#finch Leg bands

[jamieontheroof]

Random things I noticed while playing What Remains Of Edith Finch

There was a poster of the cannery that Lewis worked at on the boat.

2. Edith Jr wears what appears to be an engagement on a necklace. Whether this is her ring or her mothers is not mentioned.

3. At the start of the game, Milton's missing posters are EVERYWHERE. There is even a giant pile of them in a nearby lake.

4. The dragon slide that crushed and killed Sven is still outside.

5. As you walk toward the house, the music gets louder.

6. The swing that Calvin flew off decades ago is still looped around the branch.

7. There was a spare peep hole in the garage that didn't have any names or dates on it.

8. At multiple points throughout the game you can hear a train in the background, despite the fact that the train tracks are clearly destroyed.

9. There are multiple pots throughout the Finch house that looks like they have eyes.

10. One of the books the Finches possessed was 'King in Yellow', a book known for making anyone who read it insane.

11. The house sounds alive, or like there are people constantly moving around it.

12. Walters bedroom is painted with both ocean and train designs. One of the paintings is the old house that Odin tried to bring to America.

13. There are drag marks on the ground of Walters bedroom (most likely made when his drawers were taken out of his room.)

14. The entrance to the tunnels is hidden by a book called 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, a classic sci-fi story about a sea monster.

15. Molly's room is filled entirely with animal books.

16. There is a jelly fish on Molly's bed (possible connection to the monster??).

17. Molly has a chalkboard in her bedroom where she is a princess in an underwater castle and Sven is about to get attacked by a sea monster (slightly resembling the dragon slide).

18. As shark!Molly starts falling down the cliff, she passes a road where headlights are briefly scene.

19. When the monster gets back to Molly's room, the window that cat!Molly jumped through is still open.

20. There are still Christmas decorations in Molly's room.

21. The curse is 500 years old. That is a lot of dead people.

22. In Odin's viewfinder, it states "His [Odin's] daughter, Edie, is already dreaming of new Finch house" showing that even though her own father died not even a week ago, Edie has already moved on.

23. The house is filled head to toe with books about death, including two that Odin wrote.

24. Sven's shrine does not have a log painting like the rest of the family. His portrait is painted on a simple canvas.

25. Edie has a number of strange tapes in her room including one titled "conspiracy now".

26. The toys from Gregory's final bath are still in the bathroom.

27. There is an old bottle of alcohol in the bathroom bin.

28. A lot of Sam's photos are based on Calvin (a swing, astronauts).

29. All of Milton's drawings are based on the death. (Molly = cat, Barbara = pumpkin)

30. There are cigarettes and gin on Sam's side of the room he shared with Calvin.

31. Calvin already had bruises, Band-Aids and a cast on his leg when he died.

32. Sam blames himself for challenging Calvin.

33. In the story, Calvin doesn't fall. He keeps flying.

34. Barbara's birthday cake is still in her room.

35. Barbara is holding crutches in her portrait.

36. There are totem-esc styles statues of both Calvin and Molly

37. Barbara's outfit is over the railing.

This is the same way the Hook-Man falls

38. "Performance of her life" can also mean that it is the performance she is known for.

39. There are spare portrait logs in the basement.

40. There is a fake window in the basement.

41. Edie's grave is finished despite her dying and then nobody else going to the house.

42. There is no grave for Milton.

43. Lewis' grave has a crown on it.

44. There are times wear it seems like you can hear sobbing (this one may just be me).

45. There is a box of Kay's old stuff in Sam's bedroom.

46. Odin has a park named after him.

47. This isn't a fact but I think this may be one of the funniest photos of the game (LIKE SIR? YOUR DAUGHTER IS SOBBING!).

48. Both Calvin and Dawn are on Sam's shrine.

49. Gus has a skateboard over his name.

50. Gregory has the soap bottle from his final bath in his shrine.

51. The music cuts out when Gregory isn't moving.

52. Same also blames himself for Gregory.

53. Gus never met his step mother.

54. Gus was crushed by the (totem) statues of his deceased relatives.

55. Dawn's light switch is the only one on

56. Most of the rules are about past deaths. (No playing outside without permission : Calvin, No answering door for strangers : Barbara, No messes after dark : Molly (???)).

57. Milton's garden has a castle (reference to the Unfinished Swan)

58. There is a small Sanjay shrine in the classroom

59. Edith JR did an assignment on her family history.

60. Lewis drew on his desk.

61. There is no death date for Milton on his peephole.

62. Edith JR wrote Milton's death date as 2003 (the year he disappeared).

63. The door from the flip book is in Milton's room.

64. Lewis' dream Palace is decorated with fish.

65. The gnomes scattered around the house are outside the original house in Edie's story.

66. The credits roll in reverse order.

AND THAT'S IT!! I had a few others I thought didn't need to go in.

[purplemagics-blog]

ART THE CLOWN X FEM READER!!

“Baby your not good for me, your not good for me, but baby I want you I want you!”

“Scary? My god you’re divine!!”

WARNING: reader gets kidnapping, attempted suicidal, weapons, please tell me if I missed anything!

Lmao I wrote this laying in bed, listening to diet Mountain Dew and watching 100 days in Minecraft

I put like 2 will wood references in this and there both really close together and if you find them both put it in the comments and what song they are them and you can choose what the theme for the next fanfic! (I literally ran out of ideas so this)

Wow… this is a lot…

You had just put the little pale girl down to sleep and now you and Art were cuddling up on the couch. Well how did you get here? Welllll it’s a long story!

A couple years back you were really close to ending it. You didn’t have family or friends, your band was breaking up and that was your only job you had for income! There you were standing on the edge of a bridge your old looking dress with a flower print on it blowing in the wind, your white cardigan long forgotten on the ground and your black shoes with black bows? They were also forgotten on the ground. As you about to jump you felt something grabbed the back of your legs and forced you backwards! Fell into someone’s arms… a clown? Maybe it was a fan? Your band did have a clown theme to it. But next thing you know the clown with a creepy smile forced a white cloth over your mouth and he most definitely put something on it as you passed out. You woke up in some sort of strange dark place. You where inside of a small cage (like a dog cage) and as you looked around you saw a little creepy pale girl trying to get a tv to work and as you looked up you saw the same clown guy sitting at a desk making a wimp with a knife tied to the end!

••••••••••••••••✰☼✟♡✟☼✰••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••☆☆☆••••••••••••••••••••

Ok so he did try and kill you but every time the little pale girl stoped him! She real liked you and in some short of way she was a like a child to you and after a while Art started to get closer to you like letting you out the cage, sharing “food” with you, and even letting you go outside ones and a while. And well about a year later you just assumed you both were dating at least that’s how you took it when the little pale girl was making drawings with crans with you, Art and her as a… family..? I mean Art gave you gifts, kissed you, you helped him kill people ones and a while, just you guys just acted like a crazy couple!

You took Art and the little pale girl into your house after a while (the police were going to fine you guys so y’all needed to move lmao)

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

So in the president, you had just put the little pale girl to bed and Art and you were cuddled up on the couch watching a scary movie. You were laying down and Art was laying on you with his face buried in your chest and his arms wrapped around your waist. These days he was the biggest simp for you. You both looked so cute together to be fair! Your past left behind and the future with Art is ahead! As you both are cuddling the movie has a jump scare and you finch and Art? He jumps silently laughs and mocks your face! WHAT A DICK! You powdered and he just didn’t care what an ass! As the end of the movie happens the title pops up “love me normally! Why apologize for being blue and cold?” And when the actors and stuff. Art stands up and picks you up bride style and carries you to bed. He plops you on the bed and when he walks over to the other side of the bed and he lays down and pulls you close. You both cuddle close and he kisses your forehead before you both drift off to sleep.

ANYWAYS HOPE YOU LIKED IT!!!

[dragoncarrion]

making the brightest most eyebleedingly red house finch in history by embellishing him with the most colorful leg bands and feeding him a concentrated diet of pure processed red 40 that'll make his feathers so vivid every female finch on earth will want to mate only with him to the point the gene pool gets devastated and the species is driven to extinction except for my special little neon abomination

[anonsally]

Day 2 in Chile: Birding along the central coast

After a decent night's sleep, we got up early this morning for our birding tour. The guide and a driver picked us up at 8am and we had an epic day of birding! It was cold but mostly sunny, so not as cold as yesterday except when it was very windy. The guide told us that this is one of the best times of year to visit Chile, bird-wise, because a lot of birds that breed further south migrate here in the winter... as do a lot of birds who breed further north!

We did spend a lot of the day in the car in between birding, but that was fine actually as it gave Wife (who is an introvert) a break from interacting and it also meant less time in the sun and wind. And we saw lots of birds, nearly all of which were new for me.

The guide hasn't shared the eBird list with me yet so I'm sure I won't remember everything, but here's what I remember (not chronologically, and I've tried to put my favorites near the top, but not really in order and they were all exciting in one way or another):

Humboldt penguins! We were pretty lucky; I think there were about 30 of them hanging out on a small island preserve very close to the beach.

Inca terns. These were very beautiful and unusual-looking terns, dark grey with long white whiskers and red beaks, with a yellow spot at the base, and red feet.

Grey gulls starting to get their breeding plumage. I thought these were very cute, elegant gulls.

A giant hummingbird. Which... is not an exaggeration. It was enormous. Too big to hover. But clearly hummingbird shaped. Totally incongruous!

Tufted tit-tyrant. (The Tufted Tit-Tyrants is my new band.) Probably one of the cutest birds I've ever seen.

Peruvian boobies

Peruvian pelicans--not too different from the brown pelicans we see at home, but larger.

Three kinds of cormorant: Most were neotropic cormorants, but we also saw a couple of guanay cormorants, and several of the very beautiful red-legged cormorant.

Southern lapwings. Kind of a patchwork pattern of coloration.

Two rufous-chested dotterels, one of which was getting its breeding plumage.

Three kinds of cinclodes: gray-flanked (which breed in the Andes but winter on rocky beaches), seaside (larger), and (I think?) buff-winged.

Two kinds of oystercatchers: blackish and American (I don't think I'd seen the American kind before; the ones in California are black oystercatchers).

Yellow-billed pintails

Yellow-billed teals

Diuca finches

Lake duck (similar to a ruddy duck)

Rufous-collared sparrows (apparently more common than house sparrows in Chile, and infinitely cuter!)

Coscoroba swans, which looked less mean and more friendly than our usual swans

red-gartered coots

Great shrike-tyrants

Long-tailed meadowlark. Startlingly red face and front.

Chimango caracaras, which were the raptors I'd seen on the way from the airport. Apparently there are no corvids here, but these fill that ecological niche. We saw two of them eating a dead meadowlark.

Dusky tapaculo. The guide made limited use of playback in the one foresty stop. This bird is very shy but we did manage to get a decent view of it.

Variable hawk.

Harris's hawk

Great grebes

White-tufted grebes

Brown-hooded gulls

Chilean mockingbirds

Two kinds of swallows: blue-and-white and Chilean

Chiloe wigeons

black vultures

a rufous-tailed plantcutter

Austral thrushes

Austral blackbirds

We also saw sea lions and a couple of otters!

We had them drop us off at a restaurant in Viña Del Mar, which saved them some driving and meant we could try a restaurant we were interested in. We drank Pisco sours (a great cocktail!) and--as usual--ordered too much food. Then we managed to get a bus back to Valparaíso and had a steep walk back up to the hotel, as the funiculars don't run late.

[obxone]

A Gentleman (Part 2)

Edited-ish-- ~2.8k words. Warning: smut

Master Page

A strange dream pulls you from your sleep with a start, and you glance around, confusion flooding your brain until it clicks that you are in Rafe’s bed. The dream is not a dream after all. The warmth against your side is confirmation that he is still there beside you. You turn your head, allowing you to get a good look at him. A serene look on his face as he sleeps peacefully beside you.

He is on his side of the bed and facing you now, arm across your stomach as he sleeps. Willing your breathing to remain steady, you reach out. Fingertips tracing up the length of his forearm, the bands of muscles prominent under your touch. His body still warm against yours. You snuggle back against him, eyes closing as you will yourself to go back to sleep. 

The next time you wake, the sun is up, and the sounds of the household waking funnel into the room, muffled by the closed door. 

“Morning,” his deep, groggy voice causes you to blush, and you turn your face to see him watching you. His arm still a bar of muscles across your body. “How'd you sleep?”

“'s good," you murmur, stretching out a little before snuggling back into the depths of his bed. "This mattress is heaven. You?”

“Good.”

You glance around his room before you closing your eyes and your forehead falls against his. “What is the plan?”

“What plan?”

You do not open your eyes, but you squeeze his arm instead. “So that your dad and Rose don’t find me in here.”

“I don’t care if they do.”

Your eyes open then, and he has that cocky smirk again. “I do.”

“Why?”

“How quick do you think Rose will be to tell my mother that I, her precious perfect daughter, slept with Rafe Cameron?”

He shrugs. “We did sleep.”

You roll your eyes making him laugh a little. “You know what I mean.”

“If fucking was what either you or I wanted last night, then we would have,” he says casually before rolling away from you and getting out the bed. Your mouth drops open as you stare at him in shock. His comment and shirtless body surprising you. And the internal part of you whines that he has slipped away from you taking his body heat with him. He glances over his shoulder before he pulls a t-shirt on. “I would have told you if that was what I wanted.”

“I would have said no if you had tried anything."

He laughs then, truly laughs, before moving back to you. His body leans over yours so that his lips brush the shell of your ear. Your hand immediately reaches to touch him. His skin smooth under your touch as your nails barely bite into the muscled expanse of his bicep. The desire to let some part of you touch him tugs at you as that naive schoolgirl crush flares back to life.

“Don’t lie to me,” he whispers in your ear before pulling away. Your hand falls to the bed, a heat spreading over your face and neck. “Get dressed and we’ll go to breakfast. You like Finch’s Bakery right?”

“Love it.”

He nods before grabbing his ball cap and going to his bedroom door. “I’ll be back in ten minutes to get you. You can borrow my clothes.”

— — — — 

Rafe spent the day with you much to your surprise. You expected breakfast and to be dropped off at home shortly after. Sarah and Topper are still nowhere to be found and he remains tight lipped on where they are.

You know Rafe would typically be on the golf course or somewhere with Kelce and Topper by now, but instead, he sits beside you. His leg is pressed against yours while you watch the waves roll in. The sun warms your back and you inhale the salty air, enjoying the moment of peace.

His watchful eyes are on you instead of the waves, and a small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth.

“It’s perfect,” you confess, voice soft and barely audible, the orange and pink sky making your smile widen. “How do you know about this place?”

He shrugs. “Found it one day. It’s out of the way, quiet.”

“You come here often?”

“Every now and then.” He turns his head to look at you then. “Why?”

You look away from him to the stretch of sand in front of you. The sun casts your shadows out in front of you across the ground. Your gaze fixates on the lack of space between shadowed you and him. 

“I come here when Mom and I disagree about my life,” you murmur, fingers clasped together in your lap. “So I come often. I’ve never seen you here before.”

He is quiet, so quiet that you look at him again. A look of displeasure on his face, but he is not looking at you anymore. He is also fixated on the shadows. 

After a moment, he breaks the silence. “Why is it like that between you?”

You exhale and stretch your legs out before crossing your ankles. “I’m her little girl. I have to be perfect at all times to make her look perfect. I have to make all the right choices so that my future has all the right options. I’m the one that has to find a respectable kook husband to marry one day…” you fade out picking up a seashell by your knee. You examine it trying to ignore the burn of tears. “But I’m sure being an only son is hard too. Topper faces pressure from both our dad and mom. I just have to deal with my mom.”

“Ward is like that,” he confesses, his index finger drawing his initial in the sand. “Sarah is his favorite.”

“I can tell,” you say gently before placing the seashell in the loop of the R. “She can’t, but I can.”

“I don’t know why she is.”

“There isn’t a logical reason why. It’s cruel and I try my hardest to not let it happen often with Topper.”

Rafe lifts his head, his gaze on you and you stare back at him. “You love your brother.”

“I do.” You see a wistfulness in his eyes, but it is gone quickly. “We both know that Wheezie adores you.”

A smile stretches across his lips then. “Wheezie doesn’t know how lucky she is to be the youngest.”

“She’ll deal with it one day, trust me.” You say before reaching over to trace your initial next to his. “She’ll blink and it’ll be her turn to face the music.”

Rafe groans at the thought and you giggle before tracing the outline of a sea turtle off to the left of your initial. He watches you quietly for a moment before looking up again. 

“I should take you home. Topper has probably dropped Sarah off by now.”

“Okay,” you whisper. He stands before reaching a hand down to help you up. You let him before you walk back to his dad’s truck. His hand is still firmly wrapped around yours. It feels right to let your fingers slip through the spaces of his and you squeeze once before looking over your shoulder one last time. He catches you, a distant look in his eyes when you turn back to him. But he shakes his head and continues to walk beside you to the truck. He helps you in, the silence stretching out again, before going to the driver’s side. 

He starts the drive back to the residential portion of Figure 8 and you watch out the window quietly. It has been a good day, great day even, and you are a little surprised.

“Do you want to get married?” He asks breaking the silence. You turn your head to him. "You mentioned needing a kook husband."

“Maybe, I don’t know. I definitely am not marrying Wyatt.” You joke, but his hand grips the wheel a little tighter at the mention of your ex's name. “But I don’t know. I haven’t met anyone remotely interested in me. I thought Wyatt was, but I think he wanted to impress all his buddies by dating the Thornton girl.”

Rafe frowns. “That asshole did not deserve you. And now he doesn't have you.”

You shrug, the faint feeling of disappointment stirring in your chest. Flashbacks from the night you made the worst decision by giving up a piece of yourself wash over you. "He has a small part of me though."

Rafe's eyebrows rise, waiting for you to elaborate. His hand still gripping the wheel tightly.

“I... umm... w-well I kinda of gave my virginity to him,” you explain, fingers fidgeting with the drawstring of your borrowed sweatpants. "I regretted it the moment I let it happen, but he pressured me and I didn't feel like I could say no..."

Rafe hits the brakes and the truck jerks to a halt. "Did that asshole force himself on you?"

Your eyes widen at the murderous rage masking his face before you shake your head and start to backpedal quickly. “No! No, he didn't. He just made it seem like that it was my responsibility because I was his girlfriend."

"I'll kill him."

"Rafe, don't!" You reach across to touch his forearm again. His hands white-knuckling the wheel. "I’m sorry. I should have explained it better. I regret it because he never made it about me. It was only about him and him getting off. He never actually cared about me. I was naive and believed his bullshit then, but now I know better."

Rafe stares out the windshield, his face still screwed up in anger.

"I'm sorry, Rafe. I know you are best friends with my brother and probably see me as a little sister-”

“No, I don’t,” he says, cutting you off and turning his head to stare at you. His expression unreadable. Your eyes widen a little. His jaw clenches before he turns away and then back to you. “You’ve never been a little sister to me.”

“Oh.”

He starts to drive again, but it is a short drive off to the side of the highway into the grass before he parks the truck and turns off the engine. 

“Rafe?”

He is silent for a moment staring out the windshield at the empty road before he turns to you. A fire in those blue depths tells you that you are about to firmly cross a line you had never imagined you would. And you are right as he surges forward. His lips molding against yours. Your heart races at the feel of his soft and warm lips against yours. Goosebumps cover your body as he kisses you like you are his source of life. All thoughts empty from your head and a heat spreads through you. Then you are kissing him back. Your hands find his shoulders to pull him closer to you. The initial shock of Rafe Cameron kissing you melts away. 

His hands find your waist and slide to your back, urging you closer to him. A moan slips from you, but he ignores it. Your heart races wildly as your fingers tangle in his hair. You want this, you had dreamed about this even when you had been with Wyatt. Especially when Rafe reminded Wyatt just who you were when he would get out of hand at the Island Club and try to mistreat you in public. 

And then he is no longer there. His back is pressed against the door of the truck and he stares at you. An uncapped wildness in his eyes. His chest rises and falls rapidly, hair falling in his face, and those blue eyes sear straight into your soul. 

“I’m sorry,” he says quickly, running his hand through his hair to push it back out of his face. You inhale sharply and turn away, an awful coldness replacing the heat. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

“I wanted you to,” you confess before turning back to him. Embarrassment floods you. You pull your bottom lip between your teeth. 

He shakes his head. “No.”

“I did, I still do,” you whisper before reaching for the handle on the door to let yourself out. You could walk home as humiliation paints your face and neck a bright shade of pink.

He moves quickly then, his hand covering yours before you can pull on the handle. His lips brush the nape of your neck. “If we do this-”

You do not let him finish. He wants you as much as you want him. You turn and crash your lips against his. Hands fisting his shirt to keep him close to you. His touch is like molten lava against your arms and you shiver, pressing closer wishing the middle console would disappear.

“I want you,” you breathe, mouth hovering over his. “And you want me too.”

“I do.”

You bite your lip, heart racing so hard you are sure it will jump out of your chest. You kiss him again. It feels necessary now, like breathing, and you forget about the outside world when the tip of his tongue urges your lips to part for him. Time seems to slip away.

It happens quickly and you do not mind him taking control by pulling you across the console into his lap. You straddle him, moaning when his hands make contact with the skin of your waist. A fire spreading through your body from his touches. Lips and hands are frantic. Your hands shake as you unbutton his shirt revealing his bare torso button by button. You want to kiss all of him, every inch, and you intend to do so once the shirt is off. 

His hand cups your face, thumb swiping down the length of your neck. “Baby stop,” he rushes as you unbutton the last button. You lean back from him studying him. “You are Topper’s little sister.”

“Not right now I’m not,” you say quickly and he bites his lip. Your eyes darken at the sight. “Forget Topper, forget who I am right now. Because this is our only chance. I know now that you feel what I feel. I know you want me, Rafe, and I've wanted you for so long."

He swallows before nodding, his fingers digging into the swell of your hips.

You kiss him again, hands pushing his shirt from his shoulders. He kisses back, hands trailing down your thighs and then back up to the hem of your pants. His fingers tug at the tied strings. Your hips grind down against him and he moans your name. Your nails drag down his chest and abs while you focus your kisses on his neck intent on sucking a mark into his skin. Your mark.

“Fuck!” He rasps, his fingers gripping the hem of your shirt before he guides it up and off of you. He tosses it into the passenger seat before staring at your chest. “Fuck.”

“You said that already,” you muse, watching him take you in. You feel beautiful sitting like this, his hungry eyes taking every inch of you in. “I want you to touch every inch of me.”

"I'm planning on it, Princess."

The promise of his intentions creates a pool of anticipation and desire in your lower belly. He reaches back, unclasping the hooks of your bra before you are pulling the straps down and tossing your bra to the side.

"You are perfect," he mutters before your lips claim his. Your hands guide his to touch you. His hands searing hot against your skin as he squeezes your breasts. The carnal shift in his face has you clenching your thighs around his hips. His mouth drags down the column of your throat and to your chest. Your head tipping back as you let out a moan, fingers tightening around locks of his hair when he pulls a nipple into his mouth. 

“Rafe!” You moan, grinding against him again. “God, I need you so much right now.”

“Get in the backseat, Baby, now,” he commands and you go slipping between the spaces of the front seats. And he follows reaching for you to pull your body against his. "I don't have a condom."

"I'm on the pill," you rush, reaching for the button of his shorts.

"No," he says, cutting your attempt to get him out of the rest of his clothes. "Not yet. This is about you."

"About us," you whisper, before pecking his lips. "This is about us."

He grins before jerking his chin. "Lay down, Baby."

You do as he says, hair fanning out across the backseat while he hooks his fingers around the elastic band of your sweatpants.

"Hips up."

You lift your hips and he tugs the pants down, tossing them to the front seat. Cool air washes over your naked body and you bite your lip, watching him take you in.

"Fuck!"

"Rafe," you whine, reaching for him. "Touch me please!"

He inhales, trying to pace himself before he is between your legs. His arms hooking under your thighs and pulling your core down against his mouth. The single swipe of his tongue against you has your thighs clenching around his head. You moan as he devours you. His mouth expertly working you into a mess and your hand hooks around his head, begging for more while the other presses against the leather seat to anchor you.

Your eyes flutter shut and your body tightens, your chest heaving. His name falls from your lips over and over. Before you are ready, your orgasm washes through you. Your bones feel like they have turned to liquid and a warmth floods your insides.

"Oh my..."

“I’m not even close to being done with you,” he mumbles against the inside of you thigh, and you lift your head to watch him. He smirks while shoving his shorts down. Your lips part in shock when his cock springs free.

“I heard rumors, but…”

His hand wraps around his length, stroking up and down a few times. You shiver, wanting to touch him, but he does not give you the chance as he drags the tip of his cock against your folds. You bite your lip, eyes fluttering close at the sensation of him pressing against you.

“Watch me, Baby.”

Your eyes snap open and he grins before he begins to ease himself into you. Your nails scratch against his lower abs and he sinks into you inch by inch until he is completely buried. You whine, legs squeezing his hips as he falls into you. He claims your mouth in another kiss.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he breathes against your lips. "Tell me to stop if you need me to."

“You won’t,” you whisper before brushing the tip of your nose against his. “I trust you. I want this. I want you."

He smiles and the butterflies in your stomach explode at the endearing look on his face. “I’ve seen what Wyatt was working with Babe. This is a different experience.”

You bite your lip against a laugh that bubbles up, but you fail and your laughter fills the cabin of the truck. “There is a decent size difference,” you confess before kissing him. “But I’m okay.”

His gaze drops to be between your legs as he slowly pulls out almost to the tip before pushing back in. He does it over and over, easing you open for him. It feels amazing and your body still tingles from your first orgasm. Moans and praises echo from you and him both, your fingers clasp against his and your legs wrap around him, encouraging him deeper. You stretch around him, adjusting and he watches, memorizing every stroke and every noise that comes from your pretty mouth. 

“More,” you eventually beg and he complies. Your head falls to his shoulder, lips pressing to the curve of his neck. He gives you everything you could ask of him. 

----

After cleaning up and getting dressed, Rafe and you are back in your seats. His hand is on your thigh as he drives back to Figure 8. The drive is in comfortable silence. You can still feel the press of him against you. The way your body ached to be his and now is. You never want this night to end, but it has to as you get closer and closer to your home.

"No one can know about this,” you say softly and he looks over at you. “No one. Not Topper, not Sarah.”

You turn to look at him. Worry filling you that this night will backfire and cost you both your brother and your best friend. He studies you before giving a curt nod and you see the change him in almost immediately. You reach over, hand on his shoulder and then the back of his neck. 

“Rafe, I don’t regret this. I wanted it. I still do. I want you,” you breathe and his fingers press deeper into the soft inside of your thigh. “But our siblings would be furious. You said it earlier.”

“I did.”

“Please,” you whisper, nails lightly scratching at the back of his head. “Don’t be mad at me.”

“I’m not mad,” he says, shaking his head once before parking the truck outside of your house. He turns his face to look at you before sighing. “I-I would have..." He swallows before shaking his head once. "You're mine now. And I would have made another excuse and kept you a little longer if I was smart.”

“I have a curfew,” you remind him. He frowns then before looking back at the house. “Walk with me to the door?” You ask. 

“I shouldn’t.”

“Topper isn’t here and my parents are asleep.”

“Okay.” 

You both get out and walk hand in hand to the door. He presses you against the corner of the door frame lips claiming yours for a moment. You wrap your arms around his shoulder pulling him closer. The kiss ends much too quickly and he steps back. 

“See you tomorrow?”

His eyebrows raise in confusion.

“Kelce’s house party.”

“You’re coming?”

“Yep.”

He nods and you can tell his thinking of a plan before his chin lifts and his eyes meet yours again. “Okay.”

You laugh, leaning towards him. Your hands are on his chest. “That’s all I get?”

“Wear something pretty,” he murmurs into your ear before pressing his lips to your forehead. His hand cradles the back of your head. “I’ll find you when I can.”

And then he is off the front steps and heading towards the truck. You blow out a breath, skin tingling with excitement for the future and for what has happened tonight. You go inside with only one glance back to see him pulling away. Promises of your shared beginning lingering in the air.

(Part 3)

[the-ace-writter]

Character profile for Under The Ivy (My new story)

Atticus Woodly Atticus is a 19-year-old college student with a double major in History and Art history (he takes music history classes and is in the orchestra playing the cello). He's about 5'8 and 127lbs, he has fluffy light brown wavy hair that's often messy from how he usually plays with it and runs his hands through it. He has pale green eyes and a light olive skin tone. He grew up in a middle-class family. His personal aesthetic is chaotic academia, and his personality type is INTP-T. He is a homoromantic Asexual and a hopeless romantic. He has ADHD, and several things surrounding ADHD, his adhd contributes to his creativity and unique perspectives. (Yes I know what they are and how to write this because I based him off of me mostly) Atticus's mother named him after Atticus Finch from To Kill A Mockingbird because of how much his mother loved that book. (TW: suicide) Atticus's most prized possession is a cello necklace given to him by his older sister Clara who committed suicide when he was 12. Her death has had a big impact on his life and since his sister was the one who always encouraged him to pursue whatever it was that made him happy and whatever he wanted to do and to not worry about the money. On a lighter side of Atticus' interests and hobbies:

Enjoys exploring art galleries and museums, often losing track of time while immersed in historical narratives.

Engages in discussions about literature and philosophy, often analyzing characters and themes deeply.

Loves attending concerts and performances, both classical and contemporary, finding solace in music.

Loves playing the cello it helps soothe him and regulate his emotions and express said emotions.

Atticus has a messy 1 person dorm though he'd call it organized chaos. If he can't see it, it might as well not exist. He likes a little bit of every kind of music so you never know what you'll catch him listening to. oh right, clothing he likes oversized sweaters, sweater vests, crew neck sweatshirts, and jackets. Baggy trousers, or straight-legged pants usually plain, tartan, or plaid of some kind. Old Converse, or combat boots are the main shoes he wears. He likes button-ups and turtlenecks, as well as vintage band tees or other graphic tees with book stuff or funny things or words that match his personality.

[sunnyrealist]

🌶️ Ch. 23: We Still Have a Lot to Learn 🌶️ The Sun, the Moon, and All Our Stars

Summary and Details…

Chapter Background and Summary: Sebastian and Kate went on a date in Hogsmeade on the last Saturday of the school year. They had dinner and dessert, went window shopping (Kate showed Seb a piano she's been eyeing for a long time), and finally found the traveling band that visits annually. They went dancing and had a great time. When they took a break, Kate ran into one of her friends, Henry Finch, who happens to be an ex-boyfriend from years ago. Sebastian did not like the way Henry was interacting with her, and afterwards, Kate had to convince Sebastian that she only loves him and that Henry is only a friend. They decided to apparate back to Kate's cottage directly after their conversation.

Pairing: Aged-up, post-Azkaban Sebastian Sallow x female OC (Kate Mayflower)

Content warnings: In general, this story is rated 18+, so MNDI! For this specific chapter - very possessive sex, bondage, oral - female receiving, body worship 🌶️

The full chapter is available below the cut; it can also be found on AO3 (link is posted below). Any kind of constructive feedback would be greatly appreciated. A comment, like, or Kudos would make my day!

Chapter 23: We Still Have a Lot to Learn

The moment they land in the living room, there is no time for Kate to make any move. Sebastian picks her up, carrying her straight to the bedroom. His hands are on her arse.

Kate has never seen Sebastian’s eyes so dark. 

He practically drops her on the bed, following her down immediately, pushing his knee between her legs. His lips crash into hers. He grabs her hands tightly, pressing them into the bed above her head. Kate moans as they kiss, feeling his arousal quickly come to life against her thigh. 

Sebastian lightly nips at her bottom lip, then swipes his tongue along it, demanding entry. Kate’s mouth opens automatically, and their kissing deepens. She breathes sharply through her nose, unable and unwilling to break away from him for even a moment. 

His right hand lets go of hers, his fingers traveling down her wrists, then her arms, her chest, and finally, they settle over her covered breast. He cups and squeezes until her nipple hardens. 

Sebastian’s lips finally move beyond her mouth to her cheek and then down her neck, so slowly, listening closely to her breathing as it grows labored. His tongue darts out, tracing a line down her neck and back up again. He begins his way down her neck once more, alternating between kissing and lightly nibbling her skin over and over. In response, she makes the most delicious, most addicting noises - better than he could ever dream up. 

Flicking his finger over her covered but incredibly stiff nipple causes Kate to squirm underneath Sebastian. She writhes around even more when his mouth closes around the space where her neck and shoulder connect. She whines in pleasure, bucking up into his knee and upper leg, seeking friction where heat has pooled between her legs. 

“Please, Sebastian,” Kate begs.

His pupils are blown wide as he raises his head, panting, staring down at her flushed face, her lips swollen and red from the bruising kisses Sebastian had inflicted upon her. Kate’s breasts are heaving.

“Tell me you need me,” he commands in a husky voice. “I want to hear you say it.”

Sebastian pushes his knee against her cunt, at which she whimpers again.

“I need you, Sebastian. Please, I need you,” Kate whimpers.

“More,” he replies aggressively. “I want to hear you beg for me. Tell me I’m the only one who can do this to you.”

His head dips back down, his teeth lightly closing around her peaked, clothed nipple. She yelps.

“Fuck! Sebastian!” Kate cries out. “Please, I need you!” She grinds against his knee, arching her back. “I only want you! I’m yours. I’m yours. Fuck, I’m yours!”

“That’s my good girl,” he whispers darkly. “What do you want, Kate? Tell me.”

“Merlin!” she practically shouts, frustrated. “You know what I want. I need you. Please, fuck me already! Sebastian, stop teasing!”

“I’m not teasing,” he murmurs in her ear, smiling devilishly. “I like to hear you sing, my love. I want you to only sing for me.” He pauses, breathing heavily, his hand returning to squeeze her breast. “I’m going to make you scream for me tonight. You’ll never think of any other man again, my Kate. I’ll make you so full of me it won’t be possible for you to think of anyone else. I’m the only one who can do this to you, my love. You only want me to fuck you. Tell me it’s true.”

Kate moans in response, still rubbing herself against him. “Gods, Sebastian! I never think of anyone else!” She takes a breath, steeling herself. “Every night, I imagine you taking me. Claiming me. Making me yours and yours alone. I don’t want anyone else!”

In her filthiest dreams, Sebastian fucks her over and over, filling her to the brim with his seed until it’s spilling out of her. She’s too ashamed to tell him now, but it’s her wildest fantasy for him to cover her with teeth marks and bruises, for her breasts to be shiny, painted with cum, for him to pleasure her until she actually screams and forgets even her own name.

“You’re mine, Kate. You’re only mine. No one else can have you,” Sebastian practically growls. 

She’s surprised by the intensity of his tone, but she doesn’t protest.

“No one else can touch you, feel your body,” he continues, then scoots back and stands on the floor, bringing her up with him. He reaches behind her, making quick work of the buttons on her dress. “I’m the only one who can take off your clothes, see what’s underneath.” He pulls the bodice and sleeves off of her arms, then watches as her dress falls down and pools on the floor around her. He gazes upon her hungrily, observing the lacy, baby blue corset that barely contains her breasts and the teeny, tiny knickers she chose for him, for tonight. “Your sexy lingerie is only for me.” 

“And removing your lingerie,” he begins, whispering in her ear in a velvety voice as he reaches around her, untying and loosening the stays, “is a job reserved for me alone.”

He opens the corset, then lowers it off of her arms to reveal her huge breasts, her nipples rosy and pert. “I’m the only man in the world who will ever get to enjoy your breasts - the pleasure of seeing them, feeling them in my hands and pressed up against my chest,” he murmurs quietly, bending his knees so that he can be face-level with her tits. His tongue dips out to trace circles around the nipple that was neglected earlier. She gasps in pleasure. Then, his lips close around it and suck until it is as stiff as possible. He releases it with a pop. “No other man will know how good your tits feel in my mouth.”

Sebastian brings her back to the bed, seating her across his lap. His huge hands explore her back, running up and down. “Knowing how soft and smooth your skin is, I’m not willing to share you.” His hands settle on her arse. His voice is husky, his breath warm against Kate’s ear. “Your curves, your perfect arse… all belong to me.” Kate shivers at his touch. His fingers are feather-light, tracing down her leg and closing over her foot, squeezing, practically massaging. “Every part of you is mine. Even your thighs, your legs, your dainty little feet.” His lips press a kiss to her shoulder.

“You’re perfect, my love - the most perfect woman in the world for me,” he whispers as his fingers move back up her leg and slide underneath the lacy band of her panties. “Your cunt is my home. You were made to take me and only me.” He pulls gently on the fabric, lowering it easily and tossing it across the room.

Sebastian lays down, then gently flips Kate to her back against the bed. “And because you’re mine, do you trust me, Kate? Do you trust me to make you feel good?”

Kate sighs as his lips move across her collarbone. “Yes. Gods, Sebastian… Please…” she whispers in response. “I’m yours…”

“That’s good. That’s so good. You’re so good for me,” he whispers as he slides off of the bed and back up to his feet, hastily removing his own clothing. His cock stands proudly, aching with the urgent need to bury itself within her heat.

Glancing about the room, he notices a drawer that Kate must have left open earlier in her hurry. It’s filled with hair ornaments and ribbons of every color. He strides over and selects two long, green ribbons. Kate watches him in curiosity, splayed out on the bed, as he returns to crawl over her. He wraps a ribbon around her wrist, tying it to one of the bars of the bed frame. Kate’s heart pounds as he does the same with her other wrist, her arms stretched out wide. Testing their strength, Kate struggles against them momentarily, but, ultimately, she doesn’t even want to fight what he’s doing in the least. Her lower legs dangle over the side of the bed.

“You’ll never escape me, Kate,” he murmurs, looking down at her adoringly. “I’ll always have you. I’ll never let you go.”

She gazes upon Sebastian hungrily, her eyes focusing in on his strong, athletic body - his huge pecs, the dark hair on his chest, his large biceps, the veins running down his forearms, his toned abs, the v-shape leading down to a patch of coarse hair, and his absolutely enormous cock, ending with a dark pink tip, bubbling with pre-cum. Even his thighs are somehow muscular. She can’t help but openly stare. “Sebastian, you’re… you’re so big. Absolutely ripped - and so hot. Seriously, so ridiculously sexy. I would never try to escape you. I’ll only want you more and more, I swear it.”

Sebastian can’t help but smirk at her compliments, his cheeks turning slightly pink. The combination of a blush against his freckles is more than Kate can even take. 

“Please, come here, Sebastian. Please, I need you now,” she begs.

“I need you now, Kate. I’ll always need you,” he replies softly. “I want to be the only one you need. I’ll take care of you, sweetheart.”

With that, Sebastian lowers to his knees next to the bed and spreads her legs wide. Kate’s eyes widen as she feels his lips against her cunt. She whimpers as his tongue licks stripes between her folds, flicking over her clit repeatedly. Her thighs are tight against each side of his head.

“You’re so wet,” he murmurs. “Just for me. Just for me.”

“Yes, Sebastian,” she moans as he presses open mouthed kisses over her pussy. “Please, more…”

Kate gasps as she feels two of Sebastian’s fingers slowly enter her, then begin to pump in and out. “Mmmmm, oh… Oh gods, Sebastian!”

His lips close around her cunt, sucking, as he pleasures her. Kate’s back arches as the pleasure increases, and it isn’t long until he can feel her muscles contracting around his fingers, and she’s crying out his name over and over. He continues until she comes down from her high, then slowly pulls his fingers out and licks them.

“You’re so sweet, Kate,” he tells her in a hushed voice. “So fucking sweet on my tongue. I’m the only one in the world who will ever get to taste you, savor you.”

He rises to his feet, his cock aching. “And I’m the only man who will make love to you for the rest of your life. The only person who will ever make you come.” 

Lifting her legs up, Sebastian places Kate’s feet on his shoulders. His hands grip her shapely hips tightly, lining himself up with her cunt. “I’m going to make you see stars, Kate. I will always put you first, my love - you’ll always feel good with me. I promise you this.”

Sebastian pushes in, expecting some resistance, but Kate is drenched. His entire cock slides in fully at once, causing both of them to cry out sharply. He begins to move his hips slowly, but Kate begs him for more. Soon, his hips are rocking back and forth, creating the most obscene, wet sounds. His balls slap against her arse as they moan, both of them fully aware that this will not last long at all. 

Kate grabs on to the ribbons tying her wrists, trying to find something to hold on to as Sebastian pounds into her relentlessly. Both of them are red in the face and breathing heavily. Kate whines and whimpers, making unintelligible sounds as his tip kisses her g-spot over and over. Her breasts bounce tantalizingly - it’s a perfect view of the love of his life.

“Nnnnnnnghhh… Seb… Seb…” she practically sobs, her body shaking. “I’m… I’m… gonna… Oh, gods, Seb!!!” Kate’s vision goes white and she feels as though fireworks are exploding everywhere in her body.

Even without her warning, Sebastian knew she was close. Now, her walls tighten around him, closing in and sucking his cock in even further, squeezing him more, if that is even possible. A couple more hard thrusts, and it’s over for him as well. Deep inside her, Sebastian releases a huge load of cum as he groans her name. He pushes forward a few more times, not wanting to waste any drop of his seed outside of her body. She is his, and he needs to completely claim her.

Time seems to stop as they do. Sebastian’s legs are trembling as he pulls out and slowly lowers Kate’s legs. He lets himself fall on the bed next to her and attempts to untie the ribbons binding her wrists. His mind is so fuzzy it’s actually difficult for him, and Kate can’t help but chuckle quietly until he figures it out.

Kate’s arms immediately encircle him, and she leans in to kiss him deeply over and over as they come out of the haze of lovemaking.

“I… wow…” Sebastian murmurs, still slightly dazed. 

“Sebastian, that was amazing,” she whispers, pressing her lips to his again with her hand on his cheek. “So amazing.”

“I love you, Kate. I love you,” he tells her. “I love you.”

“And I love you, Sebastian,” she replies softly. 

They lay quietly for a long time, just staring at each other.

Eventually, Sebastian offers to get some water for them, leaving the room. As she stares up at the ceiling, she can hear him rummaging in the kitchen for glasses, then filling them. His feet pound against the wooden floor on his way back. 

They sit up on the edge of the bed, sipping their cool water. 

Kate lays her head upon his arm, feeling content and loved. The extensive foreplay, making sure she was feeling pleasured and ready for him, is just unlike anything she had experienced with other men. She truly feels well taken-care-of with Sebastian. His words were so sweet, so romantic as he prepared her. She loved him taking control.

Sebastian stares down at his glass of water. His body is more than satisfied, but his mind is still reeling from what happened prior to their lovemaking. He just cannot get the image of Kate running to another man (her ex-boyfriend, no less!), of her being embraced by him, of her being kissed on the cheek by him - it’s been on Sebastian’s brain the entire time they had sex. Kate swore she only loved Sebastian, that she chose him, but he still needed to hear it as they made love. Having her say over and over that she’s his, telling her that no other man is ever going to be with her again - he just needed to say it. No one is going to take Kate away from him, no matter what he has to do, he thinks darkly.

If she left him for another, he would have nothing to live for. Nothing.

He ends the peaceful silence.

“How long did you date Henry?” Sebastian blurts out, not fully thinking it through. 

Kate’s brows knit together. “What?” she asks. “Why are you asking that right now?”

“I don’t like him. I don’t want you being around him,” he replies quickly.

“Uh… what?” Kate repeats, sounding angry now. “You don’t even know him, Sebastian.”

“I don’t need to know him. I don’t want to know him. I don’t want you around your ex-boyfriend,” he continues. “He might try something.”

Kate’s head turns, fully looking at him now in disbelief and disgust. “I already told you that there is nothing more between us. We dated when we were at Hogwarts, for fuck’s sake.” She crosses her arms. “I would never let Henry try anything with me like that, not that he even wants to. We’re adults, Sebastian. We’re different people now.”

“How do you know he doesn’t want to date you, to be with you again?” Sebastian counters. “Did he tell you that?”

“No! Why would he tell me that?!” Kate exclaims, exasperated, then pretends to be Henry. “Oh, hey, Kate! I haven’t seen you in a couple of years, but I just wanted to inform you that I don’t want to date you.” She pauses. “Do you know how ridiculous that sounds?! And do you know how awkward it would be to ask him that? I’m not doing that.”

“I saw how he interacted with you,” Sebastian continues, refusing to budge. “He hugged you and kissed your cheek. And you looked, at one point, like he said something awkward to you. What did he say? Why did you look like that?”

Kate hesitates. “I… It’s nothing.”

Sebastian’s eyes narrow. He doesn’t speak, playing chicken with her.

“He… he made a comment about something from a long time ago,” she gave in, feeling sheepish. “You’re not going to like it, so I would rather not say. All you need to know is that you can trust me. I won’t betray you, Sebastian! Do you really think I cannot have a male friend?!”

“What did he say?” he repeated, not distracted by her other comments and questions.

Kate scoffs and sighs. “You’re only going to get mad!”

“What. Did. He. Say?”

Kate’s cheeks turn red. The blush even reaches her ears. “I… Ugh. How to even explain this… So… you know how I was kind of a troublemaker when I was in school? In my sixth year, I found out the password to the special prefect bathroom in the staff wing. I would use disillusionment after curfew and take baths when I knew it would be empty there.” She sighs again, hesitating, hoping he’ll let up, but he doesn’t. “I always went alone… but… in my seventh year, Henry and I… ” She glanced up at his eyes, quite nervous. “Well, after the Halloween Ball, we… we snuck in. Together. We had been dating for about a year then… and we had just started having sex…” She trailed off.

“Why are you telling me this?” Sebastian sounded upset.

“Because… When Henry told me that he had gotten the interim Beasts professorship for next year, he made a comment about it. He said maybe next year we could chaperone the dance and then go to the prefect bathroom together.” Kate cringed.

Sebastian didn’t say anything, but his face was turning red, and he chewed his lip.

“I said goodbye right after that, Sebastian!” Kate tried to pacify him. “I didn’t even acknowledge the comment. And I’m sure he was just joking.”

“You’re naive,” Sebastian finally said, quite flatly. “Kate, you have no idea. Do you know how pretty you are? Of course his mind went there. It’s probably something he thinks about late at night.” He was quiet for a moment. “So, anyways… you’re telling me he basically said he wanted to have sex with you again, but you’re telling me I’m crazy for assuming he’d think such a thing?” He shook his head. 

“Seb, it doesn’t matter,” Kate replied quickly. “I’m not interested in him! I told you that!”

Both of them frown, looking away from each other. 

“What is this really about?!” Kate finally demands.

Sebastian doesn’t answer for a while. He sits, deep in his thoughts, choosing his words carefully. Finally, he takes her hand. “Look, Kate. I’m in love with you. So much. You did something for me I thought would never happen. You gave me a chance. Not only do you accept me, but you love me - actually love me - despite my past.” He pauses. “I’ve been alone for almost a decade, Kate. Completely alone. My family is dead. My old friends… I don’t even know where they are or what they’re doing. I’m not even supposed to be here. I could be rotting in Azkaban - or dead. I’m serious. I could easily have died by now if I hadn’t broken out when I did.” He stares off into the distance. “But I found you. My world has changed. I have hope again. I have dreams. I’m in love. My sun, I want to give you everything. You’re the woman who turned my life around and made me smile again. Somehow, you chose me.” 

Kate squeezes his hand, urging him to continue on.

“Kate, you’re… you’re all I have to live for. So, imagine being in my place, seeing you so excited to hug and kiss another man, who happens to be your ex-boyfriend, who you only broke up with because of the distance. You must have had strong feelings for him in the past if you dated him for more than a year. Then, to add to all of this, this man happens to whisper suggestive things about what he’d like to do with you now that you’ll be reunited. How do you think that makes me feel?” he asks, then pauses. His face twists up, but his tone is genuine and honest. “Fuck, I’ll admit it. I’m bloody insecure. I’m possessive. But you’ve got to understand why.”

Kate nods in acknowledgement. 

There’s a long silence again. 

“Sebastian, I love you. I really do. I see a future with you,” Kate begins, her tone level. “But I won’t allow your insecurities to keep me from having male friends. That’s not fair. It’s not right. You have to trust in me. If you believe I’ll be unfaithful to you, we… we can’t do this. Please, Sebastian, don’t say we can’t do this.”

“No. I wouldn’t,” Sebastian replies quickly, turning and bringing his face close to hers. Their foreheads touch. “I trust you. I’m just… I’m sorry. I’m insecure, Kate. That’s what Azkaban did to me.” He ran his fingers gently through her hair. “You’re right. It’s not fair of me to impose those rules upon you. Unlike me, you have a life, family, friends… I shouldn’t change any of that. I don’t want to change you.”

“We still have a lot to learn about each other, Sebastian,” Kate acknowledges, smiling faintly. 

“I suppose we do,” he replies, kissing her cheek. “I want to know everything, Kate. Everything.”

“And you will,” she whispered in his ear. “I promise you will.”

[dazeddreams]

TASK 005 - LET'S GET PHYSICAL !

CHARACTER :

full name: josephine finch nickname: josie age: 28 birthday: 4th october, 1996 star sign: libra gender: cis female pronouns: she/her nationality: british

APPEARANCE :

height: 5'8" 1/2 weight: 119 lbs build: thin, ectomorph hairstyle: long, shaggy, rough-cut bangs hair colour: currently brunette, though often has a colour accent that changes frequently whenever she is going ~ through it ~. eye colour: brown

DETAILS :

dominant hand: right scars: couple of small scars on her legs from years of skateboarding, thin scar on her left ring finger from a sewing incident. tattoos: spur-of-the-moment tattoos adorn her arms and fingers, easily hidden if required. piercings: earlobes, nose ring clothing style: thrifted, hand-crafted, plaid shirts worn over band t-shirts, ripped denim shorts, torn fishnets and doc martens.

INSECURITIES & HABITS :

habits they just can't kick: cigarettes, biting her nails whenever she's anxious or stressed, biting her lip when she's nervous. fears: loneliness, spiders hobbies: long walks late at night, headphones in playing too loud, record stores, coffee

[veneritia]

find the word tag!

Thank you @the-down-upside-finch for the tag! (You can see their entry here)

My words are: beginning, right, leg, and tired

beginning ;

“I know many things. I know your past, your present—” Her hand trails downwards with every word, from her jaw to around Fenice’s throat, fingers curling inwards as she comes to point at Fenice’s heart— “and your innermost desires. I know of futures, certain and impossible. I know of beginnings and endings and everything in between. But in the end, it is your decision, child, whether you wish to know what I know. And you cannot know unless you ask.”

right ;

He keeps his sights forward—because forward is the only way he can move now—towards the Pontifex Khryso, their officiant who stands at the feet of the three colossal statues of the Trinity. Sitting in a gilded throne to the holy man’s right was that cursed man himself. Dantalion, the butcher, his sworn enemy. That disdainful man who lounged on his throne of corpses, who pillaged and conquered to satisfy his own vanity. 

leg ;

The doe shifted from the momentum of the impact. Its knees buckled, the legs snapping beneath like twigs. Its body crumpled onto the ground with a dull thud, the offending arrow that pierced its heart brandished in the light of early spring.

tired ;

Nike’s chest ached at the memory of his brother. The stiff and tired lines of Isandros’ frame, figure swathed in shadows and harsh reds from the hearth in the dismal old manor they were forced to hold themselves up in. He swung the heavy mantle off his shoulders in a way he could not his burdens, draping it across a chair. The crown—a simple coronet, really; a band of gold free of embellishment, its base still tarnished by the rusted blood of their father—came off next, held in a knuckle-white grip between his hands.

Tagging: @asablehart @elrallin @maddstermind @ulysses-blues @koala2all @thewritersplace @innocentlymacabre

Your words are: hand, window, turn, sea

[turnips-creates]

Find the Word [x3]

[Part 1/3]

Challenger #1: @awritingcaitlin {love ya!}

My words were -> image, sigh, summon, form, smile

Tagging -> @legiomiam [uno reverse #1!], @sentfromwolves, @saphoblin, @wellofhavoc, @faelanvance, and @diseonfire

All y'all's words are: knife, music, leaf, pirate, picture

My responses under the cut!

1)

{image}

Kal Nyr Sarai wakes to a hangover and a freezing woman. The woman’s lips brush the pulse point at the base of Kal’s throat, and the Imperial Officer shivers at the icy touch. The two women are flush together, from sternum to knees, legs tangled languidly in sleep, and Kal can feel the ache from the festivities tugging the memories of the night before into place. Piece by piece, images of the dark-haired woman in her dress – silver as moonlight and lighter than a gryphon’s feather – dancing, laughing, moaning, enraptured in the revelry of the spring festival.

2)

{sigh}

The sigh leaving their lips brushes over my neck, leaving goose bumps in its wake, as Cynth drops their head on my shoulder in resignation. “Fuck it,” they mumble, going lax in my hold. I tug the band from their hair, letting the dark locks fall to their shoulders, and begin carding my fingers through.

3)

{summon}

The fire bites at the lining of my organs and edges of my bones. They minimized the amount of oxygen in the room, but it seems they're forgotten about a little trick of mine: Hellfire Metal restraints drop to the floor with a couple dull thunks, dripping with molten blanotvium where it came in contact with my skin – where the summoned flames flicker just below the thin barrier. Swinging my legs over the bedside, I go to stand and have to catch myself before my legs give out.

4)

{form}

With a soft hum, tendrils of my magic wrap us in a warm blanket of good memories. I don’t have many – especially without Her – but I have enough, just enough, to power this small spell. Thankfully, bird boy relaxes, the tension cracking across his body until it slides from his form all at once. Finch’s weight is easy to take – he’s light and lean and not nearly as heavy as most of the parts at the yard.

5)

{smile}

“Oh? Has someone finally remembered something?” My small smile grows into a sneer, splitting my face until I can see the reflections of my canines in his eyes. By the flinch, I can take a guess at what I look like in that moment – Finch had told me about the way my eyes glow uranium green with high emotions, how I have a habit of abandoning the human mask I so carefully crafted.

[horsebirds]

A Simple Thing

I've been writing a few little things for Finch featuring auxiliary/backstory characters and this is the shortest and sweetest of them so I offer it to you Rising Night cliff notes: Ala Mhigan, half-highlander half-hellsguard, trans guy, currently leading a band of poachers in the Black Shroud. He was traveling alongside Finch when they both escaped from Gyr Abania into Eorzea. They've kept in touch for complicated personal reasons

“Go on, sit,” Rising Night ordered, in the easy way of one accustomed to giving commands. “I’m fetching the drinks tonight.”

Finch did as instructed, and the little quirk of one brow was as close as he came to questioning what he’d been told. Rising left him to settle in on one of the benches at the edge of the wooden deck. He looked back only once, when he’d reached the tavern door, to find the Au Ra sitting with his long legs tucked up and his head turned away, watching the clear water of the stream that ran just below.

The air inside the tavern was warm, busy with conversation, heavy with the scent of smoke and ale. The barmaid called him over with a wave the moment she saw him.

“Your usual?”

Rising shook his head. “Came by because I heard you had something new.”

“Ah!” Her smile was bright with recognition. “Word travels fast, doesn’t it? We got the last of the ingredients in from La Noscea just last week. Right in time for the first frost, too.”

At that last remark, Rising could feel himself grimace. He, Finch, and the whole hunting party had woken up in that frost, to stiff joints and the morning dew frozen to the outside of their tents.

The barmaid’s own mouth twisted in sympathy as she saw his expression. “I’ll grab you a mug, then. It’ll warm you right up.”

“Suppose you could grab me two?” Rising called after her, one hand in his pocket to fish out the gil.

The wine was fragrant, smelling of cinnamon and maple and clove, hot enough to send steam billowing off of it the moment he stepped into the cool evening air. Thin slices of orange and a pod of star anise garnished each mug, reminiscent of a moon and star where they floated on the reddish-black surface. Finch stared with open curiosity at the two steaming cups as Rising approached, set his own mug down, and pressed the other into Finch’s hands.

Rising could feel Finch’s fingers move beneath his, adjusting their grip on the warm ceramic. Curiosity turned to realization slowly as Finch stared down into the mug. His dark eyes were suddenly very wide.

It seemed like such a simple thing to Rising Night, to remember his favorite drink, even if it was one they’d never come across before in the small taverns of the Shroud. It seemed like a trivial sort of surprise. And yet…

Finch stood half out of his seat and kissed him before so much as taking a sip.

[lifeafterthelayoff]

Life after the layoff: DAY 53

There's nothing like a layoff to remove you from your comfort zone.

This pigeon has been on my parents' farm for a couple of days now. Mourning doves are regular residents, but not your standard pigeons. The grey lady has bands on her legs; a sure sign that she's probably escaped from a guy in town that raises pigeons for training hunting dogs.

If she could talk, she'd probably say that she's outside of his comfort zone. She's changed her surroundings, changed her situation, and changed what comes next.

There's uncertainty in all of this. There's farm cats and wild coyotes that would love to encounter this feathered comfort-zone escaper. The bird feeders here are better suited for chickadees and finches. And she's a lonely bird right now, with no other pigeons around.

She's flown the coop, literally. She might be making a better life for herself, but these past two days have probably been as harrowing as a pigeon can tolerate. She's no longer caged, but she needs to gather her wits and start making that new life.

Is this the part where I relate to a banded pigeon? YUP.

Steady jobs become comfort zones pretty quickly. Show up, do the work, be kind, and you may find a comfort zone of your very own brewing. Comfort zones can evolve into complacency; unchecked complacency can slide into feelings of low self worth and coax out the ever-present imposter syndrome.

I've realized that it takes departing a comfort zone to get to the next thing. It is by definition uncomfortable. Without it, you stay put. As a training pigeon, that means ending up in a dog's jaws at some point. (I can't conjure a good dog's jaws/content design analogy right now. Sorry.)

Early on, the layoff had me feeling like our friend the pigeon. Unleashed but uncertain. Freed but frightened. Unburdened but unemployed.

I've since reached a state of equilibrium, and I hope this pigeon does, too. We're rootin' for ya!

❦ Let me know if you are looking for a UX/Content Design Leader, as I'm #opentowork! #layoffs #uxwriter #contentdesign #productdesign #UXdesign #contentstrategy ❦

[comillapigeonshouse]

leg band1॥ cockatiels leg band ॥ pigeon leg band ॥ finch leg bands ॥ dov...

[7-omen-7]

Here are some names that aren’t strictly for females or males

Alpha Astrix/Asterisk Axis Blur Bolt Brick Cube Cyan Data Delta Echo Entity Error Exa/Exo Form Friday Hazard Idea Impulse Infinity Ion Kilo Kite Limit Name Nebula Neon Obsidian Plastic Point Quartz Qwerty Radar Retina Reverb Rocket Scavenger Sigma Sonar Swing Tank Tax Tera Valence Vertex Virus Vortex Audience Beat Binary Brass Cable Canon Canvas Chord Clash Coarse Crash Discord Double Feedback Forte Genre Hack Hollow Hook Impulse/Pulse Ink Key Lyric Mellow Memory Neon Noise Note Omen Phase Quaver Riddle Shallow Sharp Shiny Snare Treble Tune Twang Aloe Arrow Atlas Azure Balsa Bee Beetle Branch Bread Bridge Candle Cedar Cello Chameleon Cherry Cloud Clover Coffee East Echo Egg Ember Fern Finch Flannel Forest Gecko Gem Goose Grey Jay Kale Lake Leaf Mango Maple Moss Oak Pond Poppy Rain Raven Rock Silver Topaz Violet Wednesday Willow Wood Frog Max Alex Shawn/Shawne Kai SCP 834 Nyx Ares War Criminal Cas Sky/Skie Bee Ash Arson Vin Sal Cat/Kat Tax Fraud Liminal Dream Fade Angel Glitch Tooth Centipede Chlorine Crayon Fever Bones Ghost Eye Omen Nurse Band-aid Tape Glow Legs Decay Poison Blowfly Needle Finger Mold Doll Wasp Moth Dirt Bunny Trinket Shell Cicada Ariel Astra Aurora Celeste Luna Nova Starling Starr Stella Sunshine Aldrin Apollo Callisto Castor Comet Hercules Leo Neptune Rocket Solar Aries Eclipse Galaxy Halo Mars Mercury Moon Saturn Star Sun book strawberry cherry tea soup lace butters melody lyric bunny slime apple Saturn star venus kandi/kandy/candy glitter monster zero/zee/z neo gutz/guts brainz/brains trixie roxy rex Moss Bones Arson Rain Feather Cloud Deep Raven Fall captain bone/bones patch/patches sparrow flynn skipper boots hook reef treasure Winter Midnight Crow Corvid Raven Siren Shade Nova Veil Salem Ash Aster Devin Day Hyde Dagger Knife Psyche Osiris Pandora Haven Jade Blade Gray Ember Ebony Blue Dee Day Dove Sky Rain Ash Coin Pax Rex Mick Reef Rory Ari Bug River Dane Finn Lumi Lux Ore Roux Note Tone Melody Piper Sonata Violin Coda Riff Alto Lyre Lyric Calypso Cadence Chorus Canto Chanson Harper Lorelei Octave Song Muse Canon Clef Motif Legato Nonet Pan Rhapsody Trill Vevace Dusk Indigo Orion Onyx Obsidian Somnus Hypnos Morpheus Noctis Noir Nero Umbra Ash Omega Orpheus Crow Jinx Hex Grey Pandora Morrigan Shade Silver Zephyr Storm Crimson sprinkle Bunny cloud Skittle kitty birdie bee flower Grass peach strawberry cherry Berry Apple Berry Apricot Huckleberry Mulberry Honeydew Lychee Peach Cherry Basil Bayleef Pepper Anise Clove Coriander Ginger Nutmeg Rosemary Rue Sesame Thyme Saffron exe/txt/pdf/gif web/website tech emoji sci beta dell chip zip Arson Blue Blur Brick. Cloud Detective Dice Egg Elmers Error Gremlin Icon Jester Lake Leaf Mischief Nike Nintendo Pi Royal Skull Spark Ten Tesla Vortex Yoshi Zero Zoom angela/angelo/angie angelonia/angel andy/andi ann/annie/anny antares andromeda bone/bones biscuit/biskit paw fluffy fetch scout chase skull corpse blade jinx hex bat bandit rogue trick/tricky smoke lee leo/lio pluto mars orion redd avery aster cyrus cleo miles quinn indigo amber ruby sugar lace/lacey boba rosie mae merry dottie plush/plushie cinnabun pompom teddy peach smile/smiles/smiley alphabet blocks bug snail paint crayon slime sticker rainbow gummy candy/kandi button bandaid glitch static disc pixel robot/bot glitter wire/wires code key/keys virus byte bunny/bunnie/bun kitty/kit/kitten plush/plushie milk fluff cloud bubble/bubbles angel ghost tea cookie bow / ribbon bonbon puff / creampuff Nintendo Mossy Quill Spark Vermillion Cotton Candy (or C.C. for short) Cocoa Indigo Sunset Elmers Snowy Sketchpad Frost Jester Poltergeist Spirit Cricket Poem Puck Mischief Truffle Golden Clay Feather Hatchet Gremlin Stone Brad Chad Thad Zoom Crayon Detective Otter Sonic Armadillo Ocelot Puggles (name for baby platypus) Dylan Logan River Fince Ellory Finn Converse Sage Saint Sal Saturday Saxon Scan Scatter Scoop Scorpion Scout Scream Sea Senti Sentinel September Serene Seven Shade Shadow Shake Shatter Shaw Silent/Silence Silver Siphon Skill

[starlitink]

More modern Newsies headcanons

JACK

His full name is Jeremy Christian Kelly

No, he doesn’t know how he got the nickname “Jack” from “Jeremy”

He got adopted by Medda when he was ten

He’s moderately famous on DeviantArt (his username is i-got-no-use-for-moon-light (as far as I know, this isn’t an actual username on DeviantArt))

He dated Katherine for a while before they both realized they were gay af and broke up to pursue the Jacobs twins

They have more of a brother/sister relationship now

He is madly in love with Davey and has a sketchbook dedicated solely to him

His birthday is March 29th (the day Newsies opened on Broadway)

This man is 100% Gryffindor

His favorite color is green

DAVEY

Okay you KNOW this boy is in all AP classes

He is obsessed with random trivia

Drives a giant van

It used to be his aunt’s until her kids moved out and she gave it to Davey

The others all make fun of him for this until it’s time to carpool, then everyone wants to ride in the van with Davey and their friends

He has a dozen stick figure window cling thingamabobs with all the newsies’ names on them

His middle name is Benjamin

His favorite color is blue

RACE (I know I already made a whole post dedicated to modern Race hcs but I HAVE MORE)

He and Jack are the same age (but Jack is older by a month)

He got adopted by Medda when he was ten

His birthday is April 10th (the day the Newsies movie was released)

He’s Irish and tends to switch to Irish when he’s mad

So if he catches Jack eating his pizza he just starts screaming in Irish and Jack doesn’t understand a word he’s saying but he gets the message that he is PISSED

 His favorite nickname for Spot is sweetheart

He tried out for the mathletes once (it didn’t go well)

He’s on the track team (which is how he got his nickname)

His real name is Edward but he goes by Ed so he doesn’t sound like a sparkly vampire

SPOT

He has a Tumblr blog where he posts random shit the newsies say and it’s actually really popular

Race and Albert are frequently featured (because those two are living shitposts)

Race has ADHD so Spot gets him fidget toys and things related to his special interests because he is a considerate boy who takes his boyfriend’s wants and needs into account

Literally nobody knows what his real name is

What they do know is that he has two middle names - Gabriel and Thomas

He is a Hufflepuff but he will say he is a Slytherin until the DAY HE DIES

He’s Irish like Race and he also screams in Irish when he’s mad

I would like to present: Race and Spot screaming in Irish at each other while Jack and Davey try to break up the fight

He makes slingshots out of a rubber band and a paperclip and has little shooting contests with Finch sometimes

He and Race have long conversations about random things in Irish

His favorite color is pink

CRUTCHIE

He got adopted by Medda when he was eight

He’s two years younger than Jack and Race

His favorite color is pastel yellow

He was born with the problems in his leg and he normally uses crutches and leg braces to get around

However he does occasionally use a wheelchair when he needs to

His middle name is Andrew

[intricatechaosofyou]

Chapter Three: Carrying the Banner

As Laces came down the stairs, she could already hear the chaos. It wasn't a morning in the lodging house if there wasn't chaos. Although it wasn't her favorite thing in the world, Laces had learned to live with it.

"Hey! That's my cigar!"

Race glared at Albert who just shrugged and just replied with a,

"You'll steal another."

That's when Henry came out of the bathroom, shaving what little facial hair he had. Specs tried his best not to laugh.

"Hey, look, it's bath time at the zoo."

Henry shrugged and continued dragging the razor blade across his cheek.

"I thought that I'd surprise my mother."

Albert scoffed and crossed his arms.

"If you can find her..."

Every single newsie in the vicinity of the conversation, including Laces, shouted in retaliation.

"Who asked you?!"

Albert ignored the outraged comment. "Papes ain't selling like they used to. I need a new spot. Ya got any ideas?"

Race thought for a second before offering up his suggestions.

"From Bottle Alley to the harbor,

there's easy pickings guaranteed."

Finch nodded in agreement and added on,

"Try any banker, bum, or barber!

They almost all knows how to read."

Jack was still buttoning up his blue shirt as he came down the stairs from the rooftop.

"It's a crooked game we're playin'

one we'll never lose.

Long as suckers don't mind payin'

just to get bad news"

As they finished getting ready, the newsies all banded together. They threw their arms around each other as they all sang.

"Ain't it a fine life,

carryin' the banner through it all?

A mighty fine life,

carryin' the banner tough and tall.

When the bell rings,

we goes where we wishes.

We's as free as fishes

Sure beats washing dishes!

What a fine life,

carryin' the banner home-free all!"

As the newsies hit the street, Romeo started his usual antics. His victim today was a young woman in a purple dress who was walking with a nervous-looking man.

"Well, hello, hello, hello, beautiful." He smirked as he eyed the very uncomfortable lady.

"Woah, Romeo. Nothing more concerns you here," Jack interjected, shoving the younger boy away. He took Romeo's spot and flashed the woman a charming smile. "Mornin', miss. Might I interest you in the latest news?"

"The paper isn't out yet," the woman argued trying to push past Jack.

"Oh, I'd be delighted to deliver it to you poisonally."

The woman's friend tried to step up to say something, but the woman stopped him and took the matter into her own hands. "I've got a headline for you: Cheeky boy gets nothing for his troubles." With a small, victorious smile at Jack's frown, she and her companion continued on their way.

Laces barely contained her laughter. "Back to the bench slugger!" She shouted. "Ya struck out!"

"I'm crushed!" He laughed, putting a hand over his heart in fake hurt.

"Hey Crutchie, what your leg say? Gonna rain?" Finch asked.

Crutchie shook his leg before arriving at a conclusion. "No rain. Oh-hoh! Partly cloudy, clear by evenin'!"

"They oughta bottle this guy!"

"And the limp sells fifty papes a week, all by itself!" Race smiled and slapped Crutchie's shoulder.

"I don't need the limp to sell papes," Crutchie protested with a playful smile. "I've got poisonality."

"It takes a smile that spreads like butter.

The kind that turns a lady's head."

Race, Finch, Albert, and Elmer, of course made the situation more dramatic.

"It takes an orphan with a stutter,

who's also blind

and mute

and dead!"

Laces and Crutchie laughed at their antics as they followed along with the other newsies towards the circulation gates.

"Summer stinks and winter's freezing

when you works outdoors.

Start out sweating, end up sneezing.

In between it pours!

Still, it's a fine life

carryin' the banner with me chums.

A bunch of big shots

tossin' out a freebie to the bums"

Finch pushed his way to the front of the group, impatient to get his papers.

"Hey! What's the hold up?

Waitin' makes me antsy.

I likes living chancey."

The rest of the group rolled their eyes.

"Harlem to Delancey!

What a fine life

carryin' the banner through the-"

Like every day, the newsies were met with the sight of the nuns from the local church. They offered the group cups of water and stale bread crusts. It wasn't much, but on bad days it was all they got.

"Blessed children,

though you wander lost and depraved

Jesus loves you.

You shall be saved!"

"Thanks for the grub, sista!" Elmer shouted, waving his hat at the nuns.

One of the older nuns glared at the boy. "Elmer, when will we be seeing you inside the church?"

"Ise don't know." Elmer shrugged and smirked. "But it's bound to rain sooner or later!" Before the nun could say anything else, Elmer rushed off.

Continuing towards the circulation gate, the chatter didn't die down between the newsies.

"Curdled-

Just give me half a cup.

-coffee.

Something to wake me up.

Concrete donuts-

I gotta find an angle.

-sprinkled with mold.

It's gettin' bad out there.

Homemade-

Papers is all I got.

It's eighty-eight degrees!

-biscuits-

Jack says to change my spot.

Wish I could catch a breeze.

-just two-

Maybe it's worth a shot.

-years old!

All I can catch is fleas!"

Jack smirked as he led the boys through the streets.

"If I hate the headline,

I'll make up a headline."

Laces and Crutchie stood to his sides, joking and throwing fake punches at each other. Although the trip to the circulation gates was long, they always found ways to entertain themselves on the walk.

"And I'll say anything I hafta.

'Cause at two for a penny,

if I take too many,

Weasel just makes me eat 'em afta."

Romeo and Race joined the trio in their play fighting, shoving each other as they walked down the street.

"Got a feelin' bout the headline.

I smells me a headline

Papes is gonna sell like we was givin' 'em away.

Betcha dinner it's a doozy

'bout a pistol-packing floozey

Who knows how to make a newsie's day.

You wanna move the next edition.

Give us an earthquake or a war."

Elmer pulled off his cap and raised his right hand.

"How 'bout a crooked politician?"

The rest of the newsies rolled their eyes and hit him with their own caps.

"Ya nitwit, that ain't news no more!

Uptown to Grand Central Station

down to City Hall.

We improves our circulation

walking till we fall

But we'll be out there

Carrying the banner man to man!

We're always out there

soakin' every sucker that we can!

See the headline:

Newsies on a mission!

Kill the competition,

sell the next edition.

We'll be out there, carryin' the banner!

See us out there, carryin' the banner!

Always out there, carryin' the banner!"

Finally, the newsies arrived at the circulation gates. They peered through the bars as they waited for the headline.

"I hope it's real bloody with a nice clear picture," Specs commented.

The others shouted their approval when Finch pointed out they were putting up the headline. Everyone held their breath as the man wrote out the words "Trolley Strike Drags on for Third Week."

Everyone groaned at the sight of the headline. Laces ran a hand over her face. She couldn't believe that this was the best story those writers could come up with. As the boys complained, the Delancey brothers made their way over to unlock the gate.

Race smirked and leaned against the rusting metal. "Oh, dear me. What is that unpleasant aroma? I fear the sewers might have backed up in the middle of the night."

"Nah. Too rotten to be sewers," Crutchie joked as Laces nodded her agreement. "It must be..."

"The Delancey brothers!" The newsies hollered, smirking as the gate finally opened.

"Hey, Oscar. I hear you and ya brother took up jobs beating up strikin' trolley workers," Finch commented, walking into the circulation area.

Oscar glared at the gutsy newsies and shrugged. "So? It's honest work."

"Crackin' the heads of defenseless workers?" Albert asked incredulously.

"I take care of the guy who takes care a' me."

Race sneered and got up in the boy's face. "Ain't ya father one a' the workers?"

"I guess he didn't take care of me!" Oscar growled, shoving Race back.

Suddenly, Morris walked up to Crutchie. "Ya want some of this, too? Ya lousy crip!" Ripping the crutch from the boy's grip, Morris shoved him to the ground.

Laces immediately helped Crutchie up while Jack snatched the crutch back from Morris. "Now, that is not nice, Morris!"

"Five ta one, Jacky and Laces soak 'em! Huh, who's bettin'?" Race shouted.

The rest of the newsies rolled their eyes replying, "Bum odds!"

"Now, one of these days, you might find yourself with a bum gim of ya own. How would you like it if wese picked on ya?" Jack questioned.

"Hey? Why don't we find out?" Laces interjected. At her words, Jack used the crutch to hit both of the brothers in the knees, knocking them to the ground.

"Oh, just wait 'till I get my hands on you two!" Oscar growled, trying to grab for Laces. Luckily, she jumped out his way before he could get ahold of her.

Jack smirked and grabbed Laces' arm. "You gotta catch us first!" The two taunted before running off with the Delanceys close on their tails.

The other newsies cheered them on as they ran around the paper wagons.

Not looking where she was going, Laces collided with someone. Barely managing to stay on her feet, she looked at the person she ran into. He looked about her age—and handsome, too.

"What're you doing?" He questioned, tilting his head.

Laces would have taken her time to appreciate how concerned his tone was if it weren't for the footsteps of the Delancey's behind her. "Runnin'!" She shouted before taking off again, leaving the boy dazed and confused.

She met up again with Jack and the two managed to evade the brothers, taking twists and turns through the familiar alleyways of New York before they landed right back at the circulation gates and returned the crutch to their friend.

"We'll all be out there

carryin' the banner man to man!

We're always out there

soakin' every sucker that we can

Here's the headline:

Newsies on a mission!

Kill the competition,

sell the next edition.

We'll be out there, carryin' the banner!

See us out there, carryin' the banner!

Always out there, carryin' the banner!

Ah, ah, ah, go!"

The newsies laughed and joked at the Delanceys' expense as Jack approached the stand to get his papers. "Weasel! Did'cha miss me?"

Weasel rolled his eyes and grumbled. "I told ya a million times. The name's Weisel."

"Ain't that what I said? I'll take the usual," Jack replied, slamming his coin onto the box.

"Hundred papes for the wise guy," Weasel jeered before turning to Laces who was currently skimming through the paper that sat on the edge of the counter. "You want the usual, too?"

"Don't rush me! I'm perusing the merchandise, Mr. Weseal." She made a show of reading the paper for a few more seconds before adding her fifty cents to the box. "Yup. Usual."

Oscar handed her the bundle of papers and she smirked at him. "Good chase today, Delancey. You was closer to catchin' us today."

The boy flushed scarlet at the taunt and was about to yell before he was interrupted by his uncle. "Well, look at this. A new kid."

Turning on her heel, Laces saw that it was the boy she ran into while running from Oscar. Now that she wasn't running for her life, she took her time to size him up. His dark brown hair was mostly covered by his cap and his nose was slightly crooked. He was at least half a foot taller than Laces and didn't slouch. His shirt was tucked in and free of wrinkles. He looked too proper and educated to be a newsie, but who was Laces to judge?

She was almost too busy scrutinizing the boy to notice the younger boy, presumably his brother, poking his head out from behind him.

"I'm new too!" The younger boy proudly proclaimed.

Race sent a fake smile his way. "Don't worry kid. It rubs right off."

"I'll take twenty newspapers please," the boy said, pushing his brother back behind him.

Weasel stared at the boy expectantly. "Let's see the dime."

Confused, the boy tilted his head. "I'll pay you when I sell them." The rest of the newsies laughed at this statement.

"Funny, kid. Cash up front."

"But whatever I don't sell, you buy back, right?" The boy was obviously new, and Laces pitied him for being so clueless.

"Certainly! And every time you lose a tooth, I put a penny under ya pillow. Now drop the cash and move it along!" The boy held up the dime and put it in the box as Weasel turned to the next boy. "Albert! Let me see your money!"

As Albert continued to mock Weasel, the new kid thumbed through his papers. Laces watched him curiously, wondering what he was doing.

"Excuse me? I paid for twenty but I only got nineteen," the new boy piped up, interrupting Weasel and Albert's conversation.

"You see how nice I was to this new kid? And what do I get in return? Ungrounded accusations."

The boy took a step back, pulling his little brother further behind him. "I just want what I paid for."

"He said beat it," Morris growled.

That was the moment Laces went up to the boy, Jack hot on her heels, and snatched the papers from his hand. She counted the papers as the boy anxiously fiddled with the strap of his bag.

"Hold on! New kid's right, Weasel. There's only nineteen. Don't worry though. I'm sure it's an honest mistake seeing as Morris here can't count to twenty with his shoes on," she jested, taking a small step back as Morris attempted to grab her through the metal bars that separated them.

With minimal grumbling Weasel shoved a paper into the new kid's hands. "Here! Now take a hike!"

"Hold it!" Jack interrupted, putting another coin into the box. "Give the new kid fifty new papes."

"I don't want more papes."

Every newsie's head popped up and looked in the direction of the new kid. That was the dumbest thing any of them had ever heard (and they all knew Race). Jack ignored the comment and shoved the papers into the boy's arms.

"What kind a' newsie don't want more papes?" Laces asked with wide eyes.

"I'm no charity case. I don't know either of you," the new kid protested looking between Laces and Jack, trying to give the extra papers back.

"His name's Jack! And that's Laces," The younger boy piped up, staring at the pair in awe.

"Yeah, this here is the famous Jack Kelly. He once escaped jail on the back of Teddy Roosevelt's carriage. Made all the papes," Crutchie explained with a smirk. "And she's Laces. Best newsie 'Hatten has."

"He has to say that. He taught me everything I know. Now how old are you?" Laces asked as she kneeled down to look at the younger boy.

"I'm ten!" He proclaimed proudly before backtracking. "Well, almost."

Jack frowned and rubbed his chin. "If anyone asks, you should say you're seven. You see, younger sells more papers. And if we're gonna be partners we-"

"Who said we wanted partners?" The elder brother interrupted, crossing his arms.

Crutchie scoffed and nudged the boy. "Are you kidding? Selling with Jack and Laces is the chance of a lifetime! If you learn from them, you learn from the best."

Laces looked down at the ground, smiling sheepishly at the comment. Cructhie had been the one to teach her how to be a newsie when she was just six years old. She owed all her skills to him. But she couldn't deny that she and Jack were usually the first ones to finish selling their papes—and with the biggest tips.

"If they're the best, then what do they need with me?"

Jack glared at the boy. "We don't need you, pal. But you have a little brother and we don't. With his puss, we could easily peddle a thousand papes a week. Hey, look sad, kid," Jack ordered, turning his attention to the boy.

He immediately pouted his lips and tilted his head. He looked absolutely miserable.

Laces laughed and ruffled the boy's hair. "Oh! We're gonna make millions! Say, what's your name, kid?"

"I'm Les! This is my brother David. He's older."

Laces faked a gasp and looked up at David. "No kidding."

"Nice ta meet ya, Davey! My two bits come off the top. We split the rest seventh-thirty and-"

"Fifty-fifty!" Les demanded, dropping Jack in his tracks. "You wouldn't try to pull a fast one on a little kid!"

Laces tried her best to contain a giggle as Jack turned to Les with wide eyes. It took him a second to regain his composure after the bold comment.

"Sixty-fourty. And that is my final offer."

Les looked to Davey for approval. With a sigh, Davey nodded and Les turned back to Jack with a big smile. "Deal."

Smirking, Jack spit into his palm and held it out to Les who copied Jack's actions before shaking his hand.

"That's disgusting," Davey commented, causing Crutchie and Laces to burst into laughter.

"That's just business. Newsies, hit the streets! The sun is up, the headline stinks, and this kid ain't getting any younger!" Jack proclaimed as the newsies followed his orders.

"We'll all be out there

carryin' the banner man to man!

We're always out there

soakin' every sucker that we can

Here's the headline:

Newsies on a mission!

Kill the competition,

sell the next edition.

We'll be out there, carryin' the banner!

See us out there, carryin' the banner!

Always out there, carryin' the banner!

Ah, ah, ah, go!"