#and this new ice skating one ABSOLUTELY DEVOURS

[lowkeyren]

HIS FACE CARD ACTUALLY NEVER FUCKING DECLINES IM CONVULSING ON THE FLOOR RN.

dawg look at my psychiatrist, he can't stop serving cvnt ☹️🙏🏻

[fieldofdaisiies]

𝙱𝚒𝚛𝚝𝚑𝚍𝚊𝚢 - 𝚁𝚞𝚑𝚗 𝚡 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛

happy birthday, love @callmeblaire. I really hope you enjoy these Ruhn Birthday headcanons. you are amazing and wonderful, don't ever forget this, love youuuu💛💛💛

Ruhn and you will obviously sleep in, and then he lets you sleep a little longer so he can make breakfast for you

thanks to magic, every dish will stay warm or cold (depending on the food and drink it is) while he wakes you up with soft kisses, his hoarse morning voice making chills erupt on your body "Good morning, my beautiful mate!"

and it is Ruhn we are talking about, so his first target on this day, on your special day, is to worship you

he will kiss every inch of your body, devour and worship you to the fullest, making it all about your pleasure

when finally fully sated, your hair a mess, your limbs still slightly spasming, and your breathing ragged, he will tuck you to his chest, and lift the tray with the breakfast onto his lap so you can devour the food

he brought everything you love, every dish and food you like: strawberries, oreos, chocolate cake, slices of watermelon, and so on and on

while you eat, Ruhn will tell you everything about the day he has planned for you, but obviously he will keep some things a secret

after breakfast your mate will offer to massage your feet, his hands working wonders on you

later you will shower together, taking your time as nothing is rushing you, then you get ready for the day ahead

he helps you put on your favourite dress, which you then should pair with the new shoes he got you for your birthday

while getting ready you share a lot of kisses and a lot of I love yous

the whole house is decorated and your eyes widen and fill with tears when you take it all in

Ithan, Decaln and Flynn don't waste a second to jump out of their hiding spots, cheering and chanting happy birthday, before all come up to you and give you the biggest hug

a party for your birthday is planned for the weekend, but that does not stop them for giving you their presents already and you open them, tears brimming your eyes as you look at all the lovely things they gifted you

the rest of the day is reserved for Ruhn and you

you are heading out, to start the day Ruhn has planned for you

it starts with a walk through Lunathian, where you do a little window shopping, stop for a coffee and a piece of cake in a lovely, little shop

you also do a little bit of shopping, because the starborn prince loves to spoil you

as you walk, you and Ruhn will just chat about everything and anything, his hand holding yours tightly

and well, since it is October, an ice skating place in Lunathion has already opened and you and Ruhn will obviously ice skate nearly the whole morning until lunch

for lunch you are doing a little picnic — it is not yet too cold, so it works just fine

once again, Ruhn obviously packed all the things you love, put together sandwiches, smoothies, bowls and drinks

you enjoy it a lot and maybe share one or the other kiss on the picnic bench

you walk a little more after that, until Ruhn stops in front of tattoo and piercing studio and he raises a brow in delight "Matching tattoos for your birthday?"

you love the idea, don't you?

of course, you do, cheering happily and so you do it — getting matching tattoos (it is only small one on your wrists, but it means the world)

you then head home, to change, as Ruhn wants to take you out to a fancy restaurant

it is wonderful and the dinner absolutely delicious

you enjoy your whole day so much, but obviously it is not over yet

when you drive home, Ruhn stops and you get out of the car, just so he can kiss you under a sky full of stars

and when you finally return home, he makes love to you all throughout night, once again devouring and worshipping you to the fullest

~~~~~~ tags: @azrielsbabyg @brekkershadowsinger @a-frog-with-a-laptop

[palaces-in-every-paragraph]

AO3 Name: LadyReisling

Thank you SO MUCH for writing for me. I know I’m going to love whatever you come up with! I truly appreciate the time and effort you are going to put into this. PLEASE do not stress over it; I am really very easy to please and just looking forward to seeing what you come up with. I’ve jotted down some basic prompts here, follow them or don’t--the choice is yours!

Style Stuff:

Girl power/competency is absolutely my greatest kink. I also have a decent-sized hair kink and love hair-touching/stroking/brushing, etc. I like friendship in love, equal partnerships, ass-kicking females, friends to lovers, grudging respect that becomes not so grudging, fluff and cuteness, light angst (angst over the perfect gift, for example), caretaking, hairbrushing, cuddling and tender kissing, blanket/bed-sharing in a totally platonic way, all the non-sexual intimacy and tenderness, late-night talks, letters. Tenderly-described safe touch makes me squee. I don’t mind sex so long as it’s consensual between adults, well-written, driven by emotions, and true to character. My favorite AUs are coffee shop and library.

My A03 bookmarks are pretty heavy on MCU and Hamilton, my two latest obsessions. I love mission fic/casefic, adventures, unwinding/caretaking after a mission, celebrations, and all the happy things.

I adore setting detail and good descriptive writing. Fall and winter ate is absolutely my favorite seasons--so perfect for walks, crisp air, toasted marshmallows, apple orchard trips, cider and donuts, colorful leaves that crunch underfoot, hay rides, cozy sweaters, knitting, lazy weekends, bonfires (or fires in fireplaces) new pens and notebooks, etc, ice skating parties, hot drinks, etc. I also love holidays and celebrations--all of them equally, so whatever feels natural to you and the characters is great. Cultural descriptions and events are fabulous, as well as seasonal details. I’ve been blessed to grow up and live my entire life in a place with four distinct seasons, and as long as I’m not driving in them, I actually adore blizzards and being snowed in. If you happen to live in a place where you don’t have seasons, I’m sorry! But pull up some Google images and describe away and I’ll love it. In general, I find myself really in the mood for fluff and humor and softness these days.

Dislikes:

D/s relationships, PWP, A/B/O dynamics (I don’t understand how these work), dark/dystopian or supernatural AUs. Please no kidfic.

Hard Squicks:

Please no rape/non- or dub-con, underage, graphic violence, suicide or self-harm, depression, or non-canonical character death. All of the above are major triggers for me.

Specific fandoms and prompts:

Schitt’s Creek: David/Patrick, David/Patrick & Stevie:

I’m not done with this show but OMG I adore it. “Grad Night” is the episode I go back to when I’m feeling down because I love the chemistry between these three in particular. I love Steve’s sass and how David and Patrick play off each other and bring out the best in each other. Give me all the seasonal dirt on Rose Apothecary–fun classes, gift boxes that have to be sourced and tested, floor picnics by a hella tacky fake fireplace that someone appropriated from Roland and Jocelyn, that time the heat goes out at home and they cuddle for warmth. The town’s midwinter festival or Valentine dance gets hilariously out of hand. David and Patrick have a fight just before Valentine’s Day and Stevie intervenes with quiet, earnest snark.

The Baby-Sitters Club (TV):

This is one of the first series that my grade school voracious reader self devoured when I was a kid and the modern TV adaptation made me sigh with nostalgia and squee with delight. I’m very OTEveryone here and would love some babysitting shenanigans or something with all the girls working together on a big community project for Valentine’s Day. Or, does the club do some sort of secret Galentine/Palentine exchange or a club slumber party? Does Janine pop in with a boring history of the real St. Valentine and the girls are just all about the candy and silly gifts? Does someone have a secret admirer? Play hard in the Stoneybrook sandbox and I’ll love it.

MCU: Steve/Peggy, Kate/Yelena, Kate & Matt Murdock

Look, no one is as surprised as me about how much I adore the MCU and all of its denizens, but these are some of my faves. For Steve/Peggy, I’d love something set during the war, like maybe a coffee date while Steve is still a performing monkey with the USO or when he’s just gone from monkey to soldier. My favorite Agent Carter episode is the one where Peg teams up with the Commandos, so bring them in too if you want. WWII is my favorite time period, so I’d love some good setting and historical detail with this pair.

For Kate/Yelena: Banter. All. The. Banter. A grudging team up that becomes not grudging. Fake dating that becomes more? Undercover as a couple? Doing absolutely everything to avoid going undercover as a couple but they have to anyway? A friendly training competition gets REALLY friendly?

For Kate and Matt: I feel like they had a connection before Kate became Hawkeye. Did Matt do legal work for Kate’s family’s business when he was an intern? How do they meet and team up? Does Kate get in a tight spot while Clint is away at the farm and run to Matt for help (however reluctantly)? How much help is Matt in improving Kate’s hand to hand skills? Does she moonlight as a receptionist/paralegal to make extra money or when they need to meet up to trade intel?

I know I’m going to love whatever you write. Thanks so much, in advance!

[stardusttrashed]

Dancing in the Moonlight

Based on Dancing in the Moonlight by Alt-J

A/n: y/n’s quirk is both earth and water manipulation, but she hasn’t quite got the hang of using both at the same time

You shifted your foot in the soil, digging into the dirt slightly. The soil was cool beneath your aching feet, providing a smidge of comfort. Steadying your breath you focused on the air filling your lungs. You held your breath as your arms moved into place, the limbs fluid like water. Your eyes fluttered shut as you drifted into a deep concentration. You formed a dirt wall in front of you by turning your foot and prepared your water for the next part of your attack.

“It’s almost curfew,” a familiar voice called out, breaking your concentration. The water you had been gathering with your arms splashed out of control, soaking your shift before seeping into the ground. You muttered swears to yourself as you turned around. Todoroki gave you an apologetic look, “sorry. I didn’t mean to mess up your concentration.”

You relaxed your shoulders and smiled tenderly. “You’re out late, everything alright?” You picked up your water bottle and sipped from it, maintaining eye contact. You unsuccessfully attempted to keep your eyes from drifting down his body and focus on his. But you couldn’t. As beautiful and enchanting as his heterochromia eyes were, you couldn’t help but take in the rest of him. He was in his casual clothes but seemed far from getting ready for bed. His button-up shirt hid his slim yet muscular form making him seem almost lanky. 

Todoroki’s eyes drifted down to the ground, focusing on his shoes. “Yeah. I was heading to bed and saw you out here.” That wasn’t completely the truth, but it also wasn’t a complete lie. Truth be told he had been looking around the dorm for you since you weren’t up to hanging out with everyone else. Quite frankly he missed your presence. He missed being able to look around and spot you or feel your warmth fill the room. He had excused himself from the group to go find you. 

He spotted you through a window and watched you for almost an hour before he got himself to walk over. All he could see was a silhouette in the moonlight, but he knew instantly it was you.  You were the only one he could think of with movements so graceful yet firm like bamboo in the wind. 

You watched him for another moment, waiting to see if he’d bring his eyes back up to yours. “Well… since you’re awake,” you took a deep breath, trying to calm yourself. Being around him filled your stomach with butterflies and made thinking clearly a troublesome task. And yet there was always a sense of familiarity with him like you’ve known him for years. You busied yourself by fixing your bun. “Feel like helping a friend out with some sparring? Won’t get better with my quirk if I don’t use it in combat situations.” 

It was nearly ten and he knew he should say no. Tell you that you both should go to bed. Or even that you shouldn’t fight out here. But he couldn’t, not with you looking at him like that. You were his kryptonite in so many ways, yet even he was oblivious to it. “Any rules?” He shrugged off his button-down shirt and walked closer.

You popped up to your tiptoes in excitement. “No holding back. And don’t get caught by Aizawa,” you shrugged as if it was simple knowledge. The smirk on his lips sent a rush down your spine. You dug your toes into the dirt, readying your defensive stance. 

Todoroki stood in front of you casually. Without any signal, he sent a rushing wave of ice along the ground. He knew you, watched you fight enough to know you weren’t one to underestimate. Even if you didn’t always have a good handle on your quirk. 

You lifted the ground beneath you, using it as a stepping stool to launch yourself onto the icy floor. You skated towards him, narrowly avoiding a blast from his flashfreeze heatwave. With a flick of your wrist, you transformed his ice into a water barrier. You swung your arms to guide the water into a rushing wall that encircled you and him. A look of surprise crossed his face, quickly replaced by an impressed smile. 

“When’d you learn how to do this,” Todoroki asked cooly, his smile suppressing itself into a smirk. 

“Like I’d tell,” you smirked proudly. The cool summer breeze provided a refreshing feeling and pushed your stray strands into your face. “But I did have inspiration.” You searched his eyes wondering if he’d pick up that he was your inspiration, but all you received was a blank stare. With a sigh, you flicked your finger, guiding a small burst of water towards his back as a sneak attack. 

“Try again,” he chuckled in an almost cocky manner as he froze the burst and wall. The ice block fell to the ground with a loud clatter, shattering into dozens of ice bits. “Nice try though.” The ground around your feet began to quickly freeze, trying to latch onto your feet. 

You formed a flight of stairs out of the ground as you tried to escape the lighting fast ice that engulfed everything in its path. “Is the famous Todoroki talking trash,” you teased him as you leaped off the highest step with a graceful flip. You formed a small wave to help guide you back to the ground. Before you could attempt another escape Todoroki sent ice shards towards you that froze your wave and feet along with it. 

Todorki shrugged confidently, “just an observation. Looks like I won.” He shoved his hands into his pocket and tried to turn around to go get his shirt, but his feet wouldn’t budge. He looked down with a dumbfounded expression at his buried feet. You had somehow managed to trap his feet into a dirt prison without him feeling. 

You suppressed your giggles and took advantage of his momentary guard drop, sending a wave of water towards him. You rode on the tail of the wave, watching as it soaked him, unfortunately breaking your dirt prison. “You didn’t think I’d give up that easy with you, did you,” you asked as you landed a short distance in front of him. 

He looked up at you through his drenched hair, the water dripping into his eyes slowly. “I hoped you didn’t.” You looked absolutely gorgeous under the moonlight. It was hard to admire you and fight you at the same time, but that didn’t deter him. He adored the way the two strands in your face were slowly starting to curl from a mixture of sweat and mist in the air. He loved watching this new side of you with your quirk. In class trainings you always seemed to have a hard time using both aspects of your quirk at once, but now you were doing it almost effortlessly. He began to wonder if it was all an act. If you were holding back in class to keep everyone from knowing how strong you were. 

“Hey, stop staring at me like that.” A blush crept onto your cheeks and you made the ground roll beneath him so he wouldn’t see. He stumbled backward, unable to catch himself before falling onto the ground. 

“Like what?” He turned the ground into ice and formed a wall behind you, bringing you towards him. You came in faster than he expected, crashing into him as he stood up. Todoroki wrapped a protective arm around your waist to steady the both of you. The close contact drove him crazy and all he could do was hope it did the same to you. His cheeks flushed as he looked into your eyes again. 

“Like-,” your breath became uneasy. His strong arm around your waist made your mind hazy while his tender eyes sent you into a drunken state. You couldn’t even escape his grasp with your quirk if you wanted to, it required too much concentration that you didn’t have. “Like that. You keep it up and I might have to kiss you,” you scoffed, assuming that’d help him let go of you. To your surprise, he continued to hold you. If anything he pulled you closer. 

“Can I?” His voice was no more than a whisper, his breath ghosting over your lips. He couldn’t tell if it was the summer heat that made him so warm or his embarrassment from having you so close. 

You let out a nervous laugh, “this isn’t very funny Shoto.” His unwavering expression settled your nerves slightly. He meant it. The boy you’d been crushing on since your first year really meant it. Two whole years of doubt and worry that your feelings weren’t returned. You opened your mouth to speak, but nothing could find its way past your lips so you simply nodded. 

His palm cupped your cheek carefully as if you were the most delicate thing in the world. Now that he finally had the chance to make his fantasy come true he seemed to be frozen in time. He knew he had your permission, but he was still nervous out of his mind. He wanted to make sure he did it right. Make sure he wouldn’t disappoint. He allowed himself to get lost in your eyes, ingraining you into his brain. 

With a soft giggle and an eye roll, you wrapped your arms his neck, pulling him down to you. You gingerly pressed your lips against his, his wet hair resting against your forehead. Without hesitation, he pulled you flush against him and pressed his lips against yours. You took it as a sign to continue, deepening the kiss. Your heart poured itself out onto his lips, letting go of everything you held onto for years. His soft lips were warmer than you thought they’d be. 

Todoroki craved more, wanting to devour you. Your taste was even more intoxicating than you were. He would give anything to make this moment last forever, but his growing struggle to breathe said otherwise. He would gladly suffocate in your presence just to keep holding you close. 

You reluctantly broke the kiss, your breath escaping your lips in small pants. “I can’t tell you how long I’ve wanted to do that.” You opened your eyes to catch him admiring you once again causing you to blush. 

“Me either, but I don’t want to wait that long before we do it again.” He caught your chin between his thumb and forefinger, guiding you to look up at him. “Pardon my forwardness, but I like you- a lot.” His ocean eye lured you in closer while his fiery eye set the butterflies in your stomach ablaze. “I think I have for a while now.”

“I like you too,” you spoke softly as you swooped his hair out of his face. “And I’d really like to kiss you more often. If that’s okay with you?” The blush on his cheeks slowly crept over to his ears, making him almost as red as his hair. “Same time tomorrow?”

“Of course. I’d be honored to see more of your skills.” He looked at your smirk with a confused expression before it finally clicked. “I meant with your quirk,” he added sheepishly. “Not that I would mind seeing other things. Not- not in that sense.” He sighed in frustration as he stumbled over his words.

You cut him off with a quick kiss on his lips. “It’s fine, I’m just giving you a hard time. Come on, it’s getting late,” you slipped out of his arms, missing his warmth already. You gathered all of the water out of his clothes and hair and disbursed it into the grass. He smiled at you gratefully before picking up his shirt. 

As you both walked back to the dorms you felt his hand slip into your, holding on softly. The walk was comfortably quiet as the two of you basked in each other’s presence. You decided to take the stairs to avoid being too loud. And to give yourselves more time together before you split off to your separate rooms. 

“Good night Y/n,” Todoroki whispered as he stood in your doorway.

“More like morning,” you teased him. “It is 3 in the morning after all.”

He chuckled quietly, “I suppose it is… I guess I’ll see you later.”

“Yeah.” You chewed on your bottom lip as you tried to think of an excuse to keep him by your side longer. “Unless you want to stay,” you decided to jump out with it, immediately regretting your decision. 

Todoroki stared at you while he thought it over. Every passing second felt like an eternity and you wanted nothing more than to crawl into a hole and never come out. “If you wouldn’t mind.”

The two of you laid in your bed, limbs entangled, allowing the sound of the other’s breath to lull you to sleep. One bold move after another had made way for a new summer ritual. Every night you’d both sneak out around 10 to go fight or talk and wouldn’t return until 3 in the morning. It was something you both looked forward to. A loving constant that only made the both of you fall head over heels. Though it was never outright said, during one of those nights you had transformed from friends to something more. Night escapades merged into afternoon moments of public affection and the rest of class 1-A was here for it. Your late-night fights would slowly become a show, two silhouettes dancing in the moonlight as mist and smoke floated in the air.

[wetwellie]

I am really in the mood for a soulmate au so here’s a fun little concept: Imagine that like...soulmate names just popped up on mostly everyone overnight out of nowhere.

    It happened in the middle of the night for some. Those who were sleeping off a drunken stupor would wake up at an hour that is apparently far to early would stumble into their bathrooms and find names scribbled on their skin. It would not wash off no matter how hard they desperately tried to scrub. “Just how drunk was I to get a tattoo of a stranger’s name?”

  However, Eric Bittle didn’t get his soul mark in the quiet of his sleep. It was about 4:45 in the afternoon. He’d had a rough day at school, and had opted to ignore his homework in order to work on making a chilled pie instead. 

   He had been rolling out the dough when he felt a sharp tingle across the inner part of his arm--right on the edge of where he’d tucked his shirt sleeves. He didn’t think anything of it except for mild discomfort. Nevertheless, it was far too hot and humid to have to be uncomfortable while baking in his own home. Bitty shed the button-up shirt and discarded it onto the nearby dining table. He returned to the kitchen without any worry, and went back to baking.    In retrospect, when Bitty sat in class the following day, he wondered if his peers were lying about immediately spotting their new marks, or if he had just caught on very slowly. In his defense, Bitty gets very focused when it comes to baking. Also, how often does one take to look at the underside of your elbow? Not often at all. The pie crust was already chilled, then taken out of the fridge, then weighted down, and baking in the oven when Bitty even noticed the bold writing that had taken up space on his arm. 

  In retrospect, he wished that he had checked the news or youtube or twitter or facebook before he tried to waste an entire bottle of handsoap in a futile attempt to wipe the new addition to his skin. He had opened his phone to Google “how to remove sharpie” when he saw the news alert and the texts and the tweets. 

  Everyone had them. All around the world. From babies just minutes old, to the elderly who have seen decades come and pass. They were all names. They were all unique. And they were all just not even an hour old at this point. 

  The world, which Bitty could only observe through the screen of his phone, was going absolutely mad. He couldn’t take his eyes off of it. The answers that could be answered were, and the new social rules around it seemed to be debated and established in the form of a collective livetweet. He could only slump onto the floor of the kitchen and continue to scroll for what seemed like an eternity. 

  Bitty’s pie crust burned that day. He couldn’t be bothered to care. He threw away the crust, washed the pie tin, and looked at the name again. It was a simple enough name, but to have it literally written on him filled him with a sort of queasiness. It was undeniable. 

  That didn’t stop him from grabbing his button up and putting it back on before his mother got home from Aunt Judy’s.   In the rest of his time living down in that small Georgia town, Bitty never once told someone the name that rested on his arm. He never told anyone at school, even when people were finding their supposed match. He never told his parents, even though their marks made a perfect pair. He never told his vlog. (He did talk a lot about Beyonce’s song named after her own soul mark, though) He never even said it out loud. 

 He waited until he was already unpacked and settled in the room he would call home for the next year. He waited until he had a basket full of mini pies ready to gift to his new teammates. He waited until he saw said teammates ravenously devour those pies in record time. He waited until he got claps on the shoulders and casual introductions from everyone on the team. He waited until he had skated onto the ice for the first time, silently praying for these folks not to get too close. He waited until being introduced briefly and in passing to the captain of his team.   Said captain paused, made no effort to smile or exchange pleasantries of any kind, and simply nodded and moved along.

 He waited until he was free to go to his dorm room, shut the door, and change out of his button up. He looked at his soulmark. It’s something that he had on his skin for less than three years. Bitty brushed his fingers over each letter of that simple,but unforgiving name. Three years. He’d been afraid to say that name for three years.  His voice was soft, but steady, when Bitty read the name out loud for the first time. He was met with no answer. He said it again and again, until the weight and the meaning and implication eroded from it. His throat was hoarse when he finally finished. 

The next morning at breakfast, he sat across from his captain.  “Good Morning, Jack” He said evenly.  Jack didn’t look up from his plate, but mumbled a dismissive “good morning” in response. 

[wolf-n-bones]

'Saaannnsssss!'Pup yelled. 'Your boyfriend is here!' He called out over his shoulder. Viper quickly, almost tripping, made his way down the stairs, straightening his outfit. Did he look okay? Oh stars he hoped he did...

'It's only a date, Pap...' His words trailed off, looking at his said date. He could feel a blush creep on his cheeks. Wisp grinned watching Viper's cheeks dust a nice blue.

'I brought you flowers~' He smiled, handing the huge bouquet over to the flustered skeleton. 'But they don't compare to how lovely my date looks.' Wisp flashed a charming smile. Viper's skull was bright blue by now.

'T-thanks, I'll put them in a vase right now.' He briskly walked to the kitchen to find a vase. How was he going to survive this date if it already started with this?? Viper looked at the blue roses, putting them in the vase with a smile. He'd have to sort them out a little more carefully later. Wisp was making small talk with Pup when Viper got back. The adorable skeleton excitedly telling the horned one about the new game he was playing. 'I'm ready.' Viper grinned. 'Have fun with Iris Pap. Don't eat too much pizza.' Pup gasped looking offended.

'There's no such thing as too much pizza!' He exclaimed making Wisp chuckle. Viper sighed with a smirk, getting his coat and stepping out. 'Have fun on your date, Sans!' Pup smiled waving them off. For a few minutes they just walked in silence, Viper glanced up to Wisp. The nightmare had a soft smile on his fangs and a dreamy expression.

'So ehm.... Where are we going?' Viper asked trying to strike up a conversation. His date looked down at him and smiled.

'You'll see~' He chuckled. 'I don't want to ruin the surprise.' A soft, reassuring smile curled on his fangs. He offered Viper his arm. The shorter skeleton took it without much thought, only to blush when he realised what he just did.

'Actually...' He started softly. 'I was surprised you asked me on a date?...' He looked up at the taller skeleton. Wisp blinked looking back at him a small 'hm?' escaping him. After a moment he seemed to snap out of his daze. 'Oh,' He responded, giving Viper a bashful grin. 'I suppose it was rather out of the blue.' He hummed. 'But I wouldn't have asked if I didn't like you.' Viper could feel his cheeks heat up his cheeks again. 'I actually quite like you.' A soft amused grin curled on Viper's face watching the nightmare's cheeks turn a soft yellow color.

'I thought you liked Blue?' He asked, Wisp nodded. 'I do...' He answered. 'But he's in the dog house right now and you deserved a nice date~' The tall skeleton beamed at him. Viper snorted and would have laughted if not for the 'OI' they heard behind them. Both turned around but... There was no one behind them?? They looked at each other and shrugged, continuing down the road. Viper's lights lit up when he saw the skating rink come into view. 'Ice skating?' He asked with an excited smile. It had been a while since he had. Wisp nodded, taking two tickets out of his pocket. They headed in, getting their skates from the clerk and hitting the ice. There weren't many people around so they pretty much had the run of the place. Viper smiled widely taking the first few strides. 'This is great!' He spoke looking back at Wisp. 'Than-' He couldn't finish his sentence watching his date fall face first on the ice. 'Oh shit! Are you okay?' He asked concerned skating over. Wisp chuckled looking up at him with an embarrassed expression.

'I'm a little more out of practice than I thought~' He laughed, showing Viper he wasn't hurt. The smaller laughed too, helping the other get up. 'Sorry you had to see that.' Wisp apologised. Viper chuckled. 'It's fine, I've never seen a guy fall flat on his face that fast.' He mused. The nightmare looked at him with a soft expression. 'Well I can't help it...' Wisp responded. 'I saw my cute date and just fell for him.' Viper was sure steam was coming from his skull. This guy really like to see him blush didn't he? He felt lanky digits gently take his hand. 'I'm glad he agreed to spend some time with me.' There was a warm smile on Wisp's fangs making Viper smile in return. Geez... This guy... Viper chuckled taking Wisp's hand and leading him around the rink. They enjoyed their time together, skating on the ice and sitting down for some hot chocolate when both got a bit chilly. 'We had a field of poppies in front of our house. Mother planted them by spreading the seeds after they and father found out they were having me.' Wisp told Viper, the other listening while sipping his hot chocolate. 'When I asked why mother told me the story of how they meet father. Those delicate flowers would remind him he deserved every bit of love they give him.' 'Wow...' Viper looked at his warm coco. 'That's really sweet... And here I thought they were just a pants stealing goblin.' He remarked. Wisp burst out into laughter, wiping a tear in amusement. 'Oh... They absolutely are~' Wisp grinned watching Viper almost spit out his drink. 'Usually they do it because it leaves the other stunned not knowing how to deal with the situation.' His grin widened. 'And sometimes they do it because it's the only thing octo-eggs can be incubated with.' Viper gave him a confused look. 'They're.... A particular kind of creature eggs. Let's leave it at that.' Wisp chuckled. He held out his hand. 'Shall we go for another round? Our dinner reservation isn't until another hour~' Viper blushed, fidgeting with the mug a little. 'Wait, you're taking me to dinner too?' He asked slightly surprised. 'I thought you'd only take me to one place?' Wisp stared at him then chuckled.

'That would be a pretty poor date now wouldn't it?' He answered, Viper grinned and took it. They skated a little while longer until it was time to go. The two skeletons strolled down the city center, lights brightening the cozy shops and restaurants. Viper was curious where his date was going to take him. Maybe is was the cozy dinner he and Pup once visited? Or maybe the new cafe? 'We're here~' He heard Wisp say, snapping him back to reality. His sockets widened at the sight of one of the most expensive restaurants in the city. He looked back at Wisp.

'Wisp...' He whispered. 'No, I-I can't accept this... This is one of the most expensive places!' Viper lightly tugged on the others sleeve. Wisp could see the concern in his sockets. The spirit gave his date a reassuring smile.

'I know.' He responded. 'But I heard they had the tastiest dishes in the city... And that you wanted to try them~' It wasn't a lie... The dishes this restaurant made looked extremely good... But still... Feeling Viper's hesitation the other softly sighed and leaned over. 'What if I promise to take Blue to have dinner here aswell?' Viper looked up in Wisp's lights. He wasn't going to give up on it. A soft chuckle and blush graced his cheeks. '... Promise?' He whispered. Wisp smiled. 'I promise~' He whispered, taking Viper by the arm and both entering the restaurant. It was different than Viper expected. He was expecting the fancy-smancy crystal chandeliers and crystal glasses but no... The restaurant was actually pretty intimate... Making him realise how serious the other took it. Wisp was talking to the host who nodded and showed them to their table. It was big enough to fit two, a lit candle in the middle and a rose in a small vase. 'Okay... Maybe this won't be Blue's thing.' He chuckled looking at the little vase. 'Too late, I'm taking him for dinner here after he's out of the doghouse~' Wisp responded with a chuckle. Viper smiled, taking the menu from the waiter. 'Pick whatever you want.' The nightmare insisted. So Viper did. It wasn't the most expensive, but it wasn't the cheapest either... He still felt a little guilty ordering... Until he had the first bite of his food. It was by far the most delicious dish he had ever tasted. He was grateful it wasn't those tiny amounts either. It was a decently sized meal and he enjoyed every bite of it. Wisp watched him, he didn't need to eat.... But it was rude to let his date eat alone... Plus he did enjoy mortal food once in a while. He was just glad to be with his date at the moment. 'That was amazing~' Viper chirped, having finished his meal. He looked at Wisp with a grateful look. 'Thank you...' Wisp smiled at him, the soft light of the candle flickering in his sockets.

'You're most welcome, Viper.' He handed the waiter the gold for the meal. 'Well then, let's go to the park viewing~' Viper looked at him stunned. 'E-even planned more?' He stammered. Wisp nodded. 'The stars are out tonight and the park is doing their viewing. I thought that would be a good close to our date?' Viper blushed, it was all he did at this point. 'Or did you want to go home?' The question was soft and careful. 'N-no!' He reacted looking at his date. He smiled and chuckled. 'I'd love to end it with the park viewing...' His soul was pounding in his ribcage. This had been one of the best dates ever. The park had some fairylights up in their trees along the pathways. Guiding the people going to the viewing to their spot. There were heated blankets laid out for them to sit on so they wouldn't get cold. The skeletons took a seat somewhere in the back on a small hill. 'So which movie are they going to play?' Viper asked, taking the bottle of soda Wisp handed him. 'The Princess Bride.' Wisp responded, getting a giggle out of Viper. 'Hey~ It's a good movie~' The spirit defended with a smirk. 'Besides, the Titanic seemed a bit too cliché.' Viper nodded, amusement playing in his lights. 'Oh, before the movie starts, how about dessert?' He asked. The other skeleton cocked his head confused. Dessert? They could have had that at the restaurant... His sockets widened when he saw Wisp pull out said dessert. Viper gasped, lights twinkling. 'PUDDI!!!' He gasped loudly, making other people whip around at them. 'S-sorry...' He blushed apologizing to the people he disturbed. Wisp chuckled and handed Viper the small bowl and spoon. The smaller eagerly devoured the custardy goodness. Enjoying the sweet notes and love that had been put into the dish. The movie started and at some point both were leaning  against each other, blanket wrapped around they shoulders to keep themselves warm. 'This date is great...' Viper softly sighed. He could feel the chuckle rumble in Wisp's chest. 'Would you like to go on another?' He asked. The smaller of the two snuggled closer into the other. 'Yes... But what about Blue?' He asked looking up at Wisp. 'I'm pretty sure he'd be hurt if you took me on another one when you haven't asked him yet...' He felt a tinge of guilt grip his soul. Wisp gently cupped Viper's cheek, the warmth of his bones banishing the cold. 'Don't worry...' The spirit whispered. 'He'll get a date he deserves.... Along with the attention he craves...' He placed a soft kiss on Viper's skull, making the other feel fuzzy. But a gasp and growl snapped them out of the moment. They looked up only to see Blue running from the 6-legged canine Wisp had as his familiar. ------------------------------ Blue managed to shake the large, angry canine after multiple rounds and crossing through the city center and woods. He was tired, aching and... Sad... He entered the house, heading up to his room. He didn't understand why the spirit took Viper on a date when he had displayed interest in Blue too. He noticed a small box on his bed, neatly wrapped with a label. Blue picked it up and looked at the label. 'To Blue from Wisp' a small smile curled his lips as he opened it... The box was filled with gummi dicks. A heart drawn on the inside of the box lid. THAT. BASTARD. If Blue had veins they would be popping up on his skull. CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.        

Viper, Pup & Blue - @imjustalazycat Wisp - Me :V

[antiquecompass]

Untamed Winter Fest Day 22: Naughty/Nice

Nie Mingjue was a disciplined man. Rarely patient, (he could be if given the right motivation), but disciplined in his actions, manners, routines. Yes, he had a temper, and certainly showed the harsher aspects of his personality to most of the world, but considering the things he could say instead of what he did, he showed his restraint and his discipline almost every hour of every day.

Of course, everyone had their weaknesses.

Mingjue was currently being assaulted by two of them.

One, was indulging his baby brother’s whims. Since the farm had become a bit of a destination in the winter for its ice rink and sleigh rides, they had started to arrange for more official events. Like hosting some of the local children’s homes and making sure everyone, children and adults included, had some presents and some good memories for Christmas. A fleeting thing, of course, a pointless frivolity in the face of their actual reality, but for just a few hours they could all have a winter wonderland experience and maybe pet a goat or a sheep or one of those damn alpacas Mingjue had been bullied into ‘rescuing.’

He would like to know when and how the farm had slowly started to become a petting zoo, but at least he was finding good, quality staff to take care of them. He should’ve known, a decade ago, when Huaisang had convinced him to expand into the sheep and wool side of the farming business that it would come to this. His baby brother was a master at playing the long game to achieve his goals.

It also meant that right now his home office was covered in wrapping paper, tape, bows, ribbons, and glitter from said ribbons. So much glitter. He probably had glitter in his lungs by this point. He damn well knew he had it on his skin because his husband kept laughing at him and wiping it off as they day had gone on.

Mingjue didn’t understand why he had to wrap this shit. He was fine signing off on the invoices and paying the credit card on the business account for buying out what had to have been four different Targets’ entire toy section. He would gladly give a tour of the grounds and help the tiny humans put on their little ice skates. But Mingjue was not competent when it came to gift-wrapping. He was far more the stick-it-in-a-bag-with-some-tissue-paper kind. He absolutely was the sucker who paid extra for the bags that already came with the tissue paper in them. His lack of skill was even more obvious when compared to his brother, his brother's boyfriend, and his husband who all apparently took present-wrapping classes somewhere. Theirs looked like they should be in a store window. Mingjue’s looked like it should be in the trash. Or thrown to Lulabelle.

It also didn’t help that he was continually being distracted by his second weakness.

His husband, of course, had always had him wrapped around one of his perfectly manicured fingers. His little fox worked on now, oblivious to what he was doing to Mingjue, or perhaps not oblivious at all but acting as such, carrying on wrapping the mountain of presents. At home Yao was his most relaxed. Gone were the fashionable clothing and accessories he donned like armor. Here at home he wore nothing but a pair of Nie Wool crew socks, some boxers, and one of Mingjue’s oldest sweaters. It was far, far too big on him, and stretched out from years of use, and kept falling off to one side, revealing a swath of skin that called to Mingjue. It was too much of a tempting distraction. That neck. That shoulder. Those collarbones. That concentrated profile as Yao made sure the corners of the presents were perfectly sharp and their ribbons were perfectly tied.

He was also singing something softly under his breath.

“What’s--” Mingjue cleared his throat, trying to drive away the hoarseness of his voice as his husband looked up at him through those damnable eyelashes. “What’s that you’re singing?”

“Riu Riu Chiu,” he said. “Just a Christmas carol.”

Mingjue didn’t speak much---he was guessing Spanish--but he recognized the ‘el lobo.’

“There’s something in there about a wolf,” he said.

“Yes,” Yao agreed with a teasing smile. “Wolf, devil, original sin, take your pick. Saving innocent Mary from the demon wolf's evil bite.”

It certainly wasn’t one about jingle bells and sleigh rides it seemed.

“I’ve always liked the way it sounds,” he said, humming the tune.

He shifted again, stretching out to push his latest present to the finished pile, the sweater rose up to expose the small of his back, the Nie Crest tattooed over his hip.

That was the final straw.

“Scissors!” Yao yelped as Mingjue grabbed him.

Mingjue carefully pushed them far to the side.

“You’re going to ruin the wrapping paper,” Yao complained as he was turned over and pressed down onto one of the unrolled sheets.

“Boo fucking hoo,” Mingjue said. “We’ll just buy more.”

“Don’t you dare ruin this sweater,” Yao said as he arched up into Mingjue’s hand. “It’s my favorite.”

“Then you better take it off,” Mingjue said before diving in to devour him.

**********

Huaisang walked into the farmhouse, arms full of shopping bags. Xuanyu followed him, pushing in a UPS box nearly as tall as him. The children’s home mentioned they needed a new play kitchen set. Huaisang had purchased three of them.

His eyes narrowed as he heard the sounds coming from upstairs.

“Oh no, someone’s definitely going on the Naughty List,” Xuanyu said as he finished dragging the package inside, the jingle bell necklace around his neck quieting as he stood still. “Better prepare those lumps of coal.”

“They can’t even be left alone to wrap some presents. For orphans,” Huaisang scoffed.

“Come on,” Xuanyu said, tugging on his arm. “Let’s go to my mom’s. She’s baking cookies today. You love her snowball cookies.”

A large thump and an even louder moan came from upstairs.

“And I don’t think they’re going to be done anytime soon.”

Huaisang leaned into Xuanyu’s arms and smiled at the soft kiss placed on his forehead.

“Yes, I’d love that,” he agreed. “Just one thing.”

He stepped out of Xuanyu’s hold and walked to the foot of the stairs.

“Close the fucking door next time you assholes! No one wants to hear that!”

[writings-and-wonderings]

I’ve Missed You

One Shot / Chapter No. : one shot (requested by @lunared2)

Words: 2,254

Warnings: lol smut i finally wrote some hope it’s okay

-------

You hadn't seen your boyfriend, Tom, in over six months. He had first been filming for his new TV show, and he then had press conferences and conventions to attend and, unfortunately, whenever he was free or offered to fly you up to where he was, you were always busy at the hospital you worked in. But, he was appearing tonight on the Graham Norton Show, and Graham had asked you to come and surprise him. You knew he had mentioned at a recent convention it had been ages since you last saw you so, Graham being the extra and dramatic person he is, invited you on.

It was to be during a blindfolded game, you didn't really remember the premise, but the idea was that you would be sitting next to him when he took the blindfold off. You waited nervously backstage, watching the happenings from the small TV screen in Tom's dressing room, which you had been snuck into.

"So Tom, I heard you haven't seen your girlfriend in months," Graham grinned, crossing his legs over and shuffling the cards in his hands. Tom smiled and adjusted his suit a little, something he always did when he was about to see you.

"Yes that's right. Over six months," the crowd gave a chorus of 'aw', and a slight sadness fell over Tom's face. You wanted to rush over there now and hug him. "But we've kept it going, she's so understanding. She's a doctor, so she's used to hectic schedules, she's actually working tonight unfortunately."

"Oh yes I heard about that. Well, we have a photo of you two together ice skating in New York," Graham swivels in his chair to look at the TV behind him, which showed the selfie you and him had taken during last Christmas. "You make such an attractive couple, look at that!" Tom laughed, blushing a bit as people cheered.

"That was before I slipped and sprained my wrist," Tom joked, and you laughed at the memory. He was usually quite graceful, but he had lost his balance and ended up falling on his wrist. Whilst it meant you had to go back to the hotel room early, it did mean you had the rest of the night for the more... Intimate moments. They were one of the many things you missed about being away from Tom for so long.

"Anyways, we've got a game to play if you're up for it?" Tom nodded, sitting forward, his hand running over his top lip. "I'm going to blindfold you, and then I'm going to give you an object and you have to guess what it is."

"Very original," David Tennent said, who was sat next to Tom on one side. On the other sat Miranda Hart, who you were going to swap places with.

"Alright David, you try hosting a chat show," Miranda joked, Graham thanking her for defending him. Tom was passed a blindfold, and he tentatively put it on.

"This is a bit kinky," David muttered and you could tell Tom was trying to suppress a smirk, which you mirrored backstage. One of the stagehands knocked on the door, telling you it was almost time. Your heart leapt into your throat, and, adjusting your green and gold dress so you weren't going to expose yourself completely on national television. You weren't wearing heels, otherwise he would easily be able to hear you.

"First object!" You were in the wings, your hands becoming clammy. "Second object!" You took a deep breath, steadying yourself. You had been in the public eye with Tom for a while, so it wasn't necessarily a new thing for you. But the butterflies in your stomach definitely made it obvious you were excited about seeing Tom. "Third object!" Your cue. You walked on stage quietly, holding a finger up to your lips to try and make sure the audience didn't give anything away.

"What the hell is that?!" Tom cried, squishing the goo in his hands. "It smells disgusting whatever it is..." You managed to swap seats successfully with Miranda, who now sat in Graham's seat with Graham perched on her lap. The world seem to slow down as you took in Tom. It felt so strange seeing him again, but it was, of course, the nicest sort of strange. A wide grin spread across your face.

"Okay, take off your blind fold," Tom took it off and immediately looked down at his hands, a mock disgusted look painted on his features. It all seemed to happen in slow motion from then on. He looked up to Graham, clocked that Miranda was there, and then slowly turned round to you.

"Surprise!" You said gleefully, but the wind was soon knocked out of you by Tom giving you a bear hug, which you gladly reciprocated.

"What are you doing here?" He whispered.

"I came to say hi," you whispered back, kissing his cheek as you let you go. He had the most adorable grin on his face as he took you in properly.

"She's wearing Loki colours!" Miranda pointed out from behind Graham. Tom winked at you, knowing full well how much you enjoyed roleplaying with him, Loki being your favorite.

"You look absolutely wonderful," he said to you, almost as if the studio and the whole audience didn't exist, a blush rising to your cheeks. He looped his arm around your shoulders and brought you closer to him.

"Save it for after the show guys, God," David cried from the other ended of the sofa, shielding his eyes.

The rest of the show didn't last all that long, and after having photos taken with David and Miranda, you and Tom walked hand in hand back to his dressing room. Once the door was safely shut behind you, Tom picked you up in his arms and kissed you passionately, turning around in a slow circle, holding you tightly against him. His hands moved from your legs to your butt as you wrapped your legs around his torso, the kiss becoming even more passionate as your tongues touched. He eventually set you down on his dressing room table.

"God I missed you," he whispered, breathless. You let your hands travel through his hair, enjoying the feeling of his warm body positioned between your legs.

"That suit looks really good on you," you commented casually.

"And that dress looks really good on you. Did you pick the colours just for me?" You winked in response and, cupping your face in his hands, he kissed you deeply, pressing against you. "I know where else that dress would look good," he whispered as he kissed down your neck, sending goosebumps across your arms, a soft moan escaping your lips as he lingered on your sweet spot.

"Where?" Although you already knew the answer, you enjoyed playing his game. He kissed back up and bit your lip gently, holding onto your thighs firmly.

"I think you know where," he muttered, his voice turning husky. Your hands started idly playing with his hair, god how you missed this.

"Still not sure, I think you might have to show me." He laughed under his breath at this, before kissing you needily. His hands travelled up your back to find the zip of your dress, and once they had found it, there was no stopping them. Your dress found it's way onto the floor behind Tom, and Tom's hands found your bare breasts, you had made the right call not to wear a bra that day. He continued kissing you roughly whilst kneading your breasts, running his hands up and down your back every so often in an attempt to bring you even closer. You could feel his hardness pressing against your inner thigh, and you moaned, relishing in the feeling of having him this close to you again.

"(Y/N)," he muttered, kissing down your neck once more and  taking your nipple into his mouth, sucking softly. Your hands fiddled with the ends of his hair, and you pulled him closer with your legs that were still wrapped around his waist. He held you close to him, moving over to your other nipple and doing the same there. Your back arched, trying to expose even more of your flesh to his addictive touch. As his hands roamed over your body, enjoying the feeling of your skin against his, you moved your hands down to his butt and squeezed tightly, bringing your hips together. He let out a soft moan, before moving to take his jacket and shirt off as you watched impatiently. When his shirt was half undone, you couldn't control your actions anymore, so you undid his belt, putting it next to you on the table before unzipping his trousers and moving them below his hips. He moaned as you began to palm his crotch slowly, teasing him.

"You have no idea how much I want you," he groaned, moving against your hand.

"Show me," you whispered, your head leaning against his now-bare chest that already had a layer of sweat covering it. His breath became ragged, desperate to get more air. He growled a little at your comment, before taking your face between his forefinger and thumb and bringing you up to kiss him. His other hand moved down to your pants, running his fingers either side to tease you. "Tom..." He pushed your pants to the side and runs a fingertip up and down your slit, spreading the wetness that had formed there.

"You always amaze me with how wet you get," he moaned, biting your lip before kissing along your jaw to bite your earlobe as he pushed one finger inside you, moving it in and out slowly, drawing out your long moans.

"Always for you, Tom," you managed to say. He slipped another finger in, moving them quicker now, curling them to reach your sweet spot. The familiar tightening of your stomach made you moan in pleasure, moving your hips to try and make Tom go faster and deeper.

"Don't come yet," he whispered, taking out his fingers and sucking on them, moaning. "You taste so fucking good, (Y/N)." He knelt down in front of you, spreading your legs farther apart before devouring your sweet pussy, his thumb coming up to play with your clit. Your back arched, your hands tugging at his hair which only encouraged him to go deeper and faster with his tongue. The room had become sweaty and hot, but you didn't care, all you wanted was for Tom to take you over and over again. Tom eventually stood up again, his chin glistening a little, and he kissed you, pushing his tongue into your mouth so that you could taste yourself. Before you had the chance to offer to give him anything in return, he picked you up and turned you over, so your chest was against the table.

"Please Tom," you muttered, legs shaking a little from the anticipation. His hands run over your butt, spanking it. He took the belt from beside you, and put your arms behind your back, tying them together.

"That blindfold today made me think of that wonderful night we spent together..." he muttered, moving your hair out of your face to kiss your cheek. You could feel him behind you, pressing his cock into your butt.

"It was amazing," you managed to get out, wriggling a little bit, trying to find release on anything. Tom took up your hair in one hand, bringing you up so you could see yourself in the mirror that was above the table you were currently bent over. He gave your ass another spank before moving into you slowly, enjoying the expressions on your face as he continued to go deeper. "Please fuck me, Tom."

"Keep begging," he said as he leaned down to kiss your shoulder, biting it lightly. You moved your legs further apart and arched your back more in an attempt to get some movement, but Tom held you by your waist, spanking you again when you didn't immediately start begging. "I said, beg for me."

"Please, I need you to fuck me, I want you to take me, please -" Tom suddenly started to do as you so begged, fucking you deeply and quickly, the only sounds you could hear being Tom's ragged breathing and the sound of flesh upon flesh. The same knot came again in your stomach, and as Tom continued to hit your sweet spot over and over again, it just continued to grow, causing your legs to shake even more.

"Oh, (Y/N)..." Tom moaned, getting closer himself. "Cum for me, (Y/N)." His words sent you over the edge, you could feel yourself pulsing with pleasure as euphoria spread across your body, making your cheeks tingle and your toes curl. Soon after, Tom came, filling you.

"I love you," you said quietly as he rest his body on top of yours, warm juices starting to flow down the inside of your leg.

"I love you too. We'll have to make sure it's not so long next time," he kissed your back carefully, untying your hands, rubbing your wrists to make sure they were okay. You turned round to face him, thin layers of sweat covering your bodies. The post-sex embrace the two of you shared was always your favourite, and this time was no different. "I've really missed you," he muttered into your hair, holding you tightly against him.

"I've really missed you too."

want to request an imagine? 

[yoi-fanficrecs]

Fanfic Writer’s Appreciation Day 2018!!!

I’m so thankful for all the fanfic writers in out there and especially the writer in the Yuri! on Ice Fandom. Here’s a list of some of the fics I’ve read this week & some of my favs all mixed together! (THIS IS BY NO MEANS A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF ALL THE FICS I THINK ROCK) 

Don’t forget if you’re a fic reader to go and leave an extra comment on your fav stories or drop an ask in the author’s tumblr about how much you appreciate the work that they do! Some of the authors in the fandom are FANTASTIC and I can’t believe that they aren’t paid, professional writers!

Much Ado About Something by @eternalsunshine13 &  Skowronek 

AO3 Summary: By day, Victor Nikiforov is the head of European operations for LearX, a company on the forefront of private space travel. By night, he is makka-baby on Tumblr, a prominent figure in the small but passionate poodle fandom.

By day, Yuuri Katsuki runs F.O.O.L., a subsidiary of Katsuki Enterprises, whose stated goal is to bring LearX down one lawsuit after another. By night, he’s oodlesofpoodles, an active member of the poodle fandom and possibly makka-baby’s biggest fan.

By day, they duke it out in court. By night, they become friends—and maybe something more—as they fall for each other one Tumblr message at a time.

Or: a romantic comedy starring two idiots in love, the Katsuki family, the mothers Nikiforov, the husbands Chulanont-Giacometti, two doggos, six hamsters, one Yurio, and many, many schemes to get our favorite lovebirds together.

I devoured this in one sitting. They were so frustratingly adorable!!!! This fic is a great enemies to lovers filled with poodles, matchmaking Chris & Phichit, and a futuristic Tumblr app that is still the worst. :P 

In Regards to Dynamics by ICanSeeClearlyNow, Oxytreza 

AO3 Summary: In a world where betas ruled, alphas and omegas were treated as less than human. After centuries of prejudice, they rebelled, commandeered a colony ship and left Earth for the Proxima Centauri system, vowing to create a new world where all people, regardless of gender, would be treated equally.

200 years later, a reformed Earth approaches Proxima asking to reestablish contact and to reconcile their worlds. Victor Nikiforov, a popular and successful politician on Proxima, is chosen to lead the mission to Earth and accompany a team from Earth back to Proxima for a scientific exchange.

The team from Earth consists of ordinary people descended from omegas and alphas who chose to remain on Earth. Yuuri Katsuki, a researcher into transporter technology and completely ordinary and unremarkable Earthling (a PhD and excellent service record don't count - shush Phichit!) is both thrilled and terrified at the prospect of meeting the handsome ambassador who has taken the Earth by storm.

I’m a sucker for ABO fics. The history and world-building in this fic fascinated me and gave our boys some interesting backstories. 

Cherry Blossom Winter by Ars_Matron

AO3 Summary: The war was over, and they had lost. The invading army covered Japan in a show of complete dominance. All bowed before them in hopes of being spared. And Hasetsu was no exception.They couldn't fight, there were no more battles to win, yet they were bound and determined to keep their omegas safe. All Yuuri and the others had to do was keep low until the soldiers were gone. Blend in. Never be caught alone.Yuuri hadn't meant to catch the attention of the blue eyed alpha.Viktor wasn't going to let him slip away.

ABO FICS FOR THE WIN!!!! This fic is an ABO version of another one of Ars_Matron’s stories Snow in Spring - so if you like the summary but not the A/B/O aspect hit that story up! I think the A/B/O aspect really raises the stakes for this story. Just from reading the summary you think it’s going to be a Dark Viktor, but Ars writes his POV as well so we get his thought process too! This is a great conquering Alpha! Viktor and dancer Omega! Yuuri that you’ve got to stop and read it! 

Hide and Seek by senshoo

AO3 Summary: Thankfully, the walk only took a few moments and soon, Yuuri was juggling both the child and the key while he shouldered his way into the apartment, set the kid down on his secondhand couch, and then sighed, sinking to the floor.

One deep breath.

Maybe two.

And then, it hit him.Holy shit.Did he just kidnap a child?--

Or: The one where Yuuri accidentally becomes a father at twenty three. Oh, and there's still skating.

EKKKKKK!!!!! I love baby Yurio and this fic warms my cold dead heart! Not to mention this fic is HILARIOUS! I’ve literally laughed out loud reading multiple chapters from this fic much to my embarrassment during professional development workshops. It’s just a cute pinning fic with a cute little Yurio and a dash of angst but mostly humor. <3 <3 <3 

Plus: the writer is a consistent updater! 

Can I have some of that, Please? by TheLittleSeven  

AO3 Summary: If there's anything he learned during his mate's pregnancy, it was to never, EVER question a craving of a pregnant person. Ever. Unless he wanted to deal with a crying fit that resulted from him asking the omega why he wanted mango ice cream with siracha and peas topped on it. Pregnant people usually have weird cravings during their pregnancy. Yuuri Katsuki-Nikiforov is no exception.

I stumbled upon this little one shot over the summer and absolutely love it! The writer says this is their first fic and it’s so cute! You’ve probably read the story somewhere on the internet and it fits our sweet boys so much! 

Dearly beloved by Sophia96

AO3 Summary:  This is the story about unconditional love between true mates. When they are destined to be together, there will be nothing standing in their way. Not even language barriers or great distances. As long as they have each other, they will never need anything else.

I couldn’t make a fanfic writer’s appreciation post without including my main writing KWEEN @sophialala1 !!! All of their fics are amazing! Long, fluffy, plot twists, little angsty Viktuuir goodness! Also, they are a dedicated writer and right now going on over a week of daily updates! I’m so thankful they are writing for this fandom and cannot express my gratitude enough! 

Between Sixes  by D_Toska

AO3 Summary:  When Yuri Katsuki is hired as a caretaker for an elite competitive stable owned by Viktor Nikiforov, he knows he's in for trouble with his stunningly handsome new boss. When he makes a major mistake on his first day, he learns just how far Viktor is willing to go to ease his guilty conscience.

HOT HOT HOT!!!! This story is spicy, flaming, sexy, and OMG! I’m pretty sure I have a perpetual nosebleed the ENTIRE chapter. There’s also a lot about horses, which is very lengthy and detailed so I’m sure the writer knows what they’re talking about, lol (bc I know nothing about horses). But I love the chemistry between the dom Vitkor & sub Yuuri and i am on this rollercoaster for good. 

Learning Life & Love (Work) by BellaBear13

AO3 Summary: Yuuri Katsuki gets admitted to the hospital for his anxiety and Viktor Nikiforov becomes his therapist. They fall for each other and develop a prohibited relationship, while dealing with problems and situations along the way. Yuuri befriends another patient, Yuri Plisetsky, where they find friendship in one another and open up about difficulties they have with their mental health and relationships.Together they all learn the meaning of life and love.

I was hesitant to start this fic only because I thought the power balance between Viktor & Yuuri would be skewed bc of the therapist/patient bit. I WAS SO WRONG!!! This fic is beautiful and heart-wrenchingly angsty and you know, a little pinning. The writer takes so good pace with their budding relationship && how they approach Yuuris (&&Viktors) mental illness. I really love this story and it updates consistently on Wednesday. Take a chance, and read this fic! 

Seven Years and Twenty-Four Hours (Work) by Glaucus_Atlanticus

AO3 Summary: A time-traveling shower transports 18 year old Yuuri into the body of his future self—and into the arms of his idol, Victor Nikiforov. Now Yuuri must pretend to be his older self until he can return to his own era. Which would be a lot easier if Victor weren't so attentive. Or so affectionate.But as time goes on, Yuuri finds himself torn between his old life, and a new one that would hand him everything he ever wanted...but at the cost of his real identity.

COMPLETED! So beautiful. The younger time-traveling Yuuri is so heartbreakingly anxious and Victor is just a sad sac without his time-appropriate Yuuri. This is an angsty fic, but such a great read.

P.S Sorry this turned into an A/B/O fic appreciation post, lol. (but not sorry)

[yuzuruhanyuedits]

Hello! I'd just like to say I LOVE YOUR TUMBLR, WELL BASICALLY ANYTHING YUZURU, BUT SRSLY YOUR PAGE IS SO AWESOME yeah xD But other than that, just wanted to ask you guys about like, when you found Yuzuru, through what competition, what you love about him, which skate competition of his that is your absolute fav, whether you have seen him in person, and any vids/articles/gifs/infos that are an absolute must watch/read/know (I apologize in advance if these questions have already been asked b4!!)

Hello!!! (Don’t apologize for asking, we love talking about Yuzuru!) 

We found Yuzuru through the Sochi Olympics! Before that we were just “four-year fans”, i.e. fans who watch skating only during the Olympics, because of the massively increased exposure the sport gets through this high-profile event. We watched his Parisienne Walkways. He was just 19 then. But he blew us away with EVERYTHING about his skating - the butter-smooth jumps, the powerful spins, his slick command of the choreography and music, every charming expression. And then shortly after we devoured every Yuzuru video there was on the Internet and discovered Hana Ni Nare - a program with a drastically different style, but no less sublime. It moved our hearts. We were touched by his genuine love for the sport. There was no turning back for us from there.

As you may know, two people run this blog, so we each have our own favourite program. One of them would be his Romeo & Juliet I Program, performed at the 2012 World Championships in Nice. His raw passion and his incredible drive to win came through in spectacular fashion, as if he were truly a young, tragic Romeo fighting for love. Yet another would be his Chopin program (any iteration, but the best one is his ACI one). Yuzuru becomes the soul of music itself here, he is every sparkling note of the piece, every ethereal pause of silence, all cascading upon us in a magical stream of light and music. This is figure skating at its very best - you forget that he’s even skating, you don’t even think about the fact that he’s performing incredible feats of athleticism. You just feel the performance engulf you. 

What we love about Yuzuru’s skating is how… moving it is. The emotions he brings to the ice, they’re real, they’re genuine, they’re from his heart. He’s not merely skating well. His skating invokes in our minds a special kind of familiarity - he’s telling a story we’ve heard before. He brings out our deepest emotions so naturally, so organically. When we watch his skating, we forget all about technicalities (that comes later, when we’re doing tech talks and stuff). We forget all about the surface elements of how good his skating is - the great jumps, spins, steps, etc. - we’re just immersed in the intense feelings he brings to the ice and into our hearts. When we watch him, we don’t think. We feel.

What we love about Yuzuru himself is the fascinating complexity of his personality. He’s respectful and humble and always striving to improve himself. Even though he’s leagues above everyone else and regarded as the Greatest Of All Time, he’s pushing his skating to new levels every season. He’s also always drawing attention to lesser known skaters whose talents have been overlooked, like Jason Brown or Boyang Jin, and taking care of his juniors like Shoma Uno like a sweet mom friend. He shows respect for everyone’s style of skating and doesn’t throw shade at anyone - he has something positive to say about just about any skater and always manages to find something to learn from any of them. Even after everything he’s achieved, he never forgets his roots. He has never forgotten Evgeni Plushenko or Johnny Weir, his idols since childhood and until this present day. Despite his humility he is confident and self-assured. He doesn’t have to put down anyone to assert himself and his style of skating. 

Another thing we really appreciate about him is that he’s not afraid to embarrass himself. He’s genuine, unafraid of judgment and unconcerned about maintaining a façade or image of himself. He’s skated to Justin Bieber. Romeo & Juliet. Phantom of the Opera. Something obscure such as SEIMEI. He carries around a plush toy. He is the ultimate decision-maker in the crafting of his programs and puts his personal touch into every movement. So you know, everything he puts onto the ice, is unabashedly part of himself and he doesn’t hesitate to show that to us. 

We’ve seen him in person twice, at the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 Grand Prix Finals in Barcelona, from the stands. Unfortunately we never saw him up close and personal (but on the other hand, we don’t want to impose upon him and want to respect his personal space by not intruding in close proximity). 

As for your last question, all the videos we linked above is must watch for sure! Indeed, every one of his performances are A++++, couldn’t recommend more. If you have time on your hands you should definitely check out his Foreign Correspondent’s Club of Japan interview as well - it’s full of deep insights and intelligent answers by Yuzu. Another classic is his “tea party” with Oda Nobunari and Shoma Uno. Speaking of food, one of our favourites is this video showing Yuzu eating one of his favourite foods, Tamago Kake Gohan (raw egg cracked over rice, a truly delicious and simple dish that you should try if you haven’t!). If you like MVs, our absolute favourite is this one showing various scenes of his childhood and how he grew up. For more insight into his life, the documentary Jounetsu Tairiku is another gem. In closing, a video that never fails to put a smile on our faces is definitely this collection of happy / funny Yuzu moments.

Wow, this has been a long reply, we hope it’s okay!! As you can see we really like discussing Yuzu, so don’t be afraid to ask more!!

[whereiputtheotherstuff]

In this series Yurio (Yuri Plisetsky) is a more similar age to the other guys, so about 20+

(Gif note mine but writing is)

The Book - Part 2

To read part 1 click here

You begin to feel dizzy as the both of you become completely intoxicated with each other. A perfect moment forever frozen on the ice. Slowly Yurio pulled away, both of your faces now completely red in colour. You leant forward, nearly slipping up on the ice, grabbing onto his shoulders to steady yourself.  "Maybe we should get off of the ice." he chuckled. You laugh whilst nodding in agreement. Gently he guided you to the edge of the rink. 

After rummaging in your bag, you check your phone. The screen illuminated with the words across it reading '1 new message'.  "I have a message from Yuuri, inviting me to eat at a restaurant nearby in five minutes." you say to Yurio.  "Crap, I have the same message from Victor." he growled in a huff. 

Luckily the restaurant was close to the ice rink as you still did not know your way around Hasetsu. Not a single word was spoken in the short five minute walk there. Your mind wondered, you could not get the thought of what had happened in the ice rink out of your mind. So what should we do? announce what happened? or just pretend it didn't happen? You thought it best to follow Yurio's lead.

After entering the building, Victor waved the both of you over to the table where he was already sat next to Yuuri. Approaching the table, you watch Yurio eagerly as he gestured for you to decide where to sit. You took the chair opposite Yuuri, smiling at him as you did so. Yurio slumped down in the seat next to you, opposite Victor. You stared at the frown on the blonde's face. Denying everything that had happened it is then. 

"Thank you for inviting me here." you say politely.  "You're welcome. It is one of my favourite places to eat here and I thought that you must visit. The food is devine." Yuuri said smiling. The food arrived quickly and you all hungrily devoured it. Yuuri was right, it really was delicious.  "So (Y/N), did Yurio make today worth your while?" Victor asked. Your breath hitched in your throat. Did he already somehow know what had happened? "W-what do you mean?" you stuttered. Yuuri and Victor looked at you, confused by your odd reaction.  "Well after being such an ass to you, he wanted you to watch him practice on the ice for two days in a row. It's a bit mean to put up with him for the entire day twice." Victor laughed and he laughed harder when Yurio yelled "hey!" at him.  Thinking on your feet was never your strength but you gave it a try.  "Oh yes. He showed me some new moves he had been working on." you said in a slightly shaky voice.  "New moves? And how were they?" Victor asked whilst raising an inquisitive eyebrow.  "Pretty incredible." you smile. You could see out of the corner of eye a light blush fill Yurio's cheeks and a smile flicker across his face at your answer. 

You did not like being the centre of attention, it always made you feel uncomfortable. You bring your hands under the table and nervously start to play with the hem of your dress which covered your knees. Twisting the fabric in between your fingers. You jumped slightly as a hand covered one of yours under the table. It was Yurio's. He started to gently stroke your hand with his thumb. The physical contact calmed you, despite a light blush filling your cheeks.  Looking up you saw that he still had the same serious expression as he continues to frown at Victor. 

Feeling more at ease now you attempt to steer the conversation in a different direction.  "So did you boys have a good day?" you asked eagerly. Yuuri and Victor started to talk about how their practice went. How even though Yuuri had lost weight Victor was still not satisfied with his fitness level.  Little did they know what else was going on whilst they were talking. Underneath the table, you move your hand so it now held Yurio's. Your fingers entwining with his. A smile crept onto your face when this caused Yurio to let out a sigh of happiness. The evening's conversation continued and was full of laughter. Though the scenario at the ice rink continued to play in your mind. 

"Please excuse me for a moment" you say as you stand up and walk away from the table as you go to use the bathroom. Suddenly Yuuri's smiling face turned sour as both he and Victor stared at Yurio. His eyes widening slightly in reaction to the change in their expressions.  "Yurio, what did you do?" Yuuri questioned him.  "What are you talking about Pig?" Yurio growled.  "(Y/N). You must of scared her or something. She is so jumpy. She was shy when we first met but she seems uneasy tonight." Yuuri said accusing him. "Also Mari told me that she heard you yelling at her yesterday when you came back from practice. Something about a book?" Yurio paused for a moment with wide eyes.  "That was... Me being an idiot." he confessed. " Well what's new?" Victor chuckled which made Yurio frown at him again.  Despite still being unsatisfied with Yurio 's answer, you returned to the table before Yuuri could interrogate him any more. 

Even though all three men were smiling you sense the tension in the room.  "I-I was just wondering if we could walk somewhere and see some sights tonight?" you ask. It was true that during your stay so far you had not really had the time to stop and have a proper look around Hasetsu.  "What a perfect idea" Yuuri agreed. 

You all were walking by the beach which was lit by the setting sun. Staring out at the horizon you felt a little homesick, thinking about the large number of miles that now distanced you from your country and home. However you must enjoy the present and make the most of your time here in Japan.  "Guys please can I take a selfie with you three? I could post it on social media, my family would love to see who I'm staying with. They have already heard so much about you." you ask.  "Do we have to?" Yurio protested.  "Yes you do." Victor said, pushing Yurio towards you so he could be ready for the photo.  After deciding that Victor had the longest arms, he took a photograph of the four of you on your phone. The setting sun on the beach was the perfect backdrop.  After thanking him, you noticed that Yuuri whispered something in his ear and he nodded in reply. 

Walking closer you look out to sea. The sun rays causing the waves to glisten. Upon hearing approaching footsteps, you see Yurio walking towards you out of the corner of your eye.  "It's beautiful isn't it." you say.  "It is." he softly replies. Little did you know that he was actually looking at you rather than the beach. Appreciating how the colours of the setting sun lit your frame. He wondered to himself that the beach wasn't the only beautiful thing here.  Turning to face him, you stare into his eyes as they sparkled in the fading light. The both of you stood there in silence, looking at each other for a moment as you forgot that you were not the only people there. 

Suddenly you both snapped back to reality upon hearing Yuuri's voice.  "Is it OK if I talk to (Y/N) for a moment?" he asked. You frown when Yurio nodded and moved away as Yuuri cut in.  "So are you enjoying Japan?" he said in a positive tone.  "It is beyond amazing. Thank you so much for inviting me here." you smile. Yuuri looked down as he shuffled his feet. Sometimes it was easy to read Yuuri. It was obvious that there was something more pressing that he wanted to say.  "What is it?" you asked, unable to stand his needless fidgeting any longer. He took a deep breath to calm himself before speaking.  "(Y/N), are you OK?" he said in a serious tone. You tilted your head to one side confused by his question. What was he getting at?  "It's just... You seemed a bit nervous today... Has Yurio upset you? My sister Mari said that she heard him shouting at you yesterday whilst Victor and I were out. It's OK, you can tell me." he said worried.  "Oh... That was a misunderstanding. Besides we're friends now." you giggled nervously.  "Really? I don't think Yurio has ever been the one for making friends or at least so quickly." Yuuri chuckled. You could believe that. Also it was obvious to you that he and Yurio did not always see eye to eye. Now was definitely not the time to tell Yuuri about Yurio and you.  You giggled at Yuuri's unnecessary sad expression. You took one of his hands in yours, lifting it slightly whilst staring into his eyes, so he knew that you were telling the truth.  "Really" you said in a serious tone with a smile, making him chuckle. 

As the sky darkened, you all decided to head back to the Inn. Whilst you walked back Victor offered you his jacket as he noticed you shiver because or the sea breeze. He lazily hung it over your shoulders as you expressed your gratitude.  "Hey (Y/N), seeing as you had to put up with Yurio for two whole days in a row. Why don't I teach you some of the basics of skating for an hour tomorrow after practice?" Victor said as you all walked through the front door of the inn. You froze a little. A grin flashed onto Yurio's face, which he quickly tried to cover with his blonde hair. You started to think about yesterday and all that he had taught you. It would take no time for Victor to find out that you were no longer a beginner. But then again, to have Victor Nikiforov teach you ice skating was an absolute dream come true.  "I would love that Victor, thank you!... I must admit that since arriving here I been watching quite a lot of skating videos on YouTube, so I may know more than you think." you smiled and Victor chuckled. 

"Just try not to tire yourself out when you watch Phichit practice. Victor is a very thorough teacher." Yuuri added. Of course you nearly forgot that tomorrow you were watching Phichit practice in the next town. You must remember to bring your book so you could sketch him. Automatically, you looked at Yurio whose eyebrows had turned into a frown as anger burned in his eyes. He must have forgotten that too. Little did you know that he was not at all happy that he would hardly be seeing you tomorrow. Especially now that you had grown closer. 

Raising your hand to your mouth, you attempt to stifle a yawn.  "I think my bed is calling me. Have a great night guys." you say as you start to walk towards your bedroom. Suddenly you feel a hand grip onto your arm which stopped you in the middle of the hallway. Quickly you turn around to see Yurio stood there. You had hardly spoken to each other since being at the beach. Looking around you realised that the both of you were now alone together and walkway from prying eyes. 

He continued to frown but there was a sadness in his eyes. After a minute or two, it was Yurio who broke the silence.  "You don't have to go with Phichit tomorrow if you.... I mean it will probably will probably be boring... I mean.. I.. I don't want you to go... I'll miss you." he admitted as his cheeks blushed red. You giggled. It was the first time that his hard exterior had completely melted away to reveal his vulnerability. You raised your hand moved some of the stray hairs out of his face.  "It's just for tomorrow." you giggled, unable to believe that he was jealous. Your hand stayed on his face and started to stroke his cheek as you smiled.  Slowly you leant forward and pressed your lips on his.  "Ok" he whispered with a smile as he pulled away.  

[ptw30]

Stunning art by xblackpaladin

Ficlet: Birth-Quintaint

Part of the Blade!Shiro series.

Prompt from NightWings on AO3: 

Hmm what if the blade did something to celebrate Shiro or Keith's birthday? Since they probably never really had one since their parents left. 

Warning: Fluff and Angst cuz...y’know, that’s what I write. (SFW)

Every quart-feeb, Shiro came to Kolivan with a simple request, “May I have a pod and the 23rd off?”

As if he needed permission from his boss or his father, and that first year, Kolivan refused to place himself in that role for the cubs. Instead, he demanded without looking up from his datapad, “Explain.”

“I want to take Keith out to the swap meet. I figure we’ll wander around, taste some of the goodies, maybe get him a new toy or something.”

“Why?”

A shrug. “He’s been here since you brought us with Ulaz. I think he needs some fresh air.”

Kolivan glanced up, just long enough to catch Shiro’s eyes and subject his soul to harsh scrutiny. “You may go, but take Antok with you.”

“But maybe just – ”

“Dismissed.”

“Just the two of us,” Shiro demanded the following year. “I found a planet in the Faraway Systems. No Galra. No lifeforms. Just ice and some snow. I figured we’d ice skate, have a snowball fight, maybe make ice pops.”

“What are…ice pops?” Kolivan asked, once he placed down his datapad on the Hilt’s console.

“They’re sugar water frozen into stick form.”

“And what would one do with it?”

Shiro blinked, head cocked to the side. “You…eat it. Well, lick it.”

Kolivan crossed his arms and waited for further explanation. After a moment, Shiro surrendered with an exasperated sigh. “Look, it’s a treat. It tastes sweet.”

“And you’re taking Keith for – ”

“For some fun. A quintaint off.”

“On the same quintaint you took off last year.”

“…yeeeesss…?” he asked, hunching his shoulders.

Kolivan simply stared for a long moment, waiting for Shiro to crack and give a longer, more thorough explanation, but when the young Blade simply crossed his arms and waited, too, Kolivan relented.

“Fine, you may go. But take Antok.”

“I said – 

Kolivan picked up his datapad and began to type again, muttering absentmindedly, “You take Antok or I’ll put the pods on lockdown.”

“What is it with this quintaint?” Kolivan demanded the third year after Shiro came to him, the leader’s datapad long forgotten in his room. “You leave on this ‘October 23rd’ every year. You get what Antok describes to me as a ‘sugar rush,’ and you sing a song to Keith about a…a birthday? What’s so special about this specific quintaint, Takashi?”

They were pack now. Familial anger was the norm, as was Shiro’s sheepish smile. “It’s – It’s the quintaint he was born, Kolivan. On Earth. And our culture likes to celebrate the quintaints our family and friends entered the world – uh, universe. There’re presents and usually a cake and activities. But Galra don’t seem to celebrate any holi...quintaints? - let alone the quintaints they were born.” He paused for a moment before adding, “You are born, right? Or are Galra spawned?”

“Yes, we are born.” Kolivan hit Shiro up the back of his head as he passed, moving into his personal quarters just off the Hilt. “Perhaps it has been dark far too long in the headquarters. The endless string of battles and missions didn’t seem to give us reasons to celebrate, especially with causalities and injuries, but we cannot turn our back on a whole portion of our culture.”

“And maybe because of the casualties you need to celebrate,” Shiro offered, and when Kolivan turned to him, the cub shrugged. “No one’s going to live forever. We need to appreciate every quintaint, y’know?”

Kolivan stared at the young cub, barely two decafeebs old, who suffered through a terrible battle less than a week prior. The battle had been brutal, bloody, and deadly, leaving less than half the attacking squad alive. Shiro almost hadn’t come back, refusing to leave Antok behind and dragging the larger Galra to a ship with a handful of Blades.

And then he’d gone back to check for more survivors, only to find none.

Yet here he stood, bright and smiling and forging ahead because there was no option, because as he sobbed in Kolivan’s arms a week ago, the leader told him to honor those they’d lost by fighting to not lose another. To not let the Galra Empire win by crushing his spirit. There’d be more fights. There would always be more fights, and Kolivan needed Shiro by his side for strength and guidance and light.

Kolivan needed Shiro’s blinding brilliance and unconditional affection.

Always.

Kolivan drew Shiro to his side, laying his arm along the human’s shoulders, and hit on his datapad. “Yes, I believe you are right.”

Kolivan felt the usual tension in his chest unfurl when he watched the pod land and the back door open. Keith gasped and smiled from pointy ear to pointy ear when he spotted the rest of his pack, plus the presents – including dual speeders – the sign, and the cake (red velvet, of course).

They sang as per Shiro’s instructions, and then the cubs took laps, racing the speedsters through the desert terrain. According to Shiro, who scouted the planet, the warm, arid climate reminded him of Earth, his homeworld, and the years Keith barely remembered but cherished just the same.

The quintaint was the most relaxing Kolivan could remember enjoying in quite some time, and the Blades all took in stride, dressed informally for the first time in decafeebs. Black cargo pants and boots. Tight vests or jackets, fingerless gloves, light undershirts. Antok, too, took off his mask to enjoy the warm temperature.  

They stayed the night, the shimmering stars above captivating and beautiful – as were the cubs tucked against Kolivan’s sides. They shared stories and food and laughter, and celebrated as a pack should.

After that quintaint, there were decorations and celebrations, smiles and feasts, and then on one mission, Kolivan watched as Shiro sighed and leaned his chin upon the front console, watching the planets pass without his usual fascination.

“Out with it,” Kolivan demanded.

Shiro bristled and shrugged. “I-It’s nothing.”

“I need your complete focus on this mission, Shiro. It’s going to one of the most dangerous we ever have endeavored, and I cannot have you distracted in any – ”

“Fine, fine.” Shiro threw up his hands. “It’s my birthday, okay? And every year since our parents left us, Keith has jumps on me to wake me up, and then he’ll sing and if he’s able to gather some dessert from the night before, we’ll devour it in one sitting. But he went with Thace yesterday somewhere. And – now we’re here. And I guess, I don’t know. I just thought…I just thought you’d put on a better poker face, Kolivan.”

Kolivan blinked and glanced over to find himself on the receiving end of a smug expression.

“Oh, come on, Kolivan. I’m not stupid. Where are you taking me?”

“To a Galra outpost,” he maintained.

Leaning back, Shiro hitched his legs onto the console and crossed them at the ankle. “You’re a great leader but a terrible liar.”

Kolivan didn’t quite roll his eyes but growled, “Could you at least act surprised? Ulaz and Keith have been communicating via coded messages for almost a feeb about this.”

“Absolutely. I wouldn’t want to get you in trouble.”

Oh, that kid needed his legs taken out, but instead, Kolivan’s hands shook upon the handles before he reached into his cloak. He pulled out a chain with a shimmering blue crystal and handed it to Shiro.

“What is this?” the cub wondered.

“It’s a piece of a Balmera, a petrified being that produces raw quintessence.”

“…pure life force? Seriously?”

“That crystal should have enough power to heal one mortal wound.” Kolivan swallowed hard and forced between his gritted teeth, “Let’s not have a repeat of your mission before Keith’s birthday.”

The varga it took the pod to return to base was the longest in Kolivan’s entire life.  

In retrospect, Kolivan probably should have expected the crushing hug that threatened to choke even him – and he should have asked Shiro not to wear the crystal to the party. Keith and Ulaz refused to speak with him for almost a full feeb.

Although…the tender smile upon Shiro’s face had been worth it.

More from the Blade!Shiro series

[iloveurlight]

anon: “would you be willing to write a Newsies Davey x Reader imagine where the reader falls through thin ice and Davey has to pull her out and is freaking out and confesses his feelings?”

(um, ABSOLUTELY! sorry i couldn’t tag you since you never DM’d me, but here it is! <3 )

Snow’s cloaked New York City, turning to grey on the sides of streets, but mainly causing scuffles over whose scarf is belongs to who and causing you and Dave to want to do anything but stand in one spot and sell to folks who’re too frigidly cold and focused on getting where they’re going to listen. Davey turns to you in the light flurries, some flakes landing in the twill of his hat and a soft smile gracing his face as he laces up his skates. Spot had given the ‘okay’ for any newsie who wanted to skate in Prospect Park; solitary footbridge nearby, snow-dusted ice stretching out for a good distance. So you and Dave were playing hooky in the early hours of the morning; light barely touching the fringes of the skyline, nobody on the pond in sight.

“These skates were my uncle’s, he left them here for Les and I to use, but they should fit you just fine,” He muses, tying a neat double-knot on his left skate. “You ever skated before?”

You shake your head slightly, tapping the edge of the pond. “Not ever, no. Never did have the time.”

“Oh,” Davey grins widely, shuffling out onto the ice and breaking into a solid glide, calling to you from far out. “We’ll fix that! Just take a careful step, don’t rush anything.”

“Gotcha…” You wobble onto the ice, shifting your weight and trying to mimic Davey’s graceful swish, only to move forward barely a foot. “Yeesh. Ain’t too easy, is it?”

He chuckles lightly, his breath a visibly lovely cloud in the dawn-soaked air. “Right, hang tight for just a sec.” Davey skates to your side, hesitating a bit before looking to you for a nod, and placing his mittened hands on your waist. “Right, okay.” It’s hard to ignore the flushing in your cheeks when the rest of the world is so cold. You can’t deny the warmth that’s there, but try to focus on the skating all the same. He moves with you, easing into a steady line across the ice, guiding your legs into a nice rhythm. “That’s it, you’ve got it!”

“Um,” You giggle as he removes his hands, letting you move on your own. “Not so sure ‘bout that, but I’m tryin’.” But your speed picks up, and Davey finds a resting position to watch you as you go- moving in waves, remembering the way he pushed your hips and peacefully replicating it.

“Nah, you do! You’re a damn natural, (Name)!” He laughs with you, hands triumphantly tossed into the air. “Look at--”

But you don’t hear the rest of his sentence; you only hear the crackle beneath your toes, and the sudden cacophony of waves muffling the rest of the world. It’s all in one single terrifying rush, and the breath is knocked out of you as the numbing cold takes over you, devouring any energy, black flickering at the edges of your vision. With the little feeling you’ve got left in your arms, you know his arm is gripping yours, and the strain in his voice barely reaches your ears, muffled by the layer of ice between you. You kick with all your might, weakening with each stroke, desperately trying to remember what it’s like to breathe-- and remember his face, how lit up it was before you fell through. His dimples never fail to make you feel short of breath. The way his hat is so particularly positioned, the careful knot in his tie, curt humor and unending kindness.

Suddenly, all you can do is breathe. The air feels so hot now in comparison, and you’re not sure how your chest is finding the energy to go so quickly, since all the rest of you can rest in Davey’s arms, limp, soaked through, hopelessly shaken. “D-Dave, God,” You start, cut off by more sharp inhales, heaving your chest up and down, taking in what’s around you. You’re beneath the bridge, curled on Davey’s legs, his arms tensed around you, and realize just how his face is. “Oh.”

“Just- just breathe, alright?” His eyes dart around your shuddering body, wracked with concern and the lasting notes of panic. “Don’t breathe too much though, don’t hyperventilate, that’s from the shock, you weren’t moving for a good two minutes-”

You can hear his heart against your ear, through all his swaddled winter clothes. It’s awful quick.

“-don’t you scare me like that again, (Name), don’t you dare. Swear to God, I shoulda checked the ice, watched more carefully, gone somewhere other than Brooklyn.”

“Da--damn Brooklyn i-ice.” You cough, lifting your head to meet his, squeezing his hand to remind yourself you’re alive.

This doesn’t lighten him up one bit. Your breathing is still erratic, and his face is contorted with worry. “Rest, alright? Just-” His eyes dart away from yours, examining the bricks above you too interestedly. “I don’t know what I’d do if that was the last time you were ever around, and it woulda been my fault.” His voice is barely audible, and you turn his face back towards you, his chin a bloom of warmth on your frozen fingertips. “I wouldn’t be able to handle that, it’d be too much.”

You heave the soaked scarf off of your hunched shoulders, setting it next to you. “Sorry.”

“The hell?” Davey asks, volume and expression back in his voice. “Don’t be sorry, don’t ever. I brought you to the pond, and you didn’t do a damn thing to fall in except skate. Not like you knew where that patch was.”

“I k-knew we was in Brooklyn,” You mumble, and he manages the smallest smile, fondness ebbing. 

His eyebrows are knit, and his bottom lip pursed, suddenly a little calmer. “(Name).” He rubs his shoulder, then takes your hand, and you fall back into him; his arms wrapping around you again. His heartbeat is audible again, and it slows your breathing, the most calming noise you’ve heard in a long while. “S’hard to say, but I don’t ever want you out of my life. Not for a good while.”

All you can do is sigh onto his chest, smile spreading, the warmth returning. You hear him say something in your ear, but as close as you are, it’s still too quiet and hesitant to understand. “Hm?”

“I think I love you,” He breathes, thumb rubbing the dripping corduroy of your sleeve. “I love you, (Name).” His breathing quickens, chest now tense, uncertainty gripping him. “When you fell, I knew I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if you ever- without knowing, or-”

Your arms drape over his shoulder as your lips meet, wet and shivering but desperate and satisfied; the bridge shadowing a tight embrace as the sun begins to peek onto the lake.

[unintended-escape]

Helsinki 2017: ice dance, summing up

So while it’s all fresh in my head I wanted to share my thoughts on my worlds trip - more for myself, so that later on I can read up and remember my experience there.

In this post I’ll share my impressions from the skating of my favourite and not so favourite ice dancers. Interestingly enough, this event made me even more critical of my favs and more appreciative of the ones I did not care much about.

So, the pleasant surprises were:

Fournier Beaudry/Sorensen (probably the biggest discovery) - just wow, especially compared to the other teams in their group! Their knee bend is amazing, they are super soft on the ice and you almost cannot hear them skating - no scratching the ice, only the sounds of cutting deep edges. Their confidence and amazing presence on ice was especially visible on the fd practice.

Agafonova/Uçar - the way they skated their free at the practice was superb, it was very emotional and it totally drew me in! it’s a pity that they didn’t skate it that way on the competition (though almost nobody had a great day lol)

Stepanova/Bukin - not that I became a big fan of them, but their technical abilities are quite impressive - I probably would like them more if their look did not remind me so much of Sinitsina/Katsalapov…

Tobias/Tkachenko - I mean I liked them before, I think they have a very distinct look about them and they are able to use it to their advantage. The new thing I saw here live was how much they were actually enjoying themselves, which is always a great thing to see! Also, though they didn’t skate at their best on the day, it was funny how they performed in the same group as Guignard/Fabbri, whose fd is also to Nutcracker Pas de Deux, and just how they totally own the music and make it their own. I felt that the GF’s program looked so mediocre compared to T/TK’s…

and finally, of course, Cappellini/Lanotte - not to say that I didn’t like them before, or their program - I loved their fd skate on Europeans and I was rooting for them, BUT I did not expect to be so into them here! At the fd practice this was especially visible, how they got into their characters and their program like nobody else… while the other teams, when they would start their practice skate, it felt like they, and therefore us the audience too, were always aware of their surroundings, aware of the other skaters and of what is going on (which is of course what you have to do since the other skaters are in their killer mode all the time). As soon as Anna and Luca’s music started - I totally forgot where I was! They were totally in their bubble, in their “moment” (queue buzzword :D), you would think that they did not look where they were going because they were so invested in their performance even on practice! I don’t think anybody else had that effect on me at practice AND at the competition. They totally lived their program - and this is all you want to see and feel when you are watching the skaters in the arena!

Now, what made me feel a little disappointed with my favs:

Papadakis/Cizeron - everybody, me included, consider them the emotions team. funnily enough, though I appreciated their skating and speed and fluidity, but they actually did not make me feel anything special on the day… BUT this was a little of a similar thing with VM. It might have been my nerves, or overexcitement with seeing them live - it was a bit underwhelming seeing them and I did not feel like I was in their bubble at all. 

Virtue/Moir - well, I found that they were really lacking in speed! Even in their short! And their free.. well understandably so, I had so much adrenaline, especially post-trip, that there is no talk about whether it made me feel anything :D but, while the lifts were the best lifts of the day, with great speed and ease (twizzles too), I felt that their edges on the step sequences were not that deep, and with not that much speed as some other teams. Plus, the choreographed stop in the middle did not help at all! It absolutely didn’t work on the day, people were on the edge of their seats anyway and then that stop - I could feel the whole arena getting uncomfortable, as if thinking “oh did something happen? why did they stop?”… and overall the free didn’t really work on the day - but I guess this is understandable given the circumstances. (also, on the shippy side of things, they seemed so calm and settled with each other that now I’m sure that there is no way they are together… I didn’t feel like there was any chemistry neither at practices nor off-ice, as much as their support for each other was amazing. this is why I’m super glad they went on separate holidays, cause they looked sometimes like they really needed a little break from each other.)

Gilles/Poirier - them too I found lacking in speed, not in the sd but in their fd… and it was a shame to me that, since their fd is one of my favourite programs this season, it didn’t really have that spark… I always wanted them to skate on, while they had quite a few of those choreographed stops too which also did not help with their speed.

And, all the other top teams - they pretty much lived up to my standard of them:

Bobrova/Soloviev - boring programs, unimaginative choreography, and just overall uninspiring and probably the least impressive skates of two days. 

Shibutanis - impressive technique and cool looking lifts (though I don’t think their twizzles were the best of the competition!), but also a bit boring and reserved without a spark, just like on video.

Chock/Bates - some great skating and speed and impressive lifts, but just as when watching from home, their programs did not make me feel anything at all. Even though I’m a huge fan of David Bowie!! 

Weaver/Poje - I was really happy for their clean skates! their presence on the ice is great and they really have something impressive about them live which does not translate on camera, and I would probably put them down as my pleasant surprises if they came out and attacked their programs more. I felt they were a little reserved there, but then, they skated clean so I guess that worked for them…

and, my oh my, Hubbell/Donohue…. so skating-wise for me they were my only fav team that actually lived up to my high expectations of them. taking the short dance and the fd practice, their speed was amazing and their edges were so deep, and their chemistry was palpable… they also created a great atmosphere in the arena with their sd, even though I felt like before they came on ice nobody really knew them and I felt like I was the only one cheering very loudly for them. but once they started, people really enjoyed it! they were super energetic and really, really deserved that third place after the short. then… I don’t really like to recall their free because I think this was a scarring experience for me :D but subjectively speaking, they did actually create a moment with their fd too, it was the whole package for me - their skating was not underwhelming - lifts were superb and they were not careful, they were sensual and they really had their love affair with the music going on…. until the fall, of course. and then THE WORLD BURNED AND I THOUGHT I WAS OVER AND WE ARE ALL OVER AND I WANTED THE ICE TO TURN INTO WATER AND DEVOUR US ALL SO THAT WE DON’T HAVE TO LIVE ON WITH THIS MEMORY AND WE DON’T HAVE TO SEE THEIR MARKS AND 

yeah, the fd day was emotional :D

[thrashermaxey]

20 Fantasy Hockey Thoughts

Every Sunday, we'll share 20 Fantasy Thoughts from our writers at DobberHockey. These thoughts are curated from the past week's "Daily Ramblings".

Writers: Michael Clifford, Ian Gooding, Cam Robinson, and Dobber

  1. Although Mikko Koskinen has better numbers than Cam Talbot at the moment, I’m not sure if he'll remain Edmonton’s starter for the rest of the season. But right now, you have a new starting goalie who will reap the benefits of the Ken Hitchcock effect. That means you need to add Koskinen immediately if he’s available in your league and you need a goalie. (nov23)

  2. Caps’ John Carlson now has 20 assists on the season. Following Saturday’s game, Carlson was third in both assists and points among defensemen. In case you were worried that Carlson’s 68-point effort last season was a fluke, Carlson is now on pace for 93 points after the first quarter of the season. It’s probably fair to say now that Carlson is for real, which means he should be considered a top-tier fantasy defenseman. (nov25)

  3. I know people may be freaking out about Colton Parayko but here are a few things to keep in mind:

– Parayko’s shot attempt rate is down from his previous three years but nothing to really get in fits over. What’s interesting is his shot on goal rate from 2015-18 was 6.33 and this year it was 5.52 before Saturday action. That’s a decline of about 14.7 percent, which ‘is’ something to get in fits over. The fact that his shots are missing the net is probably just a bit of randomness. I would expect that to normalize and Parayko’s shot rate to climb.

– The 25-year old blue liner has yet to manage a 5v5 primary assist on the year. Were that rate to be in line with his recent seasons, we could add 3-4 assists to his current total and he’d be on pace for 35-40 points again.

With a new coach in town (and likely another one on the way,) things may be a bit rocky for now,but that would be the time to buy low. He may even be available on the waiver wire. I wouldn’t wait too long, though, because the next multi-point game slams the window shut. (nov24)

  4. The Senators and Oilers swung a minor trade on Thursday, with Chris Wideman heading to Edmonton. Wideman hadn’t ever been a 20-minute-per-game defenseman this season but he was receiving second-unit power-play minutes in Ottawa. Wideman has a bit of offensive upside, although he’s probably only worth an add in the very deepest of leagues. I would totally expect to see him on the Oil’s second power-play unit in the near term, though. Long term, he’s simply keeping the seat warm for Evan Bouchard, or Ethan Bear. (nov23)

  5. To the commenter in my last Ramblings: you’re right, it’s not fair that I would say Max Domi will slow down without mentioning Jeff Skinner, as well. The latter is currently shooting at a 22.5 percent clip this season, which is a full 10 percent higher than his career average. So, he absolutely will not continue to score at this pace. Selling high is always an option. However, Skinner exceeding his career high of 37 goals is a very real possibility. Did he ever have a linemate in Carolina that possesses the high-end skills of Jack Eichel? (nov25)

  6. The New York Rangers are slowly coming along and one reason has been the play of Kevin Hayes. He’s on pace for what would be career highs with 50 points, 200 shots on goal, over 19 minutes per game of ice time, and he only has two power-play points to date.

Hayes plays a deep center position and someone with 50 points, 200 shots, and 12 PPPs at center isn’t a significant fantasy contributor but he’s a guy to monitor. When such a player (playing over 19 minutes with good power play time) heats up, there could be a point-per-game player for 2-3 weeks here. Deep leaguers should see if Hayes can be had for little in a trade. (nov24)

  7. The most notable change that new coach Jeremy Colliton has made is loading up the Blackhawks’ top line with Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Brandon Saad. Kane and Toews are what you might expect – six/nine points, respectively, in the nine games since the coaching change). As for the previously struggling Saad, he also has chipped in three goals and three assist in the six games he’s played since Colliton replaced Joel Quenneville. Saad is definitely worth taking a flier on if he’s available. He has also received more than 20 minutes of ice time per game in three consecutive skates.

But, that means other Hawks’ forwards are hurt by the line shuffling, in particular Alex DeBrincat. After skating with Toews for much of the first quarter of the season, Debrincat has been moved onto a line with Artem Anisimov and Nick Schmaltz. Debrincat has just three points (two goals, assist) over his last nine games. (nov23)

  8. Probably the most glaring example of a player who has been hurt by the appointment of Willie Desjardins as Kings’ coach is Ilya Kovalchuk. After scoring a goal and two assists in Willie D’s debut on November 6, Kovy has now gone eight games without a point.

As much as Kovalchuk has supposedly struggled (five goals in 22 games), he’s actually the Kings’ leading scorer with 14 points. That’s a scary thought if you’re a Kings’ fan. That means we’re looking directly at Anze Kopitar. So far, the coaching change has had little effect on Kopitar bouncing back from what has been a noticeably subpar first quarter, as Kopitar has just four points over his last nine games.

The Kings as a whole have scored 17 goals over those nine games, so you’re hard-pressed to find anyone else that has been helped by the coaching change. All in all, it’s shaping up to be a long season in LA. (nov23)

  9. Leafs’ Andreas Johnsson earned the hat trick on Saturday, scoring first-period three goals in an eventual 6-0 win over the Flyers. Even though Johnsson is Dobber Prospects’ top-ranked Toronto left wing, this goal explosion wouldn’t have directly helped very many fantasy teams. Johnsson hadn’t recorded a point over his previous five games, and he’s only 1 percent owned in Yahoo leagues. Maybe this effort will help him get noticed more in markets outside Toronto (assuming you tune out all the Toronto news in your sports media consumption). (nov25)

  10. After a couple of partial seasons, Cam Atkinson had 39 points in his first full NHL year, followed by 40, and then 53. After that, he broke out to 62, but was then hurt the following year and produced similar numbers, though in just 65 games. Now in Year 6 as a full-timer (Year 8 overall), he’s on a point-per-game pace.

Watching Vinnie Hinostroza a couple of times this season (and of course last year), and listening to what the local commentators say about him, as well as coaches, scouts and GMs over the years (I lock onto this stuff, put it in the vault, about all players – I devour this stuff and never seem to forget it, which is why I don’t easily adjust my opinion in future years), I can’t help but feel that his career production will follow a similar path to Atkinson’s. A 40- or 45-point guy for a couple of years, mid-50s in 2020-21, low- to mid-60s in 21-22, and then upward from there if given the right linemates (which Atkinson has).

If you’re patient with this player, I believe it will pay off. (nov22)

  11. Damon Severson has six points in seven games, five at even strength. Will Butcher has one point in nine games despite manning the top PP unit. Butcher has just two points at even strength this season. Playing with Ben Lovejoy is tying his hands, in my opinion. Meanwhile, Severson thrives thanks to his partner, Andy Greene, holding the fort. I also think that at 24, and in his fifth NHL season, Severson is coming into his own. I’m not saying he’ll get his 55-point pace. But he’ll absolutely get his career high (currently 31 points). (nov22)

  12. So, it turns out that all Pavel Zacha needed was to show he can dominate at the AHL level in order to properly get a chance at the NHL level. Prior to this recent stint, his only time in the AHL was a three-game run back in 2015 (three points). This time, he was down for four games and got five points. Upon this latest recall, he saw 16 minutes of ice time in four out of five games. In his first 10 games before being sent down, he saw 16 minutes just three times. A big part of that is the fact that he is now playing with Jesper Bratt, as opposed to Tommy Stonehands or Jimmy Lunchpail. Zacha has four points in his last four games and those are his only four points of the entire season. He’s now earning PP time, as well.

Looking at Zacha’s career numbers: As a rookie, he had 13 PPPts with just 1:50 per game. Between that and the AHL, it tells me that he thrives when given room but has trouble creating that room himself. I suppose Bratt’s speed opens things up a little for him. (nov22)

  13. Tanner Pearson should be on your radar if you need a left wing. With a goal on Saturday, Pearson is off to a great start in Pittsburgh, scoring goals in three of his past four games. His linemates? Phil Kessel and Evgeni Malkin. You shouldn't need me to tell you that you can’t get much better than that. (nov25)

  14. Do you know who could be hurt by the defensive-minded Ken Hitchcock hiring in Edmonton? No, not Connor McDavid, but Leon Draisaitl. He’s a wildly talented player who could still use some further motivation in the defensive department at times. Draisaitl has nine points in his last five games. Life with McDavid is good. (nov21)

  15. So, Drake Batherson seems to be enjoying pro hockey, eh? The 20-year-old concluded a tremendous QMJHL career highlighted by a WJC gold medal and a monster playoff run with Blainville-Boisbriand. He transitioned to the AHL last month and went off: seven goals and 20 points in 14 games before earning the call.

Thus far, the NHL hasn’t appeared to be much of a challenge yet, either. He has two goals and five points in five contests. He has seen some time with a rejuvenated and red-hot Matt Duchene on the top line, and the two seem to feed off of each other’s speed and skill when paired up. Take a look to see if your squad could use a kid on a heater. He’s out there for most of you. (nov21)

  16. Mikko Koivu has 19 points in 22 games this season. I should have given you a heads up that this resurgence would happen because I dropped him at the Draft in one of my leagues. In all fairness to me, though, I shopped him hard at the Draft table for a measly future pick and had no takers – so, everyone else should be just as embarrassed.

I dropped Koivu and drafted Vitali Kravtsov, announcing boldly: “I will draft the first overall pick in our midseason Draft right now…Vitali Kravtsov. I’ll drop Mikko Koivu.” The irony is that right now, Koivu would be the first overall pick in our midseason Draft now. (nov19)

  17. After kicking off the season with five points in seven games, and starting off his NHL career with eight points in nine games, Warren Foegele has hit a wall. He’s gone pointless in 16 games. His ice time remained strong through 10 games of pointless hockey, but he’s run out of leash in the last five outings and Friday saw a season-low 10:33. Foegele is looking at another game or two of this, followed by one in the press box, and then the inevitable AHL demotion.

Coach Rod Brind’Amour is happy with Foegele’s complete game, otherwise he wouldn’t have been given scoring-line minutes for so long despite the non-production. But, in the AHL, he’ll regain his scoring touch and confidence. I like him as a future scoring-line player but had been surprised at how quickly he was moving forward. So, I look at this as a step back from the extra step forward that we didn’t expect him to take in the first place. (nov19)

  18. When Anthony Beauvillier was dropped in one of my leagues last week, I raised a Spockian eyebrow and then I went to his profile page to have a look at line combos, ice time trend and advanced stats. Last year, Beauvillier had 29 points in the second half and meshed really well with Mathew Barzal, so I was pretty bullish of him on Draft day in September. I projected him for 45 points but also made him my top sleeper on the Islanders.

At the time, his game log showed steady ice time and secondary PP time, not trending downwards, and his 5on5 SH% was very low, which indicated poor puck luck. So, I picked him up and held him. Immediately, he spent two games planted on the bench, barely seeing fourth-line minutes. But, I made the investment, so I would hang onto him until roster decisions force my hand. The benching seemed to have worked, as Beauvillier has picked up five goals and seven points in his last five contests.

Between his addition, the return of Tom Wilson from suspension, and the recall of a guy I claimed and stuck in my minors back on the first day – Drake Batherson – my team in that league has unbelievable depth. This is a 14-team league with rosters of 30 players. My five reserve spots for the past week were filled by: Cam Talbot, William Karlsson, Dustin Brown, Kasperi Kapanen and Darnell Nurse, with Max Comtois still on my IR. Depth!

  19.  Still in that league of mine above, I did have a couple of issues (besides the obvious Cam Talbot one, ahem) and I resolved them both in a single trade early last week. John Klingberg, injured as you know. And Anze Kopitar. I can’t lose a top defenseman for a month, and Kopitar…I can’t drop him, the guy just had 96 points, but man what if he doesn’t even get 60 this year again? What to do, what to do?? I packaged them along with a first-round draft pick (I have an extra second and an extra third, so…) in exchange of Victor Hedman and Nicklas Backstrom. The high pick closed the deal, as I figured the guy would have a man-crush on Hedman (as most people would!). (nov19)

  20. Another interesting twist to ‘eight-points-in-one-game’ man Sam Gagner’s career: The Canucks called him back up from the AHL, where he had 15 points in 15 games for the Marlies. With Brock Boeser, Sven Baertschi, Jay Beagle, Brandon Sutter and, at the time, Antoine Roussel out of the lineup, it’s amazing that Gagner has slipped so far down the totem pole. I mean, he gets recalled after five injured forwards? What if the Canucks were like most teams and never had more than four forwards injured at the same time? We’d never see him again? Very interesting. It goes without saying that he is a one-dimensional offensive player. If you are in need of a depth guy, he is worthy of a claim. (nov19)

  He is once again being used as a power-play specialist, logging first-unit minutes with the Canucks. In case you are indeed interested in Gagner for fantasy purposes, do remember that a Brock Boeser Boeser return could push him back down the lineup. Gagner has more offensive upside than numerous Canucks forwards, so it wouldn’t make sense from a scoring standpoint to send him back down to the AHL. But that doesn’t mean it won’t happen. (nov25)

  Have a good week, folks!!

  from All About Sports https://dobberhockey.com/hockey-home/20-fantasy-hockey-thoughts/20-fantasy-hockey-thoughts-51/

[jifsy]

Exploring the Philippines: Bicol, Naga City, and Caramoan

Another long bus ride in the Philippines

It’s time for me to pack my bag and get out and begin exploring the Philippines. That means heading out on a few buses for many hours to get out of the city and into the countryside.

Manila to Caramoan

Although I didn’t take one bus from point A to point B, there are buses that go direct from Manila to Caramoan that take a mere 16 hours.

Bicol

Manila to Bicol

My first stop is Bicol, nearly 200 miles from Manila. I took a bus that left Manila around midnight, which was definitely unusual for me. I never travel overnight by bus so this was a new adventure for me.

TSG Tip: There’s Bicol the city and the Bicol Region, which is where I visited. My bus ride was about 6 hours long.

Carabao

This green landscaped area is covered with farmland that includes rice fields and carabao.

Carabao in the mud

Unfamiliar with carabao? I was, too. I thought they meant caribou, like reindeer, but nope — these are carabao (sounds like cara-bow). This domestic water buffalo is native to the Philippines and is an important asset to any farmer. And they really like taking mud baths.

Standing in the rice fields in Bicol

The carabao also take bets to see when and where I might slip into a rice field. Sure enough, I did slide in and once in, it’s like quick sand trying to get out. I’m sure I have rice growing between my toes right now.

Riding the skate

Trying not to obsess about the rice field incident, I gladly took up an offer to ride a skate nearby. Now notice I didn’t say “skates,” but skate. Think of the trolleys contractors use at Home Depot to bring supplies out to their trucks like drywall.

Riding the skate

These trolleys don’t carry supplies but people from one end of the train tracks to the other. When it’s time to turn around, the driver actually picks up the skate, puts it on his shoulders, and turns it around.

Snacks for sale in Bicol

You can do a little shopping and even grab snacks before heading back on the skate.

Cagsawa Ruins and Mayon Volcano

Mayon Volcano from Cagsawa Ruins

What’s left of a 16th century church called Cagsawa Ruins stand in front of the still very active Mayon Volcano.

Mayon Volcano

In case you’re like me and didn’t know, the volcano last erupted in January 2018, requiring the 40,000+ residents in the area to evacuate. Mayon Volcano was named after the legendary princess-heroine Daragang Magayon which means “Beautiful Lady” in English.

Cagsawa Church

Located in Albay, there’s not much here to see or do but the volcano and the ruins, but if you’re an outdoors fan, consider ziplining or taking an ATV tour for some real fun.

Sili (Chili) ice cream

TSG Tip: This region is known for liking their spicy food. I’ve learned while exploring the Philippines that spicy food is definitely not the norm. So to discover “sili ice cream” was a real treat. “Sili” means “chili” as in hot. I chose level four and my tongue still won’t forgive me. It was cold and sweet while also being ridiculous hot and spicy. Addictive? You bet.

Naga City

Naga City

If you’re ready for a little more night life, shopping, and bright lights at night, then head over to Naga City.

Naga City

This city is a stopover point and where the main bus terminal is for most destinations in the region. To get to Caramoan, my ultimate destination while I continued exploring the Philippines, I was going to have to stop in Naga City.

Naga City

Luckily, there’s a mall only a short walk from the bus station so you can grab something to eat, do a little shopping, and enjoy the air conditioning.

Church in Naga

You can also grab a pedicab or tricycle over to Central Naga City for even more shopping and street food. Look for the “ukay ukay” stores, which are thrift stores selling used items, which have become more popular in the Philippines. You can find luggage, clothes, shoes, pretty much anything, which is great especially if you’re packing light for the road. There’s also beautiful architecture to admire, like this cathedral in the city.

Caramoan

Naga City to Caramoan

My next stop on my road trip while exploring the Philippines is Caramoan. I took a death defying bus ride at 6 am from Naga City to Caramoan and it’s one I won’t ever forget. I had to hold onto the two seats in front of me to prevent myself from sliding around and off the seats. It was raining hard and the bus driver was fearless as he drove downhill near the edge of the road overlooking the water as if he had nothing to lose. I felt like I was on the world’s longest roller coaster ride, but once I arrived in Caramoan, it was all worth it.

Survivor props being built in Caramoan

I’ve never heard of this city, but if you’ve watched Survivor you might be familiar with it. Apparently, they’ve shot a few seasons here for various versions of the show for different countries.

Survivor game

Where I stayed was close to the prop shop where they are still building sets and puzzles for the current season that is being shot. BTW, I still can’t figure out this puzzle.

Day One: Caramoan

The beach in Caramoan

I decided to do a two-day island hopping tour via boat and I’m so glad I did.

Island hopping boat in Caramoan

Caramoan is just beautiful. I could use crazy descriptors and adjectives to try and explain how incredible this place is, but nothing, including my pictures, will do it any justice.

View from rock climbing in Caramoan

At my first island I went rock climbing up to the top of this mountain to catch this view. Going up was scary, but going down was even harder, but I did it.

View from the boat while island hopping in Caramoan

I was able to catch a few more of the little islands and swim in the water, which on a hot day in the Philippines is a necessity.

Day Two: Caramoan

Arnell, the tour guide, napping

On my second day in Caramoan, my tour guide, Arnell, and the boat driver escorted me by boat on the hour long boat ride to Cutivas Island. Arnell was smart and napped for most of the long ride.

Gogon in Caramoan

We stopped off on the way at Gogon to go up to the lighthouse and to take in this spectacular view. How there aren’t hotels or houses up here yet is beyond me. The views are beyond million dollar views.

Cutivas Island view

Cutivas Island in the off season became my private island. That’s right. One entire island just for me and a few stray dogs. One dog has three legs because crabs ate off one when he was a puppy. Can we all say “Awwww.” I certainly did. But look at this view and tell me if life is good here or what?

Cutivas Island

The island even has little cabanas where you can sit to escape the sun and eat or drink if you choose to do so.

Caramoan island hopping – Cutivas Island

I highly recommend sunscreen even in the rainy season as I forgot mine and that was a big, big mistake. I got a horrible sunburn and didn’t even know I was burning. I looked like a snake peeling two weeks later, but I wouldn’t trade my time here for anything in the world.

Boodle fight – sounds scary but so good

Arnell even cooked up lunch that included roasted eggplant, sweet potato, and rice. I purchased a salad from the woman working on the island, which was made from seaweed, tomato, onion, and calamansi, the Philippine’s citrus fruit that’s a lime. All was enjoyed on the table in a “boodle fight,” which is a military style of eating where the food is placed on banana leaves and eaten with bare hands. And for dessert we devoured some of the sweetest and most delicious mangoes I’ve ever eaten in my life..

TSG Tip: This trip to the Philippines has pushed me so far out of my comfort zone and pushes me to grow on a daily basis. Who would’ve thought I’d be eating a meal with my hands on a beach with stray dogs?

A real sand bar in Caramoan

After lunch we had to wait for a while as it was low tide and the boat was stuck in the sand. Afterwards, we headed back, but made a quick pit stop at a real sand bar. Basically, they’re little floating bars on a real sand bar. Genius I say!

Back to Manila

Food vendor on bus

I absolutely loved exploring the Philippines and the countryside and beaches. While the bus rides may be long and arduous, they certainly are entertaining. I love watching the vendors come on and sell their goods and seeing how people in other countries live. Someone got on one of my buses with a rooster inside a laundry basket. How often can you say that you see that?

Do you have any ideas, suggestions, or comments for me for my visit to the Philippines that you’d like to share?  Leave your comments below. Discover some other great destinations and travel ideas here on the Travel Shop Girl website.

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