#hey I think that’s Barras

[napoleondidthat]

Isn’t this Barras hanging out at the Coronation?

Whatchya doin’ there Paul?

[eclipseiron]

Hey Blixer, if you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

NG : sigh* I don't know...

at the moment I don’t think that anything drastic needs to be changed in me, but I would like to see my past self, I did unbearable things during the beginning of my reign...

he pulled back his hair a little and the burn on his neck with the number N°01 fell on your eyes

I didn’t want to upset Barra for demoting him, I forced my associates to work day and night while I did nothing, I really want to apologize to Mac for my behavior when we were together...

Now I’m trying to fix everything myself and I’m ashamed of what I did, I really want to change it...

(7/10)

[josefavomjaaga]

Napoleonic daily soap, episode 5: 12 Vendémiaire

Scene: The Tuileries. Evening, torch lights. People running to and fro, soldiers gathering in the courtyard, scared members of the Convention barricading themselves.

Cut to Barras’ improvised war room. A table with a map of Paris. Barras walks up and down behind it, talking to some generals gathered in front of him, among them Brune and Napoleon.

Barras:

„I do not need to tell you, gentlemen, that the situation is dire. I mean, we’re having a real crisis here, with people wanting to kill us. Again. Royalists this time. And as I do not know the first thing about military stuff, I have called for you, so that you can take care…“

Napoleon [cuts him off]:

„Why, of course you would have. And it’s a good thing you did. [walks briskly up to the table and leans over the map, the other generals follow suite, completely ignoring Barras] So, let’s see. The obvious keypoints we have to protect are [points at the map] here, here and here.“

Brune [annoyed]:

„Possibly. But what makes you think you are giving the orders here? Don’t you think you should ask our opinion first?“

Napoleon [astonished]:

„Why? I mean, is there something I overlooked, do you not agree with me?“

Brune:

„No, you’re quite right, it’s just that…“

Napoleon:

„Well, excellent. Listen, Brune, you take a couple of men and position yourself here. The other gentlemen occupy the rest of the positions I have pointed out. [turns around to Barras] And as I am the only artilleryman here, I’ll take care of the canons. We’ll position them right at the entrance of the Tuileries, in order to give those insurgents a proper welcome.“

Barras [awkwardly]

„Well, about those canons… that might be a problem.“

Napoleon:

„What problem?“

Barras:

„We don’t have any.“

Napoleon:

„No canon? But I’m an artillery general. Why did you even call for me then?“

Barras:

„Well, I thought…“

Napoleon [annoyed]:

„I really do not like it when people waste my time. Or when an employer does not even provide the proper tools for the job. I am not used to bringing my own stuff to work, that’s highly annoying. But I can see that you are in deep shit indeed, so I will let it go. Where’s the next artillery depot?“

Barras:

„There are some canons in Sablons, I am told. But I’m afraid the royalists know that, too. They’re probably already on their way to get them. And as they do outnumber us, I doubt you will find somebody dumb… I mean: courageous enough to try and get those canons to Paris before them.“

CUT to new scene: Tuileries courtyard. Darkness, a fire burning. Several cavalrymen holding in the saddle, happily chatting with each other and with some foot soldiers nearby.

Murat [on a horse, proudly tugging at his pelisse, to a soldier]

„So, how do you like it?“

Soldier:

„I do not think it’s in accordance with army regulations for cavalry uniforms.“

Murat [grinning]

Of course it’s not. It has style, unlike our army regulations. Plus, it’s my favourite colour. You have to see it in daylight.

Another cavalryman:

„I have. It’s an eyesore.“

Murat:

„Correction. It would be an eyesore on you. On me, it’s the most fetching piece of clothing one can imagine, and I dare say the ladies will pay much attention to it.“

[Napoleon’s voice from off-screen]

„Hey, you there. On the horse!“

Soldier:

„I think he means you, Murat.“

Murat:

„Impossible. If he meant me, he would have said: Hey, you there, that most handsome and dashing one on the horse! [turns around, beams at Napoleon] What can I do for you, mon général?“

Napoleon [stops to regard him]:

„I do not think your uniform is quite in accordance with army regulations.“

Murat:

„That’s quite possible, sir. We’re cavalry.“

Napoleon:

„Whatever. I have an errand for you. Do you know where Sablons is? I need somebody to go there and pick up some canon for me.“

Murat:

„Sounds easy enough. Where’s the catch?“

Napoleon:

„You have to be back before daylight, and there’s a royalist mob on the way likely to attack you. Do you think you can do it?“

Murat [sits tall in the saddle, with dramatic flourish]:

„How can you even ask me that, general? Do not doubt me, I am Joachim Murat! Here we are, I and my men, to your service, ready to give our blood for the fatherland and its republic, ready to bring those canons here before rose-fingerend Eos awakens the day, or to die trying! Let all impertinent royalists of France stand in my way, let an army of ten thousand waylay us, it will not keep me from doing my sacred duty!“

Napoleon [stares at him open-mouthed, but without a word, as realization sets in]

„You are Gascon.“

Murat [beams, proudly]

„I sure am. [the smile vanishes, he leans down from his horse to Napoleon, in a serious tone] But I will still get you those canons, sir.“

Napoleon [nods]

„Be quick.“

[oliviab-scstudyabroad]

An Afternoon in Brazil (Part II)

Hey guys! Here’s Part II to my Uruguay road trip. My friend Karen and I woke up early on Saturday morning and started to make a breakfast that consisted of a fruit salad, leftover chorizo, oatmeal, and coffee. As people woke up, they also helped out by making eggs, setting the table, etc. I went outside for a little bit and enjoyed the peaceful view of the countryside. There was a guy that came by riding his horse, clearly on his way to work, and I thought, “So this is the life of a gaucho (Latin-American cowboy). It was so peaceful, and I was grateful that I could relax and enjoy the morning without feeling rushed to get somewhere. After cleaning up, we went to the Quebrada de Los Cuervos National Park. We were able to swim in the lagoons there, and the water was freezing but refreshing! It truly felt like a little slice of heaven because we were away from everything, and we had the whole place to ourselves. We spent a few hours there, and then we hiked a little bit and saw some fantastic panoramic views of the whole park! I felt like I was in the Amazon; the forest was so lush and there were rivers flowing in and out of each other.

We then made the four-hour drive to Punta del Diablo, which is on the Uruguayan coast. As you can imagine, we listened to tons of music, including songs from each of our countries! My Uruguay Playlist grew a ton by the end of the trip. It’s interesting, however, that everyone knew the lyrics to several songs in English, including “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen, “Africa” by Toto, and “Can’t Stop” by The Red Hot Chili Peppers. My friends explained to me that they learn to speak English as a second language at a very young age, and they consume lot of media (including movies, music, and social media posts) that is in English. It really goes to show that English is the universal language, and it made me thing about how the U.S. could do better in creating a firm foundation for students in a foreign language. As soon as we got to our Airbnb (a 7-minute walk from the beach!) we went straight to bed.

On Sunday morning, we woke up, made breakfast, this one including Uruguayan sweets that combine well with mate. My favorite Uruguayan treats are the ojitos (little cookies that have a mixture with egg yolk and sugar in the middle- they do look like little eyes!) and any type of cookie that has dulce de leche. After, we drove 30 minutes to a town called Chuí that is on the border of Uruguay and Brazil! I hadn’t realized how close we were to the border, but thankfully I had brought my passport. We didn’t have to stop in any sort of Customs (I suppose because people drive back and forth all the time), so when we got to Chuy, we parked the car and walked to Brazil! The street that we crossed was a two-lane road: on one side is the Avenida Uruguay, where all the shops are in Spanish, and on the other side is Avenida Brazil, where all the shops are in- you guessed it- Portuguese! We looked like such tourists taking videos of us stepping into Brazil. That was one of my favorite memories of the trip.

Once in Brazil, we walked around and peered into some of the shops. We didn’t spend a lot of time in time in Chuí because there wasn’t too much to see, but I did get an ice cream. I don’t know why I was so astounded by the fact that all the packaging was in Portuguese! When checking out, I said “obrigada”, which means “thank you” in Portuguese, to the cashier. I couldn’t help myself. After, we drove to the Barra de Chui, which is a section of the beach that has a rock barrier dividing Uruguay and Brazil! There were families with their young children, people fishing, etc. Again, I was blown away at how easily people can cross borders here! I think it’s such a crazy concept for me because it’s not as simple geographically to travel to other countries from the U.S.

After our outing in Brazil, we stopped in Santa Teresa National park, where we wandered and got panchos (hot dogs) and churros de dulce de leche. I enjoyed strolling through the Botanical Gardens and Greenhouses and watching the sun set! We then drove back home and had yet another fantastic dinner with our chorizo, again cooked over a wood-burning fire.

The next day was unfortunately the last day of our great Uruguayan adventure, so we made the most of it by spending time at the beach. Punta del Diablo, or Devil’s Point, got its name because of the plentitude of rocks that create massive waves. Many professional surfers come to surf at Devil’s Point. Because of this, the waves were alarmingly big, so we stayed close to the shoreline. We then packed up and made the 3-hour trek home without forgetting to stop at a carrito to get tortas fritas with dulce de leche. You can say that I felt a little ill after all the dulce de leche that I consumed this trip. In between naps, we sang classic Uruguayan songs and laughed all the way home.  

I loved everything about this trip- the sights that I saw, the food that I tried, and most of all, the people I went with. Everyone was up for everything, and we made a great time mapping places out, cooking most of our meals, etc. Though the interior of Uruguay is different from Montevideo in the fact that it’s mostly countryside, I appreciated its tranquil vibe and the natural landscapes. I now get why people are so proud to be from the interior. There are 19 departments in Uruguay, so I hope to check off the other 16!

[just-asks-and-beats]

Land Ho!

Water. That was all Gray could see.. for soooo long. He just wanted to pass out. His body felt sluggish, it was getting harder by the minute to sit up straight, and his head was pounding. He tried to ignore it, but it really seemed like karma was beginning to catch up to him. It certainly didn’t help to be in the presence of Ship for the whole ride… they were too damn happy, too damn hug-y..? Is that even a word..? He didn’t know, didn’t care. He just wanted them to stop hopping around the ship hugging everyone and get to the volcano already. As a gentle sea breeze ruffled his cloak, he took a moment to let everything that was happening set in… Big mistake. He felt sick, guilt coming along with his realisations. Oh, how he didn’t want to have to face Barracuda.. but what other choice did he have!? What would everyone do to him if they found out who he really was…? He wished he’d died in that final fight.. he hardly even remembered what happened, just how much it hurt. Nobody had ever accepted him, and he was sure there were no chances at a happy life for him now. He’d ruined every chance he had. He let out a quiet sigh as he looked down at the water below…

Darkness. That was all Lycan- or Lichen? Was he still using the code-name? He didn’t remember… Anyway, it was dark. Way too dark. For soooo long. He hated being stuck as Gray’s body, it was getting hot being covered up in fabric the whole time! They wished Ship had a motorboat so they could just speed over to the volcano instead of this. It was hard to see, hard to breathe, and getting tiring holding Gray up. He wanted to complain about it, but alas, giving away both of their identities would mean quite a bit of trouble. He’d just have to complain to Barracuda when they got there. He began thinking of the volcano, how nice it would be to stay there again. Sure, his last visit ended in disaster, but it was the fun kind of disaster! He truly didn’t care about being corrupted, he just liked having the extra sass and slight power boost! Sure, they weren’t as much of a threat as they were when they’d first been corrupted, the treeangle shard greatly powering up the volcano, but they could still kick ass! He wondered how Bareacuda would react to seeing them both… a question entered his mind. Should he tell Barracuda that Gray is really Blixer…? Well, if Ship said he hadn’t been in a good mood lately, then the answer was probably no. He would just have to wait until Barracuda was feeling better to speak about it with him in private! …He hoped everything would go well when they arrived at the volcano…

The sea, the sky, the beautiful clouds, the shining sun, oh how Ship loved it. There was nothing better to them than setting sail, gazing out over the horizon… this “Gray” was quite the character. Gray top, blue bottom, they’d never seen another shape like him, but they certainly weren’t judging. They liked Gray, even if something about him seemed… off. They couldn’t quite place their finger on it, but they figured it best to let sleeping dogs lie, and let him live his own life without asking too many questions. Ship took out their telescope and pour it to their eye, getting a better look at everything. The telescope was a family heirloom, passed down through quite a few generations, and always kept on tip-top shape, just like their ships. As they gazed through the glass they took in a deep breath, letting out a hearty

“LAND HO!”

Gray had practically jumped right off Lycan- or Lichen? Were they still trying to convince everyone that sorry excuse for a lie was their name? He wasn’t sure. Anyway- he’d practically jumped right off their shoulders as Ship’s call rang out across the waters. He saw the volcano in the distance, quickly getting larger and larger. Finally.

Lichen sat up straight, fully alert. What was going on? He couldn’t see a thing and he felt too nervous to try and peek out.. Maybe the volcano was close! He really hoped so… luckily his guess was correct as he heard Ship began to speak about things like “droppin’ ye off ‘ere” and “dockin’ the boat”. He quickly told up, hiding his paws in the cook and holding onto Gray to keep him steady as he hopped out of the boat onto the volcano’s island.

“Alrighty, I hope everythin’ goes well for ye here, and I really hope ye can get that grumpy lad t’ be a bit more cheerful! I’m surprised he hasn’t “unleashed his wrath” on us yet! Well, maybe he just recognises ye! I wish ye the best o’ luck, I’ll be takin’ me leave now!” And with that, Ship began sailing away, leaving Gray on the island to try and help Barracuda. They waved to him as they sailed off.

“Ah, thank you ever so much for your generosity!” Lycan did his best to sound mature once again, speaking so Gray didn’t have to. He waved back where he’d heard Ship’s voice come from, hoping it was at least general the right direction, since he couldn’t see all too well. He heard Gray sigh.

“….Alright… let’s get goin’ I guess….” His voice sounded weak, and quieter than usual. Lichen felt a bit worried about the poor guy.. They peeked out of the cloak and began to walk towards the tunnel leading into the volcano. As they entered, Lycan finally looked out of the cloak completely, then kneeled down to Gray could get off of his shoulders. As Gray climbed down he really wasn’t really to hav to hold himself up completely on his own, and almost fell over, doing all he could to keep his legs from giving out entirely. He leaned against a wall of the cave, trying to be as nonchalant about everything as possible, but Lycan knew something was wrong.. Gray’s condition was getting worse.

“Uh.. you stay here! I’ll try to find Barracuda! I don’t think you’d do too well climbin around the rocks n stuff over the lava. I’m used to it though, or at least I was getting used to it when I was here for a bit… Whatever, I’ll be fine. See ya!” And with that he ran down the tunnel into the main area of the volcano.. Where was Barracuda? If he was apparently making such a fuss over here, then why wasn’t he there to greet them? Lycan scaled a rocky wall, climbing up to a ledge and jumping onto another rocky platform.

“HEY BARRACUDA!? I BET YA RECOGNISE MY ANNOYING VOOOIICE! DID YA MISS ME?” He called out, hoping for any kind of response.. Barracuda was the only one he knew that might be capable enough to help B- Gray without maybe also wanting to kill him. He needed to find him. He continued searching, leaping from place to place, his attention shifting more to the search than to his surroundings… He called out again to Barracuda, his voice echoing throughout the cavern. He hardly noticed a slight trembling of the rock beneath his feet. He walked to the ledge, ready to leap to a rocky wall and grab on when suddenly, just as he was about to jump, the rock broke beneath him. He yelped as his plunge to the lava below began. No! He didn’t want this to happen again, it hurt! He braced himself for the intense burning sensation when suddenly, he stopped! Something had grabbed him, a long tail of some sort curled around his torso, it’s grip tightening as he was slowly hoisted back up to a stable ledge. He gripped the ground below him, trembling slightly before shaking his head and trying to stand up… but he couldn’t. He noticed the tail was still tightly gripped around him… wait.. this is-!

“Just what do you think you’re doing here…?” A cold, stern voice asked. Lycan looked up to see none other than Barracuda glaring at him… suddenly he felt a lot more helpless. He stammered a bit before being cut off by one of Barracuda’s dramatic sighs. He pulled his tail closer to himself, bringing Lycan along with it. He took the time to inspect the pink splotches making their way into Lycan’s complexion.

“…I see the corruption hasn’t quite treated you well, has it? Let me guess, you’ve come to run from your problems..” His voice was calm, yet accusatory in a way. Lycan looked a bit uncomfortable, staring at the ground.

“…I.. I need your help.. we need your help. I have someone with me that.. isn’t doing too well.” He shrunk back as he noticed how infuriated Bareacuda looked.

“What do you think this volcano has become, a hospital!? Why do you think I would ever care about some stranger, and some annoying pup come to ruin my only chances as finding a sorry excuse for peace!?” Lycan gave a small whimper as Barracuda’s grip on him tightened as he got angrier, which seemed to make Barracuda let go of him altogether. He gave an almost apologetic look before curling his tail around himself and looking away.

“….Lycanthropy, I just want everyone to leave me alone. I have… much on my mind currently, and as you can tell i’m horribly irritable. So if you could just… leave. That would be ideal.” He tried to make “go away” sound a eloquent as possible.. Lycan seemed to get the message, but he had no other options.. he couldn’t leave.

“…I’m sorry for being so annoying and I promise I’ll try not to cause any trouble but please! Please let us stay, we don’t even have any way to leave and even if we go leave we have nowhere to go! Shapes started freaking out when they saw the pink growing back on me! And- and Gray is… I.. I’m worried he won’t last for much longer without any help and I don’t know what to do!” He looked at Bareacuda, desperate for any kind of look of pity. He got a flash of one, but Bareacuda quickly composed himself and returned his stern gaze.

“I have no help to give. I’m sorry. I can temporarily fix the bridge to this island so that you and this “Gray” may leave, but that. is. all.” Barracuda may be stubborn, but Lycan was too. He decided it was time for the final trick up his sleeve… the puppy eyes. He did his best to look as pitiful as possible, his big eyes shining as he did his best to convince Barracuda one final time to let them stay…. Eventually he got up, looking sadly at the way back down. He tearfully nodded as he climbed down, slowly making his way back to the tunnel where Gray was waiting. Barracuda felt… guilty. Did he really just deny a kid and someone who is potentially deathly ill from taking shelter here…? He didn’t want to think of himself as a bad person, but… this was certainly a new low. Oh how he hated this feeling, but… he couldn’t force Lycan and his friend to leave, his conscience would never recover.. He slowly slithered down, as he reached the bottom he used his magic to transform his serpentine bottom half back into normal legs. He ran into the tunnel after Lycan.

Gray has been sitting here alone for quite some time.. where was Lycan.. was he hurt…? He hoped not, he’d never forgive himself if he got this kid into even worse trouble… His head was foggy, thoughts swimming around and crashing into one another, he could hardly even stay awake. He didn’t notice the sound of footsteps approaching until Lycan was standing right in front of him, he sleepily looked up, slightly relieved to see him ok. Lycan began to speak to him… what was he saying…? Something about… Barracuda… guilt-tripping….? He had no idea what was going on… He noticed Lycan looked worried.. they knelt down in front of him and waved a hand in front of his face… what were they doing…? He just grunted and shook his head, he didn’t feel well.. Lycan backed off, but still seemed troubled as he stared at him. Then, Lycan looked over down the tunnel, he smiled a little and got up to greet someone… Gray did his best to see who it was…. it was Barracuda.. he really was here… he was staring at him, did he do something wrong…? He… wasn’t sure what expression Barracuda even had… he felt nervous, guilty… He felt so tired… Barracuda was here.. that was good…. he’d help… good… that means Gray could just… close his eyes… for a minute…

“D-DID HE JUST DIE!?” Lycan exclaimed, looking at Gray who practically just passed out. He looked over to Bareacuda for some kind of reassurance, but all he got was silence.. Barracuda was still staring at Gray, why? Was he that upset a stranger was here..? Lycan watched as Barracuda picked Gray up and walked away with him, taking the time to look back and make sure Lycan was following, which he was. Barracuda had changed his normal legs into a serpentine tail once again to scale the rocks, and had eventually lead Lycan through a small crevice, which lead into a larger cavern area, illuminated by a mixture of candles, lamps, and glowing mushrooms. Oddly enough, there was furniture here. There was a couch, a table and chairs, a laptop, and a whole bunch of boxes filled with all sorts of different things all neatly organised. There was a fire going, a pot hanging above it on a small rack, the smell coming from it made Lycan’s stomachs growl. He hadn’t eaten in a while and whatever was in there smelled great. Barracuda placed Gray down on the couch, grabbing a blanket and putting it over him, then going into the boxes and pulling out two bowls and spoons. He grabbed a ladle resting by the fire and used it to serve two bowl-fulls of a mushroom stew. He handed a bowl to Lycan, which quickly sat down at the table and began to scarf down his meal. He also took his bowl to the table and began eating in a much calmer manner. He looked up at Lycanthropy who clearly seemed to me enjoying the meal and slightly smiled to himself… maybe he could get use to these two idiots staying for a while..

[mercurypilgrim]

Has anyone tried to bribe or buy Ven by gifting him a slave/slaves (aside from whoever was responsible for Vette - Barras, I guess)? If yes, how did he react?

Ooh, I like this question!

I would say that yes, this has happened. Slaves are a commodity in the Empire, and I’d imagine someone wouldn’t think twice about using them as bartering chips.

I liked this so much imma write a snippet for it. ^_^

---

Ven'fir stared.

"I-" he managed, before closing his mouth.

It wasn't often that he was speechless.

The Sith that was watching his reaction seemed very pleased with himself, his crimson tattoos moving as his smile crinkled his eyes.

The human on the end of the chain kept her eyes down respectfully, shivering slightly in the chill of a Kaasi evening breeze. She wore what amounted to decorative scraps of fabric, held together by delicate silver chains and other adornments.

"You like her, yes?" The other Sith prompted, smug. "She's a gift. One that I hope will allow you to look more favourably upon my proposal, Darth Venator."

The human's shoulders tensed ever so slightly, and Ven'fir's thoughts were like a whirlwind.

Ven'fir hadn't used to think much about slaves before. The ones that served his House had been pleasant enough, if a bit quiet. None of them were particularly badly treated as far as he saw, and it was such a normal part of his life that he'd never much thought about them.

Then, Vette.

Now he thought about it a lot.

He swallowed, and it was painful.

"I don't appreciate bribery," he said, voice pitched low. The Sith hurriedly tried to explain, his eyes turning wide as he realised his mistake. Some Sith had honour, but he had assumed the roguish Darth Venator was no one of them. "If you want your daughter to apprentice under me, she must earn it."

He pinned the older man, the proud father, with a glare that had him cowering. A hint of power licked at their senses, something massive and burning, like looking into the heart of a star.

"You should have done more research on me," he muttered, flexing clawed gauntlets. The Sith's eyes darted to them, horrified. The air was beginning to taste like fear.

The slave shivered, closing her eyes and refusing to move.

"I cannot abide people being sold like property." he snarled, reaching out.

He wasn't sure when the Force choke had become a signature of his, but the way the Sith's aura flared with fear and he dropped the end of the chain to get away told him that he knew what was coming.

The Force wrapped around his throat, almost gentle in it's slowness. It curled around his neck and began to squeeze, the pressure gradually increasing to give the victim more than enough time to understand what was happening to them.

By the time the Sith was begging, he was already turning puce.

"I should snap your neck," Ven'fir murmured, and ignored the tears running down the others cheeks. "I wonder if you appreciate the feeling, hm? This is what a choke collar feels like."

He paused, glancing down to the slave crouching on the floor.

"Want me to kill him?" he asked, and she only trembled.

He sighed, and let the Sith fall into unconsciousness instead. His own power was calling out for blood, to sink his clawed hand through the pleading Sith's chest and feel the hot lifeblood seep between the seams of his gauntlets. He soothed the urge like one would a feral cat, soft lies calming ruffled fur.

He let the unconscious body slip to the floor, where it lay, crumpled. At least this way the daughter, an acolyte at the academy looking for her first apprenticeship, wouldn't come looking to avenge her father by killing him. He had no wish to spill her blood too.

Carefully, he approached the slave, whose nose was almost touching the floor. Her hair, cropped short, exposed how her ears had been pierced through with more delicate silver jewellery.

Ven'fir knelt in front of her, somewhat at a loss.

"Hey," he murmured, "It's all right. He's gone, and I won't hurt you."

Nothing.

"Please, look at me?" he asked, something in the Force nudging him to ask.

Immediately the woman looked up and into his eyes, and he saw her form tense again in fear when she met his amber gaze, Sith eyes lambent in the dim lighting.

He tried for a small smile.

"Well done," he murmured, "Please, you are allowed to speak to me however you wish."

Guarded, she nodded.

"What's your name?" he asked, watching how she considered the question.

"Marif, sir." She said after a few moments, wary like she expected him to be displeased.

"That's a nice name," he assured, smiling. "My name if Ven'fir."

She shifted, and her chains made delicate clinking noises as she did so. Ven'fir hated the sound.

"Master Rovial called you Darth Venator, sir." she all but whispered.

Ven'fir nodded.

"Yes, that's my Sith title. You can call me whatever you like." he soothed, "Now, can you stand? I'm going to take you with me to get some proper clothes on, and then I'm going to get you off this planet."

She stared at him, wide eyed. She couldn't have been more than twenty, and his belly clenched. The kind of clothes she had been put in made her intended purpose obvious.

"I'm freeing you." he said softly. "Come on, I won't let anything happen to you."

Carefully, awaiting a punishment at every turn, she stood on shaking legs. He offered her his arm and she clung to it as he swept his cloak over her shoulders. It drowned her in fabric, but she pulled it around herself and pressed close. She was trembling and frightened, of him almost as much as everything else.

He swallowed hard, and punched in a channel on his holo.

His crew would help.

He felt her hand, tiny in his own, tighten as they walked, leaving the unconscious body of her former Master behind them.

Neither looked back.

[twopoppies]

Hey Gina, hope you’re well! I’m trying to work out if a fic I have in my brain is two separate fics ? I know one of them is definitely wake the morn and greet the dawn by mixedfandomfics and the other one is very similar because they both have selkie!harry but i remember distinctly that Harry wasn’t allowed to leave the estate of this old Scottish man and can’t go past a boundary on his estate but it doesn’t seem to be an element of the first fic I mentioned? Which is what leads me to think they’re two separate fics but I can’t find it for the life of me? Any help is greatly appreciated !!! 💛

Ooh... yes! Two separate fics, but both lovely. You’re looking for this one:

Soul of the Sea by vurdoc (E, 33K)

Louis lives a nomadic lifestyle. Never settling down in one place for long, he finds himself caught in a storm, as he’s passing through a small Scottish seaside town.

Everywhere is full, except the old B&B perched up on an isolated hill near the coastline, where the recluse owner isn’t what he seems.

Then again, who really is?

A fic about belonging, supernatural beings, and finding your own home.

And since I’m here, can I suggest this one, too?

Take Care Down By The Water by shyserious (M, 37K) *Link is to a download

Louis has spent his summers at his Granny's in the Isle of Barra for almost as long as he could remember. This summer wasn't supposed to be any different, but the little Scottish island turned out to be harbouring more than just the gorgeous white beaches, the clear waters, and the town drunk scaremongering the foreign tourists.

[javier-djarin]

Como Me Duele: Chapter 8

Ship: Javi x Reader

Rating: M

Word Count:  3,563 words

Warnings: Language, Smut, Soft!Javi

Masterlist

(Gif source @thewaythisis)

Summary: Your relationship with Javi is tested after a tragic incident. You worry about his sanity, and he’s more concerned with your safety.

A/N: This chapter was fun to write, even though parts of it just hurt so much. For those of you that don’t know, the title of this fic translates to “Oh how it hurts.” Thank you again for all the love and support! Please, please, PLEASE let me know what you think. Please let me know if you want to be on my tag list! Chapter 9 coming soon! Also, translations are at the bottom.

Your POV

“Anoche hubo una emboscada que resultó en varias muertes de oficiales del Bloque de Búsqueda. Se desconoce si hay sobrevivientes. Entre los muertos está el coronel Carrillo. Muchos sospechan que Pablo Escobar estaba detrás del ataque.” 

That was the news broadcast you woke up to, which instantly caused your heart to drop. Javi didn’t come home last night, and Steve wasn’t answering your calls. You grabbed your house coat and walked down the hall to his apartment and knocked. Much to your surprise, Connie answered. 

As soon as you saw her, you burst into tears. You knew if she was back, something happened. “Where’s Steve?”

She cracked the door open and you saw him sitting on the couch with a drink in his hand and his head bowed. You ran to him and knelt in front of him. “What happened?”

He just shook his head. 

“Where’s Javi?”

“He’s fine. We weren’t allowed to go on the raid,” he mumbled.

Thank God, you thought. You could kiss their new boss. 

“The information that Javi got….” he paused and tried to swallow some tears. “It was a set up.” His voice cracked just a little, but enough to show that he was upset.

Connie came over and sat in the chair next to their couch, leaning over her knees. 

“Where’s Javi?” you asked again. “He didn’t come home last night.”

Steve shrugged. “The last time I saw him, he was halfway through a bottle of whiskey at the office.”

You sighed, hoping he fell asleep at the office. You slowly stood up. “Maybe he’s made it back by now.”

Shuffling your feet, you headed for the door, but Connie stopped you. She wrapped you in a hug. “He’s going to be fine.”

You nodded as you turned back towards your apartment. Your door was opened, and you saw Javi sitting on the couch, staring at the blank TV Screen. “Javi!” You exclaimed as you closed the door and ran to him. You knelt in front of him and rested your hands on his knees. “I was so worried. I thought….”

“Don’t,” he mumbled.

You froze, unsure of what to say. You just waited for him to speak again. He sat in silence for a long time before looking at you. “It’s all my fault.” Tears brimming at the edge of his eyes.

“How could you have known?” you whispered.

“I-I should have known better.”

You crawled onto the couch next to him and pulled his head into your lap. He turned into you, burying his face in your shirt. “Javi, this is not your fault,” you said as you ran your fingers through his hair. “There is no way you could have known this was bad intel.”

He sat up and looked at you. “My intel got good men murdered at the hands of that motherfucker. I knew it was too good to be true!”

You tried to remain calm, as you understood this was his grieving process. “Javi, you didn’t pull the trigger. You didn’t tell Carrillo and his men to follow the information.”

“It was my lead.”

You saw a piece of paper in his hand. “What’s that?”

He looked down at his clenched fist. “It’s the address of that bitch who set us up.” He stood up and walked to the door. 

“Where are you going?”

“Out.” He stormed out of the apartment, leaving you helpless. You felt the tears you were holding back spill over. You were hurting for Javi, and you had no idea how to help him. He was so lost, so broken. You felt like anything you did to help him just made things worse.

His POV

He sat in his Jeep for several minutes staring at the garage wall. He felt like shit for the way he treated her, but then again, he was used to feeling like shit. Javi knew she was just trying to help, but he didn’t want it. No, he didn’t deserve it. He deserved every bit of the pain he felt, every sliver of regret and survivor’s guilt. He was supposed to be with that raid. He should be dead alongside Carrillo. He was hurting, hurting so bad that he didn’t know how to process or deal with it. He looked at the address in his hand, and suddenly the guilt was gone, replaced by white hot rage.

He backed out of the garage and headed for Search Bloc to find Trujillo. It was time for some justice, even if he had to dole it out himself.

***

They were sitting outside a random building they followed Limón to. It wasn’t until he left did they see Velasco was in there. He dialed Search Bloc’s number. “It’s Peña. Estoy aquí con Trujillo en la esquina de las calles 38 y 24. Necesitamos una copia de seguridad.”

“Lo siento, pero no hay autorización para despachar patrullas,” dispatch replied.

“Estamos viendo a uno de los muchachos de Escobar. Acaba de entrar al edificio,” he growled into the phone.

“Regrese a la base con la ubicación.”

He hung up the phone and mumbled to himself, “Cierto. Y aparecerás el próximo martes, Hijo de puta.”

There was no way just he and Trujillo could take on the entire building. They needed back up, but their back up was useless. Frustrated, he grabbed the phone again and dialed a number he knew he would regret. It wasn’t until Don Berna and The Castaño brothers were walking up to him did he feel the pit of his stomach drop. There was no going back from this, no matter how bad he wished he could just walk away.

Your POV

For the last three days, Javi had been in Medellín without so much as a call. You cried yourself to sleep every one of those nights worrying about him. You called Steve this morning, and he told you that Javi was fine; just busy with work. That didn’t make you worry any less. He was hurting, and you were afraid this pain was going to send him down a road he’d never come back from. With everyone gone, including Connie back to the States, you picked up more hours at work to pass the time. 

You were standing at the nurses’ station looking through a patient’s file when Dr. Rodriguez approached you. “¿Está todo bien?”

“Sí. Está todo bueno,” you replied, afraid to look up and meet his gaze.

He smiled at you. “No te creo. Parece que hace estado llorando.”

You bottom lip quivered, and a few tears fell on to the paper. “Estoy bien.”

He gently grabbed you by the arm and led you into an empty patient room. “¿Que pasa?”

You took several deep breaths before looking up into his eyes. They were filled with concern, which warmed your heart that he cared. “Mi novio. Estoy preocupada por él. Tiene un tiempo difícil con el trabajo y no le he visto en un rato.”

“Su novio, ¿es esto que hombre de la barra? Javi?”

You nodded. You watched him as he contemplated what to say next. “¿Quieres salir conmigo esta noche? Te ayudará a distraerte.”

You felt your heart race. You knew Dr. Rodriguez liked you, you’ve known since that night at the club. As much as you wanted a distraction, you knew he would be the wrong kind. He would push the boundaries as coworkers and friends. So you shook your head. “No. Quiero estar en casa, por si llama.”

“No puede esperarlo para siempre,” he said, annoyed at your rejection.

“Para él, esperaría para siempre,” you said, knitting your eyebrows together.

He shook his head and walked out of the room, saying, “Hace un error grande.”

You grabbed the phone off the wall and dialed the office in Medellín. It rang several times before someone answered. “Javier Peña, por favor,” you said.

The phone rang a few more times. “Peña,” his deep baritone came through the receiver.

“Javi,” you breathed. Hearing his voice immediately relaxed you. “Javi,” you started to cry.

“Hey,” he soothed, “what’s wrong, mi vida?”

You tried to stop the tears, but they kept coming. “I’ve been so worried about you, and I haven’t heard from you in days….and….”

“Shhh, hermosa. I am okay,” he said, “I’ve just been swamped here.” You heard another phone, his cellphone, ring in the background. “I’ve got to go.” He hung up.

Your heart broke. For the first time in months, he didn’t bother to say “I love you.” Tears flowed down your face, this pain was almost worse than when Michael betrayed you. You sighed and wiped your eyes. You still had to finish your shift, no matter how bad this hurt.

As usual, your shift passed slowly, but once you got home, you were able to sit and breathe. You looked at the phone, debated on calling him again. Despite what you wanted, you decided not calling was for the best. He wanted to be alone for a bit, and you were going to let him, no matter how much that pained you. 

His POV

It was late and he was sitting at his desk, staring into the bottom of his glass. Shit was hitting the fan, and he was in the middle of it all. To top everything off, Los Pepes emerged as a vigilante group - the very group he was working with. He cursed that call that interrupted them. It was dispatch telling him they found Velasco’s body. The longer he thought about that call, the more he regretted avoiding her. She deserved better than that. Better than him. The second he called Berna, he was no longer on the side of the good guys, and she deserved only the best. Now that he was allied with a narco, he knew this would only end one way. She was no longer safe down here. He sighed and looked at the clock. It was 11:30. She would be asleep, but he needed to hear her voice one last time.

The phone rang only twice before she answered. “Hello,” she said. He could tell she had been crying. 

“Mi vida,” his voice cracked.

“Javi? Is everything alright?” Her voice trembling.

His heart burst. She was hurting and all she cared about was him. “I’m fine.” He sighed. “I think you should go home.”

She gasped. “What? No.”

His voice was the one trembling now. “Please, for me.”

“Javi, I’m not leaving you.”

“Things are getting dangerous, and I just want to keep you out of harm’s way.”

“And what about you? Don’t I get a say?” Her voice grew louder.

“Don’t worry about me, Y/N. I’m going to get exactly what I deserve.” His heart was racing now. 

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean, Javi?”

He ran his hand down his face. “It means exactly what it sounds like.”

The other end of the line was silent. He could have sworn she’d hung up if he didn’t hear the tiny muffled sobs coming from the other end. “Hermosa,” he whispered.

“Fine, I’ll go.”

His blood turned to ice. 

“On one condition. You tell me the truth. Why do you want me gone? And don’t give me that bullshit of ‘you think I’ll be happier with someone better than you’, because that won’t happen. There is no one better than you. So, dime la verdad.”

He wanted to smile at her, run to her and kiss her like it was their last. But the days of smiling had long passed when he killed his brothers. He might not have pulled the trigger, but he signed their warrant. He took several deep breaths. “Because I’ve made some very dangerous friends down here that scare me where you’re concerned.”

“Javi, what did you do?”

“Sold what was left of my soul. But I refuse to let them take my heart, which is why I need it to get home. Back to the states, where you’re safe from them.”

“Okay,” she agreed, though he could tell she was crying again. “But the minute something catastrophic happens, I’m on the first flight back. You’re not going to suffer alone. Not when you have someone who loves you as much as I do.”

He felt himself breathe again; relieved she was listening to him. “I will send someone from the embassy to pick you up. They will stay with you until you are on the plane.”

“Javi?” She said softly.

“Yes, mi vida.”

“Cuídate, mi amor.”

“Siempre, mi hermosa.” He paused, not wanting to hang up the phone. “Te quiero, Y/N. Te quiero más que a nada en el mundo.”

“Te quiero, Javi. Te quiero mucho.” She hung up the phone, while he kept the line open until he heard the dial tone again.

He wanted to change his mind, have her stay. But he knew that was selfish. She was going to be in the crosshairs the entire time, and he couldn’t risk that. He needed to keep her safe, even if it was at the expense of his suffering. Now he understood why Steve was more on edge than ever. He found his one, the fabled person he’s meant to be with, and now that he was sending her away, he felt like he was cutting off a limb. He felt alone.

Your POV

You woke up the next morning and called the hospital. You were working the night shift,  but you told them that a family emergency took place and you needed to take a few days with your family. Your flight left at night, which gave you plenty of time to pack. You were only expecting to be gone for no more than a week. It broke your heart at the thought of leaving him here, but you knew it was the only way he would have a peace of mind.

It was about 9:00 AM when you heard a knock at your door. You wrapped your robe around you and answered the door. Much to your surprise, Javi was waiting on the other side. The second he saw you, his lips found yours. He closed the door behind him and lifted you in his arms, wrapping your legs around his waist. You didn’t care about talking right now. You were just happy to have him in your arms again.

He gently set you on the bed as you stripped free of your robe. His eyes lit up when he saw you were wearing his Fleetwood Mac concert T-shirt as pajamas, but there was no smile. Your heart broke, and for a second you worried that you would never see him smile again. But in that moment, you decided to make it your mission to bring the smile back. You knew today, your last day together for a while, was not going to be that day. But soon, you would see his beautiful smile again.

Slowly, Javi slid off his shirt from your body before undoing his own. He was wearing the blue button down you loved on him, but you loved it even better off. He leaned down to kiss you delicately, and then passionately. His lips and tongue tasted yours as you both let your hands explore your favorite parts. Yours quickly found his belt as you started to undo it. Without leaving your lips, he helped you, and as he stood a little to slide them off, you raised too, so you wouldn’t lose that connection. As you laid back down, his hands ran down your body at an excruciating slow pace; almost as if he was savoring every inch of you and committing it to memory. You arched your back and deepened your kiss as he massaged your breasts. His hands had never felt so good on your skin before. His touch was almost enough to send you over the edge. 

He rested his hands on your hips as he kissed your neck and jaw, your hands grabbing fists full of his hair. “Javi,” you said his name with a sigh.

“Mi amor,” he said, his warm breath causing goosebumps on your skin. “Mi vida.” He planted a kiss between your breasts. “Mi hermosa.” He kissed your stomach. “Mi perfecta.” 

Tears fell down your cheeks. You felt like this was less “I’ll miss you” and more “goodbye.” But instead of focusing on that, you focused on the man between your legs making the most passionate love to you. 

He kissed the insides of your thighs, your body already aching for him. You cried out when you felt his mouth where you wanted him. He groaned against you, the vibrations sending you even further into your ecstasy. He licked his fingers and gently placed them in you as his thumb rubbed your clit. He moved the rest of his body up to your face as he kissed you. He didn’t have to say it, but you knew he wanted you to look into his eyes when you came. His fingers moved methodically and slowly as you ground your hips into his palm. You grabbed his other arm with your hand, while the other gripped the sheets. “Come for me, hermosa,” he whispered as he looked down on you with all the love and desire in his eyes.

It only took a few more seconds, and your body clenched around him as you came. You continued to look into his eyes as you cried out his name. He kissed you deeply, taking his name off your lips. “I need you, Javi,” you said, breathless.

He kissed you again. “I need you, mi corazon.” His voice cracked. 

You wrapped your arms around him and pulled him to you. This time you kissed him deeper, opening your mouth to welcome him. His kiss was desperate, passionate, bittersweet. He slid into you with ease and you held him. “I never want to leave this moment,” you said, kissing his cheeks and then his eyes. You noticed they were wet, but you didn’t say anything. Because so were yours. He filled you completely, perfectly, and you never wanted him to leave.

He moved slowly, pulling back and then carefully thrusting in; trying to make this moment last a lifetime. You whimpered and bit your bottom lip as you looked into his eyes, eyes that you could get completely lost in. You grabbed his hair with one hand and the other ran down his back. You could feel every ripple and muscle in his body with every movement. He leaned down to kiss you, again, like he couldn’t get enough of your taste. He moved just a little faster, and she moaned into his kiss. “Oh, Javi,” you cried. 

He moaned your name back, almost like a prayer. ‘Te quiero, mi corazon,” he said.

More tears fell down your face. “Te quiero, el amor de mi vida.”

You met each of his thrusts with the grinding of your hips. His slow pace was wonderful and excruciating. Your body craved more, but you knew that meant he would be gone sooner. “J-javi,” you moaned.

He groaned as his name fell off your lips and you felt him move faster. He knew just what you needed to send you over the edge into your euphoria. He licked his thumb and placed it between the two of you to create the right amount of friction. You cried out and arched your back. Soon, you were coming, a wave of pleasure washing over you, burning your body inside and out. You cried out again as he continued. You looked in his eyes and saw he was trying to hold on as long as possible. After you came again, he gave in to his desire and followed you soon after, saying your name again. 

He collapsed on your chest, remaining inside of you. He kissed you again. “I wish you could stay,” he finally admitted, “but I refuse to keep you in danger. I can’t concentrate on my job until I know you’re safe.”

You kissed him lightly. “I’ll call you as soon as I land.”

He rolled over and pulled you against him. Kissing the top of your head. “I’m taking you to the airport tonight.”

As happy as you were that he was taking you, you asked, “Are you sure? What about the embassy?”

He ran his fingers up and down your arm, sending chills all over your body. “I’ve done enough for them. They can spare me for a day.”

You curled up next to him, listening to his breathing. It was ragged and slow. As much as you wanted to stay, you promised him you’d leave, you’d stay safe. You loved him enough to leave him. “When this is over, come home to me,” you said.

“Of course,” he replied, but you could tell in the tone of his voice he didn’t believe he’d survive this. Whatever or Whomever he “sold his soul” to was going to cash in on that deal before this was all said and done. You felt your heart ache. You wanted to take him with you, protect him from whatever was going to come his way. Something told you he believed this was it, but you refused to let him be right. You would get your Javi back if it was the last thing you did.

Translations

Anoche hubo una emboscada que resultó en varias muertes de oficiales del Bloque de Búsqueda. Se desconoce si hay sobrevivientes. Entre los muertos está el coronel Carrillo. Muchos sospechan que Pablo Escobar estaba detrás del ataque. - Last night there was an ambush with resulted in several deaths of officers from Search Block. It is unknown if there are any survivors. Among the dead is Colonel Carrillo. Many suspect that Pablo Escobar was behind the attack.

Estoy aquí con Trujillo en la esquina de las calles 38 y 24. Necesitamos una copia de seguridad. - I'm here with Trujillo at the corner

of 38th and 24th streets. We need back up.

Lo siento, pero no hay autorización para despachar patrullas. - I'm sorry, but there's no authorization to dispatch patrols.

Estamos viendo a uno de los muchachos de Escobar. Acaba de entrar al edificio. - We're watching one of Escobar's guys. He just entered the building.

Regrese a la base con la ubicación. - Return to base with the location.

Cierto. Y aparecerás el próximo martes, Hijo de puta. - Sure. And you'll show up next Tuesday, son of a bitch.

¿Está todo bien? - Is everything okay?

Sí. Está todo bueno. - Yes, everything’s fine.

No te creo. Parece que hace estado llorando. - I don’t believe you. You look like you’ve been crying.

Estoy bien. - I’m fine.

¿Que pasa? - What’s going on?

Mi novio. Estoy preocupada por él. Tiene un tiempo difícil con el trabajo y no le he visto en un rato. - My boyfriend. I'm worried about him. He's having a hard time at work, and I haven't seen him in a while.

Su novio, ¿es esto que hombre de la barra? Javi? - Your boyfriend, is it that man from the bar? Javi?

¿Quieres salir conmigo esta noche? Te ayudará a distraerte. - Do you want to go out with me tonight? It will help distract you.

No. Quiero estar en casa, por si llama. - No. I want to stay home, in case he calls.

No puede esperarlo para siempre. - You can’t wait for him forever.

Para él, esperaría para siempre. - For him, I would wait forever.

Hace un error grande. - You’re making a big mistake.

Dime la verdad. - Tell me the truth.

Te quiero más que a nada en el mundo. -  I love you more than anything in the world.

El amor de mi vida. - The love of my life.

Tag List

@larakasser​ @magneticbucky​ @pedropascalownsmyheart​ @wander-lustbabe​ @frietiemeloen​

[halfofwhatisayismeaningless]

Morning After. // Alex Turner (Requested)

Requested by anon  “ An 35. “You won’t understand and I can’t explain.” request with Alex turner please and thank u 👀♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️” You can find the prompt list here

A/N: hello guys!! long time since the last time. Here’s the first request from the quarantine request. Hope you and yours are all safe and okay! And there’s the spanish version after the english one.

Remember my REQUEST BOX is open for: Joe Mazzello and his characters, Timothée Chalamet and his characters, Jake Peralta, Harry Styles and Alex Turner.

Words: 820.

Warning: slight mention of domestic violence.

It had been fun. Alex's way of being was an advantage for that type of relationship, he was so carefree. They had been looking at each other on the hallways of the studio for a long time, she used to smile and look down thinking "He's Alex Turner, don't get so excited" 

The first time they talked was at the company's christmas party. (Y/N) was at the bar counter, talking with some friends when they looked at each other. This time they stared for a longer time than they used to, (Y/N) had had a couple of drinks and she had lost any kind of shame.

Some time passed without seeing each other, (Y/N) and her friends were on the dancefloor, she decided to go for another drink by herself. While she asked for a whisky she felt that someone sat by her side "I'll have the same" she turned around and there he was, Alex. "Hello, I'm Alex, nice to meet you" he said offering her his hand "(Y/N)" she answered, shaking his hand. Two hours later they were on a taxi going to Alex's place.

And that's how the next months were, (Y/N) stayed a lot of nights at Alex's place. Alex knew nothing about her, he only knew that sometimes she appeared on her house, smelling like whisky, and that when he woke up the morning after she wasn't there.

One morning in early February Alex woke up before he used to and saw the girl tying her shoes, ready to go. "Why do you always leave?" the girl looked at him, eyes wide open, not expecting him to be awake. She didn't know what to answer. "You come almost every night, we fuck and then you disappear. We don't talk, I don't know nothing about you, I don't know where you live or what do you do before coming here..." he 

corrected himself "In fact I know, you get drunk, but I would like to know why or where or with whom. But I can't read you."

"Alex ... I have to go" she took her purse. "No, don't go" Alex said getting off go "Why?" she asked. The singer looked at her, thinking "Because I like you, and I wanna know you. I don't want to feel like you are a dream when I wake up" She approached the bed and took his hand "I'm sorry, but..." Alex interrupted her "But what? You don't like me enough?" "Alex, it isn't that" she answered "Then, what is it?" She stood up "Alex, you won't understand and I can't explain" Then she ran out of the room and through the big house on LA. Alex couldn't help but think about her last words all day long.

A week after that he heard a knock on the door, when he opened it he found (Y/N) "Hey" she said "Can I come in?" he nodded. She was never that serious when she went to his house, usually she didn't even said hi, she just kissed him "I didn't expected you here." he said, guiding her to the sitting room.

She sat on the couch "I have been thinking about you all week. Alex, I like you, a lot. I like you enough to don't run away in the morning. But it's not that simple" Alex approached her "Try to explain it to me, I will try my best to understand." She sighed. "It has been a year since the last time I was with someone, since I ended my last relationship. It didn't end well. I was in love with him, but he... well, are you familiar with the term "psychological violence"?" he nodded "Well, he did that... I guess you can imagine. It took me a lot of time to get out of that. I met someone who had connections with an association that gave support to women who suffer from domestic violence. But since then I couldn't go on with my sexual and sentimental life… And then you appeared, and you are Alex Turner, you're always surrounded by awesome girls, why would I be "the chosen one"? And suddenly you approached in that party... and I was a bit drunk. So the only solution I found was getting drunk every time I wanted to see you." Alex sighed, holding her hands.

"(Y/N), I'm so sorry to hear everything you have told me. I'm sorry about your boyfriend, but I really feel sad because you can't feel that you are even a candidate to be "the chosen one". The truth is that whenever you are near there's no one like you. I want to discover you, to understand you and be by your side. It'll be difficult, but I'm sure that if we communicate everything will be fine." She approached him, giving him a kiss, not a sexual kiss like she used to give him, a kiss full of emotion. "Do you wanna have dinner?" she nodded. 

They spent the night awake, talking, until she fell asleep. The morning after, Alex woke up to the smell of fresh coffee.

[[SPANISH VERSION]]

Había sido divertido. El carácter de Alex parecía ser una ventaja en su relación, ese carácter despreocupado. Hacía tiempo que se miraban por los pasillos del estudio, ella sonreía bajando la cabeza. “Es Alex Turner, no te emociones”

Fue en la fiesta que daba el estudio en Navidad la primera vez que hablaron. (Y/N) estaba en la barra, hablando con unos amigos cuando cruzó miradas con el cantante. Esta vez se miraron durante más tiempo del que solían, a (Y/N) le empezaban a afectar la copa que ya se había tomado, y parecía haber perdido toda vergüenza.

Pasó un rato sin cruce de miradas, (Y/N) y sus amigos estaban en la pista de baile, pero decidió ir sola a por otra copa. Mientras pedía notó una presencia que se apoyaba en la barra a su lado “Ponme lo que haya pedido ella” se giró y ahí estaba Alex. “Soy Alex, encantado” dijo extendiendo la mano “(Y/N)” respondió la chica, apretándola.

A las dos horas se subían juntos a un taxi en dirección a la casa del cantante.

Y así había sido el último mes, (Y/N) acababa muchas noches en casa de Alex. Alex no sabía nada de ella, solo que a veces aparecía en su casa, oliendo a whisky, y que por la mañana cuando se despertaba ella ya no estaba.

Una mañana a principio de febrero Alex se despertó antes de lo que solía hacer y vio a la chica abrocharse las botas, preparada para irse. “¿Por qué te vas siempre?” la chica le miró ojiplática, sin saber qué responder “Vienes prácticamente todas las noches, follamos y te vas. No hablamos, no sé nada de ti, no sé donde vives, no sé qué haces antes de venir…” tras una parada Alex se autocorrigió “Bueno, si lo sé, bebes, pero me gustaría saber porqué o dónde o con quién. Pero eres hermética.”

“Alex… me tengo que ir.” Dijo la chica dirigiéndose hacia su bolso. “No, no te vayas” dijo Alex levantándose de la cama “¿Por qué?” el chico la miró pensativo “Porque me gustas, pero no me gusta levantarme solo, quiero conocerte. Quiero que no parezcas un sueño cuando me levanto.” La chica se acercó a la cama y le cogió de la mano “Lo siento, pero…” Alex le interrumpió “Pero ¿qué? ¿No te gusto lo suficiente?” “No es eso Alex…” respondió la chica. “Entonces ¿qué es?” ella se puso de pie “Mira Alex, tu no lo vas a entender y yo no puedo explicártelo.” Entonces salió corriendo de la habitación, recorrió la casa situada en Los Ángeles. Alex no pudo evitar pasar el día preguntándose a qué se refería.

Una semana después el chico oyó el timbre, al abrirla se encontró a (Y/N) “Hola” dijo ella, seria “¿Puedo pasar?” el chico asintió. Nunca estaba tan seria cuando llegaba a su casa, normalmente ni siquiera saludaba, simplemente se abalanzaba a besar al chico. “No esperaba que vinieras.”

La chica se sentó en el sofá, en el centro del gran salón “Lo he estado pensando toda la semana. Alex, me gustas. Mucho. Me gustas como para no irme por las mañanas sin que te enteres. Pero no es tan sencillo.” Alex se acercó a ella “Intenta explicármelo, te aseguro que yo voy a intentar entenderlo.” La chica suspiró. “Hace un año que no estaba con nadie. Desde que lo dejé con mi anterior pareja. No terminó bien. Yo estaba enamorada de él, pero él… bueno, ¿estás familiarizado con el concepto de violencia psicológica?” Alex asintió, ojiplático. “Pues eso… te lo puedes imaginar. Me costó mucho salir de ese bucle. Conocí en el trabajo a alguien que tenía contactos en una asociación de apoyo a mujeres maltratadas. Pero desde entonces no había podido seguir con mi vida sexual o sentimental… Entonces llegaste tú, y encima eres Alex Turner. Estás rodeado de tías espectaculares ¿por qué iba a ser yo “la elegida”? Y de repente en esa fiesta te acercaste… y yo estaba un poco borracha. Así que la solución que encontré fue beber cada vez que quería verte.” Alex suspiró, agarrando las manos de la chica.

“(Y/N), siento mucho oir todo lo que me has contado. Siento muchísimo lo de tu novio, siento mucho que sientas que no eres una candidata a ser “la elegida”. Pero cuando estás tú cerca no hay nadie que se acerque a ti en lo que a gustarme se refiere. Quiero descubrirte, quiero entenderte y estar a tu lado. Será difícil, pero estoy seguro de que si nos comunicamos todo saldrá bien.” La chica no pudo evitar acercarse a él, presionando un ligero beso en sus labios. No era un beso lleno de carga sexual como los que solían compartir, era un beso lleno de agradecimiento. “¿Te apetece cenar algo?” ella asintió.

Pasaron la noche despiertos, hablando, hasta que ella se quedó dormida. A la mañana después el chico despertó con el olor de café recién hecho.

[gendryaweeklyupdates]

All Updated Gendrya work this week (15-Mar-20 to 19-Mar-20): part 1

1. Near Miss by @sneetchstar

Snippet from latest update:

“Have I been ruining your carpet?”

“Not yet,” she says, walking towards him.  “But I can’t help noticing more and more of your things have been gradually drifting over here.”

His eyes widen.  “You have things at mine, too,” he weakly says.

21/? as of 15-3-20

Rating: E

2. Fighting to Live by @ladylaurelandash

Snippet from latest update:

...whatever his problems with her, was his sister, if not exactly by blood, but by choice. He had to protect her and there was only one way now.

The queen stared at him for a moment and Jon wondered if she could read his mind. But then, somehow, her face warmed and she smiled so broadly and so beautifully. Something of the old Dany came out.

(Considerable Jonerys content)

2/? as of 15-3-20

Rating: M

3. If the summer of our lives could just come again by TheDameintheRaininMaine

Snippet from latest update:

“Please tell me we’re doing the right thing. We’ve known this was coming for years, and we still couldn’t stop it. They’re still coming.”

Ned makes soothing noises, as if she were still a babe, not a woman grown who could look him in the eye.

“You’ve done everything you could,” he insists. “We are as prepared as we can be. All you can do now is try and keep yourselves safe.”

(multipairing)

28/? as of 15-3-20

Rating: M

4. Careful Fear and Dead Devotion by @elleisforlovee

Snippet from latest update:

“Arya?” 

She exhaled and almost rolled her eyes. “Hi,” she gave flatly. The fire before her seemed to swell before falling in height again, the parts that’d once been so crucial to her father and brother, crackling and spitting in revolt of the fever that engulfed them. 

“Fuckin’ hell, Arya! Where are you?”

22/? as of 15-3-20

Rating: E

5. Wards of Winter Stags by @wynebceffylarya

Snippet from latest update:

“My sweet, sweet Arry,” he cooed into her hair, “I love you.”

“I love you too, you stupid bull.” She sniffed.

8/11 as of 20-3-20

Rating: G

6. Why can't we hit them?  by @vieetsourires

Snippet from latest update:

“Uh, yeah? At first I couldn’t see it clearly, but after a while I noticed the trick.” 

“After a while?” Arya lifted one of her eyebrow, because if he figured it out her movements, then he must have really paid attention to her while playing Quidditch. Gendry started to scratch his neck and was looking to the floor when he cleared his throat.

4/? as of 19-3-20 (multiple updates)

Rating: Not rated.

7. The Lost Prince by @psychvamp25

Snippet from the latest update:

“To a quiet night, just the two of us.”

He knocked his glass to hers and took a drink, but when he looked back at her he said, “I hope it won’t be too quiet.”

She blushed and felt that tightening in her core, his eyes held such promise. She finished off the glass of wine, her head feeling fuzzy and free. She placed the glass down on the table, “Is that a threat my prince?”

38/40 as of 15-3-20

Rating: T

8. Don't You Realize I'll Protect You by Assassins_Wolves

Snippet from the latest update:

Where is Arya? Gendry can’t see her anywhere, his stomach twisting into a sour knot. He stumbles over a corpse and looks down to see Kurz’s sightless eyes staring up at him. The knight behind him shoves him forward. Gendry scans the ground in front of him with a sinking stomach, praying to whatever gods are listening that he doesn’t find Arya’s tiny form amongst the corpses.

4/? as of 15-3-20

Rating: T

9. the aches that linger afterwards by @starsandfluff

Snippet from the latest update:

“Oh, yeah, yeah,” Brienne adjusted her coat anxiously. “Ser Jaime and I, uh, travelled together for some time in the Riverlands.”

“Yeah, I get that…” Gendry thought back to everything him and Arya had went through. She was his best friend. She was always there for him, fighting for him. Even when Lommy died. Even when Hot Pie left… Even when I was going to leave her. 

(Significant Braime content)

13/? as of 16-3-20

Rating: unrated

10. Under my Protection by crtkelly_writes

Snippet from latest update:

Try again, his stare implored her, at least that is how it looked to her as she contemplated her counterattack to convince him that he couldn’t follow her home.

“Gendry, you cannot come,” she finally whispered desperately. “I don’t want…,” she faltered, unable to complete her sentence.

7/? as of 16-3-20

Rating: M

11. When Winter Comes by @onemorenight1996

Snippet from latest update:

"What's it like?" She asked, her voice soft and hesitant. "Being with a man because you want to."

"It's...." Arya sighed and glanced over at the forge. She couldn't see Gendry from where she was standing but knowing he was there was enough for her face to fall into a smile. "It's amazing. It doesn't have to be painful Sansa, I know that's all you've ever known, but it doesn't have to be that way. It can be a pleasurable experience."

3/? as of 16-3-20

Rating: E

12. Repair Broken Hearts by @snapdragon76

Snippet from the latest update:

He’d put on a pair of safety glasses and passed a pair to Arya, which she put on. She had her notebook out, but she seemed distracted and wasn’t writing much.

Once he’d gotten the fire to the right temperature, Gendry took the billet he’d assembled and thrust it into the fire, where the coals were the hottest. Suddenly he wished he’d thought of a different word than thrust…

3/? as of 19-3-20 (multiple updates)

Rating: M

13. A dragon with wolfblood by epicmotherfuckerx

Snippet from the latest update: Author's note

(side-pairing Arya/Aegon)

7/? as of 16-3-20

Rating: M

14. Bad Pick-up lines Work Best by JoPoGirlsKickAss

Snippet from latest update:

He watched her face carefully for a reaction, but she showed none. “I don’t want you to get off yet.”

There it was—the grey darkened, the pupils responded.

“Oh? And when do you want me to get off?”

“Soon.” He said turning back to the climb and continuing up.

18/? as of 16-3-20

Rating: T

15. Head of the River by @everyl1ttleth1ng

Snippet from the latest update:

Gendry grabbed his own glass and hurried after her.

“Arya, I’m sorry. That came out all wrong,” he pleaded.

She was already at the oven, lifting out hot dishes so he was forced to keep his distance.

“Look,” she said, huffing out a breath. “Can you just shut up and let me forget how much of an idiot you are for a moment so we can try to have a nice dinner?”

17/? as of 18-3-20 (multiple updates)

Rating: T

16. here comes a greek tragedy by @aryasbadbenergy

Snippet from the latest update:

“I saw his statement.”

“But he hasn’t said anything to me. Or even Syrio. He talked to the press?” 

“I’m sorry, I—I thought you knew.”

“I didn’t.”

4/? as of 17-3-20

Rating: M

17. Heavy Lies The Crown by @onemorenight1996

Snippet from the latest update:

"We are here today in the sight of god's and men to join these two lives together." The High Septon spoke loud and clear, his voice flowing through the room.

"You may cloak the bride and bring her under your protection."

8/? as of 18-3-20

Rating: E

18. Everything We've Done (Is There On Our Faces) by alphayamergo

Snippet from latest update:

Gendry shrugged. “There are some who think I’m mad, but not everyone – and I’m just a blacksmith.”

“Not everyone?” repeated Tyrion.

He didn’t bother pointing out that Gendry wasn’t just any blacksmith: he was a blacksmith that looked just like the king, which had to have some effect.

(Theonsa heavy)

11/? as of 18-3-20

Rating: T

19. Friday By Dice by @dragongoddess13

Snippet from latest update:

“Hey.” he hears the whisper behind him and he looks over his shoulder.

Nymeria is staring up at him, her tiny elf form is barely visible over his shoulder without him turning his body slightly. He’s not sure how he missed how small she is.

“Are you injured?” she asks. Almost involuntarily he looks down at his arm, only just then noticing the red stain soaking through his sleeve. 

2/? as of 18-3-20

Rating: M

20. forest love and forest lass by @aryasbadbenergy

Snippet from latest update:

“No!” Gendry shouts.

“Who told you about that?” Barra walks towards his door. He runs a hand down his face. Arya can’t help it but to laugh. She had gone through the same conversation with Rickon far too many times. 

“Jenny,” she calls back. 

“Maybe Jenny’s dad is getting a phone call later, then,”.....

21/? as of 18-3-20

Rating: M

21. The Ghost of the Red Keep by TheDameintheRaininMaine

Snippet from the latest update:

She does notice his ears. He has the black hair and blue eyes she had come to seek out, but he looks thin, and wane, and that’s not a common look on a noble child at all. At one point during the ride, his horse stills, and he shakes his head, before commenting,

“Sorry about that, I think the cherry tart I had for breakfast didn’t agree with me.”

5/? as of 18-3-20

Rating: T

22. Practice Makes Perfect by @kelleesioverhere

Snippet from the latest update:

To be fair, it also didn’t seem like he really had a ton of belongings. She, herself, had a ton of shit. So of course she would have a more difficult time keeping everything organized. That made perfect sense. It was basic...math? Science?

One of them.

15/17 as of 19-3-20

Rating: E

Continue reading here.

[7deadlycinderellas]

The Ghost of the Red Keep, ch5

Ao3 link

The year that Arya’s five and ten, her handwriting improves dramatically.

Every single time she finds a morsel of knowledge from Ned, she does her best to pass it on to Gendry.

She doesn’t want to go against her father’s order, at least not to the letter, so she finds a way. There’s an empty torch holder near the cellar entrance, and she begins to roll up her letters and place them in it. Gendry is now brave enough that he will venture that far by himself, even at night.

She writes him of what Ned tells her about Mya, and the time she manages to speak a few words to her in the stables, even though it’s just asking help adjusting the straps on her bridle.

“I think her and I would have gotten along,” Arya writes, “But she barely speaks to anyone, and Father comments that she looks thin.”

She writes of the others, as she manages to learn of them.

The little girl’s name is Barra, she would have been born less than a year before the Starks had come to King’s Landing. Her mother had been a whore, but a young one. One who jumped at the opportunity for a different line of work.

There’s two more, Ned admits. Twin boys named Stan and Leo, about Rickon’s age. Their mother worked in the pig yard, and so do they.

Halfway through the year, Renly Baratheon comes to court. He brings with him a boy about Sansa’s age, named Edric, who most whisper must be Renly’s attempt at finding an heir since he seems so unwilling to marry. Arya takes one look at him and knows what he is. Cersei keeps both his and Renly’s gaze with a steeled determination, and the two of them do not waver. They must know too.

One day, when they’re alone, Arya asks Ned why Edric could be out in front of people when none of the others were.

“Best I can tell, his mother was likely a highborn. He has the Florent ears...his lineage probably forced Robert to treat him differently than his other bastards. “

To actually acknowledge him, Arya thinks. Ned pauses before admitting the next part.

“He’s probably the one in most danger from Cersei, being paraded out in front of her like this.”

She relays all of this in the letters she writes to Gendry, letters that grow longer than any of the lessons she had even written for the Septa.

Arya manages to lure him out into the Godswoods six more times that year, on the nights of full moons.

“It’s so strange,” he tells her one of these nights. They’re lazed out, underneath an oak, that overlooks the water.

“Ever since my mum died, it’s always been just me. I’ve never had a family, now I’ve got at least five half-siblings I’ve never even met.”

Arya can’t imagine that. Her siblings as much a part of her as her hands and feet. The other Starks are as vital to her identity as her gray eyes.

“There might even be more,” Arya confides, “Father said when they were young Robert couldn’t seem to pass a tavern or a brothel without indulging.”

Her voice goes quiet, hard.

“He said that based on your age, Robert must have gotten you on your mum during the Rebellion. When he was fighting to get my aunt Lyanna back. Yet still, he claimed he loved her.”

She feels like Sansa saying that, but Gendry’s snort tells her that he agrees with her. Arya shifts the conversation.

“Everyone says I remind them of her, but they also say she was beautiful.”

“Why’s that so strange?”

Arya looks at him, amused.

“Back at Winterfell, they used to call me ‘Arya Horseface’, I know I’m no prize.”

Gendry playfully swats the side of her face with his hand, it’s closer to a half slap than a caress, and it makes her giggle.

“You’re not ugly. Maybe your face won’t start a war, but you’re not ugly.”

Arya opens her mouth, and he shushes her with a finger.

“Hey now, you won’t let me get down on myself about being a bastard, so you don’t get to get down on yourself for being ugly.”

Arya understands, but she’ll never tell him that. He can’t help his birth any more than she can help her face.

He doesn’t say much after that, but Arya still feels her skin burn from the proximity. She hasn’t had the courage to steal another kiss yet.

It’s such a strange turn of phrase, to steal a kiss. But that’s how it felt, that’s how all of this felt, though Arya’s not sure who she’s stolen it from. The moon is huge in the sky, there’s only the slightest chill to the air, and before Arya stands to leave, she can’t help herself.

Their first kiss had been soft, and quick. This time, Arya takes time to memorize things. That Gendry’s lips are surprisingly soft, even if chapped. The little breath she feels hitch in his throat when she tugs his bottom lip  between hers. They’re still unpracticed, but she doesn’t bump his nose this time.

Gendry looks surprised all over again when she pulls back, musses his hair, smiles, and turns to take off. Arya doesn’t quite understand, so many men she’s met seem to think they deserve every little thing that comes their way.

“I’ll see you next turn of the moon,” she promises him.

She practically skips back to the tower of the hand.

The third time it happens, he wraps his arms around her shoulders and squeezes tight. The fourth time, she can’t sleep after, she tosses and turns, drifting in and out of soft, warm dreams she only half remembers, waking at one point with her hand between her legs and the whole world seeming to explode.

(Arya would freely admit that just by the fact that she is counting kisses makes her sound just as stupid as she often accused Sansa of being, but it’s not like it’s the only thing going on in her life).

Edric has begun to join Arya and Myrcella on their rides on occasion. Myrcella turns overly chatty with him, Arya notes. She tries not to feel pushed out by his presence, even though she never really felt her and the princess were the best of friends.

Myrcella is rather chatty, but Edric is tight lipped. The story they’d been fed is that he is Lord Renly’s ward, the child of a minor house in the Stormlands, come to court to learn.

“He thinks perhaps I could become a castle’s steward, or even a master-at-arms someday,” he tells them. Myrcella nods her head, but Arya feels like she knows better. While both positions he named are common ones for second and third sons of lesser houses, Edric doesn’t even tell him which house he is from.

While him and Myrcella are talking, Arya looks him over. He’s a little older than her, and he holds his head high, like a highborn. She does notice his ears. He has the black hair and blue eyes she had come to seek out, but he looks thin, and wane, and that’s not a common look on a noble child at all.

At one point during the ride, his horse stills, and he shakes his head, before commenting,

“Sorry about that, I think the cherry tart I had for breakfast didn’t agree with me.”

And he’s so unendingly polite about everything that Arya doesn’t even know how to goad him into admitting to anything. The talk afterward shifts, to Myrcella’s betrothal to a prince in Dorne. Edric’s never been, but Myrcella asks him about Storm’s End, trying to get a grasp of how other castles are different from her home in the capital.

She asks Sansa if she’s noticed anything about him. Sansa shrugs, and looks Arya up and down, opens her mouth as though she wants to say something and doesn’t.

Arya knows she must be holding herself differently or something, because Sansa has started to give her those looks whenever she writes her letters. One day she finally asks her who she’s writing to.

They’re in the garden with Princess Myrcella having tea, so Arya hides her scowl and just says, “to a friend.”

That answer makes Sansa frown even harder.

“You have friends who aren’t here?”

Myrcella wriggles her eyebrows.

“Maybe it’s a secret friend. That can be fun. I wrote letters to Trystane for moons before mother allowed us to say we were betrothed.”

Sansa raises her nose,

“I didn’t know Arya had any friends, secret or otherwise, who could read.”

Arya knows she’s being put on then. Sansa hasn’t been needlessly cruel to her in ages. She knows she’s probably just wound up, on edge, what with having to behave in front of Joffrey and Cersei so often.

A smile quirks on Arya’s face. Sansa might like Edric, what with his more refined ways. Maybe she should try to push the two of them together. They would have to run away. It would bring shame to the Starks and Sansa would never be able to show her face in court again, but at least she wouldn’t have to marry Joffrey.

It’s not until nearly two moons later that she thinks anything else of Edric’s comment about breakfast.

Wandering the Red Keep in the early mornings is different than at night. Arya has to dress properly before she goes about, and nod and acknowledge people, but with practice, she can move about the keep in the glow of the early sunrise nearly as easily as she does at night.

It started because lessons are getting to her even more than before. Sansa’s betrothal to Joffrey has been formally announced, and once she turns eighteen, there will be a tourney and a ball to celebrate before the actual ceremony. And with that set in stone, Catelyn and the Septa have become murmuring about finding a betrothal for Arya, and it turns her stomach.

She’d always known it was coming, she wasn’t stupid. She thought she would fight it tooth and nail, but now all she feels she can do is hide. She feels like a mouse within the castle walls.

It’s in one of these early mornings that she notices one of the gold cloaks. She doesn’t know which one, she’s not sure she knows the names of any of them. She never bothered, they were loyal to Joffrey and Cersei and would never have given her the time of day.

This one’s carrying a tray though, a tray loaded with tarts and a wood bowl of pottage and going towards the pig yard. His head is held high, and Arya puts all of her strength into being as Syrio taught her; catlike and silent. The goldcloak doesn’t even notice.

He leaves the tray on a barrel beside the ladder where one could climb up into a hayloft. Arya remembers climbing into the one in Winterfell. In spring and summer it was clean and dry, and a fine place to sleep. A fine place for two children to sleep.

Arya tails the goldclock three more times on three different mornings. One morning to the stables, once doubling back towards the kitchen. She tells Ned then.

The next moon that she manages to meet with Gendry in the Godswood, she tells him too.

“I think...it’s awful, but I think Cersei kind of forgot about you. You said someone used to bring you food and then stopped, well the others still get food brought to them, at least in the mornings.”

“There are far worse things than being forgotten then,” Gendry replies. They’re laying flat on their backs, staring up at the sky. The stars are very bright tonight.

“She’s keeping all of them fed,” Arya wonders, “But I still can’t figure out why.”

“Maybe she wants to use us to taunt the king,” Gendry offers up, “Use us to remind him of his infidelity to her.”

Arya rolls over on one side to look at him.

“That might make sense,” she thinks, running a finger along the side of his face. He has stubble, and she wonders where he finds him to cut it. “But no one seems to think anything of Robert’s carousing at all, and Robert doesn’t seem to think anything of what Cersei thinks at all.”

Gendry breathes deeply, his eyes drifting close under the touch of her fingers. He still takes so long to let himself go, to allow himself to feel.

“That’s horrible. Why even have a queen?”

Arya huffs,

“According to my Septa, Cersei’s already done her royal duty by giving Robert sons. Anything else she does doesn’t matter apparently.”

She furrows her brow for a moment in thought, but pushes it away because  Gendry reaches out to touch her shoulder, so she’s obligated to lean over and kiss him.

(The last time they’d met here, she’d lost count. The memory of his lips featherlight along her brow, her cheeks and her ears makes her burn bright)

There’s something different about kissing like this, on their sides, face to face. It sends Arya’s mind in directions she’s previously insisted were long and far off.

When she reaches up to run her fingers through his hair, he stiffens. She pulls back to look at him.

“Something wrong?”

Gendry’s eyes are still half closed, but he keeps stiff.

“We shouldn’t be doing this.”

Arya sighs deeply.

“You seemed to be enjoying it a moment ago.”

“You’re not for me,” he tells her somewhat roughly, “So we shouldn’t pretend.”

Arya doesn’t have to ask him to elaborate. She knows there’s no end to this that is happy. Even if her mother wouldn’t throw a baseborn blacksmith out on his rear (bastard of a king regardless). Even if her father didn’t see it as a violation of the goodwill he’d done for Gendry and his siblings.

She reaches out and runs her hand down the front of his chest.

“Does being here like this make you sad?”

Gendry’s eyes fly open.

“Seven hells, Arya, no.”

She frowns.

“What I said before, about everyone saying the queen’s only duty was to give the King sons? That’s my future. I’ll be betrothed to some highborn man, maybe I’ll know him, maybe I won’t. Maybe I’ll like him, maybe I won’t.”

She pauses, thinking of most of the men she’s seen at court.

“Probably I won’t. It won’t matter either way, everyone will say doing it is all that I’m good for, that it’s what I’m supposed to do. Maybe he won’t let me ride my horse, or wear breeches, or play swords. Maybe I won’t ever see you again.”

The breath in her throat hitches at the thought. She lets her hand still.

“If doing this makes you sad, we can stop. But if not...can’t you stop being such a stupid bull about everything and just let us enjoy it? Even if it can’t be forever?”

Gendry doesn’t say anything, but he throws one arm around her back and pulls her to him again, so she guesses he thought her proposition was okay.

Walking away that night, Arya’s not sure what she’ll do when it has to stop.

Arya’s sixteenth name day comes and goes, and three moons later, so does Sansa’s eighteenth.

And with Sansa’s eighteenth name day, preparations for the royal wedding begin. There will be a tourney covering seven days, followed by a feast and ball, in the days before the ceremony proper will begin.

The crown prince is marrying after all, it’s a great occasion.

Every time Arya’s forced to catch a glimpse of Joffrey, instead of just the usual revulsion she feels upon looking at his face, she feels something else she can’t quite put her finger on.

Bran’s preparing to ride in the tourney. He knows he’s not likely to win anything, but hopes he can attract the eye of some of the other knights and maybe secure himself an official squireship.

Arya helps him when she’s allowed, though she tries not to be jealous. She doubts she could even lift the lance herself. Bran’s grown tall and lean, and he looks a little ridiculous in his armor.

At least he agrees.

“I feel like a stiff breeze could knock me over from up here,” he admits to Arya when she’s helping him dismount.

“Is Mother still giving you all seven hells about wanting to ride?” she asks.

Bran nods.

“She finally realized I could have a worse hobby than climbing. Getting hit with the lance is no joke.”

Arya’s about to open her mouth and ask if she could climb up onto his horse and at least see how the lance feels in her hands, when a servant approaches.

“Lady Arya,” he says, “Your father has requested your presence in his solar.”

Arya’s so confused she doesn’t even object to not getting to ride.

When she enters Ned’s solar, his face is dead serious.

“Bolt the door behind you,” he tells Arya, and she does so.

Arya barely has time to ask,

“Father what-”

Before Ned cuts her off. He puts both his hands on her shoulders and squeezes tightly, like he’s trying to hold her in place.

“Arya, what I’m about to tell you cannot leave this room. Pieces have already started to fall, and…”

His sentence trails off. Arya sits at the table, back ramrod straight, at attention. Ned sits at one of the other chairs, his head in his hands.

“When you realized who Gendry and the others were...what made you think that?”

Arya blinks. She’s not sure what she expected, but this wasn’t it.

“They all look like him, the black hair and blue eyes. You couldn’t look at them and then look at King Robert and not know they were his-”

Arya cuts herself off, with a gasp of realization. She claps her hands to her mouth. Black hair, blue eyes, the lot of them. Joffrey, Tommen, Myrcella. Not a one of them with either. Not a one of them looking a bit like the king.

Ned fixes her eyes with his own.

“You understand the reason that this can’t leave the room?”

Arya’s horrified.

“King Robert...he could execute her for this couldn’t he?”

Ned’s eyes are empty. How awful must it be to think of your oldest friend like this.

“I think Cersei knows it. Stan and Leo, the two bastard boys who lived over the pigyard...they both died yesterday. No cause of death announced, but both boys were healthy when I saw them last.”

Arya’s fingernails press little half-moons into her face, she’s covering her mouth so tightly. Two of his bastards dead, possibly killed, just when there’s the threat of the king discovering her treachery, it’s too much of a coincidence…

Her thoughts are interrupted by a harsh knock on the door.

“Can it wait?” Ned calls out.

There’s another, more frantic knock.

“Lord Stark,” the voice on the other side of the door calls out, and with a lurch in her stomach, Arya recognizes it as Jory.

“Lord Stark,” the voice continues, “There’s been an accident on the training yard, you need to come, it’s Bran.”

Arya’s horror turns to sheer unadulterated terror as she jumps from her chair, well out in front of Ned, to run and see what’s happened.

Arya’s six and ten, and has a feeling her world is on the brink of shattering.

[saintarchie]

The Dogs Of War

“Don't get mad at me just because you were dumb enough to fall for the old Wookiee prisoner gag.”

In fact, only the first guard we encounter at the villa actually buys Edea’s claim to have captured the Vestal; once we’re inside, it turns out that word of her defection has already made it this far. So we’re going to have to do things the hard way if we want that airship and/or the king.

I say “the hard way”, it’s actually pretty straightforward. The path through the villa doesn’t branch off very much, and there’s not a great deal of variation in the enemies that turn up. It’s a bit monotonous, if anything, but hey, at least I’m gaining some much needed levels.

Locked chest, and it seems we must fight Heinkel for the key. Also that hostage he took, but mostly the key. Heinkel offers to set the king free in exchange for Agnès handing herself over, but the king wants no part of that. Negotiations having failed, Heinkel throws some enemies at us, but since they’re just more of the same kind that were hanging around earlier in the villa, they don’t put up much of a fight.

They do, however, provide enough of a distraction for Heinkel to make a run for it, dragging the king back to the airship, presumably intending to fly away with him, even though it’s Agnès he really wants. This, the party decides, is probably a trap, but since they want both the king and the airship, they choose to try and fight through it anyway.

On board the airship, Heinkel informs them that they’re now his prisoners, and is almost immediately goaded into a fight by Edea. It’s... pretty easy, actually. I think Holly & Barras were trickier to beat, if only because there were two of them. Anyway, he doesn’t last too long, and once he’s beaten we get his Knight astoria as a reward.

Without its pilot, the airship goes into a dive for some reason, and no one knows what to do. Or, almost no one; turns out Ringabel’s book mentioned something about his being a crack pilot, and, upon confirming that this airship is the Eschalot mentioned in the journal, he’s able to bring it under control and land successfully in the lake from before.

Once the king is returned home, he grants the party command of the Eschalot as a reward, and so we finally have the means to reach Ancheim. That’s for tomorrow.

[androgynousblackbox]

Hey, I lost my job. And while it was a shitty temp job that underpaid me, and I do have a decent savings, I'm a bit depressed because of it. I've been casually learning Spanish so can you tell me some funny Spanish puns or jokes or just some funny things about your country? I have one: There's a town in California where the number of DUI's (driving under the influence) is less then the number of BUI's (bicycling under the influence).

Oh, I am sorry, anon. Hope you get to find something better soon and you end up alright.I have some spanish pun to heal your soul.¿Qué es peor que el estrés? !El es-cuatro! (What is worse than stress? It’s es-four!)¿Cómo llamas a un gato que nunca caza nada, duerme todo el día y sólo sirve para comer? A catástrofe. (How do you call a cat that never hunts, sleeps all day and is only good for eating? A catastrophe!) This is obviously beyond genius because it works on two languages.Un sapo le dijo a otro: “Lo que más revienta en esta vida son los camiones” (A toad said to another: “What fucks you over the most are trucks”)En el zoo un niño le dice a su madre “mira, mamá, están vendiendo a la cebra”. La madre pregunta cómo lo sabe. El niño responde que porque tiene código de barras. (On the zoo a kid tells his mom that they are selling a zebra. The mom ask how he knows. The kid respond that it’s because of bar code)-¿Te resulta difícil tomar decisiones?-Sí y no. (Do you find difficult take decisions? Yes and no)-¿Qué te molesta más? ¿La indiferencia o la ignorancia?-No sé ni me importa. (What do you find more bothersome? The indifference or ignorance? I don’t know and I don’t care)-¿Qué tal he hecho el examen de levitación?-Estás suspendido, ¡enhorabuena! (How did I did on the levitation exam? You are suspended. Congratulations!)Ha habido muchos asesinatos de matemáticos… se piensa que fue un ajuste de cuentas. (There has been a lot of murderes of mathematician lately… people think it was to get even)¿Te han contado el chiste de la estadística?Probablemente. (Have they told you the joke about statistics? Probably)Facts about my country:-There is a youtube channel whose entire shtick is that is a gringo who can imitate us too well.-There is a dinosaur named after it and apparently is one of the bigger ones that have been discovered in the entire world.-Tango was originally a dance considered too filthy for women, because it looks like making love on a vertical position, so only men were allowed to dance it. But homophobia was still a thing so, like, talk about mixed signals.-There is a district called “Villa Freud” because the whole country it’s full of psychologist and psychiatrists. -We were the first country on Latin América to legalize gay marriage.-There is a very silly looking bird that nobody likes, it’s considered bad luck to see him during the day and sounds awful. But I personally think he is misunderstood.

I mean, look at him. He is just a big goof.

Some people think he is ugly. Some people have no taste at all.

He is just a living muppet.

[itzleon345]

Helpless

Diakko- Hamilton Helpless Modern AU

Personajes: Akko- Eliza, Amanda- Angelica, Lotte- Peggy, Diana- Alexander.

Ahí se encontraban las "Hermanas" Kagari (realmente no eran hermanas pero muchos les decían así por qué eran muy unidas)

"Amanda me recuerdas que estamos haciendo aquí?!" Decía un poco molesta la que parecía ser la menor de las 3.

"Lotte tranquila, solo estamos aquí por unos tragos y ver si pasa algo más tarde" decía con una mirada pícara una chica con cabello pelirrojo "Verdad Akko?" Le preguntaba a una chica de ojos rojos y cabello castaño.

"Obviamente! Y de paso vamos a bai.......lar" Akko se quedó mirando a algo o para ser exactos a alguien, esa alguien era una rubia, alta, ojos azules, mirada sería y muy, muy guapa.

"Akko que estás viendo" le pregunto Lotte viendo hacia la dirección que está observando Akko.

"Oh Dios Mío!!! Akko, sí ve a hablarle corre!!!"

"No puedo Lotte, es demasiado linda para mí..." Dijo un poco deprimida Akko

"Si no puedes hablarle...canta, OYE TÚ!!! pásame un micrófono mi amiga aquí va a cantar!" Grito Amanda a uno de los camareros.

"Amanda!!! No!!!....... AGH te odio tanto" decía Akko mientras le pasaban el micrófono.

"Ohh, I do I do I do I Dooo! Hey!

Ohh, I do I do I do I Dooo! Girl, you got me

Helpless!" Akko cantaba y la chica de la cual esperaba atención no volteaba.

"Look into your eyes, and the sky's the limit I'm

helpless!

Down for the count, and I'm drownin' in ‘em.

I have never been the type to try and grab the spotlight.

We were at a revel with some rebels on a hot night

laughin' at my sister as she's dazzling the room

then you walked in and my heart went

'Boom!'" Akko se iba acercando poco a poco a la mesa de la rubia hasta que uno de sus acompañantes se voltea y la ve, un chico un poco mayor que ella uno o dos años no mas, cabello castaño y ojos verdes, el chico es bastante guapo pero Akko no iba por el.

"Tryin' to catch your eye from the side of the ballroom

everybody's dancin' and the band's top volume.

Grind to the rhythm as we wine and dine." Akko retrocede un poco y se acerca a Amanda.

"Grab my sister, and whisper "Yo, this one's mine". (Oooh)"

"Akko realmente no necesitabas hacer eso" le dice Amanda riéndose mientras se acerca a la mesa de la rubia.

"My sister made her way across the room to you (Oooh)

and I got nervous, thinking

"What's she gonna do?" (Oooh)

She grabs you by the arm, I'm thinkin'

"I'm through" (Oooh)"

Mientras Akko moría por dentro Amanda guía a la chica hacia su dirección.

"Then you look back at me and suddenly I'm

Helpless!

Look into your eyes, (Oh, look at those eyes, )

And the sky's the limit (Oh!)

I'm helpless, (I know)

Down for the count

And I'm drownin' in ‘em.

I'm helpless! (I'm so into you, )

Look into your eyes, (I am so.)

And the sky's the limit (into you.)

I'm helpless! (I know, )

I'm down for the count

And I'm drownin'in ‘em."

Akko al darse cuenta que se dirigían a ella se puso muy nerviosa.

"Where are you taking me?"

"I'm about to change your life."

"Then by all means, lead the way."

"Atsuko Kagari. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Kagari?"

"My best friend"

"Thank you for all your service." (No hizo nada pero shush)

"If it takes fighting a war for us to meet, it will

have been worth it." (Déjenlo pasar)

"I'll leave you to it."

"Así que Atsuko Kagari?"

"Si, pero me puedes decir Akko! Y tú? Cómo te llamas?" Le preguntaba Akko a la chica rubia

"Claro! Disculpa por no presentarme, soy Diana, Diana Cavendish"

"Bueno..... quieres un trago?"

"Sería muy amable de tu parte, ven vamos a la barra para poder platicar más tranquilas" Akko estaba feliz de que el plan de su "hermana" había funcionado, se pasaron las horas platicando hasta que Akko se tuviera que ir porque mañana le tocaba clases en la Universidad de Luna Nova (se sigue preguntando cómo entró)

"Diana fue un placer conocerte pero me tengo que ir."

"El placer fue mío señorita Kagari, antes de irse desearía entregarle algo" le da una hoja de papel con su número de celular.

"Mándeme un mensaje cuando llegue a su casa, las calles son muy peligrosas a estas horas de la noche, bueno yo también me retiro, buenas noches y espero que nos veamos de nuevo"

"One week later

I'm writin' a letter nightly.

Now my life gets better

every letter that you write me.

Laughin' at my sister, cuz she wants to form a harem.

"I'm just sayin', if you really loved me

you would share him"Ha!"

Para Akko el tiempo pasaba muy rápido y de cualquier manera se seguía enamorando de Diana. Paso el tiempo y Akko consiguió que Diana conociera a Sucy su amiga más protectora (aunque no lo demuestre) para que ella les de su bendición.

"Two weeks later

In the living room stressin'

my father's stonefaced

while you're asking for his blessin'.

I'm dying inside, as you wine and dine

and I'm tryin' not to cry, ‘cause

there's nothing that your mind can't do. (Oooh)

My father makes his way across the room to you. (Oooh)

I panic for a second, thinking

"we're through" (Oooh)

But then he shakes your hand and says

"Be true" (Oooh)

And you turn back to me, smiling, and I'm

Helpless!"

Por pura suerte (o mejor dicho Diana siendo una novia celosa) Diana fue transferida de la "Universidad Beatrix the Affectionate" a "Luna Nova"

"Look into your eyes

and the sky's the limit I'm

Helpless!

Hoo! Down for the count

and I'm drownin' in ‘em I'm

helpless!

She's mine, that girl is mine!

Look into your eyes

And the sky's the limit I'm

Helpless! Helpless!

Down for the count, and I'm drownin'in ‘em"

"Akko, I don't have a dollar to my name

an acre of land, a troop to command

a dollop of fame.

All I have's my honor, a tolerance for pain

a couple of college credits and my top-notch brain.

Insane, your family brings out a different side of me

Lotte confides in me, Amanda tried to take a bite of me

no stress, my love for you is never in doubt.

We'll get a little place in Harlem and we'll figure it out.

I've been livin' without a family since I was a child.

My father left, my mother died, I grew up buckwild.

But I'll never forget my mother's face, that was real

and long as I'm alive, Akko, swear to God, you'll never feel so

(Helpless!) I do I do I do I do!

Akko… (Helpless!)

I do I do I do I do!

I've never felt so-

Helpless! (Hey! Yeah, yeah!)

Down for the count and

I'm drownin' in ‘em (Down for the count I'm)

My life is gon' be fine cuz Akko's in it.

I look into your eyes, and the sky's the limit I'm (Helpless!)

Down for the count

and I'm drownin' in ‘em

Fin del año escolar, baile de despedida, quienes creen que son "la pareja iluminada por la Luna" pista, este año no fueron "La Bruja y El Mago iluminados por la Luna" si no "Las Brujas iluminadas por la Luna"

"In New York, you can be a new man.

in New York, you can be a new man.

In New York, you can be a new man.

Helpless!"

[menemennpastirma]

Heart - Barracuda (cover by Sershen&Zaritskaya feat. Kim and Shturmak)

Lyrics: So this ain't the end, I saw you again today I had to turn my heart away Smile like the sun, kisses for everyone And tales it never fails

You lyin' so low in the weeds I bet you gonna ambush me You'd have me down, down, down, down on my knees Now wouldn't you? Barracuda Oh

Back over time we were all tryin' for free You met the porpoise and me, oh No right, no wrong selling a song A name whisper game

And if the real thing don't do the trick You better make up something quick You gonna burn, burn, burn, burn, burn to the wick Ooh, barracuda Oh, yeah

"Sell me, sell you" the porpoise said "Dive down deep, now, save my head" You I think that you got the blues, too

All that night and all the next Swam without lookin' back Made for the western pools Silly, silly fools

The real thing don't do the trick No, you better make up something quick You gonna burn, burn, burn, burn, burn it to the wick Ohh, barra-barracuda, yeah

Ooh, hey!

#music #rock #hardrock #cover #heart #sershen #zaritskaya #kim #shturmak #barracuda

(via https://youtu.be/PBcIQnexebY)

[strangenewfriends]

Hey, I was wondering if you could rec some larry fics that are plot heavy (i.e. Plot twists, not canon, main focus isn't only on romance), tyy

Oh this will be a fun rec! Get ready:

Incoming Package by HelloAmHere: There weren’t a lot of pilots who were willing to be couriers and there weren’t a lot of pilots who were willing to be couriers who were under six feet tall and capable of doing cheaply with oxygen and there weren’t a lot of pilot couriers under six feet tall and oxygen trained who would take a job like this from AMAZON. Even if COD Harry Styles was on the other end of the elevator to hell.

The Second Hand Unwinds by FullonLarrie: Louis Tomlinson is one of the first members of NASA’s top secret Chrono Exploration Program. When things go wrong and he’s sent further back in time than planned, he has no other option than to show up on his ex-boyfriend’s doorstep.

Just Me, Him, and the Sun and Moon by SadaVaNiren: a gratuitous Pokemon AU featuring farmer!harry, professor!louis, paradise, pokemon battles, love, and the fate of the world

Loyal Knight and True by rainbowninja167: In contemporary Oxford, Harry Styles and Niall Horan run a magical bookshop, unbowed by an entire academic establishment that insists magic doesn’t even exist. Sometimes, Harry finds, it’s much easier to have faith in magic than in himself. Louis Tomlinson is a classically trained poet who needs something to believe in, and Liam Payne longs to be a part of something magical.

Take Care By The Water by shyserious: Louis has spent his summers at his Granny’s in the Isle of Barra for almost as long as he could remember.This summer wasn’t supposed to be any different, but the little Scottish island turned out to be harbouring more than just the gorgeous white beaches, the clear waters, and the town drunk scaremongering the foreign tourists.

Keeping You Forever and For Always by RearviewDreamer: Louis only went poking around in the woods one evening in the name of science and saving the polluted lake that everyone else had long since given up on. He ends up leaving with a lot more than a few toxic water samples when he stumbles upon a belly-buttonless man in the shadows who could possibly be a nudist but is most definitely more than ordinary.

Delight in Masques by kassio: Popstar Louis Tomlinson has been pulling one over on the mortals for years. In the five years since he put on a human illusion and tried out for the X Factor, none of them have realised that he’s one of the Fair Folk – a cat shapeshifter, to be precise – and he’d like to keep it that way.When he returns to the X Factor as a guest judge, the last thing he expects is for some half-Siren fool to use magic on the judges. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what Harry Styles does. Now Louis has to track down some rogue changeling before he exposes them all. Even worse? Apparently, Harry doesn’t even know what he is.

Through Eerie Chaos by MediaWhoreFics: The Ghost Hunter AU where Niall lives to prove ghosts are real, Zayn is a skeptical librarian and Harry gets caught up in a century-old mystery and catches feeling in the process.

through struggles, to the stars by thedeathchamber: Louis is a Starfleet captain trying to find his place in the universe. Harry is a prince just trying to do what’s right. A Star Trek-inspired AU.

Say Hellelujah, Say Goodnight by alivingfire: Louis is an angel who is just a little too bad to be good, Harry is a demon who is just a little too good to be bad, and they’re both a little too in love to be impartial when angels and demons go to war.

Black With Autumn Rain by whimsicule: Harry is a journalist, Louis has lots of secrets and the moors aren’t exactly the ideal place to rekindle a lost romance.

I wrote you a song with the words you spoke by tigriswolf: How people end up on Atlantis varies; some like talking about it and some don’t. Dr. Harry Styles, Lieutenant Niall Horan, and Ph.D. candidate Liam Payne end up there by accident; Zayn of Athos follows his cousin; and then there’s the nameless runner found by SGA-9 on a dead world.

we’ve got to get away from here by suspendrs: Louis is an FBI agent who likes to think himself a paranormal expert, and Harry is the alien that somehow ended up in his office.

Again I could keep going so if you want older fic or shorter or whatever…ask away