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brooklynislandgirl · 4 months

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Lola hurtles across the Arizona desert like she’s a reflection of a comet streaking across the night sky. Her treads belch orange flame, though the burning tires seem never to melt away, nor produce any toxic fume to endanger her occupants, as she speeds well in excess of any limit a vehicle of her type and capacity is bound by law – perhaps also by physics – to travel. Her interior is the least offensive feature she expresses, a housing that while pitch black does not retain the heat which it ought capture and suffocate its occupants with. The air within is clean and warm, bearing the oddest combination of scents for being a vehicle on fire: the salty bite of sea breeze, the soothing scent of massage oils, and… if one’s nose were sensitive enough… the sweetness of citrus, berries, and tropical flowers.

But occasionally, that calming bouquet is abruptly pierced by the acrid punctuation of antiseptic cleansers.

The driver is aflame, though he doesn’t cry out as his skull burns endlessly. His empty-eyed gaze is fixed on his destination, perhaps not even seeing that Lola is not astride a path… or not caring. His means is as the crow flies. He has a death grip on the wheel, as though willing his scorched chariot to remain steady for the rail-thin passenger across the backseat, huddled beneath the blanket he had draped across her. And Lola obeys that bid, her shock absorbers bearing every burden beneath her wheels without so much as transmitting a single stone’s intrusion upon their improvised road.

His foot depresses the brake pedal, and that application seems to not just slow their velocity, but also the intensity of the flame surrounding both the vehicle and himself. Within moments, Lola is slowed to a speed more customary to highways, and a nudging course correction brings her onto the shoulder of a road cutting across the dark waste. By the time she aligns fully with the westbound lane, she bears no trace of flame or soot… and neither does her driver, whose features return to him beneath the cold light of the moon.

Five minutes later, when a cherry red 1962 Chevrolet Corvette arrives at a nondescript motel smack in the middle of nowhere, not a soul on Earth could rightly say where the car had come from… nor that the bored and exhausted owner of the establishment cared one whit, as long as they were paying customers. A handful of cash identifies those customers as Mr. and Mrs. Smith, though the proprietor never lays eyes on the missus. Neither will he lay eyes on the mister again after giving him the room key.

Phil returns to Lola moments later, opening the driver’s door and leaning in. His voice is no more ravaged by the flame that had consumed his head than his features are. “We’re here. I’m going to carry you inside now.”

He does exactly that, bearing Beth up in his arms with no effort whatsoever… considering her obvious malnourishment, by this point, the suppressing collar about her neck might weigh more than she herself does. And he carries her to the door of their room, on the other side of the lot from the attendant’s station.

It’s the closest he has ever come, in his entire existence, to performing the bridal carry. A tradition of questionable morality – ancient Roman, because of course – but one of its inspirations seems especially pertinent now. Perhaps evil spirits will be disinterested in crossing this threshold if they’re forbidden from entering through Beth’s bare feet… though she need only be released from that damnable collar to attend to that matter herself.

When the door closes behind them, he shifts his hold about her, bringing her to the edge of the bed – of course there’s only one, because for a mister and missus, why should there be two? Are they Ricky and Lucy? – so that he can set her down.

But it’s in that moment that her arms snake about his neck and constrict him like a boa. He can feel the hiccupping breaths she draws, her chest stuttering against his as much as her breath issues in staccato against his ear.

He can do nothing but wrap his arms about her in turn. If they are all they have now… then this is more important than anything in the world. And he gives her perhaps the last iota of comfort he has left to give.

“I’ve got you. I’m not letting go.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The last hours have been a series of blurry snap-shots. Fire consuming down to the bone but encapsulating her with warmth. Something cracking open inside of her chest after incredible atrophy and the pained relief comes pouring out of her in tears. In terror. In clinging like a frail vine on a trellis. Her ears ring occasionally, alternating between piercing shrieks and emptiness, more pressure than sound that she can only associate with the sensation of numbness. Light and dark and abruptly cut off screams, shearing metal, burning...flesh, sickening her further with a sense of hunger. All stitched together with lancing pain and waves of nausea, ameliorated with the mercy of silent darkness that comes when she drifts to unconsciousness. She doesn't know how she arrives in the car, nor is she fully awake to register the sharper visuals of Lola's race through the night. She breathes in shallowly at first then deeper drafts when there's a noticible lack of sterile, desiccated air. Now and again she thinks she might be hallucinating in an attempt to self soothe from the misery of her new reality. Of course it would explain Phil in such a monstrous guise. His protective nature, his willingness to give up everything he holds dear to protect someone he considers his own. Her mind filters in the smell of hibiscus and plumeria, pikake, but also paper flower, orchid, and ginger. Scents common in her islands but also... They don't talk about that place, she doesn't know it and Phil never really wanted to dredge up that particular point of his past. It was the first steps toward truly learning to trust one another. She clings to the trade-wind brine. Slowly she registers the futility of this fantasy but still finds herself needing to hold onto it, to let it provide a buffer for what she will suffer when the dream ends. That moment comes sooner than she would like it to though at first its only the second hand sensory input that dulls until it fades into obscurity. Other noises that don't belong in her carefully spun delusion grab her and drag her toward wakefulness systematically even when she fights and fails. Eventually she gives up trying, she doesn't have the stamina for it. The first thing that comes to mind is a shock of shivering cold. Goose-flesh ~chicken skin, as she's always know it to be called~ prickles her skin and jars her body with the slightest movement. Beth groans into the dark but the sound doesn't reach anyone's ears but her own. She doesn't try to lift her head. It feels too heavy and in danger of floating away if she does, a dichotomy she cannot resolve in her current state. Then that calm, familiar voice sweeps in around her. She pries her eyes open and her lashes are spiky with dried tears and dusts. The darkness she's always been afraid of is suddenly soothing while her throat, stiff and raw from lack of regular use and liquids, seems to crack when she gasps. "Phil? Are you....real?" She isn't sure if he's putting off answering that or if he didn't actually hear her when he scoops her up into his arms. His familiar scent envelopes her. As does the sound of his heartbeat. The aura of calm that she's rarely seen ruffled feels like a salve to sun ravaged skin. She murmurs slurred apologies about being a burden even as she presses her face to the side of his neck, feeling a faint hint of stubble against the tip of her nose. Otherwise she remains surprisingly docile as he carries her into a room. It isn't the dated Seventies decor, and cut off from her spheres, Beth is spared the knowledge of what might live in the carpet ~orange, patterned but clean enough looking~ or what fluids might have irrevocably stained the covers on the bed, that truly snares her attention. It's the solid feel of him, the cumulative reward of her faith that though the world might have ended, Phil would still survive it. It means that in spite of everything she didn't betray him. Arms wrapped around his neck, she shakes as tears spill freely down her cheeks. Her breath hitches and she swallows against the cold, heavy weight around her throat. She tries to pull herself together. "You've got to be so tired. Tell me you're not hurt. That the monster didn't find you and hurt you."

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inkofamethyst · 2 years

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November 25, 2022

Nothing of what I’m about to say is actually important! But I’ve had a chill past couple of days, and I’m thankful for that (*my December 1 deadlines glare at me from a separate tab*).

First off, went to see Black Panther 2. Overall, I did enjoy it, I’d say. I don’t think it was as good as the first one, but I also recognize that, for me, at least, a lot of the movie’s shortcomings were rooted in the way that the script felt like it was stretched too thin. This isn’t even about length. I think the movie was stretched between being a tribute to Chadwick Boseman, telling its own story, and connecting itself to the broader MCU. [spoilers ahead!] Now, there were a lot of things about this movie that I liked. I liked the tributes (they were both solemn and celebratory, bittersweet, a solid balance), I liked the way they handled losing T’Challa’s presence, I liked the Latine representation (though, honestly, I really wish we could have seen more of the underwater city), I liked the girl power, I liked Riri’s character (though that actress looks like a whole twenty-six year old,,, ain’t nobody in that theater thought she was nineteen, she just tiny (but she did a great job bringing that youthful energy)), I liked the political stuff, I liked the music, I liked the costuming. Nowadays I like the tiktok jokes about how Namor was literally making fanart about the girl he was most definitely into right after she whooped up on him. There’s a lot to like if you pull the components apart. The story just suffered a little, I think.

I think the standout MCU movies/shows tend to be the ones that don’t try so hard to connect to the broader universe. Moon Knight, the first Black Panther... that isn’t to say that universe connection is automatically negative, it’s just that it can feel forced, sometimes. Overall, I would recommend BP2. It’s not one of my top-ten must-see Marvel movies, maybe even not top fifteen, but it’s not one to skip either. I think sometimes internal/unconscious biases can influence how harshly I judge something, and that’s something to keep in mind too.

Second, onto discussing the event that has entertained me throughout the break: the dabloon trend on tiktok. Now, I joined the trend about two days after its inception, but dabloons are basically a fake currency on a small side of tiktok which can be used to purchase goods, they can be taxed, they can be stolen... I have had so much fun over the past few days collecting dabloons, travelling the world, meeting cats along the way (key note: the denizens of this dabloon world are almost all cats). I’ve enrolled in two universities dablooniversities, I’ve got half a dozen dragons, a pirate ship, more swords than I could ever dream of using, a house, a reformed robber-cat as a companion, and more. The trend runs entirely on the honor system with people keeping track of their accounts and items in their notes app, and it’s basically a giant dungeons and dragons game, a massive hallucination.

Lots of people have done analyses on the trend itself, but before I talk about those, it’s also pertinent to note that there’s sort of two sides to dabloontok: the fantasy traveler side (which I prefer, naturally), and the capitalist hellscape side (which I have little contact with). Both of these generally follow certain rules, but a little while after the trend started, some people noted that its increasing popularity was resulting in inflation. Some of those people splintered off, formed a full government (IRS, FBI, police, military, DASA (dabloon nasa), president, news channels (including a Fox News parody), etc), held an election, instituted a purge, formed mafias, formed revolutions against a government which would permit a purge (which like, yes to that)... Now, plenty of people have bemoaned the fact that part of such a wholesome fantasy trend which encouraged giving, travel, and trust turned into a copy of what we live through daily (one barista was literally offered a job as a tavern waitress... she was offered to pretend to have her real job), and others have theorized that by starting a system off with currency, it was inevitable that we would end up with late-stage capitalism. Still others have suggested that the problem was not currency, but rather a lack of imagination, as there is a difference between mercantilism and capitalism, and some people are so caught up in the real world that even in play it is difficult for them to do something else. It is worth it to note that plenty of people still exclusively engage with the fantasy components, but there tends to be an excess of shops and taverns with few original quests, and I think that’s what’s driving the trend to become stale.

Just to recount some of the fun adventures I’ve had:

I’m getting a dabplooma in earth magic (which I selected before receiving a pirate ship, otherwise air or water magic might’ve been more useful)

I almost had one of my organs harvested, but I used one of my hidden daggers to fight my way out

I cannot tell you how many cats have invited me into their homes for a warm meal and bed for free

I am currently carrying drug crystals for a Walter White-cat in one of my bags of holding? (I’ve never seen Breaking Bad)

I temporarily traveled with a posh Victorian cat who wanted to leave their life behind and see the world

A cat from the mafia gave me a gun but no ammo. That’s okay because I have two bows and multiple quivers of arrows, but still? Am I supposed to throw the gun??

I volunteered for the revolution to bring down the dablourgeoisie and liberate cat-kind from their market manipulation, but I have to assume that the government took the organization down from the inside because I never received contact from them again (never showed back up on my fyp). That was my first and last active interaction with capitalist dabloontok

I received +50 dabloons from Ikea. So. (listen. I know we’re anti-advertising, I know, I know brands aren’t people, I know, but it was shocking and funny, so I let it slide)

I bought lemonade which was poisoned and I blacked out and was transported to Dabloonia where I bought potions n stuff. Briefly considered murder for being transported without my consent, but they promised never to do it again.

Offered to help an injured horse which shapeshifted into a monster and stole a few of my dabloons, but I was thankfully saved before I needed to use one of my protective items (protective potions, spells, weaponry, and pets are all one-time use in-game, but you can hoard them so).

I’ve given away so many of my dabloons! Like, sure I was saving up for a house to store my things (which I eventually got for a steal (and later I also purchased a mage’s tower bc why not)), but I had a bag of holding and wasn’t over-encumbered, and so many people get robbed or go into debt and could use a few!

I’m just in awe of how quickly such a fun trend emerged after another fun trend, the Koopa one. The Koopa trend had the same punchline every time, but the setup was what made it funny. In every video, a person would act as though they were in a harrowing situation (fighting for custody in court, giving birth, being birthed, holding onto a cliff edge, etc), and in the middle, they’d swing their arms like a Koopa in Super Mario to the beat. Here’s a compilation, it’s a good time. But the dabloons trend is an improv trend, like the Woodchuck Revolution or the Furry/Gamer War, but it’s magical in the way that it doesn’t require you to make content to participate. Lurkers (commenters) are also active participants in the game, arguably the most active participants, and we can engage with one another, and it’s just... it’s fantastic.

I know Thanksgiving is meant to be really serious or whatever, but I’ve gotta say that I’m really seriously thankful for all of the fun I’ve been having over on dabloontok. I know, I know, tiktok rots your brain, but it’s filling that itch for dnd which I didn’t even know I still needed to scratch. I thought Critical Role was enough, but apparently not. I’m also thankful for all of the people who are totally indulging in this amazing thing with me. Maybe it is a little cringey, but it’s special and fun, and it’s rarely ever bad to spend time on fun.

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howwelldoyouknowyourmoon · 4 months

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Sun Myung Moon questioned in 1982 in court about marriages and children

PART 2

ANTHONY COLOMBRITO [a UC member. The UC funded his case against Kelly] v. GALEN G. KELLY, et al

[U.S. District Court Judge Richard Owen] [Kelly’s lawyer was John T. DeGraff Jr. of Albany]

United States District Court, Southern District, New York 79 Civ. 6205 (RO) May 27, 1982

This is the only time Sun Myung Moon was questioned in court in the U.S. His lawyers tried to stop the questioning.

Moon was subpoenaed to testify in the nonjury trial of a $9-million claim filed by one of his followers, Anthony Colombrito, 30, of Brick Town, N.J. Colombrito has charged that Galen Kelly of Kingston, N.Y., kidnaped him in 1979 and attempted to “deprogram” him from the teachings of the Unification Church.

See here for more background to the case. LINK

______________________

continued from Part 1

page 177

Q. When did you start the Unification Church, Reverend Moon?

A. In May 1954.

Q. Where did you start it?

A. In Seoul, Korea.

Q. When did you first come to America?

A. In 1963. [He first arrived in San Francisco, U.S., on February 12 or 13, 1965]

Q. When were you first married, Reverend Moon?

MR. GUTMAN: I object to the relevancy of that, your Honor.

THE COURT: How is that relevant, Mr. DeGraff?

MR. DeGRAFF: Well, I believe, your Honor, in the teachings of the Unification Church, that Reverend Moon and his wife represent the true parents in Unification theology and at least they represent the true parents as to many of the members of the church.

As I understand it, the role of the true parents is to help the restoration of man to his original state before the fall of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden and that they do this by following the example set by the true parents who are able to restore them to their original state before the original sin because they lead perfect lives and that further in his talk with God, he was told to have twelve children; that it has been an embarrassment to Reverend Moon because he has admittedly had one marriage in Korea which ended in a divorce.

It is my understanding that he had two other marriages in Korea which are not included in the theology of the church and it is my further understanding that he has had other children than the thirteen he now accounts for —

MR. STILLMAN: Can we get an offer of proof on that, your Honor? Terrible, terrible, terrible, to allow him to do that.

MR. DeGRAFF: It is also my feeling that, as the role of true parents is superior to that of the role of the real parents which creates one of the basic problems, as I see it, between the church and the society and that’s sort of a convoluted reasoning of what I am driving at.

MR. GUTMAN: I would characterize it not only as convoluted but as impertinent in both senses of the word.

It is not pertinent to the issues and it is an impertinence to raise such issues.

If the defendant is offering the proposition that even if true a man who has had multiple marriages is somehow to be impeached, that his testimony is not to be credited, that somehow it can be used against him, that is an alarming proposition.

(continued on next page)

Page 180

THE COURT: No, I don’t think he is offering it for that.

MR. GUTMAN: I don’t understand what he is offering it for and what’s more, your Honor, it is not — this is not from Mr. DeGraff’s mouth an offer of proof. This is his “I understand that,” and “perhaps there is information to the effect that,” none of which is before the Court, none of which is in evidence and therefore what we have done is we have had Mr. DeGraff color the record as though it were a predicate to a question which is itself not only an intrusion upon the privacy of a witness, it is immaterial and irrelevant to the issues in this case but is offensive in every sense of the word.

The number of divorced people in this country who might find themselves with their status for veracity or otherwise impeached because they have been through a divorce would be staggering. It is an inappropriate line of inquiry and —

THE COURT: I think it’s a question of whether the witness’ representations as to his status in the course of espousing his theology or in fact different than what the fact is which I assume counsel means to urge then on the Court that it casts some question on the beliefs that are held as to the role of a true parent or a real parent vis-a-vis the young people that are recruited into the church.

Mr. DeGraff, do I state your position —

MR. DE GRAFF: Yes, your Honor.

THE COURT: All right. On that basis, I will overrule the objection. It has nothing to do with a predicate. It has to do with a comparison of the teachings and the fact to determine whether the beliefs are truly held and espoused.

MR. GUTMAN: Is it then the predicate for such a question that a human being, albeit one who believes he is in contact with God and God’s prophets, must be — have been perfect and made no mistakes?

THE COURT: It is a question of what the representation has been. No, not perfect.

MR. GUTMAN: There are no representations before the Court against which to compare the answers that might be elicited from the witness.

THE COURT: I think we have had testimony of witnesses as to what they understood upon coming into the church Reverend Moon represented to them. He was in their lives as their spiritual parent.

MR. GUTMAN: The words spiritual parents

Page 182

have indeed been used but I recall nothing in the record which would indicate that anyone said that he or she heard a representation from Reverend Moon as to how many times he had been married and if so what relevance that would have to this lawsuit.

THE COURT: I think one witness did, as a matter of fact. Didn’t one witness testify about nothing about one divorce? I think one witness did.

…

THE COURT: It seems to me that if a spiritual leader of a church represents to his followers that he has a certain function as their spiritual parents and that he has a certain function as a purity as a spiritual parent, that that pronouncement is thrown into some question if it turns out that it isn’t so. That has nothing to do with religion. It has to do with sheer appraisal of the sincerity of the beliefs and the circumstances under which they are propounded.

MR. GUTMAN: I point out to your Honor that you have just stated an alarming proposition. That if a man claims to be pure and therefore people ought to follow his example, that it is the proposal of this Court to tolerate and sanction and participate in a line of questioning as to the purity of the person.

I would suggest —

THE COURT: No. I am not doing that at all.

MR. GUTMAN: That’s what you just said, with most respect.

THE COURT: Then you misunderstood me. What I am saying if there has been an announcement, writing or speech or otherwise, that he is not a multi-divorced person and it turns out that he in fact is, it seems to me that has bearing in a number of directions in this case. That’s all I am saying. Nothing to do with religion at all.

All right. I’ll overrule the objection.

MR. DE GRAFF: Maybe I can start all over again.

Q. Reverend Moon, please accept my apologies for pronunciation here. But was your first wife’s name Sang Ik Choi? [It was Seon-gil Choi – Sang Ik Choi was a male in the 36 couples.]

A. Yes, that’s right. [INCORRECT. It was Seon-gil Choi.]

Q. And when did you marry her?

A. In 1944.

Q. And did you have any children by her?

A. Yes.

Q. How many?

…

A. Two. [FALSE STATEMENT. He had Sung-Jin Moon with her in April 1946 and Hee-jin Moon with Myung-hee Kim in August 1955.]

Q. Were they both boys. Reverend Moon?

A. I have one boy but the second one is deceased. [Hee-jin Moon died in August 1969.]

Q. Reverend Moon, did you subsequently marry Young Hi Kim? [Myung-hee Kim, the mother of Hee-jin Moon.]

…

A. No. I did not marry to her. [He may have married her on June 30, 1955.]

Q. Did you have a son by her, Reverend Moon?

A. Yes, I met her during Korean War.

Q. I believe my question was, did he have a child or a son by her.

MR. GUTMAN; Your Honor, I thought the line of inquiry was addressed to how many times he was married. Now the answer is he never married this lady. Whether or not she gave birth to a child seems to me irrelevant to the proceeding.

THE COURT: How is that irrelevant.

MR. DE GRAFF: I don’t know quite what he means by he never married her.

MR. GUTMAN: I think that means that he never went through a marriage ceremony. That’s my understanding of the English language.

THE COURT: Unless you can give me some showing of relevance to this. I’ll sustain the objection.

MR. DE GRAFF: Your Honor, it was my understanding that he was not only married to her but he had a son by her.

Page 186

MR. GUTMAN: Now you are testifying. The witness has said no. You saying yes doesn’t make it so.

MR. DE GRAFF: I know that, Mr. Gutman.

MR. GUTMAN: If you have other proofs, do what you have to do with it. Don’t argue with the witness.

MR. DE GRAFF: My point is he denied marrying her but he seemed to intimate that he did have a child by her by his answer.

MR. GUTMAN: I beg your pardon, Mr. DeGraff.

There is no such intimation. The Court has not ruled on than question yet. There is no intimation in the record.

THE COURT: It seems to me if he wasn’t married to her the next question is not relevant to our inquiry in this case.

MR. DE GRAFF: I think the relevance, your Honor, bears on his role as the true parent and I think it is very material because the true parents are the models of perfection or all the members of the Unification Church and through following and modeling their lives after the true parent, they can reach the restoration which is one of the three big principles of the Unification Church theology.

…

THE COURT: The objection to the last question is overruled. You may answer.

(Record read)

THE COURT: The question was answered by MR. DeGRAFF:

Q. Did you divorce your first wife, Reverend Moon?

…

A. I divorced her upon her initiative because she was somewhat not familiar with my religious belief.

Q. In what year was that, Reverend Moon?

A. In 1955. [FALSE. Seon-gil Choi legally divorced SMM on January 8, 1957.]

Q. And you said, Reverend Moon, that she was not familiar with your religious way of life? Was that the reason?

A. Yes, because she had her own way of religion.

[Her grounds for divorce were Moon's adultery and illegitimate children – two were born in 1955. That is why Moon gave a false earlier date of 1955 for the divorce.]

Q. Were you ever married to a woman, Reverend Moon, known as Miss Kim?

MR. GUTMAN: I trust my continuing objection remains in the record, your Honor.

THE COURT: Yes, it does. I am permitting this because it seems to be appropriate, given the teachings of the Unification Church with regard to chastity, abstinence, etc., etc. This inquiry bears upon whether such beliefs are truly held and the comparison of what a leader does in comparison to what he imposes on his followers would shed, it seems to me, some light on that question.

…

MR. DeGRAFF: May I have the last question read back, please — I think I know it.

Q. The question was, I believe: Were you ever married to a woman known as Miss Kim?

A. I have never heard of someone by the name of Miss Kim, whom you are referring to. There are so many rumors against me by which I am suffering tremendously.

Page 190

Q. What is the name of your present wife, Reverend Moon?

THE INTERPRETER: I beg your pardon?

Q. What is the name of your present wife, Reverend Moon?

…

A. Hak Ja Han.

Q. You married her when she was 18 and you were 40, Reverend Moon?

MR. GUTMAN: Is that relevant, your Honor?

THE COURT: Is it relevant?

MR. DeGRAFF: Well, I think it goes to the same point I was going to.

MR. GUTMAN: Is it Mr. DeGraff’s argument that there is something immoral or reprehensible ~

THE COURT: I will sustain an objection to that.

Q. Reverend Moon, did you ever have a conversation with Jesus Christ where he told you to have twelve children to represent the twelve disciples?

A. I don’t understand where you had such notion.

Q. I assume your answer is no, Mr. Moon?

A. Jesus Christ didn’t tell me so.

…

Q. Reverend Moon, I don’t mean to repeat myself, but when was it you first came to America?

A. In 1965.

Q. What was the purpose of your visit to America?

A. I was on my way to visit forty countries around the world in order to find out holy places where I can pray to God.

Page 192

Q. At the time you first came to the United States of America was there any — withdraw that — was there any formal setup for the Unification Church in this country?

A. Yes, in San Francisco.

Q. Do you know approximately how many members there were in the United States in the Unification Church at the time you first came to American in 1965?

MR. GUTMAN: I object on grounds of relevance and materiality.

THE COURT: How is that relevant?

MR. DeGRAFF: I am now getting into the area of the Reverend Moon’s coming to the United States, the build-up of the church, fund raising and areas of that nature.

…

THE COURT: I will permit this question.

Go ahead.

A. I don’t have the exact number, but the regular members of my church wasn’t too great. I understand there maybe was 100 to 150, including the San Francisco area — in the whole area, including San Francisco.

Q. At this time that you had come to America in 1967, what methods had you been using in Korea to raise money for the Unification Church?

…

THE COURT: This had to do with how funds were raised in Korea?

…

MR. DeGRAFF: 1967, when he first came to this country.

MR. GUTMAN: The witness said 1965.

MR. DeGRAFF: Excuse me, 1965.

…

A. It was based on contributions.

Q. How many members, Reverend Moon, did you have in your church in Korea at that time?

…

THE WITNESS: I don’t have the exact number. It could be in tens of thousands.

Q. Reverend Moon, what methods did the Unification Church employ at that time to solicit contributions to the church?

MR. GUTMAN: Now we certainly have crossed the line, your Honor. How a church raises its money is the business of the church. If there is an allegation—

THE COURT: No. You see, you made it the business of this court by bringing a $9 million lawsuit claiming that Galen Kelly had no right to interfere with a young man who had been out selling flowers out of a bucket, after being a college graduate, for two years, how many times have I said, 8:00 in the morning until 11:00 o’clock at night, except weekends when he is out to 3:00.

You put that in issue by bringing a $9 million lawsuit. The fund raising methods, whether they were induced by brainwashing, were a subject of mind control, all of those things were raised by this lawsuit in which you said that Kelly by interfering with Colombrito’s doing this was in violation of his civil rights. You have put that in issue.

So what he is asking here is what kind of methods did Reverend Moon use in his church in Korea, to see whether he has the same methods in Korea that he has here.

Is that what you are saying?

MR. DeGRAFF: Yes.

MR. GUTMAN: Your Honor, it was not the plaintiff that raised the issues that you refer to.

With all due respect, it was yourself and Mr. DeGraff. You have taken judicial notice of a rather bizarre concept, over objection, that there is something called brainwashing. I had thought that judicial notice was taken of things like Thursday comes after Wednesday, not on controversial —

THE COURT: I don’t want to be misquoted because I am going to get uptight about it if I am. You and I discussed the fact that I was quoting you, and I think I corrected you once before when you misquoted me — I was taking judicial notice of what I read in the newspapers during the Korean War. I don’t want to be taken beyond that one step farther by anything you put on this record.

Let’s just get on with our trial. The objection is overruled.

What is the last question?

Q. I believe my last question was, back in 1965 what methods did the Unification Church use to solicit contributions.

A. Through voluntary activities of church members.

Q. Can you describe to me, Reverend Moon, what some of those activities were?

…

A. The fund raising activities were confined to the church itself, organized and carried out by church members themselves.

Q. Can you please, Reverend Moon, give me specific examples of what they did to raise money?

…

A. As in the case of other many churches, the contributions were offered right after Sunday prayer.

Q. To be more specific, Reverend Moon, did any members of your church in Korea, from the time it was formed up until 1965, engage in the selling of flowers or candy to raise money for the church?

…

A. No. The church operated without such activities.

...

____________________________________

Sun Myung Moon had a girlfriend in 1941

The six ‘wives’ of Sun Myung Moon

Moon’s first wife, Choi Seon-gil, and Kim Deok-jin interviewed

The Choi family’s entanglements with Moon

Sun Myung Moon’s second wife – Kim Chong-hwa in Pyongyang

Sun Myung Moon’s third wife – Kim Myung-hee

The lie that Kim Myung-hee was raped in Japan

Sun Myung Moon’s fourth wife, Won-pok Choi

Hong Soon-ae, the mother of Hak Ja Han

Dong-sook, born in 1955 and listed as a ‘True Child’, was married to Sung-jin Moon

Sun Myung Moon’s secret love child – Mother Jones link

PART 1:

Sun Myung Moon questioned under subpoena in court in New York, May 1982

#sun myung moon #unification church #moonies #six wives of Sun Myung Moon

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wingedblooms · 3 years

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Hope shining in the Void

Part 2: The Light of Three Sisters

In Part 1, I explored various types of light using the premise from Rhys that, like the dark, it is neither wholly good nor evil. It comes in different forms and can be molded by the lightwielder to match their intent. In HOSAB, we learn even more about this concept of individualized or nuanced light:

“Bryce said, more to herself than to the demon prince, “I hadn’t realized they’d have individualized starlight. I always thought mine was only … brighter than yours.” She frowned at Ruhn. “I guess it makes sense that there could be nuances to the light amongst the Fae that got interbred. Theia’s elder daughter, Helena, had the gift—and married Prince Pelias. Your ancestor.”

Although they have a surname associated with the underworld (Archeron, much like River Acheron) and live in the Night Court, the Archeron sisters, like Theia and her offspring, have their own unique light. This light may have even been orchestrated by fate so they could act as foils to another trio of siblings (Koschei, the Weaver, and the Bone Carver) and counterparts for the three found brothers (Rhysand, Cassian, and Azriel). Although I wish I had gotten around to finishing this soon after I posted Part 1 last summer, I feel this conversation is even more pertinent now that HOSAB has been released. There are HOSAB spoilers throughout, so please proceed at your own risk.

In ACOMAF, we are introduced to the seemingly prophetic words of the Book of Breathings (BoB), which now resides in the world of CC. The chaotic half of the book speaks in threes and starts with this line:

Life and death and rebirth

The words of the BoB may be interpreted a few different ways. Each line includes a set of three, and each part of that three might represent a sister, such as life = Feyre, death = Nesta, and rebirth = Elain. Each phrase may (also) describe a particular sister. For example, Rot and bloom and bone is often connected to Elain since she is consistently associated with flowers. And last, but not least, it might refer to a life cycle that applies to all three sisters in general, describing their life as humans, death of that life, and rebirth as powerful fae. A key part of that journey includes healing; they find Hope shining in the Void. All three are valid and useful. For this post, I plan to focus mostly on the first interpretation as those three separate words—life and death and rebirth—may describe the light unique to each sister. This aligns nicely with the concept of unique or nuanced light we learn about in CC, which is connected to those who came to Midgard from Prythian.

While reading HOSAB, @offtorivendell reminded me that Theia (the Starborn Queen from Prythian) is named for the Greek goddess of sight and light. She had three children associated with different kinds of light: Helios (Sun), Selene (Moon), and Eos (Dawn). We only know of two children that Theia bore, one of them being unnamed and the other being Helena (which is a name that is sometimes connected to Selene, the moon). Bryce somehow bears Theia’s unique light, according to Aidas. Is this light connected to Helena’s offspring, who seemed to have stayed in CC, or the other, unnamed daughter? Is it possible that both, over the course of thousands of years, manifested different kinds of light? And if the unnamed daughter returned to Prythian to protect the people on the other side of the Rift, could she be that clever warrior from the ancient fae line that evolved into a human line?

“Clever, that Fae warrior. Her bloodline is long gone now—though a trace still runs through some human line.”

He smiled, perhaps a bit sadly. “No one remembers her name. But I do. She would have been my salvation, had I not made my choice long before she walked this earth.”

As @silverlinedeyes has suggested, could that human line run through the veins of the Archeron sisters? If so, that might also explain the manifestation of their different kinds of light—light that aligns with the children of the mythological Theia (Sun, Moon, and Dawn).

Life (Sun) - Feyre

Although Feyre is the youngest, she is the sister we come to know first. The first sister. Although she possesses power from all seven remaining courts, the most common light she exhibits is from the Day Court:

Faintly, as if some inner light shone beneath my skin, leaking out into the world. Warm and white light, like the sun—like a star.

Shining—I was shining bright and pure as a star. “Day Court?” I asked.

But there, deep within Day’s light … I gleaned it. A purifying, clear power. Cursebreaker—spellbreaker. The light wiped through every physical trapping, showing me the snarls of spells and glamours, showing me the way through … I burned brighter, looking, looking— Buried inside the bone-walls of the castle, the wards were woven strong. I sent that blinding light flaring once more—a distraction and sleight of hand as I severed the wards at their ancient arteries.

At me, resplendent and pure in white, beginning to glow with the light of day as the sun’s path flowed directly over me instead.

I released the damper on the power that I had unleashed in Hybern, my body turning incandescent as light shone through. Pure as day, pure as starlight. “Cursebreaker,” some murmured. “Blessed,” others whispered. [...] I let my glow spread, until it, too, rippled from Lucien’s bowed form. A knight before his queen.

So I bared my teeth and sent a fist of white light punching into that fiery shield—the white light of Day. Spell-breaker. Ward-cleaver.

Death (Moon) - Nesta

Nesta is the oldest of the three and the second sister whose story has been told. She is the second sister. The light she is associated with most is the cold light of the moon, the silver light of death:

But inch by inch, the scabbard slid from the blade. And inch by inch, fresh steel glowed—truly glowed, like moonlight lay within the metal. […] Iridescent sparks danced along the blade. Pure, crackling magic. The light danced and spurted as if an invisible hammer still struck it.

She’d seen a Queen of the Night. As merciless and cold and beautiful as the god Lanthys had wanted to make her. Death’s Consort. Death herself.

In the moonlight, before the silvered lake, she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. Nesta finished the eighth maneuver, and returned the sword to center. The light in her eyes shone brighter than the moon overhead.

Silver thread embroidered the skintight velvet bodice, the straps so narrow they might as well have been nothing against her moon-white skin.

Upon Nesta, this once-human female who had conquered death, who now glowed as if she had devoured the moon, too.

Rebirth (Dawn) - Elain

And Elain, the middle child whose story I believe will be told next, is the third sister. She is most associated with spring and rebirth, as well as the beauty of dawn:

Beautiful—she’d always been the most beautiful of us. Soft and lovely, like a summer dawn. […] Elain’s golden-brown hair was half up, her pale skin creamy and flushed with color, and her eyes, like molten chocolate, were wide as they took me in.

Elain at last slid into the chair near Mor’s, her dawn-pink dress—finer than the ones she usually wore—crinkling beneath her.

She set down the tray and wiped her flour-coated hands on the apron she wore over her dusty-pink gown. Even in the middle of winter, she was a bloom of color and sunshine. […] I surveyed the food she was assembling and asked between bites, “How long have you been working on this?” A one-shouldered shrug. “Since dawn.” She added, “Nuala and Cerridwen were up hours earlier.”

Elain had walked in halfway through. She’d been toiling in the estate gardens since dawn, and had been solemn as Rhys filled her in. Feyre had been unable to say a word. But Elain’s gaze remained steady as she listened to Rhys.

Her sister’s delicate scent of jasmine and honey lingered in the red-stoned hall like a promise of spring, a sparkling river that she followed to the open doors of the chamber. […] Her sister turned toward her, glowing with health.

Soft steps padded from under the stair archway, and there she was. The Faelights gilded Elain’s unbound hair, making her glow like the sun at dawn.

Their unique light might provide a necessary counterbalance to the dark. They are Hope (iridescent light) shining in the Void (darkness that gobbles up all other light and color) that a weaver of Fate, like Urd, created. As such, they act as a natural foil to the dark death-god siblings who, as @offtorivendell and I suspect, may be born of the Void like the Under-King and princes of Hel in CC. If the Under-King spoke true, beings return to the Void after death, and for the death-god siblings, that might actually be home. This connection to Void may be why the Bone Carver was also so pointed in his questions when Feyre described where she went after death:

“But was there anyone there—were you seeing anything beyond?”

“There was no other world,” the Bone Carver pushed. “If there was or is, I did not see it.”

“No light, no portal?” Where is it that you want to go? The question almost leaped off my tongue. “It was only peace and darkness.”

When the Cauldron took his life, it’s no wonder he was relieved: he was finally returning home. I also wondered in the shifting forms of fate post if the Cauldron was linked to Void (the darkness of beginnings and endings). It seems to be the dark womb from which everything is born, and those who have died can return through it, like a magical portal:

“Long ago, before the High Fae, before man, there was a Cauldron … They say all the magic was contained inside it, that the world was born in it. But it fell into the wrong hands. And great and horrible things were done with it. Things were forged with it. Such wicked things that the Cauldron was eventually stolen back at great cost. It could not be destroyed, for it had Made all things, and if it were broken, then life would cease to be. So it was hidden. And forgotten. Only with that Cauldron could something that is dead be reforged like that.”

But in dying for a worthy cause, did the Carver weaken his other powerful siblings? He and his siblings may be related to the Archesian amulet, a symbol of three overlapping circles in the CC series that provides protection. It’s the symbol the Carver draws for Feyre to explain him and his siblings:

The Carver traced three overlapping, interlocked circles in the dirt. “You have met my sister—my twin. The Weaver, as you now call her. I knew her as Stryga. She, and our older brother, Koschei. How they delighted in this world when we fell into it. How those ancient Fae feared and worshipped them. Had I been braver, I might have bided my time—waited for their power to fade, for that long-ago Fae warrior to trick Stryga into diminishing her power and becoming confined to the Middle. Koschei, too—confined and bound by his little lake on the continent. All before Prythian, before the land was carved up and any High Lord was crowned.”

Bryce wore this symbol in HOEAB and it protected her from detection:

Bryce zipped a tiny golden pendant—a knot of three entwined circles—along the delicate chain around her neck.

Danika went on patrol armed with claws, a sword, and guns, but Bryce’s daily armor consisted solely of this: an Archesian amulet barely the size of her thumbnail, gifted by Jesiba on the first day of work. A hazmat suit in a necklace, Danika had marveled when Bryce had shown off the amulet’s considerable protections against the influence of various magical objects. Archesian amulets didn’t come cheap, but Bryce didn’t bother to delude herself into thinking her boss’s gift was given out of anything but self-interest. It would have been an insurance nightmare if Bryce didn’t have one. Danika nodded to the necklace. “Don’t take that off. Especially if you’re looking into shit like the Horn.” Even though the Horn’s mighty powers had long been dead—if it had been stolen by someone powerful, she’d need every magical defense against them.

But it was to just unclasp the golden amulet from around her neck. “Here. To sweeten the deal. An Archesian amulet. It’s fifteen thousand years old, and fetches around three million gold marks on the market.”

“Says the female with the Archesian amulet around her neck. The amulet of the priestesses who once served and guarded Parthos. I think you know what’s here—that you spend your days in the midst of all that remains of the library after most of it burned at Vanir hands fifteen thousand years ago.”

“Danika knew the Archesian amulet would hide you from any detection, magical or demonic. With that amulet, you were invisible to the kristallos, bred to hunt the Horn.”

So, how are the death-god siblings connected to this amulet? Was it developed by the clever warrior who may have been related to Theia and the Archeron sisters, and was subsequently forgotten? (Hence, the similarity between the names Archesian and Archeron, as @offtorivendell has pointed out to me more than once.) Was it used as protection from or as a way to confine the siblings’ magic? How is that history connected to the priestesses, then and now? Have they intentionally hidden the secrets of this history, biding their time for a sign from Urd? Bryce’s landing in Prythian at the end of HOSAB could be that sign.

Is it also possible that the three interlocking circles are the death-gods themselves, trapped in Prythian as protection against an even greater foe, such as the Asteri? While I do think that Koschei has been set up enough to serve as the main villain in the ACOTAR series, the events of HOSAB have made me wonder how the crossover might impact the future plot. Both the Carver and Weaver—though neither are considered heroes—enter bargains with the Night Court and ultimately sacrifice their lives to help Prythian. When the Carver died, the Weaver felt his loss deeply, like a Brunnian link in Borromean Rings (three interlocking circles). These rings symbolize strength in unity, and when one circle is broken, the other two fall apart. Is it possible, then, that when the Carver and Weaver were killed, Koschei felt their loss just as deeply and was weakened? Is this the reason he appears as a shadow rather than in his true form? Will he serve solely as a villain or could he enter into a bargain like his siblings and help Prythian, and their long-lost relatives who are in Midgard, fight an even greater foe (the Asteri)? Or, equally concerning, was the protection that this symbol may have offered Prythian severed, lifting a protective veil over the world and granting access that was previously locked fifteen thousand years ago? Hence, the appearance of not only Aelin, but Bryce as well, after their deaths.

This ancient, interlocking symbol isn’t exclusive to circles either—there is another, referred to as the valknut, that has three interlocking triangles. The meaning of this Norse symbol isn’t as clear, but it may be associated with Odin, the afterlife, and his ability to bind and unbind. Derived from two words for slain warrior and knot, it may mean knot of the slain warrior. In Norse mythology, the Valkyries served Odin and were sent into battle by him to determine where warriors might go after death. He also had a spear, Gungnir, that would strike true regardless of the skill of the bearer. (Sounds a bit like Truth-Teller, doesn’t it?) This interconnected symbol, as with other knots, sometimes represents the unity between earth, heaven, and hell. Thus, its nine points may symbolize the nine worlds in Norse mythology. The three interlocking triangles most often form mountains, though they can also form a star. Is it possible that this interlocking symbol brings together both the three stars (that we see in the Night Court symbol) and the three mountains of Prythian, an ultimate symbol of the link between different worlds and beings? Is the eight-pointed star in the Prison, much like a compass rose, under the other two mountains as well? And is that where the portals to other worlds exist?

The symbolic union of earth, heaven, and hell may also be connected to the three sisters and three brothers, who create a balance of light and dark as @silverlinedeyes suggests here. And if she and @offtorivendell are correct about the Illyrians being related to the Princes of Hel, is it possible that their union is one of earth (mountain), heaven (star), and hell (demon)? Their powerful union, guided by Theia’s starlight through Bryce, may be what is needed to open the portals, release the armies of Hel, and create an epic inter-world battle to end the tyranny of the Asteri once and for all.

Together, they are a beautiful, monstrous blend of hope and void, life and death, and light and dark.

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babblydrabbly · 3 years

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Dinner and a Movie (Sub!Rick Flag x Reader) Smut

𝚁𝙵𝙱 𝚂𝚚𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝙵𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍: Nervous First Date 𝙿𝚊𝚒𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐: Rick Flag x Plus-sized F!Reader; Reference to past Rick Flag x June Moone 𝚆𝚘𝚛𝚍 𝙲𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝: 5k 𝚆𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜: Language. Alcohol. Food. Smut. Kissing. Touching. Hand job. Auralism. Praisekink. Fingering (f recieving). Penetration (m/f). Sub!Rick :) 𝙰/𝙽: Oneshot. I'm on a fluff kick and really proud of this one. Somehow, I'm even softer for this man when I'm full of rosé. And if you saw my post from the other day, you know why I had his silly little hat on the brain now. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Thank you to the lovely @loverhymeswith for beta reading. Anyway, sit back and have a soft date with Rick Flag <3 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: Lemon My Rick Flag Bingo Masterlist || My Masterlist

𝙲𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚛 @rickflagbingo

tags: @reysorigins @knivesareout @lunarxeclipse @melody-death @lorecraft @lacontroller1991 @lunaticsandidiots @heart-0n-fire @deadangeluniverse @loverhymeswith @nerdysuperchick

Rick hasn't done this in awhile.

It’s never happened to Rick before.

But he knows it’s your cadence, your calm demeanor. It’s how you ground the others in the face of danger all around them, especially Rick. Your voice comes through the comms with a level command that puts him at ease and distracts him all at once.

You’re one of Argus’s operations coordinators. When it’s not Amanda Waller herself taking charge of the more pertinent missions, it’s you and a select few who step up to the plate. But you in particular- your level-headedness that never breaks or slips into a hollering fury- it’s hypnotic. At this point it’s almost Pavlovian the way you take over the comms when the mission shifts over to your expertise and Rick knows he’s in good hands. He feels comfort and support and your steady guidance all at once.

And it had started to become a major problem, workplace wise. Because after a while, Rick knows he wants you more than a colleague should.

But with a demanding agency like Argus. There was never any time. You were just as busy as Rick before and after an operation. And he didn’t just want a fling. He needed more of you, outside the war room walls, and he needed you badly.

He’s up in comms often enough. He’s caught your glances. Catches them with his own tentative smiles when no one else is looking. He knows it’s not just in his head. You speak in his ear with distinction on missions. Not just because he’s team leader. They’re extra words of comfort. And they draw Rick Flag like a siren song.

You confirm his theory one day as all the analysts talk shop around the operations table. You move toward Rick’s chair silently, until finally he glances down at his elbow and sees you’ve slid a folded Argus memo slip over to his coffee mug without a word. You keep your eyes on the meeting with patient ease. Afterward, Rick pulls the slip out of his windbreaker while he’s alone in the elevator. He bites back a smirk. In your neat scrawl, your personal number.

You couldn’t meet in person, but the two of you could start the conversation.

Rick soon learns there’s a different side to you over text. Where your interactions in person are always professional and to the point, your messages to Rick were sharp, witty, and gave him everything he’d hoped for. He hopes that he, too, gets his own point across. He doesn’t have your way with words, but you never seem to mind it.

[You]

I need a drink.

You send during a particularly rowdy pre-ops meeting. John and Emilia are beginning to shout about the best point of infiltration, while the other minor analysts cower with information at the ready. Across the room, you look neutral, but he can tell. You’re bored at the back and forth; Rick’s learned you’ve got a poker face to rival his own. He sniffs idly, reaching to rub his brow as he sneaks a glance down at his phone under his desk.

[Rick] If these two stop hollerin any time soon I might actually be able to take you out one of these days.

He hits send with bated breath. In fact, he spares himself from a glance in your direction where he hopes you’re typing from behind your clipboard.

Rick’s break up with June had been rough. Shortly after Midway, or rather, despite everything that they'd gone through together in Midway, June blindsides Rick Flag with the talk. It wasn’t him, it was her. He keeps a tight lid on his devastation for months. It had been more than a year since then. But although you joined Argus after the Suicide Squad had developed into a permanent operation, he knows you’ve heard the rumors.

Colonel Rick Flag kicks ass in the field. But keeping his woman happy? The score was widely known. Rick sighs through his nose and flicks his eyes over the room full of desk jockeys. Gossipy fucks.

Rick swallows thickly after the meeting when Waller pulls you and the other coordinators into her office.

He furrows his brow when he looks down at his phone again.

You don’t shoot him back a text, but a file. Rick opens it and sees the operations schedule for everyone over the next month or so. You’ve highlighted the rows with your name and his. It’s clear to see you’ve figured out where your rare and fleeting days off have matched.

Next weekend.

The whole weekend, actually.

Rick sits up in his seat, a little too eagerly, and a little nervous all of a sudden to boot.

Shit- you were lining it right the hell up, weren’t you? A real date night. With drinks in town and maybe dinner. Well he’ll be damned.

Friday night it is.

Rick drags his fingers through his hair, brows knitted together at his reflection in the driver's side window of his truck. He puts his baseball cap back on, then takes it off again, repeating the swipe of light brown locks from his forehead. No, that doesn’t seem right either. Rick considers moving his hair down to the side rather than straight back.

Aw, hell.

When he yanks the cap on and off a third time he huffs, finally tossing it back inside the vehicle all together.

He swears under his breath when his phone buzzes in his back pocket. Rick makes his way to the large garage elevator as he checks your text.

[You] Here. By the fountains.

He'd arrived thirty minutes early, and somehow he was already making you wait.

The Promenade in town is always busy on Friday nights. The storefronts glittered and trees flickered with lights, the tables and chairs outside of each restaurant packed with people. Rick never had a reason to find himself here, but it was mutual ground for the two of you to approach each other for the first time outside of work. It's easy to find the large fountain pools the two of you are meant to meet at.

Rick's got on a plain crew shirt and a bomber jacket, his black jeans new and still pressed straight from when he bought them earlier that week— Just for this. You'd both decided to keep it casual— Keep it real— Much to his relief.

How many weeks would this make it? Nine? Ten? Nearly three months of your back and forths over your phones. Tonight’s new territory for Rick Flag.

Rick had moved on since June, of course. Even downloaded a dating app with only slight apprehension. His first three real matches had ended up being single dates— Hook-ups to be exact. Hook ups he could handle. But this?

Ah shit. Shit shit shit. There you were- you weren’t in your normal comms room attire. You pull a cardigan over yourself against the evening chill, and your blouse flutters a little when you turn. Rick looks you up and down and swallows.

You're standing by the fountain's edge, your eyes searching the people passing by your vicinity. Rick doesn't even have to wave to catch your attention. When you meet his eye, he inhales sharply, the reality of tonight with you finally concrete in front of him.

You brighten. "Hey," you greet first.

Rick stops before you, his hands slipping into his jacket pockets for a moment before he quickly takes them back out. For some bizarre reason, like he’s about to formally meet a peer, his first instinct is to shake your hand. He catches himself before he raises his arm. What was he, stupid?

"Hey." Rick remembers to say with a nod.

You chuckle. "No flag hat?" Your eyes flit over his hair and face. You can hardly see the top of his head from where you stand close to him. Before he can answer, you reach forward and take his torso in a firm hug, ripping the bandaid off. You immediately note the way he smells and feels— Clean and warm and firm.

Rick jerks his hands out of his pockets— Which had nervously retreated— again. He returns the gesture with some surprise.

He envelopes you in his arms, and when he leans down his voice is right beside your ear when he smiles back, "Figured you hated it so much I should just leave it at home."

You pull back with a grin now. Rick sported his American flag cap inside HQ like a second skin. You brought it up often, encouraging that he shouldn't hide his head of pretty hair underneath it all the time. Well, teased it, was more apt.

[You] What is it with 40 year old men and baseball caps?

[Rick] Hey. What's my age got to do with it?

[You] Nothing :) You just really take the whole 'Flag' thing to heart, huh

"I don't hate it." You say, rolling your eyes. And Rick wants to breathe a sigh of relief at how easily the two of you slip into the banter you’ve come to exchange. But it’s one thing to text. It’s another to hear your voice, relinquished from your duties in the comm room, your smile as bright and light to match. You make it obvious you’re in a good mood, and the tension in Rick’s broad shoulders ease.

Now, if only he could hear you better in this damn bar he picked out.

It’s just a short stroll away. The area is warm and vibrant and relaxed. You take a seat at a tall table, the cool night air drifting in through the wide open windows. Your feet dangle on the seat while Rick sits with one foot on a rung, one foot on the ground. Together you order several tapas plates and a pair of drinks to start, and you chuckle when Rick orders himself a Bourbon and Branch.

“What?” He says above the din. You take a sip of a margarita glass rimmed with salt, and Rick watches your pink tongue dart out softly over your lip to catch a piece of it on the rim.

“I’m surprised you order them with water.” You snort. Rick smiles. You loved to tease him.

But on a weekend, the bar is so packed and only gets louder. Finally, after another drink, Rick picks up his stool and moves it closer, perpendicular to you. You grin.

“That better?” He murmurs at you, no longer needing to shout. You feel warmth spread through you from your chest to your toes- partly because of the tequila, but mostly because of the way Rick’s knee presses into yours. The two of you conspire together this way, your cheeks nearly pushing together. Goosebumps spread under his collar at the way you turn to speak directly into his ear, your breath like citrus and mischief at once. You can’t know how much he wants you in his ear in and out of work.

“Here.” You encourage Rick to try something else besides straight liquor tonight. Moving the straw out of his way, you make to pass the glass to him. But instead of taking it, Rick folds his large hand over yours and brings the rim to him. His bottom lip is warm as he presses it to the edge of your thumb. He takes a long pull of the drink and you watch the way his Adam’s apple bobs with each swallow. In return, Rick Flag watches you flush. A thrill passes through him. At the way he can capture your full attention with a simple, physical gesture.

“Not bad.” He muses.

At the movies, the two of you have more luck. He picked the bar, but you picked the flick. When you reach the empty theater Rick wonders if you’ve done it on purpose. It’s an older movie, nearly completely cycled out of showings, and when you get to the top row, there’s no one there to bother the two of you way in back. In your defense, you point out that the two of you never had time to see movies, and maybe you were in luck, catching this last showing.

Except that to Rick’s smug satisfaction, it’s a complete and utter dud.

The artsy display on screen is more… interpretative than you anticipated. And in between the long stretches of silence and droning dialogue, you find your eyes drifting back over to Rick after thirty minutes or so.

He leans into you, chin in hand. Before he can ask if he can make fun of one of the dullest things he’s ever seen, you’re beating him to the punch. You overestimate the distance, and when you whisper into Rick’s ear, your lips brush over the shell, sending a shiver up the Colonel’s spine. “Okay if we talk through this one?”

Christ was it ever. He smirks, a little more alert now. Rick sits up and lifts the arm rest between the two of you, slipping his arm around your shoulders and pulling you closer. You go back and forth, making fun of the dramatic characters with champagne problems. But Rick’s mostly focused on your breath in his ear and your hand on his as he squeezes your waist until the very end.

Finally, the Promenade clears more by the time you’re let out. You and Rick stroll slowly to the end, past a few other couples keeping the night going. Rick can’t help but feel his chest puff out a little when you slip your arm boldly into his, moving closer as the two of you come to a stop by the fountain from earlier.

“You parked in the garage?” He nods over the building across the street, hoping to extend your stroll even further. That and he wasn’t gonna let you walk back to your car alone, that was for sure. But you shake your head. “The street actually. Free overnight.”

Rick cocks a brow, a sly smirk forming. “And why’s that?” He murmurs, playing dumb.

You grin up at Rick. When you tug at the edges of his open jacket he leans down without resistance, meeting you halfway as you push up on your toes. You slot your lips against Rick’s in a warm, chaste kiss, a hum escaping you as he slips both his strong arms around your waist. He pulls you flush to him with ease. The two of you stand there, learning the new sensation of each other’s mouths. Rick had gotten so familiar with the words that left yours over the months, and now he was eager to entice all the sounds out of you left unexplored.

You both agree on Rick’s truck. He’s sobered up- especially after such a sobering movie, he teases you. You’re getting there but, ever the strategist, you know it’s safer to pick the towering soldier over yourself and your little coupe.

When you slip into the passenger side of the truck, you let out a small ‘oop’ when you accidentally sit on something.

Rick glances over when you yank the offending object out from under you.

“Aha! You did bring it!” You burst, waving the flag cap at him. Rick snatches it from you sheepishly.

“Yeah, yeah, alright.” He mutters through his teeth, smothering his grin. He tosses it in the back, and in one fluid motion, Rick reaches up to take your face in both his hands, pulling you in for another kiss. It’s deeper and filled with more passion, now that Rick has no doubt in his mind that you want this as much as he does.

There’s no middle console. Just the smooth upholstery. You both slide over the space until you’re pressed together again, your hands moving to explore one another with a little more privacy. You rake your fingers over his chest and abdomen, humming as you appreciate every hard line. Rick too, wanders your curves. And your heart flutters at the way he runs his touch along your soft sides, fingers making contact with the skin beneath the hem of your blouse.

In truth, Rick isn’t the only one who hasn’t done this in awhile. You, like him and nearly everyone at Argus, pour most of your life into its demanding operation. You had been content with evening drinks in groups and the occasional lunch with some of the other agents; But your eyes and ears had always been on the lookout for Rick Flag. He was a solemn, polite man around you, despite the fact you knew he was more gruff with the squad and other operatives. His tentativeness caught your attention after just a few missions. But what you appreciate most was that he seemed to truly listen to you. On the field, and off.

You chuckle breathlessly when you realize all these months of flirting have led up to not much talking now. Rick hums deeply in question as his hands slip under your shirt, his rough fingers scratching pleasantly against the small of your back. He busies himself with kisses along your neck and you gasp at the way his lashes flutter along your jaw.

“You trying to get me to fool around in your little pick up truck, Flag?” You tease in his ear. He grins against your pulse. A heat rises in Rick’s cheeks, out of your view, and he knows he can’t blame it on the alcohol anymore. Your timbre runs right through him, warm and smooth like honey.

“You don’t think it’s little.” He goads.

You scoff, pushing at his shoulder as he chuckles. But it soon dissolves into a moan when you nip at his earlobe, and Rick’s hold on you stiffens. You marvel in the deep sound you elicit so easily from such a large man. It goes straight to your core, and you curiously do it again as your hand wanders down between his thighs. You run your finger along his inseam until you’re met with what you’re looking for. Rick’s length is thick and straining under your light grasp. – Not little was right. He pauses from kissing your collar bone.

“That for me?” You purr.

Rick’s forehead falls atop your shoulder. “Been needing you all night, darlin’.”

You keep your mouth on the shell of his ear, feeling how hot it’s growing between your lips as you lick and kiss him languidly there. All the while, you stroke Rick through the fabric of his jeans, your own sex hot and wet and wanting. “The night’s not over, Colonel.”

Rick captures your lips with his with more fervor than ever, his fingers pushing through your hair to cup the back of your head to his. You squeeze your thighs together in your seat with a soft moan.

It takes everything he’s got to tear away from you. You buckle up with amusement as Rick puts his hand on the back of your headrest and reverses out of the garage without wasting another minute.

It’s his truck, but it’s your apartment. Your place is much closer than base, just a few blocks away from the Promenade. And Rick will be damned if he’s waiting to roll through two sets of security checkpoints and a long walk up to the barracks to make you his.

You don’t bother with the living room lights, stumbling backwards into your apartment as Rick pulls you in close again. He breaks apart long enough to nod to the couch, “Here?” He murmurs down at you. Your knees hit the edge of the seat but you shake your head, your noses brushing. Your head spins with the way his hard length is pressing into your waist, the scent of your familiar apartment mixing with the utterly unfamiliar and intoxicating scent of Rick Flag. You grin as you continue your walk backward to your bedroom. You slip your hands around Rick’s belt and deftly begin relieving him of it.

“Easy there, cowboy.” You tease him as he fumbles for the doorknob.

The yellow glow of the street lamp outside is enough light. Rick slips his jacket off and lets it fall to the floor as you do the same with your cardigan. You yank the hem of his shirt out of his pants eagerly, and you both tumble onto your comforter before it’s up and over his head. Rick tosses it aside.

He takes a moment to look at you laid out and breathless, your legs wedge between his thighs. Rick then leans down, takes the moment to trail kiss after kiss up your body, and you watch as the sharp geography of his back muscles flex under your touch in the low light. When he reaches the swell of your breasts, you cup his face in your hands and drag him up to meet yours, the need to taste him again overwhelming.

When your name leaves his lips like a plea, Rick drops his hips down to roll against yours. You moan when you feel his cock twitch through all your bottom layers.

“We’ve still got too many clothes on.” You point out astutely. And Rick Flag can’t agree more. He buries his face between your breasts once again, mouthing at your cleavage as he reaches down to yank your button blouse open in one simple tug between his fists. The buttons fall onto the hardwood floor off to the side with a stunning clatter.

“Rick!”

He’s pulling your bra down, taking a nipple into his mouth with ravenous abandon as he thrusts against your thigh again. “‘Said I need you, darlin’. I’m burnin’ up.” He growls.

Your hands find the button on his pants. When you pull his waistband down, his cock springs free, falling heavily in your grasp.

“Mm need you too,” You whisper in his ear. “I need you, Rick.”

The man groans, peppering your neck with kisses. You pump your hand around his hot length once and he rolls his hips into your palm without hesitation.

Rick falls back on his knees and guides your legs up. He makes quick work of your pants, a happy smirk evident as he slides them up off your legs. He kisses your calf slowly, your knee, each open-mouthed kiss sending a shiver through you. Rick puts himself between your legs until your knees are hitched over his strong arms, and he leans back down over you to capture your lips once more. You keep stroking him as he shucks the last of his clothes off, leaving you both bare and ready. Finally, you line him up with your entrance, already so wet with want. You both shudder as he slides into your cunt.

“Oh, fuck, Rick.” You grab his broad shoulder as he sinks into you, your other arm wrapping around the back of his head. You press your cheek to his, your breath hot in his ear and in his head. “Oh, please, I need it. Need you to fuck me.”

Rick whines, his deep voice hitching when he pushes the last of himself inside. You think you almost can’t take all of him, until he slowly presses down and bottoms out. You wrap your legs around his waist, dragging your nails down his back. You stretch around him, your hips eagerly moving to feel that hot slide of friction. He gives you another long moment, until you’re rolling your hips again. You thrust yourself on Rick’s cock with a whimper, and the move ignites the fire you know is lying in wait. Rick swears into the pillow beneath your head.

“Feel so good.” You croon. Rick begins thrusting, mouth latching onto your neck as he braces his arms on either side of the bed. You’re soft and warm and heavenly beneath him, your core molding around him with every thrust so tightly Rick quickly finds himself lost in you.

Despite the fact he can’t seem to keep his eyes open, his breath heavy and gone against your skin, you marvel at his stamina. You continue to whisper in his ear, extracting one desperate, helpless sound from the Colonel after the other. He’d last forever if you told him to. Come right then and there with a single word, if that’s the command you poured into his ear. Rick slips a forearm under your lower back and hikes you up as he keeps fucking you. As if drawing you closer could let him possess you even more- every inch of skin sliding against skin bringing him undone. You moan. You arch your back now, meeting his thrusts at a new angle that hits you til you’re crying out with every breath. “Yes- Just like that. Yes- yes- yes–”

You scramble to keep your hold on his shoulder. “Touch me,” You beg him, “Touch me, Rick, please?’ Rick nods frantically, reaching down between you. You cry out when his thumb meets your swollen clit. Quick, slick circles glide over you. Heat blooms across your cheeks. “Rick, Rick, oh please make me come.”

Rick obeys. His only reply is his breathless, blissed-filled panting. He’d do fucking anything for you in this moment. Follow any command. It’s just as he’s out in the field, in the dark, and your voice is the only thing that’s gonna save him. Your walls squeeze him tight as you come, your mouth right in his ear as you scream lightly, your arms clinging to him in ecstasy– everything he’s needed since he knew he needed you.

Rick comes before you’re even done, joining your breathless pleas with a combination of a shudder and a groan. He punches his hips, once, twice, as you come down, his spend filling you up with a delicious heat.

Rick nearly collapses onto you. Careful not to crush you at the last second with one arm, he props himself up over your prone body, his legs slotting with yours.

“Jesus Christ,” He pants. His face disappears into the crook of your neck again. You take a moment to catch your breath, your fingers pushing through Rick’s hair gently with a smile. Rick nuzzles your neck before placing a kiss on your jaw.

You capture his lips softly, the kiss a slow and tender thing. You relish the silence of the bedroom- how the only sounds are the ones you’re orchestrating with the man above you. Music in the ether you’ve been waiting to hear ever since you laid eyes on him. You stay like that until you’re drifting; you open your eyes when you didn’t know you closed them, and you know it’s time to sit up a little, move around a little. You crane your neck at the glowing red numbers on your nightstand clock. You can’t remember the last time you stayed up this late without Argus or Amanda goddamn Waller being the sole reason. The action stirs the resting man in your arms as well, and you’re sorry you’ve disturbed Rick from such a blissful slumber.

When he sits up, Rick seems to blink around the dark room, taking in his surroundings for the first time.

It’s an out of place feeling. Rick’s the man to find every entry point and exit in any given room. But here, with you, his attention was wholly enveloped. That’s what you did to him. You watch him curiously as he searches around the floor. When he finds his shirt by the nightstand and picks it up, you raise yourself up on an elbow and arch a brow at the soldier.

“What do you think you’re doing?” You inquire curiously.

Rick pauses with his shirt halfway on. It dangles around his neck loosely, and you laugh at how it’s clear Rick Flag does things a certain way- his muscle memory driving him to get dressed promptly. Efficiently. And with unnecessary haste.

But you’re not insulted. In fact, you’re a little amused. Because you’re confident when you hitch your leg around the back of his thigh that it’s all it will take to make him stay put. Rick is nearly two hundred and twenty pounds of muscle and you delight in the way every single one stills beneath your touch.

You know the uncertainty in his eyes isn’t a reflection on you. You know it from hours of texting. Of the careful, deliberate unguarding of Rick’s thoughts. He’d been hurt, like many people. Like you have, more than once or twice in your own life. You knew about his routine with lesser flings just as he knew about your aversion to the ominous idea of dating in the first place. It’s unfamiliar territory for you both. You level him with hooded eyes, inviting and patient.

“You’re not going anywhere, Rick Flag.”

“I– no?” He tries.

“We’ve finally both got a weekend off. I’m not done with you yet, Colonel.” You reach for the shirt bunched up around his neck and pull him forward. Rick crawls back over you, his small, pleased smirk returning. “That so?”

“That’s an order, actually.” You purr, tossing the shirt off his head.

Rick’s arms wrap around you tightly, the goosebumps along his tattooed biceps making his pleasure at the idea loud and clear. He lies back down with you, slotting himself beside you. His form dwarfs your body as your fingers find that sandy blonde hair you’ve come to adore. The tension eases. In his muscles, in his worries. For the first time in a while, Rick’s not worried about a damn thing.

The habitual thoughts of tomorrow, tomorrow disappear at your behest, replaced with the sound of your gentle breaths. Rick sighs against your jaw.

“Yes, Ma’am.”

#rickflagbingo #rick flag x reader #rick flag x you #rick flag #rick flag fanfiction #dceu fanfiction #rick flag imagine #Joel kinnaman fanfiction #mywords*#plus sized reader #ps reader #plus sized #sub!rick flag

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bemused-writer · 3 years

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VNC Anime Episode 1

And so the first anime episode came out! I'd say it was actually pretty faithful to the manga; adapting an 88 page first chapter into a singular episode is no easy feat. XD Mochizuki really was making them hefty at first. With that in mind, I figured I'd just talk about some of my first impressions and the few changes they made.

The opening is the obvious first change. The episode itself covers all the same info we learn early on, just in a different order. The manga opted to focus on true names and Teacher's warning to Noé, which ties in more directly to Amelia's plight and Noé's circumstances later on, while the anime chose to open with the vampire Vanitas, which is sort of like the driving force behind people's attitudes towards the blue moon. Will this shift be a big deal later on? It seems unlikely; both give you information you'll need.

I do have to say I hope we get more of this particular art style. The creepy fairytale vibe is so perfect...

La Baleine itself looks amazing as well. In the manga I was always struck by how cool the design was (thanks to Ryou Yamaguchi who designed it), but seeing it animated is something else and made me really think about how if that thing fell from the sky there would be some massive problems. 8D Truly, the only thing keeping that in the sky must be astermite.

Later on, when Amelia destroys all those lights, I realized I'd always misinterpreted that scene. I'd always assumed the broken lights were from Vanitas breaking through the window and, in his usual dramatic fashion, broke everything else, too. But no, it looks like it was indeed Amelia! My guess is that since she's losing control of herself she's also accidentally rewriting the world formula as well.

Okay, I'm going to nitpick the translation just a bit here, but in the manga they go for the more literal "What are you?" which is what Vanitas is really asking. That, to me, seems pertinent, because asking who Noé is is one thing, but asking what he is reveals that Vanitas is used to dealing with all manner of people, several of whom aren't human at all.

And on the note of translating things, I think I'll detour slightly to talk about Vanitas's voice type because I've seen a couple people say he sounds too rough. I get this because the English translation (both versions) tend to make Vanitas sound kind of elegant. However, the fact of the matter is that Vanitas has always been speaking very rough Japanese and isn't very elegant at all. 8D That's a difficult thing to capture in a translation since it's not like he's cursing like a sailor or anything that would make it easy to portray; it's just a style of speech. Anyway, what I'm getting at is that them casting a "rough" sort of voice for Vanitas in the anime actually fits in with how he's been speaking in Japanese.

You know a character has pulled some stuff when one of your favorite moments is them being chucked across the room. XD Ah, Vanitas, if you took a few seconds to explain things maybe you wouldn't be in the middle of a fight right now... However, the anime definitely played up how extreme of a hit this was. Don't get me wrong, Noé sent him flying in the manga, too, but in that he only slammed into the bench rather than through a statue and everything else. While I can appreciate the added drama, it does raise the question of what Vanitas's spine is made out of for it not to have snapped. (^^)"

Wow, Naenia is even creepier animated. :D Her voice is basically exactly what I thought it would be with that delightfully creepy reverb. I'm loving it. And I also like that they kept this manga panel and just added color.

And this is the moment that will have many of you mistakenly thinking Vanitas is a noble-minded fellow, but don't be deceived! He has about 10 million issues and at least half of those are aimed at women. 8D The rest are aimed at the entirety of vampire and humankind. That's not to say Vanitas is without redeeming qualities--he is still one of the heroes of this show--but he's not as straightforwardly wholesome as Noé.

Dante was actually quite a highlight of this episode for me even though he was barely in it. I love the voice they chose for him and he's also the only person who knows what Vanitas is actually like, so he has the most natural reaction to him. XD Everyone is amazed and impressed by what Vanitas has done--as well they should be because it is impressive--but Dante has to work with him. He knows.

This was probably my favorite part of the whole episode. The combination of the music and visuals really emphasized the nostalgic vibe of this moment. It really feels like a beginning and and end. I'm so glad we got to see this animated.

Teacher! They deprived us of seeing him at the start, but we got this shot in the flashback. I still find it strange that they made the estate more... estate-like rather than opening up into a forest like the manga, but it's still effective. We also get to see the silhouette of Louis. ): Truly, everything about Noé's statement, saying he finds the blue moon beautiful, is something we see challenged throughout the series in subtle ways. Can he find something beautiful when it's the source of so much pain? The series isn't over, so I guess we'll have to wait and see.

I will say that the end of the episode with Vanitas's manic grin and Noé's declaration he would eventually kill him by his own hand felt a little more impactful in the manga for me, but it was still very good in the anime as well. I did like that the anime included more people in the "what we gained and lost" section, such as Roland and Loki.

Anyway, the anime is off to a fantastic start! Ahh, the fact that we'll get an episode weekly is so exciting; definitely looking forward to the next. (^^)

#vanitas no carte #vnc #case study of vanitas #bemused's post #long post #vnc anime only spoilers #not sure how to tag that...

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guiltysecretpasttime · 3 years

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Untitled Linzin fanfic

(Yet again?)

This came to me while staying at home one day (one day of many, mind you). Am I okay with starting another multi-chapter Linzin story? Maybe. Will I push through with it? Absolutely. Should this be taken seriously? No, please don’t. Am I abandoning my other work? Of course not.

Don’t take this plot seriously since it’s just something that I felt like I want to write down and share. But… let’s see. Consider this a crackfic /trope centric fic eh haha. Consider this my contribution to this teeny tiny space in the fandom.

Please leave a comment or a reply as to what you think about this. I’m gauging this to be like 3 to 4 chapters long only though.

I think this will keep as untitled for now – until I figure out the right title. And summary / overview.

---

Untitled

Overview

Legend of Korra fanfic – Linzin endgame AU

1 of 3 (or 4?) chapters (or more, if I decide to post them in chunks) – I really haven’t thought this out (shrugs and looks around shiftily)

Pre-canon AU (prior to Book 1)

The airbender gently slid the door closed, careful not to disturb any of its sleeping occupants. He knew he was late but as with everything – his children always came first.

He looked up at the moon, peeking from behind gray clouds. The rain did not let up at all during the day.

It was a pity. It was, after all, the first time that his children found themselves on an Ember Island vacation. It was to celebrate Jinora’s birthday – at least that was what the press release was.

He hurried across the courtyard, ignoring the squelching sounds that his sandals made on the mud and puddles. Passing no one on his way, Tenzin finally reached the right hall.

He quickly dried himself before entering what everyone knew as the Fire Lord’s family hall, which was precisely why they selected it. He crept into the dimly lit hall, shadows were wavering across the pillars and the walls. Nonetheless, the pretense of a nightcap among the grownups was well executed with the spread on the long table.

He sat down immediately beside his mother, who inclined her head in acknowledgment.

Fire Lord Izumi cleared her throat and the soft buzzing of conversation silenced.

“Now that we’re complete – let’s get right to it.”

The airbender’s eyes wandered across the room, to everyone sitting at the long table of the Fire Lord.

Everyone who was anyone to his late father was present. Everyone alive, that is. The lack of guards or security personnel was nothing new in this situation though – in a room of bending masters, it was almost foolish to expect guards to be standing in attention, alert for any disturbance.

“As we know the Red Lotus is back at its game.” Lord Zuko now presided the meeting and went straight to the heart of the clandestine gathering. “There has been reliable intelligence that they are gaining traction on the ground and there are rumors of freeing their known members.”

To their credit, no one in the room gasped or expressed their incredulity of such a claim.

Bumi began to share all the pertinent information from the report (Tenzin idly thought that being a commander suited his brother’s temperament). It was alarming to hear of pockets of violent incidents across the nations and the United Republic that can be traced back to the Red Lotus.

Chief Tonraq took the action to inform his brother Unalaq to strengthen the guards at the North as one of the prisoners were being held there.

Katara said that the White Lotus has already been informed of the case and she had personally requested to have the number of Zaheer’s guards increased. Bumi spoke of fortifying the defenses in all the other security prisons.

“Well, if everything is secured, why even call for us?” The gruff voice of Toph Beifong finally joined the foray.

Suyin fidgeted from Toph’s side, clearly uncomfortable with the discourse.

Truth be told, he did wonder at Suyin’s presence.

When Lord Zuko issued the invitation to Ember Island, he was surprised at the arrival of the Zaofu Beifong family, knowing that they have been estranged from some time. He thought that maybe it was just in keeping up with the ruse of a family reunion. Nonetheless, here they are now and Su was found to be in their midst. She was the youngest child of their generation and had been, more often than not, shielded by her mother when it came to serious and bordering dangerous matters. It had always been the eldest Beifong daughter who shouldered the brunt of the situation.

But then again, no one called attention to the empty seat at the other side of Toph Beifong tonight. Tenzin was sure it was not allotted for Baatar (who had stayed behind to see to the bedtime of the children).

Despite her stature, Toph still managed to command the room. “The Avatar is currently far from Republic City and I don’t think her parents will be taking her on a trip to Zaofu anytime soon. I don’t see the need for us,” Her emphasis heavily implying her family. “To even be here.”

All of a sudden, Tenzin realized the former Fire Lord looked all of his age as he drew in a breath. “While that may be true, Toph, the Red Lotus is looking for a gateway to the spirit world. They think true power and equality will only be brought about by uniting our world with the spirit world. Or barring that, a way to force the Avatar’s hand.”

“But she’s a child!” The Avatar’s father choked out.

“We are well aware that never stopped them.” There was a slight pause in remembrance on what had happened the first time the Red Lotus attacked the Avatar’s family. There had been losses.

Kya spoke up, trying to figure out what that could mean. “If the prisons are heavily guarded and all the leaders of the nations have their own security detail, what else are they looking to? What is in Republic City? What are they targeting?”

“The airbenders.”

All heads turned to a figure who had been leaning in the shadows of one of the pillars. Tenzin wondered how he could have missed her.

Lin Beifong pushed herself off the pillar and grudgingly took a seat beside her mother. “Is it the airbenders then, Lord Zuko?”

All of a sudden, Tenzin realized Lord Zuko looked all of his age as he nodded solemnly. “They knew they need to lure the Avatar or in its place, use a master airbender to their bidding.”

Said master airbender’s eyes flashed. “I would never -!”

“They could use Jinora as leverage.” Understanding was visible on Bumi’s face. “Everyone knows Jinora can already airbend.”

“That’s sick.” Su managed to murmur, sinking further into her seat. “Using kids in their nefarious plans…”

“They’re not known for their mercy, sweetheart.” Bumi shrugged, years of being in the military hardening him some.

“We can add more protection for the children.” Katara threw a concerned glance at her youngest child.

Toph scowled. “So, what are you suggesting? Aside from the White Lotus, Republic City police would need to pull funds to provide bodyguards at Air Temple Island? Mind you – it would be hard to get this funding for a civilian.”

“I’m sure the White Lotus would be enough.” Fire Lord Izumi attempted to mediate what was rapidly about to become a heated discussion.

“Maybe not,” Tonraq disagreed, already shaking his head. “If we pull in resources across the nations for the high security prisons and the sentries for Korra, I don’t think we would have any to spare for Air Temple Island at this period. Recruiting and training more could jeopardize the quality of the White Lotus.”

As the people around him continued to toss around arguments and recommendations, Tenzin could feel everything closing in.

When his wife passed a little over a year ago due to a stomach bug that had gone untreated for so long, Tenzin had stepped down from his role as part of the city council and instead turned to raising his two daughters and rebuilding the Air Nation (or what was left of it). The transition of public figure to private citizen was a welcome balm to him and his young family. His mother and sister had stayed on the island for a couple of weeks during Pema’s illness and subsequent passing, but they did have lives to go back to in the South Pole.

Tenzin thought he managed okay – training acolytes, tending to his daughters’ needs, documenting what was available of the Air Nomad culture… His visits to Republic City were now less frequent compared to his council days. He had developed a routine and he thought they were coping well.

But now, with the tenuous peace that he finally thought he attained was now at the risk of crumbling, he was at a loss on what to do. It had been a while since he felt like this – back when his father passed, and even then there was someone he had with him to support him.

“We need to send them away then.” Iroh’s voice drew Tenzin’s attention back to the discussion. “They’ll be sitting ducks at the island.”

Toph snorted and Izumi glared at the blind woman’s reaction to her son. “Yeah? Then what – they join the Fire Lady’s entourage? Or maybe head on to the tundra with the Avatar? The Red Lotus would probably be grateful that you placed all their targets in one area.”

Izumi countered. “That would solve the issue of spread out resources – if we concentrate them in a location, that may work.”

“On the other hand, what sort of excuse would you give for Master Airbender here to be away from his temples that long?” Lin asked with a tone so casual, you would have thought they were discussing the weather. “It would not do for the Red Lotus to know that we are unto them so soon when we have yet to strategize how to take them down.”

Tenzin found himself silently agreeing. Lin always was the pragmatic one.

Zuko stroked his beard in thought. “We could have them over – extended vacation maybe? Or we go around on vacation to the temples? That way we can use the Fire Nation’s security detail.”

“That would be a negative.” Iroh reddened as he realized he just spoke against his grandfather. At his encouraging nod, the younger firebender continued. “That would be a logistical nightmare. Too many variables to consider.”

Bumi suddenly perked up. “That’s it!” The shaggy-haired man stood up with a snap. “Variables – and what you all said.” He waved a hand across the table. “They can join the Fire Lady’s entourage -.”

“What!” The collective disbelief echoed in the hall.

He raised his hand in supplication. “Hear me out -what if he joins the Fire Nation Royal family as actual family? Surely questions won’t be raised.” Seeing that no one was getting his point, he decided to say it plainly. “I’m saying what if Tenzin marries Izumi?” There was a lot of disagreements to his pronouncement and so he raised his voice. “That way, it won’t be odd if he stayed there or if they become under protection of the Kyoshi Warriors.”

If Lin was the pragmatic one, Bumi always was the wild one.

And practically everyone had a say on that.

“That would never pass, Bumi.” Lin.

“You can’t pull the wool over the eyes of the public with that. What more the Red Lotus?” Kya.

“Sorry but I don’t think Master Tenzin here is my daughter’s type.” Zuko.

“Dad. Well, aside from that, the optics for that kind of union would not bode well for international peace.” Izumi.

“I don’t need a stepdad.” A beat. “Siblings would be welcome though.” Iroh.

“I agree with Izumi -this may come across as the Air Nation siding with the Fire Nation.” Tonraq.

“I doubt the Earth Queen will remain quiet too.” Su.

“Meh. I say just toss Junior here and his spawn to some remote resort (or here even) and just say he went on a vacation.” Toph.

A snort. “Now that won’t fly – Tenzin never goes on vacation.” Bumi.

“Bumi, it’s not nice to make fun of your brother’s troubles.” Katara.

Tenzin simply shook his head at his brother, who still did not look deterred at all even as the conversation around continued to dissect and put down his ludicrous suggestion.

The older man was frowning, walking around the table while partaking on the board of dried meat, fruits and cheese laid out for them.

From the other end of the table, Lin tossed grape into her mouth while Su said something that sounded like “manners!”.

At that moment, Tenzin made the mistake of catching his brother’s eye. He did not trust the gleam in Bumi's eyes.

“I got it!” Bumi once more got hold of everyone’s attention. “True, Izumi as a bride might be to farfetched, but there are merits to the Tenzin gets married deal. No questions will be asked if he spends time with family, out of the public eye, you know – a regular honeymoon. As to the lovely bride, why not someone he has had history with – that would make the whirlwind romance and wedding more plausible, won’t it?”

Tenzin’s heart sank at who his brother was implying.

Oh no. Surely he didn’t mean…

“Why not marry Lin Beifong?”

---

Note: Why not indeed? 🤔 where am I going with this? You shall find out real soon. Lemme know whatchuthink.

#linzin #linzin fanfic #the legend of korra #lin beifong #tenzin #toccatina's fanfics #toccatina wip #toccatina untitled

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merakimousumi · 3 years

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Rise in Love - Embrace the Unknown and the unknowable

One of the greatest part of our life's concerns encompasses around unknown and unknowable. The great Uncertainty.

This is one of the reasons we are fearful of death. We really do not know what happens after we die. We hear or read about them in various forms , yet due to lack of direct experience the fear persists.

Entering into any new things or change in life situations also invokes this unknown and unknowable. It is possible you an expert in your field yet that element of unknown daunts . We make all human possible plans in our mind, do our research, howsoever we are prepared the elements of unknown lingers.

I am no exception. I am you. This uncertainty leads to anxiety, restlessness another cause of suffering. In the years gone by I have been introduced to various tools like EFT (emotional freedom technique), Ho’oponopono ( ancient Hawaiian practice), "The Work" by Byron Katie , Violet Flame and many more so in event of unknown or unknowable or both, I would choose one or more tools and practice them to clear the emotions and feelings of tightness. Till it feels light again and wait for the guidance to be received. It takes persistence and perseverance, sometimes mind gives up too. Many times when I am able to clear my inner beliefs and conditioning I have experienced ease and see light , feel light and life is good again.

My teacher has been vibrating differently off late that is something i had noticed since full moon of month of May (the channel of Blessing he is always has now been sending some radical life changing teachings), in one of the night session freely available to the world ( the library of Nithya's night sessions are in YouTube), he took us through the journey what he called - Rise in love - Love the unknown and unknowable. He bought the most pertinent topic of human sufferings without beating around any tools or methods. This time there was no via route. It was bulls eye, you cannot miss it (if you miss then you must be looking in opposite direction). I felt like its zero with that twist making it infinite.

He said - When an unknown and unknowable or just any one aspect appear, you have to love it. He paused and continued to mention it again. Found it so simple that my mind could not comprehend. For the first few moments honestly I did not get it. Now it was my turn to pause to get the sense within what was mentioned, because I sensed it was home coming at heart.

This is what I felt - When one is grasping for breath, this was 'that oxygen' the lifesaver , that was the power and potency of this teaching. It is not the one which we do not even realize on Normal day during inhalation and exhalation.

I felt Archimedes had entered my body and I was dancing Eureka Eureka!!

The flow and the essence was exactly like Mother's love which is complete in itself. "Love the unknown and unknowable". It went a step deeper when we were asked to love ,just like the way we feel love is, how we define our love. Giving the choice to love anything just like yourself felt personal freedom, the infinite possibilities of loving.

I reviewed the present moment of my life of unknown and unknowable (oh, there are loads , piles that was lying everywhere) and just embraced each with great love. I felt so good (I do not have a better word to express), as if meeting my mother after a very long time and her hug was the most precious gift which i could not trade off with anything. This was the medicine that I was looking forward up until now, I am in LOVE, drunk in LOVE, insanely in LOVE. I have multifold things now to LOVE. More I love, more I am LOVE.

Now onwards I have only 1 mantra - just love unknown and unknowable, I really do not know or now I do not have any intention to know what happens after that.

You see I am in Love :-) !!!

Tathastu

#storytelling #story inspiration #creative writing #writeundertheinfluence #writtenconsiderations #writerscreed #wutiprompts #poeticstories #being mindful #mindfulpractice #buddhism #alan watts #sri nisargadatta maharaj

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saturniandevil · 3 years

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May 2021 Important Dates

AKA my notes on the Astrology Podcast’s May forecast video. Posting this one a little later than usual as I had a busy week. Dates based off US Mountain Time and may be a day earlier in the Eastern Hemisphere.

We’re entering this month on the back of a Scorpio Full Moon--themes of privacy may be especially pertinent, such as the Apple data tracking app released right on this lunation. We have a bit of a vacation in the first few weeks of the month, though new transits will chip away at that feeling as we move towards June.

May 3rd - Mercury enters Gemini His ingress precedes a shift towards mutable signs for the rest of the month--get ready to change things up. Communications will open up more as Mercury becomes even brighter on the Western horizon (he’s finally leaving that conjunction with the Sun). He’ll retrace his steps through Gemini later this month while squaring Neptune, though (when Venus made this trip in Gemini last year it corresponded to the second wave/lockdown in the US).

May 8th - Venus enters Gemini She’ll be leaving her domicile, but finally coming out from under the Sun’s beams--she and Mercury will both be visible just after sunset on the Western horizon. She’s literally brighter in the sky, making her benefic influence much stronger now that the Sun has stopped burning her. Key themes are the exploration of new ideas, taking pleasure in quick dialog, and an increase in movement.

May 11th - New Moon in Taurus The ruler of this New Moon, Venus, will be in Gemini with no (major) aspect to the lunation, however there aren’t any tense aspects to malefic planets either. (Only aspects are a sextile to Neptune and square with Jupiter.) Slow, steady and relaxing for a few weeks before the big changes this month. It’s also occurring the day before an exact trine between Mercury (13♊) and Saturn (13♒), making it a good time to finalize logistics, get paperwork done, and learn from the experiences of those older and wiser.

May 13th - Jupiter enters Pisces The greater benefic entering his nocturnal domicile should bring some good fortune to all. This is the first time in many months he’s been free from Saturn’s rulership, so we can finally relax a bit. He’s going to retrograde at the end of June and backtrack into Aquarius by July, so we’ve got a couple months to taste freedom (likely indicates travel restrictions worldwide loosening up but then tightening one last time). Our podcast hosts liken this transit to much-needed rain coming down on us, or like the full appetizer course of a larger meal. Jupiter entering such a wet sign can bring things together, where a flood of collective emotions will likely be dealt with in the upcoming cycle (both over the next few months and as the year ends/into ‘22 when he’ll be direct in Pisces).

May 20th - Sun enters Gemini He’ll be joining Mercury, Venus, and the North Node in this sign, and will be making a square to Jupiter early on as well. Kelly says this aspect & its repercussions may give some hints as to what the Jupiter and Pisces dialog will be for us. Things will start getting a little bumpy, though...

May 23rd - Saturn Retrograde at 13° Aquarius This is the furthest he’s made it into Aquarius in the past few months, having entered it but backtracked to Capricorn last year. This change of motion is really charging up the second Saturn-Uranus square, which will go exact next month but is within 1° of exactitude by the end of the month. Here’s the diagram from Archetypal Explorer again showing how close they’ll be:

Austin notes that those with strong Saturn-Uranus energy in their natal charts, such as the Saturn-Uranus copresence of the late ‘80s, will feel an activation of this placement. Chris also notes the struggle to overthrow and change structures in society will likely resurface as it did during their interactions last year. The image here may be shaking a tree for the fruit to come off--a brittle tree will crack but a moist tree will absorb the vibrations. Which structures can handle the earthquakes and which will fall?

Some people may be able to thrive on the paths opened by a crisis; early adopters of new technologies may make a move. Things will be different from the norm, and may pose great opportunities for those who shine brighter in times of chaos.

May 26th - Full Moon & Lunar Eclipse at 5°25′ Sagittarius This will be our first eclipse of the year. They come in roughly 6-month cycles, with the previous Sagittarius eclipse occurring in December--this may be a culmination of issues raised back then, and will set the theme for the next ~6 months.

Look for some big changes in the areas of life indicated by whichever house contains early Sagittarius for you. Austin notes that this eclipse is on the South Node (“tail of the dragon”) right after Jupiter entered his domicile. What needs to be cleared away for us to pursue what we believe in? Which fields need to be emptied in order to receive the rain? It’s time to let go of what is no longer serving you--those efforts have culminated and it’s time to pursue that new path you’ve been considering since December (or since last June perhaps, which was the last Full Moon to get this close to the nodes.)

Additionally, this means that next month will have a solar eclipse. The end of May to beginning of June this year is “eclipse season” for us. By the next eclipse in June, the area of life (house) Gemini rules for you will already be a little overstimulated...

May 29th - Mercury Retrograde at 24° Gemini He’s also squaring Neptune right as he slows down & switches direction--confusion on the horizon! Mercury will be domicile during this change in motion, making the retrograde stronger. Chris compares this transit to to Mercury Rx conjunct Neptune in early 2020 and all the confusion around public messaging that happened there. You can be very clever with bad information.

Mercury will slow down and go direct again right around the eclipse next month, tying the eclipses and Mercury retrograde cycle together. Standard keywords: miscommunication, messages getting eaten or going to the wrong place, reviewing old processes, doing the same thing three times because of freak errors...

#astrology #forecast #transits #eclipse #mercury retrograde

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angeli-marco-writes · 4 years

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∘◦❅◦∘ Elizabeth Debicki - Christmas Morning ∘◦❅◦∘

A/N - Elizabeth is a superior human being and I shan’t hear a word against it. She’s so bloody stunning and pure and everything good. I got this idea a while ago, but it’s taken me a while to write it. What better time to upload a Christmas Morning imagine than on Christmas Eve (in my time zone at least). This is not intended to offend anyone, or to intrude on Elizabeth in any way. I do not know her, nor do I claim to. This is a work of fiction. And I’m sorry if you don’t celebrate Christmas, I’m not trying to force it upon anyone. I also used google translate for most of the Polish.

Warnings - Explicit s*x and lots of it. Cursing, Polish cursing. Just 3.4k words of adult content, really. 18+.

Summary - Christmas morning in a hidden wintry lodge is everything you could’ve dreamed of. Then again, it’d be perfect even without the setting and the heating, because all you want for Christmas is Elizabeth, and that she gives you. Wholly.

DAPPLED SUNLIGHT FILTERS through the gap in the curtains, icy and sharp, defining the angles of her face with acute shadows. God she looks so perfect this way, you never want to wake her.

Usually Liz is the first one to wake up, so this is a rarity, one you’ll never take for granted. She looks so ethereal, so angelic, so incredibly perfect, it makes you wonder what you’ve ever done to deserve this half covered celestial woman in your bed next to you this morning. Perhaps the retreat is doing its work, and she’s finally starting to sleep well. Life away from all the pressures of Hollywood seems to be suiting her, and you, hence the lodge you booked into at the start of the week and don’t plan on leaving until it’s absolutely pertinent. How she’s managed to sleep half naked, though, with only a sheet slung around her hips is beyond you, and you find yourself smiling at the thought.

With your eyes, you trace the curves of her bare body from the silhouette of the longest and shapeliest legs you’ve ever seen (that look particularly good wrapped around your waist… or neck) to the dips of her hips where the sheet rests tucked a little beneath her, to the gorgeous valley of her perfect breasts and her nipples, already pebbled from the cold air. You can appreciate her face like this as well, more than you usually could; so still and relaxed like no harm could ever come, like she’s your guardian angel, a facts he’s proven again and again, only for you to snatch her breath away by capturing her slightly plump lips in yours, nudging her button nose with yours, gazing into those stunning baby blue eyes. And her hair, God, the choppy blonde locks that only serve to make her more angelic even when she’s acting like a devil, just like on Halloween. The thought alone gives you chills, riding goosebumps on top of your goosebumps, and sending blood rushing simultaneously to your cheeks and your core.

She lets out the breathiest little moan, and you can’t help but wonder whether she’s dreaming of you, and if she’s just as wet as you are beneath the covers, creating a damp spot where she’s lying on the crisp white sheet, as crisp as the winter snow outside. Her cheeks begin to colour, and now you just have to avert your eyes or you’ll simply pounce her when she needs her sleep. Presents can wait.

The view outside the window, though, is simply magnificent. Hundreds of tiny snowflakes fall all around, dancing and twirling until they settle into beds of soft snow or fall onto the broad branches of the fir trees lining the property. The perfect white Christmas, and your first together, even if, with your destination, it was expected.

Eventually, you pluck up the strength to extricate yourself from the warmth of the bed, only to grasp for the nearest jumper, tugging it on to shield yourself from the worst of the cold. Ice bites at your toes this early on in the day, though it’s swiftly dissipated when your feet hit the soft, cream rug next to the carpet on the log-appearance floor, already warmed through enough to make your toes toasty via underfloor heating.

You ensure to keep your footsteps soft, padding along the floor and treading over any obstacles until you reach the door, and even then only opening it a sliver more than you need to slip through the gap. Yawning, you trek down to the kitchen, pulling the sweater tighter around you. It smells of Liz, of her perfume, and that indescribable smell of roses that is so distinctly her.

Popping the kettle on, your mind drifts from the sound and last night's activities hail you, willing you to forget that you’re in the kitchen and to just think of the way she kissed you, touched you, fucked you- The bubbling stops, and you’re grounded once more, but even so you can still feel her touch scorching your skin, burning you with every graze of her fingers over your legs, your stomach, your-

And that's when you nearly drop the mug of boiling tea onto your bare feet. You have to physically shake the sensation from you if you want anything done before heading back up to bed. You make Elizabeth’s tea the way she likes it: white, one sugar, just like her, and wrap the mug cosies around each cup to keep them toasty, even while she’s still asleep. You tiptoe back upstairs, the ghost of her touch sending shivers down your spine, and as you softly kick the door open, cautious to keep your balance so as to not spill tea all over your sprawled self on the floor, you’re surprised to find Liz sitting up n bed, laying on her elbows, her hair slightly more coiffed, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. Your eyes dart to the safe, a bubbling of excitement fizzing in your stomach just to make this morning better.

“Merry Christmas baby,” She coos in that delectable accent of hers.

“Happy Christmas darling, did I wake you?”

She shakes her head reassuringly, and opens her arms for you. “Though I’d have been much happier if you’d woken me up in a better way than with tea, though I’m ever so grateful.”

You put the mugs down and bend to kiss her lips, tasting only desire in the tender brush. She brings her hand up to wrap around your back, drawing you impossibly closer to her until your whole body is covering hers. She’s wearing that stupid Christmas cardigan you told her not to buy, the terrible clash of red and green and gold being a lot for your eyes to take so early in the morning, but the soft material tickles your back so delightfully, warming you up, so you can’t complain.

“Were you dreaming of me?” You husk in her ear.

“Mmhm, only of you.”

You bring your lips down to her neck, kissing her pressure point ever so gently, only to suck on her skin feverishly enough to leave a hickey and have her moaning already.

“Don’t stop- fuck.”

Your hips begin involuntarily bucking into hers, creating a delicious friction while your mouth works on her weakest spots. For once, neither of you has to worry about leaving marks on the other: free rein to mark each other up in whichever way you choose. In truth, this is your favourite time to just be with Elizabeth, nothing and no one to worry about, especially no paparazzi and no one trying to catch her out.

Without wasting another second, you bring your lips back to hers, your mouths colliding deliciously. She weaves her hand into your hair, tugging you closer, drawing you closer into her warmth and the taste of her wholly. She’s yours, and this morning you certainly plan on proving that, starting with shucking off her cardigan, followed by your jumper, flinging them both across the room.

“Someone’s eager.” She giggles, her accent sounding above lush to your ears, especially with that gorgeous morning husky quality.

“Always.”

You begin to nip at her jaw, she claws at your back, her nails leaving crescent moons in their wake already. Grasping at your hair, she forces you to go lower. Grazing your teeth over her neck, her shoulders, her collarbones, she’s already getting desperate. You can always tell the signs: Her back slightly arching, her hips rolling from side to side and up and around in circles to grasp onto any thread of friction she can, and then there’s those pretty little whimpers she thinks are too quiet for you to hear. You listen closely every time for them, the most darling sounds she makes, they drive you crazy. They also waive your will to tease her, leading to you always giving in. Today is no exception, other than the fact you begin to tease her pebbled nipples with your tongue much faster than you usually would.

“Laska,” She moans, pushing her breasts further into your mouth, her hand moving up to clasp around the back of your head, beginning to control your movements.

You’d be lying if you didn’t say Liz’s boobs were the sexiest you’ve ever seen in my life, but when she speaks Polish, it really gets you going. In fact, tweaking her other bud between your forefinger and thumb, pulling gently while you leave hickeys all across her one breast. She’s really getting what she asked for, using that breathy, ungodly voice to call you the sweetest names.

If you had it your way, you’d be making her come using her breasts alone, but Liz has other ideas, pulling you up by your heir until she’s pinning you to the bed, her long, slender arms on either side of your head, trapping you in. She looks so… elegant.

“Moja cudowna dziewczyna.”

Jesus Christ she’s gonna be the death of you. You look up at her with wide, starry eyes, completely enthralled with every movement she makes, even the slight quirk of her lips, every blink, every breath. She’s trailing her hand down your body, her fingers between your breasts, her palm over your stomach, two lean digits swiping through your slick, having you a mewling quim under her control as soon as the soft pads of her fingers make contact with your core. She teases your entrance a little before gliding in in one swift movement. Your whole body seems to vault up from the bed, wrapping yourself around Elizabeth as an instinct, bringing her lips crashing onto yours while she continues her ministrations. The kiss is sloppy yet oh so sexy, a clash of teeth and tongues with a flame of pure passion. She’s pumping in and out of you, faster, faster, and you can feel your climax approaching. She can tell as well, because she begins to speed up, pressing her thumb down on your clit.

“Say it.” You whine, “Say it, baby.”

She moves her hand faster, her wrist flicking with every movement as she fucks you, deep and hard on her fingers. God the things they can do…

“Wesołych świąt, seksowna.” She purrs, right in your ear.

The most delectable shiver of arousal runs down your spine, electrocuting every nerve ending in your entire body. You’re on fire, and within a second of her strokes continuing, her fingertips curling to get that exact spot she always knows how to reach, you come with a scream of her name, your hands yanking at her hair as she grunts. She flops down onto your body, every inch of your skin touching, and yet she doesn’t stop her movements, every single jolt of her elbow elongating your high beyond what you thought it could. An almost out of body experience, and all you can see is her, all you can feel is her. Everything is just Liz as she kisses you. Hard. Finger-fucking you through to your second orgasm where all you can hear are her coaxing words. You can feel her, too, desperately grinding against your leg. If you had any control over your brain or mouth whatsoever, you’d be teasing her for being so desperate, your eager baby, yearning so much to come that all she can do is ride your thigh; but apparently your mouth can’t do anything but whimper.

“Pierdolić, królowo.” followed by a faint cry are the clearest thing before you're taken away into your memories.

The first time you heard that word was the most heavenly moment of your existence. You and Elizabeth had been dating for a small while, keeping it on the down low, never sharing more than a kiss for weeks and weeks. Until one fateful night, after a nice dinner, she finally invited you in and it was not a night to forget.

Round two, this time you made it to the bed, and seeing her beneath you was a sight and a half. Her pale skin against her dark sheets, a stark and striking contrast, only complimented further by her halo of long curly blonde locks surrounding her head. Her soft pink lips parted, her eyes squeezed shut, one hand clamping onto her pillow to anchor her, the other in your hair. Her back keeps arching off the bed as she approaches her high, crashing back down as soon as you ease off the intensity of your mouth on her core. You’ve edged her again and again even though she’s overstimulated already, sensitive all over. You know that with just one tweak to her nipples or one kiss to her clit, she’ll be coming all over your tongue. Not that you’re complaining. So after laying off for a moment, you get back to work, delving your tongue into her core, savouring every last drop of arousal that drops into your awaiting mouth, your lips pulling at her clit, your hands holding her legs apart to stop them from closing around your head, becoming your necklace. Not that you’d complain about that either…

“Pierdolić!” She screams, her body practically convulsing, crying out that very same word and her name until her throat grows hoarse.

Only when she’s almost finished do you feel your own high coming on with absolutely no contact at all, merely the friction of the bed sheets against your sensitive breasts and the lasting taste of her juices on your tongue. The vision of her topples you over as well, your orgasm silent, muffled by her pussy, your quiet moans sending vibrations throughout her whole being until she falls lax onto the bed, spent, smiling dizzily.

Making your way back up her body, peppering kisses everywhere you can reach, you feel yourself leaving a trail of wetness over her legs and pelvis until you come up to straddle her hips, your chest pressing against hers, your lips meeting in a series of lazy kisses.

“That was pretty sexy,” She murmurs, her voice weak and oh so sensual, “You like it when I speak Polish?”

You just moan softly, unwittingly in response. She chuckles, her fingers running up and down your spine. Ever since, you’ve seen stars with every orgasm when she speaks Polish to you.

This morning follows a similar pattern. With you both exhausted from your first round, you curl under the duvet, wrapped in one another’s embrace. She’s so gentle this way, nothing like the intimidating 6ft+ woman that's shown in the press, the one who could kill anyone with so much as a glance. Not that she isn't drop dead gorgeous, but she’s… vulnerable. And with you, here, she can finally be free and be herself with no external challenges or judgement. That’s what makes this so special.

Skin to skin, heart to heart, lips to lips. You’d take this over anything any day.

“I love you.” You whisper, kissing her shoulder, darting your eyes up to see her beautiful face. The apples of her cheeks are so pronounced when she smiles that signature way, so quintessentially Elizabeth. God she’s so beautiful, and brave, you’re so glad you get to touch her all the time.

Trailing your fingers over her chest, your hand comes up to rest on her bare breast, uncovered by the duvet. She hums absently, her everlasting touch console for you.

“This reminds me of The Night Manager,” She says, turning her head on the pillow to face you.

Your ears prick up; “How come?”

“The cardigan, the snow from when we were in the alps, your hand on my boob like Toms was.”

She’s wearing that smirk, the one that tells you exactly what she wants.

“So now I’m just on par with Tom?”

“Mhm, yeah you are, baby.”

Her smirk widens, mischief glittering in her gorgeous eyes. You chuckle to yourself; this is often her way of instigating another round.

“So I’m just a mediocre white man on a film set with you?” I draw her one nipple between my teeth, my hand massaging the breast it’s already settled on, eliciting a little moan and a vehement nod. God, she’s such a switch. “So you’re telling me that I don’t fuck you better than he can? The fact I have your whole body quaking beneath me in seconds flat when all he got after God knows how many takes was a little twitch?” Again, the same response. “Are you telling me that I’m not the best shag you’ve ever had, darling?”

Silence. You’ve caught her in her own trap, and now, like earlier, she’s just dying to be overpowered. Her torso relaxes a little, her arms falling away, her eyes opening wide, expectant.

“I’ll fucking prove to you that I’m the best you’ve had and ever will have.” you guarantee pridefully.

Pressing a soft and gentle kiss to her lips, your grip on her body is anything but, lifting her limber body off the bed and on top of you. She’s rendered surprised, unable to fight you, just a lopsided smile proving her consciousness while her hands on your cheeks prove her willingness. That twinkle in her eyes that never goes away is good enough to soften your demeanour for a second while you adjust yourself with the headboard, only to take Liz by surprise again, licking a bold stripe from her opening to her clit, her jaw dropping in a silent ‘O’. Kitten licks to her dripping hole are your next move, the bare minimum of contact, reading her a little, but the look of sheer beauty on her face, completely fucked out while she sits on your face is indescribable. You’re not going to drag this out, you’re gonna go fast and rough and truly make it worth her while.

“I love the way you taste, baby.” you tell her as sweetly as you can, pressing your tongue into her leaking hole, clenching around nothing.

She makes a mad grasp for the headboard, wrapping her hands around it, bowing down a little, her breasts in your direct eye line, her nipples hovering just where you want them, pebbled pink peaks perfectly placed on delectably rounded breasts, her soft skin covering every inch, the blemishes just a part of her.

One hand squeezing her ass, kneading her cheeks between your fingers, the other grazing over her gorgeous breasts, your gazes connect. Her eyes focus on yours, your gaze authoritative, demanding for her to keep looking at you, even when it becomes what seems, in the moment, to be the hardest task of her life, just to keep her mouth open as your tongue delves deep into her, reaching as deep as you can go. Your hand on her bum brings her pussy down even closer to your face. You have full access to roam her core as you please, even more when she begins grinding on your face.

“Keep going, fuck, baby I need you!”

And if that isn’t the hottest thing you’ve ever heard, you’ll be damned. Her one hand leaves the headboard and comes up to her other breast, pulling and twisting her nipple as she grinds faster, gyrating her hips against your mouth. She’s getting close, so close.

“I’m gonna-”

She doesn’t get chance to finish her sentence before she’s crying out, pleasure washing over her and breaking out a sweat on her skin, small beads dripping down her forehead and cleavage, all thanks to you bringing her bundle of nerves between your lips and suckling while you played with her ass. No matter how hard she tries, her gaze falters, her eyes squeezing shut as her second climax renders her speechless, breathless, boneless, collapsing onto you. Two hundred times at least you must’ve seen her climax, but this? This morning takes the cake. What a fucking brilliant start to Christmas day.

You both pop to the loo to clean up before wrapping up in your cosy Christmas jumpers and slipping back into bed with your mugs of tea. The smile still hasn’t left her face, and you hope to God it never will. Legs entangled, arms wrapped around one another. She feels so petite and delicate in your grasp even though she towers over you normally. She’s precious, the most precious thing you’ll ever have, the only Christmas present you need. You just hope she knows this.

“All I want for Christmas is you, Elizabeth. Now and always.” You say to your girlfriend, your partner. Your fiancé if today goes to plan.

“I love you so much.” She whispers, her lips on your temple.

“I love you.”

With a surreptitious glance to the safe in the corner of the room, you train your gaze back at Liz, only focussed on you as you cuddle up with her, burrowed under the warmth of the duvet. Yeah, this is a pretty perfect Christmas morning.

#elizabeth debicki #elizabeth debicki smut #elizabeth debicki fluff #elizabeth debicki imagine #elizabeth debicki x reader #jed roper #wlw imagine #wlw smut #christmas smut

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roseunspindle · 3 years

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black butler meandering

I had the idea that Doll got to the Kelvin manor in time to see/find out everything, and is horrified by what was happening to the kids, and seeing it, she can’t justify it, and all she can remember now is the others always scolding her for being to soft, for not wanting to kidnap children, to murder innocent people, Sebastian also corrects her on who was the one to actually let slip the pertinent information. The fact that Beast was willing to let her shoulder all the blame hurts, and seeing Ciel’s reaction to the basement area, hearing even some of what happened to him, when he shoots Kelvin she feels relieved, and can’t quite bring herself to run to Joker’s side after Sebastian cuts his arm off.

Doll pulls on Sebastian’s coat, as the Doc is going to kill the little girl and tells him “you can’t let him live” and Ciel gives the order through his panic. Doll’s pretty numb, but manages to stop Ciel when he Sebastian to burn down the manor and killing everyone. She goes with them to find the old orphanage/workhouse long derelict and abandoned, and slips into a slight catatonic state.

She remain that way for quite awhile, after a month of careful tending she comes out of it, surprised to find herself not stowed away in a hospital, kicked out into the street, or even at the very least a back servants room, but instead in one of the guest rooms of Phantomhive Manor, dressed in a soft, fine flannel nightgown. She cries a little, because maybe, maybe Smile, maybe he really meant their handshake, and maybe she’d

She asks Ciel to “give her a new name” as she no longer wishes to be Doll. Ciel decides on Eleanor, with “Nell” as an affectionate nickname. She goes to the Circus once, to explain to the others that she and Joker and the rest will not be returning, appointing a new ringmaster, and collecting Snake, and sadly telling him the whole truth. He chooses to stay with her, “Smile” and “Black” and becomes a Phantomhive footman.

She officially becomes “Eleanor Michaelis” supposedly Sebastian’s niece/cousin/distant relative orphaned and come to live with them (though many, including Lizzy’s brother are positive she’s Ciel’s mistress....)

Lizzy herself is delighted to have a girl her age with whom she can be close and helps “Nell” integrate with the world (and helps design her lovely clothes)

“Nell” and Lizzy become close and so when Ciel is invited aboard to Campania, so is she, Nell is impressed, along with Ciel, over Lizzy’s swordsmanship and (Ciel isn’t sure how the subject even came up) both girls decided that they would both be the future wife of the queen’s guard dog. (when ciel splutters both girls are offended and ask is there is anything wrong with them, does he not wish to marry them?) Ciel gives up at this point and Sebastian is deeply amused.

“Nell” is with them during the emerald witch arc and takes to Sieglinde right away, and after explaining (to Ciel’s horror) how she and Lizzy are both Ciel’s fiancé’s Sieglinde takes a shine to the idea and after things go down, hopes that Lizzy will agree to allowing her to also become Ciel’s fiancé.

Ciel’s Aunt talks to him about Nell and Sieglinde and after realizing that the girls are the ones going for the idea, decides it might not be such a bad one, as the wife of the queen’s guard dog is a dangerous and lonely position.

She even manages to find old/ancient records that sort of allow for multiple wives and after queen Victoria meets with the young ladies in question, she agrees and gives royal dispensation for the future marriages (partly because ensuring Sieglinde is married to a loyal British subject will be quite useful. Also Nell and Lizzy’s dual ability to ensure Ciel doesn’t go to far is a bonus.

Ciel is rather put out over not actually being consulted on any of this, but it does seem to please the girls and with Nell and Sieglinde to occupy more of her time, Lizzy doesn’t try making the mansion “cute” all that much anymore nor does she harass the servants quite as much.

(it takes quite a bit of explaining to Soma and Agni why a royal dispensation was even needed for having multiple wives during with Ciel’s forehead vein nearly burst and he ends up with Soma trying to get him to also marry one of his sisters)

Sebastian and Ciel do slowly realize they are in love as well, and the ladies don’t really mind, and well, Ciel, Sieglinde, and Nell all agree that watching a sword bout between Sebastian and Lizzy is very, very appealing.

Lord Grey comes around more and more as the years go by, and his attempts at courtship/flirting are so odd that no one actually realizes he’s trying to woo them until Phipps steps in because he’s fed up with the bizarre mooning.

Also, turns out Snake can lay eggs and Ciel is quite glad that he has so many wives as it makes it easier to hide how he ended up with two extra children.

Concerning the twin ciel’s thing I go with Nell especially being positive that Lizzy is on their side as is biding her time, and that she actually had guessed that Ciel wasn’t the original one, as when the spoke of them she always called real!Ciel “the ciel from before” and our!ciel “my ciel” and seemed to be refering to different people.

*I do have a vague idea of future children (okay lots mostly i love names XD)

Ciel/Lizzy - first child and first son Vincent Fredrick Phantomhive

Ciel/”Nell” - Rachel Angelina Francis Vinette Phantomhive

Sebastian/Lizzy - (surprise baby, lizzy found herself craving and eating almost solely raw meat throughout this pregnancy) Carmilla Esther Adelaide Phantomhive

Ciel/Sieglinde - Wilhelmine Victoriana Emerald Estelle Phantomhive

Ciel/Nell - Leander Granville Phantomhive

Sebastian/Sieglinde - Ambrose Victor Phantomhive

Ciel/Lizzy - Lucian Sebastian Phantomhive

#black butler #Doll #Snake #canon divergence #sieglinde sullivan #ciel phantomhive #polyamory #silly #Ciel x Doll #Ciel x Lizzy #Ciel x Sieglinde #Ciel x Sebastian #ciel x doll x lizzy x sieglinde

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pellucidity-is-me · 3 years

Text

A Plan

Summary: Albus Dumbledore hears of a small boy—Remus Lupin—who was recently bitten by a dangerous werewolf. The boy-turned-werewolf is only five, but Dumbledore has already made the decision that he will someday be enrolled in Hogwarts: a feat which has never been achieved. First chapter from my longer fic (link in blog description)!

Wordcount: 2727

Dumbledore sat in the Hog's Head, trying to avoid the gaze of his furious brother. They never talked now. Dumbledore could understand why, but it did feel a bit childish to be bickering like... well, like siblings. He listened to Aberforth scrubbing the counter in a sort of agonized rhythm. Aberforth was still staring, eyes narrowed—perhaps Dumbledore could not see it, but he could feel it. "Just a few more minutes and I'll be out of your hair, Aberforth," Dumbledore said lightly. "I am afraid that this is the easiest place for secret information to remain secret."

"I had to shut down my pub, just for you," scowled Aberforth. "We can't all be rich and famous, Albus. Some of us have to make an honest living instead of pulling political strings for the greater good."

Dumbledore winced. All of their meetings went like this. "This is important," he said. "And Clark is an honest man."

"Clark Darnall is a werewolf."

"An honest werewolf, then. He is doing good work and he has important information. I might as well offer him a drink at one of the best pubs in Britain."

"Flattery won't work on me."

"I am not trying to flatter. I truly do not mean to bother you, Aberforth—" Dumbledore glanced up at the portrait of Ariana and sighed. "I do not mean to bother you," he said again. "Please. One hour."

"I wish the whole world knew that you aren't the paragon of light they think you are," hissed Aberforth, slamming down his towel. He sat down behind the counter. Dumbledore heard him cross his arms.

Silence. The only noise in the room was the sounds of Aberforth's annoyed huffs and the tapping of Dumbledore's long fingers on the tabletop.

Minutes passed. Suddenly, the door flew open.

"Albus Dumbledore. Oh, thank you fer meetin' me." Clark looked just the same as ever—all mussed brown hair, unhealthy frame, dirty face, and ripped robes. His strange accent was the same as ever. Clark Darnall had been bitten at age nine and had escaped to Greyback's werewolf pack shortly after. The pack, from what Dumbledore understood, was a conglomeration of all kinds of different people and nationalities. Clark's accent was a strange combination of a lot of different places. He hadn't lived in human civilization in a little less than twenty years. Dumbledore's heart ached for his plight.

"My pleasure. Sit down, Clark. Aberforth, if you would..."

"Don't speak to me," said Aberforth, slamming two cups of Butterbeer on Dumbledore's table. Dumbledore stole a glance at Aberforth for the first time. Sure enough, Aberforth looked ready to kill him. Never mind that, thought Dumbledore. He turned his attention back to Clark. Dumbledore's relationship with his brother, he suspected, was a lost cause.

"You said that you had pertinent information, old friend?" said Dumbledore gently, and Clark bobbed his head up and down.

"Yes. Yes, sir, I do. I... werewolves... you know. No one listenin' in?"

"Not a one. Except for Aberforth, but he's a very moral man. He can keep a secret."

Aberforth scrubbed harder and grunted an agreement.

"Tha' man. Aberforth. He doesn't like werewolves much, hunh?"

Dumbledore smiled. Clark wasn't usually this blunt, but a werewolf who had lived amongst other werewolves all his life often misjudged humans' ability to hear spoken comments. Heightened senses were a blessing and a curse. Mostly a curse, according to Clark. "He can hear you, Clark."

"Oh! Oh, I'm sorry, sir. Ab... Aberforth. So sorry."

Aberforth did not grace this with a reply, so Dumbledore broke the awkward silence. "How much time do you have?"

"'Bout an hour till Greyback notices I'm gone, p'raps less. I should hurry."

"I'm listening." Dumbledore took a sip of Butterbeer.

"Greyback's been excited lately. Dare I say over the moon." Clark chuckled weakly. "There was this man, while ago. Fergot his name. Somethin' like... Loopy, I guess. I'll remember later, prob'ly. But he sort of insulted Greyback... Greyback had a spot of trouble with the Ministry, you see, and was brought in fer a proper hearing. Pretended he was a Muggle tramp. Almost got away with it, 'parently, but... the bloke, Loopy... he didn't buy it at all. Clever man."

"Do you know anything else about this man?"

"Greyback was goin' on abou' Boggarts. 'Parently the bloke was an expert... and then they hired him at the Ministry. Somethin' like Crocodile fer a first name... you know my mem'ry's not all there, Albus."

Dumbledore paused. An expert on Boggarts who had been hired by the Ministry... Crocodile Loopy? Dumbledore's mind started to conjure pictures of the young man whom he had taught years earlier... brown hair, shy demeanor, studied various subjects for fun... sense of humor... got into fights with other Hogwarts students at times. Mostly mild-mannered, but a temper. "Lyall Lupin," he said heavily. "It was Lyall, wasn't it? I taught him." Dumbledore started to picture what possibly could have happened between Greyback and Lyall that made Greyback so happy... a fight, perhaps? Lyall lost? The full moon was a few weeks ago... was Lyall killed? Or bitten? Poor man.

"Yup, Lyall Lupin. Tha' was it, I'm sure of it. Well, Lyall saw righ' through Greyback. His coworkers didn't believe him, and Greyback mentioned... Greyback said they sort of taunted Lupin a bit. Seemed happy abou' it, whatever it was, but I don't know what they said. Ministry let Greyback free and tried to Obliviate him, but Greyback escaped. Ministry knows what 'e looks like now. Greyback was hoppin' mad abou' tha', he was. Face's all over the papers. Can't go undercover anymore. But 'parently Lupin said that... werewolves were... heartless, soulless... creatures? I do'nno. Also implied we should all die."

Dumbledore closed his eyes. Oh, Lyall...

"So I guess Lupin both insulted Greyback and outed his appearance to the media, and Greyback was goin' on abou' revenge for a full day. 'Twas the day before the day of the full, you know. He was tellin' the story to everyone who would listen. Called us all together. Plotted his revenge. Said he was goin' over to Lupin's and killin' him. Said if the whole world knew who he was, he might as well make it worth it."

"And...?"

"And he went over to Lupin's a bit before the moon rose. Came back. Looked pleased. Blood all over."

Dumbledore felt a bit ill. "Lyall...?"

"Perfectly fine. 'Parently Greyback went out and scouted the area. Watched the house fer a bit. S'not just Lyall livin' there, he has a family. Wife. Kid."

Dumbledore felt even more ill.

"You know how Greyback goes after the kids. Ecstatic that there was a little lad there. Big Lupin got away with not even a scratch, he did, but Greyback meant to kill the kid."

So there was hope after all. "Meant to?"

"Meant to. Lad was only 'bout five, Greyback says. Tiny thing. Asleep before half-seven. You know children tha' young don't survive the firs' full, so there was no point in bitin' him and lettin' him live. So Greyback decided to... you know. Rip 'im apart. Leave 'im barely recognizable. Wanted to hurt Lupin, he did."

"Meant to?" Dumbledore repeated. Clark had always had a flair for the dramatic; he certainly liked to draw things out for maximum suspense. It was usually entertaining, but right now it was just mildly annoying. "You said that he... meant to kill the child."

"Yeah, he did. But he says he only got one bite in before Lupin heard noises and scared 'im off. No sense stickin' around when a wizard's got a wand and s'firin' curses at you." Clark chuckled. "Miffed parents are dangerous, and Greyback's not stupid. Says it was still fun, though—lad didn't even scream; too stunned to do anything but stare. Greyback was pretty happy abou' how things turned out. Says it'll be a lot more fun for Lupin to live with a werewolf kid for a month. Said it wasn't possible fer such a young lad to survive the full, so Lupin would either have to put 'im down or let 'im die with the rising of the moon. But he regretted that he didn't get the kid fer himself. Younger ones taste better, he says."

Dumbledore shifted in his seat with discomfort. Clark was desensitized to such talk, having grown up among werewolves, but Dumbledore was not. He wasn't entirely convinced that Clark did not ever bite or kill people on the full moon, but he would never voice his reproaches to Clark. Clark was, after all, a good informant and debatably a good man... yet Dumbledore would not hesitate to protect anyone whom Clark may be willing to attack. "Continue, Clark."

"Righ'. Well, tha' was two and a half months ago, tha' was. Lad's been through the first full. Lupin let 'im live, which Greyback found surprising. But you know what's even more surprising?"

Dumbledore shook his head.

"The kid lived. Had his skeleton torn apart at the age of five, he did, and he didn't die. Mostly they've got to be at least five and a half, and even tha's rare. Greyback says seven is the best age. Greyback also said the kid wasn't even five yet when Greyback bit 'im. Close, but not yet—he was four. Family was talkin' 'bout fifth birthday prep'rations, he said. Lad prob'ly transformed for the firs' time righ' aroun' his birthday. Only five."

That was rare, certainly, but Dumbledore didn't see why it was such important information. "So...?"

"So tha's a big deal! You prob'ly don't understand. Yer brigh' and all, but you can't understand. In the werewolf world, tha's huge. Greyback went and discovered a kid who somehow got past all the laws of the world. Tha's why he's so happy. Got 'imself a protegee, he said. But when he tried to go get the kid and bring 'im to the pack... lad refused."

"Do you know the child's name?"

"'Course I do. Remus Lupin. Greyback's been sayin' it over and over, like it's a song stuck in his head. He gets obsessive sometimes. Scary. The fact that Remus refused made 'im even happier. Usually he can go into the child's room sometime before the second moon, cast a Soundproofing Charm, and then convince the kid to come join. After they've been through the firs' full moon they'll do anythin' to make it better, and Greyback makes sure the parents aren't aroun' to make the decision fer their kid. So tha's what Greyback did with Remus. Sometimes he makes us do it, but he really wanted to do it himself this time. Never seen 'im so excited abou' anythin'. His heart was going a mile a minute, it was."

"But Remus refused?"

"Yup. Greyback did all the normal stuff... promised he could make the pain go away, said it was almost like a cure, said Remus'd meet other kids like 'im. Greyback even said that he tried to act all nice and fatherly, but none of us believe 'im. Anyway, lad heard that Greyback could help an' then flat-out refused. Said he wanted to stay where he was. Also a big deal, Dumbledore... pain's a lot, an' kids don't offen have the presence of mind to make their own decisions."

"I see."

"Greyback tried Plan B, as he always does when the kids refuse. Took off Soundproofing Charms, let parents in. Sometimes the parents love to get the kid off their chests. But Lupin wasn't having it, 'parently. And Lupin can duel, so Greyback left. Lupin still loved his kid, even though he'd hated werewolves just two and a half months ago."

"Fathers do tend to love their children," murmured Dumbledore. "Lyall was always headstrong, but I never had any doubt when he was at Hogwarts that he'd do the right thing."

"Don'no if it is the righ' thing, meself. Remus Lupin's not gonna have an easy life. People're gonna hate 'im. And he's only five. He migh' have been better off with us... plus, I kinda wanted to meet him, I did. After Greyback's said so much abou' him."

"He will be better off here," said Dumbledore. "He will. Lyall is a good father, I'm sure."

"Yeah, well. They moved, after Greyback found 'em the second time, but Greyback isn't worried. Loves that the lad has a mind of his own. Says he'll go find Remus later when he's grown and try again. Says it's somethin' to look forward to. He's always so much happier when he has somethin' to look forward to. We're always scared of 'im after the euphoria of the last full moon dies down and he's got a whole month to go. But now he's practically bouncin' off the walls. No tellin' whether Remus'll survive the next full, but I hope he will. Really wanna meet the kid, I do."

"So do I," said Dumbledore thoughtfully. "But I imagine that the family is going through a lot right now. You're right, Clark. This certainly changes things. You always do bring me good information."

"Least I can do after you saved my skin few years ago," said Clark. "Heckin' werewolf hunters. Execution's the worst way to go. Well, I'd better get back before Greyback wonders where I've been. See ya sometime, Albus."

"See you sometime," repeated Dumbledore, smiling. He watched Clark go. The second he left, the smile dropped off of his face. "Aberforth, you needn't listen. But I need to talk things through." Dumbledore stood up and began to pace.

"Oh, joy," said Aberforth sarcastically.

"Armando is set on retiring, and I—forgive my arrogance—expect to be headmaster in a few months' time."

"Of course you do."

"Lyall was always a good man. He will raise Remus to be a good man as well, I am certain of it."

"If you think werewolves can be good."

"I do. And I think that, since Remus is so young now, he will have had a chance to adapt to the curse by the time he is eleven..."

"Oh no," said Aberforth. "Absolutely not."

"I heard that Lyall has married a Muggle. I believe her name is Hope. Remus might be nonmagical... but with Lyall's talent, I suspect that he is a wizard. I shall have to check, but I would not be surprised if his name is already down for Hogwarts. If I can create arrangements for full moons..."

"You're not planning on raising this boy to fight in the war, Albus."

"I thought you didn't like werewolves," said Dumbledore. "Don't worry. That is not my intention. I simply think that he has a right to an education, don't you? I can see many ways that this will be a success... but, if I am as magically competent as I believe myself to be... I cannot see many ways in which it can fail. If this works... yes, indeed, I can see it working," he said, more to himself than Aberforth, "and it could be life-changing for a great many people. Or perhaps just Remus Lupin. Either will satisfy me."

"You say that, but you only care about the greater good. None of that is true at all."

"It is certainly true," said Dumbledore quietly, "and I'll thank you to let me be my own person. I am changed. I have learned. And Remus Lupin will learn as well, if I have anything to do with it... except in a very different sense. He is young still, but in six years... six years. Yes. I shall... what is the expression?... put it on the back burner." He smiled. "Would you like a caramel toffee, Aberforth? In thanks?"

"A caramel toffee will not make up for your mistakes."

"No, but a caramel toffee certainly doesn't hurt..."

"I don't want your toffees."

"A couple Galleons?"

"I am not a charity case."

"A hug?"

"Don't touch me."

"You may have my scarf, but it's a bit old and probably too flamboyant for your tastes..."

"Get out of my pub so that I can reopen."

"Very well. Let me know if there's anything you ever need, Aberforth."

"I need you out of my life," Aberforth called, but Dumbledore was already halfway down the cobblestone street, humming Rossini's Barber of Seville overture.

All in all, it had been quite the productive day.

#albus dumbledore #hp fanfiction #marauders #remus lupin #young remus lupin #hogwarts #little bit of a prologue #tone change from the rest of my fic but i like it #aberforth dumbledore

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sunflowersteves · 4 years

Note

Hi! Can I please request a Bucky x short!civilian!fem!reader where Y/n is pretty much family of the Avengers, & the team is back together & Buck is joins the team. Steve asks Y/n if she can teach Bucky all about the 21st century, since she is still in college knows more about the 21st century than he does. She & Bucky fall in love after spending so much time with each other, & she also helps him with his nightmares & will gently hold his metal hand, showing him he isn’t a monster & she loves him

bucky barnes x short!civilian!fem!reader

author’s note || sjsjs I couldn’t think of another meme and I figured that Bucky wouldn’t get a Kermit reference either. I hope you enjoy!! @kpopgirlbtssvt

warnings || none, fluff, nightmares

Ever since moving into the compound in Upstate New York, you had gotten even closer with the avengers. They had already loved you since Rhodey had introduced you to the team. Tony even hired you as a coordinator for Stark Industries which then prompted all of them to ask you to move in. You knew they just saw you as a family but they all played it off as ‘because you work for Tony, you wouldn’t have to commute.’

Recently, since Hydra infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Winter Soldier had gone to Wakanda to get rid of the trigger words, Bucky had been a new addition to the team. Tony was still mad at him and never talked to him nor made eye contact but everyone seemed somewhat happy to see him around. Especially you. Despite feeling distressed for Tony, you also understood that Bucky didn’t willingly do those things. Hydra taking utter control of him wasn’t his fault, so you always reassured him that eventually, Tony will come around. He’s just a stubborn bitch.

For the past month, you have been teaching Bucky 21st century slang, mannerisms, pop culture, etc. On the day that Bucky arrived at the compound, Steve asked you if you could teach him some things.

“And you can’t, old man?”

“Hey, I’m just now getting used to a smartphone. You’re more equipped for this.” And since then you’ve been teaching Bucky everything there is to know about your generation and the future.

You would sit on the couch in the living room of the compound and either show him pertinent movies or read books together or you show him other things regarding the 21st century like cellphones, social media, etc. Ever since the first day that you had taught him, you were head over heels for him. At first, he was quiet, blushing at every little thing you said which made your heart soar to the moon. After a while and he got closer to you, he was more open and confident, even would tease you. And now you were really in trouble, that crush ended up being a fire burning love for him to the point where if he just dropped the question of marriage you would say yes.

Today, your lesson was showing him memes. For the past two and a half hours, you had been showing him why they’re funny but he can’t seem to wrap his head around it. “I just don’t get it. Why is a green frog sipping tea funny? And why does tea mean gossip now?” You laugh a little and try to get him to focus again.

You sigh, putting down your phone for a second. You then started to explain for the 50th time but Bucky still couldn’t grasp the concept. “Maybe it just isn’t funny.” “What? It’s hilarious!” You smirked and shook your head, yelling at the top of your lungs. “Peter!” After a couple of seconds, Peter came running into the living room asking what the matter was. He blinked as he just saw you and Bucky sitting on the couch.

“I have a meme to show you.” Peter’s eyes lit up and he gazed at the phone, reading each line before belting into a hearty laugh. As he kept reading, his hand ended up clutching his stomach and he had to bend over from laughing too hysterically. Bucky just stared, eyes widened.

“miss y/l/n, that’s a really good one.” He would periodically chuckle as he walked out of the room. “See? They’re funny.” Bucky just continued to stare at Peter like he came in blue and had three heads. All he could do was shake his head as you started to laugh at his demeanor.

You then showed it to him again, shoving the phone up to his face again. All he could do was an exasperated sigh, “I still don’t get it!” You patted his leg in comfort, “Why don’t we take a break and eat some ice cream?”

Even at night, you would be of service to him. You’d always sprawl into his bed and soothe and cradle him until his nightmares go away. Bucky would never admit it but you helped him so much. You gave his dreams calmness and comfort, something that he hasn’t felt in a really long time. He felt heavenly around you.

However, He honestly hated that you came. He was a monster. A villain. A killer. An assassin. Why would someone come in to deliberately stop his suffering? He would never say a word the next day, silently hoping that you wouldn’t come. What if one night he wasn’t himself and he hurt you? He couldn’t—and wouldn't—live with himself if he hurt a single hair on your head.

You knew you didn’t have to go into his night and calm him. Steve even warned you the day he came that if she heard screams in the middle of the night, it was Bucky. But you couldn’t just sit there in your room and listen to his heartbreaking screams.

You knew that he could also possibly wake up and not know who he was but you knew he would never hurt you but you honestly didn’t care. His state of mind was more important. Especially since you knew that he wouldn’t hurt you. So, you persisted.

Tonight was no different, Bucky’s screams would enter the air, blaring through the walls like they weren’t even there. So, you lifted up the blankets, silently creaked your door open, and ran across the wall to Bucky’s room. You creaked the door open and almost drooled at the sight of his shirtless body. You cursed at your mind because now, definitely wasn’t the time.

Your eyes soften, a scream comes into the air again and his body flails a bit. He was curled up, sweat was rolling down his forehead and it made his body glisten. His eyebrows were furrowed and his mouth was slightly agape. He would occasionally mumble words over and over again. You walked over to him, putting a hand on his shoulder to let him know you were there.

“Bucky, it’s me. Wake up, buck. You’re here with me. You’re safe. They can’t get you.” Bucky stirred, still mumbling and eyebrows furrowed. You gently took his left metal hand, intertwining your fingers and skin tingling from the cold feeling.

He just smiled at your asleep body, you must’ve been trying to wake him up but fell asleep in the process. His heart melts at the sight in front of him, your flesh fingers intertwined with his metal ones.

“I love you, doll.”

“I love you too.”

#bucky barnes x reader #nightmares #bucky has nightmares #ptsd #Bucky Barnes #bucky barnes fanfiction #bucky imagine #bucky barnes fluff #fluff #bucky x y/n #marvel x reader #bucky x reader #Winter Soldier #winter solider x reader #winter soldier fluff #marvel #marvel fanfiction

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snarkywrites · 4 years

Text

April Horoscopes: Strength

April will be a month of learning and discovering hope considering the challenges that the world is currently facing with COVID-19. Aries Season represents Cardinal Fire, this is the shift from the rocky waters of Pisces that we have traversed and onto more methods of initiating. In Pisces, we saw the concerns with the Coronavirus and during the Virgo Full Moon, preventive action (In the United States) was being taken by many governments to contain the spread in March. Aries Season does not guarantee a drastic change, but it will enable more action to be done in order to make bigger changes for tomorrow. With Saturn entering the sign of Aquarius around the same time that the Spring Equinox begins, we can only look forward to a more positive change since these signs are moving from Earth and Water to Air and Fire. We all look forward to what Aries Season has to bring, it is the start of the new Season, where new life is birthed as well as hope. Most of us are practicing isolation and keeping touch with friends and family seems like a pertinent thing to do during this period to keep our spirits up. It is a period of learning as well and finding the strength to persist and continue to fight. We have to ensure to keep our spirits up, to not give up on hope because it can become our strongest ally and the greatest weapon of all against fear.

Aries – We finally make it to your sign, and we all look to it for a change. Ironically, while Aries likes to move and explore, we are mostly practicing isolation at this time. Where this would hold you down or take you steps back, you might feel a sense of confidence with Jupiter bringing tension to your Sun sign. It might give you a boost of over optimism or bring you crashing down to negativity. Make sure to strike a balance since this month will be a lesson plan for you, especially when Jupiter and Pluto connect closer to bring on the intensity. A sign of relief will come with the Full Moon in Libra, bringing some balance to the overwhelming path this month, making you tune into what you need and how others can help you achieve that. With Venus in the sign of Gemini, you will feel a boost of confidence and energy that will help keep you in good spirits towards the end of the month. Later this month, when the sun shift to Taurus, you will feel a little less pressure, allowing you to go back and focus on rebuilding yourself and putting the focus back on you, but from a calmer and more neutral ground.

Taurus – Later this month we enter your season and we are all looking forward to that. For now, the Sun is in Aries and it is making you more methodical and contemplative. This period of time can amp up your anxiety, but you have to remember to relax. Venus is still in your sign for the earlier parts of April, before it trapezes into the sign of Gemini, making you more prone to look at your finances and worth. Venus will be retrograding in this sign, so be careful not to practice the “treat yourself” mentality until later this year. With Pluto and Jupiter meeting up on April 4th, there will be a drive in you to explore and seek some truths about the world or something you might have been curious about for a while. Higher learning opportunities are possible at this time. The Full Moon in Libra will be a calming effect on you, since you are both Venus ruled signs. Being practical and planning will come with greater ease as you get more focused on achieving your goals and set your sights towards the future. Finally, when the Sun enters your sign on the 19th, you will feel that boost of energy you have longed for that will wake you up from that slumber.

Gemini – This is going to be a very interesting month for you. Venus will enter the sign of Gemini on the 3rd and it will remain there for a while. For those who have had troubles with love, this period will be an eye opening one for you. It will be a learning experience as you become more aware with your relationships in the past and present, giving you keys to think about the future. The Sun is in Aries for the first part of the month, bringing the connections with friends through social media. You thrive when it comes to communication and when Mercury enters Aries on the 11th, you will see just how good you can be. There could be some recognition since you will be more active on the social media platforms, potentially making new friends and connections. The Full Moon in Libra brings excitement to your life during this transit, it also sparks your creativity, pushing you to get to work and make more content (especially for those artists and writers out there). April begins a period of transformation and promises to show you the new journey to self-discovery.

Cancer – April promises to be interesting as well as a little frustrating, as you receive tensions from both Capricorn and Aries, but you will find a way to power through it all with your resilience. Working hard will be on your mind and it will feel like it might be nonstop. You will feel some pressures trying to recalibrate your schedule and with everything going on you might be overwhelmed. The Full Moon in Libra will bring some harmony and balance to your environment, halting the madness for a while and allowing for a nice breather. Venus in Gemini will also provide some relief and relaxation as the anxiety slowly starts to creep away bringing you back to a sense of temporary normalcy. When the Sun enters the sign of Taurus, you will be more receptive to what the season has to offer. Connecting with friends will be a huge theme this transit, and the New Moon might amp the focus for you, especially with most people practicing isolation. The Pluto and Jupiter conjunction will be a doozy for everyone, and this might be a period where you might need to meditate, so that you won’t crumble those close relationships to you.

Leo – This month will be a learning experience. Aries Season keeps you full of hope and some optimism, although it can feel fleeting. When Mercury enters Aries on the 1th, part of you will have a need to learn and dive more into topics that have been calling out to you for the last couple of months. With the Jupiter and Pluto conjunction making us all want to hide; you will feel more intrigued about uncovering truths while becoming fixated on making changes to your routines. Lots of fixed signs will be running for cover since Saturn is now in the sign of Aquarius, but you will feel confident enough to handle this energy. This is a point in time where you will feel the need to reflect and look more within. Saturn might point out some things you need to change and will most likely feel confident working on. Interpersonal relationships will be eye opening for you during this transit. The Full Moon in Libra on the 7th will make you sharper and more focused. More tools in your inventory to help you navigate those thoughts in your mind that will be sparked by Jupiter, which will put you on the path to organization and efficiency until the remainder of the year. You’ll be happy when the Sun enters Taurus because you will have your moment in the sun and will embrace it.

Virgo – The Sun in Aries this month will stir up some emotions from your past. The Jupiter and Pluto conjunction on the 4th will spark some memories riddled with pain, as you think back on the moments of happiness along with the thoughts of endings in certain relationships. There could have been someone that was a strong influence from your past who might stir up some memories of a distant past. Like most signs this year, you will have to battle with those memories in order to let go and move on. The Full Moon in Libra brings the focus back on you and where your comfort zones reside. You might be compelled to critique yourself for not managing finances the way you have dreamed, but a lot of us are dealing with unexpected events and turmoil with our income. Best to be patient and focus more on your wellbeing. Relax. A more favorable time begins when the Sun enters Taurus later on in the month, giving you the courage needed to take on a new path and you might even feel a little more optimistic about the changes that have been brought into your life in the last two months. These changes are drastic and upsetting, but you will become more acclimated as time goes on. After all, these are still a lot of lessons that we are learning along the way.

Libra – One of the biggest events this month will be the Full Moon in your sign on the 7th. This will be an empowering moment for you, even if it does not feel like it is at the time. Full Moons serve to activate our own power within, a time of breaking down parts of ourselves and tackling our own vulnerabilities. The Sun in Aries this month will still ignite passion and excitement for you as well. If you have felt defeated by Saturn, Pluto and Jupiter this year, you will find a way to stabilize yourself after everything felt like it was slipping away. There will be a lot of release of energy and with Venus entering Gemini, you can find yourself transforming through a new spiritual path. Saturn’s ingress in Aquarius will be a breathing period for you since those Cardinal placements are coming apart (for now), giving you room to take a moment to relax as you plan for what comes next. The warrior within you is definitely out this month, even if it does not seem like it. You will feel more focused and more willing to take on the role of tactician. Finally, the shift to Taurus Season will be a little more relaxing for you as you focus on rebuilding while taking a step back from the world.

Scorpio – You are compelled and driven to work hard this month with the Sun finally in Aries. However, everything will feel like a frustrating halt given the world events happening now. Take a step back and decompress; this period of time can be a good way to figure out if your body needs a break or if you need to make some changes that will help improve your health. The Full Moon in Libra on the 7th will motivate you to take time to rest and rebuild. If you have felt exhausted before or needed a break, now is your time to do it. This will be therapeutic and wonderful for you. But be prepared because with Venus entering the sign of Gemini, things might heat up and move extremely fast, maybe too fast for your liking. This will be an interesting period filled with exploration and lots of communication. This month adds even more fun and exciting moments when the Sun moves to Taurus which will bring to focus some potential partnerships (if you’re looking) or a way to solidify self love.

Sagittarius – It has been a long journey for you, but you this fire season will bring some excitement to your life. Aries Season will feel like a very surreal moment given the situation in the world, but you know how to make the best of the situation. The Jupiter and Pluto conjunction in Capricorn might feel like a dreaded moment which will force you to take a look at what you learned from your last Saturn transit in Sagittarius. That foundation, your base is going to be rocked, but you have endured, so keep strong and focused. If you have been putting off projects for months, prepare now for a burst of creative stimulation that will keep you occupied. With Venus entering the sign of Gemini on the 3rd, you will feel more in tune with art and romance. Lovely words might be spoken by you or someone will speak them to you. The Full Moon in Libra, you will feel connected to your social circle and might feel even more motivation from them which puts your inspiration on another level. The Sun enters Taurus on the 19th, making you more focused, bringing a sense of determination to get things done, efficiently. Continue kicking ass and enjoy this Venus transit in Gemini.

Capricorn – Mars and Saturn are finally out of your sign, bringing some much-needed relief on your end. However, Jupiter and Pluto are still there, rocking your world. On the 4th, they come closer in a conjunction to remind you that, you are still going through the transformative phase, so keep focused since Saturn will eventually come back to join them several months from now. You still need to work hard even now. It will feel stressful with the pandemic, but you have got this. Your efficiency and resourcefulness is what makes you someone that people admire. When you feel defeated, remember to think about the battles you have dealt with and won. Venus enters the sign of Gemini, adding more passion to your work, making you multi-task and prepare for more. You are ready. With the Full Moon in Libra, this can be an eye opener, as you notice where your work and accomplishments have led you, don’t get too caught up and expect to make drastic changes (yet). The Sun entering the sign of Taurus on the 19th promises to bring some fun and joy to your life (briefly) as you enjoy the happier moments before you get back into overdrive to get more shit done.

Aquarius – We can expect fellow air signs to be ecstatic with Venus entering Gemini on the 3rd, bringing you some enjoyable moments. Moments like these are needed, especially with the pandemic and everyone practicing isolation. Venus in Gemini will prompt you to reach out to others, to establish new connections and to find joys in unconventional ways that involve communication. On the 4th, Jupiter and Pluto are exact, making you ponder over the past and how to break way from those memories that might be holding you back in order to create a healthier and happier future. The Full Moon in Libra will give you the insights needed to make changes, to connect with your higher self and even seek a greater good through philosophy. It can be a moment where you feel more studious, wanting to embark on journeys through learning. The theme of connecting and staying connected will be prominent for everyone, but air signs will know how to navigate through these waters with ease. The Sun entering the sign of Taurus on the 19th brings a relaxing energy and the focus on grounding you from all of the air energy. You will get in touch with those closest to you and have a new appreciation for them.

Pisces – April will bring a lot of promise to you, but it requires patience. We are all learning how to handle being patient with the pandemic. This period of isolation will allow for you to focus on setting your goals, planning ahead and thinking about your stability as Sun and Mercury shift to Aries. Once Venus shifts into the sign of Gemini on April 3rd (and remains there for a several months), it will help resolve your need for grounding as well as the growing questions that continue to nag you. This Venus transit resonates with what the world is going through, you will reach out to loved ones or be surrounded by them. Focusing on security and stability will be major for you. With the Full Moon in Libra on April 7th, you might feel the fear and anger creep up on you, but you will manage because you are patient and diligent when you want to overcome. You have been on a journey for months, seeking answers, thinking about the past and the future. When the Sun moves into the sign of Taurus on the 19th, you will be more prepared to tackle on these questions, to find those answers aggressively and to express your needs and desires.

#Astrology #horoscopes #aries #taurus #gemini #cancer #leo #virgo #libra #scorpio #sagittarius #capricorn #aquarius #pisces

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kakatenzo · 4 years

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kkyam royalty au 1

okay I have two fic ideas that are centred around a royalty au and i wanted to post both on here and see which ones ppl preferred!

here’s royalty au 1 i’ll post the second one tomorrow

(ps this is un beta’d and it is 2:40am so i have not looked over it at all. just typed and hit send)

“You come here often?” Kakashi ask sleazily.

It’s a cheap shot. He knows that, he’s sure he’s had better one liners at the tavern after one too many drinks but Kakashi can’t bring himself to care. The entire night has been occupied by stuck up nobility and empty conversations that carried across the ballroom. He’s just surprised he has managed to survive the entire night despite not coming from a royal lineage himself, it seems that all that condescending behaviour blocks all common sense and Kakashi tries not to be too smug about it. It’s a good thing he’s an excellent liar and charming if he really put his mind to it, and now he’s putting all his effort into trying to swoon this doe-eyed brunette. Kakashi hasn’t seen him before unlike the other parties of the monarchy who often were presented during ceremonies and announcements, so he assumes he is visiting from another kingdom. It’s perfect, Kakashi thinks, he’ll bag a noble for one night and never see them again.

“Yes actually,” the brunette answers frowning and it catches Kakashi by surprise. “Konoha’s been my home since I was born. I suppose you are visiting?”

Well, that’s one idea out the window so Kakashi replies dumbfoundedly, “Uh, yes.”

It seems to jerk the brunette awake. “I apologise for I have misplaced my manners, good sir.” he says before straightening his shoulders and giving a bow. “I am Yamato, nobleman of Konoha.”

Kakashi quickly dips into a bow. “Kakashi, crown prince of the Hatake kingdom.”

Yamato raises a brow. “I don’t recall the Hatake family mentioning a visit to the kingdom.”

The crown prince disguise had worked well the whole evening and if Kakashi is going to be honest with himself, it also gave his ego a small nudge but now his ego is deflating because it seems like he decided to try to court one of the only smart people in this ballroom.

“It was all very last minute, so I apologise for the short notice.”

The back of Kakashi’s neck prickles with heat and he resists the urge to ease the collar from his throat. The tavern is going to have a ball when they find out he got kicked out from the ball because he found a guy attractive.

A small, almost bashful smile encompasses Yamato’s face instead and he amicably says. “I apologise I did not mean to doubt your presence. How are you finding the ball?”

“Eh,” Kakashi says loosening up and his shoulders return to their usual hunched position. “Everyone here is on their high horse.”

For a moment, Yamato looks horrified but then he laughs. Gentle and warm, and it invites Kakashi to relax further. “You’re very honest, do they allow the crown prince of your kingdom such brash honesty?”

Kakashi returns a laugh because he is the opposite of honest. He is conning this poor man with his endless spindle of lies from the moment he had opened his mouth. “I’m only honest to people that I like,” he winks, “but I’m sure there are more honest people than me.”

Yamato shakes his head. “I’ve been attending these royal balls since I was a child. Everybody treats you like you’re below them and make you feel small over the silliest things.”

“Why do you keep attending them?” Kakashi asks and tries to ignore the sincerity that pools in his chest. “Can you not decline the invitation? It would save you from a lot of misery and hassle.”

“I seldom do,” Yamato’s eyes slide to the side and breaks their eye contact. “My aunt she—she’s very high up and it’s pertinent I attend these events to create connections with other kingdoms.”

Kakashi squashes the warmth of sincerity and replaces it with the hot rush of want. “Do you want to make a connection with me?” he offers haughtily and Yamato rewards him with a scandalised expression and a wonderful flush that disappears under his collar.

His smile is timid but Yamato’s voice is firm when he says, “I’m not opposed to the idea of making connections with you.”

“Let’s go make our connection somewhere less crowded.” Kakashi says and offers his arm.

Yamato quietly latches onto the crook of Kakashi’s elbows and Kakashi escorts him out to the courtyard. They are greeted by the cool air of the evening and the luminescent glow of the moon who casts a soft spotlight on the shrubbery below her. The roses sleep gently under the calm glow of the moon, they rest because they are tired after dancing with the sun all morning. The rest of the greenery follows suit, all the branches hang low, the leaves don’t dance as they sleep to the orchestra of chirping crickets. The courtyard is large and paves a quarter of the unending garden, its stones are smooth and even unlike the rough cobbled pavements in the centre of town. The courtyard is fenced off by a low stone wall which Kakashi hops onto and pats the space next to him, offering Yamato to do the same.

They’re both facing away from the large doors of the ballroom and Yamato tilts his head back as if he’s drinking in the light of the moon. “This is my favourite place in the palace.” He says quietly like a confession.

“I can see why. It’s peaceful out here.” Kakashi says in agreement. “What do you like to do for fun, Yamato?”

“What do you mean?” Yamato answers. His head snaps down to look at Kakashi and he almost looks baffled.

Kakashi quirks a brow. “You know, when you’re not doing these parties or your duties? What do you do in your spare time?”

Yamato bites his lip drawing Kakashi’s attention. “I like to tend this garden.” He decides after a moment.

“Is that all?” Kakashi presses. He’s not a royal but he’s sure Yamato has at least some hobbies that don’t involve standing around and looking pretty all day.

Even under the moonlight Kakashi can see the deep blush that spreads on Yamato’s face. “Well,” he starts. “I like sword fighting and I used to practice with the knights until they found—well, let’s just say nobody really liked to challenge me. The knights were all frightened they’d accidentally hurt me and then would get executed.”

Kakashi can’t help the laugh that escapes his mouth. “Really?” he says gleefully. “I never expected you to be invested in combat.”

Yamato looks away then. “I was interested in a lot of different things, but I had to whittle it down because it didn’t seem right, for someone like me to do them.”

Someone like Yamato? “I thought noblemen could do whatever they wanted as long as it didn’t betray the kingdom.” Kakashi frowns. He’s sure he had seen the duke wandering around doing activities that Kakashi wouldn’t crown ‘duke-ly’.

“I guess they just have high expectations,” Yamato shrugs. “Enough about me, you’re the crown prince! I’m sure you have much more exciting things to share than me.”

“Where do I start?” Kakashi says coolly as he rapidly searches through all his memories. How the hell was he going to fabricate a royal story? He had many in the town and in the countryside, but they all consisted of him working or training and neither seemed princely. He then forces himself to remember all those conversations he had with those prudish Lords and Ladies in hopes of bringing up a hobby that was vaguely plausible.

“If you don’t mind,” Yamato breaks his rapid-fire train of thought. “Can I ask how you received your scar?”

Kakashi’s fingers find the line that staggers under his eye before it disappears into his mask. “It was from an attack,” he answers honestly for the first time that evening. “My friend and I were out where we weren’t meant to be, and we had been ambushed. This was from a knife.”

He brushes his hair from his brow and slowly follows the ridge of his brow, over the curve of his eyelid and then over the soft fabric of the mask. Yamato’s eyes follow the path carefully, his eyes bright under the moonlight and his mouth slightly open in awe. “Is that why you wear the mask? For your safety?”

Kakashi nods quickly in agreement.

“You’re lucky to have survived, Prince Kakashi.” Yamato quips and hearing his name in Yamato’s mouth makes his heart jump.

“It was a fair fight.” Kakashi says easily. “I won in the end anyway.”

Yamato’s eyes widen and he sits up eagerly. “Do you get to train at your palace?”

Kakashi thinks of the field. It is by no means a training room nor the mighty barracks that housed the knights. During winter, when the ground froze over, was when he would accumulate the most bruises after a spar and during summer, the soil would be so dry that it would kick up everywhere. It ended in his eyes, his hair, under his nails and he always came home dirty. He thinks of his makeshift targets and dummy, the way they’ve been branded with marks since he was a child and how they’re worn and yellowed with age. He wonders if Yamato had managed to brandish a shiny sword at all and practice his footing on even ground.

“Yes, all the time.” Kakashi answers and he can’t look into Yamato’s eyes. “I begged my father so I could protect myself and it proved worthy.”

Suddenly his hands are engulfed with Yamato’s own warm ones. “Could you teach me something?” he asks earnestly.

Yamato is smiling so widely and Kakashi realises that Yamato may be the only genuine face he has encountered tonight. “Sure,” Kakashi says and leaps to his feet with Yamato following suit. “We have no swords, so we’ll focus on hand to hand combat.”

Kakashi begins with stances, he notes the importance of the stance and how to make sure there are no openings that make Yamato vulnerable. He then moved onto basic attacks, how to disarm your opponent and the weakest points of the human body.

“You’re a quick learner,” Kakashi comments nonchalantly and gently fixes Yamato’s arms by raising his elbow slightly.

“Can I fight now?” Yamato asks with a glint in his eyes.

Kakashi splutters. “I’m not going to fight you, Yamato.”

The nobleman drops his stance. “How am I going to learn if I don’t fight someone?”

“Your practice stances will kick in.” Kakashi lies. He had always made his students fight him.

“Don’t lie to me. The knights spar all the time!” Yamato protests and Kakashi bites back on a grin.

“I’ll go easy on you,” Kakashi offers. “I wouldn’t want to hurt your pretty face.”

The deep flush invites itself again on Yamato’s face as he enters his first stance. They both move shift around in a circle, waiting for the other to make a move, arms and hands close to their face and chests, and their eyes locked onto each other intensely. Kakashi throws the first attack to which Yamato quickly parries and it leaves his neck exposed. Kakashi hooks his arm over the crook of Yamato’s neck but Yamato grabs his arm with both hands and throws Kakashi off. He stumbles back and Yamato follows with two quick punches, Kakashi ducks and before Yamato can throw a jab, he rises quickly, years of agility drilled into him and knocks Yamato back onto the grass.

He lands with a soft ooft and leans back on his hands, he looks up at Kakashi with bright eyes, a ruddy face and a wide grin. His hair is ruffled but his shoulders are much more relaxed. “You’re very skilled, Kakashi.” Yamato compliments catching his breath.

Kakashi stretches his arm out to offer a hand and pulls Yamato up. He jumps to his feet and ends up nearer to Kakashi than he had anticipated. “You’re a quick learner,” Kakashi parrots from earlier. He’s distracted by their vicinity. “You did well.”

Their hands are still conjoined and Kakashi’s eyes drop to their clasped hands before dragging his eyes back up to Yamato’s dark gaze. Something snaps in the heavy silence between them, and Kakashi finds himself leaning in but Yamato stops him with a gentle press of his free hand to Kakashi’s chest.

“Kakashi,” he says warily but his brows furrow with determination. “I have something to tell you.”

Before either of them can get a word in the doors to the ballroom burst open and they both break apart from each other as if they’d been shocked. Queen Tsunade steps onto the courtyard and they both bow to greet her. Kakashi’s head swims as he straightens back up because Queen Tsunade is not a force to be reckoned with. He’s sure she’s caught him, she knows that he’s not a royal at all and has been parading around as a fraud all evening, and the mere thought of her punishment sends an awful bout of guttural anxiety.

“Ah, there you are Tenzo!” Queen Tsunade bellows across the courtyard and approaches the duo. “I thought you had disappeared before the ceremony and I was getting worried. Come along now, you know we can’t start it without you and the people are waiting.”

The relief that Queen Tsunade isn’t here for Kakashi doesn’t take the edge off his nerves. She’s even more powerful in person and this is the closest Kakashi has gotten to her. She’s shorter than he had expected, but her stoic glare and booming voice has commanded many rooms. Her blonde hair is loose over her shoulders, they fall gracefully frown the crown atop her head, and she places her hands on her hips, crinkling the jade green dress she’s often seen in. Kakashi is glad he no longer has Yamato’s hand in his grasp because he’s sure his hand would slip out with how much his palms are sweating.

Yamato shoots him an apologetic look. “I’m sorry I’m afraid I have to go. Where can I find you later?”

“Let’s meet here.” Kakashi says with the intention to bid Yamato goodbye before he returns to his regular civilian life. He had told enough lies tonight to last a lifetime.

“I look forward to it.” Yamato says sweetly before turning to follow Queen Tsunade back inside.

Kakashi lets out a sigh of relief and steals one long glance around the garden that Yamato had tended himself. He cranes his head to the moon, she had been the only audience to their dance, if you could call it such and turns on his heel to return to the ballroom.

Gai is easy to find in the crowded ballroom because he is impressing a small crowd with handstands. Kakashi joins the crowd in watching Gai perform and remembers when he had challenged Kakashi to see who could hold a handstand for the longest. Unfortunately, it had been winter and the ground was damp with rain that left their hands muddy, cold and unmoveable.

Towards the centre of the room, a servant calls for the audience’s attention so Kakashi steps forward. “I’m so sorry to interrupt the entertainment, but I believe there is a royal announcement.”

Gai fixes himself back onto his feet with unyielding control and the small crowd reward him with a short round of applause before they all usher each other to the centre of the room.

“Kakashi!” Gai booms. “It has been the most wonderful evening!”

“I’m glad you’ve been enjoying it,” Kakashi says while Gai swings an arm around his shoulders. “Would you like to watch the ceremony?”

“Why, of course!” Gai exclaims. “It would be of our best interest to make the most of our stay.”

Truth be told, Kakashi really could not care for the ceremony because all he can think of is Yamato’s ruddy grinning face under the moonlight. How his eyes glittered even in the dark shawl of the night sky. (How dark his gaze had been when they were all but pressed close to each other with the moon as their only witness.)

Although they are on the outskirts of the crowd, Queen Tsunade’s voice doesn’t fail to reach them from across the room. “Foremost, I would like to thank those who have attended today. It is always a pleasant sight to see, the unity of the kingdoms and our people, especially for an occasion such as this.” She pauses and the room waits with bated breath. “I am here tonight to proudly announce my heir and who will be next in line to the throne.”

Her speech sends the room to a stifled but frenzied whisper. Heir? Queen Tsunade had no children. Her husband passed away before she could bear any heirs. Who is this heir? Has she passed the lineage of Konoha to a neighbouring kingdom’s prince? How are we to trust this new heir to rule Konoha?

Queen Tsunade continues resiliently. “I apologise for hiding him from his people, he was too young to be exposed to the masses but I assure you he has been in this kingdom the entire time and I am confident that he will serve you, our people, very well. That’s why he is here today, because he has come of age and has grown into a splendid young man.” She smiles softly, pride shines in her eyes and she steps aside. “I would like to introduce my dear nephew, Prince Tenzo Senju, as your next ruler.”

The room bursts into a cacophony of applause as Tenzo emerges and joins his aunt, Queen Tsunade, at the front of the crowd. He gives an obligatory bow, back straight as if he’s rehearsed it a lifetime and just like the one he gave Kakashi earlier that night. Except it’s not exact because his hair is ruffled from their short spar. Gai is clapping wildly next to him but it seems as if Kakashi can’t move his arms. The noise is far too loud—no, it is far too quiet and Kakashi drowns in the rushing noise of his thoughts filling his head. Realisation sinks in, like the first chill of winter that sinks deep into your bones, but you’ve not prepared a coat and you’re left shivering in the early rays of the sun.

Then Tenzo turns and catches his eyes. He spares Kakashi a tight lipped smile, empty of the mirth from earlier that evening. No wonder why the knights didn’t allow Yamato to train, because they would have been fighting the crown prince of Konoha. He had little hobbies to do because he’s spent his entire life preparing to be the next ruler. With each piece that clicks into place the sinking feeling in his stomach only tightens.

“—Kakashi,” Gai says and it shakes Kakashi out of his trance. There is a firm but grounding grip on his shoulder. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing. I’m just looking forward to meeting someone in the courtyard later tonight.”

#kakayama #my writing #WHEW this ended up longer than expected #kakashi #yamato #yamato tenzo #tenzo #kakashi hatake #naruto fic

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