#hurricane nicholas

[glennethph]

Art.

[i-hate-loving-nicholas]

We may have a date, folks! German Sky Tv lists Mary & George release date as March 7th!! Prepare yourselves!!

[oscarisaacss-wp]

DYNAMICS IN PROGRESS — Leah Berman & Nicholas Gwan, in Hurricane Drunk as a Doomed Love.

“He’s waving his arms around and telling us about how pain is worth it, how it makes us stronger, but he’s wrong.

Or maybe I only think so because I’m still suffering.

Or maybe only some people come out the other end of shame a better person, while others can’t escape.

There are fields on fire and I lay burning.”

excerpt / ANONYMOUS

i. pinterest ii. spotify iii. wattpad

[duranduratulsa]

On the turntable today...

Earth by Jefferson Starship (1978)

Jaws Motion Picture Soundtrack by John Williams (1975)

Rio Pt. 2 by Duran Duran (1982) (12" Single)

Don't You Ever Leave Me by Hanoi Rocks (1984) (12" Single)

Over The Edge by Hurricane (1988)

Top Gun Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1986)

Here's To Future Days by Thompson Twins (1985)

Into The Gap by Thompson Twins (1984)

#jeffersonstarship #earth #jaws #johnwilliams #duranduran #rio #riopt2 #Hurricane #OverTheEdge #topgun #thompsontwins #herestofuturedays #intothegap #hanoirocks #ripnicholasdingley #dontyoueverleaveme #70s #80s #records #album #LP #12inch #12inchvinyl #vinylrecords #vinyl

[reality-detective]

Nicholas Sparks wrote a book that came out in September that talks about the hurricane and flooding in NC. More proof nothing is what we think. It's bizarre. It's ALL Planned. 🤔

[tenshinokorin]

TnK's Trigun Fic Listing

Ok now that I've got 15 fics out for Trigun (so far) and at least a couple of those are upwards of 20K and some of them are sequels and followups and ongoing, I thought maybe I should do a proper list of things, to make it easier for people who want to read in some kind of order. I'm terrible about talking up my own work but this is also for my own reference so that's fine, right? ^^; All fics are Vashwood-centric (I will get to Nai in a minute I have a backlog) and ratings vary from Gen to Explicit, though all are intended for an adult audience. This list is complete as of September '23, I will update it periodically as needed! 

NB: I'm lucky enough to have gotten fanart for some of these and sometime when my head is not full of mud I'll go in and add links to those where I can. (Or please drop a link in the replies if you are one of the wonderful artists in question!) 

THE BIG THREE STORYLINES: 

Someday Out of the Blue & I Believe in the Kingdom Come

Trigun '98 canon. Reincarnation fic. The first one is a story I started writing over 20 years ago and quit after a chapter because I was just too heartbroken (and did not know it, but was also too young). Picked it up and finished it this April (2023) after Stampede clobbered me and I fell off the "we don't talk about wolfwood" wagon. The second story is a direct sequel to tie up some loose ends from the first one, and also to indulge my need for a proper happy ending. (I think a lot of folks don't realize Someday has a sequel but it does!!) 

Black is the Color and Mysterious Ways

Trimax Canon. Resurrection/Fix-it/Angstmance with a much shorter, sillier, smuttier epilogue. Three years after the end of Trigun Maximum, Vash is having some trouble laying his ghosts to rest. (You may have seen this incredible artwork which has gotten around a bit and boosts the story better than any summary of mine possibly could.) Weird things happened when I was writing this, I don't mind telling you. Mysterious Ways was mostly an excuse to explore some of the more interesting concepts brought up by the first one, but saying anything more would be spoilery. 

Eyes of the Storm

(Mostly) Trimax canon. Cryptid Vash AU, slowburn romance, ongoing. When Nicholas D. Wolfwood gets roped into being the new caretaker for the now-abandoned orphanage where he spent his childhood, he soon finds out that his own hidden memories are not the only thing haunting him. (What the fuck is a Typhoon?) Wolfwood, Vash, Livio, Elendira, et al. This is the one currently in progress at six chapters out of ??. Pretty SFW so far BUT NOT FOR MUCH LONGER CAVEAT LECTOR. 

List continues with standalone and shorter fics below the cut!

Honeymoon

Generic Trimax/98 setting. Plant Heat, Wingfic, Tentacle Fic, What the fuck is Hay Fever. Wolfwood offers to help Vash out with a personal problem and gets a little more than he bargained for. 

Strange Powers

Generic Trimax/98 setting, comedy/smut/potato jokes/fisting with a loaded prosthetic. What if Vash and Wolfwood (accidentally) got really, really hella high? 

Hurricane

Trigun '98 Canon. 

Vash: Make money? As a priest?

WW: Well. *mysteriously* Not only that. 

Vash: (oh my gosh he's a prostitute)

Shortfic. Wolfwood tries to figure out how to offer his services to someone he doesn't really want to be a paying customer. Short and smutty while also demolishing Wolfwood's professional boundaries.

Skin Tight

Generic Trimax/98 setting. The Infamous Red Dress. PWP, Wolfwood needs to be in the Vash Sensory Deprivation Tank, Vash in high heels, the dress gave its life for this fic you should read it and honor its sacrifice. Look. This is just porn, guys. You want the porny fic? This is the porny fic. (just kidding most of them are porny fics but this one is especially so.) 

Secondhand Secrets

Generic Trimax/98 setting. Introspective/Vignette/Wolfwood POV. Vash's artificial arm always moves in his sleep, and Wolfwood wonders what he's looking for.

Personal Jesus

Badlands Rumble canon (post-film), Wolfwood has poor emotional coping strategies, hurt/comfort (Wolfwood provides both), first-time. That red hotel minifridge never stood a chance. 

A Fool From Any Direction

Trigun '98 Vash's weird horny schtick is a front, and self-respect doesn't save lives. Which is too bad because when Wolfwood finds out what Vash is planning next he's gonna kill him. 

Benediction

Trimax but could also be '98; Sometimes being a hero is not all it's cracked up to be. Or maybe Vash is the one cracking up. Hurt/Comfort, Wound Care & Bible Quotes, Noman's Land is a bitch of a planet. Shortfic, feels, non-explicit/no sex. 

A Bit of a Tight Spot

Generic Trimax/98 setting. Costume Porn, PWP, No corsets were harmed in the making of this fic. I feel like this one gets missed a lot which is MADDENING because you guys. WOLFWOOD'S DOUBLE Ds IN A CORSET. And like, in a gender euphoria way, not in a comedy drag kind of way (though comedy drag does make a small appearance). I don't know how the good minister tightlaced in cuban stockings while giving Vash a blowjob in front of a mirror in the attic of a whorehouse can get so often overlooked, maybe my title or summary is lacking, but it's one of the hottest things I've ever written and its engagement is just in the basement? When (emphatic baffled hand motions to Nicholas D. Wolfwood wearing a garter like a thigh-holster). Anyway. 

The Quick and the Bed

Trigun '98 Comedy, Romance, First Time. The single bed trope. Drunk Idiocy. Wolfwood's vows are in serious danger. (Wolfwood does not have vows.) Readers have let me know that they find this one amusing. Roommates of readers have sent me threats of bodily harm due to badly-stifled hysterical laughter at 3am. 

THAT'S ALL FOR NOW MORE STORIES WILL BE ADDED AS THEY OCCUR!

SMALL DISCLAIMER: I'm a full-time working writer and my fanfic is something I give away for free out of love. Please don't copy, alter, plagiarize, feed to AI in any form, fold, spindle, or mutilate. I'm not in the market for concrit, but if you like my stories please feel free to leave me a comment/kudo, download/print/fanbind for personal use, or let other readers know!

[designchic75]

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A post shared by @misspatriotq1776

I listened to Nicholas Veniamin who interviewed Louis Herms. Louis was there offering help where he could.  he also mentioned seeing many refrigerated trucks running continually. I truly believe that FEMA is hiding many, many bodies, because they don’t want it to be found out how many truly died in the man-made hurricane.

[imperatorrrrr]

find a blorbo!: a tag game for the new NHL season

in an effort to... 1) familiarize myself with the new rosters of each NHL team and 2) mayhaps work on being less of a hater, I've come up with a little game for all us hockeyblr folks to play since there's about a week left until the new season starts.

RULES: Go through the roster of each NHL team and find at least one player that you can root for.

Yes, even the team you despise. Yes, even the team everyone despises. Yes, even the team who you dare not speak of.

(I used a different color for teams I actually root for.)

Anaheim Ducks - Lukas Dostal

Boston Bruins - Nikita Zadorov

Buffalo Sabres - Jason Zucker

Calgary Flames - Blake Coleman, Kevin Bahl, Yegor Sharangovich, Andrei Kuzmenko, Nazem Kadri

Carolina Hurricanes - Andrei Svechnikov

Chicago Hockey Team - Philipp Kurashev

Colorado Avalanche - Alexandar Georgiev

Colombus Blue Jackets - Elvis Merzlikins

Dallas Stars - Jason Robertson

Detroit Red Wings - Alex Lyon, Olli Maatta, J.T. Compher

Edmonton Oilers - Adam Henrique

Florida Panthers - Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist

Los Angeles Kings - Quinton Byfield, Kevin Fiala

Minnesota Wild - Marc-Andre Fleury

Montreal Canadiens - Mike Matheson

Nashville Predators - Roman Josi, Juuse Saros

New Jersey Devils - the entire god damn team, you know thats right.

New York Islanders - Anthony Duclair

New York Rangers - K'Andre Miller

Ottawa Senators - Claude Giroux

Philadelphia Flyers - Erik Johnson

Pittsburgh Penguins - these are my homies

San Jose Sharks - I want the absolute best for all the Sharkies

Seattle Kraken - Brandon Tanev, Brandon Montour

St. Louis Blues - Pierre-Olivier Joseph, Mathieu Joseph

Tampa Bay Lightning - Jake Guentzel

Toronto Maple Leafs - Nicholas Roberston

Utah Hockey Club - Connor Ingram, John Marino

Vancouver Canucks - this is my west coast team, bb!

Vegas Golden Knights - Alexander Holtz, William Karlsson, Zach Whitecloud, Akira Schmid

Winnipeg Jets - Nino Niederreiter

Washington Capitals - Sonny Milano, Ethan Bear

I'm tagging @mikathemad, @dougiejack, @offside-the-lines, @forgottenflowers, @devilssacrament

@tkaptains, @hockey-stressed, @knivesareout, @wyattjohnston, @takemeto2000

@alpineshift, @rohruh, @hugheschierdaddy, @jonasiegenthaler, @jeanie-g

@thisishowgalaxiescollide, @hischiersjohnston, @hischierlovebot and anyone else who sees this can do it if you so choose :)

[macgyver2016-bracket]

Season 2, Episode 21: Wind + Water

While MacGyver is in Puerto Rico helping his friend rebuild his hurricane-damaged home, he is taken hostage in the bank his friend manages when robbers attempt to steal $2 million.

Season 3, Episode 18: Murdoc + Helman + Hit

When Nicholas Helman resurfaces to carry out a killing spree, the team is forced to get help from the one person who knows him best-- his protégé, Murdoc.

[wildcmbcrsupdates]

ayoedebiri: immensely proud of my union and grateful to our union siblings who fought alongside us — every film and tv project made is a miraculous act of chaos, community and care 🖤 some pics from one in particular I’m so proud of and grateful to have been a part of. I definitely didn’t take enough photos but I’ve got so much love and gratitude for everyone who, in the midst of termite mating season and the brink of hurricane season, banded together to do something unbelievably dumb and fun. love love love our cast and crew and Emma and Rachel for even thinking of me for this and everyone who watched and shared while we couldn’t promote okay bye…my next post will be like one picture and one word, sorry

Ayo Edebiri, Havana Rose Liu, Kaia Gerber, Marshawn Lynch, Miles Fowler, Nicholas Galitzine, Punkie Johnson, Rachel Sennott and Ruby Cruz via ayoedebiri on Instagram, 11/09/2023.

[absentia-if]

I don't think this has been asked, and if it has feel free to ignore this 😅. how would the ros react to mc disappearing for an entire day leaving a note for the ros that says they would be gone for the day but without a reason, and then comes back the next day with a special gift that the ros may have mentioned in a previous conversation?

Kade/Kara: They barely pay attention to the gift, thoughts already swirling back to the note you had left them. It wasn't enough, it'd never be enough, not when they didn't know why you had gone so suddenly-- not when you had been gone for as long as you had been, without contact or any indication of where you could be. "Don't disappear like that again," they say, hazel eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I appreciate that you were doing something for me, and I trust that you're able to take care of yourself, but I couldn't handle it if something happened to you and I didn't know. Again."

Michael/Margot: The sight of you causes various emotions to swirl within their chest: rage, tinted with relief, happiness, poisoned with bitterness, and joy that's wrapped in a bundle of fear. Azure blue eyes darken to a stormy cobalt, reminiscent of the ocean after a hurricane, and an expression you couldn't quite name contorts their elegant face. "Did--" M cuts themself off, a bone-deep sigh leaving them before their arms quickly wrap around your body and pull you tightly against them. "Did you think I wouldn't worry?" they whisper, voice thick with pain. "Did you think that a note would suffice? We always say goodbye, MC. That's our rule. I-I wasn't able to say it the last time you were taken from me. Please don't make go through that again."

Blaine/Blaire: Happy Birthday is plastered all across the wrapping paper, it crinkles slightly in their hands as they turn it over, but B, despite everything, couldn't help the frown that furrows their brow; nor could they forget the worry that had made a home within their chest for the past day. "You didn't have to do this, MC.” They gently place the wrapped gift on the coffee table before they take your hand. "You being safe, you keeping me company, you being here, is more than I could ever ask for. I don't need anything else for my birthday except for you to be right by my side as I celebrate it. Just like you always have been."

Wren/Wynn: "Do you not understand how foolish it was to do this?" They hiss, a snarl etched across their face, while dark brown eyes look almost black due to their rage. "Did you not think that I wouldn't worry? That I wouldn't think something happened to you? For a day, for twenty-four hours, I didn't know if you were okay, I didn't know where you were, and I didn't know why you left. I've worked cases exactly like this before, MC. I've seen what it can do to people. I couldn't bear it if it happened again to you or your family. Not after everything that's already happened." A soft sigh leaves their mouth then, tension leeching from their shoulders as they slump forward. "I appreciate the sentiment of the gift, I truly do, but I appreciate knowing that you're safe even more."

Nicholas/Natalie: "I-I thought something happened," they sob, hands desperately clawing at your back, tightening their hold on your hoodie. Logically they know you're safe, they know you haven't disappeared, but that doesn't make the pain, the grief, work its way out of their system any faster. They had seen what your disappearance did to their best friend, to your parents, even if it was only in passing, and they couldn't imagine how they had been able to live with it; they had thought you were gone for only a day and the pain had almost been overwhelming. Dealing with death, dealing with the grief that came with it, was commonplace in their life, but they never wished for it to be when it came to you. "Please don't go somewhere that I can't follow."

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from National Geographic:

Immigrants tend to migrate to neighborhoods that meet their cultural and linguistic needs, but the exodus of climate migrants to Buffalo wasn’t solely due to that established community. Months before Maria struck, the city’s mayor declared Buffalo a “climate refuge city,” noting that Buffalo has, “… a tremendous opportunity as our climate changes.”

Since then, the city has launched a relocation guide advertising the advantages to living in Buffalo, including how its average July temperature is a comfortable 71˚F. Anticipating a possible population uptick, the city revised zoning codes in 2017 to encourage development in existing city corridors and began upgrading its dated sewage infrastructure.

And Buffalo isn’t alone. Planners in cities such as Cleveland, Ohio; Ann Arbor, Michigan; Duluth, Minnesota; and elsewhere are beginning to map out what a future with thousands more residents could—and should—look like. 

The question of ‘climate havens’—places where extreme weather events are rare and which tend to be located in the northern regions of the U.S. close to bodies of freshwater—has gained currency in recent years, as deadly wildfires, record heat, and damaging hurricanes increasingly affect day-to-day life in the southern and western parts of the country. 

Last year, 675,000 people in the U.S. were displaced from their homes by disasters, second only to Colombia among all 35 countries in the Americas, according to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center.

One academic has gone as far as labeling Buffalo and Duluth “climate proof” communities.

Many of these communities were once economically dependent on manufacturing, and are potentially well-placed to meet the needs of an influx of climate migrants: When factories started closed in the 1970s and residents moved elsewhere in search of work, they left behind homes and city spaces that today can be repurposed.

Cleveland, on the southern shore of Lake Erie, has around 30,000 vacant lots. Detroit, which has lost nearly two-thirds of its population since its industrial heyday in the 1950s, has more than 30 square miles of empty land inside its city limits. Duluth already has the infrastructure to accommodate tens of thousands more residents.

“We need to model various land use and development scenarios for population growth at the neighborhood, city-wide, county-wide, and regional scales,” says Terry Schwarz, director of the Cleveland Urban Design Initiative. “But at this point, we’re only getting started.”

While available land may be an advantage for some, other cities are examining how to modernize existing housing stock by fortifying them against cold in winter and heat in summer. 

“Thinking through ways of reinvigorating the urban core is going to be central to having a more climate-resilient region,” says Nicholas Rajkovich of the University at Buffalo’s School of Architecture and Planning.

[nobodysdaydreams]

I have finally updated.

That's right gang. It's been a long time, but at last I have another update on my unending TMBS fic that ensures I will never be free. This chapter goes out to everyone dealing with the hurricane. You're in my prayers, and I hope this provides you something good to read while you're hiding out from the storm. Sorry for the typos, it's been a long day.

Chapter Summary: After losing his friends Violet and John, Nicholas steps aboard the M.V. Shortcut where he meets new friends, Captain Noland and Officer Zhao. However, he quickly finds that the journey will not be as smooth as he presumed. Meanwhile, John Cole has a difficult day at work, Ledroptha Curtain learns to manage life on his own, and a young girl comes up with a brilliant idea.

[multiverse-imagines]

@paprikamaustepurkki asked for something fluffy from the reverse Isekai au in an earlier ask!

Technically not completely fluffy, it's more… Wolfwood pining, and before Wolfwood entered the relationship. Enjoy anyway!

Rain

April, year 3.

"Oh, looks like it's gonna rain tomorrow." You gave a non-committal comment, not looking up from your phone

"You mentioned that before. Is that dangerous?" Nicholas asked, worry lining his voice

"Not this time, at least. There's plain old rain, which is just basic rainfall, there's thunderstorms that are harsh rain, with thunder and lightning, and there's tropical storms, when the storm gains power from the winds and water of the ocean, and hurricanes or typhoons, which can decimate entire cities."

"Ah, like Vash being The Humanoid Typhoon." Wolfy nodded.

"Yeah. Typhoons happen in the Pacific ocean and rotate counter-clockwise, and hurricanes are in the Atlantic and spin the opposite way." You whirled a finger around as an example.

"That's scary. Do you have those here?"

"No, just thunderstorms. We occasionally get hurricanes that come far inward, but they just end up being really bad thunderstorms. It's still kinda scary though." You shrugged. Wolfwood had become quite curious about the Earth's weather. It was stranger than anything he'd seen on Gunsmoke. Water, just falling from the sky, freezing and turning into snow, the air generating electricity… it was all so crazy to him.

-

The rain fell hard on the roof of the cabin. It being his first rain, Nicholas watched the rain fall onto the balcony from the living room. You took a look out onto the back balcony.

"You should probably smoke out front today, Wolfy. It's blowing from the east." You recommended.

"N-nah, I'm Good. I don't wanna go out there." Wolfwood shook his head, the nagging of his addiction desiring otherwise.

"Not at all? It's just like a cold shower out there, there's nothing to be afraid of." You frowned.

"Just don't wanna do it." Wolfwood shook his head,

You shrugged, and made her way upstairs. A few minutes later, you came down the stairs wearing a pair of shorts, a T-Shirt, and pulled on a pair of boots.

"Vash! Ready to go play?"

"Fuck yeah!" He cheered coming from his room in similar attire, left arm missing.

"What are you two doing?"

"We're gonna go play in the rain. You can always join us if you want. It's not gonna hurt you." You smiled as you opened the door, leading you and Vash to exit. The two of them carefully made their way down the stairs before hopping around in the puddles outside, the water splashing into their legs. They ran around, giggling, kicking around a kickball, caking it in mud. Vash kicked the ball and it shot into the grove of trees that lined the property.

"Ah, I'll get it!" He cheerily approached you, intending to pass in order to retrieve the ball.

"Hey, hold on a minute." You grabbed his arm as he passed. He gave a questioning look, but smiled in realization. He pulled you close, giving a gentle caress of your face. You pulled Vash in for a sweet tender kiss, the rain picking up its pelting, as if to emphasize your intimate affection.

Wolfwood had been watching from the balcony, watching the sweet moment. A pang of… jealousy? Entered his heart. But for who? Did he wish that was him and Milly? Did he wish to be corralled in the embrace of Needle Noggin's arm? Or did he wish to be holding you so tenderly? Was it all of these things? Rainy days confused him, he decided.

"Wolfy! Come join us!!!" You called, noticing him on the balcony. Wolfwood sighed, giving a thumbs up before retreating inside. While you and Vash returned to playing with the kickball after it was retrieved, Nicholas stepped out from the basement entrance in a pair of basketball shorts, his tennis shoes, and a black t-shirt. He took a deep breath before stepping into the rain.

Cold. This was really damn cold. Like pin pricks to his shoulders, his body quickly became soggy. He made his way to his two housemates, the mud squelching under his shoes.

"I think I made a mistake coming out here." He frowned, not enjoying the cold.

"Just give it a minute, Wolfwood! Ya get used to the cold!" Vash smiled. They returned to kicking the ball around, allowing Wolfwood to join in. On one pass, he kicked the ball, slipping in the mud, and falling onto his ass. After shaking off his shock, he began to laugh with you and Vash who had already been laughing. The two of you held out your hands to bring Wolfwood out of the mud, only for him to pull them down into the mud with him, a snarky smile on his face. You and Vash squeaked at being pulled down, and continued to laugh. Giving in to being dirty, you took a handful of mud, pressing it to Wolfy's face. His dumbfounded face was enough to make Vash laugh like a tea kettle. Wolfwood, regaining his senses, pressed his muddy hand into your face as well before doing the same to Vash.

"Fuckin' assholes!" Wolfwood laughed. Turning to push Vash back into the mud, you soon followed behind, making a dog pile in the mud. The three of you laughed together, the rain beginning to lighten up. Soon the clouds parted, allowing a few beams of light to shine through. The three of you all took in this moment, muddy, laughing and enjoying the moment, the kickball unloved and forgotten in the grove for the time being.

Clambering back inside, Wolfwood used Vash's shower, while you and Vash made your way to the master bath. Wolfwood couldn't help but hear the delicious noises coming from the bathroom as the two claimed to be cleaning up. He felt… lonely in this shower. Not that he'd ever showered with someone before, but.. hearing the two of you have… a little more than fun, made him wish he could join you two… he felt this feeling before… wanting to… spend his tomorrows… with them…. He'd thought that before… but… when?

He nodded again at the notion of rainy days bringing nothing but confusion. He left the shower, and joined you and Vash, who were cuddled up on the couch, somehow finishing their "shower" before him.

"You two are noisy. And I thought you were a quiet book worm, my liege." Nicholas teased the two of you, sitting on the couch with them. Vash gave a light chuckle as you buried your face into Vash's chest, embarrassed.

[cinnamon-piastri]

Night before Christmas - F1 edition🏎️

Hello I haven't written as many stories as I want to because of some health issues but I wish you all a merry Christmas ❤️ and I'll work on them still I promise that, until then here's a little poem.

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the paddock,

Not a creature was stirring, not even a stock.

The helmets were hung by the garage with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

Oscar Piastri nestled all snug in his bed,

While visions of podiums danced in his head.

With trophies and triumphs, a season well-spent,

He dreamt of success, a true champion's intent.

When out on the track, there arose such a clatter,

Oscar sprang from his bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the pit lane, he flew like a flash,

Tore open the garage, ready to dash.

The moon on the crest of the virtual waves,

Gave a luster of silver to the cars on the pave.

When, what to his wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

Oscar knew in a moment, it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles, his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name.

"Now, Lando! Now, Lewis! Now, Max and Seb!

On, Charles! On, Daniel! On, Fernando and Esteban!

To the top of the podium, to the victory lane!

Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.

So up to the housetop, the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of gifts, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, Oscar heard on the roof,

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As he drew in his head, and was turning around,

Down the pit lane, St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in red, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes—how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.

Oscar couldn't believe his eyes, what a sight!

St. Nick was a racing fan, that much was right.

He spoke not a word but went straight to his work,

Filling the stockings, then turned with a jerk.

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the pit lane he rose.

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But Oscar heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

[greetingfromthedead]

7. Hurricane

Series: Mermaid!AU Depth of Despair

Pairing: Vash x GN!Reader

Word count: 2.7k

Author's Note: Thank you all so much for the love on this series! It is truly incredible to see all the nice comments and the likes. Love you loads! ❤️❤️❤️

← Previous Chapter | Next Chapter →

You heard your name, and that can only mean one of your own has tracked you down. You turn around to see the man with the serpent's tail, someone who has leaned far into what you are supposed to be, a monstrous creature bordering on becoming a legend even among your nest.

"What is the meaning of this?" He asks, and you recognize the threat in his voice.

"Nicholas," you press out, beginning a sentence you have no idea how to continue.

"Never mind. I will deal with you later." He says and turns to look at Vash. "Blondie. Come here."

You turn around again to look at the frozen man whose eyes are focused on Nicholas as he takes a step closer. This is bad. The merman behind you is many times more powerful than you; his voice must carry so much of the curse, that Vash could never stand a chance against it. He will have no choice but to be enamored and obey. He will walk into his death. You stand at a crossroads. Do you let it happen and hope it will blow over and you get to live on even as Vash falls victim to a cruel fate, or do you fight against it. If you try to save Vash again, there will be no escape for you anymore. You will be seen as a traitor and treated as such.

"No! Vash, come to me!" You almost yell, lacing your voice with as much glamour as you possibly can, hoping for a miracle as Vash is just a step away from the edge of the deck.

To your astonishment, Vash's gaze moves to you, and he looks surprised. There is no hint of the usual lightheartedness in his face—no smile or glimmer, just a nearly empty stare. You pull yourself up and reach out your hand toward him. The initial startle in his gaze is replaced with something else, like a tender recognition, but everything happens too fast to linger on that thought. He bows closer, and you grab hold of his red coat, pulling him with you. He falls to his knees, his hands keeping balance on the edge of the plank, as you back into the water. Even through the murkiness of the river, Vash sees as scales appear up to your collarbones as you get submerged, slits form on your neck for gills, and when water closes in over your face, your ears change into fins, the human eyes turn catlike, the color of your irises spreads, and the pupils turn into slits. Your mouth is still agape as it fills with water, the harmless looking teeth turning into rows of sharp razors with fangs long and pointed enough to keep any victim from escaping. More scales appear under your eyes and cheeks, giving you a beastly appearance as they make your features look sunken in. Your hold on the red coat is tight as your fingers elongate and your nails turn into powerful talons, digging themselves into the fabric of the garment, and Vash plunges into the water with you.

His eyes are wide as he watches you; bubbles escape his mouth, not in a silent scream but almost like he is too shocked to realize he is underwater. You feel shame rise up within you, knowing that you can no longer hide the truth about yourself from him, but for now it doesn't matter. You have to get him to safety. Saving him from the clutches of your kin is the only thing that is of any importance to you as of now. You already drag him away along the river, hoping that the murky waters will hide you from the monster on your tail like it hid him from your view. You pull Vash closer by the collar, his hands clamping on to your arms, but you lean closer still, pressing your mouth to his in your desperate attempt to help him. Your sharp teeth draw blood from his lower lip in the hurried kiss, and you taste it on your tongue. Under other circumstances, all of it would play out differently. Even the nearly irresistible taste of magic would test your will, but right now, your head is only filled with fear.

"Breathe!" you command him, as his blood gives even someone as weak as you total control over him.

You see the bubbles stop as his chest rises, filling his lungs with water. He doesn't sputter or cough; his eyes widen even further in surprise as, instead of drowning, he begins to breathe underwater. That is the power of a mermaid's kiss, the fabled dream of many seamen.

You rush down the stream, keeping your arms tightly around Vash as you pull him along and keep him safe from the debris on the bottom of the river. You have no time to look at him or analyze his expression, and you fear you will never be able to look at him again. You don't want to see his fear, his horror, his pain. You feel his embrace, he keeps himself latched to you as you make your way at breakneck speed towards the sea. You cannot tell if Nicholas is following you or how close he is behind you. All you can think about is getting Vash as far away as you can. You can feel the adrenaline coursing through your veins, propelling you forward.

The water becomes clearer as you make your way into the salty sea, leaving the river behind. You slow down for just a moment, considering your options, and then keep rushing towards the open ocean, into deeper waters to be hidden by the vastness of the kelp. You slow down when you start to struggle to see past the swaying of the plants, and with that, you release the vice like embrace on Vash. He lets go as well, and instead you take his hand as you slowly keep going, unable to look him in the eyes.

Vash doesn't complain as you drag him along; he doesn't put up a fight; he just paddles with his feet and uses his free arm to propel forward. He stops, as you do, on the verge of the last kelp that swim around him with the currents of the ocean. As you notice the shadows moving through the dark water, you pull him back into the kelp forest, both to avoid being seen and to keep him from seeing what lurks in the dark. But you're too late.

"Were those… children?" he asks quietly after a few long minutes of silence. You nod solemnly, the weight of the truth sinking in. You are afraid of what comes next.

"Is it possible… that I recognized one of them?" Vash's voice sounds hollow and haunted.

"Do you really want to know?" You reply to him quietly, still looking away from him. Perhaps it would be better to tell him. To make him afraid. It would be easier if he hated you and everything to do with you. It would keep him safe; it would keep him away.

"Please. Tell me." His tone is so soft as it reaches your ears. The sound moves almost magically; it is so clear, and you hear the pleading in it.

"Yes. It could be that you recognized one of them. Maybe even more if you got a better look." The words feel vile in your mouth, like poison tainting your happiness.

"How?" Vash continues, his hand squeezing yours.

"It is very rare for a merfolk to be born, so to avoid extinction… we create our own." Each word is like a fishing hook stuck in your throat. "Turning an adult takes a lot of magic, and finding the necessary… parts is hard too. Children are easier."

"So those are human children?"

"Were. They are no longer human, they aren't even merfolk yet; they still have to transition; not all of them will make it." You want to bite your tongue. For so long, you have desired to talk to Vash, to tell him about the misconceptions he has about you, and to ask about him. You've longed to use your voice for a while, and now that you can talk to him, you have to tell him about horrors most humans would never want to think about. "But yes, those used to be regular human children."

"How did they get to be merfolk?" Vash asks slowly, emphasizing every word, but he doesn't sound angry, disgusted, or afraid—just empty.

"Sometimes children play on the docks and fall in when nobody is looking. They perish and get swept away by the current because people are careless." A tremor appears in your voice. "And sometimes mermaids snatch them from the beaches when their parents have their backs turned. The siren song works on them too. My kind will drag them into the depths and drown the kids themselves."

You release the grip on his hand, but instead of letting go, he squeezes tighter.

"Is that what the stories are about? Sirens luring fishermen into the sea to turn them?"

"No. They are lured in to be eaten or to be fed to those in need of magic." You go very quiet by the end, but you know he can hear you.

"Is that why you brought me here?" Vash asks just as quietly after a moment of silence.

Your head turns towards him, finally looking at him, and to your surprise, he looks back, his bright blue eyes gaze into yours. You can't quite place the expression—something between surprise, understanding, and hesitation—but you can't really see fear in it.

"No! I would never!" You pull away from him, and his hand releases yours. You can't blame him for thinking that. If anything, you should enforce his doubt and fear, but you can't bring yourself to do it. You want to protect him, not hurt him in any way, but you can't do the former without the latter.

"Then tell me more," Vash says gently, and once again, you are at a loss about what could be going on in that head of his.

"We mend the dead; we fit them with a tail and stitch them up with a curse. We resurrect them as one of our own, but as they wake, they lack a will of their own. They are just mindless creatures, driven by instinct alone. Their only drive is to consume magic, as without it, their life force will run out, the curse will vanish, and they will die once again, but this time without a second chance. That's what the children currently are. They follow Nicholas as he has a lot of magic; they want to consume him, but they are no match. That merman is among the most powerful our clan has; in a different time, he would be a leviathan by now, but he is limited by the secrecy we must uphold for our own safety. He protects the changelings; they pose no threat to him; all they do is stalk him compulsively." You turn away your gaze, unable to take any more of Vash's unchanging expression. "For a changeling to truly turn into one of us and gain back consciousness, they need a lot of life force. To spare our own kind, we drag humans into the depths to feed the children. Unless we consume your kin ourselves."

This is the gist of it—the bare minimum, at least. Times have changed, and so have the ways of living. Before ships carried cannons and humans wielded guns, merfolk saw any vessel as an easy target. The oceans used to be ruled by your people, many of whom gained enough power to turn into giant leviathans, sea monsters that could sink a whole ship by themselves. Now your numbers are dwindling, and your once-mighty civilization is facing extinction. You have betrayed your own kind by telling Vash all this, and there is no turning back. You realize you're stretching the truth; you became a traitor a long time ago. The moment you saved him from the shipwreck, you sealed your fate, and your blooming affection for a human only made it worse.

Everything feels so heavy in your chest, like stones dragging you down. You remind yourself that this is for the best and dive towards the bottom of the sea. To your surprise, you hear Vash follow, but he is a lot slower than you. The water is clear enough as you glide along the bottom, looking at the pebbles collected there. Occasionally, you pick one up, turn it in your hand, and throw it back.

"What are you looking for?" Vash asks as he finally catches up.

"I am looking for a hag stone," you respond simply.

"What's that?"

"A stone untouched by human hands, polished by the waters and has a hole in it. They are good vessels for magic. If you find one, don't touch it; just tell me." You reply without pausing your search.

It doesn't take too long for you to dig through a pile of pebbles and shells to find one, and you look for your next ingredient. The kelp seems like a fine option, but not durable enough. You need something better. Without looking at Vash's face, you scan over his mantle and spot the braided leather cords cinching together one of the sleeves. Quickly, you snatch it from him and untangle one of the strips. It's the perfect width.

"What are you doing?" he asks as he watches you.

Without giving him an answer, you dig your sharp teeth into the palm of your hand, drawing blood, and he lets out a concerned gasp. You don't have the will to wonder why he's so worried about you. Instead, you press the stone into your injured hand, squeezing it tight as you whisper some ancient words to it. As you unfurl your fingers, most of the red bleeds into the water, but some of it sticks to the tiny crevices of the pebble. Quickly, you string the cord through the hole to seal in the curse, and the bleeding also stops.

"There is only so much I can do," you say as you look at the stone hanging in the water. "I am weak; most of my kin hold power much greater than me, and this will only protect you from those who are at my level or below."

You swim around Vash, resting the hag stone on his chest as you tie the leather cord behind his neck.

"Wear it, and you will be safe from at least my glamour. Don't take it off." You warn him. "I will bring you back to shore. Stay away from the water as much as you can. Be weary. Remember what lurks below the surface. Don't get hurt."

Before he can say anything, you grab him, hugging him tight from behind as you head back towards the shore. You feel his hand grab hold of your arms, and he is more relaxed than you would have guessed given the situation. His legs are spread apart, and despite the coat, your tail has enough room to propel you towards the familiar bay. You keep low, hidden in algae and between reefs as much as you can, but you see nobody else—no threatening shadows, no sneaky tails.

You approach the beach where you dragged Vash to the very first time you met him. In knee deep water, you let him go, sitting him up and pushing away to give him space as he starts coughing up the salty seawater from his lungs. It is still raining. You look at him and see his eyes move toward you. The magic that turns your voice into a siren song and enhances your beauty no longer applies. For the first time, he has seen you for who you truly are. He keeps sputtering and gasping for air, liquid dripping from his mouth as he clutches his throat.

"Stay away from the water!" you remind him again. "Goodbye."

With that, you turn away, leaving him in the shallow water as you return to the depths. You look around to make sure nobody is here to follow him, and disappear with painful sorrow in your heart. You hope he will be safe, even though you have put him in danger with everything you have done so far. His death would be on your hands, and that's a monstrous deed you cannot bear the thought of.

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