#i came to post this as soon as I saw this beautiful image

[sadlynotthevoid]

I'm reading the WFA chapter that came out this wednesday and—

Agskshdkdhjtakhvdjd—

Look at his pretty face right there.

Those puppy eyes—

I can't—

I know it's a serious talk, but why does he have to look so good here?

[blakeswritingimagines]

Talk Is Cheap, So Show Me

Summary: Aegon is a pathetic fanboy over you - the cosplayer who's got his eye.

Word count: 5.1k

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the House of The Dragon/Fire & Blood characters nor do I claim to own them. I do not own any of the images used nor do I claim to own them.

Aegon, the eldest of the wealthy and powerful Targaryen family. He was a handsome young man, with wavy platinum blonde hair and striking lavender eyes. Despite his spoiled privilege and high status, Aegon found solace in gaming. He spent hours playing various video games and role-playing games online, immersing himself in fantastical worlds. But one particular interest caught his attention - cosplay. He loved scrolling through pictures and videos of beautiful women dressed up as his favorite characters, admiring their creativity and dedication to the craft. It became an obsession for him. You were a cosplayer, spending hours crafting your costumes and perfecting your makeup. Although you came from a humble background, you had always had a fascination for fantasy and fiction, which led you to the world of cosplay. You took great pride in your work and were known in the cosplay community for your intricate and accurate costumes. One day, while sorting through your cosplay photos online, you noticed a name continuously popping up in the comments - Aegon.

Aegon had been stalking your social media accounts for weeks now, unable to resist the allure of your gorgeous cosplays. His heart pounded every time he saw a new post or comment from you, and he couldn't help but feel a strange sense of excitement. He knew it was wrong, given that you were both from very different backgrounds, but he couldn't deny his growing attraction towards you. One night, after another long session of gaming, he decided to take a chance. He sent you a private message on one of the popular social networking sites. As you were scrolling through your messages, you saw a notification from Aegon. Your eyes widened slightly as you clicked on the message, feeling a mixture of curiosity and surprise. You had noticed his comments before but never paid much attention to them. Now, as you read his words, you felt a flutter in your chest. ~Absolutely gorgeous, I've never seen a more perfect cosplay of that character. You nailed it.~ You hesitated for a moment. Should you reply to him? You weren't sure what his intentions were, but there was something about his message that intrigued you. Aegon watched eagerly as you opened his message. His heart pounded in his chest as he waited for your response. He felt a rush of relief mixed with anticipation by having finally said something.

He quickly typed out another reply, trying to sound casual yet flirty. ~You must have put so much effort into making that costume. I'm impressed!~ He hit send and then immediately regretted sounding too nice. He didn't want to scare you off by being too forward, but at the same time, he wanted to make sure you knew how much he appreciated your work. You smiled at Aegon's response. His words were sincere, and you could tell he genuinely appreciated your work. You couldn't help but feel a little flutter of excitement in your chest. Before responding, you took a moment to think. You didn't want to come off as too eager, but you also wanted to let him know that you were interested in continuing the conversation. After taking a deep breath, you typed out a response. ~Thank you! It means a lot coming from someone who appreciates cosplay. It did take hours to make, but it was worth it in the end.~ Aegon's heart skipped a beat when he received your response. He hadn't expected you to write back so soon, let alone with such a warm and friendly tone. He felt a rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins, fueling his fingers as they danced across the keyboard.

~I can only imagine how much time and effort goes into creating these masterpieces. I wish I had your talent!~ He hit send, hoping that his compliment wouldn't come off as insincere. He had always admired people who were passionate about their crafts, especially when it came to cosplay. You were certainly one of those individuals, and he found himself wanting to learn more about you. You smiled as you read Aegon's message. He seemed genuine in his praise, and you appreciated his kindness. You had to admit, it was nice to have someone appreciate your work for what it was even though you couldn't tell he had practically been drooling each time you posted a new photo. ~Talent only gets you so far. It's the passion and dedication that really make the difference. I've spent hours and hours practicing and experimenting to get to where I am now.~ You replied, feeling a sense of pride in your accomplishments.

Aegon read your response and felt a surge of admiration for you. The way you talked about your passion made him realize just how much he underestimated cosplayers like you. They weren't just dressing up; they were artists in their own right. ~That's amazing! It's clear that you love what you do, and it shows in your work. I bet you're already thinking about your next project…~ He wrote back, trying to keep things light-hearted while still showing his appreciation for your dedication. He couldn't wait to see what you would create next and kept quiet that he'd love to see more. You chuckled as you read Aegon's message. You were used to people making assumptions about cosplayers being shallow and pretentious, so it was refreshing to see someone who understood the passion and dedication behind it all. ~Actually, I do have a few ideas in mind for my next project. I always have several on the back burner. But I won't give too much away yet, you'll just have to wait and see.~ You typed back, teasing him gently.

Aegon laughed softly as he read your message. Your playful banter was contagious, and he found himself enjoying the conversation more than he thought he would. He liked how you kept things interesting and exciting, not giving anything away too easily. ~Oh, is that so? Well, I suppose I'll just have to wait in anticipation then. Don't keep me waiting too long though!~ He wrote back, matching your playful tone. He was starting to feel a connection with you, something he hadn't experienced with many others due to how stuffy, boring, and pretentious they were in his day-to-day life. Maybe this was the start of something special.

You found yourself thinking about Aegon more and more as the weeks went by. Your online conversations had become a regular part of your life, and you looked forward to seeing his name pop up in your notifications. You had kept things playful and casual, both of you enjoying the flirting and banter. But there was something more there, a connection that neither of you could deny. One night, after a particularly long conversation, you found yourself lying in bed and staring at the ceiling, thinking about Aegon. You wondered what he was doing at that moment, whether he was thinking about you too. Aegon couldn't stop thinking about you either. Every time he got home from partying, he checked his phone to see if you'd messaged him. Even when he tried to focus on other things, like playing games or watching TV, his mind always drifted back to you. There was something about you that drew him in, and he found himself wondering what kind of person you were outside of the online world. As he lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling just like you, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was building between you two. He was scared, yes, but also excited. What would happen if he crossed that line and asked you out? Would you say yes? Or would he ruin everything by overstepping his bounds?

He wanted to meet you in person, to see if the chemistry between you was as strong as it was online. One evening, after another engaging chat with you, Aegon found himself looking at your profile pictures again. He couldn't help but admire your beauty and the passion you put into your cosplays. He knew he had to take the next step, but he wasn't sure how to go about it. You rolled over onto your side, staring at the phone on your bedside table. Your conversation with Aegon had ended a few hours ago, but you couldn't get him out of your mind. You closed your eyes, imagining what he might be like in person. Was he just as charming and engaging as he was online? Or was there something different about him that you hadn't been able to glean from the conversations so far? Aegon tossed and turned, unable to find a comfortable position in his bed. His mind was racing, filled with thoughts of you. He couldn't understand why he was so drawn to you. Sure, you were beautiful, but there were plenty of beautiful women out there. So what was it about you that made him crave more? He picked up his phone, his thumb hovering over the screen before he decided to type out a message. He wasn't sure what he was going to say, but he needed to hear your voice. To know that you were thinking about him too.

Your eyes abruptly opened as you heard the notification sound from your phone. You hesitated for a moment, wondering if you should even check it or not. But you couldn't resist the temptation. You reached for your phone and unlocked it, your heart racing as you saw the notification icon on the screen. Your breath caught in your throat when you saw that it was a message from Aegon. You quickly swiped open the message, your fingers shaking slightly as you began to read his words. Aegon stared at the message he had just sent, his heart pounding in his chest. He had never been so nervous about a simple text before. He didn't know what he was expecting, but he hoped that whatever happened next would be worth it. ~I hope you're still awake,~ he typed, adding a winking emoji at the end for good measure. He pressed send, hoping against hope that you would respond.

Your heart skipped a beat as you read Aegon's message. You couldn't help but chuckle at the winking emoji, finding it both cute and endearing. You quickly typed out her reply, feeling a surge of excitement coursing through your veins. ~What makes you think I would be sleeping at this late hour?~ You teased, adding a blushing emoji for good measure. Aegon let out a low whistle as he read your message. That damn blushing emoji did things to him. He could almost imagine how flustered you would act, and it made him want to reach out and touch you. His fingers flew across the keyboard as he typed out his response, eager to keep the conversation going. ~Well, I guess I'm just lucky then. You're wide awake and ready to chat.~ He wrote, adding another winking emoji because he couldn't resist. He hit send, grinning to himself as he waited for your response. You chuckled again as you read Aegon's response. He really was a smooth talker, and you couldn't deny the effect he was having on you. But you weren't going to let him rile you up too much. Not yet, anyway. ~Lucky indeed. But I have a feeling you were hoping I would still be awake,~ You typed back, adding a cheeky smirk emoji. ~What's on your mind so late at night?~

Aegon smiled as he read your message. You were definitely keeping things interesting, and he found himself looking forward to these nightly chats more and more. ~You're right. I was hoping you'd still be awake. Can't deny that now, can we?~ He wrote back, adding a laughing emoji to lighten the mood. As for what was on his mind… well, he wasn't quite ready to share that just yet. But he was getting close. You chuckled again, feeling your cheeks flush slightly at Aegon's words. You were enjoying this little game you both were playing, the flirty banter and teasing back-and-forth. It was exhilarating, and it made you feel alive. ~I knew it. You just can't get enough of me, can you?~ You teased, adding a tongue-sticking-out emoji for good measure. ~But you didn't answer my question. What's keeping you up late at night, hm?~ Aegon laughed at your comment, shaking his head slightly as he read your message. You certainly knew how to keep things light and fun, which was exactly what he needed right now. ~Oh, you know… Just thinking about you,~ he wrote back, adding a winky face to emphasize his point. He hit send and laid back in his bed, a satisfied smile on his face. He couldn't wait to see what you would say next.

You read Aegon's message and almost choked on your own saliva. You hadn't expected him to be so bold, but you definitely weren't complaining. The thought of him lying in bed, thinking about you, sent a shiver down your spine. ~Oh really? And what kind of thoughts might those be?~ You typed back, your fingers trembling slightly as you hit send. You were suddenly feeling a little flustered, but you tried your best to play it cool. Aegon's pulse quickened as he read your message. He couldn't believe how daring you were being, pushing him to reveal more. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart before he replied. ~Thinking about how pretty you are,~ he started, adding a blush emoji just to show that he meant it. Then, without missing a beat, he added, ~And wondering what you look like under all those clothes you wear during our late-night conversations.~ Your eyes widened as you read Aegon's message. Your heart thudded in your chest, and your cheeks flushed a deep shade of red. You certainly hadn't been expecting such a direct response, but you couldn't deny that you enjoyed the tension of it all. ~Are you trying to get me flustered? Because it's working,~ You typed back, adding a flushed face emoji for good measure. ~And if you're curious, why don't you use your imagination? I'm sure you've got quite a vivid one…~

Aegon's grin grew wider as he read your message. You were definitely playing along, and he liked where this was heading. ~Oh, I have an imagination alright,~ he responded, adding a devilish smiley face. He paused for a moment, considering his next move carefully before typing out his final message. ~But sometimes, seeing is believing. Why don't we arrange a little video call later tonight? I promise I won't disappoint.~ You felt your heart skip a beat as you read Aegon's message. A video call? That certainly escalated things quickly. But you couldn't deny that you were intrigued. You thought about it for a moment, picturing what it would be like to see him face-to-face for the first time. ~Are you really that eager to get a peak at what I look like under my clothes?~ You teased back, adding a winking emoji for good measure. ~Sure, let's set something up later tomorrow. I'm excited to see what you have in store for me.~ Aegon's heart pounded in his chest as he read your message. His mind raced with anticipation, imagining what the video call would entail. He couldn't wait any longer; he wanted to see you now. ~How about now?~ he asked, typing back immediately. He hit send and sat up in bed, waiting anxiously for your response.

You raised an eyebrow as you read Aegon's message. Now? You hadn't expected him to push things so quickly, but you couldn't deny that the idea was tantalizing. ~Now? I mean, I suppose I could make time for a quick video call…~ You typed back, adding a thoughtful emoji for good measure. You sat up in bed too, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness coursing through your veins. Aegon's pulse quickened as he read your reply. This was happening. You two were actually doing this. He felt a rush of adrenaline surge through him, making his hands tremble slightly as he reached for his phone. Before he could change his mind, he hit accept on the incoming video call. His heart hammered in his chest as he saw your image come onto the screen. He swallowed hard, trying to keep his composure as he looked into your eyes. Your heart skipped a beat as you saw Aegon's face appear on your screen. He was just as handsome as he had described himself, and you couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement in your stomach. You adjusted your own phone, making sure the camera captured your face from a flattering angle. You smiled at him nervously, trying to contain the rush of emotions coursing through you. "Hey there…" she greeted softly, her voice trembling just a bit.

Aegon returned your smile, his eyes locked on yours. He felt a strange warmth spreading through him, and he couldn't tear his gaze away from your face. "Hi," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. He cleared his throat, trying to regain some semblance of control over himself. "You look amazing." His hand moved towards the edge of his blanket, slowly pulling it down to reveal his bare chest. He gave you a playful wink, then leaned back against his pillows, awaiting your reaction. Your eyes widened as you noticed the blanket falling slightly, revealing his bare chest. You couldn't help but admire his muscular physique, your eyes roaming over his chest and arms for just a moment before you met his gaze again. You swallowed hard, trying to find your voice: "You… you don't look so bad yourself," you managed to say, your voice shaky with barely contained enthusiasm. "Is this your way of trying to tempt me?"

Aegon grinned at your words, his confidence growing with every second that passed. He loved the way your eyes roamed over his body, taking in every detail. It made him feel alive and desirable. "I wouldn't dream of tempting you," he lied smoothly, his tone dripping with flirtation. "I'd never do anything to jeopardize our… arrangement." He tilted his head slightly, running a hand through his hair as he watched you closely. There was something incredibly intoxicating about how you reacted to him, and he got harder by the second. You chuckled softly, your eyes flickering over Aegon's muscular chest once again. You were starting to feel a bit overwhelmed by the chemistry between you, and you couldn't deny the effect he was having on you. "Oh really? You wouldn't dream of tempting me? Then what would you call this…" You gestured at the way he was leaning back against his pillows, bare-chested and confident as if he knew exactly how attractive he was. "Because I'd call it a very tempting sight, indeed."

Aegon laughed lightly, enjoying the banter between you both. He liked how you weren't easily intimidated or impressed - it only made him want to impress you more. "Well then," he said, smirking playfully, "it seems like I've got some work cut out for me. How do you suggest I go about not tempting you?" His eyes twinkled with mischief as he awaited your answer, his hand idly tracing patterns on the sheet covering his lap. You couldn't help but grin at Aegon's playful demeanor. He was effortlessly charming, and it was starting to wear your defenses down. You feigned thoughtfulness, tapping a finger against your chin as you pretended to consider his question. "Hmmm… I suppose you could start by putting your shirt back on," you suggested, your eyes darting down to his hand tracing patterns on the sheet. You bit your lip, trying to maintain some measure of control and failing miserably. Aegon chuckled, shaking his head slightly at your suggestion. He liked your sense of humor, even if it was aimed at him. "Oh come now," he protested, "isn't part of the fun seeing what's underneath?" His hand stopped its idle movements on the sheet, instead sliding further down to tease the edge of his pants.

"But since you're so concerned," he added with a devilish smirk, "I can always put these back on too…" With that, he began to sit up, reaching for his pants as if ready to pull them up and cover himself completely. The anticipation was killing him, and he loved every second of it. Your breath caught in your throat as you watched Aegon reach for his pants. You wanted to stop him, to tell him to keep everything off, but your mouth wouldn't cooperate. All you could do was watch silently as he teased you, slowly rising from the bed with a smirk on his face. "You're enjoying this," you accused, your voice sounding slightly hoarse. "You're loving the fact that you have me all flustered and worked up right now, aren't you? Just admit it." Aegon paused mid-movement, looking directly into your eyes as you spoke. He didn't respond verbally, but the glint in his eyes told you everything you needed to know. Yes, he was enjoying this. Every second of it. Without another word, he let out a low chuckle and shook his head. But instead of pulling up his pants, he did the exact opposite, letting them slide down just enough to expose more of his toned thighs. His fingers toyed with the waistband teasingly, clearly enjoying the power he held over you. "And why would I deny it?" he asked, his voice smooth and seductive.

You watched with wide eyes as Aegon slowly peeled away his pants, revealing more of his golden expanse of skin. You could feel your heart racing in your chest, and your body reacting to the sight in ways that surprised you. You took a steadying breath, trying to regain some measure of control over yourself. "Because… because it's unfair," you finally managed to say, your voice low and slightly shaky. "You know exactly what you're doing to me, and it's not fair!" Aegon let out a low laugh, feeling his own excitement building. The way your pupils dilated as you looked at him. And there was no denying the way your body reacted to him, despite all your protests. He shrugged nonchalantly, letting his pants fall completely off his hips. Completely exposed now, he sat back against the pile of pillows behind him, making sure to give you a good view of his throbbing member. "Unfair or not," he said, grinning widely, "you're enjoying it too much to care."

Your eyes drifted down to Aegon's exposed member, and you gasped softly as you saw the evidence of his own arousal. Your breath caught in your throat, and you swallowed hard, trying to keep your own desires in check. "That's not-" You cut yourself off, too flustered to argue. Dammit, he was right; you were enjoying this. Too much. You shook your head slightly, forcing yourself to focus on his face instead of his body. "You're a tease, you know that?" You accused, trying to sound annoyed, but failing miserably. Aegon smirked at your accusation, knowing full well that he was being a complete tease. But damn, it felt good. He loved pushing buttons, especially when it came to someone as fiery as you. "Yeah, I guess I am," he admitted with a shrug. "But don't pretend like you hate it." As he spoke, his hands moved lower, wrapping around his shaft firmly. He gave it a few slow strokes, his thumb circling the sensitive tip as he watched your reaction carefully. "Is this what you want?" he asked, his voice dropping an octave lower as he continued to touch himself in front of you.

Your breath hitched in your throat as you watched Aegon's hands move over his own member. It was a blatant display of dominance, and it sent a shiver down your spine. You hated how much you were turned on by it, how wet you already were between your legs. "I…" You started, but cut yourself off, unable to form words. You crossed your arms under your breasts, squeezing them slightly as if trying to distract yourself from the show in front of you. You watched closely as Aegon started stroking himself, his words sending shivers down your spine. You hated to admit it, but you found yourself getting turned on by his boldness, his arrogance. It was infuriating, yet incredibly hot. Aegon watched as you struggled to find words, your heaving chest giving away your true feelings. He enjoyed watching you squirm, enjoyed knowing that he had this effect on you. It was power, pure and simple. He continued to stroke himself slowly, keeping his gaze locked onto yours. He could almost taste the frustration in the air between you two, and it only served to heighten his own arousal. "So tell me," he said, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. "What are you going to do about it?"

Your entire body was on fire, every nerve ending screaming for release. You couldn't tear your eyes away from Aegon's hand moving over his thick cock. God, you wanted it. Wanted him. But the arrogant bastard was enjoying this too much. He knew exactly what he was doing to you, and he was reveling in it. Your breath hitched again as he spoke, his deep voice sending another jolt straight to your core. You opened your mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Instead, you simply stood there, staring at him, your body trembling with need. "Fuck," you cursed under your breath, hating how much you were affected by him. Aegon watched as you stood there, frozen in place, your body trembling with desire. He loved seeing you so conflicted, so frustrated. He loved knowing that he was the one causing those reactions in you. His hand slowed its pace, teasingly close to reaching the peak before stopping abruptly. He could see the confusion in your eyes, the conflict written all over your face. He relished in it, allowing himself a moment of silent satisfaction. "But isn't it better this way?" he asked, his voice dripping with amusement. "Don't you prefer the chase?"

You gritted your teeth, feeling the ache between your legs growing stronger by the second. You couldn't stand it anymore. The way he was playing with himself, the way he was taunting you. The way he was enjoying it all. You were going crazy here. And then, without thinking, you reached down and touched yourself through your panties, rubbing your swollen clit in small circles. You moaned softly, biting your lip to stifle the sound nearly dropping your phone. Your body was screaming at you to take matters into your own hands, to go over there and straddle him, to ride him until you were both panting and spent. But something about that thought made your stomach twist with anticipation. Because even though he was a total asshole, there was no denying the chemistry between you. It was explosive, and it terrified you. Aegon's eyes flickered with surprise as he heard your soft moan, followed quickly by the sight of you touching yourself. His fingers tightened around his shaft instinctively, his other hand reaching up to adjust his position on the bed. He was rock hard, throbbing painfully with need. Seeing you touch yourself was enough to push him to the edge.

His breathing became ragged as he watched you, his own movements becoming erratic as he neared his climax. He groaned, low and guttural, as he felt his balls tighten and his orgasm building. He didn't stop you, didn't try to stop himself. Instead, he just lay there, letting you watch as he came undone. "Oh fuck," he muttered, his voice strained as he shot ropes of cum across his stomach, each spurt painting a perfect picture of his frustration and desire. Seeing Aegon come undone was more than enough to send you over the edge. You bit your lip to muffle your moans, your hips bucking against your hand as you rode out the waves of pleasure coursing through your body. You squeezed your eyes shut tight, focusing on the sensation of your fingers rubbing against your soaked panties. When you finally came back to reality, you realized you were still on the video chat with Aegon. You felt mortified by what you'd done, but also oddly satisfied. There was no hiding the fact that you'd just gotten off to watching him masturbate. "I can't believe we just did that," you whispered, your voice barely audible. Aegon watched as you came apart on screen, your moans filling the room. He couldn't help but feel a sense of pride, a sense of accomplishment. He'd done that to you, made you lose control. When you finally broke the silence, he chuckled, shaking his head slightly. "Believe it," he said, his voice filled with amusement. "And remember it too."

You glared at him, feeling humiliated and turned on all at once. Why did he have to be such an arrogant jerk? And why did he have to be so fucking attractive? You pulled your fingers out of your panties, bringing them up to your lips. Slowly, you sucked your fingers clean, savoring the taste of yourself while still on camera. You knew you were pushing things, but you couldn't resist the urge to torment him further. "And now, I'm going to get cleaned up," you said, your tone dripping with sarcasm. Aegon watched as you sucked your fingers clean, his eyes wide with disbelief. He could hardly believe what he was seeing, and he certainly hadn't expected that reaction. But he wasn't about to complain. If anything, it only served to fuel his own desires. "Well, I hope you enjoyed your little show," he said, his voice laced with amusement. "Because I don't think you're ever going to forget it."

You rolled your eyes, but the truth was, you weren't going to forget any of it. Ever. Especially not the taste of yourself on your fingers. It was strangely erotic, and it sent shivers down your spine. You needed to cool off, and fast. But you couldn't deny that the whole situation was turning you on. More than you cared to admit. "Just keep telling yourself that," you replied, your voice dripping with sarcasm as you hung up the call. You grabbed your towel and headed towards the shower, your body still trembling from the orgasm he'd given you. And damn if it didn't make you want more. But you weren't about to let him know that. Aegon's grin widened as he heard your breathy sarcasm. You were playing hard to get, and he loved it. It added an extra layer of intrigue to the conversation.

~I was just thinking about our last conversation…and how much fun we had.~ He wrote, adding a playful wink emoji. ~And well…I was wondering if you'd be interested in taking things offline. Perhaps meeting up sometime? Just you and me?~

[1dcommunityficrecs]

Time Travel Rec List!

No fooling, today we have 9 time travel fics for your reading pleasure! Three are short and sweet, under 10k words; three are moderate at around 50k, and three are behemoths of over 100k! We also have a rarepair in the form of a Ziam canon-divergence time-travel fix-it fic.

Please enjoy, leave comments and kudos, and get ready for the next theme (as soon as I can decide what it is...)

The Second Hands Unwinds by kingsofeverything (51573, Explicit, Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson) - fic post

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

Reccer says: I think everyone knows this fic, NASA au, but how can we not recommend it? The plot is great, it's emotional, it's really good. Sp, so beatuiful, so immersive, the characters are written perfectly and it absolutely made me cry.

De amore ex tempore by Persephoneflouwers (101471, Mature, Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson) - fic post

Or: the Middle Ages AU where Harry is a philosopher, whose thoughts happen five centuries too soon and Louis is a painter, whose art happens five centuries too late. Or: the Time Travel AU where alternate versions of themselves live simultaneously in different realities and their paths collide every time, until somehow, they converge into one.

Reccer says: Much of the story takes place during the Florentine Renaissance, at the end of the Middle Ages, and it's beautiful and well-written. I was at the Louvre a while back and while looking at the Caravaggio and Trevento paintings, images of De Amore Ex Tempore came to mind. Beyond that, I also really liked the story, the meeting of this Louis from the future with a Harry from the Middle Ages. It just goes to show that, whatever the era, they're bound to find each other!

There’s Such a Lot of World to See by Crinkle-Eyed-Boo (125000, Explicit, Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson) - fic post Warnings: Harry dies twice, but it all works out and has a happy ending!

Doctor Who AU with Louis as The Doctor and Harry as the Companion, inspired by the Impossible Girl story from series 7.

Reccer says: It has everything you need! Thrills, angst, romance, smut, and time travel!

billow and breeze (islands and seas) by Pleasinglouis (102506, Explicit, Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson) - fic post Warnings: Graphic depictions of violence

Two words sum it up: Outlander AU.

Reccer says: And here again, two words are enough to recommend: Outlander AU...

Old Photographs & Times I'll Remember by Jaerie (53918, Explicit, Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson) - fic post

A camera, a suitcase, and a relationship forged through time.

Reccer says: It's beautifully written and poignant.

i know i've grown (but i can't wait to go home) by LiveLaughLoveLarry (7230, Teen, Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson) - fic post Warnings: Violence, murder, injury (not graphic)

Louis falls down a hill and into the past. A historical castle is suddenly full of life, including a hot prince -- and his evil twin.

Reccer says: I really enjoy the use of language and speech patterns between the modern Louis and the historical Harry!

Timeless by babyhoneyhslt (3867, General, Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson) - fic post

Based on "Timeless" by Taylor Swift. Harry wanders into an antique shop and finds himself pulled back in time, through a series of lifetimes. And in every one -- there's Louis.

Reccer says: I'm always a sucker for the idea that in every timeline and every universe these two would find each other -- and getting to have that multiple times in one story just cements that.

saw some things on the other side by we_are_the_same (61352, Mature, Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson) - fic post Warnings: Implied/Referenced Domestic Violence

When Louis moves into the mansion he’s inherited from his great grandfather, he has a plan that consists of three things. One, he’s going to finish writing the next novel in his series. Two, he’s finally going to get over his ex-fiancé. And three, while battling writer’s block and having to resist the urge to kill off the main character in his books – the hot detective based on his ex-fiancé – he’s going to restore the mansion to its former glory. Unfortunately, Louis’ plan doesn’t take into account the fact that instead of writing murder mysteries, he will find himself in one.

Reccer says: I love the way the writer manages the time/dimension travel trope!

(I pray to God I didn’t waste) all my good years by we_are_the_same (6864, General, Zayn Malik/Liam Payne) - fic post Warnings: Does "post-march 25th" count as a warning?

Liam goes to sleep in a world where Zayn has just left One Direction. He wakes up somewhere quite different.

Reccer says: The angst of it all!!

[rina-cyarika-writing]

I Don't Want To Miss A Thing

Chapter Eleven of Blast From The Past

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Rating: 18+

Word Count: 3k+

Summary: Din spends some time with Dinah, and she gets to know him a little more.

Warnings: ANGST angst angst angst, language, fluff, slow burn, mutual pining

Song: I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing by Aerosmith

Author's Note: Wow, it’s been a longggggggg time since I’ve posted an update. Life has gotten pretty crazy for me lately, and I’m sure you’ve been waiting for an update to this story for a while! Don’t worry, I haven’t abandoned this fic!

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Din’s POV

After his conversation with you, Din was lost and unsure what to do.

He had told you the truth of why he had left.

He had apologized.

And he had shown you his face, yet it was not enough.

Din knew that it would take time for you to come to terms with everything. After all, you had every right to be upset with him. But how long that would last was a different matter entirely.

Start small, he thought to himself. Din resolved to start with little things, gifts to show you that he was serious about staying and winning your affection back.

Maybe find a way to spend some time with her and Dinah.

He scrounged through his brain to remember the little things you liked, and he smiled at one of the first memories he had regarding your interests.

―FLASHBACK―

Din had been off tracking his latest quarry but had no luck that day, and he begrudgingly made the trek back to the Crest. As he lowered the ramp, he spotted you polishing his pulse rifle, and he felt a warmth bubble in his chest. He liked the way you looked at handling his weapon, and he inwardly chuckled at himself at his statement, and he willed his mind to crawl out of the gutter.

“No luck?” you spoke, and he felt your eyes trail after him as he began to climb the ladder to the cockpit.

“No,” he replied, slightly grumpy at the lack of progress with the bounty.

“I’m sure you’ll find them soon,” you reassured him, following him up the ladder. He took a seat in the passenger’s chair, thankful that you knew how to pilot the Crest, as he wanted a few moments to decompress as much as possible, although your presence sometimes made that difficult. He knew he had budding feelings for you but knew he would never act on them, though that did not prevent his mind from wandering. As you took a seat in the pilot’s chair, you looked at him questioningly, and he motioned for you to go to a different location on the planet. You nodded and quickly began to guide the Crest to another part of the sphere, and as the ship flew over a waterfall, Din heard you let out a sigh.

“What is it?” he inquired, curious at your reaction to the sight of the waterfall.

“Nothing,” came your reply, and he saw through your attempt at sounding nonchalant. He hummed in response, waiting for you to continue just like he knew you would.

“I just,” you spoke, pausing to release a sigh, “I used to draw as a child back on Corellia.” Your words caught Din off guard, and he looked at you through his visor, wanting to hear more.

“Whenever I had a chance, I could scribble down the image of a waterfall, sometimes imagining that I was sitting at the edge of a lake and just watching the water ripple over each other.” Din saw the faraway look in your eyes and closed his eyes, picturing the waterfall you had just flown over, a soft smile gracing his lips as he listened to your voice.

She wants to draw waterfalls and probably sunsets.

Interesting.

The sweet melody of your words gently pulled him to sleep, and he was shortly pulled into a light slumber before he could hear the rest of what you were saying.

―END FLASHBACK―

Din’s lip quirked as the memory, recalling how your eyes sparkled every time you would speak of waterfalls or sunsets, shamelessly telling him of your dream to sit on the shore of a lake and capture the beauty of the world around you. The thought of giving you what you had dreamed of came to him, and he instantly knew what his first gift to you would be.

A sketchbook.

Tracking down a vendor that sold sketchbooks was not a simple task, but Din managed to find one. He had taken his time studying the unique designs on each cover until one caught his eye. A leather-bound sketchpad sat on the corner of a table, an elaborate pattern of a forest and flowers on the front cover and a waterfall flowing into a lake on the back.

It’s perfect.

He hastily bought the sketchbook and several other items and made his way back to his ship. Once aboard the vessel, he took a seat in the cargo hold and began to write a list of other gifts to give you before composing a note to include with the sketchpad. Din sat and thought long and hard about what to say, wanting to make it as heartfelt as possible. After a few moments, he finally put pen to paper and began to scribble down his love letter.

That should be enough, he thought, looking down at his handiwork. Din started to assemble the present, gently slipping his note inside the book and placing both into a box with a small sigh.

Now the question is, when do I give it to her?

―THREE DAYS LATER―

Three days came and went when Din finally decided to drop off the first of several gifts to you. Just as the hues of the sun began to peek over the horizon, he found himself awkwardly standing at your doorstep, clad in his armor, box in hand. He could hear you getting Dinah ready for the day, your voice sleepily ringing throughout your home, and a small smile crept onto his face.

It’s now or never.

Hesitantly, he lifted his hand and made to knock on your door but stopped.

Kriff, should I hand it to her or just leave it here?

No, she would probably throw it at me if I gave it to her.

Din let out a sigh, set the package down, and straightened himself back up. He stared at your door for another moment, contemplating if he was making a huge mistake, but then made up his mind and softly knocked. Not wanting to risk the chance of you opening the door to find him still positioned there, he quickly walked away and posted himself far enough away to see you but hidden from your sight. He watched the entrance slide open and his breath caught in his throat as you appeared and spotted his gift on the ground. Din’s heart loudly beat in his chest at the way your hair swept across your face with the light breeze, and your eyes darted around the street, trying to find the source of the mysterious package outside your home. He patiently waited for you to pick up the box and retreat inside before making his exit, hoping and praying that you wouldn’t throw it into the trash.

That would make tomorrow’s peace offering completely useless.

As Din walked through the town, a vendor stand caught his attention, and he changed course for it. He studied the assortment of objects and, after some deliberation, decided on one in particular. Din bought the new surprise and continued on his way through the village, stopping by now and then to buy supplies and a few more gifts he knew you would appreciate. At least he hoped you would appreciate them.

This next week is going to be a busy one.

He dropped off a brand-new set of colored pencils and charcoal the next day and a bouquet the day after that. However, this time he included a gift for Dinah, a plushie of a porg, with a floral arrangement. His heart warmed as he imagined her reaction to seeing the new toy, and he wanted nothing more than to be there to witness it.

Maybe someday.

The day after the flowers and plushie, he left a bag of apples and oranges, chuckling to himself, knowing there was no way in you would toss your favorite fruits away. The day after that, a package of your favorite sweets. Din always included a note with each gift, and he made sure to mention a memory or the reasoning behind the gift.

Several days after leaving you the candy, he was making his way through the market when he felt a tug on his glove. He gazed down and saw his daughter standing next to him, shyly clutching the tip of his gloved finger.

“Hello, little one,” he greeted, and Dinah grinned.

“Hi, Din!”

“What are you doing out and about?” he asked, crouching down to her level.

“I was looking for you,” she exclaimed but suddenly turned shy. “I wanted to say thank you for the plushie.”

“You’re welcome,” he kindly spoke, his tone laced with a smile.

“Why are you wearing your armor?” she inquired, tilting her head in curiosity.

Blunt and to the point.

As always.

“I have a few jobs to do, and it’s safer if I wear it,” he answered.

“A job? Like catching bad guys?”

“Not quite,” he said with a chuckle. “Just keeping an eye on some people.”

It’s not exactly a lie.

In reality, Din had felt uneasy the last few days, as if someone were watching him, so he had decided to don his armor again, ensuring his helmet sat securely on his head every time he left his ship.

“Oh, okay,” Dinah acknowledged, eyes cast downward. “I was wondering….”

“Yes?”

“Um – would I – um – do you – um – could I spend the day with you?” The little girl shuffled her feet nervously, unsure how the man would respond to such a request. Din was surprised at her question and did not know how to answer it.

Does she know who I am to her?

“Is your mother alright with that?” he finally asked, not wanting to give you yet another reason to hate him.

“Mhm!” Dinah stated, arms now behind her back as she rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet. Of course, it was a blatant lie, but Din did not want to cause any more strife between the two of you.

I’ll bring her by in a bit.

“Well then,” he began, “I don’t see why not. What would you like to do?” Din watched in amusement as his daughter twisted her mouth here and there.

“Um – I – I want to know about your adventures!” she finally proclaimed. Din raised his eyebrows beneath the helmet, not expecting that.

“Uh – sure,” he responded as he stood up. “Let’s go somewhere quiet. What do you think?” She nodded and laced her tiny fingers with his, and Din’s throat grew tight.

Was this what things could be like one day?

The two of them navigated through the streets toward his ship, and once they arrived, Dinah’s eyes grew wide with awe.

“Is this yours?!” she excitedly asked, releasing his hand, and running up the now open ramp. He trailed behind her with a chuckle and nodded.

“It sure is.”

“Wow. We have one too, but it doesn’t look like this!” Din leaned against the wall, eyes following her little figure as she walked around and examined every detail of the small cargo hold. It was a sight to behold, one that he committed to memory in case he did not get another opportunity to spend time with his child.

My daughter.

Dinah continued to scurry around the ship, taking everything in as Din took a seat on a box.

“It’s so pretty,” she said, taking a seat beside him. Then, after a moment, she pointed to something in the corner. “What’s that?”

“What?” he asked, looking to where she pointed. “That’s the refresher.”

“Oh,” she replied, disappointed that it wasn’t anything interesting. As she looked at Din, she noticed the assortment of weapons he carried and stretched out a hand to poke his blaster. Din flinched at the action, unsure how he felt about his daughter touching something so dangerous.

“I don’t think you should be touching that,” he spoke. “It’s dangerous.” Dinah giggled and withdrew her hand.

“Mommy has a big one like this,” she retorted, rolling her eyes, “And I’ve seen her use it.” Din sighed at her statement.

For a six-year-old, she sure is sassy.

“Well, you should still be careful, little one,” he said. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“Okay,” she answered, looking around the ship some more. It was silent for a moment before she spoke again. “So, you do you catch bad guys and send them to jail?”

“Not exactly.”

“But you catch bad guys, right?”

“Yes.”

“What do you do with them?”

“I – uh – I take them to – well, I guess you could say that I take them to a jail of sorts.”

“That’s so cool!” Din awkwardly scratched the back of his neck at her enthusiasm.

“I suppose.”

“What’s that?” Dinah asked, pointing to something else on his waist. He looked down and saw her pointing at the Darksaber.

Of all things to ask about it.

He let out a long breath, composing his thoughts before answering the little girl’s question.

“It’s – um – it’s called a Darksaber,” he responded.

“Like a lightsaber?”

“Of sorts.”

“Why does it look like that? Aren’t lightsabers supposed to be pretty colors?”

“It’s not a regular one.”

“How come?”

“I’m – I’m not quite sure,” Din said.

“How did you get it?” Din’s eyes widened at her question. He was already uncomfortable talking about his weapons, and the painful memories of the Child came to mind with her inquiry.

“Uh – well,” he began, “I had to rescue someone very important to me.”

“Really?! Like an adventure?!” Dinah exclaimed, eyes teeming with excitement.

“I’m not sure I’d call it that, but sure,” he replied.

“Will you tell me about it?” the little girl pressed, “Momma always tells me stories before bed, and rescues are always so cool!” Din let out a heavy sigh, a quiet hiss breaking the silence as he removed his helmet and nodded at her plea. Within the confines of the ship, Din felt comfortable enough in its absence, especially when in the company of his daughter, who had already seen his face.

“Well, it started when…,” Din began.

―FLASHBACK―

Din stepped off the ship, blaster raised in preparation for an attack as he scanned the hanger for any threats. He stealthily snuck through the quiet halls of the base when he heard voices and hid in the shadows as two stormtroopers ran by.

“We’re heading to the bridge now.” Once they had passed, Din continued to make his way up the corridor until he reached the entrance to the chamber with the Darktroopers but found that the door was already open.

Dank farrik.

He quickly inserted the cylinder that began to override the door and make it shut, but one Darktrooper managed to catch it and throw him back, his body hitting the wall with a thud. Din fired at the machine as it marched toward him, but it was no use. The droid caught his arm, knocking the blaster out of his hand, and lifted him to his feet as it pulled its arm back and punched his helmet. Din shut his eyes in panic, bracing himself for the possible end at the hands of a droid, but as metal met Beskar, he opened his eyes and saw that his helmet had done its job, stopping the impact and protecting his face.

Unfortunately, the armor did nothing to prevent the machine’s relentless assault from pushing his head into the wall, and he yelped in pain as the pipe behind him burst, sending steam out, blocking part of the droid’s view. Din saw his opening and turned on his flamethrower, but it proved ineffective as the droid turned its head and flung him across the hallway. Din looked up, and his eyes widened, seeing the glass windows of the door that stopped the rest of the Darktroopers beginning to crack under the pounding of their fists. Din attempted to reach the lever that would blow the robots into space but was too slow. The droid grabbed his leg and slid him away from the panel across the floor. He tried to get up but was swiftly kicked in the stomach, sending him flying back, and felt the familiar pings of blaster shots landing on his armor.

The whispering birds!

With a flip of his wrist, Din launched little projectiles at the approaching machine before spinning around, gracefully grabbing his Beskar spear and piercing the Darktrooper through its neck. Sparks flew from the robot as it began to shut down, and with a final twist of the spear, Din pulled its head off, its body falling onto the floor with a metallic thud. He hastily walked up to the panel, glancing at the window as the cracks grew, and finally pulled the lever, sending the red-eyed figures into space. He breathed a sigh of relief as he continued down the hallways searching for the Child.

To his luck, it did not take long as he spotted two stormtroopers standing guard in front of a door.

Bingo.

He silently snuck up to the two, hitting one on the arm with his spear before impaling the other through the stomach in one fluid motion. Wasting no time, he placed the first stormtrooper in a hold, wedging the rod against the man’s neck and began to choke him, the soldier’s feet no longer on the ground as he struggled before a loud snap ended his thrashing. Din dropped the body and placed the pointed weapon on his back before opening the door and drawing his blaster. The sight that greeted him made the man abruptly stop, his blood running cold as he saw Moff Gideon threateningly holding a dark, whirring blade over Grogu’s head.

Is that the Darksaber Bo-Katan spoke of?

The Child looked up at Din with a sad coo and slightly lifted his bound hands. Din stepped forward but stopped as Moff Gideon spoke.

“Drop the blaster. Slowly.”

Din narrowed his eyes at the men through his visor as he slowly set it down.

“Now kick it over to me.” Din followed as instructed, the gun sliding across the floor away from him as Moff Gideon watched. “Very nice.”

“Give me the kid,” Din said.

“The kid is just fine where he is,” the Moff responded and waved the blade around Grogu’s head, the foundling turning his head away at the action. “Mesmerizing, isn’t it? Used to belong to Bo-Katan.”

Din looked on in silence, surprised that the man knew who Bo-Katan was.

“Yes. I know you’ve been traveling with Bo-Katan. A friendly piece of advice, assume that I know everything. Like the fact that your wrist launcher has fired its one and only salvo.”

Dank farrik, he’s good.

“Where is this going?” Din asked, beginning to grow agitated at the man.

“This is where it’s going. I’m guessing that Bo-Katan and her boarding party have arrived at the bridge, seeking me, or more accurately, this,” Gideon answered, holding up the sword. “But I’m not there. And I imagine that they’ve killed everyone on the bridge, being the murderous savages that they are. And now, they’re beginning to panic.”

Din’s gaze drifted to the Child as he cooed and looked down.

“You see, she wants this. Do you know why? Because it brings power. Whoever wields this sword has the right to lay claim to the Mandalorian throne.”

“You keep it. I just want the kid,” Din replied, growing more annoyed with each passing moment.

“Very well,” the Moff said as he pressed a button on the hilt and the blade retracted, “I’ve already got what I want from him. His blood. All I wanted was to study his blood. This Child is extremely gifted and has been blessed with rare properties that have the potential to bring order back to the galaxy.”

Din glanced down at the Child, knowing his words were true. Grogu was indeed gifted.

“I see your bond with him,” Moff Gideon spoke, his tone slightly changing, as if the man cared, “Take him, but you will leave my ship immediately, and we will go our separate ways.”

Din approached Grogu and began to pick him up, but the sudden sound of the Darksaber powering up and a blow landing on his jetpack threw him slightly off balance as he turned to shield the Child. The Moff came at him, swipe after swipe, the pings of the sword meeting steel filling the air, as Din held his arms up to block the impact of his assailant’s blade. Din backed away with each hit, drawing Gideon into the hallway and away from Grogu, and spun around the man to escape his reach. Din took a moment and then remembered that he had the spear, drawing it from his back, and prepared himself.

The two men lunged at each other, blade and metal meeting with a clang. Moff Gideon continuously swung the sword at Din, but he blocked each attack and managed to land a kick before throwing an attack of his own. They exchanged several more blows before Din launched his cable at the Moff, wrapping him in the wire that was easily cut through by the Darksaber.

Each strike Gideon tried to land was easily blocked, but Din saw a small opening and used his forearm to stop the next attack before thrusting the spear toward Gideon’s chest. The man caught it, but Din pushed him back, kicking him in the leg and knocking him against the wall. Din went for the kill, charging at the man, but he stopped again. However, this time Gideon made the mistake of pushing the tip away from him and toward the wall, placing it in the perfect position for Din to disarm him. The Darksaber flew across the air and landed with a thud, the blade disappearing with a whiz. With the man now disarmed, Din landed a hit to his face and knocked him down, and as he tried to get up, Din pointed the end of his spear at the man’s neck.

“You’re sparing my life?” Gideon asked with a smirk, “Well, this should be interesting.”

“Get up,” Din commanded, pulling the man to his feet and placing cuffs around his wrists. Knowing the man was too tired to try and escape, Din walked into the room and fetched Grogu, gingerly removing the cuffs and tossing them aside before picking him up and cradling him. Upon exiting the room, Din’s eye fell on the discarded weapon on the other end of the hall, and he strode over to pick it up carefully. Pressing the button to reveal the dark blade as it whooshed to life, he curiously waved the blade around, listening to the gentle hum as it cut through the air. A grunt from the Moff cut off his thoughts, and Din, not wanting to waste any time, nudged the man’s side with his foot.

“Let’s go,” Din commanded. Moff Gideon put up no resistance, and the two began to make their way toward the bridge.

After walking down several corridors, they finally arrived at the blast doors that led to the bridge, and with a final shove to Gideon’s back, the door opened, and the man stumbled through. As they walked in, Bo-Katan greeted them, but she did not look pleased.

“What happened?” the woman asked.

“He brought him in alive, that’s what happened,” Cara answered, greeting the Child tenderly, “And now the New Republic’s gonna have to double the payment.”

“That’s not what she’s talking about,” Moff Gideon cut in, drawing everyone’s attention, “Why don’t you kill him now and take it?”

Not liking what he was implying, Cara pushed the man to the ground, and he grinned as he looked up at Din.

“It’s yours now.”

“What is?” Din questioned.

“The Darksaber. It belongs to you,” came his reply. Bo-Katan’s eyes narrowed at the man’s words, and Din turned the weapon off and approached.

“Now,” he said, holding it out for her to take, “it belongs to her.”

“She can’t take it,” the Moff continued with glee at the predicament the woman was facing, “It must be won in battle. In order for her to wield the Darksaber again, she would need to defeat you in combat.”

“I yield,” Din stated, still holding the weapon out to her, “It’s yours.”

“Oh, no,” Gideon chuckled as he stood up to face Din, “It doesn’t work that way. The Darksaber doesn’t have power. The story does. Without that blade, she’s a pretender to the throne.”

“He’s right,” Bo-Katan finally said, conflict shining in her eyes at the desire to take the Darksaber and reclaim her throne and the defeat knowing that she had not earned it.

“Come on, just take it,” Din pushed. The woman looked down at the blade and back at him, but the shrill tone of the alarms cut them off.

―END FLASHBACK―

“So, you got the Darksaber and rescued Grogu, but then the Jedi took him away?” Dinah asked, legs swinging from the excitement of the story.

“Yeah,” Din answered, “He needed to be with his own people.”

“That’s too bad,” she spoke, “But at least you rescued him!”

“Yeah.”

“Would you rescue me if I was kidnapped?” Her words caught him by surprise.

“Of course, little one,” Din replied, “Your mother and I would come to save you no matter where you were.”

“I’m glad,” his daughter replied with a smile, “Mommy can get scary when she’s mad.”

“Yes, she can be,” Din agreed with a chuckle before realizing how much time had passed, “Well, I think it’s about time we get you home, don’t you think?” Dinah hopped off the crate and nodded.

“Thank you for today,” she said with a smile, and Din sent her one in return.

As they walked back to your home, Din could not remove the smile that graced his face. The afternoon he had spent with his daughter was one that he would cherish, as painful as it was to bring up memories of his foundling. Din had yet to tell her that he was her father and was unsure how to bring that up but knew he would do anything to protect her, just like he had done with Grogu.

 Unknown POV

For weeks they had tried to track down the illusive man, having managed to catch his scent when he arrived on Nevarro, but they had lost him again when they landed on Sacorria. They had scoured the planet for the Mandalorian, but his ship was too common looking to find, and so he disappeared from their radar. However, as luck would have it, after a month of searching for him, they spotted his armor in a busy bazaar. To their surprise, they saw him approach a little girl and they were even more stunned to see him remove his helmet.

Unfortunately, they only saw the back of his head from their vantage point, but it was enough to pique their interest and decide to watch the two more closely. They tailed the man for several days, seeing him go to the same house and leave gifts on the doorstep, further increasing their curiosity, but they knew that they could not directly confront him there, so they decided to focus on the little girl. Clearly, she was important to him if he was willing to remove his helmet around her, and as they observed the armored man interact with the little girl, a plan began to formulate in their mind, a sinister smile spreading across their face as pieces began to fall into place.

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[unbidden-yidden-deactivated20240]

So here I am, unable to sleep again, because of the horrifying attack on Israel.

The stories keep coming out and for every new detail I find out, another part of my soul shatters.

[***massive trigger warning for the rest***]

I feel like I'm living in a parallel world to everyone who is not affected by this situation. It's been surreal to go about my work day and regular life as if the images of blood-soaked cradles, burned corpses, raped and wounded women, captives of all ages being taken away on vehicles, video of a small child being taunted for crying for his mother, body bags lined up in rows on the ground, torched cars and homes, and the raw grief of the surviving family members aren't burned onto the backs of my eyelids.

One account I read from a family member of the deceased was that she was beaten, raped in multiple ways and sticks shoved into each place, and left for dead. Another I came across spoke of a small child being forced to watch his parents tortured, killed, and hacked apart. Still another I saw was a report of several children bludgeoned to death so as not to "waste the bullets."

How can I possibly begin to process this?

These people look just like the people in my communities and the friends I've made across the sea. They have my Hebrew teacher's hair, my rabbi's cheekbones, they sound like the shinshinim kids we have each year. They look like the baby nephews of my fellow congregants. I could have davened next to any of them and never known. It is only sheer dumb luck that I don't personally know someone who has died or lost close family.

There has been a pit of dread in my stomach since Shimini Atzeret that will not go away. I find myself on the verge of tears at all times, yet have not been able to actually cry (which is not a good sign; an inability to express sadness in tears is a known post-trauma response for me) and I cannot rest normally. Sometimes I can distract myself for a bit, but the pain and grief rush back in immediately when I remember.

I can feel, in real time, this Jewish cultural trauma sinking into my bones.

And you might think I might be able to separate myself from it since I'm not there and don't have family there. But I can't, because I don't want to. I can't, because some tether bound me forever to the land as soon as my feet hit the ground there, and some part of my soul stayed behind when I left. I don't want to, because these are my people and so they are my adoptive family, even if I do not know them. I am my brother's keeper.

And so here I stand, half a world away from the danger, nervous and scared and grieving, searching our perfectly blue sky for signs of missiles that are not falling here and being startled constantly by the normal and unbroken landscape. The lush beauty of Midwestern autumn woods is juxtaposed in my mind with Middle Eastern walls painted in the blood of my people and their broken bodies beneath them. I see it in the waking light of day as clear as anything in front of me, and walk around like a person divided, in both places at once yet not being fully present in either. I cannot unsee it.

How can I possibly explain this? To myself? To the people actually having to live this nightmare? To the other people removed from the immediate physical danger but who do have blood relatives and/or other family there that they're just praying stay safe and come home at the end of the day? That they are constantly checking their phones for updates or even minimal signs that they're still alive?

The words fail me, but I the closest thing I have to an answer is love. I love my people and I would rather absorb this pain with them and carry it in my soul forever than look away from Jewish suffering. That is a promise I made by joining this people, that my fate would forever be bound up in the collective fate of klal Yisrael. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you stay, I will stay; your people shall be my people, and your G-d my G-d. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus and more may Hashem do to me if anything but death parts me from you.

אַל־תִּפְגְּעִי־בִ֔י לְעׇזְבֵ֖ךְ לָשׁ֣וּב מֵאַחֲרָ֑יִךְ כִּ֠י אֶל־אֲשֶׁ֨ר תֵּלְכִ֜י אֵלֵ֗ךְ וּבַאֲשֶׁ֤ר תָּלִ֙ינִי֙ אָלִ֔ין עַמֵּ֣ךְ עַמִּ֔י וֵאלֹהַ֖יִךְ אֱלֹהָֽי׃ בַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר תָּמ֙וּתִי֙ אָמ֔וּת וְשָׁ֖ם אֶקָּבֵ֑ר כֹּה֩ יַעֲשֶׂ֨ה יְהֹוָ֥ה לִי֙ וְכֹ֣ה יוֹסִ֔יף כִּ֣י הַמָּ֔וֶת יַפְרִ֖יד בֵּינִ֥י וּבֵינֵֽךְ׃

[רות א]

I do not take that lightly, and I feel it in my bones. Some core part of me shattered at the same time as the rest of my community.

I cannot, and I will not look away. I will not close my heart or shield myself from this tragedy. And I will not forget.

עַ֥ל נַהֲר֨וֹת ׀ בָּבֶ֗ל שָׁ֣ם יָ֭שַׁבְנוּ גַּם־בָּכִ֑ינוּ בְּ֝זׇכְרֵ֗נוּ אֶת־צִיּֽוֹן׃ עַֽל־עֲרָבִ֥ים בְּתוֹכָ֑הּ תָּ֝לִ֗ינוּ כִּנֹּרוֹתֵֽינוּ׃ כִּ֤י שָׁ֨ם שְֽׁאֵל֪וּנוּ שׁוֹבֵ֡ינוּ דִּבְרֵי־שִׁ֭יר וְתוֹלָלֵ֣ינוּ שִׂמְחָ֑ה שִׁ֥ירוּ לָ֝֗נוּ מִשִּׁ֥יר צִיּֽוֹן׃ אֵ֗יךְ נָשִׁ֥יר אֶת־שִׁיר־יְהֹוָ֑ה עַ֝֗ל אַדְמַ֥ת נֵכָֽר׃ אִֽם־אֶשְׁכָּחֵ֥ךְ יְֽרוּשָׁלָ֗͏ִם תִּשְׁכַּ֥ח יְמִינִֽי׃ תִּדְבַּֽק־לְשׁוֹנִ֨י ׀ לְחִכִּי֮ אִם־לֹ֢א אֶ֫זְכְּרֵ֥כִי אִם־לֹ֣א אַ֭עֲלֶה אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלַ֑͏ִם עַ֝֗ל רֹ֣אשׁ שִׂמְחָתִֽי׃

[תהלים קלז]

[omgpoindexter]

more nurseydex fics!!!

i’ve been doing my duty properly and reading some different nurseydex fics on ao3 lately 🫡 i tried to find some that are more recent, however i inevitably found some that are older but slipped through the cracks for me.

here are some of the ones i came across that you need to read! i might make this a thing again if anyone is interested, im sure y’all have been much more on the ball with reading nurseydex fics than i have over the years but i do love reccing <3

suddenly this summer it’s clear by @dessertwaffles

The summer before senior year, Nursey and Dex become closer than ever.

Or, Nursey and Dex's developing relationship, as told through their text messages.

i was absolutely grinning the entire way through this. it’s a texting fic, with images rather than plain text (so clever!) but their personalities are so strong and their interactions are just perfect! and you know i love a texting fic

getting used to letting go by @jennybeantime

Dex was supposed to have a fancy job in some city upon graduation, but his plans changed once his uncle died and left the family home in Maine to him. Without immediate obligations of their own, Nursey, Chowder and Farmer follow Dex up there to help him clear it out and clean it up.

this fic is BEAUTIFUL. if you haven’t read it then please do yourself a favour and do it now. it captures certain feelings and emotions so effortlessly and i felt like i was in a little maine bubble living this story with them. i can’t believe i missed this one before, please please read!!

got the feeling you’re the right thing after all by @bisexualnursey

Two and a half years after he breaks up with Dex to go to grad school across the country, Nursey runs into him again when he visits New York for the holidays. What starts as them just rekindling their friendship quickly turns into a whole other thing: a 100% no-strings-attached friends with benefits arrangement while they’re in the same city.

Which is totally chill because Nursey is definitely over Dex. He swears. He’s going back to California soon anyway.

i seriously CANNOT BELIEVE i never read this before but i think i was in my inactive era when this was posted. it’s just so perfect!!! all the feelings and interactions with not only dex and nursey but all the other characters, friends and family, they all felt so real and i loved them so much. i’ll be rereading this a LOT! you should too!!

here i am (leaving you clues) by @averteddeyes

Will loves Nursey. Nursey loves Will. Will isn’t really quite sure how to deal with it.

(Alternatively: Will learns acceptance through poetry, hesitant communication, and brightly colored sticky notes.)

this is really gorgeously written. angst warning, because ouch!!! also poetry as a love language, like a really good selection of poetry, i really enjoyed it and how it weaves into the story. and the bittydex friendship is so important to me!!!

volta by @plusoultres

volta (n.) a turning point or point of change in a poem, most commonly a sonnet.

Or, five times a poem doesn’t reach its intended recipient, and one time it does; five drafts, and one work completed; five turning points, and one ending.

the second fic was inspired by this one, and thank goodness it was because this one totally slipped through the cracks and i’m so glad i read it. their banter is just brilliant and i love the variation in medium, and the poetry is beautiful! i could quote lines from this but im not going to. just. read it

things got weird (when we made out) by @andtimestoodstill

Nursey is being stupid about this. He knows he’s being stupid.

super fun and really cute, i love it when these two are just being idiots. great inclusion of the other teammates too. read it for this line alone: “[You’re doing] That thing where you forget to look like you hate Dex and just stare at him like some Victorian lady who just saw a hot dude for the first time.” because it made me laugh out loud

things that go bump in the night by @smashthatlikebitty

The first time it happens, Dex rolls over and flings so many obscenities in Nursey’s direction that even his Grandmother would have to sit down — and she cursed so much at Dex’s cousin’s wedding that the whole family has been banned from that church ever since.

Nursey just stills in the dark, one shoe off. A languid, infuriating presence. “Chill, man.”

essentially all the times nursey’s clumsy ass wakes dex up in the night. oh how i love pretending these two roomied their way into a relationship! this is so cute, smiled all the way through

some things take two people to build by @cricketnationrise

“You are the single most dramatic person I have ever met,” Dex mutters, trying valiantly to hide his grin.

Or, 5 times Dex wishes their relationship was real +1 time he doesn't have to

this was so fun, yet again i love them being idiots!!! these two in new york city is so important to me. and i for one would LOVE to read the work party 5+1 fic. just saying

[folkloresthings]

Hello there!

A very new reader here!

I saw your post about Masters of the Air. I would like to make a request 😊.

Could you please write a prompt or drabble—whatever you feel like—about Rosie Rosenthal falling in love at first sight with an OC, but the OC doesn't really pay attention to him at first? The OC is a client of the law firm he works for. She is very educated, has a well-paying job, and is not really looking for a relationship right now until Rosie turns everything upside down.

Thank you very much 😊

anon welcome to the family! very happy to have you here 🫶 i tweaked a few little details but nothing major

A NEW BEGINNING. ❨ robert rosenthal x reader ❩

after the war, romance was the last thing on your mind. five years of your life had been taken up by working for the war effort, doing all you could to help. now that it had been won and there was a chance to actually live again, there was so much you wanted to do. the second you got home you had applied to college, and as soon as the acceptance from columbia university came through you were packing up your belongings and moving to new york city.

now in the second year of your college education, affording an apartment in the city was getting harder and harder. the advert for a secretary at the law firm had been advertised in the student newsletter and, thanks to your experience in offices during the war, the job was all yours.

most of firm’s lawyers were older men, always kind to her, but left her to her own devices. other than in passing, she didn’t speak much to them. except for one.

robert rosenthal was the youngest lawyer there. he had flown for the air force during the war, famously completing over fifty missions. and he was, admittedly, very handsome. you saw him every morning, when he called by your desk on his way from the staff kitchen to his office with a cup of coffee for you. he would ask you about your weekend, always lingering with paperwork he needed you to sign.

robert flirted with you every single day — and he didn’t understand how you didn’t notice. he had fallen head over heels for you the first day you had walked through the office doors and asked to borrow a pen from him. there hadn’t been a day gone past since then that he hadn’t thought about you. since the war, ladies had loved him. well, they loved his medals and uniform and war stories. but why didn’t you?

“would you like to have lunch with me today?” rosie would dare ask every so often, after gathering up the courage for an hour in his office beforehand. every time, he’d been met with disappointment.

“oh, i’m actually meeting a friend today.”

“i’m sorry robert, i’ve brought some with me from home.”

“my brother is in town and taking me out.”

every time robert felt like giving up, you would walk into the room and knock all of the breath from his chest again. you were the most gorgeous creature he’d ever seen in his life — restoring his belief in beauty, after all the horrors he’d seen during the war. he would toss and turn at night, lose hours at his desk, all because the image of you was clouding his mind.

frankly, you hadn’t thought of robert like that. partly because of your determination to focus on your education, and partly because you were sure a man as handsome as him would surely have a girlfriend or wife already. but you couldn’t ignore the twist you felt in your stomach every time he walked into the room, or the skip of your heartbeat when he smiled at you.

but no, you had no time for romance. you had a plan and you had to stick to it.

it was a friday afternoon when robert stuck his head through the door, smiling sweetly and asking you to post a letter for a client of his. the sun was peeking through the window to bathe you in a golden hue, your hair twisted back with a pencil and your glasses sitting low on your nose. you looked heavenly, making him falter for a moment in the doorway.

“what are your plans for the weekend?” he began some small talk, watching as you began searching for some stamps.

“not a lot,” you hummed, shrugging a little. “my roommate is out of town so i’m going to enjoy the peace and quiet of the apartment.”

rosie chuckles quietly, leaning against your desk as he wonders how much conversation he can make before he has to bite the bullet. “so, you aren’t busy tonight?”

you shake your head, sticking the first class stamp to the envelope. looking up at him, your brows furrow. “no, why?”

rosie swallows dryly, wringing his hands together. “there’s a new restaurant in soho that looks nice. i was wondering if, maybe, you would like to go. with me — both of us. together.”

a light pink tint creeps onto his cheeks, forcing his mouth shut before he can stumble over any more words. your own cheeks warm a little, a shy smile pulling at your lips when you feel your heart pick up its pace.

“wouldn’t you rather go with your friends? or maybe peter from accounting —” you begin, a little confused as to why he would want to have dinner with you. he can’t help but laugh at your obliviousness, shaking his head while he steps around the desk to take your hand.

“god, don’t you know?” he exhales, tucking a loose strand of your hair behind your ear, giving him a better view of your adorably surprised features. “i’m crazy for you, sweetheart. have been since the first time i saw you. why did you think i kept asking you to lunch? or accidentally misplacing files so i could come down here and talk to you?”

blinking up at him, your lips part but nothing comes out. your principles about relationships tried to creep through, to argue against his confession, but they fizzled away as soon as he looked down at you with those big brown eyes.

“you — you like me?” you murmur, bashfully. rosie chuckles airily, taking your soft cheeks in his hands.

“like you?” rosie scoffs softly. “i’m in love with you, doll.”

your heart leaps from your chest, knees going weak underneath you. surely you would have crumpled had it not been for robert’s arms snaking around you, lips inching closer and closer to your own, adoring eyes awaiting your response.

“so, what do you say? dinner tonight?” he smirks, raising his brows. you grin, reaching up on your tiptoes to press your soft lips to his, melting into his hold. he kisses you then with everything in him, months of hidden feelings flooding out of him. breaking from your lips, be it reluctantly, rosie smiles brightly down at you.

“is that a yes?” he asks, tongue just a little sarcastic.

“yes,” you breathe out. all of the things you had avoided for so long, all of the things you had missed out on — in robert’s arms, you don’t know how you could have thought it. “a million times yes.”

[jqmalikhsgib]

midnight sky

one

what you were doing was absolutely insane! you just met the man not even twenty four hours ago. but the connection the two of you had was incredible, almost like you were made for each other. maybe you were.

the day started off like every other morning. you groaned as your alarm clock went off, got out of bed, took a quick shower, brushed your teeth, and finally made it down town to your favorite local coffee shop.

you ordered a basic coffee and a pastry before sitting in your normal spot, far in the back. you took your laptop out of your bag and began grading papers, groaning and rolling your eyes at the students who didn’t turn in a paper yet.

after about thirty minutes you heard commotion outside. normally you’d ignore it. it’s new york city after all, it was always filled with nosy people. today was different! flashes came from the window, almost blinding you more than the sun.

you heard people screaming as if someone fell and died. you looked up and saw the paparazzi outside. frowning, you grabbed your things and headed for the door.

“shit! im sorry, love!”

groaning at your coffee spilling on the ground, you were ready to yell at whoever this pretentious actor or whatever he was! not caring if the media and his fans tore you a new one.

“watch where you—”

you couldn’t even finish your sentence. he was the most beautiful man you had ever seen. from his buzzed hair cut, beautiful brown eyes, tattooed neck, and his attire. he was the most attractive man you’ve ever seen.

“are you alright, babe?” even his accent was perfect.

“uh—yeah—yeah! im sorry.”

he chuckles, “it’s my fault, really.”

you were frozen. completely mesmerized by this beautiful man in front of you. your heart skipped a beat.

“it’s fine—um, i should get going.” you began walking away, pushing through the loads of paps. you needed to get far away so you could get that man out of your mind.

unfortunately the moment you got home you looked him up. you needed to know who he was and where he was from. you searched the location of the coffee shop and found tmz reporting the images.

“zayn malik. fuck, even his name is perfect!” you dived into everything zayn malik and began to sigh. soon you find his instagram, noticing he only had a few post. you assumed he deleted his old post due to him starting a new era for his next album.

biting your lip you sigh as you close your eyes processing. god, where you an idiot for even thinking about messaging him. maybe? you knew he probably got thousands of messages everyday, but it was something about him. you click on his profile, clicked on message, and began typing.

‘hi..god, you probably won’t see this, most likely won’t even open it, won’t bat an eye, but i thought i should text you. i guess im intrigued you could say.’

you wait patiently until you heard your phone vibrate. you had never picked up your phone so quickly. you smiled hugely when you saw it was him that sent you a message.

‘hey! normally i don’t open this app unless im posting something about me music or a selfie. coffee shop girl, right?’

smiling, you typed,

‘yeah! sorry about spilling that coffee by the way. im normally not that clumsy.’

‘haha!’

‘it’s cool, babe. got a three year old! use to clumsy.’

‘oh? didn’t noticed you had a kid. gonna be honest, i kinda went on a bit of a stalker session finding you.’

‘really? that’s cute!’

‘yeah! got a daughter. she’s the sweetest thing ever!’

‘i love kids! i always wanted to teach kids instead of middle schoolers. kids love to color and draw. middle schoolers love to gossip and fight.’

‘ha! not ready for that at all!’

‘you’re a teacher, huh? that was my career path before i became a musician.’

‘i enjoy teaching! wanted to since i could remember!’

‘you guys are doing great work! deserve a pay raise!!’

‘tell that to the us government. 😩’

‘fuck them all!!!’

‘agreed!’

‘how bout i meet you up for a coffee? promise, no paps this time?’

‘right now?’

‘yeah…is that okay, babe?’

‘yeah—yeah! ill be there in twenty.’

‘cool! see you soon ;)’

you never got ready so fast in your life. heading downstairs from your building and walking a few blocks to the coffee shop, you spot zero paps and zayn sitting inside your booth. you smile before walking into the building. when he spots you, he smiles at you, stands up, and gives you a hug.

“hey.”

“hi.” you sit in the seat right across from him.

“never got your name. your instagram account doesn’t give it away.”

you blush. you created your instagram when you were in middle school. being overly obsessed with harry potter as a kid and extremely dorky, you had to go with ‘voldedork_hp,’

you never got around to changing it. now you regret that decision one hundred percent. “im sorry about that. a little embarrassed.”

“don’t be! it’s cute. im a huge harry potter fan myself. i went as voldemort last halloween as a mater-of-fact.”

“my names yn.”

“it’s nice to meet you yn. you have a lovely name by the way.”

you snort. feeling like your name was completely bland compared to his!

“may i ask where you’re from? your accent, it’s pretty thick, even for someone born in the uk.”

zayn chuckles. “yeah! m’from bradford england. my pops is pakistani so my accent comes out a little bit stronger i guess. what about you? you don’t sound like a new yorker.” he takes a sip of his coffee.

“im not! born and raised in texas actually.”

“texas, huh? you’re a little way from home, yeah?”

“i got a full scholarship for new york university! i couldn’t pass on that opportunity.”

“brains and beauty, huh?”

you blush. he was definitely a flirt! the two of you got to know one another for the next four hours. you both lost track of time. zayn phone blows up and he continues to ignore it. enjoying his time getting to know the pretty woman across from him. you were loving the company and conversation. it felt like you knew each other for the longest time. you were both laughing and listening to each other tell some crazy story. it felt right.

“how about we get out of this coffee shop, yeah? maybe walk around new york? i promise, no paps. i know places they’ll never go.” he winks at you. you nod before getting out of the booth. zayn grabs your hand and interlocks your fingers.

you were surprised but you didn’t object or pull away. zayn paid for his coffee, leaving a generous tip before leaving. you walk hand and hand around new york, enjoying each other’s company. you continued to talk about everything. the two of you got along so well, you felt crazy for already falling for him. you just met the man! how could you already have such strong feelings for the musician? were you seriously losing your mind? you just couldn’t help how you felt though.

zayn felt the same way. it’s why, standing in front of a courthouse, holding your hand as the moonlight shines, he got the craziest idea. he stops, looks you in the eye, and caresses your cheek. “may i kiss you, babe?”

you blushed, nodding nonetheless. when his lips touched yours, you felt the whole world stopped. god, how could such a beautiful man be this perfect? when he pulls away he grabs your hand and runs across the street. it was like faith, standing in front of a kay jewelers and a bridal shop. you laugh as he looks at you with the biggest grin on his face.

“what?”

“this is gonna be the craziest thing ive ever done or said but, i just—i feel like ive known you for the longest time. you’re beautiful, funny, smart, and amazing. i—i feel like we’re meant to be, meant to meet each other. and you, god maybe this is insane! you can totally say no, kick my ass, slap me, whatever you want, but this is just perfect. it’s almost like faith,”

“what is it?” you asked nervously.

“a jeweler, a bridal shop, and a courthouse right across the street. maybe this is the universe telling us to just go for it. let’s get married.”

normally if a man had asked you this you’d laugh in his face. you’d think he was absolutely insane for even suggesting this idea. but seeing all the key details, it’s like a story from a fairytale! who were you to pass up a fairytale story?

“okay!”

“yeah?”

you nod your head. zayn kisses you passionately before calling up taryn to be a witness! once he convinced her, he grabs your hand, head into the jewelry parlor, the two of you pick your rings before going to the bridal shop and grabbing the most gorgeous dress and a suit, before heading across the street to officially get married.

“are we doing this, forreal?”

“yeah, yeah we are! let’s get married, baby!”

and before you know it, you become misses malik. a true fairytale.

i really hope you all like this fic! it’s not enough zayn fics out there and i need people to make some!

what do you think?

if you wanna be added to taglist please don’t hesitate to ask!!!

[jerzwriter]

Rollercoaster

Thank you to @starsarewithinme for the <100 words drabble request for Trystan, Carolina/Rollercoaster. It's a ton of silly fluff, but I hope you will enjoy it!

Book: Crimes of Passion (Post Book 2) Pairing: Trystan Thorne x F!MC (Carolina Rose) Words: Uhm. 1,400. (Only 1,300 more than 100! lol) Rating: Teen Category: Utter Fluff Summary: Trystan offers Carolina a penny for her thoughts... then he wishes he could give them back.... just a little. A/N: Participating in @choicesnovchallenge | Fireworks Night

There was much that Trystan Thorne admired about Carolina Rose. If asked to list the qualities and attributes he found most endearing, he would demand at least a week’s time to capture them all, knowing he’d still come up short when his time reached an end. Her natural beauty, incomparable sass, and sheer audacity were the first things to pique his interest. But, the more he came to know her, the more he knew her mind was the most fascinating thing about the woman who owned his heart.

She was brilliant... but not in a way that can be learned from books, but in a manner that is only earned through life experience. Sharp, intuitive, and quick-witted... she had a knack for knowing just what to do, just what to say, regardless of circumstances. Facing down a serial killer? Cutting a bigot down to size on the subway? Making him smile after a grueling day? Tending to an injured kitten outside her uncle’s bar? Carolina always sprung into action before he could even take stock of the situation, leaving him more awestruck each time.

It’s no wonder trying to read her mind had become one of his favorite pastimes, whether they were at work or at play. Sometimes, she’d catch him staring at her intently as she poured over the details of a case, stared out a window, or bopped around her apartment, dancing to music only she could hear. He’d often ask what she was thinking, and he could now guess with about fifty percent accuracy – something he was immensely proud of.

But recently, Carolina’s therapist all but ordered her to find little ways to reduce stress in her everyday life. And this time, it was Trystan who sprung into action. He ran to a corner gift shop, returning with a vast assortment of colorful gel pens, retro stickers, glitter glue, and notebooks festooned with images of unicorns, rainbows, and cartoon cats.

“What on earth is this for?” Carolina chuckled as Trystan scratched his head.

“I don’t know, exactly,” he admitted. “But how can anyone be stressed in the presence of glitter, unicorns, and adorable kittens? We’ll find a way to put it all to good use.”

And, of course, Carolina did. Popping in her earbuds, she’d pick the most insipid pop songs she could find, typically from Trystan’s playlists, and doodle whatever came to mind. Soon, the pink and lavender pages of the notebooks he gifted her were filled with Carolina Rose originals. Every time she did this, she was so happy and at ease that Trystan forgot about his mind-reading hobby. After all, seeing her so content warmed his heart. But some days, like today, he was curious.

Carolina’s smiles had been punctuated with delightful little giggles, but when he peeked over her shoulder to see what she was drawing, he couldn’t make sense of the abstract loops and swirls. She caught him staring at her over his latte and removed her earbuds with a smirk. 

“Yes?” she asked playfully.

“Nothing,” she swore she saw him blush. “I’m just....”

“Just what?”

“I’m wondering what you’re thinking of. You seem so happy this morning.”  

“I am,” she grinned, shutting her notebook. “I’ve been doodling all the things I want to do with you.”

“Oh... really,” he smiled lasciviously with a raised brow.

Carolina tossed her head back in laughter. “Keep it in your pants, Thorne. These thoughts are as PG-13 as the Hello Kitty notebooks you gave me.”

Trystan sheepishly pushed a shiny silver quarter across the table, then placed it in Carolina’s hand.

“What is the saying? A penny for your thoughts? This should buy me at least twenty-five of yours. Now I must know... what is it you wish to do with me,” he grinned.

Carolina jumped onto his lap, eagerly pointing to the various drawings. She pointed to a pair of ice skates, telling him they’d be going to Rockefeller Center, Wollman Rink, and Bryant Park very soon. Then she tapped on a sketch of a picnic basket she planned to fill with treats to share. Some waves along a beautiful shore, with a blanket made for two, were just how she imagined their trips to the beach next summer would be. Then, her excitement doubled.

“And this! This is the best of all!”

“What is it?” he asked.

“The Cyclone. At Coney Island... have you ever been?”

“Uhm... I can’t say that I have.”

Carolina clapped her hands with delight, a squeal befitting a thirteen-year-old escaping her. “Good!” she beamed. “Then I get to take you on your first ride! I found myself a Cyclone virgin!”

“A Cyclone... virgin? What exactly do you plan to do with me? Offer me as a sacrifice?”

“Trystan,” she reprimanded. “Given our history, can we refrain from talking about sacrifices?”

“Duly noted,” he smiled. “But what about the Cyclone?”

“I told you! We’re riding it! I figured we could do that as soon as Luna Park opens in April. Then, we can head over to Jersey and go to Six Flags. We’ll start with El Toro and then move on to Nitro and Kingda Ka. The following weekend, we have to go to Hershey Park! Their coasters aren’t as scary, but they have so many! And I don’t care what anyone says, Storm Runner is still enough to scare the crap out of you! We’re going to have....”

She came down from her reverie long enough to notice the pale expression spreading on her boyfriend’s face.

“Trystan? Is everything all right?”

“Yes. Sure. Fine.... it’s only November.”

“And?” she asked, perplexed.

“That gives me four, five months to prepare. Are their classes?”

“Classes?” She giggled. “For riding rollercoasters?”

“No... classes to get over my fear of riding rollercoasters.”

“Trystan Thorne! You’re not telling me that you, the former prince of Drakovia, are afraid of... rollercoasters.”

“It’s a little detail we hid from the public eye. It would have brought great shame to the family. However, I assure you, I am not afraid. The more appropriate word would be horrified. I am absolutely horrified by rollercoasters. So, needless to say, I have to end up with a girlfriend with a rollercoaster fetish.”

“I wouldn’t call it a fetish,” she laughed. “But I do love me a good coaster.”

“Right... so, are their classes?”

Carolina looped her arms around his neck. “Trystan, I’m teasing you. But if you’re really frightened by them, I’m certainly not going to force you to go on with me.”

“But if it’s something you’re looking forward to, I want to do it with you.”

She placed a quick peck on his cheek. “And that means so much to me, but it’s OK. We can double date with Luke and Ruby. She loves a good coaster as much as I do, but Luke, not so much. So we can be all badass and you guys can hold our purses or something.”

“Great,” Trystan sighed. “I’d like to at least try. Don’t they have kiddie coasters I can start with?”

“Sure, but we probably surpass the height limits. They are kiddie coasters, after all.”

“Damn!” he spat.

“It’s really all right, babe. There are plenty of fun things we can do at amusement parks without putting you on a rollercoaster.”

“Are you sure?”

“Very!”

“So, tell me about these fun things,” he asked, wagging his brows.

“Well, there is the merry-go-round.... the bumper cars....”

“Oh, I excel at bumper cars. You are going down, Detective Rose!”

“HA! I learned to drive on the Grand Concourse in the Bronx, baby... we’ll see about that!”

A big smile spread on her face as she pointed to a page virtually covered in an explosion of glitter.

“And, of course, there is this. The fireworks at the end of the night. We’ll watch together with a delicious treat in hand. It can be popcorn, cotton candy, ice cream.... what do you think you’ll want?”

“If I’m snuggled up with you? Then I’ll already have my delicious treat.”

“Aww, you’re the best, Trystan,” Carolina teased. “Even if you are a rollercoaster wuss.”

“I’m sorry, Carolina, but no one is perfect. Not even me.”

“Nope,” she said with a bop to his nose. “But you come damn close.”

Carolina was surprised to see him take out his phone; his attention shifted away from her. 

“Hey, what are you doing? “

“I’m looking into books on how to overcome silly fears. I’m getting on those coasters with you, Carolina. After all... you deserve perfection.”

@choicesficwriterscreations - Tags on reblog.

[missywritesfor7]

❤️‍🩹Lifeline | MYG❤️‍🩹

Synopsis: It’s long been controversial for idols to date, but idols dating each other can be really beautiful or a complete nightmare. When Yoongi's relationship with another idol is discovered, he decides maybe it’s time to break the taboo and show people it’s ok for idols to date. Instead, they find themselves caught in the midst of one media frenzy after another and struggle to keep their relationship as strong as it had been the past 2 years. Yoongi finds a self destructive way to cope, and it causes even more problems than it solves. As they fight for their relationship and their careers, they discover that sometimes, the only way to truly be free is to let go.

Pairing: idol!Yoongi x idol!OC

Warnings: nsfw, alcoholism, cheating, depression, anxiety, Yoongi goes through a bisexy ho phase, Yoongi is also in his alcoholic phase, post-military BTS

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Ch. 37: Electric

Hyeri woke up the next morning to see Yoongi’s texts. She was happy to see that they made it safely, but then a little taken aback by his admission of drinking coffee. She appreciates his honesty, and that alone makes her feel a smidge more secure. However theres a small voice in the back of her mind that keeps wondering when the coffee will turn to beer. When the one drink turns to two then six. Perhaps it may not lead to a full relapse, but it’s hard to silence the noise of the past.

Hyeri sends Yoongi a text telling him she’s glad he made it safe. She tells him she appreciates his honesty and that he’s doing well so he doesn’t have to worry. She only wants him to stay healthy and not overindulge. Then she rolls out of bed and gets herself ready for her counseling session.

It’s no coincidence that she scheduled her appointment this day. She wasn’t sure what feelings would be rushing through her body when Yoongi left for tour, but she knew it would probably be best to talk through it, whatever the feelings may be, with a professional.

Lee Areum, licensed therapist and counselor to many of Brickyard Entertainment’s artists sits across from Hyeri in her cozy office a short distance from Brickyard’s headquarters. Hyeri has become accustomed to Areum’s soft couch and plush pillows. As soon as Areum asks Hyeri how she’s doing, Hyeri tightly hugs one of the pillows and sighs.

“I miss him,” Hyeri says quietly.

“Yes?” Areum responds. “That’s completely normal.”

“Yeah but…no,” Hyeri hesitates. “I miss him. The him before he broke my heart. He’s come a long way but…there’s something I still miss about him. Something I’m scared will never come back and it breaks my heart.”

“What do you think will never come back?”

Hyeri stares at the floor fighting her tears. She clutches the pillow tighter and inhales deeply. She knows the answer but it’s so hard to say. Saying it would be her admitting it to herself, and it wasn’t until this moment that she realized that she is absolutely terrified. Yes she knew she was scared, but she didn’t know she was so scared that she would have trouble simply saying it out loud. It grips at her chest and she doesn’t even understand why, but this is the same feeling that’s continued to plague her and she’s sick of it. She wants to be free from it finally, and that’s why she’s here.

“I’m afraid the Yoongi I trust with my life will never come back.” She exhales and with it comes a barrage of tears. Her chest is still tight and her face is now deep in the pillow so she can muffle her cries.

“It sounds like you’re grieving the loss of the person you saw him as before.”

The word “grieving” makes it feel different to Hyeri, but it’s 100% accurate. This is a mourning that she hasn’t allowed herself to process, therefore moving forward has been difficult. It’s just a part of healing, but she hates how much it hurts. The fairytale she once envisioned came crashing down and regardless of how much she’s tried to hold on to the image in her mind, the reality of grief finally brought her back to earth.

Yoongi wishes their first day in the US wasn’t so busy, but it’s to be expected. He saw Hyeri’s message and while there’s still a sprinkle of guilt in him, he still felt relieved. He was worried she would have a more negative response, though he truly knows she wouldn’t, yet the fear still remained. He wanted to respond but he was pulled away for another interview. They were busy well into the night before they finally got back to their hotel. He finally was able to text her back telling her about his day and that he’s in the hotel now if she’s free to video chat. Unfortunately, she was with Areum when he sent the message and by the time she got home and straightened up Yoongi had already fallen asleep and missed her call.

The next morning Yoongi curses at the sight of the missed call from Hyeri. He truly tried to stay awake but he was just too tired. He doesn’t have a lot of time before heading off for rehearsal, but he takes his chances and tries video calling Hyeri hoping she’s somewhere where she can answer.

Hyeri is fresh out of the shower where she shaved, washed and deep conditioned her hair, washed her face with an exfoliating scrub, brushed her teeth, and cried the entire time. She’s in her robe with her hair wrapped in a towel when Yoongi’s call comes. She quickly springs to the bed and answers her phone forgetting everything she was just doing, and forgetting how she currently looks.

“Babe?” Yoongi says excited to see her but also concerned by her sad puffy eyes.

“Hey!” She says trying to pretend she doesn’t see how awful she looks at the moment.

“What are you up to?” He asks trying not to dive right into questioning why she looks like she’s been crying for hours.

“Nothing,” she smiles to the best of her ability. “I just got out the shower.”

“Oh,” he says apprehensively. “Are you…ok?”

“Yeah,” she smiles.

Silence.

“No,” she admits with a sigh. “My…I’ve been…ugh,” she grunts. “Truth is, I’ve been seeing a counselor through the company and I was afraid to tell you because I thought you would be too worried about me and not focused on yourself, but I saw her today and we talked about a lot and I’m just trying to figure this all out in my head. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you at first, it’s so stupid of me to not tell you something like this but sometimes it’s hard for me to open up about things because I don’t always feel like I know you anymore.” She takes a deep breath and anxiously waits for Yoongi to say something.

“Hyeri,” he says slowly. He can see the nervousness in her face so he wants to answer quickly as to not cause her more anxiety. However she just said a lot and his mind is trying to figure out what to respond to first. “First of all, I’m really proud of you for seeing someone. I don’t know why you would be afraid to tell me that, but I’m glad you did.”

“You’re…not mad I didn’t say anything before?” She asks unconvinced. “I’ve seen her like 5 times now.”

“No I’m not mad,” he smiles. “I’m just happy you’re seeing someone. I know how much Minho has helped me so far so I hope you can have that same healing experience.”

“Oh,” she says surprised. She should have known that he wouldn’t have a bad response, but part of her was convinced he would.

“I know it’s my fault,” he continues. “I betrayed your trust so I understand you feeling like you can’t open up to me. So I’m not mad.”

“Oh….can I tell you something else then?”

“Anything.”

“I never stopped blaming myself.”

During her sessions with Areum, Hyeri revealed a lot about her lack of trust in Yoongi. After years of being around snakes and liars who nearly ended her career shortly after it began, Yoongi showed her that maybe not everyone was bad. She envisioned perfection so that’s how she portrayed it. She had a big smile and some piece of clothing or jewelry that he gifted her. He took care of her and gave her more than she could ever ask for. She blamed herself for the things he did because she never imagined someone so perfect would be so flawed.

“Hyeri,” Yoongi says trying to not get too emotional before heading to rehearsal.

“I know,” she interrupts. “I’m sorry for the things I had said and done that made you think I didn’t love you. I’m sorry for the things I didn’t say or do. I’m sorry for being so afraid of everything. I don’t want to be afraid anymore, so I’m starting now with this.”

“Hyeri…” he repeats trying to fight the tsunami in his chest threatening his ability to breathe. “You don’t have to apologize for being afraid. You don’t have to apologize for anything. You are so brave in so many ways and I’m always so proud of you, my love.”

“I’m proud of you too,” she smiles. Those words, coming from him especially, cover her with a veil of sunshine and a boost of confidence and motivation. Her eyes may still be red from crying in the shower just a bit ago, but inside she feels relieved. Finally opening up to him for once is giving her a weightless feeling that almost has her on a natural high. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too,” he smiles back at her. “I really wish I had more time…”

“I know, don’t be late for rehearsal. I just wanted to get that off my chest.” Her smile grows pressing her puffy eyes into amused crescents. “I feel a lot better now.”

“I’m glad.” He hates having to leave when they’re having this conversation that has given him emotional whiplash. “Will you be awake later?”

“Yes,” she nods. “I’ll stay up for you. Now go, you need to get focused on the show tonight.”

“Yes ma’am,” he chuckles. “You made my day. I love you and I miss you and I’ll text you as soon as I can.”

“I love and miss you too,” she beams.

Ending the call is difficult, but it gave Yoongi a great boost that everyone could see the moment he stepped out of his room. By now everyone knows Yoongi heard from Hyeri based on the way his cheeks are flushed red and he has a goofy gummy smile displayed across face. It’s not just Yoongi’s happiness that rubs off on everyone, but simply the way their second oldest is so clearly enamored yet so shy about showing his excitement.

Rehearsal goes smoothly and the stage with a few new features for this US leg of their tour has everyone bouncing in anticipation for the night. They have a brief press conference afterwards then a few hours to themselves before returning to the stadium for soundcheck.

Yoongi uses his free time to go shopping, the same routine he started with the last tour. Shop for gifts for Hyeri then mail her a package from each city stuffed to the brim with goodies. He starts with sending her a text telling her he’s out of rehearsal and heading to the mall. Hyeri had been home fighting her sleep waiting to hear from Yoongi, but she sprang up with a spark of electricity at his message mentioning the mall. She immediately began telling him the shops she would like things from and the designers based there that she loves. He tells her he’ll see what he can do while also joking about how she didn’t care anything about him and only wanted him to get her stuff. Still, he sends her pictures of things he sees in the stores asking what she likes best. By the third store Hyeri stops responding. He’s sure she’s fallen asleep so he sends one last text telling her he loves her and will talk to her later.

Hyeri’s fatigue won over, but as soon as the alarm she set started blaring she sprang awake. She set her alarm to go off at the time she knew the guys would be having soundcheck. She wanted to wake up at that time to respond to Yoongi and also search online for someone streaming the show. Only their last night in Las Vegas will be streamed during this leg of the tour. For every other show, Hyeri will search the far reaches of social media with the rest of the fans not in attendance looking for one kind soul willing to share their experience in first person.

After soundcheck the guys are backstage until showtime so Yoongi immediately goes for his phone and smiles brightly when he sees a message from Hyeri. He can’t explain this feeling, but since their talk he feels so much more elated and optimistic. Everything is exciting now and it almost feels like when their relationship was new.

“Hyung looks so cute!” Jungkook laughs from across the room. Jimin is sitting next to him with his phone pointed suspiciously towards Yoongi.

“What are you two doing?” Yoongi asks noticing the two mischief makers giggling together.

“Nothing,” Jimin laughs. “You just look so cute.”

“Are you recording?”

“No,” Jimin lies.

“Then there will be no evidence of what I’m about to do,” Yoongi says getting up and playfully charging over to them as if he’s about to fight.

“Noo,” Jimin laughs putting his phone away.

“Whatever you’re doing you better show me before you post.”

“I’m not going to post it.”

“I don’t believe you,” he says sitting next to them.

“I mean it,” Jimin defends.

“He’s going to send it to Hyeri noona though,” Jungkook snickers.

“Why?” Yoongi asks flushing red in embarrassment.

“I think she would like to see how cute you look when you’re texting her,” Jimin giggles pulling his phone back out. “See.” He plays the video for Yoongi where it ends just as he was charging towards them.

“It looks like I really attacked you,” Yoongi laughs.

“Like a cute little kitten,” Jungkook jokes.

“Stoppp.” Yoongi is ready to bury his head in embarrassment. The guys always call him cute but it doesn’t make him any less shy each time. The guys do it more because his reaction only makes him cuter.

“I bet Hyeri would agree,” Jimin says sending the video to Hyeri without Yoongi realizing.

Just as he said a few moments later Hyeri sends Yoongi a text swooning over how cute he is. Seeing his face light up the way it did made her feel the warm and fuzzy comfort she was afraid she’d never feel again.

“What did she say?” Jimin giggles watching Yoongi smile at his phone once again. “Did she say you were cute?”

“Mind your business,” Yoongi laughs getting up to go back to where he was originally sitting so he can escape their teasing. Once comfortable again, he texts Hyeri back with the same smile on his face, much to his maknaes amusement.

Hyeri found a stream as well as a backup stream for the show. The guys are all dressed and ready to go. The crowd roar gradually grows by the second as the seats fill up in the stadium. When the VCR begins playing Yoongi takes a big breath. Then another. And a third. He’s feeling more nervous than he did at the first show at home. There’s a lot riding on this and it starts tonight.

The show starts with an explosion of energy that even Hyeri can feel from the low quality video she’s watching. She sings and dances along with the crowd, smiles at how good Yoongi looks, and laughs at the commentary from the fan streaming the video. It’s electrifying and before they know it, it’s coming to an end.

The guys go one by one speaking to the crowd before they perform their final encore song. The closer it gets to Yoongi’s turn, the more nervous he gets. He knows Hyeri is watching someway somehow, he wants to let her know he’s thinking of her as well. When his turn comes he keeps his message sweet and simple, but still soft enough to make the crowd swoon. At the end he kisses his microphone, right at the bottom where Hyeri’s hand drawn heart is, then he raises his arms to create a big heart above his head. The crowd loves it and Hyeri is swelling with joy.

Yoongi can’t help it, the moment he makes it backstage after the show he gets his phone and sees messages from Hyeri giving him praise. He quickly texts her back letting her know he would call once he’s at the hotel. He’s all smiles as they take pictures, greet industry friends, and shoot a quick short video for socials. Afterwards the guys are taken back to their hotel where Yoongi quickly goes to his room to wash up and call Hyeri.

They talk well into the night, at times simply enjoying each other’s comfortable silence. Hyeri has a promo shoot to attend so when the time comes for her to go, Yoongi has already fallen asleep on the phone. She whispers a good night to him then hangs up and sends him a text saying the same. She gets herself ready then heads out the door with a great big smile on her face.

[wishfulwithwine]

sweet girl . three

Rafe Cameron x Y/N Thorton

Y/N was sick of being the goody two shoes - sick of everyone treating her like an innocent little girl.

How bad could a step on the wild side be?

No one told her how good bad could taste....

WARNINGS: THIS SERIES IS 18+. INVOLVES EXPLICIT/NSFW CONTENT. PLEASE DO NOT READ IF MINOR.

series masterlist

photo from pinterest

obxsweetheart hungover vibes

sarahhhcameron same girl same. On my way!

sarahhhcameron also where did you go last night?

Topperthat can you stop posting thirst traps? Jesus.

Your head was killing you. 

Groaning, you tried to turn over onto your back, but there was unusual weight on your body. Memories flooding your brain, you realized it was Rafe’s arm around you, now pulling you closer and pushing your back flush against his naked chest. You felt a poking against your butt, and his lips on your neck.

“Good morning sweet girl” Rafe whispered, his breath hot on your neck. 

Did you really have sex with Rafe Cameron last night? Rafe Cameron, the Kook King? 

“Good morning” You replied, with a whimper, as he rolled you underneath him, caging you in his arms from the top. 

“Oh pretty girl, I wasn’t imaging how gorgeous that body of yours is. Can I see if I was imagining how perfect that pussy is? How well she sucks me? How beautiful those moans of yours sound?” He asked, pushing some strands of hair off of your face gently.

Well if he was already in your bed, asking for it…

You nodded, unable to speak as he kneading your nipples in his fingers. As soon as he saw your nod, he smirked widely, letting one of his hands travel down to feel how wet you were. Circling your slit, you could both hear how wet you were getting.

“Oh sweet girl, she’s weeping for me” Rafe moaned, as he aligned himself with your core, and thrusted in. It was quicker this time for the pain to turn into pleasure, and soon you were letting out a moan.

Rafe put his hand over your mouth quickly, sticking some of his fingers in which you started sucking on.

Why were you sucking on his fingers…

You watched the surprise on Rafe’s face as he stuttered his movements on top of you, groaning softly, as he thrust deeper in you after seeing you suck on his fingers.

“You’re such a good girl for me. I’m not going to last long. This perfect pussy is just too good” He whispered, trying to hold back his moans.

His face was red, and tense, as he kept thrusting deep into you.

And then he looked at you, locked eyes, and you both came… The vision of you below him humming was one he glad he was sober for since he’d play it on repeat for the rest of his life.

“Sweet girl, you’re incredible” Rafe whispered, panting above you. You blushed, smiling at his words.

“We should - we should make sure you don’t get caught” You said, as you both started getting out of bed, albeit reluctantly and slowly.

“Yes, your brother would be pissed” Rafe agreed, stopping to give you a quick kiss. “I’ll be downstairs. I’ll make the couch look like I’ve slept on it” He said, before leaving your bedroom with a wink. 

After showering and getting cleaned up, you realized the hangover you had this morning was much better after the activities… although actually walking was a different story. Your legs looked like they were from a baby deer.

“Coffee?” Rafe asked, as you walked into the kitchen. His back was to you as he was making coffee.

“Is there another set of legs there too?” You joked, as he turned around and saw you struggling to walk. The full bodied laugh that came from him, and smirk on his face, made you blush fully. Even in just a pair of gym shorts and an oversized t shirt, you were the most beautiful woman in his opinion. 

“You think this is funny? How are we going to explain this to Topper?” You said, nervously, as you accepted the coffee from him. 

The house still seemed empty, but you knew it wouldn’t be for long. Although your parents had left, Topper would definitely be coming home soon - especially considering his best friend and sister never made it back to the party.

“He’ll kill me” Rafe stated, sitting down across from you.

“Oh he definitely will. So what are we going to say to explain about last night?” You said.

“Say you got too drunk and I drove you home. Got a little banged up because you got too drunk” Rafe said, shrugging his shoulders, but continued to stare at you. You nodded, before looking around, a little nervous from his staring.

“Do you regret last night?” Rafe asked, worried as he saw you look around nervously. Your head snapped to him.

“No, no definitely no. I-I’m glad you took my… yea. I’m glad it was you. It was amazing” You said, blushing again as Rafe smirked widely, moving his chair closer to you.

“It was, wasn’t it? Good” He said, before looking like he was deep in thought, as he reached a hand over to your thigh, rubbing it, before looking directly into your eyes.

“I hope you know, I don’t want this to be just a one time thing - I’ve liked you for a while. A long while” Rafe said, nervous evident on his face as he tried to gauge your emotions on your reaction. 

Rafe Cameron, the kook king, likes me? Sometimes he was a terrible person. There were more than a few things you weren’t sure about, but you did know how much you were attracted to him, and he was always amazing with you… 

To say you were shocked was pretty clear.

“I… I like you. For a while. But why last night?” You asked, confused.

“That dress. I couldn’t control myself, especially when you danced on me. Why did you dance on me?” Rafe said, turning the question back to you with a smirk, growing larger as he watched your cheeks turn red.

“The bad girl in me said yes” You said, and both of you laughed.

“So?” He asked.

“I- I don’t want to be another one of Rafe Cameron’s one night stands” You said, biting your lip.

“God no, you’re it for me sweet girl. If I can have you, there will be no one else” Rafe said, squeezing your leg. You almost melted underneath his stare, and then he reached over and cupped your face, bringing his lips to yours in a passionate kiss.

“Tell me you’re mine” He whispered, your lips separate but so close to each other.

“Yes, I’m yours” You said, smiling, before he kissed you again.

“Y/N! I’m home” Topper yelled, and you and Rafe broke apart, pretending you were just having coffee as friends. Rafe pushed his chair away a decent amount, and soon Topper was walking into the kitchen. 

“Not so loud” You groaned, as Rafe chuckled at your response. Topper came over, sitting down and looking between the two of you, a bit suspicious. 

“Where were you two? You left and never came back. There was a huge fight with the Pogues. That JJ brought out a gun and held it to the back of my head. I almost died” Topper said, and both you and Rafe were shocked.

“Oh my gosh, Topper! I’m so sorry. Rafe took me home because I was way too drunk” You said, reaching out to Topper, to see if anything was physically wrong with him.

“You should’ve seen her. Could barely wrangle her to get in the car. How are we getting back at the Pogues?” Rafe said, watching you worry after your brother.

You and your brother had an interesting relationship, much like him and Sarah. You’d do anything for the other, but you two got on each other’s nerves all the time. Clearly evident by the annoying comment yesterday…

“I’m going to make a plan. They’re expecting a quick retaliation. I want to make them hurt” Topper stated, after you found him fine. “So what’s the plan for today?” 

“I was thinking I was going to tan at the pool. Probably invite Sarah over. Do you know what she’s up to?” You asked, figuring Topper was with her all night. Rafe rolled his eyes at thinking his sister was his best friend, and then realized that’s what he was doing.

“Yea, she’s still sleeping. That sounds good though. Need some recovery from your ‘bad girl night’?” Topper teased.

“Yes, you asshole. But don’t worry, I’ve got worse outfits to give you a heart attack” You smirked, and both boys this time looked tense.

“Oh hell no” Topper stated.

“Oh hell yes. You only have yourself to blame. You complained about me being too embarrassing” You smirked, sipping on your coffee mischievously. Glancing quickly over to Rafe, you could see his pupils dilating, imaging your other outfits.

“I’m sorry. You’re not embarrassing. Now please return the clothes” Topper said, giving up.

“Nope. I think I looked hot and I had a lot of fun being a bad girl. I might not even stop after the summer” You smirked, watching Topper groan.

It was an hour later when Rafe and Sarah had gotten to your house, meeting you guys back at the pool. Rafe had driven back to get a bathing suit and picked up Sarah to join you all.

“I can’t believe you missed the fight. It was so scary” Sarah gossiped as the boys chilled in the pool. You could feel Rafe’s eyes on you often.

“JJ had a gun? How the hell did he even get one?” You said in disbelief.

“There Pogues. Definitely stole it” Topper commented with a scoff. 

“It was just so insane” Sarah said, and you nodded.

“This is why you shouldn’t hang out with them, right Y/N?” Topper said, looking directly at you. Rafe raised an eyebrow, and you rolled your eyes.

“I tutored John B, I don’t think that is classified as hanging out” You replied. A glance at Rafe and you could tell he was not happy with that answer.

“Still, they’re not good people to associate with” Rafe added, staring at you. You shrugged, looking to Sarah to change the conversation. 

You really shouldn’t be surprised at his response. He’s always hated the Pogues, fights them whenever he can. 

“Alright, so what’s next on the bad girl agenda?” You said, seeing Sarah immediately get excited.

“I love this!” Sarah squealed.

“No, I’m not allowing this anymore” Topper said, shaking his head.

“You’re not allowing this? You’re my brother, not my dad” You said, rolling your eyes.

“It’s summer. There should be another party” Sarah asked, going to her phone to check messages.

“We have date night tonight, Sarah” Topper said, annoyed she already forgot. Looking up, she looked at him guilty.

“Whoops” She said, biting her lip. Topper shook his head at her antics. 

“Whatever” He replied.

“Rafe, you know of a good party? Or something to do? I wanna do something fun tonight” Y/N asked, surprising everyone. Rafe had to make an effort not to grin widely, hiding his true motions from his best friend and sister.

“I don’t know but I’ll let you know” Rafe said, and as soon as Topper and Sarah weren’t looking, he winked at you. You bit your lip, trying not to smile in front of them.

Hours later, Topper and Sarah had left for their date, leaving you and Rafe alone at the pool.

“So, how about we go out on My Druthers? Wear something pretty, for me” Rafe asked, when you guys were going back in. You smiled, as he shot you a goofy grin.

“Yea. For you? Yea” You replied, smiling. He grinned, reaching out and taking your cheeks in his large hands when he gave you a deep kiss.

“Sweet girl, do you know how you’re killing me?” He said, deepening the kiss while biting your lip, pulling a whimper from you.

“Rafe” You almost moaned. 

“Now, sweet girl, go get pretty” Rafe said, getting to your bedroom and sitting on your bed. You raised an eyebrow at him. 

“While I take a shower, why don’t you pick an outfit then?” You said, and he raised his eyebrows, before quickly going into your closet.

The shower was full of nerves and anticipation, as you quickly got washed, did some quick hair drying and makeup, and came back into you bedroom. Rafe was smirking, looking you up and down as you stood in front of him in just a towel.

“Fuck, you’re killing me baby. I had this whole plan, but you’re looking at me like that… No, no. I have a plan” Rafe said, pacing as he tried not to look at you. You blushed, before seeing the outfit he picked out.

“Wow, you liked that one? It’s one of the new ones” You said, as you began putting on the clothes.

“I like that I’ll be the only one who sees it” Rafe said, turning his eyes to the window to give you some privacy. Chuckling, you smiled, putting everything on.

“Alright, I’m ready” You said, and he looked at you and smirked.

“Damn, you’re the hottest I’ve ever seen” He said, pulling you by the waist and kissing you.

God you could become addicted easily to his kisses… were you already?

“Come on. I want to know this plan of yours” You teased, pulling away and leaving your bedroom.

Rafe chuckled, watching your hips sway as they walked away from him, before he followed you quickly to his car to drive you to Tanneyhill.

It didn’t take long before Rafe had finished cleaning himself up, and you two ended up on the boat, drinking some champagne and Rafe driving you both around on the water.

“It’s beautiful out here” You said, still in awe of being on the water. Rafe pulled you into his chest, feeling your body pressed against his as he drove the boat.

“You’re beautiful, sweet girl” He said back, before you noticed you were pulling up to dock at a house.

“Where are we?” You asked, as Rafe anchored the boat on the dock, and leading you to the empty house.

“It’s one of my dad’s properties, but tonight, it’s ours” He said, leading you inside.

The house was gorgeous, and all set up beautifully, with rose petals leading upstairs from the front door. You looked confused, but took Rafe’s hand as he led you upstairs. 

He pushed open the door to the master bedroom, and it was all beautifully made up with candles and flowers.

What the hell is going on? 

You looked shocked at Rafe, and his face looked really nervous, scratching the back of his neck.

“I-I felt bad that you lost your virginity drunk after a party so I wanted to make it up to you. Do it properly for you, how it should have ben done” Rafe said, looking at you and trying to gauge your reaction.

“Oh my gosh Rafe! I love it. You’re so sweet” You said, pulling him into a passionate kiss.

Well that’s something that’s almost never said about him. Rafe Cameron, nice? 

“I’m glad you like it” Rafe said, with a bit of blush on his cheeks. You smiled widely, pulling him to the bed.

“I love it, Rafe Cameron. Now show me how you would’ve fucked me for the first time” You said, a teasing grin on your face as you sat down on the bed, looking up at him with those doe eyes he couldn’t get enough of. He cupped your face, grinning, as you watched his pupils dilate.

“You’re in for a long night, sweet girl” 

How right he was...

[corvus--rex]

bodyguard au, trans omega Keith/alpha Lance

I started this and it got away from me, so this is the original unedited twt thread. whenI have the spoons again I'll finish and post the second part to twt first and then here and then the rest (along with the expanded parts 1&2 will be posted to ao3.

Also, there is a description of a nsfm image so...

Keith needed a bodyguard. The vocalist/guitarist of Marmora had a stalker and it had reached a point he couldn't ignore, not when he'd been sent pictures of himself in his own home - pictures taken at different times of the day, doing anything and nothing.

Given that he was both trans and an omega, he'd dealt with shitty fans before, but this was terrifying. it had started over social media, unsettling comments on the band's posts that shifted to Keith's public accounts. For every account that was blocked, another took its place, and the comments continued.

But that morning he'd found the manila envelope on his doorstep, well inside the safety of his security system. He almost threw the envelope in the fireplace, not wanting to know what was in it, but curiosity got the better of him. Over a dozen blown up photos, all in black and white, taken from a different place each time.

There was one of him rolling around in the backyard with his huge husky mix Kosmo, one of him sprawled across his sofa late at night, the glow of the tv lighting his face, sitting at the huge kitchen island, coffee in one hand and his phone in the other, one from his bedroom, fresh from a shower with nothing but a towel loosely wrapped around his hips, several others he only glanced at.

After the post-shower picture, they increased in intimacy until the last in the pile, another from his bedroom, naked, back arched and head thrown back as he came, his favorite knotting toy in clear view stretching his soaked pussy.

Keith stared at it, knowing exactly when that was taken. It was the night his last heat had started, his nest only half made before the first wave hit. He pushed the photo away, dislodging a single sheet of printer paper and sending it to the floor. He picked it up, dropping it to the island's surface when he saw what was on it.

Beautiful. You'll look even more exquisite screaming my name. Soon, darling. I'll have you very soon.

Minutes later, Keith was pulling out of his driveway, nearly crashing into his own gate in his desperation to get away from his own house. Kosmo whined in the backseat, but Keith was too afraid to leave him there alone or be without him. He hadn't managed to put the photos or message back into the envelope, and the image of him with Kosmo stared at him from the passenger seat. He forced himself to focus on the road, not looking away until he reached his manager's office building.

Once inside, he walked past Kolivan's admin and straight into his office, not caring who could be in there. Fortunately, his manager was alone, a spreadsheet of Marmora's upcoming tour and appearances on his monitor. Keith threw the stack of photos, emtpy folder, and typed message on Kolivan's pristine desk. He didn't realize he was shaking until Kosmo pulled on his sleeve, dragging him to the sofa.

"What's this?" Kolivan asked, but stopped when he looked through the first few pictures.

Keith had kept them in the same order they'd been in, note included, and said without looking up from Kosmo's head on his lap, "Keep going."

Kolivan handled each photograph carefully, taking in each image until he got to the last one. "Your bed doesn't face the windows and the curtains are drawn. How was this taken?"

Keith buried his fingers in the thick fur of Kosmo's neck. "I don't know. You-you don't think they've gotten inside do you? Set up cameras I don't know about?"

"I certainly hope not, but we can find out. Let me make a few calls." He picked up his phone, turning back to Keith once he'd found the contact he wa looking for. "I know a good private investigator. But with everything and then this," he gestured at the pile of photos and that note he'd stayed silent on, although Keith saw the rage in his hazel eyes, "I'm getting you a bodyguard, no arguments."

"Won't get any from me on that."

TBC…

-

divider/warning banner credit @cafekitsune

[catulhu333]

Demon WLW in Kabbalah

(note: this contains controversial topics)

As Lilith is now again more on people's minds, as are to a lesser degree the 3 other Demon Queens/Angels of Prostitution (them thanks to the soon coming out Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance and maybe Majo Taisen), I wanted to bring up something about them, that is oddly obscure and underused.

Specifically that in Kabbalist texts, 3 of them (Lilith, Agrat bat Mahlat and Naamah) are characterized as Women Loving Women (WLW).

Lets first discuss the less controversial Agrat bat Mahlat and Naamah, who are described (seemingly) as lovers in Rabbi's Naftali Hertz's "Sefer Emek haMelech":

"Asimon (a demon) rides on Naamah, and Naamah rides on Igrath the daughter of Mahalath, and this Igrath rides on several kinds of spirits and bands of midday-demons;"

("Igrath daughter of Mahalath" is another possible spelling/transliteration as well as partial translation of Agrat bat Mahlat from Hebrew)

To be clear, the term "ride" is used in Kabbalah seems to be a synonym for sexual relationships among demons. The most (in)famous example is Samael "riding" Lilith ("The serpent, Lilith, is ridden by Samael").

Now to Lilith herself...in the Zohar (one of the foundations of Kabbalah), Lilith is described as lusting after and possibly being in love with both Adam and Eve:

"When He created Adam, in order to perfect this world, as soon as Lilith saw Eve affixed to the side of Adam, and saw in them the beauty of the Above, and saw their perfect image, she flew off from there and wanted, as before to attach herself to the little faces. But the guardians of the gates of Above did not Let her."

It also seems Lilith managed to later seduce not only Adam, but also Eve herself. But first to explain some things. As I mentioned above, in the Zohar, Samael isn't really the Serpent of Eden, he just rides it/her, the Serpent being Lilith ("We have learned that the Spirit of Defilement comes from the corrupt serpent, WHICH IS LILIT"). And well, Lilith/the Serpent of Eden is described to have sexually seduced Eve:

"After Adam and his wife sinned, and the serpent had intercourse with Eve and injected filth into her, Eve bore Cain. He had the shape from above and FROM below in the secret of the filth of the Other Side, and from the side below OF THE EXTERNAL FORCES. Therefore, he was the first to bring death into the world, caused by his side, AS HE CAME OF THE FILTH OF THE SERPENT."

This is also repeated in the mentioned above Sefer Emek haMelech:

And the Serpent, the Woman of Harlotry, incited and seduced Eve through the husks of Light which in itself is holiness. And the Serpent seduced Holy Eve, and enough said for him who understands. An all this ruination came about because Adam the first man coupled with Eve while she was in her menstrual impurity -- this is the filth and the impure seed of the Serpent who mounted Eve before Adam mounted her.

("Woman of Harlotry" is a title of Lilith)

And yeah, it means Lilith is described as Cain's "father". (And sometimes also kinda Abel's). Though this is complicated as other parts of the Zohar state Samael is Cain's father, but at other times he is specifically not, only Lilith/the Serpent is. And sometimes Adam, Lilith/the Serpent and Samael are all Cain's "fathers" (meaning the guy somehow had 4 parents). Though this version more suggests Lilith and/or Samael somehow "polluted" Cain in the womb (when seducing Eve), hence they are also his "parents".

One might ask how this can be the case with Lilith, Agrat and Naamah being described as engaging in sexual acts and relationships with other women? Well, it's because it's portrayed as sinful, (in the eyes of the writers) as part of the three's sexual perversion, with the three being succubi, even their queens. This is another reason I described this as controversial, and wasn't sure to post it on June/Pride Month. Still, I think there is a lot of value with making this more known, and one can say Lilith, Agrat and Naamah can be reclaimed.

Why isn't this well known? Well, works of Kabbalah were not easily available in past, especially translated from Hebrew and Aramaic , there often being mostly excerpts or summaries in books describing them. And the authors of these, often overlooked or downplayed the WLW aspects, due to them being even more controversial in the past, due to greater homophobia then. This also why Lilith, Naamah and Agrat being WLW was not often or at all used in fiction.

Still, I hope people reading these found it interesting, and I apologize though if it was offensive for others.

[greensagephase]

I saw on one of your recent posts that you mentioned your birthday is on Wednesday so I wanted to take the time and wish you a very happy birthday!! 🥳✨ (but if I'm early then happy early birthday!!) You are absolutely the sweetest and nicest person I've ever talked to and the first moot I've ever just interacted with this much on here!! and I truly enjoy every one of our conversations and of course, your amazing stories!! Reading your stories and taking the time to talk with you on here has made the rest of my year so much better, really!🥹 Especially with school and everything, and you’ve also given me so much inspiration to draw after not doing so after some time. I’ll try not to make this too long but Alondra, you’re an amazing and wonderful person (and writer!!), and I wish you all the best, always!!! ❤️✨

Also wanted to make you a little drawing/card for your birthday!! ✨ I wanted to include the color “Rosa Mexicano” with some of the flowers as you mentioned wanting to include it with your spidersona to honor your Mexican Heritage and it's such a beautiful color. Also wanted to include the color sage green (or at least a version of it) because I’m guessing you also like that color too from your username! (and it's also just a great color!) I hope you have an amazing birthday Alondra, you deserve the best!! 🥳🥳

There's about ten minutes left before the 6th is over for me and THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO END MY BIRTHDAY ❤️😭 @sunsetdoodler I started to freak out as soon as I scrolled down a bit to keep reading and saw there was an image attached and then I saw it and STARTED TO SCREAM - I LOVE IT SO MUCH OH MY GOD!!!! IT'S PERFECT AND SO SO SWEET THANK YOU😭😭😭 I'm literally crying as I type this because it's one of the best gifts I've ever received, THANK YOU !!! I'm just going to keep saying it, I'm sorry !! But oh my god!! Yes, I love the color sage green!! I like green overall but sage green is one of my favorite shades of it!! I've had this username for about two years since I started liking the color and I thought it was just going to be a phase, so that's where my username came from lol but I'm still in love with it two years later! THE FACT YOU INCLUDED ROSA MEXICANO, NO, I LOVE YOU FR!!! THANK YOU for including it ❤️❤️ also the decorations on the cake!!! They look like poinsettias to me and I absolutely love them!! My mom gets me an arrangement every year for my birthday, so I'm just delighted by that detail, I'm seriously crying right now but they're happy tears!!! 🥹 I'm really sorry for screaming but THEN THERE'S MIGUEL - STOP IT, I'M CRYING EVEN MORE NOW!!! HE LOOKS SO SWEET AND SOFT AND HIS SMILE????!!! SCREAMING AND CRYING!!! AND THE LITTLE BLUSH??? I'M LITERALLY GIGGLING AND KICKING MY FEET WHILE CRYING !!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT IT - YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!!!!! ❤️😭

Thank you so much for the sweet words and birthday wishes @sunsetdoodler😭You're one of the few moots I interact with and it has also made my last half of the year so much better!!! I genuinely didn't think that I'd be on here interacting much since I had no plans to write this much, which is really funny to think about now, haha! But I'm so thankful I'm on here and that you went off anon because we're moots ❤️I really enjoy talking with you when possible (which by the way, I meant to reply today to part 8's drawing but today just kind of went by, I'm sorry!!) and just getting to interact with you and hear about your schooling, which I hope everything is going well with, and life overall!!! You've given me so much inspiration for Miguel, too and your drawings, as always, make my days!!!! Please know that I truly cherish everything and us being moots makes me so happy I decided to start writing on here!!!!!❤️

@sunsetdoodler my birthday was a great one this year!! I had the amazing opportunity to spend it with my loved ones again and I had some bomb food as well (barbacoa and rice with homemade tortillas and some agua de Jamaica to drink!). It was already an amazing day and your drawing/card and sweet words and wishes were just the best way to end my 25th birthday!! THANK YOU SO, SO, SO MUCH!!!! It means so much to me, seriously, thank you from the bottom of my heart @sunsetdoodler❤️❤️❤️ I hope everything is going well with school and life in general, as always!!! And I'm sending you a warm virtual hug!!! THANK YOU ( I said it so much but seriously, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!)!!!✨❤️✨

[nani-nonny]

Tbh, never thought a new chapter would be dropped and you dropped it without any hints that there may be a new chapter soon xD tho it was a great surprise.

So we start off as Leonardo begin hungry and believe me, this so canon! After begin sick and in bef for days? You gotta go hungry at one point! And it made me giggle at how Mikey and them were doing the funny stare off contest xD

The moment Mikey left to get his family i knew his sandwich is as good as gone to F!Leo's stomach 😂 if i were him i would have enough shame to apologize or ask for somebody to make for me something 😭

And baby Lou under him begging for that lettuce was just heart melting 🥺🥺 i saw it and immediately went "JUST GIVE HER THE LETTUCE DAMN IT!!" Ahahaha!✨🤍

Finally after finishing the sandwich Mikey return to see what only left which it's bread crumbs and i can imagine Mikey doing this meme

And finally after so much prolonging things AFTER 9 chapters!!! F!Leo is gonna speak of everything and explain! (Btw, April entering the medbey with bag as her shield and pen as her weapon was silly if i were her i would have 3 pens and look like Wolforin😂)

And i wasn't wrong thinking after the explanation little Leo would be guilty (as he should/aff/p), after all he was the one who lost the key and almost get everyone in the same fate the elder had to go through. So it wasn't a surprise to see them all cry and hug each other for comfort (and for Donnie to slip out of the hug shirty because this isn't for his emotional bad boy image).

And here comes the moment "You ARE the father!!" I never thought you would use the "Maury show" as a reference 😂😂🤩 i personally love it and i also watched multiple videos of the show before.

And this... THUS shocked me

Leo was having the... You know *ahem* love making...

Also whoever said the 'Never speak to me again' is a pure asshole! Am glad they died in the war!! >:((

Then there's the big think about draxum (lol loved how he's trying to take care of him beauty) But seeing baby Lou knowing him is making me imagine F!Draxum begin so happy to have baby lou.

I don't know if i said this before (maybe i did in the very first ask that created baby tot and peepaws) but i feel draxum created baby lou because he couldn't be in the kids's lifes or be part of fatherhood because he started bonding for like what? a year? And then BAM! Apocalypse! Surely he wanted to take care of the baby tho i feel this wasn't the real reason... Maybe creating a real warrior to help winning the war (a side plan from F!Draxum he went with).

In my defense! The “teaser” came out as snippets and vague posts about how the writing process was going hehe (I think the most recent “teaser” was a vague post about F!Leo spiraling lol) but I believe the best teaser was a vague post prior to posting the chapter about the word count going from 3.4k to 4.1k! (I don’t think you saw those hehe)

Anyways! Chapter review from sniper, yippee!!!

Poor Mikey lol all he wanted was a sandwich but instead he was shocked to see Leonardo’s awake and standing at the doorway with the baby and CJ just as surprised to see him

Baby Lou is hungry, growing little girlie! She wants what her papa is eating, especially because it must be good if he’s scarfing it down hahaha!

rip Mikey’s sandwich, it didn’t last a second with Leonardo lol

April ready to fight when the portal pops up makes me laugh, she knows hahaha! You can count on her to back you up

Poor Lil Leo, forced to realize he may be just as much as a jerk as his future self is, and maybe there wasn’t that big of a change. And maybe… just maybe… he wasn’t exactly right about Leonardo being a total assface. Lol

I thought about different ways Donnie would break it to Leonardo that the baby is indeed his, but this route was much funnier. And faster lol. And I think it’s very on brand for Donnie hahah! Maybe I’ll post a snippet of how it would have gone in a different route… i don’t know.

And I love the memes that come from the Maury show! Although, I’ve never watched an episode except for small clips. The cameramen run really fast haha!

I don’t usually include my peepaws’ love lives so blatantly like (a)paf, mainly because I don’t really see them all that sexually active. Sometimes I like to think that, despite being absolute heartthrobs and “most wanted bachelors”, them being virgins makes it all the more funny. (That and I don’t have interest in writing sexual themes with the turtles… Bruce on the other hand /hj)

But in (a)paf’s case, I didn’t want anyone thinking he truly is a deadbeat dad who got knocked up and tosses a kid aside or, vice versa where he knocks someone else up and tosses a kid aside. He simply wasn’t aware of what Draxum was doing behind closed doors.

But aside from that, I think it’s nice that he got some experience in sex. He’s a big man, he can take part in carnal pleasures.

And about the person who said not to meet again… that was Leonardo. Lol. One night stand wasn’t as good as it could have been haha! On a side note, a lot of his one night stands were understandable agreements that no relation of any sort other than business was to be expected.

Anyways, again, Draxum deserves to feel pretty :) he got a face mask from April’s mom! He definitely wasn’t expecting any Hamato-related shenanigans, he just wanted a peaceful night to himself hahaha!

And Baby Lou so delighted to see Draxum? :(((( she’s such a cutie patootie :((((

And I like your theory! Totally understandable to think that! Now the real question is whether you’re right or not mwahahahaha! I wonder….

[austin-in-taiwan]

July 20 - Taipei - Bei Tou Station, Library, Hot springs

Today was just a ½ day, so it was shorter than most. We started by taking the MRT (green line, red line, then pink line) to Xin Bei Tou. This area was historic for its natural hot springs. The first stop there was the landmark train station. From what I read, this was the only train station kept out of the entire old train system for historical reasons before the new MRT was built. It was interesting to see how the old train cars looked and the other artifacts and images from that era. After that, we stopped by the local library, which was very pretty on the outside. We walked quietly around the two floors, looked at some Chinese books, and saw the locals doing their reading/studying (or napping as I saw someone pass out in one of the chairs with his book). Afterward, we stopped by a bathhouse museum (I’ll explain more of the history in my academic reflection). We had to take our shoes off and use their sandals to walk throughout but it was very informative to the old culture of this area. On a side note, Jack ran into one of his old history teachers from Miami inside this museum, which I think is crazy.

Next, we decided to check out the hot springs. We visited a boiling hot spring (not safe to swim in for obvious reasons), which was actually the hottest place in Taiwan. It was so hot walking around this spring, and the sulfur smell was highly distinct. Needless to say, I got out of there as soon as I could. Despite the negatives, it was beautiful, and I’m glad I got to see it. We had planned to go into one of the hot springs that are safe to swim in, but since it was so hot, the one we saw had required the guys to buy speedos and not allowed to wear our swim trunks that we brought, and it was already about a million degrees outside, nobody ended up trying it. However, when we go to our next city, there will be hot springs there, so we’ve all opted to try them there instead.

After our morning exploration, we were set off to have the rest of the day free. First, a group of Iris, Brooke, Eli, Jack, and I followed Peter (our tour guide) to the nearest FamilyMart! Then Peter went home, and we went to a nearby Japanese restaurant because most of us hadn’t eaten breakfast and were starving.

As I am writing this, it is 3:50 pm, so I will be doing more activities after I finish my work for the day, but I will write about it in my next blog post. I am trying to find somewhere to get Chinese Cupping (yes, the stuff swimmers do that leaves the big red dots on their backs), so that might be in my next post!

Academic Reflection

The first Taiwanese history we explored today was the original Beitou station. There were many images and artifacts (including suitcases, hats, tickets, etc.) from when the station was in commission. I learned from the museum that this station, in particular, was very loved and part of the culture in Beitou, which is why it was important to preserve it for the museum. Standing inside one of the train cars and comparing the differences with today's was incredible. I would compare the differences between the trains to those between an old school bus and a modern coach bus.

Furthermore, we visited the Bathhouse Museum, another essential piece of history. First, the bathhouses were originally fully coed, but when the Americans came, they separated the showers with one pillar, but they were still in the same room. I couldn't imagine a coed shower like this, which is very different. In this bathhouse, you would shower, then go into the coed hot spring pool. Yeh Laoshi explained that back in history, nobody had personal showers, so they would come to these bathhouses maybe 3 times a week. I was shocked to hear that their hygiene was restricted to 3 showers a week, but then I thought, "At least they showered a few times instead of never."