#an actual image of kens mum!!!

[elle-p]

I don't remember some of these being used

[tomtenadia]

Island Dreams - Chapter 4

Double feature tonight! Here's chapter 4 as well. Last night I was inspired and I did managed to write a few chapters.

As usual... some Gaelic for you:

A bheil Gàidhlig agad - Do you speak Gaelic? mo charaid - my friend

Some of Elias' words seem funny, but he speaks Scots as well. And he is so damn sexy while doing it.

All the locations I mentioned they are real. Rowan's bookstore it's the only fictional place.

Happy reading!

------

Aelin woke up quite late the next morning. After her fight with Rowan she had spent the day at the marina and wondered around the town. She had felt empty and could not bring herself to do anything. She finally managed to speak with Lysandra and cried. She cried her heart out and her friend had listened. Like she always did. She had gotten home later in the afternoon and felt exhausted. She spent the rest of the afternoon in the living room reading her books. That brought her joy at least, although dreaded going back to shop to collect the last book. She could not face him. Not yet. But that morning she had woken with a renewed motivation. She had prepared breakfast for herself and admitted she missed Maeve’s apple turnovers but could not risk going back there at the moment. She had to put some distance. So she ate her own breakfast, prepared a couple of sandwiches and got her backpack ready for the next adventure. Today she was driving south toward Harris. She had learned that Lewis and Harris were one big islands but Lewis was the Northern part, full of moors and peat land. Harris, was the Southern part, much rockier and with some stunning beaches and a famous road called the Golden road. Ten minutes later she was in the car and ready to go. She set her sat nav and she left. Over an hour later the sat nav announced one last turn to her final destination: Luskentyre beach. She had a look at some photos online and she could not believe such a gorgeous place existed.

She parked the car and opened the door and got out. No internet image had prepared her for the view in front of her. The beach was massive, the stretch of sand never ending and the sand was so white that it almost hurt the eyes. And the sea. It was the purest green mixed with blue that she had ever seen in her life. She was speechless. For ten solid minutes she leaned against the open door of her car and observed the stretch of paradise in front of her, incapable of doing anything else. Trying to burn in her memories the colours. She would take pictures but doubted they would ever do any justice. Finally she moved and grabbed her backpack, locked the car and walked to the beach. Once she reached the sand she removed the shoes. No way she was going to walk on that sand with her shoes on. The sun was up and the sand was warm at the touch and she let the feeling sooth her. Around her there were a few people walking dogs and couples walking hand in hand. A pang of sadness hit her, and absentmindedly she touched the spot where her wedding band should have been hating herself straight after, for missing Chaol. He made his choice. She had given him his freedom. Tears threatened to appear once again but she fought them back and resumed her walk along the beach. She followed the beach and walked in the water ignoring that it was cold. She walked for hours then she decided to sit and eat her lunch. Her sandwich was gross compared to Maeve’s and in her packed there definitely was no chocolate cake. She sighed. A young man was walking his dog and she noticed the animal coming her way. The man called him a few times, but a moment later the dog was at her feet, his tongue lolling from his mouth and was staring at her sandwich. Aelin laughed and gave him a bit and he ate eagerly. “I wouldn’t do it if I were you. You might never get rid of him.” The man was now in front of her and was scratching the dog ears. “It’s fine I was done eating anyway.” And she gave the rest of her lunch to the dog. She lifted her eyes and stared at the man. He was wearing shorts and a navy blue polo shirt. His hair was black as the night and his eyes a light blue edging on grey. Her breath caught and she felt herself blushing. “You are not a local.” He said as a matter of fact. “That obvious?” “Your accent. Definitely not from here.” His smile left her breathless. He had dimples. On both sides. He was quite cute. “Where do you bide?” Aelin looked at the man puzzled “Bide?” “Aye, where do you stay?” Understanding dawned on her. The word must have a different meaning in Scots “I am staying in Stornoway.” “Bonnie place. I live in Callanish. Ye, ken?” Aelin was stuck again. Was he even speaking English? So far all the other people had done their best to speak English with her. “Sorry, bad habit. I didn’t mean to be rude. I meant if you know Callanish.” The man sat beside her on the sand while the dog was running free on the beach. “Yes I was there a couple of days ago. I went to the standing stones. Such a fascinating place.” “I have one of the smaller circles just outside ma hoose.” He confessed turning his head to her “There are actually few more different sites scattered around the area. The main one at the visit centre is Callanish I.” He explained, then he extended his hand “I am Elias by the way. I have been yapping non stop and forgot to introduce myself.” “Aelin,” she said taking his hand. “Aelin��” her name on his tongue sounded perfection “In Gaelic means bright or shining one.” “So, are you a tourist? Visiting friends? Family? Boyfriend?” Aelin giggled “Status uncertain at the moment.” She said, then looked at Elias and explained a bit further “Tourist at the moment, but things might change.” “So, where are ye fae?” She guessed his question and she hoped she got it right “London.” She replied. “Been there for work a few times. I am an engineer and I have been down there for a few conventions.” Aelin was too busy listening at his sexy accent to pay attention to what he was saying and she felt embarrassed when she had to ask to repeat his answer. “Nae worries. I said I am an engineer and I was in London a few times for work.” “Cool what type?” The guy was fascinating and seemed much more willing to chat that a certain grumpy one back in town. “Environmental. I am working with Calmac at the moment. That’s the company that runs the ferry you used to get here if you travelled by sea.” He explained while the dog came back and licked his fingers quite happily. “I am a doctor. I was…. Still am… it’s complicated.” She cut short and noticed the confusion in his face. “Long boring story.” “What type?” “Cardio thoracic surgeon.” He whistled “bad ass woman. Love it.” His grin reached his eyes and she felt heat spread inside her. Definitely more than cute. And those dimples… She was having a good time but she had to keep going, she still had a few things to do. “I am enjoying the conversation but I still have quite a lot to cover.” She stood and turned to him. The main smiled “Of course. Care for some suggestions?” Aelin nodded. “If you are driving south, right after Borve there is another lovely beach. Stop there as well. Not as famous as Luskentyre but amazing as well. Then continue all the way down to Rodel. It’s the village at the end of the road. There is a lovely church called St. Clements. Worth visiting. Once you are past Rodel make your way back via the Golden road. It’s a very narrow road but it’s a pleasure to drive if you want an Hebridean adventure. Once you are almost at the top before Tarbert, make sure you stop in Drinisiader. There is a fascinating wee museum about Harris Tweed. But just hide your purse. They have some amazing stuff and you might want to buy the entire shop. Then you are in Tarbert and from there it’s an easy drive back to Stornoway.” “Tapadh Leat.” She said and Elias gave her a huge grin in response. “A bheil Gàidhlig agad?” He asked and she realised she had to stop trying to use Gaelic. “I just know thank you and good morning.” She explained almost embarrassed. “That’s okay, lass. I am not a native speaker either. I learnt it later on in life. My parents don’t actively speak it, but my gran did. It was the only way I had to communicate with her. My parents were parts of the generation that grew being taught that speaking Gaelic was not proper, so they never did. My mum understands it because of course her mother was a speaker. But she used her dad to translate. It’s a very long complicated story.” He stopped and looked at her. “Looks like we both have a complicated story to tell each other.” Aelin’s stomach fluttered in excitement. He grabbed his wallet and removed a business card from it. “Sorry for being so direct, but you seem quite an interesting person. Call me or message me if you need a guide.” He held the card to her and Aelin debated for a moment whether to take it or not. Lysandra had told her to go to Scotland, enjoy herself and get a Scottish man in the process and forget her ex husband. She took the card “I’ll call you.” “Do it, mo charaid.” She smiled warmly, grabbed her backpack “It was nice meeting you, Elias.”

She was driving along the Golden road and she had to admit that the road was a real adventure. Large enough for a small car to pass, she had to constantly focus on the road to avoid ending in a ditch or in a loch beside the road. But no matter the stress, she was loving it. Until the sheep arrived. One moment she was alone on the road. The next moment she was surrounded by sheep. A massive flock stretched for some length along the road. She got off the car, she took a picture and sent it to Lysandra with the caption traffic jam in the Hebrides. A moment later the phone rang. “Are you kidding me?” “No Lys, I swear I am surrounded by sheep. They are everywhere and I can’t go anywhere. Guess someone will come and collect them soon.” She heard Lysandra laugh “Sounds like you are having a great time.” “I am.” she confessed not entirely convinced. The memory of the fight with Rowan still stung and she was wracking her brain to find a way to fix things with him. She was… intrigued by him. He was brooding, infuriating and handsome at the same time. Plus he was the owner of a bookstore which was not bad. She wanted to be his friend but it looked like he was not interested. He had made that abundantly clear. Nothing I want to give you. Tears threatened to appear once again but she fought, not willing to let sadness spoil such a lovely day. So she had decided to put some distance. She would go to get her book when it arrived and then limit her visits to his shop, for as much as it pained her. He didn’t want to have anything to do with her. Well, she was granting him his wish. “How is going with Aedion?” She changed the subject. “Well, we have only been on a date but he’s great.” “Already planning your wedding?” Aelin joked and Lysandra laughed in reply. “Nah, just imagining having sex with him for now.” “Eew. I didn’t need to know that” “Seriously… the man has amazing hands and I spent the evening thinking what he can do with them. And if all the other parts are just as big as the rest of the body…” “Eewww. Ewwww and eeeeew.” “Since when you are such a prude?” Aelin laughed she wasn’t but she had no interest in listening her best friend talk about her boyfriend’s body parts. “Get a move on finding a man of your own and then you can fantasise about his body parts.” For a brief moment Aelin’s mind thought about Rowan’s hands and… No, stop. She could not go there. That was dangerous territory. “We’ll see.” Was all that she added. “I need you to come back to me happy.” “What if…” she paused for a second “what if I am not coming back?” “What do you mean?” In the distance Aelin noticed a tractor and the sheep began moving again. “Sheep are moving. Gotta go back home.” “Ok. Keep me posted.” She say bye to Lys and she was positive she felt a note of sadness in her friend’s voice.

The sheep finally moved and she spent the journey home mulling over what she had said to Lys. She could not see herself going back to London. Something had broken inside her. Maybe it was her that was broken. With her skills and experience she could easily find another job in another hospital. So why the rejection from one place hurt so much? And Chaol… London was a very big place, the chances of her bumping into him on the streets were minimal. However, they had loads of friends in common. She would have to give up her friends to avoid him. Give up her gym, her favourite bookstore and cafe, because he was a regular in those places too. She would have to give up her life to avoid him and the pain that seeing again would bring. She had felt relieved after the divorce. She still had no regrets. But forgetting almost a decade together was proving more difficult than she expected. She pushed on the breaks quite hard, forced the door open and run to the field near the road. And then she collapsed on her knees and screamed, letting out all the frustration festering in her. Her hands began shaking and she felt the symptoms of a panic attack starting to manifest. Breathing was getting harder. So Aelin stayed in the filed, and cried and shook. Until she had no more tears left in her.

[coffeebeannate]

Nate Watches Things: A Saga

Or in this case, one thing. One thing that was far too long of a thing, but such a bizarre venture that I felt rather compelled to put an actual review of said thing together.

Why? Because I can and because others HAVE to experience this..this journey. A nice lil journey called Die Pfeiler der Macht/ A Dangerous Fortune. And I watched it solely because Luca looks cute in Victorian clothes, and I was intrigued by the gifs.

Curiosity has always been such a great human motivator, eh?

And..guys. I just. I don’t know what the 3-4 hours (it’s two movies, and I took a couple days to watch it) WERE, exactly, but they were..a thing? I know that it’s based on a book by Ken Follett and that this production is German. Despite being based in England. 

Oh, and Luca’s character Mickey Miranda, is uh, Spanish. Make of that what you will.

So the summary is this:

A shocking secret behind a young boys death leads to three generations of treachery in this breathtaking saga of love, power and revenge, set amid the wealth and decadence of Victorian England.

And no it does not do this thing justice whatsoever.

Review under the cut. It’s too long *again, two movies here*, and I took far too many screencaps of this absolute wtfery, and uh, it’s probably better suited for a real-time live blog but nah. You can have this instead.

Some images under the cut are NSFW because nefarious boning is a key point in this..thing.

SPOILERS. So many spoilers. This thing is a spoiler fest. The caps have a very obvious Luca bias, I know why we’re here everyone. Hehe. There’s also some triggering stuff in this thing, so be warned there too.

BEHOLD:

So, a point I want to make is that the costuming in this movie is LEGIT. If absolutely nothing else works? Note that the costuming absolutely does.

The opening credits are very nice, Luca’s very pretty, this cap serves purely to showcase that because I’m a very serious man doing a very serious review.

Pretty.

So the beginning is..confusing. We have a girl, Maisie Robinson. (Around 10-13 here?) Her father is very poor and it’s her and her two siblings. He works for a man who is part of our main characters, the Pilasters?  and they run this bank. The head of the bank commits suicide, since they’re having financial troubles and he cannot repay his workers. He pens a note to his young son *under 12 at this point*, Hugh. 

Hugh never finds out about this letter, but anyway. At the moment, it’s 1866. Maisie’s father was one of those employees. Destitute, he leaves Maisie to..raise her siblings, and goes to America.

We never hear from this man again.

Hugh goes to live with his aunt (Augusta/Augustina?), uncle Joseph, and cousins, Edward and Clara.

THEN IT’S 1877 (we jump ten years)

Maisie’s two siblings have died, and she has a daughter, Rachel now. Who is also dying. This movie is very keen on people dying. I’d also like to point out that there is like, endless plots all happening alongside one another, and it took me until mid-way into part two to even really grasp what the main plot is.

The movie has a LOT of bank talk as well. I cannot express this earnestly enough, there is SO MUCH bank chatter. SO MUCH. This thing does not have to be as long as it is but again, bank stuff.

Anyway, the one plot is that Maisie is from the poor area, she’s had a horrible life and has struggled from day one. She’s in a constant battle with Hugh, and they argue a lot. A lot. (They like each other, they met as kids, but they’re from very different worlds. Hugh has money, she doesn’t, but Hugh has suffered as well and basically it’s your normal class struggle social commentary thing).

Maisie and Hugh in 1866, as kids, after Maisie’s father left for America. This is the funeral for Hugh’s father. So that’s the theme I mean.

Anywho.

Back in 1877, this is Samuel *left*, Joseph *middle* and Edward. The Pilaster’s get marched into work like they’re freaking army Captain’s and not just rich ass bankers. Imagine saluting your CEO. At work. Outside of the military. WHERE IS THIS A THING? Maybe this was a thing in Victorian England I have no clue I’ve certainly never come across it in my studies. Ffs.

Anyway.

So while all this is going on, there’s this man that wants to marry Maisie. 

And his name is,

(That’s Rachel, Maisie’s daughter). Anyway, Solly here loves Maisie and wants to marry her. But Maisie loves Hugh, and neither of them realize this yet. Solly is a himbo and we mostly like him, but stay tuned because that doesn’t stick. Sorta. Depends on how-

Nevermind I’ll just keep going.

ANYWAY, more plot.

Here’s Edward again, doing drugs, being gay, and overall..useless. Edward is..Edward is kind of like a person who would make an interesting wall decoration. Fun enough to look at, but utterly freaking hopeless, and useless, and so dumb. Just so dumb. This character is given the substance of ash fault. Kinda like, only vaguely solid enough to be entertaining. Kinda.

I don’t know guys, BUT LOOK!

It’s his good old pal Mickey! And he’s slapped Edward awake out of his drug coma (okay he grabs his face and shakes him rather than slapping but given how much slapping happens in the rest of this movie I think I can be forgiven) and he has PLOTS.

Mostly it’s his dads plot, but it’s a plot. A very devious scheme and he needs our favourite wallpapers assistance!

(Sorry Edward, but it’s true)

So keeping in mind that the ‘theme’ of this movie is bone-and-soul crushing sadness paired with periods of intense chaos and insanity that  you never see coming, our plots continue to thicken.

What Mickey means here, is that Edward’s family denied Mickey’s father what he wanted *weapons deal*, and beat the crap out of Mickey in a carriage. But that’s fine that’s fine Mickey is not deterred! BECAUSE.

*sigh*

So.

OK.

This scene.

Remember what I said about how this movie goes from being incredibly boring to so off the walls bonkers without actually WARNING YOU that it is going to do this? Yeah.

Edward, you see, really does not ‘do’ women. He’s gay. He’s extremely gay. Edward’s mother wants him to marry Florence Stalworthy for idk rich people reasons.

So..Mickey. Uh. Mickey’s solution is..this.

What is this, you ask??

Fuck if I know.

Anyway, no, uhm. This is a brothel. So (not) pictured here (I can’t post the scene on tumblr guys we have a ban) is Edward on a couch across from mask-and-feathers MIckey and this tied down woman, with another woman who is not tied down. And this is Mickey..showing Edward..how to.have sex with women. Apparently. Sort of. His lesson falls very flat. It is not a good scene, Mickey’s ‘instructions’ get increasingly louder, and he at one point makes this noise that sounds like a Joker laugh.

It is...it’s something.

(Also note there’s some extremely uncomfortable, misogynistic name-calling on Mickey’s part here..so yeah).

Oh, and it doesn’t convince Edward. At all. IMAGINE.

Around all this time, the Hugh/Maisie/Solly plot is also ongoing. And that also encompasses bar fighting (bare knuckles boxing and wrestling I think? And gambling)

Hugh has gambling debt we’ll get back to this. (He’s also obsessed with getting Russian bonds into the bank, again, the banking plot losses me a LOT)

So meanwhile, Mickey meets up with Edward’s mother.

But why Edward’s mother, you ask??

Well. *sigh*. Something I didn’t mention earlier is that Mickey likes Ed’s mum. A lot. A lot a lot. Mickey wants to take that woman to town and then some, is a very basic way of me putting it and-

Fuck it. Mickey wants to bang Ed’s mum. BADLY.

(She’s not opposed either, at all)

So their little scheme here is that Ed’s mum wants Ed to take control of the bank, but with the father-in-law alive, that’s not going to happen. So they’re plotting to take down the next person in charge who would succeed said father in law, (Samuel) who is in a relationship with the secretary mentioned above, Michael.

Yes, another GODDAMNED PLOT.

(Samuel is fairly unpleasant like all of these people, so I don’t feel that bad for him. He also kinda treats Michael like garbage, and is called out for this by Joseph later in the movie)

So the scheme here is to get rid of the father-in-law, and get Ed married. Cake walk!

(Also, while ALL THIS is going on, Mickey’s got his own mini-plot about doing these things for his father, the weapons and stuff but we don’t actually find out about the main goal of that whole thing till the end, you’ll see)

Oh, and since we’ve not had a good dose of ‘WHAT THE FUCK’ lately, Solly proposes to Maisie with an honest-to-god Alice in Wonderland party.

Yeah.

Meet the Mad Hatter! He’s a guide, he says nothing. Other people are in costume too, but you know-I have enough caps as it is.

So anyway, Maisie and Solly get engaged, Maisie and Hugh meet up at some point and bang instead. 

And while that’s happening, Edward is convinced by Mickey to marry Florence.

So he does.

Lookit this shit faced smug ass grin.

(Also ahead is Samuel again, and Hugh)

BUT THEN the bank finds out about Hugh’s gambling debts. So he leaves. Taking his cousin Clara (Edward’s teenage sister-at her insistence) to the USA. And just like Maisie’s dad, another man abandons her for the States.

So the father in law is still alive, so! 

It’s murder time.

Perfect wedding time event yeah?

So Mickey murders the father-in-law. (He jumps on him, suffocates him with a pillow, gets caught by Augusta and then they do this..weird ‘tensely make the bed thing’)

Murdered.

And then, exactly five seconds or so later..

Nothing like some murder pre-boning with the dead guy two feet away amiright?

Anyway at this point I was just:

And yelling at my ceiling. Not pictured.

I was a Hannibal fan and I STILL went !?!?!?

END PART ONE.

Part two starts out in 1912, and then cuts back to 1882. So in this messy timeline, note it has been six years since part one. And Hugh is married now to Nora, an American singer, and Clara is older and pregnant. (Father is never determined, but he’s a married man and that’s why Clara didn’t stay)

SO the three of them are returning home. Maisie and Solly have a son, David, and Maisie is depressed and distant, so Solly is the one who spends all the time with David. He’s shown as a legit good dad and it’s quite cute watching them.

(The kids Hugh’s, btw, he and Maisie both know this, Hugh does not, it’s revealed dramatically later but we still have so many plots)

Edward and Florence are childless. Edward doesn’t sleep with her. Everyone knows this.

(At this point I kept asking myself when this would end, I cannot stress how LONG this thing feels at times)

So Hugh and Nora meet up with Maisie and Solly, and they chat and there’s more love plots, more bank plots and a masquerade party where at some point Maisie thinks a little girl at the party is Rachel (who died in the end of part one, sorry!) and there’s a fire and Maisie and Hugh make out and Nora and Solly are both upset and it’s a whole thing.

Samuel now does something of a side business that’s unspecified with Michael, and pregnant Clara is being persued by the only man who might be a good match for her (she’s not keen on getting married. But he’s also..really old.) PLOTS.

And Mickey and Augusta are..still a thing. And Edward being chlidless is becoming an issue. So what is the solution dear friends??

*BANGS HEAD INTO A WALL*

Why the fuck not.

Absolutely flawless! Eddie will NEVER notice.

SO with this plan in motion, Mickey sets out to seduce Florence, Eddie’s neglected wife. He starts in a church, and I have to admit, this one line he gives is quite funny.

“I don’t go to church.”

Cannot begin to imagine why.

Also, around this time is when we get the infamous scene about how he fcked the wives of the three men and then made the guys suck his dick one by one. I didn’t cap that since it’s in gif form, but yeah.

Hugh and Solly and Nora and Maisie are still having their love issues. And there is still bank stuff as all this is going down.

But while on his Florence quest, we see Mickey beat up a guy who was abusing a small boy, and Florence see’s him do this as well and:

He looks so baffled. 

‘Me? GOOD? I really don’t think so.”

She’s also holding a baby, and he gives the infant this face:

“Eugh, what is that?”

He also finds her in church again at some point and comes alongside her like this:

”Sup? Whatcha prayin’ about?”

Anyway, while doing all this, he’s still having some issues. He needs Eddie’s signature for a bank transfer (for his father, his father’s plot is STILL a THING) and so it is time to seduce someone ELSE. This time it’s Edward. This won’t be hard. Edward wants him so bad you could probably see it from fucking space.

Mickey is well aware of this.(I don’t think it’s one sided either, he looks at Edward all wide eyed half the time, but he’s so manipulative it’s hard to judge).

Actually me right now tbh.

So that’s this followed by the infamous gif set.

Edward takes him up on it.

‘Come along my dear there’s nefarious boning to be done’.

Absolutely vital screencap below (which is the most we get anyway and I didn’t cap the line about the freaking signature because fuck plots over nice images okay)

Vital

Anyway Edward gives him the bloody signature. And then Mickey goes along to talk to Augusta. But at this point Mickey is very much beginning to unravel. His goal seems to be more centralized to finishing whatever long ass convoluted job his father has been making him do for the last six years (possibly more tbh) and he’s sort of done with everything.

And Edward see’s this exchange. Le. Oof.

SO! IN BETWEEN ALL THIS. There’s some party where there’s drama and then basically Nora..willing gives up Hugh so he can be with Maisie and Solly just..I don’t even know, single dad for life and all. Edward knows that his family has basically been doing shit all around him, and Mickey STILL seduces Florence. He has her meet him outside that night at two am and they get together, but when he’s with her he kinda has these doubts but she wants him anyway so they bang.

Yeesh.

AFTER that there’s Edward again, because Edward knows shit is up, Mickey goes to a room to grab a bag and see’s Edward there. He tells Edward goodbye, but Edward pulls a gun. Mickey just...drops the bag, tells him to shoot. Edward doesn’t, instead he turns the gun on himself and then Mickey shoots himself in a chair.

Yeah.

DEATH! SADNESS! REMEMBER-THIS MOVIE LOVES DEAD PEOPLE~!

At some point in all this, Augusta goes to her daughter, Clara, apologies for being an absolutely evil mother for her entire life and then the movie sort of begins to wrap up.

Maisie and David were going to leave for the States together, but David wants to stay with Solly, who well DID raise him despite him being Hugh’s kid. So Maisie and Hugh are alone and David lives with Solly and the Pilaster bank has discovered the ACTUAL FREAKING PLOT OF MICKEY’S DAD AND THE ENTIRE BACKGROUND THING. Which was this:

THIS DIDN’T NEED TO BE ALMOST FOUR HOURS, GERMANY.

SO Hugh lets the mob inside. We don’t see what happens after that, but Augusta comes in to tell Joseph Edward shot himself.

Lots of sadness.

So the movie ends in 1912, with David and Hugh meeting up. David never saw Maisie again *she’s deceased now, as is Solly.* they talk, there is some moral lesson or something about love. The goddamned end.

OOF.

SO overall?

I don’t know.

It’s a movie. It has a script and plot and..it was put on screen? The costumes are legitimately amazing. They might be the best thing about this thing. But it REALLY feels like Ken really wanted to make a movie about banking, noticed that’d be boring and tried to make it spicy.

It’s so bizarre. So depressing. So many people are horrible. So many bad things happen. So much slapping, so much weirdness. There’s nothing happy in this thing. Not one. The so called ‘good’-ish ending falls flat amongst a sea of depression and I re-iterate, IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE SO LONG.

I distinctly recall lots of clock watching at times, wondering how I could POSSIBLY have more to go. It then goes so completely off the rails that you just don’t know what is happening and it’s just WEIRD.

At times that weirdness makes it fun, but overall it’s really not great. I probably would never rewatch it, and I can say that it’s an uh, experience in movie-watching.

A good one? I don’t know. But an experience, none the less.

[wolfpawn]

I Hate You, I Love You, Chapter 105

Chapter Summary -   Danielle is tired and jet-lagged, which is not a time to question her integrity.

Previous Chapter

Rating - Mature (some chapters contain smut)

Triggers - references to Tom Hiddleston’s work with the #MeToo Movement. That chapter will be tagged accordingly.

authors Note - I have been working on this for the last 3 years, it is currently 180+ chapters long.  This will be updated daily, so long as I can get time to do so, obviously.

All image rights belong to their owners

tags: @sweetkingdomstarlight-blog @jessibelle-nerdy-mum @nonsensicalobsessions @damalseer @hiddlesbitch1 @winterisakiller @fairlightswiftly @salempoe @wolfsmom1

If you wish to be tagged, please let me know.

Danielle sighed as she crashed onto the bed after a long day. The heat, the time zone differences and if she was completely honest, she felt a little lonesome for Tom. Groaning as she felt herself getting a tad frustrated, she just lay on the bed and got her phone out, sending a quick “I’m alive” text before curling up against a pillow and falling asleep.

The next morning, she dragged herself out and forced herself into the shower before grabbing some pastries at the breakfast counter of the hotel and getting a cab to the offices of Lucas’ company.

‘How is the jet lag treating you?’

‘I want to sleep for a week, how do people do this?’

‘Your boyfriend does it a lot.’

‘Yes, and I have a newfound respect for him.’ She commented as she grabbed a very large cup of coffee.

‘May I ask you something?’ Danielle paused, she suspected whatever it was he was about to ask, Tom was the key part of it. She turned and looked at him, nodding. ‘Do you find it odd?’

‘What?’

‘Having a film star for a boyfriend?’

‘No, because to me, he’s Tom, dorky, book-loving Tom.’

‘But he has a big name.’

‘In certain circles.’

‘He could help you.’

Danielle’s jaw clenched slightly. ‘I don’t want or need help. And I am behind the scenes, so Tom’s name does little for me there, thankfully.’

‘You don’t want his help?’ Lucas asked curiously.

‘No.’ She stated firmly. ‘I don’t.’

‘He knows Branagh as well though?’ Danielle frowned. ‘I was talking to him, he was thanking me for suggesting you and then mentioned that it was great to bounce around ideas with you, that you were receptive to his ideas but also that you added your own input that he found valuable and that you brought your boyfriend along to speak with him.’

Danielle felt uneasy as to the tone he was using. ‘Yes, Tom knows Ken, they worked together before on a few projects, quite a few actually.’

‘But why bring him to a business meeting?’

‘Sure you know yourself, when both of you are home, it’s nice to actually do stuff with your other half. Your wife is so busy with work too, isn’t that why you had her at our meeting, to spend time with her while you could? We just had the added bonus that Tom and Ken know each other, so we got to have a wonderful conversation where effectively Ken embarrassed him with stories for my amusement and Tom and he got to actually spend time talking again, they are considering working together in the future as a result of that meeting.’ She smiled. ‘So, does that mean that technically, I got him a job, not the other way around?’

Lucas’s brow furrowed. ‘I’m not quite sure. So, you didn’t bring him to secure the job?’

This time, Danielle’s jaw clenched completely. ‘I have not, nor will I ever, use Tom to “secure a job” I will get by on my efforts and mine alone. I noticed the flaw, I wrote my piece that caught Browne’s attention and had him contact you, I went into that hotel and spoke to you regarding it, and though yes, you suggested me to Branagh, it was my talking that convinced him, you just said yourself there, my ability to add to his idea, he and Tom talked about Wallander and Thor and theatre, he and I spoke shop. Tom hasn’t a clue one end of a safety harness from the other, it is not his job to know.’ She rose from the table. ‘I am not sure I wish to continue with this if it is going to be assumed that I have Tom as a means to get ahead in my work, he went with me that day because I was shitting myself at the idea of a project that big with such a renowned actor, he dropped me the day of our meeting because he knew I was terrified but he didn’t come in, he respected me enough in my job to not do so. He knows I would never want to get anywhere on his coattails but on my own labours.’ She walked towards the door. ‘I am sorry it had to go like this, I really am.’ she sighed, walking out of the office.

As she pressed the elevator call button, she felt her heart begin to sink. She had thought her career was on the rise, but this had put it all to a halt. Part of her wondered if she was being petty, but the other part was highly insulted at the insinuation she was using Tom and his name to further herself. She worked hard, she didn’t have to use Tom’s name, nor would she. She loved Tom, not his name or influence. Angered and with a severe dislike of elevators anyway, she decided to go for the stairs, it was only fifteen floors down so she began her descent. When she opened the stairwell door into the lobby, she noticed Lucas standing in front of the elevator doors, she looked at him for a moment before focusing on the door and walking out it. She hailed a taxi and gave the address of her hotel, noting Lucas watching her from the doorway of his offices, but she refused to look at him.

In the safety of her hotel room, she kicked off her shoes and looked around, her files in hand. Danielle looked at them bitterly, all her hard work, her chances of getting somewhere, blasted from the water by the idea she had used her boyfriend’s name. She felt angry for a moment at Tom for costing her for a prestigious role. If he had been normal, an Average Joe, she would have gotten more credit for her hard work...she paused, feeling guilty. Danielle was no fool, she knew it was in no way Tom’s fault, she was just upset and venting. Tom was in Atlanta, blissfully unaware of the terrible mess her career was in. the thought of which caused her to pause for a moment. Her career was in shambles, one call from Lucas and Branagh could drop her, she could very easily be blacklisted and she would never be able to explain herself because of how the industry worked. Upset, she sat on the bed, heartbroken at how events had played out. She wanted to talk to Tom, to just hear his voice, but she was embarrassed, she did not want to tell him, she felt like a failure. With the word screaming like sirens in her head, she felt her chest starting to hurt from the sensation of it. She had failed.

As though by divine inspiration, her phone began to vibrate, taking it out, she looked sadly at it, a text from Tom, telling her he was proud of her and that he loved her. Danielle wanted to cry, but nothing happened, she merely stared sadly at the text, she felt unworthy of a successful and wonderful man such as Tom. she was about to throw the phone on the bed when she realised she had actually dialled his number, quickly, she pressed the cancel button, but only a moment later, he called back. Sadly, she pressed the answer button and put her phone to her ear, she was desperate to hear him. ‘Hey.’

‘Elle? Darling, what’s wrong, are you alright?’

‘Yeah, I am just so jet-lagged.’ she sighed, it was, after all, not lying. ‘I don’t know how you do it.’

‘How long were you working yesterday?’ he asked, his voice filled with concern.

‘I landed at half six, I went straight to the office, I got back at half eleven last night, I think.’

‘Jesus Elle, what time are you there today?’

‘I was there for eight.’

‘Are you still there now?’

‘No, I am at the hotel.’ she wished she had said nothing.

‘Can you grab a quick nap?’

‘I suppose.’

‘Do so darling, you need it, that is all that has gotten me through some days.’

‘How is everyone?’

‘Wonderful, it is great to see them all again.’ she could hear the elation in his voice.

‘Good.’ She tried to sound enthused.

‘Elle, whatever it is, are you alright?’ Tom’s voice was one of concern, yet it was clear he did not want to push her.

‘It’ll be fine.’

‘What happened?’

‘Nothing.’

‘Elle?’ He prodded.

Danielle attempted to say nothing, but the punch to the gut that was her day was pushing out. ‘I shouldn’t waste your…’

‘Danielle, stop, do not try to deflect, do not try to pretend you are alright and for the love of God, don’t you dare try and hang up on me.’ She said nothing. ‘What has happened, please tell me.’

‘Lucas made a comment regarding you coming with me to meet Branagh.’

‘Okay, why is there an issue with that?’

‘I am not sure, he brought his wife to his meeting with me and that was trans-Atlantic. But he went on to ask if I used you to…’ Danielle could hear Tom make an odd click noise with his tongue.

‘So…’ His tone was every attempt to be steady, but she could hear it waver slightly. ‘What happened?’

‘I stated I have not, nor shall I ever use you or your name in my work, that if anyone could not see the merit of my work as it is, then it did not matter and left.’

‘Left?’

‘Yes, I left. I am back at the hotel now.’

‘Elle…’

‘What, I am not going to have anyone dismiss me or my work.’

‘But your career…’ Danielle said nothing. ‘This is twice I have cost you work.’

‘No…’

‘Elle, because of me, Durham cost you a job you really wanted, and now this, you said this could catapult you into your career, skipping years of the drudgery, and I cost you again.’ he sounded heartbroken. ‘How are you even speaking to me? You should despise me.’

‘All I wanted was to hear your voice, I wish you were here.’ she admitted.

‘Why, you should want to break up with me.’

‘Tom, I don’t blame you, I blame them, it was never your fault, they chose to be assholes, you have been nothing but supportive and respectful of anything I have decided to do. I would not change this for the world. I rather work at Subway making sandwiches for forty years and have a crappy little two-bedroom in the council flats with you than all of this if it meant I still felt as supportive and loved, honestly.’

‘Really?’ Tom seemed somewhat taken back by that.

‘Yes, with the obligatory chav named for our kids and a terrible faux leopard print clothing and all.’ Tom chuckled. ‘I mean, full-on Vicky Pollard.’ That sent Tom laughing.

‘You would look ridiculous-looking like that.’

‘Yes, but so long as you were there, being you, in an Adidas trackie, Nike Airs and your white socks tucking your pants legs in, shitty tattoos of the kid's names on your forearms, if you still made me feel as happy, I would not change it.’

‘Well, that is one hell of a declaration.’ Tom’s smile was apparent. ‘I am sorry, though.’

‘So am I.’

‘How are you?’

‘I feel like absolute shit, I am tired, hungry and I feel like an absolute failure.’

‘I’m sorry, Elle.’

‘I tried.’

‘Can you fix it?’

‘I don’t know, and I don’t want to if it means I have to accept such comments about my integrity.’

‘That is your decision, you know I support you.’

‘Thank you.’ She smiled. ‘I…’ The room phone rang, 'One moment, Tom’ half in concern, she walked over and held it to her ear, ‘Hello.’

‘Ms. Hughes?’

‘Yes?’

‘This is reception calling, I have a Mr. Lucas Waters asking for your permission to come to your room?’ Her tone was sterile of emotion, a common trait in American receptionists, Danielle had realised.

‘I…’

‘Elle?’ She could hear Tom on her phone. ‘Perhaps it would be wise to listen to what he has to say.’

Danielle paused for a moment. ‘Is he there?’

‘Yes Ma’am.’

‘Could you please put him on for a moment?’

‘Of course, Ma’am.’

‘Danielle?’

‘If you want to talk, I will speak with you in the hotel bar, like hell am I bringing a man that is not Tom to my room.’ she stated coldly.

‘Of course, my apologies.’

‘I will be down in a moment.’ she hung up the phone without delay before putting her own phone to her ear, ‘Tom?’

‘My little fiery Irish girl.’ She could hear him smile. ‘Get an apology before anything else.’

‘At the very least.’ She promised.

‘I love you, good luck.’

[isitgintimeyet]

The Ties That Bind

AO3

Previous

Thank you for reading this far. I really appreciate it. I still get nervous posting each chapter. I hope you enjoy this next chapter.

Thanks to @mo-nighean-rouge for the beta

Warning: bit NSFW towards the end

Chapter 8: A Dinner Invitation

“Her cuisine is limited but she has as good an idea of breakfast as a Scotchwoman.” Sherlock Holmes― Arthur Conan Doyle, The Naval Treaty

Jamie hesitated for a minute before he knocked on the door of the flat. He was slightly nervous, which he didn’t really understand. Since their first dinner, they had met twice more - once for a walk and a coffee before Claire had to return to work, and once for a drink. In his eyes, both had gone really well. And presumably in Claire’s eyes too, as she had extended this invitation for Jamie to come to her flat for dinner. Perhaps that was where the nervousness came from. Jamie felt like Claire had built a safety barrier around her, for her own emotional protection and for him to be willingly invited through the barrier into her safe haven was a great honour. Jamie didn’t want to let her down. He took a deep, calming breath and knocked on the door.

The door opened and a rich smell filled Jamie’s nostrils. Claire stood on the threshold, her hair a wild array, wearing a striped butcher’s apron and brandishing a large wooden spoon. She greeted him with a warm kiss, her mouth tasting of garlic and tomato. She nimbly pulled away before Jamie had a chance to extend the kiss.

“Welcome, welcome. Come on in.”

Jamie followed Claire through the hallway and into the main living room.

“I’ve brought ye a bottle,” he said, handing her a bottle bag emblazoned with ‘Happy Birthday’ in silver sparkly lettering. “Sorry about the bag, picked it up in a hurry. Consider it a late birthday gift for yer last birthday, Sassenach.”

Claire lifted the bottle out. “Oh, wow, that’s really special. And possibly the latest or earliest birthday gift I’ve ever received.”

She careful placed the bottle of Broch Tuarach Special Reserve whisky on the coffee table. “Thank you so much. I’ll look forward to some sampling after dinner.”

Gently running her fingers down his forearm, she looked into his eyes and smiled. Returning to her normal brisk manner, she explained, “I can’t cook many things, but my lasagne is not bad at all. Pour yourself a glass of wine. It’s on the dining table; I just need to pop it in the oven. Be back in a minute.”

Jamie poured himself a glass of wine - red, he noticed, the same as they had ordered at the restaurant the week before - and looked around. Although the room itself was decorated in neutral tones, creams and beiges on the walls, natural wood plantation shutters at the large bay window, there was a relaxed and homely feel due to the accessories Claire had chosen. Earth toned plaid throws and cushions adorned the cosy-looking sofa. A yucca plant, standing at least as tall as Jamie himself, graced one corner. Another corner held a floor to ceiling bookcase crammed with an eclectic mix of books: some medical, some on plants and herbs, some murder mysteries, Jane Austen novels, Beatrix Potter tales and Winnie the Pooh. One shelf was dedicated to old history textbooks. Entwined around the bookcase was a set of fairy lights, casting a glow over all the books. Jamie reached over and ran his fingers over the spines.

With the lasagne in the oven and the salad already made, Claire knew that dinner was well in hand. She took a big gulp of her wine. Really, she seemed to be developing quite a taste for red wine. The key thing, she told herself, was not to drink too much tonight. She wasn’t totally sure yet how the evening would end, but she wanted to be sober enough to make conscious decisions, and to enjoy herself no matter what happened. Sex with Jamie had featured heavily in her thoughts over the past week. Claire wasn’t sure it had ever been like this with Frank, or perhaps it had and those memories had just faded away to be replaced by those of criticisms, nit-picking and uncomfortable silences.

Claire took another gulp of wine as she picked up the salad bowl. What will be, will be, she told herself, heading back into the living room.

As she entered, she found Jamie standing, looking at her books. “Quite a wide selection ye have here.” he commented.

Claire felt herself reddening slightly. The books were her treasured possessions, they were what defined her. She didn’t usually explain their importance to people, didn’t usually want to. But she wanted Jamie to know her, to understand her, to deepen the connection she knew was there.

“Those books are so important to me. The medical ones, obviously, for my job, my vocation. Medicinal plants and herbs is a real passion of mine, one I’d like to develop in the future.”  

She moved closer. “As a teenager I fell in love with Jane Austen’s books. Feisty women, strong men… what’s not to love? I even had pictures of Mr. Darcy on my bedroom wall. The history books belonged to Uncle Lamb. I kept them with me after he died. He was a professor at Oxford, specialising in the Crusades. Every holiday, we’d be off, following the steps of those Crusaders.”

“Like Indiana Jones?”

“Not nearly so adventurous, lots of walking, lots of libraries, lots of late night discussions with fellow historians, occasional digging. No spies or nazis. Most danger was being chased by dogs in Antakya. Me running ‘til I thought my chest would burst, Uncle Lamb panting beside me and yelling insults in Turkish to the dogs. I must have been about nine or ten.”

There was a brief silence before Claire started talking again. “The Beatrix Potter and Winnie the Pooh are mine from when I was a child. I don’t have many things from my mum and dad, don’t even have many memories of them. I was only five when they died in a car accident. But what I do remember is lying in my bed, Mum on one side of me, Dad on the other and them reading these to me… Mum doing the narrative bits, dad doing the voices, you know, Eeyore, Tigger, Piglet and so on. I thought I was the luckiest girl in the world, having parents who could read stories so well. And that image, that memory, that’s what I want for my children...” Her voice tailed off, now afraid she had shared too much.

Jamie pulled her close, her head nestling against his chest. She could hear his heartbeat, calm, steady, reassuring. One large hand cradled her head, the other spanned her back. He radiated warmth and security.

“Och, lass.” he whispered.

“And the fairy lights,” Claire continued. “I know they’re a bit twee, but after my parents died, when I went to live with Lamb, I had difficulty sleeping, was scared of the dark. Lamb set up fairy lights in my bedroom, told me that mum and dad were now stars in the sky and the fairy lights represented those stars, to remind me that they were watching over me as I slept. So they’re always here with me. Silly, I know.”

“It’s no’ silly at all. It’s beautiful, Sassenach. Yer uncle must have been a rare man.”

“Oh, he was. To take on someone else’s child, full time… I never felt unloved or a burden to him. Even though I must have cramped his style no end!”

A bell rang out from the kitchen. Claire pulled out of Jamie’s embrace. “Time to eat.”

“Just one more question… why the murder mystery books?”

Claire turned as she headed for the kitchen. “Never know when those techniques may come in handy.” She grinned and waggled her eyebrows mischievously.

******

Claire was wrong, Jamie thought as he leant back in his dining chair, stuffed with lasagne. Her lasagne was not ‘not bad’, actually it was fantastic.

“That was great.” He complimented enthusiastically.

“Now you know the extent of my culinary skills… lasagne, salad… oh, and I can do a pretty good bacon sandwich. But that’s more a breakfast thing though.” She stopped abruptly, scared of giving him the wrong (or was it the right?) impression. “Would you like a dessert? I have some ice cream, or sorbet. Or would you like a coffee? I can make some proper stuff.”

“Nay, I’m fit tae bursting here. What I would like is fer us to sit on the sofa and I will educate ye in the proper way tae drink that whisky.”

“Suits me fine. I’ll go and get some glasses.”

Claire returned to find Jamie sitting on the sofa, opening the whisky bottle. She placed the heavy crystal tumblers on the table together with an ice bucket. Jamie looked at her and pursed his lips tightly.

“First rule of whisky: no ice. It crushes the flavour, ye ken. And when it melts ye canna control how it dilutes the whisky. If ye like ye can add a wee bit of water tae open up the flavours, but try it w’out first. Glasses are good, though. Heavy base, nice. If ye want tae sniff it first, ye can use tulip-shaped glasses, but these look better.” He poured a generous measure into the glasses and handed one to Claire. “Slainte. Tell me what ye think.”

Claire sipped the whisky, savouring the complex flavours. “That’s wonderful. There’s a sweetness to it, it somehow reminds me of fruit cake, like at Christmas.” She lifted the bottle, studying the label.

“That’s verra good. Ye’ve quite the palate. This is aged in sherry barrels, that’s the sweet fruitiness.”

“Hang on,” Claire read the label again. “The distillery name here, it says ‘Fraser and Sons’. Is that you?”

“Aye, I’m the son... weel, technically I’m the great, great, great however many times grandson. But, aye, my da heads up the distillery. He’s the CEO. He lives up there in the village, Broch Mordha.”

“And that’s what you’ll do when he retires?”

“Nothing’s ever certain. Perhaps. We have shareholders, ye ken. Mebbe they’ll no’ want me. But it would be an honour to follow on from my da. He’s a great man.”

“And I’m sure his son will be just as great.”

Jamie shrugged nonchalantly, but Claire could tell he was pleased by the compliment. Claire took another sip as Jamie watched, her lips moistened by the whisky. She looked up at him as he lifted her glass and placed it gently on the table. The room was suddenly filled with tension, like static electricity, sparks shooting between them, emanating from their very cores.

Almost as if in slow motion, Claire raised her hand and placed the palm on Jamie’s chest, feeling the hardness of those muscles and his heartbeat speeding up with each breath. As she moved her fingers, she could feel his wiry chest hairs though the thin fabric of his shirt. He was so strong and big and… and any thoughts of playing it cool rushed right out of her head as she leant forward to touch her lips to his. She felt Jamie’s arms wrap around her tightly and she was lost. She opened her lips under his, letting her tongue slide inside his mouth, feeling his entwine with hers. His hands rubbed against her back as he pulled her onto his lap. His arousal pressed hard against her and she felt her own response deep within.

Jamie was the first to break the kiss. Locking eyes with Claire, he asked hoarsely “Are ye sure about this? I dinna want ye tae do anything ye may regret. Ye’ve no’ had too much tae drink, have ye?”

In response, Claire stood up and pulled Jamie to his feet. With fingers intertwined, she led Jamie out of the room, across the hallway and to her bedroom. He stopped her at the door, keeping her firmly in his grasp.

“Are ye sure?” He asked again, running his hand down the side of her face.

She nodded wordlessly and pulled him into the room, closing the door behind them. The room was dimly lit with one small bedside light. Claire moved to turn it off. Jamie stopped her. “If ye dinna mind, I want tae look at ye.”

Standing beside the bed, Claire ran her hands up under Jamie’s shirt, over his chest, and down his back. She slid her hands under the waistband of his jeans to his firm buttocks.  

Jamie lowered his head to her neck, peppering her skin with a trail of feathery kisses from her earlobe and down her neck. His fingers hurriedly undid the buttons of her shirt creating a path for his kisses to continue their descent into the cleft between her breasts. Claire threw her head back, letting the sensation of his lips wash over her and then gasped as Jamie lifted her up and placed her on the bed in one motion. She smiled up at him as he sat down beside her and pulled her shirt off her shoulders. She raised slightly from the bed and shrugged it off, not caring where it landed, just desperate for the contact of skin on skin.

Turning his attention to her jeans, Jamie quickly unzipped them and tugged them down as Claire lifted her hips to aid this process. Finally free of the jeans, Jamie groaned out loud at the sight of her lying on the bed, clad in her cream lace bra and panties. Jamie could clearly see her nipples outlined through the fabric, already erect demanding his touch. Through the lacy panties, he could see the dark shadow of her pubic hair. He knew, if he touched her, how wet she would be.

Claire pulled at his shirt. “Take it off.” She pleaded.

Jamie rose from the bed and pulled his shirt over his head. Claire reached out to pull him down to her but teasingly he stepped away, prolonging the tension. He undid his trousers and bent down to pull them off, fumbling momentarily on the ground.

“Socks,” He explained, grinning. “They’re no’ verra sexy.”  

Claire could clearly see the extent of his arousal through his tight white trunks. Sitting up, she ran her hands up his thighs, cupping his balls before curling her fingers in the waistband and pulling the trunks cleanly down. They joined the rest of their discarded clothes on the floor as he stepped out of them. Without thinking, she ran her fingers along his length, revelling in the contrast of hardness and velvet softness. She could hear his intake of breath at her touch.

Still without touching her, Jamie lay on his side next to her on the bed. His eyes moved back to the cream lace of her bra, staring intently. His tongue moistened his lips. Claire felt desperate for his hands on her body.

“Jamie,” she whispered.  

Finally, he touched her, his hand lazily moving across her abdomen, tracing circles round her navel before coming to rest with the underside of her breast nestling in the palm of his hand. His thumb stroked her lace covered nipple. She looked into his deep blue eyes, filled with lust and could hold back no longer.

Claire pushed him onto his back and stretched one leg over to straddle his hips. Kneeling up, she reached behind and unhooked her bra, letting it fall down her arms. Instinctively, his hips rose up, his erection pressing insistently against her core, sending sparks of excitement through her body. Jamie tugged her forward and she fell against his chest. Cupping her breasts, he moved under her, fitting her against him so he could taste her breasts, each one in turn.

As Jamie alternated from breast to breast, Claire began to grind against him, striving to increase the sensations through her body. She moved against him restlessly and slid down his body, licking and nibbling down his chest then lower and lower until he felt her head resting against his groin. He bucked against her mouth and pulled her back up. “Not now,” he growled against her throat, “I need tae be inside ye.” With one swift move, he lay Claire on her back, hovering above her and slid her panties down. Claire kicked her legs to free herself from them.

“Wait.” Claire reached into a bedside cabinet, producing a small foil packet. “Please.”

She handed it to Jamie. He quickly ripped the packet open with his teeth and rolled the condom on. Claire opened to him and Jamie slid one large finger down, slowly teasing her.

Finally, he could stand it no longer. Claire stared up into his eyes as she felt him moving within her. Her pleasure built in time with the rhythm of Jamie’s movements back and forth, plunging deeply and withdrawing almost completely, trying to prolong the excitement he felt. He reached his hand between them and quickly found what he was looking for. Rubbing in time with his strokes, he could feel Claire’s muscles tensing round him, her deep moans growing in intensity.

As Claire’s orgasm took hold of her whole body, Jamie withdrew his hand and with a guttural cry, he climaxed. They lay together, still joined, breathing heavily as their heart rates slowly returned to normal. Moving onto his back, Jamie nestled Claire against his chest, kissing the top of her head.

He whispered something against her hair. Claire raised her head.

“What did you say?”  She asked.

“Sorcha - your name in Gaelic. It means light. Like in the French, aye? Clair is light. Ye have yer fairy lights and now I have ye, my Claire, my Sorcha.”

[anoutlandishfanfic]

Idyllwild AU: The One With A Picture Frame.

Merry Christmas!

This delightful little fluff is my take on a scene from Season Four... when Fergus and Marsali tell Jamie and Claire they’re pregnant. Looking forward to exploring this more in the future, but for now, here’s a little fluff to get you by.

Each Idyllwild fic is stand alone, but you can find previous chapters here.

Christmas Eve/ Early Christmas Morn (abt 2:30am), 2026; Lallybroch.

“Wait, Marsali and I have something for you and Da,” Fergus motioned me to stay in my place at the end of the couch as he turned to grab something from behind him.

I had no intention of leaving my cozy cocoon of blankets — my nest giving me a perfect view of the Christmas merriment around me — but smiled at his excited glow. We’d just finished opening gifts and everything was in a state of euphoric pandemonium  around me, the late hour making our heads spin and our voices a little too loud for casual conversation.

Jamie sat comfortably on the floor at my feet, one arm draped across my lap even as he examined the outfit Alexa received from my sister… which the not quite nine year old had promptly set aside in favor of the geography puzzle we’d given her.

“You’d think she’d ken the bairns better by now, Sassenach,” he eyed what was supposed to be the height of young girl’s fashion with disdain, holding it between two fingers as if it were Jake’s gym socks.

“Lexa’s no’ one for this sort of thing.”

He was right.

Alexa, the baby of our brood, would not be caught dead in pink… much less the pastel top Jamie was dangling before me. She was much like Bree in this regard and the two were close, despite their six year age difference. In fact, I rather thought the gap was one of the things that drew them together.

Quinn, on the other hand, was much closer in age to Alexa… yet the two were as different as night and day. Nearly everything the child possessed was a variant of pink. She’d be twelve in two weeks, but she rivaled sixteen year old Faith with her poise and wisdom beyond her years. If Faith was my old soul, then Quinn was my philosopher… and Fergus my optimist.

“What’s that?” Jake perked up at the sight of another gift.

Bree crumpled a fistful of wrapping paper and chucked it at his head, the projectile arching perfectly and bouncing off it’s mark.

“It’s not for you, clotheid,” she chortled, rearming herself as he lobbed the paper back in her direction.

Marsali cast a quick glance at her husband and commented, “Actually, it’s kind of for everybody.”

This got Jamie’s attention, as well as brought the wrapping paper mele to a halt, and my daughter in law suddenly found herself at the very center of attention.

My heart leapt to my throat as I caught the look Fergus gave her. She’d been positively glowing during the candle-lit, midnight mass earlier tonight and she’d had this sort of introspective smile playing on her lips all evening, as if she knew a wonderful secret and couldn’t hold back the joy it gave her.

Marsali was pregnant.

My eyes widened as I leaned forward to look at Fergus, gripping Jamie’s shoulder as I worked to not spoil the surprise. He grinned back at me, nodding his head ever so slightly as he handed Jamie a box wrapped in green paper.

“Ooo, what’s this?” Jamie murmured, unwrapping the gift much too slowly for my taste. I snatched it out of his hands and tore back the paper as he complained good naturedly, “Hey, I was opening that!”

I lifted the lid and an excited squeal left my lips as the box’s contents confirmed my suspicions… an intricately carved wooden frame held two images — a portrait of all of us taken at Fergus and Marsali’s wedding and a sonogram — with the phrase Only The Best Parents Get Promoted to GRANDparents etched beneath. I dropped it into Jamie’s lap as I bounded off the sofa and pulled my son into my arms.

Fergus laughed as everyone else caught on to the gift’s meaning and the room erupted in raucous displays of affection. A flash of movement caught my eye and I looked up just in time to see Faith tackle Marsali in an energetic hug, with Bree and Quinn close on her heels. Alexa wiggled her way in between Fergus and I as Jamie rose from the floor and wrapped all three of us in a big, gigantic bear hug.

I pressed a kiss to Fergus’ forehead, my spirit soaring as my heart threatened to burst with pride.

“You are going to be a wonderful father, Fergus,”  I murmured through my tears, clutching his head against my shoulder as if he were the little boy he’d always be in my heart. “I love you so very much.”

His arms tightened around me for a moment as he responded, “Love you too, Mum.”

With a contented sigh, I let go and gave his cheek a final pat, but paused before I turned to embrace Marsali. There was something in his eyes that held me there, a nagging doubt he had in the validity of my words.

My heart lurched as Fergus’ birth father came to mind and I took hold of him again in a second, more urgent hug. I had not thought of the man who had walked out on Fergus and his incompetent mother nearly twenty years ago in a long while, but I knew he was on my son’s mind right now. I felt Fergus shiver in my arms, the memory of St Germain’s sins intruding on what should be a purely joyous moment.

“You are not like him,” I insisted, needing to rid him of this budding doubt before it grew into a deeply rooted insecurity. “Your heart is so kind and loving and the opposite of everything that he was to you. You are your father’s son, Fergus… your true father, and he’s here to help you every step of the way. You have us and will always have us on your team.”

He nodded as he pulled away to look at me. His eyes shone with unshed tears, but his voice was steady and sure as he thanked me, giving me a peck on the cheek as he steered me towards his wife and lifted his littlest sister into his arms. Alexa clung to him and I wondered if the excitement was too much for her at this hour, but I pushed it from my mind as Jamie stayed at Fergus’ side, readily on hand if her emotions turned south.

“Congratulations,” I beamed as I pulled Marsali close, her blonde head tucking perfectly beneath my chin.

She fit so well in my arms and into our family that I thanked the Lord on a daily basis for the blessing He had given us in Marsali MacKimmie Fraser. She’d walked into our lives as a sassy sixteen year old with a troubled home life and a voracious need to find her place in the world... Fergus had been assigned as her lab partner in their human anatomy class — something he still jokes about — and they were together for a good eight years before they were married a little over a year ago.

Marsali’s mother, Laoghaire, had threatened all sorts of drastic measures when she discovered who Fergus belonged to, and for a while her disapproval fueled the teen’s ambitions, but eventually Marsali outgrew the insatiable need to spite her mother and found that Fergus understood her on a level that others didn’t. She’d found solace within our home and practically lived with us while they were dating in high school.

I slowly became aware of how tightly Marsali was clinging to me and moved my head to whisper in her ear, “We’ll find a moment to chat about things, mmm?”

She nodded against me without a word and I gave her a reassuring squeeze.

“I’ve got you, luv.”

[believeinthecheese]

FanFic - Broken Butterfly

I posted a link to this before, but never the actual fic, so here it is for people who prefer to read straight off of Tumblr. It’s an angsty little Bunny fic, read the tags for warnings.

Butters Stotch had never considered himself particularly lucky as a child, which is why he sometimes found it hard to believe his current situation. His parents may be abusive, his classmates may bully him, but none of that mattered because for the past three months he’d been hiding something wonderful from all of them. It had felt good having this secret to help him get through the bullshit at school and the abuse at home, keeping him from giving up because now he had something to look forward to. That was all about to change though because he’d decided it was time to let the cat out of the bag.

Kenny McCormick was his boyfriend, and tonight Butters was going to tell his parents. They were nearly done with school, only a week left, and after graduation they would be heading to Denver together. Butters was going to college there, to study horticulture, and Kenny was going to jump straight into working, so he could keep supporting his sister. He had a job and an apartment lined up already, and Butters had received his acceptance letter last night. That was what prompted the decision to tell his parents; they had everything ready to go, all that was left was to rip off this one particularly difficult bandaid. He smiled to himself, round cheeks turning pink, as he thought about his boyfriend. Kenny was, as far as Butters was concerned, one of the most beautiful people he’d ever met. There was his physical beauty - messy blonde hair that had darkened to a rich gold as he got older, a dazzling smile with the cutest gap between his front teeth, and bright indigo eyes that looked almost violet in the right light and were always sparkling with laughter. Beyond that though, he had the shiniest heart and soul Butters had ever seen. Whenever he looked at his boyfriend he swore he could see the innate goodness that was Kenny McCormick radiating from inside, making him a beacon of light that Butters couldn’t help but be drawn to. The bell rang, startling Butters from his thoughts. He jumped up and quickly crammed his books and papers into his bag before hurrying out of the room, not wanting to leave Kenny waiting for too long before they walked home together. “Ken!” He cried out, seeing his boyfriend leaning casually against his locker, “You waited for me!" Kenny laughed and ruffled his hair, “Butterfly, class only let out a few minutes ago and you ran all the way here, look at you all out of breath and red-faced. What’s got you so excited?” “Well, uh, I’m gonna tell my parents about you tonight,” He explained quietly, “And that I’ll be moving out straight after graduation.” Kenny’s lips thinned as he pressed them together tightly to keep from loudly protesting. It’s not that he didn’t want to be out in the open with his little Butterfly. Heck, he’d have shouted it from the rooftops the second Butters had said yes if he could’ve, but it had been his idea to keep things quiet in the first place. The other blonde, bless his heart, had such a positive outlook on life, despite all his hardships, that it never occurred to him just how badly coming out to his parents could go. His parents who had a history of trying to murder him, abusing him, and chaining him in the basement - all of which Kenny had heard Butters try to explain away on numerous occasions. Very few things actually scared Kenny, but the thought of what might happen when Stephen Stotch found out his son was gay and dating someone like him was terrifying. “Don’t look so worried Ken, it’ll be alright!” Butters grinned at him and hugged his arm tight, “Walk me home ok?” “Walk you home? I want to go inside with you, make sure nothing happens.” “Don’t be silly,” he giggled, “They might yell a bit and ground me, but if they do I’ll just sneak out the window and go to your place.” They didn’t talk for a while after that, Butters happily lacing their fingers together and skipping along humming to himself, while Kenny was deep in thought. As they approached the little blonde’s house, he cleared his throat and moved to hold both Butters hands in his. “Butters… you know your parents… ugh, never mind. Just, call or text me immediately afterwards alright. I don’t care how late it is, I won’t go to sleep until I hear from you.” “Of course Ken Doll.” Butters couldn’t kiss him, it was too risky this close to his house, so instead he brought his own fingers to his lips and kissed them. It was a little signal they had worked out early on in the secret relationship. A way to show affection without touching each other. And with that, he giggled and ran off home, leaving Kenny standing on the sidewalk with a dark feeling of dread twisting in his gut. Much as he wanted to stay, just in case Butterfly needed his help, he was due at work soon and he couldn’t afford to miss any shifts when their plan was so close to fruition. He sighed and promised himself that if Butters didn’t text him he’d come back later that night. *** Butters didn’t text him. There was a strict no phones policy at work, so he’d had to leave it in his locker during his shift. The whole time he’d been hoping to come back to a message from his love, but when he checked his phone there was nothing. He didn’t panic though. It was still early, only just past 8pm. Perhaps Butters decided not to tell them until after dinner and was just now sitting down to talk with them. Still it was odd that there were no messages from the little blonde at all, and when he tried to call it went straight to voicemail. He decided he needed to stop off at the Stotch house on the way home from work, for his own peace of mind. On the trip over he tried and failed to stop his mind from concocting all sorts of horrific scenarios. Butters could be hurt, or dead, and he’d known something was wrong but still let him go into that house alone. If anything had happened to his boyfriend it was on him. As images of Butters broken and bloody body flooded his mind he broke out into a desperate sprint, arriving in record time. The lights were all off and the house was dead silent. Undeterred, Kenny scaled the wall towards Butters window, an act he was well-practiced in after months of sneaking around. To his dismay the window was locked and the curtains drawn so tight he couldn’t glimpse inside the room no matter how hard he tried. He tapped gently on the glass, hoping to get Butters attention but not wanting to make too much noise in case it woke his parents. No response. Kenny continued to sit outside Butters window, perched precariously on the barely big enough windowsill, unsure of what to do next. Eventually he realised that, unless he wanted to wake up Butters parents, he was out of options and would have to wait until the next day to find out what was going on. Leaping from the window to the ground in a dramatic, Mysterion-esque display, Kenny kicked angrily at a snowdrift and threw one last glare at the silent Stotch house before heading home. True to his promise he didn’t sleep a wink that night. He made sure his little sister, Karen, had something to eat for dinner and got all her homework done before sending her off to bed. Then he sat by his window with his phone in hand, and just stared into the night as he waited for Butters to message him. He didn’t even realise how long he’d been sitting there, unmoving, until the twinkling stars gave way to the soft gray of pre-dawn. When the sun finally starts to peek over the horizon he broke, sobbing into his hands as all the tears and fears he’d been holding back come pouring out in one heartbroken flood. *** Kenny didn’t allow himself to breakdown for long. After crying his eyes out at the window, he wiped his face on his sleeve and got ready for school, formulating the beginnings of a plan in his mind. He didn’t know what misfortune had befallen Butters, but he was going to find out and he was taking back up with him. The air was chilly, laden with the lingering frost of early morning, as he stalked purposefully to the bus stop. He was a man on a mission, and the few people milling about on the street were quick to dart out of his way as he came thundering through. “Guys!” He broke out into a run as he spotted the four familiar figures standing in a row at the bus stop, “I need your help with something!” They stared at him as he came skidding to a stop in front of them, eyes fiery and determined. He barely paused before launching into the story, leaving out no details, no longer worried about keeping his relationship a secret if only it meant getting his Butters back. He told them of the months spent sneaking around, the plans they’d set in motion for the future, his fears about Butters coming out to his parents, all culminating in Butters disappearance. A silence fell over the group as he finished his tale and after a few tense minutes he turned to leave, feeling he would not be getting any help from his friends after all. A hand reached out and landed heavily on his arm, grabbing his sleeve and yanking him back towards the others. “I guess we’d better help you rescue your pussy boyfriend from his piece of shit parents then Poor Boy.” *** The Night Before Butters flinched as a dinner plate narrowly missed his head and smashed against the wall behind him. Perhaps it had been a bad idea to come out during dinner, when there were so many potential projectiles within his father’s reach. “You want to repeat what you just said to me, you little shit!” His dad roared, while his mum stood by placidly. “W..w…well sss…sir,” the trembling teen stammered, “I w-was just sayin’, that is, I… I…” “Spit it out!” Butters took a deep breath and straightened his back. He could do this, all he had to do was think of Kenny and their plans. His father couldn’t control him any more, he was going to be free and happy, there was nothing that could stop him. “I’m gay!” He shouted hurriedly, “I’m gay and I’m dating Kenny McCormick and after graduation we’re moving away. I’m going to study plants and build a life with my boyfriend!” He grinned as a weight lifted off his shoulders at the conclusion of his rushed and somewhat inelegant speech. “Ah… I don’t need you to accept me, but it sure would be nice if ya did dad… mum… I just…” Stephen Stotch took a step towards his son, and Butters trailed off as he realised things were about to go south fast. His father’s expression was thunderous, and a quick glance at his mother revealed he’d be getting no help from her. He reached forward to grab his phone off the dining table so he could make a hasty retreat, but he wasn’t quick enough. Stephen’s hand closed around Butter’s narrow wrist tight enough to bruise, yanking him forward and making him lose his balance. While he struggled to find his feet, his father picked up his phone with a menacing smirk and started dragging him towards the nearby basement door. “MOM!” He shrieked, “HELP ME!” His pleas landed on deaf ears, as his mother calmly turned and walked upstairs, choosing deliberate ignorance to what was occurring. No one was there to help Butters as his father wrenched the basement door open and attempted to pull his son down the stairs. Butters was fighting for his life and managed to hook his free hand on the doorframe, but it only delayed the inevitable. Stephen brought his fist, the one clenched around Butters phone, down on his son’s hand again and again.  Butters shrieked again, this time in pain, as he was forced to let go of the doorframe and his father, now enraged beyond belief, threw him down into the basement. His head bounced off the stairs with a sickening crack, and as he stretched his right arm out to stop his fall it twisted under him, the bone snapping loudly. He let out a single, piercing scream, his voice breaking with the intensity, then lay on the basement floor in shock. He was unable to move his broken body, but his eyes followed his father, still standing at the top of the stairs glaring down at his son. Stephen was suddenly calm, as if the sight of Butters drained all the anger from his body. He laughed and threw the now broken phone to the floor, then moved to close the door. “D-dad?!” Butters called out hoarsely, “Don’t leave me here!” There was no response as the door clicked shut, leaving Butters in complete darkness. “…Dad?” *** For all the misfortune Kenny faced in life, he got pretty lucky in the friend department. Sure, they were assholes, but they always had his back. Even after dropping a bomb on them like he did that morning, they still rallied behind him as they stormed towards the Stotch house. Once they got past the fact that Kenny “boobs are awesome” McCormick was actually bi and dating the most naive person in town, they were all too ready to ditch school and go threaten Butters parents with him. “Ok,” Kyle planned quickly as they walked, “I’ve got my phone ready to call my dad, in case we need a lawyer, and Stan’s phone is set to call 911. Cartman’s is already recording, so we’ll have everything on record. Kenny, let us do the talking, you just focus on getting into the house and finding Butters. Cartman will hold Mr Stotch back if need be.” Kenny nodded, his expression solemn. He didn’t need to be told to focus on finding Butters, that was his number one priority. They approached the Stotch house and took a moment to mentally steel themselves for the task ahead. “Try not to lose your cool. Don’t get yourself arrested ok,” Stan lay a reassuring hand on Kenny’s arm, “We’re here for you.” “I’m not taking any heat for this, if you do something stupid then I’m bailing and going home, screw you guys! So don’t fuck it up cause I don’t wanna have to ditch you.” Cartman added, acting tough. Kenny gave a small smile as his friends offered their words of support, albeit hidden under a very thick layer of bullshit in Cartman’s case. He clenched his fists and approached the front door, hearing the three other boys following close behind. He suddenly felt like a small child again, but that was ok because he’d been fearless back then and he would be fearless again now. For Butters. He knocked on the door. It opened almost immediately. “Shouldn’t you boys be in school?” Linda Stotch answered, looking like she’d been up all night. Her hair was a tangled mess, her make up running, and her eyes wild. “We’re looking for Butters ma’am?” Cartman stepped forward, his voice honeyed in a well-practiced act of manipulation. “Oh, Butters, yes,” her reply was airy and she seemed somewhat absent, “He’s gone.” “Gone where!” Kenny stepped forward, half shoving himself through the door. It was then that Stephen Stotch decided to make his appearance, guiding his wife away from the entrance as he attempted to force the irate teenager back onto the stoop. “The ungrateful little turd ran away and he won’t be coming back! We don’t know where he is and we don’t care. Now get off my property!” Kenny stared into Stephen’s eyes and knew the truth, “He’s lying, Butters is here guys.” “Are you sure dude?” Kyle asked. “I’m positive.” The red-head nodded at Cartman to initiate their plan, and the large boy was only too happy to oblige, surging forward and forcing the door open as he used brute strength to pin Mr Stotch to the nearest wall. The older man struggled, but was no match for the sheer size and power that was Eric Cartman. Without hesitating Kenny rushed into the house, eyes darting around at the mess of shattered plates in the dining room. He spotted Linda standing off to the side and ran towards her, placing his hands on her shoulders and staring at her with pleading eyes. “Please,” he begged, “Please, I know he’s here. Where is he? Please tell me.” She said nothing, but her unfocused gaze drifted towards the basement door and Kenny was off like a shot. He threw open the door and flew down the stairs, collapsing to his knees next to the shivering, bloodied, unresponsive body of his lost boyfriend. “Butters,” he sobbed, “Oh god… STAN CALL 911, WE NEED AN AMBULANCE!” “K.. Ken?” “Shhhhhh,” Kenny leaned forward and pressed his forehead against Butters', “It’s ok Butterfly, I’m here, you’re safe.” “I knew you’d find me.” The two teens lay there, foreheads pressed together and tears mingling, as the distant sounds of sirens filled the air, signalling that the nightmare was over.

[monkeyoflife1]

One Piece Film Strong World Oda Art Book 4

type

path of life

called

ground

life and death

Please give a message to the people in the world! Oda: I think that this movie will be released to the world at the most wonderful time ever. I think this movie is one of the best products to come out at a time like never before. I'm sure that SP fans are dying to see all nine of them together, and in that sense, I'm convinced that this is the long-awaited release. In this sense, I am convinced that this is the long-awaited release. I'm sure that people will be able to jump into the movie just as they read the manga. In addition, as is common in manga and anime, this story is the last adventure of seven-year-old Luffy. So, I hope you'll be able to capture it in your mind's eye. |I'm really curious. I'm really curious...! Please tell me more about it! Omagari: No, I can't say much more than that right now. I hope you enjoy the movie as much as I do, and look forward to future developments!

→On the boat, depicting the three of them playing during the end of the film. I'm so glad you enjoyed it! The teacher says that Luffy is wearing a towel around his neck, not a scarf.

I'm not sure what to make of it.

two groups of people

insects

this week

This year's winner

middle

Oro: I actually had a snake, not an octopus, appear in Kuujima. There are a lot of animals that didn't make it into the manga, and ideas that I couldn't include. Also, it was difficult to draw mantises and other insects. Although they are insects, I wanted to give them an animal-like fleshiness, so I had to be very creative in how I expressed or arranged them. Also, there are people who don't accept insects physiologically, so I had to deform them in a way that wouldn't make those people feel uncomfortable.

Animal meat

"How!

ari

What?

study

now and then

annotation Toei Shimizu-san...Toei Animation Pro. Ban gumi a producer. Since the launch of the program, he has been keeping an eye on the anime Ban One Piece Mimamo version "OP". China Eigasaki Jakuhon, Gen'an*2 Plot...When making a movie, the draft of the script and The outline of the story that will be used for the movie. Chinese poetry The theme song is sung by Miss Chill.... realized as per the actual request. Japanese film This is the first time I've seen it. In the 1960's, the chivalry movies were at their peak. A film that depicts the life of an outlaw. Yumeinr. The most famous is "Abashiri Bangaichi" starring Ken Takakura.

Momo

day

Mum

A name that is easy to evoke.

I gave it a name that would easily evoke the "Momo. Do you think that drawing so many animals this time will bring any changes to your manga in the future? Omagari: Thanks to you, I'm having more fun drawing animals than ever before! This time, I picked up animals as needed, so I ended up drawing a lot of animals that I normally wouldn't like to draw. That was a great learning experience for me. It was a great opportunity to relearn how to draw all kinds of creatures, including fish and insects, from the skeleton up. Now that I can draw most creatures naturally, I am no longer afraid to show them, so I may have more opportunities to show animals in my manga in the future. -I'm very much looking forward to that! Omagari: When I was working on the Impel Down chapter for Root magazine, I had already drawn a lot of animals, but when I saw that there were a lot of prison beasts appearing, the staff of the movie version said to me, "Didn't the number of animals increase because of the movie? That's not necessarily the case, but I think one of the biggest gains for Shiro was that he was able to acquire the technology to make the work more fun. -That's all for now, for those of you who are reading this book, and for those of you who are waiting for the movie to come out.

Tojo.

The first

regularity

I can't wait!

the world

country, the land of the dead

An

You named all the animals yourself. What was your goal in doing so? Oda: I told the production staff that all the animals, even the ones that only appear on the screen, are characters that live on this island, and I gave them names to make that image clearer. There are many gag-like names, such as "mammoth dens". Oro: The reason for this is that it was more important to me that the animals in Kanabe had names than that the names in Fukurobu were well thought out and cool. In order to give each of them some kind of character, the image

Ika-nacha

Maetanou

In order to give each of them some kind of characterization, the image

Eiichiro Oda] EICHIROODA

This is the first time I've done this.

I am

tachikumamomoto kenkumamomoto shou

Gakusyu

head

"I designed it while picturing the scene during the voyage. I designed it while picturing the scene during the voyage."

Born in Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture on January 1, 1975. High School In 1992, while still in high school, he entered Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump's 4th Tesakashou Oubo Wanted Junkou Senju Shouzuka Award. "He received a second prize for "Wanted. In 1993, he won the 104th Hop Tastee Award for his work "Iki Yakou". In 1993, he won the 104th Hop Tastee He was selected for the 104th Hop Award. In 1993, he was selected for the 104th Hopstaste. After that, he published a number of read-through comics in Jambu magazine, and in 1997, he started a series of "ONEPIECE". In 1997, he started a war. Up to the present.

Infectious disease

market development disease

121

[shorilicious]

Sexy Zone Q&A – 14 honest answers

Q1. What’s your favourite fashion coordination?

Shori: I like a clean, smooth and simple style. When winter comes I don’t really use small things like scarves, I rather combine my outfit with a cute coat. Kento: Recently, I like a refreshing tuck in around the waist. Fuma: From oversized tops and skinny jeans with sneakers to a formal style with a shirt and tuck in, I like wearing various styles depending on my mood. Marius: I think L.A. fashion. It feels casual but also trendy. A t-shirt with shorts and then just a shirt on top, I like a rough style like that. Sou: Guys in Harajuku do that a lot, they often wear genderless fashion that is also okay for girls to wear. I’m getting into that kind of style, I wonder if that’s Masuda-kun’s strong influence~

Q2. In private, which item do you want to purchase?

Shori: A new compass to attach to my bicycle. Although it’s working together with my navi, I don’t need detailed routes to know my direction, so I can enjoy nature while cycling. Kento: Coloured sunglasses. Maybe with blue lenses. You can see better through them than through black lenses. Even when I attach them to my chest it will be on point. Fuma: To change my image a little, I want to collect various types of hats. Marius: The mobile phone I’m using right now is a little old. Because I want to replace it soon, I want to buy the newest model that’s rumoured to be released this autumn! Sou: Since I sweat during concerts, I want to buy a fancy designer towel that’s a little rough on my skin. There are many simple ones but there aren’t any stylish ones of that type!

Q3. Do you specify it finely when you go to cut your hair? Shoi: Relatively. Because I’m a public figure I have to worry about things like that (laughing). Kento: When they finish it to a certain extent, I go like „Shouldn’t it be to the nape of my neck? Cut it a little more“, I will instruct them in details. Sometimes I also show them pictures of foreigners. Fuma: Of course. I never just leave the decision to someone else. The image that I want to portray in myself, I have to firmly tell them in words.   Marius: I will leave them do the basics, but occasionally I’ll say „don’t cut here“. Sou: „How much centimetres is about here?“, I’ll say it like that. I have my own image of what it’s supposed to look like. I try to tell my hairdresser exactly how I want it.

Q4. What’s the most addicting food to you right now?

Shori: If you eat too much of something that’s bad for your body, you start feeling like you’re not healthy, so I’m not biased towards what I eat. As of now, I don’t have any health problems at all! Kento: Fruits in general. Especially cherries and Bing cherries. Fuma: I don’t eat a lot of sweets but I like to eat only gummy candy when I feel a little hungry. The soft types with grape or orange taste are my favourite. Marius: Chinese food! Any Chinese food is delicious. I also really love the flavour of Chinese cuisine. What I’m addicted to especially are their sauces! Sou: Grilled fish such as Okhotsk mackerel or salmon. I always make sure to ask if they serve it when I go for dinner.

Q5. Which restaurants do you often go to?

Shori: Japanese ones. There aren’t many that I go to by myself but I really like creative dishes that are based on Japanese cuisine. Kento: Something like a cafe bar. I like places where I can spend time with adults and seniors, and where I can eat my favourite omurice and carbonara, sometimes also pork belly with rice. Fuma: Tonkatsu restaurants. From simple shops to a little expensive ones, I’m always going to various tonkatsu restaurants. Mixing the sauce and mayonnaise in mustard, I like using that as a sauce. Marius: Italian. Because it feels casual, it’s easy to enter the shop. There’s also many menus and everything sounds good, so I’m relieved. Sou: I wonder if I often go out for meals. I like set menus because the balance of the food is just right. I try to gather as many points on my point card as I can (laughing).

Q6. What would you want to eat if you were to have your last dinner?

Shori: Definitely not my mother’s home cooking! But I would dislike anything to be my last~ If you don’t know that it’s your last if would be different but knowing that, I think it would be painful to make anything. Kento: My last day won’t come! I was asked the exact same question by an acquaintance before, so I replied „Why are you making the assumption that my last day will come in the first place?“ and instantly striked back (laughing). Fuma: I guess my mum’s stew of cubed fish~ It’s not very tender but super delicious! It’s my favourite thing ever since I was a child. Marius: Salad. If I eat it at the end, I want to make something with vegetables instead of meat or fish like in the main dish. I want to eat it with my dad’s special dressing. Sou: Miso soup! After that white rice, dried plum and it would be perfect if there’s natto.

Q7. What does your family call you?

Shori: It’s pretty simple, they just call me „Shori“. When I was little I was also called something different but it’s embarrassing so I don’t want to tell (laughing)! Kento: It’s „Kento“. Only my grandma calls me „Ken-chan“. Fuma: My little brother and sister call me „Fuma nii-chan“, but mostly I’m called by „Fuma“. I noticed most people around me call me „Fuma“, I guess I have a pretty simple name. Marius: My mum says „my treasure“ in German to call me. Sou: Normally I’m called by „Sou“. Since people often call me by „Matsushima“, it feels refreshing. Kenty calls me „Macchan“ (laughing).

Q8. What is the most relaxing place in your house?

Shori: It’s on my bed. Because I don’t have a sofa in my room, it’s normal that it’s my bed. Although I’m not picky about my bedding, I chose a good pillow since my shoulders are never stiff! Kento: It’s a place where I can dream, whether it be my bed or sofa. What I dream about? Of course I dream about spending time with you ♪ Fuma: My bed. Although I feel a little guilty about lying down on our family living room sofa, if I lie in my own bed to whine I will be excused (laughing). Marius: The living room sofa. Because it’s huge so I can sleep on it, I often take a nap there. It’s the best because there are many big fluffy cushions! Sou: The toilet! I like narrow spaces and if the seat is warm as well I feel relieved (laughing). I play with my phone there and just take things slowly without even noticing.

Q9. Do you have any habits before sleeping?

Shori: Watch movies and foreign dramas. I just waste my time away until I fall asleep. Kento: I charge my phone. I would feel uneasy if I don’t charge it until it’s completely full. Actually it seems like my battery lasts longer if I only charge it until about 94% (bitter laugh). Fuma: I don’t have any. I don’t even prepare for tomorrow. I think tomorrow about tomorrow (laughing). Marius: I take care of my skin. I don’t do too much, after taking a bath I just apply face lotion and a serum, but it’s also a habit to put on body cream before I go to sleep. Sou: I don’t have any. After doing muscle training and taking a bath I crave to drink milk though (laughing)!

Q10. Do you believe in ghosts?

Shori: I feel that compared to the past I believe in them about 40% now. Kento: I believe. Unfortunately I haven’t seen any though. I believe that there is a superior guardian deity following us but because it rejects ghosts, you cannot see it (laughing). Fuma: I don’t believe. I don’t have anything against people who do believe in it and I indeed think that there is something like a „spirit“ but it’s hard to believe that they come in the form of a ghost. Marius: I believe. There have been a few times when I felt them as a child, I have also seen them. That’s why I don’t feel like they’re „scary“ anymore! I’m used to them (laughing). Sou: I believe. In a popular place where „ghosts appear“, my family has seen them but only I didn’t. I don’t want to be scared but I would like to meet my pet dog Muku who went to heaven...

Q11. Which junior are you paying attention to at the moment?

Shori: Tokyo B Shounen’s Sato Ryuga! Since we have the same last name I wonder if he will follow my path~ (laughing). I’m just joking but I feel like he will be good in the future. Kento: All of Johnny’s Jr. Since everybody is always working hard and because we’ve walked the same road, I totally understand their efforts. Fuma: Kishi (Yuta). Even if he makes mistakes I cannot hate that guy, he’s just genuinely cute (?). Even though he has a comedic character (laughing). But his face is also turning cool so I look forward to the future. Marius: Vasayegh Wataru who’s a hafu like me. I wonder how tall he will grow? Sou: Two juniors that look like my little brothers! They were also backdancing for Summer Paradise, it’s Murakami Maito Raoul and Miyazaki Emirio. They’re so cute! I was playing a lot with them in the dressing room (laughing).

Q12. Where do you want your first date with a girl to be?

Shori: Although it’s clichéd, I want to go to an amusement park. The attraction I want us to go to together is the haunted house! When my partner gets scared...I want to see that (laughing). Kento: First I want to see a movie. While watching, I can stay next to her the whole time, then since we’ve seen the same movie, we can have a conversation about it that will blow us away. Fuma: A festival with a wide space and great view, I think it will be easy to hold a conversation there. Marius: I want to go to an aquarium. There’s a romantic mood and it’s perfect for a first date? I want to see the jellyfish together! Sou: The amusement park is a place where we can have the most fun. While we’re waiting in line and she says „ah it’s so hot“, I can go and buy her juice!

Q13. How far can you do matching clothing with your girlfriend?

Shori: If I’m told to do something I would do everything but I would not walk around the city in matching clothes! Although if there’s something like an event it would be fine, we can become twins (laughing). Kento: To go out in a matching outfit, I wonder if I have a little courage to do that (bitter laugh). But I don’t dislike it, I’d enjoy having a cute matching sweatshirt to wear at home. Fuma: It’s impossible for me when it comes to clothes! About accessories... I can’t do that either. Thinking about it, I guess I can only match our phone models~  But of course we can’t match our phone cases (laughing). Marius: I think if it’s a hat or pants. It might be nice if we choose our shoes’ brands and design together. But wearing matching shirts might be a little embarrassing (laughing). Sou: I’m okay with anything. Clothes and shoes and even the whole outfit! When I did the concert with Marius, I saw some fans in matching outfits and thought it was really cute.

Q14. Tell us some kind words so your long distance relationship girlfriend doesn’t feel lonely!

Shori: (I don’t want a long distance relationship...) I’m sorry for making you feel lonely. Kento: I will teleport to your place right away. Fuma: Next time let’s go to **. Until then let us both do our best. Marius: It’s okay because you’re always in my heart! Sou: (very manly) You will always be in my heart, okay?

Keep in mind I am not a native speaker therefore there might be mistakes in my translations. Also I’m not exactly translating word for word. Feel free to correct me in my ask box any time you want, I’d appreciate it! I apologize if someone already translated something before me and I didn’t notice, I hope you don’t mind.

Credit goes to yoshiko_mama @ LJ for the scans, thank you!

[spnrelatedurl]

Stay Beautiful - Chapter 1

A/N: I’m doing a complete re-do of Stay Beautiful. I’ll keep the original first chapter up, but I won’t be updating that anymore. Sorry. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this. It’s a little bit different, but still a Jared daughter story. It’s based heavily on a book I once read titled ‘Girl, Missing’ which you should check out if you can. Anyways, as I said, ENJOY!! :D

Trigger Warnings: Kidnap, missing child, fake adoption (if that’s one)

Word count: 2080

Tag List:  @winchesters-favorite-girl @winchester-writes @storyofawinchester @rosie-winchester @bea789 @straightasdeanwinchester (More room for anyone who wants to be added.)

Who Am I?

I stared at the cursor blinking on the screen as I thought of the answer to the very same question that’s haunted me since I first started gaining self-awareness. If this were a few years ago, I’d be able to answer this in no time at all. It was all so simple back then. My name’s Kendra Ryan Wood. I have brown hair, green eyes, and I am tall for my age. Like, no joke. That’s actually what I wrote in the first class of year 4. That was ages ago. But now they don’t care about any of that. They want to know who you are when you’re angry, or sad, or happy, or excited. They want to know who you are inside.

I was feeling quite burnt out at the moment to be honest. I needed a break. I decided to text my best friend, Morgan.

How are you doing with the stupid Who Am I thing – Kendra

We regret to inform you that Morgana ‘Morgan’ Caldwell died from boredom whilst attempting her homework last night – Morgan

I’ve got to hand it to her, Morgan never fails to crack me up when I’m at my lowest. We’ve been friends since primary school.

Who Am I?

I groaned and rested my head in my hand. For these stupid essays, you have to know where you come from. And I have no idea where I come from. I was adopted as a baby.

A minute later, mum was calling me from downstairs.

“Kendra, dinner’s ready.”

“Coming!”

I rushed downstairs, glad to get away from the stupid essay. And it really was a stupid essay. It was my last year of school. How did they not know who I was already?

I sat down at the table ready for dinner, kind of nervous about what I was going to ask. Mum came in, skinny and thin lipped as usual. I looked the complete opposite of her. She started ladling up the soup, and fair to say I wasn’t all too hungry. Not only was I nervous, but mum’s not exactly a tungsten chef and she knows it.

“How’s the homework going?” She asked, putting some soup in my dad’s bowl.

“Mmmn.” I mumbled.

“For gods’ sake, Kendra. Why can’t you speak properly?” She asked, setting her own meal on the table. I inhaled, gathering up the courage to ask her. Very clearly, and very slowly, I began to speak.

“Who’s my real mother?” I asked.

She froze for a second, seemingly terrified. Then she turned into stone. No movement. No emotion.

“I am, silly.” She said. “What do you mean?”

I looked away.

“Nothing. Forget I said anything.” I said, even though I knew she wouldn’t.

“I thought you didn’t care about knowing?”

“I don’t.”

“And anyway, I couldn’t tell you even if I wanted to. It was a closed adoption which means…”

“…which means neither side knows about the other. I know.” I said. My dad came in towards the end of the conversation. He looked somewhat worried.

“Is someone saying things at school?” He asked.

“No.”

Trust my parents to think someone else was putting ideas in my head. God forbid I should think for myself. Just then, my younger brother ran in. He is incredibly immature. Like, annoyingly so.

“Mum, what’s for dinner?” Jack asked. Jack’s thirteen and the spitting-image of my dad, and my mum calls him her little test-tube miracle. If we ever needed living proof we shouldn’t play god, he would be it. “Oh god. This soup stinks!”

“Not as much as you.”

He then hit me with his spoon.

“Mum, Jack’s hitting me again!”

Mum glared at us both, but I could tell she was favouring Jack even though she knows he was in the wrong. Could it be bias? That I’m not her real child? Or maybe it’s sexism. She always says boys are easier to look after than girls. So why get me, a girl, in the first place?

She used to say things that made me feel special. Like her and dad picked me out of every child in the world, which is a) completely false because some kids don’t need adopting, and b) kind of insulting to all the other kids. But now it makes me feel like I was a load of hassle and I wasn’t worth it. They should’ve picked someone else, honestly.

“This soup looks like Kendra threw up.” He said. I rolled my eyes. Sometimes I really, really hate him.

A while later I went back upstairs and got back to staring at my homework. Ugh.

Who Am I?

I typed adopted and lost in the search engine. I’d been thinking about this so much recently. Hell, if you saw me a week ago you’d probably crack up with laughter. I was so nervous, but what was I even expecting? A website by the name of kendrathisisalltheinformationaboutyouradoption.com? That would be even more ridiculous. Still, I hit search.

I flicked through page after page of hopeful stories. Rather boring and unrealistic to me in all honesty. I was ready to close the page until I found a site for missing children.

How does someone lose a child? I can understand losing them for five minutes or so, maybe even an hour then you find them hiding in the kitchen cupboard covered in flour. And also psychos kidnapping or murdering kids, but you only hear about that once or twice a year. Still, out of curiosity I clicked on the link.

I was astounded. There were so many faces. Did all of these belong to missing children? I didn’t even know what I was doing, just mucking about. But I decided to search my name. Kendra.

3 results.

One was a black 5-year-old that went missing two years ago.

Another was a white blonde toddler that went missing 5 months ago.

And then there was another one.

Chloe Kendra Padalecki

Case type: Lost, Missing

Date of birth: 31st August 1999

Age now: 18

Birth place: San Antonio, Texas, USA

Hair: Brown Eyes: Green

 The only picture was of a baby girl wrapped in a blanket in the hospital just after she was born. That’s it – because she was snatched at the hospital. Or at least that’s what everyone assumes. It was my birthday though. Exactly. And the same date I was adopted. But it was impossible. I’m British. This baby was born in America. That couldn’t be me, surely.

There was a knock at my door so I locked the computer.

“Yeah?” I asked, my heart still seemingly beating in my throat.

“It’s Morgan.” She said, coming in. I leaped off my bed, practically pulled her inside and closed my door.

“Okay, when I tell you what I’m about to tell you please don’t freak out. I mean, it’s probably nothing anyway, I just don’t want you to tell me to beam back to whatever bizarro planet I came from.” I told her.

“Oh my god! Please don’t tell me you’re pregnant!” She exclaimed.

“What? No. How would that even be possible?” I asked. She shrugged. “Look, you know how I’m adopted and everything?” I asked.

“How could I ever forget? That’s all you’ve been going on about for the past month.”

“Shut up! It’s not. Really, it’s not. It’s just. Well I was getting carried away with this stupid essay and I came across this stupid website with this stupid information about some stupid missing baby…” I began.

“Please stop saying stupid?”

“Right. Anyway, I found this;” I typed in my password and the website came up again, good as new.

She looked at the picture for a bit and studied the information.

“You don’t think that’s you, do you?” She asked.

“I don’t know.”

“Oh my god. You do, don’t you?”

“A little bit.” I confessed.

“Plus, have you ever watched Supernatural?” She asked. I rolled my eyes at her.

“Of course I have. It’s my favourite show in the whole world. You know that.” I said.

“Then you’d know Jared’s last name is…”

“Padalecki, I know. But that doesn’t mean it’s his. Could be his brother, a cousin, maybe even a completely unrelated family.”

“Yes, because Padalecki is a very common name in Texas.” She sarcastically said. “That being said, I mean… who else could it be? She does have your eyes. And remember when we were going through your family photo album a few months ago?”

“Oh god!” I groaned.

“Do you wanna call the number?” She asked.

“What, are you crazy? Of course not.” I answered, snatching the laptop back from her. She just shrugged.

“Just as well.” She said, flopping down on my bed.

“What do you mean?” I asked, getting really freaked out right now.

“Look, she’s kidnapped.”

“Yeah… and?”

“Well,” Morgan hesitated. “if that Chloe Kendra girl really is you, and I’m not saying she is – but if she is, how do you think all this happened?” She asked.

“Huh?” I asked, confused as always.

“I mean, how did baby you get from Texas to London straight away?”

I shook my head. This was all far too much. I could hardly stand it. Besides, trust Morgan to think of all the practical and logical questions. It didn’t ever cross my mind that there was a possibility I could be a completely different person.

“Think about it, Ken.” She smiled weakly. “Kids don’t just disappear without a reason. If this is you, you must’ve been taken deliberately.”

I shook my head again.

“What’s that got to do with my mum and dad?” I asked, dreading her answer.

“If you were taken, we have to consider the possibility that your parents were somehow involved.” She answered.

No. No. there’s no way. Not my mum and dad. And yet, what other explanation was there?

A week went past with the idea implanted in my brain. It’s not like I thought it was possible, but still. Once an idea is in your head, it gets stuck there. You can’t un-think it. It was another usual week besides that day, and I didn’t think anything could come of it to be honest.

It was later at night, which meant I was doing more homework on the sofa in the living room as my dad read the paper, sitting on his armchair. It was Jack’s bedtime, and as per usual, he came downstairs asking for a snack.

“Okay, fine. Here’s an apple my sweet, I can’t let you go to bed hungry. Now go.” She shushed him out the door. Trust my mum to give special treatment to Jack. Mum went back to the kitchen and dad looked like he was desperately trying to figure out how to say something. But what could it be?

“Listen, I know how you’ve been asking about your adoption recently – and I feel as though if you’re old enough to ask…” He began. But then mum came in, knowing what dad was talking about just by looking at him.

“Old enough to ask what?” She asked. My dad froze, shook his head, grumbled, and then went back to reading his paper as if nothing happened. Mum sighed and put her left hand on her hip. “Dave, we’ve talked about this.” She said with an angry tone.

“Oh, nice to know you guys have been talking about me behind my back.” I said sarcastically. Alright, it was somewhat childish, but I’m kind of fed up of being the only person unaware of my past.

“It’s not like that, Kendra.” Mum sighed.

“Yes, it is. I’m so sick of not even being part of the family I’ve always supposed to have been part of.” I yelled before storming upstairs.

I slammed my door from the outside – a little trick I learned when I was younger – so I could eavesdrop on what they were going to argue about.

“Why did you bring that up?” Mum screamed.

“She’s 18 for Christ sake. If not now, when should we tell her? We said at 16, then 18, but you decided against it.” Dad argued. He then mumbled something completely incoherent.

“I know. Just not now okay? Maybe next birthday.” Mum suggested.

How could they tell me something about my closed adoption? Clearly it’s not as closed as they’re letting on. So what is it they’re not telling me? Could I really be Chloe Kendra Padalecki?

[yukipri]

YOI Future!Verse ABO AU, Visual Headcanon Web Charts #01

So I always wanted to make one of these. Turns out my headcanons for the most part are WAY too wordy for these things and uh, they’re a bit of a mess >.>;; BUT I hope nonetheless that they’re somewhat fun to read even if barely legible, it was fun to make ^ ^;

1. Super basic relationship chart of the core members of the lovely poly family in this AU.

2. “Adults Think,” the color of each adult indicates their feelings towards the person to whom the arrow is pointing.

3. “Kids Think,” the color of each OC kid indicates their feelings towards the person to whom the arrow is pointing.

There’s obviously a lot more to it than what could be crammed in the lil text boxes, but a gist and pretty much the first things that immediately popped into my mind regarding their interactions. 2 and 3 also mostly show their thoughts while the kids are younger, which will change a bit as they grow up, to be covered in a future post.

*Recommended you right click view image to see full size bc the text is tiny oops

Because the text is so illegible, text only versions of charts 2 and 3 beneath cut, all elaborated quite a bit because I’m so rambly oops:

~~

IF YOU ARE NEW TO THIS AU: It’s Yuuri-centric polyamory in an ABO setting, Yuuri’s married to four mates (Victor, Yurio, Phichit, Minami) and they have OC kids.

BASICS of this AU

INTRO to how ABO works in this AU

OTHER POSTS (comics + illustrations) in the Future!Verse ABO section of my YOI Masterpost.

~~

Please keep ship bashing out of the comments/tags. Don’t like, just skip <3 Thank you.

~~

PLEASE DO NOT REPOST, EDIT, OR OTHERWISE USE MY ART WITHOUT MY EXPLICIT PERMISSION. More detailed rules available on my Rules & FAQ Post.

~~

Yuuri thinks:

Victor: Vitya I love you but there are some things I REALLY wish you wouldn’t encourage with the kids, I don’t care if you could do it when you were younger it’s terrifying!!

Yurio: Yura, how does it feel now that the kids all think you’re older than me? NO don’t use this as an excuse to call me baby-faced!!

Phichit: PHICHIT please knock some sense into the others, you’re my only hope!--NO don’t just sit back and laugh! I was counting on you!

Minami: Kenjirou, you’re my student and husband NOT my butler, I can get my own bags thank you very much.

Yasha: Darling you can wear whatever you want but PLEASE wear SOMETHING under that dress the old ladies at the park will never look at me the same again

Shura: You don’t need to try so hard to be a rebel, and you also don’t need to spoil Yasha so much. Just tell him no, he’ll deal.

Arisa: Darling it’s amazing that you can do that and I’m so proud of you but please don’t hack the neighbor’s security system again, it’s very hard to explain to them that my toddler was just stretching her intellectual curiosity.

Yuuji: Yuuji, your smile warms my weary soul and I’m sure you’ll inevitably be a little trouble maker too but let me be in denial a bit longer.

Victor thinks:

Yuuri: It’ll be fun, they can handle it, please don’t look at me like that, I’m (pretty) sure they’ll be okay...

Yurio: You may seem like the more responsible parent but you’ll always be my cute bratty student. Now that my seniority is less obvious though, I’m comfortable making you indulge my own brattiness too. what do you mean you were always forced to indulge my brattiness

Phichit: You may act like the most reasonable parent but I see through you--and I’m proud. We’re startlingly alike if I’m honest. Let’s conquer the world.

Minami: You may be a bratty puppy but I rest easy knowing you’re always be Yuuri’s side. Couldn’t ask for a more loyal or dangerous watch dog. Don’t worry I do think of you as human, really.

Yasha: Trust me, I know how fun it can be to tease your brother but take it easy sometime, yes? I love you having fun but it hurts my soul to see Shura have red eyes so often...though yes I do admit that’s cute too OTL

Shura: Sweet child, come here, did Yasha make you cry again? Daddy will give you all the hugs. Don’t run away just because Yasha’s in my other arm!

Arisa: I feel like your adorable eyes are judging me...and guess what, they’re still adorable!! It’s okay, you can judge me all you want! *HUGS*

Yuuji: I have dropped the dishes so many times because it looked like you wanted a hug...I can’t help it...you’re like, a super mini Yuuri...

Yurio thinks:

Yuuri: OI Katsudon, I made this new food thing, try it, am I better than Phichit yet? YEAH NO I know I won’t ever be a better all rounder than him but...what, it’s really good? W-W-WELL OF COURSE IT IS I KNEW THAT HA HA HA *flees*

Victor: I’m mature enough now to recognize what a brat you can be, not that I didn’t already know but--HEY DON’T LAUGH THAT WASN’T PERMISSION

Phichit: Okay FINE I admit I need your help...stop looking so smug! Yes, ugh, fuck that’s clever, alright I know (fuck it’s worse because he’s genuine and never follows up with “I told you so”)

Minami: YOU HAVE SOME NERVE CALLING ME YOUR RIVAL JUST BECAUSE YOU WON GOLD OVER ME TWICE, it was all thanks to Yuuri! NO I’m not being overly conscious of you as a competitor, ugh FINE I admit your skating really impresses me but FUCK YOU

Yasha: Brat, did you just...make me run around the house five times for no reason at all?? UGH I’m not even mad, I’m too tired and too used to this, it’s my own fault for falling for it every time...

Shura: What do you MEAN “I bet you cried a lot when you were a kid too,” don’t say that to me while CRYING like ugh FINE will it make you feel better if I said I did??? Please stop crying I don’t want you to cry OTL

Arisa: Risa, I don’t want to suspect you, but I have a hunch you might be the one putting the twins up to mischief and I think you’re still too young and I want to think you’re as pure and innocent as you look but...dare I trust my instincts on this...

Yuuji: YUUJI YOU EASE YOUR FATHER’S WEARY SOUL how are you so pure you seem to make my adult exhaustion melt away...

Phichit thinks:

Yuuri: Perks of marrying your BFF: know just the perfect amount to pamper and also to tease. And also know all the deepest darkest secrets you’re too embarrassed to tell your other mates. Shh it’s okay they’ll never hear it from me ;D

Victor: We had some rough moments early on but you’re a good guy, Victor. I recognize our compatibility. Let’s conquer the world together and present it to Yuuri.

Yurio: I’ll look after you, not-so-lil Russian, you leave your troubles to me. I know how vulnerable you can be and I see you as my own now.

Minami: Kenjirou may act like a super groupie but he has it together better than most of us. I trust him to still prioritize Yuuri even in situations where the rest of us are emotionally compromised, which gives me the confidence to go full offense.

Yasha: Oh, you say someone’s picking on Shura at school? Okay, so here’s what you do, and here’s how to pin the blame on someone else because we wouldn’t want Yuuri to be called to school yeah?

Shura: Your brother’s picking on you again? But you don’t want him to stop either? Well then, how should we solve this? Oops is he a future masochist to Yasha’s sadist...

Arisa: I see what you did there, very clever, I’m proud! But if Yuuri found out he’d have a heart attack, so let’s not do that again, okay? Here’s something even more difficult for you to try to figure out...

Yuuji: Yuuji sweetheart I know making Victor drop dishes is funny but Yuuri likes those dishes, one last time ‘kay? You can make him do other things equally amusing but slightly less destructive of our collective family property.

Minami thinks:

Yuuri: Y-Y-Yuuri-san, NO I still can’t take the honorific off, I RESPECT YOU TOO MUCH plus it makes it feel that much more intimate in bed *turns brilliant red to match his hair streak*

Victor: Victor look at what I taught the twins!! Aren’t they absolutely amazing?! They’re going to break all of your records! And I can tell you’re not even upset :’D

Yurio: I never mentioned rivalry, you were the one who used that word first? ;3 But in all honesty, it’s an honor to be considered the rival of Yuuri-san’s rival so I’ll fight my hardest to not let that title go to shame.

Phichit: The fact that you are both fun and terrifying is not news to me, I’m glad you’re my family and not my enemy. I’ve seen what you can do to your enemies. Participated too, actually he he.

Yasha: You and your bro are perfect angels and I’ll show you all the cool skating things! I’m so happy your enthusiasm hasn’t died as you’ve grown older <3

Shura: It’s good to cry! Cry all you want! I’ll cry with you too! It can be a real sobfest! And then Yuuri can bring us tissues and then it can be a snotfest! Whoo!!

Arisa: DARLING CHILD you are the sweetest and you’d never do anything naughty, I have not a clue what the others are talking about. *genuine*

Yuuji: *SOBBING*

Yasha thinks:

Yuuri: MOM IS THE BEST AND MINE, YOU CAN’T HAVE HIM, and that includes all you dads so back off ;P

Victor: Dad is weak to puppy eyes and will give me anything I want. His affection can sometimes be stifling, but I love him nonetheless.

Yurio: Dad always gets flustered really easily and it’s fun to test his boundaries. And push them. And break them. But he never snaps, I think he’s getting stronger...

Phichit: The really smart dad who sees through all the pranks but still plays along, even intentionally lets me finish playing my pranks on him. It’s a bit annoying even if I appreciate it. I gotta up my game.

Minami: Ken-chan’s the BEST and he and mum are gonna kick dads’ (Victor + Yurio) asses in the next competition. I’ll cheer for dads too but Ken-chan’s No. 1!

Shura: He’s fun to make cry because he gets riled up, but the best part is the comforting that I get to do afterwards because no matter how mean I am he still comes running <3

Arisa: I’d beat you up if you hurt my sister, except she’d do it first and better than I ever could so I’ll just be prepared and bring the popcorn and watch from the front row, maybe help with clean up.

Yuuji: He’s not as innocent as he looks but you won’t hear it from me. Let the others live in denial, come to the dark side in your own time lil bro.

Shura thinks:

Yuuri: I want mum’s attention but Yasha hogs it, but mum’s the best so he makes time for me too and not just for selfish jerks like Yasha. Even if I have to share. It’s okay. I love how mum loves everyone all the same.

Victor: Dad spoils me rotten but he’s not a good shield against Yasha because he also spoils Yasha rotten. He spoils everyone. It’s okay tho, dad has a lot of spoiling to go around.

Yurio: Dad sorta gets picked on too and I sympathize...it makes me feel better knowing he was probably just like me when he was younger. The hard part is getting him to admit it, but that’s what other parents are for.

Phichit: Dad holds the answers to life and the universe in his magic smartphone. He has yet to fail to answer a single question but I’ll keep trying.

Minami: Ken-chan always plays with us even when he’s busy and shows us all the cool skating things! I didn’t get why he wasn’t dad too when Yasha and I were younger, but I’m glad that’s fixed now, though I still can’t shake the habit of calling him Ken-chan.

Yasha: He makes me cry and is such a JERK but I can’t stand to be away from him, it makes me so anxious, and he gives good hugs too so I forgive him (am I being too easy on him...)

Arisa: I want to say I protect her but it’s honestly the other way around, the best I can do is make sure she doesn’t hurt herself because she’s really reckless and it’s TERRIFYING, I sympathize with mom...

Yuuji: PLEASE DON’T STEP ON MY LIL BRO, HE IS VERY SMOL, he looks like he would go squish with one step! Risa wasn’t this smol?? What do you mean I’m bigger now so my sense of size is biased...?

Arisa thinks:

Yuuri: I’m going to protect mum. He doesn’t need it, at all, but I can do it so I will.

Victor: Dad acts gullible but I’m not fooled. He’s weak to puppy eyes though, that’s for real. And I have the best puppy eyes, or second to Yuuji. I’m okay being second to Yuuji.

Yurio: Dad’s trying really hard but he’s also really gullible so I can’t help but tease him. It’s okay I won’t be too mean, and I’ll even reign Yasha back some.

Phichit: Dad knows I’m smart and will protect my bros so he gives me the tools and education to do so. I don’t think mum and my other dads know just quite how much but it’s okay. We’re not hiding it on purpose.

Minami: If you hurt Ken-chan, I’ll knock your teeth out. I’d say “with my fists,” but I don’t think I can reach. It’s okay, I’m creative.

Yasha: My partner in crime, he’ll follow my orders even if they’re impossible and will somehow make it work. Because Yasha’s a miracle-worker and I believe in him.

Shura: The only ones who can make him cry are me and Yasha. But we do it a lot. Which means he has no more tears for anyone else. Back off or I’ll make you disappear : )

Yuuji: He is my squishy smol. He’s smaller than me! He never complains when I hug him and squish his cheeks until they turn red, and then I feel a bit bad...

Yuuji thinks:

Yuuri: Mum is the best! He gives me a lot of attention because I’m the youngest, but I kinda want a younger sibling too. Dads always hush me when I try to bring it up and I don’t really get why.

Victor: Dad spoils me rotten and I kinda feel bad because he never says no to me (or any of us), but when I mention it he gets all teary eyed and spoils me worse...^ ^;

Yurio: Dad is too paranoid about my safety. I’ll be big and strong like the others too! Just wait! Look how big dad is, I’ll be that tall one day too. What do you mean, that’s not how genetics works?

Phichit: Dad makes the best food, I wish he were home more often...I know he’s busy with his ice show in Thailand and it’s really really cool but I miss him...

Minami: Dad says he hit his growth spurt late, because he presented late. I BELIEVE! I won’t be smol forever!

Yasha: Yasha-nii has really good instincts and is there when I need him. It’s like he has a special radar and then brings the whole cavalry. So I don’t need to worry about going anywhere by myself--what do you mean, I shouldn’t be wandering off in the first place??

Shura: Shura-nii got picked on again, it’s okay, here’s a cookie I made with Yuri-dad and here’s a hug, I have short arms but love power!

Arisa: She’s my favorite sister! Even if she’s my only one! She gets really proud when I say it and I’m happy she’s happy so I say it a lot.

[thisdaynews]

'Members are looking over their shoulders': Democrats spooked by new primary threats

New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/members-are-looking-over-their-shoulders-democrats-spooked-by-new-primary-threats/

'Members are looking over their shoulders': Democrats spooked by new primary threats

The progressive group Justice Democrats is looking to unseat incumbents Rep. Henry Cuellar (shown) of Texas and Rep. Eliot Engel of New York. | Alex Wong/Getty Images

elections

Liberals angry over the party’s response to the border crisis are making renewed threats to primary longtime incumbents.

Just when it looked like the threat of widespread primary challenges to House Democrats had quieted down, the activist left is agitating again to go after many of the party’s longtime incumbents.

Tensions inside the House Democratic Caucus are running high after an ugly debate last month over legislation to provide emergency aid for the humanitarian crisis at the border. Progressives lambasted leadership and some centrists who backed the measure as “child abusers” because it lacked money to improve hygiene and nutrition standards for detained childr migrants.

Story Continued Below

That Democratic firefight and others have inflamed liberals looking ahead to 2020, including the group that was behind now-Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s upset win last year. The raw emotions have many in the party wary of an all-out battle for the party’s soul in primaries from the presidential race all the way down to the congressional level.

“Members are looking over their shoulders,” said Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.), chairman of the Budget Committee.

The list of Democrats facing primaries is growing as the restive liberal base fights hand to hand in skirmishes across the map. A New York district attorney race erupted onto the national scene last month, with the result between a progressive insurgent and the establishment Democrat still up in the air.

Meanwhile, liberals see the vulnerability of more established candidates at the top of ticket, as former Vice President Joe Biden’s presidential bid has hit a significant speed bump, while diverse and more liberal candidates, such as Sens. Kamala Harris of California and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts rise in the polls.

There are still questions about how far-reaching and organized the effort to remake the Democratic Caucus in the House will be — and whether it could jeopardize the party’s control of the chamber. But the uptick of actual and threatened primary challenges presents an additional headache for the party as it seeks to hang on to its majority next year. An Associated Press analysis found that 40 percent of currently declared Democratic challengers were in districts with sitting Democrats.

Immediately after the 2018 elections, the progressive group Justice Democrats put incumbents on notice, vowing to focus on sitting Democrats. Six months later, it’s announced only two recruits. The targets: seven-term Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas and 16-term Rep. Eliot Engel of New York.

Despite initially endorsing Justice Democrats’ modus operandi of targeting Democrats, joining a launch call with them in November, Ocasio-Cortez is staying on the sidelines — for now.

“I haven’t looked into either of these races, so I need to take a look at it,” Ocasio-Cortez, who rocketed onto the national scene after defeating then-House Democratic Chairman Joe Crowley, told POLITICO last month.

“But frankly, votes like [the border aid bill] certainly grind my gears,” she added, delivering a veiled threat to her colleagues.

Though Ocasio-Cortez has decided to remain mum on Justice Democrats’ new recruits, her chief of staff is not — and members have taken notice.

Hours after Ocasio-Cortez told reporters she needed to take a closer look at the race before deciding whether to get involved, her chief of staff, Saikat Chakrabarti, tweeted support for Cuellar’s challenger, immigration rights attorney Jessica Cisneros.

“Cuellar says he knows Texas. When I lived in TX, I don’t recall people wanting their reps to be bought out by big corps,” Chakrabarti wrote, directing followers to donate to Cisneros.

Chakrabarti’s tweet irked some members.

“If my chief of staff endorsed a primary challenge without my direction,” Yarmuth said,. “they wouldn’t be my chief of staff anymore.”

In an effort to hamstring primary challengers, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee fired a warning shot to the party’s consultants in March, telling them they risked losing the party committee’s business if they worked for anyone challenging a sitting member of Congress.

“The question that comes up all the time is, is there anybody internally assisting and abetting, encouraging people to run against incumbents?” Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.), who has faced Democratic opponents in previous cycles, said of members and their staffers.

But the DCCC’s so-called blacklist has only inflamed tensions more. The left is trying to build an alternative consulting infrastructure to support these insurgent candidates. Two alumni of Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign rolled out plans for a new firm last week, the Daily Beast reported.

In addition to Cuellar and Engel, a number of other Democratic incumbents are facing the possibility of strenuous primary challenges, including four House Democrats from New York, and Reps. Diana DeGette of Colorado and David Scott of Georgia, and Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey.

The 2020 election cycle would hardly be the first in which rebels in either party took aim at the establishment. Typically, they have little success: In 2018, just four House incumbents were defeated in primaries, two Democrats and two Republicans.

Justice Democrats hopes to be a galvanizing force to change that. The group plans to back opponents to sitting Democrats who don’t support progressive ideals or who failed to use their position as lawmakers in more aggressive forms, the group says.

Though promising to dedicate more attention to Democrats, the group is also open to getting involved in a small number districts that could be turned from red to blue, according to Executive Director Alexandra Rojas.

Justice Democrats is eyeing challenges to Reps. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) and Don Beyer (D-Va.), according to a source close to the group.

Rojas didn’t deny or confirm any of the names, saying, “Anywhere we haven’t announced yet means that we may or may not have someone.”

Though members have expressed frustration and concern about primary challenges, there appears to be less fear among members about the power of Justice Democrats, which has struggled to fundraise and provide a clear picture about where it plans to invest its time.

The recent district attorney race in Queens highlighted the growing party divide, as New York lawmakers Gregory Meeks and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries threw their weight behind the establishment candidate, Melinda Katz, the borough president. In a statement, days from the primary, Meeks blasted Sanders and Warren for getting involved in the local race on behalf of the insurgent candidate.

The episode rankled progressive activists such as Shaun King, a Sanders supporter, who backed outsider candidate Tiffany Cabán.

“Meeks should absolutely be challenged and defeated for his seat in Congress,” said King, co-founder of the Real Justice PAC.

King then directed his ire toward Jeffries, who he said is “out of step” with the progressive base. King took issue with Jeffries’ support of Katz, the establishment-aligned candidate who is ahead by only 20 votes, with the count still ongoing.

“Jeffries continues to duck and dodge on impeachment, continues to fail to support ‘Medicare For All,’ and seems more interested in rising up the ranks of power than actually taking bold stands for his constituents,” King said, adding that he thinks the caucus chairman, who is on a leadership fast-track, should be challenged in a primary “without hesitation.”

“The leadership of Congressman Hakeem Jeffries on criminal justice reform issues, including the dismantling of ‘stop-and-frisk’ in NYC, ending inmate-based gerrymandering in the state, electing former District Attorney Ken Thompson in Brooklyn and the recent passage of the Historic FIRST STEP act speaks for itself,” Jeffries spokesman Michael Hardaway said. “If you don’t know, now you know.”

Asked if she agreed with King’s call for a primary challenge against Meeks and Jeffries, Rojas dodged. “Every politician needs to be on notice,” she said.

But six months after POLITICO reported that Justice Democrats was weighing a potential challenge to Jeffries according to two sources with direct knowledge, the group has not produced a candidate against him or Meeks or any other New York lawmaker aside from Engel.

King “came into my district and tried to hold a rally and only eight people showed up,” Meeks said. “Come on after me. You think you can get me? Come on.

“I’m preparing; I know Hakeem is,” Meeks continued. “And if somebody decides to run, we’re ready. But you’re not going to catch us by surprise.”

Read More

[wallpaperpainter]

The Shocking Revelation Of Mens Silver Cross | Mens Silver Cross

By Jordan King For Mailonline

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Published: 08:38 EDT, 2 May 2020 | Updated: 09:04 EDT, 2 May 2020

Police accept arrested two men on suspicion of murdering an NHS artisan who was tragically stabbed two canicule afore his father’s funeral.  

The Metropolitan Badge arrested a 19-year-old man in Stratford on Friday afternoon afterwards arresting a 17-year-old boy in Telford, Shropshire, on suspicion of murdering NHS worker David Gomoh. 

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David Gomoh, 24, was stabbed to afterlife in Newham, east London,  aloof two canicule afore he was declared to appear his father’s burial who had died of coronavirus. 

Police accept arrested a 19-year-old and a 17-year-old on suspician of murdering David Gomoh (pictured left). The NHS accumulation alternation artisan was stabbed to afterlife In Newham, London, two canicule afore he was declared to appear the burial of his ancestor (pictured right) who had died of coronavirus

David’s ancestors has gone through ‘unimaginable torment’ afterwards David and his ancestor (pictured right) died. David leaves abaft his mother (pictured left) and a sister

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The ancestors accept gone through ‘unimaginable pain’ afterwards David’s father, Ken Gomoh, died of coronavirus alone to be followed by David actuality stabbed 100 metres alfresco his abode on April 26. 

David staggered to his home with his ache wounds and shouted ‘mum advice me’ afore neighbours rushed to him and medics rushed him to hospital. 

Pictured: the arena on Freemasons alley in Newham, London,  afterwards launched an analysis into David’s murder 

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David was a accumulation alternation artisan for the NHS at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London and his mother is a labour area administrator at Newham University Hospital. 

 On April 29 Badge appear a photo of the stolen silver Dodge Caliber that was acclimated by David’s killers found alone account afterwards the stabbing, bisected a mile abroad in Lincoln Road, Plaistow.

The car, which was baseborn in Dagenham on April 16, had affected cardinal plates and had ahead been apprenticed through a no access assurance from Cumberland Road.    

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David’s killers blanket a silver Dodge Caliber found alone

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[supercoolgamesstuff-blog]

Why I Love Street Fighter 2!

New Post has been published on https://www.coolgamingzone.com/why-i-love-street-fighter-2/

Why I Love Street Fighter 2!

My first experience playing Street Fighter 2 wasn’t on the SNES, or in the arcades. No, it was on the Mega Drive (the Champion Edition). For a solid year after its release on the SNES I never played it. Twas a thing of wonder, especially being a Master System owner and avid reader of Sega Power.

The advert was amazing, I still have this image of a recoiling Blanka in my mind which still brings a smile to my face (his mum wouldn’t be impressed… ). I watched it being played in the arcades (wasn’t allowed to go in) and on TV shows like Gamesmaster. I couldn’t believe that such a thing could be owned at home that wasn’t inexplicably overpriced (like the Neo Geo). Sega Power initially reported that the Mega Drive couldn’t handle SF2. It took a 24 Megabit cartridge and the invention of a Mega Drive six-button joypad for it to be realised, but my oh my was it worth the wait! A friend of mine from primary school got it and I was immediately round there to check it out. Even lumbered with a normal control pad and having to press select to switch between punch and kick, it was unbelievable. I think I spent the whole day there, my friend’s brother getting us some Fruit Tella for sustenance.

The evolution of SF2 is a strange and wonderful thing. I’ve never known a solitary game (forget the sequels) to have so many incarnations and such a following. Thousands still download it on the Microsoft and Nintendo networks for play on next gen consoles. I reckon I’ve been exposed to around ten versions of it and bar the NES version, they’ve all been great. That’s including the Master System version!

The original incarnation in the arcades was “The World Warrior” and was credited with kickstarting a plethora of titles of the same genre – I can name Fatal Fury, Art of Fighting and Virtua Fighter just off the top of my head. Just as the title was going to the SNES and various home computers, Capcom then released the Champion Edition, allowing you to play as the four bosses. Woof. I’ve waxed lyrical about the SNES version but one which I didn’t expect to be any good was the Amiga version which runs on an A500+ (that’s 1MB of ram) and without the tack-ons that are possible with a cartridge, but it’s great! Given it’s a lot less colourful than the SNES version and you only have one kick and one punch button (possibly more with using the keyboard? I forget… ) but it’s just as fluid and playable. Capcom’s versatility across the platforms cannot be understated and although certain third parties have assisted (TecToy and er, Yoko Soft) SF2’s integrity remains intact.

By the time the Champion Edition arrived on the Mega Drive, Capcom had already released the Hyper Edition (Champion plus extra speeds) for the SNES which turned out to be so popular it actually came as a bundled title with the console for a while. Capcom then packaged the “Hyper” section on the same Mega Drive cart, genius! So MD owners were able to enjoy a port of the original Champ edition and the quicker (set your own speed) Hyper Edition, phwooaaaar. The release of Fatal Fury on the MD should have been a much celebrated thing (I think it’s great) but SF2 and the hype surrounding it, ruled.

And then there was Super Street Fighter 2, which I didn’t embrace myself but was a solid extension to the SF2 license in the arcades and on the 16-bit.

What made SF2 so special? There’s a whole load of things but for me, the cheer pickupability (yes I’ve just made that word up) of it made it difficult to put away. Button mashers and more calculated gamers alike were able to pick it up, enjoy it for a while, then put it back down. Then pick it up again. With the Hyper Edition, that’s twelve different approaches and twelve different ways you can win the game – choosing different characters when you saw fit. You might not get on with Guile one day, so why not try smashing it (quite literally) with E Honda the next? This subtle variation in the special moves pandered to different types of gamers also. With Ryu and Ken, players can be more reactive as their moves can be pulled off quickly and effortlessly. Whereas with Guile and Blanka, you’d need to think a few moves ahead (more like a chess player) as their moves (mostly) need charging for a few seconds. For the button mashers, Vega or Chun Li are perfect, many a time I’ve wanted to throttle a friend who beat me simply by bouncing around as fast as they can and doing annoying sliding moves. The more I think about it, the more obvious SF2’s allure becomes. And I haven’t even mentioned the bonus stages yet, don’t think I’ll ever get fed up of smashing that car.

Ryu and Ken are cool, end of story. Memories of a graphic novel, possibly a comic vaguely come to mind, but despite that, these two characters are the epitome of cool. Ken in his garish Ferrari red-esque red Gi and Ryu in his classic understated white – muscles rippling with a death stare. Too. Cool. For. School. I think Capcom ruined it in the later SF4, their tiny heads on ridiculous bodies make them look like the goombas from the Super Mario film. Ryu or Ken? Ken for me, mainly because I like Ferrari red. I’ve never known a game to make two identical character sets (bar the difference in their strong throws, they’re identical) work so well as two different characters. Although Midway have tried it in the Mortal Kombat series with varying degrees of success (camp robot anyone?). There are myths that Ken is quicker and that Ryu hits harder but we’ve run extensive tests here at AA (we love a good test we do) and they’re the same. I can’t account for the Ryu myth but the Ken quickness could be explained by the brighter colours and less detail of the Gi which creates an optical illusion of sorts. Anyway, like every boy at school has a favourite football team, every boy (or girl) also has his/her favourite character. Which brings me nicely to…

Cosplay. Street Fighter 2 is also great as it traverses the sexes. Even though the girls at high school didn’t say it out loud (aloud?), there’s guaranteed to be a few female SF2 fans there. On a recent trip to Tokyo (which you can read about here) I saw a few magazines/posters advertising Cosplay events. Boys, we all wanted to meet Chun Li in the 90s yes? Google “Street Fighter 2 cosplay” and thank me later, as there were clearly girls in the 90s who wanted to be Chun Li. My, did she kick some of the proverbial. Scores of Japanese girls still play SF2 and its derivatives, when you can find them in amongst all the RPG and rhythm games.

Capcom discovered gold and they (justifiably) rinsed it for all it was worth. You can still find the original arcade machines now. I found an interesting version of the Champion edition earlier this year, whereby you could only play as the character’s third (I think) colour. It was a treat to control brown Guile (oo er) with the original left-hand joystick and right-hand buttons combo, although I think I made it to fight three before I ran out of 50p coins. What I wouldn’t give to have one of those machines! Er, replicas are going for £1400 and originals upwards of £5000 if anyone wants to get us an early Christmas present…

Check out this and more at http://www.arcadeattack.co.uk

Source by Dylan Rajagopal

[parentingguide8-blog]

Mashable presents: Embarrassing memories of watching sex scenes with our parents

New Post has been published on https://parentinguideto.com/must-see/mashable-presents-embarrassing-memories-of-watching-sex-scenes-with-our-parents/

Mashable presents: Embarrassing memories of watching sex scenes with our parents

Image: vicky leta/mashable

Awkwardly watching a sex scene with your parents is a tradition almost as old as the teen sex comedy itself. With Universal Pictures’ Blockers in theaters today, we couldn’t help reminiscing about the most awkward experiences we’ve had with our parents, the O.G. blockers in all our lives.

We originally wanted to keep this to teen sex comedies, but it turns out there are all sorts of ways to mortifyingly witness a sex scene with your parents (yes, Game of Thrones makes an appearance). Tune in below and be glad it isn’t you.

SEE ALSO: ‘Blockers’ isn’t the sex-panic movie you think it is. It’s way better.

“I remember watching Titanic with my parents. And Jack started drawing Rose. Me and my dad were both laughing as my mom hit us both and told me to cover my eyes.” –Robert Wnorowski, Campaign Specialist

“I saw The Hangover in theater with my dad, the two of us thinking it would be a fun comedy to watch together and bond over. Sadly, I was only 15, and the movie was rated R for more than just profanity, jokes, and drug use. I saw Ken Jeong’s penis. I saw several breasts and quite a few butts. It was a lot to handle sitting next to my dad as we both laughed uncontrollably and refused to make eye contact the entire time. I was relieved when the credits started, only to find out that Zach Galifianakis’s penis is in the credits.” –Kellen Beck, Entertainment Reporter

“Just boobs on boobs on boobs on boobs. I had to leave the room.”

“I watched Wedding Crashers with my dad once it came out on demand (I actually have no idea how we watched it – this was pre-Netflix, I think?) The opening montage to the song Shout where Owen Wilson’s and Vince Vaughn’s characters have sex with a ton of women in rapid succession proved almost immediately to much for me to watch in our small “Family room” across the couch from my father. Things got worse when the women started bouncing down on the bed, and then suddenly, they all started becoming topless. Just boobs on boobs on boobs on boobs. We had somehow chosen to watch the Unrated version. I had to leave the room.” –Rachel Kraus, Editorial Fellow

“I watched Wolf of Wall Street with my mum and dad and brother and it was one of the most uncomfortable experiences of my existence. My mother had to turn her whole body away from the screen at certain, uh, key moments.” –Rachel Thompson, UK Lifestyle Correspondent

“So, when I was 12, I watched You Don’t Mess With the Zohan with my dad, which features Adam Sandler having sex with a bunch of elderly women. I can’t remember if it was explicitly shown on the screen, but there was very candid discussion of it. And I was totally MORTIFIED and my dad to this day thinks nothing of it.

And then that same summer, my mom took me to the Sex and the City movie for a girl’s night out and unlike my dad she’s pretty conservative and she came out nearly SOBBING because she was like ‘I RUINED YOUR INNOCENCE.'” –Petrana Radulovic, Editorial Fellow

“I was playing a video game called Killer is Dead, and one of the shopkeepers in the game is a sexy nurse who, with certain upgrades, you can see in lingerie. As I was interacting with her, my dad walked in and started talking about how hot she looked. Sidenote: he didn’t know at the time that I’m gay.” –Carlos Cadorniga, Ecommerce Intern

“I had a bunch of friends over in high school and my mom walked in on us watching Bruno…when his dick yells. Everyone got sent home.”

“I was in the theatre at the same time my parent’s were watching Sex and the City and I had to go get some dinner money from my mom, but came in at the same time as that ‘sexy guy shower scene.’ Also, I had a bunch of friends over in high school and my mom walked in on us watching Bruno…when his dick yells. Everyone got sent home.” –Carley Sposta, Video Intern

“When I was 14 I went to see Sweeney Todd with my dad, but the projector in that theater broke or something and the venue offered people admission to any other film that was playing. The only other movie that was just starting was Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. So we went in not knowing what to expect. And almost right away there’s a naked orgy scene and a long, comical close-up shot of a dick. It filled the big screen.” –Tara Flanigan, Associate Producer

“In high school I was on vacation in Mexico with my parents and best friend and my friend and I were flipping through channels and landed on Zach and Miri Make a Porno (lol) and my dad comes downstairs to sit and watch with us and I could tell a sex scene was about to come on so I got up and ‘went to the bathroom’ leaving my friend alone to suffer through watching the very graphic and loud porn shoot scene sitting next to my dad.” –Alex Humphreys, Associate Producer

“My mom took me to There’s Something About Mary. In the hair gel scene I turned to her and screamed ‘I know what that is,’ and started giggling. Still remember the color of her face. I was only 12.” –Isak Nahmias, Lead Engineer

“My dad decided to watch Game of Thrones for the first time ever with me – during Season 7. As fate would have it, it was the episode when Grey Worm and Missandei consummate their long-burning desire. This might have been the best sex scene in Thrones history, but I couldn’t enjoy it one bit because I was staring at my laptop screen really hard and hoping to be absorbed into another dimension. It only lasted two minutes, but my entire life flashed before my eyes. Knowing my dad, he probably made a comment afterward to defuse the tension, but I can’t remember it. I blacked out. We’ve never spoken of this and it’s still way too soon.” –Proma Khosla, Entertainment Reporter

WATCH: Celebs are sharing embarrassing puberty throwback pics for a good cause

Read more: http://mashable.com/

[almorganfiction]

Up Top - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: The Wingspans

2 Hours, 40 Minutes

After about ten minutes of being dragged along the rooftops Maple could hear voices. He listened close and assessed the situation.

“Interesting,” he thought. “Whoever is speaking (or is it whomever? I remember Miss Eerie taught us the difference but Eddie the Mole was shooting elastic bands out the window and one of them landed on a car and the driver didn’t even notice-) no, focus now, what can you see? There’s a few people. It’s a gathering. A secret rooftop gathering and a man who caught me in a net…

It’s a black market! He’s going to sell me! This Po guy is a slave trader! He’s not a chief of anything!”

‘I am Chief Po of the Wingspans!’ called Po, the chief of the Wingspans. ‘You have been brought before me by our scout and security supervisor, Gulliver. On his travels he has found you and claims you say you’re from the surface world. Is this true?’ His voice was sophisticated and firm.

‘As far as I’m aware.’ Maple called back, still in the net. ‘Although I can’t guarantee his name is Gulliver, but I guess you’d know that. Can I come out now? I think I’m allergic to nets, my heart is thudding really fast and I feel a little anxious. Might be anxiety actually.’

‘Not yet,’ Po bellowed. ‘We must know you’re not a spy.’

‘A spy? I don’t even have any spy skills. Tell me to sneak somewhere and I won’t even be able to do it-‘

‘True thar is!’ Gulliver interjected.

‘In fact,’ Maple continued. ‘Last Thanksgiving- we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving but that’s what day it was- we were having a family meal, a turkey dinner I think- wait a second, were we celebrating Thanksgiving the whole time and no one told me? Thanks mum… Anyway, I had to go to the bathroom but Uncle Eric was in the hallway and I didn’t want to hear another fake Vietnam story so-‘

‘Just let him out Gulliver! I shall see by looking at him.’ Po shouted over Maple’s story, although Maple kept talking for about a minute before he realised he was being let out.

The Chief pulled Maple up by the arm. The two were flanked by guards with pointed sticks, aimed at Maple’s neck. Both guards were wearing feathers pinned somewhere on their person one in a black shirt, one in white.

Po leaned in close. He was dressed like a skinny cartoon image of Julius Caesar only instead of a white robe it was black and the crown was made up of black feathers.

‘Interesting adornment. Black coat with white undergarment- quite smart. A rope around your neck? Peculiar,’ Chief Po said, examining Maple’s tie. ‘Say, you’re not a member of the Knots, perchance? I won’t tell if you let it slip.’

‘I’m awfully confused,’ Maple answered. ‘I’m not with anyone. I mean I am with someone, I’m getting married today. They’ve closed the city off so I came up here to-‘

‘Why?’ Po demanded. ‘What’s happening below?’

‘I dunno. A bomb threat, I think. Kind of a stupid move on my part I’m realising but-‘

‘Ah. A bomb. I see what’s happening here. You’re attempting to tempt me with news from the war. Well, valiant effort but we’ve got news enough as it is.’

‘News? What war? What are you talking about?’

‘You’ve missed your chance to backtrack now. I heard your offer of fake news. Olive, Maggie, escort him to the cages.’

The guards moved in on Maple. Gulliver stood behind him. Nowhere to run. Maple knew the only other option was to talk. Talk and talk and talk until he figured out a better plan, or failing that just talk forever.

‘Wait!’ Maple shouted. ‘I am a spy! But not from who you think.’

‘No?’ Chief Po looked intrigued. ‘Who are you from?’

Maple thought hard. “Gulliver. Maggie. The Wingspans. The way they’re dressed. All of them have feathers. I get it. So maybe the way it works up here…”

‘The Forest! That’s our gang’s name. Yep. We’re all named after trees, see? That’s why I’m called Maple.’

‘I did not know that was your name,’ Chief Po said, unimpressed.

‘You didn’t?’ Maple scowled. ‘Then why did I- Well never mind that! The important thing is I’m not here to harm you in any way, I’m just spying for… non-harmful reasons. Just to make… alliances. In fact-‘

‘You’re from the surface,’ Po stated.

‘What? No I’m from The Woods-‘

‘Forest.’

‘-and I’ve been sent here to look for help. Our tribe is being threatened by a gang called the… Grasshoppers… they’re making us give them food and if we don’t have enough by the time the last leaf- wait a minute why am I trying to keep up the lie?’ Maple shook his head to clean out the cobwebs. ‘Yes I’m from the surface. What finally clued you in?’

The Chief pointed at Maple’s shoes. ‘We’ve no mud up here yet your shoes are covered in it.’

‘They are?’ Maple looked down at his feet in distress. ‘Axel’s gonna kill me.’

‘You can stand down now Olive, Maggie. See to it Gulliver is rewarded.’ The guards nodded and hurried off to catch Gulliver who had gotten bored and wandered off. ‘Now, we shall talk.’

‘Gladly. Any chance you’ve got a change of shoes?’

 2 Hours, 35 Minutes

 The Chief’s home was a grey tent the colour of the roof tiles. A taller building provided the back wall of the tent and, as the settlement was between two slightly higher roofs, Maple’s captors were well hidden from the people below.

‘What about windows? Don’t they ever see you?’ Maple asked Po as they entered his tent. ‘There’s some really high buildings in cities these days.’

‘They see us quite often. I imagine we’re nothing more than an anecdote to them, if they’re not too busy to remember us,’ Po replied, opening a tin of beans and pouring it out onto a piece of slate.

‘What about the rooftops with doors on them? Don’t- oh I’ve eaten thanks- don’t people come out and spot you?’

‘We mark those on the maps and avoid them. We lost a good man once. He was captured by a Belower and detained by your policies men.’

‘You mean police men- and women! Although policies officer isn’t a bad name.’ Maple watched in disbelief as Po slurped the entire tin of beans from the slate with no cutlery.

‘So,’ Po said, wiping his mouth with his hand. ‘You surely must have real news. This bomb, is it a threat to us?’

‘Well it might not even be a bomb, to be honest.’

‘I see. Any other news from the war?’

‘Right, see, this is where I’m confused. What war?’

Po exhaled sharply. ‘What war you ask? Come now. The war. The very same war that’s been going on for the last 100 or so years.’

‘The hundred years war? That ended like hundreds of years ago. Everyone got in an ark and they set it on fire. I think.’

‘No, not the hundred years- well in a way yes but not that one. It’s a grand, epic war. You must be familiar. The Great War?’

Maple’s brow descended hard. He opened his mouth to speak but, in an unprecedented turn of events, couldn’t find a single thing to say.

Po waited a moment, expecting something at least from Maple but carried on if only to fill the silence.

‘Surely you’ve noticed the constant conflict down on the surface world?’ he asked, frowning a little himself.

‘World War One- The Great War, I mean, ended a long time ago. We’ve had a sequel since then and I’ve gotta say they really topped the first one, higher stakes, much more memorable villain. Have you not noticed that there’s been no fighting down on the streets?’

‘No fighting? You jest! There’s several skirmishes a week down there, mostly weekends by nightfall, but-‘

‘There’s not a war! Those are just kerfuffles!’

‘Call them what you wish-‘

‘Why do you think the war is still going? Where are you getting this information?’

Po stared deeply at Maple. ‘Look, you may not be a spy but you are still a stranger. I can’t divulge to you our sources. I think it’s best you leave soon, It’s a shame, I thought I’d finally be able…’ He sighed. ‘I thought we might have something here, but you’re just peddling propaganda. I’m sure you yourself believe it too.’

‘Believe it? I live down there! Trust me there’s no war!’

‘That’s enough now!’ Po commanded. ‘You’ve been a fine guest considering we trapped you in a net and I’d like to continue thinking of you as such. No more talk of the war, then. You have your reasons for denying it, but I am interested only in the truth. Now, perhaps you’d like a drink before you go? It rained last night so-‘

‘Chief!’ a woman’s voice called from outside the tent. As she entered Maple saw it was the guard in the black shirt, a black and white feather was pinned to the strap of the satchel she wore. ‘Just got word from the market. Today’s our day. Short notice, I know, but there’s something going on down below that’s causing them issues.’

‘Today?’ Po asked. ‘As in, now, Maggie? We’re undermanned. Ken is away  working on bags and Goosey’s been missing for weeks.’

‘I know that!’ Maggie snapped. ‘I live on the same rooftop as you, you know! We’ll have to bring Gulliver along.’

‘It’s just not possible. We can’t take all of us, we need someone to stay here, that leaves us with three. I’m not comfortable crossing the K-line with three.’

‘We’re low on food. Very low,’ Maggie pleaded. ‘It’s not been our turn for weeks. What about that guy?’ Maggie pointed at Maple who pulled a face that would fit nicely on a poster with the caption “Who? Me?”.

‘A stranger guarding our worldly possessions?’ Po scoffed.

‘Well, leave Gulliver behind. Take the stranger,’ Maggie suggested.

‘Gulliver!? Guarding our worldly possessions!?’

‘Oh fine, Olive then. Bring the stranger and the idiot. Then that’s four. It’s not a strong four but it’ll do.’ She paused. ‘If you agree, of course.’

Po thought for a while. He stared at Maple.

‘How about it?’ He finally spoke. ‘A journey to the market, Maple?’

Maple checked his watch quickly. ‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘I’ve got time.’