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rav-rabies-art-blog · 4 months

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Apologies, I planned to get this up sooner but the heat this time of year makes me need a rest after work. Like I said earlier I'm going to post the script for Chapter 1 at the end of this post.

But first, the thumbnails I made for chapter 1 and some of chapter 2 of The Beat Goes On.

And I've started drawing the first chapter

and the script for chapter one is under the read more: I'll post all the chapter scripts but after the chapter goes out from now on.

Cover: idk lol Cold opening

PAGE 1

Panel 1: Shot of the Armstrong facility at night. The shot is from below as if some is on the ground looking up. The building has gone dark.

NARRATOR: When things went wrong, I always got the same advice.

Panel 2: Shot CHAI and MIMOSA mid fight to set the time the scene takes place. It looks like it's being broadcasted on a screen with LIVE displayed on the bottom.

NARRATOR: When there is change in life you can't control, focus on what you can.

Panel 3: A shot of a hand in silhouette pressing a button.

Panel 4: Ceiling lights of the factory turn on as machines wirr to life.

NARRATOR: I hope that's what I'm doing.

SFX: WHIRRING

PAGE 2

Chapter page: Kale's funeral.Panel 1: Kale as a baby with the rabbit doll seen later in the chapter.

PAGE 3

Panel 1: Chai standing in the hideout. Visible is the sofa, KORSICA's space (now empty) and PEPPERMINT at her computer, Chai is in a black suit and Peppermint is in a simple black dress.

Panel 2: Peppermint looks back from her computer.

PEPPERMINT: What's up Chai?

Panel 3: Chai flops down on the couch.

CHAI: Nothing.

Panel 4: Chai folded his hands behind his head. 808 looks up from her nap on the couch but stays curled up. Chai has a cocky smirk on his face.

CHAI: Just getting another look around before this place gets emptied out.

Panel 5: Peppermint smiling

PEPPERMINT: So you finally picked a place?

PAGE 4

Panel 1: Chai smiling at Peppermint (off panel) and 808 smiles at Chai.

CHAI: Maybe narrowed it down to two places. One I really like.

Panel 2: Peppermint stands up and walks to the camera. Chai's visible in the lower left corner

PEPPERMINT: Well congratulations, This is your first place on your own? Don't think you'll get lonely.

CHAI (off screen): Nah.

Panel 3: Peppermint sitting down on the sofa with a sigh.

PEPPERMINT: Well, I guess you're doing better than Mom.

Page 5

Panel 1: Shot of Chai looking confused.

CHAI: What's wrong with your mom? she seemed fine last time I saw her.

Panel 2: Peppermint looking down at her hands.

PEPPERMINT: Trust me Chai... she looks fine on the outside but I can see something is wrong.

CHAI (off panel): About what?

Panel 3: Peppermint rolling her eyes.

PEPPERMINT: I don't know Chai, Maybe Kale?

CHAI: That jerk!

Panel 4: Peppermint looking sad and frustrated

PEPPERMINT: I know but "he was her son."

Page 6

Panel 1: Chai now sitting on the couch looking worried.

CHAI: And how are you handling it?

Panel 2: Peppermint looks surprised.

PEPPERMINT: I-I'm fine.

Panel 3: MACARON and CNMN walk in

CNMN: It would look odd if Misses Peppermint and Roxanne did at least appear sad. The public thinks Mr Kale died in an accident.

Panel 4: Chai looking downtrodden

CHAI: Like how people think Mimosa was hurt in an stunt gone wrong.

Panel 5: Chai shaded out on the left side of the panel. Peppermint looks upset. She is framed by him in the panel.

PEPPERMINT: Mom made sure you where free from blame... for the most part.

Page 7

Panel 1: Chai looking traumatized thinking of the hate mail he gets. A few are legible

EMAILS/TEXT:

1.YOU RUINED MIMOSA'S FACE! KYS!

2. IT WASN'T AN ACCIDENT!

3. YOU WANTED TO GET RID OF HER!

Panel 2: Flashback of Chai seeing Mimosa's face after the fireworks. the right side of her face is burned with some of her hair gone on that side as well. She is attempting to throw a vase but a hand (Zanzo's) coming into frame stops her.

MIMOSA: You!! Get out!

Panel 3: CNMN's hand touches Chai's shoulder.

CNMN: Mr Chai, we have a funeral to attend.

Page 8

Panel 1: (Insert panel) Chai surrounded by his friends CNMN's hand is still on his shoulder.

CHAI: Thanks, guys.

Panel 2: Splash page: Establishing shot of the funeral home. It's raining and getting dark.

Page 9

Panel 1: Crowd shot. Chai, Peppermint, Macaron, Korsica and CNMN look concerned and are mostly on the left. On the right ROXANNE, clutching a bag to her chest. Her body is turning away while she looks at the group.

ROXANNE: Excuse me everyone.

Panel 2: Roxanne walking out in the hallway.

MACARON (Flashback voice): ...No organic material found...

MACARON(Flashback voice): ...We can't bury what's left. It- I'm sorry Roxanne, but our competitors would... rob the grave.

Panel 3: Roxanne's hand taking Kale's doll (a stuff rabbit that resembles the Chobit's rabbit.)

KORSICA(Flashback voice): What is that?

ROXANNE(Flashback voice): Kale's favorite doll from when he was a baby.

Page 10

Panel: Shot from above. The empty coffin at the top. Roxanne at the bottom.

ROXANNE: Hello Kale. >snif< I sorry but I suppose this is better than burring an empty coffin

Panel 2: Close up shot of Roxanne's face. A tear is running down her cheek.

Page 11

Panel 1: Similar close up but it's now a flashback with Korsica behind her.

KORSICA: Ma’am please, you don't want to see-

Panel 2-5: Long thin panels alternating between flashbacks and present. No gaps in between panels. All have Roxanne coming closer to the viewer. In the flashbacks she is running the present she's walking still holding the doll.

SFX (Panels 2&4:Roxanne walking): Click

SFX (Panels 3&5: Roxanne running): CLICK-CLACK-CLICK

Page 12

Panel 1: Flashback to Kale's robotic body smoldering.

Panel 2: 2nd flashback to Roxanne, tired in a hospital bed holding her newborn son.

Page 13

Panel 1: Roxanne in the first flashback screaming and sobbing. Peppermint is holding her to comfort her.

Panel 2: Present Roxanne alone on her knees cry silently holding her son's toy.

Page 14

Panel 1: Small panel of H3w-1e's paws walking.

SFX: tap tap-

Panel 2: H3w-1e walks up to a quietly crying Roxanne.

Panel 3: Roxanne notices H3w-1e and reaches out to him.

ROXANNE: Oh >sniff< hello there.

Page 15

Panel 1: ZANZO leaning into view from the doorway. He does not have his cables in and his Mohawk is pulled back into a ponytail. He's wearing a black turtleneck with a gray blazer and matching trousers. He is waving but his smile doesn't reach his eyes.

ZANZO: Oh! hello, Mrs Roxanne.

Panel 2: Roxanne getting up and H3w-1e looking up at her.

ROXANNE: Hello Zanzo! I'm >sniff< glad to see you here. Especially after... that note.

Panel 2 Zanzo looking down but away from her. The tears are starting, but he's holding them back... mostly

ZANZO: "Kale's secret plan." Yeah that was surprising but probably shouldn't have- Still Kale was... Thank you for sending me that.

Page 16

Panel 1: Roxanne and Zanzo talking, both trying not to cry. Roxanne stands on the left, Zanzo the right. Both are looking down at H3w-1e (off panel) who can be heard walking around them. (note Roxanne still has Kale's old doll and will until she returns to the rest of the guest.)

ROXANNE: Zanzo... I'm glad you came. I saw you at Ms Rekka's funeral. I- you look so much better, and and you have a new friend.

ZANZO: H3w-1e. He was supposed to be a gift for Kale, but I thought I'd keep him.

SFX (H3w-1e walking): Tap tap tap Panel

2: Same as panel one but Roxanne is looking at Zanzo. Zanzo is looking down again.

ROXANNE: Yes, of course. You're a talented engineer.

ZANZO: Thank you.

Panel 3: Roxanne now reaching out putting her hand on Zanzo's arm. He looking at her now. She's clutching the doll to her chest.

ROXANNE: I want you to know there's still a place for you at Vandelay. Even if you don't want it, I'd like to keep in touch.

ZANZO: I'd like that too.

Page 17

Panel 1: Shot changes to H3w-1e growling.

SFX (H3w-1e's growl): Grrrrrr

Panel 2: Insert panel (in Panel 3) of Zanzo looking back at an off panel speaker (CHAZ)

CHAZ: Mr Zanzo?

ZANZO: Yes?

Panel 3: CHAZ MARTZU and his wife VIDALIA standing together in the hallway Chaz has his robes on and making finger guns and his wife is holding a Zanzo Doll.

CHAZ: Hey there. I'm Chaz Martzu CEO of M-Rex Corp. My wife, Vidalia and I have been following your career and we dig your vibe.

Page 18

Panel 1: Shot of Zanzo and Roxanne, mouths open, visibly scandalized.

ZANZO: Uh, we're at my best friends funeral.

ROXANNE: My son's funeral!

Panel 2: Chaz and Vidalia comically drawn. Zanzo and Roxanne also comically drawn in the right corner.

CHAZ: Bad time for a job pitch.

BOTH ROXANNE AND ZANZO: (That was a job pitch?)

Page 19

Panels 1-4 are done like a 4 komi comic with a simpler chibi like art style. All are of Chaz and Vidalia.

Panel 1: Both are listening to Zanzo off panel.

ZANZO: You know I'm suing you?

ZANZO: For over a decade.

Panel 2: Now Chaz and Vidalia are speaking.

CHAZ: Oh? He's the one that got caught in machinery?

VIDALIA: No dear. that was a child intern and they died.

Panel 3: Same as above CHAZ: Is it about the one who drowned in our Rex car?

VIDALIA: No, They settled

Panel 4: Same again.

VIDALIA: He's the one who lost his legs after getting his by your self driving prototype car.

CHAZ: Oh I forgot that one.

Panel 5: Zanzo and Roxanne with their eyes shadowed out in that anime way. Roxanne looks disgusted. Zanzo is *pissed*.

CHAZ (off panel): I'll get that settled as soon as I figure out which lawyer is on it.

ZANZO: How... magnanimous of you.

Page 20

Panel 1: Still pissed Zanzo and Roxanne are in the bottom left corner while Chaz talks to Vidalia.

ZANZO: I should be going now.

ROXANNE: So should I

CHAZ: I think that went well.

Panel 2: Cut back to the main group. Panel has a chevron shape on one side pointed at Peppermint as if it poked her in the back. Peppermint looks shocked at DURIAN speaking to her from the next panel.

DURAIN: Pepper? Is that you?

Panel 3: DURIAN smiling down at Peppermint. Peppermint (off panel): Durian!

Page 21

Panel 1: Peppermint hugging Durian. Durian awkwardly holds his arms up as if he was going to hug her, but doesn't.

PEPPERMINT: Thanks again for letting stay at you place.

DURIAN: No problem.

Panel 2: They stop hugging. Durian is waving his hand in a small circle

DURIAN: Did you managed to resolve your issue with your brother before.

PEPPERMINT: You could say that.

Panel 3: Shot of Peppermint looking away.

DURIAN (off panel): That's good. You're going back to college right?

PEPPERMINT: Uh huh.

DURIAN(off panel): Good, good.

Panel 4: a small panel pf Peppermint looking over noticing some thing off panel.

Page 22

Panel 1: Peppermint pulling Chai to her.

PEPPERMINT: By the way, this is Chai. Chai this is my cousin Durian.

Panel 2: Chai and Durian shake hands. Durian looks warry about the interaction. Peppermint is in the middle of the panel, just behind the hand shake.

CHAI: Oh yeah, You're a politician right? Top cop kind of thing.

DURIAN: Y-yes, Minister of Public Defense. And you, young man?

PEPPERMINT: He's the new Vandelay Ambassador.

Panel 3: Chai Pointing at himself with his thumb. Peppermint cringes next to him.

CHAI: Aaaand future rockstar!

Panel 4: Durian very unimpressed.

Panel 5: Durian speaking to Peppermint

DURIAN:Peppermint, where's your mother?

PEPPERMINT: I think that's her right now.

Page 23

Panel 1: Roxanne and Zanzo return still angry.

Panel 2: Durian looking surprised.

DURIAN: Auntie Roxanne, What happened?

Panel 3: Chaz is now waving to Durian behind Roxanne and Zanzo.

Panel 4: Durian is no longer surprised.

DURIAN: Oh.

Panel 5: Durian leaning towards Roxanne.

DURIAN: Auntie, may we speak away from current company.

ROXANNE: Later, the service is about to begin. And I don't need anything else happen-

Page 24

Panel 1: Shot of a door opening.

Panel 2: Roxanne and Durian look surprized.

Panel 3: As if a camera has paned to the left, Durian has turn to speak to Chaz. DURIAN (whispering): Your handiwork I take it? CHAZ (whispering): No, we did a consultation but it would have took too long and would be too painful.

Page 25

Panel 1: Chai and the gang looking shocked. Zanzo looks happy.

Panel 2: Mimosa standing in the doorway. Her face no longer bearing any scars.

Page 26

Bonus Mimosa sketch

#hi fi rush #chai hi fi rush #hfr zanzo #peppermint hi fi rush #my wips

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doggyfood · 3 months

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TO THE FUCKING PERSON SETTING OFF FIREWORKS RIGHTN OUTSIDE MY WINDOWN RN- FUCK YOU ITS 6PM AND NOW ALL OF THE DOGS ARE BARKIN UP A STORM I HATE YOU SO MUCH ACTUALLY KYS

#random poppy stuff #I'm a bit upset if ya couldn't tell

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sports-teller · 3 months

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New Post has been published on Sports-Teller.com!

New Post has been published on https://sports-teller.com/list-louisville-bats-2024-fireworks-shows/

List of Louisville Bats 2024 Fireworks Shows

What Days Will the Bats Show Fireworks for Summer 2024? Louisville Bats 2024 Fireworks at Louisville Slugger Field (Louisville, KY)! Hello Everyone! Welcome to Sports Teller! Today, we will be going over the List of Louisville Bats 2024 Fireworks Shows! Without further adieu, let’s begin! List of Louisville Bats 2024 Fireworks Shows Going to the Bats Baseball Game This Season? Looking to Catch the Fireworks at Louisville Slugger Field in 2024? Now that the upcoming season is upon us, you might be thinking “Will they show fireworks this year?” Well, you’re in luck! In 2024, the Louisville Bats (Triple-A Farm … Read more

#ATOBTTR #Baseball #Postgame Fireworks

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arpov-blog-blog · 9 months

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'You have no balls': Hunter Biden derails GOP vote to hold him in contempt

The president's son made his second straight surprise appearance designed to rattle the Republicans investigating him. It seemed to work.

By JORDAIN CARNEY and ANTHONY ADRAGNA01/10/2024, 10:21AM ET

Hunter Biden made a short surprise appearance Wednesday at the House Oversight Committee’s meeting on whether to hold him in contempt of Congress, prompting some fireworks from Republicans.

Both the Judiciary and Oversight Committees are expected to advance recommendations along party lines that Hunter Biden be held in contempt after he skipped a closed-door interview last month. The appearance from the president's son set off some Republicans, with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-N.C.) saying: "I think he should be hauled off to jail right now."

"You are the epitome of white privilege, coming to the Oversight Committee, spitting in our face, ignoring a congressional subpoena to be deposed — what are you afraid of?" she added, speaking to him from the dais. "You have no balls.”

Hunter Biden left the meeting shortly after he arrived, when Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) tried to start questioning him. “Apparently you’re afraid of my words,” she said as Hunter Biden walked out of the room.

Biden's attorney, Abbe Lowell, said it was further evidence that Republicans were ignoring his attempts to cooperate by testifying at a public hearing. Hunter Biden had also showed up on Capitol Hill in December on the day he was subpoenaed by the Oversight Committee, insisting on public testimony, though Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) had repeatedly said the subpoena was for a private hearing with the panel.

"The Republican chairs have today commandeered an unprecedented resolution to hold someone in contempt who has offered to publicly answer all their proper questions. What are they afraid of?" Lowell said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) argued that the president's son was "calling the chairman's bluff" by showing up to the meeting. Moskowitz tried to add the names of three Republicans — Reps. Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Jim Jordan (Ohio) and Scott Perry (Pa.) — to the contempt resolution and said he’d have voted for it if Republicans agreed.

“This is the strangest thing I have ever seen in Congress," Moskowitz said."

(Published on Politico 01/'10/24)

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charonte-simi · 1 year

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I said I would write more about me missing her so here's that stream of consciousness nonsense

I keep trying to narrow down what it is exactly that I miss about ky, about the short moments we spent together. I keep landing on the fact that she was my first real kiss tbh. It felt kinda like people describe it, it was soft and warm, electric and exciting, fireworks the whole nine yards.

It was before I had fully decided to transition but I still felt SO seen by her. It felt so sapphic and yet very affirming to my masculinity. I don't think I've ever felt more "butch" than when I was around her, though I wouldn't have called myself that then and I still don't know that I'd claim the label now, even though it definitely fits.

It was the first time that anyone had made me feel that desired irl. Problematic yes but that she was willing to take the chance just to do what we did, gods it did something to me. The fact that both of my first sexual encounters involved monogamous married/partnered people has definitely done something to my psyche and ego lol That someone is willing to risk so much just to be with me has completely fucked up my perception of what it means to be desired and I have mixed feelings on that as well.

And the power I held in that dynamic is not at all lost on me. It makes me a bit uncomfortable to know just how easily I could've influenced her future. She was so ready to leave him. For me. She flat out asked if I could see myself being with her if she decided to leave him. I could've altered their lives immensely if I had decided to. I'm glad that I didn't, don't get me wrong, it wouldn't have worked and would have been damaging to everyone involved. But that potential is not lost on me. I miss that feeling.

It kinda makes me feel like a bad person for craving that sensation. I would never intentionally put someone I care about in that position, but fuck when I did find myself there it felt so fucking good to be that desired.

And that aside, I still feel like there was so much potential there. If she hadn't been with him... if that relationship and subsequent parenthood hadn't messed with her head so severely, fuck me I'd have been all over that.

That's what it is I'm missing; a romanticized version of what could have been, not what actually was.

God's it felt amazing and I keep wishing I had pursued it, she was so willing to do so too, if I had just went for it.. I know for a fact it would've happened. Fuck having morals man, it could've been so good. It would've likely cost me my job and me getting my ass beat by her husband but idk dude it may've been worth it lol (I jest I don't think it really would've been, but damn it that path was right there and I had to opt out and it hurts to think about).

I wish I weren't so intimidated and off-put by most women cause I know I'm into them and I would love to repeat that kind of exchange again. One of these days I'll try again..

#simi speaks #ugh #ky

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reading-writing-revolution · 3 years

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Heather Cox Richardson

October 4, 2021 (Monday)

“hello literally everyone,” the official account of Twitter tweeted this afternoon, after Facebook and its affiliated platforms Instagram and WhatsApp went dark at about 11:40 this morning. The Facebook outage lasted for more than six hours and appears to have been caused by an internal error. But the void caused by the absence of the internet giant illustrated its power at a time when the use of that power has come under scrutiny.

In mid-September, the Wall Street Journal began to publish a series of investigative stories based on documents provided by a whistle-blower.

The “Facebook Files” explore how the company has “whitelisted” high-profile users, exempting them from the rules that put limits on ordinary users. Another article reveals that researchers showed Facebook executives evidence that Instagram damages teenage girls by pushing an ideal body image and that they flagged the increasing use of the site by drug smugglers, human traffickers, and other criminals; their discoveries went unaddressed.

Concerned about declining engagement with their material, Facebook allegedly privileged polarizing material that engaged people by preying on their emotions. It appeared to have encouraged the extremism that led to the January 6 insurrection, lowering restrictions against disinformation quickly after the 2020 election.

Last night, on CBS’s 60 Minutes, former Facebook employee Frances Haugen revealed herself to be the source of the documents. She is concerned, she says, that Facebook consistently looks to maximize profits even if it means ignoring disinformation. Her lawyers have filed at least eight complaints with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which oversees companies and financial markets. Facebook’s vice president of global affairs, Nick Clegg, said it was “ludicrous” to blame Facebook for the events of January 6. Chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg and chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg have not commented.

Lawmakers have repeatedly asked Facebook to produce documents for their scrutiny and to testify about the social media platform’s public safeguards. Tomorrow, Haugen will testify before the Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security about the effects of social media on teenagers. Her lawyer, Andrew Bakaj, told Cat Zakrzewski and Cristiano Lima of the Washington Post that Haugen’s information is important because “Big Tech is at an inflection point…. It touches every aspect of our lives—whether it’s individuals personally or democratic institutions globally. With such far-reaching consequences, transparency is critical to oversight, and lawful whistleblowing is a critical component of oversight and holding companies accountable.”

Amidst the outrage over the Facebook revelations, technology reporter Kevin Roose at the New York Times suggested that the company’s aggressive attempts to court engagement reveal weakness, rather than strength, as younger users have fled to TikTok and other sites and Facebook has become the domain of older Americans. He notes that Facebook’s researchers foresee a drop of 45% in daily use in the next two years, suggesting that the company is desperate either to retain users or to create new ones.

While the technology Facebook represents is new, the concerns it raises echo public discussion of late nineteenth century industrialization, which was also the product of new technologies. At stake then was whether the concentration of economic power in a few hands would destroy our democracy by giving some rich men far more power than the other men in the country. How could the nation both preserve the right of individuals to build industries and preserve the concept of the common good in the face of technology that permitted unprecedented accumulations of wealth?

While money is certainly at stake in the issue of Facebook’s power today, the more pressing issue for our country is whether social media giants will destroy our democracy through their ability to spread disinformation that sows division and turns us against one another.

When we began to grapple with the excesses of industrialism, lots of people thought the whole system needed to be taken apart—by violence if necessary—while others hoped to save the benefits the technology brought without letting it destroy the country. Americans eventually solved the problems that industrialization raised for democracy by reining in the Wild West mentality of the early industrialists, protecting the basic rights of workers, and regulating business practices.

The leaked Facebook documents suggest there are places where the disinformation at Facebook could be reined in as the overreaches of industrialization were. When Zuckerberg tried to promote coronavirus vaccines on the site, anti-vaxxers undermined his efforts. But one document showed that “out of nearly 150,000 posters in Facebook Groups disabled for Covid misinformation, 5% were producing half of all posts, and around 1,400 users were responsible for inviting half the groups’ new members.” Researchers concluded: “We found, like many problems at FB, this is a head-heavy problem with a relatively few number of actors creating a large percentage of the content and growth.”

“I don’t hate Facebook,” Haugen wrote in a final message to her colleagues at the company. “I love Facebook. I want to save it.”

While most Americans were busy watching Facebook crash—the falling stock took between $5 billion and $7 billion of Zuckerberg’s net worth—drama in Washington, D.C., was an even bigger deal.

Los Angeles Times reporter Sarah D. Wire noted that the rioters who broke into the Capitol on January 6 ran more than 100 feet past 15 reinforced windows, “making a beeline” to four windows that had been left unreinforced in a renovation of the building between 2017 and 2019. They found the four windows, located in a recessed part of the building, Wire wrote, “by sheer luck, real-time trial and error, or advance knowledge by rioters.”

The Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol will likely look into this oddity.

The committee has begun to take testimony from cooperative witnesses. Observers expect fireworks on Thursday when former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, longtime Trump aide Dan Scavino, Trump adviser Steve Bannon, and Trump appointee Kash Patel must hand over documents. Trump has vowed to fight the release of any information to the committee. Chair Bennie Thompson (D-MS) says the committee will make criminal referrals for anyone ignoring a subpoena.

Finally, today, the debt ceiling fight got even hotter. While Congress passed a continuing resolution to fund the government through December 3, the issue of the debt ceiling, which stops the government from borrowing money Congress has already spent, remains unresolved. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says the government will be unable to pay its obligations after October 18, and warns that a default, which has never before happened, would be catastrophic.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) insists the Democrats must raise the debt ceiling themselves, although the Republicans raised it three times under former president Trump and added $7.8 trillion to the debt, which now stands at $28 trillion. But when Democrats tried to pass a measure to raise the ceiling, Republicans filibustered it. As Greg Sargent points out in the Washington Post, McConnell is trying to force the Democrats to raise the debt ceiling through reconciliation, which cannot be filibustered. Since they get only one chance to pass such a bill this year, this would force them to dump their infrastructure bill.

McConnell is holding the nation hostage to keep the Democrats from passing a very popular bill, and today, Biden called him on it. McConnell complained that congressional Democrats were “sleepwalking toward significant and avoidable danger,” prompting Biden to demand that Republicans “stop playing Russian roulette with the U.S. economy.... Not only are Republicans refusing to do their job, but threatening to use their power to prevent us from doing our job—saving the economy from a catastrophic event—I think, quite frankly, is hypocritical, dangerous and disgraceful. Their obstruction and irresponsibility knows absolutely no bounds.”

When asked if he could guarantee we would not default on our debts, Biden said, “No, I can’t…. That’s up to Mitch McConnell.” If McConnell doesn’t blink and the Republicans continue to filibuster Democrats’ attempts to save the economy, there will be enormous pressure on the Democrats to break the filibuster.

Meanwhile, every day this drags on, Congress does not pass the Freedom to Vote Act.

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spine-buster · 4 years

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The President Wears Prada (William Nylander) | Chapter 26

A/N: I don’t usually say stuff like this but y’all can thank me later for the ending.

TW: mentions of covid-19

March 10th, 2020

Aberdeen Bloom was about to show Camden around Scotiabank Arena.

“Don’t touch anything that’s not yours to touch, okay?” she warned him as they were just outside the doors to the arena. She looked down at him to make sure everything looked okay – that his hair was nicely brushed, that his shirt wasn’t wrinkled, that his pants weren’t drooping, that his shoes were tied – before she bent down. “I mean it. We’re taking extra cleaning protocols because of this coronavirus thing and you don’t want to make extra work for the cleaning staff, right?”

“Right,” he nodded his head. “Don’t worry, Aberdeen.”

“And no touching the sticks. The guys are super-finicky about their sticks.”

“No touching the sticks.”

“And no touching anything in their stalls, either. A lot of them are superstitious so if one thing is off, they’ll know.”

“No touching the stalls.”

“And no touching the—”

“No touching!!!” he yelled, clearly getting the point. “Can we go inside now?”

Aberdeen was nervous. But Camden was a good kid. She had confidence that he wouldn’t embarrass her. “Yes, we can go in now,” she said, about to get back on her feet. And then she remembered. “But one last thing—”

“Aberdeeeeeeeeeeeen!”

“The most important thing,” she said over him. “You cannot tell anyone William Nylander came to our house for Christmas and you cannot talk like you’ve met him before.”

Camden nodded his head. “I knooooow. William spending Christmas with us has to be a secret always and forever. I get it. Can we please go inside now so I can see everyone before mom and dad get here?”

Aberdeen smiled. What a kid. “Let’s go,” she said, standing up and putting her arm around his back as they walked into the arena together. Aberdeen flashed her fob to open the door and led Camden towards the elevators, taking it up to her office. Camden was looking around at everything – everything was big and shiny and very sports-y, and he knew that if he was good, Aberdeen would take him to the Raptor’s locker room too.

“Heeeeey,” Brendan smiled as he saw Aberdeen ushering Camden into the office, getting up from his seat. He’d never seen Aberdeen look so proud as she did as they walked into the room. “How you doin’, buddy? Remember me? The candy man from Christmas?”

Camden nodded his head. “Hello Mr. Shanahan. I remember you,” Camden held out his hand.

Brendan chuckled as he shook his little 11-year-old hand. “You’re just like your sister. Very formal. She wouldn’t call me Brendan for months.”

Camden looked up at her. “Yeah, mom and dad make sure we always call people mister and misses. If we didn’t and mom heard about it, she’d have a fit. Same with dad.”

“My mom was the same way, you know. I think it’s because they grew up in Belfast,” Brendan winked.

“Probably.”

“So what do you want to see, bud?” Brendan asked. “I don’t think you want to see the offices, right? But not a lot of the guys are here yet.”

Camden looked around at Brendan’s office. He clearly had something on his mind, though he seemed a bit nervous to say it. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

Camden bit his lip slightly. “My sister told me the guys get to eat here if they want to. But where do they eat?”

Brendan had the most amused look on his face. Aberdeen couldn’t help but chuckle from behind Camden too. “You want to go see catering?”

“I guess so.”

Brendan shook his head. He loved kids. “Then we’re going to catering.”

***

Camden, Aberdeen, and Brendan went to catering. Camden met the head chef and got to stir some onions and garlic frying in a pan as the base for the pasta sauce that night. He even helped set the menu, deciding to go for grilled chicken for the guys. He originally suggested fried, but the chef told him the guys needed to eat clean and that if they had friend chicken, John Tavares would get mad at everyone for eating it, because they would eat it.

They saw Kyle, who brought them out into the empty arena, and brought them all the way down to ice level where Aberdeen was able to take some pictures of him on the empty ice, on the Leafs bench, and even in the penalty box. Camden got a kick out of it all, and got less shy and more boisterous as the minutes passed and Brendan and Kyle allowed him to do funny things. He was even able to see the Zamboni. He was smart enough not to ask if the man tending to it was David Ayres.

When they were back in the corridors of the arena, Kyle looked down at Camden who was practically skipping through the hallways. “I heard your sister got you a pretty cool Raptors jersey for Christmas,” Kyle said.

“Yup!” Camden nodded his head. “A Kyle Lowry one. He’s the coolest. I wore it on my first day of school back from Christmas break and all my friends thought it was soooo cool.”

“Do you want to go into their locker room?” Kyle smiled, already knowing the answer.

Camden’s eyes lit up like the fourth of July. “Can I?! For real?!” he asked.

“For real,” Kyle nodded. “Come on, let’s go. Maybe we can get a picture of you in Kyle Lowry’s stall.”

Fireworks were practically shooting out of Camden’s eyes as they walked inside of the dressing room. He looked at every stall and every player’s name written at the top. The only thing he could keep saying was “This is so cool!” and “Oh my God!” Aberdeen hung out at the perimeter of the room as she watched him, letting Camden get the full effect. He kept looking back at her and smiling from ear to ear, clearly not believing anything was real. Aberdeen would smile back and urge him to keep looking.

Suddenly, she heard a door open from behind her. She turned around quickly to see who it was and make sure she wasn’t in the way, but realistically, there shouldn’t have been anyone else there besides them, so she was skeptical. When she saw who it was, her heart dropped into the pit of her stomach. “Oh, hello Miss Bloom!” Masai greeted her after he’d poked his head through the door. He had a casual sports jacket on with a plain black polo shirt and a nice pair of pressed slacks. “How are you?”

“I’m fine Mr. Ujiri. How are you?”

“All good here. What’s the occasion?” he asked, nodding his head towards Kyle, Brendan, and Camden.

“That’s my little brother Camden,” she said, only to see Masai’s smile grow. “I think he feels like he’s won the lottery right now.”

“Camden?” he clarified the name in a low voice. She nodded her head before watching him close the door and step into the locker room confidently. “Hello Camden!” he beamed.

Camden whipped his head around. When he saw that it was Masai Ujiri, his face dropped. Brendan and Kyle smiled. “Masai Ujiri?!” Camden yelled.

“That’s me! Are you having fun?”

Camden didn’t know what to do. He couldn’t formulate words, and he couldn’t move, and the step forward he took was mute when he froze in place because he didn’t think it was polite to hug Masai Ujiri, so he just sort of stood there in a weird stance with his jaw on the floor until he could formulate one simple word. “Hi.”

Everybody laughed. Masai made his way into the room. “You’re a big Raptors fan? Who’s your favourite?”

“K—K—Kyle Lowry,” Camden stuttered out.

“Good choice,” Masai smiled. “Do you want a picture in his stall?”

Camden could only nod enthusiastically. He walked towards the stall, and Aberdeen knew it was her cue. She took out her phone and began snapping pictures of him standing, sitting, pointing at Kyle’s name – everything. Camden had the biggest smile ever on his face. Then Masai posed with him too, and an even bigger smile appeared on his face. It was all so cool. And then—

“Hey! Who’s that in my stall?”

A shiver went up Aberdeen’s spine. From his spot in the stall, Camden’s face dropped again – if it was possible, even more this time than when Masai walked into the room. She turned around to see the man himself, Kyle Lowry, walk into the room. “What’s up, buddy?” Kyle asked, smiling from ear to ear.

“K—Ky—Ky—” Camden couldn’t get his name out. “K—Kyle—”

“That’s me. You having fun?” he asked. Camden nodded. “Have you ever been in here before?”

“N—No Mr. Lowry, I—I’ve just s—seen it on TV,” Camden stuttered out.

“Who’s Mr. Lowry? Call me Kyle,” he said as he walked towards him. “You excited to be in here?” he asked. Camden could only nod his head. “You watch us at home?”

“I watch you at home with my dad all the time,” Camden said, which was true. They’d watched almost all the games last season (until Camden’s bedtime, naturally), and he stayed up past his bedtime for all the playoff games. This year, he and Mirza were continuing the tradition.

“Do you have a jersey to wear while you watch them?”

“Aberdeen gave me a jersey for Christmas.”

Everyone laughed at his innocence. It was only then that Aberdeen noticed a jersey draped over Kyle’s shoulder. Even she was freaking out, because she knew how much this meant to Camden. “So I guess you don’t want this one then?” Kyle asked, pulling the jersey off his shoulder. He opened it up to reveal a vintage-style jersey, one with the original logo. He took a Sharpie and asked Camden for his name and how to spell it before writing it on the jersey and signing it. “You want a picture, buddy?” Kyle asked. Camden could only nod. He was too shocked. Aberdeen was glad they were being so patient with him.

They posed together with Kyle’s stall in the background, and then Masai joined in, and then Aberdeen got in, too. Camden was rendered speechless. When they were led out of the locker room, Kyle and Masai said goodbye before they disappeared into the elevator. Kyle said a few parting words as well since he had to take an important phone call before the game. Brendan left Aberdeen and Camden alone to go to his office, expecting Orla and Mirza anytime now. It left Aberdeen and Camden alone, with Aberdeen knowing Camden was still star-struck by what just happened.

“Ab—Aberdeen,” Camden said finally, once the men were gone. He was clutching onto the jersey so tight, like it would float away.

“Are you alright, Cam?” she asked, bending down on her knee so she could look him in the eye.

He shook his head. “I w—wasn’t ready for that,” he said, his voice shaky. “I didn’t—I didn’t look like a loser, did I?”

“What? No way!” she exclaimed. “Camden, you never look like a loser.”

“He was so cool Aberdeen! I mean he’s Kyle Lowry!” he said as he began to cry.

“C’mere,” she cooed, wrapping her arms around him tightly and pulling her brother in for a big hug. “I know it was overwhelming, but that’s okay! You just met your hero! I bet if any of your other friends met their hero, they wouldn’t know what to do either,” she said, trying to get him to calm down.

As Aberdeen continued to hug her brother, rubbing his back so he’d calm down a bit, she heard people making their way up the stairs, and soon, she saw William and Auston making their way up. William noticed her first, looking her straight in the eye even though Auston was talking to him. When Auston noticed him not responding, he looked and saw Aberdeen.

“Hey,” William greeted them, looking at her skeptically. “Everything okay?”

Aberdeen nodded her head against Camden’s shoulder. “Camden just had a big moment,” she said, giving them both a look. “He just met Masai Ujiri and Kyle Lowry.”

Both William’s and Auston’s eyes bulged out. “Ooooooh, wow!” they cooed together. “Dude, that’s so awesome!” Auston said, sounding excited, trying to make Camden as comfortable as possible as Aberdeen let go of the hug so Camden could face Auston and Willy.

“I’d be the same way, bud! Don’t worry!” William said as he noticed the nervous and embarrassed look on Camden’s face as he wiped away whatever few tears fell. He noticed the jersey hanging from Camden’s other hand. “Is that it?”

“Yeah,” he nodded.

“Let’s see it,” Auston said gently.

Camden unfolded it gently, as if the autograph would rub off. When the guys noticed that it was a vintage jersey, they commented on how cool it looked. And when they finally saw the personalized autograph, they were all but screaming. “I don’t even have one of these, bud!” Auston exclaimed. “You’re sooooo lucky!”

“Yeah, me neither!” William joined in. “You’ve gotta frame that or something.”

“I gotta show all my friends at school first,” he said. The more Camden calmed down, the more he came to his senses. He took a second and third look at the men in front of him – he of course noticed and knew William, but it was Auston who he finally realized was standing in front of him. “Holy moly, you’re Auston Matthews!”

Auston giggled. “Yes I am.”

“You…you’re the coolest!”

“Thanks, bud,” he said. “Has your sister brought you into our locker room yet?”

Camden shook his head. “Not yet. There was nobody here yet so we went to catering.”

“Catering?!” William was shocked. “You brought your brother to catering?!”

“I told him how you guys could eat before the game and he wanted to see!” Aberdeen tried to defend herself.

William shook his head. “Come on, Camden. Let’s see who’s already here.”

With Auston leading the way and Camden in front of him, William looked back at Aberdeen behind him and winked at her. “By the way Aberdeen, how do I look?” he asked.

She smiled. “You look like if the song ‘Africa’ by Toto were a person.”

Auston threw his head back and cackled loudly like a seagull. William shook his head. Camden looked back at his sister. “What’s Toto? Isn’t that the dog from the Wizard of Oz?”

“Don’t worry about it, Cam,” she said.

Camden was nervous as they approached the doors of the locker room, so he waited for his sister to be near him before he stepped through. When he did, he was wide-eyed and amazed; he couldn’t believe he’d just been in the Raptor’s locker room and now he was in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ locker room, too. Most of the guys were actually already in the room, but luckily they were not in various stages of undress yet. Morgan was the first one to notice them – it was his first game back from injury, so his energy level was off the charts. “Aberdeen!” he yelled her name, giant smile on his face. His eyes moved to Camden. “Who’s this?”

“This is Camden, my little brother,” she said, introducing him. “Camden, that’s Morgan Rielly. He’s one of our alternate captains and it’s his first game back tonight.”

“What’s up, Camden?” he asked, smiling gently.

“Hello Mr. Rielly.”

“Camden just met Masai Ujiri and Kyle Lowry, so he’s a bit shocked at everything right now,” Aberdeen said, making a face at Morgan that Camden couldn’t see.

Morgan got the hint. “That’s the jersey then, huh?” he pointed to the jersey still in Camden’s hands. Camden nodded. “Isn’t Kyle just so cool?” Morgan asked.

A smile spread on Camden’s face. “He’s my faaaaavourite,” he said.

“Me too.”

“Do I hear a Bloom brother is here?” Tyson’s voice boomed from the other end of the locker room. Aberdeen watched him walk through the door with a big smile on his face. “What’s up?! You must be Camden!”

“Hello Mr. Barrie.”

“You excited for the game tonight?”

Camden nodded. “It’s my first ever hockey game.”

“First ever?! Okay, we gotta make it extra special then,” Tyson smiled. “Where are you sitting?”

Camden looked up to Aberdeen, because he didn’t have a clue. “Mom, dad, and Camden are sitting in row 20 at centre ice,” she said. “If he’s good he’ll be back after the game too. But only if he’s good.”

“Hey! I’m always good!” he objected.

“I’m not sure about that.”

***

As Aberdeen sat with Brendan in the box, she noticed him checking his phone a lot more than usual. It was especially peculiar because this was a game against Tampa Bay – a very good team and many saw this as a must-win for the Leafs, especially since they won their last game against Tampa Bay on her birthday. And like with the game in Ottawa, when Siena was there, and on her birthday, when he scored that insane between-the-legs goal, William was just showing off. He was playing great, and had scored a goal in the first period. Aberdeen knew he was hamming it up for her and her family, knowing they were in attendance.

When Auston scored in the third period to get the score to 2-1, Brendan was happy but it didn’t last long. He began furiously typing away on his phone. She wondered if there was a problem with one of his kids or with Catherine. He usually wasn’t this distracted during games.

“Is everything okay, Brendan?” she asked once the final buzzer went. The Leafs had won 2-1 and she thought he’d be much happier.

He pursed his lips together, shrugging his shoulders and shaking his head. “Trying to keep up on the coronavirus,” he said. The media had already been put at bay and weren’t allowed close to the players anymore. She wondered if new restrictions were being implemented and the media wrote a pissy open letter demanding access again. “It’s not looking good. I mean, the entire country of Italy is in a fucking lockdown. They can’t control this thing.”

Aberdeen heard that news yesterday. It was a shock to her, mainly because she didn’t think it was possible an entire country could go into lockdown. But the north was getting rattled by it, and it seemed like the only logical thing to do, however draconian it was. She had a lot of Italian friends from high school whose family were still in Italy and were affected by it. “What do you think will happen?” she asked.

“Don’t know,” he said. “I mean…it’s getting serious. Really serious. And I’m not convinced it can be contained like we all hope it can be,” he said.

“What do you think will happen with us?” she followed up.

“If…ah, I honestly don’t know, Aberdeen. They could postpone games by a few days. I mean, I think that’s the worst-case scenario right now – everything being delayed by a couple of weeks.”

Aberdeen bit her lip. “Yeah…I guess that’s totally worst-case scenario.”

“Absolute worst-case scenario,” Brendan repeated. “Do I think it will get that bad? I don’t know. I don’t think so. But I have no clue about these things.”

“What…I mean, the directive has to come from the league, right?” she asked.

“Of course. It always comes from the top down. We’ll see what happens. We can’t worry about hypotheticals.”

Aberdeen nodded. He was right. “So I guess I’ll see you on Wednesday when Nashville is in town?”

“You betcha. Let me walk you down and say goodbye to your family.”

***

Aberdeen had barely taken her shoes off when she got into her condo before she felt her phone buzz in her hand.

can i see u?

She couldn’t believe him. But at the same time, she could.

You’re lucky you can.

i’ll be there in 5

She took the five minute opportunity to change out of her work clothes and take off her makeup. When the calling buzz rang from her phone, she immediately let him in. Within minutes, he was knocking at her door, and she was letting him in like she always did.

“How’s your brother?” he asked as he took off his shoes.

“He’s fine,” she smiled slightly, liking that William was asking about him. Camden had returned to the Leafs locker room after the game (if the media found out, she knew they’d have a hissy fit since they weren’t even allowed back there, but Brendan didn’t care) and Auston gave him his game-worn jersey, which all the guys ended up signing. By the end of the night, all of the excitement of the day and the game had caught up to him, and he was practically falling asleep standing up. “He was tired by the end but I could tell it was the best day of his life.”

“He’s a cute kid,” William commented. “You guys are alike, you know.”

“How?” Aberdeen was curious.

“You’re both…like, pure. You both light up the room when you enter it,” he smiled. The shy smile on her face was his favourite. He approached her, not wanting to wait any longer. “Is Kasha home?” he asked before he put his arm around her.

“No. She’s with Evan tonight,” Aberdeen said.

“Sleeping over?”

Aberdeen nodded, a smirk on her face. “Aren’t you a lucky boy.”

William smiled. “The luckiest boy in the world,” he mumbled, wrapping his other arm around her and pulling her against his body.

“You always know the perfect opportunities to show up,” she said. “If I didn’t know any better I’d say you’re in cahoots with her as to when to come over and get in my pants.”

William chuckled, leaning down. “In cahoots?” he mumbled against her lips. “The only thing or person I’m in cahoots with these days is you, minskatt.”

“Not Rasmus?” she asked.

He grumbled at her before deciding to get her to be quiet by kissing her. When his lips planted on hers, she let out a slight gasp before wrapping her own arms around his shoulders, kissing him fully and sticking her tongue down his throat in no time at all. As they kissed in the middle of her kitchen, William slipped his hands underneath her shirt and up to her bra, feeling her breasts through the cotton fabric. “Bedroom?” he asked.

Aberdeen nodded. “Please.”

***

March 11th, 2020

Good afternoon. In the past two weeks, the number of cases of COVID-19 outside China has increased 13-fold, and the number of affected countries has tripled. There are now more than 118,000 cases in 114 countries, and 4,291 people have lost their lives. Thousands more are fighting for their lives in hospitals. In the days and weeks ahead, we expect to see the number of cases, the number of deaths, and the number of affected countries climb even higher. WHO has been assessing this outbreak around the clock and we are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction.

We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic.

***

Aberdeen’s brows were furrowed as she and Kasha watched TV, the both of them feeling like they were in the twilight zone or something. The basketball game was supposed to have started, but never did. People were rushing off the court. Nobody knew what was going on, and the announcers were just speaking in hypotheticals. It was all very confusing – that is, until, the headline came:

Rudy Gobert tests positive for coronavirus.

The girls couldn’t keep their eyes off the TV screen. Now the Utah Jazz and the Oklahoma City Thunder were being quarantined inside the arena and being tested. Just the other day, Rudy Gobert was making light of the entire situation and touching all of the reporters’ microphones after his interview with them. Now he had the virus.

“Oh my God,” Kasha muttered as she looked down at her phone.

“What? What’s going on?” Aberdeen asked.

“Tom Hanks just announced he has it,” she announced, looking up.

The girls looked at each other, speechless.

***

“Did you hear the NBA has suspended their season?” Aberdeen asked as she lay in her bed, holding her phone along the pillow as she looked at William through the screen. He was doing the same thing. His disheveled hair and sleepy blue eyes would have made her swoon in any other situation, but right now, she wasn’t swooning.

“Yeah,” he nodded. He noticed she was wearing the hoodie that he left there by accident last night. “It’s crazy. I mean it’ll probably be for the next few days until they have everything under control, you know?”

“Yeah,” Aberdeen said, but she wasn’t so sure. “What do you think the NHL will do?” she asked.

“No clue. Maybe they’ll suspend the next few days of games too, just to make sure everything is under control too. We’ll probably have to get tested. I heard they stick something all the way up your nose,” William said. There were a few moments of silence between them. “Are you scared, minskatt?”

It was the first time somebody actually asked her that question – asked her if she was scared. Everybody talked about it but nobody ever stopped to ask if she was actually scared. She felt herself nodding her head. “A little bit,” she admitted.

“Don’t be scared, minskatt. I don’t want you to feel scared. But I’m here if you want to talk about it. You know that, right?”

She nodded her head. “Are you scared, Willy?”

He nodded too. “Yeah. A little bit.”

***

March 12th, 2020

Aberdeen had an incredibly early morning. She actually went into the office at 7:30 in the morning because Brendan requested she be there for some additional prep and to scribe the minutes of the meeting taking place with the NHL and the Board of Governors. With a tired body but overactive mind, thinking about all the possibilities that could happen, her fingers moved a mile a minute across the keyboard as she sat with Brendan and Kyle. Up until this point, everything in the league was carrying on as normal, despite the NBA postponing their season not even twelve hours prior. She knew for a fact other teams around the league were still preparing to hold practices because those who were on the call said so and asked about it. The Nashville Predators were already in for a morning skate, and the Leafs were going to have their practice right after.

When the decision was made, and all that needed to be done was tell the players before the statement was drafted and released to the media, Brendan took a long, hard, exasperated sigh. He rubbed at his temples and let his pen drop from his hand. He leaned back in his chair before he looked at Aberdeen. “All the guys are present and accounted for in the locker room. We have to go and tell them.”

The thought of having to tell the team was daunting. She knew it wasn’t her that was going to be delivering the bad news, but it would still be disheartening just being in the room and seeing their faces drop. They’d probably have so many questions and Brendan and Kyle wouldn’t have any answers for them. She looked at Kyle to see if he could offer her any solace but he was rubbing his eyes underneath his glasses. “What do you think they’ll say?” she asked.

Brendan shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. “Who knows. But nobody will be happy. I know that much.”

As they made their way towards the locker room, Kyle texted Sheldon to make sure all the guys and all the personnel were congregated in the locker room to hear the announcement. With the Predators also being there, Aberdeen knew there’d be overlap. So many of them knew each other so she wondered if they had already gone to see each other.

When they got into the locker room, everyone was waiting like kids in class. Aberdeen locked eyes with William and moved off to the side as Brendan and Kyle stood at the front of the room. They were told the news.

“For how long?”

“Even practices? I mean this is just going to be for a few days, right?”

“Are they releasing a statement?”

“Did the league say anything about making up the games?”

“When are we going to start again?”

“Does that mean the season is being extended even further into the summer? Doesn’t that delay next season? What about the CBA?”

“What’s the PA have to say about this?”

“Is the PA making a statement too?”

“What do we do with our equipment? Our stalls?”

We don’t know.

“Listen, the only thing we do know for sure is this: it’s been classified as a pandemic now by the World Health Organization and it’s spreading quickly. This thing can’t be contained. With Gobert testing positive last night, it was only a matter of time before this thing affected us, too. We share so many locker rooms with NBA players. It might already even be in our league and we don’t know it,” Brendan said.

“Schools have already announced an extended March Break. Nobody knows a lot right now but what we can tell you is that we’re going to listen to the public health officials and their advice,” Kyle said. “We’re hockey players – we’re not epidemiologists. If someone tells me to stop playing a full-contact sports to stop the spread of a highly infectious diseases even the world’s best epidemiologists still know very little about, I’m going to listen to them.”

“So what do we do now?” Morgan asked.

“Go home. Until you’re given further directives from us, go home and stay home.”

***

"In light of ongoing developments resulting from the coronavirus, and after consulting with medical experts and convening a conference call of the Board of Governors, the National Hockey League is announcing today that it will pause the 2019-20 season beginning with tonight's games.”

"The NHL has been attempting to follow the mandates of health experts and local authorities, while preparing for any possible developments without taking premature or unnecessary measures. However, following last night's news that an NBA player has tested positive for coronavirus -- and given that our leagues share so many facilities and locker rooms and it now seems likely that some member of the NHL community would test positive at some point -- it is no longer appropriate to try to continue to play games at this time.

"We will continue to monitor all the appropriate medical advice, and we will encourage our players and other members of the NHL community to take all reasonable precautions -- including by self-quarantine, where appropriate. Our goal is to resume play as soon as it is appropriate and prudent, so that we will be able to complete the season and award the Stanley Cup. Until then, we thank NHL fans for your patience and hope you stay healthy."

***

When Aberdeen got home, the news had just been announced that Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, Justin’s wife, had it. The anxiety Aberdeen felt only multiplied. Kasha wasn’t home when she got home – she was at work, obviously – so it was just her alone with her thoughts, and it wasn’t going well. Aberdeen prided herself on watching the news and keeping up to date with current events, but the doomscrolling she was doing on her Twitter and the CNN feed she turned on in the background wasn’t helping.

Then she heard the buzzer for her apartment. That could only mean one thing.

“Are you feeling okay, minskatt?” William asked the first second he saw her, which meant she was unable to ask him why he showed up at her place.

“I…I don’t know,” she admitted. “I’m scared, Willy.” Knowing it was still mid-day and that Kasha was at work, he took the opportunity to move closer to her and engulf her in a hug. Her arms were pressed between their bodies as he hugged her tightly. She took a moment to take in his scent and compose herself and try to snap out of all the doomscrolling she’d just done. “What are you even doing here?”

“I needed to see if you were okay. Plus I left my hoodie here the other night and—”

He was interrupted by her phone ringing loudly on the kitchen countertop. They both looked down at it and saw Brendan’s name flash across the screen. A pit formed in Aberdeen’s stomach. She let it ring a few more times before reaching out to pick it up and answer it. “Hello?”

“Did you have contact with anybody from Nashville today?” he asked, not bothering with formalities. “Including staff.”

“Y—Yes,” she said. She had seen and spoken with a bunch of the staff about the situation as everyone was packing up and going home. She was ruminating how it would be more dramatic for them to fly home whereas the Leafs just had to drive. “Why?”

She heard him take a long breath. “We’re getting information about precautions and what you can do to minimize the spread and exposure, and…listen, Aberdeen, the government and every public health official is instituting a policy of a fourteen day quarantine period—”

“Quarantine?! What do you mean quarantine?” she asked.

“—Immediately.”

“Immediately?!”

“It means no leaving your house. At all. For anything. You…you can’t leave, Aberdeen.”

She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She didn’t know what to think, how to feel, anything. She was void of emotion. “Oh my God.”

“I know. Believe me. The entire country is going into lockdown. This is more serious than I could have ever imagined. I’ve gotta call the rest of the team to let them know.”

He hung up the phone. She looked over to William. She knew he’d heard Brendan through the phone. And before she could even utter a word, his phone began ringing. Brendan’s name flashed across his screen this time. He looked her in the eye as he answered. “Hello?..........Yeah. Yeah I caught up with Filip Forsberg for a bit, some of the other Swedish guys too……….okay…okay…what do you mean quarantine? Like stay at home? But like, if I’m out—I—okay, go home immediately? Yeah yeah, I’ll drop everything..........Fourteen days?...Uh, I guess so. I mean I have no choice right?......Yeah I’ll be fine. I’ll have groceries delivered like I always do……Yeah…Yeah…Okay. Bye Brendan.”

They were both speechless.

***

Aberdeen called Kasha. Kasha was going to take the opportunity to stay at Evan’s place for fourteen days, and would be by after work to pack, during which Aberdeen would lock herself in her room. Aberdeen didn’t know how Kasha would be able to hide a fourteen-day stint at Evan’s place from her dad. But then again, Aberdeen was hiding William from everybody. They both had secrets.

Once everything was arranged, she could finally look at William sitting on her couch. She didn’t even know if he had clothes. Underwear. Anything. She looked at him. “Does this mean we’re living together for fourteen days?”

William couldn’t believe what was happening, but at the same time, he couldn’t help but smirk slightly. “I think it does.”

170 notes · View notes

dreaminginthedeepsouth · 3 years

Link

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

October 4, 2021

Heather Cox Richardson

In mid-September, the Wall Street Journal began to publish a series of investigative stories based on documents provided by a whistle-blower.

“I don’t hate Facebook,” Haugen wrote in a final message to her colleagues at the company. “I love Facebook. I want to save it.”

While most Americans were busy watching Facebook crash—the falling stock took between $5 billion and $7 billion of Zuckerberg’s net worth—drama in Washington, D.C., was an even bigger deal.

The Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol will likely look into this oddity.

Meanwhile, every day this drags on, Congress does not pass the Freedom to Vote Act.

—

Notes:

https://www.commerce.senate.gov/2021/10/protecting%20kids%20online:%20testimony%20from%20a%20facebook%20whistleblower

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/10/03/facebook-whistleblower-frances-haugen-revealed/

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-facebook-files-11631713039

https://apnews.com/article/facebook-whatsapp-instagram-outage-8b9d3862ed957029e545182a595fdce1

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/03/technology/whistle-blower-facebook-frances-haugen.html

https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-whistleblower-frances-haugen-says-she-wants-to-fix-the-company-not-harm-it-11633304122

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/10/04/facebook-instagram-down-outage/

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/04/technology/facebook-files.html

https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-mark-zuckerberg-vaccinated-11631880296

https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2021-10-04/jan-6-rioters-exploited-little-known-capitol-weak-spots-a-handful-of-unreinforced-windows

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/10/01/bennie-thompson-jan-6-panel-subpoena-514940

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/10/04/jan-6-panel-trump-collision-514979

https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/10/04/biden-schumer-debt-ceiling/

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

#quotes #political #facebook #social media #debt ceiling #political hardball #Heather Cox Richardson #Letters From An American

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denimbex1986 · 3 years

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Note: This video won’t play for anyone outside of the UK.

“Anthony, I wanna kick off with a big one. You’re Sam Wilson, AKA The Falcon - how the heck did that happen?”

Anthony: “Erm, well, I, I got lucky. I got very lucky. I - I’ve always wanted to be a part of the MCU since the first Iron Man. And, you know, when they uh, some - saw some of my other stuff, they called me to LA and I had dinner with the Russo brothers and it kind of worked out. I was like: ‘All of you, just don’t be an asshole!’”

“That was their one note, their first note.”

Anthony: “That was it - don’t be an asshole.”

“What do you like most about your character?”

Anthony: “Uh, the fact that he’s a normal guy. You know, if you think about it, he was just a guy out for a jog, and Captain America was like: ‘You’re a good guy - I want you to be an Avenger.’ What?! Like, you know it’s ,it’s - that’s something no-one expects, That was a hell of a jog. Like, what happened if he never went on that jog? He would never have met Black Widow, who is the love of his life. He would never have got to go on adventures with Captain America, who is is best friend. And now he would never be dealing with all this craziness with Bucky. who is his arch nemesis. (interviewer laughs) All from one jog.”

“One jog. And that line: “on your left” - it must be a nightmare for you. You can never be to the right of anyone ever again.”

Anthony: (laughs once) “Very true, and its interesting because you can always tell when somebody’s about to say it. And, you know, it’s the build up, and the build up is like: ‘No, don’t say it. Should I say it? Can I say it? What would he say if I say it? Okay, ’on your left! Ha-ha-ha.’ (interviewer laughs) And it’s never a girl - it’s never a girl. It’s always some 40-year-old dude who, you know, it’s always some 40-year-old dude.”

“Yeah. I get it.”

Anthony: “If it was a pretty girl and she’s like ‘On your left’, you’re like ‘Yes you are.’”

“Good move, I’m glad it works. (Anthony laughs) Let me say this to you - would you say you might have the most uncomfortable costume in the MCU, when you’re wired up, I mean?”

Anthony: “I - I think I have the costume with the most pieces. I have about, - hoo -, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight - I have like, twelve pieces to my costume. And it just goes on layer after layer after layer and it, it can be, um, a bit much but actually, it’s pretty uh, comfortable. I mean the backpack is the only off thing - that’s maybe like 15 pounds, uh, the whole piece; the harness that it goes on. But nah, I’m - I’m pretty comfortable with mine. It’s just when I’m doing stunts I usually rip through the crotch of my pants.”

“There’s this great bit in the blooper reel where you crash into the ground right in front of Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man.”

Anthony: “Right.”

“Ah, great days. (Anthony laughs) What would you say are your favourite Falcon moments on the big screen so far - and I do have suggests if you’d like them?”

Anthony: “One of my favourite moments that made me go ‘Holy shit!’ was in um, I wanna say it was in Winter Soldier. When the Harriers are coming up, and I go under the Harrier and the, the missiles are following me and I do a barrel tuck and they hit the Harrier and I come back out. For me, that was the first moment I was like: ‘This is amazing!’ Right? And my second one, my all-time, my all-time, is this first sequence in episode one. The first ten minutes. That was the second time when I saw it, when I saw myself and I went: ‘Holy shit!’ (interviewer laughs quietly) So those two are probably my top moments.”

“For me, I can’t resist the moment where you say in Civil War: ‘So, you like cats?’ (Anthony laughs) And with Bucky himself: ‘Can you move your seat up?’ (Anthony laughs) Love it. Even the: ‘Everybody’s got a gimmick now’ - you’ve got all these lovely little lines.”

Anthony: “Right.”

“Good-looking guy in the sunglasses, And what I love seeing, the behind-the-scenes footage for this new show, it’s that it’s called ‘Bromance’ on the clapper board. (Anthony laughs once) And I know you’ve been asked a million times about your friendship with Sebastian, so here’s my tack. How would you describe him in three words?”

Anthony: “Uh - boring. Introverted. Er - I feel like shy is the same thing so I won’t say shy. I’ll say boring, introverted and um, a great sense of humour.”

“Love it. I’ll accept it.”

Anthony: “But he’s literally the most boring person I’ve ever met in my life.” (interviewer laughs quietly)

“All right, between the two of you, who breaks, who corpses and laughs most on set between the two of you?”

Anthony: “Oh - I would say it’s a 50/50 split. Like, when we’re on set, and that’s why I say he, he has a great sense of humour - when we’re on set, he always does something in some kind of way to just, you know, crack me up. It’s - it’s really funny. You know him with like - there was one day when he was putting the arm on, and you know, the process of putting that arm on is quite disgusting. So, (laughs aloud, interviewer laughs silently) he’s putting the arm on the, the - so they use KY Jelly to get the arm on, right? -”

“Yeah, the lube.”

Anthony: “ - So he has to dip his arm in the KY Jelly and slide it into this arm, and he puts - and he does this (slight moving motion) and a glob of KY Jelly just goes (motions glob hitting his face, then laughs, as does the interviewer). Never fails. Never fails.”

“Never not funny. I - I would imagine the whole staring contest bit would be enough to set me off. Like, I wouldn’t be able to keep a straight face.”

Anthony: “Yeah, that was good editing because that whole sequence - we literally just went at each other for about ten minutes (laughs) and they just cut it down to what it is.”

“Love it. And I’d like to thank you on behalf of all Marvel fans for holding up and basically powering all of the gag reels for, what, close to ten years now. (Anthony laughs) Are there any ‘Cut the cheque’s’ in the blooper reel for this show?”

Anthony: “You know, I don’t know. I don’t even know. We can do a whole episode that’s just bloopers. Like, we had a lot of fun on this show, dude. There - between you know Sebastian, Daniel Bruhl - ”

“Yeah.”

Anthony: “ - Even like, there was some stuff, you know, Emily VanCamp did - it was just like - it was just co - comic gold, like just comedic gold. And none of it made - because, because we’re not doing a comedy. Like, if we were doing Guardians of the Galaxy, all that shit would be in the movie. But, I - I wish they’d take all of this stuff and cut like a one-hour comedic version of this show. It, it would be - it would break the internet.”

“Oh God, I now really, really want that. (Anthony laughs) What would you say are the weirdest, most surreal things you’ve done promoting a Marvel movie or this TV show? Because I’d like to suggest reading out thirst tweets, an escape room and mean tweets. I mean, I don’t know whether Catchphrase with J.Lo was part of that? (Anthony laughs) There must’ve been moments where you’re going: ‘Is this really happening?’“

Anthony: “I would say the, the weirdest thing, um, when we went to um, China, for, uh, Civil War, we - there are only like seven chefs in the world that can cook, uh, uh, pufferfish because of poison- ”

“Of course.”

Anthony: “So, we go to this restaurant and the chef’s like, uh, you know: ‘As, as a, as a sign of gratitude, I made you guys some pufferfish.’ And we’re like ‘Oh wow, isn’t that danger, like - that’s dangerous’, and he’s like ‘No, no. There’s only seven people in the world who can cook it and I’m one of the seven.’ So we’re like: ‘Okay.’ So we all go to eat this pufferfish and our mouth is like tingling and numb. He’s like: ‘Oh well, you know, the art is to leave a little bit of poison in so you can taste it.’”

“Great.”

Anthony: “I’m like: ‘Not a good idea, homeboy. Not a good idea.’ But Singapore, we um, we uh, got to stand - I think it was the Opera House - and they like, set the whole city on fire with fireworks. It was insane. It was literally - the entire city was on fire.”

“Amazing. God, those were the days. (Anthony laughs once) Can I ask you, would your press - you know, I know you’ve done pranks over the years, but has Nishka, your wife’s friend made an appearance?”

Anthony: (laughs) “She has not.”

“I - I love her. (Anthony laughs) I’ve got to tell you I love her. What mementos have you taken home over the course of the films and this TV show? Do you still have that poster of yourself as the Falcon up in your house?”

Anthony: (laughs) No, but I do, um, there’s - there’s a few things. Once you get into the series, you’ll see, uh, from my house, um, I’ve, I’ve - there’s a record record player. Jacked that. I’ve been trying to get - they’re fighting me on it - I’ve been trying to get my wings, ‘cos I’m like: ‘The wings have changed every movie, so you should give me the old wings.’”

“The little pigeon ones? The little quail ones?”

Anthony: “That’s what I’m saying - the little three-foot ones like that. That’s the ones I want. So, I’m working on that, uh, but our prop team, uh, my man Russell and uh, Travis, they are - the angriest little dudes on earth and they watch everything - it’s impossible.”

“Well, what do fans say to you though, typically, when they see you on the street? We’ve already discussed ‘on your left’, but do they just walk up to you and start playing Trouble Man out their phones? Like what, what are they doing?”

Anthony: “The funny thing is most of them walk up to me and think I’m Don Cheadle. (laughs) They literally go: ‘Hey man, I love you as black Iron Man!’ I’m like ‘Er...’ Or they’ll say: ‘Aren’t you the guy in Iron Man?’ I’m like ‘Err...’“

“Not so much.”

Anthony: “Like literally, once a day, someone comes up to me and asks me if I’m Don Cheadle. Which it could be worse.”

“I love those bits in the bloopers where you say - ” (You want Wesley Snipes or Denzel;. ‘Denzel.’ ‘Done. Roll sound.’ blooper plays and both laugh)

Anthony: “Two very different things, man. Two very different things.”

“Two very different things. Okay, here’s another big question. What advice would you give to your younger self, before you got this role, to prepare yourself for a life as the Falcon?”

Anthony: “Er, enjoy it. I think a lot of times I, I missed the opportunity to just step back and enjoy it. Because so many people have so many expectations of you just because they saw you in a movie. Like, you know, it’s - it’s like being a pretty girl at a bar. You know, when one guy offers you a drink, that’s cool, then the second guy, then the third guy, it’s like ‘Yo, I just wanna chill for a minute.’ You know, so a lot of people feel entitled to your time and your energy, you know?”

“I get it. I get it. And you talk about that in the show as well which I kind of love, even in the first episode - there’s that discussion of an ownership of you - ”

Anthony: “Right.”

“ - because you’re an Avenger.”

Anthony: “Right.”

“There’s lots - there’s lots of stuff in this new series which feels really, really true. How does it feel working with Malcolm Spellman about that?”

Anthony: “Um, you know what? Malcolm has a great voice as a writer, and he was 100% in tune with how I felt and, you know, what I wanted this character to, uh, convey. Uh, he was really wonderful, man. I mean, he and Kari, they held no punches. They really went at these characters and this story, and they wanted to shine the light on what it means to find your new normal. What it means to live post-Blip and how that is very similar to how we’re going to be living post-Covid when we’re all vaccinated. So they held no punches and I’m proud to say they both did a great job and Malcolm was really, really great with capturing our voices - Sebastian and mine. Uh, when we would give him notes, they would come right back spot on. And you know, it was - it was really impressive. I’ve never had an experience like that with a writer.”

“Do you guys miss, even just a little bit, Chris Evans being on set - just to get that laugh where - where he punches your shoulder and leans in a bit? (Anthony laughs) I’ve missed that so much.”

Anthony: (laughs) “Of course. Look, Chris is, you know - the three of us we were - are - very good friends and we talk all the time. Chris was always the most fun, the most supportive, the most loving human being when you spend time with him. So of course you know, we - we always want him on set, we always want him with us.”

“And what’s it like knowing that your co-star is the kind of guy that will say on, like, was it Jimmy Kimmel or Fallon? - he describes working with you like ‘riding a psychotic horse into a blazing stable.’ (Anthony laughs) And you’re like ‘Okay, cool. I’ll see you tomorrow at work then.’ (Anthony laughs)

Anthony: (after FWS clip plays and he laughs) “I can see that, I can see that. I told you, look, Sebastian is the most boring person on Earth. I’m - I literally think he sits in his living room and talks to his plant. There’s nothing; I’ve - I’ve sat outside of his room, or in the lobby, or outside the hotel, waiting for him to come out, so I can follow him and stalk him and see where he goes. I, I - I’ve never seen anything like it. He’s a hermit, so of course he would think I’m a psychotic horse; of course.” (interviewer laughs)

“I think what he does is he goes to, like, in that Bucharest scene in Civil War, there’s a big tray of plums, and he just spends the day picking them. He goes ‘This one?’”

Anthony: “Probably. Probably. He’s the only dude, when we were in Prague, he has a 106th birthday party for Bucky. That’s cool - but he, he didn’t invite anybody. So he had - he had a birthday party for himself by himself.”

“A cake, 106 candles, himself?”

Anthony: “Sebastian Stan everyone.” (claps, interviewer follows)

“On that note, Anthony, thank you so much.”

Anthony: “Thank you.”

“Have a great rest of your day. Cheers dude.”

Anthony: “Thank you. Have a good one.”

#anthony mackie #falcon and the winter soldier

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shellbilee · 5 years

Text

Classic - A Henry Cavill FanFiction

Yay it's here! For those of you who have been following my fic, thank you, you guys are amazing and I can't wait to hear what you think of this one! Special thanks to @tumblnewby for their continued support and cheering on, you, my darling, are an angel.

Please like, reblog and comment!

B x

Chapter 8

Belle's POV:

What the fuck do I wear on a date with Henry Cavill? I let out an exasperated sigh as I looked back at my reflection in my bedroom mirror, smirking when I realised that that was a question I never in a million years thought I'd have to ask. I turned around and looked down at Kyah as she lay on my bed with her head between her paws, her brown eyes gazing up at me affectionately. "What do you think girl? What should I wear?". I smiled and bent to kiss her head when she blinked and let out a soft sigh, turning back to my wardrobe and flicking through the coat hangers.

I had no idea where Henry was taking me since apparently it was a surprise. So how was I supposed to know what to wear? Was it just lunch? Was it an activity? God, what if it was something obscure like rock climbing or horse riding? I shook my head as I spied my favourite leather skirt on a coat hanger, chuckling to myself when I tried to imagine myself horse riding while wearing it. No, I think not. I reached up and ran my fingers through my hair, knowing that I needed to play it safe - I needed something that would be acceptable for any kind of activity, be it a meal, walking around a zoo or whatever else Henry had in store for me. What on earth was I going to wear?

I paused for a moment when I came across my favourite blue jeans - I'd spent a small fortune on them after a spontaneous trip to Oxford Street with Ash and Jayde last year. They'd been the last pair in stock and by some heavenly miracle exactly my size, the girls telling me that it was fate and that I'd had to try them on immediately. I'd fallen in love with them as soon as I'd seen myself in the fitting room mirror, my mind not even caring about the three figure price tag and deciding that I had to have them. They were the perfect shade of medium blue, high-waisted and most importantly, perfectly fitted around my ass. Could I wear jeans on a date with Henry? Was denim too casual for a date with a celebrity?

I shook my head to ignore the million questions that my mind had suddenly fired at me, reminding myself to remember that Henry was just a guy. A normal, healthy, red blooded male who just happened to have a whole lot of money and be globally recognized for his talent and incredibly handsome face. A normal guy. Jeans would be fine. I pulled the jeans from my wardrobe and slipped them over my legs, fastening the button and turning to look back at my reflection in the mirror once again. I smiled. Perfect.

---

Half an hour later I ran my fingers through my freshly curled waves and checked my teeth for lipstick smudges in the mirror, stepping back and admiring my finished look. I'd paired my jeans with a thin, fitted black turtle neck sweater and my favourite tan leather heeled ankle boots, my long camel coloured winter coat and checked Burberry scarf over the top. I'd styled my hair in loose, relaxed waves and had kept my makeup minimal, opting for subtle winged eyeliner and a soft, nude lip. "So what do you think Ky, does this look okay?" I asked as I turned around to face her on the bed, smiling to myself when she lifted her head and let out a soft bark.

I turned back to the mirror and rechecked my makeup, glancing down at my rose gold watch for the time. 10.50am. Right on time. Henry would be here in a few minutes to pick me up and take me to his 'surprise' location. My mind whirred with endless possibilities as I picked up my handbag, phone and keys, wondering where on earth he would be taking me on our first date. Date. The word went off in my brain like a firework. This was really happening. I was minutes away from a date with Henry Cavill, a first date with Superman himself. I felt like the luckiest woman in the world. I bent to ruffle Kyah's fluffy head and turned back to the mirror for one last check, my mind snapping up at the sound of a sudden knock at the door. I grinned at my reflection as Kyah leaped off the bed and ran out of the bedroom, my heart all of a sudden starting to race in my chest. This was actually it. I was going on a date with Henry Cavill.

---

Henry's POV:

I heard the sound of footsteps approaching as I stood at Belle's front door, the soft scent of the pink and white lilies I was holding tickling my nose and threatening to make me sneeze. I could hear Kyah barking behind the door, clearly eager to see who the new guest was, Belle's voice suddenly sounding and telling her to shush as she unlocked the front door. I sucked in a soft breath as I watched the door open in front of me, unable to stop the smile from growing on my face when my eyes landed on Belle.

I was momentarily taken aback as I looked at her, my insides stirring as I took in all of her standing in front of me. God she was stunning. "Good Morning love" I said with a soft smile, unable to help myself from openly staring. She was wearing a pair of tight blue jeans that seemed to hug her figure in all the right places, a tight black turtleneck sweater and a long camel coloured Winter coat that was loosely draped over her shoulders. "Good Morning Henry" Belle replied with a gorgeous grin, her eyes - that seemed even bigger and brighter than usual thanks to the way she'd done her makeup, crinkling as she smiled.

"You look beautiful" I said as I admired her once again, stepping forward to kiss her cheek and groaning silently when her perfume hit my nose - a sweet and spicy peachy scent that I knew would now be forever embedded in my brain. "These are for you" I added as I handed her the bouquet, watching her smile grow even bigger as she looked over the enormous flowers. "Henry they're gorgeous. Thank you!" Belle breathed, closing her eyes briefly and leaning in to smell the brightly coloured petals, "Ever the gentleman you are. Your mother would be proud". I chuckled and shook my head, "She did always tell me to bring flowers whenever I was taking a beautiful girl on a date". Belle let out a musical laugh, her face beaming as she looked back at me, my mind once again momentarily taken aback by her smile in the second time in less than two minutes.

"I'll just go and pop these in water" Belle said, stepping back and gesturing for me to come in, "Come on in, I'll only be a moment. I think Kyah wants to say hello anyway". I smiled and stepped through the door, immediately bending down to pat a very happy looking Kyah as Belle turned and made her way into the kitchen. "Hello miss. I'm sorry it's just me today!". I laughed when she let out a small bark and tried to lick my face, her tail wagging furiously as she leaned up against me. "I promise I'll bring him next time okay?". I smiled and gave her one final pat, standing up and wiping the fur from my pants as she looked up at me panting happily.

"Ready to go?". I looked up at the sound of Belle's voice as she walked back down the hallway towards me, her long waves falling softly around her face as she ran her fingers through her hair. I nodded, "Absolutely". "I don't suppose you'll tell me where we are going?" Belle asked as she picked up her black aviator sunglasses from the hallway table and slipped them onto her head, "I had the hardest time getting ready since I have no idea what I'm in for". I shook my head and grinned, stepping forward to open the door and gesturing for her to pass in front of me, "As I said love, it's a surprise. And you look lovely so don't worry". Belle chuckled and shook her head as she bent to give Kyah a final pat, stepping through the front door and turning to face me as I closed the door behind me. "Can I at least have a hint?". I laughed, "Do you know what the meaning of surprise is Belle?". She only laughed as she stepped forward to lock the door behind us, turning to face me and shrugging innocently. "Apparently I don't".

I let out a laugh as we both made our way down Belle's front steps and onto the street, Belle suddenly letting out a low whistle and making me turn towards her. Her eyes were wide with surprise and I frowned as I followed her eye-line, my face relaxing when I realised what she was looking at. Ah, of course. The Bentley. "That's quite a car" Belle said softly, tearing her eyes away and turning to me with an impressed expression, "I can't say I've ever been in a Bentley before". I grinned as I stepped forward and opened the passenger door for her, bending and gesturing for her to get in. "Well, it was this or the Ducati and I didn't know how you'd react to me showing up on a bike for our first date". Belle laughed and reached up to push one side of her hair behind her ear, flashing me a gorgeous grin that once again made me pause momentarily. "Well, it wouldn't have been a deal breaker for me let's go with that". I raised one eyebrow curiously, "Perhaps I'll keep that in mind for our next date then shall I?". Belle tilted her head playfully, "Why Henry Cavill, that's a little presumptuous of you don't you think? Already thinking there's going to be a second date with me?". I grinned widely, "Do you blame me? I think you're incredible Belle. I'm hoping there's plenty more than just two dates with you". A soft red instantly crept up Belle's cheeks at my comment and I watched as she glanced down at the ground and looked back at up me through her lashes. Belle smiled, embarrassed, and bit her bottom lip, "Well that definitely makes two of us".

I grinned as she brushed passed and stepped into the car, closing the passenger door for her and walking back around to the driver's side. Sliding into the car, I stole a glance over at Belle and smiled when I saw her admiring the car, her eyes wide as she took in the cream leather and wood finishing. "Any preference for music?" I asked as I switched on the car, Belle turning to me and smiling brightly. "What are my options?". "Whatever you like" I replied as I unlocked my phone and tapped on Spotify, turning to her and offering my phone. Belle laughed, "Okay this is far too much pressure for a first date" she said as she took my phone, "What if you don't like what I listen to?". I chuckled and put on my sunglasses, "Well we won't know until you pick something will we love?". I pulled the gear-stick into drive and checked my mirrors for oncoming traffic, pulling out of the car spot and glancing over at Belle to find her concentrating intently on my phone.

The opening strains of a Coldplay song began to drift through the speakers moment later, Belle glancing up at the road and over at me before putting my phone down in the center console. "Judges?". I laughed. "Great choice, I'd give it a 9 out of 10". Belle smiled, "I can work with 9 out of 10". A comfortable silence fell over the two of us as we drove towards our destination, a soft, pale sunshine suddenly peering through the clouds and lighting up the previously grey morning. I stole a quick glance over at Belle and took in her profile as she looked out the window, my eyes running over her soft nose and full lips. I felt myself linger for longer than necessary on her lips, once again finding myself thinking about what it would be like to kiss them. I let out a silent breath and turned back to the road, wondering if maybe, just maybe, today would be the day that I'd finally get to find out.

---

"We're almost there" I said as I took a left turn, Belle glancing over at me and offering a small smile. "I still have no idea where we are" she replied with a soft laugh, "though that's not terribly surprising since I have an awful sense of direction". I chuckled and glanced over a her, watching as she flashed a grin back at me. "I mean if I'm being honest I was lost half an hour into the drive" she added with an innocent shrug, letting out another musical laugh before turning to glance out the window again. We'd been driving for just under an hour, passing the time by trading questions back and forth in the way that only happened on a first date. I'd discovered that Belle had a very varied taste in music, liking artists from the Foo Fighters to Elton John, all the way to Frank Sinatra and other classics of the 50's and 60's. Her favourite TV shows included The Office - both the UK and US versions, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and The Blacklist, and she was still very much a mad fan of Australian Football despite having lived out of Australia for several years. I in turn had told her all about my intense love of rugby, my Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, my four brothers and what it was like growing up with them, letting out a laugh when Belle had shaken her head and responded with 'oh your poor mother'.

The conversation between us had flowed easily, just as it had when we'd spoken over face-time while I'd been away. Though there'd been brief periods of silence as we'd driven, they'd never once felt at all awkward or uncomfortable. Belle's presence seemed to have the opposite effect - being around her made me feel both excited and relaxed at the same time. There was just something about her that I found so incredibly endearing, something that just made me want to be around her. I glanced over at Belle's profile for what felt like the hundredth time during the trip and smiled to myself, turning back to the road and looking up at the huge canopy of oak trees that had begun to line either side of the road. We were only minutes away now, the view of the picturesque, rolling green hills peaking through the gaps in the trees as we drove. We reached the entrance of the winery estate moments later, gravel crunching beneath the tires as I pulled up at the end of the tree-lined driveway. I pulled the gear stick into park and glanced over at Belle, her lips parted in a small smile as she looked out of the window to where we were.

"Henry this place is gorgeous" Belle breathed, tucking one side of her hair behind her ear and turning back to face me with excited eyes. "Have you been here before?" I asked as I switched the car off, looking back at Belle as she shook her head. "No but it's always been on my to-do list. I've heard so many good things about it, I've been wanting to come here for a while". I smiled, "It's definitely one of my favourites. They make the most incredible wines" I replied as we stepped out of the car, looking over to see Belle shielding her eyes from the morning sunshine. "I have a regular order placed for their Pinot" I added with a grin, locking the car and pausing as Belle walked around the car towards me. Belle raised an eyebrow as we walked towards the entrance, her lips parting in a mischievous smile. "I can't say I picked you as a Pinot man Henry". I grinned and shrugged my shoulders, "While I do love my Guinness, I find I can't say no a good Pinot". I chuckled when Belle pulled a face at the mention of the word Guinness, the two of us laughing as we reached the front door of the modern building. I pulled the door open and gestured for Belle to pass, winking at her when she looked up at me with a soft smile before brushing past. I fought the urge to groan when her sweet, peachy scent once again filled my nose, closing my eyes briefly as a shiver ran down my spine. Oh Belle.

"Do we have a reservation?" Belle asked quietly, turning to look at me over her shoulder as she stood waiting at the front reception desk. I smiled as I stepped towards her, putting my hand on the small of her back and steering her away from the desk, "We do. But not for here". Belle frowned, her face full of confusion as I led her down the long hallway to the right. "What do you me--Henry shouldn't we wait to speak to someone instead of--". "Just trust me Belle" I interrupted gently, glancing down at her wide eyed expression, "I did say it was a surprise didn't I?". She laughed, "Well yes but--". "But nothing. Just follow me and see". We reached the end of the hallway and were met with a flight of stairs, Belle raising an eyebrow when I stepped aside and gestured for her to go first. I could tell from the look on her face that she was fighting the urge to ask me a million questions, instead only flashing me a small smile and turning to make her way up the stairs. I followed her up the stairs until we reached the door at the top, stepping forward to push open the heavy wooden door and nodding for Belle to pass. A loud, familiar voice broke the silence as soon as we stepped into the room, the grin growing on my face before I could even see it's source. "Henry, son! It's so good to see you again!".

---

Belle's POV:

"Let me know when you guys are ready for some dessert okay?" Bobby asked, grinning at Henry and I as he expertly cleared our empty lunch plates, "You're going to love it, it's from our new menu". Henry grinned and tapped his finger against his glass of red, "Looking forward to it Bobby, even though I don't feel as if I could possibly fit anything else in". Bobby winked, "Oh trust me, you'll make room for this". I let out a laugh as Bobby walked away, closing my eyes briefly and inhaling the thick scents of earth, wood and wine that seemed to be filling the room. I opened my eyes and looked back at out at the view in front of us, taking a moment to once again admire the expansive views of the gorgeous, rolling hills and the picture perfect vineyard below us. I smiled, I felt full, relaxed and content.

As soon as Henry and I had walked up the stairs, we'd been met by a Bobby, the warm and hearty vineyard owner who had welcomed Henry - and myself, as if we were family he hadn't seen in years. He was tall and bald with a thick well groomed beard, a pair of thin round glasses perched on his nose that only just hid the gentle wrinkles that confirmed he was older than he initially looked. He had one of those loud, full bodied laughs that seemed to echo throughout the room and shake his entire body, and a wide, toothy grin that lit up his face every time he smiled. I liked him instantly. Henry had introduced me and told me all about how Bobby and Henry's parents were friends from way back in the day, Bobby going on to explain how he'd first met the Cavill's on one of their very first trips into London as a married couple.

We'd spent the next hour getting a private tour around the gorgeous vineyard from Bobby, stopping intermittently to taste his delicious selection of wines as he explained the intricate details of the vine to bottle process. After that he'd led us back up onto the second floor of the winery's restaurant, the entire room completely empty except for an intimate table for two set up on the balcony overlooking the vineyard grounds. I'd felt the butterflies in my stomach as soon as I'd laid eyes on the romantic setting, looking up at Henry to find him already watching me with a soft, effortlessly handsome smile on his face that sent shivers down my spine. I could tell from his expression that he'd planned all this - down to every single detail, my mind struggling to remember the last time anyone had done anything so romantic for me. Bobby had then seated us and started us off with a gourmet platter of cheeses, meats, olives and dips, along with two glasses of Henry's favourite Pinot - which had of course, been just as good as he'd promised. Bobby was back soon after with the main course, two plates of handmade lobster tortellini in a delicate cream sauce that had made my mouth water as soon as I'd looked down at the plate. In between all of the delicious courses of food, Henry and I had once again traded laughs and stories, finally getting to know each other properly after our week of only being able to speak over the phone.

Henry's movement across the table suddenly shook me from my thoughts, looking over to find him topping up my glass of wine. "I think I'm about a glass and a half away from having too much to drink" I said with a soft laugh, Henry chuckling and flashing me a grin that would have made my knees wobble had I been standing. "What did you think of the food?". I smiled and reached for my glass, "Amazing. That would have easily been one of the best meals I've ever had. I'm going to dream about that tortellini for days". He laughed as I took a sip of my Pinot, "And this? This is delicious" I added after I swallowed, holding my glass up and smacking my lips for emphasis. "So was it worth the surprise?" Henry asked, leaning back in his chair and watching me intently as he took a sip of his wine. I tilted my head smiled, "Absolutely".

---

"So when does the training for that start?" I asked as I tapped my fingers against my wine glass, "I mean 13km's isn't exactly small, so I'd assume you'd need to get onto your training soon since it's only a few months away?". Henry nodded thoughtfully, "Well the original plan was to start this week once all the Witcher filming was done, though that obviously fell through. So Monday I'll have my first run and see how I go time wise". We were talking about the upcoming 'Durrell Challenge' - a marathon held in May every year in Henry's home town of Jersey within the English Channel. Durrell was a wildlife conservation foundation that worked towards protecting and saving endangered species from extinction, based out of the Jersey Zoo. As he had countless happy family memories of childhood trips to the zoo, Henry explained how a few years ago he'd pledged to becoming the charity's global ambassador, wanting to raise awareness of the tireless work that the foundation did. Each year the 'Durrell Challenge' was held - a 13km road race through the streets of Jersey that ended at the zoo, the event raising much needed funds for the Durrell foundation. Henry added how he'd participated in the last two marathons, telling me how much fun he'd had competing in them and how much he was looking forward to it again in May. This year, his four brothers would also be running the race with him.

"Have you ever done a marathon before?" Henry inquired, leaning back in his chair and looking across the table at me. I nodded and took a sip of my wine, "Uh sort of, with my sister in law Mel. It was a charity fun run type thing that raised awareness for miscarriages. But it was only 10kms from memory". Henry's face softened and I shook my head suddenly knowing what he was thinking, flashing him a reassuring smile. "Not me. It was Mel. Years ago now though, when they were trying for their second". Henry nodded forlornly, "And now they've got Jake and Lola?". I smiled and nodded my head yes, surprised he'd managed to remember after I'd only told him about them a few days ago over the phone. "Good memory. Yes that's them. Jake is 9 and Lola is about to be 5. After that happened, they stopped trying and then a year later it just happened I guess. Along came Lola". Henry laughed and proceeded to ask me more questions about my brother and his family, going on to tell me more about his own nieces and nephews. All four of his brothers were married and three of them had children, Henry adding that family events and Christmas time always tended to be large, very loud events. "Do you get to go to most events? I mean surely it must be tough with your schedule". Henry shrugged, "It's more so because we each live all over the UK, we're not all just in London. I'm here - or anywhere really" Henry laughed, "My parents, and Nik and Piers are still in Jersey with their families, Simon is in London and my younger brother Charlie is up in Manchester. So whenever we do all manage get together, I do try my hardest to get there".

We both went on to talk more about our families, Henry sharing that while he did love his job and wouldn't trade it for the world, being around his brothers often made him think about what his life would have been like had he never gotten into acting - wondering if he'd instead have a wife and kids of his own. I'd been surprised to discover that having a family was high on Henry's list of goals for himself, my face softening when he'd added how he couldn't wait to one day have a family of his own to come home to. Henry smiled and leaned back in his chair, draining the last of his glass of wine. "I don't know, I still feel like perhaps now may not be the right time for all of that though. There is still so much I want to do and achieve and I think it would be unfair to them if I did have a family. I don't want be the kind of husband or dad that is never around" he explained, reaching up to run his fingers through his thick, dark curls, "Though at the same time, is there ever really a right time?".

I tilted my head and smiled, "I guess you never really know until it happens and you're in that moment yourself. I personally don't think you can ever really plan for these things. I mean, how do you know when the right person is going to walk into your life?" I explained with small shrug, "I still like to believe that it happens when you least expect it. You know, like when you're out grabbing coffee or meeting someone through friends of friends. Or even with someone you've known for years but never thought about it in that way". "Or, when you're out walking your dog in the morning and he runs away and crashes into someone in the park" Henry added quickly, leaning forward to put his forearms on the table and flashing me his effortlessly handsome grin. I felt the smile grow on my face before I could even think about it, my heart fluttering in my chest. I laughed and shook my head, "Or exactly, when you're out walking your dog in the morning".

The conversation tapered off into a comfortable silence, the classic, ambient jazz music that had been playing in the background suddenly changing and the opening strains of one of my favourite blue's songs began to play. I smiled and looked over at Henry, "I love this song. My dad used to play it all the time when I was growing up". Henry smiled and paused for a moment as he looked back at me, suddenly standing from his chair and stepping forward to offer me his hand. I frowned as I looked up at him, what was he doing? Hearing my unspoken question, Henry smiled again, his perfect white teeth flashing in a smile that made my insides feel like melted chocolate. "Dance with me Belle". Wondering idly if he'd somehow planned the music for this, I put my hand in his and allowed him to pull me from my seat, my stomach flip flopping when he wrapped one arm around my waist and pulled me closer into his chest. In an instant I felt like I was on fire, all my senses suddenly on overdrive as my mind tried to process everything that was happening in this moment. He held my waist with one hand while the other moved to place my hand against his chest, my thoughts suddenly screaming at the feeling of his enormous muscles beneath my fingertips. His sweet, musky cologne filled my nose and I fought the urge to let out an audible moan, finally lifting my eyes to meet his and feeling my insides melt for the second time in less than a minute. Oh God.

Gorgeous. Handsome. Sexy. There weren't enough words to properly describe Henry Cavill. From his perfectly chiseled jawline to his piercing, ice blue eyes that felt like they could see straight through me and back again, to his thick, dark tousled curls, to his enormous muscles that were barely hidden by the relaxed, black linen button up he was wearing. For a moment it all felt like a dream - and this was absolutely a scene that I'd only ever seen happen in a dream. Never in a million years did I think I'd be slow dancing with Henry Cavill after an utterly romantic first date at a beautiful winery. "You really are gorgeous Belle" Henry whispered suddenly, his velvety voice breaking my swooning thoughts as he reached up to brush a hair from my face. I laughed as we swayed together, watching as Henry looked back at me with an amused expression, "What's funny?". I smiled and shook my head, "I was just thinking that same exact thought about you". Henry grinned and extended his hand to spin me under his arm, pulling me back into him so that our chests were practically touching. Oh Henry. I smiled as looked back into his ocean blue eyes, flexing my fingers against his chest and suddenly wishing I could run my fingers through the soft hairs that were peaking through the collar of his shirt. "I've had an absolutely amazing time today Henry. Thank you, really. The whole day has been incredible, from Bobby, to the vineyard, to the food, to this right now. I've loved every second of it" I whispered softly, fighting the urge to reach up and run my fingers through his curls, "And I've really loved just spending time with you and getting to know you". Henry smiled, "You're very welcome Belle. I hope it's made up for me having to reschedule our date. And for minding Kal". I chuckled, "Oh it's definitely made up for all of that. Not that you needed to make it up to me for minding Kal. He was a pleasure".

Henry shook his head and laughed, "You know I think he was almost a little annoyed to be home with me last night. Usually he follows me around like a shadow after I've been away. But it was like after the initial excitement of seeing me wore off, he just stayed in his bed by the door waiting to go again". I dropped my head back and laughed, "What can I say? He must have had far too much fun with Kyah and I". Henry only chuckled, shaking his head as he looked at me, his eyes watching my face intently as we swayed to the gentle rhythm in the empty room. I felt my face heat with the way he was looking at me, my cheeks blushing a soft shade of red as Henry tightened his arm around my waist and watched me. I smiled and tilted my head, "What's going through that head of yours Mr? You look like you're deep in thought there". Henry nodded, his eyes slowly traveling up and down my face. "Care to share?" I asked when he hadn't answered with words, letting out a surprised squeak when he lifted his arm to spin me before pulling me back tight against his chest.

"I was just thinking, how incredible I think you are Belle" Henry breathed, his eyes flickering down to my lips and lingering for a long moment, "And how I feel like I could I watch you talk and laugh for hours and never get sick of your gorgeous smile". My face flamed and in an instant my heart was racing, my lips parting in an involuntary smile at his words. Charming should be Henry's middle name. Henry shook his head incredulously and nodded, "That one. That smile right there. That's the one I could never get sick of seeing". I bit my lip and glanced down at the ground and back up at Henry, the two of us looking back at one another, blue eyes to green. He stopped swaying and released my hand to place it on the other side of his chest, his now free hand reaching up to gently tuck one side of my hair behind my ear and coming to rest on my face.

"Do you know what else I've been thinking?" Henry whispered, his eyes never leaving mine as his thumb caressed my cheek. My heart was racing now, the pulse heavy in my ears and so loud I was sure that he could hear it too, my mind barely able to concentrate on his words as I realised what was about to happen. "What's that?" I breathed, my voice barely louder than a whisper. "I've been thinking" Henry answered slowly, his eyes once again lowering to my lips and back again, "About what it would be like to finally get to kiss you Belle". All of a sudden it was as if time slowed down and everything was happening in slow motion, my breath hitching in my throat as I watched Henry bend forward to close the space between us. I closed my eyes as I waited for the inevitable, my heart pounding in my chest as he held me tight against him, his hand cupping my cheek. Henry. He kissed me then, his mouth pressing against mine in a soft, gentle kiss that took the breath right out of my lungs, his lips full and pillowy and exactly as I imagined they'd be.

---

**(If anyone is interested) the song that Henry & Belle dance to is ‘It Had To Be You’ by Ray Charles

Chapter 9

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yukiwrites · 4 years

Text

New Years Bonding

Thanks for the support as always, @breeachuu! Here’s to Pashmina’s second appearance filled with sin! `v´)!

Summary: Kaden and Selkie team up to ask Pashmina for a family outing on New Years to enjoy a human tradition of visiting a temple, though once the little kit is asleep, it’s time for the big foxes to play...

Commission info HERE and HERE!

______________________________

Although the Kitsune Hamlet had always prized itself from always being well hidden from other races -- especially humans -- with the passing of the years following the end of the war, the peaceful atmosphere made it so that the kitsunes could be seen much more frequently in human lands. Especially so in Hoshido, since the Hamlet and the Kingdom’s capital were relatively close.

Of course, the Hamlet itself was still very much hidden from human’s prying eyes, but the same couldn’t be said about its inhabitants. It was to a point that seeing a kitsune walk amongst hoshidan streets was basically a daily occurrence.

Pashmina herself, now not only vice-chief in her position, but accumulating the rank of the Chief’s -- Kaden’s -- wife, had many an errand to run in Hoshido, with what the commerce picking up between their peoples. Of course, most of her time was still used in keeping the Hamlet in good shape, since the social butterfly genes of the family were only on Kaden’s side.

Selkie, their adorable fox kit toddler, inherited that social trait from Kaden as well, being an extremely outgoing little girl who enjoyed going with her father whenever he had to go down the mountain either on business or to repay favors. Whenever Selkie wasn’t tagging along with her father, she would be wandering the forest, playing pranks on oblivious humans who wandered too deep into the mountain or playing with the other kits her age.

It was astounding the amount of energy a little girl her size had, honestly.

Because of that, her days usually ended early -- since she spent all of her stamina running around during the day, Selkie was an early sleeper and riser. Yet, for the last few weeks of the year according to the human calendar, Selkie pushed herself to her limits to be able to stay awake long past her bedtime.

“See, Selkie can do it! Mommy, Mommy, pleaaaase? Please, let’s go to the festival! It’s gonna be SO much fun!” The little girl’s fluffy tail ruffled itself behind her as her ears drooped beside her face in an oh-so-characteristic puppy-eyed look that somehow was a hundred times more effective on a little fox girl instead.

… And on a grown kitsune man, as well. “Yeah, Mina, c’mon! Don’t say nooo!”

Twisting her lips as she was suddenly the villain in this scenario, Pashmina sighed. “I never said ‘no’ in the first place, so what is it with the begging? I was simply cautious since Selkie would probably fall asleep through it, is all…”

The little girl puffed her chest and cheeks, putting her hands on her hips to display her vigor. “Selkie can do it! See? It’s wayyyy past my bedtime, but I can do it if I want to!”

Indeed, it was so late the moon was almost at the center of the sky, though that so-called ‘festival’ that they wanted to go was not really one in the true sense of the word.

According to hoshidan custom, it was said that the humans would go on their first visits of the shrines dedicated to the Dawn Dragon on the night of New Years, while wearing very special kimonos so as to pray for the year’s good fortune. It only so happened that since this was a popular thing to do, there would be food and drink stalls all over the place, giving it a ‘festival’ feeling of sorts.

Actually, Kaden had been meaning to ask Pashmina to go with him to one of these much sooner in their marriage, but with her pregnancy and Selkie being too young to be able to stay up late enough (and control her instincts whenever a firework exploded so she wouldn’t be frightened), he never had the chance. Now, however, his daughter and accomplice would help him convince Pashmina to go on this family outing.

“Then that’s a ‘yes’, right?” Kaden smiled brightly, showing his fangs on the corners of his mouth.

Pashmina simply crossed her arms, knowing in her heart that she could never say ‘no’ to her husband when he brought in his puppy face, especially now with that face doubled up in their daughter. “Of course it’s a yes, you silly man.”

“Yayy!! We’re going!” Selkie started hopping, then took Kaden’s hand, “we’re going, Daddy! Yay, Yay!” She started jumping around, taking Kaden along.

“Yesss!” The kitsune pulled his daughter up, almost throwing her into the air so he could grab her in his arms and turn to his wife to place a kiss on her lips. “It’s gonna be amazing, Mina, you’ll see!”

Smiling softly, Pashmina patted Kaden’s cheek as he and their daughter laughed merrily. “It already is.”

On New Year’s Eve, Kaden showed up with three sets of kimono -- something he had gotten in return for a few favors -- so that his family could go to the festival in celebratory clothing. He spent an hour longer than usual grooming his fur, helping Selkie with hers once Pashmina had dressed the little girl in her light-colored kimono.

It was really convenient that, although human-looking, the kimonos were tailored with people with tails in mind, as there were convenient spots that would hug their tail heads, allowing for their easy movement. Pashmina’s was a two piece composed of dark hakama pants combined with red and white sleeves, and a comb decorated with an orange flower.

What struck Pashmina the most about the clothing Kaden chose for her was that the fur stole that went with it was made with a very familiar someone’s fur: It was Kaden’s. Both of their kimonos had similar designs, what with the tassels of their fur stoles or the general stamp, but the attention to the detail that her husband never ceased to show made Pashmina’s heart squeak a bit. To think that the overcoat he would use on top of his own kimono would be of a color resembling Pashmina’s hair… It was like they were wearing each other for such a special moment.

The fact that his bare chest was exposed was an additional bonus, yes, but Pashmina still worried that he might end up catching a cold since they were at the peak of winter. Though Kaden didn’t seem particularly bothered about it.

“How is it? Don’t I look dashing?” He opened both arms to expose himself, then twirled around to allow his tail to follow behind him with grace.

Pashmina bit her lower lip as she looked at her husband from head to toe -- he truly looked wonderfully dashing, to the point of making Pashmina’s cheeks flush. She felt all mushy inside, somehow compelled to stick her hands inside his clothes if only to touch that familiar abdomen with not unfamiliar impure intentions.

“Indeed, you do look… dashing.” Pashmina let out the compliment with a strangled voice, a sign that Kaden knew very well where it sprouted from. The kitsune’s ears perked up, his eyes slitting as though he was immediately ready to pounce on his wife when Selkie’s exclamation of surprise popped the lovey-dovey bubble they got into.

“Yayy! Daddy looks so pretty! How about Selkie? Daddy brushed brushed brushed till I was all sil-ky, heeheehee!” She covered her mouth with both hands, loving to bring up the origin of her name whenever she could.

Shaking off any impure thoughts, Pashmina cleared her throat. “Yes, my little kit, you look wonderful as well. How about Mommy? Aren’t I pretty like Daddy?”

“Mommy is prettiest than everyone! Daddy also said so!” Selkie threw herself on Pashmina’s arms for a tight hug before taking her mother’s hand. “Let’s go, let’s go! It’s gonna start, right?!”

“Mhmhm,” Pashmina chuckled as she booped her daughter’s nose, getting up from her crouching position. “Very well, then, shall we?” She reached her free hand to her husband, asking for his arm so he could guide them to the shrine they would visit after the moon reached the middle of the sky.

“Of course, my lovely ladies! We’ll have a blast tonight!”

The walk to the shrine was a large one -- they did live on top of the mountain, after all -- and it felt like a waste to transform to go all the way down after going through all the trouble of dolling themselves up, so the family took their time leisurely venturing out of the forest.

Selkie got used to her new garments astonishingly easily, running ahead of them quite a few times to show this or that thing she discovered along the way. They knew the clock had struck midnight once the fireworks started -- something that although they had grown used to, was still rather unpleasant to go through due to their heightened hearing -- which brightened the forest in many colors as they started to reach their destination.

Rather bothered by the exploding noise, Selkie asked for upsies so she could hide her face into her mother’s chest during the last trek out of the forest, though her pouty face and foul mood made a complete turn once they stepped into the temple’s grounds: it was absolutely bustling with people. It was a sight Selkie had never seen yet -- since their hamlet was on the small size and she only came down the mountain with Kaden during early mornings, the little girl had never seen so many people together in one place.

“Whoaaa! Look, Daddy, it’s really a festival! It is!” She started kicking her legs, wanting to go down and explore, but Pashmina’s hold on her was firmer than before.

“You might get lost if you go off on your own, Selkie. Stay here with us, okay?”

“Yeah, Selkie, c’mere to my shoulders!” Kaden snatched the little girl, sitting her on top of his shoulders so she could see from up high before she could complain about wanting to run around.

“Daddy, it’s so high up! So many people!” She bounced up and down excitedly as they mingled with the crowd. Kaden held one of Selkie’s legs with one hand, giving his free arm so pashmina could hold on t as they huddled themselves against the wave of humans.

The kitsunes had to roll their tails around their bodies so they wouldn’t be squished as they pushed through the crowd, taking in all the new colors, sounds and smells. There was even a sound that, although really loud, didn’t hurt their ears at all -- it was when the head priest started to hit the bell in honor of the Dawn Dragon.

Perhpas knowing that this land wasn’t only inhabited by humans, the Dawn Dragon had made it so the bell’s gong wouldn’t be unpleasant to all sorts of hearings.

There were food stalls, amazake and warm sweet drinks stalls, fortune telling and fortune drawing stalls, not to mention priests and priestesses doing all sorts of ceremonial dances at every corner. It was almost overwhelming!

They followed the crowd to the middle, throwing uncertain prayers at the prayer box and laughing a bit about it since they really didn’t understand what they were doing. Yet, as long as their little family was together and, most of all, having fun, it didn’t matter what they were doing.

It was decided that it was time to go back once Selkie started to lose the battle against exhaustion, falling asleep in Kaden's arms. They decided that they would go back to the hamlet in their kitsune forms -- not only it would be faster, it might be better to take the little kit away from loud noises lest she woke up with a start.

“Is your tail okay, Mina?” Kaden whispered behind his wife as she placed Selkie on her bed, watching as Pashmina’s tail waved behind her. “I saw how tightly you wrapped it around your waist back there, so I hope all that hustling didn’t damage it…” he poked on the soft fur, watching how she immediately tensed under such an intimate touch.

“Hiya!” Pashmina squeaked as Kaden’s hands went up her tail towards its base, hidden away inside the kimono. “Kaden!” She hissed under her breath, glacing from him to their daughter.

Saying nothing but pulling the tip of her long tail up towards his lips in a warm kiss, Kaden never broke eye contact with his wife, in a way that made her all hot and bothered inside.

“It’s-” she stuttered, “it’s fine. The tail is fine.” She whispered with flushed cheeks, whisking her tail away from her predator- er, her husband’s hands. She started to walk out of Selkie’s room. “I’m more worried about you -- with an open chest in this cold…”

“Hmm? I’m quite warm, though, Mimi. Do you wanna make sure?” He whispered over her ear, making her hairs stand on end as his hands hugged her from behind.

By the heat of his hands alone, she could confirm that he was nothing but cold, that naughty fox she had as a husband. With a low sigh, Pashmina leaned her back on his chest, turning her head to welcome his lips into a kiss.

Her tail went under his kimono, tickling his legs with her fur until it met his own tail, sending all sorts of signals to Kaden’s body.

“Mimi, you were so cute today, wearing my fur like that… I couldn’t wait to eat you all up.” He confessed as he licked her lower lip, his hands untangling her obi’s decoration before loosening it entirely.

Huffing as the heat spread from her lips to her heart and from Kaden’s hands to her inner thighs, Pashmina could only turn around to face her husband and wrap her arms around his neck so as to kiss him properly.

“Mhhm, Mimi, Mimi…” Kaden whispered over her lips, slowly guiding her towards their room without ever letting go of her. She was so cute, so cute, so cute…

Although Kaden was masterful in clothing in general, he was uncharacteristically clumsy in his attempt to take off his wife’s obi, and that was only the first part of her clothing to take off before he could have his way with her!

Feeling Kaden’s impatience on her back, Pashmina could feel a growl rise within his throat as his kisses got more and more urgent. It made her weak in the legs, honestly -- look at how burning with desire he was, to the point of not even being able to tease her as he usually did. Pashmina closed her eyes to dive deeper into her husband’s tongue, raising one leg and putting it around his waist in preemptive anticipation to him having his way with her right there and then, in the middle of the corridor.

Pashmina could feel the heat of her body clamor for Kaden’s might, in whichever position it might come -- just hurry, hurry, hurry…

Kaden could feel his wife’s desperation mirror his own, their hearts beating so fast they were in unison. Pashmina could feel his erection poke at her stomach, which only made her legs weaker than ever. It was when he lowered his hands from her obi to the base of her tail -- a place she always, without fail, squealed when he touched -- that he remembered how a kimono was tailored for a kitsune. It wasn’t possible for a hole to be sewn in there and call it day -- there were many shapes and sizes of tails, so a way to customize how it fit into the body was to simply make it into a long slit that would converge into two sashes to be tied under the obi to make it seem that there was no opening at all, when in truth there was only a ribbon separating the kitsune’s rear from open view.

The kitsune hurriedly reached for the ribbon under her obi and Pashmina squealed under his kiss, her fangs grazing against his eager tongue to give voice to a tiny moan. “K-Kaden…” She huffed as he undid the ribbon and immediately dove his hand under her tail, towards her innermost parts. “Ah…!” She gasped with delight as she felt his declawed hands reach her wet folds, digging her claws onto his shoulders.

“Mimi, Mimi… turn around for me, please?” He sucked her lower lip, gripping on her buttocks to help her turn back in her lustful haze. Nodding, the kitsune obediently raised her hips as she pressed her chest onto the wall, tilting her tail to the side so Kaden could have a full view of her exposed rear. “You’re so cute, Mimi, look at how you already know what I want,” he huffed, as he scrambled to free his erection from under his much simpler kimono, prodding it by her vulva with a thirst that could only be quenched by her warmth.

Pashmina covered her mouth with one hand as she rolled her eyes the moment Kaden slid it in slowly, muffling a long moan. “Mhm…” she tilted her hips even upwards, as though asking for more, as if her insides weren’t already warm and welcoming enough.

“Hahhh, Mimi, Mimi…” Kaden groaned with pleasure as he held his wife’s hips so as to thrust more safely, enjoying how he could clearly see how he disappeared inside of her with each movement.

“K-Kadeahn…” Pashmina huffed, clutching Kaden inside herself as though this was their first time. They were so hot, so impatient, so… hungry for each other that Pashmina knew that this wasn’t going to end with only one round. She wanted him to kiss and touch all of her body, under all of those layers of clothes.

Each time a louder moan escaped her throat, Pashmina covered her mouth more closely, the rhythm of her husband’s thrusts making her slowly lose strength in her legs. Kaden rested his forehead on the back of Pashmina’s head, his low groans of pleasure mixing themselves up with his occasional nips at her ear, making her forget even her own name deep in pleasure.

“Ahn, hah…” Pashmina wanted to beg, to plead, to ask him to do it faster, to eat her up entirely, but her head was so hazy with pleasure that it took everything she had not to scream his name there and then. Kaden’s movements slowly accelerated as though in sync with his wife’s lewd desires, his thrusts turning into pounds as their most primal desires took ahold of them.

Pashmina bit her fingers to keep her voice down, feeling the heat of climax envelop her from her womb to her entire body, sucking all the strength she had left in her legs as Kaden liberated himself inside of her, holding her by her hips so she wouldn’t fall.

“Mimi, hahh, hahh… Mimi, my Mimi... “ Kaden panted, hugging his wife from behind as he licked her ear, action of which made her clench herself around him in clear arousal. “Mimi, you’re so cute, I just can’t get enough. I wanna eat you alll up.” He said with a growl that only served to make her roll her eyes in anticipation.

The ordeal of taking off her kimono would be well worth it in the end, Pashmina could sense it quite literally as Kaden’s erection grew once again inside of her. All she could do was roll her tail around Kaden’s waist, never wanting him to get out of her.

#fire emblem fates #fe14 #kaden fire emblem #fatesona #a sin a day keeps the thirst at bay #selkie #my writings #yuki's commissions

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