#it was very gratifying to finally bring life to the idea!

[cloudinal]

Happy Valentine's! Have some yuri

[moranice-solvej]

Answer the Questions and Tag 5 Fanfic Authors

Thank you for the tag, @rifle-yes <3

1. How did you get into writing fanfiction?

Got introduced to fanfic through an old forum dedicated to a TV-show I was low-key obsessed with as a teen all the way back in 2008. Around the same time I started to get an urge to express myself in writing as I was an avid reader and always had a vivid imagination, so the sheer fact that people just wrote stories to celebrate their favorite stories captivated me.

Since then, there were many attemps to write fanfic and original works alike, very few completed, and only my obsession with Rogue One that started after watching the movie and reading the novelization had put me on the path of publishing my writing and finally being able to complete writing projects.

2. How many fandoms have you written in?

Started in a TV-fandom a long time ago, but never had anything I wanted to publish, so mentally I don't even count it. None of those scraps of written down ideas remain; I deleted them and never once looked back. That leaves Rogue One and technically Star Wars as my sole writing fandom. I dearly love many other shows and movies and games, but none of them make me want to write in their universes.

3. How many years have you been writing fanfiction?

Technically 16 years. Yes, comprehending this number makes me terrified.

4. Do you read or write more fanfiction?

I used to read tons of fic before I came back to writing in earnest. Now most of my free time goes into writing.

In addition to that I have ran into a loathesome problem of not being able to find stories that I'd love to read. The ceiling has gotten too high. Now that I can finally shape the kinds of stories I want to read to life, I crave more stories with such premises, themes, writing styles, and character archetypes, and these days I struggle to find them in fanfic and in original books for that matter. My gremlin brain simply cannot connect to the vast majority of tropes that dominate modern-day fandom and culture. :(

Thus, I'm firmly in the mode of be-the-change-you-want-to-be-in-the-world and producing stories for myself to satisfy that need. Even if it routinely takes me over a year, usually two to finish a single story with a monster wordcount and create something I can one day re-read with glee.

5. What is one way you’ve improved as a writer?

I am now able to move an idea from a general concept and a set of pivotal scenes to a fully-fleshed out story and actually finish it. This used to be my achilles heel for ages and it feels mightily gratifying to finally get rid of it.

6. What’s the weirdest topic you researched for a writing project?

Origins of blood transfusions in human history. Plus a large variety of niche questions of when thing a or thing b was first invented. Most of the times the setting of my current writing project allows me to disregard our reality and wing it for the sake of the vibes or plot, but I still like to research what we as a species develop and when to try and create a somewhat believable ancient fictional world without modern technology.

7. What’s your favorite type of comment to receive on your work?

I have a soft spot for readers who pick on teeny-tiny details of my writing and show their appreciation for it. I end up with monstrous word counts because I'm an extremely context- and detail-oriented writer, and knowing that my passion for it is noticed and enjoyed brings me joy in return.

8. What’s the most fringe trope/topic you write about?

My current project centers around a warrior woman in her mid- to late forties who makes peace with her trauma of motherhood and loss, finds new friends and love and new home, defies her nation's traditions and becomes the force of change for her people that will bring them out of stubborn isolation and little by little shatter their callousness and mold it into empathy.

I am well aware that the sole audience of this story is myself and my best friend whom I'm lucky to have along for the ride, but it has took over my heart and it will not let go until I finally bring this epic saga to a close.

9. What is the hardest type of story for you to write?

I am simply incapable of writing a traditional short story. Every one-shot I ever made was a stepping stone in a larger verse, and even so the smallest one is over 8k words. Anytime I try to write something small, I either need to put it down because it gets out of hand, or I need to finish it and by that time it grows into a monster.

My last attempt to write a short story within a story has spawned an epic saga that currently sits at roughly 380.000k words and will likely end up over 500.000k words when I'm finally done with it.

10. What is the easiest type?

Monster-sized epics. I think my creative brain cannot function in any other way but go-big-or-go-home.

11. Where do you do your writing? What platform? When?

I've used MS Word for writing ever since I got my first laptop and keep at it. Started using Scrivener lately for establishing character sheets and writing down my notes.

For years now I write almost exclusively over the weekends, with occassional editing in the evenings after work. Between working, needing to keep my apartment clean and myself fed, and dedicating time to mastering my fourth language, I have no brain for creativity after I'm done with all these chores and I use whatever remains of my evening to read, or watch shows with my best friend, or do some gaming.

12. What is something you’ve been too nervous/intimidated to write, but would love to write one day?

In the story I am currently writing, one of the secondary main characters is an ex-slave and a rape survivor. There is no shortage of hurt/comfort stories about a female character's experience with such kind of abuse, and in all my years of reading fic and books I often find that trauma stemming from it is either glossed over or healed through the power of true love. Even when a story follows a road to healing, it often ends in sunshine and rainbows after the all the travails. Well, for a long, long time now my gremlin brain wanted to explore what such trauma can do to a stoic male warrior, as well as to study how sometimes there is no easy healing from such ordeals, how deep these souls scars lie, and how they will keep poisoning the relationship he will pursue down the line and present major obstacles to both non-sexual and sexual intimacy with the woman he falls in love with. I'm a sucker for happy endings and I will not turn away from it, but this is going to be a scarred happy ending because those ghosts are never going to stay completely quiet in his soul.

I am daunted by the prospect of writing this spin-off like I've never been before, scared of not doing it justice, but something in me has latched onto this idea and really, really wants to at least try it.

13. What made you choose your username?

I needed something unique as a username and I have a habit of making up new names out of thin air for my writing. I liked this one and it had stuck. :)

If any writers who follow me would like to join in, you are welcome.

[btsx50states]

Namjoon on Weverse 20231210:

[ENG]

to the people whom i love, i hope you are well. it seemed the day would never come, but here we are, at last. i swear there were a million things i wanted to share but putting pen to paper after such a long time has been quite the challenge.

it has been such a great joy to live as a member of BTS these last 10 years. i’ve always said this, but the end of a journey can always be a door leading to a new one! i have absolutely no doubt that by the time we return, there will be something even greater awaiting us

when i think about our seokjin-hyung and hoseok, who went on to do their service before any of the rest of us followed suit, i can imagine how difficult it must have been to undergo that experience alone.

trailing behind them, i feel stronger and more capable of taking on the duty because they have set an admirable example in carrying out their due service. i firmly believe that these next 18 months, a period of time that is both short and long and everything in between will become a time for all of us to learn to face the unfamiliar and to be newly inspired by our challenges. of course, i approach this time with a little fear and caution, but at a time when everything appears up in the air, is there a thing in the world that can bring just as much comfort as holding onto hope and wondering what awaits me next? sure, my work [is gratifying and gives me purpose] but above all, the only thing that could possibly rival this idea would be your love.

the very idea of holding a special place in someone’s mind, to be a person worth waiting for. life can be lonely & at times we walk alone but my soul is already filled to the brim with that steadfast love i hope i can be such a person to you as deeply as you are to me.

at the end of the day, words come and go but it is our time, our love, and our sincerity that we have shared that is the true testament to what we will continue to mean to each other.

all this time, all i’ve ever wanted was to be the person standing right by your side, even when i may not always appear to be there I deeply hope that each of us will continue to live out our individual lives, from wherever “home” may be [sitting in the driver’s seat] to give it our best shot and that when we finally come back we will greet each other with bright smiles hoping each of us will have become sincere, warm-hearted people.

it may be a little “goodbye” (안녕/annyeong) for now ! but i’ll greet you with a “hello” (안녕/annyeong) the very next time we meet wherever we are, whenever that might be hoping that “we” continue to remain “us” !

I’ll see you in the future, then I am loving you so very much. wishing this message will reach your heart [from mine], - Namjoon

Translation by @BTSTranslation7 on Twitter

[star-girl69]

I honestly felt so bad for Lana, she totally got snubbed

and ik Taylor was trynna be nice and bring her onstage but she just looked so uncomfortable and I’m sure she was so dissapointed:/

i know. i just woke up and saw the pictures i’m genuinely heartbroken for her. midnights is probably one of my least fav taylor albums so i just cannot believe that it won. the only song i really like and listen to is the great war and snow on the beach lmao 😭😭😭

but again i’m not suprised

if there was any category i was SURE lana wasn’t going to win was aoty.

midnights was catchy at times and i mean taylor’s an amazing lyricist and vocalist but ocean blvd was just lana’s album. there’s not really another way i can describe it

it’s her most person album- the first time i listened to fingertips i was sobbing crying- and i mean the diversity and the entire concept of actually going through a tunnel (starting w some lighter songs hen progressively getting darker and darker until the more trap and upbeat end) was a brilliant idea and really took the listener on a true journey

not to mention, but the references she makes to past albums and songs showing her growth were some of my favorite little moments! singing the chorus of sweet the same way she sang the chorus in wait for life, singing the beginning of fingertips to the tune of bartender, the love song mention in let the light in- i felt like it brought a whole other layer of nuance to the album.

genuinely could talk about the lyrics for hours but a few honorable mentions-

it wasn’t my idea the cocktail of things that twists neurons inside // but without them i’d die - fingertips

my sister’s first born child // i’m gonna take that too with me // my grandmother’s last smile // i’m gonna take that too with me // it’s a beautiful life // remember that too for me - the grants

what’ya doin’ with your life do you think about it? // do you contemplate where we came from? // lately we’ve been making out a lot not talkin’ ‘bout the stuff that’s at the very heart of things // do you want children? // do you wanna marry me? // do you wanna run marathons in long beach by the sea // i’ve got things to do like nothing at all i wanna do them with you // do you wanna do them with me? - sweet

i was on the stairs // ella fitzgerald in the air // feelin’ hella rare // baby if you care // baby don’t you dare say // you’ll braid my hair, babe - fishtail

after the album came out for like a month literally all i couldn’t listen to was ocean blvd on shuffle lmao.

anyways, sorry for ranting, woke up to this and now i’m in a very pissed off mood. very disappointed, but this album is very hard to understand without already having an appreciation and understanding of lana, so, again- i’m not surprised.

i know the grammy’s are realistically just a popularity contest, but they are still huge achievements and i know it would feel so gratifying for her to finally have one. just so disappointed

i feel this loss so heavily with her.

[running-with-kn1ves]

Awwwe I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed writing it! It was insanely gratifying to read after a hard day, so thank you for post

💞 I'm not sure how your writing proces is or if these will spark any ideas in you but if you don't mind my little additions because these characters are really too good

For masked intruder: reader brings home her boyfriend for the first time and for Photographer: maybe something like a chase? Reader finally got away and goes back to her home country where she's settled down and has a job since her school schedule was messed up for her and our lovely OC finds her again

Or if you just want to write something cute, they both react to fem!reader who's having a hard time because of her period? I was having excruciating cramps and dyspepsia when i found you blog and it helped distract me from the pain 😊 i feel like all your ocs have their own charm to them but all still are very different. I have to say, these two and two others are really my favorites. When i found your blog i think i binge read and then took a much needed nap and woke up to finish off the rest 😂 I can't remember the names off the top of my head but I liked the one shot with the oc who confesses to reader on the rooftop and pushes her down as well as the sexy bf oc who had sex with reader while she was facetiming a friend (i think the link to that one is broken so i have it bookmarked instead, as embarrassing as it is 😅)

Also can i reserve an anon name of 🙈 anon please?

ooh the masked intruder one is really gettin to me 👀 I think our boy Leo would have a very hard time coming to terms with such an issue, showing his less than friendly and more worrying features, ones that reader may not have realized until now. The chance of risk was always there; I mean, how likely is it that the desperate man in your walls wasn't going to go completely berserk over you?

For photographer I could totally see reader try to begin their life again in a new college after escaping, only to find that him one morning at one of their lectures, now a teaching assistant to one of readers professors.

I've always wanted to do a period comfort fic and I don't know if I'll do it with these boys but you've definitely piqued my interest anon😭thanks for these unique ideas! They were definitely fun to bounce around and now I'm a little motivated to flesh them out more. I'm so glad you liked those fics, I was especially worried abt the smut fic since I'm not real handy with writing them yet. And sure thing 🙈 anon!

[sjrouka]

General starter, if interested

It was a beautiful night. The half moon shone bright amidst the gorgeous sea of stars that accentuated the unhampered evening sky while nature hummed its tranquil symphony, carried amidst the trees and shrubbery surrounding the nearby lake by a crisp breeze. All was so serene; well, that was up until a low gutteral snarl briefly interrupted that very placidity with its discrepancy to the common hums of the surrounding creatures.

Despite the beauty surrounding her, Rouka was overly restless and growing increasingly more vexed as every peaceful moment passed. Every decision she had made in the midst of her manumission was being questioned. Her arrival on this unique planet came mere weeks prior, and yet she had yet to do much of anything of importance in her mind. Of course, she wasn't immune to the beauty that surrounded her, but why had she even bothered to come here?..

She was without a planet of her own to call home, no surviving family or friends to seek out, no retribution to seek out after the Tyrant that demolished the life she had known had already been destroyed. Logically, this was as good a place as any to at least temporarily reside. But her only reason for entering this world in the first place stemmed from the simple curiosity of the beings capable of bringing the demise of her captor. But, now that she was actually here, she was at a loss of ideas for her next moves.

It was obvious by even the veiled levels of ki some of these warriors conveyed in even their more dormant states that she would be of little match against them as she was now. Blatantly challenging them for prides sake and the chance to be acknowledged seemed rather frivolous, as enticing as the idea of the battle may be. As much as her SaiyaJin nature thrived for the challenge, she would rather not perish after finally regaining her freedom. Logic urged that she at least attempt the idea of the gratified life her loved ones would have hoped for her. So that option was out, at least for the time being. And being sociable wasn't precisely her forte either after the many years of distancing herself from her magnanimity as much as possible.

"Urgh! This is frivolous!"

She practically growled aloud, her ki spiking ever so slightly amidst her frustration while she struggled against the urge to lash out on the nearest object she scrutinized. Even her tail that was typically nestled snug around her waist thrashed violently behind her, further exemplifying her indignation. Realizing her momentary lapse in control, Rouka did her best to try to calm her vexation, albeit slowly. All she could do for the moment was close her eyes, breathing in the alluring aroma of the scenery around her while attempting to allow the music of the night to soothe her ire.

[myfavebandfizz]

Crucial Rhythm Interview

FIZZ Released Their Debut Album 'The Secret To Life' On October 27, 2023

Nov 2 2023

Indie-pop supergroup FIZZ released their debut album, The Secret to Life, on Friday, October 27th.

The album has a 12-song tracklist, including their hit single, “High In Brighton.”

What was the inspiration behind the album?

FIZZ: We did it in two separate weeks, the first week we did it in December 2021. We didn't know what was gonna happen but we were excited to be there. Our producer Peter is amazing, he was an amazing facilitator of creativity. He set up the room with all these instruments and most of us were used to working in dimly lit London rooms with not very much in it. We were giddy for that first week, running around and playing the drums, plugging in the guitar and just very noisy chaos. A Lot of the big songs off the album came from that first week. Then we had 6 months in the summer of 2022 and did the second half of it. It was more of the same, we had the best time the first week. We wanted to do the same thing as the first time. Naturally, the giddiness only lasts so long, it's not a sustainable state to be in emotionally. We’d write a couple of really big songs and then go in the kitchen and make dinner and chill. Someone might have a cry because they were stressed out. But then after go into the booth and belt out the song.

What are you most excited about for your upcoming record store tour and headlining tour?

FIZZ: I'm most excited to get energy back from the people who've been listening. We've done so much in the last few months, presenting the band and we've put a lot of energy into it. I'm looking forward to hearing the words sung back at you. It's satisfying and gratifying and all the good things. I'm really excited to bring it into the real world and see their reactions and see what part they laugh at or cry at.

Is there a song you’re excited for people to hear and what song are you excited to perform?

FIZZ: “Grand Finale” it's the most out there. It's the last song of the album. It's 6 minutes of how it feels to not say no to any idea. The spirit of the song feels like that. It doesn't feel like any of us were like should it be shorter, less indulgent, less key changes. That doubt is so far away from that song which is where it belongs. I love how arrogant it is in itself.

What do you hope that listeners take away from this record?

FIZZ: I hope people can take an appreciation of taking stock of their own life and realizing it is enough and it's great and to celebrate it.

How did you know “High In Brighton” was the first single to be released?

FIZZ: It was the first song that we wrote, I don't think there's anything deeper than that. I think that maybe presenting ourselves first with a song that was very everyone. Some of the songs have someone to the front but we wanted it to be clear that the band is a collective with no front person. That is always changing and shifting and being passed around. I think that was maybe a factor of choosing that one first. I just always thought because we wrote it first I like how chronological it felt. Also, it was very convenient that we launched the band at The Great Escape festival in Brighton. So it felt like a nice introduction to the beginning of something.

What has writing and recording this album taught you about finding the secret of life, especially as a group of friends?

FIZZ: We didn't want to put so much weight on writing this album. We didn't want to try and figure out what to say. It's so interesting when you let go of those pressures what comes out. They are some Amazon writers, i always knew that but coming into a room together. I struggled writing with anyone else pre FIZZ but writing with these guys it's so interesting how easily a song can be and how quickly a song can come together. Especially as best friends of all similar ages. It's interesting how a story is kinda written for us, it's already there almost and we shape it to be.

If you could feature any artist on any of the tracks who would it be?

FIZZ: Chet Atkins, the guitarist from the 60’s, we love him, he's great. Also anyone from Queen, ABBA, or The Darkness. That would be sick.

How did you guys determine how to craft the visuals to compliment the music you were making?

FIZZ: I think when we were talking about the trip itself after we came back. We were talking about it as if it was this whirlwind and was made in this dream state. It felt like a retreat from how we had been doing music in the past. It felt like we'd inverted or completely flipped our approach to music-making. Naturally when we started to think of the visual world that would mirror that we kind of referenced films we grew up watching. Like Willy Wonka, Tim Burton films, Alice in Wonderland, and Wizard of Oz, all of these sort of fantastical technicolor films that feel very joyful and exaggerated and triumphant in so many ways. But kind of had this twinge of darkness to it. Something I realized as well is that all of these films start off in normal life and then go off to these whimsical places where people go on a journey to find out more about themselves and their lives and the people they surround themselves with. Which is such a direct reference to how the making of the album was. It was just really nice that we sorta reference those films. We worked with an amazing photographer Jp Bonino who is incredible and helped bring this make-believe land called Fizzvelle that keeps coming up in all the visuals and campaigns that is part theme park part town. If you join our discord you can become a Fizzville resident. In all the artwork you can see Fizzville in the distance and there are loads of easter eggs throughout the campaign. Telling the story of the band behind the music has been really exciting.

[ruminativerabbi]

What Would General Eisenhower Think?

Anti-Semitism and its alter-ego anti-Israelism rarely wear the same dress to consecutive balls. Yes, of course, there are people so blinded by their own hatred that they don’t really care how their behavior appears to people who disagree with them (and even less than that to the actual objects of their loathing). But then there are those—and they are legion—who feel the need to dress up their bigotry and present it, not as something wicked or depraved, but as something rational and reasonable, even as something noble.

It's a big closet. There are lots of outfits to choose from. And the most favored outfit for today’s anti-Semite is pacifism, the struggle for peace in the world. Who could be against peace? And yet the constant, and ever-more-shrill, calls for a ceasefire in Gaza come not from people who support the effort to bring peace to Gaza by eradicating Hamas (and thus granting the actual Gazans a chance finally to live in peace with the neighbors), but precisely from those who wish the IDF to withdraw so as to allow Hamas and its fighters to regroup and plan their next horror-Aktion against Israeli civilians whose only “crime” is the wish to live openly as Jewish citizens of the Jewish state in the homeland of the Jewish people. By redefining pacifism as a path forward to more numerous, more violent, more brutal, and more devastating attacks against innocents undertaken by people so blind with hatred that even Nazi-style barbarism does not feel like a path too perverse to embrace, such people have truly stepped through the looking glass into a topsy-turvy universe where nothing is as it seems, where words can mean what they mean or what they don’t mean depending on the whim of the one speaking them. When Lewis Carroll has Humpty Dumpty say “When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less,” he expected readers to laugh at the absurdity of words meaning only what the people speaking them wish for them to mean.

Adding to the irony is the fact that peace—the real kind, the kind that features individuals and nations living calmly and respectfully by each other’s side and resolving their disputes without rancor or violence—is the single most culminatory concept in all of Jewish prayer. The Kaddish ends with a prayer for peace. The Amidah—the series of benedictions that is the core of every Jewish prayer service—also ends with a prayer for peace. As do also the Grace after Meals, recited at the end of any formal meal, and the Priestly Benediction that features kohanim like myself coming forward to channel the very choicest of God’s blessings to the congregation. So if there ever were a people devoted to the idea that the yearning for peaceful coexistence between nations is the beating heart of prayer undertaken for the good of the world (as opposed to the kind undertaken solely for personal advancement or gain), it would be the Jewish people. And yet the calls for a cease-fire are becoming more shrill by the moment, more overtly hate-filled, more blatantly anti-Semitic.

Many years ago, Joan and I lived in Heidelberg, a storybook town dominated by a gigantic, half-ruined castle in what was then West Germany. How I got there and why someone like myself whose entire life could reasonably be described as a response to the Shoah would have agreed to live there at all, let alone for years—that will have to be my subject on some different occasion. But we were there—and the experience was some combination of fascinating, stirring, bizarrely otherworldly, and gratifying. I taught at the Institute for Jewish Studies in Heidelberg’s downtown core, but we lived in a suburb called Rohrbach, once a little town on its own called Rohrbach-bei-Heidelberg but by the time we got there long since redefined as a neighborhood within the city limits of its much larger neighbor. This was forty years after the end of the war, yet the Shoah was my constant companion. I couldn’t walk to the market without passing the red sandstone monument marking the site of the synagogue destroyed on that site on Kristallnacht in 1938. I couldn’t walk to work down the Plöckstrasse without remembering that it was once the Adolf-Hitler-Strasse. Nor could I take little Max (then just a baby) to the park by the river—the one place he still vaguely recalls as an adult—without passing the square in which the surviving Jews of Heidelberg were finally assembled before being shipped east to their deaths.

And yet the town I was living in was a peaceful place, a university town in the old-fashioned sense of the term: a place alive with concerts and lectures, with sporting events and social gatherings. The disconnect for me personally was beyond jarring: these were Germans, these people I was living among, yet they appeared to me neither warlike nor barbarous. If anything, my neighbors seemed like regular people pursuing their regular lives along fully banal lines: shopping for dinner, drinking beer in a pub, waiting for the streetcar, going to the movies, reading a newspaper in a café, attentively watching children playing on a climbing structure in a park to make sure they were safe. No one in our building on the Heinrich-Fuchs-Strasse seemed like the kind of savage who could murder entire communities’ worth of people in a single morning or who could operate gas chambers or who could shoot babies in their mothers’ arms. If anything, they seemed like peaceful sorts trying to earn livings and eager to live meaningful, productive lives. If there were any unreconstructed Nazis hiding out in Rohrbach, I never came across them. Or heard of their existence, even.  I’m usually a fairly good judge of people’s characters. I knew the history of the place in which I was temporarily living. But none of the people in our building or on our street struck me even remotely as the kind of person who could have brought such unimaginable suffering to the world, such misery, such violence, such uncontrolled and uncontrollable hatred.

When I think back on those days these days, I find myself wondering how exactly the most bellicose, savage, brutally violent nation ever to exist (with the possible exception of their Japanese allies), how such a nation became peaceful to the point at which the thought of today’s Germany going to war with Denmark or Holland is not just unlikely but truly unthinkable. And, yes, I say that known full well that there is serious (and growing) support for the ultra-right-wing Alternative für Deutschland party among the German electorate. But war with Holland? With France? That really is unthinkable, which brings me back to wondering what turned people whose entire national ethos was fueled by the most base kinds of hatred and bigotry into the nation Germany is today?

It certainly didn’t come about because General Eisenhower, having embarked on the boots-on-the-ground land invasion that followed the carpet bombing of Germany’s largest cities, decided that what was really needed to bring peace to Europe was a unilateral ceasefire.

What was needed, the Supreme Allied Commander knew, was to eradicate Nazism by neutralizing the Nazi leadership, by bringing the military to its knees, and by granting the German people a way out of this unimaginable catastrophe they had basically brought upon themselves. The defeat of Nazi Germany was total. The nation’s Armed Forces ceased to exist. The government was replaced briefly by ad hoc governing authorities created by the Allies, but soon after that by a democratically elected government of Germans eager to shed the horrors of the past and embrace a future that could steer the nation away from extremism and savagery, and towards playing a useful and helpful role in a reconstituted Europe built on the ashes of a nightmarish past. The role of the vanquishing nations then turned to assisting the vanquished to rebuilt by treating the citizens of Germany generously and fairly, by inviting them to imagine a peaceful future for their nation and then assisting them in making real that dream. The Marshall Plan was part of it. But even more essential than the money provided by the Plan was the willingness of the victors to redefine victory so that it no longer meant the annihilation of the enemy nation but its reconstitution as a useful partner in rebuilding a world that lay in ruins because of them.

People who truly yearn for peace should be thinking along similar lines with respect to Gaza.

The last thing that would ever lead to peace would be for Israel to leave Hamas in place, to go back to “regular” daily life, and to concentrate on working on some hugely lopsided deal to rescue the captives being held by Hamas. What is needed to bring peace to Gaza, on the other hand, is precisely what Israel is doing: working to eradicate Hamas by neutralizing its leadership, by bringing to justice the perpetrators of the October pogrom, by freeing the captives, and then, generously and willingly, to find a way for the citizens of Gaza to create a future for themselves that features peaceful relations with Israel and a governing body for themselves that has their own best interests at heart.  If General Eisenhower was here to put his two cents in, I think he would agree wholeheartedly.

[nordicedges]

Enhance Your Culinary Skills with Excellent Kitchen Knife Blade Blanks from Nordic Edge

Close to the heart of every kitchen, there lies an arena where Flavors mingle, ingredients integrate, and culinary magic bestows its charm. Major focus of this universe are the tools and essentials that bring a chef's cookery craftiness to life, and among them, the kitchen knife stands out with supremacy. But what if this major essential tool could be more than just a means to an end? Enter Nordic Edge, renowned Kitchen Knife Blade Blanks  is a for  a haven for those who seek to infuse their culinary endeavour with a touch of uniqueness. 

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[graylinesspam]

*cracks knuckles*

okay, so there would definitely be all kinds of discussions about whether or not the statues are even Mandalorian. Because here's the thing. The Jedi see a bunch of men in armor and recognize one (1) Mandalorian symbol and go "yeah that's probably a Mandalorian" without putting too much more thought into at. They are so confident in their assessment that they probably wouldn't even prioritize getting a Mandalorian historian in there right away. At most they probably send some captures of the symbols close up and center frame to a historian whose like "Yeah at least three of these are Mandalorian, i have no idea whats going on with the rest of it though."

The Jedi would likely be more interested in what in the galaxy the statues are doing in the veritable basement of a sith temple. Because??? what the hell were the sith doing with a bunch of statues of soldier? There are some off the bat theories that they were going to be some kind of golem esc force experiment where they would have tried to bring them to life to fight the jedi. WHICH throws the all kinds of dark implications at "The General's" existence. Was she supposed to be a sith? or maybe she was an innocent sacrificed in some kind of soul transfer ritual that didn't go well? She certainly looks and feels different from the other statues.

This theory would be thrown out the window pretty quickly because who would spend all the time to carve this many statues without actually confirming the whole bringing them to life bit would actually work. And there's never even been a rumor of undead stone sith warriors. That kind of story would have survived in some way, even unsubstantiated. Also why would they be mandalorian? and led by a teen? there's too many holes.

It does lead to another splinter theory that it was actually a night sister ritual that went wrong, based solely off of bad vibez and the circular room/arrangement of the statues.

More importantly how did they even get the statues down this far into the temple. There are sooo many stairs between here and even the former top floor. were they carved down here? Or sculpted? (did they have a kiln down here?) The general appears to be made from a clay fired stone. perhaps they are as well. Just a pale white clay they've never seen before.

All insidious sith conspiracies aside, why would anyone make so many statues? That's a lot of labor for what? most statues are made as icons. Either for worship as symbols of a moral higher standard or as remembrance of the lost (Or a combination of both). What was the intention of the creators? This is where all the theories surrounding the configuration come in. Are the soldiers threatening (no) Is the jedi in danger (no) is there some implication of action setting the scene (no). As far as they can tell they all appear to be in a position of rest. Which is most congruent with the idea of remembrance of the lost. Soldiers finally left to rest.

The soldiers themselves are also extremely uniform. Not only in their almost identical armor but also in their proportions. Like surely they had to be made by molds or something. And yet everything else about them seems to be fighting this very deliberate choice. Their armor has been gratified over in a nonsensical mess of designs. If it wasn't for the foreboding feeling clearly deterring anyone from touching them, they'd think they were defiled long after their initial creation. Some of the markings are as random as lone words in Aurabesh. Some are in Mando'a. There is an abundance of triangles and arrows. designs resembling animals or weapons. A few celestial bodies. Some that must be more complex cultural symbols. Almost all in a flat medium blue. And what is the significance of that color? The mandos have color codes. The Jedi do as well. What is the significance of white blue and orange?

Eventually they must call in a Mandalorian historian. The Jedi are rarely ever on decent terms with the mandos. Coincidentally the construction of the temple finished only a couple of decades before Tarre joined the order however. After having left the jedi and returned to rule Mandalore he was still on good terms with the temple (more or less) and I don't see why they wouldn't ask him to send someone.

The first historian, yes first lord knows the statues were studied more than once through the centuries, was absolutely baffled. Firstly by the horrid construction of the armor. He spent less than a day studying the statues before he declared loudly, and with much conviction, that there was no way Mandalorian armor would be constructed so poorly. It was bulky, cumbersome, and lacking any classic design. The helmets while very similar to Mandalorian design were oblong and warped with bulky round respirators. And while he did admit that there were a small handful of Mandalorian symbols he declared that they were bastardized. The soldiers were not Mandalorian.

At that was the accepted conclusion.....for some time.

The Mandalorians in all of their confrontational history were never on good terms with the Jedi for long. And after a certain infamous incident that included trespassing and multiple murders, they were barred from approaching the temple. Discontent was never quiet for long and despite the former assessment they railed that the soldier in the basement were just more of their property stolen by the Jedi. After many many years of arguments and accusations thrown at them the Jedi finally agreed to have an accurate and detailed scan of the chamber made so that more modern Mandalorian scholars could study the statues without needing to enter the temple.

That was when the general populous finally got a look at them. And they were just as stumped. Their chestplates were large, crude in design, and lacking of any of the shape of a Beskargram. And yet the visors...they were familiar. Some claimed they were such ancient Mandos that their armor designs had been lost to history, other argued that they looked cheap and mass manufactured. Like some private security forces of the richer planets. They looked to the temple guard and the Naboo guard for comparisons. And there were similarities here too. Signs of machine manufacturing instead of hand crafting. And the symbols...they were bizarre. Funny in some cases. Some were disparaging phrases insulting the enemy or the food or war it's self. Any young solider that had seen war felt a kinship with these. "When you are young and all you know is war, you cover yourself in it." one Mando famously said.

There was a hard divide about the legitimacy. All Authority in the academic sphere decided that their findings were inconclusive. Some politicians still wanted the statues returned to Mandalore. The young of Mandalore adopted their stone brethren. They copied their odd symbols on their own armor. Writing phrases over the ear of their own helmets. Or the sides of their vambraces. Their clan symbols mingled with deep blue pinstriping. And blue stripes over their visors became a symbol of rebellion, of unity amongst the youth, of the death of innocence in war. Eventually the blue became synonymous with war. Specifically blue over white. The color of purity slowly marked over with reliability. A slow hammering of experience replacing youth. of responsibility replacing freedom. A blue tally on a helmet or shoulder, a battle fought in. A blue diamond, a war fought and ended.

It was a surface level adoption of the markings though. Only a few truly became popular and fewer still survived as time passed. The more obscure and indecipherable faded to pictures in the archive. And while blue was earned in battle, there was another symbol entirely that baffled them.

The orange. At first none had an interest in the Togruta girls markings. The troops that marked themselves after her were establishing their place as her clan. It was not uncommon in the near human Mandalorians. But then there were force sensitives born among the Mandalorians. None as strong as Tarre had been. And none properly trained...but they were a distinct subset. Force sensitive Mandalorians were a commodity, a pride to their clans. They were exceptionalism in a culture that prided it's self in exceptionalism. They marked themselves not after her exactly. But with a diamond in the center of their foreheads. It was a symbol of a sense, a sight, outside of the ordinary. Most had skills as innocuous as uncanny aim, a sense for danger, exceptional tracking skills, a preternatural awareness of those around them, or an above average ability to read others. Without formal Jedi training to teach them even the basics like push and pull a force sensitive mando is very different than a force sensitive Jedi. And without testing it's less a concrete processes of identifying who is gifted and who is skilled. It becomes something earn able through deeds. Sure curving a bolt away from yourself is pretty concrete evidence but sometimes simply doing the "impossible" can earn yourself the symbol.

Earnable markings across the brow of the helmet grow in popularity as the diamond survives through several generations. Symbols for certain skills emerge. Medics ears iron heart across their brows. Armorers have three columns representing the hammer and the tongs. Gunners develop a complex symbol of triangles arranged in it's own language communicating a person's skill and with what kind of blaster, and what their most impressive accomplishments have been. Clan symbols are born, evolve, and die with these other symbols. Animals are a common theme. Great horned beasts grow in popularity and snarling fangs start to appear. Longer range rifles are developed and with them birds rise in popularity. Shriek hawks become the symbol of a noble house Their eyes perched just above the visor. Wide and round and grey like the bird's eyes. It's seen as an inflammatory choice as they do not universally boast crack shot members. A group comes out with an opposing them politically. They make a show of earning their shriek hawk eyes. Each and every soldier rigorous marksman training their elite force earned their second pair of eyes. Instead of being painted by a noble artisan, they were free handed by their clan leaders. Painted with one brush and once color. Angular and simple in their triangular design. Sharp eyes.

The mandalorians were too absorbed with their own internal issues to turn more than a cursory eye to the jedi for some time. Long enough for many changes in their social structure to happen. Long enough for a man named Jaig, the best sharp shot in Mandalorian lore, and a rumored force sensitive, to fight and lose a war. To be struck down on Mimbam and for his helmet to be brought bad to his clan. Held aloft by their enemies. His second eyes spotted with blood, unblinking and immortal in some way. And so Jaig's eyes become tradition, become Jaig eyes. Become iconic.

And now...well someone has to come across the old files, the scans of the chamber in the bottom of the Jedi temple, the one only one single Mandalorian has ever stepped foot into. And they notice something. The highest ranking soldier, the one with the only set of unique armor, the one kneeled across from the Jedi, has wide open eyes, immortal and unblinking, staring at her. Jaig eyes.

But how is this possible? Jaig eyes have only existed for just shy of a hundred years. Tarre himself saw the statues and yet there on this man's brow is a symbol that wouldn't have existed for hundreds of years.

There's a sudden surge in awareness of the statues once more. The Mandalorians demand another opportunity to study them. More than that they demand a more thorough explanation of their history from the Jedi, who can offer them little more than a shrug. "The statues have lived in this temple for longer than we have. Longer than our memory. Their origin is a mystery to us."

Many Jedi latch onto the idea that the maker of the statues could see into the future, that maybe they'd had visions of the future so intense that they were driven to near madness, influenced to create the statues to bring life to who they saw in their mind. Hundreds of versions of the same man....and one Jedi. Perhaps they endeavored to build them as a walkable diorama, of some event they'd seen too many times. Some moment in time so concrete it must literally be made into stone. Some intrical moment now an axis of fate. A fulcrum by which destiny balanced.

The Mandalorians were not passified with theories and talk of visions of the future. There were statues clearly related to them and their history in possession of the Jedi. Barred from them. This would not stand. They appealed (threatened) to the senate. They became even less friendly with jedi loose in the galaxy. After mounting pressure the Council allows one small team, no more than two members to inspect the statues, under full temple guard.

It's a tense affair. The temple guard line the walls of the room. The two mando's An art expert and an armorer inspect the statues. They take more modern, high definition captures of each and every statue, and this time, of the jedi as well. Their inspection is thorough. The archivists that accompany them appear more unsettled each day and when finally snapped at by one of the mados they admit "it feels more stale in here every day, like the air is growing stiller, thinner." The mandos are not impressed by the jedi's bad feelings. But at the end of their examinations their finding remain more or less the same as before. "There is no reasonal explanation for the existence of these statues. They should not exist. *with sarcasm* Maybe with time more of these symbols will develop and the Jedi will be proved correct in their theory."

There is much debate as to whether the symbols on the soldiers have truly predicted the future of it was the other way around. That their existance within the subconscious of the mandalorians influenced the symbol they use in modern times. There is no way to tell how old the statues are entirely. Perhaps they've been found before, known of before, and all their symbols influenced the mandalorians in some way.

The Jedi are really more concerned with the Jedi anyways. The girl in the midst of the soldiers. Every aspect of her has been studied by those with a strong enough stomach to get close. There was an incident on Shili, two hundred years ago. A war between the natives and the mining guild. There was a lot of cultural superstitions that came from it. One Togruta Jedi made the trek down. He examined the girl with a hand held tight to his mouth to hold the nausea in. "She cannot simply be a youngling." he was adamant. "She is a warrior. A child soldier. Only in the bleakest times has Shili allowed it's youth to become this. Only when their hope is only to survive." He elaborates with a breakdown of her body. There are physical markers of war on her. The short head tails, the broken stripes, the over muscled arms. The scars. The tilted montrals.

By every indicator this is an omen of war. From the most obvious symbol of a battalion of soldier sleeping beneath their feet, to the symbols across their brows, to the lines of muscles under terracotta skin. It was all indicative of one thing. Where they in the before? the after? some nebulous time in between?

There were so many questions and almost no answers.

Just this feeling suspended in the air, like they were being pressed on. compressed by the collision of two great forces. But so so slowly. Like a Chalhuddan unaware he's being boiled.

Thought- in the terracotta warriors thing, you mentioned that the Jedi archeologists brought in a specialist in mando iconography to try and work out what’s going on with the 501sts symbols- what if that outside specialist is jaster mereel? Could be pre becoming the mand’alor, could be just his side job, but either way he spends a few years studying it all and getting used to being the only mando in a base camp full of Jedi, makes friends, has academic discussions and disagreements, steals someone’s holopad to try and use the link to the Jedi archives to read all the things on tarre visla, gets into an actual argument, reconciles with agreeing to help with a historical reenactment of a Jedi mandolorian war, gets Madame nu’s comm number, introduces his new son to his comm bff who argues historical nitpicks with him, brings jango to the next summer at the site, clones react to jango somehow and/or there’s a few tubies in there who look distractingly like jango and/or someone has their helmet off and jango has a breakdown over it looking like a family member? And so on and so on

Context: Sleeping Soldiers AU

See, I don't really subscribe to the "halfway to archaeologist!Jaster" fanon. I'm especially reticent to engage with the Jocasta ship, honestly.

But... okay, here's the thing. It does feel pretty incongruous with how I've written Jaster thus far. I can believe him having like. A 'classical' education. Not actually tutored like a noble, but that he sought out the same subjects as an adult to make sure he understood how to rule once he started having a proper political angle. He's a history nerd in the way that a particularly political/philosophical aristocrat of the 18th century would have been.

Military history, philosophical history, political and even some arts... but not actually in an archaeological sense.

(Also, it raises my hackles because it's one of those things that feels like it's heavily associated with the whole "True Mandos Were Best Mandos" crowd.)

It also really depends on the era! Tarre makes more sense than Jaster, just because of the timescale! The soldiers are millennia buried by the time Jaster is born! That said, even Tarre is a few millennia late but... makes more sense than Jaster.

Most likely, there are historians and archaeologists coming by every few centuries, as new generations encounter the issue, and older analyses are lost in the depths of the archives. Frequency tapers off after a few millennia, but... by the time Jaster is around?

It's 100% a New Mandalorian with an art history doctorate. (With a military symbolism specialty, in this case.)

It's probably not a New Mando if it's an Early On moment, but it probably is a New Mando if the Jedi start getting Weird Vibes and investigating the soldiers in the decades leading up to the Prequels.

Would the New Mandalorians know more than the traditionalists? Not necessarily. Would they know less? Actually, no.

I firmly believe that the New Mandalorians are taught about their histories in a "German kids learn about WWII atrocities, going on field trips to historic sites of said horrors, so their teachers can stress that they don't repeat the mistakes of the past" kind of way. I imagine the New Mandos would have plenty of research and records in regards to actual history, with plenty of museums and such. Part of maintaining pacifism is ensuring that the coming generations understand what led them to pacifism in the first place.

Is this thousands of years in the past, and thus difficult to research? Yes, but the traditionalists would have that same problem.

More of them, even. If the New Mandos have been around for seven hundred years, like Legends claims, then the traditionalists have probably have lost a lot of history through various battles and bombings, while the New Mandalorians, while not entirely escaping large scale destruction and such attacks, are much more likely to have protected and maintained their sites, simply by not courting war as a matter of culture. The traditionalists, meanwhile, would have had a much stronger emotional and cultural attachment to legends and themes, though I'll admit those are probably prone to revisionism, much like real-world folklore and mythology.

As @atagotiak put it:

Ehhhh. The traditionalists do care about legends and history and stuff. Often in an idealized way, sure. But you could argue that they’d have more reason than new mandos to be into these stories. Which, to be clear, isn’t like, saying that Jaster is definitely a part-time historian or anything like that. It’s just I don’t think one side would have an advantage over another. (edited)

So the New Mandos and Trad Mandos are probably on an even playing ground, insofar as skill and resources and knowledge go.

But by Jaster's time, the Jedi would have more reason to think the New Mandos would cooperate. No real downside to asking them when it comes to knowledge/skill, and an upside in terms of 'not getting shot when asking.'

As Tia said:

And even if we assume Jaster is a big history nerd and would be receptive to the Jedi (and tbh there’s even less indication of the latter) there’s no reason to think the Jedi would know that.

So yeah, when the soldiers start having Vibes And The Force Becomes Suspiciously Active on that level... New Mando archaeologist, definitely.

[gra-sonas]

Tyler Blackburn and Michael Vlamis bring the beloved couple of Alex Manes and Michael Guerin to life on Roswell, New Mexico. The sci-fi drama premiered in 2019 and is currently finishing its final season. The series finale will air Monday, September 5 at 8pm ET/PT on The CW. This interview will include spoilers for episode 4×12, “Two Sparrows in a Hurricane.”

I had the incredible opportunity to chat with both actors about those emotional Malex reunion moments, what the couple’s dream ending would look like, Michael and Alex’s character arcs, the legacy they want the fan-favorite couple to have, and so much more. Keep reading for our discussion!

Tyler, we finally got you back! I’ve been waiting for you to be on my screen again, I’m so happy. I was just floored by your performance as well as Michael’s in the last episode. For both of you, which scene was the hardest or your personal favorite to film together for the reunion and why? Michael Vlamis: Oh, wow. I know that, I think, on set the day that we shot that scene where like I walk away from you on the truck after you tell me you’re dying, and I walk a little bit and I turn around, it’s like right before Bonnie and Dallas pull up, I remember that scene being so interesting because it was like, what is the ultimate joy? Very rarely do you experience the ultimate joy of what you want, out of your partner specifically too, and then the lowest of lows within like a second. So that was a really, I thought — I mean, I say fun, even though it was like a gut-wrenching scene, it was a fun scene to do because you get to go super, super deep. I mean, it’s kind of some of the most simple acting that I’ve done as Michael Guerin because he’s just like, there’s nothing, he’s stripped away in that moment, you know? I really enjoyed doing that. Tyler Blackburn: Yeah, that’s a good point that you brought up. I think that scene was interesting because I really hit you hard. I’m like, “I’m dying, let’s get married though,” you know what I mean? It’s like, “What the hell?” I think that was challenging even for me to navigate that trajectory and to watch you receive that, but I don’t know, I feel like it is funny to say, I mean, actors are ultimately like masochists in some ways, so I think to say we enjoy doing that is true because it’s the challenge. One thing I think you and I have in common, Vlamis, is we want to make things as real as possible and you know, we’re talking — we’re on a show in that heightened state, we’re in an alternate dimension, I’m dying, let’s get married though, and we still want to make it very real. I think we really got it quickly too, which was gratifying. It made me feel… it was like just really riding a horse, showing up on set, and all of a sudden we’re just pulling shit out like that. We’re just killing it, loved it.

In tonight’s new episode, you have those scenes in The Crashdown in the pocket dimension, and I was crying. What was that like to do acting-wise? You have Alex saying he’s not going to make it then you have Michael saying he’s going to get them home. How was it balancing those two different perspectives? Vlamis: I remember that was a very difficult scene to do. I remember that that day, where you’re like in the diner, me and Dallas are working and I run up to the — you know, I haven’t seen this episode yet, right? I watch it live, I have no idea if I even did a good job with that monologue. I remember it being like… we did it so many different ways, I kept doing it differently, but I just tried to stay on Tyler because you just look at Tyler and he clicks you in it. His eyes just connect and you give him what he needs. Blackburn: Yeah, that was intense. I mean, obviously pretending that you’re dying but trying to do the right thing for your partner, your loved one, that was challenging for sure. But I think it really — I don’t know, it was an opportunity for you to really like fight for me and fight for us. I remember on the set feeling like you were very invested every single take and stuff so I’m sure it came out great.

So I have to ask, were you both shocked when you found out it was Alex was who going to propose, circumstances aside? Did you have any guesses before of who would be the one to propose eventually? Vlamis: I don’t know if I actually… Blackburn: I didn’t really think about it either, to be honest. Vlamis: No, no, it kind of just seemed like something would happen. Blackburn: Nothing about our relationship is traditional. So it’s like we probably should have just gone to Vegas, Nevada. We should of just in the alternate universe, gone to Vegas. No, I don’t know, but I think it’s cool that Alex did that because, I mean, obviously the circumstances, he had to do it then, but I think in a lot of ways– I was gonna say Alex has been more passive, but I think throughout the four seasons, Guerin was always like, “show up, show up,” you know what I mean? And I was always just like, “I can’t do this.” I think it was great that Alex was like, “I know what I want now.” Obviously, when you’re dying, things probably click into perspective a little bit.

One thing that I really was laughing about in the best way and that I know the fans are gonna get a kick out of is that Malex forever banner at the wedding. What was your reaction when you saw it? Blackburn: This is actually my honest, honest take, when I got to that set, I was like, “I’m so glad that he’s stopping this wedding because this is gaud as fuck. This is like the worst-looking wedding ceremony ever.” I mean, the gesture is sweet but like, this is bad. So I’m glad that you stopped it, to be honest. Vlamis: They’ve never played into — have ever played into the ship name on the show actually up until that point?

No, I don’t think so. I was shocked. Blackburn: Oh, wait, was that the first time ever? Vlamis: Yeah, that’s why it was like kind of — I don’t know they kind of just went for it. Blackburn: That’s so hilarious, I don’t even know if I realized. Vlamis: That’s like if on Pretty Little Liars there was Haleb in the background. Can you imagine? Blackburn: They might have to be honest. I don’t even know, that’s such a crazy concept. The ship name thing. Vlamis: Yeah, but in the show? It’s insane.

I haven’t seen it on the show. I’ve seen it on others. But this is the first time and I was like, “Wow, what a way to make a statement.” Vlamis: I mean, it’s a fun thing, but it is kind of almost like breaking a certain wall, especially if no characters have ever said it before, but I’m not remembering. Maybe they have said it. I don’t know.

The fans will figure it out, they’ll let you know. No spoilers here so throw away what you know about the finale for a second. I’m personally, in my opinion, saying that Michael and Alex are getting married, whether it’s in the finale or future, they’re getting married eventually. So beyond marriage, beyond the finale, what is their happy ending? Do you see Malex having kids? Do you see them moving away from Roswell? In your head, what is their dream ending? Blackburn: Please let them move from Roswell. I don’t understand why anybody would want to stay in a town where all this crazy shit goes down. I just don’t understand. I mean, to be honest, I’m like, “We need to figure out a way to go to space together.” I feel like there’s someplace better. I feel like that’s the case. That’s what I would like and then we can have alien babies and maybe we could find — oh, I’m gonna get kind of gross, maybe on that planet, it’s possible for two dudes to get pregnant. Vlamis: To have a baby! We’re definitely going to have kids. I know that for a fact. Blackburn: Yes. Vlamis: How could we not? Blackburn: Oh, they’d be so hot.

I’m just so sad that we’re not gonna see it. I’m heartbroken. Blackburn: I challenge the fans to, in whatever format they want, create what they think our children would look like, whether it’s a drawing, a painting, digital. I think that would be cool, and they can just like put it on Twitter and tell us what they think our kids will look like. Vlamis: Great idea. What about a Malex movie? I challenge the fans to just pitch Malex movies. I want to hear your ideas.

Do you think we won’t? Blackburn: I’d do a movie. Vlamis: I’d do a movie, yeah.

Could you imagine them as dads though? Vlamis: That would be awesome.

I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with now with those challenges. Next, I have a fun question: there are a lot of times that people get introduced to a show by a simple scene or clip. So if you both could pick a clip or scene to show just how special Malex is to a person who has never seen Roswell, New Mexico, and has no idea who these characters are, which would you show them and why? Vlamis: Wow, that’s a really hard question. Blackburn: I mean, I do think it would be some of the earlier scenes, I just feel like those are the most charged, they were the most telling of our dynamic, you know? Vlamis: The “I never look away, not really” scene, when you like pull me into the trailer. Blackburn: Yeah, I love that one. Vlamis: That was a good scene.

Blackburn: There’s another one when I come to the junkyard, it’s mid-season, I come and… Vlamis: “What do you want to say, Alex?!” Blackburn: Yeah, exactly. I turn around and like, “No, I do have some shit to say.” I think that one is really… Vlamis: Dude, that’s a good call.

What advice would you personally give to Michael and Alex as they close this chapter and move on to the next chapter in their lives? Vlamis: Enjoy being happy. Allow yourself to be happy. Blackburn: My advice would be get out of Roswell and go find actual happiness. Keep loving each other, keep listening to each other, and keep showing up for each other. Vlamis: Keep listening, that’s right.

In these two episodes especially, but also just throughout the series, Malex have had such great callbacks and parallels to your earlier moments. Do you have a favorite that when you read it in the script you’re always excited to kind of play with? Vlamis: Oh, the pieces want to be together is the one that always gets brought up to the point where it’s almost like a running joke how much it gets brought up. Blackburn: Yeah, I don’t like that one. Vlamis: You’re done with it now. Blackburn: No, I don’t like how much it was used. Vlamis: I know, yeah, it got used so much. Blackburn: But I mean, I like the sentiment for sure and I think when it was first said it was pretty whimsical, but I don’t think it needed to be used that many times. I don’t know, I mean, I don’t think you said it that many times but “I don’t look away.” I think that one is simple cause I do think in relationships, it’s like you do have to remind each other why you’re there, you know what I mean? It’s like that at the root of our relationship, that’s what it is. It’s like, “I’m not gonna look away from this.” Vlamis: Yeah, that line was awesome.

What do you think either teenage or season 1, episode 1 Michael and Alex would think of how they end up in the finale? Would they believe it? Vlamis: They wouldn’t even think it. They wouldn’t even know it possible. Blackburn: Right, I mean, I do think as teenagers, I guess I could speak for Alex a little bit… Vlamis: Teens maybe. Blackburn: I feel like maybe Alex would definitely have that sort of fantasy or– not that you’d have to be young, but I do think when you’re young and you haven’t been extremely steamrolled by life yet, a lot seems possible. So I think, even if it’s in your own fantasy world, I feel like as a teenager, Alex would probably come up with that in his mind, but for it to actually happen, no, I don’t think he would really believe that. Vlamis: I would say the same thing. I think everything when you’re younger, you know, is a little bit more fantastical, even though it’s all real, it can happen, it doesn’t happen the way you think it will happen, especially when your boyfriend’s dad attacks you after… like, that changes how you approach life. Everybody has their trauma. Everyone’s been changed by their past events, but everybody deserves where Malex ends up and I think that’s the coolest thing about our growth. We had amazing arcs. We really did, we really had cool arcs.

Right? The hardships your individual characters went through outside of their relationship were just unreal. It’s so rewarding to see that they get to be happy in the end. I say this all the time, but you both have created something insanely special that I’m so grateful to see represented on screen. What do you want the legacy of their relationship to be for fans? Blackburn: I think just for it to be one step further into like normalizing a queer relationship and having it be really complex, beautiful, harsh, and all of the things that you’ve seen in all of the romantic movies throughout time, but it was always represented by a male and female. I mean, I’m watching a docu-series right now called, The Last Movie Stars, about Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward and I’m watching all of their performances in these clips, and there’s all this like, intense love and hate for each other in some of their scenes, and I’m like, “oh, that’s Malex.” I think for it to be normalized and be a part of that on television, in entertainment, I think for me, that’s a really proud moment. I hope that that’s ultimately the legacy. Vlamis: Yeah, I think you said that perfectly. I mean, what do you want to leave people with? You want to leave them changed. You want to leave them different. You want to leave them better off than they were before, just like we’re better off than I think we were even before the show, right? So yeah, I think that we did some really cool things on this show that were groundbreaking in certain ways, even from like, I saw Harry Styles said that gay men aren’t having sweet, sensual sex in movies and film, that was in an interview that came out recently. I saw IndieWire was kind of going at him because they were like saying that he was wrong about it, and I have no comment on that at all, but just reading that made me think about me, like, sweetly caressing Alex’s leg, his missing leg. That was like — you never see that, not only do you not see queer men doing that, but you don’t see anybody showing a limb like that and in a loving way. I mean, that was pretty amazing. That was pretty wild, we’ve done some groundbreaking stuff in a way and that’s all on the writers and creators, and just grateful to be a part of it. So I hope people are just left with like, we did our best to honor the truth of love and make a difference.

I have to talk about the GONE TOO SOON Vlambase merch that is going to be taking all of my money. Seriously, I’m going to be completely broke on series finale day, so thank you for that. But tell me about doing that, especially the Malex collab. You’re really honoring all of the characters with this drop and I think it’s a beautiful thing. What is it like seeing the response to everything and sharing it with the world now? Vlamis: Oh, it’s so cool. They’ve heard me, they’ve seen — look, it’s all I wear, so it’s gotten to a point where everyone’s almost like sibling annoyed with me in a way and now that everybody wants to be a part of it, and seeing Lily’s design doing so well, Nathan’s a part of it, and we have other people that we haven’t even announced yet, but it’s so cool. I mean, Tyler and I, every time I do with Tyler, it’s more fun. I mean, everything from our photoshoots to whatever, it really feels like it’s a continuation of advertising for the show. We really like… they’ll see on our latest photoshoot what we did for the fans and they’re gonna enjoy it. You’re talking about what life is after the show, I mean, we have a lot of fun with this. I think more shows, more actors should be doing stuff like this. It’s so fun and the fans seem to really love it, you know? Blackburn: I mean, yeah, I definitely think what he’s saying is so true. It’s just a way to connect even further, outside of the parameters of the show, and kind of have people participate. There’s definitely reward in it, and our photoshoots are so psycho and funny. Also too, I think it’s really a great way to spend some time together off set. I mean, I enjoy it. I enjoy it for sure. The response is crazy, the number of people that buy that merch is astounding. It’s amazing.

I am so not ready for the photoshoot. While I am 100% behind the Malex movie, I need to know when you two are going to be on my screen again. Is there a dream project you would like to do next? Blackburn: That’s very hard for me to say. I think for me, I’m gonna take some time to really navigate what I want the next phase of my career to be. So I think I’ll probably be a little bit more patient and potentially picky. So I don’t know, I’m like really open to reading different types of scripts and you know, the majority of my career has been sort of in this YA genre. Roswell is not exactly YA but sort of and so I’m looking to, as a 35-year-old, actually graduate a little bit. I mean, I have a lot of things that I enjoy watching and reading, so hopefully, some of those will kind of, you know, I don’t know I can be in something along those lines, but I don’t know yet. I’m figuring it out.

But if Michael’s attached to a project, are you in? Blackburn: Yeah, absolutely. I think it’d be so fun to do something outside of Malex together. Vlamis: That would be cool, that would be very cool. Blackburn: And I mean, what if we played enemies in something? Vlamis: Man, it’d be so hard but fun.

I mean, they doesn’t have to last as enemies, you could do enemies to lovers. That’s a pretty popular trope. Vlamis: This is not the Malex movie! Blackburn: I know, that’s hilarious. It would be good, I know that. Vlamis: Damn right.

Michael, anything for you? Vlamis: I’m just really excited for my directorial debut to come out. Crossword is coming along great and yeah, I’m gonna go watch it right now actually, an earlier cut so we’ll see. We’re working on it in the editing room, there’s still a lot to be done, but yeah, it’s feeling really good. Hopefully, maybe that’ll be the next time you see me on screen. I don’t know, maybe before then, who knows?

[sacredsorceress]

Milestone || Bucky Barnes

pairing: bucky barnes x avenger!reader

summary: a journey through some of the biggest milestones in yours and bucky’s relationship from the day you first met to sharing a home of your own

a/n: in this we’re gonna pretend that bucky didn’t get dusted! also reader has powers similar to those of wanda’s. reblogs and replies are super appreciated!!

word count: 3.4k

warnings: none, fluff

masterlist || request || taglist

The First Time You Met

Running down the hallway of the airport, you watched as Peter was swept off of his feet and into the air by none other than Falcon, leaving the man you recognized as the Winter Soldier in your midst. Your shoes squeaking against the floor as you stopped short, you threw your arms into the air, stopping the man from moving.

Snapping his attention towards you, he furrowed his eyebrows and you could feel him fighting against your magic. Squeezing your eyes shut you tried your hardest to keep him contained but with only so much experience, he broke through it in a minute, coming for you straight after.

“Shit.” You cursed to yourself, watching as he strode over to you.

Clasping your hands together before pulling them apart, you created a baton of sorts in just enough time to hold it in front of yourself as Bucky cornered you into a wall. Pushing him back with the beam, you grunted, trying your hardest to keep the magic from dying out.

“You’re not very good at this.” He commented, attempting to pull the magical beam from your hands.

“I’m...” You grunted. “.... new.”

Using all of your force, you shoved him back. Taking the first opportunity you saw, you began shooting blasts of magic at him while he stumbled backwards. Attempting to dodge the blasts, he moved forward, putting his hands in the air.

“Look,” He said. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Watching as he stumbled backwards, closer to a ledge, you halted the blasts, tilting your head sideways.

“Lucky me.”

As soon as the words fell from your mouth, you used the rest of your force, swinging your arms backwards and then pushing forward to shove him through the railing and over the edge, his eyes wide as he fell backwards. When he fell, he took the Falcon with him. 

Glancing up above, you saw Peter, shooting a web to hold the two men to the ground. Feeling the energy in your palms, you floated down to the floor they were held to, standing above them.

“Look guys, I would love to keep this up but I’ve only got one job here today and I’ve gotta impress Mr. Stark, so I’m really sorry-” You watched as the drone took Peter’s web and pulled him through the window cutting him short, Peter screaming as it did.

Turning back to the men, you pulled the hood of your cloak over your head.

“Don’t worry about the drone thing,” You said. “I know when to see myself out.”

Turning to make your way towards the exit of the airport, you heard Bucky call from behind you.

“Hey!” He shouted. “Who are you?”

Bucky didn’t know why he was asking. He could barely even remember facts about himself, never mind keep track of every super human person he came across, but there was something nagging in his mind, begging him to learn more.

Glancing over your shoulder, looking at the Winter Soldier one last time, you smirked.

“Y/n.”

And with that you left the airport.

First Touch

The hatch to the ship opening, you stumbled down the steps, gripping Nebula’s arm to keep your balance. As Steve took hold of Tony, Pepper rushing to his side, you looked up to find the familiar face of Rhodey making his way towards you.

“I chose the wrong day to go see who Dr. Strange was.” You chuckled somberly, trying to make light of the situation.

Grabbing your arm to steady you as you slowly walked down the steps, Rhodey shook his head.

“The fight wasn't much better back here.” He said. “At least we had oxygen though. You’re not looking so good, kid.”

Too afraid to have looked at your deteriorating reflection the past three weeks, you knew he was being too kind.

It had been nearly three weeks since Thanos snapped away a half of the universe’s population, leaving you, Tony and Nebula stranded in space. You had run out of fuel weeks ago and had nearly lost hope of ever returning home as the oxygen supply began dwindling until Captain Marvel had found your ship and brought you all safely back to the Avengers Compound.

Despite being back, three weeks in space had left you exhausted, starving and dehydrated- just to name a few.

Biting back the dizziness you felt, you sighed.

“I’m- I’m fine, Rhodes.” You said, beginning to feel lightheaded. “It’s nothing-”

Missing your footing on the step, you tripped, losing your balance from Rhodey, about to hit the ground until you felt an arm wrap around your torso and the cool touch of metal grasp your hand. Looking up, you were met with the familiar face of the man you had fought two years ago at the airport in Germany, his hair cut shorter since the last time you had seen him, but recognizable nonetheless.

“Bucky Barnes?” You asked, standing up straighter with his assistance.

“Y/n.” He replied, shooting you a gentle smile.

Although you had what many would consider super-human abilities with your magic, due to being discovered after the civil war between the Avengers that had effectively split up the group- you weren't used to being recognized. Hearing your name fall from his lips felt somewhat gratifying.

“You remember my name?” You asked in disbelief

“Hard to forget the name of the woman who kicked my ass.” Bucky chuckled, helping you walk towards the doors of the Compound. “Doesn't happen often.”

For the first time in weeks you allowed yourself to smile as you gazed up at the man holding you steady, making sure you didn’t fall. When his blue eyes met yours, you adverted your gaze, turning your attention towards Natasha who wheeled a wheelchair through the doors of the Compound and towards the two of you.

Moving his flesh hand to rest on your lower back, his vibranium one still in yours, he helped you slowly ease into the chair. When you sat back in the chair, resting your feet on the footrests, you looked up at the super soldier and smiled.

“Not looking for a rematch are you?” You asked, slipping your hand out of his and resting it on your abdomen. “‘Cause I think I’m gonna need a raincheck.”

Shoving his hands in his pockets, he laughed shaking his head.

“No, I think I’m done with fighting.” He said.

Feeling Natasha pulling back on the wheelchair, about to spin your chair around and towards the doors, you threw him one last smile.

“That makes two of us.”

Just when Bucky was about to turn around and walk away as Nat wheeled you through the doors, the chair stopped and he watched as you glanced over your shoulder.

“And Sarge?” You called.

“Yeah?”

“I like the new arm.”

For the first time in decades, Bucky felt heat rise to his cheeks as he watched you tiredly speak to Natasha until you left his line of sight.

First Kiss

It had taken you nearly a month to recover from your time in space since returning back to Earth. Although you understood that there wasn’t much to be done since Thanos had wiped out half of the universe, you still felt guilty taking up space in the Compound when all you would do was lay in bed, attached to an IV. 

The one thing that made your time on bedrest a little more bearable was none other than Bucky Barnes.

Throughout your stay in bed he had consistently visited you. Though at first he was a bit shy, you had proven to be someone he could trust- assuring him that he could never be a bother to you and that you genuinely enjoyed having his company- maybe a bit too much, but you would never tell him that.

Bucky himself was surprised that he had put himself so out there with you after living such a solitary life for nearly the past 80 years, but there was just something about you that drew him to you time and time again. He couldn’t pinpoint it- whether it was your kindness, humor or intelligence- he found both joy and peace in your presence- something he had almost forgotten what it felt like to be in.

So, despite the voice in the back of his head telling him that you didn’t want to see him, he had visited you while you got better in bed, taking care of you in the littlest of ways until he watched the dark circles under your eyes fade away and your ability to walk without his assistance return.

Finally feeling somewhat better, you had insisted to bucky that you were ready to train again and no matter how many times he tried to convince you that you weren’t, he could never say no once you squeezed his hand and pouted up at him.

He was regretting not saying no to you as he now stood across from you in the training room.

“Y/n, I really don’t think this is a good idea.” He said, watching you sway in your spot despite your feet being planted to the mat.

“C’mon Barnes,” You taunted, raising your hands. “You scared?”

Just as he was about to open his mouth again, you shot a blast of magic towards him, Bucky dodging it just as it whooshed past his head.

“I wasn’t even ready!” Bucky exclaimed.

Shrugging your shoulders you formed another beam made of magic, holding either ends of it with your hands as Bucky came towards you.

Trying to plant your feet to the ground, feeling another hit of dizziness wash over you, you pushed him back with the beam, but before you could do anything more, his leg swept under yours, making you lose your balance. 

Before you fell to the ground, however, the magic in your hands diminished as you gripped your hands into Bucky’s shirt bringing him down with you.

Flipping over before you fell, you landed on top of the super soldier, your hands planted firmly on his chest. With his hands above his head that was inches away from yours, you both stared at each other- you finally noticing just how much you liked the scruff that coated his jawline and him admiring the color of your eyes and how he swore he could lose himself in them if only he had the chance.

Opening your mouth, you felt the thumping of Bucky’s heart against your fingertips that were resting on his chest as he gazed up at you.

“Your heart is beating really fast.” You whispered, out of breath despite you barely having trained.

“Yeah, it does that when I see you.”

You could barely believe what you were hearing until you felt Bucky’s hands come up and cup your face, glancing down at your lips before back to your eyes, asking wordlessly for your approval. 

Unable to form a coherent sentence, you eagerly nodded back at him.

Before you could even process it, you felt Bucky’s lips meeting yours as he pulled you into a kiss, his hands moving from cupping your face to wrapping around your body, pulling you tight against him. All you could remember thinking was that despite his tough exterior, his lips were soft and you could lose yourself in the comfort of having his arms around you all day if he let you.

Pulling away first, a beaming smile spread across Bucky’s face as he rubbed circles against your back.

“If you wanted to kiss me so bad,” He teased. “You could’ve just asked.”

First “I Love You”

Sitting on the edge of the rooftop, your legs swinging in the air, you offered the bag of popcorn in your hand to your boyfriend who was sat beside you. Taking his eyes off of the view in front of him, he grabbed a fistful of the salty treat from the bag, popping it in his mouth.

“Did you have stuff like this back in the olden times?” You asked, laying your head on his shoulder.

“What?” He asked despite his mouth being full. “You mean fireworks? How old do you think I am?”

Laughing at how he mocked offense over your question, you sat up straight, pecking his cheek.

“One hundred doesn’t sound much better, babe.”

Rolling his eyes, knowing that you loved him anyway, he brushed off the remaining salt from his fingertips, wrapping his vibranium arm around your shoulders to pull you closer to him.

Just as he pressed a gentle kiss against your temple, he jumped in his spot as he heard the loud sound of the first firework shooting up into the air over the water before “popping” and bursting into an array of color.

“Look!” You exclaimed, pointing towards the display. “It’s starting!”

Although he took a quick glance at the firework display, his attention was purely focused on you. He couldn’t help but admire the way the colorful lights reflected on your skin or how you had a hint of an open smile on your face watching as the fireworks burst midair. No show could compare to looking at you.

He couldn't help but feel his heart race in his chest, breath caught in his throat as he admired your beauty- even when you were still in your suit from watching over the parade with him earlier that evening. He was convinced there wasn’t a single thing about you that he wasn’t completely enamored with and you only gave him more reasons to love you every single day.

Before he even realized what he was saying, admiring you in complete bliss and utter awe, the words slipped out of his mouth.

“I love you.”

He thought you wouldn’t be able to hear, the sound of another firework popping ringing in his ear, but when you turned towards him, your eyes wide and mouth agape, he knew you had.

“Did you just say that you love me?” You asked, fireworks continuing to burst behind you.

Not one to lie- especially not to you- he nodded his head.

“Yeah.”

A smile beginning to form on your face, you grabbed the strap on his jacket, pulling him closer to you.

“I love you too.”

Leaning in, you pressed your lips against his, the sound of the finale of the display ringing behind you as the fireworks burst one after another in air, every color imaginable washing over your joined figures sitting on the edge of the rooftop on that cool summer night, almost as if it were taking the feeling shared between the two of you and bringing it to life for the world to see.

First Home

“Okay!” You nodded, pointing to the corner of your living room. “That one can go over there. Thank you so much for your help, Steve.”

“I helped Buck move into his first apartment, Y/n.” Steve said wiping his hands on his pants. “I wouldn’t miss stuff like this for anything.”

Smiling at Steve’s comment, you felt Bucky’s vibranium hand land on your lower back, pulling you closer. Leaning into his touch, you wrapped your arm around him in return, staring up at your boyfriend.

“Yeah and the first time he was about a foot shorter and a hundred pounds lighter.” Bucky chuckled. “This is easy for him.”

Watching Natasha set down the last box on top of a pile of the others in the kitchen, you excused yourself from your boyfriend and his best friend, making your way into the other room.

When you had left the two of them’s earshot, Bucky watching as you left, Steve rested his hand on Bucky's shoulder, squeezing it gently.

“You know,” Steve said. “I’m happy for you, Buck. I think this is gonna be good for you.”

Bucky couldn’t help but smile at his friend’s comment- despite how cheesy it was- because he knew it was true.

When Bucky’s memory had finally been cleared, a part of him had always feared that even though he had been given a new chance at life, he would never have a normal one. Although he knew “normal” was a strong term for the life you two shared together given that he was a century old super soldier and you had magical abilities- you had given him a chance at a peaceful life full of love and contentment which was all he could ever dream of asking for. 

The idea of finding love and having a family was something that he worried was left eighty years in the past, but you proved to him that life didn’t end for him when he fell from that train- if anything it brought him the beginning he had always hoped for.

“Sure you won’t miss me too bad, pal?” Bucky asked.

Taking his hand back from Bucky’s shoulder, Steve laughed shoving his hand in his pockets.

“No, I think I’m used to it by now.” Steve chuckled. “It’s just like you to be able to find a woman with shared life experience even when half the world disappears.”

Shaking his head at his friend’s joke, he shoved him playfully.

“C’mon, ya’know this is different.” Bucky said. “I think this is the last one for me.”

Without missing a beat, Steve smiled.

“I know.”

Hearing the sound of you and Natasha’s footsteps stepping back into the room, Bucky kept his mouth shut, feeling your hand run over his shoulder as you stood beside him.

“Don’t forget about me now that you have your own place, okay Y/n?” Nat said crossing her arms.

“Don’t worry.” You told her. “I’ll come visit every day.”

“Well, not every day-” Bucky interjected.

“No. I meant what I said. Every day, Nat. You’ll wish you never said anything.”

Once the laughter that had erupted in the room settled, Steve and Nat said their goodbyes to you and your boyfriend, you both waving them off as you shut the door behind them. When the door was shut and you and Bucky were left in your new apartment alone together, you rushed over to your bag by the door, pulling a neatly wrapped gift out of it.

“What’s this?” Bucky asked as you handed him the present.

“Just a little housewarming gift.” You smiled.

Gazing at your smiling face, a smile finding its way onto his, he looked down at the present in his hands, carefully tearing the paper off of the gift to reveal a framed photo of the two of you.

A framed photo of the two of you fighting in an airport three years ago on the day you first met.

“So, Tony had put a camera in Peter’s suit back before we went and fought you guys.” You explained. “And I thought it had to be gone since Peter was... you know... but it turned out that Tony still had the footage so I was able to find some from that day at the airport and in it there was this quick little shot of us fighting and I just had to have it, Buck.”

Flipping the frame around at you, he raised his eyebrows.

“A photo of us fighting?”

“Yes!” You told him. “Do you like it?”

Despite the fact that it was a photo of the two of you fighting- a fight that he had gotten his ass kicked in no less- he loved it more than anything else you could have possibly given him because it was the day he met you. It was the day his life changed and he didn’t even know it in the moment.

Although your story was far from “normal” it was your story and that’s what mattered the most to him.

“I love it, doll.” He said, pulling you into his embrace. “This is a crazy story to tell our kids though, huh?”

“All of them are.” You laughed into his chest. “But I wouldn't have it any other way, Buck. I love you.”

Pressing a kiss to the top of your head, a photograph of the day your story first began in his hand, he smiled.

“I love you too.”

[pepper-up-potion]

Humor me (George Weasley x fem!reader)

Summary: Reader can't stand George Weasley but over time she realizes he might be a good addition to her life.

Warnings: crying, angst, let me know if I missed any.

Word count: 5.5k (this is my longest fic so far!)

A/n: I still don't know how to feel about this. A part of me likes it and a part of me feels it could be better. This is my first enemies to lovers and it was very very fun.

———

“Thanks (y/n)! I can always count on you, you’re a lifesaver.” Shouts Neville as he runs down the hall and towards his next class. (Y/n) had helped him put healing salve and a bandage on his cut hand.

“Anytime!” She smiles as she watches him stumble away. She pulls out her book and sits back down on the windowsill.

“Humour me.” Says a foreign voice.

She looks up frowning. “I’m sorry?” She asks politely.

“When was the last time you did something for yourself?” Asks the red-haired boy.

“What are you talking about? I’m doing that right now.” She points to her book: Charms for first years

“That’s weird because I could’ve sworn you were in my charms class and not in first year.” He argues, shoving his hand in his pockets and clicking his tongue.

“Well I’m helping out a first-year next period but I enjoy doing that so I am doing something for myself.” She explains, slightly irritated.

“You can’t be serious?” He waits but she offers no response. She only lifts her nose at him. “That is not taking time for yourself. That’s preparing to help someone else.”

Her nostrils flare as she abruptly snaps her books shut. She shoves it into her bag before swinging it over her shoulder. She steps towards George. She suddenly realizes how tall he is. She gulps before placing a hand on her hip and pointing a finger at him.

“Listen here, helping other people is a very noble thing and if I wish to spend my free time doing that, I should not have to explain myself.”

“Ah, so you admit that you spend your free time helping other people rather than doing something for yourself?”

George smirks at her and she wants to slap it off his stupid pretty face.

“Wha-? No.” She huffs. “I don’t know why I’m arguing this with someone I hardly know but what I mean to say is that yes, it’s demanding and tedious but it’s also rewarding and the most gratifying thing I could ever do, so I believe I am doing something for myself. You just don’t get it because you spend all your time playing stupid pranks on everyone.” She snaps before pulling the strap of her bag further onto her shoulder and walking away. Normally she would feel bad for saying something like that to someone but for some reason she felt George could take it.

“So when will I see you again?” George shouts down the hall.

“I have to go!” She shouts back.

“I’ll see you in class then. Or maybe in the halls again.” He continues.

“Goodbye!” She turns the corner and speeds as far away from George as possible, steam practically fuming from her ears.

———

“Hey (y/n) could I just copy your homework before class? I didn’t have time to do it what with quidditch practice and all.” Asks Angelina.

(Y/n) nods and pulls out her answers, stands and walks to her seat, passing them to her. As (y/n) walks back she sees George slide into the spot next to hers. She grunts before stomping to her seat.

“ ‘Morning.” He sings, kicking his feet on the desk. She rolls her eyes and pushes his feet off, offering no other greeting. Now this is saying something, (y/n) always greets everybody. He laughs a little before turning to his bag and pulling out his textbook.

“Ark, couldn’t you go sit somewhere else?” She asks with a look of disgust.

George shrugs his shoulders. “Yeah, I could, but I’d like to think we’d make a good team and I’d like to test that theory.” He waves a pointed index as if to emphasize his point.

She shudders at the thought of having to work with him. It’s very likely they will, it often happens in potions class. (Y/n) is at the top of the class and she doubts Snape would have any objection to George working with her since she could easily bring up his grade. She sighs as Snape walks in and starts the lecture portion of the class.

“You will have the remaining hour to make your hiccoughing solution. Work with the person next to you.” With a wave of his arms everyone starts opening their textbook and discussing the potion.

To her surprise, George is really good at potions. Logically it makes sense because him and Fred are always creating new things but she never really thought it transferable to school. She watches, a little stunned as George quickly and skillfully goes through the steps of the potion. For the first time since she can last remember, she sits back instead of running the group. George occasionally asks her to cut something or extract oil from a root. She doesn’t argue, it’s sort of nice being told what to do rather than making all the decisions. She doesn’t tell him and refuses to think more of it because that’s not her proper role. She’s the leader, she’s the helper. Maybe this once she’ll let it slide, give herself a break.

Once the bell rings they gather their books and George finally speaks of other things than the potion.

“Relaxing isn’t it?” She tilts her head in confusion. “Not having to take care of others for once.” He continues.

Oh no he didn’t. He just ruined it. He took her small guilty moment of peace and crushed it. “You hardly let me do anything! What was I supposed to do? Fight you?”

George shrugs. “You could’ve.” He winks at her and she lets out an angry moan.

“Ark!” She turns on her heels and walks out of the class without another word.

“Same time next week?” She hears him shout but she’s already in the hallway and simply ignores him.

———

“You know you could give that to a house-elf and they could take care of that for you.” Says George as he leans into the door frame and watches (y/n) clean the chalkboard in the defence against the dark arts classroom.

“Well I don’t need to be taken care of, I’m perfectly capable of doing things on my own thank you very much” she spits back at him.

George and her are acquaintances at best. It’s been a month since they’ve first spoken to each other. Since then he seems to always be around her. Sitting next to her in class, offering to help her with her books in the hall. She’s never asked for him to be there or to share his opinion. Yet he’s there and very verbal about his thoughts.

He steps into the class and sits in the front row. He bounces his leg under the desk and leans back into the chair. He looks nervous but she can tell he’s trying to cover it up.

“What are you doing here?” She asks, curiosity getting the best of her.

“Waiting for Umbridge.” He points up the stairs at the closed door of her office. “I got detention.” He adds.

“What did you do?” She stops cleaning the board and sets the cleaning potion on the desk next to George.

“Gave a ton tongue toffee to Filch. His tongue was four feet long when Umbridge found him.” He chuckles to himself, remembering Umbridge’s reaction.

For the first time ever, (y/n) laughs in front of George. She tries to hold it in but it slips past her. George first looks surprised but soon he’s laughing with her.

“Glad to see someone is standing up to them.” She shakes her head. “Umbridge really is a horrible person. I can't believe all the mean things she’s doing to the students.” Her face is sad. George can see how much she cares for the other students.

“Well, would you look at that? We actually agree on something.” He crosses his arms and smirks at her. “Does this mean we're friends?” He asks.

She barks out a loud laugh. “Don’t get ahead of yourself Weasley.” She grabs her bag and walks out without another word. She can feel George’s gaze following her until she steps into the hall and out of sight. She wonders why her cheeks feel so hot suddenly.

———

(Y/n) is tutoring Seamus Finnigan in the library. They’re whispering over a book when George spots them. He smiles and beelines for their table.

“Mind if I sit here.” He asks, holding onto the chair in front of them. They both look up at him. Seamus smiles and reaches out his hand for a fist bump. (Y/n) rolls her eyes and sticks her tongue out.

“Yeah mate, it’s no problem.” Says Seamus.

“No, you may not. It is very much a problem.” She hisses. Seamus looks at her, shocked by the bitterness in her voice.

“Blimey (y/n), I’ve never heard you so angry before.” He stuns.

She laughs nervously. He’s right, she normally doesn’t talk to people like that. The only exception to the rule is George. She grits her teeth and pastes a smile before looking at George.

“Of course you can sit here George. Any friend of Seamus is a friend of mine.” She somehow manages to sound sweet and somewhat sincere. George raises his eyebrows in surprise. He quickly recollects himself and takes a seat before she changes her mind.

“So, going back to charms. Can you tell me the definition of the substantive charm?” She asks Seamus.

“How long have you been doing this?” George interrupts.

Seamus grabs (y/n)’s arm and reads her watch. He whistles dramatically. “Crickey, it’s been an hour and fifteen minutes. I think we should call it a day.” He grabs his book and bag and gets up. “Thanks again (y/n). See you next week.” And with that, he was off.

(Y/n)’s jaw clenches as she looks from the now empty chair to George.

“Why?” She groans. “Why would you do that?”

“This is great. He got his help and you get a break. What do you say we go down to the dungeon and pull a prank on Malfoy?” He beams at her, pleased with his idea.

She gets the sudden urge to scream. Who does he think he is? Coming into her life and ruining everything. It is quite likely that Seamus won't do as well on the quiz as if he had stayed for the extra fifteen minutes she had planned and now she has to go deal with Hermione who wanted to rant about Ron. Something which she had very much been putting off. She takes a long, deep breath before looking at George again. The urge to scream has faded with the breath but the look on his face makes her see red.

“Could you please, please, find someone else to annoy. I don’t have time for this and you’re really starting to test my patients.” She pleads.

George’s face drops, evidently displeased by her response. He stands from his chair and puts his bag strap over his shoulder.

“Alright, I’ll leave.” He surrenders. There is a pause like he’s debating between leaving or adding another word. To (y/n)’s dissatisfaction, he continues to speak. “Anytime you need someone who doesn’t need help tutoring or homework to copy or healing salve, you know where to find me.”

She laughs loudly making everyone turn to look at her. “Pff yeah okay.” She dismisses, and with that George is turning away and walking out of the library.

She hates the sad feeling that settles in her chest. It’s like it’s telling her she wants him to stay. She rolls her eyes and swears to herself, gathering her things and heading to Hermione’s aid.

No matter how hard she tries not to, she spends the rest of the day thinking about George. His stupid face keeps popping into her head. What does he know? She likes when people ask for help. She is happy being the person people can turn to. She can’t understand what George thinks is wrong with that. Maybe he’s just a horrible person. It’s much easier to tell herself than to think there could be something wrong with her.

———

A week later (y/n) is knocking on Susan Bones’ door and stepping in before hearing a welcome.

“Merlin! I can’t stand him!” She shouts once in her best friend’s dorm room. Susan looks up from her book with her brows knitted.

“Who?” She asks while shutting her book and sitting up.

“George!” She states looking at Susan like she should have known. She shows no sign of further understanding (y/n)’s dilemma.

“Why?” She asks hesitantly. (Y/n) stomps to Susan’s bed and plops onto it.

“First he’s everywhere meddling into my life like it’s his business and now, radio silence.” She adds nothing more, leaving Susan even more confused.

“And that’s a problem because…”

(Y/n) sits up and flails her arms in the air. “Well, why did he make me question myself like that and then just vanish?” She exclaims exasperated.

Susan gapes, further confused. “But, didn’t you ask him to leave you alone?”

“Ark! That’s not the point!” She gets up and stomps out of the room. Susan blinks and looks around the room stunned even though there is no one to share the confusion with.

A moment later (y/n) is back into the room. “What on earth did he mean by if ever you want someone who doesn’t need help, you know where to find me?” She puts her hands on her hips and waits for her friend’s answer. Susan’s eyes light up and she smiles slightly. Now it’s (y/n)’s turn to look confused.

“He said that?” Asks Susan with a hopeful tone.

“Wha- I- Well yes he did but-.” She stops. Susan has left her stunned, she’s too confused to debate.

Susan’s smile grows wider. “Have you heard about Dombledors army?” She asks.

(Y/n) scrunches her nose. “No. What does that have to do with this?”

“Well I think you should come to our next meeting.” Her smile is mischievous, (y/n) hates it.

———-

The next day Susan takes (y/n) to the seventh floor. She stops in the middle of the hall and passes back and forth in front of a stone wall. Soon a door appears in front of them and (y/n) smiles, amazed by the castle's secrets.

Susan is the first to walk in waving at a few people near the door. Once (y/n) follows through the room goes silent. Harry finally walks up to them, hand stretched out.

“Welcome to the army.” He says confidently. She looks to Susan who gives her an encouraging nod. She finally accepts Harry’s hand with a small yet nervous smile.

As she looks around the room she feels a pair of eyes on her. She turns to find George looking at her with a neutral face. She lets out a little screech and turns back to Susan.

“You didn’t tell me he was going to be here!” (Y/n) whispers with a panicked tone.

“Well if I did you wouldn’t have come.” She states simply before walking off to talk with one of the other girls.

“Alright everyone. I think we’ll get started.” Announces Harry. Everyone goes quiet and they quickly form a half-circle around him. She sees a tall man settle next to her in her peripheral. She can just make out a flash of red hair. Her heart starts beating at an unruly pace.

“Today’s focus is on stunning. Nigel and I are going to do a demonstration so watch closely.” Everyone moves to the sides of the room whispering excitedly.

(Y/n) claps her hand over her mouth as she watches Harry fly backwards after being stunned by Nigel. She lets out a relieved sigh when Harry sits back up.

“I’d like to see you do that.” Whispers George into her ear. She jumps a little as his hot breath on her neck sends a shiver down her spine.

She turns to look at him. She has no snarky answer. She just gapes at him in surprise.

“I’d like to see you stand up for yourself for once.” He adds. She huffs in shock.

“I-“ She starts but Harry cuts her off. “Who wants to go next?” He asks.

“(Y/n) and I will go.” Announces George. She freezes as everyone eyes them curiously.

“Maybe someone else would like to go before us.” She tries.

“Nonsense, go on (y/n).” Says Harry enthusiastically. “No one here will judge you.” He adds thinking that’s her concern.

It’s not that she didn’t want to defend herself, it’s just she felt sort of bad stunning someone. She wasn’t sure she had it in her to do it. She walks to one end of the room and George to the other. He stretches out his arm, wand at the ready. She looks at Susan with a pleading look. Susan gives her an impatient nod and (y/n) reluctantly lifts her wand.

Neither of them moves, the room is completely silent. Soon there are whispers in the crowd. George is looking at (y/n) with a challenging eye. She gulps, trying to convince herself to stun him. She thinks that maybe if she does nothing he’ll grow impatient and stun her. That way she wouldn’t have to do it and he wouldn’t get the satisfaction of getting what he really wants.

“Right, any second now. Go ahead.” Says Harry slowly.

Nothing happens. George slumps out of his stans and raises his arms in the air. “Oh c’mon (y/n) stun me!” He exclaims.

She looks at the crowd as they all stare back at her. She suddenly feels weak in the knees. She begins to sweat nervously and looks at Susan. She looks a little concerned, maybe thinking this wasn’t as good an idea as she first thought. She still gives her a weak encouraging smile and a little thumbs up. (Y/n) looks back at George who has his arms stretched out taunting her.

“Oh for once in your life be mean!” He shouts. The words echo in the room.

“I can be plenty mean!” She disputes. “Last week, I ate Susan’s cookie.” She adds, puffing her chest.

George tries to hold back his smile. She hears a couple giggles in the crowd.

“That is not mean.” His tone is adoring and she hates it.

“It was her favourite brand.” She adds trying to make it sound more horrific. She’s the only one in the room with a serious face. Everyone else is smiling enjoying the tense exchange between the two.

He clicks his tongue and shakes his head. “If it’s anything, it’s cute.” He says with a wink. There it is. There’s the final straw. She can feel her blood boil. Everyone holds their breath as they watch her face contort into an angry pout. George smiles wide thinking the pout is possibly the cutest thing he’s ever seen.

She lets out an angry grunt. “It is not cute! You wanna see cute? Watch this.” She flicks her wand and shouts: “Stupify!” The spell sends George across the room. Everyone exclaims as he hits the ground with a thud.

“Excellent! Really good (y/n)!” Exclaims Harry.

Across the room George is whooping. He runs over to her with arms wide open. His smile is contagious, she can’t stop hers from pulling at her cheeks. Laughs spill from her lips as he wraps her tightly into his arms. Fred helps George throw her over their shoulders. Everyone gathers around them and cheers. (Y/n) feels her cheeks go hot suddenly, very aware of George’s hand on her thigh keeping her in place. She looks at everyone’s happy smiles and she can't help but join in. She hates to admit it but George might have been right. Standing up for yourself can feel good.

———

It’s a Wednesday evening. Most people were already back in their common rooms. (Y/n) was walking back from the library, having finished another tutoring session with Zacharias Smith. The halls are practically deserted when she suddenly hears quiet sobs further away. She speeds her pace and turns the corner finally spotting a little boy crying quietly while holding his hand. Two older boys are kneeling next to him. Her breath hitches when she spots him. George hasn’t talked to her since their duel. She would sometimes catch his eye across the classroom or in the dining hall but this is the first time she’s run into him. George is rubbing circles on the boy's upper back as he whispers sweet comforting phrases to the crying boy. As she steps closer she recognizes the boy to be Michael. She has helped him countless times after he has gotten detention from Umbridge.

Looking at George now she questions how she once called him a horrible person. She sighs accepting she might have been too quick to judge. She steps between the Weasleys and kneels down at Micheal’s feet so they're at eye level. She looks through her big bag before pulling out some gauze and a small glass jar of healing salve. Micheal gives her his hand, remembering the drill. She quietly applies the salve and wraps his hand. She listens to George explain to Micheal how soon the pain will subside. She notices he never stops rubbing circles on the boy's back. There’s something reassuring about the movement and she’s not even the one receiving it.

Micheal takes a deep breath, recollecting himself. He looks between George and (y/n) before smiling mischievously.

“Thanks mom, dad.” He tips his head to each before getting up and walking to his dorm. George’s hand stays frozen in the air even if there’s no longer a back to rub. (Y/n) stops screwing the lid to her salve as she looks at the now empty seat. They both jump when Fred starts howling with laughter. His laughs echo down the hall as he doubles over himself, holding his aching stomach. He wipes at his eyes and sighs loudly.

“Good one kid.” He shouts though Michael is much too far to hear it. “Ah! That’s golden.” He adds before he walks off in the same direction as Micheal did before.

George and (y/n) remain frozen. (Y/n)’s face is pale and George's cheeks are tomato red. (Y/n) is the first to move, she finishes screwing on the lid and shoving it into her bag. She’s in a hurry to get out of this very awkward situation. She shoots a look at George who moved from the floor and onto the bench. He’s leaning back onto the wall with his arms crossed. He smirks when she meets his eyes.

“We would have some cute kids.” His tone is teasing but there’s still something soft and affectionate in the statement.

“Oh honestly George, get a grip.” She rolls her eyes and walks away quickly. It takes all her willpower to hold in her smile until her back is turned to George. He’s not wrong she thinks to herself.

——-

She knocks lightly on the dorm room door. She can hear George’s loud laugh on the other side. She hopes he won’t be mad at her for interrupting the fun. Lee opens the door and the smile on his face is quickly replaced by a look of surprise.

“(Y/n)?” He stuns. The laughter in the room stops abruptly. She hears shuffling and soon George is peaking his head over Lee’s shoulder.

Lee quickly moves out of the way and George looks at her with a concerned look.

“(Y/n)? What are you doing here? Is everything okay?” He asks looking around to make sure there is no one else listening.

“I’m sorry to bother you, I know you were having fun there.” She feels pretty stupid now that she’s actually standing in front of him. George shakes his head vigorously to tell her it’s no problem.

“I just-“ she runs a hand through her hair. “I sort of need someone who doesn’t need help with tutoring or homework or healing salve.” The offer is months old. They haven’t even talked in weeks. She never thought she’d actually take him up on it but she didn’t know who else to turn to.

His shoulders drop and a natural smile spreads across his face. “Well then I’m your guy.” He closes the door behind him and guides her down the stairs and into the common room. It’s late, most students are in bed. George asks the few left if they could give them some privacy and they all retreat to their rooms.

“What’s up?” He asks, shoving his hands into his pockets.

She sighs and walks over to the big red couch. She sits down and buries her head into her hands. “I- I’m so tired George.” Her voice is laced with despair. “There’s just so much to do and I’m trying, I really am but I just don't know if I have it in me.”

George sits next to her, so close that their knees touch. “What are all the things you need to do?” He asks softly.

“I have to run the potions club and make that banner for the Ancient Runes Club. I have to tutor Hannah and Seamus and Zacharias and so many other people. I have to make sure Lavender is okay and that Luna found her socks. I have to listen to Hermione and Ginny talk about their boy problems and then give them advice. I have to write back to my parents and help them with their problems. I have to help McGonagall with the rat problem because no one else wants to. Madame Pomfrey said I could intern with her but that means I have to spend ten hours a week in the hospital wing. I told professor Sprout I’d help her extract pus from Bubotuber. I promised Colin I would look out for Dennis and I haven't even seen him in weeks.” It all spills out. For the first time ever she is totally transparent about her problems. “And then I have to worry about my own studies and try and keep my grades up and there’s the stress of Dumbledore’s army, what if we get caught?” She’s panting by the end suddenly feeling much lighter.

“Well maybe you could say no to a couple people. I’m sure the Ancient Runes Club can wait for a sign, Mcgonagall can take care of the rats on her own. You can say no you know.” He places a hand on her thigh and looks deep into her eyes.

“But- I can’t George! I can't say no. Those people are counting on me. What if the clubs fall apart or Seamus’ grades drop or Luna never finds her socks.” Her face is panicked.

“Let me help you.” He says it so softly. She feels a dry lump in her throat. Her jaw suddenly hurts and she feels tears well up in her eyes.

“I don’t want your help George!” She jumps off the couch and onto her feet. George’s hand slips off her thigh and onto the couch. It looks limp and sad without her leg to hold it. “I don’t need you, I was doing perfectly fine before you came around and I’ll be fine without you moving forward.” There’s a pause. “ I didn’t come here for you to save the day.” There it is. She doesn’t want to appear weak. She thinks asking for help makes her weak.

George stands up, towering over her. “Fine. If that’s how you feel then I’ll leave. I will go for good and you won’t have to worry about me meddling in your life anymore. I just want you to know that I’m offering to help because I can see how hard this is for you and I think you deserve more than what you’ve granted yourself.” George steps forward closing the gap. “I think you deserve to be taken care of for a change.” They’re inches away from each other. His face suddenly turns soft as he looks into her tear-filled eyes.

There’s a silent pause. She looks into George’s eyes and she sees the honesty, the care, the love. George is there for her when no one else is. He’s right, she is having a hard time and he’s the one offering the help. No one else. All the other people she has sworn would help her, be there for her, aren’t there. But how could they have known? She never tells them how hard it is, always caring for others. She never asks for their help. It’s not that those people don’t care. She just never opens up to them. She never permits them to be anything else than people she could help. All she ever did was give and give. She never believed she should do anything else. George is the first person who wants her to take, not give. It finally clicks. Everything that George has been trying to make her see is crystal clear now.

A tear spills from down her cheek and she feels her knees go weak. She cups her hand over her mouth trying to hold in a sob. She takes a step back shaking her head in denial. George’s face remains soft but there’s concern in his eyes.

“Hey.” He tilts his head, maintaining eye contact as she tries to look away. “It’s okay.” He pulls her towards his chest and she welcomes it. She falls into his arms as more tears fall down her cheeks. “Let it out.” He says.

With that permission (y/n) cries. She cries like never before. Loud sobs slip from her lips as her body shakes in George’s arms. She cries about all the sad secrets people have confided in her. She cries for all the days she sacrificed for others. She cries for all the “I love that you never say no”. She cries for all the grades she sacrificed to keep others high. She lets out years of pent-up tears, of hurt.

He rubs small circles on her upper back and remains quiet. She was right, there relay is something reassuring about those little circles. She cries for an hour and George never moves, never speaks, never stops her.

Finally, she sniffles her last tear and steps out of George’s arms. He reluctantly lets her go but takes her hand in his. She pulls it away to wipe at her eyes.

“Thank you.” Her voice is so delicate she would be embarrassed if it weren’t George in front of her. She laughs suddenly and George looks shocked. She soon starts crying of laughter and George gapes unsure of what to do.

“Are you okay?” He asks confused.

“I just, I hate you.” She laughs again. George looks stunned. He takes a step away from her and opens his mouth to say something but she cuts him off.

“Or so I thought. You have bugged me every day for months yet there’s no one I want here more than you.” George takes a tentative step forward. The words seem to give him confidence. “As crazy as it sounds I’ve had some of the best times talking with you because I actually said what I wanted to say. You can handle me better than anyone else. You challenge me in a way that I absolutely hate but I know why you’re doing it. You’re helping me learn to take care of myself and that’s hard because it’s something I’ve never done before.” She stops for a moment. The look in her eyes changes. First, there’s shock as she realizes. Then there’s a soft and happy glow. “I think I’m falling in love with you George.” She gasps. It’s almost a whisper. She barely wants to admit it.

“Come here.” Is all he says. She doesn’t move. Her brows knit themselves as she searches his face for an explanation. She takes a deep breath. The step towards him feels like a trust fall. He gently pulls her closer by the waist. He presses his forehead to hers. (Y/n) pushes her nose to his, bringing their lips closer to one another. He repeats the movement.

They tease each other a couple more times before George whispers “Can I kiss you?” She nods slowly and whispers a yes. He tips his head so their lips connect. His soft lips send sparks down her spine. George wraps an arm up to her back and pulls her closer quickly deepening the kiss. She wraps her arms around his next and soon her hands tangle into his fiery red hair. It feels like rain after a dry summer, like the cold side of her pillow, like the warm fire after coming in from the cold, it feels like heaven. Nothing has ever felt more right than their lips pressed together and for once, she’s giving in to what she wants.

When George pulls away she finds herself chasing his lips. She pouts a little missing the kiss. George runs a hand over her hair and looks at her adoringly.

“I’m falling for you too (y/n)”

[britishboystm]

Yoga Antics | Fred Weasley 18+

Pairing: Fred Weasley x Fem!Reader

Warnings: smut 18+ (minors dni!), unprotected vaginal penetration, male masturbation, kissing, swearing, fluff

WC: 2.9k

Summary: Y/N gets into yoga. Now Fred wants to get into Y/N...

A/N: A little something something while y’all wait for the next chapter of TDWM. Enjoy ya horny bastard!

•••

Stress management was something that you had grown to value a great deal in your free time. Even more so when you wound up marrying a Weasley twin.

It wasn’t that you didn’t absolutely adore your husband. You loved him with every fibre of your being. It was true however that sometimes you just needed a moment to yourself to unwind and recuperate, especially when living with such a hectic personality like Fred.

On the hunt for new tactics to tend to your mental health, you came across yoga, a muggle activity that Hermione had been raving about once her and Ron came back from her hometown during the Christmas break. She had said that her mom got her into it and how it made her stress levels drop drastically.

Admitly, you were skeptical at first. The idea of twisting and contorting your limbs to relax your racing mind seemed ridiculous. A simple spell should have been able to do the trick just fine, but alas one did not exist for such a thing, so you were left with not much to work with.

Hoping to persuade you, Hermione handed you a book from across the kitchen table while Ron and the twins laughed about some absolute nonsense in the living room of your home.

“Trust me Y/N. I’m usually a cynic myself about these things, but when I tell you yoga changed my life,”

She quickly glanced over at the boys to make sure their attention was averted elsewhere before leaning in so only you could hear.

“You would not believe the sex I’ve been having. Ever since I started doing yoga, I’ve been able to do things with my body that I could never imagine even in my wildest dreams.” Your eyes expanded instantly upon hearing her saucy confession. It was very unlike Hermione Granger to be so flippant about something as personal as what her and her husband did behind closed doors.

“Hermione!” You squeaked out as you shot your hands up to your flushed cheeks, embarrassed at the thought of your brother in law and best friend/sister in law in any kind of compromising situation. The image was now ingrained into your brain, an image you could easily do without no less.

Hermione lightly giggled but quickly covered it up with a cough when she noticed Ron and the twins look over at the two of you with interest.

“Everything alright ‘mione?” Ron asked, clearly oblivious to the raunchy conversation taking place between the whispering women.

“Nothing, go back to whatever you were doing.” She spoke, pursing her lips to hide a smirk. He gave her a look that read what are you up to over there? but quickly dropped it when he turned back around to continue the conversation he was having with his older brothers.

“I’m serious though, it has been an absolute godsend. I’m sure you and Fred can both get something out of it.” Your cheeks grew an even deeper red at the thought of what all of that might entail.

“Thank you for the advice Hermione. I’ll keep it in mind.” Maybe you would give the book a quick look through, if you were able to find any time during your insanely busy schedule.

“Love, time to head out?” Ron spoke as he stood up from the couch and brought over his finished cup of tea to the sink for washing later.

“Yes, we best be going. Remember what I said Y/N.” She nudged the book further towards you and got up to pull you in for a warm embrace.

“I’ll see you soon.” You spoke, giving her a warm friendly rub on the back before she went over to the door to get her ballet flats on.

“Y/N, always a pleasure.” Ron came over with a dopey smile, opening his arms to give you a big bear hug.

“Bye Ron.” He then headed over to Hermione, giving her his arm to hold on to as she struggled to get on one of her shoes.

“Only thing I’m good for, it seems.” Everyone laughed as Hermione rolled her eyes and smacked him the chest playfully.

“Oh shut it Ronald,” She jeers before opening the door.

“Bye!” The couple speak in unison as they head out the door, Fred closing it behind them.

“Well, I best be off too. I think I’ve left poor Angelina with the kids long enough.” George let out a sigh, bracing himself for what he knew he would be coming home to.

“Good luck with that mate.” Fred chuckles as he pats his brother on the shoulder.

“Bye love,” George speaks as he comes in for the usual kiss on each cheek with you.

“Bye George. Tell Angie we say hi.”

“Will do.” And then he makes his way out the door, Fred once again closing it behind him. He then turns around and looks down at you, a sly smirk dancing along his lips.

“Alone at last.” He groans before picking you up and throwing you over his shoulder.

“Gah! You big idiot, if you drop me I swear to Godric!” You screech out. Fred let’s out a laugh before abruptly bending his knees, pretending to lose his grip on you. Your hand comes in contact with his back with a loud smack.

“I’m serious Fred, don’t do it!” He chuckles again before plopping you down on one of the couches in the living room. He shifts about so he was now straddling your waist. His hair, which he had been growing out, covered his face slightly. You brought your hand up to caress his light stubble ridden cheek.

He sighs out in contentment and flutters his eyes shut, leaning into your touch and kissing the knuckle of your thumb.

“Hi.” You say sweetly with bright sparkling eyes as you begin to twirl his fiery red locks between your delicate fingers.

“Hi.” His soft voice makes your stomach flutter. To this day you still experienced the same excitement you would get when you first started dating Fred back in school.

“Can we have sex?” He asks out of the blue.

You couldn’t help but laugh at his request. Ever since you tied the knot, the mystery and suspense your sex life once had began to simmer. Being upfront about both of your wants and needs became a part of the beauty of your marriage. No secrets were kept and no childish games were played. If one of you wanted it, all you had to do was ask.

“Only if you carry me, ‘m tired.” You spoke, going back to playing with his hair.

“Works for me.” His face lit up as he lifts you up off of the couch and carries you bridal style up to your shared bedroom.

You had to admit, Hermione was right.

The morning after that visit, you began to read tidbits of the book she gave you.

Not wanting to answer a billion questions, you kept the material out of your husband's sight. You knew he would become super curious and make you explain everything to him, and having just begun learning yourself, you decided it was best to keep it hidden away. Again, this concept was feorgein to the wizarding world so you couldn’t blame him.

It really did work out perfectly. Once you felt that you had gotten the hang of it, every morning after Fred left for the shop, you would set up in the living room and practice your yoga.

It honestly felt awful at first. Your body was so tight and tense that you had almost given up completely after your first time doing it.

But not wanting to throw in the towel so early, you kept it up until you began noticing a slight change in your body. Little things like being able to touch your toes or go into a deep lunge were gratifying and it almost became a bit of a drug to you. Not to mention it helped you sleep like a baby.

Fred was also starting to notice a difference. Knowing you were tight all over, sex usually consisted of fairly mild positions that didn’t put to much of a strain on your body. But that one random night in which you were suddenly able to bring your legs up to wrap around his neck as he pounded into you set off alarms in his head.

You had done something and he was going to get to the bottom of it.

That was a while ago.

Since then, you had fully converted to a life of zen, and yoga was your remedy to all of the worries that plagued your mind. Mornings were becoming easier and easier to face as Fred would shut the door behind him and you would pull out your yoga blocks and mat.

And this morning began like any other. The sun seeped through your white translucent curtains which made Fred groan in irritation. He hated getting up in the morning.

He turned over to face you and slowly opened his eyes, watching you shift about and slowly begin to wake up yourself.

“What time is it?” You spoke, nuzzling your face into his bare chest.

“7:15.” He was able to croak out in his scruffy morning voice.

“Off to work then?” You asked, finally looking up at him with this innocent and soft look that never failed to make him turn into a puddle of emotions.

“Off to work indeed.” He sighed, running a hand through his hair, flopping on to his back to allow himself to wake up more.

“You're going to be late if you don’t get a move on.” He smiled at this before deciding to scoop you up into his arms so you were now laying on your stomach on top of him.

“George can manage for a bit can’t he?” He asked as he moved your crazy morning hair out of your eyes so he could get a better look at you. Your chin rested against his sternum as you rolled your eyes.

“Remember last time you tried to pull that stunt? He threatened to hex you.” Fred winced at the memory.

“Better not then huh?” He grimaces slightly, already knowing the answer to his question.

“Well unless you are willing to have your hair be green for the next year, then yeah I wouldn’t. Now stop stalling and get your arse up!” You say, pinching his hip which makes him arch up slightly underneath your touch.

“If you do that again I may never get out of bed.” His smirk would usually get to you but no one could ever get between you and your yoga sessions. Even Fred Gideon Weasley.

“Nice try Casanova, that isn’t going to work this time,” You lifted the sheets off of both of you and got out of bed to take a shower.

Later that morning, Fred ran over to you, pressing a kiss to your temple before grabbing a orange from the fruit bowl and rushing out the door for work.

You smiled knowingly, waiting for at least a minute before jumping up from your spot on the couch and ran back into your bedroom. Never in your life had you been so excited to wear spandex.

Once your setup was organized, you quickly got into child’s pose, hoping to give your begging joints and muscles a gentle wake up. It felt so good that the groan you emitted covered up the sound of the front door opening and closing.

Fred was back.

He had come from downstairs, having forgotten important paperwork he had to fill out for some possible investors. But the heavy package of documents seemed to have slipped his mind for a second time when he came across your arse stretched out in the bent over position.

His trousers tightened almost instantly and his finger had to come up and tug at his shirt collar that had suddenly become too tight.

Unaware of his presence, you continued your late morning with no care in the world. Feeling satisfied, your body moved up into a downward dog. Your lower legs and ankles gasped out in gratitude as you slowly leaned deeper and deeper into the upside pose.

That’s when you saw him.

Between your legs, you were able to notice a pair of brown dress shoes, one tapping away impatiently. Your eyes went wide and your throat let out a squeak, making you collapse to the floor and quickly turn to look up at your amused and very turned on husband.

“So this is what you’ve been doing when I’m away?” Your cheeks were all flushed, partly from the blood rushing to your face when you were upside down and partly due to Fred looming over you in a dominating stance.

“Fred I-.” You quickly tried to cover your tracks. Explain that it was a stupid thing Hermione told you about and that it didn’t matter.

“Hush love, I’m not mad.” He said through a relaxed chuckle.

“You’re not?”

“How could I? You are so fucking fit babes.” Your cheeks burned stronger and your eyes flitted down to the mat beneath you.

“Hey dove, no need to be shy. I liked what you were doing there. What was it anyway?” He was now crouched in front of you, lightly tracing his thumb against your cheek.

“Yoga, supposed to make you feel less stressed and more flexible.” You could see the gears turning in his head.

“Oh so I have yoga to thank for the amazing shagging we have been having recently then?” His comment made you giggle, making him swoon in return.

“Show me more. I want to watch.” God he knew how to make your stomach twirl. His face was no longer soft, but rather dark and naughty. The lust that was connecting the two of you caused your leggings to dampen. You shifted, now feeling slightly uncomfortable with sitting in your own wetness.

“What, you feeling uncomfy? Here I’ll help.” Before you could respond, he laid you on your back and dragged you towards him along the mat, his hands gripping the back of your thighs.

“Shall I take these off then?” He asked, an eyebrow raised in question. He was playing a game and he knew he had already won.

“Yes please.” Your voice was breathy and soft. He aggressively grabbed the waistband of your legging and tugged them down your legs.

Once they were in a wet mess somewhere in a corner of the living room, he bent down between your legs to pull you in for a kiss. Your hands went up to his hair and your legs wrapped around his torso, slightly grinding up into him.

His lips detached from yours and he looked down to notice your desperate actions.

“Awe love, you all worked up now?” He was obviously teasing you. Hell if anything, he was more bothered then you were, but he was always better at keeping his emotions below the surface.

“Want you to show me what you were doing again. This time in your undies babes.” You nodded urgently and turned yourself around, going into a cow position.

His heavy breathing and warm palms on your arse cheeks made his presence very much known.

You pushed back slightly, hoping he would get the hint.

“Patient, I’ll deal with you in a minute. Want to see more first.” Gaining some power, you got up and pushed him back, indicating for him to move onto the couch, giving him a front row seat to what would become his favourite show.

You pulled out every suggestive pose in the book. At one point, when you were able to look over at his reaction, his tie had come undone along with some buttons and his hand was fisted around his cock.

He looked heavenly sitting there, one arm draped along the top of the couch and his head thrown back in pure pleasure. He should have been back to work by now but neither one of you cared.

“Fuck, keep it up love.” You wanted his finish, not his hand so you stopped your performance and crawled over to him, kneeling between his spread open legs.

Without speaking a single word, your mouth opened wide, your tounge stretched out in a plea for his cum.

“You want me down your throat darling?” You nodded, eyes shut in patience. His groans increased and your palms began to sweat as anticipation grew all through your body.

But nothing came.

One of your eyes opened in confusion only for you to be met with him coming off of the couch and pushing you back into the mat once more. He stretched your legs open wide and moved your thong to the side. There was no time to adjust as his length rammed into you. Instantly gripping his biceps you let out a cry of submission and pleasure.

“Feel so nice and warm. Want you nice and wide for me when I finish yeah? Are you going to finish with me little dove?” You could only let out a wail of acceptance as you sobbed.

His drilling quickened and quickened until you both finally were able to come as one, something you had yet to achieve in your relationship. He let out a surprised laugh at the accomplishment before collapsing on top of you in exhaustion.

“Thank Merlin for yoga.” He spoke through heavy breaths.

[vagrantblvrd]

Cannot stop thinking about the whole bounty hunter thing, right?

So.

The one where Din - Very Tired and Very Put Upon Din - is tasked with bringing in this Utter Menace Luke Skywalker.

By a very lovely, very terrifying Leia Organa-Solo.

“...Alive?”

He doesn’t get the feeling as annoyed as Organa-Solo seems that she wants this Skywalker dead, but it’s always nice to get a confirmation on that one. Cuts down on confusion/dissatisfied clients.

Din is mildly concerned at the long moment of silence that follows his question - the scruffy looking man beside seems to be as well -

“Leia, he’s your brother,” said scruffy looking man says, and which Din is careful not to show a reaction to because what is wrong with these people???

Organa-Solo sniffs disdainfully, and if Din wasn’t so concerned at his precarious situation, what with being in the New Republic’s seat of power and all the armed guards and such, he’d be out of there so damned fast!!1!

But.

Precarious position and so on.

“If you must,” she finally allows, which makes the scruffy looking man drop his face into his hands and muttering to himself about marrying into a family of dramatic assholes.

Organa-Solo doesn’t react as if this is something that happens frequently, and anyway, none of Din’s business, so.

Din - Very Tired and Very Put upon Din - accepts.

Because there’s really no other choice when someone in Organa-Solo’s position of power “asks” him to do his damn job, right?

And then Din and wacky shenanigans in chasing after this Skywalker guy, right? Hopping from planet to planet and just a little too late to catch him the first few times.

He almost thinks Skywalker is toying with him - but then that time on some dusty little planet somewhere where he actually sees Skyalker, goes after him where the bastard realizes he has a Mandalorian bounty hunter on his tail?

And the guy is like :O! at first, which is vaguely gratifying/kind of exhausting?

(Gratifying in that sometimes the reputation Mandalorians have gained for themselves is helpful in this line of work, exhausting because, you know, they have that sort of reputation and it’s just. A Lot sometimes.)

Anyway.

After a chase though a bus marketplace and so on, to Din’s frustration and what is wrong with these people, Skywalker is laughing at him???

Escapes, because of course he does, leaving Din in a predicament involving annoyed locals and an fines and such for the damages incurred in said chase through a busy marketplace.

To Din’s surprise, Organa-Solo tells him she’ll handle the fines herself when he calls her to let her know per their contract agreement - that he’s finally made contact with Skywalker.

(Also the part where he was arrested and apparently there’s a note in his file/whatever that if something like this would happen whoever arrested him was to have Din contact her or some other plot convenient reason in which Din wonders what horrible thing he must have done for luck like this. Also. What is wrong with these people???)

After Din’s released and goes back to chasing after Skywalker he makes the unpleasant realization that he had no idea what Organa-Solo meant when she categorized Skywalker as an Utter Menace.

Chasing Skywalker was frustrating as hell before their little meeting, but afterwards when he knows for certain Din’s after him?

He’s a nightmare.

Sets up obstacles and distractions in the way now, people coming up to Din when he’s this close to catching the bastard on some planet and being all soft and scared and in need of help a Mandalorian bounty hunter like Din can’t say no to?

Stories laced with tragedy or quiet sorrows and there was a man - nice young man - who said he was a friend of this bounty hunter who’d be right after him who could help. They don’ have a lot of money, but would gladly give what they do have to Din if he can help and it’s like.

He can’t say no to them, now can he? Not when he sees the look on their faces and hears their stories and as aggravating as Skywalker and this whole...nonsense to do with him Din’s caught up in, some things are more important.

And if Din catches Skywalker’s eye across that crowded marketplace and sees this odd little smile on his face, something to it that Din has to look away from like Skywalker knew Din wouldn’t turn someone in need away the way he should, because Skywalker is right there and Din’s a bounty hunter, well. That’s a thing that happens sometimes.

(The same way he’ll catch a glimpse of a hooded figure in black at the edges of a gunfight/shitshow Din gets himself into helping whatever person Skywalker’s tossed his way this time lending Din a hand before disappearing in the smoke and chaos once everything’s over.)

Thing continue on like that for a while until Din catches up to Skywalker on some planet somewhere. Tracks him to the ruins of what looks like a temple of some sort and they get ambushed by other bounty hunters hired by Imperial remnants and then it’s working together to not die horribly.

Trudging through the jungle to get back to their ships after wacky shenanigans and death-defying escapes and such.

Skywalker amused about something the whole time, not even putting up a fight or trying to escape, which is just. What is wrong with these people???

Skywalker just shrugs when Din asks, odd little smile on his face and laughter in his eyes and -

“Go to sleep, Skywalker. We’ll be at the ships in the morning.”

Which they do, and Din’s giving his a looking over suspecting sabotage or whatever because that would be just his luck after the last few days - weeks, months, however long since he was brought before Organa-Solo and her consort/husband/???

Skywalker’s sitting at the edge of the clearing they’d both used o lad their ships, sitting on a fallen log, face turned up to soak in the warmth of the sun and looking so.

Serene, content.

Like he’s not been caught by the bounty hunter on his trail after nearly being taken/killed by another set of bounty hunters and Imperial remnants and Din knows, alright, he’s known for a while that this isn’t his usual kind of job.

Never mind it was given to him by someone like Organa-Solo, just. Skywalker and the kinds of messes he stumbles into that Din inevitably stumbles into as well.

Din stares at Skywalker for a long moment, and sighs.

Annoyed at himself because something about Skywalker and his everything and Din is so, so annoyed at himself as he tosses the keys to the cuffs Skywalker’s wearing and walks away from the whole damn thing.

“Hey!”

Because maybe Din tossed said keys at Skywalkers head, but that’s neither here nor there.

Din doesn’t look back at Skywalker as he goes into his ship, sure as hell doesn’t look down at him watching Din take off, leave his damn bounty behind because he knows that would as much a mistake as having taken the bounty in the first place.

He contacts Organa-Solo, tells her he lost track of Skywalker and pretends he doesn’t see the knowing look on her face or hear the quiet breath of laugh before she tells him it’s what happens when someone tries to bring someone like him in.

Tells him he can keep what payment she gave him in advance, that she’ll send him the rest and good luck with everything else and that’s that for the bounty, perhaps they can work together in the future sometime.

He doesn’t trust it at first, of course, suspects a trap or some other trick, but as time goes by he realizes none seems to be in store for him.

And then he goes back to Mandalore, because he’s got a kid waiting on him, and also the whole...Darksaber bit and anyway, anyway, he’s got a lot going on in his life.

Months later, though, and he’s...somewhere...kid asleep in his arms and some drink or other in front of him in a quiet little bar on some quiet little world somewhere and a hooded figure in black takes a seat across from him.

Has this odd little smile on his face when he pulls his hood down, eyes taking in the tiny green gremlin of a kid in Din’s arms.

Din himself.

“You know,” Skywalker muses, amused about something. “I never did ask what my sister offered you to being me in.”

He says it like it’s nothing, like it’s normal for his sister to place a bounty on his head, to ensnare someone like Din to go after him.

No threats, nothing overt, but. She’d known he was quietly asking around about Jedi, and it wouldn’t take much to find out about the tiny green gremlin of a kid, and there’s no running when someone powerful as Organa-Solo has you in her sights. Better to swallow his pride and do as he’s asked than refuse outright for the kid’s sake if nothing else.

(But. After he told her he lost track of Skywalker and that knowing look of hers, the promise he’d receive the rest of his payment, she’d also offered to help him in his search for a Jedi, which. Yes.)

Din stares at Skywalker because really what is wrong with these people???

Din sighs, quiet little thing, and looks at the kid asleep in his arms. Watches him for a moment, always too much in his heart for a tiny green gremlin of a kid, and then he looks up at Skywalker.

There’s a moment, and then a quiet breath of laughter from Skywalker, so much like his sister’s.

“Ah,” he says, and then -

“I could help, if you’d like.”

At which point Din is like what, because the whole Skywalker is a Jedi, and also his sister is devious.

“...what.”

She heard about a Mandalorian asking about a Jedi and looked into it while Skywalker was gallivanting about the galaxy seeking out Jedi relics and the whatnot. Worried about her idiot of a brother and knowing full well he could handle himself, but still.

Idiot of a brother, but also idiot of a Mandalorian and it was her way of gauging what sort of threat Din was to her idiot of a brother.

“What.”

Sure, she’d heard stories that said Mandalorian wasn’t all bad, but still.

Bounty hunter???

Skywalker just laughs, soft and fond, like hey, no, sending a bounty hunter after her brother is just a thing she does sometimes.

Really though, what is wrong with these people???

Anyway, for reasons unknown to him and against his better judgement, Din goes along with Luke to some remote planet somewhere. The guy says he can help with Grogu, deliberately, infuriatingly, vague about the how of it, but Din goes anyway because he is, indeed, an idiot of a bounty hunter.

And then he finds out Skywalker’s a Jedi.

Skywalker.

A Jedi.

“Uh...I thought you knew?”

Din did not.

Skywalker frowns, clearly thinking back to all their encounters and wacky shenanigans from months back and has this “Oh,” moment, before he gets this sheepish look on his face.

Din carefully doesn’t sigh as he watches Skywalker, no.

“Yes,” he says, carefully pulling Grogu’s hand away from the leather strap across the front of his armor. “’Oh.’“

For the first time ever Skywalker apologizes, and Din is just.

He, too, is thinking back to their wacky shenanigans and all the grief Skywalker caused him and that’s when he sighs.

(What else is he supposed to do?)

“Can you teach him?” he asks, Grogu reachig for some flying insect fluttering by and Din keeping him from falling without a second thought.

Sees the way Skywalker’s face goes all quiet and soft, smile kicking up at the corner of his mouth.

“I can,” he says, like it’s just that simple a thing.

Din has to look away for a moment, too much in his heart at the moment, and Skywalker laughs and just.

Yes.

And then awkward flirting and overtures as Skywalker trains Grogu in the ways of the Force and so on.

Also?

“Do you even know how to use that thing?” in regards to the Darksaber.

Din would be insulted, offended, if they weren’t at the edge of a clear, blue lake, sun setting behind the temple and little Grogu tired from a day of lessons and babbling to himself in Din’s arms.

But it seems like something not worth getting worked up about - he’s learnig to pick his battles with Skywalker, Utter Menace that he is, something his sister wasn’t wrong about.

"Hm,” Din says, and lets Skywalker convince him into getting saber lessons from him, what with him being a Jedi and all, and very carefully doesn’t laugh as that would just encourage Skywalker.

And then, okay, then there are saber lessons and sparring and Skywalkers bright, happy smiles and laughter and Din isn’t completely useless with the Darksaber, you know. Manages to disarm Skywalker, pin him up against one of the old trees at the edge of the training ground Skywalker’s set up.

Utter Menace of a Jedi grinning up at him without the sly edge of the smirk that’s been on his face since they started training and little goading remarks. So it’s inevitable Din leans his head down to press his forehead against Skywalker’s, too much in his heart for him the way it’s been for a while now, and Skywalker’s quiet laughter in his ear and, Din thinks, it feels like home.

Also, though, also.

Luke deliberately avoiding awards ceremonies and other horrific events in which the Hero of the Rebellion is expected to attend and a very beautful, very terrifying Leia Organa-Solo contacts Din to task him with bringing her Utter Menace of a brother in to accept the honors to be bestowed upon him, he can’t keep running away like this. Please, Din.

“...Alive?” Din asks, because the clarification is important.

Leia gives Din a look that says she honestly doesn’t care at this point, but it’s become something of a joke between them.

More so when he hears Solo yelling a reminder from somewhere behind Leia that Luke is her brother, and the frustration on her face melts away.

“If you must,” she says, smile on her face so much like her brother’s.

Din, fond/terrified of Leia as he is, accepts. Tracks his Utter Menace down to some remote planet and the Jedi ruins he’s poking through and is like.

“Do you want to know how much your sister offered me to bring you in this time?”

Skywalker shugs, but there’s a quirk to his mouth Din recognizes as trouble.

“Do you want to hear my counter-offer, instead?”

Trouble, the way knew Din it would be, because Skywalker’s walking - stalking - towards him.

“No,” Din says, because he can’t be bought so easily, but then there’s Luke in front of him, confident and easy and natural as anything to let him get so close.

Luke’s smile slides into a smirk - Utter Menace - and the smugness is not endearing at all.

At all.

Stop looking at him like that. >:(((((((((((((((

(Din still brings Luke back, because Leia, but it takes a while. Because reasons.)

[raphaelsrightarm]

hey. so i was wondering if you can do a headcannon on the turtles s/o being an nba cheerleader for the knicks. like how they would find out, they’re reaction to seeing you in your uniform, and watching you perform at halftime. thank you:)

Ok so I wrote this with the idea that being a cheerleader is sort of like a part time thing for them and that’s how the boys haven’t found out yet also because cheerleaders are very underpaid and I feel like this would make more sense if they had a full time job and cheer is something on the side so I hope you like it!

Leo:

-Leo would find out when he’s telling you that he going to go watch the game with his brothers on the same day that you’re going to be cheering for the Knicks

-You casually bring up that you’ll be there as well, except you’ll be cheering

- At first he doesn’t really understand what you mean, but you tell him that you’ve been cheering for a while now, and while you have a full time job, cheer is something that you do on the game days for the Knicks

- At first he thinks you’re messing with him about it until you pull your uniform out of your closet

- His eyes go wide and he’s a bit speechless at first and is wondering how he missed it??

- He asks how long you’ve been doing that and you end up talking to him about cheering throughout high school

- I think that Leo would really like things like cheer and other types of dancing (secretly of course) and so he would really be interested in your routines and stuff like that 

- Leo loves your legs so seeing you in your uniform is like a drug to him, and seeing you perform is his weakness

- Whenever he watches you do your routines, he always has this mesmerized look on his face that his brothers will make fun of him for but he couldn’t care less

- There are times where he sees your stunts when he gets a bit nervous, just because he would never want you to get hurt

- He knows how much work you put in and so to see it all coming to life during your performance is so gratifying 

- He’s just so proud of you and for following your dreams 

Raph:

- You and Raph were hanging out at your place and the two of you decided to go onto the roof together

- When you open your closet to get a jacket, he sees the uniform and automatically recognizes the colors because that’s his team ya know?

- His mind goes right to it being like some kind of costume for sexy time and all that ;)

- Say something like “Why haven’t you shown me this yet, tiger?” while tapping your butt

- You just giggle and tell him that it’s your actual uniform and that you cheer for the team

- He is in a bit of disbelief at first, then you pull up a few videos of the times you performed during halftime in the past and he can’t take his eyes off of the screen

- He would love for you to show him some of your routines and would want to know what you do during your practices

- He would honestly be a bit shocked by how much skill is needed to be a cheer leader

- Like don’t get me wrong he knows it must be difficult whenever he watches it but hearing about it from you he realizes that a lot more effort is put in than he first thought

- It makes him respect the sport of cheer more

- Seeing you perform at halftime he is fascinated because he goes from seeing you in videos and practicing in your living room to seeing you owning the court with the rest of your team and he is just feels so proud of you

- Will always tell you how amazing you were afterwards 

Donnie:

- Donnie would find out when he was bored and looking through Knicks stuff and then boom

- He sees you with the other cheerleaders in your uniform and then it all starts making sense to him whenever you talk about practice 

- He sees you in that skirt and that tank top and skirt and he is just hooked 

- But he doesn’t bring it up though because he figures that if you wanted him to know you would tell him so he would wait for you to bring it up

- When you finally do tell him about it in conversation, he asks you if you're happy with it

- Because as long as you’re happy then so is he

- He would ask to see you in your uniform, because although he saw it in the picture he would want to see it in real life, and when you show him he would just think you look so incredibly beautiful

- he would learn some cheer lingo so he could talk to you about it without you having to explain everything

- During halftime, he would watch you from he jumbotron and would remember every step of the routine and would be doing it in his mind with you, and would just be so proud 

- During the games where he can’t be there and he watches from the lair, you always wink at the camera, which is meant specifically for him, which always makes him feel warm inside

-  He would strut around proud as a peacock afterwards, constantly saying how amazing you were

- Donnie really loves to see you passionate about things and to see you working so hard for this is just another reason which he loves you

Mikey:

- He would find out when he drops by your place to surprise you one night and he sees you practicing in your living room

- You found out he was there when you finished your dance and heard clapping and praising words behind you

- He asked you what the dance was for, and you told him that it was your cheer for the Knicks game coming up and he is OVER THE MOON

- He would ask a bunch of questions like “how long have you been a cheerleader?” ”Have you met any of the players?” “What’s it like being on the team?”

- Honestly he’s just very excited for you and has a million questions all at once

- He loves seeing you in your uniform. Like he loves your body no matter what it’s in but there just something about the uniform that drives him C R A Z Y

- Oh god this boy couldn't not handle watching you perform

- He is constantly nudging his brothers and saying how amazing you are and how great you’re doing 

- At some points he would mostly be cheering for you while you’re on the sidelines instead of paying attention to the game

- Would sometimes be naughty and ask you keep the uniform on afterwards; he just thinks you look so pretty in it!!

- He is you own personal hype man and would always support you