#and her dancing partner/date flies her up to the night sky

[deathsmallcaps]

Anyway saw a play today and it inspired a concept and now I want to make it real.

I want to attend a ball hosted on the aurora borealis. I want to wear a big beautiful dress and swish around on electrostatic nighttime rainbows. Let’s make this happen, people!

[middleinthenight21]

Damirae 2020- Day 4

Forbidden fruit

(Inspired by Mr. and Mrs. Smith)

How has your marriage been?

Damian: Alright.

Rachel: Not so much… We are busy people, we have a job to keep and issues to resolve, it may not be going as we want, but it happens to everyone. It is normal.

He needed to know how they feel about each other. Can you summarize your partner in three words?

Rachel: Damian is ... Distant, arrogant and insufferable.

Damian: His judgment is terrible, difficult to read and is sarcastic.

How long have you been married?

Rachel: We've been three years.

Damian: Three years, eleven months and one day. That is more than three years.

This may be a question that will surprise you, but I need to know. If you would rate your sex what numbers would you give it?

Rachel: Excuse me?

Damian: What does that have to do with it?

You came to couples’ therapy; I am also a sex therapist. My diplomas are hanging on the wall, I thought you had seen them.

Rachel: Isn't it wrong to rate sexual intercourse?

Damian: It would be a 3, or a 4. What, Rachel? We have been without sex for months.

That is not a good thing, Mrs. Wayne. Let's move on to another question, are you honest with one another?

Rachel: Yes. Quit.

Damian: I am honest, but I am also a believer that not everything can be counted.

***

Damian was running late. Lying in bed she looked askance at the clock that read 3:35 AM, there was no trace of his presence and she tries to give her an excuse; Maybe he was late for his job at the company or delayed because the trip from Gotham to Jump City is long.

Their marriage may not be having a good time, but that does not make them precisely unfaithful. Rachel still loves him, he still has his heart in her hands, but she feels how the wall that separates them becomes thicker.

How long before it’s too late for apologies? because one of the two would get tired.

She wants a home, a place to call her own, but she gets an empty bed, hollow glances, and short answers. Damian could call her whenever he wanted, he would have her, but he knows it doesn't work like that, because the last time they opened their hearts to each other was to admit that this marriage was not going as they wanted and they agreed that they would work on their relationship, they would do their part.

By being late without justification, was he doing your part?

Damian had given her a beautiful house, stability, and a love match. He is an ordinary civilian, they had promised not to be left alone, but she was. Maybe she was more sincere….

Looking at his empty spot, his side of the bed has the sheets intact and a small pile of poetry books on the nightstand, she feels her heart drop to her stomach. She can't help but feel hurt with him for leaving her with the uncertainty itching inside her, her mind flies to directions she doesn't want, and everything is about to fall apart.

Her phone rings, and it's not personal.

"We need you here. Now. "

Kory's voice is clear, it sounds urgent and there is a sound of explosions in the distance. Her mind clears, she has to go help her friends now.

With a gesture she summons her uniform, her hood is over her head and his identity as a superhero takes place, he sticks the cell phone to his ear "Who attacks? "

"It is the League of Assassins."

She frowns.

And opens a portal to the area where the fight is.

***

I won't be able to go to sleep.

Family problems.

-Damian.

***

Starfire asks them to meet in the tower when the fight ends. The sun caresses the mountains dyeing the sky a pink tone, and sighs watching the message on his phone, at least, she would not have to give an explanation why she did not spend the night at home.

The battle with the League of Assassins was not so long, she had stayed in a hiding place where she could control, while the young Titans fought with the criminals, she covered the team's back. Something about this group made her uneasy, it was like walking in the dark only guided by movement, she compared them with the followers of HIV, there was no soul or feelings to manipulate, they seemed like empty bodies. It gave her the chills just remembering it.

They congregate around the central panel, where an image of a dagger sheltered in the cellars of the bank is observed, it has a transparent reddish blade and it looks sharp, along with a leather handle. At first glance it does not seem harmless, dare to say that the dagger is for decoration, that it is intended to be beautiful, but to not be used.

It is not true.

According to the investigation of the Titans, the League of Assassins is behind a dagger made of a precious stone called ´´The Blood Diamond´´, it belonged to Ra´s Al Ghul and ended up in the cellars of the Bank of Jump City, after the Dark Justice League destroyed his plans to eliminate all magical beings, at the request of the Justice League.

It is said that the blood diamond is made from the bone and cartilage of the defeated, these are cooked in an oven to the ashes, the ash is compressed and the diamond is obtained, a single cut of that gemstone could invalidate beings magical, like her.

She can't imagine how many bones it took to forge a dagger.

Heroes that their powers are born from magic would be affected by the diamond cut, most magical beings have accelerated healing abilities and with a single cut they could never heal.

Raven flinches.

Kory's gaze pierces her "We've already relocated it to our warehouses. They must know that it is imperative that it be protected from all threats. "

There is an assent, she feels the fear of Halo, that her powers of regeneration also come from magic, without them she would have died a long time ago. There is an atmosphere of uncertainty when the new members leave, it is dangerous to keep such a dangerous object in their warehouses; they had made the tower of the titans a target for the league of assassins.

"Where's Dick?" Beast Boy asks. He hadn't seen him in two weeks, as he is currently an active member of the young justice team, he is surprised at how little has changed since he was a teenager. He looks at Kory. She was not here.

The alien keeps her gaze on the screens.

"He had a private matter to solve," he answers softly.

Richard can be as reserved as Batman when he wants, but he shows more emotions and had received her with open arms when he felt lost, when he was a girl who had escaped from a hellish dimension carrying pain and suffering that she wants to bury in the deepest Deep in her being, he had helped her, given her a family and showed a way of life: Protect the innocent, but he is also an idiot, dense as a brick and emotionally hurt by a past that he cannot push aside.

She knows that Kory will not share information about Dick, she would keep his secrets, although they will beg her to open up, she wants to ask her how she is carrying him; Marriages are complicated and she did not expect a path covered in rose petals, still they make it look so easy.

"How's your husband doing, Rae?"

His eyes are on her and she can't tell them he hadn't gotten to sleep, that she ran away as soon as they contacted her to run away from an empty bed and the feeling of loneliness that was killing her. She had that whole huge house to herself in that posh neighborhood, but she felt trapped.

He wanted to go back to the moment they met on the undercover mission in that bar in Miami. Raven was on a covert mission with the Titans, they had to gather information about a merchant in the open market, and they knew that the man used to enjoy the city's nightlife.

She met him in a bar, when she entered the terrace he had looked at her, she felt him like the flames on her skin and when he leaned down to ask her to dance he did not think twice; She'd never let anyone touch her like that in one dance and she wondered what their hands would do if they shared more time together. She learned his name is Damian Wayne, the son of billionaire Bruce Wayne, she bit her tongue not to mention Dick's relationship with the millionaire, he has other things on his mind anyway. She had never moved like that against another person, but he had made her feel like a dangerous woman.

Damian had woven a web around her, but if he is a spider, then Raven is his predator.

They had moved against each other, together her hands behind his neck caressing from the nape to the waist, she was surprised to feel the muscles through the clothes and wanted more. Damian touched the contour of her torso, one of his hands slipping under the shirt circling her skin, she continued to rock to the rhythm of the song, as if his touch wasn't driving her crazy.

She brushed her lips to his neck and felt him tense up.

They were so close together that they felt each other's breath on their faces. Looking at it from the outside it was fortunate that they had been in a dark place, because it would have been uncomfortable for others.

After the dance they exchanged phones, and each left.

She was surprised when she could not stop loving him in her life, she became a hungry person for being touched, for feeling loved and every time he put a hand on her, the chills ran through her. There was a first date, a second and when she least thought she wondered which part of her he hadn't touched. Every time she was with Damian, he put her to sleep, her life had been full of missions, thinking about the innocent and stopping the sea, but she found a rest with this man.

Maybe they would have known each other better ... If everything had been slower, but they were a whirlwind of emotions and feelings.

Now she wonders what would have happened to her if she had not accepted his call a few days later, she knew something clear and that was that she had lost her mind for this man, only one dance and one look had been enough for him to decide to continue with this, as it was the first chapter of a novel and she needed to see what happened to the rest. Maybe she had thought he was a masterpiece, maybe he was made to be an adventure and not a marriage.

He finds himself returning to that summer night in Miami, wondering if there was any difference that could have been.

"He's fine." She can't tell them about the distance, the couple’s therapy they were attending, and the loneliness. "Everything is great."

Kory gives her a sympathetic look, like she knows something she, herself doesn't. For a second, her heart skips, she thinks Damian said something to his brother, but knowing her husband, she doesn't believe it.

"I haven't seen him a while," Jaime says, scratching his hair.

 "He's been busy," she replies.

"Yes. "

Kory looks down, looks distant. The team leader and surrogate mother had been an important point of support in Raven's life, she thought that when she told her about her relationship with Dick's younger brother she would be happy, then everyone would be a small family, but she did not have a good or bad to comment. It was weird.

"I have an interview in ... "

"Silence, Garfield."

They exchange glances. Kory had rarely been spoken like this, only when they had something important that ...

"They're robbing us!"

The camera shows the cellars, figures dressed completely in black escape through the ventilation and run towards the cellars, Kory runs, and she follows her. Her heart is a time bomb, and she thinks how dangerous the dagger would be, he feels guilty for trusting herself.

Observing around and taking care that there were no more roaming assassins.

Starfire shoots fire at the cellar door, the door crashes to the floor, and the place is quiet. Alarms sound throughout the tower, there are red lights that prevent them from seeing normally.

"Why did you do that? " Garfield observes the destroyed door, he is transformed into a snake trying to track the intruders.

"The quarantine protocol will be activated, nobody will be able to leave or enter," Raven responds. His eyes move, she summons her powers and tries to search for the assassins; they should be trapped by the ventilation duct. "They will be trapped. "

"I have a visual! " He yells from somewhere.

Suddenly the room filled with gas, and she felt her throat close and her eyes turn glassy, ​​it was impossible to keep them open. She tried to call her companions, but she did not hear or see anything, her hands traveled to his neck if it would clear her lungs, her head hurt, and she supported her hand against a wall.

They were trying to get out, out of the corner of her eye she saw bodies breaking the glass of a window with a piece of furniture. She stretched out her hand with difficulty, a black spider web shot out in a burst of energy and caught one of the assassins before he escaped through the broken window, the intruder gasped, fell to the ground with a loud sound, and writhed.

He was strong.

He was not going to be able to resist; he could hardly breathe ... His mouth felt dry, his throat was sandpaper and he had trouble standing up.

The killer curses and another returns, pulling so hard that he has to give in. The larger shadow burdens the laggard by wrapping his arm around his shoulders and throws himself out the window.

"No, no, no…"

By then her vision is clouded and she falls into unconsciousness.

***

Raven is angry when she wakes up, because it is 7 AM and she is still not allowed to go home. The dagger made from the blood diamond was stolen from the Titan's cellars under their own noses, Starfire paces back and forth thinking how strangers had not triggered the tower's sensitive alarm system.

The leader looks tired, she thinks it looks like when Nightwing becomes obsessed with a criminal repeating the robbery video repeatedly. If Raven hadn't had coffee, she'd already be yelling at her to stop, because she was freaking her out.

"Kory, you won't find anything. We can go to Nanda Parbat to retrieve the dagger" she offers. She takes a long drink at the coffee, holding the bitterness. "Please. "

The other members give her appreciative glances, knowing that it would be impossible for the leader to rest.

Starfire can be more stubborn than Nightwing or Damian when she wants.

Chance, Damian!

"I have to go." Raven stands up. "Damian should already be in the ... "

"Back up there!"

Garfield sighs, but heeds her. Starfire makes the image stop that shows the killer that Raven made fall to the ground, her hood had slipped off her head, but the image is blurred and is only a black stain, she orders the image to be clarified and brought closer to her face .

Raven comes up carrying her coffee, now interested in the results, but he's just a pixelated face. It does not prove anything.

"I'll clarify the image again."

Now there is the computer charging. Starfire twists her hands, at least she is going to have a goal, Raven is happy because at least they would have a face that could be guided, it is better than being guided only in assumptions and in paranoia.

When the face appears on the screen, she holds her breath and the cup almost falls from her hands ...

Damian Wayne's face appears on the screen like a red flag, and the whole room stops, like paralyzed.

***

Are you waiting for me for breakfast? -Rachel.

Yes- Damian.

***

"Did they bring the dagger?"

Richard leaves the dagger in Batman’s possession. He doesn't like the idea of ​​having to rob the young Titans, after all, they were his team and he has personal attachments with members, he doesn't want to hurt them. They are also heroes.

Damian understands his father, knows how the assassin's league operates. They would soon attack the tower without caring if there were teenagers who depend on the team and the news of the infiltration of strangers would spread faster, that Batman had asked to keep the weapon. The Batcave had been compromised before and his father was not trusting, so he ordered them to infiltrate, pretend to be part of the Shadow League, thus diverting the attention of the young Titans.

He takes off his boots, finding a bruise around his ankle, he growls, "That witch girl."

"Something happened? " His father narrows his eyes.

"Nothing. "

"Raven attacked Robin," says Dick.

"Try to pretend you're not proud."

Richard smiles.

Batman growls and heads to the bat computer, entering a code that gives him access to the tower cameras a few hours ago. The security guard leans over the screens looking at the images frame by frame, Damian looks away in response to his wife's message and crosses his arms.

He's not interested in anything to do with the young Titans, so infiltrating the tower isn't a problem for him, but he hadn't expected Raven to have intercepted him. The smoke they used to neutralize the Titans was medium intensity, but the heroin had withstood it.

He growls when his foot hits the floor, he will have to justify to his wife the bruise on his ankle.

"I have to go, father."

"Damian, come here." Dick gives him a worried look. His father's back is to him, he's bent over the bat computer. "You’ve got to see this. "

"Bruce ... "

Damian approaches the screen and is surprised.

***

Both arrive at the same time. Raven squeezes her hands on the wheel, she has a grocery bag next to her on the passenger seat, and her head is a tangle of emotions; she had taken care of her whole life so that the feelings did not overwhelm her, a part of herself was always contained, but this time she wanted to scream and pull her hair.

Damian had lied to her. He entered the tower of the Titans, stole a dagger that could surely affect her in the name of the League of Shadows. She had lived with a murderer the past two years.

She feels betrayed, although that sounds hypocritical because she also hid her identity as a heroine; her mind fights with her, half reminds her of guilt and the other shouts at her to run.

No, she needs to stop him.

She taps her fingers on the steering wheel, waiting until he pulls up and tries to remember Starfire's words: I’m sorry, Raven. We have to know where the dagger is. We need to know if he is working for the League of Shadows.

He opened the car door, his black jaguar had been a wedding gift from his father and when Damian walks into the house, there is a frown on his face that only appears when something is bothering him, but it is like a shadow and disappears instantly. Titus makes his way through the front yard, jumps on the grass, and his tail wags, excited to see his master.

Damian caresses the Great Dane and now there is a small smile on his lips.

She looks away, reminding herself that he can be an enemy, but the man she lives with every day has never made a single move to hurt her, he did not behave like an assassin would. Perhaps she is underestimating him, her mother spoke as she had been taught by her demonic father, at first, he had shown himself as a desirable man, the one they write in novels, but her is far from being so.

Not everything is as they paint it.

When she gets out of the car and looks at her own house, she did not expect her heart to squeeze in her chest, they had looked for this house in the suburbs of Jump City, decorated it and dreamed of a future together, Raven had fallen in love with normality. Choosing a carpet for the living room, worrying about repairing the leak that wet the floor in the hallway and the quiet dinners, but it had been too silly.

Her old anger turned into a nostalgia that threatens to eat her up inside.

As much as she thinks he lied to her, that they were built from a web of falsehood, she still loved him.

He was looking at her from a few meters away, she gave a greeting and carried the supermarket bags ready to prepare breakfast.

Titus follows her into the house, she can feel Damian's eyes on her body, and decides to ignore it.

Raven walks to the kitchen, places the bag on the counter and strokes Alfred, the cat rubs himself on her legs, she swears she has never seen a cat this big; he is so fed that his belly is like a balloon.

"You bought strawberries," Damian says.

She puts on a kitchen apron, brews hot water in a kettle, and leaves two cups on the counter.

She sits on the stool, Damian is now chopping the strawberries and the knife in his hands is small, she almost gulps when she sees the instrument and remains alert.

"How did it go last night? "

The cuts are now louder "well, how did it go for you? "

They looked at each other and she knows those eyes, it's like he was going through her, wanting to see beyond appearances. Damian had rarely looked at her this way, it was when he knew she was hiding something from him and that she would not admit it unless he pushed her.

A panic button is activated inside her. He couldn't know, how? It is impossible.

"I was waiting for you all night."

His muscles relax and he looks up, the lines of expression on his face are neutral.

"Sure." Cut half a strawberry. "You always get up very early" emphasized the word "very".

Raven looks at him.

Damian looks at her.

The atmosphere feels tense, it is as if an electric current dances through the oxygen ready to ignite everything in a short circuit and she finds herself standing up to store each of the groceries, prefers to focus her attention on something more productive than having a fight of looks.

"You must be tired; it would do you good to rest" she gets a box of tea and sugar.

Damian keeps his eyes on the fruit "I'm not tired. "

Why was everything so difficult? It is she who should be angrier, if it were not so complex perhaps this marriage would go for better ways, perhaps she would have been sincere before and would have already revealed her true identity, so they can save this shit.

He can't be acting like she's the one who made a mistake, he's surely a murderer!

She can no longer bear this silence. Raven is in charge of putting on music, does not care what it is and leans against a piece of furniture. He may be a dangerous person, but she is too, and she would get the location of that dagger made from the red diamond and save the day.

If he can lie, then Raven too.

"Of course not, my dear."

Damian frowns and the knife stops, as if suspended in midair. They are not a sentimental couple, the number of times they have been named affectionately are few, they were always formal.

She turns to look into his eyes. She never used her powers over her husband, she knows that they share a bond, her soul had intertwined, but she did not dare to see further; now it could be different.

"I am a strong man," he pauses. He slides the fruit into a bowl with the flick of his knife, setting it aside, "my dear."

She raised an eyebrow.

The music and their pets are the only thing that is moving, the melody is jazz, and it feels very different from the energy in this room. Raven rests her hands on the counter, inches from Damian's knife and her hands, if she made a single movement, she could change the atmosphere in a second.

She is more interested in concentrating on the color of her husband's eyes, since it would be easier for her to use her powers on him, if he was lucky she would hardly notice it, she only needs to go into his mind to return to the moment he infiltrated the tower and find out where the dagger is located.

Damian smiles and of course she has seen that smile on his stupid face before.

He puts a hand on top of hers. "Do you think I'm a fool?"

Had he noticed?

The line hints that he is angry, yet the smile lingers on his lips and his hand glides to her forearm gently stroking his fingertips against the skin. Raven feels as if a chill ran down her back to her feet, and this shouldn't be happening.

She has work to do.

"I would never think that."

He narrows his eyes, abandons the touch and she think that he is going to move away, however, he walks to her side, looks her in the eye. She holds her breath, her hormones appear out of nowhere, and this is a bad time for her body to remind her that they haven't touched in months.

Damian does nothing, burns her with his gaze and can't think of anything else to where this scene can end.

It is she who first leans over, stands on tiptoe and places a kiss against his lower lip, it’s soft and subtly feels proper. He shouldn't slide so simply, he still has to answer the Titans, even after all his criticism of their bad judgment, he was still wrong.

Damian caresses her neck and his hands are familiar, safe.

Her interior cries.

How can she live without this? How can she be with someone who she thinks they belong to be part of such a dangerous organization? She is the daughter of an intergalactic demon, a conqueror of worlds, a genocide, she is no one to judge the past or the life of another person, she curses her own bad luck for getting involved with someone dangerous.

Damian knows how to play in the right places, knows her weak points, her erogenous zones, slides a hand under her shirt right on his hip, her hand remains in circles and she is sighing against his lips.

Raven caresses his torso, from the hips to his heart, her hand remains on the organ and she feels his heartbeat, kisses him so hard that he stumbles and one of hid hands wraps around her waist raising her a few centimeters. Now they are face to face.

He kisses her back with the same intensity, caresses her hair and pulls her ponytail leaving loose on her back. Raven growls but is silenced when he meets her lips again and now it's like a fight.

She remembers the moment when she realized that she could live her whole life with Damian, when the lights had adorned the city at night, and they met for dinner at his apartment in Gotham. They had only known each other for two months and she had escaped in a portal at night just to see him, because a voice she did not know begged her because she wanted to have more of him.

He has the look of a bad boy, an arrogant posture, full of pridefulness, at first glance the type of man you do not want to run into because he will steal your heart without a drop of remorse. He will run away with your heart in his hands and he will throw it away, but he thinks she is a generous soul, she believes that Damian Wayne can be a beautiful person, difficult to find, one of those who prefers actions to words.

Everything is going so well that it scares her too much, but she doesn't want to run away. She thinks how difficult it is to maintain a relationship with her other identities, the dangers and death that surround them, she really wants to be honest and tell her story, but it would also be something harmful for someone with Damian Wayne, son of a billionaire, who has had stability all his life (Later she would find out that he did not always have a privileged life). She would screw it up and she doesn't want to.

They had been talking about Oliver Twist, oriental spices and new tea that she wants to try while drinking wine in glasses. This is comfortable, she could feed on his company alone, she would be happy; her life had not been fun, she thought that her twenty-one years was beyond her expectations, but she found himself wishing for this.

He now holds a glass of wine in his hand, sitting on the couch with his eyes fixed on the city lights, she thinks she has not seen anyone more beautiful.

What?

She smiles "I'm in love with you. "

Damian raises an eyebrow, leaves the wine glass on the table, and smiles at her. "Me too."

Raven feels something melt in her heart. It would never be the same.

She walks towards the sofa where he is, sits on his lap and Damian surrounds her waist interlacing his hands on her waist, they press their bodies together and Raven rests her head on his chest, contemplating the set of buildings that make up the city.

Her heart feels full.

She looks him in the eyes "Hello, stranger," Raven says with a small glance, it is as if they were looking at each other for the first time, she remembers that stranger in the bar who had tied her up with just a dance.

Damian smiles.

Raven remembers that moment.

Now everything has changed, they have been married for years with a commitment that was breaking in front of their eyes, perhaps if they had been more honest with each other, but still taking her breath away when looking at him, Damian's kisses make her feel that others do not compare with him.

They are kissing in the kitchen without caring about the sound from the outside. Raven can melt right now, stroking his short hair through her fingers and pulling, wanting them to pressed closed together even more.

Lust fills the room with a carmine red color. Many had thought of passion and lust is a fiery red, like anger, but it is carmine like the shade of blood, just as dangerous.

Suddenly they are struggling to remove the other's clothes, pulling so hard that they pull buttons, new threads form and when she struggles with his shirt. She feels like he growls when he feels the pinch of a nail on his skin, but only pushes him to want to kiss her with more strength.

"I know about you," Damian growls between kisses. His palms run over her collarbone, between her breasts and down to the base of her stomach, he stops there as if he was mocking her. "I know who you are. "

What?!

Raven gives him a push, putting distance between their bodies, as if she wanted to establish distance. She needs distance, she knows that the sight of their bodies could be tempting, so she struggles to focus on what is important and not on his bare torso, his skin is golden and strong. He had recently kissed her mouth and tried to touch every part of her body.

They gasp for air.

Raven's skirt is torn, he had made a cut at the waist and now she has to hold it so that it falls to the ground, the shirt she had worn is open revealing a bodice made of lace. It is a disaster; they are a disaster.

 "How do you know that?"

Damian frowns "I saw you. My father reviewed the recordings, as I think the Titans did. "

"Your father? "

"Batman."

He is not a murderer, but the son of Batman, how ...

"My father wanted the dagger made of the blood diamond. He needed to trick the Titans into not becoming a target for the league."

She is not surprised by Batman, he is always one step ahead of the other heroes, playing their battles and establishing plans that would make them pawns with a one-piece move.

Her father-in-law is Batman.

"He could have asked us for the dagger."

A smile glides over his lips. "Where would the fun be in that, Raven?"

His voice takes on a dangerous tone, it is like an animal preparing to attack its prey from the unknown, but she does not intend to fall for this. This day started in a strange way, she could pray to Azarath for normality to return to her life, but was it ever?

The world is a small place, of all the men that she could have ended up with, she chose the son of Bruce Wayne, who also acts as a vigilante. She should have known.

She is glad that the dagger is in the hands of Batman, she is glad that he is not a murderer, but she still feels that they have to fill empty spaces in her story.

If only the mind will not travel to dangerous places, perhaps they could have a moment to confess, they would take their time to explain their story and listen, but their imagination is like a closed room, it cannot escape.

He extends his hand caressing her cheek, traces the line of her lips with his thumb and is looking directly into her eyes, they look as if they have just met. She returns to that apartment in Gotham City when they behave like two heated teenagers for maintaining physical and emotional contact for the other. His eyes had been like jade, shiny and new, the color of hope and life, it represented a new beginning and she had thought that he had bewitched her because every time he gave her a look, she felt that he has her in his hands.

At what point had they cooled down?

She runs her hands on his shoulders, she feels like he relaxes instantly. She leaves a palm over his heart; it still beats with the same intensity.

They look into each other's eyes "Hello, stranger. "

Damian raises his eyebrows recognizing that phrase and captures her lips in a deep kiss, pressing hard on her lips.

She was getting lost; they could set the end of the world and she would only care about holding this moment together with Damian. Holding him in her arms and kissing his lips is her vice, he would not leave him for anything.

Hours later they are crammed on the sofa, Raven is wearing a shirt that she had found in the closet, it is not hers, she had been too lazy to dress in her own clothes and they decide to spend the afternoon lying down ordering food at home and they eat from the leftovers of the breakfast strawberries.

It touches her lips, it is something subtle, almost accidental, but she gets his full attention and rolls her eyes because she feels Damian is like the forbidden fruit to her. Every time he feels that she perceives herself as a dangerous woman, he would never get bored of this and he is willing If he break the rules, he can't resist Raven's touch.

He doesn't care what his father has to say.

She doesn't care what the Titans say.

[overlord-imagines]

can I get some headcannonons for demiurge and Ainz's wedding? They're my favorite couple at the moment.

Yes, you may!!! Ahhh! Their relationship is so precious, I’m swooning. I may have gone overboard with this… and demiurge may be a LITTLe out of character……. oops.

They had been dating for a year now, and rumors and questions of when Ainz will finally have a spouse and an heir and becoming so frequent that they even managed to reach the lord of death himself.

It’s gotten so bad that he even heard the other floor guardians muttering about it.

Ainz finally decided enough is enough. With the help of Pandora, he sorted through his massive amounts of the treasury to ‘The Rings of Matrimony’

They were ultra rare event rings that the guild spent some time on collecting, they were only for appearances but being the completionists that were Ainz Ooal Gown… they just couldn’t NOT get them.

And to propose, Ainz took the time to specially craft a gorgeous golden ring. With flawless diamonds as accents and a gorgeous ruby as the main centerpiece.

(Image is of a Claudine Vintage Engagement ring, found on Diamondere website.)

Ainz, being the complete closet nerd that he is, spends days on end planning the perfect proposal. And if he were being completely honest keeping it hidden from the rest of the guardians had to be the hardest thing he’s ever done in his life.

And he’s done a lot of shit as ruler of Nazarick.

He’s fairly sure Albedo already knows, being the one besides Demiurge who spends so much time with him. He’s also fairly sure that somewhere deep inside of her she’s plotting the demon’s murder… but at the same time, he’s noticed her being oddly quiet about it.

He eventually confronts her about it, due to the looks she gives him from time to time and confesses to helping her lord keep it a secret from Demiurge.

She has to resist every fiber of her being that screams at her to tackle him and claim him right then and there as he praises and thanks her for helping him.

Soon Sebas knows as well, being directed by Ainz to construct a beautiful moonlit dinner for him and his soon to be fiance. The maids arrange the dinner, setting it up in the breathtaking gardens of the 6th floor. Accenting the area with fairy lights, and making sure everything is more than absolutely perfect for the supreme being.

The night it actually happens, Ainz’s passive ability kicks in at least 15 times before he even can gather the nerve to propose. But when he does… oh boy.

Demiurge is shell shocked when his supreme being- the one he devoted his everything to, the one who reigns above all, his creator and his lover- presents himself on one knee.

The demon cannot even react, to seeing his beloved in such a state before Ainz pulls out the beautifully gilded box and opens it revealing the engagement ring Ainz had carefully put so much love into.

“Demiurge, my love…” A slight green aura surrounds him for a brief moment. “Will you do me the great honor, and stay by my side for the rest of my eternal life? To rule Nazarick by my side.

Demiurge’s heart stopped, he couldn’t breathe and when he realized that he had to his breaths came out fast. The poor boy began hyperventilating.

Sooner than Ainz could tell his lover to calm himself, to take it easy, Demiurge has already fallen out of the elegantly cushioned chair to the grassy floor below.

Tears well in his eyes as he clasps the hands of the glorious one before him and lowers himself far lower than Ainz has put himself, the demon’s head almost touching the floor.

“Please… do not lower yourself for a servant such as I.”

“But you are more than just a servant… Demiurge.” Ainz carefully brings Demiurge’s head up to look him in the eyes. “You are the love of my life, so please… will you marry me?”

A series of sobbing ‘yes’s poured from his mouth, kissing Ainz everywhere he could reach. And eagerly donned the ring.

That same night word of the wedding spread like wildfire, unknowing to Ainz, Aura and Mare had been spying from afar. Demiurge simply chose not to comment on it.

The wedding takes place a week later, the preparations took no time at all considering the weight of the event.

Albedo, of course, was in charge of the planning. And with the imput of Ainz she made sure that this wedding would be the grandest event this world had ever known. 

If she couldn’t be head wife to her beloved, she would at least assure her place as the one to birth his heir

(Image found on Pinterest Just imagine this but with more gold and a lot more extravagant… that’s how extra they went.)

Mare grew all of the floral accessories personally, making sure every single flower and leaf was absolutely flawless. He spent hours on end making sure of this, sometimes even worrying his sister with the amount of effort he put in this.

Aura helped Mare with Demiurge’s bouquet, after growing the flora needed the two presented the beautifully tied piece. He couldn’t be prouder.

The furniture was each handcrafted by the best woodworkers of Nazarick, each chair lined with beautiful white satin silk.

Cocytus arranged their finest warriors to act as decoration for the event as well, each individual soldier was done in priceless gilded armor to appeal to the radiance that is their ruler.

Pandora worked behind the scenes and was actually assistant to Albedo. He handled the finances, and all the supplies needed for this luxorious event. He was also there as emotional support for Ainz, as the poor lich was constantly concerned about the scale of his own wedding. He wasn’t one to show off, but the two guardians were having none of it, only the best for their lord.

Shalltear helped with the attire of both grooms. Being the only one with the expansive wardrobe, the vampire made sure that the wedding attire was both fabulous and fitting for beings such as themselves. She actually designed it all herself, with the best cloth workers of Nazarick bringing her piece to life.

Cocytus was also there as support for Demiurge, being the man who expresses himself with action rather than words he made an excellant listener as Demiurge rambled on and on about everything going on. As well as giving out nuggets of wisdom.

“Supreme beings make no errors of judgement, our Lord has chosen you for a reason. Do not doubt him now, when you have not before.”

On the day of the wedding, the weather was absolutely perfect. Not too hot, not too cold. And not a single cloud in the sky. This was to be expected of course, the maids would not allow such a thing as a cloud ruin such a momentus day.

Ainz asked that Pandora’s Actor be his best man. For Demiurge, he asked that Cocytus be his.

Aura and Mare were the flower children, throwing petals accross the carpet for Demiurge to walk along.

Ainz wore a stunning white tux, gilded in gold and lace with a transparent cape fluttering behind him.

Demiurge wore something similar but his highlighting his own features. His outfit being accented with beautiful diamonds and gold of its own.

The hundreds of seats were filled with the denizans of Nazarick, an unsettling sight to some… but absolutely stunning to Ainz. To see the entirety of his treasure present before him, made him want to cry.

Trust me when I say that if Ainz could cry right now he would be sobbing.

Upon request Sebas is their pastor, he just seems to fit the role perfectly. And it’s an honor to Ainz’s own close friend Lord Touch Me.

I do not exaggerate when I say EVERYONE in nazarick that day cried… Even Sebas. Their vows absolutely shook everyone.

“Demiurge… I never thought, that in all my years of existence, I would ever deserve someone such as yourself. I felt lost, when my precious comrades had left this Nazarick… I feared that the place in my heart that they had left empty would never be filled. But when you’re with me… I feel whole.”

Everyone is surprised to see that Demiurge hasn’t compeltely broken down yet and the devastation that is his tail hasn’t been released yet. Though they could barely see them through their own tears.

Everyone is just so emotional.

“Lord Ainz, never in my lifetime would I ever have thought I would get the honor to wed you. I do not deserve such a radiant and generous being such as yourself. To acquire the intimate love of a supreme being had been unfathomable to me… but to be here today and to see how you could ever love someone as lowly as me- no amount of words could describe how I feel for you. I swear to you, Ainz Ooal Gown, Lord Momonga. I will give you everything this world has to offer, my entire being included, just to ever amount to what you give to me.”

Ainz is so flustered, his husband is too extra for his poor little neet heart to handle.

The party after is certainly something to remember, even though he can’t eat and most of the denizens of Nazarick don’t even need to the maids worked endlessly to produce such a fantastic feast for all of Nazarick to enjoy.

Oh my god when Ainz tells Demiurge of the tradition to throw his bouquet.

Albedo and Shalltear and seething, glaring at each other fighting over who gets to marry Lord Ainz next.

Demiurge accidentally throws it too hard, and from their fighting both miss the bouquet as it flies over their heads and lands in Mare’s arms.

Both of them look murderous, scarily calm as they both ask Mare for the flowers.

HE REFUSES!!!!!!!

“B-But… I wanna m-m-marry Ainz-sama some… some day too….”

AINZ IS CHOKING

DEMIURGE IS TRYING NOT TO LAUGH

THE TWO FEMALE GUARDIANS ARE SpeaCHLESS!!!

Ainz ends up having to teach Aura and Mare about marriage, giving them a quick parent talk.

In the end, it’s still undecided. Mare still not wanting to give it up and Aura not letting him, after all, he caught it fair and square.

The two slow dance, it’s so romantic. Everyone is partnered up with somebody.

Even Cocytus is out there dancing with Entoma. 

To be honest the party is fantastic and is certainly the gossip of Nazarick for the next couple of months.

Ainz couldn’t feel more in love than he does with Demiurge, the two act a whole lot more lovey-dovey.

They keep up their professional appearances still, but when around allies will playfully call each other pet names.

Mostly demiurge, Ainz is just so shy… actually exclusively demiurge. Ainz is too flustered and too introverted for his own good.

“As you request, my love.”

Also Demiurge, to Ainz’s bewilderment, seems to still condone the idea of multiple spouses… Albedo isn’t keeping this fact a secret either.

Please, someone, help Papa Bones.

[raendown]

Commission for @miramise, whom tumblr will not let me tag. Rude. This story is a sequel to Chapter 137 of the Soulmate Story Collection.

Pairing: MinatoKakashi rated: G Word count: 2214 Summary: Older now, Minato and Kakashi have been meeting in their dreams every night for twenty years. After so long together there's only one thing between them they've never addressed. Minato doesn't want to think about how long it would have taken them to talk about it if not for one perfectly innocent misunderstanding.

Follow the link or read it under the cut!

KO-FI and commission info in the blog header!

Florid Flows The Dream

Minato was waving goodbye to Kushina when he spotted the tuft of silver hair not quite out of sight over the crest of his roof. With a smile he turned and pushed a little chakra in to his jump, bringing him up on to the edge of warm tiles where he could peek over the roof to see the back of Kakashi’s head. He took particular note of the paw prints crisscrossing underneath his feet despite the current lack of any dogs capable of getting up here. It seemed his soulmate had given himself company while he waited.

He opened his mouth to greet the other but Kakashi beat him to it at the last second.

“Did you two have fun on your date?” he asked, voice quiet enough that the wind almost blew it away. Minato cocked his head to one side with a bemused look.

“It wasn’t a date.”

Kakashi shrugged. The motion was perfunctory and when his shoulders fell back in to place Minato could see that he was holding a lot of tension there. In fact, despite the casual way he lounged on the terracotta as though nothing were amiss, every line in his body was tight with a tension Minato couldn’t understand. When they had seen each other earlier that day there had been nothing wrong other than perhaps the lingering headaches they were both suffering from celebrating Kakashi’s twentieth birthday with perhaps too much sake.

Shuffling forward until he was level with the younger man, Minato carefully lowered himself until he had settled on the tiles as well. His roof always had a great view of the sunset but something told him that the scenery was not why Kakashi was hanging around up here.

“Didn’t she ask you out to dinner?”

“Well, kind of. Not really. She asked me to meet her for dinner but that’s not the same thing.” Minato frowned, leaning over until their arms brushed together. “Kakashi, are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” He would have been much more convincing if not for the way his shoulders kept hunching tighter and tighter around himself.

“Are you sure? Because you seem…off. You know you can talk to me, yeah?”

The vague feeling that something might be wrong was proven right a moment later, settling firmly in to worry when Minato saw Kakashi turn away from him for the first time in a very long time. When they were younger there had been a period in Kakashi’s life when it seemed everything was doomed to go wrong, the people he loved dropping around him like flies, and his first instinct had been to pull in to himself in the hope that it would hurt less when he lost Minato too.

It had taken Minato several weeks to get it through the idiot’s thick skull that he wasn’t going anywhere. He wasn’t going to die and he certainly wasn’t going to leave. Not even his duties as the Hokage could keep him busy enough that he forgot to make time for his favorite person. Working their way through those hurts together had brought them closer than ever before and they had been all but attached at the hip ever since.

Seeing Kakashi turn away from him again now stung more than he expected. Unsure what he might have done wrong, it hurt to think Kakashi might not trust him to stick around – especially considering the feelings he had been thinking on more and more lately, feelings he hadn’t quite figured out how to bring up in conversation.

“Maybe I should…go find my own dinner,” Kakashi mumbled finally. “Goodnight, Minato.” He was gone a moment later, hopping down without waiting for a reply.

Finding himself suddenly alone and scratching vigorously at the back of his head with bewilderment, Minato gave some thought to watching the sunset by himself, a lonely thought since they usually sat together around this time and traded gossip about what they had both done that day. He discarded the idea quickly. Without Kakashi here at his side the very notion seemed empty and pointless, the sunset pale and colorless. He was frowning as he dropped down on to the front porch and let himself inside. It looked like tonight was going to be an early night for him, dinner and then bed right after with no staying up to read the book waiting on his nightstand.

He wanted to fall asleep as soon as possible. As much as he knew Kakashi’s patterns and he knew the man always stayed awake for as long as possible when he was upset, unable to fall asleep with his mind twisting itself in to unnecessary knots, that didn’t matter. Minato had always tried to make sure he fell asleep first so he could be there to greet his soulmate in the one place they could both be their whole selves.

Well, the one place where they should have been able to be their whole selves. He himself was guilty of keeping secrets; he was hardly in a position judge if it ever turned out the other man was doing the same.

Sleep came quickly once he laid his head down and calmed his chakra. It was a skill he had picked up from Kakashi, ironically, and they had both used it countless times to catch a bit of shuteye in the middle of long missions when there was little time for rest. It served him well now, sending him down in to familiar darkness within minutes. When his eyes opened again he was standing on the shore of an endless lake with his toes buried in soft white sand that never clung to skin or clothing. This world was what they made of it.

They had made paradise from a warrior’s eye. Even if it were possible for others to enter this world he was sure no civilian could possibly find rest here. This place was tailored to them specifically, empty of the many traumas that came with the shinobi lifestyle and filled instead with the few things that brought them comfort, influenced occasionally by mood or a new desire.

Although he had known that he would have to wait, Minato still found the empty hours that followed nearly unbearable. Just thinking about Kakashi being upset with him for some reason ate at his insides until he couldn’t keep still. Worry sent him wandering along the shore until he turned aside for a change of scenery and ambled through the range of mountains they had lifted so Kakashi could feel the pure air on his face and know that there were no walls around him for miles and miles. Eventually he came to rest in a field of wheat dancing in a gentle wind that never faltered, running his fingers over through the grain and letting the beards tickle his skin. This field had been Minato’s idea, a terrible joke on his partner’s name.

He was still there when Kakashi fell asleep at last to join him here in their private dreamscape. One moment he was alone with his thoughts and the next his other half stood at the edge of the field with a smudge of darkness looming over him, not quite a storm cloud but certainly not a clear blue sky.

“In case you were wondering,” he grumbled when Minato hurried over, “chocolate covered coffee beans are delicious but not enough to keep me awake all night.”

“Please tell me what’s upset you – and don’t say nothing.” With one stern finger he pointed up at the darkness gathered around Kakashi’s head, watching with some exasperation as the younger man waved it away like smoke. It took a few minutes of Minato waiting with both hands on his hips before finally he offered something.

“You went on a date with her.”

That hadn’t been at all what he was expecting. Minato scratched his head. “Who? I haven’t gone on any dates.”

“Kushina,” Kakashi ground out from between his teeth.

“I told you, it wasn’t like that! She wanted to meet me for dinner because she had something important to talk about and she always bribes people with food when she needs help. Honestly I think her stomach runs her head; she seems to think the whole world is as obsessed with ramen as she is.”

Rather than look assured Kakashi only hunched further in to himself. “Oh. So…it wasn’t like…a romantic thing?”

“Not in the slightest. I would never – no.” Minato coughed in to his hand and cursed his stupid mouth for almost spitting out that he would never want anyone else the way he already wanted Kakashi. He knew there was no chance he hadn’t been super obvious about it but he still cringed when he felt a sharp stare boring in to him, a nervous titter escaping as he made a half-hearted attempt to deflect. “Well, glad we got that cleared up! So what did you do today? Did Gai ever find you for that rock throwing contest like he said he would?”

“Wait, go back a second. You would never what? Go out with her? Or go out with anyone? Is she just, like, not your type or something?”

“Um…” Uncomfortable, Minato chewed on his bottom lip and tried to figure out how to respond, searching Kakashi’s face for guidance until it finally hit him. He knew exactly why his soulmate was so upset. “Are you…jealous?”

The way Kakashi reeled back told him everything he needed to know, even without the blush that exploded over top of that ridiculous mask he never went without.

“Oh my god you are jealous!”

“Shut up!”

“But why?”

“Why do you think!? Oh my god, stop being embarrassing or I swear I’ll find a way to wake myself up.”

Minato laughed, feeling lighter than air, and lunged forward before Kakashi could escape to pull him in to a tight embrace. “That wasn’t very clear, sorry. I meant that you have no reason to be jealous. When I said I would never I was trying to say…never with anyone but you.”

He just barely managed to move his head in time to avoid a rapid collision when Kakashi jerked his own up to stare, wide eyed and disbelieving in a way that was somehow both comical and heartbreaking.

“You–? Me? Really?”

“I mean, we are soulmates. Is it so surprising?”

“Well you, uh, never said anything about this before.” Kakashi puffed out one cheek with embarrassment.

Minato lifted his chin to press their foreheads together across that single inch difference in their heights. “Oh, well excuse me. Are you really going to stand there and accuse me of doing the exact same thing you were doing? If you can fall in love and not say anything then so can I.”

He would have tried for a smug look if he weren’t flying so high on the incredible relief of knowing that Kakashi felt the same as him, that his secret didn’t have to stay secret anymore. Between the two of them they had both read enough terrible romances to recognize this moment for what it was and Minato knew damn well that he should be going in for that first big romantic kiss. Too full of emotions, his body twitched until he could stand it no longer and he was moving before he could think better of it.

The sound that slipped out of Kakashi when Minato lifted him off his feet in an over-enthusiastic bear hug was one neither of them had proper words for. It was probably meant to be some sort of protest, words choked off at the sudden movement, not quite a gurgle and too close to articulate to be called a groan. Minato couldn’t help himself; he laughed so hard that him arms loosened and Kakashi got his wish, gently dropping back down on to his own two feet.

“You are terrible at romance, I will have you know,” he accused.

“Well,” Minato cupped his soulmate’s cheek and peeled away that one last barrier between them. “I would hate to leave you with such a terrible misconception. Let’s see if I can change your mind, hm?”

Knowing Kakashi the way he did, Minato was sure that later he would be facing a whole lot of teasing for this, keeping the attention on him so neither of them would have the time to stop and think about how poorly Kakashi himself had also handled the situation. He didn’t mind, really. Not when they both groaned in to their first kiss, too long in coming, hands pulling at clothing to keep them close while the breeze tugged at their hair and set them both giggling over how badly the tickling sensation ruined the moment.

Around them the sky that had darkened to night with Kakashi’s mood now brightened until it was something comparable to high noon. It was appropriate, Minato thought, that their first kiss be here in the place that was only theirs.

He couldn’t wait for morning so he could lay claim again once they woke up, so he could show Kakashi that he would love him in any world – in their dreams, in this life, and in the next.  

[theveryworstthing]

its time for some downtrodden content: Vulture flavor.

Today’s post is about vulture weddings, and the lovely examples of wedding attire you see here are these moms, Fifteen Stab Wounds and Irresponsible Botany.

Vulture Weddings:

Clothes:

Vultures don’t have specific wedding attire but they do like to get as fancy as they can. Family symbols or signature patterns/flowers are common. For the wedding breakfast, the couple is usually more done up with baubles and veils since there’s minimal flying and more looking pretty for relatives. Red is a customary clothing color for weddings and no one wears white unless they’re a priestess. Dance outfits are sleeker than breakfast outfits and usually involve long sheer trains. Gold dust made from crushed beetle and mollusk shells is painted on the beak and dusted on the hands and wing-paws.

Fun Fifteen and Irresponsible facts: They both wore altered priestess robes for wedding attire. Fifteen also wore a rabbit style Meeting Cloak to her wedding breakfast to honor her beloved step-mom and the rabbit family that embraced her and her dad for most of her life. The patterning is of the mountains meeting the night sky, symbolizing patience and clear paths. Irresponsible, on the other hand, wore the chipped tooth of her favorite hare boxer as a bead pendant on her choker. Its still got a little bit of blood on it. She picked it up off the bathroom floor of an underground fighting ring during a trip to the mainland.

Everyone has their special items okay. Back off.

The Event:

Vulture weddings differ slightly depending on the type of vulture, but all have very little talking and a whole lot of dancing. Wedding parties meet at the break of dawn for a fresh hearty breakfast scouted for by the groom’s family. If there is no groom, then the males in both of the brides’ families or close friends scout instead.  When breakfast is ready (and collected in one area if only smaller potions could be found) the rest of the wedding party flies out to the spot. There are two flying formations, one for each partner, lead by them and their parents. If there are non-vulture guest, accommodations for them are made in advance and they are carried to the spot if need be.

Upon arrival, the couple sits together and is usually given an assortment of meats set off to the side of the main carcasses. This includes a slab of meat from the Holy City if their families can get their hands on some.  All of the meat is thrown in a ornate  pot of boiling hot coconut milk and spices for cooking. Small bits of the best and worst pieces are an exception, as they are to be torn in half and given to the couple to feed to each other at the end of the meal. This symbolizes a sharing of both good and bad times. The best cut is, of course, the Holy City cut. The worst…When I say worst, I mean worst. The scouts purposefully try to find the single most awful piece of meat for this meal. That piece of meat that’s survived on a carcass that’s been so dead for so long and is so smelly that its probably best classified as a very solid wet fart. A piece of meat that could possibly turn a vulture stomach.

Not that the couple should allow it to.

Throwing up or refusing to eat the bad portion is extremely frowned upon and your mate will have to eat a double portion to save face for both of you.

After breakfast there is short rest period to sleep off/clean up in preparation for the dancing. The engaged vultures return to their parents’ nests where they have a small family ring ceremony. Rings are given twice with vultures. First from the family to their child, and then the same ring is gifted from their child to their spouse right before the dances . The rings are always simple, but beautifully crafted,  pieces made of wood painted red. The wood symbolizes, well, its difficult to explain. Its sort of like a symbol of how love is taught and nurtured by the family/community, like a sapling. Its evidence of the love they  have seen you grow within yourself and shown them in return, now shaped and molded into something to give your spouse. The color red symbolizes life and new beginnings, and as such these rings are only worn for a year. They’re swapped out for more personalized rings on the first wedding anniversary. There’s a lot of crying and mushy speeches when these rings are given out  akin to vows.

There are cases when a vultures might not have a family or close friends to make a ring for them, and in those cases they just make them themselves.

Anyway, once all the mushy stuff is over the family flies out to their local dancing grounds. These are usually flat areas where the ground is dusted with glittering iridescent fragments of crushed mollusc shells and bioluminescent (if they’re on the island ) fungi. Musicians (and watchmen if they’re on the island) stand around the perimeter as guests file onto the huge dance floor.   When the couple arrives they’re led to the center, where they exchange their rings in front of the crowd. Everyone screeches in approval, and then they all.

Get.

Fuckin’.

Down.

Vultures, are all about dancing and weddings are an amazing excuse to cut every rug in a 10 mile radius. There’s no real rhyme or reason to the dances, everyone just follows the band’s lead. Its quite the sight and it goes on for hours. In the process feathers will be lost. Avian break-dancing will happen. Someone’s rabbit friend will show up halfway through with a cart of boozy fruit and auntie Broken Ladder will get out of control at light speed. You’ll only know things are starting to wind down when the couple gets tired and tells people to start circling up. This is the cue that its time for their exit dance.

The couple’s last dance is partially a group affair. Two circles form, one for each family. The revelers start to slowly dance, wings spread, inching the circles closer and closer until they join and become one large circle with the couple in the middle. The couple dances on the ground only briefly, just long enough for the big circle to make on complete rotation, before they take to the air. As they rise, their guests screech and fan their wings, lifting a cloud of glittering dust behind them. Once in the sky they do the vulture equivalent of slow dancing, flying together in graceful formations as their families watch from the ground. After a while they spiral high into the sky and just leave. No one follows them and where they go after is their business. Everyone left at the party dances the night away, usually picking a safe group roost nearby instead of going home if they don’t have to.

And that’s how vultures get married.

Divorce:

Sometimes its just not meant to be y’all.

Vultures classically divorce by tearing out a few flight feathers and burying them with their rings to rot, then dividing whatever the vulture equivalent to a pile of limited edition beanie babies is up. These days its one feather each, but in the old days it was all the flight feathers of the bird who’s fault it was the most. This means justice for adulterers and abusers if the victim can successfully plead their case to the local elders. It does make divorce just because you fell out of love difficult. Vultures mate for life and wanting to break that bond is extremely rare (because of an actual soul bond or societal pressures? Who knows?). Separating from your mate should only be because they wronged you or they died (so they say). A lot of people stay together because they don’t hate their mate and they don’t have a good reason to leave. Which isn’t the worst, but its not the best either.

Re-marrying for divorced vultures is kinda tough because they’re mostly restricted to dating other divorcees and widows. If you’re a vulture who’s never been married, its seen as real bad luck to date a divorcee (widows get more leeway). Fifteen’s dad had it real rough as he was also a single father (Fifteen’s birth mom got shared custody for a week before the elders saw what a bad idea that was) who was far from home. Fifteen wasn’t old enough to fly back to the Holy City with him yet, so they temporarily settled down near a rabbit trade outpost where he could sell his woodwork. Long story short, he meets the cute owner of the local rabbit bar, they fall in love, town gossip is rejuvenated for the next thousand years, and Fifteen gets a stable and overall better family.

And that’s how vultures get married again.

[whoisntgayforgatsby]

The Invitation That Taught Me To Dance

Gatsby sends his dear friend of nearly two years a confusing letter to tea and lunch at twelve.

There’s a knock on my door at dawn. By dawn, I don’t mean the kind where the  world is mostly alive once more, bathed in light, also known as, my kind of dawn. I sadly mean the kind where even the sun is still not even fully awake in the sky. I answer to Gatsby’s butler, I think his name is Alfred or Henry. I know they both were servants of Gatsby’s.

“Hello?” I croak, leaning against the door frame, rubbing my eyes.

“Mr. Gatsby sent me to give this to you.” He hands me a fancy looking, red envelope with fancy golden letters spelling out ‘Carraway’ on the back.

“Okay…” I yawn. “Thank you.” I get a nod from him and he turns, heading back to Gatsby’s.

I fall asleep quickly after he leaves, forgetting to open it until I awoke at around ten. It was under my stomach as I’d tossed and turned fitfully throughout another one of my dreams of Gatsby. All of them were about him since the day he reunited with Daisy. They used to be either him and I just doing something pointless, talking about nothingness, or about him being with Daisy and my heart being torn out, or about him and I instead of him and Daisy.

Now, they were mostly the first and third of those options but, with the ones of the day he got shot. Horrible, horrible nightmares. He was hit in the abdomen and just about drowned, no thanks to his butler, he lived. I dove in after him and pulled him from the pool. Since that day, nearly two years ago, I’ve woken from night terrors all about Gatsby not making it.

Daisy and Tom had returned by now and it was found that it was all Tom’s fault that Gatsby was shot. He wouldn’t just own up to his selfish affair with Myrtle. I despised them for that. Gatsby, though, still saw Daisy as this larger-than-life figure. That’s what I think, though. He has her over often and I’ve tried to drift from them all. I tried too, to stay close to Jordan, but, I don’t love her and she’s petty and fake, just like the rest.

Daisy, my own cousin, has betrayed both myself and the man that I deeply care for. What I truly wish to know is, would Gatsby have become so close to me if it wasn’t for Daisy being my cousin?

I roll onto my back and pluck the paper, now stuck to my sweaty skin, from my stomach and the fancy writing was now slightly smudged. I tear the top of the paper open with a pocket knife near my bed, pulling the page out and it was nice, from a stationary I’d seen on his desk hundreds of times over the years.

Why didn’t he just come and give me this himself? Or just tell me?

What a weird man.

Dearest Nick,

Or should it be 'Dearest Carraway’? Or was it 'Dearest Mr. Carraway’?

Please excuse my poor letter writing skills, old sport. I’m not used to writing letters to friends as I only truly write letters as correspondence between myself and some business partners. I’m not sure how to address a friend as close as you.

Anyway, old sport, This was not the point of my invite. Yes, invite. I would like you to come for tea and lunch today at about noon time. You can come whenever you please, though, so, do not worry too much about being on time as this is very last minute.

I wanted to invite you myself but, sadly have been far too busy with work to do much of anything. Calling seemed too impersonal as we haven’t seen each other in nearly a fortnight. Or was it longer? For I cannot remember.

I hope that you do show. I understand if you cannot or just prefer not to.

Sincerely,

Jay Gatsby.

I stumble from bed and rush to get ready. I was very stressed suddenly. He wanted to see me . I felt like a woman stressing over a date, putting on outfit after outfit, causing my bedroom to become a horrid mess. It was quite astounding how somebody could cause me to worry about how I look, especially when they had feelings for my cousin. I check my watch and notice that it’s barely eleven by the time I’ve finished readying myself. It felt far longer.

Now, all there is, is for me to pace and worry and play out the scene a thousand times. Most end with me kissing him until my face goes numb. Which, that shouldn’t be considered ‘the scene’ because that is most definitely not what is happening.

I sit on my bed after about fifteen minutes of stress-pacing and pick up the letter again. The way he writes my name is so fancy, so lovely. He seemed to not think when he wrote, unlike when he spoke. His letter was long and rambly and sweet, beautiful and his voice was always strong and sure, careful but, never to ramble, never to struggle with finding something to say.

Jay Gatsby was calm and cool, just like his blue eyes and his bright smile.

I let myself read it again, two, three more times.

I realize it says ‘ about noon ’ and not ‘ at noon ’, which means that I can head over now. That thought lights a ball of nerves aflame in my stomach but, I stand nonetheless. I brush my hands over my clothes to smooth them. I decided upon an outfit that I don’t normally wear. A delicately pink top that would usually have a tie but I don’t bother with one, a pair of black, tighter-than-normal slacks and my normal shoes. My hair was slicked back in a wavy-brown swoosh atop my head and behind my ears. I hate slicking my hair back like this but, I need to look the best for Gatsby.

I stroll over, a saunter that makes me seem much more confident than I feel. Inside I was shaking like a baby’s rattle. I’m clenching and unclenching my fists at my sides, trying to work up the courage to knock on the door.

Once I do, the door flies open and my fist lands on Gatsby's chest. Thankfully I hadn't been trying to knock hard.

We both look shocked for a quick moment and he wipes his expression with a fast smile instead while I just stammer, my hand still in place on his chest. “I am so-... I was just trying-... You- I… See, I-...”

Gatsby laughs and places a hand over mine, lowering it back to my side. “Easy there, old sport. It's alright,” He pats my shoulder. “You're early.” He notes.

“You-... Your letter… It- It said about noon, so I though, um…”

“Yes, I know, Nick. I was just giving you a hard time.” He gives a warm smile and a gentle tap of his knuckles to my cheek.

“I knew that…” I laugh awkwardly and we both stand there for far too long.

“Come in!” He jumps as if he just realized he had to let me in, moving out of my way and I step in. Gatsby looks me over with his mouth ever-so-slightly agape. “You-... You’re wearing?...” His voice trails and he pulls at the open collar. I had the top three buttons undone and he seemed to be highly aware of that fact.

“I decided to wear this as I haven’t yet found the right place to try it out. Is it too riskay?” I ask, peering over at him.

“I-I… The ladies will… Never be able to keep their hands off of you,” A look I’ve never seen on his face passes quickly over him before he smiles again. Gatsby coughs meekly into his fist before awkwardly clearing his throat. “Alright, old sport. I will go check on the food preparations. Feel free to wander.” He tells before scurrying away.

I can’t help but to wonder if Gatsby is alright? He seems off today. He probably didn’t get much sleep is all. He was just not thinking, I guess? Normally he’s slow and composed in everything he does but right now, he’s stumbling over himself, fumbling for things to say. I’m concerned to say the least.

I stare at some kind of painting on the wall the whole time that Gatsby is gone.I honestly am not even paying the slightest bit of attention to it, my brain is running through all of the things that could be wrong with him.

“Old sport, lunch will be ready soon.” He says and seems to have nothing more to say. Well, more like, he can’t think if more to say.

“Gatsby.” I turn to face him and he takes a step back.

“Yes?”

“Are you well?”

“Am I well?” He returns my question without an answer.

“Yes, Gatsby. Are you well? Are you alright? You’ve been acting strangely since I’ve arrived.” I say and he seems to flinch at my accusation.

“I always act like this, Nick,” He laughs nervously. “How am I acting strange? I always act the same way. I mean, I was taken aback a bit by you coming here early but, that��s not acting strange . That’s just me being a bit surprised is all, old sport! Wouldn’t you be taken aback by-”

“Jay, you’re rambling.” I interrupt.

“I-... I wan’t rambling! I was just making conversation.”

“You’re acting like the first time you saw Daisy again. You’re skittish and jumpy and can’t shut up,” I say and he frowns. “I’m not trying to be mean to you Gatsby, I just want to know if you’re okay. Have you been sleeping?”

“Not much but, I have been getting sleep.” He says, nodding at me.

“Well, if you want to tell me what's bothering you, I'm always here to listen.” I tell him, patting his upper arm.

“Thank you, old sport. Same to you, my door is always open.” He touches my hand as I drop it from him. He blushes and pulls away like a spooked deer.

“What is for lunch, Jay?” I ask and he then, without thinking, grabs my hand.

“Come with.” He says and pulls me along behind him.

⚣

We eat together and make small talk and tell a few stories. He tells me more about his childhood than I had heard before. He seemed to miss North Dakota a lot more than I thought originally. Someday I plan on having him go back home to see his family.

Now, we wind up leaning over that railing that overlooks the pool.

“Ah, old sport, somehow, I always seem to end up here,” He let's out this breath that sounds like he's been holding it for years. “With you.”

It takes my breath away and I stumble a little. “We're like the friend versions of soulmates.” I laugh feebly as my breathing regulates.

“Yeah,” He hums, letting silence hit us. I can hear the waves on the Sound from distanced boats and such. “Nervous and excited are two emotions that shouldn’t mix, if you ask me. Makes it hard to concentrate.” He huffs, more to himself.

“What do you mean, Jay?” I quirk a brow at him.

“Hmm?” He turns to me. “Oh, did I speak aloud?” He seems panicked.

“You did.”

“I didn't mean to…” He frowns. “Would you like a drink?” He stands suddenly.

“Sure. Not much though.” I follow after him into the house as he makes a quick paced walk to what I assume is a distraction from his slip-up before.

“What would you like, old sport?” He says, sliding behind his bar. I follow him and he jumps. “Sit down, I can get you what you'd like.” He says quietly.

“I can get things on my own, Jay,” I smile. “You're not my servant.”

“You're my guest, Nick.” He tells me, like I don't know that.

“So?” I grab the brandy from one of his shelves.

“Not that one, that's the cheap one.” He takes it away and grabs one from a higher shelf, he pours me a glass and drops some circular ice cubes in it. He holds it out to me with a smile and I take it, our fingers brush and he drops it before I get a good grip on it, causing it to hit the floor and shatter.

“Oh!” I gasp as it scares the hell out of me, making me jump.

“I am so sorry! I-... Wasn’t paying attention.” He pours me a new one and places it on the bar this time.

His hands are trembling so hard that he can barely hold onto the bottle of bourbon as he pours himself a glass. I take the bottle away from him and grip his hands in mine. “Jay, breathe…” I say.

He pants and looks at me with big eyes, pulling away from my touch. “I’m fine.” He croaks and swallows hard.

“You’re trembling.”

“I just need a drink.” And he picks up my glass, downing it.

“I’m not in the mood for any, anymore.” I sigh, shaking my head. Gatsby frowns as he realizes that I’m disappointed.

“I’m sorry, old sport,” He says, dipping his eyes to keep from looking at me. “Come with me.” He brushes past me and disappears into another room. I hurry after him and we wind up in his ballroom. He sits on the couch of pillows that’s placed against the side of the stairs and I join him.

“Jay, what’s going on?” I ask.

“Nothing, Nick,” He answers. “Do you dance?”

“Can’t, I’m horrible at it.” I lean back and nearly sink into the pillows completely.

He laughs beautifully. “Be carefully, those pillows will eat you alive,” He covers his mouth to smile. “And, I bet you’re wonderful. Come.” He stands again and holds a hand towards me. I can’t keep up with this man.

I take it and he pulls me up, making me stumble and crash into him. He catches me in his arms to steady me and my heart nearly implodes. I shy away after a moment or so and Gatsby lets me.

“Let me teach you how to dance, old sport!” Gatsby sashes to the middle of the floor. “Klipspringer! Play something beautiful, will you?”

And, so he begins, playing some sort of jazzy-swing song that I didn’t quite know. Gatsby holds a hand towards me, it brings me back to that wonderful first day, he spoke to me and held his glass outward just as fireworks exploded.

I take it and he beams, yanking me into him. “Just follow along.” He breathes in my ear just before spinning me around and pulling me back.

I quickly realize this to be a Viennese Waltz, his steps are fast as we spin around one another and I step on him more than once. He simply winces and smiles at me as I apologize each time. He pushes me away and holds a single hand of mine, spinning me around like a ballerina before tugging me back into him.

He’s a beautiful dancer.

He’s a beautiful man in general.

Gatsby blows a puff of air upward to push a strand of hair from his eyes.

He then twirls me once more, yanking me back and gracefully dips me, leaning over me as he pants lightly from the fast-paced dancing. And suddenly, something in me just bursts as I look up at his perfectly tired face and I cup his cheek in my palm, gripping his collar in my other hand, kissing him with so much force that he stumbles and his hands unclasp from behind my back. I fall and bring him down with me. We break apart just before we hit the floor.

“Nick?” His voice is but a whisper.

“Gatsby.” I say as if I’m answering a question.

“You kissed me.” He states.

“I did.” I confirm.

“Can I talk to you about that problem that I’ve been having?” He asks and rolls onto his back, off of me.

“Of course.” I huff, he completely brushed it all off.

“I’ve never been in love.” He says.

“You loved Daisy.” I comment.

“No,” He shakes his head. “I-... I was just obsessed with her. I held onto this fantasy because if I had her and I had money, everything would be perfect, I thought, at least… I believed that I loved her and made her larger-than-life to fill a void that I had within me. I kept trying to fill that hole and nothing worked.” He sighs.

“Gatsby, you could have anything you could ever want.” I furrow my brow.

“Was that kiss just for fun?” He suddenly asks.

I panic and start to nod. “That’s how the dance usually works.”

“I can’t have everything, old sport.”

“Jay, you’re not making sense.” I gasp in frustration.

“I’m making perfect sense, Nick. I cannot have you . I cannot fill that void.” He then stand and starts towards the door.

I jump to my feet and catch up to him. “What are you talking about?” I grab his wrist to stop him.

He looks at me, a strange emotion on him that I’d never before seen. “Listen, old sport, that kiss, it was not a just fun to me. It filled that void with cement and then, you shattered it back open with your rejecting words, telling me it was all just some game to you.” His voice is hurt but his words are steady and he rips his hand away.

“Gatsby, I panicked. Do you really think I would do that for fun ?” I ask him with my voice tight.

“Of course. Plenty a person does.” He had turned away from me by now.

“What if I did it again?”

“What if?” Was his reply. And, so, I do. I turn him around and kiss him, letting my lips fit to his like mended pottery, he tastes of strawberries and cigars, a hint of bourbon and chocolate left behind from before. He was soft and warm and his cheeks had a light stubble as I held them.

I pull away from him before it goes any further than just a kiss. Gatsby looks me in the eye in that moment, blue and shining, more beautifully blue than the sky on a cloudless day. “You kissed me.” He says yet again.

“I did.”

“Do it again.”

And, I do.

[papermoonloveslucy]

LUCY AND LIBERACE

S2;E16 ~ January 5, 1970

Directed by Jack Baker ~ Written by Fred S. Fox and Seaman Jacobs

Synopsis

For a high school initiation, Craig goes on a scavenger hunt to retrieve one of Liberace's candelabras. Liberace loans it to him but Lucy thinks he stole it so she recruits Harry to sneak into the star's mansion and return it.  

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carter), Gale Gordon (Harrison Otis Carter), Lucie Arnaz (Kim Carter), Desi Arnaz Jr. (Craig Carter)

Guest Cast

Liberace (Himself) was born Władziu Valentino Liberace in 1919.  A piano prodigy, he was the son of working-class immigrants, and enjoyed a career spanning four decades of concerts, recordings, television, motion pictures, and endorsements. At the height of his fame, from the 1950s to the 1970s, Liberace was the highest-paid entertainer in the world, with established residencies in Las Vegas, and an international touring schedule. 

Liberace (known informally as ‘Lee’) embraced a lifestyle of flamboyant excess both on and off stage, acquiring the sobriquet "Mr. Showmanship." Prior to this episode, his only appearance with Lucille Ball was the musical film Best Foot Forward (1943). He died at age 67 after a battle with HIV/AIDS.

Ben Wrigley (Williams, Liberace's Butler) was a British actor who appeared in My Fair Lady (1964) and Bednobs and Broomsticks (1971). He previously appeared as a ticket agent in “Lucy Flies to London” (TLS S5;E6).  This is the first of his three episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”

Paul Winchell (Carlo, Liberace's Tailor) previously played himself in“Lucy and Paul Winchell” (TLS S5;E4). He was born Paul Wilchinsky in 1922. Coming into the public eye in 1948, he became one of the most famous ventriloquists since Edgar Bergen. He hosted the enormously popular children’s television show “Winchell-Mahoney Time” (1964-68) in which he shared the spotlight with Jerry Mahoney, one of his most popular characters. He played Doc Putnam in “Main Street U.S.A.” (TLS S5;17) and “Lucy Puts Main Street on the Map” (TLS S5;E18). This is the second of his two episodes of “Here’s Lucy.”  He died in 2005.

Winchell uses an Italian accent for this character.  

This is the first episode of the new year and the new decade.  

The 1970s will see the end of “Here's Lucy” in 1974, as well as Lucille Ball's return to the silver screen in Mame that same year.  In 1971, Lucie Arnaz will wed Phil Vandervort and Desi Arnaz Jr. made his big screen debut in Red Sky at Morning.  At the end of the decade, Lucie Arnaz made her Broadway debut in They're Playing Our Song (1979).

The date this episode was first aired (January 5, 1970) ABC premiered a new daytime drama called All My Children. Philip Amelio, who played Lucy’s grandson on “Life With Lucy”, appeared on the sudser in 1988. It ceased production in 2013. 

Liberace brought $50,000 worth of his spectacular wardrobe to the set, and Lucille Ball hired a round-the-clock security guard to ensure its safety. The tuxedo jacket that lights up in the dark made its debut on this show; Liberace will use it in his act for the rest of his life.

In the 2013 HBO biopic Behind the Candelabra, an aging Liberace (Michael Douglas) compares his domestic life with partner Scott Thorson (Matt Damon) to an old sitcom. Scott protests: “Why am I the Lucy?”  Douglas' father Kirk made a wordless cameo appearance on a 1966 episode of “The Lucy Show.”

Professor Harkens gave Craig the African mask.

Lucy recalls her initiation into ‘The Swingers’ in high school.  The double entendre of 'swinging' is quickly cleared up by Lucy saying she was in a trapeze club!  For her initiation, she had to get an autographed photo of Rudy Vallee. Rudy Vallee was a singer popular in the 1920s and '30s who made a guest appearance on the first episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” in 1957.  He will guest star as himself during season 3 of “Here's Lucy.”  

Kim guesses that Craig may have to retrieve an item from Engelbert Humperdinck. Lucy replies “What's an Engelbert Dumperhinck?”  Engelbert Humperdinck is an English pop singer acclaimed as one of the finest middle-of-the-road balladeers around. In 1969 he released two albums and had three hit singles. That same year he was the first guest on “The Liberace Show”. 

In Liberace's mansion, he enters and sits at a glass-lid Baldwin grand piano and plays Chopin's “Military Polonaise” (Opus 40, #1) composed in 1838.  

When Liberace tries on the light-up jacket, he says “This'll really turn them on in Pasadena!”  He could be referring to his senior citizen female fans. There was a popular song at the time titled “Little Old Lady From Pasadena.” Later in the episode we learn that the candelabra loaned to Craig was a gift from a Senior Citizen group. 

In a retrospectively ironic line, Liberace says about his many candelabras: “I've got closets full of them.” Although Liberace was flamboyant, his sexual orientation was never discussed publicly (he was ‘in the closet’) until later in his life.  When 17 year-old Craig and Liberace are alone (and Craig's shirt is unbuttoned to the navel) it is difficult not to think of Liberace's romance with 18 year-old Scott Thorson (inset), who later sued the entertainer in America's first same-sex palimony case.

At home, Craig gets a phone call from Bill. This is probably a nod to Desi Arnaz Jr.'s friend and band mate Billy Hinsche.  

Answering the front door, Kim says “It's probably Craig with his arms loaded down with that something he had to get from a big star.” Lucy replies: “Maybe he's got his arms full of Jackie Gleason.”  This is a quick joke about comedy star Jackie Gleason's weight.  Gleason did a cameo as Ralph Kramden in the second episode of “Here's Lucy” (above). 

Harry is reminded that in college he underwent initiation into the fraternity Delta Delta Tau. The joke comes when he gives says their initials – DDT. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) is a chemical used as an insecticide. In the late 1960s and early ‘70s DDT was frequently in the news regarding its harmful effects on humans, wildlife, and the environment.  DDT was eventually banned.  

The candelabra is inscribed “To Liberace. From his Senior Citizen Fan Club in Pismo Beach.” Along with Cucagmonga, Pismo Beach was often used as a punch-line for jokes about California. It was mentioned in “Lucy Goes on Strike” (S1;E16). Pismo Beach is one of the locations Lucy and Ethel want to visit before returning to New York in “Lucy Gets Into Pictures” (ILL S4;E18).

On their way to return the candelabra to Liberace, Harry holds it forth and says “Lead, kindly light.”  “Lead, Kindly Light” is a hymn with words written in 1833 by John Henry Newman as a poem titled "The Pillar of Cloud."

Sneaking into Liberace's mansion through the back door, Harry's shoes squeak! Lucy says “You'd sure be a goofball on 'Mission: Impossible.’”  The Desilu TV spy show “Mission: Impossible” has been a source of humor for “Here's Lucy,” which even did a whole episode parodying the show: “Lucy's Impossible Mission” (S1;E6, above).  

Harry and Lucy sing while Liberace plays "By the Light of the Silvery Moon,” a song written in 1909 by Gus Edwards and Edward Madden. Lucy says she and Harry first performed the number at the Kiwanis Capers.

When Lucy suggests that Liberace use the whole family on his TV special, Liberace remarks “You're about 83 short of the King Family.” The King Family was a family musical group that had great success on records and television in the 1960s. They had a TV show on ABC that ran until 1969.  

As the big finale, everyone sings and dances to "I'll Be Seeing You," a song written by Sammy Fain and Irving Kahal in 1938. It was inserted into the Broadway musical Right This Way, which closed after just  fifteen performances.

Lucy and Lee shared the covers of many periodicals of the 1950s. Both had top-rated television programs and were instantly identifiable figures and names. Nearly 20 years later, both are still considered show business royalty. 

Offscreen, Lucy and Desi socialize with Liberace during the height of their fame. 

At the start of the episode, Craig enters wearing an African mask.  The moment is similar to when Ricky Ricardo researched African masks for his Voodoo act during “Lucy Goes to the Hospital” (ILL S2;E16). The scene also begins the 1953 episode. Ricky Ricardo also briefly wore an African mask in “Cuban Pals” (ILL S1;E28) before singing “Similau.”  

Liberace tells Craig not to worry about returning the candelabra as he has a lot of them. Craig replies: “If Los Angeles ever had a black out – you could light the whole city.” This echoes when Liberace was first mentioned by Lucy Ricardo in “The Diner” (ILL S3;E25) in 1954.  

LUCY RICARDO: (about Ricky’s bad mood): “Everything went wrong down at the club last night. Right in the middle of his big number, the lights went out all over the whole neighborhood. Everybody got up and, and left and went into the nightclub across the street.” ETHEL MERTZ: “How’d they manage without electricity?” LUCY RICARDO: “Liberace was playing there.  He does his show by candlelight.” 

“Lucy’s Club Dance” (S3;E25) included the February 26, 1954 issue of TV Guide with Liberace (and a candelabra) on the cover. It was one of many used as set dressing for a corner news stand.  

In “Lucy’s Show-Biz Swan Song” (ILL S2;E12) Lucy and Ethel sing “By the Light of the Silvery Moon” and wangles her way into performing with a barbershop quartet.

In “Lucy’s Barbershop Quartet” (TLS S1;E19) Lucy Carmichael and Vivian Bagley sing “By the Light of the Silvery Moon” and wangles her way into performing with a barbershop quartet.

Craig's collectibles are no doubt supplied by prop master Kenneth Westcott from the Desilu props supply.  It is likely that all of the items were used in some television program, but the one most recognizable is the female ship's figurehead. It was last seen in the background of the Sunset Strip beatnik hangout in “Viv Visits Lucy” (TLS S5;E15).  

In “Lucy and the Countess Have a Horse Guest” (TLS S4;E6), Lucy Carmichael tells the Countess (aka her old chum Rosie) that since moving to Hollywood she has met Lassie’s hairdresser, the man who used to dry off Lloyd Bridges, and Liberace’s dentist. Liberace was well known for his continual smile.  

In “Lucy Dates Dean Martin” (TLS S4;E21) Lucy Carmichael admires (and later wears) a sequined top once worn by Audrey Hepburn. Dean Martin says “The last time I saw anything that fancy was on Liberace.”  In “Lucy and Liberace” Harry admires and tries on Liberace’s red sequined jacket. 

Math Fail!  Liberace says that the Carters are 83 short of the King Family. There were 39 members of the King family, ranging in age from 7 months to 79 years, who appeared on their television show.  Liberace is exaggerating by 48 Kings!

Where the (Marble) Floor Ends! In the living room scene the camera pulls back to far and reveals the soundstage cement floor.  When this happens in Liberace's mansion, the tape spike marks are clearly visible for centering of the dance numbers and camera positions.

Sitcom Logic Alert! The ending of the episode ditches all pretense of reality and turns into a musical performance for the studio audience, including Liberace waving to the audience as he exits – stage right!  It is jarring and a sign that – once again - “Here's Lucy” is unsure of its identity.  

“Lucy and Liberace” rates 3 Paper Hearts out of 5

Let's face it – even playing himself Liberace is a pretty mediocre actor, so this episode could never be more than a showcase for his talent and opulent wardrobe on which is hung a paper thin plot. The worst thing about the episode is the complete demolishing of the fourth wall during the final number. Shameless, really.  

[aerithflowermaiden]

Night Sky & Stars in Final Fantasy romances

I have observed that the Final Fantasy series is fond of using stars, moon and the night sky during romances so here are a few examples.

FFIV

The first mention I can think of is in FFIV after the king discharges Cecil from the captaincy and orders him to hunt Eidolons in the Mist Valley, and to deliver the Carnelian Signet to the village of Mist. The moon and night sky is clearly visible in Cecil’s room and are in view when Rosa, his girlfriend comes to his room.

That night, Rosa comes to Cecil’s room to show him sympathy. Cecil is torn between doing what he believes in and doing what the king orders and swears to never perform another act of evil on behalf of Baron. Despite loving Rosa, he knows they can never be together because of his profession as a Dark Knight.

The night sky is seen again in Kaipo where Edward sees Anna’s spirit encouraging him to be strong and helps him defeat the Sahagin.

She tells him Golbez cannot be allowed to acquire the crystals and that he loved her once, he should give that love to the world, then she leaves. While there are no stars, there is a glimpse of the moon on the water. 

FFVI

The second mention of the night sky that I can think of is in FFVI in The Opera where Celes Chere plays the role of Maria, who gets separated from her lover Draco due to war breaking out between the armies of the east and west:

The West was defeated, and Maria’s castle                                                 

came under Eastern control.                                                                               

Maria, forced into marriage by                                                                         

the Eastern Prince Ralse,                                                                                    

does not abandon her feelings for Draco,                                                          

but thinks of her lover each night as she watches the skies…

Credit for the Opera lyrics: http://www.fflyrics.com/ogc4.html

There are four tracks of the Opera but some of Maria’s lyrics from the Aria di Mezzo Carattere translated literally from the Japanese refer to shooting stars which are used in Final Fantasy to symbolize promises:

My beloved, are you going to a distant place?

And we just pledged eternal love…

Through sad times and hard times,

I’ll think of that shooting star as you.

Credit for the Opera lyrics: http://www.fflyrics.com/ogc4.html

FFVII

Cloud makes a promise to Aerith to be her bodyguard in the Sector 5 Church and his payment is a date. Although who Cloud likes is up to interpretation, the canon date at Gold Saucer is clear. Cloud and Aerith spend the night together on their gondola ride with the fireworks all around them, which mirrors Snow and Serah’s date with fireworks in FFXIII.

While Cloud and Aerith are spending the night in the gondola as it travels around there is a belief glimpse of the moon and clouds that are visible.

#111 “Sanctuary of amusement” FFVII Art Museum card The Planet’s largest amusement park is run by Dio. Cloud and company visit this place many times in their battle. They meet Cait Sith here. A promised date that ends in a magical night. In the city of desire that floats above the sands, the light memory of the two people is asleep even now… (??!!)

マッチョな園長ディオが運営する世界最大の遊戯場ゴールドソーサー。クラウドたちは戦いの合間に何度もこの地を訪れた。ケット・シーとの出会い。チョコボスク エアで繰り広げられた数々のデッドヒート。そしてマジカルナイトの夜に果たされたデートの約束…。砂上に浮かぶ欲望の城に、二人の淡い想い出は今も眠る…。

「あなたの中に彼を見ていた…　でも、ちがうの。今は、ちがう…。ね、クラウド。私、あなたを探してる」 （デートの最後、観覧車に乗った時のエアリスの言葉）.

Source: http://www.cloudandaerith.com/Cards.html

This is the #111  “Sanctuary of amusement” FFVII Art Museum card which is Gold Saucer, notice that it directly refers to Aerith and Cloud’s date as a promise that is being fulfilled and it holds their memories of the “magical night” in a “city of desire”.  

“I think I must have seen him again, in you… But you’re different. Things are different… No, Cloud… I’m searching for you…” (Said to Cloud during their first and last date)

「ね、クラウド。私、あなたを捜してる」 （最初で最後のデートでクラウドへの想いを語る） (Aerith’s FFVII Art Museum Card) also references her canon date with Cloud at the Gold Saucer while they are on the gondola ride.

- The Promised Date at the Gold Saucer The “1 date” reward promised when she enlisted Cloud as her bodyguard. She invites him on the date during the night spent at the Gold Saucer; participating in a play and riding the gondola, they have a pleasant time, though it is brief.

約束のデートはゴールドソーサで 「デート１回」の報酬を約束にはじまった、クラウドヘの護衛の依頼. ゴールドソーサーに泊まった夜、約束どおり彼をデートに誘い、演劇をしたり観覧車に乗ったり、つかの間とはいえ楽しい時間を過ごす。 (FF 25th Memorial Ultimania Vol. 2, p. 29)

-This is the payment she suggests when Cloud says that it’ll cost her to hire him to be her bodyguard. This line shows the composed and mischievous side of her. It may be because of this promise that it’s easier to have Aerith be the other party in Cloud’s date when they’re in the Gold Saucer. (FFVII Ultimania Omega, p. 30)

-In Aerith’s case, if you play the game normally, the partner that generally comes will be Aerith. (FFVII Dismantled, p. 189)

エアリスの場合。ふつうにプレイしていると、だいたい彼女がくる。

-“Oh, Cloud…I enjoyed our date at the Gold Saucer. The view from the gondola that night was really beautiful. I’ll never forget it. I’ll never forget you, Cloud…” ~Aerith; Final Fantasy VII Dismantled; Square Enix, p. 164

“クラウド……ゴールドソーサーでのデート、楽しかったよね。ゴンドラから見た夜景、とてもきれいだった。私、ずっと忘れない。 クラウドのこと、忘れない……”

Before the group exits the Temple of the Ancients, Aerith asks Cait Sith to read her fortune. Though the scene doesn’t have actual stars, they’re mentioned that Aerith and Cloud’s match.

There is another mention of the night sky in the official novella Maiden Who Travels the Planet/Hoshi wo Meguru Otome (星を巡る乙女) when Aerith thinks back to her conversation with Cloud around the fire in Cosmo Canyon about her Cetra heritage and her feelings of loneliness for being the last of her race. Here is her recollection while in the Lifestream where Maiden Who Travels the Planet takes place of her kobito Cloud and her memory of their conversation at Cosmo Canyon and her desire not to be separated from people she holds dear:

“There are still people I don’t want to be separated from. I can’t sleep yet. Until that time comes, I’ll wander around here for a while. I’ll spend my time here in the Planet… In our Promised Land… Wishing she could send away her thoughts, Aerith looked up at the sky… She looked beyond the shell of the Planet above her head. The particles of Mako that floated and shot around looked like the night sky to her.

She looked up into the sky like the time she sat beside Cloud around the kindling fire in Cosmo Canyon.” ~Maiden Who Travels the Planet; Square Enix

Source: http://new-shinra87.livejournal.com/73135.html

Aerith "I'm... alone... I'm all alone now..."

Cloud "But I'm... we're here for you, right?"

Aerith "I know. I know, but... I am the only... Cetra."

Cloud "Does that mean we can't help?"

According to dansantcaparet, Cloud shows he is falling in love with Aerith by accidentally expressing his feelings when he says he is here for her before backtracking in the quote below:  

“Having a character accidentally express feelings for another, and then backtrack from their slip-up, is a common literary device to show romantic attraction from one character to another. This piece of dialogue is a subtle (yet obvious) way to show Cloud is falling in love with Aerith.” ~dansantcaparet

Credit to my friend: http://dansantcaparet.tumblr.com/post/51686005576/50-epic-reasons-to-support-cloud-x-aerith

This is also a non-optional example of Cloud and Aerith’s romance developing under the night sky unlike the Gandola ride where despite the Cloud date with Aerith being the canon one, Cloud has three other people he can choose between as alternative dates to Aerith depending on the choice of the player. 

There is one last sighting of stars which occurs at the end of Final Fantasy 7 in an interesting visual callback through a panning shot across the stars to Aerith, which is Cloud’s love interest before the game finally ends.

FFVIII

At the SeeD inauguration ball, right before Squall meets the mysterious Rinoa Heartilly for the first time, a shooting star appears by the large prominent Moon and Rinoa comes over to ask Squall to dance using her index finger to sign the number one which Squall sees immediately after the shooting star. Rinoa convinces him to dance by being flirty when she said Squall was going to like her. 

Rinoa and Squall’s dance to Waltz of the Moon ends with fireworks all around them, which mirrors Snow and Serah’s date with fireworks in FFXIII and Cloud and Aerith’s gondola ride during their canon date at the Gold Saucer.

At the end of Final Fantasy 8, we see Rinoa standing on the baloney next to where the SeeD ball was held with the night sky facing her. As she looks into the sky, a shooting star passes by.

After Squall walks up to meet her on the baloney, Rinoa signs him one with her index finger which was how she greeted him when they first meet at the ball, he smiles before kissing her as Balamb Garden flies off into the night.

After Squall and Rinoa kiss and as Balamb Garden flies off into the night there is a beautiful sighting of the Moon which also displays Griever's silhouette before the game officially ends.

There is one last sighting of stars which occurs at the end of Final Fantasy 8 in an interesting visual callback through a panning shot across the stars to Rinoa, which is Squall’s love interest before the game finally ends.

FFIX

 At the end of the game during Tantalus’s return performance of I Want to Be Your Canary in Alexandria, the protagonist Marcus has lines where he is waiting for his love Cornelia who has not appeared yet to elope with him by ship at dawn which show the night sky and the twin moons of Gaia and Terra are visible. I Want to Be Your Canary is likely performed on Garnet’s 17th birthday now that she is queen, approximately a year after the final battle. Doing the performance Garnet is shown to be in a gloomy mood, because she is thinking of Zidane who went missing after trying to rescue Kuja, until the climax of the play when Marcus who has been wearing a black cloak surprises everyone with the ending.

Marcus implores the twin moons to grant his wish, which we find out is that of reuniting with his love.  

The actor playing Marcus removes his black cloak, revealing himself to be Zidane, and Garnet joyously rushes through the crowd to reunite with him on the stage ending I Want to Be Your Canary with a happily ever after improvisation before the cheering audience.

FFX

After Tidus learns the truth about the Final Summoning from Rikku that the Final Aeon needed to defeat Sin not only kills Sin, but the summoner as well, meaning Yuna will die if she goes through with her pilgrimage and with help from the Al Bed, Yuna and Seymour’s forced wedding in Bevelle is crashed. Seymour tries to kill Yuna’s guardians but Yuna and her guardians escape to Bevelle’s temple and on their way out of the Chamber of the Fayth after acquiring Bahamut are arrested and put on trial by the Maesters of Yevon for treason. They are branded traitors of Yevon for killing Seymour and imprisoned in the Via Purifico. When the party reunites after escaping they have a second battle with Seymour in his second form Seymour Natus who reveals his plans on using Yuna to become the next Sin and destroy Spira, "saving" everyone from fear and suffering. Afterwards they escape back to Macalania Woods.

Her faith in Yevon shaken, Yuna goes off to the spring to be alone, Tidus goes after her, and, having discovered the truth behind the Final Summoning, apologizes for his eagerness to defeat Sin and talking how they would visit his Zanarkand, not knowing what would happen to her but Yuna assures him he had made her happy. Tidus attempts to convince Yuna to abandon her pilgrimage and stay with him, and though Yuna considers it, she is unable to abandon her duty to Spira and starts to cry. Tidus comforts her and they share a kiss in the spring under a full moon and dreamy underwater scene. She resolves to go on, with Tidus promising he will always remain by her side.

While there are no actual stars in this scene, the moon is full and the night sky is visible.

While only the moon is visible, we can see there are lights in the spring which appear to resemble stars which make the scene more dreamy, romantic and beautiful. The theme song for Final Fantasy X, which plays during Tidus and Yuna’s underwater kissing scene, “Suteki Da Ne/Isn’t it Wonderful?” translated literally from the Japanese has lyrics that also refer to the stars and the moon.

The moon, a shaking heart in an unsteady mirror                                    

The stars, gentle tears in an overflowing stream

The moon, a heart flowing in the clouded mirror                                                  

The stars, broken and swaying, like tears unable to be hidden.

Credit for the song lyrics: http://www.jpopasia.com/rikki/lyrics/80849/mitsu/suteki-da-ne/

FFXIII

After shopping to get Lightning a birthday present, Snow slips away and buys two engagement necklaces and he and Serah go on a date and spend the night together. After getting engaged, they take a ride on flying vehicle with fireworks all around them and eventually kiss. The date is weighed down by the emotions of Serah’s fate to turn into a l'Cie. Serah is immediately comforted by Snow’s vow of eternal love to stand by her and get married no matter what happens.

The theme song of FFXIII Eternal Love which plays while Snow and Serah are on their date at the fireworks festival has lyrics that also refer to the night sky:

In order that my love with you would be forever                                                    

I swear to the night sky, that these hands, would not part again                 

Because I don’t want to part with my love with you                                              

I swear to the night sky, that these hands, would not part again

Credit for the song lyrics: http://www.jpopasia.com/sayurisugawara/lyrics/20845/first-story/eternal-love/

As Snow and Serah finish their date, there is a sighting of stars as they ride their flying vehicle into the night sky.

FFXV

Noctis and Luna have an official artwork from the Piano Collections in which the moon and night sky are clearly visible and in view while the couple walk on a path alongside a lake.

While there are no stars, there is instead a glimpse of the moon on the water. In addition, the names of the characters have connections to night sky.

Noctis Lucis Caelum is a Latin phrase that means “Sky of the Night Light”.

Lunafreya Nox Fleuret is a Latin phrase that means “Moon Night Blossom”.

This may play on her role as the Oracle keeping the darkness of the night at bay, being the light that illuminates the darkness of the night. Luna is also associated with blue flowers known as sylleblossoms and has a meeting with Noctis in a flowerfield like Cloud and Aerith, Squall and Rinoa and Tidus/Yuna.

The theme song of FFXV Stand by Me has lyrics that also refer to the night and the moon which are perfectly representative of the game as the land does actually go dark after Luna’s death as the last Oracle:

When the night has come

And the land is dark

And the moon is the only light we’ll see

No I won’t be afraid

Oh I won’t be afraid

Just as long as you stand, stand by me

Credit for the song lyrics: http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Stand_By_Me

All of these references of stars and the night sky have come into a full circle with some of Maria’s lyrics from FFVI’s Opera “Maria and Draco" that are my personal favorite and could mirror Noctis’s feelings for Luna:

I’m the darkness, you’re the starlight                                                   

Shining brightly from afar.                  

Through hours of despair, I offer this prayer                  

To you, my evening star.

Credit for the Opera lyrics: http://store.ffdistantworlds.com/track/opera-maria-and-draco-final-fantasy-vi