#but this is the first time someone has been this amazingly accommodating

[giyrut-girlie]

okay i love my university :)

[stardew-obsessed-ora]

How would Morris treat an autistic partner?

:OOO!! Hey there Anon! Thank you so much for asking! As someone autistic I've been waiting for the opportunity to write something like this! You've absolutely got the gears in my brain working.

Note - I'm going to be basing these primarily on mine and some friends experiences with Autism. These may not align with everyone, and that's alright.

Word count: 1,013 TWs/CWs: Small mention of gagging!

　˖　✵⭒Morris with an Autistic S/O

❅◞◟　˖⋆　✯　⋆˖　◞◟❅

For starters, this man would do absolutely amazingly with a neurodivergent partner. I'm partially saying this because I think he has a touch of neurodivergence himself, but also because he seems like he'd be willing to be accommodating once he's sat down and talked to about some of your issues. He'd be confused at first, but he'd realize the two of you have more of a common ground than he first assumed.

He'd do a significant bit of research once being told you're autistic. He doesn't want to seem ignorant, and he wants to better understand how to accommodate for your needs. Of course, he'd probably just ask you upfront since he understands everyone's different with different needs and whatnot.

For starters, he completely understand getting so interested in something it's all you talk about. He'd be more than willing to hear about your fixations and interests. In fact, he'd be the type of man to buy you things pertaining to some niche topic you brought up then be like "oh. I just happened to remember you liked this character! Consider it a lucky surprise?" He also enjoys casually bringing up things related to your interest and watching you go off about it.

If you're not a fan of large crowds, that's cool. He enjoys large gatherings, especially since they're good for business! But he can absolutely understand how easy it is to become burnt out by them. He can recall countless times at Joja Block Parties in which he had to step away due to the commotion. He'd be sure to keep track of short-cuts in busier parts of Zuzu City so that you don't have to deal with tons of people.

Loud noises absolutely overwhelm him, even if he doesn't want to admit it. It's a weak point of his. He much prefers the quieter things in life, and being somewhere too loud and boisterous can offset his thoughts, leaving him all disoriented and disgruntled. He completely understands having to walk away from somewhere due to it being too loud and will absolutely surprise you with noise cancelling headphones.

One thing I feel he'd have some difficulty getting used to is if you're clingy. I've mentioned this in a prior post, but he reminds me of a cat in terms of how he warms up to others. It'd take some time for him to get used to you wanting to be against him or wanting to cuddle him or anything like that. But once he's warmed up to your physical advances, he'd be more than happy to allow you to lounge against him while he does his work/while he reads. He'd also be more than happy to hold you against him while he does things, or carry you around if he's able to.

Once he's used to being physically affectionate with you, he'd be so down to laying on top of you if you like that sort of thing. Free weighted plush!

If you don't like affection? That's perfectly fine with him. He's more than capable of being affectionate in other ways, as his main love language pertains moreso toward gift-giving and quality time. Plus, it's hard for him to warm up to physical affection as well, he understands.

He is the world's loudest advocate for parallel play. He would love doing productive while you're doing something else and hearing your input/giving his own input on what you're doing. He finds it one of the nicest ways of bonding with you. Silent acknowledgement of one anothers presence...

He would 100000% understand not liking touching certain textures. Just looking at store-bought slime brings shivers up and down his spine and makes him break into a sweat. Hell, he couldn't even stock those towelettes Joja stocked back when he was a mere grunt due to how horrible they felt to him. He'd take careful note of what you do and don't like touching and then be sure to buy gifts and things that fall under positive textures for you only.

One thing I think would also confuse him would be food aversions. He's never experienced issues with any sort of food. He's had a few dislikes, but he isn't particularly picky. (Not to mention he's been desensitized by microwaveable joja meals) He doesn't quite understand the whole unable to eat something due to the texture thing, nor does he understand gagging due to the scent of something. But he'd try his best to accommodate to you. He'd start carrying your comfort foods in his home, and he'd try to eat food that set off your aversions away from you. That way, you both would be able to eat together and he'd still be able to eat what he wants.

He doesn't get stimming at first but he'll try his best to accommodate for your needs. Joja sells stim toys! Look at that cute clicky worm thing! He can get plenty! Once they end up breaking after barely any use, he buys ones from actually refutable brands. One benefit in you stimming is him realizing just how relaxing it is to sit down and do similar.

He can find himself getting a little easily irritated over things being said poorly, but once you explain to him that its hard for you to control your tone or the way you phrase things, he starts asking for clarification when he's confused.

He can be very passive aggressive or sarcastic toward others. But toward you, he'll keep himself and his mouth in check. Especially if you don't pick up on either well.

Schedule changes do not happen with this man. You never have to worry about being put off track unless it's something out of his hands. He is always on time, no sooner, no later. This man adores daily routines too, and knowing you like predictability leaves him the ability to continue following his usual routine without much issue. If and when he can't stick to the usual, however, he tries to give a heads up.

If and when you go mute, he entirely understands and tries not to force you to talk. Though, I imagine the first time it happened he was absolutely startled. He was worried he did something and that he was being given silent treatment. Or that something had happened to you. Once you explained it to him later, however, he understood. If you're able to, he often hands you a board to write with. If you're not able to, he just sits with you and does whatever you want to, or just does his work and lets you lean against him.

If he notices you're overwhelmed he does everything he can to take you out of the situation, even if you end up dejected over the fact he left for the sake of you. If the two of you are at a company wide party and you start to get noticeably burnt out he'll find an excuse to leave. If you two are at a restaurant or something and you're starting to get more jittery he'll ask if you'd like to make your meals take out and head out. If ever you voice you're worried you're ruining your outings together due to this, he'll cup your face with his hand (if you like physical touch) and reassure you otherwise.

He loves you to bits ultimately, and he wants the absolute best for you. He'd probably check in constantly to make sure you're alright.

[frickfatphobes]

Any advice for how to accept your body and it's needs for someone who's gained a significant amount weight over the past decade and a half? I wasn't always as big as I am now, when I was 20 I was around 130-150lbs but around then I started taking a medication which has lead me to steadily gaining weight to the point I am now in my mid 30s at around 410lbs last time I went to the doctor. I've read up on fat liberation and it seems pretty clear to me that losing weight is unrealistic but sometimes it's just hard to accept that this is how big I am now. I look back at pictures from back in the day and remember how easy it was getting around, how I could spend all night out and never get tired. These days I can barely go grocery shopping without becoming exhausted. I've debated getting a mobility scooter but it just sounds so defeating but deep down I have a feeling it's what my body needs. I've tried light exercise and though it's improved my mobility some I still have some trouble getting around and still need to take breaks to sit down when walking longer distances.

Sorry if this is a lot I've just been thinking about this lately my bodies just gone through much change compared to when I was younger that I'm looking for some outside input.

No need to apologize. I love receiving asks like this and I'm happy to share my thoughts! Of course I'm no expert, but I'll do my best to provide good advice based on the information you provided here.

There are many challenges that come with accepting one's body, especially when it's more than just aesthetics that are affected by a person's size or weight. Fat liberation, as fantastic as it can be at healing someone emotionally or mentally, cannot change physical or mobility-related difficulties.

I've had an experience lately that reminded me that there are many fun things I used to love doing that I can't anymore, because the world refuses to become more inclusive to accommodate people like me. And you may think that your case isn't about inclusivity, but it might be somewhat related. Maybe you could still be able to spend a whole night out if you didn't have to waste your energy looking through a million places to find one that will accommodate you, or have large or comfortable enough seats, or don't force you to park super far away from the bar or club you want to visit.

And more importantly, you never should have been taught by media or parental figures or friends that using a mobility device means you're giving in to defeat. That is internalized ableism. Regardless of a person's weight, they should never feel weak or guilty for being accommodated for, even if they "don't really need it." (If it's preventing pain or exhaustion, it actually IS a necessity.)

Now, all that being said, I'm going to do my best to give you some advice based on what I've read here. Please remember that in the end, you know yourself and your body better than anyone else does, and if any of the advice feels wrong to you, then please take it with a grain of salt.

First, I think you should absolutely consider getting a mobility aid. You don't have to use it all the time, but if it will help prevent pain or exhaustion, it's worth looking into. You don't deserve to be tired or hurting all the time.

Second, if exercise helps you, keep finding ways to move that you enjoy and that feel good to you. The benefits of exercise cap out at around twenty minutes a day, and it doesn't even have to be consecutive. Don't ever push yourself past your limits or continue if you're in pain. Despite popular belief, exercise shouldn't hurt.

Third, keep looking into fat liberation. It has helped my mental health a ton. The best way to be happy with your body is realizing that there's nothing wrong with it as it is now, even if it often feels that way because of the constant bigotry around you. It sucks to get tired more quickly than you used to, but you can absolutely still live an amazingly fulfilling life without your body being the way it was.

Whatever you do, don't let anyone tell you that you aren't allowed to use a mobility aid or live happily in your body as it is. You deserve to feel joy without having to lose weight first.

I hope this helped at least a little bit, and I hope things get better for you.

[emilycollins00]

Can I request a Kazunari x reader where neither of them is sure if their relationship is platonic/romantic?

Yes, yes, yes!! Literally went from not really sure how to start this to reinventing it all SO fast like-? The only answer I find is that I might love Kazunari too much which honestly, fair.

Please enjoy! 💕

Promise me we won’t let go (Kazunari x Platonic/Romantic! Reader)

Kazunari believes he has -over time of course, he was never this smooth despite what others might believe- been able to gain certain knowledge, regarding other people’s feelings and what they look for.

This obviously carries its own problems as well.

He had already admitted to himself long ago being overly accommodating to keep up with every single soul’s like and dislike he met: Kazunari is so good at listening! in his ears translated to, if he spoke up, he might end up saying the wrong thing -because people like to have someone who listens. Even those you’re so easy-going! came from learning to control his opinions to a degree that his real thoughts felt more like a side note.

Regarding this aspect, Mankai had certainly been an eye-opening experience. A before and after point in his life.

Thanks to everyone at the dorm -and especially his super-amazingly-cool-and-talented summer troupe members buddies- current Kazunari was more confident than ever in standing by what he actually enjoyed. Last week he even turned down quite the bizarre idea for that group project he had to present for his graphics and Illustration course! Like, hello? Yes. Kazunari Miyoshi was proud to say he had grown.

Which lead the blond actor to wonder, after seven Thursday nights in a row spent dancing with you until wee hours of the morning, whether this is the point he should be asking himself if you two were turning into a thing.

Seven weeks, and it's become such a regular thing that both of you have built your schedules around it, changing plans to ensure you two can make it out to the pub no matter what else is going on. He never gave it much thought. You both have known each other for years, after all. And yet-

A sudden buzz coming from his phone distracts him.

Are you finished with your classes? I'm in the cafeteria and I wanna see you before I leave back to the library.

He can’t help but notice his mood lights up considerably when the icon that pops on his screen is from you. Humming quietly, he enters the conversation.

Almost done! On my way~

He adds a few stickers and concentrates again on the professor's instructions about where they'll have to submit their canvas for the exam. Minutes later and learning storaged, he picks up his bag and waves a quick goodbye at the group he shares classes with. It’s almost six o’clock, and the summer actor enjoys the breeze and bustle of people while scrolling instablam’s stories, opting to go straight to where you were. His reflection shows on the phone briefly. He pouts and fixes his bangs. Maybe he should have worn his hat? His roots were starting to grow back and-

“Yo, Kazunari.”

“Oh?” he looks into the direction the familiar voice was coming. “Setzer, my man! What’s up? Never saw you around this time before.”

The purple-eyed clicked his tongue. “Class got cancelled. Talk about annoyin’” A noise from his pocket makes Banri pick up his phone, roaming through it distractedly. “Ya leavin’ too?”

“Ah, my bad. Y/N-pii is on their break at the cafeteria. I’m going to pass by before heading home. Wanna join?”

“Nah, pass. Got a paper due so might as well go and finish it.” Still looking at the phone, the autumn member frowns. “…Talkin’ bout Y/N-san, do ya think they are free next weekend?”

“Next weekend? Probably. Why?”

The autumn member sighs. “It’s Sora’s birthday.”

“Sora… The one we meet that time at the after-party of your club?” Kazunari’s mind goes back to the events just last semester. They were one of the first people Banri had gotten to know from his major at uni and honestly had a blast at the time. “Sounds boom! How are they doing?”

“Fine, I suppose. They have this house near the river where they want to do a barbeque  and has been askin’ me to contact Y/N-san.”

Kazunari thinks about it. You have always enjoyed get-togethers, especially birthdays. Moreover, even the few times you met with Banri’s friends he remembers you commenting how much you enjoyed it. “Mmm… I don’t think it’d be a problem? Y/N-pii is the type to let you know if something comes up anyway so you should totally ask them!”

“Sweet. They have been so freaking’ insistent about it.” Banri sighs, relieved. Yet as he’s about to start writing, he seems to falter, stopping his fingers midtrack. He looks at the blond, and his eyebrow frown confused. Kazunari has lived long enough with him to know he’s debating to say or do something -which is not really typical of Banri.

It makes him uncomfortable.

“Yahoo, earth to Setzer?” he laughs, waving in front of him. “Your eyes are creeping me out, man! You ‘kay?”

The autumn leader takes notice of his own actions and massages his neck. “My bad. I was just… you’re good, right?” he arches his eyebrows.

“Whadaya mean?”

“You know, my friend asking Y/N-san out. ”

Oh.

Should it bother Kazunari to know others were interested in you?

“It’s not like we are dating,” he replies with a short laugh. “Even if we were, Sora seems fun to hang out with, and a barbeque of all things? I bet it’s going to be epic! Remember to snap some cool pics to show off later!” he pats the young actor’s back.

"Okay, okay, you can stop now." This time, he does write on his phone with decision -though Kazunari notices him glancing in his direction one last time. “Then, I’ll let Sora know. Thanks, man.”

“No prob~ careful on your way home!”

Soon after he resumes his walk, another buzz and light come from his screen phone. It’s you again. He looks at the time and understands why you would write. It had gotten late.

Everything okay, prince charming?

He smiles at the nickname. And as a matter of fact, Kazunari feels okay with what just happened. Maybe. Honestly he can’t really make up his mind. But he’s no one to decide who you should hang out with in any case.

Found Setzer leaving uni and stopped to talk. Save me a seat!

Pff as if I hadn’t done that already you silly.

The sudden rethinking about your relationship shouldn't make him this weird.

.

.

.

For the longest time you came to keep certain parts of your personality hidden. The rough, ugly parts. At least in your opinion.

Maybe that’s why you are able to see through Kazunari. A side of him that no one else saw, or at least that’s what your selfish self liked to think. To the world, Kazunari is a friendly, fashionable, and outgoing art student who also handles all too well graphic designs and whatever you may throw at him. Always open to being friends with anyone who crosses paths with him, no matter who they are.

As years pass by, your relationship has unfolded into whatever intimate thing it might have become nowadays. Now, you see more. You see his actual dorkiness. You see the way he gets frustrated with himself when ideas don’t come no matter how much he tries when the answer to the problem eludes him. See how incredibly smart he is. How much he truly loves studying. How selfless he is. You see the faint traces of what you can only call sadness when Kazunari mentions smiling at someone's low opinion of him as a person. How his eyes sparkle when he’s talking about a new art event.

He told you about his old days one time. It made you want to tell everybody who had never bothered to get this close to seeing the real him you didn't try hard enough. Which is why you couldn’t thank more in your mind to Tsuzuru’s unaware assistance for reaching Kazunari and allowing him to become the passionate actor he has come to be.

So yeah, you could say you with confidence you adored Kazunari.

And yet, there was something bothering you for a while.

You two have gotten used to people mistaking you for a couple. You didn’t pay much thought to it since you are both incredibly clingy with each other, and to be fair half of your instablams are photos of the two of you -and others, sometimes.

What you do notice, is that neither you nor Kazunari correct people when they assume so anymore.

What you notice is that you can hardly wait for it to Thursday night and be alone with him, even if you see each other almost everyday. And it scares you a bit.

.

.

.

.

“So! What are you in the mood for before we hit the pub?”

You hum in thought. It’s gotten late, so you are sure the places you two usually go to must be almost full. “I'd like something cheap. This month I’m almost broke-” You sneeze. “Also preferably inside. Didn’t know it was going to be this cold today.”

“Hang on a sec, I gotchu!” happily, Kazunari takes off his jacket and puts it on you, making you sight. That was much better. “Aw, you’re so cute! Stay still!” he coos taking up his phone.

You laugh, letting him take a picture. “’Kay but give me your arm. I can at least give you some heat back.”

It feels like usual. You both decide to try some pizzas at a place near some park and are about to head inside when you hear someone calling your name in the distance. You wait a bit to recognize the person. Kazunari doesn't, mostly because of the talk he had with Banri not too long ago. Assuring he will wait for your conversation to ask for dinner, he takes his phone out to entertain himself.

Not too long he notices you walking back, and it takes even less time to know something is wrong. You are not looking at him, after all.

“Y/N-pii?"

"Shall we go?"

"Sure but are you ‘kay? Cuz I can-”

“No!” you hurry, almost tripping over your words in a rush to cut him up. “It’s- it’s fine.” You say under your breath, moving far from him. “You really don’t want to know.”

Smooth, Y/N.

You whimper, still holding tight onto Kazunari’s jacket. It really does smell like him and you feel like crying at how much it calms you down. You look into the blond's eyes. There's worry. And of course, that's what it takes for you to give in.

"Y/N-pii?"

“…can we sit?”

.

.

.

“One drink coming right up!~”

You watch Kazunari walk towards you with a bottle of water that you open instantly as he sits next to you. This was the last conversation you wanted to have and yet somehow, destiny decided it should happen. You close the bottle. Ok then.

“So!” You finally speak with more confidence than you felt. “Sora invited me to their birthday party next weekend.” Kazunari nodded. That, he also knew. “Seemed fun, so then I asked if you could come too.”

“Me?”

You shrugged, playing with the bottle. “We met them together and I thought we all had a good time. Remember the karaoke?”

“Duh. Who knew their club was so good at impersonating?”

“Right? That was so cool.”

The conversation somehow ends there. A bark in the distance catches your attention.

“...So? What did Sora say?”

You press your lips, leaving the bottle to the side.

“They asked if I was dating you. And I…? I didn’t know what to say.” you take some air and lean back on the bench, closing your eyes. You feel Kazunari tense up and you don’t wanna see it. “Like, I know we are not because- actually I don’t know. I’ve been feeling confused about… this.” You sigh, sitting back again and pointing to both of you.

The summer actor desperately wants to say something. He wants to say the right thing, because you deserve it. He wants you to feel as comfortable with him as it always is. How could something supposedly so… possibly wonderful be so intimidating at the same time?

“Kazu what… are we?”

Again, he freezes like a coward when he finds himself trapped under the intensity of your fond stare. “I-” there’s pressure in his chest. “I don’t know. I’ve been thinking about it lately too.”

“Same.”

Silence appears again. Kazunari awaits a groan, an angry puff, or any type of discomfort on your part. Yet to his surprise he hears a faint laugh. although you fought it, it was there. Free, genuine, hard, and heartfelt, eyes closed and shoulders shaking. It really isn’t hard for Kazunari to imagine a more precious sound.

You infect him. It feels good, to laugh with you. Despite everything, he feels the tension dissipating somehow. “Oh god, I’m so sorry I don’t mean-” he hears you try to explain yourself between laughs. “It’s just- ugh, we are so lame.” you finally express softly. You lean on him. “Like, having a crisis about this? at the same time?”

“At least we can use it for the art.”

“Kazu!”

You rise your head and he winks, letting you know he’s joking. You take his hand, and he squeezes it. The act comes naturally. After a while you speak, although your voice breaks a bit.

“I just- I adore you so much Kazu. And the thought of falling in love with you is great, but at the same time is it really okay for us to roll with it?”

Kazunari squeezes your hand again and leans in to kiss you on the forehead. As he imagined, your eyes are glassy. "You know?" he informs you as he lets go of your hand and hugs you tightly. "Out of aaall the people I’ve known so far in my life, you are totes at the very top. Hey, I’m serious over here!” he insists when he moves away and sees you smiling skeptic. “For realsies, your name is next to like- a bazillion of red hearts! A place reserved for the mega-talented, mega-loving Y/N As long as I’m at least high in your top too.”

“Wha- did you hear a word I just said? Of course you are!”

Kazunari smiles. “Then I think that’s good enough for us right now, don’tcha?”

You sniff and reach out to kiss his cheek this time. "Let’s continue to go out on Thursday nights," you murmur, using your wrist to remove the tears that had accumulated. "Every Thursday night unless you have a performance, in which case I will definitely go see you and then we’ll go out afterward. I don't want to hear any excuses." You let your voice turn mock-stern.

“Hai, hai captain~”

As you get up, the summer member grabs your wrist again. You look down confused, finding a gleaming pair of green eyes, showing his phone.  

“Wanna take a selfie?”

The lights from the streetlights reflect on the back of his blond hair, and you suddenly feel weak on your knees with the most overwhelming relief. You love this person so much. “Sure. It does has been more than a day since we have.” You laugh, and do your usual pose, which is resting your arms around him in an embrace as you both decide what type of filter does match better for the day.

It doesn’t matter if it takes a while to put a name on what you two have. At the moment, Kazunari simply wants to go and spend some good quality time with you.

Which is fortunate -because you feel just the same.

_________________________________________________________

This was difficult but sooo worth it and interesting to write! Thank you for your request.

Wishing you all a wonderful day! 💕

[troubledxmind]

Our song

Hey, here is a little story that i wrote for Sofia and Nurmi. It's free of spoilers and has a very different tone from the show. I hope ya'll enjoy it!

Also, if you want to listen to this playlist here, it's the perfect match.

Have fun!

--------------

-Hey, are you ready? -Sofia’s soft voice resonated as she appeared at the bedroom door while Nurmi fixed his tie. It's been a while since she saw him wearing formal attire, and she had to admit it, he looked splendid. He was suited black from head to toe.

Nurmi looked at her through the mirror and he couldn’t help the smile across his face. He hadn’t seen her yet in her outfit, since she got ready before him and went to the living room to wait. She was perfect, he'd never seen her wearing an outfit like this. He had no words to describe the magnitude of that woman in front of his eyes. 

Sofia was wearing a black long dress with small brilliant stones all over it, her high heels, and she had her makeup done. She had her hair loose and there were big waves by the end of it, making it voluminous and yet amazingly in place.

They were going to a special event at the UN consulate, an all black gala ball. Black was her favorite color.

The event was a courtesy from Nurmi’s past with his parents. At first he had been apprehensive because he knew Sofia would never want to go to these kinds of parties, but he was surprised by how well she took the invitation.

-Yes, i am ready. -He said walking towards her unable to hide the joy on his face as he looked at her. He took her hand and spinned her around, making Sofia laugh. -I can’t believe you’re my date to this party. -Nurmi continued as the spin ended and Sofia’s eyes met his again. Her cheeks were red.

-Thank you, I guess. -She rested a hand on his shoulder. -You know, you’re not so bad either, Sakari Nurmi. -She was obviously joking just because she couldn’t hide her expression of awe about how elegant and hot he looked in that suit. He laughed with her comment and gave her a raised brow.

-I know. -He said, taking her arm as they left the room, and then, the apartment. All the nervousness he had about going to this event and seeing people from his past suddenly disappeared when he realized Sofia was right there with him.

The way to the party was quiet and quick, since the place wasn’t far away from where they lived. 

Sofia felt a little nervous when they arrived, seeing all those diplomats and important people that she had no clue about, but soon they were accommodated at their places and it couldn’t have gone smoother. They watched a small ceremony about the importance of the relations to the UN and their accomplishments this year, and after that, dinner was served, in all its fanciness.  

After dinner, they had a few drinks, and Nurmi eventually was caught up in the bureaucracy of the event. People wanted to know about him, his life and how things were after his parents died. He must've talked to at least a hundred people that night, and at all times, he shot glances at her, sitting at the table. She'd just smile back at him and raise her glass, like she was glad to be seated there and not participating in the awkward conversations around him.

After a long time, Sofia looked back at him, and she could see he was starting to get uncomfortable with the conversation. It was her time to shine.

-Good evening. -She said politely entering the conversation and the men and women waved their hands at her, smiling. -I'm sorry to interrupt, but I have to steal this handsome man. -She looked at Nurmi, who had a confused and comic look on his face. -Someone is looking for him. -She grabbed him by the arm and gently they left the small crowd of diplomats.

-Who's looking for me? -Nurmi asked, curious but relieved to have been saved from the people he was talking to. Sofia smiled devilishly at him while she pulled him into a quieter corner of the party.

-I was looking for you. -She touched her glass of champagne on his. Nurmi smiled at her, raising his glass and drinking it after. The environment was really special, and shiny. Something both of them were not used to anymore.

-Thanks for saving me. I couldn't stand it anymore. -He said, fixing his tie, as a sign that he was nervous. 

Soon a slow and classical song started to play and most couples joined in the middle of the hall. It was actually the whole reason Nurmi wanted to come to this event with her. They may be two detectives really out of place in this scenario, but tonight, they could be anything they wanted.

Nurmi looked at Sofia, grinning like a kid, and her expression was confused by his sudden happiness. 

-Will you give me the honor, Sofia Karppi? -He put his hand out for her to hold it.

-Of what? -She questioned taking his hand. He then pulled her slowly across the dance floor, never breaking eye contact with her. 

-Of dancing with me tonight. -He said and his body went closer to hers, as his other hand rested on her waist and he moved them along with the song.

-Nurmi, i can't dance. -She was nervous.

-It 's okay. Put your hand on my shoulder. -He whispered and got his face closer to hers. He continues to lead her body with his, following the rhythm of the classical music that filled up the hall.

Sofia did what he asked and rested her hand on his shoulder, inhaling his delicious perfume as they moved slowly across the night. She had never been to an event like this, but tonight she really felt like it has always been a part of her life, and mostly because of how much confidence Nurmi exuded. He made her feel confident too.

-This is a situation I've never imagined myself into. -She continued to whisper in his ear while they danced. -But I'm glad I'm here right now, especially with you. -Nurmi smiled at her statement and she could feel his face moving, slightly touching hers.

-I know, but i didn't want to wait until another occasion to have a dance with the most spectacular woman i've ever met. -He deposited a warm and gentle kiss on her neck, breathing hot air out on her skin. -Thank you for coming with me. -He completed looking her in the eyes. His face went back to side with hers and he pulled her body closer, this time, slowing down the rhythm of the dance, like it was just the two of them dancing the night away in that big hall. A place that once would mean a variety of awful things to Nurmi, now was a special place that he'd forever hold in his heart as their first dance.

They've been together for almost a year now, and things were even greater than they expected. Their careers were doing very well, they've been working on past traumas and overcoming it, and most importantly, they had each other, definitely.

-You are the most enigmatic man on the face of the earth, filled with secret knowledge and random culture, and I love you for that, Sakari Nurmi. -She said touching her face on his cheek.

-And you are the best partner i could've ever asked for. Thank you for being you, in all of your flaws and all of your virtues. I love you so much Sofia Karppi. -He then kissed her, passionately, certain that he loved that woman more than anything he'd ever loved in his entire life, and certain that she loved him too, with everything that she had in her.

Sofia was always astonished by how romantic he could be, and she was only now getting used to having this kind of love and compassion in her life. Who'd have thought that, on a simple Tuesday night, she'd be dancing in a UN party with her partner, her lover and the man she trusted entirely?

They both had been through a lot together and even before they met, and now they deserved some peace in their lives, as far as the detective job would allow. But that was all they needed. 

-You know, this could be our song. -He said when a new song started playing. Sofia's knowledge of classical music was not too vast, but she recognized the song, and it was a very beautiful symphony.

-I like it. -She continued moving along with his body. It seemed now that she knew how to dance. Nurmi's hands were tight around her, like he was afraid she'd slip through his fingers if he ever let go of her, just for a little bit.

They danced until the song ended, and when they noticed, they had moved a lot across the hall, all the way to this corner, where no one could see them. Where they were free of curious eyes, sneaking inside their lives and their insecurities. And suddenly, like they both knew what was going on inside each other's heads, their eyes met.

-Home? -She asked him and he smiled.

-Home! -He replied and she kissed him again, feeling her stomach twist with all the butterflies that were moving around. 

As they headed out, they both knew it was not a simple inquiry as to whether they wanted to go home or not, it was an affirmative word, because, at that tiny moment in all of space and time, they were each other's homes. 

-----

That's all folks. I wanted to do something different for them. I hope it turned out good. Let me know what ya'll think. Kiitos <3

[asafeplacetorest]

a little ramble about the show ‘the mandalorian’

okay so i recently finished the mandalorian and i NEED to write about how amazing it is; there is a LOT to unpack! there will be spoilers: so go forth at your own risk! all of these are my opinions on the show and i am no expert on star wars; half of this will be incoherent but i do hope you enjoy it if you choose to read it :D!

din djarin:

a mandalorian bounty hunter, who was specifically made to look ‘weather-beaten’ and has very clearly been through and done unimaginable things. a hardened character who’s job is clearly to catch (people?) and bring them in. 

this is a bounty hunter by profession, so not the pinnacle of morality but wow what a guy!!! pedro pascal (the sweetheart) made him emotionally accessible and someone the audience could understand. even with a full body of armour and helmet, he is expressive in his head movements, when he pauses and what he does. 

i loved in the first episode when he interacted with his bounty, it’s clear that he’s just doing business and takes no overt pleasure in catching him; he is brutal and clean with his capture and honest with everything he says when he can be. there is never unnecessary violence on his part. 

this lone wolf, bounty hunter type is quite common in films and cinematic universes like star wars, and they often fall into toxic masculine tropes, where they’re emotionally repressed, rough with everyone and generally prickly people. BUT with din, there is a difference and all the rough and tough personality things come from when he has to be- he is never once rude to anyone and the way he interacts with grogu (baby yoda) is so gentle, caring and he accommodates baby yoda’s needs and wants when possible. 

a small detail that particularly struck me was in the scene where grogu reaches towards to (ball?) on top of the lever and instead of throwing grogu the ball, as would be done to maintain rough man vibes, he carefully places it by grogu. 

also the only times he is willing to leave grogu is when he thinks it will be for his own good; unlike the reluctant father characters who have this whole ‘i’m not ready to be a father’ existential crisis, din accepts that he is now the father figure and does his best to raise grogu and deliver him to a good place. 

another thing i ADORE about the character of din is the way he interacts with everyone; treating all those he meets with respect and never going over their boundaries with no ulterior motives or anything- he is a straight forward guy (and i found him likable but this is subjective). the way he interacts with the women in the show is also awesome- there isn’t that dismissive demeanor we are so accustomed to seeing when the men talk to the female characters: he treats them all as strong, capable characters and respects their boundaries without any kind of funny business, unlike the james bond types that i am so over. 

something else i absolutely adored about his raising grogu was how he placed next to no pressure on him. think about it- grogu has demonstrated the ability to do some dope hand magic stuff and this is a skill that could’ve solved almost all the dilemmas that they were in, but he doesn’t expect grogu to get themselves out of it, or ‘pull his own weight’. grogu, despite being amazingly powerful, is allowed to be a child, and din (and the others) take full responsibility of protecting grogu without any expectations from him. the exception to this is when greef asks grogu to do the magic hand thing to get them out of all being m*rdered, but when grogu can’t do it, they immediately move on and don’t press it. parenting done right, i think.

religious connotations:

another thing is mandalorians in general, and the many parallels with them and muslims and jewish people. 

to elaborate; din’s group of mandalorians do not remove their armour and helmet in front of other living beings, and some muslims don’t remove their hijabs, niqabs, and burkas in front of men that they aren’t married to. din later finds some mandalorians (the group led by bo-katan) who are comfortable taking off their helmets in front of other people, but wear it most of the time, and kept their armour on for all the time they were on screen- which is a flexibility that exists in muslims: some people prefer wearing their hijabs, niqabs and burkas, and some people wear it sometimes and some not at all. din originally thinks that this meant that they weren’t ‘real’ mandalorians, but soon overcomes this.

there was also boba fett who does not follow the ‘creed’, but is mandalorian. with this in particular, i think this no longer coincides with islam because it iis a requirement that you believe in a g-d. however, this does seem to have parallels with judaism because there are secular jewish people (i am a goy so if a jewish person tells me that this is wrong, i will accept that), and those who are jewish through inheritance. 

the way that din is treated also, sadly, reflects the attitude to the religions in modern society. for example, everyone being surprised when they see a mandalorian, and not having seen one before because of a terrible event where a lot of them were k*lled and even now, they have a target on their backs- which is sadly the reality for jewish people

and with the disrespect from lots of characters towards his armour and helmet- trying to forcibly remove his helmet and armour without his consent, and keep them as prizes, which is sadly the reality for muslims in western countries.

directors:

now for the directors, writers, producers and the lot, they did NOT disappoint. 

deborah chow- a woman of colour who loves action; she lead the action scenes and as a martial artist, i was impressed and LOVED watching the fight scenes and fighting styles. through the lense of a woman, action scenes are different- and a very welcome difference. each woman had a different fighting style (death by thighs is awesome and i love it, but it’s over-used and over-sexualised and there are more styles out there). cara dune was brutal and used her strength in fights (side note: i loved that she was allowed to be muscly and strong), and the fight scenes had no strategically ripped clothing and pain p*rn where women are moaning when they’re in pain or arching their bodies in random and unrealistic positions mid fight or when they’re in pain. action scenes through the lens of deborah was refreshing and i loved every scene. the female characters were amazing and fennec shand brought me life with her fighting and as an unapologetically strong assassin, and the mandalorian women- gosh i could go on about the women from this show forever- gin played cara dune amazingly (i could go on forever about how well suited she was, and how the way she played dune empowered me and inspired me but i’d get emotional).

favreau’s vision for this show was the driving force and honestly his hiring these amazing directors from so many different backgrounds, who are all GOOD people and amazing at what they do, and getting them working together as a team? he’s a legend.

taika waititi brought a funny touch to it, and you can see the similarities in styles with thor:ragnorok.

bryce seems like she was involved in theatre before this and so focused on the acting, as one would in theatre. someone new to series and films would bring a certain energy with them when interacting with the actors and with spotlighting important details and you can clearly see this with the episodes she had most influence in. i loved her influence so much!

rick brings his own unique perspectives too; he’s a person of colour who isn’t used to working in series who was a life-long star wars fan, who really wanted to give the viewers an understanding of the depth of all the characters. with the topics of war and police states and so many different people with different lives on different sides and walks of life, he really humanised them and breathed life into them. 

george lucas was obviously not present, but i think his influence was present through dave. dave, having worked on avatar the last airbender (which tells you enough about how great of a person he is) and the clone wars directly with lucas, brings this energy and love for star wars synonymous to a child’s point of view- something i assume he picked up from working from nickelodeon, or perhaps this is just something he always had! he made it star wars, and the props used were also practically replicated from the original films (something my partner pointed out to me), like the camera droid that let din into the military base in the beginning. 

relationships:

also cara dune and greef karga’s (side note: love carl weathers and how he is aware, as an actor that the roles you portray, you are endorsing- and the emotional intelligence on this guy is just ground-breaking) relationship gives me life! usually, when a man and a woman team up as partners to defeat something, and the woman is badass and does the beating up- the male counterpart is portrayed as a nerd who is incapable of fighting (think kim possible), because that must be the only reason that the woman is doing the fighting. but when cara dune cleans up the town by basically beating up bad guys, karga happily tells din that it was dune who did it and karga is still shown to be a badass dude who can handle his own in the following scenes when they are going to the military base!!! i loved this so much :D! to top this off, the connection and respect that carano and weathers have for each other in real life definitely carried across into their characters, it was gorgeous.

also!! the four badass women working together in synchrony made me so excited! when they went to cause a distraction in the ship, they worked so well together and were all real characters that supported one another! all female action crew being super cool and dope ass fight scenes??? sign me the hECK up!

anyway the mandalorian is the goat, thank you for listening

[awwfuckno]

“Ayo do you wanna be? Ghost B!” Jiho screams excitedly, pulling a peace sign, everyone joining in with a “We are the GhostBusters, whaddup!” the gang tops it off with a very un-coordinated bow. Taeil doesn't bow, of course.

What a dumb way to start a ghost hunting show, Kyung thinks.

Jiho's amazingly overdramatic narration time:

'My name is Woo 'Zico' Jiho, lead investigator of Ghost B. I didn't believe in ghosts until I came face-to-face with one. So I set out on a quest to capture what I once saw onto video. [cue over-dramatic walking videos of all the crew members in various scary places]

Our crew has worked years to build our credibility, our reputation...'

“Bitch, we've been ghost hunting for two weeks, what the fuck are you talking about?!” Minhyuk is already pissed off.

'Working alongside the most renowned professionals in the field, catching groundbreaking proof of the paranormal. This is our evidence, our GhostB, Ghost Bustin.'

“Yo, guys, so we're here at the Waverly Hills sanatorium, in Kentucky. The sanatorium opened in 1910 and a two-story hospital to accommodate 50 Tuberculosis patients. After an outbreak of tuberculosis the number of patients reached to thousands...” The whole time Jiho keeps throwing in rap hand motions and information about the bat-winged building that has an underground morgue to get rid of dead bodies when it was being used.

They all stand in the outer wing of the building with the owner, asking her questions and all that jazz until a moth flies into Jihoon's mouth, the sound guy heaving the biggest and loudest squeal of all times, echoing throughout the building. Birds fly away from the noise in one giant flock like in horror movies. The sanatorium actually shakes.

There are other interviews as well but none that end as hilariously as the former.

They show some disgusting fake videos of open-chest surgeries they did in the sanatorium. Ew.

Apparently there's some compelling ghost photos and EVP-s and stuff that's been captured on the premises. Scary shit.

They do a full check no 2 of all the equipment for the shoot the day before (the first check is usually before they take off but Kyung manages to misplace half their stuff every time):

-8 cameras for Taeil and Ukwon with badass night vision

-10 thermal cameras to scan temperature changes

-2 digital recorders for EVP-s aka electronic voice phenomena, aka ghosties talking to them

-5 EMF detectors that detect changes in electronic fields, aka ghosties walking past will make the lights on them blink and ayyyyy TRANCE PARTY UP IN THIS JOINT UNTS UNTS UNTS i mean what who wrote that

-Spirit box, the ghostie goo can use radio frequencies to answer questions. Unnecessarily loud crap, and to be completely honest, half the time Kyung doesn't understand what is says anyway

-Shit ton of extra batteries and Taeil's custom-built battery carrier vest (cause that small man is the biggest camera nerd)

-200 kilometers of wires that mostly lead nowhere (some to the end of a microphone). 'Jihoon, darling, please' Kyung starts all sweet, a little motherly 'you need to fuckin' clean this shit up before someone gets tangled in these vines and dies, seriously.'

“Look at this, man, I can wiggle wiggle wiggle” Taeil does The Wiggle, “and the picture on the camera stays completely still, this new video stabilizer so fuckin awesome.” He shudders in excitement for their new cameras.

“I swear you look like you would come at any second.” Ukwon looks 50% understanding, 50% disturbed, looking at their main camera guy.

..

The evening after their initial shoot day with the interviews is always spent at a nearby bar.

“You heard about the creeper, though? The black creature who crawls in the dark like all over the walls n shit and kills the shit out of you? And there's supposed to be a doppelganger that's a demon that takes your shape and if you see it, you die?” Jiho is getting super excited about their lockdown already.

“Dude, I don't wanna hear about it!” Jaehyo covers his ears singing Mary Had a Little Lamb loudly.

“To be honest, I don't even know what Minhyuk's part in the crew even is. I'm pretty sure he's possessed by a ghost... I guess it makes sense he'd join us...” Kyung ponders a little, looking like he doesn't really care (he really doesn't, as long as he's Jiho's right hand man and doesn't get forced to go on solo trips to the creepiest parts of the haunted buildings).

Taeil meh's at that, sipping on his beer. The holy meh of agreement.

“Holy shit, why did I join this crew, I am fuckin terrified of ghosts???” Jihoon sits at the bar stool, kinda talking to Ukwon, kinda to himself, on the verge of an existential crisis. He's holding onto his head with both hands, rocking himself.

“Cause you're in love with Taeil and would follow him to the debts of hell? Aka this place?” Ukwon suggests, a small smile on his lips.

“Yeah.. - Uh-- What?”

“What?” the older of the two suggests, this little knowing smile on his lips.

Taeil joins them, putting an arm around Jihoon and he's like, fuck, Ukwon is right.

..

“Here we are, at the sanatorium, ready for our lockdown, bros.” Jiho is ready to do the do, “So let's gear up and have fun, kids!” Jiho always gives them a pep talk before they start their main shoot.

The first 30 minutes is spent putting up the cameras by Taeil, Jihoon tagging close by with all the wires, Ukwon setting up EMF detectors on the 4th floor, the outer part of the hospital wings where the creeper is supposed to hang out with his ghostie buddies; and two thermal cameras into the morgue (knowing Jiho he's probably gonna force some of the scaredy cats from the crew to go there alone).

“SHIT IT'S THE CREEPER!!!!!!!” It starts from Jaehyo, then Ukwon, then Minhyuk, then Jihoon and Jiho, then Kyung: they are all running towards their base camp and screaming at the top of their lungs.

The creeper is Lee Taeil. Of course. Makes sense. That little creep.

“Fuckin' stop lurkin' around, bro, holy shitballs.” Jiho holds onto his heart, pulling out his asthma inhaler.

“You told me to do the fuckin thermal sweep of the whole fuckin building, you moron.” Taeil growls back at him, violently wigging the two cameras in his hands for good measure.

Roll the cameras.

“Here we are!” Jiho screams to no one particular, probs the ghosties. It echoes throughout the building eerily.

Oh, that's a nice introduction, Kyung thinks.

“Come and say hello!” He's still lookin around, “Use our energy!” Jiho has his arms wide in front of him, twirling around,

Don't.. don't start taunting, please, Kyung begs in his mind.

“Do something to us! Hit Kyung!” Jiho motions to his right hand man.

Now, why you gotta say that? Kyung sends his bitchiest glare towards Jiho. Also a couple of curses.

Nothing happens for 5 minutes but Jiho insists they stand there with their recording devices in hand.

Another 10 minutes goes by and Jiho is getting pissed off. He decides they should split in pairs.

..

Jiho walks around for a full hour with Kyung until he decides they should go to their base where their tech guy Jihoon is currently sitting to see if he'd caught anything.

They are monitoring a video on the fifth floor, when they notice Minhyuk waLKING BACKWARDS ON THE LEFT OF THE SHOOT TOWARDS THE CAMERA, you can see only the whites of his eyes as he gurgles violently, standing in front of the camera for a full 3 minutes.

“Dude, stop acting like you've been possessed, man..” Jiho says into the walkie-talkie, he's so tired and in desperate need for a shower and 4 episodes of his favourite Hello Kitty show.

Minhyuk stops and walks away like nothing happened.

..

Ukwon has been walking alone on the first floor and catches an orange orb floating. He sends a message through his walkie talkie and Jiho gets super pumped up again. They all gather in the monitoring tent to marvel the finding:

“DUUUDEEE!”

“WOWW”

“BROOO, DID YOU SEE THAT, DUDE?”

“MANNNN”

“HOLY SHIT DUDES, THIS IS GREAT--”

“FUCK, BROS”

“YEAH BABE, DID YOU SEE THA-- I mean Jihoon did you see that???” Taeil hides behind his giant camera, Jihoon whines an answer.

..

2 hours into the investigation Taeil realizes he's been walking around with a camera with no power in it and the others have to hold him down to prevent him from throwing the camera out of the non-glassed window and 10 meters downwards onto the pavement.

..

“Okay, my dudes. It's time to take some action. Let's draw strings to see who gets locked up alone upstairs. We gotta get some good action so we'll get some views, bros.” Jiho says, pulling out the strings.

Jihoon looses. He always does. He's staring to think the string-drawing is rigged.

The tall manbaby has a face camera and an extra camera with him, you can see him panting and sweating in horror, mumbling 'omajgad' under his breath as he sits in the corner of the most haunted room of the whole sanatorium.

Jiho asks him to walk around and FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, NOT TO BREATHE SO LOUDLY

All you see is a crying Jihoon in green night vision, carefully walking around, three cameras on him.

There's a THUMP, then a weeping sound and a loud crash. The camera in Jihoon's hand shakes and falls. It's pitch black. The still cameras Ukwon had set up are too far to record anything.

Nobody even breathes, eyes wild and scared like saucers in the monitoring tent. Then Taeil shoots out of his chair, knocks over Ukwon and Kyung, speeds out of the tent to the attic to save his man child boyfriend person WE ARE NO DATING he yells but that gets edited out by Kyung and the only part of him running that is left in is Kyung cooing “ahh~ young love~”.

After a couple of minutes of excruciating silence, Taeil emerges from the darkness carrying Jihoon over his shoulders like he's a fluffy winter scarf. An almost 2 meter passed-out scarf.

Poor man got hit in the head with a small rock (that was definitely thrown by a ghost!!) and fell like a dumbass, passing out.

“Hyungs, I think I actually peed my pants before I passed out. Like at least a couple drops..” Jihoon is holding onto a chair to catch his breath.

..

“Now, that went super well, let's send Jaehyo to the morgue alone!” Jiho is as hyper as ever.

“Fuck, you can't make me go there alone!” there are actual tears in Jaehyo's eyes.

“Yes, I can, I'm the boss around here!” Jiho angrily whispers back at him.

Kyung beames, he's still the right hand man and Jiho defs wouldn't do something like that to him.

Next thing we see, Jaehyo is in the morgue.

He sits on a chair next to the fire places a couple minutes until he hears a creaking sound. Like a door opening.

“Oh my god.. Oh my god oh my god oh my goddd. I am too gorgeous and too young to die! I haven't lived long enough to see Zico's and Kyung's kids!” Jaehyo is now in the corner of the room kneeling and praying.

Everyone in their base camp is closely monitoring what Jaehyo is up to and holding in their laughter, Jiho's and Kyung's faces beet red.

Jaehyo sees a giant shadow move from the farther side of the room towards him and completely loses his shit

“I AM FUCKING QUITTING THIS JOB RIGHT NOW!” Jaehyo storms out of the sanatorium.

“Bitch did not just do that.” Minhyuk is amazed their self-proclaimed 'fuckin gorgeous guy' actually has balls.

“I hope he doesn't take the car--” Ukwon starts, they hear the engine of their van turn on and the scraping of pavement until the sound dissolves into the echoes of dead forest around them.

..

Taeil looks disgustingly old all of a sudden: “We should just quit and become like a boyband or some shit before it's too late.” They all look into the camera like in The Office.

[notfeelingthyaster]

Imagine (Son of Hades! Percy; Godswapped! Big Three's kids) Mark of Athena AU Pt. 1 (3/7) or (8/12)

Hello!! MoA is freaking extensive, so you're getting it in two parts. What are y'all thinking about this AU? Do you like it? Do you have suggestions? Anyway before reading this, check on the masterpost - all parts are essencial for the understanding of this - PJO or HoO - and check on the warnings before proceeding :))

Before everything, everyone's ages. Malcolm is 20, Reyna and Octavian are 19; Percy and Annabeth are 18; Frank and Jason are 17; Piper, Leo and Nico are newly 16; Will and Hazel are 15 - everyone is older, because I can.

Perseus is on a very uncomfortable toga praetexta, and he is late to the committee he has been organizing for at least two weeks now.

Planning for the greek commission - that he really hopes has planned a decent diplomatic mission, come on, Annie - is a very difficult job.

Mainly because Octavian is being a pain - and his direct superior, the Pontifex Maximus, is his grand-uncle, so nepotism is, of course, making Perseus life very hard.

They don't have any real say about the subject - the Vestal Virgins outrank them, and they're all for it because their Lady said so - but they still can protest every single one of the Alliance Committee decisions. Every single one.

They don't know how the greeks are getting here - it seems to be by ship, so they are keeping people at the closest bay, but no one is sure, so they are preparing for everything.

Hera gave him a date - July 8th, a Sunday - and they're working with that. Saturday is a day of rest, to the Roman people, so they organize everything on Friday - food, beverage, accommodations. Will they need garments? Perseus is not letting them walk around in those orange monstrosities.

Well. Hazel and Frank organize those - mainly helped by Questors and Magistrates - while Reyna and Perseus lock themselves up and review all the paperwork.

Because if they're not coming with their own mountain of paperwork, Perseus is kicking their asses, from Jason Grace - the previous Praetor - to Annabeth - she is supposed to be smart.

He also works on the mess that is the patrol rotation, the defense plans for the city, in the reconstruction efforts and in rising the wall at least 10 feet - getting it thirty feet tall, an impenetrable fortress for the upcoming war against the Giants.

Perseus has also made time for Iris Messaging his mother, - who is always overjoyed to hear from him - Persephone, - who he was only able to talk to once - Rachel, - who was not surprised to hear from him, and keep suggesting that he goes to the college closest to Parsons instead of staying in Nova Roma - and Calypso - who no Iris Messaging has been able to connect, nor can he find her location, so he guesses she is also in Olympus.

So back to the present - Perseus is late. It's 9h22 - he doesn't think that the greeks are getting here in the afternoon. He passes by Reyna's villa - with a cup of coffee and half their paperwork - and she is also late - a first when it comes to Praetor Arellano. Because they aren't Perseus and Reyna from now - they're Praetor Jackson of Styx and Praetor Arellano.

So they go to the courtyard - where the whole army is waiting, swords and shields gleaming with Frank in the head, plus the Consul, his two assistants, the Pontifex Maximus, Augur Primus Octavian, the six Questors and Perseus, and Reyna's assistants.

Perseus was never so grateful for someone as he was for Commander Sabina Artorius - the legacy of Pomona had been injured in the battle against Polybotes and lost her right leg and an eye - didn't make her any less valuable for him - but in the eyes of the prejudiced Roman people, she was a burden - so Reyna appointed her for the job.

She did everything Perseus wasn't able to - including proof-reading everything he wrote, teaching him the intricacies of Roman Politics, and giving him paperwork to sign.

Everyone who called her a useless servant was lying - Sabina was an amazingly competent P.A. and diplomat, and Perseus was very grateful for her, and her salary reflected that. Even if the Romans found weird a Praetor was paying for work - weird slaver fascist culture.

Reyna also has an assistant - a boy called Aeneas Nerius - a son of Virtus - who was born blind, so was relegated to poor-paying (or not paid at all, because housing and food aren't payment) jobs. Because Nova Roma is not only queerphobic and racist, no. It's also ableist.

The Pontifex - his name is Septimus Gavius, and he's a direct son of Phebus Apollo - looks at them angrily when they arrive late - but the Consul doesn't even notice the time - the man is too afraid of their conjoined power over the masses.

The Consul plays for the people as if Perseus would be a good successor - calls him Augustus and Imperator - even when everyone knows Reyna is the obvious choice - the man is as misogynist as all the older Senators are.

While Reyna tries her best to make her purple stola less constricting and Aeneas corrects Perseus toga with the practiced movements of someone who has been trained to do it - and that's when Perseus remembers that Aeneas was a servant to Octavian's family.

He pointedly avoids looking at the boy's hands - the demigod is no older than Percy, and his hands are burned and scarred. Perseus doesn't pity him - he rages internally against Octavian and his bigoted, slaver, prejudiced family.

They are talking - he is still seething from his realization - when the Greeks appear. And Perseus wants so much to kick their butts.

He has no words. He wants to scream. Reyna massages her temples with the face of a resigned person, and Sabina - the bloodthirsty woman that she is - snorts in amusement.

"Praetor Jackson. I fought beside you! I didn't expect your people to be... well... barbarians!" Whispers Reyna in his ear, in utter exasperation.

"I wasn't expecting this either! They have Grace, who is a roman! Why are they doing this?" He whispers back, as lost as she appears.

It doesn't matter - he tells Frank - Legatus Legionis Zhang - to make the troops stand down. This is not a fight - not yet, Lady Lupa whispers in his mind.

Hazel - Centurion Levesque - looks at him worried. She has been frenzied since her brother's disappearance the day after her birthday, but this is just the cherry on top. Are they fools?

The ship crosses their wall - and hovers in the air as, one by one, six people climb down. Perseus recognize almost all of them - there's Annabeth, Malcolm, Will, Jason Grace, and two other demigods, who he doesn't know.

At least Grace is wearing a toga. A makeshift, purple toga picta - as if he was a Triumvir or an Imperator - but a toga nonetheless, even if pretentious.

The Consul is the first to talk - the Greeks approach slowly, wary of the army behind them. The man welcomes them to Nova Roma - looking at Grace's toga with something akin to disdain - and then promptly passes the torch to the Praetors - the organization of this whole thing has been in their hands from the start.

"I am Praetor Urbanus Arellano" Reyna starts, in an official tone that no one questions "And this is Praetor Peregrinus Jackson of Styx. These are Pontifex Maximus Septimus and Augur Primus Octavian, Legatus Legionis Zhang, and the Twelfth Legion of Nova Roma. Please, follow me - let's continue our talking in a more private setting, I'm sure you're must be exhausted."

It's just an excuse to avoid the mocking looks the bigots are throwing them - Perseus can hear their voices in his head, calling him an ape, a savage bringing barbarians into their home.

The greeks - with their orange T-shirts and faded jeans and mocking purple toga - look as out of place in Nova Roma as Perseus feared they would. Reyna and he take them to the Praetor Villa - is as much as they can restrain themselves.

Annabeth - who knows him longer than anyone here - doesn't jump him - she just looks a little overwhelmed - Nova Roma is probably a bit much for her Athenian brain, which is now possibly being overridden with possibilities. It's Jason who makes the first move - and what a weird move at that.

"Reyna" He greets, and they hug briefly - and as manly as possible, for some weird roman reason about feminization - before the blonde turns to him "Perseus Jackson"

"Jason Grace" He answers back, and they exchange a handshake, but there's something weird in the inflection of his voice that Perseus doesn't necessarily care for "Annabeth"

Her greeting - when she gets off the subspace she dropped to - is much nicer - and warmer - he even gets a hug out of it.

They introduce him to Leo Valdez - who Perseus looks at once, remembers Charles Beckendorf, and swears to never let any harm come upon his baby brother - and Piper McLean.

"I know you!" They say at the same time - because that's where English gets you.

They explain that they went to Yancy together - two years, doing the same English tutoring. They give each other a high five for surviving the highs and lows of high school as monster bait. Malcolm and Will both hug Percy and greet Reyna with the same respect they give Annabeth - Praetor Arellano is terrifying.

The conversation eventually goes to how - how did they find Nova Roma, why they aren't surprised to see him here - and the answers are kind of obvious.

"I dreamed of you," Says Grace, still with a strange tilt to his voice. Perseus guesses he probably isn't okay with losing his place as Praetor - but he was kind of lost for eight/seven months. It's the gods' fault, really.

"Me too. Kind of - Lady Juno... I mean, Hera, she sent me dreams for about a month or so? It was all very weird - like basically the training I was doing at the day, you were doing at night. I think she was trying to tell me to follow in your footsteps. Helped me a lot - thank you, man."

Jason - and all of the greek entourage - seems a bit downtrodden - like he just gave a big miss. But Perseus has more important things to care about.

"Who had the brilliant idea to come for an alliance in a military flying ship?!"

Jason Grace wants to punch Hera, or Juno, or whatever is her name in the face. He wants to punch himself either - the gods never did anything good for him, why would they now?

He talked - like a creep - about the dreams. And turns out? He is the only one having deep, emotional dreams about Perseus' past for months. He got a crush on someone he knows, like the palm of his hand - but that doesn't know him back, because really, why make this easy? Why give him those dreams at all - if they were doing this one-sided?

So he stays quiet, as Leo apologizes for the worst idea ever - coming with a warship to a military city - and, while Perseus and Piper trade stories, Reyna beacons him for a quick walk - to show him the development of plans they did together - their own way of catching up.

"You're infatuated with him," Jason says but is not an accusation, is just the truth, in the worst time possible.

"Can you blame me? You were gone." She retorts "Wait... It's not me you're jealous of. But how do you? You never met before."

He explains the dreams - the seven months of dreams, the only link to his past, the way Camp Half-Blood worships Percy - the way that they don't have rules about who you lay with. Jason feels Nova Roma around him - the decadence of water everywhere that CHB simply lacked.

"Well, we should open a club. Me, you, that blonde girl, Di Angelo, half of Nova Roma..." And they laugh, for it seems impossible to not fall for Percy's charm, just as impossible as making him notice any of them. "Now can you explain to me why are you wearing purple of all things?"

He is apologetic - it was the only toga they could find in short notice without leaving Camp. Then, she shows him the plans - Reyna can do multiple things at once, and her best friend's love life is merely a blip in her radar.

Reyna loves differently - she has known that, all her life. It doesn't make a difference where it comes to Perseus - she loves him, even if she can't imagine ever laying with him. Maybe that's why she hasn't made any moves under the course of three months. She should let him go - he has so many options, anyway.

When they go back, is to see Perseus and Annabeth in a heated debate about she wearing a chiton or a stola - anyway, no greek can go to Senatus in jeans and a T-shirt.

Eventually, they manage to get them all in togas - the girls refuse the stolas, but they are convinced to put on the chitons for diplomacy.

They didn't come with mountains of paperwork. But between Malcolm, Will, and Annabeth, by lunch they have outlined most of their possible contributions and what do they need - and what they're unable to give up.

Perseus and Jason - and possibly Nico di Angelo, who's missing - are the only ones who know the full information - how many battle-ready people both sides have, how many disabled people, how many children, healers, resources.

Nova Roma is winning - in everything. Except for power - because Camp Half-Blood only has, maybe, five legacies out of more than 150 campers, while Nova Roma is mainly composed of legacies, second-generation demigods, or minor gods' demigods.

The Greeks are composed of 63% Olympian's children, 36% minor gods' children, and 2% legacies - all children of two demigods, so second-generation demigods. They don't have Nova Roma's training - but they have powers the Romans could only dream of.

The Romans are composed of 12% Olympian's children, 39,5% minor gods' children, and 48,5% legacies - most who are at least a few generations diluted. They don't have Camp's power - but they have techniques and numbers the Greeks couldn't even hope to have - if you counted the able non-fighters - the ones who would fight either way for the sake of Rome - it was a number bordering on 700 hundred strong.

It is a gamble that could only bring destruction - for both sides. So Perseus and Jason exchange looks - and decide not to divulge all information. Egos are so fragile - especially between the older generations - so it's best they don't have material to plan in accord.

The Greeks and Roman heed together to the Forum Romanum. Is still weird to see the Romans - especially for Leo.

You see, Leo has been surrounded by a cult of Perseus Jackson over the last few months. Half the people he knows are infatuated with the guy - including the meticulous Annabeth Chase, his best friend, and even scary as hell, Nico "I'm bringing the thunder" di Angelo.

He is expecting a Batman-esque character. He is expecting the heroes from legends - the ones destined to fall. Leo is half-waiting from an automaton - or perhaps Lucifer himself. He isn't sure.

But the guy is... easy-going. He bears a striking similarity to Charles Beckendorf - with surprisingly green eyes. Perseus is wearing sheets - why, Leo can't phantom - and making jokes with Malcolm Cage like the guy wasn't perpetually boomed by something.

It isn't the only thing that surprises him: All his ships (the romantic ones, not the literal one) crashed and burned worse than Helen of Troy and Paris. Perseus is seemingly oblivious to romance - he is all about the job, making friends, rebelling against the traditions and their superpowerful angsty parents.

Well, Leo can get behind this. He can't stop looking at Nova Roma - a whole city, directly taken off a good Gladiator reboot. Leo is not an architecture crazy like Annabeth - but oh, the aqueducts!

Leo wants to take a peak at the place the chimneys are poking of - maybe a two or three hour walk from where he is - but Piper keeps a hand in his wrist, leashing him like a unruly puppy.

Annabeth is in a similar state of amazement - she came here for her best friend and crush - and is surprised.

Not by Perseus becoming some kind of military political person - he always had the potential - and the way he grew, somewhat, harder and prettier at the same time. Annabeth is only eighteen and still on sophomore year - blame the hormones.

But she is amazed by Nova Roma. They have such an intricate society, with traditions the greeks have long forgotten - who still uses clothes like that - and a military formation worthy of Julius Caesar.

Her best friend turned out to kind of be the Julius Caesar to Reyna's - Praetor Arellano - Augustus. Perseus - Praetor Jackson of Styx - is militar and rigid, a political conqueror - while Reyna is infinitely more dangerous - she is a king, a leader to be worshipped as a goddess for centuries to come.

Annabeth came in this mission for three reasons: Her best friend, the war, and the mission her mother gave her. But now, she looks at the politics, at the city - and wants to stay.

They enter the Senatus - Perseus and Reyna upfront, followed by Jason and the greeks - and take their places. Jason - for the anger of most romans - stay with the greeks.

The session starts as normal - titles, names, rankings, people bringing their issues, strifes, budgets, ideas of infrastructure that were authorized by the Censors, marriage licenses and research projects.

Jason thinks they are scarily good together. Reyna works most of the civil front - she is a master at law - but it's Perseus who separates most strifes and solves the money problems - he is the son of a fair judge himself.

He can see the looks - he is Propraetor now. Why doesn't he sit in his side of the Senatus, between his pairs? Does he think himself above them now - even between barbarians?

But Jason can't let his friends to the mercy of the romans - not alone. After all people come - some redirected to the Consul, some with their issues solved for better or for worse - it's their time, to state the case.

The Alliance of Ephesus - for a city that was both greek and roman in nature - is still in it's initial states. But they make their cases - the way Camp Half-Blood could help in the upcoming war against the giants, their own roles in the previous war against the titans.

It is a convincing argument - both Perseus and him are unmovable objects, and Reyna is an unstoppable force - but they do hit a rock in the way.

"If the best your camp has to offer is a healer of Phebus Apollo, a bulla-wearer of Flamen Vulcan, a daughter of Venus Verticordia and two children of Minerva - a virgin goddess - this Alliance is highly unfair for the people of Rome!"

It had to be Octavian, Jason thinks. It is good, then, that Perseus has the tongue made of steel and looks like a Basileus - sat on a throne, overlooking them, with a bored look upon his face, he could demand a crown and they would give him.

"You overestimate yourself, Augur Primus Octavian. You see yourself so mighty that you have no need for allies?"

It is mocking and there's a message behind it - "This is where I come from and I am your Praetor - do you challenge my power?" - it makes Jason shiver.

Perseus - Praetor Jackson of Styx - is his father through and through. Jason only met the god once - in the post-war council in Olympus - but he had the same imposing voice, the same luxury that seduced Proserpina to the Underworld.

Just like he looked leading the greek forces against Kronos, wielding his weapons of choice with a roar that made Manhattan tremble.

It seemed to work - for Octavian shut up pretty quickly. Jason is no longer in a position to do it - he is respected, technically, as a Propraetor, but he barely reached half of his term - after spending a year as Legatus Legionis - a position which Frank Zhang more than deserved.

Everything is going well - too well, for Piper's liking. Perseus is cool, Reyna is cooler, they have a whole government (!), Jason is making heart-eyes at dream dude and even prejudiced guy recognized her as a girl.

They have a feast - where they are introduced to Frank Zhang and Hazel Levesque - and Piper sure isn't keeping all those titles straight in her head, this is Annabeth's job.

Centurion Levesque - Hazel, a girl a little younger than them, but apparently already a general - keeps looking at Leo as if he is about to implode - a normal reaction to him. She stops once they are introduced - there's a forlorn air about her.

She catches up a little with Perseus - who is the most oblivious person to ever grace this earth, for so many look at him and he barely looks at anything but his paperwork - who finds it mightly funny to slowly eat a pomegranate while everyone freaks out at the implications.

Well - he thinks they are scared. But Piper knows they're just horny and waiting to pass winter cozying up in hell.

Perseus explains to her (finally) why they give the gods different names - Venus Verticordia, Genetrix, and Victrix; Juno Moneta, Regina, Lucina, and Populona; Mars Ultor, Pater, Quirinus, and Gradivus, etc. He explains they are epithets - different forms of each god.

Different from the greek to roman transition, these are the same gods - in very different facades. Like, for example, her mother could either be Venus Genetrix - the maternal one - Victrix - the war one - or Verticordia - the romantic love one.

Greeks used to have this - but some of their aspects got too jumbled, so they started rebirthing - evolution. Zagreus became Dionysus. Hermes split from Pan. Helius merged with Apollo, Selene merged with Artemis. As their cult changed - so did they.

Children of Venus Genetrix and Verticordia are different from Children of Venus Victrix - still brothers and sisters, but their powers are different - where the first lean towards priesthood and the second towards charm speak and magic - almost all the third's are warriors of the same caliber of Mars Ultor's children.

Everyone here is so different though- Perseus' P.A., Sabina, is a total badass and Piper would be all for her... but wouldn't that invalidate her? She spent her whole life trying to prove she is a girl - to now go pursue sex with other girls? Piper is confused - she should IM Ariel before sleeping

It is all going very well - minor accident when someone mentioned Perseus' decision to send the harpy Ella away days ago - probably to Rachel - until Octavian decides to see the ship. And, of course, Leo just has to go.

Jason is proving to be very smart - for while Leo is occupied above with Octavian, he insists to also be on the ship, with Will and Malcolm as his backup - no one here trusts the drowned rat.

They take with them Frank and Hazel Levesque - two possible candidates for the mission on the Roman side - evening the sides - three Romans, three greeks, and Jason - a medium.

Perseus stays on ground - he is the host and can't leave the party - with Reyna - who is talking to Annabeth in hushed whispers - and her - who is starting to get a little tipsy.

Well. She should've known better.

Leo attacks the camp - it's not him, but it's enough. Perseus - at the first cannon bomb - whispers something in Reyna's ear, and escort her and Annabeth to the ship before Roma can react.

He jumps on board, pops an unconscious Octavian out of the ship, and tells Annabeth to get out of there in the next ten minutes or he won't have an alibi. They do - but look at him like he is either crazy or drunk, still in laurels and a toga, a goblet of wine precariously between his fingers.

"I'm Praetor Peregrinus Jackson of Styx - and this is an espionage mission with the objective of rescuing Legatus Legionis Zhang and Centurion Levesque while finding who is the greek traitor. At least, officially - I'm here because I am not a big fan of the woman encroaching in my territory, trying to kill my friends."

Leo - who is still disoriented of what Frank explain is an eidolon, they had a run with those when the attacks on Nova Roma started - starts laughing and takes Annabeth's place steering the Argo II. After a minute of silence, everyone starts laughing - the man is a genius.

So they go after decent clothing - because just Hazel and Frank are in battle appropriate clothing, and Perseus just noticed that they're floating and he can almost see the equations around his head - he wants so bad to talk to him because he has the same numbers around him all the time.

After everyone is in pants and shirts - Perseus, Frank, and Hazel take the loose shirts - Annabeth brought a stash of clothes in more or less their size, in Jason's word - but, while Frank tugs on a pair of sweatpants, the other two look at each other.

Leo is not really surprised when Hazel is in a skirt - but he gasps when Perseus walks in Frank's roman military skirt. He looks uncomfortable at the mere idea of pants.

No one says anything - not only they lived in CHB, but he has the Minotaur dagger that pair perfectly with Rachel's strapped to his tight, while his ax and Warhammer are crossed in his back.

Leo can see Jason drooling - he isn't the only one. Leo is newly sixteen - the youngest bar Will, and, perhaps, Hazel - and generally more interested in machines but he is not blind - the guy is hot.

Perseus gets hotter when he comes to Leo - still with a resting bitch face that would give Chiron a run for his money - and starts asking questions with the excitement of a puppy - about the ship, about the plans, how the aerodynamics work.

Hazel is roped into the conversation when they try and test if she has any control over the wind - almost nothing, but Perseus thinks he can hone her eventually - while Will and Malcolm start grilling Frank and Jason over Nova Roma.

Perseus mentions Nico - which Hazel supports. He hasn't be seen in either Camp since Perseus recovered his memories - said he was going to make up for it, but Percy knows the guy is a little self-destructive - he is too prideful to know when to just stop.

Piper and Annabeth are on patrol - no one is really sure the Romans aren't going after them. It doesn't serve for much: they are attacked.

Not by Romans, but by griffins. Between Jason, Piper, and Annabeth, Perseus and Leo don't even move. The ship does suffer some damage - which prompts Leo to give the Romans a tour of the Argo II.

Perseus is fascinated by Festus - while Hazel is fascinated by Leo - And Frank is seriously just marveling at the greeks by now - Nova Roma is pleasing to the eye, but they don't have automaton dragon ships.

They go to Salt Lake. Jason, Frank, and Piper go get tar, while Leo, Hazel, and Perseus go to the Celestial Bronze. Annabeth, Malcolm, and Will stay, to protect the ship.

It's the first time Perseus has touched land outside of Roma with his memories back - and he can feel a pressure in his chest: His link of empathy to Grover, never completely off.

They encounter Nemesis - who talks to Perseus about Ethan and Domitia, for which he retorts she has no rights. She took Ethan's eye, and his choice was not worth it - she asked for too high a payment.

Nemesis, or Invidia, laughs. Says the world isn't fair - look at Perseus and Jason, Leo and Sammy, Hazel and Nico, the marks in Roman's backs. She doesn't explain anything - but they understand.

Perseus understands Hazel and Nico - it's not fair, that her brother is missing, probably captured if his dreams have an ounce of truth. Leo understands Perseus and Jason - for Jason confided in him for months. It's unfair that Perseus doesn't know as much about Jason - and that Jason knows way too much about him.

Both Hazel and Perseus muse about Sammy - the one from Hazel's flashbacks. They hold hands and keep silent - this is not the moment. Leo doesn't ask about the marks - he saw Jason bare-chested once. He doesn't need to know more.

Invidia gives the fortune cookie to Leo, and promptly disappears - Percy wants to punch her. For Alabaster, for Ethan, for Domitia and the punishments that she has to dole out.

They meet Echo - who Perseus pity and rages, for it's the gods's fault. She couldn't refuse to help Zeus - neither could she flee from Hera's punishment, or Eros' arrows. It's their fault, that she stands now, alive again, but incapable of happiness.

Narcissus is a dick. And Hazel thinks that both Sammy - Leo - and Percy - who looks just like Pluto, and not in a bad way - could surpass him in both looks and personality.

Percy and Leo distract the nymphs - in different ways. Perseus plays his father well, and the dryads flee to Leo, in search of protection from a hero. A black makeshift toga Echo gives them, and that's it: The god of the Underworld coming to kidnap someone else.

Hazel retrieves the Celestial Bronze - the energy in it is strong enough, with Perseus opening the earth sideways for it to pass. They don't need to run back to the ship: Percy keeps evoking skeletons, which scares the nymphs, and in a fit of fury for Echo, Leo breaks Narcissus' nose - which sends him into a panic.

While getting tar, Piper feels her dagger heating up - Katoptris shows her a man Jason recognizes as Dionysus, in Topeka.

When everyone is back to the ship, they relay their stories. Perseus briefly asks Annabeth about Grover - who she tells him is occupied in Maine this year, but never gave up on looking for Perseus. Then, they leave for Topeka - they have a god to meet.

"I know a friend who could help us get down" Starts Perseus, looking at the emptiness under them with worry. The daughter of Aphrodite sympathizes.

"I thought you couldn't shadow travel more than one person at a time" States Jason, with all the creepiness of the dream stalker that he is. Piper is laughing - while Jason flushes and tries to explain.

Perseus ignores it, for the sake of his sanity, and asks if Jason has a Pegasus: Thalia has Porkpie, and he is right, Perseus couldn't possibly get three of them down and up without draining himself.

Jason doesn't have a pegasus - he does have Arion, the son of his matron, Ceres, and Neptune, his father. It doesn't fly - but Hazel has a venti that does.

So it goes Hazel and Jason on Tempest, Piper, and Perseus on Blackjack. Bacchus is waiting for them, a two-liter bottle of Pepsi in one hand.

While many of the roman aspects of greek gods are mainly more rigid, Bacchus is the complete opposite. Dionysus is a god of madness and, in his older iterations, Zagreus, a god of the Underworld.

Bacchus is a god of drunkness, sex, excess, and parties. He has none of the darker sides of his counterpart - nor the austerity of his aspect as Bacchus Liber, a god of freedom, fertility, and protector of people.

No, this was Bacchus in his most simple form: a deadbeat drunk. Piper is so tired - why couldn't she be born in a serious pantheon? Egyptians seem pretty focused.

Bacchus wishes for Ceres' presence - says it's not his responsibility to deal with plants - this is the dominion of Liber, and he can't be Liber without Ceres here. He asks Jason or Perseus to call for the matron - she should listen to them - but Ceres doesn't answer their prayers.

Perseus is as done as Piper and just rolls his eyes. At the presence of a fertility god, even if he only has a bare connection to it, vines start growing around the son of Hades' ankles, like if they're coming to play. Perseus is not only a son of Hades', Piper remembers, but he is also a champion of Persephone.

And while Jason's only blessing is his magical horse, Perseus was trained and has some mild control over plants - Piper thinks he got the better goddess in the deal.

Bacchus - drunk in Pepsi, if that's even possible - don't answer much. He tells them about Phorcys, and paying tribute - Liber would probably answer to it. He then flees.

Jason and Perseus hold a brief conversation about holding evening prayers - Piper doesn't understand much, but Hazel is nodding along, so it can't be bad: The girl is pretty level-headed.

Perseus is a son of the Underworld, he cannot be possessed by spirits, and fight them off easily, and Jason does too - mainly because he knows Perseus way too much to attack him.

But then the spirits turn to the girls. Jason has to throw a wave over Perseus to wake him from Piper's charmspeak so that he can exorcise them. It works, but Perseus has a small panic attack over drowning, is immediately drained and faints on his arms.

So Jason hauls Piper and Hazel over Tempest, so the venti takes them up first, before he bride-carries Perseus into a hurricane and over to Argo II, and promptly passing out from exhaustion and scaring the hell out of everyone on board.

Jason thinks it's worth it - Perseus asks him to start calling him Percy, and, in the Mess Hall, each takes one head of the table. He feels like he should be bothered - he isn't one to share leadership, but they all know the true head of operations here is Annabeth, so.

Percy tells them what he told Reyna - to stop any from following them, for this was a special ops mission. It's his role, and, later, Jason and he can strategize what Perseus will say in the Iris Messages to the Senatus.

And how they're going to spin crossing the Mediterranean Sea without using Julius Caesar's journey as a comparative too much, least they think Jason and Perseus are planning a coup.

They totally are. The two of them and Reyna would be the first triumvirate to work.

That evening, they sit together on the deck and talk. Not about Jason's dreams, not about Perseus's fear of drowning. But the joke about the Forum, and trade anecdotes of campers both know - and it feels like something.

Perseus dreams of drowning on earth and trashes around in his sleep - just until he starts dreaming of Nico again.

Nico is locked up in a cage - like a bird trying to reach flight. Ephialtes and Otis taunt him - two eagles come and try to attack him. He fends them off - feeding off electricity in the sky - but Perseus knows he won't be able to keep this for a long time.

Perseus goes to the deeps of the ship, just close to the motors, and cuddles up to Blackjack - the Nico situation will have to wait until morning.

In the same night, Leo catches Frank sleeping as a dog - and his crush on the guy threatens to swallow him whole.

It's Will who finds him, twelve hours later. Everyone is pissed that Perseus disappeared - so they don't let him go search for Phorcys with Jason, sending the blonde boy with Frank and Will, claiming the son of Hades is still exhausted from the past day.

Perseus stays on board. He tries to decypher his vision with Piper and Hazel, while Malcolm and Annabeth trace the route to their own mission. Leo is steering the ship and finishing the repairs.

Hazel is worried about what Percy saw. The two eagles match a dream she had, a little over a week ago: Prometheus. If those eagles reach Nico, when Nico gets too weak, he will have his liver ripped off, and no magical powers to regrow it.

Jason's mission is also giving bad results. They meet Keto - who Jason is pretty sure he already killed once - and is uncooperative as she takes Will in a tour. Phorcys is much more open - after a little flattery, he tells them all about the twin Giants, the prisoner in a cage - bait for Perseus Jackson and Hazel Levesque - and a map that would possibly lead to the Athenas Parthenos.

They escape when Will kills Keto with a well-positioned arrow, before breaking the tank together and fleeing to Argus II.

In the way to Charleston, they discuss where could the map be. Perseus trade his first Iris Message with the Senatus - in his room, faking that both Frank and Hazel are helping him, and that the greeks have no idea what happened - that there is a traitor in their midst, but the Alliance continues.

Perseus hopes they can win this war with minimum bloodshed, and then he can claim the traitor was controlled by Gaia or something because that's not his main preoccupation. He trades information with Reyna - she tells him to go to Battery.

Annabeth remembers her meeting with her mother - for this time, she was accompanied by Malcolm. Athena told them they were failures - wasting their time searching for a son of Hades. But that they should have a chance at proving themselves - and gave them the small silver coin. To "avenge" her.

Athena raged and bristled about Annabeth and Malcolm helping the Romans, but that's where Annabeth would not relent. Would her mother prefer destruction over her pride? Oh, how wise.

Annabeth feels ashamed she still craves her mother's approval, while the goddess simply saw them as pawns, even after the war raged by the rejected children - she was one of the Olympians with most children on the opposite side.

This time, they play with the finger trap all together - in the mess hall - and Annabeth looks at them and decides this is her family, not a bitter goddess that never bothered with her. She wasn't doing this for Athena - she was doing this for Camp, and her friends.

Annabeth, Hazel, and Perseus go to the Battery, while Leo, Frank, and Malcolm go to the museum after the map. Jason goes to the bay with Will, to try and free the animals at Phorcys aquarium, and Piper stays on board to patrol the ship.

Aphrodite is flickering between her greek form and her Venus Genetrix aspect, but ends up settling as Venus Verticordia - the closest she can get to greek between a roman, a greek, and Perseus, who, according to her, is both.

"You shall tread carefully with love, Annabeth Chase, for your heart lays elsewhere; You are locked up between two ways of the heart, Hazel Levesque, and shall thread both; And you, Perseus Jackson of Styx, when it comes to the heart, you are my crown jewel."

Perseus would punch her, but he knows better: Verticordia means "the changer of hearts", she is a manipulator, a player. It's this aspect who caused the Trojan War, who tossed Aeneas right and left for Lavinia.

He much prefers Venus Victrix, who appears when they're about to leave, to warn then about the importance of the statue and the location of the map, in Fort Sumter.

Octavian - who was conspicuously missing from the Senatus meeting - is here - against the orders of both Praetors. He tries to attack them - but Perseus makes the earth tremble and they run away. Jason and Will join the fray, and they send a message to Leo's group for them to regroup.

Annabeth gets the map - again fighting against spiders and the voice of Lady Earth - but this time there's no Reyna to confront her - this time, Roma is on their side.

Perseus asks if killing Octavian would be so bad, after all, but Hazel stops him from making the earth swallow the Augur - he is still a person, after all.

They change their minds pretty quickly once Reyna IM's Perseus, saying that Octavian poisoned the minds of the Senatus against the greeks and that she was unable to do much. She says the Augur is claiming that Perseus, Jason, Frank, and Hazel are mind-controlled by Piper - and that he tried valiantly to rescue them, but failed.

Perseus is pretty sure that he should've made the earth swallow him, send him directly to the Punishment Fields so he wouldn't be able to leave the Underworld never again, the lying rat.

It takes three days for them to reach the Mediterranean Sea. These three days are spent most with training and planning - while the children of Athena plan for their mission, Hazel and Frank train their powers, Perseus and Piper spar, Annabeth and Leo steer the ship, Perseus and Jason spar and patrol, Jason and Annabeth trade ideas about the two sides, Will mends a lot of people up.

Leo, especially, admires both Hazel and Frank from afar - since the Narcissus situation, he can't keep his eyes off the girl, and Frank is just adorable - he feels like he just watched Pirates of the Caribbean all over again.

The group becomes pretty tight - especially after Will walks in Percy without a shirt on, and immediately manhandles him into the infirmary. He does the same with all Romans - trying to figure an answer to those scars.

Will has a boyfriend - Jake Mason, seventeen - who has the same bad habit of hiding scars from him. But since he lost his foot - Will has discovered a thousand ways to find someone's health problems.

Piper and Leo are not surprised - they are the closest to Jason after all. Malcolm and Annabeth are up in arms - and they call the greeks barbarians?

Jason blames himself - for he has a guilty streak a mile wide, and apologizes to them - as if is his fault Juno had this godawful idea. Perseus punches him in the shoulder and tells him to stop with the bullshit - they have bigger problems than that.

They meet Heracles - and their best speakers are Piper, Perseus, and Will - the charmspeaker, the Praetor who actually finished high school, and the son of the god of poetry - maybe some flattery would help.

Heracles is a complete ass - no, he is a creep. He leers on Will - who is fifteen and he calls eromenos, yes, like a pedophile - then on Piper - who is utterly unimpressed - but don't try on Perseus - his eyes are as dark as the Pit, and he looks ready to punch Heracles.

They don't mention Hera - because the three are smarter than to mention the woman who turned the god's life miserable - but, after Piper refuses to kiss him, he gives him the mission to get the horn of Achelous anyway.

The Achelous is suitably afraid of Perseus - and it's easier to break his horn. They fight against the god - Will punches the guy in the face, while Perseus has no qualms about swarming him with skeletons and melting his armor.

Jason - who is keeping a keen eye on them from the deck - raises a wave for them to go onboard. Will - dripping and utterly mad - starts throwing curses at Heracles - he shines with the power of his father.

Percy is trembling - he hates water, he hates the feeling of drowning, he hates water in his face. He feels weak.

Hercules throws stones at the ship - but fail to hit anything, even if he almost gets Jason - who is pushed to the ground by Perseus, who grounded himself on the blonde.

For now, they have a cornucopia and managed to pass Heracles - so they just hug and laugh breathlessly at Will's increasingly ridiculous curses.

In the midnight patrol, while keeping watch for Stymphalian birds (Perseus hates those), they talk. Perseus tells him about drowning in his own element, about his distaste for both air and water - explains why he never gets close to the margins of the ship.

"Y'know, I dreamed of you" Percy nods, but Jason shakes his head "Not for a week or two, but for seven months. I thought it was Juno..."

Percy seems tense as if he is about to flee at any moment. High-strung. He looks anywhere but at Jason, and finally, he murmurs, almost too low for the silence that expands between them.

"How much?" "Everything."

He tells Percy about his dreams: Luke, Ethan, Alabaster, Persephone, Hades, Sally, Annabeth, Clarisse&Connor, the Labyrinth, the Sea of Monsters, Bianca, Nico, Zoe, Thalia, the weight of the sky, the Styx, the last defense of Olympus.

There are a lot of pieces missing - Percy Jackson is not a puzzle, but a giant Rubik Cube with ten sides - but Jason saw the worst parts of Perseus, his friends, the betrayals, the deaths, the bitterness that threatened to swallow him whole.

Percy doesn't answer - he flees. Back to his room, to conciliate that someone has dreamed about him, for months. That someone he is barely friends with knows so many deep details about him, things he never told anyone, and didn't plan to, ever.

It's not the only difficult conversation that night by far - Hazel and Leo are having a similar one.

You see, Leo is, by all means, closer to Jason out of all romans, and the least close to Frank - who is Hazel's best friend. Leo is pretty friendly flirty with Hazel since the Narcissus situation - because she is cute and just a year below him - but he also has been nursing this massive crush on Frank - who is a hunk of a man with the attitude of a puppy.

But seeing that Frank is straight as a board and Hazel only sees him as his grandfather, apparently, he is out of luck in this department - nothing new. At least he has a bunch of friends.

"Are you my friend only because of my grandfather?" "Of course not." Leo doesn't believe her, but he lets it go - it's the fatal flaw of Hephaestus' children: Lack of self-worth.

Perseus sleeps fitfully - and wakes Hazel to tell her about his vision of Otis and Ephialtes, for she is Nico's sister. They go to the deck, and he plays with her hair as they watch the sunrise.

Jason - looking at them from the other side of the ship - suddenly has a bad feeling - there's something coming in their direction. He makes Leo - who is steering this night - stop, but they are rammed and overrun by dolphin warriors.

Chrysaor disarms Jason - and his crew manages to tie everybody up - except for Perseus, who managed to flee into the shadows, and Frank, who hid away.

It's pretty simple from there - Hazel and Piper trash around when Chrysaor says he is taking them to Circe, Jason says their Captain is Dionysus, and Chrysaor says he is a roman, and Bacchus is weak in comparison to his greek form.

To prove Jason's point, Frank turns into a dolphin while Perseus makes vines appear and hold Chrysaor into place. Their enemies throw themselves overboard, including Chrysaor himself - and Jason sinks their ship by filling it with Diet Coke and Pepsi and burning it to Dionysus and Bacchus Liber - both of the serious sides of the god.

Perseus sleeps on the deck under the fickle rays of the midday sun and dreams of Gaea. Jason wakes him. They spend an awkward moment looking at each other before Jason hugs him.

"I'm sorry" "It's not your fault, stop blaming yourself for everything, Water Boy" "Sure, Death Boy"

They laugh - and for a second, they feel their own ages - eighteen and seventeen - without a care in the world. They mock-wrestle before giving up and just laying in the sun.

Perseus looks at Jason and thinks his beauty under the light of the day might be a good reason to tolerate the brightness.

It's Leo - with a knowing smirk - that tells them to come to mess hall - they need to plan.

Annabeth and Malcolm are going together to the Tiber River - but the children of Athena aren't leaving without a proper send-off - so they're having lunch together first, all together.

They pile around two tables in a little restaurant. This time is not Percy that asks for pizza - it's Leo and Will.

They eat and joke - and forget they are demigods in a mission that might bring the end of the world. No, for a second they're just teenagers - Malcolm is the oldest at twenty, and Hazel and Will are the youngest, both fifteen.

The group jokes and fools around, spending more or less an hour at the little restaurant. The old man who manages the place has a warm smile upon his face.

They go to the park close to the river to walk around - they are stalling the time they'll have to go back to their hardships. Annabeth and Perseus walk together, apart from the others - she says she wants to catch up.

Annabeth has a crush on Perseus since they were both fourteen. She studied with him for a year - he as a senior, she as a freshman - and this crush only grew. She looked for him for months, he is her best friend and she loves him.

Annabeth still remembers after the war - when she thought they would get together. They were both too caught up in mourning - Perseus even more than her - even if she always knew he corresponded. But this... this might be her last chance to tell him.

So, she kisses him.

Perseus is shocked. He is shocked, and speechless.

"Annabeth..." He says, but she takes this as iniciative and goes back to kissing him "Annabeth!"

Kisses have to mean something to him. And Percy only feels friendship with Annabeth.

She stops, and there are tears in the corners of her eyes. But Perseus just hugs her and says, slowly and as kindly as possible.

"Annabeth... We can't do this. It's been... it's been months. I-... I love you. But we-... I-... Not that way, Annie, not anymore. We spent months apart, and before that, I was too busy with school, and before that..." He takes a deep breath, and clear her tears with his thumbs "I'm sorry. I don't think I can do this."

Annabeth doesn't cry. She doesn't scream and rage with jealously and ask "Who else? Who else if not me?". She wants to because she knows, she knows he loves her, and Annabeth has never been wrong before.

Because she remembers Aphrodite. Her heart doesn't lay with Percy - her heart lays elsewhere. It still hurts - but she just nods and asks him if they can still be friends, for which he answers an enthusiastic yes.

There's a little voice in her head, that keeps comparing her to Reyna Arellano, Jason Grace, and Nico di Angelo, their powerful heritages and legacies. A sliver of poison in her heart, that shows her Rachel, Calypso, and Piper - their beauties far beyond hers.

Then she takes a deep breath, finds her brother, says goodbye to everyone, and leaves with Rhea Silvia and Tiberinus. Annabeth has a mission.

Annabeth and Malcolm pass by the same challenges - she with a broken ankle and him with a twisted wrist - and both fall again in the hands of Arachne.

While the children of Athena fight their way through the underground, Perseus, Hazel, Frank, and Leo embark on a mission after Nico di Angelo, and the rest of the demigods go back to the ship.

Hazel - who is almost sentient to Perseus moods at this point - takes one look at Annabeth's rushed departure and Percy's wistful face, and, when their group takes off, takes the demigod aside, leaving Leo and Frank to walk side by side.

"I'm telling you, Hazel, because you won't tell anyone else - and I don't have anyone else as close as you on board. I would've said yes, perhaps, had she asked this question before... before everything. Had she told me this when I was fourteen or fifteen, I would be overjoyed. But it has been two and a half harrowing years since... since Luke. And I cannot love her - there's too much history."

He tells Hazel what she cannot remember from what Perseus told her in the Fields of Asphodel, and she nods and calms him - she became a kind of his little sister in the short four months that they have known each other alive - and the year and a half they knew each other dead. Closer than most, aside, perhaps, from Rachel (who he still managed to talk to once after this mission started), his mom, Calypso (who he still hasn't be able to contact) and Persephone.

Leo and Frank are behind them - far behind them, so to not accidentally eavesdrop in their conversation. They talk - a little stilted - but it quickly picks rhythm, as Leo is such a charming person - and Frank is a weak, weak man.

You see, while Leo pines from afar for both Hazel and Frank, Frank himself is dealing with the fact that, since leaving Nova Roma, those improper feelings towards inappropriate people resurfaced - now, together with something even worse.

Frank doesn't want just men anymore, like the clear aberration that he is. He wants a boy and a girl - and at the same time, at that! Not only improper - for he is two years older than Hazel and Leo is a boy - but they are clearly infatuated with each other.

And Frank doesn't really think he could be happy with one of them - he wants both, together. Selfish, something in the back of his mind says, so selfish. Let them be happy, they don't need you.

So he hoards this little conversation with Leo in his chest, like a precious treasure he won't ever get the chance to hold again.

Perseus and Hazel eventually go to the underground - while Frank and Leo still talk - about life, about their mothers, even about Frank's stick. Leo wants to hold the boy and never let go.

The Eidolons appear, forcing Leo and Frank down the hole, where they meet back up with Hazel and Perseus. They find a workshop - full of stuff that makes Leo salivate.

While exploring the workshop, the Eidolons take control of the automatons, quickly knocking out Hazel and Frank. Perseus is able to banish them - but by now, the automatons are out of control - it's the Bianca situation all over again.

He and Leo escape into a control room and lock it. Leo finds a control sphere for everything in the shop but they're unable to find the right password. Leo uses the fortune cookie Nemesis gave him to ask for the password, allowing him to take control of the machines and deactivate them forever. Perseus seethes inside - the little manipulative bitch.

When Perseus questions why his efforts with Hazel lead them to this workshop, they find Nico's Celestial Bronze and realize it was a trap. 

Gaea appears in a mirror and taunts them, but Leo burns the mirror - "I thought Mother Nature was supposed to be cool but this is what we got? Sheesh, this is almost Aztec-levels of crazy man" - and they leave to go search for Nico.

[imagines-to-quench-thirst]

The truth about the Titanic: Victor Creed

A/n: So, I once watched Mysteries of the Museums it's on the History channel. And there was an episode of the Titanic and it was long ago since I watched it but the gist of the episode was that the whole Titanic crash could have been avoided if the ship received the massage to change course. And that one thing would change the whole History. And the amazingly sweet @creedslove requested a story with Victor in it with the Titanic and I couldn't say no. So enjoy.

Saying that you loved Titanic would be an understatement, you respected it. Everyone around you knew it, hell even the neighbors. Since sometimes they got the package of the Heart of the Ocean replica that you order for yourself. But no one knew how much you loved the movie other than Victor.

The feral mutant was chained by your body as you laid on him. As you focused on the movie gasping and awing at the scenes. Victor only grumbled at your soft sounds as he felt himself brimming with annoyance.

-Y/n, come on, do we have to watch THE scene?!

Victor murmured as he watched the scene, the one, and only iconic sea scene. Where Jack dies as Rose watches him drown.

-It's part... no, essential to the movie.

-I mean he didn't have to die, there was enough space on the door for him to float with her to safety.

Y/n turns to Victor her eyebrows scrunched and her mouth tightly lipped into a straight line. She hated it when someone talked during a movie.

-I'm just saying.

Victor replied softly. As he looks away from her piercing gaze. With the film ending Y/n removes her sleepy body away from Victor's warm hug as she heads to the bed flopping down on the bed spreading her limbs inhumanly possible.

-Is there room for me?

Victor inquires as he stood in front of the bed.

-Not for people who talk during my movie.

Y/n replied lifting her head looking at her man. Victor grins as he lowers himself down his face inches away from hers.

-What if I tell you a story from the REAL Titanic?

Y/n looks at Victor her gaze locked onto his playful smirk.

-Get talking Creed.

Y/n answered as he laid next to it her onsetting the tone of the historic tale.

1912, April 9, Tuesday, day before the Titanic set sail I was walking along the pier watching the ship being cleaned and painted to perfection. The day itself was sunny and many people were boarding the Titanic as they loaded the cargo and made room for tomorrow guests. Logan at that time was wandering around the northern border into the colder fronts. While I was searching for my friend Ezra, a broke local that had some powerful connections.

-Really?...

Yeah, some even said in the government... And I needed some help. So I approached him and we immediately started talking. I wanted information and he wanted tickets into the Titanic to escape some goons that were after him. Unfortunately, he got in debt form some casino pals and he was on the run. So I helped like I always do.

-Sure...

I plucked a ticket from a man and gave it to Ezra, a first-class ticket with the loftiest accommodation. In return, he gave me a paper on which was written a number or another person who worked as a typer for morse code. The best of the best every and single information was going through him. Thanking him I walked away and came back tomorrow to see the ship sail away.

-And what about the man? The one with the ticket.

Granted to also see the confused man getting kicked off the ship with no ticket. I watched the ship sail away and as I was walking back home I get a message from the postman handing me a letter in more code. So I called the man Ezra gave me the number. I called him and said the morse code.

-What does it mean?

-...

-Hello? Tom?

-...Stop the ship!

-I can't it has already sailed. What is going on?

-By their travel, they will hit and the iceberg in a matter of hours.

When he said that a boy who carried the newspapers screamed on top of his lungs the 'Titanic crash'.

-Oh my...

Yeah. And the hardest part is that only 2 people knew about it. Tom and me. After the news surfaced Tom and I came to an agreement that we will throw the massage for everyone's sake.

-Why?

So that people don't grieve all over again. I think once is already enough. But who knows maybe someone dug the note up. So sometimes it's hard for me to watch the movie since I know that one message could save them if I only knew sooner.

-That's quite a story.

Y/n mumbled as she grabbed. Victor's hand softly massaging the rough skin.

-Thank you for sharing it with me.

Victor smiles as he leans down kissing her lips softly. He wanted to tell her the first time they saw Titanic together but he didn't want to sadden the movie for her beautiful soul. She doesn't deserve that. But after all, she is the most important person in his life and she deserves as much honesty as he gets from her.

Hope you liked it.❤

[mwcowan]

Mark and Georgia’s Big Trip

Chapter Eight – Life in the Phil

Last week I sort of introduced you to our new helpers, but we hadn’t had everyone here at the same time so I didn’t have a picture. They started full-time this week so that little detail is taken care of, so I will now properly introduce Ruffina (Pina) and Ranny, with their sons Ethan (on the left) and Prince Denver.

Having ‘help’ is something I’m not used to having and it will take some time to get used to it. I’ll give it a valiant try though. I’ve been spending some time with Ranny to get him up to speed on pool care; in terms of gardening and tree maintenance he’s way beyond anything I can (or want to) do. He’s excited that we’re putting in a vegetable garden and fruit trees, which will become mostly his projects. Georgia’s been working with Pina on the way she wants things done around the house, and cooking. Pina’s a pretty good cook but purely Filipino food – Georgia and especially I like a lot of “Americanized” Filipino dishes, and of course I need my good old American basics from time to time. Today it was my turn to teach Pina and Ranny how to make a grilled ham and cheese sandwich. Amazingly (to me) neither of them had ever seen one, less make one, but they did OK and actually seemed to enjoy the result.

We’re starting off our vegetable garden in a little area just below the pool. This was a constant slope down to the fence line but the landscapers put in a short retaining wall and will level above it. We feel the nice view will inspire the plants in our garden.

We’re starting to plant seeds so that we’ll be ready with some plants when the garden is. One of the only areas the landscapers still aren’t trampling is the garden at our pool deck, so this is where the seeded pots are residing for now. From left to right in the black pots and bags we have jalapeno, Roma tomatoes, passion fruit, camote (sweet potato), and finally basil and rosemary. The camote isn’t started from seeds, you just push some green stalks from established plants into the soil. 2 days after planting the basil is already pushing up sprouts!

This is our tree collection, all lined up and eager to get a real home. On the left in the tin can is a tamarind, next to that in the black bags are rambutan grown from seeds of fruit we enjoyed last year on our diving trip to Dumaguete. Next is our fig tree, a gift from Hervé and Lett, then our prize, a big and healthy Hass avocado which is from the pit of an avocado we brought over. As far as we know, there are no Hass avocados here. It’ll be a few years before we’ll know if it will survive and bear fruit. And finally we have our calamansi. Everyone has to have a calamansi tree here.

If you’ve read my earlier blogs as the house was under construction, you’ll know it’s made primarily of reinforced concrete. This construction is very strong, pretty resistant to typhoons, rot, salt air, and critters that would eat a wooden house. It’s a problem though if you change your mind about something after it’s built, which is why, for at least a year before we built, I stared at the plans and agonized over every light switch, outlet, fixture, etc. that would be embedded in the concrete. So now it’s built and one thing that we were to have was outdoor lights on the stairs at the side of the house. We knew that we were to provide the fixtures, but the builders were to embed the electrical boxes and conduit in the wall. Below is what happens when the boxes and conduit are built into the wall, but someone neglected to extend the wiring (which was shown on the plans!) to a switch just inside the caretaker’s apartment. It’s called rework, though here it involves chipping away (with a chisel improvised from a piece of rebar) a channel for the conduit. This channel still has to go down and under the step, through the wall of the house, and up the wall to the switch. This poor guy (with Ethan supervising) chipped for 3 days to finish the job. Do you think he might be the one who forgot to put the wires in and this is his punishment?

On Georgia’s to-do list over here is to try out potential recipes for the food at Summerfest, the annual fund-raiser concert for the White Sulphur Springs Ranch. One candidate is ginger-soy marinated grilled tri-tip. She came back from the store a few days ago excited that she found what she thought was a tri- tip. It didn’t really look like one to me, but she wanted to give it a try. Here’s the result:

Looks pretty good, huh? The marinade was really tasty, and I was pretty pleased with the grilling though I was challenged by our grill. But, turns out it wasn’t a tri-tip, no idea what cut it was. If you used the meat to resole a work boot, it would take a long time to break it in. To say it was as tough as leather would be an understatement – there’s actually a noodle dish I’ve had over here with strips of beef skin in it – an interesting texture but completely edible. At least the meat got re-purposed the next day by braising it for hours and making a stew, very good and finally tender!

The other day we decided that we needed to open a local bank account, and since they have a limit of 30 days for using a foreign driver’s license we thought we should to go by the LTO (equivalent of our DMV) to see what it would take to get a local license.

In the bank, it took about an hour and a half to open a basic account, but since the bank’s internet was down all we got was our account number written on a small Post-it and a handwritten receipt for our initial deposit. We have to come back in 2 weeks to pick up our debit cards and get set up for online banking.

The LTO was very accommodating, although very slow (it’s something in the DNA of DMV/LTO workers around the world I suspect). We were told that if we had a valid foreign license, we could get a Philippines license with no tests. All we needed was a medical clearance, and no problem since there just happens to be a doctor next door who issues such clearances. We walked over there for our “exam”. The doctor took our blood pressure, and pricked our fingers to determine blood type. His assistant took our picture and gave us computerized visual and hearing exams – by clicking “pass” on every screen without ever asking us whether we could see or hear anything. I guess if you can walk in and out of the office on your own power, that’s good enough.

Back at the LTO office we filled out the license application and waited for some time until our names were called. We were photographed once again, paid a nominal fee, and soon had our licenses! A note regarding the photograph – this was the first time in my life that I was asked to bend down because I was too tall for the camera. I love this country!

To wrap things up for this chapter, here are a couple recent sunsets. Enjoy, we sure do!

[irrelevantwriter]

Mommy’s pregnant, Daddy’s sick, and Who’s in the basement?

Pairing: Negan x OFC, Non-apocalyptic AU

Rating: Explicit, NSFW, Mostly fluff

Warnings: Language, tiny bit of Daddy kink, pregnancy, vaginal fingering, hungover Negan, domestic Negan, lots of fluff

Word Count: 4.6K

Summary: Camilla is expecting. Negan is in rare form. And someone decides to show up unannounced.

A/N: Hey guys! This idea would not let me be and I’m not entirely sure why because there is literally nothing to it. I have a writing challenge piece to finish and I could not even touch it without getting this all down. Its fluffy with a dash of smut and hopefully now that it’s out I can get back to more important matters. Read, comment, and re-blog! Hope you all enjoy!

Masterlist in bio. 

***

Camilla stirred from sleep as a heavy arm tightened around her stomach. The heat radiating off the prone form made her pull away in displeasure. A low groan sounded from behind her, but no movement followed. She smiled softly at the action and went to fall back asleep but a distinct urge to use the bathroom had her throwing the comforter off her body.

Bleary eyes settled on the clock sitting on her nightstand.

8:15 am

It was early for a Sunday morning, but she knew she wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep. She padded on bare feet to the bathroom, careful not to wake her slumbering husband. She quickly used the facilities as quietly as possible, briefly noting that her once favorite night shirt was now starting to become tighter around her six month pregnant belly. The shirt actually belonged to her husband, but she’d stolen it years ago and cut the collar out so that it dangled off one shoulder. There was a time it nearly swallowed her, but now, like much of her wardrobe, the article of clothing was being invaded by her unborn child.

She made her way to the kitchen, laughing noiselessly at the man who lay sprawled on his stomach in just his boxers on their bed. The clothes he’d worn last night sat in a messy pile on the floor. It looked as if he’d barely gotten his pants off before he was diving face first into the king sized mattress. His head was turned towards her and she could hear his heavy breaths with random bouts of snoring filling the room. She could swear she saw a small line of drool leave his puckered lips.

Negan had come to bed early in the morning. She’d been jostled awake by his drunken striptease. He almost looked like Woody from Toy Story; his long limbs a hinderance in his altered state. When she’d turned to face him, she could instantly tell he’d been intoxicated. A lazy smirk had adorned his mouth. His cheeks were red with warmth and alcohol, his hair mused from his hands running through it. When he realized he’d woken her up he immediately tried to coax her into a two AM romp…she shut it down, though it was hard for her to do. She was six months pregnant and her hormones were running rampant inside of her body, but she couldn’t stomach the smell of whiskey on his breath or the scent of cigar smoke that clung to his skin. Not to mention the bastard had passed out when he’d been edging a thick finger past her panties.

Camilla scoffed at the memory as she put on a pot of coffee for her most likely hungover spouse. She started on breakfast, knowing Negan would be hungry when he woke. He was the kind of hungover person that needed to eat as much greasy food as possible to cure the sickness. She was more of a water and broth kind of gal when she was nursing a killer hangover, but to each his own. Greasy food just also happened to be what her baby boy was craving that morning, so she happily obliged.

The night before, Negan had hosted his weekly poker night with a few of his friends. The guys gathered in their finished basement, or as Negan liked to call it: ‘Big Daddy Dick’s Dwelling’. It was a heinous name, but anyone who knew Negan knew that it fit his personality (and from personal experience she knew the words to be true). And despite the constant threatening, none of his friends addressed it by the official name. She’d made a comment about changing the name when the baby arrived, but Negan assured her he’d only refer to it as ‘The Dwelling’. The man was persistent.

The smell of cooking bacon and coffee started to penetrate the air and Camilla could feel her mouth start to salivate. Her hunger never seemed to be satiated lately, in the kitchen or bedroom. She whisked eggs together for herself, but set two aside for Negan since he liked his over-easy. Hash browns sizzled in a pan next to the bacon while two pieces of toast popped from the toaster. She hummed to the radio she’d turned on as she cooked, focused on her mission of feeding her family.

Nearly an hour later a muffled moan from down the hall made her smirk as she cracked Negan’s eggs into the pan. She could hear his heavy feet shuffling as he made his way to her. A pair of thick arms encircled her from behind, large hands coming to rest on her stomach. His chin settled onto her shoulder, his scruff pricking her skin in a familiar manner.

“The dead has risen.” She teased, avoiding the pops of grease from the hot pan below her. He hummed against her, the action making his chest vibrate against her back.

“Fucking barely.” He groaned, his voice still gravelly from sleep and the cigars smoked the night before. It made a shiver travel up her spine. The effect the man had on her seem to triple in size now that she was carrying his child.

She laughed, remembering his actions the night before. Negan didn’t make it a habit of getting drunk. It was a fairly rare occurrence and now Camilla was annoyed with herself that she hadn’t thought to at least record the spectacle on her phone. The video could’ve been a source of real entertainment for her, as well as blackmail.

“At least you had the forethought to shower before you came to find me. You reeked last night.”

He leaned into her as he moved her dark hair to one side, molding their bodies tighter together as he planted a kiss on her exposed shoulder. “I’m sorry, baby. I know how sensitive you get to smells now.” He rubbed her stomach affectionately and she could hear the real apology in his voice.

Since the day she’d found out she was pregnant, Negan had been amazingly supportive of all her pregnancy ailments. He rolled with the punches and accommodated to a lot of things in the early months. She’d had morning sickness for weeks and he’d instantly stocked the fridge with ginger ale. When the smell of cooking beef became too much, he’d stopped buying and cooking the meat until the aversion wore off. She knew how hard that was for him. Negan was a steak man. But he understood she was carrying his child and he was going to make her as comfortable as possible. His words, not hers.

“It’s not so bad anymore. Although we’ll need to wash the sheets. I think whiskey was spewing out of your pores this morning.” She laughed as he released another groan, his large frame cocooning against her as she continued to cook.

“Don’t say whiskey.” He muttered gruffly.

Camilla moved his now cooked eggs to a plate and turned off all the burners. She turned in his arms, her own coming to rest around his neck. The only way she could reach was because he was hunched so far down. His face was a little off in color, but for the most part he appeared relatively normal, save for the miserable look reflecting in his eyes.

“Coffee?”

He nodded and she moved to pour a cup, dressing it the way he liked. Two sugars. No milk or cream. She handed the mug to him and watched as he took a sip, his eyes closing in pleasure.

“Thank you, baby.”

The raspy quality of his voice was doing things to her and she was fighting hard against the urge to let him take her over the counter.

She moved to stand in front of him again, craning her neck upward to meet his gaze. “Did you at least win last night?” She asked, an eyebrow arched in question.

“Fuck no. Rick and Ezekiel cleaned everybody out.” Negan pouted, his hands setting the cup of coffee behind her and coming to rest dangerously low on her back.

She tutted disapprovingly up at him, shaking her head in mock condemnation. “Momma doesn’t like losers.” She provoked, arms encircling his neck once again.

His eyebrows shot up and that gleam she loved so much appeared in his hazel eyes. “Will Momma let me make it up to her?” He asked huskily, his mouth already descending to the bare flesh of her neck.

Camilla allowed him access, unable to fight against the strong attraction her vagina was currently experiencing towards him. He’d come into the kitchen wearing a clean white t-shirt and low-hanging grey sweatpants. He may feel miserable, but he was oozing sex and her hormones were picking up on it.

“Maybe.” She finally breathed out, her heartbeat pounding in her ears as Negan continued to lather her neck with sensual kisses. His hands slid to her ass, pushing her into him gently. She could feel the situation fast-approaching the point of no return and she begrudgingly pulled away.

“Hungry?” She asked, hoping to diffuse the tension. Her question only fueled it. 

“Fucking starving.” Negan replied with a lavish lick of his lips, his eyes feasting on her body from top to bottom. The man had a way of making her feel completely naked while fully clothed. It was a real talent.

His hands went to pull her to his lips but she put a hand to his chest to stop him. “I made you breakfast.” She gestured to the food behind her and watched as his eyes took in the feast.

“You’re too fucking good to me, baby…” He trailed off as he kissed her. The kiss represented a different type of desire than the one that’d been present moments before. The kiss was sweet and filled with pure love. It was a thank you; a token of appreciation.

Camilla was breathless once they pulled apart, her fists tangled in the fabric of his shirt. She looked up at him between her lashes and she knew she looked completely dumbstruck.

“God, you are fucking gorgeous.” He whispered with an air of awe. The sincerity and seriousness of his tone made her blush, something she didn’t think she was capable of anymore since being married to Negan.

“You know,” She started, hands caressing the salt and pepper scruffiness that adorned his cheek. “This is exactly how I got pregnant. You flattering me and me letting you ravage me all over this house.”

He chuckled at her words. “I’m a man of many talents.”

“Except at winning poker.” She quipped with a smirk, enjoying his reaction. His eyebrow rose in amusement and surprise, his tongue poking into the side of his cheek.

“You’re full of jokes today, aren’t you?” He didn’t give her a chance to reply before he was hovering dangerously close to her lips. “I guess I still got some making up to do with Momma so I’ll let it slide.”

She smiled up at him, feeling his hands start to pull at the shirt she wore. His calloused hands felt delicious against her skin as he caressed her thighs. Again the situation was veering off course, but she was tired of fighting it. If she wanted to fuck her husband multiple times a day and accomplish nothing else, then she was fucking going to. He’d just have to adjust and keep up, you know, for the baby.

“Seeing you carrying my kid has made me the horniest son of a bitch.” He mumbled against her neck. Camilla moaned, her body receiving his attention willingly; nearly begging for it. It was as if he hadn’t just fucked her into oblivion the day before, which he had.

“Carrying your kid has made me the horniest son of a bitch.” She retorted breathlessly. Her hands moved under the fabric of his shirt, eager to feel bare flesh. He was solid where she was soft. He was hard edges where she was delicate curves. They complimented each other and yet, in many ways they were the same.

“Filthy fucking mouth on you…” He teasingly chastised, catching her earlobe between his teeth.

“You love it.”

He thrust his hips into her, letting her feel how true her words were. She hitched her leg around his waist, eager to feel the friction. He aided her movements by holding her against him and rutting into her.

“Fuck…” She trailed off, her sensitive body already building to that familiar crescendo. Negan loved how easily responsive her body had gotten during pregnancy and he often liked to test that by making her cum multiple times. It was fun for everyone.

A thick finger eased under the waistband of her panties, reminding her of his unfinished task the night before. She gripped his wrist and placed his finger at her entrance, her hips rocking forward to take him in.

“Impatient?” He goaded. Even in his hungover state, Negan made sure he tortured her. He got off on seeing her in such a blissed out state. She felt much the same where it concerned him, but patience was not a virtue for her as of late.

Camilla sighed in frustration as he traced her flesh, unwilling to go deeper and give her what she so desperately craved.

“Negan-,” She whined, unashamed of her attitude. He knew what he was doing. 

“I love how fucking wet you get for me.” He growled as he relented and pushed past her lips to massage her soaked walls. A moan flew from her lips, loud and almost comically enthusiastic.

Her nails dug into the skin of his back as he worked her over the way she liked. Since being pregnant, she found that the need for foreplay was useless and she much preferred Negan to go hard and fast. She craved the finish without extra theatrics. And Negan being Negan, happily obliged his darling wife.

A sudden low groan and shuffling of footsteps penetrated through Camilla’s lust-fueled fog. She tried hard to concentrate on the sounds, thinking she’d made a mistake. Negan seemed none the wiser, his fingers still fucking her with ridiculous precision. Her eyes searched beyond his shoulders for the source and she caught a shadow walking towards the kitchen. She yelped and pushed at Negan’s shoulders, trying to alert him to their intruder.

“Holy shit…”

It was another groan, as if someone was in pain. Camilla realized she knew that voice and before she could pull Negan’s hand from her underwear, Simon was standing at the entryway. His clothes were rumpled and somewhat askew, as if he’d slept in them. His hair was sitting at odd angles and his skin held the same pallor Negan’s had moments before.

He didn’t seem to catch on to what he’d walked in on. One hand was rubbing at his eyes, the other holding his head as if he was in agony. Camilla was thankful of his cluelessness as she and Negan adjusted their clothes. He pulled her to stand in front of him and she rolled her eyes upon feeling his raging hard-on poke her lower back.

“Simon, what the fuck?” Negan bellowed. He was pissed and Camilla noted she was only slightly turned on by that fact. Give it time and she knew she’d be a puddle.

Simon startled at Negan’s booming voice, both eyes now wide open and alert. He looked around in confusion, his ruffled moustache making him look like a character from the Three Stooges.

“Not so loud.” Simon grumbled, cradling his head again.

“What are you doing here, asshole? How the fuck did you get in?” Negan fired back, his voice only getting louder as he spoke. Camilla put a calming hand on his arm as she stepped back, finally able to move now that her husband’s erection was gone.

“What’d you mean?” Simon asked with bewilderment, his voice ravaged by sleep and tobacco as well.

He looked hilarious in his disheveled state and Camilla struggled not to giggle. The situation almost seemed like a glimpse into the future with their family, minus the half-balding man child. Negan was in full parent mode and Camilla was trying hard to focus on why Simon was randomly in their house and not on how sexy Negan sounded reprimanding his friend.

“What do I mean?” Negan mimicked back angrily. “What the fuck are you doing here at nine in the fucking morning?”

Simon held out his arms in surrender, obviously still confused by his friend’s strong reaction to his presence. His eyes flicked to Camilla in hopes that she’d offer some assistance. She imagined she gave the same puzzled expression he wore because he went back to trying to calm her husband.

“You said I could stay. Last night.”

The words seemed to jog something for Negan because he instantly shut up. She could see he was struggling to piece the previous night together. His jaw unclenched and his tongue did that thing where it darted out and wet his lips. It’s his normal go-to move for seduction, but Camilla had noticed over the years that he also did it when he was concentrating hard on something. It was adorable.

“I got pretty hammered and you said I could crash on the sofa bed downstairs.” Simon explained, his words finally seeming to spark something in Negan.

“Shit…” He breathed out, hazel eyes meeting her onyx gaze. She could tell he thought he was in trouble, and normally he probably would’ve been. But for some ungodly reason, Camilla found the whole thing humorous.

“So let me get this straight,” She started, eyeing both men with amusement. “You both got so plastered that you-,” She pointed to Negan. “Forgot that you invited him-,” She pointed to Simon. “To stay the night in our basement.” She finished, eyes darting between the two men.

Negan had the audacity to look slightly sheepish. “Sounds about right.” He admitted, his hand rubbing at the back of his neck guiltily. “Fuck, sorry baby.”

“Yeah, sorry Camilla.” Simon chimed in. To his credit he did look apologetic, even though it wasn’t his fault.

“It’s fine.” She waved them off with a laugh, but eyed Negan with a look that said he still had some groveling to do.

“I should head out.” Simon interrupted, suddenly looking embarrassed by the situation. He went to leave, but Camilla stopped him.

“No, stay. I made breakfast and you should eat before you drive.” She demanded, unwilling to take no for an answer. He looked to Negan, as if for confirmation but Camilla interjected. “Get Simon a cup of coffee, will you?” She directed to Negan. He knew better than to say otherwise and moved to the cupboard for a mug. Seemed like she had the parent thing down too.

“Stay, Simon. Have a cup of coffee. A bite to eat. Say your goodbyes. Because my wife is going to kick my ass once you leave.” Negan joked, though she could see he was half serious.

Simon chuckled and moved to sit at their dining table, gratefully accepting the warm coffee Negan handed to him.

Camilla scoffed and shoved at Negan’s shoulder. “Overdramatic much?” She teased as she moved to make Simon a plate of food, turning the burners on once again so she could scrounge up more for herself. She went to start about cooking again when she belatedly noticed what she was wearing. Suddenly, the length of her shirt felt too short and the tightness across her belly and breasts felt too revealing.

“Ummm...I’m gonna go change first.” She announced, garnering the attention of the two men sitting at the table. Negan seemed to catch on to her sudden awkwardness and jumped into action.  

“Have some fucking respect, man. Close your eyes.” Negan admonished with a light shove to Simon’s shoulder. Camilla shook her head. Discreet her husband was not.

“Not necessary now, Negan.” She deadpanned, but Simon was already holding a hand to his face to shield his eyes.

“Sorry!” Simon called out, looking ridiculous with half his face blocked from view. The image made her laugh.

“No worries. I’m gonna go change. You guys help yourself.” She gestured to the food and moved towards their bedroom. She could hear Negan get up and say something before he was following her down the hall.

“Need help?”

Camilla pulled off her night shirt and started to put on a black bra. She turned to answer her husband who was leaning in the doorway looking sexy as fuck.

“Sure.”

She turned her back towards him and waited. His footsteps moved closer until he was standing with his chest practically pressed against her back. His warm hands pulled the two halves of her bra together, clipping the clasps in a few swift movements. She adjusted her ever-growing breasts in the cups and turned to face him. 

“Thanks.”

He was eyeing her with a glint in his orbs that made her thighs clench. He knew he had some recent missteps and he was apparently going to try to make it up to her now. 

“I’m sorry for being a drunk piece of shit last night.” He apologized as he reached for her. She let him pull her in his arms, soaking up his affection like a house cat.

“I’m not mad, Negan. I’m annoyed. And it’s not because you got drunk.” Camilla explained against his wide chest. He pulled her chin so that her face was angled towards his, her lips ripe for the taking.

His questioning gaze made her continue on.

“Do you know what it does to a pregnant woman when you don’t finish what you start?”

Again he said nothing, but his eyes lit up and his lips cracked a wide grin.

“You can’t do that to me! I’m ready to cum if I sneeze at this point.” She grumbled, not liking the way he was finding amusement in her pain. Though she supposed she deserved it for her teasing of him earlier. Karma was in fact a real bitch.

“Oh my poor nymphomaniac…” Negan cooed, his hands cradling her head against his chest like he was comforting her.

“Not funny, dick.” She pushed away from him and went to finish getting dressed when he tugged her to him. He caught her just before she slammed against him, but it was enough to throw her off balance. His hands were suddenly everywhere. One was palming her ass while the other made its way under the lace of her panties and into her depths.

“Daddy owes you one.” He taunted, two fingers deep in her pussy while another teased her clit. She dug her nails into his shoulders, making sure he felt the sting of pain. He did.

“Negan,” She began, unable to focus on stringing her words together. “Simon is in…fuck…” She felt her walls start to flutter around his fingers, felt his lips suction against her heaving breast, felt his hand dig into the flesh of her ass.

“Don’t worry about it, baby. Lemme take care of you.”

His words set her off. She froze and tightened around him, sparks of light dancing behind her eyelids. His smell engulfed her. His touch set her on fire. His voice encouraged her. She was finally reaching that crescendo that’d been just out of reach. Her muscles spasmed and Negan’s hot breath in her ear made her whimper, her walls soaking him to capacity.

“Goddamn…I’ll never get sick of seeing you like that.” He mumbled against her now flushed skin, his grip loosening. He gently eased out of her, careful of how sensitive she was.

Camilla gasped at the loss of him, but felt her insides hum with life again when he licked himself clean of her.

“Bastard.” She said in faux aggravation. His teasing was merciless and she planned on making him pay for his sins later.

“Aw…you say the sweetest things to me.” He laughed, mirth dancing in his eyes. “No thank you?”

Camilla pouted her lips, her signal to let him know she wanted a kiss. He delivered. His tongue danced with hers, her lips devouring his like he was the sweetest chocolate to hit her taste buds. Her fingers ran through his hair and she nibbled on his lip just the way he liked. He responded by rubbing against her, his dick hard and ready to feel her clasping at him.

They pulled apart and Camilla mentally patted herself on the back when she saw the goofy look Negan was wearing.

“Thank you.” She said, lips now swollen and chaffed from his stubble. She walked around him and picked out a pair of sweats and a t-shirt to change into.

“Smartass.” Negan retorted, eyes watching her dress like he hadn’t just finger fucked her minutes before.

She smiled triumphantly as she pulled her shirt over her head, ignoring the way he feasted on her half-dressed body. Being pregnant was certainly having an effect on her husband’s libido too. You’d think he had pregnancy hormones coursing his veins.

She finished dressing and turned to face him, waving him towards the door. “Come on. Your son is hungry.”

Negan immediately attached himself to her rounded stomach, caressing her flesh as if their son was already in his arms.

“You sit and I’ll make you a plate.” He gently demanded. Camilla wasn’t going to argue, especially when her heart still stuttered after he said and did such sweet things for her.

They walked hand-in-hand to the kitchen, but upon turning the corner they found the room empty.

“Where’d he go?” She asked, though she knew her husband had about as much of an idea as she did.

Negan walked to the table where Simon had been sitting and grabbed a piece of paper she hadn’t noticed. She watched as he read whatever words were printed on the sheet before laughing heartily.

“What’s it say? Is it from Simon?” She questioned, eager to know what he found so funny. He handed her the note and she read it silently.

Took a plate to go. You guys took too long and by the sounds Camilla was making, I’m guessing you didn’t need me to stick around anyways. Thanks for letting me crash and the food.

Camilla wanted to be mortified, but couldn’t conjure up the emotion. Instead, she laughed along with Negan, clutching the paper to her chest.

“Oh my god…” She said between giggles.

“Well, guess he got more than he fucking bargained for.” Negan chuckled, pulling Camilla with him onto his lap as he sat in a chair.

“Guess so.” She agreed, nestling herself into Negan’s chest and neck. Her eyes suddenly felt heavy and her limbs felt utterly relaxed. Negan’s hand in her hair didn’t help matters either. His heartbeat sounded beneath her, the warmth of him further soothing her.

“Need a nap?” His chest rumbled against her as he spoke. She was tired, but the promise of food still kept her conscious.

“Food first.” She mumbled, fingers playing with the hem of his t-shirt. They sat in comfortable silence until a movement within her belly made her smile. She wordlessly placed Negan’s hand on the spot where their child was making his presence known. She didn’t have to look up to see the smile that adorned his face. She could feel it. She had the image painted in her mind for eternity.

“I fucking love you. Both of you.”

Camilla squeezed his hand that sat beneath hers. Her heart felt like it doubled in size in that moment. As hot as the fire of desire burned for him, the extent of their love was immeasurable. It was what made their two souls partners in life. It was what had made a family. 

“I love you too.”

[neshabeingchildish]

Poly Wanna? Ch. 14

Content Warning for sexual discussion and conversation about anatomy, body image, and sex.

@adorkable-blackgirl @chenoahchantel @henry-p-fart @up-the-tube An update, Loves! I had time today. And mental availability. 

Sense and Sens(ibility)uality

Nothing had to REALLY change, as far as Henry was concerned. Well… He'd been sexless for months, because he had only been able to feel sexual whenever he thought about them, and they weren't in a position to explore that, before. Now they were, and he didn't want to be the one to bring it up, lest he looked like that was his motivation for getting them to agree to be his. So, while he watched Jasper seduce Charlotte with his fingertips on a regular basis and saw her frequently grabbing, swatting, and rubbing on Jasper's butt. He kinda… just silently went without those types of affections. Jasper would kiss him hello on the neck whenever he came to bed at night, they held hands at brunch after their workouts and no hour was free from a hand kiss from Jasper, when they were in the same space for a while. But Char? She was something else.

She became awkward whenever Henry touched her, now, and she never seemed to be reaching for him. What changed? They had been doing so well before it became official. He decided that maybe he would ask Jasper about during one of their morning dates, and hoped that Jasp wouldn't tell him to ask her. He didn't, but Henry hated to hear what he had to say.

"You have to remember that she had a lot of time to stew in what you said about her sexually," Jasper told him, with a shrug. "You made her feel sexually incompetent and insecure about her body. Not necessarily in general… But, definitely at least with you. You told other people what she was bad at and what you hated about her appearance. She's not going to just feel comfortable trusting you in that space again because you got her a pretty ring. In fact, knowing her, she's never gonna let go of that. Even if she manages to forgive it completely."

"That was YEARS ago!" Henry complained.

"She's got the same body," Jasper said, then smiled and bragged, "But not the same skills!" Henry blushed. "I haven't had a single cause for complaint about anything she does with her mouth..."

"Okay!" Henry said, tight pantsed and frustrated.

"I can teach you what I did," Jasper said.

"Pssshhhht! I am a sex master. I could blow her mind, if you know… I had the chance."

"I can teach you what I did," Jasper repeated.

"Just… Tell me what you THINK you could teach me."

"Well… I never tried to have sex with Charlotte. Even when it became clear that there was something between us and when I was very much-so interested in having sex with her, I never tried to. Instead, I just appreciated everything else about her that I could."

"I know that and I do that."

"You know that in a textbook sort of sex and relationship specialist way, but you definitely do not do it."

"This morning, I thanked her for always making us juice!" Henry said.

"You did," Jasper acknowledged with a nod and the shrug of his shoulders, "I thanked her for taking time out of her day to do work that could only help make me better. It sounds like the same thing to you, but yours only thanked her for what she's doing for you. I made sure to focus in on the fact that I know that what she does for me takes something away from her - her time. She feels validated by that kinda stuff. Before we ever made love, I spent several of our times together just complimenting everything. Her looks, her actions - everything from the lines on her muscles, to the quality of her hair, from how she kissed to the sounds she made whenever I touched her. Like… EVERYTHING. She needs attention and validation, but she would NEVER say that she does or ask for it. She's a proud person and she only tends to open herself up to those that she doesn't have to ask for the things that she knows that she deserves. And her standards were already high, and she has been with this super amazing dude that has made her feel even more worthy, so her standards are like super amazingly high now. Only somebody willing to go above, beyond and then some are gonna register to her on the intimacy level. Like, I think she wants to trust you and love you and stuff, but I think that you haven't really shown her anything more than love. You're gonna have to learn to worship."

Henry sat and thought a while, nursing his mimosa as Jasper watched, stirring his boozy milkshake with the wide straw. Finally, Henry sighed and said, "Teach me." Jasper's face was filled with victory.

.

All three of them had the night off. Charlotte had been working primarily on her project with Schwoz, forsaking the lounge to do so, though she and Henry went in to visit Jasper sometimes and they still called her for musical performances. But, on this night, Henry had cooked, while some of her favorite music played in the background and she read on the couch with the fluffy blanket around her. Henry had brought her some pre-dinner fruit and told her, "I know that you're saving the world in your own special way whenever you spend time in the lab, so I wanted you to be able to relax tonight." She furrowed her eyebrows at this, but graciously accepted the plump, assorted, peeled grapes.

Jasper had on his booty shorts and her eyes followed him all around the house, as he did stuff. Henry was in a pair of silk pajamas and she was wondering why both of them were dressed for bed when nobody had even eaten yet. But you know what? Her book was good and she was getting eyefuls of butt, so she wasn't gonna question a thing… Out loud… just yet. She continued reading and ogling, where desired and eventually got up.

"Are you going to bed?" Henry wondered.

"Unless you don't want me to? I can go to my room if you and Jasper have plans," she said.

"I kinda wanted us all together tonight," Henry said and shrugged his shoulders a little.

"Okay. Well, I'll most likely still be awake whenever you come to bed. I'm not hungry. I just had a queen's share of grapes."

"We'll be in after dinner," Jasper said.

"Can you come see something for a moment?" She asked him.

"Without Henry?" He clarified, a little bit wound up.

She shut her book and smiled a little. "Okay. So, I feel like the two of you are up to something, but I don't know what, so tell me whether or not this is my imagination."

Jasper smiled gently and shrugged his shoulders, "You're the smartest person here. We can't get anything past you. We're definitely up to something. I'm helping Henry learn to win your affections."

"I don't think that what you have can be taught, Jasper. Henry is going to have to appeal in his own way," she said, shaking her head.

"Okay," Jasper said. She could tell that it was not okay.

"Anyway, drawing me to your thickums booty buttcheeks isn't even something that Henry is equipped to do," she said.

"No offense to Henry, but RIP to what would have been his butt."

-Charlotte

"I OBVIOUSLY was not trying to learn how to entice her with my butt!"

-Henry

"Know what? Dinner can wait. Let's just chill for a little bit. Is that okay?" Jasper asked, in the voice. She knew that voice. The soft, loving, I am gonna love you down really good, if you let me voice. She ALWAYS let him do whatever he suggested in that voice. She'd jokingly said it was one of his superpowers.

"They make a lot of jokes about my sex culture, but really… it's no joke. I'm very serious about everything. Those are serious moments, to me. I've never really had a casual encounter or meaningless one. For me, any time that I'm granted someone's space intimately, that's a sign of trust and expectation. I want to be able to deliver whatever it is that my partner is looking for. That's something that hasn't always been reciprocated for me, but I think I'm finally in a situation where it will be and I kinda want all of us on that same wavelength. Charlotte and I are amazing together. Henry and I were amazing together in a different way. The three of us could be dream status amazing, but it'll take work, of course."

Charlotte nodded her head to Jasper's suggestion. Henry noted that her eyes changed color They looked darker, were heavy lidded and glossy, twinkling. Jasper hoisted her up, seemingly with no ease at all. Henry also paid attention to that, because Charlotte was light and tiny, but he still had to put a little work into picking her up… or at least he used to. Maybe it'd be easier these days. At any rate, he followed them to the bedroom. Charlotte stared at Jasper's face the entire walk there and whenever he set her on the bed, her eyes still didn't leave him. That sharp, dedicated focus - Henry envied it. He remembered her watching him very intently at one point, too. Seeing her with Jasper was still a blend of envy and enticement, but something that he now felt like he was entitled to, instead of imposing upon. The levels of emotional confusion within the relationship were ever changing, at the moment and he knew that might last for a little while, until the three found their groove within their new title. The professional in him knew that there could be a loving, giving, fulfilling relationship between all three of them, without there being isolation or discord.

The Henry in him felt like Charlotte was going to have involuntary turf wars with him anytime he wanted to get close to Jasper. Jasper was the most… accommodating, of the three of them. Henry was the most selfish. Charlotte was the most sensitive, if you can believe it. She wasn't sensitive in that she still cried about the past or got her feelings hurt easily. But, she was sensitive as in - she was the last to have been faced with addressing her pain and it was still a sore spot for her AND she was a little untrusting, even if she didn't WANT to be.

Charlotte, a naturally suspicious person, who learned at an early age that she couldn't trust the very first man that she was taught how a man is supposed to love, who at a less young, but still young age found out that she couldn't even trust the men that she thought she had done well in selecting as friends, if nothing else, and now, not only was she to trust them both with her heart, mind and body, but trust them not to forsake her as they also had access to each others'? It was a lot to expect of such a suspicious person who already had been betrayed in the past. It was easier for her to trust Jasper. Not only had they already dealt with him dating Henry almost as soon as she left the picture, but they had also talked about their relationship beyond him, had built up a relationship beyond him and had a relationship, a great one, in tact before he came back into their lives. So, Henry was well aware that not only was he dealing with her conscious distrust for the obvious and stated reasons, but also the subconscious one that probably identified him as a wedge that had become between she and Jasper. She would take some time to fully accept that he was not that, but a blanket that both of them could wrap themselves in for warmth and security.

Watching she and Jasper kiss was like a religious experience for Henry. He saw such love, trust, service. It was like watching someone do the thing that they were most passionate about - something sacred and wholesome that they allowed him to be a part of, and he felt the weight of its importance and the honor of his access. Jasper's fingers traced Charlotte's curves and angles, and he glanced at Henry and beckoned him closer with the soft jerk of his head. Henry came over and sat in a seat next to the bed. Jasper scoffed and collecting him by the tips of his fingers to gently guide him to the bed. Charlotte simply watched. Henry took that as permission and got into bed next to them, rested his face on his fist as he lay on his side to observe this magic up close. These were the two most beautiful creatures in the world, as far as he knew, and they both wanted to be here, with him.

Jasper walked his fingers across Charlotte's skin, like it was a little man and told Henry, "Whenever Charlotte and I first became intimate, I told her that I wish that I could shrink myself down in size, so that exploring her could be a long, adventurous journey. I drew a path on her body of the places that I would explore, confessed where I would spend most of my time, professed how I would commune with my surroundings on the emprise."

Winded, Charlotte said, still staring into Jasper's eyes, but clearly addressing Henry, "It was like, he knew that I wanted him already and that I was ready for him, but he wanted to make me completely powerless against him."

"You don't need to have power against me in this setting, Goddess. I'm just here to serve you. Not making you powerless, but giving you gifts that assure you that your power can rest, for now. You've got me to give you what you need in these moments." He glanced at Henry and said, "And now, you have him, too."

Charlotte's eyes lit up as she looked at Henry with anticipation. Of what, he wasn't sure, but he knew that all he wanted in life was to give her whatever it was! Not knowing made him hesitate. What did she want? Should he make a move? Should he do what he'd just seen Jasper do, or would that make her feel less trustworthy of him and what he was bringing into her life? Her shoulders slumped ever so slightly during his thought processing and he also noticed that the light in her eyes dimmed a little. WHAT did she need from him? Should he just ask her?

Henry reached for Charlotte's hand and she felt her heart jump. "Hey…" He said, delicately, "I have no idea what you want or need from me, but I'm learning, okay? I'm paying attention. I'm taking it all in. Every word, every single action, even the smallest flicker of light in your eyes and the most seemingly unnoticeable slump of your shoulders. I'm noting these things, so I can be greater later. It might take me some time, but I don't just want to be right for you, I want to be perfect for you, like Jasper is, but with it being me, bringing me and me giving you what you request and require of me. Please, trust me and also, if it isn't asking too much of you, help me?"

Her shoulders fell a little more, but this time, in a more relaxed manner. "I'm sorry, Henry. You've been amazing, I promise. It isn't you that's causing the problem that you're noticing. It's me. Unlearning is not as easy for me as it might be for other people, because I'm used to being right. So, whenever I'm not… It takes me a little while longer to disprove my original mindset, to myself. You haven't done anything wrong, as far as I know. You don't have to stress yourself out over it." He leaned forward to kiss her, pausing in front of her lips, in case it wasn't okay, so she could meet him the rest of the way. She met him and he melted.

.

Henry was learning a lot from Jasper. He liked the way that he peppered in appreciation/affirmation into what he was doing, no matter how small the action seemed. Jasper was very vocal and interactive in an endearing way, not necessarily a "dirty talk" way, that Henry would have subscribed to (and liked personally, for himself too). But, with Jasper, it was more like he would already be in the process of having you, but he's still seducing you, too. And Henry loved Jasper and Charlotte's takes on why that was. He believed there was truth to both. Jasper definitely wanted to render her powerless, but he was sure that Jasper also wanted her to feel comfortable, safe and treasured.

The first time that Jasper saw Henry fiddling with Charlotte's breasts, he saw her face wrinkle in… something, and he stopped to figure out where he went wrong. "They aren't stress balls, Henry," Jasper said, with a tiny laugh. It should be noted that Jasper's comment was caring, not mocking. Jasper collected both of Charlotte's breasts tenderly cupped in his large hands and kissed her on the cheek. "Do you know what these are for? They're powerful. They're meant to feed, nourish, and make smarter and healthier babies. In the meantime, she allows us to enjoy them for entertainment. That does include stress relief, but she's not some inanimate object of affection, therefore also no part of her can be. Give, even these the same respect and consideration you give to her as a person. They're part of her person."

Henry wasn't sure when Jasper became so knowledgeable and smooth in these areas but he loved it. Charlotte broke into his thoughts with an observation, "Henry likes to smash them together and put his penis in the middle and rub it between them. I'm not really built for it, so they're not as fun for him as they seem to you."

Jasper shrugged his shoulders and said, "More titty for me."

Henry interjected, "That is NOT an issue that I have! That was years ago and I already apologized for that…" Jasper and Charlotte both stared at him, Jasper's hands still boob cuffing. Henry wanted to giggle about that cute image, but kept his straight face on. "I was young and stupid. I didn't know that would ever be found out and I didn't think that it would be as big of a deal as it was. I'm sorry that I gave you a complex…" Jasper winced and Charlotte scoffed, but that was exactly what Henry could tell that he had done. He probably gave her multiple negative body issues, being her first love, the first person she was intimate with and also the first to break her heart in such a disrespectful and disparaging way.

Jasper kissed her on the cheek as she said, "It's not a complex if the issue is something that the person only has with YOU. I don't feel any kind of way about Jasper coming in contact with my breasts. He's always valued and appreciated all of me. So, no, I don't have a complex. I have reservations about somebody who talked negatively about my body interacting with said parts of body!"

"That's valid," Henry said and nodded his head, thinking he probably had made her recoil back into her shell with him by even suggesting it. She WAS the sensitive one. He forgot that sometimes, because she was so tough.

Jasper said, "If it has to happen, Hen - I've got squishable titties you can use."

Henry was going to argue that this wasn't a real issue that he had, but also… That idea needed to have a pin stuck into it, for later, because Henry did love boob stuff. He made a mental note and removed Jasper's hands from Charlotte. "I've got these!" He said. (Jasper still talked him through his experiences with them).

"Whenever Charlotte first let me see those, I was in awe. She's majestic. All of her parts are so perfect and proportioned like artwork, and she was a little reserved and uncomfortable, so I wasn't going to focus on anything else, but them, until she relaxed or if it would have happened, realized that she wasn't into it and told me that she was gonna go home." Henry's newfound appreciation and attention to her body definitely had the desired effect. She relaxed, and they were able to move on.

.

Henry was a very quick learner when it came to sex-related stuff. That was ONE area in which he didn't need to pay close attention or study hard or work harder. After the initial getting Charlotte to warm up to him, he was certain that she at least enjoyed him. Of course, he had that sinking feeling in his gut that she didn't appreciate him like she did Jasper, but that was probably because Jasper was simply that impressive. He'd actually gotten better with time, and was either way better than Henry remembered, or Henry felt differently about it because he felt differently about him. He did love those titties though. Jasper went shirtless a lot around the house. Charlotte usually went bottomless, either bare in a big shirt of Jasper's (which Henry figured was why he was walking around shirtless), or in a pair of undies and whatever shirt she'd had on that day or the night before. Between the both of them, Henry could hardly focus once he stepped foot inside of the place.

Jasper got groped and cuddled a lot. Henry always hugged on him and messed with his manboobies and Charlotte sometimes literally did not remove a hand from his butt. Like, one day, he was watering plants so Henry could sleep in after a rough night of crime fighting, and she followed him around, complimenting and rubbing on it… like, the WHOLE time! He couldn't concentrate and ALMOST over-watered someone! As a result, even though it was her "fault," she took the watering can in one hand to finish watering the plants, told Jasper to come with her and kept a handful of Jasper butt the entire time. One of them was constantly fondling his chest, and the other his butt, and NO! He absolutely was NOT complaining, but… jeesh! Between the both of them, he could hardly get anything done with all of the… bodily appreciation.

Cuddle dates were boss, though. Henry would hug him from the back, cupping his chest (an erogenous area for Jasper) and Charlotte would have her head rested on his chest/Henry's hands, her hair blessing both and both her petite little hands cradling his Jasper's butt cheeks.

"I think that because Charlotte loves butts and Henry doesn't really have one and Henry loves boobs and Charlotte doesn't really have much, I am the designated fun bags. I'm okay with that sometimes, but not like… ALL the time. I'm a human bean!"

"Did you say human BEAN?" - Interviewer

"What else would I say?"

"Okay… I really love the attention that my wondrous man titties and my thicc juicy booty gets, but I need some space!" Jasper snapped. Henry and Charlotte's eyes widened, and they only both just realized that they were rubbing on said parts while Henry was playing on his phone and Charlotte was reading an article on her Pearpad. Jasper had been sitting there, obviously trying to play a video game, but hands were on his person.

Charlotte nodded, got up out of the bed and said, "Of course, BootyBear. Sorry about that." Henry slid over some on the bed, gave her a look and returned to his phone. Charlotte sat down on the floor and Henry sat on the edge of the bed, facing her. She snuggled against his legs like a cat and he put his hand in her hair and began to pet her. Jasper glanced over at the two of them and instantly regretted sending them away. But… that was healthy! It was what he needed at the moment and they respected that. Nobody argued with him or said it was no big deal or anything like that.

After a while, Charlotte got tired of sitting on the floor and climbed into Henry's lap. It wasn't as cozy as Jasper's but she adored this feeling, as well. Later still, Jasper leaned back, on the two of them, putting his head between Char's thighs and noticed the amount of times Henry's hand reflexively reached for his chest, but he either quickly retracted it or Charlotte caught it and interweaved their fingers, kissed his hand and gave him a sympathetic look. I know you want to squish our juicy boy, but he's feeling a way right now. Eventually, Henry just rested his free hand on Charlotte's breast. It was THAT small and it was actually softer than Jasper's, especially since he'd been working out so regularly again these days. And she nestled her hair into his neck, which slightly tickled, but in a way that you didn't want it to end.

Jasper cut off his video game and turned on some relaxation music, then turned around, this time face forward to lay in between Charlotte's thighs and fall asleep. His nose was directly in between her legs but he wasn't doing or trying anything sexual. She just had a scent that they all loved and whenever he was tired enough, it was warming and soothing, as opposed to the effect it had on him when he was full of energy and ready to go. Charlotte stroked his hair, continuing to read. Henry stroked hers, continuing to browse his emails. Jasper slept peacefully, without being objectified. Stuff was working out pretty gooooood.

[trappermarkelz-blog]

There is a genuine fever to amass tennis shoes of every single significant brand and Air Jordan is no exemption. Individuals have throughout the years got into this propensity through magazines like Kicks and this has likewise been advanced by tunes from their preferred rap craftsmen. They are consistently watching out to get tightly to the most recent in shoes and furthermore have any uncommon dispatches that come about normally.

It is along these lines likely that the potential for counterfeit things increments similarly quickly and with the web offering obscurity and accommodation of shopping, fraudsters have attempted to exploit this office by selling fakes on their sites.

So how might you be certain that you are without a doubt buying the real stuff? Given underneath are some expansive rules.

1. Check at amazingly low costs.

In the event that you notice low costs of anything underneath $100, at that point you ought to be alert. All things considered, it isn't workable at anybody to offer costs that are incredibly low given the way that most Air Jordan shoes will cost at least $100. The way that someone can offer you such a couple of Air Jordan at underneath $100 is reason enough for you to speculate and comprehend that they are probably going to be fakes. The dealer himself may have cheated and he is binds to give them to you or he is out to rake in huge profits selling you stunning stuff.

The other thing you should keep an eye out for is the stock that he is holding. On the off chance that there are a ton of them, there is purpose behind you to accept that they are not real. Air Jordan take off the rack in a jiffy and it is highly unlikely anyone can have a major stock of them unsold. Also, on the off chance that you see them in different sizes and hues, it is sufficient verification that they are not authentic.

2. Become mindful of the language they use

You should get acquainted with the language that the merchants use to sell their items. On the off chance that they use terms like "variation", it implies that it isn't the genuine Air Jordan discharged from the processing plant and are in certainty being sold without their assent. That ought to be sufficient signs for you to avoid them.

Different terms like "traditions", "tests" are likewise signs that the sets being referred to are not part of the first discharges from Nike. Presumed organizations like Nike don't discharge such examples in all sizes and that is something you should know about. So when the vender discusses tests in some other size, the time has come to be alert and not fall prey to the offer.

[superleeleehipster]

I haven’t said much in regards to recent spoilers and what will happen tonight during the finale b/c, if I’m honest, everybody has basically said exactly what I think about this new development and what it could possibly mean about our favorite couple.

But before the episode airs (I know it was leaked but I’m just going to wait until it airs tonight to watch it b/c my wifi sucks), I just figured I’d throw in my two cents into this already blazing inferno that is now the Caryl fandom once again.

Spoilers and thoughts on thangs below the cut...

From what I’ve heard both from TSDF as well as the folks who’ve already watched it, I’m actually very excited about this episode and what it’ll mean for Caryl. I know I wouldn’t be the only one to admit that, when the Carzekiel spoilers first came out, I was pissed off and much of my hope for Angela K to bring my favorite show back was shot down (not all of it, but quite a bit of it). Now with what is going to happen in the finale, I see now that it was supposed to be written this way because it was supposed to come full circle.

And I will humbly admit, that it seems to be one of the best written arcs/circles between two characters I’ve ever seen in this show...

Now in regards to the Carzekiel relationship, after recent spoilers, it pretty much confirmed to me all of the arguments that we have been saying all this time. That relationship was safe, it was convenient, it was normal, things that Carol had wanted for a while. But the catalyst of that relationship has always been Henry. Henry helped Carol through her self torture from the last few seasons by showing her that she can keep him safe and that he is worth trying to save. That she shouldn’t turn a blind eye and push him away. She couldn’t help but fall in love with that kid, so she moved to the Kingdom after Henry had asked if she could move there. And with the motherly bond she had made with Henry, it was a no brainer to allow a relationship to form between her and Ezekiel b/c he’s Henry’s adopted father.

In the early part of this season, we saw how Carol wasn’t really into the idea of marrying Zeke. But it is only when, after she glances at Henry, that she decides to put the ring on her finger. She doesn’t do it for herself and Ezekiel, she does it for Henry more than anything. She wanted to give Henry what she couldn’t give Sophia, and that was a loving family with a good life. She did what she sought to do with Tobin, which was create as normal of a life as you could in the zombie apocalypse by playing house and raising a child with a loving husband and father. That was the dream she had that I’m sure she had wanted for Sophia but her biological father was nothing more than a sperm donor who abused her mother. With Henry, she was able to live that dream for the both of them. 

Was she ever in love with Ezekiel? I’m sure she was in some way, but I don’t think it was a soulmate kind of love, especially with what will happen in 9x16. I think she wanted to fulfill that dream within herself of wanting the normal life she never had, and give it to Henry b/c Sophia never got it. I also think she in some ways became secondary to Ezekiel b/c she just wanted to make him happy. The Carol we knew wouldn’t waste time, energy, or ppl over a lightbulb for a movie, but she did it b/c she knew it was Ezekiel’s positivity and dream that was at stake. She changed some of herself to accommodate his dreams, and she settled as well. So that’s why it’s not so much of a shocker that the moment Henry was killed, it popped their blissfully ignorant bubble that Carzekiel had created for themselves. It was an extremely heavy dose of reality, and because of the loss of that catalyst, their marriage crumbled very quickly. 

Now keep in mind I’m not saying that the death of the child equals the death of the marriage, far from it. I personally know real life couples who’ve lost kids via miscarriages, stillbirths, or accidents past the womb, and every single one of them had held each other up and became stronger with each other. In Carzekiel’s case, however, we can see partially why their relationship in particular had disintegrated. 

Carol wasn’t confiding in Ezekiel, and instead, confiding in the man whom she would deem as her best friend. Some could argue it was b/c she didn’t want to put even more pain on Ezekiel b/c he was the coparent in all this, and some could say it’s because she didn’t feel comfortable enough talking to him about it. We may never know for certain. But considering how jealous Ezekiel seems to be about Carol confiding in Daryl instead of him makes me question why she wouldn’t go to Ezekiel in the first place. Obviously the man wants her to talk to him but she’s not, so it does make you wonder if she trusts him or feels comfortable enough to do so. Which brings a whole new list of questions as to how strong their relationship was IN GENERAL b/c you would think she would feel confident enough to talk to him after being together with the man for 7 years, but hey, I’m no relationship expert...

Anyways, I find it interesting that Carol would rather speak to Daryl about her woes, and I find it very interesting the differences in how both men interact/react in regards to Carol. Ezekiel has always been a bit forceful when it comes to Carol. Not in a horrible abusive/Ed kind of way, just more of a manipulative way. He never let her be in S7 even when she asked him not to come, and kept hounding her to marry him even when she said no initially. In 9x16, he apparently speaks for her as he’s telling Daryl that he shouldn’t stay in Hilltop, that he’d rather spend some alone time with Carol. That manipulative tendency comes out full force when he tries to use Daryl’s own emotions against him to try and convince him to not stay at Hilltop.

Daryl on the other hand, questioned him immediately and asked “is that what Carol wants?”. Same situation when Daryl and Carol spoke at the Sanctuary, where Daryl (that amazingly selfless and precious man) wants whatever Carol wants to happen, happen. Her happiness is above his, first and foremost. If she tells him she wants to stay in Hilltop and he needs to leave ASZ so she could work on her marriage, you bet your ass Daryl would swallow his pride and do it because that’s what kind of man he is. He loves her unconditionally, which means he will do anything for her in spite of his own personal pain. That’s the amazing difference between the two men that Carol could see right away. Daryl will do anything for her happiness, and Ezekiel will do anything for his own happiness. 

So Carol decides to end things with Ezekiel because 1) he was being an ass to her best friend, and 2) she knew that she needed to do some healing and she couldn’t do it with Ezekiel. That latter reason is very significant to me b/c of that conversation she had with Zeke in S8. How she credited the ppl she was with for saving her after Sophia died and that she could come back again and again if she had to. But her decision to end things with Ezekiel tells me she knows she might not come back if she stays with him. All the same that she knows that she could heal and recuperate from this recent trauma by staying with Daryl and TF. She chose Daryl over Ezekiel b/c she knows that it will help her in the end. They may not be canon yet but holy jesus that speaks for itself how strong the Carzekiel ship itself actually was. 

I know someone else had mentioned this before (I think it was you @silversundown2) that it is more powerful that Carol had ended the relationship instead of finding Ezekiel’s head on the pike b/c she ended that relationship willingly instead of a death, and I have to agree. What happens in 9x16 feels like both Daryl and Carol come to a full circle. The beginning of the season you find Carol living in her fairytale with Ezekiel, describing it as “really nice” comparatively to her relationship with Ed. Yet she was still hesitant to marry him. It wasn’t until she decided for Henry’s sake to say yes. On the other hand, Daryl was still reeling over the effects of what happened with the Saviors. He didn’t trust them at all, and just wanted to get away and go back to how it was before. Daryl and Carol even had a conversation at the Sanctuary about their woes. 

Fast track to 9x16, and Caryl has another conversation at the Sanctuary, where Carol realizes that what’s best for her is to stay with Daryl and TF at Alexandria, not Ezekiel. And Daryl is going to stay with Lydia b/c he’s taken it upon himself to make sure that she’s okay and to take care of her by going to ASZ w/ TF. Both Daryl and Carol are wanting to take care of Lydia b/c they recognize themselves in her from their own past, and of course she reminds at least Carol of Sophia. Instead of running away from their demons (Carol) or taking out their anger on everything else in a vengeful irrationality (Daryl), we see them decide to go back to where they believe is the best place for both of them to heal, and to help Lydia heal from her traumas as well... 

A FULL CIRCLE

I can go on and on about how this development has basically destroyed all other paths like Miley Cyrus’s wrecking ball and left only one way to go from here, but I think I’ll save that for another post b/c this one is already long enough. 

Caryl on my loves, and enjoy tonight’s episode!!

Gif credit to @lapicesypantones. If you don’t follow her PLEASE DO BECAUSE HER ARTWORK IS BALLS TO THE WALLS AMAZING!!

[apoptygmaberzerk]

Some weird animals you should know

I have been having something new in the kitchen just for you. That is some new content for my blog, which I finally got the courage and resources to go live. It is something which I have dreamt about, and I am happy to let you know that you are among the first people to learn about my interests when you read this. The content I wish to share with you is about animals.

What time do we spend with animals if we can quantify it? Some of us do not even have any time for animals. If only every moment we could remember that we are also animals, then you could be humble yourself enough to accommodate animals.

We have a task to secure and watch out for the rarest species in the world. Some of them are below.

Elephant Shrew

This one us naturally existent in the Boni Dodori forest in Kenya. It has a peculiar appearance. When I first saw it, I thought it was a mouse until I looked closer. It has the head of an anteater. There are like 20 of them at the moment.

Ti-Tiger

The name itself is fascinating and rare. This human-made blend between a liger and a tiger is scarcely spotted. There exists one in Oroville, California, she says, just as somewhere close to six and ten altogether around the world.

Finless Porpoise

The finless porpoise is known for having a "wicked grin" and the increased insight of a gorilla. Shockingly, its populace is rapidly going the method for the Baiji dolphin, at present being recorded as endangered by the WWF.

Vaquita

With enormous dim balances and a dark ring around its eyes, this porpoise is unmistakable promptly. However, they will rapidly swim away when drawn nearer.

Saola

This one is native to Vietnam. With two long, parallel horns, the animal is regularly alluded to as the Asian unicorn. Resembling an antelope, yet identified with cows, the saola is discovered uniquely in the Annamite Mountains of Vietnam and Laos, making their populace—though amazingly little.

Seneca White Deer

This one will make you feel at peace, as it has a dazzling white color. Seneca white deers are leucitic, which means they need pigmentation in their body, yet at the same time have dark-colored eyes. Because of their predetermined number—there are around 300 altogether—the species was given an ensured space at the previous Seneca Army Depot.

The Nothern Hairy Nosed Wombat

Brought into the world with staggeringly poor visual perception, these adorable critters utilize their noses to look for nourishment in the darkness.here are just around 115 remaining in the wild, which are all found in Queensland.

Pangolin

This is a delicacy in China and Vietnam, and the conviction that their scales have therapeutic forces. Each of the four Asian types of the pangolin is, as of now, recorded as imperiled or jeopardized.

Hector'sHector's Dolphins

These dolphins sound like they belong to someone. The rarest as well as the littlest, marine dolphin on the planet. With short, imposing bodies and particular facial markings, this one of a kind dolphins are discovered distinctly in the waters along New Zealand's North Island.

Amur Leopard

Rather than living in the savanna, it'sits settled in the Russian Far East. With unusually warm hide, and the capacity to approach 37 miles for every hour, the Amur is genuinely an accomplishment of nature. Notwithstanding a life expectancy of 10 to 15 years, be that as it may, the Amur is very uncommon.

There are close to 9 million species of animals on the planet, and that would mean that we have so many of them.

[cjdemooi]

I contracted HIV in early 1988 while I was sleeping on the streets and earning a little money as a beggar and prostitute in London.

I had been feeling unwell so went to the Chelsea and Westminster hospital. I had a blood test and was shortly after told of the diagnosis. The only emotion I felt was relief and, walking down the road, I remember smiling broadly. This was it. My brief but awful life was coming to an abrupt end and frankly I was glad.

I grew up in an atmosphere of racism, homophobia and violence, had no friends and had been bullied daily at school. I was told repeatedly that I was worthless and unloved so was now facing the right and proper outcome. I actually had something to look forward to.

Later in the year I stowed away on a ferry to Amsterdam as I simply didn’t want to die in Britain. While there, something changed. I met an English guy called Keith who worked at the Dutch version of The Salvation Army. We talked and he even let me stay with him for a few nights as I was, shall we say, somewhat different to most of the clients he encountered.

He persuaded me to see a doctor and start taking medication although I was very loathe to do so. I agreed because he was the first person I’d ever met who was genuinely kind to me without demanding anything in return. He only wanted to help. He was my inspiration and the reason that since then, I’ve volunteered for HIV and homeless charities. I began helping out at the Army immediately even though I was still officially using their services.

The medication I began taking was not at all pleasant. A daily dose of 30 capsules, each quite large and to be kept refrigerated. This meant it was a very uncomfortable sensation to swallow each one. I began dreading the next batch of 5 to such a point that I was dry heaving every time. In addition they had quite severe side effects and I became increasingly unwell and frail. 

My physical appearance wasn’t helped by the development of dark blotches on my skin, most noticeably my arms. This was Kaposi’s Sarcoma, a cancer known to be an AIDS Related Compound. The capsules weren’t working, I was becoming very ill and needed to escape. I made a half hearted suicide attempt with another young man I knew from working in a brothel as I’d just given up. I didn’t go through with it as to take my own life would, as I saw it, give too many people satisfaction. I was too angry for that.

Amsterdam had now become synonymous with my impending death so I jumped on a train to Cologne. I was begging outside a bar and, by pure luck, was presented with the opportunity that finally got me off the streets.

A few weeks later, having finally secured a long term job and accommodation, I began tentatively to think about where I should go from there. I’d never believed I was going to have, or deserve, any sort of future so this was a brand new concept. I started new medication, this time only 8 tablets a day, although their dimensions made them far more suitable for horses! The Sarcoma on my arms faded over time and my CD4 count began to cautiously rise. I continued with the same regime throughout my time in Germany, another stint in the Netherlands and eventual return to Britain in 1995.

I’m still not sure why I came back but I was inexperienced and naive so the procedure to apply for residency or full time employment in Europe may have seemed daunting.

However, I think this was a mistake. As soon as I got back I became very depressed and stopped taking the drugs. My health immediately deteriorated and, as has been well documented, a large tumour developed in my mouth. After trying to ignore it for many months, I had surgery.

By now I had met the man who I would one day marry but in the early days I was a less than pleasant partner. I knew I’d fallen in love with him the very first day we met but kept pushing him away. I had no doubt I wasn’t going to live to see the millennium so what was the point? I didn’t want to hurt him by dying or hurt myself by being forced to leave him so early.

Against the odds, he stuck by me and would not leave. He persuaded me to start with new medicine so I was put on a course of only 4 tablets a day which was far more manageable. He talked to me, supported me and most amazingly, became the first person to love me. 

My health improved (it’s true what they say about the love of a good man!) and I grew fitter and stronger. In about 2007 I changed medication once again, this time to just 2 tablets a day. I began running which is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made as the benefits have been sensational.

Then, in 2016, my world was destroyed. My career, reputation and livelihood were decimated in one fell swoop as lies upon lies were published about me. I was on a downward spiral but was still relatively okay. Unfortunately, in mid 2017 matters deteriorated severely and my physical and mental health did so too.

Towards the end of 2018, my doctor advised I was so seriously ill to be hospitalised. The stress and pain of everything I was going through was quite literally killing me. My CD4 count dropped below 100, I visibly lost weight and became lethargic and withdrawn. My doctor wrote to the other side pleading he was seriously concerned about me and there were terminal risks due to the pressure I was under. This letter was completely disregarded and described as irrelevant. I had lost everything and now my house was in imminent danger. I was about to become homeless with an AIDS diagnosis. Through no fault of my own, everything was about to come full circle.

My supporters, especially on social media, kindly contributed to a GoFundMe page that was set up and for which I am immensely grateful. It’s unlikely to raise enough save my house but the longer I can fight, the better. The problem is, how long I’ll have the strength to do so.

A few weeks ago, my doctor desperately switched my treatment, now down to a single tablet a day (a far cry from the 30 cold capsules all those years ago) and it does seem to have helped. I’m also on iron and vitamin supplements in an attempt to maintain vitality.

The fact is, I’m still seriously ill although thankfully back from the brink I was on earlier this year. My immune system was almost obliterated and I was so vulnerable, any infection might have killed me. In preparation, I wrote my will, not that I had much of anything left to give.

Even after all this time, people continue to lie about and bully me. Only this time, they’re willing to gamble with, or even destroy, my health. My doctor closely monitors me and I see him for a variety of blood tests every 8 weeks. He has suggested other invasive procedures which may help but I have refused, at least until the current situation is resolved and I feel stronger.

I still don’t want to die in this country but, more urgently, I don’t want to die because some cowardly bullies think they can get away with it.

I am not defined by my HIV status although it of course has a daily impact. Even someone as fit as me can be reduced, shockingly quickly as was all too obvious for everyone to see recently, to a very weak shadow. I am seriously ill and cancer remains a lingering threat but I can’t live my life in fear. I don’t know how much time I’ve got  but I now have, and deserve, a reason to fight.