#and sunset pallet are peak

[bi-pisces07]

What's your favorite color?

Green!! Purple and yellow too!

[birgittesilverbae]

smth smth mary looking at every place shannon has never touched. running her fingers along stone, over bark. at night taking out that tube of pb33 just to feel closer to her, sketches all gathered and sifted through her hands.

beatrice telling her to handle everything with care, so that it lasts. a basin of warm water because this is an archive. the oils all dried, old pallet knives, their edges still rough with paint.

mary looking at suds dripping off her fingers and feeling helpless. knowing that shannon would have painted her if she’d disappeared first. would have captured her from every angle and papered the walls with her presence, her absence. but mary sees shannon as a light pressed against the fabric of her world, leaking through and always, always out of reach.

shannon used to whisper colours sometimes, in such a whisper you had to be close to make out the sound of her voice. now, mary hears it in the quiet, in the ocean, in the wind and the rain. cadmium, sienna, cerulean, ultramarine, umber. telling her about linseed, gum arabic, pigments worked into binding agents and the way solvents and pigments are all derived from other things. pine resin and cobalt and titanium. others from organisms - bone, ivory, wood. how a painting is just pieces of the world lifted up and shaped.

so mary goes and tries to do the same. in her own way, threading shannon’s ghost in everything she touches.

thinking of shannon at the end. her bloody hand lifting that pendant high, knowing that it would serve as an anchor. shannon silently asking her to stay, to witness, to go looking for her on mountain trails, in art supply stores and galleries and in watching ava taste a milkshake for the first time.

mary puts the drawing of the cornflower into her skin as a way of saying to shannon, i’m carrying you with me.

i can never put you down

the day mary comes home with her fresh tattoo, raw and painful, an open wound, ava stops by, sits in the living room with her, interlaces their fingers. tells her, in a voice schooled away from her usual scattershot rapidity, about the dream she'd had all that time ago on jillian's couch. tells her about shannon soft and steady, still loving her family from beyond the grave. tells her about the strength it had imbued in her, the understanding of purpose. the understanding of the need to protect those she loved.

mary, unsteady with it all, trying desperately to find ways to keep hold of shannon, of the memory of her. driving ava to her physio appointments and relaxing with her on windswept beaches with her afterwards. ava, as shannon had been, always happy to soak up every bit of sun she can.

the ache in mary's chest dulls over time, with each and every sunrise and sunset ava gets to experience, with each and every moment bea gets to spend by her side. with each time lilith flickers in and out of their shared apartment, each time she carefully dusts the mantel and presents a dredged up memory to mary like a gift, like an apology, like a benediction.

lilith pulls the three of them, she and bea and mary, to far-flung destinations every so often, to sit on remote peaks or wander downtown streets of places shannon never got to visit. beatrice takes up watercolours and looks surprised, eyes shining with tears, when mary pulls shannon's supplies out for her, tubes of paint and pans and half-pans still labeled in shannon's careful print

"she'd want them to be put to use," she says, voice half caught in her throat as she shows bea how to fill pans, how to use a toothpick to remove air pockets, a q-tip to clean up the edges before slotting it into a travel palette. practiced movements, now, after spending afternoon upon afternoon relaxing and watching shannon's hands at work.

beatrice makes a soft request and mary finds herself on the rooftop at the old cat's cradle, bracketed by bea and lilith, travel palette in hand for bea's ease of use as lilith leans heavily against her other side. the light of the setting sun paints them in quinacridone gold and alizarin crimson and pyrrol orange, paints them in brushstrokes as even and careful as beatrice's beside her, and mary finds herself at peace

[mikelsons07]

Exciting Expeditions: Backpacking in the Rocky Mountains

Adventurers with tents and outdoor enthusiasts from throughout the globe visit the Rocky Mountains, or "Rockies," for their natural beauty. This renowned mountain range runs over 3,000 miles from Canada to New Mexico and provides some of North America's most stunning and varied scenery. Backpacking in the Rockies is a fantastic way to see unspoiled nature, spectacular views, and the rough beauty of the American West. This essay will guide you around this fantastic range and help you organize your memorable excursion.

Nature's Wonder: Rockies

Majestic peaks, vast valleys, and towering cliffs make the Rockies a geological wonder. Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Parks in Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana, each with its natural treasures, are in the range. No matter your backpacking experience, the Rockies have a path for you.

Planning Your Backpacking Trip

1. Choose a Route: Start your adventure by picking a track that suits your skills and interests. The Iceberg Lake Trail in Glacier National Park is a good Rockies introduction for novices. The Continental Divide Trail is a thrilling challenge for experienced trekkers.

2. Permits and Regulations: Check your route's permit needs since many Rockies trails demand them. Follow park rules and Leave No Trace to conserve nature for future generations.

3. Gear and Packing: Bring a solid backpack, a four-season tent, winter clothes, and good hiking boots. Bring a first-aid kit, water filter system, and bear-resistant food containers.

Wildlife Encounters

The Rockies are home to bighorn sheep, mule deer, grizzlies, and elk. Finding these animals may be exciting, but be careful and courteous. Keep your food in bear-proof containers and learn bear safety to prevent interactions with these formidable creatures.

Sunsets and Starry Nights Chase

Backpacking in the Rockies is a magical way to see stunning sunsets and stargaze beneath the nation's darkest sky. Camp beside gorgeous alpine lakes where snow-capped peaks reflect a fantastic pallet of hues as the sun sets. Remote Rockies sites provide superb astronomy at night, with the Milky Way and shooting stars visible.

Leave No Record

Remember, Leave No Trace while hiking in the Rocky Mountains. Pack out garbage, dispose of waste correctly, and remain on trails to reduce your environmental effects. Future generations might appreciate the Rockies' natural splendour like you.

Rocky Mountain backpacking is a breathtaking adventure across North America's most beautiful scenery. It's an opportunity to push yourself, connect with nature, and make memories. The Rockies have it all—from rugged trails to high alpine lakes. So pack your bag, tie up your boots, and go on a fantastic adventure that will make you appreciate the Rocky Mountains' natural splendour.

[sykilik101]

Moments With You

There's no such thing as coincidence. I don't believe for a second anyone else besides her was supposed to be there that day. Fishing and owning a bike that just happened to have a Pikachu-sized basket?

We were meant to meet.

xxxxx

"Sorry I'm late!"

We'd already been traveling together for a few months now, and I'd gotten a pretty good idea of who Misty was. Quick to anger, an unwavering sense of right and wrong, and a love of water Pokémon that even I couldn't hope to match. We were past the point of simple acquaintances and could now be considered friends, but there were sides to Misty I had yet to learn about.

One of those was her with her hair down.

Her voice pulled me from my PokéDex, a speechlessness overtaking me as Pikachu's gleeful exclamation blended with the music and crowd. Everything in the background was blurry from the lantern smoke and lights, but Misty standing in her pink kimono, fan in hand, was immediately seared into my mind. For a second I was reminded of when I'd seen Giselle at that Pokémon Tech place we'd visited; she was pretty in that "make my face warm" way. I'd never gotten that feeling from Misty before, but now-

"Come on, Ash, let's dance!"

Her hand found its way into mine, and a dizzying warmth accompanied the softness of her fingers. My voice trembled a bit as I agreed, and with her extended invitation to Pikachu I couldn't help but laugh. She pulled me onto the dance floor with an infectious jubilance that suited her better than I could have thought. It was the first time that the two of us, together, whittled the hours away in the company of food, dancing, and a budding best friendship.

That was also the first time I felt soon-to-be-familiar nerves in my stomach around her.

xxxxx

"Okay."

"Right."

Traveling through a foggy forest towards a town that was supposedly home to ghost Pokémon didn't have the same energy as "summer festival," but at least I was holding Misty's hand again. It was Brock's idea, which was the perfect excuse for me to hold hers for longer than a few seconds. Even with my glove in the way, the tips of my fingers pressed into her skin, and I felt an abnormal heat surge through my cheeks. I wondered if I could convince the others that we should come through this forest on the way back.

I'd held out my hand to Brock so he wouldn't get lost; leave it to him to grab Pikachu's tail and ruin the moment.

xxxxx

"What are you two doing here?"

At this stage of our friendship, it was easier to hide any displays of enamorment behind a curt answer or a crude decision. I'd had enough practice with starting arguments after being caught staring, but I still hadn't gotten many opportunities to compliment her while maintaining plausible deniability. It was next to impossible to say something like "Your eyes are pretty" inconspicuously, so any chance I could get to say something about her, even hidden behind sarcasm or jokes, was something I wouldn't let go to waste.

I wasn't sure why Misty even agreed to help Melvin out in the first place. Misty's not an especially kind person, so agreeing to be some magician's assistant, in a Goldeen dress of all things, would definitely be high on my "things Misty would never do" list. Despite that, I couldn't help but think that she looked really...really pretty. Like, "the Maiden's Peak festival" pretty, but this time, I wanted to tell her. Hiding a compliment behind an annoying tone sounded like a good idea, and since starting an argument with her was easiest when she was in a flustered state, this was the perfect cover for me to say-

"That's a real cute outfit, Misty."

Surprisingly, I managed to keep a straight face and not stutter my words, despite inexperience threatening to wipe away the snarky tone I was going for. I was ready for the verbal retaliation she was famous for, but the sudden complaints of the audience demanding a show was a welcomed distraction. Taking a front row seat I savored the feeling of victory at having been able to call Misty cute and not end up with her mallet on my head.

It's too bad she didn't put her hair down for the outfit, though...

xxxxx

Every story I've heard of mermaids says that they're always extremely beautiful. Mermaids probably aren't real, but I think Misty is making me a believer.

xxxxx

"Careful, Ash, all that food can make your belly as big as your head."

I like that we're now at the point where her teasing comments are all in good fun. Of course, even if it wasn't, nothing was gonna bring my mood down. I'd already won my first two rounds, and I even got to eat for free thanks to a fan of mine. After having not had a meal for the entire day, all Pikachu and I wanted was to dig in.

Misty's company wasn't unwelcomed, either.

I wanted to answer her, but she happened to catch me mid-chew. My response was automatic and ready, but before I swallowed, a thought came to me. It was a nickname I'd thought about before, and I'd never found the right moment (or courage) to try it out. However, my post-battle elation made my worries feel insignificant, and I figured even if she didn't like it, I could brush it off as me just being too happy about my success to care.

"Thanks, Mist, but I can't help it! I got all this food for free! That's 'cause she happens to be a big fan of mine!"

Mist. I like the way it sounds, and the fact that she didn't immediately get that Misty eye twitch means she didn't dislike it. Although, maybe it's 'cause I'm so used to calling her Misty, but Mist feels a bit...awkward. Almost like how you'd call your girlfriend a cute nickname.

...Misty as my girlfriend...

"Ash, everybody in the Pokémon League gets to eat here for free."

So much for the fan of mine. I think, maybe, I'll keep Mist in my back pocket for future use, when it feels right to give her such a cute nickname.

xxxxx

"You're crazy!"

"Crazy is right! Never in a million years!"

She didn't have to deny it that hard...

xxxxx

"You and I will be married someday, too."

"Mhm…"

I didn't really register what Misty had said right away. My thoughts were more focused on how we were going to stay overnight in this park and hearing this girl - Temacu, was it? - talk about marrying Brock. For some reason I half-expected Brock to be going along with her imagination; after all, wasn't he always talking about cute girls and how he'd want to be with them? Did he not consider Temacu cute? Maybe he just doesn't want to marry her right after meeting her. I guess that makes sense. It would be kinda weird to want to marry someone if you're not in-

...wait, her and I, married?

"Huh?!"

I recognized that look in her eyes. Throughout our travels, anytime Misty messed up or said something she didn't mean to, her eyes always did that same thing; I could practically hear her screaming "I didn't say anything!" in her head.

The thing is, she did say it, and my brain started spinning all sorts of ideas on what she was implying by that. She could have just meant, in the future, I'd be married and she'd be married, but not to each other. That'd probably be just what she'd say if I brought it up. But...what if she was actually thinking that her and I would be married to each other? Was that something Misty thought about? Would she want to marry me?

Temacu's dad showed up, and after some talking we were invited to stay at their house instead of the park. I should have been more excited at being able to sleep in a bed instead of my sleeping bag, but Misty's response kept replaying in my mind. Even if her words hadn't registered to me right away, her voice had been calm with a bit of that daydreamy tone she used once in a while. I couldn't remember her sounding like that when talking about me.

Having packed our camping gear back up, our group began heading into the town. Brock and Temacu lead the way, with her dad shortly behind, and Misty and I bringing up the rear. As we walked I stole a glance at her from the corner of my eye. She seemed lost in a thought, her hands absentmindedly rocking Togepi to and fro as the little Pokémon looked on the brink of a nap. Eventually her gaze caught mine and she turned towards me.

"Is something the matter, Ash?"

I could ask her right now. With the others ahead of us, we had the privacy to have such a conversation. It wasn't a hard question at all. Were you really thinking about us two being married together? My mouth started to open, but something about the way she looked at me held my voice back. If I was wrong, it would just end in another argument, which would fit the status quo between her and I like usual.

But, deep down, I think I couldn't handle the idea of us fighting about marrying each other.

I needed more time to see how she felt about me. I'd spent enough time with an erratic heartbeat around her to know where I stood, but something about not knowing how she felt about this scared me enough to close my mouth, turning back towards the others.

"It's nothing."

Maybe her and I would be married someday. First, however, I needed to find out if she even liked me the way I liked her.

xxxxx

"Will I...see you again?"

"You will. I swear."

The dirt was quieter now, disturbed by two feet rather than six. The road from Viridian City to Pallet Town was familiar to me; the loneliness wasn't. The tears had subsided, but the ache in my chest was still as strong as ever as I slowly trekked down the dusty road.

I'd been ready to tell her. The mood had been perfect, if a bit more somber than I would have hoped for. Shades of purple and orange painted the sky, the sunset burning to match her hair. There was no hint of teasing or malice in the air, and the bike stationed by her side felt nostalgic; it made me think of how far we'd come since the first time I'd taken it from her. That time together, however, had come to an end, as a phone call from her sisters had sent us our separate ways.

However, it wouldn't last forever.

The handkerchief felt soft in my hands, wrapped around the bento Brock had given me. The corners were tied up perfect and sweetly, as if she'd done this for me a million times before. Her fingers had moved so effortlessly to fold the cloth, knot it tightly before offering it to me. What she'd really given me wasn't just tangible, and I think we both knew that. I know I can be a little dense, and I usually let my optimism take over when I'm unsure of something, but I think I got the message pretty clearly this time. In that moment, I could see exactly what I was looking for in Misty's eyes. Even if I hadn't said anything, I felt like she knew what I wanted to tell her.

There was something she wanted to tell me, too.

My heart, still deflated, skipped as a flush clawed its way up my face. I could be crazy and wrong on a million levels, but I'm pretty sure she feels the same way. Even if I'm either, or both...I can tell her now. Maybe I don't need a perfect moment or the right words, but I'll be ready when I see her again. She'd found her way into my life once before, and she'll do it again.

After all, there's no such thing as coincidence.

______________________________________________________

I gave myself permission to be less “strict” about trying to write Ash in character, deciding I’d let myself kinda run wild with maybe using words or descriptions you might not expect from him. This was fun to write, and I hope you enjoyed it.

[icyowl]

what’s ur favorite aesthetic? mines dark academia and I didn’t realize or learn the term until now lmao 💀😂

Oh love, I had to do some research for this one! Super fun!

Based on what the all-knowing internet has told me, I'll put:

- spacecore. (apparently also called astrocore or cosmic core? who knew.) i love the aesthetic of the planets and stars and moon phases and such. Nebulae are such amazing examples of the mystery in the stars and it fills me with wonder. Also the blue and gold/white color pallet? yes please.

- minimalist. the clean lines, the chic furniture, the airy feel, the self-assured simplicity, the confidence in knowing what you need and don't want, ugh, i love it all. This is the aesthetic for all my furniture, though it has a cozy twist with plenty of nature themes!

- nature. perfect waves. shining glaciers. snowcapped peaks. glassy lakes. forest canopy. resolute bison. sunbathing cheetahs. dueling stags. lightning in the sky. darkening sunsets. something in the fog. its shows me the beauty found in what exists outside in the open air. This is the aesthetic I'm trying to embody for this blog!

Apparently theres like hundreds of these? Cabincore, autumn, winter, snowdrop, lightning, fawncore, these are all things I like but that's soooo many! Alright, let me put it this way. If it's ethereal, makes you feel small and full of wonder, maybe sometimes a little chic, makes you feel a little bit lonely but in the content way, then that's me.

I think??

[the-hilda-librarians-wife]

Wife’s Hilda Rewatch - The Tide Mice

Yes, I know I didn’t do the Lost Clan rewatch. Yes, I know this is terribly late. No, I do not have an explanation. So let’s just head straight to what I believe I’d the episode I’ve watched the most times.

Hilda can sing. I’d like to begin this with by commenting that Hilda can sing. Which makes me kind of emotional because there’s a real possibility that Johanna taught her, which means Johanna can probably sing. My sketchbook brain engines are working…

Anyway, I’m really proud of David for auditioning for The Warblers even with what had happened the year before. It shows a passion and endurance that I legit wouldn’t have had.

Also, the piano lady looks a little like me. Huh.

“Why don’t you go to the library until the closing time?” JOHANNA PLEASE I DONT NEED EVEN MORE FUEL FOR MY SKETCHBOOK OBSESSION.

Just kidding

I do

Why don’t you guys read this fantastic fanfic after you watch this episode? It’s my favorite and I know you guys need more sketchbook fuel as well.

I really should continue talking about the episode

This will forever be the best scene in season one for me. There’s EVERYTHING. Books, magic

THERE’S MY WIFE. I swear my heart begins beating faster when I see her silluete.

You have to appreciate how Hilda sees a literal SPELL and decides to give it a try despite knowing no magic because “huh, it can help my friend”. Sweet cinnamon roll, will get herself killed one of these days.

—————————————————-

STOP for a few seconds. This is the “let’s appreciate the Hilda colour pallete” time

Thank you for your attention. Now back to the episode.

—————————————————-

Hey, hold up. At first, Hilda thought that the enchantment hadn’t worked out, and she even began walking away. Does that mean she was just planning on forgetting about David’s whistle?? She didn’t even try to find it in the water Hilda please

I love how David doesn’t even question that Hilda showed up at his house early in the morning and just… offers her breakfast. Peak friendship.

JOHANNA’S SMILES ARE SO SOFT. I can’t pick one to put a picture here so I’ll take loads of pics and post the best one.

I lied, I couldn’t pick only one AND YOU WOULDNT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EITHER!!!

Ugh. More soft Johanna smiles. You know what, I’m doing a separate post just with Johanna appreciation in this episode.

In a scale of one to “saying moonrise instead of sunset” how edgy are you? Because I sure as hell am using “moonrise” from now on. You know. For the aesthetics. Whoever wrote that book knew what was up.

No one:

Kristoff in Frozen 2:

Pals when David is scared but then Johanna puts a comforting hand on his shoulder am I right

Hey since I just watched the explosion of the spell blow I’m going to link you to that fic again because it’s seriously very good

“That is very sweet”

“But also deeply terrifying” David I hope you know I love you so much.

Now, maybe some of you are wondering… what if Johanna goes to the library to talk to the librarian about what happened? And because of this, I will link you to YET ANOTHER SKETCHBOOK FANFIC. Why? Because this episode is sketchbook culture and because us sketchbook clowns have to stick by each other.

Now let’s go to the part literally no one was waiting for!

Wife’s episode score!

+10 for MY WIFE

+10 for a lot of good content on MY WIFE’S WIFE

+ 5 for m a g i c

+2 for “libraries are the thrilling temples of the unexpected!”

+5 for “you’re going to seem a lot crazy”

+5 for a hidden effing library

+2 for being sketchbook property

[bells-of-black-sunday]

☠️ (Felice @ all the boys, have a feast baby)

murder™️ | accepting

Felice let the fog take them, appearing in a new hunting ground for the trial. Just another job. Blinking to get their eyes adjusted to the sunset that bathed Dead dog in an orange glow. This should be easy. They walked through the open street seeing someone running just as quickly as they started moving. Calmly they followed, yellow eyes following the scratches they left behind to... a locker? This must be Dwight. They recognized the cowardice. Pulling the doors opened they pulled the scrawny man out by his throat, strangely enough it was almost favorable for him to avoid getting hit in such a way though a better strategy could’ve been used.

Pulling him off their shoulder and onto a hook they walked into the saloon itself hearing the sounds of a generator behind repaired. they clawed open the door and walked out onto the balcony hearing someone drop beneath them they jumped down, following the trail. He’d seen this man in a couple trials before though they didn’t know their name, black hair and an undeniable smirk he was the one they knew they shouldn’t be chasing. Still with nothing better to do, they pursued, someone had to have rescued Dwight by now. He knew where two of them were, but not the last one.

They lashed out with their claws barely scratching the teenagers skin as the pallet slammed down onto their head. They growled walked around it chasing further into the empty street they reached out and grabbed his arm wrapping their free hand around his throat they slammed him into the dirt. Licking the blood off their claws they carried him to another hook hearing a gen’s chime in the distance. The light signaling it’s completion. They weren’t doing bad so far. Turning around they used the blood they collected to manifest onto the gallows seeing the back of a hoodie disappear over the railing they followed.

He was doing his best to hide, but they could hear his breathing. Swiping out with their claws they caught his back leaving gashed down his side. They licked their claws again. Their claws barely made a sound against the soft dirt that blew in the wind. The edges of their mouth curled into a smile beneath their veil, even now Simon was still scared of trials? That was almost adorable ignoring their current circumstances. Their was nothing on the edges of this place, even as they played around pallets Felice still ended the chase as quickly as they could. Ingesting more blood before they’d hook him as well.

Turning around, did henry really think they wouldn’t notice him peaking out like that? They sighed stepped through the window and slashing him with their claws. They watched him run as their bones cracked and broke out of their sockets their fangs pierced their veil and large leathery wings broke from their skin. Galloping on all fours they charged after him goring him with their large tusks before their body faded back into it’s normal shape. They hooked him as well, what a weird trial. They’d only done two gens and they were already running out of hooks.

[creativewritingpracticestudio]

Sirens(Onesided!Lip Gallagher x Reader)(Season 1)

This takes place during season 1.

Trigger warnings: Underage drinking, alcoholism,implied violence/physical abuse, slight mentions of sexual assault.

Pairings: onesided Lip x reader, platonic Ian x reader, mentions of Ian x Mickey, Ian x Kash, and Lip x Karen

Enjoy. Feel free to send requests. Please like and reblog.

Your lips curled into a grimace as you pressed the cigarette to your lips. God, these things are fucking disgusting. How the fuck do the Gallagher’s do this shit? You thought to yourself as you spat onto the grass, trying to clean out the flavor. You weren’t completely sure why you smoked. After all, you hated cigarettes. They made your mouth taste bad and they made you feel shitty. But, of course, that wasn’t true; you knew why you smoked them. Cuz Lip does. That was your reasoning for almost every bad habit you had. Everything you did revolved around that big-nosed son of a bitch. He hadn’t spoken to you in months and yet he was still there.

Your depressing thoughts were interrupted by a familiar sound; sirens. The blue and red lights flashed across your fave as an ambulance drove past you. Someone was hurt, badly. You liked sirens. They felt familiar. Comforting. In a dark way, they reminded you that things could be worse; you could be in an ambulance right now, crying and bleeding and in pain instead of in front of the grocery store that Ian worked at, smoking and freezing your ass off. Of course, you being there was your fault. You need alcohol and you needed it bad. You could have chosen to stay in your warm house and steal beer from your father, but then you would have risked being beaten had you been caught. You’d stick with the fake ID approach, thank you.

After another puff, you decided to stop stalling-the cigarette smoke was getting to you. You dropped the cigarette, crushed it under your shoe, and jogged across the street to Kash’s store. When you walked in, Ian’s voice called to you from behind the chip rack-“(Y/n)! Hey!” A smile spread over your face as he walked towards you. “Hey, Ian.” Ian was the only Gallagher who you still talked to after Lip stopped hanging out with you. Most likely because you were one of the only people who knew he was gay and who treated him like normal regardless. Of course, you’d found out his secret long before anyone else had, even Lip.

You and Ian had been friends longer than you and Lip had, and you had been Ian’s first girlfriend when he was in 6th and you were in 7th. You held hands and shared cookies and watched movies at his house while his mom and dad screamed at each other and then watched them as they went upstairs to have sex. A year later, when he was in 7th and you were in 8th, while in your secret spot(the swings behind your house), you asked him why he didn’t want to kiss you like the other boys kissed their girlfriends.

After a silent moment, Ian had admitted that he had thought about kissing another boy in your class, and not you. That he couldn’t imagine kissing a girl. And, after stunned silence, you had hugged him and stroked his hair while he cried and begged you not to tell anyone. After that, you and Ian broke up, pretending it was due to lame couple shit when in reality you didn’t want people asking why you and him didn’t kiss or fuck or do anything everyone else did. He was still your closest friend.

“So, what the hell are you doing here? It’s late. You usually pass out by 8.” You rolled your eyes playfully. “None of your business, dweeb.” You ruffled his hair and walked over to the beer aisle, scanning the various bottles on the shelves, looking for a 12 pack of the strongest beer available. “Um, okay? Since when do you drink?” Ian followed you over and crossed his arms. “Since I decided that sprite just wasn’t cutting it. What’s the strongest kind you got?” Ian stared at you for a moment, seeming to notice that something wasn’t right with you, but eventually averted his eyes and pointed to a particular beer. “That one.”

You grinned at him. “Thanks, babes.” You plucked the box of beer from the aisle and store over to the register. “Where’s Kash at, anyhow? Did you give him bad dick or something?” Ian grimaced. “Linda’s fertile right now.” “Ah. Say no more.” You nodded empathetically and let the ginger boy ring up your box before sliding him a $50. He spoke as he kept his eyes on the register. “Me and Mickey are still going on.” You raised a brow. “Ooo. Interesting. I should go for Mandy so we match.” He laughed and started to hand you the remaining money. “Keep the change, hun. Fiona and you guys probably needs it more than me, aye?”

He smiled half-heartedly. “That’s for sure. So, whats the beer for?” You blinked. “Uh, to drink?” He rolled his eyes. “You know what i mean.” “Nothing, Ian. Just need a stress reliever. That’s all.” “If you say so. Just, please, don’t pull a Frank on me. I know Lip’s being an ass but I can’t lose you. Who else will supply me with gay porn mags?” You grinned at him. “Aw. Glad I’m needed. And don’t ever compare me to that bastard. I love you, Ian. Give Lip a throat punch for me.” He smiled. “Sure thing. I love you too. Come by the house sometime and I’ll tell you about Mickey a little more, yeah? Lip will probably be out screwing Karen.” You nodded. “I will. Night, Ian.” And with that, you waved goodbye and started on your way home.

The next day, you woke up to someone pounding on your front door. Groaning, you started to sit up and then grabbed your head in pain as a glass bottle rolled off the bed and smashed on the floor. Shit. How much had you had to drink last night? You checked the floor. 7 bottles. Out of 12. Holy. Fucking. Shit. The pounding on the door resumed, and your head started pounding with it. You winced, swallowed down some Tylenol, and went for the door. “I’m coming, I’m coming. Hold your fucking horses, god damn it.” You swung the door open. “Hey, (Y/n). Been a while.”

You blinked. “What the hell are you doing here, Lip? Where’s that blonde bitch at? Screwing one of your friends or something?” “Karen’s not hanging out with me til later.” “Ah.” The two of you stared at each other in silence. “So, what the fuck do you want then?” Lip shuffled awkwardly for a second and then shoved his hands in his pockets. “Ian said you bought some beer yesterday.” You glared. “That little shit. Why the fuck would he tell you that?” “I asked him where he got the $40 from. He didn’t want to tell me but I forced it out. What was the beer for? Your dad? He doesn’t need anymore of that shit you know, he’s turning out like Frank-“ “Don’t ever compare my Dad to yours. Ever. Your dads a lazy drunk-ass fuck who couldn’t give a shit less about his kids. Mine just likes to beat me the shit outta me sometimes. It’s different. Don’t lecture me.”

Now Lip looked suspicious. “Then what was it for?” “Why do you care?” “Cuz I know you. Last time you drank beer, you overdid it and almost got fucking alcohol poisoning. You can’t handle beer.” “Yes I can. Don’t tell me what to do. And actually, I drank like 7 last night. Cuz I’m not your child. And I can do whatever the hell I want. Stop acting like a fucking Dad, you drink too.” “But I don’t over drink. I’m not like Frank. You are. You can’t handle it. Just because you’re jealous about Karen doesn’t mean you should cope with alcohol-“ “Oh my god, shut the fuck up, you narcissistic asshole! Shut up! I’m not fucking jealous of your whore! I’ll drink if I want and fuck if I want and smoke if I want and I don’t need your permission! You made your choice. You picked Karen. Leave, now! I’m coming by later to hang with Ian, so you and the whore better not be there. You’re lucky my dad left for work or he’d have kicked your ass for knocking so loud. Fuck you. Have a nice day.” And you shut the door in his face before he could reply.

Your face was now red from anger. Your hands shaking, you went upstairs, threw up in the bathroom, took some more Tylenol and then curled up on your bed, staring at the ceiling. Fuck him. God, he was so condescending. That was the first time he’d talked to you in a couple of months and it was to scold you like a child for drinking. He drank too. He did all of this shit too. He had done that shit with you so many times you couldn’t even count. What was his problem? Your lip quivered as you felt tears forming. You thought about how close the two of you used to be.

Swinging together behind your house, sneaking into each other’s rooms to cuddle and talk about your shitty lives, watching the stars and whispering to each other, sneaking into movies, shoplifting candy bars and fizzy drinks to eat as you sat in his car to watch the sunrise or the sunset. He was your best friend and your first love and your rock and he was everything. All you had besides Ian, except Ian didn’t kiss you or hold your hand like Lip did. Lip was a boyfriend without the commitment, a lover without the title. And you adored him. It had been this way for 2 years, since you were 14 and he was 15. And then, 3 months ago, just a month before he abandoned you, it all came to a peak. The most amazing moment of your life.

The two of you had snuck out at 3 in the morning on a warm, starry night, each armed with snacks and a flashlight, along with blankets and pillows. You met underneath the train tracks, and laid out the pillows and blankets into a small makeshift bed. Lip pulled you down onto the pallet, hugging you close and pulled the blanket over you, and you laid in his arms and watched the trains go by. During a quiet moment, he whispered that you were beautiful, and kissed you, and, after a few moments, you let him make love to you right there under the tracks as trains went by. He took your virginity and then held you as you fell asleep, stroking your hair and whispering to you as you dozed.

You started crying. It had been only 3 months ago. 3 months. And now things were so different. That had been the only time you had sex, but it was still fresh in your mind. You had been so sure that he would ask you out afterwards, but he never did. And it had stung a little. But you put up with it because you liked him. And then, a month later, he met Karen. He bragged to you about the hummer she gave him, and then had Ian go to get one too, even though Ian was gay. He started dropping plans to hang with Karen, and talked about how great of a fuck she was when he did make time for you, and eventually stopped coming to hang all together. And it hurt so fucking bad. Why weren’t you good enough? You lay on your bed, curled up in the fetal position, and cried. Just laid there and sobbed until your eyes were tired and your throat was sore.

You passed out for about 2 hours, woke up. showered off, changed clothes and went to go meet with Ian. Fiona opened the door, hugged you, and asked how you had been. After you caught up for a minute, you asked where Ian was and went up to his room. Sure enough, he was sprawled out on his bed with a magazine in his hand, which he tossed aside when he saw you. “H-hey. Listen, sorry I told Lip but he kept asking where I got the money and I’m not a great lier and-“ “it’s okay, dude, chill! All he did was try to lecture me anyway. Who does that little bitch think he is, telling me what to do? Screw him.” Ian grimaced. “He’s just worried. You used to have to be convinced to even take a sip of something and now you’re out buying 12-packs for yourself. He just doesn’t want you to turn out like-“ “Like Frank. I know, I know. But it’s none of his concern. He left me. He should focus on his bimbo and leave me alone.”

The conversation ended. You sat with Ian and ate cookies as he talked about Mickey and how he was going to Mandy’s to see him more often. Mandy had no qualms with kissing a gay man, so her and Ian were fake dating to have a beard for Ian. You made a sexual joke about taking it up the ass, and Ian laughed and shoved your arm. After a minute of silence when the laughter died down, Ian spoke up. “He misses you, you know.” “Mickey?” “No. Lip. He mentioned you a couple days ago.” Your heart dropped. “What’d he say?” “He said he took Karen to the train tracks like him and you used to do, and it wasn’t as fun. Just said he missed you. Oh, and yesterday Fiona said she missed your pot roast you used to make us on Friday’s and Lip said he did too, so that counts I guess.”

You rolled your eyes. “I’ll make you guys pot roast still. Just won’t eat with you guys.” Ian rolled over into his back and then sat up. “(Y/n). You and Lip need to sort this shit out. I miss you. Everyone misses you. He’s a dickhead and I know that and everyone else knows it. But you need to call him out for it. Make him apologize. Debbie and Carl and Fiona and I miss you a lot. And I’m sure Lip does too even if he acts like he doesn’t think about you. You were different than Karen. You were his best friend. Karen’s just a fuck buddy who he hangs out with sometimes. I’m not saying you should try to go out with him, you could fuck any guy you want really. But just talk it out. Please?”

You stared at the ground for a long minute. You thought it over. As bitter as you were, Ian was right. And you missed being with the Gallagher family. After a moment, you sighed, and relented. “Okay. I’ll confront him. But only for you and Fiona and them. Okay? Now shut up about it.” Ian half smiled and slung an arm around your shoulder. “Thank you. Good luck, yeah? He’ll be home in a few minutes, confront him then.” You agreed, and then the two of you listened to a CD as you waited for Lip to get home.

When the bedroom door swung open, you didn’t dare look. But you didn’t have to anyway. “(Y/n)?” You didn’t look up. Ian looked from you to Lip awkwardly and got up. “I have to go...Uh...do homework. Yeah.” He left the room, and neither you nor Lip moved. “What are you doing here?” You couldn’t answer. You just looked at the ground. “(Y/n), look. I get that you’re upset at me. But you need to let it go. You and I never dated. You’re being jealous over nothing. I’ll try to hang out with you more but you and I were just friends and I don’t know why you thought it was more than that.” Your head snapped up. “What the fuck did you just say?” Lip, sensing he had said the wrong thing, went silent. You slowly stood up.

“You don’t know why I thought it was more than that? Are you fucking serious? Do you actually not get it? Are you that fucking stupid?” Lip said nothing, and you stepped closer, voice rising. “I thought we were more because you acted like we were! You held my fucking hand and kissed me and told me I was beautiful and literally put your fucking dick inside me under the train you took that Karen bitch to! You took my fucking virginity! Of course I thought we were more! I was always there for you! Always! I listened to every single problem and massaged your shoulders when they tensed up and snuck around with you and risked being beaten for you! I was a part of this family! I helped out Fiona and played with Debbie and Carl and punched Frank when he hurt Ian and i loved your family so much and I was always there! And then you tossed me aside like I was a piece of garbage the second that Karen blew you!”

Lip looked remorseful. “(Y/n), I-“ “No! Shut up! It’s my turn to speak. I’m glad I didn’t try to ask what we were a few months ago, cuz I know exactly what you would have said.” Your voice took on a mocking tone as you continued. “You would have said that you liked me, really you did, but you just weren’t ready for a big experience like commitment! And you’d apologize condescendingly for leading me on like that. But you still would be down to fuck because of course you would! Cuz you’re Lip fucking Gallagher and you screw whoever you want, right? That’s all you’re in it for, right? Fuck you! Fuck you so fucking much! You lead me on and then kicked me aside for someone who’d be more open to fuck whenever you wanted, right? Screw you!”

Lip went to speak, but you had one more thing to say. “And by the way, Lip, I’m not letting your dickhead-ness stop me from hanging out with your family. I miss Ian and Fiona and Debbie and Carl. So I’ll still be here. For dinners and babysitting and for Ian. But you won’t be talking to me. Or sitting with me. Or even looking at me. You will leave me alone and let me be at peace without trying to toy with me again. I’m sick and tired of your shit. Be with your whore and leave me alone.” You turned to leave. “(Y/n).” You turned back to look at him. “Yeah?” “I’m sorry.” That was all he said. And it was all he needed to say. His eyes said it all. You nodded. “I know. Goodbye, Lip.” And with that, you turned and walked out of the room, and didn’t look back.

Remember to make requests. This was just an emotional piece, a vent piece. I take requests for one shots, headcanons, imagines, anything. Mostly x reader only, but I do angst fics exploring unrequited love and stuff like that. Like and reblog and send criticism!

[ill-skillsgard]

Damn Straight, Part 3 - Bill Skarsgård

Title: Damn Straight

Description: Deceptions bring a young couple to Mirth Island, a place of natural beauty and the promise of inner healing. When one of them is introduced to a young man who lives on the island, their budding friendship threatens to destroy more than just trust.

Warning: 18+ sex/swearing/drug use/mentions of addiction and cheating

Part 1 Part 2

A week sailed drowsily by on Mirth Island and I had managed to attend at least one circle each day. Most of the time Cici came with me but once she started giving voice to small mundane complaints it quickly sucked the joy out of the whole concept for me. Instead of sitting, relaxing and breathing in unison, she would grunt and sigh, eager for it to be over. I found that I could not talk about anything that had been bugging me. I decided, in order to salvage the entire therapeutic value of the trip that I would ask her to stop coming with me. "Excuse me?" Cici demanded, hands balled on her hips after I tried to casually suggest she sit the next few circles out. We were in our suite when I told her. It was just before sunset and I wanted to go to the last circle of the day. Sunset Circle was always accompanied by fire and bled into roaming the beach and possibly drinking afterward. They were definitely the most fun. "Well you just don't seem to like them so why would you want to go?" I asked her, trying to keep it nonchalant. "Because we're supposed to do these things as a couple, remember? That was the whole point of us coming here?" "The point of us coming here was so I could get help and it's no help if you're there picking every little thing apart," I replied, my frustration becoming evident in my tone. "I just don't get what you mean when you say some of the things that you do. Like how you're confused about who you are? There's nothing confusing about it. You're a sex addict. What is there to be confused about?" I scowled at her with as much disdain as I could possibly convey. The line that I drew for her bullshit was swiftly approaching. "Maybe it goes a little deeper than that. Maybe I need help with figuring some shit out and it might not require your help at all! I just need... I need a fucking break from the constant judgment. I came here to find a way out of the fucking endless pit I'm falling down! I don't need you standing above me with a shovel!" Cici retracted and instead of matching my anger she began to sob. This was the manipulation tactic that I was used to. I could pinpoint the moment she actually shed real tears but whether they were true or forced, I wasn't going to give in. Not this time. "So I'm smothering you now? Over twenty years and all of a sudden you're being smothered?" I was quiet for a moment as I searched for the right thing to say. "You're not the only one who wants to take a razor to their wrists, Cici. So just let me do what I need to do." "Fuck you!" She howled, loud enough for others to hear, I was certain. "I'm going to sit in a fucking circle and talk to other people about my problems. Cry all you want. Break shit. Just remember that you are the one who wanted me to come here. I'm doing this for us." Tears poured down her cheeks and she sobbed uncontrollably. I picked up a sweater and threw it on as I left through the back door, making sure to close it on my way out so nobody could hear her crying. I started down the path and stopped abruptly when I saw Bill there smoking a cigarette, head bowed until I approached. When he looked up at me it was apparent that he had heard the exchange Cici and I just had. "You all right?" He asked me, exhaling a cloud of smoke that quickly got whisked away with the cool island breeze. I stared out over the water and saw the sun sinking into the inky fluid of the ocean. The sky was like a painter's pallet, alive with smears of aubergine, plums, and tangerines in no particular order. It was a never-ending stretch of the most beautiful arrays of colour that I had ever seen and my partner was too busy screeching about herself to enjoy it by my side. I felt my heart sink with the realization. "Were we that loud?" I asked him, ashamed and uneasy. "Don't worry about it. The wind carries the sound away." "I'm so sorry." Bill took one last deep drag of his cigarette, the tip lighting up bright orange like the setting sun. "Hey, it's okay. I've heard worse here. Much worse." I chuckled, "Jesus, that wasn't even bad for us either." He flicked away the butt of his cigarette. "Do you guys fight a lot?" With a deep exhale I shrugged. "I guess so. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a daily thing." "Are you going to a circle?" Bill asked. "Yeah, I was planning on it." He turned on his heels towards the beach and extended his elbow for me to hook my arm through. I felt my face squish up with bashfulness but I strode up to him anyway. He was much taller than me so I felt silly, like a child and a parent but I didn't care. I would take every ounce of human kindness that I could possibly get and relish it. "I haven't been to one in a long time, let's go." He admitted. "Really?" "I try not to let them suck my secrets out. They're very good at it," Bill said matter-of-factly. "You don't have to tell your secrets." I pointed out. Bill leaned closer to me with this innocent little smile on his lips. "Ah yes, but doesn't it feel good to let it out sometimes?" Almost everyone in the circle around the fire cheered when they saw Bill and I approaching. Most people knew Bill already and I was getting to know more of the guests each day. "No Cici tonight, Vye?" Susie asked from her cross-legged position in the sand beside Emilio. "No. Just a Bill tonight I guess." I giggled. We took a seat in the sand next to Susie and Emilio and got into the same position. Nina was leading the circle that night, a Spanish woman with a supermodel physique and a lavishly low voice that was as soothing as it was sexy. I had grown to like the circle leaders a lot. They were always so poised and calm. Nina began the circle by asking us to extend our hands out in front of us as though we were accepting a large gift. "Imagine the Earth is giving you something. It can be anything; a puppy, a big juicy watermelon, a hug or just what you need to get yourself through the tough times. It can be undying love. Unconditional and bountiful love. Earth is always trying to take care of you. We owe her the same." I peeked over at Bill who had his long arms extended out, palms up towards the fire. He didn't have his eyes closed and neither did I and when he noticed he pursed his lips playfully at me. We went around in the circle giving voice to our inner fears and when it came around to me I took a deep breath in, savoring the smokiness of the fire mixed with the salt of the ocean. "I am afraid of opening up. I am afraid of change. I have carved a path for myself that I'm not sure I want to continue down." My eyes were shut but the crackling fire cast orange through my eyelids. The raucous voice of the ocean seemed to be all around me and for a moment I forgot where I was. "We hear you, Vye. You are not afraid. You are here with us and you are baring your heart to the Earth. You have already taken the steps down a new path. Know that there is endless love waiting for you to come to find it." Nina's voice carried across the circle to me without skipping a beat. It baffled me how they always knew the right thing to say. Tuning out all other voices, I thought of what Nina said about how I had already started down the steps of a new path. In a way she was right. I was doing what I could to help myself, silencing the negative voices constantly screaming in my head, shutting it all down until I was left with nothing but my shorn self, ready to regrow and flourish like a brand new garden. I didn't care if Cici thought the circles were pointless. They had a point to me and after the conclusion, more wood was put on the fire. Some people left and some people stayed. I chose to stay after Susie had suggested it and made mention of a full moon celebration. Intrigued by what that entailed, I remained on the beach with her, Emilio, Bill, and some others. Blankets and beer were brought down to the beach as well as a shift in everyone's attitude. We had all gone from calm and serene to rowdy and perhaps a little obnoxious. I sat drinking a beer beside Bill who had hardly left my side the entire time. Susie had gone off to retrieve something that she deemed absolutely necessary to get the full moon celebration underway. Leaning over towards Bill I asked, "what exactly is a full moon celebration?" "Oh, you know... A little of this and that. Maybe but not entirely centered around consuming tea that may or may not be laced with something that could make you feel a little... Loose." "Loose? Like, how loose?" I asked with curiosity peaked. Bill sucked air through his teeth and rubbed his palms together with a smile. "I don't know, you want to find out?" Susie came back down the beach holding a ceramic jug with Cici trailing behind her. My partner had a lilt in her step that told me she had been doing some drinking back in the suite. That could have been a good thing or very bad but when I saw both her and Susie smiling I breathed a sigh of relief. "Where's my fucking girlfriend?" Cici hollered. Bill pointed at me as we both twisted around to see them approaching. Cici skipped ahead of Susie, kicking up sand as she careened towards me and fell into my lap like a sack of rocks. "Jesus, Cici, be careful," I admonished while Bill sat beside me laughing. She sprawled over me and spilled over onto Bill's lap drunkenly. He laughed while I shook my head. "Hey listen, listen..." Cici drawled. "I know you are mad at me but look, hey, we can still have a good time, right? Look, I'm having a good time." "Looks like you're having the best time," Bill pointed out. "Yes! Hey, hey, Vye..." She carried on as she tried to sit up in my crossed legs. "I know you hate me right now." "No, I don't. Don't say that." "Nobody hates anybody here!" Susie exclaimed, standing before us with the jug in her grip. "Tonight we give ourselves over to the full moon!" Everyone quieted down as Susie held the ceramic pitcher high in the air. The fire roared behind her, illuminating her like a titian Goddess draped with a silky fringed sarong and no shoes on her feet, bangle bracelets jingling as she rose the jug higher. "Tonight, my beauties, is the night we open our hearts, our minds and our third eyes to the love of the Moon! For just as we bask in the warmth of the Sun, we must pay tribute to her sister who is as full and complete as she can possibly be. Oh, guardian of the night sky, we drink to your praise!" Susie drank deeply from the jug and everybody clapped for her, including myself even though I was still on the fence about consuming an unknown liquid that Bill ambiguously described as having loosening qualities. Susie then went around, tipping the jug to whoever would partake. Cici shot up and took a turn as I watched on, slack-jawed and impressed. The liquid dribbled down her chin and neck and after she swallowed she threw her arms in the air and howled at the moon. Like a celestial floating figure, peaceful and God-like, Susie approached Bill and me who had been sitting on the same blanket observing all of the ritualistic high jinks taking place around the fire. Susie took a slow step forward towards Bill and held the jug close to his face. His big eyes looked up and I could see the glowing reflection of the moon glistening inside them. Susie held the rim of the vessel to Bill's open lips and he drank, larynx bobbing with every languid swallow. When he came away satiated, one single drop of liquid slid down his bottom lip that he wiped away with the back of his palm. After Bill, Susie turned to me. "Vye?" She asked. My heart hammered so hard I could hear it but I closed my eyes, opened my mouth and drank the bitter liquid. When Susie took the jug away from my mouth she beamed down on me and sang, "Have fun darling." It didn't take long for me to begin to feel different and I wasn't the only one. Cici had made it her mission to tell everyone that she loved them. Some of us sprawled over the woven blankets to look up at the night sky and some wandered away to sink their feet and hands into the sand and dance in the lapping tide. About five feet away from where I was sitting I saw Emilio and Susie kissing each other slowly which grabbed not only my attention but Cici's as well. In my mind's fog, I swore I saw them take notice of my girlfriend sitting there watching them. Susie extended her thin arm, inviting Cici closer. The couple each had a hazy, sexually-charged look on their faces and I couldn't believe my eyes when Cici began to kiss Susie. I did nothing but watch until Bill laughed and put his arm around me, soundlessly encouraging me to stop paying them any attention, cutting me off from the view of them. My body temperature fluctuated. I went from feeling hot in all my muscles to shivering as though ice water was being poured down my back. My mouth was stuck in a permanent smile. I had remembered feeling like this after taking a pill in a club once on Cici's twentieth birthday. Bill leaned into me and rested his head on mine. The arm he had slung around me pulled me closer and the hand that was free was fidgeting so I threaded my fingers through his. The feeling of my skin on someone else's skin was amazing and electrifying and any thought I attempted to have about pulling away was thwarted quickly by the fuzzy warmth and need to be close to him. I chanced one more look over at Susie, Emilio, and Cici and felt this roil in my stomach when I saw them all laying together, hands and limbs entangled in ways that were certainly not monogamous. "How are you feeling?" Bill asked, voice low so our conversation remained as private as possible. "I don't know, I feel so weird. Like my insides are swirling together like melted ice cream," I laughed. "Do you want to go somewhere else?" He asked me. "Where?" Bill pointed towards the gentle undulating ocean. I prickled at the thought of water and cringed into him closer. "The ocean? You want to go in, like right now? What if there are sharks or... Jellyfish?" "We don't have to go in. Come on," Bill said as he stood up, offering me his hand so I could get up too. The rush that I got from standing up so quickly made me nearly topple over but I had Bill there for support. Gentle, tall, loving Bill. He put his arm around my shoulders again and I appreciated his warmth so much that it almost brought me to tears. We left the other guests around the dwindling fire and walked together towards the water. The full moon above the endless valley of waves was so beautiful I had to cover my mouth for a moment. In the distance, we could see a boat with its lights on and the realization that I was one single person on a floating island in the middle of the ocean was overwhelming. I felt that shift of cold and hot in my muscles and it felt like I was turning to liquid. When I told Bill the way I was feeling he bent down, encircled his arms below my hips and lifted me up off the sand. I hooked my ankles behind him and laughed as he stood on the shore holding me up like a child. It felt good to be close to him. He clung to me lovingly, his thumb drawing circles on my lower back as he carried me forward. He walked us into the slick part of the sand so the tide could kiss at his feet and then retreat back into the gulf. "This is amazing. I feel amazing!" I exclaimed. "Do you want me to put you down?" He asked. Being put down meant no more closeness and I was feeling rather magnetic like I was being drawn to him and I could not let go. I shook my head and he said, "all right. This is nice anyway." Suddenly the warmth kicked into gear and hit me hard. The swirling in my stomach started to feel less like melted ice cream and more like boiling lava. I pulled back to look at Bill in the moonlight. I had never met anyone that looked quite like him. At first, I had tried to assure myself that even though he was good-looking, that should have made no difference in whether I pursued his friendship with any more or less effort. However, at that moment as I stared at him, I thought he may have been one of the most gorgeous people that I had ever met. His big eyes bore into my soul like two icy green knives, his smile... Irresistible. On top of that, he was so kind and worried about me that I couldn't help but swoon, especially then as he held me up, ankle-deep in the water. The intoxication I was feeling started to fling away each and every inhibition that I had ever felt. I framed his face between my hands and stared at him, admiring his Scandinavian beauty, imagining what it would be like to kiss his lips. Then I realized that I didn't have to imagine it if I didn't want to. I kissed him once and the feeling of gently biting into those luscious lips was excruciatingly delicious. He kissed me back instead of pulling away like I feared he might. "I'm sorry," I said. "You are just so... Beautiful." He flashed me a bit of that sprightly grin. "I'm sorry I am so beautiful." I cracked up with laughter and hugged him. He shifted my weight and adjusted his arms underneath the backs of my thighs so I wouldn't slip down. "I'm sorry about what you are going through. I know it's tough right now and you probably think there is no way out but I promise you, there is." My smile faded as he said those words to me and I couldn't help but fawn over the thought that maybe he had been resisting the urge to say that to me for a while. I wanted to kiss him again just for saying those words. "Don't say things like that right now, you're going to make me fall in love!" His expression straightened and he looked up at me with intensity. I combed my fingers through his soft hair, exposing his face to the moonlight. Every feature he had was awash with silver fluorescence from his voluptuous lips to his pointed nose and impossibly huge eyes. I thought to myself that there was no one like him anywhere except for here and for that night, he was mine. "Then fall in love. That's what we do here." He said before closing his eyes and catching me off guard with another kiss. When his arms started to weaken he gently set me down in front of him, the wet sand sucking me in only slightly. He was so tall that he had to lean down to reach my face. We didn't stay like that for long until he decided to sit at the edge of the tide, pulling me down to sit in his lap. We kissed for what seemed like forever until a voice of reason in the back of my head started to set off alarms. Even then I couldn't help but touch his neck and trace the line of his jaw. I wanted the voice to be quiet but before I could shut it up myself, Bill pulled away from our embrace. "I'm afraid that I might take this too far." He rasped. "We can stop," I assured. Bill laid back completely in the sand and brought me down with him so that I was resting right on top of him, my temple to his broad chest. His arms encircled me and he sighed up into the air. The waves lapped at our feet as we laid there, hearts beating and breath hurried. It was only then I realized what we had just done and that should have made me go cold but I hardly felt a pang of regret. "I want you to know that I will be here for you if you need me." Bill's whisper was as gentle as the breeze. "Thank you. You have no idea how much that means to me." I spoke into the front of his shirt, palm flat on his broad chest. He raked one hand through my hair. "Whatever it is. Whenever. My door is never locked." We stayed like that for a while, until a voice ripped through the night like a hot knife. A voice that was yelling my name. I looked up when I realized it was Cici crying out for me. By the time she had located us, it was too late for me to pretend like I wasn't just laying on top of Bill. If it weren't for the fact that we were both fully clothed it could have looked a lot worse but it still wasn't the most innocent way to be found. I prayed it was too dark for us to be seen. "What the fuck are you two doing?" She asked, voice growing louder as she stomped down towards us. "Nothing," was the only thing I could think of to say as I scrambled to my feet. Bill did the same and stood there beside me looking positively terrified of Cici. Sand fell off of our wet clothes and I filled my lungs with air in preparation of having to explain myself to her but she just grabbed me by the wrist and started pulling. "We're going. NOW!" She hammered. I was rooted in the sand so she gave my arm another yank. "Let's go!" She pulled and I yielded with obvious reluctance. After a few steps onto dryer sand, I looked back at Bill who stayed where he was. I could not see his face against the darkness of the water and he grew smaller and smaller as Cici pulled me away. The icy feeling returned and I shivered, missing the warmth already. "We are never doing that again!" Cici said when we were far enough from the beach to not be heard. "What do you mean?" I asked her. She used all her might to slide open the patio door. I didn't much feel like going inside but I was afraid to invoke anymore of her wrath so I followed her in. She shook her head and paced for a moment. "This is just dumb. I don't like this at all." "Why?" "All these fucking breeders getting all horny and fucking. It's disgusting. And you... What the fuck were you doing to Bill?" "I didn't do anything, we were just laying there. I'm just... high as a fucking kite. I didn't think you would care." Cici got right up in my face. I couldn't tell if she was drunker or higher but the mixture of the two brought out a rage in her that almost had me shrinking back. Almost. "You didn't think I would care that you were rolling around in the fucking sand with some guy? Please, please explain to me your thought process because I am having a hard time trying not to lose my shit on you." I was speechless for too long before she decided to explode. "You were going to fuck him, weren't you!?" "No!" "Yes, you were! You were going to fucking do it again, weren't you? I see the way you two look at each other when you think nobody is watching! Do you think I'm some fucking idiot?" I crossed my arms and scowled. "You're fucking crazy. I wasn't planning on fucking him, not even close. You were all fucking over Susie and Emilio so we left. Simple as that." "You want him. I know it. You want everyone that isn't me!" "That's fucking dumb. Stop acting like a child." I scoffed. "Then why haven't we had sex in weeks? Months! Why won't you lay a fucking finger on me, huh? What is really going on with you Vye?" I started to get shaken up. The drugs in my system were not reacting well with the situation before me. It was hard to control my emotions and that freaked me out considerably. I knew I had to reign myself in quickly. "I don't know what is going on with me but you have made it your life's fucking mission to prevent me from figuring that out. You are selfish and spoiled and you don't give a fuck whether I am teetering on the edge of blowing my own fucking brains out or not. You just want Cici's perfect life and if something or someone doesn't fit into that you throw a tantrum like the fucking child you have always been. You think that I need therapy? You are a fucking sociopath, Cici. You are destroying any chance that we might have to fix our relationship and that's the fucking truth." Her silence was nothing but calm. I could see the anger bubbling up in her like a kettle on a stove getting ready to shriek at the top of her lungs. But she didn't start screaming, she only balled her fists and looked up at me through tears brimming around her lashes. "You... You are a fucking disgusting, chlamydia-ridden, cock-hungry fucking FAKE lesbian whore and I hope that you enjoy the rest of your stay here because I am going home tomorrow without you. You can stay here on this fucking rock and suck all the cock you want because I am DONE pretending to love you." Cici whipped around, grabbed her tote bag, shoved her feet into her Birkenstock sandals, threw open the door and slammed it shut with enough force to set the picture frames to swinging as she left. I stood there in the middle of the room with my mouth open, the terrible feeling of my drug-riddled nervous system unsure whether to feel ice cold or scorching hot. I sat down on the bed slowly, swallowed hard and replayed the scene over and over in my head like she was still there. That was it, I thought. That was the fight to end all fights. The ugly, honest truth had finally revealed its hideous face.

[pajarosparadisos]

A little #yoga & some #hiking in the #mountains in #boulder to cleanse the pallet #holiday #mountain #colorado #lookout #flagstaffmountain #sunset #hike #pastel #sky #peaks #vacation (at Flagstaff Mountain) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrgP5DJl45B/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=bvz5ylfmxx01

[mint-ydreams]

A fic I did back in February! So... Here it is~! I’ll try and post more often 

- -

The sounds of waves crashing into the shoreline calmed Lance’s peaking nerves. His soft eyes were staring across the sea as the sunset cast a pallet of oranges, reds, blues, and purples onto the gorgeous body of water. His small hands rested on the railing separating him and the drop into the sea lying below. The boy stood up straight, the blue jumper hiding his lean body from prying eyes. He lifted his camera up and leaned forward and with the click of a button, the shutter clicked, capturing the moment in an internal and beautiful prison. Locked away in such an elegant way.

“It’s so beautiful…” Shiro says quietly.

“It is…” Lance looked at him, “Hey Shiro?” He asked simply.

“Hm?” The male replies.

Lance looked down, “You won’t judge me if I tell you something? Something personal..?”

[g-w-3-d-damn]

Tricky Treats and Torture Candy (Loki’s Naughty Candy Shop)  Part 5

(Click here for Part 1) (Click here for Part 2) (Click here for Part 3) (Click here for Part 4)   Miss awoke to the scent of spa salts, Loki's sweat, and apples.  The clubhouse was dark, so Miss kept her eyes closed.  She snuggled into Loki's warm flesh beside her.  She ran her fingers through Loki's soft hair.  The length of Loki's hair transformed at sunset to long wisps that reached past the collarbone.  Loki turned to face Miss, who buried her face in Loki's warm, soft, voluptuous chest.

In a state of sudden mild confusion, Miss felt Loki's chest.  Miss discovered two, large, round breasts in place of Loki's smooth, scrawny flat chest.  Miss jerked her face from Loki's bosom to look up into her doe-like eyes.

"Loki?" Miss asked.

"We haven't formally met I suppose, but yes, it's me," Loki said.

"Uh, hi," Miss said.

"Hi," Loki said.  

Neither of them moved.  The elevator door opened after some time, and a pair of mannequins strolled inside, each carried a clean change of uniform for the pair.  Loki's red lips smirked.  She rose from the couch, stripped, and waded into the spa.    The mannequins busied themselves, pampered Loki.  They massaged treatment into her scalp and manicured her nails, hand by feminine hand.  Loki kicked her toes through the bubbles at the surface of the water.

"Feels like it takes forever to get the boy sweat off me," she said.

Miss failed to respond.

"You're awfully quiet all of a sudden," Loki said, "don't be rude."

"I, hey, first off, you wouldn't like me if I wasn't rude, and secondly I'm not being rude I'm just in shock," Miss said.

"Really? What part of this shocks you?" Loki said.

"The part where I'm not sure you're the same person," Miss said.

"You were with me the whole time," Loki said.

"But I didn't see the change," Miss said, "last time you changed, I watched you change."

"I'm under the distinct impression you dislike this change," Loki said.

"I'm just not sure how much changed," Miss said.

Loki smiled, her white teeth shockingly contrasted against her seductive candy-apple red lips.

"Well, clearly, quite a bit of physiology changed while I lounged in your arms," Loki said.

"Clearly, but if it's still you, I have some questions," Miss said.

"Shoot," Loki said.

"I'll be right back," Miss said.

Miss returned to the club house with the toys they'd just used.  She pointed the thruster toy towards Loki's face.

"What were your plans for this thing, exactly?" she said.

Loki shrugged.

"As a man or as a woman?" she asked.

"Uh, now that you mention it, both," Miss asked.

"Double penetration fantasies, frottage... I was going to try to line my cock up with it and wrap the whole thing in a tenga egg, and, well, I have other plans for it as a woman but nothing I can speak of a the moment."

"See, so then it is yours, you wanted it for you, you should have kept it it," Miss said.

"I can get another one," Loki said, "by the time I order it they'll maybe even have one that's backdoor safe."

"Okay, so it is you, it's totally you, you watched me get off," Miss said.

"Is that a problem?" Loki said.

"Nah, I just wanted to know who I was dealing with," Miss said, "you still want to fuck the shit out of Thor, right?"

"Yes. That is the plan," Loki said.

"Am I part of this plan?" Miss asked.

"If you want to be," Loki said.

"Fuck yes!" Miss said.

Miss showered and dressed quickly.  Her uniform was similar to the candyshop uniform, only the candy apple red polo shirt with the Torture Candy logo differed.  She watched Loki fuss with the mannequins over which garters to wear.  Loki, too, wore the black hip-hugging slacks and uniform candyapple red polo.  Her belt gleamed with red plastic rubies.  Loki paired her red polo with candy apple stilettos, in contrast to Miss' black sneakers.  Loki's overt belt buckle shone with the same conspicuous gold as the clasps on her shoe straps.  The buckle read Torture Candy in bold, glamorous cursive. Loki accentuated her ears with many gold and red earrings, most notably the candy apple red handcuff dangle earrings.  A mannequin popped her head in with a squeak.

"Eckegg?" the mannequin asked.

"Oh shit, is that the time?  Let's go!" Loki said.

Loki grabbed a red ringbox and pulled Miss towards the elevator door.  The pair crashed into a mannequin carrying an armload of pink heart shaped boxes, filled with chocolate covered cherries.  

"Eckin' Eck..." the mannequin cursed.

"I'm truly sorry," Loki said, "what is this?"

The mannequin took Loki by the wrist and guided the pair down the stairs. At the bottom, the mannequin waved her arms at the two pallets full of pink heart shaped boxes.  Loki covered her heart with her hands.

"You did all this while we went and fucked off all day?" Loki asked.

The mannequins nodded.

Loki kissed each mannequin on the cheek, leaving behind a candy-apple red lip print.

"Oh... My... Word... You... Are... All... Too... Sweet!" she said, punctuating her words with kisses.

Loki spun the mirror that sat on the counter near the register and re-applied her lip gloss as the mannequins took their final positions and froze.

"Now, as long as that witch drops by to pick this stuff up soon, we'll be sitting pretty for when Thor swings by a little later," Loki said.

"How sure are you that Thor is coming?" Miss asked.

"Candy shop was closed today, and I'm here tonight," Loki said, "It's a no-brainer."

Loki held the red ringbox, opened it in front of Miss.  A gold t-shaped tongue ring rested upon the white satin.  Loki wiggled her eyebrows at Miss with a smirk.  The bell jingled as the open signs came alight.  Loki put her face close to the mirror, opened her red lips wide.  Her long, obscene pink tongue curled from her mouth.  Its reflection curled back.  She slid the gold bar through the pierced muscle of her curling tongue until it peaked from beneath the slick fleshy underside.  She screwed the cap closed beneath the pink frenulum, drew her tongue into her mouth and swallowed.  She smirked at Miss.  The flesh beneath Loki's chin tensed as Loki rolled the tongue ring around in her mouth.  Miss heard the clicking of metal against teeth.  Loki bit down on the ring; it buzzed.  Loki presented the vibration to Miss by sticking the tongue ring toward her.

"That one looks cute in you," Miss said.

Loki's tongue curled sideways.  She drew the tongue ring in and bit it again, halting the vibration.  She swallowed once more.

"I know," she said.

Miss scratched her temple and leaned on her elbow.

"Not that this is the worst thing in the world, but the rest of it kinda looks like the 90s will be calling any minute looking to get their Hot Topic hooker back," Miss added.

Loki's eyes narrowed and her hip jutted.  

"At least I don't look like I'm about to deliver a fucking pizza.  Look at you, what's with those sneakers?" Loki said.

"Rude. I happen to like pizza, sneakers, and Hot Topic hookers," Thor said.

"I'm going to kill that bell," Loki muttered beneath her breath.

The belated bell chimed in mockery. Loki wheeled to face Thor.  Her long, styled hair spun out and recollected itself around her bare collar with grace.

"Well hello, stranger!" Loki crooned.

Thor smiled, refused to hide the gleam in his eye.

"Hello, Loki," Thor said.

"You're unusually chipper," Loki said.

"Am I?" Thor said.

He said this with a flirty facial expression of clear adoration.

"Oh! Right, I heard you got engaged, congrats!" Loki said.

He waved towards the two pallets of pink and red hearts.

"Apparently I'm not the only one," he said.

Loki gave an exasperated sigh.

"Yes," she said, "this wedding is going to be the biggest pain in the ass of my life."

Thor laughed.  

"Could be worse," he said, "it could be your wedding!"

Miss and Loki stared at Thor.  Both remained tight-lipped.  The gleam faded from Thor's eyes.  He pointed at Loki.

"Oh," he said, “so, you’re marrying Loki.  Wow, that’s a bit confusing.”

Loki shook off the awkward silence with a shiver, smiled with a false brightness, and picked a bit of string from Thor's broad shoulder.

"So, Thor, what brought you into the shop today?  Surely you didn't come just to see me," Loki said.

"Oh, you're well worth coming to see, Loki," Thor said, "even if you did go and get engaged on me."

Loki gritted her teeth.

"You started it," she lied, "How's your fiance?"

"Happy! She's very happy, thanks!  Well, I mean, except, ah nevermind," Thor said.

"Come now, you know I'm keeping a laundry list of your secrets long enough to wrap this pallet with, don't you nevermind me!" Loki said.

"Well, the candy shop was closed today for some reason," Thor said, "and I just have to bring my fiance back something for tonight. But why were you closed?"

"Loki got himself suspended, and there was no one to work the register," Miss said.

Loki's eyebrows lifted, and she pointed towards Miss with a single candy-apple lacquered nail, as if to compliment Miss on her quick wit while throwing Thor off the scent.

"Oh, that's too bad," Thor said, "will the shop be open tomorrow?"

"Yes," Loki said, "Miss will be filling in for my fiance until he's off suspension."

"Goddamnit, I was hoping you'd say, fuck, nevermind, Will he be coming back?"

Loki and Miss exchanged glances.

"Why does it matter," Miss asked him.

"Well, I mean, I like the guy, I know he's made some mistakes on my orders before but I never wanted him in any trouble for it," Thor explained.

"Curious," Loki said, "I don't think that's the whole story.  Do you, Miss?"

"Yeah probably not, Loki, don't distrust your instincts," Miss said.

"What?" Thor asked.

"Miss mentioned that she thought she saw you checking out my fiance," Loki said.

Thor shot Miss a look.  The disapproving look said everything the pair needed to know.

“Oh, So, it's true!” Loki said.

Loki stepped from behind the counter and walked her stiletto heels right up to Thor's toes.  Thor leaned back with his hands up and his fingers splayed.

"I'm sorry, I had no idea you two were engaged, I’ve never seen you together," Thor apologized.

Loki looked down her delicate nosebridge at Thor.

"I'm not sure I should forgive you," Loki said.

"Is there anyway I can make it up to you?" Thor asked.

"Maybe," Loki said.

"What is it, tell me," Thor said.

"I just want the honest truth," Loki said.

"That is the honest truth," Thor said.

"But it wasn't all of it," Loki said.

"It, well..."

“So, can you tell me what you want to do to my future husband?”

Miss' eyes went wide.  She hyperfocused on the sudden tension in Thor's throat to distract herself from the growing tension in Thor's pants. Miss slipped behind the register and dipped down until her nosebridge disappeared.  Thor huffed deep and Miss followed suit in a silent gasp.

"You're hesitating," Loki said, "it must be something truly infuriating."

"I hope not, but I suspect so," Thor said.

"I assure you I'll be far more infuriated by your utter silence than whatever base fantasy you had in mind in that tiny little brain," Loki said.

"Only if you promise he won't be in any more trouble," Thor said.

"He's marrying me, how much more trouble can he be in," Loki said.

"Good god I can't believe those are Facts, but they are, the lucky little son of a-" Thor said.

Loki flicked his chest with her candy apple manicure.

"Spill it," she said.

"Well," Thor said, "sometimes, he messes up my order pretty bad.  And I know he does it on purpose."

"He's already in trouble for that, and you're sidestepping the issue," Loki said.

"No no, it's, that's part of it," Thor said, "sometimes, when I know he does it on purpose, I fantasize about getting him back."

Loki grabbed his shirt.  Her nails grazed his chest as she pulled him toward the register counter.  Miss sank lower but would not stop staring at Thor.  Loki pulled out a stool and took a seat, directed him to sit as well.

"Please," Loki whispered, "tell me everything."

Thor stuttered.

"Please?" Loki said.

"Y-you're getting off on this," Thor accused.

"Meh, not yet," Loki admitted, "but I want to be.  So spill. Tell me what you see yourself doing to him, or just as good, tell me what you see him doing to you.  Please?"

Thor relaxed a bit.

"Well, it's, after he gives me some bad candy, I get hold of him," Thor said.

"Go on," Loki whispered.

"I mean that's pretty much it, he's naked, I'm fucking him," Thor said.

"Is he doing anything when you're fucking him?" Loki asked.

"Yeah, he's... Loki has his hands wrapped in my hair, and he's just screaming, right, it’s not a bad screaming, but he’s screaming, with his cock bouncin' between our bellies every time I pump my hips," Thor said.

A crash behind the register alerted the pair to the fact that Miss lost her footing.  Her hand waved above the counter.

"I'm okay I'm okay don't stop," Miss said.

Loki giggled.

"Okay, you were at, every time you pump your hips," Loki said.

"Right, yeah, I'm doing that, and I'm like, is this what you wanted when you sent me home with that nasty cherry bomb?  And he's like Ngh, yes! And that's, I mean, that's the gist of it," Thor said.

Thor's eyes lifted from his feet to discover Loki's labored breathing push and pull at Loki's heaving breasts.  He reluctantly looked higher, expecting to see her face contorted in anger.  Instead, her soft face blushed, flushed with desire.  Her doe like eyes twinkled.

"That's very sexy,” she said.

“You won't tell him, will you?” Thor asked.

“Of course not, you know I keep all the dirty secrets that come through this door,” she said.

“Do you hate me for it?”

“Do you want me to hate you for it?”

“No. I wouldn't mind seeing you angry, vengeful, possessive of him, but I don't want you to hate me.”

“Good because I can't hate you,” she said.

“That's good,”

"Unless you didn't really come here to shop.  Now buy something before I step on you and charge you for the service," Loki demanded.

"Oh, right! My girlf-fa-fiance!  Yeah, I uh, I'll just," Thor stammered.

Miss popped up from behind the counter.

"Need me to make a recommendation?" Miss asked.

"Well I mean whatever you recommend doesn't sound as fun as this lovely woman stepping on me, but sure," Thor said.

Loki laughed and gave Thor a high five.  Miss presented Thor with the same type of cherry flavored plug Loki had given her on her first day.

"The flavor lasts a long time, and the vibrations are really strong," Miss said, "you can still feel it really well all the way through your clothes."

"Hmmm, that sounds lovely, I'll take one," Thor said.

"Not that one, get him the candy apple flavored one," Loki said.

"Sure!" Miss said.  

Loki got behind the register, slipped a gold key from her pocket, and locked the cabinet beneath the register.  She slipped the key in her pants.  When Miss returned, Loki held her hand out towards Miss.

"Can I borrow your keys?" Loki said.

Miss lent Loki her keys.  Loki took the gold cabinet key and unlocked the cabinet, leaving Miss' keyring to dangle.  Loki took a pair of latex gloves from the cabinet.  She rolled them on, then opened the package with the candy apple flavored plug.  She took batteries from inside the cabinet, opened the package, tested the vibration of the toy. She removed the batteries, put the toy back in the box, and awaited Thor's payment.  He patted his left asscheek, and turned to go get his wallet.  As he turned, Loki dropped the box with the plug below the counter, took Miss's pepper spray from the keyring dangling in the cabinet, and shot it into the box.  Miss coughed and sputtered, the stinging scent of pepperspray filled the air.  Thor turned back around at the hissing sound, but turned to discover the toy in the box on the counter and Loki smiling behind it while Miss croaked, redfaced.  Thor made a sour face at Miss and held his breath, not wishing to catch whatever airway disease had afflicted Miss.  He patted his left asscheek once again and curiously rediscovered the bulge of his wallet.  He shrugged, pulled out his card, purchased the item and left swiftly without another word, before Miss could compose herself.  Miss swung her arms in warning about the tainted device, and Thor ignored her with the same sour look on his face.  The bell jingled to denote his absence, while Loki's wicked grin grew.

"What are you doing," Miss said between gasps for air.

Loki clasped her hands in front of her chin and shrugged her shoulders to her ears.

"Celebrating," Loki said.

Loki bounced up and down, clapped her hands and squealed.

"You can’t do that!  What's wrong with you," Miss said.

"I can't wait to replay the security camera on this one," Loki said.

"You could seriously hurt her with that shit!" Miss said.

"Pffft, so she ends up in the hospital, boo-hoo," Loki said.

"What if he uses it on himself?" Miss said.

Loki just laughed.

"I hope he tries it," she said.

Miss put on rubber gloves, disconnected the pepper spray from the rest of the keyring.  She held the pepper spray canister in one gloved hand, and took the glove off around it, containing it within the rubber glove.  She tied the glove, then repeated the process to wrap the gloved canister inside the other glove.  Then she threw the whole bit of nonsense away.

"You are friekin' crazy," Miss said, "I hope he doesn't sue."

The bell rang out in a frantic fit.  The mannequins tensed.  The door opened, to reveal Highness, dressed in dark cherry red satin and cashmere.

"Oh, ruin the moment, why don't you," Loki said.

"Darling, sweet, it is so good to see you again," Highness said.

Highness waved to the pallets of chocolate covered cherries.

"Oh my!  It looks like you took a dent out of that order!  Splendid and well done," Highness said.

"Yeah if you can get these out of my storefront, that'd be great," Loki said.

"Well I would have picked them up earlier but I'm afraid the candy shop was closed all day," Highness complained.

"Bitch put that in a memo and file it under 'no fucking shit,' okay?  Take your candy and get out," Loki demanded.

"Shouldn't we be planning our little merger?  I mean, there's nothing more satisfying than picking out what we'll wear on the big day!  I was thinking, for you, maybe a bright white gown with a nice bouquet of carnations and roses, and of course, cherry red lips," Highness said.

"How about over my dead body blue lips?" Loki spat.

"How about not," Miss interjected.

Highness drifted about the store, using only the tip of her fingernail to touch or manipulate the products.

"If it's all the same to you, get your cherries and get out," Loki said.

"It's not all the same, and I prefer to shop.  What's this, my sweet?" Highness said.

She picked up a package that displayed a large U shaped toy, intended for couples.  The toy was cast in a vibrant candy apple rubber.  Loki tensed.  She knew she had to answer Highness' questions about the product.

"It's a double dildo, meant for couples," Loki said, "reasonable, dependable, loving couples, in a healthy, non-manipulative relationship."

"I shall have to order one then," Highness said, "if it comes in cherry red."

"It does not come in cherry red," Loki growled.

Highness stared at Loki with lifeless doll eyes.  Highness swirled the packaged product in her hands until it turned dark cherry red.

"Oh, but look at that!" Highness said.

Loki bit down on the inside of her bottom lip.  Highness approached the register with the package and attempted to pay for the item.  Loki swatted the offending sex toy off the counter.

"We don't even sell that product here, are you here to pick up your cherries or not?" Loki asked.

"That's no way to treat my personal property," Highness said.

"Don't give a damn," Loki said, "you are not a valued customer, you're not my wife, you're not my mom, and you're not my business partner until the merger completes.  So either pick up your shit, or leave it here until it breaks the merger contract for failure to pick up your layaway.  I don't give a damn as long as you get out."

"Where are my manners?  I forgot to say hello to Miss," Highness said.

Highness cocked her head.  Her plastic hands stretched to hefty blades, each the size of a forklift tong.  She glided to the pallets and hooked her forklift like hands under them.  Both pallets lifted. Highness drifted toward the exit with them.

"I'll be back for an equal measure of my order, tomorrow.  In the meantime, Miss, I hope you enjoy more of those delectable chocolate eggs," Highness said.  

"I'm not dumb," Loki said, "I know a veiled threat when I hear one."

"Consider it a veiled promise," Highness said.

Loki chased Highness from the store while screaming.

"Go! Shoo! You're wasting our time and you're ruining my product!" Loki screamed.

She kicked the U shaped dildo, now in cherry red, towards the door.  

"Go on! Get the hell out," Loki shouted.

Highness drifted through the door with Loki screaming after her.

"And take your dumb shit with you!" Loki said.

With the next kick, the U shaped dildo tore from the package and clunked against the door frame.  It flopped against the ground, bounced.  It wobbled a bit.  It blurred.  A horrendous mechanical whirr buzzed the air as the toy vibrated and bounced.  The toy sped up and wobbled itself out the door.  Outside in the distance, a couple laughed.  The laugh turned to concerned noises as the buzz sound faded in their direction.  Miss jogged to the window as the couple's audible concern grew.

"Uh, dude, I think that double-dong is chasing people down the fucking street," Miss said.

"Good. I hope that they're prudes.  Or homophobes.  Or prudish homophobes," Loki said.

Loki kicked the door closed.

——- Leave a heart and a share to help others enjoy my writing! Too embarrassed to reblog? I have a ko-fi! Comment your favorite moment/favorite image.  Most favorited visuals get art later. **Bookmark me & re-read me later!** twitter | ko-fi | patreon | commissions | facebook | index | tumblr I now have a discord set up just for the candy shop work.  https://discord.gg/hE5S5En

[livingbestlife]

Sketchbook 2

Principles of Design:

1) Unity and variety:  Unity is art that is similar or alike and variety is an art form that is very different then one another. Some of examples of unity that I might see in every day life is similar high rises downtown, one built right next to each other that are look exactly like one another. An example of variety is a variation of small houses that are not built alike, due to their color pallet and preference for one or two stories foundationally.

2. Balance: Is symmetry of form and balance that complements each other. An example is the James Hoban. Design for the President’s house 1792 which has become The White House. I can attest to its symmetrical balance by being able to view it in Washington D.C. about two years ago when my family and I were driving down from Connecticut.

3.  Emphasis and subordination: Is to draw the viewers attention to a specific area of the work of art. This can be done with a focal point which is displayed in the painting, Noli Me Tangere, Titian. The two figures in the painting are drawn in such a way that it is in the center of the paining so the viewer will draw their attention to Christ and Mary’s face.

4. Directional Forces:  Is when the viewer can determine the line and axis of the painting in motion.  Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh depicts circular spirals that “spin” in midair conveying a mood of motion with directional force.

5) Repetition and Rhythm: These principles of design emulate repeating (repetition) of composition and in sequence (rhythm). An example is also the “Starry Night” by Vincent Van Gogh since the patterns repeat and the rhythm is the “regular occurrence of elements” in this painting. ( Prebles Artforms pg 78)

6) Scale and Proportion:  This principle means that one thing is not related to another in scale (size) and proportion ( area). An example is Perugino, Christ Giving the Keys of the Kingdom to St. Peter, Sistine Chapel, 1481-83, fresco, 10 feet 10 inches x 18 feet (Vatican, Rome) this proportion clearly has the figures at the forefront painted in a larger scale then the ones in the back of the painting representing this principle of design.

2) The painting I chose was Edgar Dega. Jockey’s Before the Race.

The composition of this painting is an dynamic balancing with asymmetrical balance. It also has some components of directional force. It has a soft pallet with emphasis on foreground symmetry of the two horses, one in motion and the other standing and on alert. There is a directional triangle in the center of the painting due to the horse’s stance and the motion of the two horses directly behind him. There is an imbalance of symmetry to the painting even though it is considered to be balanced painting, Degas forces the viewer to look outside of composition, “seeing is and active, creative process and not a passive one” ( Prebles Arforms 74)

3) CONNECTING ART TO YOUR WORLD

The personal experience that I have had with color is related to light aqua blues and vibrant oranges. When I first visited Hawaii when I was sixteen years old, I remember walking on the beach at sunset and seeing the most beautiful transition of aqua blue water to cool blue water with a vibrant orange, yellow sunset in the sky. It was the first time that I have felt peaceful and full of hope since most of my childhood, I felt scared and alone. The sand was a light beige, gray and I could see my feet in the sand sinking in while I walked. It smelled pungent of lei flowers and a misty humidity in the air. I vowed that one day I would be back there one day to live or visit. It was truly my happy place. The intensity of the colors of the sunset were striking and saturated with red, light orange and then continued to a light hue of gray as the sun went down. The color scheme of my life would be vibrant colors, almost emphasized with intensity, clear crystal blue, vibrant peaked burnt orange, and red orange. Every thing in my life so far has been in intense, my color pallet would emphasis this.

4) ART PROJECT – ARTIST’S CHOICE

The painting I painted was full of hearts, since I can be somewhat of a perfectionist at times, I decided to paint a painting that was simplistic in nature. I like red and to me it shows a feeling of love towards other people. I used a canvas and acrylic paint. The trees are made up of fall leaves which is my favorite season of the year. I put my initials at the bottom of the painting. I tried to emphasize the heart by using a white background. Everything in my life is full of love and meaning, my family, my business and even finishing my degree later in life. This painting shows my deep love and understanding for myself and others as I navigate through life. It also shows that even though I have been diagnosed with depression, anxiety and learning disorders, my heart can withstand it all.  

5) Working with examples you find in print or online, each person must have one example of a good layout design (see definition above) and one example of bad layout design (hard to understand the message). Please post these into your Tumblr sketchbook and clearly label them – Good Layout Design and Bad Layout Design.

The Good Layout Design:

Clear understanding of message and depiction of person in this work of art.

Typography in this picture is jumbled and hard to understand.

What makes a good design? What is the intent for the layout? Does it fulfill its purpose? (4 sentences)

What makes a good design is a clear, concise meaning that is understood by the viewer. The intent for the good layout is to convey a message of deep understanding and in some cases the intention of the greater meaning of the design. In the layout design of Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, this layout sent a clear message of “Hope” to the voter referencing the intention of the viewer believing that this presidential candidate was the “Hope” for the future. This layout did fulfill its purpose because it became an iconic image for Obama inspiring many voters to believe in a movement of change. This poster and image helped Obama become the President of the United States of America.

[ao3-feedshance]

Ocean Waves

read it on the AO3 at http://ift.tt/2EDOu6C

by The_Names_Bi

The sounds of waves crashing into the shoreline calmed Lance’s peaking nerves. His soft eyes were staring across the sea as the sunset cast a pallet of oranges, reds, blues, and purples onto the gorgeous body of water. His small hands rested on the railing separating him and the drop into the sea lying below. The boy stood up straight the blue jumper hiding his lean body from prying eyes. He lifted his camera up and leaned forward and with the click of a button, the shutter clicked, capturing the moment in an internal and beautiful prison. Locked away in such an elegant way.

“It’s so beautiful…” Shiro says quietly.

“It is…” Lance looked at him, “Hey Shiro?” He asked simply.

“Hm?” The male replies.

Lance looked down, “You won’t judge me if I tell you something? Something personal..?”

Words: 1392, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Shiro (Voltron), Lance (Voltron)

Relationships: Lance/Shiro (Voltron)

Additional Tags: Other Additional Tags to Be Added, shance, Valentine's Day Fluff

read it on the AO3 at http://ift.tt/2EDOu6C

[ao3feed-voltronlegendarydefender]

Ocean Waves

read it on the AO3 at http://ift.tt/2EDOu6C

by The_Names_Bi

The sounds of waves crashing into the shoreline calmed Lance’s peaking nerves. His soft eyes were staring across the sea as the sunset cast a pallet of oranges, reds, blues, and purples onto the gorgeous body of water. His small hands rested on the railing separating him and the drop into the sea lying below. The boy stood up straight the blue jumper hiding his lean body from prying eyes. He lifted his camera up and leaned forward and with the click of a button, the shutter clicked, capturing the moment in an internal and beautiful prison. Locked away in such an elegant way.

“It’s so beautiful…” Shiro says quietly.

“It is…” Lance looked at him, “Hey Shiro?” He asked simply.

“Hm?” The male replies.

Lance looked down, “You won’t judge me if I tell you something? Something personal..?”

Words: 1392, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Shiro (Voltron), Lance (Voltron)

Relationships: Lance/Shiro (Voltron)

Additional Tags: Other Additional Tags to Be Added, shance, Valentine's Day Fluff

read it on the AO3 at http://ift.tt/2EDOu6C

[marcmavec]

5-6 sep 2017 - Lake Mead (Nevada) - Furnace Creek (parc national de Death Valley, Californie)

531 km et 407 km de plus => 5598 km

Il est intéressant de noter le nombre de Chevrolet Camaro convertibles et Ford Mustang convertibles mais pas décapotées (beaucoup!)  La seule décapotable sous ce soleil et chaleur extrême est la nôtre.

It’s interesting to note the high number of convertible Chevrolet Camaros and Ford Mustangs, all have their top up. The only convertible with the roof retracted, under this sun and extreme heat, is ours! 

On est allé visiter le barrage Hoover car c’est un icône états-unien.  C’est impressionnant à voir pour l’époque à laquelle il a été construit.  Par contre le nombre de superlatifs utilisés sur les affiches et lors de présentations démontrent une vision très restreinte de l’évolution de la génération hydro-électrique depuis cette construction exceptionnelle, pour l’époque.

We visited the Hoover Dam, a US icon.. The construction is impressive, considering that this is is nearly a 100 years old, however, the amount of superlatives in use during the visit, on the  boards and during the short films show a restricted view of the evolution of hydro-electricity generation since this construction,  exceptional for that time.

La rivière Colorado en aval du barrage / Colorado River downstream from the dam

Le paysage de Death Valley est exceptionnel et variable: Montagnes de toutes sortes de couleurs, des dunes de sable et lacs de sel.  À Badwater, on est dans un lac de sel à 282 pieds sous le niveau de la mer; c’est l’endroit le plus bas en Amérique du nord.  Les montagnes de cette région sont encore en formation et le paysage est en évolution.  Le fond de cette vallée continue de s’enfoncer malgré les sédiments qui s’y accumulent par l’érosion des montagnes avoisinantes.  Les montagnes autours continuent aussi à s’élever par le glissement des plaques tectoniques.  Pour le coucher du soleil on se rend au sommet appelé Dante’s View pour une superbe vue de la vallée, incluant Badwater.  La route pour s’y rendre est aussi très intéressante.

The landscape of Death Valley is exceptional and highly variable: tall peaks of varied colours (purple, green, brown, red, yellow, etc), sand dunes and salt lakes. In Bad Water, we are in a salt lake that is located 282 ft (86 m) below sea level, the lowest point in North America. These mountains are still in formation and the landscape is still evolving: the surrounding peaks keep going up due to tectonic movement, while the valley floor keeps getting deeper, even with the sediments coming as a result of the erosion from the mountains. For the sunset, we head to Dante’s View, for a superb view of the valley, including Bad Water. The road is also really neat. 

Dante’s View: lac de sel dans la vallée / Dante’s View with salt lakes in the valley below

Bad Water (lac de sel) est 282 pi sous le niveau de la mer - regardez la flèche rouge / Bad Water (salt lake) is 282 ft below sea level (see red arrow)

Il fait chaud, il fait très chaud, il fait très très chaud... Sur le thermomètre de la voiture on a enregistré  47.5 C (47 C en photo).  On voulait faire du camping (en tente) mais quand on a réalisé que la température la plus basse de la nuit, à 5am serait 35C, on a décidé de se payer une chambre d’hotel avec climatisation pour la nuit...

It’s hot out there, it’s really hot, it’s really really hot... On the car’s dashboard on computer, it shows 47.5 C (47 C in photo). We has planned to  pitch our tent, but when we realized that the temperature was not to be any lower than 35 C, at 5am, we opted for an air conditioned room at the hotel.

L’hotel est  à Furnace Creek. Même si Furnace creek est tout près (approx. 25 km) de l’endroit le plus chaud de la planète (maximum enregistré de 57 C), on y retrouve un vrai oasis avec sa source d’eau qui alimente tout sur la propriété: eau potable, piscine, terrain de golf. encore un fois, on a de l’eau chaude et de l’eau moins chaude (pas de froide).

The hotel is in Furnace Creek. Even if Furnace Creek is very close (less than 25 km away) from the hottest place on the planet (recorded 57  C), it is an oasis, with the water source that feeds everything on the resort: the potable water, the pool, the golf course (sic). Again, we have hot and slightly less hot water (that passes as cold).

Avant de sortir de cette Death Valley, on passe par Artist Drive ou on peut voir Artist’s Palette qui est un endroit où le flanc de la montage a toutes sortes de couleurs cal c’est un mélange de différents minéraux en un même endroit; de toute beauté :-).  La route est également des plus intéressante à conduire.

Before leaving Death Valley, we drove along “Artists Drive”, with a stop at “Artist pallet”.The sides of the mountains are painted all colours because of a variety of minerals from volcanic origin, that reacted with water and oxygen. Absolutely incredible. The one-way road is also a lot of fun, with its twists and turns.

En se dirigeant vers la côte du pacifique, on passe d’autres routes et paysages des plus impressionnants.

On our way towards the Pacific, we pass through many other fantastic roads and landscapes.