#in honour of me swimming in the sea today!

[theworldisquietheretooquiet]

An unhinged post about why Graceland Too by Phoebe Bridgers is the most Maglor coded song ever

The reason I made the connection in the first place was because of this great post! With what happens to Maedhros esp and all the murder, that 1st line is perfect.

The others just capture that vibe of quietly leaving everything behind. And no one answered because there's no one left to.

Ugh this bit always gets me the most!! Because it's all so tragically true for him! He could stay in Middle Earth and do anything. The world is his oyster, the oath is over. But it's too late for that.

And the last line. 😭😭. He could go home to Valinor!! Finally. After so long and believing he would never get to. He presumably would just have to go and hand himself in to Eonwë. It's the possibility he hasn't had for so long. But he simply can't.

Such great vibes of him setting off on his mournful wanderings. All the stuff about music here is perfect, 'so thoughts don't intrude' esp.

The last bit is obvs a little hard to relate directly, but it does suggest to me dwelling on his brothers or father. The bit about songs coming true massively makes me think of the Noldolantë. The Fall of the Noldor written before they then basically fall entirely. In some ways, a song coming true.

Perfect post first age sense of utter meaninglessness. Also the last line fits so well for how a lot of the rebelling Noldor probably felt in ME.

Ok so in order to make these lyrics even sorta fit I am linking them to kidnap fam era Maglor. Staring at Eärendil!star with Elros & Elrond vibes. And a very twisted 'all that pain and evil was worth it/worth living through cause I got to meet the twins' line of thinking.

Oof okay. So this entire last bit I am imagining as about Maedhros. Not because I believe Maglor is a pushover who got bullied by him into the kinslayings or anything along those lines. Just as representative of the total, utter devotion he has for him (mixed with a nice bit of Thangorodrim guilt 👀). And how, although he might push back or argue, Maglor will do whatever Maedhros wants in the end. Its just how they are...

Listen to the song guys!! (and let me know if you think I've lost my mind or not :)

[meli-r]

I thought of writing this today, as a supposed memory Makishima has after Choe dies. Sorry it's short, I'm not good at writing when I do it on the same day.

PS: it's Shakespeare's sonnet 66.

*****

Tir'd with all these, for restful death I cry,

As, to behold desert a beggar born,

And needy nothing trimm'd in jollity,

And purest faith unhappily forsworn,

And gilded honour shamefully misplac'd,

And maiden virtue rudely strumpeted,

And right perfection wrongfully disgrac'd,

And strength by limping sway disabled,

And art made tongue-tied by authority,

And folly, doctor-like, controlling skill,

And simple truth miscall'd simplicity,

And captive good attending captain ill.

Tir'd with all these, from these would I be gone,

Save that, to die, I leave my love alone.

With one leg crossed over the other, Makishima Shougo closed the book on his slim thigh, covered by a pristine beige suit. He sighed and momentarily raised his eyebrows as he looked out toward the horizon. The wind played with his long white hair, which fell in soft waves over his shoulders, and the last rays of sunlight merged with the gold of his narrowed eyes.

The waves crashed against the stones and walls of the pier as he watched the gentle movement of boats and ships between the floating walkways. The sunlight reflected off the water, creating golden glimmers that danced on the surface. A faint smile crossed his face at the thought of sailing out to sea, but it faded as he remembered his inability to handle boats. He frowned and lifted his head a few centimeters, lamenting not having learned earlier.

In particular, he remembered one morning when he had sailed south without a set destination. The feeling of reaching land never surpassed the desire to venture further into the unknown. The sky was then completely blue, not cloudy as it was now. Standing with his forearms resting on the railing of a small yacht, his slim and pale torso exposed to the sun, Makishima gazed at the line dividing the sky from the sea. His gaze descended to the figure lying on his back in a floating hammock, his slightly tanned skin and short, wet brown hair falling backward.

For hours, he lay in the sun, speaking little. Makishima had long forgotten the words they had exchanged; their shared serenity was their means of communication in the tranquil silence of the sea.

That day, they had both gone for a swim, and Makishima had been the first to emerge, wearing only a pair of shorts, his slender body dripping with water. For a moment, the idea of starting the engine to depart gave him a sense of pleasure and power, making him smile and squint. However, that sensation faded as he realized that nothing and no one could compel him to exert that power. He acknowledged his impotence in the presence of a man whose presence seemed to surpass even the machine that drove the boat.

“You’re killing yourself, Choe,” he said, as the man lifted his round sunglasses to look at him and placed them on his forehead. “For days you’ve been glued to a screen without leaving the room, and here you are, lounging like an undeserving millionaire. How does it feel to do the hardest thing for you, to rest?”

“I’m not fleeing from my work, if that’s what surprises you. I know when to quit, but I don’t do it until I’m finished. I acknowledge I’ve been wasting time lately and doing my job poorly.”

“Have you ever done your job poorly?” Makishima raised an eyebrow for a moment.

“Probably more often than others. The only difference is that my failures end up in the trash.”

“This is what I wanted. To drag you with me and give you everything imaginable, except a computer. No codes, algorithms, or systems. I want to teach you how to eat, sleep, and live like a man who only knows how to laze around.”

“I’d like to try. But you didn’t drag me into anything, nor could you ever, even if you like to think otherwise,” Choe replied, pausing. “It’s not too late for you to learn about boats.”

“That won’t be necessary. I have you.”

Makishima closed his eyes, allowing the sounds of the pier and the sea to envelop him. The sun was slowly sinking into the horizon, painting the sky a deep red. Choe’s presence felt tangible in his mind, as if his shadow were beside him. For a moment, he could almost imagine Choe approaching from a walkway, calling his name and guiding him toward a boat.

He considered the possibility of setting sail once more. A simple snap of his fingers would make someone start the engine for him. But that idea soon faded; he no longer felt the same urge. He reflected on the essence of companionship and solitude. It wasn’t about seeking to be guided or finding a captain in others. He had always rejected that need and would eradicate any attempts at imposition. True friendship does not seek to control or guide.

The boats and the sea, which once offered him solace, now only accentuated his boredom. He understood that the solitude and peace he sought did not reside in the places he traveled to but in something deeper and personal he had left behind. He knew he would give his life to experience that feeling again, though he understood he could never return to it. It was like the world seen only once in childhood, when everything is new and wonderful, and the rest is just an echo of memories. The scent of cherry blossoms is yearned for, but it no longer satisfies like it did the previous summer.

[scotianostra]

Scottish swimmer David Wilkie was born on March 8th in 1954, in Sri Lanka.

The second instance today about what makes you Scottish and to me David Wilkie epitomises what it means his own words spoken during his time in the USA.

“I will always remain Scottish, no matter what happens, even though my accent changes, even though I live in this country, I still maintain I am Scottish.”  it speaks volumes. As a child he would stay in the pool for hours on end or go to the beach and swim in the sea. He returned to Scotland to attend boarding school at Daniel Stewart’s College in Edinburgh. His time in Edinburgh brought him to the Warrender Club. Warrender was, at that time, famous for developing young swimmers.

Wilkie’s attitude could have brought his fledgling career to an early end. He struggled to get out of his bed to make the early morning training sessions, Bbt, when Wilkie was only 12, the club’s coach Frank Thomas spotted something in him, although it was not until 1970 that the promising swimmer began to shine. Between 1969, when he won the Scottish Junior title, and 1970, when he won bronze at the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games, Wilkie shaved 30 seconds off his time in the 200m breaststroke. Wilkie wore a swim cap during the Commonwealth Games, making him the first elite swimmer to wear one in a major competition.It is also said to be the first swimmer to wear both cap and goggles in order to maximise the streamline effect within the water.

It was his performance at the 1972 Munich Olympics, when the 18-year old came from virtually nowhere to take a bronze medal, that he began to really show what his real potential. The performance won him more than an Olympic medal. The University of Miami, who had been monitoring his progress, decided to offer him a sports scholarship which enabled him to train every day whilst studying marine biology, although he soon switched to a degree in English and mass communication.

It was when at college there he said the quote from above in a BBC interview in 1976: “I will always remain Scottish, no matter what happens, even though my accent changes, even though I live in this country, I still maintain I am Scottish.” Not surprisingly he thrived under the American scholarship system. In Miami, Wilkie trained intensively in the Olympic-sized outdoor pool daily. In the days when Olympics were still strictly for amateurs, being allowed to dedicate himself to his sport brought the best out in Wilkie. In 1973 he went to Belgrade and won the World 200m breaststroke title, breaking the world record, and then regaining the title in 1975, while also winning in the 100m breaststroke. At the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch in 1974 he picked up two golds and one silver and also added the European title to his collection that year. Wilkie was the only non-American to win one of the 13 gold swimming medals available at Montreal, the first British man in 68 years to do so.

On the world stage his biggest rival was the American John Hencken. The two men had an intense rivalry for all the breaststroke titles of the early ‘70s. According to the British Olympic coach Dave Haller, Hencken had the beating of him for speed because of his fast arm movements and was more suited to the sprint of the 100m, but Wilkie’s long rhythmic strokes meant he was better over the longer distance.

Honours were shared at the Montreal Olympics. Hencken beat Wilkie into second place in the breaststroke with the top three in this race all breaking the world record. Wilkie was pleased with his second place, especially as he had not prepared as thoroughly as he might by not shaving his body hair, which could cause drag under water.

Over the longer distance, Wilkie dominated, beating Hencken by metres and taking three seconds off the world record.

David  retired while at the top, leaving the legacy of being Scotland’s best-ever male swimmer. I think many of you out there will have met him, he helped Scottish swimming for years, and I recall my wee sis, Sandra having her photo taken with him. Wilkie remains the only person to have held British, American, Commonwealth, European, World and Olympic swimming titles at the same time.

[silentprincess17]

The Perils of Swimming

This fic is a collab between me and the wonderfully talented artist @neivaloz on tumblr! Check out her awesome artwork that accompanies this fic! I love how we inspired each other and I look forward to more!

Summary: Link agrees to go swimming with Zelda when she gets her body back. He does not think this through, because there is one major problem: he can't swim.

Read on AO3 here!

Now that the sea in Aboda Village was directly in front of him, with Zelda no longer a ghost and made of flesh and skin, her promise of taking him out to swim actually a reality and not a passing comment at Papuchia Village, Link was beginning to regret the rashness with which he had said yes.

He hadn’t expected her to actually take it seriously. In the throes of the whirlwind adventure, he hadn’t anticipated she would actively remember, let alone take it to heart- it was now... four months since they had reclaimed the Ocean Realm? Which means it was roughly two months since they defeated Malladus. Towards the end, time seemed to fuse together, and life boiled down to essentially overcoming whatever barrier was in their way at the time. First it was restoring the tracks, then obtaining the Compass, followed by the Bow of Light and finally entering the Dark Realm to fight Malladus with the Lokomo Sword strapped to his back. By the time they reached the Compass, Link had more or less lost all notion of time, as Zelda and he grew progressively more panicked with each setback and it became an increasingly hectic race to save her body…

Link had chosen to stick with his engineering, primarily. He still felt he was more of a rookie soldier who only knew how to perform vague attacks that just so happened to work out in his favour, and without Zelda’s help as a Phantom he most certainly would have failed from the get-go. With that in mind, he chose to continue with what he had trained for up until now: to pilot the trains with mechanical engineering as his mainstay. Still, he didn’t want to completely lose what sword skills he had developed, so he regularly stopped at Hyrule Castle to train with Captain Russel and his guards. (The latter was really just an excuse to see Zelda before. Or afterwards. Most of the time it was both.)

And yesterday, Friday night, was one of those times he had gone to training, visiting Zelda before he supposedly went home for the weekend.

What he hadn’t expected was for her to insist on coming with him back to Aboda Village. He would never refuse her anything, and he assumed she might have wanted to meet Alfonso, or Niko, or really just visit his hometown, and he had agreed, staying at the castle that night. Zelda had long since given him a room close to hers, as a “more convenient place to stay” seeing how central the castle was to the rest of Hyrule.

Taking all that together, it was a surprise when she dragged him across to the small beach, where the sun sparkled against the deep blue sea, unclasped her belt that had the small sash attached to it, and pulled her dress off.

He gaped, before hurriedly turning away, “Zel! What are you doing?!”

“Taking my dress off silly, I’ve got my swimsuit underneath! We’re going swimming! I’ve finally, finally, caught up with the paperwork that accumulated whilst we were on our journey, and I finished my lessons in advance this week, for this reason! I know it’s not Papuchia, but there’s always a next time!”

What? Swimming? NEXT TIME?!

Nope, he had to ignore that for now. There was the issue of surviving the first-time round.

Because the idiot that he was, he couldn’t swim!

He lived in what was basically a seaside town, and yet, he couldn’t even paddle in the water, let alone swim.

He would drown as soon as the water reached higher than his neck!

“Link? It’s not too late, is it? I know it’s a little bit later than what I originally intended for when asking you, but there was just so much reordering to do in the Kingdom. Plus, you remember the whole scribing thing we had to undertake; it all took up so much more time than I expected. And then the weather was just awful this past week whenever I had some free time...”

Oh yes, he remembered the scribing. That whole incident had happened a week after their return to the castle, where Link had stayed behind both to physically recover himself from exhaustion and his wounds, and simultaneously help Zelda adjust to the land of the living.

On the first day, she had walked into so many doors and walls he thought she might have concussed herself, she regularly forgot she had to eat, and she didn’t have any fear of heights, despite the fact that falling with a body had pretty serious consequences. Consequently, Link felt honour bound to try to help her to remember she was, in fact, Hylian, and as such susceptible to many perils that she seemed to have forgotten over the course of the long months she spent as a spirit. Plus, she was very cute, and he blushed every time he felt her grip his hand excitedly, or drag his arm towards a bookshelf, or give him impromptu hugs for helping her.

Niko had cornered them after a week, wondering where Link had gotten too. When he found the two of them nibbling on sweet buns from Castle Town, a book on maps wedged firmly on their thighs, Link’s arm resting on the panel just above her shoulders; Niko had pulled a right fit. He had fussed over Link before declaring he would now create a tapestry to commemorate the newest iteration of legendary events. And that had taken the better part of two weeks to complete, and was now referred to as the “scribing” by Zelda and him.

“Link! Are you going to change your clothes or not? That’s the second reason why I didn’t drag you to Papuchia, because I forgot to tell you to pack your trunks.” She paused, “You do have trunks, right?”

No, no he didn’t. He’d just sacrifice an old pair of cargo pants he had. It would be fine. Probably. He made a vague motion towards his house, before deciding to put the Hero’s cap on. It would hopefully hold some of his hair back, and it would bring him luck on this death quest he was about to embark on.

Why?

Why did he put himself through this?

He sighed. He knew the answer.

This was all because he couldn’t say no to her.

He shuffled back into his home, Niko popping up whilst he half-heartedly opened his wardrobe and shuffled around some more. Spirits. He didn’t want to go back out. He didn’t want to admit to Zelda he didn’t know how to swim. Worse still, he didn’t want her to think badly of him for living by a seaside town, and yet, never having learnt such an essential skill.

Niko hobbled across on his cane to Link, peering around the wardrobe door.

“What’s with the long face? I thought you’d be excited, bringing the Princess over. Yes boy, I know she’s here, everyone heard the two of you enter town. It’s a small place, Link.”

He fished out an old, half-faded blue pair of shorts. “Zelda wants to go swimming, Niko.”

Niko’s eyes widened, “What? But you-”

Link slammed the wardrobe door shut with perhaps more force than necessary. “I know.”

Niko hesitated, before he placed a gnarled hand on Link’s shoulder. “I have a question for you Link… Do you know of any of Princess Zelda’s weaknesses?”

Well, that one was easy. “She’s absolutely terrified of mice. She will literally jump into my arms, or onto my back, to escape them.” He chuckled, “Even as a giant Phantom, three times my height, she couldn’t come near one.” He hesitated, thinking back to their recent conversations on her balcony under the stars, “She’s also scared of not doing well... but I guess this is a fear we all have…”

“That’s your answer then, Link.”

Huh? Why would knowing what Zelda was scared of make any difference?

“I can see you are still confused. Let me make it clearer. Did you judge the Princess for having those failings? Did you at any point think less of her?”

He vehemently shook his head, before stopping midway as it finally sunk in.

Oh.

Niko simply tapped his cane against the floor twice, before ambling off. “I’ll make some fried chicken for you both. One always gets hungry after swimming in the sea.”

Link scrambled into his shorts, and then ran out, just as Zelda walked up to meet him. “You were gone for an awfully long time, Link. I don’t want to imagine how disorganised your wardrobe is-”

The words bubbled out, “Zelda I don’t know how to swim.”

“-at least you’ve got some… are those even trunks? Well-”

“Zelda.” He grabbed her hand, shaking her arm a little, “Zelda!”

“What?”

“I don’t know how to swim.”

She stared, stupefied. “Why didn’t you say? I would have brought my floats!”

It was his turn to gape. “Floats?”

She waved her hands in the air. “You know those things you use to keep you upright in the water.” A frown grew on her face, “Wait, does everyone here not know how to swim? That’s quite dangerous! We’ll have to change that.”

She shook her head, gently clasped his hand, pulling him along, “But that’s for later. I’ll teach you today, Link, if you want?”

He nodded, and she smiled.

“Let’s start off with paddling first, and then progress to basic kicks!”

Time flew by again, as he started off gently peddling his feet in the water, arms spread out wide, head just about jutting above the water line as he hovered, suspended in the sea, for the first time. Once he’d mastered just holding his weight in the water they proceeded onto kicks. That involved first thrashing his legs whilst gripping onto the ridge of land to hold himself in place. Then he advanced to doing one leg at a time like a proper swimming pattern. Zelda wrapped her arms around his middle, and he had a go at moving both arms and legs in synchrony.

He was surprised she could carry him, “Link, I do exercise you know. I’m not just a fluffy Princess. Being a Phantom was quite the experience.”

She heaved him higher, and he spluttered in the water, thrashing his arms a bit at the unexpected heave, “I liked being strong, and being able to help you. So, I’m going to do the best I can with my current body too. You never know, it might prove useful on our next adventure!”

He could only smile. He thanked the Spirits for giving him the chance to meet Zelda. For going on their convoluted journey. For having her as his best friend.

Soon enough, she gently let go of him, and moved to interlock her fingers with his hands as she guided him through the waves, his legs doing the measured, purposeful kicks they had practised.

He was so focussed, he hadn’t at all noticed Alfonso on the shore, until he called out to them, probably wondering what Link was even doing in the water. Zelda told Link to keep on kicking his legs as she slowly walked backwards, screamed back that he was okay and that he was learning to swim. Both of them cringed as they heard Alfonso guffaw loudly and watched as he shook his head, walking off towards the station.

“Well, we’re nearly there, Link!” She loosened her grip on his left hand, moving to clasp his wrist instead, “I’m barely holding onto you! You’re doing it! You’re swimming!”

And he gave her the biggest smile he could, as she slowly let go, wading backwards, and he swam by himself towards her, for the very first time.

Suddenly, the idea of doing this again was no longer so horrifying.

What was there to worry about when he had Zelda, his partner, his best friend, by his side?

[benthicsbelow]

Today is the start of a new thing.

Today, (challenge day 244) I chose not to get in the ocean.

I have been tired and worn out for so so long due to ‘life n shit’ and, if I’m honest, I have not been feeling motivated or excited about the daily grind of getting in the ocean for a while now.

I always knew that it would be the ‘after winter’ that would be the most challenging. I’ve been swimming through rain, thunder, sickness in 13-15 degree temps... and the muddy grey water of the last month or so have taken my experience to a different level.

When I started this challenge (on 01/01/22) I set myself the goal of getting in the ocean everyday to remind myself why I love it. And I really, truly have achieved that ... in more ways than I could have imagined to be honest. 

In January, I felt totally overwhelmed by the idea of getting in the water everyday, but I did it.

In February, I found my groove and started to get into my gopro. It wasn’t just for documenting my swims and dives, I was starting to see the beauty around me in the ocean and leaned more into capturing photos of what was there.

March was beautiful. Long sunny days and cool dips in the evenings with my friends, chatting in the water and taking photos of Arlo bombing off the old wharf. I also got inspired to take video in the water, and made my very first short film - A Day In The Reserve.

April was bonza. Kate and James took me to both the Poor Knights and to the Mokahinau Islands... both of which are just dream places for me, my heart could not have been fuller. The water was clear, I dived deep and I got to photograph ALL the things. 

May was cooler, I photographed anemone covered buoys at Ti Point and also ticked off ‘Mantis Shrimp’ on my bucket list of creatures to meet. But I also started to see some of the sadness in the water with fishing bycatch and the general disregard for the ocean’s well being from the wharf fishers.

In June, I began to retreat into myself a little more, as the water became more green and my dive times got shorter. The light became more interesting and I took to photographing sea hares and invertebrates which stood out in amongst the misty water.

July was challenging. I took one of my saddest photos and my heart was sore for a while after that. I also had a couple of trips to hospital which interrupted my flow and meant that I missed some days. I chose to get back in and keep going, but it had been tough. The reserve offered a few rare days with clear vis, but the light was still so low I couldn’t get clear shots. I spent quite a bit of time in the gullies at Matheson B in the hope of getting a something on camera, but I was feeling a shift.

In August I started to loose momentum. I was dealing with big life things on land and exhaustion was creeping in. I had the dear company of my friends in the swim pod which helped me keep moving towards the water, but it was getting harder to feel motivated to be in the ocean and some days I was not loving it at all. I kept going because, well mindset and all that. But I was questioning why I was putting myself through this, when my burnout was so deep that I couldn't feel the benefit of the dopamine and serotonin from the cold water immersion anymore. I was getting in to keep clocking up the numbers, and more often than not, it felt like a chore.

And so here we are in September. After spending a lot of days reflecting on the water and lately, more often that I’d like to admit - recoiling from it,  I realised that by holding myself accountable to this rule, I am working against the very thing I set out to do. Which was to be in the water, feel fully connected and love what I am doing.

I realise that I am losing my connection to the moana by holding myself accountable, and that instead I need to honour my own tikiwātanga and transform this challenge into a next step. I reached my goal a while back, and I’m ready to move on to something new.

I have hands down taken my freediving to new depths (sorry for the pun... not punny, I know), seen exquisite things and hard things, learned to be more stealth in the water than ever before, and also how to use my gopro to just about it’s maximum ability. I have met new animals, had days with my friends that are just priceless, cried and laughed under water and made deep deep connections with people all because we share a love of the water. I have also learned how to video edit all so I can share more of what I see and am so excited about the photos I have to share, and the ones to come. 

I also have plans for to restore the coastline where I dive and to work for, and with it. But for now, I am going to use this time to rest, restore and level up. And in the meantime, I am going to sit in gratitude for the fact that I am right by the water and it is there for me whenever I feel that little sparkle and the urge to get back in. It will probably be tomorrow, haha. Lets see.

[annalaurendet70]

⭐ Ongoing edit posts ⭐

Diary entries of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia in the anticipation of the birth of his sister's first child

1 July 1895 Saturday

The east wind blows remarkably constantly - for the second week in a row without a break. Between the reports he received Kuropatkin. We had breakfast at the Cottage. I rode my bike and walked with Alix. Drank tea with Mom. I read a lot. Dined at the Farm and had a fun evening together!

📌 Cottage ~ Cottage Palace at Peterhof.Dacha of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna of Russia (wife of Tsar Nicholas l)

📌 Kuropatkin ~ General Alexei N. Kuropatkin, Russian army commander in Manchuria

2 July 1895 Sunday

In the morning, everyone was in anxiety about the famous event with Xenia. But the day has passed and nothing! We were at mass and had breakfast at our place; Mom stayed at the Farm. We walked and visited Ksenia and Sandro. I read until 5 o'clock.

For tea arrived: Mom, Comrade Mikhen and D. Vladimir. They also dined with us: D. Misha, Georgy, Sergei and D. Pavel. The evening was wonderful, we skated.

📌 Farm ~ Farmers Palace at Peterhof

3 July 1895 Monday

The whole day passed in agonizing anticipation about Xenia. Mom spent the night at the Farm and did not close her eyes all night! Walked with her from the Cottage to the Farm. We had breakfast at home with the village of Alexei and Petusha.

Today they started to mow a large meadow, so the scent was wonderful in the rooms. At 4 o'clock we went to see Comrade Sasha. After tea I was studying, when I suddenly learned that dear Xenia had a daughter, Irina! Immediately Alix and I flew to the Farm. Thank God everything ended well! We saw Ksenia and her little daughter. Dined at 8¾ with Misha. Let's go to say goodbye to Mom, who has now calmed down from her worries!

4 July 1895 Tuesday

Ksenia and the little one spent the night and day well. As always, we went to Mom's in the morning. At 12½ there was a prayer service in the church and breakfast in the Cottage. At the hour of the walk, Mom came to us; in our bucket, we tried new inventions of the Americans, with which you can walk in the water. You sit as if in a bathtub with your legs stuck in rubber trousers. This thing swims great, but the movement in it is not very fast.

Comrade Sasha arrived for tea. I read it until lunchtime. At 8 o'clock ate: Mom and George. We spent the evening at home.

5 July 1895 Wednesday

The weather was bad, it rained at times, and a lot of water was blown from the sea. After the reports I went to take in the Bolshoi Dvor. There were also Bulgarians who had come to lay a wreath at the grave of dear Pope. We had breakfast at the Cottage with Comrades Evgeniya and Alex. I read it in the rain. Rode his bike. After tea we stopped at the Farm. The three of us had dinner with Misha. In the evening we rolled.

📌 Evgeniya ~ Princess Eugenia Maximilianovna of Leuchtenberg

📌 Alex ~ Duke Alexander Georgievich of Oldenburg

📌 dear Pope ~ his father,Tsar Alexander III of Russia

6 July 1895 Thursday

Finally the weather settled down and the day was wonderful and not hot. We had breakfast at the Cottage: Petyusha, Militsa and Sergey. I had to read a lot; one consolation that the meetings of the Committee of Ministers are over! He chopped down a large tree broken by the storm. Walked with Alix along the river, "musique de l'eau" . We dined at our place. Threesome with Misha and Sergei frolic in the “outing” in the sea! We rode in the evening.

📌 Music of water (French)

📌 Outing ~ Sunrise (English). In this case, perhaps we are talking about the previously mentioned American invention.

📌 Petyusha ~ Grand Duke Peter Nikolaevich Romanov of Russia

📌 Militsa ~ Grand Duchess Militsa Nikolaevna Romanova of Russia

7 July 1895 Friday

Excellent day. After the reports he received Stelman, the commander of the "Princess". We had breakfast at Mom and Cherevin's. During the day he chopped dry trees and sweated. Again we sat with Alix under the Bridge by a small river. After tea we visited Xenia. Read. Dined with us: Mom, etc. Sasha. In the evening we rode as always.

July 8th. Saturday.

Nice foggy day. In the morning “Princess” came from Petersburg and stood on her barrel. Sandy Dolgoruky had breakfast. The Kyrgyz of the Ural region presented us with a beautiful white horse. I made a good ride with Misha. We drank tea with D. Pavel. Read. Visited Xenia. Dined: D. Vladimir, T. Michen and D. Pavel. Show them “outing”. Ride with Alix.

📌 D.Vladimir ~ Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich Romanov of Russia (Iassume it is his uncle as the next name mentioned in Michen

📌 T. Michen ~ Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna Romanova of Russia (the Elder)

📌 D. Pavel ~ Grand Duke Pavel Alexandrovich Romanov of Russia (I assume it is he)

9 July 1895 Sunday.

Wonderful heat, in the morning it was 20 °. Having stopped by Xenia, we went to mass. We were dying from the stuffiness. Read. I rode a bicycle and a kayak. After tea it started to rain. We had a family dinner. Ride with Alix.

10 July 1895 Monday.

The heat was tropical all day. Frederiks, Olsufiev, Benckendorff detained me from walking until 10 1/2. After the naval report, I had a conversation with Pobedonostsev. D. Alexey and Yuri.Had breakfast. I walked, rode a bicycle and died from the heat. Andrew the Greek arrived here to live from Pavlovsk. I swam with Misha and Thormeier. After tea I read and went with Alix to Xenia. Dined: Yuri and Stana. We rode in the evening.

📌 Frederiks ~ Baron Vladimir Borisovich Frederiks

📌 Benckendorff ~ Count Paul Benckendorff

11 July 1895 Tuesday.

Olga's birthday. They gave her various white furniture, covered with beautiful chintz.

At 12½ there was a prayer service in the church. Breakfast: D. Misha and Georgy. I read until 3 1st July. Saturday.

The east wind blows remarkably constantly - for the second week in a row without a break. Between the reports he received Kuropatkin. We had breakfast at the Cottage. I rode my bike and walked with Alix. Drank tea with Mom. I read a lot. Dined at the Farm and had a fun evening together!

12 July 1895 Wednesday

It was a good day. After the lecture there was a big reception at the Farm. We had breakfast: comrades Olga, Ella, Minnie, Misha, Pavel and all the small fry. We returned to our place and by 3 o'clock gathered at the Farm. From here they took little Irina in a golden carriage to the church. There was a wonderful honour guard from the Guards Crew. There were about a hundred invited; a tent was set up for them at the right door of the church. During the christening, Irina screamed almost incessantly. Mom and I were her recipients. The heat was unimaginable. Congratulating Xenia, the family chatted for half an hour on the terrace. Returning home, I went to swim in the sea. After tea I read. At 8 o'clock we had a rather large lunch. We rode four of us with Ella and Minnie.

Photo Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna Romanova of Russia with her first born,the Princess Irina Alexandrovna Romanova of Russia

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Toru Oikawa x F!Reader

Song ~ Wedding Dress by Levi Hummon

Warning - Swearing maybe? I can’t remember ＼(≧▽≦)／

Fluff SFW

Word Count ~ 2.6k

Part 1 <you are here>| Part 2 | Part 3

Posted 09/07/20

July 16th, 2018. That was the day that Toru Oikawa stood proudly next to his best friend Hajime Iwaizumi as his best man. 

"What if she's changed her mind and ran away? That she thinks marrying me is a huge mistake." Oikawa rolled his eyes at his best friend, in all the years he had known him he has never seen his best friend this anxious, not even in a volleyball game against a powerhouse school back in high school if anything, it was Iwa trying to calm Oikawa. The poor lad was all jittery. 

"I wouldn't worry so much, you know Y/n is there with Emiko, and we both know how much she loves you. Y/n will get her here on time, and the second you see her in that stunning white dress, you will cry." Oikawa stepped forward, smoothing out the white shirt before straightening out his mint blue tie and peach coloured rose corsage. 

"Remember if it weren't for you and Emiko, I would not have met Y/n and fallen for her. Y/n will not let anything happen to Emiko; no a hair will be out of a place or an eyelash on her cheek, we owe the pair of you too much for matching us up so your wedding today will be flawless." Oikawa gave his confident smile and patted his best friend on his shoulder, Iwaizumi slipped his hand in his mint blue slacks as he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. 

Fishing his phone out of his pocket, Oikawa spotted that it was only a couple of minutes to one, the ceremony would begin shortly. He spotted the text on his screen from Y/n - on our way see you soon (♡ω♡)

He smiled at the message before; sending back his own kaomoji o(>ω<)o, the pair were obsessed with sending kaomojis back and forth.

Locking his screen again before smiling at the photo, it was one of his favourites taking by Emiko herself. It was taken back last year when the four of them went to the beach to celebrate their engagement. Oikawa was giving Y/n a piggyback, his hands under her thighs, they were both in their swimwear, soak from swimming in the sea. Y/n had one arm wrapped around his shoulder with the other outstretched in from of them as she threw up the peace sign. Her h/c thrown up in a messy beach swept ponytail, her chin resting on his shoulder with a broad playful closed-eyed smile spread across her lips, Oikawa could see his matching grin spread across his face as his head was leant against hers. 

He loved that photo. She was showing off her natural beauty. No makeup or hair done up just right, with the tiny scar above her right eyebrow, he couldn't see it in the photo, but he knew it was there, he knew it was from a childhood accident of that one time she fell out of a tree when she was playing with her brothers. He knew all the scars, and where they were, his fingers had traced them all, knowing all the different childhood stories behind, ranging from messing around with her brothers to the one of her breaking her arm and the bone sticking out when she fell rock climbing. 

"Oi Shittykawa." Iwaizumi hissed bring the love-struck boy out of his memories and back into the church. "She's seriously got you wrapped that tightly around her fingers, huh." He stated as he hit the old Seijoh captain around the back of the head. 

"Ow! Iwa-chan that hurts!" Oikawa grumbled as he slipped his phone back into the pocket of his mint blue slacks, before rubbing the sore spot on the back of his head, but he was glad that Iwaizumi wasn't quite as nervous as before, "You're being vulgar again." 

From behind him, he could hear Matsukawa and Hanamaki stifling there laughs at the pair, he sent a glare over his shoulder to the two groomsmen, who were wearing white shirts with peach coloured slacks with matching ties and corsages. 

Before either of them could comment, the music began to play, the guest stood. All turned towards the door, Oikawa could not help but smile as he watched Takeru walk down the aisle as the ring bearer in his outfit matching the two groomsmen. Next to him was (niece's name) dressed in a tea-length peach coloured ball gown dress. It was so cute to watch them walk along together, (niece's name) throwing little flower petals as she walked, Takeru proudly carrying the wooden box with the glass window in the lid showing the rings sat on the velvet mint coloured pillow. Next, to walk along was Emiko other two bridesmaids, wearing peach coloured a-line asymmetrical chiffon dresses with a sweetheart's neck. Their hair was curled, and a half was styled back, each holding a small bouquet of peach roses in their hands. Oikawa knew who was next, it was his beloved, he knew she would be wearing mint blue to match him, but he had no clue what dress she would be wearing. 

Emiko and Iwaizumi, well mostly Emiko, had decided they wanted a peach and mint summer wedding, the groomsmen and bridesmaids would be in peach while the maid of honour and the best man along with the bride and groom would be in mint. Well, Emiko would be in white, but she would have accents of mint to her hair and in her bouquet.

When Y/n stepped through the door, Oikawa could do nothing but stare. She looked stunning in her floor-length a-line dress. He loved the sweetheart neckline and the way the sleeves were off the shoulder. He loved the way the chiffon fell and made it look like she was gliding along the floor, the peach coloured roses of her bouquet stood out against the mint blue of her dress. Her hair was tied back into an intricate bun, and she donned a light layer of makeup that brought out her sparkling crystal-like e/c eyes.

Their eyes locked with one another's and she gave him a gentle smile, she took her place on the bride's side of the aisle, giving him a wink before Y/n looked down the aisle with a proud look. Oikawa's eye's flickered to the doorway where Emiko was stood in her pure white lace ballgown dress, with a v-neck neckline. Her hair was in an even more intricate way with braids and curls going into a bun, with mint blue gems weaved into her hair before they flickered to Iwaizumi. Oikawa could see the tears welling Iwaizumi's eyes as he saw the love of his life stood there with her father ready to walk down and to give her to him for the rest of lives together. 

The ceremony was beautiful. Oikawa's eyes would continuously flicker to where Y/n was stood and back to the bride wonder what she would look like in a wedding dress. He wanted to see that; he knew he was going to marry her one day. Still, the pair had agreed to take it slow, they didn't want to rush a thing, and with Oikawa being a professional Volleyball player for Argentina it was hard enough for him to have this time off for the wedding. 

The wedding breakfast was great, filled with great food, booze and of course the speeches, Oikawa teasing the newlyweds but also congratulating and thanking them both for setting him up with Y/n. 

He would quite often see Y/n tear up at the speeches and when Iwaizumi and Emiko did there thank you speech and handed out the presents to their parents and the wedding party. Emiko was especially thankful for Y/n, "Honestly Y/n if it wasn't for you I think this wedding would have been a disaster, you kept me grounded through all of this, if I were having a meltdown you would be on a flight from Argentina to me that night, I don't know how many times you did that-"

"She did it thirteen times we had a travel case sat by the front door of our flat ready~" Oikawa interjected with a smirk winking at Niko.

"Don't worry I spent his money on the flights~" Y/n smiled as she leaned into Oikawa's side planting a kiss on his cheek as he fake gasped at the fact she stated. The room laughed at the couple. 

"Toru you a professional volleyball player, get over it! Anyway, if it weren't for you Y/n I would have probably thrown in the towel and cancelled everything on many of occasion, so I must also thank you Toru for letting your girlfriend come and help me at the drop of a hat and fly back here to Japan. Honestly, if it weren't for you two, this wedding wouldn't have been a disaster." Emiko grinned, raising her champagne glass "To Y/n and Toru!" 

"To Y/n and Toru!" The room chorused after her, the toasted pair stood there with there arms wrapped around each other, and there own champagne glasses in hand, Y/n rested her head against his chest as Oikawa planted a kiss on the top of her head as he whispered: "I love you, baby girl."

The first dance was beautiful, just Iwaizumi and Emiko slow dancing across the dance floor to I'll Be by Edwin McCain now and again Iwaizumi would twirl her around. They were whispering to each other. Both grinning, ever now and again kissing, either on the cheek or lips or in Iwaizumi's case her forehead too. Once again, Y/n was cuddled into Oikawa's side, holding her newly filled champagne glass to her chest as she smiled the tears welling up again.

Oikawa was happily chatting away to his old Seijoh teammates. He wasn't sure where Y/n was she said something about catching up with her old high school friends. His ears pricked up at the sound of the music, Oh, Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison was playing. Knowing how much Y/n loved this song from the movie Pretty Women, his eye's drifted to the dance floor, where he instantly found the bridal party and their high school friends dancing together singing along. Y/n and Emiko were doing some kind of ballroom dancing, their hands linked together spinning around and laughing, he loved this side of her, she was just having fun and letting loose not caring what people thought of her and her dancing. The next song to come one was Love is Strange by Mickley and Sylvia. Oikawa sighed he knew the DJ was playing the song from Dirty Dancing and he knew them all seeing as Y/n loved that movie as well. Their eyes lock at a certain point, and they both smirked.

'Sylvia~' Oikawa lip-synced to the song. 

'Yes, Mickey?' Y/n hip swayed to the song as she slowly, swaying her hips as she moved closer to him.

'How ya call your loverboy?' He was leaning against the pillar, knowing that his old teammates and her friends were watching

'Come here, loverboy!' using her head to signal from him to come to her. 

'And if he doesn't answer?' He smirked grew 

'Oh, lover boy?' giving him big doe eyes, her hands linked behind her back trying to look innocent, still quite a bit away from him

'And if he still doesn't answer?' He pushed himself off the pillar

'I smiply say, baaaaby' She couldn't help but giggle at him when he did the air guitar to the song.

'Ooooohhhh, baaaaabbyyy' Now stood toe to toe both laughing at Oikawa as he continued to do the air guitar. 

'My sweet baabbyy, you're the one' Planting a kiss on his lips before returning to the girls on the dance floor. 

"Damn you are whipped, aren't ya!" Yahaba laughed patting his shoulder, he just shrugged, he knew he was and he did not care, he loved her wholeheartedly. He continued to watch her on the dance floor once again thinking back to how he wanted to see her in a wedding dress, maybe it was the champagne going to his head, but he wonders if he just went up to her right now and went down on one knee, would she say yes? 

Y/n continued to dance with Emiko before they disappeared out the door so Emiko could change into her evening dress, something a little lighter and more comfortable to wear. 

Later into the evening, Oikawa's eyes locked onto Iwaizumi walking up to the DJ, he didn't miss the smirk that Iwaizumi sent his way. Not long after Iwaizuki walked away, a song began to play that Oikawa instantly recognised. It was his and Y/n song, I Was Made For Loving you by Tori Kelly began to play, he's eyes darted around the room looking for his beloved, he felt a hand on his arm. He grinned, taking her hand in his placing a kiss on her knuckles. 

"Come dance with me," She asked, placing his drink down on the table next to them. He smiled as and followed after her to the dance floor, her left arm wrapped around his right shoulder, and his left arm was gently wrapped around her waist and their free hands conjoined, Oikawa held them to his chest, her head placed gently against his chest as well. They both had gentle smiles on their face as they slow danced on the floor. They didn't see the looks on Emiko, and Iwaizumi faces as they watched the pair, it was just them on the dance floor. 

"We did a good match with those two." Emiko smiled her head resting on Iwaizumi's shoulder. 

"That we did, I think when you throw the bouquet, aim it at Y/n." Iwaizumi commented.

"I already had that planned." The newly wedded couple smirked at each other. 

It was nearly midnight when the after-party started to wrap up, the couple were heading off on their honeymoon, but first, it was time to throw the bouquet. As Emiko said she was going to aim for her best friend, she wanted to see her married to Oikawa; she wanted their children to grow up together and be best friends, even if they would be in different countries. 

Turning her back to the group of girls, Emiko looked over her shoulder, winking at Y/n before she threw the bouquet over her head.

Oikawa was praying that she would catch it, he wanted to propose to her all night, he already planned to buy a ring when they get back to Argentina.

The peach coloured rose flew through the air and landed perfectly into Y/n outstretched hands. Y/n eyes met Oikawa's as he gave her a look that said well we're going to have to now, the blush flushed Y/n cheeks, as she made her way back towards him, cradling the bouquet in her arms.

Iwaizumi and Emiko smirked to one another, knowing they had worked there magic once again, they knew it wouldn't be long till Oikawa would propose now, knowing he wanted to all day anyway, they could tell by the way he looked at her. 

"I'll gladly be your matron of honour," Emiko said nudging Y/n arm as they joined the blushing couple. 

"Give me a shout when you need a best man." Iwaizumi lightly punched Oikawa shoulder as he smirked. "I've already got bits of the speech planned." Catching the scared look that crossed Oikawa's cause the other three to laugh.

"So, if I asked you, would you say yes?" Oikawa asked as his arms snaked around her waist once again. 

After that, there were lots of goodbyes, and even more congratulations as Emiko and Iwaizumi left on their Italian road trip honeymoon. 

"Blue topaz~" Was all Y/n said as he placed a butterfly kiss against his cheek, waving after the car as it drove away.

Part 1 <you are here>| Part 2 | Part 3

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The Price of a Soul

Part 1/? - Agent Russel Part 2/? - The Letter Part 3/? - Miss Lake Part 4/? - The Stewardess Part 5/? - An Assassination Part 6/? - Fallout Part 7/? - Face to Face Part 8/? - Deals, Details, and Other Devils Part 9/? - Baggage Part 10/? - Private Funding

Howard, of course, is all for this plan.

-

Howard Stark’s hours were unpredictable at best.  Sometimes he was awake for days on end working on a pet project, running on coffee, cigarettes, and whiskey until he simply ran out of steam and collapsed.  Sometimes he’d been overseas for too long and had not yet reset his internal clock, so that he was up all night and slept all day.  Sometimes he napped in strange places like a lazy cat.  Peggy had no idea what to expect when she rang his bell in the morning.

The first thing she heard was the barking, followed by a yelp from Mr. Jarvis and a cry of, “Anna!  Would you please contain this beast?”  Some scuffling and more barking followed, and then the door opened.  Whatever had just happened, it didn’t stop Mr. Jarvis from looking as tidy and composed as ever when he opened the door.

“Agent Carter, good morning,” he said cheerfully.  “What can we do for you today?”

Behind him, Anna Jarvis was kneeling on the floor in her dressing gown, cooing Hungarian endearments to the animal Peggy assumed was called a ‘Bernese mountain dog’ not because it came from the Swiss Alps but because it was simply a mountain of dog.  Its tongue was lolling out and its eyes closed in bliss.

“Good morning, Mr. Jarvis,” said Peggy.  “I was wondering if Howard were out of bed yet.”

“He’s in the backyard, nursing a hangover by the swimming pool,” said Mr. Jarvis.  “I’m sure he’ll be delighted to see you.”

Peggy stepped inside and nodded to Anna and the dog.  “Good morning, Anna.  Zoltan.”

“Lovely to see you, Peggy,” Anna said, fondling the dog’s red and black ears.  “Sorry I’m not dressed.  I just have to get this fellow his breakfast.”

“It’s quite all right,” Peggy assured her.  “I don’t know how long I’m likely to be here, anyway.”

Behind the house, Howard was sprawled across a chaise under the canopy, wearing his brocade bathrobe, a pair of sunglasses, and probably nothing else.  Jarvis picked up a discarded newspaper and laid it discreetly over his employer’s lap before touching his shoulder to wake him.  “Mr. Stark?”

“Huh?” Howard twitched.

“Agent Carter is here.”

“Oh.”  Howard’s head tilted back again.  “I guess there’s no chance of telling her to come back later?”

“I don’t do later, Howard,” said Peggy.  Jarvis pulled up a chair for her, and she sat down across from Howard.  “I need a favour… in fact, Daniel and I both need a favour.”

“Is this the part where you remind me again that you kept my ass out of jail?” he asked.

“It is.”

“All right.”  Howard made an effort to sit up and look slightly more presentable – at least as much as a man could when there was only yesterday’s Examiner to preserve his modesty.  “What’s going on?”

Peggy had spent a good deal of time in her bath the previous evening thinking over exactly how she was going to present this idea.  “I’m sure you remember the time you had me steal back a vial of Steve Roger’s blood for you under the pretense that it was a superweapon.”

“Technically, it could be, in the wrong hands,” said Howard.  “But I definitely remember where you hit me.  Did you find it?” he asked, peering over his sunglasses with bloodshot eyes.

Howard did not know that Peggy had thrown the vial in the East River, and she was not about to tell him.  “No.  But before I tell you what I did find, I need you to assure me of your honourable intentions.  If some piece of Captain Rogers or his property were to turn up, what would you do about it?”

“Depends on what it is,” said Howard, “but if it were his body I’d throw him the hero’s funeral he deserves, and if it’s the shield I’d build him a monument out of it.”

Peggy leaned closer.  “You swear?” she asked.

“Cross my heart,” he said.  “What have you found?”

“A set of coordinates.  Seventy-four, forty-seven, thirty-five.  Ninety-five, twenty-five, three.”

She could almost see the gears in Howard’s head turning as he placed them.  “That’s… that’s further north than we ever looked… way up in the sea ice.”  He started to get up, then grabbed at his newspaper.  Peggy politely turned her head while he fixed his robe.  “I’ve got a map here somewhere…”

“I know,” she said, getting up to follow him inside.  “I already looked.”

In the library, the atlas Peggy had used was still sitting out on a table.  Howard quickly found the same page, and the same point.  “Cornwallis Island.”

“Daniel and I aren’t sure the tip is trustworthy,” Peggy explained, “so we need this to be discreet, no taxpayer money.  I’m on medical leave for the occasion.”

“Of course.  Not a word,” said Howard.  “Just you and me and a few of the locals to carry stuff.  There might not be anything visible on the surface anymore.”

“No?” Peggy asked.  “Our source described the crash in some detail, as if they were there when it happened, and seemed to think there would still be parts of the plane caught on the rocks of the island.”

“Yeah, but sea ice isn’t static,” Howard said.  “It moves around, and snow builds up and doesn’t melt.  If the wreck’s in the ice it’ll be torn apart, very slowly, and will eventually melt out the bottom and fall onto the sea floor.  The ice up there isn’t transparent, either, it’s yards thick and full of cracks and bubbles.  We need a way to see what’s under it.”

“And you happen to have just the thing?” Peggy guessed.

Howard nodded eagerly.  “I’ve been working on it on and off for a while now… an ice-penetrating sonar.  The big problem was keeping the sound of the plane itself from interfering, but the last month or so I’ve actually had your buddy Dr. Wilkes up there troubleshooting on it.  He’s a great guy for acoustics.  His work on the vibration frequencies of the Zero Matter…”

“Is it ready for testing?”  After knowing him for nearly ten years, Peggy was an expert at gently encouraging Howard to stay on topic.

“Yes!  That’s why we moved it to my hangar in upstate New York,” Howard said.  “Closer to the ice, less shipping hassle than getting it to Alaska.  It’s installed on one of my planes there.”

“So we can simply fly it up to Canada and take a look,” said Peggy.  That would cut down on their search time enormously, if they didn’t have to trek across the ice for days on end.  “Wonderful.  But as I said, we can’t have any fanfare.  Absolute secrecy is best.”

Howard pouted.  “You don’t think I can keep a secret, Peg?” he asked.

“You do tend to get over-excited,” she said.  “And we know, by the way, that there are more of those Russian girls in the country, so you’re not even allowed to hint at it over drinks.  How soon can you be ready to go?”

“I can be ready to go right now,” Howard replied.  “It depends on if Jason’s got the thing ready in New York.  I’ll give him a call right away.”  He checked his watch.  “Yeah, he’ll be up by now.”

“I should hope so,” Peggy said.  “Dr. Wilkes tends to be far more regular in his hours than you.  But don’t tell him over the phone where we’re going,” she added.  “Treat it as just another test flight.  You never know who might be listening in.”

“You can count on me, Peg.  After all… you did keep my ass out of jail.”  Howard grinned at her.

“Thank you, Howard.”  She smiled back.  “I’ll head home and pack a bag.”  That wouldn’t take long.  Peggy knew how to travel light.

As she was heading back to the front door, she met Mr. Jarvis coming the other way.  “Agent Carter?” he said.  “Are you leaving?”

“Yes, I’m afraid I have a lot to do today,” she said.  “I can’t stay for tea.”

“I wasn’t about to ask you to, but I’ve just taken a phone call from Chief Sousa,” Mr. Jarvis said.  “He was unable to say why, but he would like you to stop by the SSR offices as soon as possible.”

He probably wanted to know how her conversation with Howard had gone, Peggy thought, though it was strange that he’d called rather than waiting for her to contact him.  “I’ll do so on my way home.  Thank you, Mr. Jarvis.  Give my best to Anna, would you?”

“I shall.  Will we see you again soon?”

“I certainly hope so,” Peggy said.

She probably could have done more to warn Howard how unlikely they were to find anything up there, Peggy thought as she drove back to the office, but for the moment it was probably best to let him ride the initial wave of enthusiasm.  The whole story could wait for their flight back to New York and the subsequent journey to the Northwest Territories.  Howard and Jason’s sonar, though… that was exactly what they needed!  If this were indeed some sort of trap, there was no way the Soviets would be expecting them to fly over at a height rather than hiking out from the island.  If there were something there, they’d be able to get at least an idea of it without so much as setting foot on the ice.  Then if it appeared dangerous, they could contact Daniel and ask for further suggestions.

“Afternoon, Rose,” said Peggy cheerfully as she entered the reception area.  Rose was sitting at her desk, tiredly watching a trio of midgets in matching sequined costumes perform an acrobatic routine.

Rose did not smile back.  “Oh, you got Mr. Auerbach’s message?” she said.

“I did,” Peggy nodded.  “He’s upstairs?”

“Yes.  So is Mr. Masters.”

Peggy’s spirits, which had been high on her drive over, sank straight through the floor.  It wasn’t that there was no reason for him to be here – Peggy could think of half a dozen things he might have decided to stick his unwelcome fingers into – it was that whatever he wanted was always at odds with whatever Peggy was trying to accomplish.  Daniel had rung her at Howard’s because he was trying to warn her.

She took a deep breath, stood up straight, and nodded.  “I’ll head right up.”

Peggy stepped into Daniel’s office with her head held high and determination in her step.  Daniel himself was not there.  Vernon Masters, however, was.  He was sitting in Daniel’s chair, where Peggy had sat for her interview with Lake as Agent Russel, waiting for her.

“Carter,” he said.

“Mr. Masters,” Peggy replied.

“Care to explain how another Soviet spy got into the country undetected and killed one of our most important political prisoners while you were a dozen feet away?”

He certainly did get straight to the point, didn’t he?  “It is my understanding that Miss Lake drilled through the glass of the cell window and shot Dr. Zola using a police revolver with a home-made suppressor,” she replied.

“While you stood right next door and did nothing.”

“Our best information at the time suggested that Miss Lake was here for Underwood and Fenhoff,” said Peggy.  “I was acting on that.  We had no reason to think Dr. Zola was in any danger.”

“You sure didn’t try to protect him,” said Masters.

“We did our best to keep the entire prison secure,” Peggy said.  “Perhaps you ought to question the people in charge of the Sing Sing Correctional Facility, rather than me.”

Masters sat up.  “I’m going to be straight with you, Carter,” he said.  “We sent an FBI agent to investigate your potential involvement in Underwood’s escape – he was drugged and robbed by a colleague of hers, who then went on to kill Zola right under your nose.  You understand why this doesn’t look good for you.”

“I do,” said Peggy, keeping her body language as neutral as possible.  Since Masters’ last visit she’d been telling herself not to worry about him because he had nothing on her… but now events were conspiring against her.  The situation he described could easily make Peggy look like a traitor to somebody sufficiently paranoid… or at least incompetent.  He couldn’t possibly have any real evidence, though, because if he did he’d be having her arrested.  His ‘case’, if it could be called that, must be entirely circumstantial.

“I’m going to have a full investigation look into your conduct, Carter,” said Masters.  “If you haven’t done anything, you have nothing to fear, but you’re suspended from duty as of now.”

“As it happens, I’m already on medical leave,” she said.  “Chief Sousa insisted I take time off to recover from the chemical Miss Lake attacked me with.  Apparently Dr. Mroczek in New York worries there might be permanent damage to my lungs.”

“From what you’ve said about these Russian girls you should be grateful she didn’t shoot you,” said Masters.  He stood up from Daniel’s chair.  “I’ll be checking in.”

“I’m sure you will,” said Peggy, wondering what he would think when she left the country… and how he would fit it into his personal conspiracy theory when she came back.

[theasstour]

WAYWARD TRAVELLERS.

PART 24 OF THE 25 DAYS OF SUMMER BY @always-jackedup the one where you and harry are on your way to a couple’s retreat at a friend’s cabin when you start fighting, and are forced to pull over when a massive thunderstorm prevents you from driving further.

A/N: i’ve had the honour of working with sarah for the second time on a project i find to be very important for the fic community on tumblr. her 25 days unify us all for a month, to tell 25 different tales, in 25 different ways, by 25 different writers. if you haven’t already checked all of them out, click that link above and you might just find your new fave writer! anyway, without further ado, here’s my contribution! hope you like make up sex enjoy, brothers!⚡⚡

MASTERLIST | ASKBOX | WORD COUNT: 10k NB: explicit language, fighting, sexual content

You and Harry had been an item for nearly four years now. It hadn’t been love at first sight, it hadn’t really been love at second sight either. Working at a café near his house in Hampstead, he had come in to get his breakfast every single morning when he was in home in London. While you made his breakfast for him, the two of you would always strike up a conversation, talking about what he had been up to and what type of classes you were taking that semester of uni. You had always liked his music, but for some reason, you always underestimated how well-known he actually was. He was just a customer you usually talked you as he came in to order when he was in town. But as time went on, the interest in the other increased. Suddenly, you were thinking about each other all the time, which was not ideal for you as he was always away and you were either working or busy with uni. One day, that changed.

Two years of him being the customer and you being the barista, he finally got the nerve to ask you out on a date. It was early in the morning, maybe around 6am when he was done with his morning run, so no one was working except you and one other barista. An old man sat by the window and your co-worker was getting stuff from the backroom, meaning the two of you were left alone. You remember the flush of his cheekbones as the question slipped from between his pink lips, the neon yellow hairband in his hair, the black glacier and white shorts. It was the clearest memory you had to date; it started the rest of your life; a life you were sure you’d share with Harry. But recently, you hadn’t been so sure.

It had been building up to this, you knew that. Ever since the end of tour last year, Harry had promised you he would spend most of his time off with you, seeing as his busy life all of 2017 and 2018 had prevented him from that. Together in your shared London house, the two of you would spend full months together, being the loved-up couple everyone knew you to be. Though you and Harry rarely were overly touchy in public, rather saving it for later when you were in private, your friends had always envied the relationship you had with Harry. It was an effortless, passionate connection the two of you had, which was hard to find and once you did, you didn’t let go. But for a long time now, that was all you had wanted to do; let go.

The promise Harry had made didn’t seem to be as important as he had let on. Instead of spending time with you – which he had rarely done since launching his solo path – he had done a lot of other stuff to benefit his career. Every single step of the way, you stood by his side, rooting for him and being the first person to give him a hug… The first person to give him a hug at the airport when he came back from wherever he had been, that was. He had flown to New York City a couple of times, Canada, Mexico, Italy, though you had been too busy with work, friends, and family to tag along, and each time he came back, he seemed a little more tense. Whenever he got tense, you did too, and when both were, it led to no good.

The shared house you owned in Hampstead was colder now than it had been with you first moved in together two years ago. Not only was autumn on the way, the late summer air of August slowly turning chiller with the arrival of the new season, but the mere atmosphere of the house was different. Something had happened between the two of you. Though you walked around not knowing what, deep down, you knew.

It was the lack of effort on Harry’s end. Ever since you graduated uni and got your new job, you hadn’t been as available as you had been whilst still in university. Though Harry kept telling you he didn’t mind you not tagging along on tour or come with him to New York City to join him at the Met Gala because you were busy adjusting to your new job, you knew he did. And though you kept telling Harry it was fine that he didn’t attend the Christmas party at your work or that he forgot to call you when you had planned to FaceTime at a specific time, it really was not fine at all.

He had been travelling a lot recently, busy with his career and other projects. Meanwhile, you had been busy with your own life back in London and everything that came with it. It was your mate’s idea for you and Harry to take a week off at his log cabin in the quiet hills of Exmoor National Park, right on the edge of Somerset and Devon. With stunning views of the sea and the next neighbour almost a kilometre away, it would be the perfect getaway. When you told him about everything and how little either of you were willing to make it better, he immediately thought of a plan.

“It’s going to be good for you,” he reasoned, raising his eyebrows as you discussed this over lunch at work. “Get away from the busy life in the big city and live on the countryside for a bit. It’s great for hikes as well, and since it’s summer you can even go for a swim in the sea. Though it’s very cold.”

You sighed, thinking about it. “I’ll have to check his schedule.”

“Can’t you just suggest a date and have him answer? It’ll be easier to just talk about it.” Your colleague gave you a smile. “I’ll give you the keys. You and Harry are going to Exmoor, you need this.”

He was right; you two did need this. Once you got home and aired the idea of you two going away to Exmoor together to spend some time alone, to get away for a bit, Harry glanced up at you from the food he was making. Eyebrows raised and a red apron over his joggers.

“For how long?” He had asked, voice a little darker than it usually was. You guessed he had acquired a cold you hadn’t noticed till now. Your heart stung at that.

“Maybe a week or so, depends on how much time you’ve got on your hands.”

Harry flipped something, running his tongue along the outside of his top row of teeth. His eyes left yours, nodding his head a few times while leaning his arm against the kitchen counter. “Let me check once I’m done with dinner.”

You felt yourself grip the doorway into the kitchen a little harder. For some reason, the fact that Harry looked away from you, aggravated you more than the conversation you were having. “I could call Jeff.”

“You don’t have his new number.” Harry retorted, moving his jaw as if he was chewing gum. He always chewed gum when he was stressed out, but he didn’t seem to have anything in his mouth.

“Alright.” You nodded, deciding that you could not do this anymore. “I’ll let you do it then.”

He didn’t show any signs of having heard her, though she knew he had.

“What’re you making?” You asked, trying to strike up a friendly conversation about nothing important in particular.

“Ribbony shrimp and pasta scampi.” Harry answered, still not glancing up at his girlfriend. He turned his back on you, fixing something on the counter behind him. The talk you tried to have with him dying just as fast as it had begun. Taking a deep breath, you cracked some of your knuckles before turning around, back to back. Telling yourself to not overreact, that you had no reason to overthink any of this, you walked up the stairs and into the bathroom. There you threw some water in your face so you wouldn’t see the tears running down your own cheeks.

It was all getting worse and worse, and you had no idea how the two of you had gotten to this point. You had fought before, tons of times in fact, but nothing even remotely as cold and for as long as this. Harry didn’t feel like your boyfriend anymore, didn’t feel like your best friend of four years, and your living partner. There was something different about him, something different about the two of you. Somewhere along the way, the two of you had started isolating yourselves for some reason. You knew the reason why you were mad at Harry, but you had no idea why he was furious with you. If you didn’t confront each other before the potential trip to Exmoor, then you would fight once you got there, and to be honest, at this point, you would take any sort of emotion you got out of Harry.

Harry got some days off, and the two of you started on your way to Exmoor the second to last Saturday morning of summer. He was driving and you were sitting in the passenger seat, answering a few e-mails and trying to get everything done before you arrived in Somerset. The sun that had been hanging over London most of the summer, wasn’t there today. She was covered by a thick layer of white and greying clouds, making the mood all the gloomier. Most of the drive was quiet, the radio playing relaxing tunes that made you occasionally doze off for a few minutes before you woke up again. There wasn’t much to look at when driving, though, and you ran out of things to count and signs to read. You felt Harry’s cold body language to your right the entire trip, not knowing why he sat there looking as emotionless as he did.

This was how he got when he was mad: he shut you out. Eventually he would break and tell you what was bothering him, but most of the time – okay, maybe all the time -, the problem wasn’t you. But this time around, you knew it was. Something about how far this had been taken told you that this had been building up for a little too long. That thought alone made your entire body ache. Though you were pissed at Harry for always being away and rarely prioritising his relationship with you, you were also getting mad at him being mad at you and not doing anything about it. Your fingers prickled with annoyance, brain going into a tornado about what would happen this week now that the goal was to spend all your time together.

It took everything in you not to shout at Harry to say something, to get it all on the table so you could start talking about stuff again. Though you were sitting in the same car, it felt like he was hundreds of miles away, distancing himself to the point of if killing the both of you and what you had. You were closing in on Exmoor National Park, the roads narrow and small. You knew that if you had been driving, you would never have been driving the car as fast as Harry was. You knew that once Harry sat down behind the wheel, he usually sped away as he wanted to get to his final destination as quickly as possible. This was always something you didn’t like, as speed would scare you, especially when you didn’t even know what was waiting for you further down the road you were driving on. You held onto the seat, clenching your jaw and instinctively pressing your right foot down as if you could press the breaks yourself.

The first drops of rain hit the car, and this was the first time you noticed just how dark the skies above you were. You had heard talk of a huge thunderstorm looming over Southern England this weekend, but you hadn’t actually thought you’d be affected by it. The rain picked up, and soon it was pouring worse than it had in what felt like years. Glancing down at the map on your phone to see where you were going, you tried to make out your surroundings as the rain just kept on getting worse and worse.

Harry didn’t slow down though. The weather was horrible, your heart was hammering wild with panic in your chest, and you had no chance of seeing where you were going. Taking a deep breath, you tried to lean forward and squint through the oncoming rain to make out a gravel road through the blur in front of you. You sighed.

“You don’t have to drive so fast,” you started, not registering the words leaving your lips till it was too late. “I can barely see anything.”

“Sorry,” he sighed right back at you. “Just trying to get us to that cabin so we don’t have to drive around in a thunderstorm.”

“We already are.” You stated, glancing down at your phone and then up again. “Here.” Pointing at the small gravel road a bit further down, Harry stepped down on the breaks.

This threw you forward a bit, taken aback by how harshly Harry seemed to be treating his Audi. Finally, he was slowing down, knowing that the rain and gravel did not do well together, it would undoubtably make for quite a crash if he drove too fast.

“Thanks.” You muttered, feeling everything going on right now really taking a toll on you.

Harry didn’t as much as raise an eyebrow when he asked, in a deep voice, “What?”

That was the start of it, you knew. The impassive behaviour he’d had going on for months was finally cracking. His voice always got deeper before a fight, like he was trying to hold back, and as the argument increased in heat, it would go up a pitch, something it tended to do when he was shouting. You two rarely shouted at each other though, but for some reason, you had a feeling that would be the case in just a few.

“Just don’t want us to die on our way to a couples retreat.” You explained, glancing down at your phone to see if you were there soon.

“You’re criticising my driving now?”

“I’m just saying you don’t have to step on the gas constantly.”

Harry huffed.

You looked over at him. “What?”

He shrugged. “Just don’t get why you always drive 10 under the speed limit, but you don’t see me complaining.”

“You are just now.”

“Maybe you should drive then, since you don’t drive as dangerous and fast as I do.”

“You shouldn’t be driving recklessly when it’s storming out!”

Just then, you heard the rumble of thunder in the distance. The rain got heavier and heavier, making it almost impossible to even make out the gravel road ahead. This made Harry really slow down. Lowering his window and sticking his head out to see further down the road, he drove over to a smaller road leading off the one they were now driving on. It was impossible to drive on in this weather, both of you seemed to agree on that at least. Though you were blocking the path out for those living in the house down this tiny road, you did not think they would mind as no one would be dumb about to venture out in this kind of weather.

Harry put the car in park, raised his window back up, and turned the radio off as you had stopped getting signal a while ago. The motor rumbled as you two just sat there in silence, listening to the thunder and lightening outside, the rain that seemed would go on forever. For the longest time, you expected Harry would be the first one to talk, but he didn’t say a word. Even now when you had just been arguing, he wasn’t willing to put in the effort. You guessed you had to do it yourself like you did most things for the two of you as a couple. Turning your body in his direction, you caught his eyes making their way to your frame ever so slowly. You wasted no time.

“This has been going on for too long.” You said, watching as Harry’s mouth drew into a stern line. “You keep treating me so badly and I treat you badly in return, we need to talk.”

“Guess you want to go first.” Though it sounded like a question, you knew it wasn’t.

“What does that mean?”

“Means you always want to start stuff and I’m assuming you want the first word now as well.”

You felt your back hit the passenger side door, stunned that Harry would say something like that. You huffed, sensing it was something that had annoyed him. “If you insist.” You said, taking the opportunity if Harry was going to be an arse about it just out of spite.

He raised his eyebrows, staring straight ahead.

“I’m starting to get fed up with how little effort you put into our relationship.”

This had Harry’s gaze land on you, eyes a little wider than they usually were.

“We’ve been together for four years, known each other for longer, and you’ve never cared less about me, our home, and what we have, than you have this last year. I understand that you have work and I respect you wanting to do the stuff you love, but don’t lose your home and the people that care about you in the process.”

Harry’s jaw clenched. “Ever thought that doing all of these Gucci campaigns and traveling is because when I’m ‘home’ you never are? I’m alone.”

“You’re not alone. When you’re home, I’m home.”

“But you’re not.” Harry took a deep breath. “You’re not. You’re at work or you’ve got plans with friends.”

“Are you getting mad at me having a social life?”

“Are you getting mad at me for having a successful career?”

Your mouth fell open. “You know I’d never be mad at you for that, I’m proud of you and what you’ve achieved.”

“Right.” Harry had the audacity to let out a sarcastic chuckle, running his index and thumb along his nose before he spoke again. “Right. You’re not mad.”

“I’m not mad at your success, you absolute dickhead!” You couldn’t help but shout now, it didn’t seem to take Harry by surprise, however. “I’m mad because it feels like I’m becoming less important than said success!”

Harry furrowed his brows. “Less important?”

“Yes! You always have appointments when I ask you to stay home or tag along to a work party or if you want to go out for a date!”

Harry turned to face you properly now, leaning his elbow against the back of the driver seat. “You never ask!”

“I do- I did.” You groan, running your hands through your hair. “I ask, but it’s become less frequent because you constantly reject me!”

“I’ve got work!”

“Well, so do I, but I always try to make time for you! For us!”

“I have a suggestion then,” Harry said, now pointing at her. “How about you don’t always ask me when it’s best for you, how about you ask me when I’m free instead?!”

You huffed, barely audible over the rain crashing against every outer surface of the car. “Are you taking the piss?”

“We need to compromise!” Harry was shouting even louder now. “You need to listen to me! You’re too busy with your new job, your new mates, and your new life in London to even think to make time for me unless it fits your timetable!”

“Oh, my God, Harry, you do realise we’ve always worked around your work schedule, yeah?!” You yelled right back. “Ever since we started dating when I was still in uni, I always had to come out when all your family and everyone else were! It was never a question of when was best for me! Guess I assumed you were okay with me making plans for you like you made plans for me!”

Harry ran a frustrated hand over his face. “Right, that was shitty of me, I’m sorry. I’m just fucking tired of never bloody seeing you anymore. It’s like ever since you made a new life for yourself, the life you have with me isn’t your top priority like it used to be.”

“Then how the fuck do you think I feel after all these years when you made work appointments first and informed me second?”

“I don’t need to bloody run my work schedule by you!”

“I’m not saying you need to! I’m telling you that it would be nice if you informed me before they were finalised!” You look out the window, the rain and thunder in the background seeming never-ending. “We’re a fucking team.”

“Then you need to start doing the same.”

“My work doesn’t make me travel, Harry, I’m always in London.” You looked back at him again. “Always waiting for you.”

He just stared at you for a little while, taking in your last words. “So the problem is me not being in London?”

“No, it’s you thinking your work is more important than mine!” You land a hand against your chest, feeling the terrified thumping of your heart. Thunder almost shook through the car, the heart of the storm was getting much closer. “That’s what started all of this!”

“I don’t fucking think that!”

“Why do I get that impression then?!”

“Don’t fucking know! Maybe because you used to sit around at home not doing anything until you got one, and now you’re busy! So busy in fact that you don’t have time for me any longer!”

You frowned. “I make time for you!”

“I’m constantly alone!” That tore through your soul, made your heart shatter. You felt the agony in the breaking of his voice. “I have friends and family and all that, but I don’t feel like I’ve got you anymore!”

This stopped you completely. You suddenly realised you were both leaning forward in your seats, having gotten closer and closer to shouting right in each other’s faces. Harry’s words hurt you. The fact that he had been feeling this way and that was the reason why he had been so passive aggressive these last few months, it tore at everything within you. It made you feel very bad. But at the same time-

“Then you know how I feel when you’re continually travelling.”

His eyes twitched, as if he didn’t think that would be the response.

“I’m always alone and I always miss you. It’s not like I don’t want to spend time with you when you’re home, but…”

“But what?” His words were harsh.

“You’ve been so cold these last few months that I really have not wanted to be home with you anyway!” It felt good to finally say it, but seeing Harry blink a few times, something he always did when he was shocked and hurt, broke your heart all over again. “If you had just fucking talked to me earlier about all of this, then we wouldn’t be here right now!”

“And if you had just been home, then maybe I would have had the chance to!”

“It’s not like I haven’t been home!”

“You’re telling me I should’ve talked about feeling lonely earlier, but it sounds like you’ve been feeling the same way for a while as well! Why didn’t you say anything?!”

“I don’t know!”

Harry’s frown deepened. “I don’t believe that!”

“I don’t really care what you believe or not, it’s the truth! I don’t know why I didn’t bring it up, but I guess I should’ve-“

“-I was fucking terrified, okay?!” Harry shouted, jaw tense. “Terrified that if I did, you’d leave! Maybe because you love your work and you would think I was trying to make you quit, when that’s not the case! Maybe because you’re doing so well for yourself and telling you I’m feeling lonely, that I want you to spend more time with me, sounds selfish! Maybe because I feel like you’re slipping through my fingers and I don’t want to fucking lose you!”

You both stop. Thunder washes over you with the rain, getting more intense as the minutes went on. But right then, the only thing you cared about, was the fact that Harry had just admitted what had started everything. He was lonely, afraid to bring it up in case of misunderstanding, and afraid to lose you. It all made sense now. You felt bad for everything, like it had started for nothing, because you would never even consider leaving Harry for something like this. You had worked through things before, you would work through this, but it was the fact that none of you had been able to confront the other that led you to this moment. Swallowing thickly, you noticed Harry inhaling till he couldn’t no more. A look was exchanged, holding all the longing and scratched out words you both had accumulated over the last few weeks. Though you still felt hurt, it was starting to wither as you realised the cause of everything was the mortification of the two of you not being endgame.

The leaning into one another was mutual, slowly finding a way toward one another for the first time in what felt like years. A shaky break met your cupid bow, feeling hot against the tender skin of your lips. Your eyes fell to his lips, taking them in where they were just before your own, knowing the taste of feel of them by memory, but always eager to seek them out for reassurance and the flavour of eternity. Once you glanced up at him again, you found his eyes moving with yours, needing to look into yours for confirmation before he did anything. They were slightly hooded, an expression he always got when he wanted you. Seeing them again reminded you of all those other times, when he had looked at you like that while you were sitting on the sofa at home, or at a BBQ with friends, or when you were at the shops together, or any other normal scenario where he would just stare at you for a while, his desire for you intense. When your lips parted, a puff of air from you landing on his lips, Harry slid his tongue slightly and slowly over his bottom lip, wetting them as you watched him hungrily.

“Terrified of losing you.” Harry mumbled, voice dark and dripping with sincerity and lust. “Can’t lose you.”

You tilted your chin, stroking his nose lightly.

His jaw trembled a little before he finally leaned into you, kissing you hard. The wetness of his hair hit your forehead, a raindrop running down your temple and down to your jawline, where it fell to its destruction. Harry pressed his lips against yours, needing to feel you there with him, to feel the familiar shape, feel, taste of you to make everything better. It had been so long since you even shared a kiss, the fact that you were now made the butterflies in the pit of your stomach flutter alive again. You gripped onto his shoulders, steadying yourself a little as the kiss intensified. The emotions inside of you made you slightly dizzy, your brain shutting down the logical side of it that screamed at you to fix this before anything could happen. But the other part, that part that had longed for Harry and this, you decided to listen to that part. Because Harry kissing you like this again, feeling him there, wanting the same as you, it was everything.

He brought his hands up, cupping your face in his hands and holding you in place. It seemed he genuinely was terrified of you leaving, the slight tremble of his fingers and the frantic way his tongue and lips sought you out told you so. Outside, the rain didn’t seem to have an end to it. It poured onto the car, it sounded like a thousand determined footsteps against the car, like someone was running above you. And by the beating inside your chest and the thumping inside your ear, it seemed like your heart was doing the same thing. Running back to Harry’s. As your hands slid down his chest, under his beige cardigan, you felt his heart beating just as fast as yours. The thunderstorm outside matched the one going on between you inside the car.

He broke away, kissing the side of your mouth and swiftly kissing along your jaw. You closed your eyes, loving the soft nibbles and wet peck he left. Tilting your head, resting his thumb on your chin, it made for better access to your neck, which he used his time on. The show of affection seemed grander than anything he had done before, like he was both furious and sad at the same time. At the bottom of it all, was the need to please you, to show you that he was still so very deeply in love with you, and that nothing would ever change that. He was rough, kissing up he centre of your neck, the open-mouthed kisses letting you feel both his teeth and tongue. You let a breath of relief slip from between your parted lips, letting Harry guide your head so he could kiss his way all over you.

His lips hovered over yours once he reached them again, eyes fixed on them before he met yours. You were both panting, completely losing your breath over how much you suddenly needed one another. In the middle of an argument, not even with a solution yet, and neither had the will to stop any of this. Leaning forward to kiss him again, Harry retracted, preventing you from doing so. You glanced up at him again. The hunger in his eyes fought through any sense of right-doing, neither of you were yourselves it seemed. Longing mixed with erotic feelings and the heat of the argument all mixed together made it impossible to fight the urge to fuck each other senseless.

He let his hands slip from where they rested on your neck, slowly sliding down your front. Thumb laid a little extra pressure over your breasts, trying to get a reaction from you when he passed your nipples. The lips that had been resting centimetres apart were attach to each other again, the heavy breathing and frenzied hands heating up the moment. You felt his hands reach your thighs. Thank fuck you had decided to wear a white summer dress today, airy and easy to remove. His fingers fumbled for the hem of them, wanting to feel the bareness of your sensitive skin underneath his tips. As he slid it up your thighs, you felt the shake to his hands again, like he couldn’t quite believe this was happening, like he was afraid of fucking all of this up.

Once your dress was far enough up, he moved his right hand between your legs. You hummed into his mouth, gripping hard onto the back of his neck, opening your mouth wider for him. His middle and ring finger pressed their way between them, thumb, index and little finger resting at your thighs as he focused on feeling you out. He stroked gently over you, teasing you like you knew he liked to do. Laying next to no pressure on you and letting you beg for it yourself. However, you just kissed him harder, he would know how badly you were turned on then. He breathed harshly against you, biting onto your bottom lip for a few seconds before he kissed the side of your mouth, opening his eyes to look at you when he spoke.

“Feel that?” He asked, placing his ring finger on the hem of your knickers, the soft skin leading down to your centre. Ring finger laid right over your cunt. “Do you, baby?”

You moaned, trying to bring his lips back to yours. You nibbled at his jaw as he continued to speak.

“Feel how you pulsate for me?” The delicate force of his ring finger once he asked that question was heavenly. He put just enough weight on your knickers to feel between your folds, deliberately making his way up. “Want me to do anything about that? Huh?” He reached your clit, rubbing his ring finger slowly from side to side.

“Harry.” You gasped, gripping onto the hair at the back of his neck.

“Want me to bury my face between your pretty legs?” He watched as you closed your eyes at the small source of relief his finger brought. It completely took your breath away, the intense hold Harry had on you when it come to your body. He could make you feel so good that it quite literally felt like all the power and love the universe had to give, all came together between your cores when you shagged. It had quite honestly almost made you black out once. Yeah. It could be quite intense. So, when he asked that, knowing full well that you had gone a few months without any sort of orgasm, you prepared yourself for a similar situation. You welcomed it with open arms, though.

“Yes.” You answered, trying to kiss him again, but he moved away. You opened our eyes then, looking up at him looking at you.

“Backseat.” Harry said, grumbling almost, and it sent tons of shivers down your spine.

You didn’t hesitate. Climbing into the back of the car, you settled yourself into the seat behind Harry’s and he quickly followed suit. Pressing a button by the driver side seat, the set moved forward, a little too slowly for either of your tastes. You giggled a little, Harry whipping his head in your direction.

“What?”

He removed his hand from the button by the seat, all the while holding your glance. Vulnerability somewhere in his irises, mixing with the lust he felt for you. Before you got to ask him again, he sat down in the space behind the driver seat, right in front of you. It seemed urgent, like he could not wait another second, and he let his hands travel up your legs, hooking his fingers around your knickers. He slid them down, throwing them in the back of the car before he brought his attention back to you. Luckily for the both of you, the seats were tall, making the access to your cunt easier. Placing both of your thighs on either of his shoulders, he urged you to push your dress further up. You bit your lip, feeling your centre prickle with anticipation and desire. Everything inside you sang as you felt his breath against the inside your thigh, knowing what was coming next. About to ask him if he was sure this was what he wanted, that he didn’t just want to fuck, he dragged you closer towards the edge of the seat and attached his lips to you.

“Oh!” You instantly took a grip of the headrest behind you, needing something to grip onto as you felt Harry’s tongue on you.

He slid it wide from your hole and all the way up to your clit, where he paid a little extra attention and laid it flat, flicking it once. He did the same again, now teasing you a little by letting his tongue enter your hole ever so slightly before he ran it back up again, loving the tremble that went through your body as he reached and put soft force on your bud.

With that, you succumbed to pleasure. Lightening struck and thunder rumbled, but all you could focus on was Harry’s tongue and how his arms were twined around your thighs, holding you in place. All your time together, Harry had always enjoyed eating you out, and you had always loved it when he did it. He left no spot untouched by his slick tongue, always focused on the parts that he knew would make your back arch and your lips part to let go of a loud moan. There wasn’t a place in your shared house where he hadn’t asked you to do it. You on the kitchen counter while you were waiting for your dinner to be done, during a movie night, in the shower, in the basement when you were having a barbeque upstairs, on the balcony on a hot summer’s day. He was always eager to please, always eager to see how fast he could make you climax this time around.

You felt him tighten his grip on your thighs, tipping his head a little to the side as to gain better access to flick your clit. His wet hair laid against your thigh, cooling against the hotness of your body. As you let a whimper pass your lips, your let go of the headrest, instead gripping onto your breasts. Harry looked up at you, loving it when you did that. Though he would much rather they were exposed to the humid air inside the car, he didn’t want you to ruin your dress. However, he was also starting to give little to no fucks about anything but your orgasm. Whatever happened before then, he didn’t care for. So, he moved his head to the other side, not taking his eyes off you as he continued to run his tongue fast over your clit.

“Yes.” You moaned, not really an answer to anything, much rather an encouragement for Harry to keep doing what he was doing.

The bubble of pleasure you were familiar with started to really form, getting bigger and bigger with each stroke of Harry’s tongue. Your hand reached for the window, for some kind of support, while the other one buried itself in his lush curly hair. Letting your glance rest on the window for a second, you noticed the condensation from the inside, the raindrops running down the outside of the car as the storm continued to rage on. A line of sweat dotted your hairline, your palms were clammy, your centre was undoubtably hot with the oncoming orgasm. As you glanced down, the burning of the pleasure bubble inside your core intensified. Harry’s green eyes were on you, devouring you like he’d never done before.

As he sat there between your legs, your taste on his tongue and your hand in his hair, he came to realise just how much he had missed this. Missed being between your legs and having the best view the world had to offer, you climaxing on his tongue, trembling under him. There was something special about you when you came, something he had never experienced before with anyone else. He was sure it did enough for him to just watch you, hearing your soft purrs and words of encouragement, words of praise. He felt like a king when he was down here, making you feel as good as can be. He pursed his lips, sucking on your bud.

“Fuck.” You whispered, your other hand also coming to rest in his hair.

You kept tugging at him as he continued to suck on you, watching you as you grew more and more frantic. Movements rugged as you felt the climax closing in on you. He let your clit off with a pop, before licking over it hastily. He was holding onto your thighs tighter now, not letting you move as much as you wanted to. You needed to stay in one place, but you kept shifting, not knowing what to do with yourself as the climax tingled roughly in your abdomen, down your thighs, up to your ribcage. He wrapped his lips around your clit again, sucking on it. Now you went still, craning your neck, your lips parted. Harry hummed, sending delicious vibrations through you, and making you come.

You felt it in your entire body. Once the bubble burst, it felt like your entire body was on fire. It was heavenly, like feeling everything good on the planet at once. It lashed out to all your limbs and made your thighs shake; your heart thumping fast. You felt only Harry in those blissful seconds that followed; his tongue and lips and hands and hair. A world of him and you; a world where nothing but you two mattered. You were moaning uncontrollably, unable to control yourself as Harry kept licking you and sucking till you had calmed down. Your fingers beat with your heart, it was hard to catch your breath, like you had just been running a mile. One final long lick, and Harry removed his mouth from around you. Slowly, you let go of his hair, feeling your hands were wet from the rain that had hit him earlier. You closed your eyes, letting yourself come down from that mind-blowing orgasm. He really knew what he was doing when he went down on you, it always left you like this.

Humming, you felt your core pulsate along with your heart, a small smile fluttering over your lips while you sat there feeling content. When you opened your eyes again, Harry was still sitting between your legs, taking you in, eyes moving over your face like he was for the first time really valuing what was in front of him in a long time. He put your feet on either side of him, resting his hands on your thighs as he hunched, kissing you again. You brought him closer, letting your back hit the back of the seat so he could rest his knee between your parted thighs, your right leg between both of his. He leaned his hands on the seat on either side of your frame, preventing himself from colliding into you. It was just like before he had gone down on you, rough and urgent, like you needed more more more. You needed more of him and he needed more of you.

“Fuck me,” You begged, lightly digging your nails into his neck. “Please.”

Harry growled, kissing you harder. “Need to know something before I do that, baby.”

You opened your eyes as Harry did, panting in unison.

“Need to know you’re not leaving.” He said, swallowing thickly. “Need to know we’re not leaving this trip without seeing eye to eye.”

Your mouth opened, feeling at a loss for words for a little second.

“Please.” He said, taking a grip of your frame and laying you down in the seats.

“Harry…” You mumbled, hands to your chest as you glanced into his eyes, his right hand undoing the button and zipper of his trousers.

“Tell me.” He urged, lifting your dress before he pushed his trousers and boxers down. “I can’t-“ He stopped himself as he brought his cock out. “Can’t not know. We’re not having sex unless-“

“-I’m never leaving you, Harry.”

He seemed to stop breathing, staring down at you with wide eyes.

“I’m sorry I made you think I wanted to.” You licked your lips, shaking your head. “Don’t ever want you to leave me either. You’re my person.” He brought a hand up to his cheek, rubbing your thumb over it. “For life.”

His jaw trembled a bit again, and he looked down between you guys as he positioned himself between your legs. Easing into you, you bit your lip and arched your back, enjoying how full he made you feel.

“For life.” He repeated, moving out of you before he slammed back in.

You gasped, gripping his upper arms. With this, he fucked you hard. Skin on skin, deep into you, and hard against your hips. He groaned as the feeling of you all around him took over, something so familiar, yet something that had been alien for so long. He leaned down, kissing your neck like he had done earlier, but now he wasn’t being as nice. Biting you lightly, kissing you hard, nose often colliding with your jaw. It was clumsy, but rough, bodies slamming into one another to create orgasms that would shake up both of you. It was like you were getting all kinds of frustration out on one another; gripping each other cruelly, kissing each other like it was a punishment. Your leg rested against the seat while the other one was entwined with Harry’s leg, if you rested it atop his hip, it would likely only be extra weight for him, and he wouldn’t be able to go as roughly as he was now.

Harry took a grip of your hair, tilting your head in his direction. “Always liked it best when I fuck you hard, haven’t you?”

You moaned, digging your nails into his back. He held you like that, watching you draw closer and closer to the edge.

Fact was, you had. When Harry was rough with you, it felt like something else was born between the two of you. It was almost animalistic; gripping, groaning, clawing as the pleasure of it all became too much. You were always careful not to hurt the other one, but by this point you knew the limits, you knew the other person, so you never went where the other one didn’t want to. Especially make up sex was something you were good at. Getting all of your frustration out in one quick, hard shag felt better than anything. Not only were you okay afterward, but it felt good in the meantime. You were mad at the other one, but you were also falling deeper in love with them, getting a further understanding of both your relationship and the person you were sharing it with. Yes, you would talk everything through afterwards, but after a session like this, you calmed down. It made it easier to talk about everything.

Harry let go of the tight grip he had on your hair, rather holding onto it just barely. You felt the whole car move with you two, you were suddenly very happy no one would ever see this. The heart of the storm was upon you, the lightning striking hard, the thunder rumbling through the earth underneath you. All the while, the rain kept falling hard. But this didn’t stop you two. Harry watched you as you arched your back, as your moans got louder, as everything seemed to start to crumble around you.

As he fucked you, - felt you all over his body, felt his soul entwine with yours – he realised just how scared he had been of losing you. It was like knowing you would get bad new, but all the while hoping you wouldn’t receive them after all. A relief so immense it felt like it grew him wings took over, and he leaned his forehead against yours. He hadn’t received bad news though, because you had just told him you weren’t leaving him. After months of thinking you were trying to make him break up with you, he had finally heard what he needed to hear. He had never been as scared of anything but what his life would be like without you, because he was so completely and wholly in love with you. A life where the two of you weren’t together didn’t seem like a real one. He was mad at himself for not confronting you earlier, and mad at you for not doing the same.

“Harry,” you said, bringing him back to reality. “Look at me.”

“I am.”

“No,” you bit your lip as not to moan. “You’re distant. Look at me.”

He did, lips parted as he slowed his movements. You let go of our lips, purring as he rocked in and out of you in a steady and deep rhythm. Everything slowed down and you felt all his attention on you. The distant look in his eyes before, like he was thinking abut everything between heaven and earth, like he was far from being present, made you realise just how much you two needed to be. You hugged him to you, letting his body fall onto yours so that you were as close as could be. You moved with him, hooking your legs around him to bring him even deeper. While you two were close to climax, you didn’t take your eyes off of one another. Everything in Harry’s gaze and his body language told you he was there, fully and till the end.

“I’m looking,” he said, voice horse. “Always. I’ve always looked for you.”

His movements were sloppy now, though they did you in just as good as the phase before. You rested your hands at the back of his neck, tugging lightly at the hairs there as you knew he liked it when you did that. With everything, your lips brushed one another, your eyelashes something fluttering against each other.

“For life.” Harry repeated, kissing you once.

You couldn’t help your smile, but it was cut short as the second orgasm as brought on. Arching your back, holding on to Harry for dear life, you came. He kissed your neck, listening to your cries of pleasure and loving the way you kept on repeating his name. The flames that had rocked through your body earlier were intensified now, overwhelming you in the best way possible. Together, you came down from your orgasms, clinging to one another the whole time. You had never felt closer to him than you did in that minute. Grinding against one another, your little world inside the car, the rain pouring down outside. It was like nothing else existed besides the two of you, like the whole world had stopped being.

Harry moved away from you, looking into your eyes. He brushed some of your hair away from your face, eyes looking all over your face beneath him to tale it all in. You couldn’t help a little giggle.

“What?”

He shook his head a little. “Just…” he trailed off. “You’re unreal, is all.”

You raised your eyebrows. “Just unreal?”

“Isn’t that a good compliment?”

You smiled. “It could be interpreted in a million different ways.”

“Fine, you’re well fit.”

You laughed, bringing his face down to yours to kiss him again. You smiled into each other’s lips, feeling at ease and peace. Harry pulled out of you and, after having tucked himself in again, ran to the back of the car to get wet wipes and your knickers. After you cleaned yourself up and put your knickers on, the two of you settled down in the backseat to way the storm out. Harry leaned against the door, one arm draped along the back of the seats and the other one stroking you gently along the bridge of your nose and your forehead. You laid against his chest, hands resting on his thighs and your eyes shutting from time to time. Harry’s right leg was bent and resting against the seat, you had your hand on his knee, opening and closing your palm in a calming manner.

Harry reached for your other hand, removing his hand from where it was stroking you. Bringing it up to his lips, he kissed it slowly closing his eyes as he did. You smiled, bringing your entwined hands to rest in your lap.

“So,” you started, staring at the foggy window opposite you. “What do we do now?”

Harry sighed a little, clicking his tongue twice. “We compromise.”

You nodded. “But how?”

“We need to communicate and sacrifice.” Harry said. “One time I might drop some of my plans to tag along on yours, and you can do the same for me the next time around. Unless one of us actually can’t, like if you get a promotion, or I have an event to attend solo somewhere-“

“-Sounds like a good plan.” You said, squeezing his hand and knee to stop him from rambling. You knew he was a little nervous to be talking about this.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah,” you smiled. “We’ve gone a while without being open with one another. We need to realise we have a life outside our relationship, a life the other one not necessarily is a part of. It’s not healthy, having someone be part of everything you do. We’re a team, but we just need to support one another, not be completely immersed in everyone the other does.”

Harry nodded, resting his cheek against the top of your head. “Sorry I’ve been so jealous, I just want to spend time with you. Not used to you being busy, I guess. But I’m very glad that you are, I know that’s all you’ve wanted.”

You closed your eyes. “And I’m sorry I thought you stopped putting in effort, that’s not like you.”

“It’s not, no.”

“I was just so sad when you shut me out. Guess I was mad you didn’t spend time with me when you had time off.” You squeezed his knee before he started speaking. “I know you did, you spent loads of time with me once you got off tour last summer. We always spend Christmas together, and whenever you’re home you’re always by my side.” You sighed. “I’ll take most of the blame, though.”

Harry frowned. “Why?”

“Because I expected you to stay home with me when I’ve stopped doing the same for you.” You explained. “Work is important for the both of us, but we’re important as well.”

Harry nodded. “But it’s not all your fault. I got annoyed with you for getting a job, for not sitting at home waiting for me like you used to.”

You took his other hand, bringing them around your frame. Harry hugged you to him. “We need to balance.”

“Yeah,” Harry agreed. “Need to stop thinking the other one’s inside our head.”

“Exactly.”

“Because no matter how much we might think we’re one and the same, we’re really not.”

You giggled.

“I’m not inside your head, you’re not inside mine.”

“Nope,” you tucked your arms tighter around you, Harry squeezed you for a few seconds, kissing the top of your head. “And good thing.”

Harry smiled. “What would I find inside your head?”

You gasped. “You don’t know what you would’ve found inside my head? I thought we were in a relationship!”

Harry laughed, thumb stroking long your jawline and resting his head against the fogged-up window behind him. “A pest, you are.”

You smiled, closing your eyes as you felt yourself wanting to drift off. “Inside my head,” you started. “You’d find a whole lot of Friends references, chocolate, bubbly, and,” your smile broadened. “Your bum.”

“Oi!”

“When you wake up in the morning and walk to the bathroom, the way it jiggles-“

“-Feeling a wee bit objectified!”

“I appreciate the way your arse jiggles!”

Harry grinned. “Okay, fine.” He closed his eyes, too. Leaned his head against yours. “I guess I appreciate the way yours jiggle as well.”

You grinned. “Good, I did squats for this bum.”

“And I appreciate that very much.”

You glanced up at him then, finding him with his eyes shut. You closed yours as well.

“I love you.” Harry whispered under his breath right before he drifted off. “For life.”

The old man living on the farm woke up around 5 every morning, this one was no different. The storm the night prior had been violent, making it impossible to do his last chores for the day, so he would have to work a little extra today. He didn’t mind though, because the turbulence the thunderstorm had brought could not match to the early morning sun rising above the green horizon. The sky was pink at the edge, a light layer of fog drifting over the fields around the farm, making the usually peaceful moors seem even more so. The harmonious state the world seemed to be in after a storm matched no other, like everything was calming down to start fresh.

The old man was going about his chores, doing what he usually did every morning. However, he noticed something strange. As he drove up the road leading to the main one, a black Audi stood parked there. Thinking the worst, he quickly got out of his tractor and walked over to the car. It didn’t seem to have been an accident of any kind, the car seemed fine. Sauntering over, he found that the bottom half of the windows were fogged-up, and at the very top, he could just make out the inside.

A man held the sleeping form of a woman. They were holding each other’s hands, arms wrapped around each other. Her head was resting against his chest and his cheek to her head. They both seemed to be completely and utterly at peace considering how tempestuous the evening before was. Considering how tightly they held onto one another, he was assuming they meant a lot to one another. The kind of a lot that couldn’t be properly described in words.

He smiled a little to himself, glad that they found a place to wait out the storm, glad that he could be of a little help.

But he needed to pass, he had things to do and animals that needed tending to. He knocked on the window, startling the man who had been fast asleep. Upon seeing the old man, the one inside the car blinked a few times to get all of his sleep out of his eyes. He gently shook the woman, whispering something to her before she opened her eyes, too. She saw the old man and slowly sat up in her seat. The man opened the door on the other side of the car, letting the woman step out with him.

“Sorry, sir.” He said, walking around the car and to him. “Didn’t mean to block your path, we just didn’t want to drive when it was storming out last night.”

The old man shook his head, waving his hand dismissively. “No need to apologise, I’m happy you stopped. Could’ve crashed your fancy car if you hadn’t.”

The younger man let out a small chuckle. “Yeah, I had something more valuable inside I needed to look out for.”

Smiling, the old man nodded knowingly. “Those are the most important things in life, aren’t they? What’s inside the fancy car?”

The younger one smiled back. “Really is.”

“I won’t keep you. Just need to get my tractor out on the road, have a few errands I need to run and all that.”

“Of course, I’m sorry we delayed you.” The younger man took the few steps towards the driver side. “Sorry again.”

“No need to be, good of you lot to stop. The responsible thing to do.”

He sat inside the car, smiling. “Thank you.”

“Take care of the valuables inside the car, you.” The older man said, waving as the car door shut.

The last thing he saw was the man turning the ignition, and then looking over at the woman, who smiled at him. Taking her hand, he brought it to his lips for a brief second before he slowly drove away. He didn’t drive particularly fast, the older man noted, which was well as by doing so he would risk a lot of things. Smiling one last time, he turned around, entered his tractor, and drove in the opposite direction of the pair in love.

25 DAYS OF SUMMER | MASTERLIST | COME TALK TO ME!

PLS DO LIKE/REBLOG IF YOU ENJOYED OR COME FREAK WITH ME!

[swanqueeneverafter]

Sins of the Past Pt.7

Camelot. Present. Morgana's Chambers. (Guinevere stands watching from the doorway as the physician finishes his examination of Morgana.) Physician: "Everything’s going to be all right. You’re safe now." (He leaves. Guinevere begins to follow him.) Morgana: "Guin. Please, I want to speak to you. (Guinevere walks further into the room:) I want you to know that I don’t blame you for what happened.” Guinevere: “Morgana, I’m sorry but after all this time, I still don’t know for sure... what did happen? Arthur never told me.” Morgana: “He tried to poison me.” Guinevere: (Shocked, moves closer to Morgana:) “I blame myself. I never believed he could do such a thing.” Morgana: “It’s alright, Guin. I understand. You were in love with him.” Guinevere: (Shaking her head:) “I thought I was. For years he kept me under his spell. I was complicit in his lies and treachery. Can you ever forgive me?” Morgana: “Only if you can forgive me in return?” (Morgana reaches out her hand.) Guinevere: “Of course, My Lady.” (Guinevere rushes over and hugs Morgana, taking a seat beside her on the bed.) Morgana: “I was so naïve, Guin. I don’t think I really understood what I was doing. But, believe me, I have seen firsthand the evils in this world. You don’t know how much I regret everything that I’ve done. I just… I hoped so much that you would forgive me.” Guinevere: “I’m so sorry for everything you’ve been through. I never thought I’d see you again. It’s so good to have you back.” (They hug once more.)

Camelot. Past. Council Chamber. (Uther stands with his arms open wide, relieved to see his daughter until she storms towards him.) Morgana: "You have blood on your hands, Uther Pendragon! Blood that will never wash off!" Uther: "Morgana, what-" Morgana: "Those were my people you slaughtered!" Uther: "The Druids? What is this madness you speak?" Morgana: "I know now who I really am. And it isn’t something to be scared of." Uther: "Morgana you're raving. Clearly they've bewitched you, you're not yourself." Morgana: "I'm more myself than I have ever been, father. Maybe once you're dead and gone the people of Camelot will come to see magic as a force for good in this world again." Uther: “May I remind you that you’re speaking to your father and your King.” Morgana: “May I remind you that a king is wise and just. You are neither. You rule only with the sword.” Uther: “You know nothing of what it means to be King. The fate of Camelot rests in my hands. It’s my responsibility to protect the people of this land from its enemies.” Morgana: “Then the kingdom is doomed! For one by one you make enemies of us all!” Uther: “You speak treason, Morgana.” Morgana: “Only a mad man hears the truth as treason.” Uther: “Take care, child, or I’ll have you restrained.” Morgana: “You just try.” Dungeons. (Morgana is dragged into a large prison cell by some guards and chained to the wall.) Uther: “And you will remain here until you learn your lesson.” Morgana: “Then release me because I’ve learned it already! That you care not for me, or anyone but yourself! That you’re driven mad with power! That you’re a tyrant!” (Uther walks away, the guard slamming the door shut behind him.) Enchanted Fortress. Past. (A young woman watches Morgana through a magic crystal and smiles.) Morgause: “Hider eft funde. On þisse ne middangeard. Morgana Pendragon, a great destiny awaits you. The battle for your soul is about to begin.” 

Storybrooke. Present. Swan-Mills House. (The Swan-Mills' are having dinner. While Regina feeds Maria, Emma and Henry are talking.) Henry: "So Gabrielle said I should write what I know, and obviously I told her that I've already done that." Emma: "Right, and tell me again why you can't just take the storybook to a publisher and see what they think?" Henry: "Because I think there's got to be some Author's law about trying to make money off these stories. Just look at Isaac." Emma: "You're comparing yourself to that creep? Isaac abused his power as the Author and wrote his own happy ending at the expense of everyone else's pain and suffering." Henry: "And I wrote my happy ending by joining the Dream Realm to the other realms of story." Emma: "Which means you're no longer the Author." Henry: "Right." Regina: "So what's the worst that can happen? Henry, if you're worried that someone's going to come along and trap you inside the storybook, the Apprentice is long dead." Emma: "And the Sorcerer? He's not going to be able to do anything to you from where he is." Henry: "It's not that. I just... I didn't realise how hard being an adult was going to be." (Regina and Emma exchange looks.) Regina: "You didn't just make Ella's world real. You became the man of her dreams." Henry: "And how can I live up to that when I can't even put a roof over her head?" Emma: "By being there for her. Henry, why the hell didn't you go with Ella to Wonderland?" Henry: "We've been through this. I'm being responsible, I have to earn money to-" Emma: "You know damn well your mother and I have no problem with the two of you living here. This is your home." Regina: "And it'll be here waiting for the both of you when you return." (Henry looks from Regina to Emma and back before throwing up his hands and leaving the table.) Henry: "You guys don't get it." Emma: (Standing:) "No, Henry, it's you who doesn't get it! (Pointing:) Ella is out there right now looking for her mother. You more than anyone know what that's like and instead of going with her, you're what, working day and night saving money for the future? Don't you see? Every moment that you're not out there is a moment you're allowing to slip through your fingers." Henry: (Shaking his head:) "It's just not that simple." (He leaves.) Emma: "He needed to hear it." Regina: (Nods:) "I agree one hundred percent, but I'm glad you're the one who said it." Emma: "Yeah, I know you hate to play the bad cop with him." Regina: (Smiles:) "But I do so love when you play it with me." (Emma smiles despite herself and begins clearing the plates from the table.)

Wonderland. (Lead by Silvermist, Ella and Will continue to fly over the lake.) Will: “I must admit, I do enjoy the flying.” Silvermist: “You always did.” Will: “For what it's worth, Sil, I enjoyed some of the other bits as well.” Silvermist: (Turns in mid air:) “Not nearly as much as I'm going to enjoy this.” (Silvermist points her wand at Will and he immediately starts falling.) Will: “Whoa!” Ella: “Will!” Silvermist: “I can't tell you how long I've been waiting for that.” Ella: “How could you!” Silvermist: “Trust me. He deserved it.” Ella: “But we have to get him! He can't swim!” Silvermist: “Sorry. No detours.” Ella: “Oh, for goodness sake!” Silvermist: “Ooh!” (Ella purposefully takes a dive towards the water. Landing beside Will, Ella grabs him and pulls them to safety. Climbing to the top of a small island, they stop to catch their breath.) Ella: “What did you do to that fairy?” Will: “What did I do to her? She just tossed me into the bloody lake!” Ella: “Which you clearly deserved. Now we're stuck in the middle of nowhere, all because you broke a fairy's heart.” Will: “Well, she shouldn't have given it away in the first place.” Ella: “People can't help falling in love, Will.” Will: “Sure, they can. You just sneak out in the middle of the night, grab your trousers, your keys, and don't ever look back.” Ella: “Is that what you do? Should I warn Tiana about her future?” Will: “This isn't about me, Ella. If it were, I'd be sat back at home, with Tiana, happily watching the telly. Look, all I'm trying to tell you is, you've got this picture of your mum in your mind, these perfect little memories of how things were. But maybe that's just how they were for you.” Ella: “It wasn't like that. And if you really believe that, what are we doing here?” Will: “This is your quest, Ella, not mine.” (Frustrated, Ella turns away from Will, staring longingly at the shore.) Ella: “We're never gonna make it there. It's miles and miles away.” Will: “True. This is a bit of a setback, I'll give you that. But I'm sure we'll find another way.” Ella: “How?” Will: “Give me a minute. (Ella turns back to face him:) Two minutes.” Ella: “We don't have two minutes, Will. (Stands:) We need to get there today!” (Ella stamps her foot causing their little island to move violently, shaking them off back into the water.) Will: (Clinging to the island:) “What the bloody hell was that then?” Ella: “I don't know.” Will: “What kind of an island is this?” (They climb to the top again.) Ella: “This isn't an island.” Will: “What?” Ella: (Draws her sword:) “Hold on tight.” Will: “Tight? To what?” Ella: “Anything.” (Ella turns and leaps from the island.) Will: “Ella!” (After a long moment, Ella rises into the sky sitting astride the back of an enormous creature’s head.) Ella: (To the sea turtle:) “I’m sorry, did that tickle?” Will: (Amazed:) “A turtle?” Ella: “I wonder if you would be so kind as to give us both a lift to shore? (The turtle lazily nods its head:) Good boy. Now go!” (Will makes himself comfortable as they ride the enormous turtle across the lake.) Camelot. Past. Hall of Ceremonies. Night. (Uther is knighting new soldiers.) Uther: “Arise Sir Vidor, Knight of Camelot. Arise Sir Caradoc, Knight of Camelot. You have been accorded a great honour. But with that honour comes great responsibility. (While Uther speaks, an armoured figure approaches the main gates and dispatches two guards:) From this day forth, you are sworn to live by the knights’ code. You have pledged to conduct yourselves with nobility, honour, and respect. Your word is your sacred bond.”

(Outside, another guard is easily dealt with and the figure continues into the castle. The entire court turns to face the door at the sound of sword fighting outside. The armoured figure enters. The newly made knights of Camelot draw their swords as Arthur steps forward. The armoured knight drops their gauntlet in front of Arthur, who picks it up.) Arthur: “I accept your challenge. If I’m to face you in combat, do me the courtesy of revealing your identity.” (The knight removes their helmet to reveal a wealth of long blonde tresses.) Morgause: “My name is Morgause. I am here to fight for the freedom of the Lady Morgana who as we speak is being held captive in the dungeons of this castle by order of her father, King Uther.” (The court erupts into appalled murmurs at this revelation as Uther glares at Morgause.) Morgana's Chambers. Later That Night. (Freshly released from the dungeons, Morgana stands at her window, watching Morgause while she practices with her sword in the main square.) Guinevere: “Who is she? Why would she challenge Arthur? It seems no one’s ever heard of her.” Morgana: “I feel as if I’ve met her somewhere before.” Guinevere: “Really? Where could you know her from?” Morgana: “I don’t know.” Guinevere: (As Morgana continues to watch:) “She killed five guards.” Morgana: “Then Arthur should not underestimate her.”

Storybrooke. Present. Swan-Mills House. (After putting it off for months, Emma and Regina finally sit down to sort through some of the gifts they received after Maria was born.) Emma: "I think we might just have got something from everyone in the united realms." Regina: "If not, I'd definitely say it was close." Emma: "Clothes, toys, rattles. Half this stuff Maria's already grown too big for." Regina: "Which is why we're finally doing this. We have to bag up everything that's too small, too dangerous, (Throws a toy catapult into the 'reject' pile:) or just plain hideous." (Regina holds up a lime green baby-grow which Emma frowns and shakes her head at and it too finds itself sailing across the room into the pile.) Emma: "Please don't tell me we have to write and thank each person for their 'lovely, thoughtful gift'?" Regina: "Well, that would be the responsible thing to do." Emma: "So what does that mean we're going to do?" Regina: (Chuckles:) "Relax. I already sent the thank you cards." Emma: "You did?" Regina: "Yes. I used a modified tracking spell to find out who sent us what and then enchanted each card to go to the right person. I sent them at night so people wouldn't be overcome by the sight of hundreds of letters flying through the air. I got the idea from those ridiculous Harry Potter movies you make us watch." Emma: (Smiles:) "I love magic. And you, of course. Just the thought of writing that many cards... (Shivers:) The only person who would possibly enjoy that is-" Snow White: (Entering with Maria in her arms:) "There's nothing wrong with being polite, Emma. As a member of the royal family, I was taught manners and etiquette by my mother at a very young age." Emma: (To Regina:) "Have I thanked you lately for casting that curse? (Regina laughs. At Snow's stony expression:) Oh come on, Mom, it was a joke." Snow White: "Hm. Well it's just as well I'm here to teach Maria about her royal duties."

Regina: "Snow's right. (At Emma's look:) Oh, not about whatever she just said, I'd stopped listening by then. No, what I meant is that it seems a little ungrateful to accept all these gifts without giving something in return." Emma: "I know what you mean. The people of Dun Broch have just gone through hell and yet they're still out there, laughing and singing together. It's a very festive atmosphere down by their camps, despite everything." Snow White: "That's it!" Regina: "What's 'it'?" Snow White: "A festival! Guinevere and I were talking only yesterday about how to take everyone's minds off their troubles. A festival is just what we need! There'll be games and competitions and food and wine and oh, this will be so much fun!" (Watching Snow take Maria upstairs, then returning her attention to the reject pile, Emma grimaces.) Emma: (Turning to Regina, giving an exaggerated yawn.) "Do you think we can finish this some other time?" Regina: "No need. (Regina waves her hand and the messy reject pile is replaced by several trash bags marked 'donate':) There. Now do you think you can fit all those in your car?" Emma: (Beams, holding her arms wide:) "My brilliant wife." Regina: (As Emma wraps her arms around her:) "Just make sure they're all cleared out by tomorrow morning." Emma: "Your wish is my command." (Lifting Regina off her feet, Emma spins them in a circle, delighted that their task is over.) Regina: "Careful, Emma, there's not enough- (Catching her foot on the leg of the sofa, Emma stumbles backwards, Regina in her arms, onto the pile of trash bags:) ...room.” Emma: (Smiling up innocently:) "At least I landed on something soft." Regina: (Chuckles, then leans down to kiss her wife:) "Mm, so did I." Camelot. Past. Tournament Grounds. (Uther enters with Morgana by his side. At the earliest possible moment, Morgana takes her hand away from his and shares a smile with Guinevere. Arthur stands waiting while Morgause enters the arena.) Uther: “The fight is by the Knights’ Rules. And to the death.” (Uther takes his seat.)

Arthur: “I’m offering you a final chance to withdraw. I suggest you take it. (Morgause merely stares at him:) Then you leave me no choice.” (Confidently forgoing his helmet, Arthur twirls his sword a few times and the fight begins. Arthur quickly catches Morgause on the arm, but allows her to pick up her sword to the cheers of the crowd. Retrieving her sword, Morgause attacks with renewed vigor, blocking Arthur’s strikes and knocking him to the ground. Standing over him, Morgause presses her sword to Arthur’s chest.) Morgause: (Removing her helmet:) “Do you yield, or shall I run you through? (Breathing heavily, Arthur glances toward the dais:) You would rather fight on to keep the Lady Morgana in chains than to see her free?” Arthur: “But Morgana is already free.” Morgause: “Not yet she isn’t. So I ask again, do you yield?” Arthur: (Nods:) “I so yield.” (Morgause lowers her sword and extends her hand. Taking it, Arthur allows himself to be pulled to his feet. Walking over to the dais, Morgause gives a curt bow to Uther as he stands.) Morgause: "Morgana goes free." (Morgana watches with interest as Morgause leaves the grounds. Uther glares at Arthur before making his exit.)

[scotianostra]

Scottish swimmer David Wilkie was born on March 8th in 1954, in Sri Lanka.

The second instance today about what makes you Scottish and to me David Wilkie epitomises what it means his own words spoken during his time in the USA.

“I will always remain Scottish, no matter what happens, even though my accent changes, even though I live in this country, I still maintain I am Scottish.” it speaks volumes. As a child he would stay in the pool for hours on end or go to the beach and swim in the sea. He returned to Scotland to attend boarding school at Daniel Stewart’s College in Edinburgh. His time in Edinburgh brought him to the Warrender Club. Warrender was, at that time, famous for developing young swimmers.

Wilkie’s attitude could have brought his fledgling career to an early end. He struggled to get out of his bed to make the early morning training sessions, Bbt, when Wilkie was only 12, the club’s coach Frank Thomas spotted something in him, although it was not until 1970 that the promising swimmer began to shine. Between 1969, when he won the Scottish Junior title, and 1970, when he won bronze at the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games, Wilkie shaved 30 seconds off his time in the 200m breaststroke. Wilkie wore a swim cap during the Commonwealth Games, making him the first elite swimmer to wear one in a major competition.It is also said to be the first swimmer to wear both cap and goggles in order to maximise the streamline effect within the water.

It was his performance at the 1972 Munich Olympics, when the 18-year old came from virtually nowhere to take a bronze medal, that he began to really show what his real potential. The performance won him more than an Olympic medal. The University of Miami, who had been monitoring his progress, decided to offer him a sports scholarship which enabled him to train every day whilst studying marine biology, although he soon switched to a degree in English and mass communication.

It was when at college there he said the quote from above in a BBC interview in 1976: “I will always remain Scottish, no matter what happens, even though my accent changes, even though I live in this country, I still maintain I am Scottish.” Not surprisingly he thrived under the American scholarship system. In Miami, Wilkie trained intensively in the Olympic-sized outdoor pool daily. In the days when Olympics were still strictly for amateurs, being allowed to dedicate himself to his sport brought the best out in Wilkie.

In 1973 he went to Belgrade and won the World 200m breaststroke title, breaking the world record, and then regaining the title in 1975, while also winning in the 100m breaststroke.

At the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch in 1974 he picked up two golds and one silver and also added the European title to his collection that year. Wilkie was the only non-American to win one of the 13 gold swimming medals available at Montreal, the first British man in 68 years to do so.

On the world stage his biggest rival was the American John Hencken. The two men had an intense rivalry for all the breaststroke titles of the early ‘70s. According to the British Olympic coach Dave Haller, Hencken had the beating of him for speed because of his fast arm movements and was more suited to the sprint of the 100m, but Wilkie’s long rhythmic strokes meant he was better over the longer distance.

Honours were shared at the Montreal Olympics. Hencken beat Wilkie into second place in the breaststroke with the top three in this race all breaking the world record. Wilkie was pleased with his second place, especially as he had not prepared as thoroughly as he might by not shaving his body hair, which could cause drag under water.

Over the longer distance, Wilkie dominated, beating Hencken by metres and taking three seconds off the world record.

David  retired while at the top, leaving the legacy of being Scotland’s best-ever male swimmer. I think many of you out there will have met him, he helped Scottish swimming for years, and I recall my wee sis, Sandra having her photo taken with him. Wilkie remains the only person to have held British, American, Commonwealth, European, World and Olympic swimming titles at the same time.

I found a great wee story about David Wilkie from a few years ago, Wilkie, then aged 61, was old off for swimming too fast at his local health club. In an 20174 interview he said he was astonished by the lifeguard informing him he was going too fast ."I was just swimming as normal in the pool, doing front crawl, and the lifeguard came up to me and said, 'I think you banged into somebody'. I said, 'it's the fast lane you know, this is rubbish',"  Wilkie tore up his membership card and cancelled his membership in protest. 

Oh and check out the mullet he had, it must have broken his heart when he started losing his hair!

[sojourntime-aux]

Day 6 (August 7th): Life’s Perks –  With no worlds to save or Heartless to battle, how do they spend their free time? What are their hobbies or talents? Give us that slice of life goodness!

I'm not the best at writing slice of life stuff but I gave it a shot. Also I kinda went a little off prompt, since I've already talked a lot everyone's hobbies and talents! So enjoy Day 6! @khoc-week

-----

"Hey Kathrynn, back just in time! Come check this one out!" Tagen called to his friend, making the girl in question come sit down next to him on the sand.

"What to you think it's from?" She asked, eyeing the tiny piece of worn bone that Tagen had sifted out of the sand and was now holding up to show her.

"A Heartless maybe?" He replied, half joking as he adding it to the jar of other things he'd found today. Kathrynn snorted.

"A Heartless? Do Heartless even have bones?" Tagen join in laughing, adding another pile of sand from the hole he had dug, onto his homemade sifter. Kathrynn looked back over her shoulder calling a little ways up the shore to her friends. "Tabby, Tabitha! What do you think? Are these Heartless bones Tagen is digging up?"

Tabby glanced over from where he was further along the shoreline, next to the few fishing poles he had anchored in the sand. He gave Kathrynn a confused look before going back to his fishing endeavours. Tabitha didn't seem to notice her friend calling to her, she had her nose to far in her notebook. Kathrynn laughed, rolling her eyes playfully, before turning back to Tagen.

"So how far did you walk?" He asked, already working on sifting down the next scoop of sand.

"Until I could see the end on the island, then I turned back, so I wouldn't be away from you guys too long." Kathrynn replied, helping him pick out the larger bits of shell.

"That far? Really? So did you find anything cool?"

"Some nice shells, even some spiral ones, or at least pieces. And plenty of the kind Tabitha likes." She looked back over at at her friend. "Heeey Tabitha~" Kathrynn flicked a little sand Tabitha's way, startling her freind and making Tabitha pout slightly.

"Hey! You're gonna get sand in my notebook!" She whined. Kathrynn only chuckled.

"Uh then you shouldn't have brought it to the beach? There nothing but sand here Tabitha! Of course it's gonna get some in it!" Tagen called back to her. Tabitha only huffed, closing her notebook. She then set it aside and stood up, stretching a moment before stepping out from under the large beach umbrella and walking down the sand to her friends. Moldy OJ only picked its head up for a moment to see where its owner was going, before curling back up.

"Check this these out Tabitha." Kathrynn pulled some shells out from the small bucket she had next to her, and held them out. "There are lots of red ones." Tabitha took one in her hand, running her fingers over the grooves. Tabitha always liked the shells Kathrynn found wandering the beach. She liked making things out of the ones with the little holes.

Suddenly Tabby let out an excited help behind them, making everyone turn their eyes. On the end of one his lines was a good size fish, and Tabby was looking pretty proud of himself. "One more, and we will have a enough for dinner."

"Sounds great!" Tagen said, giving him a grin. "Let me know when youre ready for my help with cooking."

"Alright, sure!" Tabby said, recasting the line he had just reeled in, now that it was bated again.

"I don't understand how you can spend all day fishing Tabby, we are supposed to be here relaxing." Kathrynn said, giving her friend a teasing smile.

"This is relaxing for me, I like fishing. Plus maybe you should talk to Tabitha about not relaxing today." Tabby replied, returning the smile, and chuckling at at the look Tabitha gave him.

"Yeah, you're right. Weren't you supposed to bring other books to read, and not your notebook?" Kathrynn turned to give Tabitha a playful shove.

"Heeey! Aren't you guys the ones who just said that any book I brought would end up with sand in it...?" Was Tabitha's defense. It made her friends all laugh, making Tabitha let out a huff and flop back onto the sand. "I'm going to end up buuuurnnned! What am I supposed to do?"

"Go swimming?" Tagen suggested.

"That won't stop me from getting burned!"

"But the burns will be worth it!"

Tabitha sat up, and reached into shallow water at their feet and splashed him, before laying back down again.

Tagen put the sand sifter aside, shoving the extra sand back into the hole he had dug. He then stretched out his legs and stared out at the water before them. "So find anything else cool, Kathrynn?" Tagen asked, leaning back on his hands.

"Yeah actually, I found something you'll like. I think it's the bone of a sea star." She took the nearly complete starfish skeleton out of the bucket.

"Wait, The ocean has stars too? Are you sure they didn't just fall out of the sky?" Tabitha asked, sitting up to look at the thing in kathrynns hand.

"It was a living thing at one point, Tabitha. Most of what I find are from things like sea stars, if they arent teeth. But I guess those are from living things too." Tagen said holding up his jar.

"Well aren't the stars living things?" Tabitha replied. The comment made all four friends look up at the sky at the few stars they could see in the pale unchanging.

"Kathrynn?" Tagen prodded after a moment.

"I-I don't know. I just know which stars are named which, and what pictures they make. I don't know what they really are. I'm not sure anyone does..."

-ERROR-

"Mmm something smells delicious!" Kathrynn greeted her friend who was waiting by the fountain with a small picnic basket over her shoulder.

"I made Tabitha's favorite. Hopefully they'll still be warm when she gets here." The girl replied. Kathrynn chuckled in response, looking around the square to keep an eye out for the girl in the question.

"I'm sure she'll love them either way. She always loves your baking. It's always good. Weeell after you're done experimenting with the recipe."

"Why thank yo- hey!" The other girl was halfway through an over exaggerated bow in thanks, which she stopped to give Kathrynn a playful shove. "You should be honoured to be my taste tester! I could always give the job to Tabitha."

"And have Tabitha constantly burning her mouth? No way!"

"I don't burn my mouth that often!... Only cause it smells so good." Tabitha was looking at the two with mock hurt, having just arrived. Kathryn started snorting, leaning against the edge of the fountain. The other girl shook her head with a smile, stepping forward to give Tabitha a hug.

"What took you so long, sugar? I was worried these would go cold if you didn't get here soon." She opened up the picnic basket to show off the freshly made chocolate raspberry cupcakes, making Tabitha's eyes go wide.

"Oh those look amazing!" Tabitha replied, bouncing on her feet a little.

"Then I guess we better get moving, before they actually go cold." Kathrynn piped up. "To the hiking trails?" The other two nodded, before following Kathrynn out of the square.

"Y'know, maybe one of these days we should take the ferry out to island. Go to the beach." Kathryn piped up as they walked.

"And get sand in my baking? No thank you." The other girl replied. "What do you think Tabitha?"

"Don't boats makes people sick?"

"Only some people, there's really no way to know until you get on one." The girl replied.

"Oh. But why would you want to find out?"

"The beach, Tabitha! There's an actual beach the ferry goes to! With shells, and shore, and tide pools, and probably a million more stars a night!" Kathrynn gestured her arms to the morning sky.

"Whoa whoa whoa, the ferry doesn't run after dark! If we went wouldn't it just be for the day?" The girl turned to look at Kathrynn, a little shocked by what she was saying.

"Well why couldn't we camp out there at night?"

"Um the Heartless that's why!"

"Isn't that what our keyblades are for?" Tabitha piped up. Kathrynn gave a little bounce, smiling, and gesturing to Tabitha.

"See~, Tabitha's on board."

"I didn't say that.." Tabitha gave Kathrynn a look in response. The other girl pinched the bridge of her nose as she walked.

"We'll go for the day, and if it looks fine, we'll talk about going back and camping, another time." The girl glanced around, before leaning in close to Tabitha and Kathrynn. "You know the heartless have gotten more and more dangerous, everything has been crazy lately." She said in a lowered voice as they walked.

"That's why we should go. This could be one of our last chances to go!" Kathrynn said, making a shard of panic stick in the other girl's heart. It must have been visable on her face because Kathrynn put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Relax, I just meant with the Heartless getting stronger, you might be right, and we should go before that becomes the truth." The girl nodded, glancing over at Tabitha, before turning her gaze to her footsteps.

There were a few moments of silence between the group, but the girl knew what they were all thinking. 'If that is the truth we are headed for.'

"Can we talk about this later?" Tabitha broke the silence. "Today was supposed to be our relax day."

"Agreed!" Kathrynn and the other almost shouted in unison, before giving each other a smile.

"C'mon, let's get a move on! We've still got a long walk ahead of us!" Kathrynn said, skipping on ahead, leaving Tabitha and the other girl behind.

"Wait up!!"

[dansnaturepictures]

24th September 2020-Part 1: Blakeney Point seal watching boat trip (10 different pictures to those I tweeted) 

Me and my Mum started our Thursday with a boat trip from Morston Quay around Blakeney Point and the area, a seal watching trip mostly like we had been on here in 2013 our first Norfolk visit. It was an amazing trip out on the boat today. The weather really held for us today it was mostly sunny only the odd shower here and there. It was dry whilst on the boat and we took in stunning coastal views from the sea which was quite choppy which made for a very exciting ride for us all. There were some lovely sky scenes over the area too. We learnt from the brilliant skipper in his commentary all about the area and he pointed out points and boats of interest including an ex-RNLI lifeboat recently purchased by someone in the area we were told. It was entertaining seeing some boats that seemed to have sheds on them and upon one of the sheds was a Turnstone. It was also great to see another Gannet this holiday some flying out to sea. I took the first-fourth, eighth and tenth pictures in this photoset of views from the boat. 

I must say before I get onto the seals how amazing it was and easy and safe like the hides yesterday at Sculthorpe Moor to do a boat trip - something I did not think possible in Norfolk this year - in the current circumstances. We of course had to wear masks and Beans the company running the trip made it very clear to bring your own hand sanitiser so it was like any other journey on transport right now really. There were multiple boats on one trip and they put everyone who was a couple of people together (so from the same household) on one boat which we were on and we very easily socially distanced. Not something I imagined us doing any time soon at the height of lockdown. It allowed us to meet some great people the skipper and fellow passengers. 

Onto the seals with both species common (aka harbour) and grey available to see today it was great to round Blakeney Point on the boat by the distinctive national trust building which a photo I tweeted features heavily, and see a group of Common Seals sat on the shingle. I took the fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth pictures in this photoset of these. There were loads of them and safely from the boat we got epic views of them. We saw what wonderfully coloured, marked and looking mammals they are. It really was fantastic to see them. The boat trip allowed us a number of chances for both sides of the boat to look at and take photos of the Common Seals. I felt so happy and lucky to see them. Probably my best ever views solely of Common Seals for how close I was as I recall last time doing this boat trip in the early April of 2013 the Grey and Common Seals on the beaches were mixed in together. I’ve had a great year this and last with Common Seals seeing so many more at home at Keyhaven and Langstone Harbour as well as Northumberland near Coquet Island last year so this experience capped this off well. 

Then as the boat moved on we personally saw more Grey Seals this holiday as we went out to sea and the Grey Seals were swimming and popping their heads up beside the boats! This allowed for exceptionally close views of these one of my favourite mammals. I was in my element getting little glimpses of these important British species us having a huge portion of their global population. This was so good to watch it felt like a real marine adventure by this point. It’s not always something I have found easy but you could really see the difference between common and grey seal on this boat ride. Grey Seals too were my mammal of the year without a shadow of a doubt last year thanks to seeing them on the Farne Islands and in Cornwall so close and closer than ever before and what an honour it has been to see them this year this week. To have been on boat trips looking at seals two years running I feel so lucky to have had. This like when I first came to Norfolk was arguably the standout wildlife moment of the week doing this trip. I loved it so much, what a fantastic thing to do made possible by a dedicated and great team of people. The day continued to go very well as I mention in my next post part 2 of my trip blog.

Wildlife Sightings Summary: One of my favourite mammals the Grey Seal, Common Seal, one of my favourite birds the Gannet, Herring Gull, Great Black Backed Gull, Mute Swan, Turnstone, Oystercatcher and Pied Wagtail at Morston Quay again.

[centrespiritual-blog]

2020: The Year of Chakra & Inner Wounded Child Healing

Hello. Long time no see!!

I don’t have any profound proverb for you today, but I am on the cusp of what I feel to be a critical turning point in my life.

But let me start at the beginning.

So, ever since the beginning of this year, I have felt strongly drawn to the chakras. Not to say I wasn’t interested in them beforehand, but I have felt increasingly more drawn towards chakra work. Now, I think it's safe to say that if 2020 has done one thing, it has definitely influenced our feelings about personal safety and security, whether that be in the world around us, having to move back in with family and thus uncovering old wounds, etc. I am sure collectively we have been dealing with some root chakra areas in our life in one way or another.

Now, my lower chakras, could use some work. I knew it was a lot of work, but I didn’t know quite how bad the situation was until I took a chakra test this year that really gave me a reality check. Here are my results and you can click here to take the test for yourself.

(p.s. I got this quiz from a healer I respect highly on Twitter who posted it this isn’t just some random quiz I found lmao)

ya. lmao.

According to the Highly-Respected-Twitter-Healer-Whose-Name-Escapes-Me-Right-Now when a chakra is in the negatives that means that it is closed. Not just under-active, it is literally CLOSED. 

And so, over the past few months I have found that I have been in situations that are calling me to do some root chakra work. And as of the past few weeks, things have really gone full throttle. My family situation is really the core of my lower chakra situation, especially my root. But if there’s one thing quarantine has brought, it has been familial healing (for the most part). I am currently the closest I have ever been with my family, a closeness I honestly did not think would be possible. I thought for the longest time that I was just too different from my family for us to ever be friendly. I could love them and respect them, but I didn’t think we could be friends. I don’t know if that makes sense to some of you but for those who have been through similar feelings I’m sure you can relate. They have been so reassuring even in the face of hardship that they love and accept me and that I am safe and secure in their home, that I am always welcome.

And I am actually starting to feel it!

Jamaica (my home) recently had their emancipation and independence holidays, and for that week and a half I stayed in “country” (aka all of Jamaica outside of the Capital, as affectionately called by those living in the Capital, Kingston) with my more extended family. And that trip went just as well! There was no major family drama, a spat here and there but nothing that surpassed a day or an evening. Which when a whole family is put together for a week and a half is a very happy surprise. My cousins and I all agreed that we had all reached an age where we can more easily relate to each other, we can hang out with each other and do similar things, we can understand each other. I loved it.

I find being in “country”, specifically the “country” I went to this past holiday (which shall not be named for privacy reasons haha) is always a healing experience. The bay is always so filled with life, whether its other people in other houses on the bay, fish in the water, bees in the sea grape tree, or birds in the morning, life is everywhere! I am constantly barefoot, the wifi hardly works, I am able to kayak and swim the bay and just be in the moment with nature. I’ve been very blessed to be able to go twice this year so far due to covid having the house more available, this past May being the first time since my spiritual awakening, and I am able to get more from each visit there than ever before!

Coming home from “country” I feel equipped to face any familial tribulations with a clear and open heart and mind, to observe any fears and thoughts that arise and allow them to come and go and ground myself through the process. I feel equipped to put on my Big Girl Pants™ and take charge of my life. If that means putting myself through school I am ready. I know I am more than capable of doing it, and I will have my family’s love and support on my side to help me through.

This is definitely just the tip of the ice berg of the situations that have been encouraging me to do my chakra healing, but I shall leave you with this:

Please. PLEASE. Listen to your intuition. Honour your feelings. You are the creator of your reality, the more you feed into your energy and raise your vibration you will be SHOCKED at what comes your way. I have only been intentional with listening to my intuition as of this year and I can say that it is crazy how the universe works when you stop shrinking yourself!

The universe will prepare you for your path. And when you get there, you will feel ready. If you don’t feel ready yet, the universe will circle back to you. Whatever is meant for you, IS MEANT FOR YOU. You cannot run from your path forever, and you won’t run forever. Trust the process.

Listen to what is calling you. (This is similar to No.1 but different ya feel)  It could be as small as messaging someone when you think of them, or doing a task the minute you think of it. It may seem like nothing, but the more you listen to your intuition and your higher self, the more you begin to open yourself up to higher interpretations and higher and stronger attractions into your life.

Anyways my loves, I am not sure what this point in my life will bring. There is so much change happening at once. But I know what is happening now is setting the precedence for the next 10 years of my life. I feel it. And the healing happening here will follow me through the rest of my life. Good things are happening, and I am so so excited to see what's to come. Stay tuned :)

[crowsent]

My Personal List Of Karkat Insults

I used these back when Cherubplay was a big thing. Feel free to use them in your fanfics, your RPs, etc

Pisscouch

Ventripotent

Asscactus

Shitgibbon

Cretin

Douchepistol

Mouthvomits

Half-eaten Sandwich

Absolute Walnut

Spam Email

Soggy Lampshade

Buttplug Face

Toupeed Fucktrumpet

Utter Cockwomble

Moldy Leftover

Cranberry Fucknut

Useless Paperclip

Legless Table

Ass Dandruff

Warthog-faced Orangutan

Puerile Filth

Pile of Putrescence

Sack of Excrement

Catatonic Peanut

Ignored Text

Broken Headphones

Floppy Breadstick

Neon Croc

Insipid Petunia

Cockroach Motherfucker

Slackjawed Pickletits

Pugnacious Dish Rag

Hamster Basket

Ignorant Fuckmuppet

Snooty McSnotwhine

Undigested Burrito

Slope-browed Weaseldicks

Paint-huffing Shitgoblins

Mangled Apricot Hellbeast

Hemorrhoidal Shit Stain

Pestilent Little Toad

Inconsiderate Space Herpe

Witless Wombat Cocksplat

Tangled Headphone Cord

Uneducated Cat Penis

Unnecessary Stock Footage

Arrogant Beet Casserole

Unusable Bobby Pin

Wannabe Wikipedia Philosopher

What The Entire Fuck

Bloviating Flesh Bag

Shit-faced Ferret-Wearing Shitgibbon

-

Staple your fingers together

Please choke on your spoon

Bright as a black hole and twice as dense

Piss lord of shit mountain

Go fuck a cactus

Shove a cactus up your ass

Rusty used razor from the 1800's

Pile of wombat shit

I'd slap you on he head, but I'm not sure your brain knows the concept of pain

The human personification of Monday

Fuck me sideways with a sandblaster

May natural selection come for your pathetic ass

Human beings perpetually display an inordinate amount of infallible stupidity

You'd struggle to pour water out of a boot with instructions on the heel

Someone ought to rip your vocal cords right out of your throat

I'm not frivolous enough to buy your bullshit

Are you making a special effort to be extra stupid today

After evaluating your statement, I can conclude that you are a complete uneducated soapy dishrag

You ask for more stuff than the Red Cross

I don't even know how to respond to this bullshit

Disappointment wrapped in apathy and sealed with self-loathing

There is a land called Shitface Douchebagstan, and you are the king

You potato with eyes

Make like Icarus and fly into the sun

Well, I'd agree with you but then we'd both be wrong

I'm going to pour hot tea on your face

I get so emotional when you're not around and that emotion is happiness

Is your ass jealous from the shit coming out of your mouth

That skinny jeans must have cut the oxygen supply to your head

I think my bunny slippers just ran for cover

You're as pretty as a picture and I'd love to have the honour of hanging you

Pardon me sir, but you seem to have mistaken me for someone who gives a fuck

Why don't you pray to God to throw some brains down from heaven, or you know, a stone as long as it's well-aimed at your empty head

Consider me the king of weaponized profanity

I don't have an education high enough to qualify understanding the language of douchebag

Did the circus come to town

The biggest dick with the tiniest dick ever to walk the planet

Are you a professional at being a douchebag because you're doing a great job

I'd call you a dick, but you're not good enough to be one

It's amusing how you state the obvious with such a sense of discovery

You are not worth the calories I burn talking to you

Get off your high fucking emboldened horse

I will shove your entire upper body into your own ass and make you fuck yourself from the inside out

It must be hard being that stupid

If you're going to be a smartass, you have to be smart

I don't have enough middle fingers to show you how I feel

Your birth certificate was a waste of paper

Congratulations, I hope you feel accomplished by the fact that you suck

More of your conversation would reduce the amount of brain cells I have

Stop poisoning the air with your toxic presence

Charientism is an art you have no skill in

I'd love to introduce your face to a shovel

Tell your intestines I said hello since your head is that far up your ass

Back the fuck up you soggy burger

From the very moment I laid eyes on you, I knew I'd spend the rest of my life avoiding you like the Black Plague

Pile of white crayons

There's digging your own grave, and there's blasting a hole straight through the earth's core and jumping right in

I'm somewhat of a bullshitter, but please, carry on, I want to listen to a real pro

Your father should have been a eunuch

Natural selection will come for you

If brains were gasoline, you wouldn't be able to drive a tiny ant go cart a single lap around a cheerio

Someone ought to open an umbrella in your ass

Go contract a debilitating case of genital warts

Human equivalent of the common cold

Dog shit is prettier than your face

You seem to be having delusions on adequacy

Stop making me want to pick you up and shake you until your ass spits out the pathetically microscopic amount of brain cells you have in your tiny head

Take a swim in the Dead Sea

Look into my eyes and take a deep breath, does it look like I care

What kind of qualities do you have to make up for your stupidity

I want to punch down a wall and that's sad because I like my walls; they're freshly painted with a nice colour that looks better than the entirety of your face

You need to sit down and think about just how fucking wrong you are

If I want to be you, I'd put a fucking horse face on

Stop throwing a temper tantrum worthy of making my non-existent three year old kid die of embarrassment

-

....long before your parents squirted water at each other from across the clown car and then honked their bicycle horns to indicate they really wanted to make a smug, insufferable little clown baby together

...drunk on your own buzzword, incapable of forming an original coherent thought

...you display a lack of knowledge and a fundamental disregard for human nature so profound, you make me wonder if you consistently incorporate lead paint into your daily diet of doritos

...should be burned to the ground, the ashes salted, and the remains baptised by a priest willing to wade in all that bullshit

...supporting their moronic crusade of dragging everyone everywhere down into the pits of hell to rot

...popping up faster than an entourage of wild untamed forsynthias

...regroup instead of fucking playing whack-a-mole

...skills of a plastic houseplant

[latitudesunknown]

The Tiny Haven Gazette #1

Welcome to this first issue of the Tiny Haven Gazette! The freshest news about Tiny Haven, only one week late!

💌 Letters to the Editor 

Our Resident Representative received many letters this week. It’s nice to see people using good old pen and paper to communicate these days!

"Heya, waffle! 

Did you know if you plant a seed and help the flower grow, all your dearest dreams will come true? I mean, maybe that’s just a load of crap... Try it with this one and let me know!

Who knows? Vanessa”

“Some useful advice, champ!

I really like reading in the car. But it always makes me sick and my lunch comes back up... But if I chew gum, everything stays put! That’s awesome, and I really had to share that trick!

With no return, Lili.”

"Do you like tea, waffle? 

Tea is so well known that they named a letter of the alphabet in its honour. Nobody’s ever done as good, apart from eggs (”oeufs” is pronounced “E” in French) Here’s a gift because you’re my best-T!

Letters R crazy, Abraham”

.

📜 Poetry Corner

Our islanders all have quite the poetic soul!

"The patter of rain at night is like a lullaby... I think sleep will come easy tonight.”

"After a week, I whisper my secrets to the seashells under the moonlight, and release them into the sea.”

.

🧵 Tea at the Able Sisters

Cousette had a lovely gift for our Resident Representative, in the form of several new patterns.

“Well, I... I thought maybe you could use that one, if you wanted to.”

.

🖼️ Art Digest

Rounard didn’t come by Tiny Haven this week (”good riddance!” - Marie), but a new acquisition was made by an up-and-coming artist.

We’ll be on the lookout for more works from Bee!

.

Think Positive with Phebus

Yes, this column’s title is sarcastic.

"Oh, hi, Maddy. Hey, d’you know what annoys me most?”

“When someone has problems, but they don’t show it. And then it’s my job to make them fess up!”

People are advised not to go to Phebus for moral comfort, or anything else really.

.

🩺 Health Warnings

A breakout of what seems to be lice has been reported by Renée, and Nacer was ill for an entire day; luckily, nobody else seems to have been affected.

"In case you’re wondering... I’m itching all over, itchy-itch!”

“Buh... I feel really unwell and my head is all weird...”

We wish the both of them a prompt recovery.

Scorpions have been terrorizing the inhabitants at night! After many tries, our valiant Resident Representative heroically managed to catch one of the dangerous beasts, but more have been spotted scuttling around, so stay on your guard!

.

👀 The Tiny Files

Abraham has reported falling down every time he tries to nap in a tree, and he’s got an explanation for it.

"Do you think there are cracks in the space-time continuum hidden in the trees? That’s the only explanation...”

Mattresses will be installed underneath all the trees until the time those... space-time cracks... can be fixed

.

⚽ Sports with Nacer and Kali

Have you gone for a run today? No? Then WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? - Nacer.

"We could run around in circles until one of us passes out from exhaustion... What d’you say?”

“If you want to race me, we can swim to his island. I could use some practice on my backstroke!”

.

🏝️ Island Life

We’re proud to announce our island’s first restaurant has opened. “Le Petit Jardin” is opened every day, from breakfast till sunset!

(yeah, okay, so the inauguration was really about the new staircase, but it counts!)

A sinister courtyard has appeared around the unnamed grave at the top of the hill. Strange ceremonies seem to take place there. Islanders are encouraged to exert caution if they go into the forest at night.

Tiny Haven now boasts an outdoors gym! Opened 24/7, the gym is there for all your exercising needs! Please don’t pee in the pool!

There has also been considerable changes in the layout of our island, and a small path now links to the left and right shores together. Be careful on the rocks, they’re slippy!

Finally, we’re pleased to say the torrential downpour on Saturday did not deter Keke from performing for a few intrepid fans. It would seem Keke’s so chill he can’t catch a cold!

.

🏅 Island Rating

Thanks to our Resident Representative’s hard work, our lovely island has gone up to four stars on Trip Advisor! It seems only yesterday we had one lonely star. Well done, everyone!

(read all about the rest of the week in the gazette’s Part II!)