#blame Andra

[sulieykte]

[invisible-lint]

Everything Could Be Okay: Chapter 5

Rhys x Tamlin's sister!reader

Summary: Tamlin sent a letter and you open up to Rhys

Warnings: light angst? past abuse is implied, talks about character dying and pregnancy loss

Word Count: 2.1k

Prologue 1 2 3 4

You take a deep breath to steady yourself, staring at the wall ahead of you. You had seen Tamlin in one of his tempers, but had never been the focus before. 

"You were supposed to take care of Feyre. It's your fault she had to make the bargain." 

You say nothing, knowing that nothing you say will lower his temper. You continue to stare at the wall.

He continues to shout, but you tune out his words, just waiting for him to be done, flinching only when you hear the sound of shattering glass. 

"Take her place. When Rhysand comes for her, offer to take her place. She has been through enough already, it is the least you can do." Your temper roars to life then, you rise suddenly, whirling to face him.

"And I have not? Have you forgotten what our father was like? Have you forgotten Andras?" Tamlin growls in response, and you flee from the room.

You wake with a start, taking a moment to remember where you are. You are in Night, and you are safe. You slip out of bed, sliding your dressing gown onto your shoulders, wrapping it across your chest to keep out the chill. You step into slippers, about to head for the door, when your gaze falls to the sealed envelope laying on the small desk. You had already opened and replied to the letter Feyre had sent you, but you had not opened the one from Tamlin that had arrived with it. You frown, tucking it into your pocket, walking out of your room. 

There is already a fire roaring in the fireplace when you walk into the music room. You smile, taking a moment to warm yourself by it, retrieving the letter you had stowed in your pocket. For a brief moment, you debate throwing the letter into the fire, but that would be petty and vindictive, both of which you felt were justifiable. More importantly though, you were worried how it would affect Feyre if you failed to respond. You cross the room to the piano, sitting on the bench, hoping that the distance from the fire will lessen your desire to feed the letter to the flames. You turn it in your fingers, before tearing the envelope open, letting it fall to the floor as you unfold the letter. Time would not change its contents. It's surprisingly short, only a handful of lines long.

My Dearest Sister, 

I hope all is well. Know that if you are not, I am doing all I can to help you. Have strength, I will find a way to break your bargain and end Rhysand's hold on you. Feyre and Lucien miss you and say hello.

Tamlin

You crumple the letter, letting it fall to lay next to the envelope, turning to the piano. Your hands fall into a song you know well, little thought needed on your part. After a while, you see Rhys sit next to you out of the corner of your eye. You continue playing, flowing through the songs with ease, until finally you feel calmer. 

"I didn't wake you, did I?" 

"No, I was already awake and heard you playing. Is everything alright?" 

"I had a nightmare. And then decided I should read Tamlin's letter." You pick the paper up from the floor, passing it to Rhys. He reads it quickly, and you take his other hand in yours. Nothing else had happened since you had kissed him, but his presence was comforting. 

"I see." You turn your gaze to him, knowing he has more he'd like to say, but is deciding if he should say it or not.

You nod. "I... I'm not sure what I expected. I don't think there was much he could have written that would have made me feel... Anything else. It's just not what I expected. Not long after.... After we got back to Spring, he asked me to offer to take Feyre's place. He blamed me for Feyre's bargain with you. I thought perhaps he would say something about that in his letter, but he did not. I'm not sure how I feel. I think I should be angry, but I'm not." 

"How do you feel?" Rhys squeezes your hand lightly and you squeeze back.

"Sad mostly. I feel as if I'm watching Tamlin turn into our father. And you know almost as well as I do what kind of male he was. I wonder if it was everything that has happened to us, or if it was just a matter of time." 

"Tamlin and I were friends once. I didn't know him nearly as well as I thought I did. I have spent a long time wondering if he was always the male who would be to blame for my mother and sister and I failed to see him clearly. In the end though, it doesn't matter. It wouldn't have changed what he chose to do." 

"It does matter. If it was just a matter of time, then what if it's the same for me? Even if I become my mother, she loved her mate more than she loved her children and did nothing about how he treated us."

Rhys lets go of your hand, nudging your chin gently so that you meet his gaze, letting his touch linger for a moment before his hand drops back to yours.

"I don't think you're anything like either of them. If you were, you wouldn't have helped Feyre Under the Mountain or after. You wouldn't continue to worry about her. From what I have seen, you care too much about others to be cruel, intentionally or unintentionally." 

Your first instinct is to look away, but instead you continue to meet his gaze, sinking into it. 

“You remind me of him.” You say suddenly, blushing. “Of Andras, I mean. He always saw me for who I truly was and made sure I knew too. I think I'd forgotten what it was like to be seen by someone who thinks better of you than you think of yourself.” 

“From what you've told me, he was a good male.” 

“He was. I wish the Spring Court wasn't in such a rush to forget him. Tamlin and Lucien were the only ones left who knew him as well as I did, and Feyre feels guilty whenever I mention him, no matter how often I say I don't blame her.” 

“You can talk about him here. I may not have known him, but I will listen to you.” 

“Really? It won't bother you?” 

He nods. “It won't. He was an important part of your life, it would bother me if you didn't. I don't want you to hold back the things you think might upset me. Darling, my ego is not so fragile that I would be upset by hearing about someone you loved before you truly knew me.” 

You smile. “We were friends long before we fell in love. I had a habit of running away from home when things were… difficult… and so he was assigned as my guard to make sure I came back unharmed. He never stopped me, or forced me back before I was ready, despite knowing he was expected to. I had managed to slip everyone else though, so my mother convinced my father to let him remain as my guard so they at least knew I was safe. Not long before his death, my father told me I was to marry one of Beron’s sons and leave Spring. I knew I would marry some day, but I had heard how the Autumn court was and I was terrified. So I ran away again. I ran until I collapsed. I could still find the exact spot in Spring, because that's where Andras told me he loved me for the first time.” You pause for a moment, watching Rhys to judge his reaction. He's still watching you, listening as if everything you're saying is of the upmost importance.

“He knelt next to me, taking my hands in his and told me that he had fallen in love with me. He told me that it didn't matter if I shared his feelings or not, that if I wanted, he would run away with me so that I didn't have to go to Autumn. I think that scared me even more. Nobody had ever told me they loved me before, not even my parents. When I asked him why, he said, ‘Because you are kind. Despite it all, you are kind.’” You smile, remembering the moment. 

“And then I ran away from him, back Manor, because I was afraid and I knew he wouldn't say more if there was the chance of being overheard. We both knew my father would kill Andras if he found out. And then your father killed my father and Tamlin became High Lord and it didn't matter anymore because I knew Tamlin would not send me away when I was the only family he had left. I didn't bring up that day and neither did Andras. Then one day we were walking in the garden together. I was talking about a new piece of music I had started working on and looked over at him. It suddenly hit me that I was in love with him too. I kissed him, and I must have scared him nearly as bad as he scared me when he confessed because he froze and just stood there. We courted for 20 years before we were married. He had wanted to marry right away, but I needed to take time to learn what it meant to love and be loved. Everything was better with him. We had just decided to start trying for a baby when Amarantha came. We knew we couldn't keep trying because we did not want to bring a child into that.” Rhys brushes away your tears and you pause. You didn't even realize you had started crying.

“And then it happened anyway. We were both terrified when we realized. It was so close to the deadline and we had no clue what would happen. So Andras went to Tamlin. I have no clue what he said to him, but in the end Tamlin agreed to send him over the wall to find the human who could save us all. I wanted to hate her when she first arrived, but I just… couldn't. I almost didn't believe it when Tamlin walked in with her, she was so young. She still is. I don't know if it was the surprise, or some lingering instinct from losing the baby, but I felt the need to protect her. I knew there was nothing I could do though, the best way to protect her was to keep her away from Tamlin, and if I kept her from Tamlin I would be wasting Andras’s sacrifice.” You pause, looking at Rhys. He knows enough of the rest of the story, there's no need to repeat it. 

“I think that's where you remind me of him the most. He sacrificed everything to try to protect the people he loved. I don't know what it was you did to protect Velaris, but I can only imagine the cost.” Rhys brushes stray hair back from your face.

“I will tell you that story, but not tonight. You should get some more rest.” You nod, rising. You sway on your feet, exhaustion setting in suddenly. Rhys wraps an arm around you, guiding you to your room. You lean into him as you walk together, savoring the warmth of his body. He pushes the door open when you reach your room.

He lifts your hand to his lips, brushing a soft kiss against your knuckles before he turns to go.

“Wait! Would you stay with me?” You look down, blushing. “I haven't slept well since… since I was alone. I just thought that maybe if you were there too, I might sleep better.” 

He hesitates in the doorway for a moment before turning back towards you and shutting the door. “Yes, I will stay with you.” 

You let out a breath, nodding as you take off your dressing gown and slippers, returning them to their homes. You peel back the covers, sliding back into bed, smiling when you feel the bed sink with his weight. You glance over at him briefly, then lay down, curling up near him, but still leaving space between the two of you. You fall asleep almost immediately. 

Rhys watches you sleep, with a smile. You look so relaxed in your sleep. He thinks about tomorrow, about you meeting his family and the smile widens. They'll love you as much as he already does.

A/N: hoo boy lots of long chunks of dialogue in this one! Like with Fixing Spring, I'm tagging all who previously requested being tagged and will stop if anyone requests! Feel free to send in requests, I'm going to work my way through a couple I already have this week!

Divider by @tsunami-of-tears

Taglist: @lilah-asteria @readingislife2006 @acourtofimagines @mistymoocow @irelanrose

@darker-december @starswholistenanddreamsanswered @loving-and-dreaming @bravo-delta-eccho

@sidthedollface2 @oucereeng @jesskidding3 @panther-girl-124 @jiarkives

@thecraziestcrayon @nebarious @nyctophiliiiiaaa @63angel @mariahoedt

@l3xi3luv

[exiledandwanderingfox]

Hi, I want to talk about Andras.

Often times I’ll see Feyre fans who don’t want to acknowledge the fact that Andras saved Prythian, will downplay what he did, say they forgot his name so he clearly wasn’t important, or blame Tamlin for it.

First of all, Tamlin is not “at fault” narratively. This curse was placed on Spring Court, and the story literally describes that the people of Spring loved their HL so much that they volunteered to be killed. So this part is not Tamlin’s fault. Why would it be.

I’ve seen people say “Tamlin and Lucien mention Andras once and never bring him up again that’s so frustrating!”. These are the same Feyre fans who will say they hate Lucien because he hated Feyre for half of the first book. Gee, guys. I wonder why Lucien hates Feyre during that time. I wonder why he wouldn’t want to talk about the fact that Feyre shot his friend in the eye and skinned him, TO FEYRE. And on the other hand, now that we’ve seen it for a few books, Tamlin buried his trauma deep until it all comes out. First of all, if he’s trying to make Feyre like him, why would he bring up the wolf she killed often to guilt trip her (even though Feyre can’t really feel guilt). And why would he want to feel the pain of thinking about Andras when he has to make this man’s death matter and carry through with fixing the curse??

I’ve also seen people mention “Feyre cares about Andras so much that she made the water wolves in his honor 🥺”. HUH?? Girl where. This is the same girl who told Tamlin and Lucien she’s sorry for killing Andras and then tells the readers she didn’t actually mean it. She never thinks about Andras past book one.

Let’s not push this “Feyre loves Andras” narrative. It’s dumb, and it’s another way for Feyre fans to try to push a kindness on Feyre that she doesn’t have.

[vigilskept]

You know, as much as I'm willing to denounce Loghain for not trusting the Orlesian Wardens to do their job and fight the Blight, I am also aware that Celene had sent a bunch of chevaliers to accompany the Wardens across the border, and there is no proof they were going to leave once they had entered Ferelden. Like sure, let's blame Loghain for making the Wardens's job harder than necessary, but I do think Fereldans kind of dodged being conquered all over again, never mind Cailan's secret dealings with Celene. 😥

exactly………………. 10 YEARS down the line after the blight we know the orlesian nobility were still itching to take ferelden back!!! that’s not paranoia!!!

sure, the wardens weren’t necessarily on board with that agenda the way loghain thought they were. but that’s really only down to chance? another warden in duncan’s place might not have been so opposed to seeing orlais move back in! caron/andras/kader is framed as a favourite of empress celene… could they have been trusted not to scheme if they were in charge? if they were given great authority at a time of crisis?

keeping orlais out and checking the warden’s power makes the blight a lot harder to cope with… but doing otherwise risks losing ferelden’s independence again. and given how no one but the wardens knows for sure that it is truly a blight (no archdemon sightings…) he does have every reason to be skeptical of anyone arguing otherwise!

[gwynethberdarasupremecy]

Gwyn week day two: Songbird - the soul of a singer

For @gwynweekofficial day two I decided to make a moodboard with songs that remind me of our favorite songbird Gwyn. Here’s a list of the song (lyrics) and why they resemble Gwyn:

1. Lacy- Olivia Rodrigo

Dazzling starlet, Bardot reincarnate

Well, aren't you the greatest thing to ever exist?

Ooh, I care, I care, I care

Like ribbons in your hair

Of course the ribbon has to be connected to Gwyn. She was so determined to cut it.

2. Lights up - Harry Styles

All the lights couldn't put out the dark

Running through my heart

Lights up and they know who you are

Know who you are

Do you know who you are?

Does Gwyn know who she is? There is such great mystery around her heritage? Is she a lightsinger? Does she have day court heritage? Why does she glow?

3.Rise up - Andra Day

And I'll rise up

I'll rise like the day

I'll rise up

I'll rise unafraid

I'll rise up

And I'll do it a thousand times again

No matter what trauma Gwyn goes through, she always comes out stronger, giving us powerful quotes like: “I am the rock against which the surface crashes, nothing can break me” and “I have been broken once before,” Gwyn said, her voice clear. “I survived it. And I will not be broken again—not even by this mountain.”

4. Part of your world- Jodi Benson

Up where they walk,

up where they run

Up where they stay all day in the sun

Wanderin' free,

wish I could be Part of that world

I firmly believe Gwyn will give us a little mermaid retelling. Just like Ariel, Gwyn is stuck somewhere even though she wishes to see the outside world. I can’t wait for Gwyn to finally leave the library and see the outside world.

5. The water is fine - Chloe Ament

I am the river's daughter

I am the river's daughter

I am the river's daughter

Gwyns river nymph heritage shows that she really is, in fact, the rivers daughter. I hope we’ll see more of that side of her in the next book.

6. My jolly sailor bold

Upon one summer's morning, I carefully did stray

Down by the Walls of Wapping, where I met a sailor gay

Conversing with a young lass who seemed to be in pain

Saying, "William, when you go, I fear you'll ne'er return again"

My heart is pierced by Cupid

I disdain all glittering gold

There is nothing can console me

But my jolly sailor bold

I have a headcanon that Gwyn used to sing lullabies like this in Sangravah. That she always felt connected to sirens and nymph like creatures.

7. Warrior- Demi Lovato

There's a part of me I can't get back

A little girl grew up too fast

All it took was once, I'll never be the same

Now I'm taking back my life today

Nothing left that you can say

'Cause you are never gonna take the blame anyway

Now I'm a warrior

I've got thicker skin

I'm a warrior

I'm stronger than I've ever been

And my armor, is made of steel, you can't get in

I'm a warrior

And you can never hurt me again

I feel like this one is kind of self explanatory but I’d like to highlight again how beautiful it is that Gwyn turns something so traumatic into something that makes her strong. She is a warrior through and through. First Valkyrie reborn and Carynthian.

8. Jolene- Dolly Parton

Your beauty is beyond compare

With flaming locks of auburn hair

Ivory skin and eyes of emerald green

Your smile is like a breath of spring

Your voice is soft like summer rain

I cannot compete with you, Jolene

Lastly, I feel like this song really captures Gwyns beauty. She is truly gorgeous inside and out. Not to mention that she has a voice of gold.

All pictures come from Pinterest.

[cloveroctobers]

THE STRANGERS: SINNERS ON COURT

A/N: the point? I’m highly disappointed with the new release of the strangers and the summer is the perfect time for the horrors and THAT was just not it for me. I’ve also been strongly debating if I even want to dip into writing for challengers since it’s very layered but also MESSY and who wants to flop if you drop something but you don’t know unless you try right? So here’s me serving something since chapter 1 gave us…not much? I’m blaming the writers and not the actors ofc so they need to hire me for chapter 2 ASAP. So this is for my horror and challengers lovers I guess! I might have to do a trilogy myself depending how this turns out.

In short: Challengers meet The Strangers.

WARNINGS: mostly oc x art pairing with a hint of Tashi x oc! Language, slow burn/slow start? Slight graphic violence + animal brutality?—Not overly described but hinted + a LENGTHY read!

SYNOPSIS: Andromeda, “Andra,” Cove has always been the secret double to Tashi’s game even when Andra claims that is far from true. Although their friendship has been on and off since Andra transferred out of Stanford…everything always comes back to the court. Andra seeks out Art’s company to attend her grandfather’s birthday party back in her hometown in Virginia Beach not expecting Tashi and Patrick to show up as well considering the confirmed secrets the three have recently spilled. After the events at Andra’s grandfather’s birthday party, the four decide to take a trip up to Andra’s cottage to get reacquainted but soon find three more guests at the door who release nothing but terror that surely ruins the weekend.

.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *

“I just remember the knife plunging into him and the amount of blood that spluttered from his mouth as they flung his body to the floor…” Andra hears the intake of her breath before she continued, “his eyes still locked on me as if—as if he was imagining during his last moments what our life as a married couple could be like and I couldn’t help him. I couldn’t stop them from hurting the man I wanted forever with. They took that from me and I still feel that knife, shoving its way through my body every time I think of him. My forever husband.”

The host of the podcast speaks now, “Not long after Maya honored us with this virtual interview, she was found brutally murdered in her shared home with her late fiancé, Ryan. The case of the road-trip lovers still remains unsolved till this day.”

A nudge to Andra’s bare upper arm makes her flinch, bringing her back to reality as she glances to her right to see her good friend, Art Donaldson staring at her, freshly awakened from his nap. Andra allowed him to be her passenger princess since he had to take two flights to get here, which she was thankful for.

After he received more frustrating than devastating news: that Lily was biologically Patrick’s, Art fled to London to take a much needed break from his two opponents. Art held Lily so tight and even thought of taking her with him but had no energy to fight Tashi who made little noise at his departure. She knew he would be back. Andra received a text from Tashi before Art ended up calling her and it was so laughable that Tashi acted like she had everything so figured out.

[~From: Tashi Duncan.

I fucked up and it’s finally caught up…you’ll probably be hearing from Art soon. I know you’ll do me a solid and watch over him for me, won’t you Meda?

Purposely leaving Tashi on read, Andra didn’t engage in a conversation because not even three minutes later, Art was in fact calling her phone—which led to a two hour call.

“What the hell are you listening to?” Art stretched his arms back around the headrest, a frown in between his brows.

Andra glances at him while rolling her stiff neck around in the driver’s seat, “A true crime podcast…about this couple that ends up having to stay in an airbnb and they basically get slaughtered by three sociopaths in creepy masks.”

Art squints, “and you feel that’s appropriate for us who are currently on the road alone surrounded by nothing but trees in this hillbilly state?”

“Hey! You wanted to see the cottage. I was—

Art interrupts his old friend, “Don’t say perfectly fine staying with your mom and step-dad because you and I both know you can’t stand those bastards.”

Which was not untrue…

Andra’s mother was big on living up to “the Cove,” name and felt that her daughter was the biggest disappointment (compared to her older brother Ahmed) although she kept a tight smile on her cheeks when speaking about Andra to family members. Andra’s mother’s side of the family came from a lineage of historians and archaeologists and Andra’s grandfather was also a well known tennis player in Ethiopia. Half of Andra’s mother’s siblings were also in the athletic field, her mother was once a gymnast and even made it to the Olympics multiple times until she suffered a severe neck injury on her third attendance ultimately ending her career—you can just guess how well she bonded with Tashi more than she ever did with her own daughter—later becoming a athletic sponsorship director.

Andra laughs with a nod of her head, “yeah, you’re right.”

Art hums already being aware, reaching for Andra’s phone pausing the podcast to search for a playlist for this late night morning drive. “This is a mood killer…no pun intended so I’m switching this but rest in peace to Maya and Ryan.”

You’re resting your head back against the headrest, eyes focused on the road, “You’re lucky I’m getting tired and don’t want to argue with you since there are rules such as: Driver always gets to pick the soundtrack.”

“So you were listening to this to scare the shit out of you and keep you awake?” Art states with a curious glance at the braided haired woman, “pull over and let me drive the rest of the way then.”

Andra twists her lips around, ready to debate on that since she loved her “little,” coupe and actually loved being the designated driver. When she transferred out of Stanford, she may or may not have gotten into illegally racing a few cars for extra cash, after her mother put a hold on her card until she declared a new major that was satisfactory enough to her. If anybody needed a ride and fast then Andra was your girl…just try to keep that on the low, although it was public record.

A yawn ripped through her lips before she can even stop it. She didn’t even want to dare a glimpse at Art who now sat up with a fold of his arms. He was being such a dad and Andra found this funny, laughing to herself while Art patiently waited for her to say something.

“You’re too cute, Art.” Andra tells him, lolling her head to peek over at the now dark haired blond, “looking like a scolding parent as if I didn’t get enough of that at the beach.”

Art sighs at that.

For as long as Art’s known Andra, she’s always been this humorous vibrant personality but it only ever shined when she stood on her own. It dimmed a bit whenever Tashi took over and Andra made herself small enough so her own mother wouldn’t find something to pick at but that never did her any good. Andra only came out here to celebrate her grandfather, since she was never sure how many more years the old man had left in him and he was much softer on her than the way he treated her mother, which was a cycle for what Andra endured. Her step-father refused to see it, comfortable in his rose colored lenses while she also often had a bickering relationship with her brother, Ahmed who claimed she played the victim game whenever their mother said something that basically teared her down.

It was a tale as old as time.

Andra thought inviting Art out here was to mainly help him wrap his head around what he was going to do and it would be good to see each other face to face after all this time but turns out it was him being by her side that made things a little easier.

“What do you need?” Art decided to ask, keeping his eyes trained only on her.

Andra chewed down on her bottom lip as she whispered, “…for you to drive.”

Art dipped his head at this, waiting for Andra to pull over to the side. They unbuckled their seatbelts and Art was out into the night while Andra climbed over to the passenger side with her fallen over zip up hoodie. Shutting the door behind him, Art adjusted the seat with a small teasing smile at the bronze skinned woman who scoffed at him in return.

Before he switched gears he says, “for what it’s worth…I think you’re brilliant at whatever you do and the only thing that matters is what you’re comfortable with when you look in the mirror. Be proud of that.”

A watery smile goes his way and Andra lightly reaches over to shove his shoulder, “you’re disgustingly sweet and I’m glad you’re in my life.”

“I love you, you know that?” Art sends a lopsided grin back.

Andra breathes, “I love you too.”

And that keeps Art warm in the sixty-five degree summer night. He runs his fingers over the door and cracks the window open, allowing the air to brush against the side of his new do, loving to hear the sound of that. It felt good to hear sentiments being reciprocated verbally and Andra never had a problem letting it be known. The pair connected in that kind of way, the whole words of affirmation was huge in the way they wanted to be loved and can always count on each other to be so reassuring.

“Now how many more hours do we have to go?”

Andra who’s balled up on her side, peeks at her glowing phone that was plugged into her car informs, “just a hour and nine minutes.”

Art puffed out some air as he switched gears, then checked over his shoulder before pulling back onto the road, “It’ll be sunrise by then so…hopefully a gas station will grant us with it’s presence and we can fill up, grab some shitty coffee or energy drinks and be on our way to your fancy cottage.”

Andra rolled her eyes, “it’s nothing compared to your California barbie dream house.”

“Please,” Art snorted, “it’s far from that and just a place to lay our heads and raise Lily in…” He clears his throat, “it’s just a house.”

Andra knew Art was still coming to terms with it all. He already went off about it and what he thought marriage should be despite spending years in one. Art claimed he wanted a divorce but the next thing Andra knew, Tashi and Patrick were showing up without her invite. Art didn’t invite them necessarily but he did let it slip to Patrick where he was over texts and that he didn’t know when he was coming back. Art needed some time and he always felt like there was never enough in this world.

The next few moments consisted of Andra dozing off, her phone buzzing with notifications as Art got off the next exit after driving nine miles and headed to the gas station. Art grabbed his own phone, tempted to wake Andra but she looked so at peace with some much needed sleep. He quietly exits the car and makes his way to the dingy gas station, greeting the grunting old man with the Santa Claus beard at the counter before searching their inventory. Art decides against the coffee that has a few dead flies floating at the top and circled back to the fridges.

Once he finds the little that he wanted, he slides the objects onto the counter at the man with the unkept beard. A small smile graces Art’s lips in a attempt to be friendly but the man doesn’t budge.

“That’ll be it, thanks.” Art urges as he holds open his wallet, also hoping to get the strange man to get a move on so he can get out of here quickly.

The man grunts, reaching forward from his spot on the stool to bring the few items closer to his view before he slowly starts punching them into the register. Art’s patient as the man takes his time and before he can start looking around his gruff tone comes out, “that’s a pretty one you got out there, don’t ya?”

Art blinks, easily picking up at what the man is hinting at and chooses to ignore him, “I’ll need some gas too. $25 on pump three.”

The man hums to himself, reaching over some more to punch his dirt stained fingers into the buttons although his eyes keep darting out the window. This time Art follows the old man’s stare but only to check on Andra to see that she is still in fact asleep on the passenger side.

“Y’all not from around these parts are ya? Headin’ north might not be the best choice ‘round this time of year.” The man tells Art who feels his brows coming together in a frown.

He wasn’t concerned about how the man can figure out if he was from here or not. It was the same as visiting any place and Art’s been to many considering his status. It was what the man, Walter (according to his also grimy looking name tag) said afterwards.

“It’s a week before the holiday, I think we’ll be okay but thanks for caring.” Art keeps his calm, small smile still on his lips as he pulls out two twenty bills, noticing the: CASH ONLY sign, “keep the change and you have a nice upcoming morning.”

Art doesn’t bother engaging in more conversation, shoving his wallet back into his jogger pocket, and scoops the items into his arms; not asking for a bag either. Art half expected the man to latch onto his wrist and deliver another unsettling line. This time Walter just goes back to being silent and Art’s not sure which one was worse, as he steps away and exits the store.

The pinging of his own phone, doesn’t stop Art in his tracks as he continues back to the coupe. Opening the door, he dumps everything into the driver’s seat for now before moving quickly to the nozzle. The minutes feel long as Art darts his gaze from the changing numbers on the pump, to Walter’s stare from the store, and back to Andra whose body gently rises and falls with each breath.

With a click, Art brings his attention to the nozzle to place in its original space, then moves the drinks into the holders and tossing the few snacks onto the floor by Andra’s sneakers on the floor. He searches the glove box for some sanitizer, but no amount of alcohol can erase the internal feeling of something going wrong.

Art laughs to himself as Walter holds up a hand in their departure, feeling that he was just being paranoid since his nerves were already out of whack way before he got to this state. Art shrugs it off once the gas station is no longer in sight and feels his phone ping some more.

“Not now, Patrick.” Art bites with a scratch to the back of his head.

He doesn’t have to look at his phone to know that it’s Patrick. He’s been the main one sending texts at all sorts of times since Art left the country. Art was already irked before but now that he brought Tashi to impose on his time with Andra was just another thing to tick off the list. Andra was great at distancing herself from the two and was always vocal on her distaste for Patrick but this was still a process for Art.

You can only be on the court by yourself for so long according to Art Donaldson.

Andra Cove strongly felt different.

“Hey,” Andra’s raspy voice is followed with a grasp to Art’s shoulder, catching him off guard which makes her widen her half lidded eyes at his flinching, “…everything good?”

Art scoffs, “what? Oh yeah! I just thought southern people would have the best manners.”

Andra clenches the tiredness from her eyes, trying to comprehend what the blond was saying to her, “…what happened?”

“Don’t worry about it,” Art says, “take a look in the holder, I got your favorite.”

Peeking at him with one eye, Andra glances down at the yellow bottle and reaches for it with a smile that splits over her lips. “Pina colada Fanta? I can’t believe you remember that.”

“How can I forget? You talked about it all the damn time back at Stanford and would throw a fit every time the campus never had it.” Art briefly looks at the woman from the driver’s side.

Andra laughs as she squeezes it to her chest before placing it back in the holder, “appreciate you, bub.”

“Sure,” art replies, “try not to chug it all down for breakfast later and then complain about a tummy ache afterwards.”

“Are you this bossy with Lily?” Andra questions while getting ready to roll her body to face away from Art again.

She freezes a bit, wondering if it’s a sore subject to even mention the child’s name but Art just shakes his head with a snort, “I’m actually the fun parent, believe it or not.”

“Oh I do.” Andra’s turned back to the window again, reaching a hand back to squeeze Art’s thigh in comfort.

He watches Andra’s hand: her gel nails a combination of a summer orange sunset and magenta. Her pretty fingers are inked with delicate designs and Art finds that her touch radiates a warmth that he’s not used to. A touch that is gentle but firm enough that lets him know that perhaps this gloom season doesn’t have to last forever.

There’s some instrumentals playing throughout the car now but Art doesn’t seem to mind it. Andra’s hand is now back to her own lap as she catches up on another round of a nap and Art is left to his own thoughts and this horrible energy drink that tastes like battery acid.

“Jesus,” Art mutters to himself as he feels himself gag balling a fist up to his mouth, in hopes of settling his stomach on his own.

He glares down at the drink momentarily before his eyes connect with something in the road, which makes him tap on the brakes. They squeal some, which makes Andra pop up in bewilderment, hood to her hoodie sliding right off.

“Damn,” Art comments as Andra grips onto the dash, leaning forward to get a good look at what’s in the road.

Andra sighs, “it’s a deer.”

“Yeah but…it doesn’t just look like roadkill.”

The way its head is bent back is unnatural along with the amount of blood that stains the gravel. There’s traces of glass the decorate the ground which indicates it could have been hit, which was not uncommon. It was the way that both sets of eyes locked on the deer with squints in their eyes that they noticed multiple wounds on its backside that appeared blunt and not accidental.

Andra exhales, her side eye going to the sides of the car before her hands went to check that the doors were locked, “nope. Art, if you don’t float this shit, then I will.”

The glance Art shoots Andra’s way, confirms that twisting feeling he felt back at the gas station. He crosses his hands over the steering wheel, turning the car to go around the deer and picks up the speed just as the navigation system speaks telling the two which direction to continue in.

That was enough to keep Andra awake for the rest of the drive.

6:46AM

The old friends are pulling up to the Olive green and white cottage. Equally they both rest their heads against the seats, just measuring the amount of energy it was going to take to collect their things and bring them into the home.

“It’s nice.” Art compliments while Andra who rolls her head to meet his tired stare with her blank one, “what? I’m not bullshitting you, honest.”

“Uh huh,” Andra answers as she grabs her Fanta staring at it a bit with a smile, “c’mon Ken, let’s get inside before the bugs start chomping.”

Art teases with his own nickname, “can we check our surroundings first, Belle? I’m getting some red flags?”

It was the way he actually had a rose by one of his own personalized nicknames for Andra in his phone—the only one with a emoji by her name truly—that reminded Art of how much he missed their friendship.

“Is this more about the Santa Claus cashier or the stabbed up deer?” Andra asks with her hand on the door.

Art scratches at his brow as Andra’s phone dings, “uh…both?” He muttered while she deeply inhales, eyes going to the phone she was about to leave behind in the holder. Pulling it free, she unlocks the phone and reads the message with a scowl.

Holding the mic on the bottom right of the device, she speaks into it, “thanks for letting me know last minute, dumbass. Send.”

Shoving the phone into her hoodie pocket, she meets Art’s eyes, “Ahmed gladly let me know that the front porch light is still broken from the last time he snuck up here to use my place for who knows what.”

“I’ll take a look at it, just set a reminder.”

Andra nods, quickly doing so before pushing the door open followed by Art. He breathes in the fresh air which smells of pine and salt from near by water. It’s quiet besides the light chirping from some birds and there’s not many cars near by at Andra’s neighbor to their left.

“The Triplett’s come here in the winter months, they’re Minnesota natives if you can believe it.” Andra informs as she swings the strap of her duffle bag against her shoulder and moves the seat back into place.

Art nods, “so what you’re saying is…we’re actually alone?”

Andra shrugs, “that’s kinda what the cottage life is all about, babe. Don’t worry though, that’ll be ruined once your two favs decides to grant us with their presence.”

Art watches as Andra slams the door, leaving Art behind as she crosses the pathway towards the front porch. He’s scrambling a bit now, grabbing his own bag and locking the car. He jogs up the steps just as Andra is unlocking the door. “Did I mention that I’m sorry about that?”

Andra fans her hand as Art steps into the home, being met with the grand view of the water out back. She’s locking the door behind him and then responds, “you sure did but nothings changed.”

She hoist the bag on her shoulder as she breezes by that, “alright little house tour since it’s still early and we could both use some more sleep. Dining table is here, kitchen in the corner, sitting area to a pretty great view is up ahead with the best deck in this sleepy town right beyond those doors, bathroom is right by the last set of sliding doors leading out to the deck, and your room is right around that wall. Around from there is the actual living room and my room is upstairs. Please keep your shoes by the door.”

Art breathes out a laugh, “if I didn’t know that you were once a careless tennis athlete who chose cross country instead—out of all things—then went on to sports journalism later turned kinesiologist, I’d say real estate might be your true calling.”

Andra rolls her eyes with a laugh, “thanks for the whole run down of my résumé, you’re a great guest so far.”

“Oh, you haven’t seen anything yet.” He winks as he moves to start unlacing his sneakers while Andra shakes her head, moving towards the couch with her back to the sliding doors.

She jokes, “I’m not on your salary so I don’t have a personalized chef or anything—

“Shut up, Andie.” Art playfully aims his shoe at the braided woman who grins at him with a wink, “I don’t need that special treatment shit, especially when it’s going to be over by next year anyway. I already know I’m gonna be taken care of by you.”

Since Art got his friendship with Patrick back, he seems to believe that he’ll be retiring soon and he wasn’t anywhere near forty just yet.

She shrugs her shoulders, “…all depends on how good of a guest you are.”

“I think I’m the best you’re gonna get…compared to your brother anyway.”

“Don’t even get me started on his bobble head!” Andra yells before continuing, “Now I have to check the house to make sure he didn’t ruin anything and try to hide it but at least he was honest about the light. The bare minimum! Please let me know if anything seems off in your room?”

Art laughs a little, knowing just how much Andra went at it with the older guy. Art never had any issues with Ahmed, he had an award winning smile and was definitely a charmer. The only thing Art didn’t get was why he didn’t have his sister’s back when it came to their mother? Probably because he got all the credit of being the “good” kid and didn’t want to ruin that but that was selfish. Art didn’t know what it meant to be a sibling but he figured it should be some sort of union, even if you had to Duke it out from time to time.

Blood was supposed to be thicker than water is what they say.

Art was an only child so he’s always been on his own but he felt like his late nana was the closest thing he’s had as true family.

Art zones back in on Andra stepping back into his view, “…what I was meaning to say before my mind goes all over the place is the kitchen should be pretty stacked although we’re only going to be here for a day or two. I had someone make sure of it so we don’t have to make any special trips but if you want to later—

“Andie,” art calls out to her making her blink and realize that she’s talking a lot, something she does when she’s stressing or needing some rest, “we’re good, get out of here.”

Her hands are on her hips now, “Are you trying to bully me, Donaldson?”

“No?” Art blinks.

“That’s what I thought. See you in a few hours and holler if you need anything.” She starts to walk off but Art follows her.

“…you do have weapons here right?”

She glances at him over her shoulder, “duh, who the hell do you think I am? Oblivious?”

“…what’s your middle name again?”

“Good night, art!” She waved her fingers in the air while Art is smirking.

“It’s morning!”

“Then tweet, tweet, bitch!” She calls back over the wall before she disappears and heads up the stairs.

Art can’t help but to let the bubbled laughter fly past his lips, heading to the right where the bedroom is waiting behind the sliding barn doors. Dumping his bags on a near by chair, he plops down on the side of the bed, resting his hands on his knees as he soaks in the stillness.

Flinging his body sideways to lay down, after staring out at the view for some time, he pulls out his phone to see a few texts from no other than Patrick.

The most recent says that Art’ll be seeing him and Tashi by the early or mid-afternoon at the latest, depending on when Tashi was ready to go. All Art did was like the message, placing his phone back on his belly before he closed his eyes.

Art is awakened by the stench of food and the goosebumps that decorate his skin. Rubbing at the new texture on his skin, he pushes himself up into a sitting position and peeks through his slumber eyes to get a sense for what time it is.

11:52AM

He gets to his feet, rubbing at his eyes and leaves his phone behind face down on the bed. Leaning in the doorway he looks both ways before stepping out onto the dark wood floor and heads back towards the front of the cottage. He spots Andra immediately facing his direction in the kitchen, leftovers of a sandwich in her hand while she’s sipping at some sort of smoothie.

“Morning sunshine, how did you sleep?”

Art leans against the counter from the opposite side and grins, “like a baby.”

“See the magic of this place yet?”

“I still need some convincing…maybe the last bite of that sandwich will help?”

“Oh you mean this one? That’s full of grease and has the potential to clog arteries? Aren’t you an athlete?”

Art gives a straight face, “doesn’t mean I can’t have cheat days and when did you become my trainer exactly?”

Andra pops her lips at the taste, leaning forward to mockingly toss the rest of the sandwich into her mouth.

Art leans away from the counter, “alright, okay. Your hospitality actually sucks and I rate this establishment zero stars.”

“You can’t chop me.”

“I just did.” Art states matter of factly as he starts making his way into the kitchen.

Andra scrunches up her nose, “always such a little baby! There’s one waiting for you in the toaster oven and I’ll be reporting this to the blogs.”

Art argues, “And you’ll be hearing from my lawyer.”

“Classic answer,” Andra circles around Art now in her flowy white skirt to plop on the couch dramatically with a hand tossed against her forehead, “I thought you said you loved me, Arthur?”

“Oh c’mon, not the whole government name drop, Andromeda!” Art drags out her name around stuffing his face while Andra laughs laid out on the couch.

He preferred “Art,” over his full name any day and that’s what everyone’s known him as before he even made it big. That of course didn’t apply to his own parents who felt it was foolish to call their son by a nickname rather than what they gave to him at birth. They were less hard asses than Patrick’s parents but when it came to titles that’s where he and Andromeda related.

“I’ve been added to the group chat thanks to your side piece.” Andromeda waves her phone in the air.

Art takes her leftover smoothie and plops down beside her, sipping at and ignoring her raised brows, “what side piece?”

“Mickey mouse.” Andromeda tells as she shows the dark blond her phone, “Patrick says him and Tashi are now on the road so we should see them around 2 at the latest.”

Art slowly finishes chewing, elbows on his knees as he’s in thought, nodding at this information. He can’t exactly say he’s thrilled to have them here—as bad as it sounds considering 1/2 of the pair consists of his wife but he’ll keep that to himself.

Andra sits up then, shuffling to sit thigh to thigh with Art as she nudged his shoulder, “Take a minute and get ready, I’ll be outside enjoying the sun until I give you the rest of the tour.”

He questions with a lopsided grin, “there’s more?”

“Always.” She flashes her teeth at him, leaving Art to peer down at her lips briefly before she turns her head to look at the waterfront for a bit, leaving Art to analyze the profile of Andra’s face. The little chocolate chip mole by her hairline of her straight backs is something he always found cute no matter which way she wore her hair. Just like her finding the spec of honey brown on the side of his dark blue hues in his right eye.

She gets up, using his shoulder for leverage before she breezes by him smelling like caramel, peonies, and pink pepper—a mixture of many scents that matched her body chemistry quite well. Art lets out a long sigh, leaning back against the couch after she slides the door closed but that doesn’t stop him from watching her walk across the deck to sit pretty on the wicker egg chair.

Some time later Art makes his way out to the deck, freshly changed and dressed for the remainder of the day. He meets Andra out on the deck, leaning over it just as she’s getting off the phone.

“I don’t care when you bring it, Ahmed. All I know is that it better be back here by the time I come out here again. Yeah, yeah. Bye!” Andra ends the call while there’s amusement on Art’s face while he takes a spot right next to her.

He glances at her before looking back at the view, “are you out here tearing your big brother a new one?”

“Nooo, what gave you that idea?” She’s sarcastic although her smile is as sweet as can be.

She spins to rest her elbows on the banister, eyeing Art’s appearance. He meets her stare, raising his brows in question as she says, “The facial hair is a good look on you. What’s next? Growing your hair back out?”

Art snorts, “nah, I think that’s over for me. Too much maintenance.”

Andra hums as she waves him along, “let’s see the dock…wait did you put your sunscreen or bug spray on?”

“Uh no?”

“Not on my watch, Donaldson.” She charges right by him to the egg chair, coming back with a dropper, “hold out your wrists.”

“What is it?” He asks but complies as the oil is dropped right on his skin.

“Now pat it against your neck and ankles then finish with your wrists.” She instructs, “the mosquitoes are devils by the water and hate lemongrass.”

Art shakes his head with a smile, “whatever you say, mom.”

“That’s okay, clown me all you want but you’ll be thanking me by the time we’re inside for the night, free from bites.” She pats his waist on her way by to put the dropper back.

Together the friends make their way down the set of stairs to the lower level. They walk across the grass where Andra points to their left, showing where the shed is full of equipment for water activities.

“Paddle boarding?” Art quizzes as he caressed his facial hair, “I can’t picture it.”

“What? I can’t have other hobbies?” Andra asked, hands on her hips while staring at the man underneath her eyelashes.

Art shrugged, “course you can. I just remember a certain lake party where you were lounging by the lake instead of being in it.”

Andra shields her eyes from the sun as she turns up her glossed lips at the memory, “I’m surprised you remember that when you had your tongue down Divinia Alonto’s throat.”

“Did I?” Art inquires, “I was honestly so worried about my new friend not having a good time.”

“And keeping Patrick from getting his ass beat by one of those guys that’s probably a linebacker now.” Andra chuckles as she leads the way up the small hill towards the dock.

The air is warm just as the light breeze while the two travel some more together. It was funny thinking about it all, how Andra became acquainted with the pair, first watching them at the US open since she was visiting Ahmed who recently moved out to Queens, New York. She would later end up at Tashi’s match a week later, sitting on the bleachers not far from Patrick Zweig and Art Donaldson. She ended up introducing herself to the two prior and congratulated them on their win just for Patrick to invite her to a lake party they were attending that night.

Andra said she would think about it just as her pink LG chocolate phone was ringing. It was Tashi. Art even took it further to round off a number Andra can reach them at, leaving her to just stare at them in amusement.

“Aren’t you gonna type that in? Or do you need me to do it for you?” Patrick attempts to flirt but Andra just peers at him from underneath her oval purple and black glasses.

Andra laughs, “I’ve got it but if I need someone to lift a finger for me, I know just who to call. Later.”

“Later.” The boys echo as they watch her walk away.

“She wants me, dude.” Patrick leans back into Art’s shoulder as they both watch her hips sway, doing a signature spin while answering the phone.

“Yeah right, in your dreams!

“Hey,” Art speaks, his eyes were off to the right, “you never mentioned a court.”

Andra deeply exhaled as they both face it now, “that’s because I try to forget it every time I’m out here. After I purchased this property, my mom made it her mission to have one put out here as some sort of gift to me? Honestly it feels like torture porn to me but I shut my mouth and never use it.”

Art turned his eyes into slits, “if you don’t use it then somebody definitely does. What do you get up to out there in Alaska?”

It still shocked Art to hear that Andra settled out in Alaska these past few years. Of course she still traveled all over working with the most popular athletes, this he knew because he seemed to get the runaround whenever he mentioned her but Tashi deemed it as Andra still holding a grudge with her cutting Andra off after she transferred.

Art believed it was possible but eventually they reconnected instead.

“Lots of things,” Andra answers, “but you’d have to come out there and see.”

Art hums, “that another invitation?”

“As if you need anymore.” Andra looks at him and he holds her stare.

“…I think,” he starts as he leans towards her a bit, “I’d like to see if you still got it.”

Andra scoffs, “I don’t need to prove a damn thing.”

A smile twitches onto his lips, “sure you don’t but we’ve got nothing but time?”

“And we can enjoy that time by the dock underneath the sun. I know you like to get a little tan for the summer.” Andra argues with a cross of her arms.

Art rolls his eyes, “if you’re a chicken shit just say that.”

“If you wanna see me in a skort just say that.” Andra fired back, standing on her toes a bit to match his height.

Art presses his tongue into his cheek, looking off to think about it, “fine, you caught me! I’d love to.”

And the way he’s speaking to her makes Andra bite her bottom lip and Art knows he’s got her. He’s smirking as he tries to reach for her folded arms in attempt to hug her but she playfully slaps his hands away and points at him in warning.

They’ve worked up a good enough sweat on the indigo blue court. Art’s serving with the ball at the neck of the racket before he sends the ball over. Andra has no issue matching Art’s rhythm, he’s found his spark again but Andra knows he’s been tired of professional tennis. It just took him much longer than it did Andra. She knew right from the beginning that it wasn’t her sport although she was phenomenal at it.

It was a shame really because it seemed effortless. So causal she swung but it was always fast, her brows remained turned inward while the rest of her face remained calm despite the usual routine of pulling her bottom lip underneath her teeth. Art is so lost in the swing of things, picking up on Andra’s own tics that he tries to go for the ball at the last minute. Andra pulled another one of her moves, almost like a ballet twirl spinning just as she smacks the ball back to Art.

Stretching his arm just too far, Art hisses as he feels his shoulder sting almost like static radiating down his arm followed by a burning sensation. Andra sharply inhaled, eyes widening as she tosses the racket to the side. Moving around the net she’s down on her knees as Art lays on his back panting.

“Hey,” she speaks touching his shoulder which he lightly grips, “Let me.”

Carefully he moves his fingertips out the way, choosing to stare up at the sky for a while as Andra feels around. Art groans as she touches just at the crease of his armpit, surrounding by his old wounds.

“It’s a muscle spasm,” Andra informs as she digs her fingers along his skin, “breathe through it, Art.”

He pinches at the bridge of his nose, doing as instructed and croaks out, “my shoulder stood no chance, I should have known, you still got it and do that famous spin of yours.”

“Whatever,” Andra dismisses, “now look at you, all messed up, old man.”

Art huffs, “well I wouldn’t pick anybody else to look after me.”

Andra shakes her head with a small smile as she raises Art’s shoulder while still pushing back at the stubborn spasm. When Andra shakes his shoulder out to help relax it, she goes to raise it again but he’s sitting up now with a wince. With one hand he slips against the small of Andra’s back, making her inhale as she looks over at him.

“Am I hurting you?” She softly inquired, quickly checking in but Art shakes his head.

He’s pushing her to his lap and whispers into the summer air, “Never that.”

Before his lips are placed right on her’s.

Their noses are smashed together as their lips work together. Andra makes the move to grip Art’s jaw, tilting her head to deepen the kiss. He rubs at her back and squeezes her hips, matching her speed as if time is all they had.

Abruptly she pulls back, holding her lips while Art peers at her in alert. His eyes are even darker now but the spec of gold in that one eye is bright.

It’s such a pretty sight with his lips pink and panting.

“Art…what was that?” She questions behind her hands.

His hands don’t leave her frame as he breathes, “that was something I wanted to do since I hugged you for the first time in years at your grandpop’s party.”

She tilts her head at this news and moves to sit beside him against the hot court, “You’re married, Art.”

“I don’t think Tashi knows that.” Art mutters while Andra sighs.

“So this is about revenge?”

Art shakes his head, “no. It’s about finding what’s missing and you’re it.”

They both lock eyes and Andra doesn’t realize she’s leaning in until Art is kissing her again, pushing her back onto the court which burns her bare back in more ways than one. She hisses and Art pulls away and sits her up immediately as he cups her face, “…can we go inside?”

“I thought you’d never ask.”

Their grins are wide as they scramble to their feet like two old friends secretly up to no good. The excitement was real, doing something that most would frown upon but the pair were not the only two that moved to their own drums.

Andra’s helping Art remove his shirt, he playfully whines more than needed as she pulls it over his aching shoulder but reveals he’s just messing with her and it’s not anything he can’t handle. His hands find comfort right on her ass, pulling her lips right back to his as he lays back against the couch. It’s when he starts bucking his hips against her’s after she slips her tongue into his mouth that Art knows he’s in trouble.

“I’ve missed you, Andie.” He tells her as she presses kisses down his neck.

She pulls back, “how much?”

He managed to flip the two over, sliding his hand up her leg brushing her white skirt all the way up as he presses his front against the only cloth that’s left covering her. “That much.”

“Then I think we need to fix that, don’t you?” She quizzes, holding his face in her hands again.

His lips are pressed to her’s and she nips at his bottom one and just as he’s reaching to shove down his own pants, there’s knocks at the door.

Both of their gazes turn to the door and Art sits up.

“Special delivery!” A familiar voice screams behind the door.

Art clenched his eyes shut while Andra sits up on her elbows to pull her skirt back down.

“Sorry,” Art kisses her cheek while Andra just secured the satin pearl colored tie around her braids before handing him his shirt back.

Art can already see Andra closing up and he hates to see it. She waits for him to fix his shirt again, this time with the tag in the right place, and wipes the gloss from his lips before making her way to the front door.

Yanking the door open to stop the pounding at it, she spots a grinning Patrick with shades on leaning against the door. “Mickey! You don’t have to kick my door in to announce your arrival, we can hear you from up the street.”

“You sure? Didn’t want to startle your quality time, sweetheart.” Patrick clicks his teeth with a wink as he leans forward to smack a kiss to her cheek before squeezing his way by.

Andra yanks Patrick by his backpack and scowls at the back of his neck, “Take your shoes off in my house, asswipe.”

“Yeah, whatever you want. Got it.”

Andra steps onto the porch now, spotting Tashi with her phone pressed to her ear pacing back and forth. Patrick snickers as he makes his way over to Art, arms held out ready for an embrace but Art just gives him a side eye before choosing to move into the kitchen.

Tashi lifts her head just to meet Andra’s eyes on the porch. They watch each other, Tashi half expecting Andra to send her a Princess wave like old times but she doesn’t. Once Tashi starts crossing the lawn towards the steps is when Andra turns her body to lean her back against the front door. She sees Tashi’s mountain of bags resting on the porch and raises her brow at them.

“Hey,” Tashi greets shortly as her heels click against the porch.

Andra dips her head, “Hi, Tash. Have a nice ride up here?”

“I never would have picked this hick town for you even if it’s part time, what were you thinking?” Tash asked as she begins moving her bags into Andra’s home herself.

Once Art comes over, he silently grabs the last bag to bring in before putting space between him, Tashi and Patrick.

“I was thinking, my money, my choice.” Andra replies as she closes the door.

Patrick lets out a low whistle, arm stretched along the back of the couch, “easy with the claws ladies.”

Tashi glares, “Shut the fuck up, will you?”

“Don’t start.” Andra warns the dark haired man who just shrugs, peeking over at Art with his tongue out in silent laughter who’s shaking his head at him.

Tashi surveys the cottage, heading to the waterfront view while looking left and right. “So what’s the sleeping arrangements?”

“Art’s on this level, I’m upstairs, Pat and you can have the couches.”

Patrick bounces on the one he’s sitting on now, “cool.”

“Right,” Tashi snorts, “So the room with the barn doors? Got it.”

Andra sends a look to Art who just moves the tension from his jaw. Tashi picks up on this and says, “what have you two been up to?”

“Yeah! It’s a nice set up you got here, Andra! I’m sure there’s plenty and nothing to do.” Patrick’s fishing but they’re not taking the bait.

Art decides to change the subject, “have you two eaten?”

“We stopped at that one place for breakfast before we left but I’m always down to decide what’s for dinner.” Patrick admits while Tashi rolls her eyes.

The now blonde haired woman brushes by Andra, “I’m going to bring my things into the room while you guys figure out how to entertain yourselves.”

Andra follows after Tashi as she’s going back and forth, bringing her things and arranging them and Art’s things. Andra sits on the edge of the bed waiting for Tashi who raises a brow at her. Art lets out a long exhale as he listens to the door slide closed and Patrick gets to his feet to place his backpack on the floor. Stretching his arms above his head, he moves towards the wall where the front door is to mess with the record player.

“Just make yourself at home, why don’t you?” Art mutters to Patrick as he flicks through some records and picks a random one to place down.

Patrick shrugs, “what am I supposed to do? Just sit around and wait for you to talk to me?”

“You’re lucky that Andra even opened the door.”

“What is this? You finding a new team member to replace me? Don’t forget that I’m always your number one.” Patrick leaves the needle off as he burns his stare into Art who’s resting his hands on the counter.

“Are you fucken serious right now? No way are you saying that to me when you did what did behind my back, again.”

Patrick rests his hand on his chest, “you’re acting as if I knew, which I didn’t, and what we’ve been over already! I would never try to take Lily away in the first place, I’m fine being uncle Patrick and I’ll still love her regardless.”

“Well shit, thanks for your permission!”

In the room, Tashi has now taken a space on the bed, arms crossed while Andra stands in front of her. “…Do you really think being here smothering him is the best choice?”

“Smothering?” Tashi scoffs, “Art fucked off for two weeks and he folded right into your arms. Whether you like it or not, I’m his wife and he’ll always need me.”

“Tashi…you had him believing that lily was his—

“She is!” Tashi exclaimed, “you honestly think Patrick would be a good father and god forbid a husband? They’re not children, they’re men and should start acting like it. Those white boys wouldn’t be shit without me and you know it, which is why you walked away.”

Andra frowned, “I don’t have anything to do with your relationships with Pat and Art so I don’t appreciate you trying to wrap me into your bullshit. I’ve been out the mix, sis. You’re already in my house, which takes a lot of balls from the both of you after you did Art dirty.”

“Art, art, art, art, art! Jesus! Did you fuck him already? Was it even better now than back when you were nineteen?”

One thing about Tashi, she knew how to be so disrespectful. However it had no effect on Andra as a smile split over her lips at the blunt short haired woman. It wasn’t a secret that Art was Andra’s first before he decided to start going after Tashi. They were each other’s flings and that was good enough for Andra as long as he wasn’t screwing anybody else that didn’t deserve him. It was her mistake then and maybe it would have been her mistake now if they had more time on that couch.

She didn’t need Tashi picking at scabs.

“Would that make you feel better?” Andra asked with a tilt of her head, “voluntarily giving us a pass for what exactly? To even the score?”

Tashi smirks, “You were always my greatest weapon and I don’t get even, I win.”

Patrick stands on the other side of the counter, taking Art’s glare, “I don’t know what you want from me, man. We were back to normal, great even! I’m at my best and you’re going out with a bang, don’t let this ruin how far we’ve come.”

Art huffs, “I’ll decide.”

“Fine, whatever you want but don’t make it another thirteen years.” Patrick snaps, “…where’s the booze?”

Andra pats at her scalp in frustration, “if you have any respect for me as a past friend, you’ll do right.”

“What’s your definition of right?” Tashi rolls her hands around trying to understand, “Leaving when it gets tough and having unrequited love?”

“What’s yours?” Andra debates stepping to Tashi who gets up in her face, “Cheating on your husband, having a baby on him, lying to him for years, and still walking around like the mean girl you are? Let me tell you something Ms. bob, we’re grown now and it’s tired.”

Tashi sizes Andra up, “it’s cute that you think you have a back bone now. Took you long enough.”

“Keep trying me and you’ll see just how that back bone works.”

Tashi kisses her lips at Andra who steps back, “great talk.”

“You haven’t changed and I don’t think you ever will. I’m glad I walked away from this friendship years ago, you make me sick.” Andra snips over her shoulder as she reaches for the handles.

Tashi fans her hand, “oh fuck you and your excuses. You’re just looking to point the finger at every bad guy to make yourself feel better about your lack of drive for anything.”

“What?” Andra whips around, “You’re the only miserable one I see here. At first I thought it was ambition but that turned into greed and then control. You’re just mad that I would no longer let you diminish my voice. I’ve had enough of that with my own mother! I’m not tennis, I’m more than that, which you’re not and that bothers you so maybe you’re the one that’s really sick.”

Tashi claps it up while Andra stares up at the ceiling, “glad you finally found your voice and told me how you really feel in person, instead of laying it out to the public like you should have. Only took you forever.”

Andra shrugs her shoulders, “if I have something to say, I’ll say it to your face.”

Tashi hums as she steps to Andra this time, brown eyes scanning over her features,“Tell me more.”

“I don’t want to do this with you anymore, Tash.” Andra’s hands are up in the air, “I removed myself from the situation long ago and after this weekend here, I don’t want to talk about it anymore. We just don’t mesh and that’s okay, I have boundaries and you have crazy standards that you expect everybody to follow. Art and I were cool before you came into the picture—

“Aht, don’t do that. We were high school friends before Art. Why should some man come between us?”

This was true, Andra and Tashi were the best of friends anyone can have as teenagers starting from their junior year. This wasn’t their first fight and wouldn’t be their last. They were in different groups by the time Andra came along since she was from Virginia but her family moved out to California when she was fourteen. They knew of each other since they had gym class together but didn’t get the chance to form a friendship until they were sixteen.

“You don’t get it,” Andra sighs, “it wasn’t just Art. It was everything for me and it would have killed me so I chose a different path. If you wanna be mad at me still over that, fine. We can’t change each other.”

“You honestly think that’s what our relationship was?” Tashi pries, “it was about challenging each other and shaping each other into the best of the best.”

Andra tightens her stare, “So tell me Tash, do you like the result?”

Tashi inhales, thoughts wandering as there’s more harsh knocks at the door. Andra deeply frowns figuring it’s Patrick who locked himself out as she looks away from Tashi, sliding the doors back to peek out. She can’t see from the doorway but she also doesn’t hear Patrick or Art talking.

The knocking sounds again and Andra steps out, followed by Tashi. Andra sees Art walking over to the door while Patrick brings his attention away from tinder on his phone.

“I thought it was you,” Andra tells Patrick, shoving his shoulder, making him lift his head to peek up at her.

Patrick snorts, “nah. My serve is more baseline.”

Tashi walks along the path between the couch and sliding doors, peering at the view of the afternoon sky turning lightly yellow against the blue. There’s birds in the sky but they’re flying further away. All of their heads turn back to the knocking, leaving Art to unlock it before Andra tells him to ask who it is.

Her attention is pulled away as Patrick starts carrying a conversation about dinner but she’s curious to who’s at the door. She see’s Art standing up straight before closing the door, locking it while holding a piece of paper.

“Who was it?” Patrick examines as Art makes his way over to the three still holding onto a fallen paper.

The blond shrugs, “some girl looking for some other girl.”

“God, I hope it didn’t slip to the paps that we’re out here.” Tashi actually seems uneasy about that, perhaps this news was more damaging than she was letting on.

Art replies, “Yeah that would not be great.”

“I mean…would it be the worst?” Patrick sits up on his elbows, “The press is hot right now and I’m the hottest topic—which I should be.”

“Yeah mainly for having a kid with your coach, who happens to be my wife.” Art retorts, “You should be so proud.” He flicks the paper into the air, leaving Patrick to reach up and snatch it.

Patrick turns his attention to Andra who’s sitting on the other side of the lounging shaven man, “…you never told us this was some religious town.”

“What?” Andra frowns, trying to not dissociate.

Patrick holds the paper up in the air as if it’s show and tell, “Latter-day saints? Don’t tell us you invited us here to join a cult?”

“I didn’t invite you!” Andra declared while Patrick flicks the paper to the ground and raised his hands in surrender.

Tashi asks Art, “what’s the name of the girl she said she was looking for?”

“It wasn’t Tashi.” Art notifies, “don’t worry.”

Tashi breathed out a laugh, “me? Never.”

Art moves to sit at the dining table glancing at the three in the room. Andra’s gone quiet, Patrick’s humming a tune while he’s messing around with his phone again, and Tashi is burning her stare into him. He knows they’re going to have to talk at some point during this trip but for now?

“Andie and I ate not too long ago but nows a good as time as any to decide what to eat for dinner. So…any suggestions?” Art questions, eyes moving around the sitting room.

Tashi mumbles that it doesn’t matter, arms crossed as she also seems to have a lot on her mind. Patrick is sitting up against the arm of the couch now, blabbing about many options that most likely wasn’t in the fridge or freezer. Art’s eyes are on Andra as she moves to pull the large curtain over the sliding doors, which makes Tashi eye Art watching her as well.

Andra moves back to the kitchen, pulling out some already prepared items from her assistant to rest on the counter. Patrick’s back at the record player and Tashi has now taken Patrick’s spot on the couch.

The braided woman flinches as she feels hands lightly grip her hips. “Hey, are you okay?”

Andra nods, “yeah…I think so. You?”

“Ask me tomorrow,” Art whispers into her ear.

Andra utters, “just need to get through tonight.”

“Yup. Perhaps slow and steady wins this race?” Art guesses as he swiftly presses a kiss to Andra’s hairline by her personalized chocolate chip.

When he leaves her side, Art catches Patrick’s eyes who has his brows raised at that exchange, waiting for Art to tell him something with Art’s own eyes. Art just shifts his blues, leaving the main area to take a minute to himself. That doesn’t last as Patrick shortly follows after Art, seeking answers about what his plan was with Andromeda.

Tashi turns to Andra as Patrick disappears into her shared room with her husband.

“Guess it’s our turn to be fucking housewives, huh?”

Andra leans her elbows along the counter, feeling a cramp in her stomach while she breathed through it, “the real ones just exited the scene.”

Tashi laughs at this as she pushes to her feet looking for a drink. She wouldn’t exactly call this, “happy hour,” but it’ll do for now. Andra knows it’s bad luck not to cheers and Tashi Duncan was one of the last people she wanted to do so with but Andra had a feeling that she didn’t want anymore bad luck.

So the glasses clinked while Patrick and Art hashed it out behind the barn doors. Outside of the cottage by the water, stands a darkened silhouette underneath the slight shade of a dogwood tree, just lurking and waiting for the right time to rally.

Dollface would soon be ready for the next task once the hours passed with some friends to bring to the match.

.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *

Continue with my summer anthology writings & prompts here.

[lordofhaterism]

Acotar does this thing where from acomaf onwards it tends to view the fae human tensions like an equal blame conflict rather than a consequence of fae enslaving the human population and the lasting effects. This doesnt work for the simple reason that the fae are consistently implied to have insane amounts of power compared to humans, the only fae that most humans have ever interacted with are usually there to prey on them, and also the ages of the cast generally indicate the vast majority of the fae alive were still alive for slavery and potentially involved. It leads to weird as hell situations like Jurian being rawdogged for torturing a general when Azriels whole job is torture, etc.

Basically all this is to say, this gets really funny once you remember Feyre in the first book is literally one of these mad as hell humans and specifically kills Andras with an ash arrow because she registers hes sentient and fae and therefore potentially a threat, which by the standards of the books afterwards HAS to be hate crime????

[starscelly]

not the stars but regarding the treatment of non na players - I’ve spent the past year angry on Matvei Michkov’s behalf

even before he was drafted there were concerns about character issues and reports calling him a bad teammate because he wanted to score and win (but don’t all hockey players?!!) but when it’s a North American player, particularly Canadian, those same traits are given a positive spin - competitiveness and a high drive to win. watching just one flyers game would show how untrue the rumors are. His teammates love him and sing him praises in interviews, they swarm him and push him behind them whenever teams get too physical. He gets helmets kisses and has warm up shenanigans with Andrae. It’s clear he’s loved

even with all that there was a particular media outlet that still tried to paint him as a bad teammate claiming he blamed not scoring on a breakaway on a teammates pass when he was actually making fun of himself for missing an empty net

it’s infuriating that people are still trying to perpetuate this false narrative and for what?

sorry for ranting and you can completely ignore me I just need to get that off my chest

(also GO STARS!!!)

admittedly i do not know Much abt the flyers or michkov so i did not know abt all the alleged character issues (which... as u said...... are just largely Being A Hockey Player lol) ... i just saw an interview where he called himself a dog when it comes to english bc he understands everything but can't talk back 😭😭

he seems very sincere and silly and Mature from everything i've seen, it truly is just this weird anti non-north-americans sentiment that is sooo pervasive in this league !!! truly if any canadian or american player spoke and behaved like he did everyone would be so normal abt it.... because it literally is normal....... idk that's sooo bizarre to me always and forever!!! no worries abt the rant it is Felt and Understood lolol

(go stars!!!!)

[shi-daisy]

The Last Evergreen Heir

Hello everyone! We start the week for best book boy today and I am ready to bring feels. Here's a lil fic of Tamlin's eldest brother seeing snipets of his reign. (Follows A Court of Threads & Daisies continuity) Hope you like!

@tamlinweek

Tamlin Week 2024- Day 1- Heir of Spring

The Last Evergreen Heir

"If you end up getting high from eating those tulips I'm blaming Ciaran." Dorevan said as he held baby Tamlin.

The giggly baby had eaten more than half the garden, as his tiny hands were faster than Dorevan's adult ones. Still, as he looked back Tamlin had used his magic to make the flowers bloom again after her ate them.

"That's a lot of a magic for a tiny child like you...Does this mean you shall be heir?!"

Tamlin didn't respond he just tilted his head as the loud question and coed, reaching for Dorevan's face.

His eldest brother rolled his eyes. "Don't even think about it kiddo. It's between me and Cece, and I don't intend to lose the court to the stoner or to you, flower eater. I've been here longest and dealt with father before either of you were born. I'm the heir, do well to remember!"

But Tamlin didn't remember, because he was just a baby who didn't see a man lecturing him, or at least attempting to, he just saw his eldest brother carrying him back to the manor.

***

He'd said it, been cruel about it, drilled into the youth's head that he was not to threatening his claim.

It didn't matter. By process of elimination Tamlin Evergreen was now High Lord of Spring.

He could see his body as a ghost, he died reaching for his father who was but a spalt of gore on the wall. Rosabella was still on the bed with the life choked out of her, while Ciaran was slumped against the bed, trying to comfort Tamlin before he too joined them in death.

He knew the pair reconciled today, mere hours before Night came to them and slaughtered everyone in revenge. Dorevan tried to place his hand on Tamlin's shoulder as he cried for his other brother. Neither deserved the tears, but when had that ever stopped the musician from giving them all undeserved love?

"No more tears, you're the heir. It's time to toughen up! You'll do well...You'll do better than either of us..."

***

He'd been right, for Spring bloomed under the rule of the unexpected High Lord.

Dorevan remained a ghost while his parents and brother reincarnated. He decided to stick around and see what Tamlin would do as a ruler, someone had to tell him he did a good job, even if he couldn't hear it.

The flowers bloomed, the court was paradise, the people loved him and Tamlin remained ever humble and sentimental. He was indeed the best out of them.

'If only I'd seen it sooner, and been a better brother.'

Lamenting would do nothing now, but he did stand beside the throne and smiled, placing his hand upon Tamlin's head. "I'm so proud of you, I know mother would be too."

Tamlin's emerald eyes darted around the room, as if he'd heard him...

***

His baby brother wept again as another sentry was lost. Lucien held him in his arms while the pair kneeled on the floor, the other soldiers present grieved by his side, still none of them refused their duty. They never would, not with this High Lord.

Amarantha had cursed him...Bloody wench always gave the impression she'd be trouble, Dorevan just didn't think she'd be this much!

"Falling for a fae hating human...pity we can't make Jurian turn back from the ring, he's your type...Maybe I shouldn't be joking around."

Dorevan remained with Tamlin until he fell asleep in tears. The man tried to be though, well not tried, he was though.

"If I was in your position right now I would've jumped off the roof...You're a though cookie Tam. Let it out, they'll understand. I know you'll make it. You're a good High Lord.

***

Andras was with him when his brother brought the girl, and throught their cute romance that resulted in the broken curse and the restoration of Spring.

But just as he thought Tamlin got his happy ending and he could leave...the cursebreaker became a cursebringer tearing down the court that had been unwavering for milenia.

Oisin would be furious, Ciaran disapointed...Rosabella might understand but then again their mother was a saint and a sensitive sould.

Dorevan just broke, upon seeing the once proud ruler of Spring become but a beast swallowed by pain as he court emptied and left him tot he decay.

"We can't help him. Dore, we need to trust him. He'll rise again."

Dorevan wasn't so sure, he knew how frail his baby brother's heart was. He just hoped in time Tamlin would heal and recover, making the court bloom again as only he could.

"Don't worry, little one. We will look over you, until you rise again."

***

He wouldn't, not as High Lord of Spring or Evergreen Heir. Tamlin was now a civillian of Spring, after his wrists spilled crimson and he nearly joined him and the other ghosts of the manor.

Dorevan thanked Lucien a thousand times for saving his baby brother, but he hadn't been able to save his power.

"So, Tamarand shall be heir now?" He asked Daphne as they waited in the foyer with the other ghosts.

"I suppose so. Don't worry, he'll have Tamlin to guide him, he shall be good."

"I don't doubt that...I'm just saddened at the end of the Evergreen dynasty. This isn't how Tam would've wanted it to go."

It had been a shock, to meet a half sister in the afterlife and find out he had triplet half siblings. The two living ones were probably heading to the manor now, with the new Heir of Spring.

Still, even if he trusted things would work in the end, Dorevan's eyes couldn't be pried from Tamlin and Lucien. They seemed to think the same as him.

Tamlin is heir no more.

***

Though one could argue it didn't matter. That he was able to shine far brighter and work much better with another man as heir. Tamlin had carried the weight of the crown better than any man in his position could and now he was helping another be better than him, wiser than him, maybe even more beloved than him.

No, no that last one was debatable. Tamarand was an exemplary man, and he'd be a great High Lord. But all of Spring reveared and still adored one Tamlin Evergreen.

He'd been pulled back to life by Rhysand, just an experiment, a way to torment him and his baby brother more, but Rhysand didn't know that his own wife and cousin were on their side, and that between them all they'd put an end to his cursed reign and his circle.

He had the honor of fighting alongside Tamlin, and seeing how the little baby he once held had become a fierce warrior that helped snuff away the Night.

When the battle was over and he went back to Spring his with his family Dorevan had been able to see a court blooming beautifully. It was better than what Oisin could've done, better than what he or Ciaran could've done, it was perfection, achieved by the youngest and kept by their half brother. Truly the ending they deserved.

Dorevan walked the same gardens he did as when they were young. Tamlin was no longer a baby, and thankfully he didn't eat the tulips but rather he helped them bloom.

"You better not eat that or I'll blame Cece."

The youngest Evergreen chuckled. "Can't, he isn't here..."

"Yeah. I miss him, but I am happy to be back, and even happier to see you still standing here. I'll make up for lost time, and I'll be a better brother, I promise."

Tamlin leaned on his shoulders. "Thank you. I'm happy to have you back."

"There's something I don't regret though. Something I stand by even after centuries in the afterlife."

"What's that?"

"You were the best out of us three and I'm so very proud of you Tamlin. You let our dynasty go out on a high note."

Just like he did as a baby, Tamlin smiled with teary emerald eyes and a sense of pride.

"It was an honor to have been heir of Spring."

[christelightlavo]

17th Jun Tuesday : Steph × Cass Playlist and headcannons.

Cassteph playlist

Townie - Mitski

Red wine supernova - Chappell Roan

Blame it on the kids - AViVA

She's my baby - Mazzy star

Primadonna - MARINA

Good Luck Babe (cover) - Sabrina Carpenter.

pink pony club - Chappell Roan

Black beauty - Lana Del Rey.

Queen of kings - Alessandra.

Castle - Halsey

The Blonde - TV girl.

Dog Days are over - Florence + The machine.

She likes a boy - Nxdia.

As the world Caves in - Sarah Cothran

Over & over - Rio Romeo.

Can't catch me now - Olivia Rodrigo

two queens in a king sized bed - girl in red.

Die your daughter - Susannah Joffe

Don't make me - MALINDA.

Kings & Queens - Ava Max.

Cassteph headcannons

Cass steals Steph's clothes, half of her wordrobe is just Stephs clothes.

Steph is the owner of the Cassandra Cain fan page but will never confess.

Cass walks around on Steph's ceiling so much that Steph once got a noise complaint from upstairs.

Steph and Cass sometimes visit Steph's daughter, even if it's for a few minutes.

Cass can predict people and most things thus she usually knows what's going to happen inside an action movie. It bumps her out that it doesn't surprise her, so Steph makes a Bat-family game in which they have to predict what happens next. Cass always wins.

Cass always sneaks in food whenever she knows Steph is having a bad day. It's a small gesture that delights Steph.

People often confuse Steph for Bruce's daughter-- One time Bruce didn't deny but corrected the person telling them, she was his daughter-in-law.

To be different from other people, cass sometimes calls Steph 'hanie' which comes across as Jenne. Steph as a result, starts to call Cass 'Andra'. So now whenever they are with a familiar crowd they call each other Jenne and Andra.

Steph has promised Cass to wear a Kimono during their wedding.

Cass proposed first, fell in love first and Steph fell harder and deeper.

Steph sends cass memes and in return cass sends Steph cool things she found that amazes her. They also send each other weird food recipes.

They have a chart between just them and Barbara, on who is the best Male bat of the week. Duke has the longest streak.

Steph reads Manhua's and whenever she sees a strong female samurai or knight adjacent character she always posts about them tagging Cass saying 'this you?'

They take turns cooking and doing chores in general. They also take turns being the small spoon.

[ts2cambremon]

Cambremon- the events so far (pt.3)

See here for: Part 1 / Part 2

A heart-broken Galina made a deal with Bone Spirit, and asked for Ren to become obsessed with her, in exchange for the life of her unborn child.

Unfortunately, when the spirit asked for some of her hair, she gave the spirit a comb which held some of Kadja's hair.

Meanwhile, Kadja criticized one of the guards, Ivan, for his treatment of Serfs. He took this opportunity to let her know that he was aware that mana had gone missing. Caught off-guard, Kadja agreed to task him with the search for the mana.

Ren was starting to show more and more signs of being obsessed... but with Kadja.

Ren's disgust for Galina, on the other hand, was getting worse. Galina was growing desperate, beginning to understand that she had been tricked by Bone Spirit.

The situation was made worse by Ferenia, who spread the rumor that Kadja was Ren's lover... and made sure Galina knew about it, by mentioning it to her personal Serf in front of her door.

Meanwhile, Guard Ivan revealed himself to have been behind the mana theft. Acting as a middle-man for Galina, he convinced one of the Intendancy workers, Chel, to procure the mana in exchange for large sums of money.

The departure of the expedition was imminent, and Ren nominated his younger half-siblings, Inna and Lef, guardians of the hub in his absence. He also insisted on that Kadja should join the expedition.

Kadja tried to talk Ren out of his decision. She argued that one less Mage in the hub could prove disastrous, as there would be insufficient power to stave off the winter winds. Ren brushed her off, and mentioned that he had already found a solution for this problem.

Guard Ivan, sensing this was a good time to gain favour with the Cambremon lord, revealed to Ren and Kadja who had stolen the mana. He carefully worded his revelation to blame Galina and not implicate himself.

Ren was furious that Galina had stolen mana. While he wanted to get rid of her, divorce would cause tensions with her powerful family, and especially with her sister Serna, the richest merchant in the hub. Ivan offered to find a 'solution' to this problem by killing Galina while Ren was away, conveniently buying himself an opportunity to avoid joining the expedition.

Meanwhile, spiders swarmed and attacked the Intendancy. The Intendants and their helpers barely managed to push them back, and Chel was gravely injured. Andra and Ren's arrival managed to turn the tide of combat, and the spiders were all killed.

Ren approached Kadja after the fight, but she was uneasy with his recent behaviour and newfound attention towards her.

Bruk came to visit Chel, who was revealed to be his mother. Kadja started by comforting him, but in turn, Bruk comforted her, as Kadja expressed her terror about having to join the expedition.

Ren's "solution" to the problem of the winter winds was revealed: he and Andra summoned Bone Spirit, and made a deal with them. In exchange for the safety of the hub during their absence, Ren promised the spirit that he would make a sacrifice. Although the spirit had asked for someone of Cambremon lineage, Ren managed to change the terms, to sacrifice someone of Cambremon blood, one year after their safe return to the hub.

The expedition was off.

Their first challenge, an attack by demon hounds, was easily overcome. Andra dispatched them quickly with some fireballs.

Kadja ran into conflict with the Guards when she defended Janviya, Galina's personal Serf, who had been requisitioned for the mission. To protect her, Janviya was assigned to be Andra's personal Serf during the expedition.

In the aftermath of this conflict, Ren made his attraction towards Kadja plain. Kadja rejected his advances, arguing that he was a married man.

[girl4music]

Fully listened to the new Audible series for ‘Wynonna Earp: Tales From Purgatory’. I loved it. I feel like they have the right format here. My favourite episodes were ‘I’m Not Gonna Miss You’, ‘Another You’ and ‘Biscuits’.

WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!

First off, I want to say that I am kinda sad about Jeremy and Damon splitting off but then we never knew much of them anyway. I too felt it was way too soon to be u-hauling. I guess moving in together after having just met each other isn’t exclusive to lesbians. But you could tell that Jeremy was just on the rebound and that’s not healthy. Especially considering he just wanted “normal” because really… that’s such a fantasy in this weird and wacky world of Wynonna fucking Earp and Nicole learned that lesson big time in ‘Vengeance’.

But in true Emily Andras fashion - we lose one couple to gain another. A new WLW couple. More episodes with them and WayHaught showing them the ropes on how to have a decent love life in crazy, chaotic Purgatory would not be too much to ask if they continue this on.

Welcome to the Earper family London and Tess. I’m sure the fandom is working on your ship name already.

We finally got some answers on Rachel’s whereabouts during ‘Vengeance’. I still think she could have at least been mentioned though. I mean how hard was it to put in a “I hope Rachel’s having a good time in…” or just… something to that effect from her adopted parents to show us that they still gave a shit about the orphan girl.

I loved how romantic and caring Nedley was in his episode and how his wife having amnesia was the inspiration provided for Nicole to stop letting her busy work life as the Sheriff get in the way of domestic life. The honeymoon phase for WayHaught may be over but marriage requires sacrifice and compromise if it’s to last forever. You can’t take any moments for granted - bad or good - because you may find the happiest of memories get lost along the way. It was a very poignant and thought-provoking narrative and it’s probably why it’s my most favourite episode out of all 6 episodes.

I also liked that we got confirmation that Wynonna and Doc spent some time with their daughter before moving on to Dollywood and Tombstone and I like the explanation for why Wynonna felt Alice should stay with Aunt Gus and not come along with them. It made sense because Wynonna’s never been one for conventional. But I do hope if they continue this Audible series they’ll have her grow out of that chronic aversion to nesting because Alice does need her mother. Her real mother. Especially more so now her father’s not in the picture.

All in all I was satisfied with what I heard but I want more. And I want more in this format instead of on Tubi because I still do not trust them to handle WEARP well and you can’t blame me after the horrible experiences I’ve had working with manipulative streaming services.

Audible I’m a lot more lenient towards because they work with independent creators as well as mainstream creators. They’re more about the creative process and have less need to bump up business via manipulation. I’d rather Emily and Co keep working with them than Tubi but I know that the money needs to come from somewhere and Audible is not enough for this team who so graciously keep giving us more and more of their time and effort when they’re not adequately financed and funded enough to keep going with the bigger endeavours… Which is why they need Tubi.

I might be a pessimist but I just want them to be careful because the TV show/film industry is really rough these days and great storytelling always seems to suffer for it.

And make no mistake - Emily is a great storyteller. It’s just she also has to think about the business side of things too and that often means shuffling the cards where she doesn’t want them to be to pay her team. You have to be reminded that it’s not Emily that made the decision to kill off Doc. But it was her responsibility to make sure that she’s doing what’s best for her team - her work family. Nobody wants to accept these choices when they’re this hard. But they have to be accepted.

Audible provides the creative freedom Emily and Co wants but Tubi provides the financial aid to keep telling any stories. She made a smart decision going with both. It’s an executive producer and head writer’s decision as creativity and business are never really happily married. So cut them some slack and realize that this venture is something that will be an on-going process for a while.

[cactusboil]

I think andras was gwyns father

That would be so heartbreaking and messy too, imagine finding out your dad is dead and he was a good person and he was killed, skinned and butchered by your high lady (even if it was out of desperation and stuff, not that I blame Feyre tbh) but I’d be horrified 💀

[blue-blackthorn]

A Court of Unfortunate Hyperfixations

̶̶̶̶  «̶ ̶̶̶ ̶ «̶ ̶̶̶  The Tailshore Chronicle Presents　 ̶ ̶ ̶»̶ ̶̶̶ ̶ »̶ ̶̶̶  

A Transcript of my journal notes while reading A Court of Thorns & Roses - the book - for the first time (circa six months ago)

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random disclaimer: pirate sjm. these are my opinions - don't like, don't read, and keep it pushing. also happy pride!

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book one: a court of thorns & roses

feyre is pragmatic and realistic about her chances - she has to be. it's winter & she's the one hunting for food to sustain her family

evidently dislikes fae for the mistreatment of humans - makes sense

okay elain and nesta....don't seem great but considering the inherent trauma of poverty & how out of it their dad is - i don't blame them.

elain somehow manages to be a bit 'naive' and does not pick up on signals much according to feyre...is that sarah's way of saying elain is neurodivergent? | nesta is just mad (that's fair) at how their cards have fallen

what did feyre's mom make her promise? "Stay together & care for them" to your youngest is wild.

Religion Mention: Children/Word of the Blessed (they still kinda f with faeries)

Okay so the wolf was fae...Feyre fucked up | large like a horse, feline body, wolfe like head, elk horns (the fae that came to avenge the wolf)

Feyre has balls, I'll give her that (and she & Nesta are capable of more than just snapping at one another - deciding to protect Elain for example)

I think we've reached the spring court now (chp 6) | the descriptions are nice.

And that's Tamlin, ladies & gents. He can shapeshift apparently, wears a mask that covers brow to mouth that gold & emerald | nice green eyes too, duh.

Lucien is here now! (have heard great things about him). Red hair, brown eye with a gold orb in the other, bronze fox mask | emissary of the spring court

Tamlin don't play - straight to business, just, and kind (enough to the chick who killed Andras). the fact that he didn't just kill feyre like the treaty would allow is proof of that alone. also he's making sure feyre's family is being cared for.

Lucien is a sassy bitch - love that for him // wonder if he's a good emissary?

Feyre's mom died of typhus when she was eight

Lucien already knew Feyre was going to ask him to talk to Tamlin about finding another way to satisfy the treaty and let her go.

Seems that high fae are not bound by the compulsions/powers of 'lower' fae (cleaning compulsion, answering questions if trapped - like suriel, etc)

Something's in the wood // is it the curse?// No, its the Bogge - only real when you look at it.

Oh shit?! Feyre's dad came into fae Prythian? No way...how did he even... | that's not her dad is it? has to be an illusion (he moves too fast, seems odd) - yeah, it was an illusion.

Tamlin's last born, meant to be a foot soldier, not high lord

Puca = like sirens - show you what you want so they can lure you in then eat you

She's having nightmares about killing Andras (that sucks I guess)

Okay - Tam & Lucien are arguing. Is Tam not enforcing the borders of the Spring Court enough? Tam seems scared of being like his father.

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line break - even lists need a breather sometimes

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Creation Story (chp 13): Disembodied female hands pour out a cauldron of golden sparkly liquid, that liquid creates the world (Prythian & beyond) | First mention of the mountain

Lots of miscommunication/lacking in-depth dialouge/also Feyre he's just trying to help

Stan Lucien - love a good 'I'm not telling you to do the thing while explaining how to do the thing' moment.

Alright - we're asking a suriel questions | Feyre knows now she can't leave (totally, utterly), and that Tam is high lord...I figured that one out a while ago...catch up girl

New Location Drop = Hybern, another fae kingdom - ruled by a king. Hostile towards humans (apparently the throne is made of their bones). King of Hybern dislikes the treaty (wants to enslave humans again - fuck you too bro). Infiltrated fae Prythian's courts to devise a plan but 50 years ago - one of his agents (the deceiver) disobeyed...

Naga = normal mythological description | vicious fighters. mean

Ooh - he's progressive (relatively). Anti enslavement of humans & against tyranny. Stan a leftist king!!...well, high lord.

Oh shit, a fae from the summer court was dumped over the border - with their wings ripped off. Geez...(Luc vomited and ran out - I get it)(Feyre and Tam comforts the injured, he dies)(chp 17)

Lucien = youngest of seven sons to High Lord of Autumn/didn't care for fighting for the title - traveled, made friends, fell in love with a 'lesser' fae woman.

His father had her killed while Luc watched/ so he abandoned the Autumn Court. Eager to eliminate more competition, 3 of his brothers came to kill him - Luc killed on, Tam killed the other, one went back - prob Eris...heard a bit about him.

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line break

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Feyre was eleven when dad lost his fortune/fourteen when started hunting cause money ran out

We're getting along now | Feyre sees the gallery & paints, falling into a rhythm.

Alright Tamlin's dad & older brothers (two) were terrible and enslaved humans

What's an Attor?

Calanmai? Fire Night? I'm guessing this is some faerie circle shit. Tamlin says it helps renew the land's magic in the upcoming year. Feyre left the house after Tamlin said to stay in her rooms while Calanmai transpires.

I think we might have just met Rhysand?

Hes being a suave asshole (that seems par for the course)

Luc found her (thank God) and is dragging her back while berating her

Well Tamlin is high of the leftover magic from the great rite/ He bites Feyre...umm blow the whistle, can we get the council to decide if I like that?/ she slaps him - good.

Aww, Feyre painted something for Tamlin

Urisk = a kind of fae, Alis is urisk

Solstices = day and night are equal//other courts can relax and just be.

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line break

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Amarantha's (associated with Rhys)/ Rhysand is a fucking asshole - isn't he supposed to be entreating with them?? | casually mentally violating Feyre's mind too, like??! - I'm supposed to eventually like him?!

Tamlin...Tamlin I get why you're sending Feyre away but damn...bro...a little more emotional intelligence on our FMC's part and we could have broken this damn curse.

Nesta is the freaking GOAT - she managed to not fall to Tamlin's glamor, went looking for Feyre with the help of that assasin for hire chick in dead fucking winter. love that we're getting more of her personality now - the sisters are sistering y'all.

Rhysand took the fake name Feyre gave (Clare Beddor, was apparently one of Nesta's friends...) & burnt their manor to the ground. no one survived.

Feyre goes back to Spring Court - the manor's been ransacked - Amarantha is High Queen, she was an emissary from Hybern & its most lethal general | hates humans cause her sister Clythia was killed by her human lover, Jurian, during the war...am I supposed to feel bad for the slave master fae here...or? I mean her death was brutal as fuck, sure, but hey...it's for freedom |so Amarantha wants to take over the human's land in Prythian

She keeping Jurian in a ring...somebody free that man.

These trials are bullshit, the answer to the riddle is love (if you could read, you'd know this Feyre) and i don't think I want to know what Amarantha is doing to Tam to have him like this...it's fucking creepy.

These trials are bullshit, the answer to the riddle is love (if you could read, you'd know this Feyre) and i don't think I want to know what Amarantha is doing to Tam to have him like this...it's fucking creepy.

So...rhys killed clare beddor, tortured her mercilessly, knowing damn well he could just not done that...i know all the high lords at 'low power' right now but you work for the bitch...you can trick her and let the innocent person go. bro, this shit is crazy.

Lucien, you're a real one, he knew he'd get punished but he's helping Feyre as best he can anyway. that's bestie for real

her arm is broken, clean through the skin, i'm assuming it's pure adrenaline and shock that's keeping her alive after fighting the middengard.

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line break

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Yo wtf? Rhysand, what the actual fuck? Nigga came in here to offer help in the most sick way possible? What the fuck are we twisting her broken arm for, asshat? You already said you know she's dying, you know she's going to take the deal...why are you fucking torturing her?

my girl just sold her fucking soul, bro. i mean at least she bargained the two weeks down to a week...but the tattoo is infuriating and that eye in her palm is definitely going to be spying on her. on god fuck rhysand....i need tamlin to run this nigga through with a sword, a hundred times.

lady of autumn coming through to help with a stupid trap of a chore. thanks girlie

get this man off my page. i don't to see him anymore. i don't give a shit about his beast form or him helping with the lentils. fuck you rhys

oh my god, what the fuck...i don't like this. you don't need to bring her with you rhysand, and what is this dress? that shit is barely a scarf...does sjm think this shit is cute? because it's not. I don't like this...

she said no to fae wine. he makes her drink the fae wine. lucien won't even tell her the bulk of what happened while she was under the influence...

this shit goes on for three months...i'm tired of this. I don't think I do this anymore. there's no need for this. he's just being a sadistic prick. you'd think the guy who has to sleep with amarantha against his will wouldn't sexually assault somebody...but hey...

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line break

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problems that could be solved if feyre could fucking read, no. i stopped counting a while back. free lucien bro, they're really getting his ass back to back on this shit.

this is utter misery. i'm tired, are you tired because i'm tired...and so is feyre. her ass is depressed now. honestly I just gotta lock in for the next five chapters and not write until i get something good.

the third task is heartbreakingly simple and yet so incredibly tortorous...nah bro, this is crazy. she can't stab these people...nvm mind she's stabbing them &...tam has a stone heart, shit still gotta hurt though (wonder how that works, did he shift his heart to be that way?)

oh, well...i think i should've been expecting amarantha to kill feyre after figuring out the riddle. that makes sense. tam killed the bitch right back (luc in with the assist because yeah). my boy is crying and rocking feyre's body...it can't do this shit bro. i'm crying in the club.

i think feyre's bargain tattoo with rhys is what's allowing her to see what's happening even though she's dead. rip to a real one, she was annoying at times, but not a completely terrible protagonist.

oh i spoke to soon the other high lords are giving fey drops of their power in thanks for what she did. a favor for a favor i suppose...even rhysand...somebody get his ass of my page, please!

fuck this shit, man...tam bby, i'm glad you finally get to say - "“I love you,” he whispered, and kissed me as he laid his hand on my heart."

i'm sorry fey's turning is giving bella in breaking dawn. no shade...just yeah. but hey, she's immortal now, cool beans.

they finally get to be together, we gotta work through this trauma though...i doubt their relationship will be the same regardless but in order to move on together & still be healthy...we need some therapy here - both couples and single.

rhys is still fucking here. the talk is pleasant, sort of, ig...and the fact that I already know that fey and rhys are mates is ruining the little stumble back into the shadows exit he gives when the bond snaps into place. fuck, come on, i really like feylin...can't we keep them? please?

and we're back at the manor. we're home.

welp, that's that. thanks for reading!

[mariacallous]

While Russia looks on and applauds, Viktor Orban has turned Hungarian society against Ukraine in little more than two years – a trend which could poison neighbourly relations for decades.

Ask an average Hungarian who and what is to blame for the country’s economic difficulties and the answers will likely be: Ukraine and the war.

“I was totally struck by an almost sheer hatred against Ukraine when we did in-depth interviews for our research,” Dorka Takacsy, a researcher on disinformation at the Budapest-based Centre for Euro-Atlantic Integration and Democracy (CEID), tells BIRN.

Takacsy conducted focus group discussions about Ukraine before the June 9 European Parliament elections and was confronted by the general consensus that “Ukraine deserved the war” and that Ukrainians are “greedy, corrupt and aggressive”.

An earlier poll on foreign policy attitudes of Hungarians conducted by Zavecz Research in March and published by the Budapest-based think tank Policy Solutions, backs up this negative image and even takes it a step further: 51 per cent of Hungarians see Ukraine (the victim of an unprovoked attack by Russia) as a threat to Hungary, markedly up 16 per cent from last year.

In fact, the survey found that Ukraine is perceived as the main threat to Hungary, with Russia coming in second. For Fidesz voters, Ukraine and the US – Hungary’s NATO ally and partner – are regarded as the main risks for the country’s security.

Support among Hungarians for financial help to Ukraine dropped as well, while every second Hungarian would feel “bad” or “very bad” if forced to have Ukrainian refugees as neighbours.

“These are dramatic changes,” Andras Biro-Nagy, director of Policy Solutions, admits.

Takacsy says the results of both her and Policy Solutions’ surveys show “propaganda seems to work”, but concedes she is puzzled by how effective the Hungarian government’s anti-Ukraine campaign has been. Among Hungary’s neighbours, including Slovakia, Romania and Austria, it is Ukraine which is the least liked and the least supported. And Russia’s full-scale war against the country has not helped increase sympathy for it. On the contrary.

“I think there are many factors which made anti-Ukrainian propaganda effective. First, the almost complete lack of knowledge about Ukraine before the war. It was no tourist destination, there were very few personal relations, it was not really on the map for many Hungarians,” Takacsy says.

Rather, Ukraine was mostly seen as a very poor, very corrupt country, with no linguistic or cultural affinity like in the case of Poland. The country was so insignificant that Hungarian pollsters in general did not even bother asking about attitudes towards Ukraine until the war began in February 2022.

Pulling the strings

There was a mutual neglect on both sides of the border for almost a decade, experts agree.

Hungary, which is still haunted by the 1920 Treaty of Trianon peace agreement that stripped the country of two-thirds of its territory and half of its population, had to mend ties with Slovakia and Romania, both with large Hungarian ethnic minorities, in the process of EU and NATO integration back in the nineties. Prime Minister Viktor Orban also takes credit for spearheading the reconciliation effort with Serbia, another neighbour with a sizeable ethnic Hungarian minority.

However, Ukraine – with the smallest Hungarian minority of about 150,000 – was not regarded as a diplomatic priority until the controversy over the country’s new education law limiting the use in education of minority languages, including Hungarian, exploded in 2017.

The law – which has since seen several amendments that meet most of Hungary’s demands but did not change the government’s position – was primarily aimed at Russian-speakers but hit all ethnic communities and drew criticism from Poland and Romania as well.

“The rights of the Hungarian minority have played an important role in the bilateral discourse since 2017, but the communication of the Hungarian government was much harsher than that of Romania or Poland, whose ethnic communities were also affected,” Zoltan Sz. Biro, a renowned historian specialising in Russia, tells BIRN.

Many see a Kremlin hand in driving a wedge between Hungary and Ukraine. “Since 2014, Russia has been continuously and systematically investing… in provoking inter-ethnic confrontation between Ukrainians and Hungarians in Transcarpathia, as well as in diplomatic confrontation between Kyiv and Budapest,” Dmytro Tuzhanskyi, co-founder of the Institute for Central European Strategy, wrote in a recent study.

Tuzhanskyi argues the seeds of the animosity were planted well before the full-scale invasion in 2022, with disinformation campaigns portraying Ukrainians as “Nazis” trying to assimilate Hungarians, while Hungarians were framed as revanchist with territorial claims.

The results first bore fruit in Ukraine. A 2021 survey conducted by the Democratic Initiatives Foundation in Ukraine found that 41 per cent of Ukrainians saw the Hungarian government’s support for its ethnic minority as “part of a strategy to invade or annex Transcarpathia”. In 2023, a year into the war, 41 per cent of Ukrainians were convinced Hungary was ready to use the ethnic issue as a pretext for aggression against Ukraine.

The Hungarian government vehemently rejects any allegations of territorial claims. But the closer Orban got to Russian President Vladimir Putin and gravitated further from his European allies, the louder anti-Ukrainian propaganda in Hungary became. Historian Sz Biro thinks it was relatively easy for the government to frame Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukraine as the problem, because Hungarians – in contrast to Poles or the people in the Baltics – did not see Russia as a threat.

“Polls in the 1990s indicated that Hungarian society had a neutral or rather pragmatic approach to Russia,” Sz. Biro says. “The crushing of the 1956 revolution by Soviet troops was not much thematised by the socialist-liberal governments after the democratic transition. And the role of Russian Tsar Nicholas [I] in defeating the Hungarian revolution in 1849 against the Habsburg empire is relatively unknown and has little relevance in the 21st century.”

Paradoxically, Orban’s Fidesz was the only party that strongly criticised Vladimir Putin when it was in opposition during the late 1990s, early 2000s. But since Moscow rolled out the red carpet for the Hungarian prime minister and never lectured him about democracy and checks and balances, Orban has warmed towards him. The government’s propaganda did its best to tune social attitudes accordingly. “The less Russia-critical society became, the more open it became to anti-Ukrainian sentiments,” Sz. Biro concludes.

In the last two years, public attitudes have further shifted from emphasising neutrality in the war towards directly blaming Ukraine for the country’s economic woes.

“There was a top-down approach from the government, convincing society that all our woes are somehow related to Ukraine and the war. Last year’s record inflation was termed ‘war inflation’ and the government also floated the idea that the European Commission would channel Hungary’s frozen EU funds to Ukraine as part of the financial aid. As a result, public attitudes towards Ukraine hit rock bottom,” Takacsy says.

Instead of pondering about moral arguments about an unjust war, Hungarian society increasingly sees the conflict as a bread-and-butter issue – not for Ukraine, but for Hungarians themselves.

Tides of history

Over the longer term, experts warn, animosities between Hungary and Ukraine could take a heavy toll on societies on both sides of the border. Regardless of how the war ends, Hungarians and Ukrainians will have to continue living side by side and, in all likelihood, eventually as members of the same alliances.

The Hungarian minority in Ukraine could suffer the most, tainted by its association with the Budapest government. And Hungarian companies of all stripes will almost certainly be blocked by Kyiv and its allies from any post-war reconstruction effort.

Takacsy is nevertheless cautiously optimistic. “The Fidesz government has invested heavily in a strong top-down narrative, but it is not based on negative personal experiences or grievances towards Ukrainian people. I believe it might be turned around with a similarly strong but positive top-down approach,” she believes.

It is difficult to imagine, however, that any major shift towards Ukraine could happen without a change in government in Hungary. Orban appears happy for the time being to have Ukraine as a scapegoat for his government’s own economic mismanagement and to use Ukraine as a trump card in EU negotiations.

Hungary will stage its next general election in 2026, when Orban could be challenged by newcomer Peter Magyar and his rising TISZA movement, currently polling just 6 percentage points behind Fidesz.

Yet it is telling how Magyar, who was a creature of Fidesz before turning against Orban in early 2024, performed a careful balancing act when he visited Kyiv earlier this year, bringing humanitarian aid to a destroyed children’s hospital but remaining tight-lipped about financial aid, Ukraine’s EU membership and military help. Magyar’s TISZA focuses on domestic politics and corruption, but lacks a clear strategy on foreign and security policy. His first step, if elected, is unlikely to be repairing relations with Ukraine.

“Reconciliation will take a long time,” the historian Sz Biro acknowledges. “Doing the damage is always easier than mending broken relations.”

[luckyshotwrites]

Blame @sketchmog

Here are some unfinished sketches for, of course, WIDFALI! I may or may not ever finish these. I also love how they gradually get worse the more you scroll down. lol xD

Alexander Age 16ish

Redraw of Andras

Goofy stuff with Victoria, Andras, and Terrance. Basically how Andras introduced Terrance to his already right hand Victoria.

Lev and Beatrice (I'M SO SORRY IT WAS FUNNY AT THE TIME)

Lev and Zilla

Lastly some dumb funny stuff later, you can probably tell of who's involved xD

ALSO I LOST MY PEN BUT I PLAN ON WORKING ON A BIG HOLIDAY PROJECT AND BABY ONE. AS WELL AS THE CHAPTER. MY LIFE IS GETTING BACK TO NORMAL SLOWLY BUT SURELY. I HOPE YOU ALL ARE DOING WELL AND THANKS FOR VIEWING!

HAVE A GREATO DAY EVERYONE NONNEGOTIABLE AS ALWAYS!!