#i guess that's a new tag for you bahaha

[belligerentbagel]

closing two artfights! reached my final goal, which was a nice round total of 10 attacks for this first year 😊

Alcarnarmo (ThArtemisHunter)

Phoenix Tian and Kai Terranova (@mimicmerchant)

[lutiaslayton]

Bahaha alright, alright, you win

Heads Up, Seven Up!

Rules: Post the last seven lines of your current WIP.

I was tagged for this at least three or four times by now, but never actually committed to doing it. Today's tag was from @wordsofawanderingsoul, but if memory serves I was tagged at least once by @101flavoursofweird, probably twice. So since you are so insistent... Welp, guess now's the time to play along, for a change: here's an excerpt of the WIP I have been working on for the past week!

...What? These ARE the last lines from my current WIP, I even submitted the complete chapter to my PhD directors just Monday for beta-reading! (because it most likely sucks)

Hm, I see, I see. You were expecting something fandom-related. Well, here goes nothing:

Oh wait, I didn’t actually write those. Well, I mean, yes I did write that, but I was just transcribing the official novels, so it's not like I wrote wrote those. Oops.

Uh... Sigh, I guess there is no choice, huh? Well, since the last SLS chapter dates back to April 1st, I guess I will indulge you with an excerpt from Chapter VI, The Dining Philosophers Problem. Stop reading here if you want to wait for the full chapter to be complete!

---

Unbeknownst to Hershel as he was lost in thought, Brenda studied him up and down, her irises evidently moving like a yo-yo as she evaluated the exact height of the item of her attention. “For someone so shy and discreet, it’s quite unexpected to see you with a hat like this. It looks funny—” She saw him startle as he was brought back to reality, then lower his eyes and shoulders in embarrassment when he processed her words, so she instantly corrected: “—but it suits you, Hershel, it really does!”

“It compliments your face,” Clark added with a light shrug.

Claire’s smile grew wider, as she regained some of her energy and playfulness. “Yes— This is exactly what I thought when I saw it. It just looks so perfect on your head! And I thought you needed a little something to give you a confidence boost,” she explained as she sneakily elbowed her boyfriend. He looked like he wanted to argue, but words were failing him. Fortunately, or unfortunately, the red flushing through his cheeks ended up speaking in his stead.

Clark gave a short, amused huff. “Outside of class, sure. But if it’s about the moments when you’re teaching, I don’t think you’ll need a ‘confidence boost.’”

“Well, he is a lot younger than what most expect of professors, and you can’t exactly tell me that he naturally reeks of authority,” Andrew retorted bluntly. Turning back to Hershel, he added: “The hat makes you look taller, so it will definitely help you command respect in the class. You’ll need it.”

His eyebrows arched in an embarrassed, slightly beaten up expression. “Thanks… I suppose.”

“Ah, don’t mind me, I���m just messing with you,” he immediately corrected while waving a dismissive hand. “You love explaining things, and you love having an audience. You will do great.”

This caught both his attention and confusion. “Me? An audience?” He frowned and blinked. “You make it sound like I enjoy being the centre of attention.”

“Hershel, don’t lie to yourself,” Brenda piped up with a sassy grin. “You totally have a taste for the dramatic.”

Clark crossed his arms, adorning the same expression. “One of the reasons you will make a great teacher is that you’ll keep your class at the edge of their seats. As soon as you’re about to explain a new find, you always have to act in such a cryptic way. Always keeping the suspense for as long as you can.”

His eyes were now trying to look at anything but the table. Grabbing the brim of his hat and slightly lowering it over his face ended up being quite the effective solution. “I’m— I’m not? What are you all talking about?”

“You are, Hershel,” Claire laughed softly. “And that’s another thing I love about you—you’re not even doing it on purpose. You just love telling stories, and you don’t even realise it.”

---

And since I need to play by the rules, I hereby tag @alex-r-kingston, @spyrothefox, @the-river-of-light, @magicwhiskers29, @stormflute, @furtiveseal, and whoever reading this who wants to share excerpts from their works!

Anyway I hope you don’t mind the longer post, I figured that since I had been tagged more than three times by now, I might as well do it three times in one /j

[peggycatrerr]

Fucking WHAT well I guess I learned something new today bahaha thanks! I could have sworn I was always searching the tag :') ok ignore everything I said then lol. This whole time I’ve been overthinking mentioning show/character names in my tags cause I was worried it’d end up in the main tags… But yeah that person probably did the same thing I did and that’s why they saw it. And yes people search by acronym??? People use the acronym as a tag so why wouldn’t I search it?

YEAH!! i mean it does still show up in search results so there are still absolutely times when it's worth skirting around show/character names because there are people who are searching instead of going to the tag, and more people than i realised i guess, because i honestly thought it was widely known that they changed it to take you to a search result a couple of years ago. it's handy when you're trying to find a specific post! but it has definitely caused... problems too.

but basically yeah if you type the thing you're looking for into the search bar and then just hit enter (or "done" on mobile) it will take you to a search result for every post containing the words you just searched. if you click/tap the thing that says #what you typed , then it'll take you to the tag (which will just be things ACTUALLY tagged with that phrase, verbatim, by op, and not just posts including the words in any order)

as for the acronym thing, it... literally never occurred to me. like i have seen people tag things w the acronym for something if they're just doing an organisational system on their own blog, or they'll include it in the list of tags if something has a really distinct acronym, but i literally always type out the full name of the thing i'm searching for and i never considered not doing that. idk. maybe this is an age thing? i don't know how old you are but if you're younger than me then maybe you've just always had hashtags there as part of your internet-using life and are used to doing things that way while i'm more used to figuring out the exact search terms required to get google to give me exactly what i want. you're probably no more than two years younger than me tbh but that would be enough to do it. who knows! who knows.

[fluffbyday-smutbynight]

Love hits you unexpectedly, sometimes

[a ficlet about the tragic end of the SS Andrea Doria ocean liner - read on Ao3 here]

Love hits you unexpectedly, sometimes. If anyone would know, that would be me.

I was just going my usual way; something I had literally done a hundred times before. Sailing, light as a breeze, to my destination. Loaded with promises of a brighter future, with dreams and hopes of a new life for many. Inebriated with the lavish divertissements I had provided my passengers over the seven-day trip to America.

You see, I was the pride and joy of my country. A jewel of engineering, the envoy of modern progress. 

I was the SS Andrea Doria, for God’s sake. Sleek. Elegant. Unsinkable… 

… Little did I know, that on a warm starry night of July, my bright career – and existence – would come to a tragic end. All because of a momentous, accidental encounter.

I suppose we all have the romantic tendency to see the hand of fate at work, when we can’t make sense of unpredictable, life-changing events. “It was meant to be”, we tell ourselves, wistfully looking back at the past. Rationalising the errors of our ways. But, believe me, MS Stockholm and I weren’t meant to meet. Everything was designed, and rightfully so, to keep us apart. We were going in opposite directions, in fact.

Was it the fault of some cursory carelessness? Of the sum of unforeseeable conditions? Alas, it doesn’t matter now, and it didn’t matter then: by the time we crossed paths, there was nothing we could do to undo our misdeeds.

MS Stockholm hit me, and I crumbled under her massive deadweight tonnage. 

A fatal kiss.

Granted, I should have been the strongest one – perhaps, I overlooked my own weaknesses. And like many an intense, sweeping love, she didn’t announce herself before striking me in my tenderest spot. 

After that, I was left battered and adrift. A shadow of my former self. Inevitably destined to go down in history as an egregious disaster.

Oh, I cried for help. I did, and some answered at the best of their possibilities. 

Among them, which I’ll be forever grateful for, SS Île de France: a dignified old-guard of the seas. In what can be described only as an heroic effort, they rushed to my rescue. A light in the dark, they tried to salvage what they could.

But, like most rebound stories, it didn’t work out in the end. I had too much baggage and too many wounds to be saved. Last I’ve heard, they pursued a career in the film industry. All my best wishes to them.

And MS Stockholm? Where was she, you might ask? She mumbled some excuse – something about her anchors getting stuck – and deserted me. And of course, she didn’t even take responsibility for the wreck she had caused. She’s still out there, somewhere, like nothing happened. Probably (hopefully!) ashamed of her wrongdoings, she changed her name and reinvented herself.

I’m afraid there isn’t a happy ending to this story: while my name lives on as a legend,  and as a cautionary tale; and sometimes I get visited in the hopes of glory and riches… I found my eternal rest in the embrace of the sea. 

Dreaming of all the travels I could have had.

Weeping for all that was lost, on a warm starry night of July.

~~~

(notes and context under the cut)

For anyone who may not know about this: on 25th July 1956, on its 101st crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, SS Andrea Doria was hit and sunk by MS Stockholm right off Nantucket.

The swedish ship had been left in the hands of an inexperienced officer, had strayed off-course, and had failed to signal its presence.

SS Île de France was among the few ships coming to rescue - rushing to the site though it was already two hours off-shore - and the only one with enough lifeboats to make a difference.

Thanks to that, of the 1700+ people on board, there were "only" 51 casualties (most of which had unfortunately died on impact).

MS Stockholm got actually stuck upon the accident. And the naval company refused to take responsibility. And the ship's name was later changed to MV Astoria.

Right before being scrapped, Île de France was used as a prop in the film "The Last Voyage".

Due to its valuable cargo, the SS Andrea Doria is the frequent target of treasure divers and has been dubbed "the Mount Everest of scuba diving".

[highpope]

Silver Keys - Chapter Five

JJ Maybank x OC x Topper Thorton Soulmate AU

warnings: none, let me know if there ever are :)

notes: first, I know this took agesssss I'm sorry but I've been sitting on a couple chapters so you guys should be getting some updates for a while. Second, I lost my tag lists. so lmk if you want added to this one or my general tag list. I've been writing a lot more to cope with my anxiety so... things are coming bahaha. Love you guys, thanks for your support recently - J

Silver Keys Masterlist

June probably wouldn’t admit it to anyone besides her sister and Kie, but going out with Topper was fun. When he had asked her out to have dinner at the country club, she was worried she wouldn’t fit in at all. June was convinced she’d make it about 15 minutes before she bailed and met everyone back at the Chateau. She had on shoes she could barely walk in and a dress she found at goodwill, no doubt someone’s from a homecoming dance in years past and she was fighting the urge to pull her hair up all night. But then she realized they had talked straight through appetizers, dinner, and the waiter had come by twice for the check. The two of them had fallen into a comfortable understanding with each other that had continued into the following weeks.

He picked her up from work on most days, driving around in search of the perfect chocolate chip cookie. June argues that the small bakery run out of one of the local’s houses has the best cookies, but Topper is determined to try every option before making a decision. It had started as kind of a joke, but now it was just an excuse for them to hang out.

Currently, they were at the island’s movie night, chairs propped up near the back and various snacks shared between the two of them. Topper’s arm rested on her shoulders, something she had become accustomed to the past few weeks. June found herself more relaxed with him, it was easy being with Topper. She didn’t have to think or worry, June could just be.

They were playing The Sandlot, arguably the best movie of all time and June had to hold back from saying the iconic lines with the characters. She had grown up watching this movie with her sister and had practically begged Topper to go see it.

“Really?” He had asked the day before, “The movie nights aren’t really our thing.”

“Yeah, that’s because you guys always cause trouble and then get kicked out.”

He shook his head.

“Yes, you do. Besides, you’re gonna be with me and I am a model citizen.”

He laughed then and again in the chair beside her now.

She found herself leaning into him naturally, even with the arms of both their chairs in between them. It was something she had never had previously. June didn’t do relationships. In high school, she mostly stuck with the pogues and focused on school and not getting in trouble with the cops. Sure, she had the occasional crush or hookup with a touron, but nothing was ever serious. Not that this was, but it was closer to that than anything else June had experienced.

The next morning June had her last piano rehearsal with Mrs. Hana before the recital. The Saturday coming up was the big dress rehearsal. The one with the kids from all over the island and hundreds of different schools and programs. And the weekend following that was the recital. Her whole family was going. Her dad had even surprised her by getting a hotel room for all of them and making a whole trip about it. He had to work night shifts for two weeks, but he assured her it was worth it. Not that that added any pressure.

At rehearsal, June played nearly perfectly. She had only messed up a couple of notes near the end. She’d be lucky if Saturday went as smoothly as this. Mrs. Hana corrected her posture and made her go from the top. They went on like this the whole lesson: June playing and her correcting one thing at a time before making her start over. Normally, June would argue, but she knew it was because Mrs. Hana understood how important this was. This could set her future up, get her off the island if she wanted. She could do something she loved every day.

The night before the recital, June was laying on a hammock in John B’s backyard.

“Nervous?” Kie questions.

June shrugged, “Kinda, yeah.”

“I’m sure you’re going to do fine,” Pope said with confidence. It was only the three of them. John B and JJ had ventured out to get snacks and beer but hadn’t been back for an hour. June’s guess was they found a party and couldn’t bother to text an update. That or they got arrested. Which probably would’ve earned a phone call quicker than the first option. She chuckled thinking about this.

“It’s just a rehearsal and Liv is driving down with me so I don’t really have anything to worry about.”

“You seem to have this all figured out,” he said with a laugh.

Kie said, “And I cannot wait to celebrate when you get back! It’s gonna be so fun.”

June could only imagine what her best friend was thinking when she said this. She was sure it would end like most nights did, tipsy and watching movies on John B’s couch. Her favorite way to end a day. The three of them drift into a comfortable silence, lost in their thoughts. June starts to hear a familiar melody, but can’t quite put her finger on it. She was sure it wasn’t anything she had chosen to listen to, but couldn’t figure out where she had heard it before.

She was brought back to reality when John B and JJ come strutting into the yard, cases of beer on their shoulders and grocery bags in their hands. Kie and June both started cheering.

They set down the stuff on the closest table.

“What took so long?” Pope asked, getting up and rummaging through the bags. He pulls out a bag of chips before turning around.

“You’re not even going to believe it.” John B starts, taking a seat.

“Hey,” JJ yelled at June, “Gummies?” He asks and holds up a bag of gummy worms.

She nods her head and he tosses them over before grabbing his own snack and beer and joining her on the hammock. They all listen to JB’s story, JJ adding in his own variations and making everyone laugh.

“And who ended up being in front of us at the grocery store?” He paused for dramatic effect, “Sarah Cameron.”

June realized a beat late that she was supposed to be reacting, “Sarah Cameron!” she repeated.

JJ turned his head to keep from laughing.

“Am I supposed to be excited?” Kie asked, an annoyed expression on her face. She and Sarah used to be friends before they drifted into different friend groups.

“Yes, Kie. It was like fate.”

JJ spoke up, “I would hardly call it fate.”

John B just rolled his eyes at his friends and took another drink.

“What happened to Molly Fields?” Pope questioned. That was the girl we had gone to elementary school with, the latest victim of John B’s soulmate search.

“Nah,'' he dismissed, “This one’s different.”

“Well, I hope it is, JB,” June spoke up. He looked over and smiled at her.

The next morning June and Olivia jump in the car and start towards the concert hall where her dress rehearsal was being held. She had been up for hours, too excited and nervous to sleep. June had gotten ready, done her makeup, changed three times, and called Topper twice all before Olivia had even woken up. Downstairs, their mom had made some breakfast and June couldn’t bear to tell her she was too nervous to eat anything. So, she grabbed a pancake and thanked her parents.

They listened to music the whole way down, Liv was always determined to get June to listen to the most mainstream pop music she could. She always argued that she wouldn’t understand anyone’s references and it would be an embarrassing mess. June made sure to point out that she had made it 18 years without that ever happening, but nonetheless she persisted.

When they arrived, they parked the car and decided to window shop. They were still about an hour early from call time and Liv was restless enough as it was. June was trying to push her nerves down. She didn’t want to come across that way to the instructors. June had a vision that she would walk across the stage, take a deep breath, and be transported by the music. She didn’t want to have the weight of the competition on her shoulders or the constant confusion about her soulmate circling in her head. That was a new development. June found herself lying awake at night going over everything Topper had said or done and trying to place it into this mysterious soulmate cut out she had in her head. She was trying to do a puzzle with the wrong number of pieces. And she wasn’t even sure if it was the right picture on the box.

….

“Okay, turning the key a bunch of times isn’t going to do any good if the battery is dead,” Olivia said, snapping her head to look at June from the passenger side.

After the dress rehearsal, June had called Liv and the two of them had eaten in the cafeteria with a few other performers. June was practically glowing after being there for a few hours, she couldn’t imagine how she would feel at the actual recital. Everything was going perfectly.

Until they got back to the car and realized the battery was dead.

“Well,” June sighed, “I don’t know what else to do.” Her voice pinched.

“Can’t we call a mechanic?”

“Liv, you know we can’t afford that. Especially in this area. We just need a jump.”

She surveyed the empty parking lot and tried to think of what to do without panicking. They were too far from home to have someone just pick them up and there were no cars in sight. Even if there were, they didn’t have any jumper cables. Maybe they could take the bus home and get help tomorrow. June probably had enough cash in her purse for two bus tickets.

“Isn’t there like a trick with distilled water? That could get us somewhere.”

“You think I have distilled water in my car? Besides, I have no idea how to do that.”

“I’m just trying to give you ideas here,” Olivia said, unbuckling her seatbelt and getting out of the car.

June leaned her head back and closed her eyes, thinking and thinking.

She was interrupted when Olivia opened the driver’s side door and handed her the phone, “here.”

Confused, June lifted the phone to her ear, “hello?”

“June? What’s going on?” JJ’s voice was on the other end.

“J, we’re fine. Just a little car trouble.” She rolled her eyes at her sister.

“We’re stranded!” Olivia yelled so that he could hear.

“We’re fine,” she said, shooting her sister a look.

JJ speaks up, “Doesn’t sound fine. June, I’ll just come out and help. No problem.”

“No, no. We just need a jump-”

“I’m already in the car, just send me your location.”

“You don’t have to.”

“Yeah, but I’m going to.”

Defeated, June agrees and sends him the address of the music hall.

About 45 minutes later, JJ pulls into the parking spot opposite of them, “Hey,” he says as he turns the key and gets out of the car.

“Oh thank god! JJ, do you have AC? I’m melting.” Olivia yells. She’s already getting in his truck and rotating the fans to blow her hair back before he can process what she’s just said.

“I’m sorry,” June starts, but he interrupts her.

“Eh, no big deal”

“I can give you gas money for coming all the way out here.”

He shakes his head, “Nah. Here catch.” JJ throws one end of the jumper cables to her, “You know how to put them on?”

June scoffs, “This isn’t my first jump, Maybank.”

Once everything is sorted out with June’s car, the three of them drive to the nearest ice cream shop. Mostly because Olivia was being dramatic and promised to pay for herself, but also to thank JJ for driving the whole way out here just to get them home.

“I don’t know, it’s like what if my soulmate doesn’t like ice cream? Ew, or worse, orders mint chocolate chip.” Olivia said as they headed to a table outside. The spot they had picked was really nice, there were picnic tables with umbrellas lined up on a patio in front of the window they had ordered from.

June just laughed, a conversation the two of them had had more than once.

“What’s wrong with mint chocolate chip?” JJ asked.

Olivia made a face, “only everything.”

“Isn’t the whole point of a soulmate that you overlook those flaws and-”

“Please. Don’t lecture me.” She begs.

“She’s kinda right though,” JJ replies, looking at June for a second and scrunching his nose. She smiles back, looking down at her ice cream.

“Have you heard it?” She asks him.

“Yeah,” he clears his throat, “the other night at John B’s.” He meets June’s eyes. “I fell asleep on the pullout and the storm woke me up. So I was just laying awake and that’s when I heard it. It was really faint. Mad weird though,” He finished and took a bite of his ice cream, making June shudder.

She remembered the night he was talking about. It had stormed for about two days last week. She thought about what she was probably doing at the time, practicing for the recital, maybe reading until

she drifted off.

“Do you think you know who it is?” Olivia inquired.

He shook his head, “No, haven’t thought about it.”

“You don’t wanna know?”

“I mean, sure. But if I’m gonna find out anyway by force of,” he struggled for the right word before landing on, “the universe, then why stress right now?”

That answer seemed to have satisfied her enough because she nodded her head and stopped asking questions.

When she finally pulled into her driveway, June had a phone call.

The three of them had left shortly after ice cream, JJ following them most of the way back before he went off towards John B’s and June continued straight, with a quick wave behind her.

Olivia had practically jumped out of the car before she had even parked so now, June answered her phone, unbuckling her seatbelt.

“Hey,”

“Hey!” Topper said on the other end, “I wanted to see how everything went. I stopped by your house just a little bit ago, but your car wasn’t in front.”

June groaned, “That’s because we just now pulled in. The practice was great! Everyone was so talented and I got to meet a couple of instructors. It was really cool.”

“That’s amazing, bub.”

“Yeah, it really was.”

“What took you so long getting home?”

“Oh, uh. I just had some car trouble, no biggie.”

“Oh, is everything alright?”

“Yeah, yeah. Just needed a quick jump and then we were on our way.” June chuckled, nervously. She hadn’t even thought to call Topper when her car wouldn’t start. Truthfully she hadn’t thought to call anyone, but she still felt nervous to tell him what happened.

“So someone had cables? That’s pretty lucky.” He pressed.

“Uhm. No, actually. We had to call JJ for some help and then we were good to go. It drove perfectly on the way home.”

There was a pause before he spoke again, “You could’ve called or texted me.”

“I didn’t want to bother you. I wasn’t even the one who called JJ, it was Liv.”

“Well, I could’ve helped.”

“It’s fine, really.”

“I would’ve called a mechanic for you, had someone come out and get you.”

“And I would have really appreciated it,” June laughed nervously, “Next time I promise I will call you.”

He stayed silent for a long time before speaking, “It’s just your first thought wasn’t to call your boyfriend. Forgive me if I’m a little upset.”

She pondered over his words for a moment, skipping over the mention of ‘boyfriend,’ “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to come off that way.”

“Yeah,” he sighed, “yeah, you’re right. I’ll call you in the morning, okay?”

June nodded even though he couldn’t see her and hung up the phone. She huffed, threw her phone in her bag, and marched up the sidewalk inside.

[renxzs]

I didn’t get a tag notification for this, so the gasp I gasped when I randomly happened across someone’s reblog of this new chapter…?? Let me tell you, it was dramatic as fuck. 😂 I was so excited for this unexpected Monday treat!

‘Aelin wasn’t particularly surprised when she woke up with her back against Rowan’s chest. … In sleep, her fingers had tangled with his over her stomach.’ - IM ALREADY SCREAMING.

She hasn’t woken up like that since Rowan all those years ago 😭😭 because you love him and there’s no one else—no one compares!!

Aelin is such a little minx, toying with him. Do it again!!

‘“That isn’t what it felt like,” he murmured, pushing his hips flush against her ass.’ - uhm, excuse me.. 🥵 Guess Rowan is here to play, too? I’m here for the contentious sexual tension. 👀 🙌🏼

‘“Considering how little I want to experience his raw panic at that phrase, I’m going to offer a piping hot fuck no to that little request of yours.”’ - bahaha, they’re so obvious to literally everyone around them. Also, your overall dialogue is top tier always. Like, I am eating. this. up.

‘“I always liked you however you happened to be.”’ 🥺🥺

‘It was a breathtaking intimacy that only two people that loved each other deeply could share.’ - my chest is tight. my eyes feel burny. this is moment is so beautiful and sad?? 😭

And then you hit us with: ‘The grief that steeped in her mind like a long-forgotten cup of tea washed over her.’ - Your writing is always so fucking lovely.

There are so many words I want to say and excerpts to highlight that I absolutely fell in love with in that section of the fic, but I’d honestly be highlighting all of it….

ONLY EVER ROWAN. 😭 god, my heart.

‘“There. Now we’re even from this morning.”’ …. 😦 …. THAT WAS SO CRUEL. That is not comparable to a little butt wiggle in the morning. THAT WAS CHARGED FEELINGS, AND BURIED GRIEF AND LOVE, AND DESPERATE INTIMACY and he twisted it into a game just to get the one-up on her??? 😭😭 I’ll be here on the floor for the foreseeable future. I really thought that was going to be this beautiful little stepping stone between them. I see now that I am but a fool. 🥲

I am so glad to have Rowan’s POV again to be reminded he is suffering just as much. Ugh, they’re such longing, hurt idiots. Noooo! Once-in-a-blue-moon moments amidst fights is not enough!! Love each other!!! 😩

‘Calling it a game had been a shitty attempt at self-preservation in the moment, one he hoped she didn’t see through like glass.’ - At least he can admit it. And sorry to say, pal, but I think she’s seeing through it a tad bit more than you’d hoped… oof.

Once again, this chapter was brilliant and wonderful and a fucking rollercoaster of emotions. Also, so sorry that this comment is primarily a bunch of blubbering thoughts barely strewn together, but I’m afraid I have no self-control when it comes to this fic. 😅

a/n: ciwyw is next, i promise lmao. i'm very excited for the feedback on this one. <3

rowaelin // 5.7k words // skoh masterlist // masterlist

Considering how they had always slept twined together, Aelin wasn’t particularly surprised when she woke up with her back against Rowan’s chest. She tried not to move while her eyes adjusted to the sunlight coming through the curtains. Curtains were at the top of her list of things to buy when she went shopping later.

His arm was a warm, steadying weight over her side and she could feel his breath tickling the back of her neck. In sleep, her fingers had tangled with his over her stomach. Now, she had no idea what to do with any extension of her body. It had been a long time since she had been so hyper-aware of anyone touching her. Even longer than that, she hadn’t woken up with another person like this since the last time Rowan left all those years ago. 

And then there was the hardness pressing against her ass that had a giggle threatening to bubble out of her lips. 

Aelin bit her bottom lip to suppress the smile that would surely spiral into a fit of laughter as her hips began wiggling against him like she was trying to get comfortable. Rowan’s breathing changed slightly, a sharper inhale indicating he was at least a little awake now. She paused her movements just long enough to make the whole thing seem innocent before starting up again. The solid length of him grew harder against her. With the nightgown she slept in bunched up around her waist, their underwear was the only thing between them. 

It was the bare skin of her hip that his hand clamped down on to still her, his breath hot against her ear as he growled, “What do you think you’re doing?” 

“Trying to get out from under your arm.” It was an effort to keep her voice level with any amount of sass lacing the letters together. Rowan’s morning voice was truly a work of art, slightly deeper than normal and raspy from sleep. If he listened closely, he could probably hear her heart pounding away in her chest. 

“That isn’t what it felt like,” he murmured, pushing his hips flush against her ass. One shaky inhale later, she was rolling out of bed. Rowan’s hand fisted the sheets where she had just been, eyes sleepy and squinting against the morning sun. 

“We can go back to shouting then.” With a coy flip of her hair over her shoulder, she slipped into the bathroom as he flopped onto his back, hand running down his face. 

The shower was so cold she was shivering by the end, her skin pink from the failed attempt to scrub away the feeling of his body pressed too tightly against hers.

~*~ 

“This is the most depressing thing I have ever had to do,” Aelin mumbled, fingers working black hair color into Fenrys’s roots. The shitty box dye was going to wreck the stunning threads of gold and she hated that she had any part in it. When she went down for breakfast her heart had nearly fallen out of her ass at the sight of Fenrys and Connall with close-cropped cuts. Thankfully there was some length remaining on top where their curls were able to thrive, but it wasn’t enough. It could barely be tucked behind their ears. It felt like a crime. 

Aelin had already dyed, washed, and styled her hair into soft waves. She even took to snipping at the ends until her burgundy strands grazed the tops of her breasts. It had taken up the first two hours of the morning— the last thirty of it spent frowning at her reflection. Ever since she was little, her golden waves had been a source of pride. When she put in the green contacts, all of her remarkable features would vanish down the drain. 

“It’ll wash out,” Fen reminded her. “And it’s just hair.” 

“It’s going to take forever to grow back and probably just as long for the dye to wash out. This shit is hard to come back from.” It would be easier for her, but not for him. Evidently, Fenrys didn’t know that. A frown took over his entire face as he looked at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. While being identical, there were subtle differences between the twin’s faces that those close to them could point out. He was still beautiful, but his naturally golden blonde hair had made him look like the sun to Connall’s moon. Now they were both night-kissed with darkness. 

There was no chance in hell that they could swap places without anyone catching it. As soon as Fenrys opened his mouth anyone would be able to tell that they most definitely were not the same person. Where his brother was calm and subdued, Fen was a raging storm of chaos and Aelin loved that about him. 

“Now we let it cook,” she sighed, plopping a processing cap over the top to keep the hair from slipping over his forehead and staining his skin. 

With a pat on his shoulder, she headed for the kitchen with Fenrys trailing behind her. Aelin grabbed a bag of grapes from the fridge and slid onto one of the barstools while she skimmed the file of her temporary identity. Having read through it several times already, the facts about her fake life were cemented into her mind. 

Her name was Lillian Gordaina, and she was the Duchess of a small territory south of Bellhaven in Fenharrow. They received their titles and territory a year ago as a wedding gift when she married her husband, Asher Gordaina, the Duke. Both of them came from royal bloodlines, and their pairing and the work they did together is what had their Lord and Lady titles. While they didn’t have any children, they loved their dogs and were very involved with animal rights charities and the arts. According to the king and queen, they represented what the future could and should be like. Their attendance at the ball alongside Fenharrow nobles was to properly introduce them to royals from other countries. 

Terrasen had a quite strong allegiance with Fenharrow, partially because her uncle was good friends with their king and queen. It was likely that he spoke with them to loop them in without giving away too much detail of the mission. Aelin wasn’t sure a real Duke and Duchess even existed for that little cluster of villages, or if they were taking an imaginary workload from the ones that oversaw Bellhaven. Not that it mattered, but she still wondered.

“Aelin?” Rowan’s voice carried down the hall from their bedroom and caused her heart to lurch beneath her ribs. Aelin’s eyes slipped shut as she dropped her forehead against Fen’s shoulder harder than she meant to. A dull throb pulsed between her eyebrows and he patted her sympathetically on the shoulder. 

“Say I’ve died,” she whispered with pleading eyes as she lifted her head. 

“Considering how little I want to experience his raw panic at that phrase, I’m going to offer a piping hot fuck no to that little request of yours.” And to think she thought she’d won everyone but Lorcan in the divorce. 

Aelin tsked as she rose to her feet, back arching in a feline stretch. She savored another grape, eyes unfocused and staring out the window and wondering how long it would take for him to come looking for her. Fenrys swiveled in his seat and guided her with a hand on her waist until she was forced to take the first damning steps toward her ex-boyfriend. Fenrys was a traitorous bastard.

Shoulders rolling to loosen her arms, she steeled herself for a fight. Rowan hadn’t sounded angry when he called for her, but it was odd that he was seeking her out for anything to begin with. The uncertainty had her on high alert as her toes crossed the threshold into their room. Rowan was found sitting on a stool in the bathroom, running his hand over the back of his neck. 

No evidence of his silver hair remained on his head, nor in the bits of hair on the floor around him. It was now a dirty blonde that toed the line of being light brown. They both looked equally surprised at the other’s makeovers and neither said anything for a moment. Their eyes remained locked through the mirror as she leaned against the bathroom door.

“Hey,” he said finally, reaching up to scratch his jaw. 

“Hi?” It came out as perplexed as she felt. Even her nose was wrinkled a bit as he turned to look at her directly. 

“I was uh– I was wondering if you’d help me cut the longer bit.” Rowan motioned to the pair of scissors that lay beside the clippers he’d used for the parts he wanted shorter. “I don’t trust any of the guys with scissors near my head, and you always did a good job.” 

There were times when Rowan shaved his head in the early days of their relationship for ease of things while deployed. Once he started letting it grow back in, Aelin had watched a thousand tutorials on how to cut men’s hair. Eventually, she was pretty good at it. Not enough to quit her job and start a new business, but well enough that Rowan asked her for haircuts and trims when he was home. 

“Of course.” She pushed off the door and reached for the scissors, Rowan’s hand darting out to stop her from picking them up. Her raised eyebrows asked the question her lips didn’t have to say.

“Without fucking it up.” The corners of her mouth twitched into a smile, her fingers closing around the cool metal. She grabbed the comb with her other hand and began running it through his hair. Because she had the excuse, her fingers slipped through the silky strands as she debated on how to cut it. Rowan took the moment to shake his arms out, loosening the muscles that seemed to stay too tight when she was around. 

“Relax,” she mused, slipping into the space between his thighs. Using her fingertips, she tilted his head from one side to the other.  “I’m cutting your hair, not getting ready to kick your ass in a sparring match.”

Rowan snorted but seemed to ease up if only a little. His hands were resting flat against his thigh, one leg bouncing to dispel anxious energy. When he bumped into her she shot him a warning glare, snipping the scissors in his face as a reminder of what might happen if he didn’t take a breath and chill out. 

Aelin began cutting, taking her time to ensure it was even. Rowan alternated from sitting with his eyes closed to gazing up at her face. The only other place for him to look was at her chest, and he seemed to be doing an okay job of avoiding that. She was pretty sure she caught him a few times, though. 

“Your hair was so pretty,” she sighed, moving to stand beside him while she cut the sides and around to the back. “Now it’s ruined.”

“You don’t like me like this, Princess?” Aelin’s tongue ran over her teeth as she glanced at him briefly in the mirror. 

“I always liked you however you happened to be.” It felt like too vulnerable a thing to say, especially when he turned his head to look at her. Ignoring his eyes, Aelin turned his head forward. “Be still. I’m almost done.”

A few minutes later she was back between his legs and working a pomade through his freshly dyed locks. Considering how long it had been since she’d readied him for any sort of occasion, it took her longer than it used to. She was probably being a little nit-picky, but they had a photoshoot in two hours where they had to look royal for crying out loud. If there was a time to be precise, it was now. 

“There. Perfect.” Aelin smiled a little and turned,  reaching for the faucet to wash her hands. Halfway his fingers caught hers and tugged. Ever so slowly, she turned back to look at him. The calluses of his free palm scratched against her skin as they slowly wrapped around the back of her thigh just above her knee. 

A suppressed shiver broke free as it dragged up her side and finally reached hesitantly toward her face. The other spread her fingertips until he could weave their fingers together. If he noticed the residue of the pomade on her hands, he didn’t seem to care. She knew she should stop this– that she should pull away from him and haul ass to the kitchen to wash her hands to put distance between them. Instead, she leaned into the first brush of his hand against her cheek. 

Their eyes were locked, his pupils blown wide with what could only be desire. The heat of his body so close had her taking another small step toward him without needing to be guided. Her legs were trapped between his and in this secret moment, she didn’t want to be anywhere else. 

The pad of his thumb brushed over her jaw while his hand slid around, fingers nestling perfectly into the dip at the base of her skull. All of the air in the room must have been sucked out because she was finding it increasingly hard to breathe. Each breath was measured and it seemed like he was doing the same thing as he gently guided her face closer to his. 

Rowan untangled his hand from hers and guided her hand to the side of his neck where her fingers immediately twined into the hair at his nape. Almost involuntarily, she traced over the cupid’s bow of his lips with her free hand. In a moment of aching defeat, she rested her forehead against his and allowed her eyes to close. For a long moment, they just breathed each other in. It was a breathtaking intimacy that only two people that loved each other deeply could share. 

The grief that steeped in her mind like a long-forgotten cup of tea washed over her. It became abundantly clear that she had never worked through it. Their relationship had always been more about their romantic feelings. He was her very best friend as much as her lover, sometimes more so. This moment didn’t poke and prod at the wounds that still felt so fresh most days. It soothed them. 

Never stilling the movements of his hand that ran up and down her side, he pulled back just enough to look at her. The tips of their noses brushed as he whispered her name like it was the most reverent prayer he could offer to any god. Aelin shivered, lips parting on a shallow breath. Rowan’s mouth grazed the corner of her’s and he looked at her one more time like he was asking permission. There was a desperation in his eyes that she hadn’t seen in ages. 

It was a man begging the god he worshiped. For what, she didn’t know. If it was forgiveness he sought it would be a long time coming. Or was it just the taste of her lips that he needed? Was he begging to brand her skin with the touch of his hands, his lips, his tongue? The crumbling self-control she grasped for was slipping like sand through her fingers. At the soft whisper of her name, it blew away with the wind. 

Whatever expression lay on her face must have been good enough because the next moment his lips were on hers and she was unraveling at the taste of him. Nothing mattered but the feeling of his hands on her body, of his lips taking little breaks to press sweet kisses to her cheeks before claiming her mouth again. At the first brush of his tongue her knees nearly gave out, the grip she had on his hair tightening until he groaned low in his throat. It wasn’t the sound of pain, but one of pleasure.

The fingerprints she left on his neck and jaw were sticky from the pomade, but neither of them cared enough to stop. The strokes of his tongue were exploratory like he wanted to relearn every part of her. His lips were starving to memorize every inch, every dip, curve, and angle of her body until it was scorched into his memory. Aelin needed it, she realized. She needed to taste him, feel him beneath her fingertips. Every atom in her body was aching to be touched and felt and explored by only him. Only ever Rowan.

The nip of his teeth against her bottom lip didn’t hold the bite of their words. This kiss felt like that first deep breath on a snowy morning. It awoke all of her senses and sent shivers down her spine and heat blazing across her skin. The warmth of his body grounded her as his hand pressed against the small of her back and pressed her chest flush against his. Rowan’s lips seared trails of fire down her jaw and neck, then back up to capture her mouth again and she wanted to burn right here in this spot forever. Desire and need flooded her body and pooled in her core. The moan that slipped through her lips was caught with his teeth and tongue. Shaking hands contracted against her sides, fingertips digging into her skin roughly as he pulled her toward him and—

And then he pushed her back, ripping his mouth from hers. The heat of his body vanished as he leaned back to put space more between them. A thousand emotions flashed through his eyes before he managed to pull any kind of mask together by clearing his throat. 

“There.” Spare bravado was pulled from his pockets as he smirked, dropping his hands from her waist. She hated how much she missed the contact.  “Now we’re even from this morning.”

It would be a bald-faced lie to say the words didn’t burn worse than flames licking at her skin. But she also knew Rowan Whitethorn better than she knew anyone. As good as he was at hiding his emotions from everyone around him, there was no point in even trying when it came to Aelin. She looked into his eyes and could see that it was about more than just this morning. There was no possible way that those kisses had meant nothing more than settling an imaginary score. Not when his chest was heaving and his cheeks were stained a rosy red. Words said one thing, but the intent way his eyes remained focused on her said something else entirely. He was a predator hunting his prey and she would let him devour her. 

Unless that was all it had been: a game. The thought cut deep and she had no one to blame but herself. A stupid game she accidentally started this morning because being a pain in his ass was easier than being civil. 

Her lips pressed together in a thin line and she had to ball her hands into fists to hide their tremors. Fresh heat crept over her cheeks and down her neck as she nodded once and stepped out of his reach lest he try and touch her again. It wasn’t a luxury she could afford to indulge in. That one would wreck her and everything she was entirely. 

“Next time I’m fucking up your hair,” she quipped, pockets empty of her usual swagger. Aelin didn’t look at him again as she walked out and grabbed what she needed to finish getting ready for the afternoon. 

The bathroom she chose to get ready in wasn’t nearly far enough from Rowan. Close was too close but far was too far. Every cell in her body needed to be touched by him, to feel his muscles flex and relax beneath her fingertips. It was a slow descent into madness that she wasn’t sure would ever be able to crawl out of if she kept going down that forgotten, overgrown path. 

Even though he was currently winning the game with no rules between them, one thing was for certain: Aelin would be the one to secure victory over the whole damn thing. 

~*~

“The gods are playing a cosmic joke on me,” Aelin said to Fenrys, staring at the gown she was expected to wear for the photoshoot in half an hour. Even her friend was gobsmacked over the miles and miles of tulle and lace that seemed to take up half the room. 

Simply put, it was the dress for a royal that couldn’t show too much but gave just enough. The monstrosity of a dress would turn her into a walking cupcake and she was already imagining how itchy the lace sleeves would be that ran down to her wrists. It was a far cry from what she would have worn for her wedding, but she supposed that didn’t matter. Not anymore, not ever. 

“At least it couldn’t be further from what you would actually wear,” Fen offered, carefully pulling it off the hanger. The comfort was lost as she sighed heavily and undressed to her undergarments. allowed him to zip her into the dress. Fen zipped her into it, careful to avoid getting the excess fabric caught in the teeth. The skirts were so long that she would have to carry them to avoid getting tripped up on the short walk to the living area. 

“If Rowan says a single smarmy thing, I will throttle him while wearing this dress.” 

“I’ll take videos and send them to everyone I know. It’ll travel quickly through the entire military and he’ll never live it down.” Aelin chuckled darkly, heaving the skirts up as the funeral procession to her twisted fate began. 

Over the last hour, the sitting room was carefully staged for the photos. They were only doing a handful of poses and she was thankful for it. With that kiss still haunting every corner and crevice of her mind, she was uncertain how long she could be near him without combusting. 

Rowan may have made it about a game, yet she wasn’t entirely sure it was. Games were far more reckless, but maybe he was aiming to destroy her like she thought she was trying to do to him. At the thought of those slow, exploratory kisses she stumbled. The combination of her sock and the tulle made the floor much more slippery than it should have been. Fenrys caught her elbow to keep her from falling outright and she murmured a quiet thank you. 

If it wasn’t for the swishing of the gown, she would have been able to sneak up on the rest of the Cadre. Rowan and Lorcan were discussing something with their backs to her, while Vaughan and Connall shared a bowl of popcorn. When Rowan turned around she pointed a finger at him and then every other man in the room. 

“I don’t want to hear a single word.” Her voice was hard, eyes slightly narrowed. Rowan’s mouth opened but she swung her finger back around to him. “Not. One. Word.” 

In a shocking display of self-control, his jaws clamped shut. For once, his expression was unreadable as he scanned her from head to toe. The feeling of not being able to read his thoughts on his face was foreign. Aelin did not like it. 

Rowan didn’t look like a dessert the way she did. Well, he did, but she shoved those thoughts far out of her mind as she looked at him. Aelin had always loved him in a tux and this was no exception. It was a simple black with a bow tie hugging his neck. A few medals and pins signified he was of some military ranking for Fenharrow like most of the royal men were. Aelin didn’t bother looking too closely, it would just wind her even tighter than she already was. 

“Are we ready?” The photographer asked. It was a young man she had met a few times over the years named Luca. While she had the strongest desire to say that no, she wasn’t and would likely never be, she nodded. As she came to a stop at Rowan’s side, a woman she hadn’t noticed and was unfamiliar with adjusted her skirts around them. “Where is Aelin’s ring?” 

“I have it,” Rowan said, lifting her hand and sliding it into place. His lips were pressed so tightly together that they had disappeared entirely. This was going to be harder than she thought, much like the rest of her current job requirements. 

“Relax. It’s a fake ring, not your death sentence,” she hissed, yanking her hand away and adjusting the fake diamond ring on her finger. Like the dress, she supposed it was pretty but wasn’t her style at all. It was a large stone surrounded by a dozen or so smaller ones. Where she preferred true yellow gold, it was silver. Not that her thoughts on the fake wedding ring she wore mattered. 

The pair of soldiers were painfully stiff during the shoot. Halfway through Fenrys marched over and grabbed Aelin by the hands, shaking her arms around until she was loose and laughing. Though Rowan didn’t dissolve into a fit of laughter as she did, Fen did the same thing to him. It took some time but they were eventually able to lean into each other without looking like they were trying to escape their own skin. 

“Can you look at each other and like, I don’t know, pretend you’re looking at someone you love?” Luca asked halfway through. The poor kid was completely unaware of their volatile history. Their peanut gallery groaned, anticipating violence to be brewing in their eyes. 

“That would take an entire bottle of whiskey each,” Connall murmured, popcorn crunching between syllables. It took Aelin longer than she would have liked to get the courage to look up into Rowan’s face.

Neither of them were up to par because Luca sighed so hard with epic frustration. Aelin looked at the ground and closed her eyes for a moment to collect herself. Large hands flexed at her sides like he was doing the same. Years of unresolved feelings and pain settled heavily between them. 

Look at each other and pretend you’re looking at someone you love. 

The worst part was that for her, it wasn’t a stretch. She hated it, grinding that irritation to dust between her teeth until they squeaked. It was like nails on a chalkboard and she shivered violently in Rowan’s arms. 

“Much better, Rowan. Aelin, this isn’t a battle. Can you like? I don’t know? Relax?” Each staccato phrase flipped up at the ends like a question. With a dry look at Luca, she took a moment to open her mouth as wide as she could to stretch out her jaw. She practiced smiling at Fenrys who gave her an encouraging thumbs up. It took a few extra wiggles to loosen her limbs, but she looked back up at Rowan. 

Just like this morning, his features had softened around the edges. He brought one hand up to rest along her jaw and gazed down at her with a familiarity that made her stomach flip. With her heart taking off in her chest, she found it harder to breathe when he was looking at her like that. Aelin lightly held onto his wrist, the other on his waist, and let out a long breath. 

“If it’ll help,” Rowan murmured, his thumb idly stroking along her jaw, “We can go outside and you can kick my ass after this.”

As much as she didn’t want to, she laughed. At the sound that came barrelling out of her, Rowan grinned widely. Click click click. Luca fired away, a few of the shots while they were in light motion. Aelin shaking her head at Rowan, him leaning his face a little closer to hers. 

“We can do the garden shots and be done. I’m sure they can work with what we have.” Their young photographer announced. Relief flooded her body in cooling waves. The gown was unzipped before she made it to their room, heaps of fabric falling into a pile on the floor just inside the room. 

It helped that she didn’t feel like herself at all. The hair, the contacts, and the clothing style were so at odds with her own. None of it was her. It was a character she was playing. Not being able to recognize herself had her wondering if it made things easier for Rowan, too. 

~*~

Seeing Aelin in a wedding gown, however ridiculous it may have been, was nearly enough to send him to his knees. 

Trying to reign in his emotions and school his features into a bored mask had been difficult. While he knew it was nothing like her, Aelin in a white gown implying that she was wholly his for the rest of his life was soul-crushing. It took everything in him to pretend he was as irritated about the whole thing as she was. Sure, he hated the whole thing. It was a constant struggle to keep his emotions in check through all of it. He just didn’t hate it because he hated her the way she did him. 

Rowan’s violent dislike of the situation was because it was a window into their past. It was a glimpse at how things were meant to be years ago when he had dropped the ball time and time again. The distaste that overcame his features while putting the ring on her finger had nothing to do with the act itself, and everything to do with it being the wrong ring. The cheap silver with a CZ stone was not the one that he should have been sliding into place. The dress that made her look like a pastry was not the one she was supposed to be wearing. 

It was all just fucking wrong, and every single piece of him was vividly aware of it.

Voicing that wasn’t an option. What good would it do anyway? She was better off without him, always had been, and he wasn’t going to start dragging her down that road now. Rowan could deal with her anger. They could fight it out and have once-in-a-blue-moon moments together when they were alone and it would sustain him. It had to be enough because it was all he could give her. 

The only future for them would be a working relationship full of barbed comments and wicked words slung like gunfire. Aelin would keep being mad at him and he would let her because it was easier than the alternative. Even asking, begging for forgiveness as he should, was too much to put her through. She bore enough wounds on her heart and soul to him. There was no reason to add any more. 

And he damn sure wouldn’t be kissing her like that again. Not when the feeling of her soft lips and the taste of her tongue had undone him so thoroughly his hands still shook. All of the walls he had erected over the last several years where she was concerned were crumbling at an alarming rate. Calling it a game had been a shitty attempt at self-preservation in the moment, one he hoped she didn’t see through like glass. 

“You good?” She asked him as they walked through the garden. Aelin had changed into a long-sleeved, brown turtleneck. Her pants were a few shades darker and wide-legged with cream-colored shoes peeking out as they walked. Rowan was wearing a simple navy blue suit with the collar of his shirt undone. 

“Yep,” he replied, adjusting his hand until their fingers laced together. These photos were just meant to look candid like they had been caught on a stroll. In a few, Aelin had the smart idea to smile and wave toward the camera like she had spotted paparazzi. Though he knew she would be good at this, it was still a little surprising that she had thought of something to make it that much more tangibly believable.

“We’re almost done. Then you can go back to hating my guts.” She looked up at him and smiled, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. Rowan hated those contacts. It was like a wall between them and he felt like he couldn’t see her anymore. 

“I don’t hate you, Aelin.” Rowan sighed at the truth and immediately wanted to shove it back down his throat. Waterboarding was less painful than giving her pieces of him that were real these days. “I do, however, hate the contacts.”

“Do you know how weird it is that your eyes are brown right now?” 

“Probably as weird it is for me that yours are green,” he murmured just as Luca announced the ending of their session. 

Aelin groaned a thank you to the gods and dropped his hand so abruptly it was like he’d been burning her the entire time. The heels came off and were carried back to the house, both of them quiet. The heartbeats of silence were heavy and he couldn’t decide if it was better or worse than the chaos of their arguments. At least with the arguments, he knew what she was thinking. 

“I might take you up on training later,” she finally said as they walked through the back door. 

“Oh?”

“I’m going to do some shopping for civilian attire, but maybe when I get back?” Aelin paused and turned to look at him, her eyebrows slightly raised. It felt stupid, but Rowan thought he might be able to read her better if she just took out those stupid lenses.

“You don’t want to train with Fenrys instead?” 

Aelin’s eyes rolled and then crossed as she stuck her tongue out at him and replied, “Are you still making me promises you don’t intend to keep?”

It was a cheap shot meant to get under his skin, and Mala fucking flay him, it did. For the first time all day, something almost playful flashed in her eyes while waiting for an answer. This woman was going to be the death of him.

“I’m not— No. Find me when you get back.” 

“I won’t be pulling my punches,” she said as she turned to walk away. A warning or a promise, he wasn’t sure. He didn’t know which option he preferred, either. 

“I wouldn’t expect you to.” His words were said to nothing and no one because, by the time he finally found something to say, she was already gone. 

@elentiyawhitethorn @autumnbabylon @fancysludgeshoelamp  @wordsafterhours @live-the-fangirl-life @the-hospitality-of-knives @tangledraysofsunshine @readandlisten @westofmoon @rowanaelinn  @morganofthewildfire @writtenonreceipts @feynightlight @emster1622-blog @scarblx @thefaetrove @loveyatopluto @actuallybarb @peppermint-fae @the-devils-own @scottmcgivemeacall @livingmylifeforme  @wordsafterhours @foreverfallingforthestars @llyncooljones @emily-gsh @loosesimplicity @emilyrose111294  @charlizeed @aelinchocolatelover @cretaceous-therapod @sayosdreams @fireheart-violet @the-regal-warrior @backtobl4ck @shyvioletcat @bellasbookboyfriends @icantfindmychashma @swankii-art-teacher 

[helloliriels]

Hope you're doing okay! Love all of your works so what about 4 and 7 for the writing asks?

Rest up and get well soon!

Thank you bunches 😊 and I will try!!

Haha! These are fun:

#4 - OC - don't think I've introduced anyone new so far (besides HARRY WATSON!!!) osorry was shouting that at BBC Sherlock writers. I feel very protective of my version of Harry, but until we see her ... I guess she's my only OC 😄

#7 - My favorite Ao3 tag (so far) is:

'No Beta We Die Like Men' - implies an audacity to the fic that just ... is tempting lol

Thx for the ask!!! 💋

EDIT: I STAND CORRECTED!! LOL 😂 I apparently have two OC's!! Jimmy and Ian ...

Bahaha! John's triplet bros for @discordantwords fic LONG LOST ...

[makeusfreefromthisfandom]

I know bbs. I know. We’re all crying in the club here. Some cute pocket sized AU headcanons so we can disregard anything that we’ve seen or read and just make this the new canon. Also please forgive me if this is a bit lacking the only writing I’ve been doing for the past 3 weeks is for school LMAO

Part 1 | Part 2

Tagging my fav blogs because we all just need some fluffy cuteness right about now: @mysteriousmagicx @attackonfics @aj-writes-here @misa-bun @commanderserwin

The Veterans Pocket Sized! AU Pt 3 (Attack on Titan)

You wipe the beads of sweat off your forehead as you carefully descend the stairs, mint green box in your hands

SOMEHOW you managed to sit all the vets down on their tiny bottoms, away from all the chaos, and play a nice little board game for a change

Oh if you just knew how wrong you were....

No way is MONOPOLY about to be a “nice little board game”

So anyways you start setting up the board on a large, terri coffee table, peaking the vets’ interest as they stand on they’re tippy toes to peek over your arm in curiosity

“M...o...n...o...p...o...l...y....” Erwin walks across the the lid of the box, finger on chin, in thought.

You sighed pointing towards Moblit

“You’re banker.”

And with that you headed off towards your bedroom, shutting the door, and hitting the sheets for a much needed nap.

Moblit’s just kinda like “m-m-me???” 😰

“Oi how do you even play this?” Levi kicked a game piece slightly, watching it roll to the other side of the board.

“You don’t know how to play?” Nanaba looked at him in surprise

“ATTENTION!”

Ladies and gents, our man ahem little man Erwin has taken the stand and is about to explain ALL the rules for the game

Good luck that’s gonna take awhile

So FINALLY after much questions and confusion, everyone has the gist of it and have begun to play.

I guess you can imagine how it goes...

Some of these vets are spending their cash like crazyyyy (it’s Nanaba) poor Moblit is having a hard time keeping track

Bro Hanji is on a fucking roll tho

Like surprisingly she keeps buying properties, and at first they were all getting onto her, saying she’ll go broke

But it all payed off because EVERYONE keeps landing on her properties WITH THE HOUSES TOO

And it’s poor Levi who’s the victim most of the time

He’s cussing everything out at this point

“This game it shit!”

Or like “fuck capitalism”

Erwin is on high alert tho, he’s guarding his ONE property with absolute devotion and dedication, in fact, he’s sat himself right dab smack in the middle of it.

Oh and that property he owns is Boardwalk

Yeah no way is he letting Hanji’s greedy little fingers get ahold of that even though she literally already owns Park Place

Anywaysssss look at Mike!

Everyone was so distracted by Hanji and Levi’s arguments, that they completely miss Mike!

This dude has hit the jackpot each and every time he’s landed on both chest and chance

He’s got that $$$ nose yk~

I feel like Moblit can’t even get chance to really concentrate on his turns he’s too busy handling all that money coming in and out 😭

But I feel like he’s actually smart and is investing in the utilities instead since no one else thinks they’re that important

Anyways Nanaba tries to invest in all the properties that are I color groups of her fav color lolololl

Ok so I haven’t even gotten to these auctions and bids yet

All I have to say is that they are HEATED and INTENSE

it’s Levi complaining about how Hanji and Mike have literally taken the entire board and how Erwin is still too stubborn to let go of his stupid boardwalk

They don’t have to worry about that for too long tho because Hanji is the first one to go bankrupt BAHAHA

All those properties are back up for sale and just when Moblit thinks he can finally relax and take a breather from being banker, it’s all up in chaos again

Bro even my dude Mike over here is starting to lose his cool a bit bc he’s luck is now beginning to go down hill

HES ROLLING TOO MANY DOUBLES BAHAHAHA

“Oi Erwin!” Levi’s gotten ahold of Park Place now and has been trying to convince Erwin to let go of his freaking boardwalk already

Oh yea so long story short, no one actually ends up winning the games because Hanji really can’t stand off to the side as a spectator and decides to cause a little mischief

Anyways she ends up pissing Levi off and now he’s absolutely had it, and begins going after her

Cash and cards flying in the air, pieces being knocked over

Nanaba sighs and hops off the coffee table

Mike still trying roll so he can get out of jail already

Moblit taking cover under the lid of the Monopoly box

Erwin is still plopped down on his boardwalk

And you are fast asleep, oblivious to the events going on outside....poor you.

OH I FORGOT TO MENTION WHAT TOKENS THEY WOULD BE

Erwin: car Hanji: shoe Levi: hat (awww just imagine Hanji placing that little hat on his head bless her soul😣❤️) Mike: dog Nanaba: either cup or iron Moblit: wheelbarrow

[jacksjoke]

thank you for the tag, @wavelovespang! 💖

what is the colour of your hairbrush? just black gjhglkjd

name a food you never eat. i don’t like squash or yams

are you typically too warm or too cold? i’m cold so i put a sweater on and then i get too hot djkkghlkjd and so it goes

what were you doing 45 minutes ago? i was re-watching bake-off!

what’s your favourite candy bar? i like almond joys (ignoring the almonds lol) or a regular hershey’s bar tbh

have you ever been to a professional sports game? ya! american football, basketball, and football (soccer)

what is the last thing you said out loud? i’m singing along to p!atd’s ‘the piano knows something i don’t know’ so “swan diving off of the deep end” ....telling, i think fdghfdkj

what is your favourite ice cream? i prefer ice cream mochi actually fhjhld and my favourite of those is caramel, vanilla, and strawberry

what was the last thing you had to drink? water always

do you like your wallet? its a hand-me-down so it was free therefore sure i like it fine dfhglkdfj it’s unfortunately cheetah print and gaudy so i’d prefer something far simpler like a regular brown or black wallet or something but ghgldfghdkj

what is the last thing you ate? brownies i made!

did you buy any new clothes weekend? bahaha- no.

what’s the last sporting event you watched? like, actively? i can’t recall

what is your favourite of popcorn? lightly salted

who is the last person you a text message to? one of the bosses at my job asking about my shift tomorrow lol

ever been camping? hell no <3

do you take vitamins? i should but i don’t gkjhkd

do you regularly attend a place of worship? i don’t

do you have a tan? when i can go outside in the summer i do but otherwise i’m somewhat pale

do you prefer chinese or pizza? pizza but it has to be really good

do you drink your soda through a straw? i don’t drink soda unless it’s an ice cream float so no dfhkjghlkd

what colour socks do you usually wear? striped or white

do you ever drive above the speed limit? driving scares me so if i do it’s no more than 5 or 6 above the limit on the rare occasions i have to drive

what terrifies you? see #23 lmaooo ALSO willful and/or learned racism/ignorance/bigotry etc.

look to your left, what do you see? my blank wall fdhgkjdfl and then up some a graphic art of freddie mercury ✊

what chore do you hate most? cleaning the shower or the sink

what do you think of when you hear an australian accent? h2o: just add water the mermaid series fdjkghglkhdkj or brian jordan alvarez getting on australian news for his fake accent lmaooooooooo

what’s your favourite soda? i don’t drink any too often ://

do you go into a fast food place or just hit the drive thru? drive thru esp during covid

what’s your favourite number? not sure i have one

who’s the last person you talked to? mi madre

favourite meat? really good and well done steak

last song you listened to? right now the higher pitch of ‘cherry wine’ by hozier is playing GOD i love lesbian hozier hgkjhfddkj

last book you read? i’m trying to finish the portrait of dorian gray bc i started it years ago fjkhldhdkj

favourite day of the week? currently mondays because of manner of death jkhlgkjd

can you say the alphabet backwards? am i a magician dfjkhdkj im lucky if i can say it normally without stammering bye

how do you like your coffee? i don’t like coffee <3 (unless it’s ice cream)

favourite pair of shoes? a really old hand-me-down of my sister’s that are white k-swiss she had from middle school lmaooo she’s like 25 and im 21 now so ya they’re mad old and falling apart but i love themmm

time you normally get up? around 9:30 am

what do you prefer, sunrise or sunsets? sunsets i guess :// (*cries in teh/oh-aew*)

how many blankets on your bed? two!

describe your kitchen plates. mixed patterns lol

describe your kitchen at the moment. messy

do you have a favourite alcoholic drink? no i don’t drink regularly enough to have one

do you play cards? no i find it confusing and boring lol i’d rather play a more interactive game like cards against humanity or something

what colour is your car? i share it w my sister and it’s grey/silver

can you change a tire? no hdfkjhgldfkj would’ve helped when i hit a curb back in august lmaoo rip

your favourite state or province? i haven’t been there but maine just aesthetically. or maybe alaska because i HAVE been there and i love it

favourite job you’ve had? i like the one i have right now tho it’s an internship and i don’t mind my part-time cashiering bc i like talking to people :)

thanks again cass! like cass i’ll tag the gifted gays gc 💖 @giftedgays

[joeytrlbiani]

November Ice Breaker Tag Game

I was tagged by the awesome @erascrhead  *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Tagging: @mikoshigirl @snowyhunter @castiel @chonis @starlightcastiel + anyone who would like to do it! ✧

All my responses are under the cut x

November Ice Breaker

1 - What was the last thing you were really excited about?

BAHAHA honestly, the spn finale. Also, buying new underwear ????? don’t know why I found that so exciting but I was just keen to get new ones that fit me better and looked caUTE y’know?

2 - What do you wish someone taught you long ago?

Hmm... that I don’t need to constantly justify doing nice things for myself? I have a bad habit of that - feeling like I need to explain and justify everything I want for myself so that way I get some sort of validation for my decisions ????? I’m better now than I used to be - and I do things for myself that make me happy now more often, but idk - I just wish I was more self-aware of it earlier so I could address it earlier? :P 

3 - What are some of your guilty pleasures?

ooo garbage home shows like house hunters HAHA

4 - What topic could you give a twenty minute presentation on without any preparation?

mm why the spn finale was absolute garbo, also ethics and morality? hit me upw with those moral dilemmas so I can dissect them for chuu and play devil’s advocate ::D:D:D:D

5 - What scene in a movie or tv show gives you goose-bumps every time you watch it?

The scene in Me and Earl and The Dying Girl when he’s playing her the homemade film & Brian Eno’s ‘The Big Ship’ plays. Beautiful.

6 - What were some of your favourite holiday traditions growing up?

mm, my grandma’s homemade compote - delicious.

7 - What book had the most significant impact on you?

Would have to say probably The Great Gatsby. I had to read for literature in hs and I ended up really investing myself within the narrative & the pretty style of writing that Fitzgerald has. I’m also just a sucker for complex protags and a bittersweet ending yknow? 

8 - What weird thing do you have nostalgia for?

watching friends at 4am in my bed with my pillow propped up against the wall and my PC screen turned towards me on the desk to binge episodes before school

9 - What's a problem you have, that might be entirely unique to you?

I don’t think there are any problems that can be really unique to anyone?? (ayo watch that philosophy minor coming out) but I guess one might be that every time I move rental properties, I have a shithouse agent and a major problem ??? (i.e. last apartment had a air con unit that was going to explode that wasn’t being fixed, and now my apartment had a leak that nobody is willing to fix & there is mold growing behind the wall :)))))))))

10 - What are two of your favourite snacks?

ooo ice cream (cookies & cream or mint), and just a cup of good ol’ eng breakfast tea? is that a snack? lmao

[jlpplays1]

~Drake- “You’ll See, Walker..” He says with sweet smile and a kiss. ❤️ Part 1

Find Part 2 coming soon :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Book: The Royal Heir

~~all characters belong to pixelberry

Summary: Drake has planned a day of special surprises

(Both Parts =3,728 words)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author’s note: hi guys!! this is a first for me, writing with my friend @justdani14 has inspired me to write a piece with drake, ‘do you want to dance?’ and it’s become this really super sweet, fun, silly (thanks to Maxwell's mention 😂) and a little bit of a long story that i built up from that. i wrote it a long time ago, around the time when the chapters still took place in our new duchy. but haven't posted it. i hope you like it. there are a lot of fun surprises in it and i had a lot of fun writing it. i wasn’t going to post it, but caved lol..so here you go ;) hopefully it gives you some smiles :) please be kind <3 i’d love to know your favorite part :)

I had to break it up into two parts because it was too long lol

Tagging-i don’t know who to tag, but i pulled a few of you from my collages tag list whom I think might like this <3 let me know if you would like to be added or removed x

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You’ll see, Walker,” He says chuckling a little bit.

“I know we’ve been on many adventures together, but this is a new one. We’ve never dragged around the basement of our duchy before.” I chuckle too.

We keep on walking. The hallways down here are really dark and he’s got a flashlight. I keep on expecting to feel something furry run over my foot.

“Did you hear that?” We both look at each other at the same time. It was like a loud scurrying noise.

“I don’t know what that was, but why do I feel like something’s gonna pop up any minute making us spend more diamonds.”

“What-?”

“Oh nothing..”

. .

We continue climbing and walking through the hidden tunnels. They are dimly lit and it honestly smells a little funky in here.

“We’re almost there.”

“Where exactly are we going anyways?” I say, almost loosing my footing.

“I found this the other day, and I just couldn’t wait to show you..” He gently grabs my hand as we continue walking. The ground evening out.

“Drake seriously. I think I just saw a spider over there,” He can’t help but laugh a little and in turn, so do I. “Don’t laugh, Drake” I say pushing him a little “- it was a big one!”

“I’m sure it was, Walker.”

“That’s not funny, Drake.”

“No seriously- I bet it was a big one! I saw one the other day too.”

“Ew-"

“Let’s just say that when it’s crawling on the back of your neck,” He shutters “I learned that a shout really carries down these halls.. echos, I guess you could say.”

I can’t help but chuckle.. “A shout, huh?” I say looking at him. “Yeah,” He says with a laugh. “sound carried the same way Maxwell’s did when he screamed across the hall for us to get him some food from the kitchen while we’re up.”

“Bahaha that’s not where we were headed.”

“We certainly were not.” He says with a smile, kissing the top of my head, holding me close.

“Really though, these hidden halls are even more dusty with spiderwebs than the ones back at Liam’s place.” We continue walking.

“Heh, I know. All part of the ambiance and we are almost there I think. Brings back good memories though.”

We take one more turn around the corner.

“Ok, we’re here.”

He stands in front of me, putting both of his hands on my upper arms, looking into my eyes.

“Now, listen- I know that we are new here, but this is like it was made just for us.”

“What do you mean..?” He steps aside and pushes the back door open.

No. Way.

“It’s -"

“Our very own pool room. Just like the one back when we are traveling for the tour!” He says as we step in, closing the secret door completely. I make my way over to the beautiful pool table, it’s practically shining.

He moves to the front of the room, opening up the real door. Chance and Lady Lucky come prancing in. “Hey guys!”

I bend down giving them each a little pet as they dance around my feet, clearly happy to see us.

I look around again. It’s even more beautiful than I first thought it was going to be with the lights on. ‘Wow. He really worked hard on this.’ I think to myself, beaming with pride.

The door that we came through blends in seamlessly with the wall once it’s closed.

“Drake?”

“Huh?”

“Why didn’t we just take that door to get here?” I say pointing to the obvious door to the right, past the pool table- the one that he just opened for the pups to come through.

“What’s the fun in that? “I told you I am the master of scouting out castles and all of their secrets.” He says with a smirk.

“Besides, it gives us another way to sneak off from all of the fancy dinners that we have coming our way.” He says pulling my side into his and giving me a little peck on the cheek. I will never get tired of his kisses.

“You are so right. That’s one of things I love so much about you, we even make the most boring of times fun.” I wrap my arms around his neck.

“We sure do.” He says giving me another kiss.

I take another look around the room.

“Drake this is so awesome!”

“I know, right!? I thought so too! This room even has a movie projector in the back over here, so we can sneak away and watch movies whenever we want too.”

“It’s like our very own home theater!” I say walking around the room, taking it all in. It really is beautiful in here.

“I request Princess Diaries.” I say propping myself up on the edge of the pool table.

“That’s what I figured, I know it’s your favorite, I have a few of my favorites in here too.” he says pulling out the dvd cases from next to the tv. “I also got us the day off from Royal Duties.”

“You are seriously the best, Drake Walker. How did you manage to pull this off anyways? I’ve been trying to take a day off for weeks now!”

“I just told them that we had some business to take care of and not to be disturbed for the rest of the day. But they do know where we are, for security reasons. But hey, I’ll take it!” He says chuckling. “So who cares if Mara knows where to find us..” he says rubbing the back of his neck, looking sheepishly at the floor.

“Drake!” I say getting a closer look, “This pool table looks so much like ours- well, that hotel’s that you found by the train, I mean. But I kind of think of it as ‘ours.’ You know what I mean.” I say.

“Exactly the one.” He says with a big grin.

“Turns out when you are a Duke in Cordonia you get put to the top of the call-back list. And I’ve got to say- there’s something special about it being the same one.” A huge smile lighting up his face.

“Aw Drake that is so sweet! And I totally agree. We have had some good memories with this pool table. It looks like it’s in great condition!” I say running my hands over the velvet upholstery and gold trim. Adding with a chuckle, “See there are some perks to being a fancy Duke!” nudging him. We both laugh.

“Yeah, and you.” He says. “You are the best perk of all and I’d take that title any day if it meant being with you.”

He rests his forehead on mine. I love him so much.

“I had it refurbished by a carpenter friend of mine, we worked together on it. You really like it?”

“I love it, thank you. And I love you.” I give him another kiss and lean into his embrace. He’s still got his arm around me.

“Is that a mini fridge!” I say hopping off.

“Yeah, but I haven’t stocked it yet..”

“Drake this is amazing.”

“You’re amazing.” He says right away.

“This was just a little something I could do for you after all that you do for me, for us.. I wanted to make it special for you. So once I found this place, I cleaned it up and brought it back to its former glory.”

“Thank you, Drake. This is one of the sweetest things you have ever done.” I say giving him another quick kiss. “You’ve succeeded in making your wife swoon yet again and we haven’t even played any pool yet.” I say with a smirk.

“I’m definitely glad you like it, Walker. And I definitely like hearing you be called my wife. I can see us spending a lot of time in here.”

I look around at our little family that will soon hopefully be growing. Drake has his arm around my waist. Chance and Lady Lucky have made themselves comfortable on the humongous couch. It brings a little tear to my eye. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Walker..so so much.” He says with a kiss.

“Plenty of room to spread out!” I say joining the pups, holding his hand. “This couch is seriously huge! Once our friends find out about this place, we won’t be able to get a moment alone.”

“Believe me, we’ll make the time.” He says, holding my hand.

“I’ve always liked pool, you know that,” he says rubbing the back of his neck “but playing pool with you is definitely-"

“A challenge?” I say cutting him off, leaning back a little bit to look him back up into his face, wiggling my eyebrows.

“Better. I was going to say better.”

“But you are pretty good at pool when you try.” He says laughing.

“Oh you know I’m better than ok!”

“You’re right, you kinda are.”

“Drake Walker I’ll have you know we tied on that faithful night of our pool game.”

“That’s just because you distracted me.” He says teasing with a deep but light chuckle, rubbing his chin and groaning a little.

“What was the word that you used- temptress?”

“Oh god, don’t remind me.”

“Why not, I thought it was cute.”

“Why not? Because that was one the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, to stay away from you.” I wrap my arms around his neck and straddle his lap. “Second hardest was having to sit through Maxwell’s one man show of ‘I’m a breakdancing machine: the 3 1/2 hour story of a Cordonia man’s rise to fame.’”

“No. Way. That sounds awful.” I say with a giggle. “Well you have me now so.. and oh god, please don’t let him know that I know about that. I don’t want to watch that for four hours.” I say climbing next to him and snuggling into his side, laughing a bit.

“See-second hardest thing.” He says laughing. “It started out with ‘When I was a young’n..’”

“No it didn’t!”

“I swear to god it did, longest 2 hours of my life.”

“I thought you said it was 3 1/2 hours?”

“I did, I didn’t say I lasted that long though. I told him I wasn’t feeling great and got the heck out of there!” He says rubbing his face.

“Drake!”

“What! We were like 8 and I couldn’t take another minute of those moves!”

“And get this- He reenacted the whole thing at my 23rd birthday party. Hopped up on the bar top and everything.”

“No way!!” I say sitting up and laughing a bit.

“I kid you not. Thought I’d never see that whole dreadful thing again, but there he was on the bar top doing the sprinkler. You better watch out he’s got that dance routine locked and loaded.”

We both burst out laughing.

“Omg I can just imagine him trying to do it at our baby shower or something!?”

“The things you missed, Walker- the things you missed..”

He tells me little bits and pieces of Maxwell’s one man show, that I can’t even imagine seeing in person. We both laugh pretty hard and by the time we get our breath back we sit in comfortable silence.

He tells me more stories from when he was younger. From when before I met him. I really love hearing those stories from my husband, hearing more about his childhood. We snuggle on the couch for a while swapping stories and holding hands.

My head is on his chest and my hand over his heart, gently rubbing circles on his belly and chest. It’s warm and I love feeling it beat beneath my hand in a steady rhythm while he talks to me. He’s gently rubbing his hand that’s around me in my hair. I’m snuggled into his side. We talk for hours, I could stay here like this all week.

~~

“I remember you saying how you and your mom used to sing this song to you, so I found it on a cd..” he pulls output a shiny copy of a cd with the words “I Can’t Help Falling in Love with you- Elvis Presley ” written across the disc.

..“Do you want to dance?”

...

. Part 2 . Coming soon .

[twilightofthe]

I found a totally legal way to watch The Mandalorian!!!  Gonna do one of my first live-blogs of it, here’s Chapter One! (tag is “liveblogging the mando show” if y’all wanna block it)

Ooooo I really like the helmet flashing new logo (tho still curse you Disney)

OOOOOH THERE’S BEEPING THERE HE IS HE’S HOLDING A BEEPER I CAN’T HANDLE THIS

Ew gross don’t molest the guy you’re beating up my dudes

EW GROSS LEAVE HIM ALONE

Yayyyy Mando Man’s here!  He gonna help this dude or?

Wait how’s he supposed to drink through his fancy mask

I love how they’re going back to Huttese omg the nostalgia

YUS BOI GET EM GET EM GOOD

Aaaaaand back to business as usual typical bars

This guy’s gonna get captured too lol I know it

Ahaha I knew it

Welp at least Mando Man’s gonna be probs a bit nicer about it

OOOOOHHHHHHHH I FREAKIN LOVE THE TITLE MUSIC

Wait did we even know what planet this was?

So he doesn’t like droids or they’re easily tracked or????

Can’t be the opening of a Star WArs movie without a trashy old Uber driver of some sorts

Also cannot be proper Star Wars without someone calling another person’s ship garbage ahah I love this

Oh dinosaur monster walrus worm cool

Ya know this guy is surprisingly nonchalant about being taken in for a bounty

Shock staff or bug zapper?  A two in one deal!!!

Oh NOW you like his ship

Pfft I know like exactly zilch about ships, I’m not one of those SW nerds, can someone tell me if Razor Crests or anything are supposed to be important or not?

Vac Tube?  Huh, I thought “fresher” was the word for “space potty”.  Guess there’s more than one lol

Ooooo weapons

C’mon this guy really thinks he’s getting out?  Pfff

Oh so Life Day is canonically a galactic holiday then, not just another word for “birthday”.  I mean I kinda knew cuz they use “birthday” for Ezra in Rebels but this confirms Life Day too

Ooooo new planet!  I wish they told us the names like Rogue One did

Aaaaaand yet another bar

OMG RECOGNIZABLE LUCAS ALIENS THANK YOU FAVREAU I’M GONNA CRY THANK YOU

*Pokemon theme* Catch em’ alll

heck yea boi stick it to the Empire

Omg I’m hopeless Pedro Pascal has such a nice voic aaaaaaaa.

“I’ll take them all” Cocky bastard

his VOICEEEEEEE AAAAAA.  

I’m already intrigued, but I really want to see more of his character behind just “cool armor fighter mask man mystery”.

Ik ik I’m being impatient this is only the first ep but still

Also his cloak game is On Point and I love it

HEY IT’S SOME OF THOSE TRASH CAN DROIDS I LOVE THOSE

*Obi Wan voice* Hello there stormtroopers xD

Hmm so who’s the doctor?

That metal old dude’s wearing, it’s not Rebel Alliance, is it Empire?  It makes sense if he’s hanging out with Stormtroopers

Wait shoot Old Dude could be another Mando, if he’s got beskar and all

BAHAHA ROASTED MONKEY LIZARD AND THEY’RE TRAUMATIZING THE LIVE ONE XD ANAKIN WOULD BE PLEASED HE HATES THOSE THINGS.  SO WOULD POE HAHA

I’m adoring the Western-style soundtrack

Oooo more Mandos

And color me wrong but that curvy fleur-de-lis thingy on the wall is the Mandalore symbol right?  I forget, don’t kill me

Head of his guild here I guess?

What is the Purge?  Ooo so he doesn’t have legit beskar armor cuz it’s rare, so he’s trying to build a 

new suit?

I like the design of the armorer’s mask

What’s a Foundling???

Ohhh his traumatic backstory I guess?

Bahaha I just thought he’s got the same tragic backstory as Kung Fu Panda pffffttttt

I Love The MUSIC

Another planet, this one sandy.  Tatooine?  The rocks look right and I know the show was going there 

Aight this looks right Imma say this is Tatooine for now, the planet likes to pop up in people’s scanners Tusken-style and attack you like Space Australia does

I recognize this alien guy’s (Ugnaught? Gah I can never keep species names straight ik I’m horrible) voice from somewhere

Vaporizers, another point towards Tatooine

Oooo sassy “idk if I want your help”

Omg bluurgs, those were on Rebels!!!

Bahaha animal taming time!  I’m glad they’re keeping some Star Wars Humor in here, it wouldn’t feel quite right if it was too serious

*How To Train Your Dragon theme plays*

The CGI my dudes!!!!!!!

At least Mando Man is polite

“I have spoken” That’s gonna be my new answer for whenever I don’t know anything and someone calls me on my BS

Weequays!!!!!!!

Oop now they dead

Guess someone’s got competition

He just doesn’t like droids then :(

Wait what can a droid do with credits?

I guess every SW protag needs a trusy droid sidekick lol

Bahaha “do not self destruct” me @ me

I love him he’s got that “done with everything” attitude

Wheeeeeeee spinny gun!!!!!!

Yay they’re friendly!

Aw he’s nice for a bounty hunter!

Omg old-timey door sparky explosions THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

Another trash can lol

Omg they put the freaking Baby Yoda in the trash can pfffttt it’s a literal trash baby gremlin

Awwww he likes children!!!

Ok good he protected the baby over the droid

THAT LITTLE FINGER

AND FILONI DIRECTED IT OF COURSE HE DID

AAAAAAAAAA

STILL REALLY LOVING THE WESTERN-STYLE MUSIC

I can’t watch the next one quite yet cuz busy, but omg omg omg omg I really liked this!  I know Filoni and Favreau know probably the most about canon Mandalore between the two of them (Favreau played Pre Viszla on TCW) so I totally trust them to do this well.  I’m liking Mando Man! (I shall call him Mando Man until they give him a real name and No One Can Stop Me)  I haven’t learned much about him yet, but so far I see that he’s a dedicated hunter and kinda a crankypants, but he cares about children!  He has a moral compass!  I’ll stan for now!!!!

I’m really really happy they brought the old Star Wars aliens back into this, I haven’t seen any live-action ones for so so long now ;_;  

I’m interested about the Great Purge, but I’ll go more into that on a separate post lol

[kusunokihimea]

     [ OKAY. So, I’m gonna work on cleaning up/cleaning out some drafts, because...I’ve let things get a little cluttered, and need to work on making a tracker because I’m a disorganized mess xD Under the cut I’m gonna put as many of my active threads as I can find, and the muns they’re with, and see who wants to keep what. Otherwise I’m gonna have to drop things and just...have a clean slate. Anything recent is probably fine, but some things have been lurking for a while due to busy muns, so...those sorts will likely be dropped. Just a heads up. That said...here we go! ]

@oc-lootcrate - I have your draft, dear! That one can certainly stay as it’s very new and I’m v excited for it! I’ve just been busy, aha

@thebubbledome - I don’t think we’ve anything active, but I remember you asking about continuing this ask with Hinata? Just thought I’d check to see if that was still on the table :3 (If you made a post and I missed it...I’m so sorry OTL)

@origami-goddess - I know you’re super busy so no rush, just checking to see if the thread with Ryū is one you want to continue - if yes, yay! If not, we can always try something new!

@hushedsunflower - we’ve got the three threads that were active, and then moved to discord - one with wee adopted Hina, one with Hinata and Manami, and one with Hinata and the Suigin twins. Let me know which ones you’d like to keep because they should all be your turn! I can get you links if you need to draft them~

@cutelittlemuffins - I think all we had was this thread with Reika II - just lemme know if you wanna continue, no rush :3

@red-winged-hero-hawks - I think this is our only thread on that blog of yours - I guess lemme know if you wanna keep it, or try something else!

@masshirohebi - I think all we have is that very recent thread with Kakashi, which I’ve replied to! That should be all good n_n

@ncgeru - I believe we’ve just the one thread, with Ryū in the hospital - that one should be all good!

@multicanon-rp - Okay, SO. I went back through your tag on both this blog and the old one and found five threads (here, here, here, here, and here). I...honestly am not sure what’s still ongoing, so for now I’ll just wait to hear back from you what you’d like to continue! I believe I had last reply on them all, so up to you :3

@wanderingmelodies - I think all we had was Shisui and Rin chatting, and I’m guessing that’s been dropped? (which ofc is fine, I think it was kinda just a quick thing anyway, just checkin’ - we can always start somethin’ new :3)

@kyuuzuchiha / @xkaekox - OKAY. We finished Nart and Higure...and I think I was the last to reply to the other three (Nart and Fu, Sasuke and Fu, and Ryū and Kaekō) - gonna assume those are all good to keep? Lemme know if not!

@abyssaldespair - I think all we have active is the stripper verse thread? Which I just replied to so I’ma assume we’ll keep it xD I...can’t remember if there’s any others, I think they’re all on your end cuz of school hiatus? Lemme know if there’s any others to keep

@quiet-kunoichi - Okay, so I think we’ve got the NW thread, the dragon thread, and the modern thread - I’ma assume they’re all still good to go, lemme know if not! (tho I think we need to reblog the latter two cuz they’re on the old blog and prolly won’t work on the tracker...but I’ve got them linked here for future reference lol)

@silverfaxg - I think we just had the two short threads? One with Reiji and one with Reika - those I’ll add to a tracker unless you wanna drop them. I think everything else had been dropped? Lemme know if not!

@katonjutsus - I think we just have Sasuke and Yuki, and then one with Ryū and Arashi? I’ll assume those are good to keep until I hear otherwise :3

@scnjuclan - as far as I know we just have Ryū and Hiro active atm, right? Lemme know if I’m missing any, and I’ll keep that one going! (I’ve got it in my drafts btw)

@dragonscaleslittlemuses - I’ve got your one draft, and that just leaves this and this. We should be good, unless you wanna drop any! Just lemme know~

@yukaikokoro - I don’t think we have any threads here? But if you wanna pick anything up from docs/start anything new here, lemme know! (cuz tbh Tumblr’s a lot easier than docs for me personally...which is prolly obvious xD)

@redlineoffate / @frogprinceus - Okay, I’ll be honest: I have, like...no idea what threads we have still going atm xD Since we’ve sort of started and stopped so many, I think it might be easier (at least on my end) to end them all and maybe start new ones? If there’s any you know where they are, and really want to continue, please let me know! But otherwise I think they’ve gotten rather out of hand, and it might be simpler to start over, bahaha! And this time I’ll keep better track ^^;

@sennenryuu - I know you’re v busy (and I hope feeling better!). I think all we’ve got is the kinesthesia thread, which I’ve replied to. I’ll add that to the tracker!

@despairinghxpe - I think we have that ALAS verse thread, and the soulmates thread. I wasn’t sure about anything from the old blog? All I can remember is that ATLA thread, but I dunno if you wanna revive that after so long xD Maybe something else in that verse eventually, idk lol

@masterofwar - which brings me to this blog xD I think all we have is the quippy one where they’re getting fast food lmao - and I can’t remember what all was on the old blog, and whether or not they were dropped. If any need reviving lemme know

@duckbuttavenger - OKAY I found Hanako and Mikoto here - I’ll add that one, my bad xD

@13lilypetals - we’re all clear here, and I’ll get to discord once things finally slow down a bit xD

     [ If I’ve missed anyone, I’m sorry - please do let me know and I’ll get right on it! Everything linked/mentioned here WILL BE TRACKED unless I’m told to drop something. However, I believe anything with a last turn on the old blog can’t be tracked due to the different url...but I’ll keep them marked here, too. Thanks for your patience, y’all! ]

[keichanz]

Tagged

Tagged by @petri808. Thanks dear!

Rules: 15 questions, 15 mutuals

1. Are you named after anyone?

Nah don’t think so.

2. When was the last time you cried?

Lol like, an hour ago (I was watching the finale of AGT bahaha)

3. Do you have kids?

I have a furbaby. Does that count?

4. Do you use sarcasm a lot?

I’m fluent in sarcasm.

5. What’s the first thing you notice about people?

Most of the time their clothes. Idk why lol

6. What’s your eye color?

Hazel

7. Scary movie or happy ending?

Scary movie

8. Any special talents?

Uh...writing I guess?

9. Where were you born?

New York.

10. What are your hobbies?

Writing, reading, archery, paintball, watching my cat go crazy from the laser.

11. Do you have any pets?

He’s an idiot but I love him.

12. What sports do you play/ have you played?

*snort* 

13. How tall are you?

5′6″.

14. Favorite subject in school?

English. Bet you woulda never guessed lol

15. Dream Job?

Probs working with animals, but to be honest, if i could stay at home forever and not have to work, that would be sublime.

Eh I don’t feel like tagging anybody, so if you read this, consider yourself tagged muwahahahah. ;D

[annyonghaseno]

50 Questions Tag!

Tagged by @supercriminalwolf​  Thanks dollface!! xoxo

1. what takes up too much of your time? Irish dancing are u surprised yet

2. what makes your day better?  waking up early, dancing, hanging out with my sister, warm weather, having time to take care of myself

3. what’s the best thing that happened to you today? I taught a lesson with one of my dancers and we fixed a part in her dance that’s been bothering her a lot - she was really happy 

4. what fictional place would you like to go? Hogwarts for sure 

5. are you good at giving advice? I like to think so

6. do you have any mental illness? yo. I have the worst social anxiety ever bahaha

7. have you ever experienced sleep paralysis? no, thank God 

8. what musician inspired you the most? not to be totally predictable here, but I really am inspired by how hardworking and humble bang chan is - I could go wayyyy into that, but I’ll leave it there

9. have you ever fallen in love? I actually don’t think so - not with a person, anyway (fell in love w dancing a LOOONG time ago)

10. what’s your dream date? as long as we’re doing something new, it’s a dream date

11. what do others notice about you? my dedication I hope. also how quiet I am rip

12. what is the annoying habit you have? popping joints

13. do you still talk to you first love? nooooooooooo

14. how many ex’s do you have? like 5

15. how many songs are on your playlist? since I just got a new phone, only about 140

16. what instruments can you play? I play the bass guitar, but I haven’t practiced as much as I should, lately

17. who do you have the most pictures of? my sister and her artwork <3 

18. where would you like to go before you die? I would like to see Iceland properly. I’ve only done 1 day stopovers 

19. what is your zodiac? taurus 

20. do you relate to it? sometimes

21. what is happiness to you? doing what you love!!!! whatever that may be!

22. are you going through anything right now? nothing particular other than the usual work plus dance stress, but it’s not bad really

23. what’s the worst decision you’ve ever made? putting someone who didn’t care about me that much before my family

24. what’s your favourite store? forever 21. a bitch loves disposable clothing 

25. what’s your opinion on abortion? Them's fightin words. 

26. do you keep a bucket list? I do! I've actually crossed off a few this past month! 

27. do you have a favorite album at the moment? Yall KNOW i'm gonna say I am You. 

28. what do you want for your birthday? Money. Bahaah i'll be to go to spain again sooooo  

29. what are most peoples first impression of you? According to literally everyone i've ever asked, the first impression people have of me is: scary. Yeah. Idk if it's the same online, but i guess i look intimidating or something

30. what age do you seem according to most people according to most people? It's usually from 16 to 19 murder me i'll be carded for the rest of my life   31. where do you keep your phone while you’re sleeping? Bahaaha if it doesn't fall under the bed, it ends up somewhere under the pillow 

32. what word do you say the most? Twat. Or asshat.   

33. what’s the oldest age you would date? Maybe like 26? If someone older were trying to date me, i'd be wondering why they can't get someone their own age 

34. what’s the youngest age you would date? Prob like 20

35. what job/career do most people say would suit you? Teaching, i suppose, since it already is my job

36. what’s your favourite music genre? I really like rock music, blues and old country, but i'm open to any genre

37. if you could live in any country in the world, where would it be? God, Ireland 10000000000 percent Ireland  

38. what is your current favourite song? I AM YOU DUH, also Lil Touch Oh GG, Pet Cheetah Twenty One Pilots and Get Cool as well

39. how long have you had this blog for? I've not even kept track. A few years

40. what are you excited for? I've got a trip back to ireland in february and my heart is a c h i n g, it's been too long since i've been   41. are you a better talker or listener? Listener for sure. I suck at talking 42. what is the last productive thing you did? Finished a dance video project up last night!   43. what do you want for christmas? I'm dying to start backpacking like hardcore, so i've asked for all kinds of backpacking and camping supplies haha 44. what class do you get the best grades in? Always english. Hence the degree haha 45. on a scale from 1-10, how are you feeling right now? About a 7 maybe? 46. what can you see yourself doing in 10 years? Teaching irish dance full time in a studio with my world globe on a shelf and travelling all over the world both to watch my dancers compete and also just because i want to fingers crossed!!!!! 47. when did you get your first heartbreak? Ughhhhhhh i was like 18 i think. Listen up yall, this is some piping hot tea. We were both irish dancers, and like. I kept beating him at competitions so he broke up with me. He was like i have to work on myself. But really he just needed to work on his dancing. I was still really upset about it though because i was young and still had emotions bahaha 48. at what age do you want to get married? There's no specific age that i have in mind. Honestly whether i get married or not, what's meant to be will be. I think as long as i'm happy, it doesn't really matter 49. what career did you want to have as a child? I think i wanted to be a singer 50. what do you crave right now? That lemon pound cake in the display at this starbucks is calling to me my dudes

I’m too lazy to tag this time, but if ya wanna do it then. do it.

[miniconrightsactivist]

★ FILL IN THE QUESTIONS AS IF YOU ARE BEING INTERVIEWED FOR AN ARTICLE AND YOU WERE YOUR MUSE.

TAGGED BY: I stole it from @koi-dog-bot

TAGGING: @heligooddeals, @prowls-analysis, whoever else wants to 

1. WHAT IS YOUR NAME?   I'm Lingo.

2. WHAT IS YOUR REAL NAME?   .........it's... still Lingo.

3. DO YOU KNOW WHY YOU’RE CALLED THAT?

Wh- Uh... well, I ... guess because I'm good at translating? I'm a xenolinguist and a polyglot.

4. ARE YOU SINGLE OR TAKEN? Aheh... aaaahhhhhh um. Well. I.. don't know if any claim has been staked on me but I'm sorta kinda sorta seeing someone sorta...

5. WHAT ARE YOUR POWERS AND ABILITIES? Well mostly I hear really well. A-and I can... translate stuff. I mean it's kind of not the most useful ability since everyone's equipped with universal translators these days anyway, but it's handy to have an inherit knack for it when you run into an entirely new language, or your translator gets disabled somehow.

6. WHAT COLOR ARE YOUR EYES? ....Blue... I just wear red lenses sometimes...

7. HAVE YOU EVER DYED YOUR HAIR? I don't.. have hair.. but I've painted myself a couple times since coming here. Does that count?

8. DO YOU HAVE ANY FAMILY MEMBERS? Yeah. I've got three brothers and two sisters. One of my brothers is my twin...

...don't tell them I'm here.

9. DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS? Not really. It might be nice to have one, but organic animals are kind of... fragile. And if they got hurt it wouldn't be easy to just take them somewhere to be treated. And they don't live very long. I couldn't handle getting emotionally attached to something and then watching it die in half a decade over and over and over again.

10. TELL ME ABOUT SOMETHING YOU DON’T LIKE. We will be here all day if you get me started, I don't really want to spend the next hour dragging out diagrams and historical records but frankly twelve of the original thirteen can piss right the hell off and if I hear one more time that she's his 'lost love' I'm going to go on a killing spree I swear to Primus

11. DO YOU HAVE ANY HOBBIES OR ACTIVITIES YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME? Well I used to write about social injustice and the current state of Cybertronian culture wars but... I've... sort of taken a hiatus from that after a particularly outrageous and ridiculous bombshell about the Council.

12. HAVE YOU EVER HURT ANYONE BEFORE? I've probably blown a few audio receptors, but unless you mean hurt their feelings then no.

13. HAVE YOU EVER… KILLED ANYONE? ..... nnnnooooo? Not that I'm aware of...

14. WHAT KIND OF ANIMAL ARE YOU? Ex SCUSE me? I am not an 'Animal' thank you! Minicons are not some feral pre=evolution of Cybertronians that you can call animals!

15. NAME YOUR WORST HABITS. I've been told I kinda have a temper... and my response to a lot of things is just to panic and yell. Not the most constructive I guess...

16. DO YOU LOOK UP TO ANYONE? I used to. I'm kind of between idols right now.

17. GAY, STRAIGHT, OR BISEXUAL? I... have interest in many different frame types, not necessarily on the spectrum of human sexuality that you're referencing.

18. DO YOU GO TO SCHOOL? I guess I could. There was a kind of school on the neutral colony where I grew up but I've been told it's nothing like the Universities Cybertron had before they, y'know, got razed during the war. Not that I'd ever get accepted there.

19. DO YOU EVER WANT TO MARRY AND HAVE KIDS SOMEDAY? Kids come out of the ground. They just happen. They happened to my Host. I'm not ... anticipating or planning for them, but I'll make due if they happen.

20. DO YOU HAVE ANY FANS? BAHAHA. NO?? I highly doubt that...

21. WHAT ARE YOU MOST AFRAID OF? Uuuuhhhh probably dying in some horrible way, specifically if it's dragged out like putting me in stasis just to thaw me at a later date to kill me like what the fuck right?

22. WHAT DO YOU USUALLY WEAR? My frame. A coat of paint. Whatever horrible organic matter gets stuck to me before I can wash it off.

23. DO YOU LOVE SOMEONE? I'm not incapable of love, thanks, I'm just argumentative.

24. WHAT CLASS ARE YOU? Class? ...m-mini..con..?

25. HOW MANY FRIENDS DO YOU HAVE? Uh... like... two. Maaaaaaaybe three. I'm not sure if he counts... I'm not sure if Jazz considers me a friend... I would be very surprised. 

26. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON PIE? I don't have any strong feelings on pi I mean I guess it's useful for algorithms? Or something? I've never understood its purpose. I'm more accustomed to words than numbers.

27. FAVORITE DRINK? There was ... a fizzy energon drink Juke gave me once... I really liked that....

29. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE? I don't have one. Everywhere I've been thus far has some sort of bad vibe associated with.

30. ARE YOU INTERESTED IN SOMEONE? Aheh... You already asked that, didn’t you? 

31. WHAT’S YOUR DICK SIZE? My what? Dipstick? I don't ... I think it's pretty standard??

32. WOULD YOU RATHER SWIM IN THE LAKE OR THE OCEAN? I'm made of metal. I do a thing called 'sinking'

33. WHAT’S YOUR ‘TYPE’? Well I can type about 180wpm which I guess isn't the faste- Oohhh. Uh. Well. I like femme frames, they're usually really elegant to look at. I like large frames that look like they should be intimidating but they're the gentlest mech around. I like people who don't talk down to me.

34. ANY FETISHES? *chokes on drink* *flusters* N-none that I care to divulge to total strangers, thank you!

35. TOP OR BOTTOM? DOMINANT OR SUBMISSIVE? Wh- W-well! I uh- *coughs* This took a turn-! There are many people much more open to this line of questioning than me though I do appreciate the attempt to find common ground between our species-

36. CAMPING, OR INDOORS? Indoor camping. It's basically watching tv in a tent.

37. ARE YOU WAITING FOR THIS INTERVIEW TO BE OVER? I appreciate that you saved the awkward sex questions til the end but I'm gonna go now okaybye-