#he is a very luck guy congrats on swinging that babe

[loisroo]

my girl manow just congratulating pruk on dating her😂😂😂😂

[loveislandthegame]

Babe if you can't complete Kassam route before the deadline, someone called Sound something covered every single scene of his route. Anyway, congrats on getting the 🦄 I tried it but alas.

yes, SoundNo3485 on reddit ! i have mad respect for their dedication in covering so many different routes. especially with the bugginess of the OG app (and all the damn ads, because the airplane mode trick doesn't work. that's the only thing i like about the new app) they've posted scenes i've never come across before, it rlly amazes me how detailed season 2 was.

kassam was my LI while s2 was airing, so i managed to unlock him back in 2019 ! (time flies, doesn't it?) after that, i couldn't get it to open again , i've always just dragged him back to the villa. so i'm like, ridiculously happy i unlocked his route again lol

if you (or anyone reading this) want to unlock kassam's route: there is a guaranteed method of getting him . unfortunately it's extremely time consuming (FB is so trifling for only giving us two weeks notice) the game is glitched out so the "actual" way of getting him (being a shy/chill MC) is pretty much impossible, but we can use those glitches to our advantage. what matters is the casa guys' heart scores, nothing else. hearts from previous playthroughs get stored in the game's cache, so:

before casa amor, play however you want, seriously, you can do anything. (if you're wondering what i did, i was with rocco until he gets dumped, then i was with henrik. unlocked marisol's route, fixed all the drama, didn't participate in operation nope)

once you're in CA, wear the free outfits to prevent getting hearts from arjun and felix . pick all the mean options for them too, you'll need to get a bunch of frowns (when it comes to carl, i think he always likes MC ? at least in my playthroughs he does, but i pied him off as well just to be careful)

flirt with kassam and elijah at every opportunity. yes, both . their routes are connected for some reason. more importantly, elijah has to be your bed partner if kassam's route isn't unlocked. if kassam rejects you, you'll most likely be stuck with arjun or felix, whichever casa guy has been hounding you the most. it's way easier to get on elijah's route, even if he doesn't say your name. as long as you pick all his heart options, his route will open during the speed date . (i like elijah too, he's such an underrated LI)

pie off elijah when he eventually starts talking about bringing him to the villa (sorry luv) choose kassam for brunch and then drag him to the villa, keep increasing his heart score for a few days. another important thing, if you care about scenes being out of order, don't kiss, don't do bits, don't take gem scenes for alone time. blah blah blah. his first kiss is where he reads your palm. his first alone time scene (on the swing) he talks about taking in the moment/meditating (imma be real, idk what the steamy scenes look like cus i don't pick them lmaooo🖤🩶🤍💜)

the unfortunate and time consuming part, you have to hit the "restart show" button. one time! no more than that. some people on the LITG subreddit have had luck with just restarting to day 14, i'm not one of them . you can try it ofc, but it's very finicky. restarting the show works 100%

again, play however you want. (i pretty much did the same stuff as my 1st playthrough, except i was with lucas after rocco leaves) while you're at it, check for signs that heart scores carried over. one immediate way i was able to tell is: in my completely brand new playthrough, i picked the shy and neutral options, so bobby didn't step forward for my MC. second time around, with thee same exact choices, he did.

once you're in casa, kassam and elijah will be the ones that say your name ! yay ! wooo. i cheered when it was elijah staring at MC instead of felix . there's a funny scene during the speed date when you're on their route. elijah lingers after the buzzer goes off, kassam walks up to yall and tells him to move. anyways, ask kassam to share a bed and he'll say yes . unicorn acquired

[minsinclair]

Or Else It Does Not Care

ᐊ Chapter Three ᐅ

Bea barely even spares a glance at Selene, keeping her gaze leveled on Poppy. "Wish me luck, babe?" she echoes Ford. Poppy bites back a laugh. "Good luck," she says nicely, playing along. Bea's grin grows wider. "Won't need it," she says cockily, "but thanks."

They debut on Kickoff Day.

"Why do we have the Kickoff Party a week before our actual Kickoff Day?" Bea asks as they climb the stands. Their arms are linked, and Bea is irritatingly tall, so Poppy is mostly focused on trying not to tip over.

"Why don't you ask the girl who planned it?" she quips. "Oh, wait."

"You're a riot," Bea says, completely deadpan, and before Poppy can respond, "Look alive."

"Ohmygod!" Chloe's shriek pierces through the air. "You guys are here! Together!"

Beside her, Veronica swings her phone around, training it on Bea and Poppy. "There they are, Veronicats," she narrates. "Boppy in the flesh."

"Alright, you two." Bea waves her free hand in front of the camera, voice dripping in fake humility. "Show's over."

Chloe purses her lips in a dramatic pout, but Veronica aims the phone away agreeably. Bea helps Poppy take a seat, then huddles on the bleacher beside her.

"You guys have to be in a stream sometime," she says, still half talking to her viewers. "The Cats are obsessed. You could stop by this week," she hints.

Bea flounders, trapped. Alright, Poppy thinks, maybe not so agreeable.

"Whoa," Ford exclaims as he approaches, Redhead Bea in tow. "Queens of campus alert." He reaches past Poppy to pound his fist against Bea's. "Congrats on making it official."

Bea smirks, shooting Poppy a smug grin. "Thanks."

"So it was Bea who made the first move?" Chloe asks, hungry for details.

"Didn't Poppy basically jump her after the Person to Watch gala last year?" Veronica asks, eyes not leaving her phone.

"Jump how?" Chloe demands. She turns to Poppy, eyes wide. "Jump how?"

"Okay," Bea interjects, saving Poppy from having to answer. She turns to Ford. "Shouldn't you be on the field?"

"Just dropping off my girl," he explains, then plants a loud, smacking kiss right on Redhead Bea's cheek. "Wish me luck, babe."

"Good luck!" Redhead Bea chirps. Ford's face splits into a stupid, lovestruck grin. He practically floats to the field. Poppy tries not to gag.

Redhead Bea climbs daintily over the bleachers, taking a seat next to actual Bea. She leans forward, staring at Poppy with glittering eyes.

"I wanted to congratulate you two, too," she says earnestly. "I know I haven't been here for very long, but it's pretty obvious you two really care about each other."

Poppy chokes, her face going red. Next to her, Bea smiles graciously.

"Thanks, Selene," she says, and in that moment, Poppy hates her.

Because for a second, she sounds completely genuine.

Right. Of course Bea had to be a good actress.

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

Poppy zones out for the first half of the game. The little armored Alphas run back and forth across the field and she rests her chin on Bea's shoulder, half playing it up for the audience and half just taking advantage of a warm body to lean against to fight off the unseasonable cold. Bea must pick up on her discomfort at some point, because she shrugs out of her big canvas jacket and drapes it across Poppy's shoulders like a blanket.

How chivalrous, Poppy wants to tease, but there are far too many prying eyes and ears around, so instead she just says thanks and curls into the warmth.

At halftime, Bea gently shrugs Poppy's head from her shoulder. Veronica and Chloe are standing, shaking out their limbs in preparation for the Zeta Dancing Queens' halftime performance. Redh- Selene shuffles closer as the Zetas get ready to leave, and Poppy eyes her with silent distrust.

"You guys are gonna be great!" Selene jams two thumbs up towards Chloe and Veronica, who largely ignore her. Undeterred, she turns to Bea, smiling brightly. "Good luck!"

"Thanks." Bea barely even spares a glance at Selene, keeping her gaze leveled on Poppy. "Wish me luck, babe?" she echoes Ford.

Poppy bites back a laugh. "Good luck," she says nicely, playing along.

Bea's grin grows wider. "Won't need it," she says cockily, "but thanks."

And then without warning, she dips down and presses a quick kiss to Poppy's cheek.

Heat erupts in Poppy's chest, a red flush spreading up her neck and across her face. Bea pulls back, almost looking a little flushed herself, staring dumbstruck at Poppy for just a millisecond before spinning on her heel and practically pushing Veronica and Chloe over the bleachers and down the stairs. Poppy watches numbly as the three tumble onto the field to join the rest of the Zetas.

"You two are sweet," Selene observes.

Poppy doesn't respond.

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

"I think it went well," Bea says after the game.

They're back in the faux-privacy of Poppy's room, Poppy picking through her closet and Bea finishing her makeup in Poppy's vanity mirror. The rest of the house has been pregaming since the Thoroughbreds retook the field for the second half, but Poppy had reasoned that she and Bea should probably keep their heads on straight for the night. Or at least until everyone else was already drunk.

"These people run anonymous blogs just to gush about us," she replies boredly. "They're not exactly hard to impress."

Bea shrugs. "We're not going for impressive." She pokes through Poppy's various makeup products, squinting at the labels on the tubes. "We're going for believable. Speaking of which, you could stand to look a little less miserable all the time."

Poppy throws an annoyed glance over her shoulder. "I do not look miserable all the time."

"Mm." Bea doesn't sound convinced. She picks a tube of mascara, holding it up for Poppy's inspection. "Can I use this?"

Poppy waves a hand. "Use what you want." She pulls a lacy black shirt off its hanger, hesitating for a split second before taking her own shirt off. She keeps her back towards Bea as she dresses, movements quick and jerky as she pulls the top over her head. It's not like it's weird. Bea has seen her before, and she's seen Bea, so. It wouldn't be weird, if Bea happened to see her again. Not at all.

Still, she doesn't turn around until she's fully dressed.

Bea is still sitting at the vanity, prodding gently at her eyes with the mascara wand. She keeps blinking when it gets too close to her eye, and Poppy realizes that mascara isn't really in Bea's usual arsenal. Not that she can remember, anyway. Bea's eyelashes are, for the most part, lush enough without it.

Bea blinks into the wand again, leaning back and squinting into the mirror. Poppy breathes in deeply, keeps the breath there for a minute, then sighs.

"Let me," she says, and pulls the chair away from the vanity. Bea doesn't protest as Poppy tucks one knee into each side of the chair, effectively straddling Bea's lap. She straightens, peering ever so slightly down at Bea. Bea peers right back up, completely at ease.

We've had fun, haven't we? she had asked.

Poppy tilts Bea's head away with one hand, fingers keeping a gentle tension at her eyebrow to keep her lashes from fluttering. She runs the tiny brush through Bea's lashes in one fluid swoop, then repeats the motion on the other side.

"This isn't your usual," she comments offhandedly. "Dressing up for someone tonight, Farmsville?"

"You," Bea breathes easily. "Duh."

Poppy hums disinterestedly, but something about this - the warmth of Bea's thighs under her own, the cool feeling of breath against her chest - is making her palms clammy. She pushes herself off the chair, dropping the mascara back onto the vanity without care as she retreats to the bed to put on her shoes.

"Thanks," Bea says, a little late.

"Whatever," Poppy responds, hoping her voice sounds less shaky than she feels. "Just... stop trying to stab your eye out, okay? Veronica will give you lessons if you're really so inept."

Poppy's makeup rattles as Bea returns the mascara to its place. "Be mean all you want, Pops," she says. "I'm still gonna thank you."

Poppy doesn't know what to say to that. Luckily (maybe), Bea stands before the silence can stretch too far. "Ready?" she asks, offering Poppy her hand. Poppy takes it, and Bea laces their fingers.

"Let's go show these bitches what a real couple looks like."

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

something's definitely happening and poppy does NOT have the emotional intelligence to understand what. + i did write this before the selene is x reveal & i'm not sure whether or not that will come into play in this fic. for now just pretend it's not canon in this universe.

tags / @camren-jenlisa-is-real @hallowdiamond @iamsimpforpoppy @louvmin @save-me-the-last-dance

ᐊ Prev. / Next ᐅ

[misssunflowersandsangria]

Milestones

Hello my lovely lights.  I’ve missed you all.  Distance Learning is something else and I lowkey miss the anticipation and excitement of a real first day of school.   Thus, this baby was born.  Have a family fluff fic for our Mirai. Enjoy!  

Summary:  It’s Mirai Sarutobi’s first day of school. 

*

**

Milestones 

“I’m Mirai Sarutobi and I’m going to be a great ninja!”  Mirai grinned back at her reflection. Excitement and confidence shining in her eyes. 

Tomorrow was her first day at the Academy.  It would be one of the most important steps in becoming a full-fledged ninja. Since she was younger she knew that becoming a legendary kunoichi like her mother and big sisters was all she wanted. She’d pestered her mother that she was talented and skilled enough to start at the academy much earlier.  The perfect mix of her father and mother, she inherited all the qualities needed to become a Shinobi.  Kurenai insisted that she wait. 

While not too many kids her age were interested in becoming ninja anymore she couldn’t imagine anything better. Fine ninjas had raised her.  Her whole life she had been surrounded by them and learned from them since she could walk.  She was well on her way but this was the first step. This was her path, and she was excited to finally step onto it. 

“Mirai? Baby, you’re still up?”  Kurenai had just stepped away after getting her settled into bed. 

“Sorry, mama. I couldn’t sleep. I’m so excited!”  Kurenai grinned, picking her daughter up to tuck her into bed. 

Mirai had laid out her clothes for the day along with a special bracelet she’d been given. The old members of team 8 and 10 had each given her a little good luck charm. A dog from big brother Kiba and a flower from big sister Ino were just two of the charms hanging from the bracelet.  

“You’re so ready to become a ninja and go off on your own huh?”  

“Yes, mommy just like you and daddy! I’m on my way!”  She announced punching a fist in the air.

“You’re going to be a great shinobi,”  Kurenai assured Mirai kissing her forehead. 

“I wish daddy could be there.” 

Kurenai held her tightly, rocking her back and forth.  “I know baby. I’m sure that he wishes he could be there too.”

“Will my big brothers and big sisters be there?”

Kurenai nodded. “They wouldn’t miss it.  It's a big day!”

Mirai began to settle into bed clutching onto her play Shinobi tools.  “Is the academy where you fell in love with daddy?” Kurenai beamed at the question.  

“Yes. He was the cutest boy that I ever met and we had a lot of handsome boys in our class. He was the Hokage's son but he was very humble and strong.  We became best friends and teammates. We fell in love and we were lucky enough to have you. Tomorrow is the start of an amazing adventure.”   

Mirai’s eyes began to flutter close her parent’s story, her favorite fairy tale.  “Love you, mommy.”

“Love you too baby.” 

*

**

The next morning Mirai was up bright and early dressed and ready to go.  She checked her bag making sure that she had all her supplies wanting to be ready and prepared as a Shinobi should. 

“Mommy!  Hurry we need to be there on time!”  Mirai yelled storming into the dining room. 

“She’ll be right out sweetheart.”  Mirai’s eyes widened and she jumped into her father’s arms.

“Daddy!  You’re home.”  Mirai snuggled into Asuma’s chest.  

Asuma held his daughter tightly against him never taking for granted these sweet moments.  She had grown up right in front of his eyes.  His little girl was not so little anymore.  

“Of course baby. There’s no mission more important than this.”  He’d done all that he could to ensure that he would be back there in time.  It was close and he had barely gotten home in time to shower and get dressed but he was thankful that he could be there for her first day. 

“Mirai honey, are you ready?”  Kurenai flittered in dropping a kiss on her husband and her daughter’s forehead.  

Kurenai hadn’t been too surprised when Asuma kissed her that morning. She knew that he’d fight Heaven and Earth to be there for his daughter.  He might come off gruff and scary to others but he was an absolute teddy bear when it came to her or Mirai.  She was thankful that he was there to help her hold it together. 

Mirai nodded excitedly, taking a hand in each of hers.  Swinging their arms while her charm bracelet jingled. They took the well worn and familiar route to the Academy. 

When they arrived on campus Mirai immediately ran over to the old members of Team 10 and Team 8. They all stood around like doting parents. 

“Congrats on your first-day kid!”

“You’re going to be the best ninja this village has ever seen.”  

Kurenai couldn’t help the flood of emotion seeing their former students there for their daughter’s big day. 

“Hold it together babe.”  Asuma teased her while brushing back his own tears.  Kurenai shook her head watching their daughter flutter about an excited aura surrounding her.  She knew that this day would come eventually. Mirai wanted to be a Shinobi since the day she learned what they were. She just couldn’t have anticipated the well of emotion seeing their baby all grown up. 

They were both sure that Mirai would be more than able to hold her own.  As shinobi they understood. As her parents, they couldn’t help the twinge of concern.  Still, they both knew that the village and the world would need their daughter to be a fine ninja. 

“Big Brother Shika, will Shikadai and the other kids go to the academy too?”

Shikamaru balked at the idea that in no time his own child would be there while trying to reconcile the fact that Mirai was now old enough. “He’ll be here in a few years.  That’s why you have to make sure that you learn everything that you can so that you can help them.”

“I will study hard and do my very best.”

Shikamaru affectionately ruffled her hair.  “I know you will kid.  Go hug your mom and dad before they lose it.” 

Asuma picked up Mirai both his and Kurenai’s arms wrapping tightly around her.

“You ready for this sweetheart?”

“Yes, daddy,”  Mirai replied confidently.  Asuma couldn’t help the smile that crossed his lips. There was no worry or hesitation in those striking eyes. She was a fearless Sarutobi through and through.

“Listen to your teachers, study hard, make good friends and you’ll do great baby.”  Kurenai told her, swallowing back her tears.  

They hugged her once more tightly before setting her down.  Shino waited to guide her into the building.

Mirai turned back around to wave at her parents and her big brothers and sisters once more before walking towards her future. 

“I must say that you two are holding it together pretty well.  At least compared to the rest of these guys.”  Temari commented pointing towards their old students that were in tears an utterly inconsolable mess. 

Kurenai leaned into her husband watching as long as she could.  “Can you believe our students have kids and we’re old enough to see our child’s first day at the academy.”

Asuma gazed down at her, placing a kiss on the top of her head. His eyes surveyed the familiar building a lifetime of memories housed in one small area. Here he’d learned meaningful lessons, made lifelong friends, and found the love of his life. His daughter was now well on her way to experiencing some incredible things and he’d be there to witness it all. 

“I don’t think that there’s anything that I could have wished for more.”

*

**

Plot twist! Asuma lives bc canon can and should be ignored. Also, while I love that Shika in canonically shown as being close to Mirai I believe that the other members of Team 10 and Team 8 are too.  So you can believe that they would have ALL been there for her first day at school! 

Okie thanks for reading everyone!  Love, love, love you all!

[cal-puddies]

your kind of heaven || pt.1 i could use a love song || luke hemmings

its new, it’s luke. it’s inspired by a slew of maren morris songs. LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!

pt 1. || pt 2 || pt. 3 || pt. 4 || pt. 5 || Pt. 6 || pt. 7 || pt. 8 || pt. 9 || pt. 10

Luke’s legs swing over the edge of the bed, “whiskey?” He asks, his voice is husky.

“Please.” You manage to respond.

He pulls on a pair of shorts he finds on the floor. “You gonna smoke?” He asks.

“Yeah.” You nod, grabbing the button up he’d come home in. You pull it on and follow him to the kitchen, grabbing the pack of cigarettes from the drawer while he makes the drinks. You step on your back porch and light the cigarette, taking a drag.

He comes out, a few moments behind you. You’d had enough time to stare out over the pool and think about the last couple of years and how you’d met Luke, all those years ago. You look down at the wedding band and engagement ring nestled together on your ring finger.

They didn’t mean what they did when he’d given them to you; hell, you weren’t even sure the two of you were in love anymore.

You were a songwriter, you’d been called in to

work on their album, Luke was still with Sierra, and everyone thought they’d get married.

You trade Luke, the drink for the cigarette. You’d always told him not to. It was bad for his lungs and voice, but he ignored you. Neither of you really smoked anyway. I few puffs off a cigarette after sex barely constitutes smoking.

“Congrats on the award babe.” You say quietly.

“Thanks love. What’s on your schedule this week?” He asks, handing the cigarette back.

“Toronto… working with Shawn.” You watch his nostrils flare. Shawn was never shy about being into you, always more than happy to flirt with you right in front of Luke, which drove him crazy.

“Shawn, huh? I thought…”

“We work well together Luke, you can't deny that.”

“I’d like to,” He groans. “Does it always have to fuckin be Shawn?”

“What makes you so mad about Shawn?” You ask, “is it really that he’s so flirty or is it that you see what our relationship was like in the beginning?” Luke inhales sharply, “it’s not like I respond to it, I know who I’m married to.” You say quietly. You put the rest of the cigarette out and take the last drink of your whiskey before turning to go back to bed.

Shawn sent the private jet for you, so you were mostly just alone with your thoughts for the 4.5 hours. You played with your rings, slipping them on then off your finger multiple times. You looked them over. They were beautiful.  Luke had done a great job with both.

You remember when you and Luke clicked. There was initial attraction, you worked with them the first time, and then they wanted you back for the next album.

Luke was still very much with Sierra. And your life had changed drastically; going from being practically engaged to burying your fiancé after a very aggressive form of cancer took him over. He was the love of your life, you were sure, it was devastating.

They didn’t know, you guys weren’t that close after the first time working together. You kept it that way.

But they all could tell something was different. Luke pulled out an old song the two of had started the first time around, but you couldn’t get it finished. You guys sat for hours, everyone else had left, and you finally finished it; it became one of their best songs, Luke’s vocals made it so emotional and raw, and he took it so seriously because you’d been honest with him about where it was coming from. it’s also what ruined Luke and Sierra, but started you and Luke.

Luke had wanted to comfort you in the best way he knew how, he wanted to be close to you, after you'd explained everything. He’d kissed you. You pushed him off, you couldn’t let him cheat on Sierra.

But you couldn’t help how easy it was to talk to him, so you continued to do so. Texts and phone calls, meetups, any time of day or night. If either of you needed it, the other of you was there.

Then he’s showing up, middle of the night, a wreck, because they’d broken up. Sierra felt like Luke wasn’t all in anymore. She could see his attention was pulled and it wasn’t just his music. He didn’t understand how she could say or feel that way. She knew the two of you were just friends.

He spent days, sprawled on your bed, begging you to keep the curtains drawn and just let him be. You do, you leave him be, and you’re there when he wants you there.

You remember the way his fingers curled into the ends of your hair, when he needed you to be there. The way he pulled you tight against him.

The jealousy when he hooked up with a string of girls after he left your place, his rebounds.

Showing up to his place mad as hell, that he’d held onto you so tightly and talked to you about everything and then he was hooking up with randoms right in front of you.

He brought you in, and neither of you had been with anyone since.

Luke’s hands were softer on your body than you’d expected. His fingertips brushed along your stomach as he carefully pulled your shirt off. He was so slow with everything, he said you deserved someone who would take their time.

His lips gently pressed everywhere; Your neck, along your collarbone. He smiled so sweetly before making you cum on his tongue. You could tell that every touch was deliberate.

“Sorry about all the girls.” He whispered, “I needed to be ready for you though.” His lips pressed gently to yours. “I couldn’t go straight to you, not with Sierra still in my system. But I’m all yours now.” He promised. His lips pressed hard to yours as he got got himself in position above you. “This ok?” He checked.

“Of course Luke.” You nod, actually a little nervous. You hadn’t really been with anyone since your fiancé, choosing to drink your pain over anything else.

He’d convinced you to marry him within a year after that. He didn’t care that your heart would always be somewhat broken. He loved the silent strength you always seemed to have. He loved the support you always provided. He didn’t care that his friends thought it was too fast, because you two felt it was right.

His mom was pissed that you eloped, but you promised her something more traditional when they had more time, when they had a break between albums.

Cal found out first. He’d run into you while you were out around town, they only had a few weeks off and Luke couldn’t keep his hands off of you. He noticed the rings. He tried to play it cool, but you saw right through it.

He warmed up to it the fastest, though. Luke forced him to spend time with the two of you, so he could see it first hand. And in the end, he understood.

So you went back on tour with Luke. And you dealt with the weirdness from Michael and Ash until they accepted it.

Ash was the worst, standoffish and always finding ways to make little digs at you. A lot of insinuating that you wanted Luke’s money, or to be attached to his name, despite the fact you made more than them, and you did any and everything to avoid being noticed when with them. He loved Sierra and he wasn’t shy to let you know that.

It took him a while to finally sit down with you, but it wasn’t easy and it wasn’t one conversation. He was fiercely protective of Luke; He didn’t hear what you wanted to say at all. Luke had to step in.

And then it was the fans. They loved Sierra and they barely knew you, but they knew Luke loved you. Most of them had warmed up faster than Ashton had.

You stare down at the wedding band. You were married before Luke ever really had to deal with any of your issues. But he took them in stride. He hadn’t realized how far back your string of bad luck seemed to go, how he was the first really good thing for you to hold onto. And he never wanted to let you down.

He’d never gotten to meet any of your family. Your mom took your older brother when your parents split and you'd never spoken to either of them again. She didn’t ever pretend, she hated that you were a daughter and not a second son. From what you understood when you got older, is that they had a new life and you had two half brothers you’d never meet.

Your father died from a heart attack when you were 16. It was traumatizing. You’d been playing soccer in a local park together, he’d mentioned some pain but insisted on playing through. He fell, holding his chest, and he never got back up. He never left the hospital.

You were only 2 years younger than Luke, but at 27, he was convinced you’d experienced more tragedy than most would in their entire lives. He knew you and your fiancé had loved intensely, his cancer diagnosis and the miscarriage almost ended you.

He wanted to make sure you never felt that kind of loneliness again. You’d always be loved and wanted, he’d make sure of that.

Your phone buzzes in your hand and it draws you out.

-sorry I was a jerk last night. Write something great, I know you will. Love you. Luke had texted.

He wasn’t stupid. He could feel the strain in your relationship. You both felt like you were being pulled apart.

And you just didn’t have time. Barely for yourself, and not at all for each other. You were always being pulled away from one another.

The night before, that you’d spent in bed together, was the first in months and it’d be the last for almost 2 months, since he was coming off tour and you were on your way to write with Shawn.

-s’ok Luke, I know you get it, but I know it stresses you out too. You text back. Love you.

But it felt a little like too little, too late.

Taglist: @cocktail-calum @1dthewantedlove @september09241994 @youngblood199456 @lustingforwunder @calumsphile @neso-k @rosecoloredash @radmcqueen @justayoungandwisefangirl @itsnotmyblood @slimthicccal @softboycal @lietoash @pushthetide21 @5sosfanficrec @pinkbubbles-and-bigtroubles​ @therealmrshale​

masterlist || ashton || calum || luke || michael

wanna be tagged? go here

[demes-tumbled-sims]

Avyan Immortal Dynasty, Chapter 4: Breathmints for All

Index

<- Previous

Since Gino’s night of fishing was a tremendous success, he’s taking some time off; called up a neighbor, one Mila Munch. She was with the welcome wagon when he moved in, and I guess he liked knowing there was someone closer to his own age in the neighborhood. Can’t blame him.

“No, I’ve never been a family man. The sea’s a lonely place… Sometimes, feels like a bit of a waste,” he’s explaining, still in his PJs of all things. Not that I’ve never done that; a good pair of PJs can get you through a whole day, right?

“It’s hardly a waste to do what you love!” She proclaims, fervently. “I try and tell my boys the value of a dedication passion, of going out into the wilderness (especially Gunther, who needs a little wilderness), of the value of hard work.”

“I don’t regret it, not exactly; kept me having the time of my life for years! But I’ll say you’ve got the gumption of any sailor, raising those boys on your own! There’s a lot of value of filling your life with people you love, giving them a guide in the world. It’s real swell you can do that.”

“Oh, you shameless flatterer,” she chuckles. “But now you’re closer to the city.”

“I’m doin’ more river-fishin’ these days. Better on the joints. Still got to get up early -- and the fish have to get up early to get past me!”

They both laugh about that for a while.

“I am to understand that Miss Avyan keeps a well-stocked bar,” she says, rising. “Let me pour you a drink; I have a taste for such things.”

“That would be nice.”

No, you can’t fault the old guy for wanting a friend.

Or more than a friend.

“...Mila. I’ll admit, I’m not the best talker in town. But I want you to know. If you could find the time… I’d really love it, if every so often, a beautiful, charming woman like you could stop by and spend some time with me.”

“I think you’re selling yourself short! There’s a lot to recommend, enjoying your time with someone with so many stories, who’s so… energizing, to be around. It’s important to spend time with...someone you care for.”

Well, I’m not going to eavesdrop after that. I think that, you know, unlike some men… He might just want someone in his life.

I’ve got my own accomplishments; some people were busy today; not that I’ll fault Gino his getting busy.

I was scoring a promotion, for starters. Been a long day, and I came out on top.

And since I am the champion, with a bit more cash to throw around…

Bam, house upgrade! ...It’ll look much better when we can slap a second floor up there. One simoleon at a time.

I worry about the new roomie there; it’s not normal for a guy to cry in his sleep. Well, he seems kind of lonely.

Oh, well. I mention it to Zest, just after he’d gotten a phonecall from Candy. He grins and clicks his phone off, casually tossing it to his opposite hand, and he says, “I’ll take care of it! I know just the thing to cheer a guy up.”

“A double-date! Breathmints for all.” “I could use some,” says Candy, staring pointedly at him. “I was really sick. This morning.” “Aw. Hope you feel better.” He orders breakfast.

...Zest is...sure something. And by ‘something,’ I mean ‘a person who is missing an unsubtle clue.’ I wasn’t there, but I can promise you:

He was missing her point.

Speaking of things getting missed...

“It’s so frustrating, seeing everyone with someone but you, isn’t it, Ulrike? It’s so annoying, when people are so public, right?” Akira asks, shooting a glance at the other couples enjoying breakfast. I’d heard he was a jealous type. “...I think a little romance is nice. There’s no need to get all worked up.” As Ulrike answered, there was the subtle noise of a chair scootching back. Swing and a miss there, Akira. Swing and a miss.

Well, while they’re off muddling about their time, I’m up and about and working my way through my skills.

Behold! With this tumbler, I’ve cleared another barrier, and onto my third stage of my mixology aspiration. I’ll need to have a social occasion soon.

“Sooo, when do we want for a wedding?” Miko asks, sidling up close to me on the couch while a culinary training video plays in the background. Ah, yes, another social event I need to think about.

“Well, we’re going to go for fancy dresses here, right? Guests are a must. I’ll bake a cake.”

“I want our toppers to be something cool! Maybe elves? Ah, no, a lady and a knight!” she said, waving a finger at her own change in suggestion. I chuckle.

“I’ll see if there’s a suitably cool and lady-like knight option.” Armor could make up the difference. “OK, so we’re going to need a lot of time, but… It’ll be hard for us to find time, for a while.”

“That’s true; we basically work opposite schedules. Every night, the moon comes and steals you away, just when I get home; and when you awake, I must depart! It’s all so very Ladyhawke... maybe you transform into a wolf.” The drama of her sigh is patently manufactured… But we both giggle anyway.

“I’m a kestral, aren’t I? So I’m the hawk here! We can’t afford to miss…”

“So we’re going to have to be patient, alright, babe? Until our next mutual day off.” It rankles a little to not be in control of my schedule. Oh, well.

In the meanwhile, we take what moments we can; little kisses as we wind down like this -- a brush of our fingers over a morning cup of coffee -- every time she turns, the urge to just reach out and grab her is irresistible. Maybe I really am a bird of prey.

“Hey, Kest?” Zest brings his breakfast out to the porch the next morning. “Zest.” I wait for him to explain the uneasy look on his face. “...So. I’ve got, I mean, haha, I guess it’s good news, but -- well, you know how no news is good news? This is news. Ha.” He pushes my perfectly good leftovers around on his plate. “... Maaike had a baby.”

“No kidding.” And the last horse crosses the finish line. I pour him a celebratory drink that we can take inside. “Congrats, poppa! What’s the scamp’s name?”

“Hobart... Haas.”

“...Hobart.” I ignore the worry in his voice over the kid’s last name not being his, born to another household and all, in favor of this series of wedgies laid out across this poor boy’s lifetime, which just so happened to take the form of a name. A name like Hobart. For entirely separate reasons, we stare off into a great middle distance.

“What should I do? I’m not ready to settle down! I don’t want to take care of a kid!” He bursts out, when I have adequately adjusted to the intense wave of nomenclature-based disappointment that washed over me. Hobart. I ponder my approach here.

“Jonathan Zest --”

“When you say it like that, it doesn’t sound like Jonathan should even be a name,” Zest interjects. “Sounds like you made it up, even though it’s my name. Weird, right?”

“You have a choice,” I ignore this other name vortex into which I am being pulled. “You either be sweet to that girl, do right by her… Or. You don’t. You let her worry about her business -- you have fun having yours. You let it go. Let it all go.”

He doesn’t tell me his answers in words, so much. But he’s not ready for one girl. He won’t worry, and the choice is immediate.

Best of luck, I guess.

I’d like to call your attention to something.

That is a man eating a raw lemons. He just eats two raw lemons and goes back to fishing. What a nightmare.

He needs a break. He really does. I worry about how many more angelfish we can get out; he’s only got the one, and all, but if having Mila over to chat about fishing, and cooking, and what looks like a nice little baby bump she’s got going there. I think I heard them talking about names -- hopefully, they go with some of they better ideas, like ‘Julian,’ so we don’t have to contemplate another Hobart.

He’s not the only person with a guest, though. Akira invited Ulrike over to apologize for the other day. “I am sorry,” he explains. “I just meant… Well, I want something wonderful, and special, and perfect. I can get a little rough sometimes about it. But also like gestures like this to be intimate. Personal, and private, and without anything in the way.”

“Just like this. Isn’t this nice?” “It is,” and Ulrike relaxes, melts into him.

So he’s finally making some progress. 

There’s something funny about it, though. I go to work. I come back from work. I am immediately dragged by Catarina out to karaoke, all the household’s young people. I grumble, because I am tired enough to pass out right there on the sidewalk, but…

I may just know a girl who loves karaoke like I love the satisfaction of being right, and so, there we go.

And Akira, for a guy who just got a girlfriend, looks like he’s fit to tear out his hair. Weird. We more or less scatter after that.

Zest talks to Catarina, but I’m going to save you a lot of time and tell you to just put a pin in it, it goes nowhere right now.

Akira gets closer to somewhere, entering in a private room with just one occupant: this married lady, Anaya Jang.

“Don’t you want something more? Something that leaves you completely satisfied, someone that feels really, truly yours? I… I want that. I just can’t believe --” He breaks off, his body tensing “I can’t believe your husband can give you that. But I think I can. I want that. Do you?”

“I want it like I want a grilled cheese sandwich.”

This gives him a moment of pause, the romantic tension of the moment broken.

“...Is that a lot?” He just had sort of been picturing a metaphorical hunger up until this point, if I had to guess.

“It is.”

“...We’ll see about the sandwich later, then,” he says, managing what I would call an A+ attempt to sound seductive about grilled cheese.

And as for me…

I tell Miko to pick the songs; frankly, I will be happy if I can stand upright through the whole thing. The music started, and a microphone lands in my lap.

“It’s a duet. You’ve got the first part, OK?” She asks. I sigh with mock reluctance, nod, and get into the rhythm. Her face lights up.

“Don’t go breaking my heart.” “I couldn’t if I tried.” “Oh honey, if I get restless --” “Baby, you’re not that kind.”

We share a little smirk over the role reversal there, as if I were the one to worry about getting restless. But we can chuckle about it, and let the song wash around us. I try my best to keep up, and I’d say I do a pretty good job -- one day, I’ll beat her. You’ll see. For now, though, I’m content to just watch the smile on her face until I’m about dead on my feet.

[your-dietician]

Tom Brady lauds Aaron Judge's historic season, praises Yankees slugger's mindset

New Post has been published on https://medianwire.com/tom-brady-lauds-aaron-judges-historic-season-praises-yankees-sluggers-mindset/

Tom Brady lauds Aaron Judge's historic season, praises Yankees slugger's mindset

Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Tom Brady had major praise for Aaron Judge as the New York Yankees superstar hoped to ride the wave of his regular-season success into the postseason.

Judge joined Brady and sportscaster Jim Gray on the “Let’s Go!” podcast Monday, and the seven-time Super Bowl champion said he enjoyed watching a superstar athlete from another sport succeed.

“There’s nothing better than seeing, in my view, players in other sports that really accept what comes along with the success,” Brady said. “You’re in a big market (with the) Yankees, and you’ve continued to defy the odds. 

“Really happy for you and all your success. Hopefully, you got a long career ahead of you. It’s going to be up to you to see what you do with it and how you take advantage of it.”

“All the decisions you make over the course of time will all add up to the level that you can reach. It’s really been impressive to watch you in your humility even through this season. Just an MVP-caliber season. We know how all those votes go and all that. I always feel like, you know, ‘Did you do the best you could?’ And, from my standpoint watching you, you were amazing this year. So congrats and good luck in the postseason.”

In Judge’s pursuit of the American League home run record, he entered Yankees lore and was compared to some of the organization’s greatest players like Babe Ruth, Roger Maris, Joe DiMaggio and others. 

He said it was a “shock” for him to hear his name in the same breath as those other top players who wore pinstripes.

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“It’s a shock because the names you mentioned — Roger Maris, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, this list goes on and on — these are guys you see all around Yankee Stadium,” Judge said. “You see ‘em with the World Series ring, the World Series championships, and you’re like ‘There’s no way. Those are legends.’ 

“Those are Yankee legends. Baseball greats. How could I ever be mentioned with those guys? I’m just starting my career. I’m just a couple years in. What’re you guys talking about? It’s always a humbling experience being in the same sentence. Being mentioned with some of those greats. It’s like you said, it’s tough to get used to because I’m Aaron Judge, a kid from Linden, California, that wakes up everyday trying to help the Yankees win a ballgame. I’ve never seen myself as someone up there with Babe Ruth or Roger Maris, but it’s something I never take for granted.”

Brady, who has also been in that caliber quite a long time with the likes of Joe Montana and Steve Young, had some advice for Judge on how to handle the superlatives. He said Judge had the right attitude and mindset for the moment he’s dealing with now.

“That approach he says he instills in himself, when you look in the mirror every day what do you see? Aaron sees himself,” Brady said. “And he doesn’t see, ‘Oh, this is kinda who you remind me of, these are the people that you’re being compared to.’ It’s the best way to do it. You wake up every day, and you look at the person in the mirror and you go, ‘Did I give it the best I could?’ And if you did, you’re usually very satisfied with what you’ve become. And if you didn’t, then you got that person looking right back at you knowing you cheated yourself,” Brady said.

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“I’ve always felt too, and I’ve looked up to those guys who really inspired me to play football at a young age growing up in the Bay Area, NorCal kid. I grew up with the Niners as may team and to watch Joe Montana and Steve Young and just to see how the success of that organization brought this community together. 

“That community still loves the game of football because there was so much success. I think, Aaron, just continuing on the Yankee legacy – and obviously being in Boston for 20 years, I saw it first hand. I was at World Series games in 2001, the 9/11 year I was at. I think Game 3. I just know what those rivalries are all about and what the meaningful characters in those rivalries are. And Aaron mentioned a few of those, and now he gets to be part of that tradition. But you still feel the humility of where you started because you are who you are. You haven’t changed. 

“Aaron, I’m sure, hasn’t changed. If he has humility, which I know he does, he looks at himself as a high school kid going to try and prove himself everyday going, ‘Man, I gotta go out there and I gotta do my job and I gotta work hard or else I’m not gonna be this person that lives up to his own expectations.’ He is who he is because of the characters that define him as a person, as a player and as a teammate. Not what other people may define him as, which always feels good when you’re internally motivated and the only way to have the consistency he’s had is to do that and to hit 62 home runs and to still have humility. That’s a personality trait. That’s a character trait. Those things aren’t gonna change in him.”

Judge thanked Brady for the kind words and acknowledged he tapped into the “Do your job mantra” that Brady’s former coach, Bill Belichick, had preached in New England.

“That means a lot. And one of the words you kinda hit on there was just doing your job. And it’s funny. Here, at Yankee Stadium, before we go out to our dugout, we have a little sign that just says ‘Just do your job.’ I always kinda tapped it on my way out to the field as just a reminder,” Judge explained. 

“I coulda been 0-for-4 the night before. I coulda been 4-for-4 the night before, hit a walk-off, whatever. Well guess what? That’s all over with. When you step on this field, you gotta do your job. If that’s me making a play out in the field, if that’s moving a runner over, if it’s me just picking up a teammate that just struck out. Just doing little things. That’s part of my job. Going out there and do my job, everything else is just BS. Go out there and focus on one thing. That, for me, is what builds championship teams.”

Read the full article here

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Seventeen as Dads (hip hop unit)

A/n I didn’t proof read this soooo I hope it’s not too bad

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Seungcheol: • the Strict Dad™ • since he's used to dealing with children he's pretty patient • good at dealing with tantrums • with that said dating won’t be happening until like late high school • won’t hesitate to intimidate the shit out of a boy • carpools just to keep an eye on his kids oops • can be a hardass but also amazing?? • will take your kids out for ice cream 24/7 as long as they’re good • was super excited when you told him you were expecting • prob cried when holding his kid for the first time at the hospital • vowed to never let anything hurt them as long as he lives • treasures your family more than life itself wow congrats girl

Wonwoo • the Nerd Dad™ • always reads the kids a story before bedtime • when he can’t be there in person he will FaceTime/Skype • very patient and understanding • puts his glasses on them and takes 10000000 pictures • will have them reading and talking before it’s even supposed to be happening • cares a lot about their grades/education • def has college funds for them for when the time comes • is such a proud papa whenever they do well even when they don’t • BRAGS • he’s a humble bragger for sure • like ppl will low key get annoyed with how perfect and smart your family is • you gotta tell him to chill sometimes bc it can embarrass your kiddos • comes from a great place but doesn’t know when enough is enough • overall the best dad any kid could ask for bc he just has such a kind caring nature

Mingyu: • the Pushover Dad™ • can’t even punish your kids bc • “they’re so cute babe I can’t” • “mingyu you HAVE to punish them sometimes!” • you’re gonna be the bad cop I’m sorry • won’t hesitate to carpool the kiddies • loves jamming to music with them • will accidentally impede on their time w friends w/o realizing • if your kid scrapes their knees he will pick them up and brush them off immediately • will definitely kiss the spot that hurt to make it better • says the kisses are magic • the kid will miraculously stop crying and keep playing • will low key spoil your babies just bc he can’t help himself tbh • def cooks all their meals for them and makes cute lunches • dating??? Good luck • will prob take all of seventeen to convince him to let his lil girl date • overall an amazing daddio who cares and has tons of love for his kids

Vernon: • the Bestfriend Dad™ • rarely punishes your kids as well • initiates so many nerf gun wars • tickle fights 24/7 • the house will ALWAYS be loud sorry • parks are a constant too • he loves pushing your kids on the swings and chasing them around • such a playful and exciting dad • your kids are always going on fun adventures with him • can literally make ANYTHING sound exciting • takes care of them while you relax or get some errands done • lets them sleep in bed w you guys if one of them has a nightmare • sings them to sleep even tho he doesn’t like his singing voice • his kids do and that’s all that matters • you did a great job marrying this one, he’s a great dad who’s always there for you guys