#honours sailing academy

[captainamorysailing]

A Good Sailboat to live on in isla Guanaja S02 EP15

A Good Sailboat to live on in isla Guanaja Honduras. The First part of a two parts series documenting my sail into Isla Guanaja , Honduras.

Showcasing the town of Low Cay, the biggest town in the Island totalling a land size mass of one football field with total inhabitant of over 2,000 souls. One of the highest population density in the Caribbean. One can only arrive by sea usually on boat to this island, with no airport it is considered very remote part of the globe.

IF YOU WANT TO BE SAILING CREW, FOR THE NEXT LEG OF THE JOURNEY, GET IN TOUCH VIA CONTACT INFO. ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW FRIENDS & NEW ENERGY TO ADD TO MY VIDEOS.

My videos are free for everyone to watch, and always will be. However, you can give back (in ways that dont cost you a single penny) Click like & share the content with your friends.

[jedidryad]

A bad interview

It has been awhile since I posted about my progress on the Mara memoir project but I thought I should make it clear it's still in the works. For this snippet, we move to part 4 which covers the time period between the end of The Crystal Star up to the end of the Corellian crisis. Mara's time is not that well accounted for in canon during most of this stretch so I have expanded on her journey in running her own trading business, and it's not all smooth sailing.

In this passage, she is meeting with a contact she hopes to partner with, and well...imagine if you were at a job interview that went like this

“You wear a lightsaber. Are you a Jedi?

“No.” The bad feeling I'd been pushing away crept back in. I did not want to talk about my failures.

“Fear not. We hold Jedi in great esteem. I would be honoured to work with a Jedi.”

“I am not a Jedi.” 

“And yet you wear a lightsaber.”

“It was a gift.”

“Ah, a family heirloom.” There was a sense of quiet glee in his voice,  “passed down in secret from a Jedi ancestor.”

“Something like that.”

Lando snorted and Fiorzen raised an eyebrow.

“Not my family heirloom.” I acknowledged, “it was a gift from Luke Skywalker.”

“So you are Force strong.”

“Not all that strong really.” I cringed thinking of the number of times the Force had reminded me of that.

“Then why would he give you such a gift?”

Why indeed? As though I hadn’t pondered that very question a thousand times over the years. When he’d first placed the saber in my hand, it had been imbued with the warmth of friendship. It seemed simple and natural. Now I knew it was anything but.

“I don’t know. I doubt even he knows anymore.” I sighed, “at the time he said I was on my way to becoming a Jedi.”

“But if a Jedi Master believed you could become a Jedi, you must be very strong in the Force. I know Luke Skywalker has opened a training facility. Why are you not training there?”

I struggled not to flinch as all my worst experiences at the academy flew back to me. I fought harder than I should have to shrug casually.

“It just isn’t my path. Besides, the Jedi Master has no doubt changed his mind about me by now.”

“But you still carry the lightsaber?”

“It’s a useful tool. Cuts really well.”

“You use the sacred weapon of the Jedi to open packages?”

“Only the really stubborn ones.”

[heavensveil]

[piano sketch for a town theme]

Mergielka, Nest of the Fellow-Princes

-

It was in Mergielka, then little more than a hamlet situated abreast cliff and cave at the yawning maw of the Southern Mergiel, that the last nobles of Vedronia came to rest.

With what of their fortune the fellow-princes could bring on their caravans, Mergielka quickly became a bustling centre of trade. Built into a veritable seaside citadel, the city earned a reputation as the farthest-flung notable port of call for ships that hoped to chart new routes through the Whispering Sea.

So beloved were the fellow-princes Ernst and Ronovin that their skeletal remains were later exhumed from the catacombs, set in glittering armour, wrapped in silks, and then ensconced in the great lighthouse, just as any other honoured saints of the pharos.

In the days of the reave, Mergielka counts itself among the surviving city states, sheltered from the worst of the saltwinds by coastal cliffs.

Having never been able to safely consume fish from the Southern Mergiel or the Whispering Sea, primarily subsisting on imported goods and what could be grown in domestic conservatories, its residents were further spared the immediate fate of most other coastal cities.

Only ungoverned in the strictest sense of the term, Mergielka's sails turn to the whim of the Association of Praxics, not to be mistaken for the organisationally-similar Scholars' Association of the south, although their close cooperation has led to Mergielka being considered something of a playground for big-hats, regardless of affiliation.

Ostensibly uninvolved in city state politics, Praxics are constantly entrenched in party politics, within their academy and without. The coin spent by influential mages on frivolous escorts through the saltwastes is nothing to scoff at, for those seeking such employment.

Orphicot volatile, the propellant-like powder used to discharge spells from magical arquebuses, was first refined in Mergielka. This fact is a source of great pride among locals who know such things, but a source of great confusion among those who really don't get why they should.

The food is nothing to write home about, more similar to the other city states than it is different -- although it is entirely traditional to write home regardless, stretching the truth to the greatest extent short of outright lying.

There are certainly worse places to pay a tidy sum for a tepid drink and a cold bed.

[justablix]

TOP FIVE SHIPS

o o f

I have been in many many fandoms over the years so this is uuuh let me try what I can come up with on the fly. In no particular order:

Greg Davies/Alex Horne

Partly because this is you asking but also genuinely I haven't been this transfixed by a ship in a while. They are so straightforwardly Together, whatever that actually means, and everyday they choose to elaborate on that, sometimes to the dismay of the shippers

Stegi/McExpert

Because they were my first ever fanfiction I read, on fanfiktion.de. For the non-Germans, they were (are?) German Minecraft YouTubers wayyy back around 2010-14? I think? And probably many, many peoples first gay ship. Ever. This is the nostalgia pick

Ghastly Bespoke/Tanith Low

The diversity m/f ship! From the Skulduggery Pleasant books. Ghastly is a boxer and a tailor and he is very honourable. Tanith is a badass swordfighter. They were destined to be a battle couple but after they finally admitted their feelings after y e a r s, Tanith gets possessed and turned into a murderous psychopath. Which gives our jacked, honourable, well dressed Ghastly internal conflict so bad that it unlocked a few new kinks in me at age thirteen

Bones/Kirk

I am a sucker for a good academy roommates begrudging friends to old married couple to lovers. And for DeForest Kelly and Karl Urban.

Inspector Dash/Inspector Lestrade

The rarepair. Not only am I sailing this ship alone, there is no one else on this fucking ocean, because they're from a niche German audio drama Sherlock Holmes spinoff. They really are perfect for each other and I have no one to rotate them in my mind with. I pick up temporary sailors every now and then but I'm the one keeping this bitch afloat. They're the only ship I write fanfic for

[blue-aconite]

Any chance you feel up to a Hangster with the prompt "it was just supposed to be sex"?

I don’t know, but Pete snuck in here and wanted to be a part of it. Blame him, not me. Thank you for this prompt! Hope you enjoy!

No beta, not edited, it’s Christmas and I’m lazy, sue me.

“Tell me what to do.” Pete stared at Bradley from across the table, mug clasped between his hands. Bradley didn’t meet his eyes, option to look anywhere but Pete’s face.

He didn’t know what to say. While he had his suspicions, Bradley had never confirmed nor denied the relationship between himself and Hangman. But this was something else.

Pete had woken up to a frantic knocking on the front door, rushing downstairs only to find his godson standing on the front porch. Bradley had been pacing back and forth, not making any sense until Pete dragged him into the house and forced him into a chair at the dining table. Penny and Amelia were out sailing so he had been alone in the house.

Telling the man to calm down, he made a pot of tea, opting to forgo the coffee. It was probably the last thing Bradley needed. Pete had then handed him the mug and told him to start at the beginning.

“It was just supposed to be sex.” Had caught Pete off guard, choking slightly on his tea. Bradley had then gone on and on about Hangman, their story apparently starting way back in the academy. Pete had said nothing, patiently letting Bradley get everything off his chest.

“The first time around was fun but then it ended badly. And this time, we both swore it would be easy, no strings attached. We drew a line.” Bradley had dragged hand down his face, eyes solemn and mouth drawn in a tight line.

“And I’m so far across the line. Mav, tell me what to do.” Bradley was pleading with him, slumping down in his chair, cradling the mug to his chest.

Pete’s heart broke for Bradley, the man he considered his own son. They had come a long way since the uranium mission, mending the broken bridges between them. He hoped that where ever Goose and Carole was, they were proud of them. For making it work.

He felt honoured Bradley would come to him like this, displaying his feelings so openly. He had grown up. And Pete only had one thing to tell him.

“Do you love him?”

Bradley’s head snapped up and he stared at Pete, mouth opening and closing. If the conversation hadn’t been so serious, Pete would have laughed.

“I can’t tell you what to do Bradley. All I can ask is, do you love him? Do you love Jake?” If they had been further apart, Pete would have missed Bradley’s answer. It was a softly spoken whisper in the middle of the night.

“Yes.”

“Then tell him. I’m no expert, but I’ve seen the two of you, watched both of you grow this past year. I know it’s not my place, but you gotta tell him. I don’t think you’re the only one feeling like this.”

Pete isn’t ready for when Bradley shoves the chair back, coming round the table to throw his arms around him. Startled at first, Pete then hugs him back, hand gently squeezing his neck. Bradley’s voice is quiet, muffled against his shoulder.

“But what if I am? What if he doesn’t feel the same? What if it just ends with me being alone again?” Bradley reminds Pete of the little boy he once was. Holding him tighter, he wishes Carole was here. She would have been so much better at this.

“If that’s the case, then you’ll be sad. And angry. But you’ll move on eventually. And I’ll be here. Penny and Amelia too. You’re not alone anymore Bradley, and I’ll try my hardest to make sure you never will be again.”

They stay locked in the embrace until a pounding on the door breaks them apart.

“Lot of late night visits tonight.” Pete has feeling who is at the front door and he’s proven right when he opens the door to find Hangman on his porch.

“Captain. Uh, is Rooster here?” Hangman is far from the cocky aviator Pete is used too, hands shoved in the pockets of his sweatpants and hair tousled from sleep. Pete don’t have time to answer because Bradley appears behind him.

“Jake.” Is uttered softly and Pete moves and leaves them to it. They need to talk and don’t need onlookers to do it.

He puts the mugs in the sink and makes sure the kettle is turned off. When he turns back, Bradley and Jake are locked in a hug, clutching onto each other as if they would disappear.

Pete cracks the door open.

“You’re welcome to stay in the guest room. But if I so much as hear anything, I’ll kick you both out.”

He spares them no other glance as he heads back upstairs, closing the bedroom door behind him. He can hear them shuffle into the bedroom down the hall, whispers thrown back and forth.

‘You should be proud of him. He’s grown into an amazing man. Better than I could ever be.’ Pete says silently into the dark, hoping that Carole and Goose are watching.

[scotianostra]

Janet Elizabeth Macgregor was born on January 12th 1920 in Glasgow.

Not a name the vast majority of you will know, but I love finding the unsung heroes, and Jane Macgregor is certainly in that category, her work has definately helped save countless women's lives.

Born as Janet Elizabeth McPherson in Glasgow, Betty, as she became known was just 7 when her mother died from tuberculosis. Betty attended school at Bearsden Academy, going on to study medicine at the University of Glasgow during the Second World War, graduating in 1943. It was there she met Alastair Macgregor and they married a year later. She did her house jobs at Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Western General Hospital.

During the next few years she raised their four children and worked part time in child welfare clinics. In 1958 Alastair was appointed to the regius chair of materia medica and therapeutics at Aberdeen University. Betty became a research assistant in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology, run by Sir Dugald Baird, regius professor of midwifery, who was famed for his compassion and social awareness.

It was in 1960 that it was decided to embark on a schedule of cervical testing for the entire area, Dugald Baird, inspired Macgregor to research the origins of cervical cancer and to concentrate especially on all the women - and in particular disadvantaged women - of the north-east.

Macgregor brought to the project a dedication, determination and considerable medical skills that ensured her programme worked efficiently. Diplomacy was also required, as all the GPs had to be written to (often repeatedly) in Aberdeenshire to obtain their approval so that smear testing could commence. Macgregor created a comprehensive call-and-recall system that broke new ground with its findings.

It was done so expertly under her supervision over the first five years there was such a decrease in the cervical cancer in the area and she had comprehensively proved her case. Betty was a superb cytologist and it has been commented, "the most delightful person. Without a doubt, she saved many lives."

It was not a period when priority was given to such a lengthy and complex medical programme: politicians had other demands on public funds. It was the way Macgregor organised the tests that brought the programme so much renown. Everything was meticulously documented and recorded with great care and attention. After five years she had assembled such powerful scientific evidence that other health authorities throughout the UK immediately adopted her system.

Her work brought Macgregor much esteem within the medical profession. She was much honoured by several of the Royal Societies and was a most distinguished president of her own medical association from 1980-83. During that presidency of the British Society of Clinical Cytology (BSCC), she published a book about improving the smear-test programmes nationally. It became a medical best-seller and sold 15,000 copies in its first edition and 10,000 in its second.

A memorable evening was held in 1985 whenBetty retired from Aberdeen University.

But this most active lady did not slip gently into retirement. She had bought a house on the Isle of Seil, off the coast at Oban, but Prof Templeton suggested she join a Birthright Programme he was initiating at the university. It was to research into pre-cervical care and patients who had slightly abnormal smear tests. "Betty accepted immediately and was as focused and enthusiastic as ever," he said. "She bought a house back in Aberdeen and did three days a week here and then travelled back to the west coast.

Macgregor wrote several medical books and was a regular contributor to the British Medical Journal. She was awarded the OBE in 1984/

It wasn't all work fior this dedicatec lady, Macgregor was devoted to her family and enjoyed taking her grandchildren sailing around Seil. She had her own yacht and loved the spectacular scenery of the west coast. 

Betty Macgregor developed Alzheimer’s disease and died of cerebrovascular disease on 8th October 2005 at the Lynn of Lorne Nursing Home, Benderloch, near Oban.

[atimble]

Here are my 9 favorite lgbtq+ characters! Thanks for tagging me @scienter

Willow Rosenberg - Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Cosima Niehaus - Orphan Black

James Flint - Black Sails (I literally could have listed the entire cast of Black Sails but I’ll limit it to one)

Amos Burton - The Expanse

Bess Marvin - Nancy Drew

Clarke Griffin - The 100

Klaus Hargreaves - Umbrella Academy

Black Beard - Our Flag Means Death (also could have listed pretty much all the characters. Love a good gay pirate tv show)

David Rose - Schitts Creek

Honourable mention to Cheery Littlebottom from the Discworld series who I’m not sure technically counts but definitely counts in spirit

Tagging: @flythesail @wanda-apologist @mother-nyx @starrydilemma @xxdivine-chaosxx and anyone else who wants to do this

[celtic-cd-releases]

https://www.elirmusic.com

https://www.facebook.com/elirmusic/

https://elirmusic.bandcamp.com/album/silver-sails-2

https://open.spotify.com/album/1kDkupv3mDkwssE07G2H8G

[wolf-innsheepsclothing]

Character Name: Captain Frederick Wolfgang Amadeus Title/occupation: Captain, Royal Navy. Assigned to the Fleet Training School. Magick Status: Mundus

Biography:

Frederick Amadeus II, more often known by his middle name to separate him from his father, grew up tall and handsome, and was apprenticed as a midshipman to the Navy before he was even 14. His family were descended from a German noble household, who had travelled to Britain in service of the King’s Grandfather, and had been devoted to a life of service ever since. A line of stern, military men who served with distinction and honour, and graceful women who made suitable and sensible matches saw the family hovering on the outskirts of the aristocracy. Never truly a part of the gentry, but regular fixtures at the seasons balls and dinners. Wolfgang grew up with great pressure on his shoulders, to take the family further than ever before, but with a wicked sense of humour and a boyish grin that saw him beloved of many god-parents.

 He set sail, to make a man of him, at just thirteen. Nearly 16 years later, Captain Amadeus is a well-respected officer in Their Majesties Royal Navy, but he was recalled to Swynlake several years ago. He made many good friends in the Navy, and among other services as well, over the years. The disappearance of his old friend, John Darling, only gave him greater reason to stay in Swynlake. The widowed(?) Lady Darling was alone, and he owed it to his friend to ensure the woman was well looked after. Having taken up a position teaching at the Naval Academy, he became a familiar, if imposing figure, around the ‘ton. Many have whispered about when he will seek a wife for himself and enter the season, but he is yet to be induced to do so. Is it simply his commitment to his job that keeps him out of the season? Or could there be another reason? A reason like the tenderness with which he cares for Lady Darling?

However, his good standing and honourable reputation have meant he is ready to sponsor the children of a few dear friends from the military this season, and welcome them into his townhouse to try their luck at finding love. 

[thesschesthair]

I've been trying to catch up on shit i've wanted to watch this year. This is the list so far:

D&D honour amongst thieves is so so good. I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. It's my fave film this year so far.

John Wick 4 is what I expected, although i've never felt so exhausted watching someone else try to get up some steps.

Creed III was boring.

Fast X is dumb af still but better than the last few- Momoa smashes it & makes it interesting again.

Quantumania is funny and your typical Antman movie, but it looked like a lot was ripped off from Star Wars aesthetically.

Guardians of the Galaxy is surprising. I wasn't too bothered about watching because I really can't stand Pratt anymore, but the Rocket storyline was tragic and worth it. That shit hurt but the jokes soothed the pain.

Across the Spiderverse is good but that ending suuuuuuucked.

Ted Lasso is up there with Black sails for me- an amazing & wonderful show with unforgettable characters i'm going to miss terribly.

Umbrella Academy s3 is better than I expected.

Abbott Elementary is another variation of Parks & Rec. I don't think it's as good, but I still like it? It's not very exciting but i'm hooked.

NEXT ON THE LIST IS THE FINAL PART OF MANIFEST AND IT HAS BEEN HARD AS FUCK AVOIDING SPOILERS... BUT I KNOW NOTHING YET AND WANT IT TO STAY LIKE THAT UNTIL I CAN WATCH.... I CAN'T FUCKING WAIT.

[ouroborus-momento-mori]

In the Air Tonight - Chapter One, Someday

Word count: 8,990 Link to AO3: Here.

Lt. Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin x Reader

18+. Does contain explicit sexual scenes. Please do not interact if you are a minor.

The fics corresponding Spotify playlist: Hangman

Glen Powell’s Hangman’s playlist: Hangman’s Direct Hits

***

Life likes to throw curveballs at you. You had become all too familiar with this fact, as it often meant that you couldn’t plan your life too far ahead. So, you’ve trained yourself to live in the now. To take everything you can out of the moment. Because in your experience, you could never predict what the future had in store for you.

Fourteen years ago, having freshly turned eighteen, you enlisted yourself in the Navy. You started your career at the Naval Academy, studying to take your post as an Intelligence Officer. Those first four years were some of the toughest of your life. The gruelling training haven taken you from being an as green as grass civilian to a pragmatic and astute military officer. 

Some parts of you wished that you hadn't chosen this life for yourself. Nearly every other path you could have walked would likely have been easier. But you tried not to blame your younger self, for she was a slightly naive girl with stars in her eyes when signing those papers. 

You couldn’t really blame her, especially not after all those charming and alluring words the recruiter had slipped into her mind back in high school. Now, it was your duty to yourself and to her to try to make the best out of the life you had. 

You had made yourself a vow near the end of your time with the military. One that you had yet to forsake. That vow was that you would do everything possible to protect yourself, your feelings, and your own peace. 

This vow had come into place after you had tragically lost one of your best friends, Tiana. She had been the most beautiful soul you had ever known, a jubilant person who spread love and joy wherever she went. She had joined the Navy as a Nurse, wanting to sail around the world while helping people. 

She had been killed in an explosion. Your ship had been docked in a foreign harbour, giving your shipmates a chance to go on land and stretch their legs. Tiana had been a part of a team to volunteer to bring supplies and gifts to a local hospital. 

On the way there, the convoy had been a victim of an Improvised Explosive Device. Tiana’s vehicle had been the worst hit. She had bled out while working to stop the bleeding on one of her fellow passengers. 

Her death still haunts you to this day. It had spun your own life completely around. How could someone so pure and kindhearted have been the victim of such a horrific act? 

You had grieved her for months and you still missed her everyday. A few months after her death your eight year service contract with the Navy had been up for renewal. You couldn’t bring yourself to sign those papers again. So, just like that , you had been honourably discharged from the Navy. 

You had spent a few months floating around the country as a civilian, seeking the thrill of life again. But your heart longed for you to do more, to help people, to seek to protect innocents again. 

So you picked yourself up and moved to Washington D.C., finding a part time job at a local Veterans Affairs centre, helping veterans like yourself find new purpose in their civilian life while you still searched for yours.

Previously, you had envisioned yourself as a career officer . Intending for your whole working life to be dedicated to your service in the military. The first major curveball in your life had been Tiana’s death, it had made you come to an almost complete stop and had forced you to change directions. 

The second major curveball had been a complete unfathomable surprise to you, as curveballs often are. While you had been searching for a new career and purpose in life, it turns out someone ( something ) had taken notice of you. 

It had been a grey foggy morning, you had been in your office, when your office’s assistant had notified you that you had a meeting. An unscheduled meeting. 

Thus began a long road of you being recruited by the CIA. They had scouted you after you had left the service having had an exemplary, but cut short , career.  

That had been nearly two years ago. And it’s what brought you to where you are right now. 

Presently, you were getting yourself all dolled up for the evening. You took great pride in yourself and your appearance. 

Sure , some may call it vain. But you knew the power you held, and everytime you stepped out in public, for everyone to see, you liked to look your very best. 

Especially for evenings like tonight. 

Early on in your career you had learned just how powerful really femininity is. How something so seemingly simple as a slight doe eyed look or a well fitted dress could so easily become a weapon . 

You have learned to use your god given assets to your advantage. And that is exactly what you intended to do tonight. 

Tomorrow afternoon you were to ship off with your team of operatives to begin gathering intel in a hostile foreign country. You knew the stakes were high for the mission ahead, just like how you knew tensions would be running high.

You needed to let yourself go tonight, to let off some steam.  

There would be very little to no opportunities to do so on your deployment, and you were eager to let go of everything you had built up. So that tomorrow when you left, you had a near clean slate to build on again.

You sauntered over to your closet, bare feet padding lightly on the hardwood floors.

Thankfully for you, a friend you had made while working with the VA had invited you along to some fancy congressman’s charity event. A very high ranking friend, Rear Admiral Grant, deputy commander of the United Sates Second Fleet. 

You had said yes of course, not only to see your friend before having to leave, but also because you were all too familiar with events like these. And all too familiar with the kind of men who attended them.

Part of you felt like you were on the prowl tonight, searching for your next victim to sink your teeth into. 

Not that you would ever say that aloud. It sounded a little too similar to the kind of bodice ripper smut you used to consume when you were younger.

Reaching your closet, you gently pried the doors open. You let your hand glide over the dresses you had picked out as candidates for the evening. You stopped when you reached your favourite, taking time to let the satin glide between your fingers. Yes, you were feeling like wearing redtonight. 

Having made your decision, you let your robe fall off of your body, before slipping in to dress. 

You enjoyed the way it hugged your body. The dress has a built in boning lining the bodice, creating the perfect hidden corset to highlight everything you wanted to show off tonight.

Taking a minute, you admired yourself in the mirror. You had done well.

Your hair had been perfectly curled into soft voluminous waves, then perfectly piled into a soft updo - perfect for oncoming done later. 

Your makeup was flawless imperfect, with chiselled contour, lifted brows, fox eye makeup, cheeks perfectly flushed and a pouty lip to match.

You looked devastating. It was perfect.

***

Stepping out of your Uber you took pleasure in the soft clicking of your heels on the marble stairs, heading up towards the hotel’s ballroom. 

You had to admit, you were impressed. The event was very well done, the whole grand ballroom decked out in full glamour. The room had dimmed lighting and was filled with dark wood, leather and deep jewel tones. 

It reminded you of an old WW2 era officers club, which was fitting for the occasion. The congressman throwing the gala was donating all proceeds to the Air Warrior Courage Foundation, a charity you were more than happy to donate some funds to.

Your eyes swept over the room as you walked towards the bar, scanning with two intentions. 

The first was to locate the good admiral, Oliver Grant. You were looking forward to catching up with him and his wife this evening.

The second you took far more glee in. Your eyes scanned the crowd, taking stock of the men in the room. There were plenty of dashing and ambitious men in the room. Your eyes lingered on a few that peaked your interest, even catching eyes with a couple. 

As you waited for your first glass of red wine for the evening, you let your gaze linger on an almost-obscenely handsome aviator. He was standing with other sharply dressed men in uniform, friends or colleagues of his.

As if he could feel your eyes on him, his eyes turned to meet yours, stopping you both in your tracks for a moment. Target in sight.

Even from far away you could tell his eyes were a striking blue-green colour. You held his gaze with a sly smile, not shy to admit to him that you had been admiring him. From the slow grin that grew on his face, you could tell he was appreciative. 

You positioned yourself slightly tilted away from him, flicking your eyes towards the bartender as he handed you your drink. Turning your eyes back over your shoulder towards the blonde, you caught him slowly lowering his gaze clearly checking you out. 

You felt a warm shiver run down your spine, a heat settling into your centre. Your first of hopefully many thrills this evening. 

You smiled demurely at him once he caught your gaze again, nodding slightly to him. He nodded to you as well, with what you were sure was his signature wink, acknowledging your attention with a slight raise of his beer towards you. 

Making sure his gaze was still on you, you started to walk away towards a crowd of people intent on finding your friend. You made sure to add an extra little sway to your hips as you walked away. 

You made your way over to where you knew Oliver and his wife, Sherry, would be. The two of them always had a crowd around them, as was typical of a couple of their status. Oliver was the highest ranking officer in the room tonight.

“Oh! There you are my sweet little, Cherry.” A soft euphoric voice flowed over in your direction. It was Sherry, who was quite possibly one of your most favourite people.

She’s a shorter, slightly plump, older woman with the most impeccable style. She was looking glamorous tonight, dressed in a floor length light pink gown, her red hair piled on top of her head in a bundle of curls. 

Sherry and Oliver had become like a second set of parents to you here in D.C.. Sherry volunteered frequently with various veterans organisations, you had met her and her husband through your brief stint with the VA. 

When you had confessed to Sherry about your past, she had warmly welcomed you, adopting you into her life.

“Sherry!” You laughed lightly, walking into her open arms as she embraced you in a warm motherly hug, giving you a kiss on the cheek. 

“Cherry!” Oliver laughed as well, patting you on your shoulder as you pulled away from Sherry. 

Sherry had presented you with your long lasting nickname after the one single time you had worn a certain cherry-printed sundress in her presence. She had thought it was adorable and ever since she and Oliver had referred to you as Cherry. Sometimes you playfully acted exasperated at the nickname, but in reality it warmed you.

Sherry & Cherry. An unlikely symbolic tie between you and your would-be adopted mother. 

“How’s the prep going, kid?” Oliver prompted kindly. He and Sherry both knew you were shipping out tomorrow, but only Oliver knew what waited for you overseas. Sherry wasn’t aware of what your mission pertained too, but with all her diligent work with veterans, she held an empathy within her for what you were about to face.

“All finished. Everything is packed and by the door waiting for me. Now all that’s left is one last hurrah and a night of rest.” You smiled reassuringly towards them, not wanting to worry them. 

You weren’t overly worried for yourself, you tried not to linger on the what-ifs of the future. Best to live in the now.

“Oh sweetie, I’m gonna miss you.” Sherry hugged your side, smiling sadly up towards you.

“I know, darlin’. I’ll be home before you know it.” You tightly squeezed her hand. 

“You let me know if you need anything over there, kid. I can get almost anything delivered to the nearest military outpost for ya.” Oliver nodded towards you, a proud fatherly smile on his face. 

He had a good idea of what your mission was, you were sure of it. He had likely tapped into his own intel channels within the fleet to see what various objectives in your area were going to be.

You went to thank him, but were abruptly cut off by the man of the hour, Congressman Rodriguez as he started his “many thanks” speech of the evening.

Everyone in the room had turned their eyes towards him, listening to his far too long speech. Men in politics had a tendency to speak too much about themselves and their accomplishments, always a re-election speech, instead of focusing on the charity you were all here to really support tonight. 

You felt your eyes starting to drift again, fixating on a set of empty chairs near the centre of the room. Set between them was an oddly beautiful  game of Battleship, it was gleaming in the dimmed lighting. Glancing around you could see various other military themed board games around the room, they were commonly used as icebreakers.   

You smirked to yourself, having formulated a plan for how you were going to really catch the attention of that aviator from earlier. You hadn’t seen a wedding ring on his finger, nor was there a beautiful woman on his arm this evening. You were going to make sure he was yours for the night, and only for the night. 

The last thing you needed right now was to get tangled into something with the lifestyle you were currently living. While you loved your work with the CIA, it often meant being quite secretive and often having to leave for long periods of time. Not exactly the best conditions to get into any kindof relationship besides short hookups.

A sudden shiver went down your spine, there were eyes on you. Which, to be completely honest, was not unusual. Especially with the way you looked tonight. But this was different, their gaze was warm, and intentional. 

Turning subtly to the side, you playfully let your eyes glide over the crowds of people. Searching for a set of newly familiar blue-green eyes you were certain were the ones watching you now.

Locking eyes, you were only slightly surprised with how heated his gaze was. Well that settles that . You knew exactly how your night was going to end. You were looking forward to the build up the two of you were going to have over the course of the evening. 

You playfully looked through your lashes at him, giving him a cheeky wink your own. Target acquired .

When the congressman had finally finished his speech you turned your attention once more towards Oliver, nodding towards the chairs and board game. 

“What do you say, old man? One last game before I ship out?” You joked lightly with him, a cocky grin on your face.

“You know I can never say no to a challenge. You're on, Cherry.” He grinned mischievously at you. Sherry couldn’t help but chuckle at both of your antics.

As the three of you made your way over to the table, you turned your gaze backwards once again locking eyes with your target of the night. You made sure to add a seductive sway to your steps and put on a taunting smile as you nodded towards the table, making sure he would know where to watch for you.

You saw his eyes widen slightly as you took your place at the table, choosing your lucky side of the game. 

He was most likely surprised and impressed with who you were about to beat in a game of Battleship. If you were to take a guess, Oliver was most likely the deputy commander of his fleet. 

“Ready to put on a show?” You jokingly asked of Oliver, observing the crowd that was now gathering around you and the admiral.

“Ready as ever, Cherry.”

The two of you began the not so delicate dance that was the game of Battleship. Each taking turns to sink each other's ships. 

You chanced a glance over to your aviator, only to him more fixated on the game board instead of the game player . You don’t know why this irritated you slightly. You were feeling greedy. You wanted his eyes on you .

“The Hangman caught your eye?” Oliver quietly asked you, a devilish grin on his face as he sunk a hit on one of your ships. 

You huffed as you made your next move. “The who?”

“The Hangman. Lieutenant Jake Seresin. The blonde aviator you’ve been making eyes with all night?” Oliver looked downright tickled as your cheeks turned rosey. That bastard.

You glared playfully up at the man as you chose to remain quiet, concentrating on your strategy. You wanted to win. You called out your next shot, effectively sinking one of his patrol boats. 

“He’s one of my fleet's top pilots. In fact, he’s one of the best amongst his gen. He’d probably be well worth your time getting to know .” Oliver was jokingly wiggling his eyebrows at you. 

You laughed while shaking your head with a wide smile on your face. If there wasn’t a crowd watching you would have playfully reached over to smack his arm.

“Oh come on, Cherry. Sherry and I don’t have any children. You're our best bet at giving us any semblance of grand babies. Even if they’re the furry kind. You know we’d help you with anything.”

“Little soon to be bringing up Hangman and I’s prospective babies, isn’t it Ollie? I haven’t even met the man yet.” You smiled in disbelief, chancing another glance over to your aviator - Jake . 

You sucked in a breath as you made eye contact with the man. Yup. You definitely wouldn’t mind having his babies. Good lord. You were sure he had an ego that lived up to both his reputation and his looks.

Oliver started laughing again, pulling you out of your heated staring match. You were getting close to the end of your game now, both of you toe to toe with only a couple ships left.

“I’m definitely introducing you two.”

“That's alright. I think I’ve got how tonight’s going to go down all figured out.” You winked to the man, reassuring him that you had everything under control.

The two of you were getting down to the last few strikes you needed to win the game, you could feel a sense of anticipation even in the crowd. Like a magnet you felt your drawn up to behind Oliver, where your blonde aviator ( Jake ) was standing. 

He offered you a slightly awed smile and a wink as the two of you made eye contact. You felt a grin on your face, appreciating the encouragement he was offering you in this ever so trying time of yours.

Feeling a sense of warmth coming over you at the knowledge you had at least one - actually, now that you caught sight of her, Sherry was definitelyrooting for you too - so at least two supporters in the crowd, you called out your hopefully last strike. 

“3F.” In an instant you heard the onset of groans from Oliver and those behind him, signalling your win. 

You couldn’t help the triumphant grin that made its way onto your lips, laughing at the playful disbelief on Oliver's face. The both of you standing up, you shook hands, you pulled Oliver in for a hug. 

“How could you embarrass me like this, Cherry? My men are never going to let me live this down.” Oliver smiled sheepishly at you, a laugh on his lips. 

Sherry pried you away from him, pulling you into her own arms for a side hug. The night was getting later now. They would soon likely be leaving for the evening. Time to say your see you laters .

“Thankfully for you, Ollie - most of your men have likely drunk too much to remember the outcome of your game.” Sherry laughed, patting her husband's chest good naturedly.

You smiled wistfully at the two of them. They had been together for nearly thirty years and they were still so in love. 

Oliver smiled sadly at you, recognizing how late in the evening it was, and what that meant for the three of you.

“I think it’s time we say goodnight, don’t you think Sherry? Cherry here needs to rest up. She’s got a big day ahead of her tomorrow.” 

Sherry’s eyes started to go glassy as she looked up to you, once again pulling you into another hug. You roped Oliver in too, giving him a kiss on the cheek and Sherry a kiss on the forehead. 

“I’ll see you both in no time at all. I promise . It’ll be like a blink and I’ll be back here stateside once again.” You stayed strong, unwilling to give in to your emotions. 

“We’ll see you soon, Cherry. We both love you, so very much .” Sherry let herself shed a tear, reaching up to pat your cheek. She knew your penchant for never saying goodbye.

“Love you guys too. I’ll see you soon.” You smiled towards them, pulling them in for one more short hug before waving them off. You watched them make their way out of the room, having to say about a dozen other goodbyes before they were left for the evening.

You rolled your shoulders slightly, clenching your jaw a few times blinking your eyes. Game time . You only had a few hours left of the evening to accomplish your goal for the night.

Turning around you scanned the crowd once again searching for a certain someone. Thankfully, he hadn’t moved positions too much from his last known location. Target locked in sight .

You quickly judged your angle of attack, before deciding on your path of flight. “Hangman” ( what a callsign ) was standing about twenty feet from the bar, giving you the perfect opportunity.

Putting an extra swing in your hips you began your journey towards the bar, aiming to buzz past the aviator. Closing in . You set your gaze directly on him now, your eyes calling his up towards yours. 

You gave him a coy smile, holding his gaze as you brushed right past him on your way to the bar. You held his gaze over your shoulder for a moment before fixating on the bar, pulling up in a spot where there were few people, an opening on either side of you for someone to take.

You ordered yourself an old fashioned, needing the burn of the whiskey to ease the last remaining nerves you had.

Feeling your breathing and pulse both quicken slightly, you registered the fact there was someone gliding up to your side. You were leaning as casually as possible on the bar when he pulled up on your side, his left arm brushing against yours. He was considerably taller than you, his presence even going as far to cast a shadow over your figure. You didn’t mind.

You glanced over towards him through your eyelashes, aiming a doe eyed look in his direction as you captured his eyes in your gaze. 

“You know, little red ” He started softly, smiling down conspiratorially at you, “you’re the kind of woman to make a man think he may be religious. You might just be the answer to all my prayers tonight.” He bumped you lightly on your shoulder. 

You let out a barking laugh at the absurdness of it. Oh shit . He’s one of those pick up artists.

“That the best you got in your roster, fly guy?” You turned a taunting smile his way, turning front on to him, standing closer. After all, if what seemed like it was in the air tonight was actually true, you wouldn’t need to hear very much from him.

“Well shit, ma’am. I had a few more lines waiting to be used, but I’m hoping I can demonstrate just how useful I can really be to you this evening.” 

“You better slow down before you get ahead of yourself, Lieutenant . Wouldn’t want you to crash and burn too early in the night. We haven’t even exchanged names yet.” You grinned up at him, stepping half a step closer. You could see all the swirling shades in his eyes from this close, the blue and green seemingly at war with each other for dominance.

“Lieutenant Jake Seresin at your service , ma’am.” He was openly gazing at you with brazen lust in his  eyes. You felt a heat settling into your centre, your breathing starting to deepen. “Figured Admiral Grant would have told you that though. Quite the show you put on there.”

“I saw you watching us, I appreciated your support. I was hoping…” You trailed off, glancing up towards him then over to the exit of the ball room. “I was hoping you might let me express my absolute gratitude ?” 

You were playful now, reaching up near his collar to swipe a non-existent piece of lint, using the excuse to lay your hand on him briefly.

“You seem to have the upperhand on me here, Red .” He smirked down at you, referencing the colour of your dress,“You didn’t give me your name.” 

You leaned towards him, placing your hand on his resting on the bar. 

“You can keep calling me Red.” You squeezed his hand gently, intertwining your fingers. The two of you naturally gravitated towards each other, your chests deliciously now touching. “Or ma’am . Whatever you prefer.” 

“Why the secrecy, Red? You some kind of top secret agent or something?” He was joking, but you couldn’t help the little giggle that escaped you.

“Something of the sort. I’m shipping out tomorrow.” His brows raised in understanding. He was military. He knew exactly what you were after tonight. He also had the sense not to push you any further. He knew you wanted him.

“So what do you say, fly guy? Can you give me a nice send off? Something to think about on those long hot nights in the desert.” You crooned to him, eyes shining mischievously, smiling that coy little smile of yours up towards him.

“I can definitely send you off with something to remember, Red.” He secured your hand in the small of his elbow, leading you towards the exit to begin the main event of the evening. 

***

The two of you could barely make it to the elevator in time before nearly jumping each other. Thankfully Jake had a suite booked upstairs. 

The walk to the elevator had been painstakingly long, even more so as you waited for that damned elevator, both silently praying to your god of choice that no one else would come up behind you to join you in your wait.

Once that elevator door digned open you both rushed in, stuck to each other's sides. Jake quickly slammed his hand on the floor level and close door button as you caught sight of another couple rushing to try and catch a ride with you. 

The door had barely closed when you felt Jake cup your waist with one hand, your face in his other. “This okay with you, Red?” You nodded at him, eyes fixated on his lips, inching closer towards him. “You speak up if I do anything you don’t like, ma’am. I won’t mind.”

Ma’am . His husky tone sent a warm jolt through your core. The casual way he calls you by it, unknowing of your military past. His charm works its way on you, sending a warm fuzzy feeling between your thighs. 

You reached for his belt loops, tugging him towards you. “Likewise, fly guy.” 

He takes a sharp breath in before slamming his lips down hungrily upon yours, his kiss earnest and fierce. The two of you moulded perfectly together, panting in between rushed kisses and hurried grasps as he backed you up against the cool metal wall of the elevator. 

You let out a hiss as the cold metal hit your bare back. You once again reached for his belt loops, using them to manoeuvre him so he was the one pushed against the elevator wall. 

He opened his eyes, his pupils fully blown with lust, eyes near black in the dim lighting. He gazed down at you with an awed half smile, an inquisitive look in his expression. 

You leaned upwards, kissing along his jaw and ear as you pushed your centre against his growing erection. He let out a breathy moan. “Hope you don’t mind, Hangman . Any objections?” He didn’t question how you knew his callsign.

You continued your attack on his jugular as you waited for his response, leaving wet kisses along his neck. 

“Not at all, ma’am. I’m all yours to do as you please.” You grinned up wolfishly at him as the elevator door signed open. 

“Lead the way, Lieutenant.” You purred. 

He led you quickly down the hall with his hand at the small of you pack, petting the material. You reached your hand to lead him further down to grasp at the curve of your ass. He gave you a light smack.

Before you knew it you were in front of his door, Jake fumbling around in his pocket to try and pull out his room card. You giggled slightly as he clearly struggled to find it, ever aware of the growing hard on he has.

Once he finally found the card the two of you were dragging each other through the door before slamming and locking it shut again.

The two of you battled for dominance with your lips, breathy moans and sighs releasing as you tried your best to tear the many unfortunate layers of Jake's dress uniform off of him, careful not to rip anything. Those uniforms were fucking expensive .

You finally managed to unbutton and pull his outer layers off, leaving him only in his base button down shirt and pants. You reached for his belt, looking up into his eyes for reassurance. “This alright, Jake?” You made sure to use his name, pulling him back to earth for a moment. 

“Sure is, Red. I’ll let you know if anything changes.” His eyes were warm on you, not just with lust, but with what you thought appreciation too. Consent was always important to you, you were glad he held the same value. 

With glee, you started to undo his standard issue belt, him starting to unbutton his dress shirt. You tried to muffle the groan you wanted to release upon seeing just how in shape the man before you is. It was clear from most of your interactions this evening he had an ego, you did not need to feed into it.

But god , you really couldn’t help yourself. You loved to please your partners. Their ecstasy adding to yours. You were going to take significantpleasure in bringing this practical Adonis to release tonight.

Jake kicked off his dress shoes, leaving him only in his socks and pants. You, however, were still fully dressed. Jake clearly thought this was unfair.

With a predatory intent he backed you up towards the wall before lightly turning you around, pushing you up against the wall. He trailed wet hot kisses down the trail of your neck down, focusing his attention on the joint of your neck and shoulders. 

Fuck. You were definitely going to have hickeys tomorrow. You mentally pushed aside the thought of your teammates giving you the gears about it tomorrow.

Both of your hands rested against the wall in front of you, as Jake pushed his growing erection against you. His hands were trailing lightly up and down your sides. 

“Quit being such a tease and undress me.” You huffed out to him, grinning at his languid expression. “ Please .” You added, for good measure.

He kissed the base of your neck before bringing one hand up to your zipper, the other slipping down to your lower abdomen, pushing down with just the right pressure . At this rate you might just pass away. You just wanted him to touch you .

He unzipped your dress tauntingly slow, his breath warm fanning across your back. His fingers glided down the centre of your back as he unzipped you, sending shivers down your spine with how light his touch was on your back. When your dress was all the way undone he lightly let it fall to the ground. 

You stepped out of the dress, chucking your heels off to the side of the room, before once more grabbing him by his belt loops. You flip the two of you around, pushing him up against the wall, beginning to undo his pants. You glance up towards him seeking permission. 

He dips his lips down to yours, pulling you in by your hips for a heated kiss. His tongue flicked into your mouth. You opened for him, tasting whiskey on his tongue. He sighed in pleasure. 

You began tugging his pants down his waist, your mouth leaving his to press light kisses down his delicious front. Good lord . Fuck. He was absolutely shredded. His six pack looked like it was carved in marble, and the tantalising v of his waist leading your gaze down towards his bulging cock. 

You were certain you were drenched. You continued your trail down his front as he watched on in awe of you. His cock twitched as you started to lightly tease his lower abdomen, right where his underwear started.

“Thought tonight was all about you, Red? You’re the one shipping out tomorrow.” Jake breathed down out, but wasn’t protesting your actions. 

“I like to spoil my partners. You don’t mind, do you?” You smiled coyly up towards him, giving him a taunting doe eyed look as you cupped his erection, laying light kisses over his underwear. 

“ Fuck .” He bucked lightly into your touch, clearly enjoying your attention.

“You gonna answer me, baby?” 

“Fu- no. Yes. Please. Continue.” Jake let out a light wanton whimper as you began pulling his underwear down, giving him the same treatment he gave you. You adored rendering powerful men like him speechless with just your touch. It made you feel powerful. 

He was huge. Now you understood why he had such an air of an ego about him. He was by far the biggest of anyone you had ever been with. Fuckhe was pretty too. His Hollywood charm encompassed every aspect of him. You would have been pissed off about it if you weren’t about to have his cock in your mouth. 

You stroked him firmly, cupping his balls in your other hand. His hips rocking up into your grip, you had a steady rhythm going between the two of you.

“You want my mouth on you?” 

“Yes, ma’am.” He groaned out, eyes shining down at you with some unreadable emotion in them. 

You took him in your mouth slowly, needing to take some time to adjust, careful not to scrape him with your teeth. 

His hands reached down to grasp your face and neck, settling into your hair. His grip made your up-do start to come undone. You didn’t mind too much.

You groaned as the taste of precum hit your tongue, enjoying the tangy saltiness of it. You started bobbing your head lightly, Jake was trying his best to remain still so as not to overwhelm you. 

His pulling on your hair was driving you wild, and one of your hands left cupping his ball in favour of trailing down your own abdomen, your clit near begging for attention.

You pushed your own panties to the side so you could touch yourself, putting the perfect amount of pressure you liked. You moaned around his cock, making him tug on your hair harder - shivering in pleasure as he moaned.

“Fuck. You’re gorgeous. Have I told you that tonight? You are an absolute - fuck - a fucking goddess, Red.” Your thighs clenched together at his words, they were music to your ears and food for your own ego. This is why you loved pleasuring your partners.

He was full on panting now as you swirled your tongue around his tip, paying extra attention to lap up the leaking precum. “You keep this up and you’re going to have me cumming in no time, ma’am. Can’t have that. I've been wanting to sink into you all night.”

He lightly tugged on your hair to bring you off his cock, tugging your lips up towards his own. He kissed you fiercely, tasting himself on your lips. Your tongues battled for dominance, seeking to show each other who was in charge. 

His hands slid down your sides to your thighs,leaning down slightly without breaking your kiss to pick you up, wrapping your legs around his waist. You let out a little squeal of delight, giggling at how easy it was for him to pick you up. 

Only now were you realising the two of you hadn’t even made it out of the entryway of his hotel room. He held you steady in his arms as he manoeuvred through the hotel room towards the bedroom. 

He threw you down on your back on to the plush bed, taking care to brace your head and neck. Without pause he started kissing down the valley of your breasts, reaching up to tweak your nipples from the outer layer of your bra. 

“You still good, Red?” He breathed into your skin, glancing up at you from behind his lashes. Fuck you loved his eyes. You could spend eternity staring into their depths.

“You gonna answer me, baby?” He asked, repeating your line from before back to you.

“More than good, Jake. You gonna show me what that mouth of yours can do?” You raised your brow with a sly smile, presenting him with a challenge.

“I’m gonna ruin you for everyone else. Hope you know that.” 

“You’re talking big game for someone who hasn’t even found my clit yet.” You giggled at his expression.

“Give me a minute, baby. I’m not used to flying blind.” 

He came swooping back up to kiss you. It was a hungry kiss, tongue and all, but there was something different about this one. You enjoyed his attention, and his kisses. Come to think of it, you’ve been just enjoying him . His presence too. You meshed well together. 

You didn’t linger on that thought. 

His hand trailed down, cupping you at your core. He worked both his hands to pull your underwear down, leaving you open and exposed to the cool room's air. You weren’t left uncovered for long. 

He once again cupped you at your core, supporting your arching back with his other hand as he began trailing his way down your front leaving a blazing hot trail of wet open mouthed kisses. He eventually found your clit after some light probing. Bulls eye .

Fuck he was good with his hands too .

When his mouth had finally reached your core he took the time to hook one of your thighs over his shoulder, leaning to press a lasting kiss to the inside of your thigh. He latched himself directly on to your clit, lapping languidly seeming to genuinely take pleasure in the way you tasted.

He groaned into your centre causing you to let out a moan at the vibrations that wracked through you. One of his hand was holding your thigh on his shoulder, the other beginning to finger you. 

One, then two fingers entered you, scissoring you to prepare you for his massive cock. 

“You’re so fucking wet for me, Red.” He squeezed the thigh he was holding. “Don’t be afraid to let out a little noise. I love the sounds you’re making.”

“Fuck, Jake .” You whimpered out as he began his targeted assault on both your g-spot and clit, his fingers curving up into you. “You’re so good to me. You weren’t fucking lying either. You’re gonna be a tough one to beat.”

He paused in his ministrations, his hand squeezing your thigh much harder now. He let out a low throaty laugh, almost a growl. You glanced down at him wondering what was the matter, only to find him gazing up at you, his gaze dark and clouded.

“Oh, Red.” He began, before crawling his way back up to you, his significantly larger frame looming over you. “There’s going to be no beating me, I’m the best. Your best. I can remind you of that fact at any point in the future. Preferably near future.” 

You could only gulp in response, lost for words. Your entire body was humming with a thrill. Was he - was he jealous of prospective future partners of yours?

You’ve gotta be shitting me.

You simply decided to stop that train of thought for both of you with a kiss, hooking one of your legs up over his waist, pushing his core down towards you. He began rutting lightly, his cock held firmly between you. The pressure was delicious but you desired more. 

Using the leverage you had with your leg hooked around his waist, you flipped the two of you over, you planted proudly on top of him.

“I think after tonight you’re going to find I’m going to be tough to beat too, baby. Enjoy me while you still can.” You smirked down at him, grinding your wet folds over his fully hardened cock. “You got a condom anywhere?”

He actually let out a little whimper , that awed look back in his eyes as he smirked up at you, his eyes practically twinkling. He nodded towards the bedside table to his left. 

You scrambled off him to grab one, coming back to straddle his thick thighs. You ripped open the packet, throwing it to the side. You slowly rolled the condom down his cock, leaning down to give it a kiss once it was securely in place.

“You’re gonna kill me, baby.” He huffed out, a smiling grin on his lips. You briefly thought to yourself about how much you liked his smile.

You held yourself above him, straddling him, as you grasped his cock lining it up with your entrance. You slowly lowered yourself down on to him, taking pleasure in how well he stretched you. You had to pause twice on your way down just to adjust to him, before he was fully inside you. 

You looked at eachother with half-lidded gazes. The lust in his eyes was not hidden at all as he began to unconsciously slowly rut into you, your teasing unmoving state starting to drive him wild.

“You gonna show me how a real man fucks, baby?” You taunted down to him, wanting to jeer him on slightly more.

With one strong movement of his hips he snapped up into you, burying himself to the hilt, his cock twitching inside of you as he groaned at the hot tightness of your walls surrounding him.

He reached up to grab a fistful of your hair, bringing you down to meet his lips halfway in a forceful kiss, your tongue entwining with his. “ So fucking good to me, Red .” He breathed into you, a small bite to your tongue sending a shiver down your body.

The two of you began a relentless rhythm, both working towards making the other cum hard. The pounding of his hips up into yours caused your breasts to bounce, one of his large hands coming up to grasp one, tweaking your nipple. He watched you through half-lidded eyes, continuing his amazingly brutal pace. You moaned into his mouth. 

“Fuck! I’m so close.” You panted, your eyes rolling into the back of your head. You began to reach your hand down to where you two were joined, intent on helping yourself to finish. 

His hand slapped yours lightly away, taking its place to stimulate your clit for himself.

“Let me know if the pressure is okay, Red.” 

“ Such a gentleman, Jake . Little harder please.” He obeyed your wishes, stroking your clit with your prefered side to side, up and down with just the right pressure.

Wrapping his other arm around your back, his strength was impressive as kept the war up on two fronts, chasing both of your highs. He kept pounding up into you, all his inhibitions lost, as his cock pumped in to you. 

It was by far the most intense sexual experience you have ever had, the man arching up off the bed into you until you were a mess of moans, whimpers, tingles and screams. 

Your climax hit you like a dozen exploding rockets behind the lids of your eyes .

“Fuck. Fuck!” Was all Jake could manage to say as he spilled into the condom inside you, your walls milking him as you both ran out your highs, his hips still stuttering up into your core.

You came down before he did, melting completely into him, resting on his chest. You placed absent minded kisses on his chest, your hands rubbing his chest lazily, unwilling to let go of him just yet. 

The two of you just laid there on the bed holding each other, catching up on your breaths. When you turned your eyes to him you found him watching you, a curious expression you couldn’t quite make out on his face. 

You hummed at him, not quite understanding what his eyes were trying to convey. You ran your fingers through his hair and pressed gentle kisses up and down his jaw. 

“Don’t suppose you have enough energy for a round two?” You smiled down at him. His eyes immediately lit up, his cock twitching with interest - still buried inside you. You couldn’t help but giggle.

***

Your fun ran well into the early hours of the next morning. Rounds two and three being just as good as the first. You continued exploring each other's bodies for hours, bits of small talk strewn and water breaks strewn between them.

Eventually the sun started to shine through the curtains - your tell-tale sign that you absolutely couldn’t delay any longer. You had a flight to catch . Unfortunately. 

Even though you had settled on the fact you didn’t want a relationship with anyone , you couldn’t help but wish you had more time to spend with Jake. He was caring, able to thoroughly fuck you, and funny. 

You didn’t have time to consider that though. In less than forty eight hours you would be touching down in a desert, where you couldn’t afford to have any distractions. 

That included the butterflies you got when you thought about the would-be lover you were laying in bed with. You hadn’t intended to stay this long with him. You hadn’t slept, but you had meant to leave after all the sex was over. 

You blamed the fact you were resting in his arms on your sore thighs and legs. You started to get up from his grasp only for Jake to gently pull you back in. You didn’t fight him on it.

Your hand continued to absentmindedly rub up and down his chest, finding the skin to skin contact comforting. 

“What time does your flight leave?” He was avoiding your gaze.

“Early this afternoon.” You gulped, trying to catch his eyes. “I’ll have to leave soon. I gotta make it back to my apartment to freshen up.”

He finally met your stare, his expression closed off from you - far different from how he had been the entire time prior.

You had half the mind to apologise, but you didn’t have a real reason to. He knew from the very start you were deploying today. That you couldn’t stay. 

“Can’t share anything about where you’re going?” He asked hesitantly, an unsure look in his eyes. 

“I’m sorry, Jake. I can’t divulge any details. You know how it is.” You shrugged, that was something you could apologise for. Something you were used to apologising for to people in your life.

You covered yourself in the sheet, feeling exposed for the first time since undressing. 

He nodded his head, a sad smile on his lips. “I know, Red. I’m sorry for asking.” He looked into your eyes, that unreadable emotion back again. “It must be tough for you. Not being able to talk about it.”

You were struck by how sincere he was.

“It can be. I’m a little too used to it now.” You smiled a half-hearted smile, shrugging again. “You just get used to it. It’s a part of the job.” Not one you enjoyed, though.

It was then you realised that you hadn’t shared your name with him. As you started to get up, you grasped his hand - giving it a gentle, comforting squeeze. 

You said your full name, aloud for him to hear, while looking into his eyes. He raised his brows in surprise.

“What?” He asked softly, eyes searching yours.

“My name, fly guy .” You repeated your name, watching as a light started to shine in his eyes again. You caught yourself grinning with him again.

You forced yourself to break your gaze, forcing yourself to get out of bed, groaning at how sore you were. You busied yourself with finding your dress and panties, groaning once again at realising the inevitable walk of shame you would have to do. 

“Here.” Jake spoke to you, he was now up and getting dressed himself. He got up and picked out some standard issue navy sweatpants and sweatshirt. “You can wear these. I’ll just get a new  set issued to me next time I’m on base.” He smiled comfortingly, saving you from having to wear your gown again.

You stole the sweats right out of his hands, not being shy about throwing them on. Fuck you had missed these . Nothing beat the comfort of military issued sweats. 

He started to laugh at you and your eagerness before stopping in his tracks, gulping loudly, staring at you in his clothes.

You caught his gaze and felt a rush of hea- nope . Nope! You are out of time . Pull yourself together.

“You look good, Red.” He complimented you, voice both heavy from the nights activities and his morning raspiness. You wished you could for longer with him just to hear him talk for longer. 

“Still calling me Red?”

“It suits you. You mind?” 

“This is likely the last time we’ll see each other, Jake. I don’t mind. I’m sorry, I genuinely wish I could stay for longer.” You tried to smile apologetically, eyes searching for his to show him the warmth and genuine feeling you had. 

He had a hard time meeting your gaze. 

“Right. Top secret agent shit. Sorry.” He mumbled, his apology genuine. 

You gathered your gown in your arms, readying to leave. You turned to face him one more time. You don't know what came over you but you leaned up, steadying yourself on his shoulder. His eyes searched yours, inquisitive. You leaned up on your tippy toes to press a warm lingering kiss to his cheek.

“I really am sorry, Jake.” You whispered to him. Leaning back slightly you looked into his eyes. “Who knows. We run in similar circles, maybe we’ll run into each other again someday.”

“Someday.” He agreed, holding your gaze. 

You lingered for a moment longer, before nodding to him, excusing yourself from his room. Leaving him there alone in the early hours of the morning. 

Someday.

*** 

Within forty eight hours you found yourself touching down in Afghanistan for your first foreign field mission with your team of CIA operatives.

Upon getting home the day prior, you had discovered that you had accidentally left your panties in Jake's hotel room. You didn’t know what to think of that. 

On the other hand though, you had indeed worn the pair of his sweats he had given you on your flight here to Afghanistan. They were now a part of your wardrobe for the next few months.

You didn’t know what the future held in store for you. Despite your vow to live in the now, you couldn’t help but think about the potential for someday that might come. In the suffocating heat of the Middle East, it was something you thought of often.

Authors note: It’s finally here! Thank you to everyone who waited so patiently for this first chapter to drop. It’s been so busy at work that I barely had time to sit down and write this. 

Next chapter will be dropping hopefully within the next two weeks. 

Super excited to work on this fic. The first half of this story takes place before the main plot of Top Gun: Maverick. This chapter is set about two and a half years prior to the movie. 

Please let me know what you think! This was also my first time writing smut so please be kind, lol. Comments, likes and reblogs are always appreciated and totally act as fuel for me the writer to get the next chapter out :)

Tag List: @marauderskeeper @the-untamed-soul @wanderdreamer @camidalet @exo-wayv @serrendiipty @keziainafreakland @ivy-miranda-2390 @bradleybradshawsgirlfriend @jonginvlog @srry-itshockeyszn @et-homephone @lclove2012-blog @maverooster @zofps @dempy

[grandmaster-anne]

6 September 2022: The Princess Royal Visits Tarbert Harbour THA would like to thank HRH The Princess Royal for visiting Tarbert on September 6th for the afternoon. It was an honour to have The Princess open Phase One of the new harbourside facilities. Duncan Cunningham (Chairman of THA) and Kenneth MacNab (Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Argyll and Bute) gave Princess Anne a tour around the new developments and presented various stakeholders involved in recent projects. HRH also learned about the numerous regeneration plans in place to provide additional services and facilities. Tarbert Yacht Club also organised a demonstration for HRH, where young pupils from Tarbert Academy sailed over to the pontoons on toppers to greet The Princess. To end the royal visit, HRH unveiled a plaque recording her visit and was later presented with a bouquet of flowers from Tarbert’s Seafood Queen and her Princesses. This was a memorable day for THA and marked the completion of a decade of successful developments for the harbour.

@TarbertHarbour 

[paralleljulieverse]

‘Gentlemen like you are few...’: A Supercentenary Tribute to Irwin Kostal

1 October 2021 marks the 110th anniversary of the birth of Irwin Kostal, the musical arranger, orchestrator and conductor whose work helped shape the sound of the post-war American stage and screen musical. In this post we look back at the career of this remarkable 'music man’ with a particular focus on his collaborations with the equally remarkable Julie Andrews -- who, as it happens, shares the same birthday, so this post is doing double birthday honours.

A gentle, unassuming man, Kostal or ‘Irv’ as he was known by associates, was not one for the limelight. It’s possibly why he gravitated to the ‘behind-the-scenes’ art of musical arranging. Unlike composers, performers, or even conductors, arrangers seldom loom large in public perceptions of professional musicianship. They are, for the most part, the ‘invisible artists’ of the music industry: their contributions to the sound and experience of music are immense, but they remain largely ‘uncredited in records, liner notes or books or records’ (Niles 2104, p. 4). That Irwin Kostal would ultimately prove a rare exception to this tradition of thankless anonymity -- becoming sufficiently well-known to have his own name not only included on recordings, but emblazoned on the front cover alongside those of the ‘star’ vocalists with whom he worked -- is a testament to the singularity of his talents. 

Born the son of first generation immigrant parents in Chicago in 1911, Kostal claimed he was instantly ‘smitten’ by music when he saw a piano at the age of two-and-a-half, but his family was too poor to afford such luxuries. Moreover, his father -- a hard-drinking Czech with a fiery temper -- was ‘rigidly opposed’ to his interests in music and ‘could see no future in it’ (’Irwin’ 1962, p. 70). So Kostal initially had to content himself with listening and absorbing as much musical knowledge as he could indirectly. When he was eleven, his father finally brought home a broken player piano salvaged from a removals job and it provided the young Kostal with the launch pad he needed. 

Kostal devoted himself to his musical education with single-minded zeal. His formal training was intermittent -- enabled by a supportive mother who ‘surreptitiously managed to save money from her weekly allowance for my musical instruction’ (’Irwin’ 1962, p. 70) -- but he was a passionate autodidact who would spend countless hours studying and practising on his own. By age 15, he was already playing professionally with local touring bands, while also offering his own services as a piano teacher with, at one point, more than 40 pupils (ibid.).

When he wasn’t playing, Kostal would be found in the local library poring over musical scores and reading about the greats of the classical canon. He was particularly intrigued by orchestration and the possibilities it offered for varying the sound and feel of music. He recalls how he would take orchestral scores home and study all the parts learning ‘about musical instruments I never knew existed’ (Suskin 2009, p. 56).  He progressively worked his way through the music of the masters, going alphabetically: 

‘Bach...Beethoven, Brahms, Debussy, Elgar, Frank, Gounod, on and on through the alphabet...I tried to absorb everything. By the time I came to Ravel, Tchaikovsky and Wagner, I knew quite a lot about music in a jumbled way’ (Suskin 2009, p. 57).

While still in his teens, Kostal started to experiment with arrangements of his own, scoring a high school production of Uncle Tom’s Cabin with multiple variations on the American folk melody ‘Way Down upon the Swanee River’. ‘By taking away the rhythmic aspects and playing it in a minor key,’ he recounts, ‘I found lots of ways to play this song, making it fit the dramatics of the half-hour long story’ (ibid., p. 56). Thus, Irwin Kostal the arranger was born.

Throughout the 1930s and early-40s, Kostal honed his talents in a professional capacity, working with various big bands, before finally landing a job as a resident arranger for an NBC radio affiliate in Chicago. Following the war, Kostal moved to New York where, after a rocky start, he secured regular work as conductor and arranger on a number of long-running radio and TV variety shows including Your Show of Shows (1950-54), Max Liebman Presents (1954-56), and The Garry Moore Show (1959-63). It was demanding, fast-paced work with Kostal having to arrange and orchestrate hundreds of score pages a week, but it consolidated his musical versatility and capacity to work across a wide range of styles and forms (Suskin 2009, pp. 57-60).

Throughout this period, Kostal was also orchestrating for Broadway shows, racking up over 52 credits on theatre productions big and small (Allen 1995, p. 18). Many of these assignments were done in a ‘ghost-writer’ capacity including contributing work to such classic musicals as Wonderful Town (1953), The Pajama Game (1953) and Silk Stockings (1955). A major breakthrough came when Kostal was contracted to work in a credited capacity as co-orchestrator on the original Broadway production of West Side Story (1958) -- collaborating with Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim and Sid Ramin. It earned him his first Grammy Award and a subsequent invitation to arrange and orchestrate a string of other big Broadway musicals including Fiorello! (1959), Sail Away (1961) and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1962).

The success of West Side Story also saw Kostal do repeat honours on the film version (1961) which would, in turn, earn him an Academy Award and kickstart a hugely successful Hollywood career. In 1963, Kostal was invited by none other than Walt Disney to take on the major job of arranging the songs for Mary Poppins (1964) which had been written by the in-house Disney composing team of Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman. The Sherman Brothers claim to have suggested Kostal because they were fans of his Broadway work and they wanted a bright theatrical sound for the score. However, Walt Disney demurred. He reasoned it was a period film and they needed someone who could write music for any style or era, suggesting they get the musical director from The Garry Moore Show instead. Cue mutual delight when it was discovered they were all referring to the same man, Irwin Kostal (Sherman & Sherman 1998; Suskin 2009, p. 65).

Kostal’s work on Mary Poppins catapulted him to new heights of mainstream success. It not only secured him another Academy Award nomination -- he lost to Andre Previn for his work on My Fair Lady -- but it also brought him a tidy fortune in royalties from the film’s best-selling soundtrack album (’Kostal’s’ $65,000′, 57). His fame -- and fortune -- skyrocketed even further the following year when Kostal was contracted to arrange the score for The Sound of Music (1965). His dazzling efforts on this box-office blockbuster confirmed Kostal’s status as Hollywood’s presiding musical wonder-boy and saw him walk home with his second Oscar. A string of other big screen musicals followed including Half a Sixpence (1967), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) and Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971). 

Many of these films were repeat collaborations because Kostal favoured working with people he knew and with whom he clicked personally and creatively. He would for example continue as the de facto ‘house’ arranger for Disney well into the 1980s, working on various assignments for the studio including Pete’s Dragon (1978), Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983) and the controversial re-recorded 1982 release of Fantasia (1940/1982) (Tietyan 1990). Kostal would also maintain a long association with the Sherman Brothers, acting as musical arranger for all their big screen musicals including the aforementioned Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) and Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971), as well as Tom Sawyer (1973); Charlotte’s Web (1973); and The Magic of Lassie (1978) (Sherman & Sherman 1998).

The other great collaboration of Kostal’s career was of course with Julie Andrews. Perhaps it was the fact that the pair shared the same birthday but Kostal had an extraordinarily sympathetic relationship with Julie and he would work with her more than any other vocalist. Long before they teamed on Poppins and The Sound of Music, Julie and ‘Irv’ were making musical magic together. Kostal was the arranger and conductor for Julie’s first two solo albums for RCA: The Lass with the Delicate Air (1957) and Julie Andrews Sings (1958) where his sensitive facility with a wide range of musical idioms from English classical to Broadway and Tin Pan Alley came to the fore. Reviewing the first of these albums at the time of its original release, one music critic lauded it as ‘a record to charm every member of the family...[with] a combination of sincerity and simplicity and wholesome sweetness...Thank goodness arranger and conductor Irwin Kostal met the challenge and set the ballads winningly without overpowering Miss Andrews’ light pure tones’ (RRS 1958, p. 5A). In a similar vein, another reviewer praised the second album for ‘its charming unforced version of standards, well known and almost forgotten...Miss Andrews still sings naturally and purely [and] the deft accompaniments played by an orchestra under Irwin Kostal are agreeably restrained’ (Masters 1959, p. 11).

In this early period Kostal also worked with Julie as guest star on several episodes of The Garry Moore Show, where he was resident musical director. In this context, Kostal was pivotal in helping establish the legendary teaming of Julie and Carol Burnett which came out of the Garry Moore appearances. He would go on to act as musical director for their breakout 1962 TV special Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall which would earn Kostal his first Emmy (Taraborelli 1988, pp. 172-79). He would secure his second Emmy a few years later working with Julie again on the 1965 variety special, The Julie Andrews Show (1965) where, among other highlights, Kostal scored a series of stellar song-and-dance medleys for Julie and guest star Gene Kelly. The same year, Kostal teamed up with Julie on yet another recording with the 1965 edition of the annual Firestone Christmas albums. 

It was however their combined work on the two big musical mega-hits, Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music, that secured the Kostal-Andrews partnership a place in the history books. A cultural phenomenon of the highest order, the soundtrack recordings for these two films remain among the most successful albums of all time. Mary Poppins held the #1 spot on the US national music charts for 14 consecutive weeks in 1964, beating out Elvis Presley and The Beatles (Hollis and Erhbar 2006, pp.72ff). The album for The Sound of Music sold over 9 million copies in its first four years of release alone, remaining in the Billboard Top 100 for an unbelievable five-and-a-half years, and becoming the highest selling LP of all-time in the US up to that date (Murrells, 1978)  The Sound of Music continued its record-breaking run abroad, dominating the international charts and holding the #1 spot for 75 weeks in Australia, 73 weeks in Norway and 70 weeks in the UK, becoming in the process the single biggest selling album worldwide of the 1960s (Harker, 1992, pp. 189-91).

Commentators have frequently singled out the combination of Julie Andrews’ soaring vocals and Kostal’s dynamic arrangements as instrumental to the phenomenal success of these two albums. ‘Miss Andrews glows--positively glows--right through the record groove, vinyl disc, amplifiers, speakers, and all other mechanical barriers,’ enthused one contemporary reviewer of the Mary Poppins soundtrack, noting how the ‘songs that Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman have written’ and ‘the handsome arrangements by Irwin Kostal have the perfect balance ‘of lilt and flair to provide Miss Andrews with an effective working basis’ (Wilson 1965, p. 109). Apropos The Sound of Music, another critic pronounced it ‘as good a reproduction of a score as has ever been made’, noting how it ‘presents Julie in a most appealing role and given the splendid musical direction of Irwin Kostal, her talent comes shining through...as a treat beyond measure’ (Moore 1965, p. B6). 

In total, Julie Andrews and Irwin Kostal would work together on six recordings, two musical motion pictures, two television specials, and a host of other TV appearances representing some of the very best of Julie’s musical work during her heyday of the 1960s. Considered alongside the wealth of Kostal’s other work across film, stage, television and recording, it’s hard not to concur with Disney’s Nelson Meecham who, on the occasion of Kostal’s passing in 1994, eulogised: ‘He brought the joy of music to more people than it is possible to count’ (Allen, p. 19).

Sources:

Allen, John F 1995. ‘Remembering a Music Man: On the life and work of Irwin Kostal.’ Boxoffice. August: pp. 18-19.

Harker, Dave 1992. ‘Still Crazy After All These Years: What was popular music in the 1960s?” Cultural Revolution? The challenge of the arts in the 1960s. Bart Moore-Gilbert and John Seed, eds. Routledge, London and New York: pp. 186-200.

Hollis, Tim and Erhbar, Greg 2006. Mouse Tracks: The Story of Walt Disney Records. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi.

‘Irwin Kostal: Music in all its many forms is his life.’ (1962). The Province. 2 June: p. 70.

’Kostal’s’ $65,000 Poppins Score’ 1965. Variety. 10 March: p. 57

Levy, Charles 1964. Mary Poppins: About the stars and photo-story features [Press kit]. Buena Vista Distribution, New York. 

Masters, John 1959. ‘Off the Record: Enchanting Music.’ The Age. 7 January: p. 11.

Moore, Robert 1965. ‘Record Turntable: Julie Andrews out in front again in film album of”Sound of Music”.’ The Arizona Daily Star. 7 March: p. B6.

Murrells, Joseph, ed. 1978. Book of Golden Discs: Records that sold a million. Barrie & Jenkins, New York.

Niles, Richard 2014. The Invisible Artist: Arrangers in popular music (1950-2000). BMI, London.

Oliver, Myrna. 1994. ‘Obituaries: Irwin Kostal; Film, TV Orchestrator.’ The Los Angeles Times. 1 December: P. B8.

RRS 1958. ‘On the Record: ‘Lass with the Delicate Air.’ Bristol Herald Courier. 9 February: p. 5A.

Sherman, Robert B &  Sherman, Richard M 1998. Walt's Time: From before to beyond. Camphor Tree, Santa Clarita, CA.

Suskin, Steven 2009. The Sound of Broadway Music: A book of orchestrators and orchestrations, Oxford University Press, New York.

Taraborelli, J. Randy 1988. Laughing Till It Hurts: The complete life and career of Carol Burnett. William Morrow & Co, New York.

Tietyan, David 1990. The Musical World of Walt Disney. H. Leonard, Milwaukee, Wis. 

Wilson, John S. 1965. ‘The Lighter Side’. High Fidelity Magazine. 15: 4: pp. 107-111.

© 2021, Brett Farmer. All Rights Reserved.

[alarriefantasy]

                                      Childhood Friends

Come As You Are by AFangirlFantasy

Words: 12k

Highschool Reunion AU where Harry is Niall's flatmate, Zayn and Liam are married, and Louis is just trying to find his way back home.

i love you most by stylinsoncity

Words: 12k

friends with benefits has always been enough for louis. until, of course, it isn't.

Love is like this; not a heartbeat, but a moan by angelichl

Words: 13k

In which Harry loves Louis, but Louis has been cold to him ever since he presented as an omega at age fifteen.

Eight years later, Louis approaches Harry with a request, and who is Harry to deny him?

What do you mean he's coming? by MediaWhore

Words: 15k

When Harry accepted to be his sister’s Maid of Honour, despite how non-traditional of a choice he was, he didn’t think writing a speech for the wedding reception would be this hard. Now, not only does he have less than two weeks left to find something moving and inspirational to say, but Gemma just confided in him that her old childhood best friend is going to be in attendance. The one who moved to LA and they haven’t seen in fifteen years because he was too busy becoming an Academy Awards winner. But hey, no pressure. It’s just Louis Fucking Tomlinson.

Harry is screwed.

everything comes back to you by amory

Words: 29k

Louis and Harry, best friends since before either of them can remember, broke up four years ago. Louis has achieved his dreams of becoming the next big thing while Harry has stayed back, dedicating himself to his studies. Both are content to forget what they had together, until a tragedy brings them right back into each other's lives.

He's been my Queen since we were 16 by larriebane

Words: 30k

Louis Tomlinson had been best friends with his neighbor’s son, Harry, as long as he could remember. The 16-year-old was small for his age and got bullied for being a weak alpha but Louis was there to help him. However, when the omega graduated from college and left for a university in London, he lost all contact with the Curly One. Five years later Louis finds himself back home, stalking a leggy hottie who looks like something from his wet dreams.

I Sail With You by AFangirlFantasy

Words: 35k

Against his wishes, Omega Prince Harry Styles is arranged to mate with someone he doesn’t love, much less knows. Though he pleaded to his parents incessantly, they not only refuse to comply but force him to depart on a ship days later. Harry prays for fate to step in, to change what’s to come, however, the answer he is given is not exactly in the form he had hoped.

Enter Will Tommo – deadliest pirate captain of all seven seas.

Runner on Third by kikikryslee 

Words: 39k

Or, the AU where Louis and Harry were best friends growing up, but lost touch after Harry moved away. Ten years later, Harry has moved back to town, but he and Louis don't pick up where they left off.

Something in the way by momentofclarity

Words: 40k

Hope Floats 90’s AU. When Louis Tomlinson finds out his wife is cheating on him with his best friend, he packs up his life and takes his daughter back to his childhood hometown to start anew. The problem is—he’s not so sure he’s moving forwards rather than backwards. What he finds in the small Texas town is a whole lot of memories, people who think they still know him and a man who’s spent the past decade waiting for his return.

Canyon Moon by delsicle

Words: 40k

For as long as Louis has remembered, he has been promised to be mated to Harry, his best friend and the future pack alpha. But Louis’s heart belonged to the forest and to the hunt more than he could ever imagine it belonging to Harry.

Then Harry’s father dies in a violent accident, and Louis’s future alpha disappears on the wind.

An A/B/O Lion King AU

Faking It by TheCellarDoor

Words: 46k

A uni AU in which Louis has been Harry’s best friend since he offered him cubed fruit on the playground, and they spend more time cuddling in their dorm beds than they do apart, but it’s not like that. Or is it?

Never Let Me Go by loveisalaserquest17

Words: 55k

Harry and Louis have been friends forever, but they couldn't be more different. One night, with a little too much alcohol, they make a pact to marry in ten years if they're both still single.

Now, one month before the deadline, Louis is willing to do whatever it takes to avoid ending up with his best friend. But is he, really? | Loosely inspired by The 10 Year Plan

like cabbages and kings by you_explode

Words: 60k

When Louis was a kid, he had a series of very vivid dreams about a place called Wonderland. There were rabbits wearing waistcoats and talking cats and ridiculous tea parties, and amidst all the absurdity, there was a boy. A boy with dimples, big green eyes and the sweetest soul Louis has ever known. Louis has always kept a place in his heart for that boy and for his funny dreamworld, and when he’s twenty-five and his life falls apart, it turns out Wonderland might not be so imaginary after all.

Your Name Is Tattooed On My Heart by mcpofife

Words: 86k

Louis is ready to find the love of his life, but first he has to stop falling for the punk rocker next door.

fearless by suspendrs

Words: 97k

Or, Harry left home without a word after high school, and a lot can change in ten years.

Heading for Limbo by kingsofeverything

Words: 100k

Childhood best friends who’ve fallen in and out of touch with each other since Louis’ family moved away when they were thirteen, Harry and Louis find their paths crossing again and again. Each time, no matter how many miles apart or how many years it’s been, it’s as if no time has passed. They fall back into their easy friendship, until life intervenes and sends them on their separate ways once more.

When Harry discovers some life-changing things about himself, Louis is there for him, however he needs. But it’s all temporary because Louis has plans that will move his life from New York all the way to L.A. and the distance isn’t the only thing between them.

The pieces of their twice broken hearts are scattered from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

You Drive Me Crazy (but it feels alright) by MrsStylinson

Words: 102k

Bridget Jones' Diary AU.

“Harry is not short for Harold,” he corrects, his voice as thick as molasses. He lowers his eyes to Louis’ sequined lapels, rubbing one between two fingers. “Is this small or extra small? It looks lovely.”

Louis breaks away from his grip with a petulant huff and pushes him back with two fingers.

“You’re mocking me. Again.”

Harry smiles and it's a real honest swoop of his lips this time. Louis’ stomach swoops with them.

Love Will Tear Us Apart by lovelarry10

Words: 103k

Louis and Harry had it all - a career, friendship, and some of the best sex either of them had ever had.

But Harry ruins it all with one life-changing mistake ... and Louis is left to pay the price.

Own the Scars by crinkle-eyed-boo (KimmieRocks)

Words: 144k

Louis has never felt like he was good enough: for his stepdad, for his life-long best friend, for the life he's supposed to want. After an accident that nearly costs him his life, Louis' parents send him to rehab where he’s forced to face his demons. On the long and difficult road to recovery, Louis must confront the truths he’s been avoiding about his future, his relationships, and his sense of self-worth. Because before he can love anyone else, he’s got to learn how to love himself first.

Now In A Minute by thealmightyavocado

Words: 150k

13 feels like yesterday for many people, but for Louis it actually was.

More than anything in the world, Louis Tomlinson dreams of growing up. Simply skipping over all of the awkward, embarrassing years of teenage existence and getting on with life. Real life.

So when thirteen-year-old Louis wakes up in the body of his thirty-year-old self, he expected everything in his adult life to be picture perfect. And maybe it is. He has it all…or so it seems.

Except his favorite person and lifelong best mate, Harry Styles, is totally missing from the equation and Louis doesn’t understand why. He has a lot of catching up to do and as adult life turns out to be more than what he bargained for, Louis can’t help wondering why a life that seemed so perfect, feels so empty.

Or the 13 going on 30 au that should have been done years ago.

♡ credit to the owner of the manip

♡ past themed recs here

[justforbooks]

Federico Fellini, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI, was born on January 20, 1920 in Rimini, then a small town on the Adriatic Sea. He was an Italian film director and screenwriter known for his distinctive style, which blends fantasy and baroque images with earthiness. He is recognized as one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all time. His films have ranked highly in critical polls such as that of Cahiers du cinéma and Sight & Sound, which lists his 1963 film ​8 1⁄2 as the 10th-greatest film.

For La Dolce Vita Fellini won the Palme d'Or, was nominated for twelve Academy Awards, and won four in the category of Best Foreign Language Film, the most for any director in the history of the Academy. He received an honorary award for Lifetime Achievement at the 65th Academy Awards in Los Angeles. His other well-known films include La Strada (1954), Nights of Cabiria (1957), Juliet of the Spirits (1967), the "Toby Dammit" segment of Spirits of the Dead (1968), Fellini Satyricon (1969), Roma (1972), Amarcord (1973), and Fellini's Casanova (1976).

Personal and highly idiosyncratic visions of society, Fellini's films are a unique combination of memory, dreams, fantasy and desire. The adjectives "Fellinian" and "Felliniesque" are "synonymous with any kind of extravagant, fanciful, even baroque image in the cinema and in art in general". La Dolce Vita contributed the term paparazzi to the English language, derived from Paparazzo, the photographer friend of journalist Marcello Rubini (Marcello Mastroianni).

Contemporary filmmakers such as Tim Burton, Terry Gilliam, Emir Kusturica, and David Lynch have cited Fellini's influence on their work.

Polish director Wojciech Has, whose two best-received films, The Saragossa Manuscript (1965) and The Hour-Glass Sanatorium (1973), are examples of modernist fantasies, has been compared to Fellini for the sheer "luxuriance of his images".

I Vitelloni inspired European directors Juan Antonio Bardem, Marco Ferreri, and Lina Wertmüller and influenced Martin Scorsese's Mean Streets (1973), George Lucas's American Graffiti (1974), Joel Schumacher's St. Elmo's Fire (1985), and Barry Levinson's Diner (1982), among many others. When the American magazine Cinema asked Stanley Kubrick in 1963 to name his ten favorite films, he ranked I Vitelloni number one.

Nights of Cabiria was adapted as the Broadway musical Sweet Charity and the movie Sweet Charity (1969) by Bob Fosse starring Shirley MacLaine. City of Women was adapted for the Berlin stage by Frank Castorf in 1992.

​8 1⁄2 inspired, among others, Mickey One (Arthur Penn, 1965), Alex in Wonderland (Paul Mazursky, 1970), Beware of a Holy Whore (Rainer Werner Fassbinder, 1971), Day for Night (François Truffaut, 1973), All That Jazz (Bob Fosse, 1979), Stardust Memories (Woody Allen, 1980), Sogni d'oro (Nanni Moretti, 1981), Parad Planet (Vadim Abdrashitov, 1984), La Pelicula del rey (Carlos Sorin, 1986), Living in Oblivion (Tom DiCillo, 1995), ​8 1⁄2 Women (Peter Greenaway, 1999), Falling Down (Joel Schumacher, 1993), and the Broadway musical Nine (Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopit, 1982). Yo-Yo Boing! (1998), a Spanish novel by Puerto Rican writer Giannina Braschi, features a dream sequence with Fellini inspired by ​8 1⁄2.

Fellini's work is referenced on the albums Fellini Days (2001) by Fish, Another Side of Bob Dylan (1964) by Bob Dylan with Motorpsycho Nitemare, Funplex (2008) by the B-52's with the song Juliet of the Spirits, and in the opening traffic jam of the music video Everybody Hurts by R.E.M. American singer Lana Del Rey has cited Fellini as an influence. His work influenced the American TV shows Northern Exposure and Third Rock from the Sun. Wes Anderson's short film Castello Cavalcanti (2013) is in many places a direct homage to Fellini.

Various film-related material and personal papers of Fellini are in the Wesleyan University Cinema Archives, to which scholars and media experts have full access. In October 2009, the Jeu de Paume in Paris opened an exhibit devoted to Fellini that included ephemera, television interviews, behind-the-scenes photographs, Book of Dreams (based on 30 years of the director's illustrated dreams and notes), along with excerpts from La dolce vita and ​8 1⁄2.

In 2015, the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps of Concord, California, performed "Felliniesque", a show themed around Fellini's work, with which they won a record 16th Drum Corps International World Class championship with a record score of 99.650. That same year, the weekly entertainment-trade magazine Variety announced that French director Sylvain Chomet was moving forward with The Thousand Miles, a project based on various Fellini works and first developed with Demian Gregory and Tommaso Rossellini, including his unpublished drawings and writings.

Filmography

As a director

1950 Variety Lights co-credited with Alberto Lattuada

1952 The White Sheik 

1953 I vitelloni

1953 Love in the City Segment: Un'agenzia matrimoniale

1954 La strada

1955 Il bidone

1957 Nights of Cabiria

1960 La Dolce Vita

1962 Boccaccio '70 Segment: Le tentazioni del Dottor Antonio

1963 ​8 1⁄2

1965 Juliet of the Spirits

1968 Spirits of the Dead Segment: Toby Dammit

1969 Fellini: A Director's Notebook

1969 Fellini Satyricon

1970 I Clowns

1972 Roma

1973 Amarcord

1976 Fellini's Casanova

1978 Orchestra Rehearsal

1980 City of Women

1983 And the Ship Sails On

1986 Ginger and Fred

1987 Intervista

1990 The Voice of the Moon 

As a screenwriter

1942 Knights of the Desert

1942 Before the Postman

1943 The Peddler and the Lady

1943 L'ultima carrozzella Co-scriptwriter

1945 Tutta la città canta Co-screenwriter and story author

1945 Rome, Open City Co-scriptwriter

1946 Paisà Co-scriptwriter

1947 Il delitto di Giovanni Episcopo Co-scriptwriter

1948 Senza pietà Co-scriptwriter

1948 Il miracolo Co-scriptwriter

1949 Il mulino del Po Co-scriptwriter

1950 Francesco, giullare di Dio Co-scriptwriter

1950 Il Cammino della speranza Co-scriptwriter

1951 La città si difende Co-scriptwriter

1951 Persiane chiuse Co-scriptwriter

1952 Il brigante di Tacca del Lupo Co-scriptwriter

1958 Fortunella Co-scriptwriter

1979 Lovers and Liars Fellini not credited

Television commercials

TV commercial for Campari Soda (1984)

TV commercial for Barilla pasta (1984)

Three TV commercials for Banca di Roma (1992)

Documentaries on Fellini

Ciao Federico (1969). Dir. Gideon Bachmann. (60')

Federico Fellini - un autoritratto ritrovato (2000). Dir. Paquito Del Bosco. (RAI TV, 68')

Fellini: I'm a Born Liar (2002). Dir. Damian Pettigrew. Feature documentary. (Arte, Eurimages, Scottish Screen, 102')

How Strange to Be Named Federico (2013). Dir. Ettore Scola.

Fellini died in Rome on 31 October 1993 at the age of 73 after a heart attack he suffered a few weeks earlier, a day after his 50th wedding anniversary. The memorial service, in Studio 5 at Cinecittà, was attended by an estimated 70,000 people. At Giulietta Masina's request, trumpeter Mauro Maur played Nino Rota's "Improvviso dell'Angelo" during the ceremony.

Five months later, on 23 March 1994, Masina died of lung cancer. Fellini, Masina and their son, Pierfederico, are buried in a bronze sepulchre sculpted by Arnaldo Pomodoro. Designed as a ship's prow, the tomb is at the main entrance to the Cemetery of Rimini. The Federico Fellini Airport in Rimini is named in his honour.

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at http://justforbooks.tumblr.com

[worryinglyinnocent]

Fic: Beneath a Black Flag

Summary: Having turned to a life of piracy after being betrayed by the Amestrian navy, Captain Roy Mustang and Quartermaster Maes Hughes of the Phoenix are on a mission to find the wreck of the legendary treasure ship Xerxes, hoping to both strike rich and prevent the mythical Philosopher’s Stone from ending up in the navy’s clutches…

Written for the WriYe August Shorts Challenge, and very loosely inspired by Black Sails.

Rated: T

Beneath a Black Flag

Seeing the lights of Port Aerugo always felt like coming home. Even back when he’d been a legitimate navy captain, Roy had always felt more at ease in the rough and ready world of the southern port, with its bars and brothels and black market warehouses, than he had ever done in the more respectable places that his ships had docked in. The Amestrian navy had always adopted a laissez-faire attitude to the place: several attempts to ‘civilise’ it had fallen flat, ending in easy victory for the pirates who made it their base of operations, and humiliation for the navy. 

The Phoenix dropped anchor in the bay and her crew started to disembark, eager for the pleasures of dry land after a long and difficult last haul. Still, the trip had been successful, which had raised people’s spirits no end. 

“Roy? Were you intending on getting off this ship any time soon? Earth to Roy?”

Roy turned from his position gazing out over the Port Aerugo twilight and found Maes behind him, arms folded and an amused expression on his face.

“For someone who lives on the sea, you’re spending a worrying amount of time with your head in the clouds.” Maes came up beside him, leaning on the rail. “What’s eating you this time?”

Roy sighed. “I’m just thinking about the magnitude of what we’ve taken on. Do you ever look at what we’re doing and think ‘this is madness, I should pack it all in and become a tomato farmer instead’?”

“Yes. Frequently. But I know you’ve got a plan, however hare-brained it might be, so I trust you to navigate us through it. I’m not promising that I’m not going to force you into tomato farming as soon as it’s all over, though. You actually will give me a heart attack one of these days.”

“Have I ever got us killed?”

“No,” Maes admitted, “but you can’t deny that we’ve had some very close calls.”

Roy grimaced. He definitely couldn’t deny it, and he would have to admit to being glad that their next sortie would hopefully provide the last piece of the puzzle that they had been chasing for so long and bring with it the reward they desperately sought. All they had to do now was to stay one step ahead of the navy, but that was proving easier said than done.

“Do you ever miss it?” he asked Maes eventually.

“What, the navy?”

“Yes. Well, not the navy specifically. But the time before, when life was less complicated.”

“Was life really less complicated in the navy? It wasn’t as hard and it probably wasn’t quite as constantly dangerous, but complicated? Roy, you of all people know that it was infinitely more complicated back then.” He wrapped an arm around Roy’s shoulders and pulled him in close, pressing a kiss to his temple, and Roy had to smile. “Do you really want to go back to a time when we had to hide?”

In a way, piracy was nothing but hiding, always trying to outfox the navy, but ever since they had started sailing under a black flag, Roy and Maes had never had to hide their relationship or make out that they were something they weren’t. Snatched moments here and there and the ever-present threat of being found out and court-martialed for daring to fall in love had given way to easy acceptance and the closeness that they’d never been allowed before.

“No,” he agreed. “I’d rather have this.”

Maes gave his shoulders a squeeze. “Come on. Let’s go ashore. Everyone else has already left apart from the night watch. I’m beginning to forget what dry land looks like.”

Captain and quartermaster made their way towards the final longboat making preparations for its launch, and soon they were walking through the streets of Port Aerugo. It was a place that never slept, coming even more alive after dark when the drunks started carousing and the brothel girls started touting for business. Roy and Maes were well-known enough not to be bothered by the latter, who just gave them a cheerful wave as they went past and went to try their luck with the other, incredibly willing members of Phoenix’s crew.

As always, their path took them to Madam Christmas’s. Bar and brothel rolled into one, the place had always tried to maintain an air of elegance in an increasingly tawdry world, and above all its other attractions, it would always be a safe place for Roy.

Madam Christmas gave them a nod as they walked in, whisky ready on the counter for them. Roy knocked it back, savouring the burn.

“This is good stuff. Whose prize did you skim this off the top of?”

Madam Christmas laughed. “I got it from Armstrong. The cask was too bloody to be sold on through the warehouse so I took it off her hands for a very reasonable price.”

Roy raised an eyebrow. Oliver Armstrong was known for being absolutely terrifying, but in his experience her reputation preceded her so much that she never needed to resort to bloodshed. Crews saw the Briggs Fortress coming with its black flag flying and they just handed over their manifests with their hands up.

“It’s not like her to make a mess,” Maes commented. “She likes things quick and simple.”

“I’m sure that this one would have been quick and simple too if some idiot hadn’t signed his own death warrant by telling her she ought to be off having babies instead of captaining a pirate ship.

“Ah.” Maes and Roy looked at each other. “Yes, that would definitely do it.”

“I bet she and Riza had a great laugh about it afterwards. Anyway, enough of Armstrong. I take it that your voyage was successful?”

Roy nodded. “Yes. We’re ready to go as soon as Phoenix is prepared for the trip.”

Madam Christmas let out a low whistle. “You really think you’ve found it? I was beginning to believe the nay-sayers who maintain that the lost treasure of Xerxes is just a myth.”

There was a small part of Roy that would admit that he too was beginning to believe the same. The legendary treasure ship had wrecked somewhere in the southern seas decades ago, and so many stories had been built up around it over time that it was difficult to know what was real and what was embellishment, with all the accounts varying wildly. 

Just one thread had remained constant throughout, and that was the thread that Roy had never stopped pulling on. Among the treasures on board the Xerxes was a Philosopher’s Stone.

All alchemists were familiar with the concept of Philosopher’s Stones and Roy was no exception. Rarer than the rubies they resembled, the navy had been trying to get their hands on one for as long as anyone could remember. Whilst Roy didn’t believe the stories of turning lead into gold or producing the elixir of life, he absolutely believed in the stone being used to bypass equivalent exchange and make alchemists’ raw power stronger by tenfold.

Which was why Roy was determined to stop the navy getting anywhere near one by any means necessary.

“Well.” Madam Christmas gave Roy an impressed look. “If you can track it down then more power to you. Metaphorically speaking, of course. I’m well aware of your thoughts on the whole matter. Just as long as you give me a cut of the treasure for giving you bed and board all these years.”

Roy rolled his eyes but he couldn’t deny that it had been a blessing to have a home base that wasn’t floating. There was always a bed waiting for him at Madam Christmas’s, and finishing his second shot of Olivier Armstrong’s filched whisky, he decided it was high time that he made his way there. Maes followed him out of the bar. Tomorrow the real work would begin, prepping the Phoenix for her next and arguably most important journey and charting their course for the fabled location of the Xerxes wreck, but tonight could just be for them, and they could forget the trials they would soon be facing.

X

Roy never slept properly the first night back on dry land after a long voyage, missing the gentle - and sometimes not so gentle - rocking of the ship to lull him off to sleep. He envied Maes, who could drop off anywhere in any position and be completely dead to the world within five minutes. 

He ran his fingertips over the scar on Maes’s chest, too close to his heart for comfort. All pirates had scars, most had many, and they were generally worn as badges of honour for battles survived. This one, though… This one was the reason they were here in the first place, the moment that had started this very long journey towards the Xerxes treasure.

“Stop thinking about it.” Maes caught his wandering hand, opening his eyes and looking up at Roy blearily. “I survived, that’s all that matters.”

Roy rolled over, looking up at the ceiling. He knew that Maes was right, of course, but he couldn’t help thinking about what might have been. It was something he dwelled on often.

Most pirates did not set out to become pirates and Roy was no exception. He had never had any desire to turn to a life of piracy in his younger days. His first interest had always been alchemy, and going into the military as a naval alchemist had seemed like a natural career progression. Every ship in the navy carried an alchemist as standard; it was almost guaranteed job security. Most pirate ships carried at least one as well - Roy had never known whether the navy’s alchemy programme was a response to the pirates or if it was the other way round, but the set up had been established for so long that no one really questioned it. 

He had earned his alchemy license and graduated from the naval academy where he had met Maes and history had been made. They had joined a ship, and Roy was pretty sure that neither of them had intended to look back, despite the constant difficulty and secrecy that had to surround their relationship. 

Life had never been anything close to perfect, but it was as good as Roy thought that they would ever get, and he had been content with it. It had all been going really well until the incident at the admiralty. 

He was pulled out of his train of thought by Maes rolling over on top of him and leaning in for a long kiss.

“You worry too much,” he said softly once he finally let Roy up for air. “And you always seem to blame yourself for things that weren’t anything to do with you.”

“Maes…”

“Oh, shush.” He kissed him again and Roy surrendered into it, closing his eyes and wrapping his arms around Maes’s back to pull him in closer. It was easy to push the uneasy thoughts to the side when they were like this, Maes warm and solid and very alive in his arms reminding him that despite what might have happened, it did not actually happen, and the past wasn’t a place that it was healthy to stay in for too long. 

After all, when it came down to it, they would never have found out about the navy’s plans for the Philosopher’s Stone if it hadn’t been for everything that had happened. They would all still be blissfully unaware and unwittingly assisting in potentially ending the world as everyone knew it. As it was, Maes had chased a loose thread that the navy had most definitely not wanted him to chase, and ended up with a bullet in his chest for the trouble. 

Roy had cut all ties with the navy as soon as he had found Maes collapsed halfway down the street from the admiralty building, and whilst he might often look back and wonder what might have been after that moonlit flit to Port Aerugo, he could never bring himself to regret it doing what he had done and both of them ending up joining the life of piracy.

“Now…” Maes purred in his ear, making Roy’s stomach flip-flop. “For the love of God will you go to sleep.”

Roy couldn’t help laughing. 

X

The weather was good for making repairs, bright sunshine and a cool breeze, but not enough wind to make working on the sails and rigging unwieldy and dangerous. A thorough assessment of the damage sustained on their last sortie had shown that the problems were largely superficial, and Phoenix should be fully ship-shape again within just a couple of days. Leaving the crew to tackle the repairs and Maes to supervise restocking for their next and most important voyage, Roy was gathering intelligence. It was all very well having worked out where the Xerxes had wrecked, but that wasn’t going to be of any use if the navy were swarming all over the area. Roy really didn’t want to have to shoot his way out. Or shoot his way in, for that matter. 

“Mustang. It’s been a while.”

Grumman was in his usual haunt, sitting in one corner of the Armstrongs’ bar in the shadows with his hat pulled down over his eyes, trying to affect an air of mystery. Unfortunately, Roy had known him long enough to know that there was no mystery at all to him, he was simply a very shrewd man with a lot of contacts in strange places. Even those completely new to Port Aerugo tended to regard him with raised eyebrows rather than any kind of awe these days. 

“It has, Grumman. Can I get you something?”

“That depends.” Grumman swung his feet down off the table and leaned in. “What do you want in return?”

“Information, Grumman, like always. Preferably useful information and preferably about naval movements in the coming weeks.”

“Well, I think I might be able to help you there. You know my usual.”

With alcohol procured, Mustang returned to Grumman’s information dispensary and settled in for one of the old man’s stories. He was surprised when he didn’t spin off into a tale about his granddaughter’s latest exploits. 

“So, you’ve found it then?”

“Potentially. Either way, I’d rather not have the navy on my back when I go looking for it.”

“No, I can appreciate that. I’ll admit that I haven’t had any reports for a few days, but it’s not looking too bad out there, just the usual patrols, and they don’t normally go as far south as you’ll be heading. At least, I assume that you’ll be heading south?”

Roy made no indication either way. He considered Grumman to be a friend, but information was money in all businesses and he didn’t trust the old fox as far as he could throw him. He knew that he was not the only pirate in Port Aerugo who was on a quest for the Philosopher’s Stone, and he knew that not all of them had the same intentions as he did. 

He hoped that familial loyalty would win out in the end when it came to Grumman, though. His daughter sailed with Armstrong - hence his permanent fixture in her family’s bar - and Armstrong’s opinion of the navy and the Philosopher’s Stone were well-known. Roy certainly wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of her by assisting in anything other than the Stone’s ultimate destruction.

“Well, I wish you the best of luck in your endeavours,” Grumman said. “Of course, if you do find what you’re looking for then I’m sure that the residents of Port Aerugo will be expecting you to keep them in rum for a long time to come.”

Roy raised an eyebrow. “If I do find what I’m looking for, Grumman, then Hughes and I will be retiring to the country and never setting foot on a ship again.”

Grumman just chuckled. “You’d never do that. You enjoy the call of the sea too much.”

Roy left Grumman to it, paying for another drink for the old man and heading back towards the Phoenix. He didn’t really have any intention to retire on his potential gains from this journey, he was far too cynical to believe in such romantic notions, but he couldn’t deny that he often thought about a life without looking over his shoulder for the navy every five minutes. Perhaps he could be one step closer to that at least. 

X

It was a cool and clear morning when they set sail in search of the goal that they had been chasing for so long, a strong wind blowing them steadily away from Port Aerugo and into the southern seas. It should have been the ideal conditions for starting a voyage, and indeed, most of the crew were in high spirits having had such a good beginning - hopes were high that they would ultimately succeed. 

There was something in the air that made Roy uneasy though. He couldn’t really pinpoint what it was, putting it down to just an alchemist’s instinct. 

“Hey. It’ll be ok. Whatever gets thrown at us, we can weather it.” 

Roy laughed as Maes came up beside him. “I’ve never understood where you get your relentless optimism from.”

“Well, it’s certainly not from you. Being shot by your own side tends to put things in perspective and you learn that life’s too short to be morose. Just think of all the riches that are coming our way. I know, I know, that’s not the reason why you’re doing this, but stop thinking altruistically for a moment and bask in the glory of gold and jewels beyond your wildest imagination.”

“I suppose there’s something comforting in that,” Roy agreed. He looked out at the open sea in front of them again. It would take a few days of sailing before they came into sight of the supposed wreck site, and it didn’t seem like there would be anything getting in their way. Even with Grumman’s intelligence, though, the navy were never to be trusted not to put a spanner in the works. Sometimes Roy thought that they had some kind of sixth sense going on with their uncanny ability to be just where they weren’t wanted. 

Someone hailed Maes and Roy was left alone with his thoughts. He turned back to survey the bustle of the ship’s normal operations. They had started life as a rather rag-tag bunch, many of them leaving the navy for various reasons that Roy had not inquired into, but over time they had come together into an efficient crew who worked well together. Breda was at the helm, keeping Phoenix steady as she cut through the sea, Havoc up in the crow’s nest keeping watch, Catalina and Fuery scampering over the rigging. Roy would trust this crew with his life, and when he thought about what was at stake for them on this latest outing, he knew he would far rather have these people by his side than any of the naval crews he had sailed with in his time.

All the same, he still couldn’t get that uneasy feeling to go away, despite the perfect conditions, still waiting for the other shoe to drop. Perfect conditions for them meant perfect conditions for every other ship that might be out here in the southern waters with potentially nefarious intent.

The other shoe dropped three days into their voyage when the wind began to pick up further.

“Sails!” Havoc yelled down from the crow’s nest.

“What? Shit.” Roy whirled around to look in the direction that Havoc was indicating, finding the bearing he was shouting and extending his telescope. 

“Friendly or not?” Maes had jogged over to him and was leaning over the railing, squinting at the vague white shapes on the horizon. 

“Likely not, looks like a navy flag.” Roy looked back at the helm. “Maintain present course and speed.”

Breda nodded, holding the helm steady as Roy continued to look at the ship that had joined them.

“Dammit, Grumman said that there weren’t any patrols in this area.”

“I know he’s usually pretty reliable but he’s been wrong before. Sometimes the navy just like to mess with us.”

“I swear they’re psychic,” Roy muttered. He held out the telescope to Maes. 

“I don’t know why you’re giving it to me, I’ve got the worst eyesight on the ship.”

“Just take a look.”

Maes dutifully took a look. “I think you’re right. Definitely looks like a navy ship. She’s going at a hell of a lick as well, we’ll be able to see for ourselves shortly.”

“As long as she keeps coming straight and doesn’t turn.” Roy did not want to be broadsided by a full navy cannonade. They were going at a steady pace themselves and if they kept up this way then there was the slim chance that the two ships paths would not cross and the navy ship would end up behind them, playing catch-up and giving them the upper hand. 

“I really don’t like this,” Maes said. “It’s too much of a coincidence for them to be in the same place as us.”

“Well, it’s not exactly a secret that we’ve been hunting the Xerxes all this time, but I thought that our main problem would be competition, not the navy. They must be getting desperate if they’re following up on gossip coming out of Port Aerugo. You’re right, though. I don’t like it at all.” He turned to the rest of the crew, all of whom were now watching the fast approaching sails. “Ready the cannons!”

The crew jumped to it, all those that could be spared racing down to the cannons and beginning to prepare them. Roy really hoped it would come to nothing, but as the navy ship kept bearing down towards them, he knew that it would be in vain.

“It had to be the Bradley, didn’t it? Of all the ships in the fleet, the one that came after us had to be the Bradley.”

The approaching ship was beginning to turn side-on to them. It was a double-edged sword; they had a larger target to hit with their own cannons, but they were now also a larger target for the navy’s. 

The Phoenix had one thing that the navy didn’t, though. The Phoenix had Roy. Leaving Maes in charge on deck, he went below to the guns, checking the fuses as he pulled on his spark gloves. Flames on board a ship full of gunpowder were not normally a good idea, and his choice to learn flame alchemy as a potential alchemist afloat had raised more than a few eyebrows, but his years aboard Phoenix and the many tricky situations he had found himself in had honed his skills considerably. 

The rest of the crew, having seen him in action many times before, dutifully stood back before he snapped, pinpoint flames igniting the fuses just at the precise moments that he needed them. The thunder of the cannon nearly deafened him, but he could see that at least some of the balls had hit their mark. Now it was time for the navy to return fire as they reloaded.

“Incoming!”

Roy heard the earsplitting crunch of a cannonball blasting the railings on deck above him and he grimaced. The ship’s master would not be happy about that one. 

“Sails to starboard!”

Roy swore violently on hearing the exclamation being passed around the ship from the crow’s nest. Somehow they’d managed to get themselves into a trap. This was not how he had envisioned this trip going. They had done so well at avoiding the naval patrols. 

The cannons reloaded, Roy set the fuses again before Maes stuck his head down onto the gun deck and hailed him.

“Captain, we’ve got a problem..”

“I heard. Any identification yet?”

Above them, the crew hit the deck as another volley of cannon fire from the Bradley soared over them. Most of the balls this time seemed to fall short; perhaps they’d overdone it on the powder the first time. 

“No flags,” Maes said. “Wait…”

He vanished up onto the deck again as Breda called out to him, and Roy took advantage of the brief lull of reloading to peer out of one of the gun ports with his telescope. Another ship was indeed bearing down on them from the opposite side, this one fighting against the wind and creaking with the speed that it was putting on. There were no identifying flags on it, and it didn’t appear to be a typical naval ship.

“Captain, we’re being hailed.”

This time it was Fuery coming down onto the gun deck. Roy followed him back up, watching the little flashes of light from the approaching ship.

Need a hand Mustang?

Relief flooded through Roy’s veins as the newcomers unfurled a black flag and swung the ship around. Now that they were closer, he could recognise Briggs Fortress, and he didn’t think he’d ever been so pleased to see Olivier Armstrong in his life. 

X

“Message from the Briggs, Captain. Armstrong and Hawkeye are coming over.”

As fearsome as the Bradley was, the pride of the Amestrian navy that struck annoyance if not fear into the hearts of pirates everywhere, it was no match for two ships working together to scupper it, and the Phoenix and the Briggs had left it floundering and unsteerable with most of its crew bobbing in the water behind them, sailing the same course together for a few miles until they were sure that they were out of harm’s way and could slow down to make any immediately needed repairs.

Fuery threw a line over the side as one of the Briggs’ longboats drew up alongside them, and a couple of minutes later, Olivier and Riza were on the deck. 

“Well, that was bracing,” Olivier said grimly. “Honestly, Mustang, you should know better than to go after something as big as the Xerxes without a consort.”

Pirate ships usually worked alone, after all, there were a limited number of prizes on the seas and they were all in competition for their livelihoods, but it wasn’t unheard of for a couple of crews to team up and go after a particularly lucrative or well-guarded ship in return for sharing the profits. In the case of the Xerxes, Olivier did have a point, especially considering how much naval interest there was in locating the wreck, and the fact that the treasure wasn’t their main objective anyway. 

“Mind you, this is you we’re talking about, and your capacity for idiocy is well-known, so I can’t say that I’m exactly surprised by this.”

Roy sighed but didn’t rise to the bait; he was too grateful for the help that the Briggs crew had provided to argue with Olivier now.

“I didn’t want to publicise things too much. Not everyone is as scrupulous as you and I when it comes to what’s at stake here.”

“Mustang, my thoughts on the navy, the Philosopher’s Stone, and alchemy in general are well known. As much as it pains me to say it, I’ll gladly work with you to keep the bloody thing out of the wrong hands. Anyway, I suppose we should explain our fortuitous presence here.”

“I was going to ask about that,” Maes said, eyeing the two women with equal parts respect and suspicion. “Has Grumman been spilling his secrets?”

“In a manner. When he received intelligence that the navy were on the move into the south, specifically where you were going and where he’d told you they weren’t likely to go, he felt it courteous to let you know, and since we were in the area, Riza persuaded me to take off on a mad goose chase after you.” Olivier shot a glance sideways at her lover. “The things I do for you. Anyway, it looks like it was lucky we arrived when we did.”

Roy nodded. “Thank you.” 

The four of them moved into Roy’s cabin to discuss the route that they were taking and the approximate location of the treasure that they had finally found. It felt strange to be sharing it so openly having spent so many months trying to keep their research under wraps, but they were so close to the end of it all now. Roy really didn’t want to face another situation like the one they’d just narrowly escaped without being able to make repairs to the ship. They couldn’t afford to turn back towards Port Aerugo now, not with the navy on their tail already.

Riza looked over the maps, giving everything her expert navigator’s eye.

“I’ve no idea how you managed to piece it all together,” she said, “but it all looks watertight.”

“Well, in that case, shall we get going?” Maes asked. “This little skirmish has lost us some valuable time and we need to course correct. If the Bradley's out here then she won’t be alone, and I’d rather get as much of a head start as possible.”

“See, your quartermaster talks sense,” Olivier complained as she and Riza made their way back towards their longboat. “You should listen to him.”

“Yes, Roy. You should listen to me.”

Roy just smacked Maes in the arm.

“Ow! Man down! Man down!”

“It’ll be man overboard if you’re not careful,” Roy growled.

In the longboat, Riza rolled her eyes as she and Olivier began to row back to the Briggs.

“Sometimes I wonder how those two manage to get anything done.”

X

“Is this it? I have to say, Mustang, you’re not filling me with an awful lot of confidence here.”

They had reached the supposed site of the Xerxes wreck, the Briggs coming up alongside the Phoenix and dropping anchor as Olivier shouted across the prow. So far they had not come across any other navy vessels in the area, but the Bradley was the fastest in the fleet so it made sense that she would catch up to them first. Roy was already working out a more circuitous route back to Port Aerugo to try and avoid the other ships that had no doubt been sent after the advance guard.

On the face of it, he had to admit that Olivier had a point. The place that they had come to was little more than a large jagged rock sticking up out of the water, seemingly innocuous. It certainly wasn’t an island large enough to have treasure buried on it, but given some of the lethal-looking protrusions, he could well see why the Xerxes would have wrecked here on a dark and stormy night.

“According to all the research I’ve done, this is where she wrecked. The sea levels and tides have to be just right for the rock to be visible about the waterline.”

Riza leaned over the rail and peered down into the still waters below. 

“I can’t see anything down there but then, we don’t know how deep it might go.”

“We’re not looking for the wreck itself anyway,” Roy pointed out. “It’ll be nothing more than rotten planks by now. We’re looking for what was on the wreck, and it should be on that rock.”

“For the love of God, Mustang, where?”

“You’ll see. Hughes, are you coming?”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world, Captain.” Maes followed him over to where Breda and Fuery were making a longboat ready to cast off, and soon they were rowing in towards the rock. It was a fraught journey, the waves lapping against the rock causing odd eddies that threatened to bash them against the side, and the ever present threat of being snuck up on by the navy was weighing heavy in the back of Roy’s mind all the time. 

“You’re a sly one, Mustang.” 

They had reached a fissure in the rock, invisible to them from the distance of the ships and only appearing once they were up close. If Roy’s theory proved true, then it was inside this fissure that the treasure of Xerxes would be found. With the fissure so well-hidden and the rock half-submerged most of the time, it would be the perfect resting place, and there was little wonder that no-one else had tracked it down before.

They tied up the boats and clambered awkwardly up onto the rock, lighting lanterns before edging their way into the fissure. It was tight going at first, but opened out after a few yards to give them more breathing space. Maes was leading the way, Riza bringing up the rear, leaving Roy with Olivier in the middle. He could feel her eyes boring into his back, and he was glad that the trip would hopefully be a short one. The tunnel angled down a steep incline and Roy could tell that they were below the waterline now. Hopefully they’d be able to get back up again. 

“Captain.”

Maes stopped abruptly, causing Roy to nearly run into him, and he peered over his quartermaster’s shoulder, grinning.”

“Ye of little faith, Armstrong.”

It was not the massive haul that legend had built it up into, but Roy had been expecting that. With something like the Xerxes, everything about it had been blown so out of proportion that the tales had reached the stage of the thing being rumoured to have been carrying so much gold that any ordinary ship would have sunk under the sheer weight of it. 

It was still a decent prize though; even after splitting with the crew of the Briggs it would be a hefty nest egg for them all. 

“Enough to retire on, do you think?” Maes asked. “Get a little place in the country and live comfortably?” 

“Potentially. We’ll have to get Falman and Fuery to make a proper account of it back in Aerugo.” They moved further into the small cavern where the treasure had been stored. The gold and jewels were not their main concern and all four of them knew it. Riza turned back to get help from the ships to shift the loot, and Olivier came into the cavern.

“Right, let’s find this blessed stone and get out of here before we’ve got the navy breathing down our necks again.”

Looking for a red stone in a chest full of jewels was never going to be the easiest of tasks, but the sooner they started sifting, the sooner they could be sure of making sure that the thing  was lost forever. Roy really didn’t like the idea of having it hiding in plain sight on the Phoenix or the Briggs for any longer than necessary. 

“Got it.” Maes held up a leather satchel unearthed from the bottom of one of the chests and rolled his eyes when Olivier and Roy both gave him incredulous looks. “Yes, I know it’s not the stone. Captain’s log. It might give us a clue where to look.”

He began filing through waterlogged pages as Olivier and Roy continued to work through separating out everything that remotely resembled a ruby until Riza returned with a few men from both ships, forming a chain to pass everything out of the cavern and along the fissure. 

“We’ve got sails on the horizon,” she warned. “Miles reckons we’ve got just under three hours before they’re in firing range and they’re riding low, they’ve got the heavy guns.”

“All right, we can focus on finding objects of mass destruction later, let’s move on out.”

Both crews were used to clearing loot quickly; it never did to take your time grabbing merchandise off a boarded ship when the navy might pounce at any moment, and soon the cavern was cleaned out and the two ships were weighing anchor, moving away from the rock in convoy. The navy sails were still on their tail and the lookouts were keeping sharp eyes on them, but they were not yet in a position where it looked like they were gaining, and Roy was confident of his ability to lose them once they were back in more familiar waters. If necessary they could split up, each of them leading a navy ship away. Maes was still reading the captain’s log in a desperate search for something that could help them.

Roy watched the expressions that crossed over Maes’s face as he skimmed over the last couple of pages of text. He seemed to run the entire gamut from overjoyed to incredulous to angry and back again.

“Roy, take a look at this.” He came over, handing off a couple of damp sheets of parchment. The ink had run and the writing was barely legible, but Roy could still make out the captain of the Xerxes’s final message.

The rest of the treasure I shall leave in this rock. Those canny enough to find it are welcome to it. I myself have no further need of it. To those who come in search of the Philosopher’s Stone, I can offer only disappointment. There is no stone. There never was. It was a legend we concocted and fed to strike fear into the hearts of those who might set upon us for our cargo. Take the jewels and leave all foolish attempts of immortality and power beyond imagination behind. 

May the wind always be at your back. VH. 1756

Roy had to read it three times before the message sank in. On the one hand, this entire outing had been for nothing. It meant that they had left the navy for nothing, Maes had been shot for nothing. On the other hand, they didn’t need to worry about the Philosopher’s Stone falling into the navy’s hands now, and they had a boatload of treasure to boot. It was all so unbelievably ludicrous that Roy couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“Roy?” Maes was looking at him as if he’d grown a second head. “Roy, are you ok?”

Roy nodded, pulling Maes in close out of sheer relief that it was all over. Maes’s arms came around him, the safe haven that he’d always been, and Roy sighed. 

“We’re definitely retiring after this.”

“I’m already planning the tomato farm.” 

They stayed in their embrace for a little while longer until Roy finally broke away. 

“We should tell Armstrong that she can call off the search in her share of the loot.”

“I’ll get Fuery to send a message over. Honestly, trust us to go on a righteous mission to rid the world of a dangerous legendary artefact only to find that it never existed in the first place.”

It was an odd irony, but as they looked out over the open sea in front of them, Roy could not bring himself to care. All was well that ended well, and with the news from Havoc in the crow’s nest that they had lost the navy ships following them, all was definitely ending well and heading in the direction of a bright new beginning.