#delighted to have gotten a handful of takers so far

[triscribe]

SO, tallied up the results of 24 hours, and our current frontrunners are:

Nentanuk, with those highly relatable Grumpy Old Dragon vibes

Teresa, dwarf brawler with absolutely zero self restraint

Mentras, extremely exasperated teenage goblin

Andren, one half of my pair of elf pranksters

and one (1) win for Seesor, cheerful little faun who does Not speak the same language as 90% of his new friends but doesn't let that stop him

Still waiting to see if anyone gets the other elf twin Aldra, orc woodcutter Krun, or reluctant mainest-main character Crant

Tri's first attempt at a personality quiz

So I made a Thing

Very much an on the fly sort of Thing, so we'll see if it turned out well or ends up going on the scrap pile for take two.

(Brief reminder that you can order an autographed copy of my book off Ko-fi, or read the first chapter for free on Patreon)

[quinn-of-aebradore]

All the secrets I’ve kept

Barely getting this in before the day is up, for Day 4 of @essek-week. Prompt is guilt // family. I’ve only gotten back into writing fics very recently and this is nowehere near perfect, but fuck it. Might put in on AO3 at some point, idk. It’s angsty, it’s soft, the characterization is alright at best, and of course, very self indulgent. Read below the cut!

The Mighty Nein get some much needed respite from the perils of Aeor’s ruin and Essek learns some things about someone he cares for deeply.

The Mighty Nein made their way into the tower’s doorway. Caleb went last, shutting the door behind him. He hoped the spot they had chosen would be hidden enough that if the Tomb Takers came along, even with Lucien’s keen sight, they wouldn’t see it.

He turned away from the entrance, sighing. Everyone but Essek had headed up, but the drow was gazing at the entrance hall in a surprising amount of awe. Caleb stepped up behind him and put a hand on his shoulder. “Would you like a tour, friend?”

Essek didn’t respond immediately, letting Caleb calling him ‘friend’ wash over him. “Yes,” he sounded calmer than he had in months, “I would like that very much.”

Caleb patted his shoulder and stepped forward. “Follow me then,” he stepped under the iris and willed himself upward.

It took Essek a moment to catch on but he was soon floating alongside Caleb. “Clever,” he said, with a slight delighted smirk on his face.

“I, ah, took some inspiration from the Astral Sea,”

Caleb glided out of the center and landed on the second floor. “This is the Great Hall and these,” he gestured at the sliding doors, “well, let me demonstrate.”

Essek moved to where Caleb had been standing as he approached one of the doors.

“Say you needed some alchemical equipment,” he opened the door and pulled out a table covered in vials and such, “Simply think of what you seek, and these rooms can provide it. Within reason, of course.” he grinned. He had wanted to share this with Essek for a long time.

The delighted look hadn’t faded from his face. “I can think of some things,”

Caleb grinned even wider as he put the table away and closed the door. “I have a feeling you will enjoy what is on the next level even more,” he returned to the open iris and willed himself up, Essek following behind.

The drow gasped as they arrived in the salon. Caleb beamed as his companion took in the shelves, the fireplace, the stained glass. “Was my assumption correct?”

“You are a wonder, Caleb Widogast.”

For a moment, Caleb’s pulse quickened and he flushed. “I, ah,” he wasn’t quite sure how to respond to that, “I still have quite a bit to learn,” he stumbled over the words. That compliment should not have thrown him this much.

Essek glanced at him, the smirk now a smile, a soft one. “Perhaps,” he drifted a bit closer, “But I am quite confident that you will soon surpass even me.”

“It was not so long ago that you held yourself so far above me,”

He had not meant it cruelly, but Essek still flinched the slightest bit. “I suppose I was wrong,” he sighed, “The best of my capabilities are not far from your reach, Caleb. You are so close. And that is incredible to see.” hesitantly, Essek reached out to put a hand on Caleb’s arm, but thought better of it and forced it back to his side.

“Then, perhaps, you can teach me a bit more,” 

Essek smiled, almost to himself, bit his lip. “If you’d have me.”

“We can discuss more after we eat. Now, there is a bit of the tour left. If you wish to continue.”

Essek nodded. “Absolutely.”

They floated higher, into the fourth floor. Caleb landed outside of the iris and mentioned for Essek to follow him. The drow drifted over and stood at his side. Caleb opened the doors leading into the dining hall and stepped inside. “We’ll all gather down here later. To plan, and to eat.”

Essek hovered around the edges of the room, taking it all in. He caught sight of the doors and turned to look at his companion, who was watching him curiously. “What’s through here?”

Caleb smirked, “Have a look.”

Essek gave him a look but opened the door he stood by anyways. The sight of cats and pastries was certainly a surprise. Caleb chuckled at the look on his face. “Is it the same…” his gaze drifted to the other door.

Caleb nodded then laughed again. “They can make anything you’d like,” he glanced back at the door to the central chamber, “How would you like to see where you will be sleeping?”

Essek smiled, nodded, and made his way out of the dining hall with Caleb. The pair floated onto the next floor and Caleb stepped outside the iris again. He approached an unmarked door and smiled at Essek, who had landed outside the central column. With quick glances at the other doors, he could tell they were Yasha’s and Caduceus’, marked with a lilac and a beetle.

He joined Caleb by the door, which he swung open. The pair stepped inside, Caleb staying by the door. Essek almost mindlessly moved deeper in, stunned by the care that had been put into the sitting room. It was all furnished in the same Xhorhasian style as his tower in Rosohna had been, colored in shades of grey, purple, and blue. Above the lit fireplace, the room’s stained glass window sat, depicting the Mighty Nein, all nine of them. Essek’s breath caught in his throat, his heart racing. “Caleb…” he managed, sparing the slightest glance over his shoulder.

He startled as a hand was placed on his shoulder. “It is to your liking?” he could feel Caleb’s breath on the back of his neck, and it took everything he had to not shudder. His touch was so gentle. Essek exhaled and brought his thoughts under control. He turned and smiled at Caleb.

“Yes… it’s... thank you.” there weren’t words for how he felt right now.

Caleb smiled at him, and it was so warm, so kind. Essek could feel his cheeks and the tips of his ears turn a darker shade of purple. He wondered if Caleb could feel how fast his heart was beating from where his hand sat on his shoulder.

He was so lost in his thoughts that he missed what Caleb said next. He only became aware again when he moved his hand onto his cheek. Essek gazed at him, into his eyes, the color of a clear sky. The emotions held inside them, so much sadness but so much care, made his racing heart ache. “Essek, if we survive this, come with us. You are one of us. We can protect you until it comes time we destroy those who would harm you.”

Another bout of breathlessness came to him. He couldn’t fathom how to respond to that. At his lack of response, Caleb pulled back, looking embarrassed. “I apologize, that was… I overstepped.”

Essek caught his arm. “No, Caleb, no you did not. I just… I can’t. I’m putting you into enough danger traveling with you now.”

Caleb shook his head. “Ikithon is chasing us now, chasing me. You are simply a bonus to his prize. We are the ones putting you in danger.”

“Why would… because he knows I taught you?”

Caleb locked up, his open expression slamming shut. Essek pulled his hand away, realizing he had treaded into unwelcome territory. “There’s more for you to see,” Caleb’s voice was jagged, unreadable.

Essek nodded and turned away, heading to the door. Beyond it was half a library, half a replica of his laboratory in Rosohna. It was perfect, and he told Caleb as such, only to get a stiff nod as a response. It was crushing, crossing a line he didn’t know was there. He knew he shouldn’t have expected Caleb to open up to him, not after everything he had done. But that hope, despite his best efforts, refused to die.

He went through the next door, into his bedroom. The same Xhorhasian style was reflected in the four-poster bed and various other furnishings. “Thank you Caleb. All of this… it is more than I could have ever hoped for.”

A slight crack appeared in the armor Caleb had put up. “Of course, my friend.”

Essek smiled at him, but it didn’t reach the delighted look he had held before, even at being called a friend again. It was sullied by guilt and embarrassment. Caleb returned it, his even more pained. “I’ll see you at dinner Essek.” and he turned and left.

As soon as he heard the first door close, Essek collapsed onto his bed. It was as soft as Caleb’s touch had been earlier. He sunk into it, allowing himself to fall into an exhausted, guilty, half-sleep.

-

Caleb locked his door behind him and he slid down it, knocking his head against the amber-veined wood.

“You’re a fool,” he muttered to himself in Zemnian, “he didn’t deserve that.”

He knew he should have told Essek about Ikithon, about everything he had endured and everything he had done. He had told him that devastating night that he was damned too, that they were the same. But not why. Something about that felt wrong. He knew Essek’s sins. He deserved to know his too.

-

An hour after dinner, Essek left his room and floated upward, to the seventh floor. He stood before the amber-veined door, taking many deep breaths that did nothing to slow his racing heart. They hadn’t talked after dinner like they’d agreed originally.

That’s your fault, a voice chimed in the back of his head. Essek forced himself to ignore it. He needed to talk to Caleb. With one final breath, he knocked on the door.

“Ja, come in.” he sounded better than he had at dinner whenever Essek spoke.

Essek stepped inside and was surprised by how barebones the sitting room was. His room, and he assumed the rest, were crafted with so much love. This was so simple. “Close the door behind you.” Caleb said from where he sat on the couch.

Essek did as told and approached his friend. Caleb had his spellbook propped up on a knee, his array of components spread on the coffee table. “What are you working on?” he asked, leaning down a bit to peer at the pages.

Caleb turned his head and smiled, the warmth of earlier returned almost in full. “Sit and I’ll show you.” his eyes glittered the way they always did when they spoke about magic, the way Essek couldn’t help but love.

He stepped around the sofa and sat beside Caleb. He leaned over and examined the page, confused at first, then realizing exactly what it was. “How did you…?” he glanced at Caleb, astounded, his own eyes shining.

Caleb almost looked embarrassed. “I liked what I saw when you killed that Scourger,” there was something there, something in those words that made Essek’s heartbeat quicken and his cheeks warm ever so slightly.

You were intimidating. You were strong. That’s all. That’s all he means.

“So you… you what?”

“I reverse-engineered it. It was hard but…” he gave the slightest shrug, “I enjoyed the challenge.”

Essek grew warmer still. He had always been drawn to Caleb, but there was something so magnetic about him now. His hair was loose, his posture relaxed, a wonderful kind of smile on his lips. And there was that damn look in his eyes. He was so painfully beautiful.

Don’t even… the voice trailed off, Essek finally able to quiet it. He wouldn’t do anything, but he didn’t mind the thoughts of his companion for once.

“Have you… gotten the chance to try it?”

Caleb pulled back, not as harshly as before, but the openness lessened, tension seeped into his body, and the look in his eye that made him so bright faded.

“Yes. At the Sanitorium.” there was so much guilt in his voice, there was more. 

Essek hesitated for a moment before putting a hand on Caleb’s arm. “What happened that day? Please.”

Caleb sighed, ran his free hand through his hair. “I lost control. I was reckless. I put the plan we had in danger and broke the promise I made to you when you agreed to teach me.”

The pieces of that portion of the puzzle that was Caleb fell into place. That was how Ikithon knew Essek had taught Caleb. He had used dunamancy and Trent could tell. “Oh Caleb…”

Caleb covered his face with his free hand. “I am so sorry Essek. For all of it. Especially,” he put his hand back at his side and turned to look at Essek, “About earlier.”

“Caleb, I was the one asking uninvited questions. How you reacted was well within reason.”

“You deserve to know.” his voice was rough, pained. His eyes were dark, his loose hair that had seemed so messy and beautiful now made him look haggard. Essek, despite his many apprehensions, slid his hand down Caleb’s arm and wove their fingers together. Caleb exhaled a shuddering breath but didn’t pull away.

“You know the darkest secrets of my soul, Caleb Widogast. Whatever you tell me cannot change how I see you.” Essek was surprised at how gentle his voice was, and how honest he had been.

Caleb smiled at him, a slight thing, a sad thing. “That is exactly why you deserve to know.”

“Then tell me.”

“I will. I will tell you the story of how I murdered my mother and father.”

So he did.

-

Caleb wasn’t quite sure how he came to be held in Essek’s arms. He could tell it had been hard for him to put his hand on his arm, to weave his fingers through his. This… this must have taken so much will. And he didn’t mind it.

He didn’t just not mind it, he loved it. There had been so many times he had wanted to hold Essek but the memory of the first time he touched him kept him at bay. That day outside the Lotusden and how roughly he had pulled away. He hadn’t on the Balleater, but he was broken then. Vulnerable.

A shiver coursed through him as Essek’s fingers brushed the tips of his hair. “Breathe, Caleb,” he whispered, and the kindness in his voice made his heart ache. “I’ve got you.”

Caleb leaned into him heavily, hiding his face in Essek’s shoulder. Something about telling him the truth, all of it, every ugly detail, had cut so deep. When he had told Beau and Veth he had been resigned to it, it had hurt, he had cried but something about telling them felt good, like a weight lifted. When he had told the rest of the Nein, it had been urgent and necessary, which didn’t remove the sting, but it dulled it. This felt like exactly what it was; a secret kept for too long, a wound festering. There was relief in saying it, but it was also like pulling the knife from a wound, freeing the blood to flow and death to come quicker. But this embrace was like the healing hands of a cleric, sealing the wound and making it hurt less. 

Caleb let out another shuddering breath and Essek pulled him tighter. “I’ll stay however long you want,” the words were whispered into his ear, “alright?”

He nodded, found the strength to speak. “Thank you,”

Essek murmured something Caleb didn’t catch, but the way he said it made his heart flutter. “We are as alike as you said,'' Caleb could almost sense the sad smile on Essek’s face, “and you were there for me that night. I can only offer you the same.”

He pulled back, not enough to break the embrace, but enough to untangle Caleb from his shoulder and press a kiss to his forehead. Caleb’s heart soared. He almost purred as Essek drew him back in. “You will always be a wonder, Caleb Widogast. So long as you draw breath, I will be here for you.”

“Mmm,” Caleb was losing himself in the comfort Essek provided, the exhaustion of the day weighing down on him, “you’re incredible.” he rested his head on Essek’s chest.

“Heh,” Essek laid back on the couch they were sprawled on, his fingers gliding through Caleb’s hair, “you have always been so kind.”

Caleb wanted to say more, but the pull of sleep and the warmth of Essek were too great a temptation, leaving his words to echo in his mind. 

Because I love you.

[alittlextrathatway]

Dialogue no. 40!

A/N: So I went wayyyyy far into established Brettsey land for this one. All thanks to @dopemixtape btw who helped me with nearly all the details in this prompt response. (the names, the scenario, all of it). She’s a blessing to my life (and also the person who introduced me to Brettsey in the first place.) Anyway, hope you like it!

40. “I never stood a chance, did I?”

—————————————-

Casey focuses on repairing the railing on the back porch stairs. A few years ago, he probably would have let this particular repair sit while he took care of the paying jobs for people other than himself, but these days repairs to his own home are fairly pressing – For a few reasons.

One of which is bounding out the back door and running toward the stairs without a single glance up.

“Careful!” he scolds, reaching out a hand that lands on a tiny chubby stomach. “Not a good place to be running right now, munchkin.”

He sets aside the hammer, setting it down as far out of the way as possible, and scoops up the four year old with perfect shimmering ringlets currently doing her best to give Casey a mild heart palpitation.

“I told you the back stairs were off limits, didn’t I?”

Her tiny teeth sink into her bottom lip and she shrugs with unconvincing innocence. “Maybe.”

‘Maybe’ is her answer for everything these days. He’d like to have a talk with the child who taught her that word. A four year old doesn’t need to know loophole words like that. Especially not his four year old. His is a devious little risk taker who looks deceptively like a small innocent angel.

“Morgan!” comes a tired yell through the open back door. A second later, Sylvie’s worried face comes into view. Though, that worry becomes an affectionate eye roll when she spots their daughter in his arms. “You just can’t stay away from him can you?” she asks their daughter with a chuckle.

Morgan ignores Sylvie’s observation and turns in his arms to focus on Matt. She fiddles with buttons on his henley as she speaks. “Daddy, I made you something. Wanna see?”

“If I come see, will you stay inside while I finish up out here?” He asks her with a skeptical stare.

She nods, curls bouncing and blue eyes shining excitedly. “Promise! Let’s go, daddy! Go!” She orders as she points through the open back door and into the house.

“Okay, where are we going?” He asks as he passes Sylvie with a shared amused glance.

“Drew’s room! I wanted him to see too!”

He puts her down once they cross the threshold and she takes off down the hall to the nursery. Sylvie tugs his hand to get him to hang back.

“Brace yourself,” she warns him. “She’s about to pull out her pout and her big eyes and we both know how you get around those. Let me just remind you, she has you wrapped around her tiny chubby little finger. Do not give in.”

He chuckles and shakes his head dismissively. “I’m not that bad,” he argues.

Sylvie’s eyes widen and she looks as though she wants to say something else, but ultimately she simply smiles at him and waves him on ahead of her. “Whatever you say, Matt.” She laughs mutely at him and repeats herself. “Whatever you say.”

They step into the room and instinctively Matt drifts toward the crib. He glances down at the tiny wriggling baby, hands scrunched around his still wrinkly face. He smiles and gently rubs his son’s belly.

“How you doing, buddy?” He asks, hoping for a glimpse of a smile. Drew hasn’t quite gotten there yet. Though Sylvie swears she saw a genuine smile once, Matt’s pretty sure it was gas.

“Mommy, daddy,” Morgan announces as she stands between two pictures she’s taped to the wall opposite Drew’s crib. “Drew and me would like a puppy.”

Sylvie presses her lips together with barely restrained amusement. “You…and Drew would like a puppy? Are you sure about that?”

“Yes,” she says as she neatly folds her hands across her back, like a professor preparing for a lecture.

Matt suddenly sees a flash of her going off to college and feels a pang of something in his chest. He’s not sure what it is, but he knows it’s telling him to enjoy the moment. She won’t be this little forever.

“And how do you know this?” He asks, genuinely curious.

“I drawed him a picture of a puppy and he liked it. So he wants a puppy too,” Morgan declares as if it should be the most obvious answer in the world.

“Ah,” Sylvie says with a soft chuckle and a nod. “Makes sense. Please, continue.”

Matt scubs a hand over his face to get control of his own impending laughter and shares a delighted grin with his wife.

“This,” she says as she dramatically stabs a finger at a picture of a frowning stick figure family drawn in blue crayon. “Is us with no puppy. See how sad we are? I drawed Drew crying. I know he’s always crying but, trust me, this crying is sad crying.”

“Wow,” Matt replies, feigning concern. “That looks pretty bad, yeah. And the other picture?” He asks as he points to the drawing in red crayon.

“This!” she tells him, beaming at him with a smile that looks exactly like Sylvie’s. “Is us with a puppy! Look! I drawed the puppy! I drew a dalmatian so he can ride in the firetruck with daddy! And now we’re all happy! Even baby Drew. I drawed him crying again but that’s just cause he’s hungry. So, see? We have to get a puppy so we’ll be happy!” She stops, points wide watery eyes at him and folds her hands under chin. “Right, daddy? Please?”

She draws out the please and sticks out her bottom lip and dammit if it doesn’t almost rip the word yes right out of his throat.

Out of the corner of his eye he sees Sylvie staring at him with a smug smirk. He knows she’s just waiting for him to cave. Thankfully, his beautiful compassionate wife takes pity on him.

“We’ll think about it, sweetheart, okay?”

Morgan sighs with her whole body and slumps her shoulders as she nods glumly. “Okay.”

“Honey, why don’t you go turn on Paw Patrol for a little while, okay? Daddy needs to get back to work and I need to feed your brother.”

Her mood suddenly brightens, complete with a springy hop. “I get extra TV time?”

Sylvie smiles and nods but follows it with a stern reminder. “But just two episodes. So choose wisely, munchkin. Copy?”

“Copy, Chief!” Morgan yells with an excited salute. Calling Sylvie Chief started as an inside joke between him and Sylvie. He told her once that if their home was a Firehouse then she’d the Battalion Chief and it stuck. Over the years, it seems Morgan’s followed his example. “Can I go turn it on now?”

“Have at it,” Matt says as he sweeps an arm across the open nursery doorway. “Backyards off limits till I say so,” he reminds her as she skips off toward the living room. Once she’s gone, Matt takes a step closer to their daughter’s crayon artwork and studies them carefully.

“Matt,” Sylvie starts. The warning in her tone is obvious so he knows what’s coming next. “You are not seriously considering getting our four year old and our newborn a puppy, are you?”

He turns to face her with an overly wide smile. “No, of course not.” He leaves one beat of silence before he can’t hold it in any longer and has to change his story completely. “But…Ritter’s been volunteering at a dalmatian rescue–”

Sylvie breaks out into hysterical laughter, effectively cutting him off. “God, you are such a sap for her!”

“Yeah, well, she has your eyes and your smile so I can’t really help it. Those eyes and that smile should always be happy,” he admits as he reaches for her waist and pulls her into his chest. He chuckles to himself as he contemplates his own words. “Damn. I never stood a chance, did I?”

She shakes her head at him but never once stops smiling. “No, no you didn’t.”

This would be the moment where she could put an end to this dog idea. All she has to do is say the world and he’ll drop it. But she doesn’t. Secretly, he thinks she wants to spoil their kid too – despite giving him hell for it.

“God, I love you. Even if you spoil our daughter every chance you get,” She scolds half heartedly as she dips her face closer and closer to his. She steals a lingering kiss, and then pulls back to look him in the eyes. “But if you get her dog you’ll have to fix the fence in the backyard. Some of the boards are loose.”

He thinks about it for a moment and then shrugs one shoulder. “I can do that. Easy. I even have some extra lumber left over from a job. It’s in the back of my truck.”

Sylvie snickers through a resigned sigh and then completely caves. “Fine, you fix the fence and I’ll call Ritter after I feed the baby.”

“Now look who didn’t stand a chance?” He asks her teasingly.

“You’re lucky I love you and that our daughter is impossibly cute.”

He drops a grateful kiss to her temple and then meets his wife’s bemused gaze with an earnest expression. “Trust me. I know. I’m the luckiest bastard in all of Chicago.”

And that’s the God’s honest truth.

[jahaanofmenaphos]

Art by the awesome @tommieglenn!

Of Gods and Men Summary:

When the gods returned to Gielinor, their minds were only on one thing: the Stone of Jas, a powerful elder artefact in the hands of Sliske, a devious Mahjarrat who stole it for his own ends and entertainment. He claims to want to incite another god wars, but are his ulterior motives more sinister than that? And can the World Guardian, Jahaan, escape from under Sliske’s shadow?

Read the full work here:

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TUMBLR CHAPTER INDEX

QUEST 08: MARK OF ZEMOUREGAL

QUEST SUMMARY:

Because of Jahaan’s betrayal of Zamorak during their heist of the Stone of Jas, Zemouregal takes the matter of revenge into his own hands. When Jahaan looks to get even, he enlists the help of his Mahjarrat allies to take the fight to Zemouregal…

CHAPTER 5: UNAVOIDABLE CONFLICT

Jahaan landed back at the temple delicately, thanks to Wahisietel basically carrying him during the teleport. Removing his armour, Jahaan sat back against the oak frame of his bed’s headrest while Azzanadra fetched something to ease the pain. The potion was bitter; sweet with a twinge of burnt apples was the only way he could describe it. Despite that, it served its purpose, helping to numb the aching of his ribs.

“That armour is the only reason you’re still breathing, World Guardian,” Wahisietel noted, motioning to the dented elder rune platebody resting against the wall. “It is somewhat fortunate Zemouregal destroyed your first set, is it not?”

There was a twinge of a smile of the Mahjarrat’s face, and Jahaan caught the meaning. Despite the pain of it, Jahaan couldn't help but laugh at the irony. By trying to kill Jahaan, Zemouregal destroyed his armour. Jahaan’s new set of armour saved his life against Zemouregal.

How bitterly poetic.

Closing his eyes, Jahaan let the drowsy side effects of the potion consume him, mumbling before he fell under, “I’ll buff that out in the morning…”

It wasn’t for quite a few mornings that Jahaan had the upper body strength to even raise his arms above his head, let alone take his armour to an anvil. Damaged ribs were a time-taker to heal - there was nothing he could do to speed up the process, just rest in the quarters of his Mahjarrat ally. As promised, he told Wahisietel of the troubling encounter with Sliske, and in return learned a whole new set of Freneskaen curse words.

But at least in the comfort of the temple, Jahaan felt safe. His mind, however, would never let him rest.

Just like after Lucien’s death, Jahaan expected a miracle that didn’t come to pass. He expected to feel relief, joy, anything. He expected the weight off his chest to be lifted, but the pain was still there, predominantly in the form of a cracked rib.

He didn’t expect to still feel so hollow.

The rage had subsided at least, but that had ebbed away in the battle - a miracle in its own right, for Jahaan couldn’t remember the last time he’d effectively controlled his temper like that. The mental image of the sword slicing into Zemouregal’s throat put Jahaan to sleep every night, but he never slumbered for long, awoken either by the aching of his ribs or one of the many delightful recurring nightmares he’d been suffering from since the fire.

They were all there, friends and enemies alike. Ozan, Zamorak, Icthlarin, Zemouregal, Sir Tiffy, Cyrisus… their corpses cold and decaying, only to be dragged into reanimation by wires on their limbs, twisting and contorting their lifeless bodies against their will. Dancing marionettes, puppets on strings, shuffling to the rhythm of a haunting cackle, a gloved hand, a masked face.

Jahaan knew that voice all too well; he could only watch in horror as the familiar puppeteer orchestrated his plays, the world at his mercy.

After just under a week had passed, Jahaan felt like he’d graduated from bedrest and decided to leave Azzanadra in peace, still feeling bad that the Mahjarrat had acted as host and carer to a broken guest for far too long. Now that he was well enough to travel, albeit with the assistance of a cane, Jahaan wanted to check up on Ozan’s progress in the Wizards’ Tower. In one last favour he asked Azzanadra to teleport him to Draynor. There, Jahaan first utilised the bank to transport his armour to safe storage. His ribs still couldn’t quite take the brunt of any constricting armour, despite how light and nimble the elder rune set was.

Then, it was just a short walk across the bridge to the Wizards’ Tower, somewhere Jahaan was glad to be back at under less dire circumstances than before.

The Wizards’ Tower is a Saradominist institute for magic and runecrafting in Misthalin, housed in an immense structure located on a small island south of Draynor. It is one of the tallest buildings on Gielinor, rivalling the greatest cities’ castles, but coming short of the Tower of Voices in Prifddinas. It is connected to the mainland by an exquisite bridge, and the tower’s elaborate architecture and ornaments make it a beacon of human accomplishment in the Fifth Age. The tower has many facilities, including two libraries, an armillary, a telescope, offices and workrooms. In addition, the tower houses several secrets, such as the teleportation spell to the Rune Essence mine, which Zamorakian organisations such as the Zamorakian Magical Institute were attempting to steal. The Wizards' Tower was also known for having created most spells currently used today, as well as many magical theses and theorems. The tower was run by Archmage Sedridor, a very enthusiastic and bubbly old chap who happily welcomed visitors into the tower and would chat their ears off about its history.

As he searched for a certain textbook on the floating shelves, the archmage saw Jahaan in his peripheral vision, who was being signed in by Valina, the entrance clerk.

“Jahaan, Jahaan come in!” Archmage Sedridor greeted him, ushering him inside. “We were beginning to worry about you, you seemed so frantic last time, son. It was quite troubling.”

“It was a stressful time,” Jahaan replied, an understatement that Archmage Sedridor accepted with a deepening frown.

“Yes, yes poor Ozan… we’ve done all we can for him, I assure you. We treated his burns and prevented infection, but there’s still some lasting damage, you see. I’m afraid his skin will never truly heal.”

Jahaan winced. He knew Ozan’s narcissism well, reflected in his reply, “Let me guess, he’s taking the damage to his face the worst, right?”

Sniffing a humourless laugh, Sedridor confirmed, “He does mention it often.”

The two made it to the medical bay in good time; the door was ajar. Inside, Jahaan could hear the pleasant chattering between Ozan and Ariane, and he held back for a while. Archmage Sedridor left to attend to other business, leaving Jahaan to rest against a neighbouring pillar. He couldn’t make out too much from what was said, but noted how Ozan’s usual full-bodied laugh was weaker now, punctuated by tight coughs. The sound made Jahaan’s throat close up.

Finally, he realised he couldn’t hold it off any longer and gently pushed the door open, its ear-piercing creak signalling his arrival.

Once the two locked eyes, Ariane’s face grew dark, her expression cold. She feigned a reassuring smile to Ozan, muttered a few words - seemingly making her excuses to leave - and gathered up Coal, who was chewing on the bed linen. She edged past Jahaan at the door without sending him another glance. Even Ozan couldn’t spin it, offering nothing but a sympathetic smile and a light shrug. He was propped up against the head of the bed, still in nightwear, with bandages taping his arms and half of his face. He looked like an incomplete mummy, something which Jahaan didn’t decide to voice, just in case Ozan’s sense of humour wasn’t fully recovered.

Luckily, Ozan broke the tension, pointing to his own face and saying, “Fenkenstrain’s suing me for ripping off his creation.”

It wasn’t that funny, but Jahaan laughed. Like, properly laughed, doubling over with tears in his eyes. He was just so… relieved. The relief was such that it felt as if a phantom had left his soul in a jolt, similar to how he felt after Zaros disembarked his body, though without the unwelcomed loss of consciousness that followed.

Awkwardly, Jahaan sat down on the edge of Ozan’s bed. He really didn’t know where to start - an apology, a check on his health, on his spirits, an explanation… there was too much he needed to cover. So, he allowed Ozan to make the first move.

“I haven’t seen you for a while,” Ozan mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. He was clearly sensing the awkwardness too. “Was getting worried, y’know… Ariane told me what happened.”

Meeting Jahaan’s eyes, he finally asked, “Did you get him? That Mahjarrat guy?”

“Zemouregal? Yeah, he’s dead,” Jahaan replied with a shaky breath.

“You shouldn’t have gone after him. You could have gotten yourself killed.”

With a humourless chuckle, Jahaan said, “Ozan, have you ever known me to let anything go? I had to. I had to… to try and make it right. Ozan, I’m so sorry. I’m so-”

“Let me stop you right there,” Ozan interejected, a calming hand reaching out to Jahaan. “You have nothing to apologise for, okay? You never could have guessed what was gonna happen.”

Laughing softly, Ozan added, “Heck, with all the enemies I’ve made over the years, our roles could have easily been reversed.”

“But can you honestly tell me that, if the roles were reversed, you wouldn’t feel guilty?”

Ozan remained quiet, accepting this.

After a long pause, Ozan lightly nudged Jahaan on the arm, tried to raise his voice a tad as he said, “Damn, man. It’s like a morgue in here. I haven’t died or anything!”

Unfortunately, the act preceded a bout of coughs, Ozan shrugging Jahaan off as he reached over to pat his back. “I’m fine, Jahaan. The coughing thing’s gonna go in time they say. It doesn’t hurt that much. My skin, on the other hand…” Ozan’s frown deepened into a comical pout. “The fire’s done a number on my pretty-boy good looks…”

Motioning to his own fire-scarred face, Jahaan dryly remarked, “Well, at least we match now.”

Sniffing a chuckle, Ozan said, “We could start a double act called ‘How Not To Play With Fire’. I’m sure Ariane would lend us some runes.”

Jahaan winced. “Ah yes, Ariane.”

“She’s taking it a lot worse than I am. I think it’s best if you stay out of her eye-line for a while,” Ozan winked, his face contorting slightly from what used to be such a simple action.

Trying to hide the sorrow in his features, Jahaan forced himself to smirk as he replied, “Good idea.”

Noticing how Ozan’s eyes were starting to close, Jahaan realised this little catch-up had probably exhausted the poor fellow who should be conserving what little energy he had at this point. So, Jahaan helped him lie back down on the bed, saying he’d visit again soon. Knowing Ariane’s stance on things, Jahaan wasn’t sure when that would be.

“Bring booze next time,” Ozan drearily called out before turning over and burying himself in the comfy pillow.

His heart heavy, Jahaan watched Ozan’s steady breathing for a few moments. It was serene - just the simple action of seeing his best friend in a peaceful sleep after all he’d been through was reassuring.

Quietly, he made his way out of the chamber, careful not to move the door for fear the creaking would startle Ozan awake.

When he turned around, Ariane was greeting him with a stern face, her arms folded over her chest. Seeing her seemingly manifest out of nowhere surprised Jahaan, causing him to jump slightly.

“How long have you been there?” Jahaan hissed, catching his breath.

Ariane didn’t answer, instead motioning for Jahaan to follow. Leading him into a small study, Ariane closed the door behind them, and from the look on her face, Jahaan knew he was in for a rough time.

“So you killed him, then? This Mahjarrat?” it sounded more like an accusation than a mere question.

Raising his chin, Jahaan confirmed, “Yes, I did.”

Ariane did not seem impressed, her eyes boring holes through the man.

“Look, what is your problem with me?” Jahaan hissed, advancing on Ariane, who didn’t step back. “I know you think I’m a bad influence on Ozan, but the man’s no monk. What matters is that we both care deeply for him, you and I. I’d rather die than let anything happen to him, and I’m pretty sure you know that already. So tell me, please, what have I done to piss you off so greatly?”

“Other than nearly letting Ozan get burned alive?”

“You hated me before that,” Jahaan countered. “So come on. Did Ozan tell you about how I grew up? Is it the people I’ve killed? What?”

“You really want to know?” Ariane snapped, storming forward with such force it made Jahaan back up on instinct. “It’s your attitude, Jahaan. Your callousness, your naivety, your self-centred view on everything. Ever since you became the Word Guardian it’s only gotten worse. The world is falling apart and I don’t think you know, let alone care. Do you ever read the newspapers, Jahaan?”

Wary of where this was going, Jahaan hesitantly answered, “I hear bits and pieces…”

It became apparent rather quickly that Jahaan did not hear enough; Ariane filled him in on all the delightful things he'd missed on his travels, such as the dangerous antics of the Godless.

The Godless are a faction of those opposed to deities being on Gielinor, similar in many ways to the Guthixian views, but with one key difference.

They were violent.

Guthixians would preach about how Guthix banished the gods from Gielinor to protect the world from them. They relied on churches, emissaries and sermons to convey their message to the general populous. The Godless, on the other hand, took it upon themselves to wage war against every god and their followers. They believed no-one should worship a deity, that we were the masters of our own destiny and do not need to follow behind a divine being in order to have worth in our lives.

Before the gods returned to Gielinor and the Sixth Age commenced, the Godless were an incredibly small faction, for almost everyone on Gielinor stood behind a banner of some sort. Now that the gods had returned and they were starting to cause a ruckus, more people were becoming sympathetic to their cause.

The Battle of Lumbridge was their single greatest recruiting tool since their inception.

The Godless would attack and deface shrines during the night, would tear apart churches and harass emissaries. They were lawless, worked underground and distributed propaganda wherever they could.

However, their petty destruction was nothing compared to what the former Bandosians had caused.

After Bandos’ defeat, the vast majority of his followers had defected to the avian deity, erecting shrines and even taking to books and studying the ways of Armadyl. They were helped with the whole ‘learning-to-read-thing’ by emissaries of Armadyl, who set up roaming caravans to teach the former Bandosian loyalists the preachings of their new god.

Sounds great, doesn’t it? Well, old habits die hard, and it would take a lot more than a few commandments and pretty shrines to undo centuries of Bandosian indoctrination. Thus, instead of gradually trying to convert the remaining Bandoanian loyalists - as the emissaries said they should - they went out and systematically hunted them all down.

It was convert or die; any hesitation on the former signed your death sentence.

Goblin and ogre settlements especially were bloodbaths, sometimes even spilling into nearby human settlements, and people often got caught in the crossfire.

The Dorgeshuun, a peaceful tribe of hunter-gatherer goblins that had existed beneath the surface of southern Misthalin, were brought to the brink of extinction. The Dorgeshuun, largely non-religious, did not partake in the battle against Armadyl, and had defied Bandos for years by refusing to submit to his warlike ways. Bandos had planned to wipe them out as soon as he defeated Armadyl, and resolved to make such a day a national holiday. After Bandos’ death, the remaining Bandosian loyalists looked for a scapegoat, someone to blame for their god’s demise, and they settled upon the Dorgeshuun.

They were exterminated before the ex-Bandosian Armadyleans could arrive, who had similar plans for their slaughter.

It wasn’t just converted Bandosians that Armadyl had amassed into his following; more and more humans, particularly Saradominists, were growing increasingly interested in the avian deity’s philosophy. Saradominism and Armadylean beliefs overlapped quite a lot, making the two religions close allies back in the God Wars of old. Now though, more people were getting exposed to Armadylean teachings, and after the way Saradomin helped to tear apart Lumbridge, those same people were becoming open to the idea of supporting a new deity.

This did not go down well with Saradomin; tensions were rising between the two factions, but it had yet to come to a head.

And then came the Zamorakian invasion of Ardougne.

Hazeel and Khazard, along with Zamorakian armies, had marched into Ardougne only last week, taking control of the territory and pushing the warring gnomes - who were already locked in battle with the Khazard troops - out within days. The combined might of the Mahjarrat and their forces was too much for the gnomes alone to handle. Fortunately, Saradominist soldiers had come to the aid of the city, and now a joint Saradominist-Guthixian alliance was fighting to take back Ardougne.

If the Battle of Lumbridge was the first major battle of the Third God Wars, this would be the second. The Armadyl/Bandos scuffle was on a different level - more isolated and less destructive. This time, they’re were battling through the streets of the largest city in the Kingdom of Kandarin.

The Saradominist effort to halt Zamorakian advances in the Kandarin Kingdom forced Saradomin to delay his plans for Morytania, or so rumour has it. It was mere whisperings at this stage, but it was told that Saradomin planned to reignite his desired conquest of Morytania, taking it out of the hands of the Zamorakians (Lord Drakan especially) and liberating the people of Meiyerditch, returning it to its former glory of the Hallowland.

Thanks to two asshole Mahjarrat, that had to be put on hold.

The God Wars were beginning again; at the rate things were going, it wouldn’t be long before an all-out conflict arose.

“You triggered this, Jahaan,” Ariane finished, gravely. “I know it was you who Sliske managed to trick into letting him into Guthix's chamber. Now, the very Mahjarrat that deceived you, the very Mahjarrat you're somehow so chummy with, is the one that’s allowed the world to be torn apart, and instead of trying to stop him, you locked yourself in petty revenge. You're the WORLD GUARDIAN Jahaan - it's time you started acting like one.”

Moving towards the door, Ariane peered briefly over her shoulder with darkness in her eyes. “Actions have consequences, Jahaan. Start thinking of the bigger picture.”

DISCLAIMER:

As Of Gods and Men is a reimagining, retelling and reworking of the Sixth Age, a LOT of dialogue/characters/plotlines/etc. are pulled right from the game itself, and this belongs to Jagex.

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[myownpersonaldemons]

Self-Tober Prompt 2

Fall Fashion

Self/HT!Papyrus

You weren’t by any means the most fashion-forward person out there. There were too many styles out there, and you honestly couldn’t be bothered with keeping up with the newest fall colour pallets. What you wore last year for fall would serve you well for this year, and you knew it. Why spend money on an entirely new wardrobe every season when you could just add layers on and wear what you wanted?

Though, you did admit you had a thing for sweaters.

The moment the temperature dropped below +10C you broke out your sweater collection. From big thick soft fuzzy sweaters you wore for warmth when you left, to thinner but equally soft sweaters that were getting thread-bear at home. It was delightful. Plus! When you got a size up than normal, the sleeves would be long enough that they nearly covered your entire hand, which was how you liked it.

Long sleeves better either cover your hand or they better be able to be pushed up to your elbows. No in between.

So, when you were walking back to your car from meeting up with a friend at a cafe and you saw one of the shops had gotten in their fall collection? Well, you hesitated at the window. Then you noticed a Halloween theme sweater and you swore if they could’ve, your eyes would’ve turned into little hearts. Fall? Halloween?? Sweaters???

You hurried inside, wiping off any leaves that had stuck to the bottom of your shoes onto the matt.

“WELCOME! I WILL BE RIGHT WITH YOU,” a voice bellowed happily from further into the store. You glanced up startled, and pulled your scarf down from your mouth.

“Papyrus?” you called back trying to find the tall skeleton. His head poked out from near the fitting rooms, and he beamed. You hadn’t seen him in a while, but since then he’d gotten his braces removed. You beamed back. “It’s been forever!” you called happily, and he hurried over to you, grinning. Over his one arm laid a bunch of different clothing pieces.

“IT HAS BEEN TOO LONG!” he said cheerfully, “BUT THAT IS PARTIALLY MY FAULT. SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED!”

“I see you got your braces removed,” you gestured to your own mouth, “You look amazing! How do you feel?”

“AMAZING! I HAD GOTTEN USED TO THE PAIN, SO I FORGOT WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO NOT BE IN SUCH EXCRUIATING PAIN!” he said, voice still cheerful. Your face fell slightly, he’d...never said that before. He was always in pain? You shoved those thoughts away, with Papyrus there was always a reason for him not saying something. If he hadn’t wanted you to know, he wouldn’t have told you. You were happy that he did now, and so you pushed the smile back onto your face.

“That’s great, I’m happy for you,” you said warmly, patting his arm. “So! When did you start working here?”

“A FEW WEEKS NOW. I’M REALLY ENJOYING IT! I GET A STAFF DISCOUNT ON ALL THE CLOTHING, AND I GET TO HELP PEOPLE BE AS STYLISH AS I AM!” he explained, before looking you up and down quickly. “AND YOU!”

You blushed lightly, “Paps, c’mon. Between the two of us, you’ve got the looks,” you only half teasing, gesturing to him. He was the epitome of ‘fashion’ as far as you were concerned. Mostly because he was wearing a sweater, and you fucking loved sweaters. He was wearing jeans with a burnt orange turtle neck sweater with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

He’d honestly taken to fashion insanely fast and quickly. Though, you were kind of disappointed that he wasn’t wearing a sparkly pink crop top and cut off shorts, because that was a look. Then again, he probably had a uniform...and it was fall.

Papyrus simply beamed, straightening up further and puffing up his chest. “I DO! THAT’S WHY I WAS HIRED SO QUICKLY! THE MANAGER, TRACY, SAID THAT I WAS EXCENTRIC WITH MY FASHION AND THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE RISK TAKERS!”

“Where’s the risk with this look?” you teased, reaching forwards and tugging lightly at his sweater. “Looks like a normal fashionable male outfit.”

He grinned almost slyly, “WAIT RIGHT HERE!”

He darted into the back before running back out with a floor length faux fur coat that was a tealish colour. You felt your grin widen almost painfully and you gasped, “Put that on!”

Papyrus wasted no time pulling it on and you placed your hands over your cheeks. “You look so great!”

“I KNOW! SANS SAID I LOOK LIKE A OVERGROWN FURBY!” he said proudly with a mischievous glint in his eye, “AND WE BOTH KNOW SANS HAS THE FASHION SENSE OF A ROCK.”

You giggled at him, “Well, I think you look great and that looks super warm.”

You thought it was bold and ridiculously him. You would never cease to be amazed by Papyrus’ ability to not give a fuck what other people thought of him but at the same time be so concerned by what people think about him.

You pulled off your gloves as you started to overheat and tucked them into your pockets. “Now that I know for sure that you’re still the fashionable Paps that I know and love, can I get your assistance to help me find that Halloween sweater in the window?” you asked, pointing in the windows vague direction.

A light pale orange blush dusted his cheeks and he nodded. Your head tilted slightly at the blush, but he excused himself to put his coat in the back room and said he’d be right back to help you. As he left, you wandered randomly towards the window, examining the clothes without anything catching your eye. After all, you were interested in the sweaters only. Not the 30 dollar shirts.

When he got back to the front, it was a whirlwind of clothing...and you never felt so confident when trying on clothes before. Papyrus was the kind of monster who told you if a certain sweater wasn’t ‘you’ or didn’t do you any favours, and then would praise the crap out of you for looking great. You finally tried on the sweater that you spotted in the window, and grinned as you headed out of the changing room and held out your arms slightly.

“What do you think?” you asked cheekily.

The blush was back, and you giggled.

Imagine wearing a skeleton sweater would making him flustered.

“Beautiful,” he said eyes shifting away from you. You beamed.

“Awww, that’s the best comment I’ve gotten yet!” you teased and then turned towards the mirror. “I think I’m going to get this one.”

Papyrus walked over to you and smiled at you through the mirror. There was still a light bush on his cheeks, but his smile was happy and full, “GOOD CHOICE!”

“Thanks~!” you said happily, “Can I wear it out?”

“OF COURSE!” he said, gently taking the tag off of the sweater, “DO YOU WANT TO BUY ANYTHING ELSE?”

“Nope!”

As he headed over to the front counter, you grabbed your things from the changing room and followed him up. He hummed happily as he rung you up, and soon the sweater was 100% yours. This day was getting better and better, but this was probably the peak since you were heading back home in order to veg out for the remainder of your day off. You’d have to make sure to stop by the store more often, even if it was just to see Papyrus.

You smiled warmly at him, and said your goodbyes, wishing him a good rest of his day. However, he called to you before you took even two steps. “I WANT TO ASK YOU SOMETHING BEFORE YOU GO,” he called, and you quickly turned back towards him. He was fiddling with the bottom of his sweater, his sharpened fingers were starting to poke holes in the fabric so you reached out and gently took his hands away. You knew he hated when he poked holes in his shirts but when he got nervous he couldn’t stop himself. Maybe you’d see if you could find something that he could fidget with when he got nervous so he wouldn’t get so mad at himself afterwards.

“Yeah?” you asked gently, smiling up at him in hopes that it would ease his nerves.

“W-Would You Want To...Go On A Date With Me?” he asked voice at a more normal tone than it usually was. You hadn’t heard him speak like this for quite some time.

You blushed vibrantly, and looked at him in surprise. He wanted to date you?

“AH! NEVERMIND THAT WAS S-“

“I’d love to!” you blurted out, interrupting him before he could self-deprecate himself.

“YOU WOULD?” he said, sounding as surprised as you were that he had asked you out. You nodded eagerly.

“You still have my number, right? We can figure out a when and where after your done work!” you suggested, feeling bubbly. You squeezed his hands that were still in yours and he gave them a gently squeeze in return.

“O-OKAY! I WILL DO THAT! OH SANS IS GOING TO BE SO HAPPY FOR ME!” Papyrus gushed, his blush lighting up his face and he leant down and pressed his teeth against your forehead which made your blush darken. You giggled softly.

“Paps, you are still working,” you reminded him and he blinked.

“OH. YES,” he said, eyes shifting over the store and he cleared his throat. “I MUSTN’T BE DISTRACTED THEN! I WILL CONTACT YOU LATER, MY DEAR!”

You honestly couldn’t grin any larger, so you reluctantly stepped away from him. “I’m looking forward to it! Work hard!”

He scoffed, “OF COURSE! NEVER EXPECT ANYTHING LESS FROM ME!”

“I’d never,” you teased, taking a few steps backwards before turning and heading towards the door, as you opened it you looked over your shoulder. “See you soon, Paps!”

You blew him a kiss just to see his blush intensify and he beamed.

You were so glad you went in to get that sweater.

[shadowvalkyrie]

It’s raining!!! \o/ This summer isn’t quite as terrible as the last, draught-wise (yet), but it’s still been weeks since we had anything more than a five-minute drizzle. Even the thunderstorm that tore off some of my roof tiles last month didn’t bring much in the way of water (fortunately, in that case). So I’m really fucking delighted by this!

In less pleasant news, my laptop, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary of me getting it second-hand this year (which is pretty respectable), it starting to act up. I mean, it always shuts itself down during hot weather or after too much Netflix, that’s been happening for a few years and doesn’t even bother me anymore at this point, but now it also has a weird glitch where the mouse cursor refuses to move while the electric is plugged in, for whatever weird reason. From a purely technical standpoint, there shouldn’t even be a connection? And unfortunately that is wildly annoying.

The house-renovations are still dragging on, a year after I moved in. The new heating is in, as are the new floors and windows in the rooms that needed them, the roof is fixed (both the original missing part and the bits that came down later), the kitchen is done, most of the combination hall/dining room has been restored (and I mean that literally, complete with new grouting and plaster, all done by yours truly, and while you can tell it wasn’t done by a professional, I’m still damn proud of it), and just awaiting the last touches, like paint on the doors and some acrylic in the corners, and I finished up the bedroom to 99% last week.

The living room has been about half-done for a long time now, but it’s next up, since I’m no longer hampering myself by having to sleep in there. I’m also still working on the study, the guest room, and the single-room basement (which, let’s face it, is a mess which needs work on every inch of it), and let’s not talk about the garden, either. I mow the lawn and pull the largest weeds as damage control, have cut down two of the trees (one was growing into the house and the other looked likely to fall down by itself if I hadn’t), gotten rid of most of the ivy, and planted some left-over potatoes a few weeks back, but that’s the extent of work I can bring myself to put in this year with everything else that’s going on. (I do realise that the above sounds like a lot of rooms, but in my defence, since this is an old house, they’re all very much on the small side The bedroom is so small that the bed alone takes up more than three quarters of the floor space, and there was only one spot I could put my wardrobe without the bed blocking its doors from opening entirely.) I’m way behind the schedule I set for myself a year back, but well, it’s that or a massive burn-out, so slow-as-fuck progress it is.

The new insulation (badly needed, since the existing one consists solely of hay stuffed in the rafters over a hundred years ago) is on the backburner for now, and I’ll get to enjoy the bathroom in all its 70s-tastic green-and-brown fugliness for the foreseeable future as well, because my loan budget is really quite maxed out, and I have no time or energy to get myself a second job at the moment. (Unless someone is looking for a freelance translator? I could probably manage that. Just not something that requires any human interaction on top of my regular 8-5. Any takers? :D)

In fannish news, I’ve fallen into Rivers of London and can’t get out. Peter is a far more... wholesome (or maybe I mean sunnily-dispositioned?) protagonist than I would normally find relatable, but the books are so well-written, and Peter/Nightingale hits so many of my ship kinks, I can’t even bring myself to care. (I can’t believe that after a first meeting like THAT they’re still not canon, though. I mean, I still have half the series to go, but according to the spoilers that won’t change, which is terribly sad. I mean, I like Peter/Bev, too, but... Nightingale! *dreamy sigh*) And the fandom is amazing! So much top-notch fanfic, I have a hard time not spending every spare minute reading. <3

[the-energon-hole]

May I also have headcannons of TFP Megatron, Knockout and Predaking with female reader who never experienced genuine romance? She is usually confident and suave, but when it comes to romance, she is not. She quietly confesses that her previous exes never appreciated her nor made her feel beautiful, safe and warm: only wanting to use her. Then the mechs do what her exes failed to do, making the reader feel loved from their compliments, gentle caresses and telling her why they love her.

((A/N - I went a little slow with this one because I didn’t want to mess it up- it took me awhile to think about it so I hope you like it ))

Megatron

-To say that Megatron has never experienced genuine love would be a bold face lie probably told by the Autobot propaganda committee to make him look like some kind of unfeeling monster. He felt a deep love for all his fellow Cybertronians to the point he would overthrow an entire government in order to get them the freedom of choice they so truly deserved, he loved his position as a gladiator in the pits of Kaon as he was big on entertaining the masses with his bulk and combative wit, and he somehow found himself in some kind of romantically love with a squishy little human that managed to charm and seduce him in a way no one before her had ever accomplished, he was sure many have tried as he was quite the catch back in the days of his youth, but as time went on and he became a battle hardened and deeply scarred warlord- well, the prospect of bonding became a thing of the past. Yet, here you were, simply leaking regality while still possessing such a flirty and sensual attitude that it was hard to resist any command you threw at him. You could snap your fingers and demand he serve you his soldiers head’s on a spike and he would do it if it gave him any kind of chance of winning over your seemingly cold and unfeeling heart. It was actually kind of dangerous if you look at it objectively, the great and powerful Megatron becoming an enamoured slave to an insignificant and feeble little human, but really when has playing it safe and staying in one’s lane ever actually accomplished anything meaningful or significant. It was the risk takers and the trend setters who would always be remembered and always be kept in histories light as the ones who have made an impact to the way society was run, and he was hoping that maybe by being a said trend setter that maybe you would keep him in your radiant light that he has been craving to be in since you began to prove your worth to him in a way no other Cybertronian ever had before.

-You had him wrapped up around your little finger and the power was beginning to go to your head as you noticed so many vehicons refused to look you in the eye as you passed them by them in the halls of the ship, and you also noticed all of Megatron’s subordinates showing such great respect by offering up their frames as a way of pleasing you to get into your good graces so many times that it made your heart flutter a little with delight to know you can basically do whatever you wanted and get away with it because you were the favorite of the biggest and baddest bot in all of Cybertronian history. Truthfully however, at times, you felt like all of this attention and doting on should be given to someone who is more deserving of it than you. You were never seen as the most prime specimen of beauty in your culture and a long streak of messy and bad break ups seems to only continue to taunt and emphasize that to you. Lovable as never something you thought yourself to be as time and again you have been shown that every single one of your partners had to be that constant reminder that you were far from perfect and that you deserved to be alone forever because you were not their ideal woman. It was depressing honestly, and you sometimes had bad days where you couldn’t function because of those taunting and dark thoughts, they were there to remind you time and again that you were the embodiment of bitter energy and that romantic love will always be something that is unattainable by you- no one understood that as they would spout some fairy tale nonsense about everyone having their proverbial prince charming and how everyone will experience this amazing euphoric feeling in their lifetime. It was a load of crock, which was why you stopped sharing your secret affinity for things like finding your one true love amongst so many individuals- it was like trying to find the sheep amongst a pack of wolves, impossible and something you cannot foresee yourself being able to do. It hurt, but you know what, life goes on and you have to go along with it.

-This wasn’t a conversation you were really that willing to have, as it all started when Megatron expressed his “undying devotion” to you and exclaimed how he wished to hold you in his spark as someone who was more than just his dear little human spy and that he would do anything to keep you happy and safe so long as he is living and functioning, you got angry as you didn’t believe him. You yelled and screamed and called him a liar- and it seems this wasn’t the reaction he was expecting, it wasn’t that the feelings were not mutual, you actually felt great attraction towards Megatron, you just can’t trust yourself to know a difference between romantic attraction or sexual desires. The not being able to distinct between the two has gotten you in so many bad situations that you just decided completely to ignore those feelings. You broke down just thinking about it as you told this magnificent mech that it wasn’t him it was you- so many before have tricked and lied to you to manipulating you into thinking your romantic feelings were real, but really it was just them taking advantage of you and abusing you to the point you still question your emotions to this day. It frustrated and angered you more than it did make you cry, but all of these emotions surfacing, well it was hard to not become a little emotional remembering all of the bad shit you had to go through to get to this point. That was when Megatron stopped speaking words as you felt him grip your face to look at him from your position on a countertop- you had no idea what was reflecting in those normally cold optics, but you could have sworn in that moment there was a shimmering sparkle that was present that made you stop feeling so anxious and feel some kind of comfort that you never have before. That was all this moment was, just staring into one another’s eyes- his reflecting genuine love and compassion while you were sure yours reflected fear and anxiety but also a little bit of a new emotion that was a mix of hesitant understanding and a little bit of longing. You wanted to kiss him in that tender moment, so you reached up and he lifted you so you can nuzzle and plant a small tender kiss on his faceplate. Is this what love was, real romantic love? It felt good- and it felt better knowing Megatron was a mech of his word and would love you with his whole being without anger or an ounce of mistreatment.

Knockout

-You two had a whole lot in common, considering your personalities were almost one in the same. He enjoyed being the shiny and outstanding mech who was colored a deep and enticing color that it made others stop and admire his appearance whether eti was the mindless vehicons or some humans who noticed his alt mode parked outside somewhere- you liked to dress up and show off your appearance while wearing designer and beautiful clothing that made people stop and stare because they were admirable and jealous while wishing they could too look like that. You both also enjoyed having laughs and trading quips back and forth that others might interpret as hurtful exchanges but really were just sweet and innocent words that indicated you both were playing a long standing game that was only reserved for the two of you to know the rules and partake in. It could be constituted as flirting as you weren’t afraid to admit that this mech was most definitely the most attractive of all the Cybertronians you have come to witness- true he was rather a bit of a coward, but he was good looking so he had a pass to be just that. You were a little afraid of dying as well, and really, who in their right mind wasn’t afraid of a premature death so when things get to hot for you two to handle you are always the first ones to bail and retreat back to the sanctum of his lab on The Nemesis ship. It was fine though, as he was always there to check you for wounds and you were always there to buff his finish and vacuum his interior should anything happen to his appearance- it was nice to have someone to fall back on like this, and though you have thought that so many times before you had someone to “ride or die” with, maybe Knockout was the real deal this time? You hoped so, he is a good friend and the best being in the universe- you hope nothing can spoil this fun and fulfilling relationship. You two were one half of the same person after all, which was why the friendship was soon beginning to bud into another thing- it was there, but you didn’t know really what that thing was. Knockout has an idea of what this relationship was slowly stepping into but he didn’t want to rush you into anything, he knows your past and he wants to handle this with as much finesse as possible. That was a good thing, as finesse was his middle name so to speak, and there was no way he can screw this up… Right?

-There were so few things that Knockout had a genuine love for besides himself- he loved Breakdown as much as any mech could as they have been long time companions and long time brothers, he has a real love for the practice of medicine even if that practice is more for the dissection in order to learn and understand things first hand from the source material, and now he can say he has a genuine love for you and all of your quirky and interesting habits. He gets all star opticted when you laugh with that angelic tone and he has to stop himself from swooning when you make a bad joke directed at someone like Starscream and Soundwave because you were just so genuinely unafraid of them- it was a flex of your strength and power of them as an asset to Megatron and he loved it. You were just a human, but you were such an important key to their victory, it was intoxicating knowing not only where you attractive to look at (even if you deny it) but you were also intelligent and witty. You truly were the best rival to have when it came to having your little conversations to where you were so snarky that it made his spark swell with a new kind of emotion that he has never really experienced before. Breakdown told him it must be love but he doubted it, mechs like Knockout don’t fall in love and get tied down by some femme, no matter how amazing he thinks that femme is. Breakdown laughed at him after that, saying how similar the two of you really were, as unbeknownst to Knockout you also asked Breakdown what was going on. Wow, you guys even go to him for the same advise- it was so amusing watching you two just be so blissfully unaware of what was there that sometimes Breakdown wants to just smush your faces together until you kiss and have that “electrical shock” moment that you get when you share a moment with the one you love. You both have had a bad string of relationships however, so he will not pry or force anything and let the two of you figure it out on your own, because really that is what it comes down to. He can’t tell you both anything because you are both equally as stubborn and have to learn your lessons the hard way.

-Knockout knows your hard past and your ex lovers, Breakdown knows your hard past and your ex lovers, and you hated comparing what you have to the cherry red mech to what you used to ahve with those asshoels who made you feel so bad for having any kind of emotions towards them. You were experiencing new feelings you couldn’t describe, but you were also experiencing some old one that you wish would just go away so you never have to worry about them again. Your guts would get all funny and fluttery when you were in the same room as the Decepticon medic just like it had with some of your exs before you, but you felt so calm in his presences that it made you second guess the things your heart was trying to convey to your stubborn and angry brain- why did your body and soul literally have to ruin such an enriching and quality friendship by making you feel like this?! It must have been Knockout who said something, because you were so tight lipped about how you felt that it must have been him to bring it up, but there it was out in the open after one of your famous quip battles was stopped dead after he (or maybe it was you, no one really remembered) uttered the words “you say that you hate me, but in reality My Dear, we all know you love me as much as I love you”. You got a little panicky as you apologized for something, you are not sure what but you just kept repeating it as the good doctor could swear his breath was caught in his vent systems- well, this was not the finesse he normally had and you made him so damn nervous that the beans were spilled before he could even come up with a game plan. Here it was tough out in the open, and once you were done apologizing Knckout decided tha titwas going to be now or never to open up and try to have a for real moment with you. He stroked the top of your head with his claw as he tousled your hair a little while twirling it a little around his digit, he just let instinct take over as he has never done something like this before as he was just a broken as you were when it came to love, he went from stroking your hair to touching your face to which you froze and looked p at him with concern- there was something else plastered on your face however, it was complete trust for the mech before you. He wasn’t like all the others before him, he actually took the time to call you beautiful and he actually liked to listen to your sass and your slightly harsh words and he could meet your challenge when it came to all of these conversations you were having. You saw nothing but relaxed content and a warm disposition as he stroked your face gently with his claw that was really sharp enough he could rip you to ribbons if he wanted, but he wont, and you knew he wouldn’t- and that it what love must feel like, because you trusted him completely with anything and everything, and it was nice to feel so free instead of so caged so you couldn’t help but start laughing and giggling at how nice this situation turned out to be. He laughed too out of solidarity, and in that moment, you knew everything was going to be ok.

Predaking

-He was still very new to this world only being created and imprinted with whatever that mech wanted him to know and he has only known the kindness and compassion you have shown to him- you were not like all the others aboard this floating hell hole whom were fearful and angry at him for who he really was. He actually found himself getting excited and his spark will hammer inside of its case as he anticipated you stopping by daily and telling him all the different kinds of stories you had to speak about. He has learned so much about you in such a short time like how you weren’t particularly being forced to stay on the ship against your will, but you weren’t exactly aloud to leave it either- you were an asset to Megatron’s plan and that kind of made you a prisoner in this cage just like him. Humans weren’t all that interesting to him, but it gave you a reason to speak to him and it was enough for him as he wanted to hear what you had to say when it came to all different kinds of subject matter. You told him all kinds of fascinating tales from the human world from things about human history to things about fantasy and fiction- he found himself entranced as you spoke to him about yourself more than he was enticed by tales of heroism and politics. You for some unknown reason were an ire for his fascination, and you for some reason cause all of these strange and primal instincts to bubble up inside of him that give him the urge to just hold you close to his body so that he can bask in your warmth and maybe get a chance to get drunk on and inhale the scent in which he is teased with whenever you get up close to him and touch his body in a friendly way- you were fascinated by his tail and wings and it made him a little proud and vain to know his physical appearance impressed you in any kind of way. He thought you were a rather attractive human even if the only comparison he can make were to those of the Prime’s ally, either way however, your aesthetic pleased him and ignited all kinds of wonder and emotions he has yet to actually sit and ponder upon. Once you were comfortable enough around him and you ran out of stories to tell, you told him all about you and who you were as a person and all of the thoughts and opinions you had buzzing around inside of that small but cute head of yours. He was so enamoured with you and he has no idea why, but he made it is job to protect you whenever he can, so long as he is around no one will ever hurt you again- and whomever these “exes” were, they better watch their backs.

-He can list all day the things he likes about you, but one thing he can claim was his favorite quirks he saw in you was your need to name everyone on the ship- you gave designations to all the Vehicons to which you listed to him any time they passed by the cage while they were slaving away under Megatron’s laws. They didn’t seem to mind as you always had good names to give based on everyone’s forged frame numbers, but the one you gave to him made him feel even more vain and attractive than when you were stroke and touching his skin absentmindedly as you sat with him during those quiet nights to just talk about anything and everything. You called him a “King” and he felt himself melt a little as he purred unintentionally as you laughed a sweet laugh that made his spark sputter with content comfort and slight nervousness. You rambled sometimes when you just sat there and talked about nothing in particular but that’s ok, because it gave him a chance to sit here with you and just  quietly contemplate his new upcoming emotions- which was not allowed in the current political rule in which you both live, when it was just the two of you however alone in his cage he was allowed to think and to feel however he wanted and it was the best moments he has ever had in his short and hard life. He thought about all kinds of things when he had the chance from all things ranging  between the best ways to get away from Megatron to what it would mean for him if he just stayed and stuck through that overzealous mech’s stupid orders of violence and anger, but his favorite thoughts, the ones he finds himself having even now as you lay against him sleeping because you too have had an exhausting day and even rambling quietly to him was tiring- the thoughts most pleasing were the ones of him taking you away form this place and stashing you somewhere safe until he can figure out what is really going on in this world and what his best options for survival were. It hits him every now and again that he doesn’t really belong anywhere as there were not others like him that existed in his world, but yet he felt right at home when you two were curled up in his cage awaiting the next day of forced labor and agonizing moralistic dilemmas. He didn’t think he could ever be poetic but being in your presence and anytime you graced him with your company he felt as if the sun itself manifested into the form of a beautiful femme that preferred his company over all others.

-Another thing that always caught his attention about you was the way you always were able to stand up for yourself even if the situation was dangerous and no one was around to protect you. It was a sign of your unwavering confidence and stubborn knowledge of knowing you are right in your moralistic actions against those known as the Autobots, you were so amazing to watch as you yelled at Starscream for pushing his luck by trying to mess with you and “not really kill you but injury you a little” because he felt like flexing his imaginary power hold over you- you were having none of his nonsense that day and you weren’t afraid to tell him where he can go shove a rusty pipe. Starscream wasn’t very amused by it and in a moment of weakness on Predaking’s part he jumped into action to stop that annoying mech’s hand from hitting you off your position on a console on the outside of his cage by transforming into his alt mode to loom over the offending mech with his own sheer height and prescns. Predaking uttered words along the lines of “if you so much as touch my beloved one, I will rip the spark right out of your chest and make you regret the day you were ever created”. It worked as Starscream laughed nervously as he does when he is threatened by ones bigger than him and excused himself spouting some nonsense about his daily duties recalling his attention elsewhere, and Predaking knew he was going to go tattle to Megatron in hoping he would dole out a punishment. He wouldn’t however and would just scold Starscream for starting a situation he couldn’t really finish and for distracting others from doing their everyday jobs. He noticed a shift in your personality after that- you were unbearably quiet and you did not sit close with him in beast form as you normally would have and that made him so nervous and a little scared. Did he do something wrong earlier by protecting you from Starscream? Were you offended that he stepped in to stop a physical attack on your form because you had some plan to make him look a fool instead? His mind was so busy buzzing with all that he thought he could do wrong when you took it upon yourself, as you always do, to be the one to break the silence and address the problem in the room. You told him that it was kind of him to protect you but you couldn’t possibly be his beloved because a King like him deserved someone so much better than what you could offer- you beartted yourself as being bland and unkind and he almost balked at the sheer idea that you thought yourself to weak to be his most beloved. He just huffed in his beast form and dragged you closer to him  with his tail while he nuzzled his face against your body- and he was blown away by how good you smelled and how warm you felt, yes, if you would have him than he would try his best to prove to you that you were worthy of his love.

(05/07/18)

[bienready2122]

Do You Dream of a Beach Wedding?

What is a fantasy wedding, or all the more significantly, what might be your fantasy wedding? It's fairly emotional, would it say it isn't? We are on the whole people, with various preferences and desires. So how would we choose what kind of wedding and wedding bundle we need, and above all where? Do we pick a conventional wedding in a congregation or something altogether different and exceptionally sentimental, for example, a sea shore wedding?

My little girl is getting hitched very soon and, obviously, her sister and I have gotten ourselves particularly made up for lost time in the energy, all things considered,mơ thấy đám cưới của người khác I'm staying here in my nursery on a stunning morning, the sun is sparkling, the air is new and warm. I can smell the honeysuckle that is moving up my fence. Out of nowhere I hear seagulls overhead. Goodness, those beautiful sea shores that I had visited, sat and loose on. Considering about my girl's cutting-edge wedding, my musings start to meander back to my big day forty years prior.

It was a cool November day in England. I remained outside our delightful red stone church shuddering with the cold in a white full length wedding dress while the picture taker took the wedding photos.

It was as yet an awesome day yet in the event that I was straightforward I would have wanted to have remained on a tropical sea shore with warm white sand between my toes, washed in the marvelous, sentimental light of a tropical night, encompassed by the fragrance of tropical blooms and stirring palm trees. What's more, tune in to the delicate lapping of warm purplish blue water upon the sea shore with the man I love next to me sharing the most sentimental life-changing encounters of my life.

So I thought, on the off chance that I had my wedding on a sea shore, perhaps a tropical sea shore, what do I need in my wedding plan and I concocted a couple of thoughts. So on the off chance that you also have chosen to have that brilliant sea shore wedding, view a portion of my thoughts when arranging your sea shore wedding bundle:

What season, as this could impact your goal?

What number of visitor/family do you wish to welcome.

Rundown the areas where you wish to wed. Consider how far you need to travel and the expense.

What is the topic of the sea shore wedding? Do you need an easygoing or formal wedding? It very well may be as easygoing as you prefer, however I figure naked would cause a commotion. Be that as it may, hello what the hell, it's your day and in the event that you can locate a bare sea shore, pull out all the stops!

The shading plan you might want. It doesn't need to be white.

Would you like to orchestrate everything yourself or would you rather place the entire thing in the hand of an expert master.

Consider the setting cautiously, there are numerous sorts to suit all pockets.

Furthermore, above all: spending limit.

Obviously there is significantly more to arranging a sea shore wedding or any wedding, however you need to begin some place. Research the books and magazines that are accessible. Select a range and read the greatest number of as you can. Search for articles that different ladies have possibly expounded on their sea shore wedding bundle. Look on YouTube, I know there are numerous recordings accessible there. All these will offer you master guidance.

Your big day is one of the most significant and most exceptional days throughout your life so I wish you your fantasy wedding and great recollections.

[writtenbymatthew]

🎈 ♡ 🎩 🃏 ☔🌚 (You said to send a few so whoops)

Halloween with Jay

🎩 - our muses go costume shopping together 

“You didn’t say ‘no peaking’ so I thought I’d take my chances.” Matt said, holding the curtain of the dressing cubicle to the side. Only just far enough for him to eye Jay with a smug smile on his face but shielding her with his long posture from other curious eyes. Not that there were many customers out in the costume shop. Which surprised Matt a bit, considering it was Halloween but then again, who else went shopping this late for an event on a Tuesday afternoon? He surely didn’t mind anyway, as it gave Jay and him all the space they needed. “You really want me to turn around?” He gave her a little pout after being caught staring at her half-dressed body. Every line and curve were still in their familiar place and the only thing holding his hands back from lingering over her soft skin was the fact he already enjoyed their time out together without his hormones. He liked keeping it that way. “You look really good in that.” He complimented at last, never actually having complied to her request of turning around. She’d probably never really expected him to anyway. His words were true, however, he knew Jay looked as beautiful as ever in literally anything she wore. Including this little devil costume. A bright smile formed upon his lips, happy that he could make her happy. “Love, it’s called irony. And it’s still very matching!” Matt pointed out after getting a remark on his outfit. He’d traded his original satan suit for one of an angel. The fact it fit him well only added to its humour, he thought. “C'mon, just admit you like it. You’ll be able to tell everyone how I’ve fallen for you.”

🎈 - our muses go to a Halloween party together

“You look dead.” That was the response the bantering lad gave Jay as she twirled around for him, asking him how she looked. “What?! I mean, to be fair, that was what you were going for, wasn’t it?” Matt held up his hands in surrender though there was no innocence to be detected in his grin. Luckily, Jay saw the humour in it. One of the things he loved most about her, though to be fair he loved every piece of her to bits, was the fact they could joke around all the time. And there was no one he enjoyed teasing more than the girl making her way over to their front door. It often surprised him she wasn’t aware of how breathtakingly beautiful she struck as. But perhaps it had something to do with the fact he just called her dead. Which in his defense was true today, seeing as they’d went all out to dress up for the Halloween party they were attending. Usually he was in charge of picking out the best party spots but when Halloween came around, he crowned Jay as decision taker for the month. After all, she had a way of combining what was best for both of them, a skill he had yet to learn or at least re-acquaintance himself with after their time apart. “Can I have this dance?” There was a tap on the black haired girl’s shoulder and a drink that almost spilled over as she spun on her heels. Matt almost had to shout in her ear to get the words across the crowded room, booming with music and glowing lights. But when they reached her at last, their smiles appeared simultaneously and she nodded, probably thinking it was silly of him to ask. Offering his hand, they connected right in the middle. However, instead of starting to sway or do anything that came remotely close to being called ‘dancing’, he led her outside. Carefully and protectively so no one would crush what he held so preciously. Once the refreshing air hit them, he repositioned them and let the rest of the world fade away like the music had. “I love you so much.” He admitted, swaying with her to the rhythm of beating hearts and synched breathing.

🃏 - our muses to play a prank on someone else (throw toilet paper over their house, etc) 

“I’m glad you agreed with my genius plan.” Matt looked up from the lock he was picking. “Fine, fine, our genius plan.” He huffed slightly. “Alright, it was yours. But I’m helping, aren’t I?” The small click of success resonated after his words and the door swung open after his admission, drawn out by Jay’s scrutinizing gaze. Both of them were just joking, of course, and it felt incredibly good to fool around with her like this again. Only, he was persistent on not comparing it to before and calling it ‘the good old days’. Because this time around, Matt was adamant on not letting things go wrong. Making these the good days, so who would care about the old ones? “You’ve got the sticks? If you think about it, we’re just doing a good thing by recycling these.” Rummaging through his bag, he pulled out the empty rolls of toilet paper, out of which they’d cut two eyes, shaped differently every time. Jay shushed him, telling him they’d blew their cover if he kept making her laugh and of course she was right but he couldn’t help longing for that delightful sound. However, the scared squeals of chaos in a few more minutes would make a nice second, he decided at last. Breaking the red glow in the dark sticks and attaching them to the insides of the rolls went fast as they worked side by side, putting them up in the corners of the hallway as quiet as they could. The second part of the plan where they had to cut the power was a little trickier. Not necessarilly the breaking in part, they were pretty skilled in that but they had argued about doing it before the chaos or after, to create only more chaos. Eventually Matt had had to admit, it did sound better to turn the lights off after luring the students out of their rooms but they’d have to work fast if they didn’t want the rolls to be found first. “I’ll miss you.” A small pout placed playfully on his lips as they finished ‘decorating’ the place. Their ways had to part now as they’d cover a lot more rooms if they split up. Her eye-roll made him break out into a big smile and he leaned in to give her a long kiss. “In case I never see you again.” He whispered when he pulled back for air. She sent him on his way with a slap against the shoulder and he chuckled, starting his quest with three solemn knocks on every student’s door he could get to in time. The floors were creaking under their weight but it would only add to the effect. Right when he accidentally knocked over something, the first doors were being opened up by confused, sleepy students and he sprinted back to the electrical service panel, pulling down all levers as fast as he could. “I’m so proud of us.” He smiled a little out of breath, once reunited with Jay. The red glow sticks gave everything a nasty glow at 4:15 in the morning. With a sound mixed between a sigh and a laugh, he added, as they sneaked back out, “Next year, we’ll have to find a solution to the flashlights everyone has built into their phones though.” 

☔ - you get caught in the rain with my muse 

♡ - your muse cuddles up with my muse (for warmth, obviously)

His sneeze was the only thing to be heard over the loud clattering of rain. Followed by her coo. And a final sigh to top it all off. He was supposed to thank God for the small plastic roof provided above their heads but instead he’d rather cuss him out for not letting him find the damn appartment keys. “I could’ve sworn I put them in my pocket. But then again, I couldn’t even bring a bloody umbrella so who knows?” He muttered under his breath. Normally Matt wasn’t as affected by the weather, it was only natural to him since he grew up in England. Three sunny days and he knew they’d hit their yearly maximum. But it was cold this time of year and the clouds kept showering over not only him, but also her. And he hated to see her soaked to the bone, trying her best not to shiver when he looked cause it felt like his fault they’d left unprepared. What a bloody brilliant idea it had been to pick Jay up from class but park your car miles away, Matthew, seriously, he thought to himself. The little walk he’d had in mind had turned into a ‘Who’ll be first at the car’-race rather quickly when the rain had started pouring down on them. “Sorry. Come here.” He pulled her close, rubbing her hands together between his own, hoping it would provide him some warmth. Then he pulled his sweater’s sleeves as far as he could to cover hers as well and put them inside the front pocket of his sweater. Hopefully keeping them warm despite the wet fabric. “I promise you’ll get to take the first hot shower.” He offered as a way of an apology, the tips of their cold noses touching in an eskimo kiss now they were standing so close. Suddenly her eyes went wide and before he could even ask what was up, she pulled out her hand from his sweater, holding up the keys triumphantly. “If I wasn’t afraid I’d sneeze all over you, I could kiss you right now. Yes!” With a slight tremble and desperation in his hands, he unlocked the door and held out the door for her. By the time she’d gotten out of the shower, she returned to a turned on stove and a fort of blankets on their couch. “I’m cold.” Showing up from behind her with a childish pout and in only a fresh pair of boxers and a blanket, he spread his arms to welcome her under the soft fabric as well. Then he encompassed her, almost hugging her inside so they merged into one big, fluffy blanket with two heads poking out. Both their hair still dripping wet, though one colder than the other. “Okay, I did not think this through.” Laughter arose as they awkwardly shuffled like a big mass to the couch and plopped down there at last, enjoying each others warmth.

🌚 - you decorate the house for Halloween with my muse 

“Jay… Did you put goggly eyes on literally everything?!” Matt yelled in surprise as he walked out of the bathroom. With a proud smile, her head popped around the corner, her black hair falling down and framing her soft face as she mouthed the word ‘yes’. Well, maybe she’d said it out loud, but it was hard to hear over their loud music. With the remote, he turned it down a notch and walked over, cupping her face with his bloodstained hands. “Brilliant.” He pecked her nose. “I didn’t think you could surprise me anymore but you always end up doing so. When did you even buy these?” He laughed at the comical sight of the plastic eyes following him with every move. The whole house was set in an orange glow as night had set in and all the light bulbs had been changed. They always went all out for Halloween cause it was her favourite holiday and seeing her so happy, made it his favourite holiday as well. “Oh, look at that, you got a little something on your cheek, dear.” He chuckled as he let go of her. His hand prints a little smudged in red, stained her cheeks. Matt himself had busied himself with decorating the bathroom, the usual bugs drawn on the toilet paper; bloody handprints on the wall; lipstick on the mirror and a corpse in the tub. With all that, he’d forgotten to wash his hands and now he was smiling down at the messy consequences. “Do we put up our bug cut-outs in the lamps? Maybe add some more spider webs or are we done?” He rolled his eyes as she pointed out to him that with his lack of cleaning, there were already plenty of spider webs around the appartment. Pulling out a wipe, he reached for her cheeks and got the fake blood of. “Tsk, don’t say I don’t clean anything up anymore.” A tiny hint of wicked edged on his lips as he placed his dirty hands full on on Jay’s shirt before using the wipe on his own hands. “Oops. I think I’ll have to clean that up too.” Hinting, he reached for her shirt as he pulled her in for a kiss. But it didn’t last long and confused she asked him what was wrong. “They’re watching us.” His eyes were trained on the goggly eyes as he replied before they both ended up in a fit of giggles.

[the-ships-to-rule-them-all]

We Can Have All That We Ever Want

Part 1 on AO3 here

                                           Live For the Danger

or Jason’s conflicted feeling about his teammate get called out in a weird way

The first time someone accuses Jason of dating one of his teammates is actually one of his former teammates, Brad. He’s standing in gym, talking with Zack when he feels a ball wizz by his head. He looks over to see a bunch of his former teammates staring at him in awe. He had done nothing, merely leaned out of the way and then he glances at Zack and sees that his fellow ranger had caught the ball and was now glaring at his old friends.

“Hey, buddy. Relax”

Zack sighs, looking down at his shoe for a moment and Jason reaches over to grab his shoulder.  He squeezes tight enough that anyone else would probably scream in pain but they have a different tolerance for pain than other people. Jason ideally lets the thought of how that would translate to sex cross his mind but then he remembers that he’s in public and banishes the question to the far corners of his mind.

“It’s ok.” he says, “It’s not like it would have done anything. Hell, it would probably just bounce right off and everyone would be very confused.”

Zack lets out a laugh, low enough that only Jason can hear it but it still jolts him from leader mode. He squeezes one more time and feels the man beside him relax. But that brief reprisal from tension is lost as a guy on the other side of the court yells out.

“Hey, you two going to stop making out and let out us get back to the game?”

Jason straightens up and he notices the way most of the guys immediately take a step back.

“Jase.” Zack says softly and he turns back to look at the black ranger. The guy looks shaken enough that Jason feels the familiar mixture of rage and protectiveness that comes from anyone coming after his fellow teammates. He’s gotten used to shaking it off, he knows that they are all pretty badass in their own right but he’s still the leader. It has to mean something. And Zack is looking at the guys standing in front of them, his former teammates. The guys who were the first to learn about the fact that he is bisexual and refused to judge them. The guys Jason thought were better than this. And Zack looks like he is torn between fighting and running and Jason feels his fingers curl into the fists. The amount of time he’s spent training in the pit with the team, wearing armor or not, has made the motion almost casual, almost normal.

“They aren’t worth it.”

He hears Zack say and there’s a tone in his voice that tells Jason this comment isn’t the first time his teammate has been subjected to these types of taunts. Yes, all of four of them know about Trini and somehow that’s made them all more sensitive and on a knife’s edge to comments about sexuality.

“It’s not ok.” Jason spits out, teeth bared into a snarl that he knows resembles Trini’s zord more than it necessarily should considering he is still human.

“Hey, if this is a lover’s spat we can leave?” One of the guys calls out. Jason shuts his eyes as he recognizes the voice of his linebacker, his teammate since he was eight, the guy who’d been his first kiss after a late night drinking, Brad.

“Shut up.” He hisses out and even Zack takes a step back at his tone. He hears footsteps and until he is nose to nose with Brad he hadn’t realized that they were his. He feels a hand pressed against his back and he knows that it’s Zack, trying to calm him down without words but all that does is set the guys standing before them in a round of hideous laughter and Jason, Jason wants to kill.

“Red.” Zack mutters in his ear, his nails now digging into Jason’s jeans and shit, that shouldn’t send shivers down his spine. His hands clench and unclench in one smooth motion and he turns away. Getting detention for fighting would be the last straw and he was already on thin ice as it was. He couldn’t, wouldn’t, get suspended for letting some idiots opinion of him and his friends cause him to throw a punch. He is the red fucking power ranger for shit’s sake. He’s basically Captain America. He sighs, breathing in deep as he blocks out every sound but that of Zack’s heartbeat and he feels the anger melt away.

“Let’s go.” Zack mutters, and Jason can feel the nervous energy coiling around Zack’s body. His friend is just as furious as he is and Jason doesn’t quite understand why until they are walking out and he sees Zack glance back at one of the boys, a blonde who had made the first comment, and the pain in his eyes makes Jason want to say screw getting suspended and slam the guy into a wall so hard his teeth fall out.

The two of them make their way out of the school, only pausing to shoot a text to the group chat to let the others that they are going to the mountains. Once they are out of the parking lot, Jason glances at Zack. He knew that his friend had been picked by Kim that morning. No one really discussed the state of the Taylor’s finances but he didn’t have a car and there were only so many mornings he could use his speed to get to school before someone with authority noticed.

“I think a run would be good.” Zack offers, shooting Jason the same grin he had that first night of the car and the blond can predict the next words coming out of his friend’s mouth so all he says is, “I’ll win.”

He speeds off and he can Zack calling him a cheater from behind him but all he can do let out a laugh that gets swallowed up by the air as he runs. It’s just a free feeling, running so quickly that city that has caused him so much heartache can be left in the dust. By the time he makes it up the cliff, he is breathing a little bit harder but not much. He hears Zack come up behind him a second later and he accepts the other man’s high five. They are both breathing loud enough that the other can hear and Zack rests his hand against his forehead and breaks into a grin. And it’s beautiful.

God, his teammates are so beautiful it makes Jason want to scream in agony sometimes. Because the skin and the sweat and the grins that they grant him are enough that he’s been able to observe that the Power also gave him better refraction time. He shakes his head, grabbing his water and drowning a gulp before turning it over his head. Zack looks at him confused for a minute before laughing.

“We’re just going to get wet anyway aren’t we?”

Jason nods, flicking water at him.

“So what do you want?” Zack asks slowly and with a grin that Jason’s just wants to kiss off because it’s so damn cocky. No, he shouldn’t be thinking about kissing them, especially Zack because it’s bad enough that they’ve become his wank material, wanting to date his teammate is just a bad idea. No, it’s worse than the idea with the cow. It would just fuck everything up in a way that they would never be able to come back from. But the words almost come out of his mouth anyway before he bites his teeth down on his tongue hard enough that he feels a spurt of blood.

“Campfire tonight?” is what he says instead of the words he wants to, the words he almost said anyway.  Which were come over here and kiss me. It’s been too long since they sat in the front of the fire and soaked in each other and the beauty of the planet they’ve been tasked to protect. Kim looks beautiful always but the way she looks illuminated by fire sends shivers down Jason’s spine. He’s such a selfish asshole, as much as he knows that the team needs this, he’s doing it because of the way the rest of team gets in front of the fire, laughing and loose and everything Jason wants but refuses to take.

Zack nods, grinning at him as he says, “You just want my cooking don’t you?”

“You got me.” Jason replies, rubbing his neck with his hand, glad that his reasoning seems sound to his friend. He reaches out and shoves Zack and the two of them fall into fighting stance exchanging jabs and punches until they hear Billy’s voice.

“You guys have been out here for 4 hours 20 minutes.”

“Really?” Jason says, pulling off his shirt and wiping his face with it. God, he needed that.

He puts the shirt down and doesn’t notice the way the rest of the team immediately shut their mouths and move their eyes back to his face. He knows that he is dripping and he’s suddenly glad that they started leaving clothes at each other’s places. It means that while Zack is explaining to the plan to the others he can run over to Kim’s and grab a fresh shirt. He speeds back up the mountain, and when he gets there the rest of team has already started the fire. As he sits in the one of the campfire chairs Trini had grabbed for them, he grins at Zack who hands him one of the s’mores that Kim was making for them. She was the only one to go to summer camp for more than a year and so was the best.

“Starting with dessert?” He asks, grinning as he sees Billy licking marshmallow from his fingertips.

Trini laughs as she leans back in her chair, drinking a beer. She sees him looking at her and reaches down to grab him one that rests in the ice chest by her feet. He nods in thanks as he sets it down beside him. He loves his team. The sense of peace he feels with them, the understanding, the beauty of the way they all are so comfortable with each other.

But that moment is nearly broken and he goes back to feeling selfish as he nearly moans in delight as he takes a bit of Kim’s s'more. The rest of the team cracks up, patting Kim on the back as she smirks at him. Kim is as much of risk taker as any of them but the way she’s looking at him makes him stuff the rest of chocolatey treat in his mouth to make his moan about that instead of the image of Kim laughing at him as she straddles him because that’s what the look is making him think of. It’s pure sin, that look, and Jason looks away first, shifting to pull the blanket over his lap and trying to shove away his desires. His eyes turn to Zack who is handing out food to them all, throwing Trini a giant bag of his homemade trail mix and Jason barely manages to catch the bag of buns that the man throws his way.

They all sit, eating and talking and no one brings up the fact that Jason and Zack skipped out during the last period but sometimes throughout the night Jason catches Zack’s eye and sees a flicker of pain that he wants to understand. They end up deciding to sleep under the stars, curled up and wrapped around each other with blankets tossed around each other’s legs and shoulders. Jason ends up in the middle by some apparent team discussion he wasn’t privy to and he sighs as he rests his head against Billy’s chest, his hand holding Kim’s and Zack is sprawled up against his stomach as his legs are tangled with Trini’s, the yellow ranger snoring softly curled up against Kim. He shares a glance with Kim, the only one he can actually make eyes with, feeling Billy’s hand stroke his hair as the pink ranger tangles her other hand in Trini’s hair and they share a soft smile. Jason thinks this would be enough, even though he wants more, this, this is enough. The stars, his team and the feeling of being wanted sends him off to a peaceful sleep.

Tagging people that I know have seen the movie: @rangerkim @tomioliver @saltymonty @prosciuttoe @magnusbancs @kathillards

[jenniferk54-blog]

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[doesitreallywork]

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The Good luck examination- right here you will certainly remain in a setting to recognize quickly the indications that will certainly reveal that a lady wishes to copulate you. You’ll learn more about the signals as well as likewise expect every step she makes.

Quiet seducer- below you will certainly obtain details on exactly how to utilize eye get in touch with as well as additionally body movement so regarding reveal deep destination without also needing to state a word.

Warrior Self-confidence- below a basic formula containing 7 actions will certainly supplied so regarding obtain the shyness far from you and also make you dominate the worry of denial that could emerge, finish your social anxiousness as well as gain self-confidence in all circumstances.

The Hero Reflex- an extremely effective strategy on just how to normally come close to any type of lady with utmost self-confidence that will certainly prevent the idea of being rejected will certainly be offered right here.

Attractive Outfit- do you really understand just how to clothe so regarding bring in the females? Based upon the kind of the physique you have, you will certainly understand just how to clothe so regarding attract ladies’s interest.

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Kiss Radar- you’ll determine the ideal minute for the lady to be kissed.

Sensual Enchanter– rowdy expressions targeted at teasing a female right into sex-related craze will certainly be offered.

Enchanting Risk-taker

Sex-related Violin– below you’ll recognize just how to experiment with a female’s satisfaction areas.

Does this item supply any kind of bonuses?

This write is come with by some bonuses that will certainly make the procedure efficient. They consist of:

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Just how much does the item expense?

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Cons

– Considering that all ladies are not the exact same, it could not service some ladies.

Summary

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The post The Nightingale Method Review – Does It Really Work? appeared first on Does It Really Work?.

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[tracybates81-blog]

7 Advantages Of group That May Adjustment Your Perspective.

Seven Stereotypes Regarding team That Aren't Always Real.

Today, public firms are seeing the worth in growing their entities as well as easing shareholder anxiousness with a streamlined acquisitions and also merger process which raises business holdings, stimulates share value and trading volume while supplying a valuable and unmatched incubation process for the firm being combined (or a successful leave method for those being gotten). Lord, I am laughing at your recommendation to the political events - I do not know the amount of group structure exercises it would require to make them collaborate 0n a problem! Surprisingly, I discovered that the best means to establish a cohesive group was to eat in restaurants together en masse. The team effort need to come before any kind of staff member's very own individual or specialist agenda in the organiztion or group during the job. Each team was to designate a captain responsible for setting the technique and directing the soldiers. TeamViewer is an essential structure, which aids bring modern technology as well as art together. After decreasing to take part in the first World Cup (1930, in Uruguay) the Italian national group won two consecutive editions of the event in 1934 and 1938, under the instructions of train Vittorio Pozzo and the efficiency of Giuseppe Meazza, who is thought about among the most effective Italian football gamers of all time by some. An efficient participant of a sales group has both an innate ability and also has sharpened his or her experience for numerous years. Not a whole lot to claim about him, he is a great finisher which's basically his work for the team. CEO's could ensure the effective performance of the leading team by offering information, information now mps - helpful site, and resources to provide the group objectives. When working this video game in a 2 v 2 or 3 v 3 setting, encourage overlapping as well as angled runs. This is a great one, team structure is one technique that i have actually likewise realized to be really efficient particularly when the lecture subject of the day appears to be charging. Telekinesis: This does take an action to move (If you keep in mind, that suggests you place a token under it) and to earn it simple, it could move one more item on either team up to 8 areas. Assisting in commitment to relocate beyond the existing state to a much better future state is the whole purpose of the group building experience, and also it takes extremely skilled and also expert handling.

Skills That You Can Gain from team.

Assertively connect the vision, goal and values of your organization to your staff to build a positive and also dynamic group environment. It is always the memory of a holiday well invested, an experience collectively taken or something accomplished together as a group. Great deals of something to chew on here-character traits of staff member, balancing independent thinking/work with team job, as well as a lot more. This is a very important step towards creating a well-knit cross-functional group. Concentrate on assisting staff member understand their payment as well as seek possibilities for them to use their toughness regularly.

What It resembles Dating group.

You could buy shirts of your team so you could show your support to everybody if you are a fan of football. These 2 have to be at contrary ends of a space or perhaps in different areas - far enough away that they can not interact in all. You can delight in the manifold advantages of outsourcing by working with an entire online team to benefit you- and all under roof covering and from the office of the same outsourcing supplier. The following five pointers support the concept that Open Expression, Details Equity as well as Performance Dependability expand from exactly how well a team interacts within itself. By creating a fun, non-judging ambience, the majority of workers will participate the entertaining activities as well as discover a little about each various other. You ought to be open to everyone and allow each member to feel a valued person in the group. On the various other hand, a cultural group might choose a gentler-sounding name, whilst a company team would certainly do much better to choose something to match their service goals and also standards. Move on to a New Best Degree by providing synergy a much-needed second look in your service as well as life. Then gamers need to rest out on even more fun tasks like scrimmages and little sided video games, if the actions proceeds after the talk. Forcing a potentially champion staff member to remain on the group may really obstruct his efficiency and his efficiency evaluation. Swim team is an excellent sport for children that take advantage of a specific sport environment, however likewise intend to belong to a group. Team structure skills, like time management, strategic as well as creative reasoning, as well as focus, are vital to an effective and reliable workplace environment. Il percorso che Emilio Innocenzi ha intrapreso con la Team Solution ha origini lontane; è sostanzialmente la storia di un progetto di successo, di soddisfazioni ineguagliabili, ma anche di impegno, passione e professionalità. I 'd also like to add Castle as well as Beckett (and also possibly extend that to the rest of the group in Castle). Constructing an identification for a team - is never ever something that happens over night or in a two day workshop. A great leader rises by his/her team; not by frequently patting him/herself on the back. It is necessary to ensure that the team building instructors you pick are fully certified. A composed corrective declaration must be released and provided to the turbulent staff member in format enabling the worker an action in writing and also a particular activity strategy stated for correction and also an activity prepare for failure to remedy the turbulent activities. Whether it was cornerback Darrelle Revis or facility Nick Mangold, most of the most significant names on the Jets lineup had actually currently been let go. The team has been trying to trade defensive end Sheldon Richardson for time but hasn't located any takers, as Manish Mehta of the New york city Daily News reported.

[atasteforhearts]

Tarot Spread: Creativity and Courage

Again, a spread taken from Beth Maiden.

1. Fear: Six of Cups. This is typically a "positive" card: Joyful memories of youth. Old friends. Innocence and simplicity. Roots. So what is it that I fear, what holds me back, when it comes to the six of cups?

This card is interesting, because I've actually been thinking a lot lately about my past and how it's carried me here. I learned a lot of things as a child that were good: How to be still. How to listen to others and to bend and support. How to persevere. But I'm an accomodating person by nature; I want to please others. I want to learn. I want to meet their standards and then some.

And so I excelled so, so well at being A Good Little Girl. I've unlearned a lot of it, learned how to be bolder and stand up for myself and still help the people around me, but as I was talking to a friend yesterday: I still have things to deprogram. I need to unlearn the vision of success I was taught as a child, and need to finally learn how to actually center myself at the center of my own life -- me, the me under the hood, the one that is so far down that it's hard to find her.

I need to move past being that person who wanted so desperately to get out of her hometown and to succeed, to being that person who is genuinely at one with herself and who can approach all the aspects of her life with the rootedness and joy of a child.

2. Hope: Two of Cups. Always, yes. I always hope for connection, for a reaching out to others -- a meeting of minds. It's why my partner and I work: We both delight in having three-hour wandering conversations about everything and nothing.

I think I could interpret this in a number of ways, because when I think about what my hopes really are right now. Yes, I do hope for a deepening of the relationship with my partner, because I always want to go deeper. But I think there's really two relationships that I've been lacking in my life recently. One is the relationship with myself that I mentioned above. But the other is my relationship with my friends; I've been feeling lonely lately, as my friends have gotten very involved with their jobs or moved closer to their jobs (and therefore away from our shared town). I've missed those close friendships.

So, how do those relate to my fear? Hmm. I think there's some real room in there for the positive. Reaching out and making connections always make me flower -- but in the context of this deprogramming, of getting closer to my own self, maybe it's time to start to share the things I've been thinking about with others. To reach out and bring them into this journey. 

Special bonus! You can just see it in the picture: The Three of Swords got stuck to the back of the Two of Cups, which I didn't see until I read the first. I'm going to take this as a secondary, because it's something I've genuinely been thinking recently too: I need to shed relationships that aren't working for me. There are some folks in my life who I realize have a habit of taking instead of giving, who I receive support from but who support me a lot less. I don't want the emotional storm of the Three of Swords, but I do think that this is something I need to take into account: Don't keep takers around, and don't accidentally introduce any in my life while I'm looking for all these connections around me.

3. Transform: Five of Pentacles. A card of transformation all its own: upsets and worry. But, in actuality, this is something I've been doing for ages already. I'm not reading the future here; I'm reading the present. I'm reading advice. This is going to be hard. Of course it’s going to be hard; I need to make some changes in my life, and this card reflects the upset and the troubles that go along with making big changes. But this card also is reminding me of something: Take the worry and the fear and the ill-fitting job that make me nutty and to do something with that -- take the worrying and the anxiety and make them help me forward, instead of holding me back. I'm probably going to have to spend a lot of time meditating and holding quiet counsel and being careful, but the only way to get through this is to get through it.

4. Release: Father of Swords. Fair, analytical, objective; the fair and just man devoted to his family and able to weigh in on the situation with dirtying himself up in it. It is time to be not that. It is time to dig deep and dirty, to stop wrangling and interrogating my emotions and desires, to stop stifling them and to start feeling and following them. Really feeling and following them. For once in my life, I need to let go of my responsibilities -- probably inducing the worry and anxiety indicated by the Five of Pentalces, but growth and moving forward are worth that.

5. Ground: Son of Swords. Determination. It's time to stop pussy-footing about and to do -- to dive, sword clutched in claws. It's not clear what I need to do, in particular, although swords always suggests the intellect (an alley to which I'm particularly suited). It is clear, however, that I need to stick to it and follow through. I need to not give in when the going gets tough, because it’s going to, but the journey is going to be worth it.

6. Create: Three of Wands. What a joyful card to see here, a card for taking the support I've had and running forward from it; a card that says to follow my own heart and head and run towards the future, to clarify my goals and to do what I need to do, not what others want me to do. This is what creation needs to be for me: running towards myself and my own infinite future.

Overall, this is both a terrifying and exhilarating reading. On the one hand, it’s pushing me to move forward, to seek out my innermost self -- but it’s also reminding me that all movement induces friction, and warning me to watch out for that. It’s a lot of cups and swords -- oh swords! the suit that loves me most -- and that makes for a lot of transformation and a lot of emotion. 

Time to buckle in.

[heartmadeofstxne]

This is the first of a series of drabbles about some of my characters called “People Fall Asleep on Lucas” 

This is Charlie

Pairing: Lucas/Charlie

Words: About 2500

Shameless fluff with a little bit of hurt/comfort, (not really a sickfic but kinda)

Commences under the cut

Charlie had been sick for a handful of days, dragging himself to his classes and pushing himself through practice with a racking cough and spiking fever. It took the collective efforts of pretty much everyone in their dorm to get his ass down to the infirmary where they kept him for the end of the week. Now, his fever had broken and his cough no longer left him breathless for minutes after. The illness had left him tired and achy and taken all but the last pieces of his voice but also stir crazy.

Lucas lounged lazily on the couch, legs stretched, typing absentmindedly on his laptop. He’d never been more relieved that the coaches had given the team a fairly light, quick Friday afternoon practice. Their sick captain wasn’t the only player showing fatigue and for once Lucas couldn’t argue with cutting down on the amount of practice.

Charlie returned to the dorm leaning only a little on Mr. Donovan as they went up the hill. Upon seeing Lucas his face lit up with more energy than he’d showed nearly all week, prompting his dorm parent to give a bemused chuckle. Lucas didn’t look up from his screen and Charlie silently chewed on his lip in disappointment.   

“Luc. Look who I found.” Lucas jumped slightly at the sound of Mr.Donovan’s voice and scanned the room searching. Seeing Charlie, Lucas’ throat gave a small gasp of delight as he leaped to his feet, leaving his laptop discarded on the floor to bound across the room.

“Hey babe” Lucas punctuated his greeting by leaning over and kissing Charlie’s forehead.  Charlie beamed and opened his mouth to respond but was cut off by a disapproving cluck from Mr. Donovan.

“He can stay in the dorms with us for the weekend, provided that he takes it easy and actually rests his voice and lets it recover.” Like a switch, Charlie’s smile turned into a scowl and he lifted his chin slightly in defiance. Lucas took the opportunity to run his fingertips along Charlie’s still slightly swollen neck and glands. Despite the light touch, Charlie winced and Lucas’ hand dropped instantly.

“You still look pretty rough C. I bet you’ve done a real number on your vocal chords. Come on, let’s get you back to your room so you can get some rest before everyone else gets back and hound you.” Lucas deposited Charlie into the room that he shared with Mathieu before heading to the next door over and sliding down to lean against his bed. Eyes closed he could hear what sounded like Charlie walking around and moving things in his room and Lucas groaned but couldn’t bring himself to himself to stand back up. If Charlie wanted to fucking kill himself on a Friday afternoon Lucas wasn’t going to stop him.

Lucas half surprised himself by falling asleep on the floor in the middle of the afternoon. It was a habit that he’d picked up from some combination of having Dylan for a roommate and just being a high schooler. He woke up to his already sore neck being tight and upset from leaning against the wood of the bed. With a sharp exhale, Lucas stood up, stopping for a moment to let the world spin around him. Slowly, rubbing sleep from his eyes he stumbled his way back into the common area. Charlie was on the couch, leaning against Natalie, Maddie on the ground at his feet. Dylan and Carmen seemed remarkably peaceful, sharing the loveseat and so Lucas lowered himself into a chair at the dining table.

“You look like shit” Mathieu said as way of greeting as he took the seat across from Lucas.

“It’s what happens when you take an unplanned nap in the middle of the day.” Lucas grumbled running a hand through his hair bitterly.

“It’s a good thing you’re going to be using this weekend to fucking sleep then.” Mathieu didn’t phrase it as a question and Lucas rolled his eyes.

“You say that like I don’t have 3 tests next week and a paper coming up.”

“All things you can do after you relax for a bit.”

“I don’t feel like you’re exactly one to be making that point M.”

“No one in this fucking dorm takes care of themselves so we each have to look out for each other. You spend this weekend making sure Charlie doesn’t try to get back on the ice or like sing. I’ll make sure you don’t burn yourself out studying.”

“Who looks after you?”

“Nat.” Mathieu responded without missing a beat.

“We’re freaking 16, M. Why are we so tired all the time?”

“Stacose”

“You couldn’t have said that in fucking english?”

“No. I like annoying you too much.”

“You are the worst fake-ex-boyfriend ever.”

“I know. So spend some goddamn time with your actual boyfriend you asshole. It’ll be good for both of you and your relationship to have some down time.” Lucas didn’t respond but simply got up with a new mission to find food knowing that Mathieu wouldn’t take it personally.

Mathieu must have recruited Dylan because by the time that Lucas woke up, his roommate had at some point silently snuck out of the room and disabled his alarm. With a sigh, Lucas reached for his glasses and headed out into the almost entirely empty common area. Charlie was alone at the dining table eating a plate of fruit and pancakes. When he saw Lucas approaching his pushed one over to the end of the table.

“Thanks.” Lucas taking the seat and the plate. “Everyone else has headed out I take it?” Charlie nodded. Lucas let his head fall against the hand of his right arm that he had propped up on the table and set to chewing. Charlie rapped twice on the table with his knuckle prompting Lucas to look over in concern “yeah?”

Charlie pointed at Lucas, then placed two fingers on his own temple before tipping his head questioningly. Lucas frowned around the mouthful of food he was swallowing trying to figure out the question.

“Oh” He realized “These” he chuckled and ran a finger along the edge of the frame of his glasses “No I don’t have a headache right now. I just have a feeling it’s just going to be one of those days. Weekend probably. Lots of homework and studying to do.”

Charlie motioned at himself and then at his room and held his hands far apart in front of his own face. He had missed two and a half days of classes while being on bedrest and it wasn’t like the classes he had attended at the beginning of the week had gotten his full attention either. “You’re sick, you were sick. Surely your teachers understand that. You still look like you got hit by a fucking bus. They’re not making you do all of the work are they?”

Charlie shrugged, hesitated and then held out his left hand, palm down and shook it side to side. “I’m sorry C. Sometimes high school just fucking sucks.”

Charlie lowered his gaze to his plate and put his focus on pushing some berries around, no gestured response. It was hard for Lucas to see him struggle to communicate. For a much as Charlie was shy, quiet and withdrawn, for as much as he looked to other people to literally speak for him. It seemed that Lucas had somewhat forgotten how chatty and lively his boyfriend could be. Now he was reduced to fucking miming whatever he was feeling.  They ate the rest of their food in silence.

Lucas thought about what Mathieu had said, he really did. But what Mathieu hadn’t seemed to consider was that he was a natural test taker, while Lucas was more like a normal human being and was not. Anyway it wasn’t like Charlie seemed to want to hang out and have quality boyfriend bonding time either. “I’m going to go do math homework in my room. Uh, knock some shit over if you need anything.”

In his room Lucas dug his math textbook and flipped it open his desk. He worked on the assigned problems, solving triangles by dragging his hand across his notebook. It took so much of his mental energy to remain at least semi focused that he didn’t notice the door behind him open. He only noticed when Charlie wrapped his arms around him from behind. He would have complained but it felt surprisingly nice to have a weight draped over his back, warmth shared between him and someone else. Charlie leaned in close so that his breath was on Lucas’ neck. “Hey babe” Lucas put down his pencil and used his left hand to reach for Charlie’s. Charlie squeezed back with the left while his right hand reached over to grab one of the pencils loose on Lucas’ desk. Pushing himself into his toes so that he could reach all the way over Lucas, Charlie wrote a couple numbers on the paper and almost instantly simplified and solved the equations Lucas had been blankly staring at.  

Lucas turned his chair around, and detangled himself from Charlie’s arms so that they were facing each other. “You know that I love your math brain and your freakish calculator abilities. But maybe we should save the tutoring for when you can, you know actually talk.”

Charlie pulled away and crossed his arms protectively over his chest.  He shrugged and then nodded but made no move to leave Lucas’ room.

“Don’t you have work to be doing?” Lucas wasn’t sure he could focus with his boyfriend looking so pathetic behind him “Go back to your room C.”

Lucas expected another scowl, like he’d given when Mr.Donovan had reminded him not to talk. He hadn’t expected his 17 year old boyfriend to fucking pout at him. But that’s exactly what Charlie was doing, eyes wide, bottom lip stuck out and Lucas didn’t know if he should laugh or cry. He reached out with a gentle hand and laid on Charlie’s left check. “Charlie’s you’re older than me. You really think you can pout and get me to do whatever you want?” Charlie’s expression didn’t change. Lucas’ leg jiggled uneasily against the base of his chair “For fuck’s sake Charlie. Fine. Go to your room, let me finish this up and then I’ll come sit with you or something. I promise. Go.” Satisfied, Charlie dropped his arms, smiled and left the room. Lucas scoffed and rolled his way back to the desk but he couldn’t stop from smiling fondly.

Somehow, Lucas found it easier to focus on his homework and worked on the next set of problems with a renewed energy. He was disrupted by the sound of might be moving boxes, a small crash and then a violent coughing fit. Lucas’ pencil fell to the floor as he leaped to his feet.

“Charlie?” He burst into the other room to find Charlie standing in the middle, holding the guitar that normally hung above his dresser. “Fuck, Charlie. I thought, I thought…nevermind.” Lucas rubbed his forehead and bent down to pick up some of the boxes of Mathieu’s spare parts that had fallen. He had noticed that someone, presumably Natalie or Mathieu had taken the pair of Charlie’s skates and the stick from the entryway of the dorm but he hadn’t put it past Charlie to try and dig out old hockey equipment and try and sneak out. Charlie only gave a sheepish shrug in response. “Come on, I assume you don’t want to be in this room alone much longer” Lucas took Charlie’s arm and pulled him into the common area. Mr.Donovan had emerged from his office at the sounds and Charlie gave him a thumbs up while Lucas rolled his eyes. “I got him. Don’t worry.”

Charlie sat on the couch and strummed happily on his guitar while Lucas picked up a notepad that he must have previously left out and a pen and sat down next to him. The two sat without conversation for quite some time until Charlie started to fade, letting his arms fall and the music stop. Lucas glanced up from his notes “You’re still tired huh?” Charlie couldn’t deny it and shrugged, Lucas took the instrument from him and with great care laid it on the coffee table in front of them.

“Come here” He motioned Charlie over closer to him and flipped on the television where the last 10 minutes of a hockey game were playing. When a one goal lead was blown with 4 minutes left , Lucas gave a triumphant cry while Charlie gave more of a squeak and and then doubled over coughing. “Fuck, fuck. Sorry, sorry. That was my bad. Not one of my greatest plans, that was kinda the inevitable outcome.” Charlie straightened up shaking his head and massaging his throat.

Not your fault He mouthed and Lucas sighed

“Kind of my fault.” Mr.Donovan reappeared with a glass of water and bag of cough drops, both of which Charlie  took graciously.

Lucas curled up on the couch, hugging the notebook to his chest. To his surprise, once Charlie was done drinking and swallowing he leaned against him. He let Charlie stay there for a couple of minutes before glancing around the room and coming up with an idea. He tried to pull his legs out from under Charlie without disturbing him but received a sound of indignation. “I’ll be back. Don’t worry.” He returned to his room with quick strides and scanned his bookshelf until he found what he was looking for.

Charlie was sitting up waiting for his human to return and so Lucas didn’t have to wiggle his way back under the other. “Have you read this?” He asked holding out the beautiful black hardcover book with golden edges to the pages. Charlie shook his head after a glance. “Good. It’s been awhile since I’ve read it but from what I remember you should really enjoy it.”

So Lucas began to read, he’d never been one to read outloud much but Charlie was a great audience of one. At first he fought to keep his eyes open, looking up at his boyfriend with focus and admiration. Lucas however, ran his hand through Charlie’s hair, down his face and neck before resting on his heart. “Don’t worry about it” he whispered “Close your eyes, go to sleep. I’ll read it again with you when you’re feeling better. I just thought you could use something to fill the silence.”

Charlie smiled almost tearfully up at Lucas from where he laid in his lap and Lucas smiled back. He was amazed with how much he felt just sitting there as well. Maybe Mathieu could be right this one time.