#got to follow the instructions from this artist lady who was pretty cool

[transwaterbender]

I went with this cutie on a date yesterday! @weirdcreature28 ♥️♥️♥️

We also painted before going to the mall! Look at our masterpieces!

[houseofdabs]

fic idea: lester and jonesy scramble to get ingredients and find the recipe for the cake momma always used to bake the twins on their birthday. they are inept.

THIS IS SO CUTE AAA !!

warnings: slight mentions of abuse ---------------------------------------

Lester knew how his older siblings didn't really care for birthdays --at least not Bo-- it was kind of a sensitive topic as most familial holidays were for the Sinclair siblings, seeing as they lacked the proper warmth that their parents should have offered. The only semblance of affection was bestowed onto Vincent, being as he was their mother's favorite, and in turn, their father's as well. When holidays came their parents did attempt to share the sentiment with their two other kids, but it was stark in comparison to what Vincent received; it was like they were dogs receiving scraps while the real family sat at the table and enjoyed their meal. Thinking about it made Lester upset and he didn't like to dwell on it too much, he was determined to pick up the slack from his parents and reinstate the feel good emotions that holidays should have brought.

Now how was the question, and a damn good one at that. It wasn't that Lester wasn't good at planning things, he was quite good, in fact former partners always boasted about how thoughtful he was when it came to things like this. But this time was different. Sure he loved the ones that used to be in his life, but these were his brothers who he knew might not react positively to it, he didn't want to dig up any bad memories. And yeah, people liked parties and having things given to them, but when you grow up expecting that same loving hand to strike you, it's hard to cherish the good when you know terrible is right around the corner. It hurt Lester that his brother's couldn't appreciate even the smallest things, and it made him hate his parents for making it that way, but he would never mention it to the other two.

That's when he remembered his mom's old recipe book, she was a horrible mother but a damn good baker, and if he was right he'd be able to find that one caramel cake recipe she always made for his siblings on their birthday. He'd set out to get the ingredients, they were on a budget but Lester had set aside some money to get the good stuff, anything for his brothers. All he needed was some company.

Jonesy.

Pup at his feet and directions in hand, Lester sought to set everything out, he had borrowed some cook ware from the house but he'd bring it back when he was done, maybe not clean but returned. He was confident as he measured out the ingredients but with each step he followed his faith wavered. "Y'know girl, this'sa LOT harder than I had reckoned." Lester looked down as Jonesy who just stared up at him with her head tilted.

Determined, Lester continued on whisking and adding and folding till his arms were sore, his mama made it look so easy. He was so caught up in his stumbling over the batter he completely forgot about the beast that would be the icing, and just like with the batter he shook off any concerns, how hard could it be?

He set the ingredients in the pan to melt and went back to pouring the batter in the cake pan before setting it in the heated oven. Directing his attention back to the icing, he noticed it had melted all together and he checked the instructions for what to do next. "Okay girly, it says-- TWO HOURS?" His eyes bulged as he stared down at the paper, he hadn't remembered it taking that long and he didn't have the time to wait.

"Okay y'know what we're g'na do? Not that," Lester set the paper down and turned the eye up to a higher degree, "if it's hotter it'll cook faster, now ain't I smart?" He chuckled as Jonesy barked a response. "You said it sister."

Lester watched as the contents of the pot bubble as it turned a caramel color, stirring it occasionally. He decided to put on some records to help pass the time as he waited for the cake to bake. "S'too quiet," He muttered and cranked the knob to his old boombox as the voice of Merle Haggard flowed from the speakers and into the small kitchen, "there, thas better." He looked at Jonesy before patting his chest, and invitation for her to jump up and dance with him. He held the dog's paws as he swayed and sang along.

"♫ A workin' man can't get nowhere today ♫"

He grinned and stepped with the dog, "Ain't that right Jonesy girl!" Jonesy barked and Lester howled, encouraging her to make more noise. He was having such a good time with his dance partner that he forgot about the now burning icing on the stove. "Shoot!" Lester hissed and raced to stir the liquid and take it off the eye. It was a dark brown and Lester only hoped that it wasn't too bad cause he had used everything he bought and he didn't have enough to remake it. He could only hope that he didn't also mess up the cake.

Equipped with a butter knife, Lester opened the oven and stuck it in the middle of the cake before pulling it out, something he'd seen his mom do, except he didn't know what to look for. He noticed how the top was cooked and it was squishy when he pressed into it, so he pulled it out. Soon the cake was covered in the dark caramel icing and he swore at himself for lacking his mother's artistic ability, wanting to decorate the cake but deciding that he didn't want to mess it up further. He let the cake cool as he gathered everything in his truck, making sure to remember his brothers' presents.

He had gotten Bo a portable jump starter, something he had seen someone use when he was stuck on the side of the road. Lester knew the battery on Bo's truck had seen better days and he for sure didn't want his older brother stuck somewhere. And for Vincent he knew he had to get him this old brush carrier he had seen while he was browsing some antique shop, he even managed to sweet talk the lady up front to hold it for him till he could afford it. The holder was sturdy and made out of leather that had softened from years of use, on the back had flowers and leaves carved into it, nothing too 'pretty' but something artsy that he knew his brother would like. He had also snagged some whiskey while out shopping, hoping that it would help with the nerves of them all.

Once everything was packed in his truck, Jonesy included, he set off to Ambrose, careful to not hit any bumps and disturb the dessert that sat between him and the animal. He said a silent prayer as he crept towards the washed out road, hoping that no one was at Ambrose besides his brothers, that'd be a real thorn in his side and would surely ruin his plan. As he drove through the town he breathed out a sigh of relief as he noticed nothing out of the ordinary, even better that Bo was too busy in his garage to pay any attention to him as he drove by and up to the house.

Lester was careful with taking everything in, not wanting to make too much commotion in case Vincent was up in the house and not in his workshop. Finally everything was set in the kitchen, he even cleaned up a little, more in compensation for taking and making a mess of the dishes but he wanted it to look a little nicer. He was giddy and he didn't know what to do next, did he get Bo or Vincent first? He really hoped they would like it, he would understand if they didn't, but he really did want today to be good for them. He decided to put on some music to drown out the silence the house held, it always unsettled him how quiet it could get.

Soon Lester was accompanied by the sound of Johnny Cash's 'Big River' and the house felt less vacant, he knew his brother's liked different types of music but they never grew out of their taste of the old country tapes his parents had. For a second he wondered if maybe the music might throw everything off, remind them too much of ma and pa, but he pushed the thought down when he remembered how well Bo and music paired after a few drinks.

After he decided everything was ready, Lester headed off to the House of Wax first, seeing as Vincent would listen to him if he asked him to wait in the living room whereas Bo would demand to know what's going on. Jonesy pranced alongside him, her collar jingling softly as she bounced with each step. "Hey girl, you excited?" He asked as they stopped outside the House of Wax before leaning down to pet her head. Jonesy barked and her tail wagged as she basked in the affection Lester was giving her.

The two were in and out quick, Lester telling Vincent to wait for him in the living room and leaving before his brother could respond. It had been easy but he knew getting Bo to come without question would be harder. As he and Jonesy walked to the gas station he went over in his head how would ask Bo without giving away too much, did they even know it was their birthdays? Lester stopped in his tracks.

Did they even know it was their birthdays?

Surely they had to, if they did they hadn't said anything about it. It made him sad when he thought about how it meant nothing to them, but to him it was the biggest day ever, it was the day two of the most important people came to be, two people he loved so much it hurt. He'd be damned if he let his parents continue to torment his brothers from the grave, to hell with them, Lester and his brothers were better without them and he'd show them.

With new found confidence he marched to the garage where his older brother was, head ducked under a hood of some car doing god knows what. Without looking up Bo called to him, "Hand me that wrench will'ya?" He extended his hand and waited for Lester to drop the metal tool in his hand before continuing to tinker with the vehicle. After a few beats Bo addressed him again, "Wha'cha want? M'busy."

Lester wrung the hem of his shirt in his hands as his mind scrambled to find what to say, finally settling on "I need ya up at th'house, got sumn to show ya." He turned on his heel and made his way back to the family home, ignoring Bo's demands for an answer. "I guess you'll have t'come and find out I s'pose!" He hollered back at his brother.

Upon entering the house Lester saw Vincent sitting on the couch, waiting like he expected him to be. Not too long after Lester came in Bo followed, his brows furrowed in confusion as he looked at both of his brothers. "Kay what? Th'hell you drag me up here for? Wha'cha gotta show me?"

Lester motioned for them to follow as he led them to the kitchen, Jonesy racing to be in front of the brothers, evidently more excited than the three men. On arrival Bo asked again what was going on and Lester so badly wished his brother had more patience. "Well..." He had started as he glanced between his brothers and then towards the pan that sat on the kitchen table. "Happy birthday?" Automatically Bo let out and groan and Lester had to move to stop him from leaving.

"You dragged my ass all the way up'ere t'tell me that? I'on got time fer this shit, told'ya I was busy." He stared down at his little brother before watching as his twin inspected the pan, peeling back the foil to reveal a cake, or something resembling a cake-- was it a cake? The fuck Lester bring with him?

Vincent turned back to dig through a drawer, grabbing a cake cutter and some plates from a cabinet. Lester stared at his feet as he shuffled slightly, embarrassed from the rejection. "Might not be good but I made a cake, got y'all sumn too.." His voice was small as he spoke to his brother, avoiding eye contact as he lifted his gaze.

Bo's face fell from anger to neutral as he watched his baby brother fidget, obviously upset from his reaction. "Shit, what th'hell, I reckon I could use a break." He ignored how fast Lester's expression lifted and instead head towards the table where the cake laid, "This car'mel cake?" Bo's eyebrows shot up and Vincent handed him a plate, he was shocked, he didn't know Lester was able to make it. He cut him a nice sized piece with his fork and shoveled it into his mouth.

Okay maybe he got ahead of himself with assuming.

The cake was mealy and the icing was burnt, the fuck did Lester do to this poor cake?

Lester watched as Bo stood there, a bite in his mouth but now chewing. "Well.. i'shure ish a cake" Bo muttered from behind the ruined dessert, trying to not hurt his brother's feelings too bad.

"Oh." Lester felt his shoulders slump and he held back a sigh, he had really really wanted the cake to be decent, "Y'ain't gotta eat it f'is bad.." He mumbled and watched as Vincent chewed his bite very slowly. Bo was quick to swallow, spitting it out would be too rude and he didn't think he could handle his little brother being more upset from the gesture. "Tasted like shit," he laughed and raked his plate in the trash before making his way to Lester, "well, it wasn't that bad but.." he paused, "but I sure do 'preciate it.." Before he could give it a second thought, Bo engulfed his little brother in his arms for a short embrace which Lester was quick to reciprocate. After a little Bo pulled away.

"So, what was that 'bout you gettin' us sumn?"

------------------------------

i didnt do much to correct any errors, its super late, hope yall enjoy it

[purplesurveys]

777

do you think weird it's for someone to have never tried soda? I’d be surprised that they were never curious enough to try it if they can access soda, but then again I live in a third world country and not everyone gets to try everything. I’ve learned to judge less when it comes to opportunities like this. is there any foreign film you recommend? Portrait of a Lady on Fire was fucking intense and so, so so good. do you have the same religious beliefs as your parents? My dad might also be atheist, but I’ve never known for sure. He once confided in me that he was atheist in college but “it changed” when he met my mom... but honestly we’ve always grunted the same way whenever my mom tells us it’s time to pray or if we have to watch our weekly mass livestream. So idk. I think he just acts Catholic to appease her, but yeah he’s definitely weird about it. which floor of your house/building are you on now? Second floor. It’s my first time to want to hang out in my bedroom in months because IT’S ACTUALLY RAINING and it’s cold enough in my room to wanna stay here. are there any maps hanging in your room? No maps here.

are you often a third wheel? or is someone a third wheel to you? Yep I third wheel pretty often. My girlfriend and I study in different schools and I have friends in my school who are couples, so if Gab isn’t visiting my campus for the day I just tag along with my couple friends. I don’t get bothered or feel insecure by it because I have my own relationship lolol what's the last dvd you bought? Holy shit...DVD? I don’t even remember anymore. It was most likely an Audrey Hepburn film, back in 2013 when I was really into her. That or Beyoncé’s Life Is But A Dream documentary, which was the last thing she ever released on DVD. Also came out in 2013. tell me about your favorite pair of jeans. High-waisted 90s-styled jeans. Nothing much to say other than they fit me well, I got a lot of compliments whenever I have them on, and they match any t-shirt I paired with, which made me like wearing t-shirts again haha. would you ride a motorcycle if given the chance? (or have you?) I would but only if someone super experienced was driving. I haven’t been on one because my parents don’t allow me to, and tbh I don’t mind the rule because I’m mostly scared of motorcycles anyway. is your hair healthy? No. Some hair salon I went to around ten years ago put some cheap products in my hair when I had it rebonded and it never felt 100% healthy again. Until today it gets very stiff when it gets into contact with water and only shampoo, and I always have to pair it with conditioner. if a hotel offered free breakfast in bed, what would you order? Eggs Benedict and some very creamy warm coffee. how often do you take a train? Never. I don’t trust the public transport here and I’m better off driving in my own car. what are your thoughts on reincarnation? (have you ever read up about it?) I don’t think of it at all because I don’t believe in it. I don’t mind others who are into it, just don’t shove it down my throat.  what's your favorite led zeppelin song? I don’t have one. does your home have a balcony/deck/porch? Yeah we have a balcony. We used to have a full balcony, but we transformed 3/4 of it into my brother’s current room a few years ago because he was starting to grow up and he needed his own room. We retained 1/4 of the space so that it can be the place where my dog can still do his business. what does your closet/wardrobe say about you? It says I am a very messy person who can’t keep her closet consistently organized lol. It will also tell you I’m quite girly based on the clothes I own. do you enjoy theatre? I was never a fan. how would you feel about traveling abroad alone? If I was offered the chance to do it I certainly wouldn’t give it up, but I really, really, preferably would travel with at least one companion. Traveling is one of those experiences I’d want to share with someone, and I would hate if I had to go back to my hotel room at the end of the day with no one to talk to. who would you call a lyrical genius? Laura Jane Grace. how do you treat yourself? My go-to gift for myself is giving into my cravings hahaha. Nothing speaks more to me than food, and if I feel like I deserve a reward for a job well done, I’ll go to a slightly more expensive restaurant to celebrate. do you have an interesting passport? Idk, it’s a normal one and I never had it customized or anything. are you going to pursue a career according to what you enjoy? I hope I get to. I really enjoyed my PR internship and I’d love to be headed there. what happens to your old clothes? They go to the very back or the very bottom of my wardrobe for the most part. My mom will make us throw out clothes we don’t like anymore once a year, so that’s the time I get to get rid of them. what's your favorite frozen treat? Cornetto ice cream is one of my faaaaavorite comfort snacks. The end of the cone where they save chocolate chunks is the best part. who supports you financially? My parents. Getting increasingly guiltier about it by the day, too. if you wanted to go to the movie cinema, how would you get there? I would wait for the clock to strike midnight tonight, because in 48 minutes they’ll finally loosen lockdown rules AND I CAN FINALLY GO OUT. Hahaha. After that I’ll jump to my car, drive out of the village, take a u-turn, and I’m there. how many pillows are on your bed? Two big ones. would you pay more for organic food? Only if I had the money for it. Organic food is a thing of the (very) privileged here and is not very accessible to begin with, unless you’re in posher grocieries. have you ever had a crush on a sibling's friend or a friend's sibling? I haven’t. I’d find it weird considering they’re all a bit younger than me. do you have a friend who mooches? what to do about it? (or is it you?) She’s never done it with me but I’ve heard enough horror stories about her to know that she tends to do this, but yeah Mils is apparently quite the moocher. I’m soooo not one; I’d wait for my friends to offer to pay for stuff, but otherwise I’m fighting them over the bill lmao. do you know much about feng shui? (do you use it?) I’m not knowledgeable on it but I’m definitely familiar with it, because we have a rather large Filipino-Chinese community/culture in the country that glorifies feng shui during Chinese New Year season. I don’t really have a choice but have Chinese culture shoved down my throat whether it’s in the news, the media, or my Chinese friends.  how would you make friends in a quiet class? I preferably wouldn’t because I’m only interested in getting good grades and getting that class over with hahaha. But if I was interested in making a friend or two, I’d typically scan the classroom and see who seems to be responsible? Like if they take notes as hard as I do. are you generally a quick learner? No. I take some time, and I especially take long if the thing being taught is more hands-on, like origami. I’ve just never been good at following certain tasks, and I prefer learning from reading instructions. what's your favorite spot to read? Skywalk or the dining table. has anyone given you a nickname you didn't like? (what was it?) Not that I can recall. I’m okay with all of them. did you know that buddha is not considered a god to buddhists? Yes. do you save tickets from movies, etc.? If it’s a significant enough date or event, sure. I’ve kept my 2018 Paramore gig ticket to this day, but like I’ve thrown out my ticket for Knives Out because I hated the movie lol. without looking him up, who was jim morrison? Vocalist for The Doors. when's the last time your bedroom was painted/wallpapered? Idk, 2006 or 2007 when the house was being made? It’s never been repainted. teach me something in another language. (not french/chinese/german/arabic) Why so language-ist lmaooooooo uh “Nakauwi ka na?” means “Did you get home? / Have you gotten home?” what type of body wash did you last use? Idk, I never read the labels on it actually. what type of music do you like and why? Right now I’m into lo-fi because it makes me feel relaxed, but I’m also starting to get into the recent trend where today’s artists put out songs that sound like they’re from the 80s, like Dua Lipa’s Physical or The Weeknd’s Blinding Lights - I think the genre is called synth pop/synthwave. They simply sound cool haha and they’re awesome to listen to while driving. if you randomly want to eat something in the house, do you eat it or wait? I check the time, like if we’re supposed to be having dinner soon, then act accordingly. who knows the most about you (besides yourself)? My girlfriend. do you have a nervous habit? (e.g. biting nails, tapping feet, smoking) Plucking eyebrow or eyelash hair, but that behavior is reserved for extreme cases where I’m incredibly and inconsolably anxious. On a milder day I would vape, sigh a lot, or bite my nails. how's your favorite pro sports team doing lately? I don’t watch sports with teams. would you be/are you a good role model to a younger sibling? I don’t get into trouble but I’m not the best influence either.

[motherlifesucher-archives]

Overcomplicated l Shawn Mendes Imagine.

(a/n): heyyyy! this is kinda based on the song “Why”. It was supposed to be posted earlier but here was a 6,6 mini earthquake on my country lol. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it!

summary: The more famous they became, the hardest it turned for Shawn &(Y/N) to confess their feelings, but the Grammys might the the push they needed.

The first thing Shawn did to celebrate his Grammy nominations was to dial one of his closest friends, (Y/N), who had also scored three nominations, and they were both nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album with their self-titled albums, and Song of The Year. 

They freaked out over the phone, even if they were across the world. They wanted nothing more than to just hug each other and have a Grey’s Anatomy marathon to celebrate. 

He then called Camila, who teased him saying both of her friends’ being nominated on the same category should be a sign that he should find the guts to ask (Y/N) out.

He laughed at his friend before hanging up and trying to understand what the fuck was going on.

Soon enough his phone couldn’t stop vibrating from people congratulating him. Family, friends, people on the industry. He even scored a call from both James Corden and Ellen DeGeneres. 

Geoff teased his friend saying he should ask (Y/N) out before the ceremony, just in case he won and she didn’t want to see him again. They both laughed knowing she’d never do that, but it seemed like his friends were running out of ideas to make him ask her out on a date, but nothing seemed to work out.

He remembered the chills that ran down his spine when he saw her presenting in the Golden Globes next to Timothée Chalamet. She looked gorgeous. He always found it hard to keep his attention on the stage when she was next to him, and the Grammys wouldn’t be the exception. 

Should he ask Andrew to call the awards production and ask to not be seated next to her? 

No, of course it would find its way to the public and she’d be hurt. Besides, Camila had already texted him saying the three would be sitting pretty close with Taylor Swift. 

Hell, even Taylor Swift had tried to play matchmaker while she was visiting her on tour and he got to perform!

There was a part of him aching to see what her lips would feel against his. How disheveled her hair would look right after waking up in the morning. To be the inspiration behind her songs. To be the reason why her eyes shone so bright and her smile grew bigger just because she saw him.

He knew she already was his inspiration. The impotence of seeing her and not being able to declare his love was driving him crazy, and he knew the only one who could fix that was himself, but there was too much at stake.

Their friendship was precious; they understood each other in a way not many people could, and it wasn't because they both were in the public eye, but because they understood each other on a cellular level. It was like they were the same person and he knew there was a bright future for them.

He just needed to grow some balls and do the right thing. 

Everyone around him said she felt the same way, but Shawn only dismissed them with a sigh smile while shaking his head in denial. They were only doing it so that he could grow the confidence to do what his heart desired so deeply. 

He couldn’t help but torture himself with other possible scenarios. What if he had never dated Hailey and instead he had asked her out? At that point his feelings for (Y/N) were clear, yet he still went out with the model.

What if he had asked her out the moment he saw her for the first time almost six years ago?

Was he overcomplicating things? Probably. 

-

Nerves were taking over his body as he got out of the limo, only to be bombarded with flashes and screams of his name.

He politely waved before posing and paying attention to a girl with a clipboard giving him instructions. 

He then was walked to the red carpet, patiently waiting for his turn while greeting people. He started making conversation with Niall before the entire room lit up in front of him.

There she was.

Wearing the most gorgeous gown he had ever seen. Was it because she was the one wearing it? Probably. 

He noticed the way her smile grew ten times bigger when she saw him, and even with her uncomfortable dress she made her way towards him and hugged him.

“It’s so good to see you!” She tightened the embrace before letting go of him. 

“You look beautiful,” He said and noticed Niall hiding his smirk from the side. 

“Thanks. You don’t look too bad yourself,” She smiled before quickly greeting Niall who was being ushered to the red carpet. 

“So, I heard we are sitting next to each other,” She said excitedly. 

“And next to Camila and Taylor. It’s gonna be awkward when one of us wins” He chuckled and she softly hit his arm.

“Don’t be an idiot. I’m honestly not expecting to win, are you?”

“You gotta have some confidence in yourself, babe,” He said and she felt the color rush to her cheeks.

They knew that even in the small tent where they waiting, people were snapping pictures of both of them. Shawn wanted to add something when a woman in a black dress with a sign with his name interrupted, saying it was time to walk down the carpet.

“Meet me in the carpet?” He asked and she smiled.

“You can count on it, rockstar,”

it was his time to blush at her words before following the woman, and soon enough he was met with tons of flashes and people telling him to give them smiles and posing in different angles. 

He soon moved down the carpet and saw the same woman appear with a sign with her name. 

He felt his attention shift from the photographers to her, as she cautiously stepped on the red carpet and started posing like she was born to do it. 

She noticed him and sent a wink and a smile before she continued with her work. Soon enough people started screaming both their names and she carefully walked to him.

He took a couple of steps to meet her halfway and offer her a hand, making everyone go crazy. She giggled before placing her hand on his shoulder as he put his on her waist. They continued posing for a couple of minutes before they went back to solo pictures. 

The moment they were out of that part of the carpet they laughed and took a breath, now they were being pushed to different interviews and people asking for pictures. The scene was very crowded, but they were approached by an E! News producer who said they both were on the list of interviews and if they minded doing the interview together because time was running out.

They agreed and noticed Giuliana Rancic was waiting for them. Shawn again offered his hand and helped his friend with the steps while being careful to not step in her dress. 

“Well, see who we have here! Two of the biggest names in the music industry right now and multiple nominated artists tonight, Shawn Mendes and (Y/N)!” Giuliana introduced them and some people surrounding cheered while they greeted to the camera. 

“Thanks for having us,” Shawn replied with his charming smile. 

“You two look absolutely incredible. Ladies first, who are you wearing? Because I have to say that seeing you back in the Globes and tonight makes you climb to the top of the list of the best dressed during this awards season!”

“My God, you are so nice! Thank you so much! Well, tonight I'm wearing Christian Dior from head to toe,” She motioned her dress and shoes. 

“Well, you make this dress look ten times more beautiful, don’t you agree?” Giuliana asked Shawn.

“Absolutely, I think I’ve said she looks stunning like ten times since we arrived,” He said trying to play it cool, but his hands were sweating.

“Aren’t you a charmer!” Shawn smiled at the camera before Giuliana asked him which designer was responsible for his looks.

“Tonight I'm wearing Armani,” He subtly showed his watch to the camera, earning a laugh from his friend. 

“Is there any pressure or nervousness since you two are nominated on the same categories?” “I don’t think so,” (Y/N) answered. “We have been friends for a while now, even one of our best friends, Camila, is nominated tonight and I think we are just thrilled to be recognized amongst so many great artists,”

“Yeah, if you think about it we are still young and got many years to come, but the fact that I get to be here with my best friends celebrating our work is just magical,” Shawn completed her answered and smiled to the interviewer. 

“Great, you guys are spectacular! Thank you so much for joining us and good luck! Especially for Shawn since he’s performing tonight!”

They said goodbye and Shawn again helped his longtime crush out of the small stage.

“Is it time to go to our seats?” (Y/N) asked Shawn who shrugged. 

Only fifteen minutes were left when the same woman on the black dress told them it was time to head inside the venue. They waved to the photographers scattered around the red carpet for the last time before entering.

Their seats were on the first row, they could see people filling the seats and the biggest names on the industry greeting each other. 

They were reaching their seats when they spotted Camila and her boyfriend. 

“I was wondering where you guys were!” Camila said excitedly and hugging (Y/N) while Shawn shook hands with Camila’s boyfriend, Matthew. 

“It’s so crowded outside you can barely move,” (Y/N) said adjusting her dress before taking a seat. 

“When are you supposed to go backstage?” Camila asked Shawn.

“Uhm, I think I have to go during the first commercial break,” Shawn said and both Camila and (Y/N) clapped in excitement. “Please don’t embarrass me during the presentation,” Shawn teased them.

“Not a chance! We’re your biggest fans AND your best friends, of course we are going to embarrass you in front of the world!” (Y/N) said and hugged Shawn’s waist, completely ignored the look Camila gave Shawn. 

“You guys are so annoying,” Shawn wrapped his arm around (Y/N) and softly kissed the top of her hair. 

Camila almost squeaked in excitement. Why weren’t they together yet?!

-

Ariana Grande had beat both Camila and (Y/N) for the award of Best Pop Solo Performance, making them laugh and cheer loudly for the brunette in stage. 

The ceremony was coming to an end when the category where the three friends were nominated, the Best Pop Vocal Album category was up. Camila interlaced her fingers with her boyfriend when the camera was in front of her as her name got announced, closely followed by Shawn and (Y/N) that smiled at each other. 

“And the Grammy goes to,” Bruno Mars opened the envelope, “(Y/N)!” 

Everyone jumped from their seats except from the winner, who covered her mouth and slowly rose from her seat. 

Shawn engulfed her in a hug so tight while whispering congratulations on her ear. He almost let impulses get the best of him and kiss her lips, but he only kissed her cheek before letting her go. 

The entire audience cheered when Shawn helped her to the stage, carefully adjusting the back of her dress on the stairs before cheering for her. 

Her speech was shaky an emotional as she held her award. But the best part for Shawn was when he felt the camera next to his face, but nothing could erase the smile as she thanked him. 

“People say it’s hard to meet real people on this industry, but I just look here on the first row. Camila Cabello, Taylor Swift, and of course Shawn Mendes. Incredibly talented people who deserve to win just as much as I do. And a big support for me during this process has been this man standing here,” She pointed at Shawn. “Thank you for being my friend and guiding me through this process. I wouldn’t be the same without you and I love you, you are the best friend in the world,”

She continued mentioning her family, but Shawn knew there was something igniting inside of him and it was nothing like he had felt before. 

That something followed him the entire night. 

It was the courage to finally make his dreams come true and be with her. 

Love her. 

That was the reason why he didn’t let go of her during the entire night as they made appearances on the various after parties. 

They were getting drunker as the night passed by. He could feel her leaning on his shoulder, trying to find warmth since she had changed her dress into a short one and chills were covering her body. 

Her face was hidden on his neck during the majority of the night. They had lost their friends now as they stepped inside Post Malone’s after party. Paparazzi were having a field day as they walked inside with linked arms and she hiding her face and Shawn shielding her from their view. 

“Should we dance? I think we’ve had too much to drink,” She giggled and took his hand. 

Shawn smiled as she let another button on his shirt loose, exposing his chest. They were dancing, carefully trying no to bump into other people as they giggled in the dark room. 

He felt her face getting close, she even smiled at him as their noses bumped into each other, but he knew he didn’t want this to be dismissed as a drunken decision, so he delicately separated their faces and offered her a drink.

He missed the devastated look the drunk Grammy winner gave him. 

-

Two weeks had passed since the Grammy awards and Shawn was isolated in his room watching Just Jared instagram stories. 

People were confused, and to be honest, so was him. 

Multiple pictures of him and (Y/N) had resurfaced after heir drunken night. People were speculating whether or not they were officially dating, if they had started dating just now if if this had been going on for years.

But just two days after this, pictures of his girl and Timothée Chalamet appeared, making everyone, Shawn included, confused. 

He didn’t call her again. He ignored her texts. He didn’t even bother to check her Instagram.

And she noticed the lack of presence of a certain tall boy in her life. 

She was giving up on trying to reach him when he finally texted back.

“Sorry. I've been busy, you wanna talk about something? I’m leaving LA tomorrow.”

Her heart skipped a beat and told him to meet her at her house. He agreed and she started to patiently wait for him to arrive. Later, she saw his car on the camera, she tried to look her best as she opened the door as he parked his car next to hers. 

She smiled shyly, “Hi,” 

“Hey there,” Shawn gave her a quick hug.

They stepped inside and the first thing Shawn noticed was the Grammy standing proudly on top of her piano. 

“It looks nice,” Shawn pointed at the award. 

“Thanks,” She thanked quietly. “How have you been?”

“Good, you?” He asked her. 

“All good, thanks,”

They stared at each other quietly. Shawn was going to ask her what the hell was going on with the actor when she interrupted:

“Are you mad because I won?” She blurted, making Shawn’s eyes widen. 

“What?” He asked in disbelief.

“You’ve been ignoring me. Is it because I won our category?” She asked while fearing the answer. 

“Are you crazy? Of course not!” He replied offended.

“Then why have you been ignoring me? What’s going on with you? We had a moment, things clicked and it felt right, but you just bailed on me!” She told him with her voice full of anger but it was soft. 

Shawn took a deep breath. This was it. The moment he had been waiting for yet fearing the outcome. He didn’t realize when his heart started to pound against his ribcage, but he calmed his breathing and started pouring his heart out. 

“I’m scared,” He confessed. “I really like you, and I have for a while now, ever since I saw you. But I'm scared because we are friends, and you mean a lot to me and I can’t help it. We are constantly in the spotlight, I don’t want them to damage what we already have, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like you any less, because...” 

Shawn’s ramble was suddenly interrupted by a pair of soft lips against his own.

He instantly relaxed and everything felt natural. His hands fell on her waist as he drew her closer. Everything felt familiar yet strange, but the most important thing...

It felt right. 

[ironwoman18]

The Worst Third Date Ever part 6

Someone told me that Spencer actually was good drawing so I played it out a little here. Hope you like it.

Chapter 6: The portrait, the winner and the loser

It was Saturday and Spencer could not be more nervous. He did not want to mess up their date and he was not clear yet about what to paint.

He was wearing a dark blue suit and a light blue shirt. He put on a dark blue tie and sighs looking at him in the mirror. Then he brushed his hair as much as he could and texted Max to let her know he will pick her up in fifteen minutes.

Then he walked out of his house, went downstairs and to his car. He stopped by a flower shop to buy her some flowers. He picked roses. And continued his way to her apartment.

When he arrived he walked out the car and in the building where he reached her apartment and knocked the door.

She opened it and smiled when she saw the flowers "Aww thank you Spencer, they are beautiful" she holded the flowers and moved a finger to him so he got closer and she kissed him gently "you are so sweet" she whispered before going to her kitchen to get a pot with water for her flowers.

"I'm glad you liked them. I haven't figured out your favorite flowers yet so I brought roses"

"I love any kind of flowers so you can bring whichever you want and I will love them" she holds her purse. She was wearing black jeans, a white blouse and over it her black leather jacket. She decided to use high heel for this date because she always felt to small next to him.

And even with them she still looked short. He offered his arm to her to hold like a gentleman "oh my handsome knight, thank you" she teased him as she holds his arm.

"You are welcome my beautiful princess" he followed the tease and she laughed softly.

They walked out of her apartment and goes downstairs to his car after she closed the door.

When they arrived to the car he opened the door for her "milady" he imitated an English accent and she laughed softly before getting in, then he closed the door and got in the car.

He turned it on and looked at her "ok Max I need the address to get there" she nodded and handed him her phone with the address.

"Got it Spence?".

"Yeah" he answered and handed her the phone. He buckled up his seatbelt and drove there. They were in silence for some minutes until he asked "did you finish your class for tomorrow?"

"Yes, I used the advices you gave me and I'm pretty sure it will be go perfectly" she smiled as she said so.

"Amazing and I'm so proud of you. I'm sure you will do it great"

"Why thank you" she blushed at that "they said I can invite someone and I was wondering if you would like to go with me"

"Sure I would love to" he smiled and added "but I gotta ask.... will you do it like yourself if I'm there? Because people do a different perform when they are with that significant other or their family"

"Yeah I will. When I'm teaching my attention is to my students not my surround"

"Ok perfect because I wouldn't forgive myself if you didn't get it because of me" he said as they arrived to the restaurant. He drove to the valet parking and he handled the car to the guy there and went to help Max out.

The guy gave him a ticket as he held her hand gentle "are you ok?" She asked when they walked away.

"Yes it just... I saw so many unsub that sometimes I had doubts about people around me. One of the bad things about this job is the evil vs good battle"

She squeezed his hand softly "it's ok Spencer. I understand and I know it's hard to deal with them. I still have nightmares with Cat"

"That's normal. After a traumatic experience. But you will forget it soon" he assured her then they realized they were standing in the middle of the bar's door. They laughed and walked in. She handed their tickets to the waiter. He checked them and led them to a table.

The table had the equipment to paint, bottles of colors, canvas for each one, painting brushes and more.

Spencer was watching all on the table as the waiter walked to them.

"What can I get you to drink? Also you can order some food"

"Water please" said Spencer looking at Max.

"I want a cup of wine but hold on sir" she looked at the waiter then at Spencer "can you have a cup just for a toast? I can't drink to much because I have the class tomorrow so... we drink a sip or two and then order water" she looked at him.

"Ok I can do it but if we are going to drink so little why don't ask for a smaller amount of wine in each cup?" He looked at the waiter.

"Sure we can fill both cups with half the wine we usually put in"

"Perfect then thank you" the waiter walked away to get there order "hey I was thinking. What about we make a bet" he looked at her with interest "what about if we don't see each other painting and ask the instructor to pick the best. The winner will pick our next date" she smirks feeling the winner after what he said two days ago.

Spencer kept his poker face "you know I'm from Vegas right?" She nodded "I just lost 2 times a bet and it was against JJ and Emily" he raised an eyebrow.

"I'm sure of my odds this time" she looked at her with a serious face "and I will raise the prize, the loser will also will do whatever the winner wants"

Spencer, still with an unreadable poker face, said "ok I accept the bet" he extended his hand toward her to shake her hand closing the deal.

Then when the rest of the people arrived and the waiter brought the two cups with half of the wine and two glass of water for them.

"For our first night time date and for most to come" she said and smiled at him.

He repeated her toast and smiled back then the clink their cups and drink some of the wine. Then they put their cups apart.

The class started with the instructor giving his name, Emmanuel, and the instruction they have to follow. He ordered them to turn off their phone and put them in a basket with their name. Then they started to paint.

Spencer was so competitive that he was capable of doing a portrait of them the day they met. His amazing memory helped him to work on his painting without any effort. Max looked at him from the corner of her eyes and was getting worry because he was so focused that may her think the genius man would make her think he was not good to trick her.

When the class was about to end he finished his work and so did Max.

"Are you done?" She asked.

"Yes and you?" She nodded "want to call the instructor to come over?" She bit her lip nervous.

He was good with his poker face, surely he was from Vegas "sure I will" she said keeping her straight face and moved her hand in the instructor's direction.

The man walked towards them "is everything ok lady?" She nodded and explained their bet and if he could judge their paintings "well the purpose of this event is for entertainment and relax but I guess if you decided this, it was part of your entertainment so... let's see those paintings"

Max was first, she made a beautiful painting of the park where she met Spencer. It has the place where they bought the pretzels next to the place they play with the sprinklers. At the very bottom was coffee truck where they met after he arrived from the hospital.

"It's beautiful and I like all the colors you used, let's see your partner's but it's hard competition"

Then Spencer showed him his painting. And when Max saw it, she held her breath and cover her mouth with her hand. Her eyes were filled with tears.

Before hers and the instructor's eyes was a perfectly accurate portrait of them the day they met. They were perfectly made and with the right amount of light and dark, the color of their clothes, everything.

"Spencer..." she looked at him in shock and he smirks with a little bit of arrogance "...you cheater..." she said under her breath and smirked rubbing her eyes.

"Excuse me?" He looked at her smiling.

"I had to admit this is quite impressive. Are you an artist?"

"No"

"Well with this painting I couldn't believe it. Anyway... we have a winner... sir you won" he patted Spencer's back softly "you have so much talent" he smiled and let the couple alone.

She looked at him in awe "I thought you said you didn't know how to paint"

"I'm a quick study" he smirked "did you like it?"

"Of course I did... it's gorgeous and well done"

"I was inspired" he looked at her and she blushed.

"You are lucky to be so cute or I would totally slapped you for... not just let me make me make a bet against you but also because you accepted it" she rolled her eyes and laughed gently.

He laughs too and held her hand "I'm a very competitive person and I couldn't say no. I don't know call it the Vegas DNA" she laughed more "whatever... now you have to do what I want and I know some nice place we can go" he smiled.

"You are enjoying this, aren't you?" He nodded drinking his water.

The instructor wrapped up the event and said that he was thankful for everyone who were there. He saw some great paintings and he was proud of their job. Everyone clapped at him and the people stood up ready for leaving.

He also said they could take the painting with them. So Spencer held his and Max's "I was thinking about going for a proper dinner" he looked at her.

"Sounds great, I'm starving" she put on her jacket and purse "where are we going?"

"There's a good place a few blocks away from here"

"Awesome, let's go" she smiled and wrapped an arm around his. Then they walked out the bar where the event took place.

OOooOOooOO

Here is this interesting date I imagined a bit different when I first thought about it but while I was writing this all just come to me and I think it was pretty cool.

I would like some ideas for Spencer asking her to finally asked her to be his girlfriend. I wanted to do it here but, as I said, my plans were changed as I was writing.

Comment me your idea and I will totally considered. Thank you again for reading this story.

[angelinacas]

So back in the beginning of December I was invited to go see a LIVE taping of The Voice. It was pretty exciting!! I have been to a live taping of a television show before. I have been on set of a movie before. But this was definitely a different experience, because it was the live taping of the performances. It was very different. So here goes…

  The email we received with the instructions said that we will NOT be allowed to bring in our cell phones. So we had to leave all of our phones in the car. So the only selfies we took that day were these ones in the car.

And then we took this one when we got to the parking structure.

The call time for check in was 330pm, but we had read online about other people’s experiences and they all said that it would be a good idea to get there around 130pm to start lining up.

We parked in the parking structure and followed the signs to The Voice line. Make sure you don’t pass the elevators otherwise you’ll wandering through CityWalk looking for more signs haha. So we go down the elevator and down into the lower level of the parking structure and get in line. There looked to be about maybe 50-60 people in line already. We thought we were going to be standing for hours and hours, but nope. We were in line for about 20 minutes. A guy came out and gave instructions that phones were not allowed in there so people had a few more minutes to take their phones back to their cars and come back in line. Surprised me how many people DID NOT read the rules on the tickets or in the email.

So a heads up, when you are printing your ticket and parking pass at home, make sure you print the 2 other pages as well and sign them. That way you wont be bombarded at the table with papers and pens and try to crawl over the crowd to get a form or a pen. Be prepared. We already had ours, so we bypassed the chaos bunch and went straight to the next line.

A security person then started down the line checking names, ID’s and taking signed forms. Once checked in they let walk to the metal detectors and a colored bracelet was put on you. We were given silver on this trip. (another trip given purple) They will tell you that the colors dont mean anything… they just mean you will be on a certain trolley. That is a lie. lol.. You will be placed in different groups for seating. The first time we had silver and we learned that was for the people in the pit. The purple wristbands on another trip were for the stadium seats behind the judges… so…

Anywho… we got wristbands and walked through a hallway and then came out to a patio area. There were chairs lined up under a canopy. There were also two food trucks there. You can buy food or something to drink. At the front of the chairs, there were water stations for free water. And on the other side of the chairs there were port-o-pottys. Fun.

I would suggest EAT BEFORE YOU GET THERE. And don’t drink too much if you have a light bladder. lol.

An usher sat us in the chairs… filling up the whole area. That took about an hour to get everyone checked in and sat down. We met and chatted with seat neighbors. The wait wasnt bad because we were sitting down. Which was nice considering we were going to be standing for the next 4 hours…IN HEELS!!

Here’s another tip: wear COMFORTABLE shoes!! It says in the ticket information to dress to impress. But it really DOES NOT matter. It’s so dark in there and the cameras will NOT see your shoes. So if you wanna dress fancy and hip, go for it. But i would totally wear some comfy vans or uggs. Something cushiony.

So… after about an hour, each wristband color was called and we got on the trolleys. we were taken on a trolley down to the studio. It was a fun ride. Then we got in line outside The Voice studio. The famous wall with the hand holding the microphone. We were there.

We waited more in a group than a line outside. Each color was placed in a little group there. We watched as the performers families arrived and got in line. We saw a couple celebrities arrive and even they stood in line. We waited maybe another 15-20 minutes as everyone was arriving. Families and celebrities were escorted in first. Then our silver bracelets were led in. We were the lucky ones to be put in “The Pit”. The Pit is the standing crowd you see on each side of the stage. If you want to be on camera, (its dark… but on camera) go further into the pit and along the stage. Near the speakers. You will be slightly on camera lol. It is really so dark in there when the cameras come on.

BUT… on one shot, my hand was on camera. YAY. hahaha right there, front and center. My hand is the one that looks like I’m touching this girl. lol.. That was pretty much the brightest it was in there. When the camera was at that angle.

We received A LOT of rules and direction from security and the crowd hype guy!! We can NOT boo under any circumstance. We don’t do the sway thing… eventhough, i think 2 songs they told us to sway lol.. We were told to clap and cheer and be loud and enthusiastic. The hype guy said “The crowd the week prior was real quiet and weak. So we need to be loud and energetic tonight.” But I quickly learned he says that every taping. haha

A couple of the security guys were kind rude. Not a smile or anything out of them. Seemed like they are just tired of their job so they could care less what job they are at. lol.. They’re just there. But there were a couple of guys who did actually smile and were personable. That was nice. Considering we were all just super excited to BE THERE. It was cool to feel welcomed by the few that made us feel it.

Carson wasn’t so talkative. He kind of just went in and out. Kelly definitely is EXACTLY as she is on camera. Very talkative and funny. Genuine. I absolutely love her!! Gwen seemed sweet. She said hi a couple times. John didn’t look away from his phone at all that night. But on another night he waved at us. And Blake was watching Monday Night football during one show and was joking and flirting with Gwen another night. Kinda funny.

The show was a live taping. The live semi-final performances. So we got to see all the performances of the last 8 finalists. Then we saw a secret performance that were being recorded for the finale! YES. You heard that right… recorded performances for the finale. Really cool that we were there for that!! We got to see Lady Antebellum perform live!! So awesome. They literally went on stage, Carson introduced them, they sang, we clapped, they were done and they walked off stage. And that was it. lol. That is pretty much how the entire show of performances went on throughout the night.

Introduction, sing, clap, walk off. lol. Nothing else in between. No time to talk to anyone. Just that. It was a rush because it was live. During each commercial break all the judges personal stylists, makeup artists, personal assistants and photographers came to judges chairs. Gwen took so many selfies. Total selfie queen. lol.

Overall, it was a fun day. The taping ended at about 7pm and we were on the freeway home by 730pm. It was an awesome experience. So much fun!!

To recap, my tips:

Eat before you get there.

Get there about 2 hours before call time to get in line.

Make sure you print and sign ALL the forms. (Tickets, parking pass, NDA and Photo Release)

Leave your phone in the car.

Wear COMFORTABLE shoes!!!!

Don’t be shy!!

Have fun!!

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments or email me. If you ever get a chance to go, share your story! I would love to hear your experience!

Blessings in 2020

    This is The Voice So back in the beginning of December I was invited to go see a LIVE taping of The Voice.

[samslittlespoon]

Making a Princess

You and Sam are called to an emergency, only to find out it’s not the type of emergency you were expecting...

PAIRING: Sam x Reader

WORD COUNT: 1200

WARNINGS: language

AUTHOR’S NOTE: I’m so excited to participate in my first writing challenge! A big thank you and a happy (early) birthday to @squirrel-moose-winchester! My prompt for this Crack Attack challenge is ‘Kids/Old People’ sooo here we go! 

+++

“Sam! Oh thank goodness you picked up. I need your help,” Jodi’s voice came sharp and urgent through the speaker on Sam’s phone.

“What is it? Dean’s out, he won’t be back for a few more hours, but I can help” he replied, his voice gravelly and concerned.

“Please,” she begged, “just come over now. Hurry! Bring y/n!” With that, she hung up.

Sam looked at you and you nodded in silence already slinging your jacket over your shoulders. “Let’s go.”

You arrived at Jodi’s in record time. You had phoned Dean on your way to give him a heads up while Sam put the pedal to the metal. The two of you tumbled up the stairs, guns strapped to your hips, knives in hand, unsure what you were about to encounter.

In the split second before Sam knocked on the door, Jodi opened it.

“Oh good! Took you long enough!” She gestured to your knives, “put that stuff away. Come in, come in.”

“What’s up, Jode? What’s wrong?” Sam asked, eyes sweeping the house looking for the threat.

Jodi looked at you both somberly and closed the front door. Once the door clicked, her face broke into a huge grin. “Well, my girls are out and my nieces are here to visit, and...well...” she paused, “I got asked on a date, so...I needed a babysitter?” Her tone curving up at the end as she scrunched her nose and raised her hands. “You know?”

“Soo, there’s nothing wrong?” you ask.

“Well, I mean, nothing life threatening, but here’s the real travesty - I’m about to go on my first date in years and I’ve got no idea what to wear! Here, you go meet the girls while I finish getting ready. They’re in the living room watching TV. Good luuuck,” she sang as she floated up the stairs.

“So there’s no...” Sam began, then trailed off when you both realized Jodi wasn’t listening.

“Babysitting!” You turned to Sam, puzzled. “We really doing this?”

“Uh. Yeah. I guess.”

In the living room twin girls, about 6 or 7, in similar but not identical pink dresses were quietly watching TV on the couch.

Maybe this won’t be so bad, you thought. After all, you can handle demons, you can handle kids. Right?

Sam cleared his throat and you expected them to turn. They didn’t even blink.

“Hi girls, I’m y/n. What are your names?”

Silence.

“W-Well, this is Sam. We’re going to looking after you guys tonight, you cool with that?”

Crickets.

“Oh boy,” Sam muttered under his breath. This was gonna be a long night.

“You guys wanna tell me your names? Otherwise I’ll have to make names up, and I don’t think you guys want to be named gym socks and booger.” The girls let out soft giggles. “Oh! Well okay then, you’re gym socks and you’re booger,” you said, pointing to them.

“I want to be Booger!” Gym Socks said.

Sam gave a hearty chuckle. “Well if you get to be Booger and Gym Socks, I want to be...SPATULA!”

The girls burst out laughing at the funny word and Sam smirked, pleased with himself.

“KAREN, AMELIA,” Jodi’s voice boomed from behind. “Behave yourselves tonight, you hear? Aunt Jodi will be back in a few hours. Be good, okay?”

“Yes Aunt Jodi,” they agreed in unison.

Jodi smiled at you both and even went so far as to pinch Sam’s cheek. “They’re good girls, don’t worry, you’ll do fine. I owe you both big time.”

As she whirled her way out the front door, you called out, “don’t do anything I wouldn’t dooo!”

Jodi just gave a bold laugh. “Don’t worry, y/n,” she called, “that list is pretty short,” and slammed the door.

Alone with the girls, you racked your brain for something to do. Finally, you landed on just asking them.

“So, ladies, what would you like to do tonight? Movie? Popcorn? Maybe a-”

“Is Sam your boyfriend?” The one of the left - either Karen or Amelia - asked. 

“Yes, Booger, he is.”

“TOLD YOU, AMELIA.” Booger, now obviously Karen, exclaimed, followed by giggles at her nickname.

“Do you kiss?” Amelia asked.

“Y-”

“Are you going to get married?”

“W-”

“Is he your only boyfriend?” 

“How about you let me answer a question before asking the next one?!” You cut in, exasperated. 

Laughing, Sam wrapped a heavy arm around you. “Well, Gym Socks and Booger, yes we kiss, T.B.D. on getting married, and if I’m not her only boyfriend, we got a big problem. Now, let’s do something other than twenty questions.”

“Let’s make Sam a princess!” You shout, throwing your hands in the air, and you see Sam’s eyes flicker with a hint of fear. The girls yell and throw their hands in unison, mimicking your moves. “Make! Sam! A princess!” you chant “Make! Sam! A princess!” Soon the girls join in and you’re marching to Jodi’s room for blush and eye shadow with two chanting girls at your heels. 

You return to the living room and find Sam defeated but smiling. “I can’t believe I’m letting you do this,” he said sheepishly, his bright hazel eyes shining up at you through his lashes. 

You hand the girls lipsticks from your own purse so they don’t destroy Jodi’s and initiate the Make Sam a Princess movement. “Ladies,” you look at both girls seriously, “Find yourself a man who will let you practice make-up on him and make him a princess.” Both girls nod enthusiastically. “With that said, ARE YOU READY TO MAKE SAM A PRINCESS?” The girls respond with near-on shrieks of joy.

“FIrst, let’s give him blush! You should each make a red circle on his cheeks.” The girls follow your instructions while you layer on think blue eyeshadow to Sam’s eyelids. Within 15 minutes your sweet boyfriend has become a terrifying clown.

Finally, you sit back and admire your handiwork. “What do you think girls? Does he look like a princess?”

“Wait!” Karen called out then ran a red lipstick stripe across Sam’s lips one more time. Sam nodded solemnly when she was done, as if in agreement with the artistic choice.

“Princess Sam!” Amelia anointed him before jumping up to curtsey. 

“Thank you, Princess Gym Socks and Princess Booger,” Sam said earnestly. The girls laughed and you felt your heart melt slightly at how Sam has handled the girls.

“I have to say, Princess Sam, you’re quite the sight. You might want to wash that off before -”

“SAM?!” Came Dean’s voice from the front hall.

“Oh shit,” you muttered, immediately hoping the girls didn’t hear. “I never called him back after we realized this wasn’t an emergency.”

“What’s going on? Where are --” Dean stopped dead in his tracks when he laid eyes on Sam.

“It’s not what you think,” Sam said defensively. 

“No? Because it looks like you got a little something riiight --” he scratched at the corner of his own mouth before breaking out into a cheesy grin. “What the hel-” Dean spotted the girls just in time “-lloo there ladies. I see you’ve done quite the number on my brother.”

“He’s a princess!” Amelia announced proudly.

Dean finally bust out with the laugh he was holding in. “It’s an honor to have royalty in our midst, Princess Sam!”

+++

[theartificialdane]

Galactica, part 252

Day of the wedding! Follow everyone as they get ready for the big moment, and the I do that will change lives forever.

“Perviously on Galactica, Raven refused the help of a wedding planner, taking care of every detail by herself. At the rehearsal dinner, Violet tanked her maid of honor speech (with no help from Sutan), and Courtney stood up to Bianca for her patronizing behaviour, and that’s what you missed on Glee.”

Thank you to @veronicasanders @toriibelledarling and @samrull

Violet had no idea what she had expected for Raven’s wedding preparations, but no matter what she had thought, this wasn’t it. Violet had always known Raven was a person who enjoyed the extravagant, but to actually see it with her own eyes was a very different experience.

“Wow...”

“I know right?” Juju laughed. Juju had cornered Violet when she had come back from the gym that morning, her hair still wet from the shower she had taken after running until she couldn’t think anymore. For a second, Violet had assumed Juju wanted to talk about the speech, about how horribly she had failed and how disappointed both Raja and Raven had to be in her, but in reality, all Juju wanted was her help to set up and make sure everything was okay. C

“It’s...It’s...wow...” Violet looked around. Violet knew Raven had pretty much booked the entire hotel, but the suite was outside of her wildest imaginations, Violet even feeling a little sick as she briefly tried to calculate how much money Raven had spent on it, before giving up for her sanity's sake.

A gigantic, elaborate brunch buffet was laid out on one end of the suite, complete with caterers in crisp chef coats bustling around, setting up pastry towers and stations for fresh omelets, waffles and crepes to order.

A harpist sat in another corner, across from the mani/pedi stations and massage tables. Violet was so distracted by all of the luxurious surrounding that she didn’t notice the dreaded binders until Juju nudged her arm and pointed to a shelf. Color-coded, tabbed, labeled with their names.

“Ladies!” Raven sang, sailing from one of the bedrooms in a dressing gown, trailing yards of marabou feathers behind her. “I’m sooo delighted that my two favorite people are the first to arrive! Please have some breakfast and make yourselves comfortable!” With a flurry of air kisses, she flew back into the bedrooms.

“Well, she seems to be...in a good mood,” Violet commented.

“Don’t be fooled by the showmanship. We’re soldiers today. Those books are our missions,” Juju laughed. “Let’s see if she can top Fame on the crazy bride scale, though I have a good feeling she will.”

Violet shuddered.

***

“Heyyyy!” Sutan gave Karl a fist bump, the two exchanging a secret handshake as if they were kids, before Sutan slid into the large, circular booth.

Bianca turned to Raja, snickering, Raja smiling brightly.

“They are so lame when they try to bro out…”

“You’re just mad we’re cool, Bianca.”

“Let them have it. It’s their one butch thing,” Raja laughed, toasting her.

Fame giggled, leaning on Raja’s other shoulder and signaling for the waiter.

“Can we get a refill on the mimosas please? Thank you!”

“That’s right, keep ‘em coming!” Detox agreed.

“Just as long as no one gets too drunk.”

“We would never.” Fame laughed, taking one of the glasses the waiter came back with.

“So Raj, are you doing any fucking thing today to help your bae, or is she taking care of the entire shit show herself?” Karl asked.

“Uhhh…” Raja scratched her head. “Well, I’m supposed to check in with Adore to make sure that she and the band are ready for their set and in contact with the AV people. And…”

Bianca raised an eyebrow.

“...you know, get dressed at some point,” she finished, with a slightly guilty expression, sipping her mimosa. “I have a makeup artist and a hairdresser coming. Raven insisted, even though she knows I hate it.” Raja smiled. “I have had enough of strangers touching my face for a lifetime after modeling.”

Patrick laughed and slung an arm around Fame’s shoulders. “Wow, are you sure you can handle all that pressure?”

“Listen, Raven is the one who wanted to do all this on her own. I would have been happy with a courthouse wedding-” Raja had to stop talking as everyone snorted. “I would! All of this is Raven’s idea, so she has to get it done, but trust me, she’ll have her army of bridesmaids to help with the heavy lifting.”

“I think we should toast to Raja, for not assigning us any fucking heavy lifting,” Bianca said.

“Hear hear!” Sutan cried, raising his glass.

***

Just as Juju warned, the spa treatments and sumptuous buffet were simply a precursor to the more pressing business at hand for the day. By noon, Raven had distributed burner phones and binders to every girl, with assignments and specific, detailed instructions.

“Think of it like a scavenger hunt,” she said, sipping daintily from her champagne glass, “Only if you fail and make me look bad in front of the guests, and especially my fucking mother, I’ll murder you.”

Violet knew better than to underestimate the truth in what she was saying. Luckily, her days as one of the best executive assistants in New York City had prepared her for this moment, and so soon she was on the phone with 3 different catering companies, 2 pastry chefs, a raw bar vendor, the hotel event staff, and the wedding cake delivery service.

Once her phone calls were done, she walked over to a panicked Jaslene to help her with the DJ, who’d apparently gotten into a car accident on the New Jersey Turnpike. She texted Pearl and found 3 backup DJs within 20 minutes. With Jaslene’s tears dried, they held hands and walked over to the nail station to present the options to the bride.

Violet had never thought she would be so happy to work for free, the rush of keeping track of everything keeping her mind from wandering and playing tricks on her.

***

“Heyy, that looks great!” Karl exclaimed. “I’ve missed American food so much. This is like, the first breakfast in months I’ve had without any goddamn beans on the plate.”

“Speak for yourself!” Patrick laughed, digging into his huevos rancheros.

“Okay, wait, before we begin eating, can I just say…” Fame held her glass up, eyes slightly misty. “Raja, I’m just so happy that you found the kind of love that-”

“Yeah, yeah, true love, save it for tonight, blondie,” Bianca sighed, toasting her.

“Thank you, darling,” Raja said, kissing Fame on the cheek.

Detox nudged Sutan with his elbow, gesturing to Bianca, who was typing furiously on her phone, brow furrowed. “What do you think that’s all about?”

“Well...I mean, I don’t want to gossip-”

“Sure, of course not.”

“But I heard that B is in quite the doghouse. Apparently she slept on Fame’s couch or something last night.”

Detox cackled.

***

“Flowers?”

“All 3 vendors are here and coordinating with Marilyn as requested. Here’s the first progress picture…” Naima showed Raven a photo on her phone, earning a gracious smile from the beautiful bride.

“Very good. You may join us for a mani/pedi, but be sure to keep the phone nearby.”

Naimi collapsed into the spa chair with a relieved sigh.

“Photographer and videographer are all set!” Allison declared triumphantly.

“Proof?” Raven asked.

“Uhhh...”

“They’re texting back in a minute, as soon as they get out of the subway!” Violet interjected, seeing the fear in Allison’s eyes. She gripped the blonde by the forearm and dragged her back into the other room to help her complete her mission.

***

“Oh god you look amazing.” Fame smiled brightly, looking at Raja as she got the finishing touches on her makeup done.

“Thank you.” Raja laughed. “I really like the gold, can I get a bit more eyeshadow?”

Fame stepped aside as the makeup artist went in again. It was only her, Bianca and Raja in the suite Raja and Raven shared, Raja preferring a small bridal party for her while she got ready. Fame took two new glasses and dumped down on the sofa, giving one to Bianca who was staring at her phone.

“Fuck,” Bianca muttered.

“She still isn’t responding?” Fame asked.

“Who isn’t responding?” Raja asked.

“Nothing...” Bianca put her phone into her purse and took the glass Fame gave her. “Can’t we just toast to eternal love and all that bullshit again?”

“That was beautiful, Bianca. You should officiate,” Raja snickered.

Fame put a hand on Bianca’s arm, offering her friend comfort. Fame knew that the Courtney situation was driving Bianca crazy, but her friend shrugged her off, clearly not wanting her touch.

“Fuck off.”

“B, please can we just like, chill?” Raja turned her head. “I’ve got some weed if you need it?”

“Nah.”

“Okay, but you’re on thin ice. I want a low key no drama day to prepare myself for the circus tonight.”

***

“Are these too tight?” Pearl turned slightly, showing off her ass to Laila who was still laying in bed, her computer out as she was replying to comments on her channel, the two of them enjoying that they had somehow gotten an overnight invitation to the wedding, the leftovers from the breakfast on the side table. Pearl was naked except for a pair of dark pants, her ass looking absolutely sinful, her long blonde hair a lazy mess on top of her head, her full tits out, and Laila felt her mouth go slightly dry.

“I can’t believe you’re wearing a suit. Is it like, a thing?”

“It’s my wedding gear, makes my gay ass look great, and makes all the girls want me.” Pearl smiled, and made her way towards the bed, crawling onto it and picking Lailas computer up, moving it to the side. “I’m the wedding stud, and it’s hot as fuck.”

“That’s romantic.”

“It is when I don’t care about them.” Pearl smiled and crawled into Laila’s lap, placing her girlfriends hands on her hips. “Because all I want is you.” Pearl leaned down and kissed Laila.

“All I want is you too.”

***

Courtney collapsed onto her bed, sighing. She thought that she’d feel better after an intense workout and steamy shower, but unfortunately, her misery had only compounded since the night before.

She heard her phone buzz and picked it up.

BIANCA: I understand if you’re still upset, but I want to talk.

BIANCA: Can we please meet before the ceremony?

BIANCA: Point taken

BIANCA: Let me know if you change your mind

BIANCA: I love you

Courtney hesitated, closing her eyes. She wasn’t ignoring Bianca on purpose, but she just didn’t know what to say. How was she supposed to explain her current state of mind without sounding accusatory and ungrateful? What if she fucked things up even more?

So opened her eyes and called the one person who could possibly be a voice of reason in all this.

“Hello kitten!”

Ben’s voice was warm and happy, full of laughter. Sounded like he was having a great time on vacation.

“Hey Ben. How’s Cancun?”

“Fantastic, darling! I’d say wish you were here, but I’m just enjoying all this hot Latin dick far too much.”

Courtney giggled.

“Well, I’m glad one of us is having a good time.”

“What’s wrong, love?”

“I just...I got into a horrible fight with Bianca last night, and now we have this wedding today, and I don’t know what to say when I see her. It’s just...god, I’m so mad at her, and I feel like shit, and then, she’s the one person who I know will make me feel better.”

“With her tongue, you mean?” Ben snickered.

“Ben, please, be serious.” Courtney curled up around a pillow.

“I am being serious. You fucking cave to her every time she touches you. It’s pathetic.”

“I know.”

“I mean, grow up already and get a backbone. If you’re pissed at her, tell her, and let the chips fall. You’re allowed to be angry.”

“I know, but I don’t want to be a drama queen. And I haven’t answered her all day because I don’t know what to say, which at this point feels petty and childish.”

Ben sighed.

“Listen to me. You can’t just give her the silent treatment-“

“I know that, Ben! But what do I say?”

“Do you really want to get into it in a hotel with all of her friends?”

“Of course not!” Courtney exclaimed.

“Well then, you’re gonna have to just suck it up and be cool. But tell her that you still want to talk, after you get home. And by then maybe you’ll have your shit together.”

“And if I don’t?” Courtney asked.

“Well then, you’ll just do what you always do and back down the second she gets you naked.”

“Thanks, Ben.”

“You’re welcome! Have fun at the wedding, peaches. Mwah mwah!”

And with that, the call was over. Courtney rolled her eyes, covering her face with her hands.

BIANCA: Are you okay? Should I come to the room? I wish I had my arms around you right now.

COURTNEY: I’m fine. Sorry for the radio silence. Stay with Raja. I’ll see you later. XX

***

“Do you think I should keep the veil down?” Raja turned slightly, trying to find any mirror in the little reception hall her and Sutan was waiting in. Everyone is already ready and waiting inside except for Raven. Raja was wearing a golden wedding dress clearly and heavily inspired by the traditional clothes from indonesia, her arms covered in lace, her hair and face covered by a long veil. “It felt right in the moment, but I’m not sure now.” Raja clutched her bouquet, trying to decide, when she felt Sutan’s hand on her arm.

“Here, let me.” Sutan turned to his sister, flipping her veil up.  “Wow..” The twins stand together a little while, looking at each other.

[Up, definitely up.] [Are you crying?]

[I just realised, that even though my entire career has been built on your face, you’ve never looked more beautiful than just now.]

Raja smiles and gives her brother a quick, closed mouthed kiss.

[I can’t wait for you to walk me down the aisle.]

[I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be.]

Some disturbance barge through the door.

***

“Isn’t it crazy warm in here?”

“Ssh.” Katya shushed Trixie, the man rolling his eyes, even though he did stop fidgeting. They were sitting together, both of them waiting for the ceremony to begin, the hall bustling with noise at the many guests. “There are so many people here.”

“Wedding of the year.”

“I don’t think so.”

“I saw an ice sculpture of Raja and Raven in lingerie out in the hall, I’m pretty sure that qualifies as wedding of the year.”

“I still know a wedding that was so much better.”

“Which one?”

“Ours of course.”

Trixie felt himself blush, his face heating up to a million degrees as Katya looked at him, his wifes bright blue eyes looking at him as if he was the most beautiful thing in the world.

“Do you think anyone will notice that we’re missing?”

“Not even for a minute.”

***

The doors where going to open any minute, and Raja was sweating like a sinner in church. Sutan had walked her down the aisle, the entire experience feeling like something that had happened to a complete stranger, his arm in her’s the only thing that held her grounded, and now she was standing there, all alone, waiting for the doors to open and for Raven to step in. Raven, her soon to be wife. Raja could feel the eyes of her family on her, most of them flown in from Indonesia, their attention making the hair on her arms rise, as she knew Raven’s family was starring as well, all of them without a doubt wishing they would fail, except for her mom, Mani sitting on the front row, the woman crying when Raja and Sutan had come in, and Raja couldn’t wait to hug her and kiss her later. Raja bit her lip, her heart slowly sinking, but then, music started playing, everyone turning their heads as the doors opened once again. Raven was a vision in white, an angle in her gown, her the doors opened, Raven stepped forward, their eyes meeting across the room, a small smile grazing Raven’s lips, and Raja felt her soul slid into place. In a few short minutes, Raja would never be alone again, and she couldn’t imaging her life go any other way.

***

Violet took a deep breath. She really should have worn more comfortable shoes,  her ankle aching. She was standing behind Juju, Allison to her left, the Elite models looking gorgeous and Violet was so thankful she could hide between them. On Raja’s side, Sutan was standing with Bianca and Fame besides him, Bianca yawning, Fame giving her a sharp elbow in the side. Violet wished the entire thing was over, even though she knew there was hours upon hours until she could escape the party and the nagging feeling of being watched, even though she knew she was a nobody at the party. Nobody cared if she was there or not, her roommates too busy with drinks or their partners, Sutan not even commenting once on the fact that she hadn’t finished her speech at the rehearsal dinner.

She took another breath, plastering her most serene, loving, supportive friend expression on and gripping the bouquet she held tightly as the Officiator began.

“We gather here today, in the presence of family and friends to join Raja and Raven in matrimony. We celebrate the coming together in love of these women. We remember that marriage is a time when growing love is made public, when two people share mutual promises. We join in our support of them as they offer themselves to each other. We celebrate their joy, their love and their expectations.”

Katya leaned her head on Trixie’s shoulder, eyes falling closed as he kissed the top of her head.

“I would like to begin my acknowledging that, regardless of the wonderful and loving relationship that Raja and Raven have shared to this day, today, that relationship changes. All of us know it will grow, and become stronger and better.”

Juju gave Detox a small wink, and he responded by blowing her a theatrical kiss. Beside him, Kelly groaned slightly, wondering why her parents were so embarrassing.

“Indeed, during these exciting times, this day is a day of hope; A day in which Raja and Raven demonstrate their faith and love in one another. This is a reading entitled ‘To My Friend.’

“I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you. I love you not only for what you have made of yourself, but for what you are making of me. I love you because you have done more than any creed could have done to make me good, and more than any fate could have done to make me happy. You have done it without a touch, without a word, without a sign. You have done it by being yourself. Perhaps, after all, that's what being a friend means.”

Courtney could feel Bianca’s eyes on her before she even glanced at her, dark and smoldering and causing her stomach to twist. Feeling her own eyes misting over, Courtney looked down at her hands, trying to still her racing heart.

“I do.”

Raja turned her head slightly, a smile on her face as Raven had just whispered to her, the entire ceremony going on around them, the Officiator droning on and on.

“You’re not suppose to say that yet.”

“I know, but I want to say it just for you, not for anyone else.” Raven held Raja’s hand a little tighter. “I do Raja.”

“I do too.” Raja smiled at her almost wife, her beautiful and radiant bride, and then turned back to the Officiator to listen to the blessing she was giving.

“May you always need one another, not so much to fill the emptiness as to help each other know your fullness. May you want one another, but not out of lack. May you embrace one another, but not encircle one another. May you succeed in all important ways with each other, and not fail in the little graces. Look for things to praise, often say 'I love you' and take no notice of small faults.”

Juju coughed, poking Raven in the back and causing gentle laughter.

“May you have happiness, and may you find it in making one another happy. May you have love, and may you find it in loving one another. I now have a question for each of you.”

“Oh, thank god, I’m starving,” Pearl muttered under hear breath. Laila giggled and cuddled up close to her with a gentle, “Shh!”

“Raja, you have chosen Raven to be your wife. Will you love and respect her? Will you be honest with her always and will you stand by her through whatever may come?”

“I will,” Raja answered, squeezing Raven’s hands, then murmuring softly, “Even when you’re a brat.”

Raven winked at her.

“Raven, you have chosen Raja to be your wife. Will you love and respect her? Will you be honest with her always-”

“Not a problem!” Raven interjected sassily.

“And will you stand by her through whatever may come?”

“I will.”

Fame dabbed her eyes, turning her head to catch Patrick’s gaze. Warmth spread through her as she bathed in his loving attention, apparent even from five rows back.

“And do you both promise to make the necessary adjustments in your personal lives in order that you may live in a harmonious relationship together?”

“We do,” answered Raja and Raven in unison, eyes unmoving from each other.

Jinkx clasped hands with Adore on one side and Alaska on the other, bringing them into her lap to join together as the Officiator continued.

Raja and Raven, we have heard your promise to share your lives in marriage. We recognize and respect the covenant you have made here this day before each of us as witnesses. Therefore in the honesty and sincerity of what you have said and done here today and by the power vested in me, by the state of New York, I declare you married and partners for life.”

Violet smiled, forgetting every negative emotion she had as she looked at Raja and Raven, the two woman standing side by side, their fingers intertwined as the Officiator talked, both of them looking eternal in their dresses.

“And now...you may seal your vows with a kiss.”

Violet smiled as Raja grabbed Raven’s face, kissing her bride with so much joy that it radiated from her, tears falling from Raven’s eyes as they were finally, absolutely and truthfully married.

[sublimegentlemanalpaca]

Get to know me!

So, I’ve been tagged twice now. Once by blissdelightjr and once by...was it anyawen or Sweets? I digress. Nick names: I’ve got a few. I generally go by what is considered a nick name. I’d say....but nah. There are better ones to share. Of course most here on Tumblr know me as Al, which is a fine nick name. There’s also the Duke of Digression, or Exodus. Gender: Male. Star Sign: Leo. Height: about five feet and 9 or 10 inches. Time: Ah Time. I’ve got a love hate relationship ship with Time. On the one hand they make excellent Aged Cheddar. If anyone says otherwise, they don’t know good Cheddar. Then again they have a nasty habit of cheating at Cards, bastard. Not to mention they never tell me anything about the future. And not once have they offered me a Time Machine, not once! What sort of friend is that? But I digress. If you meant what the time is, it’s about 9:40 in the evening. Birthday: Tenth day of the eighth month. Now, as for the year there’s some debate. Some say it’s 90 years ago, some hundreds, actually some 21 years ago. Favorite Bands: There’s a few. Silly Wizard, The Dubliners, Celtic Women, the Irish Rovers, New World Renaissance Band, Gaelic Storm, Great Big Sea, The High Kings, I already said Great Big Sea, and....oh Barenaked Ladies. Favorite Solo Artist: hm...Owain Phyfe, Andy Irvine, Andy M. Stewart (when he went solo), Loreena McKennitt, Heather Dale, hm....I suppose that’s about it. Oh! And Stan Rogers. Nearly forgot Stan Rogers. Shame on me. Song Stuck in my head: Put one foot in front of the other, and soon you’ll be walkin cross the flooor.... Last Movie: How am I supposed to know what the Last Movie is? I won’t be around....probably. But the last one I saw was Santa Claus is coming to Town. Last TV Show: How am I supposed to know what the last tv show will be? The last I watched was either Frontier or Soul Eater. Why I created my Blog: Basically my friends felt Tumblr was far more suited for my long winded ramblings than Facebook. Twitter wouldn’t have worked, but Tumblr seemed right. So far it seems to be working out pretty well I think. What I Post/Reblog: Usually Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica. A lot of Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica. But some other stuff to. I forget exactly what, but other stuff to be sure. Stranger Things, occasionally Zelda or Teen Titans related things. Every now and again the odd Evangelion post that either has really cool art or makes me laugh. Oh, and of course I reblog the art of the people I follow. I don’t know how many more people see it than already would be seen, but I digress. Last Thing I googled: it was either Sir Richard Francis Burton, John Dee, or Saint Francis of Assisi. Other Blogs: None. Why’d you choose your URL: Again, my friends. The first two parts were chosen because apparently it was apt. I was all for being called a Gentleman (since I can be a bit formal at times), and sublime sounded cool (I didn’t know it’s meaning at the time). The Alpaca bit was chosen at random and has just stuck. How many people I follow: One moment. 69 it seems. How many Followers I have: Another moment, if you please. 59. Ha. Only 10 apart. Amount of Sleep: No idea. Probably less then is recommended. Though I am quite fond of naps through out the day. Lucky Numbers: again no clue. 3 maybe? Instrument: Cello and Piano, although it’s been years. I also sing, though I’ve had no instruction and my voice isn’t the best. What are you wearing: What kind of question is that? Well, if you must know, Jeans, a black shirt, and a Sweater. Soon though it’ll be some comfy pajamas. Dream Trip: Ireland or Venice. Favorite Food: actual food, probably Chicken. Chocolate is also great. Favorite Song: Maybe the Tinker by the Irish Rovers. Or Ddoi di Dai by the New World Renaissance Band. Last Book I read: Now that’s more specific. Oddly enough I do know what the Last book is. The book that holds future histories and the True Names of all the Dragons save one. As for the Last book I read, that depends. The last full book I read was the Happy Prince and Other Tales by Oscar Wilde. But the last story I read was The Young King from the House of Pomegranates, also by Wilde. This was fun. Don’t know how to tag, so anyone who sees this, have fun I guess.

[hoseokmylovesworld]

Picture of Love | 07

Pairing: Photographer!Hoseok x OC x Producer!Yoongi

Genre/Warnings: Hoseok AU/Yoongi AU/Includes strong language.

Words: 3,330

Summary: Charlotte Galloway is the leader of the up and coming girl band, “She-Bang”, with a side hustle as a photographer for anyone who will hire her.  She meets a fellow professional photographer named Jung Hoseok who helps “She-Bang” realize their dreams and Charlotte to make a love connection along the way.

I knew better than to think that the girls would be keeping to themselves, sleeping or doing anything other than pestering me as soon as I walk through the hotel room door. So when I am greeted with exactly that, I am not surprised whatsoever.

"How was it?"

"Did you have fun?"

"Did you fuck?"

Is all I hear on my journey through the hotel room, hanging up my jacket and slipping off my shoes on my way to my bed. I send a glare in Leyah's direction, knowing where that last question came from, before I sit at the head of my bed. The girls proceed to get comfortable around me, awaiting details of my date with J-Hope.

"So?" Carrie begins the interrogation. I sigh humorously and call back tonight's events.

"Okay...well basically we just went to dinner at Gary Danko." I pause for collective oo's and ah's heard around the bed. "Yeah." I comment with a smug smile. "We just talked...and flirted. A lot." I laughed and the girls follow suit.

"We just got to know each other...yeah." I say still dazed by how amazing tonight was and satisfies with my description.

"Awwwww!" Squealed Carrie causing the rest of us to roll our eyes and eventually laugh at her.

And I thought I was the softy. "What?! That was cute as fuck." She defended. I just shrug.

"But Gary Danko. I thought this kid was a photographer." Leyah chimed in.

"He is." As far as I know.

"Must be dealing on the side or somethi-"

"Leyah!" I chide her. She snickers at me. "Sorry. I'm sure he's not Char...doesn't seem like the type anyway." She murmurs the last bit under her breath. "Okay." I say signaling that this conversation is over. The girls and I sit in silence for a few before Vicky's curiosity gets the better of her.

"So you really didn't do anything?" she asks with squinted eyes. I can only assume she meant sexually because Leyah adds "I know right?! That's what I'm saying.", incredulously. "Yeah." Carrie adds. I literally drop my face to rest in my palm at their lack of faith in my will power.

"Guys, come on. It's not like I'm fighting myself not to jump J-Hope whenever I see him." Although I am. "...We did kiss though." I finished looking down at the bed awaiting judgement.

"WHAT?"

"When were you gonna tell us this?!"

"Was he good?"

I nod in shame. "Yeah. Sorry, I kinda forgot, somehow. And yes, he's amazing." I smile at the memory of it. The girls oggle me. I suspect they took pity on me in my transformation into a lovesick fool and decided to lay off because they stopped teasing me.

"So are you gonna see him again?" Vicky asks gently. "Yes." I answer immediately and she smiles brightly at me. "Good" I hear Leyah say as she leaves my bed to find her own. "You deserve this Char." Vicky an Carrie find their way to the other half of the suite.

I just nod in thanks, not knowing how to respond. "Okay guys, don't get all soft on me now." I try to pull myself together and get things back to normal. 

"No, I believe you're the soft one." Leyah shot back. "Wahtever, I-" I start with her, but am interrupted by my cell phone ringing in my pocket. Looking at the caller ID, I say "Oh that's him now.", sweetly and picked up the call a bit too quickly. Stupid, stupid Char.

"Hey Jay." I greet him in the sweetest, most alluring voice I can muster at the moment, ignoring the gagging noises Leyah is making next to me.

"Hey there. I'm just getting in, wanted to let you know and see what we could work out about this photo shoot."

"Oh yes! Give me a second." I press the reciver of the phone to my chest and turn to the girls. "When are you all free to do the photo shoot with J-Hope?"

"I'm free whenever." Leyah droans.

"Yeah, me too." Vicky says.

"So I'm hearing tomorrow? Carrie?" I ask to make things official. Carrie doesn't speak for a couple moments and then utters "Um...I have a date tomorrow." Her eyes are everywhere, but on the girls and I start to get confused by her behavior.

We just gushed, literally gushed, over my date with J-Hope. We abolished our ban on romance and we are allowed to date again. So what's making Carrie act so preserved about it?

The silence passes as I congratulate her, not knowing what else to do I say, "Carrie, that's great!"

"Yeah, bro it's okay. We'll do it another time." Leyah adds. But Carrie still has that deer caught in the headlights look frozen on her face.

"So who is this guy, what's his name?" Its my turn to be nosey.

"...Her name is Roselin."

"Oh." Is my immediate reaction to her words. After that the girls are all silent. Not because we disapprove of her choice, but because we never knew Carrie was remotely into girls.

"That's great!" I say, awkwardly breaking the silence once again. "I'm so happy for you." Leyah and Vicky are quick to murmur in agreement.

Carrie gives a hint of a smile. "Thanks guys." she whispers, still looking down. "So I'm hearing Monday at noon?" Each of the girls nods and I relay the message to J-Hope. "That sounds perfect actually. I'll send you the address and details tonight. Oh and bring your equipment if you can."

"Okay, yeah sure. We can do that." Making a note to tell Kyle and Darren they actually had to do something in two days.

"Cool." J-Hope answers smoothly.

"Hey, thank you so much again for doing this, the girls and I really appreciate it." I stressed over the phone.

"Hey, don't even worry about it Char. I'm happy to do this for you." He assured "...and maybe your band too." He finished, making me chuckle. "Like I said, I really appreciate it Jay." I say dragging out my words in, hopefully, a seductive manor. Maybe I will repay him for his generosity in some other way, who knows. I can hear him let out a huff of air and I can just see his smug smile. "Oh. Ha. It's nothing." "Well, I'm gonna turn in now, so I'll see you on Monday?" I ask. "Yes you will. Goodnight, Charlotte." His sweet, deep voice drawled. "Goodnight, Jay."

+++++++++++++++++++++++

J-Hope had given me the address to an apartment building full of lofts that were apparently for sale. We were instructed to take the equipment to first floor of the building. We drug our instruments through the corridor that lead to the first loft in the complex and I was so impressed with and in awe of the scene we were met with after walking through the unlocked door that lead to our photo shoot.

The structure of the loft itself was beautiful. It was a spacious warehouse style with hard wood floors, concrete walls, a high ceiling and was only made up of the one room apart from the bathroom. The room was incredibly spacious and had a high ceiling to accommodate the fire escape-like steps that lead to the second-half-floor. I'd never seen anything like it in person. Not to mention the glorious sight of multiple white backdrops and lights in every corner with people to man them.

"Whoa." Is all I uttered as I walked further into the room, my friends behind me. "Yeah." Leyah weighed in.

I spot J-Hope talking to a pretty lady in a suit who looks to be in her mid-thirties, that beautiful camera in hand.  He notices me at nearly the same time, smiling that blinding smile immediately in greeting. He looks breath taking in all black, bomber jacket, ripped jeans, pumas and all. His black hair parted down the middle, barely exposing his forehead and drawing attention to adorable glasses resting comfortably on his nose. God, is anyone else seeing this?

"Charlotte!" He approaches us, the lady he was talking to following behind him. "Jay!" I return his enthusiasm. Letting his camera hang around his neck, he leans in to peck me surprisingly on the cheek and grabs my guitar case from my hands in one fluid motion. I'm officially frozen to my spot in embarrassment and shock. He doesn't seem to notice as he greets the rest of the group.

"Hello everyone. This is Janice Bailey, this is actually her building." J-Hope explains. I unfreeze and promptly reach for Janice's hand to shake it. "It's nice to meet you. Thank you so much for letting us use this space. I'm Char." I say shaking her hand a little to wildly. "It's nice to meet you all as well. And I simply owed Hoseok a favor, this was him calling it in. I only wish to observe today's events." So that's how you say his name.

"If that's okay with you all." J-Hope looks over the group for objections, as do I. "Yeah, of course. It's fine." I assure them. "Great! You guys can set up whatever you need to against that backdrop over there." He said pointing to the largest backdrop of them all. I gently grip J-Hope's jacket before he can help She-Bang, Darren and Kyle to set up the drum set and keyboard. "What is all this Jay?" I whisper to him. "What?" He looked down at me with a clueless expression on his face. I just tilt my head to the right and lift my right brow. "This."

I gesture to our surroundings. I start to count the people in the room that seem to be helping with the shoot. There are six. One man is helping the group put together the instruments, one man is finishing setting up the backdrops, a woman is checking the lighting, another man seems to be already editing test photos and the last man and woman are stood at the back of the room talking over coffee. The woman excuses herself from the conversation to search through a crate of some sort that looks chuck full of makeup products. That's when I notice the coffee, donuts and other goodies along the wall near the bathroom. My jaw drops.

"Is that a makeup artist?" I ask incredulously. J-Hope pauses before responding. "I just wanted to be prepared." He sighed. "But you all showed up looking beautiful as always." He brushes the back of his fingers against my cheek and I deflate, all feelings of anxiety vanishing from my body at once. I sigh as well.

"You really didn't need to do all this." I remind him, wondering why someone would do all this for me.

"I wanted to. It's nothing really." He shakes his head drops his hand down to my arm before giving it a gently squeeze. I glance up at him in awe. "Thank you." I say for the thousandth time. He just nods and leads me to the rest of the band at the larger backdrop. As I turn around my eyes meet Darren's focused ones, he immediately looks away with a clenched jaw and furrowed eyebrows.

Right. Almost forgot about Darren's pure hatred for J-Hope. Please God, let this go well.

J-Hope carefully took Bruce, my guitar, out of it's case and handed it to me and then handed the case to one of his staff...Friends? Employees? Is he paying them for this?! I feel uneasiness rise in me once again. This all too much. I know he said he wouldn't charge us, but I could never pay him back for this. On the other hand, as I look around I realize I've never had anyone go to this length to impress or even make me happy. Darren breaks me out of my trance.

"You okay, Char?" he asks, from the sidelines of the drop to my left. My head cocks in his direction and I sigh before replying "Yes.", trying to reassure myself as well. He just nods, unconvinced.

"Okay guys!" An energetic J-Hope grabs my attention next. "While Leyah is sitting at the drum set and everyone has their instruments, why don't we get some somewhat candid shots?" The girls and I nod in understanding. My hands fly to a familiar chord on my guitar so that I look more natural. We even have some amps set up in the front and back to look more authentic.

J-Hope starts taking pictures frantically from different angles and the girls and I look at the camera fiercely, kind of loving the attention after a few moments I look passed the camera to J-Hope in awe. It's downright impressive to watch him in his zone and easy to see why he's in his position.

He knows how to get a specific reaction from his clients and knows how to capture their best sides, even though there are four of us, going as far as instructing some of us to pose specifically to get a good vantage point.

We immediately lock eyes when he looks up from the camera to us to gather himself and his next approach. He smiles fondly at me and I'm forced to drop my gaze to the floor and smile stupidly. Dumb ass.

"Charlotte." My eyes immediately flip up to meet J-Hope's, awaiting further instruction. "Could you possibly tilt your head to the left and jut your chin out the slightest bit?" I ponder his request in my head with a confused expression and attempt the position he just described.

"More out." He demanded. Attempt #2. I try to follow the order I've been given.

"No, like more natural. He offers, even trying to pose himself to serve as example. Okay, attempt number three. "Uh...No." He gives up and approaches me. Modelling is hard. J-Hope reaches me with his arms stretched out towards me, but pauses.

"May I?" He asks with curious eyes. I can only assume he's asking if he can touch my face and I accept.

He takes hold of my chin with his thumb and index finger with a gentle grip and redirects my head to fit his vision. His attention goes lower and to my chest and my eyebrows sky rocket until I see he actually means to adjust my jacket caught under my guitar strap. It is then that I realize I would not give a fuck if J-Hope were actually checking out my cleavage right now and I'm actually shocked and kind of offended that he isn't. The fuck?

He then makes his way back up like he's studying me for any detail out of place. His eyes lock on the hair hanging against my face and he reaches up rearrange the strand, but as he finishes we make eye contact once more. We've only been this close with each other three other times and this time I really took the time to appreciate how actually beautiful this man is up close. What is his damn skin routine?!

I hear someone clear their throat off to side, breaking me out of my trance and I realize J-Hope and I have been staring at each other that entire time. Great. J-Hope clears his throat as well, but out of embarrassment.

J-Hope continues on with the shoot just as professional as ever before making a wonderful request to Leyah. "Leyah, can you actually play the drums for a little bit?" Leyah shrugs her shoulders and plays a simple groove and Vicky decides to add a fitting baseline. Carrie and I follow suit because we can't let half the group have a jam session by themselves.

After a few minutes I'm not even worried about the camera because this place has the best acoustics I've ever heard and I finally feel totally comfortable.

J-Hope then had us move to the second backdrop across the loft without the instruments to take group shots. Leyah took full advantage of this opportunity to annoy me to no end without the consequence of me beating her ass because we're in public, but it made everyone else laugh and J-Hope wouldn't stop snapping photos so we must be doing something right. 

Soon J-Hope ran the photos by us and we deemed the shoot successful and done. He's even agreed to spread the word about us to his celebrity friends. Not sure how seriously the rest of the group took that statement, but I held fast to that promise and am incredibly thankful. One of J-Hope's staff saves the pictures on a flash drive and the girls go to get the instruments packed up along with Darren and Kyle as I approach J-Hope.

"Jay, thank you again. This means so much to us." I say for umpteenth time. He just smiles at the floor before gazing up at me with kind eyes. "Don't mention it Charlotte, really. I actually had a lot of fun today. I actually took some video too, of the jam session if you're interested in that." he offers.

"Thank you. Yeah, no kidding. You were...amazing today." Damn, just suck his dick right here, why don't you?

J-Hope looks genuinely humbled by my compliment. "Thank you so much Charlotte. Maybe the roles can be reversed in the future." He proposed suggestively. "Whatever I take wouldn't be able to touch this, but sure." I accept, as I would any opportunity to learn from J-Hope. He pulls a face and says "I'm sure they would be incredible." He grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze. This kid is really into skin ship, which is more than I'm used to, but I can't see myself complaining.

Just let it happen Char.

"Hey, what are you doing for the rest of the day?" He brings his hand to wrap around my waist and rest on my lower back, only his camera between us. Hopefully you.

"Nothing, why?" I look up at him with hopeful eyes.

"How about an early dinner?" He invites licking his lips.

"I would love that." I answer more to his lips than to him. I assume I've been caught because he chuckles at my response and completely takes me by surprise when he pecks my lips. If I could blush I would, but instead I smile like an idiot as he lifts his hand to my shoulder and leads me over to my waiting group of friends.

"I'm gonna stick around here with Jay, you guys can go without me." Darren nods with a tired expression and exits the loft without a word, carrying the kick drum, symbols and one amp. Everyone looks at the exit for a few moments before returning our attention each other.

"Okayyy. Thank you for today J-Hope, you're a real one." Leyah says nodding and sporting a genuine smile. Vicky and Carrie follow suit and gives their thanks as well.

"It was no trouble at all ladies. You all did great work today." He responds, giving my shoulder a ginger squeeze. And smiling at the floor like an idiot becomes my permanent stance. How can someone make someone feel this stupid and good about themselves all at the same time?

"We'll see you at the hotel Char." The girls and Kyle say their goodbyes on their way out the door and then its just me, J-Hope and his crew.

"Okay, I have to stick around for a bit and get everything packed up before we can go." He explains. "That's okay I'll help out." I reply. J-Hope gives me an appreciative look and then nods. "Thanks, Charlotte." I help Jay and his crew clean up the drops, lights, tables and stands and snack on the provided donuts. I even take some for the girls because there are still so many left. I thank the crew for all their hard work today and soon I'm being escorted into J-Hope's car on our way to dinner.

[hockeyytrash]

Alaska - Chapter Twenty One

Okay so when I originally wrote this, I kinda forgot what happened at the end of the last chapter so it’s a little disorganized at the beginning sorry peeps. But shit’s about to go down!

-2700 words-

Today's the day! My day to be precise. I'm officially 19 and legal. Well at least legal in Toronto, however, I'm still a baby in the U.S.

My mom made me my favorite breakfast, gave me a necklace, and then left me alone for a while before suggesting that we go shopping. I agreed because this was one of the rare occasions she suggested that we do something together. She even told Tom off when he asked to come with us. She claimed that this was strictly a mother-daughter day; no boys allowed. I was surprised with how normal she was acting. And when I say normal, I mean she was acting like she did back home: genuine and fun.

To make matters better, she wore clothes that didn't make her look arrogant fifty-year-old mother of four. She also didn't act like it when we got to the mall; she almost acted younger than me, running from store to store, making fun of the absurd clothing for sale.

We did a little shopping, getting a few things here and there, but never spending a ton on unnecessary things. A weird sense of nostalgia hit me as we bargain shopped and scarfed down pretzel bites from the food court. This was exactly what we did back home when we were short on money and were still incredibly close. In fact, we were practically best friends, telling each other everything, making inside jokes, and spectating different celebrity gossip.

But as soon as she met Tom, everything changed. Suddenly, she wasn't there every night for me to vent to. She wasn't there to take long drives with or go on late night ice cream runs. Instead, she would be out with Tom, living the lavish life we would always make fun of. At first, I could tell how sorry she was that she wasn't around as much, and I felt happy for her. But eventually, she didn't even bother telling me she was sorry for leaving, and I started to confide in myself instead of my distant mother.

Since then, I've wished that something would change between us, and this shopping trip has given me more hope than I've had in the past two years.

My mother must be feeling the sudden nostalgia as well because she keeps cracking jokes and laughing about literally everything. It brought me so much joy to see her this genuine and happy. I would easily take her and our bond over any birthday present.

Perhaps her wildest moment came towards the end of our shopping spree, about an hour before I had to head to dinner with Steph. We were walking back towards the car, bags and coffee in hand when she stops and stares at a gleaming storefront with a devilish smile. I stop beside her, eyes settling on the giant sign on the window that reads 'tattoos' in big block letters.

"I'm scared to ask why we're stopped in front of this place," I tell her, still staring at the upscale tattoo parlor.

"Then don't," she says, marching up to the front door and swinging it open, setting off a little welcome bell. Given no other choice, I catch up to my mother and follow her inside the shop. A short man with a full sleeve of tattoos greets us at the front desk with a skeptical smile.

"What can I do for you ladies?" he asks professionally, glancing at me. I remain silent because I honestly have no idea what we are doing in here. My ever so subtle mother leans on the counter before confidently answering.

"I think we're going to get tattoos," she says, motioning between herself and me. I give the man a shaky smile, but he nods and motions for us to follow him. He leads us through the sparse shop, past a red head in the process of getting a tattoo, finally stopping at a large leather chair and table. He motions for us to sit on the stools at the table as he takes a seat a chair on the other side of the wooden table.

"So, you're both getting tattoos?" he asks, pulling out a tablet of paper and pencil. My mother glances at me and I give her a small nod in confirmation that I'll be going along with her crazy plan.

"Yes, I think we're going to get matching ones," my mother says, folding her hands together and resting them on the table. The man smiles, seemingly genuine and nods.

"Awesome. Do you guys know what you want?" he asks, preparing to sketch on the blank page before him. My mother and I look at each other with clueless expressions then shake our heads.

"Well, what's something special that you share together? It could be a date, symbol, number, or anything really," he says, gesturing to the walls which are filled with pictures of tattoos and art alike.

We sit there in silence for a minute or so, gazing around the room for inspiration to the soft hum of the throwback station playing in the background. It's only when John Travolta's voice comes over the speakers and begins singing one of my mom and my favorite songs from one of our favorite movies. My mom picks up on it and starts humming along to the chorus, mouthing the words 'greased lighting' to herself. After the song registers in both of our brains, we turn to each other and smile.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" I ask with a hopeful smile.

"I don't know, are you thinking about getting matching lightning tattoos?" she asks, beaming. I nod eagerly and turn to the man sitting across from us who was also smiling.

"Where do you guys want them?" he asks, ushering us through the process I'm relatively familiar with. I already have two tattoos and my mom has one as well, so at least we know what we're in for.

"What about the inside of the wrist?" I ask my mom, pointing to the area I'm describing. She holds out her wrist to visualize it and then nods after a few seconds of hasty evaluation.

"I'd like it pretty small, though, yeah?" she says while asking me confirmation. I nod, glad she isn't envisioning something huge. The man nods, acknowledging our requests and then begins sketching out the design carefully. Once he's satisfied, he holds it up for our approval. Both of us nod, eager for him to continue.

I volunteer to go first which my mother shows no objections to. I take a seat in the leather chair and rest my left arm on the armrest. The tattoo artist, whose name we discovered to be Jared, gets everything set up before sterilizing my wrist and the tattoo gun. He asks for confirmation one last time before beginning to ink my skin.

A few painful minutes later, it's my mother's turn. She goes through the same process as me while I admire my new ink. Somehow, she seems to take the pain much better than I did, even though I didn't think it was that bad, to begin with.

Once we are both done and given cleaning instructions, we follow Jared back up to the front of the shop to pay. Jared makes sure that we are satisfied with our tattoos before my mom hands him some cash, leaving a nice tip as well.

The realization that we just got tattoos doesn't set in until we are sitting in the car, driving to the restaurant I was meeting Steph at.

"So, we just got matching tattoos," my mom says, breaking the silence. I nod in the dark, a smile still on my face.

"Yes, we did," I confirm happily.

@alaskamay: cool mom alert

4,839 likes | 60 comments

@stephlachancee: so that's where you get it from

@carlyyvalentine: this is so cute omg

@marner_93: I thought we were getting matching tattoos :(

@alaskamay: @marner_93 we totally are

@williamnylander: ^I want in too!

@marner_93: @williamnylander no... just no

@43kadri: @williamnylander no worries Willie, we'll get matching ones

@williamnylander: @43kadri luv u

@austonmatthews: woah, you must be edgy or something

@alaskamay: @austonmatthews nah that's my mom

@stephlachancee: real talk: are you still coming to dinner?

@alaskamay: @stephlachancee: of course, be there in 10

@marner_93: why wasn't I invited??

@stephlachancee: @marner_93 girls night :)

As I told Steph, I arrive at the restaurant, a little Italian place downtown, exactly ten minutes later. My mom dropped me off at the front and drove home, leaving me money in case I need to take a cab home. Following the instructions Steph texted me a little while ago, I tell the petite hostess that I'm joining Steph. She smiles and begins leading me through the main dining area, packed with the dinner crowd.

My eyebrows furrow when we've passed through the majority of the room, leaving me wondering where we're going. Just as I'm about to ask the hostess where she's taking me, we round a corner, revealing a long table filled with all the Leafs and Lady Leafs. To top it off and make their intentions obvious, they all chorus a 'surprise' when they see me.

My mouth turns up into a big smile at the sight of all my friends. Steph stands up and pulls me into a big hug which I gladly return.

"I hope you don't mind, I invited a few other people to our girls night," she says, nodding in the direction of everyone else.

"I don't mind at all. In fact, you guys didn't have to do anything," I say, pulling away from the bubbly blonde.

"Of course we did! It's your nineteenth birthday for crying out loud! You're officially legal!" she exclaims motioning towards the assortment of champagne and beer sitting on the table. I laugh and take another glance around the area which had been decorated with gold and silver balloons and streamers.

"Wait, how'd you know it was my birthday?" I ask her, just now comprehending that this is a birthday party. Her smile widens as she glances in Auston's direction.

"Your boy toy told us. You weren't even planning on telling us, were you?" she asks. I shake my head with a smile and she rolls her eyes, mumbling something along the lines of 'typical Alaska.'

"Well, don't just stand there! Let's sit down and get some food!" she says, plopping back down beside Mitch. I smile and take the last available seat which was next to Auston. However, I don't mind sitting next to him tonight, knowing that he was the one who came up with the idea to do something for my birthday.

Once I'm seated, I glance at Auston with a smile. He smirks at me with rosy cheeks while leaning back in his seat.

"How'd you know it's my birthday?" I ask him after everyone's gone back to talking amongst themselves. He shifts in his seat and crosses his arms over his chest, still holding the smirk on his face.

"You mentioned it in the cafè the other night," he says simply. I nod, not really remembering saying that, but deciding to go along with it anyway. I'm still surprised that Auston, even knowing that my birthday was today, suggested that we do something. I really appreciate it, but it just seems out of character.

"So, how does it feel to be nineteen?" Mitch asks from across the table in a way that makes me seem younger than everyone else. I eye his smirk before smirking myself.

"I don't know, you tell me," I say, noting that he himself is only nineteen as well. Mitch scoffs, acting offended, then turns back to Steph. I shake my head, chuckling at the silly boy. Then, my eyes land on a shining bottle of champagne sitting in the middle of the table. I hesitate at first but regain my confidence when I remember that I am now legal and able to drink whenever I so choose.

With my newfound confidence, I grab the bottle, pouring the bubbly liquid into the glass at my place setting. Once it's filled to the top, I lean back in my seat and sip at the golden drink with a satisfied smile. Unlike what I was expecting, no one smothers me with unusual attention or anything, just talking amongst themselves over the Italian dishes that were just served. I happily sit back and watch everything unfold, nibbling at my tortellini and sipping champagne.

My social interactions were kept to a minimum until Carly came over and wiggled her way onto the edge of my seat. She then presents me with a medium sized box, wrapped in colorful paper. I shake my head no and refuse to let her give it to me.

"Goddamn it Alaska, just let me do something for you!" she exclaims, pushing the box into my arms. I sigh but go ahead with unwrapping it anyway. Beneath the paper, lies a now visible shoebox. I carefully open the box and shuffle through the tissue paper before I see a pair of all black Yeezys. I gasp and fling myself onto the brunette happily.

"I can't believe you got me these!!" I say, squeezing her out of excitement. She smiles, surely happy that I like them.

"Well, you are a decent friend and okay human being, so I thought you deserved something special," she says, rolling her eyes. I smile at her response, pulling her in for another hug. Before she returns to her seat, I thank her again for the amazing and unwarranted gift.

Next, comes dessert in the form of a birthday cake that is set down in front of me. But, much to my dismay, the whole table erupted in song, yelling the words to Happy Birthday. I can't help but smile as I make a wish and blow out the candles. However, as soon as the candles are out of the cake, hockey players dive into the chocolate dessert. I feel myself have a miniature panic attack when I realize I didn't get the chance to take a picture of the cake. Steph seems to notice because she smiles at me from across the oak table as a text from her pops up on my phone. It's conveniently a picture of me and my cake, effectively ending my anxiety attack.

@alaskamay: wouldn't want to celebrate my legalness with anyone else

5,290 likes | 71 comments

@carlyyvalentine: happy birthday bestie :)

@stephlachancee: damn who dat birthday girl

@marner_93: how's your first drink taste? ;)

@adamvin: happy birthday baby

@sydneyesiason: so beautiful!

@austonmatthews: better slow down on that champagne there

@alaskamay: @austonmatthews I'm good, thanks!

As the night starts to wind down and people start to mention leaving, Auston nudges me from the side. I turn my attention to him, meeting his large brown eyes with a small smile. Without breaking eye contact, he reaches into his coat pocket and removes a small box, tied with a bow. He then hands me the box, causing my face to distort in confusion.

Auston motions for me to continue, so I slide the bow off the box and remove the lid. Then, after a bit of rummaging through the tissue paper, I feel a smooth material. Praying it's not what I think it is, I unfold the tissue paper to reveal exactly what I didn't want to see.

There in the box lies the black lace thong I left in his hotel room when we were in LA. Attached to the lace material is a note that makes my heart flutter and drop at the same time.

Thought I'd return these so you could wear them on our date tomorrow night.

See you then, Auston

[wynneinrome]

The Three Musketeers

@midtownsciencenerd I finished the first chapter!

@hollandstarks @cringyholland @takemespidey @harrison-osterfield-appreciation @osterfield @intheheartofpeterparker @intheheartoftomholland @gounderoos

Okay all ya’ll I finally finished this first chapter at like midnight! I was bored and sleep deprived. But I did it! If you don’t want to be tagged, let me know I will remove you. I tagged those who might like this. If you know of anyone who would like to be tagged whenever I post a new part. Let me know!

Enjoy!

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Chapter 1: The Meeting

It was just one of those days. I mean like freaking awkward. Not surprising being me, to be honest. I had finally made my big breakthrough performance on the tv show Suits. My character was Harvey Specter’s teenage daughter, Lyncoln Specter. I had to get a full on weave of blonde hair, I looked so strange without my afro. But it was for the show and practically every essence of my life, nowadays, was for the show.

Today I was doing a photoshoot for the show, then I’d get rushed into an interview. I was wearing my blue flowered dress with light brown heels. My hair was braided up into a flower crown with some loose strands framing my face. I had a light dusting of makeup on my cheeks. I hate makeup, truth be told. My eyeshadow was silver with black eyeliner. And boy, did I feel fabulous.

“Alright, Lexi. You’re all set to go!” My makeup artist chirped.

“Thanks Damian.” I smiled. “You did AMAZING as usual.”

“That’s only because I’ve you ask a canvas.” He winked.

Damian was my favorite. He always complimented me and cheered me on from the sidelines. He was definitely battling my best friend Maddy, for the biggest fan label. I gave Damian a big thumbs-up and walked out the the studio. It wasn’t that far from my trailer. Yeah, I got a trailer, but primarily from the amount of products they used on me.

As soon as I reached the photoshoot door, I felt like screaming. I was terrified, but I lifted my head and pushed open the door.

“Hello Alexis!” A tall blond woman called, waving at me. “I’m Amber, and I’ll be your photographer today.”

“Hey Amber, it’s nice to meet you.” I grinned, smoothing down my dress. “Let’s get this show on the road!”

I began posing as she instructed. And, oh boy, did I feel like an idiot!!!!!!! I hated pictures of myself and I already knew they’d be airbrushing the living daylights out of these photos. And Amber was no fun. I was faking a smile and was on the verge of tears because I felt so stupid. You could tell Amber was having a hard time as well, but it wasn’t her face that was going to be posted all over the World Wide Web.

Suddenly the door behind Amber was thrown open. The sunlight blinded me so I couldn’t actually see. But I could hear two OBVIOUSLY british voices. But I was too busy internally screaming about my eyes to hear what they were saying.

All of the sudden an arm was draped around my shoulder.

“Hey! Mind if we jump in?” A voice asked.

“Who in the-” I stopped when I saw who it was.

TOM FREAKING HOLLAND AND HARRISON OSTERFIELD! Yeah trust me, I almost fainted.

“Uh sure…..” I shrugged trying not to fangirl to hard.

“Awesome!” Tom smiled at me.

Harrison shook his head and stood beside me as well.

“Hey, it’s okay to smile, you know.” Harrison said, poking my cheek.

I rolled my eyes. “No really? You don’t say.” I crossed my arms and stared into his blue eyes.

Harrison smirked and shrugged. I turned back to the camera and smiled.

“Just relax.” Tom whispered in my ear. “Pretend it’s just us hanging out.”

“O-okay….” I stammered, internally cursing myself for not calming down.

I look over at Tom and really noticed what he was wearing. He looked like he had walked out of a wedding ceremony. Like, boy what? He still had his arm around my shoulders and I was trying not to faint. The more I acted like this was normal, the more I started to loosen up. Soon I was laughing with the two boys like I had known them for years. Amber looked a bit confused, but continued to snap photos.

“Tom we’ve got to go to your shoot now.” Harrison said, after some time. “We should let these ladies get back to their shoot.”

“Oh alright.” Tom said frowning. “Keep smiling!”

“Thanks Tom.” I smiled back.

They walked out waving.

“Gosh darn it….. They don’t even know my name.” I internally facepalmed.

A few hours later I left my shoot and began walking towards my car. I saw Harrison opening a door and walk out. Part of me wanted to yell, “HEY!” And run over, but I was in heels and I am not athletic. So, I just awkwardly kept walking.

“Hey you!” Harrison shouted.

But I couldn’t believe he was calling to me so I didn’t turn around. I just kept walking.

“Hey you in the blue dress! Wait!” He yelled, running up to me.

“Oh hey…” I said, turning. “Didn’t know you were talking to me.”

“I didn’t catch your name.” Harrison gasped.

“Oh, um, I’m Lexi.” I replied. “I’m not that cool….”

“I’ve heard of you. You’re that new up-and-coming actress that everyone is freaking out over.” Harrison grinned. “My sister thinks you're pretty cool.”

“Oh, that - that’s cool….” I smiled back, honestly confused over where this conversation was going.

“Anyway, we, Tom and I, had a blast on your photoshoot. And you’re new to the whole celeb thing, so here are our numbers. If you ever need anything, just call, or text.” Harrison replied, handing me a small sheet of paper.

I took it, my heart practically exploding in shock. “Holy. Wow. Um, thank you so much. I didn’t expect this.”

“Don’t mention it! It’s our pleasure.” Harrison nodded casually.

“I’ll text you soon… I’ve got to go to my interview now.” I said, suddenly realizing that I still had responsibilities.

We waved goodbye and I quickly sped walked to my car. I quickly got in and apologized to my manager. We sped off to the interview, while on the drive over I entered Tom and Haz’s numbers into my phone. I wasn’t sure who to text first, so I started a group chat.

Me: “Hey Tom and Harrison. This is Lexi, the girl whose photoshoot you crashed.”

Tom: “HEY! Glad you texted!”

Haz: “Hey! You actually wrote. I got sort of worried there.”

Me: “What? Why would a girl like me reject two British guys?”

Tom: “Haha good one. I heard from Haz that you have an interview.”

Me: “Yeah… It’s not with a famous person….. It’s one of those featurette ones.”

Tom: “Still awesome! Let us know how it goes!”

Haz: “Yeah! Maybe we can hang out after!”

Me: “Awesome! Talk to you guys later!”

I put my phone in my purse and got out. The interview went fairly well, just the basic questions about my character and my costars. I had a hard time focusing somewhat because of Tom and Haz. It took more time than I thought, but she was nice and funny. Soon after the interview I texted the guys about where I should meet them. I went to a hotel in the upper part of the city. And HOLY COW! This place was fancy!

I put my phone to my ear and called Tom. “Hey, I’m here. But this place is massive and -”

“Hey don’t worry about it! I’ll be down in a minute!” Tom interrupted me.

“Okay, I’m in the Lobby and everyone is staring at me.” I replied. “Please hurry.”

“I’m in the lobby now.” Tom said. “Wait, I see you. Don’t move.”

Tom hung up and I honestly didn’t see him at all. So I stood still to appease him and I waited. I felt a hand tap my shoulder and I turned around.

“Hey they didn’t kick you out!” Tom grinned.

“Luckily.” I replied smoothly. “Thanks for inviting me!”

“Yeah come on, Haz is at the restaurant waiting for us.”

“Okay.” I nodded and followed him.

Tom and I didn’t say much but it was okay. I was too busy looking at all of the architecture of the hotel lobby to pay attention to Tom. (Don’t kill me okay, I like architecture.) It didn’t take us long to get to Harrison.

“Hey! I got a table for 3.” Harrison stated, waving at Tom and me. “The hostess almost didn’t believe me.”

“Can you blame her Haz?” Tom asked. “You aren’t pretty enough for two dates.”

“Ouch.” I muttered, trying not to laugh.

“As if you could get a date, you 12 year old.” Haz sassed back.

“Okay ladies, you’re both pretty.” I interrupted

Honestly the dinner went by in a blur and we were laughing and talking like old friends. Nothing could have changed our joy. They invited me up to their massive hotel room and I decided that no harm could come of hanging out with them, since I had no plans the next day.

I had a small bag of clothes with me, since I was going to be in a hotel that night anyway. I followed them to their room.

“Alrighty… We have two beds. But I can sleep on the couch.” Harrison said as soon as we had entered the hotel room.

“Oh I can take the couch.” I said, in a soft voice. “I do that all the time.”

“No, no, no.” Tom cut me off. “We can’t let you.”

“Okay, Brit…. I can handle this.” I replied patting his shoulder. “I don’t mind, these couches look better than my bed in my room.”

“Well before we go to bed, we can just chill out if you want.” Tom suggested.

“Sure, why not!” I said, nodding in agreement. “I heard that some new interviews will be on TV tonight.”

“Cool, my bed is the biggest and I’ve got a TV in there.” Tom commented.

We walked into Tom’s room after changing out of our fancy clothes. We chilled out on his bed, flipping through the channels. None of us could agree on what to watch. We bickered and dissed each other's shows. Finally, I got tired of them bickering and smacked them both with a throw pillow.

“OW WHAT THE FUCK?!” Tom yelped, falling off the bed.

“LEXI!” Harrison shouted, pulling the pillow from my arms.

“STOP BEING SO LOUD!” I yelled back, trying to retrieve my weapon from Harrison.

“Oh no you don’t!” Tom snapped tackling me into the bed. “You are not allowed to have pillows!”

“Get off me Tom! I do what I want!” I shouted back, poking him in the chest and ribs. “I refuse to be held down! I AM FIRE! I AM DEATH!”

Harrison was trying to pull Tom off of me and laughing. “Tom! No! Release her!”

“THIS IS WAR!” Tom bellowed pushing Harrison off and attacking me with a pillow.

I screamed struggling to protect my face and get out from underneath Tom’s toned body. Harrison had fallen over laughing at Tom and me as we smacked each other with pillows. I managed to get my hands on a pillow and wrestle Tom. I was on top of him straddling his waist, my hair a mess. I was poised to do my final assault when someone knocked on the door.

“Shit.” Harrison said, lowering his phone.

“Were you videoing this?” I hissed.

“Shhhh! It might be the cops!” Tom whispered.

I snorted. “The cops of what? It’s only 10 o’clock in the evening.”

Tom sat up, causing me to fall backwards onto his lap. We all looked towards the door.

“So who wants to get that?” I asked in a low voice.

“If they knock again, we answer.” Harrison replied. “All of us.”

The knock never came.

“Well that’s weird….” I mused. “You guys didn’t get room service. So…?”

“I don’t know…. Someone could’ve

been yelling at us to be quiet.” Tom replied, pulling the pillow from my grasp.

“We are really loud.” I said sliding off of his lap and collapsing beside him.

Haz flopped down beside me and grinned. “For the record, this was all your fault.”

“Uh no it was not!” I exclaimed punching his arm. “I am innocent of all crimes!”

“Yeah keep telling yourself that….” Tom snorted, stifling a yawn.

“Don’t yawn!” Harrison hissed.

“Harrison!” I exclaimed.  “It’s almost midnight.”

Harrison glanced at me and rolled his eyes. I half-smiled and rubbed my eyes. We fell into a comfortable silence. I felt as if I had known them forever. I had no idea the storm coming towards me, because of this chance meeting. I drifted off to sleep with my head on Harrison's shoulder and Tom’s legs intertwined with mine.

[cursewoodrecap]

Session 20: Super Exciting Library Adventure

We fight so many monsters in this one you guys.

Last time on the Cursewood: We ended up in the headquarters of the Cursebreaker Knights, which also turned out to be a vampire’s house. We were also given literature on how to care for large reptiles in cold climates. Ser Boris was concerned.

In the reading room at Castle Hoeska, Valeria shows Ser Brigid some of the arcane components we found while looting the spooky circus. “We have people who can examine it. Ludwig’s lovely descendant Isadora might be able to do an arcane analysis. She keeps to the library wing; she’s a mage and researcher of considerable knowledge and skill. We’ll have someone take you there.”

“Do not traverse the castle without a guide,” Ludwig warns. “This place is…tricky sometimes.”

“Does it also have outer space in it?” Shoshana asks, well aware of the Key’s nonsense.

“To be honest, my descendants have layered a lot of enchantments on it. It’s constructed on an arcane nexus, so the enchantments can intersect in odd ways. It respects me; it’s mine. But you are outsiders. I must confess that while I am the master of this place, I have perhaps not fully mastered it.”

The DM lets on that this is a Taint Free Zone, ironically. Already occupied! By hipster ghosts, they were undead before it got all popular.

Ser Quentin is waiting for us out in the hallway. “I must ask: how fares Mornheim and Lady Aubrey?”

“…I understand they’ve been better,” Clem allows.

“Please, as much detail as you would give me,” he says, uncharacteristically sincere. “I made a promise to carry a burden that her father could not. In my own way, I consider myself responsible for her. Therefore, I must ask how is she faring. She has been forced into a situation she was never prepared for, though she seems to be handling it admirably.”

“I mean, she did glass me in the face, and is kind of maybe drinking heavily? But considering the circumstances, that’s pretty good.”

We give him an update on Mornheim, and explain Lady Rosalind’s druidic ritual.

“We have yet to make friendly contact with druids,” he muses. “Ser Boris has tried, but they are a reclusive bunch. I knew Lady Rosalind for many years before this Curse began. To think she was hiding such a secret from us all…”

“A cynical man might say reclusiveness is a lie that druids find convenient,” Gral observes.

“Perhaps. I must confess that until today I assumed I had never met a druid in my life. If they do in fact operate in more populated areas in secret, there are likely far more than we anticipated, with much more complex motives…”

Maybe that’s not a bad thing, since they seem to be fighting the Curse. We describe how the artist’s Key ritual was disrupted by a druid, and what we know about the druid we met in Bad Herzfeld. Unfortunately, we know druids are just as susceptible to corruption as the rest of us, since the cult leader Zelig in Bad Herzfeld had once been a druid as well.

“Fear of corruption within their own ranks? Certainly an issue I couldn’t possibly be familiar with,” snarks Quentin tiredly. “Speaking of which! Sgt Haxan! I have some bad news for you.”

“Uh. Okay?”

“As you know, I have been following the members of the Red Hand who are active in Valdia. My agents in Schotzengrad spotted your former comrade Sergeant Rusalka leading a mixed group of Red Hand veterans and others into the city. A few days later, there was an attempted break-in at the Kevan embassy. The ambassador was unharmed; he had received a warning ahead of time, and had taken precautions. The Ambassador was secured, though half a dozen guards were killed.”

“Were any of the intruders apprehended or killed?”

“No. Three intruders were discovered by the additional patrols and arcane wards, but they fled when the Greencloaks arrived on scene, accompanied by a dozen additional soldiers.”

“All things considered, that’s a bit of a relief,” Clem admits.

“The same night, our agents lost track of Rusalka and her group, and have been unable to pick up the trail again.”

“That’s…less of a relief.”

“Any insights you’d like to share into their tactics?”

Clem sighs. “If you’ve already lost track of her, you’re not gonna find her. She’s an experienced rogue; I’m surprised that even with forewarning she was unable to slip past the guards. Aside from keeping up the increased vigilance, there’s nothing else I can really tell you.”

“Very well. I will redouble my efforts on that front. I’m considering going to Schotzengrad personally to follow up.”

“I’d be astounded if there was no follow up attack.”

“My thoughts exactly. I assume their assassins left largely because they were not properly prepared for the increased security. They were caught by elven veterans of the Ascension War, a particular group focused on special ops deep within cultist territory. They have some techniques that Rusalka might not have been aware of, including their methods of securing an area. But now that Rusalka’s aware of that, the next attempt may be more successful. As always, I would appreciate assistance, but I understand if you have other priorities.”

We have reached a central room hung with tapestries and stuffed hunting trophies, where Ser Boris’s dogs are lounging in front of the central fire. Bjorn and Ingborn are sitting there as well, playing a game with a bunch of rocks carved with runes. Valeria initially thinks it’s her favorite game, Man-go, but the board’s the wrong shape and everything is in Jotunn. Valeria immediately wants to learn how to play.

Ser Boris, to the dismay of several servants, has spread out a mess equipment and is performing some sort of science. He’s squeezing foul smelling juices into various containers and generally making a stench.

“Ah hello! Yes come in!” he greets us. “How is commander?”

“She’s pretty cool.”

“Yes. Kyr Argent, over here please.” He hands her a pamphlet. “I write quick instructions. My Valdian is not great but I do not believe you speak Elven. Read this for your beastie. And if you would, smell?” He lifts a bottle, and Valeria dutifully sniffs.

“Ugh! Gross! What is that?!”

“Ah! Bits of Shusva!”

“E-excuse me?”

“The fiend! I have distilled scent!”

“You…certainly have,” she agrees ruefully.

“I am surprised you did not recognize, after it bit you so much. But tomorrow, I will track it back to lair and end it once and for all. Wounded it much today, yes? Tomorrow I will assemble hunting party. We will be able to reopen road!”

Gral asks Boris about what the Shusva’s weaknesses might be. He’s not sure. Ser Brigid told Boris it was probably a Shusva, and that there were books available in the library for further research. But Lady Isadora won’t let dogs in the library. “She say no to Xander face! He do the big eyes! She is clearly monster.”

We’re gonna head over to the library, then. Ingborg tells us that’s where we’ll find Lucinius, too. “It’s nice to see him not throwing himself face first into ghost filled tombs, for once. He is not an easy client for a bodyguard. Still, if you’re in there, make sure he eats? He forgets.”

Valeria channels her sister’s party planning instincts and talks to one of the servants about getting some nice spicy food like how you get in Draconia. They sniff about “decadent” foods with too many herbs, but it’ll be a nice taste of home for her and Lucinius.

Lady Isadora apparently has VERY strong feelings about food or dogs in the library, so we’ll have soup sent up to Lucinius’ room and try to drag him away from his research.

With a von Hoesk servant as a guide, we go down some stairs and then up some stairs and then down stairs that look identical to the first ones. Did we go through a basement at one point? But that was when we were like three levels up? This place does not make any kind of geographic sense. Eventually, though, we arrive at a grand doorway labeled Library.

When the door opens, we find ourselves in a tower, with ringlike floors leading upwards and downwards from the entrance. Each floor has shelves of neatly organized books and a small reading area.

A sharp woman in a dark dress levitates up to the floor we’re on, scowling. “I told you, Boris- oh. Are you here for the Professor?!”

We assume this is Isadora the arcanist. “We wanted to talk with you first-“

“I might have to talk to YOU. He’s taking books between the FLOORS, I have a SYSTEM. And who are you anyway? You’re not dressed like those damnable knights. You’re dressed like a completely different sort of damnable knights. I have no idea what you’re supposed to be.”

“Clem Haxan, a damnable knight, apparently.”

“Kyr Valeria Argent, a damnable Knight of the Rose, at your service!”

“I am Gral Omokk’du, a bard in service of Duke Shieldeater.”

“Uh, I’m Shoshana, I just hang out with these guys?”

“I am Isadora von Hoesk. This is my library – my family’s, currently mine, despite a certain LIZARD who is MESSING UP MY SYSTEM.”

“I mean, you could hire librarians?”

“No, they’d get it wrong. I have a system. I have magic to help keep it organized, but it ASSUMES people FOLLOW THE RULES. I’m informed he is a guest of the castle, so I won’t destroy him where he stands. You, though-“

Valeria interrupts gently. “First of all, I hear you’re an expert in arcane analysis, and I’d be grateful to get your opinion on something.” She hands over the crystal dust from the circus and gives a brief rundown of its origins. “I thought knowing its properties might be of interest to the Cursebreakers?”

“Well since you asked so nicely, I can take a look,” she snaps. “Like I don’t have anything better to do than be a walking Identify spell for Cursebreakers, I’ll be upstairs in my lab, at the top of the tower.”

Gral politely stalls her. “Before you go, can I have directions for proper library procedure? We are helping Ser Boris hunt a Shusva, and we’d like to do some research for him. He can’t, because dogs.”

“Floor 6, demonology. Leave the books you use on the table on that floor. Do not take the books to a different floor. Floors are organized by subject matter, which is a perfectly reasonable system that anyone should be able to understand. It has never occurred to us that somebody would wish to CROSS CONTAMINATE the FLOORS.”

“We’ll, uh, see if we can have a word with Professor Galvan.”

“Please do.” She snaps her fingers. A trapdoor opens at the top of the tower, and she floats up and through.

A helpful guard points us to the library’s Index, which consists of several large tomes.

The index lists an enormous amount of books in an impressive number of languages, categorized by subject matter. There are many books on fiends, outsiders, demonic influences, and the like. Kind of a troubling amount about those subjects, to be honest? No, we don’t want how-to guides!!! But given that we don’t know much about the creature we’re researching, it’s hard to tell which books will specifically have information on the Shusva.

Shoshana goes with Gral to help translate Elvish and Old Valdian. The tanks, meanwhile, will go fetch Lucinius and attempt to cajole him out of the library.

“Can’t you guys just, like. Pick him up? Throw him over your shoulder?” Shoshana asks.

Valeria shakes her head. “We’re not gonna do that.”

“But it would amuse me!”

Looking down through the rings, we see Professor Galvan down on the third floor. In the quiet of the library, we can kinda hear him mumbling to himself down below.

There are staircases and ladders between floors, but it’s a hike down all those stairs. We can see why Isadora levitates around! Valeria has a ring of moon bounce, so she tells Clem she’ll meet her there and hurdles over the railing, landing several floors down with an enormous CLASH BANG CLATTER of armor.

“GOODNESS ME WHAT WHOA OH DEAR ME what’s that?! Hello? Is everyone okay up there?” we hear Lucinius shout.

Shoshana leans over the balcony and does an extremely sarcastic SSSSHHHHH.

We assume Valeria would be blushing, if scales could blush. “I’m fine, I’ll be there in a moment!” she calls, and walks the rest of the way normally.

Lucinius is barely visible behind teetering stacks of literature. “Ah, princess!” he greets Valeria in their native tongue. “Please, sit down!”

“Actually, we had some things we wanted to show you. First, I’d be remiss if failed to let you know that Lady Isadora-“

“Ah, the librarian! So kind, isn’t this place wonderful?”

“She would really rather-“

“She had a copy of the Treatises! The TREATISES! All six volumes! I didn’t think I’d see a copy of this outside Aurentium, and in such good condition! Annotated, even!”

“Isadora would really prefer if you kept the books on same floors they’re shelved on.”

“Oh, dear me. I don’t see why that should be a problem? My work really calls on multiple disciplines…”

“Uh, maybe put them back when you’re done with them?”

He looks around at the stacks and stacks of books spread across the table. “…that might be a difficulty. They should have put a sign up.”

The rules of the library are clearly posted on every floor, in large print, in multiple languages.

“Oh, well, I didn’t have time to read THOSE, this place is far too miraculous!”

We found some very interesting things we’d like to show you. And I managed to get cook to make something Draconian - not as good as what you’d get in Aurentium, I’m sure, but with the same ingredients! C’mon, come back to your chamber to look at some artifacts and eat soup!”

It turns out soup gives advantage on Persuasion. “I suppose I will reach a stopping point shortly,” he admits. “To be honest, I was worried I wouldn’t find any source like this about the history of Valdia. It appears my research before coming to the Greatwood was quite lacking in the intricacies of local culture. Luckily this library is a veritable trove of knowledge! There are some tomes here my colleagues back home would be very jealous of. I don’t know what this von Hoesk family DOES for a living, but they’ve amassed a collection of very fine books! Now, I believe there was soup!” He gathers up some books for the road. “A bit of light reading for my quarters.”

We decide not to tell Isadora, because we’d probably die.

Meanwhile, Gral makes a research investigation with the advantage of Shoshana’s translation help. They find a book that contains information on the Shusva!

There’s a sketch similar to what we saw in the forest. Apparently, they’re formed when a wolf or similar predator becomes engorged with demonic energies and becomes a fiend. Some are purely extraplanar, but most are regular planar creatures that have been corrupted. They’re immune to charm, fright, and poison effects, unfortunately. The book describes an “unwavering hunter and predator that knows no fear and cannot be beguiled or charmed away from its target.”

The book then goes on to describe the proper care and feeding of a Shusva. Due to the charm resistance, they are “remarkably difficult to bind to one’s service.”

Shoshana nods. “Huh, that’s a good tip – wait.”

(Maybe it would be neat to have a cool-ass animal, she thinks…)

On a whim, we also look up dybbuks – if anyone’s gonna know about spooky undead nonsense, it’ll be the von Hoesks. We find “Dybbuks: As Troublesome as they are Terrific” by [bloodstain].

There are plenty of descriptions, but we’re looking for weaknesses. Unfortunately, it looks like there aren’t many. In their true form they have resistance to acid, cold, fire, lightning, thunder, and nonmagical attacks, but their biggest strength is their ability to flee, willingly abandoning their host bodies and disappearing in their ghostly form. Several techniques are described for potentially trapping one within a host body, to prevent it from running when it feels trapped. Unfortunately, we’d probably need a squad of clerics and paladins.

Clem, meanwhile, wandered off when she came across a medical textbook section, and tells us she’ll catch up with us later. Somewhat ominous looking doorway to basement of some sort next to that. Door is stained in some ways you find mildly disturbing. Her scalpel shudders as the ghost of Dr. Wendell emerges.

“I recognize some of these books!” he exclaims with interest. “That one, on the third shelf, the large one. Is that…hah! Check the inside cover, could this be-?”

Clem flips open the book. It’s Lessons from the Plague, by Dr. Leonard Wendell, Sturmhearst University Press. And it’s signed! “To my friend Ludwig. Thank you for your contributions!”

“You knew Ludwig? The vampire?”

“I knew a Ludwig! He helped us acquire Sturmhearst Castle for the school. It was originally intended to be a hospital during the plague, but he was very on board with it becoming a university after the sickness died down! He provided a lot of money and quite a few books, though I only met him a handful of times. Wait. Did you say he was a VAMPIRE?!”

“Dunno if he was when you met him, but he seems like one now.”

“I mean, that would explain a few things,” the ghost admits. “He did seem remarkably unconcerned about catching the plague.”

(“Some people are just LIKE THAT,” yell several Essential Worker players.)

“Baron von Sturm was resistant, then Ludwig met with him and he was totally amenable. I assumed it was just regular old powers of persuasion and a hefty bribe. I didn’t want to look a gift horse in the mouth.”

Clem pages through the medical books, looking through a volume titled “Plant and Animal Toxins of the Greatwood” to see if there’s any way she can use her med kit to craft an antitoxin for the Shusva’s venom. Valeria, meanwhile, looks for Order of the Rose books because they have guides to fighting fiends, but doesn’t find anything she hasn’t read before.

Isadora meets us outside her lab. “Find anything interesting?” Valeria asks.

“Where did you find that powder?” Isadora demands, skipping the pleasantries.

“A cursed circus of the Pale King.”

“Well, it had powdered bone as its central component, interwoven with illusion and enchantment magic. Definitely a ritual component.”

“That tracks with how we saw it used.”

“As far as its magical origin; this is quite old. It hasn’t been crafted with a Valdian arcane technique, but I can’t quite put my finger on its origin. I’d be curious to see the process of how it was created.”

Nothing we didn’t already guess. Valeria still graciously thanks her for taking a look at it.

“Oh, you’re making him leave,” Isadora observes frankly, seeing Lucinius trailing us.

“Ah, Lady Isadora!” he exclaims. “Thank you for your assistance!”

“I literally told you to go away.”

“Yes, but you curated this wonderful place! Please don’t touch anything I left on the table on the third floor, my research is still in progress-”

Isadora stares daggers as we drag him off. At least he didn’t try to bring dogs in here.

We head to Galvan’s room. There’s soup! The soup is EXCELLENT.

“My, it feels like forever since I’ve eaten! I suppose I’ve gotten lost in research again. The history of this region is far more complex than I’d been led to believe from outside accounts, or even interviews with locals. I’m quite sure my hypothesis is correct: the story of the Untameable Greatwood does not quite line up with the historical record! Now, I hear you have a few artifacts you wish to show me?”

Valeria pulls out the Aquilian religious icons we found in the Trollstones.

“Yes, these are very well made. Late imperial period, from the looks of things, but pretty standard. I know plenty of collectors back in Aurentium who’d love them. I have a similar set myself. They’re crafted with a nonstandard technique – I say! These are made of Valdian granite, aren’t they? Most Aquilian icons of the time would be made from marble. Fascinating! Where did you find them?”

“Well, we found them in some ruins. Which were inside even older ruins.”

He nearly knocks over his soup bowl. “What? Where?! What type of ruins, from what century? What was their purpose? Tell. Me. EVERYTHING.”

Valeria, whose mom is apparently way into architecture, knows enough technical terms to describe the site’s features fairly well. Lucinius is baffled. An underground structure? For Aarakocra? We recap the purpose of the Trollstones as well, including Urdemak’s story and the blessing against the undead. He paces around the room, firing off questions.

“The ruins were north of Mornheim, you say? Underground? Within an important local site? Such a thing could not have been done without – hmm. I have some suspicions. How accessible was it for birdfolk? Was the site visible from the sky?”

“Well, no, I assume that by necessity-“

“No, you don’t understand the implications. And within the tomb of a king! A troll king, to be sure, but a king nonetheless. A subterranean important local site had evidence of Aquilian development. This proves what I’ve been suspecting for some time!”

He digs in his satchel excitedly, coming up with a handful of notebooks. He flips roughly through them until he’s pointing emphatically to a specific page, which is covered in incomprehensible doctor handwriting in a language ¾ of us don’t speak.

“The classic story is the Untameable Greatwood. The Aquilians attempted to occupy it and were thrown out by the beasts and wild men and trolls that live here, or did not see the land as valuable enough to wage war for. Similar to what happened to the elves, much more recently! But from what I can tell in my studies, that simply does not add up. The Flying Legions did not leave places unconquered – either they took it or completely destroyed it. As proud as Valdians are of their resistance, there’s no archeological evidence of a large scale Valdian resistance to an Aquilian incursion. Such resistances are often hard to locate – on principle, Oberok would obliterate them; Let the Defeated be Forgotten, so they say. But to do that would require them to subjugate the Greatwood, which they did not! And the Valdian records of the period mention no organized resistance or throwing back Flying Legions. So any Aquilian construction would have required some level of cooperation between the Valdians on the ground and Aquilians in the sky!

“And now you tell me of a full installation constructed within a significant cultural site undiscoverable from the air. Now, we saw this before with the tattooed mummy you described to me. He could have been dismissed as an outlier. There are always those who choose to collaborate with their invaders; his tattoos could have been a symbol of local cooperation with his Aquilian superiors. Although once again, I found no mention of such individuals in the histories, which is in itself very odd. If the Empire was good at anything, it was very good at rewarding those who showed the proper deference. The fact that he is tattooed in Old Valdian is another puzzle. The Aquilians considered themselves superior to all others; a linguistic fusion like this would dilute the perfection of Oberok.”

“If they built this place inside a sacred site, it must have been more than a single local assisting them; somebody showed them this place and allowed them entry. What was the structure used for?”

We explain the significance of Urdemak’s tomb, and the blessing of a demigoddess so no dead would rise. Something had been contained in there, and sometime in the last 15 years, there was a “containment breach” from the Aquilian structure.

We show him the scroll we found in the tomb. He translates it for us:

“First Prisoner, Item #5

Containment Procedure: Keep submerged within waters blessed by local spirits with protection against undeath. This should suppress the influence of the Prisoner.

As per request by [unintelligible], we are required to keep disruption of the site to a minimum.

Description: A silver crown, a powerful ritual object of The First Prisoner.

Let the Vanquished be forgotten, let the Victorious reign eternal.

Glory to Oberok”

“Is this ‘Prisoner’ a thing you know of?” Valeria asks, hoping maybe our Curse has answers in ancient Aquilian lore.

He shakes his head. “Well, there’s plenty of mention of prisoners of war, criminals – Oberok, as the god of law, was very into prisons, but not in this context. This document is written with the assumption the reader knows what is meant by ‘First Prisoner.’”

A “powerful ritual object,” huh. Fuck, did we leave that shit in a foot locker? We could probably keep the crown better contained by submerging it in holy water, Valeria thinks, but we’d need a lot. She’s pretty sure she could get a crew of clerics together, but it’d take time. Maybe all those clerics could help with our dybbuk problem.

There’s some other stuff on the scroll Lucinius can work on, seeing if he can cross reference other Aquilian and Old Valdian texts to look for more containment areas. “I suppose I could put a pause on some of my research to look into this; the Cursebreakers have graciously allowed me use of their library, so it stands to reason I should contribute knowledge to their cause!”

Lucinius grills us about everything we saw in the ruins, but eventually it gets late and he’s clearly just come off of at least a fifteen hour research binge. We let him get some rest and head back to the common area for guests, where another goliath has joined Ingborg and Bjorn at their board game, chatting to them in Jotun. He’s far scrawnier than the two berserker bodyguards, though by human standards he’s still enormous. He’s also wearing a familiar bird-beaked mask, which means he’s almost certainly the Sturmhearst professor that Brigid told us about. Assuming that whoever has the most stones in their cup has the most points, the professor is winning handily against Ingborg. Meanwhile, Ser Boris is asleep by the fire in a pile of dogs.

As the game ends and the goliaths exchange a friendly punch to the shoulder, Bjorn notices us. “How is Professor Galvan?”

“He enjoyed the soup!”

“Good. I worry. Although I will admit it is much easier to guard him if he stays here. Tell me you did not tell him about a fascinating monster-filled pit to jump into?”

Valeria grimaces. “Oh we, uh, definitely did that.”

“Is he going to seek it out tonight?”

“Probably not? We asked him to do more reading.”

“Then I am going for a drink,” Bjorn declares decisively. He and Ingborg head off together, presumably to wherever they keep the liquor around here.

“Hallo!” the professor greets us, in our DM’s most half-assed Swedish Chef accent.

“Hi! Kyr Valeria Argent, at your service!”

“Professor Hjalmar Bjork, of the Sturmhearst College of Engineering!”

Bjork has a supersized Handy Haversack, which looks like it’s been mostly unpacked. He has several heavy pieces of metal equipment inscribed with the logo of the Valdian Tree Company and the Sturmhearst University crest. Notably, some sort of short-barreled musket with TC etched on the side and scorch marks around the barrel, with a bulbous metal tank at the other end. There’s a boiled leather helmet inscribed with faintly glowing Jotunn runes, as well as all manner of bombs and some kind of weird gauntlet thing.

He sees us checking out the goods. “Yes, I wanted to stop by and offer the latest inventions of Sturmhearst to the Cursebreakers! I am here to demonstrate our newest innovations, to see if they might purchase or fund future development. I wanted to bring a few with me into the library today, but the woman there-”

“The librarian has opinions about that, yes.”

Clem squints at the gadgets. “By any chance, did you build flamethrowers for a Professor Ulmus?”

“Ah yes, the TC Mark 2’s, with the big packs! This is a Mark 3. They’re named after my Ventallan colleague, Don Toretto Chikal. How is Professor Ulmus, by the by?”

“Oh, she’s doing great.”

“Good to hear! I have designed many weapons. Weapons are not my passion, but they are good business and there is much need. And what good is engineering if not to fill a need? Unfortunately, the Cursebreakers were not very interested in the invention I was most excited about.”

He pulls out the leather helmet, the one with runes on it.

“You’re familiar with the Curse, how it appears to corrupt the mind and exploits extreme emotionality? Are you familiar with the Calm Emotions spell? We put that into the device, to make the wearer resistant to fear and charm effects, so they can resist the corruption. I call it the Mood Cap! Our first test subject was subjected to many terrifying and exciting stimuli with no reaction! I feel the idea has a lot of promise. It just requires a bit of funding for further development, you know, it’s theoretically perfectly safe once we figure out how to tone down the effect!”

That sounds concerning.

“Usually Calm Emotions is cast on multiple people; the runes we originally used turned out to be too strong for one individual for an extended period of exposure.”

“You just sit around doing nothing forever, huh?” Gral asks.

“Oh, the test subject is fine, he mostly recovered after 48 hours. He still occasionally spaces out sometimes. The Dean of Medicine has taken him under observation and expects a full recovery. It will be perfectly safe, once the kinks are worked out! Sadly, Lord Ludwig disagreed, and he’s the one with the money.”

(We don’t like the Mood Cap, but we do liek it.)

“Did you have any trouble traveling here?” Valeria asks politely.

“Yes, but I have a large construct as bodyguard. I built it myself! I prefer things I constructed with my own two hands. And the hands of several assistants and grad students, admittedly. Travel is not especially difficult with those things. To be honest, it’s good to get away from Sturmhearst for a while.”

That piques our interest. “Oh? How are things at Sturmhearst?”

“They’re….fine…” he equivocates.

Everything is definitely not fine.

“Nothing strange is going on.”

Valeria hmms. “That sounds unusual for Sturmhearst, to be honest. Ser Brigid told us to ask you about some strange findings?”

“Oh, she told you. I have to be careful; the walls have ears.”

“Like, literally?” Shoshana asks. “Because I’ve seen stranger.”

“Well. Hmm. The last few times I have been at the university, a package arrived for me. What do you know about Sturmhearst?”

“You have bird masks!”

“Yes, we do wear those.”

“We have a scalpel that helped found it!”

There’s a long pause, while we watch formulas and the volume of a cone float in front of his bird mask. “….okay.”

He presses on. “I received a package on my desk. It contained several equations, a strange device, and some metallic samples, with a note asking for my opinions. The device was incomprehensible, but the equations and samples have been invaluable in my work. The note was signed by Headmaster Trevor Twombly, who has been on sabbatical the last two years. I have only been working for them for the past five years or so, when I was invited as an expert in artificing – a runesmith, as we say in my homeland.

“A few years after I began my tenure, the headmaster went on this unplanned sabbatical completely out of the blue. I have not seen him since. Since then, his second, the Dean of Medicine, Elana Damrosch, has run things. I asked where he had gone, as I wished to discuss funding, and I was deflected, told he was simply traveling. I asked for an opportunity to send a Sending, and was informed that it would be difficult, but they would try. No response. Now, there are any number of explanations for that, especially with the Curse mucking things up.

“So you can understand my surprise when several of my colleagues and I received these odd packages. They’re all distinct, but similar enough that they seem to come from the same source. Since then, I have received three packages of things useful in my work! This,” he gestures to the TC Mark 3 flamethrower, “contains an autonomous refueling mechanism based off one of the samples I was given. The Mood Cap, too – I am applying my own rune lore, but using techniques I’d never seen before I received these formulas.

“As well as making my sales pitch, I came here to use the library for research; Sturmhearst is not a college of magic, though we do make use of it. This library has a much deeper knowledge of the arcane. I’m trying to figure out where Twombly got these techniques. Lady Isadora has seen nothing like them.”

“Do you mind if I take a look at one of those samples?” Valeria asks.

He pulls out a few bits and bobs. One is a metal plate in an odd shape. “The purpose of this one is obvious,” he says, which it is not. Shoshana notices the odd way the metal shimmers in the candlelight, though – just the same as the huge wrench we pulled out of the spaceship in the Key zone.

“And there is this!” he says, pulls out another object, a rectangle with several buttons on it. “This is a fascinating device. My analysis indicates the use of electricity!” (One player guesses a tv remote. It is, indeed, a graphing calculator.) “It can do math – some sort of calculating engine. Very useful in my work. I have had to translate symbols into actual numbers; the characters aren’t an alphabet any of our researchers have seen before. But I have spent long time with device and have been able to determine its function!” Valeria immediately detects magic and uses her divine sense on it. It does not ping them, because it is a calculator.

“If Headmaster Twombly is away, traveling, then where are these coming from? Dean Damrosch says he must be shipping them in – I enquired in the mail room, but nothing from the headmaster has come in. What’s more, I was experimenting with an arcane surveillance system, which indicated that a single individual, who was not fully humanoid, did enter my office and drop off a package. I told Dean Damrosch this, and she told me not to worry, that perhaps my device was malfunctioning. My device did not malfunction! I had tested it thoroughly!”

Valeria pulls out our adamantine wrench to show him the strange metal. He pecks it with the beak of his mask, which is tipped in metal. “This is the same material as one of the samples! Where did you find this?”

“Uhhhh. A very cursed house.”

“Here in Valdia?”

“Yes…and also no. It’s complicated.”

“I am very intelligent. I have a degree and a mask,” he points out.

Valeria grimaces. “Well, I’m not sure if I’m intelligent enough to explain. How familiar are you with the different ways the Curse manifests?”

“Not at all. I am an engineer.”

Shoshana awkwardly tries to explain the in-between spaces created by the Key, and how they link to other worlds with other logic. The space between, Gral tells him, is enlightening but toxic to the mind.

“Perhaps the Headmaster is using these portals you describe, then? That’s actually a bit of a relief. To be honest, I suspected that the Dean had killed the Headmaster and was doing some sort of elaborate cover-up.”

Something worrying has occurred to Gral, given that Sturmhearst is apparently having Key shenanigans. “Since you wear masks all the time, would you immediately notice if someone had more eyeballs than normal?”

“…No? I suppose that would be an odd thing not to notice. This habit of masks – I’m surprised how much Sturmhearst has adhered to it; I understand it is a tradition from the school’s origin as plague hospital. I suppose it’s become a symbol of our profession!”

“Okay, but like. Could you TELL if someone had too many eyeballs. Especially in places where eyeballs don’t usually go.”

“Well!” he says, clearly a little unsettled by the question, and noticeably not answering. “Perhaps I might try to stay at this castle for a bit. I may want to stay away from Sturmhearst for a while.”

“I mean, has other weird stuff been appearing at Sturmhearst besides the packages?”

“Well, there have been stories of things in the catacombs. Experiments that have escaped, that sort of thing. And as long as I have studied there, the hallways have been a bit illogical to navigate – rather like this castle, in fact.”

“…Is that normal for Sturmhearst, or what?”

“My understanding of the school – I am a recent arrival, after all – is that until recently, it was substantially less odd. Their work was more practical, less experimental. I admit my own work has advanced by leaps and bounds with the insights from these packages; I’m doing far more experimental work of my own than I ever have before. But monsters in the basement? That’s relatively new. If it had to happen anywhere, though, Sturmhearst is certainly much better armed than any other university I’ve visited…”

“Speaking of weapons, is there perhaps any chance you might be willing to part with a flamethrower for a few brave adventurers fighting the Curse?” Clem inquires hopefully

“Well, I did come here with intent to sell. The Cursebreakers were not interested, so I suppose I could part with a mark 3. You would like a demonstration, yes?”

He provides us a rather exciting demonstration of the flamethrower out in the courtyard, unfortunately for several training dummies, spouting off facts and stats about its refueling capabilities and its range and how reasonably the fuel is priced. Clem’s counting her gold.

(Bonus: Did you find Professor Bjork’s – or should I say, Birch’s – starters? Toretto Chikal = Torchic; Tree Co. = Treecko; Mood Cap = Mudkip.)

It’s late, so we head up to bed. We are waited upon by a few of the von Hoesk servants. Clem, Gral, and Shoshana are absolutely unused to this level of luxury, and amazed that there are people who actually live like this. Valeria is like finally, some civilization.

The next morning, Ser Boris kicks down our door at the crack of dawn, blowing a hunting horn. As we all groan and retreat under the covers, we cut session for now.

[dac-bonj]

Lesotho Infinity And Beyond: 2 January 2016: Zimbabwe- Victoria Falls for New Years with PC crew

              Who doesn't?

           I got to Shoestrings Backpackers and set up my tent under a tree ($7/night camping), then wandered around a little bit to see the place, as it’s pretty big. A few strings of lights were hanging in the restaurant area and a tiny tree sat on the counter. It was Christmas day, after all, but the decorations were subtle and not obnoxious and in-your-face like they would be in the US. People didn’t really seem to make a fuss about it being a holiday, and that was nice. It was just a good day to relax. After I was done looking around at the artist displays in the back, I came around the couches in the lounge area. Two guys were sitting there, and one glanced at me and said, “You look bored,” in a distinct Irish accent. Correct you are, sir. So I sat down and talked with them.

The Irish one was living in Vic Falls for a few months as a rafting guide on the famous Zambezi river, having gotten a degree in criminology and forensics and not using it in any capacity. Instead, he works as a rafting guide going all over the world, switching hemispheres following the season. I mostly hung out with them for the day, as there weren’t many other guests at the hostel. The other guy, a Zimbabwe-born bar manager of the hostel, told me that the hostel would soon be overflowing with people coming for the same reason my PC Lesotho friends and I were coming for: The Vic Falls Carnival, a music festival/New Year’s party. That wouldn’t start for a few days, though, so the town was still relatively empty. I would be meeting my PC friends in a few days, and I was very excited not to be solo on my travels for once. Temporary friends are nice, but they’re nothing like getting to hang out my PC crew.

                That night, sure enough, the creatures emerged from throughout the town for a festive night of dancing at the hostel. Along with a nice Australian woman, I helped the bar manager DJ the party. And by DJ, I mean lining up Youtube videos on the laptop connected to the big speakers, strategically learning to read the mood of the crowd and see what we should play next, accepting and rejecting suggestions, etc. It got really fun and everyone was dancing, and we didn’t even notice that it was almost 2am (even though the bar is supposed to shut down at 12. Oops.) The night ended with, what else, a few of us jumping in the pool to escape all the itchy mosquitoes. Oh man, are there ever zillions of mosquitoes here. Bug spray for days.

Fire poi

Me + manager + Australian

                I still had a few days before all my friends came, so I did a few things around town, ya know, other than the main attraction of the falls, because I wanted to wait to go with them. One morning, I went to see the “Big Tree,” which was, surprise, a big tree. It was a huge 1000+ year-old baobab. The rest of the day consisted of doing a little barefoot run (I didn’t have any shoes but Chacos) with the two guys around town and then, again, jumping in the pool. In this heat, pools just give you life. That night, it was much like the night before, but a little calmer, with me meeting more Zimbos and travelers around the pool table, and I even got to meet some of the coordinators of the Vic Falls Carnival, which was cool.

Might I take a moment to mention how awesome all hostel dogs are. Every hostel should be required to have at least one resident dog. They just add so much to the personality of a place. Shoestrings had two, a big old one named Morgan and a little limping one named Mojo.

Mojo-jojo

                Turns out that even 2 days past Christmas continues to be a public holiday here, so I couldn’t get a sim card to whatsapp my friends and coordinate with them. Fortunately, Shoestrings had (paid) wifi. It being limited, I spent a good chunk of time reading and writing, as I was used to doing in this internetless life. I got bored, so I walked up to one of the hostel staff guys who is also an artist, and asked for a recommendation on somewhere to walk to and visit. He was immediately like, “Yeah, let’s go for a walk,” and just decided to come with me. Well there you go. A personal guide to the town- perfect. He must have been almost as bored as I was. We went to the Elephant Walk, which was an area of shops and artists selling all kinds of locally-made crafts and things. There’s a crocodile cage diving place, and though we declined to actually get in the water, we were able to walk across a rickety bridge over the tank and watch these huge crocs swimming around. Then we went to the schmancy Vic Falls Hotel and, from the back lawn, saw the iconic bridge that goes from the Zimbabwe side to the Zambia side of the river. After that, we briefly went to the Overlook Café, which looks out over the gorge and the mighty Zambezi below.

These warthogs were just wandering around town

The back yard of the hotel with the bridge in the distance

One of the crocs was an albino

   It was the day my friends were arriving from Lesotho on a loooong series of bus rides. They wouldn’t arrive until the evening, but it was my job to find our Air BnB. I was up pretty early at the hostel and packed up as tons of other people were coming in and setting up their tents. My mission was to find this house we had rented before the crew showed up on the Intercape bus. I carried my stuff down the road to the street where I was somehow very convinced, but very wrong, that the Air BnB was on. I had no address, just a (wrong) street name and some vague instructions. I knocked on several houses, whose residents directed me to several other houses, without success. I went to the nearby convenience store where this lady led me around to another street to a house where the very nice woman inside called the dude in charge for me (remember, I hadn’t been able to get a sim card, so I couldn’t call anyone myself). She asked him to meet me at that convenience store. Anyway, I met the guy and he was sweating because he sprint-biked over to meet me. Man, everyone was bending over backward to help me and were so friendly. I was a lost traveler in need and everyone I encountered did their best to get me pointed in the right direction. People rock.

                The guy walked me to the house and I was so happy to have finally found the place after a couple hours of wandering around. I just chilled out in the (air conditioned!) house, watching Hunger Games on TV, using as much wifi as I wanted, and just enjoying the total luxury life that I didn’t even know I had been missing for so long. The crew finally showed up and I was so happy to see them! Like I said, vacation friends are alright, but actual friends are awesome. It was just for a few days, though, then it would be back to solo travels.

                It was ten of us in this little two bedroom place, and even though they moved in more beds for us, one of us still had to sleep on the couch and two on the floor with our trusty sleeping bags and pads. And there was only one bathroom for all of us. But we made it work.

                The next day was rafting day. So awesome! The eight of us who wanted to go rafting got our own boat with our stellar guide. We spent the day paddling 30km down the “mighty Zambezi” following the directions of our guide. He yelled paddle and we paddled. While going through some particularly intense rapids, he yelled get down and we got down. After conquering each rapid, he yehawed and we yehawed in return, all raising our paddles to do a group high five. We went over 19 rapids in total, up to class 5. We had a couple people fall out (or intentionally jump out…) on the big ones. At one point, we had to get out and hike around a class 6 rapid called “commercial suicide,” and just watching them send the empty boats down it made us all thankful we weren’t going through that one. At the end, we jello-leggedly climbed up the steep gorge to be welcomed at the top by an awesome lunch. After eating, we went back to the rafting office in the truck while we got rained on. It reminded me of getting soaked in the Okavongo. We jokingly shouted “get down!” as we hid behind the bench seats to avoid the rainy spray. White water rafting down the Zambezi was one of the coolest things I did in Southern Africa. It was such a great day!

Hold on!

Get down!

Yeehaw!

Yep, we survived

                              That night we went to Shoestrings backpackers for the opening community party for the Vic Falls Carnival. It was insanely crowded, but I managed to say hi to the staff I had been hanging out with a few days earlier when I was staying there. At one point, one of my friends and I went around to the bar to get some drinks and were told that happy hour was over, so the drinks were double the price they were just a little while earlier. This being Zimbabwe, I started to negotiate with the guy. Ok, if you won’t give us drinks for $1 each like they were before, how about 3 for $4? I was kind of joking, but he shrugged, sure. Somehow I just got a little too carried away with the friendly haggling, and the bar guy was either really nice or had stopped caring about enforcing prices, and we ended up getting something like 4 for $5. Hah, I love this place.

                While a bunch of other crew members went to the Devil’s Pool (a natural pool on the edge of the falls), the others of us who didn’t feel like shelling out over a hundred dollars for that went into town. My friend Jen was so sore from the rafting and climbing up the gorge, and she didn’t even want to move, so we dropped her off at a restaurant. The two of us left, Danielle and I, went to see the famous falls themselves. It was $14 per person for the SADC price (thanks, Lesotho), and I think $20 for the international price. The park was awesome. It was a rainforest on the edge of the cliff. Looking out, you could just see SO MUCH WATER! And this was the low season! But it was so cool, with mist flying everywhere.

Danielle

Me

Water water everywhere

And even mist rainbows

                That afternoon, we all went to the train station, yes the same one where I arrived from Bulawayo, to get on the afternoon train to the “bush party.” The train was filled with Carnival goers ready to party. After about half an hour, we arrived at a field with a DJ/stage in the middle, a bar on one side, and a couple food stands on the other side. We met lots of other PCVs from other countries, among Zimbos and other travelers. At one point, I found some people I had met at the hostel, Zimbabweans who hung out there a lot, who told me that they didn’t want to pay for the entry to the party and instead gate crashed by taking an overland truck out there. I just laughed; that’s the spirit. It was pretty fun, but by around 9pm, having been there for 5 or 6 hours already, we were bored and got on the train back.

Getting off the train

Yay friends!

                New Years Eve day, we didn’t do much, mostly just wandered around town to the fancy hotels and took photos, then went to the 3 Monkeys restaurant for pizza and burgers.

Behind the hotel

Colorful flowers everywhere

On the rickety croc bridge

All day, every day

4 monkeys

                Our Air BnB was only a few blocks from the school where they were having the New Years Eve concert, so we walked over there. We all got into the spirit of New Years by channeling our inner Kesha and glittering ourselves out. The concert was really good, with Southern African bands like Kiffness and Goodluck. Well after midnight, I started walking back with one of my friends. After a longer-than-expected walk, we thought we were starting to get lost. I hadn’t brought my phone for fear of it getting stolen out of my pocket (a few other people did end up getting stuff stolen), so I couldn’t break out maps.me to see where we were going. After a while, luckily, a car passed, stopped, then reversed and pulled up next to us. They asked where we were going, and when we told them, they said that this was definitely not the right road, and that if we continued, we’d just walk right into Botswana and run into animals and lions and things on the road. They offered to drive us home. My friend said no thanks, but I was like yes, please and thank you. So we both got in the car and they drove us through the bush on these dirt roads all the way back to our house. We were very grateful, and thankful that, again, every single person here has been so nice and helpful.

Glitter-fied

                New Years Day started slowly, and we eventually made it to the Overlook Café for lunch. I got a crocodile kebab, which was pretty tasty. Those who hadn’t been to the falls went to the park, and the rest of us went back to the house for a lazy day of naps and watching movies on TV.

Meanwhile, at the falls...

                The next day, the rest of the crew got up early to leave for their bus. They had almost 40 hours of travel ahead of them, and I did not envy them at all. I did have a twinge of empathy for them; it was like when I had gone on vacation and it was time to come home, how I had this overwhelming, impending sense of doom to leave the fun to go back to my relatively boring and lonely life in Lesotho. But thankfully I still had a few months of traveling ahead of me. I stayed and cleaned up a little bit in the house, then walked back to trusty Shoestrings for another night in Vic Falls before I would head out into Zambia.

As I walked down the streets, most of the tourists were gone by that time, so I was once again approached by tons of guys in the street to buy old Zimbabwe Dollar notes, jewelry, statues, bracelets, what have you. Being on a backpacker budget, I told them that I didn’t have money to spare. They offered trades, wanting to trade for my water bottle, shoes, hat, any t-shirts, towels, anything. It’s so hard to get quality things in this country, especially with there not being any money, so trading was just as good. Then if I told them the truer truth of me literally not having any more room to carry these crafty things as I traveled for months, they would sigh and bid me good travels. I did end up buying a few old Zim Dollar notes, as they were very small, and seemed like cool souvenirs.

Official gazillionaire

One of the most interesting conversations was at the hostel with some staff members about what they thought of the new bond notes. They were only introduced about a month earlier, so I was curious. People really don’t like them because they don’t have any value outside of Zimbabwe. Other than the country not being able to pay foreign debt with them, people can’t use them to cross the border to Zambia to buy things like they were used to doing. The government only brought around $50,000 worth to Vic Falls, which is definitely not enough for the needs of a town this size. And even though the bond notes are tied to the USD now, they wouldn’t be for long, and people feared runaway inflation again.

I was avoiding setting up my tent for only one night, so I decided to lay on the bug spray and sleep in my sleeping bag on one of the couches outside. The mosquitoes decided that this wasn’t happening, so after a while, after one of the security guys came over and told me that I’d get eaten alive, I broke down and set up my tent, AKA my mosquito-free haven.

The next morning, just a few hours after I had set it up, I took my tent down and packed up. I walked to the border across the bridge, stopping to watch people bungee jump off of it, and shortly got my $50 single-entry visa into Zambia. I’d officially been to all the countries in Southern Africa Woo hoo!

Zim/Zam bridge

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[wynneinrome]

The Three Musketeers

@midtownsciencenerd I know you asked about this! (Which made me so happy I cried, I thought everyone had forgotten about it.) It isn’t done. But I forgot how much I had posted. So I’m just going to keep posting everything PLUS the extra I’ve written. 

@hollandstarks @cringyholland @takemespidey @harrison-osterfield-appreciation @osterfield @intheheartofpeterparker @intheheartoftomholland

I tagged all ya’ll because you all like Tom and Haz.... Sorry if they come across OOC... I’m trying to keep them close to what I know and how I think they’d act in these situations..... 

Please leave me feedback or ideas of adventures these guys can have. I’ve got some ideas but I’m always open to more! 

Also because I just watch Moana. I’ve been listening to How Far I’ll Go and it is my new favorite song...... Sorry that was random!

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

                                     Chapter 1: The Meeting

It was just one of those days. I mean like freaking awkward. Not surprising being me, to be honest. I had finally made my big breakthrough performance on the tv show Suits. My character was Harvey Specter’s teenage daughter, Lyncoln Specter. I had to get a full on weave of blonde hair, I looked so strange without my afro. But it was for the show and practically every essence of my life, nowadays, was for the show.

Today I was doing a photoshoot for the show, then I’d get rushed into an interview. I was wearing my blue flowered dress with light brown heels. My hair was braided up into a flower crown with some loose strands framing my face. I had a light dusting of makeup on my cheeks. I hate makeup, truth be told. My eyeshadow was silver with black eyeliner. And boy, did I feel fabulous.

“Alright, Lexi. You’re all set to go!” My makeup artist chirped.

“Thanks Damian.” I smiled. “You did AMAZING as usual.”

“That’s only because I’ve you ask a canvas.” He winked.

Damian was my favorite. He always complimented me and cheered me on from the sidelines. He was definitely battling my best friend Maddy, for the biggest fan label. I gave Damian a big thumbs-up and walked out the the studio. It wasn’t that far from my trailer. Yeah, I got a trailer, but primarily from the amount of products they used on me.

As soon as I reached the photoshoot door, I felt like screaming. I was terrified, but I lifted my head and pushed open the door.

“Hello Alexis!” A tall blond woman called, waving at me. “I’m Amber, and I’ll be your photographer today.”

“Hey Amber, it’s nice to meet you.” I grinned, smoothing down my dress. “Let’s get this show on the road!”

I began posing as she instructed. And, oh boy, did I feel like an idiot!!!!!!! I hated pictures of myself and I already knew they’d be airbrushing the living daylights out of these photos. And Amber was no fun. I was faking a smile and was on the verge of tears because I felt so stupid. You could tell Amber was having a hard time as well, but it wasn’t her face that was going to be posted all over the World Wide Web.

Suddenly the door behind Amber was thrown open. The sunlight blinded me so I couldn’t actually see. But I could hear two OBVIOUSLY british voices. But I was too busy internally screaming about my eyes to hear what they were saying.

All of the sudden an arm was draped around my shoulder.

“Hey! Mind if we jump in?” A voice asked.

“Who in the-” I stopped when I saw who it was.

TOM FREAKING HOLLAND AND HARRISON OSTERFIELD! Yeah trust me, I almost fainted.

“Uh sure…..” I shrugged trying not to fangirl to hard.

“Awesome!” Tom smiled at me.

Harrison shook his head and stood beside me as well.

“Hey, it’s okay to smile, you know.” Harrison said, poking my cheek.

I rolled my eyes. “No really? You don’t say.” I crossed my arms and stared into his blue eyes.

Harrison smirked and shrugged. I turned back to the camera and smiled.

“Just relax.” Tom whispered in my ear. “Pretend it’s just us hanging out.”

“O-okay….” I stammered, internally cursing myself for not calming down.

I look over at Tom and really noticed what he was wearing. He looked like he had walked out of a wedding ceremony. Like, boy what? He still had his arm around my shoulders and I was trying not to faint. The more I acted like this was normal, the more I started to loosen up. Soon I was laughing with the two boys like I had known them for years. Amber looked a bit confused, but continued to snap photos.

“Tom we’ve got to go to your shoot now.” Harrison said, after some time. “We should let these ladies get back to their shoot.”

“Oh alright.” Tom said frowning. “Keep smiling!”

“Thanks Tom.” I smiled back.

They walked out waving.

“Gosh darn it….. They don’t even know my name.” I internally facepalmed.

A few hours later I left my shoot and began walking towards my car. I saw Harrison opening a door and walk out. Part of me wanted to yell, “HEY!” And run over, but I was in heels and I am not athletic. So, I just awkwardly kept walking.

“Hey you!” Harrison shouted.

But I couldn’t believe he was calling to me so I didn’t turn around. I just kept walking.

“Hey you in the blue dress! Wait!” He yelled, running up to me.

“Oh hey…” I said, turning. “Didn’t know you were talking to me.”

“I didn’t catch your name.” Harrison gasped.

“Oh, um, I’m Lexi.” I replied. “I’m not that cool….”

“I’ve heard of you. You’re that new up-and-coming actress that everyone is freaking out over.” Harrison grinned. “My sister thinks you're pretty cool.”

“Oh, that - that’s cool….” I smiled back, honestly confused over where this conversation was going.

“Anyway, we, Tom and I, had a blast on your photoshoot. And you’re new to the whole celeb thing, so here are our numbers. If you ever need anything, just call, or text.” Harrison replied, handing me a small sheet of paper.

I took it, my heart practically exploding in shock. “Holy. Wow. Um, thank you so much. I didn’t expect this.”

“Don’t mention it! It’s our pleasure.” Harrison nodded casually.

“I’ll text you soon… I’ve got to go to my interview now.” I said, suddenly realizing that I still had responsibilities.

We waved goodbye and I quickly sped walked to my car. I quickly got in and apologized to my manager. We sped off to the interview, while on the drive over I entered Tom and Haz’s numbers into my phone. I wasn’t sure who to text first, so I started a group chat.

Me: “Hey Tom and Harrison. This is Lexi, the girl whose photoshoot you crashed.”

Tom: “HEY! Glad you texted!”

Haz: “Hey! You actually wrote. I got sort of worried there.”

Me: “What? Why would a girl like me reject two British guys?”

Tom: “Haha good one. I heard from Haz that you have an interview.”

Me: “Yeah… It’s not with a famous person….. It’s one of those featurette ones.”

Tom: “Still awesome! Let us know how it goes!”

Haz: “Yeah! Maybe we can hang out after!”

Me: “Awesome! Talk to you guys later!”

I put my phone in my purse and got out. The interview went fairly well, just the basic questions about my character and my costars. I had a hard time focusing somewhat because of Tom and Haz. It took more time than I thought, but she was nice and funny. Soon after the interview I texted the guys about where I should meet them. I went to a hotel in the upper part of the city. And HOLY COW! This place was fancy!

I put my phone to my ear and called Tom. “Hey, I’m here. But this place is massive and -”

“Hey don’t worry about it! I’ll be down in a minute!” Tom interrupted me.

“Okay, I’m in the Lobby and everyone is staring at me.” I replied. “Please hurry.”

“I’m in the lobby now.” Tom said. “Wait, I see you. Don’t move.”

Tom hung up and I honestly didn’t see him at all. So I stood still to appease him and I waited. I felt a hand tap my shoulder and I turned around.

“Hey they didn’t kick you out!” Tom grinned.

“Luckily.” I replied smoothly. “Thanks for inviting me!”

“Yeah come on, Haz is at the restaurant waiting for us.”

“Okay.” I nodded and followed him.

Tom and I didn’t say much but it was okay. I was too busy looking at all of the architecture of the hotel lobby to pay attention to Tom. (Don’t kill me okay, I like architecture.) It didn’t take us long to get to Harrison.

“Hey! I got a table for 3.” Harrison stated, waving at Tom and me. “The hostess almost didn’t believe me.”

“Can you blame her Haz?” Tom asked. “You aren’t pretty enough for two dates.”

“Ouch.” I muttered, trying not to laugh.

“As if you could get a date, you 12 year old.” Haz sassed back.

“Okay ladies, you’re both pretty.” I interrupted

Honestly the dinner went by in a blur and we were laughing and talking like old friends. Nothing could have changed our joy. They invited me up to their massive hotel room and I decided that no harm could come of hanging out with them, since I had no plans the next day.

I had a small bag of clothes with me, since I was going to be in a hotel that night anyway. I followed them to their room.

“Alrighty… We have two beds. But I can sleep on the couch.” Harrison said as soon as we had entered the hotel room.

“Oh I can take the couch.” I said, in a soft voice. “I do that all the time.”

“No, no, no.” Tom cut me off. “We can’t let you.”

“Okay, Brit…. I can handle this.” I replied patting his shoulder. “I don’t mind, these couches look better than my bed in my room.”

“Well before we go to bed, we can just chill out if you want.” Tom suggested.

“Sure, why not!” I said, nodding in agreement. “I heard that some new interviews will be on TV tonight.”

“Cool, my bed is the biggest and I’ve got a TV in there.” Tom commented.

We walked into Tom’s room after changing out of our fancy clothes. We chilled out on his bed, flipping through the channels. None of us could agree on what to watch. We bickered and dissed each other's shows. Finally, I got tired of them bickering and smacked them both with a throw pillow.

“OW WHAT THE FUCK?!” Tom yelped, falling off the bed.

“LEXI!” Harrison shouted, pulling the pillow from my arms.

“STOP BEING SO LOUD!” I yelled back, trying to retrieve my weapon from Harrison.

“Oh no you don’t!” Tom snapped tackling me into the bed. “You are not allowed to have pillows!”

“Get off me Tom! I do what I want!” I shouted back, poking him in the chest and ribs. “I refuse to be held down! I AM FIRE! I AM DEATH!”

Harrison was trying to pull Tom off of me and laughing. “Tom! No! Release her!”

“THIS IS WAR!” Tom bellowed pushing Harrison off and attacking me with a pillow.

I screamed struggling to protect my face and get out from underneath Tom’s toned body. Harrison had fallen over laughing at Tom and me as we smacked each other with pillows. I managed to get my hands on a pillow and wrestle Tom. I was on top of him straddling his waist, my hair a mess. I was poised to do my final assault when someone knocked on the door.

“Shit.” Harrison said, lowering his phone.

“Were you videoing this?” I hissed.

“Shhhh! It might be the cops!” Tom whispered.

I snorted. “The cops of what? It’s only 10 o’clock in the evening.”

Tom sat up, causing me to fall backwards onto his lap. We all looked towards the door.

“So who wants to get that?” I asked in a low voice.

“If they knock again, we answer.” Harrison replied. “All of us.”

The knock never came.