#boat on the river is best song

[batboyblog]

Public Domain Notice!

Happy Public Domain Day here in the USA!

today, January 1st 2023 marks the day all works published in the year 1927 enter the public domain! This includes books, movies and music.

Here are a few of the most famous and important works entering public domain today:

The final two Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. You likely have heard something about this, while the character of Sherlock Holmes has been public domain for many years a handful of stories in Conan Doyle's last collection of Holmes stories, The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes, published in 1927 remained under copy right. The famously litigious Conan Doyle Estate Ltd has used it's control of these copyrights to pressure movie, TV, and even authors to pay them when using the public domain character of Sherlock Holmes or adaptations of public domain stories. Well finally the last of their copyrights have finally run out and you can publish a collection of all 56 Sherlock Holmes short stories (and 4 novels) if you want, or use elements from these final stories in your own Sherlock Holmes story and the Conan Doyle Estate Ltd can finally go fuck itself.

speaking of detectives, the first 3 Hardy Boys novels, The Tower Treasure, The House on the Cliff, and The Secret of the Old Mill are also entering public domain, as such you are free to include Frank and Joe Hardy in your own work of fictions, but be careful to stick to their characterization from these first 3 books.

other exciting books entering the public domain today are, To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf, Men Without Women (a short story collection) by Ernest Hemingway, The Big Four by Agatha Christie (big year for detectives huh?) Mosquitoes by William Faulkner, Twilight Sleep by Edith Wharton, The Gangs of New York by Herbert Asbury, Der Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse, Amerika by Franz Kafka

in terms of movies one of the most famous silent films ever made and one of the most visually iconic, Metropolis directed by Fritz Lang will reenter the Public Domain, The American copyright lapsed in 1953 making the film widely available and allowing for versions with material that had been cut from the 1927 version to be published in the 1970s and 80s. However under an international copyright agreement the film was returned to copyrighted status in 1996. But Today it's back back back again in the Public Domain!

Other exciting films entering the public domain are The Jazz Singer the very first "Talkie", Wings the very first Academy Award for best picture (or "outstanding picture" as it was then) The King of Kings directed by Cecil B. DeMille, Sunrise directed by F.W. Murnau (his first American film!) and The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog first first thriller directed by legendary director Alfred Hitchcock

the musical Show Boat by Oscar Hammerstein II will also enter the public domain with songs like Ol’ Man River, the musical Funny Face, and Good News with songs like Funny Face and The Best Things in Life Are Free, stand alone songs (I Scream You Scream, We All Scream for) Ice Cream, Puttin’ on the Ritz, Potato Head Blues, Gully Low Blues, East St. Louis Toodle-O, and Mississippi Mud will all be free to the public today

Finally a piece of Disney history is entering the public domain. Oswald The Lucky Rabbit first appeared in 1927 and will be free to appear in works of fiction this year, a year ahead of his younger brother Mickey Mouse

[espumado]

Guys, you don't know what just happened to me!! I love soundtracks so I stopped to listen to The Bear's, i found the official FX playlist on Spotify and was listening to it when suddenly a podcast starts and I was like???? So i looked and it was about a horror film??? I, tring to understanding, went to the FX site to see the playlist and the episodes and saw that it was the song from the beginning of the ep5- Children (the lullaby) with our beloved Natalie💖...So what happened was that the music is from a horror film and instead of putting the soundtrack they put on this podcast!!! And I don't know if it was on purpose or just a mistake!!! (And all this reminded me of the people here who started a tag, I don't know who, about The Bear being a haunted/ghost story💀)

It's this scene, with this song:

And the Playlist has this podcast:

But i was like Nat why you have a horror movie song playing in your head??? And cause I'm curious, I went to find out more about the film, cause I didn't know the movie (horror isn't really my thing) and I discovered that: 

The Night of the Hunter is a 1955 American film noir thriller directed by Charles Laughton. Despite receiving negative reviews upon its original release, it has been positively re-evaluated in later decades and is now considered one of the greatest films ever made. “The movie is best known for Robert Mitchum's extraordinary performance as serial-killer-posing-as-priest Harry Powell, a menacing religious misogynist who marries widows for their money and kills them off in the name of the Lord. Having been jailed for stealing a car, he shares a cell with father-of-two Ben Harper, soon to be hanged for murder and the theft of $10,000. Before his arrest Harper hides the money in a rag doll belonging to his little daughter Pearl, making her and his 10-year-old son John swear never to tell where the money is hidden. The plot hinges on Powell's pursuit of the money and John's determination to protect his sister and escape from a psychopath whom others assume is virtuous. Hiding his past, Powell woos, then marries Harper's widow Willa (Shelley Winters). When she discovers his motives he murders her, and the children escape on a boat down the river. A tense chase ensues. The film exists in that cinematic no-man's-land of fairy tales for adults, is a children's fairytale – strange and idiosyncratic – but also a noir thriller, laced with the darkest elements of both genres: death, guilt, greed, poverty, cruelty, biblical references and a terrifying pursuit by the scariest of bogeymen. Laughton described it as "a nightmarish sort of Mother Goose tale". John, played superbly by the steely eyed Billy Chapin, is pivotal as the boy who is alone in perceiving Powell's true motives. In a tale of innocence and experience, he must quickly grow up in the most sinister of circumstances; he must resist adult hypocrisy and stupidity, and a new "father" who pretends to be loving, but is secretly abusive. Gripping in its narrative, the film is also frequently and darkly humorous.”

“Thinking of The Night of the Hunter in terms of its visual impact on other filmmakers, there’s a striking echo to be observed between its unseen presence in films by Scorsese, Spielberg, the Coens, even Ari Aster, and the influence of silent cinema on Laughton’s own filmmaking choices.”

“We can notice the importance of one particular scene: the escape of the children in a boat (they are running away from the killer). This scene, being so important, is also one of the most memorable of the entire film. The components that make it so memorable are: setting, lighting, framing, blocking and music. In the river sequence, the usual realistic environment of the film disappears, giving place to such an artificial setting that it seems that we are watching a whole new film.[...] Again, we feel that the children are safe again in the boat, as they run away from their hunter.

“The river symbolise safety – it is what separates (even temporarily) John and Pearl from Powell. In a way, it is a metaphor for the transformation of a past full of terror into a brighter future¹ with Rachel.”

About the music: “Composer Walter Schumann called the heavy four brass chords that often accompany Preacher a “‘pagan motif, consisting of clashing fifths in the lower register,’” which cede to the lullaby “Dream, Little One, Dream” with a shot of Gish. This celestial lullaby foreshadows her adoption of the children after they escape downriver. In the opening and river sequences especially, audio-visions juxtapose fantasy and reality, and good and evil, to propel the children to safety.[...] In these sequences, Laughton’s visual constructions and Schumann’s score establish abstract contours that take root in spectatorial memory. When the overture transitions from Preacher’s pagan motif to a tranquil lullaby, celestial sounds and Gish’s presence seem to safeguard the children from Preacher’s tyranny.[...] Schumann’s pagan motif, Miz Cooper’s lullaby, and the sounds of the children’s river journey mix realistic tropes and emotional flourishes in the manner of 1950s melodrama films, which especially employed music to articulate these opposing poles. For Peter Brooks, music punctuates the wordless gestures of the melodramatic “text of muteness”: its sweeping rhythmic motions render space and time tangible to imbue characters—especially muted victims—with emotional depth².[...] Analyzed through a motivic model that binds characters to themes, Hunter’s river lullabies foreshadow the children’s eventual safety with Miz Cooper even though maternal figures are not visible.”

So there is this important and well-known scene in the film when the song plays. When the kids are finaly safe in a boat on the river (the part of the song they use in the series starts at around 3:55):

So basically: there's a father who hid some money in the kid's toy (which reminded me of the money in the cans of tomatoes- KBL); an orphaned brother and sister; children looking for shelter; during the escape they are they feel safe in a boat on a river (when the lullaby plays) and in the end they are adopted and everything is fine.

I wanted to understand what this means for Nat, what it has to do with her. When the scene starts the song says "fear is just a dream…" then she thinks about her fears: her brother, mother and a mom's funeral (Marcus), then the song continues "so dream, little one, dream", like, it's not real, no need to fear it!

So…this is ep5 called Children, where: 1-Syd and Marcus take his mother's stuff out of the house and talk about their family 2-we find out that Ever is going to close (a funeral will happen) 3-Marcus and Nat talk about his mother and to start a new project to honor her while Nat is resting from pregnancy discomfort 4- it's the ep The Computer appears and Nat defends Marcus 5- there are the Faks, including John Cena, talking about their family and the hauntings 6- Syd and Uncle Jimmy talk and he says he wishes he had done more for the kids (she reminds him that he is there for them) and finally 7- Carmy goes to the basement and finds a box with photos of the family (Donna and Mike and himself too and a baby that could be Nat?!!!) then some riffs of the song Mixed Emotions by Rolling Stones start and it cuts to the credits with the lyrics right in the part: You're not the only one, You're not the only ship, Adrift on this ocean. And that's it! Just these lyrics and then just instrumentals. They cut the song to fit the scene and without any other part of the lyrics!!!

Carmy my man, Nat needs you! And she was the one who reminded him in the first season: "did you know i recently had a brother die too?" She's trying. She wants help, she already told him, "the thing that pisses me of is that you never ask her how i am doing!!!" but he can't ask her that "because he feels trapped, because he can't describe how he feels, so asking someone else how they're feeling seems crazy to him" (like, he literally told her that in S1). They need to talk, they need each other, they need family (a new one probably...the restaurant...uncle Jimmy too?? She talked with him about be a parent last season and he is always there for them, saving them). Nat managed to talk to her mother, even asked for help (it’s not a solution for everything, but it was a start)...but Carmy...there's still a long way to go, a next season thing. But I think it may be a thing they need to do together somehow, i dont know...

Nat is afraid of her past, motherhood and knows family is complicated, she is looking for a brighter future¹. She and Carmy (and Mike) are children of a abusive/alcoholic parent and live with the consequences of that (some people here have already talked better about the subject). So they are like the kids from the movie, who are muted victims—with emotional depth², in a complicated family, going throught the river until they reach a safer place with better people.

And also, last seasons they showed the "pyromaniac tendencies" of the Berzatto brothers, there were these references to setting the restaurant on fire as if that was the solution to their problems...and now in season 3 I thought that had been forgotten...instead, the ep1 already starts with (first a train, and then) a lake, which appears other times throughout the season... Copenhagen Carmy living in a boat on a river!!!, and all happy and safe, drawing on a bridge over a river!!!

We also had a scene with water being thrown on the kitchen countertop and "flooding" the space (with a song by Trent Reznor and Atticus for a war doc! that the director describes as profound, haunting, unsettling and deeply moving!!!) in a moment that the crew is cleaning the kitchen and everyone is tired and overwhelmed; there is Donna talking about the fish tank that breaks in a dream that takes place in a place she doesn't know that looks gray except for the tank (surreal, like a noir thriller maybe). These don't seem so safe, but they seem to be about the past, something to be overcome... And there's even a scene of Syd reflecting in front of a lake... Several water references...and I have no idea if that really means anything...or if i am going to deeper into this?😅

...but Nat, dear, are you okay?!...you feel like in a horror movie with your remaining brother seeking safety together somewhere or with someone, running away from a curse, a haunting in your family??? (in S1 Carmy talks about how she blames the restaurant, not her mother or Mike, she says the place sucks up all the work, money and time and all they get back is chaos and resentment) But seriously, someone help her!!!...and Carmy...She must have felt very lonely this season with Carmy like that...But I guess this all means that everything will be fine in the end, like in the movie!

Seriously, I couldn't come to a better conclusion about this but it left me curious and confused... And of course, it might mean nothing and just be an interesting song from an amazing movie that director Chris Storer likes because he likes great movies and that's all 🙃 But with all the movie references, great directors and hauntings...maybe I'm not so crazy😅 <<<I tell myself to feel better🫠

[idreamofthemeparks]

I went to both Tokyo Disney parks! Some thoughts/experiences:

People there wave at animatronics! I get laughed at for doing that in Florida!

Go during Halloween if you can. Tons of cosplayers go and the costumes you'll see are insane. And you can easily get a picture with a really good cosplayer instead of waiting in line for an official face character.

The Halloween night show at DisneySea was the worst. 7 minutes of very few fireworks, followed by an extremely weird heartfelt song that was like "🎵it's Halloween night... And we will go out... And get treats🎶". What the hell was that? Also, they run fireworks until 9PM exactly. I'm guessing they have to because there would be massive crowds of people waiting if there was just one show. People there have no qualms about sitting and waiting for 3+ hours for a parade or fireworks show.

Fantasy Springs was really great. The central area, design aesthetic and rockwork tied it all together really well and the transitions between the different areas were about as seamless as they could possibly be.

The Frozen animatronics, because they were like 4ft tall and so skinny and had such huge eyes, looked like weird dolls/aliens up close. That might creep some people out but I really genuinely loved it. Get in the back of the boat and you can see them freeze between scenes. I've said this before but it's very weird that it's a boat ride, since it relies on one specific scene happening at a time, and every other boat ride there had scenes running continuously!

The Magic Lamp Theater is really good! I skipped it on my last trip because there's no real indication anywhere that it's anything more than a 3D show with Genie, but it has a preshow with an animatronic and it has live actors! And it runs continuously all day!

THE GACHA MACHINE IN THE TOWER OF TERROR GIFT SHOP. FUCK THAT ONE MACHINE IN PARTICULAR. I shit you not, I rolled that thing 9 times and didn't get the Henry keychain I wanted.

I saw a really amazing Sinbad cosplayer but they wouldn't let me get a picture :(

At Disneysea, I did 20k 2x, Sinbad 3x, Indiana Jones 3x, Raging Spirits 1x, Nemo 1x, Peter Pan 1x and Frozen 1x, and the carousel 1x. I would've done Aquatopia, but last time it got me very wet and I had to go home on the subway with wet socks, so no thanks.

It's insane how good the single rider lines are especially at night. Wish they would bring those to Disneyland. Beauty could use one; they even had signs up for one but it wasn't in use.

Why is Sinbad always a walk on?? It's one of the best dark rides ever and it has a cute character in it!

Covid absolutely murdered DisneySea's live entertainment and it has NOT recovered. The afternoon lagoon show was a "Halloween greeting" that consisted entirely of some characters riding a barge out onto the water and dancing. Remember when they used to sail pirate ships in that lagoon? Multiple theaters are sitting empty, notably in Lost River Delta and Triton's Kingdom. Very sad.

If you don't know how to use the app or how passes work, you're screwed on lines and you can't even get into certain restaurants, at least at DisneySea! It's heartbreaking! I made friends with an American couple in the morning who had no idea how any of the passes worked, so I told them. It took multiple explanations, which I don't blame them for because it took me a few weeks to understand it myself. Then when we got into the park at rope drop, they tried to get Frozen passes... and couldn't, because their app glitched out at the crucial moment. I understand the Fantasy Springs thing because it's so new, but paid fastpasses being implemented here and everything being dependent on the app... It hurts to watch, man. Especially since last time I went, there were still paper Fastpasses, which are much easier and more accessible. Idk, I just think it should be possible to walk into a theme park and have at least a chance of doing stuff without memorizing the rules of a bunch of different reservation systems (same problem I've had with WDW for years).

When you're on Frozen it's easy to not notice how bad the ride design is, unless you're like me (thinking "wow look at that empty space", "do we need 3 rooms for one song" etc) because it really is a technical marvel. Also I got hit directly in the eye by a water jet right after the Let It Go scene. Rude.

Haunted Mansion is smack dab in the middle of Fantasyland there. I'm not sure what the alternative is but it doesn't fit in there at all.

I do not care for Haunted Mansion Holiday. I hadn't seen it in person before this but damn it's so cheap-looking. Also I'm salty that I didn't get to see the Tokyo bride.

What I like about Beauty and the Beast is that you get a nice long look at every animatronic since the scenes are so long. I felt satisfied after one go-around, which is rare for me.

Were there canoes in Rivers of America at WDW? Regardless, I'm glad that there are some in Tokyo. Rafts, canoes and a boat-- multiple forms of transportation, like Walt wanted!

Davy Jones on Pirates has one of the funniest line deliveries I've seen on a ride. "So says I..... DAVY JONES-UH!"

Monsters Inc was really good. It's basically just Men in Black: Alien Attack-- you enter through a company run by weird creatures, and then shoot at those creatures as you go through a city that looks a lot like New York. They seem to have seasonal changes to the dialogue-- Luz said "happy Halloween" at the end!

In a crowded bathroom, a CM said "hime-sama, dozo!" to indicate which stall I should use. That's honestly the first time I've been called "princess" in a bathroom. This was even in Frontierland, a place you would not expect to be called a princess.

Country Bears Vacation Hoedown was great. Nothing prepares you for a bear singing Achey Breaky Heart in Japanese. They opened with Great Outdoors, which I remember from that one Disneyland sing-along VHS that I watched as a kid!

The Snow White ride is the one where the witch just fucking kills you at the end! The amount of stuff this park keeps that American Disney parks think are super offensive is insane. Yeah, we'll keep Trader Sam. Sure, we'll play Dixie in Critter Country. I do understand why they made those changes in America-- especially on Pirates, I forgot how creepy the bride auction scene was.

Sucks to see Space Mountain gone. I bet something big is coming to Tomorrowland since they got rid of Buzz Lightyear and Space Mountain at the same time.

I'm pleasantly surprised that they kept Peter Pan's Flight, with Fantasy Springs and all. Though to be fair, it doesn't have a huge amount of space and barely any room for the queue, so there's probably not too much they could actually do with it.

I didn't get a picture but at the front of the Halloween parade was Dr Facilier doing the fruitiest little dance. And, WHERE IS THE HAUNTED MANSION BRIDE FACE CHARACTER? It's the Halloween parade!!! I did see like 4 women cosplaying as her though.

I got podracing and the Gungan city on Star Tours. Honestly, perfect. wouldn't change a thing.

I can't believe (in a good way) they included the FSU gopher on Splash-- nobody there knows what FSU is.

Someone was telling jokes and doing audience participation stuff over the intercom in the Jungle Cruise queue. Fun!

The Belle animatronics are life sized and not creepy up close. Probably not made by the same design team as Frozen.

Maybe I just haven't been to a Disney park in long enough but I'm pleasantly surprised at how close you get to the animatronics on these rides. Like, close enough to see the stray hairs on their heads. I wonder if someone has to re-style the animatronics' hair at night.

I really genuinely bow down to Japanese Disney fans. These mfs will spend 15-hour days in full cosplay, long sleeves and wigs and all. I saw a good number of people doing it.

People here are also so earnest! No sarcasm or irony, no "dad dragged to Disney" type shit (at least not that I saw). People clap at Country Bears, wave to you from the queue when you're on a ride, etc. For the most part, everyone really wants to be there. Plus Japanese people are so pleasant in general. I was at rope drop trying to get into an extremely popular land that opened 4 months ago. I haven't been in that situation in America but I don't think everyone involved would be quietly, politely filing into the gates. The only comparable situation I've been in was going to Hollywood Studios right after Rise of the Resistance opened, and it was kill or be killed there.

Don't try to do every single ride at Disneyland in one day, holy shit. I went on ALL the dark rides and it was a LOT of exertion. Prioritize the stuff you can't get at home. And you should probably do rope drop regardless of how many rides you do.

By the way, rope drop there consists of getting in line at 6:30 AM or earlier. I got to Disneyland at 6:30 on a Sunday and there were at LEAST a thousand people ahead of me. These people really do not fucking play around.

Million Dollar Bunny always works there! Is this one called 100 Million Yen Bunny?

Maybe I'm just spoiled by Magic Kingdom Tomorrowland, but the Tokyo one would really benefit from an Astro Orbiter or something. The place is largely just one level and that would make it a lot more dynamic.

Overall, yeah, I still think DisneySea is the best theme park in the world. Both parks are absolutely stacked in terms of attractions, the food is fantastic, and the staff, of course, is excellent in every way. It's just an incredibly pleasant experience overall. I can always find something to complain about at any park but my issues here were very minimal. In case you're going anytime soon, here are the rope drop plans that worked well for me (keep in mind that I got to both parks at 6:30AM):

DisneySea: first, grab a pass for Frozen if possible. It's crucial to get in super early for this one to get the standby pass; I've heard that international credit cards can take a little bit to process payments so you may have a hard time getting Premiere Access. If you get a standby pass, you can buy Premiere Access for another Fantasy Springs ride, or for Soaring if you're into that (it'll be 80 min minimum all day, but it's not worth that wait at all if you've been on either US version). Grab a 40th pass for Indiana Jones if you don't want to do single-rider for that one, or for Nemo if you do (Journey to the Center of the Earth was closed when I went, but prioritize that one too). Set an alarm to get another Fantasy Springs standby pass as soon as you can, because they run out fast. Run to Tower of Terror. Then do whatever you want for the rest of the day-- if you single-rider Indiana Jones and Raging Spirits, they are walk-ons all day. 20k Leagues will be a walk-on after 8PM.

Disneyland: grab Premiere Access for Beauty, then get a 40th pass for Monsters Inc. If you're in the park early enough, they should both give you really early return times. Set an alarm for the next time you can get 40th and Premiere passes (the app will tell you both) and when they go off, you can probably get a 40th pass for Big Thunder. You can buy Premiere for Baymax too, if you're into that. Then run to Pooh, and if you have enough time before your 40th/Premiere return times, go to Mansion. All the other dark rides in the park will have very reasonable wait times for the rest of the day, except for Splash, which will probably have Premiere Access available for pretty long into the day. Pooh and Monsters' wait times will go way down after 8PM too. If you want to see the afternoon parade, I recommend getting in the Peter Pan queue about 3PM; it's in a good spot to see the floats and you don't have to deal with the truly massive amount of people who by that point will have secured all the good parade viewing spots 3 hours earlier.

[luchicm04]

Pride

Masterlist

Summary: When hatred and pride speak louder, even a childhood love can fall apart.

Pairing: Senju Tobirama/Fem!Uchiha, Uchiha Madara/Fem!Uchiha

Word count: 2.6k

Overall warnings: angst, bittersweet ending

All characters belong to Naruto, and all rights are reserved to the original work whose author allowed me to translate it.

A/N: The lyrics come from this song. Whoever cried, raise your hand. Please, leave your opinions and criticism in the comments.

posted on ao3

I was there, standing on top of that mountain where I could see the sunset that covered the village below with golden light. After so many battles, Konoha finally flourished in peace. 

Peace that hadn’t existed in my heart for a long time since I met her: Alexia. 

──

In the heart of the war between Senju and Uchiha, in the small moments when there was a truce, I, Tobirama, youngest son of the general of the Senju clan liked to get away from all that suffering for a while. During the day, I found a way to escape to the river, just to be able to see and hear the current that followed its path without caring about what happened on its banks. It just flowed.  

And it was there, on one of those days, that I saw a little paper boat with a yellow flower inside going down through the crystal-clear water, and then one more and another. Like the curious child that I was, I went up the river in the opposite direction of the boats, until I saw her.  

A little girl with long, black hair messed up by the wind. She was kneeling on the riverbank and placing paper boats with colorful flowers in the water one by one, while her black eyes watched them move away. Until her eyes fell on me, and we stood staring without saying anything on either side of the river. Then, she got up, smiled at me and disappeared into the forest.  

──

Without realizing it, a soft smile curved my lips as I remembered that day. How the silent meeting of two children could change so much. 

──

After that meeting, I went to the river more often, wanting to see her again. But it was weeks before I saw the little boats go down the current once again. I found her in the same place and this time, I walked over and crouched down next to her.  

“Why do you do it?” I asked.  

She looked at me with those dark orbs, smiled and responded as if it were the simplest thing in the world.  

“Because I think it’s beautiful.”  

I saw her pick up another little boat with a red flower and place it in my hand. I quickly put it in the water and saw it go away down the river. I smiled without realizing it.  

“See? It’s so pretty,” she said and looked at me again. “I’m Alexia. And you?”  

“Tobirama,” I replied, hiding my surname, because during the war it wasn’t wise to say it to strangers and apparently, she knew that as she didn’t say hers either.  

We stayed there talking for hours, without ever saying where we came from, until I heard my brother Hashirama calling me from inside the forest. I went home but not before making her promise that we would see each other again, right there.  

The months passed and as the war worsened, our meetings began to become rarer, until she never appeared again.  

──

I felt a lonely tear run down my face. Even though we were just children, the loss of my first love hurt a lot. 

But I moved on with my life, and during the following years, thanks to the war, I didn’t have much time to rummage through the past. Until... 

──

Until, at the peak of my 21 st year, I became the second-best ninja in my clan, second only to my older brother.  

Even though the years passed, and I became a man, I still had the childhood habit of going to the river.  

That day, I bent down to wash my face in the cool water, and I felt my heart speed up when I saw a little paper boat with a pink flower touch my hand.  

I ran as fast as I could, going upstream and I saw her... she was there and looked at me as if she was waiting for me.  

Her black hair, now longer, swayed in the breeze. Her body, that was once small and thin, had become beautiful and curvy. She was a woman now, but her eyes, oh those dark eyes, were still the same ones that haunted my memories.  

I approached, and the only thing I could say was her name.  

“Alexia...”  

Without knowing why, or without caring if I was going to be rejected, I kissed her. That old childhood love turned into an urgent desire to erase all that longing that I had stored deep within my being. Alexia responded to me with passion. She seemed to feel the same thing as me, and she wanted to make up for all the lost time.  

We pulled away from each other with difficulty, but the feeling of being complete surrounded us like a golden aura. We didn’t need to say anything to know that time hadn’t changed the feelings of the two children.  

We talked and kissed for hours on end, until we heard sounds coming from the forest, and before I knew it, she broke away from my embrace, looking me in the eyes and said:  

“Tobirama, I need to tell you something very important.” Her face became serious. “Meet me here tomorrow night. Please don’t miss it.”  

I nodded and let her go.  

I didn’t know that conversation would change my entire life.  

──

The night of our meeting had arrived. I managed to leave without being seen by my brother and went towards the agreed location. My hands were sweating, and my heart was racing with every step I took. I thought what I felt years ago was a child’s thing, but the closer I got, the more I knew I was madly in love with that woman. When I arrived, she was already there waiting for me, her gaze fixed on the waters of the river. She seemed sad and that made me worried.  

“Alexia, are you alright?” I asked and without waiting for an answer, I hugged her.  

Feeling her warm body pressed against mine, the kiss was inevitable. It started out soft, but when she opened the way for our tongues to mee, I could no longer resist. We made love right there, on the riverbank, listening to the water run and taking our secret with it.  

Leaning on my body, I heard her soft cry and little by little, hot tears touched my chest, making me look at her.  

“What happened? Did I hurt you?” I said with concern.  

“That’s not it,” she got up and started to dress up. “This shouldn’t have happened. Not without telling you first.”  

“Telling me what?” I started to worry even more, seeing her crying.  

“I know who you are, Tobirama Senju,” she whispered between tears, emphasizing the word ‘senju’. “And I... I am... Alexia Uchiha.”  

My heart almost stopped when I heard her say her full name. It couldn’t be true. It couldn’t... the girl I loved since I was a child, the girl I loved there, on the riverbank, was from that damn clan that had been at war with my family and friends for years. I looked at that familiar and now strange face for several moments, until she broke the deadly silence that hung on us.  

“I wanted to tell you sooner, but I was afraid,” she took a step towards me. “Say something, Tobirama.”  

“Alexia... Uchiha...” I could only repeat her name, still not believing that joke of fate.  

She got closer to me, and with her trembling hand she tried to touch me, but my body involuntarily took a step back, avoiding the contact.  

“Please, say something,” her voice was already starting to get exasperated with my silence. “Say that this doesn’t change anything. Say that you love me. Say that everything will be alright. Just say... say it and I will wait for you.”  

But I didn’t say it. Even though my heart was screaming like crazy inside my chest, I didn’t say the words that she wanted to hear. I couldn’t.  

I caught a glimpse of her beautiful eyes fading with the tears that came flooding back before she left.  

──

When I found out who that little boy was in the river, I knew I had to stay away for my safety and his. However, the war helped me maintain my decision. I was sent to another village along with other women and children who could not fight. But fate found a way to bring us together again many years later. I wanted to see him, see how he grew up and try to make possible that childish love that I always carried in my chest, despite the situation.  

An Uchiha and a Sunju. It seemed like a joke, but I didn’t care. I wanted to fight for that feeling.  

But...  

But my hope faded that night, after we made love. He ran away from my touch like running away from a venomous snake when he learned the truth. I saw the hurt in his eyes, and anger. I was willing to face everything and everyone for us, I just needed to hear him say it. But the words didn’t come.  

──

After that fateful night, I still hadn’t given up on us. Maybe he just needed some time to put his thoughts in order, maybe there was still hope. But I was wrong.  

Every day that followed, I went to the riverbank and one by one, I placed the little paper boats with flowers in the current and watched them slowly descend into the clear waters, waiting to hear his footsteps on the gravel. The long-awaited steps never came.  

And every time, I cried. But this time, I held back the tears and noticed that someone placed a coat over my shoulders and spoke to me in a soft voice.  

“Alexia, what are you doing here?” he said in a worried smile. “It’s getting cold. Let’s go before you get sick."  

I looked at him as I stood up. His long, black hair was tousled because of the wind, which I didn’t even realize was blowing strongly, and his dark eyes, so similar to mine, stood out from the strong, beautiful face that smiled at me. Madara Uchiha, the new leader of the clan. I had known him for a long time, but only at that moment did I really pay attention to him. I took one last look at the waters of the river and followed him back home.  

──

That image of Alexia waiting for me, words I didn’t say and the sadness in her eyes, the plea in her voice haunted my thoughts.  

Every day I went to the river, and I saw, day after day, the little paper boats going down the river. I knew they were for me, that she was waiting for me just behind that curve. But my pride prevented me from going there and taking her in my arms and never letting her go.  

Another little boat came down and came closer to my feet, and before I could pick it up, it sank and dissolved in the water. I didn’t know why, but that image made me cry. Nevertheless, I still didn’t go after her.  

──

A year has passed since that day, and there have never been any paper boats for me on the river again. 

Same bed, but it feels just a little bit bigger now

Our song on the radio, but it don’t sound the same

When our friends talk about you, all it does is just tear me down

‘Cause my heart breaks a little when I hear your name

It all just sounds like ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

And as the world loves to play tricks, that same year the battle between the Senju and Uchiha clans ended, beginning an alliance that led to the founding of Konoha. If I had said something, if I had waited... 

Mm, too young, too foolish to realize

That I should have bought you flowers and held your hand

Should have gave you all my hours when I had the chance

Take you to every party ‘cause all you wanted to do was dance

Now my baby’s dancing, but she’s dancing with another man

But I hadn’t said anything, I hadn’t waited, and I lost her. Now, we live in the same village, our families are no longer enemies and there is no more war. But it’s too late for us. 

My pride, my ego, my needs, and my selfish ways

Caused a good strong woman like you to walk out of my life

Now I never, never get to clean up the mess I made, oh

And that haunts me every time I close my eyes

It all just sounds like ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

I see her almost every day, but her eyes don’t look at me anymore and her smile doesn’t shine for me. Now, another man holds her hand, another man is the owner of her look and the reason for her smile. 

Mm, too young, too foolish to realize

That I should have bought you flowers and held your hand

Should have gave you all my hours when I had the chance

Take you to every party ‘cause all you wanted to do was dance

Now my baby’s dancing, but she’s dancing with another man

Although it hurts

I’ll be the first to say that I was wrong

Oh, I knw I’m probably much too late

To try and apologize for my mistakes

But I just want you to know

I could see him day after day gluing together, piece by piece, Alexia’s heart, which I broke. Healing her wings, which I hurt, and giving her the love that, out of pride, I couldn’t give. 

I hope he buys you flowers, I hope he holds you hand

Give you all his hours when he has the chance

Take you to every party

‘Cause I remember how much you loved t dance

Do all the things I would have done

When I was your man

And today, I’m here, at the top of this mountain. Down there, I can hear the happy laughter and the music that rose up to me. 

It was Alexia’s wedding, my Alexia... I lost her the moment I was too weak to say I loved her. 

My life ended there, on the edge of that river. Those waters witnessed who foolish I was, how my hatred and my pride took from me the woman I loved my entire life. 

The sun had already set on the horizon and the stars were beginning to emerge in the dark blue sky. That was when I noticed someone approaching, a servant, who handed something into my hand that made my heart skip a beat. 

It was a paper boat with a white flower. My eyes clouded with the threat of tears, until I saw that there seemed to be something written on the paper. I unfolded the little boat and read the words that seemed a little shaky. 

‘Tobirama,  

I want you to know that despite what happened between us, I have no regrets. On the contrary, you will always be in my heart, as my first love. It’s a shame that it’s too late for both of us, but I wish from the bottom of my soul that you find someone, and that you don’t let your pride speak louder than your love again. Be happy.  

Alexia.’ 

As I read that, my fists clenched the paper tightly and the little flower fell apart on the floor. And I couldn’t hold it back any longer. I fell on the ground and cried, cried until my eyes had no more tears to cry. 

I cried for the lost love. I cried for the future without Alexia. I cried for the regret of not having said the words she expected to hear. And I cried even more for having my heart in pieces while my pride remained whole. 

[sykestarot]

who are your guides?

1-2-3 (left to right)

I DO NOT OWN THESE IMAGES

hi guys welcome to this weeks reading! I started this reading last week and the energy just didn't feel right but here it is! I'm working on a website so I can schedule personal readings as well! If anyone has any tips for that I'd love to hear it feel free to dm me :). Anyways I hope you enjoy these messages they were all so very sweet!

Pile 1

“there will be mountains you won't move still, i’ll always be there for you” (The Hermit; queen of wands; 5 of wands reversed; 2 of wands; 6 of cups; knight of pentacles) Hi pile one! For you guys I feel like one of your guides is a familial figure, like a grandparent or maybe someone apart of your chosen family. I feel like you might’ve lost this person pretty recently. For some there is female energy and for others there male energy. I’d say for the female energies this would’ve been a firecracker of a person. They were probably always full of life and adventure and they want to guide you to be in that power as well. For the male energy I feel as though they were steady as a beating drum. A very reliable person in life and probably gave the best advice. This guide is here to help you with staying grounded. For some of you you could have both of them simultaneously, however i feel for most of you you have one or the other. But i must point out that this could’ve been a power couple if they were together in life lol. But I see that those with the feminine energy might be on the shyer side of things, and your guide would love to show you how it feels to fully step into your dark feminine energy. For those with the masculine energy this guide wants to continue to give you advice and wishes you would speak to them more. I also feel like some of you might come from a religious background and maybe feel like believing in guides could insight some shame for you. Your guides want you to know that shaming yourself for a belief will only hinder the progress that you’ve made and don’t be too hard on yourself. I see that these guides have so much unconditional love for you and when you feel most alone I promise you are not. Animal Spirits: Snake + Hawk Signs: canned pumpkin; all spice?; Pocahontas; racoons; pacific northwest; rivers; wood cabins; pine scent; Massachusetts; boats; church; white buildings; cold water; winter; snow; willow trees; vivid dreams; 555

Pile 2

“is there something supernatural fucking with you?” (2 of pentacles; knight of cups; Temperance; 4 of pentacles; 6 of cups; 2 of wands) Hi Pile 2 welcome and thanks for reading! I will say that your guide is a very funny one. I feel like this pile has one pretty good overarching energy. I don’t feel like this is someone you’ve known in this life but maybe a few lifetimes ago. I also feel like you are a very self aware reader or are at least in contact with your guides in some way whether you are conscious of it or not. This guide had lots of fun picking a song, and in turn I feel like was messing around with me. I get the energy of a guide who volunteered to be yours because they loved you so much in the last life. I also feel like you guys go around very uptight and stressed about most things in life, and I feel like their energy is supposed to help you loosen up. Like maybe your lesson in life is to find the joy in being alive instead of being super goal oriented or materially focused. I feel like this is the type of guide where you’d be painting something and then all of the sudden magically all the paint spills, or when you go to get some out you get way too much. Like this guide is trying to really show you that mistakes are just happy accidents. I feel like you guys suffer from catastrophic thinking. It’s like a domino effect for you and sometimes this guide will put things in your way so that you fail and have some realization that it wasn’t the end of the world and that there are other ways to get to the same outcome. I also see that this guide loves see you smile and will give you small rewards in the day. For ecample you might walk home from work and a cute neighborhood cat might say hi to you everyday. Or you get your order payed for by the person in front of you. This guide really does care for you and wants you to know that they’re always there for you and you can relax a bit, not everything is the end of the world. “Please do your breathing exercises!” Animal Spirits: Beaver + Eagle Signs: pranks; giggles; unnatural coincidences; kitties; empty streets; crisp air; chain link fences; playgrounds; small town; ambition; hikes; 11:11; painting; Bob Ross; bird chirps

Pile 3

“if I had the chance to relive those days I’d take it” (4 of swords; The Hanged Man; 2 of pentacles; Temperance; 9 of wands; 2 of swords) Hi pile 3! So for you guys it’s a little different than the other piles, I feel like this might not be a guide but a pet that’s passed on. Whether it was recently or a long time ago I feel like this was a kitty that had some health issues. I feel like you had to make a hard decision on whether or not to put them down and maybe you still carry that guilt with you. This little guy definitely doesn’t want you to hold onto that and they believe that they lived the best life with you truly. You took care of them and loved them so much. I keep hearing you loved me so much you let me go. They don’t harbor any resentment or harsh feelings for you on the other side. I even hear that they’d love to come back and be another pet of yours. Maybe you’re not ready for that just yet and that’s why they haven’t but they want you to know that they forgive you for the choice you made and they understand it. They want you to forgive yourself as well. I keep hearing them say I was really sick. They are so grateful of the life they lived with you truly. I see that maybe you were afraid to talk to them after they crossed the rainbow bridge because you felt like they wouldn’t want to hear from you. Trust me they very much do! They miss you so much and I feel like they always hang around in your energy and they love being close to you. Like I feel like they love to sit on your chest or your back. They never left you, not for a moment. They just want you to feel at peace and be happy. They still keep a very close and watchful eye on you, always wanting to protect you. I don’t know if maybe you’ve been having dreams of them or feeling them where they used to cuddle you. They want you to know that you were the thing that mattered most to them and still are and they hate seeing you continue to carry the weight of that decision after all this time. They think you are the most perfect human. “Please don’t beat yourself up!” Animal Spirits: Dove + Cat Signs: little league; tv static; gamecube; leapfrog; big windows, rays of sunlight; leaves blowing in the wind; green; chemtrails; airplanes; 90’s; reincarnation; green eyes

[sanctum-of-ramshackle]

🦈Rocking The Boat🩸

[Synopsis]: Azul offered MC/Yuu to perform a gif at the Monstro Lounge and let them choose what kind of performance they would do. Except he didn’t console with them as the Octo-schemer learned too late.

[Gender Neutral Reader]

[WARNING]: Foul language in the song and best advise to lower your volume when listening to the song.

[A/N]: This is one of my favorite songs from Ice Nine Kills when I first listened to their album, “The Silver Scream.” I highly recommend to lower your volume settings since the song can be loud in some parts and wouldn’t want to damage your ears.

[Ice Nine Kills - Rocking The Boat (ft. Jeremy Schwartz)]

[Monstro Lounge]

MC/Yuu: Are you sure you want me to perform?

Azul: Of course! You must have songs from your world many never heard of until now. It should bring more customers in.

MC/Yuu: Alright, but fair warning: it can get loud. Best to give a disclaimer if there’s anyone who may be sensitive to hearing and flashing lights. We also need a heads-up to any Mer-shark people who are present during the show.

Azul: Why would you need to add that?

MC/Yuu: You’ll see.

[8:30 p.m.]

Jade: Evening everyone. Tonight will be a grand show starring The Prefect from the Ramshackle Dorm. Before we start the special night, there will be warnings of high volumes and flashy light effects. We may also warn Mer-Shark civilians of the show.

Mer-Shark People in the audience: Why would they warn us?

Jade: They informed me it is a song about a great white shark that kills people.

Mer-Shark People: Oooh yeah.

Jade: Now, let the show begin.

[The lights dimmed and smoke effects cover the stage. Then reveals MC/Yuu, with a microphone in hand and inhales…]

MC/Yuu:

SHARK!!!!

Coast guard, this is the Orca. Do you read me?

Four and a half miles due east of Amity Island

This is an official distress call, over

We all know a place

That appears so sublime

But if you dive a little deeper

You'll hit the real bottom line

The head of the town is out there flashing his teeth

A telltale sign about to surface

That there's a monster lurking underneath

They're thrashing around but found

They can't contain the leak

'Cause I've got a fish to fry

That's feeding on the weak

So cast a line for every life they took

It's time to set the-

Lilia, as the supporting lines: Hook!

We're all just floating in a shallow grave

Lilia: Buoyed by the blood of the masses

They'd rather sell out that instead of save

We're all so starving that we've taken the bait

Lilia: You think we would've learned from the past

That the predator will soon become-

Lilia: The prey!

We all know a place

Where the calm flees at night (night, night)

And safe is just a shadow

So we swim towards the light

If this voyage of valor

Put us on deck for death

We'll compare scars with each other

Until our very last breath

Lilia: Yeah!

They're thrashing around but found

They can't contain the leak

'Cause I've got a fish to fry

That's feeding on the weak

So reel it in with every trick in the book

It's time to set the-

Lilia: Hook!

We're all just floating in a shallow grave

Lilia: Buoyed by the blood of the masses

They'd rather sell out that instead of save

We're all so starving that we've taken the bait

Lilia: You think we would've learned from the past

That the predator will soon become-

Lilia: The prey!

Coastguard, this is the Orca again

We need you out here now

The boat is under attack, it's a great white, over

Roger that, ETA fifteen minutes, over

In fifteen minutes we'll be fucking shark bait

Last chance to make amends

Lilia: So try to stay afloat

With sharks like you among us

Lilia: We'll need a bigger boat

Sold us down the river

Lilia: So the rich could stay rich

But now you've been caught

Lilia: So smile…

You son of a bitch

Sinking with the burning embers

Should be any sign of doubt

That this tale will be remembered

And the tide will forever flush them out

We're all just floating in a shallow grave

Lilia: Buoyed by the blood of the masses

They'd rather sell out that instead of save

We're all so starving that we've taken the bait

Lilia: You think we would've learned from the past

That the predator will soon become-

Lilia: The prey!

[After the song was finished, the audience applauded and whistled.]

[After the show]

Azul: Prefect, that was…

Floyd: AWESOME! Shrimpy surprised everyone tonight.

MC/Yuu: Thanks, but you can compliment Lilia for his vocals.. It wasn't easy screaming the parts and had to practice. It woke the Ghosts up because they thought a Banshee came by.

Azul: The song came from your world and based on a killer shark.

MC/Yuu: Yeah, from Steven Spielberg's movie "Jaws". I still get excited to watch parts where Bruce gets his victims in the water.

Azul: You scare me sometimes, Prefect. You really do.

✨[Reblogs helps creators and creates for more content]💫

[lathalea]

Waiting

Relationships: Boromir x OC (possibly Reader) Rating: G Summary: Boromir embarks on a mission for Rivendell, leaving the lady of his heart behind. And so she waits for his return... A/N: This is my gift for @heilith. HUGS! 💙💙💙

Waiting

She kept on waiting. 

First, she counted the days until their next meeting, after the handsome Captain of Gondor appeared at her cottage at the edge of the forest for the first time. 

Then, he started visiting her more often—as often as he could—galloping on his horse to her, leaving the White City and his worries behind. Sometimes, they would spend an evening at the nearby brook, looking at the stars, sometimes she would invite him in for a light meal, and sometimes they would walk the woods in search of the best blackberry bushes, or to that little glade she liked so much. And they would talk—about everything and anything. Boromir’s hand would brush against hers, as if by accident, and when she would look up, her skin tingling, his warm gaze would rest on her face and then slowly slide down to her lips… And then words would die on his lips, and he would look away.

On the brink of the summer, she waited for the great feast on the King’s Day, and when the day finally came, she rode to Minas Tirith in her best gown, to take part in the festivities. There was music and song in the air, the wine was sweet, and Boromir made her heart flutter, cutting a strapping figure in his tunic adorned with the emblem of the White Tree. They danced the night away, and then he led her to the highest level of the city where the view took her breath away. The view—and the kiss that came shortly after, tender and gentle. Boromir held her in his arms until the first rays of the morning sun painted the white walls of the city pink. Since that night, his murmured words of devotion, of his feelings for her, rang in her ears every evening when she put her head on her pillow.

There were shadows under Boromir’s eyes when they saw each other for the last time that summer. He was to embark on a dangerous mission to Rivendell and ask the elves for their words of wisdom. Gondor’s future was at stake. His people’s future. He did not know when he would return, but in that forest glade he made a pledge: he would return—to her. 

The ring he slipped on her finger was cool against her skin, but his hands that held hers were warm and strong. And when he asked the only question she hoped for, she gave him the only reply she dreamed of giving.

I will wait for you, Boromir, and I will marry you when you return.

And so she waited. Hours turned into days, days turned into months, but there was no word of the brave Captain of Gondor nor of his whereabouts. The summer was long gone, the autumn made way for the winter that held the land in its frosty grip. The new year celebrations came and passed, and still she waited.

February was coming to an end when she once again visited their forest glade and looked into the nearby pond. Its cold waters rippled as she touched its surface, but as they stilled, a series of images formed in front of her eyes. People in boats. Boromir among them. A forest at the edge of an unknown river. Dark shapes between the trees. A chase. Boromir drawing his sword; protecting someone. Fighting. A monstrous creature drawing a bow. A black arrow cutting through the air… and hitting its target. Boromir swaying… And then a boat going down the river, towards the falls ahead. Was it empty…? She could not see. She closed her eyes. Her greatest consolation was the ring on her finger and the words of love she heard from Boromir on the day they parted. He made a pledge. He would return to her.

And so she waited.

Reluctantly, spring came into its rights, and with it, words of a great danger casting a shadow over the whole realm of Gondor. Then, a great army was seen marching on the White City. When the local villagers took their belongings and hid deep in the safety of the forest, she went together with them. Perhaps it was for the best that Boromir would not see if the walls of his home would crumble under the power of darkness.

Several weeks passed until they saw the sun again as the village elders decided it was time to return to their homes. A messenger brought word that the enemy was defeated and that the true king of Gondor returned, just like the old prophecies said. But he did not know what had befallen Boromir.

One day before the coronation of King Aragorn Elessar, the sound of hooves against the forest ground reached her ears. She took a look through the window and could not believe her eyes. It could not be.

“Boromir!” she exclaimed, running out of her cottage towards the familiar figure of a rider.

In a blink of an eye, he dismounted and took her in his arms.

“It is me, my spring flower,” he murmured, holding her close.

“You came back to me!” She searched his face greedily, taking joy in the noble features she knew so well.

“I told you I would,” he smiled and ran his hand through her hair.

“But… I had a dream… a vision… I saw a battle… an orc… an arrow…” her voice trembled. “And then the boat…”

“Hush, my love, I am well. An orc pack attacked us, that is correct. I was merely wounded. We were on a mission of great importance. I managed to keep my wits about me and together with lord Aragorn, our future king, we sent the little ones ahead, together with the ring. We stood our ground together and defeated the enemy,” Boromir replied.

“Lord Aragorn…? The little ones? And the ring? What ring?” Her eyes widened.

“It was only a meaningless trinket, and now it is destroyed. The only ring that filled my thoughts every day since the day we parted was the one I put on your finger,” he took her hand in his and placed a soft kiss over her knuckles. “I counted days until we would meet again.”

“So did I, my beloved,” she admitted as his fingers brushed against her cheek.

Their lips met in haste, but there was tenderness in their kiss that made her weak in the knees as she drank in his closeness.

The Captain of Gondor took her hands in his and looked deeply into her eyes, “Will you come with me now to my city? Will you marry me there?”

“There is nothing else I would rather do, Boromir,” she admitted, her words a whisper.

“I dreamed of hearing these words from you,” he placed another kiss on her lips. “Let us ride. We both have waited long enough.”

💚💚 💚  Read it? Like it? Spread the love and reblog it! 💚💚💚

📜 Searching for more stories to read? Check out my masterlist!📜

Do you like my writing? Would you like to read more? Feel free to show your support by having a Ko-fi with me! Thank you 💙

General taglist: @fizzyxcustard @shrimpsthings​ @dark-angel-is-back @sherala007 @anyaspidergirl-blog @jotink78 @rachel1959 @saltwater-in-the-afternoon @linasofia @bitter-sweet-farmgirl @legolasbadass @yourqueenunderthemountain @reblogunderthemountain @guardianofrivendell @elrawienthewhite @xmly-xo @mrsdurin @nelleedraws @beenovel @vee-vee-writes @mcchiberry @dumbassunderthemountain @errruvande @laurfilijames @emrfangirl @s0ftd3m0n @lilith15000 @kami-chan1512 @ragsweas @enchantzz @aduialel @myselfandfantasy @thewhiteladyofrohan @elliepie1226 @middleearthpixie @i-did-not-mean-to @blairsanne @fckmini @clumsy-wonderland @wormsmith @mailinsblogofstuff @medusas-hairband @xxbyimm @knittastically @saucyminxbrainspill @quiall321 @frosticenow @glassgulls @evenstaredits @sotwk @asgardianhobbit98

If there is a strikethrough over your name, it means that tumblr doesn't allow me to tag you. Let me know if anything.

[uzumaki-rebellion]

"King Killmonger: The Golden Jaguar Chapter 8"

Masterlist in case you need to catch up HERE!

"Weeping willow tree Tell me what you know River were you cryin' Many rains ago? ((Koleba je wo)

Sacred baobab tree Lost your children to the sea Taken from the land Many rains ago

Koleba je wo (goodbye Motherland) Koleba je wo Wo, wo, wo

Sing me that old song From many rains ago…"

Letta Mbulu – "Many Rains Ago (Oluwa)"

Warmth spread across Yani's closed eyelids first before it spread like warm honey across her throat and uncovered arm. The weight of N'Jadaka's body clutching onto hers pressed down more heat into her, and his soft snoring creased a smile on her lips.

Their lovemaking wore them both out before dawn unfurled light and color back into the morning sky. Her body ached and still tingled. The king's touches from the night before were ghostly echoes on her skin.

Yani steeped herself in their perfect love.

How long had it been since they were allowed to sleep in together without their kimoyos lighting up and automatically dispatching their hectic work schedules for the day as their children bounded about their home ready to start their busy day too?

Birds chirped in the branches above the open skylight. She watched a fiery orange pair with natural feathers boas fluffed out under their chubby necks peer down at her with curiosity. The air smelled like the forest had been dusted with perfume. It was the wet season in Wakanda and all of East Africa. The seasons were different from what she was accustomed to in her old island life. Back home it would be the dry season with less rain. The odor of heavy moisture saturated the air, and she hoped another periodic rainfall didn't occur on their planned hike and picnic above the waterfall.

She shifted a little and N'Jadaka groaned in his sleep. A deep slumber didn't prevent his body from reacting negatively to her trying to move away from him so soon.

Slipping away quietly, she scurried to the restroom pod and relieved herself on a specially made trapdoor toilet that collected the human waste and converted it into fertilizer for the tree it was attached to. She washed herself up with the large bowl of scented water on the sink and pondered the modern upgrade touches that didn't take away from the original fixtures that the first inhabitants used. Another bottle of her special lubricant sat waiting for her use on the intricately carved shelf on the wall. Her face heated up a little knowing that the caretakers were well aware of what would go down while they were there. She brushed her teeth and smoothed her hair as best she could. Walking on tiptoes back to the bedroom she lifted her robe from the hook and put it on.

Singing voices drifted up to her ears and Yani sought out the source from the circular wall window in the livingroom. Down below F'Neka and Yiswa were joined by two other older women who stood on royal purple and aquamarine-colored blankets. Their layered harmonies were in the accent of the River Tribe people and the words were not Wakandan, but rather a part of the language of the different ethnic groups among the water people. Soon a group of men, younger and older, joned them wearing the same royal purple and brilliant greenish-neon blue robes as the women. Four young women carrying baskets of yellow and magenta flowers rounded out the choir of singing to the queen and king.

Yani wished she had grabbed her language translator earbuds from the boat. The warm hues in their tones enabled her to make the meaning without understanding anything. They were welcoming the sunrise in her honor. Their dainty hands lifted toward the golden orb and then gracefully swung up toward Yani. She blew them a kiss and they continued the singing and rocking motion that heralded the light for her. Their bodies twisted toward the river tributary and their arms swung down to the water as if beckoning the placid liquid to join their beautiful voices.

N'Jadaka's juicy lips kissed the back of her neck and she closed her eyes savoring the tenderness. He stood next to her and whispered to his gold claw necklace "Translate," and the river people's message was not what Yani thought at all. Her mouth dropped open in true understanding and even the king's eyes joined hers in welling up. F'Neka and Yisma led the heart-stirring melody of a song for the lost tribe…the stolen children of Africa. It was a lamentation and a welcoming home.

F'Neka's strong alto voice made Yani's heart soar. Their eyes locked together and the elder caretaker beseeched the trees and the river where Mama Wati rested if they remembered what happened to Yani and N'Jadaka's ancestors. Yisma added her stirring voice "Sacred baobab tree, lost your children to the sea, taken from the land, Many rains ago…"

Chills ran up Yani's arm and N'Jadaka hugged her body close to his trembling one as other hidden voices joined the group from within the forest, acoss the tributary, and far away from Ugogo Udaku's ancestral home. To Yani, it sounded like the entire River Tribe in Wakanda sang to them, carrying the burden of ancestral trauma and giving them sanctuary as the children who returned to the motherland.

N'Jadaka lowered his head and wiped away tears and Yani wept while he held her in his arms. These people were not just the River Tribe, but the protectors of the ancestral waters that Mama Wati held dominion over.

A hushed silence blanketed the forest when the singers finished their last verse.

The women carrying the flower baskets decorated the low table and meal attendants brought forth another floating cart with their breakfast meal. Once the preparations were complete, the people humbly left the vicinity.

The power of the song lingered for Yani and she held N'Jadaka's hand. Letting out a breath, she looked up to her husband's face. N'Jadaka kept his eyes on the river.

"How could they remember us?" he said.

He rested his hands on the windowsill.

"Maybe they were singing about you coming back home to them," Yani said, touching his hand.

"No. They were singing for you too, for all of us out there. Why would they have a song like that about losing children to the sea? They've never lost anyone. My uncle threw me and his own brother away without a care…why do they care? Why would they?"

"They know our story now."

"Their language is different from Wakandan, but I recognized a few words that were from the Panther Tribe's lexicon…from way back. Words only people in Queen Shuriya's time used…when she ventured out into the world."

His brows furrowed and his expression sought answers within his mind as Yani watched his face. He had another riddle to solve and she knew he would pick at it like an impatient tongue on a loose tooth.

"Let's eat, love," Yani said.

He followed her down the treehouse stairs and they noticed their personal black panthers frolicking among lush fronds. Yani sat down and N'Jadaka served her a large bowl of intasa uthando—morning love—a River Tribe specialty of a layered breakfast meal. At the bottom of the bowl was seasoned pink rice that was grown throughout the river wetlands. On top of the rice was roasted and diced purple yams with caramelized onions sprinkled with ground chicken sausage and topped with a fried egg. N'Jadaka made himself another bowl filled with savory porridge and they shared a glorious morning eating and chatting about the books they wanted to read back on the boat and how much they looked forward to their hike.

They left their empty bowls and drinking glasses to use the outdoor shower again. The water was cold and invigorating on their bodies. Dressing quickly indoors with clothing N'Jadaka had pre-selected for their trip, they left messages for their children and caretakers watching over them.

"Should I wear a heavier jacket? I think it might rain on our way up," Yani said.

N'Jadaka checked the weather advisory on his beads.

"I'll pack light coverings in my pack," he said.

Yani slipped on comfortable hiking shoes that were a wedding gift and personally designed by Shuri. The purple and pink shoes were low like trainers, but could easily transform into protective rain boots if needed. Their hiking outfits matched in all their red and gold finery: light pocketed trousers and breathable long-sleeve athletic tops with the royal insignia on the shoulders. Yani slipped a floppy sun hat on her head and N'Jadaka tucked his locs under a red hair covering.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Yep."

A young woman attendant met them at the trail head carrying two hydro-packs with their lunch inside it. Yani twined the plastic sipping tube along her shoulder clasps for easy mouth access.

"My name is Vusumuzi, I will be your hiking guide," she said.

Vusumuzi wore form-fitting brown trousers and a matching jacket. Her hair was covered in a green wide-brimmed straw hat. She handed Yani and N'Jadaka yellow sunglasses to protect their eyes. The large lenses made everything even more crystal clear and were perfect for wet weather with the anti-condensation feature. Their guide slung her own pack over her shoulders.

"We'll travel through the low fronds and traverse a scenic path so you may see the best of the forest before we ascend the falls. This way please," Vusumuzi said.

For the first thirty minutes they spoke to Vusumuzi about the plants and trees. Vusumuzi had a charming personality and a love for the forest. She reminded Yani of herself giving Eco Tours in St. Thomas. Her kind spirit made the excursion pleasant and relaxing. The moisture in the air thickened and Yani zipped her tunic's collar higher on her throat. She sipped water and held N'Jadaka's hand on some of the trickier parts of the forest floor that was littered with logs from fallen snag trees. Although their brisk walking warmed up her limbs, the temperature dropped a little. N'Jadaka pulled out her jacket from his pack and helped her put it on.

The air felt thicker in her nose and Yani kept her mouth parted to gulp more air into her body. Without even asking, Vusumuzi slowed the pace. Their hiking path widened and there were less giant downed trees to walk around or climb over with N'Jadaka's assistance. A sense of heightened calm descended over Yani and she stopped talking to Vusumuzi just to luxuriate in the stillness of peace surrounding her. The trees were so tall and old it felt like walking among quiet elders who watched them pass through.

"We'll have to walk single file once we start up the main trail," Vusumuzi said, glancing back at them. "Queen Yani? Is everything okay?'

Yani stopped hiking and stood next to a wide-belly tree. Its circumference could hold one hundred grown men in the center. Emerald green fronds fanned out around it and so did the broken limb from a nearby tree that had fallen near it covered in green moss and traces of fungus.

"Look," Yani said pointing.

Three black panther cubs rested their small paws on the broken tree limb. N'Jadaka and Vusumuzi looked in the direction she pointed.

"I don't see anything," N'Jadaka said.

"Right there," Yani said wagging her finger to guide their gaze.

"I'm sorry my queen. I don't see anything and our panthers are past their mating season. There are no cubs that I know of that our panthers in this vicinity would have birthed," Vusumuzi said.

Yani gaped at Vusumuzi before glancing back at the spot on the fallen branch.

No cubs.

"Wait…"

Yani trudged forward and Vusumuzi tapped her kimoyos. An orange rectangular surveillance screen floated above her wrist.

"Queen Yani, there are no panthers around us. I have no heat signatures and our usual big guys are back at your housing."

N'Jadaka settled next to Yani. He studied her face then looked around the area she was positive three cuddly black cubs had peered at her with big yellow eyes.

"A trick of the light maybe?" N'Jadaka said. He tapped his hiking boot on a few big stones covered in velvety dark moss.

"I thought I saw them. Right there…"

A light drizzle of rain dropped through the canopy and they moved on. Yani kept snatching peeks behind her. The soft rain wet her open mouth and she could see her breath in front of her face as they hiked further. Reaching the hardest part of their ascending trail, Yani followed behind Vusumuzi with trepid steps and N'Jadaka brought up the rear. She went over and over in her mind about the cubs she knew she spotted watching her from the tree. Something about the stillness and her hiking companions not witnessing what she saw unnerved her senses. The forest had eyes. She was being watched. It didn't feel threatening or predatory. More like a beckoning in the way that fairy tales seduced or lured their protagonists in some grand adventure. Whatever wanted her attention had it, and she became all too aware of everything around her trek.

The slow-winding path upward added pressure to Yani's chest. The altitude made her fingers swell too. She hunkered down and pushed her thighs and legs to work harder. The view on their left side made the hard physical labor worth it. Vusumuzi paused their hike so they could take holo-pics and vids to share with the children. She gulped down more water and slipped a bite of an energy bar from her lunch pack.

"There are several waterfalls along the valley beyond this mountain. They lead to Warrior Falls and beyond that is the Merchant Tribe territory. The River Tribe is the second largest tribe in the nation and we have seven ethnic groups within our numbers that speak three languages besides Wakandan which is our designated national language," Vusumuzi shared.

They hiked further and the trail grew steeper. The back of Yani's thighs burned. She began to feel the sharper effects of the higher altitude. Vusumuzi slowed down the pace even more to accommodate her.

"Here Queen Yani, take some oxygen to help you," Vusumuzi said.

She pulled out a small oxygen feeder no bigger than a water bottle and handed it off. Placing it against her chin, Yani allowed a small breathing mask to materialize over her mouth and nose. She breathed deeply and N'Jadaka watched her with concern.

"Maybe we should wait another day to let you get more acclimated Yani. I didn't mean to rush you on a hike," he said with concern.

Still breathing deeply, Yani shook her head.

"Better?" Vusumuzi asked.

"Yes…thank you."

"You are doing well for your first time here. Would you like to rest? Eat some more of your snack?" Vusumuzi said.

They rested for fifteen minutes and Yani finished the rest of energy bar. N'Jadaka ate one too even though it was obvious the hike didn't bother him at all. She patted his hand silently thanking him for trying to make her feel comfortable pretending he needed the nutrients to help him reach the top.

"This view is so pretty. Like a painting," Yani said.

Their eye line was high above the greenery of the canopy below and in the distance, the forest extended further south along the path of the shimmering emerald-green river feeding into the smaller tributaries that shaped the land of the River people. She was able to spot their houseboat with the help of the binocular lenses embedded in her sunglasses. They sat for another five minutes admiring the panoramic setting until Yani stood up and folded the wrapper of her snack into her pack. It took another hour to crest the top of the waterfall their houseboat pushed through. The loud sound of water filled her ears. Standing a safe distance from the edge, she admired the wonder before her and how high up they were. A small rainbow arched across the spray that sunlight brought them. The rain had stopped and Yani felt like the queen of the world standing there.

N'Jadaka set up a picnic area with a small folded scarf and he helped Yani and Vusumuzi take off their packs. Chunky sandwiches on spiced bread filled with fresh veggies and tender roasted beef stuffed their bellies. The king grinned when he found generous slices of yam cornbread waiting among the sandwiches.

"Umama made sure you had plenty of it," Yani teased.

N'Jadaka tore into his piece, licking up any falling crumbs, even tearing pieces from Yani's share.

"Greedy," she said slapping his fingers away. She let him finish the rest of hers. There would be plenty waiting for them later. She was sure of that.

One by one, they took turns to slip away and relieve themselves before the return trip. They surveyed another section of the waterfall before Yani became faint.

"Baby, hey, you alright?"

N'Jadaka rushed to her side and held her up, preventing her from toppling over the ledge.

"I'm okay…just winded I think. The altitude is hitting a little too hard right now," she said.

Yani touched her forehead as a pounding headache disturbed her peace. It took over two hours to hike to the crest. The rubbery feeling in her legs brought on the dread of slogging back down. N'jadaka tapped his beads.

"Okoye, bring the Royal Talon Fighter to my location. Queen Yani has altitude sickness. She won't be able to walk back down."

"I will be there shortly kumkani," Okoye's voice replied.

A minute later, the Talon Fighter's luminous neon blue glow materialized from out of thin air above them. A tracking beam lifted the three of them up into the air. Looking down toward the place they once stood, Yani was sure she saw the three panther cubs again. She didn't mention it to the others and tried to convince herself that the altitude sickness was messing with her mind.

N'Jadaka fretted over Yani inside the Royal talon Fighter.

Okoye prepared a half dosage of replenishing fluids that N'Jadaka used as the Black Panther whenever he had to don his suit and recuperate after a strenuous mission overseas. Yani sipped it from a straw and he held her close to him on the back seating in the rear of the aircraft.

Vusumuzi sat quietly in one of the console seats in front of a viewscreen mesmerized at the chance to ride inside the king's transport, a privilege few would have.

"I'm better now," Yani insisted, but he wouldn't stop fussing over her, checking her temperature and heart rate too.

"I can have the royal doctor here within the hour kumkani," Okoye said while holding another small plastic bag filled with more vitamin fluids.

"Please don't bother Dr. Chidubem. I'm fine now. I'll rest and feel even better in a few hours," Yani said waving the bag of fluid away.

"Drop us down at the homestead Okoye. We'll stay here tonight and leave the day after tomorrow bright and early. We want to see the river market before we sail into Warrior Falls."

"Yes, kumkani."

Okoye headed to the front of the aircraft and N'Jadaka beckoned for Vusumuzi to join them standing on the circular transport on the floor.

"Despite the circumstances kumkani, this has been quite a thrill to see the inside of the Royal Talon Fighter," Vusumuzi said.

He smiled at her and kept an arm around Yani's waist. They were gently lowered by the gravitational force back in front of the giant tree that held their treehouse residence. He quickly removed Yani's backpack and his own, then handed them back to Vusumuzi.

"Thank you for your guidance on our hike," Yani said.

She patted their guide's wrist and the woman beamed at being touched by a royal so openly in that way.

"I hope you feel much better and get plenty of rest. Will you need me tomorrow?" Vusumuzi asked.

N'Jadaka shook his head.

"I think we'll play it by ear and stay here for the day. If she's fully recuperated we'll explore close to the river around here," he said.

Vusumuzi gave a quick lowering of her head and left them alone.

The Royal Talon Fighter cloaked itself above them. Okoye would fly the aircraft to a designated spot to give them privacy, but she was in constant contact with five other Dora Milaje assigned to protect them that were stationed on the ground. N'Jadaka wanted his honeymoon to feel like he was a regular citizen out and about with his wife. Okoye pushed back on not having his security team present in their current location. He reminded his general that he was more deadly when it came to safeguarding his own wife. Yani was the air he breathed. No harm would come to her as long as he was around.

He walked behind Yani as they climbed the stairs of the tree house. She sniffed the air in the front room.

"Something smells delicious," she said, heading toward the kitchen.

A pot of coconut fish stew bubbled on a small cook stove. Fresh yam cornbread and broiled shrimp skewers glazed with ground spices cooked in honey lent their delicious odors of local seafood and wild rice dishes.

Yani was well enough to bathe in the restroom, and soon after they tucked into their supper together inside the living room listening to the sound of a heavier rain fall outside. He made a fire in the front room brass pit and they snuggled together watching the flames dance under a blanket. He insisted that she turn in early and read a book to her inside the cozy bedroom. She slept easily and he watched over her late into the night.

Yani seemed different.

Their return from the hike had him on alert to meet her needs. The last thing he wanted was for their honeymoon to be marred from illness. Yani had a tendency to push herself around him, as if she still needed to prove that she was capable of matching his energy. There was nothing she needed to do to show him that she was capable of anything. She was perfect the way she was.

The thing with the panther cubs he didn't see loomed over her behavior on the hike up the waterfall crest. He saw nothing but rocks and forest fronds…however…he sensed an aura of energy that was unfamiliar and yet belonged to him. Whatever Yani saw was real to her. It didn't matter that he, nor their patient guide, saw it. To keep her from freaking out, N'Jadaka played it off as a trick of the eye. The truth was, he too felt something was around them in his ancestral home. Bast and Ogum didn't stir him up with an alertness he always carried. This was family territory and a safe space for him and Yani. Wakanada was full of enchanted wonders. Why wouldn't the birthplace of Bashenga not hold sway over his wife?

Yani slept soundly and he spooned around her. The warmth from her body seeped into him and he was gently aroused. His erection rested against her backside, snug in the crease of her ass cheeks. His arousal bathed him in love from her.

After an hour he notified the attendants to bring their dinner later in case Yani became hungry. He left her to sleep longer and took a walk through the trees vine-cut paths that looped around the tree house. The evening transformed the forest into an enchanted hideaway. Fireflies lit his way and he noticed butterflies hunkering down for the night to bask in their own slumber as the night woke up nocturnal life. N'Jadaka sniffed the pollen-laden air and admired flowers that sprang open only at night.

Peace.

It flowed over him as the forest became a sanctuary for himself and his wife. Water trickled across smaller waterfalls and through the stream he followed that led him to a garden of passion flowers and night orchids that bloomed fully with the earlier rainfall. Cacao trees loomed over him with long, ripe yellow nuts dangling from the branches.

A cloying sent tickled his nose and he searched for the source.

"N'Jadaka…where are you?"

Yani's faint lilting voice drew him away from venturing further.

"I'm out here! Behind the tree house"

His booming voice echoed and traveled far. Yani's floating image popped up above his wrist.

"I'm coming to where you are," she said.

"Are you good?"

"I'm fine. Headache is gone and that long nap helped. Why didn't you wake me to go with you?"

"I wanted you to rest longer. We go canoeing in the morning and no sense over exerting you after that altitude sickness."

He spoke to her until she was a hundred feet away from him. She waved and he watched her come to him with a swing in her hips. The light from her kimoyo beads gave her enough glow to traverse the vines and plants on the forest floor. She was dressed in loose flared pants and a light jacket.

He took her hand in his and gave her a hug.

"Glad you're better."

"Me too. Oh look how pretty everything is," Yani said while walking ahead of him.

The small waterfall in the distance glowed from an unknown source that hinted at traces of vibranium and the reflection of the fireflies darting about. Frogs croaked and monkeys chattered above them in the branches. Yani inhaled deeply and her face looked relaxed and tranquil. She clasped his hand and the wandered together delighting in the scenery. Some of the plant life glowed with bioluminescence and they didn't need to use their kimoyos as lamp light.

"Take a holo-pic of me in front of this giant plant," Yani said.

She posed for him and he held up his wrist tapping a bead.

The hairs on the back of his neck raised. He sensed someone looking at him from behind. Yani's eyes grew wide and she looked past him. She wasn't scared, just hesitant to say anything to him. He turned his head to fix his gaze on whatever she spotted.

Nothing.

Lush flowers and tall plants were the only thing present near the stream of water gurgling through their surroundings.

But he still sensed a presence. Something low to the ground. Non-threatening.

Glancing at Yani he noticed her feigning that nothing was amiss.

"Take a few more," she said with rushed breath.

"What do you see?" he asked.

Her eyelashes fluttered quickly and she smiled. He read a tenseness in her body.

"It doesn't scare you, so whatever it is, it has no evil intent. Tell me what you see, Yani."

Her lips quirked and she let out long breath.

"I see three Black panther cubs. They are lying down on the pile of vines near that purple night orchid."

N'Jadaka went to where she said the invisible entities revealed themselves to her.

"Stop…you're right in front of them," she said.

He looked down at his feet. Just vines and damp soil.

"Take my hand," he said.

He reached back for her and she quietly padded to him and threaded her fingers with his. Bending down, he used his free hand to wave around the area she saw the cubs. Nothing tangible stopped his waving but his skin tingled and the hairs on his arm lifted. Something was there. Only he couldn't see it. Just Yani.

"Can you touch them?" he asked.

She lowered her free hand.

"No," she said.

N'Jadaka tapped his kimoyo and scanned the area.

"Holy shit," he gasped.

There were heat signatures. In the shape of cubs. He recorded the evidence and made Yani stand next to them so he could document her with the phenomena.

"Look," he said holding out his wrist so she could see his small orange screen.

They both blinked at the screen and the cubs' yellowish-orange heat signatures vanished next to Yani's very clear image. She glanced down at their feet.

"They're gone," Yani said.

She looked around their area and came back to him to stare at the recorded evidence that disappeared.

"That's what you saw when we went hiking…right?" he said.

"Yes. I saw them again when the tracking beam pulled us into the Talon Fighter. I didn't want to say anything because I thought I might be hallucinating from altitude sickness. I didn't want one of our citizens to think her new queen was unstable. Why didn't she see their heat signatures with her kimoyos?"

"Maybe she wasn't meant to see them. Maybe they're for your eyes only."

"But you sense them…and you saw their shapes."

He shrugged.

"They're connected to you some kinda way. You saw them three times. Maybe they're trying to convey a message to you. Give you a sign of something."

"Why me? I'm not even from this land originally."

He held her hand again and they walked back toward their tree house.

"Wakanda has fundamentally changed you and me. You gave birth to a child connected to here through me. Now that you're my wife and officially an Udaku, this land could be giving you a sign that it accepts you as one of their own."

Yani smiled and swung their hands gently.

"I'd like to believe that. I wish you could see them, they are so adorable and look so soft and cuddly."

"Don't be afraid to tell me if you see anything else while we're here."

"Okay."

"Want to soak in the hot spring?"

"Let's go in the larger one Vusumuzi showed us," Yani suggested.

They donned swimsuits and Yani tied her hair up in a peach headwrap before journeying to the west side of the Udaku homestead where a large pool of water nestled against a stone wall. He liked that pool better because it didn't smell at all and the water was at the perfect temperature. There were lamps secured in the trees and he lit them up making it look like daytime from the glare on the stone wall. Yani tied his locs up and they swam together sloshing the warm liquid over their skin and splashing each other like they were back at their cove in St. Thomas.

Yani was healthy and happy and her encounter with the three black panther cubs seemed forgotten. In fact, she appeared more at ease knowing that he was aware that her experience was based in reality. One that he could sense even if he couldn't see it like her.

He floated next to her.

"We're like two vegetables floating in a warm bowl of soup," Yani said.

"We need vacations like this throughout the year."

"You haven't even visited all the properties your family owns."

"Our family," he said.

"Yes…our family."

He stood in the pool, the water right above his chest. Yani stopped floating on her back and he lifted her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist and he moved around carrying her in the pleasant water. He brushed his lips against hers and she accepted the kiss, prying his lips wider with her tongue. They moved their necks with a patient rhythm every few seconds for deeper tongue kissing. She leaned back and flattened her palms on his lumpy chest, feeling the slick texture of his scars.

"My scars never scared you," he said.

"I was intrigued with them. I knew they meant something horrible, but I didn't question you about it."

"How do you feel about them now?'

She glanced at his chest and slid her hands across his pecs.

"They tell your story. It is a record of your journey carved into your flesh. I accept them because they brought you to me. I love you and I love your skin for what it has done for me."

He kissed her forehead.

"We should head back and eat a little something before turning in. The market opens at nine. We should row our canoe there no later than 8:30 or else it'll get too crowded," he said.

"I haven't been rowing in so long! I miss it…I miss all the physical activity outdoors."

"You're the queen now, put it in your schedule."

"I will!"

He dropped her from around his waist and followed her toward the ledge of the natural pool. His eyes stayed on her ass as she moved into the more shallow part. It jiggled as she walked and her one piece bathing suit revealed plenty of her ass cheeks. Watching her walk and shake was a turn on. His dick plumped up. Before she could climb out he stopped her.

"Wayment…lemme do something right quick," he said.

She turned her head back and stared at his full lips. He rubbed on her booty and smacked it a few times. The bulge in his trunks jutted out more.

"Damn this ass is so fat, baby. I know it sounds redundant to you when I say it all the time, but shit…baby…if you could see what I see. Look at my dick."

Yani slid her fingers under the bottom of her swimsuit and pulled them toward the crack of her ass so he could enjoy more bounty. He slid his trunks low and gripped his thick dick, smacking its weight against her ass. Stroking and poking the wide head against her ass, he hissed a curse word just as a thick leaking of pre-cum glistened across her right ass cheek. N'Jadak tugged down her bathing suit top and freed a breast to hold. He squeezed her tit and squeezed the head of his dick and more pre-cum spilled onto her wet skin.

"So soft…yeah, jiggle like that some more baby…"

He grunted as Yani leaned forward and tooted her rump out. Fondling her breast he continued jerking off against her backside, lusting after her the way so many men did when she was in their presence. He'd caught plenty of foreign men catching erections watching her walk into social events jiggling every which way no matter what she wore. A fat ass was hard to ignore and Yani had a world class posterior that rivaled even some of the Wakandan women that were blessed too.

N'Jadaka wondered if he was a secret cuck because knowing other men wanted her aroused him even further. He would kill a man on the spot if he caught Yani with anyone else, however, to his own weakness that he shared with other males, his wife was a force of beauty and body. He saw what they all saw when she walked past. She had all the goods. Big breasts, thick thighs and ass, a come hither voice that melted men down to the bone.

"Oh…oh damn…" he groaned, stroking himself faster.

He gasped twice when Yani assisted his visual enjoyment by lifting her ass cheeks up and down with her hands. He stepped back and she jumped up and down letting her ass clap for him. She wasn't playing fair as usual.

"Yani…baby…this fat ass…"

Words became gibberish on his tongue and he gave up trying to convey how she made him feel in that moment. Smacking his dick against her ass a final time, he fondled her nipple and feverishly stroked his dick while staring at the good fortune glistening with his pre-cum.

"When we get back, we're going straight to bed," he said.

"What about dinner?"

"Later…fuck that food."

Yani laughed and he grunted at the friction of his tip hot on her skin.

"I want you to ride this dick all night."

"I will. You want me to smack this big ass on your balls?"

"Yes…bounce all on this dick."

"What if I want to sit on your face and cum on your beard?"

He moaned and closed his eyes imagining her vulva all slick and covering his mouth. She had the best pussy. He should know. He'd been balls deep everywhere on the planet and he'd tasted enough snatch to be a connoisseur handing out Michelin Five Star reviews. Yani's pussy tasted like ambrosia from the Gods and was deep enough to handle him like no other.

He opened his eyes and stared at her round backside before gifting it with hot cum he spurted with a grateful shout of her name. Before he could even ask, she was on her knees licking up the rest that dripped out of his slit. He rocked on his heels and cried out again when she sucked another nut out of him with her tongue pulsing the underside of his length. She used those big eyes of hers to play innocent and that sent him into a feral lusting.

She was too good to be true. And she was his wife.

Pulling up his trunks, N'Jadaka lifted Yani up and threw her over his shoulder. She shrieked in surprise and he spanked her ass while walking her back to the tree house.

Yani kept her promise and sat that good juicy pussy on his mouth and soaked his beard with the orgasms he gave her. Then she fucked him as if it was their first time into oblivion, and he was a very happy husband.

Chapter 9 HERE.

Tag List:

@readingaddict1290

@issimplyaamazinggg

@eyeknowmywrites

@kitesatforestp

@fd-writes

@soufcakmistress  

@cherrystainedlipsbaby

@tclaybon  

@thadelightfulone

@allhailqueennel

@bartierbakarimobisson

@cpwtwot

@shookmcgookqueen

@yoyolovesbucky

@raysunshine78

@the-illlestt

@terrablaze514  

@l-auteuse

@amirra88

@jimizwidow

@janelledarling

@chaneajoyyy  

@sweetestdream92  

@purple-apricots

@blackpinup22  

@hennessystevens-udaku

@scrumptiouslytenaciouscrusade

@bugngiz

@stariamrry  

@honeytoffee

@meilintheempressofdreams

@tyees

@eye-raq  

@writerbee-ffs  

@chocolatedream30  

@childishgambinaa  

@mygirlrenee

@thewaysheis—awkward

@tchallasbabymama

@lahuttor

@goodieyaya

@post-woke

@soufcakmistress

@yomiloo

@goddessofthundathighs

@nahimjustfeelingit-writes

@retroxvailles

@cydneyrenee4

@nizzle-mo

@cecereads209

@childishgambinaax

@gopaperless

@bombshellbre95

@tchallasbabymama

@musicisme333

@sister-winter73

@nccu-rnc

@sj206260358

@blmcd57110

@griot-of-wakanda

@xsweetdellzx

@nayaesworld

@carlakeks

[third-doctor]

I am GOING INSANE what the FUCK is going on I hate Moffat so much it's unreal. He's so much worse than every comic book writer I've ever had a grudge against and I am a DC comics fan. The thing that makes it so much worse is that it's so fucking good. His writing can be fantastic! Some of the best writing we've ever seen on this show! Empty Child/Doctor Dances and Blink are both masterpieces. So much of Twelve's run is incredible. But then you get the heavy handed metaphors and writing and trying so hard to be smart and just being ostentatious and stupid. And then you get the way he writes women and puts stupid romances everywhere. And then somewhere in between is the stupid stuff that's genuinely just fun. The result is you're bouncing between genuinely cool concepts, writing that is making you fucking sob, objectively stupid shit, and That Sure Was Moffat! You go from emotional scenes with Amy to the Doctor reading a horrible sexualized noir detective passage clearly describing River and going yowza. And he knows the source material! I know he knows the source material! He references things you would not know without the source material! AND THEN HE COMPLETELY FUCKING IGNORES THE SOURCE MATERIAL.

it's fucking INFURIATING I hate this man I never want to read his writing again I will eagerly await whichever new episode he does I will cry tears of sadness and rage. Like now. This was the best episode of the season so far. I'm losing my mind over it. But in between all the good stuff we had bits of just Moffat and I'm losing my gddamn mind. We did not need overly emotional speech from a child about how her mother was "gathered" into heaven to be with the angels because god loved her so much and whatever was going on with the stupid romance plot but then we had THE DOCTOR FUCKING SINGING THE SKYE BOAT SONG TO STAY CALM AND TALKING ABOUT HOW IT'S A SAD SONG ABOUT SOLDIERS GOING OFF TO WAR AND SONGS ABOUT THAT SHOULD BE SAD. WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE FUCK WHY MY HEARTS WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO ME. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU. DID YOU FUCKING BINGE THE ENTIRETY OF TWO AND JAMIE'S RUN AND THEIR EU. TO BORROW MY ROOMMATE'S PHRASE I AM GNAWING MY FUCKING ARM OFF.

what is WRONG with this man why is his writing so good and so terrible steven moffat I am coming for your fucking bones I will replace them with exact replicas of your bones that are just a little bit off so you always have the sensation that your skeleton is just slightly odd and to the left of where it used to be. FUCK

[unheardcorner]

Vision of Love

When I fall in love, I’ll long to escape with him to the quiet embrace of nature—perhaps by the sea or a gentle river, or beneath a sky full of stars. We’ll drive together to some far-off place, and from the top of our car, we’ll talk for hours, listening to the world fall silent around us. I’ll hide our kiss behind a cap or a book, stealing a moment just for us, and tell him softly how much I love him.

After a long day of work, I’ll surprise him with flowers and perhaps a bottle of wine. We’ll cook together, filling the kitchen with laughter as though we’re celebrating a festival just for us. We'll dance to our favorite songs, sing together, and live our love in all the little moments that make life beautiful.

We’ll plan our days thoughtfully, sharing adventures like pottery classes, shaping more than just clay—shaping memories. And on quieter days, I’ll visit him at work, offering a surprise coffee date. Then, we’ll drive to the beach to sit hand in hand, waiting for the sunrise, as the world awakens around us.

I want to shower him with gifts, not just of things, but of meaning. A watch, so he’ll think of me every time he checks the time, a perfume that captures the essence of our love, a scent he’ll always associate with us. As I learn guitar and piano, I’ll write him songs and play them in the stillness of our living room. I’ll write him into my poetry, gifting him words that express all the feelings we share. And if he loves books, I’ll fill our shelves with stories we can read together, discussing them for hours, connecting not only through our love but through our minds.

Our mornings will begin with music, as we listen to songs while we hustle to work, setting the rhythm of our day. I’ll kiss him goodbye when he leaves, and when he comes home, I’ll greet him with all the warmth and affection I have, holding him close as if to say, "You’re safe with me."

Perhaps we’ll take baths together sometimes, sharing those quiet, intimate moments, or maybe we’ll exercise together, strengthening our bodies as we strengthen our bond.

We’ll travel to new places, walk down unfamiliar streets, hand in hand, rowing boats on quiet lakes, and laughing as we play in the snow. We’ll nurture life together, tending to a garden that grows alongside our love.

There will be moments of conflict, but I hope we’ll always be honest and open with one another, sorting things out with heart-to-heart conversations. I’ll throw random "I love you’s" and kisses his way, never letting the spark of affection dim. But through it all, we’ll respect each other’s need for personal space, knowing that love grows best when both are allowed to breathe.

In those intimate moments, I’ll want to share more than just physical closeness. I’ll want to share my soul with him, creating a connection that runs deeper than words.

This man, this love—that will be my husband. And to him, even now, I say, "I love you."

[headcanonsandmore]

Sergeant Benton with every Doctor (1-13)

1- I get the sense that One's initial dislike of being questioned would soften a little when dealing with Benton's sweet earnestness. Especially if Benton risks his own life to save Susan (because of course he would).

2- On the rare occasions where Two interacted with Benton, they seem to get along perfectly fine. I think that if Benton was around full time, he'd definitely develop a strong friendship with him. And, of course, Benton and Jamie would get along super well.

3- As we all know, Three was the closest to Benton out of the incarnations who met him, but I think Benton being a fully-fledged traveling companion would put an interesting spin on things. I think Benton would have a great time, although he would probably get tons of marriage proposals from the inhabitants of planets they'd travel to (I mean, he is super lovely, after all). And I'm sure Jo Grant would appreciate having her himbo bestie around.

4- Four liked Benton the most out of the UNIT soldiers he interacted with, so no surprises that he'd appreciate having Benton as a traveling companion a lot. I imagine Sarah-Jane would also appreciate a sweet himbo to bounce ideas off (especially since Benton is basically the opposite of Harry Sullivan in every way).

5- Five would get along so well with Benton, it's unreal. Benton is such a calming influence that Five would have him around just to chat over tea with. I also think the most personable of the classic Doctors would appreciate Benton's down-to-earth nature and sense of cheery humour. Also, Benton is the only UNIT man that Tegan and Nyssa would actually like, and we all know those two need at least one himbo third wheel with them at any given moment (Benton tries to sneak date money into Tegan's purse so she can take Nyssa to a cinema, Tegan gets flustered and turns bright red, Nyssa is confused but pleased nonetheless).

6- Benton would not only be able to restrain Six during his initial regeneration mood swings, but he'd also help Peri acclimatise to the situation. Mel would probably remind him a bit of Jo Grant, and he'd naturally fit into being her best friend.

7- Listen, I don't want to split up the duo of Seven and Ace, but -if I had to- Benton would slot in well. He'd be able to see through Seven's manipulations as well as acting like a sweet big brother to Ace. He'd probably get a little worried about all the pyrotechnics, though.

8- Eight would either have a slight crush on Benton, or try manipulating him into a scheme of dubious morality. Either way, Benton would have a hard time dealing with this eldritch figure. He'd probably get along well with Eight's rotating line-up of queer companions, though.

9- God-tier duo. Can you imagine human golden retriever Benton being around Nine? Nine; the incarnation with a boat-load of trauma and guilt who just wants to save people? Well, Benton's making him take a day off at the beach with some ice cream, plus some healthy discussion of emotions and wellbeing. He'd save that time lord's life just by being his friend, and it would be fantastic.

10- To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if Benton got exasperated with Ten at times, especially with how he treated Martha. Also, that whole "Time Lord Victorious" thing? Couldn't happen with Benton there. Doc, I dunno about the nature of time, but you're supposed to help people, not decide who's important and who isn't *upset puppy dog eyes intensify* *Ten immediately reverts back to normal*. Oh, but can you imagine Benton around Donna? That would be amazing.

11- I feel like Benton would probably calm down Eleven's energy a bit, and would also be a nice calming influence on all the TARDIS crew. He'd also probably be a little confused by River Song, just in general. Also, he'd tell tons of embarrassing stories from when he used to babysit Kate Steward.

12- Listen, we know that Twelve has a... difficult situation with U.N.I.T but I think he'd value Benton's presence despite that. I also think Bill especially would like Benton's sweet nature. And -hey- Benton would also be immune to Missy's shenanigans so conflicts would be resolved a good deal easier. Although Benton would definitely be a little alarmed by Clara, and try to help her and Twelve ease their co-dependency.

13- Given the amount of himbos in Thirteen's TARDIS teams, I think Benton would probably fit in quite well. He'd definitely bring an 'older cousin' vibe to a friendship with Yaz, and I imagine he'd also be there for Yaz when Thirteen is being a self-sabotaging jerk. He would also probably have a double-act with Dan. The lovely din-dins man meets the Dan with a plan and a pan. 🤣😂

[companion-showdown]

Best companion to get intoxicated with: Round 0 Masterpost

the elimintation numbers on the posts themselves are largely wrong because I made a mistake and only realised when it was too late, its two per group except 14 and 15 which is 3

Day 2

Elimination Groups:

Group 8 (2 eliminations)

God the Computer

Hallan

Hass

Hebe Harrison

Hex Schofield

Irving Braxiatel

Jack McSpringheel

Group 9 (2 eliminations)

Jane Austen

Jason Kane

John (Another Girl, Another Planet)

Joseph (Oh No it Isn't)

Joseph (The Doomsday Manuscript)

Koschei

Laura Tobin

Group 10 (2 eliminations)

Lola Denison

Mark Seven

McQueen!Master

Miranda Who

Mother Francesca

Mother Mathara

Mr Crofton

Group 11 (2 eliminations)

Ms Jones

Narvin

Pandora

Peter Summerfield

Preacher!Master

Renee Thalia

Romana III

Group 12 (2 eliminations)

Ruth Leonidus

Sabbath Dei

Sam Bishop

Scarlette

Stratum Seven Agent

Tameka Vito

The Black Dalek Leader

Group 13 (2 eliminations)

The Earl of Sandwich

The Original Golden Dalek Emperor

The War King

Unnamed Courtesan (In the Year of the Cat)

V.M.McCrimmon

Valarie Lockwood

Wolsey

Group 14 (3 eliminations)

Ianto Jones

Toshiko Sato

Owen Harper

Andy Davidson

Gwen Cooper

Banana Boat

The TARDIS

Missy

Group 15 (3 eliminations)

Sally Sparrow

Larry Nightingale

Bannakaffalatta

Vincent van Gogh

Madam Vastra

Psi

Saibra

Beep the Meep

Seeding Groups

Group 8

Charley Pollard

Evelyn Smythe

Lucie Miller

Liv Chenka

Group 9

Bernice Summerfield

Fitz Kreiner

Frobisher

Iris Wildthyme

Group 10

Rose Tyler

Mickey Smith

Jack Harkness

Martha Jones

Group 11

Donna Noble

Wilfred Mott

River Song

Amy Pond

Rory Williams

Group 12

Clara Oswald

Bill Potts

Nardole

Yasmin Khan

Group 13

Graham O'Brien

Ryan Sinclair

Dan Lewis

Ruby Sunday

day 1 under the cut

Day 1

Elimination Groups:

Group 1 (2 eliminations)

Sara Kingdom

Bret Vyon

Delgado!Master

Morbius

Sutekh the Destroyer

Cessiar of Diplos

Duggan

Group 2 (2 eliminations)

Erato

Pangol of Argolis

Deedrix of Tigella

Soldeed of Skonnos

The Three who Rule

Varsh

Group 3 (2 eliminations)

Keara

Tylos

Tremas of Traken

Panna

Karuna

Aris

Group 4 (2 eliminations)

Richard Mace

Kamelion

King Yrcanos

Sabalom Glitz

The Kandyman

Karra

Group 5 (2 eliminations)

Adrien Wall

Alan Turing

B-Aaron

C'rizz

Captain Black

Captain Magenta

Carmen Yeh

Group 6 (2 eliminations)

Chris Cwej

Clarence the Angel

Compassion

Cousin Anastasia

Cousin Gustav

Cousin Intrepid

Cousin Justine

Group 7 (2 eliminations)

Cousin Octavia

D'eon

Death's Head

Eliza

Elspeth (Where Angels Fear)

Emilie Mars-Smith

Father Kreiner

Seeding Groups

Group 1

Susan Foreman

Barbara Wright

Ian Chesterton

Vicki Pallister

Group 2

Steven Taylor

Dodo Chaplet

Ben Jackson

Polly Wright

Group 3

Jamie McCrimmon

Victoria Waterfield

Zoe Heriot

The Brigadier

Sergeant Benton

Group 4

Liz Shaw

Mike Yates

Jo Grant

Sarah-Jane Smith

Harry Sullivan

Group 5

Leela

K9

Romana I

Romana II

Group 6

Adric

Nyssa

Tegan Jovanka

Vislor Turlough

Group 7

Peri Brown

Mel Bush

Ace McShane

Chang Lee

Grace Holloway

[flurrin]

I know it's petty to still be disappointed about the Netflix adaptation of Watership Down but it feels like few things sum up my feelings of how far off base it is compared to the 1978 version better than the relevancy of the credit songs. Fire on Fire is a beautiful, stirring, gentle love song, inherently queer and powerful, I love it and listen to it a lot and have it on an OC playlist, it's very dear to me. That said:

Bro... what the fuck ever does any of it have to do with the themes of Watership Down. Kind of the entire point of the book was that they don't fall in love like humans but that doesn't make them a society less capable of protecting and caring for each other. The Netflix adaptation also didn't focus any more on a romance between Hazel and Hyzenthlay (despite giving her a lot more time and things to do, good job!) so the song at best reads as Fiver and Hazel, which is... certainly a direction to take brothers?? I would genuinely get a lot out of that interpretation if the song wasn't explicitly romance-coded. There IS a lot of dread and perseverance through inevitable conflict in it (they say that we're out of control and some say we're sinners / but don't let them ruin our beautiful rhythms) and again in regards to Fiver I think it handles his panic attacks really well with the way Hazel understands him and gives him a focus point to calm down. it's a good song, it's just...why does it have to be about a modern day human romance (my mother said I'm too romantic / she said "you're dancing in the movies").

So why is Bright Eyes better for Watership Down? Because one of the major themes of the movie and book are the characters' constant relationship with Death, orbiting it, defying it, accepting it.

Aside from leaning heavily into descriptions of nature and how death reflects in it, there's an emotional element of curiosity as well, which is another big thing for the rabbits in the books--curiosity helps Hazel understand how things literally beyond his understanding, like the concepts of boats and flight and domestication, can save his warren. The scene featuring the song makes it about Fiver's refusal to accept Hazel's death, paired with his insight into the spiritual.

Like my argument here is not "the song should have been about rabbits". That's dumb. I honestly think Fire on Fire is a better song than Bright Eyes just on their own with no context, i love how much the line "fire on fire would normally kill us" communicates and i think Bright Eyes' " following the river of death downstream" spells out the meaning of the song too literally and weakens it. But Fire on Fire still doesn't feel like a Watership Down song. And Bright Eyes will always be THE Watership Down song.

[johaerys-writes]

Hello! Can you share some hcs/tidbits of Patrochilles that you choose not to show through the chapters of Disasters!AU? I'd love to see how you imagined them to be outside the picture😁 thank you, and have a nice day!!

Thank you so much for this ask!! I have a lot of headcanons for these two but after writing close to 150k words for this fic I'm not sure there are many I haven’t shared 😅 But there's a few that come to mind (mostly fluffy bc I love them):

- Every year Achilles makes a cake for Patroclus’s birthday. Every year, he fucks it up somehow. Either the frosting isn't right, or it doesn't cook all the way, or it deflates, or he forgets to get one ingredient or other. He has many talents but baking isn't one of them 🤣 And it's almost become kind of a tradition now so Achilles is always looking forward to Patroclus' reaction when he presents him his little fucked up cake. 

- They once tried to build a boat/raft from scraps and bits of wood they found in the garage and the fields. They started the project because a)they were bored, and b) Ajax told them that the Spercheios river goes all the way down to Athens (it doesn't). It took them two weeks to finish it and gather provisions etc for their voyage. They took it to the creek. It sank. Achilles cried for hours. It was wild

- I think this is obvious from the fic but as well as they get on with each other they do bicker quite a lot. Achilles can be deeply annoying and/or set in his ways, and Patroclus is also stubborn, in his own way. He is sometimes hesitant to try new things or might get a little sad and withdrawn or completely tune Achilles out, and Achilles just wants to shake him LOL. Also growing up Patroclus had to sometimes act as Achilles' impulse control, like "no we can't set this random pile of dried leaves by the side of the road on fire" or "no we won't ride to the beach at 3am on a winter Tuesday, we have class tomorrow" etc etc, but more often than not he is following Achilles in whatever dumb thing he's made up his mind to do, and then they bicker when it all goes south instead 🙃

- While they were in Phthia, they actually slept together almost every night whenever Peleus wasn't home. It wasn't romantic or anything at first, they just spent so much time together and in each other’s rooms that it didn't make sense to separate for sleep. Or sometimes they'd just fall asleep while talking/reading/watching films etc. Also like, with no parents or other caretakers in sight they were essentially each other’s source of comfort and affection and sometimes you just want to cuddle up with your bestie under a blanket and not do much else. ALSO also this isn't surprising bc the story deals quite a bit with toxic masculinity and internalised homophobia and how that affects Pat and Achilles, but I have a lot of thoughts about how the pressure to "man up" and "be tough" as they grew up really started to wear on them (especially Achilles), bc like what's wrong with crying or showing emotion or hugging your best friend or holding his hand or kissing him on the cheek! What's wrong with being soft and tender with the people you care about, what's wrong with any of it. So being able to come back home and have their safe space to vent and cry and be goofy and cuddle and not have to act a certain way around each other was such a lifesaver for them.

[Also I think their physical intimacy is something that's universal across every possible iteration of Patrochilles out there lol they're just super comfortable touching and hugging and kissing etc and I simply love how it might not even have sexual connotations a lot of the time, it's just something they do. They just like to glomp]

- I think this has been mentioned in the fic at some point, but Achilles often composes incredibly silly songs on the guitar or changes the lyrics to popular songs to tease Patroclus and Laika with. Often extremely early in the morning.

- Achilles has taught himself to knit and crochet as a result of a past hyperfixation over the span of a summer. The bright orange scarf he wears in Chapter 20 is one of his own creations, and Patroclus literally loves that thing. He teases him about it all the time. Achilles has made a few wonky beanies and mittens for Patroclus as well while he was practicing, they're very stylish (NOT lmao)

[prawns-are-cannibals]

Taskmaster Series 17

This was another series I wasn't necessarily a fan of any of the contestants, and I'd only heard of John and Steve (who I was mildly surprised they managed to get for some reason). That being said, they were such a delightful bunch I'm a fan of them now. I had an irrational idea that Joanne would annoy me for some reason, but my god she was joyous. The main joy for me this series however was that they had not one, but two 'useless' people on it. I mean, who doesn't adore Nick and Sophie. Especially as Nick decided it would be a good idea to dress up as Dracula (which will always be my favourite task outfit).

Top three tasks

Create a new tradition to celebrate Assistant's Day.

Honestly, the main reason I love this task is because of Nicks song. It was just so sweet, and probably the nicest anyone has been to Alex in 17 series of the show. I knew he was musical, but he has such a nice voice. Joanne lugging Alex behind her in the buggy whilst he looks mildly awkward mixed with er demanding he make her some lunch was to notch.

Hoopla Gary

Steve saying 'is this Gary?' Whilst pointing at the scare crow was expected somehow. The fact he seemed to get it with one of his first throws was on point for him. Sophie seemed so amazed about a gorilla being on a boat, it was quite sweet. Leaving her till last ("you're going to have to wait, you know what you've done"). The fact that her first hoop went onto a branch, and then starting to hop into the river and quickly failing really endeared me to her. And the flailing shouting 'get me out' was *chefs kiss*. Nick flinging and hoping for the best, which is honestly how I would end up trying to do this task, although i may not have thought to pull him back shamefully. The fact that after a couple of steps into the river, he was suddenly plunged to his waist is brilliant (#Shortpersonproblems). John and Joanne seemed so calm and precise with theirs, which is expected of John maybe.

Find the real task

I think it was the simplicity of this task is why I liked it so much. Sophie not seeing any of the 100 tasks. Her little run to the shed was adorable. I'm so glad she managed to find it so quickly. Joanne's increasing pile of all the tasks before she found the real one was quite hilarious. Honestly it must have been so infuriating to realise what was happening. Was no surprise that she didn't realise the tasks were in the shape of an arrow until the studio. Nick falling out of the door was so funny. Thinking that the letters might correspond with the number of the task down the arrow was logical but in the wrong way. His little "was that good?" Was so cute. Why did I find it mildly infuriating that John and Steve found the arrow straight away? But honestly, how did Nick not clock on that he hadn't pegged that task on??

Contestants

Nick

Sophie

Joanne

Steve

John

Series 16

[lelanida]

Polaroid animatic is finally here!

It may look simple, but I still hold it close to my heart. I wanted to draw animatic on this song for a very long time (before someone will), and after almost two months of work, it's ready! I'm very proud of it, not gonna deny >:)

Some of the info about this thing is under the cut

- The black and white style is a reference to the game I took the song from - Vib Ribbon (1999 PS1). The YouTube cover is a complete recreation of its gameplay.

- The idea I put into this animatic is the feeling I had while playing Sky for the first time in my life. The feeling that there is something important waiting for you afar, on the horizon. The feeling that YOU ARE important. And when you complete Eden for the first time, you realize that nothing actually changed around you except for yourself. After your real journey begins, you start exploring the world for yourself, not for a great mission you were given, and grow into person.

- Lyrics because the singer is Japanese and does her best, but it's still hard for some people to discern the words:

Walking by the river.

Dog is by my side.

Raindrops falling on me.

I have no umbrella.

Search in my car,

Search in my house.

I can't find just anything I want.

Search in my hut,

Search in my boat.

There's no answer

Any time, any place.

Walking by the river.

Dog is by my side.

Raindrops falling on me.

I have no umbrella.

Talking to my boyfriend.

Such a happy time.

He'll say "Good night" to me,

I feel all alone.

Ready for you,

Ready for me.

I don't know what I'm just looking for.

Ready for birth.

Ready for death.

There's no answer

Any time, any place.

Looking for my answer,

Looking for my dreams.

Starting over.

Looking for my answer,

Looking for my future.

Hey, I got to watch, I know.

Step by step

Over the mountain,

Step by step

Over the ocean,

Step by step

Over the rainbow.

I'll be running.

Jumping down,

Walking the mountain.

Jumping down,

Walking the oceans.

Jumping down,

Walking the river.

I can guess everything.