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bush-viper-cutie · 5 years ago

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Mess After Mess

Pairing: None

Word Count: 1,944

Rating: E for Everyone

Plot: Severus is forced to restock almost all his potions ingredients at once all because of two clumsy students who never learn their lesson.

Warnings: None

A/N: For Snape Appreciation Month, prompt 7: Snape and Potions. @snapeloveposts

Posted: 6/16/20

Masterlist

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“YOU INSOLENT CHILDREN! Look what you’ve done!” Severus stepped over the broken glass and spilled powders and liquids. “This is why wands are NOT ALLOWED in my potions classrooms! Clean this mess up at once. WITHOUT MAGIC.”

The two second years nodded and ran out of the classroom for brooms and mops. Severus took out his wand and put out the small fire starting in the student stores. All of the middle shelves were broken in half and only half the bottom shelf jars survived the flaming sparks.

It would take an entire afternoon at the apothecary alone to replace everything that had broken, although he wasn’t sure how soon he could replace the ingredients that had been fermenting since before he was born.

He shook his head and hung it low, cursing himself for thinking these children could be trusted alone for even a minute. He stormed out of the potions classroom, growling at the children running back in with dustpans in hand, and stepped into his office.

He closed the door and fell onto it, ripping his cravat from his neck and unbuttoning the top buttons to breath better. Why couldn’t people be more MINDFUL of things? He had yelled about using magic in the classrooms countless times and yet he constantly caught students messing about with it.

“It’s like these wizards can’t spend five SECONDS without casting a spell of some sort.”

He threw his cravat onto a chair and sat at his desk, opening a drawer and taking out the list for the student stores. The middle shelves had half the materials alone… If he was their Head of House they would be neck deep in detentions but he knew what the others would say… ‘Just children’. More like obnoxious brats.

. . .

“Headmaster. I will be gone for the weekend and will be back Sunday night,” Severus wound his scarf around his neck and turned to leave Dumbledore’s office.

“Heading down to Hogsmeade, Severus?”

Severus turned, fearing what the old fool would ask of him, “I… am – but only for one thing.”

Dumbledore looked up from his book and smiled, “Then perhaps, you wouldn’t mind me asking for a few things… not too many, I can assure you.”

He sighed, “Fine. Give me the list.”

. . .

Hogsmeade was loud during this time of year. The leaves crunched under his foot, the birds chirped above everyone’s heads, and the chatter from the passersby cluttered the air. Even the signs sung their creaks under the influence of the cold wind. Hogsmeade village was at its peak during these types of autumn days.

Dervish and Banges was a shop at the corner of two intersecting streets on the opposite side of the village. There were two doors in the front of the shop; the yellow was the entrance to the store, and the run-down one lead right up to the living quarters of the old man that ran it.

He knocked on the rundown door and waited for the heavy footsteps and creaking of the old man coming down the interior stairs.

He opened it and tipped his hat, “Ah, Mr. Snape. Your order – ”

“Thank you, Mr. Dervish,” Severus took out the bag of coins he had collected from Dumbledore and held it out, “Your payment.”

Mr. Dervish nodded and turned around, picking up a heavy box from behind the door and handed it to Severus, “Careful there – ”

“Thank you,” Severus poured the coins into the man’s hands and clutched the box tight as he walked down the street towards Hogsmeade Station.

The train arrived precisely on time, like it always had since the first time he rode it.

He boarded and picked an empty car, luckily having to share it with no one since wizards didn’t really travel from Hogsmeade to London all too much and certainly not so early in October. He opened up the Daily Prophet – he had held back on reading it that morning specifically for the trip – and scanned the headlines, hoping for anything good to read.

It was all the same type ridiculous journalism that had people fretting for their lives every other weekend. First the journalists claim that the Ministry was allowing dragon egg trading between trainers will cause minors to harbor illegal eggs for fame among their peers and burn houses down, and now that the Ministry has banned it again, they are risking the lives of wizards by making the illegal harboring of dragon eggs that much more appealing to minors, causing houses to burn down.

. . .

It was as dark as the Hogwarts dungeons outside when the train arrived at London. He picked up his box and hailed a cab for Leadenhall Market where the Leaky Caldron entrance to Diagon Alley was located. The ride took fifteen minutes but the ‘quick’ chat with Tom the innkeeper took almost twice.

Unfortunately for him, Dumbledore had sent a message to confirm his room reservation and explained the whole story to Tom, who had wanted to hear the story all over again from him this time.

“What do you want me to say. The students were senseless. Therefor did something careless. And then the results were disastrous!” he sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Please,” he pushed the box into Tom’s arms, “take this to my room.”

Tom nodded and headed upstairs, finally freeing Severus from the social corner he had been forced into. He sat down at a stool and ordered the most expensive hot meal, Why not, if I’m not paying. After the meal he headed up and went to bed, knowing the next day would be incredibly long.

. . .

Severus unfurled the list of items he needed to buy from the apothecary and smoothed it out over his thigh. He could see the scrawled names better and reminded himself to stay on track and not let anything distract from the task at hand.

“Student stores ingredients only,” he whispered.

He opened the door and a gust of air rushed out of the cold shop. There were dozens of baskets stacked on tables with little cards for labels. All the jars were filled with powders and the barrels full of dried creature parts were all labeled as well.

He stepped in and started his way down the shop, looking at all the shelves and sticking his nose in every barrel. He opened a few jars and shifted the powders to check for any additives – none were found. This was his favorite store – or the only favorite one he didn’t have to be cautious to be found in – so he decided he’d take his time.

He lined up seven of the best-looking armadillo bile jars and inspected each one for the best color, holding them up to the light and checking each one against the rest. Next, he moved on to the Abyssinian Shrivelfig and picked out those with the longest stems. The bubotuber pus unfortunately required several whiffs that left him nauseous, but he recovered with the honeywater samples.

. . .

It took him from dawn to dusk to inspect and choose every last ingredient on the list. He made it out of the shop just before closing time and headed to his room, eager to get started. He spread out all the items on his bed and unboxed the jars. He rubbed his hands together, excited to start putting everything into place.

He took off his coat and quickly unbuttoned his clothes, shrugging everything off and slipped into his night shirt. The floor of his room wasn’t very dirty, so he brushed away some dust and knelt on the ground beside his bed.

He felt like it was Christmas already, having to unwrap all the ingredients from the brown paper and twine wrappings to organize it all in their glass jars. He cut some twine in half and put his hair up, not wanting it to get in his way.

He got to work putting everything where it was supposed to be. He stuck tape on all the jars and labeled everything with the contents and exact date he acquired it. All the jars were put back in the box, all but one. The newest find at the apothecary. The frozen glass frogs.

He had bought twenty of the little frogs and filled the jar up to the brim. He had been sending owls to the owner for years to stock it, and not just include it in the potions kits, and finally he had done just that. The one potion every student messes up every year he could now make them do again and again until they got it right.

. . .

The train ride back was long and uncomfortable but what made things worse is he had to go back into Hogsmeade for the items Dumbledore wanted. He took out the list and looked it over.

“Unbelievable,” he crumpled the list and headed into Honeydukes Sweetshop.

“Welcome, can I help you find anything?”

Severus turned to the woman at desk, “Yes. About… a pound… of Green Lime Jumpers.”

He stood by the counter as the woman took out a bag and filled it up, weighing it carefully and handing it over to him. He paid her and left, carrying the heavy box in one arm and the bag in the other. He delivered the bag to Dumbledore, refusing to stay and chat, and got to work restocking the student stores.

He set out all the glass jars on his desk and one by one they disappeared onto the labeled spots on the shelves – all except the jar of glass frogs, which he needed to place in his own stores cabinet later. He closed the door and locked it, hoping he wouldn’t have to go in to replace almost everything for another several years. He rolled his eyes and sat at his classroom desk, putting his head down for a second.

“Ah, Severus, thank you for the sweets.”

He looked up to see Dumbledore walking into the classroom with the two troublemakers behind him. He sat up and crossed his arms over his chest.

“I expect everything was able to be restocked,” Dumbledore looked over at the closet door with a large lock on it.

“Yes. This time,” he stared down the students.

“They feel very sorry about the whole thing,” Dumbledore smiled down at the students, “They didn’t mean to burn and break the shelves.”

Severus hummed in acknowledgment but rolled his eyes.

“Might I have the bag back? I’ll stay here, if you don’t mind.”

He sighed and headed out of the classroom into his office quickly spotting the bag of coins he had been given before the trip and grabbed it. He closed his office door and walked down the corridor to his classroom. He opened the door and stood there, staring in.

All of the frozen glass frogs were jumping about the classroom in all directions trying to escape. He closed his eyes for a moment before opening them back up and looking at Dumbledore. He had one of the tiny frogs stuck in his beard trying to jump away. One of the two students opened their mouth and spit out a tiny frog while the other dropped the clump of unfrozen frogs from their hand.

“I assumed you had bought a jar of Green Lime Jumpers for yourself.”

“Naturally. Headmaster,” Severus stepped back out and closed the door, shutting Dumbledore in with the mess he had created. “Out of sight, out of mind,” he headed to his office for a much-needed drink.

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#pro snape #snapeloveposts #severus snape #severus #snape #snapedom #snape appreciation month #snape appreciation month 2020 #snape one shot #one shot #snape fanfiction #snape fanfic #fan fiction #fanfiction #fanfic

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kinda-iconic · 5 years ago

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The One Date You Should Never Forget

This fanfic was written for Day 11 of the Choices May Challenge.

Day 11 prompt: Birthday

Author’s Note: I’ve had this one in the works for a while, though never thought that I would be posting it here, for I didn’t think it was particularly good; but it fits my prompt, so after a bit of editing, I decided I was going to post it anyway!

Summary: It’s Amy’s birthday... but has everybody remembered?

Pairing: Adrian Raines x MC (Amy)

Tagging (if interested): @bloodboundismylife @adrianadmirer @bbchoices @adriansbliss @god-save-the-keen @choicesfannatalie @shelley-parah @senator-adrian-raines-wifey @lexilooloolovessenatorraines @bellaraines @clansayeed

Word Count: 3′400+ (Sorry in advance!)

Amy glances at the monitor, her eyes instinctively drawing to the bottom right corner as she tries to read the time; her shift is coming to an end, but as the minutes tick by, the young mortal can’t help but reflect on the events of the past 24 hours, or rather the lack of. She tries to refocus her attention on the pile of contracts that lay discarded on the desk in front of her, absent-mindedly skimming through its contents before retrieving an orange highlighter from the pencil pot; her eyes drift back to the beginning of the paragraph, re-reading each sentence as if trying to scan the paper for a particular collection of words, but soon finds herself unable to concentrate.

‘You look as bored as I am.’

She turns to the source of voice, a warm smile enveloping her lips as she notices him for the first time; Adrian stands in the doorway, leaning against the lintel as he drinks her in, tilting his head as if to get a better picture; his arms are crossed, the sleeves of his shirt rolled up to the folds of his elbows.

‘I thought that I was the only one who is allowed to mope.’

She giggles, her smile widening as he takes a step towards her.

‘I can’t remember that being in my contract…’

‘Oh it is there alright,’ he wraps his arms around her shoulders, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple, ‘somewhere underneath the clause about how it would be inconsiderate of you to look this beautiful during work hours…’

‘I must have missed that,’ she responds with giddiness, leaning into his touch as he nuzzles his face into the crook of her neck, ‘I guess that must be directly under the paragraph that states that I am permitted to date my Boss.’

He chuckles softly, shaking his head in amusement.

‘Then I suggest you read over it again… just to see if there is anything else that you have missed.’ He flashes her a cheeky smile, ‘if I’ve learnt anything during my time as a CEO, it’s that you always read between the lines – and the small print.’

She quirks a brow.

‘Oh really?’

‘Yes,’ he nods in agreement, squeezing her gently, ‘small print can be sneaky.’

‘Like you aren’t yourself,’ she looks up at him with a soft smile, reaching up to touch his cheek, ‘you went straight to flirting… and I didn’t even get a hello.’

He tilts his head slightly, pouting in jest at her words.

‘Well I suppose, being the gentleman that I am,’ he kisses her cheek, ‘that I should remedy that.’ He turns away from her, linking his hands behind his back. She watches him in confusion, a nervous laugh escaping her. When she speaks, her words are soft and gentle, the intonation in her voice rising as she queries his actions.

‘What on earth are you doing?’

‘Starting this interaction again,’ his cheeky grin returns, accompanied by a wink, ‘as promised…’

He ponders back over to her, leaning in to kiss the top of her head; he opens his mouth to speak, but a bashful laugh escapes him.

‘Is this the part where I wish you a good evening?’

She shakes her head in disbelief, her lips curling into a bemused smile.

‘You really are unbelievable…’

‘Oh we knew that already,’ he runs a gentle hand through her hair, letting it rest on her shoulder as he gazes down at the papers in front of her, ‘so, what have you been up to in the past couple of hours?’

She follows his gaze back to the pile, her brows furrowed.

‘Annotating contracts,’ she places the document down, a defeated sigh escaping her, ‘though I don’t seem to be making any headway. This is the tenth one, but I just feel like I haven’t made enough progress tonight.’

‘That makes two of us,’ he hesitates for a moment before continuing, ‘but I’m afraid that it is something we must do, and not a job that we can put off for much longer.’

‘I know; I guess I just wish that there weren’t so many contracts to go through.’

‘There’s usually not this many, I must admit…’ he chuckles softly, retrieving one of the papers from her pile; he holds it at arm’s length, skimming over the details before looking back at her, ‘though I am rather excited to see what may come from our new business partnership.’

‘As am I,’ she taps the paper with the edge of her pen, ‘though just looking at all of these makes my head hurt.’

‘Are you feeling alright?’

‘Yeah,’ she glances down at her hands, nervously adjusting the hem of her skirt as it has begins to ascend slowly up her thigh, ‘I was…I was actually wondering if you wanted to go out for dinner tonight? We’ve been at this for hours and I think we could both do with some time away from the office.’

‘I want nothing more than to spend the evening with you,’ he runs a gentle hand through her hair, ‘but right now it’s...’

‘You don’t want to go tonight.’

‘It’s just… it’s not a good time,’ he sighs defeatedly, resting a comforting hand on her shoulder, ‘when all of this is over, and I have confirmation that the trail is going ahead, then you and I will go somewhere; there’ll be no business calls…no deadlines,’ he inclines his head towards her, capturing her lips in a soft kiss. After a blissful moment, Adrian pulls away, his once sorrowful smile replaced with one of contempt. ‘I know it’s not ideal, but if any of that is to happen, then I need to buckle down; you know I can’t mix business with pleasure at the moment-’

‘It’s fine,’ she bites her lip, her cheeks reddening in her embarrassment, ‘we can just go another night.’

He responds with a curt nod, his gaze softening as he quickly notices her disappointment.

‘Thank you for being so understanding,’ he takes her hand, turning it over in his before pressing a tender kiss to her palm, ‘I honestly have no idea what I would do without you.’

She flashes him a sad smile before glancing back at the paperwork, now left begotten on her desk.

‘You would probably get a lot more done than what you are now,’ she tips her head subtly in the direction of the documents, ‘you might have managed to read over a couple more in the time that you’ve spent talking to me.’

‘Mmm that’s true,’ he kisses her hand once more, his lips ghosting her skin as they travel from the pad of her thumb to the inside of her wrist, ‘you seem to be quite the distraction.’

She collects the pile of completed contracts before pushing them against his chest, her voice taking an almost urgent tone.

‘Well, this distraction believes that it’s about time you go back to work, so that she too can continue doing the task that she has been set.’

‘Indeed,’ he sighs in feigned defeat, ‘these contracts won’t read themselves.’

He heads back in the direction of his office, but it is not long before he turns with suddenness, quirking a brow as he studies her questionable demeanor.

‘Was there a particular reason as to why you wanted to go tonight?’ He folds his arms across his chest, regarding her with a mixture of adoration and intrigue, ‘did they update the menu at one of the restaurants?’

She shakes her head, smiling faintly up at him before focusing her attention back on her work.

‘I just fancied a little break, that’s all.’

‘Okay,’ he tips his head in acknowledgment, though he is able to sense the slight irritability in her voice, ‘well make sure that you do take that break, alright? Even if it’s just to sit at your desk and create those little origami frogs that you used to make.’

She nods in haste, her smile appearing a little more genuine.

‘I will.’

He looks at her for a moment before retreating into his office, gently shutting the door behind him. Once she is sure that he has gone, Amy collects the paperwork from her desk, tapping the ends to align the documents, forming a neat pile in her hands. She opens the desk drawer in the hopes of finding room to store the papers, but a small card catches her attention; she reaches down for it, but stops abruptly as her ears pick up on the sound of movement in Adrian’s office. As the sounds begin to dissipate, she finds herself staring down at the card, decorated by images of flowers and cake. She gazes at it momentarily before tucking it away, letting out a despondent sigh as she watches it disappear from her line of sight.

‘Happy Birthday to me, I guess.’

Less than an hour later, Amy finds herself perched on the edge of Adrian’s desk, her legs dangling over the edge as she watches him read over her work, his brow furrowed in concentration.

‘Well?’

He looks up at her, his focused expression dissipating into one of contempt; he smiles, placing the document on his desk.

‘It is really good,’ he lets out a sigh of relief, ‘you did some incredible work; the attention to detail is exquisite,’ he raises a brow, ‘and the colour coordination is a nice touch.’

‘I thought you might like it,’ she runs her hand along her thigh, ‘I like to keep myself organised… and what better way to do so than having a system that, though can be occasionally flawed, has withstood the test of time and continues to impress the Boss.’

He chuckles softly, resting a gentle hand on her back, his fingertips slowly inching under the material of her jumper.

‘You could just make me a cup of coffee and I’d still be impressed by you.’

He shuffles closer, his hand travelling up her back; she gasps at the touch, playfully hitting his arm as she removes herself from beside him.

‘You do realise that your actions are not particularly professional right now, don’t you?’

He shrugs, his eyes glistening with mischief.

‘What you and I do behind closed doors is not exactly considered to be the business of my other employees, Amy…’

‘But we are still in your office!’

‘Yes,’ he smiles brazenly, his fingertips finding the curve of her waist; he pulls her closer, her knees mere inches from his chest, ‘but if my observations are correct, the door is closed.’

She quirks a brow.

‘But is it locked?’

He thinks for a moment, his mind lost in thought; after a minute, he sighs in defeat, removing his hand from underneath her clothing.

‘No, it isn’t.’

‘So… anyone could walk in if you think about it.’

He reaches up to caress her cheek, taking hold of her jaw as he moves closer, inclining his head towards hers; she subconsciously leans into his touch, meeting him halfway before connecting her lips to his. After a few seconds he pulls away, a satisfied smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as it lingers mere inches from her own.

‘Is that what you think? Or what you are hoping for…’

She smirks, capturing his lips once more; the kiss starts off as soft, but it is not long before Adrian deepens it, his fingers clasping onto her hair as he instinctively pulls her closer, moving her legs so that they are on either side of his hips.

‘Mmm…’ she sighs in contempt, ‘maybe a little bit of both.’

He rests his forehead against hers, a hearty laugh escaping him.

‘One of these days, you are going to get me into trouble,’ he kisses the tip of her nose, ‘you know that, right?’

‘I count on it…Boss.’

The pair begin to get comfortable, but before long, the door to his office flies open, causing Adrian and Amy to break their focus; Lily enters the room, accompanied by a rather puzzled Kamilah. She takes a couple of steps forward before stopping, noticing the intimacy of the couple’s embrace. Her eyes widen at the sight, her mouth slightly agape in surprise.

‘Ah, well I see that this might not be the best time…’

Adrian clears his throat in annoyance, narrowing his brow as he glares at their unexpected visitors.

‘You know it is polite to knock, Lily.’

‘I know, but…’Lily shifts her attention between the pair, who stare back at her, the shock of the intrusion causing Amy’s cheeks to redden; she pulls away from Adrian, removing herself from his grasp, ‘I wanted to surprise Amy, and I thought that… well, knocking wouldn’t have the same affect.’

Adrian frowns in befuddlement.

‘Surprise her?’

She swiftly makes her way out of the room, returning only moments later with an abundance of parcels, wrapped delicately in brown paper. In her other hand, a lone balloon tied around her fingers, the helium taking it higher than originally anticipated.

‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMY!’

Adrian remains silent, focusing his attention on the young vampire as he regards her in shock and disbelief. He turns to look at Amy, his eyes widening as the realization of the date dawns, ‘it’s...it’s your birthday?’

She nods bashfully, bowing her head as if trying to avert his gaze; she begins to play with the hem of her skirt, her eyes trained on the threading. Adrian takes a step towards her, placing a gentle hand on the curve of her waist.

‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ He reaches up to caress her cheek, running his thumb across her bottom lip, ‘it is nearly over…’

‘You were busy,’ she whispers softly, ‘there was too much to do here; it wasn’t important.’

‘Amy…’

‘Wait a minute…’ Lily chimes in, holding up her hands as if they are helping her to process what is happening before her; she looks between the pair, her voice tinged with shock and befuddlement, ‘are you telling me that Adrian FORGOT your Birthday? And you didn’t think to remind him?’

Amy shakes her head, nervously tugging at the sleeves of her jumper.

‘We had a lot to do today, and I didn’t want to bother him.’

‘You didn’t want to tell your boyfriend that it was your birthday… because he was busy?’

Lily looks at the faces around the room, her brows narrowing in confusion as she focuses her gaze on Adrian; he shuffles uncomfortably on his feet.

‘I honestly can’t believe what I’m hearing.’

‘Don’t try to make him feel any worse than he already does,’ Kamilah interjects, regarding Lily with an icy glare, ‘when you’re a CEO of a billion-dollar company, it’s easy to forget things…’

‘Like your own girlfriend’s birthday?’

Adrian lowers his gaze to the floor, the upset of forgetting evident in his expression; he runs a dejected hand through his hair, his palm resting at the nape of his neck. He exhales slowly, training his eyes on Amy as he focuses his attention on her once more.

‘The new dress that arrived this morning…the invitation to dinner…’ she nods; he lets out a defeated sigh, his voice lowering to a soft whisper, ‘Amy I… I’m so sorry.’

She remains silent for a moment before responding, shrugging halfheartedly.

‘It doesn’t matter,’ her previous excitable smile has disappeared, replaced with a nonchalant frown, ‘it isn’t important.’

She turns her attention back to Lily, her bashful demeanor soon dissipating into one of intrigue and giddiness.

‘Can we just focus on something else? Like maybe how beautifully wrapped these gifts are?’

‘Amy, I…’ he takes another step forward, his hand instinctively reaching for the small of her back, ‘I…I really am sorry.’

‘It really isn’t worth worrying about, Adrian,’ she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, biting her bottom lip, ‘it’s just a day…’

‘But it’s the day you were BORN!’ Lily exclaims, her fingers loosening around the ribbon of the balloon as it floats up to the ceiling, ‘the day you were given to us.’

A bashful smile blesses Amy’s lips as she lowers her gaze to the floor, her cheeks a shade of crimson. ‘Given?’ She hesitates for a moment, a slight chuckle escaping her as she tries to conceal her embarrassment, ‘you’re making me sound like an object that you’ve gained over the years.’

‘Not an object,’ Lily skips over to her, energetically pushing a delicately wrapped parcel into her arms, ‘more like a gift.’

Amy begins to untie the ribbon, its golden threading shimmering in the light as she removes it from the package, fixing it into a bow around her wrist. She looks up at Lily, her words etched into her mind like a nostalgic pop song.

‘That’s so cheesy and you know it.’

‘Oh it is,’ Lily giggles, gesturing to the gift laid out before her, ‘but you know how poetically inclined I can be…’

Amy shakes her head, a soft giggle escaping her.

‘You’re a goofball!’

‘Tell me something I didn’t know,’ she chuckles in excitement, gesturing to the present, ‘now come on, Ames; I’ve been waiting to give you this for ages! I even had to ask Kamilah to stash it away so that I didn’t cave in and move your Birthday forward a few days...’

Amy looks over at him, quirking a brow.

‘That insufferable, huh?’

‘She wouldn’t stop talking about it until I agreed,’ Kamilah runs her hand through her hair, cupping the nape of her neck, ‘and I didn’t want to find out what she had planned had I said no.’

‘I-’

‘I apologise for interrupting,’ Adrian takes another step forward, wrapping his arm around Amy’s waist, ‘but would it be possible for me to talk to Amy in private?’

Lily chuckles, clearly oblivious to his meaning.

‘Of course you can! We’re not exactly stopping you.’

He pinches the bridge of his nose in frustration.

‘I meant alone… in my office.’

Lily thinks on his words for a moment, clearly befuddled, but it isn’t long before the realization hits.

‘Oh!’ She gestures to the door, ‘you want us…to…’

‘Please.’

Kamilah places a gentle hand on Lily’s arm, carefully leading her out of the room. Adrian waits until they are out of earshot before closing the door behind them, swiftly turning his attention back to Amy.

‘Why didn’t you tell me it was your birthday?’

‘Because you… you were so busy, and-’

‘That’s not an excuse!’ He runs an agitated hand across his face, his gaze softening as he looks at her, his eyes laden with guilt, ‘I love you, I… I should have remembered.’

‘We all forget things from time to time…’

‘But not your birthday, Amy,’ he shakes his head in disbelief, a humorless laugh escaping him, ‘I would have planned something special; a candle-lit dinner…a trip to that cocktail bar that you’ve always wanted to visit…’ he bows his head, ‘instead I dragged you to my office and handed you dozens of contacts to annotate!’

‘It hasn’t been that bad…’

‘Hasn’t it?’ He looks up at her with suddenness, ‘I forced you to work, I… I told you that I was too busy to accompany you to dinner.’ He sighs, glancing at the present that lay discarded on his desk, ‘were you ever going to tell me? That I had forgotten…’

She shakes her head.

‘I pretty much knew that it had slipped your mind when you didn’t mention it this morning.’

‘And was I the only one? That forgot…’

She responds with a curt not. He exhales sharply, running a disappointed hand through his hair.

‘I am so sorry, Amy,’ he reaches up to caress her cheek, running his thumb across her bottom lip, ‘I will do everything in my power to make it up to you.’

‘You really don’t have to, Adrian. I told you it doesn’t matter.’

‘It does to me,’ he retorts, a rashness to his voice, ‘you mean the world to me, Amy; I cherish you with everything that I am, and I mean it when I say that I will make it up to you.’

She smiles sadly up at him, her fingers tugging at the lapels of his waistcoat; he wraps his arms around her, holding her close to his chest.

‘Is that a promise?’

‘Yes,’ he rests his forehead against hers, leaning in to kiss the bridge of her nose, ‘it most certainly is.’

#choices: stories you play #playchoices #choices fanfic #choices bb #bloodbound #adrian raines #adrian x mc #choicesmaychallenge #day 11 #prompt #birthday

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carryonsimoncarryonbaz · 4 years ago

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Flufftober 2020 Day 30

Day 30: “You had to be there” (There is a Light by @basic-banshee)

(I’m allowing myself a double drabble with this one. Inspired by @basic-banshee‘s characters and the post the other day about Jamie having quarantine hobbies.)

______________________________________________

“What are you doing?”

Jamie doesn’t look up when I ask, forehead creased in concentration. “Knitting a wee jumper for Arthur.”

It startles a laugh out of me. “You’ll never get it on him.”

“Just ye wait, Frog.”

*********

“Is Jamie ok?” Upma asks when I arrive at work.

“As well as can be expected.”

“Is he drinking again?”

“No.”

“Fighting?”

“Again, no. What's with the interrogation, Upma?”

She narrows her eyes, hands on her hips now.

“His knuckles are literally shredded. I caught him bandaging them up earlier and he was being fucking evasive about it all when I asked what happened.”

I let out a snort before I can control myself.

Her eyes are slits. “What is so funny?”

“You had to be there.”

She leans to the side, lasering in on something behind me. “So help me, if that cat has dragged a mouse into my shop . . .” She abruptly stops, squinting at Arthur. “What the bloody hell?”

She takes a step forward. “Is he wearing a . . .”

“Yes.”

“You must be shitting me.”

“I’m not.”

“Who the hell thought . . .” She stops, brings a hand to her temple and closes her eyes. “Right. I’d have clawed him to bits too.”

(200 words)

#Flufftober 2020 #flufftober #there is a light #Jude #Jamie #Arthur #Upma #you had to be there prompt #quarantine hobbies #my fic #my writing

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inevitably-johnlocked · 5 years ago

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CHRISTMAS FICS 2019 Pt. 2

(PART 1: Bookmarked Fics HERE)

Happy holidays everyone!! Here’s the promised Part 2 list for y’all!!! This one is all the fics I have RECORDED (not necessarily all the fic I have) on my To Read list (which I only started recently so I wouldn’t have to keep copy-pasting stuff from old Tumblr posts), and I would LOVE for y’all to add your own winter holiday themed fic recs onto this list if it’s not already here!! <3 This is the community gift to the community, and the more fics the better! Any holiday / observance welcome!! <3

Happy holidays, guys!! I hope these two lists help get you into the holiday spirit!! <3

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MARKED FOR LATER FICS

A Study in Pink Pyjamas by alexxphoenix42 (M, 1,628 w., 1 Ch. || Christmas, Est. Rel., Pink Pyjamas, Fluff, Cross-Dressing) – Sherlock hasn't been a fan of either Christmas or fancy pyjamas for a number of years, but John has a way of changing his mind about things.

Santa Knows by Itsallfine (T, 1,719 w., 1 Ch. || Christmas Party, Love Confessions, First Kiss, Fluff) – Sherlock and John both get exactly what they want from the Yard's secret Santa exchange. Pure holiday fluff.

He's an Angry Elf by Ewebie (T, 2,168 w., 1 Ch. || Christmas, Crack, Frosty, The Gingerbread Man) – Sherlock as a bad mall Santa and John as an elf... I make no apologies for this.

Santa Claus Is Going To Town by stravaganza (E, 2,253 w., 1 Ch. || Santa!John / Elf!Sherlock Costumes, Rimming, Rutting, Frottage, Hand Jobs, Oral Sex, Blowjobs, Sex in Costumes, PWP, Humour/Crack, Christmas) – herlock and John are invited to a Christmas party at the Yard. In costume! Sounds legit, right? Riiiight...

Impossible Things by A_Candle_For_Sherlock (G, 2,413 w., 1 Ch. || Est. Rel., Marriage Proposal, Christmas, Fluff) – He'd promised himself he'd do it before Christmas, because otherwise Mummy WILL ask, probably in front of John.

John Likes Christmas by Arcwin (G, 2,638 w., 1 Ch. || Christmas, Fluff, Kid Sherlock / John, First Kiss, Friends to Lovers, Nostalgia, Sherlock Holmes POV) – John likes Christmas. I fail to see why. This is where we find ourselves on this dreary, December evening in 221B. “Sherlock, but, it’s Christmas!” I sigh. “And what does that have to do with anything?”

The Biscuits May Look Terrible But At Least We’re Satisfied (E, 2,745 w., 1 Ch. || Established Relationship, Idiots in Love, Christmas, Fluff & Smut, Christmas Cookies, Jealous Sherlock, Hand Jobs, Blow Jobs, Voice Kink, Dirty Talk) – The whole baking craze had started two days ago when Sherlock had casually mentioned that he hadn’t eaten his mother’s famous homemade Christmas cookies in years. Ordinarily such a comment wouldn’t have stuck with John, he knew Sherlock wasn’t close to his parents, but the touch of wistfulness in Sherlock’s voice had John calling Mrs. Holmes as soon as Sherlock was in the shower. An attempt at a Christmas surprise and a flirtatious client all lead to some loving Christmas smut.

The Case of the Frog Murder and the Disembodied Dog's Head by a_different_equation (T, 2,794 w., 1 Ch. || ACD Canon || Victorian, Period-Typical Homophobia, Christmas, Est. Rel., Hound of Baskervilles, Love Confessions, Angst with Happy Ending, Romance, Fluff and Humour, Miscommunication) – The true story behind the Baskerville case, and its strange and rather queer conclusion via Christmas Cards.

The Old Town by a_different_equation (T, 3,573 w., 1 Ch. || Hans Christian Anderson Fusion || Magical Realism, Christmas, Fairy Tale Elements, Love Stories, Fluff, Friends to Lovers, Museums, Sweet Sherlock) – Once upon a time there were two boys. This is the story how once upon December, they found the missing Christmas Spirit, true love and new beginnings. A Queer fairytale for all seasons.

New Memories by WhouffleLover24 (T, 4,072 w, 1 Ch. || Christmas, Fluff, Friends to Lovers, Holidays) – “We all have memories. This is so you can capture new ones.”

i read your book, you magnificent bastard by a_different_equation (M, 4,145 w., 1 Ch. || Writer Sherlock AU || Coffee Shops, Bookstores, Alternate First Meeting, Epistolary, Love at First Sight, Romantic Comedy, Metafiction, Falling in Love, Sherlock Wears Glasses, Gay John, Matchmaker Mike, Storytelling, Christmas) – In which John Watson, recently returned from the war, buys a book in Mike Stamford's bookshop and Sherlock Holmes is a famous, openly gay, crime fiction writer whose hero is in need of a partner. Part 1 of the Magnificent Bastard!AU series

Knit Two Together by shinychimera (G, 4,726 w., 2 Ch. || Platonics/Friendship, Best Friends, Knitting, Christmas) – Sherlock Holmes can master any skill to which he sets his mind -- why should knitting a jumper for his best friend be any different?

Oh, Holy Night by sussexbound (E, 5,311 w., 1 Ch. || Christmas, Smut, Hand Jobs, Kissing, Fluff) – Sherlock manoeuvres them towards the bedroom and then lowers John carefully onto the bed. “Take off your shirt and trousers. We should wash the shirt, just to be on the safe side with the poison, and you’ll want the ice directly on the bruise, I assume.” John winces and rolls onto his uninjured side. “You just want me to get my kit off.” “Mmm, well it is Christmas Eve, and I have been a very good boy this year.” John’s eyes widen a little, as a smile teases the corner of his mouth. “True.” Part 6 of Home is Not a Place

Winter Ficlets by 221b_careful_what_you_wish_for (M, 6,239 w., 11 Ch. || Christmas, Fluff & Smut, Jealous John, First Kiss / Time, Marriage Proposal, BJ’s, Suit Porn, Domestic Fluff, Cuddling, Snowball Fight, Winter, Sherlock Cooking, Bed Sharing) – A collection of winter and holiday stand-alone ficlets.

It's Cold Outside by Salambo06 (E, 7,357 w., 1 Ch. || Mutual Pining, Cuddling, Snuggling, Frottage, First Kiss / Time, Bed Sharing, Miscommunications, Love Confessions) – John and Sherlock, Christmas night, the heat broke, add some shared body heat and (not so) accidental erections mixed with some miscommunication and awkwardness and, you guessed it, they’re sharing a bed.

if you like him so much then why don't you marry him by zigostia (T, 7,750 w., 1 Ch. || Teenlock, Oblivious John, Christmas) – Am I going to regret this? SH Not one bit. JW I’m going to regret this. SH

You Don't Need Wings to Fly by Laiquilasse (T, 11,326 w., 11 Ch. || Wonderful Life AU || Bullying, Angels, Suicidal Ideation, Christmas) – John, an angel, is sent from Heaven to help a desperate Sherlock Holmes by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.

2017 by 7PercentSolution, J_Baillier (T, 11,466 w., 1 Ch. || Christmas, Case Fic, Est. Rel., Angst, Mental Health Issues, Autism, Anxiety, Family) – Sherlock takes on a case that raises unexpected challenges, both professional and personal. Memories of times before John complicate matters. Part 9 of On Pins And Needles

Five Christmases that went wrong and one that didn't by love_in_mind_palace (M, 11,685 w., 6 Ch. || Christmas, Fluff & Smut, Domestics, Est. Rel., 5 and 1′s, Canon Divergence, Tooth-Rotting Fluff) – John isn’t sure about most of the things in his life. Except for the fact that he loves Sherlock, Sherlock loves him back and that after years of bad luck, he is getting the Christmas he always deserved.

Snowed In by Salambo06, WhatIfIAmInsane (E, 15,687 w., 5 Ch. || Christmas, Smut, Unilock, Alternate First Meeting, Anal, Bottomlock, Army!John, BJ’s) – Sherlock had everything planned out for months now. Today he would finally put an end to this case. Even if that meant keeping an eye on his suspect in a crowded, german airport on Christmas Eve. The same crowded airport John was waiting in for his final flight back home from his first deployment to Afghanistan, not at all thrilled by the prospect of spending Christmas with his possibly drunk sister. Although the airport was stuffed to the brim with holiday travelers and tacky decorations, he was enjoying his time alone, mostly. But then, snow began to fall.

Wonderful, Etcetera. by VictoryCandescence (T, 16,955 w., 3 Ch. || Wonderful Life AU || Alternate Timelines, Brotherhood, Homophobia, Suicidal Ideations, Mentions of Drug Use, Friendship) – Sherlock thinks everyone would be better off if he had never existed, including and especially himself. When he finds himself in a world in which his wish has been granted, he begins to think perhaps even he could be wrong – but it takes an unlikely chaperone to make him not only observe, but understand.

On the Table (Eventually John Watson's Favorite Christmas Story) by emmagrant01, numberthescars (E, 18,135 w., 1 Ch. || Post-TRF, Mild Angst, Fluff, Masturbation, Anal, Rimming, First Kiss / Time, Romance, Christmas) – Set after TRF. Someone's leaving John strange little gifts in the weeks before Christmas. But who could it be?

All I Want For Christmas by Mssmithlove (E, 19,508 w., 1 Ch. || Unilock, Mystrade, Christmas, Holmes Family, Fluff, Friends to Lovers, Pining) – Taking Sherlock's platonic university flatmate home with him for Christmas can be a tricky business. Especially when he wishes their relationship wasn't platonic at all. Part 18 of Happiness Awaits

Home for Christmas by SilentAuror (E, 19,499 w., 1 Ch. || S4 Fix It / Post S4, Doctor John, Christmas, Glasses, Domestic, First Time, Slow Burn, Rosie) – It's been eleven months since Eurus Holmes happened, and just one since John and Rosie moved back into Baker Street at last. With Christmas just around the corner, both Sherlock and John are slightly baffled when Mrs Hudson decides to give them a slow cooker as a "house-warming present"...

Advent Calendar 2017 by Hotaru_Tomoe (E, 41,952 w., 25 Ch. || Not S4 Compliant, Fluff, Humour, Smut, Light Angst, First Kiss/Time, Est. Rel., Hurt/Comfort, Spanking, Christmas Party, Lingerie, Various Universes, Advent Calendar Fic) – My Advent Calendar, 25 one shots from 1st to 25th December, Christmas-ish themed. Each story has its own rating. Part 23 of The English job

In Bed by Ellipsical (E, 46,922 w., 12 Ch. || Autofellatio, Vibrators, Rimming, Blow Jobs, Coming Out, Liminal Identities, Christmas, Sex Toys, Sexual Fantasy, Fingering, Jealous John, Therapy, Flirting, Texting, Fluff, Sherlock’s Violin, Anal, Est. Rel., Semi-Public Sex, Harry Watson, Communication, Coming in Pants, Spitroasting, Double Penetration, Dirty Talk, Internalized Homophobia, Self-Acceptance, Happy Ending, PTSD John, Coping Mechanisms, Angst, Hurt/Comfort) – It’s almost Christmas, John thinks, and this, this is bullshit. The epilogue to Guilty Secrets. Part 2 of Guilty Secrets

Raison d'être by AmphigoricSymphony and DemonicSymphony (M, 148,721 w., 21 Ch. || S3 Compliant, Sick Fic, Sherlock Whump, Protective John, Major Injury/Illness, Mentions of Past Torture, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Manipulation) – The missing months of His Last Vow, starting from Sherlock dropping in John's arms at 221B and carrying through the months of Hospital he endured. This is a study in emotional and physical trauma, striving to stick as close to the canon plot as possible. At Christmas Dinner, Mycroft asks why they are even celebrating. His mother's answer, 'Sherlock is home from hospital,' leads us to believe Sherlock was in hospital the majority of the time frame of his fall from shock at Baker Street, to nearly Christmas itself. We have no explanation for what John was doing all that time, so this is an effort to fill the gap. Part 2 of the Word Play series, Part 1 of the Reason and Ashes series

Extricate—An Ex Files Special by 7PercentSolution (E, 231,432 w., 41 Ch. || Not Johnlock, Sherlock/Victor Trevor, Unilock, Multiple POV’s, Drug Use, Classical Music, Chemistry, Slow Burn, Serious Injuries, Autism Spectrum, Bullying, Rugby, Hurt/Comfort, Romance, Sherlock Whump, Friends to Lovers, Protective Mycroft, Psychological Trauma, Christmas, Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms, Sherlock’s Violin, Sulking, Late Nights, Sexual Identity, Social Awkwardness, Suicide, Homophobia, Clubbing, Big Brother Mycroft) – When Sherlock met Victor, and what happened next. A backstory that explains why caring truly may not be an advantage. This follows ACD canon and ignores BBC season 4, allowing the two of them to meet while at University.

MFL WIPs

First Christmas by PipMer (T, 4,199+ w., 19/31 Ch. || WIP || Est. Rel., Friendship, Fluff, Humour) – It's Sherlock and John's first Christmas together as a couple. Written as an interconnected set of 221b's for the Sherlock December Ficlet Challenge.

John Watson's Twelve Days of Hiccups by ChrisCalledMeSweetie (E, 8,394+w., 11/12 Ch. || WiP || Hiccups, Experimental Cures, Digital Rectal Massage, Orgasm as a Cure for Hiccups, First Time, Humour, Crack, Friends to Lovers, Christmas) – For John Watson, being afflicted with an intractable case of hiccups was a source of intense irritation. For Sherlock Holmes — his mad scientist of a flatmate — it was a golden opportunity for experimentation.

Your Many Tendencies Series by apliddell (T, 52,222+ w. across 5 works || WiP || Femlock, POC Characters, Enby Character, Sherlock’s Violin, YouTuber John, UST, Mutual Pining, Misunderstandings, Slow Burn, Domesticity, Fluff, Recreational Drug Use, Friends to Lovers, Sherlock’s Past, First Kiss, Love Confessions, John’s Family, Christmas, Anxious Sherlock, Hurt / Comfort, Institutional Racism) – John Watson returns to London after a long absence, somewhat the worse for wear. She meets Sherlock Holmes, and starts feeling excited about life again.

"Merry Christmas" I wrapped it up and sent it with a note saying "I love you" by starrysummernights (E, 135,132+ w., 30/31 Ch. || WIP, chapter missing? || Post S4, Slow Burn, Mary is Not Nice, Christmas, Fluff, Smut, Angst, Parentlock, Past Torture / Rape) – John has moved back into 221B with his daughter Rosie after Mary was killed, but things are not exactly comfortable between him and Sherlock. After everything that has happened, they are trying to become friends again...and maybe something more. What better time than the Christmas season?! Takes place after TLD.

The Good Morrow Series by greywash (E, 216,513 +w. across 5 works || WiP || Post-TRF Divergence, Horny John, Smut, Feelings, Negotiations, Christmas/Advent, Sherlock is a Mess, Relationships, Addiction Issues, PTSD, Therapy, Injury, Aging, Loneliness, Marriage, Family, Friendship, POV Second Person, Travel, Character Studies) – A post-S2 series where everyone has a lot of feels about everything and plausibility is stretched unto breaking. Also: fucking.

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AGAIN, PLEASE suggest your own or your favourite holiday fics!! The more, the merrier!!! <3

#johnlock fic recs #to read #christmas fics #marked for later #my fic recs #long post

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duhragonball · 5 years ago

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Dragon Ball Z Movie 13: Wrath of the Dragon

Kind of wild that I made it to Movie 13. I want to call it the last movie, but it’s not. “Path to Power” was released several months later, and while Movie 13 used to be the final film under the Dragon Ball Z branding, it was eventually followed by “Battle of Gods” and “Resurrection F” in the 2010′s. Kind of wild how the 2010′s are nearly over. I was just getting used to it being the 2010′s.

I’m tempted to think of this movie as a finale in some sense, because it’s set after the Kid Buu fight, but DBZ doesn’t end there. There’s a three-episode epilogue set ten years after Kid Buu. Really, this movie is just the first in what became a long list of Dragon Ball projects set during that ten-year period.

This was, I think, the last DBZ material released by Funimation before they started re-dubbing things for the Orange Brick Sets and Dragon Ball Kai. I remember attending a Funimation panel at a 2006 comic convention where they talked about this movie, and some of the voice actors were kind of sad that this would be the last time they would portray these characters. At the time, it certainly seemed that way.

So this movie premiered in Japanese theaters on July 15, 1995, after Episode 270 of the anime, and before 271. So if you were a fan in Japan, you could watch Vegito and Super Buu in hot vore action, then go see this movie a few days later, and then watch Super Buu turn Vegito into candy, which strangely isn’t hot vore action.

The release chronology kind of surprises me, because I just got so used to thinking of this movie as an epilogue to Dragon Ball Z. It kind of is, in a way, because the Dragon Ball manga had already finished up in May 1995, which is probably why this movie lines up so well with post-Buu continuity. Everyone who’s supposed to be dead is dead, and everyone who’s supposed to be alive is alive.

This one is my second favorite movie after Fusion Reborn, so I kind of wanted to consider what makes it the second best. I mean, it’s a matter of taste, really, but I think it’s a question worth asking.

So let’s get down to business. This one opens with a kid holding a sword. He had an ocarina, but he dropped it, and he looks like he’s in some trouble.

Then a giant monster steps on him, and he’s dead. A mysterious voice declares that Earth is next. Ominous!

Unlike every other DBZ movie, this one doesn’t feature the opening theme music, just a title card, which looks bad-ass by the way.

And here’s the title of the movie, which in Japanese was “Dragon Fist Explosion!! If Goku Can't Do It, Who Will?”

In lieu of a theme song, the credits roll over the next couple minutes of the movie, which I’ve always found to be a really nice touch. All along, I’ve been admiring the looming sense of finality in DBZ, and this is a good example of what I’m talking about. It’s July 1995. The manga is over, which means the anime will be over soon, and as far as anyone knew, this would be the last movie, and it just sort of quietly proceeds with its business. Z stands for the end.

This scene is mostly just to establish the Gohan and Videl are fighting crime as a team now, with Gohan as Great Saiyaman and Videl as Great Saiyaman Mark 2. Not sure why Gohan stopped wearing a cape, or why he still has that bandana and sunglasses. He only switched to that because his Saiyaman helmet was illegal in the Tenkaichi Budokai, but that’s long over. Videl got a helmet, so why can’t he wear one to match?

The weird thing is that Videl’s costumed identity is public knowledge, but Gohan’s isn’t? They go back to class, and everyone just seems to know that Videl is still fighting crime like always, but as Great Saiyaman 2, or Great Saiyawoman, or whatever. But Gohan pretends he just went to the restroom, like he used to do in the Great Saiyaman Saga.

Weirder still, everyone knows Gohan is the Great Saiyaman. He unmasked at the tournament, after all. I thought this movie might have forgotten about that, except Sharpner even points it out when Gohan returns to class.

Incidentally, I’m not sure it makes sense for Gohan and Videl to still be in high school in this movie. It’s set after the Kid Buu fight, but they use the Dragon Balls in this movie, which means it must take place one year after they wish for Shenron to erase everyone’s knowledge of Majin Buu. So wouldn’t Gohan and Videl have graduated by this point? They’d both be about 18, wouldn’t they?

Then Videl gets another call on her radio watch, and the cops want the Saiyaman duo to deal with a strange old man who climbed Raenzel Tower. Videl seems to think that sort of job is beneath the Saiyamen, but they hang up on her, so she’s stuck.

So Gohan has to ask to use the restroom again, after he just got back. He says he ate bad frog meat, like that does anything but raise further questions. Erasa seems really confused, like she doesn’t know what’s going on. Also, it kind of looks like Sharpner, Erasa, Gohan, and Videl are all sitting apart from each other in this movie. Maybe there was some falling out?

So here’s Raenzel Tower. I don’t know that the scenery in this movie necessarily resembles any particular real world city, but this all feels a lot more like Japan than the world of DBZ. That’s been kind of a gradual trend since DBZ began. You’d see fewer and fewer animal-people in crowd shots, and by the Majin Buu arc you almost see none at all. Now that I think of it, Satan City looks and feels a lot more like a “real” city than West City ever used to. That car at the start of the movie had wheels, for example.

Anyway, this red dude has climbed up the tower and he’s threatening to jump, because he’s so despondent. Gohan tries to talk him down, but he won’t cooperate, and Videl gets fed up and dares him to jump.

So he does, much to Videl’s surprise, and then the guy complains that they almost didn’t save him in time.

For some reason, Videl is just irritated with this whole segment of the movie. I guess she really didn’t like getting called out for this mission, and she probably doesn’t appreciate this guy pretending to be a suicide jumper just to get their attention. Also, she really wants to get back to school for some reason. Maybe she just really digs whatever book they’re reading in English Lit.

Aw, look at that dog!

So this red dude is named Hoi, or Hoy, I forget which spelling Funimation went with, but the subs call him Hoi. Climbing the tower was just a ruse to get Gohan’s attention so that he could enlist his aid in freeing Tapion, the great hero who saved Planet Conuts in the South Galaxy 1000 years ago.

Gohan wants to meet the guy, but he’s stuck inside a music box and can’t get out. Hoi wants to release Tapion, because he claims that there’s going to be a terrible crisis on Earth. That’s why he’s spent the past thirty years searching for this music box, because he thinks it’s the only way to save the Earth.

To open the box, you just have to turn the handle to play its song, but the handle won’t turn, no matter how hard Gohan tries to force it. Tapion then explains that he wants to make a wish to Shenron to open the music box, and that’s why he came to Gohan, because he found out that Gohan’s circle has had dealings with the Dragon.

So Gohan takes the box to Bulma’s house, where she scans it with her... whatever all this stuff is. This kind of looks like the bridge of the Enterprise, now that I think about it. Anyway, she can’t make heads or tails of it, and Goku can’t force the handle either, so they decide to gather the Dragon Balls.

As they head out to search for the Balls, Hoi expresses gratitude for finding this kind of help on Earth, which prompts Goku to ask him if he’s not from this planet, and he kind of backpedals and acts like he lived here his whole life. Seems to me that if he already knows about the Planet Counuts in the South Galaxy, then he must not be from Earth at all. And even if he is an alien, why would he feel the need to hide that from Goku? He’s an alien too, after all, so I don’t think that would make him suspicious.

For some reason, Videl is now really excited to see Tapion now, becase she’s “so interested in heroes.” Did she decide Hoi’s story is on the level, or is she just warming up to the idea?

Krillin searches for a Dragon Ball in a carnival haunted house. This is his only real contribution to the film.

So in no, time, the gang finds a bunch of Dragon Balls. I’m not sure how they could split up like this, though, unless Bulma made multiple Dragon Radars.

The seventh ball is in a lion cage at the zoo, so Goku just jumps in and takes it, because Goku does whatever he wants. That lion’s lucky Bulma promised him shish kebabs later, or otherwise Goku would have just eaten this guy raw right in front of everyone.

I can’t figure out Videl’s outfit in this movie. From the back, it looks like shorts, but from the front it looks like a skirt.

Anyway, Shenron grants the wish and zaps the music box so hard that it shocks Hoi.

At first, it doesn’t seem to have had any effect, but then the handle starts to turn and it plays its song.

Okay, so this is a weird place to bring up continuity, but isn’t it odd how Shenron only granted the one wish? Dende upgraded him to grant two or three, depending on the wishes, so he should have at least asked if the gang wanted something else before he split.

Anyway, there’s a big light and sound spectacular while the box opens, but Hoi’s eyes glow red and he has this extra-sinister look on his face. Hmmmm...

Then Tapion comes out, and he’s kind of pissed that they released him. He draws his sword and demands to be put back in the box, but the box fell apart when it opened, so it’s impossible.

What I don’t understand is that, later in the movie, Tapion acts like he knows Hoi, which implies that he recognizes him on sight. If so, why doesn’t he just kill him here, while he has the chance? Or would killing him not accomplish anything?

Then he leaves in a huff. Trunks thinks Tapion is awesome, but everyone else is kind of puzzled, because he didn’t even thank them for getting him out of the box.

Later, Trunks and Goten track Tapion down to... a junkyard I guess? Goten isn’t sure this is a great idea, but Trunks wants to meet this guy and hear all his hero stories.

You know, this is really a beautiful shot. Watching this again, I guess the main difference between this and Fusion Reborn is that this movie is much more grounded. There were colorful shots like this in Movie 12, but they were mostly fantasy scenes of heaven or hell, or those extra-cartoony shots of the city. Movie 13 achieves similar beauty in the mundane. Instead of a mountain of needles surrounded by crystal jellybeans, we have a crane looming over a rusty storage tank.

Inside, Tapion’s just sort of brooding and freaking out. When Trunks peeks in on him, he’s kind of taken aback by what he sees. Maybe this isn’t a tank. I’m not sure what this place is. Maybe a derelict factory?

Hey, it’s a barbecue! Goku was a good boy for not eating those lions, so he gets shish kebab. Or whatever this is called. There’s like a cocktail weenie and a shrimp and a pickle on the thing.

Everyone wonders where Hoi went off to, and Master Roshi starts drunkenly blathering about how he’s harassing women, just like he’s about to start doing. Why are Roshi and Oolong even in this scene?

Gohan knows which way the wind is blowing, so he heroically puts himself in front of Videl so Roshi has to go through him to molest her. It looks like Roshi’s poking Gohan in the dick, though. Master Roshi belongs in jail.

He gets fresh with Bulma, so she smacks the shit out of him. Why does she keep inviting him to these things?

There’s a cute moment here where Goku notices the boys trying to swipe food off the grill, so he scoots some closer so they can reach it. Again, this is down-to-earth stuff you can’t get in Movie 12.

Okay, maybe this is a junkyard, what with all the wrecked cars here. In any case, Goten and Trunks are taking food to Tapion’s lair.

Tapion keeps telling everyone to get away from him, so Trunks leaves the food behind and promises to come back tomorrow with more.

So then there’s a monster attack, and wow, these are some great scenes. Again, very real-life-y, compared to early Dragon Ball material. The only distinct Dragon Ball imagery here are the Royal Military uniforms on the soliders. Otherwise, it would be very easy to mistake these for some other anime.

That’s not a bad thing, by any means, because I’d say all these realistic city scenes help make the characters stand out more.

So it’s not actually a monster, but half of a monster. The lower half, to be specific. Gohan wonders if this was the terrible crisis Hoi warned about earlier in the movie. I guess when you’ve lived Gohan’s life, you really can’t be sure if a creature like this is related to Hoi’s warning or not. It could be some completely different crisis starting up.

Videl wants to do their usual routine on the creature, but it attacks them during their pose. For some reason, Videl is super into the poses in this movie. Other than one episode of the TV series, this is the only time we see Great Saiyaman 2 in action, but I guess it makes sense she’d dive into the role. If she was eager to wear the costume, she must be up for the whole nine yards.

So Gohan fights this thing for a bit, and he discovers that it’s intangible most of the time, and it’s only solid during the moment when it’s attacking something else.�� I don’t think I ever noticed before that Gohan figures this out so early in the film.

So Gohan seems to do pretty well against the creature...

And Videl thinks he’s won, but Gohan’s not convinced.

The monster has a knack for vanishing and reappearing, kind of like Janemba, but without the pixelation effect. It’s more of a fog kind of thing. But then it seems to disappear for good, and when Gohan and Videl search for it, they find Tapion playing his ocarina.

They also spot Hoi lurking nearby, but I doubt they’d recognize him in his ninja getup.

Later, Trunks brings more food to Tapion’s hideout, but he hasn’t eaten the last meal he left, and Tapion still won’t talk to him. Later that night, Tapion falls asleep and drops his ocarina, and then he’s attacked by the top half of a monster...

It nearly kills him, but he manages to pick up his ocarina and play it, and this makes the monster fade away.

The next morning, Trunks finds the place shredded from the monster attack, but he’s relieved to see Tapion is still okay, so he leaves breakfast for him.

Then we get this scene where Videl and Bulma are washing dishes together, and she tells Videl how Trunks is sneaking food to Tapion, because he looks up to the guy like a big brother figure. Trunks is an only child, you see, and he envies Goten’s relationship with Gohan. Videl’s an only child herself, so she can relate.

What I don’t get here is when Bulma replies “But you’ve been so keyed up lately”, and Videl seems unnerved by this and says “It’s Trunks’ power that is keyed up!” I have no idea what this is supposed to mean. Videl’s reaction almost resembles how she acted when Chi-Chi asked her if she had thought about marriage in Movie 12. Was Bulma trying to imply that Videl has a thing for Tapion, and it got mistranslated? I dunno.

On Trunks’ next visit to Tapion’s place, Hoi intrudes and tries to steal Tapion’s ocarina, but Trunks manages to get it instead. Hoi unmasks and asks Trunks to give him the flute, because Tapion is the danger he had been warning about earlier on. He claims that Tapion is connected to the monster that Gohan fought the other night.

You know, one thing that never really gets clarified in this movie is where all of this is happening. I would assume Tapion’s lair is in West City, since that’s where he escaped the music box, and why would he go to another town to find a junkyard? But Gohan and Videl always did their superhero stuff in Satan City, so I assume that’s where they fought the monster.

Anyway, I never understood why Hoi expected Trunks to trust him in this scene. Initially he told them all that Tapion was supposed to save them from a crisis, and now he’s accusing Tapion of being part of the problem.

Then again, I guess Trunks might be somewhat conflicted, since Tapion’s been acting very mysterious and moody this whole time. But Tapion asks Trunks to trust him, and after a tense moment, Trunks does. He gives Tapion the flute and Hoi leaves empty-handed. I guess you could say that Trunks went with his gut. From the beginning, Trunks saw something he liked about Tapion, and he decided to trust that first impression over Hoi’s exaggerated warnings.

Trunks prepares to leave before Tapion chews him out again, but instead Tapion invites him to stick around and join him for dinner. Awwww.

Later, Bulma informs Videl that Trunks has invited Tapion to spend the night at their home. Speaking of which, doesn’t Videl have her own home? Why is she spending all her time at Capsule Corp. these days?

So Trunks shows Tapion all of his toys, but a toy robot catches Tapion’s attention. It separates into two halves, sort of like that monster. Hmmmm...

Later, Tapion tells Trunks about his little brother, Minotia, but Trunks falls asleep during his story.

As he watches Trunks sleep, he can’t help but be reminded of Minotia, and just so there’s no misunderstanding, that was the kid we saw die in the opening scene of the movie.

So Tapion leaves Trunks to sleep, only to run into Bulma in the hallway. She’s wearing this shawl, or maybe it’s a blanket or something. It looks cute, is my point. It also looks very different from what we usually see Bulma wear.

She just looks a lot more like a regular person instead of some genius billionaire inventor. She kind of reminds me of the older Chi-Chi from the History of Trunks special. Anyway, she invites Tapion to stay at Capsule Corp. all the time, but he’s afraid of what might happen if he does.

She wants to know what he’s talking about, but it’s a long story, so she puts on a pot of coffee. I always thought it was tea, but that looks like a coffee pot to me. Also, there’s an entire fruit basket just in case anyone gets hungry in the middle of the night. Speaking of Vegeta, imagine if he’s in this room, just out of the frame, sullenly chewing on an orange while Tapion tells his gloomy origin story. Vegeta eats oranges with the peel because no one ever told him not to. Bulma can’t tell him now because it would be awkward after all this time.

All right, so here’s the deal. One thousand years ago, on the planet Conuts, they had this totem that absorbed all the evil will on the planet. I don’t know if that’s legit, or some kind of superstition, but the totem was this big stone sculpture. One day, this “sect of warlocks” from some other place showed up and turned the totem into “phantasm” named Hildegarn, or Hirudegarn. Then they turned it loose on Conuts’ population. Hoi was one of the warlocks.

Man, I love this shot of Bulma. This is really the difference between Movies 12 and 13. 13 has it’s share of fantasy stuff going on, but there’s a certain distance to it. In Movie 12, the characters are right in the thick of it all, but here, it’s an ancient tale being told to a regular lady over coffee. There’s a certain weight to all of this that none of the other movies really achieve. For one thing, Bulma now realizes that she was deceived by Hoi, and their fun afternoon of summoning Shenron to meet a hero was actually part of Hoi’s plot to destroy their world. So if things go badly from here, she’s at least partly responsible for whatever happens next. You don’t get that complexity in the earlier movies.

Conuts was able to defeat Hirudegarn eventually, thanks to a pair of swords and flutes that were empowered by “God” to control the totem. I think the idea is that the Kami of Planet Conuts was in charge of this, sort of like how Dende, the Kami of Earth, oversees the Dragon Balls. But they might actually mean a higher power besides a DBZ-style Kami.

Anyway, Tapion and Miotia played the ocarinas, which had the ability to immboilize Hirudegarn, and while they did that, a priest cut the monster in half with one of the swords. The subs suggest that there’s only one special sword involved here, but Tapion and Minotia are both equipped with them, so I think that means there are two. Maybe Minotia’s is just a regular sword.

Here’s the priest, by the way. I kind of like his design better than Tapions? Anyway.

So that put an end to Hirudegarn, right? Well, not quite. I guess they couldn’t just kill the thing, so they did the next best thing and sealed each half of the phantasm in Tapion and Minotia. Tapion got the top half, and Minotia got the legs. But even that wasn’t good enough, because the warlocks kept trying to attack the brothers to take back Hirudegarn.

So they ended up getting sealed inside music boxes. I think that may be the Kami of Conuts there in the background. The one with the multicolored halo. As we’ve seen, these must be special music boxes, since Goku couldn’t even turn the handle on one.

Then they shot the music boxes into space, just to make sure they would be as far apart from one another as possible. And that’s how Tapion ended up on Earth, and why Hoi came to Earth. He told Dragon Team that he wanted to free Tapion to save the universe, but he actually wanted to get Tapion out of the box so that he could get the top half of Hirudegarn out of Tapion.

Aw, man this shot from the aquarium is awesome. This really is a great movie. I think it’s a matter of taste. Critics would probably complain that the battle at the end is kind of short and disconnected from the rest of the story, but this movie is telling a quieter, more emotional story. I think Movie 12 is better, because I prefer the louder, goofier tone it has, but it really is a matter of personal taste.

Anyway, it’s a safe bet what happened to Minotia. At some point, Hoi tracked him down, managed to release the lower half of Hirudegarn, and used that to kill Minotia, as we saw in the beginning.

So it’s up to Tapion now to make certain Hoi can’t gain control of both halves, or else Hirudegarn will destroy everything. And as we’ve seen, he can’t go to sleep, or the monster will emerge from his body. That worries Bulma a great deal, so she offers to build him a chamber to serve as a replacement for the music box. At least, she thinks she can do it, since she still has the pieces from before, and she believes if she analyzes them that she can whip up a substitute.

I like that about this movie. Bulma hears out this poor kid’s story, and she’s like “Well, I’ll build you a box that’ll let you sleep!” and it won’t even take her very long. Tapion’s supposed to be this magical hero, but Bulma has a bit of that same aura herself.

All she asks in return is that he spend some quality time with her son, and he’s happy to do that. Also, Majin Buu’s dog is here for some reason. At least, I think that’s Bee.

Then she steps outside to tell them it’s ready, and she’s still in her pajamas, so I think this means she was up all night working on this thing. Bulma’s awesome.

So this thing looks ridiculous, and I have no idea how it’s supposed to work, but I guess the idea is that she reverse engineered whatever mojo the original music box had, minus the part where a grown man could fit inside it. Why did she bother adding the gold trim to the sides? Because Bulma, that’s why.

Meanwhile, the lower half of Hirudegarn is attacking somewhere else, and I guess his tail can open up to reveal dozens of tentacles.

I guess this is how Hirudegarn feeds? It’s pretty gross. It suddenly occurred to me to search for Hirudegarn fics on AO3, but I’m pretty sure I don’t wanna know.

Then Tapion gets some sort of psychic feedback, maybe? I’m not clear on what’s going on, exactly, but it blows up the bedroom Bulma built for him. So did it just never work to begin with, or is Hirudegarn becoming powerful enough to overload it somehow?

So Bulma calls in Goku, Gohan, and Goten. Goku acts like he’s searching for clues, but let’s be real here, he doesn’t know what he’s doing. He only picked up that gear because he thought it was made of chocolate.

Then Tapion stumbles back into the house, and he explains that the upper half got loose again, and he’s having more trouble controlling it. He somehow got it back inside his body, but he asks the others to kill him before it gets out again. Bulma offers to build a sturdier room for him, but he seems to think we’re past that.

Then Hoi shows up with the lower half of Hirudegarn, and they attack. Trunks gives Tapion the ocarina, but it doesn’t work this time.

I don’t think this ever really gets explained properly. Is Hirudgarn getting too strong to contain, or is Tapion’s power over him weakening? Or is this because Hoi is doing something to help get Hirudegarn loose? Or is it because Minotia is dead?

Anyway, now Hirudegarn is finally reunited, and Hoi is convinced that he’s now become invincible. In the dub, Hoi explains that he’s the sole survivor of a species called the Kashvar, who believe themselves superior to all other forms of life. The subs never get into this, but it’s a bit of lore that I enjoy.

Hoi’s a pretty cool bad guy. I like how he suckered all the good guys. I like how he resembles Babidi but not too closely. And I like his naughty red color.

So there’s not much Tapion can do from here, so Trunks moves him to a safe distance an tells him to let them handle things from here. Magic ocarinas and music boxes worked pretty well for a while, but now it’s time to do this the DBZ way, which means throwing down, mang.

There’s a trailer for Movie 13 that was included in the video file I downloaded when I first watched the fansub of this movie. In it, Masako Nozawa as Goku explains the premise of the movie, and how there’s this monster who’s going to wreck the world, and then she screams “I WON’T LET ANYONE DESTROY THE EARTH!” It’s awesome.

So there’s a couple of issues with this fight. First, the elephant in the room is that Gohan’s the strongest guy in the movie, but Goku’s the one who makes the big save at the end. The movie does a decent job working around this, but that leads into the second problem....

Which is that nobody can actually touch Hirudegarn now that he’s reunited. I guess he’s stronger and faster than he was when Gohan fought the legs, so even though Gohan knows he can only hit him while Hirudegarn is attacking, it’s a lot harder to pull that off this time. But what you end up with is a lot of footage of the Saiyans punching trails of mist, then getting clobbered. It’s good for building suspense, but it’s not very inspired compared to some other movie fights. Movie 8 was pretty one-sided, but at least the gang could hit Broly. It just never hurt him, which indicated how tough he is.

At one point, Hirudegarn turns solid so he can grab Gohan, but this sets him up for an attack by Vegeta, who finally shows up in this scene to bawl out Hirudegarn for attacking his house.

But he gets the same treatment as everyone else. Hirudegarn flings him into a nearby office building, and Vegeta expends the rest of his power just shielding himself and the bystanders from Hirudegarn’s fiery breath.

Goku tries to help him, and he just gets clobbered for his trouble.

So Goten and Trunks try to turn the tide with fusion, and for a hot minute, Super Saiyan 3 Gotenks seems to have an edge.

After a volley of ki blasts, it looks like Hirudegarn just keels over and dies. Oh, hey, that’s the same tower Hoi was climbing on when he first showed up. So I guess this whole movie takes place in West City? Only we saw Gohan and Videl in Orange Star High. Ah well.

So it looks like Hirudegarn is dead or dying, but...

It turns out he was just molting. Did Tapion have any idea that he could do this? I wonder.

So Gotenks is the first to fall. One swat from Big H knocks him down to the ground so hard that he de-fuses on the first bounce.

Gohan and Videl are next. I’m not sure why this thing keeps trying to crush Gohan, unless it’s because he’s the strongest one in the group. Maybe that was their way of acknowledging this.

So that leaves Goku to hold the line on his own, but he doesn’t last much longer. Just when it looks like there’s no one to defend West City...

Tapion returns with his ocarina. He hasn’t exactly had a winning track record with this lately, but it’s the only card he has to play, so he’s giving it all he’s got.

With a herculean effort, Tapion manages to seal all of Hirudegarn into his own body. Trunks runs over to congratulate him...

... but this was only a temporary measure. Tapion hasn’t beaten Hirudegarn. He’s just holding him for a moment, long enough for someone to kill him before Hirudegarn can escape again. And since Trunks is the only one on his feet, its up to him.

It’s an impossible choice. Trunks is just a boy. This is too much for a kid like him, but there’s no other way. If he doesn’t act now, Hirudegarn will escape, and there’ll be no way to stop him. That’d be hard enough, but he loves Tapion like the older brother he never had. It’s too cruel that he should have to do this. And yet, what else can he do?

But before Trunks can decide, Hirudegarn busts loose, and the ocarina breaks. So Tapion won’t be able to try that stunt again. I’m not sure he’d be able to stand the strain even if he could try again. Hirudegarn is just too powerful like this.

So yeah, it looks like a total shut-out for Hoi. Yessir, looking pretty rosy for the last Kashvar...

OH SHI--

HAHAHAHAHA HOI’S DEAD! I love this part! Did Hoi ever really have any control over Hirudegarn? I mean, he wasn’t exactly telling him to do anything he wouldn’t have been doing anyway. Nice knowin’ ya, you sorry bastard.

But everyone else is still screed. Hoi couldn’t conrol Hirudegarn and Tapion can’t contain him and the Z-Fighters can’t beat him, so what does that leave. Yeah, Trunks didn’t have to kill Tapion, but it looks like he’s going to die here no matter what. Z stands for the end.

But not yet.

Yeah, now I see why I had so much trouble telling what city this was. It’s not West City or Satan City. Hirudegarn needs to update his GPS, because he somehow ended up taking I-65 straight into Goku Town, population: get wrecked, son.

Hirudegarn goes to attack Goku, but before he can do that, Trunks jumps in and chops off his tail with Tapion’s sword. Yeah!

That got him good, but Goku wants Trunks to stay out of this one. Gohan tries to tell Goku that Hirudegarn has a weakness, but Goku’s already figured it out. He needs to goad Hirudegarn into attacking, and then use that moment to hit him with everything he’s got.

Fortunately, Hirudegarn is happy to oblige, and he starts punching Goku, while Goku doesn’t do much about it. He just no-sells each blow, taunting Hirudegarn to try again.

Maybe this fight’s better than I gave it credit for. The mistake the Z-Fighters made earlier was that they kept trying to strike Hirudegarn, which only left them wide open to his counterattacks. The key here is to stay on the defensive, and lull Hirudegarn into remaining solid.

Of course, you’ve still got to be sturdy enough to weather this kind of storm, but that’s why Goku’s using Super Saiyan 3. Gohan could have done this himself, but he got beaten up before he could come up with this strategy. Goku can make it work, but he can’t stay in this form for very long, so he probably only has one shot at this.

But if he doesn’t do it, who will?!

Hirudegarn goes for one more punch...

But this time Goku jumps over his fist and...

DRAGON FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIST!

AAAAAAAGH! His punch exploded!

And it turned into Shenron this is nuts!

Hirudegarn knows he’s done fucked up now!

Yeah, say goodbye to your kidneys, asshole! You thought you could just step on Capsule Corp.! That’s where Goku gets his shish kebab, idiot! There’s gonna be hell to pay now.

OH YOU THOUGHT WE WERE DONE? Guess what, now the ki dragon that shot through you is gonna wrap around you and strangle you to death!

Also, it explodes again, so yeah, that’s the end of Hirudegarn.

Victory for Goku! And the moral of the story is, don’t send a flute to do an exploding punch dragon fist’s job.

Later, the good guys reassure Tapion that they’ll wish all of Hirudegarn’s victims back with the Dragon Balls. Well yeah, but it’ll be months before they can make another wish, so that’s kind of awkward.

As for Tapion, Bulma has apparently built her own version of the time machine used by Future Trunks in the Androids Saga. Either that, or she refurbished the duplicate time machine Cell used to arrive in this timeline. This movie doesn’t play too well with Dragon Ball Super continuity, but fuck the Zamasu arc, it was stupid and this movie rules.

So I guess Tapion’s going to go back in time to when everyone he knew and loved was still alive on Conuts. I think the dub indicated that he was going to prevent Minotia’s death somehow, but I’m not sure how that would work. Anyway, Trunks is sorry to see him go, but Bulma says they can just use the time machine to visit him. Wait, so does she mean she has a second time machine? Becase I don’t think they’re getting this one back.

Before he departs, Tapion gives Trunks his sword, saying he won’t be needing it anymore. So that’s pretty cool.

And as the time machine fades away, Trunks watches it go with his new sword on his back, and the credits roll...

... with scenes of Future Trunks in action. Clearly, Toei wanted to connect these two versions of Trunks. I think a lot of fans have mistakenly assumed that this movie is trying to suggest that this is the origin story for Future Trunks’ sword. Maybe Future Trunks met some alternate version of Tapion, but I think this story was just making the point that Kid Trunks would admire a hero who resembled Future Trunks in a lot of ways, including the sword and the stoic, selfless personality.

But yeah, that’s Movie 13. It’s not as flashy as Movie 12, but it never comes close to being dull, and the Super Dragon Fist at the end is the cherry on top.

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Plus, you’ve got the excellent ending theme, “Ore Ga Yaranakya Dare Ga Yaru” by Hironobu Kageyama.

#dragon ball #2019dbliveblog #dbmovieliveblog #wrath of the dragon #movie 13 #goku #gohan #trunks #goten #vegeta #bulma #tapion #hoi #hirudegarn #videl #master roshi #oolong #krillin

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writing-after-midnight · 6 years ago

Text

Dreams of Darkness

Part 7

WRITING MASTERLIST

Hello peeps, I have posted a load of parts in quick succession lately, but they’re probably gonna start becoming less frequent :( but I’ll try my best! Thanks for reading, and if you wanna be tagged, drop me a message :) Thank you! x

**********

Feyre sat behind the counter, sipping a cup of tea that Andromache had brewed her. Her broken arm was in agony, but she could do nothing else but cradle it with an ice pack, and wait for Mor. Poor Andromache didn’t know what to do to help Feyre, apart from retrieve a blanket from her apartment upstairs and ask if she needed anything. Feyre was happy to just sit there and think about the last few weeks, to take her mind off the throbbing on her right side.

Feyre had heard about the analogy about the frog in boiling water, where the frog will jump out of the cooking pot if put into boiling water straight away, but will boil to death if the water is slowly heated up. What she hadn’t realised, however, was that she had been the frog, and Tamlin had been the water. She had been wasting away into nothing, bit by bit, because of Tamlin’s watchful eye. Thank the Mother she had been dragged to that party weeks ago and met the Inner Circle, otherwise she probably wouldn’t be alive by next month. Rhys had been her conscience, that encouraged her to jump out of the slowly boiling pot.

The night wore on, and Feyre’s adrenaline petered away slowly, bringing waves of pain down her arm. Andromache had offered to take her straight to the hospital and meet Mor there, but Feyre had insisted through her pain-fogged mind that she wouldn’t put Andromache out of her way. Andromache didn’t know what else to do but respect Feyre’s wishes. The poor girl had been through enough already. Andromache thought.

Finally, there was a tinkle of the door and two figures entered. One with wavy blonde hair, and one with inky-black hair. It was Mor... and Rhys. What had happened to Rhys? He had looked troubled when she saw him earlier that day; his eyes had been looking into a far-away place, and his features were pulled into a worried frown. But now... he looked distraught. His hair that was usually smoothed back had been roughly pulled by fingers running through his scalp, and there was a lingering terror in his deep blue eyes. He had become pale, making his features more harsh-looking. He stood there staring at her, frozen to the spot.

“Feyre!” Mor cried, rushing to her side and pulling her into a tight hug. She heard Feyre’s groan when her arm was caught between the two of them, and immediately let the hug become less firm, so she could move her hand. But Mor wouldn’t let go. The hug seemed to benefit Mor as much as it did Feyre, as Mor was starting to shake, and repeating to Feyre, “You’re free, you’re free.” A tear slid down Feyre’s cheek. She was free, not to be controlled.

Rhys was still glued to the spot, probably more in horror than Feyre at that moment. Feyre watched his fists clench and unclench, like he was trying to calm himself down. “I’ll go get the car started, Feyre needs to get to the hospital.” He said to no one in particular, and walked out.

Mor finally let Feyre out of the hug. “You’re going to be okay, Feyre. We’re going to the hospital to get that arm set, and we’ll take you wherever you want to go. Rhys says you’re welcome to stay at his, of course.”

“Thank you, Mor.” Feyre said, unable to express the amount of gratitude she wanted in this moment. Her brain felt like it was on auto-pilot, just so she was able to process that the people in front of her were not figments of her imagination.

**********

Every little bump of the car on the road sent waves of agony down Feyre’s arm, as she had to keep it steady to cause less damage. She hadn’t dared look at it, until she got a glimpse in the flashing lamplights through the car window as they drove through the streets. She wished she hadn’t looked. Bent at a funny angle from the lower arm down, her right arm hung uselessly. Part of her skin was straining from where the bone was starting to poke through. She let out a whimper of pain anytime the car made a turn.

Mor was sat in the back with her, offering a gentle hand on her good shoulder, still shaking slightly. From what she heard the last time she was at the house with them, Feyre thought something similar must have happened to Mor with the man she mentioned, Eris.

Rhys, however, kept his eyes focused on the road, and had still not spoken to her. His initial horror of seeing her in such a state at the launderette must have still been reverberating in him, as he was still pale and had shadows swimming in his deep blue eyes. Feyre felt a little bit hurt, as she had wanted to talk to him mainly to see why he looked so haunted, but she understood his shock from the first time she had seen him that day, and let it pass.

Feyre still had tears trickling down her face, even though she felt like she had at least recovered a little bit from the trauma of that day. These people, who she had known for a day and a half at the most probably, had wondered where she had gone for those weeks, and cared that she was in trouble. Once they had heard the news that she was with Andromache, they hadn’t hesitated to come for her and help. The few times her sisters had come to visit in the past few months since she had been engaged to Tamlin, they didn’t notice or bother to point out how much weight she had lost, because they probably couldn’t have cared less. But the Inner Circle had noticed immediately. Feyre would be forever grateful for them.

**********

They eventually reached the hospital, and Mor lead Feyre in through the doors, taking care of keeping her arm steady. Rhys went to park the car. After about half an hour, the doctor welcomed them into a room, where he started to plaster Feyre’s arm. Mor and Rhys sat with her through the procedure, Mor offering words of encouragement, and Rhys keeping quiet, watching.

“So, Feyre. How have you ended up like this?” The doctor asked, trying to make conversation.

“We were climbing trees like 6 year olds. Quite silly of us really.” Feyre was also grateful Mor was thinking quick on her feet, using the leaves still caught in Feyre’s hair and the cuts across her face to her advantage. Feyre couldn’t process conversation like that at the minute

“Can I write my name on it?” Mor asked, looking at Feyre’s new cast, trying to lighten the mood slightly.

“Uh, yeah. If you want.” Feyre replied, not really caring as a small pulse of pain quickly swept up her arm. It hurt significantly less than it did an hour ago, so Mor’s attempt at lightheartedness worked a bit. Unfortunately, Mor couldn’t find a pen, but vowed to draw lots of love hearts and stars all over it when they returned to Rhys’ house.

Their drive home was quiet, as Rhys still seemed to be in his own world, and Feyre was content to sit and just think.

They arrived at the gates of Rhys’ house, and Feyre could finally breathe a sigh of relief. She was free. She was safe. She wouldn’t be hurt.

Mor, Feyre and Rhys walked in through the door, to be bombarded by a massive hug for them all by Cassian. It was a strong but surprisingly gentle hug, bearing in mind it was from a muscled and excitable man like Cassian; Feyre was happy to be welcomed back.

“We’re so glad to see you Feyre; we’ve been wondering where you’ve been!” Cassian said. Feyre felt a pang of guilt, knowing that he was wondering why she hadn’t bothered to contact them yet. Rhys mustn’t have told them yet.

“Well, she’s here now, so that’s what matters.” Mor replied, recovering Feyre from her stuttering. Amren and Azriel appeared from around the corner, both quiet, but Feyre could feel the quiet joy radiating off of them. Azriel smiled at her.

“Good to see you again, Feyre.” He said.

“Mother above, Feyre. You’re a mess! We’ll have to clean you up and find you some new clothes!” Feyre knew Amren meant this in a kind way, as she was fussing over her, already picking brambles out of the scraps of cloth left on her.

Feyre smiled at them all. The first genuine smile she had given to people in weeks. Mor gently took her shoulder.

“Good idea, Amren. Feyre, I didn’t have time to bring any spare clothes of mine, so you’ll have to borrow Rhys’ again for tonight. I’ll go home tomorrow and get some for the next few days.” Mor said. “Rhys, did you hear that? Feyre needs clothes please! Pronto!” Mor added, waving her hands in front of Rhys’ vacant expression. He blinked, processed it in his brain for a second and looked at Feyre once more before leaving the room.

“Is he alright?” Azriel asked.

“I think he’s just a bit shocked. He’s been like that since this afternoon.” Replied Mor quietly. She didn’t retell the events from that day, in which Feyre was grateful. As happy as she was to see them all again, she really wanted to go to bed. She was physically and mentally exhausted. Mor turned to Feyre and saw this tiredness in her eyes, so excused them both to sort out Feyre and left the room.

**********

Showering with a cast was a new experience for Feyre. She had been advised to keep it out of water, so was stressing about getting it wet; and after a while, her arm started to feel really heavy. Why did she have to put herself through these situations for other people, especially Tamlin? Why did he say he loved her, then did everything that indicated he didn’t? Why did he have to control when, where and who she went out with? Suddenly, salt tracks were mingling with the water, and Feyre was sobbing. Her legs went weak, and suddenly she was on the floor, water pouring down her face. The sobs wracked her body and she was shaking from head to toe. She realised that the shock had been the only thing keeping her together before. Her emotions were going up and down like a roller coaster.

She made herself switch off the tap and get herself out of the shower. Mor was waiting patiently outside. She dressed into the cozy jumper Rhys had found for her and walked out of the bathroom.

The look of concern on Mor’s face at her blotchy face sent Feyre into more tears. Mor was immediately there to guide her to sit on the bed in the bedroom. She wrapped her arms around Feyre’s frail body.

“He hurt me. He said he loved me and he hurt me.” Feyre wept.

Mor just hugged her tighter. They stayed like that for a long time.

**********

Tagging: @call-me-amissa @illyrianbeauty@l0sts0uls1128 @musicmaam @ame233 @pleasantclamwriter @massiverockcollection @dreams-of-feysand @callie-bear15 @huntress-of-velaris @writtenwordheart @rolltide7 @reading-and-regretting @ellenoftroy @kingdomofbrokenhearts @girlgotattitude448 @anr2332 @amylolysis @amazinginglyawesomeperson @tothemaas @feyrecursebreaker

#acotar #acomaf #acowar #acofas #acotar fanfiction #acotar au #acotar fanfic #sarah j maas #feysand #feysand fic #feysand fanfic #feyre #feyre archeron #rhysand #rhys #otp #dod

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billyskullknits · 6 years ago

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Miscellaneous other projects of note:

FROG BLANKET

This is a giant granny square baby blanket I started to use up some green yarn I wasn't going to use, and then realised that I liked the yarns accompanying them too much to waste.

I've always had a problem with granny squares ending up funny shapes, and I think it's to do with my cast on - chain on? The first bit. Either way, this is getting frogged and turned into a scrap scarf.

PORTAL GLOVES

I swear, the gesture was unintentional. Probably.

These gloves were my first attempt to actually knit with some of my handspun yarn. I used no pattern, the yarn is probably too soft and underspun to withstand any kind of wearing, and by this point I’m probably going to have to frog and reknit it to get gauge and sizing.

STRING JUMPER

I’ve posted about this before. I have no idea what I was thinking, but by gosh I’m going to follow it through.

I think the sizing is a little small now, but I can crochet a border around the side seams to give it another couple of inches. Probably.

SLEEP SACK

I have… no idea what I was thinking. I mean, I do - I was thinking about the cool-looking mermaid tail blankets that were around at the time and how I’d really love one of those but without the tail. I was also thinking that I have a lot of this green yarn that needs using up, and also probably that I was stranded at Mum’s house with nothing else to work on.

This yarn is scratchy, fiddly, and non-machine washable. Why on earth would I make a blanket out of this?

This is probably getting frogged. I may experiment with felting at some point, because I honestly have no idea what to do with the massive cones of scratchy 3-ply yarn I bought from a yard sale because they were £1 each.

Note to self: bargains are only bargains if you actually use the thing.

FUCK TUMNUS

Heh. Um… it’s a long story?

I made this in honour of ATCB Gaming’s LP of City: Skylines to commemorate one of the most beautiful moments of friendship between Matt The Bastard and Coreline.

Sadly I haven’t done much cross stitch since I moved in with HM and The Panther - something about sharp needles and stray floss around the cat makes me nervous. Still, I think it’s about time to finish this off when he’s asleep.

#knitting #knitblr #crochet #crochetblr #cross stitch #xstitch #frog blanket #portal gloves #string jumper #sleep sack #tumnus #ATCB

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nunonabun · 6 years ago

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Flipped - part 3

*shamefully posts a third chapter months later* The first two chapters are on tumblr and on AO3 should anyone care for a refresher. It’s not terribly long, but I’m going to try to be more reliable with this going forward (if people still like it) and do at least a chapter a week.

He was already there when Shelagh came in the next morning, though a glance at the clock confirmed that she was 10 minutes early. The sleeves of his lab coat and shirt were rolled up and his hair looked disheveled. She almost went to straighten it out but managed to stop herself in time - one of those automatic habits of a parent, she thought ruefully.

“Good morning Dr. Turner.”

He snapped up from his notes, hazel eyes warm in spite of the harsh hospital lighting and the early hour.

“Morning! How are you? And Tim? I’m sorry about the biscuits, I didn’t realise there were still so many in the pack.”

Timothy had absolutely ravaged the biscuit pack he’d been gifted and had consequently almost made himself ill spinning his sugar high out on the wheely chairs. Patrick had felt quite guilty about it, she’d trusted him with her child and he almost made the boy sick. So much for his friends’ teasing assertions that he was the “dad friend.”

Yet Shelagh didn’t look concerned. In fact, she was smiling as she set down her bag and rooted through it.

“Oh no, don’t trouble yourself. He should have known not to take advantage of your offer by hoovering up the whole pack. It was very kind of you to mind him, and you really were wonderful with him.”

She paused after she pulled out a folded sheet of paper, seeming to consider her next action, then gently handed it to him. “He thinks quite highly of you.”

A warmth filled Patrick’s chest as he unfolded it to reveal a large drawing of a young boy in his school uniform holding hands with a tall, dark-haired man in a white coat. Patrick took a second to dislodge the frog from his throat before replying.

“It was no trouble. He’s a sweet boy.”

For some reason, the thought of putting it up by his desk seemed wrong, too public a location for such a gift. “Would you tell him I’ll put it up on my fridge?”

The almost paternal suggestion sent a rush of gratitude and sorrow through Shelagh. When Martin was alive, they used to stick Tim’s drawings up on the fridge, proud as could be of his alarmingly-hued and shaped portraits. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d put one up, or for that matter when Tim had last given her one to put up.

She wanted to agree and move on to a subject further from the tender ground of parenthood and loss, but he’d opened himself up to Timothy and deserved recognition of that.

“It helped him a great deal, you sharing your own loss with him. The anniversary of his father’s death was just a little while ago and it was hard on him.”

Patrick nodded slowly, considering his words. “I know it just sounds like a platitude, but children really are more resilient than you’d think. Tim still has that sorrow, of course, but he’s not closing himself off. I’d say you’re doing really well.”

Shelagh offered him a small smile, trying to keep her professional composure. Mercifully, yet also somewhat disappointingly, Trixie Franklin saved her.

“Hello you two! Up for a morning tea? Cynthia’s made cranberry scones.”

Shelagh almost laughed at how Patrick perked up at the suggestion, looking for all the world like a terrier that had spotted a squirrel. Home baking was certainly a nice perk of working in the Maternity Ward, whose staff cared for each other more like a family than colleagues. Trixie herself had taken care of Tim a few times at her own suggestion when Shelagh was having an especially busy or difficult week.

“That sounds lovely, thank you Trixie.”

Following Trixie out of the room, and then throughout the rest of the day, Shelagh realised that she was distinctly aware of Patrick’s presence when he was near her.

Over the next week she caught herself noticing things about him - how part of his fringe fell over his eyes when he was bent over his charts, the habit he had of rubbing his lips with the side of a crooked finger when he was thinking, how cozy he seemed in his unfortunate jumpers. It worried her, the noticing. She didn’t have time to notice a man at the moment, let alone a colleague, and one 17 years her junior to boot. She resolved to just snap herself out of it whenever she noticed herself doing it. It was only because he’d been - and continued to be - so kind with Tim, and it had been so long since she’d been able to discuss her deeper feelings and concerns with someone. Give it another week or so and her brain would catch up and set her straight again, she was sure of it.

Patrick strolled along the dark waters of the Thames with his evening fish & chips. He knew he ought to make more of an effort to cook for himself, especially since he had preached healthy eating to many a patient, but he couldn’t quite help himself this indulgence. As he walked, his thoughts painted Shelagh out of the lamplight and shadows by his side. Without making a conscious choice to do so, he found himself imagining discussions with her when they were apart. Sometimes it was lighthearted - did she and Tim watch the last World Cup match? Had she had time to catch up on that novel he’d seen her pick up at the nurses’ nation one morning? Other times they would wander into more difficult topics, such as their pasts, or their divergent feelings on religion (he’d caught a glimpse of the small silver cross she wore around her neck). He imagined the way her clear eyes would allow him a glimpse into her feelings before she found the words to explain them, and how her hands would sculpt them out of the air in front of her as she talked.

He felt that no matter what he asked her, she would tell him. He would happily tell her. There was an ease between them, in spite of how little they’d actually talked about non-work related topics. But she was a colleague, and personal outings were discouraged if there was a chance they would become romantic, which, appropriately, was strictly forbidden. His mind shied away from that word, « romantic, » not daring to ask himself whether that was truly the nature of his feelings towards her. He wasn’t much one for dating, hating the small-talk and what he saw as the endless cycle of awkward dates with women he wasn’t really that interested in before the unemotional decision that perhaps they weren’t so well suited. There were more useful ways to spend his time, he felt.

Patrick fed the last of his soggy fries - damn that faulty vinegar bottle spout - to a seagull who’d determinedly followed him for the last 15 minutes. He was overthinking things, as usual, his mind off and running around obstacles without stopping to consider whether this was even his course. It was just their inability to be romantically involved that had him thinking this way. He was a friend to her and her son and that was simply that.

#Shelagh Turner #patrick turner #turnadette #coffee shop AU #ctm fanfic

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echoeternally · 8 years ago

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Fresh Air (Fanfic)

Hello again, followers and readers! I have another Pokemon one-shot that I’d like to post up. This one is about Quagsire, and how he was inspired to become a knight for the Iceberg Empire.

It offers a little characterization to Empoleon and Abomasnow, and focuses on Quagsire as a Wooper. And, like the others, it’s quasi-canon, with more the idea than the actual word-for-word context being canon.

It’s not too long, and will be posted below the cut, so click “Keep Reading” to enjoy a new one-shot!

Shrouded within a frozen palace in the northern regions, an emperor penguin sat on his throne and heavily sighed. He stared at the ceiling high above him, and muttered to himself. Gazing at the banners on the sides of the walls, he straightened up as the door creaked open. A large, tree-like yeti wandered down the throne room, one arm stuck rubbing behind his head, as he approached the emperor.

“Report, General.” The penguin’s gaze narrowed.

“…Emperor Empoleon—”

“Report, General Abomasnow,” repeated the penguin.

“As you wish.” Abomasnow sighed. “Two knights went missing today, on the search for the past four that we lost over a week ago. This puts your royal army ranks down to…five knights, as of now.”

Empoleon squeezed his eyes shut, and held a tightened grip on his throne.

“…The rest, General.”

“Sire, what’s the point—?”

“My point, Abomasnow,” thundered Empoleon, “is that I have continued the long held tradition of losing soldiers not to war, but to a vast white wasteland. And until I have a day that you come in here and report that we’ve lost no soldiers out there, I will continue to torment myself to the news of every lost soul that will never return, and drown in the guilt for doing so.”

“Why, sir?” Abomasnow shook his head. “What do we need from the Frozen Fields? Surely we could find alternatives to the crops and minerals found out there.”

“Our most critical resources from there are the medicinal herbs,” reminded Empoleon. “Without them, our people would suffer from the backlash of this horrid weather.”

“Perhaps relocation is in order for those that cannot withstand it?” Abomasnow frowned at Empoleon’s dark glare. “Very well, that’s a fair counterpoint, sire. However, we have not been able to procure a Revival Herb in years.”

“Can we still craft Heal Powder?”

“Of course, sir. We have enough for Energy Powder, at least.”

“Then every effort is worth it.”

“For that bitter trash?”

“For people to live.”

“Honestly, I do believe my solution is the better of ours,” grumbled Abomasnow. “But, that is not my place to argue.”

“Would you need me to detail the other reasons that we need our resources from there?”

“No need.” Abomasnow folded his heavy arms and raised an eyebrow at his emperor. “Sire…is another reason we send troops out there…is it based on those legends as well?”

“Of?”

“You know, those…those myths.” Abomasnow shifted his weight around, as he locked eyes with Empoleon. “Like that fairy tale about the blue rose of the damned lovers, the one about the time jumper, those blasted blades—”

“As I recall, the legend for that one states the location is closest to the Mountain Monarchy,” recalled Empoleon. “…Or are they sticking with that new name of Mountains Queendom, still? I can never—”

“Sire, you’re off point.”

“Ah, yes.” Empoleon shook his head. “At any rate, discovering any kind of artifacts or truths to those stories would be a greatly gained bonus, but no, they are not the primary objective as to why we are out there.”

“Good.” Abomasnow tugged on loose fur from his head. “Your grandfather—”

“Was obsessed with them, and they claimed that my father would follow in his footsteps,” recited Empoleon. “To which, however, he never did.”

“Well—”

“He never did,” harshly repeated Empoleon.

“Right, of course not.” Abomasnow lowered his head and bowed. “Do you require anything else, milord?”

“No, Abomasnow. That will be all.”

Nodding, the yeti general pivoted and made his way back across the throne room. He stopped about half way and turned back.

“What did you forget, General?” Empoleon’s question rang out before Abomasnow moved another step toward him.

“Actually, we do have a new recruit,” revealed Abomasnow. “He comes from the southern lands, the marshes.”

“From where?” Empoleon shook his head. “Why in the gods’ names would he come all of the way out here?”

“Haven’t a clue, milord.” Abomasnow shrugged. “He passed each of my tests, however, and he more than fulfills the requirements at becoming a knight. On top of that, he’s a strong swimmer as well, something that you told me I needed to collect more of, yes?”

“Correct, but…” Empoleon shook his head. “Here, as in outside now?”

“Yes, sire.” Abomasnow tugged at the fur nearest his mouth. “Shall I bring him in, or have him come back later, or not at all, or—”

“Send him in,” decided Empoleon. “Just him, you need to continue training the other soldiers. If I finish with him in time, I’ll send him over to you.”

“Very well, sire. Thank you, sire.”

Bowing again, Abomasnow turned back around and made his way from the throne room. The doors closed and Empoleon sat alone for a moment, rubbing his beak before standing from his throne.

The doors at the far end opened again, as a giant salamander ambled through them. He wore a small smile, and tired eyes, as he made his way into the throne room.

“Your name?”

“Quagsire, milord,” introduced the salamander.

“Tell me, why the smile?”

“This is a nice empire, and better than my old home,” divulged Quagsire. “I’ve also been told that it’s better to smile to leave a good impression.”

“Not something that you should freely admit to, but yes.” Empoleon narrowed his eyes as he studied the approaching salamander. “You do realize this would be your new home, and not the Grass Fields Kingdom, correct?”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Why would you not become a knight at the castle down there?”

“Coming up here was better for me.” Quagsire slowed to a halt as he reached the base of the throne’s plateau. “It’s quieter out here.”

“Quiet isn’t always better,” countered Empoleon. “Has General Abomasnow explained our weakened forces?”

“They die out in the Frozen Fields.”

“He explained enough, then.” Empoleon folded his wings together. “And this…doesn’t dissuade you?”

“Nope.” Quagsire shrugged. “I’m a knight and soldier. If my life isn’t at risk, my job isn’t required.”

“That’s…certainly one way to put it, yes.” Empoleon blinked and released his wings. “You’ll need to explain this more to me.”

“What would you like to know?”

Empoleon’s deep blue eyes fixated on Quagsire’s soft dark eyes, as he tapped a wing against his beak.

Further south of the Grass Fields Kingdom, a small Wooper groaned as a clatter woke him from his rest. He sighed and stood from his grassy cushion by the river, and blinked at the sky. A burning sun overhead caused the little blue axolotl to squint, and he strolled to take a dip in the water.

“Oh…”

Wooper grumbled as he slipped into the warm river, much too warm for his tastes. He sulked as he sank down in the water, almost able to stand in his shallow spot.

“Hey, check this out!”

Shutting his eyes, the Wooper waited until a splash erupted from nearby, covering his face with droplets. He slowly opened them as a small blue crocodile with red spines on his head burst out from the water beside him.

“Wasn’t that so cool guys?!”

“Ha, not bad,” complimented a dark blue frog with orange cheeks. “But you should try something more flashy, like this!”

Back flipping, the frog flailed in the air as he crashed into the water, with his splash hitting Wooper once again. He popped out and wrestled with the crocodile, as the two laughed and shoved one another back and forth in the water. Wooper drifted further down the river, but was promptly smacked as the crocodile flew into him.

“Ha, I win again, Totodile!”

“Sorry about that,” apologized the crocodile to Wooper.

“It’s fine,” mumbled Wooper.

“Ha, it’s just a little Wooper, Totodile, don’t worry about it!” The frog bounced forward and splashed at Wooper’s face. “These things crash into logs and debris all over the water, all the time!”

“Uh, that’s not—”

“Croagunk, are you and Totodile done wrestling in this sludge?”

A ball of blue vines pushed past the tall grass, and walked to the river’s edge. Only eyes were visible from a dark patch in the vines.

“We practically just got in here, Tangela,” snapped Croagunk.

“Ugh, so?” She rolled her eyes and whipped some of her vines out. “How long do you even need in there? What, do you want to be like that Wooper, and just vanish into the water forever?”

“Ew, we’re not that bad,” defended Croagunk. “Right, Totodile?”

“Well, I don’t think that Wooper—”

“See, he agrees.” Croagunk splashed water at Tangela, who shrieked and jumped back. “Ha, what, afraid of getting wet?”

“If I hadn’t just had a nice mud bath, certainly, but I’m already cleaned proper,” argued Tangela. “So, if you two don’t mind, keep your filthy water in that swamp!”

“Actually, a swamp has more forest and trees around it,” corrected Wooper.

“Exactly who are you to tell me that I’m wrong?!” Tangela huffed and slapped her extended vines against grass blades, flinging some at Wooper. “You’re just a dopey little salamander!”

“Wow, look at you getting so bothered by him,” teased Croagunk.

“He’s so weird, why are you even near one?”

“He was just in here.”

“All the more reason for you two to get out!” She moaned and backed from the water, before Croagunk could splash her again. “Don’t! I’m serious!”

“Ah, you’re no fun. Come on, Totodile.”

Croagunk pushed from the water, and turned to wait for Totodile. The little crocodile frowned, as he glanced back to Wooper, before following the frog from the water. Both shook the water from their bodies, as Tangela tried to block droplets from hitting her. She failed to hear a tiny bud stroll up behind her.

“Hi Tangy!”

Shrieking again, Tangela’s vines slapped the small bud into the river. Crashing in, she wailed and squirmed in the river, and Wooper tried to swim to the flower bud.

“Geez, Tangela, you drowned her!”

“She snuck up on me!”

Totodile hurried back to the water’s edge, but a vine wrapped around him, dragging him back. Another wrapped around Croagunk and squeezed him tight as well.

“Quick, we’re getting out of here!”

Dragging her companions off, Tangela disappeared into the tall grass with them. Wooper yelped as the bud splashed water in his face, forcing him back.

She squealed as a long and thin pink tongue wrapped around her body. It lifted her from the water and helped her back onto the grass by the river.

Standing in the shallows again, Wooper watched as the bud was set down next to a blue and tan toad. The tongue retreated from the bud and slipped back into the toad’s mouth.

“Are you ok, little one?”

“Y-yes.” The bud sniffled and whimpered.

“Hey now, no need to cry.” The toad nuzzled the small bud. “Why don’t we get you home to your parents, ok?” Sniffling again, the bud nodded to him. “Good. What’s your name?”

“B-Budew.”

“Budew, such a pretty name. I’m Palpitoad.” He smiled to her, and waited as she smiled back up to him. “There we go, that’s better. And who is that there, in the water?”

Blinking, Wooper shook his head. Budew twirled around and stared at him for a moment. She swayed around, but spun back to Palpitoad.

“No idea!”

“Hm? He’s not your friend?”

“Nope!”

“Huh.” Palpitoad stepped forward to Wooper, who slumped down in the shallow water. “Did you knock her in?”

“It wasn’t him!” The bud bounced around. “It was those bullies, Tangy and her mean friends!”

“Tangy?” Palpitoad faced Budew again.

“Yeah, she has vines!”

“…A…Tangela?”

“Yeah, yeah!”

“Ah, that makes sense.” He turned back and smiled to Wooper. “Well, that means you tried to save her, huh?” Mouth open, Wooper quickly nodded. “Good effort, at least. Though, you’re pretty young too, so make sure you’re careful as well.”

With a nod to Wooper, Palpitoad returned his attention to Budew. She bounced and swayed, almost waving to Wooper, as the two turned away.

“Take me to where you live, and I’ll help you find your parents, ok?”

“Ok!”

Together, the pair vanished behind the tall grass as well. Wooper heavily sighed, and climbed from the river. Yawning, he crawled back to his grassy cushion, with the grass blades scattered about.

Shaking his head, Wooper pushed clumps of mud together instead, and patted it with his tail. Creating a small nest for himself, he curled into it to sleep once again.

More yelling, however, woke him up again, and Wooper’s strained dark eyes snapped open as two ducks now quacked and splashed around in the water together. Groaning softly, Wooper retreated from the river and shoved through the tall grass.

Working through the tall plants around him, Wooper pushed around and shuffled to a clearing filled with small berry trees. He wandered close to a short pink one, and plucked a tiny red berry with a yellow base. Eating it quickly, Wooper plucked the remaining berry, and the tree swayed as he ate the last berry it offered.

He worked his way to the next pink colored tree, as his belly growled again, and drooled as he came close to a round, blue berry sitting in it. A vine slapped him back and forced him away.

“Stupid Wooper! That’s my Oran Berry!”

Shaking his head, Wooper blinked and stared at Tangela, as she tugged three Oran Berries from the tree. Croagunk and Totodile waddled up beside her.

“There’s enough here for all of us,” complained Wooper. “You don’t have to be rude.”

“Ugh! Are you seriously talking back to me?!” Tangela scoffed. “You’re just a common Wooper, nothing beneath me! My family comes from a noble house!”

“One that’s ranked far beneath the royal family.”

“Shut up, Croagunk!” She cracked a vine at him. “You’re lucky to even be anywhere near me either!”

“Yeesh, relax, princess.” Croagunk rolled his eyes. “Anyway, just knock the pest out of here.”

“He’s right, though,” argued Totodile. “We have more than enough berry trees to eat from here.”

“Totodile, don’t side with common peasants,” snapped Tangela. “That’s certainly beneath your station too.”

“That’s besides the point, though.”

“Hey, it’s a pest in the princess’s way,” chimed in Croagunk. “You want to tell her no?”

“She’s not even a princess—”

“Compared to everyone here, I might as well be!”

“That doesn’t even make sense.”

“Nobody asked you!” Tangela fumed and whipped at Wooper again, who yelped and jumped back. “Now, either you get out of here, or we’ll be forced to take action!”

“Tangela—”

“You two had better help me,” she snapped to her companions, “especially if you want to eat any berries too!”

“Yeah, yeah, you got it, princess,” mocked Croagunk, facing Wooper. “I’ll take care of him.”

Croagunk puffed out his cheeks, as Wooper backed away, shuddering. Tangela cracked her vines again, and laughed as Wooper leapt away from another whip.

“This will be easy!”

“That will be enough.”

From the shuddering grass near the clearning, Palpitoad emerged. He hurried over to Wooper’s side.

“And who are you supposed to be?”

“Just a very concerned toad.” He narrowed his eyes against the trio. “Do we have a problem here?”

“Just eradicating a minor pest,” quipped Tangela.

“Right, so, problem then.” Palpitoad rolled his eyes. “Very well, let’s get on with it.”

“H-huh?”

“You’re battling with him, right?” Palpitoad nodded. “Battle him, you’re battling me too.”

“B-but…you’re so much older…”

“So your point is…?”

“That it’s not fair!”

“There are three of you.”

“But you’re older and probably at a higher level!” Tangela stomped the ground. “Why are you defending him, anyway? He’s just a common Wooper!”

“Because I would defend anyone that gets picked on from the likes of you,” spat Palpitoad. “Now, you three against us, let’s have at it.”

“Not a chance.” Totodile shook his head. “They’re the ones picking on Wooper. I’m going home after today, and I’d rather not get into any more trouble.”

“More trouble?” Palpitoad stepped forward. “You were the ones that knocked Budew into the river after all.”

“Nah, just her.” Croagunk pointed at Tangela, who smacked him with a vine. “Hey, I’m on your side!”

“Then act like it!” She pivoted to Totodile. “And what do you think you’re even doing?! Don’t walk away!”

“Keep your berries, Tangela. If you want to battle for them, go ahead.” Totodile shook his head. “I’m going home tomorrow, and I’m not getting into a fight.”

Hurrying away, Totodile disappeared from the area. Croagunk shook his head and returned his attention to Palpitoad and Wooper, as poison oozed from his hands. Tangela shivered and loosened her vine whips.

“F-fine! L-let’s battle them!”

“But I can’t attack well yet,” murmured Wooper.

“Don’t worry,” assured Palpitoad. “I know what I’m doing. We’re not that far from the river.”

“Get them!”

Running forward, Tangela and Croagunk rushed at the pair. Vibrating his body, Palpitoad stomped the earth, and growled out. Waves of muddy river water burst from past the plants and grass, rushing forward at the pair.

“W-what?!”

“Look out!”

Tangela shrieked as the waves slammed against her and Croagunk, pushing them back and away from the area. Palpitoad smirked and nodded, turning back to Wooper.

“They’re not much older than you, so it wasn’t tough for me,” soothed Palpitoad. “Pretty cool, huh?”

“Y-yeah.”

Wooper blinked as the water dissipated from the clearing, and watched as Palpitoad turned away and began to leave.

“Um…thank you, for helping.”

Stopping, Palpitoad turned back and smiled to Wooper. “No problem, kid!” He nodded to the small salamander. “You know, maybe some day, you can defend this place yourself.”

“Me?” Wooper shook his head. “I don’t like it here.”

“No? Hmm.” Palpitoad shook his head. “Then, maybe you’ll be able to stick up for others elsewhere one day. I think you’d do well at it.”

“I just want somewhere quiet,” mumbled Wooper.

“Well, the best way to find peace is to help make it.” Palpitoad nodded. “I think you understand that better now. After all, there are more like Budew out there. Citizens need someone strong that they can depend on.” He smirked. “Maybe you’re not there yet, but I believe you could be, one day.” Wooper slowly nodded back to Palpitoad. “Great! One day, I hope that others will look up to you! Until then, I need to get going myself. Take care!”

Taking off, Palpitoad kicked a loose Oran Berry to Wooper. He bid farewell again and left, as the Wooper picked up and ate the berry. He quietly sat in the clearing, and yawned softly, before wandering off once more.

Empoleon sat back on his throne and tapped on it, as Quagsire yawned.

“So, you were inspired to help others when you were younger,” he mused aloud.

“And go somewhere quieter,” reminded Quagsire. “It’s like I can breathe again.”

“Hm, yes. Well…I suppose, if you would rather be here than Grass Fields, then you’re welcome to stay.”

“It’s nicer here,” praised Quagsire. “The water is cooler, and the people seem nicer, few as they are.”

“Yes, I like to think so myself.” Empoleon nodded. “At any rate, we do have healthy ties with Grass Fields, so if ever you wish to return, I’m certain I could have it arranged.”

“No, sire. Here will be fine.”

“Very well.” Empoleon stood and lifted a wing forth. “Then, welcome to the Iceberg Empire, Quagsire. And, in time, you may become a valiant knight to our roster.”

“Thank you, sire.” Another yawn interrupted him before he finished. “I hope to serve your Empire well.”

“Hopefully. Has General Abomasnow told you where to meet him?”

“Yes, sire.”

“Very good. Go to meet him and the others.” Empoleon nodded. “And again, welcome.”

“I shall. Thank you.”

For the first time, Quagsire’s smile broadened. He bowed, waved to Emperor Empoleon, and exited the throne room, off to meet the general for training. Empoleon pondered quietly as the new knight disappeared behind his doors, with a soft gust flowing in, and sat back against his throne.

Perhaps, maybe, this one might last.

A small origin story for Quagsire, yay!

I’m not sure if it’s been mentioned anywhere yet, but Quagsire is the knight that’s been in Empoleon’s ranks the longest, based on the current roster in my fanfic, Melting Gelid Roses.

He’s a gentle character, so I wanted to give him more of an origin that fits him, one that encourages him to help others based on not his immediate decision, but by what he was influenced by. Palpitoad is one that inspired him to eventually decide on knighthood.

There was also some fun to be had with Empoleon and Abomasnow, and by fun, I mean feels. After all, nothing’s more “fun” than leading a kingdom of dying soldiers and citizens, ohoho! ...Well, at least the current roster has been doing well, lately.

A few extra characters that were possibly one-offs, possibly not. Depends on how it’s interpreted. Maybe that will be explained again in the distant future.

For now, thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it! Still working on my other fanfics, but it’s nice to get content out there too.

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lostboysoflondonfics · 8 years ago

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You Are The Blood by sarcasticfluentry 175K

*must have an ao3 account to read

A seventh-year Hogwarts AU in which Niall gets all the girls, Liam goes on a journey of self-discovery, Zayn falls in love, Harry wants something more, and Louis tries to figure out once and for all why he, a Muggleborn, was sorted into Slytherin.

Follow Me Down This Time by supernope 27K

Harry first noticed Louis in his second term at Hogwarts, and despite three years of inventing ways to stumble across Louis, he’s never managed to actually work up the courage to speak to him. Also known as, self-indulgent Hogwarts AU, because every fandom needs Hogwarts AUs.

Don’t Let Me Drown, Don’t Breathe Alone by supernope 31K

Harry tries not to think about how he and Louis only have two nights left together in the castle. Instead, he focuses on Louis’ hand on his thigh, the warm press of Louis’ shoulder against his own, and the pumpkin risotto he’s just piled onto his plate. He’s going to live in the moment, he tells himself firmly. Live in the moment. Right. (Sequel to Follow Me Down This Time.)

Beneath the Sheets of Paper by missberrycake 55K

In which Harry Styles is about to start his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. While his best friends Liam, Niall and Zayn battle with the trials and tribulations of another school year, it’s all Harry can do not to fall head over heels for Slytherin prefect Louis Tomlinson. Harry soon comes to realise that discovering Louis was a far greater piece of magic than anything Hogwarts could teach him. Magic, though, is not always what it seems …

Magical Soup by gloria_andrews 28K

Slytherin prefect Louis Tomlinson’s seventh year at Hogwarts takes an immediate turn for the worse when he’s made to be potions partners with Harry Styles, Hufflepuff’s resident heartthrob and class clown. Louis has always considered Styles to be a terrible show-off who coasts by on his charm and good looks, but the more they work together, the more he questions that idea. As term goes on, will Louis be able to admit to himself that he might actually like Harry Styles after all… and maybe, just maybe, as more than a friend?

I See Trees Of Green by Acavall, Keep_Calm_And_Read_Fic, lissomely 8K

Guerilla gardening AU! Harry’s trying to make campus greener but uni admin won’t let him, so he turns to a life of crime and illegal planting. INVOLVE THE OTHER BOYS HOWEVER YOU WANT. — Persimmonlions

Guess who wrote which fic. Even we don’t know.

Us before: I am going to stick to the prompt! Us after: I did not stick to the prompt.

your certain charms by deLILah 20K

harry potter au. louis is the reserve-reserve seeker, harry is the quibbler’s brightest new voice, and the quidditch world cup is as good a place to stargaze as any.

L'Été en Azur by FannyT, RedOrchid 26K

In which Hogwarts students Louis, Liam and Niall go on a summer exchange to Beauxbatons.

What Good Are The Stars Above by ultravioletInk (loquaciousEscapist) 68K

A gratuitous alternate universe where Harry is more interested in the Slytherins than a Gryffindor Muggleborn has any right to be, Louis has settled into his preordained role, and Liam just really wants to get his friends through their final year of Hogwarts without accruing any casualties.

if you’ll be my star, i’ll be your sky by g_uttertrash 62K

Louis smiles in the smuggest, most infuriating way, like he knows every thought filtering through Harry’s mind. He probably does.

“I thought you were a student, yeah,” Louis says, voice quieter now, leaving Harry to lean over the baluster somewhat to hear. “But I hoped you weren’t.”

(or, Harry Potter AU where Harry takes a teaching post at Hogwarts and gets a little more than he expected when he meets the fit Transfiguration professor, Louis, who looks oddly familiar… Featuring Messrs. Horan, Malik, and Payne as well, along with some familiar faces from the HPverse)

The best smell in the world is the man that you love by larrycaring 10K

“Amortentia is the most powerful love potion in existence. It has a different aroma for everyone who smells it, reminding each person of the things that they find most attractive, even if the person doesn’t acknowledge or is unaware of their fondness for the object of their affection themselves.”

(…)

Louis looks down at his own container inspecting it suspiciously, as if the liquid could turn into a creature and absorb him. He bends his head down a bit, and Louis’ nostrils are filled with the most comforting scents he has ever inhaled. Somehow, it reminds him of home, something rich and warm, something he strangely feels familiar with, but he can’t quite place it. He also has the feeling he smells burnished copper.

He inhales more deeply and then he can smell apple and cinnamon, and he really does not understand. He moves back and frowns. If it was up to Louis, he would not mind inhaling the odour forever.

Take a lover who looks at you like maybe you are magic by larrycaring 33K

Call him hopelessly romantic, but Harry is convinced Louis is the one for him. He didn’t really believe in love at first sight. Until that special person came along and stole his heart. And really, as soon as he first met Louis in the train, Harry had felt something. Their love at first sight started when they met, and never ended since they found each other, heart to heart. He knew it when he felt this fluttering feeling from deep down inside, when Louis smiled at him. It was like gravity moved, and nothing mattered more than him.

or even in a magical world, Louis and Harry’s love is the most magical and beautiful thing in the world, Zayn is the smart Ravenclaw who falls for his best friend, Liam’s true feelings are revealed and Niall is Niall.

or just another Hogwarts AU I had to write.

I See London, I See France by incandescentlight 5K

Harry Potter AU. Louis is working at the coffee shop when the most gorgeous boy walks in. Harry is an eighth year Beauxbatons student and Louis is determined not to fall in love because Harry returns to France in four months.

i’ll be yours to keep by midnights 17K

louis should’ve thought a lot more about who he said his fake boyfriend is, especially since he and his “significant other” kinda hate each other. most of the time.

hey angel by vanillabeanniall 6K

When Louis had first arrived at Hogwarts, he was more of a spectacle than he was now; Harry remembered when he first saw him at the sorting, just as entranced by his beauty as most everyone else. They’d all gone quiet when they saw Louis and his veela genetics, but because he was only one-eighth veela and also because of the natural progression of time, everyone’s infatuation had eventually worn off. Well, for the most part, anyway.

It had faded a bit with Harry, but the veela effect had never really gone away, and he knew Louis noticed that, though he never voiced his curiosity towards the subject.

this isn’t the stain of a red wine, i’m bleeding love by vanillabeanniall 2K

Professor Slughorn dropped the cauldron onto the table. “Amortentia,” he began dramatically. “The most powerful love potion in the world. It can create illusions of love, can rejuvenate a person, and sometimes, though rarely, reveal a soulmate. Distinctive for its mother-of-pearl sheen and spiral steam, amortentia smells different to each person, according to what attracts them. It creates infatuation, but not love, and your job today is to make it so I can show it off to my sixth-years.”

Harry nods. “Alright. How do we do that?”

Slughorn slammed a book down on the table dramatically. The man needs to calm the fuck down, honestly. “It’s all in here, boys.”

Louis nodded. “So, Professor, if you’re teaching me all about this now, what am I supposed to do in class?”

Slughorn smiled. It was creepy, like a frog licking its lips. “Sleep, maybe. Seems like that’s what you usually do, anyway.”

Harry let out a loud laugh at that, and Louis frowned. Letting pretty boys know about your lack of scholarly potential was not the way to get them to marry you and have twelve babies with you.

A Little Bit Blue and Yellow (A Little Bit Eye of Newt) by andresurrected 30K

The boys attend Hogwarts. Liam is the Gryffindor Quidditch captain, Harry is a beater. Louis and Zayn are Slytherins. Niall is a Hufflepuff. There is a misunderstanding, and there are shenanigans in the Room of Requirement. Also, a lot of Quidditch matches.

Liam says, “Don’t repeat that. I’m not meant to have favourites.” Harry claps him on the back, grasping his shoulder and bringing him in for a hug. “Noted for blackmail,” Louis assures him, nodding once. Liam smiles at him like he doesn’t believe him.

wild mountain thyme by thetommo1d 6K

Harry and Louis attend Hogwarts and it’s always easy to mess up young love.

put your hands on me (I’m Worth It) by troubleinateacup 18K

A professional Quidditch player AU where Louis won’t be caught dead wearing green, Harry has an iPhone 6 and no knowledge of the most important game on earth, Liam is Louis’ long-suffering personal trainer/best friend, and Niall hangs out with models.

Bronze and Gold by yoshi09 7K

“And we’re back, Hogwarts! Another amazing day at the Potter Pitch, with clear skies and a brisk forty-one kilometer wind speed making for some fantastic plays today– it’s cold up here in the stands but it’s a good thing I’ve bought myself an official Quidditch jumper, available outside the pitch for only nine galleons, six sickles and one knut– we’ve got Ravenclaw leading Gryffindor thirty to ten, but after that classic Wronski Feint led by Gryffindor’s Lacey Kim, Ravenclaw is down a seeker for at least ten minutes while Devine gets medical attention giving Ravenclaw beaters more work to distract Kim’s efforts– it looks like we’re about to start again. Brooms are up, they’re off– the quaffle is immediately snatched up by Tomlinson, Merlin look at that form– only appreciating, Headmistress, that’s my best mate out there–”

* * * * *

Slice of Hogwarts life fic just in time for Halloween. Everyone knows 7th year Gryffindor Quidditch Captain Louis Tomlinson and 5th year Ravenclaw prefect Harry Styles are dating– except for Harry. Fluffiest fluff to ever fluff.

Like Master, Like Pet by Kwiky 10K

In which Louis’s cat apparently wants to date Harry’s frog, intense studying of eyebrows is a thing, pillows can turn into flamingos, and a lot of really lame-ass jokes are made.

Love Cakes by pinkladyalex 5K

Harry needs a way to charm Louis into asking him to the Yule Ball. (Featuring failed love potions, embarrassment, a little angst, and lots of feelings)

oh, the kissed limbs by lavenderforluck 6K

louis works at honeydukes, harry is a student at hogwarts. home is where the heart is, or in harry’s case, where louis is.

Keep me where the light is by frenchkiss 198K

A post-Hogwarts era AU featuring a wedding, a fake relationship, lots of sex, a cat named Hermione, a string of terrifying murders, and two young Aurors who are about to embark on a case that will change their lives (and the lives of the ones they love) forever.

After All This Time by donnylou 2K

My take on this beautiful prompt:

Hogwarts!AU where Harry and Louis are enemies who have potions class together, and one day they’re brewing Amortentia but Louis doesn’t know because he gets to class late so when he does arrive he starts laughing because “Oi Styles! you’re brewing your own cologne that’s so lame ahaahaa” and the whole class is like “what” and Harry is like “what”

what if we ruin it all, and we love like fools by sirensongs (orphan_account) 6K

Harry is a charismatic Gryffindor and Louis is an insecure Slytherin who sees something beautiful in the curly headed lion.

Reckless Serenade by boyfrombradford 10K

A Hogwarts AU where Harry and Louis hate each other, but then an acromantula makes them not. Also, there are lots of awkward moments involving erection éclairs and Drarry erotica.

Ghost of a Good Thing by musiclily88 2K

Harry asked Louis to the Yule Ball only to find out he had already invited someone else.

Potions and Presents and a Partridge in a Pear Tree by boyfriendsinlove 7K

Harry has a bit of a crush, it’s Christmas and there’s chocolate.

Pumpkin Juice (And Other Adventures) by cuddlingwiththemoon 3K

A simple story about pumpkin juice, pumpkin carving, a Halloween party and star gazing. When at Hogwarts.

A Truth So Loud I Can’t Ignore by bluegreenlarry 4K

There was a loud bang, then a shout and then only absolute silence. Harry slowly raised his head. Oh Merlin. A small grey kitten was sitting on Louis Tomlinson’s seat. And Louis was nowhere to be seen. But the kitten had huge blue eyes which reminded Harry terribly of Louis’. Fuck. He swallowed. Could it be…

Harry is a troublemaker and Louis is a prefect. They might secretly like each other.

a fully armed battalion (to remind you of my love) by MediaWhore 5K

“He was flirting with you by the way,” Niall says casually once he’s finished saying goodbye to Louis and he’s joined Harry outside.

“No he wasn’t,” Harry replies automatically, feeling his heart clench at the thought. Was he?

Niall simply raises a mocking eyebrow in response before wrapping his scarf twice around his neck.

“Not that it matters!” Harry says quickly, eyes widening. “I wouldn’t care even if he did because he’s awful and the worst.”

Everyone at Hogwarts knows that Professor Styles and Professor Tomlinson absolutely despise each other. It’s too bad that they’re in love.

Captive In A Kiss by onlyhuman 5K

“Remember when we were discussing fantasies? And you said that instead of you holding me down, you’d like to switch it up a bit?” Harry smirks, but honestly - the words don’t reach Louis’ brain. He can only stare at Harry in yearning, so he kisses him before he can say anything, can’t resist those pink, obscene lips at any given moment, no matter how tired he is.

Louis has just finished his NEWTs, Harry has a special kind of reward in mind, and the Slytherin Dungeons will never be quite the same again.

Veela Magic by Thelonelycoast 5K

The four of them are magicians at a boarding school and also roommates. Harry and Louis have a huge crush on each other.

WIP Fics

where we go, nobody knows by hazmesentir 95K

“Do you ever think,” Niall said, quite calmly, as they stood among the hoard of students staring at the quite frankly grossly disturbing writing on the wall, “that so much more stuff goes on in this castle than we’re ever told about?”

Hogwarts AU where Harry’s just trying to be something more than ‘that other Harry’, and if his best friend could realise he was in love with him it’d be really grand; Louis has normal Slytherin problems like having to hide his friend’s illicit pet lizard, though maybe it’s all OK if Harry’s paying attention to him; and somehow they always end up missing all the drama

Other Lists

#ficrecs #harry potter #louis tomlinson #harry styles #louisandharry #s #i know there's more i haven't added #larry fics

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emperorzant · 6 years ago

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Pair

Two young brothers, one taller and one shorter, were walking through a park when they happened upon a tall apple tree. A sign posted near the tree beckoned the public to freely pick apples when they were ripe. The young siblings had eaten apples aplenty from local marketplaces, but were taught that most apples were genetically tampered with before being sold; neither of them had ever eaten an apple freshly grown from its tree. Naturally, after glancing at the sign, they giggled at each other and formulated a way to ascend to the branches of the tall tree and really keep the doctor away for the day.

First they tried to jump up from the ground. Finding what they judged as the lowest hanging branch of the apple tree, the shorter brother (a good jumper) and the taller brother (equally determined) jumped in place, made running attempts, and tried their very hardest to will themselves up to the fruit, to no avail. The taller brother then suggested that they find something to knock down the apple with, but after scouring the park for a good stick, rock, ball, or other such appropriate object, the two concluded their search with a frustrated sigh as they realized that the best thing available to them for such a task would be an apple. After cracking some jokes about how forbidden this fruit had become, the two brothers attempted to climb the trunk of the apple tree. The tall brother scratched his thumb on the rough bark and gave up; the short brother could not keep a good grip on said bark and kept sliding down, digging his shoes, hands, and clothes into the trunk. With one brother dirty, the other in pain, both brothers tiring, and the rest of the park deserted, it seemed that the whole venture would prove fruitless.

After a short break, the short brother pondered if the tree could be knocked down; the tall brother disliked the idea, remarking that they only needed one apple, that it would ruin a perfectly good apple tree for the public to enjoy, that it would be better to cut off a branch or something, and so on. The two continued to tinker thereafter, until they went back to square one and the shorter brother recommended the taller brother to stand on something to reach the apple. Searching the park once more, the brothers found a sturdy rock that they could try. Carrying it together, they dropped it under the apple they still thought was the lowest on the tree, and the taller brother stood on the rock and jumped up to the apple, still a little shy of grabbing it. Excited, the brothers praised each other that this idea might actually work, and the tall brother stole himself as he stepped on the rock and gave his strongest, most focused high jump yet, filling the shorter brother with glee and anticipation as his taller counterpart barely missed the apple by an inch or two.

After more jumping and more focus, and even some attempts by the shorter brother, it was clear that they would need to take yet another step in order to obtain the apple from this tall tree... which, by this time, seemed to have grown taller. The two brothers may not have lost their determination, but they sure had lost their energy; hopping made them hungry, laughing made them lethargic, and even concentration was less consistent. Thus, their jumps were becoming further and further from their appointed apple, and it was started to get late. Afraid they would miss their kerfew if they remained stagnant, the taller brother and the shorter brother considered the options they had left: they could come back and try to reach the apple tomorrow, but they were afraid of losing their rock, which had gained them so much progress and outclassed any other rock they found; they could bring someone to help them, but at this hour, in this park, it was very unlikely that a volunteer would agree to come along; finally, they were afraid that the apple they were working so hard to get in the first place would be picked while they were gone!

In a flash of brilliance, the taller brother asked the shorter brother how much he weighed, and realized that he could carry the shorter brother on his shoulders to pick the apple. With little time to lose, the tall brother squatted down next to the rock, and the shorter brother used the rock to climb onto his taller brother's back. Swinging his legs over his brother's shoulders, the short brother prepared for the ultimate piggyback ride as he was slowly raised up by his taller brother. The tall brother then stood on the rock, and both brothers stretched their bodies as far as they could, straightening out their backs and pushing their spines' limits just enough so that... just a little further, just a bit more...

Snap!... THHUMP! As they lay on the ground, the two brothers slowly recovered from a painful daze, brought upon them after the shorter brother yanked an apple from the tree and pushed them off-balance, hurtling them off their rock. After tending to their bruises, they checked if their apple had any. It didn't; despite being dark, the apple's warm crimson skin sparkled in the moonlight, and it smelled so powerfully fresh that it was a miracle the short brother didn't immediately bite into it after enjoying its scent. The short brother offered the first bite to the tall brother, who in turn insisted that the short brother take advantage of that scent and enjoy the apple first. The short brother took a bite, and instantly decided that the day's turmoil was well worth it, slowing his chewing to enjoy the flavor. He held the apple out to his taller brother, who thanked the shorter brother for his aid and enjoyed his own bite. After trading bites and wittling the apple bit by bit to its core, describing the rich flavor of the fruit to each other in full detail, the two found a nearby trash can and tossed what was left of the apple into it. Starting their walk home from the park, the shorter brother asked the taller brother what other fruits grew on trees and plants in the wild, and if they could try to taste them all. When the taller brother said he loved the idea, the shorter brother brought up that he'd heard about another park from school that sounded like it would be worth checking out.

As the brothers laughed and planned, the moon rose higher into the sky and illuminated their way home. The path they took was full of flowers that only bloomed during the night, and the shorter brother loved to pass these plants and appreciate their shapes and colors next to the day flowers. Small ponds sprung up every so often as well, gracing the flowerbeds with infinite water and many frogs. The frogs had grown accustomed to travelers passing on the nightly road, and so unlike the moon above their heads, their croaking never waned; you could hear a frog from several feet away, sometimes more than one, and their croaking would grow louder and louder until finally, it started to fade away behind you. Neither brother was really a fan of frogs, but paired with the absolute beauty of nature under the night sky, it never bothered their walks home. If anything, it was just a reminder of their adventures every day: always testing the brothers to the very end, and yielding to something glorious and enjoyable when it's finally earned.

This is a story I was inspired to write and it’s actually VERY different from the idea I originally had, which was short, concise, and proverbial. But I felt like it also worked well as a fleshed out narrative and, well, my writing needs a lot of work, so I figured I’d give that kind of thing a shot. You can give feedback if you want (I’d appreciate it) but I’m mostly posting this for my own benefit - to practice and to get something of mine out there where it can be seen.

#text #story #original

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anthonykrierion · 6 years ago

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E-commerce SEO: guide on when to create and optimise new categories pages

Without considering a website’s homepage, category pages on e-commerce sites generate most of your organic traffic - are any of you surprised by this statement? If this comes as a shock, I have bad news: you might need to reconsider your information architecture. If you have done your job right then you have nothing to worry about.

Curious about how much organic traffic category pages actually account for, I decided to dig into the Google Search Console of a client of Distilled which has been a very successful e-commerce site for several years. These were my findings over the past 6 months (at the time of writing, November 2018).

Bear in mind this is just an example that shows a fictitious URL structure for an average e-commerce site - the level of category and subcategory pages often differs between sites.

Type of page Proportion of Clicks Example URL Category pages 5.0% example.co.uk/mens-jeans 1st level subcategory pages 25.0% example.co.uk/mens-jeans/skinny-jeans 2nd level subcategory pages 16.5% example.co.uk/mens-jeans/skinny-jeans/ripped Homepage 40.0% example.co.uk Non-transactional pages 5.0% example.co.uk/about-us Product pages 8.5% example.co.uk/black-ripped-skinny-jeans-1

This simple exercise very much confirms my thesis: category & subcategory pages on e-commerce sites do account for the biggest chunk of organic traffic outside the homepage - in our case, about 50% of the total.

So, we have now shown an example of how important these pages are from an organic standpoint without answering the question of why. Let’s take a step back and look the bigger picture.

Why are category pages so important for SEO?

Put simply, users are more likely to search for generic, category-like keywords with strong intent rather than very specific product names. If I want to buy a new jumper, chances are I will start searching for broad search queries, such as “men’s jumpers” or “men’s jumpers 2018” with the potential addition of “brand/retailer” to my query, instead of a very precise and long tail search. Who really searches for “Tommy Jeans icon colorblock cable knit jumper in navy multi” anyway unless you are reading from the label, right? For such specific searches, it is your product pages’ job to ‘capture’ that opportunity and get the user as close to a conversion as possible.

Having optimised category and subcategory pages that match users’ searches makes their life much easier and helps search engines better crawl and ‘understand’ your site’s structure.

Image source: Moz

Sitting close to the top of the hierarchy, category pages also benefit from more internal link equity than deeper or isolated pages (more on this later). And let’s not forget about backlink equity: in most instances, category and subcategory pages receive the highest amount of external links pointing to them. As far as we know in 2018, links remain one of the most important off-site ranking factors in the SEO industry, even according to reputable sources like SEMrush.

By now three main elements should be clear: for e-commerce sites, category pages are key from a traffic, information architecture and linking point of view. Pretty important, right? At this stage, the next question is simple: how do we go about creating new pages then?

Creating new category pages: when and why

Before starting with the process, ask yourself the following questions:

What is my main objective when opening a new page? What am I trying to achieve?

If your intent is to capitalise on new keywords which show an opportunity from a search volume standpoint and/or to improve the hierarchical structure of your site for users to find products in an easier manner, then well-done, move to the next question.

Do I have enough products to support new categories? Are my current category pages thin already or do they contain enough items?

In order for category pages to be relevant and carry enough SEO weight, they should be able to contain ‘some’ products. Having thin or empty category pages makes no sense and Google will see it the same way: both the SEO and UX value associated with them would drag the page’s rankings down. There is no magical minimum number I would recommend, just use your logic and think about the users first here (please at least show more than 2 products per category page though).

When should I think of opening new category pages? Which instances are recommended?

Normally speaking, you should always keep an eye on your categorisation, so it is not a one-time task. It is vital that you regularly monitor your SEO performance and spot new opportunities that can help you progress.

As for specific instances, some of the following situations might be a good time for you to evaluate your category pages. Marketing or branding are pushing for new products? Definitely, a good time to think about new category pages. A new trend/term has gone viral? Think about it. 2019 is approaching and you are launching new collection? Surely a good idea. A site migration is another great chance to re-evaluate your category (and subcategory) pages. Whatever form of migration you are going through (URL restructuring, domain change, platform change etc..) it is vital to have a plan on what to do with your category pages and re-assessing your full list is a good idea.

Always bear in mind to have a purpose when you create a new page, don’t do it for the sake of it or because of some internal pressure that might encourage you to do so: refer to point 1 & 2 and prove the value of SEO when making this decision. You might soon end up with more risks than benefits if you don’t have a clear idea in mind.

How to identify the opportunity to open new categories

After having touched on some key considerations before opening new category pages, let’s now go through the process of how to go about it.

Keyword research, what else..

Everything starts with keyword research, the backbone of any content and SEO strategy.

When you approach this task, try and keep an open mind. Use different tools and methodologies, don’t be afraid to experiment.

Here at Distilled, we love Ahrefs so check out a post on how to use it for keyword research.

Here is my personal list of things I use when I want to expand my keyword research a bit further:

Keyword Planner (if you have an AdWords account with decent spending, otherwise data ranges are a downer)

Ahrefs: see the post to know why it is so cool

SEMrush: particularly interesting for competitive keyword research (more on that later)

Keyword Tool: particularly useful to provide additional suggestions, and also provides data for many platforms other than Google

Answer The Public: great tool to find long tail keywords, especially among questions (useful for featured snippets), prepositions and comparisons

(Data being obscured unless a pro version is paid for)

If you find valuable terms with significant search volume, then bingo! That is enough to support the logic of opening new category pages. If people are searching for a term, why not have a dedicated page about it?

Look at your current rankings

Whatever method or tool you are using to track your existing organic visibility, dig a bit deeper and try to find the following instances:

Are my category pages ranking for any unintentional terms? For example, if my current /mens-jumpers page is somehow ranking (maybe not well) for the keyword “cardigans”, this is clearly an opportunity, don’t you think? Monitor the number of clicks those unintentional keywords are bringing and check their search volume before making a decision.

Is my category page ranking for different variations of the same product? Say your /mens-jumpers page is also ranking (maybe not well) for “roll neck jumpers”, this might be an opportunity to create a subcategory page and capitalise on the specific product type is offering.

Are my product pages ranking for category-level terms? This is clearly an indication I might need a category page! Not only will I be able to capitalise on the search volume of that particular category-level keyword, but I would be able to provide a better experience for the user who will surely expect to see a proper category page with multiple products.

Last but not least: are my category pages being outranked by my competitors’ subcategory pages for certain keywords? For instance, you dig into your GSC or tracking platform of choice and see that, for a set of keywords, your /mens-jeans page is outranked by not the equivalent category pages you have (mens-jeans), but by more refined subcategory pages such as /slim-fit-jeans or /black-jeans. Chances are your competitors have done their research and targeted clear sets of keywords by opening dedicated subcategory pages while you have not - keep reading to learn how to quickly capitalise on competitors’ opportunities.

Check your competition

Most of the times your competitors have already spotted these opportunities, so what are you waiting for? Auditing your competition is a necessary step to find categories you are not covering.

Here is my advice when it comes to analysing competitors’ category and subcategory pages:

Start by checking their sites manually. Their top navigation combined with the faceted navigation menu will give you a good idea of their site structure and keyword coverage.

Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to audit your competitors. If interested in how to use SEMrush for this purpose, check out this post from another Distiller.

Do a crawl of competitor sites to gather information in bulk about their category URLs and meta data: page titles, meta descriptions and headings. Their most important keywords will be stored there, so it is a great place to investigate for new opportunities. My favourite tool in this regard is Screaming Frog.

Content on category pages

Different SEOs have different views on this as it is quite a controversial topic.

Just take a look at an internal Slack conversation on the topic - we surely like to debate SEO at Distilled!

Some say that descriptions on category pages are purely done for SEO purposes and have very little value for the user. As with many other things, it depends on how it is done, in my opinion. Many ecommerce sites out there tend to have a poorly written 150 to 250 character description of the category, often stuffed with keywords, and either placed at the top or the bottom of the page.

Look at the example below from a fashion retailer: the copy is placed at the bottom of a handbags and purses page, so the user would need to scroll all the way down just to see it, but most importantly it does not add any value as it is extremely generic and too keyword-rich.

My preference is the following:

short but unique description which can be expanded/collapsed by the user (especially convenient on mobile where space is precious)

keyword-informed description in a way that is useful to the user and provides additional information compared to the meta data (yes, makes that extra effort)

placement at the top of the page and not at the bottom so it gets noticed by the user and the search engine’s bot

By using the description as a useful addition to our page’s meta data, we are helping Google understand what the page is about - especially for new pages that the search engine is crawling for the first time.

Also, let’s not forget about internal linking opportunities such content may be able to offer, especially for weaker/newer pages we may have on the website (more on this later).

Looking closely at the previous example on Next’s Men’s Knitwear page, we can see how they used the copy on the Men’s Knitwear page for internal linking purposes.

Have you considered your Quality Score?

Also, very important note, a description hugely helps an underrated element of our digital marketing: our PPC’s Quality Score, which is an aggregated estimate of the quality of your ads. Since category pages then to be the main destination for PPC ads, we should do whatever is in our power to improve the quality and efficiency of our work.

Landing page experience is “Google Ads’ measure of how well your website gives people what they’re looking for when they click your ad accounts” and is one of the most important elements of a keyword’s quality score. By using the category page’s content to cover some of the keywords we are targeting in our ad copies, we are heavily impacting our overall quality score, which directly impacts our CPC, hence the whole efficiency of our account!

What about the risks of creating new pages?

Creating new category page is a delicate decision that should be thought through carefully as it does have its risks.

Be aware of keyword cannibalisation

You are at the stage where you have decided to create a new category page and are about to focus on writing great meta data and description for your new page, off the back of the keyword research and other tips provided above - great! Before rushing into copywriting, take a minute to evaluate the potential risk of keyword cannibalisation. This is an often forgotten task that will save you a lot of time further down the line in case you do happen to come across this issue once the new category pages have been created. When doing so, it is important to make sure your new page’s meta data does not cannibalise your existing pages.

The risk of cannibalisation is very real: having pages which are too closely related from an SEO standpoint, especially when it comes to on-page elements (title tags, headings in particular) and content on the page, can cause some serious setbacks. As a result, the pages suffering from this problem will not live up to their full organic potential and will compete for the same keywords. Search engines will struggle to identify which page to favour for a certain keyword / group of keywords and you will end up being worse off.

An example of minor keyword cannibalisation can be seen on this website: https://www.mandmdirect.com/

Their Men’s Knitwear page title is the following:

Mens Jumpers, Cardigans & Knitwear, Cheap V-Neck Cable Knit Jumpers, UK Sale | MandM Direct

Not only it is overly optimised and too long, but it clashes with its subcategory pages which are optimised for most of the terms already included in the parent page’s title.

Their Men’s V Neck Jumpers page title is the following:

Cheap Mens V-Neck Jumpers | MandM Direct

When opening their subcategory page, Men’s V-Neck Jumpers for instance, I personally would have tried to rede-optimise the parent page’s title in order to allow the subcategory page to live up to its full potential for its key terms:

De-optimised Men’s Knitwear page title:

Mens Jumpers, Cardigans & Knitwear | UK Sale | MandM Direct

How do you prevent this from happening? Do your research, monitor your keywords and landing pages and make sure to write unique meta data & on-page content. Also, don’t be afraid to re-optimise and experiment with your existing meta data when opening new categories. Sometimes it will take you more than one attempt to get things right.

Crawl budget concerns

Google defines crawl budget as “the number of web pages or URLs Googlebot can or wants to crawl from your website”.

One of the arguments against opening new category pages might be crawl budget consumption. For large e-commerce sites with millions of pages, opening many new category pages might come as a risk in a way that could prevent some parts of your site not to be crawled anymore or not as often.

In my opinion, this is a concern only for (very) large e-commerce sites which are not necessarily well-maintained from an SEO point of view. Gary Illyes from Google seems to be on my side:

Source: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/gary-illyes-whats-new-in-google-search-pubcon-keynote-recap/274273/?ver=274273X3

In particular, a well-structured and optimised faceted navigation is vital not to run into crawl budget issues, so I recommend reading this MOZ post written by another Distiller.

By following overall SEO guidelines and regularly checking Google Search Console and server logs, it is possible to determine if your site has a crawl budget issue.

If interested, learn more about server logs.

Internal linking equity

This is more of a real problem than crawl budget, in my modest opinion, and here is why: creating additional pages means that the internal linking equity across your site gets re-distributed. If not closely monitored, you might end up diluting it without a clear process in mind or, worse, wasting in across the wrong pages.

My colleague Shannon wrote a great piece on how to optimise website internal linking structure.

When creating new pages, make sure to consider how your internal link equity gets impacted: needless to say that opening 10 pages is very different than opening 1000! Focus on creating more inlinks for important pages by exploring options such as navigation tabs (main and side navigations) and on-page content (remember the paragraph above?).

The rule of thumb here is simple: when approaching new category pages, don’t forget to think about your internal linking strategy.

Conclusion

Category pages are the backbone of e-commerce sites, hence they should be closely monitored by SEOs and webmasters. They are vital from an information architecture and internal (and external) linking point of view, and attract the most amount of traffic (beyond the homepage). By following the above tips, it becomes easier to identify opportunities where new category pages can be ‘opened’ in order to capitalise on additional organic traffic.

I am curious to hear other people’s opinions on the topic, so please get in touch with me or Distilled by using the comments below or my email: [email protected].

E-commerce SEO: guide on when to create and optimise new categories pages was originally posted by Video And Blog Marketing

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