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cloud9in · 4 years

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The Half of It

A Mc x Poppy fic inspired by the film

Summary: Bea, the town’s outcast is recruited by the school jock to win Poppy’s heart. But what happens when she starts falling for her as well?

Author’s Note: So this will be a multiple part series that includes scenes heavily inspired from the movie “The Half of It”. I certainly recommend watching it. My version will have different twists and a different ending, and definitely more angst. It will include mature themes as the story progresses.

Warnings for this chapter: Swearing. This is a good thing for now.

Chapter 1-

“Love is simply the name for desire and pursuit of the whole.”

- Plato, The Symposium

It is said that when one half finds its other, there’s an unspoken understanding. A unity. And each would know no greater joy....than this.

...Except this is highschool. And in my opinion, there is no other half. Maybe the other half is a paper on Greek God philosophy due at midnight. But make that four papers, including mine.

My name is Bea Hughes and let’s just say...this is not a very happy story. Well maybe some parts are, but you’ll have to read to find out. I come from a small town called Farmsville, and when I mean small, I mean really small. Except the highschool seems fucking huge, with never ending hallways and when you do somehow find the end, there’s usually two inbreds eating each others mouths off. Lucky for me I am the epitome of antisocial, reserved, an introvert, or whatever the inferior beings, aka every other senior, calls me when they think I can’t hear. But I hear everything, including that one time Bradley Denbrough, upcoming hotshot actor, or so he claims, found out about a crush a poor unsuspecting freshman had on him. Everybody knew what Bradley and his goons did to that boy, even the adults, but no charges were pressed. This town is as conservative as it gets, but no one knows of my secret. I carry this school on my back when it comes to having everyone graduate, but that’s all I am to them, a pawn. And that’s all I wanted to be, nothing more and nothing less. I preferred to be in the shadows.

***

...Except the mandatory Senior Talent Show forced Bea out of her hibernation hole. The thought haunted her as she sat in the dance studio, the last fucking place she wanted to be. Dance was so not a Bea kinda thing, but the blonde knew exactly why she granted herself the misery of picking the class. Poppy Min Sinclair, the golden girl of Farmsville High, the preacher’s daughter on a more serious note. She is...the most fascinating girl Bea ever laid her eyes on even if her boyfriend was a complete asshole who sermonized his duties as her future husband. Like seriously? Poppy has got to have some screws loose to date such a fake loser who plagiarizes all of his speeches at sunday church, and once literally begged Bea to write an apology letter to his father for him after completely upending their summer cabin. Except the blonde wrote the opposite of an apology, it went something like this…

Dear beloved donkey, I mean dad,

I am terribly sorry for inviting 20 hookers to the summer cabin. I have these strange impulses and you should at least be grateful I didn’t invite the big boss as well. His wife came though, in many, many ways. You should get the carpet changed.

Sincerely, your STD free son

It was safe to say that Mr. Denbrough had a near heart attack after reading it, and Bea did kinda feel bad, kinda. He never mentioned the letter to Bradley though, instead silently calling up the owner of Teopoli Catholic Summer Camp and essentially deporting the boy to Canada for the summer. No son of his would end up in hell was what the old man preached everyday from then on. It was the quietest summer Bea had ever experienced.

Being the towns outcast, Bea could have her fun when she so chooses to, but that didn’t pay the bills. In fact, the multiple essays that people paid her to write was her way of surviving and taking care of her mother. They weren’t very rich but Bea worked with what she had, helping her mother manage the farm, which included getting on her knees and wrestling the pigs. And that’s how she was gifted the name “pig girl”, stupid Bradley and his fake friends just had to wander too far and catch Bea in the act. She swore a remixed video of her hog calling surfaced the web at one point and that gave the blonde her five minutes of fame. Boy was it an awful time in her life.

Bea worked her mother’s previous job as station master or signalman for the trains that passed through, even if it barely paid her shit. The secluded feeling of sitting in that booth and having a moment with her thoughts was enough to give her purpose. Bea was fond of poetry and it usually helped her come up with song lyrics.

Song lyrics…

That she would have to sing at the talent show. A huge sigh escaped her lips as she slumped further into the ground, maybe hoping she could bury herself six feet under. It wasn’t that Bea hated singing, no she absolutely loved it. Playing her guitar at night and belting out lyrics that only resulted in her mother banging on the ceiling below in efforts to shut the blonde up. But the mere fact that she’d have to sing in front of the ruthless seniors rubbed her the wrong way. Something would go wrong, it always did. Bea was shaken out of her thoughts when Poppy crossed the center of the room, moving her hips slowly to the sound of Rihanna’s voice. The class chose a slow r&b song to choreograph today and of course all eyes were on Poppy.

If i’m your girl say my name boy

let me know i'm in control

Her silky blonde locks swayed as she danced to the beat, hands thrusting sensually along her sides. Bea stared in awe, almost like Poppy was the only one in the room and a spotlight illuminated every movement, every curve. Except she definitely wasn’t the only one picturing Poppy in that way. Carter, the school quarterback leaned against the railing, arms crossed and eyes trailing the rise and fall of her chest.

Got me wondering, I’m wondering if i'm on your mind

Bea sat up straighter but nearly lost her bodily functions when Poppy locked eyes with her before spinning away. It was simple eye contact Bea, don’t let it get to your head. You already have multiple lyrics inspired by Poppy offering the bare minimum in human interaction. She doesn’t actually like you. Poppy is popular and has the perfect life...and boyfriend, even if Bea heavily disagrees. Poppy was a bitch of course, but not a bitch bitch. Unlike the other wannabe mean girls, the blonde didn’t give Bea hell, well that was because the girl paid her zero attention. She seemed distant, off in her own world, or well in her parents world learning the strategies of business. Poppy was expected to follow in her parents footsteps and keep up with her reputation of being the richest in town, and of course a faithful future wife. So fun. But the blonde had other prosperous dreams of travelling and following her passion of music and dance. Highschool was her only outlet and she took advantage of it any chance she’d get. Bea knew this because she would ride her bike every friday night to the school and watch Poppy dance from outside the glass window. Maybe Bea realized it was kinda creepy, but she’s dumb enough to not realize her obvious growing attraction. I mean who pedals miles just to watch someone trip on their feet?

***

The sound of the bell caught everyone's attention and the teacher slowly lowered the music. Bea watched as Bradley approached Poppy and smothered her with kisses and praises. She rolled her eyes painfully, this kind of PDA definitely wasn’t it, she could have gone her whole life without seeing that. She walked silently through the crowd of kids in the hall, everyone was laughing and talking to their friends. All Bea could allow her mind to focus on was the very intimidating billboard of names a few feet across from her.

Winter Talent Show Sign-Ups (Mandatory For Seniors)

Bea glared at it quietly before signing her name on the sheet, sealing her inevitable fate. Through the hustle of students, Carter watched the blonde with a yearning look from afar. This should be great…

The next few classes were a blur and Bea eventually found herself getting up to hand Ms. Kingsley her paper. The older woman looked at her with a knowing glance as she took a generous sip of her coffee, which was 75% tequila.

“6 different interpretations on Plato? Colour me impressed Miss Hughes.”

Bea shrugs nonchalant, “yeah well would you rather read their actual essays?”

“Oh hell no.” Kingsley feigns shock as she looks at the stack of papers with a comical expression. She takes another sip, watching her younger, prodigy of a student carefully. “You know there are places outside of this godforsaken town where you can put your talents to use... Real use. I teach at Belvoire University occasionally.” Ina winks and slides Bea an application, studying her initial reaction. “It’s...in New York.”

“Damn right! The Big Apple.”

“Kingsley you know I have to stay here. It’ll be easier for me to manage the farm and be close to home”, Bea says confidently even though her body language displays otherwise. She predicted the big sigh filling her ears before it actually happened and it still managed to faze her. “Who ever said you had to do anything? What about what you want to do?” Bea doesn’t make eye contact with Ina, that woman could convince you to do just about anything with a certain look. “No we are not doing this. You can take your reverse psychology and shove it where the sun doesn’t shine. I’m outta here.” The blonde stomps out of the classroom, the sound of Ina’s chuckles still ringing in her ears.

“Hey! Everyone in this town fears God, but you know what God fears? My ability to hide a bottle of Don Julio in my left boot.” Ina pulls out the newly bought bottle and cradles it. “Come to mama.”

***

Bea rode her bike alongside the dirt road, Kingsley’s words on replay the entire ride. Maybe she did deserve to experience something more than what this town had to offer. But would her mother manage without her? Sacrifices, sacrifices. Bea was used to making those for her mother after her father’s death. What would her dad think of all of this?

“Hey!”

He’d surely smack Bea upside the head for the little antics she pulled occasionally. And then he’d buy her vanilla coconut ice cream and ask for every single detail of what happened as they sat and laughed together. That’s the kind of relationship Bea would have had with her father, she liked to assume so. She also liked to assume that she’d get home safely everyday without a scratch, but then there’s Carter.

“Hey wait up!”

The jock seemed to be running ridiculously fast and crashed right into the rear end of Bea’s bicycle, sending her face first into a mount of dirt. The initial impact was enough to boost the blonde straight back up like nothing happened and into a fighting stance, fists out and eyes wild. Very scary Bea. When she realized it was him...well it only pissed her off even more. “What the fuck Carter! You asshole!”

“I’m sorry Bea! Here let me help-”

“No! Move away! You- my bike- I…” Bea groans frustratingly, stepping away from the wreck as she tries to catch her breath. Carter watches her sheepishly, rubbing an envelope between his fingers awkwardly. After a few minutes of painfully uneasy silence he speaks up, “Okay...I didn’t want to ask you this way but I was wonder-”

“Oh, so you practically break my ass and now you want me to do you a favour? Real nice way of communication you have there Mr. Quarterback. What is with you and those freakishly large muscles anyways? Maybe it’s my fault I didn’t hear your avalanche built ass coming from behind.”

“Hey! They are not freakishly large!”

“I hate to break it to you Jackson but mine are significantly more appealing to look at.” Bea smirks widely, flexing her arm as best as she could. It’s a work in progress… just bare with her.

It didn’t take much effort for Carter to break out into a smile and look at her fondly. Maybe there was more to this girl than just being a human dictionary. Well that’s what people called her, and he maybe believed it at first.

Bea noticed the lack of response and shifted awkwardly, clearing her throat. “Listen, its $10 for three pages, $20 for three to ten, I'm not in the over-ten-page biz.”

“No..no I’m not here to cheat!” Carter blurts out. “But I’ll let you know if I do plan on- anyways. I uh..” He hesitates before handing her the envelope. “What’s this?

“Well you see it’s a letter..”

“Yeah but who writes letters these days?”

“I thought it seemed romantic..”

“And I thought women writing Jeffrey Dahmer letters in jail seemed romantic”, Bea says sarcastically, her smile dropping instantly after catching a glimpse of Poppy’s name at the top of the paper. It was like the blood stopped flowing through her body for a few seconds as her mouth went dry. This had to be the work of the so-called God everyone praised in this town, or it was one cruel coincidence. Bea wasn’t sure why seeing her name made her heart beat ten times harder, but it also wasn’t a necessarily uncomfortable feeling…

“I- I can’t help you.”

“But if you just add a few more words-”

“I’m not writing a letter to Poppy Min Sincla- to..to some girl for you. Letters are supposed to be authentic, from the heart, your own words, your...feelings.” Bea hurriedly turns to grab her bike, suddenly losing all interest in being social.

Carter was afraid this would happen. But he was stubborn. “But I can pay more for authentic!”

Too bad Bea was stubborn as well. “Just get a thesaurus...Good luck, Romeo.”

***

Bea sat in her room, strumming away softly at the strings of her guitar. Some of the keys were off but the old thing still worked, and that was good enough for her. She could hear the tv blasting downstairs, her mother most likely watching the news. There’s something about old people and news, were they secretly ogling the news anchors? Just like Bea ogled Poppy any chance she could. The blonde frowned to herself, her eyebrows crunching together in question. What so hard about writing a letter to Poppy? It’s not like it's coming from her. Well it technically is, but Carter is taking the credit and Bea never had a problem with people taking credit for her words. So why did this very thought prove to be such an inconvenience? Lucky for Bea, her mind drifted elsewhere when she heard a painful snap. Even if it wasn’t physically connected to her body, she felt a horrible ache. Slowly peering down at the guitar in her hand, Bea found that the neck of the guitar had miraculously split almost clean off, a splinter of wood just holding it intact. She wanted to scream but nothing really came out, except air of course. Much to her disapproval, this was definitely a result of her strength. Stupid muscles couldn’t contain themselves at the thought of Carter being with Poppy. Now how could that be?

But now she had no guitar. And no guitar means no strings to strum, and no lyrics to sing, and no talent to show at the talent show. Now she was in trouble. Probably because she knew that the only way to get the money to replace the guitar would be through sealing the deal with Carter. Oh fuck it!

***

“One letter. And enough money to buy a new guitar.”

“Deal!”

Bea turns away with a sigh, completely ignoring Carter’s high five. Now all she had to do was write this letter, and pray that Poppy wouldn’t completely consume every fiber of her being in the process.

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

End note: So how we feelin’? Carter and Bea Brotp??

Tags: @samanthadalton @somewillwin @clowneryme @baexpoppy @zigxryanz @uselesslesbianfr @aleiramacaii @thedaft1 @alexlabhont @iamsimpforpoppy

#queen b #poppy min sinclair #poppy x mc #mc x poppy #playchoices #I couldn't come up with a unique title #throw some ideas if you have #do share your opinion on this #it is valued #oblivious bea is a pain in the ass #but certainly fun to write

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with-my-murder-flute · 4 years

Text

by the sword (Nile genfic, 2.6k)

Fic summary: Nile learned fencing and longsword and hand-to-hand fighting long before she ever met Andy's small army. But learning with them is a new form of difficult. Not because they've got thousands of years more experience (though they do), but because this time the practice doesn't stop when somebody gets hurt.

So she has to learn about war and how you balance it out with peace. Figure out how they do it and who she wants to be. And decide which weapons suit her best.

Content notes: Explicit depiction of the injuries Nile gets when training in knife fighting and quarterstaff combat with Nicky and Joe. There are also discussions of the physical damage done by different kinds of weapons, the butchering of animals, and people cutting off their own body parts in industrial accidents. (Oh, and a positive/sympathetic portrayal of Nile as a Christian)

They promised that in March they'd start teaching Nile how to fight with a sword, but when March came, Nicky gave her a knife.

A hauntingly familiar one, even though she'd never touched it before. For a second she thought it was her own, the Ka-Bar she planted in Andy's shoulder the day they met. Instead, as she turned it over, finding it familiar in every groove and contour, she found it an anonymous and identical match to her dad's instead. Not new, with the black paint worn down around the edges of the handle, but not a knife she knew. It could have been used by any Marine in the world except her. Except her father.

"You know too much," Joe explained from the side of the hangar, where he'd tumbled an umbrella stand of swords out onto a tarp and started removing their rust with fine-grit sandpaper. "We're not knights or cavaliers. For them, swordfighting was about honour. There were rules. We don't have any of that."

Nile knew going into this that nothing she knew so far was real swordsmanship. Like yes, she could fence; she'd competed in foil and saber for two years as a teenager. But that was closer to stagefighting than actual combat. It was all so staged and carefully managed. Even in her longsword league they said over and over again, it was a martial sport, not actual combat. They could imagine what it might have been like—could land heavy blows on armour, could mime falling down dead—but that wasn't the reality of it.

It seemed to her that the purpose of beginning with knife-fighting lessons was to go over territory she already knew, and do it for real this time. Nicky said he had something else in mind, some principle of combat he meant to teach. But that wasn't what Nile noticed.

What Nile noticed was that this time, she really died.

The old people argued it over, about how to teach Nile. Andy's example made them newly-cautious, but this was the way they'd always trained: You had to do it through blood and pain, you had to fight when you were still resurrecting. It was the way Andy and Quynh had trained Nicky and Joe.

Nile wondered, in the back of her mind, if being trained like that had something to do with the way Booker... well, Booker. After he'd already had such terrible experience of war that he'd wanted to desert. But that was the kind of thing she didn't air out loud, because they'd only just stopped having that kind of useless, circular, self-flagellating argument. She figured she'd keep her own peace on Booker.

She also opined, after hearing them wrangle over it for a day or two, that she'd rather practice with live weapons and get injured among friends than play it safe and incur a dangerous injury among enemies.

And when the knife fighting started, she was grateful they hadn't moved directly to longswords.

They taught knights how to do this, Nicky said, by having them slaughter and butcher animals. It taught you your way around muscles and tendons and joints. He offered to take her to a bullfight sometime, which she didn't say sounded so barbaric she had to wonder why PETA bothered with picketing rodeos.

He said that after her trachea healed over. She hadn't actually died that time; you had to aim further up or to the side to get the carotid artery. But the horror—not actually the pain, but the horror of feeling the air wheeze through the gash in her throat—had been so overwhelming that she'd barely resisted the pin he got her in. She'd just shuddered with her arms behind her back and his weight pressing her down until it healed, and tapped out of the rest of the afternoon. He'd been understanding when she didn't want to be around him for a bit, and let Joe gather her into a hug and let her cry.

That was when he told her about the bulls. She told him about Chicago's meatpacking district, about the old men she knew who'd butchered hogs every day of their lives for decades. About how they said they got numb to it, until one day one of them cut off his thumb with a machine and didn't feel it, until the guy next to him looked over and noticed all the new blood. About how after you see too much violence, your brain just stops processing it. About how a study on kids in the next neighbourhood over from hers had shown they had permanently elevated levels of cortisol, a sign that their bodies were under stress all the time and didn't know how to calm down.

Those were the kind of conversations Andy couldn't stay in the room for. She slunk off somewhere and got drunk, and you saw her the next morning, maybe. Nile used to judge her a lot more for it, but the day her throat got cut she let Joe and Nicky feed her a red wine as soft as velvet and fell asleep pressed against Joe on the sofa and understood, deeper than words, just how much keeping sane meant feeling anything other than your body shattering into pain.

Nicky braided her hair, the next day. Slow and careful, a little unpracticed, singing ballads in a language that wasn't exactly dead, but only had a few thousand speakers left in northern Italy. Their composer hadn't been good, exactly, but they'd been snowed into a castle with him one winter in the 1680s, so Nicky remembered his entire repertoire. Nile listened to the music and knew he'd refuse if she offered to record it, or write it down. One of the songs felt like the length of a novel (but was, when she checked her phone, more like one hour twenty) and by the end of it she was singing the chorus along with him, and it occurred to her that she could simply ask him to teach her.

"You can't rescue every one you see," she remembered her mom saying, when she found a half-stunned bird on the sidewalk. That was what it felt like with languages.

That afternoon Andy took her to the market. Ostensibly it was for groceries, but Andy didn't do simple errands, especially not when it involved food. She stopped to smell fruit Nile had never heard of; Google told Nile that medlar and quince were related to apples and also, apparently, roses. Nile had to try pine nuts, wild mustard, and three different kinds of yogurt drinks, one of which tasted of roses. Andy protested when she added a bag of potatoes to the load, saying they were bland, but Nile, who'd had enough of turnips, sweetly told her to pay the fuck up.

If you were lonely, and hurting, and didn't have someone to hold you, you could comfort yourself like this. Sunshine and sweetmeats and the steady hands of friends. Something, but probably still not enough. Nile understood it but it made her chest ache. She felt, sometimes, a little glad that Andy would die someday, the way families felt helping someone keep alive from cancer. Of course you wanted them to be alive, but you didn't want them to suffer.

Joe moved her on to staff fighting the next day. It was, he said, not the most useful of weapons in the current day and age, since it was most useful against long bladed weapons, "And who else but us uses those?" But there was some kind of theoretical basis behind the progression of her teaching, from weapon to weapon, and after knife came staff.

To tell the truth, Nile liked it. She'd learned about quarterstaff in her longsword weapons, as something that could defeat a swordsman, but nobody anybody she knew actually practiced it, because while you could wear percussion-resistant cloth and keep safe with blunted swords, there was simply no defending your bones against the percussive strike of a giant whirling stick.

There was something less offensive about getting your skull split or your collarbone broken, compared to getting stabbed. Partly it was because Joe was just a much nicer teacher, slower and more patient, while Nicky would keep stabbing you as you fought to reach your own knife. But also it felt more impersonal, more like an accident that had happened to you.

Okay, and it was also more fun. Knives created small imaginary hemispheres of pain, the angle of the arm as it swept out. Quarterstaves were huge, so long that if you wanted to get around them, sometimes it was literally easier to flip yourself into the air or dump your opponent to the ground instead of getting the staff to move. The first time she managed to run up a wall to get leverage on him, it felt so awesome she didn't actually mind that much that he popped her shoulder out taking her back down.

It was bloody and violent and really would have been impossible if dying had been a significant barrier for them. It made Nile laugh in a high-on-endorphins way, because it felt like she could finally push past the pain and find a place beyond her limits. It felt like being free. Like all her life she'd been wearing a heavy armor of caution, knowing she'd had to keep herself alive, and now she just felt the lightness of taking it off.

There were tears at the back of that laughter, about everything she'd lost because of it, but she pushed that away and went to shower. She and Joe spent the evening on Youtube, watching videos of capoeira and wushu, while the other two made a batch of some kind of pickled egg they thought they remembered from three hundred years ago.

Nile hugged Andy sometimes, because she looked like she needed to be hugged. Andy almost never turned her down.

A long time ago, she thought she remembered, holding a sword had seemed to transport her to some other time. Some other place. Like the sword had been a tangible connection to the past, to a time when things felt... clearer, or truer, or more real somehow. Like the feeling the word "honour" gave her, of something echoing and amplifying through a vaulted space. There was a time when people fought with swords for what they believed in. There was a time when you knew what was right and what was wrong and laid down your life accordingly.

She'd been twelve and believed in fairytales. So sue her.

The swords in their armory spelled out a long story of misery and war. When she held them now, Nile felt like she could feel the bodies that had come into contact with their blades. Curved single-bladed sabers and scimitars, ideally wielded from horseback, meant for a decisive downward chop. Nicky's giant longswords, meant to peel an armored knight like a tin can. (He'd used it, he said, to similar effect on a tank once or twice.) Andy's axes showed her age; before they had the metallurgy to make an entire blade, it was better to use a wood polearm with a blade on the end, and focus the sharp metal to a curved edge, to as small a surface area as possible.

Andy's axes showed her age, but not theirs; they were less than ten years old. Steel, especially steel that came into contact with blood, aged fast enough (and could only take so much of a beating) that the old people knew and had opinions on all the modern replica manufacturers. The oldest blades in the collection were used at Waterloo, only a little more than 200 years ago.

(Nile wondered, as she polished one and rubbed a state-of-the-art hydrophobic finish on it, if the quarterstaff lessons were actually preparing her to fight Booker, should she ever find herself opposing him. It was the kind of thing she couldn't help but think about the logistics of. Surely firearms would be more effective, she initially reasoned, except... guns jammed, guns broke, guns overheated, guns ran out of bullets. And then your gun became a very expensive bludgeon. And you're facing a swordsman who's had 200 years to train. So... why not try a very big stick?)

She knew that even this team could betray her. Even they could fight for the wrong cause. They'd supported revolutions that turned into dictatorships and fought alongside people who turned out to be monsters. There was no promise, no moral certainty, in violence.

So she felt really stupid about it, but the truth was that holding a sword... still brought back that old emotion. That feeling of being capable of doing things. Fighting for a better world. It made her feel taller. It made her feel like her life had a purpose that she'd been heading towards since she was young.

Like God had called her for a special purpose.

Which she'd never say to any of the rest of them, since Andy had been a god and Nicky had been a holy warrior and Joe had broken down completely once, when they let him get too close to a newspaper. They'd only ever hear it with the weight of all the horror they had seen.

So instead she had to carry it as a private conviction, a calling she would have to follow by herself, her own career to make holy instead of horrific. Like when she joined the Marines. Freer, in some ways, but even more out of her depth, not sure she totally understood the situations she was injecting herself into.

The fact that she wasn't sure she ever could walk the path of righteousness and keep herself always on the side of good... was absolutely no inducement not to try. It never had been.

"Picked one yet?" Andy asked, from the door.

"What, you guys weren't gonna pick one for me?" Nile asked, craning her neck around. Andy had her hands buried in the pockets of her jacket, smiling faintly.

"Some things, nobody can pick for you," she said. She picked up one of Nile's polished sabers and admired the sheen along its blade. "Your last-ditch weapon, least of all."

Nile already had a secret favourite of all the swords, but what she found herself saying was, "I want us to do some training in de-escalation."

Andy looked aside from the blade. "Sorry?"

Nile took a deep breath, her heart suddenly pounding like crazy. "That's what I was trained in, aside from combat. De-escalating conflicts. When I was a security guard, we... I got a course on mental health crisis from a guy who does hostage negotiation. I want... we should practice it."

She was ready to be seared by Andy's instant, caustic sarcasm. By a reminder that they were a specialist unit brought in when negotiation failed. Instead Andy looked back at the sword, twisting it to catch the light. "Was it useful?"

"Yeah," Nile said, trying not to let the breath shudder out of her in one long exhale. She didn't want Andy to know how nervous she'd been. "There's a... a lotta conflicts that don't have to turn violent, if you just approach it in..." She ran out of steam for an instant, and shrugged. "If you know how to respond."

"See if there's a webinar," Andy said, which flabbergasted Nile so much—coming from Andy!—that she didn't have anything to say while Andy set the saber down and sauntered back out of the building.

Nile sat for a good long while after that, surrounded by swords on a floor stained with her own blood, and got her breathing under control. Eventually she took her knife out of its sheath and looked it over.

It felt silly, to take a sacred oath on a Ka-Bar knife.

"I swear to almighty God," she said to it, anyway, "that I will use you as my last resort. Not my first."

#nileweek2020 #nile freeman #the old guard #my stuff

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xwingsandohs · 4 years

Note

what are ur thoughts on poe dameron & domestic headcanons? 👀

ohhh yeah (ps. what are my thoughts on poe- love the phrasing.)

Boyfriend Poe? Can and will bring you back something every time he has a ground mission. Seashells, fruit, a necklace- whatever he sees that reminds him of you he’ll bring back in his pocket.

He will also ask (tell) Leia to forward to you any updates on his mission if he’s gone for any longer than a few hours. She obliges because you start bothering her for updates anyway.

You’re the first person he wants to see after a mission. Every time. Even if he has to debrief immediately, there’s a 10 minute detour to hug and kiss you (and he’s senior enough to get away from it).

He loves his squadron, he really does, but if you don’t feel like attending the celebration of the latest win he’ll skip it immediately. His priority post-mission is to just spend time with the person he loves- and if you don’t want to go to the party, you won’t. He’ll see his squadron the next day.

Of course if you do love the celebrations- he loves nothing more than having you sat right next to him in the ring of pilots. His arm either on your waist or your thigh, he’ll make sure you’re smiling and laughing to all the jokes too and refills your drink every time it empties.

When Poe Dameron is drunk; he’s even more touchy-feely. He leans into your touch more, head practically on your shoulder and whispering to you every few minutes. His drunken slurs make you giggle, and he will absolutely try to kiss you in front of everyone.

Sharing a bed with Poe- either the worst thing or best thing depending on how you feel. He’s in no way a cover hog, he practically kicks them over to you- that is of course, on his way to wrap his arms around you like his life depends on it.

Awake you’ll lean on his chest, his hand gently on your back or in your hair- but when he’s asleep he’ll lay across you like you’re his pillow. His legs reach over yours, hand blindly across your stomach and head on your chest- no semblance of personal space. (At least he doesn’t snore, and in the winter he’s a furnace.)

He’s also incredibly difficult to wake up in a morning- grumbling for far too long after his alarm goes and the whole base knows he’s terminally late to all his meetings. You pry him out of bed with kisses, usually, stubbornly sitting across the room while he begs you to come back to bed.

“C’mon… come back, just for 5 minutes. Let me kiss you.”

“Not a chance, Dameron, I’m not making you late to another training exercise. I’ll kiss you when you’re upright.”

And there’s never any time for dates, no matter how you plan your time. So you learn to take the moments you can- lighting candles and putting on the old radio on in the evening, taking some apples from the Cantina and pretending to have a picnic outside the base, talking about the future for hours at night.

And it’s always perfect, because with Poe it’s so easy to be in love, even in the resistance. The moments don’t matter so much, they don’t need to be fancy, they just need to be with him. Every kiss feels like the world.

#writing #poe dameron x reader #poe dameron #oscar isaac #star wars

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rina-writes · 4 years

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Mom and Dad II

Part one: link

Summary: Sequel by popular demand! You and the Dolan Twins head home for Christmas, just in time for your six month anniversary with Grayson. The only downside is that you fighting for Grayson’s attention with another girl....your toddler cousin, Monica

Your eyes fluttered open at the sound of that accompanied the seat belt sign flicking on. You lifted your head off of Grayson’s shoulder and blinked the sleep out of your eyes. The sweet smell of his cologne filled your nose and you resisted the urge to nuzzle into the crook of his neck. You looked at him with a soft, slepy smile. Grayson looked a bit bashful, his eyes glancing at your peripherally. You could tell he was pretending to not notice you waking up as he stared at his iPad in front of him. You pressed your lips to his cheek and his eyebrows raised slightly. He turned to look at you and grinned, the little gems in his incisors sparkling in the low light of aircraft cabin. His head dipped down and his lips pressed on to yours in one quick motion. You kissed back, massaging your lips softly against his. Grayson’s hand slipped up your arm and he rested it at the back of your neck to pull you closer. You adjusted yourself and tried to pull your weight in the kiss, but you had to be honest. The position was uncomfortable.

With the arm rest down and your seat belt digging into your stomach, you felt like you were in some kind of torture device. But, you were kissing Grayson Dolan. Correction, you were kissing your boyfriend, Grayson Dolan. This was going to be the first of many kisses over the next two weeks. All your teenage fantasies of dating Grayson back in Jersey were going to come true. Making out in the hot tub on the back patio, riding on the back of his ATV as your chin rested on his shoulder, baking cookies for Santa and then staying up all night watching movies and eating the treats yourself...the list went on.

So, the fact that right now, your knee was a bit numb and you weren’t sure if your pinky was still working, you were still thrilled at what was to come. Nothing could bring you down. You were dating your best friend.

“You two coming up for air anytime soon?” The flight attendant asked, making you both break apart with urgency.

You watched as Grayson’s face turned red, and wondered if you were blushing just as hard. You tried to think of a retort, but the flight attendant just shoved the garbage bag toward you.

“Trash?” She asked, her Jersey accent reminding you of your own relatives.

“Nope.” You shook your head and Grayson did the same.

The flight attendant looked at Grayson, her red lipstick painted lips smacking together. Her eyes darted back at you before giving you an approving nod. “Not bad...” She said before moving to the next aisle.

You and Grayson stared at each other wide eyed, trying not to laugh.

“How freaking rude...” You muttered. “...no one asked for her opinion.”

“At least she said, I’m not bad...” Grayson’s eyes twinkled with a fake bravado as he stretched his arms over his head.

“Uh huh...” You rolled your eyes trying to hide your smile. “I’m glad she has reduced you to a piece of meat...and with a half-assed compliment at that.”

“You want to talk about rude...” Ethan said, slowly sitting up.

Oh yeah, the other reason you were uncomfortable was because your boyfriend’s twin’s head was as heavy as a boulder and it was resting on your arm the entire flight. Ethan had collapsed on your shoulder before the security video even started. To be fair, it was early for him at 9am in the morning and Grayson wasn’t kind when waking him up.

“How are you going to make out with your brother right here?” Ethan asked, shaking his head as he leaned over to look at Grayson. He then looked at you. “I expected more from you, Y/N. You’re way too mature for PDA.”

You blushed, once again at a loss for words. Had you been away from Jersey for too long? What happened to your clap back skills?

“Hey!” Grayson said, leaning over to look at Ethan. “You’re the one using my girlfriend as a pillow without asking.”

“I was using my BEST FRIEND as a pillow.” Ethan said, grabbing your arm and pulling you closer. Not that he really needed to get closer. Your seats were so close together, the twins’ thighs were infringing on your seat. Never again will you take the high ground and insist on traveling economy. Not with the two largest twins in the world squishing you on a six hour flight.

“Oh here we go...” Grayson argued, grabbing your other arm.

You started to rub your temple and sighed. With one hand still on your head and the other hand raised, you announced your signature move.

“I’m going to count to 3....” You warned, putting up a single finger. “1...”

“But, babe...” Grayson whined.

“2...” You continued counting, another finger going up.

“Ugh, fine.” Ethan grunted, folding his arms.

The two silently faced forward, sulking. You let out a sigh of relief. If there was one perk about being the Mom friend, it was being able to control tantrums for all ages from age 2 to 20.

In the quiet of the plane landing, you couldn’t help, but start to drift back to your fantasies of you and Grayson over the winter break. By far, you were most thrilled about your six month celebration.

You didn’t have anything planned, but given the fact that Grayson went all out for your first month (a couple spa package followed by a candle-lit dinner), you couldn’t even fathom what he would do for six months. You even planned out your outfit. You found a similar red dress to the one Mariah Carey wore in ‘All I Want For Christmas is You.’

While you and Grayson hadn’t gotten frisky yet, you also splurged on a pretty number to wear underneath the dress as well. Whether he got to see your undergarments or not, you had also prepared a more “family appropriate” gift that you were sure he would love.

Your thoughts were interrupted by cabin lights flickering on. You all hastily got out of your seats along with the other passengers, happy to feel your legs again.

Once you were off the plane, Ethan and Grayson were back to the usual playful selves. They were competing to see who could find and get all the suitcases off the belt the fastest. You sat on the bench and called your parents to let them know you landed. You glanced the boys and made the executive decision to call their mom to let her know that you made it.

With the responsible actions were complete, you sat back and watched the boys jumping over each other to grab suitcases. You chuckled any time they grabbed the wrong suitcase and awkwardly apologized to the actual owner

You smiled softly every time Grayson looked back to check if you were watching him. It warmed your heart that he always wanted to impress you. You gave him a little wave and he grinned brightly, like a little kid. Whenever you were together, it felt like you catapulted back to your pre-teen selves, with you being the quiet cheerleader and him being the adventurous goof making you laugh.

Before you knew it, all the luggage was claimed. Unfortunately, the winner of the challenge was indeterminate. As the boys argued over who took the most cases and which ones were heavier, your parents called to say they were here. Ethan hugged you first, knowing that Grayson’s goodbye was going to be longer.

“See you after Christmas!” Ethan said, rocking you from side to side in his bear hug. “Hopefully, Grayson doesn’t hog you too much at the ski resort.”

That was another reason you were over the moon about winter break. Your family and the Dolans coordinated to go on a ski trip together. This included some of your and the twins’ extended family as well.

“I won’t let that happen, E.” You grinned. “We’ll all going to have a great time.”

You turned to Grayson who looked like he would explode if he had to wait a moment longer. He hugged you tightly, pressing a kiss into your temple. He was holding you like you weren’t going to see him in five days.

“I can’t wait to see you.” Grayson cooed in your ear. “Text me, okay?”

“Of course.” You smiled and pulled back to peck his lips. “Now, let’s go before my dad gets a ticket.”

“See you soon, baby.” Grayson gave you another kiss just below your ear, knowing it sent shivers up your spine. You smiled at him softly, willing your knees to not go weak.

“Come on!” Ethan said, grabbing one of your bags and gesturing for Grayson to grab the other.

The boys greeted your parents and helped you packed the car. You gave quicker hugs the second time around. The twins waved you off until you could no longer see them in the rear view mirror. You tried to hide your disappointment as you caught up with your parents. You were happy to see them and wanted to tell them about school. At the same time, you were counting down the days until the ski trip.

The day of the ski trip came faster than expected. You and Grayson didn’t text as much as you had hoped, but you had a great holiday. You were grateful for the gifts you received and your family equally liked their gifts as well. You also got to hang out with your favorite cousins, including Monica. It seemed like she grew up so much in the last six months. She was a lot more talkative now, mostly asking questions about everything she saw. She was also adventurous and enjoyed climbing on top of things two to three times her height before jumping off. You had sent Grayson a few snaps of Monica’s tricks and he joked about being a proud papa. It made you miss him even more.

As your family checked into the ski lodge, you scanned the lobby for the Dolans who were eagerly awaiting your arrival. You saw them instantly and waved dramatically before running over. Grayson hugged you tightly and immediately bent down to give you a strong kiss. It wasn’t super long or sensual, but there was enough force to remind you that he missed you dearly.

“Oh weird,” Cameron said from behind Grayson. “I forgot you guys are together now.”

You blushed. “Ah yeah, I guess...”

“No, no it’s good.” Cameron comforted you, moving to give you a hug. “The tension between you two was way weirder. I’m happy for you. Both of you.”

You hugged her back. “Thanks, Cam.”

You hugged Ethan and their mom as well, engaging in the usual small talk until your family came over.

“Grayson, so good to see you again!” You heard someone call from behind you. You glanced over your shoulder to see your cousin and his husband walking toward you with Monica holding your cousin’s hand.

“Hi!” Grayson said, more toward Monica than your cousins, but he was respectful enough to give your cousins hugs first before crouching down to talk to Monica.

While your cousins introduced themselves to the rest of the Dolans, you watched Grayson interact with Monica.

“Do you remember me?” Grayson asked. “I’m Grayson.”

“I remember Gray.” She said, her voice soft and a shy. “Do you remember me?”

“She called me Gray!” Grayson said, turning back to look at you, his jaw dropping excitedly. You walked closer to him and his eyes followed you, his head craning upward to meet your eyes.

“Apparently, Gray and beret were the only things she remembered about our trip.” You laughed. “Oh and dinosaur.”

“Not that is a competition,” Grayson smirked smugly. “But Gray is definitely a sign that she likes me more.”

“Whatever...” You rolled your eyes. “...if I had gorgeous hazel eyes and a dynamite smile, I’m sure toddlers would be fawning over me too.”

Grayson stood up and cupped your cheek. “You have the most beautiful eyes and the most stunning smile I’ve ever seen in my life.”

You blushed and glanced away. “D-Don’t say things like that with such a serious expression. It’s weird...”

Grayson chuckled before glancing down at Monica. She reached her hands up to show she wanted to be picked up and Grayson obliged.

“You want to meet my twin?” Grayson asked her. Monica nodded and Grayson marched her over to Ethan to introduce the two. You were pretty sure Monica had no idea what a twin was, but she was just happy to be carried by someone.

You couldn’t help but laugh seeing Monica’s head turn from twin to twin. She stuttered out the word “G-Gray?” as she looked between the two men unable to comprehend why there were two of him.

“Babe,” Grayson laughed as he waved you over. “Look at Monica’s face.”

He handed Monica to Ethan who took her laughing. Monica gripped Ethan’s cheeks with her tiny hands and Ethan went the extra mile to suck in his cheeks and make silly faces for her. Grayson took the opportunity to wrap his arms around you from behind and lay a soft kiss on your cheek. Monica, seemingly realizing that she was not being held by Grayson, reached to go back into Grayson’s arms.

This earned laughter from the group as your cousin intercepted to take his daughter. Monica hugged on to your cousin, but her eyes didn’t break away from Grayson.

“I guess she has a type...” Ethan joked.

“Maybe it runs in the family.” Your cousin’s husband teased, earning more laughter.

You blushed as you and Grayson both chuckled nervously.

Monica was starting to fuss in your cousins arm. She reached out to Grayson who finally relented. The warmth from his body disappeared as he pulled Monica into his arms.

Seeing Grayson with Monica warmed your heart. At the same time, you couldn’t ignore the pang of jealousy in your chest. It was stupid, but for some reason, you were a bit worried that Monica would steal all your attention. You scolded yourself. This was your six months anniversary and winter vacation. There was plenty of Grayson’s attention reserved for you that you could share with Monica.

Or so, you thought.

The first day of the trip, Grayson and Ethan went off to go skiing. This was understandable, as it was ski trip. Except, you were quite new to the sport. You had this fantasy of Grayson putting on your skis, and helping you go down the hill.

You worked with the ski rental representative to get your skis on. You balanced on your ski poles. Grayson chuckled as he walked over to adjust your goggles.

“Don’t you look cute.” Grayson commented.

“I’m pretty nervous.” You said, looking down at the hill. “You have to show me how to go down.”

“Oh...”Grayson’s voice trailed off as he looked behind him.

Ethan was putting on his own skis and seemed to be waiting for Grayson to do the same. Grayson bit his lip and looked at you sympathetically.

“So, I promised Ethan that we would start with the black diamond.” Grayson explained.

“Oh? Where is that?” You asked, looking around. You looked down the hill to see if there was some kind of marking on the hill.

Grayson chuckled, “No, babe, it’s over there.”

Grayson pointed to another hill that was triple the size of yours, littered with trees and other obstacles.

“Oh...I see why this is called the bunny slope now.” You said, sadly. “Maybe E would like a warm up.”

You and Grayson looked back at Ethan who looked like he had enough adrenaline coursing through his veins to jump out of an airplane. Grayson looked at you and you smiled.

“It’s fine...” You nodded. “...I’m sure I will surpass you soon enough.”

“Good luck, Y/N.” Grayson said with a smug chuckle. “Don’t eat too much snow.”

You let out a “Hmph” sound as you turned to ski down the hill. You couldn’t tell if you were screaming in your head or if the sound was actually leaving your lips. The tears streaming down your face, however, were very real. You heard people yelling at you to make shapes with your feet, but it was too late. Your were tumbling down and rolling like a ball to the end of the hill. One minute you were staring at your feet and the next moment you were staring at the sky. You coughed and sat up slowly. You put up a thumbs up for the people who were watching you and they applauded. You continued coughing and realized your tongue was like ice from...eating snow.

After three attempts down the hill, you were utterly humiliated. As people, most parents, skied over with advice, you continued to struggle. As you walked back up the hill, your jaw dropped to see Grayson still at the top. Ethan was nowhere to be found, and in his place was a little Monica.

In that moment, you realized that Grayson had probably seen your embarrassing displays of your (apparent lack of) athleticism. To avoid his teasing, you attempted to go back down the hill, really trying to impress. As you landed on your butt, you were shocked to hear your boyfriend giggling...no actually giggling. Except, it wasn’t at you, but at Monica.

If you weren’t so annoyed, you would have found it cute. Grayson’s large frame was contorting itself to fit on a little sled while he held Monica up on her skis. Her eyes danced between being wide open and clenched shut, the 2 mph speed probably feeling faster to her. Grayson couldn’t stop laughing as her little winter coat bundled arms remained frozen in an outstretched position.

Normally, you would have made a quip, but, you entire body was numb. Unlike Monica, you were not as cozy in your jacket. Your confidence was also at an all time low and you also felt a bit lied to by Grayson. You left in a huff, ripping off your skis with great difficulty and marching back to the lodge to have hot chocolate.

When he and Monica reached the bottom of the slope, Grayson carried her back up with his sled underneath his free arm. He was sweating and blotchy by the time he reached the top, suddenly realizing the weight of a toddler going uphill. He handed Monica to your cousin’s husband and Monica seemed more than ready to go back inside.

Grayson glanced around look for you, dusting his damp, dark brown hair from his eyes to get a better view.

“Where’s Y/N?” He asked, still out of breath.

“She went back inside.” Your cousin’s husband explained as he hugged Monica to his chest. “Poor dear, couldn’t manage to stay up for longer than a few seconds.”

“Hah oh man I saw that,” Grayson managed to crack a smile. “I was hoping to help her out a bit. Oh well, maybe tomorrow.”

He motioned to go back to find you, but then Ethan approached him on bailing. They both decided that they would switch to snowboards and go down shirtless. He figured he would have a chance to cuddle and console you later, but the opportunity to be a savage with his twin, once in a....day.

Unbeknownst to Grayson, this decision just allowed you to stew in anger even more. You were quiet and huffy at dinner. You also opted out of after dinner games and went to bed early.

Grayson tried to hide his disappointment, as he didn’t want to guilt you into staying. He walked you to your room and kissed your forehead.

“Are you sure you’re okay? I know you had a nasty--” He teased.

You put a hand up to stop him. “I’m fine. It’s too embarrassing...”

Grayson chuckled and hugged you tightly. “Sleep tight, love bug.”

“Yeah, you too.” You gave him a half smile and a weak hug.

As you turned to go into your room, Grayson grabbed your arm. He pulled you toward him with a gentle tug that didn’t hurt you, but still enough for your body to flow into his. The hairs on the back of your neck stood up as you met his eyes. You were surprised to see them so soft.

“Are you mad at me?” He asked, his voice small and childlike.

“What? No...” You said, unable to look at him directly.

“Come on, Y/N.” Grayson sighed. His tanned hand reached to your chin to force you to look at him. “You’re one of my childhood best friends, I think I can tell when you’re upset.”

“It’s stupid.” You said, suddenly feeling a jump in your eyes. You didn’t want to start crying over something so ridiculous.

“Nothing you do is stupid. Just tell me, baby.” He smiled softly. “You know it’s been awhile since I’ve dated...I’m a little rusty. Tell me if I’m messing up”

“I really wanted to ski with you today.” You admitted, your voice quivering a little.

“Oh...” Grayson’s lips remained rounded as he nodded a bit. “Are you mad that I left you for E? Because I did think about...”

“No, no of course not.” You said, shaking your head quickly. You hoped Grayson knew you better than that. “I don’t ever want to get between you and E.”

“I know! That’s why I’m kinda confused.” Grayson admitted, but he seemed relieved. “I’m guessing whatever it is...it’s why you decided to leave? I saw you still on the slope when I was coming down with Monica and then you just disappeared.”

You opened your mouth to speak, but then you closed it, hesitating. Grayson used the bad of his thumb to rub your cheek as he waited patiently for your response.

“I guess, I had a hard time skiing and I was bummed that you didn’t help me, but you helped Monica.” You spoke quickly, your words almost blending together.

“Oh, baby...” Grayson said, his voice in between humored and consoling. “I’m sorry...I guess I got a bit carried away taking care of Monica. I didn’t mean to make you jealous.”

“You’re laughing at me.” You complained, folding your arms.

Grayson grabbed your arms and pulled them down to rest at your side.

“Just a little...” Grayson gave a soft laugh. “But, you do realize that you’re my number one girl, right?”

You nodded and Grayson pursed his lips. Using both hands he cupped your face and kissed you softly. Your eyes fluttered closed as you kissed back, instantly parting your lips for him. His tongue slid in easily and quickly found yours. A soft moan left your lips which seemed to drive Grayson wild. He backed you into the wall next to your hotel room door and pressed you against as he deepened the kiss. Your hands ran up and down Grayson’s chest and he grunted softly. The sound of a door opening ripped you two apart. You didn’t make eye contact with the elderly couple who walked past you, snickering.

Grayson looked at you and laughed, making you laugh as well. He nibbled on his lower lip and kissed your forehead.

“I’ll make it up to you tomorrow. I know you have a day planned with your family, but tomorrow night, you’re mine.”

That sent a shiver up your spine and a shy smile crossed your lips. “Okay...”

“That’s my girl.” He kissed your lips. “Love seeing that smile.”

“Love that you’re the cause of it.” You grinned. “Good night, baby.”

“Good night.” Grayson said, biting his lip again as he watched you open your door. You gave him a final wave and closed the door behind you. Once you heard his footsteps down the hall, you let out a little squeal.

The next day, it was girl’s day with your mom, two of your aunts and two of your cousins. One of your aunts was single, traveled all the time, and always came back with fun stories and presents. Your other aunt was the mother of your two cousins, who was known to be a bit more high strung in her recent years, but a wild child in her younger days. Your two cousins were a bit younger than you and were the ones who kept you up to date with all the trends and internet drama. You dating Grayson Dolan was probably the most fun thing in their life, even if they weren’t allowed to talk about it given the privacy of your relationship.

The plan was a “Girls’ Day” where you were going to the spa at the ski resort. The adults had a show or something to go to later that night, so they were going all out. The youngsters were going to fend for themselves and probably wreak havoc on the hotel. You were hoping that you and Grayson would be able to sneak off somewhere since it was your official six months date. You were disappointed that none of his snaps or texts so far mentioned the significance of the day, but you figured he was building up anticipation.

You sat in the sauna, your towel neatly wrapped around your chest. You pointedly ignored your adventurous aunt sprawled out, naked, as did her sister and your cousins. Your mom wasn’t a huge fan of saunas, so she went to do face masks with Lisa and Cameron. You weren’t a big fan of sauna either, but it had been awhile since you hung out with your female cousins and didn’t want to miss the chance to hear what cooky things your aunt would say.

“You know,” One of your cousins said, “They have a deal on waxes today.”

“Have you ever gotten a wax, Y/N?” Your other cousin asked.

You shook your head. You thought about the lingerie you had stashed in your bag. The underwear was pretty high cut. Maybe this would be a good opportunity to get waxed for the first time.

“I would be down to try.” You said, not wanting to sound too eager.

“You’re dating that big, tan boy, right?” Your aunt said, sitting up and closing her legs in the process.

You nodded. “Grayson.” You and your two cousins said at the same time.

This caused a bit of giggling and you pretended to give them disapproving faces.

“Yes, well what does he like?” Your aunt asked, back on the topic of the wax.

There was a mischievous grin on her face that told you this was not about the wax, but more about how far you two had gone. Your other aunt seemed to pick this else.

Your other aunt gasped, covering her mouth. “You can’t ask her that! She’s...”

“In her twenties!” Your aunt reminded her sister in a loud voice. She turned back to you. “I guess since you haven’t gotten it before, he wouldn’t have a preference. Or at least you haven’t talked about it. What are you thinking?”

“Uhm...” With all eyes on you, you felt under pressure. You didn’t know any wax names so you just said, “...everything?”

“Oh honey, no!” Your aunt shook her head. “He needs a little landing strip.”

“Okay!” You other aunt stood up, holding her towel to her body. “Don’t you think this is a bit inappropriate?” She sighed and looked at you. “If you’re going to get a wax, do it for you, hon,not a man.”

Your wilder aunt snapped her fingers with approval. “That is true! Ooh, you should get a little design...”

“A design?” You and your cousins asked in unison.

“Oh boy....” Both aunts looked at each other knowingly. “You ladies have a lot to learn...”

Four hours later and you were laying on your hotel bed with and ice pack on your crotch. You had been falling in and out of sleep, but a text from Grayson put some pep in your step.

GrayBear: Come to your cousin’s cabin ;)

Your jaw dropped. You completely forgot Monica and her parents were staying at a cabin. The resort had different types of rooms you could book. From the website, you knew the cabins were drop dead gorgeous. They were on the other side of the resort from the hotels and allowed you to view the sunrise each morning. It was single story, but had a full kitchen, a Jacuzzi bath tub and king sized beds in each bedroom. Your cousins had opted for the two bedroom in case any of the “young people” wanted to stay with them for a night. You guessed that Grayson got his bid in pretty early.

You tried not to get too excited as you texted him back. You crawled off the bed, putting the ice pack in the freezer. You took a quick shower, unable to stop staring at your newly manicured crotch. The “heart attack” style with a little heart on top really made it look cute. Once out of the shower, you made sure to spritz on your Wakeheart Grayson Dolan fragrance before putting on the lingerie. You moisturized with a body butter, styled your hair and put on some light makeup: eyebrow pencil, mascara and a tinted lip gloss.

Then you put on the red dress that hugged your shape. At first, you were concerned because you could see the intricate lacing of the top of the bra under the dress. With a bit of adjusting, you were able to make it seamless. You debated putting on the Santa hat you got, but decided against it. You put on some boots that were a bit more on the fashionable side as they went up to your knees. With a final glance in the mirror, you smiled to yourself. You grabbed Grayson’s gift and put on a jacket that hid your outfit while keeping you a bit warm.

The walk to your cousin’s cabin felt longer than you expected. The cold air stung your cheeks and your thighs shivered each time wind pushed past your zipped jacket. You double checked the number on the cabin before ringing the bell. When Grayson answered the door, you couldn’t help, but smile brightly. He was wearing a button down shirt and dress slacks, adorned with his favorite design accessories. You could tell he even styled his hair the way you liked.

“Hey,” Grayson said, his voice coming out deep and husky.

“Hey...” You replied, your voice coming out high pitched and squeaky.

You both laughed and Grayson stepped to the side to let you in. You were surprised to see Monica watching television in the living room area.

“Oh, is my cousin still here?” You asked, taking off your boots.

“Nope, it’s just us.” Grayson said, walking over to the dining table. “I’m watching Monica for them.”

You jaw dropped. “Grayson...why would you choose to babysit tonight?” You asked, the irritation evident in your voice.

Grayson frowned and he turned to look at you. “Well...they needed someone to watch Monica if they were going to the show tonight.”

“But it could have been anyone else, Grayson.” You complained. “I’m not exactly dressed to babysit tonight.”

You removed your jacket and Grayson’s eyes widened.

“Wow...Y/N...you look breathtaking.” He made his way over to you, his hands going for your hips.

“Oh no you don’t...” You wagged your finger as you side stepped. “I am not scarring her for life by getting frisky in front of her.”

Grayson pouted, following you as you walked to the living room. His breath hitched in his throat when you bent down to pick up Monica and he got an eyeful of your thighs.

“Geez....are you even wearing anything under there?” Grayson muttered mostly to himself.

“You’ll never find out now, will you?” You quipped, turning back to look at him. Monica seemed comfortable in your arms as her eyes remained glued to the tv. You sat on the couch and Monica adjusted herself on your lap, but was clearly entranced by the cartoon program.

“Are you still jealous of Monica?” Grayson asked, putting his hands on his hips.

You remained focus on the television, avoiding his eyes. You groaned as you started to speak.

“This isn’t about her. This is about you not prioritizing our alone time.” You finally looked at him, his annoyed expression mirrored on your face. “You didn’t have to choose our six months date to babysit.”

“Babe, don’t you get it?” Grayson groaned. “I only asked to babysit so we would have this place to ourselves. Monica goes to bed at 8:15, our dinner is set to arrive at 8:30 and we have the place to ourselves until midnight. Sure, the first hour is going to be a bit lame, but I thought it was kinda fitting, you know? I mean Monica is the reason we are together right.”

Your eyebrows went up in surprise. “Wow, Gray that was actually...”

“Well thought out? Insightful?” Grayson filled in with a cocky smirk. “Babe, did you really think I would mess this up? I didn’t wait years to date my dream girl to lose her after six months.”

You moved Monica off your lap and placed gently on the couch. She looked at you as if she was seeing you for the first time.

“Pretty!” Monica said, before turning back to the tv.

“Hey, she’s mine.” Grayson joked, taking you hand to pull you off the couch and into his arms. “And I’m not sharing.”

You pecked his lips. “I’m sorry for doubting you.”

“It’s alright, you can just make it up to me.” Grayson teased.

“Oh, you better get ready.” You winked. “I may just give you a heart attack...”

A/N: Definitely let me know if I should continue this with their first time smut. Thinking of making it more fluffy and cute kind of smut, but I’m not sure if the people who like this fic are a fan of smut.

#dolan twins #grayson dolan #grayson dolan blurb #grayson dolan scenario #grayson dolan imagine #r-writes-fic #fic-dad

175 notes · View notes

omgrachwrites · 4 years

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Falling Stars (Sequel to Tell A Tale of You and Me) Chapter Four

Pairing: Dean Thomas x Reader

Summary: In the midst of a brewing war you fall for one of your classmates, a boy that you used to know. When you have the chance to fight against evil, you fight for what you believe in.

Chapter Summary: Dean relives the past and things that hurt him there while you and Astoria meet with a group of people in The Hog’s Head and you end up joining the DA.

Warnings: angst, fluff, swearing

Words: 2558

Disclaimer: I haven’t read The Order of The Phoenix in ages so the timeline may be wrong!

A/N: Hope you guys enjoy this part! Please let me know what you think and let me know if you would like to be tagged! I love you all! xxx

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Chapter Four - The Past Hurts

Dean watched the beautiful sprawling English countryside whizz past the window as the Hogwarts Express let out a billow of steam and picked up speed. Seamus’ and Neville’s snores distracted him as he went back to his book and Dean sighed at them as he put his book back down and rubbed the palms of his hands over his eyes. He knew that he should have been excited about the upcoming year at Hogwarts; he’d heard rumours that something big and exciting was going to happen. But, he wasn’t as excited as he should be.

Cass hadn’t written back to him all summer, he wasn’t pathetic enough to let a pretty girl be the centre of his universe but he was a little bit hurt. Dean knew that Sirius Black was Cass’ dad, and she even told him that she wouldn’t be able to contact him much over the summer. The ministry was still after her dad – as they should have been because Sirius Black was a convicted mass murderer – but he still thought he’d at least get one letter.

He supposed that he would just have to talk to her in person and see what the score was, and see if she was alright. The fact that he’d be able to talk to her properly made him feel better and he decided not to worry about Cass anymore.

Seamus and Neville joined the land of the living sometime in the afternoon when fields and moors disappeared, snow-capped mountains and lakes taking their place. Neville asked Dean and Seamus what the Quidditch World Cup was like as excitement filled his round face as he clutched his plant. The two best friends shared a wistful look as they launched into talks of the match.

“It was the best match in centuries, I’d wager,” Seamus started while Dean nodded vigorously, “me mam cried when we won.”

“Krum caught the snitch but Ireland still won, it would have gone on for days of Krum hadn’t ended the game. Bulgaria was no match for Ireland, and everyone knew it but I am dying to try out that one move, the Wronksi Feint,” Dean laughed.

Neville gaped in astonishment and awe, and there was even a little glint of jealousy in Neville’s eyes which surprised Dean, “wow! I wish that I could have gone, I asked Gran if she would get tickets but she wouldn’t,” he pouted, looking mournfully out of the window.

“Well, if you can wait about a century for England to host again then you’ll be able to go,” Seamus snickered while Dean rolled his eyes.

Finally, after a long day of travelling from London, Dean and his friends were stepping off the coaches that took them up to the school. Dean stood up on his tiptoes as he walked into the candle lit Entrance Hall, looking over the sea of people to see if he could spot Cass. A cold drawl of a laugh came from behind Dean and he swivelled around to see the pale pointed face of Draco Malfoy.

Dean scowled, he’d like nothing more than to ruin that platinum slicked back hair and give him the punching that he thoroughly deserved. Cass was standing behind Malfoy with her friend, Astoria, Cass looked so pretty. Dean opened his mouth to greet her but Malfoy suddenly began talking.

“Alright there, mudbloods?” he smirked as his eyes travelled from Dean to Seamus, and then to Neville. His eyes lingered on Neville for the longest; his lip curling as Neville nervously looked away from him, clutching his plant in one hand and his toad in the other.

Cass’ nose flared in anger and she glared at Malfoy as he used the slur but she didn’t say anything, not one thing. Her silence hurt Dean more than he had been when he didn’t hear from her all summer. This wasn’t the Cass he knew, the Cass he knew was kind and always spoke up for her friends and those who couldn’t defend themselves. What had happened to her since he saw her at the World Cup?

“Go fuck yourself, Malfoy,” Dean scowled. Malfoy smirked before walking into The Great Hall, Cass and Astoria followed him in and Cass didn’t even look in his direction.

The three boys huffed out a surprised sigh and Dean noticed that Neville looked crestfallen as they walked into The Great Hall. There was silence among them until they sat down on the cold stone benches and Neville began toying with his golden cutlery, “why didn’t she say anything? She heard what Malfoy said, she was right there. Do you think she’s alright?”

Neville’s voice was almost breaking and it saddened Dean, Cass had been the only Slytherin that had been kind to Neville, the only Slytherin that he hadn’t been shit scared of. Dean frowned and looked over at the Slytherin table to find her laughing with her friends and it made Dean angry, but he also knew that something else must be going on.

“I’m going to find out what’s wrong Neville, I promise.”

The first time that Dean had tried to talk to her was after their first Defence against the Dark Arts class with the auror, Mad-eye Moody. He was intense after having just performed the three unforgivable curses. When he said as much to Cass, she only smiled tightly before taking off down the corridor quickly.

Dean soon got tired of her endless silence so he ended up cornering her at the Yule Ball, and in hindsight he wished that he hadn’t. She looked very beautiful in silk robes of blood red, making a stark contrast against the perfect white snow. Dean’s heart thumped faster every time he looked at her but he wouldn’t let that distract him, he needed answers.

“Cass, talk to me. Why are you constantly pushing me away this year? I know things must be difficult right now with your family but I’m here for you, please just talk to me,” he rubbed his hands over her cold arms as they stood in the beautiful sparkling winter gardens.

“Dean,” she sighed, biting her lip before she rearranged her face so she looked terribly unmoved, “we shouldn’t be friends anymore, Thomas,” her voice was as cold as the winter wind.

“What?” Dean burst out laughing, this was some kind of joke, it had to be, “you’re joking right?”

“No,” her voice didn’t break or waver, in fact she looked bored, as if they were only making small talk, “I’m not joking.”

A pang of hurt jolted in Dean’s chest and he frowned at her, “come on, Cass,” he scoffed, “what did I do wrong?” Dean almost cringed at how small and pathetic his voice sounded so he cleared his throat, “you have to tell me.”

Cass shrugged, the eyes that had once been warm and soft were now hard as she looked down at her nails and kicked at a drift of snow, “I’m a Slytherin, I have to make the right choices, and you, well you’re…” she trailed off and looked up at him, her eyes roaming over him in a way that made him feel small.

What had happened to her? She was every inch the Slytherin now. In a flash, red hot anger replaced his sadness and he scoffed as he narrowed his eyes at her, “is this because I’m a Gryffindor? Or is because I’m a muggle born? Or, a mudblood as you and your friends would call me.”

Cass had the grace to look taken aback and her eyes softened ever so slightly as she dropped them to the snowy ground, “I would never call you that,” she muttered but when she looked back up at him, her face was hard again, “we’re too different Dean, eventually we’ll go down different paths, it’s inevitable. What if Voldemort comes back? My dad’s parents were his biggest supporters, if he comes back and discovers that I’m friends with you…,” she trailed off and looked away from him as she wrapped her arms around herself.

Dean rolled his eyes, he knew where this was going and he didn’t like the ending, “you’re ashamed of me, aren’t you? Say it.”

Cass looked back at him with alarm in her eyes as the wind blew through her perfectly styled hair, “no, Dean. That’s not it.”

But, Dean shook his head as he cut her off, he’d heard enough, it was amazing how quickly he could turn against her. He was still hurt but he was angry too, angry that she thought he was unworthy, “finally, I can see who you are. I can see you clearly, I thought you were different but it turns out that you’re just like the people you claim to hate.”

There was hurt in her eyes but Dean didn’t care, he just watched her as she walked closer, “that’s settled then, goodbye Dean. Merry Christmas,” she whispered and then she was gone, with a swish of her blood red skirts.

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You shoved your hands in your coat pockets as you passed the bustling pretty centre of Hogsmeade, a particularly harsh gust of wind made you look wistfully at The Three Broomsticks. You tried not to think about the fact that it would be wonderfully warm inside and the piping hot Butterbeer would warm your body from the inside out.

Glancing behind you, you saw Astoria miserably trailing behind you and you caught the scathing glare she sent you from beneath her woollen scarf. You laughed as you shook your head as you both walked to the outskirts of the wizarding village. It was pretty out here, there were fewer cottages here with huge overgrown gardens. You would like to live in a cottage one day, a cottage with a rose garden with a pretty thatched roof. You also wanted a garden that was big enough so you could grow your own fruit and vegetables.

It wasn’t often that you came this far out of the village, you were headed to The Hog’s Head, and Hermione had asked you to meet her there and to bring only those that you trusted. Those who wouldn’t speak a word to Umbridge and Astoria were the only one that you trusted like that. Astoria hated Umbridge and the fact that the class weren’t using defensive magic, so she was a pretty safe bet. According to Hermione, she, Harry and Ron all had something to say and you knew it must be important if they were going to so much effort.

“Remind me again why we’re freezing to death in the arse end of Hogsmeade, Cass,” Astoria grumbled from beneath her thick scarf.

You rolled your eyes playfully as you slowed down so you were walking side by side, “I told you, Hermione and the others have got something to say, and I think we should hear it. If you don’t want to stay you can go but just don’t tell Pansy or anyone for that matter.”

Astoria scoffed softly as she shook her head, “I’m not leaving you, I admit this thing could be worth my time and please, I never talk to Pansy unless it’s absolutely necessary and even then, I hate her.”

You grimaced as you both walked into the pub and found that it was only slightly warmer than it was outside and it smelt of mud and hay. The Weasley twins greeted you at the door with identical grinning faces and they offered you a dirty bottle of Butterbeer, “thanks guys,” you smiled as you took it graciously. Astoria made a face at the dirty glass and she shook her head as she slipped past.

You picked your way through the small crowd and the three Gryffindors smiled at you when they realised you had come. Astoria scowled as she folded her arms and stood by your side, shaking her head but you knew that she wouldn’t leave.

“Cass, what are you doing here?” Dean laughed as he stood at your side and you noticed that he was glancing down at your scarred hand which was feeling much better, thanks to him. You almost flushed at the memory and it felt like you had both bonded a little.

You shrugged as you took a sip of Butterbeer and winced, you didn’t like it too much when it was cold, you made a mental note to go to The Three Broomsticks after this, “Hermione asked me to come, she said that it was important. She also implied that it would piss off Umbridge,” you laughed and Dean smirked.

“Any excuse, hey?”

“Absolutely,” you laughed, relishing in the way his eyes crinkled at the sides and his precious dimples made an appearance, you couldn’t get enough of him. You only waited a couple more minutes before quite a lot of other people came into the pub and Hermione finally began talking.

She started off by saying that they needed a proper teacher considering Voldemort was back and they needed to know proper defensive magic. When she mentioned Voldemort being back, a couple of people scoffed and grumbled but Hermione shut them up with a shrewd look that seemed to channel McGonagall. You had to admit that she was right, you had to protect yourselves, and you would not be on the side on Voldemort.

When Hermione told everyone that Harry could produce a proper Patronus, you gaped, that was very impressive magic, you didn’t know how to do that, “that’s amazing Harry!” at your words he flushed and shook his head.

“I’m not here to brag or anything,” he laughed nervously, “but with Voldemort being back, we need a chance to beat him or he’ll kill us all. No one should have to die like Cedric, which is why Hermione thinks it’s best that we start a club where we can learn defensive magic together. Of course, we’ll work around Quidditch practice and everything like that but I think it’s a good idea.”

It was soon settled, Hermione would let everyone know when they had a date for the first meeting and she urged everyone to keep a look out for a place where they could practice where Umbridge wouldn’t find them. You looked at Astoria who stared back at you with excitement in her eyes, “let’s do it, Cass!”

“Absolutely,” you grinned and you both made your way to the sign-up sheet. You laughed at the name, ‘Dumbledore’s Army,’ as you signed your name.

Dean had a smile on his handsome face as he leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, his pretty eyes gleamed as he looked at you, “I’m surprised that the both of you want to join,” he nodded at both you and Astoria.

You bit your lip and smiled at him, “of course we want to join. Do you think that just because we’re Slytherins that we’re on Voldemort’s side?”

Dean shrugged as he made a face, “I’m just pleasantly surprised Cass, I’ll see you later,” he nodded at you as he walked out into the cold weather.

Astoria smirked at you as she waggled her eyebrows, “Merlin, he is so hot, Cass. Let me know if you ever stop pining for him.”

You giggled as you linked your arm through hers, “come on, let’s go to the Three Broomsticks.”

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cosmic-hearts · 4 years

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castles in the air | lee donghyuck | three

lee donghyuck x female reader

genre; enemies-to-lovers, friendship, romance, fluff, angst

warnings; none

foreword; in which you might be a real-life princess with a prince promised to you right from the start, but you won’t be getting your happy ever after.

<< previous chapter | next chapter >>

Over the next couple of dates, it’s like a switch has been flicked in your relationship with Donghyuck. You could finally say with confidence that he’s a friend, and you’re grateful for this time with him; it feels like you’re both catching up on all the lost years.

Sure, he made fun of you constantly for that obnoxious heart-shaped Prada Odette Heart Bag you always carried around with you for casual dates, and for wearing Dior sneakers on the rare days you weren’t in heels. God, that bag looks like it’s for a twelve-year old. And who the hell wears Dior sneakers? I didn’t even know freaking Dior sold sneakers. You tried explaining to him that it was an AF1xDior collaboration special but that didn’t soften his judgement in any way, so you settled for calling him an uncultured jerk. And there was the time he got gravy on your prized pink bag and you nearly stabbed him with your butter knife.

But there were sweeter times too. When he was feeling generous and perhaps more than a little sentimental, he sang you songs as you two sat on the hood of his car, soaking up the moonlight. These days were rare and therefore exceedingly precious, and though you’d never tell him, you cherished them deeply. His voice whisked you away from this sublunary world, to a place filled with the breath of angels and flights of fancy, a place where you could build castles in the air and wonder what it would be like if what you had with Donghyuck was real.

You love every second with him.

That said, you’re already regretting your decision to go with Donghyuck to his senior high prom. Even your coveted Sadek Majed Summer Spring Couture gown (literally woven with all the blessings of spring) isn’t enough to keep anxiety from clawing its way through the perfectly fitted waistline. It might have something to do with the fact that you’ve never actually been to a prom before.

It doesn’t get any better when you step into his school and all eyes are on you. Perhaps it’s your gown; you had a feeling you’d overdone it this time. You knew it from the moment you got into Donghyuck’s car and his jaw literally dropped. When you asked him what was wrong, he looked away, cleared his throat and gripped the steering wheel unnecessarily hard without bothering to reply. You knew maybe you’d taken it a little too far, but you didn’t think you looked that bad.

Donghyuck brings you to the auditorium, then promptly abandons you in search of Jaemin. You’d expected as much—Lee Donghyuck may have the voice of an angel, but he most certainly isn’t one.

You sip your glass of punch, and when you set it down you see someone’s come to sit opposite you.

“Hi,” she says, eyes curving into crescents, “I think we’ve met before.”

You take a good look at the girl; she’s dressed in a baby blue rafaela dress, obsidian locks tumbling across her shoulders, a sharp contrast to her alabaster complexion.

“Oh, that’s right,” you say, eyes widening in recognition, “Sohui, right? Donghyuck’s girlfriend?”

“Yup,” she says, “I just wanted to say thank you for that day. When you spoke up for me… I really appreciated it.”

You smile. “It’s no problem. Don’t worry about it.”

Sohui scoots over to sit next to you. “I absolutely love your dress. It’s so pretty.”

“Thanks. I really like yours too.”

Silence ensues for a moment, then she says, “Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something.”

“Sure, what is it?” “It’s about Donghyuck.”

Your grip on your glass tightens just the slightest. Of course it would be about Donghyuck.

“I just wanted to ask, when will this whole fake dating thing end? I know I might seem like a really jealous girlfriend right now, but… I’m actually asking for Donghyuck.”

For Donghyuck? “I’m not sure,” you reply truthfully, “but I can try to speed things up. I’m sorry about having to hog him like this; I know it’s not easy for you both.”

Her perfect face almost melts with relief. “Thank you,” she says, “that would be great. Donghyuck’s just been really stressed lately and I’m worried about him.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, why has he been stressed? Did he say something?”

Sohui sighs, her shoulders falling into a slump. “I’m not sure if I should tell you this.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t say anything to him if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“Okay then. I don’t know how to put this any other way, but… it might be because of you.”

And then she tells you. She finally tells you the reason why Donghyuck had spent the majority of his life hating you.

Your expression never once falters, not even a bit. Not even when Donghyuck returns and you witness his face light up at the sight of his real girlfriend.

You will not falter.

—

“Hey,” Donghyuck says, his voice filling the silence that had been permeating the car all the way back. “You’re being unusually quiet today.”

You fiddle with the embroidered flowers sewn into your dress, iridescent in the shaft of moonlight streaming through the car window. Tonight, even the beautiful artistry of fashion fails to make you smile.

“I’m just tired.”

Donghyuck laughs. “I didn’t ever think you could run out of energy at events like these. You always looked so perfectly put together at every single social function. Unlike me. God, I always found it all so tiring. I could never understand how you did it.”

You didn’t know me, you bite back the urge to say, just like how I still don’t know you.

It seems like years pass before he reaches your house, and for once, you can’t wait to bolt out of the car, to run as far away from him as possible.

“By the way, I wanted to tell you something.”

You respond with a questioning glance. Donghyuck’s gaze darts away from you and he rubs the back of his neck awkwardly.

“When I first saw you just now… I didn’t think you looked bad at all. Really.”

Your heart stills for a moment.

“I thought you looked... really pretty. I mean, you still look… really pretty, of course.”

You give him a polite smile, say thank you and goodnight, step out of the car and walk away until you hear the sound of the engine revving.

It is then that you finally fall apart.

“His hatred for you… it’s because he feels that you’re tying him down. Holding him back from all the things he wants to achieve. He told me that he hated you because he was made to marry you from the start and he viewed this marriage as a prison. He feels that you’re taking his freedom away from him.”

Your head spins.

“So you can probably see… having to spend all this time with you… it’s taking a toll on him. I think for his sake, you should end it soon.”

You let out a bitter chuckle at your own hypocrisy—you wanted to help him reach for the stars, but you’re the one who’s chaining him to the ground.

Your house stands before you like a castle gleaming in the starlight. You sigh, a soft sound that escapes immediately into the darkness.

All this time, you were merely building castles in the air. How naive of you to believe that what you and Donghyuck had could ever be real.

But you’re strong and you don’t need anyone, you tell yourself. You close your eyes, imagining the moonlight washing away the pain, the starlight making you new and whole again. You’ll be ready to make things right; it’s the least you can do for Donghyuck.

And you? You’ll be okay. You always are.

—

“Darling, you look absolutely fabulous.”

You won’t demur or say otherwise, not when you actually do think you look ready to rule the goddamn universe tonight.

You decided on a dress from POEM Couture’s autumn-winter collection, and you really do think you look like a dream, ethereal almost. Your hair is put up in a low tendril twist bun with curled wisps escaping from the knot, framing the sides of your face.

You’re about to head downstairs to check in on the decorations when your phone screen lights up with a message.

From: hyuck

happy birthday, see u later ;) mayhaps i got u a present

Jaw tightening, you put your phone facedown on your desk.

Don’t ruin your makeup, you say sternly to yourself, swallowing harshly to get rid of the sudden thickness in your throat.

You just need to get through this night and everything will be okay again.

—

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much for being here to celebrate my daughter’s 18th birthday with us today.”

Donghyuck looks out at the sea of people in stiff suits and designer dresses, and pulls uncomfortably at his necktie. How many of these people do you actually know, he wonders? They’re probably your parents’ colleagues, friends, rivals, people they wanted to show you off to. They’re milling about at your birthday celebration, making polite, small talk and pretending like they actually want to be here.

“Y/N has always been the most perfect child,” your mother coos into the mic, “and we’re so lucky to have her as our daughter. Today is a very special day; our daughter has grown up into a beautiful young lady, with a beautiful mind of her own. And I’m so happy that she has finally found the one for her to blossom through her eighteenth year with.” She sends a wink in Donghyuck’s direction, and he offers back a weak smile while his own parents look proudly on.

He wonders where you are, and why you haven’t replied to his text. Then again, he imagines that you must be absolutely swamped with preparations for today. He makes a mental note to go find you later so he can pass you your present in private.

“All right, I won’t delay this anymore. After all, this is my daughter’s night, not mine. Everyone, I present to you, Y/N!”

Like magic, you appear from the shadows of the upper wing and all goes quiet.

Donghyuck’s eyes widen.

He doesn’t know much about fashion, but it doesn’t take much to realize that you’re dressed to kill tonight. The midnight purple bodice of your gown fades out into a lush pink in a glorious ombre, like twilight melding with a rosy sunrise. Your hair is delicately tied in a low bun, curly wisps gently kissing the sides of your face. Under the luminous light of the chandelier above, your skin is aglow with radiance, eyes aflame with a sparkle that takes his breath away.

As you descend the grand staircase, a hand on the gold rail, a regal aura is composed around you and time seems to stop. Donghyuck swears he can hear several sharp intakes of breath.

You look just like a princess.

You look like you have the blood of a royal running through your veins. If Donghyuck has the ability to command and captivate with his voice, you too have that same ability, but with your mere presence.

“Oh, my darling daughter,” your mother gushes, arms extended towards you. She raises a hand towards Donghyuck, signalling him to come over.

“I’m so glad you two are finally together. I mean, we knew it would happen all along, but now that it’s finalized, I can rest assured,” she announces, and Donghyuck finds that he can scarcely lift his eyes to meet yours; you’re simply too dazzling.

The crowd erupts into applause, and at first it is low, quiet him, but it soon morphs into a collective cheer, “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!”

You cast a despairing glance at your mother, trying to convey to her the sheer impropriety of such a notion, but she merely winks at you and whispers, “Don’t worry, we’re not all that old-fashioned.”

Unconsciously, you grab a fistful of your dress as your heart begins to race. You simply cannot kiss Donghyuck, that would literally be the end of you. Donghyuck would hate it with every fibre of his being, and you don’t want to force him into doing this; he would hate you even more than he already does. You absolutely cannot bear the thought of tasting the disgust on his lips—

A warm hand closes around yours, the one that’s nervously clutching onto the folds of your dress. Your fist uncurls and your relaxes as Donghyuck threads his fingers through yours, his grip firm but gentle. He places his other hand on your cheek and whispers so softly that you know it is meant for your ears alone,

“Can I kiss you?”

You look up into his eyes, expecting to find reluctance and discomfort, but instead, his eyes are burning with a sort of—you wouldn’t call it desire, not exactly, but more of determination to see this moment through, because he too knows that there’s no way out of this.

So you let your eyelids flutter shut to indicate your assent; you might as well get this done and over with, it’s all meaningless anyway and Donghyuck knows it too.

But the moment his lips meet yours, a shower of sparks explodes in your chest and you can feel your heart sing. Your grip on his hand tightens as you attempt to hold him close and you will this moment to last forever so that you can memorize the sweet taste of his lips on yours, the heat of his hand against your cheek, handling you with such gentleness and care you almost believe this charade you’re both playing is real. He presses his lips against yours just a little deeper, draws you closer to him ever so slightly, thumb stroking your flushed cheek, and a shiver of electricity jolts through your veins, sending a chill down your spine—maybe the castles you’d been building in the air can be real after all.

But this isn’t a fairytale, and your happy ever after won’t come by so easily.

Donghyuck’s lips leave yours. As quickly as it had begun, it was over, and the castles crumble right before you. You can’t hear the whoops and cheers arising from all around—in that moment, all you are aware of is Lee Donghyuck, gazing down at you with the darkness of midnight in his eyes and stardust streaked across his face.

You’re suddenly transported back to a cramped, dimly-lit closet, where a boy huddled so close to you you could feel his breath on the shell of your ear and see the beauty spots that speckled his skin. Like stardust.

“... if I kiss you, you might just fall in love with me. Can’t risk that now, can we?”

How right he is. You almost let out a sardonic laugh right then and there.

You’re royally screwed, and all it took was a single kiss.

—

You gaze out at the cityscape below you, breathing in the cool night air on the balcony and watching the twinkling nightlife of the rest of the world. You hope the chilly winds will cool the warmth in your cheeks and restore your former composure, so you won’t look like you’ve just been wrecked apart with the mere sensation of Donghyuck’s lips on yours.

That would be too humiliating.

You’re about to turn around and go back to the party, back to where you should be, when you feel a soft tug on your bun. Your hair escapes free from its tight hold and falls down your back, a long and lustrous stream illuminated by moonlight.

You turn to the side and see Donghyuck, eyes gleaming with mischief. The familiarity of this action makes your heart swell; it’s like he’s reminding you of the memories he made with you. It’s like he’s deliberately making this so damn difficult for you.

“I hope you haven’t forgotten that you haven’t returned me my Scrunchie,” you say, and Donghyuck lets out a loud guffaw.

“Don’t worry, you’ll get it back soon.”

Then his gaze suddenly drops away from yours, towards the floor. He rubs the back of his neck, cheeks blazing. “About just now—,”

“Thank you for that. I really appreciated it, and I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

“N-No,” Donghyuck says, a little too quickly, “it was fine for me.. Really. I was actually wondering if you were okay with it.”

Oh, he had no idea.

“We did what we had to do, and that’s all that matters,” you reply, turning away from him to face the night.

You two stand in silence for a moment, your heart hammering in your chest as you gather up the courage let Donghyuck go.

Now.

“Y/N,” Donghyuck starts, right at the exact moment you say, “I think it’s time.”

Donghyuck tilts his head to the side, eyes focused on you. “You go first.”

You take a deep breath and plough forth. No turning back now. “I think it’s time to stop this. Tomorrow I’ll tell my parents that I want to cancel the engagement.”

Donghyuck freezes, eyes wide, and for a moment you think you saw a glimpse of hurt flash across his eyes. But you must be deluding yourself.

“Why?”

You raise an eyebrow in feigned incredulity. “What do you mean why? We were supposed to end all of this after we tried it out for a while, just to show our parents that we were putting in the effort. I’ll let them know tomorrow that I want to break up with you. I think we’ve fake dated for long enough and it should be enough to convince our parents. It’s time we both moved on, don’t you think?” you say, doing your best to keep your tone light while twirling a lock of hair around your finger and hoping you were a picture-perfect portrait of absolute indifference. And not a shaking mess.

Donghyuck’s eyes are glassy, and if you didn’t know any better, you’d think he looked crushed.

“I just have one question,” he says, eyes boring into you, “well, two, actually.”

You lift your chin to meet his gaze, a defiant shine in your eyes and a coy smile on your lips. “Go ahead.”

“Did you feel anything when we kissed?”

It is your turn to freeze. Why would he ask this? And how can you possibly tell him that when he kissed you it was like a thousand angels were singing in unison, and you felt your heart soaring to places it had never been before? That if you could, you would grab his collar, pull him towards you and claim his lips just once more—

“Are you drunk right now, Lee Donghyuck? That’s literally the craziest thing to ask. Of course I didn’t.”

His eyes harden. “Great. Just… one more question then.”

You cross your arms over your chest because your hands are shaking visibly and you’re unable to stop them.

“Is this what you really want?”

Again, you’re assaulted by a wave of deja-vu—the same cold, starlit night on a different balcony, where he’d asked you the same question in all earnestness. Previously you weren’t sure if he really cared what you wanted, but now that you know he truly cares, it makes it all the more painful.

“I don’t want a model answer, Y/N. I’m asking you what you really want.”

You bite down hard on your lip, suppressing the wildness in you that screams no.

“Again, that’s a stupid question. Of course it’s what I want. Why wouldn’t it be? It’s what we both want, isn’t it? You wanted so much to break our marriage contract because you hate me. That’s why we’re doing all this in the first place.”

A film descends over his eyes at that moment and your heart breaks.

“You’re right,” he says after what seems like an eternity, voice barely above a whisper, “we should have ended this long ago. I’m sorry. For wasting your time.”

Your heart breaks at his words, even though you’d seen them coming from a mile away and you really don’t have the right to expect anything else. Your heart breaks at the way he’s already slipping away from you.

Even though he was never yours to begin with.

He steps closer to you and takes your wrist. You feel a prickle of electricity course through your bones, but he merely hands you a large shopping bag.

“Happy birthday, Y/N,” he says, with a smile that appears forced and yet genuine all at once. Like he really wants to smile at you but he can’t bring himself to.

And with that, he turns and leaves. You grip tightly onto the bag, fingernails digging into the skin of your palm as his silhouette fades back into the glow of the ballroom.

You don’t even have it in you to cry, to regret, to yell for him to come back.

Because the moment he left a gaping hole tore through you and now you are just too filled up with empty to feel anything.

—

Hey Y/N,

Happy birthday! I can’t believe it’s been so long since we started hanging out. Honestly, I’d long forgotten about our contract, and now that I think about it, it’s actually so stupid—how did we even come up with that bullshit? Then again, I guess I’m glad we did, because it gave us the opportunity to hang out and without it, I would never have known what a great person you are.

Here’s your Scrunchie (did you really think I wouldn’t give it back lol) and your birthday present, because I’m sorry I got gravy on your ugly ass Prada bag. Don’t worry, this one’s also from Prada, and I think it’s SO much nicer—my mum helped me get it custom made. I personally chose all the colors and the design, and it has your name inscribed inside so you’d better not lose it. Don’t you dare get gravy on this one or else I’ll literally come for your ass.

All right, now that that’s out of the way, it’s confession time. You’re right, I did hate you before (and it’s not because I hate pink, I swear), but I realized that it wasn’t personal. I just hated having to marry you, not because of you, but I just didn’t want to be in an arranged marriage. I thought that would take all my freedom away and I really didn’t want that. I’m sorry for hating you so much—that was just plain stupid of me.

But in a funny way, even though I saw you as killing my freedom, you were the one who gave it back to me—you were the one who rekindled my love for singing at a time when everyone around me was telling me I should give it up. I can’t believe you still remembered that I sing, by the way. I didn’t even know that you knew, so that was pretty cool of you. So yeah, I just wanted to say thank you for that, you have no idea how much it meant to me. How important it was to me. If you look inside the Prada bag you’ll find a USB drive. I’d actually been working on a song for you for a couple months just to say thank you. It’s called “Beautiful Time”, and I really hope you’ll like it.

I hope that whatever happens next, we’ll always be friends, because you’re seriously one of the coolest and strongest people I know. Sometimes I wish I had your strength; I don’t know if you know this, but you’re so strong it makes me jealous sometimes. It’s crazy how we’re the same age but you’re just so much more mature and stronger. You’re just… so amazing sometimes.

All right, before I puke writing this, let’s just end it here. Here’s to many more memories and great times, have a great birthday Y/N <3

Love, Donghyuck

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anakinsbugs · 4 years

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Aransas Wildlife Refuge – Winter Home of the Whooping Crane

New Post has been published on https://walrusvideo.com/aransas-wildlife-refuge-winter-home-of-the-whooping-crane/

Aransas Wildlife Refuge – Winter Home of the Whooping Crane

Aransas Wildlife Refuge is famous for being the winter home of the Whooping Crane. Aransas County, Texas is one of the hottest birding spots in the country. In fact, USA Today readers recently choice named Aransas National Wildlife Refuge as the number one birding spot in the nation. There you can see 400 different species of birds. Aransas County has long been on the great texas coastal birding trail because of its position on the central flyway path for migratory birds.

On This Page

ANWR What it is, and Where

National Wildlife Refuge System

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

Best trails in Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas

Aransas Wildlife Refuge Check List

How often do you visit the ANW Refuge?

ANW Refuge Austwell

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Whooping Crane Survey

Aransas Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)

Texas is home to the Aransas Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). This refuge is known for helping to save the whooping crane from extinction. In 1941 there were only 15 whooping cranes left, this refuge was established previously to help to breed them and took the responsibility to save the whooping crane. The refuge offers many activities for visitors. There are many different nature trails and observation places to enjoy the wildlife from.

Tourists flock to the Aransas Wildlife Refuge Austwell during the winter to catch a glimpse of the whooping cranes. This year was special as a nesting pair of bald eagles was also drawing bird lovers in. About halfway down the refuge’s one-way, 9-mile driving loop visitors stop or pull their cars over to watch the iconic birds nesting in the distance.

National Wildlife Refuge System

Aransas Wildlife Refuge, coastal habitat conservation area in Southern Texas, U.S., located about 50 miles (80 km) northeast of Corpus Christi. The refuge, parts of which are jointly administered by state and federal agencies, covers a total of 181 square miles (469 square km) on the Gulf of Mexico , including large tracts of land on Matagorda Island and on a broad peninsula between San Antonio Bay and St. Austwell.

The refuge was established in 1937 to serve as “a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife…” and “…for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds…” The wildlife conservation mission of the national wildlife refuge system and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ensures the refuge will continue to conserve, protect and enhance these lands for the benefit of wildlife and the American people.

In 1937 a large effort was needed to protect dwindling populations of migratory birds and other wildlife in the region. Set aside by the executive order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, this unique gulf coast landscape has remained largely natural. It has been able to continue its ongoing legacy of constant and dramatic transformation That’s a process that began when it was first formed roughly 120,000 years ago.

Aransas is considered the “crown jewel” of the national wildlife refuge system. It is the only summering ground for the endangered whooping crane and home to large colonies of birds including pelicans, cranes, herons and egrets. The refuge has a number of small walking trails and also has a scenic 10 mi (16 km) drive through its interior. Wild boar, alligators and armadillos can also be seen at the refuge.

Current weather conditions for Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Tx, are obtained from the closest government-operated station. That is a personal station contributing to the PWSweather. Com network which may have varying degrees of accuracy Or the forecast may be obtained from the Meteorological Assimilation Data Ingest System (MADIS).

The nearest weather station for both precipitation and temperature measurements is Aransas Wildlife which is approximately 8 miles away and has an elevation of 15 feet (2 feet higher than the refuge trail system).

This refuge is one of over 545 national wildlife refuges spanning the united states and managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The national wildlife refuge system is the only national system of lands dedicated to conserving our wildlife heritage for today and generations yet to come. The Aransas refuge is comprised of over 115,000 acres including the Blackjack Peninsula, Matagorda Island, Myrtle Foester Whitmire, Tatton and Lamar units.

This reserve is a large contiguous complex of wetland, terrestrial, and marine environments named for the two river systems that flow into it. Coastal prairie, oak motte, riparian freshwater, and salt marsh habitats, make up the reserve. The water portion consists of three large, open and shallow bays that support extensive tidal flats, seagrass beds, mangroves, and oyster reefs. The largest wetland habitat (24,400 acres) on the north side of the reserve is part of the refuge and is the winter home to the critically endangered whooping crane.

Just one of five hundred and more national wildlife refuges spanning the US, theses are a national system of lands. Lands that are dedicated to conserving US wildlife heritage not only today but for many generations into the future.

The wildlife refuge is partnering with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to offer hunters the convenience of applying for refuge hunt permits online. Hunters are now able to apply for the refuge’s white-tailed deer and feral hog hunting permits through the texas parks and wildlife department’s online public hunt draw system.

Slowly rebounding from near extinction, this bird’s survival depends on a healthy gulf.

In the classic fine photo of the refuge a whooping crane typically stretches skyward. It remains a vital refuge for at-risk birds. Resilient whooping cranes have been slowly rebounding from near extinction during the past century, but their survival still depends on a delicate coastal ecosystem.

The friends of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

The friends of Aransas National Wildlife was founded in October of 1997. They care about the refuge and want to help the US Fish and Wildlife Service with their mission of protecting wildlife and wildlife habitat. With 501 (c) (3) not for profit status, they have grown to approximately 100 members.

It is one of the most popular birding areas in Texas, famous as the best site in the world for the largest wild flock of the endangered whooping crane. In addition, a large number of other birds can be seen there. More than 392 species have been recorded in total, one of the longest bird lists from any of the USA’s network of wildlife refuges.

A park entrance fee is charged per day — $3 per person or $5 per vehicle. Note: various passes are available that permit free access to all national wildlife refuges. For more information, refer to the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service Refuge Passes Dept.

The texas coastal bend has long been a region that whooping cranes migrated to for the winter. This coastal bend includes the deep curved area located along the gulf. One of its largest cities includes Corpus Christi, and other areas include Laguna Madre, North Padre Island, and Mustang Island. In the last few years, a record number of cranes have touched down along the Texas coast.

A recent visitor to the refuge peered through a scope atop an observation deck. She had never seen a whooping crane, and a pair of them towered over other birds foraging on the flats in the distance. “This is a place worth saving,” she said. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced it would spend $26. 9 million making whole again a national wildlife refuge carved up by hurricane Harvey.

Aransas Wildlife Volunteers

I want to take a minute to recognize a few long-time volunteers at Aransas Wildlife Refuge that really do make a difference for our wildlife and wild places. First off, a long-time volunteer at Aransas was awarded as the 2017 Coastal Steward by the coastal bend bays foundation at the Annual Environmental Awards Banquet on 7 December. That guy put a great deal of “sweat equity” into Aransas over the years, from mowing, cutting and spraying invasive species to helping our maintenance staff with all sorts of projects.

Aransas national wildlife refuge is a 115,324-acre (466. 7km2) protected area situated on the southwest side of San Antonio bay along the gulf coast of the U.S. State of Texas. It is located in parts of Aransas, Refugio, and Calhoun counties. It is situated on the southwest side of San Antonio Bay, formed by the mouth of the Guadalupe River. It also includes nearly the entirety of Matagorda Island, a 38-mile barrier island.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to see the endangered whooping cranes. We offer the chance to witness these birds in their natural habitat! These are winter and springtime trips to the Aransas refuge. The lowest impact way to see these birds is from the water looking onto the refuge, and there is no better way to see them than in the comfort of the wharf cat and scat cat.

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge was originally known as Aransas Migratory Waterfowl Refuge It is located on the Blackjack Peninsula, eight miles southeast of Austwell and midway between Rockport and Port Lavaca, on the gulf coast. The refuge comprises 54,829 acres of scattered blackjack oak woodlands, fresh and saltwater marshes, ponds, and coastal grasslands on the mainland, as well as 56,668 acres on Matagorda island. Karankawa, Lipan, Tonkawa, and Comanche Indians once occupied the area.

Friends of the refuge recently gave out 500 shells they had painted, as well as roseate spoonbill postcards and Aransas NWR pencils, and information about the refuge. One member created a photo album that she had on display at the table, and that got a lot of interest.

The refuge will resume collecting fees to access the refuge beginning on Friday, March 5, 2021. Fees are used to support and enhance visitor facilities, infrastructure (trails and structures), and public programs. The contact station and restrooms will remain closed (portable restrooms are available). All visitors will need to register and pay the daily access fee (cash only) at the information kiosk/iron ranger.

There was plenty of outdoor fun to be had last autumn at the Aransas Wildlife Refuge in Austwell. Activities included archery and BB gun shooting, kids’ fishing, cast netting lessons, crafts, kayaking, junior wildland firefighter events, face painting, casting and fly fishing practice, wildlife games and more.

The bugle of the endangered whooping crane echoes across the far reaches of the marsh. Only at Aransas refuge do North America’s tallest birds find an enduring winter stronghold. Here, too, pelicans, herons, egrets, roseate spoonbills, ducks, and geese dine, in brackish waters and salt marshes teeming with fishes, blue crabs, and clams. Onshore, javelinas, bobcats and deer wander oak woodlands.

The Trails in Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas

The refuge is open daily and features a driving trail, walking trails, observation tower, and picnic area. It’s a short drive from Port Aransas and the Aransas Wildlife Refuge is well worth it. You can get up close and personal with whooping cranes and alligators. The time we went there with our dog, they told us to leave the dog in the car because it will look like dinner to the alligators! Additional activities include hiking, birding, picnicking, and fishing. Six leisurely hiking trails totalling 4.

Aransas national wildlife refuge is a 114,657 acre (464 km2) protected area situated on the southwest side of San Antonio bay along the gulf coast of the U.S. State of Texas. It is located in parts of Aransas, Refugio, and Calhoun counties.

My husband and I have been to that refuge several times over the past 20 years. It is a huge refuge at 115,324 acres. We spent about 4 hours at the refuge on this visit. We found 7 alligators on the rail trail ( 0. 3 miles) and heron trail ( 1. 4 miles ). Part of the heron trail was closed due to a damaged footbridge. We had gone to the wildlife refuge in the spring for the first time to photograph the whooping cranes at the refuge. However, the morning of our trip was so foggy all of the photos were pretty disappointing. At that time we decided we had to go back in November and indeed we did return. We found out about Kevin Sim’s charter boats, Aransas Bay Birding Charters, and booked a trip on the jack flash.

Barn owls are still quite common in the refuge, and I took a wonderful photo of a fox squirrel standing on top knotted bark of a tree. Another great shot was of an alligator hiding in the brush. So for my money, Aransas County, Texas is indeed one of the hottest birding spots in the country.

Aransas refuge is displayed on the “Mesquite Bay” USGS quadrangle of their topo map. Anyone who is interested in visiting Aransas National Wildlife Refuge can print the free topographic map and other maps using the link above. The location, topography, and nearby roads and trails around the refuge (park) can be seen in the map layers.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) offers a variety of draw hunts. I usually put my name in the hat for a couple of them every year, but I never had any luck getting drawn. That all changed this past December when I received an email from TPWD informing me that I had been drawn for a hunt in the Aransas Wildlife Refuge. The quarry was whitetail deer and feral pigs.

Wildlife Refuge Check List

You have a vacation wish list a mile long, but there’s one spot that needs to be checked off now. You’re not about to be the only person who hasn’t seen that national wildlife refuge, so it’s high time you see it your way. We found an absurdly cheap deal on a hotel near the refuge. What’s a vacation anyway if you can’t treat yourself?

For bird-watchers, the 115,000-acre ANWR is the premier site on the Texas coast, with more than 400 species having been documented here. Even people who don’t carry binoculars and ornithological checklists can get caught up in the bird-spotting frenzy. It peaks here every March and November but is still great throughout the year. None are more famous, more followed or more watched than the whooping-cranes – among the rarest creatures in North America.

Situated on the Texas Gulf Coast along San Antonio Bay, the 70,504 acres of the ANWR are host to an exotic array of wildlife, including alligators, javelina (collared peccary), snakes, bobcats and whooping cranes. A 16-mile one-way driving tour takes visitors through the refuge’s grassland, oak thicket, freshwater pond, and marshland habitats, providing excellent wildlife viewing opportunities.

How often do you visit the Aransas Wildlife Refuge?

Bird watching enthusiasts will want to take a short 45-minute drive to the refuge located on the San Antonio Bay near Austwell. This remarkable place is home each season to thousands of migratory birds including pelicans, herons, egrets, spoonbills, shorebirds, ducks, and geese.

The white prickly poppies are in full bloom in early May. Against a clear blue sky, the temperature is rising, but the spring flowers bring relief, at least in a visual sense. This was my first visit to this particular refuge, yet it feels familiar. In my experience, the refuges share a stillness that sets them apart from the world we come from.

All the information you need to know about ANWR Airport is available online. While vacationing in Rockport, Texas, we visited the ANWR and Mustang Island State Park. They were both about a 30-minute scenic drive from our spot at Bay View RV Park. We took many pictures, shot a few videos, and got sweaty in the hot and humid Southern Texas weather.

Aransas Rail Trail in the Wildlife Refuge Austwell

Aransas national wildlife refuge rail trail is a 1. 2 miles moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Austwell, Texas that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for walking, nature trips, and bird watching and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on a leash.

The youth conservation corps workers spent 8 weeks working in different areas of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. The students spent one day working in the pollinator garden. They did an amazing job and accomplished more in one day than we ever imagined possible.

Refuge Whooping Crane Survey

The refuge begins posting updates once the birds begin arriving (around mid-October) and posts information frequently until the birds leave for their summer home in Canada (near the end of March). Once the birds have left their wintering grounds and the data has been fully analyzed, the refuge prepares the Aransas-wood buffalo whooping crane abundance survey, a full report on the season. This information will also be made available to the public.

The ANWR completed the annual whooping crane abundance survey 2021 in the last week of February and were able to fly three primary surveys and two secondary surveys. Areas surveyed stretch along the Texas coast from Matagorda to Port Aransas. The pilot with the USFWS migratory birds program, flew the survey crew in a wheeled Kodiak again this year. In addition to an overall estimate of the winter population size, the survey provides the ANWR with an estimate of how many juveniles were “recruited” into the population last summer.

This article was originally posted on https://holidaynexus.com/

The Article Aransas Wildlife Refuge – Winter Home of the Whooping Crane First Appeared ON : https://gqcentral.co.uk

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sothischickshe · 4 years

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GGWEEK2020 OTP HEADCANONS

Ok, I was tagged by @foxmagpie to answers questions 1, 12, 22, 30, 36 and one or more of your choice from this list which unsurprisingly contains other numbers also.

I’m gonna do this about Brio for the lulz, but obvi they’re gross and no one would possibly ship it.

1) who can outdrink the other?

Is this a joke? Beth’s, like, a professional drinker. If you think she can’t drink that skinny motherfucker under the table, chair, and like any furniture (had she some), I don’t know what’s going on with you.

12) who hogs the bathroom?

Yes.

22) which one makes a big deal about birthdays?

WHOSE?!

i mean they’re both parents and they’re both lame and they’re both very into scheduling as far as I can tell, so i’d imagine they’re very into making a fuss about other people’s birthdays, but they’re also very cagey and very weird and ofc live in a world where time moves differently so i’d imagine they do not like making a fuss of their own. i kind of think they’d understand why the other is like that cos duh samesies, but whether they’d be respectful of that fact....oy

30) Which one gets more excited over the first snow of winter?

lol well neither of them, they’re trapped in a singular vague season for all time. but were they transported elsewhere, i feel like it’s gotta be rio on the grounds that:

one child + icey sitch feels manageable (beth’s probs like oh god, what fresh hell this time, and that’s just over annie, never mind her thousand children)

excuse to buy and peacock new winterwear

doesnt have to hear, like, 300000 times: ha ha YOU’RE THE SAME COLOUR AS THE SNOW LOLLLLLLLLLL

less likely to have snow thrown at him - mick seems pretty chill. i feel like a lot of ppl would use the socially acceptable opportunity to attack beth

36) What are things they both find funny?

HA. well they both think beth is hilarious, bc she is!!! ALSO TAUNTING PEOPLE WHEN THEY THINK THEY HAVE THE UPPER HAND. children, i think they both think children are funny. annie. ruby. mick. GOSSIPING. i think theyre both gossipy bitches. GETTING AWAY WITH THINGS. SHIT PUNS. CALLBACKS. SURPRISING PEOPLE/LIGHT STALKING. BAD THINGS HAPPENING TO PEOPLE THEY DON’T LIKE. DOING A BIT FOR SO LONG THAT EVERYONE ELSE IS LITERALLY GROANING INTO THEIR HANDS. WINNING.

16) who gives the other cringe-worthy pet names?

!!!!!! MF BETH!!!!

ok im gonna take up the poss controversial point of view that a general term of endearment is not a pet name, and neither is someone’s, yknow, name.

so i feel like there’d first be a point where beth’s impishly sweethearting etc rio, which would eventually morph into some absolutely appalling and unintentionally inappropriate pet name/s with like a convoluted appropriate and actually kinda sweet origin story like cockadoodle or something, while everyone else is like... beth....no. shh. you can’t. SHHHHHHHHHHHH. and rio’s like WHAT IT’S A GREAT STORY ABOUT PUPPYSITTING LET ME TELL MY BORING ANECDOTE FOR THE MILLIONTH TIME and everyone is like NO SHUT UP OLD MAN

I am tagging @bourbon-ontherocks for number 7, @missmaxime for number 21, @sdktrs12 for 32, @septiembur for for 38 and 49, and mf everyone for 43!!!

#im sorry i bit through my tongue on 12 #I NEED TO GO EDIT LIKE...LEGIT THAT #but the short answer is... yes?#HAVE YOU SEEN THESE VAIN IDIOTS #BOTH!#but.... we know beth doesnt know how to lock a bathroom door so.........#WHO THINKS SHE LOCKED THE BATHROOM DOOR WHEN SHE WENT FOR HER 209 SHOWER?#COS I DO NOT.................#ah i think i saved an otp meme in my drafts for today yknow!#lemme look #nbc good girls #ggweek2020 #tv #no pressure to the tagged obvi #but these look fun #as a (former?) professional drinker #MEN CAN'T DRINK FOR SHIT #IDIOTS #O N ALSO: JOINT PUBLIC BATHROOM HOGGING REMAINS A FAVE HOBBY OBVS

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austarus · 5 years

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Harry Wells x Reader Return of the Crisis

**A/N: The picture/edit/gif does not belong to me. It belongs to its rightful owner(s).

The clouds hung in the sky, overcast and obscuring the sun’s rays over Central City, further enforcing the fact that the brutal cold of winter was approaching. That at this point it's best for people to make like bears and hibernate rather than be outdoors bustling about in the city, particularly past 4 in the late afternoon. Darkness had already seeped over the city-life as the lamp-lights illuminated the roads and parks like clockwork, one by one flickering to life. From the distance, the lights seemed beautiful and the noise was expected, but could be tuned out after a bit.

You had taken nature’s chilled whispers to remain indoors, where the cold wouldn’t nip at your skin.

Yet, a sudden chill ran down your spine, causing goosebumps to form all over your body, but… it wasn’t from the cold. You were perfectly warm with a fuzzy blanket over you, the heat turned on to a decent temperature in your apartment. The words on the pages in front of you blurred out of focus as you furrowed your eyebrows in confusion at the sensation. Something felt… off. Foreboding and ominous, even. As if something bad was about to unfold in the world, maybe the multiverse. Putting your book down, you screwed your eyes tightly and rubbed your face in order to wake up and refocus your vision.

You picked up your phone that laid beside you, checking for any messages from the team, but found none except for a notification of a time-limited redeemable coupon for Jitters. You sighed and threw the phone back onto the cushion. If only I was a meta with psychic-premonition abilities, maybe then I could understand why I’m feeling like this. You ran a hand through your damp locks, rolling your eyes at your thoughts. I’d actually be helpful rather than just staying in the Cortex all the time.

Your mind mentally wandered off to what your Earth-2 man’s currently doing at this time of day. Speaking of which, Harry hasn’t called me in awhile, you unlocked your phone, checking your texts and calls. Nothing... Your shoulders slump slightly, missing him but understanding that he’s probably busy with adapting to the business side of STAR Labs and allowing Jesse to be head of the science-y side of the Labs. I hope he’s okay, both him and Jesse. I wonder how she’s doing at her university and her Quicksters team. I hope Harry’s been sleeping well and actually eating meals that aren’t just BBB. You contemplated sending Harry a quick message to know your thinking about him, but decided against it. The last thing you wanted was to annoy him or bother him when he’s in a meeting. Even though the man has told you many times you’re not a bother, you can’t help but think so when you’re both a breach away.

A puff of frustration left your lips as you shoved the blanket off you and pushed it onto the couch to stand. You stretched your body to relive it from the tension of sitting on the couch for a long period of time, a little noise escaped your throat and your eyes rolled back into your head. After stretching you found yourself meandering to your kitchen, fumbling about the cabinets, antsy to get rid of this feeling. Maybe some tea or hot chocolate would help? Pulling out a mug with “I can’t adult today” printed on it, you shuffled through your drink cabinet before finding a hot chocolate bag then moved over to the fridge to get the milk.

You glanced at your phone every few seconds or so, waiting for a call or text from Iris or Barry to confirm that something is happening. And that you’re not being paranoid as heck for nothing.You tried reassuring yourself that nothing’s wrong, that everyone’s okay. You were almost done making your hot chocolate, just adding a few marshmallows into the drink along with some peppermint candies. Yet, the foreboding sensation never left, instead it had settled in your stomach and intensified with each passing minute. One look at your drink actually made you a bit reluctant to take a few sips without the possibility of throwing up. Another chill ran through your body, this time the hairs at the back of your neck sticking up.

With your cup of hot chocolate in hand, you strolled back into the living room in deep thought. Everything’s fine, I’m just being paranoid for nothing.

Swwoomsh, swoomsh

Your body froze in place, eyes widening as a breach opened right in front of you. Anticipation crawled all over your body as you finally took a defensive step back and the hot cup readied in your hand if the person on the other side were to be vile. After what seemed like forever, but was really a few seconds, the breach made another sound that signaled the arrival of someone or something. In a flash, Jesse had sped through the breach latched on to Harry, with yellow-green bits of lightning guiding them through. You almost dropped your mug at the sight of them. They both looked at each other before making eye contact with you, who had stood there still in shock.

“It worked,” he whispered and Jesse immediately let go of her dad, who had dropped his black bag before shuffling over to you.

His whisper had broken you out of your shocked state. Instantly, you set your mug down onto the coffee table when he started moving towards you. “Harry?! What-” The words got stuck in your throat as two arms encased you close to his body. The dark-haired man held you tightly to him, a sense of urgency in his hold.

Harry buried his face into your hair, breathing you in as if you’re the one thing he needs to continue breathing and living. “You’re okay, thank the multiverse. You’re okay,” he whispered in that low voice of his, shutting his eyes in relief. You bit on the inside of your cheek and wrapped your arms around him. Shutting your eyes, you drank in the feeling of having him so close to you once more. Perhaps this is what that foreboding feeling was about?

Jesse smiled at the two of you and rolled her eyes slightly at how long that hug lasted, “Don’t hog her all to yourself dad. After all, you’re not the only one who missed her.”

After calming his breathing Harry pulled away, giving you a soft kiss to your lips before allowing Jesse to hug you as well. Like her father, the young adult also gave you a tight hug. Pulling away, you stood back a bit to get a good look at the two with confusion lacing your features. Jesse’s speedster suit was torn in some places and other had looked like it was burnt, while Harry had a few scratches on him as well.

“What happened?” Your question was like a bucket of ice water to them. The harsh reality setting in and the fact that they’d have to explain their unannounced visit.

Jesse started, playing with her fingers a bit and eyes avoiding you. “Earth-2, it-”

“It’s… gone.”

Jesse swallowed thickly, narrowing her eyes at the carpeted ground.

You raised an eyebrow, feeling that ice cold bucket hitting you now. “G-gone?” They both nodded, albeit Jesse a bit more reluctantly with slumped shoulders and a heavy expression. You made the connection that the young speedster might feel responsible for not being able to save her Earth. Her home. They lost it all.

“Gone. Destroyed. No more.” Harry looked down with an exasperated sigh, rubbing his features before looking back up at you. He looked tired, a hard look on his face. You can tell his mind is recounting all that had happened back on Earth-2.

They both watched you as the gears moved in your head, your mouth opening a fraction to say something, but you decided against it. Instead, you moved close to both Wells and hugged them close to you. It was no lie to Jesse or Harry that you were also home to them, because home doesn’t have to be a place, it can be a person too.

“Whatever happened, I’m just happy you both are safe.” You batted away the thoughts of what would have happened if they hadn’t gotten off Earth-2 on time. What your life would be like without them in it. Harry, your wonderful and temperamentally gruff boyfriend, and his beloved daughter Jesse, who you loved to bits and pieces as if she were your own.

I wonder if this is just the beginning of what’s about to unfold. The anticipated Crisis...

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hinabes · 5 years

Photo

Inarizushi’s Backstory

A story about hubris, expectations and a surprising amount of worldbuilding.

I. Priestess

“The Inari God has descended!!!”

“It’s the Inari God!!”

“The Inari God has descended!!!”

I opened my eyes to the sound of excited cheering. Humans, dressed in the garb of clerics and priestesses, worshipped on bent knees, the excitement in their gazes genuine.

I looked down to assess myself.

When I was a part of the Chaos, I was to believe that when we were incarnated in this world, our appearances would be determined by our basic intentions.

...Unless the summoner had strong pre-existing obsessions.

“Lord Inari, these are the things we’ve been protecting.”

According to him, this Inari shrine housed holy relics of utmost importance, and if they were destroyed, catastrophe would befall Sakurajima, where we were.

Even though I was slightly annoyed, I looked at his earnest expression and nodded.

So be it, since you summoned me from that boring Chaos, I’ll fulfill your desires.

The man was elderly by human years, with a long white beard flowing from his chin; he looked kind and gentle.

It was just that when he looked at me, it was as if he were actually looking through me at someone behind me.

That must have been their so-called “Inari God”.

The Inari God ought to be true to themselves, to be revered.

The Inari God ought to maintain purity, to resist any and all filth.

So said the old man constantly, and he respected me very much.

Alas, that was restricted to when I acted like his ideal “Inari God”.

“Aw, shucks~ Come see me again, okay? Master Ninetails~”

The courtesan’s soft fingers brushed against the back of my hand. Her alluring smile and longing eyes were calculating, though I didn’t hate it.

After all, when it’s all the same drinks and service smiles, everyone prefers to do it with someone gentle and caring, who understands their heart’s desires.

“Ah, might you be the Master Ninetails whose been in everyone’s good graces lately?”

The voice was teasing and flippant. I turned to look up and the way his long sleeves dragged on the crimson stairs caught my eye. Though it was formalwear, the way he donned it was casual, draped loosely over his shoulders.

The way his eyes crinkled was even more attractive than those of the beautiful courtesans. I raised my head slightly regard him, and when his playful eyes met mine, I understood that this guy was the same type of person as me.

“Master Ninetails, shall I have a drink with you today~”

“That would be wonderful.”

“Eh-- Boss, you can’t be hogging all the business~”

“Then today’s drinks are on you.”

“Fine~ I won’t disturb you~”

Chin propped up on my hand, I arched my brow at the young man who pleasantly shooed off the girl.

“You’re the owner of Shangri-La?”

“What is it? Scared?”

“Nothing, let’s drink.”

I stalked back to the shrine in the dead of night, and was greeted by the old man’s anger the moment I stepped through the torii gates.

“You went to that filthy place again, in this disgraceful form!”

I gave him nothing but a humorless sneer.

To say that returning to my original appearance and doing the things I want to do was filth?

Ridiculous.

II. God’s Intermediary

“Pfft-- You’re saying, you take the female form in the day and pose as their pure Inari god? And you can only return to this form at night to drink and let loose?”

Junmai Daiginjo held in his chuckle, though I was helpless to the humorous glint in his eyes.

Once we got to know each other, his original stunning demeanor didn’t get any less impressive, though, in front of me, he did get livelier and more… infuriating.

In the time I downed the wine in one gulp, he had his elbow on my shoulder.

“Man, in my opinion, what if you left those boring guys and joined my Shangri-La? With your looks, Ninetails, if you took female form, you’d give me a run for my money as Oiran. Though… the male body isn’t bad either. How about you be a man for a day, woman the next!”

“Shoo, keep flattering yourself.”

I irritatedly shook off his hand and side-eyed Daiginjo, already rolling in laughter. Propping my chin up, I gazed at the still sky outside and let out a long sigh.

I didn’t dislike the female form and even liked looking like a woman sometimes.

But… these days were certainly… quite boring…

“You- You- You! You stubborn bastard! Going to that indecent place again! Associating with those filthy people! And that smile, that unbecoming smile!! You!!! Undress and cleanse yourself under the waterfall!!!!”

Even with the flame of his life flickering out, the old man mustered the energy to butt heads with me. My smile dulled, the good mood I built up at Shangri-La ruined once more.

It was winter. Icicles had formed at the top of the waterfall, the water rushing down sticking my clothes to my body. Seeing the old man angrily looking at me, I couldn’t help but shake my head and close my eyes.

It’s not that I wasn’t grateful for him bringing me into this world, and it’s not that we had only bad memories between us.

He brushed my hair gently, he made my soft bed, he prepared my favorite tea.

But he did all this because of his faith in the Inari God. Not me.

So be it, he was my master attendant, I’ll have to do as he pleases. He was already so old, I could think about leaving after sending him off.

Humans really were fragile.

Weak, powerless, feeble.

Fingers thin as twigs laid on the back of my hand. His eyes were already clouded.

“Inari… You’re the Inari God, never forget, you are the Inari God!” “Rest assured, since you revere me as your God, I will assume a God’s duties to the end.”

“Hearing that… puts me… at ease…”

The clerics and priestesses ducked out of my way as I left the room, and they spoke in tones they thought I couldn’t hear.

“Heh, this monster really thinks it’s a god.”

“Tch, as expected of the old fool.”

“That’s right, now we can chase him out! Then the Inari shrine is ours!”

“Yeah! Then all the offerings… hehe…”

“But… they’re for the gods…”

“What gods, the old fool was the only one who believed in them.”

Hah, filthy humans.

Gods aren’t all joy and happiness, they feel rage too.

Blasphemous, to have never respected the gods.

And to be blasphemous is to invoke divine punishment.

III. Monster

The people of this land had long since forgotten what the gods bestowed upon them.

The gods granted them plentiful harvests, bestowed them peace.

Yet the people neglected to pay respects, to be thankful.

And the food souls who came to this world to aid them received no such respect either.

“Hah, monsters should be dealt with by monsters.”

“Hmph, such monsters, if only they’d die sooner than later!”

“Hope they get rid of each other. Saves us from having to look after them.”

Daiginjo looked at the dark sky weighing over their heads as he drank, his brow furrowing.

“Why is it, that we’re the ones with power, yet we have to hide in the darkness and take the form of those weakling humans and pretend… by right… we’re supposed to be protecting them…”

That’s right… Why is it, when we’re the ones protecting them, we don’t get even a word of thanks and are labeled monsters…

“Since they’re calling us monsters anyway, we should act like it, shouldn’t we…”

Daiginjo chuckled, the corners of his eyes crinkling.

I knew that this was his invitation for me to join his world of monsters.

I can never tell what he’s thinking, though that didn’t get in the way of us being friends.

His every word was playful, though each of them I took to heart.

The humans, pampered for far too long, had forgotten their respect for the gods.

As such, another face of the gods shall restart their memory.

I didn’t even have to sully my own hands.

I needed only to take a back seat and watch as the monsters born from their own desires swallowed them whole.

One blood-red night, towering flames engulfed the red shrine.

The mournful cries were muffled by the wind, the blood splattered on the ground scorched black.

When I stepped into the shrine, the cleric who once called the old man an “old fool” grabbed me by the ankle.

“Lord Inari… save me… save me…”

“And for what?”

“I…”

“Bold of you to ask for divine salvation, having never paid the gods any respect. Save yourself, foolish human.”

“...Monster!!!! You’re a monster!!!”

If I have to become a monster for you to remember what you’ve done, then so be it.

IV. Under the Shrine

“Woah, what a thorough burning.”

Daiginjo rubbed his chin, taking in the destruction. I sat on some surviving stairs to drink, watching the humans hard at work, rebuilding the shrine for the gods.

In hindsight, it was pretty funny; while the shrine was standing, the humans paid the gods no mind. Only when disaster befell them had they remembered the gods they forgot.

And only when the “monsters” stopped unconditionally helping them had they remembered the respect these “monsters” were due, building altars and presenting offerings.

Bored, Daiginjo returned to Shangri-La, and only I stayed to watch them work, yawning as I sat on the debris.

“Um… Lord Inari… We found a hidden entrance in the shrine… come look…”

“Hm?”

“We’re… too scared to go in, please come take a look…”

“Alright, it’s quite late, you can all take a break.”

“Also...the… monsters in the fields…”

“I’ll deal with them tomorrow.”

“Thank you, thank you!!!”

Before, I would have never heard this “thank you”.

With a long sigh, I cleared my head of my many laments and headed for the hidden entrance.

It was dark and cold, and I was surprised to discover such a large space under the shrine.

Tucked away underground, in the deepest reaches sat a single altar.

I wanted to investigate, but I was stopped by a huge amount of energy.

Even more unexpectedly, I found the energy oddly familiar.

I reached out to touch the barrier. Flowing through the barrier… as I thought, it was the energy that plucked me from the Chaos initially.

At the center of the barrier, encased in black smoke… could it be…

That guy… To protect the relics, he forcefully stripped away the huge amounts of energy in the summoning process, trapping the food soul that was supposed to be born within the pull of this energy.

If that’s the case… perhaps…

V. Inarizushi

Junmai Daiginjo was dumbfounded. In the time he took to get drinking snacks for his pals, Inarizushi ended up with a mean-looking fox kit glued to him.

“...An illegitimate child?”

“Daiginjo, don’t think I won’t hit you.”

“Ahem, I mean, where’d you find it.”

Thump--

With a muffled thud, Junmai Daiginjo hit an invisible wall while walking towards Kitsune Udon.

“Ow--”

“Don’t you touch Master Ninetails!”

“...Hoh, the little devil’s protective. Ninetails, be honest, where’d you get it?”

Inarizushi glanced at Daiginjo, who was rubbing his forehead, then at Kitsune Udon, who was gripping his clothes and hiding behind him, and laughed.

“What if I said they fell from the sky?”

“Fine, I’ll drop it if you don’t want to tell. Come have a drink, a birthday toast for the kid.”

“I’m not a kid.”

“Hmph, what a kid.”

“I’m not!”

Inarizushi shook his head resignedly, helping himself to Junmai Daiginjo’s wine bottle. He turned his head to look at the pitch-black sky outside distractedly.

“What are you looking at, Ninetails?”

“Nothing. Don’t you think this sky could use some sprucing up?”

“...Heh.”

“What are you laughing at? Don’t you think so?”

Junmai Daiginjo shrugged, clinking glasses with Inarizushi, downing the clear wine in one gulp. He gazed at the sky tenderly, yet there was an underlying apathy.

“Boring things are better off discarded.”

Junmai Daiginjo turned his head to see Kitsune Udon pouring wine for Inarizushi and he quirked an eyebrow in surprise.

“You taught me that. What of it?”

Junmai Daiginjo propped up his chin to observe Kitsune Udon lapping at the wine when they thought nobody was looking.

“Uh… Nothing, the wine’s a bit strong, a kid who just fell from the sky shouldn’t drink so much the first time~”

As Junmai Daiginjo finished speaking, Kitsune Udon downed the rest of the wine, letting out a long burp, head falling to the table with a thud.

“I heard… this part of Sakurajima is protected by relics, and if they’re destroyed, catastrophe would certainly fall.”

“That’s right, what of it?”

“Then this...the key of this kid from the sky, I wonder what it will unlock?”

Inarizushi stopped patting Kitsune Udon’s hair to look at Junmai Daiginjo, who was smiling pleasantly.

“Do you have to know so soon? I don’t want to lose a drinking buddy so quickly.”

“I’m not in a hurry, it’s not too late to think about it once other artifacts have surfaced.”

“You’re not scared of me running off?”

“Master Ninetails is high and mighty, he’d never. Come, have another cup, this is Shangri-La’s best wine! I don’t bring it out for anyone but you.”

“Hoh, great, cheers!”

Translation Notes

(SHOVES INARIZUSHI ASIDE) A SURPRISING AMOUNT OF WORLDBUILDING

The Chaos, which I’ve also referred to as “chaotic energy”: it’s a very vague word to begin with and can mean both. I’m more convinced it’s a real “thing” now, wouldn’t go so far to say “place” but it may be the other side of the Tierra fish (it’s also called Chaos)

It may have something to do with the greek creation myth? idk

Now we know that 1) food souls come from there, 2) they’re told(?) things there, 3) they’re self aware there, 4) its boring

funtoy please give us more concrete stuff i dont want to keep grasping at straws

KITSUNE UDON REAL. funtoy please steal my design xoxo please i will pay u

the 2nd half of ch4 was pretty vague but I’m fairly certain that the black smoke/whatever’s in it was kitsune udon

I’m also not sure if kitsune udon is a separate character or inari’s fox. his art doesnt show him with any foxes but neither does it show nine tails

i also have no idea kitsune udon’s gender so i went with they. there’s literally not a pronoun to be seen in the last chapter bc chinese be like that

i’ve decided to call junmai’s brothel “shangri-la”, you might also see it called “bliss” or “paradise”. it’s more specifically the sukhavati of buddhism

#food fantasy #translations #ff inarizushi #ff junmai daiginjo #ff translations

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lovedsammy · 5 years

Text

all I want (for Christmas); [commission for petrichoravellichor]

This was commissioned by @petrichoravellichor, who wanted a fluffy holiday fic (Christmas shopping, decorating, etc) with Sam & Jack as the primary focus with optional Sam, Cas & Jack or Sastiel w/ Jack. :) So there’s slight Sastiel, but not explicitly romantic until the end. No smut, though.

Also, for the timeline: I set this to be just after 14x08 but before 14x09.

It’d started off as a relatively quiet Saturday.

They hadn’t had any luck with finding any cases recently, and Sam was pretty grateful for that. They needed some down time, to settle in and hibernate like bunch of hermits, as Dean had said. They’d just gotten Jack back not too long ago, after all, and the holidays were fast approaching. And with the holidays came the change of the weather. Opening the front door that morning after he’d gotten dressed to go for a run, Sam had been stunned to see the first active snowfall of the year. There was barely a few inches on the ground, but it had been enough for Team Free Will to decide that going out likely wasn’t going to happen. So they were just going to hang in, drink hot chocolate, and binge-watch holiday movies. Or, at least, that was the plan, until Jack, ever so restless, came bounding into the library, paper and pen in hand.

“We should go Christmas shopping,” He declares.

Sam, Dean and Cas all look up from their various activities — Sam researching away on his laptop, Dean in the middle of eating his breakfast, and Cas reading some type of Enochian text that seemed more out of boredom than any pure interest.

“Christmas shopping,” Dean deadpans.

Jack, to his credit, is not the least bit put out by Dean’s nonchalance. “Yeah! It’s already the middle of December and we barely have any decorations up. And we haven’t even exchanged ideas for presents, either. So I wrote mine down, and I need you guys to tell me yours.”

Sam cuts Dean off when his brother opens his mouth to retort. “Yeah, cool, Jack. We can do that. Let me see your list.” Sam shuts his laptop and eases over to Jack, reading the list over the kid’s shoulder. To his surprise, it was a relatively short list, but at least it contained more than Nougat this year. Last year, that was all the kid really wanted, apart from the Star Wars funko pop collection.

“Well, you know what? You kids can go do all the shopping you want, I’m staying here.” Dean snorts. “Ain’t no way in Hell I’m driving out in all this muck. As for the gifts, get us whatever you want, Jack, it’s up to you.”

Sam wants to quip that Dean drives out in the snow more than he does, but resists. Jack turns soft eyes onto Sam, practically pleading, and the hunter nods his assent. He wasn’t opposed to it, plus it needed to get done sooner or later, anyway. The Winchesters were always late with Christmas, if they chose to celebrate at all. With Jack and their Mom here now, they had no reason not to celebrate.

“All right, go grab your stuff. Let’s go shopping.”

“Yes!” Jack cheers, already running back to his room to grab his coat. Sam hides a smile behind his fringe. The kid was way too cute sometimes, especially now that he was human.

“Cas, you going or you staying?” Dean asks gruffly, already chomping back down on his bacon.

Castiel opens his mouth and closes it again for several seconds, looking comically in Sam’s opinion, like a fish out of water. It creates a flutter in the younger Winchester’s stomach. “I don’t know if I…” He trails off when Jack comes sprinting back into the room, already donning his winter coat, scarf, and gloves, and looking every bit like a kid at Christmas, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet. “I’ll stay here,” The angel decides. “I don’t have much experience with the selection of gifts.”

Sam frowns at him. Wouldn’t it be good for Cas to come with, to participate in the festivities with his son too? Surely Jack would want that. But to his surprise, Jack shrugs.

“Oh, that’s okay, Cas. I’ve got an idea of what to get you anyway, and I don’t want you to see it.” The boy smiles brightly at Sam and reaches for his coat sleeve, tugging a little. Sam chuckles to himself and nods at his brother and Cas.

“All right, we’re going. See you in a bit.”

Getting out to the local Walmart takes them a bit longer than expected, but otherwise, hadn’t been too bad of a drive, in all honesty. Sam had wrestled with the idea of where to shop, and finally decided on Walmart since it was closest to the bunker, and it had almost everything. Upon entering, they see that it’s not really crowded, so shopping would be pretty easy without the massive holiday crowds. Jack lights up when he spots the large Christmas tree in the center of the store, adorned in tinsel and lights and ornaments.

“We should get a tree like that! It’d look amazing in the bunker. Oh! And this!” Jack bounces over to the outdoor reindeer sleigh set, climbing up into the seat. Sam can’t help but smile as he watches him. Jack really was like a two year old in so many ways, despite physically being eighteen or nineteen. His innocence, how he perceived the world…. Sam honestly wishes that Jack could have it forever. “What do you think, Sam?”

The memory of the boy lying so ill in bed, asleep in death, comes unbidden to mind and Sam shakes it off. Jack almost hadn’t been here to enjoy this, the thrill of the holiday spirit. He clears his throat.

“Might be a little hard to get that into the trunk, Jack,” Sam easily lets him down, choosing not to tell him that they didn’t have a porch to put it on anyway. “But we can get the tree, okay? What do you say we get the gifts and then grab the stuff for decorating?”

Jack nods easily, jumping back down. “Okay. What kind of stuff does Dean like?”

Sam huffs a laugh. “Dean’s easy. It’s Cas that’s hard to shop for.”

“Oh. He doesn’t like Christmas?”

“I don’t think it’s that,”’ Sam says. “It’s more that he feels he doesn’t need to do the Christmas thing because he’s not human. It took Dean and me years to convince him to even sit down and watch Christmas movies with us. I think he does it more for our sake than any real investment. And now for you, of course.”

Jack absorbs this. “I see. What about Dean? He doesn’t seem like he likes Christmas, either.”

“Dean’s… a bit of a sourpuss at times,” Sam remarks. “Believe me, he never used to be. He’s actually the one that got me to celebrate Christmas again.”

“Why’d you stop?”

The question is innocent enough, but it still makes Sam’s mouth go a little bit dry. He tries to explain in the gentlest voice possible. “Dean and I, we had a lot of lonely years, Jack. Our father was gone a lot on Christmas, and Mom was... well, you know. But we still celebrated as much as we could as kids, even if we didn’t get a ton of gifts under the tree or candy in our stockings. But when Dean… after he sold his soul for me, I couldn’t face the idea of a Christmas without him, and so I just… stopped.”

He trails off, and glances at Jack, to see the boy looking sorrowfully at him.

“I’m sorry, Sam.”

“It’s okay,” Sam reassures him quickly. “That was a long time ago. We can do Christmas now, and a lot of that reason is because of you, Jack. If you weren’t here, we - I - might not care so much about it. I want you to experience this, all of it, in the ways that I couldn’t.”

Sam’s not used to being so open like this, but he swallows down the embarrassment. This was Jack. His… well, his son. It took him a long time to admit that to himself, that Jack had become that for him -- for him and Cas, and Dean to an extent -- and to acknowledge the depths of the importance the boy held. He smiles, ruffling the kid’s hair.

“Come on.”

They decide on a new skillet set for Dean, whose cooking has managed to get even better, much to Sam’s utter shock. Dean had been proficient at cooking for years, but in recent months, he’s refined his palette and skills to boot. Sam would dare say that the meals he gets from Dean are sometimes miles better than diner food from a few of the places that they frequent. Not that he’d ever tell Dean that. For Cas, it took them a little longer to find something, but Jack picked out a cat-decorated black throw blanket that the angel might put to use. Ever since Cas had started taking up residence in Sam’s room when they would watch Netflix together, Sam had joked that Cas should get his own blanket and pillow. Cas had said it wasn’t necessary, but clearly, even Jack felt that the angel needed one. Sam had to agree. He’d lost count of how many times Cas would hog the covers.

For Mom, Sam remembered her saying that she wanted a new duvet set for her room in the bunker if she was going to make it more ‘her.’ Unlike her boys, she disliked some of the bunker’s interior and was trying to make it more ‘homey,’ in a sense, even if she lived there only part-time. So he’d settled on something more neutral-colored, since Mary wasn’t a huge fan of bright, feminine colors. She liked to have lighter colors that anything could match with.

Going past the entertainment section, Sam stops, considering. There were a couple of things that he could cross off of Jack’s list right now, but it would be difficult to do that while he was here. He really wished that Cas had come with them now. “Hey, Jack?” He calls over to the boy, who is making his way through the DVD selection. “Do you mind waiting here for a few minutes? There’s something I want to get you.”

Jack smiles. “Okay, I’ll wait here.”

“Be careful,” Sam says, just out of habit, and feels like it’s a little much; of course his dad tendencies had to kick in when he was leaving Jack alone in a department store, of all places. Sam hurries back toward the home-ware section, and looks for the Star Wars blanket as well as the photo album. The blanket, Sam hadn’t been shocked to see on the list. Jack was a huge fan of Star Wars, even the newer stuff. But the album, and the asterisk written beside it, signaling its importance, along with the comment saying “For the rest of my life with my dads” had… well, it’d made Sam emotional.

They already had some pictures of Jack with and without them that would be good in the album. He picks out one that has the option for handwritten notes, and goes to the self-checkout to pay for the items, getting them bagged up before he heads back to find Jack.

He finds Jack exactly where he left him, talking to a little girl.

“I love Elsa too! Her powers are extraordinary, aren’t they?”

Ah, Frozen.

“Yeah, but ‘cause of that, people treat her bad,” The girl says, somewhat sadly, picking at the sleeve of her dress. “Just ‘cause she’s different. I think having powers is so cool.”

“Me, too,” Jack grins. The girl giggles back at him.

“Zoey!”

A woman, the girl’s mother, if Sam had to guess by the near-identical appearance, comes running over to them, sighing in relief when she spots her daughter. She grabs her by her shoulders. “Don’t worry me like that. You know how your father gets when you don’t listen to him.”

“Sorry, Ma’am,” Jack says at once, straightening up with a friendly smile. “I saw her by herself and wanted to keep her company.”

“Oh, thank you,” The woman says gratefully. “That’s very kind of you.”

Zoey holds up her Frozen DVD. “Look, Mommy. Jack helped me find it.”

“That’s great, sweetie.”

Zoey’s mom nods at Jack. “Thank you for helping her. Happy Holidays to you and your dad,” She says, smiling over at Sam, as she takes Zoey’s hand and the pair turn away.

“Bye bye, Jack,” The little girl waves, and Jack waves back to her. Sam comes up to his side, proud. God, Jack was a sweet kid. Sometimes he couldn’t believe that he was supposed to be Lucifer’s son. He was the furthest thing from him.

They head to go pay for the rest of their items, and Sam checks his watch absently while the cashier is ringing them up, and is shocked at the time. They’d been in here for close to two hours now. Once everything is bagged and in the cart, they start to proceed out the exit.

“All right. Come on, let’s get home.”

The first thing that Sam does, when he and Jack return back outside to find the Impala’s hood covered with snow, is think that Dean wasn’t going to be happy when they finally got back home. The second is to kick himself for not paying better attention to the weather forecast in the first place. The drive here hadn’t been bad, but that was a very different story now.

The news hadn’t mentioned anything about more snow accumulation during the afternoon hours. And to make matters worse, the visibility was low, and the snow was still falling in thick flakes. The roads now would be slick and messy, a far cry from a few hours ago. It would be awhile before they got home. He turns to Jack, who, despite the turn of the weather, still doesn’t look too bothered by it, his arms full of large shopping bags. So Sam plays it cool, guiding Jack back toward the Impala.

While it was true that he had less experience driving in accumulate weather than his brother did, Sam had driven in his fair share of snow. And considering that they had spent most of their life on the road and thus were better acquainted with the many changes of Mother Nature than most people, Sam thinks that maybe he can handle it. They’d just take it slow on the roads and take their time getting back to avoid any spin outs. Not that the Impala was notorious for that -- it was a hell of a car, despite how old she was getting. But there was always the chance. It’s only getting into the car and turning the key to start her up that Sam thinks it might be worse than he thought.

There was a deep rumble coming from the engine, but the car wasn’t starting. He tries several times, and comes up empty. “Uhh… Jack, we might, uh… we might be stuck here for a while.”

“Oh?” Jack asks, leaning up in his seat, furrowing his brows. “Is the car stuck or something?”

“It’s not starting, not even the heat, or --” Sam begins explaining, and backpedals when he sees the worry starting to form in the boy’s features. “Listen, I’ll, uh… I’ll try it again in a minute, okay? Maybe give it a few to get started.”

The car is cold, and Sam can tell that the temperatures outside were dropping with how much more the snow was beginning to stick. He curses under his breath, and attempts to start the car again. Still nothing. The last thing that Sam wants to do is to call Dean or Cas and have them come get them, but that might be the only option here, and if it was, he was going to get an earful from his brother. He could always call a tow truck to get them home, but Dean would know about that, too, and Sam wasn’t prepared to give his brother the satisfaction of being right for choosing not to go out in this.

So he and Jack sit and wait.

Maybe it would start soon.

When after fifteen minutes he has no success, and he begins to hear Jack’s teeth chattering, he knows that the gig is up and sighs. Being out here too long wasn’t an option. The last thing he needed was for Jack to get sick… again. So Sam makes the regretful decision to call Cas. The angel would take this better than Dean would, at any rate.

“Sam?” Cas answers after the second ring. “You’ve been gone a long while, is everything all right?”

“Not exactly,” Sam says, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Cas, we’re… kinda stuck in the Walmart parking lot. The car won’t start.”

Sam hears the sound of Dean’s voice talking to Cas, the angel relaying the situation, and Dean’s deep exclamation of curses that make Sam cringe.

“Dammit! What the hell did I tell him?” Dean’s saying, and Sam can picture him throwing his hands up in frustration.

“Sam, I’m on my way,” Cas replies, already reaching for his car keys. “I’ll try and get there as fast as I can, but with this weather, I can’t say how long it will be. Thirty minutes, maybe. Do the two of you have heat?”

“No, we don’t.” Sam says, starting to develop a chill, too.

“Maybe Dean was right,” Jack intones, looking crestfallen. “Maybe we shouldn’t have come out.”

Sam reaches over to pat the kid’s shoulder. No way in Hell was he going to let Jack feel bad about this. “Not your fault, Jack,” Sam says. “I should’ve paid better attention to the weather.”

“You wanted to make him happy, Sam,” Cas chimes in gently over the phone, and Sam can’t deny it, or mistake the way Cas’s words make his heart swell. “You did. This is just a setback. Hang on, I’ll be there soon.”

He hangs up with a click.

“Cas is on his way,” Sam tells Jack. “He’ll be here soon. Here,” He reaches into the glove box and pulls out a couple of heating packs, pressing one to Jack’s face. “This’ll keep you a little warm until we get home.”

It feels like a long time, but twenty minutes later, Cas is there, and Sam almost laughs when the car door opens and the angel pokes his head in.

There are countless snowflakes stuck in his hair.

“We’ll have to come back for the Impala,” Cas says, and it comes out so gravely that you’d think someone had died. “Dean isn’t at all happy about it, but he’ll get over it. I told him I’ll come back out tonight to get it. Come on. You’re both freezing.”

He removes his trenchcoat and puts it around Jack, and then places a hand to Sam’s stubbled cheek, emitting some heat to him with his grace. Cas’s touch lingers, and Sam wants to make a comment about body heat and how there were other ways to make some, but thinks better of it with Jack standing right there. This thing with him and Cas was still relatively new, and he didn’t need to freak the kid out. He’d caught them kissing on two occasions already.

Cas, however, leans over to whisper in his ear. “Just to warn you, Sam, Dean is awaiting you in your room. I believe his exact words were ‘I’m going to kick his ass for making Baby wait out there on her own all night.’ I very explicitly told him that your ass was in no danger. Not from him, anyway.”

A chill that has nothing to do with the cold runs up Sam’s spine. He flushes, clearing his throat. “’Course. Right.”

Noticing Sam’s pink cheeks, Jack just laughs at them. “Are you guys flirting again?”

Sam shakes his head in bemusement. Well, going back home to an angry brother, a hot angel boyfriend, and their son wasn’t a bad way to spend the rest of the day.

It could always be worse, right?

Especially on a snow day.

#samjack #sam winchester #jack kline #sastiel #samcas #*mine #spn #supernatural

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justcallmehermione · 4 years

Text

I’m baaaaack!!!!!

Thanks to la cuarentina and life settling down now that I’m in my mid-20s, I started writing fan fiction again. My first goal is to finish all my former WIPs so I can start on new things in all the fandoms I am now part of. In the mean time, here’s chapter 8 of my Linzin piece!

Story: Small Bump Rating: M for some delicious smut Pairings: Linzin, Tokka, and Kataang

FF.net

AO3

Chapter 8: The Announcement “Do you really have to go?” Izumi whined, “I was really looking forward to going through all this pregnancy fun with you.” The pout on her lips grew bigger by the second.

Lin sighed, “Yes, we do. It’s about time we let everyone else in on our secret.”

“Don’t worry Izumi, we can come back before both the babies are born,” Tenzin tried to reassure her.

“I guess I’ll just have to settle for letter writing until then,” Izumi gave up.

“That’s the spirit, turtleduck,” Zuko chimed into the conversation.

“We best be going if we want to be back home before dinner,” Tenzin reminded them.

Lin walked to Izumi and gave her a big hug, and then turned to her uncle and gave one to him, “I’ll miss you both. I look forward to seeing you soon,” she told them. Tenzin did the same, hugging the two and waved goodbye as he ascended to Oogi’s back.

“Let us know you arrive safely!” Zuko called out to the couple.

“We will!” Lin assured her with a shout back. “See you soon!” And with that Tenzin signaled for Oogi to begin the trip back home.

…

Lin was trying to rest on Oogi’s back, but she could not get comfortable. In the past few weeks she had been experiencing some mild back pain, especially as her waist started to expand with the growing baby inside of her. Thoughts were racing through her head about what would happen when she got back home. Lin decided to get up and sit next to Tenzin on Oogi’s neck.

“Hello, love,” Tenzin said as Lin snuggled close to him. She sighed in response. “Would you like to share your thoughts?” he probed.

“Just nervous about telling everyone, I guess. I don’t think I’m ready for the attention we’re going to get,” she confided.

“I understand. I’m sure once the papers hear, we’ll be begged for interviews left and right,” he mentioned. Lin groaned in response. Tenzin sighed and continued, “I know. I’m not looking forward to it either.”

Tears started forming in Lin’s eyes and she managed to get out, “What if she isn’t an air bender? You know that’s what they all want from me! What if I don’t make their hopes and dreams come true?” Tenzin paused for a moment. He hadn’t realized she was putting so much pressure on herself. Sure, he knew that the pressure was there for any and all of their babies to be air benders, but he always pushed that to the back burner. He preferred to focus on the fact that he and Lin, the woman he loved and vowed to spend his entire life with, we’re going to bring their love to fruition in the form of a happy and healthy child.

He tried putting his thoughts to words to comfort his wife, “Lin, stop, please. You’re stressing over something that doesn’t matter as much as you think it does -”

“Doesn’t matter?” she interrupted, “You of all people should know how much it matters! You spent your whole life being the second air bender in the entire world! How are you not stressed?”

He tried to continue, “Because Lin, I love you with every fiber of my being. The only thing that matters to me is that you stay happy and healthy throughout your pregnancy and that when the baby comes he or she is just as happy and healthy. My number one priority is you and it always has been and always will be. Forget about duty and legacy. I love you and want you for you. The fact that you’re carrying our child is all I need to be happy and excited. I will love you and the baby. Forget about what the others think, please!” “Are you sure?” she inquired further, “You’d be happy even if the baby is an earth bender or even a non-bender?”

Tenzin reassured, “As long as that baby is half me and half you, the only thing that matters to me is that you are both happy and healthy and I will love you both until my dying breath.”

Lin started to cry more, “Oh, Tez! I love you. If you of all people can put the pressures aside, I can try to do so as well. Thank you.” She leaned her head on his shoulder while he put an arm around her and kissed her forehead.

“I love you too, Lin. Let’s try to rest, we’ll be landing in Republic City soon enough.”

…

“Lin, we’re home,” he whispered, gently shrugging his shoulder to arouse his snoozing wife. Lin’s eyes blinked open and she lifted her head and looked around. Tenzin had landed Oogi in the park nearby their apartment. He hadn’t taken them to the island like she thought he was going to.

“Why are we here?” she inquired.

“Well, I thought it would be nice to freshen up a bit and spend a little time relaxing before we meet the family at the island,” he explained, “Do you mind?”

She smiled, relieved to have some more time before revealing their secret, “This is perfect,” she assured him.

Tenzin grabbed their things and joined Lin on the ground as the two walked the three blocks to their apartment. The building with the tea shop on the first floor and the two apartments on the second floor wasn’t much, but it was the first place Lin and Tenzin were able to call their own. Well, not entirely, the family who owned and ran the tea shop downstairs and lived in the back part of the second floor were there too, but the studio in the front with the big windows that looked down on the bustling street below was their sanctuary.

Lin smiled as they made their way up the stairs on the side of the building and entered their home. Su Yin had done an excellent job of taking care of the few plants Tenzin had grown from seedlings while they were away. He dropped the bags right in the entryway and flopped down on the mattress that was on the other side of the room.

“I missed this place,” he sighed into the mattress.

Lin walked over and sat down on her side next to him and nodded, “It’s great to be home, with you.”

Tenzin rolled over on his back and pulled Lin’s arm in an effort to get her to join him. She complied and snuggled up next to him, resting her head on his chest. He beamed up at the ceiling. This was his paradise. He was positive that he could be stuck living in a tent for the rest of his life, but the only thing he would need to make it perfect would be for Lin to cuddle up to him just like she was at the moment.

Lin sat up and winced, bringing Tenzin out of his own head and looking her over, trying to assess the problem. “What happened?” he demanded to know.

She waved him off, “It’s nothing, just some back pain. I’ll be fine.”

Tenzin still looked concerned and asked, “Should I phone the island and tell them we can’t make it tonight? I could make something up about having a cold from flying in the winter sky or say that Oogi needs a rest…” Tenzin babbled until Lin put her finger on his lips. She leaned across the bed and kissed him, her lips warm on his.

“I’m fine, Tez. Let’s get cleaned up and head over to the island. I’m starting to get hungry and I’m sure your mom made something tasty for our arrival,” she assured him.

Tenzin nodded, “Okay, but only if I get to watch you bathe and change.” He winked at her and kissed her passionately, tilting her head back so she would open her mouth so he could dart his tongue inside.. Lin allowed it and answered back by nibbling on his bottom lip.

“We’ve been gone for almost two months now, another hour or two won’t make them miss us anymore, right?” Lin asked. Tenzin nodded in agreement and eagerly watched as Lin straddled him and continued to kiss him.

Tenzin’s member started to grow harder and he involuntarily pushed his hips up to rub against Lin, trying to relieve the mounting pressure growing in him. Lin responded by starting to rock slowly back and forth, pausing at the right spot that helped her pleasure build.

Clothes started coming undone and were thrown haphazardly around the bed. Tenzin reached up and cupped Lin’s breasts, giving both nipples a gentle squeeze. A moan escaped Lin and she eased herself on his throbbing member, continuing her rocking motions from earlier. Tenzin kept one hand on her breast and slid the other down to rub the spot he knew would push her over the edge. As he was trying to bring his wife all the pleasure and happiness she deserved, he looked up and watched her face. Her eyes were closed and her mouth was slightly open as her breaths started coming out quicker and quicker. Tenzin felt like the luckiest and happiest man in all Four Nations. He had a beautiful wife and a baby on the way. They had a place to call their own and many adventures ahead of them. Once they both reached their peaks and lay on the bed snuggled in each others’ arms, Tenzin squeezed Lin a little tighter than normal, hoping to never let this moment end.

…

“They’re back!” Katara shrieked when she saw Oogi land with a loud thud outside the main house. “Aang, Sokka, Toph, they’re back!” she yelled again, trying to get everyone’s attention. She ran out of the house, arms wide open waiting to embrace the newlyweds.

“Hello, Mother,” Tenzin said after he jumped off Oogi. He accepted her embrace.

“Hi, Mom,” Lin joined their hug.

Katara gushed, “Two of my babies are home! I’m so glad. I can’t wait to hear all about your adventures and --”

“Quit hogging the kids, and let them give the rest of us love, Sugar Queen,” Toph interrupted as she, Sokka, and Aang came out of the house. They took their turns greeting the newlyweds and welcoming them home.

“We missed you all very much and are happy to be back,” Tenzin informed them.

“Yes, let’s go catch up over the copious amounts of food I’m sure Katara and the acolytes have made for us,” Lin stated.

Toph laughed and patted Katara on the back, “She’s got you pegged, Sugar Queen!”

Sokka agreed, “She’s not wrong, the house has smelled delicious and I haven’t been able to taste test anything, despite many attempts! Let’s eat so my taste buds stop hating me.”

…

“That was delicious!” Lin exclaimed, after finishing the last crumb off her third plate.

“I don’t think I’ve seen someone eat that much since Sokka at our wedding feast!” exclaimed Aang.

Lin blushed, “Well I can’t help it, I’m…” she hesitated, looking to Tenzin for affirmation. He smiled and nodded, urging her to finish what she wanted to say. She smiled back at him and continued, “Well, I am eating for two now, so I’ve been eating more lately.”

Katara gasped, “What did you just say?” Sokka’s and Aang’s mouths dropped and they gaped, looking from each other, to Tenzin, to Lin, and back again.

Toph cried, “That’s right! My baby is having a baby of her own! I’d never thought I’d see the day!”

Ignoring Toph’s blind joke, Sokka turned to her and asked, “How did you know?”

“Heartbeat detector over here,” Toph reminded them, “So it was either Lin was pregnant or they got a pet Turtleduck while visiting Firelord Zuzu.”

Aang got up and went around the table to where Lin and Tenzin were sitting. He put his arms around both of them and gushed, “That is wonderful news, kiddos! I’m so excited to meet the little one!”

Katara joined her husband, “Yes! It is wonderful news! Oh there’s so much to talk about and figure out…” Katara rambled on.

Tenzin slid his hand across the table and Lin grabbed it and squeezed it gently. He was so proud of his beautifully courageous wife and was so happy they finally got to share their news with their extended family. Tenzin couldn’t imagine a more perfect life for himself.

A/N: Yeah so, life happened. Adulting started in full swing. And I basically abandoned anything and everything FanFic related for a while. But thanks to quarantine/life settling down a lot more, I am back. Also, wanted to add that Lin is probably around 3 to 4 months pregnant at this point and it’s winter time in Republic City by now, which means they’ve been married for a good month by now.

#linzin #fan fiction #small bump #lok #atla #justcallmehermione

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