#but this lake I’ve been going to is the perfect size to swim laps from side to side when I’m feeling like I need a break

[disappointeddyke]

Here to say that work has been so exhausting this week but I went to a lake when I got out tonight, swam to the middle, and watched the sun set and planes fly over me while floating on my back and sometimes being alive is worth it.

[rawmeanderson]

pretty please ― thursday.

ft. Kevin Hayes.

plot: with Kevin, Brady, and Jimmy all gone from New York and the new season about to start, everyone gets together for a long weekend. warnings: swearing, drinking, mentions of anxiety/depression. word count: 4.9k notes: this is a slight AU I suppose, in the sense that the pandemic doesn’t exist here bc escapism, y’know? basically, this takes place in August 2020, where there was no pause and the season ended normally. also, this is kind of forgetting the fact that Kevin, Brady, and Jimmy didn’t live together during the last season they were all together in New York but whatever. Y/N is also plus sized!! title is from Pretty Please by Dua Lipa. there’s also more notes at the end!

Rain was hitting the windshield, the sky gloomy and grey as leaves on the trees outside the car. At least the weather was playing into your mood.

“Last time I checked, this was the only rain we’re supposed to get all weekend thankfully,” Sophie said from the driver’s seat as she adjusted the speed of the wiper blades. When she glances at you, you force a slight smile, nodding in acknowledgement. She looks like she wants to say something else but doesn’t, and you turn your head to look out the window.

The dread and disinterest swimming in your stomach, the car ride that seemed to go on endlessly reminded you of all the times your mother had driven you to your dad’s during the summers. You’d sat in the passenger seat then just like you are now, anxious, irritated, and on the verge of begging her to turn around.

You hadn’t wanted to come on this trip, knowing it was meant to be a last hurrah of sorts. Thursday to Sunday at a lake with friends sounded great in theory, but the changes that would be happening in the weeks that followed were what scared you. The finality of it all.

“I’m glad you decided to come, Y/N,” Sophie told you, and you could feel her glance at you again. She had been your roommate for almost 10 years now, since the start of college, and she knew you were doing your best not to spiral. 

You opened your mouth, then closed it again, opting to nod like you had earlier as your gaze drifted to your lap. Running your tongue along your teeth, you tried to think of something to say that would ease the tension in the vehicle. Un-crossing your legs, you shift in your seat slightly as you hear Sophie exhale a quiet sigh through her nose.

She knows your feelings aren’t personal, that you’re not blaming her for moving on with her life, but your general sadness about all of it weighed on her either way. She was right there, but that didn’t stop the preemptive pangs of loneliness that hit your stomach.

In the last two years, every person you’d spent most of your time with had left New York, until Sophie was the last one. And in two weeks, you’d be the only one left, leaving you feeling as grey and sad as the weather outside.

After chewing on the inside of your cheek for a while, you pick a piece of invisible lint off the fabric of your shorts. You’d meant to buy new ones before the trip since most of your pants cut into your waist anymore, fueling your self-consciousness. “I’ll...I’m sure I’ll feel a little better once we’re there and I’ve been able to take a nap,” you tell her, trying your best to sound optimistic about it. Blaming your bad mood and distantness on being tired, classic.

Sophie glanced at you and nodded, accepting what you’d said despite knowing you as well as she does.

It would’ve been hard to argue about it, considering you’d both been up before 5am to make this 4 hour drive. You’d left the city around 6, the car packed with the bags for the weekend, plus a good number of totes of Sophie’s stuff for Jimmy to take back to Buffalo with him. There was still about an hour left in the drive, and the iced coffee you’d chugged at the start of the drive had done nothing but make your heart race soar as you fidgeted in your seat.

Sophie had always been the early bird, with the two of you poised to be some of the first people to arrive at the lake. Jimmy and one of his buddies had gotten there last night, with everyone else slated to show up in the early afternoon. The only reason you’d agreed to leave so early was because Sophie promised to let you nap as long as you wanted once you got there. You were grateful that would allow you to avoid people for a while.

For what was left of the drive, Sophie didn’t speak, letting you sit there in your tired sadness as music hummed through the speakers.

When you parked at the massive cabin overlooking a lake that stretched as far as you could see, it was still raining. The sky was just as grey, and it gnawed at you, the perfect cinematic backdrop for what felt like the beginning of the end.

Your mood was sour, and as you unfastened your seatbelt to exit the car, you felt goosebumps rise along your skin even though it was warm out despite the rain. The same worry you’d had the whole drive was still swirling through your head, that your mood and your emotions would put a damper on the trip. You hoped that a nap would help calm those fears.

Jimmy was already on his way out to greet you and Sophie, his smile fixed on your roommate as you open the back door to grab your bag. He approaches with a grin as you’re already making your way toward the cabin. 

��Take any room you want,” he tells you, like he already knows that you’re going for a nap. You salute him in acknowledgement, deciding to greet him better later as he continues on to greet his girlfriend.

Your shirt is covered in raindrops by the time you get inside, glancing around curiously. There’s a couple of people hanging out on the sofas that you don’t recognize, but they wave to you either way then go back to their conversation.

After wandering down the hall, you nudge open a door and decide that the room is good enough. There’s a window looking out over the lake, and even as grouchy and sad as you’re feeling, you know it’ll be a gorgeous view when it’s not so gloomy outside. You close the door behind you and unceremoniously drop your bag on the floor while kicking off your shoes. Collapsing into the middle of the bed, you sigh, running on auto pilot as you pull the blankets over yourself. 

Shifting around slightly, you’re aware of how the shorts are cutting into your waist and your bra is pinching somewhere, but you’re too settled to do anything about it as you stare up at the wood paneled ceiling. The sound of the rain hitting the roof is soothing, and you let out a breath that seemed to have been held since the moment you got in the car.

Your eyes trace the woodgrain, remembering when Sophie told you about Jimmy’s roommates shortly after she got with him, that they were funny, cool guys that she knew you’d get along with. You’d partied with them first, but it turned into movie nights, casual dinners, enjoying the group of newfound friends that you saw several times a week. With how often you ended up hanging out late or bar hopping in their area, the guest room had practically been designated as yours.

Then Kevin was traded to Winnipeg. Then Jimmy was traded to Buffalo. Then Brady was traded to Carolina. Your found family in the city had practically dissolved within a year, and now Sophie was two weeks away from moving to Buffalo.

You knew there was little choice in the matter for anyone really, that it wasn’t their fault, that it was just how worked, but it still hurt, remembering you’d be the last one of the group in New York. You had other friends that you saw every so often, but it didn’t stop how lonely it all made you feel. Being sad about it made you feel selfish, so you buried it behind frequent naps and iced coffee.

Your internal monologue continued until tears stung in your eyes, and you blinked them away, turning on your side as you willed yourself to get some rest.

By the time you woke up, it was mid-afternoon, and you stayed curled up on your side for a moment. Sun was streaming in through the window as you took a deep breath. You could hear people outside, along with splashing from the lake, and when you rolled over, you saw somebody zip past in a jet ski. After a taking a few minutes to scroll through your phone, you finally get up, stretching as you smooth your hair down.

You came out of your room and found Jimmy and Sophie in the kitchen. Yawning as you approached, Sophie smiled.

“Good nap?” she asked knowingly, and you nodded once you were close enough to hug her.

“Yeah, definitely,” you said, arms wrapped around her. She hugged back tightly, rubbing a hand between your shoulder blades before you pulled away. 

You felt better. The nap and the better weather helped kick the sadness out of you. You hated this part, feeling better and realizing how cynical you’d been earlier.

“Good to see you, Slim Jim,” you told Jimmy, hugging him quickly as well. You were happy to see him, deciding to focus on enjoying and savoring the long weekend with everyone instead of being miserable with sadness. Leaning back against the edge of the counter, feeling content, you smile. “Who all showed up when I was out?” 

“Uh, some friends of mine, Derek and Amy, showed up, Kev too, and he brought a friend,” he said, glancing down at the water like he couldn’t even remember who was there. “Brady’s about an hour or so out.”

The three of you chat for a while, catching up since it had been awhile since you’d seen Jimmy. He introduces you to the friends of his that were splitting the cabin for the weekend when they come through, and a moment later, you promise to catch up more later, deciding to head outside for a bit.

Outside, the sun beats down on you but you lift your chin to greet the warmth as you walk. It felt particularly good after the heavy rain of the drive in, the humidity from it clinging to the air still.

Making your way to the dock, someone you hadn’t met is standing there, football in hand. Kevin’s on the back of a jet ski with someone else driving, and it didn’t surprise you at all to see him jump off for the football when the man on the dock through it. No surprise, he missed the ball and landed in the water with a splash, and was already laughing when he resurfaced a moment later.

That’s when he spots you, hand shooting up in a wave with a wide smile. “Heyo!” he yells, already swimming toward the dock. You could hear the excitement in his voice, and nervousness pangs in your stomach.

You had only seen him once since he’d been traded a year and a half ago, when he’d been in town for a game and you hadn’t even realized it. Sophie had invited you out, and there he was, happy as ever to see you. You were grateful that the bar had been loud and that Brady had been occupying most of Kevin’s attention. After a drink and a half and a quick conversation with Sophie, you’d taken off, managing to avoid Kevin other than the hug he’d given you as a greeting.

Since Jimmy and Sophie were together and Brady had Gracia, you and Kevin had been the odd couple out, paired together during group activities. It worked out at least, considering the two of you got along great.u seldom hung out once  When all three of the guys lived together, the two of you always seemed to be the last two up, chatting or finishing a movie even after the others had gone to bed.

It had felt so natural to hook up with Kevin the handful of times it had happened in the months leading up to when he was traded. Each time had been when you were both the last two awake, lingering on the sofa, usually at least a little drunk. It had always been casual, and you told yourself the only reason it happened (and kept happening) were out of convenience. You’d certainly never seemed like his type, considering almost every girl you’d ever seen him talk to at a bar had the same slender build and the confidence that came with it.

You snapped yourself out of the thoughts, and tug at the fabric of your shirt self-consciously, feeling like it’s clinging to all the wrong parts of your body. Kevin’s eyes are on you still as he climbed the ladder to meet you on the dock, making you feel even more aware of yourself. He paused to grab a towel off the rail, rubbing it over his hair, then settling it over his shoulders. His swim shorts hung low on his hips and you force yourself to meet his eye, happy to see that he was smiling widely at you as he approached.

“It’s so good to see you,” he said, sounding as sincere as you could ever imagine. It felt like his smile had grown, and it made it impossible for you not to mirror the expression right back to him. “I’d hug you, but in case you didn’t notice, I was just in the lake.” You had forgotten how deep his voice was, and you tell yourself that it’s the sun that’s making you feel hot all over.

“I’m good with a rain check,” you responded, nodding at him. From the golden tone of his skin, you can tell he’s been outside a lot this summer. He looked great, as always, and you hadn’t expected anything less. 

“Good by me,” he told you with a laugh, bringing a hand out to ruffle your hair in lieu of a hug. You laugh with him, not quick enough to stop him. “How’s life been? Man, I feel like I haven’t seen or heard from you in forever.” You don’t let yourself think about his tone, how he almost sounds a little sad about it.

You shrug quickly in response to his question, still grinning. “Things are okay. Nothing’s really been going on, I guess. I miss you guys though.” Your hand comes up to shield the sun from your eyes, tilting your head up to see him better. He’s so tall that looking at him heads on would have you staring at the bit of hair that covers his chest, at how broad his shoulders are, and you were worried that you’d never stop if you started. “What about you? How’s Philly?” 

“I miss New York, but damn, Philly’s been great, I can’t even lie about it,” he admitted with a bit of a laugh. It was good to know that he’s happy, and you can feel it radiating off of him. “It’s a good city, and a good group of dudes. And this guy, over here,” he paused, voice a little louder as he motions behind him to the guy who’d thrown the football, “is Nolan. We lived together this year.”

Nolan looked at the two of you, holding up a hand to wave before turning his attention back to talking to one of Jimmy’s friends that’s floating in an inner-tube close to the dock. You were both silent for a moment then before whoever was on the jet ski yelled Kevin’s name, waving for him to come back out.

“You should come swim,” Kevin told you, motioning to whoever it was that he’d be there in a minute. 

Your eyebrows rose and you were quick to shake your head, even before self-consciousness dug its claws into you. “Nah, not right now at least,” you said, dismissing the idea with a wave of your hand. “I just came down to say hey, I’m actually going to go chill on the deck and read for a while, I think.”

For a short second, Kevin looked a little disappointed, but he doesn’t say anything about it. He instead nodded, smiling again already as his hand came up to your shoulder. “Yeah, gotcha.” It’s hard to ignore how large his hand is on you, the way he squeezes just slightly, his thumb brushing against your collarbone. “We’ll catch up more later.”

“Yeah, of course,” you told him, doing your best not to lean into his hand. Thankfully, he stepped away before your willpower went out, and you watched as he damn near sprinted back to the edge of the dock, jumping into the water in an effort to splash a friend.

You stopped in the cabin to grab your iPad, and on your way out to the back deck, a girl who introduced herself as Amy put a margarita in your hand and hugged you like she’d known you for years. It was a damn good margarita too, you realized as you settled on a lounge chair, stretching your legs out in front of you.

The rest of the afternoon ticks by easily. The margarita is rather strong, relaxing you into the chair as you read for the next hour and a half until Brady showed up. You’d been able to hear laughter and the occasional shouting from the water every so often, Kevin’s voice usually the loudest. Brady, Sophie, and Jimmy joined you on the deck a while later, and the four of you take the time to catch up a little more and figure out how to spend the next few days.

The sun had just stating to set when pizza arrived for dinner. The air is still warm, and someone was already working on starting a bonfire. Sophie was to your right at the picnic table, a little tipsy as she munched on some garlic bread.

Across the table, Brady was talking about his upcoming nuptials. Gracia hadn’t been able to make it for the trip, but you were glad he’d decided to come. Next to him, Kevin interjected with a dumb comment at one point, making Jimmy snicker.

“By the way, Kev, do you need a plus one? Have you been seeing anybody?” Brady asked, turning his head to look at him rather pointedly. It takes everything you have not to snicker a bit, lifting a slice a pizza to your mouth. 

“Naah, I’m not seeing anyone,” Kevin responded, lifting his shoulders in a shrug. “I’m sure I could find someone to go with, but I haven’t really dated much since Y/N.”

You freeze when he says your name, your mouth already half open to take a bite. What the fuck is he talking about? 

“We never dated,” you said, the words more sharp than you’d meant them to be. Your eyebrows have practically shot up, and you look away from him as an awkward silence hangs over the table for a beat until Sophie exhales a laugh.

Jimmy really came to the rescue by changing the subject, and your cheeks were burning by the time you met Kevin’s eye again. He actually looked a little amused, but rather than making you feel relieved, it makes heat curl down your spine. 

By the time it was completely dark, part of the group had settled on the sofa and chairs in the living room to watch a movie, while others decided to go on late ride on the lake. It was still plenty warm out, and you’d really hit a stride in the book you’d been working on, so you ended up back in the same chair you’d spent most afternoon in. The line of string lights gives the deck a nice glow to it, and you can hear the buzz of the TV in the living room.

The sliding glass door opens then closes, at you look up to see Kevin walking towards you.

“Is the movie no good?” you asked, tilting your head as you look at him. He had a beer in one hand and a hard cider in the other that he offered to you. The fact that he recognized your favorite brand in the fridge made you smile as you thanked him quietly for it.

“Movie’s fine, just thought I’d come see if you wanted to go for a walk or go hang by the water,” he responded, shrugging as he took a sip from the beer still in his hand.

“Uh, yeah, sure.” You shrugged back at him, flashing a grin as you got to your feet. Leaving your iPad on the seat for the time being, you follow him to the stairs, then down the trail to the dock.

“How are things in New York?” Kevin asked after a moment’s silence, and you glance up at him with a skeptical look.

“I thought we talked about this earlier,” you counter, taking a sip of your drink. He scoffed, shrugging beside you as the pair of you started down the dock.

“Yeah, I guess we did, really, how are things?” Kevin’s voice was lower this time, making your back straighten when he looked at you again. “How are you?”

You weren’t expecting such a direct question, and you’re grateful to deflect it for even a moment longer as you take the time kick off your shoes and sit on the edge of the dock. An answer still hasn’t found you, so you take a drink instead of speaking. Kevin watched you all the while as he sat next to you, making self-awareness prickle at the base of your neck.

“Life’s fucking weird right now,” you admit finally, looking at the reflection of the moon on the water. “And it actually kind of fucking sucks too.” Kevin doesn’t respond right away, but when you took a deep breath, his elbow nudged yours lightly.

“You’ll get through it,” he assured you, with such sureness in his voice that you looked at him with a warm smile.

“I know I will. It’s just hard, but I’m dramatic, so of course it feels like the end of an era or something.” Your shoulders rise then fall in a shrug, still looking at him. “And then I feel selfish for even feeling that way to begin with. I know it wasn’t your choice to leave, or Brady’s, or Jimmy’s. I’m trying not to let myself be too sad about it.” You were surprised that your voice remained even as you spoke.

The words hang in the air and Kevin nodded, bring a hand up to touch the back of your shoulder. You feel warm all over as his fingers splay over your upper back, and you find yourself biting the edge of your tongue when tears sting in your eyes. 

“I was sad about leaving too. I knew I’d miss the guys, that I’d miss you, but that’s what makes trips like these nice, getting to catch up and just hang out for a few days,” he said finally, his hand still on your shoulder when he met your eye. “I’m honestly surprised you’re not following Sophie to Buffalo.”

Your nose scrunched at the thought and you shook your head, exhaling a quick laugh. “I honestly thought about it, but I know she’s excited to be moving in with him, and I don’t want her to feel like she has to always keep me company or something,” you explained, peeling at the edge of the label on your bottle with your thumbnail. You weren’t sad enough about being alone in New York to justify moving upstate, you knew that much.

“Philly’s not far from New York, y’know. You can always come hang with me and Nolan, and I know there’s a few other guys on the team you’d have a good time with,” Kevin offered, taking a long swig of his beer as his hand finally fell from your shoulder. “Or I could visit you. We could go to that one bakery you like so much, watch movie or TV all day, just kind of chill.”

A wide smile spread across your face. “Yeah, I’d like that,” you said, taking the chance to nudge him with your elbow. Kevin nodded, still grinning as he nudged you right back. It felt good to be talking to him, to have him close enough to smell his cologne for the first time in a year and a half.

There was another pause, and you both took a drink, the sound of frogs and crickets hanging around you.

“Sorry for putting you on the spot like that at dinner. It was meant to be a joke,” he said finally, taking another drink to finish off the bottle. You glance up at him and it almost looked like he was blushing a bit over it.

Scoffing, you shake your head. “Don’t worry about it, but Kev, you know we never dated,” you told him, laughing as you finish off your own drink.

“We kind of did!” he responded, laughing with you. “We went out plenty of times!”

“Dude, texting me ‘hey, are you hungry?’ at 11pm, then going to a 24 hour diner does not count as a date.” You snorted, shaking your head. When he caught your eye, he was smiling almost bashfully.

“Okay, fine,” he conceded, holding your gaze. “The next time we go on a date, I’ll make sure you’re aware of it, deal?”

Your response is to laugh again, nodding and looking away this time. The way he’s looking at you makes you feel like you’re back on the sofa in their old apartment at 2am. A chill ran down you and you exhaled a breathe, watching the way the water rippled as a breeze swept through.

“I’m really did miss you,” Kevin told you, and from the corner of your eye, you know he was watching you again. Nervousness plucked along the back of your neck, and you kept your eyes on the water. “Like, way more than I miss Jimmy and Brady, honestly.” You don’t fully believe him, but either way, the sentiment makes your heart ache. 

With your jaw clenched, you exhaled a breath as your eyes burned with the threat of tears. “I missed you most too,” you assured him, swallowing the lump in your throat. 

“Good.” He paused, tilting his head up to look at the stars for a moment. “Can we watch season two of Fleabag sometime this weekend?” Kevin looked at you a second later and blinked as you laughed.

“Yeah, of course. That’s an oddly specific request,” you said, letting your eyes move over the lines of his face as he shrugged.

“I haven’t watched it yet, I was waiting until I could watch it with you.” His words made you blink, and your throat swelled, hating this rush of emotions now that you’d felt happier for most of the day. You didn’t really know what to say, so you just nodded again, suddenly feeling the urge to lean into him to bury your face in his neck comfortably.

A few months before he had been traded, you’d started the first season at 1:30am after a night of drinking. Brady had been at Gracia’s, and Jimmy and Sophie hadn’t even made it through the first episode. Considering the season consisted of six 25 minute episodes, it was easy for you and Kevin to stay up and watch the entire first season, curled up together on the couch.

You and Kevin had spent the following half hour making out like teenagers until he absolutely begged you to come to bed with him. Feeling heat beside your thighs, you now wish you had said yes, just to have that extra memory.

The two of you spend the next several minutes in silence, sitting side by side on the dock in the dark. You can hear music playing from the cabin behind you and the murmur of voices surrounding the fire pit that was a dozen feet away. Your heart was racing as you fidgeted after a while, trying to ignore the feelings for him that you had buried when he was traded that were now bubble at the surface.

Eventually, Kevin mentioned going up to the house for more drinks, and you agreed, getting to your feet with a sigh. You looked up at him briefly, then toward the house behind you.

“Before we head up, can I cash in my rain check for that hug from earlier?” he asked, running a hand over his hair as he watched you.

“Yeah, of course,” you responded, smiling widely as you walked into the arms he held open for you. 

You let out a breathe as he hugged you tightly, your face pressed into his chest. He smelled as good as he always did, and warmth of his hand rubbing over your back had you relaxing into him. Your fingers curl in the fabric of his shirt when he kissed the side of your head once, then a second time. 

“It’s gonna be a good weekend, yeah?” he murmured, the words muffled against your hair. It took everything you had not to shiver against him, and you nodded, happy to keep yourself nuzzled securely against him for a while longer. 

A FEW MORE NOTES: Well, this fic feels a lot more emotional than I’m used to writing, and it’s one of those things that I really like where I’m heading with this, but I worry about it seeming whiny or wishy-washy, but here it is anyway. How typical of me to vanish for months, then show up with a new story when everyone’s been waiting for Bring You Back to Me’s next chapter 😂 I love whoever of you are still reading at this point, and I hope you enjoy this fic. I loved the first part, but I’m so not used to writing anymore and that, paired with my ever present self-doubt, I’m like “is this fic good at all??? let’s fucking see!!!” and here we are 🤷🏻‍♀️

FRIDAY

[blizzardfluffykpop]

Winter Break

Summary: Yugyeom and you stay at Hogwarts for Winter Break. 

Oneshot

Word Count: 1,967

Yugyeom X Reader

Requested: Hi~~ would it be possible to request #25 for the 25 Days of Winter with Yugyeom? I was a bit late for the Hogsmeade promt, but I was wondering how would it be to spend Christmas at Hogwarts? I hope your day was amazing 💜💜💜

Prompt: 25. Make your own prompt!

The ceiling in the great hall is covered in candles and snow. Almost as if you were to reach up, you could taste a freshly fallen snowflake. As the days draw closer to winter break, the more excitement builds off the walls. Everyone is itching to leave the castle and be with their families. Exiting the castle and almost everyone is throwing a snowball at someone else. Which would lead to me spotting one of my seven friends and hitting them in the back of their head. The little shiver as they turn back around with a cold stare. Wondering who dared to throw a snowball at them. I wave, and it turns one snowball thrown into a whole snowball fight. Professors are nowhere near safe, although Hagrid is always one to join in on the games. 

Once we are all tuckered out, we head over to Care of Magical Creatures. Three more days and more than eighty percent of the students will be at home. Usually, I would be joining in that percentage alas, I’m having my first Christmas at Hogwarts. Hagrid beckons all of us to follow him to the lake. “Before we leave for home, I want to show you all what Hippocampuses do for the winter.” I catch up to Yugyeom and Bambam, and the three of us walk at the back of the crowd. “So, (Y/n), where are you going for winter break?” I shrug, “I’m staying here,...” Bambam pouts, “Aww,... I was hoping to visit you over the break.” I pout back, and Yugyeom gleams over at me, “So am I!” I grin and let out an excited ‘yes’. 

I’ve been friends with Jaebeom, Mark, Jackson, Jinyoung, Youngjae, Bambam, and Yugyeom for six years now. While Mark and Jaebeom have graduated, we all remain friends. But, with Yugyeom, I don’t feel friendly emotions, I feel the type where your heart picks up when they walk into the room. When he laughs, my whole day becomes brighter when he's sad, I’m sad. In the beginning, I denied that I had any feelings for him because it was so much easier, seeing him as a friend. My heart thought differently and knowing that everyone in the group is heading home. Except for him and I, has my heart going into overdrive, I’m excited but terrified. 

“Aw you guys are no fun,...” I laugh, “Bambam, if you want you could write to your mother and tell her you're staying here.” He shakes his head, “You know she would have my head after she already planned to have me over.” I laugh, “She is such a sweet woman though,...” He scoffs, “Yeah, uh-huh.” Yugyeom shakes his head and sticks his tongue out at Bambam, “We get to stay here, sucker!” I laugh and join in on his antics, and Bambam places his hand over his heart. “How can a Hufflepuff be so mean?” Yugyeom shrugs, “You bring the best out of us, Bambam.” Bambam scoffs, “I am a Gryffindor, I would do nothing of the sort.” He lifts his head up, walking away from us just to run into a tree. Yugyeom and I crack up and high five, “Don’t worry, I’m okay. THANK YOU for asking.” Bambam glaring at us, and we mimic him, “THANK YOU for asking! You’re welcome!” 

We reach the bottom of the hill to see Hagrid showing us the Hippocampuses that lay swimming under the ice. “You see, the water underneath is quite warm. The ice is protecting the creatures lying within. A Ravenclaw lets out, “Does that include the Giant Squid?” Hagrid sighs, ready for a break, “He lies there, but he rarely comes out of his dwelling.” A few kids snicker, and after everyone sees the reds and blues of the Hippocampuses he leads us back to his house. “Alright, class dismissed.” 

--

The next weekend, Yugyeom and I watch our four friends leave for home. Bambam promised to write us a letter. From seven to five and now down to two. When they leave, Yugyeom looks over at me and asks, “Wanna make snow angels with me?” I smile, “Why not?” He grabs my arm, and we run to the courtyard. He drags me down with him, and I can’t help but laugh. Swinging our arms back and forth, we make our angels perfect. I do my best to get up and not ruin my angel. Yugyeom follows suit and looks at our angels, and says, “They’re missing something.” I raise my brows, and he draws little halos over them. I laugh and accidentally bump into him. Causing the halo to go right into the head of his angel. He drags me down on top of him, and we tussle. “My angel was perfect!” I flip us over, “Not as perfect as mine was!” I say as we roll across both of our angels, ruining them. I pout, “Now, we gotta do them all over again.” He scrunches his nose up, and it’s my turn to throw us into a blanket of snow. 

We recreate our original snow angels, and with a chill, we head back into the castle. Sitting across from him in the great hall, I bet him a sickle that I can beat him in Wizard’s chess. He pouts, “You have an unfair advantage!” I look up and pretend to think about it, “I don’t know whatever you mean.” He glares, “You and Jinyoung are on the chess team.” I shrug, “Maybe” He shakes his head, and between us appears a chessboard. I let him make a move first, “Okay,... No pressure. Pawn to F3.” My jaw drops, seeing as I was going to take him out in three moves. And now this game is going to go longer than I intended it. “What?” I sigh, “Nothing,...” He smirks, “I’ve watched you and Jinyoung play enough to know that’s the only safe bet with you guys.” I roll my eyes, and I start taking him out piece by piece. I stopped paying attention to his pawns and attention to killing off the queen. I have everything except the rook and a bishop when he lands a pawn on my side. “I’d like my queen.” My jaw drops, and with the way, his queen sits at E1. His queen and rook unite in killing my king. Not only am I in shock but agony. He chuckles, “Beginner’s luck!” I sigh and laugh out, “Experienced loser!” He grins, “Ayy, you’ve beat Jinyoung how many times at chess?” I shrug, “Never lost to a beginner though.” He smirks, “Life is always open to new opportunities, right?” I cross my arms and pout, “I guess” He ruffles my hair and pulls out of his pocket three of my pieces that I seemingly lost. “You little--” He scampers off, and I chase him around the tables. “That’s cheating!” Our laughter booming off the walls, “Not if you didn’t catch me!” I finally catch up to him and wrap my arms around him. “Now, I did.” He mumbles, “You did years ago.” But I couldn’t quite make out what he said. 

I give him his sickle, “But I cheated?” I shrug, “My loss, cause I didn’t pay attention to you sneaking the pieces off the board.” He flicks it up and says, “Heads we sit in front of the fire after sneaking butterbeer from the kitchens. Or tails you buy us butterbeer from the three broomsticks.” I shake my head, “Oh Merlin,... I hope it’s heads.” He catches it on his forearm, and I look over his shoulder to see which side landed right-side up. “Heads!” I point to him and say, “Your common room!” He looks over and asks, “Why’s that?” I shrug, “It’s closer, less likely to be caught.” He smirks, “And when did you ever care about that?” I roll my eyes, “I don’t want to spend my winter break scrubbing cauldrons.” “Fair enough.” 

We grab a case of butterbeer and a few pastries before we head to the Hufflepuff common room. “You guys decorated?” He nods, “Of course, all the third years got together like three weeks ago and decorated it.” I smile, “It’s so beautiful,...” He smiles, “I think so too.” We sprawl out on the couch and watch the flame twinkle. We each pop open a bottle, and he says, “You know I didn’t plan to stay here.” I look over at him and ask him why he was then. “My parents are helping my brother move into his new house.” I nod, “I bet that’s hard, isn’t it? When you go back, you won’t see your brother.” He sighs, “Yeah,... I miss him already, I know he writes to me all the time. But I guess it’s hard to know something consistent is no longer.” I nod, “I understand that, Gyeom.” He puts his face into my shoulder, and I reach my hand up and play with his hair. He asks me why I’m here this year, “My mother is stationed in another country. You know how she’s an Auror and all it’s just weird not to spend the holidays with her.” He nods, “I know, exactly, what you mean.” I rest my head on top of his and take in the moment together. 

--

Today is Christmas, and since I decided to stay with Yugyeom in his dorm. Since everyone else in our year is at home for the holidays. I had no one to bunk with within my house. Yugyeom is already in front of the fire and has a butterbeer cracked open. His presents on top of his lap, and I hide my gift for him behind my back. He looks over and sees me and cracks another butterbeer open, and tells me it's mine. I grin and join him on the couch, both of us dressed in fluffy pajamas. He scoots closer to me and hands me a small box. I give him my gift, and he smiles. We decided to save each other for last. Bambam’s mom made my owl a cardigan, and he got me a human-sized one. It seems they did the same for each of us, in a variety of colors. I laugh at Mark’s gift for Yugyeom is a set of fake tattoos. The note says, “To fulfill your need for more!” He laughed as well, and Mark gave me a coffee mug with three different packs of hot cocoa. Knowing I will share it with the rest of the group. Each gift makes me feel warm and fuzzy. It's nice to know I have such good friends. 

I reach to open Yugyeom’s gift to me, and he tells me, “Before you open yours,... I have something to tell you.” I nod, “Okay,...” He finishes up with his gift, “I,... uh,... I’ve liked you since our second year.” I grin, “That’s a relief since I’ve liked you since second as well.” He smiles and we open our gifts. It’s a gold necklace with his name scrawled out, “It’s beautiful, Yugyeom.” He smiles and finds that I got him a similar gift, but with my name written in cursive. “So can I call you mine?” I ask him softly as he turns around and has me clasp the necklace around his neck. “If I  get to call you mine, in turn.” 

I point up at the ceiling there hangs a big bundle of mistletoe. “They say Hogwarts mistletoe is special.” He finishes my sentence, “It only appears above couples who are meant to be.” I place my hand on his cheek, and he holds my face in his hands. And for the first time, I kiss the lips of Kim Yugyeom. Maybe spending winter break at Hogwarts was the best idea my mother had yet.

[jwillowwolf]

Magic and Miracles - Chapter 7

Sanders Sides Big Bang fic, Chapter 7!

< Previous Chapter | Next Chapter > | Masterlist

Summary: “Roman’s right, Remus. That’s not a frog. It is a moss slime.” Logan stated.

“It’s hideous.”

“Hey! How dare you be so mean to poor little mossy.” Remus said, holding the slime to his chest.

Warning/s: food mention, nightmare.

Characters: Logan, Virgil, OCs, Roman, Remy, Remus, Patton, Janus.

Tag List: @theimprobabledreamersworld @remy-please-come-back

Read on AO3

7 | School Holidays

“Eye spy with my little eye something green.”

“A tree?”

“Yep!”

“Remus, you can’t just keep picking trees.”

“Says who?”

“Says me. It’s too predictable.”

“I spy an idiot.”

“Why you--!”

“Can someone put me out of my misery?” Virgil asked over the twin’s bickering.

Everyone was feeling exhausted, despite riding in a carriage all morning. But they had been stuck in the carriage all morning. They were beginning to regret winning that vacation, or at least the travelling part. It had of course been exciting when they first found out, but now they were all cranky and wondering if Remy’s surprises were all meant to torture them in some small way.

“How about we play a game that isn’t eye spy?” Everleigh suggested.

Roman nodded vigorously. “Please.”

“How about charades?”

“There are eight of us packed in here, Pat, we don’t have much room for charades,” Janus pointed out.

Patton frowned and thought harder. “Broken telephone?”

“I think we’re all too close for that,” Roman said.

“Yeah, plus Willow has an unfair advantage,” Remus pointed out.

“And you don’t, Miss Elf?”

“Touche.”

“Yeah, so, that won’t work. What about word-chain?” Roman suggested.

“What’s word-chain?” Logan asked.

“Basically, we each take turns saying a word one after the other to form a sentence. I’ll start! Once.”

“Upon?”

“A.”

“Time.”

“There.”

“Was.”

“A.”

“Butt!”

“Remus!”

“What? It’s not against the rules.”

“Can’t you use a different word?”

“Fine… Once upon a time, there was a posterior~”

“You little-- oof.” Roman -and the others- lurched forwards as the carriage stopped. “What was that?”

Before anyone could do anything, Remy opened the carriage door. “Okay kids, we’re here!”

“Why did we stop so abruptly?” Janus asked.

“We’re here, and that’s all that matters.”

Virgil gave him a flat look. “You couldn’t figure out how to slow down, could you?”

“You’re wasting your vacation time people!”

Everyone got out of the carriage and looked around to see that their surprise vacation destination was what looked like a lovely rustic little cabin in the middle of the woods, beside a gorgeous lake.

Patton gasped with delight. “Can we go swimming there?!”

“Sure, buddy, but let’s take our stuff inside first,” Emile said as he got down from the carriage.

“We really get to stay here?” Willow asked.

“Yup.” Remy nodded. “Courtesy of Mr Picani.”

“Wait, really?” Roman asked. “You guys own this place?”

Logan nodded. “My grandfather built it long ago, but dad wanted to be a baker so we couldn’t live all the way out here.”

“No offence Mr Picani, but this is way cooler than your bakery.” Remus declared.

Emile laughed. “I have to agree with you, Remus. This place is better than anywhere else.”

Everyone followed Emile inside of the cabin, which was quite clean, apart from some dust here and there. The cabin was one long room, with a living, dining room, and kitchen all together open plan style. There were also two nice sized lofts on either end of the cabin, that could be used as bedrooms.

Remy and Emile were each going to have their own room while the kids slept all together sleepover style in the living area downstairs. Once the kids had taken out their sleeping bags and claimed themselves a section of floor, they headed over to the lake. Patton was racing ahead of everyone and ran straight into it until his entire body was submerged. When he resurfaced again, he began splashing around and giggling like a little kid.

Remus laughed. “How’s the water, Pat?”

“Incredible! You guys have got to get in.”

“Last one in, is a rotten egg!” Roman shouted as he ran to join Patton.

Janus ran too and tripped him up, but then Roman grabbed his ankle so he fell too. Remus jumped over both of them and then basically dove into the water. Willow ran around Roman and Janus as they wrestled to be the first one up and into the water. Everleigh laughed at both of them as she ran by, while Virgil and Logan only smiled.

“Are you two going to get in or what?” Remus asked.

“I bet you five silver they wrestle their way into the lake,” Virgil said.

“Ten silver that they continue to wrestle after they get to the water,” Willow replied.

“Deal.”

Logan found himself suddenly splashed. “Hey!”

Everleigh just giggled manically at his angry glare.

“Oh, it’s on!” He splashed her back, and she shrieked, diving out of the way so the water instead hit Remus.

Instead of getting mad though, Remus grinned from ear to ear and yelled, “Water fight!”

Then all hell broke loose; metaphorically of course. Everyone began splashing and using water spells to soak each other, laughing loudly all the while. Later, after they’d expended most of their energy, they all went to the shore and Remy and Emile brought them some lunch.

---

“--and then you do this and, viola, a perfect flower crown!” Willow said, holding up their creation.

“Ooh, these are all so pretty.” Patton squealed.

Everleigh held hers up with a frown. “I think I did something wrong with mine…”

“That’s alright. My first flower crown completely fell apart when it held it up from my lap,” Willow reminisced. “Here, you can have this one.”

“Really, oh! Thank you so much!” Everleigh said, accepting the crown. “How do I look?”

“Like a true summer queen,” Willow answered.

“Hey guys, look I found a frog!” Remus declared.

Roman shrieked and jumped into Janus’s arms. “Oof-- hey!”

“That is not a frog!”

“Yeah, it is! Look.” Remus held the green creature up to Roman’s face, causing him to lean closer to Janus and make them both fall over.

“Roman’s right, Remus. That’s not a frog. It is a moss slime.” Logan stated.

“It’s hideous.”

“Hey! How dare you be so mean to poor little mossy.” Remus said, holding the slime to his chest.

“Uh, Logan, are those slimes at all dangerous?” Patton inquired.

“No. In fact, they play a key role in the ecosystem.”

“Which means you should put it back where you found it, Remus.” Roman declared.

“And you should get off me before I burn you to a crisp, Roman.” Janus snapped.

“I can’t take them back, they’re family.”

“You just found it.” Virgil pointed out.

“Exactly. How could I abandon them after only just meeting!”

“I don’t think Remy or Mr Picani will let you keep, Mossy, Ree,” Willow said.

“But they’re so cute. Who could say no to this face!”

“Anyone with half a brain.” Roman huffed.

Remus just stuck her tongue out at him childishly.

It took a while to convince him, but eventually, Remus was persuaded that Mossy would be happier staying at the lake.

---

The teens were all sleeping peacefully in the lounge area. They all had their own little sleeping bags and were curled up nice and warm, with only the soft glow of dying embers from the fireplace, illuminating the room. Everything was quiet, apart from Roman’s gentle snores, and the distant sound of croaking frogs.

Then a blood-curdling scream tore through the peaceful atmosphere and woke even the adults in their respective lofts. Willow jumped to her feet and stood in a fighting stance, Janus grabbed a log from beside the fireplace and lit it like a torch, Roman reached for his katana, Virgil jumped straight up and was now hanging from the bannister of one of the lofts, Logan and Everleigh were standing back to back with their firsts up, and Patton was beside Remus trying to shake her awake.

After a moment, everyone realised that it was Remus who was screaming so unsettlingly. He stopped with a gasp when Patton finally managed to wake him up. She looked around the room with wide eyes and began to cry as she realised it had only been a dream.

“...It didn’t happen… It didn’t happen…” he muttered between sobs.

Patton rubbed her back soothingly. “Remus...?”

“Thank the Gods… it’s not real.”

Roman paled. “What’s not real?”

“I- it- it was terrible,” Remus choked out. “A greedy soul betrays the heart, the world you know shall fall apart. Your only hope is to find the miracle that time left behind.”

Janus squinted. “What?”

“That’s what they said. Over and over again, while she…” Remus froze, a sob rising in his thought.

“What did you see, Remus?” Patton asked gently.

Remus took a deep wobbly breath. “A woman... She looked beautiful, yet old. Her eyes were dark and held what looked like centuries of wisdom... She was wilting before me, like a rose. Dying in front of me and I couldn’t reach her... None of us could.”

“We were all there?” Willow asked.

Remus nodded. “...But it wasn’t enough.”

“It was probably just a bad dream,” Remy said. “A really bad dream.”

“Perhaps you’re nervous about school.” Emile offered.

“How does that work?” Remus inquired.

“The woman could be representing magic, something old and beautiful. All of you are learning magic and maybe you’re nervous about getting enough knowledge to pass the second test.” Emile said.

Remus’s breath began to even out. “I guess that makes sense.”

“Whatever caused this, I think the best idea, for now, is to just calm down. How about some hot chocolate to help ease everyone’s nerves?” Emile offered.

Everyone nodded and sat down to relax. Janus took the wood he’d set alight and remade the fire in the fireplace, significantly brightening the room, while Emile got some hot chocolate made for everyone.

“I thought you’d grown out of those nightmares,” Roman commented.

Remus smiled weakly. “I’m still young at heart.”

“This has happened before?” Willow inquired.

“Well, I’ve had scary dreams, yeah. Woke nearly everyone in the castle when it happened as a kid. They haven’t been that frequent or… clear, lately.”

“Perhaps it’s the stress of being in an unfamiliar place,” Logan said. “Something that might help to keep you from getting worked up again, would be doing something you’re familiar with. Something that you’ve used to comfort yourself before.”

“My mom used to sing us back to sleep with lullabies,” Roman remembered. “But I can’t remember the words…”

“Do you know the name of the song?” Janus inquired.

“Uh… no… does anyone else know any lullabies?”

Everleigh frowned. “I’m not much of a music person.”

Patton shook his head. “I only know a handful of sea shanties.”

Logan and Virgil also shook their heads no.

“Well, Janus knows one,” Willow said.

“Why are you pulling me into this?”

“Because I can. The song is an older one that lots of people from Evergreen Valley would know, but I’m not sure if it’s well known elsewhere,” Willow explained.

“You’re talking about Running Wild, right?” Janus asked.

Willow nodded affirmatively.

Remus cocked his head to the side. “Running Wild?”

“It is a special song. A lullaby of sorts that has been passed down many generations.” Janus explained.

“Can you sing it?” Everleigh asked.

Janus bit their lip. “It’s meant to be accompanied by violin-”

“We have a violin.” Emile interrupted. “It belonged to my father. It’s a touch old, but should work.”

“Perfect. I can play it while you sing, Jan,” Willow said with a grin.

Janus glared at her a moment then sighed in defeat. “Fine…”

Emile got out the violin and handed it to Willow, who tuned it for while Janus got in position to sing. Everyone gathered in a semi-circle, like a proper audience, and waited patiently for the show. Then Willow began to play...

“Running wild in the sweet, long grass

Running wild where my heart is free at last

Running through the trees evergreen

Running to where my heart is keen

“I’m running, running without end

I’m running, running adventure round every bend

I’m running, running forever more

I’m running, running to see what’s in store

“Running though this world so wild

Running like a joyful child

Running here in the gold sunshine

Running in the cool rain divine

“Hmm~ Hmm~ Hmm…”

After that, no one had any nightmares, in fact, all that the kids dreamed about were peaceful forests and running wolves.

---

Logan woke to the sound of laughter and joyful voices, accompanied by the smell of fresh bread and fried bacon. He opened his eyes and scanned the living area to see who was awake. The twins were still knocked out, along with Willow and Virgil. In fact, it looked like the sun was only just rising outside, so whoever was up, had to be among the morning people of the group. Logan sat up and looked to the kitchen area, where he saw Janus, Everleigh and Patton were preparing breakfast.

"Morning sleepyhead!" Everleigh chirped when she saw Logan was awake.

“Good morning,” Logan replied, getting up properly from his bedroll. “I didn't know you all could cook.”

"We couldn't, but we woke up early, and your dad offered to teach us," Patton answered. "He and Remy went to get water from the creek for us quickly."

"Janus wasn't going to join us, but then they got to punch bread dough and we tricked them into joining us," Everleigh chuckled.

"I don't think you could trick Janus into doing anything he didn't want to," Logan commented.

Janus shook their head. "Why are you and Will always exposing me?"

Logan laughed. "What are friends for?"

"Did someone call me?" Willow asked, sitting up and rubbing their eye sleepily.

Everleigh gasped. "Oh my gosh, you look so cute."

Willow blinked her eyes open and cocked her head to the side. "Hmm?"

"I, uh- you look lovely in the morning," Everleigh said with a dark blush covering her cheeks.

Willow smiled. "Thank you, you look pretty too."

Everleigh somehow blushed even harder at that.

"You can get some more sleep if you want, Will," Janus said.

"Hmm, sleep." Willow looked at their pillow and laid back down. "Goodnight…"

Some soft snores a few moments later, indicated she was fast asleep again. Logan raised an eyebrow and looked over to Janus.

"What was that?"

"If she's still sleepy when she wakes up, then it's almost like she's drunk. Which is why they weren't nervous to tell Everleigh she's pretty." Janus explained.

"Why would she be nervous about that?" Everleigh asked.

"For the same reason you're still blushing," Janus smirked.

"I- I am not."

"Ev, we can all clearly see your blush," Logan said.

"That doesn't mean I have a crush on Willow."

"No one said you did'" Patton pointed out. "That's so sweet though."

"Shhhh, they're right there," Everleigh whisper shouted.

Janus shrugged. "She obviously reciprocates, so I don't see any issues with her hearing."

"Well, how would you like it if I exposed your crush on Roman?"

Janus's eyes went wide and then they looked away. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Patton gasped. "Double cute! Both of you would make cute couples with your crushes."

"I don't have a crush on Roman," Janus said.

"Geez, you're bad at lying about this," Logan commented.

"Well, when are you going to finally confess your feelings for Virgil?" Janus asked.

"Considering I have none, never."

"Liar~," Everleigh said in a sing-song voice.

Patton gasped again. "That's four fabulous couples! Oh, we should all do a group date sometime."

"I almost forgot you're dating Remus," Janus said. "How did that happen anyway?"

“Honestly I have no idea, but I love him very much.”

After that, the conversation focused on Patton and Remus instead of the others, much to Logan’s relief. He really didn’t need to have that conversation about his feelings again.

---

The group had decided to build a bonfire and collected every single stick they could find for it. They piled everything on the shore by the lake, to make sure they didn’t accidentally set fire to something else, and as the sun was setting over the mountains Janus lit it with their fire breathing. No one had seen them breathe fire yet, apart from Willow, and they were all very impressed, especially Roman.

“Hey, bro, don’t look now, but you gay is showing.”

“What?! Gah! Remus!”

The twins ran around for a while, Remus cackling the whole time like a mad person. The others began roasting kebabs and marshmallows over the fire.

“This is the perfect atmosphere for telling stories,” Everleigh commented.

“Do you have any?” Virgil asked.

“As far as I know, she has an infinite supply, with how many she tells,” Logan said teasingly.

Everleigh flashed him a glare but was fighting a smile at the same time, so she wasn’t too intimidating.

“What kinds of stories do you know?” Willow inquired.

“All kinds. Tales of adventurous knights, daring heroes, brave travellers, cheerful bards, sorrowful poets, tragic romances, haunting horrors-”

“Did you say horrors?” Remus asked, skidding to a halt and causing Roman to crash into him suddenly.

“Yeah, I love scary stories. There’s nothing like a mild horror to get your blood pumping.”

“Tell us one then.” Virgil urged.

“Uh, are you guys sure you want to go straight to horror stories?” Patton asked timidly.

“Don’t worry, Patty-cakes, you can hold my hand and I’ll keep you safe from your fears,” Remus declared.

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

“Alright then, let’s hear it,” Janus said, motioning for Everleigh to start.

“Once there were two brothers, Jack and John. They were very normal little boys who loved to play hide and seek. One day, while visiting their grandmother’s house, they decided to play their favourite game. Jack went off to hide and John was seeking him. He looked for a very long time, before he came to a spare room, where he thought he saw something moving in the closet.

“John lept forward and grabbed what he believed to be Jack’s wrist, saying, ‘I finally found you! I found you.’

“John struggled to pull on the wrist, as the person in the closet pulled back definitely. After a few moments, John heard a voice behind him.

“‘I give up. You took too long.’ There in the doorway was little Jack. looking very bored and definitely not in the closet.

“John was so surprised, that he let go of the wrist and fell back, flat onto his butt. He looked up at the closet with wide eyes, then back to Jack, then back to the closet, before getting up and slowly backing up out of the room. After that day, John never went back into the spare room, and he made Jack promise to never play hide and seek ever again.”

“Did Jack see what was in the closet when he let go?” Patton asked.

Everleigh shrugged. “If he did. He never said anything about it.”

“It was probably a bat or something,” Remus declared.

Logan raised an eyebrow. “What makes you believe it was a bat?”

“They love hiding in dark places and could definitely freak out a small child.”

“John thought he was holding his brother’s wrist,” Virgil pointed out. “How big of a bat do you think was in there?”

“Well, bats can get pretty big,” Remus shrugged. “Then again, maybe it was just a murderer hiding out.”

Patton squeaked in fear and pulled his knees into his chest. “You guys don’t think there’s any murders hiding out here, do you?”

“Of course not, Patton. The scariest person here is Remus.” Roman answered.

Remus grinned. “Why, thank you, dear brother.”

“That wasn’t a compliment.”

“It was to me!”

“Tell us another story, Ev,” Willow requested.

“Perhaps something a bit more lighthearted this time?” Patton added.

Everleigh nodded. “Okay, sure. How about the legend of the Miracle?”

Virgil perked up. “I haven’t heard that one in a while.”

“I’ve never heard that one. What is the Miracle?” Remus inquired.

“A creature almost forgotten by time. A legend true enough that it was once known to every elder and child in realms. No one knew truly where it came from and where it went is an even bigger mystery, but what it did changed the course of history forever.

“Three thousand years ago, the miracle lived openly in this very kingdom. It met with nobles and peasants alike, using its unparalleled healing abilities to make even those at death’s doorstep return to their healthy, happy selves. People came from near and far for help with not only their ailments but also other dilemmas. The Miracle was wise from many years of life and could easily council them. Not forever though.

“One day a king came to ask the Miracle to heal his daughter, but the Miracle refused. The king was so upset that he had the Miracle arrested and held captive in the dungeons. The Miracle used its unknown magic to break out, however, killing several soldiers and the king as it went.

“After that, no one dared to go near the Miracle and so it left the kingdom. At least, everyone assumed it did. It seemed to vanish off the face of the earth. Never seen again since its escape...”

“Why wouldn’t the Miracle heal the king’s daughter?” Patton wondered.

Everleigh shrugged. “That’s never been explained in any version I read.”

“Perhaps it couldn’t?” Willow suggested.

“It’s skills were greater than any sorcerer ever known. It could have easily cured anything.” Virgil stated. “From what I know, the princess died shortly after her father, and her younger brother took the throne instead.”

“The poor girl,” Patton said, wistfully looking off into the distance. He quickly perked up again though when something caught his eye. “Fireflies! They look so pretty!”

“Let’s catch them,” Remus suggested.

“Let’s see who can get the most!” Willow added on.

Nearly everyone jumped to the challenge and chased after the lighting bugs. In fact, only Virgil and Logan were left at the bonfire. Logan looked over at the taller teen curiously.

“Not joining them?”

“I don’t feel much like running,” Virgil confessed. “You?”

“Likewise… Do you know the story about how the stars came to be?”

“Hmm, I don’t think I’ve heard of it. Didn’t they just poof into existence alongside everything else the gods made?”

“Actually, the gods didn’t make them at all.”

“Who did then? Wait, tell me the story properly.”

“Alright then. When the world was still young there were only two lights who occupied the sky. The Sun and the Moon. They stood watch over humanity for the gods, each taking turns every few hours to be sure that they didn’t get too tired. The humans had decided to label these watches; day for Sun and night for Moon. During Sun’s watch, they would work, play, and do all sorts of things outside in the bright light. While during Moon’s watch, they stayed safe in their homes, hiding from the shadows, and sleeping until Sun returned.

“Moon would never say anything about it, but Sun saw how dejected they would look after their watch. Sometimes Moon would even accompany Sun during their watch and look down longingly at the happy humans enjoying Sun’s light. Sun’s light was much stronger than Moon’s, so of course, they did a better job of casting aside the shadows. Moon envied that ability. But they would never say so.

“Because of humanity’s hiding away, Moon’s watch was a lonely one. Sun wanted to accompany Moon, the way they sometimes accompanied them, but then people decided it was day since Sun so easily outshone Moon. Sun felt mournful for Moon. Moon was just as good a protector, if not better than them. But the human’s only knew that Moon’s light was lesser. Nothing else really mattered.

“One night, however, Sun came up with a plan. A brilliant plan to give Moon the company they longed for. They took from themselves a bit of light and scattered it across the night sky. These pieces came to life and were known collectively as the stars. Moon loved them dearly and finally found joy in taking up their watch. They were no longer so lonely.”

“That’s... beautiful,” Virgil whispered.

Logan had been staring at the stars as he told the story, so now when he looked at Virgil, he realised how close they were. He could see through his long dark bangs the faint glow of firelight and shimmer of stars in his stormy grey eyes. It was a captivating sight, so much so that he couldn’t bear to look away.

“Yeah,” Logan found himself whispering. “Beautiful…”

Twice, Janus had questioned his feelings towards Virgil, but this was the first time Logan found himself questioning what he felt. He couldn’t exactly describe it. Or perhaps he didn’t want to. For once, he wanted no answers, he only wanted to feel whatever this was. To just exist in this moment for the rest of eternity.

Shrieks of laughter from their classmates, however, broke whatever spell had been keeping the pair looking at each other, and the moment was over as quickly as it had begun.

Logan would later look back on that week as being full of wonderful memories. But that moment would forever stand out...

---

A/N: thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed this. I'll be posting two chapters a day until the full fic is up, so if you want to be tagged, you can just ask.

I'd love to hear what you thought about the chapter if you wouldn't mind commenting. Thanks again for reading! Here's hoping you have a magical day 💜

[kingreywrites]

Make my messes matter - Chapter 3 - Learning

Fandom: Tangled

Word Count: 1670

Summary: A series of seven ficlets focused on Rapunzel learning to navigate life in different ways after living eighteen years in a tower, with Gothel as a mother.

1. Touching - 2. Arguing - 3. Learning

Read on ao3

The discovery that probably surprised Rapunzel most when she left her tower, was that she was smart - smarter than the average person, in any case. Not that she thought herself especially slow but, without any other frame of reference than what Gothel had told her, she thought that she was nothing much, compared to her mother.

Despite the years, Rapunzel still remembered learning to read as a young child - mostly because she had been so bad at it. Mother had explained every letter painstakingly and yet, Rapunzel hadn't memorised them enough and messed up the next day. Mother had been upset, and that made her tired, and really Rapunzel, you'll be the death of me, don't you love me-

Rapunzel preferred books, anyway. Because she could read any information again and again, until she understood. And again, because she had nothing else to read. And again, and again, until she knew it by heart. She was also good at recognising patterns, and at creating new games and contraptions to spend the time. She hadn't thought much of it, really, until one of her tutors had noticed her skills and decided to go to her parents about it.

Apparently, not everyone had studied the movement of the stars like she did. And not everyone was as good as she was at adapting her knowledge to real life. Her parents had been exastic, and her tutors were happy to give her tougher subjects to study - which she was also happy to discover! Though, to her opinion, they were blowing this way out of proportion.

"I don't get what's the problem," Eugene said when she complained about it, "you're amazing! Of course they noticed that!" His sentence was punctuated by Pascal's loud squeak of affirmation.

Rapunzel smiled and rolled her eyes but, since she had her head in Eugene's lap, he didn't notice. She might have come straight from her lessons to the library, where she knew she would find him, before laying down on him and blurting out what was bothering her. She didn't regret it, though, because being with him helped her calm down a little. Honestly she was flattered that her tutors thought her to be a quick learner - she only wished they hadn't gone directly to her parents.

"I just had a lot of time on my hands," she finally answered as Eugene slowly stroked her hair, "but really, I'm-"

Slow, lazy, naive, a failure, a voice whispered in her mind, that sounded like a mixture of her own and Gothel's. She clamped her mouth shut and breathed deeply - she knew, now, that Gothel was a liar. She knew it upset a lot of people when she repeated those lies, so she was working hard not to do it.

She wasn't fooling Eugene, however, but he said nothing, waiting for her to be ready to talk. She sat up and he let her go easily, but she only did it to reposition herself in his arms, hiding her head in the crook of his neck. She felt his chest rising and falling with his breathing and, slowly, her tongue untied.

"I don't feel like I'm special, but everyone keeps saying I am," she murmured, and Eugene tightened his arms around her. She had a feeling he was trying hard not to assure her that she was indeed special, and she appreciated it. "There's so much I still don't know, and I'm worried- I'm worried that they'll be disappointed once they see me struggle if they expect too much of me."

"I think I get that," Eugene answered when it was obvious she wouldn't say more, "but I also think that the one putting the most pressure on you is yourself, Sunshine. Everyone is happy that you're adapting way faster than could be expected, but you're already worried about a failure you didn't make yet."

His words rang true, but she wasn't sure what to make of them. So she stayed silent, and he kept hugging her as long as she needed it, Pascal's weight on the top of her head another source of comfort.

For Rapunzel, failure had never been a possibility, but a certitude. No matter how hard she tried, how meek she was, how much she listened, she would always -always- do something to displease her mother. The only control she had over that was over the size of the actual failure, but her mother's constant disappointment still bit harshly at her confidence in her learning abilities. And now that she had seemingly everything to learn, everyone's confidence ironically put more pressure on her shoulders - it was all confusing.

It all came to a head when Arianna - her mom - proposed to teach her how to swim. The topic had come up at breakfast, when her mom had proposed that they could go to a nearby lake, and Rapunzel had stumbled over her words. Her parents immediately backtracked, as they always did when they worried about upsetting her, but Eugene had suggested that she would need to learn to swim at one point and, one thing leading to the other…

"Oh, cold," Rapunzel chuckled as she joined her mom in the water. Pascal, who wanted to come with her, put one little paw in the lake and decided that he'd be better off on dry land, which made Arianna laugh.

"Don't worry, your body will adapt to the temperature quickly. You know, I used to come here a lot when I was a kid," Arianna smiled softly.

This is the fourth time I am touching a body of water in my entire life, Rapunzel thought, but didn't say. She hadn't know her mom for a long time, but she already hated the sad glint that appeared in her eyes whenever Rapunzel mentioned her life in the tower. Arianna obviously loved her a lot - they just didn't know how to deal with each other quite yet.

"So, swimming!" Arianna exclaimed awkwardly. "What do you know about it?"

"I've seen Eugene do it," Rapunzel answered eagerly, mimicking the movement of his arms, "and I managed to swim for a little while, but it wasn't much."

She didn't add the part about the flooding cave, or the near death experience, or the feeling of being swept away by the current until Eugene grabbed her hand and pushed her toward the river bank. She didn't think her mom would appreciate it.

Arianna spent the next hour helping her find her footing in the water, teaching her the different ways she could float and move around. By the end of it, any hint of awkwardness had disappeared between them both, and they were sharing little anecdotes while laughing. They were in deeper water now, but Rapunzel felt confident that she wasn't going to drown - the most important thing Arianna had taught her was that staying calm was the key to swimming.

And of course that, in her new found confidence, she wasn't careful enough with her footing and fell right into the water - and of course, as she went down, she panicked and kicked her mother accidentally.

She barely breathed as she surfaced. "I'm so, so sorry," she babbled, helping her mom get up again and cringing at her now dishevelled state.

"Sweetheart it's-"

"I know you told me the ground was slippery, I really should have been more careful but I won't do it again-"

"Honey-"

"-and, I mean, you taught me so much already, and I listened to you, I swear, but-"

"Rapunzel," Arianna exclaimed, putting both of her hands on her shoulders, "it's fine, I'm not angry. You simply slipped, it happens."

Rapunzel laughed, her voice a little too high as her heart was still beating too quickly in her chest. It was a simple mistake, nothing big, but her body reacted as if her mothe- her mom was going to hate her for it. Which was frankly ridiculous, she told herself firmly, trying to wrangle her emotions back under her control.

"I- Rapunzel, even if you made a mistake because you didn't listen to me, I wouldn't be mad," Arianna continued softly, "god knows I didn't listen to anyone's advice when I was your age."

Here it was, that sad glint her mom always got in her eyes when she was thinking about Rapunzel's life in the tower - exactly what she had wished to avoid. Rapunzel sighed, feeling her shoulders slump, the gentle movement of the water around her a strangely soothing sensation. She knew Eugene and her mom were right - knew that she was too hard on herself, too competitive also, wanting to prove to everyone that they didn't need to explain themselves multiple times. But when she kept pushing these feelings away, hoping for them to disappear, she wasn't fixing anything.

"I'm sorry," she finally sighed, feeling like being honest was the only solution. "I'm not used to people explaining things to me. Gothel- she wasn't the most patient and, as soon as I could read, I learnt most things by myself. This," she smiled, vaguely gesturing to the situation, "is pretty new to me."

Arianna's eyes had softened as she talked, and she looked relieved that Rapunzel was trusting her enough to tell her this.

"This is pretty new to me too. I mean, I did help my sister learn how to ride a bike, but it involved a lot more bickering," she joked, trying to lighten the conversation. "You're a much better student than she ever was!"

"I guess I am," Rapunzel accepted, and the afternoon finished on a nicer tone.

It was hard for her, to relearn how to learn. It was hard for her to not underestimate or overestimate her capacities, to be able to accept help when the only one she had before was herself. But after that day at the lake, she understood that, no matter what, she now had a family to support her, and friends, and Eugene.

She didn't need to be perfect - she just had to remember that.

[minsyal]

Mutual Feelings Pt. 9, [Revali x Reader]

Summary: Smart nerdy stuff that smart nerdy people do

“Incoming!” The small metal hinges on your door shook as a heavy foot collided with the old crackling wood, only making its condition worse. The door flew open, slammed against the wall, and rattled the entire room. If the shelves and desk weren’t bolted to the wall, they would have clattered to the ground or move. Purah stood under the frame with the widest smile stretching across her face.

She was nothing but a lit firecracker. Her smile spoke words of mischief, as it always did, speaking essays and forty-minute presentations without her even having to part her lips.

You slid the papers you were working on under a leather-bound book. She wouldn’t like their contents. After all, they were full of information to the Divine Beasts controls that she didn’t know about. Controls that you added. You could imagine the look on her face if she learned that you were going behind her back to answer the Champion’s requests.

“Morning, sleepyhead.” She waltzed into the room with an energy that dumbfounded you. How she managed to stay in a perpetual state of joy was something that intrigued you, but you had no desire to live through yourself. “Brought you more super royal work! I know how much you love all that jazz.”

“You know me better than anyone.” You joked, turning your chair to face her. “What is it?”

“Oh,” she danced around you to slink toward the window. “you know! Just… some stuff.” The pile of papers in her hands didn’t seem like too much work. There were only two notebooks and maybe a dozen sheets of paper with scribbles all over them. There was one thing you took note of, the princess’s perfect cursive that seemed to glide across the page.

“Some stuff.” You repeated, quickly snatching a paper before Purah could protest. “Zelda’s work?”

“Precisely!”

“Why?” There was no way Zelda would want you messing with her work.

“Well. Big boss-man told her to focus on her powers. That means that you and I, more so you,” she quickly added, “get to finish it for her!”

“She would be furious if I so much as touched this.” You speedily put the page back on the stack that was now perched on your desk. “Are you sure we’re supposed to do this?”

“It’s not so much as finish it. Rather,” she leaned to the right and then swayed to the left, “add it to our work! It’s about the shrines and everything. You know? Science stuff.”

“Is she allowed to continue searching for shrines?”

“Probably not. That means less trips with her for you! Maybe more time to spend with,” she waggled her brows in a suggestive manner, “you know who.”

“Purah, let’s not go there.”

“Oh sweetie, you already went there! In fact, you’re way past there! You’re,” she pretended to cast a fishing hook off into the distance, “waaaaayyyy over there! And over there,” she pointed in the opposite direction, “was the point of no return.”

“You’re insufferable.”

“All in a day’s work!”

“Don’t you have other work to be doing?”

“Nope!” She swayed on her toes, the mischievous smile never leaving her face. “So, are you and Revali like, a thing?”

“It was nice to see you, Purah.” You rose from your desk chair and began pushing her out the door. “Please, visit less.” Her feet halted in the hall. “I’ll send a card.”

“It better tell me you and Revali are dating!”

You slammed the door in her face. You could hear her giggling to herself as she left.

Shortly after meeting Keumi and learning of her situation, you traveled alone to Zora’s Domain to obtain updates on how many shines were identified in the surrounding areas from King Dorephan and Mipha. Sidon, who is Mipha’s brother, tagged along but proved to be little to no help as he was just beginning to learn how to utilize his swimming skills.

While there, you met a peculiar older gentleman who gave off an air of wisdom and vast medicinal knowledge. He was kind, quiet, and understated. Unlike the other Zora, he lived in the outskirts of the Domain. His whereabouts remained a mystery to the other Zora, and he was said to only appear when he sensed illness.

It was surprising when he set foot in the Domain seeking you.

You sat with the medicine man, listening diligently as he told you stories of his many travels throughout Hyrule. He had been everywhere you had and more. The ingredients he collected for treating illness were from all walks of the land.

“What brings you to the Domain?” He asked, folding his wrinkled hands in his lap. The two of you sat on the steps of the Domain.

“Research.” You commented.

“Just research?” He implored, eyes leaving you to look off dreamily to the sky. He closed his eyes, taking in the breeze that blew through the canyon walls. “I think you’re here for far more than that.”

“More?”

“You have someone special to you. Very special,” his gaze returned to yours, “and they’re very sick.”

“How do you know that?” You whispered, eyes going wide.

“It’s all over your face.” He smiled, “And I’m not oblivious.”  

The medicine man, Sopho, told you of a mysterious plant with an inimitable name, “Omisaato.” The enigmatic flower heavily resembled the Silent Princess, but with small differences in its shape and the introduction of golden speckling on its petals. It radiated the scent of fresh vanilla bean and only sprouted from the ground once a year in varying locations around Gerudo. Sopho told of its intense healing abilities. When brewed correctly with specific ingredients, it could cure even the most devastating diseases or genetic mutations.

He couldn’t provide you with the exact information you needed but could gift you a descent sized book that he had bought on a trip to Kara Kara. Even if there was no evidence of its existence, it was worth a try.

It could fix her. It could save her.

Though it was only a few days ago, Zelda was growing restless. She was itching to breach the walls and return to the wild where she could spend time with what she loved most. You’d find her lingering in the library for longer periods of time, watching over your shoulder as you sifted through her research notes. She’d practically be dangling from the balcony to see what you thought of her work. It was detailed, far more detailed than you had ever bothered to do. She described the make and model, how many screws and bolts she estimated they have, and where she hypothesized, they led to. With such a small entrance, it had to go down. But where? That was the looming question.

“Why don’t you just join me, instead of scare the hell out of Link?” You turned around to find her wide-eyed, either surprised you called her out or surprised that you knew she was there. With a short nod, she descended the stairs and sat down across from you at the table. Link stood a few feet behind her, looking as uncomfortable as he typically did while he followed her around like a lost dog. “Link, come on.”

He hesitantly sat down.

“My notes.” Her fingers danced across the pages that you piled together. “What are they like?”

“They’re yours,” you let out a tired laugh, “you tell me.”

Many emotions crossed her face in very few seconds. Her eyebrows drew together as she contemplated what she wanted to say next. Link was staring blankly at her, likely wondering the exact same thing as you. Zelda reached out and fixed the stack neatly, ensuring the pages corners lined up perfectly.

“Thank you.” She finally said in a quiet tone. “For saving me when we were in Hebra.”

Catching you completely off guard, you examined her expression, trying to figure out whether or not she was telling the truth. She showed no signs of dishonesty. Her eyes were glossy and large, her fingers rubbed together lightly, and her shaking leg inched the table over with each bounce.

“It’s no big deal.” You gave her a tight-lipped smile. “Guess I didn’t expect being a royal scientist meant experiencing 60 volts of electricity coursing through your veins.” With another smile, she was relaxed and smiling back. “Your notes are good. Detailed to all get out. But we haven’t been able to pinpoint whether the shrines in the different regions vary. I’d like to arrange a trip to Gerudo, sooner rather than later, to examine the shrines there.”

At the mention of traveling, she perked up. Something crossed her face that told you the conversations with her father were resurrected in her mind as she physically slumped a bit.

“We can request it to make ambassadorial relation meetings with Urbosa and for the possibility of finding another spring in the desert. He won’t question that.” You assured her.

“I’ll have it arranged at once.”

The next day you set out with Link, Zelda, and Mipha for Gerudo. Daruk and Revali had decided traveling separately would be faster and more efficient for the group as a whole. Plus, they wouldn’t even be allowed to enter the city so getting there immediately wouldn’t be called for. Zelda was much more pleasant than usual. Her attitude changed the moment you suggested the trip and a way around the King’s tightening rules for the young princess. She didn’t even question the cage you wore on your back meant to house the legendary flower.

Mipha, on the other hand, was curious as all get out. She poked and prodded at it, examining the welding techniques used. Link and Zelda led the group while you walked along side the Zora princess who swam slowly through Aquame Lake.

“What is it for?”

“I’m collecting some samples from the desert to take back and analyze at the castle. Boring stuff.” You laughed it off.

“Fascinating.” She was always so joyful. If there was a definition to innocence, it would surely be Mipha. “I’ve always wanted to do more scientific things. There’s just no time to.”

“You’ve helped me install updates to Ruta. I’d say that’s pretty scientific.” You commented. Mipha smiled, ducking beneath the water for a moment before coming back up.

“I mean with lab goggles and coats!”

“Next time I visit, I’ll make sure to bring an extra.”

“I’d enjoy that!”

[whoacanada]

‘Lake Spirits’

A Zimbits Fic for Mermay  

Summary: The afterlife is a lot wetter than Jack imagined. A lot wetter, a lot more Canadian, and full of a lot more cute boys. Well, one cute boy in particular. 

(Mermay is almost over so here’s this weird lake spirit thing I wrote off a spirit/haunting prompt. Little morbid, kinda cute. Obviously, they’re both implied to have died in outdoor skating accidents. They’re fine with it.)

He’s resigned himself to an eternity of loneliness. A great, vast, silent world where he’s both cursed and blessed to experience the natural world as the Lord intended. He is both damned and at peace. Heaven and Hell. He is everything and nothing. He is –

“Hey! Hi!”

– being yelled at.

Jack rolls over onto his side and finds a dripping wet young man waving excitedly from across the embankment.

“I am so sorry about your accident, I saw the whole thing but I’m kinda tied to my little pond over here. You doing alright? I know it’s a heck of an adjustment.”

Jack stares, not quite certain if this is a cosmic test or some kind of an illusion.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, where are my manners? I’m Eric. So, funny story really, I was up here for a skating competition and some of the guys thought we should rough it and skate on ‘real ice’. Well, I agreed but didn’t really consider the fact it was March, and next thing you know, here we are! Boys kept it a hell of a secret too, ‘cause no one ever did come looking.” Eric waves a dripping hand and flashes a smile. “But enough about me, tell me about yourself, mister…?”

“…Jack. I’m Jack,” he forces, realizing he hasn’t actually spoken since he, well, since he died. “Wait, you went skating in March? Here?”

“Honey, you don’t have to tell me twice, I’m the one that died.”

Just like that, turns out Jack isn’t going to spend eternity alone.

“I miss having legs,” Eric folds his arms on a log and rests his head on his forearms with a sigh. “If I have to spend my afterlife in the woods, I at least want to explore a little. And baking! Oh, Jack, I used to make the most amazing cookies –“

It’s been months since Jack woke up dead, with scales and fins, tied to a single lake in rural Quebec because he was dumb enough to not check the ice before skating. In the time since he’s learned a lot about himself and the other man that shares his similar fate.

Eric Bittle is a southern boy who loves his mama, Beyoncé, and skating. His hair is a mossy green now but he assures Jack he used to be a blonde. Apparently, he was a hell of a baker as well before his ‘accident’. He’s cute, he’s funny, and, for some reason, he can’t leave his own body of water.

Now, Jack’s lake isn’t massive but it’s a good size with plenty of streams and inlets to map. He knows it’ll get old soon, but for now, he’s content to lazily lap the shore, investigating what guardian spirit stewardship has to offer.

He was content before he managed to hoist himself up with a low hanging tree branch only to find Eric’s ‘lake’ is no larger than a drainage pond, minuscule in comparison to his own; barely larger than the man-made pond his father had dug out for their winter home.

“Tabarnak, Eric, you must be going stir crazy.”

“Oh, no, it’s really nice, in the winter people come out because it’s the perfect size for skating. Lots of kids and families. I have to make sure they’re safe, you know? That’s why I’m here.”

Jack looks around at the trees, lush and green following a warm spring. “What do you do in the summer?”

“I watch the animals, mostly. Play with the turtles. Make sure the goslings don’t wander off. Stuff like that.”

“Do a lot of people die here?” Jack asks, floating on his back and staring at the clouds, trying not to move while a turtle crawls over his shoulder. 

“I think it’s just us,” Eric calls from the other pond. “I mean, I’ve never seen anyone else. I think we’re here to stop that from happening. Again, I’m sorry about that.”

Jack laughs and waves off the apology, not for the first time.

“Hey, bud,” Jack greets, lifting his head out of the water as the turtle keeps crawling. “You’re on my chest.”

The turtle startles and hides in its shell, balanced on Jack’s sternum. For a brief moment, Jack considers the physics of trying to launch something the size of a turtle off the end of his tail. Not an actual turtle. Maybe a rock.

Crisse, he misses hockey. Maybe he and Eric can come up with some sort of game.

“Can you come over here?” Jack asks, watching the turtle poke it’s head out cautiously.

“I’ve never tried,” Eric admits. “I wasn’t sure what the rules were but I don’t think we can leave the water.”

“Huh. It’s, what, five meters? Between you and me?”

“Meters? That’s like 16 feet? Yeah, I’d say so.”

The plan that forms in Jack’s mind has nothing to do with the fact Eric is attractive, or as dead as Jack is, or how clearly the universe intended for them to be stuck together in some capacity; rather it has to do with Jack’s selfless drive to make Eric’s afterlife more comfortable.

Completely selfless. 

“I’m going to dig out a trench before winter,” Jack announces.

“What was that?” Eric calls back. “I was under -- look, I think I found a crawfish!”

“I’m gonna do it,” Jack whispers to himself, nudging the turtle a little only to be rewarded with a hiss.

Jack spends the next three days clawing at the embankment that separates his lake from Eric’s pond. Five meters isn’t much and time isn’t an issue anymore. 

He figures if a higher power wanted to keep them separated, Jack would have been stopped already, so he keeps going.

The sticks and rocks he uses aren’t quite enough; in one of his more morbid acts, he swims down to what’s left of his corpse and shimmies lose a skate to use the blade like an axe.

“Hey, Jack? What are you doing?”

Jack pauses and looks up to see Eric waving.

“You’re not that far away, I think we can connect the ponds,” Jack explains, digging at a tough root. “Maybe you can come over here. Have more space. Or something.”

“You’d want that? Really?”

Jack’s dead. He shouldn’t still be this fucking awkward. When he looks up from his task, Eric is pushed up on his arms, against the bank, watching him with wide eyes.

“Yeah, I mean, we’re here for a reason, and it looks like it’ll be just the two of us for a long time, so, maybe we should be closer. Or something.”

Eric’s blue-tinged skin flushes pink and he flips back under the surface, tail splashing up water before disappearing completely.

Jack curses when he doesn’t immediately reappear. Then, with a splash—

“— I can help!” Eric announces brightly, holding a skate aloft. Jack balks slightly at the algae-covered bone still dangling from the shoe but Eric just laughs in embarrassment when he notices.

“Oops, sorry, hon. Got a little carried away, I guess.”

Something sails over Jack’s head, large, algae covered, it floats for a brief moment before sinking. It’s followed by a stick, then another, little plink, plink sounds as bits of something whistle across the divide into Jack’s lake.

“Hey, bud, what are you doing?”

Eric pops up from the water, hair dripping, and holds up something that looks suspiciously like a human skull.

“I’m moving my bones,” he explains cheerfully before reeling back and throwing the skull over Jack’s head. “I don’t know the rules, maybe I’m tied to where I died, so if I put some of me in both ponds, I can move around more.”

It’s incredibly morbid but it makes sense. Jack takes a break and swims down to what’s left of his body and small crayfish trying to drag away a pale knucklebone. It should upset him more, being dead, seeing his own body, negotiating with a tiny crustacean for a piece of his own skeleton, but c’est la vie. 

Or, c’est la mort, in this case.

He returns to the surface and waves at Eric before throwing the bone into Eric’s pond.

“Now we can be together,” Jack offers when Eric’s face splits into a smile. 

“Well aren’t you a charmer?”

Jack can’t hide the heat in his cheeks and he ducks back into the water to keep digging.

Summer brings people, people bring snorkels and boats and fishing poles. Eventually, one of those poles pulls up one of Jack’s skates. 

The one with bones still inside.

“They’re going to dredge the lake,” Eric laments, sticking close to the edge of his pond as they watch the men in the boat. “They’re going to find your body and pull out all your bits — what if they give you a proper burial? You could disappear!”

Jack thinks he’s supposed to want that. To be found. To have a proper funeral. Maybe he did at the beginning but now he just wants this. He wants to connect the ponds. He wants to see winter. He really wants Eric.

“I’m not going to disappear,” Jack counters, though the thought causes a laugh to rise in his throat. “It could be you they find.” 

“You don’t know! There could be rules!”

Jack wiggles his finger at Eric.

“You’ve got a piece of me over there, remember?”

“I made that up!” Eric panics. “I don’t know anything about any of this! I’m guessing!”

“Bud, it’s going to be okay,” Jack tries to soothe. “Look they don’t even know it’s me. I mean, what’s the worst that happens? The dredge the lake and build a partial skeleton from you and me? Nothing to worry about.”

“No, it’s just a human foot in a hockey skate,” Eric sasses dryly. “Nothing suspicious about that at all. They don’t seem that worried, all that screaming over nothing.”

Eric huffs and disappears back under the water. When it becomes clear Jack isn’t going to see him again for a while, Jack dives as well, dodging hooks and nets to get a hand under his ribcage and drag what’s left of his body somewhere else. Maybe he’ll bury it under the rocks by the collapsed Sugar Maple. 

Anything to put Eric at ease.

They finish digging out the embankment in mid-fall.

A trickle turns to a stream and really it’s quite anti-climactic. The bodies of water connect and Eric tentatively hauls himself over the divide and into the much cooler waters of Jack’s lake. Eric splashes around and doesn’t look like he’s dying, or defying the natural order, so Jack asks, “Are you good? Don’t feel sick or anything?”

In response, Eric howls in delight.

“Look at this! You have so much space!”

He slips under briefly and Jack almost follows before Eric is back, slamming up against his side, hugging Jack tightly.

“Thank you, Jack! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

“You’re welcome, bud. I’m sorry it took so long. I knew you were lying about being okay with how small your pond is.”

Jack can’t help but lean into the touch, the only physical contact he’s had since before he died, and he reaches down to clutch Eric tighter.

“Oh, I was lying through my teeth, Lord, I could just kiss you --”

Jack leans down then and presses his lips to Eric’s cool cheek, earning a delighted gasp and a hand on his chest.

“Jack?” Eric looks up nervously. “You could do that with my lips, too, if you wanted?” 

Jack does want, and he is happy to oblige.

When winter comes and the water freezes over, Jack and Eric race along the underside of the ice, chasing skaters and pucks, patching thin spots in the ice, and breaking open areas that shouldn’t be covered.

“He keeps picking up his feet,” Jack comments, resting on the silt bed and watching a man teach his child to skate. “He’ll keep falling.”

“Oh, hush, they’re trying their best,” Eric chides, curling against Jack’s side, tucking his tail under Jack’s. “Besides, if anything happens, that’s why we’re here, remember? To help.”

Jack blows a few bubbles and watches them float up only to get trapped under the ice sheet.

“Yeah,” Jack sighs, clutching Eric tight. “We’re here to help.”

[mnranger5]

Big Bass Bash 2019, The Boat Drama is Finally Over, Lake of the Ozarks, MO, 4/26/19 – 4/29/19

4/26/19

Early in the drive to Lake of the Ozarks, Aaron and I timidly joked about how it wouldn’t be our spring fishing trip if we didn’t have some kind of drama.  There is so much truth to that…  From blown out bearings, to malfunctioning trolling motors to dead batteries, we’ve experienced heartbreak on our trips that we’ve almost become accustomed to.  As we rolled down I-35 to Des Moines, something big was brewing…

Rewind to four weeks ago.  I pulled the Ranger out of the garage from it’s LONG winter slumber.  It was going to Lighthouse Motorsports for an oil change and tune up on the motor.  In the fall of 2018, I started having a weird issue where I’d lose power once I got up on plane.  I need that that fixed ASAP, before the spring trip to Missouri.  Lighthouse took about 2 weeks to finally diagnose the problem as a bad fuel filter.

T – minus two weeks until the fishing trip.  I picked up the Ranger from Lighthouse and went straight to the lake.  She fired up beautifully.  I idled through the Crystal Lake channel and gave her some throttle.  Immediately, I began experiencing the same power loss.  Nothing had been fixed.  In fact, it had gotten worse.  After limping one lap around the lake, the 2009 Mercury killed multiple times, even while idling.  I recall texting Aaron that I am sure the boat would be fine, but deep down, I wasn’t so sure…

Back to Lighthouse.  I was worried. After some more testing Lighthouse thought the problem might be a bad fuel pump.  Getting a new pump from Mercury could take several weeks due to it being on backorder.  This was a big problem.  They continued testing it at the shop while I contemplated a contingency plan.

Then Dyan opened a real can of worms: “What if you bought a new boat?”  Oh boy.  I quickly created a Craigslist/Marketplace add for my boat and furiously scoured the internet in search of a new boat.  But I am particular.  It had to be perfect.  The exact color, features and most of all, the right price.  About the time I came to the conclusion that I’d need to order a boat if I wanted to get all the options I was looking for, Lighthouse called me back.  They think the motor problem was just a bad $10 spark plug?  Serious?

Four days until departure, I picked up the Ranger and took her back to Crystal Lake.  She fired up without missing a beat and raced around lake sounding better than ever in the 7 years I’ve owned her.  Whew.  Crisis avoided.  Hopefully we can finally avoid some drama on the fishing trip….  For fun, I decided to leave my boat ad on the internet, just to see what kind of offers I might get...

The drive into the Ozarks was long and uneventful (in a good way).    We did make a mandatory stop at Bass Pro in Columbia for lures and licenses as well as a lunch stop which included this humongous 16” party sandwich.  

Aaron catches a fish that size on Saturday or Sunday, we will be driving home with some money!  As we continued the drive into Columbia, I told Aaron about the motor debacle and how it kind of “opened the door” for me to look at new boats and possibly sell my boat.  By this point in the drive I already had 3 people who saw my listing and had requested test drives when I returned from the trip.  In addition, I had a guy named “Greg”, who wanted me to cancel all my test drives because he was planning to buy it, sight unseen, no test drive necessary, as soon as I got home.  Okay, whatever you say Greg…

At 4:00, we arrived at Village Marina and dumped the boat into the lake.  It was bluebird sky with light winds and temps well into the 70’s.  Just a perfect afternoon for fishing.  And it wasn’t long before we began catching either.  Aaron and I both pulled in a couple of small bass each on the shakey head and drop shot.  About an hour into fishing Aaron hooked up with this chunker casting a shakey head up on the shoreline.  

We worked Jobson Hollow cove for a couple of hours before venturing toward the channel. 

Out near the primary points, we came across this monster long-nose gar.  It may have wound up in the boat a bit untraditionally, but no doubt, what a cool looking fish to see up close.  

This gar must have been nearly 40” long and close to 10 pounds.  Had I known the long-nose gar had teeth like these, I probably would not have been so eager to have my hand up near its huge mouth.  Yikes!

Once in the channel we actually had really good luck picking up a half dozen bass on soft plastics, including these couple of short ones. 

Once again, drop shot (4” pumpkin dreamshot) and shakey head (7” black & blue ribbontail) were really on fire.  

But, with BBQ ribs, au gratin potatoes, baked beans and Texas toast being served up hot at home, we blew across the glass-like lake to get some food in our bellies!  

And to top it off, home made chocolate chip cookies.  We’re eating good now!

4/27/19

5:30AM: Alarm clocks went off.  As Aaron and I contemplated our gameplan for the day, there were scattered thunderstorms in the area.  We took refuge under the covered dock, staying dry from the downpour.

The plan was to be the first boat on the Shady Oaks Resort cove just to the north of mom & dad’s house.  

We felt like our best chance to get a good fish in the morning would be working as much un-fished water as possible.  Then once other boats move in, and we’re no longer the first boat making casts on a particular area of water, it could be time to look elsewhere.  At 6:30, we took our first casts in the cove.  By 6:35, thunder boomed above use, and lightening magnificently lit up the sky.  And that was that.  

We made our way back over to the dock and decided to wait out the storm.  I can deal with a lot on the water – cold, wind, snow and rain – but I don’t take any chances with lightening.  So instead, while other anglers braved the heavy thunderstorm, Aaron and I made our way inside for quite possibly the best breakfast sandwiches being served on the lake.

As we conversed with mom and dad over breakfast, the rain pelted the metal dock just beyond the deck.  We were pretty lucky to have the comfort and convenience of 5 star accommodations and hospitality while all the other anglers were getting soaked and cold.  But, at least one of those anglers braving the elements weighed in a 7.93lb bass within the first hour of the tournament.  As Josh always says, “You gotta risk it to get the biscuit!”  This guy was risking some serious storms for a giant fish!  And it ended up being worth it.  That fish would go on to win the $100,000 Big Bass prize for the tournament.

Finally, around 7:30, Aaron and I were able to get out on the water under some light rain.  But it didn’t last long.  The cold and rain gave way to warm sunshine within the hour.  We fished the cove we had intended to start in, as well as a couple other bays in Jobson Hollow, picking up a couple of VERY short fish.  

Although the forecast was calling for extreme winds, at the moment, they were very light.  We made our way across the channel and began fishing main channel points at the Village of Four Seasons.  Aaron started chucking the Alabama Rig (Chandelier Rig) and almost immediate hooked up with this largemouth who was parked right on the shoreline.

We continued deeper into Four Seasons when the wind suddenly kicked up.  And it was fierce.  Sustained winds were 25mph out of the SE with gusts between 40-50mph.  It seemed like the winds in the channel were just as bad as the winds in the coves, so Aaron and I braved the rough waters and fished the rock ledges at mile marker 2.  I tried my best to keep the boat on a parallel line between us and the wall with about 30 feet of spacing.  Even though we were super close to the wall, the boat was situated in 40-70 FOW.  We were casting right up on the wall and slowing letting it fall down the shear cliff.  We picked up a flurry of fish, but none of them biggin’s.

We were getting pounded by the wind, so we decided to push back across the channel.  I could never have prepared myself for such a bumpy and chaotic ride. While the Ranger did fine slamming into the 3 foot waves, I broke the tip on one of my St. Croix rods, nearly lost another (if not for Aaron’s miraculous save) and broke the mount on my front trolling motor.  Uh oh, Greg is not going to be happy about that!

Back in Jobson Hollow, we desperately tried to find some quieter water, in the deepest parts of the cove we could find.  Unfortunately, the only fish swimming around there were the smallest fish in the lake.

We finished the day with not much to show for it except some sun and wind burn.  

We buzzed over the The Boathouse at Village Marina where we met up with Mom, Dad and Brianna for a couple of cold drinks before dinner.  

The Boathouse is definitely my new favorite watering hole on the lake!  

And little did we know, the feast that awaited us at home was fit for a king.

Yep, that is tenderloin roast beef with mash potatoes and green beans.  Off.  The.  Charts.  I am pretty sure I rolled off to my room directly from the dinner table.

4/28/19

Aaron and I were pretty confident in our approach to catch fish on Day 1, so we planned to continue it.  After all, we had caught WAY more fish than any of the other anglers we spoke to, so no need to change it up.  All we needed was a little luck that one of those bites was a 5+ pounder.

Once again, we started in my parent’s cove. This time working the point in our first casts.  I was pitching a drop shot while Aaron bounced a shakey head along the bottom.  On my first cast. I got bit and reeled in this feisty little two pounder with my parent house in the background.

A great way to start the day.  Made the windy, 40 degree morning a bit more bearable.  We cast everything in the tacklebox over the next two hours, not picking up a single nibble.  We worked way deep into the cove, which was packed with boats casting the spawning flats and pre spawn staging areas.  But we couldn’t muster another bite.

With only a single non-prize-worthy fish to show for the morning, we headed home for a hearty breakfast which was made to order!  Aaron went with the omelet, while I opted for the ham and eggs!  

This is like staying at an all-inclusive property!  Eat and drink whatever we want, whenever we want.  We feasted, warmed up, regrouped, and figured out a new game plan for the rest of the day.  

Aaron and I made our way to the shorelines of Birdsong Hollow.  We cast up and down this cove for nearly two hours picking up only one short fish.  We then changed directions and headed out to the choppy main channel.  We knew we’d get beat up in the big surf, but we felt like it gave us our best chance for catching a pre-spawn swamp donkey.  I was throwing the biggest bait I have, the YUM Flash Mob Jr, rigged similar to Aaron’s presentation yesterday.  Casting it on my 7’ heavy rod with 80lb braid, I was probably going to throw out my shoulder - but it would be worth it if we got a big strike.  Around noon, we got a strike, just not the giant we were looking for.

About the same time, Aaron hooked up with a fish on his spinnerbait.  The way this fish was spazzing in the water made it apparent it wasn’t a bass.  Instead, it was a nice little channel catfish.

We continued fishing the afternoon jumping from one spot to the next.  We worked a couple back creeks in Jackson Branch Cove as well as the rip rap around the Hawaiian Island.  Finally we made the trip back into Jobson Hollow where we finished the day pitching the docks around Village Marina.  

While I was getting hung up on submerged dock cables on nearly every cast, Aaron was busy catching this bass in front of the waterfall.  A good way to end the day.

We loaded the boat up at Village, and headed out to the Grand Glaize Park for the awards ceremony.  Finally, the sun was starting to warm things up, and attendance was much better this year than last.  I’d guess about 300 people were there which represents about 5% of the total anglers in the tournament.  

The 7.93lb bass hung on to win the event and was caught on a Crock-o-gator jig.  Rounding out the top four was a 7.11, 7.06 and 6.83.  Once again, these fish were caught using the same presentation Aaron and I used at various times thought the weekend.  Spinnerbait, shakey head (w/ 10” worm) and jig.  All it took was to drop the right bait on the right size fish at the right time.  Just as it happened to them, it could have just as easily happened to us.  That’s what makes this tournament so special.  Anybody can win on any given cast!

Unfortunately for us, gas money was not offered for MN anglers this year.  Instead they gave it to Colorado, California, Michigan and South Dakota.  But in an unexpected turn of events, my name was called for an early bird registration prize.  It was worth $500!!!

That night, we once again feasted.  Homemade Momma-cotti, salad and garlic toast.  To. Die. For.

Although the tournament weather left a bit to be desired, it was an absolute blast fishing the in the Big Bass Bash and staying with my parents again.  I can’t think of anything I’d change with the hospitality, except, maybe Mom could churn up some homemade ice cream next time.  Haha!  

And while we were fishing, Brianna, Nana and Grandpa didn’t have much for downtime.  

They spent the weekend sharing milkshakes, mini-golfing, playing at Minor Mike’s arcade, Dog Patch USA, and cooking for us fishermen.  And lots of Cooper time!

They even made me this sweet apron with all my favorite things!

The 2020 Big Bass Bash is April 18 & 19, 2020.  I’ve already got it on my calendar!  No way I’d miss out on another trip to see Nana and Grandpa with my best fishing partners!

4/29/19

The drive home seemed WAY quicker.  Aaron and I continued to joke about Greg, who had contacted me several times throughout the weekend about the boat.  He was hot for my boat, and needed it today.  I told Greg I wouldn’t be home until the afternoon but he was welcome to come by and see it this evening.  He told me, “I am not coming by to see it, I am coming by to buy it.”  Okay Greg!  Greg claimed he had “17K, cold, hard, cash.”  I’ll believe it when I see it.

During the bumpy seas on Saturday, I lost one of my Humminbird Gimbal mounting screws.  It’s currently somewhere 100’ underwater in the Ozarks. Greg probably wouldn’t be happy about this!  We stopped quick at Bass Pro in Des Moines so I could pick up a new one.  Unfortunately, they were out of stock of the $10 screw, but the guy working behind the fish finder counter offered me a free extra one he had!  Are you serious?  Bass Pro just gets better and better every time we stop in.  Around 4PM, we pulled up to the house and Aaron went on his way.  Brianna and I had a date at the car wash to clean up the filthy boat.

Later that evening, Greg did indeed show up to the house.  He gave the boat about a 30 minute lookover before stating he wanted to buy it.  The whole thing was surreal.  Was I really selling my boat?  I hadn’t even stopped to consider that if I went through with this, it would be the first time in seven years I wouldn’t be boat owner on fishing opener.    

Sure, that boat has been a thorn in my side and caused me more drama on the water than I care to mention.  But the happiness that little Ranger has brought to my life has been priceless.  I was blessed to find that perfect little boat 7 years ago in Indiana.  At the time, I paid $16,000 for a three year old boat with 11 hours on the motor (the MSRP was $26,345).

We drew up some quick paperwork and Greg made good on his claim by throwing down $17,000 in cold, hard, cash, onto to deck of the boat.   Yep, my little investment in floating happiness, netted me $1,000 more than what I paid for the boat in 2013.  There is no doubt, the Ranger brand holds it’s value!  In less than an hour, the transaction was completed.   I handed Greg the keys to the boat and asked him to send me pictures every now and then.  We hooked up the Ranger to Greg’s truck and he cautiously pulled out of the driveway, as I had done so many times in the past.  I watched from the driveway as he towed my baby away.  It was a very sad moment.  No more Ranger.

But it also meant, no more DRAMA!  And even better, it was time to start shopping for a new boat!  Stay tuned.

[giveamonkeyabrain]

Notes from Prenzl

Another long time coming. Sometimes writing in this format, with the dark blue background, gets me down. I wonder if I can change that in my settings. Let me try. Nope, just spent approximately 3 minutes trying to figure it out and failed. Also lost my impetus to do so. So, back to the keyboard.

It’s been complicated lately. I don’t want to say it’s been a rough go because that’s somewhat mono-dimensional by comparison to what’s happening. I’ll begin with the macrocosmic element. It’s now the 7th of August and Spring has overwhelmed summer and blended straight into Autumn. Not Autumn but rather September, summer’s last stand. The skies are deep blue and and the air is cool. There’s absolutely nothing in my life thus far that I can compare not having summer to. This year there’s been no summer. Granted this is the first time I've ever lived this far north, but even the Berliners are saying this cool, rainy summer is not normal, that it’s the first of its kind in 10-15 years, etc. Frankly, all that matters to me is that I tank enough sunlight to propel me through the 4-5 months of cold and darkness here in the continental north. And so far that’s not going too well for me. That, in concert with being landlocked, has got my spirits in a bit of a jumble. Proximity to the sea has always been prioritized as  tantamount to my personal successes, however in the current iteration of my life, love has taken lead in the priority realm. Not that Berlin is shabby. In fact, despite the pushy ubiquity of drugs and borderline disgusting sexual proclivities of the average middle-aged Berliner, it’s a very cool place to dwell, an urban centre than doesn't demand 100€ just to take your first breath in the morning. In fact many days I can go about my business of writing, reading, going to German class, Yoga class, swimming, helping Andreas with the bar, and sleeping while spending less than 15€/day. This is monumental considering I have not had a job in 13 months now and am not sure when I'll have income again. Also The only other place like this that I've lived is Topanga,  

Pros are: The Weißensee, a small lake only 6 stops northeast of the house on the Straßenbahn. Located in the former DDR, this lake is always busy, mostly full of Russians on the weekend actually, but empty in the middle, which makes it most swimmable. There’s also no charge to sit on the lovely banks of the lake, however the campy beach area is 5€50. The water is clean and warm and the bottom is not too murky and full of plants. I’ve left the Olympic sized lap pool at Landsberger Allee (the former practice space of Olympic DDR athletes) in favour of the softer, more buoyant waters of the Weißensee. Plus, Sebastian, my Hungarian homosexual swimming partner, also likes this small city lake. 

More pros include: our jungle balcony, evenings outside at Ottorink Weinbar, Andreas’ Weinstube, also at a Greek diner called Taverna Apollon which serves free chilled Ouzo with the meal and where we eat a couple times a week (the deep fried feta triangles wrapped in filo dough and fassolada bean soup are practically perfect), long evenings, Friedrichshain Volkspark, and the quality of sorbet here. There are other pros too, like being in love. But, that’s not a geographical landscape so it gets left out for the time being.

Aside from no summer, other challenges include: a life consisting of solving one problem or jumping over a new hurdle every day. Of course that’s interesting to me...but it’s also complicated. The latest hurdle for me is trying to come up with a strategy for dealing with the new girlfriend of Andreas’ best friend Maxim, who literally grates against my skin like cheap polyester. It’s not a manageable feeling. When she's around I close up like a day lily, my heart pounds and I feel sick and nervous. She’s loud and desperate for the attention of men. Her sexuality is grotesque and drips out all over the place. Her hands are always all over my husband and/or any other man. She’s snorting shit in the bathroom all evening, starting at 5 pm, and thinking she’s being stealth about it. Her voice is rough and irritating. She’s an imposter and there’s something about her that’s just not right. I’m doing my best to stay away from her but it’s hard, she's at the bar so often. She has no boundaries. I’ll skip the first worst thing that turned me against her and only say now that her lack of ability to have/respect boundaries has enraged me. There’s not much Andreas can do about that however, and I'm unwilling to take time out of my life to sit down and talk to her about it. All I can say is that next time she touches him I swear I'll tell her to get her hands off my husband. She’s disgusting, she cheapens our bar and my quotidian experience. I can only hope that Maxim see through her ruse, gets his rocks off, and peaces out. 

She reminds me of an ex-friend of my sister’s whom I disliked intensely from the getgo. India was under her spell and I genuinely thought she might never reveal the true pathology in her interior. I also didn’t know why I disliked her so much, I just knew to trust my feelings about it. Then one day all of a sudden the predator came out and she was cast out of our lives forever. I hope something similar happens in this scenario. Perhaps that strategy is simply to stay away from the bar on Friday nights, but that will be hard. Maybe she’ll get hit by a car on her bicycle and be out of commission awhile. Anyway, a girl can dream. 

Problem solving is a B, especially in a foreign culture. One of my best friends from France was in town this weekend. We’ve been friends 16 years and now he lives in Munich. He said “Berlin is not Germany” which I know is true. It’s much more libertine and free-wheeling than the average German is accustomed to, and this is what I like about it. People and their loose morals and permeable boundaries are a pain in the ass but not a deal breaker. Sigh. Corny-ass cliché of the post: We gotta take the bad with the good. And on that note, I'm signing off. Writing is a bit like farting: you feel lighter and relieved afterward.

[tabithabaumander]

THE POND

Sitting in his Muskoka chair at the end of his dock Adam reflected that the oddest things made the best memories. Hotdogs you ate anyway even though they were a little burnt because you were so hungry after swimming. Marshmallows you couldn’t eat because you got them to near the fire and they turned into flaming torches. The sheer amount of black-fly and “skeeter” bites you collected and showed to your friends when you told them about going away, camping for the first time with your friends as opposed to your family, the smell of wood smoke and pine in your sleeping bag when you got home, were like small bits of gold. They were treasures you stored away for when you became an adult and no one adventured anymore.

“Grampa?”

Adam looked down at the small girl on his lap and knew that perfect moments didn’t need to involve sleeping on rocky ground or burnt food. Sometimes they were your first grandchild sitting on your lap at the end of a good day.

“Yes princess?”

“Will the frog go away?”

This softly spoken question bought back memories of the previous summer and a strange tantrum that just didn’t want to die down.

“What frog Willa?” Adam asked.

This girl’s full name was Wihelmina. She was named after his daughter-in-law’s grandmother. Adam remembered cringing slightly at first at the monumental nature of this cumbersome handle. He learned soon after that the picking of the name was a bone to the senior generation of her family. Willa she was in practice and Willa she would remain.     

“The big scary frog, I saw him last year when I came. I saw him again last night when we had our cook out,” Willa explained.

Adam frowned slightly remembering the previous night’s cook out. This little girl had stood at the very edge of the camp fire’s light staring out into the lake and chewing on her hot dog. It was a strangely quiet moment he’d been about to ask about when she ran back to the fireside. He hadn’t thought anything of it at the time but now he realized she had been noticeably subdued for the rest of the evening. It was a reaction that said, they didn’t believe you the first time don’t bother this time. Adam sighed deeply hating this picture. No child or grandchild of his should ever think that there was something important they couldn’t talk about.

This was an issue he clearly was going to have to handle alone. Currently his son and daughter-in-law were in the big old house set back from the lake having some private time. He was here being confused by a very young girl. How did a child of four even remember something her three year old mind saw? It was a problem that begged for questions.

“Did you see the frog again last night? I remember you were scared of something last year. The thing is we caught you a frog and showed it to you and you just said it was a baby and the big one was out in the lake,” Adam said tentatively.

Sounding relieved that she could get a worry out into the open Willa said. “It looked at us last night just like it did last year. I think it might be even bigger than last year.”

“It must be pretty shy for a frog because I’ve never. . .”

Adam’s words died as water moved out in the lake in a way that water in a fresh water lake should never move. Freshwater lakes did not have creatures that size and this was a movement of water that denoted noticeable bulk.

“What the heck-fire is that?” Adam muttered.

“I want to go in now,” Willa said softly.

The deepening shadows of the sunset were making each movement of the water twice as clear as it normally would. Something very big was swimming out there. Turning the subject over in his mind Adam realized a fresh water sturgeon could possibly be large enough to move the water in this way. At the same time, he wondered how something that big could stay hidden? Still holding Willa Adam stood. The almost silent creek of the wooden chair and dock as he moved caused a difference in the water. The underwater thing began very clearly to come in his direction.

“Now Grampa,” Willa gasped softly.

Moving as quietly as he could Adam left the dock and moved up onto the sloping pebble beach. As he did so he noticed one of the lights went on in the cabin. Mom and Dad’s private time was over. Adam put Willa on the ground.

He said, “Run inside baby. Quick like a bunny and close the door. I need to see this.”

It was then alone on the beach that for the first time Adam regretted being the sort of man who put his cell phone down on a shelf and forgot about it when family visited. He was semi- retired with a small summer practice; on call for local problems. At the same time anyone who knew to call him also knew if it was an emergency and he didn’t answer right away they needed to go directly to the small hospital in town.

Wishing desperately for his cell phone’s excellent camera he felt a surprise kinship with all the UFO claimants he ever heard of who described impossible events yet had no proof. Ten feet from the end of the dock something broke the water. Most of the body was submerged, so in reality he only saw a curving hint of a head and two round eyes like basketballs that glowed in the reflected light from the cabin.

It was nothing more or less complex than a frog. It was a frog that might find it very easy to devour a grown man should that man make the mistake of getting to near his watery home. A child Willa’s size would be gone in less than an instant. Man and monster stared at each other for a long moment then the head vanished into the darkness.

Find the rest at amazon.com/author/tabithabaumander

[mypokepal]

Oh um, I'm happy that your requests are up again! I saw your replies to requests and think that they're simply amazing! Thank you for working hard and doing such a good job at these requests! So, um I was born in February, am an aquarius. I really enjoy drawing and sketching. Its a simple hobby but I enjoy it very much, especially during sunny days. I am quite a shy person but I love being in a small group of people whom I'm comfortable with. I'm friendly though and like smiling and warm vibes

(continued) Hm, that being said, I kinda like rainy days too! The sounds and atmosphere calms me down. I’ve been said to be kind and sweet by my close friends. I daydream too much and could get lost in my own world. I admit that I overthink a lot and can’t really do well under pressure. But I’ll work hard and try to do my best in everything. I am easily amused and I don’t know why. Even tiny little gestures or words could make me happy for the whole day. Thanks again! Hope you’ll have a nice day

You remind me of a warm spring day with really fluffy clouds and I’m siting in the middle of a flower field with a journal on my lap. You are absolutely wonderful and I hope you learn to love yourself and I believe in you. 

And I have the perfect partner for you! Let me introduce you to…

Horsea! I think Horsea would be perfect for you because…

(1) Trainers will find it weird that you two are partners at first because Horsea is such an extrovert while you are an introvert but when they take a closer look, they’ll realize that you two work perfectly! Horsea appreciates the little things in life so much and that’s why it’s so bubbly all the time! It will simply beam with joy just doing something small things like reading or staring at clouds with you. Though small in size, Horsea has such a powerful personality and the ability to lift people’s moods almost immediately. This blue friend will keep you on your toes and introduce you to things you’ve never seen or felt before. Horsea has the habit of running from you because it saw something that caught its eye but use this habit to your advantage! Usually the thing that Horsea is running towards is something that will benefit the two of you like a poster that’s calling for artists or an opportunity to meet a gym leader. Its imagination is so vast and crazy so don’t hesitate to ask Horsea for help when you encounter a creative block. I definitely recommend using your talent and Horsea’s wonder to participate in Pokemon contests! It may be scary at first but you’ll learn how to present yourself in front of crowds while showing off Horsea’s personality. 

(2) I feel like life can get overwhelming for you a lot and that’s why you find escape through your hobbies. The one thing that you’ll learn to appreciate about Horsea is that it can feed your need for an escape while keeping you tied to reality. For example! On your down days, go for a swim in a lake with Horsea. It may seem like nothing to the naked eye but Horsea will guide you through all the caves and seaweed and show you a world you’ve never seen before that’s brimming with life and treasure. With Horsea by your side, you’ll really notice that small things this world has to offer you and find yourself wanting to participate in what’s around you rather than hiding in your daydreams. Horsea is also a very social Pokemon and will definitely help widen your social circle. 

(3) So many inside jokes will be made between you and Horsea. I definitely see you two creating your own language and coming up with different methods to communicate with each other. Your friendship will be something that other trainers won’t be able to grasp because it’s so unique and special. Horsea is very affectionate and will want to experience every living moment with you. A great way to bond is by making a fort in your living room and having the deepest conversations in the security of your fort while eating cold pizza. I see you two staying up until the wee hours of the morning playing games or simply not being able to sleep because of random laughing fits. Having Horsea as your partner means learning to step out of your comfort, believing in yourself and making an effort to strengthen your skills as a trainer. 

Other Pokemon Considered: Ditto, Swablu 

[kiwisandkoalas]

Lake Tekapo in Detail

My subject of choice is the beautiful blue Lake Tekapo, as seen from Pines Beach. I’ve only seen waters this color once before in my life: in Interlaken, Switzerland. These waters were also a pale, bright turquoise because of the glacial silt from the Alps surrounding the waters. Interlaken is my absolute favorite place in the world, although now because of this region I think New Zealand is a strong contender! 

The sun reflects off the water and the wind creates these slight lapping waves and weather that would be perfect for sailing. I sit on the warm rocks with my friend Pooja as we stare out to the water and the mountains in the distance. We take our shoes off and put our toes in the water, which is ice cold but after 10 seconds or so my feet get used to it. After the 1.5 mile walk along the lake to get there, our toes totally needed the refreshing temperature. I wiggle my toes in the water and watch the ripples radiate outward. I don’t notice any fish or moss in the water (which makes sense because I can’t imagine what could live in water that cold), but the large amount and variety of rocks present were beautiful. I love collecting rocks, and I have a collection back home of a few rocks from all over the world. My favorite ones thus far have been from Cinque Terre, Italy, and Etretat, France. But here, I found a few really beautiful ones next to where I was sitting, such as ones that were long and skinny and some others with different ridges as well. They all felt so smooth in my hand and dried within 45 seconds after holding them out of the water because the sun was beating down so hard. The weather was wonderful except for the intensity of the sun (I applied sunscreen at least 7 times)! I even saw a ladybug on one of the rocks, opening up its wings to dry them in the sun. I took this sight as a token of good luck for the rest of the weekend.

The whole environment is so soothing. Being able to just sit by the water with just the noise of the waves and the birds is the most beautiful thing ever. I truly needed this relaxation this weekend. Sometimes it’s best to just sit back and let silence take over you: silence in the mind and no tension in the body. After last weekend running around trying to get as many hikes in Milford Sound done as possible, I feel like I really deserved these few hours today at the water. I think the reason this place resounds with me so much is that I grew up living on a lake in the summers in New Hampshire. I am so connected with these bodies of water, and this lake in particular with its crystal clear waters brings back strong memories of home.

I lean back on the warm rock I was sitting on, and let the breeze rustle my hair. I think about how great it would be to have a small sunfish boat here to sail up and down the lake. My dog would absolutely love to be on that boat, and swim in the water too. She loves lakes just as much as I do: I wish there was an easier way to transport bigger dogs on a plane than just sticking them in the bed of the plane with all the luggage. I can’t imagine doing that to my dog, but I would so love for her to see this.

The mountains rise up off of the lake. Mountains are one of my favorite things in the world, and I could stare at the jagged rocks forever, spotting every crevice or snowcap or plant growing off the side. Something about the mountains made me feel like I was on the set of the movie- and all this around me cannot be real but has to be a green screen. Lying back on the rocks with my toes still wiggling in the water painted the perfect viewpoint of the top of Mount John, with a tiny glittering spot barely visible at the top (representing the observatory).

The sounds of the surrounding birds are beautiful, but the seagulls here get a little too close for my personal comfort (I do have a bad history and fear of birds). They tilted their heads at us, curious, and kept hopping closer and closer. Thank god I had Pooja to protect me. 

I wish I could go swim in the lake, but not only did I forget to pack my bathing suit but also my water shoes. We tried to wade into the water in our shorts, but it was so hard to keep balance over the slippery rocks. It was easier to jump from larger rock to larger rock, but as the water reached my shins the rocks were about the size of my palm and were very easy to slide over and jam my toes on. We quickly decided to leave the water and dry out again on the larger rocks before putting our shoes back on and beginning our trek back home for dinner. Lake Tekapo has brought me such serenity and peace on this day, and I look forward to seeing and relaxing among the mountains in the rest of New Zealand.

[hkvoyage]

Fic: Butterfly Wings - Chapter 41

Story summary A fashion blog started at University launched Blaine Anderson’s fortune and fame. As Vogue’s new editor-in-chief, he is struggling to find an original angle for an upcoming issue. Kurt Hummel has recently arrived in New York City after finishing high school, and is having no luck building a musical theater career, so he decides to explore another passion of his: fashion. He applies for an internship at Vogue, and Isabelle sees in him the perfect fresh face to liven up the magazine, and convinces him to try out as a model. Kurt meets Blaine, and in spite of their 10-year age difference, sparks fly. Can they overcome misunderstandings and sabotage to find their happily-ever-after? Klaine model AU. Rating for this chapter: General (overall story is mature) Word count for this chapter: 4,262 Can also be read on A03 / FF Masterpost is here. The fantastic artwork produced by Cassie at @cc-graphics can be here.   Thank you to the amazing @lilyvandersteen for the beta work and support. ***** Your wings already exist. All you have to do is fly. - AnonAugust Kurt wakes up to the smell of coffee brewing in the nearby kitchen. While Blaine is an early riser, he much prefers to sleep in. He stretches his arms over his head, then rolls to the side and hugs Blaine’s pillow. Last night’s sex was amazing, with Blaine worshiping every part of his body. It was sinfully slow and luxurious, and made him feel so loved. Kurt mentally goes over his plans for this evening’s surprise for Blaine. He hopes that tonight goes exactly how he wants it to go. He’s taking a chance, but Blaine is totally worth it. Kurt has thought of the grand romantic gestures that Blaine loves to do, but Kurt feels a little uncomfortable doing them himself. Blaine has always enjoyed the little things and moments in their relationship. Hopefully, this will be an extra one to put in the bank of memories to cherish.

“It’s an overcast day – there’s a 60% chance of rain,” Blaine says as he enters the bedroom with two mugs of coffee. He gives Kurt a kiss before climbing back into bed. “How about we explore the little towns nearby. I think everyone will be going to outlet mall and arcades in Lake George on day like this.” “That’s fine by me. I’ve planned a special dinner for tonight, so we have to be back by midafternoon so I can get it ready,” Kurt replies. They head to nearby Chestertown and browse in the small shops before going to the Main Street Ice-cream Parlor for a light lunch of soup and half a sandwich. They giggle at the food on display as they pay for the meal, and Blaine can’t resist buying Adirondack Moose Poo (chocolate covered raisins). They stop at the Crossroads Country Store on the way back, and buy soft ice-cream cones at the next-door kiosk. “Why don’t you head down to the lake, Blaine. Maybe take the boat out? Or do something that will get you out of here for a couple of hours.” “I didn’t think you’d want to get rid of me so quickly,” Blaine pouts. “I’ve got plans for tonight and I need to get ready. When you come back, take a shower downstairs.” “I think I’ll go for a long run and then a swim in the lake. I’ll see you later,” Blaine says as he heads to the bedroom to get changed. Once Blaine has left the log cabin, Kurt pulls out from the freezer the lobster bisque and peach pie that Amy made for him last week. He peels the potatoes and cuts them into fine slices before placing them in the casserole dish. Kurt whips up a salad with ingredients they have bought from the local farmer’s market. Kurt consults his tablet and makes the marinade and sauce for the main course. When all is under control in the kitchen, he pulls out two bags from the spare bedroom’s closet and sets things up. When Kurt is satisfied with the result, he rummages around in the bedroom’s chest of drawers and pulls out smart casual clothes for Blaine to wear. He places these in the downstairs shower room and makes sure Blaine has everything he needs for when he gets back. Kurt heads back upstairs and takes a long, hot shower. He gets dressed in his preselected outfit - shorts, button-up casual shirt and scarf. He spends even more time than usual on his hair. When he heads to the main room, Kurt can hear Blaine’s footsteps down below. Once Kurt hears the shower on, he turns on the heat in the oven and heads toward the main area to wait for Blaine. ***** Blaine slowly climbs up the stairs, wondering what’s in store for the evening. The only light in the room are an endless number of candles, covering most surfaces. However, what captures Blaine’s attention are the tabletop picture frames now on display. Blaine walks around the room slowly, examining each frame. Most display photos of Kurt and himself – at the Brooklyn Flea Market, at the Tony Awards Ceremony, at the Vogue staff party, chatting at the Hamilton photo shoot, at the baseball game with Burt, and in the hammock on Governors Island. Blaine giggles when he sees the selfie Kurt took when they were in the bubble bath in LA. Blaine’s eyes tear up thinking of all the good times they have had together. He can’t wait to for more memories and photos. Blaine sees two additional frames that contain something that aren’t photos, so he moves over and picks the first one up. It contains their bucket list, handwritten in beautiful calligraphy. The last frame contains a water color picture of two butterflies. “Did you paint this, Kurt?” “Yeah, I did. I’ll tell you about it later. The first course is ready.” Blaine moves to the table and notices it has candles as well. Always the gentleman, Blaine pulls out Kurt’s chair for him to sit down. Blaine loves the lobster bisque, and he can tell that this was made by Amy, but he’s not going to let on to Kurt that he knows. Jazz music is softly playing in the background, and they chat about what they’ll do during their last couple of days in the Adirondack mountains. “It’s going to take a little time for the next course, Blaine. Have a seat on the couch and relax.” Kurt takes a platter that contains two New York strip steaks that have been soaked in his special marinade and heads off to the balcony. After a couple of minutes, Blaine can hear Kurt cursing, so he goes outside to see what’s happening. There is Kurt, bent over the BBQ, trying to figure out how the gas cylinder turns on. When Kurt looks up, his cheeks are tinged pink. “You and my dad make this look so easy. I can’t figure out how to turn on the gas grill.” Blaine chuckles and swiftly moves toward the grill. He turns the tap on the top of the gas cylinder, opens the grill hood, and then presses the igniter button. Soon flames can be seen underneath the cooking grate, and Blaine closes the hood whilst it’s heating up. “Why don’t I cook the steaks, while you get everything else ready?” Blaine offers. “I wanted to do everything by myself, to make it a special night for you.” “We’re a team. It’s always a special night when we work together.” “That cheesy line just earned you the title of chief BBQ griller. I’ll head back into the kitchen.” Blaine hums to himself as he cooks the steaks, stringing musical notes into a new tune. He feels so inspired to compose new music when he’s with Kurt like this. When the steaks are ready, he cuts them into strips and returns to inside, and places the platter onto the table. “Mmm. Gratin potatoes. They’re my favorite,” Blaine exclaims, licking his lips. They eat the steaks with the béarnaise sauce Kurt prepared earlier, and the conversation is light and easy. When they’ve finished, Kurt takes their plates to the kitchen. Blaine quickly follows and helps him stack the dishwasher and tidy things up. “I’m stuffed. I thought we could wait a while for dessert,” Kurt suggests. “Good idea. I couldn’t eat another thing right now. Why don’t we head to the balcony and watch the last of the sunset?” Blaine replies. “I’ll meet you there in a minute.” Blaine refills their glasses and sits out on the deck, enjoying the cool gentle breeze that is coming off the lake. “I have a present for you,” Kurt says when he walks onto the balcony. Kurt moves a chair so that he is sitting directly in front of Blaine. Blaine lights up when he hears those magic words, and Kurt deposits a small box wrapped in paper decorated with hand-painted butterflies in his lap. He carefully unwraps the present, being careful not to rip the paper. Inside, there’s a box that is the perfect size to hold a ring. Blaine’s heart starts to race - could it be? When he opens the box, he sees a small blob of molten silver with a gem stone half sticking out. “This is my promise ring to you. I came up with a beautiful design, I found the perfect piece of amber that matches the color of your eyes, I spent hours creating the setting, and then when I was soldering the amber onto a ring band, I used too much heat, and the whole thing melted into the blob that you see.” “It’s the thought that counts, Kurt,” Blaine reassures. “I’m glad you said that, Blaine. At the time, I was beside myself when the promise ring became a huge disaster. When I was in the subway on the way to Tiffany’s to buy a proper ring, I had this blob in my hand and was rolling it around in my palm and it became deliciously warm. When I got out of the subway, I went to the nearby park to think. The more than I thought about it, the more I realized that this ring symbolizes my promise to you. The blob is smooth in most places, like our relationship is most of the time. But it’s a little sharp where the amber peeks out. There will always be bumpy times in the future, and I promise you that I will make the time to really listen to you and work things out. The blob heats up if you give it attention. I promise to love you and do both big and little things to keep you feeling warm inside. If we’re going to make it in the long haul, we’ll need to be brave enough to take chances and experience new things. This blob is a reminder that things don’t always work out, but I promise you that I will always be there to catch you if you fall. I promise to do silly simple things with you and keep our bucket list fresh and interesting. You’re my best friend, and I love spending time with you. Lastly, I promise that I love you and that I’m committed to the same long-term vision as you – marriage, family, and doing what matters to us. We’ll go at the pace that feels right for both of us, but we’ll get there in the end.” Blaine cups Kurt’s face in his hands and leans in to give him a kiss. Blaine pours every ounce of his love into the kiss. Blaine didn’t believe it was possible, but now he loves Kurt even more. “I’m going to lose it right now – that was so beautiful. I need one of your hugs.” Kurt stands up and holds out his arms. Blaine quickly rushes into them. With Kurt’s warm body against his, Kurt’s strong arms wrapped around him, Blaine feels like he can do anything. Eventually, Blaine pulls away from Kurt and they head back inside. Blaine looks at Kurt’s watercolor painting of the two butterflies in the frame. “I love this painting, Kurt. I’m going to keep it on the night table on my side of our bed. God, I love thinking that it’s our bed in our place.” “Go have a seat and I’ll make some coffee. There’s a story about the painting.” Kurt heads to the kitchen and brews the coffee while slicing two pieces of peach pie. There’s still one part of his plan that he needs to execute. He returns to the main room and sits down on the couch, barely touching his slice of peach pie. “When I was in Lima in May, on the first warm day, I headed out to the backyard in the afternoon to sketch fashion designs, and I spotted two butterflies. I couldn’t stop watching them. They would flutter close together and then fly away from each other, but never too far apart. Sometimes one would soar high, and at other times, one would dip a little low, but they would always come back to each other. Sometimes they would land on a flower and stay still for a minute, then they would flutter their wings and fly again. It seemed like a dance that they knew so well.” Blaine places his empty dessert plate on the nearby table. “I get what you’re trying to tell me. That I should take the risk with my songwriting. That I should focus on what makes me happy. I want to be like you and really go for it – go for my dreams. But what if I’m not good enough? What if it doesn’t work out? Music is a tough business to get into.” “I know you, and this is a side of you I don’t get to see very often… You’re scared. But, sweetie, I believe in you. You have a musical gift, and it wouldn’t be right to let you hide that away.” “But what if I fail?” Blaine asks in a small voice. “Then you’ll pick yourself up and try again. I can’t predict what will happen in the future, but remember my promise to you earlier. I can’t stop you from failing, but I can promise to make it safe if you do.” “I love how you get me, Kurt. I love how you’re there to support me.” “You don’t know how much you’ve changed my life since the first day I met you, Blaine. You’ve given me courage to try new things. I’m so glad that I found someone who I know will always be 100% behind me, whether I soar or drop to the ground. Blaine… Now it’s your turn to fly.” ***** After they spend time waking up in the most delicious way, they put on their swimming trunks and gather up beach supplies. They cross the small street at the front and fifty yards ahead is the lake. The private lakefront has a picnic table and a small dock with a motorboat. “Let’s take a spin on the boat,” Blaine suggests as he rushes over the deck. “Are you thinking fishing or waterskiing?” Kurt asks, handing over the motor key. “Neither. I want to feel the rush of air on my face one last time before we leave tomorrow.” They climb into the boat and Blaine starts up the engine. They circle the lake a few times and take in its natural beauty. “This is the life,” Blaine sighs when they stop in the center of the lake, spotting the families swimming along the shore and a few fishing boats at the lake’s western end. “I’ve always wanted to learn how to sail, but I never got around to it.” “It’s not too late, Blaine. I’m putting it on our bucket list. Maybe on our next vacation, we can go someplace where we can take sailing lessons together.” “You’d do it with me?” Blaine asks. “Sure, why not? I’ve never thought of sailing before, but I can totally get behind an activity that shows off your naked chest.” “It’s all about the naked chest, isn’t it? Maybe I’ll wear a Speedo while I’m at it,” Blaine jokes. “Don’t say things like that unless you mean them, mister,” Kurt growls as his eyes darken. “It’s more about the smile, you know. You have this special smile when you’re really happy,” “I don’t want to go back to New York City tomorrow,” Blaine says wistfully. “It’s a concrete jungle full of busy self-important people, noisy streets and dirt. I’ve really enjoyed the nature and being close to the water this week.” “If you pursue music, there’s nothing to say that we have to live in New York City.” “We’ll have to be in New York City for at least four more years until you graduate FIT.” “FIT does have a two-year program in jewelry design. I’ve looked into it and with my high school AP credits, the courses in Paris, and working at Bellerose Boutique… If I take a full load during the summer, I could graduate with an associate degree by December next year.” “Kurt, you told me that when you were growing up in Lima, your dream was always to live in New York City. I can’t take that away from you. Besides, what would Tiffany’s do without Kurt Hummel as their lead designer?” Blaine says as he nudges Kurt. “Dreams change, or at least they evolve. The reason I wanted to move to New York City was to live in a place that was accepting of me. But there’s lots of places in this world that are accepting of gay couples. And for the record, I don’t want to be Tiffany’s lead designer. That would be a job with long hours, stress, and high-profile events. Just think of it, Blaine. We would have PAs coordinating our schedules to fit in a date night every once in a while. Our children would be taken care of by a nanny and Bentley would drive them to and from an exclusive private school each day. When they’d get home, they would be greeted by Amy, and a tutor would arrive to help them with their homework. There wouldn’t even be time for regular Friday night dinners! On vacations, we would go to openings of new Monarch Houses, all smartly dressed for photo opportunities.” Kurt wrinkles his nose. “Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t like that vision of the future.” “Neither do I,” Blaine agrees. “So maybe we should talk about how we envision our lives in ten years’ time.” “You’re right, Kurt. I can see that if we stay in New York City, our lives could get out of control and we wouldn’t focus on the things that are important to us. With so many changes in our dreams, can we call it a ‘work in progress’ and figure out where it would be best for us to live and raise a family the way we want to?” “I like the ‘work in progress’ idea, Blaine. We don’t have to figure out everything in a week. I think we both have a lot of things to think about and discuss for our future.” ***** Blaine is awake at 6 a.m. and quietly climbs out of bed to use the bathroom. He closes the bedroom door to let Kurt sleep in before their drive back to New York City. He heads to the kitchen and brews a pot of coffee, and slices a slither of leftover peach pie. Hopefully, Kurt won’t notice. Once Blaine has poured himself a mug of coffee, he heads to the balcony to watch the sunrise over the lake. This vacation has been more than Blaine could ever dream of. He’s had so much fun with Kurt at Schroon Lake, whether it’s been boating, swimming or exploring the area. And the sex has been freaking fantastic as well. However, the times Blaine liked best was when they spoke honestly with each other…about their future. Blaine knows that Kurt is right – something big has to change in his life. Kurt’s version of the future without making any changes in their lifestyle is quite frankly frightening. Blaine already resents the events he attends with Isabelle – they cut into his personal time, which he would rather spend with Kurt. And while he enjoys being Vogue’s editor-in-chief, it’s starting to get samey. He needs a new challenge and new dreams. He’s been offered the unique opportunity to write songs for Marley Rose’s debut album with SONY Records. He recently received the first royalty check for ‘Butterfly Wings’ and the sales are still steady. He’s got money saved up in case something happens, and maybe he should use it to take a chance. Blaine mulls over the interview he gave for Vogue’s June issue. He was very clear about what mattered to him – music, staying healthy, helping others, challenges, and dreams. But the most important item was love – love for a man and love for his family. Even though Kurt is ten years younger than him, Blaine feels that Kurt is the wiser one in their relationship. Kurt was brave enough this week to lay everything on the table. The commitment to live together and share a long-term future. To accept new challenges in pursuing jewelry design. To be willing to leave New York City if that’s what it takes to make their version of family life come true. When Blaine feels a gentle hand on his shoulder, he looks up and sees an adorable Kurt with messy sleep hair. This is the man that he wants to spend his life with. This is the man he wants to have a future with. Blaine puts down his coffee mug and says, “I’m ready to fly.” ***** Two months later “I feel great, Dad. It feels right,” Blaine says into his phone. “Are you sure you and Kurt don’t want to come to Ohio this weekend? Get away from New York City?” “No, we’ll be okay. Kurt and I are still planning to come to Ohio for Thanksgiving. Has Burt accepted your invitation yet?” “Burt and I have got it all planned. Burt is picking you two up from the Dayton airport. Cooper arrives half an hour later and then everyone’s coming here. Burt will stay for Thanksgiving and we’ll all go to Lima the next day, after Kurt has done his Black Friday shopping, of course. On Saturday, we’ll head to the Monarch House in Lima for the opening.” Blaine looks up and sees Unique with her make-up bag. “I gotta go, Dad. I’ll call you over the weekend.” When the phone call ends, someone unexpected enters the room. “Blaine, I’m really proud of what you’re about to do. Good luck,” Unique says. Blaine is in a small room outside the ballroom at the Carlyle Hotel, waiting to for someone to tell him that everything’s ready. “I didn’t expect to see you today, Unique.” “Did you think I would send you out there without Unique’s special brand of magic?” she retorts. “Well… Can you help me with my hair? Kurt is pretty good at it but I’m sure you can make it look even better.” Unique fusses over his hair, muttering about how she’ll have to spend time with Kurt to perfect his efforts with enhancing Blaine’s curls. She takes out make-up powder and starts brushing it on Blaine’s face… sniffling. “Don’t you dare cry, Unique. If I see one tear, I’m going to lose it.” “Unique doesn’t get over-emotional about her fantastic boss and close friend. The powder must have landed in my eyes.” Blaine pulls up his arm and gives her a gentle squeeze on her shoulder. Blaine goes through his speech in his head, making sure he remembers all the points he wants to cover. Blaine looks up and smiles when he sees Kurt walk into the room. Kurt is wearing the exact same suit that he wore for the Tony Award Ceremony – the black Dsquared2 jacquard camouflage blazer that Blaine loves so much. “Nervous?” Kurt asks. “Not at all. I feel surprisingly calm. I know this is right for me – right for us.” “I’m going to head into the ballroom then. I’ll meet you after the press conference.” Kurt pulls Blaine into a searing passionate kiss before leaving the room. After a few minutes, Blaine hears the call that everything’s ready. He takes a deep breath and looks into the mirror. Blaine is wearing the exact same Armani suit that he wore when he met Kurt eighteen months ago. I’m ready too. Blaine walks onto the small stage set up and finds his place on the podium. There are board members sitting on both sides, as well as Anna Wintour and Isabelle Wright. It takes a few minutes for Blaine’s eyes to adjust to the bright lights and the flashing cameras. When he feels ready, Blaine starts to speak. “Thank you for coming today. Earlier this week, I tendered my resignation as Vogue’s editor-in-chief to the Board of Directors. I’ve enjoyed working at Vogue, and the challenges and opportunities it has given me. However, I have new goals, new dreams, and new opportunities I wish to pursue. These are not related to the fashion industry, but are more personal in nature. My resignation will be effective at the end of this month, but I’ll be working at Vogue on a part-time basis for the next twelve months. This will give me sufficient time to hand over the Vogue reigns to Isabelle Wright.” As Blaine continues on about Isabelle’s achievements, press kits available and the like, he glances around to seek out Kurt in the audience and finds him in the last row. They’ve spent the last two months talking about their plans. The penthouse has been put up for sale and they’ll rent a more modest apartment until Kurt graduates FIT. In the meantime, Blaine will work part-time at Vogue in order to keep some income flowing in. They’ll regularly reassess their plans as Kurt decides what to do in jewelry design and Marley Rose’s debut album is released. At the end of his speech, Blaine’s eyes lock with Kurt’s – they are full of love, warmth, hope, and promises. When Kurt jumps up to be the first to applaud him, Blaine notices the butterfly brooch attached to his lapel. Blaine thinks that he’s like a butterfly - growing and changing and finding his true colors in life. Author notes Although there’s still the epilogue to go, I want to take a moment to thank @lilyvandersteen from the bottom of my heart for being my beta. Without her, this story would simply not be. Some authors just need a beta to correct typos and grammar, but I needed SO much more. It’s really hard to draft a 200k+ word story before posting the first chapter, particularly for a novice writer like me. She contributed fantastic ideas as I was plotting the story. She read the draft chapters as I was writing, giving me her feedback with flaws in the story’s logic and characters’ behaviors, and cheering me on when it was going well. She helped me figure out the best way to solve problems when the plot didn’t work as I expected. She then reread every single chapter after I polished them up and corrected my grammatical flaws. She did a second beta review for certain chapters that I fine-tuned based upon your feedback. You cannot begin to imagine the amount of time she has spent on this story. On top of all this, she has a full-time job, young children and writes her own Klaine fic. Her time management skills are impressive. Most importantly, she was my personal cheerleader when I thought I couldn’t do it. Writing a multi-chapter creative story was a personal goal for me, and I could never have done it without her help. Along the way, I made a friend who I admire so very much. I don’t think that I’ve ever had a friend who has supported me quite like she has. She’s simply amazing. I thank you Lilyvanadersteen <3 <3 <3. Next up:  the Epilogue.

[the-elenari]

OC Interview - Part II

1. Pick an original character (OC) or muse! (Warden, Hawke, Inquisitor, or other of your choice.) 

2. Fill in the questions/statements as if you were being interviewed for an article and you were the character/muse.

3. Tag people to do the same:  I was tagged by @shanayxd - I tag anyone that follows me that wants to do this. I did it once before, but it was so fun that I wanted to do it again for a different OC. 

I will be doing my Warden, Ayla Mahariel. She’s a mage (I have the Dalish Mage mod), but can also use a bow. 

1. WHAT IS YOUR NAME?

Ayla. 

She smiles, just slightly. 

2. NO SERIOUSLY WHAT IS YOUR REAL NAME

I'm Ayla Mahariel, of the Sabrae Clan. A pleasure.

She smiles wider. 

3. DO YOU KNOW WHY YOU WERE CALLED THAT?

She crosses her legs, and looks down in contemplation for a moment. 

I was told that my mother picked the name Ayla, which means “oak tree”. She was from another clan, and if I’m remembering correctly, her clan bore the insignia of the Oak. My father was the former Keeper of Clan Sabrae, so I inherited his secondary name, “Mahariel”.  

4. ARE YOU SINGLE OR TAKEN?

She flashes a bright smile, her cheeks just slightly flushing. 

I am happily taken. 

5. DO YOU HAVE ANY ABILITIES OR POWERS?

Well, first and foremost, I’m a mage. I have recently committed myself to specializing as an Arcane Warrior. Not many know this, but I also know how to use a bow as I was actually a hunter in my clan. Other than that, I’m a Grey Warden... I’m going to guess that’s why I’m here, and that you know what that is...

She smiles. 

6. STOP BEING A GARY STU.

Her eyes go a bit wide, in surprise.

I am in fact, based on my creator. But I’m not written as seemingly perfect or without flaws. It’s more immersive to play as yourself. And this accusation is usually reserved for those individuals that are either jealous, or just simply have no life so they need to put down others on the internet. 

She seems a bit irritated at the implication. 

7. WHAT IS YOUR EYE COLOR?

She raises her eyebrow, slightly, as if wondering why the interviewer can’t see her eye color. 

Blue...

8. HOW ABOUT YOUR HAIR COLOR?

She glances at her long, thick hair that is swept over her right shoulder. 

Dark. 

9. HAVE YOU ANY FAMILY MEMBERS?

She appears a bit wistful, and pensive.

My father died just before I was born. He was attacked by a group of bandits and killed. My mother... she... died just after I was born. I never knew either of them. I have an aunt, Ashalle. She’s like a mother to me. She raised me as her own. And my cousin, Merrill... I miss her.

Her eyes well up with tears, but she composes herself. 

In truth, my clan is... was... my family. But I haven’t seen them for so long. The friends I've made on this journey are like family to me... Alistair, Leliana, Wynne, and the others... it may seem like we haven’t known each other long, but when you fight side by side - when you see what we’ve seen, hear what we hear, and endure the journey together, you become quite close very fast. 

10. I SEE… WHAT ABOUT PETS?

Her face lights up.

Oh! I’ve had my fair share of pets. I LOVE animals. We weren’t really supposed to be taming any animals in the clan, other than the halla of course. But Tamlen, Merrill, Fen, and I... we would constantly “adopt” rabbits, foxes, frogs... all manner of critters. Once, I took in a baby bunny. I wanted to name her Luna, but Tamlen insisted on calling her “Nibbles” due to her insatiable appetite. She would try to eat everything. Well, one day when she was fully grown, she got into the food stores. She ate two entire sacks of our root vegetables... Seeing as how we had kept her hidden all that time... well, the secret was out then. Keeper Marethari was ... we’ll say, less than thrilled. 

I did have a halla named Flower. She was born when I was 5 and Ashalle gifted her to me. I hope she’s doing ok...

She forces a smile, and picks at her nails a bit. 

11. TELL ME ABOUT SOMETHING YOU DON’T LIKE.

I used to really not like shems, but I’ve come to realize that it isn’t right to judge an entire group of people based on my own personal tragedy. I think that is the flaw with being Dalish. The person I love deeply is a human... and the majority of my friends are humans as well. People are people. As for what I really don’t like? Darkspawn. I guess I landed the wrong job. 

She laughs genuinely.

12.  DO YOU HAVE ANY HOBBIES/ACTIVITIES YOU LIKE DOING?

Well, it used to be hunting and exploring the forests. I still enjoy that, but get a lot less of it in. I love to read. Being out in the world now has allowed me access to all sorts of books. I also really love cooking. I didn’t cook much with my clan, as I was tasked with hunting. But here with my friends, we are completely self-sufficient. We take turns cooking. Sten and Morrigan despise cooking the most, so I take their day whenever possible. I love it! Other than that, I just love to spend time with Alistair. Our moments of respite are too few and far between, so we cherish our free time deeply. 

13. EVER HURT ANYONE BEFORE?

She pauses, pondering and reflecting.

Never intentionally, for the most part. We have all hurt someone, at some point in our lives.

14. EVER…KILLED ANYONE BEFORE?

She blinks, expressionless.

... Yes. And I’d do it again because they deserved it. While I don’t celebrate someone’s demise, I don’t mourn them either because it had to be done. With that said, I make every effort to solve problems peacefully. But sadly, the world doesn’t always work that way.

15. WHAT KIND OF ANIMAL ARE YOU?

A bird... because I’m a free-spirit.

16. NAME ONE OF YOUR WORST HABITS.

Over-thinking, and worrying too much.

Her face falls a bit.

17. DO YOU LOOK UP TO ANYONE AT ALL?

Wynne - she’s been like a mother hen to us... to me especially. She’s so wise and keeps me grounded. 

Her expression grows somber, a bit melancholy as she stares out the window.

And Duncan... he saw something in me, but the truth is that I was broken when he “found” me. I was so unprepared for this role that would soon fall into my lap. There was no one better to mentor me in the very short time that he did. He was a remarkable man, that showed me the very meaning of what it means to be honorable. 

A tear falls... 

18. SEXUAL ORIENTATION?

Well, I am with a man right now... but to be honest, I love who I love. Their parts and identity are irrelevant in regards to my feelings for them. It was hard for me to come out with this, because the Dalish discourage it mostly. My clan doesn’t see it as immoral, but reproduction is so pressed upon us. Another flaw, I think... no one should be pressured on who they love and spend their life with. 

19. DO YOU GO TO SCHOOL?

I have never been to a school. We are taught by the elders.  

20. DO YOU EVER WANT TO MARRY AND HAVE KIDS ONE DAY?

Her expression grows a bit sad, and she shifts in her seat.

I always thought I would get married and have children. As I mentioned before, it is expected of you within the Dalish, but in all honesty, I wasn’t opposed to it. However, I am now a Grey Warden. I have been told time and time again that my life is no longer for me. I live to serve. While that has been a hard adjustment, I have accepted the likelihood that I’ll never have a normal life. So while I don’t rule anything out... I just simply don’t know... 

My love and I have talked about marriage a few times...

She trails off.

21. WHAT ARE YOU MOST AFRAID OF?

Failing... and being utterly alone, especially when dying. Losing Alistair...

She seems very uncomfortable.

22. WHAT DO YOU USUALLY WEAR?

Mage robes. They’re just so comfortable. Though I do wear light armor underneath when I know the likelihood of battle may present itself.

23. DO YOU LOVE SOMEONE?

She smiles slightly, but her face lights up.

Yes, I love Alistair very much. We’ve been through so much together, and have grown incredibly close. If the darkspawn threat had never happened... I’d have never met him. That’s why I regret nothing, no matter how painful. I don’t even remember life before him. 

24. WHAT CLASS ARE YOU? (HIGH/MIDDLE/LOW)

Well, not only am I an elf... I’m Dalish. So I think that should make me bottom of the barrel. However, I’ve been treated very well by most people due to my position within the Grey Wardens. Sadly most of my fellow elves are not so lucky. 

Her brow furrows.

25. HOW MANY FRIENDS DO YOU HAVE?

More than I ever thought I would have. I’m so thankful to have them by my side. Even the cranky ones, MORRIGAN.

She turns towards another room as she raises her voice at Morrigan’s name, with an accusatory tone. Then turns back, with a chuckle. 

26. THOUGHTS ON PIE?

She smiles.

My thoughts are that I don’t eat it enough. Especially when it’s apple or strawberry. You can keep the cherry pie though. I don’t know? It’s a texture thing. 

She shrugs.

27. FAVORITE DRINK?

Water. And pine needle tea. 

She laughs at the interviewer’s expression.

I guess that’s weird for most people, but the Dalish... or my clan anyway, lives off of pine needle tea. It’s good for the blood, and we especially drink it a lot when we’re ill. It’s very healing. We sweeten it with a bit of honey, and it tastes just like the forest. Fortunately, I can still have it quite often. I make it at camp just about every night. 

28. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE?

The forest. I still feel most at home there. Sometimes being in the city makes me feel so lonely. But if I venture into some glade... I immediately feel at peace. It may seem strange, but try it. 

29. WOULD YOU RATHER SWIM IN THE LAKE OR THE OCEAN?

The lake. I swim in lakes all the time. When you’re on the road like we are, you bathe where you can. I bathe in lakes, streams, under waterfalls... anywhere we can get fresh water. I love it. 

30. ARE YOU INTERESTED IN ANYONE?

I’m in love with someone. 

She smiles, bashfully.

31. WHAT’S YOUR DICK SIZE?

Her face twists in confusion.

I’m sorry? You’ve lost me...

32. WELL, WHAT’S YOUR TYPE?

Alistair. Sensitive, sweet, funny... and so handsome. He is sincere and while our backgrounds are totally different, we are alike in all the ways that matter. We compliment each other.

She sighs romantically. 

33. AND WHAT ATTRACTS YOU?

His hands... they’re so much bigger than mine. His shoulders. And his smile and eyes... I could go on, but I’ll restrain myself. 

34. ANY FETISHES?

Hmmm, probably. We’ll see.

She laughs shyly. 

35. SEME OR UKE? TOP OR BOTTOM? DOMINANT OR SUBMISSIVE?

What...? Um, both... uh, wait. Nevermind... Next question.

Her face turns incredibly flushed. 

36. CAMPING INDOORS OR OUTDOORS?

Outdoors. It’s what I’ve done all of my life and what I do now mostly. I will admit... now that my days are spent battling darkspawn, sometimes it is nice to be in a warm bed inside. Where there are walls around you, abundant food, and just that feeling of safety... even if it’s an illusion. But I’ll never get tired of staring at the stars before I fall asleep. 

37. ARE YOU WANTING THE QUIZ TO END?

Well, I’ll admit that I talked about a lot more than I ever thought I would. But it was fun, so I suppose this is a good place to end it. 

She smiles and nods her head politely. 

[araneagreatlyapproves]

OC Interview -- Tag Game

I appreciate the tag @stephicness xux I haven't been able/motivated to do much with my OC's lately so this should be fun. (I hope you don't mind me using that painting you gave me on my birthday in here since there's no way I could make my characters look as good as you make them look. Zero character art skillz.  >u> )

RULES

1. PICK ONE OF YOUR CHARACTERS

(Cuz I can’t draw characters, and my picture taking skills are awful as well xux)

2. FILL IN THE QUESTIONS/STATEMENTS AS IF YOU ARE BEING INTERVIEWED FOR AN ARTICLE AND YOU WERE THE MUSE.

3. TAG PEOPLE TO DO THIS MEME. @garrus-the-spectre, @etherealautumn90, @irlscrooge, – Wanna give it a try?!

—–

1. WHAT IS YOUR NAME? “Bastille Novum. Nice to meet you.”

2. WHAT IS YOUR REAL NAME? “What do you mean?” He raised a seemingly perfect eyebrow in confusion. “That is my real name. I suppose it might seem strange to you.” The Guardian relaxed into the soft back of his seat and smiled softly. “If it's easier for you, just call me Bast.”

3. DO YOU KNOW WHY YOU WERE CALLED THAT? “A name is a name. It allows others to distinguish me from a group, that is all. Seems pointless to question why when I've been dead for over a century.”

4. ARE YOU SINGLE OR TAKEN? The neon citron of his eyes seemed to intensify along with the slight blush that brightened his cheeks. “I'm currently in a relationship. Why do you ask---wait, where did you get that photo?!” He stammers while attempting to regain his composure with deep breaths.

(Art by @stephicness​ .u. )

5. HAVE ANY ABILITIES OR POWERS? “Well, I'm a Warlock.” He quickly answered, glad to be on a different topic. “I recently acquired the abilities of a Stormcaller. In simpler terms, my body acts as a conduit for the electricity I wield as a weapon, summoned forth from the Storm.”

6. STOP BEING A MARY SUE. “What's a 'Mary Sue'? I already told you what my name was.”

7. WHAT’S YOUR EYE COLOR? “My eyes? Orangish-yellow? I'm told they resemble a flame, but I don't spend much time in front of a mirror to confirm those claims.”

8. HOW ABOUT YOUR HAIR COLOR? “You have eyes, don't you?” He muttered irritably, glancing up to spot a stray piece of hair that had fallen over his brow. “Navy Blue. Also, no. I didn't dye it.”

9. HAVE YOU ANY FAMILY MEMBERS? He sighs, leaning back into his chair once again with his hands folded neatly in his lap. “If I did, they're long dead. I don't remember much about my life before I became a Guardian, so I couldn't share their names with you even if I once knew them.”

10. OH? WHAT ABOUT PETS? “Unless Ghosts qualify as pets, no.”

11. NOW TELL ME ABOUT SOMETHING YOU DON’T LIKE. “That...is a broad question. Superficial things that I don't particularly like include ugly shaders, most Warlock armor, individuals with high-pitched voices, and overly sweet food, to name a few.” He mutters, averting his gaze from the interviewer. “The short list of significant things that I dislike would depress you, so I'd prefer not to share.”

12. DO YOU HAVE ANY HOBBIES/ACTIVITIES YOU LIKE DOING? “I never really thought about it.” He mused honestly, closing his eyes momentarily to think while one hand wandered up to rest inquisitively on his chin. He opened his eyes and an exasperated sigh escaped his lips. “Well, I enjoy reading. All genres including academic texts, but what I really love is traveling. I would lose my mind if I had to spend all of my time on Earth. I can literally fly anywhere and it's extremely freeing.” He pauses a moment, a forlorn expression taking over his features.. “I used to love cave-diving and participating in archeological digs...but I had an incident a few years back and I can't bring myself to do it anymore, let alone enjoy it.”

13. EVER HURT ANYONE BEFORE? "Yes, I have.”

14. EVER…KILLED ANYONE BEFORE? He frowns “More than I care to count.”

15. WHAT KIND OF ANIMAL ARE YOU? “...I am not particularly sure how to answer that question.”

16. NAME YOUR WORST HABITS. “I tend to be a control freak, and that causes a lot of problems for me; with my team, my boyfriend, and even my own abilities.” He admits, crossing his hands over his lap again and tapping his boot against the floor. “I also have a tendency to over-think things that would better be left alone. Other than that though, I guess I'm also a picky eater.” He grinned slightly as he paused to think again. “I'm sure Isaiah could think of more if you feel like interviewing him next.”

17. DO YOU LOOK UP TO ANYONE AT ALL? “These questions are getting pretty personal.” He judgmentally appraised with a suspicious look in his eye “Someone I look up to…? I suppose that would be my clan leader, Senen-12. She's strong, independent, skilled and holds our team together. I don't know what my clan and I would do without her, if you must know.”

18. GAY, STRAIGHT, OR BISEXUAL? "It seems to me like you already know the answer to that question.” He bashfully gestures to the photo of him and Isaiah.

19. DO YOU GO TO SCHOOL? “Not conventional school, no. As a Guardian it's my job to self-educate, but I don't typically learn about mundane topics like English and math. Mostly it's lore, mysticism, and the weaknesses of my enemies. Much more interesting, right?”

20. DO YOU EVER WANT TO MARRY AND HAVE KIDS ONE DAY? Instead of getting angry or flustered, like what would have been his normal reaction, he appeared taken aback and he sunk into his seat in thought. One hand shifted to support his forehead, as if he had a migraine. “I, uh...” he stammered, swallowing loudly. “Having children isn't really an option for Guardians like me, I wouldn't really want any even if it were an option. I'm not really the 'fatherly' type. And marriage?” His free hand wandered to his robe pocket and reached inside to fiddle with something there. “I've debated with myself, especially recently, if binding myself to someone is worth it. It seems like it would just hurt much, much more to lose that person after being bound like that. No matter how much you love them.” He glanced up finally, his eyes sparkling despite the melancholy in his voice. “Then again, I've always been a bit of a masochist...~”

21. DO YOU HAVE ANY FANBOYS/FANGIRLS? He shook his head abruptly, in part as an answer to the question, and also to recompose himself after the previous question. “No, no, no. I'm not nearly that popular. Though, Isaiah gushes over me. I don't think he qualifies, however. He's biased.”

22. WHAT ARE YOU MOST AFRAID OF? His eyes darken and he has to avert his gaze for a moment. “If I have to be absolutely honest, I would have to say that my greatest fear is watching those I hold dear being hurt and not being able to do anything about it...”

23. WHAT DO YOU USUALLY WEAR? “I usually just wear basic Warlock armor. We're permitted to customize and spice up our look with shaders, but it's all pretty basic. Arms, legs, a robe, helmet, and then a Warlock bond; all of which is our choice, of course. I'm just glad I don't have to  wear a cape like a Hunter. I can't imagine how badly those things get in the way.”

24. DO YOU LOVE SOMEONE? A warm smile curls his soft lips and he chuckles bashfully. “Of course I do, haven't you been listening?”

25. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WET YOURSELF? "You think I would be cowardly enough to do something like that?”

26. WELL, IT’S NOT OVER YET! "Really? I was under the impression that this was going to be a quick interview. Keep any further personal questions to a minimum, okay?”

27. WHAT CLASS ARE YOU? (HIGH CLASS, MIDDLE CLASS, LOW CLASS) "I don't think things like 'class' define anyone left on Earth.”

28. HOW MANY FRIENDS DO YOU HAVE? “I have a small circle of friends, that I don't care to count, which really only consist of two Fireteams; Fireteam Regis, Isaiah's fireteam, and Fireteam Autem, which is mine.”

29. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON PIE? "Most pies are too sweet for my tastes.”

30. FAVORITE DRINK? “Water?”

31. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE? “That's the beauty of having the ability to travel space in seconds; I don't need to choose.”

32. ARE YOU INTERESTED IN SOMEONE… “...I refuse to repeat myself. Take a look at your notes from previous questions and figure out the answer yourself.”

33. WHAT’S YOUR BRA CUP SIZE AND/OR HOW BIG IS YOUR WILLY? “I—I don’t think that's ANY concern of yours…!” He stammers, quickly crossing his legs as if to hide.

34. WOULD YOU RATHER SWIM IN THE LAKE OR THE OCEAN? He shrugs his shoulders with his palms up. “A lake, probably, if I had the choice. Though...it's probably not a good idea for me to be in any body of water, especially with others, for the time being. I don't quite have a handle on my Stormcaller abilities yet, and I would hate to electrocute someone by mistake.”

35. WHAT’S YOUR TYPE? A smile brightens his face again and his gaze seems far off, as if he's picturing someone in particular. His fingertips dance across his curled lips as he thinks. “Strong, but gentle and compassionate. Maybe even a little immature. Someone who's confident and straightforward enough to show and tell me what they want.” For a moment he pauses, his mind wandering and his free hand returning to his pocket. “Someone who makes me laugh, and even embarrasses me at times because they love so deeply.” He laughs softly under his breath, recalling a moment from his past. After a moment, he shifts in his seat, still smiling. “I also prefer them to have lavender skin, purple hair, and beautiful blue eyes. If that isn't specific enough for you.”

36. ANY FETISHES? “THAT is definitely not any of your business.”

37. SEME OR UKE? TOP OR BOTTOM? DOMINANT OR SUBMISSIVE? “What is your obsession with my sex life?” He growls, clearly irritated. He stubbornly crosses his arms over his chest and sighs, resigning to surrendering himself to that particular kind of question. “Fine. I prefer a more...submissive role, but I'm not opposed to other roles either. It's a spur of the moment kind of thing...” he continually grumbles as he explains and eventually makes eye contact again.

38. CAMPING OR INDOORS? “Indoors. I prefer the comfort of my own home. Camping usually involves being shot at or ambushed.”

39. ARE YOU WANTING THIS QUIZ TO END? “Yes. I've been waiting for this 'quiz' to end since you asked me if I was single or taken. May I leave now?”

[imagines-for-the-fangirls-soul]

Return to Me - Chapter Sixteen (Original)

Chapter Sixteen - Epilogue

A/N: Thank you all so much for your support. When I first posted this story, it was nearly a month after the Force Awakens came out, and it had hundreds of likes. It has gone down substantially but I thank all of you who stuck with this story! Although this is technically the end, I will still write Poe fics, and can definitely see myself adding on to this story. This chapter is for everyone who stayed along the way! Thank you all. Love you. Word Count: 2,309 Pairing: Poe Dameron x Reader Synopsis: Epilogue. Tags: @cinema212, @fandoms-pizza-wifi-ym13, @davidbowiesfacepaint

Previous Chapter

Ironically, flying was one of the scariest things for you to face with your daughter. Carrie wouldn’t let go of your hand, and would oftentimes cry during flights. Her father could barely stand it. Poe would joke that she wasn’t his daughter, even though he knew she was.

She had the same dark, curly hair, and smile. Honestly, Carrie looked more like her father than she did you. She did have your eyes, though. Poe would always go on and on about her eyes. (You were pretty sure he did it because that was the only part that looked like you and he felt bad.)

On this trip in particular, Carrie was even more scared. The four year old have moved to sit in your lap, and you had a perfect few of her dark, thick, curly hair. She had fallen asleep, thankfully, so you could get some rest, too. Carrie had just turned four, meaning that it was almost exactly four years after you had left Naboo. 

Nové was about to descend from the throne, and pass it along to the next young monarch. She and Lin Ral had invited you and your family to the celebration. Poe was away on a mission, but promised that he would do his best to make it. You were traveling to Naboo earlier to say hello to your friends and show Carrie your home. 

The ship landed and Carrie still did not awake. She was sound asleep against your chest, and you had to move carefully not to wake her up. It was still early in the morning, and she was used to staying in her comfy bed at this hour. You fixed her headband and stood up with her. One of Carrie’s favorite things to do was dress up, exactly like her mother. It was hard to find someone to make the exact same dresses, only in different sizes, but you had a special tailor. This woman, Ebba was her name, managed to make similar, almost identical dresses for you and Carrie each. She had truly outdone herself for these dresses made of soft silk.

The sun was warm and welcoming as you left the ship. You felt the breeze from the lake and smiled to yourself. You were so excited to get to watch your daughter learn to love the planet you loved. Walking up the stone steps, you moved carefully towards the throne room, as to not wake up Carrie. You were welcomed by the guards with ease. You walked on the smooth stone surface until you reached the room where Nové was sitting on the highest and biggest chair. 

Nové smiled at you, and you could still see through all of her makeup that she was beautiful. She looked like she wanted to come hug you, but you put up a hand. Carrie could be a bit fussy, and you didn’t want her to make a scene in the throne room. 

“My lady,” you said, bowing as slightly as you could. You smile through it and Nové giggled.

“We are truly blessed to have your presence among us today,” she said. 

“Thank you. It’s wonderful to be home.” The doors opened across the room and you turned to see Lin Ral walk through the room. He was still as handsome as ever, and smiled at you widely. He looked much happier than you had ever seen him. He walked towards you and kissed your cheek.

“Welcome home, Y/N.”

“Thank you. Like I was telling your gorgeous bride, it’s good to be home.” He nodded and looked up at Nové. They made eye contact and you laughed. They were truly in love. Nové descended from the throne and walked towards you both. 

“Walk with me?” she asked. You nodded and situated Carrie in your arms. “Will Poe be joining us?”

“I hope so. I talked to him two days ago. He is going to try and make it.”

“Good. It’s always good to have the greatest pilot in the Resistance with us.” You laughed and nodded. “I’m glad you brought your little girl,” she said, glancing back to make sure that Lin Ral was out of earshot. He had stopped to discuss something with the head of the guard. “He doesn’t know it yet, but I’m with child.”

“Really? That’s wonderful. Congratulations,” you said, beaming.

“Thank you. I plan to tell him after tonight.”

“He’ll be thrilled.”

“I hope so. I would love to catch up with you, but I think you might have other things to attend to,” she said, nodding at Carrie. The young girl was beginning to stir. 

“Right. I’ll see you after the ceremony, tonight?” you asked. She nodded.

“Of course.”

“I’ll see you then,” you said, walking into the adjoining hallway. Carrie was awake now, and was looking around in confusion. The stone staircases were different from the dark, bright, sometimes techno colors of Coruscant. 

“Good morning, princess,” you said.

“Where are we?”

“Naboo.”

“Your home.” You nodded and pushed open the door. The hall that had your room was bright, with many open windows pushing the curtains to sway all through the room. Carrie fought to get down, and when you let her go, she raced through the soft fabrics. You laughed and continued to walk towards the room that used to be yours. 

“Come on,” you said, nodding your head in the direction of the door. She giggled and ran towards you. She pushed open the door and went inside before you.

“Daddy!” she exclaimed. Confused, and a little bit worried, you raced in after her. Poe was hugging his daughter tightly, smiling as large as he ever did. He looked up at you and winked as he picked her up. He looked tired, like he always did when he returned from a mission. There was a scar across his cheek, but those weren’t new either. 

“I didn’t think you’d be back so soon,” you said, walking closer. He smiled and shifted Carrie in his arms so she was resting in his right while he hugged you with his left. You kissed him and when you pulled away, you kissed him again. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you both,” he said, rubbing your back a little. “I love your dresses,” he said, mostly to Carrie. She giggled as he set her down. She did a little twirl and you both clapped. “My gorgeous girls,” he said, looking up at you as he bent down to Carrie’s level.

Carrie only cared about talking to her father, so you didn’t bother giving them the tour. For someone who was so scared of flying, she loved listening to her father’s story about it. You relaxed on one of the lounge chairs on the terrace as you listened to Poe describe his latest trip to Tatooine to Carrie. She exclaimed every time he detailed a difficult turn, and cheered when he told her of the ships he destroyed. As he was about to tell her the whole story again, per her request, you stood up.

“Alright, I think that’s enough.”

“Please, mommy,” she begged as you picked her up.

“I’m sorry, but you want to go to the party tonight, don’t you?” you asked. “Then you’ll need to rest.” She sighed but stopped fighting. You winked at Poe as you walked through the walkway.

“Goodnight,” he called. You walked to one of the rooms that Nové’s handmaidens had turned into a room fit for Carrie, and laid her down in her bed.

“Take a good, long nap, sweetheart,” you said. She smiled up at you and you kissed her forehead. Poe was still lying out on the lounge chairs on the terrace when you came back. He smiled back at you lazily and you took his hand in yours. He scooted over just enough so that you could both sit together. His arms were around your shoulders and he sighed.

“I really, really missed you,” you said. He kissed your hand.

“I’ve missed you, too. Carrie has grown so much since I’ve been gone.”

“It’s only been a couple of months.”

“I know and she’s changed.”

“Baby, she’s four, she changes every day.” He laughed.

“I know. But I’m tired of missing it. I’m thinking about taking some time off.”

“Really?”

“Mhmm,” he said, snuggling up against you. You could hear how tired he was in his voice.

“Well, if you want to, you should. I want to be able to show Carrie Naboo, too.” He hummed his agreement, and you could feel him falling asleep against you. “I want her to feel the breeze after it’s shifted through the palms, I want her to learn to swim in the warm waters, I want her to see the colors of the flowers change every season.” You listed off a few more things, but Poe wasn’t awake for much longer. He knew what you were saying. 

You hadn’t even realized that you had fallen asleep until Carrie pulled on the hem of your dress. You stood up and wiped the sleep from your eyes. Poe was stirring slightly behind you, but at a much slower pace.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize I fell asleep.”

“Oh, it’s okay, mommy,” she said, smiling. You grinned back at her and held out your hand. She took her tiny hand in yours and you led her from the balcony. Leading her towards the kitchen, you set her up on the stool. 

“Want a snack?” She nodded, so you walked over to get her something from the cupboard. Poe shuffled into the kitchen, looking a little less sleepy. He kissed Carrie’s forehead and sat down next to her. You passed her the tray of food and looked up at the clock.

“What?” he asked.

“Nothing, I should probably get ready.”

“Me too!” Carrie exclaimed, spilling some of her food. Poe laughed and stopped her from jumping down.

“No you don’t. I think you look just pretty like that. Why don’t you stay here and tell me everything I’ve missed while mommy gets ready?” She giggled and nodded her head. You mouthed a thank you to Poe and walked towards your room. 

It took you substantially less time to get ready now than it did when you were queen. You secured your hair in a messy bun before changing into your dress for the ceremony. The one you had chosen had been the one that reminded you the most of Naboo. It was also made by a Naboo designer that made most of your dresses during your reign. 

Spinning to get a better look at yourself in the mirror, you turned to see Poe standing in the doorway. He was leaning against the frame, smiling at you. 

“What?”

“Nothing,” he said, shrugging. He walked into the room, and put his hands on your waist. You touched his broad shoulders and looked at him. He pulled you in for a kiss and you smiled into it. “I just love you.”

“I love you, too,” you said. “Is everything alright? You’ve been acting strange since you got back.” He shrugged again and you sighed. You wrapped your arms around his neck, trying to look at him closely.

“I just need a break. Being back makes me realize how much I’ve missed.”

“Don’t think that we don’t appreciate everything that you do, Poe. Carrie realizes how brave her father is.” He sighed again and you kissed him. “Come on. Let’s just try to enjoy the party.”

“I don’t want to go to any stupid parties,” he said, pulling away. He fell down on the bed and you laughed. 

“Fine. We don’t have to go.” You sat down on the edge of  the bed. “I talked to Leia earlier today. After we talked.”

“You did?” he asked, sitting up.

“Yes. I was hoping to tell you this afterwards, but I think you’ll do good to hear it now.”

“What?”

“I asked her to arrange some time off for you. She didn’t seem to have any trouble with it.” He sat up fully and took your hand. 

“Really?”

“Mhmm.” He pulled you by your hand and brought you in for a passionate kiss. You giggled and let him wrap his hands in your hair as yours went over his muscular frame. “Wait,” you said, pulling away.

“What?”

“There is just one more thing I want to tell you.”

“Yeah?” he asked breathlessly, wiping his mouth a little.

“I’m pregnant.” His eyes widened and he shook his head, clearing his thoughts.

“Really?” You nodded and he laughed merrily. He pulled you in and hugged you tightly, before pulling away a little. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” You kissed him again, tasting a few happy tears trailing down his face. The door swung open a moment later and Carrie walked in. She jumped on the bed and you and Poe both exchanged a look. 

“Hi, princess,” you said, running your hand through her hair. “There’s something we want to tell you.” She nodded, not looking up as she fiddled with the pattern on her dress.

“You’re going to have a little brother or sister.” Her eyes lit up at that and she looked up happily at you two. 

“Yay!” she exclaimed, jumping into both of your arms. The three of you sat there together, holding onto each other tightly in a happy embrace.

“I love you both,” Poe said happily.