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lemonietrinket · 5 years

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Aster ||| Jaehyun x Reader

Summary: Just soft times in bed with a very shirtless jaehyun Genre: Fluff with some mildly heated elements its shirtless jaehyun what did you expect Warning(s): Mentions of a splinter? None. Word Count: 1098 Theme Song: Truly - Cigarettes After Sex; Wake Me Up - Taeyang; Heavenly - Cigarettes After Sex AN: Prompt from @idontknowapil; aster not only symbolises love, but also represents daintiness, contentment, and unpredictability

~~~

You awoke not with a jolt, but rather a long, drawn out haze, as the lights dawned upon you, like your own personal sunrise.

Your eyes opened gradually, blinking as you stared beyond the smooth lilac pillow. Aster pink lights glimmer along the walls, conscientious almost in their lights as they kindly let you awake at your own pace.

Tucked into the corner of the bed, your knees had crept up to cradle your warmth while you had slept peacefully. You had fallen asleep warm enough without a blanket, and you remembered being held as you drifted off.

Slipping your hand back, trailing across the vast, abandoned space of a bed that wasn’t your own, you found no sign of the man who had held you against his chest earlier that night...

Or was it day?

Time was soup as you rolled over onto your back, fiddling with the blanket that had been drawn up to your uncovered shoulders while you were lost in dreams.

That’s right, you could remember now, somewhat. The afternoon sun gleaming down onto your backs as you skipped down the golden sands of the beach, Jaehyun not too far behind, laughing freely as you went. It wasn’t often he got a vacation; you hoped that he felt the day had been worth it.

You’d come back after the sun sank below the horizon, which you’d watched from the cool-kissed wooden bench that he’d gotten a splinter from. Not that he seemed that worried about it. You had been much more concerned, and so he decided that it was a cue to call things a day.

And so you headed back to the hotel, where he was able to remove the offending shard of wood, and immediately collapsed into his arms on the bed.

You fit perfectly against him, spooning and making no use of the vast sea of the bed. And that’s where you’d fallen asleep, to the hush of his voice, so deep and velvet that he caught your breath by only uttering a single word.

And now here you were, staring at the painted swirls on the ceiling, petals of shadows dancing in the glow of the fairy lights, alone.

Though not really, you knew that much. Gentle music lilted over the speaker across the room, warm like sunlight that would stream between your curtains back home in summer.

It was familiar to you, not that you could be certain as to where you heard the song from prior to now. Was it from the car journey? The bar from yesterday? Perhaps, but not quite. It seemed much further away than that. And yet so much closer.

Caught in your own thoughts, you hadn’t heard the door open, nor the footsteps that followed. In fact, you barely caught the weight gently settling on the bottom of the bed. If it hadn’t been for that oceanic voice that whispered your name, you would have missed his arrival perhaps entirely.

Your eyes flickered down just as his smile appeared above the arch of the blanket. How handsome he was, no matter if it was dark, as his dimples decorated his cheeks and he leant in to kiss your hair.

A small laugh left your lips as you greeted him with nothing but a breath—a miracle he had gotten used to, often taking your words away, without even realising and definitely not intending to.

He pulled down your blanket, leaving your bare skin to shiver in the coolness of the room. It was necessary for what he wished to do, otherwise you would at the very least overheat; and more importantly, you wanted to feel every inch of his body against your own, a feat you could never complete as much as you wanted to, but one that would definitely not be possible with a blanket between your heart and his.

As he tugged the corner away, you were gifted with the unexpected present of his bare chest, silk smooth and unhindered by a shirt of any kind.

He had come straight from the shower, the fragrance of pears surrounding you as he ducked his head into your neck, planting his lips below your ear—hot and soothing.

“Did... did you use my soap?”

He slipped his legs between your own, grazing his nose across your jaw until your eyes were level. His were filled with a mischievous glint, echoing his beautiful smirk. “Oops.”

You giggled. “I don’t mind. You smell good.”

“Of course I do, I smell of you.” He rolled his eyes, sinking in to kiss you again, this time just to the side of your lips—the tender silk so close to where you wanted him.

His toned abdomen fell flush against your stomach as he settled, the curl of his hair tickling your neck as he rested his cheek upon your chest. He felt so firm against you, a sanctuary against the emptiness of the rest of the world.

Your hand found his as it trailed up your arm, so gentle it was almost teasing. Your fingers laced as you let your others thread through his brown locks. They were freshly cold, left dishevelled by a towel, and free for you to gently ease between the pads of your fingertips.

He sighed, long and low, as if your touch alone had eased out a thousand burdens that he carried.

“You ok, baby?” you murmured, running the side of your fingers past his ear, a place you knew he loved well.

“I am now,” he hummed, the melody flowing through to your core, “it’s just us.”

You couldn’t deny that. The presence of others, as much as you loved your friends and the sounds of joyous strangers, enjoying the rivets of sun and the kissed ocean, was never what you truly wanted deep at heart. All you wanted was the touch of Jaehyun, his caress and his embrace and his kiss.

Gazing down, you could see the blossom of the fairy lights imbued the aster pink of cheeks with an even gentler hue.

He caught you staring however, and with a roguish smile that you’d fallen in love with the very first time he’d shown it to you, he reached up to let his plump lips meet yours as you wanted.

Spirals of electricity shot through your veins at the intimacy of his touch, gentle yet needy, as he kissed you deeply, your fingers laced with the tresses of his hair to pull him even closer.

He knew exactly how to steal your breath away, and maybe sometimes he genuinely did intend to.

~~~

AN: ok so I feel like the ending could have been better but I didnt know what else to include

I’ll probably edit it later at some point

Masterlist

#nct #nct x reader #nct fluff #jaehyun #jaehyun x reader #jaehyun fluff #jaehyun nct

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neillien · 3 years

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Sunday dress

“Unpick that promise with your teeth, it’s obscene…”

By then he’d grown to be the most beautiful child and when he was twelve-years old

he was locked far from home in a tower.

Among the few possessions there he found a stringless guitar and a cigar box containing a long and very wonderful hairpiece plaited like golden rope.

the unhappy boy intended to commit suicide but found instead a means of escape.

. . .

In the mirror, the dominator becomes their own executioner

mirror, mirror mon amour …

“You are not to play with that boy anymore… .” Jacqueline’s Mother she raised her voice not knowing the boyfriend in question stood down the hall, out on the doorstep - waiting for Jaqueline, and overheard her disapproval. “He’s peculiar - back-out.” The boy he turned and walked away but is stood still feeling humiliated at the door remembering the house where Jaqueline lived as an obedient daughter. The boy, because he wants to spare Jacqueline of the impasse the mother prevails on her, he thinks, I must become invisible now. It doesn’t matter if his consideration is overlooked! When Jacqueline returns to the door to let her playmate down, she’ll find him gone. Taken by surprise, perhaps Jaqueline will think ‘oh! He’s peculiar’ just as the mother has taught the daughter to believe.

Jaqueline never once spoke again to the boy.

. . .

wallpaper

Up the staircase back into the tower . . . boy hesitates by the narrow window. The panorama from his spartan cell is as indistinguishable as yesterday’s panorama - this places an incorruptible chill on the boy's enfeebled heart. Exile is seriously miserable business.

Susurrating paper wreaths endlessly whispering in the drafts of the stairwell,

occasional burst of melody from the useless guitar

confusion is a delicate dance; boy believes at night that he hears lightening footsteps walk through his spine and burst out the opponent. It was a sinister place, fully alive yet sepulchral.

All the travailing ghosts celebrating their wins. Whilst boy himself struggles with their distorted consciousnesses.

Caught in the throes of a votive.

Mesmeric music of fire by immolating guitar

These penitent hours, did not match those broken words

burning from the inside

a bird made of blood made of fire.

[An unrecognised] adolescence convinces the boy he nears the next opportunity.

A few years further but hope is at hand.

Spiderlings crawling over boys changing body

frost-ferns are melting now it is spring.

Dusk, as a ruby sun set.

Pale and diaphanous and elegant, a structure of extravagant quiet. Boy takes to his character like a thespian delighting in her role as principle boy - a role traditionally reserved for a girl.

Climbing the walls … burning from the inside, smoke-like coils of rusted razor-wire scratch the black and stony hills - the tar-colour wallpaper can only have been painted by whatever delinquency the boy allows the maniac to describe from his cell.

The votive heart wakes-up and smells heritage blood.

Mandarin rind

Rosemary leaf

The prescribed mind no longer distorted, sits and takes notice of the stertorous breath and churlish laughter of a raptor circling overhead.

He screams!

Rapunzel – climbdown your rope of hair.

. . .

goodbye my love

residual

all but a carcass looking indolent where it sat.

Such was its depth of despondency.

it hadn’t the warmth of blood, needed.

. . .

trouble house

Instead of love small figurines, boxes within boxes.

a hard blow from behind then he fell down unconscious

dreamed himself

purpling,

earth eaten – omitting a sordid squalor smell

not handsome

nobody sees immorality when the curtains are drawn.

It’s shameful, the way they carry on up here!

Then he removed his trousers, and I knew he knew how love is between boys.

. . .

wastewater

you’re not allowed to bathe by yourself, so I have to get in the bathtub with you.

the decision is a bit ridiculous because we both know you are more than capable of washing yourself.

In hindsight, we should have been suspicious! But at the time our youthful states of credulity, allows us to just get on with it - albeit done with twists of tension.

They’ve told you my name is Sunday that I’m foreign.

I lather a bar of Palmolive soap and whisper, ‘sac de merde…’

You smile and it’s a relief to see you put at ease. ‘You’re not a girl, I expected a girl.’

Expected, or wanted? This needed to be confirmed.

He just points a at my penis and smiles: ‘I’ve got one of those. Let me show you.’

He stood up in the bathtub; an erotic tsunami of soap suds and water slid from his body

and I knew he knew how love would be between us.

'See, I come custom-made for boys.' He laughs.

'All the girls here are daft as brushes... have you noticed how their heads are full of horse teeth and hairs made of silk? Not to mention the two pear-halves excuses for tits! Why they think they need brassieres...'

'Yes, I said. I disguised myself out of love for you - none of their ribbons and curls. These are my genital decorations....' I stroke myself till the veins in my cock turn purple. 'I have no doubts about us, I whisper, now we’re adulterous.'

'Oh, but I got worse since I knew how to love. He sounds as honest I suppose as

a sparrow fluttering in the cat’s mouth! Perhaps he has purpose to sing, perhaps he pretends he’s the one who kills the bird to put himself in its place – it may be he was trying to describe to me how unique transformative love is, and I was too absent minded?

he wouldn’t need showing at all

the boy turned himself into a Pike and slithered from my fingers, slippery as a bar of lathered Palmolive. It was frightful to be cheated.

‘the first time always is a disappointment ….’ Consoled the dorm girls thereafter. I look at them and despair. I look at myself and smash the mirror. 'Here you are Jaqueline...,' I call to the mouse in the corner. You can borrow this conditioner, your hair has split ends like ladders.'

#spilled ink #prose #writing

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yandereposts · 5 years

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The signs as things I have in my pantry

Aries: March 21 - April 19

Juicy and ripe, mango's are just amazingly sweet! An absolute favourite, loved by many and certainly by me. Plain, in a salad or smoothie, spiced with a bit of fresh hot red pepper, absolutely versatile. Mango just makes me happy.

Taurus: April 20 - May 20

Onions, what do you do without them? Absolutely underrated, as it is the basis of every good meal. Sometimes the meal itself like French onion soup! That dish just comforts me massively. Sharp like red onion in salad or spring onions on ramen, warm, sweet and comforting when caramelized in a pan or oven- a meal is not complete without onions! And most importantly, let’s not forget: Onions have layers.

Gemini: May 21 - June 20

Ground cinnamon is fine. Fresh cinnamon sticks? Oh! Just the warmest smell and flavour! Essential for so many sweet and savory dishes. I also like to make tea of it, sometimes paired with ginger, cozy with a blanket on the couch and a book... Or in cookies, cakes, in my stewed pears or apple sauce! When I’m sad I sometimes just take one and smell it, and I feel better about the world instantly!

Cancer: June 21 - July 22

Potato? No. Sweet potato! Okay, to be fair, the one on the photograph has already been boiled, but! Sweet. Potato!? Boil ‘em, mash ‘em, stick ‘em in a stew or even better, fries! Sweet potato fries with smoked paprika and salt, a little bit of mayonaise. I even made a sweet potato pie once, because back in the day pumpkins were hard to get. Was it good though? Well, I think I ate the whole pie. Anyway. Potato? Sweet potato. Love!

Leo: July 23 - August 22

Cassava! Manihot esculenta. I never had it, so that’s why I bought it! Really excited to make something of this as I have so much inspiration! I partly got that by watching “The Island with Bear Grylls”. Amazing concept, really love that show, want to be on there one day or in a similar setting (with life-lines, preferably, haha). Just so back to basics and survival... Yeah, raw and real! I know you will die if you eat this boi raw. Won’t stop me from being really excited!

Virgo: August 23 - September 22

Apples are humble, and so are raisins. Such a power couple though! Together in cakes and pies, but also in curry and in epic apple sauce. Both apples and raisins deserve more love and respect, you feel me?

Libra: September 23 - October 22

This is one confusing boi. I never prepared it before! That may not be the most difficult part, boiling it, but the name? Rutabaga? Don’t be fooled, this is a big big boi and really not a swede! I am excited. I love the colour of the skin (such a gorgeous purple!) and trying new things is what I love. A turnip may not be hip, but I think this is a rutabaga and that means #NoDrama. That was a very forced rhyme, haha ^^

Scorpio: October 23 - November 21

I love mushrooms! I eat them every week because they’re so beautiful, affordable, healthy and super delicious! I love them so much, I actually grow my own shiitake. On toast with a little onion and parsley or thyme, in a ragout, stir fry, filled with something delicious, I could go on and on! Very unique to the other things on this list, too, as it is not a plant. Cool stuff, very epic cool stuff!

Sagittarius: November 22 - December 21

That perfect citrus zing from a lemon is just what I crave so very often! I am not that crazy that I eat a whole lemon for fun, but as finishing touch it’s essential for a lot of my cooking and drinks. In the winter it helps me think of summer and brings me a little happiness in dark days.

Capricorn: December 22 - January 19

Chestnuts are so so beautiful and underappreciated! I just love them roasted with Brussel sprouts, mashed potatoes and smoked almonds. I love to gather them myself because it is just so satisfying to find food in nature. (Be careful and responsible when doing this, not every species is edible!) I used to gather the inedible kind to make spiders with them by sticking sticks in them and connecting them together. Back then I didn’t know you could eat these too. An eye-opener for sure!

Aquarius: January 20 - February 18

Fresh turmeric is not common where I’m from, but delicious and really worth the search? Yes! While I’m still experimenting, a few things I’ve already tried. Curry paste, golden milk, and I will likely dry it to make real good A+ powder instead of the powder in the store that kinda tastes like, erm, soap.

Pisces: February 19 - March 20

Not to be corny, but can we take a moment to appreciate corn? Especially the popping kind that is just so satisfying to make and eat? Oh, I just love it with a bit of salt and rosemary, or with caramel to make something I call “snowballs”. Burned my hands a few times doing that, but it is no match for my burning passion for this affordable, healthy-ish snack!

#long post #the signs as #the zodiac signs as anime #Zodiac Signs #food #tag yourself #tag urself #tag your lover #reblog with your sign #I want to know what you think <3 #memes #food memes #this hardly has anything to do with this blog but I want to kinda be a good influence to you guys #Even if I need to do that by telling you are a stick of cinnamon or a mushroom #It's okay to question my sanity #love you guys #eat healthy and be strong #I believe in you!

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pseudofaux · 5 years

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Ranmaru's LUSH picks for himself and Kennyo and how Kennyo reacts >u> alternately, if you'd rather, best LUSH products for each guy

NYK YOU GD NEXT-LEVEL GENIUS!!!!! FUCK I love this so much!

Ranmaru for Ranmaru: Snow Fairy body spray (because he IS one, and extremely hard to pin down, and I think would love mists over gels).

Ranmaru for Master Kennyo: Wiccy Magic Muscles massage bar. The scent is almost medicinal, so barely an indulgence. And Kennyo NEEDS a damn massage/to be made to be still and indulge for more than a moment. Also v. portable, so he could take it with him when traveling and use on his own limbs, which would make Ranmaru feel better.

Kennyo reacts by gently lecturing on indulgence anyway. Ends up taking it and brushing his fingers against it in his bag every day but not using it unless it falls out. Enjoys it so much he feels penitent. 😩💜 Inclined to give it away but stops himself at the last minute.

[What Ranmaru WANTS to get for Master Kennyo: Golden Pear soap, a rich-smelling luxury made in reverence to the natural world.]

#nyktoon #is a genius #ikesen ranmaru #ikesen kennyo #ikesen hc #lush

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blankdblank · 5 years

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Only Human Pt 2

@deepestfirefun

Pt 1

Elrond’s brow twitched as he peered across the table at Maglor while Thranduil stated, “You are telling me that you, knowingly, drugged both Turin and Nienor then left them to conceive a child? Even though you knew they were siblings?”

Maglor inhaled then stated, “Nienor married each man in that town, a few women too, and every time they bedded her the town reset!” Making their lips part, “Every time she found happiness with someone other than Turin it reset and Glaurung became ill. Trust me, I tried to let her be happy, but he was too strong. I found one weak spot, one, and I had to see what would happen, and Glaurung missed it, she conceived and then with my protective wish over her child he couldn’t dispose of her or reset the town.”

Thranduil, “She believes her mother abandoned her. Never wanted her.”

Maglor wet his lips, “Yes, I know. However, I went to her, at her birth, and Nienor began to remember, recognized Glaurung, then she was just gone, Turin with her.”

Elrond, “You left her to that Dragon?!”

Maglor’s eyes narrowed at him for a moment, “Not at all. I was her live in tutor. He refused to let her leave the house. I saw she had every comfort available, past a few painful truths about her parents, she may hate me when I tell her,”

Thranduil, “You do mean to tell her?” He challenged, meaning if he didn’t the King would.

Maglor, “I do. That is why I am here. I intended to tell her earlier but my wounds from fighting Glaurung off to give her that escape door was too much for me. Cirdan of the Grey Havens tended to me a great while until I could call for aid from the Eagles, all of whom have been monitoring their path this way and keeping dark creatures off their path.”

Elrond, “Not counting Goblin Town,”

Maglor pointed at him, “She fell unconscious when that Giant fell, Thorondor caught her and laid her safely inside a cave, and those Trolls didn’t dare approach them with the scent of Eagles in the air, but when she left the Dwarves they approached the Company.”

Thranduil, “When will you tell her?”

Maglor, “When she wakes. Which should be soon. Every midnight on the dot.”

He said standing to stroll to your room making the pair ask, “Why?”

Right on time Maglor settled on the chair by your bed only to see your eyes squint open in the familiar cupping and stroking of your hand, his place at your side made you gasp and try to jolt up only to settle back at his hand moving to your shoulder to keep you flat. “You have stitches.”

“Magpie? How are you here? Wait, did that badger come after you too?”

Lowly he chuckled then moved from the chair to your side on the bed wetting his lips to say, “I have answers for all of that, however, I need you to be patient and let me finish my explanation entirely, can you do that for me?” You nodded and he started from the beginning, his real name and his family turning into how he was brought to your world. Each lifetime and all he tried to change things up until his confession of the drugging complete with the photos for proof he wasn’t lying, a fact you now saw clearly for yourself until his admission of being the badger who brought you here and the Eagles who had been watching over you while he healed.

“So,” you wet your lips in his telling silence that he was through making the Elf Lords in the archway behind you shift on their feet wondering at your response, “I was born in a sort of pocket dimension,”

Maglor nodded, “yes,”

“And my Parents are siblings.” He nodded again, “Then I was adopted by a Dragon, who had a baby with a human,” your eyes narrowed in his next nod.

“Correct.”

You nodded and wet your lips, “Ok.”

The group listening in were stunned at your instant acceptance until Maglor questioned, “Ok?”

“Well, I don’t have a hunch, or a club foot, or an overbite or deformed ribs or anything like the nobility frequently resorting to incest, just a one time thing. Plus, if I’m mad then that might explain some of the things happening to me, though the one thing I can’t understand. In all these years, you knew, and you didn’t tell me-,” he nodded and wet his lips, “That you could turn into a badger.” His lips parted and you said, “You could have told me. I’m good with secrets. I wouldn’t have said.”

Making him chuckle in your burst of giggles signaling you were joking, “You are not mad at me?”

You shrugged, “You are the one good person I met back there. You did it to protect me. Even though it’s not optimal to be a child of incest, I trust that you tried everything else.”

Leaning in he kissed your forehead then said, “Back to sleep now.” Making you sigh and close your eyes turning onto your stomach as he pulled the covers higher and stroked your back humming to you until you were sound asleep again.

In the hall again the Lords softly asked, “That was it?!”

Maglor sighed, “Had you known him you would understand it is no stretch for him to be a Dragon in hiding. And anywhere but there is more preferable. Her injuries will keep her here a while, should you allow it.”

Elrond nodded, “Of course. Even longer if she requests. Lady Pear is always welcome here.”

Maglor nodded, “Good, because, if she is holding back her anger it shouldn’t take long for it to show. It always does. Best we face it here inside these safe borders before other dangers can be found to trouble her.”

Morning reared its head and inhaling deeply you rolled over onto your side with a grimace at the painful itch on your ankle and bed. Sitting up you brushed the covers down to glance at your leg finding the dark green bandage where a clean white one was the night before. Pulling it back you saw the stitches down your ankle over a nearly healed scab, even peeking over your shoulder you couldn’t quite see the one on your back. With a sigh you turned to put your feet down only to notice the Healers enter with soft grins seeing you up already, gingerly they removed the stitches and eased their glowing fingers over your cuts healing them completely then they took the chance to coat your bruised cheek in some creams to help its healing along.

On your feet again you gathered a change of clothes along with your hair pin you used to twist your braided hair into a bun and made your way to the public bathhouse. Stripped outside a private tub you eased into the water and began to scoop it up over your skin as you turned to grab your bar of homemade soap you had brought with you. Lathering it between your palms you smoothed the pink and white strawberry scented soap over you masking the scent of the strong herbs. Turning around you reached for the towel you wrapped around you after you had climbed out of the tub.

The sound of passing Dwarves made you look up, and just in time, seeing Thorin step into the opening between the screens around your private tub, his eyes snapped over to you and his lips parted in his stolen once over of you in your towel, “My apologies.” Stepping out again he mumbled, “Morning, Miss Pear.”

With a smirk you turned to grab your panties you followed with a comfy bra black jeans and a loose white silk blouse coated in peach feathers was smoothed across your middle bending down you gathered up your things and strolled back to your room. Removing your hair pin you unwound your braid and fluffed out your curls you began to comb through with a cherry blossom tipped mini comb you set aside in Maglor’s glance into your doorway. “Good, you are awake. Breakfast is ready.” He looked you over asking, “Are you in pain?”

You shook your head, “That mark of yours wouldn’t have affected my healing, would it? My stitches were healed.”

“It is possible. Most likely it was the herbs however.” His hand extended and you walked closer to lay yours in his he then transferred to his forearm, an old habit from your youth to guide you to each meal always seeming a bit old fashioned but now making sense. All the Dwarves after their quick primping joined in your path curious at your escort, and took their own places at the tables offered.

Glancing between you and your new Elf friend Thorin asked, “Did you sleep well Miss Pear?”

You nodded, “Other than my usual midnight jolt and finding out my adopted father was a dragon, same as my brother, and that my parents were related and my private tutor was a transported Prince who could turn into a badger at will. But, bed was lovely.”

Thorin’s eyes narrowed and he leaned in, “Did you say Dragon?”

Kili, “So you can fly?!”

Fili, “Ki, she said adopted father. So she can’t fly.”

Kili, “Her birth parents could have been Dragons too.”

You glanced at the pair then to Balin who asked, “Forgive me, but did you say your parents were related?”

You nodded then glanced to Thorin who asked, “You are certain?”

“You’ve heard of Turin and Nienor?”

His lips parted and Balin stated through the hushed gasps, “You are a child of Hurin.”

You shrugged, “Apparently.” That single look in Thorin’s eyes was as if he had finally fit the final jigsaw piece in his mind. Your golden birthmark was glimpsed by Bilbo in your first month with the company and in sharing the familiar marker the Dwarves had put it off that you had simply used the marker as some tribute to another tale from their world you admired. Now it made sense, your history and why you were sent here.

Any sense of worry on your hatred was lost as in their private offers of treasures they had found to you to build a friendship on and a single tap on Thorin’s shoulder came after an explanation of the rules of tag followed by a challenge of their claim that Dwarves were natural sprinters. Whipping through the city and gardens your speed was poorly matched by the Dwarves, including Thorin, who tried to claim as many chances to chase after you as possible in a try to show you just how fast he could go.

From Rivendell out to Erebor with the watch of the Elves from the edge of the forest up the stairs you passed into the Mountain alongside Bilbo. Miles away down in a cell the screaming Dwarf King sat, a plan you formed with the main task of getting Thranduil to agree to lock Thorin up after he began to takes swipes at shadows and those adoring gazes he would send your way darkening to scowls in his accusations you were only out for his gold. An accidental bump into a pile of gold that fell over noisily had you nudging Bilbo behind a pillar in Smaug’s rise up on his back haunches snarling with his golden eyes focused on you as he snarled, “There you are thief!”

With a smirk you replied as you smoothed your finger around the rim of the ring you had pulled out of your necklace earlier, “Why would I need your treasure when I have a much greater one at my disposal.”

His lip curled up in a low growl and he glared at you, “You will give me this treasure in return for your life!”

You shook your head with a weak giggle, “You misunderstand me, what I hold is a bartering chip to get the treasure.” His eyes narrowed again and you said as you flipped the ring upwards with your thumb drawing his eyes to the ring soon wrapped in your palm again, “I know a Maiar in Mordor willing to pay twice your weight in gold for this.”

His eyes narrowed again at your backwards step as you said, “But you’ll never get it from me you old slug!”

Turning around you bolted through Erebor drawing a deafening roar from Smaug in his race after you dropping Bilbo’s jaw in chasing after you both in a safe distance only to see Smaug had cut you off with the front gates open behind him. Right into his clutches you stumbled and in a rapid turn his hand clutched you tightly and he raced through the front gate and unfurled his wings in an earth trembling trot in his harsh flaps of his wings in trying to remember just how to fly sending golden coins trapped between his scales into the air. Off into the distance he soared dropping the jaw of all those watching. It didn’t take long for all their hearts to sink in knowing you had been taken, and without pause Maglor was atop Thorondor’s back soaring off to Mordor behind you to try and help you.

…

Over the gates of Mordor Smaug let out a roar and walls of flames down upon the spear firing up at him, around the burning eye he thundered, “I found your ring! Come out and barter a trade!”

Heavily you were tossed into a tall tower bound in chains while shouts erupted outside in Smaug’s anger at a pitiful offering against this ring he claimed you had. Wiggling free of the chains you had tensed as best you could in their being applied a free hand helped to loosen your feet and the chain you used to secure a line to climb down after covering up in some armor you had found against the wall. Under the cover of nightfall sending off random stones into the distance spurred up ample fights to free up a path straight for the burning mountain after coating yourself with mud along the way to blend in even more. Halfway up the mountain you groaned collapsing to your stomach to hide from the gaze of the rotating eye.

Reaching up you gripped the helmet on your head you pulled off and climbed to your knees panting from the growing heat. Gripping the chest plate you pulled up over your head to drop heavily onto the dirt beside you at your left foot planting in the dirt. Harshly you forced yourself up and started to run again hearing a distant crying Eagle swooping down at the sight of you. Heavily Maglor’s boots hit the dirt and right behind you he raced taking hold of your waist to keep you upright whenever you stumbled.

One giant explosion later and Thorondor went spiraling into the air at the shockwave taking Smaug and the Nazgul down into the chasm Mordor was collapsing into. Straight through the borders of Fangorn you were thrown and managed to hit countless branches until you fell heavily into the ground next to a small creek you couldn’t see but hear in the world growing dark around you.

Under the shifting flickers of sunlight your eyes opened, and you felt heavier and bent awkwardly. Groggily you somehow managed to raise your head only to have your eyes drop to spot the long muzzle at the end of it. A scream from you came out as a shrill whinny making you freeze all together, turning your head to look at your body on its side your heart was pounding and your eyes shot wide open seeing four hoof ended legs making you whinny again, “I’m a horse! A fucking horse!!”

On your left a familiar badger came into view dragging a large leaf made bag filled with apples he let go of saying, “Calm down, Silverstar. We’ll be alright.”

In a roll onto your stomach you grunted in settling your back hooves and propped your butt up in the air, “Alright?! I’m a horse! I don’t know anything about horses! I couldn’t even get a goat to tolerate me! What do horses even eat?!” Awkwardly you propped your front hooves up to shakily stand, “I could barely manage to meet my daily intake on two legs, now I weigh, what?” you turned in a circle looking your grey and black body with white star shaped speckles all over with a long silver and black mane matching your tail. “Tons?! Do I weigh tons?!”

Maglor couldn’t help but smirk as he said, “First, start with an apple. Eru has a plan. We bide our time until it is revealed to us.”

You sighed dejectedly then moved to peer into the creek seeing your reflection making your eyes drop to the odd glimmer on the shiny silver gem shaped patch of fur on your chest, turning from it you lowered your head to sniff the apples grumbling, “Why couldn’t I be something cuddly like a bunny or a squirrel?” Maglor chuckled and you looked at him saying, “You’re just laughing cuz you have tiny toes like fingers.”

Maglor, “We will get through this. I promise you.”

…

***

Broken hearted, again the Dwarf King sat at a state dinner with his hand wrapped around a tankard of ale. Lost in some repetition of a tale of his lost love stabbing the loss of the woman none of his returned kin had met deeper into their chests. This one the worst, his being woken from his sickness inside the Elf King’s cell hearing that you were gone without a trace. Mordor had fell and with a badly sprained wing even Thorondor himself walked the whole of Fangorn alongside Radagast and the Ents without any sight of you or Maglor. Saruman himself joined the searches and even two years in the aftermath when Thorin and Dain would send scouting parties through the distant forest and lands surrounding for any word of you. Gondor and Rohan were both sent your portraits, yet none had seen either of you.

Day by day his mood would darken and yet harshly he would focus on the betterment of his people. Remembering himself only enough to remain alive and healthy in hopes for when you had returned. The North however came with a threat of its own when Smaug had fallen. The Drenn, a race of Men mingled with Dwarves intent on taking over their lands after having supposedly taken control over their lost homeland in the North that when orcs began to flood there it sent Thror down to carve Erebor from its former shape to their new home.

The Elves could not speak any reason into them and with their King only having a daughter to follow him onto his throne a deal was struck, Thorin would wed the Princess, even after a year and a half of trying to get them to accept Fili’s offer in his place to keep him available for you. No matter what they did not care about some wandering woman the King was fond of and demanded respect for their future Queen, who seemed just as eager to bed the Dwarf as he was of the wispy pale four foot tall woman with lackluster mucky brown hair and goatee Thorin dreaded braiding at the official courting festival in a week.

A gift was required and while he sat in his heartbroken ale flooded pity party Thorin’s orders had been carried out perfectly. His intended stated she likes horses and Men traveling from Rohan along with their King had told of a rare dappled horse none could capture or approach now having foaled a pure white filly. That was his gift, the impossible, he would get her the horse and never mention the thought of his hope that it would throw her off and send her running back home for good. Three months was all he had, and he would use it to his advantage sending another wave of Ravens to scour the forest once again for you hoping you could be found.

***

Two years you had tolerated your new form, with Maglor to help you through that rough first year Fangorn became your new home and sanctuary from the Horse Lords constantly sending their bravest in hopes of snatching you away. Felienne, a tiny white filly was discovered by you after her mother had been eaten by a Troll and unable to leave her alone you added her into your little circle of protection and hoped to keep her healthy by sharing what little you could find.

You would never regret taking her in, after saying that, you did have to admit she slowed your escapes down quite a bit, the reason of how you three found yourselves in a rolling wagon grumbling about being taken from your home. Heavily again you sighed and laid out on your side, “I hate this! Again, I should have been turned into a bunny!”

Maglor shifted to lay against your neck, “Bunnies rarely last that long in the wild, owls love Fangorn as do eagles, both of whom eat bunnies.”

“Fine, a porcupine then. I would have been a cute porcupine.”

Making him chuckle again, “That you would.” His gaze shifted to Felienne asleep in a ball up against your belly as you stared up at the sky feeling yourself drift off to sleep again under the warm sun.

It was then you heard a painful truth, you were a gift, for none other than the new Queen of Erebor. Tears clouded your eyes that closed lazily as you mentally berated yourself yet again. Of course he moved on. Why the hell would he wait around for someone like me? Barely knew me at all. He needs a Queen, not some useless basket case like myself.

Still you could hear those same purred sentiments from the final night in Rivendell under the stars, a warm caress of your cheek, the only kiss you ever shared, chaste and restrained with a promise to court once Erebor was reclaimed. Surely it was a lie. Something to keep him distracted until he found someone worth his time. You were just a young gullible woman too naïve to know better. He lied, and you were too stupid to realize it.

Warmly a tear rolled down your muzzle and again you repeated, So stupid. How could I have been so stupid? He must have laughed about it. All of them. I thought we could be friends. But I’m just a joke. Now I’m his property, to be ridden by her. I hate this. I hate him. I will never forgive him for this.

Once again you stared up at the Lonely Mountain and rolled onto your belly as you were led in through the front gates and down into smaller the farming peak where the stables were kept. Right up to an enclosure you were backed up and the wagon was opened, trembling by your side Felienne stood and followed you down the ramp into the grass. Huffing in irritation you strolled a distance from the wagon to give the skittish men space to close the wagon while Maglor eyed the Dwarves around your enclosure peering in at you curiously. Distantly you heard Ori first, “Did you hear she’s a foal with her? I’ve never seen one up close. Do you think she’ll let us sketch them?”

Dwalin, “I doubt that badger will let them do anything. Rather protective of them. How they managed them in the wagon at all is news to me.”

Bofur, “I am certain if you mind your space she won’t harm ya.”

At the fence however they joined the side of Turo, another Dwarf usually heading the care of their herds who said, “I don’t believe that is her foal.”

The trio looked him over and Ori asked, “How can you tell?”

Turo, “She doesn’t look like she’s nursed, or given birth for that matter. Bit too lean for that even at her build.”

Dwalin, “Where’s the foal from then?”

Turo shrugged, “Might be a sister? A stray foal she found that she let tag along. I mean she’s got that badger with her too, pretty odd mare already.” He paused for a moment, “Is the King coming?”

Dwalin chortled, “Course he is. Has to inspect his courting gift.”

Turo, “No doubt he’ll be in full drowning mood tonight then. Eh?”

Bofur, “No doubt.”

Through the hall a voice was heard and Turo stiffened as you did and your ear swiveled to listen in. Lowly Thorin spoke to Balin, “Shouldn’t take long, just a glance, not like I’ll be the one breaking it in anyways.”

Balin, “All the same it will take more than a passing glance.”

Thorin huffed and drew closer not noticing the stamping of your hoof making Maglor mutter, “Silverstar,”

Huffing you shook your head making Turo glance between you and the crowd trying to see what was upsetting you only to turn fully to bow his head to Thorin, who nodded in return. Intently you listened feeling the muscles in your side and neck twitching as your anger continued building.

On the edge of the pasture Thorin stood, clad in regal blues with silver belt and armored shirt, one in a style of the one you used to trace the ridges on through the end of the journey. That one he kept in his apartment so none could touch it ruining his imagined dips and lines your fingertips had smoothed into the already worn edges. His beard now much longer, just as you had imagined, to his chest nearly in his old braided style of youth, just as he’d promised, when he was home again to regrow it to prove his boasting of being from the fabled Longbeard clan. His hair pulled back in half braid with the rest secured in your hair tie at the base of his neck. He couldn’t help but remember your helping him try the look before venturing into Stone Giant territory after he nearly stepped off the cliff at his hair whipping into his face, he grit his teeth through your adding it but with his badly bruised elbow he couldn’t lift above his shoulder.

A single glance your way was all he gave you and he grumbled, “Jaqi would have loved that foal.”

That was all it took to snap your resolve, a loud huff from you came in your sharp turn to charge at the fence where Thorin was in his turn to walk away. The charge making Turo grip a handful of his robe triggering Thorin turn in a fierce glare that dropped when he followed the terrified gaze of the others around him in their turns to flee. Sharply you turned and up on your front hooves to slam your back ones into the fence sending a chunck into the King’s and Dwalin’s side knocking them to the ground. With all four hooves on the ground you turned straddling his legs leaving him wide eyed in your shout, “Don’t you ever say my name again! Mine forever, my giant ass!” All they heard were your loud brays and the following huff as you turned around in another rear back swatting the King in his shoulder and cheek with the end of your tail.

Snorting angrily you returned to the filly and Maglor, who was rubbing his forehead with his front paws, mumbling to himself, “They cannot understand you, Silverstar.”

“I know!” Huffing again you simply turned so all he could see was your butt as you grumbled, “Felt good though.” Making Maglor shake his head in his try not to chuckle while seeing the Dwarves stand again staring at you.

Balin, “Certainly some fire in her.”

Dwalin, “Surely take some time to tame her.”

Turo shook his head, “No, she’s been docile, till you got here, Your Majesty.”

Thorin smoothed his hands over his shirt while Bofur did the same over his back, asking, “Did you see those eyes. What color were her eyes?”

Bofur, “All I saw was silver.”

Balin, “Hard to see much else under that fence.” He looked to Turo, “She won’t be harmed on the fence, will she?”

Turo shook her head, “She’s shunning us now, should give us ample time to mend it before she’ll come close again.”

Thorin nodded, “Just keep them healthy, bound to calm down after a few meals and shelter from rain.” Turning back to head up to his next errand thinking to himself, Could have sworn her eyes were purple. Shaking his head, Couldn’t be.

Ori remained behind timidly strolling around the enclosure with sketchbook in his palms watching as your head stroked against Felienne’s in her playful bump into your side before her trotting circle around you. Watching carefully the Dwarves timidly roping off the hole you made until supplies another group was fetching returned all watched your sudden lowering in a taunting near crouch before you joined her in her circling game around the enclosure. In her curious inspection of the water being poured into the barrel inside the fence you halted then turned to look at Ori, who was sketching you with a sigh at seeing his timid flinch in catching your eye, hating that you had scared him.

Turning yourself you joined her in inspecting the water barrel making the Dwarves at the opening swallow in seeing your approach. Straight to the water you led her and drank too, even helped Maglor up for a drink on your neck then led the others back to the center again. Milling around in the center you watched Ori and the crowd, most of whom turned to leave giving you some much needed space. Steadily you moved closer to Ori bringing Felienne with you until you were a few feet away when Nori came calling for his brother for supper. At his quick wave and weak grin your head bobbed deepening his grin before his hurried trot to Nori boasting about all his new sketches.

Day to day the Company and countless others came to visit trying to see the angry yet docile mare in their midst. Each of them between the visits of Duna, the Princess betrothed to Thorin, to whom you were just as happy to show nothing but your butt to refusing to even look her way with Felienne following suit. The sheer stubbornness of you in so much as acknowledging the supposed future Queen lightened the mood around you, especially after Thorin was simply shunned and not attacked again in his next few visits to try and get another glimpse at your eyes, which you were having nothing of giving him ample chances to memorize your backside instead.

But he never gave up hope and often instead of meeting Duna for tea spent that hour circling the enclosure softly pleading with you to look at him inching him continually closer to tears each day feeling the same stab of losing his love all over again at not being able to confirm he wasn’t losing his mind again.

It kept hitting him, his final words to you, calling you a liar, shouting that you were only after his gold to the point you shoving the necklace he had gifted to you from the Troll hoard back into his robe pocket before he was bound and taken to his cell kicking and screaming. All you had left of him was poisoned, it was no wonder you wouldn’t return to him when for most of the time you knew him he had been so callous and harsh to you. No doubt if you were anywhere the Elves were probably hiding you from him, all the more reason for him to remain friendly with them hoping that he might catch word of you somehow. For now however he formed a plan, when he couldn’t be here he had Fili or Kili up here to learn just what color your eyes really were.

#Thorin x Reader OC #Hobbit #lotr

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danielriddlerodriguez · 5 years

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WHAT IS ENDLESS, WHAT IS GOLD —Noor Hindi I am throwing a net at the sun. I am collecting sunshine. The sun wears an evil eye. It shines it in my face. At Home Depot, I steal all their yellow. Golden Cricket. Vanilla Milkshake. Upbeat. Corn Stalk. I eat catalogs of paint samples. Summer Bliss. Neon Light. Fuzzy Duckling. My mother holds a dish sponge in her hand. Soap suds in her eyes. When I say yellow, I mean death. When I say death, I mean to tell you about the pears. Unripe and yellow. We used to throw them at the sky. Watch them rotate in a cloud. As a child, I couldn’t stop drawing the sun. Crayola, Crayola. Where are you now? Then they took the sun from me. Daffodil. Beehive. Filtered Moon. And Sweet. Remember the band director chasing us with our instruments? Oh trombones. Oh bumblebees. We made blueberries with our lemons. We made bowties out of chokeholds. My mother wore too much perfume. Oh yellow liquid. Sometimes I suffocated. And the grass was so yellow. And the memories so sharp we stuck them between our teeth. Like toothpicks. Like streetlights. Like the eggplants my mother would fry. Sprinkle salt on their bitter. June Day. Golden Rae. Saffron Strands. English Custard Paint. What I remember makes me tank. Makes me yellow, not blue. Makes me hazard. When I say yellow, I mean yarrow. Maybe yay. Maybe fly. When I say yellow, I mean hope. I mean light. As in, keep moving. Open your arms. Stitch a net with me, my loves. Together, we’ll catch the sun. I bet it tastes so sweet.

#Noor Hindi #poetry #prose poem #Jellyfish Magazine #fashion photography #street photography #she's a rainbow

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talltalesandbedtimestories · 5 years

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Temporary Ideal (Part 1)

The Beach FanFic (Leonardo DiCaprio) - Written decades ago. (uff!) Can find in entirety on Wattpad. May add additional parts if it ever gets some likes/reblogs.

~~~~~

The shade from the palm made the dampness of the air around me more palpable. I could feel the condensation on my arms, face and lips. I shivered in the early dawn, waiting for him. Waiting and thinking. This spot, near Bugs’ bridge, was the unofficial entrance to the village. It was where I had laid eyes on him for the first time. I remembered it clearly, like it was yesterday. Recalling that moment, surrounded by the soft rays of a new day, it was hard to believe it had been six months since the “Three Musketeers” had backpacked into our community.

~~~~~

It happened right after Vera had thrown me the last of the bed sheets. I had taken the worn nub of the last remains of Unhygenix’s homemade soap, and rubbed it lazily against the sheet draped over the granite slab. I hated laundry duty. Even though Vera moaned and groaned when we had the garden shift, I would gladly trade in my pruned fingers for dirt strewn ones. There was the quiet that was only disrupted by the buzz of an insect or the occasional tears of dead leaves. The hope experienced planting seeds for the new crop. Picking the ripe fruit and sneaking a taste of one, delicious pear before the rest of the community. My innate green thumb surprised me. I wouldn’t have looked twice at a cornfield or row of tomato plants in my “other” life. Here, though, things were different.

“Oh… my… God!” Vera’s faux valley girl inflection had taken over for a moment. Alarmed, I froze, staring down at the water flowing past my bare thighs. The last time Vera had voiced that exclamation while doing the wash had been when she had a spotted eel wrapped around her calf. We never were sure if the eel was very friendly, very horny or very tired of intruders in that particular spot of the lagoon. She had grabbed that sucker and smashed it against a rock like a bullwhip. Poor thing never knew what hit him, or her, or it. I made a mental note never to sneak up on Vera after that.

“What?” My focus shifted to Vera’s line of sight, which hadn’t been the water. My mouth opened slightly, feeling the dryness that had suddenly appeared. I’m sure everyone in the community had the same feeling at that moment. There they were, walking over the bridge, entering our territory. Keaty led the way. His tour of duty by the waterfall had turned out to be the most eventful one in two years.

“Three.” Vera waded toward the bridge. My mind had quickly processed the total. My attention was all on the person following six steps behind Keaty. I could tell immediately that he was American. I’m not sure what gave him away first, but the quick nod of recognition he gave Vera solidified it.

American. Even though I felt fear and uncertainty at their presence, I still smiled. There was another one of us. Four now. And there was another reason I was smiling. That flight of butterflies that had remained dormant in my stomach for what now seemed like an eternity, was performing aerials I couldn’t remember ever experiencing. It may have just boiled down to the fact that there was new meat. Available meat. It was obvious, the solitary way he strode ahead of the other man and woman, that he was alone.

He was tan, lean and long. Everything about him screamed California boy, kissed by the sun from his golden-brown strands to the shine of his skin. He tightly gripped the end of what looked like a trash bag over his right shoulder, eyes darting this way and that, taking in the entirety of the environment. He passed over me as quickly as he had everyone else. I was too far away to make out the color of his eyes, but his stare was intense enough for me to feel he meant business. They hadn’t just stumbled across our paradise. This had been a quest. And I was pretty sure he was the one who had been in charge for most of it.

Vera looked over to me after they had passed. “Let’s hurry this shit up and get our asses back to the longhouse. I don’t want to miss Sal’s face when she sees this.” I nodded in agreement, and then shook my head at the thought of Sal’s expression. I hoped I would be able to get some prime seating.

~~~~~

We slipped in after the impromptu “family meeting” had already taken place.

Sophie stood in the darkened corner and motioned quickly to both of us as soon as we came in. We huddled together for catch up.

“They have a map.” Sophie nodded her head toward the middle of the longhouse, where the majority now congregated. Sal was in full mother-hen mode. I spotted the paper in her hand.

“To the beach?” Vera asked and Sophie nodded. My eyes canvassed the area. I saw the back of blonde boy. “Who are they?” Vera questioned again.

“The couple is French.” I looked over at Sophie in time to see a slight smile. It would be an addition to the already large French line. “Etienne and Francoise. The other one is Richard. An American.”

Richard. I let the name dance in my head a few times, unable to hide the vindication that my guess to his nationality had been correct. I didn’t need to hear any more from Sophie. I walked around the circle, just outside the radar of being noticed. Blending into the background had always been my best skill and too much was going on for anyone to pay attention to me anyway. They were all fixated on the visitors. I could spot rage on some faces, fear on others. But Sal would not let these new arrivals leave. I had known her long enough to realize that fact.

I sat on my bunk thankful Richard was on the exact opposite end. My legs crossed. I could hear the buzz of conversation around me. All of my senses besides sight had dulled, been drowned out, by the activity occupying me. Taking in every aspect of this man was now top priority. Boyishness graced his face, but the dominance of the man emerging was putting up a fierce battle with that appearance. In his 20s definitely, but as to which end of the scale he tipped closer to was still up in the air. The beauty and symmetry of his face elicited one word into my mind. Perfect. The shadows of late afternoon, however, didn’t allow a peek at his eye color. The somber, stuffy atmosphere of the hut matched the mood of its inhabitants.

My hearing tuned in at the sound of his voice, answering a question from Sal. I let the pitch and tone of his words flow inside. Even his words felt right to my ears. “It was on my hotel door one morning. I’d had this weird conversation with a guy staying next door to me the night before. He kept talking about this beach. So when I found the map, I figured it was from him. The guy who drew it…”

“Daffy.” Sal finished his sentence for him. The name jarred memories and haunting images of the rift that formed right before Daffy had left the island. The friction between Daffy, Sal and Bugs had become unbearable. I wanted to ask about Daffy, but the question only screamed inside my mind. There would be no disruptions while class was in session, at least not from the well-behaved students.

“Yeah, he’s dead.” My mouth dropped open, hearing that cold, factual sentence from Richard. That sentence did not come from one who had spent countless nights listening to Daffy’s stories around the fire. Not one who had ventured back with him to the mainland at least a dozen times for rice runs. And not one who had seen the love for something pure turn into an obsession to protect it. I tried to let the realization of Daffy’s death sink in, but I knew it would take forever to finalize it. I saw the whispers and stunned expressions take over the group.

Someone, I think Dale, exclaimed, “No way!”

Richard continued. “Yeah, he cut his wrists open in a hotel room on the Ko Sahn Road.”

Gregorio stared in horror at Richard. “You have seen this?”

“Well, I came afterwards.” There was no easy way to break this kind of news to a family. It was like a police officer knocking at a son’s door in the middle of the night to tell him his parents had been killed in a car accident. Empathy is a hard feeling to fake. You just don’t know until you have been there. I guessed Richard had yet to experience a close death.

“Well, that’s sad news. He was one of the founders of our community.” I spotted Vera, still in the corner with Sophie, listening to Sal. I hoped she had sense enough to hold her tongue.

“Oh.” Richard nodded his head slightly.

“But he became depressed.” There had been a clearing of the throat, somewhere from the crowd, after Sal’s addition. My stomach tensed up. It was amazing how fast people forgot all the good. Most of the bad feelings toward Daffy were present because of Sal’s talks and speeches since he had left. How he had become a liability, an acceptable loss for the protection of our community.

I saw Richard survey the reaction quickly. He had felt the bad blood and my eyes narrowed as I watched him try and feed off of it. “The police didn’t know what to do with the body so I guess they’re going to like incinerate him or something.” His smile and sudden laugh felt forced, out of place. He immediately realized his mistake, turning his head to the side to avoid the eyes of the community. He scratched the back of his head.

Sal took no note of it. I knew she was concerned with only one thing. “Do you think he gave a map to anybody else?”

Richard stared at her for a second, shaking his head in doubt. “Ah, no… I don’t think so.” I noticed relief on his face, thankful that the attention had been shifted from his foot-in-mouth display.

She looked at Etienne, Francoise and Richard, one by one. “And you, have you shown this map to anybody?”

They answered one after the other. “No.”

“Good.” She handed the open map to Richard. I felt another example coming on. She grabbed Bugs’ lighter and smiled, “We value our secrecy.” She lighted the map at the bottom as Richard held it. I heard the clapping begin. With that, our new members had been baptized.

~~~~~

After dinner, the nightly ritual of bedtime began for all in the longhouse. The newly arrived were given their sleep locations. I quietly prayed to whatever Thai god had whispered in Sal’s ear and placed him an easy glance across the floor from me. It was a beautiful change of scenery.

Keaty was filling him in on how things ran daily in the hut when Sonja stood up. I sighed. It was a language class tonight. She politely requested everyone’s attention and began her translation prompt.

“Listen up, everybody.” Her blonde bob shook a bit as she scanned the room. Linguistic learning was mainly someone reciting a line in English – which everyone on the island spoke – and expecting a translation in the teacher’s native tongue. In Sonja’s case, we’d be regurgitating the phrase in Croation. I always cursed Sal when it was time for this, as it had been her bright idea to begin this ages ago. I enjoyed poetry night so much more. I didn’t have to worry about getting called on to speak in front of the class.

“OK. Tomorrow I will travel for many miles on a bicycle.” She nodded her head towards the right of the hut. “Um, Vicki.”

Sitting just off to Richard’s side, Vick stopped in mid hit. I was curious if she had spoken to Richard much upon his arrival. She was a California girl. If my assumptions about where he was from were right, they might have a lot to talk about. She took just a second to contain her smoke before beginning. “Uh, sutra cu potovati mnogo milja bicicklom.”

I watched Richard listen intently before looking to Sonja to see how well Vicki had done. “Great, very good.” Sonja went on to her next victim. Though I should have been paying attention in case I was called, I was spending more time studying Richard.

After Helene, it was Keaty’s turn. In typical fashion, he stood up proudly. “All right. It’s far too easy, though.” With little effort, the words flowed freely out of his mouth. Cockily, he continued the rant. From what I could tell, his bicycle ride was going to be in the park after he ate a big breakfast. I shook my head, laughing at his pompous behavior as the rest of the group jeered. They eventually drowned him out. “There’s more, you know.” Before he sat down he took over Sonja’s duty and called out the next name. “Richard!”

There was an immediate hush. The newbie looked around and cleared his throat. To all listening, he choked out the words in a broken fashion; but, still surprisingly correct. Keaty yelled out in admiration, “Richard, you’re represented, man!” As was customary, the rest of the community applauded in sign language with their hands shaking while raised above their heads. I joined in on the compliment.

Richard grinned from ear to ear as he looked around the room. I felt that hiccup in my chest again as his eyes fell on me for a brief second. His eyes sparkled in the lantern lights. It was time to curse myself for being such a sucker for blue eyes.

~~~~~

Six months later, he was still only someone I studied from afar. There was the occasional friendly or duty-related chit-chat. But he had assimilated quickly, making a name for himself in the process. He still had a while to go, still only the second-string quarterback of the island. I, on the other hand, was hardly in the running for head cheerleader or homecoming queen.

He had become chummy with Keaty. I had gotten most of my information on Richard through him. The one thing I didn’t need explained to me was the crush he had on Francoise, the French girl that had accompanied him on the journey. I wondered if Etienne’s ignorance to his friend’s feelings about his girlfriend was simply a show. The looks Richard gave Francoise were just a bit too long. I hoped my crush was not as obvious to everyone else.

“Beth!” Keaty strode up beside me on the way back from a day of tilling in the garden.

“What’s up?”

“Have a question for you, love.” I always grinned when he said that.

“Shoot.”

Always the gentleman, he took my shovel, and leaned it against his right shoulder as we walked.

“Triple A’s. In short supply. Got any I can borrow?”

“God, Keaty, what have you been doing with them lately?”

“Not me only, Richard’s been hogging my GameBoy as well. We’re thinking of starting our own group. VGAA.” I stared at him curiously. He smiled explaining, “Video Game Addicts Anonymous.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “Well, I don’t know if I should be a facilitator then, supplying you with the means to continue this addiction.”

“Ah, but the first step on the road to recovery is admission, which I’ve already done. Can’t stop cold turkey, right?”

“I’ll have some for you after dinner.”

“Thanks, Beth. You are a life saver, have I told you that?”

I nodded.

“Well, you are. I’m not the only one that knows it, love.”

“Enough sucking up, I already said I would give them to you.”

“Right. How about trying a game of cricket with me tomorrow then?”

“That’s OK, I prefer watching.”

“I’ve noticed.” I slapped his arm after that comment.

“Don’t hit me over the truth.” We both laughed, approaching the clearing to the beach. I didn’t spot Richard until Keaty had called over to him. “Richard, my man, we are back in business!”

Richard turned upon hearing his name. He sat on the beach with Christo and his fishing spear in hand. He nodded, smiling. “What Keaty!?”

“Got our dealer right here!” He placed his free hand over my shoulder. “Kong competition tonight!”

I felt myself blush with his attention on me. “Cool! Thanks Beth!” He waved over to the both of us.

I nodded and freed myself from Keaty’s grasp and grabbed the shovel back. “Gotta wash up, Keaty.”

~~~~~

I’d settled down in my bunk after a satisfying meal of rice and catfish, accompanied by an unexpected salad. I thought about the crop we would be working on the next day and couldn’t wait for the tomatoes to ripen. They’d be a great addition to Unhygenix’s menu.

I searched in my satchel for the book of poetry by Thoreau.

“Beth?”

My eyes looked up to find Richard towering above me.

“Yeah?” I smiled despite myself.

He bent at the knees, lowering himself to my eye level. “Don’t mean to be a pain, but Keaty and I,” I stared into his blue eyes a bit longer than I should have.

“Oh!” I mentally slapped my forehead. “The batteries.” He smiled, nodding. “Sorry, I forgot all about it.”

“No problem, just didn’t know how much longer Keaty and I could last before we experience withdrawal symptoms.” He chuckled, leaning his forearms against his knees.

I laughed, reaching over to my cigar box, my little treasure chest. “What are some of the symptoms?”

I turned back to see him hunched over, eyes wide, with his thumbs rapidly pressing invisible buttons. “Nothing too severe.” He started twitching his head. He continued the act. “Jump… Right… Punch”. I waved four batteries in front of his face, grinning. He relaxed immediately, opening a palm for the alkaline gems to drop inside of. “Whew, thanks.” He winked, and then smiled, as his hand clutched them tightly. “Could have gotten ugly.”

“Glad I could fix you up.”

“I owe you.”

I smiled, thinking of a few ways he could pay me back. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Night.”

“Good Night, Richard.”

I watched him stand up and turn, ready to make his way over to Keaty’s corner. I was about to resume the search for my book when I saw him turn back out of the corner of my eye. “Beth?”

“Uh-huh?”

“I was wondering… well,” he knelt down once again, “if you could help me with something?”

I nodded.

He looked around, I guessed to make sure no one was paying close attention. I noticed him lingering his gaze in Sal’s direction before continuing, slightly above a whisper this time. “It’s about Daffy.”

It had been months since I had heard anyone utter his name. “Daffy?”

He nodded. “It’s just that… ever since we came here, I’ve had a lot of questions about him. I mean he’s the reason we’re here. But, no one talks about him. I’ve asked Sal once, and Keaty a few times, but they just clam up or change the subject. The only thing I got out of Keaty was that you were close to him.”

“I guess you could say that.”

“Could you tell me something about him then? Tomorrow maybe?”

“Sure.”

“I’ll meet up with you after fishing duty.”

“OK.” I smiled.

“Thanks.”

“Good night. Again.” He smiled, walked off. I lay back, placing my hand under my pillow. That’s where Thoreau turned out to be hiding. I pulled the worn book out, inspecting it. Thoughts of curling up with a few of his verses were now long gone. I had someone else to dream about.

#leonardo dicaprio fanfiction #dicaprio fanfic #the beach movie

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