#aiming to read at minimum five books this year | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

elusivemellifluence · 10 months ago

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Like I do every year, I've made a bunch of graphs analysing my reading habits. I read 101 books/30,778 pages in 2023, much much more detail under the cut.

A bar graph of the total number of books I've read over each of the last ten years. This year it was 101, which is the lowest so far (one less than last year). It's because reading's not my only hobby anymore, I also spent a lot of time writing fanfiction (77,798 words) and studying Mandarin Chinese (I'm speaking actual sentences now 😎). Plus embroidery, but I mostly do that while listening to audiobooks so it probably doesn't make a difference.

A line graph of my total pagecounts over the last ten years. It follows a similar trajectory to the books graph. The 2023 total (30,778 pages) is very slightly higher than the 2022 total (30,760 pages).

A line graph showing my average book length over the last ten years. There's not a lot of variation: the maximum is 356 in 2015 and the minimum is 301 in 2022. This year's average was 305.

The Books

A pie chart showing that I read mostly ebooks (65) followed by audiobooks (25) and paperbacks (11). The proportions are looking a bit different this year, with significantly more audiobooks (I got a scribd subscription) and for once I didn't read a single hardback.

A pie chart showing where the books I read were sourced from. 40 were my own, 36 were borrowed from the library, 24 were from scribd and 1 was borrowed (an audiobook my sister played in the car while we were roadtripping together). I only got scribd in October so I suspect that proportion will be a lot higher next year.

A bar graph showing the length of the books I read. The biggest chunk were in the range of 300-399 pages. There's just one under 99 pages (The Fox's Tower and Other Stories by Yoon Ha Lee at 77 pages) and just one over 600 (A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon at 880 pages). The average length was 305 pages.

A pie chart showing the original language of the books I read. 96 were English, 1 was translated from Korean and 4 were translated from Chinese. I'm glad I read at least a little literature in translation, but I'd like a wider variety of source languages next year.

A bar graph showing the publication dates of my books. The vast, vast majority were from the 2020s (66), distantly followed by the 2010s (26). Then the 2000s had 5 and the 1980s, 1960s, 1930s and 1920s each had one. The oldest book I read was Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf, from 1925, and the newest was A Power Unbound by Freya Marske, published November 7 2023. Every year I see these stats and go "So much recency bias, I should fix that! Or should I? Is it snobbery to value new books less than old ones? I like diverse books and there are obviously far more of those getting published nowadays, and engaging with books as they come out is important to authors. But am I getting caught up in the capitalism machine by focusing so much on what's shiny and new?". In the end I'll probably keep reading mostly new books but maybe aim for a bit of a wider spread, and at least something from before the 20th century.

A horizontal bar graph showing how I rated the books on a scale of 1-5 stars (including half stars). My most common rating was 4 stars and the average was 3.75. The lowest rating was a single 2. I had only 9 five star reads this year, and 2 of those were rereads. That's by far the lowest number of five star books since I started keeping track, no wonder it felt like a bit of a bummer year. Hopefully in 2024 I'll find some more books that knock my socks off.

Since the number of five star books was so low, I can just list them here: A Restless Truth and A Power Unbound by Freya Marske (historical fantasy/mystery/queer romance), Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley (YA contemporary thriller about the repatriation of stolen indigenous artefacts), Into the Riverlands by Nghi Vo (from a series of cosy fantasy novellas about the power of stories), Burning Roses by S.L. Huang (fantasy novella about Red Riding Hood and Hou Yi the archer from Chinese mythology as middle-aged sapphics with a lot of regrets), Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage by Rachel E. Gross (nonfiction dive into the medical and cultural history surrounding the vagina, clitoris and ovaries, the title sounds like it could be some t*rf shit but it's not, there's a whole chapter about the development of vaginoplasty surgery) and He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan (historical fantasy about fucked up, terrible, deeply compelling queer people fighting for the throne in medieval China).

A pie chart showing the target age of my books. 75 were adult, 23 were young adult and 3 were children's books. I also read some baby/toddler books for babies/toddlers I know but didn't record them in my stats. I loved An A-Z of Australian Bush Creatures by Myke Mollard and so did my almost 3 year old cousin, the illustrations are gorgeous.

A pie chart showing that 96 of the books were new reads and 5 were rereads. Similar proportions to last year.

A pie chart showing the genres of books I read. The most common was fantasy, as usual, with 48 books. It was followed by science fiction (18), romance (17), historical fiction (15), contemporary (12), nonfiction (11), mystery (7), memoir (4), literary fiction (3), magic realism (3) and thriller (2). I usually have a couple of horror, but not this year.

This one is new this year: a pie chart showing the books' status in a series. 53 were standalones, 13 were series starters, 34 were sequels and 1 was an omnibus.

The Authors

A pie chart showing the authors' gender. 64 were by cis women, 21 by cis men, 9 by nonbinary people, 4 by trans men, 3 by trans women and 1 by an author of unknown gender. I'd like to read more trans authors next year.

A pie chart showing the authors' nationality. As per usual, the USA was the most common with 51 books (it's only barely a majority). It's followed by the UK and Ireland (19), Australia (10), China (5), Canada (4), Singapore (3), France (2) and Japan, South Korea, Pakistan, Mexico, Zimbabwe, Germany and the Dominican Republic with 1 each. Next year I'd like to read more Australian books, since I am Australian - my own country should be at least in second place.

A pie chart showing the authors' race. As usual, I was aiming to read two authors of colour for each white author. This year was the first time white authors weren't the largest single group - there were 32, and 42 Asian authors.

The Characters

A pie chart showing the protagonists' genders. There were 50 cis women, 30 cis men, 6 nonbinary people, 3 trans women and 2 trans men. It's similar proportions to the authors, and I'd also like to read more trans characters next year.

A pie chart about how many protagonists were people of colour. 59 were, 25 were not, 4 characters were impossible to meaningfully classify in these terms (a dragon, an orc, a koala and a cyborg) and 1 character's race was unclear.

A pie chart showing the protagonists' orientations. Straight characters were the most common but not the majority - there were 40 of them, and a total of 56 queer or indeterminate characters. 29 were gay/lesbian, 12 were bi/pan, 8 were unclear, 5 were ace/aro and 2 were queer/questioning. I'm always pleased when the straight characters are outnumbered.

That's all for this year ... on to 2024!

#read 2023

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capitalhiremanagement · 4 months ago

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How to Become an Uber Driver in London

If you aim to become a PCO driver, you might wonder how to start working as an Uber driver.

This is a great move because Uber is a prime opportunity for private hire drivers in London, boasting millions of passengers. As an Uber driver, you'll quickly find ample PCO work.

Moreover, Uber partners, as the company calls its drivers, enjoy additional benefits such as earnings guarantees, holiday pay, and free insurance (including sickness and personal injury coverage).

Despite competitors, Uber is the only ride-hailing app that provides drivers face-to-face support for obtaining a PCO licence. The Uber driver app is so well-regarded that you will likely use other apps only occasionally.

This article outlines the requirements for becoming an Uber driver, the basics of obtaining a PCO licence, and tips on selecting an Uber-approved car with the right insurance.

1. Check Your Eligibility

First, ensure you meet the basic Uber driver requirements:

A UK driving licence (Uber insists you convert EU or EEA licences to UK ones)

At least 21 years old with a minimum of 3 years of driving experience in the UK or EU/EEA

No serious driving offences on your record (Full list of deal-breakers here )

A suitable car and insurance (you can start registration without these)

A Private Hire Driver Licence (commonly called a PCO licence)

A bank account in your name or a company you own

2. Sign Up with Uber in London

Next, register your interest in becoming an Uber driver through a short form or the Uber driver app using just an email address and a smartphone.

You can’t start driving until all paperwork is complete, but this initiates the process. Then, book an Uber Ignition appointment at the Greenlight hub in Tower Hill for a detailed explanation of the process.

You can either upload basic personal documents (such as bank statements) into the Uber system now or choose to do it later.

Did you know?

The Uber Ignition programme guides you through becoming an Uber driver, including free training sessions to prepare for TfL tests.

3. Apply for a Private Hire Driver's Licence

The key document needed is a PCO licence, issued by the local council where you will work, handled by TfL in London.

This licence is essential for the job. If you already have a PCO licence, skip to step five. New drivers should note that this takes months of PCO licence process. Here's a summary of the application:

4. How to Get a PCO Licence

Applying for a PCO licence involves two main parts: the checks and the tests.

The Checks:

Medical check (This is a form usually completed by your own doctor)

Background check (subscribe to the DBS Update Service)*

Right to work check (UK/Irish citizens can use basic ID documents here)**

*The disclosure barring service (DBS) is a criminal record check to protect passenger safety.

** Other nationalities can easily apply for a share-code or use immigration documents.

*** New drivers must only confirm they understand this. Renewals need a tax-check code.

Did you know?

Since February 2024, all private hire drivers must pay an annual subscription to the DBS Update Service for continuous registration.

The Tests:

Speaking and listening test (English assessment)

Safety, Equality and Regulatory Understanding (SERU) test

Topographical Skills test (London geography and map reading)

Create an online TfL account to start the process. Complete the checks before submitting your application, and take the tests later, often all in one day at TfL offices.

Did you know?

From 1 April 2023, new Uber drivers must pass all of these TfL tests before they get a PCO licence. For existing Uber drivers who never completed them, there is still wiggle room .

How much does it cost to get a PCO licence?

TfL says the full cost to apply for a Private Hire Driver Licence is £477, plus the price of a medical check. Various private agencies now offer to help new PCO drivers with a licence application but it’s wiser to stick to official channels (e.g. Uber Ignition) to avoid these extra costs.

5. Start Onboarding with Uber

With a PCO licence, upload any remaining documents into the Uber app at the Greenlight hub. Complete basic online training and provide:

Proof of identity (e.g., passport)

UK Driving Licence (Original plastic card)

DVLA Electronic Counterpart Check Code (Get yours here )

Private Hire Driver Licence (PCO Licence)

Profile photo (taken at Greenlight Hub)

Recent bank statement

Typically, it takes about a week for your personal information to show up in the Uber app as a new driver. It's advisable to wait for this confirmation before you begin paying for a PCO car and rideshare insurance.

6. Choose an Uber-Approved Car

Your car must meet Uber's requirements and local licensing authority standards. In London, TfL requires all private hire vehicles to be Zero Emission Capable (ZEC) and meet Euro 6 standards for new licenses.

Opting for an electric vehicle (EV) can simplify this process. Uber offers incentives for EVs, like the Uber PowerUp Package, which can save eligible drivers at least £5,000 on an electric PCO car. Additionally, EVs avoid the London Congestion Charge until the end of 2025.

7. Arrange Private Hire Licensing and Insurance

Capital Hire Management Ltd., founded in 2009, has expanded to become one of London's top PCO car hire companies. In the 13 years we have been with the company, we have assisted more than 5000 drivers with their PCO travels. Being a company known for offering top-notch customer service, we are devoted to helping more drivers reach their goals as a business with a stellar reputation for providing excellent customer service.

8. Upload Your Car Documents

Submit your vehicle documents to Uber, including:

Private Hire Vehicle Licence (PHVL)

Logbook V5C or (AFRL certificate)

Recent MOT (not needed for new cars)

Private Hire Insurance certificate

Hire Agreement or Permission letter (provided by Capital Hire Management ltd.)

Did you know?

Capital Hire Management drivers receive complete assistance with uploading vehicle documents to Uber. If any unexpected administrative issues arise, our team is skilled at resolving them promptly.

9. Activate Your Uber Account

After your documents are approved, your Uber driver status will change to 'active,' allowing you to start earning money as a PCO driver. The Uber driver app is user-friendly, and you can begin accepting jobs and transporting passengers immediately.

By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to a successful career as an Uber driver in London with Capital Hire Management Ltd.

About Capital Hire management

Capital Hire Management Ltd. is London's best PCO car rental company, which provides top-notch vehicles and exceptional services to professional drivers like you! If you are looking for affordable car hire for PCO car rental please visit our website https://www.capitalhiremanagement.co.uk/ to explore our latest fleet.

our excellence is validated by driver ratings on Trustpilot. we offer access to new or recent model cars along with comprehensive training and support to enhance your profitability, safety, and overall satisfaction as an Uber driver.

Visit our London Hub located at 56 High Street Wealdstone Harrow HA3 7AF, London, reach out via email to us, or give us a call at 0208426005 to get started.

#car hire #car rental #car pco #car rent #pco #capitalhire #capitalhiremanagementltd.

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sushmitamukherjee · 1 year ago

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5 Essential Women's Health Tips Every Woman Should Know

Women's health is a crucial topic that should be discussed more often. Taking care of your body and mind is essential for living a healthy, balanced life. There are many tips to keep in mind when it comes to women’s health, but here are five essentials every woman should know:

1) Get Regular Check-Ups: All women need to get regular check-ups with their gynaecologist in Indore or primary care physician at least once per year (or more frequently if recommended). During these visits, you can discuss any current issues you may have as well as receive necessary screenings such as mammograms and pap smears which help detect potential problems early on so they can be treated quickly and effectively.

2) Eat Healthy Foods: Eating healthy foods helps maintain proper nutrition levels which keep our bodies functioning at optimal levels throughout the day. Focus on eating plenty of fruits and vegetables while limiting processed foods with added sugars or fats whenever possible; this will help reduce your risk of developing chronic illnesses like heart disease or diabetes later down the line too!

3) Exercise Regularly: Physical activity plays an integral role in maintaining overall good health – not only does it help us stay fit physically but also mentally by reducing stress hormones like cortisol which can lead to depression over time if left unchecked! Try incorporating different types of exercise into your routine such as walking/running outdoors, strength training indoors using weights/machines, etc., yoga classes online, etc., depending upon what works best for you – there isn't one size fits all when it comes exercising regularly so find something that makes sense within YOUR lifestyle first before anything else!

Also Read: Laparoscopic Surgeon in Indore

4) Get Enough Sleep: Getting enough restful sleep each night is critical for keeping our energy up during the day while allowing our brains some much-needed downtime from processing information constantly - aim for 7-9 hours minimum depending upon individual needs & preferences though most adults typically need 8 hours total per 24 hour period ideally speaking anyway... Additionally, try creating relaxing bedtime routines such as reading books before going off lights out - this will signal “sleep mode" better than scrolling through social media apps right up until last minute dozing off times ;)

5) Practice Self-Care: Self-care includes activities we do just because we want them done—not necessarily because someone told us they were important (though sometimes those same activities end up being beneficial!). Examples include taking hot baths after long days of working hard.

#gynaecologist in Indore

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pilgrimbenham · 2 years ago

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7 Book Suggestions for 2023

WIth every new year comes new goals and (failed) resolutions. I set out at the beginning of each year to intentionally select books that I desire to read. Sometimes I re-read a book I’ve read in years’ past that is worth revisiting every few years or so, but usually I have new list with each new year. My goal every year is to ambitiously read 52 books, and most of the time I get close but still don’t reach that mark. (Keep in mind I am also in seminary and have assigned reading each semester - usually 3-5 books minimum!).

If you are unsure where to start, or you aren’t an avid reader, I would dissuade you from aiming for a book a week! Instead, start where you are. In fact, here are 7 Book Reading Suggestions for 2023, including some suggested books (click on each title to go to the Amazon link)! Seven books is absolutely attainable, no matter how busy you are, and for most of us is at least a good primer to begin a year of avid reading!

A Biography

Biographies can be a great source of encouragement and perspective for us as believers. We see how others walked by faith, prayed, and made decisions.

Some biographies worth reading include:

Spurgeon the Pastor: I read this in 2022 and it was one of the most simple and helpful biographies from the lens of pastoral ministry!

Bonhoeffer: I read this biography several years ago and am still encouraged by his boldness and focus on discipleship!

John G. Paton: After hearing some amazing things about Paton, I’m planning to read this autobiography of the pioneer missionary to Vanuatu this upcoming year!

A Classic

Classics are helpful because they have stood the test of time and broaden our understanding of the world and get us out of our modern context. Christian classics are great, but so are some secular works, including:

Brave New World: Since this is on almost every “must-read classics” list, I plan to read this in 2023.

The Lord of the Rings: This goes without saying! As great as the movies are, there is nothing that compares with these novels.

The Pilgrim’s Progress: not only am I named after this classic allegory, but it is a must-read for every Christian! I recommend getting the audio book, so you can hear the opening poem in its unabridged glory. Bunyan was a skillful poet.

A Fictional Novel

I am a big fan of fiction audiobooks and am often listening to sci-fi or fantasy while I’m driving (I alternate by listening to podcasts!). Fiction helps give our minds a break from the mundane and stressful, and if well-written can help us learn more about the world and the people in it. I’m going to leave this category up to you to find a good fictional book.

A Book on Church History

One of the concerns I have with today’s church is her failure to know and understand what has happened through the ages, from Pentecost to today. I recommend:

In the Year of Our Lord: Sinclair Ferguson is one of my favorite pastor-writers, and certainly one of my favorite Scottish preachers! This book takes a chapter for each century and gives the bigger picture of what was happening, with lessons we can apply today.

2000 Years of Christ’s Power: this is something I’m beginning in 2023 and will take a few years to work through. It is massive (five volumes) and this work by Needham should be on every pastor’s bookshelf.

A Devotional Book

Devotionals are books that help encourage us in our devotion to Christ. Often they are 30 days, but sometimes can cover the entire 365-day year! Here are some of my favorites:

The Five Solas of the Reformation: Of course I had to include the book that Dan Sardinas and I wrote in 2021! This is a helpful, 30-day guide through to understand we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, according to the Scriptures alone, to the glory of God alone!

Truth For Life: Alastair Begg’s annual devotional is packed with great truth and I’ve enjoyed working through it this past year!

New Morning Mercies: This simple, Gospel-centered devo may be Paul Tripp’s best book. There is always something convicting and yet encouraging.

A Book on Ecclesiology (the church)

This is important because as believers we must have a solid understanding of what the Bible means when it says “church”. I’m currently nearing completion of my latest book “Hail the King”, which is both a theological look at the kingdom of God, as well as a call to action for the body of Christ. It releases on Ash Wednesday, February 22, and I hope you have a chance to pick up a copy!

Any of the 9 Marks Building Healthy Churches Books: These short books, on a variety of topics, are incredibly helpful to gain an understanding of what comprises a healthy church. Start with “Church Membership”, which we give to all our new members at our church.

A Book about God's Attributes

As believers, this part of our bookshelves should be the most worn and well-trodden. When January 1 opens every year, I always make it my aim to complete my first book that year reading a book about God’s attributes. Some great options include:

Knowing God: J.I. Packer’s summary of God’s attributes is powerful!

The Attributes of God: A.W. Pink’s classic is worth a re-read every few years! I also recommend his “The Sovereignty of God”, which I read this past January.

The Holiness of God: an instant classic by R.C. Sproul!

I also encourage you to download “Goodreads” (a phone app) to help track your progress. Your friends can leave notes of encouragement for you, and you can also review the books you’ve read! May this new year be the best year of reading yet!

Honorable mentions:

-A Book about Christian living

-A Book written by a Puritan

-A Book written this past year

-A Book you’ve read before

-A Book you disagree with theologically, to help sharpen your argument

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n0isy-gh0st · 2 years ago

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Prior & "gamble" for the writing prompts!

Hoooo boy here we go, have some angst o3o Slang used: -Queanie: homosexual -Spawny: lucky -Coppers: pennies -Old Man: Commanding Officer of a squadron

Bomb Roulette Swinderby, England 1942

Spread out on the table before the six pilots is a map of Berlin. An old, wrinkled one, resembling the maps used in the Commanding Officer’s afternoon briefings. The city center has been crudely sectioned into a numbered grid in either red or black ink. The first time Prior had seen the strange DIY craft he wasn’t certain what he was looking at—of course, that all changed when he saw a group of pilots huddling around it, whooping and laughing and chain-smoking before his first operation briefing. Now, in the two years year since he’d joined Bomber Command, young Flying Officer Prior Finamore has learned to join them at this little round table and participate in their game of bomb roulette. After all, what other choice did he have? Day after day, second after second, Prior knows he must play the part, lest anyone finds out they have a queanie in their squadron, or worse—a bombardier who doesn’t like bombing.

He feigns enthusiasm as he sits down at his place, dressed in his battle dress blues and already well into smoking his fag. The air is thick with it, thick as a London pea-souper. The pilot beside him, Barron, who is playing croupier, slaps him on the back and greets him. “Aye, Crow, welcome to the shite show. I hope you’re feeling spawny. Right lads, put your bets in. You know the rules, three pennies minimum for inside and outside bets, five pennies maximum outside.”

Hoagy places a straight bet on 17 (Altes Museum).

Sawn Off Locky places a corner bet on 7/8/10/11 (Anhalter Bahnhof station).

Lucky Breeze places a line bet on 31-36 (from Landsberger Straße to Lausitzer Platz).

Fish places a straight bet on 24 (Bürgeramt Rathaus Mitte).

… And Crow reluctantly places a straight bet on 22 (Admiralbrücke bridge).

Prior’s bet rouses some Ooohs from the surrounding pilots.

“A likely guess, methinks,” says Fish. “You’re thinking just like Bomber Harris.”

“And you’ve all picked stations and museums, of all places. As though the Old Man has a grudge of the aesthetic nature,” Prior says.

“Well, if you ask me,” begins Barron.

“Which I bloody didn’t,” quips Prior.

“Taking out landmarks is a matter of morale, and taking out bridges and highways is a matter of strategy. Both of them equally effective, dare I say.”

“Pathos and logos,” says Hoagy.

“We get it, you all read books,” says Fish.

“Well, here’s something the books won’t tell you: Crow will once more walk away with a pocket full of coppers, because whatever he says he’s going to hit, he bloody hits,” says Barron.

“Don’t jinx it,” Prior laughs, elbowing him.

“Aye chum, I’d very much like you to jinx it, actually,” laughs Fish. “He’s been on the winning streak for too long now!”

“Or maybe he’s just damn good at aiming bombs,” Barron replies. “Anyway, we’ll see what the Old Man gives us tonight, and then we’ll come back after debrief and see just how we’ve done. Well, hopefully all of us will come back.” "What happens if a dead man wins?" asks Lucky Breeze.

“It’s gonna be Fish,” says Hoagy.

“Oh bugger off!” Fish retorts, tossing his fag at the airman across the table from him. “You’d like that wouldn’t you? But you lot will never get rid of me!”

As the group erupts into laughter and banter around him, Prior remains cemented in his chair and staring at nothing. The raucousness fades, leaving him only with the sound of a pounding heart and static in his mind. This evening, he can’t find it in himself to joke and jest with the others. Instead, the words that were just spoken to him feel like ice in the palms of his hands, and their chill begins to spread like someone’s injected him with fear:

Maybe he’s just damn good at aiming bombs.

This will be his twentieth operation. The twentieth time he’ll wonder if he’ll come back alive, or if he’ll be writing another letter to another family the next day. The twentieth time he’ll commit murder. Crow begins to bounce his knee anxiously, the cold reaching his heart despite the fag smouldering between his fingers.

How fitting, he thinks, that a group of crows is called a murder.

#my writing #ask #writing prompt #prior #staying aloft #ww2 #historical fiction #bomber command #in which a group of pilots theorize about what it means to bomb cities

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forever--rain · 4 years ago

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A Master List of Ever’s Fics

G-Rated:

Wind-Songs in the Pines

Pairings: Zutara, minor Sukka

Summary: Life on idyllic Kyoshi Island hasn't been the same for Katara since her mother passed away. Still, she has high hopes for the future: college, a career, world travel... Confident in her intelligence and armed with a keen sense of confidence, Katara aims to accomplish all of this and more. But always on the periphery is Zuko with his knife-sharp intelligence and his knack for showing up whenever there's trouble. Katara knows what he represents, and it's nothing that bodes well for her plans.

Critical Information: This is an Anne of Green Gables-inspired AU! (No background knowledge of AOGG necessary.) REALLY fun, super sweet! Give this baby some love!

Status: In progress

The Answer

Pairings: Zutara

Summary: Mai, Katara, and the moments where yes was not the answer. (And the moment where it was the only answer.)

Status: Completed; short one-shot

T-Rated:

All the Lights are Shining

Pairings: Zutara, minor Sukka, minor Tyzula

Summary: The amber-eyed woman can’t help the smirk that tugs at her lips. She’s looking to help Zuko to do something of a one-eighty in his love life. That means any girl he gets involved with must also be a one-eighty from Mai. Though Azula treasures Mai, loves her dearly, even, she and Zuko had been a poor match, a miscalculation that Azula does not intend to make again.

“Listen,” Azula says with a sigh. “He comes off surly and prickly, but he’s not. He’s shy and he lacks the confidence to talk to pretty girls. If you’re interested in him, you’ll have to make the first move.”

Blue Eyes scoffs a laugh. “I’ve dated guys like your brother before,” she says. “I won’t make that mistake again. Hard pass.”

Zuko just wants to get through the winter solstice without acknowledging its existence. Thanks to Uncle, Azula, and a secret society, he may just end up getting into the holiday spirit and finding exactly what he wasn't looking for in the first place.

Critical Information: Rating may change

Status: In progress

Your Soul has Crushed Mountains

Pairings: Minor Zutara, minor Sukka

Summary: “It never turns out to be what people make it out to be does it?” she says. “Life, I mean. Five years ago we were all just trying to make it to the next day in one piece and now…”

“Now we don’t know what to do with the multitude of days that follow.”

____

Or: Five years post-war, six young women learn the advantages of being what and who they are.

Critical Information: A post-war fix-it fic that focuses on female friendships and giving the ladies of ATLA better endings than the creators gave them. Because we all know Bry.ke shafted them. It’s my intention to keep romantic storylines to a minimum, but there will be some because I am a hopeless Zutara and Sukka shipper.

Status: In progress

Partners in Learning

Pairings: Zutara

Summary: All of Izumi’s teachers prior to this one have used the term “partners in learning.” But never before has it seemed true. And now, here he is, eyeballs deep in markers and glitter glue, somehow the most involved parent in the classroom.

----

In which Izumi idolizes her new teacher and Zuko falls a little bit in love.

Critical Information: single dadko; minor character death

Status: Completed; long one-shot

Kisses

Pairings: Zutara

Summary: A series of Zutara kisses inspired by prompts given to me on Tumblr.

Status: In progress

Ten Strides in the Right Direction

Pairings: Zutara, minor Sukka

Summary: These coming days will bring darkness and destruction, but if these little flecks of happiness continue to blaze through the bleak blackness, then nothing that is bad will prevail.

Critical Information: Book 3 AU

Status: Completed

M-Rated

Covered in You

Pairings: Zutara, mentions of Sukka

Summary: Zuko can’t keep a Southern Water Tribe ambassador to save his life. Ten years post-war and he’s gone through eight of them. They all keep leaving to get married and start families. The Fire Lord is getting desperate.

Critical Information: Ambassador Katara and Fire Lord Zuko; post-canon fix-it; so much pining it’s a forest...like...a REALLY dense forest

Status: Completed

Lost in You Still

Pairings: Zutara, minor Sukka, minor Kata.ang, minor Ma.iko

Summary: Something unknown and unspoken is entombed underneath it all. It’s calling to her, daring her to burrow deeper, enticing her with the temptation to unbury something well-hidden and deeply felt. And Zuko has long been such an enigma, such a beacon in her life that Katara dares, just for one moment, to reach out and touch that unknown emotion, brushing the edges of it with her subconscious.

____

The night after the final Agni Kai sends out shockwaves that ripple into the future and demolish several idealized views of destiny.

Critical Information: Infidelity, major character death, post canon fix-it except I set everything on fire and it hurts. If you’d like to read this and want a hand to hold, my ask box and DMs are open.

Status: Complete

A Delicate Balance

Pairings: Zutara, minor Sukka

Summary: Katara is a person of layers and complexity as much as Zuko is, but something about the way he casts his golden eyes at her often makes her feel like he can peel her defenses back and see right to the center of her soul. Exchanging one glance with him can induce her to feel utterly bare and startlingly seen—for everything that she is.

There are some things Katara doesn’t talk to Zuko about. The way she feels when he looks at her is one of them.

Or, the twenty-four hours that change the dynamics of a relationship.

Critical Information: Modern AU, friends to lovers

Status: Completed

#evergreen writes #zutara

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ace-trainer-risu · 4 years ago

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what are your fave diana wynne jones books that aren’t howl’s moving castle??

Oh whattt a lovely and fun question which I was definitely not secretly hoping someone would ask!!!! Yay!!

Hm okay so, not specifically in order, probably my top fave Diana Wynne Jones books would be:

Deep Secret! Deep Secret is not just one of my favorite books by DWJ but one of my favorite books full stop! It’s so good. Basically, the premise is that there is an infinite series of interconnected worlds, some of which have magic and some of which don’t, at the center of which is a vast interdimensional magical empire. Magic in the multiverse is overseen by an organization of magicians called Magids and there must always be a specific number of Magids in existence. When Rupert, a young Magid living on Earth, discovers that his mentor has died (ish) he becomes unexpectedly responsible for finding and training the next Magid, which is extremely inconvenient timing for him because the aforementioned magical empire is on the brink of civil war and chaos and its his job to stop it. And also almost all of this takes place at...a science fiction convention. It’s amazing. I have read this book minimum four (probably more) times and every time it’s absolutely delightful and hilarious. I would like to go to the sci fi convention in this novel more than anything. It’s such a good read and its one of her few novels which is specifically aimed at adults, so I would EXTREMELY recommend it. Plus the romance in it is extremely good...not exactly enemy-to-lovers but more like ‘annoys-the-shit-out-of-each-other’ to lovers. (**One note about this one...there’s a few very briefly mentioned side characters who are gender noncomforming and even tho they are actually portrayed very positively, it’s not necessarily ideal and 100% respectful (basically the protags comment on them being very beautiful and nice but also keep trying to guess their “real” gender). Additionally there’s a different briefly mentioned side character who is fat who isn’t portrayed very nicely. Both of these are brief incidents, just wanted to provide a warning for them)

Dark Lord of Derkholm - Okay this one is weirdly hard to summarize but it’s about this magical fantasy world which has been taken overy and is being used as a tourist destination by a non-magical world (heavily implied to be Earth) for people who want to role play at being in a classic high fantasy story, including fighting and killing THE DARK LORD...who is really just a random magician pretending to be evil. The inhabitants of the fantasy world do not enjoy this and are trying desperately to stop the tours, but unfortunately according to a magical oracle, their best hope of stopping the tours is this year’s Dark Lord, a hapless farmer magician named Derk, and his, um, eccentric family consisting of his glamorous wife, seven children (of whom five are griffins and one is a bard) and a simply improbable amount of magical animals. And also there is a very good dragon. I think Derkholm is so great as a novel b/c it’s a very funny, loving but sharp, parody of high fantasy stories...but a lot of the time parodies only function as parodies but not as good stories in their own right, you know? But this novel completely functions as a story too, and in fact the first time I read at maybe age nine or ten, the high fantasy parody went completely over my head...but I still loved it. I also really love that this novel is very accessible to all ages, I think I enjoy reading it as an adult just as much as I did as a kid, which is rare. For anyone who has read Howl’s Moving Castle but nothing else by DWJ and isn’t sure where to start, I think this is a great place to start. (TW: There’s a brief, non-explicit scene which has implied sexual assault.)

Fire and Hemlock - This may be the most controversial one since it features a romance with a significant age gap where the two characters meet when one is a child and the other an adult. And I fully agree that that’s :/ and normally that trope is NOT my thing but it doesn’t come off at all creepy in this story imo, and if you think you can deal with that then this is a very weird, atmospheric, cool book about storytelling and fairy tales and growing up. The short summary (this is another hard to summarize one) is that as a child, Polly encounters and strikes up a friendship and correspondence with a young man, Tom, which mainly consists of the two of them jointly making up a silly, ongoing fairy tale type story...but things get weird when parts of their story start to come true in real life. I’ve only read this one twice but it really stuck with me and in fact just describing it here...really makes me want to read it again!

The Chrestomanci Series - So all of the above are either specifically aimed at adults or a general audience whereas the Chrestomanci series is aimed at children, mainly a middle grade type audience. And tbh I started reading them as a kid (fond memory - I bought an omnibus of the first two with my allowance money...b/c it had a cat on the cover!) so I don’t know what it would be like to first read these as an older teen or an adult. BUT. Honestly they are really good and would be a quick read so I do still recommend them. There’s seven overall, with th seventh being a collection of short stories, and they’re only semi-chronological so the reading order isn’t vital. My recommended order (b/c this the order I read them in, haha) is Charmed Life, The Lives of Christopher Chant, The Magicians of Caprona, Witch Week, The Pinhoe Egg, Conrad’s Fate, and then Mixed Magic you can read whenever you want so long as you read it after Charmed Life and The Magicians of Caprona. So the very core premise of it is not dissimilar to Deep Secret - there’s an infinite series of worlds/universes and there’s a magician, called the Crestomanci in this case, who is responsible for making sure magic isn’t abused across the multiverse. The Chrestomanci is an extremely powerful enchanter who has nine lives, and the novels are various semi-connected stories about the adventures of Chrestomanci as an adult and child. Chrestomanci is a title so it’s not always the same person, but for the majority of the stories it is the same guy and he’s...the best/worst...He’s this extremely handsome, charismatic, powerful enchanter who is very good at his job, loves his wife a lot, wears very beautiful clothes and makes, um, questionable life choices and is very annoying to everyone. I’ve thought about this very hard and I believe that he’s what happens when you take a fundamentally chaotic good person and make him do a fundamentally lawful good job; yes, he’s going to do it and do it well, but he is going to do it in the most chaotic, ridiculous way possible, and he IS going to die at an ALARMING rate, doing things that would not normally kill a person, such as playing cricket and trying to catch stray cats. He also, as previously mentioned, frequently wears very dramatic silk dressing gowns with elaborate embroidery, which the protag of Charmed Life finds deeply alarming. It’s very odd to me how these books don’t seem to be well known, because the Chrestomanci books were some of my absolute favorite books as a child. I still have my omnibus editions of the first four novels and they are very worn and very beloved. And it’s so WILD to me that I don’t think I have ever talked to someone who also read those as a kid! Like I’m not saying those people don’t exist, I’m sure I just haven’t met them, but that’s so weiiirddddd to me. If I bring up Tamora Pierce or Garth Nix or other authors of weird, eccentric children’s fantasy novels to other avid childhood consumers of fantasy, people usually know what I mean, but Chrestomanci and its just..crickets. Is it b/c she’s British? Anyway all of the Chrestomanci books are very degrees of good, but if I had to pick a favorite, I think, controversial choice here, it would be Conrad’s Fate. Particularly in terms of recommendations to others, Conrad’s Fate works as a standalone and, unlike the other books in the series, it’s aimed more at a YA audience, so if you wanted to read a Chrestomanci novel without getting into the whole series, that’s a good way to go. It’s about a boy, Conrad, who is told that he has a terrible, possibly fatal Fate awaiting him unless he goes to work as a servant at a wealthy, and weird, estate neighboring his town, at which place he encounters things including color changing livery, an extremely annoying teenage Chrestomanci, and the greatest liminal space house EVER. It’s like a combination of an upstairs/downstairs Downton Abbey type social drama with bizarre fantasy shenanigans. How could that not be good??

Also as Honorable Mentions - A Sudden and Wild Magic and The Time of the Ghost. A Sudden and Wild Magic is fun b/c it’s one of her few works aimed specifically at adults and it’s (gasp) a little bit NAUGHTY which I was very surprised and delighted by when I read it. (This may seem like an unfair statement considering that Deep Secret fully has an orgy in it, but Rupert is so fundamentally unnaughty of a character that he completely unnaughtifies the whole novel, whereas Sudden and Wild Magic embraces being a (little bit) naughty.) The Time of the Ghost on the other hand is weird and haunting and creepy and atmospheric. I only read it once but it’s one of those novels you just think about periodically and go “wait what the fuck that was a weird novel” (Also known as the “Garth Nix” effect)

#the ask and the answer #i spent...too long writing this out but i love talking about her novels soo muchhhh #that i couldn't help myself!!!!!!!!#diana wynne jones #things you didn't care to know about veronica

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redsamuraiii · 4 years ago

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5 Japanese Philosophies Self Help Books You Could Read

Pic : Pinterest

In recent years, society has gathered pace, our stress levels have gone through the roof and we have become increasingly obsessed with money, job titles, appearances and the endless accumulation of stuffs that we don’t really need. There is a growing amount of discontent as we push ourselves harder to achieve the ideal image of perfection that we overwhelmed ourselves.

While social media is helpful in many ways, in enabling you to connect with people from the comfort of your homes and retrieving countless information, it furthers disconnect you from the real world, offline and we inevitably compare ourselves to our peers making ourselves feel miserable and wasting more time scrolling aimlessly on our phones going further into the abyss.

People have begun doing digital detox to get away from it all, to gather our own thoughts and yearn for a much simpler and meaningful life, where we could be liked and loved for who we are as a person. A life built around what really matters to us. I’ve tried reading several self-help books but none of them touched my soul as the five books I am about to recommend you to read.

The thing about most books I tried reading is that the authors boldly claimed how their books will change your life immediately. While these five books made no such claims but merely relates to the acceptance of the transience of all things, and the experiencing of life with all the senses, inspiring you to make tiny incremental steps that will eventually change your life in due time.

They are written by authors who are either living or working in Japan that they have learnt several aspects of Japanese cultural life that they believe could be adopted elsewhere, whether it’s changing a mindset, finding time for a cup of tea or a walk in nature, and other techniques that can be really useful to those who felt overworked, anxious, burnt out and emotionally exhausted.

1 | Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life

A well written book by Beth Kempton, which makes you feel as if you are going on a journey in Japan with her, starting in Kyoto, to discover the history and mysteries behind the Japanese philosophy of Wabi Sabi, which teaches you how to live with the rhythm of nature and see the beauty of imperfection, being gentler to ourselves and decelerating our lives.

To put it simply, it’s a whole new way of looking at the world and your life, inspired by centuries-old Japanese wisdom. With roots in Zen and the way of tea, it is more relevant than ever for a modern life as we search for new ways to approach life’s challenges and seek a purposeful meaning beyond materialism.

2 | A Little Book of Japanese Contentments: Ikigai, Forest Bathing, Wabi-sabi, and More

An interesting book by Erin Niimi Longhurst that covers more than one philosophy, that aims at different aspects of your life, such as the first part which focuses on your heart and mind, finding contentment in your life and celebrating your hardships that shapes you into who you are today and letting go of your idea of perfection, because life itself isn’t a perfect.

The second part focuses on your body, how you engage with your surroundings and how to nourish it to stimulate your mind and the third part focuses on developing your habit slowly. And there are several beautiful photos of Japan on every page for you to pause and reflect on what you have just read on that page.

3| The Book of Ichigo Ichie: The Art of Making the Most of Every Moment, the Japanese Way

Today, we spend most of our time overthinking, either about the uncertainties of the future or being dragged down by the baggage of our past that we fail to live in the moment and spend our lives sleepwalking. This is where Garcia and Miralles, will guide you to relish everyday experiences and how to live in the moment.

In an age of distraction, instant gratification, and superficial engagement, the Japanese concept of “ichigo ichie,” which roughly translates as “one time, one meeting/opportunity,” can help us to treasure individual moments. Every moment in one’s life, they write, deserves full attention because this very moment will never happen again or in the exact same way again.

4 | L’art de la Simplicité: How to Live More with Less

Ever wonder why Marie Kondo and the minimalist movement are gaining momentum in this current age of commercialism and excessive spending? This book is great place to start to understand it’s underlying concept and how it’ll help you lead a simple life with just the minimum. You don’t have to sleep on the floor in an empty room but know well enough to get rid of things that you do not need because a clean home cleanses your mind and soul.

Dominuque Loreau takes you on a step-by-step journey to a clutter-free home, a calm mind and an energized body. Free yourself of possessions you don’t want or need; have more money to spend on life’s little luxuries; eat better and lose weight; and say goodbye to anxiety and negative relationships.

5 | Into the Forest: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness

We are increasingly becoming an indoor species that we spend 90% of our life indoors, staring at our screens, from work to leisure which is affecting our health without us realizing it. In this book, Immunologist and Forest Medicine expert, Dr Qing Li, examines the unprecedented benefits of forest therapy or Shinrin Yoku, exploring the scientific connection between nature and our wellbeing.

How a mindful stroll in the park, through the forest or by the sea, listening to the sounds of nature and breathing in fresh air into your lungs could reduce blood pressure, stress level and improve energy levels and immune system as well, making you feel much healthier and happier. There are several beautiful photos of the parks and forests across Japan where his research was conducted for you to immerse yourself into, making you feel as if you are there, spending time in nature yourself.

These books that I have shared are a refreshing antidote to our fast paced consumption driven world, where we’re constantly being shoved by the idea of perfection from work to love life. They will encourage you to slow down, reconnect with nature and be gentler on yourself. It can help you simplify everything and concentrate on what really matters in life.

There’s nothing wrong in achieving what you set out to achieve but bear in mind that we’re only human, we have flaws, we have wounds, we make mistakes, we have our limits, we are not identical to everyone else, we go through different paths and life experiences that shape us into who we are. Hope they’ll help you to love yourself just as you are and face life with a smile.

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decennia · 3 years ago

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Ooookay gimme ellis and the corpse corporals headcanons I need them to survive the winter

I'M GOING TO TRY AND DO A MINIMUM OF FIVE EACH 🥰

The Corpsemen initially came to Isla Nublar under the guise of different and unassuming professions so as to not spread the inevitable panic that the knowledge of Masrani's hired failsafes were sure to do. No one wanted to think of the Jurassic World venture as capable of failing, so the Corpse Corporals would go out of their way to keep their covers, up until the point where their intervention was required. So Ellis knows them as civilians first, and Corpse Corporals second.

Ellis and Malcolm

Malcolm Drake is not a good man, period. None of the Corpsemen are, but Ellis can feel it especially when it comes to Drake, even when he operated under the cover of a new InGen shareholder.

Malcolm views Ellis as an asset, essential to his team's survival against the Indominus. He issues a protection detail, consisting of Enzo and Clem.

Only wants straight-forward to the point facts, so definitely would not appreciate Ellis' sharp wit and snark.

Battle hardened and brittle, he has little sympathy for anything Ellis goes through. He's very out of touch with what is normal and what is too much for civilians, having been in the business for too long.

Really doesn't give a fuck about anything other than the payload, so he tends to laugh off Ellis' attempts at endearing the dinosaurs to him.

Ellis and Clementine

Clementine first comes to Isla Nublar under the guise of a research assistant to Dr. Henry Wu. She is the first to meet Ellis as she is now, at a paleontology lecture they were both attending. They aren't immediate friends, just acquaintances who would occasionally sit together for all the following lectures they found themselves at, but when Clem is put on security, they bond over being in their respective male dominated professions. They become fast friends after that.

Given the nature of her profession, Clem doesn't have a lot of bonds with people outside of work. Her fellow Corpsemen are the beginning and end of her interactions, them being her family and friends. So she takes Ellis' friendship very seriously. (Ride or die, essentially).

So seriously, in fact, she snaps back against Malcolm The Captain Drake when he pushes Ellis too far.

Clementine also knows how George really is under all that charm, and definitely warns Ellis against him, much to Ellis' amusement.

Worried for her safety, Clem would definitely teach Ellis some self defense in whatever free time they had.

Clementine is Ellis' first success at getting the team to see the beauty in dinosaurs. Clem's religious beliefs at first made her proclaim them abominations, but over time, she appreciates them as living beings and respects that they are innocents, mere victims of their circumstance. She becomes very protective of the dinosaurs after that.

Ellis and George

George had a brief history in poaching following his dishonorable discharge from the military, so he knows a thing or two about tracking. He comes to Jurassic World aptly adopting the cover of a hired tracker for escaped dinosaurs who haven't yet been chipped or are in need of chipping, and it's this skill that also makes him invaluable to the team later. He, alongside Clem, are also the ones who know the most about the dinosaurs, actually taking time to study everything about them instead of just how to kill them. So yes, he regularly quotes both Ellis' and Alan's writings, hoping to impress.

George develops a bit of an infatuation with Ellis. By a bit, I mean a lot.

Doesn't understand Ellis' love for dinosaurs, but tries.

It doesn't work, and he, like Clem, believes that Isla Nublar jeapordizes the survival of mankind, and must be destroyed. Unlike Clem, he is unshakable on this.

Ellis doesn't know if anything he does — from giving her his jacket when she's visibly cold, to going out of his way to not kill a dinosaur they're confronted with (at least not in front of her) — has an ulterior motive or not. No one really does (other than Clem).

Ellis and Hector

The only one to have met Alan Grant before the job. And Ellis, too, for that matter. While he was working for the government, he was invited over for a dinner with the Grants to discuss the potential threat Jurassic World would have on national security following the unfortunate failure of the park before it. Ellis was very young when they met.

For his cover, Hector works as lifeguard and head of security at the mosasaurus water exhibit. Occasionally, he operates the feeding machine. That's how he meets Ellis again after all these years.

He loves hearing about fun dinosaur facts he can tell his kids when he calls them to say goodnight. Ellis definitely gives him some, a new one every day. He's completely taken aback that the mosasaurus isn't actually classified as a dinosaur, but a lizard. They have a running joke where they refer to it exclusively as "the imposter."

Ellis is the only one other than Clementine he's shown a picture of his kids to.

Big Dad Energy™, and very protective over Ellis. Regularly tells her that he hopes his daughter will grow up to be like her, only that his daughter would actually listen to him when he tells her to stay away from the dinosaur island.

Saves extra food for Ellis because although the Corpsemen are used to rationing, he remembers that Ellis isn't like them.

Like Clementine, Hector is quite religious. Unlike Clementine, Hector simply cannot abide dinosaurs co-existing with humans, given that he has children he has to think of. This is only cemented by witnessing the carnage on Isla Nublar firsthand.

Ellis and Enzo

Enzo just really didn't have a brain for those long scientific names and anatomical diagrams. He knew where to aim when he shot, and that was good enough for him. He couldn't tell you a Triceratops prorsus from a Triceratops horridus. Heck, he couldn't tell you the difference between a Stegosaurus and a Spinosaurus, but it wasn't for a lack of trying. So, naturally, he would be in either the information centre or the resort library well late into the night (to prevent any teasing he may endure from his peers) trying to still learn. That's where he first met Ellis; she'd been perusing the books, jetlagged, and hoping to find a good enough read to pass the time.

Enzo and Malcolm have a father-son relationship in that Malcolm practically adopted him after he paid Enzo's bail. He holds Enzo to a much higher standard than he does the others, even foregoing the same "feline" theme of the codenames in favour of "Junior." So immediate embarrassment would arise in Enzo at having been caught out, especially by the woman he knew to be Ellis Grant (who so scornfully peered at him from the website sidebar when his inattentive eyes would drift from the fourth thesis of hers he'd tried to focus on that hour).

But she was anything but scornful when she sat with him. It became a nightly tradition, and it helped him a lot, learning from her directly.

His job at Jurassic World is in the observation deck, so he has eyes on all of Isla Nublar. He takes Ellis there one day.

Because of his deep loyalties to Malcolm, he doesn't speak out against him when he taunts Ellis. But he does later apologize, voice soft, eyes cast to the toes of his boots.

He won't admit it, but security detail with Ellis and Clem is the most fun he's ever had.

The second Corpse Corporal Ellis has managed to convert to the side of pro-dinosaur.

Matching raptor tooth necklaces with Ellis, Enzo, and Clem?

#they literally only exist to breath the same air as ellis grant #that's literally it #oc: ellis grant #fic: indomitable #fic: insatiable #oc: malcolm drake #oc: clementine roscoe #oc: george cassidy #oc: hector reeves #oc: enzo dizon #fic: innocent abominations #fic: ia #the way i simp for one (1) woman #actually make that two because clem is also just #*heart eyes*#chlobenet

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pocket-luv101 · 4 years ago

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Summary: Kuro talks to Gear about Mahiru while they fix the roof. (KuroMahi, Songfic)

“Kuro, we’re back with extra nails.” Mahiru called to Kuro who was on the roof. While Kuro and Gear repaired the hole in the roof, Mahiru and Youtarou drove to a nearby town to buy supplies. The safehouse only had the bare minimum and there wasn’t enough supplies for four people. They would only be gone for an hour so he didn’t need to worry about their distance limitation. Mahiru also thought it was a good opportunity for Kuro to speak with an old friend.

He summoned his broom and he floated to the roof. Kuro walked to the edge of the rooftop and he took the bag of nails from him. As Mahiru stepped onto the ledge, Kuro placed his free hand onto the small of his back to keep him balanced. “While we were in town, I bought you ice tea. The black tea is for Gear. Where should I put your drinks? I don’t want them to fall off the roof.”

“Gear and I can drink them right now. We’ve been working on the roof for an hour now and it’s time for a break.” Kuro told him. He heard Gear’s irritated growl behind him and he could already predict what he would do. He dodged the hammer he threw at him. Gear only aimed at the air above his head but Kuro pulled Mahiru into his chest and hugged him so he wouldn’t be hurt.

“You’ve already procrastinated fixing the roof for two hundred years, Ash.” Gear retorted.

“Well, Kuro’s back and I think that’s what you should be focused on. It looks like the hole is mostly covered and you can take a quick break.” Mahiru said in Kuro’s defense. He walked to Gear and handed him a warm cup. Gear looked past the cup to Kuro who continued to hold Mahiru in his arms. Neither of them seemed to notice how casually they held each other. He added, “Youtarou said this is your favourite so drink it while it’s still warm.”

Mahiru slipped out of Kuro’s arms so he could return to the ground. He sat on his broom and said, “Youtarou and I are going to look for ways to contain Kuro’s transformation at night. He has a few books about magic circles and enchanting items. If you two need us, just call our names. We’ll hear you.”

With those words, Mahiru disappeared beneath the rooftop. Kuro was able to hear his voice faintly through the hole in the roof as he moved to sit next to Gear. He stared at the forest in front of them and he thought of the day he left London. He felt guilty that he hadn’t tried to contact his friend to tell him what had happened. After the encounter with his father, he couldn’t face his decision and he isolated himself.

Then, he met Mahiru. His smile chased away the shadows haunting him and he helped him move forward. Kuro was certain that he wouldn’t have the strength to face his siblings or Gear. He hoped that he was strong enough to confront the demon within the rose. He grew to care for him and he didn’t want anything to happen to him.

“Congratulations.” Gear said suddenly. Without context to his words, Kuro didn’t know what he could be referring to. He saw the confusion on his face and he added: “You finally have someone you want to protect. That gives a person clarity in a chaotic situation. I don’t know anyone who needed that more than you. How long have you two been dating?”

“Dating?” Kuro choked on his drink and he had to pat his chest to clear his throat. He rarely felt flustered and he wondered if his face was red. They had been friends for years so Gear could read his expression better than others. “Mahiru and I aren’t dating. What would make you think that? He might not be into someone like me. He likes simple things and I’m far from that.”

“Your past is complicated and Tsubaki makes it worse.” Gear agreed and he saw disappointment cloud Kuro’s red eyes. Even if they weren’t dating, it was clear that Kuro had feelings for Mahiru. He was curious about the person who could win his heart so he poked Kuro for a reaction. “Mahiru seems pretty boring. Aside from fighting vampires and dealing with C3, what do you two do?”

“Don’t call him that. Simple and boring are two different things.” Kuro said and sipped his tea. “He’ll often drag me outside for human events like festivals and watching movies. I thought those things would be troublesome after five hundred years but it was fun with Mahiru. When we went Christmas shopping, he forgot his gloves and I had to share mine with him. I never imagined I could have such simple moments in my life.”

Kuro continued to tell him about the time he spent with Mahiru. From the challenges they overcame together to the quaint days they shared, each memory was special to him. He was surprised by how much he could remember. “After we relaxed in the onsen, we watched a movie in our room and had room service. He fell asleep halfway through and I carried him to his futon.”

He listened to his reminiscing and watched him from the corner of his eyes. Kuro had a faint smile as he told him about Mahiru. Gear said, “I was surprised when he talked back to me and told me to give you a break. I don’t know many people who would face a werewolf. It might be because love makes people do crazy things. It’s possible he likes you back. What’s stopping you from confessing to him?”

“It’s too troublesome to explain.” He heaved a sigh instead of answering his friend. He laid on his back and stared up at the clouds above them. He thought of Mahiru’s soft, brown hair and he wished he could hold him. He didn’t know when he fell in love with him but he filled his mind now. If only he could be direct and straightforward with his feelings like Gear.

He turned his head slightly to face Gear. “Tonight, we’re going to attempt the ritual to reclaim the rose’s power. If something goes wrong, please protect Mahiru.”

“We don’t know what will happen tonight. When I’m in my werewolf form, I feel consumed by my power. Youtarou’s voice gives me clarity. I only need to hear him call my name to regain control of myself. The power within the rose makes you transform in a similar way to me and the full moon.” Gear told him. “Mahiru might have the same effect on you that Youtarou does with my wolf.”

“I feel stronger when I’m with him.” Kuro agreed. “Gear, congrats on finding Youtarou.”

“Thanks.” He nodded and they continued to watch the blue sky together.

“There’s a clearing close to the house and that will be the best place to release the demon. We can create a large barrier there and have Mahiru hide nearby in the bushes. I need to help Youtarou carry the books so take this.” Gear ordered and held out the rose to Mahiru. “Kuro has to fight the demon by himself but you should stay nearby as backup. You’re the only who will be able to stop him.”

“Really? A werewolf is stronger than I am.” Mahiru said, not understanding the deeper meaning beneath Gear’s words. He hoped that the ritual would go well and they wouldn’t be forced to restrain him. Kuro was important to him and he doubted he could bring himself to fight him, no matter the situation. He looked to Kuro and his heart tightened. “Gear, can you give me a moment alone with Kuro? I want to talk to him privately.”

Gear nodded and he walked to Youtarou. He took the stack of books Youtarou carried and then they walked outside together. Kuro started to follow him but Mahiru stopped him with a light touch on his arm. His brown eyes wavered and Kuro assumed that he was uncertain about the ritual. To comfort him, he brushed his bangs from his eyes and said, “I won’t let that demon touch you.”

“I trust you, Kuro. That’s not what I want to say to you. I don’t know what will happen tonight so there’s something I should tell you before the ritual.” Mahiru told him as he walked closer to him. He cupped Kuro’s face and tilted his gaze down so he could look into his red eyes. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop but I heard your conversation with Gear. He asked if we were dating.”

“What?” He stiffened at his words. Kuro looked towards the ceiling and he realized that Mahiru likely overheard their conversation due to the hole in the roof. “I don’t know where Gear got the idea that we could be dating. I’m sorry if that made you feel awkward or anything.”

Mahiru shook his head and wrapped his arms around Kuro’s neck. He leaned his forehead against his strong chest to hide the blush he had. “The reason I eavesdropped on your talk was because I wanted to know if you liked me… In the same way I like you. You didn’t tell Gear whether you liked me or not. Thinking simply, I should ask you directly.”

He lifted himself onto his toes so he could kiss the corner of Kuro’s lips. After the small kiss, Mahiru leaned back the barest amount so he could confess. “I love you, Kuro. Do you feel the same?”

Hope filled his chest and he held Mahiru against his body. Kuro never thought he would be so happy. “I love you too. After this is over, let’s go home. Together.”

#servamp #kuromahi #sloth pair #servamp kuro #mahiru shirota #servamp gear #neugear hatiwelt #youtarou tsumugi #fanfiction

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motherwasapapafucker · 3 years ago

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Ideal Justice League line up ?

God, I guess the Morrison-lite approach would be my general direction? Since it understands the "Big Seven '' is kinda cloying and counterproductive when it comes to doing all but the broadest interpersonal character work. Which is fine of course, character development can't and shouldn't be the sole focus of a Justice League book, and there needs to be some engagement with the fact that these characters are more static than we tend to admit, I'd just rather avoid "modern mythology" because that disappears so far up its own arse it's not even funny. But then you're left with the issue where character-centric writing is the rule of the day, so most Justice League stuff struggles because "modern mythology" means you're stuck with a fairly limited cast who are all appearing in at least one other book directly focused on them as a character, but then the general expectations of cape comics means Justice League has to try and eke out meaningful character work alongside that. So, with JLA adding characters that aren’t straining under the weight of being “iconic” and, let's be honest, books that are drawing a large audience you could be content to let Batman or whoever have fairly standard characters beats while using Huntress, Steel, Plastic Man and the like for slightly deeper character work that moves beyond the realm of “gee whiz, ain’t these characters great. They sure are the modern face of mythology beyond that just being something that’s been shat out so often we take it as writ.” So yeah, at a minimum I’d go with Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman having to be there in some capacity. Green Lantern and Flash as well, but given we’re now 40+ years into talking about how important these characters are as iconic presences that inspire and whatever there’s probably a lot more room to use the iconography without being hard-locked into having to use Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne etc. The shared setting of the DCU is arguably over-emphasised to the detriment of basically everything right now, but there’s a lot you could do with just acknowledging that these characters have a lot going on in their own “lives” and so you’re sometimes going to have to use other figures from within that line filling in. Play with the fact that there’s been plenty of characters using the broad imagery to expand your cast without upsetting people who shit themselves the minute there’s not an S logo on the line-up etc. That said I don’t care enough about Aquaman to even begin to pretend his inclusion on the “big seven” is anything more than a two-decade long “no, it is for big boys” reaction towards mild-jokes in various cartoons. Lets face it, “guy who’s main personality trait is talking about how he’s really very cool and you should absolutely read his book” is readily covered by Superman and Batman and they at least have enough decent material to soften the weird insecurity. So you’ve got your core five, trading on the fact the general look is, minimum, as important as the character itself to use slightly fresher takes than just being hard locked into the standard group. Add onto that, Martian Manhunter because tbh, he might as well be the go-to “league-exclusive” character rather than trying to build him up into a solo character as well. At least then you have a unifying figure to start doing deeper character stuff in a book that by its nature will aim for high concept plotting. Round it out with Zatanna for no major reason beyond I really like the character, and tbh sticking a proper magic character on the team means people can stop trying to make me give a shit about Justice League Dark; The team book that sounds like an energy drink. Then add on say; Atom and Green Arrow and a final “floating chair” for experts brought in to deal with any given issue across various arcs. Reframe the Justice Society as more like, the outreach side of the JLA, operating ala Heroes for Hire out of the Hall of Justice so the ground level and cosmic shit just exists alongside each other. The “All-Star Squadron” as an informal network of Superman-level figures that

only come together during “ultra-level situations” and shit like that.

#justice leauge #jla #dc comics #personal #asks

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bush-viper-cutie · 4 years ago

Text

“The Final Match” || YEAR 3 – Ch.32 (HP au)

Chapter List

<-- Last Chapter Next Chapter -->

Day posted: 12/1/2020

Word count: 4, 201

Relationship: EVENTUAL severus X oc (slow burn)

Rating: E for everyone

Warnings: none

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A/N: This is my first fan fic I’m writing mainly as a way to practice. This is a retelling of the hp books with an inserted character. Although most every character will be written about, this is mostly for the pro snape fandom. Please do not fear, although this is a severus x oc story, it is an incredibly slow burn as I do not intend for them to get together at all until after the final book events. Chapters will be posted twice a week.

This derivative work follows the events of the Harry Potter books by Jk Rowling and is intended as a fun way to practice my writing. Thank you for reading :D

Hello! Sorry I didn’t post for a few weeks! I needed to take a break and deal with some mental health stuff but I feel much better :D I hope everyone’s been ok! Also I will be going back to the normal twice a week schedule so yay :D enjoy the chapter!

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Easter break had been the most tiring holiday Heather had ever experienced. Practice twice a day, essay after essay, having to pay attention to Ron and Harry and not seem exhausted by their presence, and even help Neville avoid a nervous collapse. As absolutely worn out as Heather felt, it was nothing compared to Hermione.

Mid break she had stopped responding to them all together, focusing only on her essays and studying. She was so off her usual self she didn’t even want them wandering around the library when they needed to look up books. ‘I need to stretch my legs anyways,’ she claimed and would go fetch whatever book they needed so long as they stayed put.

Hermione was so stressed she was constantly on the verge of tears, especially after coming back empty handed, unable to find the book Ron wanted.

“It’s alright, Hermione, Really.” Ron looked around uncomfortably. “I’ll just… read Harry’s book upside down. I’ve gotten good after three years of potions exams.”

While Hermione studied and during any time either Harry or Heather was at Quidditch practice, Ron read and gathered as much as he could for Buckbeak’s appeal. He took out books like ‘Fowl or Foul? A Study on Hippogriff Brutality’ and ‘The Handbook of Hippogriff Psychology’ and was so engrossed in it that Heather wondered why he didn’t put that much energy and effort into their normal essays. Ron seemed as hardworking as Hermione in those instances, except he was much more willing to call it quits when he’d had enough.

By the end of the Holidays, several of the Slytherins had done exactly what Marcus had told them to do and gone out and earned points any ways they could. Slytherin was ahead of Gryffindor for the House Cup by two-hundred points. Now if Gryffindor won the match, they’d either tie bare minimum or would have to work as hard as possible to earn over fifty points to beat Slytherin in the House Cup.

The Quidditch Cup however, was much more difficult. Marcus had sat the whole team down in the locker rooms and explained how tricky this match would be with Harry’s advantage. If no one scored any points at all and Harry caught the snitch within seconds, then Slytherin would lose the match but tie with Gryffindor and no one would earn the Quidditch Cup.

“So Bletchley, don’t let them score at ANY cost.” Marcus turned his intense eyes on Heather and Graham. “Potter, Montague. We’re plan b. By the end of the match we NEED to have scored at least one-hundred-and-fifty points to stay in the lead for House Cup. We’ll each aim for five scores each.”

Heather nodded and looked at Draco who was leaning against the lockers, sulking. All break long he’d tasked Crabbe and Goyle with getting into a fight with Harry but they hadn’t succeeded yet. Harry was constantly surrounded by his Quidditch team as often as possible ever since he’d told Wood what she had said.

“’Cept we won’t need that when I catch the Snitch.” Draco crossed his arms.

Marcus nodded. “Potter won’t be attempting to catch the Snitch until the Gryffindors have earned enough points if they’re smart. All you’ll have to do is catch it before he does – and I’ve no doubt he’ll do his best to stop you, though the Gryffindors aren’t the physical type so that’ll be easy.”

Draco kept his brows furrowed and glared at the nearest bench. There was more than just the Cups riding on this match. Heather knew Draco was still upset over the mud-throwing incident and Harry was even more furious with him after the fact of Buckbeak’s trial. Their rivalry was at its peak for the year, and it had even bled into her and Draco’s friendship.

It was weird to call it a friendship, considering she was supposed to hate him but there were the odd conversations with him that she enjoyed, and he never left her out like Pansy did, glad to talk to her about himself and how great his family is all the time. Now that he felt he was losing to Harry though, he could hardly look at her for very long without scowling at her. She was a Potter after all.

As the week went on, all Professors seemed to be assigning less and less homework on account of the match Saturday. It seemed like the whole school was anticipating the match and Slytherins and Gryffindors most of all. Scuffles broke out in the corridors, hexes and jinx were thrown during breakfast and lunch, and all the Gryffindors gathered around Harry constantly to keep him safe while all the Slytherins seemed to want to be tripping and elbowing him.

It was Friday night and Heather paced the dungeon corridors trying to keep her anxiety under control. She braided and re-braided her hair as she walked, holding her breath, counting to five, and letting it out. Five goals. That was all she needed to score. Just five. It seemed like a lot suddenly. All of Slytherin would be angry and Marcus would be furious if she didn’t do her part.

She headed back to the common room and sat on a cushion by the door and observed everyone talking about the match tomorrow. Marcus, Miles, and Graham were talking to a few girls and on the other side of the room Peregrine and Lucian were smacking hexed curtain puffs they’d ripped out. Draco was of course surrounded by his usual crowd by his favorite desk. Pansy was talking on and on to the group of third years but Draco just sat there, shaking his leg.

The common room door opened and she looked up to see it was Snape. He stepped inside and closed the door. He was searching the room and quickly spotted Marcus. “Flint.” His voice was low and yet everyone in the room seemed to recognize it immediately. Everyone hushed and turned to look at their Head of House. “I suggest you get your team to bed at once. I don’t intend on giving up the Quidditch Cup over a bunch of drowsy brats with no sense for time.” It seemed even Snape could sense how difficult the match would be.

Heather could smell the tangy scent of pickled tree oysters coming off his black trousers and the unmistakable smell of the penetratingly sweet base liquid used for almost all potions they brewed. She stayed seated in her spot as her team gathered their things and went into the dormitories. She wasn’t ready to go to bed with her anxious thoughts, and certainly not by Snape’s command.

She pulled her legs up to her chest and cursed to herself. Her movement had caught Snape’s attention out of the corner of his eyes. He glared down at her but she refused to look into his cold black eyes. She could feel her hair stand on end and finally gave in, standing up and marching to the girl’s dormitory, slamming the door hard before huffing and marching to her dorm.

She changed and fell back on her pillow, wishing she could have stayed downstairs and just ignored Snape. It would’ve been at least a small victory for her against him. Her eyelids began to close and she let them. If she were Harry, she’d just make potions incredibly annoying for him to get him back for bad mouthing her father. She could ask about the difference between Horn of Plenty and Trumpet of the Dead and whether they were less or more reactive than Black Chanterelle – which are of course all the same mushroom which would annoy him extra.

She fell asleep thinking about making her toad even more mossy on purpose next lesson instead of finally de-mossifying him and woke from a dream about replacing all of Snape’s Bladder Campions in jars with actual tiny bladders. Heather sat up and looked at the clock, seeing it was the perfect time to get up and shower before heading down for breakfast.

She got dressed in her Quidditch robes and headed out of the common room towards the Great Hall.

“Heather!”

Heather turned around and searched for Harry as he whispered her name again. She spotted his red robes hiding behind a column and walked down to him.

“Harry? What is it?”

He crossed his arms and bit his finger. He shook his head and sighed. “Alright. I know it’ll sound crazy… I think I saw Crookshanks walking with the Grim last night.”

Heather frowned.

“Listen!” Harry looked around and sighed again. “I woke up from a nightmare about the match and got up to get some water and I looked out the window and saw Crookshanks followed by the Grim and he was leading the Grim around the side of the castle!”

Heather tilted her head. “So… Hermione’s cat is friends with your Grim? Harry, the Grim isn’t an actual animal. It’s a sign. I saw the Grim in the clouds and Professor Trelawney sees it in leaves and mist and floating dust clumps… Are you sure you really saw it?”

Harry rubbed his neck and shook his head. “I tried getting Ron to see it too but he fell back asleep too fast.”

Heather placed her hand on Harry’s shoulder. “It’s just the match nerves. Or maybe you know deep down Slytherin’s going to win,” she teased.

“You wish.” Harry smiled and pushed away from the wall, stepping out from the column. “Maybe it was just a dog or something from Hogsmeade.”

Wood came out from the Great Hall and called Harry down to him.

“Good luck,” Harry said and quickly punched her arm before jogging over to Wood.

Harry entered the Great Hall to enormous applause, leaving her standing alone in the empty Entrance Hall. She really hoped she was right about it not being the Grim. She took a deep breath and entered after him.

She could see three out of the four tables were wearing as much red as possible. Hufflepuffs had on red hats and small twirling red signs while Ravenclaws held scarfs in their hands ready to swing in the air. Gryffindors were all wearing red shirts, red sweaters, red trousers, red socks, and red hair clips – it was a sea of red that looked to bleed onto the other tables.

She sat at the center of her Slytherin table with the team and picked up some toast and a few small links of sausage. Was she hungry? Was she starving? It felt like the butterflies in her stomach turned to rocks every so often. It was the hardest meal she’d ever had, having to watch the stone cold face of her captain as he glared at the rest of the school behind her, and even Draco looked sickly pale next to him.

Heather kicked Draco under the table making him jump. “We’re going to win and you’re going to catch the Snitch, alright? Harry’s not even going to try until they earn enough points and Bletchley won’t let them score any. You’ll have enough time.”

Draco nodded and took a bite of his toast, getting jam on the corners of his mouth. “I’m catching the Snitch first thing.” He nodded again as if cementing the idea in his head.

Heather relaxed a bit after some color returned to Draco’s face. The cheering had gotten too loud to ignore now and Pansy started cheering for the team, looking around at others and glaring at them until they joined in with her. Soon the Slytherin tables were thumping their fists on the table, filling the air with bangs and the slight clatter of metal forks bouncing off glass plates. It did a good job of drowning out the cheers for Gryffindor.

It was time for both teams to head out and Heather stood with her team and walked down, high fiving every stuck out hand from the Slytherin tables. She looked left and saw the Gryffindors were doing the same. Harry was walking down the other side of the Gryffindor table closest to the Ravenclaws when he stopped momentarily next to the Ravenclaw Seeker, Cho Chang, and went red. As they left the Great Hall Heather tried catching Harry’s eyes but it was no use, Wood was talking his ear off.

Heather grabbed her broom with Draco and they both entered the locker rooms, ready for whatever talk Marcus had in store for them.

Marcus paced the small space between the walls and stopped as they joined the rest of the team. “Win,” he said firmly. “Just win. By any means.”

“And just like that our nerves are gone,” Miles scoffed.

Marcus pulled him up by the collar and shook him. “What nerves? We’re Slytherins. We’ve been winning the Quidditch Cup for almost a decade. And no Potter will ruin that.”

Heather swallowed, feeling like he was also kind of talking about her.

Draco lifted his broom handle towards the team and yelled “No Potter can ruin that!”

The team smacked their broom handles against Draco’s and Heather had no choice but to join. She supposed she could consider this motivational somehow?

Marcus led them out onto the field where they took their spots. The whole school was cheering and making noise on the stands and although there were waves and waves of red, the Slytherins did their best to cover as much space with deep green and bright silver. In the front row behind the Slytherin goal post sat Snape wearing green like everyone else around him. He had on a grim smile and looked to Professor McGonagall who laughed and gestured to the stands of students waving ‘LIONS FOR THE CUP’ and ‘GO GRYFFINDOR’ flags.

“ON THE GRYFFINDOR TEAM,” Lee Jordan started his commentating, “WE HAVE POTTER, BELL, JOHNSON, SPINNET, WEASLEY, WEASLEY, AND WOOD – THE BEST TEAM CAPTAIN ON THE BEST HOGWARTS QUIDDITCH TEAM WE’VE SEEN IN A GOOD FEW YEARS – ”

His comments were drowned out by ‘boos’ from the Slytherins sitting not too far from him.

“AND ON THE SLYTHERIN TEAM IS CAPTAIN FLINT AND IT SEEMS HIS MAIN STRATEGY THIS YEAR WAS MAKING SURE THERE WAS MORE SIZE THAN SKILL ON THE TEAM – ”

Even Heather booed with the Slytherins at that. She and Draco were the smallest on the team for certain, but at least Graham and Miles had some skill too, even if they were enormous. Marcus, Lucian, and Peregrine however, they could do with less aggressive plays.

“BY SIZE THERE IS ALSO MONTAGUE, BOLE, DERRICK, BLETCHLEY, POTTER, AND MALFOY.”

Heather looked over at Draco to see him close his mouth and hide his look of shock. He glanced at her briefly and scowled, making her hold in a laugh.

The morning was fairly bright and there were no winds at all, making it perfect conditions for an intense final match. The Gryffindors mirrored their positions on the other side of the half-line and she gave Harry a tiny thumbs up which he matched for a split second. Madam Hooch came out with the ball-chest under her arm and set it down, ready to unlock on her whistle.

Heather gripped her broom hard, feeling her palms already sweaty and kicked off hard at the loud shrill of the whistle blow. Fourteen brooms rose in the air and darted into positions as Marcus and Wood fought for the Quaffle.

“GRYFFINDOR IN POSSESSION – QUAFFLE TAKEN BY SPINNET HEADING STRAIGHT FOR THE SLYTHERIN GOALPOSTS – LOOKING GOOD ALICIA! ARGH! NO – QUAFFLE INTERCEPTED BY MONTAGUE AS HE TEARS UP THE FIELD AND – WHAM! GOOD ARM THERE GEORGE. QUAFFLE CAUGHT BY JOHNSON AS SHE TAKES IT ALL THE WAY BACK – SWERVES AROUND POTTER – DUCK! OHH – OH! SHE SCORES!”

The Gryffindor fans filled the field with whistles and cheers as they waved red flags and scarfs in the air. Miles avoided looking towards Marcus but Heather gave him a thumbs up, he nodded his head as the Quaffle was recovered.

Heather gasped as Marcus smashed into Angelina Johnson, nearly knocking her off her broom.

“Didn’t see her!” Marcus yelled to the booing crowd of scarlet below. “Sorry!”

Heather rolled her eyes at him and gasped again as Fred’s Beater’s club flew through the air and smacked Marcus on the back of his head, making him smash his nose on his broom handle causing a nose bleed.

Madam Hooch flew up between them and blew her whistle. “Penalty shot to Gryffindor for an unprovoked attack on their Chaser! Penalty shot to Slytherin for deliberate damage to THEIR Chaser!” Before they could argue Madam Hooch blew her whistle again and Johnson flew forward to take penalty, eyeing Marcus with immense loathing.

“JOHNSON TAKES THE SHOT AND – SCORE! SHE’S BEATEN THE KEEPER YET AGAIN. TWENTY-ZERO TO GRYFFINDOR, FIRST TWO POINTS MADE BY ANGELINA JOHNSON.”

Marcus flew forward with the Quaffle under his arm and aimed at the Gryffindor goalposts where Wood sat ready on his broom.

“FLINT TAKES THE SHOT AND – WOOD’S SAVED IT! HE’S SAVED IT! THAT’S STILL TWENTY-ZERO WITH THE BEST HOGWARTS TEAM STILL IN THE LEAD!”

Heather groaned and felt the little butterflies in her stomach all drop dead and turn to boulders. The Gryffindors were much closer to getting the necessary points they needed to win both cups and allow for Harry to catch the Snitch. Draco flew by quickly, desperately searching for the Snitch as Harry trailed him meters behind – a distance afforded to him by the firebolt.

Heather nodded at Marcus and took her position again as the Quaffle was recovered and put back into play.

“GRYFFINDOR IN POSSESSION – NO – SLYTHERIN IN – NO BACK IN GRYFFINDOR POSSESSION AND ITS WITH BELL AS SHE STREAKS UP THE FIELD – THAT WAS DELIBERATE!”

Graham had swooped down and grabbed hold of Katie Bell’s head instead of the Quaffle, making her drop it in an attempt to dislodge her head from under his arm.

Madam Hooch flew back up and yelled at him before awarding Gryffindor another penalty which Katie gladly took.

“THIRTY-ZERO! THAT’S RIGHT, KEEP CHEATING YOU DIRTY – ”

“MR. JORDAN, IF YOU CAN’T COMMENTATE AS UNBIASED AS POSSIBLE – ”

“JUST SAYIN’ IT HOW IT IS PROFESSOR – ”

While the game was stalled on Lee Jordan and Professor McGonagall’s arguments, Heather flew over to Marcus and Graham. “Drop the whole ‘win by any means’! We’re losing! Stick to the plays!”

Marcus glared at her but nodded. “We’ll take those points back. Stick to the plays.”

Graham nodded and they split up, taking their positions around Marcus like they normally did. The game was back on and as they wrestled with Gryffindor for the possession of the Quaffle, Heather spotted Derrick and Bole closing in on a speeding Harry just as he pulled up out of the way and they collided against each other.

“HA HA! SOMEONE GET DERRICK AND BOLE AN ICE PACK, THEY SEEM TO HAVE FORGOTTEN WHY THE FIREBOLT’S THE BEST BROOM ON THE MARKET!”

Graham had barely grazed the Quaffle when Johnson intercepted.

“GRYFFINDOR IN POSSESSION – MONTAGUE FLYING ALONSIDE JOHNSON – MONTAGUE IN POSSESSION! OH NO FLYING TOWARDS THE GRYFFINDOR GOALPOSTS – BELL AND SPINNET CLOSING IN ON HIM! – FLINT IN POSSESSION NOW – NO STOP IT WOOD! – ARGH! SLYTHERIN SCORES.”

The Slytherins behind the Slytherin goalposts erupted with cheers. Lee Jordan swore and Professor McGonagall tried tugging the magical megaphone away.

“SORRY! WON’T HAPPEN AGAIN! – THIRTY-TEN, GRYFFINDOR STILL IN THE LEAD BUT SLYTHERIN HAS POSSESSION AGAIN – ”

The tide was turning now that they were more focused on plays and not cheating. Heather followed close beneath Flint and on cue caught his dropped Quaffle and scored the second points for Slytherin. Wood pounded on his handle and the Slytherins cheered again.

“THIRTY-TWENTY, COME ON GRYFFINDORS DON’T LET THEM CATCH UP!”

Four of five goals down, she just needed five goals total to reach her own goal. That was the plan. She zoomed forward and cut off Spinnet, sending her diving down to avoid collision, freeing up space for Marcus to throw to Graham. Graham shot forward with the Quaffle in hot pursuit by Bell and Johnson and just as he aimed to throw into the goalposts, Bell snatched it from his hand and made her way across the field. Gryffindor scored freely for the last time that match.

It was forty-twenty and now even Heather felt the same angry fire behind Marcus and Graham’s eyes. Marcus scored, and then Graham, and just after Heather had rammed into Johnson to stop her from cutting between Marcus’s throw, Heather caught the Quaffle and scored for Slytherin once again.

Forty-fifty and Slytherins were in the lead now. Bell was on Heather’s tail from then on as she shadowed Marcus to his right. A Bludger nearly knocked him off his broom but Graham saved it and scored again. Fred and George were now focusing their efforts on Marcus as Lucian and Peregrine aimed for them.

Heather looped on her broom to lose Bell momentarily to help pass the Quaffle to Graham again as Marcus dodged two Bludgers, and he scored again. On and on it went cleanly until the score was forty to one-hundred and Heather had scored her five goals. Then Lucian hit Alicia Spinnet with his club, stopping her from taking possession and George elbowed him in the face.

Madam Hooch gave each team a penalty shot and Miles finally blocked it. Wood didn’t let Marcus score. Bell attempted to score and while Fred and George were distracted trying to help block Graham and Heather from closing in on her, Peregrine and Lucian aimed the Bludgers at Wood, giving Gryffindor two more penalty shots. Miles saved one and the score became fifty to one-hundred. Wood climbed back over his broom and clutched his stomach.

Slytherin quickly took the points back. Heather scored twice more after Flint scored twice and Graham scored once.

“SLYTHERIN IS AT A HUNDRED POINT LEAD… WHERE’S THAT SNITCH!”

The game was dragging on and Harry and Draco were now searching the skies and ground for the Snitch. Draco kept on Harry’s tail as best he could as they circled the Quiditch pitch once, twice – Harry dashed forward and reached out for the golden speck twenty feet in front.

Draco sped after him, managing to cut the distance on a quick turn as the Snitch flew away from them. Harry had the Snitch inches from his fingers when Draco jumped forward and caught the tail of Harry’s broom in his hands, dragging him back.

Harry swung a fist at Draco’s face but couldn’t reach. Harry turned back and slowed, realizing the Snitch had disappeared from view.

“CHEATER! CHEATING! YOU FILTHY CHEATING SLYTHERIN – !” Lee was dancing out of McGonagall’s grasp.

“Penalty!” Madam Hooch yelled.

Spinnet took the shot and was blocked by Miles who was still laughing at Draco’s penalty. Heather felt her team was newly invigorated by Draco’s desperate ‘by any means’ tactics.

The game was back on and Johnson had the Quaffle. Heather and the other Chasers flew after her, closing in at once when Harry cut through them like a red bullet, making them all scatter to avoid falling off their brooms and allowing her to score.

“Harry!” Heather yelled and quickly noticed Draco across the field streaking up towards a tiny shiny speck.

Harry noticed and tore after Draco, closing the field-wide distance within seconds. Heather watched, frozen in place, as Draco closed in on the Snitch. Marcus took this chance to score once more as everyone’s attention was on the Seekers.

Draco’s fingers were stretched, arm fully extended as he leaned forward on his broom. His blond hair whipping back as he cut through the air.

Harry had reached Draco and was now urging his broom to go faster as he stretched out his arm towards the Snitch.

They were both inches away from it, closing in – Harry threw himself forward, knocking Draco’s arm out of the way and caught the Snitch in one cupped swoop of his hand.

“HARRY POTTER’S CAUGHT THE SNITCH! THAT’S TWO-HUNDRED POINTS TO ONE-HUNDRED-AND-SIXTY! GRYFFINDOR WINS!”

The crowd erupted with cheers and the field below filled with red and gold as everyone touched down. Heather walked up to Marcus who was fuming but surprisingly remained calm. He clenched his fist and looked at all of them as they gathered around him quietly.

“We won the cup. That’s all that matters. They needed at least a fifty-point lead before Potter caught the Snitch.” Marcus looked at Draco and nodded. “Good try, Malfoy.”

Draco looked like he could murder anyone who looked at him the wrong way. He nodded and headed towards the broom shed, shoving and pushing any and all Gryffindors in his way.

The Gryffindor crowd was lifting Harry on their shoulders, satisfied with the win and victory over Slytherins and Draco. Heather trailed behind the crowd not wanting to bump into Ron or Hermione. Although the cup was still and would remain in the safety of Snape’s office, the loss against Gryffindor was felt among all Slytherins.

Draco almost had it, inches away, seconds away, but was doomed to lose against Harry’s firebolt.

Was everyone doomed to lose against Harry?

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Chapter List

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@lokilover-39

@halcyonrogers

@krazykatkay456

@lady-of-black-roses

@writingmi

@joscelyn02

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#harry potter #heather potter #pro snape #severus snape x oc #snape x oc #severus x oc #severus snape x reader #snape x reader #severus x reader #snape fanfic #snape fanfiction #snape fan fiction #fanfic #fanfiction #fan fiction

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harrygroves · 4 years ago

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the time-travelers husband (harringrove)

There was nothing particularly endearing about that Thursday in October. It was quiet, normal, boring.

Billy liked boring. It was when he felt safest in the world. The thrill he got from a mundane afternoon was like what others experienced on roller-coasters.

He was wearing his favorite sweater, the thick, brown one that really made his eyes pop. He couldn’t be bothered with his hair most days and had it tied back, away from his face. The sweater kept the chill of the library to a minimum. But when he was locked in his humidity-controlled box where cataloging took place, he felt the beads of sweat roll down his back.

The library he worked at was the best in the city. It was old, held thousands of books, and he was in charge of the Special Collections. It gave him plenty of time to himself--he was alone most of the time anyways, exactly how he preferred it.

Most people had no need for the types of books he was in charge of. Artists, educators, academics--those were the people he interacted with, the ones who needed tomes of information or old books filled with black-and-white photos and copies of paintings, pages brittle and yellow. All the same, he was called upon infrequently, and that was fine, perfectly fine.

A colleague had requested special-edition biographies on that Thursday and Billy was walking them back towards the front, small steps that clearly indicated he had all the time in the world.

“Yes, Billy will be able to help you with that, he’s our Special Collections librarian.” His coworker said loudly, nodding towards Billy who set the books down as the customer turned.

“Can I help you?” Billy asked politely.

The man was admittedly attractive, around Billy’s age, with a mess of fluffy, brown hair and dark, brown eyes. He had a smattering of moles and his--perfectly pink--mouth was open, eyes widening a smidge, breath seemingly stopped in his chest.

“Billy?” The man whispered, adjusting his shoulder-bag.

“Yes?” Billy replied, confused at the familiarity in the customer’s tone. A tone that suggested the two had shared something special. Life-altering.

“Billy.” The man repeated, walking slowly forward. “It’s you.” His eyes are glassy, like he’s going to cry.

There were a few moments of silence between them and Billy gave a small shake of the head to signify that he was completely lost.

The man let out a short laugh. “Y-you told me this would happen...and I was supposed to act normal but I’m not acting very normal, I--”

Understanding gathers in Billy’s mind. He knows. This guy knows.

Billy reaches out and grabs the man’s shoulder, uncertain but firm as he pulls him away from his colleague, walks with the man towards the quiet rows of books.

“I’m sorry, I really have no idea who you are.” Billy says, aiming for apologetic but it comes out annoyed.

Billy lets his hand fall away from the stranger’s arm when they’re out of ear-shot from other people.

“I’m Steve, Steve Harrington. And--I--you don't know me. Look, I know how odd this must be for you--it’s odd for me but, I...would you like to have dinner with me? I’ll explain everything.”

Steve is looking at him with so much radiance, so much hope, and Billy’s never been looked at like that.

Well, not for years anyways. Not since he was a little boy. An image of his mother flashes through his mind but he clears his throat, shifts on his feet, looks left and right nervously and finds the eyes of his co-worker on them, watching with interest at what appears to be a personal conversation. Billy’s never had a visitor so he can understand the curiosity.

“Billy, we’ve been planning this dinner for a long time.” Steve says this with a toothy grin, like it’s an inside joke.

That feels weird. Billy tries to think of the version of him Steve knows.

Steve’s eyes are too bright, too seeing.

Steve knows him. Very well.

It’s unnerving.

“We have?” Billy raises his eyebrows.

“We’ll go to that diner you love, the one on Marsden, okay?” Steve asks.

Billy swallows roughly. He loves that place.

“Oh...okay.”

Steve looks him over. “You look like you’ve been having a hard time,” he says with concern. “It’s going to be okay.”

Billy can’t breathe.

Steve shakes his head, as if shaking himself out of his thoughts. “Okay, so--yes?”

Billy nods.

“Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow night, alright? Seven?”

Billy just nods again.

Steve gives him another dazzling, toothy smile before turning and practically skipping away.

Billy almost doesn’t go. But at the last possible minute he throws on a clean shirt before disappearing, the clothes crumpling to the ground as he’s taken.

It’s snowing. He’s near a bridge. He’s stark naked.

It’s okay. He’s been here dozens of times. There’s a tall tree surrounded by clumps of bushes that he’s hidden a trash bag full of clothes and blankets in.

Once he’s dressed he watches the road from the bushes, watches the mail truck that starts spinning on black ice, sees his mother’s car unable to stop.

Billy watches their car get tapped, it swings round and round until coming to a stop.

He remembers the feeling of relief, and then the terror in the next moment when he watches as his fingers disappear.

The last thing he remembers of his mother is her concerned face watching him go.

Billy waits calmy. He never gets upset anymore.

A semi barrels into the mail truck, careening both vehicles towards his mother’s car.

And like magic, he watches his five-year old self materialize a few feet away from the bushes.

“Billy!” He shouts, running from his hiding place, throwing the blanket around the younger, naked him.

“Mom! Mom!” His past-self is shouting, watching the fiery mess of cars.

“Hey!, listen to me--listen to me, there’s nothing you can do, okay? Billy!” He shouts at himself. The child stops and looks at him. “You were in the car. Then you were gone and it was two weeks ago and you were reading a book with your mom. Okay? You time-traveled. Just like I did to come to see you. I know this is hard to understand but you will someday. I’m you when you’re all grown-up, okay? It’s not your fault. I know you’re scared but you’ll be okay, I promise.” Billy rubs the kid’s arms. “I have to go.”

It’s the last thing he gets out before he’s gone.

Billy’s late. He gets to the diner half past seven and sees Steve staring at the table, a glass of red wine in front of him, lost in thought.

“Sorry.” Billy huffs out when he reaches the table. “I was, uh. Detained.”

Steve isn’t angry or confused. “Are you alright?” He’s just worried.

Who was this guy?

Gorgeous was what he was. His hair was styled effortlessly, he was wearing a black jacket over a dark, wine-colored shirt and his eyes twinkled in delight.

Billy sat down, feeling sweaty and dirty.

He jumps right into it, cocking an eyebrow. “You do understand why it is I don't know you.”

A waiter comes up and asks Billy what he wants to drink.

“Beer.” Billy replies.

Steve looks confused. “You shouldn’t be drinking.” He says.

The waiter looks back and forth between them. “Beer.” Billy confirms, making stern eye contact with the kid, convincing him wordlessly to slip away.

“Why not?” Billy asks Steve when they’re alone.

“It. It makes you travel.” Steve says in a hushed voice.

“Okay, who are you?” Billy asks.

Steve flushes. “When you’re older, you’ll travel back to when I’m a little boy. For me, I’ve known you since I was six years old. You travel back to see me at the Meadow.” He’s rambling, eyes flicking all over the place, hands gesturing while he talks.

Billy stares at Steve, dumbfounded.

“This is...a lot.” Billy finally says.

Steve looks down at his lap. “I’m sorry. I...you told me to go easy on you and I’m not.”

From his lap, Steve produces a book--a journal, and places it on the table between them. It’s older, the cover bombarded with marker ink and stickers.

“I wrote down every time you came to visit me.” Steve announces proudly.

Billy stares at the book and nods a few times. He looks back up at Steve. “Which I gather I did? Or will do, fairly often.” God he’s thirsty. Where’s the waiter with his beer?

Steve ran a hand through his hair. “The last time I saw you I was eighteen. Seems like you go back to the same places a lot.”

It’s so strange to have someone else talk about this with him. “Yeah, it’s like gravity. Big events pull you in.”

Steve’s eyes sparkle. He leans forward, and in a small, cocky voice he says, “I was a big event.”

#my fic #harringrove #would anyone like a full fic of this?

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