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music-royal01 · 2 years ago

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Time flies

Sully family x child reader part 2

Part one- Eywas mystery

The years following when the sully’s took you in up until the time when you had to leave to go to the Metkayina clan

~ age- 8 ~

Neytiri was teaching you how weave along with Kiri. It had been two years since Jake and Neytiri had found you. You had started calling the two your mom and dad with ease

“Mama can you help me please” you called out to Neytiri, your hands were stuck in the rope you were trying to weave into a net. Neytiri took one look at you and chuckled slightly

“come here little one” you kinda waddled her way trying not to trip on the longer pieces that were hitting your legs. Neytiri carefully unwrapped your hands and showed you the weave process again. This time she helped you more so you didn’t get your hands stuck again. Soon you had a simple, but effective net which you proudly showed Kiri

“Look I finished mine” your voice said happily showing your sister the next

“I finished mine too, I made a basket” Kiri said as she smiled

“We should use it to collect flowers Kiri!” She nodded so the two of you kissed your mom on the cheek and ran off into the flower field near by

~ age-12~

Neteyam , Lo’ak, Kiri and you were standing at the edge of the Hallelujah mountain

“It’s time to for you four to tame an Ikran” Jake said smiling

“Dad what if we fall” you say looking down and gulping. Jake pats your back softly “then I’ll swoop down and catch you, now go on you four”

Kiri is the first one to bond with an Ikran. She didn’t do it in the normal way though, she kind of befriended it?

Next was Neteyam, he tamed one quickly and efficiently. Within a few minutes he was flying around on his Ikran with ease

Lo’ak got thrown around a lot by the Ikran, he almost fell off when the Ikran flew down the mountain but he was able to connect his queue at the last minute

Finally it was your turn, the Ikran you had decided to try to tame was blue with streaks of purple. When you tried to get close she snapped at you ready to bite if you got too close, you had to admit that you were intimidated by the flying creature.

“Well here goes nothing” you said jumping on the ikrans back as she turned around.

The Ikran screeched and tried to throw you off as it flew into the air. Your hands struggled trying to grab your queue while still holding on to the creature. From the ground Jake was on his Ikran ready to grab you incase anyone happened and you fell off.

Finally you grabbed your queue and connected it with the ikrans. After a few minutes the blue and purple Ikran stopped thrashing and began to fly normally. You fly down to where your dad and your siblings were.

“You did great Y/N, but don’t scare me like that again” Neteyam said concerned about the fact that you could’ve plummeted to your death

“Don’t worry brother dad would never have let that happen plus Y/N way too good for that” Lo’ak said high fiving you

“Yeah she did much better then you two idiots” Kiri said as she wrapped her arm around your shoulder

Jake congratulated the four of you for doing so well. The five of you flew back to Neytiri and Tuk to share the accomplishments

~age-14~

The RDA was back on pandora and Quatrich, your dads old enemy, was back as an avatar. Right now because of your brother Lo’aks stupid need to see an old battle field him, Kiri, Tuk, Spider, and you were all being held hostage by Quatrich and his goons.

“Show me your hands girl” Quatrich said in very broken Na’vi, his goons had a gun to almost everyone’s head except Tuk who had a knife to her throat

You flipped Quatrich off as a way to show your five finger which made him roll his eyes. He had taken Lo’ak communication device a hours ago and had given your father instructions for giving himself up in exchange for you and your sibling. Suddenly you could hear your mothers signal, to anybody else it would just be interpreted as another sound of the pandorean jungle but to the sully kids it meant that their mother was near and ready to rescue them. Finally an opportunity to strike arises and Neytiri shots the guy holding Kiri with an arrow. Neytiri, Jake and Neteyam all spring into action. You, Tuk and Lo’ak bite the hands of your captors managing to distract them enough so that you could get away. Shots rang in the air and one of the avatars had Kiri but not for long as neytiri fired another arrow that landed straight into his chest. Neteyam almost gets shot while trying to rescue you guys but in the end all of the sully’s come out with minor injuries

“Where’s Spider?” Kiri’s voice trembled. At that moment everyone realizes that the human boy had been taken

“I’m so sorry kids, but I don’t think we can rescue him” Jake says, it hurt to see his children’s reaction more than losing Spider

That night you could hear your parents argue about what happened and how your dad just wanted to keep your family safe and the safety of the clan… which meant having to move, the RDA only cared about him and his family so if your family disappeared then both the family and the clan would be safe. You ran out of the hut, much to your parent’s surprise because they thought you and your siblings were asleep.

You sat outside of your home upset by your fathers words. You could feel someone sit down next to you

“I’m so sorry baby girl” Jake said wrapping his arm around you, you sob leaning in to your fathers embrace

“I don’t wanna leave dad, this is our home it’s not fair” your voice trembles

“I know baby, buts it’s for safety” Jake says looking black to see the rest of your family outside.

“You know what your father says, right kids” your mom says with a solemn expression

“Sully’s stick together” the sully kids say unenthusiastically

“Come on with attitude, I know you guys don’t want to leave but it needs to happen” Jake says hugging Tuk who was about to cry

The next day your father gave up his title of Olo’eyktan to Tarsem who sadly accepted. The entire clan was sad to see your family leave but they understood why you all had to leave

Everyone got on their Ikran, Tuk going with your mom, it took a few days to get to the Metkayina clan. When the sully’s landed they were surrounded by Metkayina, your father telling all of you to behave as some of the younger boys giving the family wary glares

“Look what is that? Is it supposed to be a tail” one of the metkayina boys says talking about Neteyam making some other metkayina laugh

You see Lo’ak entranced by a a girl walking out of the water and you just roll your eyes

“It’s too small how are they supposed to swim” the same boys say referring to your tail

“Do not Ao’nung Rotxo” the girl says, Lo’ak says hi to her and she smiles and looks away shyly

soon their Olo’eyktan (tonowari) came out of the water walking through the crowd to your family

“I see you Tonowari” your father says bowing slightly the rest of the family following his example

“Jake sully” Toniwari says as he acknowledges your family

Soon the tsahik came through the crowd her expression cold

“I see you, Ronal Tsahik of the metkayina” your father voice rang

“I see you Ronal” says Neytiri

“Why do you come to us Jake Sully” says Tonowari curious as to why forest people would come to their home near the ocean

“We seek uturu…” Jake says making the Metkayina gasp

“Uturu?” Ronal says surprised by your father statement

“…a sanctuary for my family” your father continues. Ronal walks forward after exchanging looks with her mate

“We are reef people. You are forest people. Your skills mean nothing here” the Olo’eyktan said as Ronal continues to circle your family

“So we will learn your ways, right” Jake said the last part directed towards his family

Ronal grabs your mothers tail and then Tuks arms

“Their arms are thin…” Ronal says walking and grabbing Kiris tail “…their tails are weak. You will be slow in the water”. Then she grabs hands hands raising them in the air

“These children are not even true Na’vi” she states as the Metkayina gasp

“Yes we are” you say upset. But she doesn’t care and just goes to grab Lo’aks hand and raises it to show his five fingers

“They have demon blood!” The tsahik claim immediately making the rest of the Metkayina more hostile towards your family. God how your blood was boiling at this point. You hadn’t done anything to this woman and she already didn’t like you and your family

“Look! Look” your father shows his hands “I was born to the sky people and now I’m Na’vi. You can adapt” he says turning back to Tonowari

“We can adapt” Jake says almost desperately

“My husband was Toruk Makto. He lead the clans to victory against the sky people” says Neytiri in an harsh tone as she looks at Tonowari.

“This you call victory? Hiding among strangers…” your mother looks down “…it seems Eywa has turned her back on you chosen” your mom hisses and Ronal retribution with a hiss of her own, you could see that the two were ready to fight at any second.

Jake cuts in between the two women apologizing for your mothers behavior claiming that the journey has made her tired and easily irritable and Tonowari changes the subject

“Toruk Makto is a a Great War leader. All Na’vi people know his story. But we Metkayina are not at war…” he turns to your father “… we cannot let you bring your war here” Toniwari says

“Look I’m done with war, okay? I just wanna keep my family safe” your father says holding Tuk

“Uturu has been asked” your mother says harshly

The Olo’eyktan and the Tsahik exchange looks before Ronal nods slightly

“Toruk Makto and his family will stay with us. Treat them as our brothers and sisters. But they do not know the sea. So, they will be like babies taking their first breath. Teach them our ways so they do not know the shame of being useless” you could see your fathers relief as Tonowari said these words. The family thanked him and he explained that his children Ao’nung and Tsireya will you and your sibling their ways. The boy Ao’nung had obvious protest but was shut down by his father and the Tsireya just smiled and showed your family around. The next few weeks we’re going to be hard.

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There WILL be a part three focusing on your time with the metkayina clan so pls don’t comment saying it’s a cliffhanger. Anyways hoped you enjoyed :)

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Part 3: Learning their ways

#metkayina #avatar 2 #avatar way of water #avatar tuk #kiri sully #neteyam sully #jake sully #neytiri #lo’ak sully #sully family x daughter reader #sully family x child reader #sully family x reader

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elizabethhood · 2 months ago

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Biology Notes

A minute by minute summary of my thoughts during bio class.

Countdown begin.

This ain’t gonna be fun.

Only two min in.

She’s late.

How am I already bored?

That guy’s late.

Cal/Boba handcuffed together, working as allies?

Melidaan joins Mandalorian Empire?

I’m bored.

Clones’ first time hearing music

Clones eating real food for the first time?

Clones tour temple? (Where they hear music/eat real food for first time?)

I was right. This isn’t fun.

Soulmate AU for Charles/Erik?

Erik’s POV for first meeting?

Immediate aftermath of said first meeting?

Erik and Raven visit after Cuba?

They meet babies Kurt, Warren, Jean, maybe Scott.

They miss the sign, don’t realize it’s a school?

‘Did Charles have kids?’ moment, especially after realizing Jean’s a telepath?

Jean recognizes them from memories? All recognize them from photos and/or stories?

All the guilt when Erik sees Charles.

Cells. The powerhouse of, mitochondria is.

Phospholipid. Now there’s a word to make people flip a Scrabble board with.

Nigh impossible, you’d need lipid down first, then add phospho-, but a girl can dream.

Kurt and Warren would be adorable as childhood friends

That guy’s playing Wordle.

That guy is really, really, really bad at Wordle.

People realizing how insanely dangerous Charles is?

Erik realizing how lucky humanity is for Charles’ morality? and being very attracted to that?

Quiz on Friday, 45-50 questions, 50 points. Study slides.

Erik getting attacked by another telepath, Charles going territorial, has other telepath screaming/crying on floor, living worst nightmares, clutching head and begging for it to end, while Charles is gently comforting/fussing over Erik?

That girl is texting.

Is that guy watching Gravity Falls? Great taste.

Aw, why’d you turn the screen that way? Now I can’t see it.

Quinlan switching out Fox’s caf with decaf, letting him fall asleep, tucking him into bed?

While Fox’s asleep, using Shadow Training (TM) to do paper work? (Forgery/Ability to have multiple styli (plural of stylus) filling out multiple data pads simultaneously? (Force use?)

Quinlan leaving five min before Fox wakes up. Fox finding his paper pretty much done, crying because he’s still out of it and doesn’t want to wake up?

Quinlan making this a habit when he’s on Coruscant? Stone finding out, not telling? Fox scared if he talks about it, it’ll go away? Unable to believe it’s real?

That girl’s doing a crossword. Badly.

The answer is Lobelia. “She stole Bilbo’s spoons” is Lobelia Sackville-Baggins.

Where in Middle-Earth did she get Tauriel from? Even if she hadn’t been added solely for the purpose of paying less in royalties to Tolkien’s family, even if she had existed in the book, when in the name of all that is precious and beautiful, would she have stolen Bilbo’s spoons?

I might kill myself. This is why I shouldn’t have sat in the back row.

Only 6 min left. Heh. +60, Execute Order. I know I’m not funny.

So close, yet so far. So unbearably bored.

Is this what stream-of-consciousness notebooks look like?

I have a very odd stream of consciousness.

We get to leave early? Hallelujah!!

Goodbye!

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sweetdreamsjeff · 3 months ago

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The ‘Eternal Life’ of Jeff Buckley’s Album ‘Grace’

Wildcat staff writer Alexis Cradduck highlights five songs from the late singer-songwriter’s album, Grace.

Alexis Cradduck, Staff Writer

October 15, 2023

Next year will mark the 30th anniversary of Jeff Buckley’s album, Grace, and 27 years since the singer-songwriter, just 30-years old at the time, passed away from an accidental drowning in the Mississippi River.

At the time of his death, Buckley had been working on a follow-up to Grace, a debut that was well-received by critics (Entertainment Weekly named it one of its ten best albums of 1994), but sold poorly.

However, in the years since, the album — featuring soulful lyrics, rumbling vocals, and simmering guitar licks — has sold millions of copies (2,560,000 units to date); been added to the Library of Congress’s National Registry (for the song “Hallelujah,” in 2013); and is frequently named one of the best albums of all time.

-5-

“Forget Her” (track 11)

Slow drums begin with the clean sound of short strums on the guitar and Buckley begins with the lyrics, “While this town is busy sleeping, / All the noise has died away.”

In “Forget Her,” Buckley laments about a toxic relationship that he feels he cannot leave. A woman coerced him into love, but he struggles to find a way out of the relationship. Acknowledging that “she was heartache from the day that I first met her,” Buckley continues to love this woman even though he knows she will eventually hurt him (“Her love is a rose petal, pale and dying,” he sings). As the guitar riffs slowly ascend and then increase in tempo, they parallel the anxiety Buckley feels as he falls deeper into the relationship.

Touching on many aspects of “push and pull” relationships, “Forget Her” conveys Buckley’s first-hand experience of how agonizing being manipulated is. His masterful singing and guitar-playing are captivating on this track.

-4-

“Grace” (track 2)

“Grace” starts with an upbeat pop-like lick, a contradiction to the song’s opening lines:

There’s the moon asking to stay Long enough for the clouds to fly me away Well it’s my time coming, I’m not afraid, afraid to die My fading voice sings of love But she cries to the clicking of time, oh, time

Midway through the song, Buckley sings, “it reminds me of the pain, the pain I might leave behind,” showing that even if he is at peace with death, he is still afraid of the mourning that others will endure.

When Buckley repeatedly sings “wait in the fire” he implies that waiting in the metaphorical fire can burn us — if we allow ourselves to wallow in self-pity and sadness, those are the places we will be in forever.

Four minutes into the song, the tempo increases, reflecting his desire to find the meaning in his life, culminating in the reveal that in the end, all will be well. By the conclusion of the song, Buckley makes his message of “waiting in the fire” clear: get out of the “fire” of self pity.

-3-

“Eternal Life” (track 9)

Fading in, a distorted guitar. Drums are layered and quick. “Eternal Life” is chaos compared to the album’s other songs.

“Eternal Life” focuses on the struggles of being human. It starts off with a heavier rock style, an aggressive guitar. By asking “as your fantasies are broken in two, did you really think this bloody road would pave the way for you?” Buckley claims that finding a purpose in life is more difficult than people realize as some have their life “carved out” for them. In contrast, Buckley emphasizes that in reality, people have to work to go to the top, and describes the brutal competitiveness of making their way up. “Racist angry men, what have you done…you’ve made a killer of your unborn son” conveys that surrounding oneself with hatred can lead to their birth into the same hateful lifestyle.

The most telling lyrics are in the bridge,

There’s no time for hatred, only questions What is love, where is happiness What is life, where is peace? When will I find the strength to bring me release?

All familiar and relatable questions we ask ourselves.

-2-

“So Real” (track 5)

In “So Real,” Buckley reminisces about his lover with the repeated guitar riffs. When he repeats the lyrics “Oh, that was so real,” he describes the real and pure love he experienced. Through the lyrics, “And I couldn’t awake from the nightmare that sucked me in and pulled me under,” Buckley realizes that losing a lover would be a nightmare he would never escape.

The guitar that starts the intro evokes raw emotion with random-sounding licks that seem unedited. Then, the guitar fades to a resemblance of grief, coming down from the heavy distortion into a quieter melody that begins with the bang of a drum. This instrumental embodies the theme of the song, that heartbreak seems like the worst thing in the world at first, but then over time, we come to accept that what we have lost will not come back.

Shortly after the guitar, Buckley whispers, “I love you, but I’m afraid to love you, I’m afraid,” then repeats “that was so real.” His past lover is gone and he feels guilty about continuing loving them since they no longer love him mutually.

His lyrics explain how he felt infinite every time that he was with them, that time would never stop and that he would always be with them even though it was temporary.

“So Real” is a memorable song that due to the repetition of the meaningful, perspective-changing lyrics.

-1-

“Lover, You Should’ve Come Over” (track 7)

Fading in with the ethereal sound of an organ and distorted crackling, Buckley’s first lyrics, “I see the rain fall upon the funeral mourners parading in a wake of sad relations as their shoes fill up with water,” reminisce on the feeling of pouring rain adding to the weight of grief. The imagery of rain is meant to be the all-consuming feeling of sorrow that overwhelms them and their emotions.

Buckley feels as though his love isn’t mature enough to keep it going as he says through his lyrics. He sings “Broken down and hungry for your love with no way to feed it,” yearning for his lover, but unable to connect with her for unknown reasons. Repeating the lyric, “too young to hold on, but too old to just break free and run,” he feels as though at his age he has so many more options and that one love should not simply hold him back, although at the same time, he also feels that it would be immature to just leave them.

Echoing “Grace,” Buckley sings, “So I’ll wait for you, love, And I’ll burn, Will I ever see your sweet return? Oh, will I ever learn,” expressing how waiting for his previous lover still feels like a waste of time.

Circling back to the burning motif, Buckley writes, “Burning in the corner is the only one who dreams he had you with him,” emphasizing that he is the only man willing to wait for her. Continuing, he sings “Lover, you should’ve come over.”

The song is touching and relatable and sure to bring out many emotions within the listener.

#jeff buckley #jeffbuckley #The ‘Eternal Life’ of Jeff Buckley’s Album ‘Grace’#Alexis Cradduck #review

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alexianne · 6 years ago

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A special kind of Manic Monday.

It was six o'clock in the morning already. I was supposed to be on the bus already, either waiting for it to leave or just about to aboard it. But for so many reasons like 1.) it was simply Monday; 2.) my mom was my alarm clock since she confiscated my phone, and she woke me up late; 3.) it was the first day of work from the Holy Week and my body is still on vacation mode; 4.) I’m actually running low on cash, and who likes to do anything when you’re running low? (Unless it’s just to Netflix and chill at home, but that was not my case); and lastly, 5.) it would be my last full week at the office and I can already feel my SP chapter closing, I was just about to leave home, obviously running late.

The bus left at past six, making myself accept the possibility of arriving at the office past the grace period and having deductions to my salary. But trying to have more positive thoughts than that, I tried to just meditate and enjoy what could be my last P2P ride. Confession: I really suck at meditation. What supposed to be an effort to meditate just turned out to be me sleeping on the whole ride instead. As I woke up almost exactly as I was about to alight the bus, imagine me being happy as Larry when I checked the time and saw that it was just five minutes past seven! I am not late! Hallelujah! And because I am not late, life kind of played a joke on me and made me energetic enough to start working a little bit earlier than eight (official working hours starts at eight). And so, my usual busy Monday kicked off earlier than usual.

Hustle, hustle as I was trying to finish everything I have to finish before I do my clearance. I did not even stand up to have lunch but did working lunch instead. And then, around five in the afternoon, everyone’s lives got shaken, literally, as a magnitude 6.1 earthquake took place (to be accurate, the epicenter of the magnitude 6.1 was at Castillejos, Zambales, PH). Your grandma, yours truly, tried to do the Duck-Cover-Hold, but then some started shouting instructions for all of us to go out of the building instead. And I did evacuate, not thinking of trying to save any of my belongings except for a slice of cantaloupe that we in the area were sharing amongst us right before the earthquake (I may have a “proof” on somebody else’s phone, I just hope it doesn’t get posted anywhere…). So all of us went out in groups, meeting everyone else in the company right outside the building – which we later on realized was a mistake so we crossed the road so that we will be situated opposite the buildings. People were just standing at the corner either taking photos and videos that they would post on their stories and my days or talking on their phones giving out reassurances that they were not hurt and asking people for updates about what happened. And for what seemed to me like just a few moments (but it was actually almost an hour), we were filing back towards the entrance, without any official clearance or anything that would tell us that it was already safe to go back in. People started separating ways, going back to their respective areas. After just a couple of minutes, we at the basement received instructions to go and transfer to the 2nd floor to continue our work. When we were almost done identifying which of our stuff could we bring with us upstairs and tidying up our area, we got the notice that it was early out, courtesy of our CEO. And so instead of going up, we just headed straight out of the building, rejoicing that it was early dismissal for us.

Where I planned on going home early came an invitation for dinner. And so if you think that I got to go home early and enjoy that once-in-my-entire-SP-stay early out privilege, I’m telling you how very wrong you are. I had dinner with my office mom, and my office little sister at Ooma. So there we had fun bullying the meimei, and talked about work, and made our tummy very happy but our wallets very sad (my ‘running low’ status changed into 'gone’ at this point). By the time we finished, it was eight in the evening. It was already ten by the time a van arrived (yes, my waiting time was two hours), and it was eleven in the evening when I got home (yes, my waiting time was twice longer than my actual travel time). Oh wait, did you hear that? That was the sound of the trash bin when I dunked my 'Get Home Early’ plan.

With everything that happened on this eventful day (more of a dull morning but eventful afternoon), I had a lot of realizations, which I will expound later at some other post because they are a part of a much bigger picture. All I am going to say as a gist of my realization is this: this may sound so morbid but that earthquake could be so much worse and I could have died if that was the case. And at the moment that my life flashes before my eyes, I’m sure I would not like what I would see on my latter days. I was reminded by this incident that we should always do your best. Aim for the purely good stuff and the best of that stuff. Never stop reaching for your dreams because we can never know what, when, where or even how mishaps could happen and we can never, ever afford to have any regrets and what-ifs.

P.S. As I was doing my research regarding some information on the earthquake that I would include here, I found out that the earthquake had casualties. According to one online news article, five people were crushed to death when a supermarket wall collapsed in Porac, Pampanga. In another city in the same province, eight people died and had a power knock out. For some reason, I cannot believe how lucky I still am. All praises to Him who still have plans for me and decided to keep me alive. My thoughts and prayers are with those who were affected by the earthquake.

Edit: apparently, as I was writing this whole post, another earthquake hit the country. A magnitude 6.5 at San Julian, East of Samar. More heartbreaking casualties. Authorities are doing as much as they can to rescue as much as they can. Whatever happens, let’s keep praying and be grateful for our lives.

#re:cord

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healthspansecrets · 3 months ago

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Do Standing Desks REALLY Improve Your Health? The Real Deal or Just More BS

We’ve all heard the hype. Standing desks. They’re the darlings of the ergonomic world. This promises to save us from the perils of our sedentary lives, improve our health, make us more productive, and maybe even help us live longer. But do they actually deliver? Or are they just the latest trend that leaves you standing awkwardly and wondering why you dropped a small fortune on what amounts to a glorified table?

Let’s dive into the science. I’m about to break down what standing desks can actually do for you and what they can’t. We’ll explore five key areas backed by research: reducing sitting time, physical benefits (neck, back, and shoulders, anyone?), mood and mental health, productivity, and overall health. By the end, you’ll know whether a standing desk is worth the investment or just another health fad that should’ve stayed in the conference room.

Let’s stand (pun intended) corrected—standing desks aren’t magical. But could they be… practical? Let’s see.

1. Standing Desks Reduce Sitting Time (Shocking, I Know)

First up, let’s talk about sitting. Or rather, not sitting. We all know that sitting too long is basically the arch-nemesis of health. It’s been linked to everything from heart disease to diabetes to—gulp—early death. Yikes. So naturally, standing desks swooped in as our supposed heroes.

Studies show that standing desks do, in fact, reduce your sitting time. For example, one study published in Preventive Medicine found that people who use standing desks sit for 60 to 90 minutes less per day. That’s like skipping two or three episodes of your favorite Netflix show. (And let’s be real, who needs to watch another rerun of The Office for the hundredth time?)

But here's the thing. Just standing isn’t enough. You can’t just stand all day and expect your health problems to evaporate like a sugar cube in a hot cup of tea. Standing too long can be just as bad as sitting too long. The key? Movement. You need to alternate between sitting, standing, and, dare I say it, moving around. Because let’s face it, standing still is like watching paint dry—ineffective and boring.

2. Physical Benefits: Neck, Back, and Shoulders (Oh My!)

Now, let’s talk about physical health. You know that annoying, nagging pain in your neck, back, and shoulders from sitting hunched over your laptop for hours on end? Standing desks might just be the hero you’ve been looking for here.

According to a study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (try saying that five times fast), people who used standing desks reported significant reductions in neck and shoulder pain over 12 weeks. That’s right—less pain, more comfort, and better posture. Hallelujah!

Another study published in BMC Public Health (yes, we’re getting very scientific here) found that standing desks could also help reduce lower back pain. When you’re standing, you’re more likely to engage your core muscles and keep your spine in a neutral position—hello, better posture! But remember, standing still for too long can lead to discomfort too. (Cue that annoying foot ache that makes you question all your life decisions.)

The best approach? Mix it up. Alternate between sitting and standing. Use an anti-fatigue mat to keep your feet happy. And take breaks to move around. The goal is to avoid getting stuck in any one position for too long—because, believe me, your body will rebel.

3. The Mood and Mental Health Rollercoaster

Let’s move from your body to your brain—because a standing desk isn’t just about feeling better physically. It might actually help you feel better mentally, too.

Some research suggests that standing desks can boost mental well-being. For example, a study published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology (don’t worry, there won’t be a quiz on these journal names) found that standing desk users reported higher levels of vitality and reduced psychological tension compared to their all-day-sitting counterparts. That means more energy and less stress. Sounds like a dream, right?

Another study from BMC Public Health found that standing desk users felt more energetic and less fatigued throughout the day. So, if you’re tired of feeling like a zombie halfway through your workday, a standing desk might be your new BFF.

But before you start imagining your stress melting away like butter on a hot pancake, here’s a reality check: not all studies agree. Some have found minimal impact on psychological well-being. So while standing desks might help improve your mood, they’re not a cure-all. Other factors, like your work environment, job satisfaction, and personal stress levels, also play significant roles in your mental health. Sorry, standing desk—your powers have limits.

4. Productivity and Cognitive Function (Or, Will You Actually Get More Done?)

Here’s the million-dollar question: Will standing desks make you more productive? Can they turn you into a lean, mean, work machine? The short answer: Maybe. The long answer: Let’s look at the research.

One study published in Ergonomics (yep, another journal) found no significant difference in work performance between standing desk users and those who sat. People completed tasks with similar efficiency and accuracy regardless of whether they were sitting or standing.

But wait—there’s more! Another study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that standing desk users felt more engaged and focused during work hours. While that didn’t necessarily translate to a massive productivity boost, it did suggest a more positive work experience. And hey, feeling more engaged and focused is still a win in my book.

So, will a standing desk turn you into the next productivity guru? Probably not. But it won’t hurt your work performance either. And if it helps you stay more focused and engaged, that’s still a win.

5. Changes in Overall Health: The Hard Truth

Okay, now for the big question: Do standing desks actually improve your overall health? Let’s get into the nitty-gritty.

Standing desks have been promoted as a way to improve metabolic health markers like blood glucose levels and cholesterol. But here’s the hard truth: The evidence is limited. A systematic review published in Preventive Medicine found that while standing desks can reduce sitting time, their impact on metabolic health markers (think waist circumference, blood glucose levels, and HDL cholesterol) was minimal.

This means standing desks aren’t the magic bullet for improving your metabolic health. Sure, they can help you sit less and move more, but they’re not going to single-handedly fix your cholesterol levels or melt away belly fat.

That being said, standing desks can still be one piece of the puzzle in a healthier lifestyle. Pair them with regular physical activity, a balanced diet, and other healthy habits, and you’re on the right track. Just don’t expect them to do all the heavy lifting on their own.

6. The Real Deal or BS? Final Verdict

So, are standing desks the real deal or just a bunch of BS? Drumroll, please… The answer is somewhere in between. Standing desks have real benefits, like reducing sitting time, alleviating neck, back, and shoulder discomfort, and contributing to improved mood and focus. But they’re not a cure-all. Their impact on metabolic health is limited, and they should be used as part of a broader strategy that includes regular movement, good posture, and healthy lifestyle choices.

So if you’re thinking of getting a standing desk, go for it—but use it wisely. Alternate between sitting and standing, use supportive accessories like anti-fatigue mats, and take regular breaks to move around. Standing desks aren’t going to solve all your problems, but they can help you feel better and work smarter.

And hey, if nothing else, they’ll give you something to talk about during your next Zoom meeting.

Conclusion: The Standing Desk Journey

Incorporating a standing desk into your routine can bring some great benefits, but it’s all about balance. Remember to mix things up throughout the day, stand mindfully, and combine your desk time with other healthy habits.

If you found value this article useful be sure to share this article, leave a comment, and let us know if you’re “team standing”, “team sitting” or “team both”,, and stay tuned for more content designed to help you live your best life at any age.

📚 References Mentioned in the article 📚

Link 1: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3596260

Link 2: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335516300183?via%3Dihub

Link 3: https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/jpah/14/9/article-p710.xml

Link 4: https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-015-1724-3

Link 5: https://content.iospress.com/articles/work/wor192940

Link 6:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003687019300304?via%3Dihub

Link 7: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/21/11604

Link 8: https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Focp0000161

Link 9: https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article-abstract/137/2/e20153087/52768/Classroom-Standing-Desks-and-Sedentary-Behavior-A?redirectedFrom=fulltextf

Link 10: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S009174351400454X?via%3Dihub

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#exercise #gym #health & fitness #nutrition #workout #mental health #education #my edit #food #beautiful

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libraryofalexianne-jia · 6 years ago

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Just another manic Monday

It was six o'clock in the morning already. I was supposed to be on the bus already, either waiting for it to leave or just about to aboard it. But for so many reasons like 1.) it was simply Monday; 2.) my mom was my alarm clock since she confiscated my phone, and she woke me up late; 3.) it was the first day of work from the Holy Week and my body is still on vacation mode; 4.) I'm actually running low on cash, and who likes to do anything when you're running low? (Unless it's just to Netflix and chill at home, but that was not my case); and lastly, 5.) it would be my last full week at the office and I can already feel my SP chapter closing, I was just about to leave home, obviously running late.

Hustle, hustle as I was trying to finish everything I have to finish before I do my clearance. I did not even stand up to have lunch but did working lunch instead. And then, around five in the afternoon, everyone's lives got shaken, literally, as a magnitude 6.1 earthquake took place (to be accurate, the epicenter of the magnitude 6.1 was at Castillejos, Zambales, PH). Your grandma, yours truly, tried to do the Duck-Cover-Hold, but then some started shouting instructions for all of us to go out of the building instead. And I did evacuate, not thinking of trying to save any of my belongings except for a slice of cantaloupe that we in the area were sharing amongst us right before the earthquake (I may have a "proof" on somebody else's phone, I just hope it doesn't get posted anywhere…). So all of us went out in groups, meeting everyone else in the company right outside the building -- which we later on realized was a mistake so we crossed the road so that we will be situated opposite the buildings. People were just standing at the corner either taking photos and videos that they would post on their stories and my days or talking on their phones giving out reassurances that they were not hurt and asking people for updates about what happened. And for what seemed to me like just a few moments (but it was actually almost an hour), we were filing back towards the entrance, without any official clearance or anything that would tell us that it was already safe to go back in. People started separating ways, going back to their respective areas. After just a couple of minutes, we at the basement received instructions to go and transfer to the 2nd floor to continue our work. When we were almost done identifying which of our stuff could we bring with us upstairs and tidying up our area, we got the notice that it was early out, courtesy of our CEO. And so instead of going up, we just headed straight out of the building, rejoicing that it was early dismissal for us.

Where I planned on going home early came an invitation for dinner. And so if you think that I got to go home early and enjoy that once-in-my-entire-SP-stay early out privilege, I'm telling you how very wrong you are. I had dinner with Ms. Brenda/ my mommy B, and with Tanya/ my adoptive sister Tantan at Ooma. So there we had fun bullying Tantan, and talked about work, and made our tummy very happy but our wallets very sad (my 'running low' status changed into 'gone' at this point). By the time we finished, it was eight in the evening. It was already ten by the time a van arrived (yes, my waiting time was two hours), and it was eleven in the evening when I got home (yes, my waiting time was twice longer than my actual travel time). Oh wait, did you hear that? That was the sound of the trash bin when I dunked my 'Get Home Early' plan.

With everything that happened on this eventful day (more of a dull morning but eventful afternoon), I had a lot of realizations, which I will expound later at some other post because they are a part of a much bigger picture. All I am going to say as a gist of my realization is this: this may sound so morbid but that earthquake could be so much worse and I could have died if that was the case. And at the moment that my life flashes before my eyes, I'm sure I would not like what I would see on my latter days. I was reminded by this incident that we should always do your best. Aim for the purely good stuff and the best of that stuff. Never stop reaching for your dreams because we can never know what, when, where or even how mishaps could happen and we can never, ever afford to have any regrets and what-ifs.

#re:cord

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hayalovay · 2 years ago

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CHAPTER ONE

Lo'ak heaved another weapons case onto the back of his father's Ikran, tying knot after knot to secure it. The small fire lit in the center of their cave crackled in the Hallelujah Mountains and casted flickering shadows all over the rocky walls. The animal was warm under Lo'ak's palm, its breath great enough to shake his bones. Its skin glimmered. He fished out some meat from a tied sack and dragged his arm down the neck of the beast, clicking his tongue. The Ikran shook in anticipation.

"That's a good boy," Lo'ak said. He held out his offering and the great mouth lapped it up, leaving nothing behind as it sliced the slab into pieces with its razor sharp teeth.

"Aren't those our rations," Kiri asked, her arms full of things she had to tie to her own Ikran. Lo'ak shrugged and told her that their father had overpacked–as per usual–and that taking a bit wouldn't hurt anyone.

"Isn't that right, Toruk?" The beast let out a huff that blew through Kiri's hair. She sighed.

"Just don't let dad see, I guess." Lo'ak looked over to his father at the other end of their camp, whose head was down with hands finalizing a seat made especially for Neteyam.

"He's too busy to notice," he said.

Jake pulled hard on the leather ropes that wrapped around either side of the wicker chair to ensure that they would not come loose. His eyes scrutinized every inch of it, leaving nothing up for error. Neteyri watched him and eyed the tightness in his jaw. She placed a slender hand on his shoulder.

"It is enough, Ma Jake." He shook his head.

"It's going to be a long journey. I have to make sure it'll last," he said. Neteyri bent down and placed her forehead against his temple. Jake closed his eyes, focusing on the soothing pressure of the gesture.

"We will not know until we are out there. If it breaks, we will fix it."

Dawn began to stream in through the mouth of their cave. Kiri finished fastening the last of their things and Lo'ak looked out into the sky, watching the colors seep into the morning. He was going to miss this. The sound of the waterfalls, the cries of wild Ikrans... His Omaticaya brothers and sisters scattered through the mountains and a short flight away... He wondered if the rest of his life would be like this – returning home only to leave it again so soon.

"It's sad, I know," Kiri said from behind him. He turned to her, catching the tears in her brilliant green eyes. Usually he did not show much affection towards his siblings. He got on Kiri's nerves more often than the times they got along, but this was a great sadness that was shared. A hug was in order. He walked to her and brought her into one. After a moment, he pulled away.

"I'll wake the others." Wiping her eyes, Kiri nodded and let him go.

Tuk tucked her head beneath the cloth and Timi's tail whipped at Lo'ak's hand as he tried to wake them from their sleep. Mumbles from the both of them begged for ten more minutes, no, five more minutes and their ears twitched tiredly. With a mischievous grin, Lo'ak grabbed hold of their cloth and ripped it from them in a single yank. The two cried out at the nip of the cold air.

"Lo'ak, no!" Tuk whined, eyes still half-closed while she attempted to grab the cloth back. Laughing, Lo'ak held it up over his head.

"It's time to hit the road, guys." The two continued to gripe until Neteyri came to Lo'ak's rescue.

"Children," she warned. The two exchanged glances, then sighed in resignation. Lo'ak passed the cloth to his mother–they were her problem now–and walked over to Neteyam's mat.

"Te. Te get up, we're about to go," he said. He gently shook his brother's bare shoulder. Neteyam's lids smoothly slid up, as though he hadn't really been sleeping. Lo'ak frowned. Neteyam's thoughts were racing so fast that his irises went back and forth to keep up.

"Do you... Do you really think that the Olangi can help me?" Lo'ak looked over at his brother's legs, limp beneath the cloth. Out of all the clans, they were headed for the Olangi first as they had been all over Pandora; their collective knowledge of both the Na'vi and the planet was so vast that at times, they themselves could not keep up. They would be sure to know all the remedies that laid beneath the sun. The bullets really did their damage, but their mother still had hope that it could be reversed. If their mother hoped, Lo'ak felt it meant that healing was possible.

"If there's anyone who can, it's them," Lo'ak said. His brother looked up at him in doubt and he had to fight to hide the guilt that sat in his stomach.

"Okay. Help me up," Neteyam said. He stretched his arms out and Lo'ak grabbed hold of his wrists, gently pulling his upper body. Meanwhile, Jake was strapping the wicker seat to the back of Toruk. Kiri quickly went to help Lo'ak lift Neteyam up the way they'd been taught: grab onto each other's forearms to create a seat, support Te's back with the other hand, and let him balance himself with an arm around both of your shoulders. At first they struggled, but now it was almost second nature to the three of them. They brought Te up to Toruk and Jake gingerly took him, sitting him down on the wicker seat. Te's legs dangled on either side of the beast, his back against the make-shift chair. Jake took the leather ropes and looped them around Te and the chair over and over.

"That's a little tight, dad," Te said as he tied the final knot.

"Better safe than sorry, kiddo," he winked.

Lo'ak heaved Timi up onto his Ikran and hopped on behind him. The boy sleepily let himself fall flat against the Ikran's neck, his arms wraping tight around it.

"Wake me up when we get there," he grumbled. Lo'ak made the bond with his braid and flapped the Ikran's wings.

"Sullys, ready?" Jake called out. He glanced behind him on either side while they all yipped in reply. Then, one after the other, they launched themselves out of the cave, diving down into the misty clouds below before catching the wind beneath their wings, and glided towards the Olangi's usual path around Pandora.

#avatar #jakesully #justiceforourboyneteyam #loak #loaksully #metkayina #neteyam #neteyamsully #neteyri #omaticaya #originalcharacters #pandora #thewayofwater #story

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thaoilations · 2 years ago

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Coruscant was weird.

Weird fashion, weird social conventions, weird buildings, weird transportation and weird fucking furniture. Why was this table so long and skinny? Why were the chairs pointy? The room was too loud for Thao, people were doing that fake laugh you do with your colleagues and cutlery kept clanging together. The red headed Jedi was starting to get a headache. Not only had she been sent on some pointless mission in the outer rim earlier in the day that totally wasted her time, but now she was sat in a room with obnoxious senators— having accompanied Mimi as her Jedi guard for the evening.

It was so boring. She couldn’t even engage in the conversations, not that they were of any interest anyways. She just had to stand there, listening, watching and enduring. She thought Mimi looked beautiful that evening, wearing a blue dress that accentuated her shape and she loved Mimi in blue, but it seemed that everyone loved her in blue— so now Thao hated the dress. There was no reason for anyone else to look at it. Especially not the chair of the finance committee who couldn’t stop ogling her, sat directly opposite her across the table. Hell, there was even a candle between them— they may aswell have been on a date.

Thao crossed her arms, posted at the wall out of the light where she was watching over her secret lover like a scorned guardian angel. Mimi was doing the polite thing of course, smiling, nodding, laughing at his jokes and conversing— gently trying to steer the conversation away from anything flirty. Thao trusted Mimi, so she didn’t care too much. That was until he really started pushing his luck, calling the service droid over to refill her wine glass, assumably to lower her inhibitions. His gaze got more greedy, and his words got more sleazy despite it being obvious the young senator was uncomfortable. Thao was about to jump in, when a bang beneath the table sounded, Mimi looked shocked as she jumped in her seat. The man had grabbed her thigh beneath the table, causing her to knock her knee, attracting disapproving glares around her.

The Jedi stepped forward, about to act but Mimi sent her a sharp look— silently telling her that she could handle it. She didn’t hear what was said but she excused herself, heading to the bathroom— visibly uncomfortable but handling it. She took her job very seriously, spite of everything. She couldn’t make a scene.

The party section of the evening kicked in, the servers collecting the plates and the guests moving to the lobby of the skyscraper. Live music played as the senators continued swirling about with their wine glasses and their fake laughs and Mimi returned, working the room like the man had never laid his hands on her. Thao prowled the outskirts of the room watching her, watching for the slightest sign of discomfort. One downturn of her lips and she was willing to whisk her out of there, and fast. She passed near her guard, Thao nodding to get her attention.

“That man bother you?”

Mimi averted her gaze, like she wasn’t telling her something — the way she so often did when she doesn’t want the hot headed Jedi to worry.

“I’m okay. Used to his antics.”

So this wasn’t the first time. Thao said nothing, but her heart pound angrily in her chest.

An hour or so past, and hallelujah— Mimi was ready to leave. She did her rounds, before telling T to meet her in the foyer to take her home. The Jedi agreed, telling her she’d be five minutes. Mimi disappeared in a swish of blue and Thao passed by the group of men, all friends with the chair of the finance committee who stood at the centre of them, smirking and adjusting his belt over his large belly.

“Thats why I like the young ones. Girls like Senator Corsby, they don’t know what they like yet. I’m thinking I could be her mentor, if you know what I mean. I can be a very hands on teacher.” He wiggled his eyebrows causing the men to jeer and comment on her. She clenched her fist, glancing around the room before she watched him excuse himself, wanting to retrieve his death sticks from his coat pocket. If I wasn’t about to be late to meet you downstairs to bring you home, I’d beat this guy bloody for the way he spoke about you— she thought, head tilting ever so slightly as she channelled her anger to dissipate to the best of her ability, the way she was taught as a Jedi.

He exit the function room and walked down the hallway, dark and narrow as he searched for the cloak room. Thao didn’t realise she was following him until she heard her own boots padding across the carpeted floor, staring at his back. How he didn’t hear her, she didn’t know. Perhaps he was drunk, which somehow only irritated her more.

She stood in the doorway of the cloak room, watching the pudgy man digging in the pockets of his long black coat. He coughed, and T scrunched up her nose. It was a disgusting, phlegmy cough. He spluttered, and then gasped and coughed some more. Thao’s hand was outstretched slightly at her side, curling and tensing her fingers into a C shape. She was doing it, she was causing the cough. She was choking him.

His body thumped heavily on the floor and she looked around, sticking her head out the door checking that no one was looking for him. She didn’t even feel bad. He deserved it and… and what if he was going to hurt Mimi? Make her uncomfortable again? Make that scared look reappear on her face? Not on Thao’s watch. She willed herself out of the trance she’d put herself under. Could it be she had some inclination to the dark side? She never wanted to give up being a Jedi and she was definitely anti sith, but for her lover she’d do anything.

With the strength of a Jedi, she stuffed him into the garbage shoot— listening to his body crack and break as he tumbled down hundreds of floors, the heavy sound of his limbs smacking against the metal walls growing quieter and quieter until he was no longer audible. Thao dusted off her hands, and swallowed the lump in her throat. She feared not for being caught, but more so for the fact she didn’t feel any type of way. What would Mimi think?

Thao flew the young senator home in their shuttle, and never spoke of it. She didn’t miss the flicker of a smile behind Mimis eyes at the next meeting, when it was announced the man had died due to unforeseen circumstances.

Four months passed, and it was the annual life day celebration at the temple. Jedi, members of the senate, and clones alike came together to party. Food, fireworks, an entire building of fun. It was far more relaxed than the other soirée, thanks to the boyish, untamed behaviour of the clones and the flowing alcohol. Mimi had arrived separately, having spent the day in the office and smoothed down her dress. She knew Thao would be here and this excite her, loving the secrecy of meeting up at a party — finding eachother, sneaking off to dark hallways for secret kisses and subtle touches and flirting hidden in plain sight. It felt like foreplay, and after a long day at her office Mimi was looking forward to having fun with her Jedi.

As she took a champagne flute off the tray held politely out to her by a service droid, her eyes landed on the girl. Carelessly sprawled out in a booth with her favourite clones playing some kind of card game— laughing and downing their drinks. It was nice to see her let go, having to usually appear stoic to appear professional and command respect. Mimi took a sip of her drink and took one last look down at her pearlescent coloured gown before swishing through the room, avoiding eye contact with anyone so they wouldn’t stop her in her path to greet the Jedi.

Thao noticed her presence and was quick to jump up to greet the girl, squeezing out the booth — but was interrupted in her path when a girl — a senate spokesperson squealed in delight, bouncing her way infront of her and grabbing the red head Jedi into a hug. Mimi paused her stride, detouring to the snack table, pretending to browse it as she observed the girl she hadn’t seen before. She had red hair too, but it cascaded down her back— the peak of a floral vine tattoo down her spine displayed by her backless lilac dress with gold accents. The dress barely covered her larger bust, and she seemed to pull her neckline even lower as she pulled back from the generous bear hug she’d given Thao.

Mimi couldn’t hear the conversation, it was far too loud— music, gleeful singing and clones hollering. She kept a close eye on the woman, watching her body language. It appeared Thao was friendly with the mysterious red head, laughing and nodding along to what she was telling her. Personally, Mimi felt she could have taken a step back or two. Or ten.

It was fine. Mimi decided that once the woman was done throwing herself at her girlfriend, she’d swoop in and ask about her. However, she was like a leech. She wouldn’t appear to leave, sticking herself to the Jedi’s side as different groups approached to mingle. Mimi wanted to interject, and she could have — it wouldn’t have looked at all suspicious. But she wanted to watch, her heart twinging in anger and jealousy, her palms hot and cheeks pink. Thao, overwhelmed by the social interactions around her didn’t look at the girl once only worsening things. Who was she?

The girls laugh rung over any noise in the room, placing a hand on Thaos arm as she did so. Thao was funny, let’s not mince words. But whatever she said couldn’t have been that funny. What made Mimi approach, walking with a heavier foot than intended, was when a clone stood in the group with them glanced at the girl, and then at Thao and wiggled his eyebrows. You know, the look that says — what’s going on with these two? The look that usually was given regarding Mimi instead, a nod to their chemistry that was undeniable to those unaware of their secret affairs. That look was for Mimi, and Mimi only.

The problem, was that when she stormed over she hadn’t quite planned what she was going to say. She pushed through into the group and everyone turned to her as she blinked in surprise before smiling politely.

“Senator Corsby, I’m happy to see you again.” Thao opened her arms for a polite hug, the type you give a colleague and where the brunette would usually keep up the act with a side hug or a pat on the back, she snaked her arms around the girls neck pressing herself against her in a close hug. She shared a glance with the maroon haired stranger, who watched with an indifferent expression.

“I was looking for you everywhere my Jedi knight, but it appears you were otherwise occupied. Always the social butterfly.” What sounded like polite banter made Thaos eyebrows raise at the girls strange behaviour.

“Well, you know how these things are.” Thao chuckled casually, collecting herself as she stepped back and Mimi greeted everyone else, paying no mind to the stranger girl. Mimis advance didn’t seem to effect her, and she continued to touch on Thao, laughing and speaking over the noise in her ear as the Jedi politely responded. She wasn’t reciprocating her energy of course, but she wasn’t rejecting her hard enough in Mimi’s eyes, who dug her manicured nails so hard into her palm she nearly drew blood. She’d never felt like this before.

Having enough of feeling shoved to the side by this unfamiliar seductress, apparently who went by the name Sela, Mimi excused herself to take a walk around to cool off. She couldn’t trust what she might say infront of other people if she continues to stay there. The group dispersed shortly after Thao traipsed after her, finding her leaning against a wall in a hallway alone with her drink, taking deep breaths.

“Mimi.” She tilted her head, light hearted but disapproving as she approached the lone brunette.

“What.” She sulked.

“You’re not being very subtle.” The Jedi crossed her arms.

“I don’t care. I don’t know where that Sela girl came from, but she needs to return. Why are you letting her be all over you?” Mimi turned to her in frustration.

“Her father is very powerful. I’m being polite because I don’t want you to get in trouble, when we first started seeing each other I told you I wasn’t interested in getting in the way of your job.” Thao scolded slightly.

“What’s that got to do with you?” The senator shrugged, barely being able to keep her eyes on the girl, all over the place as she felt she couldn’t think straight.

“I’m sure Sela can work it out, if I start aggressively rejecting her whilst letting you be all over me. I mean it Mimi, you’re not getting in trouble tonight.”

“I don’t care about any of that. I don’t care about trouble I want her to go away.” The brunette practically barked at her counter part, eyes wide and teary and breathing ragged. She looked partly animalistic, a state so different from her usual graceful demeanour. Thaos eyebrows shot up and she stepped closer, looking around for any eyes.

“Sweetheart.” She was firm, but kind which convinced Mimis eyes to stay on hers, blinking back her emotions. “I don’t want anyone else but you, I don’t care what she does. She’s fucking annoying. I’m just saving face. Be good for me, yeah?” She placed a hand on her cheek and she calmed instantly, still panting slightly but the look in her eyes had dimmed to a mere dwindle of madness — pupils that were once blacking out her whole eye shrinking down to regular size. She said nothing, but willed herself to nod slightly. “Alright.” Thao nodded, not going to force her to speak if she was frazzled, emotional and a little out of it. She knew the girl was sensitive, and she’d become a pro at being the only person to handle her. “I’m gonna get you a water. I don’t think you should drink any more of this okay?” She pried the champagne glass out of Mimi’s hand and stepped back. “I’ll be back. Breathe.” She sent her a look and Mimi exhaled, long and hard when she was out of sight.

Not wanting to actually be far from her for the rest of the evening she walked a little in her footsteps, passing rooms and areas of the building left unattended. As she passed a doorway, a breeze and a flash of purple caught her eye and she stopped, backing up a little. Sela stood on a balcony, fur coat wrapped tightly around her as she dragged on a death stick, staring out over the clouds and faint cityscape. Mimi’s eye twitched as she watched the girl, head tilting slightly to the side without realising. Smoking’s an ugly habit, she thought smugly, before anger rose back in her chest at the image of her bonding over the lit up sticks with her Jedi girlfriend who’s as the exception to this who also smoked, huddled together in the cold laughing and smoking together whilst Mimi was off on her own work call, none the wiser. Her own delusions made her anger kick back in, like a punch in the chest.

Sela turned and noted Mimis presence, unbothered. She took a drag before she spoke.

“Are you not cold?” She conversed and Mimi broke out of her trance to gaze down at herself, arms broken out into goosebumps at the winter weather— wind freezing her so high up in Coruscant.

“No. I… needed to cool off, actually.” Mimi stepped further onto the balcony, eyeing the girl carefully. She hummed in disinterest, continuing to stare off over the horizon in deep thought.

“You know what the worst thing is about being here, Mimi?” Sela thought aloud. Mimi didn’t respond and she didn’t wait for a response. “I’m not like anyone here. You see, I like boys and girls. Anyone really. I’m really well travelled you see, I’ve walked all paths of life so I have such a different view to everyone. Not black and white like the other senators, no offence of course.” She glanced at Mimi unapologetically, who was already staring at her back trying to work out what creatures fur she wore.

“I see.” Mimi urged her to go on. This bitch had no clue.

Thao carried the swishing glass of water, cursing when some spilled over the top — having ditched the champagne. Attempting to find the brunette who was missing from her spot, she popped her head into each room in the hallway before spotting the back of her on the balcony with Sela. Thao froze, guilt gnawing at her chest when she stepped back out of view into the dark hallway, curious to know how they’d interact without her presence — her ego interested in what would be said about her.

“And there is just something about the Jedi here at the temple. They’re my weakness, so strong and humble and protective. The men, not so great. They’re too boring, you know. So serious about their job.” She mused, a reminiscent smile on her face as she paused to take another drag. Mimi couldn’t move, hooked on her every word.

“I’m surprised, I thought you’d be quite the match with Fisto.” Mimi responded, as if trying to divert her from where she knew this was going. The girl turned to glance at her once more with a snigger, a look on her face that bothered Mimi. It read ‘you have no idea what you’re talking about.’ Like the look you give a child when they try and speak on adult matters. Mimi grit her teeth.

“Please. He’d be a good sugardaddy, I’m sure. I’m saying the women Jedi have caught my eye. You probably wouldn’t understand, you seem like the type to have a neat and tidy boyfriend that’s good to you and has met your parents. I’m different, I’m telling you. I want what I shouldn’t have. The worst part is I always get what I want.” She shrugged, so smug — like she didn’t even care that she were bragging and Mimi’s eye twitched again. She stepped further along the balcony.

“Well who are you after?” It was getting hard to conceal the tremble in Mimi’s tone, however she decided it could easily be passed on to the violent chill in the air.

“As if it isn’t obvious. I’d like to say I kind of have a thing going on with Thao, you know the Jedi with the red hair like mine. She’s serious about her job, don’t get me wrong— but I think if anyone could crack her it’s me. I’m dying to add a Jedi to my roster, and God our sexual chemistry is insane. Like. Everyone noticed.” Sela sounded set in her ways and Mimi felt like she’d had the wind knocked out of her. Her words were so convincing, persuasive and the brunette felt five years old again, sat in the sandbox in Naboo having her doll snatched from her hand. She couldn’t use her voice, all she could do is watch the other girl run off with it.

“Jedi’s aren’t meant to form attachments, so I don’t think that would quite work out.” Mimi bit back at her, stepping up close behind the girl which would appear threatening if she was even facing her. Sela didn’t seem to notice her tone, or even care, too caught up in her own ego. She laughed at Mimi again, this time shaking her head. Mimi pursed her lips, eyes zeroed in at the back of her sleek red head.

“Bless your heart, you really think everyone just follows the rules. Don’t worry, you’ll learn the ins and outs soon enough. Plus, I don’t think Thao is the type to follow rules. I think she’d break the rules, but only for me. She’s — oof!” The sentence was cut short, Mimi shoving Sela with such a force that she slammed forward, folding over the balcony ledge with a horrified scream.

Thao gasped, nearly dropped the glass of water as she watched the girl disappear over the side as Mimi watched, unmoving spite the ragged pant burdened at her chest. Selas scream was cut short when she smacked against a pillar on her way down, smashing her head knocking her out as she continued to fall through the clouds and out of sight limply. Mimi had no clue where she might have landed, or when. She heard no thud, they were simply too high up.

She tried to calm her shaking breath, verging on a panic attack as she looked down at her outstretched hands— red and white from being tensed for so long. She was no longer cold, cheeks pink and body feeling flushed even in the frozen weather. Thao stepped onto the balcony as Mimi turned around to flee the scene and she gasped, tears rolling down her cheeks at being caught.

Thao calmed her expression and stepped up to her quickly, cupping her face as the girl wordlessly cried, unable to explain herself.

“She just fell.” Thao whispered, to Mimis surprise who stared up at her hazily. She drew closer. “She fell.” She repeated before wiping the girls tears and kissing her, despite her sob. They were more alike than she thought.

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imissthembutitwasntadisaster · 10 months ago

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As I get off the plane I feel a headache coming on. this does not bode well. I realize that if I want to get from the airport to the city in any decent amount of time I will have to pay seventeen pound for a train ticket. The trip is half an hour. And they say the british system is extortionate. I pay it because my other option is to be much later and I am TIRED.

I get off the train with my baseball cap firmly on my head. I exit the train station and my cap is no longer on my head. I retrace my steps. Nothing. I ask if there's a lost property. Nothing. I ask the guy cleaning if he saw it. Nothing. I hope they understood what I was saying, I barely did because the panic stripped any knowledge of Italian from me and I was left just saying "I lost my blue hat" over and over again. Also important to note this all takes place in The Worst Train Station In The World, my truest nemesis, I know it of old. evil place. I give up because frankly I reckon someone nicked it, and start walking.

My headache gets worse.

My phone has 22 percent charge for a 25 minute walk. this will be fine, I think, and do not check the charge until I am five minutes away from the hotel, and my phone abruptly dies. I remember loosely which road it's on, but cannot find it. Because of the hat debacle I am 10 minutes later than I said I would be already and filled with shame because of it. I go into a nearby shop, it's a fancy clothing one, and beg for my phone to be charged behind the counter. The woman in fairness is very kind and does so, but she locks it in the drawer, leaving the key in the lock. After a minute or so to give it a few percentage (I just need to find the maps on there) because the woman seems busy I take it out. She tells me I'm not allowed behind the counter, which is fair, but then informs me that if there are any missing items she'll call the police. This is also technically fair but I'm in such a state of distress that it just feels a little mean.

I have not eaten since breakfast. It is 15:00.

My data is not working. I do not know why my data is not working with my maps when it swears that it is. The shop is exceedingly hot. A speaker next to my ear is BLARING I think a 90s r&b playlist which fine, but not ideal right now. My entire worldly possessions are in my backpack on my back except for my cap, which I am mourning. The data STILL does not work I am now 20 minutes late.

I finally just leave with my phone on 5 percent. As soon as I leave the shop my data works again and I find the place. Hallelujah God is in fact good. Thankfully the woman here is very nice, she does however make the assumption that I speak fluent enough Italian to understand all the room instructions which like, I do, but I don't know what tipped her off. I struggle to understand in fact because I am not in a great headspace! Finally I get it all over with and collapse into my bed. Once again I have defeated the evil travel demons which haunt me and seem determined to strand me in the middle of european cities with no functional phone. One more battle survived.

Hey who wants to hear THIS holiday's shitty travel adventure because I am apparently incapable of all going totally well

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samaraannhan20 · 2 years ago

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Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw Imagine: The Proposal

“Brad, where are we going?” I ask as we walk through the woods. “You know my aversion to hiking. That’s why we’ve only gone one other time in our entire two year relationship. That and you were deployed for a good portion of that time, but that doesn’t matter.” “Honey, don’t you remember where we spent our first date after my second time at Top Gun? The time I was there with your dad?” “Um, I don’t. We’ve been on like a hundred dates since then, that was six months ago. Should I?” I respond, focusing on my feet, and making sure to not trip over anything. The last thing I need to do right now is trip and skin my knees. “Look at something around us besides the ground,” he says with a slight chuckle after the last word. “Bradley, you know that if I look up from the ground right now I will fall. Besides, if this is somewhere I’ve hiked before, I would remember the ground, because this is always how I hike” We walk silently for a few moments before I realize. “Wait! That was the one date that I let you take me hiking. So this must be the place we hiked.” “There you go,” he says, grabbing my hand to take me with him. “With the opening that leads to the beach, and a few hundred feet from there is The Hard Deck. Do you remember now?” “Yeah,” I say looking up at him. I look around for a minute before continuing, “Now that I think about it, this is pretty close to that opening. Hallelujah. I prefer the beach over these fake woods any day.” “Yes,” he says chuckling, “It’s right there. Here, I’ll carry you the rest of the way to the beach.” As he says that he bends down so my short self can jump onto his back. I wrap my arms around his neck and let him carry me onto the beach. I keep my face snuggled into his neck leaving the occasional peck on his neck now and then, through the rest of the five minute hike onto the beach. When we get onto the beach he puts me down, and I grab his hand (after quickly yanking my shoes off my feet and holding them in my other hand) and walk next to him as closely as possible. “I don’t know if you know, but that day was one of the happiest days of my life. Even though I let you take me hiking.” “Oh yeah? Why was that?” “Because the day before you and my dad had come home from the mission, and for the first time in eight years the two most important people in my life were getting along. You were finally no longer mad at him, and I could be around both of you at the same time. The entire time we were hiking that day I could just tell that the sun was shining because it was your parents looking down at us from above.” Bradley doesn’t say anything after that, just wraps his arm around me and pulls me in. He kisses the top of my head, and lets me go so we can continue our walk. Slowly and carefully I lead us closer to the water, because my favorite feeling in the world is the feeling of ocean water lapping at my feet. We walked slowly as we headed to The Hard Deck, where he had left his car earlier that day, and where we knew all of our friends that were still in town would be hanging out. As we start to get closer, I see a picnic blanket laid out on the ground with a cooler sitting on top of it. “Brads, what is that?” I ask, as I look up at him. He just stays silent and leads me over to the blanket. When we get there I see rose petals scattered all around the blanket. “Bradley Bradshaw,” I say stopping where I am with my hands on my hips. “What is going on here?” “Just come over here, sit down, and drink one of your fruity bottled drinks with me,” he says, grabbing my hand and pulling me over to the blanket. Once we both sit down and get settled, me laying between his legs, we sit and watch as the sun begins to set. “I love you, you know?” he says quietly into my ear. I lean my head back to look at him, and mouth ‘I know’, before stretching my neck to kiss where I could reach, which just happened to be his chin. Before I get the chance to settle back against him, he moves from behind me, and stands up next to me, and pulls me to stand as well. We stand with our arms wrapped around each other watching the sunset, but then I feel him begin to pull away. I let him, and wrap my arms around myself, thinking that he is just grabbing another drink from the cooler. I start quietly singing No One Else from The Great Comet to myself, as I stand watching the sun go down. I drop my hands down to my sides, and as soon as I do, I feel Bradley gently grab my hand and turn me to him. I look up, expecting him to be standing there, only to be met with air. I slowly drag my eyes down, finally realizing what was happening, and cover my mouth with my hand.

“Y/N Mitchell. You were a pain in my ass growing up, but it wasn't until my mother was dying that I realized how important you were in my life. Up until then you were just the annoying younger girl that my mom made me be friends with. That day in the hospital, I realized that you were so much more than my best friend to me. Then, when my mother died, I cut you off for an entire year. It wasn’t until I was pulled from the academy that I realized that I couldn’t do life without you. Even though I was absolutely pissed at your father, I knew that no matter what you would do what you could to be there for me,” at this point, tears were streaming down my face, and the only reason I was still standing was because he was holding my hand. “So I made sure to get you back in my life. It took us five more years to start dating after that, and the majority of our first year officially together was spent with me out of the country, and you were here working at The Hard Deck with Penny. And then I was called back to Top Gun. And those two weeks with you here, after being gone for so long, were the best in my life, which is why I gave you that promise ring right before I was sent out again. I spent the next six months talking to your dad over the phone about how I should go about this. And now here we are. Outside the place where we reconnected, for the third time, and I am down on one knee. Asking you, Y/N Mitchell, if you would please marry me, and make me the happiest Navy aviator ever?” I collapse down onto my knees in front of him, and pull him into a kiss. After we pull away, I am finally able to speak again. “Yes, Bradley Bradshaw. 100% yes. I will marry you. I have never wanted to do anything else more in my life. If I’m being honest, when I look at you it’s like kissing a million angels. Every part of you is so intoxicating, from your head right down to your toes. At 15 and 16 I had to be strong. At 26 I am still scared of it all. And even today I still am. But I know now that you will never leave me. And it would never give me any better pleasure than to become your wife.” I pull him in for another kiss, and as we kiss this time, I begin to hear people clapping behind us. When I pull away, I turn and see my dad, Penny, Amelia, Hangman, Phoenix, Hondo, Fanboy, Bob, and many others from the most recent Top Gun mission standing and cheering us on. At this moment in time, I could never be happier.

#bradley bradshaw x female reader #bradley bradshaw imagine #bradley rooster bradshaw #bradley bradshaw fanfiction #bradley bradshaw x mitchell!reader

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nugnthopkns · 3 years ago

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dance me to the end of love (ii)

word count: 3.3k

warnings: fem!oc, alcohol consumption, cursing

series masterpost: here

a/n: part two baby! thanks for all the love on part one, it means the absolute world. i have so much love for this story and i hope people are enjoying it :))

Life is settling into a comfortable rhythm.

After spending a good chunk of her young adult life being incredibly studious, Magdalene can finally have the social life of someone in their mid-twenties. Though she’s still spending a fair amount of time by herself in the basements of the University of Denver’s library, Bette convinces her to go out more. Magdalene tries to fight, citing extra work or a good book as an excuse to stay home, but it doesn’t work very often. The pleas of her friend are how Magdalene finds herself currently lounging poolside at Erik Johnson’s house on a Sunday afternoon.

“How’s the new career treating you?” Tyson asks. “I feel like we haven’t seen you in a while.”

Magdalene laughs. “I’ve seen Bette plenty,” she says, “She thinks I won’t take a lunch break unless she shows up.”

“Would you?” the blonde girl questions with a quirked brow.

“Probably not.”

“I rest my case.”

A small crowd gathers around as Magdalene begins to detail the specifics of her job, but she doesn’t feel as uncomfortable as she once would have. In the month or so since graduating school she’s found herself slowly being incorporated into the Avalanche family. It’s almost certainly because Bette and Tyson championed her case, explaining that she doesn’t have much of a support system beyond the two of them, but she doesn’t mind. A few of the guys ask her questions about her work, curious as to why someone would want to spend their life combing through piles of old things. Everyone stays engaged in the conversation until there’s a shout from the kitchen that dinner is ready.

Magdalene shuffles in line behind André, filling her plate with various pasta salads and a hamburger. Once situated with enough food for two meals she returns to the pool deck, sitting on the edge and dipping her toes into the cool water. Bette comes and finds her a minute later and the two of them begin to eat.

She’s still relatively new to the group’s dynamic, but Magdalene can’t help but notice that Ryan is never around. In fact, Magdalene hasn’t seen him since her graduation party. Taking a casual sip of her wine cooler, she asks her friend about the man’s absence.

“Why is Ryan never at these sorts of things?”

Bette shrugs. “Isn’t a huge one for parties. He was supposed to come today, but I guess something came up.”

“I’m not huge on parties,” Magdalene huffs, “But that doesn’t stop you from dragging me to every single one.”

“Unlike you, Gravy gets enough regular social interaction that his absence is permissible. If Tyson and I didn’t take you out you’d talk to your cat more than normal.”

She wants to fight back, but knows it’s pointless. Bette has a point – if it weren’t for her the only people Magdalene would interact with are her boss and her cat. Instead, she grumbles under her breath and changes the subject to the trip Bette is in the middle of planning. It’s coming up in a few weeks, and Magdalene wants to hear a bit more about it before she commits. Despite what she thought about taking time off so close to starting work, it was encouraged by June, but she's refraining from telling Bette that. If it doesn’t sound like she'll enjoy it, Magdalene is banking on being able to use the excuse.

Bette explains that she’s renting a large lake house that is perfect for a relaxing week away from adult responsibilities. The property has kayaks and a hot tub, which pretty much ensures that Magdalene will want to be in attendance. She’ll hold onto that information for a little while longer though, if for no other reason to make Bette squirm a little. At some point Tyson comes to sweep his girlfriend away and leaves Magdalene at the party alone. She makes polite conversation with some other players for a while before heading home herself. Ryan never shows up, despite how much Magdalene hopes he will. At the very least she wants to properly thank him for doing her a favour, though her hoping to see him is much more selfish. He intrigues her and she wants to know more about the tall man with the dazzling smile and a proclivity for wearing all black.

☼☼☼☼

Barn Owl Book Company is filled to the brim when Magdalene approaches the store from the side street it annexes. She should’ve expected it – it’s the first of the month and their newest books are hitting the shelves. However, Magdalene doesn’t exactly have time to wait in line. June gave her only fifteen minutes to run and grab them coffee before they continue the massive task of digitizing a private collection that has just been donated to the university. She estimates it will take almost a month of extended hours to get everything done, and Magdalene believes it. There’s so much to wade through but she knows the end result will be satisfying.

Luckily the café line is fairly short, and Magdalene reaches the counter in a timely manner. “Hey,” she greets the barista warmly, “Could I just grab two medium iced cappuccinos?”

“Anything else?”

“No, that's everything. It’ll be on debit,” she smiles. Magdalene reaches into her backpack to grab her wallet only to find that it’s missing. Shit. The barista has already left to make the drinks, completely unaware that her customer is unable to pay.

Magdalene hears a voice from behind her say, “I’ve got it, don’t worry.” She turns around to find Ryan Graves standing there with a book tucked under his right arm.

“You’re a lifesaver,” she mumbles appreciatively. “I don’t know how my boss would take it if I showed up empty handed.”

Ryan laughs shyly as he pulls his card away from the machine. “I get it, everyone needs a little caffeine this time of year.” The barista comes back with Magdalene’s drinks, which she takes with a smile and a wish for a good day. The two of them head towards the exit, and Ryan pauses once they’re on the sidewalk. “Which way are you headed?”

“Back to work,” Magdalene says, nodding her head in the direction of campus. “I’ve got approximately five minutes to get there before June rips me a new one.”

“June?”

“She’s my boss,” she explains.

Ryan nods in understanding. “I’ll see you around Magdalene,” he smiles, turning on his heel and heading the opposite direction.

In a moment of bravery, Magdalene yells at his retreating figure. “Will you? We never seem to cross paths.”

“I’ll be at Bette and Tyson’s this weekend, and I’m counting on your company.”

Magdalene finds it incredibly hard to focus the rest of the afternoon. She keeps thinking about what Ryan said, which makes her a rather lousy archivist. June sends her home just after seven even though they had plans to stay until ten, citing the fact that she’s scanned the same photo three times before noticing. Caligula’s meowing for pets when she gets home isn’t even enough to distract her from the comment. The absentmindedness continues for another day or so, and it’s becoming so bad Magdalene is worried that June is going to fire her for incompetence.

It’s only when Bette calls to invite her over for dinner and drinks that her mind levels out. “I was wondering when I was going to get the call,” she chuckles absentmindedly.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” is the response Magdalene receives.

“Well,” she explains, “I ran into Ryan at Barn Owl the other day and he paid for my drinks because I left my wallet on the table at work, and he said he expected to see me at your place this weekend. So if you never invited me I was just going to show up.”

Bette is smiling, that much Magdalene can infer by the lull in conversation. “I haven’t got the time to call you yet,” she concedes, “But consider this the official invitation to our house for a small party.”

“Anything we’re celebrating?”

“Nope. Have you ever needed a reason to party?”

Magdalene laughs. “Yes. Need one almost every time actually.”

The rest of the week passes fairly quickly. To make up for her blundering earlier in the week Magdalene offers to work a full day on Saturday, by herself, to get the project back on track. June accepts the proposition eagerly, and Magdalene lets Bette know she’ll be coming directly from work. Saturday rolls around and she spends most of her time getting lost in the past lives of the artefacts she’s dealing with. If someone were to ask Magdalene what her favourite part of archiving is, that’s the answer she’d give. There’s nothing more satisfying to her than holding a piece of history in her hands and imagining all the stories it would be able to tell if it could speak.

By the time she’s put in a full work day and finishes locking up the basement floor her department occupies, Magdalene is pretty sure they’re ahead of schedule on the project. She genuinely feels terrible about her misperformance and hopes June will be able to forgive her. On the way to Bette and Tyson’s Magdalene listens to the Leonard Cohen greatest hits cd that came with her car. The previous owner was presumably a big fan, and over the years Magdalene has come to appreciate the folk singer. She never got to see him in concert before his death but turns to his music when she needs to relax. Right now is the perfect time to listen to ‘Hallelujah’ on repeat because she’s seriously freaking out about the idea of spending the night talking to Ryan. Though she still wants to properly thank him and possibly become friends, something about him makes Magdalene nervous.

There’s no way for her to tell if Ryan is there when she parks in front of the house. She doesn’t know what kind of car he drives, or if he caught a ride with someone. Magdalene debates texting Bette to see if he’s there already but decides against it, knowing she’s an adult who is more than capable of pushing down nerves.

She doesn’t bother knocking and just steps into the respectably sized home. The music is loud enough that no one would have heard her anyways. It’s much more of a party than Magdalene was expecting – Bette invited her for dinner and drinks, not a gathering that could pass as a frat party. There are bodies everywhere, and she isn’t sure if she’ll ever catch a glimpse of her friend.

“You seem to be dressed for the wrong kind of party,” a voice chuckles from behind her.

Magdalene turns to see Ryan leaning against the wall, eyeing her business casual attire. “I came from work,” she explains, “And didn’t know it was this kind of party to begin with. I would’ve at least brought a change of clothes.”

“You look terribly out of place,” he agrees. “Can I grab you a drink? The hosts are too busy playing beer pong to, you know, be hosts.”

A giggle escapes Magdalene’s lips at the comment. Ryan seems to have a similar sense of humor to her, which will be beneficial for passing the time if Bette is already on her way to being wasted. “A glass of red wine would be nice.”

Ryan pushes off from his perch and heads towards the kitchen. The crowd parts for the six-foot-five hockey player, and Magdalene follows in his wake quite easily. Knowing the space as well as her, Ryan grabs a wine glass from the cupboard Bette keeps them in and pours the dark red liquid into it. He waits until Magdalene has situated herself on the island before handing her the cup. She takes it with an appreciative hum and waits until he’s grabbed a beer for himself before raising her glass in toast. Ryan does the same, and their glasses clink before each of them take a sip.

“What exactly is it that you do? I bet it’s something super cool and studious, but I seriously don’t know what the hell being an archivist means.”

Magdalene explains her job to Ryan, who is extremely interested. He asks nearly a hundred follow-up questions that she answers sincerely, throwing in a few jokes that luckily crack him up. Conversation moves to his career and then life. Magdalene learns that he’s from Nova Scotia, though he stays around Denver these days, and that if he wasn’t playing professional hockey he’d like to have a career in publishing. Ryan doesn’t press too hard when Magdalene refuses to open up about her family, which she appreciates. It’s a delicate subject that she keeps guarded close to her chest, and a friend’s kitchen in the middle of a party isn’t the place for her to divulge her deepest secrets.

The two of them get refills before exiting the room. Even more people seemed to arrive since Magdalene walked through the door, and the kitchen is no longer an empty safe haven. The music is so loud she can feel the bass thumping in her chest, giving the living room a club-like atmosphere, and it’s too much. Magdalene tugs at the hem of Ryan’s sweater to catch his attention. “Want to go somewhere quiet?”

“I doubt there is such a place,” he yells over the crowd going crazy over some early 2000s hip-hop track.

“Follow me,” she says with a smile, pointing over her shoulder in the direction of the staircase to the second floor.

It takes a minute for them to wade through the throngs of people, but it goes much faster once Ryan takes Magdalene’s hand and splits the crowd. A few boys, who don’t look older than twenty-one and almost certainly snuck into the party, notice where the pair are going and shout congratulations. Ryan shoots them a glare so sharp it could cut stone but doesn’t drop Magdalene’s hand. Once safely on the much quieter second floor, Magdalene makes a beeline for the bathroom.

“Are you coming or what?” she asks when there doesn’t seem to be footsteps following her.

Ryan hesitates. “I, uh, can just wait out here while you’re in there,” he stammers.

Magdalene’s laugh rings out through the empty hallway. “I’m not going to the bathroom. We’re going out the window.”

He isn’t sure how that’s any better, but Ryan follows the brown-haired girl into the room. It takes considerably more work for him to fit through the frame, but after some directions from Magdalene he makes it onto the roof. She sits down and pats the space beside her, encouraging Ryan to do the same. They stay out there, discussing anything that comes to their heads, until the party’s numbers dwindle drastically. Magdalene makes sure to properly thank him for both attending her graduation and spotting her coffee money, and she thinks Ryan might blush a little when she offers to get the next round. He asks about her love of The West Wing, and they launch into a long conversation about the show and cast. The sun fades to black and the cold sets in, and Magdalene finds herself wrapped in Ryan’s sweater without asking. It’s only when she notices it’s approaching midnight that Magdalene clues into how tired she is.

“I think I’m going to head out,” she yawns. Ryan nods in agreement and holds the window open for her to slip in through. Once downstairs, Magdalene goes to lift the sweater from her frame but Ryan stops her.

“Keep it for drive home. I’ll get it back next time we see each other.”

Still feeling bold from the alcohol that left her system hours ago, she reaches out to poke him in the chest. “And when will that be, hm? You seem to enjoy leaving our meetings up to chance.”

It’s Ryan’s turn to laugh. “Think you can swing an extended lunch break on Wednesday? I’ll be at Barn Owl all afternoon. Maybe you can join me for a coffee.”

Magdalene likes the sound of that and agrees. She leaves without seeing Bette or Tyson once, but she doesn’t mind. They’d be happy for her blooming friendship – or at least she’s pretty sure they will be once she calls to fill them in on the details.

☼☼☼☼

Wednesday rolls around without incident, and Magdalene is given a full hour to eat instead of thirty minutes. Walking time has to be accounted for, of course, but she should have nearly forty-five minutes to spend with Ryan if she plays her cards right. There’s no crowd this time, and it’s incredibly easy to spot Ryan sitting in the window she loves to claim as her own.

“Hey,” Magdalene greets, “Did Bette tell you to sit here?”

He shakes his head, perplexed at the question. “No, why?”

“It’s just my favourite seat in the store, that’s all. I thought she told you how to gain some extra brownie points.”

“Should I be concerned about the amount of points I have?” Ryan teases, sliding a cup and pastry bag across the table and into her hands.

Magdalene shakes her head, smiling widely. “You’re doing alright so far. Keep up the good work.”

They eat at a comfortable pace, taking breaks to engage in interesting topics of conversation or take sips of their drinks. Ryan insists his life is boring, but Magdalene is enthralled by the stories he tells. It’s completely different from hers and she feels as though she can live vicariously through the tales of walking through the historic downs of the east coast and swimming in the Pacific Ocean on days off in California. After squeezing every story possible from the man Magdalene shifts gears slightly.

“So, are you going on the trip in a couple of weeks?”

“It’s looking that way,” Ryan shrugs with relative indifference, “Nate doesn’t think he’ll be able to come back, something about a development camp he’s running having the dates switched. He’s asked me to take his spot.”

His neutral mood confuses her. When Bette mentioned his probable attendance months ago, it sounded like he was enthusiastic about spending a week with friends doing nothing to swimming and drinking. “You don’t want to go?” Magdalene probes.

“It’s not that I don’t want to, but sometimes the group parties a little harder than I like to,” he sighs, raising a hand and running it through his hair. That’s something she understands completely, having spent a few too many nights being the sober one out.

“I’ll be there.” It’s Magdalene’s turn to shrug, but the comment holds an incredible amount of hope.

“Well then, that changes everything.”

Was Ryan flirting with her? She spends the rest of lunch thinking about the possibility, and truthfully, it occupies her brain for the rest of the day. However, she keeps her focus and June is none the wiser to the butterflies in her stomach. Work finishes without much fanfare, and her dinner is silent save for the few meows of conversation Caligula offers. It’s late by the time Magdalene falls into bed, cat snuggled into the pillow beside her. On a whim she decides to check Instagram and sees a message request from none other than the man who’s smile has been replaying in her mind. A follow request accompanies it.

Thought that maybe we could quit leaving our meetings to chance and plan something next time :)

He has to be flirting. There’s no other explanation for the witty banter they’ve shared this week, or why he’s reaching out to her on social media. The butterflies in her stomach multiply tenfold as Magdalene types out a reply.

I don’t know, it’s kind of fun being shrouded in mystery. However, I now have the opportunity to stalk your profile ;)

Before she can overthink her use of the emoji, Magdalene shoves her phone in the drawer of her nightstand and rolls over. A slight smile can’t help but appear on her features as she falls asleep, already curious about what his reply will be.

☼☼☼☼

taglist: @scrunchmakar @marcoscandellas @toplinetommy @samsteel @lovethepreds (add yourself to the taglist!)

#ryan graves imagine #ryan graves x oc #ryan graves fic #colorado avalanche imagine #nhl imagine #nhl fic #hockey imagine #hockey fic #cwrites #dmtteol

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wtfevenismypage · 4 years ago

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Observer, not Profiler PT.2

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Fem!reader

Summary: You’re similar to a profiler, but you can tell almost anything about a person just from a single glance. What they had for dinner, if they took a bath or shower, their name, favorite color, if they lie, even if they’re good in bed. You’ve been running from the government ever since you got caught hacking into their systems and since then you have been diagnosed with Extreme anxiety, anxious tics, and paranoia. But now the BAU need you’re help in Identifying killers.

Warnings: mentions of murder, mentions of child porn(for the case, doesn’t go into detail), mentions of corpses, probably a few curse words.

You watch as everyone separates, and you follow The three agents to a room with a round table and a board of pictures with dead women.

“what can you tell us about this man?”

Agent Aaron sets a file down on the table as Spencer gestures for you to sit down.

You open the file, looking at pictures of a man with short hair and a muscly build.

“His name is Maxwell, He’s thirty four. In this picture he had just finished... killing a woman. He probably had to force her away from a crowd because his social skills are lacking, he treats women like toys and men like competition. He’s a severe liar. He won’t just lie when it’s essential he’ll lie about anything for no reason. He’s killed before, but this time was for fun. He was bored.”

Agent Prentiss stares at you with her jaw on the floor, and your gaze drops to the floor.

“Okay that’s awesome. How do you do that?”

You shrug shyly before meeting her eyes.

“I’ve been able to do it ever since I was a little girl. I’m not sure why though. Don’t think I really want to know either...”

“He killed for fun?”

You nod at Aaron’s question, looking back down to avoid his steel cold stare.

“Okay, that got us much further than we could have gotten by ourselves, thank you Y/n.”

The scary agent says, returning to the victim board and analyzing everything.

It’s been hours. You’ve sat in this room for hours and they have nothing else.

To say you’re tired was an extreme understatement. You’ve gone three days without sleep and another three days without eating. You’re body is screaming at you to go to sleep, to just pass out right then and there, but you know you can’t.

“Y/n, are you alright?”

You nod, staring at the pictures of the dead, mutilated women. You didn’t understand how someone could do this.

“I don’t understand how you guys do this job... Staring at dead bodies all the time... You guys gotta have some sort of super power to be able to stomach this...”

Emily stifles a laugh before setting a hand on your shoulder, squeezing it gently before patting it twice.

“You get over it eventually, but it always haunts you.”

You let out a quiet yawn before closing your eyes and turning away from the board, the dead body sticking on your eyelids.

“Hey, I’m going out to get food, what do you all want?”

JJ says, standing in the doorway as Spencer, Aaron and Emily request their food.

“What do you want Y/n?”

You look up shocked, not expecting the offer of food.

“Umm... I’ll uh... Anything is fine I guess... Thank you.”

She smiles and nods before walking out. You sit down on a chair, your feet screaming hallelujah at the feeling of finally resting.

Spencer sits down next to you, handing you a bottle of water which you accept gratefully.

“You need to sleep, how long has it been since you last slept?”

You let out a chuckle, rubbing your sore eyes.

“I don’t know...Maybe, two, three days?”

Aaron- Hotch, turns to you with furrowed brows and mock concern.

“You need to rest. Reid, set up a cot for her in an empty office.”

You shake your head with lidded eyes.

“No no, I’m fine I’m-”

You’re cut off by your own yawn. A faint blush creeps up on your cheeks while you rest your head on the table.

“M’ fine.”

The world slowly fades out as they call out your name again, but you’re already out cold.

When you wake up, you’re in a small sleeping bag on the floor, a pillow comforting your head. You’re up in a bolt, looking around warily before remembering what had happened withing the last twenty four hours.

Oh yeah... The FBI is using me..

You walk to the door with a sigh, looking around at the somewhat empty police station, a few officers working the stations, but it’s practically empty.

A blonde woman in colorful clothes walks by, pausing when she sees you.

“You, with me, now.”

She continues speed-walking on after that, and you run after her, following right on her heels.

“The team went out on a wild goose chase after the unsub, I need you and your magic hands to help me get into this guy’s computer, it’s blocked like nothing I’ve seen before, together we should be able to get in.”

You cringe at the thought of hacking, you haven't since the incident, but this woman is in the FBI and you’re pretty sure it’s unwise to disobey her.

“Yes ma’am.”

She smirks and turns to you, but doesn’t say anything as she leads you into a room with five computers.

“Alright, we have to be quick. This guy is gonna kill again in ten minutes. I have the team on the line, anything you find, anything at all, tell them.”

You nod and sit at one of the two wheely chairs, looking at the database of the killers computer.

“A hash tree data structure, this dude likes things in groups. He has a NoSQL object oriented database and heavy protection on everything, he’s spent a lot of time protecting his files. This isn’t gonna be easy and I’m really rusty.”

You begin typing in every word combo you can think of, typing as fast as possible.

“Just do the best you can.”

Hotchner says over the speaker, you listen, continuing with any word combo you can think of when remembering his face.

Six minutes pass and you and Penelope still have nothing.

“Can I see another picture of him?”

She tosses a file to you, which you yank open, looking at the photo’s of him.

“Try anything star wars related, specifically characters, maybe a villain of the series.”

You tell her before tossing the folder aside and using your own advice.

Finally, you hear that satisfying noise of success from Penelope’s computer.

“We’re in.”

She enter’s the password into the computer you’re manning, which leads you to a killer’s screen.

A mutilated woman is the background, and you flinch away.

“Oh god...”

You click onto google, but it’s no better, every tab is war and chaos and horrible things. Child porn seems to be popular with him.

“Go through his stuff, look for anywhere he might be.”

You ignore all of the destruction on his desk top, clicking through everything before discovering a location.

“Got it! Go to the daycare at the Starrmole mall!”

“Copy that, all units to the Starrmole mall.”

You close the computer tabs, looking away and turning to Penelope.

“We did it my wonder girl!”

You smile as she holds her hand out for a high five, and you happily smack her hand before sitting back.

“Y’know, you would be really helpful around the office, specifically our offices?”

You look at her, shocked. Was she really recommending that you join the FBI? You couldn’t even say the word without spiraling into a tic attack.

“W-what? You... You want me to... To...”

“I think you would be great at it. You could help me out here, You don’t have to go on the field, you and I could do some serious damage together. The job pays fairly well too!”

At seeing your conflicted face, she sighs before setting a hand on your shoulder.

“Just think about it, okay?”

You nod with furrowed brows before the two of you walk out, waiting for the rest of the station to arrive.

It could be a smart Idea, working for the government instead of against it. Plus, you could do what you love again without fear of being locked up, but then again, you would have to get over looking at dead bodies everyday, you had to be ready to see them at any time.

Instead of thinking about it any longer, you direct your focus to something, or someone, else.

How the hell am I not able to read him?

You think to yourself when the image of the young Doctor fills your brain. You didn’t understand how he managed to avoid your reading, but it made you incredibly curious.

“So, what can you tell me about Dr. Reid?”

You ask Penelope with a slight blush on your cheeks. She looks at you, eyes wide and Jaw on the floor.

“Do you like him?”

You shake your head no, you had just met him! Yeah sure, maybe he was cute, but you didn’t like him like that!

“No way! Not like that! I was just confused at why I couldn’t read him! I don’t like him like that!”

“Like who like what?”

You jump in the air at the new voice, the tall Reid apologizing before sitting down across you and Penelope.

“No one! Like no one like nothing!”

You say rather aggressively, making Reid raise his hands in faux surrender, a smile plastered on his face as he laughs.

“Sorry I asked. So are you thinking of joining the Bureau?”

Your head tilts in confusion as you look at him, how the hell did he know that? As if he could hear your thoughts, he gives an answer.

“Garcia forgot to hang up, so we heard the conversation. Well I heard, everyone else shut their devices off, but I was pretty far away so I just turned around and came back.”

You and Penelope nod, but you look away.

“I’m not sure... I just... I spent my entire life running, but you guys found me, and now I’m supposed to join the forces of good and fight crime? I’m just having a difficult time deciding.”

They look at you with an understanding look, they know you’re having a difficult time with all of this, suddenly being pushed to let down all of your walls now. They knew you hated being center of attention.

Damn profilers...

You almost laugh at your thoughts, but you can’t, because the rest of the profilers and the Police just walked in with a serial killer.

“Well, you might want to choose quickly. We leave first thing in the morning. If you want to join the Bureau, I can talk to Hotch about bringing you with us on the jet, if not, we’ll arrange another jet to take you to any city you want, and you can start living there.”

Your mouth hangs open, it was already ten p.m, and you only had until morning to figure this out? Fucking perfect.

“I’ll go talk to Hotch about it. Spencer, give the girl some space to think, alright?”

The two nod at each other before walking off, Garcia going to inform Hotch and Spencer going to talk to the killer.

“This is a fucking mess.”

You’ve spent the entire night thinking your options over, but you were still no closer to a choice than you were four hours ago.

The night is silent. The entire office is asleep and you’re sipping on a cup of coffee, watching the stars as your debate marches on in your brain.

“Hey.”

It’s a deep voice, Derek, he sits in a chair next to you, plopping an arm on the back of your chair.

“Can’t sleep huh?”

You chuckle.

“That’s an oversimplification. I’m just trying to decide what the hell I’m going to do. If I join you, there are so many good things that’ll come out of it, but if I don’t-”

“You aren’t joining the FBI because you’re scared. You think you’re betraying yourself. I’ll tell you right now you aren’t betraying anyone. This is a chance to help yourself. To try something new. It’s a great job believe it or not, and I think you’ll fit right in with the team. Reid, Garcia, Emily, and I already think you’re great, but if you really don’t want to, nobodies making you okay?”

You nod, tears in your eyes as Derek brings you to a realization. You never even thought of it that way, but it made complete sense. Of course you held back because you didn’t want to betray yourself, you always did everything for your past self.

“Thank you Derek...”

Reid already thinks you’re great.

A smile crawls onto your face at the friendships that could be made. Just imagining working late nights with Dr. Reid made you happy.

“Does... Does Dr. Reid really think I’m great?”

He laughs before standing up and walking away.

That didn’t answer my question...

You think to yourself before returning your gaze to the sky. It was so bright, the stars were so easily seen at night. It was gorgeous, the way that the night sky was illuminated with constellations.

The rest of the night is quiet, you let yourself forget about the debate of the FBI job and you let yourself relax, listening to the hum of quiet jazz playing on the speakers.

When the rest of the police department wakes up, the FBI profilers included, they’re saying goodbye to the team and writing in their files.

The team walks over to where you sit, looking at the sky as you sip on coffee.

“Well, have you made a decision?”

Hotch asks, you look down and spin around to face them, glancing at their shoes nervously before speaking.

“Well, I have decided... And my decision is that...”

A/N: I gotta be honest, I didn't expect that many people to enjoy this story! Just so ya’ll know, Requests are open! If you would like to request a fic for Reid, hotch, morgan, emily, dad!rossi (No romance for rossi, sorry) or any marvel character, just go ahead and ask! Keep me busy guys!

Taglist:

@imsuperawkward @ithinkilovetruecrimetoomuch @l0ve-0f-my-life @hopebaker @spencerreidisbootiful @thatsonezesty13 @nightlygiggless @holybatflapexpert @aberrant-annie @wasabiwitteks

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1littleshippergirl1 · 4 years ago

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Prompt: "Will you paint my nails?"

Pairing: Percy Weasley/f!reader

I hope percy is mostly in character. I tried bro😂

@potterverseimagine

It was two days before the Christmas holiday. Most of the students had gone home to celebrate but you didn't. Your least favorite cousin, Libby, was visiting. She was the ultimate snob and you two got into a nasty fight last year after Libby insulted you yet again. She was a muggle and you didn't exactly trust her to keep your secret so as far as she was aware, you went to some boarding school for science.

And, well, Libby thought you as were as dumb as a box of nails and as petty as it was, it set you off. You gave her a black eye and fiercely promised you'd do worse if she didn't shut up (as you were being held back by your dad).

So, it was safe to say that the adults did their best to keep you two apart.

Your parents weren't thrilled to hear that you wanted to stay at Hogwarts but it was better than feeling with another brawl so they let you, as long as you promised to behave yourself.

So, there you sat. The common room was empty, except for you. You sat on the floor, indian style, growing frustrated at your lack of progress.

You decided to paint your nails, to be festive and use the nail polish that your mother was hoping you'd use. You planned on taking it off as soon as Christmas was over. Only, you weren't very good at keeping within the bounds of your nails and thus, you kept getting the red and green polish on the sides of your fingers as well.

With your face scrunched up with concentration, you tried to paint your pinky as slow as possible- your hand shook and a thin trail of red went up, almost to your knuckle.

You growled and chucked the bottle. It didn't even break.

Stupid thing.

You didn't notice your boyfriend coming up behind you, smiling amusedly. He was wearing his Weasley sweater his mum had knit for him and his hair was messy. He'd decided to stay with you, not wanting to leave you alone, especially on Christmas.

You really didn't know what you did to deserve him.

Percy wrapped his arms around you-you weren't scared because you two were the only ones around-kissing your temple. "Not working, eh?" He murmured.

"No," you scowled. "I hate painting my nails. It's so stupid."

"Then why are you doing it?" He chuckled.

"I'm trying to be festive and all that crap!" You groaned. "And my mum sent me the polish so I have to use it or she'll ask me about it and she'll know if I lie and I don't feel like hearing the responsibility lecture. I literally heard it every week during summer."

You paused, taking in a deep breath.

Percy held you, gently squeezing. That was how he helped you calm down. You leaned your head into the crook of his neck. He'd put on cologne, you noticed.

"Thanks," you mumbled, your voice muffled.

"Of course. Now, let's take a look at what's got you so flustered," Percy was smiling.

You showed him. "It's stupid."

"It doesn't look that bad."

"Now you're stupid."

"Watch that attitude, missy," Percy warned playfully.

You stuck your tongue out.

Percy booped your nose. "Behave," he said teasingly.

"Ugh. You sound like my parents."

He laughed. "They said you'd say that."

Your eyebrows rose. "They said- you talked to them?"

Percy had spoken to your parents before; they thought he was an absolute gentleman and adored him. So that wasn't really surprising but still, boyfriend....talking to....parents. you weren't sure what to think of that.

"They owled me to make sure you'd behave and didn't give anyone another black eye."

You rolled your eyes. Of course they did.

The idiot was grinning. He was stern and strict with everyone else, most definitely wouldn't be amused by someone else doing the punching- but you had a way of relaxing him and making him different than he usually would.

"She deserved it," you muttered as you given another squeeze.

"I love you," he said, still chuckling a bit. "My little fighter."

You stayed in the embrace for a while, cuddling by the fire with Percy's back against the front of the couch. It completely melted away your earlier annoyance. Percy had a way of doing that. With his big family and having four younger siblings he'd had his fair share of having to calm them down. Although, it was a bit different than what he did with you.

You glanced up at him, suddenly having an idea. Percy was good at a lot of things. You smiled innocently and he raised his eyebrows.

"I know that look."

"I don't have a look."

"Oh, yes you do," he snorted.

You grinned. "I was just thinking..."

".....Yes?"

"Will you paint my nails? Pleaseeeee?" You begged, wiggling a bit and turning around to face him. "I bet you'd be really good at it." Yes, you were using flattery, obviously!

He sighed in that fake way as if it were a great burden to deal with. "If it's what I must to do to save you from your mother's wrath," he winked.

Thank Merlin

"I love you," you said, kissing him straight on the lips.

It was like he had a bright light shining over him from the Heavens as the angels sang, "Hallelujah!"

You two shifted to where he sat in front of you. Percy took your smaller hand into his, taking the brush over the nail. You were a bit envious that it was done to smoothly. He must noticed your look.

"You just need to practice."

"No, thanks," you hummed.

"Then don't complain," he scolded, though there was a playful edge to his voice.

"But I want to."

"Oh, trust me, I know," he teased.

You wacked him with one of the pillows with your free hand.

"Watch it," he warned. "Or I'll have to start over."

You don't have the attention span to sit there any longer so you comply. Reluctantly. You're starting to get bored.

"Are you done yet?"

"I just started."

Two second pause.

"How about now?"

Percy's lips were twitching into a smile.

"Not yet."

"Percy," you whined.

Momentarily stopping, he glanced at you blankly and then flicked your nose, quickly looking back down at your nails.

You gasped, a laugh escaping.

"You jerk!" You exclaimed.

He grinned, kissing your forehead.

"Is that better, Darling?"

"No," you grumbled, trying to hide a smile. "I hate you now. You suck."

He sighed dramatically. "It is, what it is, I suppose. If you hate me so much, I won't need to bring you to the Burrow anymore....and you won't be able to eat anymore of mum's cookies...."

Well crap.

You adored Mrs. Weasleys cooking, as she was far better than your own mum. Her cookies were ridiculously delicious and you'd recieved them from Percy as a gift on a couple occasions.

"Fine, fine," you mock groaned. "I love you again."

"Because of my mum's cooking," he smirked.

"Well duh."

Percy didn't respond at first, taking a moment to focus on his work. "You know what I think?"

"Hmm?"

"I think you need to be punished. You were quite rude."

Was...was he thinking what you thought he was thinking?

"If you tickle me, I swear I'll-" your threat was cut off by him kissing you again. Percy gently nipped at your lower lip, gliding his tongue across it. Your free hand was in his hair, running your hands through his soft curls. When you parted, you said, slyly, "Ahhhh. Well, I think that you haven't punished me enough."

Percy let out a lovely laugh and for the next forty five minutes, he finished painting your nails. (It took longer than expected because you guys would stop and kiss or something).

You sighed contentedly. Even though painting your nails was totally not your thing, you know that there's one person you'd rather be with than anyone else.

One with curly red hair, horn rimmed glasses and is terribly ticklish and you're definitely going to use it to your advantage when you get him back for flicking your nose.

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bengallemon · 4 years ago

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DETERMINATION 3 - RUNAWAY QUEEN PART SIX

AFTER A MILLION YEARS A NEW PART HALLELUJAH

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Cross feels awkward and mildly scared, seeing Dust’s expression showing that of horror.

It’s not that bad, just some cuts and bruises. My hands have healed mostly.

“Yes, it’s that bad.”

Cross blinks.

“It’s… just some cut and bruises. I can still use my hands.”

Dust inhales sharply, internally muttering to himself.

Dear god he’s either stupid or not mentally sound. Maybe both.

“Basically, your entire hand is bruised like all hell, on both sides. It goes down to your wrist, and those cuts are less cuts and more just slices. How else do you think they’d produce that much blood? Either that or your bones have broken to the point of a whole lot of bleeding.”

Cross blinks again, confused.

“How… bad is that?”

Dust glares at him.

“Very bad, considering you said your hands are a little numb in places and hurt in others. Also, those cuts are still bleeding, and your skin is most likely broken in a lot of places. How many times have your hands broken?”

Please let it be once or twice, I don’t know what I’ll do if it’s more than four or five.

Cross thinks for a little while.

THAT’S CONCERNING PLEASE GIVE ME AN ANSWER.

Cross narrows his eyes.

Hm… Takes about two to four days for them to get better… Two to four days… and it’s been like… three months? Which is like ninety days… So around forty times? Twenty to twenty-five, I think. Maybe fifteen, if I’m lucky.

“I uh… lost count.”

“Is it more than five?”

Cross thinks for only a few seconds.

“Yes.”

Dust growls a little.

OH FOR-

“Is it… more than ten?”

“Yeah… I stopped counting at around… maybe fifteen.”

Great. Great! So somehow this idiot’s hands fix themselves really quickly, only for them to get broken again right after. And considering they haven’t really been getting better right now, all the damage is adding up. FANTASTIC. This man is crazy.

Dust sighs.

“So… what you’re saying is that they magically fix themselves, then get broken again, then repeat?”

“Yes.”

“So, theoretically, if there is a lot of damage, over time, then it might make it harder to fix themselves, correct?”

Cross frowns.

“It’s possible, probable even. Which…”

Cross’ voice dies in his throat. Dust understands what he is thinking, choosing to finish the thought for him.

“Means that they might take longer and longer each time to fix, until they don’t quickly fix at all.”

“Y-yeah… yeah…”

Dust sighs again.

“We’ll just have to contain the bleeding and wait and see.”

“Okay.”

It takes a few minutes for Dust to wrap Cross’ hands and wrists up again.

I… didn’t know it was that bad.

And that disgusting pile of goop didn’t bother helping. We don’t need him.

About Dream… how long until he starts looking for us?

Don’t worry about it. Just rest for a few nights, then we can run to another AU then.

Okay…

“Done. Now time to go see how Paps and Frisk are doing.”

Cross stands up slowly, his hands shaking.

“Okay. They’re probably trying to find ways to entertain Luna.”

Dust smiles, opening the door. Cross leaves the room first, his footsteps light and hesitant. Dust follows right behind, shutting the door quietly behind them.

Back in Dust’s room, Papyrus and Frisk have struck up some sort of conversation about what the Surface is like, Luna quietly sitting between them, her two little mouth tentacles just flipping about. She stares blankly at them, unsure of what they’re talking about.

Luna Light still follows the conversation, her eyes following the movements Papyrus makes, as well as taking in each and every thing she can hear, smell, see and feel, in the instinctual attempt of distracting herself from the persistent pain and feeling like she’s constantly submerged in water, unable to get out from under it.

Celestial Star sits in her cocoon, wanting to be let out. It feels like forever since she could move. For a split-second, her face shows a flicker of fear as, for some reason, she attempts to move, only to immediately hit the tiny limit of movement she has.

Celest forces her face back into a blank expression, ceasing all movement, although now feeling tighter than ever, especially in her chest. She recognises a sort of fear from the sudden loss of control, not just in movement and action, but emotion and keeping her face neutral. A small bead of sweat rolls down her face, followed by a few more here and there.

The door opens, as Cross and Dust wandering back into the room.

“Hello, brother!”

Frisk waves quietly, a small smile on their face.

“Sup. Your creepy bundle’s gone weird. Like, weirder than it already is, and that’s saying something. How did you father such a strange thing?”

True to Chara’s words, Celestial Star’s eyes are shut, showing small hints of them being quite tightly closed, the normally completely straight line bent ever-so-slightly downwards at the edges, obvious that it’s a bit forced.

Her eyes open, a minute glimmer in the corner of one, her eyes trying to convey a plead for freedom to Cross. Cross notices and considers letting her out, before electing to keep her still for a little while longer. He sits down next to Papyrus on the mattress, moving to pick Luna Light up and gently hold her in his arms.

The chatter continues, with Cross sporadically putting a sentence or two into mix. Chara deigns to float around the room, silently spectating, all while watch Celestial Star quietly rock in place, the motions mostly minuscule but still there.

Chara moves closer, to right above Celest, ignoring the talking. They lightly sit in front of her, trying to pet the child’s head with a spectral hand. Celest shows no sign of noticing Chara trying to comfort her.

“This bundle isn’t fairing well with confinement. You should free it soon, so it doesn’t go crazy.”

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I feel like a child suddenly being trapped and unable to move for an unknown period of time, all while experiencing a lot of pain and stress would be just a little claustrophobic. It’s pretty fun seeing how much emotion I can convey with Celest all while keeping up the usual wall of expressionlessness that she usually seems to have with this timeline.

Honestly Imma need to do a lot of thinking about the personalities these kiddos would have in this timeline. All I have is that Celest (especially her corruption) needs a harsh few reminders that she can’t just be all violent and needs to figure out how to be a little tamer. And Luna is just. Just. idfk. She’s been royally deprived of a childhood and appears to be much less of a depraved monster as Celest is. She gets a pass right now. She can vibe. She’ll be chaotic and cause a few problems later.

anyways hnnnnnnnggg credits time

Celestial Star and Luna Light belong to @help-im-a-gay-fish

Dark Cream belongs to @zu-is-here

Cross belongs to Jakei

Dream belongs to Joku

Shattered!Dream belongs to shattereddreamsau AKA galacii/galacii-gallery

Dusttale belongs to askdusttale

FIRST

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unholyplumpprincess · 4 years ago

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Extra Prizes

For @fyeahnix who wanted the goirls being competitive little shits and also absolutely wanting to bone each other. Tysm for supporting me!!!!!

Summary: Wraith and Anita have always been competitive- even before their romantic relationship. It just leads to fun new bets in the arena, and firing each other up until they’re desperate to get off the dropship and get on top of each other instead.

Reblogs > Likes. Have your age (18+) in your bio before interacting or you will be blocked.

Fandom: Apex Legends

Relationship: Bangalore/Wraith

Warnings: R18+/NSFT, Wraith has mentions of body mods, the girls are fiiiiighttiiing (but in a loving way), Wraith has a large/fat clit bc hallelujah, they’re snarky at each other, Bangalore’s various pet names for Wraith, strap ons + penetration, Wraith’s infamous werewolf dick makes a comeback except Anita wears it and knots her bby.

Words: 3.5k

__________

There were just some things that never changed.

Such as, the bickering and the teasing between Anita and Wraith even before they had begun a relationship. Namely, this time, because Anita had started it- if you asked Wraith who was currently eyeballing her partner up from behind as the trekked through the arena.

They were in World’s Edge this time around in a duo, the piercing cold air racing across their bodies as they worked through Epicenter. They were about halfway through the match, Wraith with five kills under her belt, Anita with four, and the tensions were just as high as when they had landed.

Even before they were in a relationship, the competition between each other never shifted. That same playful energy of ‘Anything you can do, I can do better’. Except instead of blatantly flirting with each other and hoping the other would pick up on it like they had for a few seasons; They found it in their current relationship that it was more fun to poke at familiar topics, topics that they knew would poke the others’ buttons just right.

Even on the dropship Anita had gently nudged her, a crooked grin over her handsome features and speaking quietly just for them to hear, “Ey, betcha’ I can wrack up more kills than you, ghostie. Loser takes winner out for lunch tomorrow.”

The fond nickname made Wraith’s heart flutter softly, glancing at her out of the corner of her eye. It was the start to their playful competition this round. Kills? Easy, Wraith could do that. And Wraith did oh so like being taken out to lunch. Especially if it meant seeing Anita dressed up and trying to convince Wraith that it was okay to order something different other than chicken strips off the menu for once.

“You’re on, Sergeant. Try not to slow me down.”

That had been the start of it. Then they’d gotten into their first fight with Wraith knocked back and Anita eliminating the entire duo. She’d cockily walked up to her, a swagger in her step and a sway of her hip with her flatline slung over her shoulder. She’d offered her hand, yanking Wraith back to her feet and smirking when Wraith had grumbled a ‘thanks’ and dusted the snow from her body. “Don’t mention it. Looks like I already have two ahead of you, huh? Don’t get slow on me now.”

~Rest under the cut~

A smile played on Wraith’s lips as the spark of a flame of competitiveness arose in her. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Which is how they ended up here. With Wraith just the smallest bit ahead of her only because she managed to catch a solo newbie by surprise. Her eyes fall back towards Anita who is guiding them through Epicenter, heading for the big center tower and starting to make a left to go around the-

Someone’s aiming at you.

It’s with practiced ease that she grabs Anita’s hand, yanking her backwards into the building just in time for the crack of a Kraber to be heard. The bullet bounces off the building, sounding about near where Anita had been standing. Wraith doesn’t even realize their position, too busy focused on trying not to get them eliminated, not until she hears Anita’s breath hitch.

A blink of her pure white, glowing eyes and Wraith finds them with one hand next to Anita’s body, their bodies pressed together with Anita’s back flat to the wall so they couldn’t be seen. They’re chest to- well, lower rib cage area due to their height difference, Wraith pressing up against her, her thigh between Anita’s in what must have been reflex. It doesn’t help that Anita’s warm body is tempting her, that familiar feeling of wanting to press closer and get even more heated.

Or maybe make her jump and squeak with her cold fingers running up her back.

“Try not to get yourself killed before we even make it to top five.” Wraith murmurs quietly, moving her hand off the wall and subtly tracing down the curve of Anita’s side and hip. There‘s that small tension before she’s pulling away to portal them out of there. There wasn’t a need for any unnecessary battle, especially because they didn’t have the shields for it if they already had a Kraber.

However, Wraith does get the pleasure of seeing Anita’s face before she leaves. The way her cheeks are ever so slightly warmed in that dark room before her eyes sparkle red hot with the reminder of competition.

That sparks it worse throughout the game. To the point that flirting starts to get heavier in the snarky remarks to each other. Until it comes to a point where Wraith has seven kills, Anita matching her. She’s casually walking by Wraith who is looting a death box, ensuring no drones were flying by to notice before she grabs Wraith’s ass cheekily whilst strolling by with a, “Lookin’ damn good out there, ghostie.”

Wraith’s face had flushed, standing upright just as quick and shooting her a look that was only met with a two-finger salute from over Anita’s shoulder.

Brat.

To a similar moment minutes later where Wraith has to yank Anita into cover again when gunshots are heard close by, rolling them under a building in Harvester and just out of the ring’s edge as it closes. Chest to chest with Wraith’s head tucked against her neck and a hand under Anita’s head to protect from any rocks or hard ground.

You truly can’t blame her for pressing a kiss just under Anita’s ear, far too tempting with her flesh right there. But maybe murmuring a mock back, ”Looking good down there, sarge.” wasn’t the best idea when they were both already so fired up.

Especially when Anita chuckles low in her chest at the mock, like she knew she deserved that. That flustered little sound as her head tilts ever so slightly for another kiss- or even a bite- that she doesn’t get. It’s worth it just to hear her huff low in her throat in a whine as Wraith moves, her gloved hands lingering on Wraith’s hips as if she might pull her back down. But, Wraith slides off her with a coy expression and nudges her head towards the sound of gunshots and where drones fly overhead, reminding them both of their position in the arena.

In the end, they score the championship title and are finally able to tally for their own bet.

Wraith: Eight kills.

Anita: Eight kills.

“I have more damage than you,” Wraith points out with a flicker of her lips as she gestures to the holographic scoreboard in front of them, leaning her shoulder into Anita as she does so. Her tone is playful, daring Anita to challenge her.

Anita leans in with her to look at the scoreboard, eyes narrowed at the board and the light reflecting off her face beautifully in a way that Wraith can’t help but stare at.

She’s got a bit of blood on the corner of her mouth, dirt smudged across her freckled cheek and her curls just a bit fluffier from the humidity. The bloody corner of her mouth is pulled up into a crooked smirk, her eyes sliding to look at Wraith with such a heated expression at the challenge in her deep pools of brown. Her eyes flicker down to Wraith’s lips, her eyes falling half lidded and starving.

Wraith’s heart jumps in her chest.

She wants to kiss you.

She wants to fuck you.

She looks hungry-

Are you going to let her just sit there?

“Tell ya what. You can have just this one win, pumpkin. But, I get a lil kiss for bein’ so nice to you, sound like a deal?” Anita’s voice is a tease, her hand reaching and gently grasping Wraith’s chin, smoothing her gloved thumb over her bottom lip temptingly. Wraith can feel the tension between them, that band just waiting to snap as they look at each other. They’re still on the dropship, headed back to the compound where paparazzi would try to get them to wait so they could question and poke them.

You can’t really blame Wraith for climbing into Anita’s lap then, straddling her waist and fisting her curls to pull her hair back as her girlfriend hisses with pleasure. Their lips just ghosting from each other’s, breath mingling and Anita’s breath quickening. Wraith lets her lips flicker up into a smirk, “Deal.” Before finally pressing forward to kiss her like they’ve been dying to all match.

–

The race to Wraith’s compound room after their showers is so quiet you would have expected that neither were up to anything. Of course, Elliott had caught them off the dropship, but when they had both declined his offer of an afterparty in the compound and Wraith explaining that they were just going to hang out for a Champion’s dinner. He’d hummed to himself, pondering out loud with, “Ya know! I’m glad you two have been getting closer recently. I thought you two hated each other- don’t go stealing my best friend, Anita! She’s my only source of human contact- besides the robot- does he classify as human contact?”

But before he could think too hard about it and connect two and two like Wraith knew he would if he just put his brilliant mind to it, sans the slowness of the cogs turning. Pathfinder is scooping him up, saying something about how excited he was to learn Elliott’s home recipes to make for him.

How sweet.

But Wraith’s mind isn’t on them now. Not when she’s pushing Anita down to her bed and hearing her breathlessly laugh at the force, her throat covered in bruises from where Wraith had quickly latched on.

Wraith’s mouth finds hers in an instant, climbing on top of her to straddle her waist and have Anita’s calloused fingers tuck into her sweatpants and panties to grab at her bare ass and pulling her close. Wraith can’t help the moan falling from her own lips, biting Anita’s bottom lip and giving a playful tug.

The kiss is broken so Wraith can pull off Anita’s tanktop, throwing it elsewhere and letting Anita sit up to tug off her sports bra. Her torso left bare, save for her dog tags hanging temptingly between her perky breasts. Wraith can’t help but sigh out, “You look beautiful, sweetheart, always so perfect.” while her fingers run across Anita’s fit torso, over her tight abs and up to her breasts where she cups, thumbing her nipples to make her squirm.

Anita’s freckled face flushes red, her head turning to the side and a soft whine in her throat in embarrassment. But, Wraith doesn’t get to have her fun for very long, leaving an opening that allows Anita to flip them. “I think you were the winner, baby. Don’t you wanna claim some extra prizes other than a free lunch?” Her voice is a tease as her warm fingers slide up under Wraith’s hoodie, mindful not to pull it off and just tucking it above her chest to reveal her own breasts. The silver barbells revealed through her nipples and quickly abused by Anita gently pinching them.

“Extra prizes?” Wraith breathlessly gets out, her hips lifting and thanking that Anita gets the hint by pressing their hips together, giving her enough pressure on her clit through her pants to make her whimper. But she can only huff in pleasure when Anita dips down to her chest, her mouth sealing over a sensitive nipple and her hands sliding down Wraith’s curves down to her hips. Yanking her hips up to hold her just right as Anita grinds against her body, small, fluid humps of her own hips against Wraith’s.

Wraith swears under her breath immediately, her hands finding Anita’s hair to grip at her curls with an arch to her back. She knows Anita probably didn’t feel pleasure the way she did when they ground their bodies together like this. Wraith’s clit was larger than normal, big enough to be able to penetrate her girlfriend in a small amount if she so pleased. Always peeking from her lower lips heavily and she knows it’s engorged by now with how sensitive she is to just grinding.

“There you go, sweetheart. You always sound so damn good.” Anita praises, parting from her breast to press kisses down Wraith’s torso. Each one feeling like a searing, hot press all the way down to Wraith’s sweatpants. Where Anita gently tugs with a rare soft expression, quietly asking for permission that Wraith grants by lifting her hips and letting Anita take her panties with them. Left in just her hoodie and socks.

Wraith’s cunt always looked good, if you asked Anita. Dark soft hair that fell straight rather than curly, her large clit resting against her lower lips and glistening with her own slickness and allowing Anita to see the way she contracts when she blows soft, cold air over her slick flesh. Running her warm hands over Wraith’s legs, over the dark hair resting over them all the way to her thighs so she can shift onto her abdomen.

When Anita’s tongue runs from her hole to her clit, Wraith’s hips instantly tilt upwards against her with a soft grunt. Feeling Anita’s lips press open mouthed, sloppy kisses over her clit, moaning at her taste and making Wraith tremble with each touch. It only amplifies when Anita decides to stop teasing and just licking her, sealing her lips around her clit and curling two fingers up into her.

Anita eats her like a starving woman, her tongue always so talented and a blessing to watch when Wraith can finally get her eyes to open to look down and watch her. Her own hand fisted into her curls, able to see Anita’s other hand not pressing her thigh open disappear below herself. Hearing the faint wet sounds of her touching herself in sync with how she fucks Wraith with her fingers. There’s no need for words, not when Wraith is already almost there, panting and pressing on the back of Anita’s head with small, desperate, short humps of her hips.

Wraith’s head tosses back, arching her back when she feels the waves start. Always so quiet, but small moans spill from her lips freely when Anita stays right where Wraith holds her. Suckling on her clit and flicking her tongue just underneath to make Wraith’s body jerk. It’s only when Wraith eases on her hair does Anita come up, looking at her and groaning at the sight of her.

Wraith’s hair is spilled back on the pillows, her hoodie still pulled up above her chest, her legs still falling open to show how her clit twitches heavily in her small contractions. Her eyes are unfocused, looking up at Anita just in time to capture her lips at the same time, moaning into her mouth and trying to hook her legs around her. But Anita’s a tease, parting the kiss with a kiss to Wraith’s nose. “I’m not through with you, ghostie. Sit tight, we’ve got all night.”

“You plan to fuck me for hours when you’re the one who falls asleep at nine sharp?” Wraith breathlessly laughs out with a roll of her eyes, flopping herself back onto the bed with a hand running through the front of her hair.

Although, she does get the pleasure of watching Anita remove the rest of her clothing, getting to see her muscular ass flex as she digs through Wraith’s upper drawer. Wraith can only see barely what she’s grabbing. A bullet vibrator which she presses to herself before she’s wiggling on the briefs harness which nearly doesn’t go over Anita’s firm ass. The sight makes Wraith’s lips quirk up in a smirk.

The cock she picks is one Wraith likes to use on her. A nice sized red cock with a big enough knot to strain, but not big enough to have to stretch her to take. The whole thing was maybe seven inches total in length and a good girth, not too bad to take. Anita takes care in lubing it up, her own breath hitched when she turns the dial on her thigh to start up the bullet vibrator.

Wraith watches her from the bed with half lidded eyes, biding her time as Anita climbs onto the bed. She sits between Wraith’s spread legs, smiling in this cocky little way when Wraith winds them around her waist. “Yeah, there ya go, baby. You’re playin’ so nice tod—HEY-”

The look on Anita’s face when Wraith tugs her close with her legs and flips them over is so worth it. Getting the upper hand once Anita had leaned in to murmur in her ear, rolling them and slamming Anita onto her back. Wraith can’t help the similar cocky smirk gracing her lips, her fingers wrapped around Anita’s throat, but no pressure, just holding her. “Weren’t you the one saying that I got extra prizes, sweetheart?”

“Baby, this isn’t fair-”

“I don’t think either of us have ever claimed to be ‘fair’.” Wraith croons back to Anita’s whining, reaching down with her free hand to line up her cock. Slipping down onto it with a soft breath and rolling her head back with pleasure. Soon, she feels warm, calloused hands grab at the swell of her hips, already trembling when Wraith goes all the way down to the knot without taking it inside yet. Giving Anita pressure over where the dildo rested and must be pressing that bullet vibrator harder against her clit because she suddenly lets out this shaky, soft whimper.

“Besides,” Wraith breathes out, rolling her hips as her hand leaves Anita’s throat. Sliding down to her chest to roll her nipple between two fingers just to make Anita’s head fall back in a moan. “I think I like taking my ‘extra prize’ better like this. Don’t you?”

Anita can only groan back in return, her plump lips parting when Wraith sinks all the way down to the knot. Pressing their hips more firmly together as a soft sigh leaves her nose, able to grind until Anita’s short nails are pressing at her hips and she’s murmuring, “Fuck, baby-” under her breath like she can’t get enough. Her eyes peer open, half lidded, looking up at Wraith with that look she always got that makes Wraith’s breath hitch.

She loves you.

She loves us.

She wants you.

All of you.

Loves you, loves you, loves you…

Wraith can’t help but cup Anita’s cheek, her thumb tracing her lower lip and her heart skipping a beat when Anita presses a kiss to her fingertip. Always such a strong competitor, hiding her own trauma between years and year of training. Anita grew hard, finding it easier to snarl at others and hide her heart. And now? Now she could be soft, that gentle heart she always had that Wraith brought out in her. No matter how competitive they got to each other.

“Good girl,” Wraith strains out, her hips bouncing in time with Anita’s that hump up into her. Her breath catches sharp in her throat when one of Anita’s hands fall from her hip to cup her mound, her thumb flicking over her engorged clit, working it in circles. Wraith can’t help the swear falling from her lips, leaning back to grip Anita’s thighs to expose her body. Allowing Anita to look up at her with that same adoring expression, her hand resting on Wraith’s hip gently squeezing with her eyes saying everything she needed to.

It’s when they both start to get close does Anita sit up and Wraith allows it. Anita’s hands eagerly grabbing her ass to pull her closer and Wraith’s arms falling around her neck. Wraith is the one who leans forward, capturing her soft lips in her own and moaning into her mouth when Anita starts to guide her hips. Helping her bounce as Wraith’s nails dig into her back with each movement.

It’s Anita who parts from the kiss, pressing her cheek to Wraith’s and panting out, ”I’m gonna cum, baby, p-please let me-” And Wraith is nodding frantically, pleading for her to cum under her breath near her ear. Urging her to as they reach their peak together. Anita’s always louder, grunting and moaning in Wraith’s ear, forcing her hips to keep moving so Anita can pound up into her to keep the pressure on her clit through the orgasm. Wraith can only hold on through her second orgasm, overstimulated and raking her nails down Anita’s back with a rare cry out from her own lips.

Yet, Anita’s hips still twitch, rolling up against Wraith and her hands sliding down Wraith’s curves, over her hips, trying to reach down to stop the vibrator. Wraith can’t help the smile that falls over her lips, still breathless from her orgasm, but she locks her arms tighter around Anita. Her voice low, almost a growl as she murmurs,

“Not done with my prize yet, sweetheart. Just sit tight, we have all night.”

Ever the competition between these two.

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