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larryfanficwriter98 · 4 years ago

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Chapter Nine

*Fake It Until You Make It Real*

"Hey quick question." Louis pressed his phone between his shoulder blades and ear as he helped Freddie into a coat on the chilly Tuesday morning.

"What is it?" Louis asked.

"Can I have Freddie today?" Louis momentarily froze in his everyday routine of pulling Freddie's zipper up when he heard the question.

"What?"

"Can I have Freddie today? I thought I'd take him on a Harry and Freddie date."

"I don't think a Harry and Freddie date classifies as a good reason to skip Nursery." Louis said though he was smiling when Freddie looked up at him excitedly.

"Sure, it does. Besides I'm already outside with a brand new spiderman booster in my backseat."

"I have a booster for him I could have moved."

"We'll need an extra booster anyway and i got a backless booster for your car incase Maddie needs it. She's sort of in the middle but I always make her sit in the backless still whenever I have her in my car. Nice to have extras when we have more than one vehicle. So, can I? I'm already parked outside." Louis laughed as he opened the apartment door and stepped out. He locked it before grabbing Freddie's hand and heading to the elevator.

"I'll have to ask Freddie if he wants to go with you. Who knows maybe he thinks you're too lame."

"Please Papa please!" Freddie begged making him and Harry laugh.

"I'm getting into the elevator see you in a moment." Louis ended the phone call as he stepped on the elevator. Once they reached the main floor they headed outside, and Freddie ran to the familiar Murano where Harry was leaning against it.

"There's my favorite little man!" Harry cheered picking Freddie up and spinning them around making Freddie laugh, "so do you want to spend the day with me Freddie?"

"Yes yes yes! Pease Papa." Freddie begged widening his eyes and pouring his bottom lip.

"Yeah alright." Louis said smiling when Freddie and Harry cheered

"Would you like ride to work?" Harry asked setting Freddie down.

"I would love a ride to work. Maybe even a lunch visit if I can get an hour slot during your busy date." Louis said grinning as Harry turned to Freddie with a raised eyebrow.

"What do you think? Think we can slot Papa into our lunch?"

"I think so. We'll get back to him." Louis laughed.

"You heard the boss. I guess we'll be in touch for lunch." Louis took the offered hand as Harry opened the passenger door for him.

"I shall wait eagerly." Louis said looking back as Freddie sat in his new booster. Harry helped adjust the straps correctly before he got in the driver’s seat and started the car. Harry's hand took his intertwining their fingers together before he pulled his hand to his lips and kissed it smiling over at him.

"So, when is my day date?" Louis asked.

"What? Looking at wedding venues or napping on my couch doesn't count as dates?" Louis laughed shaking his head, "I've got dates planned don't you worry about that. I figured it'd be easier to work with when everything settles down some. These next three months are going to be really busy as you well know."

"Waiting for us to get married so I can't run out on the date I see. Smart man." Harry chuckled.

"You know me so well." Louis grinned as he thought about how they had spent Sunday together laying on the couch cushions that were on the floor as a fake mattress. Harry had been exhausted but they had breakfast together and had spent the morning laughing as they talked about whatever came up. They had taken a few hours nap so Harry could get back on a night sleeping routine then they had watched a movie before Louis had to go home to prepare for Freddie's return. Harry had driven him home but didn't come on as he also had to get home and do some paperwork before his day back at work Monday morning. The few minute car ride to the school was filled with Freddie asking Harry all types of questions that Harry avoided answering.

****

Harry held Freddie's hand as they walked through Ikea, Freddie excitedly pointing stuff out for his bedroom. Harry figured the best way to get Freddie excited for a huge change was to let him decorate his bedroom as promised. This was his short week, only working three days this week and short eight hour shifts which made it a perfect time to get everything set up. He had the fee days leading and after Halloween scheduled off as well as the week of his court date as well as the week of Christmas then he had the three weeks in January off. The week before, week of, and week after for the wedding and family vacation which he still had to talk with Maddie's school about. Freddie was excited about his new bedroom and had picked out everything that was in the cart so far.

"What's next?" Freddie asked after picking out a few sheet sets.

"I think we're done at Ikea." Harry said, "next stop is the mattress shop to find you a new mattress."

"Then lunch?"

"Yes, then we will pick up lunch for us and Papa and eat with him then we will take everything to my house, and we will have you pick out your room."

Harry will have to remember to thank his parents for helping him with the cost of his house when he talks with them next. He didn't want a huge house when he moved, but his parents insisted he buy for the future. He had been set on a nice penthouse, but his parents had offered to help pay to get a house built and so he had relented. Harry had always been a good saver, always budgeting like his mother taught him even though they had been well off after her marriage. He still remembered eating peanut butter bread slices though and peanut butter toast. He remembered having to rinse his clothes in a bucket of water and dish soap and hang them on the shower rack to dry. He didn't remember as much as his sister, but he remembered enough for it to make a lasting impression on him. His first job he hardly ever spent his paychecks always saving it for emergencies that never came. At least not back then. He was always glad he did save them when he went off to college though. Now as he swiped his card through the reader and heard the ding of acceptance for his purchase of many things that cost far too much, he knew he was now his stepfather to Freddie. A doctor who comes into their lives and swipes his card on large expenses without batting an eye and hopefully make their lives better. Louis wasn't his mother, he obviously had money and had savings despite what his apartment building said about him. He obviously spent every reasonable pound on Freddie and clearly grew up in a household where he learned to budget like Harry did. Even if his time learning wasn't as needed as Louis' was. He hoped he could make their lives easier and better, he hoped this would last, that he and Louis were able to make it all work and by the time January comes they can say their vows and mean at least some of it. Harry looked over at Freddie as he bounced his bottom on the mattresses with the elderly salesman grinning and encouraging him to jump harder. He hoped one day Freddie and Maddie would seem them as a family with maybe a few more kids in the extremely far future.

***

Harry grinned as he covered Louis' eyes and led him up the stairs to Freddie's new room that was filled with boxes and bags and a mattress against the wall.

"Where are we going Harold?" Louis asked.

"My new room Papa." Freddie said excitedly as he opened the door and spread his arms wide. Harry removed his hands and grinned.

"Oh, wow I especially love the sleeping on the wall idea. Very unique." Louis teased making Freddie fold his arms and pout.

"Papa, look it's a jungle theme. There'll be dinosaurs and wild animals and look I got a new mattress and toys for my new room." Freddie said excitedly showing off five things at once. He got distracted by the toys and started playing giving them false privacy.

"He has a bed you know." Louis said quietly as they stepped out of the room.

"Oh, hush it got him excited for the big change coming to his life so unexpectedly. Besides, I figured you can sell the stuff or give them away to an orphanage. They could always use more things after all. I have to take some of Maddie’s clothes and toys she outgrew to the orphanage sometime soon."

"So how much damage did he do you your wallet?"

"Not as much as Maddie did when we redone her room a few years ago." Harry said as he intertwined their fingers together and led him to the door with MADDISON painted on it diagonally. He opened the door revealing the bedroom making Louis' eyes widen.

"Harold."

"I know. Alright trust me I know." Harry said chuckling, "to be fair I was overcompensating for not being around as much. I over did it I know that and trust me it won't happen again, but this is they're safe space. If they need time away, they go to their rooms and I want them to like being there and I want them to feel safe and secure in their private space. If that means spending a few hundred then so be it." Louis nodded as he closed the bedroom and turned to face Harry.

"And to think I found you on craigslist." Harry laughed as he wrapped an arm around his waist and led him downstairs with him.

"I think we would have found each other eventually. You do work at my daughters’ school after all. Eventually we'd have seen each other."

"Seen sure."

"Oh, trust me if I had seen you in your teacher outfit, I'd have looked for you a second time and gotten your number."

"What makes you so sure you'd have gotten my number?"

"I would have told you a brilliant dad joke and you wouldn't have been able to resist." Louis laughed shaking his head as he turned and pulled Harry in for a quick kiss. Harry grinned before leaning in for another kiss that had more pressure to it as his hands slid up and cupped his face pulling Louis in closer. Louis opened his mouth to the eager tongue and groaned as his back suddenly pressed against the wall.

"We have a toddler right across the hall." Louis spoke softly and only pulled away for enough to talk.

"I'm sure it's bedtime somewhere on this planet." Louis laughed shaking his head, "actually in Australia it is way past bedtime. It's like three in the morning over there."

"Yeah? Well in California it's nine in the morning."

"Damn." Harry said kissed his forehead, "so dinner then?"

"Yeah, I'd say that would be a good idea." Louis said putting his hands on Harry's shoulders and pushing him gently the rest of the way down the stairs, “Time goes by faster if you keep yourself busy."

"Liar. I’m busy at work all the time and time drags on for hours.”

“That’s because you’re thinking about it.”

“God you’re such a teacher. I hated teachers like you mister ‘stop looking at the clock and the time will go by faster’.” Harry mocked before groaning, “If you say one thing about dismissal, I’ll divorce you the second we sign our marriage papers.”

“Uh huh. Sure, you will.”

***

"Harry?” Harry looked over at the open doorway leading into his home office and saw Freddie standing there in his pajamas.

“Yes, my love?” Harry asked.

“Can you read me a story tonight?”

“Can I read you a story? Of course, I can read you a story come on.” Harry grinned as he picked Freddie up and headed upstairs. Freddie led the way to his new room, not set up yet for overnights, and he grabbed a book from his bag then made a beeline dash towards Harry’s room giggling wildly telling Harry he had preplanned it. Harry laughed as he followed Freddie into his bedroom to seem him already snuggled into the middle of the bed under the covers looking far too innocent. “Trickster.” Harry said as he grabbed a spare blanket and laid on the bed beside Freddie staying above the covers. He took the book and let Freddie snuggle into his side as he flipped to the first page after turning everything, but the nightstand lamps off.

“How does a Dinosaur say goodnight when Papa comes in to turn off the light? Does a Dinosaur slam his tail and pout? Does he throw his teddy bear about? Does he stomp his feet on the floor and shout, ‘I want to hear one book more!’? Does a Dinosaur roar?” Harry read aloud making sure to put extra touches in his words to make it fun and make Freddie laugh, “How does a Dinosaur say goodnight when Mama comes in to turn off the light? Does he swing his neck from side to side? Does he up and demand a piggyback ride? Does he mope, does he moan, does he sulk, does he sigh? Does he fall on top of his covers and cry? No, Dinosaurs don’t. They don’t even try. They give a big kiss. They turn out the light. They tuck in their tails, and they whisper, ‘Goodnight.’.” Harry grinned at Louis as he came in and laid behind Freddie kissing his temple as the little boy drifted in and out of sleep, “They give a big hug, then give one kiss more. Goodnight, Goodnight, Little Dinosaur.”

“Goodnight.” Freddie mumbled sleepily as he snuggled into Harry again before falling asleep.

“Sorry I had a mess to clean up in that bathroom. Little man’s bladder emptied itself before we made it on the potty.” Louis whispered.

“It’s fine I didn’t mind. I miss reading bedtime stories. Maddie doesn’t much like them anymore, occasionally she’ll want to be read to, but not often. Besides a sleepover in my bed is always welcomed. I’ve missed toddler cuddles. I’m sure when he knees me in the morning, I’ll regret those words, but for now his knee is a safe twelve inches away.” Louis laughed covering his mouth with his hand to stay silent.

“I can always move us to the guest room.” Harry settled into bed and wrapped an around Freddie and Louis and pretended to fall asleep. Louis chuckled as he pinched his side before he too settled in the large bed cuddling Freddie. Harry turned on the tv for a bit of background noise and turned off the nightstand lamp on his side and within minutes he and Louis was asleep as well.

#Larry Stylinson #larry shippers #larries #larry fanfiction #larry stylinson fanfiction #fake marriage #nonfamous au #larry fake marraige au #doctor harry styles #teacher louis #parents au

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opcnwounds · 4 years ago

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katie mcgrath, bisexual, cisfemale + she/her ➸ hey look, it’s CARYS PALLAS! they’re 24 years old and originally from DUBLIN, IRELAND. now they’re in new york, working as a STRIPPER at ANGEL'S. i heard they’re pretty FRIGID, but i think they’re so DEVOTED at the same time. have they found their calling on the avenue ?

mild mentions of eating disorders, injuries and child abuse

Carys was born into a family of ballet royalty. Her mother was a prima ballerina that had danced in the most prestigious companies and her dad was a seasoned choreographer for the Bolshoi theatre. The youngest of three children, her older siblings were already getting attention because of their impressive ballet skills and seemed to be glad to follow in their parents’ footsteps to live up to their pedigree.

Ireland was Cary’s place of birth but it never felt like a home. Nowhere did because the Pallas family lived a nomadic existence, traveling from country to country, from stage to stage depending on who was dancing where. The children were homeschooled by their parents and sometimes tutors, but formal education always fell behind ballet. It was all dancing, dancing, dancing.

So it wasn’t hard for Carys to fall in line with them too. Black hair, striking green eyes and porcelain skin, petite yet proportionate; it was like she was purposely bred to become a ballerina, and in the Pallas universe, there was really no other option but to become a dancer. Carys took to it like fish to water, quickly surpassing her older siblings’ abilities to their chagrin, and becoming the main focus of her parents. They were overjoyed.

But children need stability to thrive, so Carys began developing overwhelming anxiety and a passive personality; it had been branded onto her psyche that her only worth laid in ballet, how perfect she executed a pas de deux, how slim her figure was, how many hours she devoted to practicing. Her actual identity had been smothered from before she learned how to walk. Something wasn’t right, she wanted friends, she wanted to go to a real school, she wanted to play a board game with her family, she wanted to have her own room. There was none of that. She didn’t have it in herself to rebel against the life that had been imposed into her, so Carys started internalizing everything, a deep and dangerous depression brewing inside of her with no relief.

At the tender age of 13, Carys was accepted into the most prestigious ballet academy in the world in Paris. It was funny that she didn’t remember even applying, but setting up camp in the City of Love sounded better than constantly uprooting herself. And maybe if she went to the ballet boarding school, she could get some independence from her family. Her expectations were met during the first year, she had a dorm with a roommate that became her friend, she got to explore the city in her breaks, take her lessons in a classroom and meet all kinds of people. It was the first time Carys actively remembers herself being happy.

And then her mother retired and accepted a position within the same academy. Suddenly, Carys’ rehearsals had doubled (one with the school, one with mother) and she had to quit doing the non-ballet things she enjoyed so much. Mother was always there, and she was controlling every bit of Carys’ life again, prepping her to become the actual best prima ballerina in the world.

To Carys’ mother, collapsing from exhaustion was a sign of a job well done. The dangerously small numbers on the scale were never good enough, they could always go lower. Carys was never good enough, no matter how many times she got the lead roles in productions. Odette, Odile, Clara, Nikiya, Sugar Plum Fairy, Carys played them all, yet there was always one more to get that she had to be perfect for. No vacations allowed, no sleepovers with friends, no treating herself to a delicious cookie for Christmas, no nothing. Carys was wasting away in a nightmare of tulle and pastel pink.

The breaking point came after a mishap while being lifted in the air by her male ballerino, Carys slipped out of his grip and landed hard against the barre. A sprained ankle and three broken ribs was the verdict, with a warning to stay out of the leotard and pointe shoes, taking it easy until next season. Carys was 22 and a stranger to autonomy, so when mother made her get back to her grueling schedule, she did as she was ordered. No matter how black and blue she was, how it hurt to breathe. It took only two weeks for a wayward rib to puncture her right lung and the first thing she heard mother say after surgery was “when can she go back to dancing”, over the voice of her doctor talking about potential permanent damage. It was the most painful bucket of ice cold water to the soul, but Carys was done. She was done with being a puppet for her mother’s unachieved dreams.

Taking the sizable amount of money she had amassed as a prima ballerina, Carys left Paris in the middle of the night, leaving behind a concise letter to her family. She headed to NYC, a place she had visited many times before. It was the perfect place to reinvent herself, or actually just find herself. With most of her savings gone in the move and securing a place to live, Carys went looking for a job. She had very minimal education, only knew how to dance, and she didn’t want to do ballet no more. It was the lights of The Avenue that called her, the anonymity of the beautiful dancers under neon lights, untouchable and powerful. It took Carys a couple of visits to the strip clubs to perfectly mimic and conquer pole dancing. Nobody knew her here, she just needed some red lipstick, some twirling and the crowd would go wild. It was something much visceral and raw and real. Angel’s gave her a job on the spot and off went Carys to exchange the tights and leotards for skimpy babydolls and body glitter.

Just like ballet, dancing is a mere façade. Carys doesn’t know what she likes, what she wants, who she is. The high of the pole is a blessed distraction from the debilitating black hole in her heart that threatens to swallow her whole, but when morning comes, the act of the empowered, irish stripper gives way to the sad girl that feels like she’s always drowning. But maybe soon she can find some peace.

#/wtf is this #intro: carys

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multific · 5 years ago

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Soulmates

Harrison Osterfield x Reader

Soulmate AU!

Summary: Soulmates are real. But only men can feel them from the moment they see their partner. Women will only feel the connection when they get kissed by their soulmate.

You envied men. It was so easy for them, they could just find their soulmate with one simple glance. Meanwhile, you, you had to wait.

It really sucked. And the fact that there were people who used this to get one night stands, disgusting.

You often wondered, why couldn’t both parties feel connection at the same time?

Why did women had to wait?

Gays were probably the luckiest.

Lesbians tried and many succeeded.

It felt like everyone was good at finding their partners, except you.

Every friend of yours found theirs already. Some even had children by now.

And there you were an office worker, alone in front of your desk. You wanted to find happiness, as did everyone else. But you weren’t desperate, there were times when you looked at other and envied them for their happiness, but it was only a natural reaction. You worked your way up in the company while others were having dates and weddings.

You felt like you achieved everything you could in regards to your career. You were one of the most important people in the building, you worked directly with the CEO who respected you in many ways.

Your income increased to the point where you got yourself a rather fine way of living. You bought everything you ever wanted. A house, a pet, designer clothes, after many years of using public transport, you finally had enough of the people and bought yourself a car and many more.

You lived the high life. But you worked for it.

You had a weekend off and decided to go to a nice spa hotel and relax, refresh and have a great time alone, away from work, family, friends and the amount of people that lived in the big city.

The hotel that you choose was in the mountains, had amazing view and the rooms were to die for, with a personal pool to every room, during the winter they had warm water in it, so the guests can use it.

Sounded like the perfect mini-vacation after working so hard.

The only problem was that you had to drive for four hours, up a mountain and the whole road was slippery due to the winter weather.

You drove always very cautiously.

It was your last ten minutes and you’d be finally at the hotel.

You were to cross a small village, turn left then a bit more forward and finally, you’d be there.

Unfortunately, when you stopped to let a pedestrian cross, the car behind you couldn’t stop in time and bumped into you. It was nothing serious since it wasn’t coming fast. Your car started to call the authorities, but you stopped it from doing so. You pulled the handbrake on and after you took a big breath, to calm yourself, you got out of the car.

The guy from the car behind you was already out and expecting the damage. When he noticed you, he stopped for a second then he immediately rushed to you.

“Are you hurt? I’m so sorry Miss, I saw you stop and the road is just bad and I couldn’t.”

“It’s all right. Things like this happen, the important thing is that no one is hurt.” you offered him a small smile.

Was he blushing?

“I’ll give you my insurance, one moment.” he got back to his car to get his details while you waited in the cold. Thank Gucci for those amazing fury warm coats. You got your phone to drive down his details before he came back.

Lucky for you the traffic in the village was very light, so you didn’t have to move the cars and you could speak there.

“Okay, my name is Harrison Osterfield, and my details are…”

“Got it. My name is Y/N Y/L/N. I’ll give you a call when I get an estimate and then we can figure things out.”

“S-sure. Thank you for not getting mad.”

“I kind of expected it. You know, slippery roads, new car, it was meant to happen. And I just knew that I wouldn’t be able to drive my new car without something happening to it.”

“I’m really really sorry.” he looked very apologetic and the fact that he was cute helped a lot with your calmness.

“I said its fine. We are not hurt, and that’s the most important a bumper can be replaced.”

After that, you took a few pictures and then both of you said your goodbyes.

Other than the minor incident, your weekend was perfect. The hotel was amazing. You had massages and even got yourself a nice manicure-pedicure treatment.

All in all, it was worth it.

But you couldn’t stop thinking about the guy. Harrison.

He had a nice accent as well. He was English and those eyes. But you couldn’t figure out why was he so shy at one moment than in the next so confident.

As you thought about it, he was only shy when he…

looked at you.

You sat up in bed.

“Don’t tell me. Is he my…. No.” You convinced yourself that you just imagined it.

He couldn’t be your soulmate, right?

***

Three days passed, and you finally had your estimate.

When you told about the incident to your boss, she laughed at the situation. But then she told you that she met her husband during a meeting. He accidentally spilled hot coffee on her and he apologized with a date. She got a kiss from him that night, a simple peck on the lips and it was enough. She felt the connection since then.

“Soulmates are interesting Y/N. Especially, how you meet them. Because even if your first impression of them is bad, they will steal your heart with a kiss.”

She also said that she hoped that it is him and you finally found him.

You texted Harrison during your lunch break.

Hey, it’s Y/N. I got the new bumper, I sent a picture of the bill, but you don’t have to worry about it. You seemed genuine and the accident wasn’t truly your fault. You don’t have to pay me back for it.

It only took him about five minutes to reply.

Hi! It’s Harrison, sorry, I’m at work right now. But I cannot leave you with that bill! I’ll pay for it, but I cannot give you it at once, can we make out a plan or something for weekly or monthly payments.

You thought about it for a second, you really didn’t want him to pay it, it’s not like you’d go bankrupt or anything. It just meant that you couldn’t buy the new fridge you wanted this month.

Can we meet somewhere? I’d rather speak in person. When do you finish work? I can get off early so I’ll be able to leave around four.

Maybe this way, you can find out if your assumption was right or not.

Sure! Meet me at…

***

He asked you to meet at a small café shop. It was a very cozy café with flowers and small decorations.

You sat down and soon a waiter came to pick up your order. You read his name tag.

Tom. And he had the same British accent as Harrison.

“Welcome to our shop, my name is Tom, what can I get you?”

“Do you have any specialties?”

“Yes, our cappuccino with vanilla or if you prefer tea, we have a new green tea from Singapore.”

“I’ll take the coffee please.”

“Sure, any dessert to go with it?”

“Yes, please, I’ll leave it up to you. Thank you.”

“Okay, I’ll be right back with your order.”

Tom arrived back with your coffee and a slice of cake in a few minutes.

Harrison said that he would get off of work at five. You checked the time, it was a quarter to five.

You looked around the small café one more time, you noted the counter and all the different cake, cupcakes, and cookies on display, they were all Christmas themed, since it was near. You wished you’d known about the café before, you’d have loved to see the Halloween decorated ones.

You happily ate the delicious cake, but you didn’t have to wait long, as you saw Harrison walk out of the kitchen wearing an apron.

He smiled at you.

“Hi”

“Hi, so you work here!”

“Yes, I’m one of the owners and the pastry chef.”

“Really? Then I must say that this cake is the best I have ever had.”

“Thank you.”

Then an awkward silence came between you two. You went back to drink your coffee.

“So, about your bumper, I have to take responsibility. It was my fault that I bumped into you, I knew the road was slippery and I didn’t keep my distance.”

You offered him a smile.

“It’s fine, really. It wasn’t that bad either, you don’t need to stress it.”

“Yes, I have to! It was my fault! And I saw the bill, don’t tell me it wasn’t bad.”

“You see, I earn enough to afford it, I wouldn’t have bought such a car otherwise…. You know what? How about you pay me back, but not with money!” his eyes suddenly widened and that’s when you realized how bad your words sounded.

“No! No! Don’t think about that. I meant like… Bake me a cake, please. For Christmas. You see, we will have a little party in the office, and I bring the cake every year. I used to make it, but since my promotion, I don’t have much time so I just ordered it from a place, but it wasn’t too good. So, how about you make me a Cake for ten people, some cupcakes and maybe if you have the time a few cookies?”

“That’s…That’s a great idea, but it isn’t the value of the damage I caused.”

“Stop worrying about that! So, give me the goodies, and we are even fine?” you held your pinkie out for him as a promise. He, a bit hesitantly, but agreed in the end.

***

On the day of the party, he said he would deliver the sweets himself, so now you were waiting for him to call so you can pick it up.

But of course, meanwhile, your lovely co-workers were teasing you up and down about him.

“Is he cute?” many asked, and the answer was always, very.

Then, you got his call. You took the elevator and surely enough, he was standing right in front of the building with boxes in his hands.

“Harrison! Hi.” you called when you noticed he was paying more attention to the height of the building then you approaching him.

“Wow, you work here?”

“Yes.” you thought that he just realized how different the two of you were. Him, owning a shot and you working for a huge business, literally.

“I brought you everything you asked for, I’ll help you bring them in.” he said after he was finished admiring the tower, but as he turned his head and looked at you, he noticed that you weren’t wearing your usual clothes. It was a more casual look on you, and he liked it. “You look beautiful,” he said before he can even think.

“Thank you!”

During the elevator ride, silence was between the two of you, with only him and you there, you wondered if it would be fine to ask.

“H-Harrison, can I ask you something?” he looked at you, facing him, you took in his gorgeous sea-blue eyes. You blushed a little.

“Sure.”

“Is-Am I… how should I ask this? Are we- what flavor is the cake?” you couldn’t do it.

“Oh… Chocolate and vanilla.” he looked, disappointed?

The elevator came to a stop.

“OH Y/N’s back! And look she brought someone!”

“Yes, this is Harrison, he made the sweets for us.”

“Good, good. Now, will you stay and celebrate with us, Harrison?”

“I don’t think he wants to, but if you do…it is fine…”

He ended up staying. Thankfully no one mentioned that they knew who he was. Harrison looked like he enjoyed himself.

You didn’t notice the time and when it was time to leave, you offered Harrison a ride, which he took.

So now, you were in the car with the man you thought might be your soulmate, other than that, you barely knew anything about him, but the way he looked at you, you wanted to find out the reason behind it.

“Turn left here. We are nearly there,” he instructed.

“Okay. Oh, you live close to the shop.”

“Yeah, it’s more convenient this way. That’s it with the blue fence. You can stop there.” he pointed at a parking space.”

After you stopped you thought he might get out fast and just forget you, but no, he just sat there, deep in thought. Finally, he decided to speak up.

“You know, I never found it to be fair. This whole soulmate-thing. I always wanted that both men and women would feel the start of the connection at the same. A-and that day, when I ran into you, I just wasn’t expecting it. For it to happen this way.” he let out a laugh, you decided to just stay silent and let him finish. “Leave it to me to find you like this. I was terrified, running into such a car, I thought I will pay with my life. But instead of a thug or some mobster, you got out and smiled. Now I know what that feeling is when others say ‘they just knew’ because I did too. When I saw you… I just knew. You think I’m weird right?” he laughed at himself. He didn’t expect an answer though.

“No. You are not weird. I somehow knew as well. Just the way you’d look at me, it was pretty obvious, but I didn’t want to let myself believe in dreams. But now, you confirmed them for me.” you smiled at him a genuine, sweet smile. He finally looked at you.

“What did you think of me when you first saw me?”

“Honestly?” he gave a nod, yes. “My exact thoughts were ‘Wow, it’s not fair for a man to have such beautiful eyes.’ and then I went to your shop. And I felt like it was just like you. With the flowers and plants. That baby blue wall. The pictures on the wall. Even the dark wood for the display. It was like a piece of you. But we can only be sure if you kiss me.”

He started to lean over and close his eyes. But you stopped him.

“Not here, mister. Maybe bring me on a date, Friday? Sound good? At eight? How about the park near here? They have a really good bar there, the wine and the cocktails just amazing.”

“Yeah, right sorry. I’m the man, I’m supposed to say these things.”

“Who says?”

“Um… masculinity?” you laughed at his answer.

“Right, so drinks there and maybe but only if I truly like you, you can kiss me in front of the pond.”

You looked into his eyes and they were full of determination. He wanted to prove a point and make you like him, even before the soulmate connection.

“Fine by me. Be prepared to be blown away. I’m quite the romantic type.”

“I’m more than ready. Text me.” you said as you kissed him on the cheek.

“I will.”

***

Friday evening came.

It was currently almost midnight and you may or may not be tipsy with Harrison helping you walk straight. The problem? You were a rather horny drunk.

“I told you the wine is gooood.”

“I was. But it was expensive as hell.”

“Yeah, my taste is rather… what’s the word?”

“Fancy?”

“YES! Fancy, like me.”

“Sure is, Love.”

“Oooooh, do that again!”

“Hm?”

“Call me Love again and I will lose my panties right here, right now. With that accent and lipppps and eyes. How can you be real? WAIT are you an alien? Did someone sent you for me?”

“No, Love.” he whispered the last word into your ear, making you shiver in the winter evening.

Suddenly you stopped, but Harrison didn’t notice for a minute. The next thing he knew your hand was inside his jacket’s pocket.

“Where to now?” you asked.

“To the pond. You said I can kiss you there.”

“I said maybe Mr. Gorgeous Eyes.”

“Is there anything else you like about me besides my eye colour?”

“Hmmm…. Lips, jawline. But you are funny, I nearly peed myself in there. I like how much patience and affection you have for others and me. And I also happen to like your butt. OH OH and those biceps….hmmm.” you let out a sigh. “HEY and what about you, what do you like about me? Since it seems like you are already connected to me.”

He started walking again before he answered.

“I love your laugh. Your smile is beautiful it brightens up the room. I love how smooth your hair looks even if I never touched it. And you know. You are so fucking sexy, it drives me wild.”

“Gooood. At least I know Chanel is worth its money.”

“Oh please, even with a paper bag on, you’d look like a Goddess.”

You didn’t even notice that when he stopped this time, it was right by the pond. You blushed a little.

No words were spoken after that. There was no need as he leaned down to your level and captured your lips with his.

It was a simple kiss. Like a looong peck.

And that’s when you felt it. As soon as his soft lips connected with yours, your heart also did with his.

The feelings confused you a little. It was love, passion, lust, affection, and longing at the same time.

When he pulled away all you could do was look into his eyes, the moon and the lights around the park reflected on the surface of the pond which gave his face light. Only a second passed before you pulled him in for more, but this one was different. This one was full of passion. This was a kiss between two souls who had finally became one.

When you ran out of breath you pulled away from him, he gave out a groan of dissatisfaction. You hugged him with your head on his chest.

“So this is how it feels like.”

“Pretty good right?”

“Amazing.”

A few minutes of hugging passed and you became tired.

“Can you take me home?” you asked him.

“Sure, where do you live?” you lifted your hand and pointed at a skyscraper.

“Up there.”

“Very funny, Y/N.”

“I’m not joking! I live THERE!”

“So, you are telling me that you drive an expensive car around, have designer clothes and you live in a penthouse up THERE?”

“Yessss, and I love you.” his heart skipped a beat.

“I love you too. Let me kiss you again.”

You didn’t need to be told twice.

And after another hot kiss, you pulled back and started to walk away from him.

“It’s cold, let go home.” you said as you stopped and turned back for him. You put your hands into your pockets and waited for him. When he mimicked your movement and placed his hand into his pockets, you smirked and started to walk.

Harrison became confused, something was in his pocket. He couldn’t help but look at the thing with opened mouth and round eyes.

A thong.

“I told you. Calling me Love without any consequence? I think not.”

He placed the clothing back to his pocket and jogged to catch up to you.

“Love” he whispered into your ear, as you turned your head, he gave you a final kiss.

Soulmates or not, you definitely loved this guy.

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Feedback means EVERYTHING to me, so please take the time and tell me how you liked my story. Thank You~

#harrison osterfield #harrison osterfield imagine #harrison osterfield one shot #harrison osterfield x reader #harrison osterfield imagines #harrison osterfield fanfiction #harrison osterfield drabble #harrison osterfield blurb #soulmate au #soulmate #multific #original story

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lokikingofasgardslover713 · 5 years ago

Text

Loki Laufeyson Masterlist

Masterlist

Series

The Ulfhednar {Finished}

Ch.1 Ch.2 Ch.3 Ch.4 Ch.5 Ch.6 Ch.7 Ch.8

Description: This was my first fic I posted on Tumblr. Robbing from the Avengers was a walk in the park. Or until the god of mischief ruins any plans of escape. A fight ensues leading to the discovery of who and what the thief is and it isn't a discovery she ever wanted known. Especially by the very gods she was meant to obey.

Warnings: Blood, angst, stubbornness (M/F)

Forgotten Gods {Finished}***

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Description: What if the one in a million shots at stopping Thanos was Loki had to fall from the Bifrost into the titans hands? And, what if the reason had to be the kidnapping of said gods true love? Can Strange and the others pull this off, and keep the reader safe to return to Loki once it is all over or do they fail miserably and cause more damage?

Warnings: Smut, Inferred Non-con, Angst, Blood (M/F)

Sparkling Topaz & Mead {Finished}***

One Two Three Four Five Six Seven

Description: After learning her powers don't work on either god, the reader reluctantly surrenders and returns with the Avengers. Very reluctant to help, what she is intrigues the god of mischief who takes interest in her in more ways than one.

Warnings: Smut (M/F)

The Wolves Den {Epilogue}

Description: Werewolf AU. The god of mischief finds himself entering Midgardian bar searching for the wolf he has tracked after a nights run. Not to keen on how he finds her, he begrudgingly gets the Avengers involved.

Warnings: Blood, violence (M/F)

Loki’s Gilded Pet {Finished}***

Description: What happens when Loki is brought a prisoner to play with when he is in the dungeons? Reader is a mortal, some how she is brought through a passage between Midgard & Asgard to be apprehended & treated poorly before being taken to proper authorities. To cover there tracks the guards that found her throw her to Loki in hopes he will kill her.

Warnings: Mentions of rape, Smut (M/F)

Prickly Master List {Finished}***

Description: Stemmed from and Inktober oneshot in which the god of mischief wants his own familiar that is ALSO a promised lover who is reluctant to give into the god and makes his life a living hell.

Warnings: Angst, Smut (M/F)

Havoc’s Worship Dragon!Loki {Finished}***

Description: Loki is chaos, chaos is havoc & havoc has found a treasure, a jewel, a new being to worship other than himself!

Warnings: Non-con, dub-con, Dark Loki and Thor, Smut (M/F)

Drooling Masterlist {Finished}***

Description: A female frost giant hiding on Midgard just so happens has the god of mischief land in her living room after the events of Avengers Infinity War. Little does she know, this causes her to come into heat long before her time.

Warnings: Smut, dub-con? (M/F)

Shattered Peace {Finished}

Description: During Thanos attack on the Statesman, the titan, instead of taking Loki’s life takes something more valuable. Leaving the god and a distraught lover in his wake.

Warnings: Angst, Heartache (M/F)

Savage Spite {Finished}

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Description: Loki really makes a mess & it seems it will take longer for him to right the mistake than originally thought! Reader is a young celestial whose powers have yet to be known just how strong they really are. She and Tony Stark’s daughter, Morgan were raised together as sisters.

Warnings: Smut, Angst (M/F)

Shackled Babe {Finished}***

Description: After the events of infinity war and end game, both Loki and Thor seek a new realm to rebuild Asgard. The brothers remembering Odin telling them of a kingdom in the realm of Alfheim once ruled by a generous light elf. One who fell out of favor to have the throne handed to another, but it should be a safe place to rebuild.

Warnings: Smut, Implied Non-con, Angst, war (M/F)

Bitter Bonds {Finished}***

Description: After Loki is judged on Asgard he is immediately given/sold to the new king of Jotunheim, Helblendi, as a peace offering. 5 years later, two visitors journey to Jotunheim, a woman for trade talks and the other Thor,bargaining for Loki’s freedom. What happens when she bargains for the brother of her late husband?

Warnings: Torture, Panic Attacks, Angst, Smut (M/F)

Helot {Finished}***

Gore Cryptic Strange Advance Issues Evocation Relapse Desperation Home

Description: In efforts to gather more intel, the recon goes to hell the instant a dying slave is thrown into the mix, leaving both Thor and Loki not sure what to do with her. Nothing is known of who she is or where she comes from.

Warnings: Smut, Torture (M/F)

Wolf Season {FINISHED}***

Description: This is the first time the readers heat is brought to her attention by none other than the god of mischief. How does she take to the discovery, but more importantly, how does Loki take it? Will Loki keep patience with her stubbornness or will he allow nature to take over? (This IS NOT ABO)

Warnings: Smut, Angst (M/F)

Sexual Healing & Godly Appetites {WIP}***

Description: Loki catches the reader looking for bad dragon toys (google it, you won’t be disappointed) Secretly he has wanted the team healer for a while and seeing her looking for a toy ignites a fire only she can extinguish.

Warning: Smut, BDSM (M/F)

The Auction House {WIP}***

Description: The team takes on a fine art auction that deal in super soldiers as the main prize. The key to the vault each individual is kept is inside the antique sold while encrypted data is scent out detailing the kill count of each soldier before hand to know who you are buying. The one up for auction tonight is top priority and Loki’s true soulmate and last love.

Warning: Angst, Smut in later chapters, Hints to a rough past (M/F)

Oneshots

Mermaids & Gods ***

Description: After the events of Infinity war are sorted out, the team takes a long overdue vacation and drags a certain “reformed” trickster with them.

Warnings: Smut, blood (M/F)

Christmas Praxis***

Description: This is sickly sweet and haven’t a clue where it came from & then it all went to smut! Reader is explaining Santa Claus to Loki who is having trouble grasping the tradition compared to what it once was.

Warnings: Fluff, Smut (M/F)

Loki’s Sacrifice - Dark!Loki***

Description: Loki is brought a gift by the Jotunn to appease the new king of the realms. A sacrifice saved just for this purpose, or so it seems until he gets his first look at what she really is to the Jotunn people.

Warnings: Non-con (M/F)

I Will Not Kneel - Dark!Loki***

Description: Loki’s newest mortal toy isn't exactly as breakable as the ones before her. This intrigues the god who decides to keep her and not pass her off to another.

Warnings: Non-con (M/F)

Mischief's Teacher ***

Description: The general of the Valkyries leaves Asgard with Brunhilde, but not before training the princes to fight. Little did she realize the impact she had on one of the princes until he shows up in Sakaar.

Warnings: Smut (M/F)

Arcane

Description: Written with @starscreamloki - The newest addition to the team isn’t thrilled to be forced into joining the fight, especially when the God of Mischief himself shows up and threatens to reveal her secret she has kept hidden ever since her capture.

Warnings: Swearing (M/F)

Judas Kiss

Description: Loki stumbled across the reader when she was traversing between Jotunheim and Asgard, the god having taking to her after learning she was nothing but a Jotun slave. The intrigue of her had Loki deciding she was to be brought to Asgard to assure she was safe.

Warnings: Angst, War (M/F)

Sea Maiden- Jotunn Loki***

Description: The team, sent by Fury to recruit the reader, haven't a clue as to what she is, just that she is strong, fast, and unrelenting in a fight. Her secret is revealed by Thor and Sam who decide it would be fun to throw her into the water during their at the beach.

Warnings: Smut, Angst (M/F)

Faithlessness

Description: Reader has crashed to the barren lands of Jotunheim after she is tossed out of a space craft and left for dead. Though you can guess who is the one who finds her, taking her back to the palace it is discovered she is just not any mortal or alien race.

Warnings: Pain, Angst (M/F)

Sakaarian Heat***

Description: Jotun!Loki & Jotun!Reader - Upon attending a recent party at the urging of the Grandmaster, Loki finds a very rare creature and it turns out she belongs to him.

Warnings: Smut (M/F)

Six Steamy Sentences

Description: This was a writing challenge and a teaser!

Warnings: ANGST (M/F)

Keeper of Beasts***

Description: After Ragnarök, Loki, Thor, Brunnhilde and Hulk/Bruce escape the destruction of Asgard but not onto the Statesman. Instead they board the other craft that belonged to the Grandmaster and accidentally return to Sakaar. There, as luck would have it, they are bought by a frost giantess visiting the realm, but nothing is as it seems.

Warnings: LEMONS, Angst (M/F)

Warring Loyalties

Description: The conquest for many Romans was more than just land. Taking what and who they wanted, a troop learn of a race of creatures, the selkie whose women are loyal to the end. This was the grand scheme of things when the general waited on shore for the OFC to return. Having come to shore, she never realized they were watching her patterns.

Warnings: Angst, dark things, blood, War (M/F)

Best Laid Plans of Gods & Shield Maidens

Description: After years of chasing after the reader, Loki finally gets his chance to show her how he truly feels. Though it takes a masquerade for the reader to understand just how much he has longed after her and only her when he could have anyone in the 9 realms.

Warnings: Smut, Angst, Bullying, self-loathing (M/F)

#loki #Loki Laufeyson #loki odinson #loki god of mischief #loki fanfic #loki lemon #loki x oc #loki x reader #loki x ofc #lokikingofasgardslover713

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loretranscripts · 5 years ago

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Lore Episode 28: Making a Mark (Transcript) - 22nd February 2016

tw: graphic violence

Disclaimer: This transcript is entirely non-profit and fan-made. All credit for this content goes to Aaron Mahnke, creator of Lore podcast. It is by a fan, for fans, and meant to make the content of the podcast more accessible to all. Also, there may be mistakes, despite rigorous re-reading on my part. Feel free to point them out, but please be nice!

I talk a lot about New England folklore. One of the biggest reasons for that is because the north-east part of the United States serves as a sort of cultural bridge between the old world and the new. It was there, more than anywhere else, where the old tales and superstitions first set root on American soil. The witch hysteria of the late 1600s was an aftershock of a larger tremor that shook Europe for decades. The American version of the vampire has roots in eastern European folktales and legends. Even holidays like Christmas and Hallowe’en were really just old-world injections into the cultural soft tissue of America, and the needle pierced us in New England first… most of the time. There are other parts of the country that played host to pioneers and adventurers as well, people who risked their lives and loved ones to travel across the cold Atlantic and build a new home here on these shores, and the age of colonization brought more than just settlers and supplies. It brought lore. Settlers up and down the east coast of what would one day become America came ashore with heads full of superstitions and a propensity to attach meaning to things we might overlook today. Put another way, they brought food for their journey, and the seeds to grow more here. They came with minds that were perfectly wired to build new folklore on the backs of old tales: new fears, new legends, new hauntings, and we can still find those creations in many places along the eastern seaboard - places like North Carolina. Before the vacation homes and sun-baked tourists crowded along the sandy shores of the Outer Banks, pioneers were attempting to carve out an existence there. Those that survived left behind more than buildings and descendants, though. Today, the Outer Bank is home to tales that still send shivers down the spines of locals and tourists alike, because folklore, whether its new or old, has a way of leaving its mark. I’m Aaron Mahnke, and this is Lore. Brigands Bay sits on the northern coast of the southern part of Hatteras Island, between the towns of Frisco and Buxton. Hatteras is part of the Outer Banks, which, on the map, look like nothing more than a thin string of earth and sand a few miles off the coast of North Carolina. Imagine the island as a backwards capital L, hugging the coastline near the Pamlico River. But don’t let that thin strip of sand and stay-parks fool you – Hatteras, like many of the other islands out there, is still big enough for stories to take root, and that’s because it has a long history, longer than most parts of the country, in fact. Near the northern tip of the island, just to the west, is Roanoke Island, the site of England’s first settlement in the new world. Although the colony there disappeared sometime between 1586 and 1587, Europeans didn’t stay away long, and it was their constant activity in the region that gave rise to so much of the local stories, still told today. There’s a legend in Hatteras of the horrible deeds of one particular captain. According to the story, in 1710 an English ship crossed the Atlantic carrying refugees from Germany. They were known as “palatines”, and they had initially fled the middle Rhine area to settle in England, but there were so many that the English decided to help them move to the new world. When these refugees boarded the ship, they hid their valuables, afraid that they might be stolen by the ship’s crew. After a successful journey, the ship entered the waters inside the Outer Banks, heading toward New Bern on the coast. Their new home was in sight, and after such a long journey it must have been a relief to see it. Sensing they would soon disembark, the palatines removed their valuables from hiding and gathered them together for the final leg of their journey. Now, maybe it was the sight of all that treasure – the jewellery and coins and precious heirlooms – that triggered what happened next, or perhaps the crew had planned it all along. But here was their chance, and they decided to act. Claiming that the weather wasn’t good enough for a landing, they told the passengers to return to their cabins and wait until morning. During the night, the crew moved systematically throughout the ship, killing the sleeping refugees and stealing their treasures. After killing the passengers, the captain and crew set fire to the ship and headed to shore in lifeboats, but the ship didn’t sink. Instead, the legend claims that the flames grew higher and higher while the ship began to move forward into calm waters. Fearing for their lives, the crew abandoned the lifeboat and were never seen again. To this day, locals whisper of a ghost ship that can be seen under the first full moon of September. This ship, orange with flames, passes near the Ocracoke inlet three times, and then vanished as quickly as it appeared.

Another prominent local story involves the capture of the legendary pirate, Edward Teach, also known as Blackbeard. Teach patrolled the Atlantic and Caribbean in his ship, Queen Anne’s Revenge, for a little over two years, and in the process became one of the most feared pirates of his day. As history records, Blackbeard was finally cornered by Lieutenant Robert Maynard and his men in November of 1718, just inside the Outer Banks near the southern tip of Hatteras. In a battle that was horribly bloody for both sides, the great Blackbeard suffered no fewer than 20 sword wounds and five gunshots before he was finally brought down. The English beheaded his corpse and tossed the body into the sea. His head, though, was kept. Maynard hung it from the bowsprit of his ship, and it was turned in later to collect his reward. Locals there near Ocracoke tell of a spot known as Teach’s Hole, where the legendary pirate once anchored his ship. If the stories are to be believed, Blackbeard’s ghost haunts the location – there are those who have claimed to see strange lights, both above and below the water there on the coast. They say it’s Blackbeard, swimming through the waters he used to patrol. Others say you can hear voices there. When storms blow in and waves crash against the shore, locals claim you can hear something besides the rain and thunder. It’s the sound of a man crying out in pain, the same words, over and over: “Where is my head?”

Hatteras is still popular with visitors today, though I would assume none of them are pirates. People still build homes there, they have streets and restaurants and parks and trees, tourists flock there every summer to take in the scenery, but right there on Snug Harbour Drive, near Brigands Bay, is a tree that’s called the island home for centuries. In fact, it was most likely ancient when the colonists first arrived hundreds of years before, and although most of the people driving by it are completely unaware, this tree has a story to tell. According to local legend, it starts with the arrival of a women near Frisco back in the early 1700s. They say her name was Cora, and she brought along a baby. They were always seen together, the child held tight to her chest or strapped into a sling. For an area frequented by sailors or widows of those who were lost at sea, this wasn’t an unusual sight. The Brigands Bay area was even more wooded then than it is now, and it’s said that she took up shelter in the forest there rather than in the small community that was forming on the coast. But it wasn’t living on the literal outskirts of society that earnt her a reputation as an outsider, it was her knack for the… unusual. Some have said that cows she touched would dry up and turn sick; when the fishing got rough and the nets were empty, Cora still managed to bring in enough to feed herself and the child; and when a local boy decided to poke fun at the baby, legend says that he got so sick he nearly died. Naturally, people talked. People always talk when things don’t fit the norm, and that talk spread. In an era when it didn’t take much more than an unpleasant disposition or off-colour comment to earn a woman a reputation as a witch, it seemed Cora was making it a little too easy for the locals to be suspicious.

The legend also tells of how during Cora’s stay, a ship called the Susan G ran aground off the northern coast of the island. The captain and his crew left the ship and came to town, and from there they made plans to repair it and continue their commercial journey. It sounds simple, right? Just repair the damage and move on – but doing so meant unloading all of the cargo, piece by piece, and bringing it to shore. The captain’s name, according to the legend, was Eli Blood. Now, that better have been his real name, because… come on, how perfect is that, right? Captain Blood. This captain enlisted the help of locals to move the cargo off his grounded ship and in the process, he got to know quite a few of them, which was a good thing judging by the repairs, he and his crew from Salem, Massachusetts, were bound to be there for a very long time - and it was during this long stay that he and his crew heard the stories of Cora and her baby. The heart of the rumours pointed to one, single, sensational conclusion: Cora was a witch, and the child she brought with her was her familiar, her supernatural pet. And, as it turned out, Captain Blood was probably the last person on earth that this mysterious Cora wanted to draw the suspicion of. The captain, it seems, was not just a sailor from Salem, Massachusetts. He claimed to know Cotton Mather, the puritan minister who was a passionate voice in support of the Salem Witch Trials. He had read Mather’s books, he was a student of Mather’s methods, and apparently shared the man’s intense hatred for the dark arts. So much so, in fact, that he considered himself a “white witch”, someone trained in combatting the forces of darkness with their own brand of magic. He claimed to have his own familiars, which he fed with drops of blood, and those familiars acted like spies for him, informing him of black magic nearby. Captain Eli Blood considered himself a witch hunter. Now, I realise this sounds incredibly hypocritical, which it is of course, but back then it was also heroic – it gave the people of the island a feeling of safety. At last, they might have said, we have someone here who can deal with Cora, the witch, if she gets out of hand. And that’s when the body of a man washed up on the beach.

The body wasn’t one of Captain Blood’s men, but it drew his concern nonetheless. It was the body of a young man from town, and although no makes could be found that pointed to the cause of his death, there were a number of other clues. Local legend tells of how the man’s face was twisted into a horrible expression of fear. His hands, they say, were clasped together, as if he had been kneeling before someone powerful, begging for his life. The man even had the numbers “666” carved into his forehead. The most damning evidence of all, however, were the footprints in the sand near his body. They were smaller than a man’s, and they moved away from the body in a clear, definable direction: the woods. Someone needed to investigate the man’s death, they said, and who better to do it than the witch hunter himself, Captain Eli Blood – he had little else to do while he waited on the ship’s owner to send help and supplies. This sounded like the perfect job for his idle mind. Captain Blood, for his part, agreed. He gathered his men, mostly slaves from Barbados who all had a healthy cultural fear of black magic, and together they went in search of Cora’s shack in the woods. When they found her, she was inside making breakfast for herself and her child; the men seized them both and brought them back to town. They accused Cora of witchcraft and murder, of course – how could they not, in a society governed by deep suspicion and intense fear of people who failed to fit in? Now, before you write them off as barbaric, remember that this is a flaw we have yet to overcome – we still fear those who are different from us. Maybe it’s genetic, or maybe it’s culturally ingrained. That fear is like a snake hiding in the bushes, always ready to strike, and it struck hard for Cora.

Captain Blood had her bound, left hand to right ankle, right hand to left ankle, and then carried her to the shore. There, he ordered her to be thrown into the water – it was a test, he said. If she floated, she was a witch, and seeing as how the tide was low and the waves were calm, of course she didn’t sink, how could she? Satisfied with the results, the captain moved on to his second test. Pulling his knife free, the man tried to cut a handful of Cora’s hair, but the blade failed to do its job. More proof, he declared, that she was, in fact, a witch… or at least proof that he needed to sharpen his knife, but hey, I’m no witch hunter. The final test was the most creepy and ambiguous of them all. Taking a bowl of seawater, the captain asked each of his crew to cut their fingertip and drip blood into the bowl. When they had all done so, he stirred this mixture with his knife until it foamed and swirled, and then he chanted words that no one else understood while staring hard into the bowl, and then raised his face in triumph. “She’s a witch,” he exclaimed, and then, as if needing a second opinion, he passed the bowl around to the others. Each of them, according to the story, saw two things in the bowl: the devil and the face of Cora. That was all the proof they needed – Cora was a witch, pure and simple, and now her execution would be completed.

The captain had his men gather firewood and branches and pile them at the base of a large oak tree near the bay, and then Cora and her child were tied to the tree, ready to be burnt alive. Now, what happened next will sound unusual. That’s the fingerprint of an old story – they sometimes take on a patina of oddities and otherworldliness. Sometimes, the patina adds texture, even value, to an antique – I’ll let you be the judge. According to the locals who tell the tale to this day, Captain Blood approached the tree with a lit torch in his hand, ready to set fire to the wood and burn the witch and her familiar alive, but another captain, a local man named John Smith, held him back, asking instead for Cora’s trial to go through the proper, legal channels. Smith, you see, being a sane man, wanted to do things right, but as the men argued, two things happened. First, the child in Cora’s arms twisted and writhed as it transformed into a large, black cat with shimmering green eyes. Second, a dark, ominous cloud began to gather overhead in an otherwise cloudless sky. Both men cried out in horror, and then Captain Blood lunged forward with the torch to ignite the kindling. It was at that very moment that the cloud overhead rumbled, and a lightning bolt flashed down, striking the tree and blinding everyone around it. When the smoke cleared, the tree was empty. The ropes were still there, as was the pile of branches and firewood, but the woman and the cat were gone without a trace. Well, that’s not true, there was one clue, and it’s difficult to believe. There, etched by lightning into the bark of the old oak tree were four, clear letters, which spelled out one single word: C, O, R, A. Cora.

The Outer Banks is just like any other place in the world on many levels. It has a history, and over the centuries that comprise that history, stories have been told. In a lot of ways, story is one of our greatest legacies. Wherever we’ve been, we’ve left story in our wake like footprints in the mud. Some stories are true and act like time capsules. Some are exaggerations of the truth and are meant to entertain later generations more than anything else. Some, though, serve to fill in the blanks, to answer those lingering questions or to explain the things we can’t wrap our minds around. Are there really fiery ghost ships and headless pirates haunting the Outer Banks? Was the word on the Cora tree, a word that you can still go see for yourself if you want, really carved into the bark by lightning? The chances are pretty good that it’s all just a collection of old, entertaining folktales, but some stories do both. Beneath their decorative paint and fantastical flourishes, they conceal a grain of truth deep in their core. The most famous local legend in the Outer Banks, by a mile, is the story of the lost colony of Roanoke. The island is located of the west coast of Hatteras island and, when the English settled there in 1585, they knew they were on the edge of the world. Building a settlement there took a lot of guts, but it came with a lot of risk and danger. When John White and a hundred new settlers landed in July of 1586, the first settlement was gone, so they stayed to investigate. They set up their own fort there, and also worked to establish relations with the local native American tribes: the Croatoan on what is now Hatteras and the Coree on the mainland. White left for England one year later to get supplies, but didn’t return for three years. When he did come back, no sign of the English could be found. He’d left them with a plan, though: if they were forced to leave, they’d been told to carve a cross into a nearby tree so White would know they’d been attacked, and he did find a carving, but it wasn’t a cross. It was a single word: Croatoan. This was good news because it meant they’d departed peacefully. White wanted to search Hatteras immediately, but when a terrible storm blew in, his men refused to stay. However painful it might have been – after all, White’s own granddaughter was among the missing – they left the very next day. It’s interesting to note that the Croatoan lived in southern Hatteras, in the area between modern day Buxton and Frisco, right by the Cora tree, and if it wasn’t really lightning that carved those letters, perhaps it was an actual human being. Sure, it could be nothing more than a centuries old prank or just a bit of lover’s graffiti, anything’s possible. Or maybe, like a myth with a grain of truth at its heart, this tree is the last hint in a chain of clues that point to the final destination of the settlers from Roanoke. You see, the Coree tribe on the mainland went by a few other names. Some called them the Cores, or the Coranine, or interestingly enough, the Cora.

[Closing statements]

#lore podcast #podcasts #podcast transcripts #aaron mahnke #cora tree #blackbeard #north carolina #hauntings #dark history #transcripts #28

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inevitably-johnlocked · 6 years ago

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OOH can we please have the angsty fluff fic rec list??? thanks!!

@idontneednormal said to inevitably-johnlocked: hi there! could you please share your angsty fluff fics with us? i live for angst with a sappy ending!

HELLS TO THE YES I WILL, LOVELIES. Like I said on this post, I was just waiting for someone to request it. I’ve A TONNE MORE, but like I said, these are just what I’ve sorted so far :) There will probably be a part two in a few months if someone asks again, LOL.

ANYWAY, here’s some angst with a healthy happy dose of fluff to soothe the heartache caused by the angst! I think 99% of these all have happy endings, so don’t you worry none, your angst gets instant relief

ANGSTY FLUFF

One-Way Mirror by StormyNight108 (K+, 830 w. || Hurt/Comfort, Friendship, Post-TRF, John’s Blog) – It’s been months since the incident, where a man lost his best friend. Slowly but surely, John’s life is starting to turn up a little. That night, his blog is updated to share good news to his followers, and one anonymous commentator is quick to share his happiness. It’s about as close to his friend as he can get right now. No slash.

You Lead, I Lead, You Follow, I Follow by BrighteyedJill (M, 862 w. || Fever, H/C, John Whump) – John wakes up after a chase gone wrong to find Sherlock watching over him, but he’s a little hazy on the details.

Static by Johnnlocked (Krullenbol2602) (G, 917 w. || Fluff, H/C, Dr. John, Headaches, POV Sherlock, Fluff, H.C, Pre-TSo3) – Sherlock suffers from a headache.

Secrets by 796116311389 (G, 1,084 w. || Drunk Sherlock, Drunk Confessions, Angst, Fluff, Happy Ending, Pining Sherlock) – “He is the best person in the world and sometimes I get sad because I’m not. Not his best person.”

Drums and Fireworks by Cumberbatch Critter (T, 2,121 w. || Friendship, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Platonic Cuddles) – “Are… Are you afraid of THUNDERSTORMS?” John asked incredulously.

I’m Sorry by bewdifuldragon (K, 1,172 w. || Friendship, Hurt/Comfort, Sick John) – During a case - that just for the record, he never wanted to take on anyway - John falls ill; and a guilt-ridden Sherlock does everything he can to make amends.

Of Small and Unexpected Things by wearitcounts (T, 1,239 w. || Love Confessions, Scars, Implied Abuse, Fluff & Angst) – It’s by accident, the first time John sees them.

In Dreams by Youarethelightoftheworld (T, 1,340 w. || Falling in Love, Accidental Cuddling, Snuggling, Fluff, Romance, Domestic Fluff) – Every once and a while, the dark makes it easier to see.

Lost Without My Army Doctor by ItsRealForUs (K, 1,499 w. || Hurt/Comfort, Friendship, Migraines, Doctor John, Domestics) – Sherlock’s fighting a losing battle with his migraine when John comes home to help.

The Two of Us Against the World by slashscribe (T, 1,617 w. || Post-TAB, Implied/Referenced Drug Use, Drug Addiction, Anxious Sherlock, Angsty Fluff) – John is there to take care of Sherlock as he comes down from his overdose in The Abominable Bride. Set immediately after the tarmac, back in 221B.

Not Straight by IamJohnLocked4life (NR, 1,728 w. || POV Sherlock, Fluffy Angst, Happy Ending) – John moves back into 221B. Feelings come up. Happy ending.

Q 1 HR by StillWaters1 (K+, 2,234 w. || Friendship, Hurt/Comfort, Sick John, Fluff, New Year’s Eve) – On New Year’s Eve, Sherlock discovers that sometimes it’s the seemingly innocuous, rather than life-threatening, conditions that can keep John from The Work. And John is reminded just how deeply their friendship runs.

Just Admit It by LoyalNerdWP (T, 2,512 w. || Christmas, Fluff, Family, Romance, Pining Sherlock) – Sherlock goes to his family’s place for Christmas without John, and Mycroft makes an interesting observation that Sherlock missed.

Rooftop Confession by Random_Nexus (T, 2,514 w. || Ace Sherlock, Developing Relationship, Friendship / Love, Angsty Fluff) – Sherlock asks John to join him for a slightly unexpected discussion.

Intensive Care by aceofhearts61 (T, 2,539 w. || Ace!Sherlock / Straight John Queerplatonic Relationship, Hurt Comfort, Angst, Cuddles and Snuggles, Hugs, Doctor!John, Medical Procedures) – In which John looks after Sherlock directly following the events of “Bless You and Keep You.” Sequel Fic. Part 15 of A Love with No Name

Green Carnation by glenien (T, 2,616 w. || Sherlock’s Mind Palace, Meta-Fic, Angst and Fluff, Communication, Post-TAB) – John takes Sherlock home. Part 1 of It’s No Longer Eighteen Ninety-Five

Turn the key, and come home by TooManyChoices (M, 2,718 w. || First Kiss / Time, Angst With a Happy Ending, Emotional Messes, Implied Sex, Angst and Humour, Bed Sharing, Post-TRF) – Sherlock and John have been dancing around what’s between them for years. Will John return to Baker Street, and if so, will things ever be the same?

Extraordinary by ardenteurophile (T, 2,739 w. || Angst, Pining, Romance, Second Person POV Sherlock, Pre-Slash) – Sherlock tries to understand his preoccupation with one Doctor John Watson - the one case he can never solve.

There’ll be people By Ariane DeVere (T, 2,739 w. || Friendship/Romance, Angsty Fluff, First Kiss) – There’s a reason why Sherlock doesn’t travel on the Underground, and it’s not because he’s a snob. John learns the reason the hard way. Although, given the conclusion, maybe this one Tube ride wasn’t such a bad idea.

Unspoken by PipMer (T, 2,770 w. || John’s Missing Wed., Fluffy Angst, Mutual PIning, Pre-Slash, Missing Scene) – Sherlock wanted to test a hypothesis. About John. He wanted a question answered that he couldn’t just ask, at least not under normal conditions, because John would never tell him the truth about that.

The Sweetest Taste In The World by crossroads (G, 3,121 w. || First Kiss, Fluff, Pining, Friends to Lovers) – The sweetest taste in the world is rarely ever the easiest to come by.

It Was All Right There In Front of Him (A Five Times Plus One Story) by bees_stories (T, 3,191 w. || 5+1, Protective Idiots, Grooming, Bed Sharing, Lestrade POV) – DI Greg Lestrade is a good detective. But sometimes he doesn’t trust the evidence in front of him, until there’s a compelling reason to do so.

Listening By Ear by StillWaters1 (T, 3,384 w. || Lestrade POV, Friendship, H/C, John Whump) – Lestrade figured that anyone who thought John Watson wasn’t important, and that Sherlock hadn’t changed since meeting him, had to be completely, bloody deaf. Because it was all right there, in every sound Sherlock made. For anyone attentive enough to listen.

Measuring Damage With the Fujita Scale by teahigh (T, 3,548 w. || First Kiss / Time, Vacation / Holidays, Friends to Lovers, Bed-Sharing, Pining Sherlock, Sherlock POV, Angsty Fluff, Scars, Awkward Talks) – John goes back into town, into the storm, and Sherlock realises he forgot to say, “I just want to be alone with you.”

MR# 1430155 by blueink3 (T, 3,560 w. || Talks of Parentlock, Baby Watson, Hurt/Comfort, Love Confessions, Fluff and Angst) – John paces the length of the not inconsiderable hallway and glances at his phone for the tenth time since he exited the hospital room seven minutes ago. Sherlock’s last text was sent at 5:06pm. It is now 5:39pm. He should be here by now. After all, his daughter is 46-minutes-old and if John is going to share this momentous event with someone, it sure as hell isn’t going to be the woman who just gave birth to her.Part 5 of Tumblr Prompts

Stay by msdisdain (M, 3,561 w. || First Kiss / Time, Angst / H/C, Bed Sharing, Nightmares, Blow Jobs, Anal) – John’s nightmares are nothing new. Sherlock’s inability to ignore them, however, is.

Because Your Coat is Part of You by camellialice (K, 3,705 w. || 5 and 1, Canon Compliant, Sherlock’s Coat, Angst, Fluff) – Five times John wore Sherlock’s coat and one time he didn’t need to.

Come home. by hudders-and-hiddles (huddersandhiddles) (E, 3,763 w. || Texting / Sexting, Lonely Sherlock, Nude Photos, Pining, Fluff & Smut) – When John leaves for a medical conference, Sherlock tries to entice him back home.

April Sea by ladydirewolf1 (T, 3,778 w. || Fluff and Angst, Happy Ending, Melodrama, Reminiscence) – Sherlock takes John to the place he spent his childhood summers.

Upon Waking by joolabee (E, 3,901 w. || Mild Dub Con, Magical Realism, Angst, Somnophilia) – It sets on slow: John can only be awake while Sherlock sleeps, and vice versa. Their lives are codependent, but never meeting. Like a set of scales.

Water Is Another Matter by cathedral_carver (T, 3,903 w. || Sick Fic, Pining, First Kiss, Heat Wave) – He thinks it’s in trouble, his poor heart.

In the cherry blossom’s shade by Eliane (M, 3,934 w. || Post S3, First Time / Kiss, Sleeping Together, Pining / Obsessive Sherlock, Minor Char. Death) – This isn’t new. Sherlock has already done this – has gone through cities, and dingy hotels, and sleepless nights but it was different before. John wasn’t there before.They’re in this together.

Someone Else’s Heart by thisprettywren (E, 4,188 w. || First Time, H/C, POV Sherlock, Caretaking John, Pining Idiots) – A crime scene, a rainstorm, and something they both should have known all along.

But Tonight You Belong to Me by esplanade (T, 4,296 w. || Fluff & Angst, Pining, Stag Night, Sad Ending) – “You. It’s always you. John Watson, you keep me right.”

The Dance Lesson by bittergreens (G, 4,596 w. || TSo3 Missing Scene, Dancing, Pining Sherlock, URT/UST, Romance, Angst, POV John, Ambiguous Ending) – Sherlock teaches John to dip. Part 1 of Goodnight, Vienna

Carry On by Mazarin221b (M, 4,647 w. || 5 and Ones, H/C, Afghanistan, Frottage, Hand Jobs, First Time) – Five times John didn’t want to be carried, and one time he did.

There’s Something Living in These Lines by teahigh (orphan_account) (M, 4,676 w. || Mutual Pining, Love Letters, Angst, Mutual Pining, UST / URT, Dirty Talk) – Two men, complete opposites in almost every way, who speak only in letters and pages torn from books.

Facade by distantstarlight (M, 4,715 w. || Fluff, John’s Beard, No-Shave November, Grumpy Sherlock, Clueless Sherlock) – Sherlock is highly irritated with a challenge John has agreed to undertake. Why does he need to grow a beard anyway?

Unforgiven by 221b_hound (M, 4,721 w. || Marriage Proposal, Victor Trevor, Jealous / Protective John, Jealous Sherlock, Sherlock’s Past) – Sherlock’s latest case is for his ex boyfriend, the brilliant and handsome Professor Victor Trevor. John is not too happy about that. But things aren’t what they seem, an old friend of John’s is involved in the case, and John has a few surprises up his sleeve. Also - a proposal! Part 16 of Unkissed

This Time by Radon65 (T, 4,766 w. || Hurt/Comfort, Friendship) – He has practically just finished talking to Lestrade when it happens. A sudden dizziness assaults his brain, things tip sideways, and he barely catches himself on the arm of the sofa to slow his descent before he collapses altogether to the floor.

You Can’t Always Get What You Want by hubblegleeflower (E, 4,804 w. || Sex, First Time, Pining John) – John wants. He always has, but now that he’s living with Sherlock again, it’s all he can do to hold it back. And Sherlock isn’t helping…

Wasted Hours by songlin (E, 4,973 w. || Omegaverse || O!John/A!Sherlock, Pining, UST, Angst & Porn) – John is respectful. John keeps his distance. He doesn’t look at Sherlock when Sherlock decides trousers are for dull people. He doesn’t breathe in and savor it when Sherlock flings himself onto the couch first thing in the morning, wafting alpha scent, dressing gown settling around him in a cloud of blue silk. He doesn’t linger when he’s piecing Sherlock back together after a fight, even though he’s half-dressed and beautiful and right there. He can ignore it. He can control it.

We Bleed into the Grey by QuinnAnderson (T, 4,989 w. || First Kiss, Supernatural Elements, Fluff & Angst) – It was stupid, really. What was the point of having an ability if it wasn’t even a useful one? Sherlock would just as soon be rid of his. Until he meets John Watson, that is.

Every Little Thing by the_beekeeper_of_sussex (E, 5,066 w. || First Time / Kiss, Fluff, Frottage, Come as Lube, Embarassed Sherlock, Porn With Feelings) – When Sherlock walks in on John making tea wearing nothing but a tight pair of boxer-briefs things get a little heated…physically and emotionally.

Winter of Life by You_Light_The_Sky (T, 5,178 w. || Christmas, Fluff & Angst, Magic Realism) – It was an experiment, really. On Christmas, Sherlock wrote to Santa asking for a friend. He got a broken toy soldier instead. This is the story of how he finds him again and again.

I think You Need A Doctor by TheGoodDirector (M, 5,254 w. || Hurt/Comfort, Friendship, Sherlock Whump, Mistaken Couple, Humour, Platonics, Mary is Nice) – John’s not been to Baker Street in four months and returns to find a bleeding Consulting Detective. John can’t help but take care and put up with him. Set after The Sign of Three/Before His Last Vow.

The Only Available Transportation by blueink3 (T, 5,379 w. || Post S4, Fluff and Angst, Insecure Sherlock, Caring John, Parentlock, Sherlock’s Birthday, Family, Misunderstandings) – It’s possibly the desperation that’s seeped into his voice despite his best intentions, or perhaps it’s just a mother’s intuition, but she knows that whatever he’s calling about is Serious, hangover be damned. “What’s happened?” she asks, tone soft and as comforting as a hot cup of tea on a cold winter’s night. “Mummy,” he begins, voice catching. “I think John may be moving out.”

The Heart On Your Sleeve by flawedamythyst (T, 5,441 w. || Soulmate AU || Sherlock POV, Heartmarks, Pining, Fluff and Angst, Semi-S1 / S2 Canon Compliant, Reunion) – Sherlock stared at the imperfect circle on his left wrist in horror, then sat down on his bed with a bit of a thump. After over thirty years, his heartmark was finally showing activity. This was not good.

Finding John by orphan_account (T, 5,456 w. || Soul Bond AU, Symbolic Rings, Soul Mates) – Sherlock Holmes has met exactly twenty-four Johns in his life. They have all been the wrong John. He’s getting tired of waiting, staring at the inscription on his finger and wondering when his John will turn up, if ever. Part 1 of Inscriptions

Surprise Christmas by Ayakae (K, 6,093 w. || Friendship, Sherlock in Disguise, TRF Hiatus, Christmas, Fluff, Mary) – A year and a half after his death, Sherlock tries to give John Watson a happy Christmas without actually revealing himself. The consulting detective thinks his newfound friend can help. Epic friendship.

Same Same But Different by Kerkerian-Horizon (K+, 6,435 w. || Friendship, Angst, Post-TRF, Gladstone, John/Mary, Christmas, No Slash) – After Sherlock’s return, a lot of things have changed, things the detective has to learn to contend with- or rather, to accept. A sometime-post-Reichenbach story in two parts, no male pairing. Contains Mary, the puppy Gladstone and Christmas as well.

The Dying Detective Remix by SailorChibi (K, 6,563 w. || Friendship & Family) – No one hates admitting illness or wounds more than Sherlock… perhaps that’s why no one believes him when he actually gets sick. Fortunately, when he can’t do it himself any longer, John and Lestrade are there to pick up the slack. Features Paternal!Lestrade and Gen John and Sherlock. One-shot.

5687 (Approximately) by prettysailorsoldier (T, 6,771 w. || Alternate Canon, Christmas, Pining, Fluff, Soldier John) – When John’s leave request for Christmas is denied, Sherlock is nothing short of devastated, not that he’s letting it show. The holiday season now something he’s just waiting to end, Sherlock doesn’t think anything can possibly make it worse. That is, until he realizes no one in his life believes his army “boyfriend” is even real, but, luckily, everyone is in for a surprise. Part 13 of 25 Days of Johnlock

The Tip Over Into The Inevitable by ivyblossom (T, 6,894 w. || Grief, Cuddles, Insomnia, Hurt/Comfort, Friends to Lovers) - When his father dies, Sherlock avoids sleeping. Then discovers he can’t sleep at all. John finds a way to help.

Survival Instinct by shirleyholmes (T, 7,162 w. || Post-TRF, First Kiss, Schmoop, Nightmares, Fluff & Angst, Grief, Idiots in Love) – After Sherlock’s “comeback” John starts obsessing with constantly making sure he’s alive (checking his heartbeat etc.)

In Which “John” Becomes a Synonym for “Help” by asignoftwo (T, 7,391 w. || Injured John, Worried Sherlock, Fluff) – After the fall Sherlock returns to Baker Street and is reunited with John. When John is injured on a case Sherlock is faced with the reality that he could lose John again, and it tears him apart.

High and Tight, Soft and Loose by cwb (E, 7,429 w. || Jealous John, Miscommunications / Misunderstandings, First Kiss / Time, BAMF John, Insecure Sherlock, Clueless Sherlock, Junk Size, UST / RST) – John pressed the knuckle of his index finger against his mouth and sighed. “So, you’re coiled like a spring and ready to be … sprung?” “If you want to be pedestrian about it, yes.” “Like I said, you should do something about that.” “And like I said, pedestrian. What would you have me do? Take up jogging? Yoga? Oh! Unless you mean –” “I don’t mean anything. Let’s drop it.”

The T-Shirt Thief by allroadsleadbacktobakerstreet (T, 7,968 w. || Mutual Pining, Post Canon Fix It, Dev. Rel., First Kiss, Domestics) – Sherlock steals John’s t-shirt from the laundry. John catches him wearing it one evening, fluff ensues with an endeared yet teasing John?

The Engine by stitchy (T, 8,294 w. || Time Travel, Post-HLV, Sci-Fi, First Kiss) – Shortly after the events of His Last Vow, Sherlock has an opportunity to revisit the night of A Study in Pink and get some perspective on the destiny of he and John’s relationship.

Never Been This Swept Away by estalita11 (T, 8,531 w. || Post-TAB, Mary is Not Nice, Drug Use, First Kiss, Love Confessions) – Set immediately after TAB, Sherlock visits his brother to definitely not apologize about earlier and ends up finally learning a few things that would have been nice knowing about months ago. Mycroft never wants to deal with lovestruck idiots ever again.

Presence by LostGirl (M, 8,625 w. || Pre-Slash, First Time, Jealousy, Friends to Lovers) – Sherlock has recently noticed a shift in his own perceptions, but he can’t quite figure out when it started.

Let You Kiss Me (So Sweet and So Soft) by out_there (G, 8,659 w. || Fluff, Kisses, Stroppy Sherlock, Confused John) – The first time Sherlock kisses him, John keeps his eyes open, and so does Sherlock, and mostly, he wonders what Sherlock could possibly be up to. There’ll be some logic to this. Some ridiculous experiment about body warmth or respiratory rates or testing a new way of picking pockets. Sherlock does the unimaginable for bizarre reasons, but behind it, there’s always logic and curiosity. Sometimes, it just takes him a while to explain it to John.

The Painted Man by jinglebell (E, 9,894 w. || Tattoos, Scent / Tattoo Kink, Rough & Tender Sex, Fluff and Smut, Obsessive / Jealous Sherlock, Touch Starvation) – Here stood John Watson – middle name, Hamish, ex-RAMC captain and field medic, favourite brand of jam: Duerr’s, preferred toothpaste: Mentadent. Loyal, steadfast, interesting John had just done the most unpredictable thing merely by being. John’s body was covered, neck-to-waistband, shoulder-to-elbow, in tattoos.

Someone I Love by hudders-and-hiddles (M, 10,002 w. || Canon Compliant, HLV-Filler Fic, Pre-Slash, Jealous John, PIning Sherlock, Angst & Fluff, UST/URT, Dog Tags) – John gets married and Sherlock finds comfort in wearing John’s identity tags around his wrist.

Confidential by sussexbound (M, 10,654 w. || Epistolary, John’s Journal, First Kiss / Time, Fluff, Self-Acceptance/Discovery, John’s Sexuality) – When John accidentally stumbles upon the Confidential file Sherlock’s been keeping on him he is both angry and curious. What he learns about himself, though–well, that changes everything.

Never Have I Ever by hudders-and-hiddles (E, 10,655 w. || Pining Sherlock, First Kiss / Time, Drinking Games, Love Confessions, Fluff and Angst, Friends to Lovers) – John and Sherlock tag along for the Met’s weekly night out, where the evening’s chosen drinking game is Never Have I Ever. Sherlock is reluctant to join in until he realizes he can learn all kinds of new things about John, but he forgets that John might learn a thing or two about him as well.

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder by cypress_tree (E, 10,669 w. || UST/RST, For an Experiment) – John helps Sherlock with an experiment: for an entire month, they are not allowed to touch each other and must remain at least one metre apart at all times.

Of Course I Forgive You by allonsys_girl (E, 10,735 w. || Love Confessions, Canon Divergence, First Time, Frottage, Wall Sex, Infidelity) – What if things had gone differently on that train car?

John Watson’s Moon by patternofdefiance (E, 11,314 w. || Werewolf John, First Time, BAMF John, First Time) – Sherlock finds out John is a werewold and wants to see the transformation. It, uh, gets really kinky.

The Red Dianthus by kinklock (T, 11,382 w. || Supernatural Elements, BAMF!John, Misunderstandings, Fluff, Romance, Halloween, Dev. Rel., Case Fic) – The boys investigate a mysterious disappearance in a supposedly haunted house, and get much more than they bargained for.

Johnlock Ficlet Collection by Irrevocably_Sherlocked (E, 11,505+ w. [WiP] | Random Ficlets, Pining, Angst, Fluff & Smut, Parentlock, AU’s, First Kiss, Character POV’s) - Just a collection of Johnlock ficlets, originally posted on my Tumblr page.

Where the Sun Never Shines by teahigh (T, 11,634 w. || PTSD, Nightmares, H/C, Post-TRF, Implied Sex) – John is a mess. Sherlock can’t fix him, but he tries. That’s good enough, John thinks.

Rainbow Hearts Retreat by PajamaSecrets (E, 11,638 w. || Fake Relationship, Case Fic, Undercover, Fluff and Smut, Bed-Sharing, Therapy, Humour/Crack, First Time) – “It’s a same-sex couples retreat. For those experiencing troubles in their relationship. Consists of group and couples therapy as well as encouraging socialization between the couples. It’s all in their incredibly dull brochure.” “Rainbow Hearts Retreat,” John read. “Sounds… quite gay.”

the first day of forever by darcylindbergh (E, 11,850 w. || Est. Relationship, Domestics, Light Angst, Insecurity, Emotional H/C) – “I’m going to marry you,” John murmurs with against Sherlock’s smile, and they both giggle in the joy of it. “We’re getting married.”“Yes,” Sherlock says, just to hear himself say it out loud. “We are.” A June wedding. Part 4 of things fairy tales are made of

Take My Breath Away by Quesarasara (E, 14,240 w. || Emotional H/C, Angst & Fluff, Toplock, Smut, Lingerie) – Sherlock opens his eyes and looks at his friend—his best friend—and slowly tips his chin down until his forehead rests softly against John’s. They stay that way for a long moment, lips just a whisper apart, warm puffs of air mingling as each of them struggles to breathe. It’s no wonder they ended up here, really, locked in this breathless moment balanced on the cusp of something new. They’ve spent years taking each other’s breath away…

Your Eyes in Darkness Glowing by tamed_untranslatable (E, 14,686 w. || Est. Rel., Case Fic, Hotel Sex, Bottomlock, Anal, BJ’s, Porn With Feelings, Homophobia) – Sherlock gets roped into a case in Moscow on his brother’s insistence, but finds that he can’t do it without John.

Twelfth Night by yourdykeinshiningarmor (E, 15,139 w. || Fake Relationship, Christmas, Mutual Pining, Friends to Lovers, Angst & Fluff, BJ’s, Anal) – John is invited to his aunt’s Twelfth Night ball. Sherlock offers to attend with him as a friendly face among strangers, but John’s family force him to address his true feelings for Sherlock.

Till Death Do Us Part by prettysailorsoldier (M, 15,390 w. || Fake Relationship, Case Fic, Friends to Lovers, Fake Marriage, Christmas, Fluff) – When Sherlock links a recent spree of murder-suicides to a psychologist who specializes in marriage counseling, there’s really only one thing to do: Go undercover as a couple in hopes of drawing the killer out. Faking a relationship seems easy enough, but things take a turn when their real issues start to creep into the sessions, and, all the while, a killer is watching, waiting in the shadows for their chance to strike.

A Hundred Thousand Ways to Say the Name John by Jberry (E, 16,825 w. || Fake Relationship, Fake Marriage, POV John, Pining John, Cruise Ship, Angst & Fluff) – John Watson and Sherlock Holmes must solve a case on a cruise ship. To get close to the crew and passengers, they must get married for the case on the Baetica. However, their relationship hits rocky seas both due to the case and internal conflicts. Part 1 of Baetica

Everlasting by cypress_tree (M, 16,884 w. || Magical Realism, First Time, Immortality, Angst & Fluff) – Most lives end. A Tuck Everlasting fusion, in which the Holmes brothers have lived for a very, very long time.

Just a Kiss by emmagrant01 (E, 19,695 w. || 5+1, Case Fic) – Five times John and Sherlock kissed because of a case and one time they kissed for real.

Ghost Stories by SwissMiss (M, 22,256 w. || Pining, Holmes Family, Christmas, Friends to Lovers, Slow Burn, Bed Sharing, Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, First Time) – Sherlock’s parents think he and John are a couple. They might be onto something.

You Can Imagine the Christmas Dinners by ardenteurophile (T, 23,584 w. || Pre-Slash, Drama, Fluff & Angst, Humour, Romance) – Sherlock takes John along for Christmas dinner with Mycroft and Mummy (And “Anthea”, too). Over the course of the evening, John realises that everyone in the room - apart from him - seems to think that he and Sherlock are a couple. Part 2 of Xmas Dinners Verse

26 Pieces by Lanning (E, 28,236 w. || H/C, Torture, First Time, Happy Ending, Schmoop) – Mycroft gives Sherlock the apparently simple task of solving a puzzle box containing a stolen microchip. It isn’t simple.

Our Enthusiasms Which Cannot Always Be Explained by withoutawish (M, 32,961 w. || Christmas, Fluff and Angst, H/C, Post-TRF, Case Fic, Mild Gore, Sherlock Whump) – The list that is tacked haphazardly on the refrigerator of 221B reads, ‘Kidney(s), and/or a full cadaver (preferably male, late 30s, under six feet tall), bag of fresh toes, sixteen cow’s eyes (corneas retained), dual exhaust hand –held flame thrower, an unopened first edition copy of Joseph Conrad’s ‘Heart of Darkness’, and no less than ten abhorrently gruesome murders in the upcoming month.” The one neatly hanging next to it simply reads, “Sex.” One of these lists is not John Watson’s. If John Watson were to put what he really wanted in list form, to live in a land somewhere beyond ‘almosts’ now that Sherlock Holmes has indeed returned to him, he would never be able to look his flatmate in the eye ever again.

Set in Stone by SilentAuror (E, 39,309 w. || Romance, Wedding, Therapy, Fluff and Angst) – Sherlock and John are back from Ravine Valley and planning their wedding. However, as they move past the trial of the human traffickers, Sherlock can’t help but wonder if he’s imagining that John is becoming a little distant. Surely he isn’t getting cold feet about the wedding… Part 2 of The Ravine Valley series

#steph replies #johnlock fic recs #my fic recs #angsty fluff #idontneednormal #midnightcat167

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casulafishmarkets · 2 years ago

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What to Anticipate From High-Quality Seafood

Oysters are delicious, but instead of eating them raw, you should try heating them. When you were a youngster, did your parents ever serve you raw food with a side of lemon or shallot vinegar over ice? For a change of pace, sample some sizzling oysters. Cooked, packed, or flattened oysters are still edible for oysters to eat, just like any other meal. This is always the case regardless of how the oysters are cooked.

Oysters are a must-eat delicacy on a winter vacation. In spite of its obvious significance, it is seldom recognized. Even the most adventurous eaters can balk at the chewy feel of raw oysters. In conclusion, if you want your oysters to seem more appetizing during your dinner party, we suggest rehabilitating them by cooking, heating, or gratinating them. After taking them to Australia's Oysters Market, your children will beg for oysters every Christmas. It's crucial that you choose reliable Seafood Wholesalers Australia.

It is a mystery as to what it is about cooked oysters that makes them so delicious.

Don't ruin your feast by overcooking the oysters in boiling water. When cooked until it is tough and flavorless, an oyster loses all of its dramatic features and flavor attributes. Reheating the dish would be the best option here. Now that you know the Golden Rule, consider these further recommendations:

You'll need 24 oysters, 3 leeks, 100 g of unsalted butter, 100 g of oysters, and a dash of black pepper to prepare this recipe. The nutshells have to be broken. They should be given time to naturally rehydrate if they have lost a lot of fluids. After slicing the leeks, arrange them artistically in a creative pattern on a serving platter. Twenty minutes of simmering in thirty grams of butter should be enough to soften them. If you turn the oven down to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, you may use it as a grill.

Be cautious while shucking oysters, since they may easily be damaged.

When serving oysters, put a tablespoon of chopped leeks in the bottom of the oyster shell and set the oyster on top. Serve immediately with a pat of butter on each oyster. To broil the oysters, place them in a pan suitable for the oven's top rack. Broil them until they reach the desired doneness (place aluminium foil or salt at the bottom so that the shells do not spill). Oysters should be cooked over a grill set at medium heat for two minutes, or until the butter has melted and the oysters are warm to the touch. Add the pepper just before serving for optimum flavor.

#Seafood Wholesalers Australia

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deardaisygarden · 3 years ago

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RAIN GUTTER CLEANING: TIPS TO PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR WINTER

SEAMLESS GUTTERS IN FT. PIERCE,FL.

The year is almost over. Winter is beginning and it is always necessary to have your house ready for it. As people in other cities prepare for snow, this is one of the last things Miamians need to worry about. Yes, temperatures drop a bit during the winter, but most residents wouldn't trade this weather for the frigid winters in other parts of the country. If you need a rain gutter cleaning service Now is the perfect time to hire one, as it will not only prepare your home for this rainy season, but also ensure that you have a well-maintained drainage system to protect your home from future damage. As mentioned above, this is the coldest season of the year; Still, not to worry, Miami's mild winter is why many people in colder parts of the country feel that its warm, dry, sunny winters make it the perfect place to go on a Christmas vacation. In fact, the beaches of Miami are excessively crowded during this season, this is because the city has the warmest climate in the country.

If you live in Jensen Beach, you probably enjoy having a mild winter; however, you should not forget to prepare your house and your drainage system for the months ahead; This of course includes your rain gutters. Rainy season typically starts in June and ends in September, so your gutters need to be ready to prevent overflow or leaks. On the other hand, as it is almost the end of the year, it is likely that these have suffered from other rainy seasons, so it is best to check them. This becomes a cycle that never ends and if you don't keep them in constant check, you may have to spend a lot of money on repairs. Why is now the perfect time to pay for a rain gutter cleaning? Because in Miami this is the driest month of the year, which means that even if it rains, it will be temporary. Also, storm season is over and this is good news for your home and your gutters. Here are some tips on how to winterize your home: Having a Plan Is Always Important Having a plan is crucial, and hiring a rain gutter cleaning service should be on your list of priorities. Many homeowners abandon their homes' drainage systems, which can be a big, big mistake. Don't be like those owners, because after all, your gutters play an important role in protecting your home. Have the Necessary Tools (Optional) This is an optional step. After coming up with a plan, you need to make sure you have the necessary tools for the job, this includes a sturdy and reliable ladder to mount on the roof, gutter cleaning supplies, gloves, garbage bags, etc. You will need all of these tools if you are going to clean them yourself. This is also an optional step, as you can hire a professional rain gutter cleaning service to do the work for you, which is inexpensive and can give you the reassurance that everything is done right. If you do it yourself, chances are something will go wrong and then you will have to spend extra money to fix it, or there is even the possibility of having to replace your gutters. You can avoid this by hiring a highly efficient rain gutter cleaning service. Check Your Roof for Leaks As a homeowner, you will always need to check your roof for leaks. You may not have realized before that your gutters were overflowing and that you had a leak that was damaging your roof, siding or attic. If you find some stains on the ceiling or walls, there is probably a problem there. Fix Leaks First As mentioned above, if your home has leaks, no matter how small, ignoring them can lead to bigger problems. Don't put your home at risk just because you want to save money. cut down your trees When the rainy season is over and your gutters have worked hard to drain the water away from your house and keep it in perfect condition, it's time to check if there are branches that hinder their work. If you hire professionals to clean your rain gutters, they will take care of these types of problems. Also, you should cut your trees to prevent branches from falling into your house or gutters after the cleaning service, this will help prevent future damage. It's Time to Hire a Rain Gutter Cleaning Service The moment has arrived. Your gutters or downspouts need cleaning to prepare them for the winter weather and the months ahead, which is why it is best not only for you, but also for your family and home to maintain them regularly; so you can prevent damage. It is better to hire experts, so you will save yourself a lot of headaches.

Benefits of Having a Regular Rain Gutter Cleaning Service

If you inspect your gutters on a regular basis, you won't have to worry about too many things unnecessarily. However, if you don't hire qualified staff, you will regret it later. You might be asking yourself, "what are the benefits of having a regular rain gutter cleaning service?" Here are some benefits:

Unblocked or Uncovered Gutters: Rain gutters serve one purpose: to drain rainwater away from your home. If you could regularly hire a cleaning service, you wouldn't have to worry about your gutters getting blocked or clogged. If they are, they won't work properly and that would be a problem for you and your property. Having well-maintained gutters will prevent this from happening. Lower Health Risk: Rain gutters that are not working properly, even if they have small signs of leaking or overflowing, can quickly lead to mold or bacteria growth. This is not good news for those family members who suffer from respiratory problems or allergies, as mold and bacteria can trigger these illnesses. In addition to this, clogged gutters can cause stagnant water, which can attract unwanted pests such as rodents, mosquitoes, and cockroaches. Residues can cause illness in people with respiratory problems; Furthermore, in the worst case scenario, this could impact the quality of your water tank, leading to serious health risks as well.

As you can see, maintaining well-maintained rain gutters is not an easy task, but it is crucial and necessary if you want to have your property in perfect condition. Do not just think about cleaning them during the winter, as it can be counterproductive for you, so prepare your drainage system for the four seasons of the year by hiring a rain gutter cleaning service.

So, if you want to hire a professional gutter cleaning services then feel free to hire Gutter Guy Inc.

#SEAMLESS GUTTERS IN FT. PIERCEFL.#SEAMLESS GUTTERS IN FORT PIERCE FLORIDA.#SEAMLESS GUTTERS IN PORT ST. LUCIE FLORIDA.#SEAMLESS GUTTERS IN PSL FL.

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lolcat76 · 7 years ago

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I'm hoping this is a prompt you'd consider: "Sharon and Andy accidentally reveal they are dating during Living Proof (The Closer)"

This prompt is super old, but I’m trying to catch up. Here you go.

“Mike hates you,” he whispered.

Sharon’s fork was halfway to her mouth, Willie Rae’s green bean casserole ready to slip off and land with a splat on her plate. “He what?” she hissed.

Andy shouldn’t get such a kick out of teasing her, but he couldn’t help himself. He was well aware of how much the Chief resented Sharon’s presence, and Provenza had told him - more than once, and in great detail - about how much he also hated the Wicked Witch of the 5th Floor.

Even Andy had his moments where he’d happily shove her off a cliff. Those moments were few and far between these days, but missing Christmas Eve dinner with his kids, even if it wasn’t exactly her fault…well, he couldn’t blame the team for being pissed. Even if he had far more satisfying post-Christmas plans that were most definitely still on. His bag was packed and nestled in the trunk of his Crown Vic, ready for a long weekend of snow and skiing and Sharon getting tipsy on her mother’s overly potent egg nog.

No, he couldn’t blame the rest of the team for being pissed, because they wouldn’t be spending the next four days sleeping next to Sharon Raydor. But Mike Tao, of all people, announcing to the Murder Room that he hated Sharon …well, it was funny. Maybe not to her, but it sure as hell was to him. Mike didn’t hate anyone, except help desk peons who took too long to answer the phone and didn’t respond well to the words “I have a warrant.”

“Oh yeah,” he continued, trying to hide his amusement as her face fell. “Told us and everything.”

“Lieutenant Mike Tao? The same Mike Tao who came to me for help on LAPD policy and regulations before his lieutenant’s exam? That Mike Tao?”

“DId he look like that?” Andy pointed at Tao, his cheeks blushing enough to match his Hawaiian shirt. Tao never could handle more than a single glass of wine, and with Provenza pouring, he was on his third at least. “If that’s the guy, then yeah. He hates you.”

“Another glass, Captain?” Provenza interrupted, waving a bottle of the Chief’s favorite Merlot.

“No. No, thank you, Lieutenant, I believe I’ve had enough.” She pushed away from the table and disappeared from the Murder Room, the ominous sound of her heels echoing against empty hallways sending an involuntary shiver down Andy’s spine.

Dammit.

In the 20 years they’d known each other, he’d lost count of how many times he’d told her that people hated her. At first, it was a desperate attempt to rattle her. Then, as they got to know - and very grudgingly like - each other, it was just a way to tease her. And once they began sleeping together, he’d tell her that Captain West or Detective Ross hated her, then spin a lengthy, and mostly fictional, tale of how he’d defended the honor of the poor, defenseless head of FID.

Apparently it was only funny when it was people she didn’t like so much either.

“What’s her problem?” Provenza asked.

Andy shrugged. “Probably you? I dunno. I’ll go find out.”

She’d go to one of a few places - her office, the bathroom to hide out in a stall until she regained her composure, or the the third floor break room where the IT Bureau commander hid the fancy chocolates from Bottega Louie that Sharon liked so much. He took a chance and settled himself against the wall opposite the women’s restroom.

Andy was just about to give up and go on a search of the mostly deserted PAB corridors when he heard the splash of water running. He had to hand it to his girl - even when she only escaped to the bathroom to hide from his team, she still wouldn’t walk out without washing her hands.

“He doesn’t really hate you,” he said as she emerged, causing her to jump at let loose a little gasp. Normally, he’d be proud at evoking that sort of reaction from her, but normally, he got that reaction by using his tongue for far more satisfying pursuits than shooting off his mouth and hurting her feelings. “He’s just annoyed that his plans got ruined.”

“Oh, well, he has my deepest sympathies,” she snapped. “Lord knows I had nothing better to do with my Christmas than ruin Mike Tao’s vacation.”

Shit. He was gonna have to grovel for this one. “Hey, hey, babe,” he whispered as he pulled her into his arms, one hand rubbing her ramrod-straight spine, “we’re all a little on edge today. Didn’t you tell me you hoped the Chief chokes on her fried okra?”

Sharon sniffled, relaxing just enough in his embrace to bring a grin to Andy’s face. “I didn’t mean it.”

“Neither did he,” Andy reassured her. “Give it a week, and we’ll all forget what a shitty Christmas we’re having.” He kept up the pressure on her spine, pressing into the ever-present knots she carried until she relaxed fully against him.

“You’d better take it back about your shitty Christmas, or I’m not letting you on that flight with me tomorrow.”

“Bullshit. Even if you don’t want me there, your mother loves me.”

“My mother is a sucker for a pretty face,” she muttered into his neck.

Andy leaned back and tipped up her chin, waiting until her eyes met his. “That makes two of us,” he said before leaning down to brush his lips against hers.

“Captain,” Tao said, his head popping out from the doorway to Major Crimes, “Your phone was ringing so I answered….” he trailed off as he processed the scene in front of him. “Oh. You’re busy. I’ll just, uh…” He dropped the phone on one of the benches lining the hallway and disappeared back into the Murder Room.

“Great,” she muttered. “Just great.” She pulled away from Andy and retrieved her phone. “Hi, baby. Did you have a merry Christmas?”

One of her kids, Andy guessed. Emily, given that she wasn’t immediately answering the third degree about where she was, who she was with, and what she was doing. He brushed past her, stopping long enough to drop a kiss on her temple, and left her to her call with her family.

The most elite squad in the LAPD had no problems getting in Andy’s business, but it never failed to amuse him that they never, not once, noticed that he had more than a passing acquaintance with their nemesis from FID. Not a single member of the squad batted an eyelash when he said it was getting late, and he’d see the Captain home.

Except Tao. Andy didn’t think he could get redder in the face, but damn if Tao didn’t surprise him when he helped Sharon into her jacket and picked up her purse. He rested a hand on Sharon’s back, pushing her with a little more force than necessary toward the elevators.

“I’m going to get fired,” she sighed. “All these years of being careful, and I’m going to get fired because Lieutenant Tao had to miss out on his trip to Hawaii.”

“If he makes trouble, I’ll beat him up. Same as I’ve beat up anyone else who’s looked at you funny.”

She snorted. “Yes, because that’s exactly what I need. Investigating intra-department violence instigated by my own careless disregard for ethics. Andy, you do know how to make me feel better. What would I do without you?”

He didn’t even want to consider possible answers to that question. He just wanted to get her home, curl up next to her, and breathe her in until he had to wake up and drive them to the airport to catch their flight to Salt Lake City. He jabbed the button for the elevator again, impatient to get her out of this building and away from the dark cloud that he’d unwittingly brought down on her.

When the elevator dinged and the doors opened, he guided her in, pulling her close as he pushed the button for the lobby. The doors were almost closed when a hand stopped them. As they slid open, Andy sighed. Of course.

Sharon stiffened again and pulled away, but the damage was already done. He kept a firm grip on her waist. “Tao,” he said.

“I, uh, was heading home.”

“No shit,” Andy agreed. “Well, come on. We don’t have all night.”

The three of them stared at the display, watching the numbers tick down from 9 to L. Tao ignored them; Andy ignored him; Sharon shrunk further into herself as if she could disappear on the spot.

When the doors opened, Tao made a beeline for the PAB entrance. He threw open the door, but stopped and caught it before it could slam in Sharon’s face. Holding it open with one hand, he gestured with his other. “Captain.”

“Lieutenant,” she acknowledge. She swept past him with as much dignity as she could muster.

“Thanks,” Andy muttered under his breath. The three walked in silence to the parking garage. And wasn’t it just his luck that Tao had parked next to him this morning. Tao waited for Sharon to open the passenger door of Andy’s Crown Vic, but before she could shut it, he rested his hand against the frame.

“Captain, do you remember when I was taking my LT exam and I asked you for help on policy and procedure?”

She nodded, a little hesitant. “Yes, Lieutenant. I remember very well.”

“I didn’t think it mattered much at the time, but I do recall that there are specific rules about fraternization within the LAPD, and I’m pretty sure that all of them refer to officers within the same chain of command. Anything else…I don’t think that falls under the rules of unethical conduct. So it doesn’t need to be reported, or ever discussed again.”

“I believe you’re right, Lieutenant.”

“Of course I’m right,” Tao said. “I had the foremost expert on LAPD policy teaching me. You enjoy the rest of your holidays, Captain.” With that, he closed the passenger door.

Andy waited until the taillights of Tao’s car disappeared around the corner, then got into the driver’s seat. “Still mad at me?” he asked, reaching out to twine his fingers with hers.

“Always. Take me home, Andy.”

He brought her hand up, kissing it gently before letting it settle on the console between them. “Yes, ma’am.”

#lolcat fic #major crimes #the closer #sharon raydor #andy flynn #shandy #catching up on prompts #Anonymous

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not-another-imagine-blog · 7 years ago

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Boyfriend Tag (Mitch Marner)

Anonymous said:

hello! can you write something holiday-themed for mitch marner? i’m in desperate need for cozy holiday fluff... please and thank you (i adore your writing!! i hope the season is treating you well and good luck with finals!)

Word count: 1276

Author’s note: Yes I know that it’s past Christmas but I was really busy and didn’t have time to write this before Christmas.

You stand on top of your bed, adjusting some fairy lights with garland wrapped around them. Next to you, Mitch sets the mini Christmas tree on your bedside table, being careful not to break any of the ornaments.

“Thank you for doing this for me.” You say, hopping off of the bed and landing next to Mitch. In front of the bed, you go to work at setting up your tripod and ring light, making sure that you get your filming setup just right.

“I’m just excited that I get to be on your channel.” Mitch plugs in the fairy lights and you hum in satisfaction as they cast a soft glow through the room.

“You’ve been on my channel before!” You argue. And he has been; your YouTube subscribers (all 500k of them) go nuts everytime you even mention Mitch.

“Yeah, in one of your vlogs, when I’m either sleeping or doing something embarrassing. I’ve never done an actual video before.” Mitch counters.

“I don’t think it’s embarrassing. I think you’re always cute; that’s why I like to film you so much.” You reassure him. You turn the camera on and flip the viewfinder as you sit on the bed, making sure that the camera can see you. “Come on,” You pat the spot next to you. “Sit down.” Mitch falls down next to you, squinting as he looks at the light.

“So where do I look?” He asks, looking at the viewfinder.

“Don’t look at yourself!” You laugh. “Look straight at the camera so that everyone can see you. Just think of it as a Leafs press event.”

“Those are easier than this.” Mitch mutters, avoiding eye contact.

“What was that Mitchy?” You tease.

“I didn’t say anything, it was a cough.” You nod, obviously not believing him.

“Are you ready?” You ask, watching Mitch fidget with his hair. “You look fine. Don’t stress it!”

“Can I say your introduction?” You wrinkle your nose in confusion. You didn’t think that you had an introduction; you specifically try to not have one, so that you’re not cliche. Mitch looks at the camera, plastering a wide, fake smile on his face as he does one long wave from left to right.

“Heywhat’supyouguys!” Mitch shouts out enthusiastically as you let out a loud laugh.

“I don’t do that!” You argue. “Which other girlfriend have you been watching on YouTube lately?” You sigh and lightly shove Mitch, composing yourself as you look back at the camera. “Hey guys, it’s (Y/N)! As you’ve obviously noticed by the thumbnail that you looked at before clicking on this video, I’m joined today by one of my boyfriends, Mitch.” You gesture to Mitch, who awkwardly smiles and waves before actually hearing what you said.

“‘One of them?’” Mitch looks at you accusingly while you laugh, ignoring him.

“So, I don’t normally do these videos, and if I do they’re parodies of these types of videos. But, for some reason this is all that’s been requested lately, so today Mitch is here to do a holidays edition of the Boyfriend Tag!”

“Wait, is this a test? I’ve seen these videos before!”

“It’s not a test if I’m answering the questions too.” Mitch wrinkles his brow, bemusement crossing his face.

“But it’s the Boyfriend Tag?” You put your head in your hands and groan before looking up.

“This video’s seriously going to be a half an hour. I’m going to read off a question. You’re going to answer it about me, and then I’ll answer it about you. Sound good?” You check with Mitch, who nods that he understands. “Alright, let’s get this show on the road.” You unlock your phone and pull up the list of questions you had typed into your notes, taking a sip of water as you find the right note. When you glance up, Mitch is still awkwardly smiling at the camera, not looking away.

“What are you doing?” You laugh, watching Mitch finally tear his eyes away from the camera.

“What am I doing? What are you doing? The camera’s still going, but you just stopped talking and started doing other stuff!” The laughter bubbles out of you before you can stop it, bending over to catch your breath while Mitch stares amusedly at you.

“Mitch, I edit the videos I film! Do you know how many times I screw up? If I uploaded the full take, my videos would either be an hour or the majority of the video would just involve me saying ‘um.’ I’ll cut the film I don’t like.” You explain patiently as Mitch turns a bright red, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Oh.” You kiss his cheek while giving him a side hug.

“You know I’m going to put this in some sort of outtakes though.” Mitch groans as you pick your phone back up, finding the list. “First question! What’s my favorite Christmas movie?” Mitch thinks for a moment, and you can see him mentally going through a list.

“It depends on the day, but it’s either Christmas Vacation or Polar Express?” You nod, a large smile on your face. “What’s mine?” Mitch challenges you.

“Die Hard.” You say without a pause. “Which, in my opinion, isn’t a Christmas movie, but whatever, I still like the movie.”

“It takes place during a Christmas party!” Mitch argues, looking at the camera pointedly.

“Anyways, next question. How and when did we meet?” This is a question that you know he’s going to get right as you look at him, a small smile on his face.

“I accidentally lifted my foot off the brake at a stoplight, and my car rolled into yours. There wasn’t any damage, but when we both got out-”

“I thought you were really cute, and so when you asked if I wanted your insurance-” Mitch interjects on your interjection, grinning.

“You told me that the only information you needed was my phone number!” You shrug, your turn to go bright red as you hide your face in Mitch’s shoulder.

“I figured it would work!”

“It obviously did!” Mitch reaches for your phone and reads the next question, holding your hand as you glance over his shoulder.

“What’s your favorite holiday treat?” You quirk an eyebrow up, knowing the obvious answer to the question. “You like fudge?” Mitch says cautiously.

“What kind of fudge?” You urge him on, mentally giving him half-credit. He stares at you, grimacing.

“...Just plain fudge?” You chuckle.

“My aunt’s homemade fudge.” Mitch opens his mouth, ready to question you, but you’ve already got an answer. “Yours is Christmas cookies. It doesn’t matter what kind, as long as they’re not snickerdoodle.” Mitch sighs in a resigning tone, handing you back your phone. You cackle when you see the next question, giving the phone back to Mitch.

“Who’s your celebrity crush?” Mitch smirks and wiggles his eyebrows. “That would be me.” You nod, still laughing. When you finally catch your breath, you manage to straighten up.

“Who’s yours?” You ask, genuinely not knowing the answer.

“You.” Mitch says simply. You blush and roll your eyes.

“I’m not a celebrity by any means.” Mitch smiles at you, looking you in the eyes.

“I think that they,” Mitch gestures towards the camera. “Would disagree. And even if you didn’t have a YouTube, you would still be the most beautiful, smart, witty, funny star in my eyes.” You blush, pulling Mitch to you so that you can kiss him.

“You’re too sweet.” You mutter to him as you and Mitch both fall backwards on the bed, not breaking the kiss.

“You’re definitely going to have to edit this out.”

#mitch marner #mitch marner imagine #Toronto Maple Leafs #toronto maple leafs imagine #nhl #nhl imagine #nhl imagines #nhl fanfiction #hockey #hockey imagine #hockey imagines #hockey fanfiction

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newstfionline · 3 years ago

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Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Some Hotels Are Mandating Vaccines. Will Others Follow? (NYT) As travelers prepare for their next vacation, among the essentials to take—along with items such as a toothbrush, wallet and phone charger—could be proof of vaccination for COVID-19, depending on where they are booked to sleep. As coronavirus cases surge again across the country, driven by the highly contagious delta variant, a small number of hotels in the United States have announced that they will require proof of vaccination from guests and staff. The precedent for hotels requiring vaccination is already being set beyond the contiguous United States. In August, Puerto Rico issued an islandwide vaccine mandate that requires guests and staff at all hotels, guesthouses and short-term rentals, including Airbnb, to provide proof of vaccination or a negative PCR or antigen test taken within 72 hours before their visit. Although European destinations are rolling out various vaccine mandates, hotels are mostly not requiring proof of immunization. In Portugal, however, hotel guests need to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.

Louisiana gets a first look at the devastation caused by Hurricane Ida (Washington Post) People clung to rooftops awaiting rescue, entire towns were cut off from communication, and more than a million faced the prospect of days—even weeks—without power as Louisianans awoke Monday and began to take stock of the devastation caused by Hurricane Ida. Parts of the state remained unreachable, making it impossible to fully assess the damage. Four deaths were confirmed, but Gov. John Bel Edwards said he expected the toll to be “considerably” higher. Ida, which made landfall just before noon Sunday local time as a Category 4 storm, the most powerful storm to hit the area in over a century, continued to batter the region well into Monday. While New Orleans was spared the worst, thanks in large part to the $14.5 billion federally funded levee system built after Hurricane Katrina, communities west and south of the city were completely routed by the storm. There were widespread reports of downed power lines and trees, levee failures and flooding, collapsed buildings and people trapped in flooded homes. Utility officials said it would take days just to assess the damage before repairs could begin. Meanwhile, gas, food and water supplies were affected, with several communities instituting “boil water” advisories.

The World Is Still Short of Everything. Get Used to It. (NYT) Like most people in the developed world, Kirsten Gjesdal had long taken for granted her ability to order whatever she needed and then watch the goods arrive, without any thought about the factories, container ships and trucks involved in delivery. Not anymore. At her kitchen supply store in Brookings, S.D., Ms. Gjesdal has given up stocking place mats, having wearied of telling customers that she can only guess when more will come. She recently received a pot lid she had purchased eight months earlier. She has grown accustomed to paying surcharges to cover the soaring shipping costs of the goods she buys. She has already placed orders for Christmas items like wreaths and baking pans. “It’s nuts,” she said. “It’s definitely not getting back to normal.” The challenges confronting Ms. Gjesdal’s shop, Carrot Seed Kitchen, are a testament to the breadth and persistence of the chaos roiling the global economy, as manufacturers and the shipping industry contend with an unrelenting pandemic. Delays, product shortages and rising costs continue to bedevil businesses large and small. And consumers are confronted with an experience once rare in modern times: no stock available, and no idea when it will come in.

US judge revokes mother’s right to visit son over her refusal to get Covid vaccine (Guardian) A judge in Illinois revoked a mother’s right to visit her 11-year-old son because she refused to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. In what is believed to be an unprecedented ruling, Cook county judge James Shapiro said Rebecca Firlit, 39, who shares custody of her son with her divorced husband, could not see the boy again until she had taken the shot. “I was confused because it was just supposed to be about expenses and child support,” Firlit told the Chicago Sun-Times about the virtual court hearing, which took place earlier this month. “One of the first things he asked me when I got on the Zoom call was whether or not I was vaccinated, which threw me off because I asked him what it had to do with the hearing. “He said, ‘I am the judge, and I make the decisions for your case.’” Firlit’s lawyer, Annette Fernholz, said she had filed a legal challenge to the state appellate court, noting that the boy’s father had not been seeking such a ruling. Firlit, who has not said if she will get the vaccine, told the judge her decision not to take it was not political. “I’ve had adverse reactions to vaccines in the past and was advised not to get vaccinated by my doctor,” she said. “It poses a risk.” Her son, she said, was upset at not being allowed to see her and cries when they speak by phone.

Colombia’s Troubles Put a President’s Legacy on the Line (NYT) Iván Duque swept into Colombia’s presidency in 2018 as a young, little-known technocrat riding a surging right-wing movement. He tapped public anger against a peace deal that he said had treated the country’s deadly insurgents too softly. And he warned that the proposals of his left-wing opponent could stifle steady growth. Three years and a global pandemic later, it is Mr. Duque who is presiding over high unemployment and an angry electorate—and who is on the defensive about the steps he has taken to tame persistent violence by militants. Colombian voters go to the polls in May, when Gustavo Petro, a former presidential candidate, previous mayor of Bogotá and a onetime guerrilla member, could become the country’s furthest-left leader in its history at a time when leftists are again claiming victories across South America.

China limits children to 3 hours of online gaming a week (AP) China is banning children from playing online games for more than three hours a week, the harshest restriction so far on the game industry as Chinese regulators continue cracking down on the technology sector. Minors in China can only play games between 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays, weekends and on public holidays starting Sept. 1, according to a notice from the National Press and Publication Administration. That limits gaming to three hours a week for most weeks of the year, down from a previous restriction set in 2019 that allowed minors play games for an hour and a half per day and three hours on public holidays. The gaming restrictions are part of an ongoing crackdown on technology companies, amid concerns that technology firms—many of which provide ubiquitous messaging, payments and gaming services—may have an outsized influence on society. A state-affiliated newspaper has criticized the gaming industry and called games “spiritual opium.”

Taliban declare victory from Kabul airport (AP) The Taliban triumphantly marched into Kabul’s international airport on Tuesday, hours after the final U.S. troop withdrawal that ended America’s longest war. Standing on the tarmac, Taliban leaders pledged to secure the country, quickly reopen the airport and grant amnesty to former opponents. Getting the airport running again is just one of the sizeable challenges the Taliban face in governing a nation of 38 million people that for two decades had survived on billions of dollars in foreign aid. Just hours earlier, the U.S. military had wrapped up its largest airlift of non-combatants in history. On Tuesday morning, signs of the chaos of recent days were still visible. In the terminal, rifled luggage and clothes were strewn across the ground, alongside wads of documents. Concertina wire stills separated areas while overturned cars and parked vehicles blocked routes around the civilian airport—a sign of measures taken to protect against possible suicide car bombers entering the facility.

Moscow and Afghanistan (Washington Post) Russia’s ban on the Taliban as a terrorist group has not stopped Moscow officials from stepping in to support it by calling for the freeze on Afghanistan’s financial reserves to be lifted and for Western countries to lead a global conference to help rebuild the country’s economy. Russia’s presidential envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, said Monday that the international community should unfreeze the Afghan government’s reserves or risk a spike in illegal narcotics and arms traffic. Speaking to state-owned television, he also called for an international conference to support Afghanistan’s recovery under the Taliban’s leadership, so that the United States and its allies could “correct at least some of the mistakes they have made” in the past 20 years. Last week’s suicide bombing at the Kabul airport, claimed by the Islamic State-Khorasan, threw Russia’s fears about Afghanistan into sharp relief—that the Taliban’s governance effort could fail, that extremists affiliated with the Islamic State could gain a stronger foothold and that the country could slide into chaos, destabilizing Russia’s neighborhood. Moscow has been calling on the West to “accept the reality” of the Taliban’s victory, while pressing the Taliban to form a government that includes different political and ethnic groups. At the same time, Russian officials are warning that no one should expect the Taliban to meet Western standards for democracy and cultural and religious practices.

The Great Resignation is here (Wired) When Ashley was offered a job at a digital agency over Zoom during the last lockdown, they thought they had found the perfect set-up. Flexitime would be a given. Working from home would continue post-pandemic. The office would be a place to pop in only occasionally. By the time they’d started the new role six weeks later in Leeds, everything had changed. Cast iron guarantees of flexible hours had melted away. Promises of remote working had crumbled. Even before social restrictions had ended, staff were expected to be in the office every day, from 9am until 5.30pm. “It was incredibly frustrating,” Ashley recalls. “All these changes were done between my interview and my first day—and my new boss decided they didn’t need to explain their decision making.” Rather than ride out the disappointment and stick with the new role, Ashley decided to join ‘The Great Resignation’ and the millions of others who have quit their jobs over the spring and summer months. Workers are drafting up resignation emails, handing in their notices and heading for the exit door in their droves. The trend is worldwide. In the UK, job vacancies soared to an all-time high in July, with available posts surpassing one million for the first time. In the US, four million people quit their jobs in April—a 20-year high—followed by a record ten million jobs being available by the end of June. A Microsoft study has found that 41 per cent of the global workforce is considering leaving their employer this year. As more of the economy reopens following Covid vaccinations and the end of social restrictions, demand for talent is fast outstripping supply—it’s now an employee’s market.

#headlines #news

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