#but she spent most of her early years in Germany

[asprinisnotacatch-all]

As an American (Vauge i know) i give you full support to do this.

I've only done like, 3 days worth of research to write an entire multi chapter fic before, so

Go forth and prosper

if i ever write something set in the united states im just going to do zero research whatsoever and make stuff up to sound cool it’s equality

[nuzipilled]

THE GANGS ALL HERE 🗣️🔥‼️ information below the cut, “B” cast ( Doll, Lizzy, Thad) have not been included yet as they dont have a role in the main story yet. feel free to ask any questions, me and @kylelily123abc4 will do our best to answer them (:

UZI

Uzi is a 21 year old woman with an undergraduate in medical engineering, which she was coaxed into by her parents (Namely Khan). She is incredibly adept and smart and prefers the technicalities of weapons engineering, and majors in art on the side. She would like to do it full time, however her parents insist it’s not a “real job.” She volunteers at the local hospital N, V and J are relocated to from overseas so they can continue inpatient care until they are stable enough to be discharged and resume physio / psychotherapy as outpatients. She meets N during his time there and immediately clicks with him, and eventually begins to visit him on her off hours, and continues to visit him even after her contract ends. They end up establishing a relationship together and, after finding it is much less expensive commuting to school, moves in with N, V, J, Cyn and Tessa in their apartment for the semester.

She spent most of her childhood moving around and being bullied—the most significant moment having been when her first kiss was stolen by someone who only dated her because he was dared to.

Uzi is a big fan of all things anime, edgy humor, hot topic, and nightcore. she’s got the soul of an unabashed 2000s emo girl stuck in the modern day.

N

Private first class Nate (all his friends call him N) Is a 23 year old man who was fostered from a family in Utah alongside his sister Cyn under Tessa, another childhood friend, and the Elliot family in Melbourne Australia from the ages of 8-18. When of applicable age, he went back to the United States to enlist in the marines and live with Cyn, a former child prodigy who was scouted and given multiple scholarships due to record breaking academics and reflexes on simulator games.

He was severely traumatized during his first deployment overseas along with his other childhood friends, V, and J, after their humvee hit an IED during a routine supply run. All three were critically injured and the sole survivors of their team of 6. He, along with J and V spent a total of 12 hours alone in the desert before they were airlifted to an emergency hospital in germany, then, once stabilized, returned to the states to resume inpatient care in Salem, Oregon.

Despite his honorable discharge and severe ptsd diagnosis, N does his best to remain upbeat and positive, almost to a fault, oftentimes repressing “bad” thoughts or feelings.

He ends up meeting Uzi in the hospital and they form a relationship together, her eventually moving in and living with V, J, Him, Tessa, and Cyn in their flat after they’re discharged from the hospital.

J

Sergeant Jane (Only preferring J when around close friends) is a 26 year old trans woman who was fostered from an immigrant afghan family under Tessa, another childhood friend, and the Elliot family in Melbourne Australia from the ages of 4-18, having realized she was a woman very early in life. She began socially transitioning at 12, and began HRT as soon as she aged out of the system. She was the first to be involved with the Elliots and was pushed to enlist in the australian military, quickly moving up the ranks to sergeant and was eventually posted in the united states to assist in training other cadets. She was severely traumatized during her second deployment overseas along with her other childhood friends, V, and N after their humvee hit an IED during a routine supply run. All three were critically injured and the sole survivors of their team of 6. she, along with J and V spent a total of 12 hours alone in the desert before they were airlifted to an emergency hospital in germany, then, once stabilized, returned to the states to resume inpatient care in Salem, Oregon.

Having been their squad leader, J often blames herself for the incident, even if she doesn’t talk about it or say anything out loud. J is an ass kisser. She will do anything and everything to succeed and has a Holier Than Thou personality, often very uptight and not about any bullshit. Her relationship with N specifically is horrible, and she harbours lots of jealousy and resentment from their time growing up due to favoritism.

She has a long standing, massive crush on Tessa Elliot, her longtime confidant and friend, though it went unrequited for their entire childhood and into their early adult life, J often being subject to Tessa’s dating endeavours and crushes in the meantime.

V

Lance Corporal Victoria, (Who prefers to go by V present day) 4-18 who was fostered from a family in Vermont under Tessa, another childhood friend, and the Elliot family in Melbourne Australia from the ages of 8-18. She enlisted in the military alongside J and eventually N, and was transferred to the states to assist in training procedures for new cadets with J.

She was decommissioned during her second deployment overseas along with N and J after their humvee hit an IED during a routine supply run. All three were critically injured and the sole survivors of their team of 6. She took the brunt of the blast, sustaining the most severe wounds and was airlifted to an emergency hospital in germany, then, once stabilized, returned to the states to resume inpatient care in Salem, Oregon.

The doctors operating on her told her she would never walk again--V proved that wrong by walking the next week. It was a miracle—however V simply states it was due to “having that dog in her.”

She is very resilient, but is often grumpy with a dry sense of tone and humor. She used to have feelings for N when they were kids, but it's since faded as they grew and disappeared during their time in active duty. Though despite this, she still cares for him as a friend, even if she rarely shows it.

She is the first to be discharged, having been set up in an apartment downtown by Tessa, who lives with her and eventually is joined by N, J, Cyn, and eventually Uzi. She is a gym rat with a heavy workout regimen that she will make everyone else's problem if its interrupted.

CYN

Cynthia (Who ONLY goes by Cyn present day) is N's little sister. She is still in active duty in the military air-force. She was a child savant who graduated highschool at 14 and college at 18, moving on to become one of the best UAV operators in history, with successful missions reaching into the hundreds. Cyn is autistic and physically disabled, having been born with cerebral palsy, and uses forearm crutches as mobility aids--but make no mistake, she is incredibly intuitive and adept. often knock-kneed and walks with an awkward gate, and speaks with very ‘robotic’ mannerisms. She sometimes struggles to show empathy in a ‘socially normal way’ or have a conversational filter. She has a very dark sense of humor as well, that for those not used to her may find jarring or off putting. Cyn hates being referred to as a child or incompetent because of her appearance or her disability, she will even go to an extent to prove the point that she does not need assistance. Tends to be protective of N, to a lesser but still protective of V and J and much later down the line Uzi becomes a close friend of hers.

In her off time she enjoys painting warhammer figurines, collecting cards and playing video games. She has a very kitsch, macabre sense of interest, often owning eclectic, odd knick knacks and memorabilia, namely a taxidermied wombat she’s affectionately named “Suzie.”

TESSA

Dr Tessa James Elliot is a very talented surgeon working out of a public hospital in Brisbane, Australia, descending from a very rich family. She is N, V and J’s childhood friend and frequently travels to different parts of the world to assist in surgeries or specialist care. Tessa paused all of her work when she learned of their incident overseas, flying to America to personally attend to their care–with some bribery and finagling due to HIPPA not allowing biased treatment. She just cares too much to not do anything. Tessa is a joyful, social butterfly. Excellent bedside manner and a good sense of humor but sometimes comes off as socially awkward. She is J’s lifelong crush despite not being aware of it, having spent some time dating around but nobody ever seems to be the right fit. She often complains about her recent dating endeavors to J much to her chagrin.

Tessa is, for the lack of a better word, weird. Think Cyn with a little more charisma, often not having a conversational filter or saying things out of the blue. She is not disturbed by otherwise off putting things like death, bodily fluids, nudity, gore etc, and has a bit of a dark sense of humor that she portrays very upbeat and positively. She is incredibly smart and adept bookwise, however socially she comes up a bit short.

there is an alternative version of these guys however it is 18+ for nudity. you can see it on bluesky here and twitter here

[cialovesklopp]

everything he’s ever wanted ➺ k.mbappé

( masterlist )

summary — he should have been on the pitch right now, battling with his teammates for victory but he preferred to be here. at his daughter’s ballet play.

pairing — dad! kylian x black! reader

song — maamou [ dadju ]

cia’s quick rambles — hey guys, hope you’re doing well. got so motivated while writing the next genius part that just had to write this quick blurb. it can either be read as a stand-alone or as small glimpse into kylian’s and amara’s life post mon-amour — also i recommend listening to the song, it fits so much 🫶🏾

if someone had told kylian mbappé seven years ago that this would be his life, he would have called that person crazy. 

and now it was his everyday reality. 

he thought the day he moved from paris to madrid would be the happiest in his life. but it paled in comparison to the instant when he knew that he had found the woman of his life. 

then he thought the happiest day in his life was when he won the euros in germany but it got quickly overtaken when he thought back to the moment where he put a ring onto her fingers after winning the competition. how their kiss had been splattered across every news magazine for several weeks and them having to give thousands of interviews. 

but even that meant nothing anymore when he thought back to the day that he saw her in a white dress. the day he vowed to cherish and love her for infinity. 

their love story that had started as a healing friendship with both of them having been hurt in the past. and over time it had bloomed into something more, more comfortable — more loving. he had actually thought that their wedding day was the most beautiful and perfect day in his life. 

and then came their daughter’s birth and it felt like overdosing on endorphins. if he had been swimming in happiness before, now he was drowning in joy. he had gotten all he had ever wanted from life. 

before meeting her, he used to dream about this future and having his own children, with a certain kind of sadness settling deep down when he woke up alone. now he dreaded sleeping because all his dreams had already become his reality. 

and he wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. for most people going to their daughter’s play would seem like the most mundane thing in the world. but for kylian, especially those moments were special.

his eyes were almost sparkling when he watched his little girl twirl in her tutu — her pink princess tutu that she had begged him to buy — while mimicking the teacher’s moves. there was no denying that his little star had him wrapped around her finger. he noticed the looks people threw at him. 

women lusting after him while fathers who had taken the time off to watch the play, were staring at him in awe. why was the kylian mbappé here? shouldn’t he be on the pitch right now?

of course he should but he had promised himself that he would be there. had promised that he would be present for her. and this was part of it too. 

the lights went out again as beautiful piano music played out in the back and then suddenly his daughter was in front of all the other girls, standing out from the other girls with her pink tutu in contrast to the other white ones. 

she smiled brightly as she danced on stage, spinning around in her tutu. his little ballerina. he searched the stage for her eyes and waved once they met which had her grin. 

this was heaven. ballon d’ors and champions leagues didn’t mean anything to him anymore. being able to watch his daughter dance meant more. he understood now what toni and luka were talking about when he first joined the team. 

it all made sense now. unfortunately for him the play ended way too early. it was too quick over for him — he could have spent hours watching her act around like a ballerina. 

the most ethereal moments often passed like a flash. 

“papa!”, without forewarning, a little bundle of energy was suddenly clinging to his legs, arms thrown around them. he was instantly brought back to reality while the familiar feeling of comfort spread through his chest. 

he smiled as he bent down to pick up his daughter, her small legs wrapping around his hips as he steadied her in his arms. 

her dark-hazelnut eyes beamed at him while a huge smile painted her lips, showing to anyone the two teeth that had fallen out.

she was his spitting image, neither questions nor dna test ever needed. from the shape and color of his eyes to his eyebrows — she had inherited everything from him. he was the only one to recognize that their daughter had her mother’s one million dollar smile. the one that had kylian thanking the power above for blessing him. for giving him the chance to find his own family. 

“i danced — like a ballerina. et regardes! maman a fait mes cheveux,” she pointed excitedly at her hair that had been braided into four cornrows with little pink pearls at the end of each one. for her small age, her head was packed with long and soft hair — the result of his wife’s never ending care for her hair. different routines and treatment to ensure their daughter had rich and healthy hair. — and look! mama made my hair

“tu es la plus belle fille de tout l’univers,” he pressed tender kisses on his daughter’s cheek, tickling her lightly which had her giggle. the most beautiful sound after her mother’s laugh. — you’re the most beautiful girl in the entire universe

kylian had never truly understood how people could love unconditionally. he could comprehend infinite; it was only understandable after meeting the love of his life. but unconditional — looking over all the mistakes and handing out care and love no matter what?

yeah, that didn’t make much sense to him back then. and then his daughter was born and he was ready to go to war for her. love and care for her no matter how many war crimes she could have committed. he loved her more than life. if she asked him to stop football so he could be home more often, he would quit instantly. she was his everything.

“belle,” she squealed, playing excitedly with the pearls in her hair. “maman too?” — pretty

“of course. maman is the most beautiful woman ever,” he replied and lowered his mouth to her ear. “but we don’t tell her that, okay?”

his daughter nodded firmly, as if he had just entrusted her the nuclear codes to some bombs. “why aren’t you playing with uncle auri? et uncle vini?”

kylian laughed. “parce que je voulais voir ma petite princesse.” — because i wanted to see my little princess

the little girl in his arms nudged him lightly on his head. “je ne suis pas une princesse papa. i’m a ballerina. i dance just like maman.” — i’m not a princess

“and you did that beautifully, my little star,” a voice called from behind him and kylian’s eyes at the sight of his wife. 

even after dating and being married, she still amazed him with her beauty everyday. he would always get those tiny butterflies, no matter how many times he looked at her. 

her smile still as radiating as ever, she walked quickly over to them —as quick as it was possible with a huge belly — and joined her little family.

the girl in his arms wiggled and kylian put her down so she could hug her mama. being six months pregnant meant she couldn’t pick her baby girl up anymore for the time being but she could still engulf her in big hugs. 

“i’m surprised you made it,” she whispered to her husband who placed a tiny peck on her neck. 

“i promised i wouldn’t miss those moments. told the coach that i couldn’t be there for the game today.” just like he had said, his priority wasn’t winning anymore. he wasn’t kylian mbappé, the star real madrid player anymore. he was now kylian mbappé, the father and real madrid player. and if being present in his daughter’s life meant missing more matches, he would take it. 

“how’s our future little football star?” he asked her playfully and she grinned. 

“our baby’s been kicking me the entire play. like since we arrived here it’s been punches here and there — oh, and by the way, the moms have got it out for you, as a heads up.” she pointed discreetly at a small group of women, who were watching them. 

“everyone knows i’ve only got eyes for you.” it was true, every living person that had access to social media knew that kylian mbappe was a proudly taken man, who honestly had forgotten that other women existed. he was her man and he felt blessed to be able to call her that. 

shoutout to her ex-boyfriend for screwing up. 

“you better not. don’t worry i know. and this,” she placed a hand on her stomach, putting it cautiously as their daughter was still speaking excitedly to the belly. “is proof enough. je t’aime.” — i love you

“je t’aime aussi.” — i love you too

his smile was plastered on his entire face, so much it hurt already. but how could he stop smiling, he was just so goddamn happy. 

he had been graced with everything he had ever wanted. 

[ayaaamuhanna]

Stop ⚠️🤚🏼

Hey everyone ….

I’m aya muhanna i have friend that i know he told me about thiss app andd he told me that i’ll find people here to support me

And i had a Fundraising campaign and its going so bad and no one donate us

Am sharing on social media like instagram and tiktok but also its not working with me

And let me tell u my story :-

I just got 106€ and all i need 35000€

U can also add me on social media if u want thats my account :- aya._muhanna23

Tik tok: muhanna_family

And let me tell u my story…

I'm Aya Abdel Nasser Muhana, a 21-year-old student, and my life has been shattered by the October 2023 war. Our home was completely destroyed, leaving us with nothing but the clothes on our backs. Our 5500 square meter agricultural land was bulldozed. The legal accounting office owend by my father and brother is destroyed. The vital source of our livelihood.

The cornerstone of our income, was demolished. We lost everything—our home, our income, and my chance at education. I missed two crucial years of university—one spent accompanying my father for his cancer treatment in Egypt and Germany, and the other lost to the relentless conflict in Gaza.

The brutality of the war forced us to flee repeatedly, each time with nothing but our lives. We moved from Al-Maghazi Camp to Deir Al-Balah Camp, Rafah, and finally Alnusairat camp seeking safety but finding none.

Befor two years After discovering my father's diagnosis, we faced many struggles. To begin the treatment journey, we spent most of my father's savings, only to be shocked by my mother's diagnosis when my father was abroad. My sister and I were left as the only support for my mother, as my only brother was with my father. Thankfully, my mother did not suffer much from the disease and left us early, perhaps to spare us from worrying too much about her. However, her absence has left a big hole in our hearts. There are many things I still wanted to do with her, but she chose to leave us early. At that time, my sister and I were united, and I cannot bear the thought of losing my father if he does not receive suitable treatment.

https://gofund.me/5fd8c4ef

Now my father is battling his disease, requiring advanced medical care that is impossible to find here. He needs to leave Gaza urgently for treatment, as his doctor has advised.

Our family, consisting of my father, my brother & his family, my sister, and me, is in desperate straits. We have no income and my father, a retired employee, hasn't received his pension more than eight months. We are being crushed by the weight of our circumstances, and we are in dire need of your help. We need assistance to secure medical treatment for my father, cover our living expenses, and enable me to continue my university education in addition to study costs of my nephews. This is our plea for survival, for a chance to rebuild our lives and our future. From the depths of my heart, I thank everyone who can extend a helping hand to us.

The cost of evacuating Aya. and her family, is $30,000 (Hala Company charges $5,000 an adult and $2,500 a child to put us on the exit list and help us to evacuate from Gaza).

To cover GFM transaction fees (2.9% + $0.30 deducted per donation)

For shelter, food, supplies, treatment, etc. upon arrival in Egypt, We need $15,000.

Thanks in advance for all support you give to us!

Our lovely home which we've already lost:-

And this is the Fundraising campaign A donation of more than $5 will be worth more👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

[lucy90712]

hii

pls could write a Jude Bellingham x reader YN is Jobes best friend since they were like 5 and YN moved next door, she always had a crush on Jude and everyone could tell but he always turned her down and then he sees her tryna move on and he’s like what’d u think ur doing

WC: 2.8k Ever since I was born pretty much I've known the Bellinghams. When I was born Jude was a little over a year old and then Jobe was born about a year after that. Our parents were friends before any of us were born and they lived just down the road from each other so all of us have been around each other pretty much from the day we were born. As we grew up I only became closer with both Jude and Jobe but as we've gotten older I have gotten closer to Jobe as he's around more and I just feel like I have more in common with him than I do with Jude as he's older so he can always do things before we can. 

One of the other reasons I think I'm not as close with Jude is because I've had a crush on him for a while, when he moved away to go and play in Germany my feelings for him started to change. It seemed like he became a man all of a sudden, he wasn't the Jude I used to know from when we were in our early teens he was different, all of a sudden he was the most attractive man I'd ever seen. Whenever he came home all I could do was admire him and the muscles he'd clearly been working hard to get as well as his face which just seemed so perfect. It was obvious to everyone that I has a crush on Jude even Jobe made fun of me a few times for fawning over his brother. There came a time when Jude sat me down and tried letting me down gently saying that he thought we were better off as friends which hurt a hell of a lot at the time but I've since got over that disappointment. 

Sadly I never got over my feelings for Jude instead I just distracted myself with other guys who were nowhere near as good as Jude and honestly half of them I didn't even really like but it was only a bit of harmless flirting I never went any further as I just didn't want to. I know one day I'll meet a guy I love as much if not more than Jude and then I'll be happier than I am now pining over a guy that doesn't even like me back. It's been a while since I've seen Jude as he's been so busy with the end of the season which has actually helped me quite a lot as not seeing him and trying not to pay much attention to things he posts has kept him out my mind. All of this has been on purpose too as my birthday is today and I didn't want to only be thinking about Jude on my birthday. 

With it being my 18th birthday all my friends have convinced me to go out clubbing with them. They've all turned 18 already and have been out quite a few times and they want me to join them. There has been times they've tried to convince me to get a fake id but I refused as I'm not bothered about going out plus it wouldn't work anyway as quite a few people here know who I am because of my friendship with Jude and Jobe so I never bothered. Sadly Jobe can't come and enjoy my birthday with me as he's not 18 yet but I promised I'd spend the rest of the day with him as he said he didn't want to not see me on my birthday. We've spent all of our past birthdays together and I couldn't be the one to ruin that tradition plus I think I'll enjoy spending the day with Jobe more than I will then going out. 

~~~~~~~~~~

As it's my birthday I wanted to sleep in for a bit longer than I usually would but that didn't happen as the sound of my phone notifications woke me up. When I looked at it my home screen was flooded with notifications of texts and Instagram posts from my friends. I answered a few texts before there was a knock on my bedroom door and my mum came in with breakfast for me which she'd spent her morning making. She had to go to work but she promised that she'd give me my presents later before I go out which didn't bother me as I don't need any presents I just want to enjoy my birthday. 

Once my mum had left I went back to looking at my phone and replying to people, at some point I went on Instagram and saw that Jude had tagged me on his story and I don't think I've ever clicked on a notification so quickly. He had posted a picture of the two of us from when we were younger covered in mud from where we'd been playing outside in the rain with a caption wishing me a happy birthday. It made me feel all warm inside that he bothered to post something instead of just texting me as he doesn't post much that isn't to do with football. 

After I'd caught up on my notifications I got myself out of bed and got ready so I could go and see Jobe. He wanted me to go to his so I text him just before I left the house so he'd be expecting me. Seeing as its only a few minutes down the road I was happy to walk plus it's such a nice day that I wanted to get outside and soak up the sun even if it's only for a few minutes. When I arrived I didn't even get the chance to knock on the door before it swung open and Jobe tackled me straight into a hug. Jobe has always been like this with me we are just so close that we are always excited when we get to spend time together especially on special days like birthdays. Eventually he let go of me and allowed me inside but he quickly covered my eyes as he said he had a surprise waiting for me in the living room. I was a bit nervous as you never know what a Jobe surprise will be but I had a bit of faith that he wouldn't do anything I'd hate on my birthday. 

It felt like we walked forever but eventually we stopped and Jobe instructed me to open my eyes. It took a second for my eyes to adjust but when they did the first thing I saw was a smiling Jude sat on the sofa. If it were possible my jaw would've hit the floor as Jude wasn't supposed to be home he was supposed to still be in Germany for another week but there he was and I definitely wasn't seeing things. 

"Happy birthday y/n/n" Jude said 

"What are you doing here I thought you still had to be in Germany" I questioned 

"You didn't think I'd miss your 18th did you plus I may have lied to be able to surprise you" he said 

"I'm so happy you're here it's been ages since I've seen you" I said 

He got up and gave me a hug before ushering me to sit down while him and Jobe ran off somewhere. They came back a minute later holding far too many presents which they piled on my lap so that I couldn't move anymore. I tried telling them off for getting me so many unnecessary presents but they insisted that it was necessary as in their words you only turn 18 once. Seeing as they were both so excited about it I opened the presents in whatever order they agreed on which did involve a bit of arguing but we got there in the end. They got me so many nice things that made me feel so loved but also a bit bad as I could never afford to do the same for them. 

"Thank you guys so much I really appreciate everything but you shouldn't have gotten me so much I'll never be able to top or even match that" I said 

"It's ok we don't need you to do anything for us we just love having you around" Jobe said 

"Aww you're going to make my cry" I said 

"Don't cry instead tell me what you've got planned for today" Jude said 

"Well first I'm hanging out with you guys but then my friends convinced me to go out tonight" I said 

"Is it just you and your friends going?" Jude asked 

"Yeah me and I think 3 of the girls the rest can't make it" I said 

"Well I'm coming with you whether you like it or not I'm not letting you go out for the first time without someone to keep you safe" he said super seriously 

"I'll be fine Jude I won't even drink that much" I said 

"I don't care it's not safe for you to be going out with just a few of your friends I promise I'll leave you be I just can't let you go alone" he said 

"Fine you can come but be prepared the girls will go crazy" I laughed 

~~~~~~~~~~

I spent the rest of the day with Jude and Jobe just hanging out like we used to do all the time when we were a bit younger. They even got me a cake which they definitely aren't supposed to eat with their diet but they did and made me promise not to tell anyone. A bit later I had to leave to get ready but not before Jude cornered me to make me promise to text him when I was ready to go and he'd come over so we could go together. I was still anxious about him coming as for one I don't want to get drunk and say something stupid to him but also I didn't want him to be on my mind all night. Tonight was supposed to be the night I get to let go and enjoy myself and maybe find a guy I like to flirt with but I feel like I can't do that with Jude around as my mind will be on him the entire time. I appreciate his concern about me going out but I can handle myself and I'd be fine without him. That being said it's been a long time since I've really spent any time with him so it will be nice to have Jude there. 

Once I was home and getting ready I was texting my friends to get their opinion on my outfit as I don't really know what to wear out. They helped me get it down to two options but once I told them Jude was coming they picked the shorter tighter dress straight away as they know I like Jude so I guess they are being good friends. Seeing as they picked a nice dress I decided to go all out on my hair and makeup too and if I do say so myself I looked pretty good. After I'd done a few touch ups I text Jude to let him know I was ready and headed downstairs to put my shoes on as I knew he'd be a few minutes. 

Jude arrived and honked the horn of his car to get me to go outside (let's just pretend he can drive) so I made my way to the car slowly trying to not fall over with my heels on the gravel of the driveway. Jude must've noticed my struggle as he got out the car and helped me into the passenger side of the car. 

"You look beautiful" he said 

"Thank you" I said feeling my cheeks turn pink 

"You know you don't have to drive if you want to drink we can get an Uber" I said 

"No it's ok I won't drink I'm only going to make sure you and you're friends are ok" he said 

"They're all really excited that your coming I think they might spend more time with you than they will with me" I laughed 

"I won't let them you'll barely notice I'm there" he smiled 

We arrived at the club and true to his word Jude disappeared as soon as I was with my friends although he did instruct me to put any drinks I had on a tab he'd make for me as he didn't want to me pay for anything on my birthday. He'd gone before I could argue with him so I didn't bother I just did exactly what he told me to and got myself a drink before heading to dance with my friends. As I was dancing my friends told me that there was a guy who wouldn't stop staring at me so I managed to sneak a glance in his direction and he was actually really cute. He noticed me looking at him and shot me a smile before making his way over. 

Straight away he complimented me but not just on my outfit which made me let down my guard a little bit as I could tell he was genuinely interested in me. Once he found out it was my birthday he wished me a happy birthday and offered to buy me a drink which I was happy to accept. As we both sipped on our drinks we started properly talking and we just got on like a house on fire. We actually had a few things in common and he was such a nice guy that it was hard not to get along with him. Once we finished our drinks he took me back to the dance floor and we danced together. To begin with he didn't have his hands on me but I grabbed his arms and put his hands on my waist as I was feeling little more confident than usual. 

I was really enjoying myself dancing and laughing with this guy my mind was only thinking about him and not about Jude at all. It's been so long since I've thought about any guy in front of me and not compared him to Jude, it was honestly so nice to have finally found a guy that made me forget about Jude and that clearly had the same feelings that I did. My enjoyment was short lived though as not long after I felt someone grab my arm and pull me away, I was about to punch the person until I got a look at them and realised it was Jude and honestly I still kind of wanted to punch him as he was supposed to leave me be and I was actually enjoying myself. 

He dragged me all the way out of the club and back to the car which is when he finally let go of his grip on my arm and I just stared at him. Neither of us moved nor said anything for a good few moments until I decided I wanted to go back in if he wasn't going to talk but as soon as I turned around he grabbed my arm again and brought me back to face him. Again the staring ensued and I was really starting to get annoyed. 

"What's going on Jude if you aren't going to say anything let me go I was enjoying my time with that guy" I said 

"I can't let you go back in" he said hastily 

"Tell me why then as I'm not going to stand here forever" I said 

"Because I'm jealous ok I don't know why but seeing you with that guy made me realise that I've been lying to myself for a long time I do have feelings for you I've just been trying to tell myself I don't as I don't want to ruin our friendship" he admitted 

"What you have feelings for me?" I questioned in complete disbelief 

"Yeah I do I know that I made it seem like I didn't see you that way but I have had feelings for a while I just didn't want to change things between us or make things awkward with you and Jobe as I know how close you both are but I can't keep lying I want to be with you y/n" he said 

"I think it's pretty clear that I still have feelings for you and I really want to give us a go I know it will be different but let's be honest Jobe’s been wishing we'd get together for ages so I'm sure everything will be ok" I said 

"Then will you be my girlfriend officially?" He asked 

"I would love to" I smiled 

"Now let's go and have some proper fun" he said taking my hand to lead me back inside 

[djuvlipen]

Here is an NGO that helps Ukrainian Romani women!

Svitlana’s eyes began to shine with happiness as she entered the hotel room in Odesa. She had never spent a night in a hotel, or any place that to her seemed so beautifully decorated. She had come here to change her life.

Svitlana* was attending a women’s leadership training from CARE and the charity foundation Winds of Change.

Throughout her childhood and adolescence, Svitlana had lived in a compact settlement for Roma families in Odesa region. Women’s health was never discussed there. She didn’t go to school, because she had to take care of her younger siblings.

Only recently, at 28, has she learned to write her own name.

Winds of Change, a CARE partner organization, has been working with the Roma community for over four years.

Roma, also called Romany, is an ethnic group of traditionally itinerant people who originated in northern India but now live principally in Europe.

The word “Roma” means “man” and refers to different communities, including Kalderash in southeastern Europe, Romanichals in England, Sinti in Germany, Italy, and France, Kalé in Wales, Finland, Spain and Portugal, and Gitano from Spain, as well as many others around the world — there are an estimated 400,000 Roma people in Ukraine.

As part of CARE’s Women’s Lead in Emergencies model, Winds of Change is working with the Roma communities in Ukraine to train women to take part in leadership.

‘I dreamed of being an artist’

Svitlana was 15 when she got married. She married her husband “under the Roma law.” They have no legal marriage documents.

“He stole me from my parents, and since then we have been living together,” Svitlana says. “This is how most Roma girls live. [They say] women should only look after children, clean and cook… But when I was a child, I dreamed of being an artist. To paint beautiful patterns on the facades of the house. It’s a pity that I never did.”

Some 80 percent of girls in the Roma community have similar stories. From a young age they help their parents look after younger children, and between the ages of 12 and 15 they are coerced into marriage where they then start their adult life.

Now she has six children.

She dreams that all her children will be educated. So, this year, with the support of the Winds of Change Foundation, three of her six children went to the first grade, and two went to the second grade.

For Svitlana, it was an indescribable joy.

A double standard

“Very often, representatives of local authorities, especially in rural areas, turn a blind eye to Roma needs,” says Yulia Hladka, a Winds of Change representative. “Children may not go to school, because it is their tradition. They are Roma; they are married early and have different ‘duties’” — this is how social services often react to the remarks of Roma human rights organizations. If a Ukrainian woman was in a similar situation, she would have been noticed and social services would have intervened.”

Roma people feel this indifference, even from the medical community. When Svitlana fell ill, the local hospital was reluctant to admit her. It was the same with the pediatrician. He simply recorded the visits in a log, although he did not actually examine her children.

It was only with Yulia Hladka’s help that Svitlana finally decided to see a gynecologist to find out the cause of her irregular cycle and heavy bleeding. But it wasn’t easy, because of ethnic discrimination. Only at a private medical center was Svitlana thoroughly examined and found to have cervical erosion, a damaged cyst, and critically low hemoglobin.

Now she is undergoing a long course of treatment.

A double discrimination

As Winds of Change has learned, changing the lives of Roma women is not always easy. These women have suffered discrimination, and sometimes violence, and are understandably reluctant to trust.

Human rights organizations call the Roma community one of the most discriminated against social groups in Ukraine.

Roma women in Ukraine are subject to double discrimination — on ethnic and gender grounds. They face limitations in various aspects of their lives, such as being compelled to marry at a young age and having more than two or three children. Because their community considers them responsible for caring for younger children, they also have restricted access to education compared to boys. They face challenges in finding employment and accessing healthcare.

Life undocumented

Many problems are caused by the lack of documents, as usually Roma people live in isolation and very rarely turn to government institutions. Women give birth at home and do not even apply for birth certificates. The absence of passports also makes it difficult for Roma to obtain documents, so they cannot receive assistance from the state, and their number in the country cannot be officially counted.

According to Roma NGOs like Winds of Change, charitable foundation “Planet of Good People,” just over a third of Ukrainian Roma are employed. For Roma women, this is often complicated by the fact that they are mothers of many children, so they face discrimination on this basis as well.

This was the case with Svitlana. She has been dependent on her husband’s decisions almost since childhood. All her time was taken up with housework and caring for her six children and her husband’s sister’s 13 children.

“At one of the focus groups, we realized that a very big problem for Roma women is the lack of access to basic services and jobs,” says Yulia. “They usually live in rural areas where there are not many employment opportunities.”

“But even if vacancies do appear, Roma are usually rejected, because of stereotypes and ethnicity.”

“We came up with the idea to create a social enterprise where these women could get hard skills — sewing home textiles and clothes — and soft skills, like communication, psychological self-regulation. We organized a small sewing company in Odesa called Petalenca, where Roma women sew bedding and home clothes. We train them and help them promote their products.”

After the escalation of the situation in Ukraine, many internally displaced women also found their place here and started working together with Roma women. Some women had some stereotypes about Roma before but working together helped to dispel them. Now this company employs Roma and women who have been displaced.

*name changed

They accept donations!

[emmatgc]

Wonderful World Chapter 11

POWER OVER ME

“What would your Father say? Falling in love with a murderer? So disgusting. You should be ashamed of yourself” 

Seon Yul woke up on a rainy night, panting and sweating. It’s been years since his last nightmare but lately, it comes regularly. 

Seon Yul when his father was killed had nightmares almost regularly. When his mother died, it got worse and it only stopped when he met Soo Hyun. Slowly but surely, weirdly so he thought that once he hated Soo Hyun yet he takes comfort with her even with his hatred and revenge tour. It was dark times and he doesn’t want to go back but something is happening now and he doesn’t know why this nightmares are coming back. 

It’s been 6 months since Soo Hyun and Seon Yul became a couple. That fateful night when they were dancing and had their first real kiss, her confessing being in love with him was the start of the new chapter of their lives…together. In those months they dated almost every week, talked over the phone every week, video calling is not Soo Hyun’s type and Seon Yul laughed at her teasing her about her age. “Careful there, Mine..you are exposing your age not liking video calling me or at all”, he said to her. Every 2 weeks Seon Yul goes to the orphanage and spends the weekend there with Soo Hyun’s family. Seon Yul’s favorite though is visiting her in her classes and fetching her. 

Soo Hyun went back to teaching but this time to a public university. She spent 10 years in a private university before her son was killed. Seoul National University wanted her and she agreed. If Seon Yul have his early off, instead of sleeping in their quarters, he goes home, changed and if his time permits, he fetches her. One time, he surprised her with flowers. When she went out to see him, he had this purple bouquet and she was embarrassed as some of her students saw him walking towards her. Some even commented “is that the Professor’s boyfriend? He is so handsome but very young!”. Some had “that look” all too familiar to them of disbelief and maybe some undertone disapproving look, but some only giggled. This comes with the territory, they both knew what they got themselves into. It is a challenge they welcome after all. When he finally reached Soo Hyun, he gave the flowers and she smiled wholeheartedly and gave him a kiss on his cheek. She wrapped her hand to his and they walked towards his car. "How romantic", she thought.

At the hospital, Seon Yul is a rockstar in the making. He got high praises during his internship program in Germany. He observes more and more surgeries now and assist. Somewhere along his work, he remembers Soo Hyun. Her lips and soft hands most especially but he stops himself dwelling on it. It is hard to finally fall in love under this circumstances. They are not secret lovers but they are not entirely open to all, yet. They agreed to take it slow and when someone asks they answer but if none asks, they don’t tell too. “Don’t ask, don’t tell” is somewhat their motto. The hospital doesn’t really know and its not a big deal but sure his best friends and some of his colleagues know already. They are not hiding afterall especially when Soo Hyun comes for a check up once in a while and brings him food. Soo Jin one afternoon saw Soo Hyun waiting at the reception area with a bag. He is guessing food for his boyfriend and his best friend. Dr. Soo Hyun, as he is waiving at her, walking up to her, “it has been awhile”, he said. Soo Hyun stood up and replied “It has been a long time indeed, thank you for watching over Seon Yul”. Soo Jin became stiff and serious as she was being serious he thought and in his mind “my friend can take care of himself actually”, smiling he replied “of course, Doctor, always”. He will be done in a bit. He is in the operating room. “Oh, that’s why he didn’t reply. It was a last minute decision to drove here actually since I have a physical check up and annual routine for my new school and they said to go here. Soo Jin asked “who is your physician , then? She answered “Dr. Tae Oh, I believe”. He smiled a crooked one and said “Oh, Dr. Playboy” Im sorry, its his nickname but he is a very good General Doctor. You are in capable hands just be careful though.

Why? She asked. “He got his eyes transfixed with beautiful women.haha but he gives discounts to them, too so who knows he will give one to you”. They both laughed and a voice behind suddenly appeared “There are other Doctors here you know”. It is Soo Hyun with eyebrows raised. He moved past his friend and went straight to Soo Hyun. He wants to hug her but held back since he wants to thoroughly shower first. “This is for you and your friends, she said while giving the packed food. Seon Yul looked at Soo Jin and said “You shouldn’t habe bothered for them, they are eating just fine”. Soo Jin snatched the food from him and signaled he is going inside now while looking at Soo Hyun and teasing her “remember what I told you on your check up, Goodluck later”. Confused, Seon Yul asked “what was that about? She is smiling and said “Its about Dr. Tae Oh, he said to be careful since this doctor can be very “friendly”. I have been told about this reputation, Seon Yul seriously answered back. What time is your appointment? She replied 1pm. Its about time. I should go now. 

Seon Yul went with her to Dr. Tae Oh’s clinic. He introduced himself and Soo Hyun. 

Dr Tae Oh: Hi Dr. Seon Yul. Dr. Soo Hyun , im looking forward to meet you. Can I tell you a secret? 

Dr. Soo Hyun: Sure 

Dr. Tae OH: I am your biggest fan! I read all your books, I swear! But you know what’s my favorite? 

Dr. Soo Hyun: Do tell. 

Dr. Tae Oh: Your 1st ever book. “Through the looking glass”. 

Soo Hyun was surprised. Her 1st book was a bomb. It failed and it almost didn’t circulated on the book shelves due to bad reviews and low sales. 

Dr. Soo Hyun: I am very flattered, Doctor. Most people don’t know it even existed! I am surprised but thank you! 

Dr. Tae Oh: Really? I bought it right away. It was instrumental in my research back then. Would you mind signing it next time you come back?

Seon Yul can only stand back like an outsider not knowing what they are talking about. Seon Yul only knew 2 books of hers. He clearly saw a genuine smile from Soo Hyun. He feels Tae Oh is reaching and flirting, too. Or maybe he is just over reacting. He is dating a famous person afterall.

Come now, lets get you checked, Dr. Tae oh said. Soo Hyun nodded and Seon Yul touched her hand and said “let me know if your finished, ok?”.  She said “Yes, I will”. 

Tae Oh and Soo Hyun got familiar with each other given the shared history of her long, lost and underrated book that only a few read. She is happy somebody liked it and said it to her face. She agrees with Soo Jin. This Doctor is a charmer. Age in his 40’s like her, dark black hair, good looking but her boyfriend is better she thought ,but going back to her doctor mixed tan color and nice built. No wonder she said, he is a ladies man. After an hour, they said their goodbyes and the results will be emailed as he said. 

Seon Yul never got the chance to meet her again that day since he got called for an emergency meeting with his superiors. Soo Hyun just was happy for her initial results are good and she will just have to wait for the full on results. 

Back home, she was very tired and was about to sleep when Seon Yul called. 

Hey, sorry, are you sleepy already? He asked. “No its ok, Mine. Im still up” she replied. 

Im sorry for this afternoon, I got called for a meeting. “Its ok, don’t worry, I understand”. 

So how was your check up?

It was great! She replied happily. 

You sound so happy there. Did you enjoy Dr. Tae oh’s company? He wanted to take back his words but silly him his words came out out the park immediately without thinking.

Soo Hyun laughed and said “Yes, it was fun. He is a nice guy. Very impressive”. 

Seon Yul sighed. He is somehow perplexed. He had a small groan and he asked “why or how is he impressive”

“Well, a charmer, highly intelligent I can sense and he knew my 1st book! That’s the most impressive part. “

I did not know about that book, he said. Soo Hyun laughed “Of course you didn’t, you were just a child or maybe not even born yet”. 

Silence came over. 

OOppps, Soo Hyun in her mind knew then she must have said something wrong. “Look, Seon Yul, I don’t mean it that way, its just funny to me”. 

Seon Yul didn’t answered back. Soo Hyun knew he was taken aback. “Hey, don’t be mad. It was a joke” 

It’s true though, he replied now. I didn’t know. So, what was the book all about? 

Soo Hyun smiled over the phone and happily told him about the book, why it was rated low and the likes. They talked for another hour until Soo Hyun can’t take it any longer for her eyes are threatening to shut off. They bid goodnight and told each other “I love you”. 

The next day, Seon Yul was brooding and sulking in the corner of their quarters. Soo Jin smacked him at the back. “Hey, what are you brooding about?”. Did you and Soo Hyun had a fight? A lovers quarrel? Haha 

We didn’t, he replied. Then why are you looking like you two broke up? Soo Jin ever the joker guessed, is it about Dr. Tae Oh? 

He saw Seon Yul flinched. “Aha, it is about him” Soo Jin laughed so hard he nearly fell off the bed where Seon Yul was sulking. Why? Did he made a move on her? 

What?..Seon Yul asked. Dr, tae Oh is very famous and accomplished, He is also very much single. I heard he got divorced last month. 

What? Seon Yul raised his voice. Woooah, relax my friend. I am sure Soo Hyun did not like her. 

With a heavy sigh and desperation he said “She didn’t like him alright, she was actually impressed by him. She was Dr. Tae oh this and that last night!” 

That is why you are sulking? Hahahaha Oh my God Seon Yul! You are acting so jealous!

I am not! He stood up and paced the room. 

Soo Jin can’t stop laughing hugging his pillow. Well, it seems you got a little competition going on there, kiddo! Dr. Tae Oh is a man, you are a kid! Seon Yul grabbed him but Soo Jin was quick to get out of his bed and got away from him. 

Moments like this makes him mad a little but also feel alive. Petty things, jealous things all but normal in a relationship. His 1st ever romantic relationship. Soo Hyun being the more mature one may not have a problem in this aspect but he on the other hand has a lot to learn. 

A week after both are so busy. They still talked everyday but this time only a short time due to their very busy and tight schedules. It is one of those weeks. Soo Hyun is scheduled for an exclusive interview with her new book coming out on the holiday season. Soo Hyun smiled thinking about while in her dressing room that this year would be their 1st Christmas together, hers and Seon Yul.  Soo Hyun was beautiful in a blue dress with subtle make up and ponytailed hair. Traveling, Seon Yul and his bets friends were glued to their phones. They are watching live streaming. 

The interview was going well until a question was asked and caught Soo Hyun off guard. 

“Your ex husband is marrying again, how about you Doctor? How is your heart these days?”

She knew about her ex husband’s engagement but how would she answer about the follow up questions. She became tense. 

“I am so happy for him and his fiancee. I met her already and we are in a good place, my ex and I”. 

That is wonderful news to all of your fans who are so worried for you. She is beginning to feel dizzy by the questions and she thought she would let it go but she pressed on and asked “and you, will you date again?” 

Again, she was caught off guard…she froze for a moment and her head is not functioning well now. She became stiff and words can’t get out immediately but she has to so she said “Oh, I am fine, my heart is fine. “ 

She wants the interview to stop but she is not done yet. “I heard from sources you are dating someone right now Doctor, forgive our intrusion, we are just happy you are happy again for you deserve it. All your fans are wishing you the best”. 

She doesn’t know if its a trick question and all but she decided to answer anyways “You are asking some personal questions, I am sure its nobody’s concern really but I thank you all or wishing me the best”. 

She doesn’t want to answer those questions and frankly its not their damn business she says in her mind. She is not denying anything nor she is admitting to anything either. It is better that way. This is something she is fretting for weeks now since she learned about So Hu’s engagement. She hasn’t told Seon Yul yet and worse, they are invited but Soo Hyun is hesitant not just to tell him but to bring him during the wedding ceremony. She believes it is not yet time. Now with the interview, it is out in the open and she is sure he will ask those questions. 

Seon Yul and his best friends were still and silent all throughout their travel to a convention. They saw Seon Yul in deep thought and somehow he looks angry. Seon Yul is beyond angry. He is not sure though what is he mad about. Her not telling him about the wedding or that she did not answered those questions about dating? But he thought they both agreed to keep it low profile or a secret from the public. Still, he felt he is blindsided. They will talk when he comes back, he said to himself. 

Over the weekend, they met at his apartment. They talked about other things 1st and Soo Hyun, addressing the elephant in the room started 1st. “Seon Yul, about the interview”. She wanted to explain and explained she did. “I wanted to tell you Soo Hun is getting married but I simply forgot, I am sorry.” When is he getting married ? Next month he said. 

Are you attending?, he asked. Soo Hyun is in dilemma, she was attending and he was attending but she is not sure if it is the right time for them to be seen in public. She answered “yes, I will be attending”. With whom, May I ask? Seon Yul is looking down. He is not looking at her. Soo Hyun is not sure what to say. She doesn’t want to lie but she doesn’t want to hurt his feelings, too. “I will go with my mother and sister”. Soo Hyun is not a very good liar, Seon Yul can see that. He is mad she is lying to her. After all, he saw the invitation last week when she gave that food to him at the hospital, the invitation was there. She forgot it then and he forgot to give it back or did he? 

You are lying, Soo Hyun. I saw the invitation. 

Soo Hyun stood up and wants to apologize right away without thinking how or asking how come he knew. She is just guilty. 

I…am sorry Seon Yul, it is just…hard. I am not sure…. 

Of me? He abruptly asked her. “No, NO of course not Seon Yul. Not that”. 

But why keep it from me? You don’t want them to know? 

Soo Hyun wants to plainly say Yes because that’s the truth but Seon Yul is hurting, she can see that. 

She went to Seon Yul and held his hands “listen to me, I am not ashamed of you, of us. I just think we are not ready yet to face them, the public”. 

Us or You? Seon Yul growled. The 1st time he got angry at her. The 1st time she sees it on her or she saw this look years ago she believes. The look of betrayal she believes. 

We agreed on taking things low, Seon Yul, we also agreed on not going public with this yet. Don’t turn this on me. Its been barely 6 months!  Soo Hyun realized again her words are so blunt and straightforward. She doesn’t know yet how Seon Yul will react but she can’t help it. 

You are right. We barely have this relationship. I guess 6 months is not a long time yet. Seon Yul knows she is right but somehow its painful hearing it from her. Like, she feels she doesn’t want him to go with her and he knows she is right as always. But he is hurt. He, too can’t help it.  He knows it is gonna be a big deal. So, feeling defeated and he doesn’t want to fight or argue anymore. He wants to let it go and rest now. 

"It is getting late. You should go home"." He directed her towards the door to leave. 

Soo Hyun is mad at herself and him but she understands why. This is all new to her. Arguing after 6 years like having a husband. Seon Yul is different from his ex. She is overthinking. She doesn’t want to go home mad or him mad at her. 

So, when Seon Yul was about to turn his back on her, she took his hand. “Are you mad at me?” 

No, he replied coldly. 

You are. Just be honest about it for once, Seon Yul! She shouted. 

Yes! I am mad but more than that I am hurt. I know I shouldn’t be because we agreed on it but this is all new to me, too. I want to say out loud my feelings for you, our relationship but I can’t. You can’t and it sucks, it hurts! I am sorry I feel this way. I..don’t know why I’m triggered really. I was jealous of Dr. Tae Oh, and It’s just that..I’m having nightmares lately and I know you are right. If people know, they will judge us but frankly I don’t care but you do, so I do, too but….you have this power over me, I am so weak and stupid when it comes to this, to you..I am sorry but…

With every ounce of her body and soul, with tears flowing in his eyes as she saw them in his face, she wants him to stop talking, she wants him to stop crying and hurting…so she kissed him. She kissed him with desperation like a plea saying “I am sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you”. At first, Seon Yul was just standing and receiving her kisses but something in him has lit, like a fire, his hands moved to her neck and for the 1st time, he kissed her neck. He kissed her neck slowly but fiercely like he wants to mark her , saying “you are mine” in her ear as she is his, which he knows in his mind it is not decent to say that but he is hurt right now and all he wants is to kiss her and feel her in any way he could. She breath on him so did he on her. It’s been a long time since they last kissed this long. They are taking it slowly in that area, too but he is just a man and sometimes, he wants her so bad and even he is embarrassed to admit, he wants more than a kiss. Their kisses were hungry and fluid. She broke the kiss first. She is panting. Her lips are wet and Seon Yul’s eyes are darker than usual looking at her but he is the one really to break the “mood” for good. He wants to do it the right way, in his mind he is saying that. He doesn’t want to fight her. She always win he thought. He smirked and smiled at her “That was our first fight and our first…make up….kiss”. 

Both flushed and embarassed. They hugged each other. “I love you and I am sorry, Seon Yul” I will be more honest. I never wanted to hurt you. “And I love you more, Soo Hyun” I am sorry I got mad but you were right over this. We need to be careful”. 

We will talk tomorrow. 

“Yes, and tell me about your nightmares, ok?” She replied back. He smiled. Then she left for the night. 

The world it seems is catching up to them slowly but surely. They cannot hide nor keep it a secret forever. 

(Last 2 chapters and an epilogue which will be the ending of this story. I already know the ending. I am sad to let this go but this has been a joy to write. Major drama awaits, buckle up! Again, thank you or reading and anticipating this every week or 2 weeks since I am very busy these days. I intent to finish this before Aug 5 when school starts. Fingers crossed!)

[dcdreamblog]

Are There Any Hero Forn Norway

i Aks This To do

1 I love Superheros And There History

2 The Fact That I Live In Norway But No Nothing About Norway (somehow) (I Know A Lot A The US But NOTHING ABUOT My Homeland)

and 3 i Wnat Do Know More About NON-US Heros (and Villans? Maybe?)

Sure.

While Norway wasn't a founding member of the Global Guardians (because its original members were all part of the UN's Non-Aligned Movement and Norway was obviously a founding member of NATO) it did join very swiftly after the group's membership expanded in the early 70s.

It has had two champions who have been called "nasjonale heltinner" which I'm told means something along the lines of "national heroines". A more famous one whose fame has spread outside her homeland and one who is still much more homegrown. I'll quickly touch on the more famous one first since she's apt to come up more often.

(Photograph of Ice released during her time with the Justice League International. Yes the seal clubbers are real. Yes this is the picture they went with. Yes the JLI did stuff like this a lot)

Tora Olafsdotter AKA Is AKA Ice.

Olafsdotter's early years are clouded in mystery but she has ties both to the Norwegian Romani population and a hidden group of Homo Magi known as the Ice People, the working theory that she is biracial between the two. She spent large parts of her early years in both Germany and New Zealand before returning to Norway after the nation's slot on the Global Guardians was temporarily emptied.

Her time on the Guardians was ultimately brief, during the period when the Guardians had their UN funding cut in favor of the Justice League International, Ice (the Icemaiden) and fellow Guardian Green Flame (later Fire) joined up with the JLI where most of her career took place.

She's the most internationally known heroine from Norway by far as a member of the JLI where she ultimately laid down her life against the Overmaster. Though she has since returned to life and active duty.

Norway's home grown heroine however, one whose work is much more focused to WITHIN Norway itself.

(Glacier's official portrait, the original copy currently hangs at the Global Guardian's Dome headquarters in Paris, France)

Sigrid Nansen, formerly Isjomfru/Icemaiden, now Isbreen/Glacier

Nansen received their powers from an experiment at the behest of the Norwegian government, wanting to artificially duplicate the powers of the "Ice People" Homo Magi tribe that Olafsdotter came from.

Nansen's mother was a rather famous scientist who "volunteered" her child for the procedure. While at the time it was assumed Nansen herself was enthusiastic, it was later revealed that Nansen's mother was abusive, both towards her child's lack of scientific interest and lack of "popularity" with male suitors.

The procedure was a success, duplicating the Ice People's cryokinetic abilities, at the cost of dyeing Nansen's skin permanently blue. They were placed on the roster of the Global Guardians, becoming the group's first Norwegian member. They were placed in a rather infamous shear and revealing costume that only further exacerbated Nansen's body dysphoria. Memories from their teammates at the time recall them as depressed and withdrawn.

When Tora Olafsdotter was unveiled, Icemaiden resigned from the Global Guardians and took a several year long sabbatical. They didn't reemerge until after Ice was killed in the line of duty with the JLI. Reappearing and offering themself as replacement, Nansen revealed to the world that they were bisexual, the first openly queer member of the Global Guardians.

The Church of Norway publically condemned Nansen, JLI teammate Guy Gardener famously sent an official reply to the Church consisting of floating outside of the Church's headquarters for 6 hours beaming a large energy construct of a middle finger into all the windows.

They were rotated off active JLI duty after sustaining heavy injury in a battle against the alien Hyperclan, they remained active on and off for a couple years afterwards before being kidnapped by the Ultra-Humanite. The nature of the invasive procedures conducted during that time are not known but one can compare before and after pictures for themselves.

Nansen fell off the map for several years after that, eventually reappearing under the thrall of a villain named Minister Blizzard who was harnessing Nansen's powers for his own designs, Nansen having fallen into a spiral of self loathing about their powers and underlying body issues.

When they were finally freed from that situation, Nansen made two announcements. That they were now going by Glacier, rather than Ice Maiden And that they used they/them pronouns.

Since then, Glacier has returned to active duty on the Global Guardians, where they serve with distinction. As well as being seen among the company of the LGBT superhero support group known playfully as the "Justice League Queer"

[moodboardmix]

Miss Françoise (17 janvier 1944 - 11 juin 2024)

Miss Françoise Hardy, whose elegance and beautifully lilting voice made her one of France’s most successful pop stars, has passed away today.

She was born in the middle of an air raid in Nazi-occupied Paris in 1944, and raised in the city, mostly by her mother. Aged 16, she received her first guitar as a present and began writing her own songs, performing them live and auditioning for record labels. In 1961, she signed with Disques Vogue.

Inspired by the French chanson style of crooned ballads as well as the emerging edgier styles of pop and rock’n’roll, Miss Hardy became a key part of the yé-yé style that dominated mid-century French music.

The self-penned ballad Tous les garçons et les filles was her breakthrough in 1962, and sold more than 2.5m copies; it topped the French charts, as did early singles Je Suis D’Accord and Le Temps de L’Amour.

Her growing European fame meant she began rerecording her repertoire in multiple languages, including English. Her 1964 song All Over the World, translated from Dans le Monde Entier, became UK Top 20 hit, her fame endured in France, Italy and Germany.

In 1968, Comment te Dire Adieu, a version of It Hurts to Say Goodbye (originally made famous by Vera Lynn) with lyrics by Serge Gainsbourg, became one of her biggest hits.

Miss Hardy’s beauty and deft aesthetic – which encompassed cleanly silhouetted tailoring alongside more casual looks, including knitwear and rock-leaning denim and leather – defined the seeming effortlessness of 20th-century French cool.

She became a muse to designers including Yves Saint Laurent and Paco Rabanne, and was also a frequent subject for fashion photography, shot by the likes of Richard Avedon, David Bailey and William Klein. Later, designer Rei Kawakubo would name her label Comme des Garçons after a line in a Hardy song.

Miss Hardy was an object of adoration to many male stars of 60s pop including the Rolling Stones and David Bowie. Bob Dylan wrote a poem about her for the liner notes of his 1964 album Another Side of Bob Dylan, beginning: “For Françoise Hardy, at the Seine’s edge, a giant shadow of Notre Dame seeks t’ grab my foot …”

She was also courted by directors, appearing in films by Jean-Luc Godard, Roger Vadim, John Frankenheimer and more.

Miss Hardy signed a three-year deal with Sonopresse in 1970. This creatively rich period saw her record with Brazilian musician Tuca on 1971’s highly acclaimed La Question, and continue her multi-lingual releases.

She spent the mid-1970s chiefly focused on raising her son Thomas with her partner, musician and actor Jacques Dutronc. Releases restarted with 1977’s Star, and Hardy embraced the sounds of funk, disco and electronic pop. A longer hiatus in the 1980s was punctuated by 1988’s Décalages, billed as her final album, though she returned in 1996 with Le Danger, switching her palette to moody contemporary rock.

She released six further albums, ending with Personne D’Autre in 2018.

Miss Hardy also developed a career as an astrologer, having written extensively on the subject from the 1970s onwards. In addition, she worked as a writer of both fiction and non-fiction books from the 2000s. Her autobiography Le désespoir des singes... et autres bagatelles was a best-seller in France.

She remains one of the best-selling singers in French history, and continues to be regarded as an iconic and influential figure in both French pop and fashion. In 2006, she was awarded the Grande médaille de la chanson française, an honorary award given by the Académie française, in recognition of her career in music.

Miss Hardy had lymphatic cancer since 2004, and had undergone years of radiotherapy and other treatments for the illness. In 2021, she had argued in favour of euthanasia, saying that France was “inhuman” for not allowing the procedure.

Rest in Power !

[grantmentis]

2024 u18 Women's Worlds Information

What: The biggest junior tournament for women's hockey, featuring the top players from 8 of the best IIHF countries

When: January 6th to January 14th

Full schedule available here (it will even convert to your time!) Since this takes place in Switzerland, most of these games will be early morning for North American's, but there's a few afternoon starts.

Where: Zug, Switzerland

Where to watch: The following will host at least some of the games. Sadly a lot are only showing games in their country and medal games (for example, in the round robin, TSN and NHL Network are only showing USA, Canada, and Slovakia.) There are also some alternate sources to watch if you do not have access to these channels, and I'm happy to connect if you're an active account on here if you DM me

TSN

RDS

NHL Network

SVT Sweden

Discovery Finland

Swiss digital / ringier sports

Format: There is an initial round robin round among each of the two groups, group A and Group B.

Group A contains Finland, Canada, Czechia, Germany

Group B contains Sweden, United States, Slovakia, Switzerland

After that, the teams will play a cross-over Quarter-final game in the following format (via wikipedia)

Who: Below the cut is the rosters for each team, a few notable players, and what the main goals for each team will be

Switzerland

(Text version available here and here)

2023 Finish: 7th place

What to expect: Switzerland has had a rough few years in the tournament, having had to play to avoid relegation the last two years. If they can stay out of the relegation game

Players to watch: Ivana Wey had 4 assists last world juniors, and is currently playing on a beyond stacked SWHL B team where she's seen a lot of ice time and scored a lot of goals. 15 year old Norina Müller is one of the youngest forwards on the roster, and has seen some time in a SWHL A team this year, which is impressive experience especially at her age.

USA

Text version of roster available here and here

2023 finish: 3rd place/Bronze

What to expect: USA was upset by Sweden in last years semifinals, and is hoping to make it back to the medal game and upset the favorites and their rivals in Canada

Players to watch: Captain Maggie Scannell is in this tournament for a third time and was one of the best players last year, with 8 points in 5 games. 17 year old Boston College commit Ava Thomas is one of the many excited prospects coming out of the Philadelphia Jr Flyers program in recent year. She has dominated in many national tournaments before with speed that she utilizes well, and is a must watch as she makes her intentional debut.

Sweden

2023 Finish: silver

What to expect: Last year, Sweden had a huge victory over the USA to make the finals only to experience a disappointing 10-0 finish. This year, they will want revenge and a gold medal, maintaining a lot of the same group.

Players to watch: Hilda Svensson was the top scorer on the team and she has only gotten better, as one of the top scorers on SDHL team HV71. Isabelle Leijonhielm is playing in this tournament for the third time, and has taken a pretty big step at the SDHL level this year despite being on a struggling team and has a knack for getting shots through traffic

Slovakia:

Text version available here

Last year: 6th place finish

What to expect: Hope to continue to build on last year, but unlikely to move much in the standings, and show more depth

Players to watch: If you don't already know about Nela Lopusanova, you should look her up and instantly see what a sensation she is. Won best player of the tournament last year after scoring 9 goals and 3 assists in 5 games including a michigan goal, and has spent the past year at one of the best prep schools in north america. Her teammate, Ema Tothova, has also spend the past year getting better, and is one of the top scorers in the EWHL. The two will almost certainly be linemates and a must watch for this tournament

Canada

Text version can be found here and here

Last year: First/Gold

What to expect: Last year, Canada steamrolled everyone to victory, and much of the same roster is back and expecting to do it again. People have named this as one of the best u18 rosters we have seen.

Players to watch: Caitlin Kraemer had 10 goals last tournament, so eyes will be on her to repeat that great performance. Defender Chloe Primerano will be making her exciting u18 worlds debut after dominating the CSSHL U22 by having one of the best season ever recorded and becoming the highest scoring defender of all time in the league in just 45 games

Germany

Text version available here and here

Last year: Was in u18 Division I group A and was promoted!

What to expect: Germany will mainly be trying to avoid relegation and stay in the top division, a lot of the key player that helped with promotion have aged out sadly

Players to watch: Anastasia Gruß was one of the top scorers last tourament with 5 points in 5 games. Emilija Birka and Mathilda Heine will be two of the youngest playres at this tournament at only 14 year old, so it will be interesting to see how they impact the roster

Finland

Text version available here and here

Last year: Fourth Place

What to expect; This is a team that wants to medal, and has more depth than teams like Switzerland or Slovakia, but may not have the star power to fully compete for a medal. Sanni Vanhanen aging out is a huge loss, and don't have some of the elite goaltender prospects to make up for that like they have in the past. That said, it's still Finland, and there are many players poised to break out. Such as the following!

Players to watch: Emma Ekoluoma has been great both in the Finnish top League (naisten liiga) as well as in international competition this year. Nelly Anderson is a 16 year old defender who made major steps this year and was impactful as she played more games in Naisten Liiga, and I'd expect her to get some big minutes

Czechia

Text version here and here

Last Year: Fifth Place

Expectations: Medal! There's a lot of reason to believe this group can take a big step this year as Czechia has reaped the rewards of investing in their women's program the past few seasons

Players to watch: Adéla Šapovalivová was the top scorer for Czechia last year, and this year she enters as one of the top scorers in the SDHL where she plays against many senior level players. Same for Tereza Plosová, a university of minnesota commit who has already been a consistent producer in the SDHL and played on the Czech senior team. Goaltender Daniela Nováková looked good in an extremely small sample size at last years tournament, so we will see if she can build on that

[aconflagrationofmyown]

D- Rations

A Sarge and lil Mama fic -Elvis Fanfiction

Co-Author credit to @prompted-wordsmith this was a delight to work on with you darling, thank you for the prompt that began a most glorious alliance and for all the delicious sentences you added here-in 🤍

Summary: Germany, early spring 1959, Elvis and Elaine begin to find a routine, the first true domestic routine of their married lives, and as is common with young lovers who are just now fully getting to know each other, they are both besotted and a little foolish

Warnings: 18+ || illusions made to free use sex, illusions made to drug dependency and withdrawals, harlots being harlots about Elvis to Elaine who is fabulous as ever, a very descriptive scene of masturbation and marital misunderstandings that will be resolved (don’t shoot me)

AU Family Plan Reminder: the firstborn twins, Jesse and Ella are already born, and in this fic the second set are cookin’ ☺️

Elvis isn’t sure he’ll ever forget the shocked squeak Elaine let out that first time he flipped up her skirt at the sink and thrust in, no warning he was even home.

“Sorry baby, withdrawls an’ all.” he had gritted out hoarsely before jabbing up into his saint of a wife, soapy suds drifting upwards in front of the window, rainbow bubbles floating around them as her grip on the soap bottle collapsed it in her fist.

“Use me, Elvis.” she’d told him after the first few weeks in Germany had alerted her to a new addition in his bedtime regimen.

A boatload of pills.

“I can’t sleep baby, I can’t sleep any nights at all without ‘em, wasn't functioning.” he told her and she was sympathetic, always so sympathetic to him. Closest thing on earth to his mama.

But, logistics coordinator that she was, she saw the need for an alternative remedy to replace the offending one and reached it with no fanfare. “I’m here now. Use me,” She had said, already pulling him out of his jocks when he went to reach for his water glass to swallow his dose.

Not even on the wedding night had she ridden him that dry. He felt like he’d woken up in a different year the next morning, so deep and dead was his sleep. He’d staggered onto base and sweated it out there during the day. Sweat like a whore in church and came back to the house they rented where she fed him, laid him on the couch and put the babies atop him, supplied with books, a glitching television and love.

Visitors were banned, besides family, and those she policed into uncharacteristic considerateness. And at night, when she was tired from nursing children and running a house and answering fan mail and cooking his meals, she spread herself open for him to take out every ounce of his misery on her poor little cunt. There were times when it wasn’t enough, he would lay there spilling water on himself as she tried to rehydrate him, and those were the nights he spent in the bath, with her nestled behind him, singing to him and swathing his burning head with washcloths and kisses.

“Remember this feeling next time someone dishes you out one of those fancy pharmaceuticals.” she whispered once as he moaned and shivered in the bathwater. There was no true chiding there, just a pity for him that he knew was genuine enough to not find offense with.

But eventually his vigor came back, slowly, but it came back. And he took it out on her in the early mornings when she wasn’t awake until he’d been at it for a bit, the afternoons on the kitchen table during his furloughs, back behind the barracks one time while paying a private to fill in for him at sentry duty, and night after night in their marriage bed till suddenly the breasts he sucked and bit were swollen and sore and he knew something good had come of this.

It was swapping one addiction for another, he suspected, somehow losing interest in the pills but finding himself more and more obsessed with the squelching grip of his wife’s lil house. But the joy on her face when he began to hint to her the subtle changes he noticed–the child they’d made yet again, it mattered little to either that she was worn puffy and pink from so much usage. There was nothing so dear and darling to him as this little family they’d built, if he needed his wife to perform her duties every day, sometimes many times a day, surely that went with the territory.

Thusly they have fallen into a routine these past few months, the new little Presley family, and Elaine finds that she is happier and more content in it than she ever imagined. After every harrowing trial thrown at them in the first year of marriage, the shock of intimacy, the glare of the press, the wrath of the Colonel, the morning sickness, the separations, the birth, the stitch and her spunky Atlantic crossing, Elaine sits now with shoulders a little straighter, smile a little more sure, children hale and happy, her belly swollen with another promise kept.

She is satisfied, she is happy, and something about the normality of this current life with Elvis gives her a pressing sense of urgency to savor it while it lasts. It’s not every day he’ll be home before 7:00 in the evening, napping upstairs before dinner while she winds down the little soirée she was hosting for some of the wives of the fellow soldiers. She has to remind herself there will be a time in the future when she’ll be dreaming of hosting these two harpies in the form of Susan and Doris when she’s trapped at a table with a starlet or a socialite. But jealousy has no class, no boundaries, and what was once a rather pleasant if inane brunch has devolved into a verbal fencing match, disguised with sickening sweet concern -as is the age old custom of what the preacher back in Memphis would charitably call ungodly women, and if her manners were less engrained in her she would much more uncharitably call harlots.

It feels rather like she joined a competition without realizing it, and right about now she wishes she could bail if she only knew what it’s all about. Except, she does know. She knows that no matter how often she hosts folks into their home, no matter how many hands she shakes at the Graceland gates or how many hours of her husband’s prized time she sacrifices to the public, there’s always going to be a few who seethe at the mere existence of a Mrs. Elvis Presley.

That gleaming wedding band on his finger was quite easy to ignore while the wife was an ocean away and the lonely, sultry, uniformed heartthrob was throwing his parties and acclimating to life in Germany. But it’s a very different thing for Doris and Susan to sit across from the woman herself, polished, beautiful and adorned with both finery and visible proof of her husband's interest. A woman whose children look so startling like their father it’s uncanny, and whose placid indifference to their barbs has driven them to bare faced insulting her in her own home while the man they crave is upstairs sleeping off a night he spent balls deep inside her.

Elaine knows this. And so she can lounge back, legs crossed gracefully and bracelets jangling subtly as she swirls her glass and she listens with bemused ire to Doris’ newest concern over whether or not she’s been overextending herself.

“Oh, there's some dust on this sill!” Doris’ tone suggests that this is cause for grave alarm, “It must be difficult,” she goes on, tone solicitous as Elaine rattles the last of her ice cubes with her finishing chug, “keeping up with the housework when you've got children underfoot, and so many guests all the time. Elvis does love his parties, doesn't he? But that must wear you down, poor thing.”

There haven’t been many parties since Elaine arrived and Doris knows it. No doubt the majority of Frankfurt thinks Elaine is a joy-killing puritan, but if that’s the cost of keeping her husband’s dignity intact while he overcame his addiction, so be it.

Elvis himself overhears this last bit of conversation while rubbing the sleep from his eyes and looking over the upstairs bannister at the unsuspecting little group down below. His sleep muddled brain second guesses the sirens he hears going off when registering the saccharine toned patronage of her guests. He stays quiet and watches from above as his wife just shrugs, forever unbothered.

“I’ve missed the parties!” Susan opts for a more truthful barb, and Elaine quirks a perfectly manicured brow at what she suspects is coming next. “There used to be such wild good times back when he was staying with the Major, always had the old vitriola going and was spinning gals around till all hours of the night. He once commented I was light as a feather, ya know that? Said I had a lovely figure -it’s a real shame that you're losing yours to that new babe. Heavens, I bet you barely feel like waddling most days, much less dancing."

Elvis may have been raised right but he feels ready to brawl with these ladies on hearing those words. Elaine spent about 36 minutes straight riding him this morning like it was the Kentucky derby, then made omelets for him and the boys, proceeding then to host this charming little party -there was nothing waddling or decrepit about his pretty young wife and he’s ready to descend the stairs and show some erstwhile dancing companions the door when he hears Elaine, gentle and sweet as a honey-soaked knife:

"Oh, my husband, he missed me so much, Doris. Sometimes he distracts me, you know, and I take my wifely duties very seriously, tend to prioritize his satisfaction above all else. My Elvis has promised me a whole baseball team, ya see, and he's taken that very seriously, too. Graceland, our home back in Memphis–so beautiful, really Susan, you should see it–it’s so big we certainly have enough rooms for them all. I always wanted a large family, and so has my husband. Do you think we should hire staff here, like we do at Graceland? This house isn't nearly as sprawling, but if I'm in the family way as often as he predicts then I expect I’ll tire sometimes. Like today, getting ready to have you over and then the mayor and his wife tomorrow, I must have missed that sill. Public relations, you know, shockingly taxing things. There’s been a great deal of fuss and emphasis put on the importance of our presence here and mixing with the locals and such, they say a good integration of stationed troops with the citizenry could go a long way in reconciling the old rifts. It’s a lot to be riding on my potato salad.” she laughs merrily, “But forgive me, I’ve been rambling, you were saying something about me being worn down? That’s too kind, Doris, really, you mustn’t worry yourself about me,” Elaine coos, and Elvis finds this deliciously venomous side to his sweet wife so arousingly foreign he slumps to a seat on the stairs, most of his blood flow rushing south.

“I tend to feel invigorated with a child in me. I told the doctors it must be all that vitamin E,” she titters at their shocked faces over the rim of her empty glass, using his own joke against them. That shuts both the harpies right up, she thinks in satisfaction, tapping her wedding band ever so subtly against her glass, just a shift of her grip–and wouldn’t you know, both Doris and Susan’s eyes hone in on the massive diamond on her well-manicured hand. Sometimes Elvis’s love for the dramatic can be very useful indeed.

Elvis is met with a dilemma, then, as he listens to his wife verbally lay down the law on these women: does he go downstairs with his cock practically a service weapon down his pantleg, or does he go back upstairs and wring himself dry? He looks skyward as if the ceiling will answer him, but he finds himself snapped out of his thoughts, levering himself up and shuffling down into the living room when he hears the next thing those damned floozies say to his lil wife.

“Graceland sounds very grand, Elaine,” he thinks that’s Susan at it again, “you must feel so out of place there, so out of your depth with all his star friends and that celebrity lifestyle. I mean, you were practically a nobody before all this! It must be so overwhelming,” she insists.

If Elaine were capable of making so inelegant a sound as a snort, he’d assume that’s the noise he just heard coming from her, “Susan darling, a house is like any other house, it’s not a maze. Graceland’s got toilets and sinks and beds like any other, sure it’s got a microwave and fridge, too, all the latest gadgets–Elvis insisted. Didn’t take long to learn my way around my own house.”

“I’m sure Elvis hoped for only the finest for his house.” Susan’s tone suggests Elaine might not be counted amongst the finest, and Elvis is reminded why he’s headed downstairs in the first place, painful cockstand jostling with every step.

“It’s my house, actually.”

Only Elaine could make such blatant marking of territory sound so utterly charming. Or maybe it’s only charming to his blood deprived brain as he alights from the last step and spins towards the couch his wife is currently lounging on, finding her red painted lips stretched in a serenely smug smile.

“Why hello there, sleepy head,” she greets him, sweet and gentle as ever as Doris and Susan’s heads swivel in a near 180 to confirm his presence.

“Hey you.” Elaine has grown familiar but never used to that adoring tone of his when he addresses her, the way his tongue lingers lovingly and his voice dips, the way his eyes droop, too, even after the shortest of separations, even after a nap. “Good evenin, ladies,” he acknowledges her guests on his way to sit by her, only greeting the harpies because they are her guests, even if he’s down here to see that they skedaddle–ASAP.

“Good evening, Elvis!”

“Hi, Elvis!”

He notices that, unabashed, they smile and flutter their lashes at him as he passes, thinking he either did not hear, or did not care, that they were undermining his woman. The woman he married afore God, in the presence of his family, in his own living room.

“They were askin’ about how huge Graceland is, baby,” Elaine fills him in genially as he plops down beside her, allowing him to scoop up her little footsies and put them in his lap, a throw pillow snagged for good measure to hide the titanium grade hard-on he’s sporting in his slacks.

She wiggles her heel against him–he’s been found out. Her smirk grows.

“Elaine was saying that Graceland is legally hers…” Doris’ cadence suggests she expects him to come to her aid and laugh at that, to agree that such a thing is absurd. But Elaine never brags over something that isn’t true, it’s one of the things he loves about her, her faultless honesty.

“It is hers,” he makes sure to shrug, to keep his body language infuriatingly nonchalant as he lets her ankle rest right where he’s aching, “Belongs to her, signed in ink. Weddin’ present of sorts.”

He smiles dreamily at the memory of those rushed, hazy, tender weeks that preceded their sneaky union. One of the most rebellious things he ever did was marry this intelligent little woman, and the populace at large doesn’t even know it. He’ll never quite forget the Colonel's face when he returned to Memphis to find Elvis sitting at breakfast beside his newly deflowered bride and Vernon reading the paper that had somehow leaked the damn event.

Funny enough, Doris and Susan seem to lose their appetite for chit chat real fast after that. Maybe it’s the intimate way he strokes Elaine’s feet or lays his head on her shoulder, the cacophony of their twins playing in the next room or the way Elaine won’t rise to the damn bait no matter what. Either way, it’s not more than ten minutes before Elaine’s slightly suggestive:

“Lord, look at the time, I oughta feed this man of mine before he starves.”

is seized as a happy excuse to flee from the Presley home and back to wherever it is that women like them, who have no man to feed, go to pine over another woman’s husband.

Elaine walks those two backstabbers politely to the door, waving before shutting it after them. Then it is that his wife, the little darling of his heart, turns to him, hand on the knob and a cheeky smile on her face,

“Is there somethin I can assist you with, sir?” she teases gleefully, eyeing the cushion he clutches to his lap, “Or do you just find cotton batting ever so snuggly?”

He could eat her alive, damn the dinner. This little glimpse into her world, not the one he’s watched her navigate at RCA or on the Committee, no, this world of women with women, and to see her capable, cultivated viciousness?

Oh, oh he wants and yet, yet somehow he finds himself thinking of dusty window sills.

Dusty window sills and pretty pink petals fucked raw and puffy from overuse. She doesn’t know any better, she doesn’t know any different. That a husband taking her every hour of the day at whim like poets take pills is something that most would find an abuse of power. Not good. Not proper. Not even decent husbandry. But he knows better, he’s the one who knows and he’s the protector in this relationship, and he thinks about just how much he’s taken and taken these past few weeks with her shrieks stifled in the palm of his hand, and so he just grins back and shakes his head,

“Dinner would be lovely, darlin,” he assures, despite watching confusion crumple her pretty face, “Whatcha plannin for tonight?”

“That roast lamb Mrs. Niehouse-the deputies’ wife- sent us,” she replies absently, her eyes ever so puzzled.

Dusty window sills. Raw, pink petals.

He gets up and shakes out his leg, meets her halfway as she is walking towards the kitchen, grabbing hold of her shoulders and kissing her temple,

“I think you’re magnificent, ya know that?” he whispers and feels her shiver under his arm, “M’gonna go answer some mail,” he informs her, before going back upstairs. He flees from her perfection because if he doesn’t he’ll feel guilty as all hell when he inevitably finds his way into her wet heat on that chaise couch they were just sitting on, and so he bounds up the stairs like he’s got hounds on his heels.

She doesn’t holler out after him a time to come down by, nor does she pinch his butt through the railing as he passes. She knows something is off, she’s puzzled, maybe even hurt by it. But no, he tells himself, enough, she’s done enough.

The scent of garlic roasted lamb floats upwards with the heat, mouthwatering smells of buttery mashed potatoes swirling to the top floor, and Elvis lays up there, stifling that delicious smell with his wife’s used, silk intimates, committedly wringing out his cock with his hand. The fantasies change over the years, over the days, with newly acquired tastes and knowledge, but the punchline is always the same. It’s always Elaine, his cock and Elaine taking it, any which way. It’s always her fluttering pink hole and the white drip of him trickling out, just to get shoved back in. That��s the fantasy, has been since before he dared tell her, and it is now, even as he abstains from what is technically his right.

Dinner is nearly ready, but for some reason, Elaine doesn't feel like hollering that up to him, either. While chopping, stirring, and sizzling she wonders if he doesn’t work too much. She answered his fan mail herself, his European secretary, Barbara, discreetly removed from the premises for the time being when he was ill, and so she knows just how much there is. Sometimes she worries over him working himself when he already has the Army to tucker him out. And then she comes back round to the words he flung in her direction before he galloped off.

Magnificent, he had called her. Then fled upstairs as if her very existence was unsupportable.

She checks the stove, checks the table, checks the twins to make certain they’re not setting death traps for each other then mounts the stairs herself, some heavy hearted presentment prompting her to be stealthy.

She avoids that one creaky step in her kitten heels, atiptoe as she first checks his office and finds it empty, to her growing unease. Instead, she hears the rustle of sheets, the familiar sound of Elvis’s panting breaths, and it draws her to their bedroom like a siren’s song. And, oh. Oh.

Because through the crack in the door she has a nearly perfect view of her husband, laid out on the sheets like dinner on a tablecloth, thrusting his hips up so the leaking red head of his cock peeks out from his fist. The vein that runs along the bottom of little Elvis visibly throbs, the shiny length of him so hard he’s what she knows feels like velvet over steel. He’s quieter than he’s ever been with her, no rambling talk of filling and gushing because Elvis has the panties she wore yesterday clamped over his mouth and nose. His strong hand flexes with every pant, his chest heaving through his unbuttoned shirt, and she feels that ache of emptiness in her lil house as she stares. It’s mesmerizing, seeing him, seeing Elvis twitch outside of her. Normally she’s a little preoccupied.

Elvis’s spine bows as his flank and thighs flex within the confines of his slacks, powerful muscles rippling, feet planted firmly on the floor. It’s primal, masculine, indecent. She uses one hand to cover her own trembling lips and uses the other to touch the door ever so gently, widening the gap so she can see how tears clump up his lashes at the same time she sees his heavy balls slap into the grip of his hand at another pump of his hips. Elvis is whimpering, and he’s fumbling with her underthings–what is he doing? And then he sucks on the crotch of them, tasting her, a deeper moan comes rumbling out. It makes his cock twitch, leaking over his knuckles, she feels herself gush in sympathy, her body entirely unfamiliar with watching without being used. Still, he’s so pretty like this, is all that seems to tumble around in her head.

Elvis knows he’s close, the taste of Elaine on silk so heady he closes his eyes to savor it. He’s treading along an age-old fantasy, of fucking a baby into her, of feeling her hole’s wringing grip on his cock as he gushes and fills her with enough of his cum she complains about him pulling out and making a mess of their bed. But that fantasy changes with what he saw downstairs, how she had so casually claimed him as hers, her husband, secure in her place as his wife. How she handled the women that hang around him no matter what he does, gagging them as sure as anything. It’s that thought that makes his throbbing balls draw up and his seed spurt in his hand, wasteful, dripping down his wrist and onto the undershirt still covering his chest. He shudders, still sucking at the gusset of Elaine’s panties like it’s her titties in his mouth.

She watches from the hall as Elvis catches his breath, a whimper stuck in her own throat and a throbbing between her legs she doesn’t quite know what to do with, now that little Elvis has been wrung so cruelly dry. She finds herself backing away from the door, mind awhirl, dinner an afterthought she goes through the motions of with the ample distractions of her emptiness and confusion combined. She nearly drops the roast when she hears him coming back down the stairs.

He pads down the stairs, and halts at the mirror at the bottom to quickly run his still-damp hands through his hair in an effort to make his glassy eyes look a little more like he splashed water on his face and not like he fucked his fist in their marriage bed until he was weepy. He makes a face in the mirror, cause he’s not so sure it works. His cock is still damn sensitive, and so he’s moseying into the kitchen like he’s just got done with PT in the yard, every brush of his pants making him want to sit himself down and relieve his jelly-legs. Ella gives him the perfect excuse, she’s underfoot near the foot of the stairs and he scoops her up gladly, flopping into a chair at the table with an exaggerated huff that makes his baby girl giggle.

Elaine is there, every curl in place, cheeks flushed a little from the piping hot lamb she’s currently setting on the table. “Howdy darlin’, figured it was ‘bout time for supper,” and he still feels the urge to bend his pretty wife over the counter and take and take and take, but it’s less strong. Dusty sills and bruised pink petals.

She gives him a little affirming hum, but finds she can’t for the life of her reason his actions out. First he calls her magnificent, then he gives an excuse, flees at her offer of intimacy, only to go and–and help himself? Seems an awful lot like she did something to estrange her husband, but the only thing she could think of is her mentioning her ownership of Graceland to Doris and Susan. But surely he knew that was so she could get the two of them under control, not out of… not some sort of brag? It made her a little anxious to think about, even as she goes to find Doger, and the three of them sat down at the table to eat. They prayed, they ate, they read, they bathed the babies, they put them down. They went to sleep.

Sleep. Untouched, besides his heavy arm thrown over her waist, but still, after a few months of vigorous nocturnal activity, Elaine laid there listening to the fan whir as the clock struck later and later with each fresh batch of confusions burdening her as her husband, independent, free and freshly drained, slept soundly beside her. What’s one night’s avoidance? She tried to reason with herself, find some joy in the victory of having him free from the pills and herself full with children again.

Sleeping untouched? Oh that wasn’t the half of it. Elvis was avoiding her. At first she didn’t quite notice during the day, much to her own shame. He always had a very good excuse: he needed to be on base early to go over some papers, or he wanted to get more exercise and back into fighting fit to keep up with the rest of the boys in his unit. He left early and came home late. No longer doped, it made sense his ambition would roar back to life, she just didn’t expect so little of it to be directed towards his own family. He went out with the boys and came home late enough some nights he didn't eat dinner. It all made his days longer, made him come back droopy-eyed and a little sullen, so much so she couldn’t bring herself to do much aside from feed him if he wanted food and draw him a bath, watch him lay tiredly on the floor and let his babies crawl over him before she shooed him upstairs, putting the twins down to bed.

It was the window sill that made her realize, the same sill that she found herself dusting in the sudden free time she had to do so, the one Doris and Susan had remarked upon. It made her freeze in place as if a lightning bolt came down on her head, and she dropped the duster in horror. Was this shift the result of her little reparte with Doris and Susan? Or something else, something more? She was met with a feeling of nausea that had nothing to do with the babe growing in her belly as her thoughts spun. That was how Doger found her, staring at the dusty sill like it contained the word of the Lord.

“Now wha’s got ya in a tizzy, girl?” Dodger grumbled, bending down slowly to pick up her abandoned duster. Dodger’s quiet strength and rough concern made all of the swirling thoughts come spilling out like pulling a drain plug. “Elvis’s been avoidin’ me, and he hasn’t touched me in nigh on a week now, Dodger. What have I done, I can’t think -what have I done?” came the breathless last gasp of her tirade, her feet pacing a rut into the nice living room carpet.

“Well,” Dodger started, wizened hands capturing Elaine’s and bringing her to a halt, “If there’s one thing that boy is, it’s in love with ya, girl,” and there’s a significant look thrown at the gentle swell of her belly, “so I reckon he’s just got some idea stuck in that fool head of his.”

“Ah, one of those.” she grinned knowingly, the two of them having navigated many of his fool ideas and superstitions over the course of her pregnancy and their separation, “But what idea, Dodger? Why is he bein’–bein’ so cold to me? Oh, what if he thinks I’m one of them icy, mean bimbos he was spittin’ on? I can’t take it, can’t take him promisin’ to give me a family and then goin’ off to some other woman.” she rushed out, all her fears crowding her head.

“Elvis ain’t gonna do that to ya, Elaine,” and it’s the use of her name that makes her focus on Dodger’s kind eyes and wrinkled smile, “Jus’ needs remindin’ he’s got a pretty wife that makes a mean Southern supper right here.”

Dodger watches a shrewd look come across Elaine’s face, one that means business as an idea pops into her head. She has some recipes she packed into the bottom of her luggage from Miss Gladys, carefully taken out of her cookbook because she couldn’t pack the whole thing. She smiles at Dodger, gives her hands a squeeze and announces, “I’m goin’ to pick up some groceries. You have fun with your quitin’ circle, Dodger, I got a meal to prepare.”

She asks the neighbors to watch the twins while she’s out–she had planned to stay in before the realization had struck her, and now she’s on the warpath while filling bottles and putting nappies in a bag, wrangling a squirmy boy and girl into her arms and across the hedgerow. When that’s all taken care of, kisses bestowed to each of her babies’ heads, she quickly powders her nose, slips on some sensible satin heels, grabs one of her little grocery sacks and clutch, and out she goes to the farmer’s market just down the way.

It’s as she runs through the list of things she’ll need to buy in her head that she spots the diner that marks the fact the bakery where she wants to buy some bread is just around the corner. She quickens her pace, only to nearly stumble as she finds, just in the window, Elvis and his Army friends. She recognizes some of them, but not all, and along with the boys are girls. At least two of those loose waitress types cling to her husband, who is in full uniform, dressed to impress, as her mama used to say. Clinging fans, autograph hunters, and smooching devotees are not new to her, nor does she begrudge them, she knew who she married. But that’s the fact of it, she knew she married a man besotted with her, a man who wouldn’t entertain or let women hang on him and pet what’s hers while barely having enough energy to kiss his own wife goodnight. She doesn’t think herself a jealous woman, but it’s the lack that’s getting to her.

It makes tears burn her eyes and an anger well up from some place she didn’t know she had in her chest, thoughts going round her head about what them harlots by the name of Doris and Susan said, how Elvis had danced with them. How her husband had thrown parties while she was at Graceland, an ocean away, nursing his babes. She thinks of dusting window sills and selfish bastards, men who want wives and then leave them when they’ve got kids. Oh, Elvis will not do this to her. She won’t stand for it, not after he plied her with promises of babies and security and money and a happy home. She’s got the first one, but she will damn well have the others, too. This may have begun as something Elvis wanted, but she’s here now, and she reckons she’s here to stay.

She’s spotted by one of the men through the window before she can sort out her thoughts any further. She watches, dull and heartsore as the man taps her husband on his shoulder and points at her. Before she can see that pretty face turn to her she rushes around the corner and into the bakery in a blast of warm, sweet smelling air. With a deep breath she puts on the polite smile her mama taught her, and goes about buying all her groceries with a single-minded determination, even as her mind whirls with the question of how she’s fixin’ to mend this before it becomes ugly. Before it becomes far more than it is. Before it becomes full abandonment.

“Lamb,” she reprimands herself on the walk home, reflecting on the pickings of last week’s menu, “what self respecting Southern woman feeds her man a leg of lamb and expects him to stick around? Pshh, foreign relations, my eye. Shoulda known, amateur mistake.”

Part 2 and resolution coming soon ☺️

Series Masterlist

Thank you all for your love and feedback, we hope you enjoyed it 💋

[odinsonslut]

Reformed pt. 1.

�� genre: fluff mostly

⊹ pairing: draco malfoy x female Hufflepuff reader

⊹ themes: slow-burn 

⊹ summary: reader returns 6 years after the war. To her dismay, draco is her new supervisor while she trains as an auror. He had also managed to integrate himself into all her closest friends’ lives, making him unavoidable. Also unavoidable is the building tension between the two.

⊹ warnings: mentions of death, the loss of close friends, nothing explicit.

⊹ word count: 1.9k

⊹ a/n:  eternally terrible at writing summaries, but this is a storyline I like way too much to leave as a standalone. It might be a two-part situation, maybe even a mini-series!! I don’t have solid plans for it yet; just trying to perfect building tension without moving too fast or being too overwhelming. 

-

It had been 6 years since the war, and since you didn’t complete your last year of study with your graduating class, you ended up going back to school after the war with a few of your classmates, being a small group of students, it gave you the opportunity to connect with Hermione and Ginny. You really hadn’t seen much of either of them before the war being a Hufflepuff with barely any classes paired with Gryffindor. 

The three of us found comfort in each other during the difficult period of readjusting to school life and feeling alone as Ron and Harry went on to be Aurors, and I was only able to keep in touch with Madeline, my best friend, who was in Ireland practising extensive herbology research to come up with more effective antidotes to those still recovering in St Mungo’s. The rest of the group just sort of dispersed. I’d have thought fighting alongside each other and experiencing shared trauma would have brought us even closer together, but the rest of them couldn’t stand any memory of Hogwarts or us as a whole, and I really couldn’t fault any of them for that. Losing our friends was difficult, and we couldn’t just be a group of fun-loving kids hotboxing in the astronomy tower’s store room anymore.

The girls took me in early on. Ginny and I bonded immediately over quidditch. As my team’s chaser for the past 3 years, my affinity for the sport nearly matched hers. We’d spend hours practising on the open field together, preparing her for the scouts attending the games this year. She was a shoo-in for the Holyhead Harpies, and while I’d have loved to pursue a similar career, I wasn’t nearly as talented as she was, despite her efforts to help me succeed alongside her. 

Hermione was pleased to learn that I shared her excitement for learning and punctuality. We’d spend entire nights discussing, sharing, and reading books together in my single-occupied dorm, and since we were N.E.W.T students, we shared most classes, making long nights of studying in the Gryffindor common room all the more convenient. We grew closer the more comfort we grew to find in each other. We’d bake together in the kitchens with the elves once in a while. We spent a great deal of time mapping intricate policies that could be implemented one day in favour of the house elves’ rights movement we aspired to achieve. The three of us would often spend nights in each others’ dorms playing exploding snap, some muggle games Hermione and I introduced to Ginny, doing our makeup, and just being the young, carefree girls we never really got to be. It was freeing to heal parts of me with them. We had been inseparable ever since

-

It had been four years since you graduated from Hogwarts. You achieved exceptional N.E.W.Ts results but were never able to keep a job for longer than 4 months. You’d finally set out to Germany, where you’d spent the last three years in the Aurorial Appraisal program once you finally discovered your passion, and since you fought in the battle of Hogwarts, you were accepted with little difficulty. Upon completing the program, Hermione, as the deputy head of the department of magical law enforcement, whom you’d kept in touch with over the years, managed to secure you a job at the Auror office. You were to be a trainee appointed to a practising Auror for the first 6 months of the job. 

Since the couple planned on moving in together but couldn’t quite afford the rent of an entire apartment on their own, Ron and Hermione invited me to move into the common room of the unit, to which I graciously accepted. 

After a week spent unpacking and finishing our apartment came my first day. Hermione and I travelled to the ministry together since we both avoid apparition outside of dire situations. We bid our goodbyes as I made my way to the Office whose Auror I’d be shadowing for the next six months. I knocked on the door twice and stepped back, expecting the door to open for me. I waited two minutes with no response. I knocked again and again, no response. I huffed in annoyance, pulling open the door for myself to be met with a slender man sitting at his desk, the newspaper open, shielding his face from me.

“Excuse me, sir. I’m here for the briefing and introduction to my supervisor. Didn’t you hear me knock?” You couldn’t help but include the last sentence to what would’ve otherwise been a perfectly suitable first impression. 

“I heard, just wondered how long you’d spend standing around wasting time before taking action”, replied a smooth, steady voice.

I scoffed. “Just thought I’d practice decent manners, but it looks like you’re out of touch with the concept enough not to recognise it.”

He chuckled softly in response, seemingly refreshed by my blunt responses. Finally setting the newspaper down, he extended his right hand towards me as he introduced himself. 

“Draco Malfoy, a pleasure”, he spoke with a friendly smile. I was shell-shocked. His gentle aura seemed so unfamiliar to me. His eyes seemed to convey friendliness. His cheeks were lightly contoured with smile lines, and all I could think about was how it was possible for a man like him to form them. The only thing that looked familiar to me was the way his nose scrunched when he smiled, as it contorted into the same position when he sneered, which is predominantly how he addressed me throughout our years at Hogwarts. 

“I remember”. I spoke harshly, allowing his hand to float awkwardly in the air as mine stayed glued to my sides, refusing to meet his palm.

He dropped his hand eventually, his eyes leaving mine to stare at the floor, hoping to think of something to alleviate the tension. My demeanour softened. Even the aversion of his eyes seemed like such a vulnerable display for someone like him whom, before this, I had only seen cling to his pride and perception. I softly told him how he should address me, and he nodded curtly in response, not wanting to say the wrong thing again.

My day was spent in the ministry itself. Draco took me through the theoretical aspects of training to begin with. Our conversation didn’t stray much from the work discussion after our initial friction at his conversational attempts. 

-

Hermione got back home 3 hours after I made it home due to the additional responsibility that came with her position, I deduced. 

I bombarded her before the door even shut behind her. 

“You will not believe whom I’m training under for the next 6 months”, I practically shouted at her.

She kicked me in my shin with her sharp heel. I immediately keeled over, ready to over-exaggerate the pain I was feeling, when I realised her reasoning. Malfoy walked in behind her, straining his signature awkward smile that really only seemed to make its appearance whenever I was around him. I returned the uncomfortable smile before turning to Hermione with a pointed look.

“I figured the two of you would have bonded today. Guess assigning you to each other with no warning didn’t turn out the way I had hoped,” She spoke apologetically. 

“Draco works directly under me, which is why I trusted him with you. We all get together every Monday for dinner. Tonight’s our’s since we’re breaking into the new kitchen; Malfoy makes a solid saffron-infused risotto.” She continued.

I could barely process any information when even more people walked into our now cramped entryway. Ginny ran into my arms as we both fell onto the floor, where we settled in a tight hug gushing over seeing each other. 

Draco shuffled into the kitchen with groceries and a fresh baguette in hand, the rest of them piled into the newly furnished living room, and Ginny and I settled on the floor, refusing to detangle from our now loose hug while we caught up.

-

“It’s so surreal to me like you guys actually hang out with Malfoy? Sure you don’t keep him around as a makeshift house elf?” I asked, motioning to the kitchen. 

Ginny and I had finally made our way to the living room to join the rest. After greeting Harry and the twins, I joined Hermione on the only beanbag she begrudgingly allowed Ron and me to tarnish her architecturally detailed living room with since it was a neutral tan. 

Hermione rolled her eyes. “He’s changed a lot as a person, and you better get used to being around him. You’re still due to be partners after your training program, you know.” 

I groaned immediately. “Why couldn’t I have been put under Harry or Ron?” I whined to Hermione 

“They’re already partnered with each other”, she consoled. “Plus, you two have a lot in common. His food’s even better than yours,” she joked.

I gasped and smacked her arm. “I know where you live, Hermione Granger”, I fake sneered at her. 

“You should join him in the kitchen”, Ginny spoke from the couch beside us “at least make an effort with the man before deciding you can’t stand him”.

-

“Though I’m sure this makes for a priceless view, you could make yourself useful. It is your kitchen.” He spoke, jolting me from my fixed position at the doorway.

“You haven’t left it long enough in the water,” I said as he lifted the saffron-infused water. 

“Take over for me then”, he smirked as he took a step back from the stove.

I was taken aback by his newfound confidence but refused to let it overpower mine, so I walked up to the stove directly in front of him, taking the wooden spatula from his hand on my way over. I lowered the heat and allowed the dish to simmer to deglaze the wine, entranced by the warmth of his breath down my neck, the heat of his body just millimetres away from touching mine.

“Are you actually going to do anything?” He whispered just above my ear, tickling the skin surrounding it, the feeling moving all the way down my spine.

I failed to respond to him. “Looks about done.” He poured the saffron mixture in and picked the spatula back out of my hand. He stirred the saffron in, not moving from his spot behind me.

He moved, and I immediately exhaled at the blow of cold air that came with his absence. I didn’t miss it for long before he was right back, just a hair strand away from me. He dipped a small teaspoon into the dish and put it up to my lips, I tilted my head up, looking at him questioningly.

His soft fingers took hold of my chin, moving it back down and tapping my lips “taste”, he said. My mouth immediately opened in response. I nearly moaned at the soft, rich, perfectly seasoned risotto. He chuckled a breathy laugh.

“I’ll plate these. Why don’t you tell everyone dinner’s ready” he instructed, once again detaching from his spot behind me.

I went to do just that when I was cut off mid-announcement. 

“What on earth did he do to you to leave you such a breathy mess?” asked George almost incredulously

“breathy and positively flushed” Fred chided

I heard Draco’s hearty laugh from the dinner table

I glared at the pair, ignoring Hermione’s inquisitive smile

-

End

[leennaan]

I'm the anon that ask would you write for guilia I have an idea for her maybe the reader plays a different sport you choose and reader guilia are both each other number one fans

I loved the request. I hope you like it too. Biathlon was and will always be my first and favorite sport. I have many happy memories with it so I hope I could incorporate it a bit in this Fic😊😄

Giulia Gwinn/ When two sports collide

Being a professional athlete was always your dream. When you were younger you did all sorts of sports, Judo, swimming, football, cross country skiing, you did everything. And you were good at almost everything.

But two sport remained in your heart, football and skiing. When you got older you changed from cross country to Biathlon and as soon as the riffle was added into the mix you knew that Biathlon was you sport.

Being one of the best from early helped a lot. So in your first season as a Biathlet, you had just turned 14, you won the German youth championship.

Football would always remain a big part of your life and you still played with your old teammates now and then but Biathlon became your life.

Giuli and you met at a sports event and instantly hit it off.

She was the one to ask you on a date and from that day one you became almost inseparable. Still everyone around you thought that the two of you were just best friends.

And you played along, not directly hiding your relationship but also not rubbing it in. You loved the soft and subtle touches you guys shared whenever friends were around.

When Giulia ruptured her ACL for the second time you knew how hard the coming month would be for her and with your Welt cup season just around the corner you couldn’t even be by her side.

The good thing about it was, that she tried to come to all your races.

When you won the first race and so had the privilege to start in the yellow bib as the overall leading athlete for the first time in your senior career your girlfriend was standing in the crowd cheering you on.

It was a great feeling as the two of you couldn’t always be at each others completions because of conflicting schedules.

She traveled with you to Gelsenkirchen when you represented Germany at the World Team Challenge at the Schalke Arena.

When you walked into the home changing room she joked that you would be the only person to get her into another home changing room other than Bayerns.

She was the first to congratulate you after you won the race together with your teammate Benedikt Doll.

So when your season came to an end and you won the Overall Cup for the first time in your career Giulia was of course in the crowd. She pulled you into a bone cracking hug as soon as you had gotten rid of your ski’s and riffle. „I am so proud of you baby! You had such a phenomenal season and even tho I hate that I ruptured my ACL again I am so happy that I could be at so many of your races.“

She pulled back slightly to kiss you on the forehead. „I love you Giuli. Thank you that you were always by my side. I now how hard this has been for you but we’re so strong and I am so happy that you were able to be with me almost this whole season!“

So when Giuli had her first match after almost a whole year you where standing in the crowd, wearing her Trikot and shouting the loudest whenever she had the ball.

After the game, which Bayern won 3-0, you came down to the pitch. And was the first to greet you, having spent a lot of time with Giulis Teammates you became great friends with most of them.

„Hey long time no seen.“ She said before she pulled you into a quick hug.

„Hey Syd. Great game!“ „Thank you, I think the whole team was just happy to have Giuli back on the pitch.“

„She was so nervous the whole night, scared to let you all down or that she wasn’t got enough and I think also a bit scared of the possibility to rupture something again.“

But before Syd could answer you Giulia had crushed into you.

You laughed and hugged her back. „You look good in my Trikot, it suits you.“ She mumbled, not letting you go.

“You two are sickening cute, you know.” Came the voice of Klara from behind you.

You pulled back slightly to look at her.

“You are just jealous that your boyfriend isn’t here to hug you.” You couldn’t help answering. Giulia and you could almost see how Klara as well as Syd, who was still standing beside you, worked you words out.

“Wait wai wait, you guys are together!? Since when? Oh my God. I thought we were friends Giuli. Why did it you say something?”

You and your girlfriend couldn’t help but laugh about Klaras dumbfounded face.

“I mean we didn’t exactly hid it. We life together. I was at so many of her races. And my post after her World Cup win wasn’t exactly subtle, was it?”

Giulia had posted a picture with the two of you hugging, her kissing the corner of you lips. She had captioned it with the words “my golden girl”

The speculations around your relationship went up afterwards but still not one of your friends believed the rumors still believing that the two of you were only best friends.

With Sydney und Klara knowing it wasn’t long until the whole team knew. All being happy for the two of you.

That evening, when the two of you were lying in bed together relaxing, Arms around each other just socking the other in you couldn’t be happier.

Your relationship may not be the easiest with the two sports often colliding but you wouldn’t want it any other way.

You were each others biggest fans, wether you were at the race or match or you were watching it on TV, always supporting each other.

“I love you Giulia Gwinn. I am so so happy to have you by my side.”

Later that night when you waited for Giuli to finish up her nightly routine you made a Instagram post for your Girl. Happy to show your support and Love.

Y/Nbiathlon

Liked by giuliagwinn and others

I am so proud of you. For now almost a year you were fighting to get back out there. Today all the hard work payed off. To see you back out on the pitch, doing what you love was one of the best moments in my life.

Sharing these moments with you will never get old.

Together trough thick and thin. I will always be by your side.

Love you endlessly, you no. 1 Fan❤️

—————-

(Just pretend that Pernille and Magdalena are Y/n and Giulia, I couldn’t find better pics😅)

[insurrection-if]

Sorry if this has been asked before (Tumblr search is a pain) but is Mutya Filipino? She has like the most Filipino name I have ever heard 😁

Aha, yep! ( ´ ∀ `)ノ

The Philippines is where Mutya was born (? - unverified to her knowledge) and raised.

Her (adoptive) father, Bato, was quite proud of himself after he decided on that name for her. You'd have to really press him to admit he spent a long time stewing over it, enough to have left her nameless for some time before the name Mutya finally came to him.

Also, just to tag on, I'll list out where each RO was raised and their parents' regional backgrounds:

Akil: Born in Egypt, raised there until early adolescence. Akil partook in international travel as a child, though rarely for vacation purposes. His main residence in the present is in the state of New York. It is his least favorite location for a home so far. Both his parents are native to Egypt.

Kamiko: Born and raised in Japan. Her first time outside the country was for work-related reasons. Her main residence in the present is the state of New York, a place made tolerable to her only in thanks to the presence of some loved ones. Both her parents are native to Japan.

Sigmund: Born and raised in Germany, though international travel was a rather frequent luxury afforded to him. Anything outside continental Europe declined drastically after the loss of his mother and his taste for travel vanished with her. He immigrated to the United States in his early twenties. His father is native to Germany whereas his mother was born and raised in Argentina.

Imka: Born and raised in the United States, second-generation on her father's side and third generation on her mother's. She never left the country until her abduction at the hands of her father. Her father was a Dutch immigrant, and her mother has ancestry from India, though she has been cut off from all familial ties there and in the United States.

Elouan: Born and raised in France. He rarely ever set foot outside continental Europe unless out of absolute necessity, though never very far from the continent still. His mother was born and raised in France; his father is entirely unknown to him.

Jae: Born and raised in Brazil. She had a few outings outside the country in adulthood and did not enjoy those experiences. Her parents and grandparents were all from Brazil.

Niccolo: Born in Italy, though claiming he was 'raised' there is a shaky description of things. In his years as a vagabond, he tried to make annual visits to Italy and Greece, and his sentimental reasons for this can be traced back to the fact that his father was from Italy and his father’s partner was from Greece.

Mutya: Born(?) and raised in the Philippines. She left her country for the first time in her late teens / early young adulthood alongside her older batch of siblings. She dutifully visited her home country whenever a family reunion was necessitated around an important event (milestones, holidays, ceremonies, etc.) Her adoptive parents are both native to the Philippines.

Fyodor: Born and raised in Russia. At the very start of the story, he has yet to set foot outside the country for the first time. His parents are both from Russia, and that is where his mother still remains.

Curadora: Born and raised in the United States, second-generation. She traveled out of the country now and then when her mother could afford it in childhood, always for personal matters. She has, however, become quite the international traveler in adulthood. Her mother was born in Mexico and her father (absent from her life, to her knowledge) is from the United States.

Dearil: Born and raised in an isolated, undisclosed cult commune that did not adhere to any national identity. Residents were a conglomerate of different origins and (former) nationalities all huddled outside any government's eye. His mother was Vietnamese whereas his father originally came from Poland. Dearil, however, would emphasize that their parental ties to him are largely limited to his conception alone.

Lempo: Born in Iceland (the native home of her biological mother) yet raised in Finland. She eagerly left the nation the moment she reached adulthood but later returned and settled back there to establish her (now disbanded) commune. Her foster / adoptive fathers are from Finland.

Retriever: Born and raised in the United States, third generation. Retriever and his family traveled to Europe on an annual basis throughout his childhood for visits to distant family. He keeps a present fondness for European holidays as a result of this. Distant branches of his family can still be traced by him in Switzerland.

Bones: Born and raised in the United States, second-generation on his mother's side. He first set foot outside the United States at age eighteen and never intended to look back. Not until shortly before Mockingbird's induction into the HAWKS. His mother was born and raised in Sweden whereas his father was born and raised in the United States.

Mishka: Born and (by their definition of their experiences) raised in Russia, though they traversed through many nations in their earliest years. Their memories of that time are fickle to them. Their parentage is entirely unknown to them.

[arrowstothehearts]

From the beginning of its existence, Alaska knew it could do significant things.

James Baudelaire, who in his early twenties was part of an influential family of founders of British high society in Birmingham, UK. The man in his youth was determined to explore the beauty of the world, where he was first captivated by North America, as soon as he set his eyes on the majestic glaciers of Alaska, US. His adventures and spirit attracted Elizabeth Brown, an aspiring actress who was known for her beauty and almost unearthly resemblance to Elizabeth Taylor. She was the next promise of Broadway as soon as she managed to go to New York City, but with her angelic face, it didn't take long for James to notice the woman in her various shows.

It didn't take long for her to be conceived from such love, a girl with almost celestial blue eyes, golden hair and rosy cheeks. James knew the very moment he saw his daughter, he remembered the first time he was swept away. Alaska Baudelaire. Born on April 16th.

Elizabeth, in fact, did not have such devotion to her daughter, the replica of Marilyn Monroe that grew around her reminded her of the life she had left behind, and even though she knew it was unfair and self-centered, she blamed the girl for the end of her career, but after all, she chose that. So, Elizabeth Brown transformed herself into Elizabeth Baudelaire, erased her glorious past and swore to herself that her career would be her family, she would raise a prodigy daughter. James put aside his adventures around the world, despite remaining true to his spirit, he followed the family business, which led to him becoming an important judge.

During her childhood, Alaska's every step was scripted to make her stand out, from ballet, painting and piano classes. The girl was dedicated and even with her mother's demand for perfection, in the name of her unconditional love, Alaska wanted to be a source of pride for her mother and did everything she could to impress her.

At the beginning of her pre-adolescence, “unconditional love” sent her away from her family, friends, everything she knew and loved, where Alaska spent long years at a boarding school in Germany, where luckily for the girl, she had the chance of making friends who helped her discover her real personality, dreaming her own dreams and inheriting from her father the same passion and desire to see the world as it really was.

She always had a camera in her hand, capturing moments around her. The girl captured every feeling, curiosity that surrounded her, from colleagues, landscapes, everything became beautiful in her lenses. In addition to using her beauty naturally given by her parents to venture as a photographic model, as she loved how each photograph could capture fragments of her identity, she felt as if they were pieces of her soul that were spread through each capture.

At the end of her stay in Germany, the girl, now almost a woman, felt that her heart was calling her to see the world, so with the help of her beloved father, she went to the United States, leaving behind the cloudy weather of Birmingham and being welcomed by the warm Miami sun.

The city was exotic and new, everything she needed to follow her new steps, the woman managed to find her peace in the midst of American chaos. Her greatest find in the city, Andrew Rockefeller, a man who reminded her of her father, was successful, restrained, a true German with his strong and imposing accent, had his air of mystery and that intrigued her from the first day.

Over the course of a short time, they developed a connection that transcended all rules of time, it was instant like a meeting of souls that led to the most genuine and purest friendship Alaska had ever experienced. The man was of great influence in her maturation and growth to become who she’s today. Luckily for both of them, after four years of living, loving each other as a family and overcoming the most diverse obstacles, they both found love in each other. For many it was simply destiny, Alaska deep down always knew that all the paths she took would lead her there.

Their new lives called for new air, and her mother's old passion for New York City returned to her memory, as if that concrete jungle now called Alaska too.

Upon arriving in the new city with her lover and dogs and cat, she instantly fell in love with the energy. The streets pulsed with life, skyscrapers touched the sky and cultural diversity fascinated. Every corner presented a new scene, a new story to be told. The soft night light reflecting off the buildings, the people running, every expression captured by the lens became a masterpiece. New York developed to explore its creativity, experiment with different techniques and understand the beauty of urban imperfections. The city, with its parks, street art and variety of cultures, has become her personal museum.

For her, each photo was a window into the soul of the city, and photography became a way to bring her passion for photography to life. Now feeling truly at home.

[duckprintspress]

Meet the Aether Beyond the Binary Contributors: Ellen Faye and Bettina Juszak

Today, we’re introducing two of the authors debuting with Duck Prints Press in AETHER BEYOND THE BINARY, our modern aetherpunk anthology starring characters outside the binary, currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter! Continue on to check out their biographies and read tags about and excerpts from their contributed stories!

City of Lights by Ellen Faye

About Ellen Faye: Ellen has been a dreamer and designer of worlds all her life. She has been involved in many fandom environments over the years but most recently jumped with two feet into Supernatural, and never surfaced. She has shared many stories online (as Ellenofoz), but she’s grateful to be able to take the leap into published works with the Aether Beyond the Binary anthology.

Ellen lives in Brisbane, Australia, and spends her days writing code. By night, she reads and writes stories, watches shows, and plays games involving magic, science, historical adventures or romance—sometimes all at the same time. She co-hosts a podcast about Supernatural fanfiction, but can also be found enjoying Star Wars, Marvel, Doctor Who and other assorted fandoms.

Links: Archive of Our Own | Twitter

This is Ellen’s debut publication with Duck Prints Press.

Title: City of Lights

Tags: bullying (past), childhood friends, london, modern with magic, non-binary, present tense, reunion, student (college), third person limited pov, united kingdom

Excerpt: 

A loud cheer rises from the crowd, and the first float comes into view: a dramatic arch and spiral of lanterns, rainbow-hued and bright with the glow of aether. Music blasts from speakers on board the float as it skims the ground, a thumping beat that Rowan can feel in their chest as it approaches. The people dancing on board the float are dressed in a similar aether-kissed fabric to the crowd’s flags, shimmering with shifting colours as they move, smiling and waving to the crowd.

Rowan can remember staring up at the beautiful dancers last time, wishing they could dress up like a magical being and join the parade. They chuckle and shake their head. They’d become a magical being, all right, of a kind. Their mandatory Academy training had seen to that.

Before the float draws level with where Isaac and Rowan sit, something catches their eye across the street. A building, a balcony two stories up. A child, reaching a small hand out as their parent is distracted beside them.

The child overbalances.

Finding Resonance by Bettina Juszak

About Bettina Juszak: Originally from Germany, Bettina has (so far) spent time in the US, the UK, and Canada. She is particularly interested in exploring questions of music and language in imaginary worlds, aided by degrees in linguistics and literature. When not writing, she loses herself in hobbies such as archery, cross-stitch, attempting to learn yet another language, and complaining about the amount of space her book and notebook collection takes up. Her first published work appeared in the Upon a Twice Time anthology published by Air and Nothingness Press, and she is working on a second original novel – despite the first one not having seen the light of day yet.

This is Bettina’s debut publication with Duck Prints Press.

Title: Finding Resonance

Tags: asexual, fluff, found family, london, musician, non-binary, past tense, third person limited pov, united kingdom

Excerpt:

The screeching of tortured pipes made Ros flinch.

“Sorry!” Minnie shouted from the organ loft, kept usable through the sheer stubbornness of a stone wall. This church might still nominally be standing, unlike most of its compatriots, but it wasn’t exactly in good repair.

Ros rubbed at their blurry eyes, wishing for coffee. “You promised last time you wouldn’t wake me this early for one of your ideas again.”

They knew they sounded grumpy, but they were halfway across the city from their apartment in Islington, and they already dreaded the return journey on the Northern line, their least-favourite Tube line. After over ten years of getting dragged into Minnie’s projects, starting from when they met at the Royal Conservatory, Ros was mostly resigned to it, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t complain.

Throughout the Aether Beyond the Binary campaign, we’ll be highlighting the 17 contributors, so keep an eye on our social media for more bios, interviews, and excerpts – or become a backer now and get notified with each update!