#cut twas much needed i feel so much lighter

[blossoms-phan]

salon had the most banging playlist I’ve ever heard

[twokinkybeans]

The Arachnoids: ROCK BAND AU [STARKER] - Chapter 9: WARY WORDS

READ “CHAPTER 9: WARY WORDS” ON AO3

Find the masterpost with all the chapters linked here!

Taglist: @crystallinecrimsonmoth​​​​​​​ & @staticwhispersinthedark​​​​​​​ (Let me know if you want to be added!)

-

Chapter 9: Wary Words

Tony’s gone.

That’s the first thought that crosses Peter’s mind when he stirs back to life after a short but good sleep. The room is empty and quiet, and it’s not just the man that has vanished. His bags are gone too and the sheets Tony slept under are neatly drawn up over the mattress. If it weren’t for the cologne lingering on Peter’s shirt, he could’ve sworn it’d all been a dream. It’s real, he reminds himself. It’s all real.

Peter doesn’t like the uneasy feeling that settles under his skin. He clamps his jaws together and blows into his cheeks, then letting the pressured air escape past his lips in a defeated sigh. He doesn’t know what to do. While it’s clear that something has to change for Tony, Peter wouldn’t know where to even start. He does realize it’s not his problem to solve, but he wants to help Tony however possible. It’s idle hope, though, to think the solution might come easy.

Tony’s gone, and there’s no sign of him until the live performance. It physically aches Peter’s chest to watch how freely Tony moves around the stage. No anxiety. No spiraling thoughts. Just Tony living through his music. The stage is Tony’s home. Performing is his home.

But after thanking his Finnish fans for supporting them today… There’s no trace left of where he could’ve gone. Tony’s hiding once again.

Latvia.

Poland.

Hungary

The next few days are all the same. No sight of Tony other than soundchecks and shows. No one knows where he is. And Peter realizes, horrified, that as much as everyone’s worried about Tony’s behavior, they don’t really care. Not truly. As long as Tony shows up to sing they seem awfully okay with it. 

Austria

Italy

Spain

Peter still hasn’t managed to catch a moment alone with Tony. From a distance, he can see that the man looks paler. Tired. Lonely.

France

Belgium

Germany

Peter’s fed up with Tony evading everyone and he decides that he’ll do everything it takes to connect to him again. He will talk to Tony. As soon as he gets the chance.

Netherlands

-

“Hey, Stark!” Peter greets the man cheerfully as he finally finds the man by himself in the large Nijmegen venue. Tony’s leaning against the front barrier, looking up at the stage. “I’ve been thinking about your offer and I’ve decided to take you up on those guitar classes.” Tony tenses up and he grips the front barrier so tight his knuckles turn white. Oh no.  Slowly, Tony turns around to face Peter. Tony looks straight at him but Peter can tell it takes everything the man has, to not avert his gaze. Peter’s heart clenches at the knowledge that the man’s been hurting so much lately, that it's a habit for him to hide everything.

“Hi, space boy.” Tony sniffs once and straightens his shoulders, faking a wide grin. Peter frowns at that. Does Tony still have the feeling he has to pretend so much?  Tony continues talking before Peter has a chance to resume the conversation himself. “Wouldn’t you rather do another one of those sleepovers? ‘Twas quite a messy night, huh?” 

What?

“That makes it sound like we had an actual one night stand,” Peter says slowly, eyebrows raised. If Tony wants to approach it like this, Peter will try to play along. Tony huffs a startled laugh at that. “That’s what happens when there’s only one bed,” he jokes. Tony’s smile falters soon after. He casts his eyes down to the floor. “I’m really sorry about that night, though… That… Wasn’t supposed to happen.”

“What wasn’t?” Peter asks, tilting his head. He kinda expects Tony to cut the conversation short and make a run for it, but surprisingly, he doesn’t. “The panic attack- I never wanted to drop that on you. The hug…” Tony’s cheeks turn a little bit redder at that. He’s ashamed, Peter realizes. “Is that why you’ve been avoiding me?”

Tony tenses at that once more. He blinks a few times, unsure of what to do. Peter swallows. The last thing he wants is to chase Tony away himself. “Hey…” Peter speaks softly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.” “No,” Tony pushes out. “You did. And you’re right, I guess. I have been avoiding you.” Tony glances around real quick to see if there’s no one else around. When he confirms they’re alone he sighs. “I’ve never been this vulnerable around anyone. I… don’t know how to deal with it.” Tony sits down on the floor to lean against the front barrier and he shakes his head. Peter carefully walks closer to him.

“That’s alright. It’s hard,” Peter breathes as he sinks down onto the cool metal plates as well. “I know my story isn’t nearly the same…” He continues. “But I was young when I lost everyone but Aunt May. I closed off. It fucking sucks when people watch your every move ‘cause they’re not sure what to do with you and your emotions.” Tony looks up at that. His eyes contain the exact spark of recognition Peter had hoped to ignite.

“Sometimes, it’d be much easier if none of it ever happened - or if no one knows. So that you can pretend it never did, even if just for a few minutes.” Peter pauses, trying to figure out the right words to continue. “But- If you never allow yourself to be vulnerable, no one’s gonna understand why you keep pushing them away. Eventually, they’ll take it as rejection. They give up. And it leaves you lonelier than you were before.” “Sounds familiar,” Tony mumbles quietly. Peter’s lips curl into a faint smile.  “Yeah... And I’m not saying you always have to talk about the shit that’s going on, but you can let people know you’re not okay. Confide in them. You need that sense of community, Tony. Especially when things are bad.”

They’re both silent after that. It’s not an uncomfortable silence. Not at all. At one point, Tony’s composure softens. He goes less rigid, and his left knee falls against Peter’s right one. Peter lets it happen without a single thought; perhaps he too likes the warmth coming from the other’s body. Someone who, even though the story is different, shares the emotions Peter knows so well.

“Thank you,” Tony finally breathes. “That’s… You’re right- I-...” Tony groans when the words don’t come easy. Most likely unconsciously, he presses his knee into Peter’s a little more. Peter doesn’t say anything to give the man his time. He does press his knee back, though. Hoping to comfort Tony. Tony swallows and slowly continues. “Talking to you makes me feel like I can breathe, even if just slightly.” The words cause a gentle warmth to spread through Peter’s chest.

“I meant what I said the other night, Tony. I’m gonna be here, alright?” “You barely know me...” “Isn’t that enough of a reason to get to know each other better? I mean, we already slept in one bed after all,” Peter says, trying to lighten the conversation with a small joke. It seems to work. Tony snorts. “I think you’re my favorite one night stand,” Tony grins. Somehow, even though it’s obviously meant as a joke, it catches Peter completely off guard and he blushes. Tony notices and he grins.  “Ooooooh! You liked it too!” Tony teases. Peter growls in response and leans sideways to bump into Tony’s shoulder. The man laughs, actually laughs, and the sound reverberates in Peter’s chest. Is this the lighter side of Tony he hasn’t seen yet?

“Hey,” Tony mumbles once his snickering died down. “I have to go do this stupid interview. Harley will lynch me if I don’t show up.” “Shouldn’t Bruce and Happy be the ones to do that?” “They don’t really bother with me. They’ve given Harley the most prestigious task of babysitting me.” “Harley seems nice though, isn’t he?” Peter tries. Tony hums. “For sure. He’s a good kid.” 

Tony’s silent after that and Peter bites down his bottom lip. He feels like the conversation isn’t over yet. He drops his head to one side to look at Tony. Tony raises his eyebrows. “Will you be okay?” Peter asks quietly. “I…” Tony sighs. “I guess? Interviews trigger my anxiety quite badly. Nat, Steve, and Harley know about the medication shit, though. They try to help me through. They just don’t know about… Morgan.” Tony’s voice wavers when he chokes out her name. “I’ll manage. I promise.” Peter smiles and leans into Tony a little bit more, trying to bring him some comfort.

“Alright. Promise me one thing though,” Peter whispers. “Or, two actually?” “What’s that?” “I want those guitar classes,” Peter states and Tony snorts, shrugging and shaking his head. “Sure, what else?”

Peter hesitates and he clasps his own hands together, leaning forward onto his upper legs. From there, he eyes Tony carefully. “Don’t rewatch it.” Peter takes a breath. “The interview. Answer their questions and then forget about it.”

Tony takes a few moments to think about that before he swallows and nods. His eyes sparkle when he raises his head to look Peter straight into his eyes. “I promise.”

-

Peter mindlessly helps Ned set up his drums for tonight. Ned loves the new set, even though it’s not nearly the same quality as the one he has at home. It’s got a nice sound, Peter has to admit that. He doesn’t know enough about drums to give a solid opinion, but if Ned’s happy, so is he.

“So, what’s up with Tony?” Ned asks, fiddling with one of his drumsticks when Peter finishes tightening the last hi-hat clutch. Peter leans back, eyeing Ned curiously. “What do you mean?” “He seems… So… Nice? Today? I dunno,” he mumbles. “He’s not himself.” “Oh?” “Yeah, he-”

Before Ned can finish his explanation, the door slams open and Peter looks up startled. MJ comes rushing in and she throws herself into Ned’s arms. “Help!” She squeaks.  “Hey, hey! What’s wrong?” “I- Harley, he- He asked me out,” she chokes out. “And my dumb ass said no. But when I ran off I- I realized I wanted to say yes and I don’t know what to do.” MJ groans and presses her lips together.

“Please, you gotta help me.”

-

Read the next chapter >> 10: Blossoming Bond

[chrysalispen]

xix. all white with wreath and spray

AO3 Link here

splitting into two parts for length, the next part will be up in a day or two

===

 Aurelia’s booted feet crunched through the thin layer of powder snow as she adjusted the bundle of fallen wood on her back. Given the conjurers’ tenuous peace brokered with the elementals, the city’s inhabitants were rationing: they were to collect only those things which nature had already shed, and that bounty in itself was limited. Despite the fact it was mid-morning, the Shroud was as still and quiet as an open grave. 

Winter had come to the wood, and with it, the hardships borne of poor harvests across all of Eorzea. 

The forest’s predators, deprived of their seasonal food sources, soon became a common danger on the roads, and with the Greenwrath so newly quelled the forest was still volatile and hazardous. The city council had done as much to prepare the townspeople and the land itself for the cold months as they were able in the time they had, but their efforts had still fallen short and the outbreak of flux among incoming refugees had strained Gridania’s supplies further. Many people had been forced to winter in unfinished houses or had taken up with friends and neighbors in what space was available.

J’nehda’s ‘storms’ had more trouble yet to presage, so it seemed. 

“Are you not cold, Miss Conjurer?” 

She glanced over her shoulder. Keveh’to was shivering visibly, his tail wrapped close about one leg when he wasn’t moving, looking quite put out indeed. He had also drawn his shortbow, though either of them had yet to see any game worth the marking. 

“Hm? No, I’m well, thank you.” She wore a fleece-lined doublet, leather breeches, a pair of old cotton gloves, and knee-high doeskin boots beneath one of Miounne’s traveling cloaks - along with, of course, the ubiquitous oversized head covering intended to conceal her third eye. Overall, it was far lighter attire than the heavy parkas and thick boots most Gridanians had donned. “Do you want to borrow my cloak?”

He squinted at her as though she’d asked him to wear one of her dresses. “I’m fine too,” he said, somewhat defiantly. “Just…  not used to the snow, is all. We rarely get it this far south.”

“I suppose that makes sense.”

“Garlemald is very cold, I hear.”

“Yes, it is.” She bent forward with a soft grunt and dropped her bundle to the ground in favor of the medium-sized branch she’d sighted half-buried under snowfall and dead leaves. “We measure snowfall in fulms, rather than ilms. And it stays on the ground a good long while.”

“How long is ‘a good long while’?”

“Mmm... I should say usually around six, mayhap seven months- er, moons out of the year? ‘Tis longer on occasion, should the season prove particularly brutal.”

“Seven moons of winter?” Keveh’to echoed, horrified. “Seven moons of snow and ice--”

“Aye. And barely any light. And gales that could tear the skin off a gigas.”

“How do you survive it up there?”

“We almost didn’t.”

“By the gods, no wonder you lot want to spread out over the whole bloody star. I’d be keen on beachfront property myself if I lived in the depths of the fourth hell.” 

Aurelia began to laugh. “You’re not wrong.”

The Miqo’te’s consternation gave way to widened eyes and an embarrassed flush when he realized what he’d said. 

“Er. I- that... wasn’t the most, er... tactful... way I could have phrased that, I suppose. Sorry.”

She raised one booted foot and kicked the side of the branch. The blow dislodged a wet clump of white powder, shaking it onto the leaves below like confectioners’ sugar onto toast. 

“You’ve no need to apologize. The capitol is bloody awful. If I had my say I would much prefer Ala Mhigo. It’s hot as blazes in the summer, but at least you don’t run the risk of instant frostbite.”

“What is Ala Mhigo like? I hear the refugees talk about it sometimes when they think other folk aren’t in earshot. Curious. Like they don’t want none of us overhearing.” He fidgeted, hopping from one foot to the other, and she couldn’t tell if he was uncomfortable or simply trying to ward off the chill. “...You don’t have to talk about it either, you know, if you’d rather not.”

“In truth, I’ve naught of interest to share.” Aurelia shrugged. “There is precious little I could tell that you wouldn’t hear from the refugees and you’d learn more of their native land from them than you would from someone like me. Ala Mhigo was my childhood home but I’m the first to admit I saw very little outside my father’s villa, and that was by design, I'm certain.” 

“Mm,” Keveh’to said, absently. “Mayhap you’re right.”

A not-insignificant part of her hoped he was simply attempting to make conversation. She was reluctant to face the censure she was sure she would see in his eyes did he chance to speak to the refugees as she had suggested, but what else was there to say? Most of her memories of Gyr Abania were very personal and very limited. 

“...We should be getting back.”

“Do you need me to carry that?” he asked.

“I can do it.”

“But-”

She cast him a brittle smile before lifting the branch and tossing it in the bundle with the others, then rearranged the hempen wrap so that the weight was equally distributed and none of the larger pieces would fall before folding the corners, grasping the fabric, and hoisting her burden back over one shoulder. 

They trudged back towards the city, the only sound to be heard the crunch of dead leaves and powder beneath their feet, before Keveh’to finally said, “Forgive me, Aurelia. I didn’t mean to pry.”

“I know you didn’t,” she said. “I am sorry. Perhaps I do feel a bit nostalgic.”

“For this?”

“Of course not, but... “ She adjusted the weight she carried on her back and paused. “...there are things I miss. Small things, you know. Luxuries that one takes for granted.”

“Such as?”

“My garden, for one.”

“Your... “ He trailed off, but she saw the light go on behind his eyes when she glanced back in his direction. 

The laugh she granted him was a light and silvery thing, spilling across the snow like a sunbeam. “You heard correctly. I had a garden back in Garlemald."

Aurelia would have said 'home,' did the utterance of that word not stick so securely in her craw. Garlemald was many things, but a home had never been one of them.

"A proper garden, then? Like with roses and such?"

"Yes. It belonged to my aunt, really. But she would much rather look at the flowers than grow them herself. I feel a similar sort of… I don’t know. Peace? Serenity? As close as one can get to those things when I’m about the woods gathering.”

“...all right, now I get it. I thought it was passing strange you would be as interested in botany as you are."

"Mhm."

"But if you had a- ...but wait, how’d you have a bleeding garden ‘n all, if the weather’s like this all the blasted time?”

Aurelia shrugged as if the answer was obvious. “Magitek.”

“I don’t follow.” 

“There was a greenhouse on my uncle’s grounds. It had heat lamps set to cycle every eight bells, and an environmental control system that- …ah,” she stammered, seeing his blank and uncomprehending stare, “never mind.”

Keveh’to did not respond. Aurelia could feel his confused gaze still boring into her back as they continued up the hill onto the path. 

She flushed, thinking that of course her attempt at explanation would have made little sense to him. Most parts of the star had no access to magitek so it was still a rare and fantastic novelty without the Empire’s borders, and Eorzea’s smallfolk most certainly would not have access to such wonders. 

Even in Garlemald a self-sustaining greenhouse to preserve perennials was very much a luxury, one afforded only to the wealthy: usually, albeit not always, peers of the imperial aristocracy. But she had loved her aunt Marcella’s greenhouse. Its unique heating system had originated as a student project, one of many annual exhibition entries at the Magitek Academy. Quite often, winning projects were put to practical use whether by the government or by the creators themselves, and in this instance the student's work had been noticed by her uncle. He had gladly improved upon his prototype for the commission. 

Her uncle Janus had bragged that the unit was one of a kind because the young man had elected to join the imperial army upon completing his studies, no doubt to build weapons for the legions afield. ‘Twas hardly an uncommon story, he had said with a shrug. There was more profit - and personal glory - in innovating warmachina for imperial conquest than in customizing heating systems for a rich man’s rose gardens.

Aurelia could not take comfort in his explanation, saddened as she was. That a man capable of creating daily wonders for the purpose of preserving living things would be able to turn his obviously brilliant mind towards such callous and violent ends - it defied her understanding. 

As was the case with most of her recollections of her years spent in the capitol, even the relatively pleasant memory of her aunt's flowers was bittersweet.

“I… I think I’m a bit chilled after all,” Aurelia lied. She plucked the hood of the cloak from her back and draped it over her head until the top half of her face was all but concealed from view. Frost spilled forth from her lips in a white cloud. “Let’s hurry along. I’ve a mind for some tea.”

She swallowed back the harsh lump she could feel forming in her throat, unwilling to grant it any further leave for expression.

~*~

Miounne was waiting at the staff entrance upon their arrival: wiping her hands in the fabric of her apron, eyes fixed upon the pair. Aurelia shrugged the heavy bundle from her shoulders as if it were feather-light and raised a gloved hand in greeting. 

“Welcome back, you two. A decent haul this morning?”

“Decent enough.” She lifted the first branch from the top of the pile and dragged it to the stump they had been using to roughly cut the scavenged tree falls for firewood. “I know we’re a bit late returning, but the Sergeant thought he saw something fit for the stewpot. We’ll have this set up for you in just a-”

“Ah… one moment, if you please,” Miounne said, and Aurelia’s outstretched hand froze in the act of reaching for the wood-axe. “I’ll get one of the lads inside to cut the wood.”

“Not that I’m complaining,” Keveh’to frowned, dusting a thin layer of snow from his lapels, “but is there some reason why we can’t just go on and do it ourselves?”

“Your presence has been requested. Or rather, Aurelia’s presence has been requested. E-Sumi-Yan asked that I send you along to the Fane as soon as I could.”

...The guildmaster? 

Cautiously she studied the woman’s face. She didn’t trust unexpected summons of any sort, never had- but, she realized, Miounne was smiling. Whatever it was, it couldn’t be that unpleasant. “Did he happen to elaborate?”

“No, but I don’t doubt he will explain himself in full when you arrive.”

All… right then. She glanced at Keveh’to. 

“I assume he’s allowed to come along.”

“Of course.”

Few souls had braved the outdoors this morning- owing largely, Aurelia suspected, to the snow. This part of Eorzea was quite temperate, more so even than Mor Dhona, and snow was a rare enough occurrence that people tended to take to their hearths upon the slightest dusting of white upon the stones. 

In truth ‘twas less the weather she found refreshing than the empty streets. In the wake of the increasing food shortage the people of Gridania - already rather inclined towards isolationist behavior - spared few quests and even less coin for Miounne’s adventurers while treating refugees and prisoners of war with barely concealed contempt.

But tension aside, the city was as quiet as the forest. No one accosted or addressed them as they made their way down the snow-lined paths. The only sounds were birds and the soft rhythm of their breathing, and the quiet crunch of their footsteps upon ice and loose gravel. 

Even the Fane seemed all but deserted. The sight of the tree filled her with the same dread it always did - but there was a measure of relief as well, for Brother E-Sumi-Yan stood before the entrance holding a neatly wrapped paper parcel in his youthful hands.

“Good morning, Aurelia. Mother Miounne told me she had sent the two of you on your way,” he said, beaming at her. “Come, let’s sit and take tea here by the brazier. ‘Tis a most bracing morning, is it not? I'm afraid all I have in my larder at the moment is chamomile tea, but I was preparing to break my fast. Both of you are welcome to join me if you haven’t already partaken.”

There was chamomile tea with mint, and spiced frumenty, and even- to Keveh’to’s undisguised delight- venison sausages. E-Sumi-Yan speared three onto each plate alongside a small slice of tomato and three coarse-cut pieces of wheaten apiece. 

“Twelve,” the Miqo’te said, his voice trembling, “that’s real bleedin’ honey, too.”

She felt her mouth water as she stared at the plating. It was as much food in one sitting as either of them had had all week, and she suspected the guildmaster had been well aware of it.

“Where did you...” Aurelia began. 

“From my own cold pantry, never fear. I rarely have guests and eat very little on my own, but seeing as this is a special occasion I can hardly be stingy.” He gestured to the unadorned smooth stones about the brazier. “Please. Sit. Eat. I have a matter I must needs discuss, and by its nature, it concerns you both.”

Gratefully she began to dig into the meal, with Keveh’to doing the same at her side. She ate neatly and carefully, trying to make it last. After so long with only a small cupful of oats a day, the Guildmaster’s spread was like unto the feasts at her aunt’s dinner parties.

Her minder - possessed of no such sensibilities - wolfed down the sausages practically whole, his tail slapping cheerfully against the ground.

“What did you wish to discuss, E-Sumi-Yan?” she asked, curling her fingers around the warm teacup after a long and contented sip. 

The fresh-faced Padjal - who ate as carefully as she did, his attention to social etiquette equally conscientious - likewise balanced his cup upon his knee. “Your basic lessons have progressed with remarkable speed,” he began. “In truth, you have taken more quickly to mastery of your own aether than many who have spent the entirety of their lives beneath the Twelveswood’s boughs.”

Aurelia flushed despite herself. How long had it been since she’d heard genuine praise from anyone that hadn’t seemed perfunctory, or given under duress?

“I... thank you,” she said, unable to meet his calm grey eyes, and hastily took another sip of her tea. “It has been no simple task, as you know. I am sure I have much still and more to learn.”

“I quite agree. But I think it is time you continued your studies- in the field. I’ve a mind to send you to the Arbor. There are outlying settlements there in need of our aid.”

“Truly? I had not thought that any of the current Hearers would be willing to, er...”

His answering smile was serene. “Take you on as an apprentice conjurer?” 

“....Well, now you mention it, yes, precisely so. I realize the rank and file would have no idea, but the Hearers must surely know the truth. I can't imagine any of them would take kindly to a Garlean woman as an apprentice.”

“You are, unfortunately, correct in assuming that few would be willing. However, the individual overseeing the region where I would send you has little choice but to accept you.” 

Keveh’to scoffed. “That bad?”

“Bad?” E-Sumi-Yan laughed. “You misunderstand, Sergeant. No, this is simply a matter of life events necessitating a change. His apprentice is due to be wed in the next two moons and he is aging out of the field himself, and at present I have no other novitiates better suited for the position. I would have you assist him with the villagers’ needs as well as those of the forest. He will require aid whether he is desirous of your help or not.”

Aurelia grimaced. 

“I need hardly say this does little to inspire one’s confidence.”

“I do not doubt you will face difficulties initially. That said, I think you will ingratiate yourself to them in due time. Our people are insular and often slow to trust outsiders to the Twelveswood, that much I will allow. But they are not so foolish as to ignore a helping hand indefinitely. No matter the form it takes.”

With a sigh she set the cup back in its saucer and placed it in the empty place sitting on her left. It made a soft, chiming rattle against the stone.

“You are asking me,” she said, “to subject myself to their likely censure.” 

“Yes,” E-Sumi-Yan replied. He didn’t bat an eye, nor appear the least bit sorry for it. “I think it will not be as dire as you fear. Truly, this might even be a valuable lesson for all concerned. Yourself included. And you will have Sergeant Epocan there if-”

This time it was Keveh’to’s turn to flinch.

“No offense, Guildmaster,” he said. “Due respect and all that, but... you know full well how most of your folk feel about Keepers.”

“It will be made clear to the Hearer that you are there on an official assignment,” he said, in a tone that brooked no argument. The Miqo’te’s shoulders hunched defensively, but he didn’t retort. “At any rate, preparations are being made. The Elder Seedseer has given her authorization and asks that you accompany Aurelia to her new position. If the powers that be feel she is not a flight risk, I see no reason to delay the process.”

The woman in question had turned her gaze to the snow-covered clearing, watching two small sparrows clean themselves in the powder with a flurry of their little brown feathers.

“Well,” the Garlean said at length, once she realized all eyes were upon her. “Suffice to say: I have precious little if any say in this affair, being a captive audience in every meaningful sense. So, I will keep any further observations to myself. Should you believe my current skillsets might be put to better use elsewhere, then that is sufficient and I will abide by your judgment -- and that of the Elder Seedseer’s as well, I suppose.”

His small brow wrinkled at her reply, noncommittal as she knew it was. 

“Aurelia, this isn’t the army. You do have some say in whence you go.”

“Again, whether or not I might mislike the assignment does not factor into such matters. You have my compliance regardless.”

“Be that as it may-”

“Guildmaster, your thoughtfulness in asking for my input is appreciated, but you and I both know it is unnecessary.” Her slim shoulders lifted and dropped, as if the outcome made no difference to her either way. “I shall await orders.”

“I will send word along when all is made ready,” E-Sumi-Yan said at length. 

He did not speak his reservations aloud. That he sounded none too pleased warranted no comment.

[13thsongbird]

The few people that read this blog and also follow my personal Instagram will know I’ve already made this joke once recently, but it brings me joy and I refuse to be ashamed! It’s one of the best one-liners from a character who zings ’em out like no other – and who doesn’t love when Meryl Streep gets to be sassy?

Photo credit to 20th Century Fox via Buzzfeed 🙂

Anywho, on to the main event – I’ve made a thing! And the fabric is an absolute dream. I applied to a call a while back on Instagram for sewists that would like to work with Sitka Fabrics, to be sent fabric in exchange for sewing it up and providing pictures of their stock used in garments that they could use for marketing and social media. Sitka is a Canadian company, but they ship internationally (their About page includes the line “fabrics do not have borders” – love that!) and their fabrics are thoughtfully selected and gorgeous. I was thrilled to be chosen, and even more thrilled when they told us they were stocking a modal rib knit for the fall that they wanted pictures of ASAP! I’ve not worked with modal before, but everyone raves about it, and this was the perfect chance to try some really nice quality stuff. Not to mention, the colors they’re stocking are seriously dreamy.

Receiving the fabric, I instantly saw what everyone was raving about. Modal is so soft, y’all – it’s silky and huggable and has the most luxurious drape. Plus, this rib knit is 10% spandex, so in addition to being silky and utterly stroke-worthy, it’s also got pretty great recovery for such a drapey knit. I got the warm ochre, which is an awesome shade of pumpkin orange – not pumpkin like plastic Halloween decorations, but like an actual pumpkin sitting ripe and warm in the late afternoon sun. When I first chose the color, I’d thought it was more of a golden yellow, but ’twas my screen that deceived me! It’s the same old tale of shopping for fabric on the internet – not all screens are built the same, and colors can show up differently. When in doubt, contact the seller! The team at Sitka has been very prompt and helpful any time I’ve had an issue or question, and if you’re trying to match colors I’m sure they’d be happy to give guidance if you’re unsure. As I wasn’t trying to match colors, and the orange that showed up was every bit as lovely as the yellow I’d expected, I simply kept stroking this ohmigodsosoft fabric and planning the best way to make use of its beauty.

Initially, since I’d never sewn with this fabric before, I was thinking a simple ribbed t-shirt or tank would be a great showcase for it (the Kila Tank by Indiesew looks like an amazing basic tank and I wanna try it soon), but once I had it in my hands I knew it demanded to be something a little more special. More romantic. Plus, the weather has just finally started to turn more towards fall here in NYC, and my mind is kicking into high gear autumn sewing mode. I wanted something that felt autumnal!

That was when I remembered the Seamwork Elmira. A simple ballet-style wrap cardigan with some extreme tie action going on in the front, I’ve had it in my Seamwork pattern library for ages, and actually printed it out months ago with the intention of adding it to my winter wardrobe last year. (Whoops.) I love that instead of huge long ties that wrap all the way around, the innermost front wrap buttons on the inside and the other front is then simply tied across to complete the wrap without the bulk. Plus, I don’t like wrap sweaters that tie in the back – I hate putting on a coat or sitting down and leaning back in a chair, and feeling the hard knot of knit fabric digging into my spine. However, the change in pattern meant I was not going to have enough fabric, especially since the directionality of a rib knit meant I couldn’t throw grainline to the wind and get creative with my cutting layout – I’d only asked for a yard and a half, and the Elmira calls for over two yards, plus I wanted to fully line the back instead of turning and stitching the hem and neck back like in the instructions. I laid out my pattern pieces on the rib knit and determined that I could fit everything except my back lining piece and the second set of ties, which got me thinking – a contrast tie could be a nice look. Did I have anything in my stash that would play nicely with this orange? I did a little digging, and when I found the rest of the Girl Charlee cotton jersey I used to make a Nettie bodysuit in May (on the blog here) I knew that was the winner. The cream ground and coral-and-yellow tones jived nicely with my orange, and the fuchsia and green added a nice pop of contrast. It also felt very summer-to-fall transitional, which is utterly appropriate for how I want to dress right now, and MOST IMPORTANTLY I had tons of it left – more than enough to cut out my additional pattern pieces and get cracking!

I’ve not done a lot of sewing with rib knits, and I was worried the modal would stretch out of shape as I put it through the machine, but it sewed up like a dream – I sewed the whole wrap on my regular machine using a zig-zag stitch and a normal presser foot. After a little internet and Instagram research, I chose to reinforce the seam at the wrap edges with clear elastic, and in the end I think I could have pulled it a little bit tighter – the long edge wants to stretch, and in a knit fabric it’s hard to keep it from doing what it wants! If I make this sweater again, I think I might draft a front band to rein in that wrap a little more.

As I said, I also chose to fully line the bodice, which gave a cleaner finish inside – the only exposed seams are at the armscye and the cuff, and the back neck feels more stable than it would have with just a turned-down hem (although I could probably have used some clear elastic in that seam as well. C’est la vie.) Sizing-wise, I also turned to the internet and determined that I needed to add about two inches of length; the back I simply left long at the bottom with a little extra shaping to accommodate my sway-back, and the front I lengthened two inches just below the armscye, moving the bottom of the wrap over to match the diagonal (and thus adding some length to the wrap itself – I sized down to a Large knowing I’d be doing this, but in the end I probably could have lost some of that extra wrap length). I shortened the sleeves about two inches as well, both because I thought it would look cute with 3/4 length sleeves and because I didn’t have quite enough fabric for full-length.

The finished result is absolutely divine. The modal makes it soft and squishy but still sleek and elegant, and the color is perfect for this time of year, while the pop of floral keeps it from feeling aggressively Halloween-themed. It’s definitely a layering piece, rather than a top in its own right, although I think taking a little length off the front wraps would allow it to pull tight enough for a really pretty top in a lighter-weight fabric. As it is, this beauty is going to see me through the colder weather nicely, just as soon as it actually starts getting cold again – of course, the minute I finished this, temps in New York jumped from the 60s and 70s back up into the 80s! I still wore it around the house for a while with the A/C cranked up, just because I love it so much. Plus, my roommates have already gone all-in on the Halloween decorations, so it’s hard not to feel autumnal no matter the temperature! And I’ve saved every single scrap of the modal rib – I don’t exactly know what I’m going to use it for, but I can’t bear the thought of not using every last bit. Bigger scraps might end up becoming panties or a soft bra, and longer pieces I might try to use as ribbed binding for other projects. We shall see!

Rib knits, for fall? Groundbreaking… The few people that read this blog and also follow my personal Instagram will know I've already made this joke once recently, but it brings me joy and I refuse to be ashamed!

[cdc1345711]

OC Story: Academy Days 1

(Chip proposed to his Girlfriend Ari before the New Year awaiting their wedding in February of 2021 and despite what everyone says Chip is Romantic and what better way to show it than to Ari's job at Mandrake University as he steps out his car and checks the Directions on his Phone)

Chip:Mandrake Academy? Yep this is the place....now the effort of finding Ari's Office......oi vey"

(He searched around asking Students while inside Ari was hanging in the lounge with her fellow educators)

Ari:(Putting Creamer in her Coffee)Another Day Another Dollar or at least that's what the Board Says"

Owlferd:(Anthropology Teacher and Owl)I agree Ari least you're shift hasn't started yet"

Ari:It did but I got no clients till after Lunch"

Wanda:(Coed Coach/Entomology Teacher Wasp)My class is about to start....damn early risers"

Ari:Just like High School"

Connie:(Cone Headed Honors Science)Except most of the Students look like they're Held back a couple of years"

(Everyone laughs)

Wanda:So......anyone going to the Headmasters Party tonight?"

Owlferd:Only downside of Tenure of I got to go hohoho it's no trouble for me it's just my Husband doesn't wear much Formal Attire"

Connie:Speaking of 'Husbands' when are we gonna meet yours Ari"

Ari:First off Not my Husband YET we're engaged Second He's very busy and isn't a Formal Fellow as well"

Wanda:That so? Or is he fake?"

Ari:Not Fake he's real"

Wanda:Sure(says sarcastically)"

Moe:(Lorologist aka Primate Guy who studies lore comes in making a dash for the Coffee)Coffee coffee coffee need it......(gets his cup)"

Wanda:You okay Beu?"

Moe:Classes about to start and I SWEAR to every Gods if someone asks me another Eldritch Question I might bash my head in.....(takes a deep breath and exhales calming down)so what I miss?"

Owlferd:We're talking about the existance of Ari's Fiance"

Moe:Seriously? What are we in Middle School?"

Ari:Thank You Moe"

Moe:It's up there with 'My Boyfriend who lives in Canada' and 'My BF is my Cat'"

Ari:Okay that last one isn't real"

Connie:Like your Fiance...."

Ari:HE'S REAL!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Owlferd:Well Ari you never showed us a picture of him......"

Wanda:Hell you Never gave us his name"

Ari:Well......its because we want our private life to be uuuh whats the word umm.....Private"

(Everyone Stares)

Ari:Alright......his name is Chip"

Moe:The Psychotic Metal Organic?"

Ari:He's more Sociopathic than Psychotic"

(Everyone looks at each other and all laugh)

Wanda:Seriously the Greatest Assassin ever is marrying you?"

Ari:Mmmmm"

(Bell Rings)

Moe:Time to Work.....we'll pick off later(phone ding)huh?(looks at it)oh shit turns out some Bearded Weirdo is on Campus"

Wanda:That......narrows it down to most of the Students here"

Moe:But he's not a student....probably just a Homeless Guy snuck in....again"

Owlferd:3rd time this week by my count"

Ari:Well if anything Security might catch him"

(Back to Chip he so far hasn't found anyone who knows where Ari's Office is until he stops to asks some Stoners)

Chip:Yo Potheads....."

Stoner 1 Grass Guy:Whoa man this is medicinal..."

Chip:Grass smoking Grass? Either Charles Coburn thinks this is original or he's REALLY bad at being funny"

Stoner 2:Whuuuut?"

Chip:Nothing anyone here knows a Miss Ari Zira? Or more importantly the location of her Office?"

Stoner 3:No"

Stoner 1:Why so you can Narc on us Fascist?"

Chip:I really don't give a shit I just.....wait those Grade A Mary Jay?"

Stoner 2:Yeah man....."

Stoner 1:We'd share but we don't share with cops...."

Chip:Not a cop just trying to find my Soon to be Wife"

Stoner 3:Likely story.....NARC!!!!!"

Chip:(Whispers as he face palms)Jesus Fucking Christ looks Shaggy Scooby and Dooby either you tell me where Your Psychologist is or I'm taking all your Weed"

Stoner 1:You and what Army man?"

(Chip just looks straight for a moment and in the next scene he's walking away with a box of Doobies whistling....how he can whistle without a mouth don't ask me bub it's my story-speaking of.....as he walks off he's stopped by a Axe Headed Guy A Gorilla and a Coyote)

Konk:Freeze you the Bearded Weirdo walking around the University?"

(Chip just looks at him confused)

Hatchet:Sorry there is like a billion Bearded Weirdos here....must of asked 50 people to show us their student ID"

Chip:Well.......Im not a student I'm just a Guy holding this Doobies I snagged from a couple of pot smoking retards...."

Colty:WAIT......that Pure Marijuana?"

(Chip eye widens......next minute everybody is smokin the Weed)

Konk:Man....they don't make this shit like this anymore...."

Chip:Very few thing my People can feel honestly"

Hatchet:So....why you here Chip?"

Chip:Surprise Visiting my Wife Ari Zira....."

Konk:The University Psychologist?"

Chip:Thank FUCKING God someone knows her"

Colty:Course we know her....helped me get over my Issues with my Mom"

Hatchet:Helped me get in touch in my inner self"

Konk:Helped me overcome my homicidal anger by finally coming out of the closet as a self confidant Bisexual Man"

(Everyone looks at him)

Konk:Yep I'm Bi(Changed subject)So you want us to help you find your Girl?"

Chip:Be Appreciated....."

Konk:Then let's go...."

(Other side Ari is visited by the Vice Headmaster Todd the Fox)

Todd:Ari how is the School's Best Psychologist?"

Ari:Kinda meh Morning but I'm better now. And you Vice Headmaster?"

Todd:Well.......I'M FREAKING OUT!!!!!!"THERE'S ANOTHER WEIRDO IN OUR CAMPUS......what if he's armed"

Ari:You shouldn't judge that person....for all we know he or she is probably hungry and as decent beings we should not be fearful but helpful towards the poor soul"

Todd:And THAT Ari is proof of your Tenure"

Ari:See there....wait SERIOUSLY???"

Todd:YES"

(Both Squeal in excitement but quickly calm down)

Ari:Finally I've worked hard for Tenure....."

Todd:And you deserve it a lot....(looks at the clock)oooh almost lunch care to join me?"

Ari:Why not?"

(The 2 leave for Lunch while Chip bonds with the Security Team)

Chip:This Campus has a BAR?"

Colty:Yeah it's called Barsco it's run by our Friend Rosco....if you plan to stay longer we can take you there"

Chip:Really?"

Hatchet:He has booze for everybody Even Lighter Fluid and Gasoline for Metal Organics"

Chip:Sounds like my kinda Guy"

Konk:Yo wanna get some grub first I'm hungry...."

Hatchet:Munchies Man....."

Chip:They're a Cunt"

(As they Chat Ari and Todd were walking to the Cafeteria as they bump into......)

Ari/Todd:MR.MANDERS?"

Mr.Manders:Hoho Hello Todd and Ari....(he's holding a tray of A Burger Tater Tots and a Sparkling Ice)Just in luck they're serving Bean Burgers my Favorite...."

Ari:That's great Headmaster...."

Mr.Manders:So Ari can I expect to see you at my Party tonight?"

Ari:Oh idk Sir I gotta check my schedule to see if it's not booked"

Mr.Manders:Oh I understand Duties come first you know....btw have you heard the news?"

Ari:No Sir(she lies thinking he's about to say she's getting Tenure which will up her pay making sure to help Chip with their Wedding)what is it?"

(Gestures them to move forward as they do and whispers to them)

Mr.Manders:The Security team found the Bearded Fellow who snuck in on Campus....."

Ari:Oh(feeling a bit dissappointed)well least they got him out safely"

Mr.Manders:Actually they didn't...."

Todd:They beat him up?"

Mr.Manders:No....hes still here"

(They turn to see the cart)

Ari:(In Horror)Oh No"

Chip:ARI!!!!!!(walks up and hugs her)Been trying to find you all damn day so far none of the students know your office....I had to beat up a bunch of Stoners as I 'took' their Cush and met my New Best Friends right here"

Konk/Hatchet/Colty: Hi Ari"

Ari:Hi Boys(to Chip)Why are you here....'Honey'?"

Chip:I wanted to surprise you by Romantically coming to your work"

MrMander:Mhmm(coughs as the Other Faculty joins in)Ari mind introducing us to your friend"

Ari:(Gulps)Right Mr.Manders Todd and Everyone this is Chip my Fiance....."

Wanda:(Whispers)Holy Shit she wasn't lying"

Todd:Well even though it's nice to meet you Mr......Chip was it? You are however tresspassing on University grounds"

Chip:Don't get your Panties in a twist Nick Wilde I'm here for Ari"

Todd:Why I never...."

(Just then someones bag was stolen)

Girl:HELP!!!!!"

Mr.Manders:THIEF!!!!!!"

Todd:Quick securi....."

(And in a flash Chip catches the thief and pummels him as he realizes....)

Chip:Holy Shit you're the Stoner Kid"

Stoner 1:You stole my livelihood man....gad to earn green somehow...."

Chip:Yeah yeah....(knocks him out)"

Mr.Manders:(Clapping)My My what skills you were amazing"

Chip:Twas nothing sir"

Mr.Manders:'Twas' ooh Ari your Future Husband is quite a sophisticant"

Chip:I try...."

Mr.Manders:Would you like to come to my Party Tonight? It's to Celebrate the Anniversary of our University being the first to integrate Metal Organics it will be catered and I'll announce a New Tunre Employee"

Chip:Huh can't say no to that plus free dinner I'll be there"

Mr.Manders:Oh Splendid"

Moe:Uuuuh Ari......"

Wasp:You okay Girl?"

Ari:(Grinding her teeth and says angrily)Never......Better"

Chip:Hey Hon I'm gonna start getting ready see you at home(kisses her cheek)"

Owlferd:Nice Bod...nothing on my Man though"

(Night of the Party And Chip and Ari are wearing their Best Formal Clothes)

Chip:Hmmm Swanky"

Ari:(Stops him)Look Chip this is not just some fancy party by your Rich Friends or by the Lewd Crew this is my Job with my Coworkers and Boss so please please PLEASE be on your best behavior alright?"

Chip:(Looks straight at her)Okay what's up you're really on edge?"

Ari:I'm not on edge it's nothing...."

Chip:Let's cut the Bullshit Ari you know we're on the same scale when it comes to smarts"

Ari:Dammit alright.....I...I was told I might get Tenure...by Todd...."

Chip:Fox Boy? Okay(thinking of something)"

(They Enter and Ari meets up with Wanda and Moe)

Ari:Hello Everyone....Wanda Nice sashes"

Wanda:Thanks Bug People don't usually wear clothes but even we can look pretty"

Chip:Nice Suit"

Moe:Right back at ya"

Konk:HEY CHIP"

Chip:KONK you made it"

Konk:Wouldn't miss it"

Chip:Where are the rest of the Guys?"

Konk:At Barscos. They ain't the Formal Types"

Chip:Heh the more I know about them the More I like them"

Owlferd:Hoohoo Hello Ari(accompanied by his Husband)Chip this is my Husband....."

Chip:BASILISK......"

Basilisk:CHIP......"

Chip:You old Son of a Bitch"

Owlferd:Seems you both know each other"

Chip:Shared a Mission once his Eyes of Penance whew Powerful Shit"

Basilisk:Had to be to stop those Humanoids....(to Owlferd)Later Hon"

Todd:(With his Rabbit GF Lydia)Ari hi...."

Chip:('Hmm guess I was wrong')Bunny GF? Goddamn you are Nick Wilde"

lydia:He tries"

Todd:Hopefully things go smoothly without(looks at Chip)interruptions"

Chip:(Just Grunts)"

Mr.Manders:(On Stage)Good to see all you lovely faces here Tonight"

Konk:This will take a while(drinks his flask)want some?"

Chip:Can't taste booze but what the Hell(drinks some) anyone else?"

Moe:Yo"

Mr.Manders:My Grandfather Founded this University in 1945 and My Father was the first to integrate with Metal Organics in 1958..."

Chip:Apparently his Family has a Jesus complex.....which Ironic for me...."

Wanda:How come?"

(Chip reveals his Star of David Necklace)

Wanda:Oh okay"

Mr.Manders:Now without further adieu our new Tenure is.......Ari Zira"

Ari:YES.....I mean yes"

Todd:Yay Ari"

Wanda:You go Girl"

Mr.Manders:Congratulations Ari and I'm also proud to pronounce our newest employee...."

Ari:What......"

Mr.Manders:I was impressed with his skills this morning and while he left to prepare for Tonight I asked him......would you like to be in our University's Security....followed by his yes.....Mr.Chip Cosmas"

Ari:Que..?"

Chip:Wanted it to be a surprise....now we can see more of each other"

Ari:But....your Assassin Business....the Training of the Next Warriors?"

Chip:I thought of spending more time with my Future Wife...."

Ari:Oooh(walks up to the drinks and start drinking)"

Chip:Why she upset? She got Tenure"

Todd:You really can't see it can you?"

Chip:You got something to say say it Foxy"

Todd:I doubt you can grasp it"

Chip:(Wanting to punch but holds back)Not worth it"

Todd:Good to hold back Huh Meto....."

(Chip heard what he said and as quick as lightning punches Todd slamming him on the table)

Ari:What the Hell?"

(Todd tried to fight back but Chip was better as he beat Todd up)

Ari:CHIP STOP IT....STOP IT NOW(holds him off)You seriously can't go one night without being an Angry Animal can you not even for me? And to my friend and Coworker?"

Chip:Ari you don't understand....."

Ari:What I don't understand is why you couldn't do this one thing ONE FUCKING THING for me....just NOT BE YOU!!!!!"

Chip:Ari he's trying to get with you.....by making me the bad guy"

Todd:What? No I'm not Ari is my Friend and I love Lydia you psycho....."

(And as Chip heard his Voice his words were true)

Chip:Then why where you an Asshole to me?"

Todd:Because you're image isn't right for Ari....shes sophisticated and intelligent but you're a Violent Monster....."

Chip:You don't know a Fucking thing about me.....Ari...."

Ari:Chip please.....I just.....dont wanna see you now....(she cries)"

(Chip leaves looking back and Konk goes to Ari saying)

Konk:He had another reason Ari....."

(At Barscos the Campus Bar Chip is drowning his sorrows in Arsenic and Gin)

Chip:Another Round....."

Rosco:Sure Pal.....(puts in the Lighter Fluid Soda Water and Gin)"

Chip:Leave the Cannister"

Rosco:Whoa Bud I can't just(Chip stares at him angrily) eh Fuck it(leaves the Lighter Fluid)"

(Second later Ari shows up and sits next to Chip)

Chip:Hey....."

Ari:Hey........"

Chip:I really Fucked shit up didn't I?"

Ari:Yes......."

Chip:Guess I'm fired?"

Ari:Could've......"

Chip:What?"

Ari:Konk told me what Todd said to make you Angry......seems I was the one who Fucked Shit Up in a metaphorical sense...."

Chip:You were caught in a misunderstanding that's all.....didn't mean your were wrong....I got Angry and beat the living shit out of your friends at work......"

Ari:Well after he used that Racist Slur He's knocked down a few pegs.....sigh it was true I thought you'd jeopardize my chances of Tenure"

Chip:Why you so hellbent on this Tenure Shit?"

Ari:It's because....I wanted the pay bonus to help pay for our wedding"

Chip:Ari I said I got it...."

Ari:Chip we're about to spend our lives together....that means we're a team and we should be there for each other"

Chip:Hmm......that Fox was right about one thing....you're smart as Fuck"

(Mr.Manders arrives)

Chip:Oh Headmaster.....sorry for earlier....I lost my shit"

Mr.Manders:I heard what Todd said he's taking a HR Seminar so he can be more open minded as for the party well.....since the Gym is a mess(the Caterers come in with the Food)Guess we can move it to this fine Bar...with Owner's permission"

Rosco:Got my Approval Boss"

(And so the night that started off unexpected turned into something better as Chip and Ari's Bonds grew stronger for it. The Next Day)

Ari:Ready for your First day?"

Chip:Hell Yeah I am(Walks to the Security Office and looks around ready for this New Chapter in his Life"

THE END

[musicallisto]

ϟ Good Times (Sirius Black & Remus Lupin)

So I finally managed to get my shit together and write this little, quite sad piece. I was listening to Good Times by All Time Low (which I recommend you listen to while reading this) and this came to mind. I know I'm a bit late since Halloween was almost a month ago, but hey, let's just go with it. There’s no reader insertion in this, just a little one-shot about my babies; hope you’ll like it!

word count: 2300+ words

summary: In which it's Halloween again, but two lone wolves find it hard to enjoy the festivities.

Molly struggled to make her way through the many people, mostly redheads, gathered in the dining room, and the joyous laughter that filled her ears. It had been a long time since she had last witnessed so much happiness among her family and friends, and didn’t try to control the effusive exaltation surrounding the teenagers and adults she had grown to love. It seemed that all of their scars were lighter to bear when bliss lingered in the lonely twelve, Grimmauld Place, and she could have sworn she even saw the glimpse of a smile curling Mad-Eye Moody’s lips.

It had been a long day but Molly was proud of what she had accomplished. As she looked at the mischievious twins she could easily tell apart - although they liked to think she was too ignorant for that; as she looked at her eldest son, sipping from his glass of wine and conversing lightly with his younger brother and Tonks; as she looked at Hermione and Ginny, who were laughing over something stupid Ron had just said; as she looked at Harry, the boy who lived, the boy she had come to consider as her own seventh son; as she looked at her husband, whose eyes wore the same glint of curiosity and intelligence she had fallen in love so many years ago; as she looked at the freshly cooked meal and the thoughtfully arranged decorations, she knew she was proud, and hopeful.

“Remus, would you be so kind as to-” she started, turning around but bringing her sentence to a halt when she saw no one was in sight.

Fallen dead silent, she inspected the empty corridor a few seconds, then sighed. She should’ve known better, she should’ve remembered some scars were much deeper than the silver marks on his face.

“For some reason, I knew I’d find you here.”

The deep voice cut through the silent night. A man glanced at the direction the voice came from, squinted his eyes, then shook his head and continued walking down the sidewalk, a bit faster though. For a second there he had thought the tall man in the cemetery was talking to the massive, black dog sprawled right next to one of the tombstones… he shrugged it off; it was probably just a strange, lonely man on a cold Halloween night.

Remus was cautiously walking towards the guard dog as if the tiniest of hasty movements could’ve made it run away. The dog’s ears rose for a few moments, registering the familiar voice, before dolefully falling again. It had not even bothered looking up at the tall man who was approaching him; in fact, its eyes didn’t leave the mossy rock of the tombstone it was laying on, even when its sandy-haired friend sat carefully by its side. Remus’s coat would be drenched and covered in mud, but he didn’t mind. He kept quiet for a minute, the littlest of smiles on his lips.

“Sirius Black ditching a party. What a great day to be alive.”

The black dog groaned, and Remus chuckled lightly. Suddenly, they weren’t two ragged, abandoned souls in a little cemetery; they were seventeen, young and a little too reckless, their whole lives ahead of them.

“It’s not that I don’t like the company of your smelly dog self,” Remus stated after a few more minutes of quiet, “but could you turn back to your human form? It’s easier to, you know, communicate.”

Reluctantly, Sirius shook himself and soon the dark fur and canines were replaced by a sharp jawline and sorrowful eyes, sitting on the mere ground.

“Did you… apparate here?” Remus asked softly, not wanting to disturb his best friend’s tortured peace.

He simply nodded.

“Sirius… Someone could have seen you,” the werewolf warned, although he knew Sirius was very well aware of it; he had never played by the rules, after all.

“I know, Moony, I know, but I was just going mad in there. I had to get away, especially tonight. I’ve been trapped in this rathole for sixteen years and them… they just expect me to stay still and not help them when they’re risking their lives! At least in Azkaban, I didn’t have to stand for my mother’s yelling,” he finished with a bitter laugh.

“But couldn’t you wait until tomorrow for your little escapade?” Remus insisted. “It was… surprisingly great, back there. You would’ve been with the rest of us, plus you would’ve got food.”

“I guess I could have stayed for the food,” Sirius commented with a smile, more sincere than the previous ones.

He couldn’t help reminiscing the old times, the good times; he was the social butterfly, envied by boys and girls, adored and abhorred by his professors at the same time, and surrounded by the three best friends he had ever had. Every memory, every mouthful of firewhiskey in the Gryffindor common room, every hour locked in detention with James and every crack of laughter; everything felt so real, so palpable, that he almost felt like he could have reached his long lost best friend’s hand if he had dared to touch the tomb. Fearing it would only remind him of what had become real on that Halloween night, so long ago, he didn’t move.

“It’s been fourteen years,” he finally breathed out.

“I know.”

“I know you know. It just… feels like it was yesterday we said goodbye to them, doesn’t it?”

Remus sighed, the hot cloud of his breathing dancing just before his lips. He didn’t like this conversation. He dreaded it. For the longest time, he had tried to turn his back on his past, keep his head up and carry on. For the longest time, he had tried to be brave, to live up to everyone’s expectations - he was a Gryffindor, after all. For the longest time, he had tried to run from October 31st of 1981, and he almost would have succeeded, had it not been for Sirius. He loved his best friend like a brother, and he was the person he cherished the most, but his torturous questions and melancholic sighs were like a steel vise constricting his throat. However, Sirius needed someone to talk to. A shoulder to cry on, a partner in crime to laugh with and a mature figure to yell at. And Remus was willing to be the shoulder, the partner in crime and the mature figure. He was willing to do anything for his best - and last - friend’s sake.

“Yes, it does.”

They remained silent until Sirius threw a pebble across the graveyard with a contained fury.

“I wish I hadn’t been so stupid. So naïve… I thought… I thought Peter was trustworthy. If I hadn’t insisted-”

“No one could have known. Don’t blame yourself for it, Sirius, it’s a waste of time.”

“But they would be alive! Both of them! Harry would have parents, and we would have friends!”

“And Voldemort wouldn’t have been defeated. And Harry would’ve died at eleven, without Lily’s love protecting him. Would you like this outcome better?” Remus questioned, still calm.

Silence.

“I guess not,” the black-haired man admitted in a murmur, shaking his head. “How is it that you’re always right, and I always look like a damn fool?”

“I reckon you couldn’t be granted both good looks and intelligence,” Remus shrugged.

Sirius’s laugh was long to come, but when the bark-like sound escaped his lips, it was the warmest and most familiar sound Remus had heard in a while.

“It’s always been this way,” Sirius reminisced, smiling wildly this time. “Remember in Charms in fourth year, when I was convinced Accio worked on living things, and you told me it didn’t? I think we argued for at least fifteen minutes until the Professor had to separate us.”

Remus’s smile spread as well, and he felt like he could breathe steadily again; remembering his time as a Marauder, when all of them were together and simply happy, was much easier than facing the consequences of the war on their broken alliance.

“Of course I remember! You were so stubborn - didn’t you write that in your exam?”

“Yeah,” Sirius laughed. “But I still got an O, so joke’s on you.”

“I never understood how you managed to have such good grades without ever working. Or even opening your books. That wasn’t fair! I spent hours in this goddamn library and you barely lift a finger and always came top of the class!”

“I’m just so naturally talented, Remus, you can’t even begin to imagine the extent of my abilities.”

“Oh, Merlin, shut up, you're so annoying,” Remus laughed wholeheartedly, gently hitting his best friend in the arm. He had missed his playful arrogance, his characteristic cockiness no one could really replicate.

It felt right, respectful, to be giggling like schoolboys right next to James's and Lily's tombs. They both knew their missing friends were somewhere, watching over them, and chuckling without a care was the best tribute they could have paid them - the best way to remember them.

"You've always been this way,” Remus commented after a few seconds of placid silence. "So... overly confident. So fond of yourself. I never understood how you did it- I still don't."

“I'm not the same cocky teenager I used to be... I lost a lot of my ego in prison,” Sirius answered with a smile, although the bitterness in his tone was obvious. "Serves me right, I guess. 'Twas my pride, after all, that got me into this mess. I shouldn't have run after Peter...”

“You didn't deserve any of it, if that makes you feel any better.”

“Not really, but I appreciate the help.”

The both of them fell silent again, and Sirius couldn't help meditating on Remus's last words. "You didn't deserve any of it"... did he really mean it? Was it true? Could he really be so easily forgiven after putting his best friends' lives in the hands of a traitor, of a coward, and then taking the fall for their murder? Could he be so easily forgiven for not sending a damn letter, not showing any sign of opposition nor resistance, not even trying to plead his case, at least for Remus, at least for himself? Did he deserve to get out of prison? Did he deserve freedom, mercy, and consideration? Was he worth anything more than Sirius Black, the most dangerous fugitive in the wizarding world? Sirius Black, the criminal on the run, the murderer, the Death Eater?

He never told Remus in order not to worry him - he never told anyone, for that matter, but what pained him most was all the headlines he could still decipher when he wandered the streets as a dog; it was all the burning pictures of him on the cover of a newspaper mindlessly thrown to the ground, the pictures of him, staring coldly at the reader; it was all the conversations he still overheard, two years later, about the Ministry and the once prestigious Black family. He aspired to be so much more than the serial killer the media made him look like. He aspired to be something else - anything else, really, than the twisted, disturbed Black son, who followed his ancestors' path and became a devoted lackey for His Majesty the cruel, abject Voldemort. He wanted to prove everyone wrong, he wanted to show the wizarding world he was better than them, better than his parents, better than his foolish brother, better than the Dark Arts, better than all of them, and he almost had succeeded when for the first times in century, a Black was sent to Gryffindor. The joy of stomping on his family's prestige had quickly overweighed the anxiety about his parents' reaction that day, and he remembered it all so clearly. He missed those times, when everything felt clearer and more simple. He often found himself longing for the days of sweet ignorance, of blissful youth, and no matter how hard he tried, he wasn't able to bring himself to stop thinking about it. Reading everywhere his name along with the despicable title of "murderer", and associated with the horrid name of the monster he had fought for so long didn't help him anyway.

Sirius sighed. He was glad he had found Remus. He had missed him intensely when he counted down the days in his cell, feeling even more guilty of leaving him behind and on his own, with the clear conviction that his best friend was a killer. He had wanted more than once to write a letter, even just a two-letter complaint, but he wasn't allowed to, and mostly lacked courage.

His breathing steadied softly until it coordinated itself with Remus's. Those were the moments he prefered, the moments he had wished most when he was away, on his small, lost island; when everything was calm and quiet, and he could finally feel his lungs unflex and let out all the toxic smoke that threatened to asphyxiate him.

And after a few minutes of pure silence, merely disturbed by the discreet sound of a fleeing airplane above their heads, Sirius and Remus both knew they were going to be okay again, as long as they stayed together and gave each other the confidence to hold on.

Sirius's hand fell on the shivering grave that born his beloved friends' names, forever engraved into the fragile stone. Remus's fingers soon followed, holding the tombstone as if it could disappear.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

JAMES POTTER • LILY POTTER

“Happy Halloween, Remus,” Sirius murmured.

“Happy Halloween, Sirius,” Remus whispered back.

Harry was fine and they were fine.

They all were going to be okay.

[orangeyouglad8]

can we have more outlander!au?

(previously)

It takes her by surprise. Clarke always takes her by surprise.

Her lips soft and yet demanding.

Demanding everything from Lexa. Everything she’s been aching to give.

And the shock wears off but the surprise is still there, still apparent in the way Clarke’s breath hitches against her cheek when Lexa kisses back. When she relaxes into it and allows herself this one perfect moment.

This one dream come to life.

When she finally, finally has everything she’s wanted since before she realized it.

Clarke’s hands are soft on her cheeks, but strong. Holding her steady. Lexa pushes against her, Clarke’s body warm and inviting, her nose cold from the wind outside.

Her hands tighten on Clarke’s hips and she feels herself being pulled. Somehow hears Clarke’s back hit her closed bedroom door.

The door in the middle of the hall.

In the middle of the hall with drunken soldiers and men she’s expected to lead.

It pains her to stop. To pull away.

To draw back from lips that chase hers.

There’s a smile on Clarke’s face and in her eyes, shining bright just for her. Only for Lexa.

It steals the breath from her lungs and she can’t remember why she stopped. Why she pulled away. Why she’s no longer kissing this girl who fell from the heavens.

Clarke brushes her thumbs along Lexa’s cheeks, studying her face. Her eyes roam over every inch of skin, scanning and regarding. Lexa hasn’t felt this seen, this noticed since she was young.

She finally gets her breath back, though her world feels like it was upended. Swirling and swimming before her like it did the time she fell from her horse and rolled down a hill when she was wee.

“Not everything is an obligation.”

Lexa doesn’t even hear Clarke’s words until the door to her room is already being shut behind her.

Xx

She doesn’t sleep.

Stares at the ceiling of her room stupefied. Grasping at straws. Feeling Clarke’s lips against her own. Clarke’s brashness. Her warmth.

It’s unnerving.

Everything she’s been taught wants to fly out the window. Everything about love and loss and valor and honor.

What picking up the sword for kin and country really means.

And now there’s Clarke.

Standing there in the middle of it.

Wearing her tartan and caring for her brothers. Her clansmen.

It all circles through her brain until the sun begins to rise. The slightest hint of dawn alights the window and she’s up and out and walking quietly to the stables. The warm nickers and hellos from their mounts pulling her into routine.

Xx

She thinks about it. Hasn’t stopped thinking about it. Not since Gustus mentioned it, and not since Clarke turned every other offer down. The anxiety weighed on her like a stone, not allowing her a breath. But, it’s different now.

She wonders if this is what Clarke was trying to tell her all along.

Shakes her head when she thinks about the mood that sat on Clarke’s shoulders when they weren’t speaking. How angry and tense she was, stalking about the field and tending to the wounded with fire in her eyes and wit on her tongue.

Something…something is different about her.

An energy that feels real and abstract at the same time.

Lexa has been drawn to it like a moth to the flame, but the others don’t know how to handle it.

How to handle her.

Clarke the enigma.

Clarke the healer.

Clarke the witch.

Clarke the girl who sits at dinner and rolls her eyes as she gives Lexa half of her bread. Listens to her stories and laughs or knocks her down a few pegs.

Her soul feels lighter just looking at her and Lexa hasn’t wanted to think about it, but she hasn’t stopped.

Can’t put it from her mind.

Xx

She lasts until midday before she finds her feet taking her to the little pantry where Clarke keeps her herbs.

It’s empty and the smile Lexa fought from taking hold of her face falls.

She’s probably with Seamus. Sitting by his bedside and not allowing anyone else to touch him.

When Lexa makes her way inside, she sees Clarke hunched over a table by the fire, her hand clenched around a stein and her breathing deep. A smile burrows into her cheeks before she realizes it and she’s next to Clarke in seconds.

Clarke doesn’t wake even with Lexa stroking her arm, her shoulder.

“Clarke.”

The other girl sighs in her sleep and doesn’t stir.

“Clarke…” Lexa tries again, swinging a leg over the bench and sitting down.

“Sassenach.”

Clarke blinks and tries to focus. Stares ahead before finding Lexa’s eyes. A blush creeps across her cheeks and she yawns.

“Hello.”

“Falling asleep before lunch, sassenach?”

“I didn’t get much sleep last night and I had a busy morning tending to Seamus.”

Lexa warms.

“No sleep for the sassenach, aye?” She can’t help but tease.

“But you slept well?” Clarke sits up and stretches. Lexa watches her own hand fall from Clarke’s shoulder.

“Not a wink.” She smirks, her intent clear.

“Well, then. We make quite the pair.”

They both smile, something giddy fills the space between them.

“Clarke.”

“Lexa.”

Lexa pauses and sends Clarke a look which only makes her smile more.

“Is that… was that…” and suddenly the words are no longer there for her. The words she thought about all night. All day. Turned over and over again.

Her belly filling with dread.

“Clarke, was that, I…”

“You don’t catch on very quick do you? For a soldier, I thought you’d be quicker on your feet.” Clarke leans closer. Her lips a breath away from Lexa’s.

Waiting.

Not closing the gap.

Until Lexa does.

Clarke warm and inviting against her.

Breaking apart only when a door slams in the hall and boots move closer to the tables.

Clarke’s eyes are dark when Lexa moves away. Tries to put any amount of space between them to stop herself from drowning in lips and eyes and hair and smiles.

“Sassenach,” she whispers, feels Clarke’s warm palm squeeze her thigh. “Would you-”

“There’s something I need to tell you. Should tell you.” Clarke cuts her off.

“Clarke-”

“No, Lexa. It wouldn’t be right. Not like this.”  She stands, her movements filled with a flurry. Her body tense.

“Clarke,” Lexa calls her again, needs to get her out of her head. She grabs Clarke’s hand and stops her from storming away. “Have you eaten?”

And she knows they need to talk. She knows Clarke has a secret. Deep and dark and scary even for the one who holds it. But all Lexa can think about in this moment is not letting go. Not allowing Clarke to walk away. Not when she hasn’t seen her all day and suddenly being tired doesn’t matter.

“No.”

“I’ll get us some food. We’ll eat and then we can handle whatever comes next.”

Xx

They take a walk into the woods.

The trees providing comfort. Shadow.

Privacy.

Lexa got Clarke to smile during their meal and felt the better for it. The weight of whatever Clarke is holding set aside for just those few stolen moments.

And then Lexa led her into the trees. Following the path next to the stream and waiting for Clarke to feel safe.

To be ready.

Her arm steady on Lexa’s elbow, following Lexa’s lead through the trail and around the rocks and branches in their way.

“I used to visit this town when I was young. My father would come here to sell his grain and my mother would stay in the inn at the end of the street. My sister and I would come with them once or twice a year.”

“That sounds nice.”

“‘Twas. I always liked walking along this path. I never wanted to be in the town with the hustle and crowd. The countryside was more inviting to me. The open air, the forests.”

“I lived in a city. I grew up in a city.”

Lexa’s heart thunders in her chest and her mouth goes dry.

“It was loud. Messy and dirty and smelly. I loved it. Relished in it. The world was at my fingertips and I grabbed it and never let go. I miss it.”

“You can always go back,” Lexa offers. Not pushing. Scared that Clarke will stop.

“I can’t. I don’t know how.”

And Clarke does stop. Pulls Lexa around to look at her. Drops her hands and stares at the ground, pulling in air and weighing her words.

“Lexa, did you mean to offer me a union?”

Her eyes lock onto Lexa’s and there is no escape.

“Yes.” She swallows hard, her voice ragged with the word.

“There are things… there are, you must know who I really am before you decide to tie yourself to me.”

Lexa holds still. The brave and skittish creature building herself up before her eyes.

“I cannot go back to my city. If I went back to my city, now, it would be unrecognizable. My city… I am…”

A bird chirps loudly in the tree above them and they both startle. So focused on each other the world dropped away until it made itself known again. Clarke’s hand flies to her chest and her eyes grow wider than Lexa has ever seen them.

She steps closer and takes Clarke’s free hand. Squeezes it. Waits.

“Do you remember where you found me?”

Lexa nods. The stones of Criagh Na Dun vivid in her mind. It hits Lexa before Clarke even says it.

“Do you remember how scared I looked, how odd?”

“Clarke….” her own brow furrows and yes, yes this is what Clarke has been trying to say all along.

“Lexa, I am not of this time.”

Clarke’s words are shaky and she looks like she will be sick, but she stands and forces herself to hold Lexa’s gaze.

Lexa gasps, “You came through the stones.”

[crashpaddiaries]

Dear Crashpad Diary #32

Yoooooo freakin beasts!!

What´s going on back home?? New sends??? Great fun?? Sweet life?? All the options right!!! =)

We´ve been running around and trying to hug the universe more and more down here hehehe

The trip has been fantastic and the good vibes ensure to make it happen the best way ever hehehe

with some funny facts that I´m about to tell yas… I mean… write yas!! haha Like: The crazy 4000 islands in a river / People of Laos / Storms everywhere / if only the storms alerts worked / Dumb and Dumber´s Loop / Loop fail / Restos with no food?? / try not to pay the waterfalls / the gay waterfall / Vang Vieng smelly cat / are we in China??? / Fast and furious / Sleeping at the laundry

haha … =) can’t start the post without a smile and laughs upfront heheheheheheh

Twas nice spending my bday at Phnom Penh… nothing too exciting there indeed… big city and not interesting… but… the party was awesome… we destroyed some ice-cream to commemorate life hahahaha and get some serious sugar rush hehehehe

The day after we got a bus to Laos… went up towards the border following the mekong river… that goes from Cambodia to Thailand, crossing pretty much entirely Laos… and we decided give a shot to a place called 4000 islands… in the middle of the river there are thousands of small, medium and big islands… one prettier than the other… what a place!! We spend few days at one of them called Dondet… a small one with loads of hut and bungalows… a hippie atmosphere and rich nature… It was Laos welcoming us greatly!!

Already in the first days we realised how different are the people from Laos… it seems they don’t give a shit about you… I mean… they care and treat you well… but different than Indians, Cambodians,  Indonesians… they are not curious… they dont bother you asking “where you go?”, “Yes… weed??” hahahah Also… the english is barely spoken in many areas… which brings a whole new experience to the adventure! haha

Donder is quite popular among travellers and it´ll be easy communicating… fairly good internet too… the only problem is… don´t trust the weather forecast hahaha we were there in the middle of a huge… serious… fantastically intense storm… well… you have to consider that tropical rains are pretty common here… but there we were… walking fast under pissing rain… lightening going on pretty much everywhere… loads of thunders… trying to get to a safe place asap… my good old head torch helping us finding the way… so we got to our “muddy street”… “sweet… we will make it without being electrocuted!!” Just after few almost-jogging-steps, the mud took away my flip flops… I stopped and got it back.. running from guesthouse to guesthouse till getting to our place… what a sketchy adventure… =) As soon as we close the door, Luh´s phone connects to the internet and he receives the following message from Accuweather: Alert! Heavy storm in your area!!

Well… thanks!! hahahaha

From Dondet… and pretty energetic after the storm (haha I had to make the joke… sorry!)… we followed th plan of covering Laos from south to north… and the next stop was Paksé! The city is small and there is not much as well.. but what grabs one attention here is the trip you can do around the area… the called Bolaven Loop… which consists in renting a shitty bike and drive through the waterfally roads.. passing by coffee plantations (what a tasty coffee beasts!!), greeny scenery… hills… mountains… dirty roads… almost untouched communities and bridges above rivers. so glad we did it… twas great!! Hats down to Tad Lo… a small town with many waterfalls, great food, awesome people and fantastic atmosphere! =)

The whole thing was so funny!! Imagine that… 200km and we rented a bike for the both of us… an 100cc… it was defo like the Dumb and Dumber version of the Bolaven Loop! hahahaha

But even dumber was a guy that became a legend in the backpackers mythology! It´s all well set… When you rent the bike you get like a prep talk… explaining where you can go and all the tips… the start is in Pakse and the first day is pretty easy… you drive straight… for good 10k and then turn left… going north until you get to Tad Lo… easy right??

Well… not for a guy that for some reason turned right just after the city and drove all the way down to the 4000 islands…. hahahahah even more awkward was the fact that the guy drove like 4 hours until he gets to Dondet and realises that was sth wrong… haha where are the waterfalls?? Someone replaced´em with tons of islands! hahahahahah people are indeed awesome!! hahaha

Everyone has troubles when tripping like that… some go wrong… some get loads of flat tires… loads fall… have the bikes stolen… but we were fortunately good till the very last day… when the universe decided mess up with our food!! we don’t know why none of the restaurants in the last day´s piece, did not have any food… hahahaha serious?? A restaurant without food??? haha we prob went down some pounds that trip… the tiny bike appreciate the restos effort hehehehehe

After those days paying for the waterfalls entrance and parking pretty often, we got kinda cranky with that and decided not to pay anymore… going for only the ones for free… which so far were the nicest ones up there near to Tad Lo… so… the last stop was in a cascade called Tad Yuang.. getting to the gate the girl came with the tickets already… we decided not to pay once again and she got angry at us because we stopped and did not get the tickets she had already taken off… hahaha that was funny!! But the best was just after she started complaining in her language… Luh accelerate towards the waterfall pretending we would get in without paying… when we took off she started screaming and only stopped, quite ashamed, when she realized he was messing with her and got in to turn the bike and go away! hahahah

Another hilarious moment provided by the waterfalls was in Tad Hang… a nice place to hang with friends.. enjoy the small cascades and a big volume of water coming from everywhere… perfect spot to grab a beer and relax… exactly what the locals do! So there we were, getting there through the stairs when I see a weird woman coming towards us as a missile, passed by me and went straight to Luh saying hi and snuggling his arms hahahahah The lady boy locked the target as soon as he/she saw Luh and came attacking in full speed hahahahah twas so funny… Awkward moment hahahaha

With the loop done we got back to Pakse, spent the hottest day ever there… 38ºC with 50ºC real feeling… is it the real feeling of drying off?? hahaha And the day after we took off to Vang Vieng… passing by Vientiane… the days in Vang Vieng were sweet… such a beautiful place full of blue lagoons, caves, beautiful mountains and the Mekong river cutting it in half!

We met the smelliest girl in Laos… she happened to stay in our room and destroyed the atmosphere in it… I know… sometimes travelling you get a bit smelly… but when that happens… you simply take a shower and wash your clothes… and sadly, for the three of us in that room, she did not learn that yet! hahahah I´m laughing but I cried when I opened the door that day… the air was even greener inside the room! hahahahahah Oh well… I used my earplugs as a nose plugs and twas a lovely night!! hahahaha

Vang Vieng is widely known because of the party scene and the famous tubing through the Mekong river´s rapids… which we did and…. man… was the most boring thing ever… there is no rapids… only 2 parts with a maybe 2 mins in total… for the rest of the time you have to paddle and burn in the sun like a doughnuts baking in an oven hahahahahaha was terrible! The only worth thing was a zipline in the very last bar… but other than that…. a big nope!

Anyways…it has been done in the past with people stopping in bars situated along side the river (they were closed because of the accidents and even worse… after some deaths)… nowadays there are only few bars…. which made me think… maybe it has always been boring… but when youre drunk everything gets funnier and people indeed enjoyed that!

Well… I would need loads of alcohol in my bloodstream to get some adrenaline off that boredom!! hahahaha

But the universe worked in our favour that night…and gave us part of the adrenaline we missed from the “doughnuting”! When traveling from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang… we took the first and only fast and furious bus… but, unfortunately, it wasn’t´t fast and all the neon and lights were inside it… and being a sleeping bus… that did not help at all with our sleep hahahahahah

In addition… we could not believe when they, around 1am, woke everyone up and asked to leave the bus… twas in the middle of nowhere… extremely misty or dusty (couldn’t quite understand)… they needed to get the bus lighter in order to get it uphill through that dirty road… ahahahaha something that only happens in Laos hahahahha

We got to Luang Prabang wrecked… at 4 am…. and the world is so cool and full of good vibes that we arrived to the hostel… asked if they had any place that we could crash and they gave us a bed in their laundry as they did not have any rooms available hahaha we got a really god “morning” of sleep among duvets… bedsheets and pillow hahahaha twas great and smelled fucking good!! hahahah in your face smelly girl from Vang Vieng!! hahahaha

And here we are right now… the probable last stop in Laos before getting to our beloved Thailand… enjoying the good food… the chill atmosphere and laid back way of Laotian life!

Hope you guys had some fun with the post and sorry for the lack of updates lately… I´m not writing often but I´m sending fantastic vibes towards each one of yas! =)

Oh… and after 4 months without climbing, I´m only one month away from my trains and the sweet seshs with the beasts back home!! can’t wait!

Great vibes and huge smiles from Laos!!

Cheers,

Evan