#a little insight into the start of my winter lay off | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

tuzesdays · 2 years ago

Note

15 sounds fun!

i couldn't agree more

Prompt: "you must be pretty down if me juggling your oranges doesn't even get a laugh out of you :( should I light them on fire?"

WORDCOUNT: 1274 | Domestic, Post-Fic | Spoilers for the (still being workshopped lol) end of Dayshift Go Figure

You wake up alone, without your alarm, knowing in your bones that you’ve somehow slept in. All other days this happens, you’re able to ride a wave of panic into wakefulness and get ready for the day in record (though some would call it inhumane) time – cold showers that last the five minutes it takes for the water to heat and only taking the paltry breakfast that’s shoved at you on your way out, then forgetting to eat it, much to the frustration of your housemates.

Today though, something’s different. You lay in bed trying to puzzle it out.

… What day is it? Yesterday was… ah.

It’s the anniversary.

That explains why the alarm was turned off.

You groan and hoist yourself out of bed. You’ve got some sort of itinerary today, but nothing truly starts until noon when you can go and pick up the resident child without sacrificing his education – guh, coparenting. Damn your soft heart for volunteering for that responsibility, there’s no way to feasibly take it back now.

(As if you’d ever want to; Gregory is a little terror of a child with a mean streak that reminds you of yourself. But, far from being put off by these… tendencies… most of the humans and animatronics that make up your inner circle find it either charming or insightful. Except Sun and Moon. They’re sane and you love them for it.)

(Doesn’t stop all three of you from getting attached, however.)

The day won’t wait for noon, so you drag yourself through a morning routine anyway. It’s winter, so warm clothes are your friend even if you’re only throwing on one layer for going around the house. Jeans and an undershirt. You hum at your bathroom mirror as you pass by, looking over the form that makes up you. You didn’t have mirrors in the old apartment – or, well, you did, but you barely used them for anything other than fixing your hair in the mornings – but over the last few months you’ve found yourself taking a moment in front of one.

It's odd. Every time, it’s so odd to look in a mirror and think that not only does it reflect you (asshole, murderous, grit your teeth and don’t let go you) but the reflection looks… normal. Clean, sometimes tired but never weary. You don’t meet your own eyes with distaste anymore.

After a few seconds you continue on. It’s too fucking early for digging into that feeling, you haven’t even seen your boys yet.

Into the hall, seeing all the bedroom doors open, then down the stairs. Sun’s voice drifts through the air as he hums the morning away, likely in the kitchen by the accompanying sounds of washing dishes.

You tread into his domain carefully and take a seat at the table, where your favorite mug is already waiting. “Morning.”

“Good morning, sleepyhead!” Sun keeps his voice down out of respect for your notoriously low patience this time of day, but he’s still chipper as ever. “I didn’t think we’d be seeing you for at least another thirty minutes!”

“Wonder why that is,” you say blandly, sipping at the tea in your mug. Mmm, earl gray. “My alarm didn’t go off. Should probably look it over, see if it’s glitching out.”

“Very serious, alarm glitches,” he nods understandingly, both of you fully aware that either he or Moon turned off your alarms for the day. “But it’ll have to wait until tomorrow! We’ll be very busy today.”

You set your mug down. “How are you feeling?”

Though his back is still turned to you, you can tell when his faceplate twists. “I feel like I’m washing dishes!”

“And Moon?” You ask, letting the distraction slide.

“Not washing dishes!”

“Sunny.”

He stops to turn and look at you, expression soft and off-white eyes glinting in the early morning sunlight.

(Riley is truly a miracle worker. Living legend Riley Greene.)

“We’re perfectly alright, dear,” he assures you. “Today’s a day for celebration! There’s no need to get caught on silly things like details when it’s so beautiful outside.”

There’s an unspoken, gentle reminder there: this is also the anniversary of their first foray into the outside world, after all. You’ll never be able to forget the picture they made, the first time Sun was able to truly see the sunrise through the window of a vehicle speeding down the interstate, still covered in soot and ash, eyes fixed on the horizon. You didn’t have it in you to cry for him in that moment, but you’ve taken plenty of opportunities since. It never fails to make both of them sappy.

“How are you feeling?”

“Like I slept in,” you mutter, taking another sip of tea. “I don’t know. Mood’s around a five or six, I’d say.”

“Five!” He immediately turns away from his busywork to face you fully. “Five out of ten? No no, that’s far too low for how well this day is going to be. We need to get that number up to a seven, at least! What can I get you for breakfast? Pancakes? Waffles? Maybe a fruit bowl?”

“Didn’t you buy all that fruit for baking?”

“Yes, but it’s our fruit so we can decide what it contributes to,” he wags a finger at you, “and we’re perfectly alright with it being used for breakfast. So, what’ll it be?”

You make a face at him. “I’m not hungry.”

His smile stretches. “That’s not what I asked. How about we start out with some orange slices?”

“You’re an absolute tyrant.”

“You decided to come into my kitchen to visit me,” he muses, picking up an orange from the nearby bowl of fruit when you don’t object, then picking up three more and tossing them in a simple arc between his hands, juggling them effortlessly. “How’s your coordination this morning?”

“Not good enough for juggling.” You hold out a hand to catch an orange, however, and he tosses you the beginnings of breakfast without so much as a stutter in his movements. “Thanks.”

“Anytime, dear.” The arc of oranges shifts so one falls behind his head – again, easily caught by practiced hands. You arch an eyebrow at him as you peel your snack and he hums, thinking. “Not even a laugh for juggling, hm? Should I light them on fire next?”

That gets a snort out of you. Sun’s rays spin in victory, insufferably pleased with himself. You’re so fed up with this boy. “I don’t think setting off the fire alarm today is a good plan.”

“Implying you’re perfectly alright with some pyrotechnics tomorrow.” He shakes his head at you. “You, Sunbite, are my favorite menace.”

“I’m overcome with gratefulness.” Your tone may be flat, but Sun knows you well enough by now to know you never lie about your feelings toward him. So much time in denial has warded you away from stupidly wasting that time with untruths ever again.

In fact, laying it on thick has become a favorite pastime of yours ever since you realized cute petnames made them flustered.

“Poppy,” you begin, and he immediately rolls his eyes at your antics. “Sunnypop, Pumpkin, darling dearest, light of my life, half of my heart. My love. My loves,” you say, knowing double the names means double the boys getting so very fond and so very, very put up with you. “Sweetness, Sugar, Starstuff. Sunny, Moon.”

Sun turns away with a giddy smile, shaking his head before meeting your eyes again. “Yes, Sunbite?”

“You two are also my favorites,” you say primly. “Also I would like pancakes for breakfast after this.”

“Of course, love.”

#dayshift go figure #writing prompt #x reader #fnaf #fnaf sb #sun fnaf #moon fnaf #sun x reader #moon x reader #dayshift fic spoilers #this one is so fucking sappy #they are in love your honor #again these get minimal editing #hope you enjoy anyway

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elucien · 4 years ago

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“Is it because I’m your mate? Or is it because I don’t whisper pretty words to you, or refuse to believe that there isn’t more to you? Would you prefer it instead if I knelt in front of you and offered the food, or fed it to you myself? Or does it enrage you that the world no longer caters to you here, in the depths of the wilderness?” His eye gleams, and there it is, clear as day; embers sparking in the depths. Anger. Clear as day. “I will do no such thing, Elain. And you will eat, because I will not carry out a mission that involves a fainting Fae that refuses to eat because it is not the fare that she ate in the palace of a High Lord.”

“I didn’t ask to come here,” snarls Elain, fists clenching at her side.

“Oh, but you volunteered, yes? Because I recall you offering when Feyre and Rhysand asked.”

She grows silent then, fingers furling and unfurling. Fingers, he notices, that are scarflecked, and because she’d refused to wear the gloves that he’d given her for a solstice.

oneshot (?) set while lucien, elain, and jurian travel through the continent to find vassa and koschei. sort of involves lucien and elain talking about the bond, and is sort of how i’d see their dynamic??? still exploring it though. let me know if y’all like it :’)

The night is a lively thing, with the humming of crickets, fluttering of effervescent butterflies, and the river that seemed to murmur, a steady whisper as it rushed past the camp that the Band of Exiles had set up. The clearing was lovely, really; the flowers are breathtaking, and perhaps not as lovely as the ones that had clamored for their attention while steadily poisoning the air, but these are a close second.

Or at least Jurian had said so, before strapping a baldric over his chest and venturing off into the forest to find their dinner. So that had left Elain to tend to the fire, or at least in name, because its Lucien who continues to feed it the wood he’d chopped earlier, all while continuing setting up p the tents. The fish he’d caught earlier in the day had been eaten, and there’s still a meager amount of the smoked salmon left, wrapped in something Jurian had brought with him, but she doesn’t near it. Doesn’t want to touch it. Eat it.

She does not want to be here, dressed in God knows what, with two others that she has no desire to speak to. There had been a time period where she’d wanted to speak to Lucien, out of curiosity, maybe, but that had changed with a vision of a roofless palace with pillars buried in the dunes of a desert with a starflecked sky. A vision where she’d been entirely bare, laying atop a flat bed while Lucien dragged a finder down her bare spine, as if in wonder. In awe.

And there had been others, enough to fill her veins with rage and fury, to leave her seething at a world that had seemingly chosen everything for her and given her no say. The visions she’d learned to control, all by summoning that anger and bringing up walls that were more like hedges, closing off a garden that had once been blooming, with flowers and plants that had been bursting, thrumming with life. Now they are all stems, and it is eternal winter.

“Jurian’s still got an hour ahead of him,” says Lucien, his voice rough, showing wear from the other day.

His pants are no longer rolled up but his sleeves are, offering her a glimpse of sunkissed skin and arms corded with muscle. Perhaps he had been an emissary, but he is also still High Fae, and one gifted at weaponry. It’s enough to summon a shudder that she does not suppress.

Let him see how she feels.

He notices it, cataloguing with movement as he always does, but he ignores it this time, sitting on the fallen log that is across from hers. His auburn hair is unbound and it seems to glitter from the light of the dancing flames. He is not like her or Jurian, who seem to be out of place within the wild forests of the continent; he seems to be a part of it.

He hands her the wrapped fish, but she does not take it. Elain merely stares, her nose wrinkling.

“I know you don’t want to be here, Elain,” starts Lucien, his russett eye ablaze, “but I don’t want to either. I don’t find much joy being in the company of someone who cannot stand to be around me, and neither does Jurian. I’m merely attempting to be polite; and you are, in fact, starving. So eat.”

Her hunger tugs at him too; a reminder of the bond that she’s set on ignoring, on the hum that’s often drowned by her rage and fury. A lifeline. That’s what it is, in the sea of emotion that she often ignores, finding that it’s far more simple to provide pretty smiles and kind words. Sit still and look pretty, her mother had once said, And you will find that the world will be far more kind to you.

And so Elain Archeron had learned to wield her looks and kindness as a dagger, with the strategies of a general.

��I’m not hungry,” says Elain in answer, tugging at the tunic that’s still too short, leaving her thighs exposed.

The clearing seems to quiet as Lucien simply stares. It is not a look of anger, nor one filled with contemplation, but a hint at his past, at the years spent as emissary, where one misplaced look could spell disaster for whatever he’d been assigned to. The sly little thing is hiding his emotions, but she knows that all it would take to read him is one simple look at the vine covered corridor that stretches between their very souls.

Instead of frowning, his lips curve up into a smile that screams trouble. “Liar.”

There’s a wolf that lurks beneath Elain’s otherwise impassive surface, one with claws and teeth that are capable of shredding into one’s soul, and he’d seen it come out to play before. He’d seen it before they left Veleris, when she’d caught sight of Azriel standing with the priestess, Gwyneth. Had noticed how she’d stiffened when the girl had taken the Illyrian’s scarred hands in hers. The sorrow did not come that day; he’d grown used to its presence long ago.

Still, Elain does not reply.

And so Lucien leans back, resting a hand on the rough bark of the log before striking.

“I didn’t ask to come here,” snarls Elain, fists clenching at her side.

“Oh, but you volunteered, yes? Because I recall you offering when Feyre and Rhysand asked.”

She grows silent then, fingers furling and unfurling. Fingers, he notices, that are scarflecked, and because she’d refused to wear the gloves that he’d given her for a solstice.

“I don’t want to be here too,” repeats Lucien, and the anger that had flickered is replaced with such endless sadness, but it ebs away in a second. “There is nothing that I find I enjoy in being in your company, Elain, and particularly when you look at me with resentment. I did not anticipate a trip that would span months with my mate who cannot speak a word to me, and who looks at me as if she is shackled to me. As if she is a prisoner.”

Shackled. There it is, an entryway to his soul. A look at how she has hurt him. But she did not intend to, as she had not intended to hurt Nesta in the House of Wind. She doesn't know how to handle emotion, and there is the matter of how he is tied into her trauma, how his hair reminds her of the nightmares that begin with her sprawled on the cold marble of the throne room in Hybern.

“I did not ask for this,” continues Lucien, and there is the reminder that he had loved another before her, and had spent centuries mourning her, decades lost in his grief. “I did not enter that throne room willingly, Elain, nor did I know what would happen to you. And I fought it with every fiber of my being, not because I suspected you may be my mate, but because it was wrong. And yet you look at me as if I myself had done it to you.”

He gestures to her, to the limbs that had been lengthened, the ears that poke through her curls. “As if I did that.”

Lucien does not see the point in mentioning that he knows she mourns the affections of the Illyrian, or that she still had moments where the rejection of Greyson is blinding, crippling, even. He does not enjoy the information that is shouted down the bond, despite it offering insight on her soul, because it is a violation. It is not information surrendered willingly.

She remains silent, and for a moment he contemplates leaving and finding Jurian, but Feyre’s words return to him, in a rush as steady as that of the river behind their camp. Stay patient.

Elain speaks, and there is steel in her eyes, but also pain, and anger, stark against the other emotions. “I came because I couldn’t bear to look at everyone, and to see the understanding in their eyes. To see that they knew… and because I am no longer a child to be coddled.”

She lifts her chin now, and she reaches for the food that he’d set down, taking it in her grasp. “It is because my decisions are meant to be mine, and no one else’s. It is because I am the keeper of my own fate, and I will not allow it to be decided by anyone, not anymore.”

Lucien tilts his head slightly, as if absorbing her words. “Eat.”

Elain bristles at that, and he smiles tauntingly before holding his hands up.

“I’m not asking anything from you, Elain. Nor will I. But if we’re to spend months together, it would help if I didn’t feel as if you felt more inclined to jump off a cliff than to listen to me.”

She peers up from the fish, her eyes still gleaming with the irritation that had come from his order, and chews slowly. As if in careful deliberation.

“We can start over,” says Lucien as he rises, making towards his horse. “It doesn’t have to be a friendship, or anything, not in particular. But anything is better than this.”

The roar of the flames is perhaps the only sound in the clearing as Lucien searches in his pack for a dagger.

“My name’s Elain,” she begins as she stands. Wisps of hair escaped from her bun and fall in front of her face, and there’s a smudge of dirt on her cheekbone. Despite her wear, she’s lovely, and to Lucien, the most beautiful female he had ever seen.

Lucien steps towards her, and in that very moment, his size hits her. He’s far larger than she’d expected, taller than Graysen and Azriel, and well-muscled. Then there’s the matter of the power that thrums from him, as if singing to her, and she pauses, distracted for a fleeting moment before continuing.

“And I didn’t like gardening. Not at first. My mother told me to do it because it was fitting for a lady, and a better talent than painting. But I did it to escape the house and to enter another world,” offers Elain. “And I grew to love it. There’s something about giving life, and tending to it, and seeing the product of your efforts.”

Information in turn for what he had revealed; it is not from the kindness in her heart, but because he had bared a piece of himself. The wolf had made its appearance yet again, but this time in calculation and cunning. The others in Velaris are fools for not recognizing the wit and the strength, and for the neglect as well.

She did not do well in the halls of the riverside mansion, but here she seems to grow, seems to have life in her eyes, movement. In time he would see the wolf that lurked beneath a doe’s skin.

#elucien #lucien vanserra #acotar #a court of thorns and roses

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kur0m1bab3 · 4 years ago

Text

Star Treatment

SunaxBlackFem!reader

3rd person POV

Cw: tooth rotting fluff

Edited

suna grinned cheekily as he ran down the wet pavement. Hair carelessly tossing in the wind hand wrapped firmly around y/n's hand.

Giggles spilled from y/n's lips as she laughed up at the sky, basking in the essence of the damp midnight air.

Nights like this were the best. Carelessly running around the city watching the lights twinkle and sparkle against the dark canvas of the night sky, like mindless teenagers.

"AHHH SUNANO" Y/n screamed,giggling madly as suna picked her up slinging her over his shoulder spinning her around.

The cold wet winter air nipped y/n's skin as her sweet laughter filled the air.

suna bit his slightly swollen lip, akin from the constant pecks or short burst of passionate kisses he'd been given throughout the night, laughing loudly as he held her waist tight.

"Come on lets have some fun" suna whispered into the ear of his girlfriend as he gently set her down holding her waist like it was the most delicate fine china.

Y/n smiled nodding as suna stared at her for a minute. She never failed to take his breath away constantly. He bit his lip softly as he cupped her face bringing her closer.

He quickly closed the space in between them as his lips hovered over hers. Both of their breathing labored, as y/n gripped the sleeves of his sweatshirt hard as she anticipated the passion filled kiss.

suna leaned in ever so slightly, but still not enough for their lips to touch as, a ghost of a smile made its way into the dark haired boys lips.

"You'll forever and always be my baby.....I love you" he whispered before kissing her softly.

It was a soft yet passionate kiss that let out every emotion they had for each other out.

Pure unadulterated raw love. Something rare you'd find in a couple so young,But their emotions were so raw you couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by the plethora of it.

Y/n began to pull away from the kiss only for suna to gently grab the back of her head to pull her in closer.

"Not done yet" he mumbled against her lips as y/n giggled as the pair finally pulled away.

Hearts pounding , lips swollen and breathing heavily the couple stood staring at each other.

suna grabbed y/n's hand as they began to walk towards the 7/11 down the street.

They walked hand in hand into the tiny convenience store as suna grabbed a buggy. Y/n quickly hopped into the buggy as suna smiled down at her as he began to run down the isle throwing every junk food insight in the buggy.

Y/n stuck her arms out in the isles causing any food that came in contact with her hands to fall into the buggy.

childish giggles could be heard from the couple as they headed towards the freezer section.

suna quickly grabbed some vanilla ice cream, a bag of marshmallows and jar of maraschino cherries and smiled. That was their "couple ice cream" as they liked to call. A trademark for the two of them.

They made it up to the register junk food in tow as Y/N clutched the ice cream and its ingredients up to the register.

They quickly paid for their items as they ran out of the convenience store with the buggy.

suna ran down the hill beside the 7/11 with Y/N in the buggy screaming to the top of her lungs in joy as suna screamed carelessly riding the fast moving buggy.

suna quickly hopped off the buggy as the buggy began to get closer and closer to the river at the end of the street. suna grabbed the buggy causing it to come to a screeching halt making y/n laugh hysterically.

suna grabbed her, taking her out of the buggy as he grabbed her face,softly kissing her.

They made their way to the river.the first place they had their first kiss.it was their couple hideout.

suna began to push the buggy towards their little hideout. A moss covered rock that had all kinds of flowers surrounding it.

Cliché I know but they loved it. suna quickly grabbed a blanket out of his backpack laying it on the ground as he grabbed y/n putting her in his lap.

Y/n opened the tub of semi melted ice cream as she began to pour the marshmallows and cherries on it.

suna wrapped his arms securely around y/n as he watched her.he smiled softly kissing her neck softly causing her to giggle as she grabbed a spoon digging in.

suna chuckled as he tapped her cheek softly.

"You gonna share?"he asked, pouting softly causing y/n smile. She dipped him some ice cream shoving the spoon in his mouth making suna laugh.

They took turns feeding each other. Before long the ice cream was gone and so was about 90% of the snacks they bought.

suna packed up the rest of the food and blanket in his book bag as he helped y/n up grabbing her hand as they began to make their way up the hill.

At the top of the hill the city was just as lively as before.bright lights, noisy cars, just as before.

Y/n looked around at the city as she strolled beside suna.hands entwined in an embrace.

Y/n stopped momentarily as she tugged on sunas sleeve softly.

"Baby....look" she said softly pointing. suna stopped as he turned around to see what she was looking at.

A smirk started to spread across his face as he nodded.

"You wanna go?" He asked shoving a hand into his pocket as he fiddled with the ring on her finger as a smile spread across y/n's face as she nodded.

"Yeah" she said as they began to walk towards the record shop hand in hand.they made it to the record shop. The shop was illuminated in an reddish orange tint as the soft sound of an arctic monkeys album played.

Ironically it was their couple song.

'Star treatment'

suna smirked as he grabbed one of

y/n's hand as the other rested on her waist.

"May I have this dance?" He asked as she nodded softly. suna began to rock side to side with her.

He began to admire everything about her. Her darker skin and the way it contrasted against his milky white skin.

The way her hair framed her face perfectly making her look ethereally beautiful.

The way her lips naturally pouted or the way her eyes sparkle every time he looked at her.

He loved everything about her and so much more.she was a dream come true to him.

'Soon baby...soon...you'll be my wife'

He thought to himself as he smiled down at his soon to be fiancé.

Y/n looked at suna as she felt her heart stop.he never failed to take her breath away every time she set her eyes on him.

The way he walked the way he smiled or the way he talked. He was perfect. Every time she looked at him she felt as though she was falling in love with him all over again.

They slowly began to look at each other as suna but his lip raising an eyebrow.

"I know I'm cute but you don't have to stare" He snickered as y/n rolled her eyes smiling.

"Mhmnn dream on baby" she said making him let out a loud laugh making y/n's hear skip a beat.

"You love me though" he said placing a hand on her cheek smiling as she nodded.

"With all my heart" she smiled as a bright blush appeared on sunas face making him close his eyes taking a deep breath as he hid his face in the crook of her neck.

"Baby stopppp" he whines softly making her giggle as she ran her fingers through his hair.

"I'm sorry babe I just can't help how I feel" she joked making suna laugh as he lifted his head back up to look at her.

"You're so fucking beautiful" he whispered staring at her as y/n turned her face away as she felt her cheeks began to grow hot.

"And so are you" she said quietly looking back at suna to see him staring intently at her.

He stood up straight as he looked down at her a smirk playing on his face. He grabbed her chin softly as he pulled her face to his.

"Kiss me pretty girl" he whispered as

y/n smiled pressing her lips against his.

This kiss wasn't like the playful ones earlier in the night. This kiss was a kiss. The kiss that basically told suna she was his forever and always. It held so much raw emotion, suna began to get emotional himself as he pulled away.

"God....you're my baby..." he whispered as he looked at y/n.

He stuck out his pinky finger as he wrapped it around hers.

"You're mine....forever.."

He said.

"And always" y/n finished as she smiled up at him.

She loved this.the way he treated her everything.she thought only celebrities could be treated like this.

But in the end she got it.

'The star treatment'

A/N: I swear this has been written for the longest fucking time🧍🏾‍♀️aNYWAYS if you have a Headcanon request, or a imagine request feel free to ask, I’m still getting in the groove of using tumblr, so I don’t have any rules set up atm, but I’m very open minded into writing anything so just lmk. I hope you guys liked this, it isn’t my best but I plan on having some other stuff up soon❤️

#anime x black!reader #haikyuu!! x black reader #black reader #haikyuu!! x poc! reader #hq suna #suna fluff #suna rintarou #suna x reader #suna x black reader

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saphirered · 4 years ago

Note

Lovely Caleb fic! Could I get a confession of love fix that involved Caleb kissing the hands of a bewildered reader?

Thank you for the request! I hope this is to your liking!

It’s rather late. Well, you think it is. It’s kind of difficult to tell in Rosohna’s eternal darkness. At least you were sure it’s been a long day. You find yourself wandering the halls of the Xhorhaus. The last few months have been crazy, hectic and you’d have to admit your life has been turned upside down but you wouldn’t change if for the world. You found friends, family even. Reminiscing you find your mind gravitate towards fond memories of your favourite wizard. Dragging him along on a little shopping spree for spell components, the excited rants he goes on when you ask for his advise on this new spell you found, the talks about nothing when you shared a watch, holding his hand while Yasha shaved his beard with her sword, giggling about a little prank you played on a very grumpy looking halfling shopkeeper in Zadash, drunken nights sharing a bottle after a successful job completed, him falling asleep with his head on your shoulder, caring for each other’s injuries, the rare dance in the tavern…

Not as insightful as Caduceus may be but you weren’t blind either. It’s clear Caleb seems more comfortable around you than anyone save for Nott maybe, a different kind of comfort still. You’ve been consciously picking up on a shift in his behaviour for a while now. Your favorite wizard has been getting closer and more affectionate towards you but you’ve known him for a while now and you can’t help but pick up on this. His recent shift in behavior gave you butterflies in your stomach, something more than friendship but you didn’t feel it was the right time to tell him how you feel. Besides, what his feelings don’t extend beyond care right? This is no different than his relationship with Beau or Nott. Love is a strong term and one you may not hand out so freely but you know yourself well enough these feelings you’re experiencing are love. You just don’t want to ruin your friendship because he’s not ready, not comfortable or doesn’t reciprocate your feelings in the same way after all. Caleb has come out of his shell and made so much progress, growing more comfortable and open around you and that’s extending to those around him too. You don’t want him to crawl back into that shell again. You value him more than that.

Quietly you get some dried herbs from a sleeping Caduceus’ stash and wander into the kitchen to make some tea. You’re pretty sure you’re the only one still awake as everyone was quite exhausted after your return. Trying to start a flame to boil the water proved more difficult than you had hoped. Growing frustrated with the flint and steel you slam them on the counter a little too hard. You cringe squeezing your eyes tight shut and listen. Okay… seems like no one woke up from that. You glare at the kettle half the mind to toss it out of the window. Stupid tea. Stupid fire. You take a breather leaning your head against one of the shelves above the counter.

“It looks like we had the same idea.” You almost jump out of your skin quickly covering your mouth to prevent a scream to escape from your lips. You see a bleary eyed Caleb looking about as disheveled as expected standing in the doorway of the kitchen.

“Don’t scare me like that you idiot!” You toss a towel at him. It hits, draping over one shoulder and he just gives you a ‘really?’ expression as you feel the blood rush from the scare fade.

“You’re having trouble, ja?” He says more than asks referring to the still cold kettle.

“You have to make me feel worse about not being able to get a flame going to brew some tea?” You say in jest as you grab another cup for him. Caleb walks over taking your spot and with a snap of the fingers the flame is lit.

“It is not that difficult.” He jokes back fully aware that your expertise lays not with fire magic. You have many other talents, he’s told you so himself many times praising you for them. You grab the towel draped over his shoulder, fold it neatly and put it back on the counter.

“Your help is appreciated oh grand master magician.” You give him a side hug which he returns wrapping his arm around your shoulders as you wait for the water to boil.

“Couldn’t sleep?” You ask watching drops of condensation build up on the outside of the kettle.

“Ah, no. Uh, wandering thoughts.” Caleb sounds like he’s only half paying attention. Wandering thoughts indeed.

“Wanna talk about it?” You offer as the kettle starts whistling and you remove it from the heat before it gets too loud and begin preparing the teapot. You take a step closer to the counter, Caleb’s hand falling from your shoulder to your lower back.

“I… uh-“ He hesitates and you swear when you look over your shoulder for just a second you can see a slight blush creep up his cheeks.

“Caleb, you know you can tell me anything, right?” He manages to get out a ‘yes’ under his breath so you grab a tray, put the teacups and saucers, the teapot and grab some biscuits from a jar hidden behind the vast array of herbs and spices to avoid a certain Tiefling from claiming them all. Balancing the tray on one hand you turn around and grab his hand, guiding him along into the living room. You put the tray on the table and make Caleb sit down on the couch as you sit down next to him. You can see him take a deep breath and he refuses to meet your eye. Though, that’s not entirely out of character for the wizard so you give him time and space as you pour the tea in each of your cups. With a wave of your hand you cool the hot water to a less scalding but still warm level.

“I know. But in this case I don’t know if that makes this any easier.” You frown and grab his hands in yours. Almost absentmindedly he begins drawing circles on the back of your palms with this thumbs. While he won’t look at you you can see he’s trying to find the words.

“Should I be worried?” Many questions rush through your head. Was everything alright? Did something happen?

“No. No. No need to worry.” He musters a quick half smile before it disappears. You hated seeing him like this. So much conflict and inner turmoil. You give his hands a soft squeeze. Whatever this is it must bother him a lot if he’s so affected by it!

“It’s alright. Take however long you need. I’m here for you no matter what.” He takes a deep breath as you finish your sentence.

“I’ve had some revelations lately and I’ve tried so hard to push them away, deny them or hoping that maybe I was interpreting them wrong but I can no longer just brush them aside. I don’t think it’s fair…” Another deep breath.

“What’s not fair to who?”

“This. All of it. What I’m doing. It’s not fair to you.” He has trouble forming a sentence.

“Slowly. Just keep breathing.” You try to calm him down.

“It’s not fair that I freely take your comfort, affection, kindness and even companionship. I’m afraid my actions in return, they do not come from friendship but selfish motives instead. I don’t want this to end but I cannot treat my own actions as rooted from friendship when they are not.” He scrambles on stumbling every few words and you try to make sense of his words but you’ve known him longer than today so you get where he’s going.

“Caleb…” You begin but he cuts you off.

“No, no I need you to hear this before I cower back and lose the courage to do this. You are heaven sent. You are patient and kind and every time you smile at me I feel my heart skip a beat. Every hug, touch or kiss feels like the warmth of the sun after endless winter. I thought perhaps I felt this way because this is who you are and what you do; making the lives of those you care about brighter where you can. I know you care about me as you’ve reminded me many a time, and I care about you a lot, but I do not think it ends with just care. My realisation showed me that you’ve brought about a feeling I thought myself no longer capable off; love.” He pulls your hands close to his chest. You’re bewilder, confused at this open confession but above all surprised he so openly confides in you. You think hard taking in every word.

“So I think it’s unfair to you when for me this kindness and affection from my side will always be out of love and I cannot in good conscious give you my love when you do not want it. I cannot ask you to feel the same but I also don’t think me returning your kindness and affection can ever be anything other than love. So please, I don’t want what we have, our friendship to end but I don’t want to take what you don’t have to give me…”

“Caleb, I need you to listen to me very carefully.” You watch as his shoulders slump. So insecure when it comes to other’s feelings and opinions of him it hurts you every time he sells himself short. You look for the right words yourself. If he can muster up the courage then so can you!

“You can be so blinded by your own thoughts and insecurities you don’t even consider the fact that I feel the same.” He finally looks at you wide eyed freezing in place for a second.

“You underestimate your ability to be loved and if I can prove you different, if you will let me prove you different I will.” Caleb scans your face for any sense of insincerity, deceit or even jest but he finds none. He takes a minute but eventually pulls your hands to his lips pressing a long soft kiss to the backs.

“Thank you. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve this but you truly are a light in the darkness.” He kisses the backs of your hands again.

“You were you; all you ever need to be.” You shift leaning into his side, head against his shoulder and his arm wrapping around you. Intertwining your fingers with his at your waist you grasp his other hand and bring it to your lips. That small kiss right where his wrist meets his palm makes him melt. He leans back on the couch pulling you with in a slouched relaxed position. If only the rest of the Nein could see you now. They’d go crazy…

#critical role x reader #mighty nein x reader #caleb widogast x reader #caleb widogast

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queenofmalkier · 3 years ago

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The Ongoing Egwene Exploration part 2

I pulled the time to do this out of a hat because I was enjoying the adventure and also wanted to read the whole book in one sitting and it was ruining my week.

Part 1 can be found here.

Let’s do this!

While this chapter picks up directly where the last ended, it felt like enough of an “end scene” sort of moment to separate this encounter into an individual observation post. We’ve officially been introduced to Thom, and with this introduction we get to see a bit more about Egwene and how she reacts to others.

She starts off excited - they all are! It’s been a hard winter and a gleeman is sort of the indie-band-entertainment-of-the-year in their village. I like that we have this pocket of a moment, which ends all too quickly, because it shows despite everything else that Egwene is still young. She’s excited about Bel Tine, about the fireworks and dancing around the maypole. Oh Egwene.

But she isn’t excited for long, not once Thom gets going. He immediately jumps into a tirade, inadvertently insulting Egwene’s father, the neighboring villages that might one day be her people if she becomes a Wisdom, and, worst of all, Nynaeve. Because yes, Thom The Silverest Tongue To Ever Silver is guilty of foot-in-mouth syndrome on occasion.

I’m not sure if I find that encouraging or not, given my own penchant for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.

Honestly, I very much would have been more than a touch annoyed with him myself. Egwene’s feelings are absolutely justified. Given that she at least knows Fain, that’s more or less the last straw - she’s many things, but cowardly has never been one of them. She’s not going to stand there and listen to Thom disparage anyone else without making it clear she’s not a receptive audience. (In addition to being brave, she’s also very loyal when she can afford to be.)

Good for her.

This next bit feels a bit fumbled. Thom is obviously trying to smooth any ruffled feathers, the boys snicker a bit, but it’s not really clear why. Are they waiting for Egwene to lay into Thom? Or do they think that his flattery is absurd? It remains a bit murky, though I gather we’re supposed to understand that the boys are laughing at the idea of Egwene being pretty and she’s mad about that.

Whatever the case, Egwene is offended and politely accepts the offer.

The conversation moves on but we get another flash of insight - unlike the boys, Egwene is not superstitious. Perhaps because of her mentor, Nynaeve, but perhaps she was always a bit skeptical? It makes me wonder what sort of little adventures she’s gone on, given what the boys have admitted to. Has she tested the strength of her own resolve just yet? Or is she building up to it?

It does embarrass her though, either because she was suppose to mind her tongue about whatever Nynaeve told her or because she knows her dismissiveness would be frowned on in their village. Censure is a powerful tool.

Again, Egwene displays an innate ability to read people and to understand their motivations - she knows Thom is being a dick, but she also feels guilty about calling it out because clearly the three boys haven’t clocked it yet.

More flashes of delight, the mood shifts so quickly. I sort of forgot that. They are all just so bloody young :( Now I’m sad again. She might be playing at being a Wisdom for now, at being an adult with a braid and everything, but Egwene still has her favorite stories, and Rand knows these aren’t those kinds of stories. Another subtle manipulation tactic, perhaps? Rand does think she’s done it intentionally to rattle him, perhaps in retribution for not agreeing she was the prettiest girl in the village. We can’t really say.

We’ve learned she favors comedies though, and, rather on the nose for Egwene “stories about women outwitting people who were supposed to be smarter than everyone else” - can you see my surprised face?

We end this encounter with Egwene on an interesting note - torn between Rand and Nynaeve, who represents a different path, a different future. That something more that Egwene wants in her life.

Egwene follows Nynaeve.

#Wheel of Time #wheel of time book spoilers #egwene al'vere #The Egwene Exploration

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writinggarbage007 · 4 years ago

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Bad Bad Girlfriend

Chapter 2

Bucky Barnes x dark! reader

Warnings: Sex, stalking.Also murder, manipulating people,general mayhem, con woman

Casey in the bushes with a machete

Will update warnings on each chapter if necessary.

Slight AU

You showed Nick Fury out of your house and watched as he and Maria Hill left in a black SUV similar to your own. Shutting and locking the door you flipped on your security to the house and grounds. You were still irritated with Casey. She had put you in a sticky situation with Shield and now you were going to get her out of your life.

Walking up the wide staircase you plotted in your head. There was so much to do and so little time. Heading for your bedroom you stripped and got into the shower. You probably had an hour before Fury sent you the files he promised.

You went through your usual shower ritual and dressed in a loose tee and sleep shorts. Padding down the stairs you headed for the office and pulled up your email. Right on time there was one from Hill with a huge attachment. You read over the files for all Bucky's ex-girlfriends with amusement. They were suckers. They went all in after the first date and didn't see the break up coming. Not a mistake you would have made.

Emailing Maria back, you told her you would be in touch when you had information they could use and stood up. Dinner and a Netflix binge before bed sounded like a really good idea. Tomorrow you'd have to start digging into the underworld you tried to stay separate from so tonight was relaxation time, you thought.

It took a week for you to turn up a lead. A low level Hydra thug named Burke dropped off the grid in Richmond, Virginia a few weeks ago. Two days later, another Hydra agent, Astor went silent. He was reputed to be handy with a knife and had no respect for women. There was a pattern in the weeks leading up to the abduction. Then the doctor was flown into Dulles airport outside D.C., and his reputation was for experimentation and extracting information.

Wherever this Samantha assistant girl was it was looking like Hydra had plans for her. That was never a good thing.

You called Maria Hill directly with your info and ran it down for her. Dates, contacts, video you had hacked or gotten by pretending to be a police officer. You didn't tell her where you got it and she didn't ask.

"Are you sure this is everything?" Maria Hill asked, and you grinned at her formal tone.

"Just one more thing," you say turning toward the french doors of your office."My contact said one more person he knows of went missing in Brazil last week." You pause for dramatic effect, "Crossbones. Brock Rumlow."

"Fuck." Maria says and hangs up the phone. You barely hold your laughter in. You knew that name would get her.

The Avengers Compound:

Fury walks into the conference room like he owns the building, much to the annoyance of Tony Stark. All the Avengers were present as Fury had requested. He knew they thought he was dramatic but you had given him good information and he needed the team to follow up on it.

"We have information from an informant. The abduction was the work of Hydra. None of Barnes' exes were involved, although our informant says he may want to be on guard when it comes to Casey Piven. We still have her under surveillance, but she's bat shit crazy." He eyeballs Barnes as the former Winter Soldier sank into his chair. "We have a list of Hydra agents who went off the grid in the weeks leading up to Samantha going missing. You may recognize a few names."

Steve snatched up the folder Fury tossed on the table. He went white, standing and leaving the room. Tony sighed and took the folder and began reading the names to Friday for facial recognition and background.

When he got to the last name he paused before reading "Brock Rumlow."

Bucky stiffened and looked around at the rest of the team. They all had varying degrees of trepidation on their faces. He blew out a breath and rose to go after Steve.

"Barnes!" Fury barked,"walk me out."

Confused Bucky followed the leather clad man to the elevators. Once inside Fury hit the stop button and pulled a device from his pocket. Hitting a blue button he turned to Bucky and said,"We have 2 minutes until Stark's AI reboots the cameras. My informant would like to meet you. She is Ms. Piven's ex-step-sister and she has a lot of insight we can use. She isn't a low level con woman. She has….Skills. I would like you to take the meeting."

"Sir," Bucky began.

" Trust me Barnes she has a whole list of reasons she doesn't trust Casey Piven. She even told the chick to leave you alone. Her grandfather and I did business together and I have done business with her a time or two. Do a background on her. Of course then you have to disregard everything you read." Fury lets out a huffing laugh. "Name is Y/N Y/LN. Address and date of birth will be sent to your phone. Let me know soon. She isn't known for patience."

Fury restarted the elevator and when the doors opened strode away with a wave over his shoulder. Bucky pressed the button for his floor and chewed on his lip. He had an appointment with Dr Kate this afternoon and he needed to shower and check on Steve. He'd think about this then talk to Steve about it tomorrow. Getting off the elevator he saw his best friend sitting in the common room with his head in his hands. Maybe he'd talk to Natasha about it tomorrow. The Punk had enough going on.

The next morning Bucky headed to the kitchen to get breakfast early. He wanted to talk to Nat before Steve, Sam and himself went running. Entering the kitchen he saw Sam was already there but no sign of Nat.

"Has Natasha been down yet?" He asked Sam.

"Yeah, she left about twenty minutes ago on a recon with Clint. Fury's tip had Tony and her up all night." Sam replied sipping on his coffee. When Bucky's shoulders fell a little with a disappointed sigh Sam said, "You can talk to me. I probably won't make fun of you."

Bucky considered for a moment then related the story from Fury, everything except the shutting down of the security cameras. He low-key wanted to learn that trick himself. As he sat across from Sam and took a drink from his own coffee, Steve spoke from the doorway.

"You should meet with her. She might have more info to get Samantha back." Steve said with an intense look that made Sam and Bucky squirm.

"I know you're upset about your assistant Cap," Sam said, (ignoring Bucky's muttered Ya' think) But we don't have a background on this girl yet. Maybe we get…"

Before he can finish Steve is calling to Friday to run a background check and find any information she can on Y/N Y/L/N.

Bucky and Sam just look at each other for a minute as Steve storms out of the kitchen calling Tony to see if he has other ideas.

"He is taking this hard." Sam says and Bucky nods.

"He's always had a thing for her. He said he never asked her out because he was being professional."

Just then Friday announced that Bucky had a visitor. Looking at the security screen he saw his latest "girlfriend" at the front desk. He hasn't called her in over a week and had only texted her back once, but here she was. Damn he missed Samantha right now.

Going down to the lobby himself he took her aside and explained there was a lot going on. Their assistant was kidnapped and he didn't want to put her in that kind of danger so he was breaking up with her. When she started crying he patted her back gently leading her to the door. He felt like an ass. Did they all cry?

After she hugged him again and finally left he turned and the security guard at the desk asked if he wanted to follow the usual protocol. Bucky sat while the Guard, Mike he thought his name was, explained that Samantha blocked their numbers and revoked their access to the compound. He just nodded and walked to the elevator to go find Steve.

Steve and Tony were standing in the middle of the lab with your files floating in the air. Bucky looked at your driver's license picture and tilted his head a little. You were pretty. Looking at the rest of the floating files (he was never going to get used to that) he saw a picture of a large house. Where did women that lived in mansions get info on Hydra? There was something off about this whole situation.

"We can be wheels up in 20. It's a short trip, maybe another 20 to get there. I'll take Buck and Sam. We'll let you know if we need back up." Steve was telling Tony.

"Oh I'm coming along with you." Tony said rotating the files again. "I want to see what she had to say to the Manchurian candidate over there. And this background is too clean. There's no social media, no ugly secrets. She runs an office supply company and knows Hydra secrets. I'm not buying it."

An office supply company? Bucky was sure Casey had said that she worked at one when she was laid off. He asked Tony if there were lay offs at the company and wasn't surprised when Tony said not in the last ten years. Everything Casey had told him was a lie from the start.

Maybe this Y/N could help them find Steve's assistant before he had a total meltdown. She could also help him sort through Casey's lies. He still felt guilty that Samantha was caught up in his mess and if meeting this girl could help he was going to do it.

@supraveng @mycosmicparadise

#bucky barnes x reader #avengers x reader #dark reader #bucky x y/n #the avengers #bucky x you #bucky barns fanfiction

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happybambi84 · 4 years ago

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i wont live inside your world (you dont hurt me)

(A small insight to two hogwarts students just living)

“Your girlfriend is really starting to piss me off”

Steve rolled his eyes, tossing an old beaten up quaffle into the air before catching it and throwing it again. He has been waiting for Billy to show up for about twenty minutes now. They had agreed on meeting at the quidditch pitch after dinner in order to enjoy a few moments to themselves. Ever since Steve has ,add Captain for the hufflepuff team and Billy and Nancy has been announced as the head girl and head boy they hadn’t really had time to hangout. It was getting close to curfew now that he thought about it.

“Stop calling her that.” He replied annoyed, tossing the ball once more. Steve shivered slightly, pausing with the ball to pull his robes a little bit tighter around himself, it was Mid-October now, the air getting more and more crisp as winter started to drag in.

“ All she does is bitch to me about taking this head boy job seriously. As if I really care” Billy went on, leaning to light a covered cigarette in his hand. He stood a two rows ahead of Steve, taking in the fellow seventh year.

“Maybe you should Hargrove,” Steve shrugged, catching the ball one last time and sitting to take in Billy’s full form, “I mean they picked you for whatever horrible reason, at least try and make an example for other students.”

“Yeah that’s real funny Bambi, after that I might just join the frog choir too” Billy said snidely. He took another quick puff off his cigarette before climbing the last few rows to sit behind Steve, letting the other boy lean back and lie between his legs.

It wasn’t a hidden fact te two were together, most just accepting the hufflepuff and slytherin couple. It wasn’t an uncommon pair, to say the least. Most people had just been surprised to see the two together after their constant bickering over the years. Everyone on their seventh year at Hogwarts could recall waiting to be called to the sorting hat on their first day and seeing a then eleven year old Billy sticking gum in poor pure blood Steve Harrington’s hair.

That had not gone over well.

So to see them make amends their fourth year in detention and somehow go from enemies to friends and eventual lovers had been the only shock to the student body and even possibly a few teachers.

“Nancy just wants what’s best for slytherin house, isn’t that what you should want too?”

“Baby, all I care about is finally getting out of this joint.” Billy huffed, flicking his ashes out into the wind.

“It’s not a jail cell Billy.”

“As if you would know.” Billy laughed, leaning Steve’s head back for a gentle kiss. This was the only time billy ever really let his guard down to relax and to smile. Whenever Steve was in his arms. He pulled bac, looking at Steve’s content but closed eyes. “And you.”

Steve opened his eyes, turning to look at billy with confusion. He smirked, standing up to look billy in his eyes.

“Are you admitting that’s I’m what you want Mr. Hargrove” Steve asked condescendingly, making his boyfriend laugh and lean back on his elbows.

“No contest your honor.” Billy said a broad and genuine smile on his face, he looked Steve’s slimmer body up and down, licking his teeth seductively. He grabbed the other boy by his robes, pulling him closer to lay on top of him slightly. “ I will say though, I don’t think I remember being so attracted to the judge.”

Steve smirked, knocking Billy’s hands off of his robes.

“You up for a game, or did you just come here to watch me walk away?” Steve sassed, pushing himself and darting off for the field.

Billy smirked again, he loved a good chase.

The boys were on the pitch for another thirty minutes, racing each other on their brooms and pausing for secret kisses until they were out of breath. Laughter filled the quidditch pitch as the finally pulled back to the ground and went to put back the borrowed brooms they had taken from the practice shed. Those were the advantages to dating a team captain, they had the key spells to open the shed. They walked back to the castle with Steve wrapped around Billy. Both sighing as they reached walked back into the school.

“I should probably go do my rounds before Wheeler snitches on me again” Billy snided. He turned to Steve, pulling him down to press a kiss to his forehead and turned to leave.

“You know, “ Steve started, scratching the back of head “ We could always get something to eat instead.”

Billy turned, a wicked smile on his face, “Pretty boy, that would imply me not caring what’s best for slytherin house” billy said air quoting what Steve had said to him just a few hours beforehand.

Steve rolled his eyes and crossed his arms at his younger boyfriend.

“Fine, I’ll just have the house elves make a nice big German chocolate cake all for myself” Steve said smirking as he turned and darted off towards the kitchen that was by his dorms. Most people didn’t really know where the kitchens were, but Steve had found them on his second year, and had immediately taken billy there when they became friends.

Billy smirked turning to look at the hallway where he was supposed to do his rounds before jetting after his boyfriend towards the kitchens.

He really did love a good chase.

#harringrove #slytherin billy #hufflepuff Steve #billy/steve #hogwarts au

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disaster-ace-is-me · 4 years ago

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evermore lyrics that hit different

what’s up y’all i made a list of specific lyrics from taylor swift’s evermore album that really hit different for me because i just want everyone to focus on them for a bit :) (i originally wasn’t going to post this but now i’m working on analyses for the album and posting this helps me with that and might give y’all insight to what’s already going on in my brain when i hear these songs)

*pretty much the entire song

“champagne problems”:

“Your heart was glass, I dropped it”

“‘This dorm was once a madhouse’/I made a joke, ‘Well, it’s made for me’”

“How evergreen, our group of friends/Don’t think we’ll say that word again”

“I never was ready, so I watch you go”

“‘She would’ve made such a lovely bride/What a shame she’s fucked in the head,’ they said”

“gold rush”:

“I don’t like that falling feels like flying till the bone crush”

“And then it fades into the gray of my day-old tea/’Cause it could never be”

“I can’t dare to dream about you anymore”

“And the coastal town we never found will never see a love as pure as it”

“’tis the damn season”:

“It’s the kind of cold, fogs up windshield glass/But I felt it when I passed you”

“And the road not taken looks real good now/And it always leads to you and my hometown”

“I escaped it too, remember how you watched me leave?”

“Time flies, messy as the mud on your truck tires/Now, I’m missing your smile, hear me out”

“And wonder about the only soul/Who can tell which smiles I’m faking”

“And the heart I know I’m breaking is my own/To leave the warmest bed I’ve ever known”

“tolerate it”*:

“I sit and watch you/I notice everything you do or don’t do/You’re so much older and wiser and I”

“I wait by the door like I’m just a kid/Use my best colors for you portrait”

“If it’s all in my head, tell me now/Tell me I’ve got it wrong somehow”

“I know my love should be celebrated/But you tolerate it”

“I take your indiscretions all in good fun/I sit and listen/I polish plates until they gleam and glisten”

“Where’s that man who’d throw blankets over my barbed wire?”

“I made you my temple, my mural, my sky/Now I’m begging for footnotes in the story of you life/Drawing hearts in the byline”

“Always taking up too much space or time”

“You assume I’m fine, but what would you do if I/Break free and left us in ruins?/Took this dagger in me and removed it?/Gain the weight of you then lose it?”

“happiness”*:

“All the years I’ve given/Is just shit we’re dividing up”

“I was dancing when the music stopped/And in the disbelief, I can’t face reinvention”

“Past the curses and cries/Beyond the terror in the nightfall”

“Haunted by the look in my eyes/That would’ve loved you for a lifetime/Leave it all behind”

“Tell me, when did your winning smile/Begin to look like a smirk?/When did all our lessons start to look like weapons/Pointed at my deepest hurt?”

“Sorry, I can’t see facts through all of my fury”

“There is a glorious sunrise/Dappled with the flickers of light/From the dress I wore at midnight/Leave it all behind”

“I can’t make it go away by making you a villain”

“And I pulled your body into mine/Every goddamn night, now I get fake niceties”

“No one teaches you what to do/When a good man hurts you/And you know you hurt him too”

“But now my eyes leak acid rain on the pillow where you used to lay your head”

“After giving you the best I had/Tell me what to give after that/All you want from me now is the green light of forgiveness”

“dorothea”*:

“Hey, Dorothea, do you ever stop and think about me?/When we were younger down in the park/Honey, making a lark of the misery”

“You got shiny friends since you left town/A tiny screen’s the only place I see you now/And I got nothing but well wishes for ya”

“You know that you’ll always know me, Dorothea”

“From you, I’d buy anything”

“Hey, Dorothea, do you ever stop and think about me?/When it was calmer skipping the prom just to piss off your mom and her pageant schemes”

“But are you still the same soul I met under the bleachers?/Well I guess I’ll never know/And you’ll go on with the show”

“coney island”:

“If I can’t relate to you anymore/Then who am I related to?”

“Disappointments, close your eyes/And it gets colder and colder/As the sun goes down”

“What’s a lifetime of achievement/If I pushed you to the edge?”

“Will you forgive my soul/When you’re too wise to trust me and too old to care?”

“And when I got into the accident/The sight that flashed before me was your face/But when I walked up to the podium, I think that I forgot to say your name”

“ivy”:

“I just sit here and wait/Grieving for the living”

“Oh, goddamn/My pain fits in the palm of your freezing hand”

“So, yeah/It’s a fire/It’s a goddamn blaze in the dark/And you started it”

“long story short”:

“Fatefully/I tried to pick my battles till the battle picked me”

“I was in the alley surrounded on all sides/The knife cuts both ways/If the shoe fits, walk in it till your high heels break”

“And I fell from the pedestal/Right down the rabbit hole/Long story short, it was a bad time”

“Past me/I wanna tell you not to get caught up in these petty things”

“marjorie”*:

“Never be so kind/You forget to be clever/Never be so clever/You forget to be kind”

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were still around”

“What died didn’t stay dead/You’re alive, you’re alive in my head”

“Never be so polite/You forget you power/Never wield such power/You forget to be polite”

“And if I didn’t know better/I’d think you were listening to me now”

“You loved the amber skies so much”

“I should’ve asked you questions”

“Should’ve kept every grocery store receipt/’Cause every scrap of you would be taken from me”

“All your closets of backlogged dreams/And how you left them all to me”

“evermore”*:

“Gray November/I’ve been down since July”

“I replay my footsteps on each stepping stone/Trying to find the one where I went wrong/Writing letters/Addressed to the fire”

“And I couldn’t be sure/I had a feeling so peculiar/That this pain would be for/Evermore”

“Hey, December/Guess I’m feeling unmoored/Can’t remember/What I used to fight for”

“Barefoot in the wildest winter/Catching my death”

“Can’t not think of all the cost/And the things that will be lost”

“I’m on waves, out being tossed”

“In the cracks of light/I dreamed of you/It was real enough/To get me through”

“right where you left me”*:

“I, I swear you could hear a hair pin drop/Right when I felt the moment stop”

“Everybody moved on I, I stayed there/Dust collected on my pinned-up hair/They expected me to find somewhere/Some perspective, but I sat and stared/Right where you left me”

“She’s still twenty-three inside her fantasy”

“Did you hear about the girl who lives in delusion?”

“But I’m unaware/’Cause I’m right where I cause no harm/Mind my business/If our love died young/I can’t bear to witness/And it’s been so long”

“it’s time to go”*:

“When the words of a sister come back in whispers/That prove she was not in fact what she seemed”

“That old familiar body ache/The snaps from the same little break in your soul/You know when it’s time to go”

“We’re trying to stay for the kids/When keeping it how it is will only break their hearts worse”

“Sometimes giving up is the strong thing/Sometimes to run is the brave thing/Sometimes walking out is the one thing/That will find you the right thing”

“Begging till my knees bled/I gave it my all, he gave me nothing at all/Then wondered why I left”

“He’s got my past frozen behind glass/But I’ve got me”

“You know/When it’s time to go/So then you go”

#taylor swift #evermore #evermore album #evermore lyrics #champagne problems #gold rush #'tis the damn season #tolerate it #happiness #dorothea #coney island #ivy #long story short #marjorie #right where you left me #it's time to go

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fanaticfangirl001 · 4 years ago

Text

Like Real People Do Ch 2: Making Amends, Treats, And The New World Order

Taglist: @kissofvenom922 , @p3nny4urth0ught5

Chapter 2: Making Amends, Treats, and The New World Order

Winnie grabs the coffee pot and pours herself another cup standing beside her cork board in the kitchen. She grabs a pushpin and attaches the pictures off of Joaquin’s phone. The new group, the Flag Smashers, know how to keep a low profile and slide in under the radar. She tried tracking the symbol on the masks, but a red handprint has been used on so many things and none of them connect. Winnie tries asking around on message boards for anything but trolls quickly take over the chat. Sometimes she really hates the internet. She looks at the clock and curses.

“Damn it, don’t be late.” Winnie grabs her phone from the charger and shoots off a quick memo to Bucky containing the Senator’s schedule for the next few days and instructions for the car remote. It was a new little gadget Winnie had come up with when she was at Shield. No one took it seriously so it wasn’t mass produced for the other agents. Winnie runs to her computer and finds the security cameras outside the meeting place for Senator Atwood. She sees Bucky and cuts the connection.

W- Cameras down, you have five minutes, then get out of there and grab a malt.

B- Will do.

Bucky walks over to the empty white car and sticks the gadget under the car and walks off to a shaded spot to wait for the Senator. The microphone on the gadget connects to an earpiece Bucky has on. He can hear the conversation of Senator Atwood trying to silence another senator. He starts the car and locks the doors with the gadget. Bucky reverses the car and then jerks it into a parking spot. Walking up to the car he rolls down the window.

“Remember me.” Bucky says into the window.

The bodyguard points a gun at Bucky. He grabs his arm and knocks the guard out.

“I’m no longer the Winter Soldier. I’m James Bucky Barnes and you’re part of my efforts to make amends.” He smiles halfheartedly.

Bucky hears the sirens and walks away having completed part of his mission for the day. He walks off to the grocery store and begins to look for ingredients for a chocolate malt. He picks up chocolate sauce, malted milk powder, vanilla ice cream,milk, and maraschino cherries, and tosses it into his cart. Once in his apartment he sets the cherries on the counter and begins blending the other ingredients. He pours the malt into a cup and grabs a handful of cherries. Steve would have loved this. Bucky remembers armwrestling over the cherries. He always let him win because of Steve’s love of cherries. He tosses the handful in. Bucky sends W a picture of the malt.

W- How’s it taste?

B- So good, I was missing out.

W- What does your tomorrow look like?

B- Ugh, therapy appointment why?

W- That bad?

B- Yes

W- Why?

B- I don’t like it.

W- Why not?

B-“I don’t like the whole getting out of your comfort zone to heal.”

W-“You’re healing when you’ve stopped treating yourself like the enemy. Simple things can be healing, like take a walk, going on a date…”

B- “That’s actually really insightful.”

W- “ You’re surprised?”

B-” A little,a few days ago, you told me to: Get that head, Get that bread and leave.

W-” Well I'm a well read insightful person.

B-” Favorite book?

W-” It’s a tie, between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.”

B- Going to bed.

W- Night Buck.

Bucky wraps himself in his blanket and lays down on the floor with his phone next to him. Maybe W is right, he thinks, it’s the little things. He closes his eyes and slowly falls asleep to the whitenoise of the television playing an old rerun of a sitcom.

“Give me your phone, then.” Dr. Raynor asks.

Bucky hands it over.

“You’ve been ignoring Sam’s texts..but you’ve been answering W’s. Who is W?” Dr.Raynor asks.

“She’s from a book club.” Bucky lies.

” Do you expect me to believe that? The Doctor asks sarcastically.

” Yes.” Bucky lies again.

“What book?”The Doctor calls his bluff.

“ The Hobbit.” Bucky answers smoothly remembering last night’s text.

” When do you meet?” The Doctor readies her pen to write something.

“ Tuesdays.” Bucky adds.

” What is the next book?” The Doctor asks indulging him.

“ Lord of the Rings.” Bucky answers.

” Those are some long books for a book club.” The Doctor comments.

“ I’m a fast read.” Bucky smirks.

” Cut it out, what does she actually do?” The Doctor puts down the notebook.

” Fine, she’s a hacker. She found me on a message board and offered her services. She tracks the people I helped with Hydra.” Bucky answers hoping that W doesn’t find out.

” Remind me what’s rule number 1.” The Doctor narrows her eyes.

” I can’t do anything illegal.” Bucky reminds.

” So you hired a hacker.” The Doctor adds.

“ I didn’t hire anyone. She volunteered.” Bucky interjects.

“Do you trust her?” The Doctor questions.

” She’s good at what she does, and she’s easy.” Bucky answers earnestly.

” Little tip, never call a woman easy.” The Doctor picks up her note book again.

“Easy going.” Bucky explains.

“So she’s more important to you than your friendship with Sam.”

Bucky doesn’t say anything and Dr.Raynor starts writing.

“Again with the notebook, Doc.”

Winnie microwaves her forgotten mug of coffee. The news plays in the background.

“Unrest in the wake of recent events has left us vulnerable. Every day Americans feel it. While we love heroes who put their lives on the line to defend Earth, we also need a hero to defend this country. We need a real person who embodies America’s greatest values.We need someone to inspire us again, someone who can be a symbol for all of us. So on behalf of the Department of Defense and our Commander-in- Chief, it is with great honor that we announce here today, that the United States of America has a new hero. Join me in welcoming your new Captain America.” The television says.

Winnie looks at the television and says to herself “ Huh, let’s see who the man with the shield really is.” She pauses the television on the face of the new hero and begins taking pictures with her phone to scan the internet for any and everything on this man. There’s something she doesn’t like about this.

Why would anyone trust the United State’s government with a weapon like Captain America’s shield?

#bucky barnes x oc #bucky barnes imagines #bucky barnes #winter soldier #tfatws #the falcon and the winter soldier #plus size oc #bucky barnes x winnie #marvel #marvel imagines #fluff #angst #hurt/comfort

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whataboutthefish · 5 years ago

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The Last Winter

With each new spring, it got harder and harder to say goodbye to his wolves. They all knew with each goodbye they were drawing closer to the last one, and each year Jaskier would promise them the same thing. “I’ll try not to die.”

Vesemir had offered Jaskier the keep as his permanent home ten years past, the two of them enjoyed the company as they rattled around Kaer Morhen. Jaskier now looked older than Vesemir, his hair still mostly black with a shock of grey streaking through his fringe. It had thinned some in recent years and Jaskier kept a jaunty hat with a purple feather in it firmly atop his head all year round.

He wore a beard as white as Geralt’s to cover some of the damage age had done to him. His wolves would swear he looked as beautiful as the day they first met him, and Jaskier would chuckle at their sweet words. But he couldn’t help but feel wilted among these men who hadn’t changed while he couldn’t seem to stop.

He spent most of his days in the library, determined to have the whole thing catalogued in his lifetime, he worked tirelessly or so he’d tell his wolves when they returned for winter. Vesemir would flash a knowing smirk his way before being prodded with a stick in the gut. He knew Jaskier spent more time sleeping on the comfortable lounge Lambert had purchased for him as a retirement gift.

The stick was new. Last winter his hip had started to ache and then one day he found himself on the ground one too many times for his wolves' liking. Eskel had presented him with a wooden staff, the head carved into a wolf, he’d carved it himself, polished it to a high sheen so the wood was as smooth as stone. Jaskier didn’t like to admit it but he needed to use it, he told himself he was honouring his wolves by carrying the gift.

Geralt was the worst for fussing if Jaskier so much as grunted while getting up he was lifted and coddled, the White Wolf holding onto his elbow like he was a fragile maiden. At least he told himself it was that and not an old crone which he felt on long nights when his wolves were all asleep around him, youthful and strong and him the shriveled shell with nothing but his memories of youth and adventure.

And what a life he’d had, his only resentment was he would have to leave this life. Not because he was afraid to die, no he was ready when death came knocking. He was afraid to leave his wolves.

They loved him so fiercely, all in their own different way. They had grown so much since the first winter, they loved freely now and easily, they opened their hearts, their worries and fears. They shared with one another as well as himself, there was a calm around them that had taken decades for him to pull from them. To free them.

Their bed was not without fun though, he still enjoyed pleasure with his wolves. Vesemir had brewed a herbal potion that helped when things wouldn’t come as easy as they had in his youth, and he still took a cock like a champ. In those regards it was as if his wolves didn’t see him as old, yes they might have been a little more gentle but Jaskier could still give them a look and they’d toss him over one of their shoulders and they’d run to their room.

Vesemir still got cranky when things escalated in the main hall, throwing a cloth at one of his pups, “You could at least clean up after yourselves.”

But the goodbyes, they were the worst. Jaskier saw the pain in his wolves’ eyes as they took their leave one at a time. The hugs were tighter, the kisses lingered and they would keep looking back until the path turned out of view. A little part of Jaskier’s heart broke every time.

This summer Jaskier got a cold, it started in his head like any other but he couldn’t shake it, it went to his chest and soon Kaer Morhen echoed with the rattling bark as he shuffled around. Vesemir tried all manner of potions and herbs to help soothe and cure, he even contacted Triss to see if she had some insight.

Jaskier knew as soon as he saw her face after she had done her inspection. “No don’t say it, I will prepare myself.” Triss sat with him that night, leaving all manner of herbs and bottles to ease the pain that would inevitably come. She didn’t baby him but laid it all out with instructions so that Jaskier was in full control of his care. The final vial she slipped him was small and black, the last thing that would touch his lips.

Vesemir wanted to send word to the wolves on the path, but Jaskier was adamant that he shouldn’t. They would only rush back or worse be reckless on the path with their full attention broken by him. He would do nothing to hurt his wolves even if they might never forgive him for this. The world still needed Witcher’s and Jaskier, he’d had them for many decades in every way he could ever dream of. No, he would not have them off the Path because he was... because this would be his last winter.

The autumn was cooler than usual and Jaskier left his room less and less. His voice was ragged, which probably hurt worse than anything else. He could no longer keep his breath to sing so he would sit with his lute and will his knotted fingers to obey.

Vesemir would sit with him once his chores were done, they played gwent in the afternoons sipping the very best vintages and getting happily merry together to while the days away. When Jaskier could hardly breathe for coughing Vesemir would rub slaves into his chest and back and sit with him through the night.

They didn’t talk about this, but they both knew why. Jaskier was afraid of dying alone, after all these years on the Path and in Kaer Morhen Jaskier didn’t want to leave without a wolf by his side.

Lambert was the first home, he didn’t even pause in time for Vesemir to warn him, the stench of sickness filled the keep and he sprinted to their room. He pulled up in the doorway dropping his swords and bundling Jaskier’s frail body into his arms. The tears were already falling freely from his wolf as he took long shuddering breaths from his neck.

“How long,” Lambert asked, Jaskier was unsure if he meant since he’d known or, well.

He just held the wolf tighter, not long now, he just had to wait for his pack to all come home.

Lambert barely left his side, he told him stories of this year, of his favourite hunts, of his favourite times with Jaskier. They kissed a lot when Jaskier was able to, drank deeply, bathed often and Jaskier felt a sense of calm come over him that had been lost in the previous months.

Eskel was next, his actions mirrored his brother’s except he didn’t bother to remove his swords before Jaskier was in his big strong arms. Eskel held his tears, not wanting to scare Jaskier, but even his strong bear couldn’t hold back when wrapped in Jaskier’s arms that night. Jaskier started to remind him of all the adventures they’d had together. When Eskel finally let go the sounds of his sobs filled the keep.

Lambert attended to the winter chores to give Eskel the alone time he’d been given before his arrival.

Eskel sang for Jaskier, his baritone drifting through the keep only halting when Jaskier’s coughs took hold. Then he would hold his bard close trying to ease him through the episode. Eskel would massage Jaskier’s weary back and chest, the pain sometimes too much even for the strong potions Triss had left for him. He wished every night for just one more day and sent prayers on the winds that Geralt would arrive soon.

Geralt arrived four days later. He stood at the entrance to Kaer Morhen, Vesemir was there to greet him but his brothers were not. He smelt it as he entered, his eyes seeking out Vesemir’s, seeking answers and finding none that satisfied him. Geralt didn’t run to their room, in fact, he didn’t move at all. He knew Jaskier was waiting for him, knew it in his very core, and couldn’t bring himself to be the one that brought death upon their doorstep.

He crumpled to his knees, hands palm up in supplication, a prayer on his lips to all the gods he did not believe in. It was Eskel that got through to him. “Brother, he’s in pain.” The words cut Geralt deeper than any other in the past. It was him, again, he always brought pain to those he loved.

Eskel picked him up under the arms, pulling him into a kiss. “This isn’t your fault.”

Jaskier’s face broke into a huge smile when Geralt walked into their room, he was having a good day, the coughs only troubling him when he lay down. Jaskier was sitting back against Lambert’s chest while reading a rather scandalous poem.

Jaskier held his arms out to Geralt, running a thumb over his brow to wipe away his frown. Geralt got to his knees and lay his head in Jaskier’s lap, not speaking, barely breathing. He stayed that way for hours, his bard running gnarled fingers through his hair and down his neck, soothing his wolf.

Lambert and Eskel left them alone the next day, Jaskier giving them a weary smile as they promised to be within ear’s reach if, well, they never did say it.

Geralt was the quietest of his wolves, some things never change. Jaskier let Geralt hold him, perhaps tighter than was comfortable but now Jaskier was never without pain and the feeling of his White Wolf purring against his back was worth any amount of discomfort he should feel.

When the pack came back at dusk with tankards of mead and warm roast meats and vegetables, they enjoyed a meal together, his wolves laughing and joking with each other as they shared memories of their winters, of their times as a pack.

When the food was gone and the drinks empty Jaskier had them gather close. “My time has come, dear hearts.” He whispered. He took up each wolf in turn, kissing them deeply, tracing his fingers over their hearts. When he had taken each wolf into himself and pushed a part of his soul into them he asked Lambert to fetch Vesemir.

The old wolf bowed deeply at the door, “It’s been an honour, little lark.” Vesemir took a seat at the foot of the bed. Eskel sat at Jaskier’s back, Geralt tucked under both the bards and Eskel’s arm, Lambert lay with his head in Jaskier’s lap.

“My life has been a hell of an adventure, and as the poets of old say after all death is but the next great adventure.” He smiled at his pack and pulled the black vial from his pocket. Uncorking it with his teeth he held it up, “I will be waiting at the gates of the afterlife for you my wolves. Be sure to make me wait a very long time.” He choked down a sob before he pushed the vial between his lips and leaned his head back.

Cradled between his wolves Jaskier closed his eyes, a smile on his lips as he drifted off on his next great adventure.

Jaskier was given a Witcher’s funeral, his pyre stacked high and burned all day and all night. His wolves didn’t leave until Jaskier was returned to dust.

In the great hall, Jaskier’s lute was hung amongst the swords of the Witchers of old.

Also posted to AO3

#the witcher #wolves of kaer morhen #Jaskier #Geralt #Lambert #Eskel #Vesemir #polyamory #major character death #illness #old age #i'm so so sorry #i made myself cry

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firesign23 · 5 years ago

Note

a wild prompt appears: J/B, barefoot, any rating.

Sometimes you write thinking of emotional arcs, and sometimes you write 1300 words of I Love My Wife. Today was the latter. We will not discuss how long this prompt has been lingering, amongst others...

They go to Tarth six months after the war, when peace finally feels as if it might be possible, if only for a little while. His new goodfather meets them at the docks, embraces Brienne in a slightly adrift way, as if he cannot believe she has returned even though she stands before him as solid and real as ever, greets Jaime with distant politeness. They ride to Evenfall, discuss the island and all the things that have changed since Brienne had left all those years before--the poor harvest and the short winter and the leniency in taxes, but the people too, and Jaime thinks that it is not a bad thing, to be a lord like that. His opinion is even sought a time or two, and he dusts off long-unused lessons to have insights that make Brienne smile at him, and he knows when he does not know enough to say so. It is a fine welcome, and by the time the luncheon is served, rich with Tarth’s foods and men from around the whole of the island, Jaime has stopped looking for a hidden slight in every action. When the meal is done, however, Lord Selwyn turns to Brienne.

“It is still there, if you wish to visit,” he says. “I will keep Ser Jaime occupied.”

A smile splits his wife’s face, one that Jaime has never seen. (He has noted all of her smiles; this one is young in a way he has never known her to be, and for a moment he is jealous that he could not invoke it himself.)

“No need, father,” Brienne says. “I’ll show him.”

She grabs his arm, tugs gently, and as soon as they have left the hall, she breaks into a run, through the corridor and out a servant’s door, through a courtyard, in the direction where he can hear the sea, laughing as she turns to make certain he has followed; it takes most of Jaime’s control not to simply gawk at this… this girl that he thought he knew. They follow a narrow footpath through a copse of trees to emerge at a chine that cuts its way through the cliff Evenfall Hall sits upon. The scrub brush here is lighter greens and yellows, with occasional blooms of blue and purple wildflowers--it’s beautiful, even before they begin to pick their way down the steep path and can see the ocean properly. Jaime pauses, stares for a long moment, the sun and the water and Brienne taking his breath away.

“Faster, Jaime,” she calls back, and his feet start moving again, propelling him towards her as he always seems to be, and they make their way to the soft sandy beach that stretches in a crescent shape marked by two jutting cliffs--they are on one end of the curve, the cliff to their right varying shades of brown, and the other end is marked by a lighthouse. Whitewashed, he thinks at first, and then the angle of the light shifts and he remembers the marble Tarth is known for.

He turns to face Brienne, who is watching him as if waiting for his reaction; not nerves, he realises, but anticipation.

“This is…” He’s seen beauty, many times--beautiful scenery and beautiful women and all the gold and jewels that glitter on the necks of courtiers, but never has it left him speechless the way this does, the way this feels like home and a secret and… “Casterly is nothing like this.”

Brienne laughs. “Remove your boots.”

There’s a rock, large enough for him to lean against as he unlaces and removes his boots and socks, as he plunges his toes into silt-fine sand that is cool despite the hot weather. When he looks up, Brienne has shed her all but her tunic and her trousers, rolled near to her knees so her calves are on full display, and waded into the water. She’s turned her face upwards in bliss, towards the sun, and the clean lines of her body shimmer in the light; he knows that if she remains long she will burn, knows that if he steps closer he will see all the little details that make her Brienne, the scars and the imperfections he has traced with fingers and tongue, the vitality, but from here she is ethereal, impossible to believe. And then she turns to look at him with the same open happiness and he is hurrying to join her.

The water is cool, cooler even than the sand, but comforting. Small waves lap at him, wetting the hems of his trousers, but he pays it no mind, not when Brienne, his wife, is kissing him in the surf.

“The beach is only for us,” she explains when she pulls away. “It’s almost impossible to reach save by the chine, and it is the only place father insists we keep not for the people. I learnt to paddle here, or so he says--I was too young to remember, of course.”

“Of course,” Jaime agrees with a smile, suspecting she’d come from the womb able to swim and wield a sword and likely lift an aurochs.

“There’s another thing,” she says, sliding her hand into his. “Follow me.”

She wades through the water, seeming to know on instinct the shallowest route, along the curve of the cliff and around, where there is a group of large, flat rocks rising from the water. She scrambles onto them with ease, turns to help Jaime onto them, laughs when he is already following.

“I used to come here, when I needed peace,” she says, once he is beside her. She has stretched out, miles of leg before her as she rests on her elbows, face turned skyward once more. This close he can see the way the sunlight catches her lashes, making her glow, the way she wiggles her bare toes as they dry. “Even my father learnt to stay away.”

He hears what she doesn’t say, stretches himself out to lay beside her on this sea-slick rock warmed in the sun. There is enough room for them both, though barely, and Brienne laughs again.

“Of course, there was much more room back then, or perhaps less of me.”

“I, for one, appreciate that there is so much of you now.”

She rolls her eyes. “Jaime.”

He glances around, confirming that they are alone, runs a finger down her jaw, leans in to whisper against her ear. “When you wrap yourself around me, Brienne, when I see the breadth of your shoulders and the length of your legs… I thank gods I don’t believe in that I am allowed to love you.”

“You’re ridiculous,” she sighs, and there is no sting in the words, no rebuke; he kisses her throat in return, licks the salty spray of sea and sweat from her skin, slides his right arm behind her back so he can roll closer, rests his hand on the laces of her trousers.

He is much better than he was all those moons ago in Winterfell, or perhaps she has taken to fastening her clothes with loosening in mind; either way it is the work of a moment to unknot the laces, slip his beneath the waistband to find the curls there, then the slick wet heat of her.

“Jaime,” she sighs, shifting her legs wider as he strokes; it’s slow, not chasing release but simply an extra pleasure as they lounge, but eventually she begins to move her hips, tiny little aborted thrusts as she bites back a moan, as her skin flushes red from more than the heat of the sun and her toes curl in pleasure, until she breaks apart as gently as the waves that lap against the rock in this secret place.

He licks the taste of her from his fingers, kisses her. Rolls away, so he can gaze at the clear sky above them until he drifts into a quiet contentedness, languid and warm.

It is impossible to know what the future holds. Perhaps there will be peace for longer than a moment, and lordly duties, and children of their own to swim in the waves. But for now there is the sun and the water and Brienne, and it is all he could ever want.

#procrastination prompting #my fanfic

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insfiringyou · 5 years ago

Text

BTS - What’s Important (RM x Ji-eun)

Contains: Angst. Career talk. Possible indications of disbandment. Brief mentions of Suga x Jeong-sun and V x Cassandra

This is set a few days following RM and Ji-eun’s storyline in the fic ‘They Orgasm Unexpectedly’, while Namjoon is in service.

We wanted to show some moments between the members and their girlfriends that may not seem grand or important in the long run, but that highlight some of the conversations they might have in private. We also don’t want to shy away from some of the arguments, disagreements or bickering that might take place. More couples to follow soon.

You can find out more about our headcanon universe and ongoing storyline here and more about our headcanon girlfriends here.

To read each member & their girlfriend’s headcanon universe fics in order, follow the links here: RM / Jin / Suga / J-Hope / Jimin / V / Jungkook & our full masterlist can be found here

Content below the cut

The meeting had been long and boring, taking place on the building’s top floor which offered a brilliant view of the city. Ji-eun watched the sky slowly darken through the wide windows which stretched along the length of the room, silently cursing the fact she wouldn’t get home until gone ten o’clock. The next few hours stretched slowly, with the journey home passing in a quiet daze; the warmth of her apartment greeting and caressing her otherwise cold skin as she walked through the door. Feeling tired, she showered quickly, lathering her long hair with raspberry-scented suds and enjoying the heat of the spray on her bare back. Her cell had gone forgotten throughout the meeting, dutifully turned off as per her manager’s instructions and buried in the bottom of her black handbag, so she had missed the call, not noticing it until after her shower as she headed to the bedroom.

The little notification light pinged brightly in the darkness, her hair and body wrapped in the fluffy confines of a towel and she swiped the screen as she perched herself on the edge of the duvet, selecting the voicemail icon with a frown.

She pressed the phone to her ear, waiting for the instructional message to finish, until a clicking sound signalled the start of the recording. “It’s Namjoon…” His deep voice took her by surprise, though she had heard it in person only two days before. He was clearly trying to find the right words to say into the empty device, his message full of pauses. “I was hoping we could talk...but, I guess you’re busy…”

Ji-eun suspected he would end the conversation there after a quick goodbye, and instinctively moved the cell away from her ear, getting ready to hang up, but held back when he slowly pressed on.

“I got here okay...the traffic was a little congested but I made it back on time.” His voice was low, distracted, as though building up to something and Ji-eun couldn’t help but feel nervous. “I’m not sure if I’ll be able to call for a few days, so I’m hoping you’ll hear this. I don’t know if you check your messages…”

She realised her spare hand was curling around the edge of the duvet, bunching it anxiously into her closed fist. It had been a long time since she had felt so jittery and the urge to move out of the dark room and into the kitchen was overwhelming. She couldn’t recall whether she had finished the bottle of Merlot she had started the previous night, but hoped not. His voice brought her back with another sigh.

“I’m sorry for making you uncomfortable the other night…” The short silence which followed told her he was thinking this through, trying to wrap his head around his own actions, and her heart rate increased in response. She felt its steady hum in her neck and fingertips as she clutched the phone tighter, her knuckles straining against the outline. “I don’t know what came over me, but I know it wasn’t right.” There was a sharp intake of air before he continued. “You worked hard to get the reservation...to make it special for me...and I…” He tapered off for a moment, and Ji-eun wondered whether he’d be able to bring himself to tell her what was wrong.

The short hotel-stay had been expensive, but she had wanted to get away from home. It had been too quiet in recent months...too lonely without him, and she knew making more memories together in that space before he was out for good would be too hard; she would have to continue eating and sleeping and living there until he got back; until they could resume their lives. The bitter memory of the morning after came flooding back; the way they dressed in silence at opposite ends of the bedroom, and the cold, stiff gesture of his lips against her cheek as he said goodbye.

“I really didn’t mean to hurt you.” She heard the sadness in his apology, the regret of his actions, along with something else, and what he said next made her heart sink. “I just don’t think I’ve been doing so well recently.”

His confession took her aback, but made sense. The last time she had seen him, he had been withdrawn; trapped in his own thoughts. Even then, as she lay silently in the double bed next to him, tucked under the heavy winter duvet, she wished she could get inside his brain and take his troubles away for him, if only he would let her.

“It never really hit me until a few weeks ago…” He continued in a hushed, quiet tone, as though fearing being overheard. “I figured I’d been through worse, and I haven’t that long to go…”

Ji-eun let go of the bed covers, giving in and heading towards the little kitchen down the hall.

“I guess I’ve just been thinking about what will happen when I come out, what will be waiting for me...” She held her phone to her ear as she walked, tucking the towel tighter around her bust before switching on the light. The glare made her eyes water, but she felt her way to the fridge and breathed a small sigh of relief when she found the bottle sitting on the bottom rack, a few mouthfuls left in the bottom. One handedly, she unscrewed the cap and found a clean glass on the drying board. “I know it’s been on everyone’s mind. Maybe some more than others…”

Silently, she made her way back to the bedroom, sipping slowly as she walked. Her shoulders had been tense and uncomfortable all afternoon, but seemed to relax as she sat heavily back on the bed. Namjoon carried on talking on the other end and, now he had started, it seemed his worries were slowly spilling out. It came as a relief. She wished she could have heard it from him first hand, but suspected he would have not been able to confess as openly if she had been there with him.

“It didn’t seem so complicated when I went in...I guess we all thought we would just pick up where we’d left off, but I’m not sure that’s the case anymore.” There was a small crack on the line and for a moment she worried he had been cut off or that the messaging timer had run out. He went quiet for a moment before his voice became clear, the first half of his sentence cut off. “...solo album, and with everything that’s happening with Taehyung…” Another sigh. “I guess I’m just wondering my place in all of this.”

It seemed apparent he had not voiced these concerns to anyone else; that she was the first to hear them and it suddenly occurred to her how trivial she had once thought his worries were compared to her own. When they first met, she couldn’t understand why he sometimes got so worked up in the other member’s lives to the point their grievances became his, but somewhere along the line she began to realise how much they meant to him and how hard he had worked for their achievements. They weren’t so different in that respect, and once it became clear, it seemed to make sense why he had been so attracted to her on the day they met five years before. He had seen a part of himself in her, and while it was not as fiercely visible on the surface, his ambitions and the sacrifices he had made along the way were just as strong as her own.

“It’s been playing on my mind for a while…” His tone became deeper, more solemn as he spoke. “The last few years at least, but seeing Yoongi get married...it made me wonder if I’m worrying about the wrong things. That maybe I’ve been neglecting what’s important to me. Neglecting you...”

Looking at her glass, she realised the wine was finished and placed the empty glass on the bedside cabinet carefully, her hands trembling a little at his confession and its implication. He let out a final, shuddery breath of air, and she knew instinctively that the one-sided conversation was drawing to a close. It came somewhat as a relief. As insightful as he was being, it was frustrating to not be able to talk to him, and she was ready for bed. The day had been long and she would have to get up early tomorrow in order to make her morning phone calls at the office to the seemingly endless list of international clients on her company’s waiting list.

“I guess we’ll talk about it soon…” Namjoon murmured, his own voice sounding tired on the other side. “I love you.” A pause. “I’m sorry.” She could hear the low sound of his breathing for a moment, before the line went dead with a click, the automated recording asking if she wished to delete the message or listen again. Looking at the illuminated screen, she clicked on the hang up dial, saving the message to some unknown folder in the depths of her phone and placing the device carefully beside the empty glass. Her hair was almost dry and she pulled it from the confines of the towel carefully, contemplating as she walked to the bathroom to brush her teeth whether it would disturb the neighbours if she used the blow-drier so late at night. She wondered when Namjoon would get the chance to call again and realised she wasn’t exactly looking forward to the prospect. It was difficult being apart and talking with him only seemed to make it harder. Not for the first time, it hit her that she didn’t have many people she could turn to and wondered whether it was her fault. Was she really so difficult to be around or had she pushed them all away over the years?

Looking in the mirror above the sink at her slightly flushed complexion, she became acutely aware that the low ache of an oncoming migraine had started to nag in the back of her skull and decided she would go straight to bed, with the hope it would be gone by morning.

***

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girllovescomic · 5 years ago

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Winter Begonia episode 2 recap

This episode is another beautifully shot, well-acted by all the actors involved. We get more insight on our main characters, including Er Nainai, a showcase of Shang Xirui’s creative genius, his unwillingness to kiss ass and kowtow to authorities, Cheng Fengtai’s understanding of our artist and his willingness to protect him when the occasion arises, which draws some criticism from his wife. And lastly we get a glimpse at the world of politics and entertainment congregating in Beiping, where Nationalist ministers and warlords vie for power while claiming to fight the growing Japanese threats, and entertainers must thread lightly not to buck tradition and be caught in the middle of this chaotic environment.

Ok, starting from now I will be using acronyms to talk about our lovebirds BFF.

We kick off the second episode right where we left off. President Zheng goes to check out what is the cause of the commotion and our dapper daddy, Cheng Fengtai equally intrigued follows, but not before telling lil’ sis to stay put.

He doesn’t understand what could have caused the audience, which was enjoying the performance to suddenly switch and jeer. President Zheng explains that Shang Xirui changed the lyrics and the opera, going against the rule set by Beijing Opera Mafia erm... I mean Association/community, and they are punishing him for it. Basically, our lil penguin does not play by the rule set by these boring fuddies and they are intent on crushing him.

He goes on to say that SXR is an outsider and a rebel who does whatever pleases him, much to the consternation of the established Beiping clique.

CFT does not see the issue in him changing the opera since it would be boring if he did the same thing as others. In short, he thinks being an innovator is a cool thing to do. Zheng replies that because CFT was Westernized he doesn’t understand the proprieties of Beiping Opera. Being a lone wolf against the majority will draw him the ire of the mainstream. Hmmm... sounds like someone...

Cheng Fengtai indeed comments that him and SXR are kindred spirits, since they are both outsiders who buck to the system, which President Zheng is quick to deny, but you can tell that is exactly what he is thinking and Cheng knows. He adds that giving 50% of their profits to the anti-Japanese effort is a small price to pay to ensure peace and longevity in their businesses and country. Zheng bemoans that SXR antics messed up his possible deal with CFT and leaves angrily.

CFT sees one of the ruffians get a tea kettle and throw the hot liquid onto SXR, who remains the consummate professional continuing to sing despite the mishap. CFT walks toward the stage to ask the man who threw the hot liquid why he did that.

The man replies that SXR messed with Yang Guifei, to which CFT replies that if there is someone to blame for messing with Yang Guifei, it would be her lecherous father-in-law who forced her to divorce his son, go to a nunnery and then become his concubine. OMG, this is too funny!

The man tells CFT to mind his business and attempts to climb the stage to probably harm SXR, which CFT stops, telling the ruffian that he has two options: to either listen to the end of the show or get the f out. The ruffian who doesn’t seem to know that CFT is a big shot throws a right cross onto his beautiful face. Oh no bish, you didn’t! CFT says this has been a long time someone dare to hit him. He hits the man back and is roughed up by the man’s crew.

The theater manager finally steps in (took you long enough) and fight off the ruffians. CFT asks the manager why he didn’t step him earlier, which the manager feels wronged, informing CFT that he had spotted the ruffians who apparently are well-known gangsters, but since they didn’t seem to target the VIP area, he didn’t take actions. This does not please CFT who reminds him about the first floor where the main audience and the performers are located and could have been endangered. Cha Cha’er runs to check on her brother’s well-being while the manager brings the ruffians to let them know they messed with the wrong man (CFT). While this is all happening, the opera troupe is still doing their performance, not missing a beat. The manager urges SXR to end the performance since the entire audience is gone. CFT reminds him that he is still there, along with his lil sis and since he took a punch for SXR, he better continue his performance. He sits down with Cha Cha’er and looks on, while having flashback of his mother, who apparently used to perform the same opera, Drunken Beauty for him.

The person in charge of his costumes tells SXR that the dress is ruined because of the tea, which apparently left a stain and smell. SXR is chided by one of his troupe member for changing the lyrics, leading to the disturbance. SXR replies that how is he supposed to know if something is going to work if he doesn’t perform, and ooph, I feel this in my musician soul. He gets up, asking for some wine and spits it onto the dress. I guess its to remove the stain, but it apparently does not work. The theater’s manager is walking with CFT and Cha Cha’er through the backstage area and takes him to SXR suite. He announces to SXR that he has a visitor, which makes the singer to gulp the wine in his mouth. This is the first time either one are meeting in the flesh and I swear you can feel the attraction in the air. SXR in his beautiful makeup meeting the debonair Westernized businessman. Sparks are flying guys and I feel a little hot under the collar.

CFT tells the singer that he must have been shocked by everything while SXR thanks him for stepping in when he did. He apologizes for causing the nasty bruise on CFT beautiful face, which the debonair is surprised the singer even noticed, considering he never stopped performing. SXR informs him that as performers they are used to such things and are trained never to step off the stage until the last note. Best girl Xiao Lai comes in to inquire about the bruise on SXR head that was caused by Cha Cha’er perfect throw. CFT apologizes on behalf of his little sister, to which the guilty party adds an apology, calling SXR “Jiějiě”aka elder sister, mistaking him for a girl. Oh girl, I understand the confusion. CFT corrects her that the person standing in front of him, may look like a beautiful girl, but she should call him Gege. SXR tells her that she is right to call him Jiejie since he has not removed his makeup, therefore he can be seen as a woman. This part is so comical that even La Yuehong, one of the troupe members chuckles.

Does Cha Cha’er sees her Gege’s heart eyes?

CFT offers a ride home, which SXR turns down since he has to move all of his stuff out of the theater since this will be his last performance at Huibin and will look elsewhere to perform. The manager feels slighted, to which SXR lets him know, in a very subtle way that he didn’t do his job to stop the disturbance and if it wasn’t for CFT, the ruffians probably would have harmed him. The manager offers to compensate as long as SXR finishes his obligation with the theater, since he doesn’t have anyone else. The singer agrees to do so without asking for more money, but only if the manager agrees to let him do Drunken Beauty in his last show, which the manager agrees. SXR apologizes to CFT for boring him with tedious backstage squabbles. CFT understands and tells him he is leaving. In a gesture of gratitude for CFT standing up for him, he asks Xiao Lai to let CFT borrow one of his best looking coat, since CFT apparently lost his jacket in the scuffle.

CFT thanks him, to which SXR tells him not to mention those words to him in the future, since he owes a great debt of gratitude for agreeing to repair his costume to the cost of his business and for being attacked in the theater because of him. Xiao Lai buttons the coat and I swear, I wished they had replicated the scene from the novel when it is SXR who buttons the coat. CFT is surprised to hear that SXR knows who he is and agrees to come again to watch SXR performance. CFT leaves the theater, looking gorgeous (ovaries exploding) in the coat. He glances at the poster with a look of intrigue for the man he has just met and I bet his statement about not believing an entertainer could be that charismatic is coming back to haunt him.

At home, his wife is unhappy that he acted like a hero tonight, which he responds that every great hero would show weakness in the presence of a beautiful lady and OMG, I can’t!!!! I can’t believe this was no censored! He yells out in pain, as he tries to laugh at his joke (really, that was joke, lol, ok). Er Nainai tells him to cut the crap and that for all the years they’ve been married, she never that he could fight. Gotta say, he cannot hold his own in a fight, that is for sure, but somehow he fought the ruffians for SXR.

She wonders why he would do it for superstar who probably has seen many fans harmed themselves for him. She adds that if he wasn’t a high status man, SXR would probably not bat an eye toward him. Wait, is she basically calling my lil honeybun a golddigger? Lol, his face in this cut is how I felt

She chides for being a busybody, which he answers that it is not uncommon for a man to get in trouble when fighting, so why is she so mad. Er Nainai reveals her insecurities as she obviously remembers what Mei Xin told her the day before. She knows she is too country for the debonair CFT, having paid a dowry to be his wife due to his circumstances and is lacking compared to the socialites in Beiping, feeling inadequate for him. CFT does not understand why she always bring this ish up, telling her that he is forever grateful to have marry her and remembers all her good qualities. Yeah, this does not sound like a love declaration but you can tell he does have great affection for her and will probably never leave her.

She reminds him of Cha Cha’er status in 1930s China, where noble ladies are not supposed to be seen in public (oh boy, did you forget your husband has a Western outlook about things?). Surprisingly he agrees to listen to her, which shows how much he actually respect her point of view. Seriously, sis, you have a good husband, even if he may not be romantic or see you as his soulmate.

Meanwhile, in la casa de Shang Xirui, the atmosphere is starkly different. Everyone is quiet, but you can tell there is a lot of tension. The troupe is looking their leader, with a lot on their minds. One of the singers broaches the subject of the manager willfully letting the ruffians cause the disturbance and not lifting a finger to help, in an effort to embarrass SXR. She adds that he was rash for telling the manager he will leave. SXR knows the whole hoopla is due to him changing the lyrics causing the attendance to leave before the end of the show leading to a major loss in business for the theater. He realizes this gave an opportunity for the theater to retaliate, hence why he wants to move out. This displeases the actress since they have not found another theater to perform, which could cost them a loss in revenue. Stubbornly, SXR informs that he will simply find another theater to play since he has received many offers. The girl continues to what seems to be the crux of her complaint. She was the one to pick the gift for Jiang Rou Shou and all SXR had to do was to make an appearance at the feast, which he failed to do, causing the Boss Jiang to slam the table in anger. She wants her leader to go and curry some favors toward the old fart Grandmaster, which angers SXR, who tells his crew that he does not need to suck up to a pompous ass like Jiang Rou Shou in order to perform, that his popularity and talent is enough to carry him and his troupe to fame. He orders them to eat.

Talking about a pompous ass, we get to see Asian Crispin Glover, Jiang Dengbao strutting in the street. He is called out by a man who is apparently hiding out. He wants to know what happened during last night’s performance and it turns out he was the one who sent those gangsters to create chaos and harm SXR. The man informs him that his crew was arrested because they encountered Commander Cao’s brother-in-law, Er Ye, and that he barely escaped. Like the coward that he is, Dengbao tells him to act like they never met and scurries out like the bish he is. Unfortunately for him, the cops visit his father and Little Bao knows he is in big doodoo. Senior Jiang asks him if he was behind the ruffians which he quickly denies, but all in vain, since his father knows the truth. The gangsters sold him out as soon as they entered the station. LOL, what kind of villain is he!!! He admits that he did send these ruffians because he cannot stand how arrogant SXR is, but his father is dissatisfied because he acted without a plan, which will only cause SXR to be more popular if his involvement is found out. His father tells him to be patient and to find a way to strike at the right time. His stupid plot only revealed how dumb he is.

CFT and his socialite brother-in-law, Fan Lian enter what appears to be one of the private salons where the wealthy go for entertainment. There, SXR sans makeup is performing on stage. CFT does not recognize him, asking Fan Lian who is this scholarly looking young man on the stage who seems to have drawn a large crowd. Fan Lian informs him that he took a punch for him, much to CFT’s dismay at how different he looks without the costume and makeup, in terms of look, gestures and attitude.

He learns SXR was invited because Fan Lian is one of his biggest fan, but apparently, the singer had always turned him down until today, upon learning that CFT will also be present. OOOOHHHHHH. SXR walks straight toward CFT after finishing his performance, much to crowd’s surprise. They exchange handshakes and SXR once again apologizes for what transpired in the theater the other night. Fan Lian reminds CFT their mahjong game is about to start, and SXR tells them to pay no mind to him. CFT excuses himself and leaves with Fan Lian, while SXR stares at the fine piece of manly man walking away. Gaze away sis, gaze away!

Apparently this is not CFT lucky day at the game, losing to Fan Lian, who teases him for leaving his lucky charm Cha Cha’er . Exasperated for losing, CFT tells them he needs to go to the restroom, which Fan Lian thinks its trick to dash. CFT gives him a look and asks if he is trying to clean out only members of his family instead of the other players on the table. He walks back to the stage where the crowd is urging SXR to do an encore. CFT once again rescues our cinnamon bun from the fans who wants him to continue. SXR tells him it is okay since these spoiled rich kids rarely get a chance to hear Beijing Opera. One of the kids comments how dedicated SXR is to his craft, to which CFT jokes that since the young master’s family operates a brothel, shouldn’t he strip dance to show his dedication. OMG, I love this guy. He invites SXR to follow him onto the terrace.

Rescuing his beauty from rabid fans

Xirui surprised that he has a hero to come rescue him

Sassy Fengtai

Inviting his beauty to follow

Because they need go have their romantic date, bro. Mind your business! The beauty is happy to be swept away

Nah Hah, let them go on their romantic date

There, they have a little tete-a-tete and I swear the entire atmosphere is romantic. The waiter comes with hot tea and pours a cup for SXR when CFT realizes the singer may be wary of being drugged or worse, having his vocal cords damaged and takes away the cup. Showing that he trusts the businessman, he grabs the cup back and drinks from it. He tells CFT during autumn his throat is not in good condition because of the weather.

CFT tells him how surprised to see him, dressed plainly, looking more like a young scholar. He compliments him for the red flower, which he states makes him look mischievous, drawing a chuckle from the singer. SXR informs him that one of the fans gave him the flower while he was performing the Emperor and the Country Girl. He usually does not wear fancy bright clothes off the stage because it will be too much. CFT agrees that his costumes are beautiful and extravagant, costing a lot of money. SXR tells him that since he has no one to take care of, he can afford to spend most of his earnings on beautiful clothing because it enhances his performance and I totally get it! He thinks Er Ye will see him as foolish, but CFT gets that he is a free spirit.

He informs him that what happened with the ruffians was planned and that Dengbao is behind it. He wants to know how SXR wants to handle it. SXR seems unfazed by the information and tells him to set them free after beating the shit out of them. He understands why Dengbao did it, since this is par for the course and the slight toward his dad, however since CFT was also harmed, he is afraid CFT might be unhappy. OMG why are so cute!!!! CFT answers the ruffians should be beaten twice then before being let go, eliciting a genuine laughter from SXR. SXR doesn’t know how to thank him, then removes the flower, gets up and puts it on CFT lapel, tells him that he offers the flower so he can be equally mischievous and I swear I fainted. How is this bromance???

The romantic scene is interrupting by some rude person who informs him that third wheel Fan Lian is calling him out, probably to win more money off him. In a soft voice that would make you melt, CFT tells SXR to come with him as he will protect him from the fans.

They sit together in the mahjong parlor and Fan Lian comments about the flower. CFT tells SXR that Fan Lian does not like to be upstage by someone better looking than him. Is he talking about himself or Shang Lao Ban? If you are me, you know where my mind is going. He invites him to play, but SXR has no idea how, he should simply pick tiles for him. SXR is afraid to do so because he doesn’t want his bae friend to lose and having to fork out some money. Even third wheel Fan Lian urge him to pick tiles for CFT, in the hopes that he will get more money from his brother-in-law. SXR does so and places the tile in the middle of his palm, showing his beautiful hand. It turns out to be a winning tile, which prompt CFT to see SXR as his lucky charm. Our sweet penguin is smiling as bae won big.

Happy penguin

The next day, SXR is once again inspecting his costume when CFT enters the shipping office. He greets SXR and asks if he is going to nitpick him again. He offers to help inspect the embroidered dress, grabbing a flashlight so he can see better. While SXR inspects, showing off his well-manicured hands, which makes me envious, CFT is enthralled by the other man and asks if it is to is pleasing. SXR in his Sheng (male roles) voice responds with an opera lyric that shows his satisfaction. CFT offers to send the dress to his home.

Waiting for his senpai approval

On his way, SXR sees a banner asking for donation to help fund the anti-Japanese effort. We get a glimpse at the arduous training opera members have to go through when Niu Lao Ban comes in to inform him that Kuomintang minister Jin has invited members of the association to sing for the fundraising, SXR is eager to participate and is informed that he will not do so in costume or makeup, and won’t even have his full accompaniment, just a huqin (Chinese violin). Basically he will not be paid for the performance, which does not seemed to bother SXR. He asks if two of his idols, Ning Jiulang and Hou Yukei will make an appearance and is disappointed when he learns they won’t. He picks the opera he will sing, which prompt Niu Lao Ban to urge him to change because the opera might be too boring, but SXR tells him the way he will play will be exciting. Oh this man is quite confident.

At the event, both Fan Lian and CFT are also attending. CFT informs Fan Lian the money will partially go to minister Jin’s pocket and the rest to his brother-in-law, Commander Cao, essentially embezzling the money while making himself look good. Apparently, there is confrontation brewing between the two strongmen.

Fan Lian is not interested in the politics, letting CFT know that SXR will perform, which makes CFT perk up and comments how he will end up an expert in opera for hanging out with both of them.

We see Mr. World, weasel Dengbao talking to one of Minister Jin’s people and you know they are up to no good when Niu Lao Bang is trying to coax the huqin player to stay.

Apparently the man got into an argument with SXR, which pleases Dengbao. Minister Jin witnesses the outburst and tells Niu Lao Ban to let SXR not to mess things up for him or he will shot in place. Dengbao scurries toward his father to let him know the good news. SXR was mad the violinist drank before getting on stage, causing the outburst.

Daddy Jiang sees this as a good opportunity to put SXR in his place.

Minister Jin who has witnessed the outburst with the violinist wants Niu Baiwen to remind SXR that this is his party and anyone who messes with it will be shot in place. No one can be a bigger diva than him.

Daddy overhears the veiled threat and is not pleased.

Meanwhile Niu Lang Bao is fretting while SXR is cool and collected, letting him that he is waiting on an item. We get a full introduction of SXR huge appetite as Xiao Lai brings him a huge pork trotter, which he literally inhales it in the least elegant way possible, showing he is a man after all. How he maintains his figure his beyond me and I am jealous.

Seriously no elegance at all!

Weasel Dengbao calls out to SXR letting him know that his father wants to speak with him

We learn Boss Jiang wants SXR to apologize for missing his birthday (dude, let it go!) and do everything he asks. In return he will be his accompanist. Of course, my lil penguin graciously turns down the offer. Boss Jiang lets him know not to mess with powerful men like Minister Jin who are capable of doing anything for power, which SXR points out Boss Jiang is the same, sending people to harm him only because he didn’t curry favors. No one puts baby in the corner!

While our lil bae sneers at the obvious attempt to undermine him

Here comes the dashing hero, which surprises SXR. CFT tells him that he had planned to stay and listen to his performance, but now that Minister Jin has placed a bounty on SXR’s head, this is no longer possible.

CFT wants to sweep his damsel to his castle...hmm I mean hide him at the cargo’s office until things cool down. SXR tells him that despite CFT being the great hero that he is, SXR is no damsel in distress. He should go back to his table and watch how much of a hero he is. WHAT A LINE!!

Oof, after the amazing premiere episode, the second episode truly kicks things in gear, wasting no time to set up the couple/bosom friends. They meet and sparks fly. The instant attraction, the ease of their conversation, the romantic scene on the terrace which I have seen so many times and never get tired of. CFT seems compel to protect his lil penguin from the spoiled brats who have no regards for his well-being or the corrupt politicians who care more about their image than the music. However, our lil cinnamon is no damsel in distress, he is a man who can take care of himself and intends to show it to his boo friend. Normally a drama would settle and slow its pace in episode 2, but not Winter Begonia. The episode served a purpose to flesh out the characters and show how the budding relationship starts.

#winter begonia #cheng fengtai #shang xirui #episode recap #obsession #bromance #danmei #yaoi #shounenai #andrew yin #huang xiaoming #Yin Zheng

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raleighliving · 4 years ago

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Snowmageddon: A Defense

If you’ve lived in the south during the winter months at any point you’ve probably heard all the jokes and jabs already about how well we tend to handle snow. At the first flake falling, you’ll hear cries of “Shut down the schools” and “Buy bread and milk NOW!” from everyone; northern transplants especially.

Southerners panic at even the hint of snow, clearing store shelves to hoard a years’ worth of groceries and filling jerry cans with enough fuel to cross the Atlantic because the news predicted a half inch dusting overnight. It’s not as prolific or hurtful as other stereotypes but if you’ve grown up hearing it you’re probably tired of the same five jokes like I am.

Not to say it’s completely unwarranted. I’m sure you’ve gone to the grocery store during a particularly cold night and seen gaps in the inventory of various necessities, and fellow North Carolinians forming lines at the gas station to top off before the snow hits.

Even if you’re not from North Carolina, you’ve probably seen the below image of our very own Glenwood avenue from a few years back. Meme’d to hell and back with various edits including references to Star Wars, Ghostbusters, and various post-apocalyptic scenarios.

Glenwood Ave, credit WRAL

So of course, a question I’ve been asked rhetorically from friends across the country is “why?” With a recent snow day passed and another possibly on the horizon, I figured now would be as good a time as any to write about what Raleigh’s deal with snow is and why so many of us dread the icy doom it brings.

Not to say this article excuses the Glenwood Incident or any over obsessive individuals you may run into throughout Raleigh; but instead, I hope to at least provide an explanation for why things are like this. Provide insight for school closures and concerns so that my fellow Raleigh citizenry might seem at least a little less crazy the next time the sky goes gray on a cold Winter’s day.

To understand the issues with Raleigh and snow we need to understand two important aspects of the problem: city maintenance and city planning. While there are many small issues that pervade North Carolina, and especially the city of Raleigh, these two form the crux of our problem.

As you can imagine, any city’s road conditions are linked at least partially to their Department of Transportation’s (DOT) budget. Repairs, litter control, and much more are all accounted for in the state DOT budget; and while North Carolina might not be as small as her neighbors like Georgia she still has to budget accordingly.

How much money is spent on inclement weather for a state that might see snow once every two years is weighed against contracts for road repairs, the much more frequent summer/fall tropical storms, and other projects that need it more.

Of the $5.3 billion 2020 budget, it’s estimated by the NCDOT that we spent 32% of that on road maintenance (and a fraction of that goes towards inclement weather solutions). So a fraction of a fraction of the budget goes towards preparing the roads with brine and equipping plows with a salt/sand traction mix.

Of course, this means we only have so many snow plows and so much brine to spread around the roads. If you get any pre-snow road treatment, you’re likely in more urban areas like Raleigh or you’re by a military base like Fayetteville. Even in those areas, however, pre-snow road treatment and subsequent plowing are usually only afforded to major roads and high traffic areas.

Live in a subdivision or a back road? Then may fortune be ever in your favor, because there’s a good chance that the most you’ll get is somebody laying out InstaMelt from the HOA (if you even get that much). There’s a chance you could drive on Leesville or Glenwood if you can get to them, but that’s IF you can get to them.

The neighborhood where I grew up you couldn’t get out if there was too much snow/ice because all three exits sat atop fairly steep grade hills. Don’t have a heavy enough vehicle or specialized tires? You’re probably going to slide back down or get stuck in a snow drift.

Of course, that’s just my old stomping grounds. But Raleigh is full of various neighborhoods; ranging from cookie cutter suburbs to nightmare hellscapes crafted with form over function kept firmly in mind. For every Longlake or Dominion Park, there’s a road like Sendero Road.

Sendero is a back road attached to a back road with narrow, one-way roads twisting around steep gorges filled with trees and water at various points. The upper-middle class neighborhood is cut in half by a river with an old wooden bridge, and the only reliable turn around point is at the very end of this anxiety coaster.

For schools you have the school buses, which break down super frequently already, with no seat belts transporting kids across the city to school and parents trying to get out of their neighborhoods and dealing with other drivers.

If something gets damaged or someone gets hurt or stranded, all because you had the option to close down but didn’t, then that’s consequences and problems laid at the foot of the school board and superintendent. Parent complaints, insurance rates, and potential lawsuits versus a few days of missed education and a few jokes on twitter; it’s easy to see which bet anyone would take when the sky starts spewing ice crystals.

It’s true, not every neighborhood in Raleigh (and many other southern cities) is a poorly designed nest of streets placed at random using dice; but enough exist throughout that it’s an important consideration for many schools, businesses, and families when they’re preparing for possible winter storms.

Do we shut down schools, or hope the weatherman is right and that the light dusting clears by midday? Do we go and stock up on supplies in case the freezer goes out, or hope that the 2005 ice storm just doesn’t happen ever again? It’s these questions, and previous experiences like the 2005 ice storm that fuel a lot of the paranoia that happens surrounding snow storms.

I don’t expect to change any minds writing this, but hopefully you’ll at least come away with a better understanding of southern snowphobia when you see schools start closing left and right at the first flake, or when you see someone load their cart up with bread and milk.

PS: Apparently, it’s always bread and milk because bread provides energy, nutrition, and doesn’t need to be refrigerated; and milk because you can keep it fresh with snow/outdoor coolers if your fridge dies.

#NC #North Carolina #northcarolina #Raleigh #NCSU #NC State University #Glenwood #Glenwood Ave #Snow #snowday #city planning #Ice #icestorm #icestorm2005 #gifs

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