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cordonian-literature · 4 years ago

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The Aftermath - Ch. 26

Water Fun

Summary: Everyone does their best to have fun at the Regatta. During the beach party, Liam and Riley spend some time together.

Word Count: ~3.7k

Warnings: mention of character death

*All characters belong to Pixelberry, except those that are unique to my story (I’ve also used some characters and fictional instances from Donna Tartt’s book “The Goldfinch”)*

Catch up here!

Tags: @captain-kingliamsqueen @gkittylove99 @lovablegranny @iam-the-kind-and-thoughtful @mom2000aggie @kingliam2019 @queenrileyrose @shanzay44 @cordonianroyalty @hopefulmoonobject @hopelessromanticmonie @cinnamonspongecake @kuladekiwi @twinkle-320 @iaminlovewithtrr @charlotteg234 @amandablink @texaskitten30 @tinkie1973 @louiseingram1208 @queencatherynerhys @pens-girl-87 @missevabean @ladyangel70 @sanchita012 @cordonianprincess @liamandneca @cordonia-gothqueen @pink-diamond13 @queenwalton

I’m not sure if the tags are working or not, but I hope I got everyone down! If you would like to be added/removed, please let me know, I wouldn’t want to annoy anyone with notifications :)

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- Maxwell -

When everyone — except Liam — walked out of the palace, they were glad to see Hana coming along. They understood if she would prefer to stay in her rooms instead of attending her cheating husband’s party, but she walked down the steps and into a car with Riley and Olivia, her face emotionless.

Rowan was coming with the Beaumonts in their limo after Maxwell had asked her to. He noticed that Savannah and Bartie were taking a liking to her, but of course there was Bertrand who always gave them a look when he saw them together.

At the marina, the colorful boats interrupt the peaceful blue waters. The sun warms the tops of everyone’s heads, but not unbearably. In the crowd of people, Maxwell notices Riley and the children, and waves them over.

“What’s up, baby blossoms?” he says to Gabriel and Eleanor. “You two look fantastic.”

“Thanks!” Ella cries. She was wearing a sailor dress, while her brother wore a matching suit. “We’re sailors! Argh!”

“That’s the sound pirates make, Ella,” Gabriel tells her.

“Oh... aye aye, captain!” she says instead.

“That’s... also what pirates say.”

The girl’s shoulders slump. “Then what do sailors say?” She looks over at her brother, who shrugs.

“Oh! What about,” Maxwell thinks aloud before crying, “All hands on deck!”

“All hands on deck!” the baby blossom repeats.

“Settle down, you three,” Bertrand tells them in low voice. He jerks his head towards an approaching cameraman and reporter. “We don’t want them to see foolish behavior, do we now?” He says menacingly to Bartie and the baby blossoms. Noticing that the reporter was making a beeline for Riley, he tries to quickly say, “Lady Riley, please remember—”

“Good morning, Lady Riley, it’s lovely to see you!” Ana de Luca interrupts Bertrand’s harsh whispers.

“Thank you, Ana!” Riley responds. “It’s wonderful to see you as well.”

“Just like your first Social Season, you’ve made quite a splash on Cordonian headlines! The people are itching to know how your relationship with His Majesty is going.”

She shoves the microphone in Riley’s face, but she doesn’t flinch and flashes a show-stopping smile. “There is a lot for both of us to catch up on, but our top priority is giving Gabriel a good support system.”

“Understandable. But... you said there was a lot for both of you to catch up on? Are you suggesting that King Liam didn’t know you, or your son’s whereabouts ever since you left Cordonia?”

Riley pauses for a second, but quickly catches herself: “Of course not. King Liam—”

“Then how come Cordonia’s heir is only being presented to the people now?” Ana interrupts her, plastering a concerned look on her face. “Surely you know the threats to the country that arise during such situations?”

Maxwell understood that Ana wanted answers, both for her story and for the people of Cordonia, but she really didn’t have to bombard Riley like that.

“My relationship with King Liam ended on a sad note,” Riley picks up again. “You know the scandal that surfaced during his Coronation. He was understandably upset, as was I, and our relationship had to come to a close. And since we couldn’t prove my innocence, he had to choose Countess Madeleine, who I know would have made a great Queen. I found out that I was expecting during the Engagement Tour, and to prevent another scandal and for the safety of my child, I withdrew from court and informed His Majesty.”

Maxwell was taken aback for a moment. Riley was saying all these lies so easily. He knew she had to, but he was still shocked. He looks down at the baby blossoms to find them looking up at their mother.

“Was that the reason he broke off his engagement to the Countess?” Ana asks again.

Riley flashes that smile again. “You would have to ask him that question.”

“So what exactly happened after he broke the engagement?”

“Accommodations were made for me to return to Cordonia, but King Liam decided that it was better to stay away for a while longer, seeing that there were many threats to the monarchy and his own safety. The last thing we would have wanted was to put our child at risk.”

Before Ana can ask another question, a herald trumpeting breaks through.

“What’s happening?” Eleanor asks up to Maxwell.

“Liam’s gonna say something,” Maxwell tells her.

They all turn to see Liam on an elevated platform with Prince Leo near him, smiling out at everyone. A crowd forms around him, and Maxwell notices Liam look in the baby blossoms’ direction and smile.

“Ladies and Gentlemen of Cordonia, I welcome you all to our Royal Regatta!” his booming voice cries.

The crowd around him begins to cheer and clap. Ana de Luca follows her cameraman over towards the main crowd, and they both disappear between the bustle of people.

“This day,” Liam continues, “holds both historical and personal importance. Cordonia, for as long as any of us have known is, has prided herself in remaining a generous nation, even when our neighbors are not as benevolent. The Regatta was also a favorite event of my father, the late King Constantine.”

Maxwell notices a shadow cross over Liam’s face, but it disappears in an instant.

“In his memory, we celebrate, and hope for the continued prosperity of Cordonia. So without further delay, let the festivities begin!” Liam concludes. The crowd cheers again, then disperse.

From the corner of his eye, Maxwell sees Drake and Jessica walking in their direction. Jessica’s bright smile and casual dress contrast with Drake’s expressionless face and his usual denim outfit.

“I heard a few nobles were gonna race before the actual thing?” Drake asks Maxwell. Jessica greets Rowan and the baby blossoms.

“Yes, I believe Duke Rashad, Landon, and Hakim are some of the main contestants,” Bertrand answers.

“And, uh...” Maxwell leans forward — taking a look back at Hana, who was in a conversation with Olivia and Riley, neither of which were paying attention to anything the rest of them were saying — “Neville’s gonna participate, too.”

Everyone makes a face, giving a quick, pitiful glance in Hana’s direction.

Maxwell looked around and noticed people getting ready for the race. He raises his head, hoping to see Liam somewhere, and sees him in front of the royal yacht conversing with someone.

“Baby blossoms,” he leans down to them. “You guys should go over to where Liam is.”

“Where is he?” Ella asks.

“At the royal yacht,” Maxwell tells them.

Gabriel grabs his sister’s hand, then leads her away from their group. But after a few seconds, they return, and Gabriel says, “Yeah, I don’t know where that is.”

“C’mon, ya little blossom babes, I’ll show you.” He begins leading the way to where he saw Liam, then turns back towards Rowan and tells her to follow.

She blushes, and rushes up to them.

Maxwell doesn’t see Liam anymore, but he still leads the children onto the royal yacht. When Liam hears them board, his face lights up and the baby blossoms run up to him.

“Daddyo!” Eleanor cries, running towards Liam with her arms out. Liam grabs her and lifts her over his shoulders and onto his back.

Eleanor giggles as she wraps her arms around his neck and her legs around his torso. Liam proceeds to march around the yacht, Gabriel following them and laughing along.

Maxwell notices a variety of sweets and snacks laid out on the table: fruits pierced with small sticks that had cute animals at the ends of them, and everything from cupcakes to cookies, also in the shape of animals.

Liam stops when the herald comes onto the boat and tells him, “Your Majesty, it’s time for you to announce the beginning of the races.”

Gently, Liam helps Eleanor off his back, who pouts. "Wait right here,” he tells her, then follows the herald off of the boat and back onto an elevated platform near the starting line. The herald hands Liam a starting pistol, and he holds it above his head.

“Racers, ready!” he calls out. Liam pulls the trigger and yells, “Go!”

The boats take off into the distance, and Liam rushes back onto the yacht to collect Eleanor in his arms again, letting Gabriel enjoy his fresh fruit.

Liam invites everyone else onto the yacht. While the women engage themselves in conversation, Maxwell, Drake, and Bertrand stand around and talk to Liam, who gives most of his attention to the baby blossoms.

Maxwell looks around at the activity around him, and is suddenly reminded that barely than two months ago, none of them could have imagined they’d all be together again. Back then, everyone had become accustomed to the boredom that their lives had been put into. But seeing everyone now, Riley talking happily with everyone, a smile on Liam’s face bigger than Maxwell had ever seen — he feels grateful for everything.

He stares at Rowan for a moment, silently hoping that she would look back at him. When she does, she smiles at him again, and he loves that look in her eyes. She breaks off the stare to glance at the children, and Maxwell is suddenly reminded of Boris.

He didn’t remember seeing the man anywhere after the Derby. Maxwell stands and looks out towards the docks. There are so many people that he can’t point out any specific person.

“The boats are back!” Gabriel announces. Everyone walks towards the edge of the yacht. When Maxwell focuses on the two small figures that were beginning to come into view, he tells everyone that it’s Rashad’s and Neville’s boats that are in the lead.

They all stare at the two boats in anticipation, and they hear cheers from the docks go out when Rashad’s boat passes the finish line first. Maxwell glances towards Hana to see a satisfied smile on her face. She seems glad Neville lost.

Liam walks closer to the shore and begins to applaud, congratulating Rashad. Both men exit their boats and shake each other’s hands, but Maxwell still notices Neville snarl after he turns away.

Once everyone is back on the harbor, Neville tells everyone that his party is beginning, and people begin to board his ship.

“Aren’t you going?” Olivia turns to ask Liam, who was already walking back towards the yacht with the baby blossoms in tow.

Liam frowns, then comes back up to the group. “Of course not. I refuse to have such an abhorrent man in my presence, especially one that has—” Liam breaks off for a second to glance down at the baby blossoms “—insulted my children, and a friend, no less. Anyone who doesn’t wish to attend can join me.”

They all turn to look at Hana, who doesn’t make eye contact with anyone, and stares out at the sea. “Neville said that he expects me to attend,” she tells them in a low voice.

Riley links her arm through Hana’s. “I’ll go with her.”

“But, Mama,” Eleanor tugs lightly on her mother’s pant leg. “I wanna go with Daddyo.”

“Go ahead, baby,” she allows, shaking her head and chuckling when Liam smiles at her. The baby blossoms follow Liam back onto the yacht as the rest of them reluctantly pile onto Neville’s boat.

On the boat, everyone crowds around Neville as he welcomes them. Olivia, Bertrand, Savannah, and Drake (being pulled along by Jessica) break off to mingle. Riley and Hana grab a glass of champagne from a waiter, and Maxwell and Rowan follow.

They go towards the end of the boat and take a seat on the cushions.

“God,” Rowan comments. Maxwell turns to her, noticing her gaze on Neville. “How did that type of person get married to Hana?”

They both watch Neville as he speaks to Adelaide, looking her up and down without any sense of modesty.

“Poor Hana,” Maxwell mumbles.

He watches Neville, whose eyes reach Hana. Still talking to Riley, she seems oblivious when he begins to walk over to her. But before Neville can get too close, Hana stands and walks over to Rashad. She talks to him with a broad smile over his face, and Neville reddens with anger.

They watch the racing boats leave the starting line. After the boats have gone from view, the group walks around to mingle. Once that got tiring — and Hana was tired of continuously walking away from Neville every other minute — they sat back down with new glasses of champagne, this time joined by Drake.

The five of them sit for hours, Rowan’s head resting on Maxwell’s shoulder, causing his heart to beat faster. Drake watches Jessica in the crowd, while Riley and Hana continue to talk quietly.

What feels like hours later, Jessica comes up to Drake, her smile gone.

“I’m leaving, darling,” she tells him. He stands, holding her hands in his.

“Everything okay?” he asks her.

She shakes her head and lowers her voice. “Papa passed away.”

“What?” Drake breathes. Rowan and Maxwell turn to look, slightly worried.

“He was in the hospital this entire week.” She says nothing else.

“I... I’m so sorry.” Drake brings her hands up to his lips. “Want me to come with?”

She shakes her head, gives him a peck on the cheek, then leaves.

Maxwell thinks that Jessica’s neutral face is odd, but considers that it would be even weirder to break down in front of the entire court.

More time passes, during which Maxwell itches to get up and dance. But there was no chance he was going to have fun at a party whose host had hurt Hana so much. He wishes he can apologize to Rowan; he wanted her time in Cordonia to be fun. He never asked her when she’d be leaving to go back to New York, but he feared that it was probably soon.

When the boats finally come back and reach the finish line, he leads their little group off of the boat, Rowan under his arm.

“Beach party time!” he cries.

- Liam -

Once the races were finally done, Liam leads the children towards the beach. Gabriel and Eleanor were reluctant to leave the yacht, and Liam was glad that they had enjoyed it so much.

He was worried about them lately, and how they were adjusting into their new lives. Not only that, but Liam was also concerned about them missing Theodore. He wanted to ask them about it, but thought that it was better for him to be a fun distraction rather than bring up things for them to worry about.

Thankfully both the children had on swimsuits under their outfits. They leave their things in the limo and race for the water, where some nobles have already begun partying.

Liam laughs with the children as he watches them splash around, but then remembers that he forgot to tell them to put on sunscreen. He wonders for a moment if it really matters, then decides to call them back.

While they get out of the water, Riley and everyone else appears, all of them wearing swimsuits already, except for her and Maxwell. Riley holds a little bag, from which she produces a tube of sunscreen. Once enough is applied to each of the children, they run back into the water towards Hunter and Heather, with Bartie following behind. Liam notices his brother in the water as well, then sees Drake start swimming towards him.

Bertrand proceeds to talk to other noblemen under the shade and away from the water. Hana and Savannah both find towels and sit on the sand under umbrellas. Rowan walks towards the water, then calls out for Maxwell, who still has his shirt on.

“Actually, Rowan,” he says to her. “How about we eat first?”

“Don’t you wanna have some water fun?” she says to him, the water up to her ankles.

Maxwell hesitates, and Rowan grabs his arm to pull him towards the water.

“I promise we can eat later,” she says to him. “But what’s a beach party when you don’t even have fun in the water?”

He seems like he wants to pull back, but Maxwell allows her to guide him.

“You can take off your shirt if you want?” she tells him when they’re almost knee-deep in the water.

Maxwell takes a second to stare at her, then quickly removes his shirt. Once Rowan sees the tattoo, she cries out, “Ohmygod, that’s so cute!”

“Aw,” Riley sounds, still standing next to Liam. “I’m glad they’re getting closer.”

“As am I,” he says. “Though Maxwell being romantically involved with anyone is the last thing I expected, it’s nice to see my friend happy. Especially after everything he’s done for me.”

Liam looks pointedly at her, and smiles when she turns to look at him. “And what has Maxwell done for you?” There’s a sense of joy behind each of her words.

He leans as close to her as decorum will allow to whisper, “He was the one who sponsored you to come to Cordonia, and he was the one who planned for us to have moments alone during the Social Season.”

Liam notices her look at his lips. “Hm,” she mumbles. When Riley looks back at his eyes, her gaze is playful.

“Will you accompany me somewhere?” he asks her.

“Of course.”

Liam looks around to check if anyone was looking at them, then takes her hand and leads her down a trail.

After Riley had left, he had returned to the Forgotten Falls multiple times, but only to stare at it. Only to remember the time alone they had spent together.

He helps her climb up, worried about her leg. When he pulls himself up after her, Liam sees Riley stare at the waterfall. He hoped that the smile on her face was in remembrance of their love, instead of thoughts of what could have been between them — such were the thoughts that were running through Liam’s mind right now.

“Do you want to go for a swim?” Riley asks him.

He knew they weren’t going to climb up to the waterfall like last time, and was elated that she still wanted to get in the water. “You don’t have a swimsuit,” he reminds her.

“So?” She laughs at him, then begins to take off her clothes. Liam quickly averts his gaze, then questions why he even did that.

He takes off his own clothes, but before he can get his shirt over his head, Liam hears a splash. Riley’s clothes are on the ground next to him, and there are ripples in the water. He shrugs the rest of his clothes off in a hurry, then jumps in.

Liam opens his eyes under the water, and sees her legs swimming away from him. He pushes his arms and legs to go after her, slightly mesmerized by how she gently kicked to keep herself afloat.

He lets himself fall to the bottom, then pushes himself up, grabbing her hips in the process and raising her above the water. She cries out, clearly doing her best not to laugh.

He holds onto her, keeping half of her body above the water. She holds his shoulder and looks at him while Liam spins them both in the water.

“The court will be going to Applewood tomorrow,” he tells her.

“I know,” she responds. “I don’t need Maxwell to tell me which event is next. Thankfully, I know it all by myself now.”

He looks up at her, refusing to let her go, and almost brings her down to kiss her, but catches himself.

“Do you think we could leave for Applewood early? You, the children, and I?” Liam asks.

“Why?”

“I want to show them around. It was one of my favorite places growing up. The royal family was rarely bothered at Applewood, as it was mostly kept away from the spotlight. Before the rest of the court arrives, I want them to enjoy that.”

He looks up at her to find Riley staring at him. There’s a smile on her lips, and she slides down to kiss him.

At first it takes him a little by surprise. Liam felt that he forgot what her lips felt like, but like second nature, one of his hands travels to her hair. He runs his fingers through it and relishes in the warmth that radiates off her body. He wants to bring her closer to him, but she pulls away and gives a little laugh.

“What’s so funny?” he asks her, expecting an answer.

She doesn’t give one, but swims over to the edge of the water to pull herself out. He follows her, then pulls her back towards him, pressing their lips together again. When she gently pushes away a second time, Liam wants to almost scold her, but the smile on her face is too contagious.

She lays on the ground and he sits next to her, wanting to touch her again. For now he consoled himself, basking in her presence. Lying next to him was a woman who was not phased by time; even after ten years she never failed to make his heart race, make him want more of her.

They stay like that for a while, her head on his shoulder. He tells her that Applewood is where he’ll announce that the nobility will have their belongings searched. Liam says that he’s concerned about their reactions.

Riley tells him how bad she feels for Hana, and how she wants to help her friend get out of that marriage. Liam mentions that Duke Rashad might be able to assist, and Riley says she’ll try to speak to him.

When Liam wonders aloud how the children may be doing, or whether they ate or not, Riley states that she thinks they should return.

They put on their clothes and share one last, lingering kiss before making their way back to the beach, where the children had just finished eating and said that they wanted to go to sleep.

Liam insists that they go back to the palace in his limo, and knows Riley cannot deny the children’s persisting. On the drive over, Eleanor falls asleep. Liam carries the girl to her room, and after putting her to bed, steals one last kiss from Riley before leading Gabriel back to their quarters.

#the royal romance #choices trr #choices the royal romance #choices trr fanfic #king liam #king liam x mc #trr king liam x mc #trr king liam #liam x mc #trr liam x mc #trr fanfic #trr fandom #trr fanfiction #trh fanfic #trh fandom #trh liam #the royal romance fanfic #choices stories you play #the royal heir fanfic

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destroy-the-cannon · 4 years ago

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Title Pending Olivia x MC Fic, Chapter two

Hellooo! I’d like to start off with a quick apology. I had a bunch of family drama this week, so I’m aware that this chapter is a bit lackluster. I swear that it’s not just a lack of talent! That’s only like ten percent of the problem! Anyways, here it is!

Warnings: Sexual language, cursing.

Story Tags: (Eventual) lemon, slow burn, enemies to lovers, angst.

Taglist: @kingliam2019 , @kamilahsayeet2063

“Woah.”

Maxwell was craning his neck to inspect Paige’s outfit from where she stood on the steps. It felt strangely like a grown-up prom, gliding down the stairwell with all eyes on her (well, Maxwell’s eyes). She gave a little twirl, showing off her devastatingly expensive gown. The gown she’d had to buy herself. You’d think that riding with a noble would mean that they’d be willing to shell out a dime or two, but alas, she’d spent her own damn money on this. Not that she was bitter or anything.

She’d gone with the angel outfit. A glittery, cold shouldered bodice gave way to heavy skirts of layered tulle and silk. A delicate lacey mask fit over her eyes, and a fluffy little halo floated above her head. She felt genuinely angelic, like she could float right around the room.

“Man, you look amazing! You’ll definitely get the ladies in court talking.”

It was the night of the first ball of the season. Just a day ago, Paige had hopped on a plane and flown out to Cordonia. She was staying in the palace with all the other nobles until the tour started up. They were set to move all around the country to the various duchies of the various suitors. In the meantime, Paige was staying in a fabulous room in the back of the palace she’d spent all last night marveling at. Now, she was marching down to the introductory ball with Maxwell by her side. It was a masquerade event, hence the angel outfit. She was set to make an excellent first impression, something that was crucial to building the flawless reputation she was determined to possess. According to Drake, she was about to walk into a room full of bloodthirsty snobs, so it was important to look the part of a future queen. Her wardrobe was her armour, Hana had said.

Hana. That was the name of the girl Paige had met in the dressing room, who happened to be the fourth of those five people who would one day change her life. The two had gotten dressed and acquainted, and Paige was hoping to run into her at the ball. She had been sweet, helpful, informative, and gorgeous. What was it with the people there? She had never seen such a consistent concentration of ridiculously hot people in her life.

“Okay. It’s time.” They stopped in front of the ornate golden doors. Maxwell turned to her, adjusting his mask. “Before we get into the actual ball, you’ll need to give the herald your full name when we go in. Since you’re with my family, you could technically be considered a Lady. You’ll give him your name, and he’ll announce you as Lady Paige…?”

“Langley. Lady Paige Langley.”

“Hm. Not exactly traditional, but regal enough.”

With that, he pushed open the doors, and they strolled in. Paige gave her name to the herald, and stood as straight as she could on the steps. Maxwell gave her a quick, reassuring smile, and she felt slightly better. He was good at that.

“LORD MAXWELL PERCIVAL BEAUMONT, AND LADY PAIGE LANGLEY!” The herald’s voice boomed through the enormous room. At the sound of an unfamiliar name, heads turned to watch Paige strut down the stairs. Little gasps and murmurs rippled through the room as they stared at her. She resisted the urge to tug at her hair or adjust her halo. Any move that betrayed how self conscious she was feeling would definitely get her noticed. People like those could sniff out an insecurity like blood in the water. The second a confident exterior faltered, they went in for the kill. Paige kept her back straight and her eyes ahead.

“Okay. I gotta go talk to my brother. You stay here. Mingle. You can do that, right? Just mingle.” Before she could respond, Maxwell was gone.

Paige turned, looking around desperately for someone she knew. She spotted Drake, looking vaguely angsty and annoyed in a corner, still in his basic denim. She decided she might as well try her luck with him. She walked over, trying her best to step slowly and gracefully.

“Well, well, well, aren’t you looking pretty.” He sized her up. “You fit right in.”

“Well, you’re charming as ever.”

“Ha! Compared to most of the nobles here, I’m your best friend.”

“God, Drake.” she rolled her eyes. “Everyone here’s been perfectly nice so far.”

“Sure, to your face. What do you think goes on the second you leave the room? The people here will jump at the chance to shove you as far down the totem pole as they can.”

“Well, let’s take a look at some examples of their behavior, shall we? They’re letting you attend an extremely high-brow event for free, in your day clothes. You have access to expensive foods, interesting conversation and a bar full of fancy foreign cocktails. And instead of being grateful, you choose to badmouth these people whenever you can, complain, and act like you’re being some big hero by being here. You’re not even wearing a mask!” She hadn’t realized how annoyed she was, but she found herself surprisingly worked up on this. At the sight of her pissed-off expression, Drake softened slightly.

“Look. I swear I’m not trying to be a dick, just trying to be honest. It may look glamorous here, but these people are completely two faced. You’re the newbie, and without someone like me looking out for you, you’ll get clobbered.”

His explanation didn’t exactly soften her up. “If your way of helping is to stand in the corner and bitch about this place, then I’d say you’re doing an excellent job.”

Drake looked like he was going to respond, but he stopped suddenly. He went stiff as a board and completely pale, his eyes fixed right over Paige’s shoulder. Before she could ask what was wrong, she felt a warm hand on her arm.

“Pardon me, but I must steal her away.” The voice was warm, seductive, completely unfamiliar. Based on the alarmed look on Drake’s face, it must not have been a friendly one.

“Um, I’ll just…” He all but sprinted for the opposite end of the room. Paige turned to face the intruder.

Oh. The tiniest of gasps escaped her lips as she gazed into a pair of emerald-green eyes.

If you were to take the moment she first saw Liam, and multiply it by about a thousand or so, you’d have some idea of how Paige felt. Her heart threatened to beat right out of her body as her stomach swooped dramatically.

The woman before her was like no noble Paige had seen before. Where some, like Hana, chose to present themselves as a sweet, soft sort of beautiful, this woman was more sexy. An edgy, almost dangerous sort of drop-dead gorgeous that made heat pool in Paige’s core.

She realized, dazedly, that the woman was wearing the devil costume Paige had almost bought. Little horns peaked out from her pile of crimson hair. The red velvet of her gown clung to her rounded hips, and the neck of it fell as far down her chest as courtly etiquette would allow. She gazed down at Paige, her lips slightly parted. She seemed surprised, as though the other woman had caught her off guard somehow, and Paige wondered distantly what that meant.

“I am Lady Olivia Vanderwall Nevrakis, Duchess of Lythikos,” she murmured. Paige fought to keep her eyes from flickering to the duchess’s candy-painted lips.

“I’m-”

“Lady Paige Langley. Yes, I heard the herald announce you. That’s why I’m here.” She shook her head slightly. Her gaze became sharper as she smiled at the other woman. “I make it my business to know every name at court, and I’ve never heard yours before. Perhaps you’re from one of the humbler duchies?” She didn’t give Paige a chance to respond. “In any case, since you’re the new girl at court, I thought I might give you a bit of advice. You’re not from here, I take it? Cordonia, I mean.” Paige could only nod.

“Well then, let me give you a little tip.” She leaned in with a conspiratory smile, and Paige could feel Olivia’s warm breath on her skin. Her legs grew unstable beneath her, as though she were about to faint.

“When you go up to see the king, bow and kiss his right shoe. It’s a sign of ultimate respect here.”

Could that be true? Unlikely as it seemed, Paige did recall reading about a similar custom from somewhere else in Europe. She frowned. “Really?” She made a mental note to ask Maxwell about that later.

“Oh, of course! It’s lucky I was able to tell you, otherwise you would’ve looked like a complete fool!” She gave a light laugh. As soon as she heard it, the waitress wanted to do whatever she could to hear that sound again.

“Paige!” Maxwell ran up from out of nowhere. Paige did her best not to be annoyed with him for cutting her time with Olivia short. “Liam’s-” he cut himself off as he noticed the Nevrakis. “Um, I mean, Prince Liam, whose title I am always sure to use, because of my deep respect and admiration for him, is coming out to see everyone.” Olivia rolled her eyes and walked off to join a small cluster of ladies.

“Are you ready to see him again?”

Paige tried to paste on a convincing smile. “Totally. I’m totally ready for this.”

“Cool. Let’s go!”

The pair ran off to join a gathering of people at the side of the room, Paige resisting the urge to check over her shoulder for Olivia.

“There he is!” Maxwell pointed. And there he was, the prince himself. Liam stood at the end of the room, making conversation with a star-struck young woman clearly trying very hard to keep cool.

“Do you think he’ll be happy to see me?” Paige whispered.

“Only one way to find out, I guess. But first, you gotta meet the king.”

“Wait, what? You didn’t tell me that I’m meeting the king first thing! What do I say to him?

“Calm down. It’s easy. Just follow what the other ladies do, and you’ll be fine.”

“Wait, wha-”

“LADIES OF THE COURT!” An announcer’s voice boomed across the room. “LINE UP TO GREET THE KING!”

The women rushed to form a line leading towards the front of the room. Paige caught a glimpse of an older man taking a seat upon one of the gilded thrones at the front of the room, flanked by two guards. Hitching up her skirts, she hurried over to take her spot in the growing queue. She watched as each woman made her way up to the king, curtseying and-

And nothing. The bulk of heavy skirts and the towers of gelled-up hair completely blocked her view. It was impossible to tell if any shoe kissing had taken place. She tried her best to steal a glance, but the women in line seemed to take her rustling for attempted line-cutting. She received multiple dirty looks as well as one quick jab to the ribs.

The line was shortening quickly, and Paige was beginning to get panicky. She was already a commoner. She couldn’t afford to broadcast the fact that she also knew pretty much nothing of Cordonian culture. She’d be laughed right out of the court, right out of the country. She leaned to the side again, trying desperately to see what was going on. Nothing.

Finally, there were only two women left in front of Paige. She had given up on trying to see what they were doing, and was instead just trying to not let her nerves show. Elegant smile, straight back. She caught a glimpse of Liam standing across the room, making polite conversation with those who had already met the king. Out of his sweater and into his official suit, he looked so much more… official. That air of nobility that had seemed out of place at the bar suited him perfectly here. He looked so quintessentially prince charming, the poster boy for all that was good and wholesome. It was easy to see why so many ladies were here. In addition to the many gold diggers that Paige was sure were lurking about, many of these women probably actually liked Liam. She watched as a dark-haired young woman laughed a little too hard at a joke of his, slapping his arm lightly. Her eyes sparkled as she stepped closer to him. Her lips parted, as she pre-

“Shitshitshit!” She hissed under breath, before praying that nobody heard her. It was her turn to greet the king.

“Good evening, milady.” The king smiled kindly at her as she took a step closer. He was clearly expecting something.

“Good evening, your majesty. I am Lady Paige Langley, of House Beaumont.”

She dropped into a low curtsey. Her face was inches from the king’s shoe.

She risked a glance back at Olivia. The duchess was watching with not a look of hope, or excitement, or malice. She was looking on with a very clear expression of guilt on her face.

Paige stood from her curtsey, smiled once more, and left the line.

* * *

“Hey! Where'd you go? I was looking all over for you!” Do you know how hard it is to find a pretty girl in a nice dress in a ballroom choked with pretty girls in nice dresses?”

“Sorry. I got caught up talking to Hana.”

After the thing with the king, Paige had felt strangely paralyzed with anxiety. Well, maybe it wasn’t so strange. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that a total stranger had tried to humiliate her like a schoolyard bully. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that said stranger was gorgeous and intimidating and sexy and Paige had wanted for her to like her so, so badly. She knew that a trick like this alone wasn’t a big deal, but it hurt that much more coming from someone whom she had so desperately wanted to be some angel. So, instead of joining the growing crowd of women mobbing Liam, she had gone out to the balcony for a moment to breathe. That was where she had found Hana, and the two spent the next half hour talking. It had been nice to just talk to someone, with no expectations or rules. Hana was quickly becoming one of her favorite people at court.

“Wait, you know Hana? Actually, nevermind, we’ll talk on that later. In the meantime, you have to get in there with Liam. You’re one of the only people he hasn’t talked to yet.”

“You think he’ll be freaked out? We only knew each other for like a night before I decided to come out here, and now I’m trying to marry him? Isn’t that weird?”

“Ha! You think a night is too weird? That’s practically a year in royal time. He’s meeting some of these women for the first time tonight. If anything, you’ve got a leg up. He both knows and likes you.”

“If you say so.”

“And I do. Look, I think he’s free. Go, go, go!”

Maxwell nudged her forward, and she strode across the room to meet Liam. He was finishing up a conversation with someone, and he turned to look at Paige as the woman walked away.

“Hello, Lady-” He stopped short, his eyes going wide. “It’s you! Paige!”

“It’s me.” She smiled at him, hoping this was a pleasant surprise. Her hopes were confirmed when he broke out in a huge grin.

“Oh, Paige, I thought I’d never see you again! How are you even here?”

“The morning after I met you, Maxwell found me. He offered to take me here so I could represent House Beaumont and… become queen.” Though it was the truth, the thought of saying “marry you” out loud turned her stomach.

“That’s amazing! I’m afraid we don’t have too much time to talk, but that’s incredible news. For the first time all night, I’m actually enjoying a conversation.”

“Does this mean that you’re happy to see me?”

“Happy? I’m ecstatic. I truly like you Paige. I think we have something, and I’m glad we’re getting the chance to explore that together.”

Guilt stabbed at her insides. Liam looked so happy to see her, and yet she couldn’t say the same. She kept thinking back to the moment she saw Olivia. They had barely spoken, and still she had sensed more chemistry in those few minutes than she had after a whole night with Liam. He wasn’t the one she wanted, not even close. But he had deep, personal feelings for her. If she nailed those challenges, she had a real shot at being Liam’s wife. It was a thought that would have made so many of those courtly ladies cry tears of joy, but succeeded only in filling Paige with dread. He actually liked her. He wanted this.

“It’s a lot of pressure, isn’t it? All this, I mean. How are you holding up?” She hoped he wouldn’t notice how she changed the subject.

“I’ve known this was going to happen for some time now. It’s certainly not ideal, but perhaps it won’t be quite so terrible with you here.”

God, he really wasn’t making this easy on her, was he?

“Are the ladies here really that bad? Most of the people I’ve spoken to have been nice enough.”

“It’s not that the ladies themselves are bad, not at all. It’s the process I don’t enjoy. The whole thing is ridiculous and exhausting to all those involved. I know most of the women here, and they’re all incredibly smart and accomplished. And yet they’re being lined up like members of...of…” He paused. “What’s that american dating show? The one with the roses?”

“The Bachelor?”

“Yes! That’s it! This whole thing is one big episode of the bachelor.”

“I’m sorry you have to go through all of it.”

“Don’t be. It is my duty to serve my country however I can. If this is what I must do, so be it.”

Before Paige could respond, the guard behind Liam stepped forward to clear his throat. The prince winced apologetically at Paige.

“I’m afraid we’ve got less than a minute now. Before you go, can I give you a warning?” She nodded.

“This place, these people, are different. We’re not in New York anymore. There are codes, rules, that you’ll have to learn but never be taught. You’ll make friends and alliances, but be careful. Someone like you, here, can’t be too trusting. I don’t mean to scare you, but I care about you. I couldn’t stand to watch you get hurt.”

“Liam, I-”

“Ahem.” The guard coughed. “I believe it is time to move on, your grace.”

“Thank you, Bastien.” The prince turned back, looking regretful. “I’m so sorry, but I must move on. Shall we speak later?”

“Let’s.” She shot him what she could only hope to be a reassuring smile, curtseyed, and strode off, spotting a familiar figure by the drinks.

“Hey, Paige! It looked like that went well.”

“I’d say it did. He seemed happy to see me.”

“Of course he was! I told you he would be.”

“He was weirdly cryptic, though. He kept talking about how much of a drag this whole thing is, and how I need to make allies, and gather people I can trust, and watch my back-the list goes on.”

“Huh. That doesn’t sound like him. Are you sure you weren’t talking to Drake?”

“Unless Drake suddenly owns a body guard and a non-denim item of clothing, then no.”

“Hm. I’ll talk to him later. It’s probably just the pressure of everything getting to him. He’s not wrong, though. It’s good to form alliances with the other ladies. Most of them are outside right now. Go join them, grab a drink, socialize. Make some friends.”

“Got it. Any tips before I go? Who’s nice, who’s boring, who’s a snobby-ass bitch, et cetera.”

“Well, first off, save the cursing for later. One F bomb in here can and will get you kicked out. But to answer your question, Hana’s probably one of the nicest that you’ll meet. Friendly, not a known schemer. Penelope Ebrim is probably one of the more boring ones here, but she’s nice enough. Easily manipulated, but you didn’t hear that from me. Kiara Theron’s pretty interesting, but she can be sort of condescending, snobby. And if you want to talk about-” He paused.

“If you’re looking for witches with a b, then watch out for Olivia Nevrakis. She would kill, and I mean that literally, to become queen. She’s ruthless, cruel, and a known saboteur. Be on the lookout for her.”

“Oh. Good to know.”

“You’re welcome. Now get out there!”

Hiking up her skirts, Paige strode out into a moonlit garden. The women were talking amongst themselves as they grabbed flutes of champagne. She was scanning the crowd when she felt someone come up behind her.

Turning, she found Olivia glowering at her, her friendly smile from before replaced with a pissy sneer.

“You seemed awfully friendly with the prince earlier, hm? You didn’t say you knew him personally.”

“It’s none of your business how I know Liam.” Paige savored the way the duchess blanched at the way the other woman skipped Liam’s title. “And can we get back to the way you lied to me about the shoe-kissing thing?”

“Yes, yes. Come on, even you have to admit that was funny.You’re the new girl, you’re going to get tricked.” Perhaps this would have been more bothersome if Olivia had been able to look the other woman in the eye, or stop fidgeting with her gown.

“Well, it’s done. You’ve gotten in your dumb little joke, and now it’s over.” At this, the duchess’s head snapped up, her mopey exterior suddenly vanished.

“It’s over when I say it’s over.” She took a step closer, her eyes blazing. Her voice had gone low and dangerous, and Paige hated the way it made her shiver. She tilted her chin, trying to look unfazed.

“Listen to me. I know you’re used to getting whatever you want from people, but that’s not how this is going to go. I’m not your servant, I’m not your follower. Whatever you may believe, you’re not entitled to Liam’s hand, and you’re certainly not entitled to my respect, fear, or loyalty.”

Olivia stepped back, surprised. Some of the women actually gasped as they watched the whole thing unfold.

“Excuse me? Clearly, you’re delusional. I grew up with Liam. I know him better than you ever will. Maybe you made for a fun distraction, but you’re nowhere near wife, or queen, material. The women here have been trained since birth to marry a prince, and if you think that you can just waltz in here and steal that from us, you’ve got another thing coming.”

“Is that a threat?”

“Not a threat.” She was close, too close, and Paige wanted desperately to grab her even closer.

“A promise.”

#enemies to lovers #slowburn #eventual sex #angsty #choices stories you play #olivia nevrakis #trr mc #maxwell beaumont #liam rys #liam rhys #hana lee #drake walker

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metatiki · 5 years ago

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Chapters: 2/7 Warnings: Non-Consensual Relationships: Dorian Pavus/Cullen Rutherford Characters: Female Inquisitor (Dragon Age), Dorian Pavus, Cullen Rutherford Summary:

Angsty Cullrian story about what happens if everything goes wrong after it’s fixed?

Note: This work is experimental storytelling for me. I initially wrote if for the Cullrian Discord I participate in (The Herald’s Rest, check it out!) but decided to go ahead and publish it. Expect to see a new chapter every few days.

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

Phase 2: Envy

It started with a fall.

The man--talk, dark, mysterious, and, above all, handsome--literally fell into Cullen's arms at the gates of Haven. It was the first time he smelled that oh-so-seductive scent which seemed to hover around the man from Tevinter, though whether it was from the oil in his hair or something which lingered on the man's skin, Cullen did not know.

He only knew he wanted to smell it again, several times over.

But there was no time, either to learn more of this mage called Dorian, or for Haven. Instead, hasty words, tense words, were exchanged, as Cullen led a retreat no commander ever wished to lead. Thankfully most survived, including the Herald, and Solas told them of the next home for the Inquisition, a fortress by the name of Skyhold.

On the way there, and the first few weeks as they settled in, Cullen determinedly found time to get to know the Inquisition's newest member. The man proved to be charming, witty, and, thankfully, just as interested in getting to know Cullen. When he saw the now Inquisitor talking with Dorian as well, he grew hopeful that the acceptance of the Inquisitor meant the acceptance of the Inquisition.

Emboldened, he extended the offer of a game of chess to the mage, and found the man to be the best sort of opponent: one who could enliven a game made dull by strategy and tactics, yet still provide somewhat of a challenge with a stream of lively banter and sharp wit. The gleam in his eyes and the way Dorian absently traced the line of his bared bicep with idle fingers while thinking of his next move certainly kept Cullen's attention focused on his opponent, at any rate.

And then the Inquisitor arrived.

Cullen thought nothing of it when she talked and laughed with them for a few moments before Cullen defeated Dorian soundly. Indeed, Cullen merely laughed along as the Inquisitor teased Dorian, a teasing Dorian took with grace as he bowed out of the game, though the twinkling glance in his gaze as he looked at Cullen promised a more thorough later. Smiling, Cullen set the board for another round, wondering if the Inquisitor would prove to be an interesting opponent as well.

Instead, it quickly became clear in the conversation that she had designs on someone, and that someone was not Cullen.

He frowned, wondering if she had misunderstood something about the situation. Yet, no matter how he twisted everything he'd seen or heard, he could not see Dorian favoring the Inquisitor in that manner. A friend, perhaps, but not as more. Certainly not in the way the Inquisitor seemed to hope for. He almost corrected her misunderstanding, but then shook his head. Better to let Dorian handle it. He was far more charming than Cullen, anyway.

Matters between Cullen and Dorian continued to warm, especially when the Inquisitor was not resident in Skyhold. The chess games grew more frequent, then moved to his office, then ceased to be about chess entirely. They tried to be discreet, but of course it was inevitable that sooner or later some noticed. A leer from Bull here and a knowing smile from Leliana there made that clear. It didn't matter, though--only the heat between their bodies as they each sought to win the game between the sheets mattered.

And then...then came the disaster at Redcliffe.

Cullen did not learn what happened there until much later. All he knew--all anyone in Skyhold knew--was that the Inquisitor and Dorian went to Redcliffe on their own without any reason known as to why, even by Leliana. Yet when they returned, the Inquisitor's attitude towards Dorian had cooled significantly, and had in fact shifted to something almost hostile.

Later, he learned what happened at Redcliffe and who they'd met, and the name of the man who Cullen would merrily punch in the face on sight. At the time, though, he remained ignorant of the matter, and only saw that the Inquisitor's attitude had changed towards himself as well, becoming the polar opposite of the chill she now gave to Dorian.

From that day forth, not a day went by that she did not come to visit him in Skyhold, unless she was out on the field. Whether he was in his office, or training his troops. And when she was there, Dorian refused to be there. Even worse, the interest she'd shown in Dorian seemed to have transferred in whole to Cullen, and no matter how disinterested he acted, she would press her interest home to him with increasing regularity.

When she wasn't in Skyhold, he received frequent personal messages from her relayed by wing, warm letters which sometimes made his ears heat. There were even several suggestions he would have wanted to try with Dorian, but he always seemed to be gone with her as well, despite her animosity towards him.

It wasn't until he tried to be a bit more direct in letting her know that it was inappropriate at best and wrong at worst for the Commander and the Inquisitor to have an intimate relationship that she revealed her checkmate to him.

You will be mine, or I will give Dorian to his father wrapped in a ribbon.

When he'd scoffed, she told him the events of Redcliffe, recounting the entire exchange between Dorian and his father with a certain relish. His stomach sank as he heard the admiring way she detailed Halward and his willingness to do what must be done to accomplish his goals. More, fear gripped him as she described how she had lingered for an extended conversation with Halward after Dorian had stormed out of the inn, dangling the small crystal from her hand which she could use to summon Magister Pavus to Skyhold to retrieve his son. After all, the Inquisitor could have anyone thrown into the cells, especially a Vint pariah accused of treason against the Inquisition.

And when he looked into her eyes, he knew she meant what she said. If it was something he'd learned since Haven, it was that the Inquisitor never bluffed.

Feeling the jaws of the trap close around his throat, he agreed to her demands--because the alternative was unthinkable.

From then on, as far as Skyhold was concerned, he was the Inquisitor's man. She used Dorian's father, and later the threat of Tranquility, as a bludgeon whenever Cullen balked at taking the next step. Bereft of the man he loved and forced to a pretension which slowly ate him away on the inside, he succumbed at last to the lure of blue solace. For a while, it helped to make the world more distant, his pain less real, but he knew eventually the depression would hit, making him take even more to combat it.

And, with every preparation of every precious blue vial, a small part of him looked forward to forgetting this part of his life.

There was a moment, one single moment, when he tried to escape the nightmare. A moment when he'd gathered his strength and courage sufficiently to pin the Inquisitor to the table beneath him, face screwed into a baleful expression as he prepared to tell her that he'd had enough--and then the door flew open. He turned to glare at the intruder, hoping they would simply leave when they saw his expression, and saw Dorian standing in the door with a broad smile on his face. Before Cullen could change his expression, however, the Inquisitor shouted at Dorian to leave.

The brilliant smile turned to defeat in that one instant, and Dorian did as he was ordered.

As the door closed with a certain booming finality, a hand gripped Cullen with painful intimacy as the Inquisitor whispered You are mine. Never forget.

After that, Cullen finally gave in to the inevitable.

Following the incident in his office, Cullen found it easier not to interact with Dorian, either to smile or to frown. Ignoring him was the only way Cullen could make it through each day, that and focusing on his work. The Inquisitor made sure to dominate whatever time he had outside of work, so Cullen earned a reputation of fearsome dedication: to the Inquisition, and to the Inquisitor.

That hardness, that ruthlessness, spread out from the Inquisitor to the others as well, like ink in water. Leliana became nothing but whipcord and bone, her purpose entirely centered on bringing down the Venatori and Corypheus. Cassandra chose to ignore Cullen's resumption of the use of lyrium, accepting it as a necessary evil to bring down a worse one in a compromise which raised a permanent sense of unease within Cullen in her presence. Even Josephine's smile faded; instead, she acquired a constant line between her brows and a permanent squint as she stayed in her office for longer and longer hours.

But at least Corypheus had not won.

When rumors began to circulate about Dorian and Bull, it hurt. Oh it hurt, especially when the Inquisitor gleefully relayed just how much Dorian enjoyed sharing Bull's tent while on the field, and how much Bull needed Dorian after the Chargers' loss in battle. It didn't make Cullen want Dorian less, however, and made the burden of his guilt increase. After all, he was the one who had snubbed Dorian, wasn't he? Regardless of why he had done so, Cullen was the one who had set in place the distance between them.

At the same time, he felt guilty for not being happier that Dorian had found someone to be with, and that Bull had someone to turn to after his own loss. Maybe that was why Dorian went to the tavern so frequently now--for Bull, and not to drink away the pain of rejection and being alone. Yet even that did not assuage Cullen's guilt or dampen his desire. It simply drove them deeper, until he could almost convince himself they didn't exist at all.

Over time, Cullen came to see the parallels his present life had with what had come before. As in the Circle, his freedom and sanity slowly eroded as the lies surrounding him curled more and more tightly around him. As in Kirkwall, he pledged his loyalty to the tyrant who promised the end of that darkness coming for them all.

But this time, he knew he could not escape. The darkness was real, the evil that of one of the first darkspawn seeking to attain the power of a god. What was his own happiness against the need to stop such a monster? Besides, one day Corypheus would fall, and Cullen could lay down his burdens. Or he would perish in the attempt, leaving the fight to those who came after him.

Either way, he would be free.

And then the moment came, the glorious moment when they actually defeated Corypheus. Then, he couldn't help but smile. Who would not? The greater evil had been defeated, after all. There was no longer a need for the Inquisition, and therefore a Commander for it.

He would be free, and Dorian would be safe.

One more night, he endured her, one more night when he acted the part of doting partner for all to see. After so much time wearing that mask so tightly to his face, it passed quickly. The next morning, buoyed by anticipation, he rushed up to the library, eager to tell Dorian everything, that they were free to leave the Inquisitor behind now.

And found the Inquisitor waiting for him.

His steps faltered as she rose from the chair where Dorian normally sat reading his books. Her head tilted as she looked him up and down, and a wave of dread washed over him.

Where's Dorian?

Gone, never to return.

His face hardened, and he started to turn away. Then I must be going as well.

Her hand reached out to grab his. No. You cannot leave us. When he tried to pull away once more, she yanked him closer, then calmly laid his hand on the soft swell of her abdomen. No, she repeated. You cannot leave us.

His hope fled as the finality of his fate swept over him: he was hers, now and forever.

After all, it was no more than he deserved.

#cullrian #cullen x dorian #angst #dragon age inquisition #dai #cullen rutherford #dorian pavus #fic: Phases #fix-it gone wrong #my writing

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nigeiadigitalmarketingcompany · 5 years ago

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As Risky Finances Alienate Investors, Fracking Companies Look to Retirement Funds for Cash

Digital Elixir As Risky Finances Alienate Investors, Fracking Companies Look to Retirement Funds for Cash

Jerri-Lynn here. Just the latest installment in DeSmogBlog’s ongoing coverage of fracking follies. The still unprofitable industry now turns to pension funds and private equity for capital. What could possibly go wrong?

By Sharon Kelly, an attorney and freelance writer based in Philadelphia. She has reported for The New York Times, The Guardian, The Nation, National Wildlife, Earth Island Journal, and a variety of other publications. Originally published at DeSmogBlog.

A year ago, Chesapeake Energy, at one time the nation’s largest natural gas producer, announced it was selling off its Ohio Utica shale drilling rights in a $2 billion deal with a little-known private company based in Houston, Texas, Encino Acquisition Partners.

For Chesapeake, the deal offered a way to pay off some of its debts, incurred as its former CEO, “Shale King“Aubrey McClendon, led Chesapeake on a disastrous shale drilling spree. Shares of Chesapeake Energy, which in the early days of the fracking boom traded in the $20 to $30 a share range, are now valued at a little more than $1.50.

Encino has marketed itself as a stable source of long-term returns (something the industry overall has struggled so far to create), attracting the managers of one of the world’s largest pension funds to drill and frack the land that Chesapeake sold off to repay its enormous debts from fracking nationwide.

A Unique Model’ for Shale Drillers

Chesapeake, of course, is not alone in discovering that shale drilling can be financially disastrous for investors. In 2018, the top 29 shale producers spent $6.69 billion more than they earned from operations, an April report by Reuters concluded — a spending record racked up two years after investors began pushing shale drillers to start turning a profit. In December 2017, the Wall Street Journal found that shale producers had spent $280 billion more than the oil and gas they sold was worth between 2007 and 2017, the first 10 years of the shale drilling rush.

“We lost the growth investors,” Pioneer Natural Resources CEO Scott Sheffield recently told the Journal. “Now we’ve got to attract a whole other set of investors.”

Encino, which bought up Chesapeake Energy’s 900,000 acres of drilling rights in Ohio’s Utica shale in that $2 billion deal, may have found its “other” investors: the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), which manages retirement funds on behalf of the Canada Pension Plan.

Ray Walker, Encino Energy, starts the #DUGEast Conference off in a fireside chat with host Richard Mason. Walker says the Utica will really surprise people going forward. Encino has 900,000 acres in Ohio. “We have a lot of running room.” pic.twitter.com/SA0l3PgnCS

— Hart Energy Events (@HartEnergyConf) 19 June 2019

“We’re not your typical private equity company in that the Canada pension plan is I think the third largest pension plan in the world,” Ray Walker, Encino’s chief operating officer, told attendees at last month’s DUG East shale industry conference in Pittsburgh. “They have a long-term view on capital and they don’t expect their funds to start declining — in other words more people [in Canada] are putting in today than will be taking out, and they don’t expect that to flip til 2050-plus.”

“So, it’s a unique model and it’s something I had not ever run across in the industry,” Walker, who served as chief operating officer for the gas drilling company Range Resources until early 2018, added. “It’s what really attracted me to come out of retirement, to do something different and a little bit more exciting and a long-term — really long-term view.”

“Patient money,” responded moderator Richard Mason.

“Yeah,” Walker replied with a laugh.

“Who’d have ever thought, right?” said Mason.

Long-Term Investments as the Climate Changes

The Canada Pension Plan — often compared to the U.S.Social Security system — is funded by mandatory contributions from workers’ wages that generally begin at age 18 and end at age 65. The CPPIBinvests that money on behalf of the plan.

Last May, Mark Machin, the chief executive officer of the CPPIB, pledged to start taking the risks associated with climate change more seriously.

“We’re going to make a huge push on it this year,” he told the Calgary Herald. “We want to do a much better job of being able to understand the risks that we’re taking on in each investment and the risks we have embedded in the portfolio, and make sure we’re being paid for them.”

As part of our climate change work, we’re a strong Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures supporter and one of two stand-alone pension fund managers that are members. Their new report shows nearly 800 organizations support TCFD’s recommendations. https://t.co/cC2O0GYyaY

— CPPIB (@cppib) 7 June 2019

As the impacts of climate change are increasingly felt around the globe, watchdog groups have pushed pension fund managers to keep in mind the ways that climate change will impact the global economy in the coming years and decades.

“Pension funds have legal obligations related to their fiduciary duties, to consider long and medium-term risks, such as those related to climate change that could have adverse effects on their investments,” the Global Initiative for Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights wrote in an April 17 report. “Such risks include physical impacts of climate change on pension fund assets and investments, but also the increasingly evident risk of stranded assets and the associated legal risks of failing to address the climate-related risks.”

Other large pension funds have concluded that the oil and gas industry carries too much economic risk to make for a sound long-term investment — even without taking climate change into account. This March, Norway’s $1 trillion Government Pension Fund Global announced that it would be divesting from oil and gas exploration firms, a move affecting $7.125 billion worth of its holdings.

“The objective is to reduce the vulnerability of our common wealth to a permanent oil price decline,”Norway’s finance minister, Siv Jensen, told The Guardian as the move was announced.

Most of the money in Norway’s sovereign wealth fund comes from the profits it derives from oil and gas production. The decision to drop certain oil & gas investments isn’t based on climate change but fear of price volatility in oil and gas stocks. https://t.co/WDqG0Yy43r

— Mark Hand (@MarkFHand) 11 March 2019

Outside observers have specifically warned that pension plans that invest in shale companies might wind up with regrets.

While the shale drilling industry’s financial instability may not be so large as to pose an overall risk to the financial system, “I think there’s risk to pension plans that are pouring their money into private equity firms, which in turn are pouring billions into shale companies,” Bethany McLean, author of the book Saudi America: The Truth about Fracking and How It’s Changing the World, told E&E News in a September 2018 interview. McLean is also widely credited as the first financial reporter to take a critical look at energy company Enron before its collapse.

In addition to the long-term risks that all fossil fuel companies face from the drive to keep oil, coal, and gas in the ground and prevent catastrophic climate change, shale drilling companies face some unique long-term risks.

Many shale drillers told investors that they plan to drill multiple wells — in some cases 20 or more wells — from the same well-pad. But the industry has discovered that those later wells, called “child” wells, often perform worse than the first well drilled, called a “parent” well.

“It’s something we’re all trying to synthesize,” Encino’s Walker said in Pittsburgh as he discussed parent-child well interference. “There’s still a whole lot of learning curve to go through. But I think the one thing that everybody is noticing, probably even more so in West Texas than up here, is that parent-child relationship is playing a huge role in the recoverable reserves. In other words, the second, third, fourth well are not anywhere near as good as the first well.”

A Gamble on Shale

The stock markets and banks have become increasing unfriendly places for shale drilling companies as the oil and gas industry has under-performed compared to other parts of the economy. This has left drilling companies hunting for capital to fund continued drilling — and they are increasingly turning to so-called private equity — a category covering both private investors like Warren Buffett and asset managers like pension funds.

Drilling companies plan to source 40 percent of their capital for 2019 from private equity funds, according to a recent survey by Haynes and Boone, compared to 26 percent from selling the oil and gas they produce, 21 percent borrowed from banks, and 12 percent in debt and equity from capital markets like Wall Street.

Privately held companies like Encino are more opaque than publicly traded oil and gas companies because they generally are not required to make their financial information public. That means there’s little publicly available information about how private shale drilling companies have performed over the past decade. And every shale drilling company has unique financial prospects, based on a broad array of factors that include the amount it spent to acquire drilling rights, its drilling and fracking costs, and the amount of oil, gas, and natural gas liquids it can tap.

Encino did not respond to questions sent by DeSmog. “Our assets generate strong cash flow, we have modest debt, and we support our development activities with a robust commodity hedging program,” the company says on its website.

A wellpad in Carroll County, Ohio. Credit: Ted Auch, FracTracker Alliance

Canada’s pension fund praised Encino’s acquisition of Chesapeake Energy’s acreage in Ohio when that deal was announced. “We are pleased to support EAP’s [Encino Acquisition Partners’] acquisition of these highly attractive Utica shale assets, which provides CPPIB with meaningful exposure to a leading North American natural gas play and aligns with the growing focus on energy transition,” said Avik Dey, managing director and head of energy and resources at the CPPIB.

Others saw the deal as carrying a significant degree of risk. Moody’s Investor Services rated debt associated with Encino’s Utica deal at B2. “A B2 rating is deep into junk status and means there’s a very significant chance you’ll end up in default,” Axios explains. Moody’s rated the overall probability of default one notch higher at B1.

For its part, Encino predicts that it can do better in the Utica than Chesapeake Energy could — not just in terms of individual well performance, but also in avoiding the boom-bust cycle for which the oil and gas industry is notorious.

“All of that is part of a longer-term strategy to run this as a normal business that needs to be profitable, less volatile, and therefore better for its shareholders, its employees, and the community,” Encino CEO Hardy Murchison told an Ohio newspaper after a talk at Kent State University in March.

Chief operating officer Walker sounded a similar note at the DUG East conference this June.

“Pretty excited about what we’re seeing, the economics are very favorable,” Walker said at the industry conference. “So, Chesapeake did a great job of setting this up, but we’ve got a lot of running room going forward.”

As Risky Finances Alienate Investors, Fracking Companies Look to Retirement Funds for Cash

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dialnoisenow · 2 years ago

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Fictober 2022- Day 11

Prompt: “Think! For once!”

Original work, Mature for a swear, Warnings: harassment, abuse, pounding on a door

“Think! For once!” she heard, screamed from below in the sitting room underneath her bedroom. The voice boomed like a passing thunder cloud, reverberating against the wooden floor boards, stomping up the creaky stairs and, banged against her door, rattling it to the hinges, frantically turning the handle and finding it locked.

She pulled the heavy quilt over her head and squeezed her eyes shut as tight as she could. She tried to make herself small, a mouse in a warm nest, the cat a distant threat.

The owner of the voice bellowed on the other side of the door, a low guttural sound, dripping with rage, “Come out you stupid cunt!” clear as a bell. She bit her lip to keep her whimpers in and imagined herself sinking into the mattress and away. ‘He can’t hear me. If he doesn’t hear me, he’ll go away. If he doesn’t hear me, he’ll go away,’ she was sure and repeated it like a rosary prayer.

A moment passed.

Silence. She counted. She couldn’t breathe, she didn’t dare.

The thundering of heavy boot clomps herald his arrival on the other side of the door as he threw himself into it. CRASH! The wood splintered and groaned in protest. Wildly he continued to barrage the barrier with his fists, with his palms, with what sounded like his head. She bit her bottom lip again, hard, the warm iron taste on her tongue, the sour of panic saliva. She gripped the quilt in tight fists. ‘Please door, please hold door’, she pleaded, PLEASE!

It stopped.

Silence. She waited. She counted. Her heart pounded in her head expecting it to start up again.

Silence.It had stopped. She waited. She counted.

Then after a lifetime, she exhaled. She waited. She counted. She sobbed, silent fury cries of gratitude to whoever kept the door.

Finally, she slept.

---

“How was your stay in The Haunted Inn?” The innkeeper asked, waving their fingers around in the air like playing an invisible piano. She handed over her room key and said nothing. “Was the room…comfortable at least?” asked with a bit of skepticism as they hung the room key on its hook.

She rubbed the sleep out of red puffy swollen eyes, with the palm of her hand and sniffled. She shook her head. Pushed her credit card across the desk. “Oh,” the innkeeper responded flatly. Behind them all the keys to all thirteen rooms were still hanging from their hooks. They ran her card and handed her her receipt.

“Did you-did you hear any of it last night?” She asked cautiously. She tried to hide the malice she felt that this person allowed someone like that to harass her. The innkeeper stared at her and then shook their head. “You-you didn’t hear any of it? Someone, someone tried to attack me last night. They were pounding on the door for what felt like hours!” she cried.

The innkeeper smiled crookedly, their eyebrows furrowed in sympathy.

“I am sorry about that. Your room has a fiesty one,” said the innkeeper.

“That’s all you can say?” She snapped.

“I am sorry,” the innkeeper replied with sincerity but then they put on the hat of management, of legality and business, “This is a haunted inn. That’s why we have you sign that waiver when you arrive.”

Rage prickled up her spine. She wanted to scream at them. Wanted to take them by the shoulders and shake them. Wanted to throw something breakable into a wall, into their face. “That is ridiculous! Who in their right mind would agree to it if they knew what really was going to happen?! I didn’t think-”she growled. Think! For Once! echoed, a not so distant nightmare. She gasped, catching herself. She put a hand over her mouth afraid of who’s words might come out next. She felt the tears come, pooling in her eyes and ready. She shook her head and started to back up out of the lobby and into the day leaving this experience trip behind her.

“Be-Be sure to leave us a horrifying review!” The innkeeper called after her receding shadow.

#fictober22 #day 11 #original work #tw: anger #tw: harrasment #tw: pounding on a door #holy cats its on time

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therappundit · 7 years ago

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**Top 71 Rap Songs Of 2017**

2017 IS A RAP.

It starts with a great beat...

Then an interesting voice...

Followed by lyrics that lure the listener in, either through being clever or catchy (and in special cases, both!)....maybe the flow is enticing, or there’s a hook you can’t get out of your head? And then there’s the artist’s imagination, or even something more difficult to describe, it can only be felt...a certain “it” factor.

All of the songs on my list include some combination of the aforementioned qualities. 2017 was an amazing year for hip-hop - one of the best ever, in my opinion. It was a truly historic year for the genre, as it continued to divide up into more and more sub-genres. This of course lead to a staggering number of debates, the “old heads” versus the “youngins”, the “LIT” crowd vs. the boom-bap preservationists. At the end of the day, that is why we all put time into these lists, isn’t it?

Rap music in 2017 was diverse, at times brilliant, at times contagious for reasons that were both humorous and infuriating, but as we countdown the days until the ball drops, I hope we can all look back at all of the special examples of art that could only come from a globally challenging year such as this one. So let’s get to it, my personal picks for the Top 71 Rap Songs of 2017....

Bonus (just cuz - yeah I totally cheated): “Dodge Van Freestyle (Can’t Have Everything Freestyle)” - The LOX

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvfzjS9_Xv0

(This was one of the darker sounding cuts off of More Life, so it’s not surprise that the Lox sound perfect on this instrumental. Normally I would never consider placing a mixtape-caliber “freestyle” on my year-end list, but this one was so classic Lox, so evocative of the classic mixtape era, that I played it out as if it was a street music anthem circa ‘02.)

71. “Stir Fry” - Migos

https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/migos-stir-fry/

(One of the more recent entries on this list, the combination of the Migos infectious flow-work with some stirring Pharrell production as the Atlanta trio closing out the year on a high note. I am often skeptical of the Migos when it comes to material that stands the test of time, but they seem to be aging like a fine wine, so count me amongst the many that are eager to hear the rest of Culture 2.)

70. “Microdose” - Armand Hammer feat. Quelle Chris

https://armandhammer.bandcamp.com/track/microdose-ft-quelle-chris-prod-august-fanon

(Armand Hammer’s ROME album almost completely passed me by...but I am really glad I wasn’t caught sleeping for too long! Dark but deep, the rap duo of Elucid and Billy Woods seem to exist in the zone where Aesop Rock and Cannibal Ox would blend, and that’s not a bad thing at all. With Quell Chris joining the menace on this one, it makes for quite the attention grabber.)

69. “B2KK” - Joseph Chilliams

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1psXx8QUGY

(I am not 100% sure how Joseph Chilliams came on the scene, whether he is being serious or if he’s just a goofy kid or what, but I will tell you this: he is the most interesting MC to come out of Chicago since Chance The Rapper. You will be hearing a lot from him, I promise you.)

68. “Father Son Holy Smoke” - Smino

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1J_lMSYigQ

(I don’t know if I am as smitten with Smino’s album as some other writers, but I know I love this song. Things are looking really bright for this rising star from St. Louis.)

67. “Bipolar” - G Herbo

https://soundcloud.com/gherbo/bipolar

(With Humble Beast, the young spitter from Chicago wanted his major label debut to be his own version of Reasonable Doubt. While that is probably not a realistic expectation, the album does successfully put all of his gifts on display. Herbo is not a cookie cutter product from the drill era, he is a young MC with real perspective, capable of being a mouthpiece for his community and a representation of the Windy City’s surplus of diverse talent. “Bipolar” is my favorite track from Herbo’s album right now because of how skillfully he switches up his delivery, while sounding brutally honest and hungry throughout.)

66. “They Know” - Mozzy & Gunplay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XK3bf8sVK4

(Just a dope track featuring two of the most under-appreciated spitters in the game today, from one of the most slept-on projects of the year, Dreadlocks & Headshots.)

65. “STANDOUT” - MIKE feat. Wiki & Chip Skylark

https://mikelikesrap.bandcamp.com/track/standout-ft-wiki-chip-skylark

(Another release I almost missed earlier this year, by an artist I still know relatively little about. If this is the type of music bubbling in the NYC underground right now, then the city has nothing to worry about.)

64. “Rap Saved Me” - 21 Savage, Offset & Metro Boomin feat. Quavo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LK9rgGmrH7I

(21 Savage, Offset and Metro Boomin didn’t reinvent the wheel their Without Warning project, but in my opinion it’s one of the finest mixtapes of 2017. It starts with Metro Boomin, who alongside Mike Will Made-It, compose the most attractive trap records in the game today - catchy, without falling into the cookie-cutter trap that many other producers fall into. What Without Warning lacks in variety, it makes up for in steady execution.)

63. “Our Streets” - DJ Premier feat. A$AP Ferg

https://soundcloud.com/dj_premier/dj-premier-feat-aap-ferg-our-streets-produced-by-dj-premier

(On the surface the combo might not seem a natural fit, but the end result was a successful union. Ferg represents both the old and new school so well on this one, spitting bars with substance without checking his madcap charisma at the bar. Not one of my favorite Primo beats ever, but certainly dope enough to please fans of both classic boom-bap and the new school turn-up crowd.)

62. “A Thousand Birds” - The Alchemist & Budgie feat. Conway & Westside Gunn

https://soundcloud.com/alan-the-chemist/a-thousand-birds-conway-westsidegunn

(A slow head nodder that puts some religiously themed samples to great use - thanks again for the whole crazy Good Book 2 project this year, Alchemist & Budgie - and the final result is another example of the stellar chemistry between truly special producers and two special rap talents.)

61. “MaNyfaCedGod” - Jay-Z feat. James Blake

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn4ZcYMzscM

(If it’s possible to have a slept-on record on a critically acclaimed album, this would be the one. A brilliantly produced record, the soft and successful hook from James Blake meets with a slowly recovering Shawn Carter to make for a cautiously optimistic song. People make mistakes, so all marriages come with moments of joy as well as challenges. “MaNyfaCedGod” feels like a celebration of a life together, and taking things one day at a time...I can’t think of a more perfect message to close out 4:44.)

60. “Juggin” - Lute

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdUgSxNS8VM

(If you missed the release of Lute’s West 1996, Pt. 2, you need to rectify that immediately. Lute has a story to tell and he raps with the wisdom of a much older artist. Lute really impressed me with this project, it is just straight up good vibe music.)

59. “Up In Harlem” - Ms. Hustle ft. Vado & Neek Bucks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ9Frr9WRq0

(Sounds like a fresh throwback to the type of heat that would be found on classic Kay Slay mixtapes. Vado, Hustle and Bucks provide a fist-pumping ode to their neighborhood that would make anyone wish they could claim Harlem’s brilliant heritage.)

58. “Never” - J.I.D

https://soundcloud.com/jidsv/never-prod-by-christo-x-childish-major?in=jidsv/sets/the-never-story

(One of the many great selections off of J.I.D’s record. While The Never Story does showcase more of his actual song writing skills, this track does a great job of proving that J.I.D is still a hard-nosed competitive MC at heart.)

57. “RAF” - A$AP Mob ft. A$AP Rocky, Playboi Carti, Quavo, Lil Uzi Vert & Frank Ocean)

http://www.thefader.com/2017/05/23/stream-asap-mob-raf-asap-rocky-playboi-carti-quavo-lil-uzi-vert-and-frank-ocean

(A much hyped - but somewhat basic - gathering of some of today’s biggest mainstreamers, I can’t help but feel like “RAF” sounds like a J.V. version of “Mercy”. That being said, A$AP Mob cuts all tend to grow on me, and since it originally dropped I can say that this one did induce a fair share of head-nods.)

56. “NMIM” - Wiki feat. ACAB & Slicky Boy

https://soundcloud.com/wikiofficial/nmim

(A true champion of the next generation of NYC rap, Wiki not only carries the torch he adds his own unique voice to it. No Mountains In Manhattan is a great, great album, capturing the world of a young MC and layering it over a sound that feels like the most progressive underground hip-hop to come out of the city since El-P blew up.)

55. “Poets & Gangstas” - Talib Kweli & Styles P

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OF-rAWS_QA

(FACT: Styles P & Talib Kweli EP was painfully neglected because DAMN. dropped at the same time. Strong lyrics & production blended perfectly with the duos politic views, veteran perspective, far better than expected hook work, and terrific chemistry across the board. "Poets & Gangstas” really showcased how great these two future hall of famers sound together.)

54. “Warning Shot” - Mach-Hommy & The Alchemist

https://soundcloud.com/alan-the-chemist/mach-hommy-warning-shot

(You’re going to have to get used to hearing more Mach and plenty of Alchemist on this list. Barely noticed when it dropped, this is a subtlety brilliant work of pen strokes combined with nuanced production that can only be appreciated by grizzled underground rap connoisseurs.)

53. “Dalai Lama” - Apollo Brown & Planet Asia feat. Willie The Kid

https://soundcloud.com/mellomusicgroup/apollo-brown-planet-asia-dalai-lama-slang-feat-willie-the-kid-1

(Ah, those gorgeous piano keys. Apollo Brown, brilliant as always. Planet Asia doesn’t get the credit he deserves for his consistent greatness on the m-i-c, and how great was it to get Willie The Kid back in 2017?)

52. “New Wave” - Dae Dae

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDFK4eRlx2E

(I thought 2017 would be the year that Dae Dae became a household name. I may have jumped the gun, but the guy really is part of Atlanta’s new wave, and he has already proven that he can crank out hits.)

51. “The Light” - Big K.R.I.T. feat. Bilal, Robert Glasper Jr , Kenneth Whalum & Burniss Earl Travis II

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=047nimeOEAw

(Welcome back, King. Big K.R.I.T. took on the challenge that few MC’s have succeeded at, and that was dropping a really good double-album. Dripping with Southern-fried soul and ready to spill his guts on each and every song, K.R.I.T. packs so much heart into this album that it may be a long time before we can all fully digest it. That being said, I didn’t have to sit through “The Light” for too long before I declared it one of the most beautiful pieces of music I have heard on a rap album in recent years. Combining the meandering brilliance of jazz with the depth of live instrumentation and the Mississippi rapper’s deliberate voice, this is easily one of my favorite songs off of 4eva Is A Mighty Long Time.)

50. “God Bless Your Heart” - CyHi The Prynce

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVtlqUY3d9E

(CyHi’s G.O.O.D. Music album debut seemed doomed to remain shuttered away in the label’s vaults forever, but luckily for us, it turned out to be be one of the best surprises of 2017. Arriving long after all the hype around the Georgia MC faded, No Dope On Sundays was an album with depth, spirituality, and a plethora of bars. CyHi floats all over on this song, one of the many dope displays of positivity on the project.)

49. “Due Rent” - lojii & Swarvy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2ziU8_C2JQ

(I LOVED THIS ALBUM. Dusty underground hip-hop from a MC & producer combo that I never heard of before 2017...nothing beats being so pleasantly caught off guard. Zone out to this one....)

48. “Nothin New” - 21 Savage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2IttXFBYxc

(Few rappers had a bigger year than 21 Savage. He seemed to be everywhere in 2017 as one of the poster children for a new generation of hardcore hip-hop. A controversial figure, no doubt, but it’s hard to deny that 21′s chilly persona and confident flow make for anything less than a strong presence on any track. And songs like “Nothin New” confirm once and for all that 21 Savage has a perspective in this world, so don’t lump him in with any shallow “mumble rapper”.)

47. “Maryland Ass Ni**a” - IDK feat. Swizz Beatz

https://soundcloud.com/jayidk1/maryland-ass-nigga-with-swizz-beatz?in=jayidk1/sets/iwasverybad-soundtrack

(The talented Maryland MC - formally known as Jay IDK - showcased a ton of skills on IWASVERYBAD. While his storytelling skills may be his most potent weapon of choice, this track might pack the most attitude on the album, and his flow is on-point. Factor in the hard beat and catchy hook, and it became an easy standout for me.)

46. “Killing Time” - Roc Marciano

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLxmahpDM9w

(Spoiler alert: this is not the last time Roc Marciano will appear on this list because he is a maestro when it comes to what he does. And “Killing Time” is a great example of what he does so well: he captures the alluring soul of dark and seedy city tales.)

45. “Sacrifices” - Drake ft. 2 Chainz & Young Thug

http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/drake-sacrifices-feat-2chainz-young-thug-new-song.1973358.html

(The features on More Life were the selling points, and on “Sacrifices” both Chainz and Thugga seize the opportunity to shine. Not the aggro banger one might expect from the union, this is just a soft backdrop back-drop for all three artists to drop their coolest flows over.)

44. “Spurs” - Conway ft. Benny

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1AtRI-wU34

(My favorite cut off of Conway’s Reject On Steroids. The beat is hard enough to chip a tooth on, and when Benny & Conway put their bars together on one track, it’s almost unfair to the rest of the rap game. Griselda might really be a young Spurs dynasty in the making.)

43. “Long Time” - Mach-Hommy

https://mach-hommy.bandcamp.com/track/long-time-beats-by-alchemist

(At one point it seemed like Mach-Hommy was dropping new projects every month, but this Alchemist-laced banger was a dope standout amidst a sea of dope standouts. Mach & Alc are proving to be as lethal as an underground hip-hop combo can get. Watch out in 2018.)

42. “woke up like this” - Playboi Carti ft. Lil Uzi Vert

https://soundcloud.com/678carti/woke-up-like-this-prodpierrebourne

(Still one of the catchiest pop-trap records I have heard since “Bad and Boujee”. Neither Carti or Vert will ever be noted as gifted with the pen, but they do share a knack for musicality, and even the most hardened old school head will find it hard to avoid bouncing to this one.)

41. “Lookin’ Like The Greatest” - WESTSIDEGUNN ft. Benny

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DZtRN1Td7k

(With a title like Hitler On Steroids, the music had better be good. When Daringer, WESTSIDEGUNN and Benny get together on a joint you know what you’re getting: a dope beat from D, flair from WSG, and rewind-worthy bars from Benny. The “Greatest” isn’t an album single or anything you will likely hear on national radio, it is just fantastic hip-hop, and a shining example of why Shady Records invested in the pool of talent up in Buffalo right now.)

40. “DUCKWORTH” - Kendrick Lamar

https://genius.com/Kendrick-lamar-duckworth-lyrics

(Top tier storytelling, and legendary production from 9th Wonder. On the “reverse” tracklist for DAMN. this is the joint that opens the album...but I think I like it more as a closer. How do you follow this story? You don’t, you just fall silent then sit back and say, “I love rap music.”)

39. “Unprofessional Shit” - T.F

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LDl9en-MyQ

http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.42239/title.t-f-drops-debut-project-no-hooks#signup

(Ever wonder what it would sound like if Roc Marciano grew up on the west coast? Then you really need to check out T.F’s No Hookd EP.)

38. “Da Streetz” - Rich Homie Quan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVec2QIB5tg

(Now I am NOT the biggest Zaytoven supporter by any stretch of the imagination. I didn’t think I was much of a Quan fan either - be it the rapper or the dance. However…this Back To Basics tape was really good! Each track felt like a single, and not only does Quan sound hungry, but he pours he seemed to pour his heart into this tape. Is it me, or does he even sound Weezy-esque on this one? Me waving the flag for Rich Homie Quan is a testament to the weirdness and unpredictability of 2017.)

37. “Portland” - Drake ft. Quavo & Travis Scott

http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/drake-portland-feat-quavo-and-travis-scott-new-song.1973357.html

(In my opinion, the most infectious song off of Drake’s “playlist”. Quavo probably takes the song, and Trav is tolerable, but CuBeatz & Murda are the real stars here for the flutes & production work.)

36. “Gorilla Monsoon” - Westside Gunn & DOOM (WESTSIDEDOOM)

https://soundcloud.com/user-5212897/westsidedoom-gorilla-monsoon

(This feels like Halloween liquified and poured into a record. When the story was leaked that Westside Gunn and DOOM would be joining forces, I think we all hoped for a full project...but realistically, we knew that any DOOM project comes with questions. We should be happy that we got two tracks from these two dope super-villains, each capturing the gifts that each MC brings to underground hip-hop.)

35. “Magnolia” - Playboi Carti

https://soundcloud.com/678carti/magnolia-1

(To me this was the perfect summer rap song in 2017. Carti might not spin gold over Pierre’s fun & bouncy beat, but he certainly knows how to provide a contagious flow when he needs one. I’m still surprised this track never received a star-studded remix, a la Bobby Smurdah’s “Hot N***a”?)

34. “Bulletproof Gucci Windshield” - Fly Anakin, Koncept Jack$on & Tuamie (Mutant Academy)

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/panama-plus/1295998624

(This whole album is dope. Let it be known that Tuamie is a force to be reckoned with behind the boards, as he conjures up ways to put fresh spins on old boom-bap that bring to mind some of the vibes that DJ Spinna and Jay Dilla were able to infuse into their work. And the MC’s sound potent throughout - picture D.I.T.C. with some dashes of Gang Starr, Lootpack and even C-N-N, and you have a handle on why Panama Plus is easy to rock from start to finish. Keep your eyes glued on the Virginia underground rap scene for the foreseeable future, you won’t be disappointed.)

33. “JUNKY” - BROCKHAMPTON

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AR7SenR2Hc

(Kevin Abstract might have earned the award for biggest impression-making verse of 2017 on “JUNKY”. I like to think of Brockhampton as what Odd Future could have been with maturity and focus, but the “rap boy band” still manages to color outside thee lines on all of their albums this year. The prolific team have more than a few attention-grabbing songs and videos to their credit, but Abstract ups the ante with possibly the hardest pro-LGBT verse in hip-hop history, and delivers one of the greatest verses of the year in the process.)

32. “GOD” - Kendrick Lamar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7derhyvkYY

(Kendrick finds a pocket in this one that I don’t believe any other rapper could touch. Here he’s filled with a spirit that’s capable of selling a feeling like “this is what God feels like!” The soaring stadium anthem is almost over the top heavenly without being corny. It’s just a cool song that captures the feeling of being on top of the world. And I dig it.)

31. “MachineGun Black” - WESTSIDEGUNN & Conway (prod. by Just Blaze)

http://www.stereogum.com/1928050/westside-gunn-conway-machinegun-black/music/

(Just Blaze straight up unleashed the Krakken with this one! While we are still waiting to hear the rumored “Just Blaze & The Blazettes” project that pairs the Griselda boys with the super-producer, this was quite the teaser. The Buffalo brothers go back and forth on this one with a hunger that could get a standing ovations from Styles & Jadakiss.)

30. “Rain Comes Down” - Vince Staples feat. Ty Dolla $ign

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeUOvrnOCVY

(Vince cranked the experimental dance music up to the max on his new album, and I’m still surprised that this Ty Dolla $ign crooner is my favorite song off the album right now. The tastefully subdued drums serve Vince’s pen game well, and while Big Fish Theory was worshipped by some and maligned by others, this is just factually a good rap song.)

29. “Burkina Faso” - Roc Marciano

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39RSBFQvqSg

(Damn, this is soooo hard. This is one of the songs I would play if someone asked me, “what’s so good about Roc Marciano?” No one reaches this level of gritty, teeth snarling rap music like Roc, as he rattles off potent quotables over a sick Arch Druids production.)

28. “FEEL” - Kendrick Lamar

https://genius.com/Kendrick-lamar-feel-lyrics

("Ain’t nobody prayin’ for me”...such a sad and lonely sentiment, backed by a sad and lonely Sounwave instrumental, and coupled with one of Kendrick’s finest verses on DAMN. This is just great music that everyone should feel.)

27. “Herringbone” - Roc Marciano

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkDtspLvUjs

(One of the most gripping tracks off of Rosebudd’s Revenge, “Herringbone” is a piece of mic menace that we could only get from Roc Marci. And the off-kilt beat change? Yes please and thank you. 2017 doesn’t deserve Rosebudd’s Revenge 2: Bitter Dose, but my greedy side is craving more gems like this...)

26. “Diamonds” - A$AP Twelvyy feat. A$AP Rocky

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aNbIuFt4lU

(Twelvyy shall sit on the shelf no longer. The A$AP Mobber was next in line to step up, and he did just that with his 12 album. It’s a sobering NYC-banger from start to finish, a testament to A$AP Yams’ vision, and one of the group’s strongest projects in recent years. Both Twelvyy & Rocky both put in fine work on this one, a standout joint reminiscent of the early vibes we first got from the A$AP team.)

25. “4:44” - JAY-Z

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSkA61esq_c

(Yeah, yeah I know - Jay-Z is not the first rapper to get personal on a record, and he’s not the first middle-aged man to deliver “grown man rap”...but this is JAY-Z here!? One of the most famous men in the world spills his guts about one of the most privately devastating times of his life and his family, how he screwed up, and you’re going to be casual about this? That’s fine for you, but I’m just going to appreciate the man’s ability to use his gift of rhyme to capture the frame of mind of a 40 year old celebrity about to lose it all, and firmly place it in my top 25 of 2017, thank you.)

24. “Brand Name” - Mach-Hommy & The Alchemist

https://soundcloud.com/alan-the-chemist/brand-name

(Mach-Hommy got some more help from Uncle AL to deliver a strong one right here. The sparse production really lets the Haitian wonder’s bars take center stage, with excellent results. What a huge year for Mach, and for many this joint was their first official taste of what this fresh voice is capable of.)

23. “Family Feud” - JAY-Z feat. Beyonce

http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/jay-z-family-feud-feat-beyonc-new-song.1974821.html

(Wow. No I.D.’s work could easily pass for classic Kanye production with this one. Here he takes a dope gospel sample, allows an under-the-radar nobody named Beyonce f’n Knowles-Carter to lay some vocals over it, and then he served it to a young Soundcloud struggle rapper named Shawn “Locked Down As The Greatest Rapper Of All Time” Carter. The results? HOV gets personal again, drops some jewels, and we have yet another classic Jay-Z record to add to the catalogue.)

22. “Calm Before” - Quelle Chris feat. Cavalier & Suzi Analogue)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL-aXQnJHo8

(I refused to allow Quelle’s album to be slept on. A brilliantly produced, wonderfully scripted album, and an all around enjoyable listen, Quelle’s Being You Is Great, I Wish I Could Be You More Often is a lesson in how to walk the line between classic late 90′s underground hip-hop and experimental hip-hop. I have a lot of faves off this project, but this one is beautiful enough to stand ahead of the pack.)

21. “Try My Hand” - The Alchemist & Budgie feat. Mobb Deep

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jMI1P1nXhw

(The loss of Prodigy is nothing short of devastating to his peers, disciples and hip-hop music. While he already had a lengthy stack of classics to his name, it was bittersweet to hear something new from the power clique of Alchemist, Budgie & Mobb Deep. Listen to this one tonight while toasting the life and times of Albert Johnson with a glass of Henny. Thanks for all of the gems, P.)

20. “Bullet Club” - Conway feat. Lloyd Banks & Benny

https://massappeal.com/conway-the-machine-bullet-club-lloyd-banks-benny-premiere/

(Just WOW at that line-up. Three of the finest verse-droppers in the biz on one track...if Beanie Sigel and Jadakiss jumped on, the studio would have exploded. This is the essence of street poetry right here, hope to hear more from this potent trio.)

19. “Bars Of Soap” - Mike Will Made It ft. Swae Lee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxGagHGhlHs

(I really didn’t see this one coming. Sounding like a fiery joint left off of The Neptunes’ Clones in 2003 but still fresh as hell in 2017, in one track I am permanently sold on the solo potential of the Rae Sremmurd member.)

18. “Corrlinks and JPay” - Kodak Black

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ask_MxeAGeo

(A lot of negative things can be said about Kodak Black, but the troubled young man dropped Painting Pictures this year and it confirms that he really knows how to make records. This one was my favorite off the project.)

17. “T-Shirt” - Migos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VUa99-tJqs

(For every four or five generic Migos records there is one straight up anthem that reminds you that whatever quality these guys have, it leads to contagious music. How do you follow-up a hugely successful record like “Bad and Boujee”? By showing the same patience, allowing a slow tease of an instrumental build into a fresh sounding hook, then layering it with enough Migosian ad libs to keep fans rewinding again and again.)

16. “Riverdale Rd” - 2 Chainz

https://www.fakeshoredrive.com/2017/06/2-chainz-links-with-mano-mike-dean-for-riverdale-rd.html/

(I was surprised this one didn’t blow up more. Maybe it’s a slow burner? To me, this record was 2 Chainz’ answer to “A Mili”. At first the seemingly basic beat doesn’t stand out, but it is still very distinct and built for a charismatic MC to tap dance all over. On first listen? It’s okay. But on second and third listen, if you’re not bouncing and chanting “Riverdale, Riverdale, Riverdale”, then you should enjoy life more.)

15. “HUMBLE” - Kendrick Lamar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvTRZJ-4EyI

(Leaving a dent in the center of both hip-hop and pop music circles, Kendrick must be finding it a challenge to stay humble these days. No amount of overexposure could dull this record, or keep it from becoming one of the biggest smashes of 2017. A traditional west coast banger that arrived as a curve ball to anyone that expected his latest opus to follow in the same sonic footsteps of To Pimp A Butterfly, “HUMBLE” proved to be the perfect record that Kendrick needed to spark the hype for DAMN. The only thing that makes Kendrick Lamar a “weirdo rapper” is how weird it is that Kendrick can nail the vibe of a classic gangsta rap record better than most gangsta rappers.)

14. “Caught Their Eyes” - JAY-Z feat. Frank Ocean

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/jay-z-lashes-out-at-prince-estate-on-caught-their-eye-w490543

(If you put this song on and don’t want to take a slow drive through NYC with the windows rolled down on a beautiful day, then I don’t know where your soul is at, and I’m sorry, I can’t help you.)

13. “100,000 Machine Gunz” - Westside Gunn feat. Royce Da 5′9 & Conway

https://soundcloud.com/dotgotit/westside-gun-ft-conway-royce-da-59-100000-machine-gunz

(Bars, bars and more bars galore! Royce really makes his presence felt on this dark and haunting beauty of a cut. And anytime Royce and Conway The Machine go toe to toe, fans are the lucky winners.)

12. “Bam” - JAY-Z feat. Damian Marley

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXXxUNJ23uk

(UGH, another reinterpretation of Sister Nancy’s “Bam Bam”...in 2017!? I’m the first to admit disappoint when I noticed that the short track list on 4:44 would include yet another use of this sample - and with little alterations involved. However, Jay-Z and Damian Marley breathe life into this classic sample in such a way that it feels more like an awakening of a spirit rather than a rehash of an abused music sample. The closest thing to a smooth gangster record on 4:44, now when I hear “Bam” pound through speakers in 2017 it feels more like a lesson in proud resilience than the same old same old.)

11. “Calisthenics” - Nolan The Ninja feat. Royce Da 5′9

https://soundcloud.com/nolantheninja-1/calisthenics

(The boom-bap force is strong with these two. An early favorite off of Nolan’s terrific YEN album, this record is a testament to a great hip-hop tradition that is being embraced in Detroit right now. Both MC’s flash their rhyme skills over a dusty sample that harkens back to the heyday of The Wake Up Show. If you’re not feeling this, then chances are you wouldn’t have read down this far on my list.)

10. “Luger” - Benny ft. Westside Gunn & Conway

https://soundcloud.com/bennythebutcher1/luger-ft-westsidegunn-conway

(The Griselda gang had a blast with this one. A slept-on loosie with a beat that feels like it could have come from the mind of fellow Buffalonjan Rick James, “Luger” doesn’t break any new ground. In fact - and true to many wrestling homages penned by the Shady Records signees - “Luger” doesn’t even address retired wrestler Lex Luger, another son of the city of Buffalo, of which the song is named. What makes this Daringer production stand out amidst a sea of dope Griselda cuts in 2017, is how skillfully the these MC’s flash their skills as verse writers, flow crafters, and torch bearers of a classic New York hip-hop sound. Griselda did HUGE things this year, and their stock is still rising.)

9. “Plain Jane” - A$AP Ferg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meXPbvp3ldg

(It has been a strong year for A$AP Ferg, hasn’t it. The whole Mob made moves this year but for Ferg, 2017 feels like a return to rising rap star form. 2016 yielded his ambitious Always Strive and Prosper album, a project flooded with many great ideas that ultimately drowned in mostly unsuccessful production choices. The Three 6 Mafia influenced “Plain Jane” strikes the right tone as a club record attempt by the A$AP Mob’s most unpredictable lieutenant.)

8. “Tell Em” - Tate Kobang

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHY-TJiOimo

(Tell me how this didn’t blow up again? Rising Baltimore rapper Tate Kobang has a knack for catchy hooks, but this one is an easy standout in my mind. Having all the makings of a radio/stream smash without actually being a smash, “Tell Em” is as much an accessible, trap-inspired city anthem as any released in 2017, and just because every other blog seems to have neglected it, I refuse to follow suit. This joint bumps.)

7. “Gunsense” - Roc Marciano

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8oGIRxH4MI

(Yet another standout off of Rosebudd’s Revenge. The Super Cat intro is practically legendary by now, while the original source material for this Arch Druids banger remains mysterious. What “Gunsense” represents is the work of a gifted MC that knows how to blend the elements of soul, funk, reggae, and hip-hop into an aesthetic that you either feel or you don’t. To those that can’t feel it, I’m sorry to say that you’re missing out on one of the finest nuanced wordsmith’s in rap history.)

6. “Marcy Me” - JAY-Z

https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/8xanbx/jay-zs-marcy-me-is-the-culmination-of-a-decades-long-neighborhood-story

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5fxxMRzi1Q

(From a young man on “Where I’m From” to a middle-aged music icon on “Marcy Me”, Jay-Z has had a front row seat to witness some immense changes within the borough of Brooklyn. A place he clearly loves to this day, warts and all, Brooklyn has been as much of Jigga’s sound as any other influence in his life. Add “Marcy Me” to his already lengthy list of classic homages to his home town.)

5. “Marksmen” - Roc Marciano feat. Ka

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2biUcMjb-UM

(As a fan of rap music, sometimes what the mood calls for is just straight up raw grit. Whenever Roc & Ka combine powers, they concoct the best minimalistic rap music around, so “Marksmen” is less the exception than the rule. Let us not forget about the production work of Arch Druids throughout Rosebudd’s Revenge. The production team score the whole album with a tripped-out 70′s soul touch that has not been felt since Ghostfaces Supreme Clientele. The whole damn album is great, but for me, “Marksmen” is the joint that takes the listener out of a comfort zone more than any other...and that’s what makes it such an attention grabbing work of art.)

4. “Smile” - JAY-Z feat. Gloria Carter

http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/jay-z-smile/

(One of the most moving moments on the 4:44 album is this gorgeous Stevie Wonder flip. Jay-Z’s lyrical work is top notch on this one, from start to finish one of the strongest works of lyrically he has displayed in recent years, but by sharing the love for his mother, and her willingness to discuss her sexuality, “Smile” represents one of hip-hop’s greatest moments in reaching the LGBT community. Hip-hop has a long way to go to make up for countless offenses, but this is certainly a step in the right direction.)

3. “DNA” - Kendrick Lamar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLZRYQMLDW4

(A beat change heard around the world. Mike Will Made-It and Kendrick joined forces to unleash this sonic explosion off of DAMN., and it stands amongst the finest work of either artist. To me it feels like “King Kunta” dialed up to 11, as if “hey I’m black and I’m proud” escalated to “hey, did you not hear me!? I’m black and I’m proud and I demand equality” after the message of peace was not met with actions it deserved. Be it his gift with the pen or his gift with the delivery of his message, whatever is within Kendrick’s DNA, it crafted the greatest talent in hip-hop today.

2. “The Story Of O.J.” - JAY-Z

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM7lw0Ovzq0

(If you would have told me in Dec. 2016 that one of the best songs of 2017 would be a deeply soulful cut from a new Jay-Z modern classic album, I would have thought it was a case of fanboy-itis from yours truly. Low and behold, here we are, and I do not think I’m alone in having strong feelings about this song. From the No I.D. sampling of Nina Simone to Jay’s off-the-charts flow on this one, “Story Of O.J.” feels as deeply personal to Shawn Carter as it does to millions of people living in the world today. In the tradition of all great art, trying times can lead to moments of musical brilliance. While the whole album may be about how Jay-Z and Beyonce have worked to push forward as a family, this fantastic track off of 4:44 focuses on moving people forward.)

1. “FEAR” - Kendrick Lamar

https://soundcloud.com/kendrick-lamar-music/fear

(I’ve said it more than a few times in 2017, and I’ll say it one more time before 2018: “FEAR” perfectly captures the silent struggle that is anxiety, better than any other rap song that I have ever heard. The Alchemist and Bekon bless Kendrick with the soothing backdrop he needed to break down the fears that Kendrick dealt with as a child, as a young man, and as the music superstar he is today. The message is clear: while one’s situation and position in life may change, the anxiety itself continues to lurk in the background. Kendrick’s fear of “losing it all” may feel like his most intense fear yet, but if the work he put into this track helps him manage it - and in turn helps many others that receive his message - then all we can say is thank you for sharing, Kendrick. A brilliant song from a new classic album, and likely the best rap song of 2017.)

***Highly Honorable Mentions a.k.a. Songs That Belong On This List As Well But I Felt 72 Damn Songs Is Long Enough, Thanks***:

“Legendary” - Jamal Gasol feat. Sage Infinite, “Meditate” - EARTHGANG feat. J.I.D, “No One Seems To Care” - Nyck @ Knight, “The Foundation” - Ali Vegas, “Honda Civic” - $ha Hef, “St. Regis” - Conway, “Asics” - Eto & V Don, “So Many Feelings” - EARTHGANG, “95 Bad Boy Logo” - Skyzoo, “HEAT” - Brockhampton, “Chrome (Like Ooh” - Rapsody, “Imperius Rex” - Sean Price, “Santorini Greece” - Rick Ross, “Yea Yea Yea (Maps)” - A$AP Twelvyy, “Babies In The Stroller” - Wordsworth & Sam Brown feat. Sadat X, “Problemz” - Creestal feat. Conway & Hus Kingpin, “5200″ - Maxo Kream, “Rivi” - Benny, “Like Really - Oddisee, “La La Land” - T.Y.E, “2809″ - Yo Gotti, “Aye” - Fetty Wap, “Modern Slavery” - Travis Scott & Quavo, “6am On Park” - Oun-P, “Long Live The Kings” - Mulatto Beats feat. King L, “Bleacher Report” - Willie The Kid & V Don, “Nash” - Conway, “Zeltron 6 Billion” - Denzel Curry feat. Lil Ugly Mane, “Tiddly Winks [stx]” - Mach-Hommy, “Montega” - Grandmilly, “Hand Gun” - Creestal feat. Roc Marciano, “Follow Deez” - Big Boi feat. Curren$y & Killer Mike, “G.O.A.T” - Conway, “Negus” - Sean Price feat. DOOM & Ike Eyez, “383 Myrtle” - Mach-Hommy feat. Billy Woods, “Somebody” - J.I.D, “Winston Red” - Your Old Droog, “Mac 15s” - Westside Gunn, “Hoodbooger” - J.I.D, “The Pain” - Rapsody, “Macho On Coke” - Westside Gunn & Mach-Hommy, “Schoolcraft” - Nolan The Ninja, “745″ - Vince Staples, “Bonzai” - Action Bronson, “Already” - Roc Marciano, “Easter Gunday 2″ - Westside Gunn feat. Keisha Plum & Mach-Hommy, “paging mr. bill nunn” - milo, “Doomsayer” - DOOM & Alchemist, “I Get The Bag” - Gucci Mane feat. Migos, “R.N.H.” - Jayy Grams, “Left Hollywood” - Meek Mill, “Spurs 2″ - Conway feat. Benny, “Once Upon A Time” - The Diplomats, “Red Light” - EARTHGANG, “Two 16′s” - Z Money & ChaseTheMoney feat. Valee, “D/vision” - J.I.D feat. EARTHGANG, , “New Freezer” - Rich The Kid feat. Kendrick Lamar, “Shteef” - DrxQuinnx, “Blowin’ Minds (Skateboard)” - A$AP Rocky, A$AP Nast, A$AP Ant, Chief Keef & Playboi Carti, and so...many...more, I can go on for another hour just listing names...THANK YOU 2017 FOR HIP-HOP. Salute and see you folks in 2018!

ICYMI: *Top 61 Rap Songs of 2016*

https://therappundit.tumblr.com/post/155219995351/top-61-rap-songs-of-2016

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honeylikewords · 7 years ago

Text

The Raining Sunshine aka The Cheer Up Cooldown

(A/N: *from behind a door* Hey, so … I wrote you something. I probably didn’t do well on it for an assortment of reasons, but I wanted to see it through. I apologize for anything I did wrong with this, from interpretations or emotions or whatever because I may have thrown in my own anxieties but … but still … Also, the reason I don’t name who “he” is is because I felt that it should be up to you who you want to have comfort you. I hope everything works out, K! We all love you!!)

“You okay?” He wanted to smack himself in the forehead for asking that. Of course you weren’t okay – who curled into a fetal position on the floor of their bedroom, their bed within perfect walking distance, and felt okay? It was mainly out of convention that he had asked it at all before inquiring anything else of you. He knew that. You thankfully knew that.

And yet, you only seemed to curl into yourself even further, your body slightly trembling from the growing tension of your muscles. He forced a smile, feeble on his features and only made less reliable by the position of his eyebrows.

“You’ll snap into two if you keep that up,” he said, even adding a little chortle for effect. Unfortunately, the chuckle of his wasn’t strong enough nor genuine enough to hold up even the weakest of jokes. His attempt at humor collapsed to the ground next to you with an unceremonious thud.

A muffled sigh escaped from the cave created by your arms, legs, and head.

Today had started off so well. So well. You knew that it could’ve been worse, that there was surely a light in the tunnel closer than what you thought. And yet, this only made the cloud of melancholy within you swirl even further into a frenzy. This wasn’t the first time something like this had happened:

“Some things, you just can’t control. And it’s alright to feel upset about it,” he’d said one time.

“It’s okay to feel upset, so long as you don’t let it consume you,” he’d said another.

The last time something like this had happened, he offered, “This, too, shall pass, but there’s nothing wrong in feeling the now.”

And you appreciated it all, you really did. But that usually was only after wading through the guilt feeling down sometimes made you. Like you were letting people down for being upset in the first place.

You liked to think of yourself as a people-person of sorts. At the very least, it was in your nature to see to it that others were comfortable and content. It was a very appealing trait, made all the more worthy of adoration by the fact that it was delivered by such a shining disposition.

In fact, when you’d first started dating him, he likened you to daffodils and sunflowers “because you were just so bright and demanding of attention even when you didn’t know it.” Being compared to yellow made you feel pink with flattery. But what of those days where you felt blue? Or grey? Or even black as the darker precipices of your mind?

Sure, he seemed supportive, but did he really mean it? Did he really have the patience? Or did he feel that he was obligated to do so?

You heard him sigh and knew that this meant he was scratching the back of his neck, searching for the right things to say. He then lowered himself to about your height (or as low as his larger frame would allow him to) and balanced on the tips of his feet.

“Is the bureaucracy of the American education system performing unjust actions that suggest bias towards neurotypicals taking advantage of real-life day-to-day difficulties while ignoring the requirements of others based on their own personal functions again?” A bit of a loquacious way to say that the American education system was rigged, but not incorrect.

You nodded your head against your crossed forearms. You heard a small “aww” of sympathy in his voice, followed by the shuffling of him sitting on the ground completely. What you didn’t hear (or see) was his hand reach out to touch your back, only to stop.

His open palm hung in the air just inches away from you.

“Uh,” he said, “do you …? Is it okay if I touch you?”

You said nothing. He was beginning to lower his hand back to his side, fully accepting of your assumed decision, when he saw you nod your head. The nod was a bit more eager than the last one. To his relief, you didn’t tense when his calloused, heavy hand came to settle just below your shoulders. In fact, the warmth its presence heralded caused you to loosen up.

“There we go,” he cheered quietly. “No breaking today.” At that, your body somehow found a way to slump even further.

“I’m already broken,” you muttered. It may have been a bit dramatic but that was how you truly felt: You felt ignored, tired, and like a creaky old music box that lay forgotten on a back shelf in a dying antique store. At the very least, you felt as though you could nap for ten-thousand years.

You heard him click his tongue and mutter something along the lines of, “Not in this house” before feeling his arms encircle you as they lifted you up by a few inches. You were then promptly placed on his very warm lap where you couldn’t easily retreat back into your ball no matter how much larger his frame was in comparison to yours. You sighed (both in surrender and in content from the feeling of his body on yours) and flopped your limbs about him. If you were going to follow through with that ten-thousand-year nap, then, at least you had a nice placed to try and do it in.

Or at least you would have: It’s hard to try and nap with the feeling of a nose brushing against your neck and the side of your face.

“Stop it, I’m trying to be sad,” you giggled in protest. Every try you made at squirming away was meat with his hold on your tightening. But not in a painful or discomforting way: In that way that he had done so many times before, where his fingers would gently press into your sides. The threat of a tickle attack was nigh!

You heard him whine with protest, digging his nose even further against your skin. This elicited a squeal from you as you struggled even further to get away from your impending doom.

“Mm-mm,” he hummed. “I’m trying to massage the sadness out of you. But you’re so delicate that only the human nose is gentle enough to do it!”

“Noooo!”

“But wait: Humankind’s technology has progressed! Now I can use myyyyy – ”

“Don’t you dare – ”

“ – fingers!”

“I swear to the powers that be – ”

“Okay, okay, don’t elbow me, I was just bluffing.” Though you could somewhat hear it in his voice that he was a bit disappointed to not follow himself up on that little threat. The stalemate being resolved, the both of you collapsed as your bodies became more lax.

… And vulnerable. You’d felt a little better in that moment, knowing that you had someone so eager to help you back into your high spirits. But then thinking about that reminded you that you had been in low spirits to begin with. Which then gave way to the fact that you’d allowed yourself to sink that low.

Once again, your body deflated – this time, with negativity. The feeling of hopelessness pressed down upon you, pushing out excess gloom. Even he could sense it. Sighing, he pulled you up closer against him and positioned your head to the crook of his neck as if attempting to shield you from an unseen force. You didn’t object to the gentle rocking motion he set the two of you in.

“You want me to go beat up the big wigs in charge?” he asked.

That almost coaxed a scoff out of you.

“I highly doubt you can take on the entire board or office of residence life,” you pointed out.

He shrugged a shoulder, his lips pouting with consideration. “Maybe not,” he admitted. “But you gotta admit that it’d make one hell of a story to tell our kids.”

“Ah yes,” you started bitterly, “local lunatic brandishes fist at board meeting because his girlfriend can’t catch a break.”

“Hey, now,” he scolded gently. “I’d prefer the term ‘devoted debonair’, thank you very much. That way, they’ll know that I am challenging them to a rousing game of fisticuffs for your honor and not just some drunk idiot looking for a fight.”

Okay, that managed to make a sliver of a laugh puff out of your nose. Your lips pressed together ever so slightly, but not enough to create a proper smile. You didn’t respond besides that, leaving the bedroom quiet aside from his heart beating in your ear and the sounds of the both of your inhales and exhales.

In the midst of the shared quiet, he murmured, “You want me to run a bath?”

“… Kinda,” you mumbled into his neck.

He nodded. “Okay,” he said. He pecked your forehead for good measure before returning back to the rocking pattern he’d initiated, making sure to press his cheek against the crown of your head.

****

“You good in there, hun?” his voice boomed from behind the wood of the door. He felt a little worried when all he heard was the drip-drop of water from the faucet. It was relieving when he finally heard your little voice call out that you were fine. He knew better than to associate you with any kind of harmful acts but he still didn’t want to imagine you crying in the bathtub or falling asleep in it. When he nudged you through the door, arms carrying your softest pajamas and towels, you’d looked tired enough to do either.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the door, your back was pressed against the very end of the tub, your head cocked upwards so you could stare at the ceiling. You tried not to make a depressing deal out of it all. You tried to focus on other things: The metronomic dripping of water from the tub’s faucet; the occasional, hushed gurgling of water seeping through the plug; how many figures you could make out of the dots in the ceiling. But the longer you stared, the more your thoughts seemed to simultaneously ricochet and remain stagnant.

It was almost a blessing that you’d heard the clattering of porcelain come from beyond the hallway, followed by your man hissing a few choice words in a pained voice. As upset as you were, the need to see to it that he also wasn’t going to fall into the metaphorical pit of despair was still present inside of you. Better get out to see what happened.

****

Apparently what had happened was that he’d put his fingers into the mug too early. He’d been trying to make you a cup of tea to keep the cycle of warm arms to warm bath to warm post-bath going. However, it was not his intention to let the dried leaves slip through the tea ball and turn your drink into what could only be described as flood water. His efforts to place the tiny strainer in to catch the stray particles had failed only when his big fingers came too close to the scolding water’s edge.

“You really didn’t need to do all that,” you insisted, wrapping a band-aid around the appendage. As you glanced up at him, you almost laughed: Seeing a childish pout on a grown man’s face would never fail to cause some amusement in you – especially if it was on his face of all peoples’.

“And you really didn’t need to leave your bath so early,” he shot back.

“I was in there for ten minutes!” you exclaimed.

“Not nearly long enough for the cherry blossom bubble bath to soak into your pores and fill you from the inside out with kits delicate bouquet.”

“I put on the lotion,” you offered coyly. You weren’t certain as to why, though. It wasn’t like you’d done anything wrong by forgoing the soak and choosing to check up on the big lug.

But judging by the way his eye lids lowered and his brows raised, you probably had been in the wrong. Before you could question what the matter was, he leaned forward to and took three big sniffs. You had to fight the urge to gingerly push him away for tickling your face.

As he pulled back, his lips were pursed.

“I smell only one scent,” he spoke.

“What? Was I supposed to put on all of them?” you responded sarcastically.

“Yes.” His tone was affirmative.

“You do realize how ridiculous that sounds, right?”

“No, because it’s not ridiculous. Now,” his hands came down to gently turn you in the direction of the hallway leading to the bathroom. “Go pamper yourself the way God intended for you to be pampered.”

“Honey, you’re being weird – ”

“Go,” he commanded, and he gave the small of your back a tender nudge. You groaned with exasperation as you marched back to the bathroom. There was just no pleasing this man.

****

“It’s, uh … It’s hazelnut cookie. Tastes better than it sounds, I swear it,” he insisted. He nudged the mug closer to you. You kept on staring. You could tell he’d done the tea right based on the color it was after all the things you enjoyed had been added. And yet …

“I’m just surprised that you bought a tea meant to taste like cookies,” you muttered. You accepted the mug before sniffing it. It sure smelled nice … And upon taking a gentle sip of it, you were pleased to find that it tasted good as well. Just like he said it would. Pleased that you were pleased, he sat down with his own mug of the peculiarly-flavored drink.

He was content enough to sip in silence if that was what you wanted to you. And really, a small part of you wanted exactly that: To sit quietly, drink your cookie tea, and let the evening slump into soundlessness so you could suffocate the thoughts inside of you. But another part of you didn’t want that. It was a bigger part, more vocalized. It wanted you to repent for putting him through this, whatever “this” was. Maybe “this” was putting up with you in your seemingly constant sadness. Maybe “this” was failing to be the happy person everyone wanted you to be, the person who had no reason to be upset given that she was considerably luckier than other people in similar positions. Or maybe “this” was simply the fact that he’d gone out of his way to make you a bath and tea that he knew you’d like – two things that you could have easily done on your own had you not been so – God.

A shaky breath shuddered out of your quivering lungs as the fussing in your mind grew louder and louder. Whichever part of your brain that was responsible for making you experience guilt had grown exponentially, pressing down on the forefront of your mind until tears were threatening to pour out of your eyes.

Neither of these things had gone unnoticed by your tablemate. Once bearing a neutral expression as he sipped from his cup, his face now bore a continence of slight concern.

He gulped down the remaining tea that had been in his mouth. “Hey,” he said quietly. “You okay there?”

No. No, you weren’t okay. You weren’t okay earlier, and you still weren’t okay now even after all the cuddling, the jokes, the bath, the tea, the general show of concern at all – and that made it so much more worse!

“Uh …” You caught yourself before carrying on any further. Just that one little noise had a bubble in it; the gurgling kind that accompanied crying. Your lips pressed together tightly as the rest of your mouth made an effort to shove the threat of crying down your throat and into the pit of your stomach where the natural acids within would hopefully burn it away.

The slight concern on his face had evolved into actual concern. He lowered his mug to the table, brows creasing.

“Sweetie?” he called. You inhaled deeply, cursing the fact that your exhale rattled a bit. But if you didn’t say anything, then he’d only gain more suspicion.

“I …Thank you,” you whispered. It was hoarse. Maybe you could pass it off as being the result of drinking something hot? When your eyes locked with his own, you knew that that excuse wasn’t going to work.

Regardless of how he truly felt, however, he responded, “You’re welcome.” You nodded as if to confirm that the conversation was over, making sure to look elsewhere as you drew the mug back to your lips. You prayed that he would follow suit but as you glanced from the corner of your eye, you could tell that he wasn’t. Instead, his eyes remained locked on your form, studying your features. He was looking for a tell, the one thing that he could use to peer into what the mask was really hiding.

Your heart threatened to sputter: Any effort to hide a tell would likely fail, but no effort at all would make it easy for him to find it at all. There was no way to win.

“And thank you,” he finally said, expression unchanging. Your attention returned to him in a quizzical manner.

Thank me? you wondered. “For what?” you asked aloud.

He shrugged, eyes never breaking contact with yours. “For being upset, but pulling through it.” He cracked a smirk. “Like a champ.” That’s it. He knew where to poke to get results. You gave up trying to protect that spot. You were already so weak from the day’s previous trials, so why the hell not just deal with this shit as well!?

He didn’t seem too fazed by you practically slamming your mug down on the table. Not that this was normal behavior of yours (not even in your darkest of moments), but he simply just knew what behaviors typically accompanied breaking points. He didn’t see any need to raise a fuss. But as your hands flew to your hair, fingers curling in deep, he could tell that you sure saw one.

“But I’m not a champ! I’m not handling this well at all!” you hollered. “Champs don’t make people hold them! Or rock them like babies! Or make their baths or lay out their lotions or make them tea or whatever else it is you apparently feel obligated to do!” Your fists released themselves from your hair, only to clench before you in frustration. “If I was really handling any of this like a champ, there wouldn’t be anything to handle – I’d be totally flippin’ fine! I’d be joking around, I’d be watching Beauty & the Beast and singing tralala and all that mess right now – not screaming my head off like a looney over hygiene and tea!”

The groany whimper that rumbled out of you was pitiful by your own accord, all the more reason for you to press your hands to your face and cover your eyes. They were stinging with the threat of tears and you weren’t sure how much more you could handle of showing him just how weak you were being.

“I want to handle this like a champ,” you whimper. “I really do. I don’t want people to worry or get upset or – or whatever, just because I can’t take a hit. I know these things are temporary, but it’s like …?” You hated how your voice hitched, the thread of your vocal chords tightening to an almost painful degree. The fatigue, the pressure, it was all becoming too much. “Just … just forget it …” It was quiet, shaky, and wet. The palms of your hands acted as half-measure dams against the streams of tears winding down your face. The yellowy sun of your personality had officially set, casting a dark shadow across your mind.

You hated that you had dragged him down there with you. Hated that you’d even fallen down there in the first place. But how could anyone hold up the sun for so long without burning themselves out?

If you had taken the initiative to open your fingers enough, to create makeshift windows, you would have noticed that his expression had finally changed. Not by too much, but just enough to know that he now meant to portray a different message with his face. It was no longer one of suspicion, but of something more trusting and loving.

It was a face that expressed endearment, sympathy. The face one gives before they grant the object of their affection a gripping hug.

Though your small puffs of breath and hiccups were quiet, you didn’t quite hear the groan of his chair against the linoleum floor. Nor did you hear him walk the few steps required for him to wind up at your side. You barely even registered the fact that he’d placed a hand on the back of your chair as he knelt down once more to meet your height.

What you did hear, however, was far more important than either of those little things:

“You didn’t make me do anything, baby,” you heard him say in the most gentle voice. “I did it all because I wanted to.”

A part of you (the romantic side, to be specific) cooed with her hand over her imaginary heart. But the rest of you, which was still quite sad, remained too unconvinced to even look at him.

“No,” you insisted wetly. “Y-you jus’ – you felt obligated.” You coughed on your tears. “You didn’ wanna be that asshole.” Underneath it all, you immediately regretted the implications of your accusation. Thankfully, he didn’t seem to be deterred.

“No, I’ll be an asshole for other things, but never about you,” he persisted. He watched you try to silence your crying by keeping it in. You sealed your lips together tightly, your body lurching with convulsions as it demanded to let everything out at once. You lowered your hands in defiance, determined to set your red, watery eyes on something uninteresting enough to bore the tears right out of you.

All the while, he watched on, heart sinking at your insistence of not feeling what you did.

“Honey – ”

A high-pitched keen of a whine threatened to escape your lips. The fight against it made your mouth sore but you persisted.

“Sweetie, please – ”

You screwed your eyes shut once more as if pressure from your eyelids could push the tears back into their ducts.

“(Y/N).”

Your body lurched violently, bumping the table. Your face was turning redder and redder, the ability to breathe dwindling as your nose became clogged and your mind blindly insisted on keeping your mouth shut –

“(Y/N)!” It was loud. Not frighteningly so, but just enough to hide none of the emotions he’d meant to deliver. It was stern. Concerned. Pleading, even. Pleading that you would listen.

It compelled you to open your mouth, releasing a ragged gasp as you released the used air and desperately trying to drag in whatever new oxygen it could. You panted rhythmically, eyed wide as the tears oozed out. You knew he could see you. You were afraid to look at him.

“(Y/N),” he repeated. It was quiet. Gentle, like the velvety inside of a rabbit’s ear. And yet strong enough to still carry all the feelings that he had used earlier, and then some. The “some” was endearment. Passionate endearment. A pleading endearment.

Your already thundering heart cringed: He wanted you to look at him.

Still panting, you shook your head.

“(Y/N),” he said again. Once again, you shook your head. Loose tears flew from your face and onto the table and surely onto his shirt. You were embarrassed.

“(Y/N),” he said once more, “please.” You were prepared to shake your head ‘no’ once more but failed to do so before his index finger and thumb gingerly caught your chin. You didn’t fight him as he directed your face to his. You considered looking at anywhere else but at him but instantly surrendered that ability. What was the use in hiding when he could already see how ugly and dark it all was, that you all were?

As his face greeted yours, you regretted not taking the previous option: Doing so would’ve meant initially being spared the look on his face. It was hurt. But not for him. For you.

He said nothing. You couldn’t say anything. There was only the sound of his breathing, for once conquered by your own as it rattled in and out of your lungs, through your still somewhat clogged nostrils and mouth.

You felt ashamed. A fresh batch of tears hazarded spilling from your eyes, prompting him to hurriedly release a slew of hushed “no”s and gentle shushes. The hand that had been keeping a hold on your chin was released, only to have both of his hands cup your face so that his thumbs could wipe away the droplets threatening to further dampen it.

You sniffled. He sighed.

“… (Y/N),” he said finally. You said nothing. “You … You’re allowed to be upset. Okay? You’re … You’re allowed to feel what you feel. Holding it in and beating yourself up for doing otherwise? S’not gonna help. Not you, not anything.”

You opened your mouth as if to protest but he beat you to it.

“Uh-uh-uh! No. No exceptions. Okay?” You hesitated but eventually closed your mouth and tried to control your breathing. No use arguing with him. Seeing that you were going to cooperate, he continued.

“You’re allowed to cry. But, most importantly, you’re allowed to put yourself first. Especially when you need it. Alright?” You didn’t nod, and he honestly didn’t expect you to at first. “Nobody expects you to be happy all the time. Nobody who matters, anyway. And anyone who says you have to feel a certain way? They’re an asshole. A selfish asshole. Not you. You feel what you feel – not what others want you to feel. Alright?” This time, you did nod. It followed a slight moment of hesitancy, of course, but he was at least glad that he was making progress.

“Good,” he murmured. He licked his lips, “This, too, shall pass. A’right?” In a matter of seconds, his lips curled into a smirk. “And until then, I’m gonna spoil you rotten. Got it?”

You tried to smile back.

“So get ready for pre-run baths, all the cookie tea that money can buy, and whatever else I can think of. Got that?”

The smile bloomed. It was a quivering, somewhat frail bloom, but to him it was the prettiest one. He knew you got it.

“Good,” he breathed. He pressed a kiss of reassurance to your forehead before pushing himself back up to full height. “I’ll be right back,” he said, walking toward the bathroom. “Gotta get you some tissues. Both for now and later: We’re watching Beauty & the Beast so you can sing tralala or whatever it was you said.”

You couldn’t help but release a tiny giggle at his little taunt. As he disappeared down the corridor, out of side, you sniffled and wiped your cheek with the fluffy sleeve of your robe. Returning your eyes back to the cookie tea, you decided to smile inwardly instead of outwardly as you released how much your face now stung from crying.

Today didn’t end with you being yellow, but that was okay: You could be a whole rainbow of colors. And he would love you through all of them: Through the yellow of your delight, through the red of your passions and frustrations, through the pink of your blushing love for him, and always – simply and devotedly, without a doubt, always – through the darker shades of the night.

i am literally crying right now. i am actually physicall crying and i cannot tell you how much this means to me.

you are so kind, and a very good friend. this is a REAL, LOVING GIFT, and i feel so so so blessed to have recieved it. i know i say that a lot, but i truly feel so lucky and so special to have been given this. you made it for ME and i can see it and feel it in every word, in every line.

you are so good to me, and i have no way of thanking you except to say over and over how much i love you and how much this means to me. this is sincerely making my heart so much happier and i’m crying because i feel so special and so loved and so cared for and i know i just have no words but i wish i could hold you close and tell you over and over and over again how much you and your work mean to me

i hope you have some idea of how much i love you, and how much you’ve done for me. you are truly a wonderful person and i am so thankful for this beautiful work of art you’ve made for me.

i love you, i love you, i love you.

#submission #fave #mega fave #SUPER DUPER MEGA FAVE #this is beyond anything i have words to say ah gHHH #tagged for me #SUPER SPECIAL TAG #this is my whole world and i feel so lucky and my heart is warm and full and im sobbing

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pendragonfics · 8 years ago

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Waving, Not Drowning!

Aqua Profunda: Chapter One | Chapter Two

Paring: Obi Wan Kenobi/Reader

Tags: female reader, godparent reader, fluff, tooth-rotting fluff, alternate universe - swimming

Summary: Power couple Padmé and Ani have next to no time around their booming careers. Thus, the Godparent, _______ steps in! This time, instead of ridding the house of sand, and saving the day, she's playing taxi to the twins' swimming lessons. Who knew the instructor was so hot?

Word Count: 1,363

Posting Date: 2016-05-20

Current Date: 2017-05-09

Being a godparent could be hard at times. It meant always being there for the kids at any time - and for the Skywalker family, you were needed quite a bit. Be it Luke tracking sand into his bedroom (also known as the time you deep cleaned so deep Anakin never found out), or Leia, in the many occasions where she needed picking up from school after getting into a fight (Ani and Padmé were both at work). And now. You're heralding the twins into the swim centre, making sure they've got their goggles and towels for their lesson.

"Remember, no running," you remind the kids.

If it weren't for their impressive gene pool, you wouldn't hesitate to say the two kids who were practically your own were trouble themselves.

"The three thirty swimming lesson?" The clerk behind the desk asks politely. You nod, reading her little tag. Ahsoka. "Cute kids." She smiles. "Will your partner be joining to watch soon?"

You laugh. "Ha, partner. No, these aren't mine, and their dad is crazy busy." You have a glance to the twins, and shake your head. You're too swept away by your own work to have a partner, but kids? Preposterous. The twins were enough to godparent as is. "Just me today."

Ahsoka beams, and peels off two dolphin stickers for Luke and Leia. "You're a little early, but I'm sure Mr Kenobi wouldn't mind. He's just finishing up with the squads."

"Thanks Miss Ahsoka!" They chime, and make way to the pool.

By the time you make it to the little pool they twins are learning in, you let out a held in breath you didn't think you had been holding. Five young kids, no more than eight years old, are towelling off, beaming bright smiles. You weren't even sure why you'd been so unsure about the swimming lessons - maybe because it was your first time. It was usually Anakan's job. But of course, he has work.

"Good job, everyone, I'll see you all next week. I think it's high time to start you all on freestyle," a jovial, bearded man grins. He must be Mr Kenobi, but you're not sure. There isn't anyone else around. "Remember, don't run!"

Your confusion as to who he is altered Leia. "That's Obi. He's really nice." She beams.

"He taught me how to float!" Luke nudges your knees.

"Ah, Mrs Skywalker?" Mr Kenobi sees you, making way to greet you. "I'm Obi-Wan Kenobi, the swimming teacher."

A blush breaks out over your face. Well, it wasn't hard, seeing as it was an enclosed heated pool, but still, you felt a heat rise to your cheeks. "Nice - nice to meet you Mr Kenobi, but I'm ________, ________ _________. Godmother of these two, and not the wife of Anakin." You correct quickly.

He nods, thoughtfully. "I thought so. I practically raised Anakin, I would remember if it was your face I gave away at the wedding or not."

You start. "I was their, uh, the maid of honour, actually."

Crouching, Mr Kenobi reaches the height of the twins. "So, you two are a little early. How about you two want to help me clean up the stuff the older kids left out?" He sees their dolphin stickers, and whispers, "You two have these badges? I bet you got them from cleaning!"

Luke frowns. "Miss Ahsoka gave them to us for -,"

"Yes! We're great at cleaning up!" Leia drowns out her brother, roping him into something he didn't much agree to. "Come on, Luke!"

The rest of the lesson goes quite quickly. You don't resort to reading your book, and instead, watch as the kids try their best in the paddle pool, learning how to swim. While Luke is good at the kick boards, Leia is a fast learner. Other kids, two little boys, named Han and Lando are doing their best too, and from what you can see, so is Mr Kenobi.

Why do I keep staring at him? You berate yourself. He's attractive, you can give him that; him and his bright smile and his swim shirt that clings to his shoulders and that beard.

It wasn't until many weeks later, near the end of the season. Anakin and Padme still not able to take the position of 'swimming lesson taxi driver' back, and without regret, you keep it up. Maybe it's being able to see Obi Wan's face as he teaches, so kind and gentle with these kids, or the fact that it seems like you're the parent to the twins.

Maybe it was then when you finally realise that you're head over heels, knees over nose, eyes over toes, dead on in love with him.

"So, kids, you're all done! Next swimming season you'll be graduating up to the next level to my good friend Qui Gon, and after him, Mr Windu."

"Thank you Mr Obi Wan Kenobi!" The kids chorus, and paddle out to him in the pool to give his middle a squeeze with their five year old arms.

You stand, and adjust your bag strap. Leia and Luke notice, and take the signal as it was, leaving the pool.

"Time to go home to Mummy and Daddy?" Luke asks you. "I can't wait to tell Artoo that we finished the swimming lessons!"

A sigh could be heard through Leia's towel. "He's a dog, Luke, he doesn't care."

"Does to!"

"Guys, how about we not go home right away," you preface, physically separating the twins from each other, "and maybe dry off, get changed ... and not tell Mummy and Daddy about an ice pole before we go?"

Their faces light up, rushing to the bathroom with their clothes to get changed as fast as they possibly could.

"So, _________," you hear a voice call your name. Turning, you see it's none other than Obi Wan. He's towelled down, but his impeccably parted hair is wild from hand drying, mouth wide with an amicable grin. "Now, since I'm not teaching the kids -,"

"I'd like a lemonade flavoured one!" Cried Luke.

"Me too!" Leia chimed.

The kids noticed Obi Wan, and beamed. "Hello Obi! Thank you for teaching us." Luke and Leia chimed.

You watch as he crouches to their level, "What was your favourite thing about learning how to swim?"

"I liked the kick boards," Leia confesses.

Luke poses. "I liked doing starfish!"

You laugh. "That's right," you tell Obi Wan. "They're a couple of little troopers, here. I was just going to get their ice blocks and then skedaddle before their Dad calls a search warrant."

Obi Wan straightens his back. "I'll pay for ice blocks, Mrs _________."

You feel a blush coming on, leading the kids to the kiosk with Ahsoka. "It's actually Miss, Mr Kenobi."

"That's a surprise, I would have thought that you'd have a charming partner, __________. Maybe a dog and a beach house." He hands the money to Ahsoka after the twins picked out their ice lolly.

You shake your head. "No, I have a little apartment to myself, and my parrot, Threepio. Downtown."

Obi's eyebrow quirks up. "I live downtown, too."

"Maybe you two should get married," Leia pipes up. "I would, if I lived near a nice man like Obi."

You ruffle the hair of the five year old. "Leia," you warn her. You don't want Obi Wan to find out about your silly crush through a child.

"Well, if that's the case, young Skywalker, I suppose I have no choice other than to take the lovely, devoted, funny, beautiful ________ __________ on a date, then do I?"

Luke nods in agreement. "That's right, you have no choice. Do it tonight, she isn't babysitting us. And bring her flowers!"

Obi Wan must notice the heat on your face, because in an instant, he's writing down digits on the kiosk receipt.

"Tonight, six? Text me where you want to go, and I'll meet you there." He beams.

You nod. "I'll see you then!"

Being a godparent could be hard at times. It meant always being there for the kids at any time - and now, you realise, also taking time for yourself.

"Are you going to kiss him?"

>> NEXT CHAPTER

#obi wan kenobi #obi wan #obi wan kenobi x reader #obi wan kenobi x oc #obi wan kenobi/reader #star wars x reader #star wars fanfic #alternate universe #pendragonfics #chaotic--lovely #Female reader

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ladydracarysao3 · 8 years ago

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In Love, Serenity

Chapter Fifteen: All that the Maker has Wrought is in His Hand

Chapter Summary Ser Barris confides in a friend about a certain woman infiltrating his thoughts. Then, he stumbles into an interesting scene at the tavern.

Note Title from Threnodies 12:5 If you'd like some background music for this chapter, may I suggest this song: Click here for Spotify -or- Click here for Youtube

[Read Chapter 15 on AO3] or [Start from the Beginning]

-Ser Barris-

“You are far better at chess than you are at wicked grace, Cullen.” Delrin says with a smile as he contemplates his next move. It seems that the man has him in a few turns no matter what Delrin does. However, it won’t have been an easy victory. They have been battling in this single game for nearly the entirety of the evening.

Cullen chuckles through his breath, “Yes well, I am far better practiced in this realm than the realm of wicked grace. The dwarf always manages to wipe me out…” his thought trails off in pensive frustration.

“He cheats,” Delrin says plainly. He smiles into the fist that props up his head as he considers the options before him.

Shocked, Cullen’s mouth drops open, “What? He cheats?”

Low and quiet laughter rumbles in Delrin’s chest and he raises his eyes from the game to Cullen’s, “Yes. And terribly, I might add.”

Cullen’s mouth shuts, clenching tightly as he scowls. “That scheming little… he has taken more of my coin than I care to say.”

“Perhaps I will teach you his tactics, or at least what to watch for so he does not succeed again.” Delrin grins at his opponent. He decides to surrender in their current match as he makes one final move. Opening the game now for Cullen to have his victory. “Might as well get this over with,” he sighs and leans back in his chair.

Cullen’s face brightens again, “Ah yes, I believe this game is mine. Well played, Delrin.”

“Good game,” he smiles as he looks around the gardens of Skyhold and Cullen resets the board for a future match. There are Chantry sisters scattered around the grounds reciting the Chant of Light. The daylight dims, displaying beautiful purples, blues, and oranges while the night sky moves in. Scattered braziers burn a golden hue across the darkening space. The array of colors reminds him of the gilded beauty dressed in blue.

“Say Cullen…” Delrin begins musingly, “Are you acquainted with a mage named Aurora?”

Cullen pauses, directing his eyes from the chess board to Delrin’s. Tentatively he responds, “Yes…well, I know her from long ago.” He shrugs leaning back in his chair placing his elbows on the armrests, tenting his fingers. “A lifetime ago, really. How do you know Aurora?”

“I met her the other day, after my promotion. She is a curious woman.” He leans his elbow on an armrest of his chair, placing his chin on his fist again.

Cullen smirks a moment, “Ah… yes… after your promotion.”

“Yes?” Delrin lifts questioning brows.

Cullen runs his hands through his hair and smiles, “Don’t be surprised if women like Aurora start appearing more often. You have a position of rank now.” He sighs and rolls his eyes, “It is a highly effective aphrodisiac for some.”

What Cullen says is true, ever since rumor began that Delrin would be made Knight-Commander, women have been practically tripping over themselves to seek his attention. He politely staved them all off, but something about this particular woman was different.

Delrin hums with a nod, “Yes… and if that was all this was, I would have to agree to what you are alluding. But this was different.” He shifts his weight to the back of the chair and tents his own fingers. “Well, our first meeting was not,” he continues. Cullen grins a knowing smirk, his eyebrows swiftly rise. “But I saw her again. Actually, I played wicked grace with her and her companions. I watched how she interacted with her friends. She is quite fiery.”

Cullen chuckles, “I see. Yes, Aurora was never one to be timid.”

“That’s the thing,” Delrin leans forward, eyes glinting with a crinkle pinched between his brows. “She is timid with me - flinches when I speak to her. But when she first approached me, she was so brazen.” He rubs his hand over his head and continues, bewildered and fascinated, “I find her alluring, but she seems to have lost all interest… seems to prefer I keep my distance.”

Cullen shrugs, “Far be it from me to know anything about what lies within a woman’s mind, Delrin. I’m afraid I cannot aid you.”

Delrin says thoughtfully, “Perhaps I should let it go.”

“May not be a bad idea, if she has expressed a desire for distance. I’ve seen her eat lesser men alive… figuratively of course.” Cullen chuckles softly, “She is not a woman you want to annoy, that is for certain.”

Delrin stares into the ever darkening sky. The gardens have all but cleared. There is a peaceful, warm glow cascading through the air from its lit torches.

It is the way with which she carries herself with such purpose that draws Delrin to her. She seems fearless, when there is so much in this world to fear. Especially for a mage. And yet, she loses her defenses when he speaks to her. A fact that appears to bother her a great deal.

“Yes, I should let her be.” Delrin smiles and bows his head to Cullen as he rises from his seat. “Good game, Cullen. I look forward to a rematch.”

Delrin enters the Herald’s Rest. It is a lively scene, though he’s come to expect that in this tavern. Those in Skyhold work tirelessly day in and day out, but they enjoy themselves with just as much vigor. As well they should. No one knows what tomorrow will bring.

He purchases ale and surveys the room. He smiles at the joviality surrounding him. He hears a particularly blissful sound from across the room. Guttural booming laughter from group of familiar faces sitting at a table in a small enclave. A few of the folks he had spent the evening with other night, plus another man Delrin believes is the mage, Dorian Pavus. Attracted to the exuberance of the table, Delrin approaches.

As he advances, he notices that in the corner of the table’s enclave sits Aurora. He had not seen her there before. Delrin instantly reconsiders his decision, but Sera spots him before he can alter his course. “Oi! Look who it is!” Her eyes light up as she ribs Varric, who sits beside her.

Varric smirks at Delrin, stealing a quick glance across the table at Aurora before saying, “How’s it goin’ Knight-Commander?”

Aurora slams her hands flat on the table in front of her. Blurry eyed, she looks at Delrin. “Wut er you dune here?” she slurs. It appears she has imbibed quite a lot this evening.

“Oh, I was just passing by, don’t mind me. Glad to see you all are having a good time.” He smiles, raising his tankard, and bows his head before he turns to retreat.

“Ooooh no you dunt,” Aurora yells.

Varric hesitates, “Aurora what are you…” Delrin looks back over his shoulder to the table, seeing that she has hoisted her body upon it and is slithering to the end.

“Go get’im!” Sera cheers. Across from the elf and next to where Aurora once sat, Dorian grins at Delrin wickedly as he claps his hands.

Quickly, Delrin spins around. He shoves his tankard into Sera’s hands so that he is able to catch Aurora as she spills off of the table. The cotton of her simple, blue robes snag in the wood, causing her to trip-up, tumbling ungracefully into Delrin’s arms. He attempts to stand her straight and stabilize her shaky frame. He holds her bent elbows securely in his hands. He tries to look into her eyes, but they have the unfocused glaze of intoxication.

“Aurora, be careful,” he says. “You don’t want another ruined set of robes.”

Aurora flings her fingers around dismissively. “Ah piss, these er nuthin.” She smiles and stares back at him, eyes bleary and hooded. The corners of her mouth slide into a lazy curl. “Hi,” she says and slumps into his arms.

“Aurora, I think maybe you should sit.” He smiles at her, so not to upset her, but he worries for her current state. “Or perhaps I should take you to your bed.” As soon as the phrase spills from his lips, he regrets it. Delrin feels heat rise in his cheeks at his unfortunate choice in words.

“Uh-uh. You ain’t beddin’ me that easy…” she shoves a finger into Delrin’s breastplate, following it with a look of concern. “Ouch… yer chest bit me,” her frown spins back into a snickering grin, delightfully amused with herself.

Delrin attempts to place her in the nearest chair, but she quickly drapes her arms around his neck refusing to sit. “No! I wanna dance.” Her eyes light up, as if someone else suggested the idea. “Yis! Dance with me Ser Ber…bliss.” She hiccups.

“I don’t think that’s a…”

“Nonsenst!” She stands on her own for a moment and smooths out her robes. She squares her shoulders and tries to look down her nose at the Knight, even though she stands a bit shorter than him. It’s too endearing for Delrin not to smirk at her attempt to look so lofty, her body lightly swaying as she postures. “I order you to dance with…with me.”

Delrin smiles broadly at seeing her fiery nature brimming in his direction.

“If you dunt, I will force push you off the battle…mints!” Another hiccup interrupts her speech. Delrin laughs and raises his hands in surrender. Only to quickly bring them back to catch her as her body threatens to fall. She points at the minstrel behind him and beckons, “Play sum’in pretty!”

Does this woman truly want me to keep my distance? Delrin wonders as she nuzzles her head onto his shoulder. He can feel her breath on his neck as he slowly spins her around the room to the music. He feels tremendously guilty for enjoying her embrace considering her condition. He feels even guiltier for wishing he was not still in his armor, so that he could better feel her soft, curvy body pressed against his.

Delrin shakes those thoughts out of his head. He should be ashamed, the indecency.

Heat blooms and rises in his core however, as he feels her lips ghost on his neck. She is whispering something. It is barely audible, but he believes he catches, “I will always miss you, my darling.” Delrin has a strong feeling that she is not actually referring to him. At this point, the guilt festering within him knows no bounds.

A little louder, but still into the skin of his neck, she addresses him, “Barris…”

“Yes, my lady?”

She holds on to him with a tighter grip. “You make me…feel.”

Delrin pushes her away just enough to see her face. She has the most beautiful blue eyes, but they are glassy with unspent tears. She smiles at him briefly, then furrows her blonde brow, parting her full, pink lips. “The spirit, Barris…”

“What spirit?” He asks, holding her softly, but with support. Worry stretches in his gut. Knowing all too well the struggles mages have with spirits and demons across the veil.

"He said, I can love.” She smiles and rests her head upon his shoulder again. She whispers, “He told me not to hide from you.” The sudden clarity of her words is jarring, but Delrin cannot help himself from embracing the warmth that her words conjure within him. She continues her murmurs, “He meant for us to heal each other.”

Delrin indulges an impulse, turning to rest his mouth softly on the top of her head. “Who was this spirit, Aurora?” he whispers a smile into her blonde hair. He breathes her in, she smells warm, like spice, and comforting, like old books.

She picks her head up and smiles into his eyes again. The sincerity of her smile is overwhelming. Delrin should be far more concerned about her intoxication, however he cannot help but enjoy these moments of intimacy.

She stops their slow dancing and furrows her brow. A look of concern crosses her face, quickly replaced with surprise, followed speedily by a mad dash for an empty tankard on a nearby table.

Followed by the sounds of retching.

Reality sets in as he is reminded just how inebriated Aurora is. Delrin rushes to her side, pulling her long, softly curled hair out of the way as she voids her stomach into the tankard. Sera screeches behind them and runs to help.

“Ay, you ninny. Looks like you’ve had ‘nough, eh?” Sera coos into her friend’s ear and rubs her back.

“I’m so sorry,” Aurora coughs, hunched over and groaning.

When it seems she is spent, Sera looks up at Delrin and motions her head toward the stairs. “Help me get her upstairs, yeah?” she says. “She can sleep it off in my room.”

Effortlessly, Delrin lifts Aurora in his arms. He cradles her body snuggly against his while following Sera up to her room. Aurora peers up at him, cupping his cheek in her hand. “You’re such a good man, Delrin,” her strained throat whispers. “I don’t deserve you.” Her thumb gingerly traces his lips, down to his chin. “But I could love you.”

A slight upturn to his lips, he whispers back to her, “I estimate you will feel pretty dreadful tomorrow, my lady. I will bring you water after you are secured.”

Entering Sera’s small room in the tavern, he gently lays Aurora on a long, cushioned bench. Aurora grabs his hand, whimpering softly, as he pulls away. He squeezes it and smiles at her. “Rest now, Aurora,” he says softly.

Turning to the elf he declares, “Right. I will find her some water and a bucket, just in case any more sickness threatens to expel itself.” With Sera’s nod, Delrin jogs back down to the lower level of the tavern. A little spring in his step. A faint smile on his lips. A soft glow in his heart.

He thinks to himself about what she said. However drunk she may be, he can’t help but feel excitement. Nothing has been the same since Aurora came into his world. His stressful, torn asunder, dismal world.

He wasn’t sure if commanding the reconstruction of the Templar order was a blessing or a curse. But he was bound to it. Unwavering. The issues the Red Templars bring to the order weigh heavy on his mind, darkening his days. He began losing hope that the world would ever be safe and just. No matter what, something sinister always lurks in the shadows, waiting to weaken his spirit further. And the world is full of shadows.

And then Aurora.

Aurora.

He could say her name a thousand times and it would still bring him a blissful smile.

She has so much fire, so much spirit. Her light is making him feel things he never thought possible. He had reserved his life to one shrouded in death and decay. He dared not dream of anything better, until Aurora.

Her words tonight are a small, glimmering beacon. He wishes to race to it, even though it hides from him. While her confession is encouraging, she will likely not remember dropping her guard, and speaking to him so plainly. But however faint, he will follow the hope she gives him, little by little.

Delrin can sense that she is wounded. Scared. Trepidatious. But he is patient. In time, he will heal her as she is healing him.

#in love serenity #delrin barris #ser barris #dragon age #dragon age inquisition #dragon age fanfiction #dragon age fandom #dragon age romance #my fic

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stone-man-warrior · 6 years ago

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August 11, 2018: 3:54 pm:

August 11, 2018: 10:12 pm:<br><br>Below is a copy of the full text of corresp... StoneMan .Warrior - 2018-08-11T13:50:59-0400 - Updated: 2018-08-11T18:54:30-0400

August 11, 2018: 10:12 pm: Below is a copy of the full text of correspondence I received by Email today from the White House Press Secretary's Office. I will make comment regarding some of these little BS indicators below the actual BS on the bottom of this entry later on today. Make no mistake about these small snippets of informative jargon, each one of these article items has a double meaning. From the individual authors names, to the source of the media outlet, to the carefully crafted and selected quotes and statements, this is some high level, under-table communication coming from the White House and directed to specialized groups of people unknown. On the surface, these articles are dry and uninteresting, easy to skip over and move on. That is exactly the way this kind of communication is designed to work. These kinds of outwardly visible and seemingly non-threatening pieces of information are communicated daily from the White House, to those who wish to be informed in this way. The first thing to take notice of for understanding what is happening here, is to be aware that the following text is from the The White House in Washington DC, where the President of the United States lives, and where his staff works. These communications are supposed to be written by White House Government Officials, but instead, each one of these snippets is simply a quoted portion of a larger text written by a Mainstream Media author. There is absolutely no information in this White House Correspondence letter that actually comes from the White House. None. The White House has been Hijacked by the people who put this BS together and sent it to me. ==================================== resolute reads REAL NEWS PRESIDENT TRUMP DOESN'T WANT YOU TO MISS Trump’s New Short-Term Health Insurance Rule is a Major Victory for Young People and Working Families Washington Examiner “The average family enrolled in [an Obamacare] Silver Plan will pay a maximum of $13,725 for out-of-pocket expenses, with Silver Plan deductibles increasing by 13 percent in just the past year alone,” Justin Haskins of the Heartland Institute writes. “Health insurance this expensive is virtually useless.” Trump Reinstates Iran Sanctions, Slams ‘Horrible’ Nuclear Deal -Fox News In May, President Donald J. Trump announced America’s withdrawal from the flawed Iran nuclear deal. This week, the Administration followed through on that promise. On Tuesday at midnight, the Treasury Department restored many of the sanctions the Obama Administration lifted as part of the deal, Rich Edson reports. Pence Calls for Space Force to be Established by 2020 -Fox News “Vice President Pence called Thursday for America to assert its dominance in space,” Adam Shaw reports—“and revealed the Trump administration wants to create the ‘Space Force’ by 2020.” The Vice President said “our adversaries have transformed space into a warfighting domain already and the United States will not shrink from this challenge.” Israelis and Palestinians Must Unite Against Shared Threat -CNN Special U.S. Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt writes that “while Hamas focuses on violence toward their Israeli neighbors, they have neglected and utterly failed to build the infrastructure and systems to make life better in Gaza.” But Greenblatt says that today Israelis and Palestinians have a chance to finally live in peace if they work together to address the deadly threat Hamas presents. How Visa ‘Overstays’ are Fueling America’s Immigration Boom -The Washington Times Stephen Dinan reports that “more than 400,000 people came to the U.S. on legal visitor visas in 2017 but were still here six months after their time was up,” according to new information from the Department of Homeland Security. “‘Visa overstays’ account for a large percentage of new immigrants who settle illegally in the country every year.” Tax Cuts Delivering Relief Small Businesses Need http://-Cincinnati.com “It’s now been seven months since the tax cuts took effect, and small business owners are making real investments in their businesses and their employees – raising wages, providing bonuses and benefits, and creating more jobs,” Small Business Administrator Linda McMahon writes. “This truly is a golden age for small business.” Amgen Freezes Drug Prices, Credits Trump -Washington Examiner “Drug maker Amgen, which recently said that it won’t raise prices again this year, is crediting the Trump administration’s effort to steady the price of drugs,” Paul Bedard reports. President Trump has “pushed companies to lower prices and promised that many would. Amgen is one of the biggest to act since Trump made his promise.” Hardly Anyone Wants to Admit America Is Beating Poverty -The Wall Street Journal Bruce Meyer and James Sullivan write that when it comes to poverty in America, “the White House tells the truth, but partisans on both sides are wedded to the idea of failure.” Their conclusion: “Encouraging self-sufficiency used to be a bipartisan issue; it can be again.” IBD/TIPP Poll: Americans Give Trump An 'A' For Economy -Investor’s Business Daily The Investor’s Business Daily Editorial Board writes that Americans give President Trump an “A” grade on the economy, according to a new poll. The money quote—literally: “People are feeling more secure in their finances than they have at least since the early 2000s.” Cracking Down on Synthetic Opioid Sales -Tampa Bay Times “When it comes to synthetic opioids, there is no such thing as a small case,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions writes. “Three milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal. That’s equivalent to a pinch of salt. It’s not even enough to cover Lincoln’s face on a penny.” That’s why the Administration is launching Operation Synthetic Opioids Surge. The End of Veteran Homelessness is Within Reach in South Florida -Miami Herald “We have few responsibilities greater than making certain those who have sacrificed so much in service to this country have a home they can call their own,” Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson writes. “This is a problem we can solve.” ======================================== Comments about the correspondence letter. ======================================== -------------------------------------------------------------- Cracking Down on Synthetic Opioid Sales Tampa Bay Times “When it comes to synthetic opioids, there is no such thing as a small case,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions writes. “Three milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal. That’s equivalent to a pinch of salt. It’s not even enough to cover Lincoln’s face on a penny.” That’s why the Administration is launching Operation Synthetic Opioids Surge. ------------------------------------------------------------------ I chose to pick this item first because this is blatantly a HIT order. The snippet above indicates exactly the measure of fatal and lethal dosage of fentanyl. The idea is presented in reference to a penny, or money, or more bluntly, it indicates that there is a payment system associated with killing in this way. The idea that the amount of fentanyl needed is in reference to covering a penny, that is old school Secret Society jargon for "we have made all of the arrangements, cover operations are in place, nothing to worry about, there will be no repercussions resultant of assassination in this fashion". That is what that says. I learned it in MKUltra School or had to die trying. And to wrap this comment up, the indication is "launching Operation Synthetic Opioids Surge." That's "surge", not purge, not eliminate. not reduce... "Surge". The vehicle, result, and affect of this nation wide assassination/extermination/mass murder campaign will be carried out swiftly, and large. That is what that says in "secret society" language. This order comes from the Attorney General, Jeff Sessions. ====================================== ====================================== -------------------------------------------------------------------------- August 11, 2018: 2:43 pm: Tax Cuts Delivering Relief Small Businesses Need http://-Cincinnati.com “It’s now been seven months since the tax cuts took effect, and small business owners are making real investments in their businesses and their employees – raising wages, providing bonuses and benefits, and creating more jobs,” Small Business Administrator Linda McMahon writes. “This truly is a golden age for small business.” --------------------------------------------------------------------------- This snippet does not have the strikethrough Font problem. This item is about a system through which injured terrorist soldiers receive treatment for their wounds. the term "Tax cuts" is a useful way to say the a terrorists soldier has been injured during an attack. The "small business owners" references individual family terrorist cells, and larger cells composed of family cells. Word Magic. The reference to seven years is a reference to Seventh Day Adventists. The quote “This truly is a golden age for small business.” shows association to SAG. The name Linda McMahon could mean different things. Linda means cute, pretty, beautiful. Also, there is Loma Linda California, the headquarters for Seventh Day Adventist soldiers and is famous for the Loma Linda University Hospital their where 7th Day doctors are trained. The idea that investments have been made is telling the 7th day soldiers that they are valued, they have invested time and money in training the 7th Day soldiers so, it says Don't Worry, we love you. Also, Elon Musk put a Tesla in space that has a message on the dashboard directed at 7th Day soldiers the reads "Don't Panic". The name McMahon is a reference to furniture, which translates to "fixtures". And to wrap this up... The http://Cincinati.com reference there is an indicator of Ohio, and of course, Ohio is known to be high in the middle, and round on both ends. Think of a car, or in terrorist terms, a cart, an Ala-Cart... round wheels on the ends, cab in the middle, higher than the wheels (7th Day soldiers like to blame Muslims, so they borrow Muslim ideas and use them to falsely accuse the Muslims of wrong doing, hence Ala-Cart.) More on the reference to "Linda McMahon": Mc = Cheesenurger. Ma - hon = Ma+Hon: Ma = Mom or May: Hon = bitch. In local Quebec French, the word "Hon" means "bitch". The name is puzzling. Linda = pretty, but further research also indicates soft, tender for the name meaning. And the rest of it could point towards Theresa May. Then, Pretty/tender Theresa May is a cheeseburger bitch. Or perhaps, Female soldier Theresa May is injured and needs assistance. An injury such as that would not necessarily be a physical injury. There is a lot going on in this snippet. This one is more complicated than the others, I feel a trust generating sort of indicator, however, I don't know right now. I will update this if I feel different, or new, or more revealing vibes from it.

Shared with: Public

+1'd by: Army Veteran

StoneMan .Warrior - 2018-08-11T17:41:43-0400 - Updated: 2018-08-12T11:14:24-0400

August 11, 2018: 2:15 pm: To anyone: My phone does not ring. If you have tried to call me, you did not speak to me.. I am under the impression that someone tried phoning me, and the call was answered. I did not receive a phone call. I have not spoken to anyone on the telephone since August 6, 2018. If someone called and spoke to someone on the phone and thought it was me, then, the call was hijacked by a StingRay listening devise. I have not received a phone call from any family for a long, long, long... long time. When I call my family, no one answers, the phone rings, no one answers. It has been about two years since my family answered their telephones. Please help.

StoneMan .Warrior - 2018-08-11T18:58:55-0400

August 11, 2018: 3:57 pm: Someone is removing the things I write almost as soon as I am done writing them. I told a lot of truth about the Space Force of Mike Pence and now it is all gone. Erased.

StoneMan .Warrior - 2018-08-11T23:35:28-0400

August 11, 2018: 8:23 pm: I wrote some things down today in response to an email from the White House in Washington DC. I wrote a lot of important matters of National Security. I have looked at the entry's I made a few time today. Each time I look, a little bit more has been deleted, or changed. I am not making changes that remove large portions of text. I make small additions, spelling corrections, and adjust a word or two for clarity and understanding. These are complicated ideas, and they are difficult to convey into words on a G+ profile page. My National Security work is being hacked, removed, deleted, and otherwise throttled. I have been turned into a Mandala Effect. Is there no one who does national security work? In the USA? In the World? If it happens to me it can happen to you too. There is no law enforcement anywhere around where am. The telephone only reaches terrorists who reroute my calls to a place that they choose. My incoming calls have been reduced only to those who drive ambulance cart service vehicles. And my family is all either been murdered bu the terrorists, or are being held in captivity... I don't know. Now, the only outlet to find help, here at G+, has been taken over by the terrorists also... they are removing the only report on Earth that explains the conditions of the terrorist armies that use Nitrous Oxide mixed with Versed as an offensive weapon to kill and capture American victims. Why won't the readers of this page help?

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hollywoodjuliorivas · 7 years ago

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Outsiders have long enjoyed mocking the City of Angels – its sprawl, its vapidity, its kookiness. Los Angeles has been called “New York lying down” (Quentin Crisp), “paradise with a lobotomy” (Neil Simon), and “72 suburbs in search of a city” (Dorothy Parker). “Tip the world over on its side,” said Frank Lloyd Wright, “and everything loose will land in Los Angeles.” The putdowns are still mean, still funny and still contain kernels of truth. But from the roof-deck of the 73-storey Wilshire Grand Center, a newly completed skyscraper offering stunning panoramas, the quips feel dusty, even quaint. Los Angeles reaches deal over hosting 2028 Summer Olympics Read more From this 1,100ft eyrie, the highest in the western United States, you can observe the glint of other towers rising up over downtown, transforming the skyline. You can see the web of railways criss-crossing the east side, and construction work on the expanding subway system. You can see the Hollywood sign to the north and the Pacific ocean to the west. You can see Dodger Stadium, the Coliseum, the Staples Center and other sporting arenas. You can see, in other words, why LA this week clinched the right to host the 2028 Olympic Games. And why mayor Eric Garcetti is exuberant. “This shows that LA is still a can-do city. We didn’t make a bid that said, ‘if the Olympics comes, we’ll do all these things’. We said, ‘we’re doing all these things, the Olympics should come’,” he told the Guardian. “This is definitely a moment. People want to be here.” The International Olympic Committee’s decision to bring the Games to LA – after Tokyo and Paris host the next two – caps a remarkable turnaround. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Mayor of Los Angeles Eric Garcetti says winning the Olympic bid shows ‘LA is still a can-do city’. Photograph: Pierre Albouy/Reuters Back in the 1990s, LA was the butt not only of jokes but laments: this was the city of gang warfare, police brutality, racial strife, traffic gridlock and air pollution, a dysfunctional megalopolis echoed in the dystopian vision of Blade Runner. An influential 1991 book by David Rieff was titled Los Angeles: Capital of the Third World. These days it feels closer to La La Land, a city where policymakers almost break into song about developments in infrastructure, transport, art and architecture. “We’re a place that reimagines tomorrow and reinvents today,” Garcetti said in an interview, citing, among other things, new transit lines, the Hyperloop, Elon Musk, and new museums. “LA is a city that continues to attract the greatest innovation in the world.” 'Grow food on Mars': LA startups tackle climate change with inventive solutions Read more Voters in LA County have approved $120bn for investments in transport over the next four decades, one of the most ambitious public works in US history. Voters also approved $3.5bn to tackle homelessness. This will help address poverty and inequality, said Garcetti. “I don’t know of another place in the country that has those resources.” The economy is humming at near full employment. The port is unloading cargo at breakneck rates. LAX is renovating terminals amid record passenger numbers. Tech companies are spreading across Silicon Beach, LA’s insurgent rival to San Francisco’s Silicon Valley. Netflix, Hulu and Amazon are reshaping the entertainment industry. The sad trickle that is the LA river is due to become a vibrant waterway. After two decades without an NFL team, LA has lured the Rams from St Louis and the Chargers from San Diego. They will share a new stadium in Inglewood. The giddiness seems contagious: the Dodgers are enjoying an enchanted season which could end a 28-year World Series drought. The most dramatic transformation is downtown, a once-derelict shell now thrumming with condos, bars, cafes and galleries. Facebook Twitter Pinterest The Wilshire Grand Center, LA’s newest, tallest skyscraper, under construction in 2014. Photograph: Mark J. Terrill/AP “I think it’s a new age,” said Chris Martin, an architect of the Wilshire Grand Center, now the tallest building west of the Mississippi. The tower, part of a wave of Asian investment, symbolises the area’s revitalisation, he said. “Seventh Street is virtually a restaurant row now. To see women and men pushing children and walking dogs, I find it really wonderful. I love it.” So too did Max Almerto, 32, a kitchen worker. “The city is definitely getting better. Downtown used to be abandoned, now it’s full of people.” He spoke while commuting to work with his bicycle on the new Expo line, which connects the ocean to downtown. “I used to have cars – not any more. This is better than sitting in traffic being pissed off with the world.” Seated on the same carriage, Kevin McCall, 58, who works in graphics and marketing, agreed. “My car was failing and costing a lot, so I decided to experiment and try the train. Between Uber-ing and public transport it’s doable.” Trains, subways and light rails will eventually connect LAX, downtown, the coast, Disneyland and elsewhere, said Keith Millhouse, a former board member of Metrolink, southern California’s commuter rail system. “I think this is unparalleled. You’re really seeing a huge push towards a non-car centric culture.” We’ve hit our stride in a way I’ve not experienced before. People want to live here. The place is booming Chris Thornberg, analyst The renaissance comes amid a challenging time for New York, which has long scorned LA as a rival for America’s greatest city. Having lost a bid to host the 2012 Olympics to London, New York is now enduring a “summer of hell” on its crumbling subway, prompting authorities to declare a state of emergency. This did not stop the New York Times poking fun at LA nabbing the 2028 Games, asking if this would herald new Olympic events such as “longest juice cleanse” or “least original movie idea”. Advertisement Garcetti said his home town had no inferiority complex despite a century of wisecracks. “Written by east coasters,” he smiled. “Those of us who secretly decided to stay and live here always had a good time. I think LA has never cared what other people think. We’ve been comfortable in our own skin.” The mayor, a rising Democratic star (there is chatter of a White House run), said LA had permanent funding for infrastructure, unlike certain other cities. “People like to build things, they don’t like to maintain them … you have to think of the life of the projects.” He acknowledged that by some measures LA is the US’s most unequal and unaffordable city. “We’re an imperfect paradise. We still have homelessness and poverty and traffic to address. I never get too rosy-eyed.” Some critics say the mayor and other civic boosters are exactly that, and predict that the vaunted splurge on shelters and housing, for instance, will not stem the evictions and displacement, which are driving the poor and communities of colour from south and east LA. Skid Row’s desperation and squalor endure in the shadow of downtown’s new towers. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Rising homelessness remains a major issue for Los Angeles to tackle. Photograph: Alamy Hosting the Games will aggravate such inequality, said Jonny Coleman, an organiser with the advocacy group NOlympics LA. “Every Olympic city has spurred displacement and police overreach. It accelerates gentrification. (Landlords) will do Airbnb and kick people out.” LA hosted the Games in 1932 and 1984. Using existing infrastructure and corporate sponsorship helped make the 1984 Games the first to ever make a profit – $225m – a feat unmatched by subsequents hosts who ended up with huge bills. LA hopes to repeat that fiscal magic in 2028 with an operating surplus of $500m. Andrew Zimbalist, an economist who has studied and often criticised the Olympics as bad value for hosts, said that projection was reasonable. “They have all the venues and infrastructure that they need.” Athletes, for instance, will stay in UCLA dorms. “There’s just no other city like that. I think they’ll be able to do quite well with sponsorship and ticket sales.” 'Human tragedy': LA homelessness jumps to record-breaking level Read more Chris Thornberg, an analyst with the research firm Beacon Economics, threw cold water on some of the boosterism. LA was still dysfunctional, he said, and spending fortunes on trains was questionable given the looming era of self-driving cars. But compared to the 1990s, when fires, floods, riots and earthquakes compounded economic malaise, the city was enjoying a renaissance, he said. “It’s absolutely real. We’ve hit our stride in a way I’ve not experienced before. People want to live here. The place is booming.” He credited urbanisation trends more than civic leadership. LA’s newfound swagger is unlikely to curb the jokes. It is after all an irresistible target even for those who mint livelihoods here. “I mean, who would want to live in a place where the only cultural advantage is that you can turn right on a red light?” said Woody Allen. There is dispute whether Dorothy Parker or someone else made the crack about 72 suburbs in search of a city. Parker did, however, lob a particularly wounding insult about palm trees. “The ugliest vegetable God created.”

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thebuzzstand-blog · 7 years ago

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youtube

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Instead, use anchor text, write blogs, press releases, and link back from a wide range of social media sites so that your SEO strategy comes throughout as properly-rounded and full. Try out a few of these and see what fits your website finest, in rankings and bringing in the traffic you want.

Not seeing what converts to gross sales with Analytics: When SEO brings in large quantities of site visitors, it is carried out merely half its job. The opposite half lies in changing those prospects into particular prospects. visit their website For those who've been considering that high-ranking words and phrases. you'll be stunned to find that low-rating keywords herald visitors as a result of they are extra particular. so, how are you aware what works for you?

Most corporations wish to get the highest rank in search engine results pages (SERPs) for better enterprise prospects. Nevertheless, achieving that's not straightforward until you hire a superb WEBSITE POSITIONING (search engine optimization) firm. An expert SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION company can develop the correct internet advertising strategy for your online business that may drive more and more qualified leads to your web site.

If you're not happy with the amount of visitors coming to your Website, then it's time so that you can rent the services of full time SEO professionals. An SEO company can devise strategies to deliver your website to the highest of search outcomes for certain keywords that your audience makes use of to look to purchase your type of products and services. For the best outcomes, it is advisable to hire an WEB OPTIMIZATION agency.

Chances are you'll come throughout people who find themselves capable of successfully do the WEB OPTIMIZATION for their own website with very little data and could also be getting truthful amount of results too. However have you ever seen them spending time on growing their business? Most likely not, as a result of if the enterprise proprietor did all of the work, then how will the enterprise develop? Therefore, you have to go away this to an experienced WEBSITE POSITIONING agency that may do a better job than you would ever do in WEBSITE POSITIONING.

If money is an element for you then contemplate outsourcing your SEARCH ENGINE MARKETING job to an SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION firm in India. Many of the SEARCH ENGINE MARKETING professionals in India are good at their job and are proficient top digital marketing companies in the world in English too, which makes it simple to speak with them. By outsourcing the WEB OPTIMIZATION work to an SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION firm in India, you can save some huge cash and get visible outcomes too in a short time frame.

A full time WEB OPTIMIZATION company will convey years of experience on board with a dedicated workforce of SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION professionals. By doing the SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION yourself, you'd by no means be able to match the experience provided by an SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION agency. The professional team of WEB OPTIMIZATION experts working in such companies hold themselves up-to-date with the newest within the subject of SEARCH ENGINE MARKETING, thus, serving to your website to get a higher rank in SERPs.

Before you assign your Internet marketing job to an SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION firm, do not forget to examine the popularity of the corporate available in the market. Visit on-line boards, learn firm evaluations, and ask buddies, colleagues, and enterprise associates whether the company is nice to work with or not.

What purchasers have you ever labored with?

An SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION agency's shopper record will inform you a large number about how massive they're and their degree of expertise. This may even let you see if they've worked with a competitor before which could increase a battle of interest.

Can I call your clients for a reference?

Written testimonials on a website are one thing but nothing beats being able to name a earlier client of a prospective WEBSITE POSITIONING company to ask them what kind of job they did. If the agency refuses to let you do this then they could be attempting to cover one thing.

Can we meet in individual to debate my web site?

Many individuals fall victim to unscrupulous SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION agencies that call them up promising the earth then fail to ship. You must all the time www.thebuzzstand.com meet up with any SEO agency you propose to work with so you can gauge how professional they are and whether or not you need to work with them on your site.

Are you able to assure me the no.1 spot on Google for any keyword or phrase?

It is a bit of a trick question. If they give you a guarantee then you should contact one other company. They might effectively be able to achieve a number 1 itemizing for more information on wikipedia for your online business however no person can guarantee this as quite a bit depends upon what your competitors are doing in terms of SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION.

Is there a minimal contract length?

While it will probably take time for an SEARCH ENGINE MARKETING marketing campaign to yield outcomes, it is advisable be sure you're not tied in to an extended contract. For instance if you join six months and there is been little progress after the first three, you'll need to be able to stroll away and discover another provider.

Will I get common progress The Buzz Stand digital marketing agency in India updates?

While you're paying out money each month it's only right that you recognize what you are getting. Earlier than hiring an SEO company be sure they're going to ship you month-to-month reports of what they've done and the distinction it is made to your rankings for the agreed search phrases.

Can I call you to debate my WEBSITE POSITIONING campaign at any time?

You ought to be assigned an account manager by your WEB OPTIMIZATION company as your point of contact. If you cannot pay money for folks whenever you need them or they encourage you to not call, you need to assume significantly about spending any extra money with that individual firm.

When will I begin to see results?

This isn't an easy question to reply with out doing any analysis first however a good WEBSITE POSITIONING agency will be capable to give you an approximate concept based mostly on the search phrases you wish to target.

Even after they've executed some preliminary research, if an SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION agency provides an open-ended answer to this query then you should steer clear.

Do you might have a special relationship with Google?

That is one other trick question. Any WEB OPTIMIZATION agency that claims to have shut hyperlinks or a special relationship with Google is talking nonsense. Google would not favour any SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION agencies over others so do not fall for this claim which is usually used by unscrupulous agencies.

Do you outsource any of your SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION work?

It isn't uncommon for some WEBSITE POSITIONING businesses to outsource their work to places like India for hyperlink constructing. If you'd quite any of your work wasn't outsourced then it's best to ask the question and have it written into your contract.

Though there are thousands of SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION firms all over the world, the general public are nonetheless not conscious in regards to the exact working processes of these organizations. In line with the only definition, WEBSITE POSITIONING companies help corporations of all sizes to get business from the search engines. They achieve this by creating standard contents, building high quality links and analyzing in addition to adjusting the outcomes. The possible associations, who are wanting forward, to rent an WEBSITE POSITIONING agency, nonetheless, would not be happy by the above definition. They'd naturally wish to know about the working methodologies in detail. Within the following discussion, we might thus, explore that what an SEO company really does.

How an SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION agency works?

1. The SEARCH ENGINE MARKETING companies are well aware that each shopper is different from another. Therefore, they don't make promises based mostly on predictions. They conduct an intensive research on every group, TheBuzzStand to find out about its targeted targets. Based mostly on the survey, they try to construct strategies, which would not only lead to optimal outcomes but additionally would overcome all sorts of challenges.

2. Creating high quality contents is critical as it will drive largest visitors and hence, would enhance both the conversion rates and revenues. Nevertheless, before the creation, the SEO consultants discover the best keywords, which might permit an organization to have high ranks in the search engine consequence pages. They use related keywords that aren't focused by rivals and are compatible to the business of the clients.

3. Building 1000's of pertinent inbound hyperlinks at a low worth. Creation and implementation of standard links is obligatory if a business desires to prosper within the on-line market. The applicable hyperlinks could be simply recognized and interpreted by the search engines. Proper hyperlinks strengthens internet presence and thus, is a vital facet of every WEB OPTIMIZATION firm.

four. A perfect SEO firm would additionally conduct enough research on the aggressive organizations to outperform them. Monitoring the rivals would enable them to work extra proficiently and construct tactics better.

Within the recent occasions, many top-ranking companies are hiring SEO companies. Therefore, it's fairly clear that they are useful for a business. In the following dialogue, allow us to delve into those elements, which make the WEBSITE POSITIONING services useful for an organization.

Privileges of Hiring an SEARCH ENGINE MARKETING agency

â€¢ These businesses discover out such pertinent techniques that might promise utmost brand exposure.

â€¢ SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION companies allow a enterprise to fulfill all the organizational objectives and thus, successfully increase earnings in addition to gross sales.

â€¢ These companies build sturdy networks for your corporation. They offer a secured platform through which your brand could reach giant phase of shoppers.

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