#everyone says the way I draw him is squishy and I (happy folded hands on lap sitting emoji)

[sodapopblast]

Sum Arthur doodles from last night

[angels17324]

The Violet Paladin (Keith x Reader) Ch. 16

If you previously asked to be tagged and I haven’t added you yet could you please ask on this post I’m going back to find if I missed anyone. 

Word Count:   Update Schedule: Unknown  [Masterlist] [Prev]

I couldn’t believe it, I didn’t know how to respond, he was kissing me. We pulled back I could feel how hot my face was. I looked away not knowing what to say.  

“Sorry…” He mumbled, “... That was really stupid of me to do,” I was still trying to compose my thoughts does he like me too? “I just didn’t know what to say and you probably have a lot on your mind but I… honestly I don’t know what I was thinking. You probably hate me now.” 

“I don’t hate you,” I quickly spoke up. I was still embarrassed I didn’t know how to respond to this at all. 

“If I’m being completely honest, I’ve kind of liked you for a while, but I never got to talk to you until all this,” He explained rubbing his neck also trying to avoid eye contact.

“Wait, are you serious?” My eyes widened. This was all a dream come true, yet came at the worst possible time, or maybe the best? I don’t know anymore.  

“Yeah, I used to watch you. Not in a creepy way! Or anything like that, just when you were drawing. It was almost like you’d lose yourself in your drawings,``he murmured. He’d watch me? It made me wonder if he’d ever caught me staring at him. 

I curled myself into a little ball, I honestly wanted to disappear this was all too much, “I used to draw you…” I uttered into my folded arms, refusing to look at him. 

“... Look I know we’re here to save the universe… Maybe we… I guess what I want to say is will you go out with me?” 

“Yes,” I responded almost immediately, I never thought something like this would ever happen. This time he seemed to be the one in complete shock. I smiled a bit. After everything else in the last two days this was the best thing. We talked for a few more minutes after this until we both decided it was best to go to bed. I quickly pecked his cheek before going to my room. As soon as the door closed and locked I grabbed my pillow and screamed into it happily. 

Before landing on my bed. I quickly changed before getting into bed. 

I opened my eyes and looked around I was back at my house in the living room I was on the couch��� What was going on? I was so confused, was this a dream or was it everything else. I looked in front of me there was a letter with my name on it, the quick glance I got of it, it was my acceptance letter from the garrison “Mom?” I heard my voice question I turned and saw my younger self. 

“Why?” I felt my body moving like the other times was this my moms memory? What was going on?

“What?” I was so confused. 

“Why did you join the garrison behind my back!” She shouted. We went back and forth of yelling about why I wanted to join, and how she was saying it was too dangerous, I didn’t know why she had said that until now. It was almost like I could feel my mom’s emotions though she was scared, and angry. 

I woke up really early, this was just getting weird, I saw a memory through my moms eyes and feeling her emotions, what is with these dreams, I sighed. I stared up at the ceiling above my bed. I lay like that for a few hours before I had to get up and had to get dressed in my paladin gear. Allura asked us to fix something on the outside the castle. 

I was with everyone as Allura and Coran tried to explain what to do. Lance being the ‘genius’ that he is made it turn red and start blaring at us. Only for Pidge to fix it. I will never get over this machinery and tech and I need to start learning about it if we’re going to be stuck here a while. 

I glanced over at Keith who was next to Shiro I smiled at him, we had decided that it’d probably be best not to tell the others just yet after everything else that happened. 

We came into a weird spore field, Shiro activated his shield and told us to remember our training I saw two fly by and turn to see Lance throw another one and hit Shiro, I had to bite my tongue because it was pretty funny. 

“Sorry Shiro I was trying to hit Keith,” Lance said I grabbed one they were pretty squishy. Lance got hit in the face. 

“Heh, like that?” Keith asked I bit the inside of my check before throwing one at Keith myself. 

“No I think he meant like that.” I smirked. 

“YES! Squishy asteroid fight!” Hunk shouted before throwing several, we all were throwing them except Pidge. We had even gotten Shiro to throw a few. “I don’t think this are asteroids,” Pidge said “This bioluminescent pulsing doesn’t seem natural, it's almost like a code,” She explained. 

“But that theoretically impossible, you can't program a spore,” I said before someone nailed the back of my helmet. 

“Well before you figure it out everyone needs to come in for decontamination,” Allura told us. After we were all back in our rooms. I was grabbing my sketchbook, and maybe going to ask Keith if he wanted to hang out. I walked out to see Coran, Keith, and Lance. Lance had on a face mask and robe and was saying something about him and the blue lion being very happy together. “Guys, check this out!” Pidge called out over the intercom. I quickly put my sketchbook back before joining the others in the green lion hanger. 

“Oh, I’ve seen this experiment before! But wait why do we need electricity from a potato?” Hunk questioned. 

“No, I was able to crack the sporse code… Heh sporse code,” She chuckled, “I ran the bioluminescent pattern through a variety of code-breaking…” As interesting as I found all this stuff I really wanted her to get to the point. 

“What does it say?” Keith asked. 

“Oh, right! ‘Under attack. Galra. Help’ followed by coordinates.”

“It’s a distress signal good work, now let’s get those coordinates into the castle-ship’s navigation system.” Shiro said. 

“The signal came from Olkarion, home to the Olkari a proud class of engineers.” When Coran pulled up an image of the city I could see the stars in Pidge’s eyes. “An Olkari once gave me this!” Coran help up a floating cube. 

“What is it?” 

“Uh, hello? A floating cube!” Coran stated the obvious “And watch!” He smirked, “My name is Coran and I’m a gorgeous man.” He said and the cube repeated him. Pidge was amazed by it. However I started to wonder why they used spores as a distress signal, when Keith voiced my exact complaint. 

“Actually the signal was coming from the forest not the city Pidge.” Allura explain, as all the joy drained from her eyes. I patted her shoulder. 

“We could probably see the city after we defeat the Galra.” I told her. 

We were flying our lions before all of them got shot by arrows. “Hey Violet isn’t working,” I said. 

“Neither is Red.” 

“Seems like we’re being dragged down.” Shiro said. This just didn’t seem like a Galra attack. We landed in front of these people… and wooden mech suits? 

Eventually we all got out of our lions where a lady named Ryner explained to us that a small group were able to escape when the Galra attacked and that they’d evolved to use the trees to make weapons and homes. This was honestly amazing to see everything. 

Ryner brought down one of the wooden mechs we were amazed and kind of wanted one. Ryner showed us these crown things and explained that we needed to send binary code. I put it on and walked to one of the trees. I placed my hand on it I cleared my head as much as I could before closing my eyes and sending code. I felt a slight heat radiate from my back and hand before I could open my eyes one of them plopped down behind me. 

[Next]

Tag List~ (If your have a strike through your name I can’t tag you)

@somebodytouchedmysaeran @ittie-bittie-tittie @izabellah816 @zanysouleggstudent @chraracterfxreader1shots @chewymoustachio​

[txkemeanywhere]

Hellhound and Humanoids - Part 7

@undocumented-terriaki @risiskifi @squishy-anon

It’s fairly easy for Rowan to sit Yan up, and slot in behind them, their cuffed hands giving the perfect excuse for Rowan to protectively wrap his arm around them. Yan certainly doesn’t protest and does what they can to help, but is clearly still injured and more than okay with staying on the floor.

The strangers, Logan and Patton, have been arguing for the last five minutes.

"I know you understand the implications of what’s occurred here, Patton.” says Logan, the one wearing the necktie.

“Of course I do, but he did it to save this man’s life.” Patton, gestures towards Yan.

“Yan’s non-binary.” Rowan calls across to them and Yan glances over their shoulder at him.

“Rowan, bigger fish.” they mutter, but Rowan simply reaches up with his free hand and covers their mouth.

“This person’s life.” Patton corrects himself, giving an apologetic smile.

“And I’m sure,” Logan reaches up, adjusting his glasses, glancing over to them, “they….” Rowan nods and Logan continues, “are incredibly grateful for that. But they’re ignorant to what Enis has dragged them into.”

“Are they usually like this?” Rowans asks of the vampire as the two strangers continue their argument.

“Yeah.” Enis sighs. He’s knelt on the floor beside them looking a far cry from the happy bean they’ve known him to be this far.

“Enis,” Yan says and Enis turns, “Not that I’m not grateful but, what did you do to me?”

“I can answer that one.” Patton raises his hand, interrupting Logan’s latest argument, taking a step towards the small floor grouping, and leaving a disgruntled Logan muttering the second half of his sentence to himself. “He made you his Guardian.”

“His what now?”

“My Guardian.” the vampire sighs and looks off to the side, clearly avoiding the conversation. “It’s complicated.”

Logan, all but recovered from the derailed discussion, steps forward. “There are numerous beings out there who may look small, sweet, and innocent,” he indicates Patton, “but do in fact have access to vast amounts of power. From what I understand they are supposed to maintain some sort of balance, although Patton is not the best at it.” he gives a frustrated sigh. “He is intent on believing the best of everyone.”

“What can I say?” Patton shrugs, beaming. “I’m an optimist.”

“But you can’t afford to be.” Logan pinches the bridge of his nose, “These beings, known as ‘Deities’ are at risk from those who want to take that power, as well as their own limitations. It is a Guardian’s duty,” He straightens his necktie, and indicates himself, “to protect them.”

“His old Guardian.....passed away,” Patton talks softly and Enis looks even more sad, if it were possible, “and it’s just not safe for him out there on his own.”

“Not with the highly chaotic nature of his abilities. The moving rooms serve as a surrogate protection, discouraging those those who might wish to use his immense power for their own gains.”

“Enis is a being of power?” Rowan looks over to the rather scrawny looking vampire. Yeah, this vampire just isn’t screaming immense power to him. Immense-ly energetic maybe. Frankly, Enis looks like he could lose in a fight with an unlocked door. Then again he did blast that thing away somehow. “What about the monster?”

“Monster?” Logan frowns, confused. “What monster?”

“Was it a giant spider!” Patton squeaks, immediately leaping to hide behind Logan whose rolling eyes suggest this is a common reaction.

Rowan points over to where the creature that took a bite of Yan is laid, very clearly no longer among the living. Yan tries to look but Rowan stops them, distracting them by running his fingers through their hair. A soothing sensation, that Yan doesn’t fight too hard against.

After a moment of staring, both Logan and Patton turn to Enis who gives a sheepish grin and a shrug.

“One of my spells may have gone a little…wrong.” he laughs awkwardly, trying to subtly hide his spellbook and failing spectacularly.

Stepping closer, Logan grimaces already able to smell it. He avoids getting too close but he can still clearly see it. The eyes are closed but those teeth, the claws, the jet black fur and that smell. Ugh.

“Oh no the poor puppy.” Patton tries to move forward, but Logan throws an arm out to stop him.

“Patton, so help me do not pet it.” Logan covers his nose and draws away, pulling Patton with him. “This is the thing that bit them?”

“You know Logan,” Patton puts a hand on Logan’s arm to draw his attention, “with something as powerful as a Hellhound, Enis would have had seconds to make a decision.”

Logan glances towards the creature again. “So it would seem.”

“So,” Yan is trying to line this all up in their head, which honestly is starting to throb at this point, “I have to protect Enis?”

“That’s how it works.”

“And the last one to do that died?” Dying is not fun. They would absolutely prefer not to do that again. A sentiment that Rowan whole-heartedly agrees with.

“I could just stay here” Everyone turns to Enis. The sparkly vampire is looking very purposefully at the floor. He doesn’t have the slightest hint of happiness to his face at all. “It’s not like anyone’s missing me.”

“You'd sacrifice your freedom to protect your Guardian?” Logan turns to Patton, confused. “Is he allowed to do that?”

Patton gently pushes Logan aside, and steps over to kneel beside Enis. As he carefully places a hand on the vampire’s shoulder it begins to glow a faint light blue color. When his hand makes contact, Patton’s eyes also begin to glow.

“You did good, kiddo.” his voice is very calm, almost fatherly, as he talks, and there’s another layer to it, almost impossible to hear but it’s definitely there. “Are you sure you want to stay here?”

Enis’s sad eyes begin to light up with the same light blue magic that’s passing through Patton. It reaches into every crevasse of Enis’s mind and clears away all the muss and the mayhem leaving only the clearest choices allowing him to see exactly what he needs to do.

The light dies and Enis closes his eyes. “Yes.”

Nobody buys that Enis wants to stay in here. The way he’s so upbeat, how glad he was to have guests. There is no way he can be happy in staying in here all alone. But Patton seems to be satisfied, drawing back and standing up.

“If that’s what you want kiddo.”

“Enis-” Yan starts, hissing as the still unhealed bite flares in pain. Their head reels and they go limp against Rowan but just about manage to stay awake. “....ow.”

“You should probably get to a hospital.” Logan suggests.

“Gee thanks.” Rowan snarks, covering Yan’s mouth again when they open it to protest. The two of them will figure something out. “And what about the moving rooms?”

Enis raises his hand, plastering on a fake smile that doesn’t quite reach up to his eyes. “I can show you the way out. It gets a bit mixed up sometimes.” As the vampire goes to stand up, Rowan reaches out, grabbing a hold of his sleeve.

“Enis.” Rowan says and Enis turns. “Thank you.” The vampire smiles before leading them out the room while Logan and Patton remain behind.

Logan folds his arms as he watches them go. “You know I’d never have thought Enis could act so selflessly.”

Patton comes up beside Logan and pats him firmly on the shoulder. “Well, Logan, every dog has his day.”

“I don’t see what dogs have to do with-” Logan turns slightly and catches sight of the Hellhound a short way off. He groans. “You’re making a pun aren’t you?”

“Yep.”

[evilsnowswan]

Summary: [Rumbelle Mermaid!AU] based on this prompt by repeatinglitanies: “In a world where people are aware of the existence of mermaids, Belle is a mermaid who lives in the world’s largest aquarium along with other sea creatures. She enjoys looking at the little humans who come to visit, especially a floofy haired boy who comes every week with his father….” An injured Belle is captured and brought to Gold and Milah’s aquarium. Gold is a marine biologist dedicated to protecting the creatures there, Milah wants to turn a profit, and their son has his own ideas about how to befriend a mermaid.

Rating: G/Teen Link to full story: [Read on AO3] Previous Chapters: [Coverart][Chapter 1][Chapter 2][Chapter 3][Chapter 4][Chapter 5][Chapter 6][Chapter 7][Chapter 8][Chapter 9][Chapter 10]

Current Chapter: 11/? Chapter Summary: Gold’s idea and Indigo’s reaction.

This one comes with beautiful art by the wonderful @kamdensl. Thank you so much again! She’s perfect, and adorable, and I love her to bits! ❤ I’ve been dying to share sweet Indigo in her field-trip!gear with you all. (Please, love her). She goes with both this chapter and the next.

Soundtrack: 

Mask Makers mood: [X] Trust/ Outside the Medical Wing/ Meeting TEACHER: [X][X][X][X]

Chapter 11

Most days, she didn’t mind the food, the games, or his company. The sweet milk he gave her tasted a little funny and the beak-feeder she was to drink it from took some getting used to, but she had gotten used to a lot of things lately. It reminded her of birds feeding their young ones - hence the name she had chosen for it.

Names had to be either descriptive or meaningful - or both. Sometimes that made them dull.

Her own name - beauty - she had grown into it. She didn’t feel particularly beautiful. The ocean held so much beauty, it felt wrong to call herself special. She had pretty scales. Not everyone had a tail like hers, and it got her noticed. That much was true. But her so-called beauty paled in comparison.

The beak-feeder, for example, was much more interesting and thus infinitely more beautiful in Belle’s eyes. A beautiful, curious little object that filled her with awe and wonder. And it filled her with questions too. So many questions. She didn’t know where to start or how to start asking them.

Why the merling girl? Who was she? Was this her beak-feeder? And where was she now?

All her attempts at asking the airling about her had failed. Either he couldn’t understand, or he didn’t want to. She would try again, but not today. Now was not the time. She didn’t feel like labored, broken, fruitless conversation. She wasn’t in the mood for games or learning new symbols. She just wanted to be left alone, stare at the water, and dream of home.

Out of the corner of her eye, she watched the airling step away. She could have propped herself up to keep him in view, get a better look at what he was doing, but she couldn’t find it in herself to move.

It didn’t matter. It wasn’t like she had a say in anything anyway.

She had taken the milk, sat in the one-armed kraken, and let him touch, and manipulate her body in any way he wished, while the little red sun warmed her skin. If she closed her eyes, she could pretend it was the real sun that tickled her nose and drew the sprinkling of sun spots from her soul and right onto her cheeks. If she concentrated hard enough, she could make herself believe that it was a warm rock her body rested on, and that the salt she tasted in the air came from the waves breaking on it - rather than from the hiss-spitter clutched in his hand.

Only, the airling’s footfalls sounded nothing like the big waves that pounded on the shore, nor were they like the smaller ones that lapped at it. His legs didn’t roll and crash into the open space in front of him. His feet wouldn’t wash over sand and rocks with grace. His walking was very stiff and rather jerky, as much unlike water as anything could be. There was a tendency to shuffle. He could stride out if he wanted to, leaving him exhausted.

Belle sighed and turned her head, studying him.

He had given her a squishy round thing - almost like a sponge and alarmingly red - that fit into her palm perfectly and tasted like floater when put into your mouth, and which she was to throw if whatever they did hurt her.

She had understood that pretty quickly, but had thrown it precisely at his head once or twice before -just because- regardless. Because she had been bored, or displeased, or wanting to annoy him back. It would have been easier to just hand her more throw-things to express those sentiments as well, she thought. Maybe different colors or shapes. But he was a quick study too, and by now could tell which was supposed to be which - most of the time.

Right now, he wasn’t paying attention. His focus was turned inward, eyes exploring a world she couldn’t see, lips forming sounds that weren’t meant for her ears - and which she wouldn’t have understood even if they had been- and eyebrows drawing together, forcing deep folds into the smooth forehead.

Something was wrong.

Instinctively, Belle froze, listening for whatever had caused his mood to shift so drastically. Had something happened? Her eyes and ears didn’t detect anything out of the ordinary. Nothing suspicious, no imminent danger. But perhaps the airling had spotted something she had not. After all, it hadn’t been he who had found himself entangled, trapped in silent death’s clutches, had it?

Unease growing in her belly, Belle bit her lip.

The airling, he looked so… sad. But there was more to it than just your regular low spirits.

She had learned to read him pretty well. Airlings were much harder than merlings, but it wasn’t like there was much else for her to do around here anyway, he was with her almost all the time now, and practice made perfect. Yet, Belle struggled to make sense of his facial expression and general agitation.

Her fingers closed around the squishy sponge.

What was going on?  

Squinting slightly, she took aim, but didn’t let it fly just yet. Instead, she propped herself up on one arm, raising an eyebrow at him and flopping over onto her back with a playful grin. Perhaps a game would cheer him up? He seemed to enjoy playing those almost as much as she did. She’d agree to a round of Ding Snatcher or Four Eggs in a Row, if that was what it took.

Belle held her breath as his hands touched her arms and torso, the rough fingertips on her sensitive skin making her squirm and laugh. Under his touch, she felt herself relax again, and he smiled at her, his eyes crinkling.

He had old eyes, Belle noticed. Cut from weathered sandstone that braved the waves and storms. They reminded her of something she hadn’t felt in a very long time: trust. 

Belle sucked in air, a tiny gasp of surprise.

His hands had stopped moving, but the happy little tickle was inside her chest still- and starting to spread. She traced it to her twitching fin, and felt it jump the gaps between her fingers. The sense of calm, peace, and stability she had felt a mere second ago had rolled back on the horizon and turned into a sizzling wave of warm, effervescent energy that made it hard to keep still.

Her heart beating faster and cheeks flushing with anger and confusion, Belle clenched her fists and squeezed the little sponge hard, then threw it in his direction.

When he shifted his gaze, her indignation evaporated into thin air like foam on hot sand. She couldn’t help but smile at the puzzled look on his face and the attentive concern she found in his eyes as they swept over her face and body.

His hands formed a question. He shook his head.

Still smiling, Belle pressed her lips and her fingers together. No, she wasn’t hurt.  

Little bursts of energy fizzed in her tail and belly, and she blew out her cheeks, batting her eyes to try and quickly dispel some of it before the urge to move, to swim and dive, grew too strong and overpowered her. The little water box she lived in now wasn’t built to withstand such whims. And her tail and fin weren’t strong enough to support silly endeavors like the one she yearned for, even if it were. 

The airling burst out laughing, but then his face clouded over, and he turned away from her and began to pace. Apparently, she wasn’t the only one with excess energy in her limbs.

When he didn’t stop, worry and despair drawing lines on his face again, Belle wished nothing more than for a magnificent wave to rise from the tense silence, break in his path, and wash them away.

The strangely euphoric feelings that had had her feeling more positive and energized- she could feel them dying, her lungs slowly clogging up with dead tissue, choking her. 

Belle never took her eyes off him. Thunder boomed and clapped in her chest so loudly, she feared she might lose the gift of sound permanently. She was so focused on the airling and what he was doing that she didn’t notice someone else enter their space until they moved in on the newly recalibrated center of her universe, and made her jump in fright.

Jumper Girl.

Belle hadn’t seen her since-

all the white hot energy coalesced in her belly, causing it to flip-flop and then drop out. Nausea and panic crept up into her chest and closed up her throat. Belle tried blinking away the sudden sting in her eyes, but it didn’t seem to be working.

Was he sending her back? Back to the glass coffin and the soapy, dead water and mindless fish?

Eyes flicking to him briefly, Belle’s heart thumped, her belly churning as she worried over what would happen next.

Would she be asked to jump again?

Sitting up, hands by her sides and fists clenched, Belle felt tears trail down her cheeks and shifted her tail awkwardly. It felt much heavier than she remembered. Swimming without aid, let alone performing multiple jumps in quick succession seemed like a sheer physical impossibility. She’d never swim like that again.

“IN-DI-GO?”

His voice broke through her stupor, and she turned her head with a grimace.

She refused to answer - didn’t know how, yet opened and closed her mouth helplessly, looking for reassurance despite herself, and he took her hands.

Voice and eyebrows rising, his face troubled, he asked her something, and Belle glanced down at their linked hands as she held the tears back as best she could.

Her best, however, wasn’t good enough, and she sagged, covering her face with her hands in shame.

The airling pulled her into a hug. She let it happen, listened to the rhythm of his heart beating. How curious was it that their hearts were on opposite sides of their chests? Airlings and merlings were so different, and yet so alike. Watching them was like watching your own reflection on still water. The same, almost, but not quite.

She had gotten used to so many strange things that no longer felt strange to her at all.

Their way of communicating would forever stay alien to her, but even if she failed to distinguish the meaningful parts - save for ‘gemstone’ and the little boy’s name - the airling gibberish had grown on her, become familiar. She noticed nuances now, subtle changes in pitch and volume, patterns of stress and intonation that allowed her to infer- or at least, make an educated guess on- the meaning of what was being said to her with some certainty. Knowing the context, the speaker or their intent, helped a lot and made it even easier.

Belle had no way of knowing what he said as he held her in his arms, but the string of sounds was a warm current against her ear, harshness turned soft and soothing, and she instantly felt a lot calmer.

Pulling back and smiling up at the airling, she quickly ran a hand over her eyes. She chuckled tearfully.

It was going to be alright.

A sudden movement to her right caught her attention. Jumper Girl was off to the side, arms folded around herself protectively, watching them. Belle wanted to smile at her too, maybe wave, but just then she caught a glimpse of something that sent cold chills down her spine and mobilized her with such fear that she reflexively leapt up and almost dove off the sunbathing platform in panic. Covering her head with both arms she pressed herself flat onto the warm surface, her scream another silent one.

Gemstone, he said again. A question. Confusion. 

After a moment’s hesitation, she slowly turned around to face him, her eyes wide. The white pelt draped over the girl’s arm had her heart beat a rapid staccato against her ribcage.

Were they going to skin her?! Skin her alive?!

She had heard the stories, heard them sung a million times. Merlings making contact with airlings where water meets land. Merling maidens seeking those in need of help, those who are dissatisfied with their lives or lonely, and being coerced into relationships or servitude before brutally slaughtered for their skins. The tears they shed into the sea as they sat and wept turned the water salty, and from their blood the fish and corals were born into this world, to fill the ocean with a far greater beauty than any airling eye would ever get to behold.

The airling. He was looking at her with concern in his eyes; smiling at her now- a smile bright with affection and warmth. He had been good to her, Belle reminded herself with a deep breath. Even after the incident. Even after she had endangered his family. He had shown her nothing but kindness. He never lost his temper. He didn’t mind when she got grouchy from pain and nostalgia or moaned about the food and games.

No, his hands caressing her shoulders and back assured her. He was not going to hurt her. Not now, not ever. His touch whispered and hummed on her skin, singing a lovely little tune of its own, and she sighed, feeling the tension ebb away.

He nudged her.

Belle reached out a trembling hand. The pelt was soft, despite its wetness. Baby seals just grown out of their whitecoat stage was what it looked like, but it felt different under her fingertips. This was no relict from the Great Killings in the North, no airling hunter’s trophy.

Immensely relieved, but slightly bewildered, Belle let the airlings carefully drape it around her shoulders, then help her arms through strategically placed holes that allowed free use of her hands.

The coat was large and long, reaching down over her torso and covering part of her tail. Her skin, heated and dry from the little red sun’s beams, welcomed the luxurious, heavy cool. It closed in the front, where the airling father tied a loose strip into a knot to keep everything in place. Then he drew up a smaller part attached to the back, bringing it over her head.

The rich smell of ice and salt engulfed her like a hug, her skin breathing into soft fur, and Belle felt a lump in her throat. They had turned her into a gigantic Ice-Lover from the Green Island, the Isle of Mask Makers, between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans and east of the Ice Uplands.

Staring down at her own body covered in snow-white furs, Belle’s imagination pushed to life, woken from its slumber and propelling her mind forward fast, and she began to wonder. Green Island, was that where they were? Or perhaps the airlings would be taking her there? She had only heard of its airling population in her people’s darkest and creepiest songs. The sewers of skins, the makers of masks; They who called upon the ghosts of the dead and carved their bones with their teeth. If they saw you, they would put you to sleep forever.

Belle shuddered, her heart gripped with terror and curiosity alike.

Perhaps she would find out if the stories were true- or just something merling fathers told their young daughters so they’d stay close to home and far away from the airling world. As long as this airling was by her side, she might even live to tell the tale.

Wherever it was they were going, at least they were going somewhere, she thought, readily rolling over onto her belly and on top of a hard piece of something like wood, shaped like a seal’s belly. On the count of three, the airlings then moved it onto another platform, not unlike the one she took her sunbaths on- only this one could float.    

She gripped the handles tight and they pushed her towards the opening. Towards where the airling disappeared to sleep and reappeared in the mornings; then through, and into another place that she had never been before.

Belle looked around wildly, cast her eyes around the open space expectantly, but it was just another box. Another long, narrow box made from stone, dark and lifeless. Her face fell a little.

But they kept moving. In and out of boxes, up and down, through endless caves and tunnels and openings that closed behind them with a loud click, until finally, something wonderful hit her nose and filled her ears.

Birdsong, saltwater.

She didn’t hear the waves, but they couldn’t be far.

Belle’s fin twitched. She pushed up on her hands and shifted her weight to get a better view. In front of her a wall eased out of the way to reveal yet another opening, and behind it- a glowing horizon, and a vast body of glittering blue.

She gasped, sucked in heady air. The squeal that escaped her, she couldn’t have held it back if she tried.

Beside her, the airling chuckled, covering her hand with his. The evening breeze picked up and caught in her hair, playing with a loose curl. Her heart was thumping with excitement, her breath coming hard through her nose, and she squinted in the orange light of the setting sun, sinking towards the water.

The beautiful, beautiful water.

His voice was gentle and full of reverence as he bent down to whisper something in her ear, and her smile widened.

As they slowly lowered her down to the ground, she squirmed and wriggled, eyes set on the waterline. Had he not held her back by the shoulders, she would have dashed for it, dove right under that smooth surface, the itch tickling every cell in her body, the urge to swim far greater than any conscious thought.

The airling helped her disentangle herself from the fur coat. Laughing, he shook his head, let go and took a silent step back from her, putting the strap of fur to his lips and bending to pick up her coat.  He shook it out, draped it over the floating sunbed, straightened his back, and waved her off towards the sound of water lapping against a stone-made shore.

Belle lunged forward, let herself hit the water face first, and pushed off with a long stroke.

Wonderfully cool and calm turquoise blue threw its arms wide in welcome, washing around her body, caressing her tenderly from head to fin. Salt danced and swirled around her, and she twirled underwater, feeling as light as a jellyfish on a wave. The silence took a breath and winked at her. Belle closed her eyes and listened for a while, floating on strong invisible hands.

Before she could decide to head back up to the surface to breathe air, a shrill sound from above split the relaxing refuge in half, forcing her to open her eyes and recollect herself, gathering all her little pieces back from inside the water’s melody.

When she breached the surface, so had another, and they were coming towards her.

Both of them went back under.

Belle felt the string of pulses, clicks and whistles vibrate against her skin, the sound reverberating in her body.

She clapped a hand over her mouth, so as not to interrupt. She had to wait her turn, listen to the pulse pack fully before making a response, or it would be considered rude. She was entering into their home, a visitor in their world, and needed to conform to etiquette.

Belle held her breath, listening intently.

“Greetings, merfolk!”

The pulses grew louder as the dolphin came closer, zoomed past, and gave her a quick once-over. And then it went off into the opposite direction.

Dolphins know no secrets, they know the truth, was what her father used to say to her when she was a child and tried to spin him some seaweed to get herself out of trouble.

“Gree-ee-ee-tings,” the dolphin trilled.

Dolphins were able to see inside you, inside your body and soul, so they could see your true self and all your emotions, could see how excited or calm you were; and they were particularly attuned to attitude, so the inner attitude that you had about them- if you appreciated them, if you respected them, if you took a polite and sensitive approach to them, maybe showed some curiosity and open-mindedness, they would know that immediately.

The dolphin came back, stopped, and looked at her, its body forming a soft S-shape.

“TEACHER,” it said, opening its mouth. “TEACHER.”

Self-identifying whistle.

Belle waited, put a hand on her heart. Waited another beat.

“Belle,” she answered. “My name is Belle.”

Belle kept very still, waiting for the dolphin to take its turn in their conversation. When conversing with each other, each dolphin listened to the other’s pulses before producing its own.

TEACHER came up and nudged her nose a few times, and Belle scratched them under the chin.

“Female,” TEACHER said, using her self-identifying whistle again. “TEACHER.”

Dolphins would understand what it was you intended to do, or what you would like them to do, well before you had even fully formed the thought in your own mind.

She nodded.

TEACHER gave a displeased little click, and Belle felt the blood rise to her cheeks and temples.

My apologies, TEACHER, she thought. Please, continue.

Emitting a low squeak and whistle, TEACHER moved yet closer, almost touching her forehead to Belle’s.

“Come.”

Belle closed her eyes, and immediately saw the pictures flash before them.

A migrating pod, a cluster of floaters, silent death’s web, a black wave, a deserted beach, rain - PAUSE - hands and eyes, airlings. A familiar face and familiar places - full stop.

She exhaled. Breathed in.

A pool - this pool. More airlings. Young airlings, old airlings, sick airlings. Sick or hurt airlings swimming in the pool with TEACHER - full stop.

“Come,” TEACHER repeated, nudging her arm. “Come. Come. Come.” She eased back a little, did a slow roll, turned back, and looked at Belle, scanning, prompting, asking her to move.

Come where?

“Hurt,” TEACHER whistled low. “Hurt outside, hurt inside.”

She circled Belle, touched her side with her fin, made it so Belle’s hand would slide over her back, open palm, and come to rest just next to her dorsal fin.

“TEACHER. Come, Belle. Come.”

Belle understood, gripped onto it lightly with both hands, and the two of them were off, circling the pool, diving and swimming, going fast and going slow, parting the water and feeling it rush over shared skin.

[americannoona]

Dressing Zico:: Chapter Twenty-Three:: I’m gonna do it until it strains my Heart... (18+)

My mornings always began the same way now. I had breakfast with one of my very favorite people in the world. Kim Marco. My big strong teddy bear was hanging in there. Everyone had given up on him. Everyone but me. I knew him too well to think he would leave this world without a fight. Zico had made sure that he was kept in the best private room in the best hospital in South Korea with the best care possible. He liked to act like a cold hard-ass to the world but Zico’s heart was as tender as Marco’s when he thought no one was looking. I knew he blamed himself for Marco getting hurt. He blamed himself for everything whether it was his fault or not. He paid for two private nurses to stay with Marco at all times but when I came in the mornings, I gave the morning nurse a short break. I liked to be alone with him. We talked, well I talked, as I ate and then I rubbed salve into his wounds. He had lost so much weight that he didn’t look quite like himself. I thought that if Vita were still here, she could fatten him up in no time flat. Thinking of Vita made me tear up. I began to wonder if I was a jinx. So many people had been hurt or even killed since I came to Korea. Even though Vita’s death had nothing to do with me, I thought that Kim Marco’s stabbing did. 

I bought a new gold earring for him. It was a teddy bear. He never would have worn it if he had been awake but right now he had no choice. I laughed a little to myself as I put it in his ear and thought of this big beast of a man being at my mercy. “I love you, Kim Marco,” I told him and kissed his cheek. “I need you so you need to wake up and help me with my plans.” I sat and talked to Marco and told him all about what had been going on. I told him about Ji-Yong. I told him about being in the hospital and how his brother had stepped into his place while he was away. I let him know how wonderful Kim Hwan had been. Absently, I started to draw doodles on the notepad beside his bed. As I talked, I began to make a little list. “Marco,” I paused and waited to see if he would say “Polo” but he didn’t. “I have decided to take my life back. It really isn’t like me to back down so easily and I’ve been acting like a helpless victim in this whole thing. The first thing I’m going to do is get my job back. I still have a contract with Zico so technically, the job is still mine.” Absently, I tore the doodle sheet off and wrote a 1 at the top of the clean sheet. Then I wrote MY JOB beside it. “The second thing I’m going to do is get my room back in Zico’s hotel. Even if he is staying with Horse-face! At least I’ll have my foot back in the door. Physical proximity is key.” I wrote a 2 under the first one and beside it I wrote MY ROOM. “I know I can’t make Zico love me or want me but I don’t think I have to. All of his actions lately have said that he still wants me. He stayed with me in the hospital. He even fought Ji-Yong for me. Oh yeah… remind me to tell you about that some time.” I laughed to myself and shook my head. “I don’t think it would take much to get him back though. He and Alicia seem to fight all the time. I could be wrong but I don’t think I am. I believe Alicia confused him and even he is realizing that he made a mistake. I hope,” I said wistfully as I wrote a 3 under the 2 and wrote out MY ZICO beside it. “The last thing I have to do, Marco, is to get rid of Alicia Wright for good.” I laughed again because it sounded like I was planning a homicide. “She needs to go back to the US and stay far away from us. I have no idea how I’m going to do that but I’ll think of something. That’s why you need to wake up so that you can help me. You always have the best ideas.” I wrote a big 4 and then GOODBYE ALICIA WRIGHT! Tearing out the page and folding it in half, I put it in my pocket and bent down to kiss Marco. “Tomorrow we should have biscuits and gravy. Don’t you agree?” ​​​ One thing I didn’t discuss with Marco was maybe the biggest problem I had. Ji-Yong. I really liked him. REALLY liked him. I didn’t know what to do about him so I decided to think about it later. Now I was going to go to see him and enjoy being in his presence. He exuded happiness and energy and it was contagious. Two things I could use a lot of right now. Big Bang was taping a variety show and Ji-Yong invited me to come and watch. I was excited to see him and to see the rest of the group again. It was a taping of the show Weekly Idol and Ji-Yong really didn’t want to go. He hated the silly things they made them do on these kinds of shows but it was all a part of being an idol. Being a circus monkey was part of the business. But instead of dancing for peanuts, people were throwing money. Lots of it. I really wished I was the designer for Big Bang. I would completely rethink their wardrobe. A makeover for that group was way overdue in my opinion. I figured with them being so close to military age, the company didn’t think it was worth the effort to repackage them. Sad. I had so many ideas! When I got to the studio, Ji-Yong had left instructions with the attendant that I be taken to the front and given a drink that he had purchased himself and that was still sealed. I couldn’t help but smile. It was a lemon drink. I hated lemon so I laughed, popped it open, and stuck my straw in. There was no way I wasn’t going to drink it. After I took a sip, I told myself it really wasn’t that bad. Yes it is, I thought. I might have to make a trip to the bathroom…and pour it down the sink. Either way, that drink was going to be empty by the end of the taping. Then, out of nowhere, I thought, Zico would have gotten me tea. I love tea. I shook Zico right out of my head. The MC Cony came over and introduced himself. He didn’t speak English so all he could really do was make the introduction and smile at me. It was very sweet. The taping began shortly after and when the boys came out Ji-Yong winked at me and Young-bae grinned. I blushed. Ji-Yong was right. They did make them do really stupid things but I found myself laughing at most of them. Especially T.O.P. He was really good at showmanship. Ji-Yong was quiet. Seungri tried to hog the spotlight whenever he got the opportunity. Daesung was quiet too unless the attention was on him. Young-bae never wanted the attention on him. When the taping was over, the attendant came and took me backstage. He waited outside while I made a quick stop at the bathroom. I honestly did have to pee…and pour that hideous drink down the drain. What Ji-Yong didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. I waited in a cute little sitting room with bright pink chairs that I sunk into when I sat down. It was so soft and squishy that it practically swallowed me. I felt like a little girl but I also felt like I could sleep there. Comfortably. Ji-Yong laughed at me when he came in to get me. “Oh, you are laughing at me? You were pretty funny driving that tiny car during the show you know!” I said as I laughed too. “Come on jjing-jjing-i . Lets have lunch,” he said. I tried to get out of the chair but it was just too squishy. It was eating me. I couldn’t get my feet on the ground to help push myself up. Ji-Yong watched me for a minute and instead of helping me, he fell into the chair opposite mine and died laughing. He was laughing so hard he had to hold his stomach and had tears at the corners of his incredible eyes. “Ji-Yong!” I whined. “Stop! Come and help me!” He laughed harder. Finally, Daesung came to the door and stood there watching the show. He looked very confused. I know I was red-faced, both from trying to get out of the chair and from embarrassment and Ji-Yong was red-faced from laughing so hard. I didn’t know him but I decided to beg his help anyway. “Daesung, will you please give me a hand? And then can you punch Ji-Yong in the face for me?” I asked with a straight face. He considered a minute, my remark making Ji-Yong laugh so hard that he couldn’t breath, and shrugged. “Sure!” Daesung came over and offered his hand. I took it and pulled myself out of the chair. We stood there watching Ji-Yong laughing which only made him worse. Then Daesung couldn’t help himself and started laughing too. I stared at him. “Okay! You said you would punch him in the face!” I said with the straightest face I could make. Then I couldn’t do it anymore. I joined in the merriment. I mean, it really was funny. Ji-Yong finally stopped laughing and lay there in the big pink squishy chair staring up at us and holding his tummy. “I love you guys!” he said. ​​​ The restaurant was quiet and cool and Ji-Yong led me in with his hand on the small of my back. For some reason, that has always been very sensual to me. It makes me feel a little bit possessed. And being possessed by G-Dragon didn’t seem to be a bad thing. He ordered for us, which made me a bit nervous. I don’t usually like men ordering for me because I have picky taste-buds but Ji-Yong promised me I would like this dish. Zico would order for me but he usually ordered steak and never gave me a choice. I hadn’t minded. Much. I thought about him sitting across from me pouring salt into his hand and making a mess. Looking over at Ji-Yong sitting quietly like a perfect gentleman made me miss Zico a little more. STOP thinking about Zico, you idiot! G-Dragon is sitting across from you and looking at you like he wants to devour you. Millions of girls want to be in your place! MILLIONS! I smiled at Ji-Yong and reached over to caress his hand. He pulled my fingers in between his fingers and thumb and held them there. “I wanted to ask you something,” he said. My heart sped up. When someone has to warn you that they are going to ask something, it’s never a good question. “Oh. Okay,” I said, my mouth dry. “Will you be my date for the MAMA’s?” I sucked in a breath and realized I hadn’t been breathing. “Oh my gosh! You scared me to death!” I said and laughed, lightly covering my mouth with my free hand. “Why? I’m sorry. Did you think I was going to say something horrible?” he asked. “Yes! You sounded so serious!” “Well, it is serious. Sort of. It’s months ahead and kind of a big deal.” “Are you sure you want to commit to that this early?” I asked. “Absolutely,” he said and letting go of my hand he sipped his water. “I don’t want to go with anyone else and I know I won’t change my mind. But will you?” Would I? “I would love to go with you,” I said. “Aaaaand you just made my night,” he said and kissed my hand. I smiled up at him with a blush brightening my cheeks. He leaned in for a kiss and as I put my lips against his I saw something over his shoulder. There was a man at a table behind us trying to hide the fact that he was taking pictures of us with his phone. “Ji-Yong, there is a man behind you taking pictures of us,” I whispered. He turned and looked at the man. “Come on man! We are having a private moment here! If those pictures are for your daughter, she won’t want them since I’m here with another woman.” “I don’t know what you are talking about!” The man said and laid his phone on the table, covering it with his napkin. “Look, I get it. And normally I don’t care but this beautiful young woman that I’m with isn’t in the business and deserves to have her privacy respected just like everyone else. Please stop.” “Is she your fiance?” asked the man. Ji-Yong stared at him for a moment. He turned back to me and said, “Turn around and keep your back to that man.” “Um, okay. Why?” I was very confused. “Just do it and I’ll explain in a moment,” he said, getting up from the table. I turned around and watched Ji-Yong walk to the back of the restaurant and go through a door that I was pretty sure he wasn’t supposed to go into. I was dying to know what was going on and what the strange man was doing now but I didn’t turn around to look. Soon, Ji-Yong came out with two men from the restaurant. He pointed behind me and sat back down at our table. “You can turn around now,” he said and tapped my arm. I turned and watched as the two large gentlemen talked to the man at the other table. After a moment, they escorted him outside. “What was that about?” I asked. “He was a reporter for some trashy magazine so I had him ejected,” Ji-Yong said and spread his napkin on his lap. “You can just do that?” I asked, impressed. He grinned his little boy grin and said, “He was harassing you and I won’t have that.” “Uh, he was harassing you,” I said. “No, I’m a public figure and expect to be photographed and written about. You aren’t. So I had him bounced.” I laughed. “I know it’s horrible of me but that is so impressive.” “Good! I love to shock you. It keeps you interested.” He laughed too because he knew he sounded ridiculous. Our food came out then and it smelled delicious. It looked a little questionable but I was going to try it anyway. I started to ask him what I was about to put into my mouth but I saw something that made my stomach sour. For the second time that night I saw something I didn’t want to see over Ji-Yong’s shoulder. Coming through the restaurant door was Zico and Alicia. I noted that his hand was nowhere near the small of her back. I put my chopsticks down. “Are you okay? What is it?” Ji-Yong looked at me with concern. “Are you sick?” “I am now,” I said. “Can you have them ejected?” “What? Who?” He asked and turned around to see what had upset me. “Oh.” I saw the look on Ji-Yong’s face and was instantly sorry that I had said anything. “You know what?” I asked. “Who cares? Let’s ignore them. They have nothing to do with us.” “No, you are right. They don’t. Can you ignore them?” he asked. He had deflated a little. “Of course. I’ve gotten very good at it in fact,” I said. We looked at each other and laughed a little. I raised my fork and said, “Now, what in the hell is this?” ​​​ The atmosphere of the restaurant seemed even colder after that but we both did our best to ignore the creep show that was going on at the table just beyond ours. It was harder for me since they were behind Ji-Yong and I could see Zico very clearly. Either he hadn’t spotted me or he was pretending that he hadn’t. Compared to my date he was a mess. He had a suit on but it was rumpled and his tie was crooked. His hair was perfect except for a small cowlick in the very back. He was leaning back in his chair and wasn’t paying any attention to Alicia at all. She looked exceptional as always. Everything in its place without any visible imperfections. Hair perfect. Clothes perfect even if they were slutty. Perfect makeup and skin. God I hate her! I looked at Ji-Yong and he was staring at me. “You aren’t ignoring them,” he said. “I’m sorry. Was I looking at them?” I asked innocently. “More like memorizing,” he said. “Ji-Yong! I was not!” I tried to play with him to ease the tension. It didn’t work. “You still love him,” he said and took a drink of his wine. My mouth gaped open. I couldn’t believe he just went there. “I do not,” I said and began putting food into my mouth a little too quickly. “He’s still in love with you too. He just fucked up and now he doesn’t know how to fix it. He’s stuck.” Not only did he go there… he went farther! “Ji-Yong, that is far from the truth. He made his choice and I’m sure he’s happy with it.” He turned around in his seat, unabashedly, and took in the couple behind us that was clearly having a fight. “Yes. He looks like a man that is ecstatic to be with his date.” He faced me again and picked up his chopsticks. “The same man that felt he had the right to let himself into your apartment and proceeded to try and beat my brains in because he thought I was doing something ungodly to you.” “He’s just protective,” I said. “Of his designer?” Ji-Yong asked. “Yes. Of all of his staff. He would do the same for any of them.” I didn’t want to have this conversation. “Elizabeth, you know I’m right.” I didn’t answer. Instead I watched as Alicia made her way to the bathroom and Zico finally noticed me. The oddest look came over his face. I’ve seen that look before. It was the same look he always got when he was about to do something that he shouldn’t. The cocky way he held his mouth. Partly open, bottom jaw a little crooked. It’s the same look he gets when he is about to pounce and have his way with you. I thought and felt a tickle in the pit of my stomach. Don’t come over here. Please, don’t. Do Not Come Over Here, Zico! DON’T DO IT. He did it. “So, how are the love birds this evening? What’s on the agenda tonight? Candle wax? Hot Fudge? Whips and chains?” asked Zico as he straightened his tie. “What do you want Zico? Come over to make sure I’m not putting poison in the food?” asked Ji-Yong. He sat back in his seat and crossed his arms as he looked up at Zico. “Maybe. Did you?” Zico asked. If a person could stare daggers then both of these men would have one stuck right between their eyes. I couldn’t do anything but stare back and forth from one to the other. I didn’t know what to say or if I should say anything. It didn’t seem to have anything to do with me. “Not ours,” said Ji-Yong without missing a beat. “We were just finishing up so if you don’t mind, we will be going. We have a dungeon room reserved and waiting for us.” He stood and offered his hand to me and it took me a moment to understand that we were really leaving. I took his hand and tried not to look at Zico, who didn’t move so that I could stand up. I had to move my chair over. I could smell him. Zico had a special cologne made just for him and it was unmistakable. And sexy as hell. I couldn’t help but breath him in and close my eyes as I scooted past him. Ji-Yong wrapped his arm around my waist tightly and led me out the door as Zico stood there and watched us go. I looked back once more and felt a twinge of pity as his look changed from cocky to sad and he looked down at his feet. Oh, Zico…

[datingadviceonreddit]

This will take time to read, but I seriously need some guidance.There's no other way to put it. I'm in love with my best friend. We are both females, both 19 years old. We've been best friends since we were about 14. I've liked her for almost this entire time. As far as I know, she's straight. And as far as she and everyone else knows, I'm also straight. I haven't come out, she's the only girl I've ever had these feelings for. I'm also attracted to men and I'm trying to date so I can lose feelings for her.Firstly I'll tell a bit about myself and her. I'm more masculine, but in no way do I identify as a male or a butch. I usually just wear a men's tshirt and hoodie, and a pair of sweat pants. This is just because I'm comfortable in this. I'm kind of shy, so I don't get touchy around any other friends. She is VERY beautiful, she's also had a kind of rough upbringing. She was kicked out of home at 16, where she moved in with my family and I which we live over 2000 kilometres away (I used to live down her way, we went to school together until I moved when I was around 16, she moved a year later). She recently moved back after living with me for two years after sorting things with her family. This was one year ago. She's very feminine, but she can also be a little sloppy and I like that!I'm just going to list some things below that she does or has done in the past.• She's very touchy, but I think she tries to do it discreetly, much like I do to her. For example she will grab me around the neck (jokingly haha) with her arms and kind of wrestle with me, and she full on wrestles too and she's setup her phone on record once (with my knowledge) and filmed us wrestling.. I would do that to capture some special moment or something, but that's just me. Anyone else? She always sleeps on my shoulder during long car rides and stuff, I don't think she does that with other friends. One time in particular recently, she rested her head on my lap when we were sitting on the couch watching a movie and asked me to play with her hair. I loved it, but it got me thinking. She also gets me to draw on her back.• She keeps my clothes. As I said, I usually dress in male clothes so I have a fair amount of comfy shirts and hoodies. She used to LOVE asking me if she could keep some. Even if I loved the item of clothing, I'd let her keep them. I liked her to have them. She would upload photos of herself in them, one photo in particular she uploaded a photo to Instagram and she was wearing my shirt she got a while before and the caption to the photo read "Haha aw, I still have it :)". But she didn't tell me about the photo or anything, so I don't know if she wanted me to realise she was meaning the shirt. I got to excited so I just started to look for other things in the photo that she could've been referring to, but honestly it was just a photo of her and I couldn't notice anything else.• This one is odd. So basically one time we were laying on a fold out bed together, we were just talking to my younger brother in a spare room. We weren't sleeping in the bed, just laying on it. We were kind of in the spooning position, but about two feet apart, so we weren't touching or anything. I think I was just annoying her and flicking her ear or something just messing around like a friend, something like that. Then we both just got up about 5 minutes later and left to each others bedroom. (We lived together at this point). Then within 20 minutes, someone had messaged me (without her knowing) some screenshots of some texts between this person (we'll call him Jake) and herself. She was telling Jake how we were just laying on the bed and that I was putting my hand on her hip and so she asked what do I want, and I apparently signified to go to the bedroom. I was so confused because none of that happened... why would she bring it up? I don't get it. She doesn't know till this day that Jake sent that to me, I was a little embarrassed so I just kept quiet. Also another time about a year later, she must've said something else to him again, and he asked me about it once again. She came up with this out of nowhere. Apparently she mentioned something about lesbians to me, and I 'went real funny and quiet'. I don't recall her ever mentioning anything... I know I would've got funny about it and remembered it because of my feelings. But it didn't happen... I don't know why she's making up these things.• This one was a while ago, but once we were sitting by the computer at my place just doing stupid stuff, and she decided to prop her phone up and just video ourselves talking and saying funny things. Towards the end of the few minute long video, she grabbed my face and gave me the biggest kiss on the cheek, almost like it was a big urge. I loved it but I just acted like it was normal and ignored it.• She lived an hour away from me at one point, we were about 15. She used to come and stay at my place every few weekends, she would get the bus for an hour to get to me. I'd usually really want her to stay longer so I'd be cheeky and convince her to stay for another night. She would tell me she has work the next day (part time job). But then she would ring up and say she can't make it, almost every second or third weekend. There's only one person I'd do this sort of thing for, and that's someone I'm desperate to spend time with.• About a year ago, she had just come back home from visiting her family at the other side of the country. I decided to sleep with her in her room that night (we used to sleep in each other's rooms sometimes) because I was happy she was back and wanted to hang out. I also had another friend visiting me that week who is also kind of friends with her, so we all decided to bunk into her bed together. I was on one side, my friend was on the other, and she was in the middle. Was very uncomfortable to say the least, lol. I was pretty tired so I decided I might go to sleep, so I put my phone down and shut my eyes. They were having conversations, and it kinda prevented me from going to sleep. As weird as it sounds I just fake slept because I was trying to sleep anyway, hahaha. Then I decided I'm gonna cuddle up to her and see what she does (she would've assumed I was doing it in my sleep, so it didn't bother me). I didn't want to do too much, just subtle things. I wrapped my arms around her arm, put my head on her arm or shoulder, put my head all the way up near her neck. It sounds weird, I know, but I just wanted to see her reaction! She would move after a few minutes to get comfy again so I had to move too. She was just having conversations like normal with my friend while I was doing this, she was just acting like it was normal. Then I seen flash through my eyelids haha, assuming she'd taken a photo of me. Just assumed she was gonna send me a snapchat of myself with a face filter or something. Then, they talked for a hour or two and then went to bed. I woke up the next morning and the my other friend was looking at her snapchats and she opened the photo of me, and it was captioned 'cute'. I didn't get the snapchat, so she mustn't have wanted me to see it.• Once I decided to go hang out with her in her room. At this time she only had a single bed because she had just moved in, so it was a bit squishy. We were just being funny and taking stupid photos of each other, but I had just laid on the edge of her bed because there was nowhere else. Somehow I slithered my way up onto the bed more and I was literally laying between her legs, but I didn't even realise at first. We were just laying messing around though, it wasn't anything sexual. I kind of was comfortable and of course I liked it, and she seemed to like it too. We weren't doing anything, I was just sitting there. But she didn't seem to mind, it would've been very uncomfortable but she didn't ask me to move or anything.• She sometimes mentions that she dislikes lesbians. But, I do that too. I know it seems like such a terrible thing to say, but I only do it to hide the fact that I have feelings for her. I wonder if she says it for the same reason.• I don't know if this is a lesbian thing, but she did watch all seasons of Orange is the New Black... just a thought ;). She also done a school assessment about gay marriage rights.• Back in the tumblr days, I was just going through some of my friend's blogs and stuff. I decided to have a look at hers, and I was just looking at her likes (which I remember once she was telling me how she thought they were private) and there was a hour something long lesbian porn video in there... I never mentioned it to her.Also, I'm getting a psychic reading from a VERY reputable psychic/medium in a few days. I'm a big believer in these things. I'm pretty much getting the reading for career advice and to connect with my grandmother. I was thinking, should I ask/hint about this subject to the psychic to try get answers? Do you think it could help me?So, let me know what you think. Do you think she feels the same way or a similar way? Let me know why or why not.That's all I can think of for now, if I can remember anything else I'll edit my post. Thanks for taking the time to read via /r/dating_advice