#and i get to go home somewhere that isn't an hour+ away with the knowledge i'll see him again tomorrow or the next day

[bluesidedown]

.....

[biggest-geo-oogami-enjoyer]

Geo relationship headcannons please? 😓😓🤲

Reverence (Geo x MC/Reader - Relationship HCs)

For @Anonymous and @ordinary-weeb135 ! Hope you both enjoy! (“⌒∇⌒”) - Signed by biggest-geo-oogami-enjoyer A/N: Considering the fact Geo is asexual and is horny 0% of the time, I don't think I can incorporate NSFW content with him without it becoming OOC. Therefore, I will not, at least for him. Hope you guys enjoy nonetheless. :]]]

Reverence: deep respect for someone or something.

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This mf thought you were being saucy when you first asked him out. After all; he gets reminded of his worth(lessness) enough, he doesn't need you, anyone but you, to be mocking him.

You did call him Geode when you confessed, obviously he'd be extremely a bit paranoid.

Well, till he realised you were being serious. Then he panicked because intimacy scares him (honestly such a mood)

But now that you've been together for a long time, he slowly cracks open (like a geode), bit by bit; and you, like the vulture you are, scoop up the nuggets of information he leaks, no matter how seemingly insignificant they may be.

But, alas, whatever knowledge you have on him is a sliver compared to what he knows about you.

This mf knows everything. He will find out every little detail about you, he wants to be as informed as possible, after all.

Overprotective. Stal- follows you if you've left the home to go somewhere, doesn't matter where, this man is paranoid.

Will demand to know where you're going anyway, will confront you if even the smallest of details don't line up. It's his way of ensuring you're okay. And that you can and will tell him everything about where you're going, planning to go to, etc.

If you're a homebody however, he's content; all it means you're with him, safe nearby, away from harm.

But even the almighty Geode needs time to himself, so if you're someone who doesn't like long periods of solitude, he'll simply make you snacks, a pillow fort and then calmly tell you to stay away from him for the next few hours.

You're used to it, and you understand that he needs time to rejuvenate himself after having classes the whole day, and needing to socialise with Deryl. Ugh.

Don't be surprised if your favourite fruit magically appears, cut up into cute shapes, somewhere in your room.

It totally wasn't him.

Would be happily surprised if you want to have what you call a 'bonsai baby' (he was stoically mortified the first time he heard that), but you and him did end up getting a Japanese bonsai tree. (You refer to it as the BB gun, to which Geo rolls his eyes)

Speaking of actual children, Geo doesn't want them. He hates them, for that matter.

Also hates intimacy...well, according to himself.

Likes headpats though (will never admit this, but he loves being praised as well)

His emotional walls are so high and so thick that even he doesn't know how to let you in, but it's okay. You'll figure out a way eventually.

Doesn't get aroused in general, so if you're a horny little shit, he'll just poof out of existence. Doesn't know what to do, so he just fucks off, does something else, and hopes the lack of physical touch isn't a massive dealbreaker for you.

Will be jealous though. A scarily enormous amount.

Is willing to fight until the grave to ensure you remain as his.

Will only hug you after a long time, and when you do, best thing ever. His torso is so comfortable you want to cry, his hair being loose around his shoulders (smells like Persian lilacs), and him holding you. You almost want to cry from joy.

Your first kiss will take even longer, and it'll probably be when you're asleep, a small peck, so you don't wake up.

Will blare opera music around your residence and vibe. Sometimes will sing along quietly, (you love his voice, he's so majestic)

Expert at applying makeup, will start doing it for you when you have date nights. Mf should be an artist with how skilled he is.

Also an expert in haircare, will probably silently brush through it nightly to keep it untangled until the morn

Grows plants in a small garden. Loves those plants

Is not expressive when it comes to emotions or affirmations, I see him as someone who is more Quality Time and Acts of Service-esqe. He likes to sit with you and simply relish in the fact you're both alive, content and safe. Together

Part of, no all of him holds you in the highest of regards imaginable, no matter how cold he may seem, he loves you in his own way

In short, Geo Oogami may not be the most affectionate, loving or emotional guy, but he makes up for it through all the aforementioned reasons, and that's more than enough for you.

He honours you in the way a devout acolyte would honour a god, or a soldier an emperor. You are revered by him.

And you always will be.

[greenhxme]

I have come back to this already, because I decided to watch episode 5 before bed... And then couldn't stop and I finished the rest of the season all at once, very much unlike what I did up until that point. I had spread it out over a week until then. And now, it's over.

I am feeling many things, but I will pause here to simply say if you have not finished Sweet Home Season 3, and you do not want spoilers, do not read any further into this rambling post... I am about to go on a deep dive into everything I am feeling right now about this show, which will contain spoilers. So here we go...

The last half of this season left me as an absolute wreck. As I mentioned earlier in this ramble, I am one of those people who gets very emotionally attached to every aspect of the media I consume. It's what makes me so picky about the things that I do watch, read, etc. I have loved this show since the very beginning, and I will be restarting the show very soon to be able to watch it all the way through now that it is over. It is this fondness and habit of getting attached to characters that left me crying for over half of this season.

I had originally set a slow pace taking in this final season, maybe an episode a day for a while, even going so far as sometimes only watching half of an episode a day to make it last. I never wanted this show to end for me. I've been like this since the first season came out. I was immediately attached to the characters and the story that was unfolding before me, especially since I had no background knowledge of the Webtoon. (Maybe I should look into finding that somewhere to read it as well...) I wanted to make this final season last as long as possible because I never wanted the story to end. And then the last half happened, and instead I found myself sobbing, gasping for air at the end of each episode and pressing 'next episode' before I even knew what I was doing. Maybe that was the monster in me. (Awful joke, I know, but that is also an intrinsic part of who I am. Overly emotional and a lover of awful jokes. Glad you're getting to know me.)

Seeing so many characters that I have loved for three seasons now get torn away from me caused me so much heartache. I was crying so hard I got a headache, I wish whoever might read this could know how serious I am. Four hours straight of me begging the people on the screen to stay and crying into the sleeve of my hoodie. I should be embarrassed. I'm not, I'm simply in awe of how this show made me feel. I love media that makes me feel something (though I admit again that this isn't hard to do with who I am).

Seeing Seo Yi-Su seemingly revert back to the same rage-filled child that we saw throughout season 2 after what happened to Yi-Kyung felt both so real and so helpless. I wanted to scream at her to breathe, to learn from everything she had experienced and not do anything she may regret. Until that moment with Yeong-su. The moment he began to pull the chains free I started to cry, and when she stepped forward claiming she could give him what he wanted, I was pleading with a child through a screen to stop what she was doing and not take him from me. To not take him from Jin-ok. After that, for at least a little while, I found myself losing a bit of my empathy for her as a character. And then the more people she brought to her side through Monsterization all I could think of was how many were going to die because of her. However, that was simply fixed by the fact that they were not all killed. (questionable choice in my opinion for fitting the story I don't understand why they survived Nam Sang-won/Sang-wook's attack but I'm sure that was something that my sob-exhausted brain just overlooked.)

I was looking for Yeong-su every moment after that, begging Hyun-su to bring him back when they "met" in the wreckage over Yi-su's wounded body and every moment before and after. I was truly not okay about the Monsterization of Yeong-su. (And believe me, I was already bad enough off as it was when we had the baseball scene in which he gifted Yi-su the badge that Han Du-sik had made for Su-Yeong. The tears I have cried over that little boy are wild honestly).

Of course I loved the narrative seen with Seok-chan and Young-hoo every moment of their companionship made me happy and I will forever remember Seok-chan so fondly as one of my favorites from the show (Not saying much, everyone is my favorite except for Ye-Seul I couldn't stand her the whole time). I also really loved the story and character arc seen with Tak In-hwan and even the Monsterization as I felt it made a lot of sense.

However, there were a few things I wish had been a little different. Which only makes me love the story more because I think I wanted a little more of a happy ending in some ways (and loved getting sadness instead) and in some ways wanted more clarity and angst (where I instead got heroism and questions?). Personally, I would have loved for Yun Ja-Yeong to get to see Kang Seokchan as a neohuman but that was just me wanting a happier ending for her I think. I really liked the narrative of her wanting to protect him. And then I wanted to see the plan that Eun-hyeok presented to Hyun-su about how to kill Sang-won actually play through. But then suddenly Sang-wook was back again and none of that had to happen? I felt that the forced suicide was a bit confusing and I still do not understand why Sang-wook's body came back? Wasn't it just burned? But then suddenly I'm looking at my favorite character of the entire series again and he is suddenly fighting back against a parasitic half-monster and... I don't know that whole section felt a little confusing and anti-climactic to me I won't lie.

Anyways, this is where I am going to stop the rambling about this show for now, until I do a re-watch and can ramble with more clarity because I think my brain is still a bit scrambled from the nonstop crying over this season for the last four hours finishing it up and then mourning the fact that it is over.

Yes I am aware that I am overly emotional about a tv show, but I love that about myself and I would never change it for the world I love getting attached to things like this and loving them as deeply as I do.

Rambling about Sweet Home Season 3

I am only on episode four so please excuse me as I have not finished the third season and I will be adding to this ramble as I go... I'm really just screaming into the void, I just made this blog and I doubt anyone will see this anyways, so...

Are you kidding me with this third season, I have been obsessed with every single episode so far and I am already planning to rewatch from season one the moment I finish it so I can write a bunch of shit that no will ever read.

I am so drawn in by the dialogue this season it isn't even funny even though I have reached the point in my Korean studies where sometimes all I can do is stare at the translated subtitles like "what the hell how did they decide that would be the translation" though I find myself regularly liking both versions and it's a little confidence booster in my language learning journey. There are times where the dialogue is so heavy between characters that I get so absorbed I find myself holding my breath and gasping for air after certain conversations.

My favorite thing when watching shows by myself is talking to myself and to the characters and believe me I have been screaming at everyone this season so far. I think I am so in shock that I don't even really have any tangible thoughts to put here I guess I just wanted to make the space available to myself to ramble whenever I do finally get my thoughts together about this damned show.

I am also definitely the type to get way too emotionally attached to tv shows and characters in them (I have zero emotional regulation, I love it here) and I have found myself ugly sobbing through almost every episode already and I love it so much. I love getting overly attached to the storylines of characters on a screen I will never be shy about this side of me. And are you kidding me it is just proof of how well some of the characters were written and developed and I love them all so much in so many different ways and wow I can't wait to finish this season just to restart from the beginning and fall in love all over again and keep rambling silly little thoughts into the void of this blog.

[jaimebluesq]

WIP Wednesday 06/29

All right, Wednesday isn't over yet where I am so it's not too late :-p Back to my "Jin Zixuan plans the hunt" fic, complete with title, cover art, and a foreshadowing cliffhanger...

Jin Zixuan stood outside the main Jin stable, watching as a young boy saddled up two mounts. He normally preferred flying to riding, but was perfectly capable of managing a horse ride on occasion.

As long as the mount was gentle, of course.

He leaned his shoulder against a nearby post, resisting the urge to let out an undignified sigh. “Are they almost ready?” he called out to the boy within.

“Nearly, Jin-gongzi. It will take but a few moments.”

He leaned forward to check that the boy was doing his job properly, then leaned back into the post-

“Jin-gongzi?”

His shoulder slid against the smooth wood and he stumbled backwards, only just catching himself before he fell. He coughed and patted at his robes in an attempt to maintain his dignity, glancing over to Jiang Yanli where she approached from the main building. He then stood up and decided to act like nothing had happened.

“Jiang-guniang.” She smiled at him in welcome, the expression transforming her plain features into something quite stunning. “You are just in time. The horses are nearly ready.”

Her eyes opened a little wider. “Are we going somewhere, Jin-gongzi?”

He nodded. “I have to see my cousin with regards to some of the planning while he's working away from Koi Tower, and thought it to be an excellent opportunity to show you some of Lanling's beauty. And knowing of your lackluster cultivation, I thought travelling by horse would be welcome.” She winced at his words and he mentally berated himself. “What I meant to say was that swords were evidently out of the question and-” The light in her eyes dimmed as she looked down at her hands. Was there no way he could salvage this. “I- I thought- When I was a boy, I used to sneak away to feed the horses apples,” he said softly, admitting something only a handful of people knew. “They're very gentle, and handsome steeds, and... I thought you might like to meet them.”

Jiang Yanli no longer looked down at her hands, which he considered a victory. He rushed forward, seeing the stable boy leading two horses out by the reins, and took one set in his hands. He led the light brown mare over to Jiang Yanli and nearly shoved the leather reins in her direction. “This is Glory. I learned to ride on her and she will serve you well.”

Despite himself, the hand holding the reins began to tremble.

Jiang Yanli looked into his eyes and for a moment the rest of the world faded just the slightest bit. By the time he remembered how to breathe, her eyes had moved on to Glory. Jiang Yanli reached out a hand, bypassing the reins and instead running it comfortingly up and down Glory's forehead.

“It's a pleasure to meet you.” The horse let out a light snort as if to return the sentiment. Jiang Yanli then took the reins from him, their fingers brushing the slightest bit.

He nearly jumped and pulled his hand back.

“I'll... go get my mount.”

Minutes later, they were both seated and set their horses to a canter as they rode away from the stables.

For over half an hour, they rode past cottages and farms and fields of green and gold. Jin Zixuan described the crops that were being grown and the relationships between the farmers and the Jin, taking great pride in showing off his home. Jiang Yanli was mostly silent, nodding when appropriate and occasionally asking questions, giving him further opportunity to display his knowledge.

Thus far, the day was going quite smoothly, and he was pleased with himself.

Soon enough they reached the tall wooden walls of the camp at Qiongqi Path...

[furblrwurblr]

I had to adress the trauma before they kissed

Part three to Patience, Love!

Douxie x Reader Soulmate AU, fluff, angst. crack if you squint.

《One》 《Two》 | Masterlist

You'd had a few days of unfamiliar band after unfamiliar band and were glad for a taste of home when Papa Skull was up on the itinerary. You two slept in as you had for the past week and had an instant noodle breakfast (the good kind, none of that Maruchan crap Douxie's addicted to) before hitting the town. Dancing, walking, and browsing the streets with their little shops was a fun way to spend the afternoon before you made your way to the venue. You noticed Douxie was being… a little bit more. A little closer, a little softer, a little jittery. You'd had a mind to ask him but he interrupted you every time he saw your curiosity scratching itself on his forearms, running off looking over his shoulder for you to follow. At some point, he'd asked to split up, absolutely not because he wanted to find something for you, or so he said. You spent the whole time he was gone absently searching for something in return, preoccupied with the thoughts on your arms and legs that were just so very Douxie.

"Oh! That's nice! No, no no no, this is your soulmate! Nice isn't great, it's between good and okay. Or would it be between good and alright? Which trumps the other? Blast it all, this store isn't helping," or "This store isn't at ALL what I thought it was... No! Don't think about that, if they see that on their arm I'll be the impatient one!"

You told him where you were after he seemed somewhat satisfied. He walked towards you, the grin on his face falling into a betrayed look of feigned shock as he watched you taking pictures of all the thoughts he'd forgotten you could see. He groaned as he sat beside you on a park bench, seeing just how much you'd read.

"Did I give it away already?"

"All I know is it's somewhere between great and good, or is alright the better word?" you teased.

He bumped your shoulder with his. "Cheeky," he smiled. "Let's head back to the campsite, eat a quick meal, and grab a good spot!"

After a light dinner, you'd managed to squeeze your way fairly close to the front, far enough from the stage to risk being squished. You'd been there a few hours when Papa Skull finally made their appearance, you and Douxie amongst the loudest welcoming them onstage. Not long into their hit song, "Mean", Douxie was nervous.

"I’m gonna do it. I don’t want them to spook..."

You glimpsed his concern on your forearm, unable to make much out in your excitement for the live music, but you knew he was working up to something. You let it be, curious to see what he'd do.

Douxie slowed his breathing. He really liked you so far, and although your mind was quick to dive into the gutter, he didn't want to scare you off. Your own mishap ended in him seeing you once before ghosting for nearly a month. Not to mention, he could tell how embarrassed his little experiments on the boat had made you, what with the whispering and all. It may have been a different kind of embarrassed, more flustered than mortified, but you'd never spoken out against anything. He didn't have a clear grasp of your boundaries. While he'd been searching for a gift for you, he'd wondered how he was going to give it to you. He settled for another first- nothing big, it was pretty cliché, but he enjoyed doing it and hoped you would too.

Douxie placed a hand on your upper arm to make sure you wouldn't startle, it was a bit difficult to get your attention. He slid his arm behind your back, looking to you for confirmation. Your nod made him sigh in relief as he planted his hand on the outside of your shoulder. He felt you laugh and nearly withdrew before you grabbed his hand and pulled so his arm draped over your shoulders, placing your other hand across his back and gently curling your fingers into his waist. You two shared a tender moment of silence before half-turning your attention back to the concert, both too caught up in each other to be in the moment.

He fingered the large box in his sweater pocket, withdrawing his hand. It could wait, he didn't want to risk you moving to look at it, and Mordrax forbid you take your warm hand from his side before he was ready.

Later, you both fell into your sleeping bags with a mighty puff of the air rushing out under the sudden weights, both heaving great sighs of relief. You looked over to him in silence, waiting for his gaze to meet yours. His head turned quickly, smiling wide. Laughter built between you until the pair of you were wiping tears from your eyes, still feeling the euphoria from the concert and one another. Once you relaxed again, Douxie got up and beckoned for you to do the same. You looked at him quizzically.

"If I know I'm hungry then you must be too, I eat less often than you," he reasoned.

Reluctantly, you got up, sad to leave your plush dollar-store sleeping bag. Douxie started the fire while you zipped the tent to swap your themed tour outfit for something more comfortable.

Douxie rustled through the bags back on the ship, pulling out leftovers from the diner in town. He made his way back to the now-blazing fire, sitting on a log to prepare the meal. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the glow of the lantern in the tent--

blimey, was the tent always that sheer? It was night and the lantern made it far too easy to see your silhouette. "Woah, looking away now!" Ah, he saw how appropriate the word "blimey" was in this case. While he did enjoy what he saw, part of him did want God to blind himself because he was 90% sure he'd just watched you remove your top without your knowledge. "God, I tease them constantly, but I'm just as bad, aren't I?" he realized. He quickly went back to warming the food, hands rushed and face pink.

You watched his fault write itself on your torso, cheeks just as flushed, although with a bit more amusement than he was feeling at the moment. You finished and stepped out, a smug look on your face. Wordlessly, you sat next to him, studying his reaction. He avoided your eyes, recognizing the glint they had when his thoughts betrayed him. You slid off the log, reclining against it and making a show of placing your arms behind your head.

"I guess I can't really complain, you are making me dinner first, as per your own terms," you said, nonchalant.

Douxie cursed himself. "How could I have been so bold?" he lamented with a sheepish smile. Time to change the subject. He looked around, searching for anything to talk about, settling on the flames that reminded him of the familiar he missed oh so much. He broke the comfortable silence and turned to you. "Would you like me to show you something?" The nondescript watch on his wrist extended, magical glamour falling to reveal his brace, now glowing with energy.

You nodded eagerly. His magic was comforting and beautiful, just like he was… wait. Why not mess with him a bit?

"One condition."

He withdrew his hands from their position in front of him, face earnest.

"Take off your sweater. I've seen your tattoos under your short sleeves, and I know they glow, wonderboy," you half-demanded. Payback and your own reward in one? You deserved to be a little stern.

He laughed, shrugging off his sweater before putting his hands at the ready once more. With a smile, he pushed and pulled the bonfire from where he sat beside you, flames turning his signature blue the more he manipulated them. It was beautiful, drowning the verdant green of the forest in a blue that belonged only to your soulmate. Douxie reveled in your amazement, fire magic a new experience for a novice such as yourself.

You turned your attention to his tattoos and your lips parted in wonder. You'd never seen them in full, runes you couldn't recognize glowing a vibrant blue. The swooping lines didn't move, but it seemed the light shining through them did, glow rippling below his skin. You slid back onto the log again, closer this time, and brushed your fingers over them. Douxie let the fire swirl to its original shape, goosebumps raising at your feather-light touch. They dimmed, once again their original grey, but you persisted, enthralled by the runes.

Douxie had never loved someone so much. Sure, you'd only known each other a few months, but he felt justified since you were his soulmate. As much as he still couldn't believe he'd met you after all that time, he was more amazed at how often it proved true that you were made to fit one another. Your humor, your joys, your sadness. It made itself apparent in how you walked towards him, the way you smiled when he called you. The comfort in your voice that he could feel through the phone. Your eyes. Oh, your eyes, how they did things to his heart.

He pulled himself from his thoughts, eyes roving over your body intently, latching onto any exposed skin. He was looking in pride at his thoughts of admiration, feeling almost as if they marked you as his. "A reminder," he thought, that right now, you belonged to one another. He brought his gaze back to those eyes of yours, now studying his face. The two of you looked at one another in silence, watching one another's eyes flick down and back again, faces drawing closer. His tongue darted out to moisten his slightly chapped lip, causing your breath to hitch. His heart jumped at the sound, snapping him from his daze. He gently lifted your hand from his bicep, shakily breathing the same air as you. He folded your fingers into his chill grasp, bringing them to his lips and pressing a long kiss to your knuckles before bowing his head to press your hand to his brow. You smiled, heart beating from your chest, then grabbed his sweater from between you two with your free hand and sliding it up to his back and over a shoulder. He slowly released your hand with a small chuckle, twirling the garment from his shoulders and placing it on your own. His hands dragged down to the beginning of the zipper and tugged it forward to secure it on your body, pulling you just that much closer. He lingered, smiling gently at you. This. This was a moment he hoped would never end.

His long fingers withdrew to finally warm the food, the 'almost' of what had just happened filling the comfortable silence of the forest clearing.

It'd been a few days since the Almost (your affectionate lament for the kiss that nearly was), and the tour was nearly over. Only a few days were left and you weren't ready for it to end. Maybe after this you and Douxie could spend more time at one another's flats, just to have each other around. Your home was your sanctuary, and you were already fully prepared to open it to him. You trusted him and were happy you'd ironed out your initial issues. For the most part, that is.

"What's this, Y/N?" Douxie asked. You were taken from your thoughts by his sudden question and gave him a puzzled look. He gestured to the 'trust issue' statement written boldly across his bare shoulder before going to sit next to you, the distance between you feeling like an emotional chasm. He used to sit closer before the Almost. "Is something the matter? Did I do something to make you cross?" His face was less puzzled now and more anxious.

"Well," you began, "It's nothing recent. Maybe it is? I keep dwelling on the past, and I feel I need to bring it up."

"Go for it, darling, anything you need," he rushed, turning his entire body to face you.

"I've been running most of my life, as is the curse of an immortal, but I’ve spent the last sixteen years of it searching for you. I kept asking you questions, trying to find you. As amusing as it was to play cat and mouse, I felt displaced and restless. Friends came and went, I scoured America in its entirety. A hint, a clue, something!" You rushed, breathing ragged. "Arcadia was my resignation, you know," you continued, quieter now. "I've stayed as long as I have because I gave up, too tired to keep running towards something, no matter how much I wanted it. No matter how much I wanted you, I--" your eyes filled with tears and you paused, choking on a sob. You sucked in a breath. He needed to hear this. *You* needed him to hear this. "It hurt when I realized you didn't remember our fleeting moments together in combat. I enjoyed sharing that moment of revealing ourselves to one another, but it hurts that I've chased that beautiful blue for the past eight centuries and you don't remember those two years of patrolling the canals.”

Douxie placed a hesitant hand on the small of your back and his eyes dropped from your face to the forest floor, remembering why he'd been so excited to meet you. He'd seen your reactions to his thoughts back in Italy but quickly had to move on. He and Archie had decided long ago that no matter what, they'd put Merlin's tasks above anything else. Even his soulmate. When he realized how close you were he got excited. He couldn't search for you, but he didn't see anything wrong if you found him first. Even then, he kept you at arm's length, scared of the consequences. Merlin's tower, how could he have been so thoughtless? Douxie had never stopped to consider how his constant moving around would affect you. He never took the concepts of soulmates all that seriously. Sure, he could daydream about being with someone made for him and refuse to date anyone until he met you, but it became real the night he found you. Too real. So he ran. Dancing around you, pretending he was doing you a favor with his vague answers and puzzling riddles. Then, he met you again. You were real once more. After his comical encounter with you, he was too preoccupied to sleep, absorbing the finality of having a soulmate. You had come into his life with a bang, a reminder that Merlin and his tasks didn't define who he was. What had shaped him were small influences of the people he'd met throughout the last millennium, including you.

You were worried. Douxie's brow was more creased than you'd ever seen it. His hand on your back grew clammy, the cold night air quickly cooling the fresh damp patch of your shirt.

"...Douxie?" you whispered, afraid your rant had gone too far. His head turned just a little too quickly and you gasped at the tears glistening in the moonlight. He choked on a few unsteady breaths, mouth half-forming words. You reached your hand for the bicep of the arm loosely wrapped around your waist, but before you could touch it, he spoke.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered, drawing his hand away from your torso. The first of many large tears burst upon the wood of the log you sat upon. Whose tears they were no longer mattered when both of you began crying anew. You wrapped your fingers around the arm he removed from your side and placed it there once more, throwing your arms around his middle. He sobbed at this, heart happy that you still accepted him, and brought his other hand to clutch your head to his collarbone. He wasn't running anymore, he'd done what was asked of him and was finally able to let you catch up to him.

The two of you were too caught up in one another to notice but had either of you been paying attention, you would have seen each other's skin being adorned with countless words of adoration, regret, and joy.

[d-targaryenshoe]

River In The Heart • Jackson Avery

Warnings: vomiting, surgery

Word count: 1236

Summary: Solving a fight while performing surgery isn't always the way to go.

Peeping and a strong heartbeat filled the space as blood filled your vision as you made an incision in the chest of a man that was connected to a heart-lung machine with an Aortic aneurysm.

Looking at the screen which was placed at to your side, you placed suction on the blood that flowed out and took away your view.

"Tell me why are you here again?" Jackson frowned when he strolled into the O.R, holding his forearms up with water droplets dripping off. "Maggie was written on the board for this surgery.."

The last hours you spent with him were mostly filled with discussions, avoidances, and ignored sentences from each other.

But somewhere in your heart it hurted because it was just about one small stupid topic.

The clamp you placed in the open incision gave you more vision of the aorta that looked quite bending to the outside and the one you had to remove in order to continue this surgery.

"I'm not Maggie and certainly not April." You murmered between your lips with your eyes focused on the pounding bleeding heart. 'Sorry for the disappointment, Doctor Avery."

When the clamp was being snatched away from your hold a sense of annoyance decided to make its entrance in your body, together with a whole lot of rage you had to keep down.

"Don't call me that, I'm your boyfriend." Jackson snapped, giving you a quick glance before going back to the clam he was holding.

"Doesn't seem like it since we're the only two ignoring each other for already two weeks in this hospital." You mumbled in response when Jackson released a irritated sigh, knowing it was true.

"A week and a half." He corrected, not bothering to give you a single look whle you were jsut glaring at him with crossed arms. "Not two."

"Yeah the other half was filled with you and Maggie planning surgery's in that luxury nest of yours." A sarcastic laugh left your throat when a line of tears covered the bottom line of your eyes.

Moving your head towards the gallery, Jo and Link were both looking at you with two frowned faces filled with concern and knowledge.

Link said something behind the glass but received a smack on the back of his head from Jo.

"She's a thoracic surgeon Y/N and this is a heart surgery." It sounded like it was obvious but even you knew that all the feelings Maggie had for him weren't gone in three counts, they were still there.

"Now i know why your mom said you were hardheaded." placing both of your hands on the surgical table, you stared at him from where you were standing. "Why Maggie couldn't handle your power."

You were there for him ever since all the drama started at the hospital. Him and Lexie, Stephanie, the boards drama with April, their son, them getting married and divorcing each other, Harriet, and at least Maggie.

There wasn't one single thing you didn't knew about him.

"You lost a baby, you couldn't handle the power of that either." That sentence gave you chills down your back, he was the only person together with Amelia who knew about this.

But the fact that he dared to throw this at your face was the thing that hurt the most of all.

A sense of nausea filled the pit of your stomach when sweat started covering your forehead with tiny drops and your heart started beating harder what made you step back from the table before you leaned forward and emptied your stomach.

Hearing movement from the gallery, you tried to steady yourself on your feet with closed eyes before everything turned dark and the last thing you felt were two arms around your waist as you were laying down on the ground.

"Link take that box and place it under her feet." Jo commanded when giving Jackson one glare that spoke a million words. "Why the hell were you fighting with her?"

Jackson moved his eyes towards Link first but he was too busy with making sure that you were doing okay in order to make sure you'd wake up. "Something stupid but important."

Jo sighed as she slightly rubbed her forehead and got up from her knees, just wanting to know what you guys were fighting about for almost 2 weeks.

"Stupid and important? What kind of a combination is that?" Link slightly chuckled but pursed his lips and nodded as he got a glare of both the surgeons, going back to watching you to wake up. "I'll shut up."

"I want her to move in with me, she thinks we're going to fast, i don't think we are but April is picking Y/N her side, i mean isn't it a good sign that i want her to move in with me? I love her and we're fighting over this for almost a week and half." He rambled on moving his hand randomly in the air with frustration.

Jo placed both her hands on her hips with a shake of her head the woman couldn't believe that the two of you would fight over this kind of topic, not for this long at least.

If you two had a fight most of the time you'd go to her and Alex's home and sit there, getting drunk from tequila when moping over the fight but after that you'd walk in the hospital the next day and make up in an on-call room and that would be it.

But she never knew that you'd fight over these kind of a topic. A topic that could be solves with a simple good coversation.

A conversation that ended with both of you understanding one another.

"She's scared y'know, Stephanie, April, Maggie, Meredith's sister." Jo shrugged at the plastic surgeon trying to make him understand how you felt about it. "Just try to understand this."

"Someone decided to wake up." Link spoke up, taking a hold of your hand when you tried to push yourself up in a sitting position. "Take it slow."

"I'm fine, help me get up." You insisted when holding out your hand to Jo as she helped you to stand up before your eyes fell on him. "Could the two of you?"

Jo and Link shared a glance before nodding and placing a hand on your shoulder as they left the room which made you and Jackson be the only persons in the room.

"You're not an April, You're not a Stephanie either. Lexie was an amazing girl, but you're also not Maggie. You're different." He explained walking forward to get a hold of your hands when you stared down to the ground.

"Why do you even want me to move in already? We've just been dating for 7 months." you answered lifting up your head as your eyes met his in a confused way.

"Because i want to do this in a good way with you. Harriet adores you and so does my mom?" He replied, placing his hand on your cheek before you closed you eyes, leaning in to his touch.

"We can try." You slighly smiled when leaning your forehead against his.

If this was the thing that would be the start of something good. Something that would make both of you stronger than before. Then you'd try to make this and all the rest work.

[radio-free-beth-sarim]

So now we'll go ahead and cover Sophia. Poor, poor Sophia.

Sophia is smart. She is seen as intellectually curious and a diligent student. Her thirst for knowledge and willingness to ask questions often gets her in trouble. She is constantly being made to suppress her intelligence and urged to use what she has to study the religion and become what the Witnesses call Pioneers. Up until recently Pioneers were made to put in 70 hours a month in field service and bible studies with potential converts. Now the Jehovah's Witnesses no longer have hourly service requirements, which is actually fantastic. You love to see progress and maybe this will ease the burden on some of their members enough to allow them to improve their lives somehow without having to leave. I don't want the Jehovah's Witnesses to go away, I think their beliefs are just as valid as any other religion, but the way they act on those beliefs does insane amounts of harm to its members and I fully support any change that lessens that. But I digress, back to Sophia.

Sophia's a girl so she'll never get to give a public talk or do any kind of preaching to men. She's passed off to older women in field service and all there really is for her to occupy her time is work and idle gossip. Sophia doesn't seem like the type of person interested in gossip, she's the girl thinking about science (she's shown an interest in STEM in the cartoons), or possibly a blorbo of hers from her favorite secular piece of media that she hides from the congregation and probably her parents. This is her only outlet. Being young means she's online, and eventually she stumbles on jwfacts.com and her whole world gets cracked wide open. She begins voraciously consuming apostate material. Soon she's come to the realization that she's in a harmful cult and she can't leave. She becomes extremely depressed, and her parents, reluctantly and in secret, take her to a psychiatrist and seek therapy for her, where she's quietly put on medication. By chance the same medication many of her relatives and friends of the family are also on, but nobody's going to talk about that. They're just going to ignore that fact and shame her when she speaks out about it because Jehovah's Witnesses are ashamed when they display the same human frailties as anyone else and can't cure them with more Watchtower. She can't talk about anything with anyone she cares about. She resorts to the internet for all of her actual life, and she ends up living a double life. Her JW self and her authentic self that she only gets to be anonymously and in private. But maybe she makes a friend. Someone that seems to have her same vibe. Someone she suspects feels the same way about things as she does, but she's too afraid to out herself to them. God forbid this friend is a boy. She's going to get launched at eligible young men by Elder's wives looking to set her up. Her intelligence and general demeanor likely puts them off a little bit, and she's just unsuccessful in making any connection with most of them. If her one friend is a boy, maybe she'll try dating him. Regardless of this or if that goes anywhere or not, it's going to get noticed by some busybody in the congregation who begins to speculate. It isn't about her, or anyone else that may become the subject of this gossip with her. Someone will likely begin spreading rumors. It doesn't matter if there's any basis to them or not, as even the most innocent friendship will be misconstrued as vile porneia by a concerned enough JW, and Sophia now becomes the subject of the gossip she had to endure out in service with the Elder's wives. Eventually something gives. The Elders find a reason to disfellowship her, or she outright disassociates and moves away from home. There's a chance she did well in school, and may have a chance at college, but she has actually in canon sabotaged her own academic success, so it's likely she doesn't. She gets a crap job somewhere, and probably relies on the support of friends she made on the internet, very likely in apostate groups on social media and whatever other communities she's found online. Eventually she meets someone, gets into some kind of relationship, and just kind of lives out the rest of her life dealing with the baggage of someone raised in a cult and lamenting the wasted potential that the cult took away from them.

It's likely a few years after her disfellowshipping that Caleb reaches out to her on social media to say he's sorry for shunning her, how he now sees what she saw all along, and the two of them rebuild the bridge that the Jehovah's Witnesses burned between them.

This is the story of many people who grew up as Jehovah's Witnesses. It is very likely going to be a familiar story to many more unless the Watchtower Society changes. We've seen a lot of big changes made in 2023, but none of them really mean much in the grand scheme of things. Still, a step forward is a step forward, and the only way to make progress is to talk about this fucked up cult publicly. As loud as we can. We have to be the angry apostates, because we love the people still inside. Our families, the friends we had. We know that the Watchtower Society cannot fully suppress the personalities of its members. It did not suppress us. Our anger is a manifestation of love. Love is not always docile and willing to accept the status quo for the sake of harmony. Our love drives us to speak out for the families we left behind, and for the Calebs and Sophias of the world, which many of us were once.

My Predictions for Caleb and Sophia

For the uninitiated: Caleb and Sophia are two characters that feature in short videos produced by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society intended to indoctrinate Jehovah's Witness children. They're two young children, siblings, raised as Jehovah's Witnesses and dealing with many of the problems growing up as one brings. For people raised as Jehovah's Witnesses, it brings back a flood of insane memories. I kind of can't help but like them. The kids go through things I went through myself, and as I watch I imagine what they're feeling in that moment. The things I would have felt. The thoughts and emotions I would have suppressed. If you're curious I recommend looking them up on youtube. Owen Morgan aka Telltale has a bunch of videos where he reacts to them and provides commentary. He's just one of many that cover the videos.

Whenever I watch a Caleb and Sophia video I always speculate how they end up. So here's my predictions.

We'll start with Caleb, since his story is one that easily could have been mine. Caleb is the Bart Simpson. He's a kind of rambunctious kid. He would like sports and video games if he was allowed, but he doesn't have those outlets available to him so it all becomes bible study and chores. He's given busy work at meetings and field service, and eventually he gets given "privileges" like working the soundboard and passing the microphones around at the Watchtower Magazine study or organizing and manning the literature counter. Eventually he'll make Ministerial Servant, which is the rank below Elder in the congregation and basically means he's being groomed for command. But thankfully he's never going to be an Elder. He's eventually going to be put in charge of the congregation's other rambunctious young boys, and will be responsible for studying with them and indoctrinating them into the Watchtower Society's beliefs. He's going to be seen as a role model and success story. His post high-school years will see him juggling his responsibilities with the congregation and working in a trade. Statistically window washing, but any given trade is likely. He'll apprentice under another Jehovah's Witness, possibly a relative, who is also likely an Elder who now holds his economic and social future in his hands. Now you'd think with all this going on, is Caleb happy? Well, that depends. He might genuinely be if he's kept too busy to really think about his life or what he wants from it and is too sheltered to experience anything more. But that's really difficult to do. Most JW young men get to experience just enough of the world to give them a taste, and everyone has a vice. Statistically it's porn and smoking. Chances are he'll get caught once, repent, lose his privileges, and then eventually make a slow return shortly after getting married. Caleb is getting married by 19 at the latest. He's full of so many hormones and urges if there's no release he's going to pop. So he'll marry literally the nearest non-related Jehovah's Witness girl roughly his age. If there are none nearby, he'll meet one at a convention or (scandalously) JWdate. Yes, that's real, and it's kind of an open secret because dating websites are not really what a JW should be about. Somewhere in the following years he's going to be working hard at his trade, trying to regain his status as a Ministerial Servant, and figuring out how to live with this stranger he rushed into marrying. Maybe they can make it work. Maybe they can't. I can't say. But kids will be happening soon. Eventually Caleb is going to hit a crisis moment where he needs to decide whether or not this is the life he wants. There's a roughly 66% chance he doesn't. He's got to make a choice. Does he stay in the life he has? Can he leave the Watchtower Society behind and still keep his family? That I can't say. I like to think his wife also has similar doubts, and through this their bond strengthens, they come to truly love each other deeper than they did when they first married, and leave together, sparing their children from the same life they were forced into. But doing that means they'll only ever have each other. Sometimes that's enough. Sometimes it isn't. His wife could divorce him, taking the kids and leaving him alone. He'll eventually find apostate material online and become fervently anti-JW, with only bitter memories among the ashes of a life that never had a chance to be anything but this.

Next we'll turn to Sophia. Some of my story for her is pure conjecture based on what I've seen from friends I grew up with. When I see Sophia, I see specific girls I knew growing up and I think of things they've told me about their lives. I don't have any experience being a girl in the Jehovah's Witnesses, but her story is one that I feel is honestly similar to mine just with her dealing with all of the added pressure of being a woman in a fucked up patriarchal clusterfuck like that. I'll have to make a part 2 for her, as Tumblr has a character count. I will reblog this post with that when I am done with it. Thank you for reading this far. I hope this provides some insight.

[theres-no-protocol-for-this]

Snowstorms & Weddings

An alternate universe take on snowstorms and weddings, featuring Keith and Shiro from Voltron. It's a drabble wrapped in terrible spelling wrapped in a tortilla. So, you know...

Mentions of naked bodies and restraints (minor but it's there).

In a time of magic and a land teeming with monsters, Prince Shiro and his retinue are traveling through a forest outside of his domain when a sudden blizzard comes on, seemingly out of nowhere. As visibility drops, the prince becomes separated from his guards and finds himself lost in the woods.

Half-dead from the cold, he stumbles onto a cabin.

The young hunter who lives in the cabin doesn't know that Shiro is a prince. He hears the cries of a desperate horse and comes outside to find a stranger collapsed on his front porch, dressed in clothes not appropriate for the weather.

He knows a little something about the dangers of hypothermia, so he carries the barely-conscious man inside, settles him on the rug by the fireplace, and tries desperately to get him warm.

Shiro remembers long fingers peeling away his soaking wet clothing and covering him with blankets. His unknown savior hums as he works, wrapping Shiro's hands, feeding him, and then sitting with him as the winds howl outside. The snowstorm rages overhead as Shiro and Keith get to know each other.

Shiro keeps meaning to mention who he is, but it's nice to be treated like a normal person for a change. Keith doesn't bow or call him "your highness," and he says exactly what he's thinking. It's humbling to be berated for being so unprepared for bad weather, but it feels refreshing, too.

Keith is also sweet in ways Shiro can barely begin to comprehend. He cares, deeply.

"You said you had two friends out here? Do you know which direction they went?" he asks because of course he does.

Shiro doesn't even know where to begin. "They're both trained huntsmen. I think they'll be all right. I wouldn't know where to look for them," he admits, feeling guilty that he'd lost his sense of direction somewhere in the forest.

Keith isn't convinced, but he can't mount a rescue as visibility drops to nothing, and he's hesitant to leave his shivering guest alone. Shiro doesn't look great, and the hunter worries that what he's done to help just isn't enough. He's alone out here, there's no one to go to for help even if he could somehow make the journey.

So, he does what he can until Shiro falls asleep, and together they weather the storm.

To Keith's surprise, the solitary man finds himself enjoying Shiro's company and easy laughter. He's met awful people before, and Shiro is definitely not one of those. He's careless and naive, yes, and he lacks knowledge the clans impart on babies, but he's big-hearted and full of stories.

Keith thinks he could listen to Shiro talk for hours and never be bored.

Eventually, the storm subsides and finally, the prince's guards locate Shiro's horse, safely sheltered near Keith's home. There's an uncomfortable moment where the guards aren't sure whether Keith is friend or foe, but Shiro smooths everything out with his warm smiles and reassuring words.

He says his goodbyes to the man who saved his life and leaves, expecting that he will never see Keith again.

So, imagine the surprise when he walks into his own bed chambers years later, having just married his husband sight unseen to seal an alliance with the mountain tribes of Mamora, and finds Keith naked in his bed.

His heart skips a couple of beats, and he briefly forgets to breathe.

Keith is wrapped in magic that Shiro scarcely understands. The Mamora are wild and dangerous, and he knows that his husband is as much a prisoner as a wanted mate. It's still one thing to hear the explanations and another to see the magic in action.

Glowing stars in all shades of color wrap around in the man's wrists and throat like echoes of the night sky. More stars cover his closed eyes. All Shiro knows is that they're remnants of binding spells that are old and forbidden. He doesn't even know the name of the mage who agreed to (or been coerced) to cast these spells.

The bruises tell a story of their own, and Shiro can only imagine what the hunter has endured.

"Come to claim what's yours?" Keith snarls, voice filled with anger.

"No!" Shiro licks his chapped lips. "No, Keith."

The voice is achingly familiar, and Keith doesn't need eyes to know who's talking. All these years, and he hasn't forgotten the voice of the storyteller whose words kept them both sane through the crushing storm. "Shiro?"

"Prince..." Shiro stumbles over the words. "King, as of today, Takashi Shirogane." He's still getting used to that title. "Husband. You're... We're..." Shiro sinks down onto the edge of the bed and pulls the covers up over his friend's beautiful body. "I don't know where to start."

"They want me to kill you. Start there. The leaders of the clans."

"Why? Isn't this marriage supposed to bring peace to our people?"

"I'm an outcast, Shiro. They don't care what happens to me." Keith bites his lip. "Well, they made promises. A knife in your ribs for the dubious honor of joining their warriors."

"I can see why you agreed."

Keith chuckles darkly. "I didn't, and they went ahead with it anyway. Figured you wouldn't believe me." The hunter sighs. "They said the king of the valleys was a monster, and maybe I believed them. Before now, I'd never been to the valleys. But I remember you, Shiro, and you're not."

Shiro sucks in a horrified breath. "I will—"

"Before you make plans, you should know. At least one of your advisors was at the gathering, helping with preparations for this... marriage."

"Keith..." Shiro hangs onto that name like a lifeline, pushing back his horror. He needs to help his friend. "Is there some way to free you? I don't know anything about magic."

"Given a little time, I can probably undo the bindings. Untangling knots is a specialty. Worry about yourself. If I don't succeed and quickly, they will send someone else." Keith pauses, then adds, "If I can free myself, then my blade is yours. I will fight for you."

Shiro shakes his head and then remembers that Keith can't see him. "You barely know me. Don't throw away your life."

"You'd be surprised."

"We spent four days together a lifetime ago. It's not worth a life."

"And I still remember your stories. You're in danger, husband of mine, and I would prefer you live a little longer." Keith smiles, and it's a little sad, a little soft. "I didn't expect to ever meet you again, Shiro. And now that I have, I'm unwilling to give up so easily."

It takes Shiro by surprise. Yeah, this Keith he remembers well. "We'll figure it out, together. You've saved me before, maybe now it's my turn."

"We saved each other, and I'm not about to start counting debts. As many times as it takes, husband."

(Posted originally on Twitter because I wanted to try it. Fuck 280 characters, or whatever it is. What a hassle. Never doing it again.)

[one-boring-person]

Omg I just reread the hunter fic you wrote for me and I'm still screaming - I so fucking love it!!!! You're totally awesome babe! So, I was wondering - only if it isn't to much - if you would be willing to write a part two?💕

Of course! I hope you like this as much as the first!💛💛💛 thank you for requesting! ❤❤ (I'm so sorry this is so late!)

Goddamn Hunters. (Part Two.)

David (The Lost Boys) x reader

Warnings: blood imagery, graphic violence

Masterlist.

Part One.

The journey back to David's home is mostly silent, the only sound being a brief squeak from me when I realise that we are no longer on the ground, my hands clutching tighter at the comfortable fabric of his overcoat, my face burying into his chest, inhaling his somehow familiar scent. In my ears, the rushing wind is unbelievably loud, though the sensation of it against any exposed skin is not as biting as I thought it would be, possibly due to the frigidity of my body beneath my torn clothes. I squeeze my eyes shut, refusing to look at the ground far below us as he continues to move, his arms adjusting themselves securely around my trembling frame, the sensation making me feel safer, despite me not knowing this...person at all.

After what feels like hours, he touches down again, a roaring, crashing sound making itself known to me, as well as a pungent salty reek laced with a woody odour, all of which mix with the confusion already fogging up the inside of my head, my fatigue finally becoming noticeable to me. Yawning, I instinctively cuddle closer to David, my body reacting before my brain does, a deep blush rising to my cheeks as he looks down at me, blue eyes widening a little with surprise before they fill with some other emotion, something akin to pride. I don't quite register as he carries me somewhere dimly lit, whining quietly when he finally places me down somewhere, the noise a reflex I didn't know I had, though I am glad that the surface below me is soft and comfortable. Halting, the platinum blonde seems to think something through, eyeing my limp, tired form on what I can only assume is a bed, his hand absentmindedly reaching up to stroke back my hair, frowning a bit at my bloodied state. He jerks away suddenly when a voice speaks up from behind him, the words incoherent to me as I drift to sleep, aching and painful after my ordeal, only just catching the end of what David responds with.

"...mate."

For the first time in days, I sleep peacefully, none of the harrowing nightmares I've had previously assaulting my conscience, though the biting hunger at the back of my throat remains a constant, the blood on my clothes not helping at all. Thankully, the day passes quickly, my eyes opening just as the last rays of sunlight leave the surroundings, the bed I'm sleeping in blocked off from the outside light by black-out curtains, which is helpful, seeing as I learnt the hard way that the bright light hurts like hell. Hesitantly, I climb off the bed/nest thing and examine the room I'm in, surprised to find myself in a cave of sorts, the spacious expanse littered with debris and random objects, a few of them gathered around a decrepit fountain in the centre, near which there are sofas and a wheelchair, a faint layer of dust collecting on almost every surface. Confused, I step further into the room, moving to the fountain, where I trail a finger over the filthy surface, a greyish film coating the digit as I pull it away, my nose somehow picking up the musky scent emanating from it with ease. In addition to this, I can also smell four distinct odours, one of which I already recognise: David, the unmistakable smell inciting an odd longing feeling within me, my body aching to be with my mysterious saviour again.

In my confusion, I fail to notice that a tall figure has appeared in the hallway behind me, their eyes glowing yellow as they catch sight of me, a low growl escaping them, before I'm pinned to the fountain by them, strong hands holding me to the marble surface in a painful position. I yelp, struggling in their hold, my own strength dwindling due to my hunger, terror and panic flooding me as I fight to get free, only for my assailant to hold me tighter still, snapping their teeth by my ear in warning. Whimpering, I still, hoping that whatever they do to me, it will be quick.

"Who the hell are you, and what the hell are you doing here? Couldn't you tell this is our territory?" The voice is distinctly male, though the hostility sounds wrong in it, as if he normally uses a lighter tone to address people.

"T-territory? What do you mean?" I manage to get out, just as puzzled as I am afraid, wincing when he presses me tighter against the fountain.

"You know exactly what I mean. We've marked this area and laid claim to it more times than I can count, so you can't seriously tell me you don't know what I mean. What. Are. You. Doing. Here?" He punctuates each word clearly, his breath fanning over my ear as he forces me into even more discomfort, my mind scrambling to piece together what in the hell is going on. My mouth opens and closes as I try to figure out what to say, only to snap shut when I hear a thankfully familiar voice somewhere behind us.

"Get the hell away from her, Paul." David snarls, rich voice laced with anger, the platinum blonde audibly stepping over to where I'm pinned to the water feature. The weight on my back is suddenly gone, my body screaming in relief from the painful position as I twist in time to see a lanky blonde being thrown to the floor by the black-clad platinum blonde who saved my life last night, a gasp escaping me as the former crashes into a rickety old table, the ancient structure cracking in two under the force.

"What's your problem, man?" The blonde, Paul, bites out at David as he climbs to his feet, pulling a few splinters of wood out of his jacket and mop of hair, eyes stool flashing yellow.

"You! You're my problem, waltzing in here and attacking my mate as if you own the place..." His voice trails off, eyes fading into their icy blue again almost as if he's realised what he just said.

Silence encompasses the three of us, shock evident on Paul's face, regret lining David's and confusion probably showing on mine, the quiet quickly becoming awkward as the taller blonde tries to process what he's heard, only disrupted when another two people emerge from the tunnel behind David. One of them, a slightly shorter blonde with curly hair, is pulling on a patchwork jacket, angelic features bright with mirth, whilst the other is a tall dark haired guy with no shirt on, his own leather jacket slung over one broad shoulder, nearly black eyes swiftly finding me.

"Ooh, who's this?" The shorter blonde queries when he sees me, doe eyes raking up and down my figure, though he quickly looks over at Paul when he makes a sound of disbelief.

"Your mate? Since when do you believe in that crap?" Paul exclaims loudly, his words stirring yet more confusion into the soup that has become my mind, my eyes flicking uneasily between the four boys.

"Hold up, who's whose mate?" The short blonde questions, frowning at his friends, the dark haired one staring at me with a vague expression of realisation.

David sighs, coming over to me with a gentle look on his handsome features, helping me back up again and keeping one hand on my back, rubbing soothing circles into the skin as he looks at me worryingly, silently asking if I'm alright. I nod, somehow trusting him.

"This is (Y/n). My mate. We only met yesterday, when I found her being attacked by hunters." He informs the others, eyeing them sternly, "And I'd like it if you could all respect that. She needs help transitioning."

"Hang on, before you go on, what are you talking about? Hunters? Transitioning? Mate? What on earth does it all mean?" I butt in, finally speaking up over the others.

David and the dark haired one exchange glances briefly, before the latter ushers the other two outside and out of sight, leaving the platinum blonde and I alone together. Carefully, he eases me onto the edge of the fountain, sitting beside me without making eye contact.

"How long have you been like this?" He finally asks, looking over at me.

"Like...this? You mean messed up, hungry, hysterical, nocturnal and not to mention chased around Santa Carla by two people I thought were my friends? For four days now." I respond, drawing attention to the gnawing hunger in the back of my throat again.

"Four days? How long have you been in Santa Carla?" He sounds confused now, as if he wasn't expecting me to say that.

"For three. I don't know why, I sort of just...needed to come here. It's like i felt this connection between me and what i have now figured out is you...sorry, this is too much information, and I probably sound weird as hell..." I admit to him, fiddling with the hem of my tattered shirt.

"No, that makes sense, it's a mate thing, I guess." He murmurs quietly.

"Can you just tell me what that means please?" I ask again, sighing in exasperation.

"This is probably going to sound pretty crazy, but you, as well as me and the others, are a vampire, and somehow, that has also made the mate bond between us stronger. Mate bond as in some weird, primal urge to be together."

"Wait, what?"

It takes David a full hour to properly explain everything to me, by which point I'm absolutely starving, my fangs itching to make themselves known, as well as slightly disturbed by the knowledge of what I really am, even if it does explain a lot about the events of the past four nights. David seems to notice my discomfort, as he suddenly stands up, offering me a hand with a small smirk on his face.

"Come on, let's get you some food."

"Food? Like blood?" I inquire, gingerly placing my shaking hand in his gloved one, allowing him to pull me up.

"Exactly like blood." He smirks, leading me to the entrance of the cave, where we go put and climb up a rickety old walkway to the top of a cliff. Once at the peak, we stand at the edge, looking out over the roaring sea, the noise of which is still unbearably loud to my ears.

"So we can either take my motorcycle, or we can take the more interesting route." The vampire offers, blue eyes boring into me.

"More interesting route?" I question, lifting an eyebrow.

He doesn't respond, instead just smirking wider, going to the edge of the cliff. With a suggestive wink, he steps backwards, off the edge, disappearing below the cliff line. Gasping, I go to step forwards, as if to stop him, only to freeze in place when he floats back into view, coat swirling around him as the wind rushes past his narrow body.

"What the...how are you doing that?!"

Incredulous, I rush to the edge, looking over it as if to check if he's standing on something, only to look back up at him when I don't see anything.

"Practice. Come on, you can float, too." He grins, coming closer. I smirk at the IT reference, edging forwards, taking his outstretched hands, only to feel confused when he bats them away, his arms wrapping around my waist securely. As he does so, I suddenly feel the ground melt away from under my feet, a squeak of fear escaping me before I look up into his pale face, laughing as a sudden rush of exhilaration course through me, my own hands coming up to rest against the hard planes of his chest. He grins at me happily, slowly releasing his grip on me, whooping out loud when I manage to float on my own, only to grab hold of me again when I waver unsteadily, tipping towards the ground.

"Come on, let's get you some blood." He promises, twisting around and gesturing for me to hold onto his back, before swiftly flying off in the direction of Santa Carla, an exhilarated scream escaping me. In no time, we're circling around the dark alleys and back roads of the small coastal town, swiftly locating a group of three people, who look hopelessly lost.

"Just drop down on them, and let loose." Dvaid encourages me, going nearer to the group.

Taking this into account, I release his back and fall to the floor, dropping right on top of one of them, my instincts taking over as my fangs break past my lower lip, slicing into the soft skin even as I tear into the available skin of my first victim. Blood spurts up into my waiting mouth, a ravenous moan escaping me as I clasp the person closer to me, relishing in the terrified shrieks of their friends, easily drinking my first victim dry. Throwing them aside, I stalk over to the others, who are paralyzed in fear, grabbing one and sinking my teeth into their soft skin, enjoying the sensation of the delicious life force flowing from them to me. Too soon, they die in my arms, allowing me to easily drop them and move on, finishing off the last one in no time.

As I finish, David drops from the sky, eyeing me closely, as if expecting me to attack him, too. When I don't, he comes closer, grinning from ear to ear, lifting a hand up to my face to wipe a trickle of blood away from the corner of my mouth, bringing the digit to his lips, licking the red substance off of it, the action making me feel oddly hot around the collar, despite the fact that the hunger is still rife in my mind, body still yearning for more. Swiping my tongue over my chin, I try to force it down, feeling my features slowly morphing back into their natural state, the fangs protruding from my gums sinking back into normal sized teeth, a groan of both satisfaction and dissatisfaction leaving me at the thought of having to stop now.

"Don't worry, kitten, we'll get you some more-" David goes to reassure me, only to suddenly be cut off as something explodes by his head, a familiar cloud of mist encasing him. Surprised, the vampire growls in pain, hands lifting to his face, rubbing at his now-bloodied skin, eyes flashing yellow in the fog of white moisture, the agonized groans he emits distressing me.

"David?! David, are you ok?!" I move to go and help him, only to flinch back when the vampire pushes me away again, voice strangled.

"I-I'm fine...damn...hunters again...get out of here!" He commands, twisting away from me. Annoyingly, I feel conflicted, part of me wanting to stay and help him, the other wanting to obey his words. It's only when he snarls another "Go!" at me that I turn and leave the area, biting my lip as I run around the corner.

As I do so, I hear an unfamiliar, distinctly female, voice start speaking to David, the words unclear as I start remembering something one of the hunters from the night before said, when they first tried to stake me:

"Wait till the girls find out they missed this."

These must be the girls he was talking about; vengeful girlfriends out to kill their boyfriends' killers. Peeking back around the corner, I nearly gasp as I see David on his knees, a woman pushing him down with a foot on his back, another standing before him with a stake poised over his head. At the moment, they seem caught up in some sort of joint speech, which gives me some time to figure out how to help, an idea swiftly forming in my head.

Looking around, I spot a pipe running up the side of the building near me, which I go over to, testing its stability. Inhaling, I start using it to pull myself up, my new strength allowing me to easily scale the building, ignoring the worrying creaking sounds that it emits as I heave myself onto the roof. Catching my breath, I race over to where I have a view of the alley below, my eyes swiftly finding the three people below. Standing straighter, I relax my muscles and concentrate on feeling light, straining to get myself up into the air, hopelessness starting to flood me as I feel the roof below me remain where it is.

For a minute, nothing happens, my feet staying firmly in place, until I let out an annoyed sigh, at which point i suddenly feel weightless, the slates under my shoes falling away as I open my eyes and look down, smiling briefly as I notice I'm a good few feet off the surface. Determined, I tilt myself forward a little, moving so I'm in line with the prone figure of my so-called mate, lowering myself somehow until I'm just out of sight. David struggles again, hissing as the girl with her foot on his back pours a liquid down the back of his coat, briefly distracting her, giving me the opportunity I need. I drop down, grabbing the stake-wielding hunter around the waist and pulling her upwards, my fangs instantly finding their purchase around her throat, tearing out her oesophagus and trachea with a horrible ease, the blood filling my mouth deliciously as her strangled screams fade into nothing.

Pulling away, I look down to see the other hunter glancing around, a stake now held in one hand as she tries to figure out where I am, pulse audible from here. Grinning sadistically, I allow the body in my arms to fall to the floor below, thudding loudly against the pavement, blood making a paint-like splash on the otherwise unstained tarmac, the sound drawing the hunter's attention away from David, a low gasp of air escaping her, before it breaks off into a pained scream when David suddenly jumps up to tear her heart from her back. As the blood erupts out of the now-limp body, i slowly manage to lower myself to the floor, wiping my chin on my sleeve as he looks at me in shock and gratitude. Noticing this, I make eye contact with him, smiling proudly.

"Goddamn hunters." Is all I say, mimicking him from earlier.

All he does is chuckle thankfully, sweeping me up into his arms, pressing me against his chest. Smiling, I wrap my arms around him, glad to have finally found someone to help me through this.

[morelikesin]

You Know You're Cute, Right?

ANOTHER APEX FIC BECAUSE I CANNOT CONTROL MYSELF SKNDLWKDM,, this time I wrote differently than how I normally do - it consists of quick snippets of a day-in-the-life type thing, featuring Mirage-Octane-Bloodhound-Caustic as a polycule 💕 Huge inspo from this song (as well as included in the fic)✨

Take this as a late Christmas-early New Years gift ✨ Super fluffy and casual type work, with a heavy dash of romanticism because I'll be damned if I'm not a romantic. Fic under the cut 💕💕

"You call your cat sweetheart? 'Zander-"

"Not a word."

Elliott suppressed a snort. That cheeky little smile he had when he found an opening for playful jabs was always so irritating - the kind of irritating that made the scientist want to kiss it right off of him.

"I think it's cute," Octavio hummed, leaning back into the sofa with his arms crossed behind his head. "That means you're cute. Que lindo."

The way Alexander scoffed an "Octavio" would've been more intimidating had it not been for the big, sleepy cat he cradled in his arms. She stretched her big fluffy paws, made a squeak as she yawned, and buried her head into the man's chest.

Blóð smiled.

"Vhatever helps you sleep at night, elskan."

It was incredibly late. The last time they had checked the clock wasn't that long ago, and apparently it was supposed to be sometime around 4 in the morning. It didn't feel that way at all.

They knew it'd kick their ass in the morning - getting so little sleep.

Well, Octavio might be fine. But Elliott had made it a habit to wake up at 8, Blóð still hadn't made much progress on getting more sleep to begin with, Alexander had his internal clock waking him at 7, and they all had somewhere to be at 9. This entire night was probably a huge mistake. They normally try to get to sleep by 2, but admittedly, they may or may not have a bad practice of keeping each other awake for company's sake.

And now that an entirely new subject was brought up after Alexander had rather adoringly picked up Bear, his senior cat, and called her "sweetheart," the prospect of playfully pestering him about his soft spot was all too enticing to go to sleep just yet.

"You've never even called us sweetheart," Octavio began. "You save it for her?"

There was a brief pause. Alexander had kept petting her back paw with his thumb, as his eyes remained averted until he sighed. "It...is something I've grown accustomed to for her, yes."

Elliott made a pleased hum. "Well isn't that just adorable," he teased before leaning over and petting Bear across her back - fur unbelievably soft.

It started as a joke a while ago - the way they noticed how Bear could make anyone sleepy just by looking at her - her cozy looking fur, her sweet little face, her ability to get comfortable and sleep virtually anywhere - but over time the joke had increased its humour when the idea became seemingly true. Alexander occasionally would mention how he'd sometimes stop working at his desk late at night because Bear was sleeping in his lap, and turn in a few hours early compared to his usual 2 in the morning bed time. This was deemed an exaggeration until the three others experienced it for themselves.

This happened to be one of those magical sleepy-Bear moments, as made evident by how Blóð made a quiet yawn shortly after leaning over to give Bear a loving scritch under her chin.

Octavio staved off a matching yawn. He rubbed at his eyes, began to stand, and nodded to Alexander's bed. "We should probably try and get some sleep."

-

The sun coming in through the blinds was a rude awakening. Elliott instinctually raised an arm to cover his eyes - making a soft groan in annoyance at the bright rays somehow coming through at a perfect angle to hit him in the face. Turning, he lowered his arm and began to sit up slowly as to not wake up the sleeping Octavio who had his arm wrapped around his waist.

Elliott sighed, and leaned down to give him a kiss on the temple. He lingered for a moment before sitting up again and rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

He noticed a weight on his legs, and looked to see a peacefully sleeping Bear curled up in a ball. As he went to pet her head, his eyes glanced up to see Blóð sitting in Alexander's desk chair - hands busy sewing a thick-fur item. From the time spent with the hunter, Elliott had picked up on the types of hides they'd hunt and use - this one appearing to be rabbit fur. What they were making, though, wasn't clear yet.

Elliott's voice came deeper, and a bit more throaty in post-sleep fashion, "Morning."

Blóð briefly looked up, gave a gentle smile, and proceeded to look back down to continue their work. "Góðan morgin. How did you sl'leep?"

"Pretty good, considering." He took in a deep breath, and stretched his arms out in front of him. He rested his hands in his lap as he went to speak again, "When did you wake up?"

"Before Alexander, but not by long."

Elliott frowned slightly. Blóð took notice when they looked back up to gauge his reaction. They made an effort to ease his concerns.

"I'm sure Octavio will get me to take a nap vith him later today," they assured, "don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

Elliott made a small hum indicating reluctant agreement. "...Alright. Just promise me to keep doin' what you're doin' - trying t'get more sleep, I mean."

"I promise, ástin."

If Elliott was a sucker for anything, it'd be terms of endearment - especially when they're used so casually. Having all four of them be big on using said terms made for an eternally happy Witt.

"Beloved, right?"

Blóð hummed, "Yes. Closest tr'ranslation I can equate to it." They briefly stopped their handiwork in the wake of a smile they couldn't seem to get rid of. "I'm touched you remembered."

Elliott smirked and made a quiet laugh, turning his head to find the time on the side table clock - 8:21 AM - before looking back over. "I try my best. Making it a goal to learn as much as I can from you and Octavio."

"We find it very sweet," Blóð assured, letting it be known that Octavio and they had seemingly discussed the language efforts before. "Alexander said as much, that you and he were doing so."

"Think I can speak for him when I say that we love learning it. Speaking of him...?"

"He's downstairs."

Elliott made a quiet "Ah." As much as it pained him to do so, he gently lifted Bear and set her on a free spot of the blanket so he could get up - her being left generally unfazed, besides her slightly annoyed tail wag in being moved from her spot.

With Octavio being so small, Elliott could easily leave the bed without disturbing him too much, albeit moving his arm so it wasn't draped across his body anymore. He stretched, walked over to Blóð, and gestured for a kiss. They hummed, seemingly still in their work, but Elliott knew they were keen - the hunter picking up the hint and looking up so their lips could gently meet.

"Que lindo, mis amores."

The two of them made a small hum in surprise before pulling away from one another with a blush. Blóð was smiling to themself shyly, while Elliott made a small chortle and flirted with the newly-awakened Octavio, wearing his darling little smirk.

"Welcome to join us."

Octavio laughed - the sound half-purr, half-grain. "I'd love to. Watching is only so much fun."

He started to rise, stretching his arms upwards and making a groan before reaching over the bed to grab his prosthetics and put them on. Standing, shaking his legs to help himself wake up, he made a small yawn before walking around the bed and giving a kiss to each partner - looking satisfied with himself.

"Big guy downstairs?"

Blóð nodded.

Elliott and Octavio made a mutual decision to go see him - the latter turning around before they headed out the bedroom door to question Blóð. "You comin' down?"

They shook their head, hands busy sewing the fur item again. "I will soon. I von't be long in finishing this."

Octavio nodded, and proceeded to take Elliott's hand as they went downstairs.

-

Dr. Somers and Alexander seemed to be having a chat when the two made it to the kitchen, their hands busy with mugs of black coffee all the while. Elliott could never understand how people drank their coffee so bitter, much less Octavio.

Dr. Somers was the first to notice the two, as she was facing the stairs leaning against the counter. Giving a small wave and giving a nod to Alexander, she drank from her mug and gave them a minute to exchange expected affections - something she learned the polycule are incredibly prone to do, despite several joking complaints about PDA from the others.

Octavio quipped with a laugh between his words as Elliott and Alexander exchanged a coffee-flavored kiss, "Not even creamer, 'Zander?"

The man bore an amused hum. "Black coffee actually tastes like coffee. You may as well drink candy if you add so much sugar to it."

"You sound old."

"No avoiding that, I'm afraid." He gestured for a kiss, to which Octavio happily gave, before drinking from his mug again. "How did you sleep?"

"Great!"

Elliott gave a "Ditto" in response, though he followed it up with a fitting yawn and a "Wish I slept some more, though."

The statement was seconded by the way Alexander made a soft hum in agreement, and thirded by Octavio and his rightly timed yawn.

Dr. Somers waited a few quiet moments before stepping forward and piping into the conversation. "It'll just be a few stores we stop by, darlin's. Doubt we'll be out that long."

"That's still gonna' be so long," Octavio complained, his voice coming as a whine.

It was common knowledge that Octavio wasn't exactly big on shopping. Elliott, however, could spend all day doing it. If they had to disagree on anything, it'd be how long they were out for things - Alexander and Blóð keeping things relatively frustration-free during a shopping trip, though Blóð would always get antsy to go home if they stayed out longer than a few hours out in a city.

"It'll be fine, babe," Elliott assured the man while rubbing his back. "It's kinda'- kinda' just mainly food shopping, isn't it? You like doing that."

"Aren't we going to the pet store after, though?"

Elliott rose a brow, "'Tavio, are you complaining about that?"

Octavio snorted and began walking to the fridge - grabbing a Bang from inside and popping the can open. "No, para nada - prefer that to everything else, even food."

Mary laughed at that, shaking her head before taking a gulp of coffee and making her way to the living room. Before she left, though, she spoke with her back still facing them, "Oh, remind me t'grab a level while we're out -  puttin' up a shelf an' think I lost the one I had."

"Lucky for you, I'm the best at reminding people of things," Elliott half-joked. Mary laughed again and took her leave with a "Thanks."

Being left alone in the kitchen, the three stood in comfortable silence for a few moments. Alexander prompted a question shortly thereafter;

"Is Blóð still upstairs?"

"Yeah," Octavio began, "Think they were working on something - dijo no tardará mucho. I can go see them if-"

The stairs creaked a bit as someone walked down the stairs, causing Octavio to cut himself off as he turned to see who it was. In seeing so, he sighed damn near dreamily and softened his gaze a bit - Elliott and Alexander softening all the same.

Pulling their past-the-waist long black hair behind their jewelry-adorned ear, they rounded the last stair and looked up to see their partners - smiling warmly and lowering their hands to fold their arms. The coyote jaw necklace (that Octavio had gifted them this past holiday, knowing they loved real animal items), that rest against their lower chest rose slightly with every breath, as quaint a detail it was to notice. Not a day goes by do any of them not love seeing their pretty face.

And Elliott made sure to tell them that.

"Not a day goes by do we not love seeing your pretty face."

Blóð bore a chuckle and rolled their eyes, though it didn't mask the rosy blush the comment gave them. "I should say the same for you, ástin."

They unfolded their arms and looked back to the three. They couldn't suppress the amused hum they made in seeing that the three were still checking them out - becoming more flushed and brushing their hair behind their ear again, looking away with a shy smile.

They always looked at each other with such warmth. They got playful tease about it from the others, especially Alexander given he was quite brooding to most things, but the gazes never subsided. They'd like to say they were subtle about it - but everyone else would vote against it. And it'd be true.

They were obvious about it. So sticky-sweet obvious - embraces and hand holding and gazes and kisses and all. They didn't mind.

-

By 10 till 9, mostly everyone was ready - save for Loba, Renee, and Elliott, who always took a while to clean up to their own high standards. Elliott called from upstairs whether he should wear his orange body mist or his cologne, and with the majority vote leaning towards cologne today - well, he must please the people.

With Renee in tow, Elliott had finally come from upstairs. He looked handsome as ever, however, wearing a black turtleneck and an orange, knee length open-front sweater. His hair looked meticulously tended to, tossed to the opposite side of his pierced right ear and framing his face well.

The cologne served him wonders, too, with Blóð and Alexander taking a clear liking to it.

Octavio walked down the stairs with a pep in his step - smoothing back his hair as best he could just so it could partly fall into his face once again. Swinging around the corner, he spotted his partners and proceeded to greet Blóð and Elliott with a firm smack on their behinds. They were startled, sure, but Elliott only looked down to give Octavio a laugh and a smack of his own, while Blóð merely scoffed in jest.

Octavio bit his lip. "Don't you all look good? Eres tan sexy," he gave a wink while unabashedly checking them out. Blóð was always so pretty, even when showing their strength in the games or when they hunted or chopped wood (Octavio could go on for days about that), Elliott was always so charming and confident (even if his suave attempts happened to fail, they were all the more charming), and the rolled-sleeve button up that was unbuttoned just enough to show collarbone and brief chest on Alexander was something Octavio (and the other two, admittedly) would store in the memory bank for personal satisfaction.

"¿Qué hubo?"

"Just talkin' about whatever." Elliott adjusted the cuffs of his orange jacket sleeves, rolling them up his forearm a bit. He took notice of Octavio's outfit. "You gonna' be alright out there? You know I love you in your crop tops, but-"

Octavio made a "Pshhh" and scrunched his nose up a bit in response to that, cutting him off. "I'll be fine, bebé. Can't be that cold outside, can it?"

Alexander seemed to check his phone for confirmation on that. "Sixty degrees."

Elliott did find the temperature better than he had anticipated, but still swiveled his head back to Octavio with brows furrowed in concern.

"You don't even have a jacket."

"I can grab one before we go."

Elliott seemed satisfied by that and left the discussion there.

Loba came downstairs, holding the car keys and jangling them as her other hand brushed her hair past her shoulder. "Any takers on being driver?"

Alexander motioned her to give the keys to him, to which she happily did - she was a great driver, but happened to not be particularly fond of doing so, rather liking going on drives as a passenger.

Octavio quickly claimed shotgun.

Before they left, Blóð gave Octavio the fur item they'd been sewing earlier - the latter finding that it was a soft rabbit fur coat. The delight in his face was all Blóð needed to feel assured that he liked it, and helped him put it on. It was a little big, and just how Octavio liked his sweaters and coats. To all of their agreement, he looked rather stylish in it.

-

They were out for most of the afternoon, starting with a two hour Costco trip (that Octavio nearly made his partners carry him for), several smaller shops in between just to browse, a liquor store to buy champagne and sauvignon to celebrate New Years tonight (along with sparkling juice for Octavio who nay drank alcohol), and a hardware store mainly for Mary to pick up that level Elliott reminded her of. By 4:30, their last store of the day was the pet store - everyone individually needing one thing or another.

When they got inside, Elliott asked his partners if they could accompany him for a minute - guiding them to the aquarium section and proposing something.

"Pick one of these guys that you like," Elliott gestured to the wall of individually kept male betta fish, of all sorts of colors and sizes. "You remember those 5 gallon tanks I got a while back? Thought I'd use 'em, and thought a' you guys."

Like Blóð was simply an animal person, and how Octavio and Alexander were cat people, Elliott was partial towards fish. The two large tanks he manages in the living room are rather serene, and despite Renee's concerns, the fish kept there seem to love the foot traffic of everyone coming through.

"One collectively, or-?"

Elliott shook his head, politely cutting Alexander off, "Three total. Was thinking you all pick one, and I set their tanks up in my room. I-I thought it was a cute idea, I dunno'-"

"It's sweet, actually," Alexander softly spoke.

"Think so?"

Blóð made a content hum - leaning down a bit and surveying the curious little fish to see which one stood out to them. "Incr'redibly, my love."

Octavio's approval was nonverbal, made of him apparently finding which one he wanted immediately and picking up the container the little guy was kept in. He looked to Elliott with stars in his eyes and a grin, "Can we name them?"

Elliott chortled and waved his hand dismissively, "I enco- en- enco- implore you to."

"Octavio Dos."

His answer was so quick the others couldn't help but bear a laugh.

And by the time everyone was at checkout, there was definite fawning over the three new additions to Elliott's personal tanks - Ljón, the cream-colored, fiesty little thing that had fins flowing long behind him that Blóð adored, Violet, the red, pink, and white dumbo betta that was adorably curious much to Alexander's affection, and the deep-red colored Octavio Dos.

-

On the way home, it was decided to just grab something to eat on the way - near everyone could cook, but the idea of standing around in the kitchen to cook for fifteen people was lost.

Natalie passed the aux cord to Octavio, who was just taking his coat off for the ride home. He looked a little beyond himself.

"You trust me with the music? Wow - what'd they put in these fries?"

Natalie held off on a laugh while she tried to finish chewing, though her smile was tell enough on her amusement. "I actually like your music taste."

Makoa requested simply, "Nothing too dirty though, please, Silva."

"Me? Liking dirty music?" Octavio snorted, "You know me so well. How about flirty music?"

The man chortled. "That works, brotha'."

Octavio hooked the cord to his phone, and swiped his screen for a few moments before stopping on something. He looked hesitant, briefly, and pressed his screen. He set his phone down and put his hand on Alexander's, their arms both resting on the armrest.

The song sounded so dreamy. When the intro became a little more recognizable, before the lyrics, Loba made a snort from the back.

"You like this song?"

Octavio feigned offense, looking back to her with a "Of course I like this song!"

He shook his head and laughed softly - looking over to Blóð, who sat behind Alexander, he sang over the song and moved his hand from Alexander to cup their face.

"You're so uwu," his voice came sweet and a bit grainy, moving his hand from their cheek to their chin. Blóð practically giggled - blushing and leaning forward into his touch.

"You make me wanna' do," Octavio took his hand away and gave them a wink, "Naughty things to you - all these things to you, you."

Elliott joined the flirt-singing, joining Octavio in the chorus while they oh-so shamelessly wooed their other two partners (and each other, mind you). The others would've said a joke about it, but Ajay was busy holding Natalie's hand and cuddling up to her, while Anita was busy running her hand through Loba's hair and speaking quietly amongst themselves. The others didn't have the heart to interrupt their moment.

Besides, the song was catchy.

"You know you're cute, right?" Octavio sung in Alexander's direction, who shook his head. Still, he wore a soft smile and kept his hand reached over to rub Octavio's thigh.

Elliott leaned over to the side behind Octavio's seat, Blóð matching the movement from the opposite side, and wrapped an arm around the hunter's waist. He continued the phrase with a cocky smile, "Cute as a button-"

Then the two sang together, "Undoing the buttons and pushing your buttons, I just wanna' get you right-"

It was a red light, and so Alexander took the opportunity to lean over and kiss Octavio - lingering for a moment or two before pulling away and focusing back on the road just in time for the light to turn green.

Octavio's heart was a puddle.

Blóð reached a free hand across the armrest to drape his hand over the one Alexander had over Octavio's leg, their fingers soft and gentle in the way they caressed the back of both their hands. Elliott went to continue singing the song, but Octavio stole a kiss much to his surprise. He hummed, and just before they pulled away, Elliott opened his eyes and let his gaze linger at the man driving.

The glimpse of one another was quick, but just as warm as everything else, and left Elliott with a bigger smile than previously.

Octavio pulled up his leg that wasn't currently the resting place of Alexander's and Blóð's, resting his arm on his knee.

He was so lucky.

-

And finally by 6, everyone was tuckered out - ready to take some personal time alone before reconvening later tonight for celebrations. Putting groceries away, Elliott setting up the bettas (as well as having a bit of an audience while doing so), and having a pre-celebratory drink from the sauvignon left the group in need of a quick sit-down. They found themselves just comfortable in the living room, along with Bear and Octavio's cat, Octave, sleeping on one of the couches. Rightly, this was the couch the four of them decided to occupy.

Renee crossed her legs, her black-painted nails running over the leather of her knee-high boots. "Any plans before tonight?"

"Oh?" Tae Joon began, "I thought we were just going to be alone before- ah, ten tonight?"

"I'm just wondering if that was the time we could agree on."

Octavio gave a nod. "Should work for me, at least. I plan on getting blasted, hah."

There was a heavy silence - his other partners looking rather surprised and, especially Blóð, flushed upon hearing that.

Elliott cleared his throat. "Come again?"

Anita snorted at his wording. Elliott gave a quick "Not- not what I meant, uh-"

Renee shrugged, wearing a look painfully smug. "I mean...a bit too much information, but I'm sure that'll go well."

Alexander cleared his throat.

Octavio, despite his nature to immediately take things dirty, just now got what the issue was. And did he find it hilarious.

Through a series of snorts and laughs, he reiterated what he meant; "If I meant I was gonna' get pounded, I would just say that-"

Blóð, Elliott, and Alexander made a simultaneous "Octavio-!"

He kept laughing, shaking his head, "I meant- like, I'm gonna' smoke a joint. Ay, Dios mío - but hey, if that other option is on the table-"

There was another simultaneous "Octavio!" and it seemed to get him to stop talking and simply laugh. He and the others found this absolutely hilarious, leaving his partners to be lost for words and red in the face.

Octavio snorted, and dared to entertain a final joke.

"Like a refreshment."

"What?" Loba narrowed her eyes, leaning forward in interest in what he could possibly say right now.

"Y'know," Octavio snickered, "Quickie's like a refreshment. And there's four of us - heh, call that a concession stand."

Loba couldn't hold the shocked, boisterous laugh she made hearing that - no one really could.

There was a silence after the laughter died down. It was broken when Ajay snorted, though.

"Stop encouraging him-!" Elliott near scrambled to say, but was cut short when Ajay gave him a laugh and a 'look.'

"I know the one flirting wit' 'im all day isn't telling me t' not encourage him. Don't act like you don't like this."

Elliott quickly bit his tongue and raised his hands in the air.

"Touché."

Another small bout of quiet settled.

Loba snorted.

Octavio looked at her, and when their eyes met, they both snorted, and had to turn away to not outright laugh.

Given the situation, a little fun was wanted out of it. Of course, trivia about one another was a frequent, and a favourite, activity amongst themselves. If they all had any one exact thing in common, it'd be that they were all unabashedly nosy.

Loba uncrossed, then recrossed, her legs as she sat up a little. "Truth or dare without the dare, anyone?"

"I think that's a thing called 'having a conversation,'" Anita jokingly mocked.

"Then let's have one." Loba hummed, "I actually had a question for you," she pointed a nude-shade manicured finger towards Dr. Nox, who looked suddenly surprised.

"What is it?"

The woman leaned forward a bit, cusping her hand around her face as if she was telling a secret - the hand facing no one, ultimately defeating the purpose - and talking somewhat low but audible for everyone to still hear.

"Be honest. Is that sweetheart thing true, or was Octavio being dramatic?"

"Oh my god."

His exasperated expression made his partners in particular so delightfully entertained - Octavio especially, laughing and giving a shrug as he left the man to answer the question for himself. He must've mentioned it to them when they were at a store earlier today.

"The people are waiting," Ajay chimed in. It earned the approval of Loba, as told by the way she looked smug about someone else prodding it.

Alexander lifted his glasses, pinched the bridge of his nose in thought, and when he couldn't stave the answer off any longer he was brought to the doorstep of needing to say something.

With hesitation, he sighed. "True enough that she responds to it as well as her actual name."

As if on cue, right after he finished speaking and everyone was ready to pull the expected "big guy soft for a cat" card, Bear shifted her position from simply lying beside him to lying on her side and pressing her face against his upper leg. Despite it all, the instinct to lower a hand and pet her big sweet face was lost not in the man.

The onslaught of "Aww!"s would've been anticipated.

[end-game-is-paradise]

Swift-mas 🎄 in July 💥

When I think about Taylor Swift and I think about holidays, the two that spring to mind first are Christmas and Independence Day.

This post (and future ones added to it) will be an ongoing analysis on Taylor’s references to both holidays and how they play a role in her life and her public image as a celebrity. I’ll also dive into various Easter eggs from interviews and music videos and of course from her lyrics.

For some context this is building off a recent post by @daylicate related to religion, New Age Deceit and Jesus Christ.

https://daylicate.tumblr.com/post/623272154372374528/from-new-age-deceit-to-jesus-boy-i-did-not

To begin, what do we know about Taylor Swift’s religious upbringing?

For me personally, not much. So I did some digging and found myself listening - really listening - to her Christmas album original songs for the first time.

The album is a classic for longtime Swifties but unknown to many after its initial release in 2007.

-> https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Taylor_Swift_Holiday_Collection

💫 🎄

See the lyrics below and you’ll understand why it stuck out to me after reading the above post .

✨ Christmas Must Mean Something More ✨

SONG LYRICS -> https://youtu.be/9HHIGzI6Hjg

What if ribbons and bows didn't mean a thing

Would the song still survive without five golden rings

Would you still wanna kiss without mistletoe

What would happen if God never let it snow ❄️

What would happen if Christmas carols told a lie

Tell me what would you find

You'd see that today holds something special

Something holy, not superficial 🎁 ✨🙏

So here's to the birthday boy who saved our lives

It's something we all try to ignore

And put a wreath up on your door

So here's something you should know that is for sure

Christmas must be something more ✨

What if angels did not pay attention to 👼

All the things that we wished they would always do

What if happiness came in a cardboard box 📦

Then I think there is something we all forgot 🌎

What would happen if presents all went away 🎁

Tell me what would you find

We get so caught up in all of it

Business and relationships

Hundred mile an hour lives

And it's this time of year and everybody's here

It seems the last thing on your mind

Is that the day holds something special

Something holy, not superficial

So here's to Jesus Christ who saved our lives

It's something we all try to ignore and put a wreath up on your door

But here's something you should know that is for sure, Christmas must be something - Christmas must be something more

There's gotta be more...

- - - - - - -

2014 leads us to ...

Taylor Swift - Christmas Angel 👼

Taylor Swift being the most giving celebrity to her fans EVER. Seriously being a Christmas giving angel 😇 🎁 ❄️

https://youtu.be/j3yyF31jbKo

Moving on to...

2019 🎄 Christmas Returns

As any true Swiftie knows, Taylor grew up on a Christmas Tree Farm in PA before moving to Nashville to pursue her Country Star dreams.

Before getting too much into the song, Taylor already was leaving hints of her return to Christmas music in her music videos.

ME! 🎄

LOVER 🎄

Also featured in the Lover music video ✨ footage from 4th of July, 2016 celebrations 💥

I’ll be diving more into -> 🎇 Independence Day in a future post.

Lover also features the house in the snow globe and I can go into a full other post analyzing that - yes the Kaylor references - but also the doll house aspect of it all. Moving back to the Christmas Tree Farm 🎄

-> https://youtu.be/mN3rDTAdM2o

Sample of LYRICS:

My winter nights are taken up by static

Stress, and holiday shopping traffic

But I close my eyes, and I'm somewhere else

Just like magic ✨

In my heart is a Christmas tree farm 🏡 ❤️🎄

Where the people would come

To dance under sparkling lights ✨ 💃

Bundled up in their mittens and coats

And the cider would flow

And I just wanna be there tonight

Sweet dreams of holly and ribbon 🎁

Mistakes are forgiven

And everything is icy and blue ❄️

And you would be there too

Under the mistletoe 🎄

Watching the fire glow 🔥

And telling me, "I love you"

Just being in your arms 🤗

Takes me back to that little farm 🌲

Where every wish comes true 💫

In my heart is a Christmas tree farm 🏡 ❤️ 🎄

There's a light in the barn 💡

We'd run inside out from the cold 🥶

In the town, kids are dreaming of sleighs 🛷

And they're warm and they're safe

They wake to see a blanket of snow ❄️ ⛄️

————

And when I'm feeling alone

You remind me of home 🏡 🎄

Oh baby, baby, Merry Christmas

And when the world isn't fair

I’ll pretend that we're there

Baby, baby, Merry Christmas

Oh baby, baby, Merry Christmas

May your every wish come true 🎄

I love you ❤️

——

In conclusion for this first post - both Christmas songs are about people getting consumed with life and losing sight of the true meaning of Christmas - family, loved ones, and Jesus Christ (full disclosure- I’m Jewish, so someone with more knowledge feel free to add onto these ideas and explore further 😂)

@taylorswift

[harrycook]

27

June 12th 2018 was my 27th birthday.

Here are 27 things I feel like I have learnt about life so far:

1. Don’t Argue With Stupid People.

You get nowhere. It’s like playing scrabble with a dog, no matter how well you play, the dog will end up shitting on the board and walking away like he won anyway.

2. Eat The Damn Cake.

Yes I know that eating right and exercise is important for your health, but if you are in the vicinity of a cake or delicious bite of something, just eat it.

3. Working Is A Part Of Life, Not The Entirety Of Life.

Unless you adore what you do for a living and it is your pasison and life’s mission, take a deep breath and don’t take it all so seriously. At the end of the day, a job is to pay the bills and have pocket money to go and enjoy yourself when you’re not working. Unless you are genuinely passionate about your career, don’t sweat it. Don’t break your back worrying about a job that would replace you within a week if you dropped dead.

4. Don’t Take Anything Seriously, Seriously.

Unless you are performing open heart surgery or have the cure for cancer in your back pocket, lighten the fuck up. No matter what your job is, ask yourself if it will matter in 100 years? If not, giggle and let it go. The world won’t stop spinning if you miss a deadline or make a mistake. Breathe. It’s all good.

5. Ignorance Is A Choice.

Yes. It’s 2018. There is no excuse for ignorance or stupidity when we have more information on our phones than a public library. If you don’t understand something, research it. Pick up a book, scan the internet, question everything, especially the news. Be curious, ask questions and most of all, don’t be lazy. Educate yourself so the world can be full of kinder, more worldly individuals who know what they are talking about.

6. Throw Away Anything You Thought You Knew That Doesn’t Sit Well With Your Values.

We grow up in a society that feeds us garbage from the moment we enter the world. Boys are taught to be one way and girls are taught to be another. It’s a system that hasn’t changed in hundreds of years because society wants us to constantly keep within the mold. Screw that. Break the mold and let people be who they want to be. Go after a job you want, not what society wants for you. Travel, see the world, stop worrying about what everyone else is doing and go after the stuff that means something to you.

7. Laugh At Every Chance You Get.

Nothing beats a good belly laugh. Plus, it’s also extremely healthy. Laugh as often as you can. This goes straight back to the not taking anything seriously thing. Giggle more. It works wonders for the soul.

8. Get A Hobby.

The past year I have picked up the piano again (not literally 'picked it up', obviously, but started learning again), attempted to learn Spanish, set a goal of reading a book a fortnight (up to book 25) and started working out a minimum of three times a week. Each year older I start realising how quickly time goes and how many amazing things are at my disposal to learn or try.

9. Read The News, Then Read It Again, And Then Research Some More.

Don't take anything at face value. Just because the news tells you one thing, don't take it as gospel. These news shows are run by multibillionaire white men and corporations with agendas. Don't take it at face value. Look in to things. Read as much as you can and become your own private investigator for the truth. Just because a news show says something, doesn't make it fact.

10. Read More.

Nothing opens up the heart and mind more than a good book. The excuse of not having enough time to read doesn't cut it. Instead of watching an hour of Netflix, take an hour to open a good book. It's good for the soul. Trust me.

11. Get A Pet.

YASSSSSSS. Get a dog. Then get another dog. Then when you think you simply can't handle the amount of snuggles you are getting, get another dog!! In all seriousness, dogs are extremely good for your health. They reduce stress and anxiety, boost happiness and are wonderful snuggle buddies. Adopt don't shop! There are plenty of rescue animals in need of good homes.

12. Sometimes People Hurt You. It Sucks.

Yes. Sometimes the people you never in a bazillion years thought could hurt you, will hurt you terribly. I had an experience in recent years with extended family that completely shifted my entire outlook on people in general. Sadly, some of the people you think you know are far from what you think. It sucks, yes, but once you acknowledge it, it slowly stops hurting. You can move on with your life when you realise that sometimes a wake-up call is all you need to realise that you're better off without certain people in your life. And that's totally ok.

13. Log Off. Often.

The age of social media is WONDERFUL for so many reasons. Keeping in contact with people, viewing beautiful content, learning things with a click and the hours and hours of streamable content are all fantastic reasons to use social media. But on the flip side, it can also be an information overload and I highly advise switching off, taking a bath and leaving your phone somewhere away from you for a few hours. It can't be healthy getting a constant stream of negative news 24/7. So unplug. Those cute puppy pics will be there when you get back.

14. Exercise.

I know, I know, YUCK. Exercise isn't the most fun of activities, and I am the first to admit that whenever I heard someone say "but the endorphins are good for your happiness levels" I'd roll my eyes so far back in my head I could see my brain. But it's completely and utterly true. Just a 40 minute run 3 times a week has improved my mood ten fold. I've suffered with depression, anxiety and addiction for years, but exercise allows me to completely refresh and enjoy the day on a belly full of endorphins. Do it for the feeling you get, not to achieve some unattainable body. It works a treat. Trust me.

15. Napping Is AMAZING.

Yes. Napping is one of the best damn things to do. Nothing beats an afternoon nap. It refreshes you for the rest of the day and is a great way to reboot the system. Don't let people tell you otherwise. It's bloody fantastic.

16. Journal.

I've written a journal since I was ten years old and looking back on all the adventures, worries, achievements and memories throughout the years is something I cherish so incredibly much. Studies have shown that journalling is really healthy for the mind and soul. Grab a notebook and get doodling.

17. Take Photos.

If taking selfies is your thang, go for it. If taking pictures of trees, animals or the sunset gets you going, snap away. Taking photos is therapeutic for a number of reasons, but most of all it's a lovely way to document your life with things to look back on. Get snapping.

18. Never Think You Know It All.

It's easy to be arrogant when we are conditioned all our lives with things we are expected to believe. "Boys should do this", "girls should do that". But just because we've been taught it from a society that has never been challenged to think differently, doesn't make it right. Question everything. Stay curious. Look into things and don't dismiss stuff you know nothing about. Not only is it a really ugly personality trait, it gets you nowhere in life. Opening your mind and heart is a surefire way of experiencing life in all its' beauty.

19. Go After What You Want In Life.

Jim Carey did a graduation speech about his father who never went after his dreams because he wanted to do the ‘safe thing'. Have a 'stable' career that would provide for his family. From memory, his father failed and lost everything in his 'stable' career. The moral being that if you are going to fail at something, at least let it be something you love, because the fact is it is just as possible to fail at something you hate. Give it a go. Life is too short to not go after what you want.

20. Travel. Travel. Travel.

See the world. It'll show you that we humans are all the same. It replaces ignorance with knowledge and shows you how vast our planet is. Get out there.

21. Someone Who Is Nice To You But Not Nice To The Waiter Is Not A Nice Person.

I love this quote because it's so damn true. Don't be a dick to service people. Don't think you're better than anyone because you're not. End of story. Period.

22. Get Over Yourself.

Sort of a continuation of the above, this is just a reminder to get over yourself, have a giggle and realise that just because you have a fancy car, a nice suit or well manicured hands means absolutely sweet F.A. Being a good person, showing kindness, empathy and caring about the planet and human beings as a whole is what counts in my books. Just be a good person. It's that simple.

23. Tell Your Loved Ones You Love Them And Don’t Go To Bed Angry.

Pretty self explanatory this one, but all the same, something to remember constantly. Life is far too short to go to bed angry at someone. Throw away silly arguments and tell the people you care about how you feel.

24. Screw What People Think Of You.

I mean it. Who cares what someone else thinks of you? That's their stuff. How they perceive you and how they feel about you is none of your business. Water off a ducks' back. Let it go.

25. Try Not To Worry So Much.

I know. Easier said than done, but sometimes it helps to take a step back, take a deep breath in and ask a few key questions: Can I do anything to change the current situation? If yes, do it. If not, let it go. Breathe through it and remember all we ever have is right in this moment.

26. Meditate.

YASSSSSSSSS times a million. Meditating is one of the most powerful things I have ever learnt in my 27 years on this planet. Taking a moment to just sit and reflect and focus on the here and now is one of the most intensely wonderful ways of reconnecting to what matters. There are a million different apps you can use or simply sit and count your breaths. It works wonders.

27. Life is what you make it, but most of all it’s about love.

Love, family, friends and making memories is the most important thing in life. Every year on this earth I realise more and more how utterly stupid it is to worry about material things. Now, I'm not saying you shouldn't enjoy material stuff whatsoever, but it shouldn't be what you go after in life. Nobody ever gets to the end of their life clutching on to their Chanel bag. The things that matter are the people you love and the memories you make.

So go for a walk, take in the view, have a laugh and breathe in every moment of every day. It's all we ever have.

- Harry.

[doubleddenden]

It's just now hitting me that on the 9th, if things go according to plan, I'll be out of school. It's a feeling that terrifies and excites me. I hate academia and all of the psychological damage it has brought me, and I especially hate how normalized suffering physically and mentally is in college and it's just written off as lulz me 2 brah haven't slept in 2 weeks and my diet has been 5 cups of espresso and a bag of chips a day, sometimes fireball.

As much as I HATE that aspect, and the overpriced bullshit, the stupid and annoying football fans that herd in droves every saturday and take up our parking, the constant smell of weed in my dorm, the walks, and assholes neighbors... I still think I'm going to miss it a little.

Friends being within walking distance. Food being in walking distance. A living space that isn't too small and honestly big enough for me to be happy and feasibly keep clean, a different event of gun games or an opportunity to learn something new about a random culture besides your own, the oddly dressed strangers that look like they walked straight out of a randomized character creation screen, the weird squirrels and cats, not having to drive all that far for food or amenities, decent wifi, being near one of the best coffee shops I've ever gotten a drink from...

Most of all the small adventures I've had with friends and strangers. At this school alone I've walked with friends down nature trails after midnight and felt the uneasiness of a thousand eyes watching me that turned out to be one really high naked guy. I've rescued a friend from a girls house who neglected to mention she had a gun toting boyfriend. I've ran from clowns. A squirrel parkoured off my head after jumping out of a trash can. I've hugged coke machines and got free drinks. Hell I hugged a drunk dude and got free drinks. I've met a mega republican mechanophile furry. So many random puppies. I got lost in a military camp because everything looked the same. A girl gave me her number to piss off a dude that was catcalling her only to find out I got played in a game I wasn't even playing. I got Pokemon ultra sun an hour early with darth Vader. I got drunk to a Niel Breen movie. I pet an albino chinchilla. My friends and I got in an hour long fight about who flirted with a girl the most, then one accidentally catcalled the strongest man I've ever seen before spinning out trying to run away. The random clay things with suffering eyes just around campus. I once beat a random Team Rocket and Team Skull cosplayer on campus with a random girl on our 3ds's.

At my junior college my friends and I ate often at the sketchiest hamburger stand in the woods. It snowed and we all had a long ass snowball fight for however long we were on campus. Strangers just hugged you because you needed it. I used my knowledge of my step father's security job to sneak friends in and off campus after curfew. I punched a jerk instinctively after scaring me in the dark. I witnessed my friend get married in front of a chapel with an onion ring, and I was the maid of honor.

God I hate college so fucking much but these moments? The convenience? That's what's making all of it hard to let go. Most of all my friends I made on my own, without any need for another friend to introduce me. I don't want to go back home to the loneliness of the woods, and yet I have to. It's time.

My wish is that I get a job I can tolerate if not like, that way I can move in with friends somewhere and just try to take in that bit of adventure again. Minus the academic hell.

[neijayah]

Seoul, day 3 - they just left me ㅠㅠ

I had an extrem short night again. Not that I went to bed so late, like the night before, due to not being very active during the flights. But my body had decided around half past 2 in the night: that's enough, though my eyes were falling shut. This was going to be a hard day. Thanks body.

Back to the 3rd day. So on a quite short notice via KakaoTalk it was decided that this day we weren't having classes but an excursion to the National Museum of Korea (국립중앙박물관) and the National Hangeul Museum (국립한글박물관).

All of the students are connected with the CEO, teachers and co-students via KakaoTalk, the Korean equivalent to WhatsApp, Messenger or other social messengers. Emoticons, which are much cooler btw., can be bought for small money. Especially, emoticons by K-Pop idols are very famous amongst K-Pop fans and Teenagers.

So the whole school was devided into two groups, depending on when you have your general Korean lessons. So for my group it was 10 am at Chungmuro Station (충무로). Another pro of having metro station with several exits is, that you can meet up at a certain exit, without having to walk an extra mile, just to get where you want to. So you can just say: 'Let's meet inside exit 3' and you won't miss each other as well as getting most easily to where you actually want to go.

After all students attendance were checked (of course with mobile phones - duh) we went in groups via metro to Ichon Station (이촌), exit 2 where both museums are.

You first come across the Mirror pond. A beautiful pond surrounded by nice buildings and trees. This alone offers a beautiful scenery.

When going up the steps, you'll get right in front of the National Museum of Korea.

At least one class of kids (surprisingly not in school uniforms) went in with us. Maybe it was just my impression, but they are as loud as German classes. Another surprise, both museums are totally for free.

And there is so much to see. The building was build and design very well. You start on ground level on the right side and move along the exhibits and finish this level coming out of the left side of the upside down U. Then you can continue your round on the next level. This way you won't pass by exits, that might have been interesting.

Most of us weren't really eager to visit these museums, but it was extremely fascinating, as it is a culture so far away from ours, and even more fascinating what they developed how and in which era. I know, that around the beginning of the 1900s they were still in the Joseon Dynasty. Ever watched a Korean Drama (well, you really need to, they are awesome)? A lot of their historical drama play in the Joseon Dynasty....no industry, no cars, no electricity, no advanced medicine. Probably comparable with the Roman Empire (by knowledge and technical development).

A lot of art was also displayed.

I found the way of displaying the exhibits very beautiful. This way you were able to make stunning picture, though a bit blurred, as you weren't allowed to use your flashlight. But still, I think, they turned out pretty good.

At around half past 12 we all went to get lunch. The museum has a small food court with cheap food. Unfortunately, everyone had that idea and while we had been walking around level by level, another 10 classes and a huge group of elderlies had joined the party. So the food court was over crowded. Three Swiss students, that I somewhat befriended, and I decided to go to a restaurant just in front of the museum called Mirror Pond Restaurant. A little bit high priced, but as most Korean food, more than enough. One meal could have fed two women. But it was soooooooo delicious. Like to all meals, you get Banchan (the small bowls next to the coke) to the meal. Those are cold side dishes, that compliment each meal. At least one of it is always Kimchi.

To this meal we also received 3 small Pajeon, small pancakes made with Kimchi (the red ones) and green onion, maybe with sea food (the green one). Maybe, because I haven't even tried them, as my dish, some kind of Japchae/Bibimbab mix was so much, I could hardly eat half of it. Such a shame to leave it. ㅠㅠ (But if you have ever seen one of those videos Korean people watch, where people are eating, you will know that this is impossible to eat all. I mean I'm just watching a show about one of those "YouTubers" and they showed how expanded their stomach is.....That's really sick.)

Just like in the U.S. water is served for free to each meal. The water is nice and cool and even I like to drink it.

After having payed about 19,000 Won (= about € 14,59, pretty expensive for a Korean meal) we went back to the meeting point and went on to the National Hangeul Museum, right next door. You just have to go through a small park, which is really beautiful. I will make pictures, when I return there. I had the feeling, I haven't taken in every exhibit, as much as I wanted to. Especially, with hundreds of kids having to fill out some kind of questionnaire.

The Hangeul Museum describes the way the Korean language was developed. One of the few spoken languages that were artificially created, leaned onto the former Chinese/Korean language. The museum also describes the way, modern medicine helped introducing new words into Korean vocabulary, as Korean medicine and therefore their language was pretty holistic. This exhibition is also very interesting, but unfortunately not all exhibit descriptions were translated. So sometimes all you can do is to look at the beautiful exhibits. What I really liked were the old typewriters and their keyboard. It was totally different from todays keyboard. I do't know, how they were able to write with that?

The museums shop was also the first time on this travel that I bought some souvenirs. Just a keychain and a bottle for drinks. I think, I will keep it on the low with souvenirs, as I need to put them somewhere as well.

Afterwards I looked out for my co-students and teacher, and all were gone. ㅠㅠ A second ago, I had just seen 3 of them, hanging around, and suddenly everyone was gone. I tried to wait a bit, to see if they were still in the exhibition, but no one was to be found. And the weather being so hot, I didn't wanted to wait much longer outside, so I made my way home. We were to meet in the evening anyway, for a welcome Newbies 치맥 (Tshimaek = Chicken 치킨 and Beer 맥주)

But plans just didn't worked out that well. Though I generally love all kind of meat here in Korea, being out in the open the whole day might have not been that good. Either I caught a cold or something or the pollution was so bad, that my throat hurt pretty bad and even drinking water didn't help at all. I downloaded several apps beforehand to get warnings if Yellow Dust will be blown over to Korea (usually more around May) or how bad the pollution is. That day it was straight on yellow, meaning, not so great but just keep the windows closed and don't do sports outside. But obviously I'm not used to it anymore. Growing up in the former GDR with all these exhaust fumes getting blown into the air, I would have thought my body can take that. So my next purchase will be some face masks, which you can get in almost every convenience store. They're more or less just so women can hide their faces when not yet having Make-Up on, or if you want to protect your surroundings from your gems. Sometimes even as fashion statement, when having one with a design on it. But it may at least keep a bit of the stuff away, that isn't so nice to my throat and voice. I asked my teacher at home, and she said the pollution is pretty bad and she always wears face masks when in Korea.

So in the end I skipped the meeting and went back home. I'm not that social anyway. I had to continue writing anyway.

Seoul, day 4 - doing nothing but writing and watching TV

After feeling a bit sick with my sore throat, I had slept full 12 hours. Honest, I could have slept 12 more. But I knew, I had to write it down as soon as possible. If I let myself go, I won't write down anything at all.

So, the next day will be pretty much only school, and finally finding a face mask for my throat. I would at least have two longer breaks to maybe find one mask in the near surrounding and maybe going to the river, which is nearby. Let's see.