#also I’ve been sick for the past 17 days | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

samstree · 3 months ago

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Ooh 17 for the sensory prompts please?

Thank you for the prompt! It's from the sensory prompt list. I really like these so I'm welcoming more! <3

17. Your bed after travelling

(Obikin, rated G, also posted on AO3)

“Anakin?” Obi-Wan calls out from their shared bed, too cozy to move. “Anakin, will you come to bed?”

The door to the living room is left open for the bright light to spill into the dark bedroom. Obi-Wan watches as Anakin continues to tinker with Artoo’s communication unit, his legs crossed on the floor and back leaned against the droid himself, who has powered down for the night.

Even droids know it’s time for some rest.

“In a bit,” Anakin answers absently, not lifting his eyes from the circuit board.

It’s way past midnight, and the temple has settled into a blissful quietness. Even the murmurs of Coruscant seem to have faded into the darkness. Finally, Obi-Wan gets to sleep in a familiar, soft bed after days of battle and traveling. The only problem—Anakin won’t sleep.

And he needs it. He was the one who piloted the ship back home when Obi-Wan fell asleep in the passenger seat, promising faintly that he’d take over later. When he opened his eyes next, they were already at the temple’s hangar bay and Anakin was waking him gently with a hand on his shoulder.

Obi-Wan stretches under the duvet, his hands touching the cool, soft sheets on the empty space next to him. He tries not to worry, but the dark circles under Anakin’s eyes make that mission impossible.

“Anakin?” he calls again, knowing he’s getting dangerously close to nagging, something that historically has never worked and will only result in a sulking Anakin. “You need to sleep.”

Smoke drifts from the soldering iron in Anakin’s mechanical hand when he pauses.

“No, I don’t. It’s fine.” He only meets Obi-Wan’s eyes for a moment, a tight smile at his lips, aiming at reassurance. It would work better if his eyes weren’t red-rimmed with exhaustion. “And I can go much longer without sleep. I’ve done it before.”

“That’s more the reason to not suffer again.” Obi-Wan sighs, knowing he’s properly nagging now. “Anakin…”

“And the nagging is unbecoming, Obi-Wan. You promised you’d stop.”

“I did not,” Obi-Wan insists. “I promised I’d try. When you don’t particularly need me to nag, but that is not the case at the moment.”

Anakin’s stubbornness always has a way of reflecting back at Obi-Wan, bringing out the same side of him. He lets out a long breath, tossing and turning for a moment under the cover. The bed is truly too empty without Anakin beside him. The worry will also keep him awake through the night, if this goes on for longer.

“Go to sleep. If you want to talk my ears off, it might as well be in your dream,” Anakin adds petulantly. “I said I’m fine.”

Sometimes, Obi-Wan wonders why he loves this impossible boy so much. So many of the grey hairs at his temple can trace back to either fighting with Anakin, or trying to take care of Anakin. Fighting to take care of him is another challenge that Obi-Wan has grown accustomed to since the beginning of the war. It scares him how little Anakin cares for his own wellbeing.

But Obi-Wan might still have a trick or two up his sleeve.

“What if I’m not?” he says, after a moment of plotting.

“Hmm?” Anakin blinks up at him, a frown slowly forming between his eyes. “What do you mean?”

Obi-Wan props himself up on the bed, touching his temple like he’s nursing a headache. “What if I don’t feel fine, Anakin? In fact, I believe I have been struggling to sleep.”

A pause, and those beautiful eyes widen with concern.

“Oh.” Something clatters to the ground, but Anakin doesn’t seem to care. He scrambles to put away the tools and the circuitry, and with a few long strides, he’s at Obi-Wan’s bedside. His voice is impossibly soft when he speaks next. “What’s wrong? You were already tired on our way back. Do you feel sick?”

Anakin is kneeling beside Obi-Wan, helping him to lie down on the pillow and pulling up the cover. He reaches out with his flesh hand to brush back the stray hair over Obi-Wan’s eyes to better observe him. There’s distress written all over on his face now.

Obi-Wan clears his throat, catching Anakin’s hand before his worried mind spirals out of control.

“I’m not sick, darling. I may just be overtired, and somehow that’s keeping me awake.” Obi-Wan keeps his voice small and sad, his chin tucked under the soft duvet. “Ridiculous notion, I know.”

Still looking skeptical, Anakin presses their foreheads together to check Obi-Wan’s temperature. He pulls away, looking slightly relieved.

“Not ridiculous,” Anakin says, shaking his head. “I know the feeling, when you’re so keyed up that your mind won’t quiet down. Gods, you must be exhausted. How can I help?”

A proud smile is forming at the corners of Obi-Wan’s lips, having landed Anakin exactly where he wants him. So he presses a small kiss in the palm around his cheek, hiding that smile. He still needs to keep the look on his face pitiful enough to incite sympathy.

Obi-Wan looks up from under his lashes with pleading eyes. “Will you come into bed? You know I sleep better when you’re holding me.”

“Of course,” Anakin says immediately, ready to climb into bed already.

“Wait.” Obi-Wan halts the motion, eyeing a fully dressed Anakin. “Could you also change into your pajamas? Having your obi and tabard in bed cannot be comfortable.” After a beat, he adds, “for me, that is.”

Anakin only nods with understanding before undressing and shedding all the outer layers of his robes on the floor. Obi-Wan would lecture him, except things have gone his way so quickly that he really should count his blessings for now. Anakin then finds an old sleeping shirt on the other side of the room and pulls it over his head. He also turns off the living room light and shuts the door.

The bedroom is only lit by a dim lamp, the warm light setting a cozy atmosphere.

Obi-Wan lifts the cover eagerly to let Anakin slip in. The bed sinks under the two of them and their bodies fit together perfectly. He hums with contentment to show appreciation for the solid weight next to him.

“Like this?” Anakin circles Obi-Wan’s waist with his arms, head burrowed into the crook of his neck.

“No, more like—” Obi-Wan lies back against the pillows, guiding Anakin to lay on his chest, supporting more of his weight. His hand ends up buried in the short curls at the nape of Anakin’s neck, so he plays with those curls, knowing repeated motions are a good way to make Anakin drowsy. “—like this. I prefer it when there is weight on me.”

“Yes, you’re an odd one.” Anakin huffs against Obi-Wan’s chest, and then he looks up. “I’m not too heavy?”

Obi-Wan would feel guilty about his manipulation while looking into those big, trusting eyes, if not for the fact that the body around him has already grown more relaxed since laying down.

“You’re perfect, dearest.” Their legs tangle together, Anakin’s feet cold against Obi-Wan’s shin. He tugs the duvet tighter around them to warm him up. “Perhaps just…”

“Yeah?”

Anakin still feels like a lingering sandstorm in the Force, just the slightest ripple of unrest.

Obi-Wan kisses the mess of dark curls, feeling cheeky. “Could you do the breathing exercise for me, the one that helps to calm the mind? I find myself too exhausted to concentrate.” He adds a yawn here, for good measure. “It’s easier when we do it together.”

“Of course,” says the man in Obi-Wan’s arms who famously detests all forms of meditation and breathing exercises. “Here, follow me—”

An inhale. One, two, three four.

“Good, dear heart.” Obi-Wan gives a gentle pat. “I feel much better.”

Pause. One, two, three. And then, an exhale.

“Don’t speak, master. Focus on me.”

And he is. The golden warmth that is Anakin ebbs and flows, before settling into a pool of serenity. All the ripples have smoothed out, all the waves trickling into a stream of calmness.

Obi-Wan counts the rhythmic rise and fall of Anakin’s chest, and feels the arms around him loosen, bit by bit. With a few more breaths, both of them are on the edge of sleep.

Anakin is trying to wake himself up to continue the breathing exercise, but all he manages is an incoherent noise.

“No, no. Sleep. It’s okay,” Obi-Wan whispers into Anakin’s curls, settling him with a hand on his back.

“Mm? Did you really…” Anakin slurs, the sleepiness getting the better of him. “Did you really need… me…”

“Hush, now. Just rest. For me.”

Obi-Wan waits for Anakin to completely drift off and begin snoring softly, the dead weight against his chest making him too prideful.

He wonders how many more times he can get away with it, how much he can push for while holding Anakin’s trust and love within the palm of his hand. He fears, at times, for Anakin’s tendency to serve and to protect, his too-trusting eyes and too-big heart.

For now, the night is quiet, and Anakin is dead to the world.

Obi-Wan leaves one last kiss on the messy curls of his love, and lets himself dream.

#obikin #obikin fic #fluff #so much fluff actually

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arsenal-womens-1 · 7 months ago

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Seacret 3rd kid part 4

[Part 3]

It's been two days since you talked with Isabella after having a chat about your old team. You did a few other tests, and at the end of your appointment, she gave you her number. Turns out she's 19. You had yet to text her. You haven't been in for the past two days; you had been sick, so they let you stay home. You haven't been sick in 12 hours, so you are going in today. You all have to be there at 7:30 am. It was announced yesterday that Kyra Cooney-Cross had signed a two-year deal with Arsenal. Picking up your phone, you read the time: 4:30 am. You had woken up around 3:00.

Getting up, you put on a random pair of shoes and walk out of your apartment complex. Walking down the street, you post a picture on your Instagram story.

Walking for about 30 minutes in some random direction, you see a coffee shop open. Walking in, you are greeted by a girl. “Hey, what can I get you?” Looking at the menu, you order three shots of espresso and a hot chocolate. Getting your card out, you pay. Sitting down in a random seat, she brings your stuff over. “Thanks,” you say as she just nods her head and walks away.

Pulling out your phone, you go to the contact you have been wanting to text for two days now.

You: Hey, this is Amalia. Sorry for not texting; I've been sick the past two days, and also sorry for texting you so early.

Not expecting a reply, you put your phone away. For the next hour, you sip on your drink, watching the few people walk past. Walking back to your apartment was boring, though the sunrise was pretty. You pick up your phone and see a text from Isabella.

Isabella: Hey, I was wondering if you were going to text me, and it's all good. I hope you feel good.

You: I was going to text you the other day; I just forgot, I guess. And I feel good today, so I'm going to be in.

Isabella: That's good to hear. I have to go; sorry, I'll text you later.

You: K, bye.

————————————————————————————

Ok so I’ve decided Amalia is going to be 17 nearly 18 she is 4 months of her 18th

#women’s football #women’s soccer #women’s super league #woso community #woso imagine #barclays wsl #wsl #woso x reader #sarina wiegman #woso soccer #laura wienroither #leah williamson #alexia putellas #viv miedema #vivianne miedema #beth mead

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wooahaeruby · 4 months ago

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Chapter 17: When the Sun Shines

Chapter Word Count: 4,158

None

Hi sorry, I've been busy with work! I apologize for note posting!

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Things were good, maybe a little too good, but good nonetheless.

Since the night of the gala, the bruise on your arm had flourished and it was annoying to cover with longer sleeved blouses in the blistering summer heat, but you were able to manage. Seokmin or Jeonghan took turns driving you home from work each evening as usual. Jeonghan was more of the mentality of little dinner dates while Seokmin knew how much you enjoyed just getting home and relaxing. It was nice, having your best friend and crush always with you. They held together stressful days and tired nights. Jeonghan and you still weren’t exactly exclusive, which was fine, you kinda liked the slow, steady pace you were going at. He had even opened up some about his past which surprised you.

“All I’m saying, Jeonghan, if you have a dark, evil, villain backstory, I won’t judge.” You had joked, enjoying the sweet treat of ice cream that you suggested and happily paid for. “I’ve told you a bit of mine.”

“Your life was fucked up due to trauma and a failed support system, mine is fucked up because I was poor as hell.” He pointed at you with his spoon, rolling his eyes. “My story, which in turn is kinda Shua’s and Cheol’s story, is a lot more simple than what it seems. The three of us lived just outside the city, a low income area and all. My sister was adopted by a nice couple when she was young after our parents died but I was taken in by Kihyun’s mom and dad, his brother is….kinda…so the yakuza? Yeah, that’s real. Anyway, Cheol and I went to school together, he was also living on a tight paycheck to paycheck with his parents.. Joshua was last to move into the area with his mom.”

You nodded along, sitting close to his side as he continued to explain between spoonfuls of ice cream.

“Kihyun’s parents worked over sixty hours each and Joshua’s parents were almost never home between work so the four of us were thick as thieves. Cheol, Shua, and I were in our last years of highschool at the time when Kihyun’s mom got sick and his family and I couldn’t afford the medical care to cover all the bills. She passed away and his dad ended up drinking so any money was sparse. We kinda…” He sighed as he thought back, leaning against your side and resting his head against your head. “All three of us, Cheol, Kihyun and I, ended up being runners for this little group of druggies. Then when Shua’s dad lost his job, he ended up joining us to help his family out. We got paid well but Kihyun’s dad continued to drink until it killed him. Then suddenly we didn’t have a home, no family, we moved into the city. Cheol, Kihyun, Shua and I were crammed into a shitty one bedroom apartment for a while.

Shownu, or Shepard, made MX while slowly taking our old bosses' clients, Cheol was starting plans to make SVT. Kihyun he…How do I explain this…He started to influence Shownu into some really fucked up and crazy shit, killing people, stealing, all that. Cheol had this big, blow out fight with Kihyun and Shownu that ended with him in the hospital from them beating him badly…We stepped out rather quickly and were kind of on our own, Shua’s basement became the closest thing to a home since we had to leave the apartment. We were just three friends that were trying to find a place in the world.”

With your dessert finished, you wrapped your arm around his waist, holding him close protectively. You couldn’t imagine how this could have been weighing on him for so many years, let alone not telling much to the group.

“Somewhere along the lines we found the rest of SVT. It all gets blurred together over time. We stuck together through thick and thin though. Then Cheol was contacted by a lawyer regarding his estranged grandfather’s estate since he was the only family left and got a lot – and I mean a lot – of money. He invested it into the shipping company that took off as a big manufacturer and we started building our clientele for the ‘mafia’. The others were just little ducks that followed us and it just…happened. We only harm to protect what’s ours and yeah it’s all illegal and demanding but it’s…”

Jeonghan lifted his head from yours and glanced at you. You faced him easily, seeing the serious glint in his eyes.

“I’m fucked up for saying this but all of it; SVT, the stealing, the smuggling, all the expensive and stolen stuff we have…I wouldn’t trade it for the world. It’s fun. It’s exhilarating. It makes me feel alive.”

Thinking back, you understood everything he said to a point. Their lives were already hell from the start, they drew every short end of the stick. They had to do what was needed to survive. Did you condone everything they did? No, you probably never would, but with the adversity you had seen and faced, you could see how the thirteen of them got into this life and stayed in it. You didn’t know about the rest of them but if it was anything like the oldest three, your heart hurt a little.

“I need advice!” Jeonghan pushed the door open to Seungcheol’s office at the penthouse.

Seungcheol slowly raised his head from the file in his hand. Seungkwan and Jihoon stood before Cheol’s desk while Mingyu was sitting on the couch, his first day back on the job thanks to the boring month and half rest he got.

“We are in the middle of a meeting, Jeonghan.” He sounded annoyed, dropping the papers on the desk.

“And I’m having a crisis!” Dramatically, Jeonghan dropped himself on the couch beside Mingyu who snorted and patted the older man’s head. “And Shua will be here in five minutes to listen with you.”

Seungcheol ignored him and looked back to the younger three in the room. “Since Mingyu is still on light duty, he can handle the paperwork of the clubs. Seungkwan, I want you on promotions for them and handling the outgoing shipments for Pledis . Jihoon, we have a cargo coming in soon with supplies for Pledis as well, make sure everything is accounted for.”

Each of them nodded at their tasks and none of them moved yet. Seungcheol skimmed the file down on his desk, resting his chin on his palm.

“Scheduled shipments out to our clients start next week. No new cargo is coming in until two weeks from now. That’s all for the time being, dismissed.”

With another nod, Mingyu, Jihoon, and Seungkwan left the room, the door shutting firmly behind them. Jeonghan sighed loudly – dramatically – and Seungcheol balled up a blank sheet of paper, tossing it at the younger man and it hit him on the head.

“What advice do you need, idiot?”

“I wanna wait for Shua.” Jeonghan pouted and Seungcheol was tempted to throw more than just a piece of paper at him once more.

“First you barge into my office when I’m holding a meeting. Now you are wanting to wait for Joshua for some mid-life crisis? Why am I friends with you?”

Jeonghan lifted his head, looking at Seungcheol then rolled his eyes. “Because no one else can tolerate your bullshit.”

“I’m going to punch you.”

“I need to stop letting Mouse hang around you. She is starting to sound like you.”

“Maybe I'm a better influence than you are.”

Jeonghan was ready to spring up in his own defense but Joshua’s entrance cut him off. “Why was I texted, ‘ 911, I’m dying’ ?”

“Because I am!” Jeonghan shot up to his feet, stomping his feet childishly. “How do I ask Mouse to be my girlfriend properly?!”

Joshua and Seungcheol shared a look, both unamused and apathetic. They had an unspoken conversation that Jeonghan couldn’t discern which only made him stomp his feet again.

“Words! Use words!”

“Do you wanna smack him or am I?” Joshua asked, disregarding the whining that came from Jeonghan.

“Last time I think I did so he’s all yours.” Seungcheol waved a hand, motioning for Joshua to do the job.

The youngest of three moved quickly and jabbed Jeonghan playfully in the side and got him into a loose headlock that Jeonghan didn’t even bother to fight. Jeonghan continued to whine and went limp, dead weight against Joshua’s body. Much to his dismay, Joshua gave Jeonghan a noogie and the older elbowed him in the stomach to be released, holding his head.

“Assholes!”

Seungcheol laughed, loud and carefree, throwing his head back. Joshua stepped back, hands up in defeat, nose and eyes scrunched up in a wide smile laugh.

“I’m being serious here! I need help! Stop laughing!” With a groan of aggravation, Jeonghan punched Joshua in the arm (he didn’t even flinch) and tossed the ball of paper at Seungcheol. “You guys suck!”

“Just-” Cheol tried to catch his breath, shoulders shaking still. “Just ask her out, moron-”

“It is literally one of the easiest things you can do.” Joshua chimed in, sitting back on the couch. “Just take her out to a nice place and bring her home, at her doorstep just…” Joshua cleared his throat and did the best impersonation of Jeonghan he could. “Mouse, will you be my girlfriend?”

That had Cheol roaring in laughter once more, hitting his fist on the desk.

“God- Who knew the great Jeonghan would be freaking out over asking Mouse of all people out-”

He was nervous.

Sitting across from Mouse at a more upscale restaurant than they’d typically go to, Jeonghan was trying to keep his leg from bouncing. She was talking animatedly about a game where she was going against Wonu and absolutely wiped the floor with him. Something about a ‘one v one’ and characters named Sett (who Mouse ‘mained’) and Sylas (who Wonu picked). There was something thrown in there about a pool party skin and something about Wonwoo being a furry. He was paying attention, he swore he was focused on her words, but he couldn’t remember the game those characters were from at the moment because she was so damn distracting.

She looked really pretty. Like really pretty. When Jeonghan picked her up from her apartment, he knew he was done for. It was just a black dress, it was the simplest of things, but it hugged her body well, stopping mid-thigh. The neckline was straight but the almost bishop type sleeves made with black sheer fabric was stunning on her. The rose gold details in the jewelry had him quaking in his shoes.

He wanted to wine and dine her tonight before walking her all the way back to her apartment door and asking her to be his girlfriend officially. After his bullying session from Seungcheol and Joshua, Jeonghan reached out to Seokmin…and Seungkwan to see if they had any other advice which all boiled down to the same thing; take Mouse out to a nice dinner, share a dessert, and when he brought her home, ask her out. It was a simple thing to do, but his heart was fluttering and there were butterflies in his stomach, sending shivers down his spine.

“Do you want to share something for dessert?” The question piqued Mouse’s interest and she nodded, leaning her elbows on the table and holding her head in her palms.

“I’d love to, what do you want?”

“What do you want?” He countered, mimicking her position.

She snickered and hummed quietly. “I will not lie. The menu said there were chocolate lava cakes and I’ve been thinking about it all dinner.”

“Then lava cake it is.” He was quick to flag down the waitress and ordered it, settling back into the held up head position she was still sitting in.

“You look tired, Han.” Her voice was soft, reaching out to brush a few strands of his hair out of his face. “Have you been sleeping?”

“Ah~ Don’t worry about it. Things have been busy the past couple days. Once things settle I’ll be sure to rest.”

She didn’t look that pleased with his answer but withdrew her hand. “You better or I’m telling Shua.”

“Traitor.”

“You love it.” She snarked back and he snickered.

“A match made in hell.”

She covered her mouth to laugh, her shoulders shaking and she curled up on herself.

The waitress was quick to bring the dessert, placing the plate down. Jeonghan was quick to lean back in his seat and Mouse followed, folding her hands on the table. He watched as her eyes lit up, her gaze never leaving the heavenly dessert until it was placed down and the waitress walked away. When she lifted her eyes to his, he melted a bit inside. Mouse looked so happy and downright adorable.

Sharing the dessert was more a grumble of hums and Mouse wiggling happily in her seat. Jeonghan was savoring every spoonful of ice cream and chocolate cake, but more importantly, watching Mouse enjoy herself. The nerves in his stomach were still present but the more he mentally hyped himself up, the more confident he felt in everything or well…unless Mouse said no to being his girlfriend, then he would rather be home, eating really shitting junk food, and curling up with someone because he would need emotional support.

“Are you okay?” Mouse spoke up, holding one of his hands between both of hers as he drove her home.

He peered at her from the corner of his eye and he snickered. “I’m fine, Mouse.”

She pouted, drawing small patterns on his palm. “You seem distracted.”

Am I being that obvious? He mentally scolded himself.

“Have I? I doubt that~” He laced his fingers with hers, pulling into the parking garage for her building. “I’m just a busy man, Mouse.”

Before she got a chance to respond, Jeonghan exited the car and rounded over to her side, pulling the door open. Mouse took his hand when he reached out and Jeonghan smiled, pulling her up gently. Walking up to her apartment, he stayed close, swinging their joined hands which made her laugh under her breath and smile.

“Mouse- Y/N…” Jeonghan stopped her once she unlocked her door, taking a deep breath in. She looked uneasy at the mention of her name.

He paused, taking both of her hands into his, biting his lip nervously. “Look I-” He met her eyes, running his thumbs over her knuckles. “I’ve been taking all of this slow and I’ve really enjoyed every single date, the movie nights at the house with everyone, and just spending time with you. It’s been amazing and it warms my heart a lot…I was wondering if you’d like to officially…be my girlfriend.”

The fast beating of his heart was making him lightheaded.

Mouse’s face shifted from a look of concern to bright red cheeked and flustered. Her eyes were open wide and her mouth hung open the slightest bit but she didn’t say anything. Anxiety bubbled in his chest, thinking the absolute worst-

“I-” She pushed out the breath she held in then smiled, nodding her head quickly. “Yeah. Yes, Jeonghan. I’d love to be your girlfriend.”

Jeonghan looked…too happy coming home from his date with Mouse.

Seungcheol had been sitting on an armchair, legs kicked up on the coffee table with Wonwoo and Mingyu sitting on the other couch. He was watching the two of them play something on the taller man’s Switch when Jeonghan floated in from the garage, it was weird. He was humming to himself as he went to the fridge, getting himself a bottle of water and leaning against the counter, ignoring his friends.

Cheol looked to Wonwoo who turned back from peering at Jeonghan and he raised a brow, almost asking if he knew anything. Wonwoo’s flat expression shifted into a smirk, pulling out his phone and quickly tapping away. For a moment he paused and his nose scrunched up in a muted laugh.

“Finally!” Seokmin’s voice was heard down the hall and a fast footfall followed. “It took you long enough!”

Snorting in amusement, Seungcheol watched as Seokmin barreled into the room and stood opposite of Jeonghan at the kitchen island.

“Don’t finally me, I didn’t want to fuck it up.” Jeonghan shot back, downing some of the water. “I thought I was going to shit myself with how nervous I was the entire night.”

“It couldn’t have been that bad.” Seokmin countered, leaning himself on his elbows. “Mouse is chill when it comes down to it. She was very happy when I talked to her on the phone earlier.”

Jeonghan waved his hand around subtly to find the words but sighed, a smile on his face. “She looks so pretty. Like…dude, she looked gorgeous and I kept staring because she was dazzling.”

Seungcheol and Mingyu both fake gagged. Wonwoo’s shoulders shook in another silent laugh. He watched as Jeonghan and Seokmin glared at them.

“Shut up, my best friend is hot.”

“Yeah, my girlfriend is hot!” Jeonghan stuck his tongue out childishly.

That only made him and Mingyu gag again.

“I feel like I'm in a frat house.” Jeonghan rolled his eyes.

Wonwoo’s deep laugh rumbled. “Sometimes it smells like a frat house.”

Seungcheol grabbed a pillow and flung it at the younger man across the living room. “Yah! Everyone at least showers regularly!”

“And everyone forgets to do laundry until the last minute!”

“You are always home in Pandora! You have the time to! Maybe I should make you do everyone's laundry!” Seungcheol threw his head back in laughter at the disgust that spread on Wonwoo’s face.

“I would rather die.”

“That’s what I thought.” Seungcheol shot Wonwoo a cocky smirk.

“Why did you bring me here?” You tossed the stress ball you found in the air, laying on the couch in the small office.

“Because I’m bored, I have to look at paperwork, and I might as well bring a friend.” Mingyu sat behind the dark mahogany wood desk, a claw clip that he took from your bag earlier holding his hair back from his face. “Plus everyone is busy this weekend but you are free and I’m in the city.”

Catching the ball and dropping your arm to hang off the couch, you leaned your head back to see his upside down form against the dark red accent wall, surrounded by the pitch black of the other walls. Mingyu was focused on the files he was reading, he had shrugged off his jacket when he led you through the back entrance to Ruby earlier, straight into the officer from the locked back staircase.

Standing up, you lazed over to the large window that rested in the corner of the wall opposite of the desk Mingyu sat at. With no interference from the walkway to the left beyond the door beside the window, you overlooked the lower VIP area and a majority of the dance floor. The club was still closed, it was mid-afternoon on a Saturday, and the employees were spending plenty of time cleaning every inch of the building on Mingyu’s orders. As of right now, over an hour since arriving, looking down at the floor, no one was present unlike earlier when Mingyu first told them to get started.

While glad you got out of the house, you wanted entertainment, something to do. Last weekend, Jeonghan and you had made everything official but he did say he’d be heading out of town this weekend with a group of the guys for business with Ateez. The only ones left in the city were Junhui, Minghao, Mingyu, Cheol, Wonwoo, and Jihoon, and you knew spending time with Mingyu or Minghao would be the best way to spend your time than with any of the others. You didn’t want to clean your apartment and if you were at the house you’d be cooking just to pass the time.

Speaking of Ateez, Fennec , who you learned was named Wooyoung, was absolutely blowing up your phone. It wasn’t even actual stuff that mattered, most times it was memes or video game references that you did know but refused to admit. He wanted to hang out when his group and the youngest three got back, maybe bring some of Dreamcatcher members along. Now that you’ve seen inside Ruby, maybe you’d be able to snag seats at the very nice and very cushy upper VIP area that Jihoon books out for the filthy rich or mafia meetings .

“This is boring.” Turning around to face Mingyu, he looked back at you with a pout and a roll of his eyes.

“And what do you want me to do about that, Mouse? I have to finish all this before the club opens.”

“Can I go downstairs?”

“I don’t know, can you?”

Your face dropped into a deadpan expression. “ May I punch you in the face? Please?”

“Wah, Jeonghan is right, you are spending too much time around Cheol.” Mingyu sat back in the leather chair, mouth agape but a half smile on his spread lips.

“What- I barely even see him half the time, he barely talks to me.”

“But when you do, you gotta admit, you’d rather be throwing hands with him.”

“Well- I mean-” You stammered, crossing your arms over your chest. “Cheol kinda does have a punchable face…”

“I’m telling Jeonghan-” Mingyu whipped his phone from his pocket, shifting oddly in his seat to get it out. “He is going to love this-”

“I’ve already told him before…”

Mingyu paused before his smile just spread wider and he laughed with his whole chest. He looked so bright and childlike in comparison to the professional crisp white, collar shirt and gray suit slacks. But he still looked dumb with the clip on the top of his head holding his hair back. “I need more tea nights with you, Minghao, and Seokmin.”

“I can tell you all about how I whooped Wonu’s ass in League. Now get back to work, I’m going to see if anyone needs help downstairs.”

“You don’t have to-”

“Enjoy the paperwork~”

Making your way out the door, the soft thrum of a non-lyrical beat quietly filling the space. The walkway was decently wide, a couple feet, boarded on the side with a half-wall and a small railing to protect anyone from going over the side of it. You ran your hand over the railing, following the path towards the stairs at the other end of the walkway, stopping at the stereotypical red ropes that ‘gated’ off the office from the upper VIP area.

Unclasping the rope and securing it once more when past it, you took in the black and red scheme that bathed the area. The couches and tables were much nicer than the ones you could see downstairs, the lights were on but dim, feeding into whatever ambiance that Jihoon probably wanted to give off. With the half-wall beyond the walkway, it gave more privacy to the area above if patrons looked up, but anyone could stand by it and look down upon the masses that filled the floor below.

No one was upstairs currently, the tables were shining and dust free, probably cleaned not that long ago. With nothing of interest, you walked towards the staircase, the same red rope that you got past, and headed down to the main floor.

Standing at the foot of the stairs, you nodded to yourself as you took in the room. Under the overhang of the office and upper VIP area was the bar. Its center island held different tiers with decently priced liquors to some more expensive name brands near the top shelves. The outer counters were surrounded by plenty of cushioned, well maintained bar stools for patrons to occupy. From above the dance floor was huge, but being able to stand in the middle of it was weird. It probably didn’t feel as large when it was packed with bodies. With tables encompassing the outer edges of the room, you leisurely made your way around alongside them, hoping to find someone working to get something to do.

“Ya, what are you doing?” Jihoon’s voice startled you and you whipped around to find where he was. Towards the front of the building, Jihoon stood at the double door entrance to the club, dressed in a crisp black button-up and matching black trousers. His hair was slicked back out of his face and the sleeves were being rolled up as he spoke.

“I was bored.” Shrugging your shoulders, pointing up towards the office. “ ‘Gyu is doing work and I didn't want to sit around anymore.”

“You want to help me with something then?”

Tag List is Open! Comment on the BSH Master List to get added!

Tag List:

@unlikelysublimekryptonite @iiaweirdo @aurorajoye @gaslysainz @sarcasticsagittarius1998 @vanteel

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dollgutzzz · 3 months ago

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Sicktember Update! 🚨🚨🚨

As Sicktember draws ever closer, I’ve been doing a lot of brainstorming and got some amazing suggestions from some of you!

Here is the masterlist so far (Everything with *** at the beginning is a prompt I do not yet have a specific idea in mind for yet. Feel free to suggest!)

⭐️ Day 1: “I’m not hungover, I’m just sick.” (Kavehtham) https://archiveofourown.org/works/58622329

⭐️ Day 2: Too much of a good thing/Overindulgence (FFXV)

⭐️ Day 3: Campus Crud (FFXV)

⭐️ Day 4: “Great, I got a cold for my birthday.” (FFXV)

⭐️ Day 5: Rogue Organ (TighCyno)

⭐️ Day 6: Dizziness/vertigo (FFXV)

⭐️ Day 7: Borrowed hoodie (TighCyno)

⭐️ Day 8: “The closest doctor is probably hours from here!” (Genshin modern AU: camping: 4ggravate)

⭐️ Day 9: Overdramatic patient/caretaker (FFXV)

⭐️ Day 10: The sniffles

⭐️ Day 11 (ALT): “I didn’t mean to wake you up.” (FFXV)

⭐️ Day 12: “You’re not fine, you’re throwing up/coughing up a lung.” (FFXV)

⭐️ Day 13: Mononucleosis (Stardew Valley Sambastian)

⭐️ Day 14: Clean sheets/fresh pajamas (FFXV)

⭐️ Day 15: “Who decided ____ is sick people food?” (Kavehtham)

Day 16: Toxin/poison (FFXV)

Day 17: Brain fog/spaced out (TighCyno)

Day 18: “My body is one big ache.” (FFXV)

***Day 19: Hypochondriac Tendencies

Day 20: Medication Bribery (Kavehtham)

Day 21 (ALT): Doctor’s Note (FFXV)

***Day 22: “You didn’t use my cup, did you?”

***Day 23: Under a Spell

***Day 24: Tales from the Waiting Room

Day 25: Summer Flu (FFXV)

Day 26 (ALT): Flushed Cheeks (FFXV)

Day 27: “This is non-negotiable.” (Kavetham)

Day 28 (ALT): Hospital Bed (FFXV)

Day 29: Sick on a Roadtrip (VenXiao)

Day 30: Past Prompt of Your Choice!

Also yes, I am finally branching out to writing more than just Genshin and FFXV! I’m gonna be ushering in some other fandoms as well. So far I have one prompt I have chosen to write as Sam and Sebastian from Stardew Valley :)

#genshin impact #ffxv #fanfic #genshin fic #genshin impact fic #ffxv fanfic #stardew valley #sambastian #sicktember #please send suggestions #fic suggestions #ao3

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giasesshoumaru · 1 year ago

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Gia's Fic Masterlist [Yuri On Ice]

This is a list of all the fics I’ve written that are posted to AO3 for Harry Potter. Those that are also on FFN or Tumblr will have links to that, too. This will not include any stories that are a permanent WIP, but any fics from abandoned series will be marked.

Harry Potter || Yuri On Ice || Miscellaneous

Bad Week || Written with @otabekvoiceblog || Rating: Explicit || Pairing: Otayuri || With Europeans over and the Olympics on the horizon, the stress has started to get to Yuri. Otabek endeavors to change that. || Tags: Underage, Yuri is 16, Fluff and Smut, Dom/Sub, Food Porn

Between Friends || Rating: Explicit || Pairing: Mila/Yuri || Yuri and Mila have always been training mates and maybe even friends. Despite some innocent exploration, nothing became of it. What happens when they kiss as adults? || Tags: Friends to Lovers, Friends with Benefits, Eventual Smut, Underage in the First Half

Coming Home || Written with @jfrosty1983 || Rating: Teen || Pairing; Viktuuri || Viktor comes home to Yuuri after the European Championships. || Tags: Fluff

Just Love Me || Written with @otabekvoiceblog || Rating: Explicit || Pairing: Otayuri || After their fight, Yuri does his best to make it up to Otabek as the two do some reminiscing about their wedding and talking about their honeymoon. || Tags: Fluff and Smut, Fluff, Smut, Sub Yuri Plisetsky, Dom Otabek Altin, Dom/Sub || Tumblr

Moments in the Onsen || Rating: Explicit || Pairing: Otabek x Yuuri, Viktuuri, Otabek & Yuri || While Viktor is out with Chris, Yuuri and Otabek have a stolen moment in the Onsen together. || Tags: Sexual Content, Cheating, Smut, Light, Emotional Infidelity

New Frontiers and Familiar Territories || Rating: Explicit || Pairings: Viktuuri, Otabek & Yuri || Yuuri is finally in St. Petersburg with Viktor. There are new rinkmates, but there's also Viktor, and nothing is better than that. Meanwhile, Yuri has a conversation with his friend, Otabek. || Tags: Sexual Content, Fluf and Smut, Rough Sex, Praise Kink || Notes: Discontinued Series

One Day || Rating: General || Pairing: Viktuuri || Prince Yuuri of Ajantara is in love with Viktor, the Elven King of Rusanaria. Neither of them thought that it would be a problem that Yuuri isn't pure Elven. || Tags: Alternate Universe - Fantasy, Elves, Romance, Fluff, references to Omegaverse

Touch My World With You || Written with @otabekvoiceblog || Rating: Explicit || Pairing: Otayuri || After the Exhibitions at Worlds, Yuri and Otabek go back to the hotel room to wind down after a long season. || Tags: Underage, Yuri is 17, Fluff and Smut, Dom/Sub

Cancer AU

Say It || Rating: Teen || Pairing: Viktuuri, Otayuri || After feeling sick for the past couple of months, Yuri gets a bad diagnosis from the doctor. || Tags: Cancer, Heavy Angst || Tumblr FFN

The Other Shoe Drops || Rating: Teen || Pairing: Viktuuri, Otayuri || Otabek finds out the results of Yuri's doctor appointment. || Tags: Cancer, Heavy Angst || Tumblr FFN

Drabble Prompts

What I Need || Rating: Explicit | Pairing: Otayuri || Fire Meme Drabble at the request of bekayim; Character Requested: Otabek :: Tags: Sexual Content, Masturbation, Light Dom/Sub || Tumblr

Always || Rating: Teen || Pairing : Otayuri || onotherflights asked:

otayuri, 14. “Hey, I’m with you, okay? Always.” ♡ || Tags: First Kiss, Surprise Kissing || Tumblr

Rest || Rating: General || Pairing: Otayuri || anonymous asked: 38, Otayuri “You fainted…straight into my arms. You know, if you wanted my attention you didn’t have to go to such extremes.” || Tumblr

You Know You Want It || Rating: Teen || Pairing: Pliroy || jfrosty1983 asked: 22. “I’ve seen the way you look at me when you think I don’t notice.” JJ and Yuri || Tags: Cheating, Suprise Kissing, Infidelity, Angry Kissing || Tumblr

You Got Me || Rating: Teen || Pairing: Otayuri || jfrosty1983 asked:

Kisses through a haze of rain. Yuri and Otabek Or Viktor and Yuuri. You choose! || Tags: Fear of Thunderstorms, Kissing || Tumblr

One Kiss || Rating: General || Pairing: Viktuuri || nyankittyblr asked: prompt 21 for viktuuri? :3 21. One kiss limit. || Tumblr

Haven't Seen the Last of Me || Rating: Teen | Pairing: Otayuri || Yuri is injured. He is not too happy about this. || Tags: Injury, Established Relationship || Tumblr

Missing Scenes

Aftermath || Rating: Teen || Viktor just heard Yuuri say that katsudon was his eros, and after Yuuri runs out of the room, Viktor is free to show how he really feels about that. Expansion scene of Episode 3. || FFN

Not Giving In || Rating: Teen || As Yuri rides the train back to Fukuoka, he thinks about Viktor, his own loss to Katsuki Yuuri, and how it affects his future. || FFN

Now I Know || Rating: General || Pairing: Viktuuri (pre-relationship) || After Yuuri's comments announcing his theme on live television, Viktor has a lot of thinking to do. || Tags: Light Angst, Romance || FFN

The Right Direction || Rating: General || Pairing: Viktuuri (pre-relationship) || Yuuri and Viktor grow closer as Yuuri’s first Grand Prix of the season nears. || Tags: Romance, Angst || FFN

Shattered Glass || Rating: M || Pairing: Viktuuri || Yuuri, his family, and friends all react to The Kiss. Yuuri and Viktor must come to terms with it, as well. || Tags: Sexual Content, Angst, First Time, Angst and Fluff and Smut || FFN

The Color Green || Rating: Teen || Pairing: Viktuuri || Jealousy rears its head after Yuuri sees Viktor flirting with some fans as they prepare for the Rostelecom Cup. Meanwhile, Viktor also has something that he needs to discuss with Yuuri. || Tags: Fluff and Angst || FFN

Quiet Moments || Rating: General || Pairing: Viktuuri || Yuuri and Yurio have a run-in with a fan. When Yuuri gets back to his hotel, he has a moment of reflection. || Tags: Light Angst || FFN

Filling the Void || Rating: Explicit || Pairings: Viktuuri, Takeshi/Yuuko || Viktor and Yuuri have a loving, touching reunion at the airport. Afterward, Viktor has a proposition for him. Meanwhile, Yuuko and Takeshi do some spying. || Tags: Fluff, Sexual Content, Fluff and Smut || FFN

Complete In Your Arms || Rating: Explicit || Pairing: Viktuuri || Viktor and Yuuri have some talking to do after the truth comes out about Yuuri not remembering the banquet. || Tags: Angst and Fluff and Smut, Sexual Content || FFN

On Love and Separation || Rating: Explicit || Pairing: Viktuuri || Viktor and Yuuri revel in the aftermath of the Grand Prix Final, but it is short-lived. Their decisions force them to separate as they both lead up to Nationals. They must learn to deal with the separation as they prepare for Nationals, where everyone has something to prove. || Tags: Sexual Content, Angst and Fluff and Smut || FFN

Otabek Altin Week 2018

It Wasn't Like That || Rating: Teen || Pairing: Otayuri || Otabek overhears Yuri on a phone call with his grandfather after Yuri snuck out to a club to see him. || Tags: Established Relationship, Yuri is 17 || Tumblr FFN

Heartbreak and Victory || Rating: Teen || Pairing: Otayuri || Yuri gets injured before the Olympics and can't compete, so Otabek competes for both of them. || Tags: Fluff, Light Angst || Tumblr FFN

The DJ And His Sexy Club Kitten || Pairing: Teen || Pairing: Otayuri || The club night mentioned in Day One. || Tags: Established Relationship, Light Dom/Sub || Tumblr FFN

The Other Shoe Drops || Info Above Under Cancer AU || Tumblr FFN

Permanent Remembrance || Rating: Teen | Pairing: Otayuri || Yuri keeps misplacing his engagement ring. As they go to buy their wedding rings, Otabek has an idea to change that. || Tags: Fluff, Established Relationship || Tumblr FFN

The Path Here || Rating: General || Pairing: Otayuri || Otabek and Yuri reminisce about the long path there on their wedding day. || Tags: Fluff, Established Relationship || Tumblr FFN

Birthday to Remember || Rating: Teen || Pairing: Otayuri || Yuri takes Otabek out for Halloween for his birthday. || Tags: Fluff, Established Relationship || Tumblr FFN

Want and Dare

You Know You Want It || Info Above Under Drabble Prompts || Tumblr

How Dare You || Rating: Explicit || Pairing: Pliroy || jfrosty1983 asked: #26 the YOI pairing of your choice:) micro-story prompt = #26 - how dare [you]. Can be read as a stand-alone. || Tags: Rerefences to Cheating, Implied Masturbation

Yuri On Ice Omegaverse Week 2020

We'll See || Rating: Teen || Pairing: Pliroy || Yuri hates the idea of soulmates. Fate has other plans for him. || Tags: Fluff, Getting Together

A Wedding and a Stranger || Rating: Explicit || Pairing: Otayuri || Omega Prince Yuri gets married to Alpha Prince Otabek, whom he's never met. A wedding night ensues. || Tags: Smut, AU - Royalty

Mine || Rating: Teen || Pairing: Explicit || Otabek has to get possessive of his boyfriend when a stranger at a club messes with Yuri. || Tags: Protectiveness

#yoi fanfic #fic masterlist #my writing #otayuri #pliroy #viktuuri #mila x yuri #yuri on ice fanfic

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saras-devotionals · 8 months ago

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Quiet Time 3/16

What am I feeling today?

I feel that I’m getting better health wise, I’m not that congested anymore and I can speak again so that’s great! I’ve been excused from the past three days of work and school and there are some things that I won’t have to make up which I’m really grateful for! Although, it could just be because I was sick and just away and isolated from everyone for a bit but I’m just feeling kinda numb. I’ve spent way too many hours in bed, on my phone, watching tv, etc and I just feel awful about it because I wasn’t being productive. Even though I know everyone is telling me to rest, I just can’t, like I can’t allow myself to fully rest.

Bible Plan: Spiritual Wilderness

Israel left Egypt, which was their place of deliverance, but the promised land they were heading for was their place of dominion. In between Egypt and the promised land was a dry desert. The period between deliverance and dominion is usually marked by a miserable wilderness.

Elijah went through a wilderness as well as the apostle Paul (1 Kings 19:1-9; Galatians 1:17-18). Even our Lord Jesus “was led into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil” (Matthew 4:1) after being filled with the Holy Spirit.

The wilderness experience is a tough time in which we endure spiritual afflictions. Often, it’s a time when temptation intensifies; there might be spiritual attacks on our soul. This is a time that may also involve a spiritual drought when we feel disconnected from God.

A spiritual wilderness is not a sign that we are in sin although sometimes it feels like that. Instead of looking for God, we tend to look for some sin that can be blamed for our current experience. If you are going through a spiritual wilderness right now, remember you are not alone. The Holy Spirit is with you right now.

God is with you in the wilderness even when you don’t feel Him.

I understand that this is something that is common and it’s talked about. We go from baptism and then it’s like we’re thrown into the desert and we’re tested and it’s a hard path to walk. I don’t feel like this all the time, there are some times when I’m all fired up and ready to go! But then I have my periods of drought, where I feel absolutely numb, and I don’t want to go on in life because I’ve just gotten so tired and beat down.

I want to be able to strike a balance here. I understand that God is with me during both of these times and the desert can be necessary! It’s just hard, and I think I lack a strong will sometimes. But I can also think I’ve persevered thus far and I’m still here, what’s stopping from going further?

Psalms 24:1-6 NIV

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob.”

The instruction of those who may stand in the holy place before God are those who are of pure heart, clean hands, and that do not have idols. From this section, what I’ve been struggling with is idolatry and I don’t want that to be true. I can be quite selfish and put myself first. I can also get obsessed and allow it to consume me, like an addiction really, I just need to get my next fix and constantly craving whatever more I can get. That’s a problem, that’s something I want to change, because I know, in the end, it doesn’t truly leave me satisfied, nothing does or will except for God.

Matthew 28:18-20 NIV

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.””

The Great Commission!! This is something I’ve had memorized for years yet I hadn’t began putting it into practice til a few months ago. I mean, this is literally some of Jesus last words to us and a command that he has given all of us! I mean come on! How much more important can this be?? I need to get better with this though, I can have a hard time sharing my faith and catching up with people that I have shared with before. I should check up and not give up just because it didn’t work out the first time.

Isaiah 43:1-4 NIV

“But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.”

We’re His🥹 this just hits hard for me, like God is with us, we’re precious to Him, He loves us🥹 like this is just something that I’ve always had a hard time wrapping my head around but He’s like literally our Father and we should treat Him as such. I think about how much I love my dad and how I try to spend time with him even when it’s inconvenient for me and I need to give God and even higher treatment than that! I mean it’s just!!! He just!!! He loves us!!!🥹🥹

Deuteronomy 2:7 NIV

“The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.”

I could honestly cry right now because!!! God is just so good, even when I’m struggling, even when I’m having a hard time, even when all I want to do is just give up, God is always there. I may not be aware of it all the time but He is, He’s watching over me and He’s with me and what more could I possibly ask for?

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mirkwoodshewolf · 2 years ago

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Guardian angel; Matt Murdock x teen daughter reader

*Author’s note*

Okay this little idea randomly popped into my head over the weekend so I decided to post it up here and see what you all think. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, we NEED MORE DAREDAD FICS!!! Seriously this man DESERVES happiness *ted talk over*

Now the way I picture this fic is like PRE S.1 like just before the events of the first episode of the series. The early days of Matt being daredevil or in this case the Man in the Mask aka the Devil of Hell’s kitchen.

Warnings: fluff, some angst, teen pregnancy (protection was used but remember kids wrap it before you tap it), some chaotic religious aspects shown but not acted upon,

Taglist:

@plethora-of-things

@waddles03

@psychosupernatural

@queensdivas

@queen-paladin

@jd-johndeacon-or-jackdaniels

@gay-and-ready-to-cry

@austynparksandpizza

__________________________________________________________

I knew I couldn’t hide this forever. It was only a matter of time before he got too suspicious or worse found out about me and Austin’s…..I took a heavy breath as I bounced my leg anxiously and rubbed my hands over my face.

I heard my phone rang and across the screen was my favorite picture of Austin playing his acoustic guitar and my name for him flashed across the screen, “The King” with three heart emojis and a king emoji. He was asking for a Facetime which I accepted.

“Hi baby.”

“There’s my best girl.” I blushed as I ducked down.

“You know what that nickname does to me.”

“And I’ll still say it an infinite amount of times just to see you get flustered every time.”

Austin Callahan, probably one of the cutest boys at St. Maria’s Catholic School. Captain of the swim team and the basketball team, honor student, and the nicest guy in the world who loves listening to Elvis music as well as all the oldies rock and roll? Could there be any other dream guy?

Not only that but we had been friends since we started our High school year until just last year at homecoming, he admitted to having feelings for me as he gave me a handmade rose he made from one of the napkins (I still have it to this day in my pencil cup on my desk at home). From there our romance began to shine.

Of course being in a relationship, there was no hiding it from my dad. Well when your dad is a lawyer like Matthew Murdock of “Nelson & Murdock” obviously you can’t hide anything from him. Believe me I’ve tried in the past and he finds out every time.

Which is why I’ve taken up residence at my all-time bff Maddie’s place. It’s not much (Hell’s kitchen never is) but it’s home, nevertheless. The reason why I’m sleeping over at my friend’s house almost indefinitely is because—I’m pregnant. Yep, 17 years old and I’m pregnant just short of a month and a half.

Past couple of weeks I’ve been getting really sick, like even just the smell of Hell’s kitchen’s smog is enough to make me puke my guts out. I also began to realize that I hadn’t gotten my period yet. So one day after school with Maddie at my side, we went to the local doctor’s office, told them about my symptoms and my late period and after some blood work and a pregnancy test, I came back positive.

Austin was the first person to tell and he was shocked at first but he took me by the hands, looked me in the eye and swore to me that he wasn’t gonna leave me like his daddy did him and his mama. I was at least thankful to God above that I had the support of my friends and Austin, but the biggest hurdle was yet to come. My dad.

My dad is not just a Man of the Law, he’s also a Man of God. Not like holy religious that he beat the script of every verse of the Bible into me, or told me everyone is a sinner and everyone is going to Hell should they not repent (thank God). But he did raise me to be a good Catholic girl ever since my mom died of cancer when I was only 2 years old.

He told me to always be aware of my surroundings, know the temptations, and don’t let anyone take advantage of you. And just like that I gave into temptation and now I paid the price (before you say it YES we did use protection).

“How you feeling sweetheart? You ducked out of Chemistry class pretty quick.”

“I’d rather not relive that. I tried so hard to keep it in but that crap that Hilary was wearing as perfume became too much. I mean really there’s a reason why you don’t put on perfume in a classroom especially in a chemistry class. Can’t perfume catch fire or something?”

“Some can. But that scent she claimed she bought from Paris, she’d be a human candle if she got one knick of a Bunsen burner.” I laughed and said.

“Maddie gave me the homework for that class, god I still don’t get how you can understand all that stuff.”

“It’s not that hard really. I mean, we found good chemistry right?” I rolled my eyes and told him.

“That has literally got to be the worst cheesy pickup line I’ve ever heard.”

“Can’t blame me if I’m crazy positive about you.”

“Stop!” I whined as he laughed.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry I swear I’m done now.” He said through his adorable laughter. “So you at Maddie’s again?”

“Yep. Thankfully my dad seems to buy into the fact that we’re doing a project together for history class and I just keep falling asleep here.”

“Wait but didn’t you guys finish that project last week?”

“Yeah but my dad don’t need to know that.”

“Babe. How long are you gonna hide your pregnancy from him?”

“I was thinking….maybe by the time our kid’s out of high school?” he raised his brow at me. “Okay, okay fine! I’ll…..I’ll tell him tomorrow after school. Will—will you be there with me?”

“Anything to take the tension off. It took two to tango after all. Plus I met your dad before, I know he’ll be okay with this.”

“I just….” I trailed off looking down at the ground sadly.

“What? What is it (Y/n)?”

“What if he doesn’t?”

“Babe…..”

“No, no Austin just—just listen for a second. Sure my dad’s cool, he’s a kickass upcoming lawyer. He’s not embarrassing, he’s not overbearing when it comes to us being Catholic, but what if he doesn’t want me anymore? Teenage pregnancies are frowned upon and as soon as I start really showing the signs, those hens are gonna cluck.”

“Then let them cluck. It’s not any of their business. This is about us, about you. Our child. Yes we’re still kids and yeah we’re still in school just about to get into adulthood, this is our life. If you still want to have this baby, I’m in. But if you change your mind down the line, I’ll support that too. Because we’re in this together baby girl.”

“How did I ever get so lucky to get you as my boyfriend?”

“Believe me, if anyone’s lucky it’s me. How I ever managed to convince you to be my girlfriend is a miracle that only the good Lord knows.” I smiled and said to him.

“Goodnight king.”

“G’night pretty mama.” He couldn’t help but say in his best Elvis impression. I smiled and kissed my hand before blowing him a kiss and he did the same for me before winking at me and we ended the facetime call.

“I swear the way you two talk to each other makes me want to puke out butterflies and rainbows.” Maddie’s voice said. I turned and she came in with some tomato soup, saltine crackers and pickles.

Another strange thing during my pregnancy is that every now and then I’m getting these cravings for the weirdest shit. Like just the other day, I had sliced orange slices as a side dish for my mashed potatoes and everyone knows how much I loathe oranges (even the smell of them has made me gagged for years). And yet I needed them, or I guess the baby needed them.

“Well that is if your strange food combos don’t make me first. You know how I’ve hated even looking at pickles.”

“I know I’m sorry. But you’re the best for getting some for me.” I said as I took a sliced pickle and put it between two crackers and ate it like a sandwich. Maddie gagged and turned away as she turned on her tv and switched it to MTV to see our favorite show Ridiculousness was on.

“Ohhh I love this one with Sage. The Jeremy category makes me die everytime!” I exclaimed.

“I know right! But you also can’t beat when Ryan Sheckler came on the show and the animal stalkers category. That cat one still makes me think it was a weeping angel.”

“Right!? I swear all cats are the weeping angels familiars. I don’t care what any whovian says prove me wrong.” I said after slurping up my soup.

“So were you like for real about not telling your dad about the baby?” I dropped my spoon back into the bowl and set the tray aside.

“I thought you said you’d work on your snooping in on other people’s phone calls?”

“I did but when it’s a call this serious about my future godchild, I should have some say in it. And Austin’s right, you gotta tell your dad.”

“I know I should but…..do you remember what happened when Katelyn first came out as bisexual. Her parents completely disowned her and now she’s living with her cousin MJ in Queens. I got no other family to go to, what if my dad isn’t cool with…..I mean yeah I’ll have Austin and you but—”

“I get it. Really I do. I’ve seen how close you and your dad are, hell I’d trade my dad for yours any day.” I playfully shoved her.

“Your dad’s sweet.”

“Yeah sweet like a fly buzzing around me every second. Constantly in my business, wanting to look through my phone, I swear he’s the definition of a helicopter parent.” I looked down as I placed my hands over my lower abdomen where the baby was slowly growing. “Hey,” Maddie wrapped an arm around me and I looked up at her, “Your dad loves you. He’s not like those crazy parents we’ve seen that come to preach about the Lord’s will or the End of the world. He won’t give up on you, I can just feel it.”

“I hope your right Maddie. I really hope so.” I looked at the clock and saw that it was just after 10:30pm. “I’m getting kinda sleepy, think I’ll turn in for the night.”

“Yeah I’m gonna head to bed myself. Night (n/n).”

“Night Mads.” We hugged each other and she went across the hall into her room while I snuggled into my bed in her sister’s room (she had left for college in LA so it’s been used as a guestroom) and tried to get some sleep.

Time ticked by and while I was asleep and my eyes were shut, my brain was just buzzing with so many thoughts, fear and anxiety. I got up from the bed and opened up the window that was near the fire escape and decided I needed some fresh air.

The cold autumn night wind blew over my thin pajama bottoms. I almost wish I had grabbed a hoodie or her sister’s old fleece blanket before scaling up onto the roof. I sat along the edge and just stared out into the city as I listened to the sounds of the sirens that passed by, the occasional stray dog barking or people shouting at each other.

“A bit cold to be up here by yourself.” A voice said behind me. I jumped out of my skin and was surprised to see the latest vigilante that had been rumored to be running around Hell’s kitchen.

Unlike the Avengers, this man is said to be brutal against his enemies. Unleashing his untamable wrath on the scum of Hell’s Kitchen but he never kills them (if you ask me from some of stories I hear, I’m surprised they aren’t dead).

The upper half of his face was covered with a black mask with no holes for his eyes. Seriously how is he able to see through that material? His whole attire was black with a skin-tight black shirt showing off every bit of muscle on his upperbody, thick black pants and black combat boots.

“Coming from the guy wearing a skin-tight t-shirt.”

“You’ve got a quick wit.”

“Smart-mouth Murdock some of the kids call me at school. That’s why I’m co-Captain of the debate team.”

“Co-captain? I would assume you’d be captain.”

“Well there’s always someone clever than you, not to say he isn’t a good captain but he can be an asshole at times.” He turned to me. If I could see under the mask, I’d assume he’d be judging me for my foul language. “Pardon my French.”

“I’ve heard worse. Mind if I sit?”

“I’d assume you’d be out there knocking out bad guys. You know kicking ass and taking names.” He let out a scoffed chuckle.

“I prefer not to take names. That’s one difference between the Avengers and me. I would prefer my name to not be publicly known. Not for my sake but for the people around me.”

“I get that.” I replied softly. “I mean look at Captain America. He shouldn’t even bother with a mask cause everyone knows his name. And don’t get me started on Stark’s public announcement, “I am Iron-man”. No wonder why those aliens came for us if the heroes are publicly announcing to the world ‘hey we’re the big and strong Avengers and you can’t do anything about it’. And next thing you know BAM! Aliens are flying in kamikaze style and nearly blowing us all to hell.”

“A bit cynical for one so young.”

“Sorry. I get snippy and cynical when I’m anxious or stressed.”

“And why’s that?”

“I—” I trailed off. He slowly scooted closer to me and said to me in a soft assuring manner.

“If you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine. But I’ve been told I’m a pretty good listener. Plus with the mask you won’t get any judgmental looks from me.” I picked at my nails as well as stroking my lower abdomen with my pinkie and ring fingers.

“The whole aspect of catholic guilt it—it’s eating me alive.”

“Catholic guilt?”

“You don’t want to hear this. This is just dumb teenage drama that all adults try to pin us with even when we’re going through some really hard and tough shit. It’s not always just teenage drama we have our own problems that you folks don’t seem to get and—” I went on a ramble until I felt him ground me by placed a hand on top of my shoulder.

“Hold on now, take a deep breath.” I turned to him and even through his black mask, I could almost feel the gentleness of his eyes as he had his body fully turned to me, giving me his full attention. I slowly but sharply breathed in through my nose before exhaling shakily.

I did this a couple more times until they became deep, steady breaths.

“There we go. I could hear your heart racing erratically and you were on the verge of a panic attack.”

“You—can you really hear a person’s heartbeat? Or are you just messing with me?”

“It’s a long story but I have enhanced senses that allows me to hear better than most.”

“Wow. That is both dope and freaky at the same time.”

“I apologize if it’s invasive. I don’t mean to do it on purpose.”

“Call me crazy but I believe you.” A slight smile came at the corner of his lips.

“So shall we get back to that spill on catholic guilt?” I bowed my head.

“I was kinda hoping you’d forget about that.”

“I don’t mean to push. But I just feel like you want to talk to someone about this. Someone who isn’t a friend.”

“It’s……my dad.”

“Your dad? Wait he—he doesn’t hurt you, does he?”

“No nothing like that. He’s the best. I swear he’s like my best friend, well after Maddie but still he’s sweet, he’s caring, he’s compassionate. He raised me all by himself for so long that I—I’m afraid he won’t be with me anymore.”

“I’m sorry. I mean eventually we all have to die at some point in our lives. But I’m sure that won’t be for a long, long time for your dad. Unless he’s—”

“I’m not talking about losing him to old age or cancer. I’m talking about that he’ll never speak to me again!” I snapped.

God this pregnancy already has got me so antsy that even the slightest thing in my already stressed out mind, can make me explode. He froze in his spot and it looked like his body was tense at my sudden outburst.

“Jesus Christ,” I muttered burying my face into my hands. “The truth is I—I found out just a week ago, that I’m…..I’m a month and a half pregnant with my boyfriend’s baby.”

If I could see under his mask, I’d bet his eyes are bulging out from underneath the satin material.

“Yeah. Pregnant at 17. Go ahead and make assumptions, call me names.”

“You’re sitting next to a guy who goes around wearing a skin-tight shirt and a mask that beats up bad guys late at night. As far as I’m concerned, I am the last person who should be judging you.” He adjusted in his spot as he asked me, “Does the father know?” I nodded.

“Yeah. He was the first person to find out after my best friend. And he’s been nothing but supportive. Even though we’re just about to graduate high school, he’s willing to help out with anything.”

“It’s just you’re afraid to tell your own father about your pregnancy.”

“Don’t get me wrong he’s a great guy. Like I said never once raised a hand to me, was fair in his punishments when I needed them. And he’s not like those so called ‘preachers of God’ that you see out in the streets proclaiming the Lord’s Will and the End of the world. But—he always told me to be careful especially around boys.”

“Were you careful?”

“Yes! Austin had the condoms and everything! But it still happens you know.”

“No I know. I remember my days in health class.” I shook my head shamefully.

“I just…..it’s always just been me and my dad. My whole life he’s always been there for me. Whenever life got tough, no matter how busy he was, he always took the time to check up on me. Even if it’s just a quick hug or a peck on the nose before calling me his ‘guardian angel’. What if—what if he hates me? Or decides I’m not his sweet guardian angel anymore but a shameful harlot of Lucifer?”

Tears stung behind my lashes and I harshly tried to wipe them away but that caused them to start falling down my face. I curled myself inward before choking out.

“I need him now more than ever but I—I feel like he won’t be there for me this time. That when I reach my hand out for him, he’ll turn me aside and I’ll be drowning in the unknown world of parenthood. The guilt, the anxiety, forcing us to drift further and further apart from one another until I…..” I sniffled and wiped more tears as well as my nose with my sleeve. “I feel so alone.”

I felt his hand gently stroke down my hair before it moved down to my back, his gloved hand rubbing soothing circles on my back.

“He won’t abandon you. I promise.”

“You can’t promise that.”

“Yes I can.”

“How?” I choked out as I looked up to him. I saw as his jaw tensed up before he said.

“Because…because I have a daughter.” I looked at him surprised. Of course, superheroes and vigilantes can have their own lives they don’t have to be full-time superheroes 24/7.

But who would’ve thought that the Man in the Mask aka the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen was a parent.

“You’re a……”

“She’s just around your age. And she means—the world to me. I would want her to be able to come to me for anything, to not be afraid to speak to me. But if she ever did feel the same fear you are now, then I’ve failed as a father.”

“No I—I’m sure you didn’t. It would have nothing to do with your parenting skills, it’s just…..I’ve had friends who had parents just as loving as my dad is. But when they admit to something that goes against their religious code, they disown them or try to repent their sins.”

“But you said your father isn’t like those types of people, right?” I nodded. “I won’t lie. He will be shocked at the news, but give him time to process things and he might just surprise you for what he has to say.”

“I know I should tell him. I can’t hide at Maddie’s forever. But there’s still a lingering voice in my head telling me that when I do tell him, it’ll be the last time I ever see him. I’d give anything to shut that voice up.”

“If you’d like, I could have a word or two with that nagging voice in your head.” That brought probably the first real laugh out of me ever since finding out about my pregnancy.

“I hope those words aren’t with your fists.” He softly laughed.

“No, I mean a real talk. I’d tell it, ‘Alright you negative worm. Stop filling this poor girl’s head with scenarios that aren’t true. Go make like a tree and get out of here!’”

“It’s leaf. It’s make like a tree and leaf.”

“Right that’s it.” I shook my head as I kept laughing.

“You know, you’re not what I’d thought you’d be like.”

“Mean and scary?” I nodded. “Oh to most I’m terrifying but—I have a soft spot for those that are lost. Don’t tell anybody though. Can’t have the scum of Hell’s kitchen thinking I’m too much of a softie.”

“Your secret’s safe with me.”

“As is yours. Now you promise me you’ll tell your father in the morning?”

“Yes. First thing after school.”

“Good.” He said patting my knee. “It’s late, you should get some sleep. You’re not just sleeping for yourself anymore now.” I rubbed my lower abdomen. As he walked away and stood along the edge of the roof I told him.

“Thank you.” He turned to face me and gave me a soft nod before leaping off the roof and he disappeared into the night. I scaled back down the fire escape and re-entered Maddie’s sister’s room and got back into bed.

As promised after school I stood by mine and dad’s apartment and took a deep breath in before exhaling.

“You sure you don’t need me to go in with you anymore baby? You know I don’t mind.” Austin told me.

“No sweetie, I—I need to talk to my dad about this alone.”

“Okay. If he shows leniency, give me a call later?” I nodded. He leaned forward and we kissed each other before he continued on his way home. I took another deep breath and entered the apartment and headed for the elevator.

Once the elevator dinged on our floor, I walked down the hallway until I reached the apartment room. Taking out my key I took another deep breath in and muttered.

“Okay, he won’t get mad. He won’t get mad. Just—tell him the truth. He’ll understand. He’s cool, he’s my dad and he loves me.” I placed the key into the lock, turned it to the left and heard the click and opened it up.

“Uh-huh, yeah. Alright yeah we can make it. Yes of course, thank you. Yes and have a good afternoon to you too, bye.” I heard my dad’s voice say as I walked through the front hallway until I got to the spacious (as spacious as a New York apartment in Hell’s kitchen can be). “Well look whose returned. Finish your project already?”

“Dad I—I gotta tell you something.” I came right out with it.

“Okay, and what would that be?”

“Can we sit down on the couch?” he nodded before walking from the kitchen to the living room as we both sat on the couch.

“Is everything okay? Are you okay? Did someone hurt you?” he asked as he reached his hands out to cup my face. I took his hands and held them between us.

“I’m fine dad. Physically I am.”

“And what about emotionally?” he asked concerningly.

“Dad, I…..I lied to you. I wasn’t at Maddie’s for a project.”

“You-you—you lied to me? Then where were y—you weren’t at Austin’s were you? (Y/n) we’ve talked about this you’re not old enough to sleepover at a boy’s……”

“Dad I wasn’t at Austin’s either. I was at Maddie’s just not for a project.”

“Okay then I’m lost. (Y/n) sweetheart you’re starting to scare me. Whatever it is you can tell me, you know that right?” he asked as he scooted himself as close as he could get to me and wrapped his arm around me.

“Dad I—the reason why I was at Maddie’s was because I……I’m—” come on just say it. I swallowed a large lump in my throat and felt my leg beginning to bounce anxiously. “Promise you won’t get mad.”

“Go on.”

“You didn’t promise.”

“That’ll depend on what news I’ll be hearing. If it’s something illegal you know I won’t be happy.”

“Not really illegal. God I don’t know why I can’t just say it! Why can’t I tell you that I’m a month and a half pregnant!? I—” my mouth stopped as I realized how I had said it. I looked at my dad anxiously and saw how he just sat there flabbergasted.

“Y-you-you’re…..” he leaned back against the couch and just sat there limp like a ragdoll.

“Daddy? Are you—okay?”

“Just….need to process this.”

“Okay.” I muttered as I fiddled with my uniform skirt. We sat there in silence for a few minutes before he finally spoke out.

“Is it Austin’s?”

“Yeah. I swear dad we used protection but it—” he held out his hand telling me he didn’t need to hear anything else. Oh shit this is it. He’s gonna flip his lid, he’s pissed now. Way beyond pissed!

“And you’re sure you’re really pregnant? How did you even get an appointment and why wasn’t I notified?”

“Maddie has an aunt. Her aunt Claire performed the test and she was sworn to secrecy to not notify you.” He rubbed his hands against his face as he let out a deep sigh, his leg bouncing rapidly. Whether in anger or anxiety I couldn’t tell.

“Baby girl, why-why wouldn’t you tell me when you first found out? Why did you go through all of this trouble to lie to me about it?” my heart ached with guilt as tears began forming in my eyes.

“I’m sorry daddy. I—I was scared. Scared that you’d disown me or kick me out with no remorse or hesitation. Everytime I wanted to tell you, my brain kept showing me all the possibilities of you never wanting me to be in your life ever again. That you’d hate me or never say you had a daughter.”

I couldn’t look at him anymore so I closed myself into the edge of the couch and sniffled as I wiped my tears away. I felt dad’s hand gingerly stroke down my hair before coming down to lift my chin up.

I noticed how he had taken his red shades off and placed them on the table. Very rarely does he ever take them off, even around me but when he does, it’s always because he wants to connect with me (even though he’s blind). His unfocused gaze was staring in my general direction as he said to me.

“I’m not mad at you.”

“Y-you’re not?”

“No. I’m—taken by surprise don’t get me wrong. But it takes more than you getting pregnant at 17 for me to ever, ever, ever, think about disowning you or telling you you’re no longer my child.”

“Really?” I whispered.

“Yes.” He said giving me a nod. “So don’t ever go thinking like that again, okay?” my lip trembled as I nodded. “Okay?”

“Yeah.” I choked out.

“Okay.” I immediately hugged him as tightly as I could as I buried my face into his shoulder. His arms immediately wrapped around me as he chuckled softly.

“Oh daddy I’m so sorry I hid this from you!” I wept.

“I know you are angel. It’s okay now, it’s okay.”

“It’s just….I love you so much and I thought you’d—”

“Hey none of that now. There will be no more talk about the paranoid ‘what if’s’ in this apartment. There will never come a time when I tell you to get out of my life or that you aren’t my daughter anymore.” He said as he had me look up at him and he wiped away my tears. “You’re the most important person to me angel, and nothing will ever change that.”

I buried my face into my dad’s shoulder again and hugged him once again.

“I love you daddy.”

“And I love you my little guardian angel. I love you so, so much. And nothing will ever change that.” He said giving me a reassuring squeeze before kissing my forehead as many times as he possibly could.

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canirove · 1 year ago

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The Princess & the Football Player | Chapter 17

Previous chapter | Next chapter

Masterlist

"How are those post holiday blues?"

"Not bad. I kind of was looking forward to coming back home, I’ve missed you."

"Aww, Eleanor."

"Don't make fun of me, Declan" I say, sticking out my tongue.

"I'm not making fun of you. I actually find it very cute that you have missed me. I’ve missed you too."

"Then when can we meet? Today I start my round of visits around schools and I'll be busy basically every day."

"I also have a busy schedule this week with training every day and then playing away. But maybe you could come to next week's game? It's on Saturday. We could meet after, have dinner at my place, maybe wake up together on Sunday and have a chill day..."

"That actually sounds perfect, but I'll have to ask David first. Going to the game may not be possible" I sigh.

"You can always wear a wig" Declan says with a cheeky smile.

"I actually could, yeah" I laugh.

"Ma'am? The car is ready" David says after knocking on my door.

"Gotta go. A bunch of teenagers from your neighbourhood are waiting for me."

"Wait, are in you in Kingston?"

"Yep. Should I ask for luck?"

"Nah, you'll be fine. But if they ask about your favourite football player, say my name. That will make them love you."

"Ok" I chuckle. "Call you later?"

"Perfect."

"Bye, Dec."

"Goodbye, Eleanor."

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"Thank you very much for coming, ma'am."

"It was my pleasure" I say, shaking the hand of the high school's headmaster.

"Your Royal Highness!" a familiar voice says behind me.

"Mrs. Rice?" I say, turning around.

"I was in a meeting with some parents and thought I wouldn't make it! It's so good to see you again, ma'am."

"You too. Do you work here?"

"I'm the History teacher, yes. I guess that's why I like anything royal related" she chuckles.

"Yeah, Declan mentioned it."

"He did? When?"

"Back in Canada when we talked about you after one of the games" I say, feeling my cheeks get warm. He did tell me about it in Canada, but it was during one of our very long facetime calls.

"Ma'am, it's time to leave" David says.

"Yes, sure. It was so nice to see you again, Mrs. Rice. Even if it was briefly."

"You too, ma'am" she says with a smile that reminds me of Declan's. He definitely took after her.

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"Isn't that Mrs. Rice?" David asks. We've been stuck in traffic for the past 10 minutes, all the parents deciding to pick up their kids with their cars since it is pouring with rain.

"It is her, yes. Can we give her a lift? She'll get sick if she walks home in this rain."

"Of course, ma'am. I'll go ask her" he says, picking up an umbrella and leaving the car. A couple of minutes later, Mrs. Rice is sitting next to me, all the cars around us still not moving.

"Thank you very much for this, ma'am" she says. "You didn't have to."

"I couldn't let you walk home in this weather. If you got sick or something, Declan would kill me."

"He is a mama boy" she chuckles. "But don't tell him I told you about it."

"I won't, I promise" I smile.

We spend the rest of the ride, that should have lasted just a few minutes but that takes us almost half and hour, talking about Declan as a kid. I now know so many stories I could tease him with...

"Why don't you come inside and I show you some photos?" Mrs. Rice says when the car stops in front of her house. "Unless you have somewhere else to be."

"I actually am free for the rest of the day, but I don't want to bother you."

"Oh, nonsense. I'll make us a nice cup of tea, it’s what the body asks for with this horrible weather. He also is invited" she says, nodding towards David.

"You are too kind, ma'am. But there is no need" he says.

"So? Are you coming?"

"I..." I say, looking at David through the rearview mirror. His eyes are telling me no, but the idea of seeing photos of Declan as a baby is so tempting... "Ok, yes. But it'll be a short visit, you probably have other things to do."

"Not until dinner, don't worry" Mrs. Rice smiles.

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"Oh my God, he looks so cute!" I say, looking at a photo of Declan wearing some Mickey Mouse pyjamas.

"He lived on those and even wanted to go to school wearing them" Mrs. Rice laughs.

"Darling, we are home!" a male voice says.

"And there is such a fancy car parked outside" another male voice says.

"It looks like some kind of official car, don't you think?" a third male voice adds, this one sounding closer to where we are.

"It actually... Eleanor?" Declan says, walking into the living room with three other men. His dad and his brothers.

"Is she... Her?"

"Holy shit!"

"Why did you call her by her name? Is that allowed?"

"I... I..." Declan says, his cheeks turning bright pink.

"Why don't you all sit down and I explain it all, uh?" Mrs. Rice suggests.

"I think I need to sit down, yes" Declan says, his eyes fixed on me.

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"I can't believe you are in my house. With my family" Declan whispers while his brothers get the table ready for dinner. After Mrs. Rice explained everything to her husband and her sons, she somehow convinced me to have dinner with them. It is her birthday on Sunday, and since Declan won't be in London, they decided to meet today and have some kind of family dinner. One where I also am a guest now.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know you were coming. And for whatever the reason, I can't say no to her."

"That's my mum, yep" Declan chuckles. "Besides showing you my photos and embarrassing me forever, did she also show you your photos?"

"It was the first thing we did when we walked in. And she didn't embarrass you. You were a really cute baby."

"And now I am not cute anymore?" he asks with a cheeky smile.

"You are cute but in a different way" I reply with a similar smile.

"Sorry to interrupt" one of his brothers says, the smirk on his face letting us know that he heard what we just said. "But ma'am, do you drink wine?"

"I do, but tonight I'll have just water if you don't mind."

"Same for you, Dec?"

"Yes, I have training tomorrow."

"He probably doesn't want to get tipsy and confess that he has had a crush on you since he was a kid."

"She already knows" Declan says, rolling his eyes.

"Really?"

"Mason told me in Canada" I say.

"Damn it. And do you know about the photo?" he asks.

"I do."

"Mason too?"

"Yep" I shrug.

"It still is in his wardrobe. You should show him, Dec" his other brother says, joining the conversation.

"That isn't necessary" he replies.

"I think it is" both his brothers say at the same time.

"C'mon, Declan. They'll spend the whole night teasing you if you don't do it."

"She's right, Dec."

"Fine" he sighs. "This way, ma'am."

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"I'm sorry about those two" Declan says when we make it upstairs. "They are like kids sometimes."

"It's ok, don't worry. But you don't have to show me anything if you don't want to, we can lie to them."

"Nah, it's fine. I know you are dying to see that famous photo."

"I actually am, yes" I giggle.

"I think it's only fair that you now put one of me in your wardrobe too, tho" he says as he walks into his room.

"One where you are topless?"

"I don't know. Does that turn you on?" he asks, arching an eyebrow.

"A bit."

"Just a bit?"

"The way you look at the camera sometimes, while fully clothed, turns me on a lot more" I shrug.

"Oh, so you are like me. You like those photos because then you can think about taking off my clothes."

"I hadn't thought about it that way, but now that you mention it..."

"I'm a clever boy" he says with a mischievous smile, opening his wardrobe's door. "Eleanor, meet Eleanor."

"Oh my God, it's real!" I laugh when I see my photo. "Why did they let me leave the house with that hair?"

"You looked gorgeous."

"Almost a decade ago, maybe. But now? Nah."

"I'll have to update the photo, then" he shrugs.

"Maybe we can search for one next weekend at your place. David said yes to spending the night there, but has to still think about the game" I say, moving closer to him.

"That already sounds perfect" he replies, grabbing me by the waist and closing the space between us.

"Declan!" I giggle. "Your family is downstairs. What if they see us?"

"They'll probably open a champagne bottle and celebrate. I think they all like you. Very much."

"You think?" I say, putting my arms around his neck.

"Definitely. It must be a Rice thing. Though they don't like you as much as I do."

"And how much is that?"

"Do you want me to show you?" he says, brushing his lips against mine.

"Please" I whisper before he kisses me, the butterflies in my stomach throwing a party.

#declan rice #declan rice fanfic #declan rice imagine #football fanfic #football imagine

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fatfemmefreaquency · 1 year ago

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hey y’all. i’ve been innactive here for an age, it seems

there were a few reasons for my disappearing act, but mostly i was increasingly sick of tumblr cracking down on “nsft” / “community guideline limited” content and how bleak that makes a social media/ microblogging space for sex workers and trans & queer folks, especially trans women/ transfeminine people and trans BIPoC

but… reasonably safe and sustainable spaces to exist in on the internet are rapidly disappearing (and by “disappearing” i mostly mean being actively destroyed by asshole tech bros), so after a couple months of lurking on tumblr more than i have in the past two-ish years, i think i’m going to start posting here again (maybe)

i’m a lot less “extremely-online” than i used to be and spend most of my time away from social media these days—even when i’m on a computer

and i’m not sure if i’ll be here to stay

tumblr is still really cracking down on content that is restricted by community guidelines, and while i “get it,” this still fundamentally seems like a violation of freedom of expression to me—and it’s a policy that is disproportionately applied against trans and queer folks like myself at a time when creeping fascism already aggressively targets us for censorship, stigma, and other violent harm

i’m also not sure that social media/ microblogging in general still has the same place in my life that it used to

i came of age on the internet and on tumblr in particular. i’ve been posting on tumblr on one blog or another since 2010

but the internet (like most other spaces in the world) is increasingly oppressive, hierarchical, tightly controlled and surveilled by both major multi-national corporations and governments, anti-freedom, and in many spaces out-and-out fascist—and being a marginalized person (in my personal case: trans, queer, disabled, and more) in public spaces is a precarious position these days

so… all that to say: hi again! if you’re still following! i hope you’ve been well! (feel free to unfollow if you don’t want to still be following me—i know it’s been a while since i would have last crossed your dash)

i used to be “toadbutch” (once upon a time i was “neko-catsume” and before that even i was “passingprivilege” (cringy! i know! I was like… 17) and before even that i was “marigoldmay” and, way back when i started on here, “etaunknown”) but lately i’ve been on a journey and…

as i transition i’ve realized that i mostly wanted to be butch and embody that particular queer/ lesbian gender role because i wanted to be perceived as masculine/ androgynous and have my masculinity respected as a transmasc dyke

early on in my social transition i felt very insecure in both my masculinity and transness and felt that presenting femme, even though i wanted to embody a queer femininity and not a cishet femininity, would result in people—especially cis, straight, and non-queer people—misgendering me more

but the more comfy i get with my gender and my masculinity as i get further into my transition & grow into my adult self, the more i’ve settled into the realization that i’m very, very much femme—and a bit of a fruity femme at that. hence the URL change. i’m fat. i’m femme. and i’m not going to apologize for being bigender and riding the line between dykiness and faggotry

if you’re not here for that sort of queer complexity: here’s the door. you won’t be missed

tangentially related to my past desire to be butch/ identification with butchness and temporary embodiment of it:

i also love and admire butches and masc people—and particularly butch lesbians and women—very much. on some levels i wanted to be like them, to be like the people i admired so strongly. but it is possible to love people and feel a profound kinship with them and not choose or try to be like them—this is one of life’s profound joys and a lesson that i’m still learning

i have no idea if i’ll still be on tumblr in another day, a month, or a year

i definitely will still be my freaky boydyke, ladyfag self at all of those future moments though. so. count on that, i guess

i am never going to abandon my love for other lesbians and queer people. my support for people with complex identities and self-determination. and i will always love and admire queer masculinity and butch gender expression

i’m prepared to give tumblr another chance… even though i’m not sure i want to give any social media or any public expression of myself a chance in this current socio-political climate. and also in spite of the fact that the corporate entity behind tumblr seems plagued by the same flawed capitalist mindset that is damaging other social networks in this cultural moment

further: i’m just as wary of puritanical respectability-policing lgbtq+ people on here as i am of puritanical respectability-policing anti-queer and anti-trans conservatives

reactionaries exist in the lgbtq+ community every bit as much as they do amongst cishets. and i have no interest in engaging with anyone of either stripe

I’m profoundly disturbed by the level of radical feminist, sex negative, political lesbian, lesbian separatist, and trans-exclusionary, so-called “gender critical” ideology that has wormed its way into lgbtq+ spaces and into lesbian and sapphic communities as of late

too many young lgbtq people are aggressively exclusionary and most of their exclusionary ideas have their ideological roots in radical feminism and in separatist movements. these youth are often heavily puritanical, very detached from in-person queer community, unconnected to older generations of queer people (even to elder millennials or Gen X), and have no genuine understanding of queer history beyond misinformation and spin-doctored posturing posted by other respectability-seeking young people online

i fully support all good-faith queer self-determination. i fully support all consensual sexual activity between adults that is engaged in with healthy boundaries and with proper risk awareness

i support these things because i work to completely reject the respectability politics that are necessary to engage in any power-adjacent or privileged role within the white supremacist imperialist capitalist cis heteropatriarchy. you cannot dismantle any oppressive system while engaging in sex-negativity and policing the self-determination of queer and trans people

if actively posting on tumblr again brings me into contact with too many reactionaries, i might be here today and gone tomorrow

i guess we’ll just have to see

#long post #pinned #guess who’s back #url change #text post

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ljfeed-spn-j2-bigbang · 2 years ago

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2023 Artist Preview

Here are the story summaries for the artist preview! I've done my best, but if you see a typo or mistake in the coding, please email [email protected]. Please be patient. On May 13 (at around 10 a.m. CST-ish), I will open the preview post for claiming. You can make ONLY ONE CLAIM. Also, please note that you must make your own claims. No one else can claim for you. Once claiming opens, artists may comment with their top two choices. Sound good? Any questions? Lemme know! Sam/Dean-1 Title: The Witch and the Wolfen Pairing: Sam/Dean Rating: NC-17 Summary: This is a post 15x20 AU (Not a heaven fic). Where Sam, unwilling to accept the death of his brother, embraces his magical abilities and travels through the multiverse to find another Dean. Weary and disappointed he lands on a post -apocalyptic world with no means of finding Dean. The world is a little like the old west, they ride horses, wear Stetsons, have no electricity, cars are rusted hulks littering the landscape and life revolves around each town's bar. He works as a witch, healing people. One day, a Wolfen in need of protection comes to him, it’s Dean. But a Dean that never knew or needed a Sam. But a Dean that is trying to stay out of the grasp of Lucifer who wants him as his new meatsuit. Images include: a Wraith storm, ghostly disembodied souls who are trapped on earth and haunt the living in vicious packs. They suck the life out of unfortunates caught outside during their passing. Dean as a Wolfen, a magnificent 300 lb timber wolf/shifter with white/grey fur and green eyes and grey freckles on his chest. The scene of Sam and Dean battling 8 foot ice monsters – like Wendigo who try and cage and drag Dean away. Sam, casting a storm spell to save Lawrence from burning down. Haymanville, a Mexican themed nearby town where every day is The Day of the Dead. Sam and Dean in a home made hot tub by a cabin and Sam’s eyes glowing white and his tattoos traveling to Dean’s body to embrace him as they make love. Sam battles a fire at a distance with magic. Epic end battle with Lucifer and bonus Gabriel. Various flashbacks and dreams of Sam’s as he remembers his Dean and his travels to other worlds both fair and foul. Warnings: M/M sex, AU Wincest ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen-1 Title: Dreamhouse Pairing: Jared/Jensen Rating: NC-17 Summary: Jared and his cousin Chad inherited an old Manor. The house is a mess, but they need more space since the two have to raise two little kids. Jensen and Justin Ackles have a TV show in Garden and Home TV (GHTV) where they renovate houses. Thank God they are planning a special. But what about the rumors that the house is haunted and what is it with all the accidents that keep happening? Warnings: None ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen-2 Title: TRAPPED IN AMBER Pairing: Jared/Jensen Rating: NC-17 Summary: After his parents' unfortunate divorce, Jared moves with his mother and younger sister from Texas to Boston. It's a new beginning, a chance to start afresh, but the old family home in Beacon Hills hides deadly secrets that endanger their future and even their lives. Boston aesthetics; Beacon Hills aesthetics; haunted house; gothic horror; a sick and twisted tree in a cobblestone patio; an Ouija session in the basement; claws reaching out from a well; a ghostly girl staring through a garret’s window. Warnings: Mentions of past child abuse and past rape of OCs characters (nothing graphic). ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen/Jeff-1 Title: One Too Many Pairing: Jared/Jensen/Jeff Rating: NC-17 Summary: Jeff and Jensen have been a couple for several years. It’s not unheard of for an alpha to add a third to a mating. Jeff always thought it would be a beta until he meets Jared and he just knows that Jared is the one who will complete their family. He and Jared get along well despite both being alphas. They don’t fight, they like the same things, work well together, and enjoy each other’s company. The night they make it official, Jeff gives Jared a claiming bite and Jared does the same to Jeff. The only issue is that Jeff has never given Jensen a claiming bite, only a collar. And that night, neither Jared nor Jeff gives Jensen a claiming bite. Jensen sees this for what it is, that Jeff was just keeping him around as arm candy until he found his mate. Jensen is aware of how Jeff’s parents see him - as an empty-headed gold-digger who conned Jeff into a relationship and that they have always hated him, never thinking he was good enough for Jeff, especially since he’s infertile. They love Jared and make a show of pointing it out to Jensen - how perfect Jared is for Jeff. Jensen even compares himself to Jared who is educated, polished, and always does and says the right thing whereas Jensen is none of those things. Seeing as how neither claimed him but claimed the other, Jensen packs his things and leaves with only a goodbye note leaving Jeff and Jared to worry over his whereabouts, how to find him and if they can salvage their mating if and when they do find him. Warnings: Threesome, A/B/O, A/A, A/O, A/O/A, Knotting, Collars, Claiming Bites, Jealous Jared, Oblivious Jeff, Non-Con, Dinner, Dating, Alcohol, Mating, Mating Ceremony, Celebrations, Medical Examination, Separation, Infidelity, Blow Jobs, Hand Jobs, Anal Fingering, Rimming, Protective Jared, Protective Jeff, Scared Jensen, Upset Jensen, Angry Jeff, Angry Jared, Hurt Jensen, Dogs, Traveling, Hotels, Honeymoon, School, Online Classes, Volunteering, Cooking, Dancing, Infertility, Adoption, Alpha Jeff, Alpha Jared, Omega Jensen, Top Jared, Top Jeff, Bottom Jensen, Mental Illness, Medication ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen-3 Title: Dare to Dream Pairing: Jared/Jensen Rating: NC-17 Summary: Jensen is a successful omega, he owns and manages his own bookstore, Turn the Page. The past year of dating has been one disappointment after another, and he is losing hope that he will ever find his mate. With each successive heat, his heat sickness worsens, prompting his doctor to suggest an Alpha for Hire service. Jensen refuses to even entertain the idea of hiring an alpha, still dreaming of meeting his true mate. Jared is new to town and looking for a job. He’d broken up with his girlfriend to move for school and is striking out on his own for the first time. He dreamed of following in his alpha mother’s footsteps of being a teacher. Exploring his new home city while job hunting, he discovers more than a local bookshop that’s hiring. Jensen decides to hire Jared despite being wary of the alpha and takes another chance at securing the future he always wanted. Jared is determined to show Jensen that he is a kind and caring alpha. As they navigate the ups and downs of working together while learning more about one another, the tentative bond is severed when Jared’s ex makes an unexpected appearance, triggering Jensen’s rejection sickness. Finding Jensen near death, Jared takes him home and nurses him back to health. In the process, Jensen’s trust grows, and their relationship deepens. They begin to date, and after a couple of months, mate, starting a new chapter in their lives. Their first extended separation isn’t quite as hard as either imagined, but after a trip to study abroad, Jensen welcomes Jared home with a happy surprise. Warnings: A/B/O, true mates, heat/rejection sickness, miscommunication, past/present hurt Jensen, hurt/comfort, shared cycles, anal knotting, claiming bites, claiming bond, mpreg ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen-4 Title: The Tending sen Pairing: Jared/Jensen Rating: NC-17 Summary: Jared the youngest High-Born heir of the Padalecki House. They specialize in making warm fabrics and cloth for breeches and tunics. A waterwheel and woolybeasts are essential for this. Jensen is Jared's valet/slave. His Tending sen. In this society the word sen is used for an enslaved one and their names reflect that status. Drone sen wear pendants around their neck with a number because their Masse (master) wouldn't know their names anyway. Warnings: slave fic (but no non-con or dub-con), hurt/comfort ---------------------------------- Gen-1 Title: Anyone Can Love a Pretty Little Mansion Rating: PG-13 Summary: The house had stood alone and unloved for many years. It stood just outside of Palo Alto, silent, slowly aging behind a copse of valley oak. As a house it was large, quaint, with the kind of rambling structure that was popular in the twenties. It had a circular tower at one side, topped with a cupola, and high, pointed gables. There had been shutters on the windows, and some still hung loose on their rusty hinges, waiting for a vagrant wind to break them free and send them spinning into the overgrown vegetation that surrounded it. Sam and Dean tackle the House from Hell! Warnings: Corpses and gross stuff galore. ---------------------------------- Sam/Dean-2 Title: The Ties That Bind Pairing: Sam/Dean Rating: NC-17 Summary: The story of Sam and Dean Winchester doesn’t end that day in the barn. Sam keeps his promise to keep fighting, but with a Winchester twist – he uses the resources left to him by Rowena and his own determination and smarts to become a powerful witch. Powerful enough to live forever, but that’s not what he wants – what he wants is his brother. To Dean’s shock, he finds himself back on Earth thanks to Sam’s spell, but only for brief visits. He finds a Sam who’s changed with the great loss he’s endured and the dark power he’s using, and both Winchesters discover an attraction that they never acted on while Dean was alive. To complicate matters, Dean isn’t the only one who’s noticed Sam’s dark power, and the other witches are out to take him down - permanently. They’re unfortunately not the only ones – the Winchesters are breaking all the cosmic rules to be together, and forces even more powerful than Jack are out to stop them, putting Sam and his young son in grave danger (in the midst of a violent storm that almost rips them off the road). Witch Sam with wild hair and clothing, a wee bit obsessed and surrounded by spell books and potions; Dean and the Impala on the road in Heaven; soulmates reunion on the bridge; Dad Sam with Dean Jr. canon scenes; first Wincest kiss in the Impala at night; NSFW first time in a typical Winchesters-on-the-road motel. Warnings: Canon compliant for Dean’s death but he’s very much ‘alive’ in Heaven (and sometimes back on Earth) ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen-5 Title: Fighting Gravity Pairing: Jared/Jensen Rating: NC-17 Summary: Valdora Prime—proclaimed as a scientist’s playground—is quickly becoming the foremost research facility in the galaxy. Funded by a guild more than a millennium old, Valdora Prime recruits the best minds in medicine, engineering, geology, botany, and quantum studies, regardless of species. For Jared, working there means being more than a concierge doctor to the wealthiest colonies. Here, he can make a difference. Here, he can hide. Three years in, Jared’s safe, comfortable life pretending to be human is turned upside down, starting with the arrival of the new head of security, a Kesalonian named Jensen Ackles whose incredible physical strength is matched only by his charm. As Jared and Jensen grow closer, secrets begin to unravel, his research attracts dangerous attention, and outside forces threaten to destroy everything Jared has built. Featuring alien species, traits, and features, unique space-gardens and moonscapes, a futuristic and beautiful research station with all the perks, heroic rescues, injury/comfort, and more! Warnings: Alien species (and sex between them), descriptions of injuries/violence and minor medical treatment, prior (only mentioned) het relationship, mentions of a virus/pandemic (non graphic), mentions of sex work (positive). ---------------------------------- Sam/Dean-3 Title: He Told You He'd Wake You Up, When it Was Over Pairing: Sam/Dean Rating: NC-17 Summary: This is a non-linear story that jumps around through the Winchesters' early years up to Season 6. It has a lot of Greek mythological influence and includes a katabasis. There will be imagery of the underworld, Stanford scenes, and eventually I will do the greatest sin against Dean I ever have, make him fly in a plane. Dean is the narrator and he spends most of the story chasing Sam. There are a lot of re-visits of early cases but re-imagined with Dean chasing Sam instead of John. Warnings: This has a lot of dark, angsty moments. It contains sibling incest and some sexual scenes. ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen-6 Title: Origin Story Pairing: Jared/Jensen Rating: NC-17 Summary: Once upon a time, Jensen Ackles used to be the supervillain known as The Flame. Then he was overpowered and defeated by his former best friend, Jared, known as The Closer. Jensen might not be in prison anymore, but he’s still under house arrest—not to mention stripped of his powers. In the meantime, Jensen has had years to figure out how to deal with what he did and why he did it. He can't change the past, but he can accept it, and maybe live something like a life of his own. Then Jared knocks on his door, asking for help that Jensen can't refuse. And it turns out that while Jensen thought he'd come to terms with his past, he'd really just buried it. Helping Jared is bringing out things he's never fully dealt with, things he'd given up on a long time ago…like Jared himself. Warnings: none ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen-7 Title: Maybe You Pairing: Jared/Jensen Rating: NC-17 Summary: Danneel and Chad are the ones in love. Jensen and Jared are just the best friends there to pick up the pieces when things fall apart. They don't like each other... until they do, but they're only friends. Jensen's a fashionable bitch with zero interest in dating or relationships, and Jared is a hot mess barista chasing after his happily ever after. A heartfelt attempt (or spin) on a rom-com with images like kissing after being caught out in the rain and sitting on a park bench at sunset. Warnings: Explicit sex, alcohol use ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen-8 Title: Have You Ever Thrown Snowflakes In The Air? Pairing: Jared/Jensen Rating: NC-17 Summary: After a stroke of fate, Jensen Ackles leaves his old life as a successful music composer behind and spends his time alone in a lonely cabin. Every few weeks he drives down to the town with its oddball inhabitants to stock up on food. On his last trip before the announced blizzard, someone hides under the tarp of his truck. Jared thinks Jensen can get him out of town, but instead he ends up with him in his cabin. What secret led Jared to crawl into Jensen's truck? Spoiler: Scenes that might be appealing to an artist. Jensen in front of his cabin in the snow. Jared hiding under the tarp of the truck. Jensen finds Jared hiding in the chicken coop.Jared and Jensen walking in the snow. Jensen running after a fox and breaking into the ice. While Jensen has a fever, he dreams of seeing his daughter again and flying a kite with her. Warnings: Minor Character Death, Mention of abuse, Mention of drug use ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen-9 Title: Coward Pairing: Jared/Jensen Rating: R Summary: Loosely based on the movie The Last Samurai (with Tom Cruise). Contains steampunk elements and an unusual understanding of Omega dynamics. Jensen is an army captain at the bottom of a bottle and a prisoner of war. Jared is an omega who has lost everything fleeing his fate; however, he could also be a prince. Warnings: forced sterilization, discussion of castration, death of a child (mentioned), omega-phobia ---------------------------------- Sam/Dean-4 Title: Did All the Thunder Bend Pairing: Sam/Dean Rating: R Summary: Dean wakes thirteen-year-old Sam in the night to flee after “something bad” happens to John. They end up settling in a small, snowy town in Maine, where they start building some semblance of a normal life together (or as normal a life as you can live when you’re playing house with your brother). When John’s vengeful spirit begins haunting Sam’s dreams and the Impala, the truth about the circumstances surrounding his death must come out. Will that truth ruin everything when Sam realizes their happy partnership is predicated on a lie... and John’s death at Dean’s hands in defense of Sam? Warnings: Implied/Referenced Character Death (Not Sam or Dean), Underage (no sex) ---------------------------------- Sam/Dean-5 Title: The Price of Love Pairing: Sam/Dean Rating: NC-17 Summary: Dean Winchester runs a brothel called Iniquity. Sam Winchester is an Assistant D.A. under D.A. Crowley. The D.A. 's office is going after Dean, who's suspected of money laundering and perhaps using exotic drugs, aka vamp venom and djinn juice. (NGL: not 100% sure about the fluids thing quite yet.) ANYWAY while it looks like Dean is Bad and Sam is Good, twists and turns (and deaths) reveal that the legal system Sam works for is corrupt to the point of murder. Dean turns out to be the one who takes care of his people, does not exploit anyone, and is actually the moral superior. Interspersed flashbacks recall the boys' childhood/upbringing/eventual relationship, infusing the present with memories and unresolved feelings. Other characters: Jess (Sam's girlfriend for a while), Lisa (Dean's playmate for a bit), John Winchester as dad/con artist constantly on the move while the boys are growing up, Benny as Dean's second, Crowley as the D.A., Dick Roman as a judge, Bela as his wife, Bobby Singer as the police chief, Rowena as a local witch, the Banes twins as undercover agents, and Victor Henriksen as an F.B.I. agent. Settings: Sam's condo with Jess; the courthouse and various legal offices; and Iniquity, Dean's exclusive, high class brothel. Flashbacks include skeevy motels, the Impala. Warnings: murder, criminal behavior and acts ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen-10 Title: You Belong to me Pairing: Jared/Jensen Rating: NC-17 Summary: Jensen is a well-known mystery writer who meets Jared, the owner of a local cute and quirky bookstore. They quickly develop a fun, loving relationship. But Jared's controlling ex-boyfriend Jeffrey isn’t ready to let Jared go. Jensen feels Jeffrey is dangerous and stalking Jared but Jared keeps giving him chance after chance, refusing to see Jeffrey's dark side. After Jared and Jensen have a fight about Jeffrey, Jared disappears and Jensen finds himself under suspicion of kidnapping him. The situation climaxes when Jensen finally finds a badly injured Jared in the remote cabin where Jeffrey has stashed him. Jeffrey shows up and threatens them both, shooting Jensen. Both Jensen and Jared survive, but in turmoil, Jared pushes Jensen away. In the end, they reunite and decide to do whatever it takes in order to save the relationship. It ends with them living together, still trying to find their way but determined to do so together. Settings: Jared's charming, quirky bookstore and the cute coffee shop attached to it. Jared and Jensen vacationing in Las Vegas. Jared and Jensen in domestic situations. The remote, spooky cabin in the woods where Jeffrey kidnaps Jared to. Warnings: Jared is violently attacked, but it happens off-screen and is never described in any detail. Jared has trauma due to being attacked by Jeffrey that is discussed. ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen-11 Title: Rest & Restore Pairing: Jared/Jensen Rating: NC-17 Summary: Jared is a burned out romance writer. It’s tough to write about falling in love when he’s just fallen out of it—he’s one year post-divorce and still figuring out who he is after it. His publisher expects a new manuscript, but Jared needs a rest and a change of scenery. His ex’s grandmother suggests that he go stay at an old family estate in Peru, New York—a hamlet of seven thousand people—and see if he'd like to have a hand in restoring it. Jared thinks this is the perfect project to distract himself with while he decides which big city to move to next. Enter Jensen, a contractor in town, confident and capable of restoring the Whitney house to its former glory. Sparks fly between Jared and Jensen, but can either of them commit to the plot or will they move onto other books entirely? Set from spring to fall, this fic is filled with architectural details, ice cream, a dog named Maple, small town life, and Tina Turner tracks. Small town AU, Contractor Jensen, Writer Jared, slow burn, home improvement, post-divorce, small towns, exploration of sexuality, love confessions, light angst, slice of life, switch Jensen, switch Jared, explicit sexual content, oral sex, anal sex. Warnings: None ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen-12 Title: (We are all of us in the gutter, But) Some of us are looking at the stars Pairing: Jared/Jensen Rating: R Summary: Jared is a professor of archeology on Earth, Jensen is the space captain he hires to take him to a distant planet, where he plans to retrieve an ancient artifact. From the beginning, the two men bicker and clash, but can’t deny the attraction they feel for each other. On the way to their destination, Jensen stops to take on some cargo, which results in a run-in with space sentries and a hide-out in an asteroid field, a visit to a desert planet where Jared meets some of Jensen’s old friends, and a rescue in space during which they take on new crew members. More (mis)adventures ensue, including a run-in with a bounty hunter who wants to sell Jensen back to a former customer at the brothel where Jensen worked as a young man. Following a daring rescue, the boys finally arrive at their original destination, only to face more challenges in their attempts to retrieve the stone Jared was assigned to bring back to Earth. This story is inspired by Indiana Jones, Star Wars (the first three movies), and Romancing the Stone. Warnings: prostitution, Jensen is a former sex worker who gets captured and enslaved by a former customer. Abuse is heavily implied, but not explicit. ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen-13 Title: Hear the Songbird Sing Pairing: Jared/Jensen Rating: R Summary: A siren's call can be a powerful thing and even such a powerful dragon like Jensen can fall under his spell. Jensen owns the city and when he comes across the siren Jared working at one of his club's he knows that he is meant to be his. Jared never thought that he would catch the attention of such a powerful being like Jensen. The two cannot deny the call between the two of them and fall into a relationship that some think they can use to gain what they want not realizing that a Siren is as possessive and protective over their mate as a Dragon is. Warnings: Mpreg, bottom Jared, top Jensen ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen-14 Title: If You Give A Dragon Shelter Pairing: Jared/Jensen Rating: R Summary: Alien Jared is awake from his coma and Jensen tries to understand him and teach him to communicate as he figures out how to get Jared home. Jared takes care of a dog (bernese mountain like) and a pony while Jensen goes to a swanky party to show off a large metal dragon sculpture. Dragons battling a truck with help from another and a motorcycle. Warnings: Some noncon body manipulation, mentions of noncon sex, alien sex, stalker behavior, depression and suicidal tendencies, mentions of past torture, kidnapping, heavy entitlement to another based on species-ism (very much like sex and class-ism) ---------------------------------- Jensen/Misha/Felicia-1 Title: The Crimson Tower Pairing: Jensen/Misha/Felicia Rating: NC-17 Summary: Four great houses stood ruling over a magical land, but an enemy from their distant past emerged hellbent on destroying them all, and they succeeded in killing one house, corrupting another, turning the third into isolationists, and leaving only the fourth to help the masses of refugees fleeing oppression. But now an ancient prophecy is on the threshold of being fulfilled. Will King Jensen, King Misha, and Queen Felicia together with their General, Jared, be able to turn the tide of war and restore freedom, or will the newly exposed enemy achieve a final victory over all magic in the land? This story provides artists opportunities to illustrate fantasy landscapes, depict magical combat, and all other aspects of a medieval fantasy milieu. Warnings: Graphic violence, swearing, sex, nudity, fantastic racism (in the sense of racism against fictional races--here magic users and magical creatures/species), reference to past genocide, body horror, vampire sex, blood drinking, harm to minors, major character death, slavery attempted genocide against magicals, think Game of Thrones, but with less incest ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen-15 Title: The Kite And The Line Pairing: Jared/Jensen Rating: R Summary: When you fall in love, you get a tattoo. When you fall out of love, it turns black. Jared's got a couple to his name, almost all of them gone dark. Jensen's only ever had one and its colors have never faded. Warnings: Infidelity, Jared Padalecki/Stephen Amell as a side pairing, lots of angst and fluff, no trigger warnings ---------------------------------- from Supernatural and J-Squared Big Bang Challenge! https://ift.tt/mYfRAUO

#supernatural #J2 #big bang #spn-j2-bigbang #livejournal #fanworks

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terra-fatalis · 2 years ago

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FFVII Remake Easter Eggs and compilation continuity - Part 7: OG FINAL FANTASY VII

ELEMENTS ORIGINALLY SHOWED AFTER THE MIDGAR SECTION & VISIONS OF THE FUTURE

CAIT SITH

This character didn’t show up until the group reached the Gold Saucer. In the Remake he witnesses the plate fall.

YUFFIE

In the OG Yuffie could only be recruited after visiting the Mythril Mines and nothing hints she had ever been in Midgar before. Now she is the protagonist of Intermission, spending a whole day in Midgar, getting to see Barret’s cell and infiltrating in Shinra HQ thanks to Avalanche. Some main points of this character have already been shown like the rivalry between her and her father, some details of the Wutai war and even her motion sickness.

ROMANTIC RUDE

In the OG Rude confessed Reno that he liked Tifa. In the Remake, when he spotted her on the Sector 7 pillar, he deviated the chopper to prevent Reno from killing her.

Reno: Dammit! You wanna explain yourself, partner?

Rude: Uh... Hand slipped.

PALMER’S TEA

In the original, at Cid’s house, Palmer asked for some tea with “sugar, honey and lard”. In the Remake he walks in the corridor of Shinra HQ with a cup of tea, complaining that he ran out of butter (though in Japanese it’s still “lard”).

Oh dear, oh dear... A man of my refined tastes running out of butter! Shorn of its proper accompainment, this tea...might as well be boiled pond water!

BLACK-CAPED MEN

In the original there was just one clone in Midgar, in Sector 5, and he wasn’t wearing the black cape yet, while in the Remake they can be met also in Midgar.

The Remake also confirms that also some former SOLDIERs can turn into caped men, something that the OG revealed only in an optional scene in Junon.

OG: I used to be in SOLDIER. Lately I’ve felt like dressing up like this...

Remake: My dad told me that that man, he used to be a SOLDIER when he was younger. I heard he came back because he got sick or something. Isn't that kinda weird? Can SOLDIERs even get sick?

This concept is further - more openly - reiterated also in Intermission:

Nayo: Mako poisoning. That's what happens if you don't make the grade as a SOLDIER...or when the military's done using you.

REUNION

When Cloud attacks Marco believing he’s Sephiroth he has a vision of the Reunion at Whirlwind Maze.

BARRET’S PAST

In the Remake Barret mentions the day he survived from the destruction of his home town, while in the original this happened one the group arrived in Corel.

Wouldn't be the first time I spit in destiny's eye. Whether you can see the seams or you can't...doesn't change that she's always trying to have it her way.

JENOVA

In the original game the first fight against Jenova took place on the Cargo ship, while in the Remake the group fights it in Chapter 17.

Note: the first form of Jenova in the original was called Jenova∙BIRTH (followed later by Jenova∙LIFE, Jenova∙DEATH and Jenova∙SYNTHESIS). In Remake it is called Dreamweaver, referring to its ability to project illusions, while the Japanese sticks to the original calling it Jenova Beat, hinting to the prenatal heartbeat of fetuses.

LIFESTREAM

During the presentation at Cosmo theatre (an allusion itself to Cosmo Canyion) the group can see a depiction of the Lifestream flowing throughout the Planet. In the original this only happened at the very end when Aerith summoned it.

MATERIA

During the aforementioned presentation it was explained how the Ancients were able to create Materia with condensed Lifestream, while in the original it was explained during the flashback in Kalm.

7R: In the distant past, our planet was home to a people we call the Ancients. Many millennia before we discovered mako, these precursors were already pioneering its use. Somehow they learned of the great reservoir of energy pulsing beneath their feet. And once they had...the Ancients developed the means to harness this bountiful energy and bend it to their will. The fruits of their labors have survived to this very day in the form of certain kinds of materia.

OG: Materia. When you condense Mako energy, materia is produced. It’s very rare to be able to see materia in its natural state. (...)...the knowledge and wisdom of the Ancients is held in the Materia.

PROUD CLOD

During intermission Yuffie can see the Proud Clod still under construction stored in Shinra underground. Moreover, the Pride and Joy Prototype (in Japanese: Proud Clad Unit Zero) is a boss that can be fought in Shinra battle simulator.

MIND READER

During the second bombing mission Tifa jokingly asks Cloud if he could read her mind. This is a hint to Jenova’s ability to read minds.

7R: I swear, your timing was perfect. It's almost like...you could read my mind. SOLDIERs can't do that, can they?

OG: Inside of you, Jenova has merged with Tifa’s memories, creating you.

CHILDHOOD MEMORIES

In the Remake Cloud "remembers” two episodes of his childhood in Nibelheim, scenes that originally were included in the Lifestream sequence in Mideel.

BURNING TOWN

During the first vision of Sephiroth in Chapter 2, Cloud re-experiences the distruction of NIbelheim. This info wasn’t revealed in the OG until the flashback in Kalm.

TEST SUBJECT

When Cloud, Barret and Tifa discover the secret underground lab with specimen detained in mako tanks, Cloud starts remembering his captivity in the basement of Shinra Mansion. This was originally revealed only in the optional cutscene in the basement of the Mansion, after the Lifestream sequence.

MAKO POISONING

Mako poisoning is an element that in the OG was explained just in Mideel, while in the Remake Jessie’s father suffers of the same condition. A sector 7 NPC also witnesses one of Cloud’s Jenova headaches and suggests he may be Mako poisonesd (before the whispers intervene).

7R: [Chapter 3] What the—You okay, buddy? Mako junkie, huh? Figures...

[Chapter 4] Jessie's got a theory about it. Thinks her dad's spirit is stuck now—between his body and the heart of the planet.

OG: He probably has no idea who or where he is now... Poor fellow, his voice doesn’t even work. He is literally miles away from us. Some place far away where no one’s ever been... All alone...

UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH

Discovering that in reality Cloud never made it in SLDIER was a pivotal plot twist of the OG. In the Remake that’s hinted more than once, until Hojo openly reveals it.

No, not quite. Oh, now I recall. My memory was mistaken. My boy, you weren't a SOLDIER...

SEPHIROTH’S DEATH

In Chapter 2 Cloud remembers he killed Sephiroth. This is surprising as in the OG, during Kalm flashback, he told the group that he didn’t know what happened to Sephiroth after Nibelheim incident, even pointing out that, in terms of strength, he couldn’t have killed him.

AERITH’S DEATH

Cloud has some visions of Aerith’s death: after falling in her church in Chapter 8 (pics 2 and 3) and at the beginning of Chapter 9 (pics 1 and 4). Moreover he and the rest of the group have a blurred vision of her death in Chapter 18, Aerith’s refers to death in her resolution scene and Sephiroth tells him he’s unable to protect people in Chapter 2 (while seeing Aerith for the first time) and in Chapter 13 (after she’s been kidnapped).

METEOR

Cloud, and the others have visions of Meteor and the storm that destroyed Midgar at the end of the OG in Chapters 16 and 18.

#Final Fantasy VII #Final Fantasy 7 #final fantasy 7 remake #final fantasy vii remake #easter eggs

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cinderelladotcom · 1 year ago

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I’ve been having a really hard time lately coping with my 17 year old cat’s aging. He’s been sick for about a year, not so sick that I believed it was his time but a persistent upper respiratory infection, lots of frustrating vet visits and constant at home treatment. I don’t like my vet, I basically think she’s good with him, but she’s not good with me and I feel stuck with her. There’s just such a cold, matter-of-factness that people have about other’s aging pets. I really don’t appreciate tension and curtness in a medical setting. She’s sort of made me feel like I shouldn’t ask follow-up questions or have her repeat something for clarity, which of course bothers me, if not concerns me. Obviously, having lived with this cat his whole life, I have intel on what’s going on with him that she couldn’t. But it does seem that she’s trying to cure his illness and doesn’t push putting him down like so many do when dealing with the difficult years at the end of a pet’s life. Depending on how things go with his health and the follow up visit, I might have to insist on a different vet. She shuts me down and if she’s also not actually helping Giuseppe get better, I may as well move on and get a second opinion.

I have a responsibility and a lifelong connection to Giuseppe. I wouldn’t let him be miserable, he needs me to advocate for him. I keep having this recurring thought of how everyone deserves one person who won’t give up on you, no matter how hopeless your situation might seem. We belong to eachother, it’s my job to help him. I also understand that I need to be accepting of the inevitable. I know that even if he beats this, he could only have so much time left. So I’m grappling with it and the insensitive forces who don’t care and treat me like I’m ridiculous for caring this much. But I care so much that there’s a lot of times lately I feel a little bit dysfunctional. I’ve been staying with him all day, feeling less active and capable than usual. Distracting myself a lot with tv, grateful for recently getting into beading because I can mindlessly work on something small with my hands. I don’t care about movies right now, I barely have watched anything or thought about pop-culture or art. All I care about is taking care of Giuseppe, keeping my head on straight and my family. Trevor helps A LOT, he’s the only one who seems to really understand what I’m going through.

I don’t want to but I keep thinking about his life in the form of almost like a eulogy, and whenever I do, I start walking through it, where I found him, all the places we lived, all of the difficulties I went through and having him to there to console me, he’s traveled across the country with me multiple times. He’s my familiar and i swear, we both knew the the first time we saw eachother. He picked me, I was 21 years old, he basically jumped into my arms and i knew immediately that this was my cat. I have a hard time even imagining life without him. I’ve been so lucky to have him this long and he’s still here, but the end is hard and there’s no escaping it. I feel somewhat hostage to the moment, and yet I’m desperate to prolong it. Life without Giuseppe will be something else. The idea of him, his existence being past tense is just surreal.

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velvethopewrites · 2 years ago

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Writing Questions Tag Game

Thanks for the tag @late-to-the-fandom (also, hugs to you!)

I tag: @emci123 @katherinewilliams221b @kyofsonder and @startanewdream and @alonelyturtle

What is your absolute all-time favorite idea you've ever had?

This sounds like a cop out, but I honestly don’t know. I’ve just sat here for five minutes with my mind blank. Maybe it was making Brogan an empath for In Essence. Maybe it was setting 17, Clumsy & Shy in Ireland. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Who’s to say. I’m a has-been writer these days, I can’t remember this shit.

2)Is there a question you've been asked in the past that really stands out to you and you still think about sometimes?

Hmm probably the ‘what are some of my favorite smut scenes that I’ve written that @breaniebree asked a while back. Mostly because it keeps popping up in my notifications when people like the post. People don’t really ask me things? Even when I was updating I never did get much interest. C’est la vie.

3) What is your favorite part of being a writer? What parts could you take or leave?

Favorite parts: creating something from nothing, cackling to myself when I finally get the characters to do what I want, getting lost inside the story while writing…sitting down to write and looking up 8 hours later without any idea a whole day has passed. Laughing when I make the characters be funny or clever. Getting through a difficult scene and expelling that first breath of relief and the feelings of accomplishment that come with it. Oh, yeah, that’s the good stuff.

Parts I could take or leave: the insecurities, the imposter syndrome, the writer’s block, the sense that it’s all been said before, the sick twisted feeling of being a failure because I haven’t been creative in so long I feel dead inside. You know, the usual.

I feel as though I should apologize for some of these answers, clearly I am in a dark place today. But I am also in a ‘fuck it’ place as well. So yeah. Fuck it.

#Tag you’re it #writing #fic things

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joshuahyslop · 1 year ago

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BOOKS

The last 10 books I’ve read:

1. Hallelujah Anyway - Anne Lamott This book should have actually been in the last list of books I’ve read, but I missed it. I’m a bit scatterbrained sometimes, so I keep lists. I have several different lists of “books I’ve read” to try and keep track of where I’m at. Needless to say, I sometimes forget to update one (or more) of the lists and then forget which one is most up-to-date. Anyway. I read this recently, too. I loved her book, “Bird by Bird” but I read it ages ago, when I was at a very different place in my life, spiritually. I forgot that she was so religious and, therefore, found this a little tedious. It wasn’t bad, it just didn’t arrive in my life at the right time like, “Bird by Bird” did. Also, there’s a fantastic album by Hiss Golden Messenger called “Hallelujah Anyhow” and that also got me interested in this book. MC Taylor has recommended books to me in the past and, though he didn’t recommend this one, I wondered if there would be some kind of connection between the two. I didn’t find one.

2. Porno - Irvine Welsh There it is. I finished the sequel. I think if I’d read Trainspotting when it first came out I would’ve been far more interested in reuniting with the cast, but as I went directly from book one to book two, I found it a bit boring. The characters are all pretty well put together and the writing is still good. It’s just the storyline itself that didn’t intrigue me. Simon, aka, “Sick Boy” is now the owner of a sketchy club and decides to try to make a porno film in his establishment to try and go as legitimate as possible. All the other characters kind of play into it, but it’s not as engaging or interesting as the first book. Also, Irvine Welsh’s attempt at writing female characters was, in my opinion, pretty lacking. It wasn’t my favourite but I’ll be speaking on and off in a thick Glaswegian accent for the next while.

3. Sticky Fingers: The Life and Times of Jann Webber and Rolling Stone Magazine - Joe Hagan I’ve always been curious about Rolling Stone magazine. I remember watching Almost Famous for the first time when I was around 17 and falling absolutely in love with the music and that specific time period. I’ve been inspired by that era for a long time and Jann Webber (as a character and the actual person) have small cameos in the film. I remember listening to The Cover of The Rolling Stone by Dr. Hook when I was a teen and dreaming of gracing its cover myself one day. I was always curious why Rolling Stone Magazine existed at the same time as The Rolling Stones and if there was a connection and, it turns out, there really was. I won’t spoil it for you but I was really disappointed. The book itself is well written and engaging but Jann Webber seems to be a very narcissistic power hungry person who had no problem throwing family and friends under the bus if it meant even a smidge more celebrity or power or money for himself. In the same way, it seems he used the magazine as his social club and it was mainly a way for him to become some kind of self-elected gatekeeper of fame. Kind of sad, really.

4. Under the Banner of Heaven - Jon Krakauer I’ve read a bunch of books by Jon Krakauer and I’ve enjoyed them all. Into The Wild, Into Thin Air, etc. They’re captivating books and they’re always very well researched. I was very interested in this book because it’s a true crime story and one of the reviews on the back compared it to “In Cold Blood” by Capote - another true crime story that I was also captivated by. Without really knowing what it was, I bought it from my local used bookstore and dove in. It’s kind of two books in one. Book one deals with a grisly murder committed by two brothers in the 80′s, and the Mormon fanaticism that they embraced which lead them to commit such a heinous crime. Book two explains the history of the Mormon religion. It’s a fascinating look at human nature, at religion, at fanaticism and at the evils that can be committed in god’s name. Not at all a read for the easily disturbed, but a fascinating book if true crime is your cup of tea.

5. Black Wings Has My Angel - Elliott Chase I have a very long list of books on my “to read” list. In fact, I have several “to read” lists scrawled in many different places: on my computer, in a journal, on the back of a receipt, kind of everywhere. I don’t remember where I heard of this book, but I know it was on more than one of my lists. I took a trip over to Vancouver a week ago to do some recording and while I was there I stopped at one of my favourite bookstores and asked one of the clerks for some recommendations similar to Hard Rain Falling and Fat City - both of which I’d read (and loved) after they’d been recommended by the same clerk previously. He grabbed several books and I saw this one in the pile and called it out with excitement. It’s been out of print for a long time but the good folks at New York Review Books have recently reprinted it. I read it in a day and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

6. A Good Man Is Hard To Find - Flannery O’Connor Flannery O’Connor was a fantastic writer. That said, it can be tremendously hard to read her stuff. It’s not how gritty and bleak things are in her stories; it’s not the seemingly infinite amount of unhappy endings, it’s the racism. It’s interesting because she was a highly religious person but her stories and her characters are often non-believers or hypocrites. It’s like she was able to be one thing in life but then able to write from a separate, if not opposite stance. She points out religion’s and society’s flaws and makes you question their motives. She points to the unbelievability of religion and the narrow-mindedness that so often goes hand in hand with a religious outlook. For that, I love her stuff. However, the same cannot be said of her views and her writing on race. The blatant racism in her work mirrors her own personal outlook and it is very hard to get past. And I don’t think it’s appropriate to try to just, “get past” it. You can’t sweep it under the rug. I think it’s important to acknowledge, even though it’s uncomfortable, the two sides to this particular coin. She was a great writer, of that there is no doubt. She was also an avid racist. There’s no doubt there either. But I do think it’s possible to simultaneously hold these two facts and enjoy the art while condemning the artists viewpoint, morals, humanity, language, etc. It requires reading with a critical eye. It means reading things you know you will disagree with, but I would argue that there is great benefit in doing so. Not only can it help you deepen your own understanding of why you believe what you believe, it can also help strengthen your conviction and your grasp of the world and of humanity and of its flaws. For a much better, far more articulate view on O’Connor’s racism in her writing, check out this article from the New Yorker: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/06/22/how-racist-was-flannery-oconnor

7. In A Lonely Place - Dorothy B. Hughes This was another book in the pile of recommendations from my favourite bookstore. I also read this in one sitting. I’d never heard of it before but it’s fantastic. It’s a fictional story about a murderer in the LA area and from the beginning to the end it’s an exciting read. It’s one of those books that are hard to put down. It’s under 200 pages but it’s a great cat and mouse story. At times, the main characters relationship reminded me a bit of Raskolnikov and the detective from Crime and Punishment. It’s all a game of words. I really enjoyed this one.

8. Why I Am Not A Christian- Bertrand Russell This is a book of essays and some are far more interesting than others. I thoroughly enjoyed the title essay, but essays such as “The Fate of Thomas Paine” were less enjoyable. I’d never read anything by Russell before this. I wasn’t really even aware of him. But, in reading Jon Krakauer’s book, “Under The Banner of Heaven”, I was moved by some of the quotation’s he’d used as introductions to his chapters. More than one quote from this particular book of essay’s was employed. So I picked it up and dove in. It reminded me of Christopher Hitchens’, “God Is Not Great”. It’s clear that essays and philosophers like Russell, if not Russell himself, had a large impact on people like Hitchens and I, for one, am thankful for that. Regardless of where you fall on the pro/anti-religion argument, this is a good book to read. It’s always good to reflect and deepen your understanding of what you do or do not believe and why. Books like this can certainly help to achieve that.

9. The Great Spring - Natalie Goldberg I’ve read a few books by Natalie Goldberg before. I often find that I really enjoy her writing but she comes across as quite cold and even, at points, rude to others. Not all the time, but often enough that it stands out. Still, writers don’t have to be friendly. They don’t have to be anything at all, besides human, I suppose and not all humans are always friendly. It’s beside the point. I like her style and I like her writing so, that’s that.

10. The Innocent Man - John Grisham I might be on a bit of a true crime kick. Under the Banner of Heaven got me into it, I think. This is an absolutely crazy story. After reading it I discovered there’s actually a Netflix docuseries about it. I haven’t checked it out yet. I think I will, but if it stays close to the book it’ll be hard to watch. Not only because of the heinous crimes committed but also because of the complete lack of justice served. It’s a captivating story and at times it’s hard to believe it’s true.

more soon, -joshua

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