#gordon clearwater

[fungimoth]

you’re mad because I’m just a little British fish guy and my beautiful wife can turn into a basketball

[mousesketches]

how nice :)

[twiedits]

like or reblog if you save ©

[idkaguyorsomething]

On their quest to find Falin, ¿should the party bring along a talented culinary ally? ¿A hungry, underappreciated loner? ¿Some asshole who could very easily get distracted and fuck it all up? ¡¡¡You decide!!!

(Please reblog and explain in the tags)

[honeykngdom]

𝚜𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚝 𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚢 | 𝚎.𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕 | 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗

Pairing: Embry Call x Original Character Summary: Join Ainsley and Embry as they embark on a journey where they are forced to question everything they thought they knew, and embrace the pain that is inevitable to avoid in love. An imprint story. Self-discovery. Angst and romance. Word Count: 4.3k Warnings: Not much going on here; just cute lil heart to heart and some awkward family convos. prev. chapter | next chapter

𝙴𝙼𝙱𝚁𝚈 

Embry followed Sam back into the house with his hands shoved into the deep pockets of the shorts Sam had brought out to him. Embry hadn’t had an outburst like that in a really long time, and he was beside himself at his carelessness – what with the imprints in the room. 

Upon entering the home again, he looked over to where Emily sat at the table with a steaming mug between her hands. “I’m so sorry, Em –”

“Don’t you worry about it, I’m alright.” The woman smiled, moving to hug his large frame in her small arms when he bent down to her level.

Seth and Quil looked up from the table across from them. “Your girl's a mess, dude.” Quil whispered, looking towards the stairs. On cue, Embry could hear Ainsley empty the contents of her stomach into the toilet; he grimaced, looking down at the floor with shame. He definitely felt like the biggest piece of shit for multiple different reasons. This wasn’t how he had wanted to tell her, or how he wanted her to find out.

His intention had been to start with the stories, and talk about how the pack first started. How he had originally given it up to keep that part dormant for his own sake, and was willing to leave it behind for her. How he had only phased again because there were two rogue vampires in the Peninsula, frequently stopping by Forks to feast on the innocent and young, and he was helping his pack. He was doing his duty as a protector of the reservation. 

Instead, Ainsley had witnessed the wrong side of the beast. And according to the heaving that echoed upstairs, she was absolutely sickened by it. 

Embry took the stairs two at a time before stopping just outside the bathroom door. His fingers touched the knob gently, hesitant, before opening the door slowly. Ainsley was seated on the floor with her back pressed to the tub and her knees pulled to her chest. Her swollen eyes lazily drifted up to meet him, “Hi.” She croaked, doubling over in pain. 

“Honey,” his voice broke, and the shifter dropped to the floor in front of his imprint. “I’m sorry, I should’ve said something sooner.”

“What?” She cleared her throat. “About turning into a giant dog?” 

“Wolf,” he corrected, pulling the wet face cloth from her lap to dab her forehead gently, “but yes. It wasn’t right to keep that from you – Edward’s right, it’s safer if you know.” 

She sat in silence for a few moments, breathing deeply through her nose to try to calm her stomach. He wanted to pull her into his arms, he wanted to press kisses to her forehead and soothe her worries but he knew he couldn’t do anything until she said it was okay. Knowing he could lose his temper at any moment had her mortified, he was sure. 

“Ainsley .. the way I feel about you is crazy.”

“You got the crazy part right.” She spat, leaning her head away from the cloth to glare at him. 

“Just hear me out.”

“Embry –”

“You don’t understand,” he started, the words tumbling past his lips before he had the chance to even filter through his thoughts. “I have waited nine years for you. Specifically you – not just any connection, or any relationship. And nine years might not seem like a long time, but it is painfully long when you know that the possibility of that epic love exists. Having an imprint was all I have ever wanted, and everyone thinks I’m absolutely mad because of it but I don’t care what they think.”

Embry felt as though he were going to break. He was sure she could see the tears brimming in his eyes, and could hear the desperation in his voice. She couldn’t leave him, right? This is what they were for – he belonged to her. 

“Embry,” She started, closing her eyes tightly, “I don’t know if I’m cut out for this.”

“You are.” He promised, this time he moved quickly, pulling her into his lap and securing his arms around her. “I’m still me.” 

She shook her head vehemently. “That wasn’t you.” 

“I’ve been having a hard time,” he sighed, pressing his face into her neck, “keeping my anger in check since I started phasing again. It’s even more difficult now that I have more reason to give into my genetic instincts by having you in my life.” 

“But … why do it? Again?” She asked, her body rigid in his hands. 

“It’s part of my job. I made an oath to protect this tribe, but we haven’t had any real threats come through to our land in years. So, when one showed up I didn’t have a choice. I have an obligation.” 

“When were you going to tell me?” Ainsley demanded, pulling him back so she could watch his face. 

“Tonight. I told you earlier that if you had any questions, I would answer them. All of them. I was going to tell you everything.” 

Ainsley watched his face, checking for any sort of indication he was lying about that. “Tell me now.” 

Embry stopped for a moment, mouth ajar for a short two seconds before he nodded once curtly. “Not here. Not when they’re being nosey.” 

Ainsley looked over his shoulder to the open door, wondering just how much the others could hear. Embry watched her nod her head slightly in defeat. 

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

𝙰𝙸𝙽𝚂𝙻𝙴𝚈 

Once I was showered and wore a fresh change of clothing, I sat in the center of Embry’s bed with my feet tucked under my bottom while I waited for him to join me. Jacob agreed to go check in on Renesemee for the night, allotting the two of us some privacy to sort through what happened this evening. I already started thinking of a list of questions to ask Embry – many of them had to do with what exactly I was dealing with, others played into the more curious nature in me. 

Embry entered the dimly lit room with a towel wrapped around his waist. He wasted no time pulling a pair of boxers on when he saw me waiting patiently, and slipped under the covers beside my legs, propping his head up with the palm of his hand. 

“Go for it.” Embry said once was comfortable.

“Okay,” I moved a little so I was facing him more directly, “what are you?”

“Shapeshifter.” 

“Not a … werewolf?” God, it felt so insane to even say out loud in conversation.

Embry shrugged. “You could say that, but I’m still pretty convinced that’s not exactly what we are. But we have nothing that proves otherwise.”

I nodded. “And when did you … become this?”

“When I was fifteen.” I leaned back a bit, surprised by his answer. Fifteen was so young – I was worried about school dances and math homework, and he was morphing into a giant wolf and killing other mythical creatures. Speaking of –

“What dangers are you protecting the tribe from?”

Embry paused, falling onto his back to exhale a loud sigh. “Mostly vampires.” He said quietly, watching me for my reaction. “Cold ones, as we like to call them – or leeches. That one’s just Paul’s personal favourite.” 

“Vampire’s are real?”

He nodded once, resting a hand on his stomach. “Unfortunately. They’re the reason why we turn in the first place. The ‘magic’ in us awakens when they’re near and threatening our people – that’s why there’s so many of us now. The Cullen’s kind of brought out more of us by taking up permanent residency in Forks. We’re the largest pack the tribe has ever heard of.” 

“Cullen's? Like, Renesmee’s parents?”

Embry nodded again. “Bella was human when she met Edward. But she wanted to be just like him, and she wanted to be changed. Jacob all but had a fit over it, too. Tore the pack apart – literally, there were two packs for a while –”

“Two?” 

“Bella got pregnant during her honeymoon with Edward,” seeing my expression, Embry held a hand up, “please, don’t ask me how, I don’t even like thinking about it all too much. When she came back, Jacob lost his shit. We had never dealt with or heard of anything like that. The fetus wasn’t something we were comfortable with, and we didn’t know if it’d be like Edward, except worse. Unable to control its thirst.”

“Renesmee ...” I said quietly, looking at my hands. 

“We were going to kill her,” he stated simply, “while Bella was still pregnant. Jacob took a stand to Sam and broke ties – being the rightful alpha and all had its perks, I guess. 

Even after Jacob imprinted and everything had settled, the packs were never the same. After Sam and Emily got married, he wanted to step away from this life with Jacob stepping up to the alpha role. The pack gravitated towards him. Now he’s the alpha, but Sam still has the best strategies, so they work as a team.” 

“Sam calls the shots, Jacob just dishes them out?”

“Mhm. I ran patrols and stuck with them until I was twenty-two. I had decided that being like this was starting to get the best of me, and that it was easier to control my emotions and keep them under wraps if I didn’t give into the animal.” He turned his head to look at me. “We won’t age unless we stop. It takes a lot of self-restraint and discipline to walk away from something like this. Sam and I are the only two that had reason to do it. He wanted to grow old with Emily - and I just wanted to feel normal again.

I never wanted this. When I first turned, I remembered thinking it was the best thing that could’ve happened. Sure, I was isolated and alone and scared to shit, but being the wolf made me feel powerful and strong. Like I had finally found my purpose.” 

“So, what’s the issue?”

“It’s not the same,” he started, fingers reaching forward to run across my bare thigh. “I mean, I feel just as powerful as before. I’m just as strong, just as lethal and deadly and terrifying, but it’s not just me anymore. I used to think I found my calling in life, that I finally found my reason for being here. Until I saw you,” he sighed, letting his eyes close, “you’re so feisty and stubborn. The way you placed your hand on your hip, the way your hair fell out of place, the way your chest was flushed pink. That very moment when I first saw you, it cleared everything I thought I knew about myself out of my mind. I literally had no idea who I had become, but I knew it wasn’t a man you could love. And I wanted to be someone you could love.

Everything shifted into place. When it happened, I hadn’t even known exactly what it was until Jared and I spoke around the fire. The others absolutely hate the idea of it for the most part. Being out of your own body, losing who you are for someone that could still leave you seemed like another hopeless and empty promise. It’s a complete loss of autonomy – creating a bond with another person, having them be the center of the fucking universe seemed like such a disgusting notion, until it isn’t. Take Paul and Jacob, for example. I was so confident I would never be like the others, that nobody had been hand picked for me.”

I blinked. From the way he spoke, I could tell that Embry meant it when he said he had longed for this … imprint connection. But, from my slow understanding, this entire process seemed to strip them of their ability to choose. I swallowed thickly, “But?”

“Then I saw you. And I understood it – all of it. I felt the pull and switch in gravity, I felt the need and longing. I thought I was going insane for a while, thinking about where you were or what you were thinking. You looked so uncomfortable that night, watching everyone else get along, and I just wanted to know you. I wanted to be selfish and pull you away, I wanted to hear you talk all night. 

So, I pulled soccer together. I begged everyone to come, just to make it less awkward for you. The first time I knew I had imprinted on you was the first night when I held your hands in the Jeep. The second time was when I looked over and saw you curled up in my blanket on the beach, talking with Emily and Kim and Collin. By then, I was certain that if anyone could break me or ruin me, it would be you. It took seventy-two hours for the reality of the situation to sink in, and I haven’t looked back since.” 

“Embry,” I interrupted, shaking my head, “I … that’s a lot. I don’t want you to feel like you’re stuck with me because of some stupid bond.” That didn’t sound like love; that sounded like obligation. And a weird one, at that. 

Embry’s face hardened, “This isn’t some bond or fate telling me I’m stuck with one person for the rest of my life because my genetics say so. We could’ve been friends, and just friends. I was prepared to just be that. But the genuine feelings and attraction I have for you? They’re magnified by this bond. I remember Seth and Quil making comments about your eyes and lips, and wanting to strangle them both and hang them from their ankles.” 

“Emb,” I groaned, “those are your brothers.” 

“You’re the light of my life.” He said simply, “I need you and I want you. I have spent countless nights waiting for some sort of freedom from the darkness that binds me to this fucking curse we pretend is a gift, and you’re exactly what I’ve been waiting for. You were hand picked by destiny for me. And I’ll be damned if I let you slip right through my fingers.” 

I felt it was only appropriate that I entwined our fingers together, holding them high enough so we could both see. “I don’t think you should worry for now.” 

Embry seemed to consider this. “Really?” 

I nodded slowly: I was sure this was the right decision. He would never hurt me, or his brothers. He hadn’t lost his temper over Jacob – he had lost it over Edward. 

Edward. 

The vampire.

And Bella, who was also a vampire. 

And Renesmee – who was a half-vampire?

I needed to distract myself from the vampires and concepts of imprinting – just for a while. The longer I pondered too long on either subject, the more uneasy I felt. One part in fear, one part in insecurity. 

“Tell me more. What’s it like?”

“Being a wolf, or being me?”

I contemplated. “Both.”

“It’s like this, I just get a little extra benefit. Speed, better hearing, faster reflexes. As a wolf, we communicate through our thoughts, and it’s not really something that’s easily controlled. It’s a really vulnerable position to be in. Apart from that, our bodies kicked into overdrive when we changed. A fever set in that never quite went away, we grew several inches, all the muscle in our bodies hardened and became more permanent and solid.”

“Is that why you’re so warm? It’s a wolf thing?” 

“It’s also why I eat so much. I burn the calories off too quickly.” 

“And here I thought you were trying to fatten me up with all those carbs.” I teased, shimmying closer to his side. “So … you turn now. Which means what, exactly?”

“There’s another threat. Two new vampires. The Cullen’s have never seen them, and none of us recollect their faces.” Embry rolled onto his side, pulling me close. “That’s why I wanted to keep you out of all of this. To save you from worrying the way the other imprints do. The less you know, the less shitty I feel for lying about picking up double shifts –”

“Wait, wait, wait,” I held up a hand, pulling back to get a full look at his face, “you lied about work?” 

“Did you really think I was working fifteen-plus hours in a factory, Ains?” When I blinked blankly, he chuckled. “I was running patrol. The only reason I run mornings is because Jake knows I actually work overnight.”

“But you’re here when I get up?” I said, more to myself than to him. 

“I come home after work-work and sleep for like .. two hours and then I leave again. And I don’t work-work every night – the nights I have off, Jacob usually has me pull a double on this end of town. So, I slip out after you pass out and come home before you notice I left.” 

“You leave me?” 

Embry frowned. “I never want to. But it’s almost over. Soon you’ll have so much free time with me, you’ll get sick of me.” 

I chewed on my lip, contemplating his words. “Impossible.” 

Embry appraised me cautiously before he gently pressed his lips against mine, sealing my worries away. We remained like that, lips parting briefly so that tongues could collide, getting lost in the heat and fire that coursed through our veins. 

“So, you’re really okay with this?” He asked breathlessly when we parted for air, pressing his forehead to mine. 

“I will be.” I tried, caressing his cheek with my free hand. I hope so.

Embry let his eyes fall shut, a sort of relief washing over his strained face as he pressed his mouth to mine again, “Honey, I love you.”

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

My mind wandered aimlessly as I drove through the winding roads leading back to La Push. I had a job at a diner in Forks, and had finally compromised on sleeping at home every other week (Embry would sneak in for snuggles, not that Jennie ever knew). I made a point to talk to Trenton about Leah – he had started to fall into the same absent pattern I had: staying out late, sneaking out, not being home for long periods of time. 

Jennie had called a family meeting; despite her children being old enough to take care of themselves, she still felt the need to mother us as though we were five. Travis, being the middle and favoured child, sat in his place across from me with a smug smirk. For once the meeting wasn’t about him. 

It had started off with the usual: be home for a family dinner once a week, keep in touch, etcetera. By the end, Jennie was all but in tears, asking Trenton and I if we were doing drugs. Point blank, placed two small cylinders on the table and requested we provide urine samples. At first, I thought Jennie was joking. It wasn’t until she placed her hands on her hips that I understood the severity of the situation – my mother really thought I was chasing highs. 

“They’re not getting high,” Travis jumped in, “they’re getting laid. And I know he has condoms,” he pointed to Trenton, finger guns blazing. “But I have no idea if Embry wraps his di–”

“Alright,” I said loudly, hard eyes cutting through my brother's skull, “enough.” 

“What, you don’t think I can’t hear when he’s visiting?”

I recoiled in disgust, completely mortified as Trenton leaned forward, “Dude, you listen?” 

“She’s not exactly quiet –”

“Okay! Enough!” TJ clapped, pushing away from the table. “This was obviously a waste of time – Jennie, baby, they’re just being kids.” 

I felt the heat rising in my chest and neck, eyes pressed shut tightly as I tried to push the thoughts away – Travis sleeping on the opposite side of the wall, able to hear everything. Much to my dismay, my moans weren’t the worst thing he could possibly hear during the nights Embry came to visit. Too much private information we shared, many of them his secrets. 

I pushed my meal around that night, not having much of an appetite. I was sure my mother would have plenty more to say when the boys retreated to the basement – I purposely stuck around to help with the dishes in awkward silence. 

Just as I was about to give up and retire for the evening, knowing Embry was likely already half-naked and warming up my bed, my mother started the Keurig and turned to me expectantly. She did not look impressed. 

“Sex is really not the worst thing I could be doing.” I said finally, defeated and tired. I fell back into my chair at the dining table, watching Jennie with weary eyes as she took her seat across from me. 

It was silent for another two minutes - and I thought about trying to convince her I would do better, but decided against it. I would be twenty-one in the new year, and was fully capable of being involved in a sexually active relationship without Jennie – 

“Does he hit you?”

I reared my thoughts back to the present, snapping my eyes up off the tabletop to glance at my mother. I almost couldn’t think of anything to say, but was most definitely concerned about Embry and his inability to shut people out. God, I hoped he was now. 

“Ains, baby,” she whispered, leaning forward on the table, “you can tell me.” 

“What?” I shook my head, pulling my knees up to my chest. “No, Embry definitely doesn’t hit me, mom.” 

“Then what is it?” She asked, looking defeated. “I don’t get it. You’re never home, you never want to be home. You’re always with him, or them.” 

I failed to see the issue with any of this. “So, I made friends? What’s the big deal?”

“It’s just not you.” Jennie knew many things about me; I loved my education more than anything, I loved all animals and I certainly loved my alone time. 

“I don’t know,” I started, looking down at my hands. “I’m just comfortable with him. He doesn’t physically drain the energy out of me the way everyone else does – when I’m with him, it’s like I know what it’s like to be normal.”

“You are normal –”

“I’m not,” I laughed, shaking my head. “People suck the life right out of me, they leave me tired and frustrated and anxious. When he’s around, it all goes away. He’s my solitude.” 

“That’s not healthy. Codependency is an ugly thing.” 

“I’m not codependent, mom, I’m just ...” I sighed. I never liked saying the words out loud to anyone but him. I had never known this emotion before, never had the luxury of being with someone that tolerated me enough to let me really grasp onto the idea of how beautiful love could be. Saying it to other people made me feel naive, like I didn’t have the right to say it at all. 

“In love?”

I looked at Jennie. I wanted to nod, but I also felt as though my mother would smile in such a way that said, ‘Oh, honey, you don’t know what love truly is.’ That she would undermine what Embry had built in me, the confidence he gave me. I lifted my chin and shrugged, “I told you that you didn’t need to worry about me.” 

“You’re having unprotected sex.” She snapped, leaning forward on the table again. “You will not make me a grandmother before I’m forty-five. I expect that out of Travis, but not you.” 

“Mom –”

“I get it, Ains. You’re not my baby anymore, or at least you’re trying very hard not to be. I know you’re anxious and ready for the real world, living in your boyfriends house, zero responsibilities –”

“I do have a job now.” 

“- staying out all night and partying with his friends –”

“Jacob is part of ‘his friends.’”

“But I promise you, it gets old real quick.”

I dropped my hands onto the table, this time looking a little harder at my mother. “Why can’t you just support my relationship with him?”

“I do.”

“No, you don’t. Because if you did, this conversation wouldn’t have started with the assumption I’m being forced to stay in this relationship. You’re trying to convince me this isn’t what’s best for me, or what’s good for me. So, what is it? What’s so wrong with him?” 

Jennie sighed, looking at me with sad eyes, “Because when I look at him, I see your father.” 

I skewered my face, “Doug wasn’t an abusive piece of shit.” 

“No, Ainsley. He wasn’t.” She nodded in agreement, looking down at the table, her voice dropping barely above a whisper. “I look at you and Embry together and I think about what I had with him. The love I had for him. But when he left me, I thought I was going to die. I wanted to.”

“What’s your point?”

“My point is that I don’t want you to get too attached to him. Just because he was the first to stay, doesn’t mean he’s the one.”  Fate would say otherwise, I wanted to say. My sex life was none of my mother’s concern. Embry was not going to leave me like my father had.

He loved me.

He belonged to me.

[krispyweiss]

Old Crow Medicine Show at KEMBA Live!, Columbus, Ohio, Jan. 25, 2024

Old Crow Medicine Show ain’t sellin’ no snake oil. No, Sir and Ma’am. Their music is a proven elixir for all that ails at the end of a long day.

And the septet has no problem transforming a bluegrass-country show in to an arena-rock extravaganza, making Ketch Secor’s greeting of: “Let’s get ready to rock ‘n’ roll” entirely plausible despite denim, cowboy hats and mostly acoustic instrumentation.

For just as the balmy, rainy Jan. 25 weather made the Columbus, Ohio winter feel like spring, the Medicine men proceeded to make the rural rock - hard - on the show-opening “Tell it to Me,” delivered as it was with the exuberance of a final encore as the band members danced around the stage like youngsters overdosing on caffeine. That the music inside KEMBA Live! was as tight as the players were loose is just another part of Old Crow’s irresistible appeal, even as cheesy faux-preacher asides and incessant references to Ohio and its Buckeyes college football team grew tiresome over the course of the two-hour gig in front of a respectable-for-a-Thursday-night-sized audience.

The engine-revving continued on the aptly titled “Alabama High-Test” and - despite the occasional balladic breather - across the set that chronicled OCMS’ sonic evolution from the 2004 Bob Dylan leftover-cum-huge-hit “Wagon Wheel” to the social commentary of 2023’s “Louder than Guns.”

And by the time the rambunctious, early-set “Carry Me Back” screeched to a dime-stop close, the audience was crackling with as much electricity as the band. The glorious transfer of energy from stage to floor and back continued all evening, whether the band members were arrayed at their individual mics singing two- to seven-part harmonies or lined up at the lip of the stage tossing harmonicas and guitar picks in to the audience.

This was one of the first Old Crow gigs of 2024. And while the band is looking forward to what’s about to unfold, the players spent a portion of the show arrayed around a single mic and looking back at the musicians lost in 2023 with a medley that included Sinead O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” CSN’s “Teach Your Children,” Gordon Lightfoot’s “Early Morning Rain” and Jimmy Buffett’s “Margaritaville.”

Performing in front of a circus-tent backdrop emblazoned with their name, Old Crow Medicine Show traded instruments and swapped lead-vocal duties, making themselves sound like a different band on various songs. Working as one, the seven Medicine men, Secor (fiddle, keys, harmonica, guitar, banjo, ukelele); Cory Younts (mandolin, melodica, banjo, keys, harmonica); acoustic and electric bassist Morgan Jahnig; PJ George (banjo, accordion, mandolin, fiddle, guitar, drums); Mike Harris (guitar, mandolin, banjo, Dobro); Dante’ Pope (drums, percussion, keys); and Mason Via on guitar, guitjo and mandolin - transformed CCR’s “Proud Mary” into a hybrid soul-grass revue with dueling fiddles; presented “Tequila” as a drunken barn dance with a guest spot from the sax player of Bird and Byron, whose homecoming opening set served to help the neo-soul group develop before a large audience; and unrolled C.C. Rider as a piano-driven blues as Pope took the keys and mic while George held steady at the kit.

Shades of the big-“B” Band. But this small-“b” band of brothers, is, despite lots of covers - including an angry rendition of “Ohio” and its celebratory antithesis “Hang on Sloopy” with Ohio- and Old Crow-specific lyrics added - its own singular thing. This is what makes an OCMS show one of the only places on Earth a concertgoer can find himself in the 1950s singing to “Great Balls of Fire;” straddling the distant and recent past while dancing down the middle of “Dixie Avenue” and lustily cheering Secor’s taunting of Ohio’s fearmongering Statehouse.

“Trans kids can dance here, too.” he declared.

No snake oil here. Just the healing and the facts, Ma’am and Sir.

Grade card: Old Crow Medicine Show at KEMBA Live! - 1/25/24 - A-

See more photos on Sound Bites’ Facebook page.

1/26/24

[steam-beasts]

An intriguing new discovery was made during a thorough exploration through old and abandoned projects made by the now defunct Clearwater Features, the company behind the classic "Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends" series.

What could be recovered so far were screenshots of what seem to be an old version of the first ever TTTE episode, "Thomas & Gordon".

The episode itself plays out just like the one that aired back in the 80s, but instead of being done with model renditions of the characters and backgrounds, the entire episode animation style is full-on cel animation.

The entire episode was likely an animation style that Britt Allcroft and the team considered before ultimately sticking to models.

(This ain't real btw, just in case anyone may think it is. I just thought I'd try doing redraws of scenes from TTTE with a more 80s cartoon style.)

[taylortruther]

same poll but with a twist

[ourlordapollo]

I made a Peter Lukas playlist that doesn't have any fandomcore on it

Tracklist:

Christian Island - Gordon Lightfoot

For Lovin' Me - Gordon Lightfoot

Ghosts of Cape Horn - Gordon Lightfoot

Shipmates and Cheyenne - John Denver

Splendid Isolation - Warren Zevon

It's Too Cold - Moxy Früvous

Tapioca Tundra - The Monkees

Tides - Jimmy Buffett

The Moon Doesn't Mind - Lord Huron

White Squall - Stan Rogers

Leave Her, Johnny, Leave Her - Stan Rogers

Pacing the Cage - Jimmy Buffett

Beast of Burden - The Rolling Stones

Baby Step Back - Gordon Lightfoot

Southern Cross - Crosby, Stills, & Nash

Lover's Cross - Jim Croce

Silver Moon - Michael Nesmith & The First National Band

Bad Moon Rising - Creedence Clearwater Revival

[sapphiredhearts-a]

hello! this is not meant to be a bother, but i was wondering if you happened to have a list of fcs for your muses or if you’d be willing to type one out? again very much not trying to be a bother or anything just honestly curious and would like to know!

hi friend !! not a bother at all !! almost all of my fcs are different from canon so it's probably hard to keep up ! I have a lot of muses so I'll add it under the cut ! I've been away from tumblr for a long time so if you see something that isn't super accurate please don't hesitate to let me know !! I relied real heavily on rph resources & tried to google search as much as possible but I know it's not always the best & I wanna stay true to what I can !! also pls forgive the non-formatting the list is long & I am literally copy & pasting this . ( also also if anyone's name is misspelled it's literally because I wrote this as I went & not intentional - some of them may also be abbreviated I can't remember if I went back & fixed it )

twilight

jacob black - blair redford

isbaella swan - maia mitchell

edward cullen - christopher briney

emmett cullen - adam dimarco

esme cullen - sadie sink

serena ( hybrid ) - dove cameron

sam uley - marlon teixeira

seth clearwater - booboo stewart

paul lahote - alex meraz

the hunger games

katniss everdeen - devery jacobs

peeta mellark - froy gutierrez

lucy gray - rachel zegler

finnick odair - gavin casalegno

annie cresta - lola tung

vampire academy/ bloodlines

adrian ivashkov - thomas doherty

sydney sage - sydney sweeney

eddie castile - josh hutcherson

charmed

piper halliwell - zendaya

phoebe halliwell - whitney peak

leo wyatt - jacob elordi

cole turner - michael trevino

one tree hill

brooke davis - olivia rodrigo

nathan scott - tyler posey

haley james - alba baptista

julian baker - douglas booth

peyton sawyer - penelope mitchell

f.r.i.e.n.d.s.

monica gellar - lana condor

chandler bing - dylan o'brien

joey tribbiani - rege jean page

phoebe buffay - lili reinhart

gg

blair waldorf - leighton meester

nate archibald - chace crawford

serena van der woodsen - blake lively

the host

wanderer - kat mcnamara / tanaya beatty

ian o'shea - luke pasqualino

jared howe - theo james

original characters

analeigh ateara - fivel stewart

josie baker - natalia dyer

daisy fairstone - adelaide kane

salem cromwell - nina dobrev

tda

julian blackthorn - daniel sharman

a court of thorns & roses

feyre archeron - danielle rose russell

rhysand - matthew daddario

disney

david 'gordo' gordon ( lizzie mcguire ) - alberto rosende

miley stewart ( hannah montana ) - miley cyrus

rose ( american dragon jake long ) - madelyn cline

sharpay evans ( hsm ) - sabrina carpenter

alex fielding ( twitches ) - halle bailey

nicholas sparks

allie hamilton ( the notebook ) - abigail cowen

noah calhoun ( the notebook ) - logan lerman

will blakelee ( the last song ) - noah centineo

[denverapologist]

Intro ★ june 2024 🍁

Heya I’m Cam, I’m 18 and I’m currently in my final year of High School.

I’m South African and speak both French and English. I like taking photos of places around my small town and yapping about old people stuff.

𓆏

I mostly listen to 70s folk. Some of my fav bands/artists are CSNY (and their individual music) America, John Denver, Gordon Lightfoot, Sufjan Stevens, The Smiths, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bob Dylan, The Lumineers, Girl in Red, Indochine and John Prine.

I’m an avid musician. I play guitar and piano and I love singing.

I enjoy all sorts of video games, (especially RPG maker games) and I watch a lot of gameplay videos. I’m also a fan of indie horror, mostly analog horror and indie horror games. I also enjoy puzzles, especially sudoku.

I’m a Darwin super-fan, I’m passionate about all things surrounding evolutionary biology. I adore history and paleontology. Anything before the 20th century interests me. I’m particularly interested in the Victorian Era at the moment. I’m also very interested in early sound recording, such as wax cylinders, early gramophones etc. Hearing the voices of people over a hundred years ago is so mind blowingly cool to me!

I’m an utter Lewis Carroll fanatic. I can answer just about any question regarding him and his works x)

I’m neurodivergent so please excuse any weird behaviors and responses to things I’m trying my best to be normal lmao.

I <3 dilfs

Dreamwidth Blog:

[stageandscreen]

Paul Whitehead joined Mark Gordon Center Stage to talk about the documentary "Paul & Trisha: The Art of Fluidity." The film focuses on Whitehead, who worked as an art director for both Time Out and John Lennon; and made album covers for music icons like Genesis, Credence Clearwater Revival, Van der Graaf Generator, and Peter Hammill. Whitehead began exploring his gender identity through cross-dressing during the 1960s, leading to the emergence of the converged artist Trisha Van Cleef in 2004. The film delves into the brutal challenges and beautiful victories that Paul and Trisha have faced—together and individually—in the mercurial and competitive art world. The film is currently streaming on Apple TV  https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/paul--t... Perera Pictures & Fisky Enterprises present "Paul & Trisha: The Art of Fluidity." Featuring Paul Whitehead & Trisha Van Cleef, the film is written, directed and produced by Fia Perera, with Adam Fisk serving as an executive producer, with cinematography and editing by William Gilmore.

[thecambriaone]

mw?

hey there !

louis de pointe du lac, daniel molloy, armand, gabrielle de lioncourt (interview with the vampire/the vampire chronicles), sam wilson, thor odinson, tony stark, loki, carol danvers, matt murdock, peter parker (marvel), dick grayson, barbara gordon, duke thomas, tim drake, stephanie brown, clark kent, diana prince (dc), leia organa, han solo (star wars), haymitch abernathy, effie trinket, finnick odair, annie cresta, gale hawthorne, johanna mason, cinna (the hunger games), spencer reid, emily prentiss, aaron hotchner, derek morgan, penelope garcia (criminal minds), mike wheeler, dustin henderson, robin buckley, steve harrington, will byers, jonathan byers, lucas sinclair (stranger things), jacob black, leah clearwater, seth clearwater, carlisle cullen, esme cullen, alice cullen, emmett cullen, edward cullen (twilight), karen sirko, warren rojas, graham dunne (daisy jones and the six), jamie taylor (the haunting of bly manor), nell crain, luke crain, theodora crain (the haunting of hill house), javi rivera (twisters), harwin strong, baela targaryen, rhaena targaryen, aemond targaryen, addam of hull, alys rivers, laenor velaryon, mysaria, daenerys targaryen, robb stark, theon greyjoy (game of thrones/house of the dragon), abigail roberts, charles smith, sadie adler, javier escuella, bonnie macfarlene (red dead redemption), claire redfield, chris redfield, jill valentine, carlos oliveira, ada wong, leon kennedy, ashley graham, luis serra (resident evil), maximus, norman maclean, nick valentine, sole survivor, john hancock, piper wright, robert maccready, cait, preston garvey, curie, danse, X6-88 (fallout)

[skycrorg]

impacto de un meteorito en lago canadiense produce misteriosas piedras y evidencia calor extremo

La investigación de muestras de roca de West Clearwater Lake también reveló evidencia de reidita, un mineral que se forma bajo una presión extrema superior a 20 gigapascales, una medida de la fuerza física ejercida sobre un objeto.

Durante más de una década, el geólogo planetario de la Western University, Gordon “Oz” Osinski, ha dirigido expediciones al lago Kamestastin en Labrador. El entorno es un campo de entrenamiento perfecto porque las propiedades y formaciones rocosas, creadas por el impacto violento (y el calor extremo) de un asteroide hace 36 millones de años, imitan de manera única la superficie de la…

[parkerbombshell]

From Memphis To Merseyside Ep 84

Thursdays 8pm EST bombshellradio.com From Memphis to Merseyside Ep 84 1964-70 This week, Tony Stuart and Aaron Badgley continue with the ‘big bangs’ in rock and roll. Here they discuss the years from 1964 to 1970. Starting with The Beatles on Ed Sullivan to Woodstock and ending with the split of The Beatles. All that and more on this week’s From Memphis To Merseyside. Ric Denis -This Rumbling Sky The Beatles -All My Loving (Ed Sullivan) The Beatles - Can’t Buy Me Love Peter And Gordon - World Without Love The Supremes-  Come See About Me The Rolling Stones - (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction The Miracles  - Going To A Go-Go Bob Dylan - Positively 4th Street The Beach Boys-  God Only Knows The Beatles - Got To Get You Into My Life The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band The Beatles - With A LIttle Help From My Friends The Who  - Heinz Baked Beans The Who  - I Can See For Miles Jefferson Airplane -  Someone To Love The Four Tops - Bernadette Jimi Hendrix Experience - Foxy Lady Grazing In The Grass  - Hugh Masakela Gary Puckett & The Union Gap - Lady WIllpower The Rolling Stones - Jumpin’ Jack Flash Cliff Nobles & Company  -The Horse Herb Alpert This Guy’s -  In Love With You The Kinks - Days Crosby Still Nash And Young  - Sea Of Madness Johnny Cash  - Folsom Prison Blues Elvis Presley -  In The Ghetto Chicago  - Questions 67 and 68 The Monkees  - Listen To The Band Creedence Clearwater Revival -  Fortunate Son Stevie Wonder -  I Don’t Know Why The Beatles  - Let It Be Paul McCartney  - All My Loving Bryan James Duffy -  The Red Brick Road Read the full article

[honeykngdom]

𝚜𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚝 𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚢 | 𝚎.𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕 | 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚒𝚡

Pairing: Embry Call x Original Character Summary: Join Ainsley and Embry as they embark on a journey where they are forced to question everything they thought they knew, and embrace the pain that is inevitable to avoid in love. An imprint story. Self-discovery. Angst and romance. Word Count: 5k Warnings: implied cunnalingus, puking A/N: I apologize that I haven't updated this story in forever. I'm in the middle of binging Naruto and my ass is thirsting so hard over the ninja men but I felt it was only fair if I updated this WIP before I posted anything related to another fandom >.< prev. chapter | next chapter  

Despite my mother’s various protests, I found myself settling into Embry’s home quite comfortably. I hadn’t necessarily moved in, but I didn’t exactly live at home anymore, either. I spent a lot of my time on the tiny loveseat Jacob and Embry shared, finishing homework and listening to Podcasts, waiting for Embry to return home from a long night shift, or the extra shifts he was pulling to help out. 

It turned out Jacob worked with Embry, too, so the house was mostly empty apart from myself and the sound of the wind knocking the pipes together. Most of the time, I forced myself to stay awake until they’d come home in the wee hours of the morning. I never slept soundly without Embry in the bed, anyway. 

It had been three weeks since I last slept in my own bed; I now sat perched on the counter as Embry chopped red peppers into thin slices. I watched the way his back contracted with the gentle movements, enjoying the way his skin expanded whenever he stretched a hand to the size to stir the pan simmering on the stove aimlessly.  

“You’re staring.” Embry mused quietly, looking over his shoulder at me. 

I lifted a brow, raising the wine glass to my lips to take a small sip. “You’re sort of beautiful, you know that?”

Embry chuckled lightheartedly as he tossed the peppers into the pan. “Is that what we’re calling me this week?”

Last week, it was handsome. I accidentally said it while we were in the shower, not really something I had meant to say out loud. I was speaking about something out loud, but while thinking it in my head the words overlapped. Embry found my embarrassment cute, but I had never felt more happy to say it. I then made sure to say things like that frequently as a reminder that I adored him. 

“Yes, it is.” I lifted my chin, taking another sip of the red liquid that sloshed around in the oversized glass. They say one glass a day, right? Embry joked when he noticed it in the thrift store — and laughed so hard at his own joke, he purchased it just so he could fill it to the brim each night with dinner. We hadn’t been by Emily’s in almost a week now, choosing to stay at home and spend whatever free time Embry had, together. 

Embry brought the stovetop down to a simmer and turned to settle in between my thighs, hands resting on the countertop on either side of my bottom. I draped my arms over his shoulders, seeming pleased with my confidence. When he didn’t say anything, I tilted my head to the side and raised a brow again, “What?”

“Stop doing that.”

“Doing what?”

He leaned forward to press his lips to the side of my neck, just under my ear, “Giving me compliments.” 

I hummed in a sort of delight, letting my eyes slip shut, “I thought you liked it when I fed your ego.”

He chuckled again, lips moving to press to the hollow base of my throat, “You do that plenty enough in the bedroom, honey, trust me.” 

I let my mind wander to the previous night: the more comfortable I felt with him, the more I let myself go. My moans were loud enough the house could’ve shook, finding pleasure in watching Embry focus so intently on me to draw them from me. I felt it was only fair to happily oblige, no doubt boosting whatever confidence he had over his sexual abilities through the roof. My fingers would grip the sheets so tightly my knuckles would turn white, making a mess of my hair each time he’d comb his fingers through it just to pull my head back to expose my neck. 

I almost felt bad for Jacob. Almost. They were technically his nights off, too. 

Since winter had rolled in, I was constantly wearing turtlenecks and hoodies to hide the litter of love bites Embry left. It was never too much, but they were for us to see and enjoy. They were the casual reminders that whatever we had was simply amazing and hot and real — and it drove me absolutely crazy. 

Once we were settled into our seats across from each other, I was the first to shovel a forkful of the pasta into my mouth; I didn’t really cook when Embry wasn’t around, and oftentimes found myself going hungry if he failed to come home in a timely manner. That was still just my secret. 

“Fuck,” I moaned quietly, taking another bite, “why haven’t you been cooking for me this whole time?” 

“Because we eat at Emily’s.” He reminded me, shovelling his own forkful into his mouth. 

I brought the wine glass to my lips and downed the rest of my drink. “Looks like I found myself a husband.” I said, mostly to myself. When I glanced across the table at Embry, he was watching me with big brown eyes and a new sort of adoration. “Don’t.” I said, suddenly realizing the severity of what I had just said.

“I didn’t say anything.” He smiled, his eyes dropping back to his food. The smile on his face was unmistakable. “Not a word.” 

“But you’re thinking about it.” I squinted, grabbing the bottle to pour myself another glass. One glass a day, my ass.

“Of course I am,” Embry sighed, resting his elbows on the table, “I already told you what I want.” 

“And I told you that you’re insane,” I retorted, moving the food around on my plate, “multiple times.” I added quietly. 

“Doesn’t have to be now.” He grumbled, shoving another bite into his mouth. “Just peace of mind, that’s all.” 

“Embry,” I sighed, watching his shoulders drop the slightest as though he were expecting me to retaliate. I had been doing that a lot — I might have semi-moved into his home, but I still held him at arm's length with a lot of things. I still shot him down, especially when all he was trying to do was be a happy, lovesick idiot. 

And here I was trying to stick a cork in all of the fun. 

“I’m not going anywhere, okay?” I smiled, reaching across the table to touch his fingers. “I promise.” 

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

The morning of Thanksgiving, I was woken by gentle kisses pressed against my back. “You know what I’m thankful for?” Embry had asked quietly, lips pressing another warm kiss to my spine.

“Hmm?” I hummed, hugging the pillow. 

“My brothers,” He started, pressing his lips to the small of my back, “and my mother.” His mouth trailed to my hips. I slowly began to turn over, opening an eye to peer down at him, “But I’m most thankful for you.”

His teeth grazed my thigh and I tensed. 

“Thankful for your kindness.” 

A soft sigh slipped past my lips as he bit into the flesh.

“Thankful for your patience.” 

My hands drifted up into his hair.

“Thankful for your love, even if I’m undeserving.” 

My legs shifted apart, allowing him to settle in between my thighs. 

“Thankful for all the adorable noises you make.”

He pressed a warm, open mouthed kiss to my swollen folds, enticing a slow whine somewhere in the back of my throat. 

“Just so, so thankful for you.” 

He had spent the morning pleasing me in so many different ways, trying to show me just how thankful he truly was. Once we showered and dressed, we drove hand-in-hand to Emily’s. I offered to help in preparing for the feast she had to make, feeling somewhat obligated after extending an invitation to my family. Billy offered to bring the veggies and stuffing. Sue was bringing the desserts. Jennie was bringing the fresh buns and roasted potatoes — which left Emily and I with the turkey, other forms of potatoes, extra stuffing (my mother wasn’t really aware of how much these men could put away) and other various appetizers. 

When we arrived at the Uley house, I could smell the delicious scent of fresh bread from outside in my Jeep. Embry followed behind me now, rather than leading me into the home. It was something that naturally shifted over our time together. My boyfriend pressed a quick kiss to my cheek as I shrugged from my jacket; he would retire to the living room with Sam, Paul and Jared to watch whatever sports game was on the television, while the rest of us remained in the kitchen. 

A few weeks ago, Emily and Sam proudly announced the expectancy of a second little Uley. Now, Emily was all but sweating buckets in the kitchen, trying to keep her bump from accidentally hitting the hot stovetop. I thought it was sweet how much Emily already mothered the unborn child. 

“Looking good, Em.” I cooed, leaning over the counter to press a quick kiss to her cheek. 

Emily smiled in return. Despite the clear exhaustion, she managed to keep her typical happy-go-lucky demeanor. “Renesmee and her parents will be joining us.” She whispered, looking over to the living room. “Jake conveniently forgot to mention anything until this morning.” 

“We’re crunch baking.” Kim added, looking slightly distressed with her current task from the kitchen table. 

“Crunch baking?”

“Sue said she ran out of flour last night and didn’t have time to go to the store, and Sam wouldn’t let me leave to bring her some, so we’re making muffins.” 

I nodded, ducking down to the bottom drawer to fish for one of Emily’s aprons, “What can I do?” I asked as I pulled my hair into a low ponytail, pushing my sleeves up to the elbows. We spent the majority of the afternoon in the kitchen, listening to the boys converse back and forth in the living room. Each time someone arrived, another beer was opened for each of them. By the time my brothers arrived, I was certain the group was feeling pretty tipsy. 

Jennie hung her coat over the back of a chair and ran towards me with open arms, “I miss you!” She squealed quietly, holding me close. 

“Miss you, too, mom.” I sighed, wrapping my arms around my mother’s slender frame. She was wearing the same blue shirt from Billy’s birthday, her hair pulled back into one of her infamous buns paired with a matching set of hooped earrings. It was moments like this that led me to believe I would age just as gracefully as Jennie was – I would be so lucky. 

“You should come home.” She chided, pulling me to the table. “We miss having you at home.” 

I tried to look empathetic, but the truth was, I was perfectly happy with Embry. “I’ll visit more often, I promise.” 

Jennie pressed her lips into a firm line, watching me carefully. “You really love this man?” She asked quietly. 

I looked past my mother to where Embry stood, talking to my brothers. He looked simply gorgeous in his blue jean button down, with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows and his hair freshly cut. I offered to trim it down, and then we got a little distracted and I ended up buzzing his entire head by accident. Not that it bothered Embry – we both seemed to like it. 

Jennie followed my eyes and smiled. “He is pretty.” She noted, taking the beer Emily had just placed down in front of her. 

“He’s the best,” I lamented, placing a hand on my mother's arm, “you really don’t have to worry about me.” It went on like that, the pair of us swapping stories of what had been going on over the last few weeks. Jennie had cut back on hours to spend more time with Billy and TJ, only working nights on bi-weekly rotation instead of every week. I mentioned being finished with my school work for the term, having plenty of free time to look for a part time job to keep myself occupied and busy while Embry was working. Jennie seemed to appreciate this.

“It’s just happening a little fast, don’t you think?” She asked quietly with concern feathering her features. “I’m happy you found someone that respects and loves you, baby, I really am. But it’s not good to isolate yourself –”

“I’m not.” I said quickly, shaking my head. “He doesn’t stop me from seeing anyone, I choose to spend my time with him.” 

We watched each other for a few moments before Jennie lifted her gaze: Embry had come to stand behind me, letting his hands rest on my shoulders. TJ had followed his suit, seated next to my mother. 

“Jennie,” Embry started, leaning down the slightest bit so she didn’t have to look too far up, “looking beautiful as always.” 

“Oh, Embry.” My mother waved him away, folding her legs over one another. “Flattery will get you everywhere.” 

“So they tell me.” He laughed nervously. I looked up at him, raising a brow. “Do you mind I steal you for a sec, hon?” 

“Uh, sure.” I stood up, pressing a quick kiss to TJ’s cheek as I passed, following Embry out of the front door and into the cold. He could have at least warned me. “What’s up, Emb?” I asked once we stood near the hood of my Jeep.

“It’s about Renesmee’s parents.” He started, pulling me towards the passenger side, away from the house. Embry pondered for a few moments, not seeming to care for the bitter wind nipping at our exposed skin. “They’re .. different.” He said the word slowly, trying to add emphasis on how different without actually implicating anything. 

“Isn’t everyone?” I asked, uselessly folding my arms to keep myself from getting cold.

Embry seemed to struggle with something, watching me with weary eyes. After a moment he signed, “I need you to keep an open mind. And any questions you have, any questions at all, I will answer later.” He promised. “When we’re home.” Embry added quickly, glancing over my head to the house.

“Why would I need an open mind?”

“Just, please?” He pleaded, pulling my hands to his lips to kiss my fingertips. The warmth was heavenly. “For me?”

“Okay.” I said slowly. When he smiled, I felt my chest expand twice its size and I relaxed. I had no idea why he would be so worried in the first place – it wasn’t as though I had a habit of judging those around me. 

Well, not entirely. 

It wasn’t until an hour later that Emily reminded the group that dinner would be ready shortly when I noticed Renesmee standing in the kitchen with Jacob and a few others I didn’t quite recognize. I leaned back a little bit, trying to rear my neck to look at the strangers I had yet to meet. They must be her parents. 

“Honey,” Embry chided, kissing my neck to pull my attention away from the kitchen, “it’s your turn.” 

I looked down at my hand, then to the table quickly. “Check.” I mumbled, looking at Jared for his final response. 

“Check.”

“Alright, show your hands.” Quil clapped, looking at Jared expectantly.

Jared grinned ear to ear, “Read em and weep, sucker!” I looked down at his straight hand, and smiled. 

“Cute.” I replied, placing my hand on the table. “But I’ve got a flush.” 

“Fuck off!” Jared yelled, leaning over the table to reread my cards. Twice. He dug into his pocket, pulling a five from his wallet and handed it to Embry. 

“Thank you.” 

“I’m winning my money back,” Jared grumbled, pushing the chips towards mine and Embry’s growing pile. “Your girl’s a shark.” 

“Nah, you just have shit luck.” Embry mused, counting all of the fives he had managed to weasel out of Jared’s pocket that afternoon. “Really, Jared. Eight years later, and I still don’t feel bad about taking all your money.” Embry’s mouth twitched into a smile, finishing the remainder of his beer. He looked at me and winked, fingers curling into my hair, rubbing my scalp appreciatively. 

“He’s my good luck charm.” I smiled, leaning into my boyfriend’s side. 

Sam had suggested playing something other than poker, seeing as some members of the group couldn’t afford to bet the way others could. We ended up playing Bullshit, which also didn’t end well for Jared. I was beginning to wonder if Kim was the only lucky thing that he had in his life. 

When Emily called to her husband for help with the turkey, the group slowly stretched their limbs and stood, preparing for their retreat to the kitchen lineup to fill their plates. Embry rolled the joints in his arms, yawning loudly before he reached his hand down to squeeze my backside, offering me an innocent smile when I reared around to shoot him a glare. He leaned over Billy’s frame to grab us plates, while I dropped low to hug my uncles shoulder’s. 

“Not you, too.” Billy grumbled, looking at Embry when he wrapped his arm around my waist. 

“Oh, leave him alone, dad.” Jacob chided, folding his arms, “It’s what he’s wanted.” 

“Ainsley!” Renesmee called, and suddenly my arms were wrapped around Nessie’s thin frame, head whirling with just how quick the tiny woman could be. “You’re here.” 

“Duh,” I laughed, pulling back to look at Renesmee’s dress. It was cream colored and covered in pretty black designs – more sophisticated than I envisioned when she said she was going for simple. 

My eyes drifted behind Nessie’s mountain of hair; two beautifully pale and seemingly flawless individuals stood several feet behind her, nearly wrapped up in each other's arms. Given their pale complexions, I deduced that they weren’t from the reservation, that was for sure. 

“Honey,” Embry cleared his throat, resting a hand on the small of my back, “this is Bella and Edward.” 

I watched the way their eyes scrutinized me; Bella’s brown orbs were careful, trying to seem open and inviting, however failed miserably. Edward, on the other hand, his golden hues were narrowed just the slightest bit. Neither seemed incredibly comforted by my presence, and I found myself shrinking under their stares. 

“These are Nessie’s parents.” Embry said slowly. I could feel his eyes on me, burning holes into the back of my skull. 

Nessie’s ‘parents’ didn’t look much older than myself – hell, they didn’t look much older than Renesmee. “You look pretty good for …” I trailed off.

“Thirty-seven.” Bella input, her sweet voice overpowering, very much in a similar manner to Renesmee’s. “We married right out of high school.” She added quickly, looking up at her husband lovingly. 

Ugh. 

“It’s nice to meet you.” I said with a tight smile, taking Embry’s hand in mine. There was something about the couple that didn’t sit right with me – something different that stirred something inside my chest, in the very pit of my stomach. I entwined my fingers with Embry’s, keeping close to his side as I glanced back over my shoulder from my place next to my mother once we were seated. Something was definitely off with them; the current image I had with the three of them, paired with Jacob, was beyond normal. 

I happily perched on Embry’s knee, his left hand wandering from my hip and waist, to my thigh, my skin burning through my jeans. Moments like this, sitting around the table with all of my family, are what really made everything feel so real. Made Embry and his unconditional love for me real. Made my life in this town permanent. Made me believe in second chances and new beginnings. 

I watched Leah and Trenton spend the majority of the dinner in each other's ears from across the table, smiling fondly as my brother laughed loudly at whatever his date was saying. I watched Jennie and TJ share intimate looks, paired with sweet pecks of affection. 

I watched Edward and Bella stand a little behind the remainder of the group, contently filling in the dead space away from the rest of the family. I enjoyed that they understood their place, and obliged out of respect. My home was with Embry’s warm arms and warm smile, with Jacob’s boyish laugh and wit, with Jared’s incessant need for attention, with Sam and Emily’s kitchen, with Seth and Brady and Collin. With the frequent wonder of how Quil was, due to his absence. 

My mother locked eyes with me for the briefest moment, smiling wide. 

“She looks happy.” Embry noted, kissing my ear as he rubbed my arms with his massive hands. 

As desserts were passed around, I wiggled in excitement as the warm gooey chocolate cookies made their way around the table – my hips moved quickly against Embry’s. His hands gripped my waist, pulling me against him tightly to cease my movements.

“Stop moving.” He breathed quietly in my ear. 

I looked down at him over my shoulder, a coy smile gracing my lips, “What’s the matter?” I asked, rolling my hips once. 

“You’re bad.” He laughed, hugging my waist. “No dessert for you.” 

I snorted, “Yeah, okay.” My arm reached across the table, pulling a cookie from the top of the stack. I turned to look at him, watching his warm eyes as I bit into the warm chocolatey goodness. I hummed in satisfaction, offering a piece to him. 

Soon, the table had dispersed; some members left to return home, others retired into the living room. Embry and I sat comfortably in the kitchen, feasting on leftover desserts and tea biscuits, making casual conversation with Sam and Paul. 

“This was amazing.” I noted, tipping my head back to finish the remainder of my wine. “The stuffing was –”

“Fucking delicious? I know, right?” Paul melted in his chair, hands covering his bloated abdomen. 

Sam sipped on his coffee, watching as the couple that spent the evening in the corner approached carefully. “I think we’re going to head out,” Bella started, sharing a quick hug with Emily, “see you around, wolf girl.” She teased. 

Four pairs of eyes widened and cut to Bella quickly, then to me. 

“What?” I asked, suddenly feeling nervous under the weight of their stares.

Edward, who up until then had been completely silent, moved to touch his wife’s back. “You don’t know yet?” He asked me, brows pulling together in confusion. “But I thought you were his –”

“Edward,” Bella hissed suddenly, turning to face him, “not our story to tell.” 

“You know?” I asked sourly, shifting in my seat. Embry tried placing a comforting hand on my arm, which I slapped away.

Edward focused on me for a moment, before his eyes cut to Embry’s. He laughed once, shaking his head, “She really doesn’t know.” 

“Unless you’re going to be useful to me in this conversation,” I quipped, pulling my empty glass off of the table, “I think it’s time you leave.” 

We stood there, staring at each other from across the room. If he wasn’t going to blab what no one else would, I had very little interest in associating with him. All he had done was bring my anger to the surface, that shift in my core locking back into place, the heat bubbling in my veins – and I wasn’t even touching Embry. 

“You really picked yourself a keeper.” Edward stated; he was talking to Embry but was focused on me as I walked into the kitchen. “She hates us almost as much as the rest of you do.” 

Renesmee cut her eyes towards me, her gaze slightly disappointed. I stood behind the counter, cutting myself away from the rest of the group. We watched each other for a brief moment, now several more pairs of eyes wandered into the dining area. 

“Everything good, Ness?” Jacob asked lightheartedly, rubbing her shoulders. 

Renesmee looked at me and shook her head. “She hates us.” 

Jacob looked up at me and then to Embry – who sat at the table, head in his trembling hands. “She doesn’t hate you.” Jacob reassured her.

“Dad just said –” 

“Edward,” Seth began, “Embry isn’t ready –”

“She deserves to know.” Edward cut calmly, moving his cold eyes back to me. “You deserve to know.” He said again, lowering his chin to his chest. He wanted me to know. 

“That’s enough.” Embry suddenly stated firmly, standing abruptly, which sent the chair he was sitting in across the room. His frame shook with heavy breaths, trembling fists clenched at his sides, jaw taunt. His voice, however, remained controlled. “You need to leave.” 

“Dude.” Jacob started, looking towards my boyfriend with disapproving eyes. “You need to calm down.” 

“Everyday,” Jared started, plucking a cookie from the table before he retreated to his corner next to Kim. “It’s happened everyday for almost three weeks.” 

“Aw, c’mon,” Paul teased, watching Embry with a knowing smirk. “Embry hasn’t lost his temper everyday. Maybe two out of three.” 

“Go ahead. Get it out in the open.” Edward pressed, taking a step away from Bella. 

“Edward,” Jacob growled, “enough.” 

Edward shook his head, “Even Bella knew,” he hissed, looking between Jacob and Embry. “She wasn’t even an imprint and she knew. It’s not safe to keep her in the dark.” 

“We’ve got it under control.” Sam said loudly, pulling Emily away from Embry’s shaking figure. 

“Time to leave.” Embry growled angrily, feet pushing him towards Edward. 

It had been a long time since I had seen any of the men lose their temper – but I was familiar with how this scene would end. Everyone quickly moved away, and I barely just made it to Embry’s side before Seth shot up and reared me back, “No, you need to stay away.”

Jacob blocked Embry’s path, slamming into his body. 

“Jake, move.”

“No.”

Another tremor rolled down Embry’s spine. “Move, dammit!”

Jacob’s fist reared back and collided with the side of Embry’s jaw; at first, the group stood in shock, and then we were frantically scattering out of the way. Bella pulled Renesmee back, hiding behind Edward. Emily and Sam stood in the furthest corner, Kim stood behind Jared. 

I was the only one who struggled against Seth, trying to use my elbows to inflict some sort of damage (I didn’t). 

“That was incredibly stupid.” Edward remarked from behind Jacob, watching Embry slowly bring his head forward again. His fingers hastily unbuttoned his shirt, taking the fabric away from his body as he kicked his boots to the other side of the room. 

“Get Ains and Em out of the room.” Embry growled, but the voice didn’t sound like it belonged to Embry at all.

Jacob, who realized his mistake all too late, began to walk backwards through the open door to the outside with his hands raised in the air as a sort of truce. Embry definitely didn’t care for it. 

There was a loud growl, Embry’s body slamming to the ground in visible tremors and convulsions. Halfway to the floor, there was a loud ripping noise and Embry exploded. Dark gray and black fur blew out from his body, coalescing into something more than five-times his normal size - a massive, crouched shape that was ready to spring. 

The wolf’s gray muzzle wrinkled back over his teeth, and another growl rolled through his colossal chest. His warm brown orbs had been replaced with nothing but black, focused solely on Jacob’s retreating figure. In an instant, Jacob’s figure shimmied – far more gracefully than Embry’s had – and he exploded, too. 

I stood, wrapped in Seth’s firm grip, mouth ajar. 

The wolves met in the middle head-on, their angry snarls echoed like thunder off the trees behind them. 

“Stay where you are, Ainsley.” Sam ordered as he darted outside. It was hard to hear him over the roar of the fighting wolves. They were snapping and tearing at each other, their sharp teeth flashing toward each other’s throats. The Jacob-wolf seemed to have the upper hand – being visibly larger than Embry, but Embry’s current emotion had clouded his vision. His frame was easily sleeker, muscle mass much smaller than what Jacob bore on his frame. He rammed his shoulder against the grey wolf again and again, knocking him backwards into the trees nonetheless.

Despite not being in direct eyesight, I could still hear their snarls and growls as though they were right beside me, in my ear. Emily crouched beside me, hands on my arms comfortingly, “Ains, hon, breathe.” 

I hadn’t realized I had sunken to the floor; I snapped my eyes to Emily’s, seeing my reflection in her dark brown orbs. Wide eyed and terrified – I could feel my stomach roll and flip angrily. 

“You need to leave.” Emily hissed over her shoulder towards the trio of pale faces. Much to my dismay, Renesmee looked concerned. “Now! You’ve done enough!”

I leaned over Seth’s arm – who was still trying to keep me upright – and emptied the contents of my stomach onto Emily’s kitchen floor. I was moved quickly then, Seth rushing to get me upstairs to the bathroom in time before I heaved again, this time into the porcelain bowl of the toilet. 

Warm tears burned my eyes, a sob breaking through my chest. “Fuck.” I croaked, taking Seth’s hand tightly in my own as I braced the other on the side of the tub. I hated puking.

“Guess the wolf’s out of the bag.” Seth joked. 

I shot him a glare, before I felt my stomach roll again and I forced the bile to rise from my throat into the toilet. “Remind me to kill you later.” I sobbed, hanging my head over the bowl. 

I sat in the bathroom with my back pressed to the tub. They left me alone after nearly an hour of listening to me sob and kick and scream; Emily had made the executive decision to lock me in the bathroom alone so I could calm down. 

Seth had spent most of that hour trying to constrict me from lashing out against him, holding me tightly to his body. He kept whispering about keeping an open mind, how he needed me to not completely make any judgment about Embry because we needed each other. 

He was trying too hard to make sure I wasn’t going to leave Embry.

Here is what I knew:

One: My boyfriend – and my cousin – could morph into horse-sized wolves. Which likely meant others could, too.

Two: Edward and Bella definitely weren’t normal – if they were even human at all. I still didn’t like them. Three: I was absolutely terrified about what was going to happen next.