song to base a modern!AU of TYO on due to the parallels between thatchers Britain and the credit crunch at the end of the 00s

Hi, anon!

Yeah, totally! Anything angry at British politics has to have at least a little bit of a TYO feel. Actually, it's really weird listening to that song and hearing the 2010 vibes in it... And then realising 2010 was 11 years ago. 😶 If we were going to have the lads as Millennials (so say it's set a decade ago), then the credit crunch and the coalition and all of that bollocks would be high on their list of concerns. Austerity, anyone?

That said, Gen Z young ones (hello there), whilst likely also having a truly groovy time growing up under successive shitty Tory governments, also now have this pandemic on the doorstep of adulthood as well as just having gone through Gove's nasty exam changes and rising tuition fees. And Brexit. Which, of course, the majority of Gen Z had no say in and yet will have to live with the consequences of, whatever they may be.

So, concerning a modern TYO set at any point since the credit crunch, I for one would like to hear Rick rip the Liberal Democrats a new one (in his own ineffective, misguided way) when they went back on their 2010 election promise once in coalition with the Conservatives and agreed to raising university tuition fees. To be honest, Rick's take on anything from the last decade would surely be amusing. There's already a post of him in Summer Holiday floating around Tumblr somewhere, replacing "Thatcher's bloody Britain" with "Boris' bloody Britain". I also think he'd have been one of the young people (at least, on the surface) to become a Corbynista.

Sorry for only really mentioning Rick, he's the "political" one - he'd still hate Thatcher, by the way, he'd just probably know even less about her. I think all of the young ones would be pissed off about tuition fees, because even in the 1980s with grants (albeit shrinking ones - thanks, Thatch) they were still living in squalor. I know you don't start paying back the fees until after uni and when you're earning over a certain amount, but it's not a nice reminder dangling over you. They'd definitely all need to get jobs alongside studying - or maybe Neil could just get four jobs. 😂

Mike could still be a perpetual student, it's just his reasons for being one might be different now: he's not going to get any money for it, it just starves off finding a "career" when you don't know what you want to do. I can see him putting off the inevitability of finding work, even it it leaves him with a bloody lot of fees to pay off should he ever earn enough to do so (which is debatable). Neil likely wouldn't be very into politics - I mean, he didn't know who Norman Tebbit was in Oil - because it would depress him. He wouldn't like the Tories but he probably wouldn't know the nuances of everything going on... Although, to be fair, I don't think any of them would.

Vyvyan would just be bloody sick of everything. Still a punk and still violent... Probably not so much interested in politics as interested in pissing off authority figures. Still nihilistic. Rick would doubtless be sure he was about to lead a rising to make things better at any moment - the last decade has had a lot of big political moments, after all - but literally no one likes him so that's not going to happen. Much excitement and jeering on the night of the 2017 election; much depression and anger on the night of the 2019 election.

And that's just a vague dip into TYO and recent British politics. What would they think of modern culture? Social media? Reality TV? Wokeness? Whatever the fuck is going on with America?

The Young Ones is very much of its time in that it was produced in a world where it was risqué and cutting edge to swear and be violent and political on TV. That's no longer the case - thanks, in no small part, to TYO - so if it was made today (which I don't think it could be), it likely wouldn't be viewed as so ground breaking.

But TYO modern AUs? Keep 'em coming! And keep your eyes on Scumbag Monthly in the coming months...

Thanks for the ask! Sorry I went completely off topic... Again.

#asks #anon #the young ones #tyo #modern au #lower than atlantis #bullemia tw

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mydyspraxiablog · 1 year ago

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It been Halloween but I got bad cold bit dull day for me stayed in bed try rest so can get better but I feeling let family and friends downs.

So haven't dress up as witch this year I was going dress up as cat ever Halloween honer Sydnee and Annabel missing them badly. Sydnne and Annabel were my pets cats and I missing them called my Little Angels.

Now bit worry because family birthday come up and Christmas 🎄 but also be hard time for me it be second Christmas without Annabel and first Christmas without Sydnee and miss then badly.

Now family know I be sponder child with Compassionuk but do worry about give to charity but want help and support child wish could sponder all child in Compassionuk.

Ask if could do engish and Math crouse in Cannock College foundation engish but don't think it will happon.

I do want carry on do Art crouse with Lower Drayton Farm but do want going on holiday around world start June so decide why go in June but haven't decide yet but enjoy Turkey, Disneyland Paris but want some where new? Can't visit my sponder child in Ethiopia as not been years yet so have wait when right time with Compassionuk and it not yet.

Christmas time family play game but I live in fear of games my family like to win and don't like loser and even cheat get to win.

I got stop this now but before stop It Mum birthday on boxed day and want buy something but can't now. She won't give money buy things I always ask for mum.

It why got cold badly now after finshed my Art crouse 230pm was wait for No.8 bus but because of School buses took off 3.15pm 3.30pm and 3.45pm but on for school buses everybody went off get coffee as start to rain I worry that dinner was going get cold because mum want sight home which isn't going happon so have stayed bus stand for 3pm too 4pm wait for public buses coming but didn't because took three public bus of because of three schools buses Rip of Britain. Because with this cold got now missing fun things.

Dancing in Prue gym ,Stafford 3UA Christmas Market Art in new Northfield centre Art in Lower Dyton Farm.

It easy for dyspraxia stand up waiting for bus take hour instead 15 minutes once as wait for bus for three hours in Rickstock..

Think can't keep waiting for buses like this can't really stand up for long but that another story.

OK tell one secert I want make mum birthday card and Christmas card was going order birthday card on Amazon but mum got bee about Amazon is always moad about it theat cannel Amazon prime then I will cannel Netflix teacher whole family, control my life.

So instead look free sample of Gluten free food,Christmas card, and postcard but sad things no free postcard of Stafford can't take photo of Stafford town to send to sponder child in Ethiopia because Stafford town is a mess at movent just think waste there money every pubs are closing down.

Even if go Victoria Park going toilet there taps not work how can wash your hands with no water come from tap.

Any where need get things for mum birthday card and Christmas card with free samples because can't paid anything because mum won't give me money get cards and so got think plan b that free samples

#dyspraxia #Birthday #compassionuk #Christmas

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tiger-moran · 3 years ago

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Why is that goddamned ‘RIP the 2976 American people that lost their lives on 9/11′ post STILL circulating. No 2976 American people did not lose their lives in the 9/11 attacks, 2,605 American citizens lost their lives, the rest were from all over the world; in terms of deaths of citizens many countries were affected by it. 67 of them were british which is more people than were killed during the 7/7 bombings actually in Britain a few years later. I hate how these other people from all over the world still keep getting erased and forgotten about even when people are trying to make a point about the other people elsewhere wrongfully killed as an indirect result of those attacks, and how so many americans still act like it only matters because americans died and fuck everyone else I guess.

(and I’m still angry years on about how an american person (someone who was not directly impacted by the attacks) said to me, when I said no I’m not reblogging anything about the attacks on the anniversary because people just kept endlessly reblogging fucking gifs and pictures of the burning towers and people jumping to their deaths every fucking time the anniversary came around like these were just some clips from a popular film or a TV show or something and not images of real people dying horribly, essentially that ‘well you’re british so it didn’t really impact on you’. No, fuck off, this was not just some ‘american tragedy’, this was a thing that affected countless people all over the world; it was broadcast live for hours and hours into no doubt billions of homes all over the world; people from all over the world worked in the area; people from all over the world were in the area for other reasons like being on holiday there. Even if we weren’t there and weren’t directly affected by it, so many of us all over the world watched it all happening live on television and experienced so much shock and grief for what happened. And I did know two people, two english people, who were there on holiday heading towards the WTC that morning; had the timing been different by even half an hour or so they very likely would have died there. These were not people I knew well but the idea that two people I associated with came so close to just being snuffed out like all those others still plays on my mind now years and years later. Also acting like even if no british citizens were directly impacted by it, as if just because something happens in a different country we can’t feel empathy and compassion for them then? WTF?)

#also I highly doubt any of the figures on that post are accurate #and look I get the point that post was attempting to make #but whoever made it didn't even get the figures correct #I dreamt about those attacks for weeks afterwards though #I guess a lot of you weren't even born then #but seeing it all happening live like that #it was like nothing I'd ever seen before #it was harrowing #anyway RIP all those who died directly or indirectly as a result of those attacks #also RIP that other poor guy who was the only other person #murdered in NYC that day #his name was Henryk Siwiak #and I feel terribly sorry for him too #cos of how his death got overshadowed so much

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alectology-archive · 5 years ago

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SJ/M’s unacceptable and lazy usages of real world places/cultures

I’m aiming to make this the most comprehensive list of SJ/M stealing bits and pieces of world history and pretending like she came up with them. Feel free to comment down below or send an ask if you can think of anything.

The addition of adaptation of names from some real-world places is included either because of insensitivity (Hybern and Prythian) or mostly because SJ/M doesn’t try to represent any of the cultures she takes from.

Note that this post will keep getting updated as I discover more evidences of unacceptable usages of cultures. Also note that there is every possibility that some resemblances are purely accidental and/or unintentional. So take it with a grain of salt.

T/HRONE OF GLASS

- Most of the cultural activities mentioned in Tower of Dawn are rip-offs of Mongolian culture and seem to resemble the Dothraki from Game of Thrones very closely.

- Pagan holidays mentioned in the books:

Yulemas* is celebrated in Erilea despite there already existing an established religion consisting of 12 gods and goddesses.

Samhain* is a festival celebrated by Irish and Scottish people.

Beltane* is a festival celebrated historically in Ireland and Scotland.

- Nehemia is probably derived from the Jewish leader Nehemiah who helped rebuild Jerusalem. Instead of trying to work that into Nehemia’s narrative, SJ/M killed off Nehemia to serve a white woman’s narrative.

- Mycenae is a historical site in Greece.

- Illium is an actual Greek city as well.

- Ravi in KoA is named after a Hindi word which means “sun”.

- Strangely enough Ravi’s brother is named Sol after the Roman god of the sun.

- Suria, where Ravi is from, is also a synonym for sun in Hindi.

- Mab is from the story of “Queen Mab”.

- Maeve is a sexual goddess in Irish mythology who was actually raped. So making Maeve a rapist in the books was hurtful.

A/COTAR

- Nagas belong to Hindu/Indian mythology included in a book that’s clearly a very western fantasy and has little to no PoC representation.

- Illyrians were an actual indo-european tribe with close relations to modern day Albanians. S/JM is not the first person to feature them in her work but other authors have used versions of the name like “Illyria” by Shakespeare, “Ilirea” by Paolini, “Valyria” by GRRM etc. which are acceptable.

- Calan Mai is actually a celebration of spring in Welsh culture. As @gemorsedd put it so eloquently, SJ/M turned it into a festival about Tamlin being unable to control his hormones.

- Hybern is derived from the classic latin name of Ireland which is “Hibernia”.

- Prythian is a modified version of the ancient name of Britain “Prydain”. COINCIDENTALLY, Prythian VERY closely resembles the UK. It’s also possible that she plagiarised the name from Anne Bishop’s Daughter of Blood.

Note for further reading: Read @blakeseptember’s about why SJ/M was especially insensitive in including Prythia and Hybern in the ways she did: https://blakeseptember.tumblr.com/post/187088853587/hybern-as-ireland

- Bharat is actually the Hindi name for India which is mentioned in ACO/TAR. Not only is it mentioned that Feyre’s father was sailing to Bharat to trade in cloth and spices (which was exactly what British colonialists and traders did when they sailed to India), it’s also said, quite clearly, that Feyre’s mother died of Typhus while her cousin died of Malaria (IN BHARAT). By doing so SJ/M is blatantly promoting a very colonialist view of India.

The Malaria mention: “My mind was void, a blank mess of uselessness. Could it be some sort of disease? My mother had died of typhus and her cousin had died of malaria after going to Bharat. But none of those symptoms seemed to match a riddle. Was it a person?”

The Trade of cloth and spices: “I swallowed. ‘Eight years ago he amassed our wealth on three ships to sail to Bharat for invaluable spices and cloth.’”

- Myrmidons feature in A/COWAR. The Myrmidons is actually a nation from Ancient Greek mythology (led by Achilles in the siege of Troy).

- Harem pants which are worn in parts of South and Middle-east Asia feature in the books where they’re introduced into a court consisting of white people only.

- F/eyre’s floral tattoos are very reminiscent of mehendis which are very important to Indian, Arabic and North African cultures but it’s a trait given to a white woman here. Read this post.

C/RESCENT CITY

- Danaan is from Tuatha de Danaan (celtic mythology) / Danaans is another name for Greece in the Iliad, used interchangeably with “Argives” and “Achaeans”.

- Avallen is Avalon (the legend of King Arthur). Ruhn’s story also bears a very close resemblance to the legend.

- 6 point star = Star of David

- Lehabah = a word in Hebrew meaning "a flame" (להבה)

- Mount Hermon = an actual mountain place in the northern part of Israel. In Hebrew: הר החרמון.

- SPQM’s full form is Senatus Populusque Midgard. Which is awfully close to the SPQR of the ancient Roman empire which is Senatus Populusque Romanus

- The river Tiber mentioned in CC is actually a Roman river.

- Midgard, in Norse mythology, is the home of mankind. In Norse mythology.

- Sandriel: Comes from the angel Sadriel, the angel of order. S/JM added an “n.”

- Orion “Hunt” A/thalar: First name is pretty obvious, Orion as in the hunter which is where his name “Hunt” comes from. Probably from the god Attar called Athtar in Southern Arabia. Attar is sometimes considered a storm god explaining his lightning powers, but also linked to the Morningstar aka Lucifer. No explanations are given regarding as to how the constellations of our world are the same as that of SJ/M’s fantasy AU.

- Shahar Daystar: From the dawn deity Shahar. Also linked to Lucifer.

- Jesiba Roga: A Croatian respelling of Baba Yaga. Jesiba Roga, is quite literally just a combination of Ježibaba (a figure closely related to Baba Yaga in West Slavic folklore) and Baba Roga (the Croatian version of of Baba Yaga).

- Danika Fendyr: Danika is a Slavic dawn deity. Fendyr comes from Fenrir a wolf in Norse mythology.

- Isaiah: Taken from Isaiah 14:12-15 which details the fall of Lucifer. It’s also easily accessible from Shahar’s Wikipedia page (which may imply that SJ/M uses Wikipedia for research and just steals/lazily incorporates whatever she finds along the way.)

12 “How you are fallen from heaven,

O [a]Lucifer, son of the morning!

How you are cut down to the ground,

You who weakened the nations!

13 For you have said in your heart:

‘I will ascend into heaven,

I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;

I will also sit on the mount of the congregation

On the farthest sides of the north;

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,

I will be like the Most High.’

15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,

To the [b]lowest depths of the Pit.

- Fury Axtar: Hunt is likely related to Attar or maybe even Ishtar or Ashtaroth. It’s unclear right now. Ishtar is sometimes linked to Lucifer as well. It’s possible that she’s named after the Furies in Greek mythology, deities of vengeance.

- Micah Domitus: Micah is a prophet in Judaism.

- Syrinx: A chimera in this book, a nymph known for her devotion to Artemis.

- Urd: The god of flame and shadow possibly the name comes from Urðr one of the three Norns in Norse mythology.

- Luna: A Roman moon goddess

- Cthona: “Chthonic”, in English, describes deities or spirits of the underworld, especially in Ancient Greek religion.

- Vanir: The Vanir are actually group of Norse gods.

- Asphodel Meadows: A section of the ancient Greek underworld where ordinary souls were sent to live after death.

- Hel: Hel is a goddess but also a location in Norse Mythology for the dead. Depictions of Hel depend on the source of the information. It’s strange that Hel and Asphodel Meadows belong in the same place, translating to lazy world building on SJ/M’s part.

- Midgard: In Norse Mythology basically the plane of existence of humans.

- Laconic Mountains: Named after Laconia the administrative capital of Sparta.

- Nidaros: Where Bryce grew up. It’s the ancient name of Norway’s capital when the Christian kings ruled. It’s now called Trondheim.

- Istros River: Taken from Istros of Ancient Greece

- Valbara: Taken from the super continent Vaalbara

- Pangera: probably Pangea, the huge supercontinent on which dinosaurs lived

- Crown of Thorns: In reality it’s a symbol of Jesus but in the book it’s branded onto the foreheads of angels who rebelled in a war some decades ago.

- Keres: Phillip Briggs’s terrorist gang is named after the Keres who are “goddesses who personified violent death and who were drawn to bloody deaths on battle fields.”

- Sailing: A Norse funeral custom for Vikings as seen in movies like How To Train Your Dragon 2 and Thor: The Dark World. Here’s more information on it, but it seems SJ/M got it wrong. Most Vikings were usually cremated and it was mostly used for Kings and Chieftains (Danika might fall into the Chieftain category).

- 33rd Imperial Legion: Could be a reference again to Jesus who was 33 at his death.

- The Ophian rebels (of which the the Keres rebels are a subgroup of) are named after Ophian, and elder Titan in Greek mythology.

Sources I’ve derived some facts from so far:

- Sapir Englard on Goodreads via @spaceshipkat’s tumblr post using Hebrew in CCity.

- @bittenwrath for basically everything in crescent city.

- @blakeseptember’s tumblr about Hybern’s origins.

- An anon dropped by with “Hel”

- @chenmighty and @tavithelibrarian pointed out the Illyrians.

- @sylphene and @omourningstar for Prydain

- @ok-boomer pointed out that Yulemas, Samhain and Beltain are all pagan holidays.

- @gemorsedd For pointing out Calan Mai

- An anon pointed out the Norns, Danaan and Avalon.

- @mimiofthemalfoys for the Bharat, malaria, typhus, spices and cloth mention.

- @kryingkardashianz for Danaans being another name of Greece and Myrmidions.

- an anon pointed out Nidaros

- @shurislut for mehendi and harem pants

- @sanktaalinaa for Jesiba Roga

- @croissantcitysucks for the Ophian Rebels

#anti sjm #anti tog #anti throne of glass #anti ccity #anti acotar #anti sarah j maas #compilation

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disneyat34 · 4 years ago

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The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad at 34

A review by Adam D. Jaspering

The 1940s were a troubled time for Disney Studios, financially. Through deal-making, patience, and budgeting, Disney Studios endured a dark age and righted themselves. By 1949, they were free to return to the path established at the decade’s beginning.

Abandoned interpretations of Cinderella, Peter Pan, and Alice in Wonderland started up again. Production began on Disney’s first completely live-action film, Treasure Island. True-Life Adventures, a series of documentary shorts, were a surprise hit. The 1950s were going to be very kind to Walt Disney and his company. But they weren't there yet. There was one final task before Disney could shut the door on the 1940s.

The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad was to be the final package film from Disney, closing out this era. The movie is comprised of two shorts: The Wind In the Willows, and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The two shorts have no thematic link besides being literary adaptations. For much of its development, it had the working title Two Fabulous Characters.

The Wind In the Willows is an adaptation of the 1908 children’s book by Kenneth Grahame. The story centers around a quartet of animals living in Edwardian England. The sensible MacBadger, Ratty, and Moley try their best to help their outlandish and boisterous friend, Mr. Toad. Basil Rathbone narrates the short.

At various points of its production, Disney Studios intended to adapt the book into a full-length movie. The troubles at Disney Studios and a string of creative blocks impeded its completion. At the insistence of Walt Disney himself, it was finally scaled back to a half hour short.

The Wind In the Willows has a level of appreciation in its native Britain, but in the United States, it’s a somewhat obscure novel. Much of its substance relies on a knowledge of British customs and sensibilities. This cultural disconnect makes it relatively inaccessible to American children. For a book featuring talking animals, a runaway locomotive, and a prison break, there is a large focus on manners and dignity.

Being an American production company, Disney Studios had an uphill battle. They not only had to produce the ostensibly British work, they needed to deconstruct it. They couldn't just deliver the story, they needed to present it in a way that could be understood by children internationally. A comedy of manners doesn't work if one doesn't understand the setting and society. Disney does not deliver in this regard. Everything comes across as British for British sake.

The character MacBadger is voiced by animator Campbell Grant. Grant had been working with Disney since the Hyperion Studio days. He was born in Berkley, California, and never lived in Scotland. His talents as a voice actor reflect the fact. He provides an incredibly forced and painful Scottish brogue.

On the other hand, Ratty has such a perfect English accent, it’s almost a parody. Ratty is voiced by Claud Allister, an actual British actor. Allister seems determined to perform the most stereotypical British character ever witnessed by an American audience. Ratty has a stuffy London accent, smokes a pipe, wears a deerstalker cap and wool suit, has a bushy mustache, aristocratic mannerisms, and regularly hosts tea. Is English his nationality, or his personality?

The other characters (minus the Scottish MacBadger) are English as well, but allowed other traits. Is Ratty a joke? Is he meant as an object of ridicule? Is this Disney's attempt at societal farce? His characterization is confusing and doesn't help the story.

The main character, touted as ‘fabulous’ by the film’s working title, is Mr. Toad. Mr. Toad is an individual of great wealth. Old family money, to be specific. He has no work ethic, no discipline, and is intent on spending his fortune and his days as recklessly as possible. MacBadger, Ratty, and Moley spend their days cleaning up Mr. Toad’s messes and curtailing future mistakes.

The relationship between these four is something of a mystery. Ratty and Moley appear to be roommates. MacBadger operates as accountant of Mr. Toad’s estate, apparently a long-time employee. But how all four came to meet is never fully explained or implied. For the purposes of the film, they are burdened with Mr. Toad and his antics. This is their lot in life.

Mr. Toad is a vivacious individual who’s quick to jump on frivolous trends, indulging his whims at a moment’s notice. He spends way too much money on ostentatious displays of conspicuous consumption. We’re introduced to him, rampaging down the road on a horse-drawn carriage. Ratty and Moley beg and plead for him to stop, as he is causing an alarming amount of property damage. Mr. Toad scoffs at their request.

But Mr. Toad's interest in his wagon is halted by another method. Seeing an automobile, his appreciation for wagons disappears. He becomes maniacally obsessing over owning a car. Ratty and Moley intervene again, locking Mr. Toad in his bedroom as though he were an addict detoxing. Mr. Toad's fits are a nice piece of visual humor, but don't endear the viewer to his selfish behavior.

Mr. Toad escapes out his window, finding a tavern full of literal weasels ready to sell him the stolen car. The weasels are stock criminals. Their purpose is to distract the viewer. To trick them into not suspecting the true villain of the feature. The deceit is ineffective, not from a narrative standpoint, but an animation standpoint.

The bartender is one of the most on-the-nose designed characters in the history of animation. His treachery is supposed to be a surprising plot twist, as though we could not see it coming from miles away. The man practically has "villain" tattooed on his forehead. With his squinty eyes, malicious grin, hunched posture and arched eyebrows, the animators did not give their audience any credit. Anyone who could not come to the independent conclusion that he is a con man deserves to be ripped off.

Mr. Toad's friends are forced to intervene again, testifying on his behalf. To no avail. Mr. Toad is arrested, but escapes from prison in an effort to prove his wrongful conviction. MacBadger, Ratty and Moley are tasked one final time to reverse Mr. Toad's fortune and prove his innocence. It is a very one-sided friendship.

Mr. Toad eventually clears his name. He doesn’t learn any lesson, immediately returning to his old imprudent lifestyle. Mr. Toad experiences no consequences, and suffers no losses. His friends don’t think any less of him. They receive no reward for their faithfulness. Our heroes end up exactly where they had started.

The Wind In the Willows is an adventure where somehow nothing happens. There’s no moral, no journey, no change, no growth. It’s a chapter from the characters’ lives. It feels immaterial.

Perhaps Disney Studios expected to reuse the characters in the future. Only a portion of Grahame's book is represented in the cartoon. The Wind In the Willows could conceivably be a franchise. Story elements cut from the original feature-length script could be repurposed into one or two additional shorts.

If this was the plan, of course the writers needed to hit the reset button. Viewers wouldn't understand a follow-up cartoon if they hadn't seen the predecessor. The shorts would need to operate independently as well as part of a series. The characters end here unaffected, consequence free, but primed for another outing later.

If this was the plan, nothing came to fruition. As Disney presents it, The Wind In the Willows is an abandoned pilot. It's the pointless story of an unlikable amphibian and his overburdened friends. A good story makes you glad you went on the journey. The Wind in the Willows is the equivalent of walking into a room and forgetting why.

The production of The Wind In the Willows continued off and on beginning in 1938. Walt Disney himself was rather indifferent to the source material. He only optioned the film rights for financial opportunity. Ironic, as the production was a complicated, eight-year boondoggle.

At various times, it was intended to be paired with Mickey and the Beanstalk or Pecos Bill, and released as early as 1946. For varying reasons, it wasn’t released until 1949, when it was paired with another short entirely.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow had a much simpler production history. There was no logical way to adapt the 24-page short story to a full-length feature. From the beginning, it was intended to be a short. Production began in 1946. In 1947, Disney decided it would accompany The Wind In the Willows to the big screen.

Why pair these two unrelated shorts together? There’s no official justification, but one can deduce their intention. Disney Studios was sick and tired of package films. They wanted to move on. They didn't want to spend a single extra minute supporting them. They had two shorts completed, ready for distribution. It didn't matter how disconnected they were in subject. Sometimes art is a labor of love. Sometimes you want to end the creative process as fast as possible.

Referred to as Ichabod Crane by the film, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is based on the 1820 short story by Washington Irving. The story centers around a superstitious schoolteacher, Ichabod Crane. New in town, he vies for the romantic attention of a wealthy heiress, Katrina van Tassel. Crane is impeded by local townsman Brom Bones, also courting Katrina. As the contest grows to a head, a mix of animosity and local legend decides the fate of Crane.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is one of the earliest pieces of American literature to be regarded as a classic. It remains a staple of the gothic horror genre. The featured monster, The Headless Horseman, remains a chilling figure in the horror pantheon. What's more, the Disney version is considered the definitive adaptation and a Halloween staple.

With such an established holiday association, it’s easy to forget that all mentions of Halloween don’t occur until halfway through. More than that, the iconic ride of the Headless Horseman lasts seven minutes. The first half of the story is nothing more than a typical love-triangle. Just set during the Washington administration.

It’s a testament to great storytelling and memorable characters. Half the picture is establishment and foreshadowing, but never feels plodding or pointless. It all builds, shapes the world, and pays off spectacularly at the end.

The physical appearance of Ichabod Crane is a master stroke of design. Crane is tall, rail thin, with long legs, and a large nose. He looks every bit like the bird he shares a name with. He looks odd, comical even, but not out of place among the other citizens of Sleepy Hollow.

It’s part of his charm that such a gangly, awkward fellow is depicted as a classy, desirable man. Him being voiced by Bing Crosby is a large element of this attraction. It’s not stunt-casting. The disconnect between a major celebrity’s charisma coming from the mouth of a laughably ungainly character is fantastic. It’s just one great element of an intricate character.

Every time we think we understand who Crane is, we learn something new to smash those conceptions. He’s a man of letters, but also superstitious. He’s a romantic, but also deviously wants to marry Katrina for her money. He’s a disciplinarian, but easily swayed by his own interests. A running gag demonstrates he values food over everything. Crane is an enigma.

In contrast, Brom Bones is an archetype. There’s not much to comment on. He’s a burly man, popular with the townsfolk, prone to violence when challenged. He's singularly focused on a specific woman who barely gives him attention. We’ve seen this archetype already with Lumpjaw in Fun and Fancy Free, and we’ll see it again in Beauty and the Beast.

And yet, Brom Bones surprises us by transcending his himbo personality. He displays a precisely-executed bit of cunning. Brom takes advantage of Crane’s superstitions, reciting the story of the Headless Horseman at a Halloween party. With perfect delivery and cadence. He captivates the townsfolk with his tale, but leaves Crane paralyzed by fear.

The final climax features a sense of ambiguity outshining Irving's original story. It’s strongly implied that the Headless Horseman is truly a myth. That Crane experiences no supernatural entities. Instead, it's Brom Bones in disguise who terrorizes Crane on his way home. It's the second half of his scheme, causing Crane to flee town, leaving Brom alone to marry Katrina.

It's strongly implied, but not definite. One may also choose to believe the Headless Horseman is real. That Crane did indeed meet his doom on Halloween night. It’s open for interpretation, and both are viable. Even if one is slightly more credible than the other.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a fantastic short. Ichabod Crane is interesting and complex. The environments are lush and evocative of a New England autumn. The story is fun and engaging. Its final act is atmospheric and chilling. It's the perfect introduction for children to the horror genre, and holds up to adult sensibilities. It deserves to be watched once a year. But just like with Disney’s other package films, a great short is better enjoyed separated from a crudely assembled movie. And The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad is as crude as they come.

The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad was the last in a long march of frugal package films. Mandated by financial constraints, everyone knew they were low-effort affairs. Thankfully, Disney Studios could pursue ambitious productions once again. Disney would not produce another package film until 1977, when the studio encountered similar financial problems. But in 1949, the era was finally behind them. The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad wasn’t meticulous, wasn’t neat, and wasn’t even coherent as a feature. But it was a film. Disney shut the door on the era with a resounding slam.

Fantasia Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Pinocchio Bambi The Three Caballeros Dumbo Melody Time Saludos Amigos The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad Fun and Fancy Free Make Mine Music

#The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr Toad #The Wind in the Willows #The Legend of Sleepy Hollow #Disney #walt disney #Walt Disney Animation Studios #disney studios #Film Criticism #film analysis #movie review #Disney Canon

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