#it’s funny they kind of both saw each other in pictures first and while leon was immediately having a crush
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winksasleeplesseye · 1 year ago
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now that I think about it…leon definitely fell first and amara fell harder and that’s on peeta and katniss level vibes/trope
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blueberrypancakesworld · 7 hours ago
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Aahh I love your Ramon fanfics! Could you write a fluffy fanfic involving Ramon x Leon (if that doesn't work, then an x reader, male) where Ramon just has to bear with the other person teasing him and poking his sides, talking about his height and how cute he is?
The little lord and the big soldier
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Leon x Ramón
warning : fluff, comfort
summary : What if Leon wasn't on a mission, what if Ashley got along with Krauser and Leon couldn't help teasing little lord Ramón at a time when they were friends instead of enemies.
info: Thanks anon for the request, at first I wanted to do x reader but I thought the idea was kind of funny. Enjoy reading, it's not the longest but I hope you like it anyway ;)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
°From the moment he set foot through the door and arrived at the castle, Leon knew something was wrong here. They were in the twenty-first century, not the Middle Ages, and Ashley, too, wrinkled her nose at the antiquity. ,,Who owns such a big treasure?” she asked aloud. Before Leon could answer, they saw a shadow above them, a large shadow belonging to a small man.
°Ramón Salazar, the castellan and heir of the family, the lord of this province, a man of a large ego but small stature. ,,I ask you to accept my friendship as a guest,” he invited the two. However, it quickly became apparent that Ashley was much more interested in Krauser, who took the “little mouse,” as he called her, away from the two men for training.
°A decision Leon had no problem with, better to make friends than to shoot his way through guards and cultists. ,,A great kindness, your... little Grace,” he still couldn't help the comment and saw the warning look on Ramón's face, which he tried to ignore. But the situation was so absurd that Ramón, who looked even smaller standing over him, was more absurd and cute. Like a walking piece of fluff with that wig.
°He couldn't help but kneel down, look down or touch his white hair every time he met Ramón while they were in the castle. ,,Stop that!” Ramón snapped at some point, trying to get his bow tie back, which Leon held high in the air. ,,A little higher, my little lord,” the American laughed and clicked his tongue when Ramón simply kicked him on the foot.
°The two hated and liked each other, and whenever Ramón needed help, Leon was there, whether it was to give him a book from the high shelves, to pick him up or to carry him. In return, Ramón was happy to give Leon something of the Spanish history and to understand the language better. ,,Try again, you sound like a stupid giant,” Ramón countered to the taller of the two, who was looking almost desperately at the Spanish book.
°That's how it was when Leon wasn't picking on Ramón because of his size; they picked on each other just to chase after each other like wild. Which usually ended in a tea party in the afternoon, where Ashley and Krauser just wondered what was wrong with the two of them.
°But at the end of the day, when Leon Ramón sat in front of the fireplace, bent over a family picture, the blonde put a hand on the younger's shoulder, ,,Despite everything, they are proud of you,” he said, seeing the grateful look on Ramón's face as he leaned his head on Leon's shoulder and both of them simply enjoyed the quiet company.
°Despite their coming and going, there were moments when Ramón made his new friend, his first friend, and maybe someday more comforting teas when Leon lost himself in nightmares of his past. The American, in return for Ramón's support, tried to build him up and, as they walked through the garden. Leon practiced shooting with his pistols and the Lord with a crossbow, which both of them surprisingly enjoyed, especially when they were laughing and hugging each other afterwards.
°You didn't always have to be at each other's throats, you could just be friends who understood each other more despite the big and small differences.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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naranciasimp · 4 years ago
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Hello! I’d like to request some headcannons. The gang and their s/o (separate, not poly) are on a little boat trip, and somehow, s/o has managed to fall off the boat and into the water. S/o can swim and the waters are calm, so s/o isn’t in any real danger, just kinda annoyed. How does the gang react?
AN: Just for context I was picturing a boat kind of like the one they went on in Part Five, but you can imagine whatever you want. Also in some of these the reader more or less laughs it off rather than getting annoyed. I hope you enjoy!
Bucciarati Gang on a Boat and Their S/O Accidentally Falls Into the Water
Bruno Bucciarati
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You and Bruno were out on a boat fishing together.
He’s really good at fishing (because his father taught him) so he wanted to take you out to share something that means a lot to him with you.
Everything was going great.
You were both sitting on the boat just looking into the water.
You thought you saw a fish swim by so you ran to the ledge to go see.
That’s when you ran to quickly and down into the water you went.
Bruno immediately got up and was ready to dive into the water.
Just when he was about to come and save you, you began shaking your head and laughing.
You were perfectly ok and were just treading water.
Bruno’s worried expression fell from his face.
He laughed a bit and you did too.
Bucciarati helped you back up and gave you a kiss on your head.
He loves you so much it’s unreal.
Leone Abbacchio
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It was a very nice evening.
The weather was great and the sun was setting which made the sky look beautiful.
You thought that going on a boat could be a fun thing to do.
It took a little bit of convincing but Leone decided that he would go with you.
You were both sitting down next to one another making small talk.
You got up for a moment to get a better look at the sky.
You went to lean on ledge and that’s when you tumbled down into the water.
Abbacchio immediately panicked.
He yelled your name and ran to the ledge.
Leone was about to jump in for you when your head popped up.
You were laughing and acting like nothing happened.
The look of concern that he had immediately turned into one of annoyance but also a sense of relief.
He rolled his eyes at you and helped you get out of the water.
“Awe, you were worried about me,” you playfully said.
“Shut up,” Leone mumbled.
You just giggled more. You know that he loves you even if he tries to hide it.
Giorno Giovanna
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It was your idea to go onto the boat.
Giorno saw how happy you look when you asked him so of course said yes.
You both sat down on the ledge talking to each other about whatever came to mind.
At one point you forgot that you were sitting on the edge of a boat and went to go lean back.
Down into the water you went.
Giorno was worried at first.
When he looked down into the water he saw you treading water with an annoyed look on your face.
A small smile formed on his face now that he knew you were safe.
He didn’t wast any time getting you out of the water and back onto the boat.
Giovanna saw that you were still ticked off when you got onto the boat.
So he grabbed you hand and kissed it.
Your annoyed expression went away and a slightly embarrassed one showed up.
Guido Mista
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You both thought it would be a cute date idea to go onto a boat together.
Mista was telling you about all of his crazy theory’s while you listened and added to some of his ideas.
You both stood leaning on the ledge of the boat staring into the water.
You went to go turn around but you slipped and fell off the boat.
Mista began laughing so hard.
You were a bit annoyed about how funny he thought this was.
You told him to knock it off but he kept of laughing.
“Ok, I’m sorry, I’ll help you now,” Mista said while trying to calm himself down.
He helped you back onto the boat and gave you a towel.
You sighed and Mista gave you a smile. “Come on, it was a bit funny.”
You just shook your head, “I guess it was,” you said.
He gave you a kiss and you two both began laughing at what just happened.
Narancia Ghirga
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You and Narancia were on a date together.
You were just walking around together with no goal or idea of what to do today.
That’s when Narancia saw a boat and got super excited.
Before you could say anything he was pulling you towards the boat saying you two need to go on it right now.
He was so cute you couldn’t even consider saying no to him.
You were both on the boat blaring music and looking around at the blue sky.
Narancia yelled you name and told you to come over to him.
You ran to him and noticed he was looking into the water.
“What is it Nara?”
You looked to your side and realized he wasn’t there.
Before you could move he pushed you over the edge.
Now you were stuck treading water while he was on the boat laughing his head off.
“You think this is funny,” you yelled at him.
He continued to laugh and nodded his head.
“At least help me back up,” you said a bit annoyed.
Narancia stopped laughing and went to go give you a hand.
That’s where he messed up.
You grabbed his hand and pulled him into the water with you.
Nara was now in the same position you were.
You two looked at each other for a moment before you both started laughing again.
Narancia began splashing water onto your already soaked body and you did the same to him.
You expected no less from your childish boyfriend.
Pannacotta Fugo
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You suggested the idea of going on a boat together.
Fugo thought it would be nice to get away from everyone.
So you both ended up on a boat date.
You both were on the boat just enjoying each other’s company.
Pannacotta pointed out clouds that looked slightly different from the others.
That was the start of you and him cloud watching together.
At some point you got up and walked to the ledge.
Not really paying attention to any thing but the clouds you lost your balance and tripped.
You yelped and fell into the water.
Fugo ran to go save you, but he saw you swimming in the water.
You weren’t struggling so that made him feel a bit better.
Pannacotta grabbed your hand and he helped you get back up onto the boat.
You were fine but he wouldn’t stop worrying.
“Are you ok? You’re not hurt right!?”
You just laughed. “Fugo I’m fine.”
Fugo stopped worrying for a moment and looked at you.
He sighed and pulled you into a hug, not caring that you were soaked.
You could only shake your head and hug him back.
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marciego · 3 years ago
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Could you do Naty for the hc ask game?? Thank you!
yesss best girl!! i'm not sure i have that many naty hcs but i'll do everything i have an answer for <3
1. Childhood headcanon
i think that the main reason she was distant with lena in s1 is because she used not to let her in to protect herself, because naty isn't confident in herself, or in her skills, and lena was younger, had always been kind of a gifted child, so "mature for her age", and obviously no one ever said that in a negative way, neither lena nor their parents, but i really think it was hard to handle for naty, which is why she probably pushed her away at the time
tho it just makes their relationship and their closeness later on more precious, because they were both hurting because of this distance so <3
3. A headcanon that you think a lot of people have
that she kisses girls
4. A headcanon for their future
MY GIRL IS KILLING IT AT SONGWRITING i just know it. obviously she keeps working with lena, but i want her to work with the whole industry, be behind every single bop latinamerica and europe see, i want her to write songs for fran and leon and produce songs with maxi and collab with diego on some songs, i want her to enjoy this at the fullest while still getting to work with her friends!!
also i kind of have this hc that the old youmix fans lose their shit a little every time they see the studio kids working with each other in their career, so imagining them reading naty's name next to diego's on fran's album in the credits and losing it is like.....a really nice thought i think
5. sad headcanon
i think even tho she got better at believing in herself, sometimes she has to deal with a pretty bad impostor syndrome, especially since she becomes pretty big in the industry as a songwriter, and it's a bit too much to deal with at times. her friends are always there to try to help her, but yeah it doesn't stop the feeling from being there
6. funny headcanon
so leon/naty was the unexpected s3 friendship i didn't know i needed but i've been obsessed with them since i saw their scenes, so i think they keep growing closer, working together etc, and sometimes leon will tell her some surprise he has for vilu or something because like, she's his friend and they're chatting you know. and every time, EVERY SINGLE TIME, she messes up and tells ludmila who immediately goes to vilu like "GUESS WHAT'S HAPPENING"
8. favourite headcanon you ever had
i think she's DEFINITELY the kind of person who spends hours making cute gifts for her friends, and i think she made some kind of friendship bracelets for everyone at the studio and gave it to them at graduation (including marco who would Not have missed this), and most of them still wear them in their every day lives. fran will go on stage with hers, ludmila proudly posts pictures on instagram showing off her wrist and tagging naty, broduey kisses his every time before going on stage as a good luck charm, maxi's is watching over him in his studio to give him strength when the artists he's dealing with are too much to handle, camila put hers on a chain to always have it hanging close to her heart beneath her clothes, leon and violetta put theirs next to each other every night before going to sleep....it's a reminder that no matter what, even if they're in argentina, brazil, england, spain or italy, they're still together
9. headcanon that you want to be a canon
editing this because what the fuck happened the first time. anyway tumblr changed my answer to this??? but what i wanted to say was, she practiced that kiss with camila like a billion times it's canon i won't hear anything else
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moonylvi · 4 years ago
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Nct ot23 reaction to their s.o being really shy and blushing all the time 💗💞
A/N: Thank you so much for requesting this. It's actually my first ever reaction and I really hope you like it.💕 Also please tell me if I made a mistake, English isn't my native language. Disclaimer: This is purely fictional, means it's an AU and in no way meant to harm anyone.  Pairings: ¹/23 memberX gn! reader Warnings: Cringe-worthy content and me trying to be funny and writing some reactions longer than intended. Genre: Fluff, partly crackish?
Taeil:  Okay, I honestly think he would tease u. Gemini things, I don't make the rules. It was a super awkward moment because he told you one of his jokes, making you burst into laughter. And with that, you accidentally spit on his arm. Of course you immediately cleaned it, not being able to look at him for good 3 hours. When you finally reappeared from behind your scarf, he couldn't help, but to make another dumb joke, connected to you spitting on him.
Johnny:  Would definitely bug you about, why you suddenly acted all shy and blushed everytime he told you to look at him. Started teasing you without knowing the reason, until you finally told him that you had walked in on him showering earlier. Broke out into a huge burst of laughter. "Oh, Y/N you already saw me naked before. What's the problem?" Taeyong: He would definitely try to comfort you. First he wants to know why you've been blushing so hard and acting more shy than normally. Then he would tell you it's not a big deal, generally making you feel more secure. Hugs you and maybe also pinches your cheeks. Yuta:  I can see him not caring that much about you being shy. But when you are blushing, he'll chuckle, poke your cheeks, cuddles you and also tells you, how you look exactly like that cute girl in one of his Animes. Kun:  Very mature about it. Similar to TY, he would make you feel safe. "Y/N there's nothing to be embarrassed about. Really, if you didn't dropped it, either Hendery or Leon would have and in contrary to them you at least cleaned up the shards." Doyoung:  100% him touching, poking and pinching your cheeks. He would most likely laugh at you without any problems, but if someone else laughs at you, he probably switches into protector-mode, hugging and comforting you. Ten:  Annoyingly asks you why you were so shy and blushing all the time. Goes up to that moment where he tried to convince you that he will die, if you won't tell him. Naturally you can't let that happen, unlocking your phone and showing him a picture Kun sent to you. The two of were laughing at the dorm, looking like two maniacs. "Why are you embarrassed about it? It's cute. We should use it for our next Christmas cards." Jaehyun:  Finally, our valentines boy! Thinks you're super cute while blushing. Actually likes your shy side a lot and cuddles you, while calling you new nicknames. "My cute little flamingo!" WinWin:  Also kind on the unbothered side for most of the times. Just ignores your blush, knowing you want it to go away and pointing it out, wouldn't help at all. Sometimes he would blush too, especially if it is a situation where he is the reason for your blush. Jungwoo:  In the past few months he's been confusing everyone. He used to be a shy and reserved puppy, but now he said his hobby is Netflix and Chill with a smirk... Either way I think I'll go with him being shy too, for no reason. You were playing with your hair, while watching him reading through new lyrics. When he looked up and met your eyes, you both flushed red and quickly looked everywhere but at each other. Lucas:  I really don't know how he would act. He's embarrassing himself all the time, but mostly doesn't care and continues being weird. So for you, he'll probably laugh or at least chuckle a bit, crushing you in his arms. MAYBE, JUST MAYBE he's being shy too. Deep below I can see a very sensitive person in him, so that's where his enormous hugs come from. Mark:  Mark is the king of shyness. You remember how he tried explaining some lyrics, yeah? Well, he would have no idea why you were blushing and hiding in your sweater palms. A bit confused at first, but after he knew what caused your cheeks to burn up, he'll chuckle awkwardly and ignore it, waiting for you to calm down. In very few cases, CUDDLES. Have you seen him with Winwin? Xiaojun:  He would ensure that nothing serious caused your sudden shy behavior. Like you spilled a bit of water on the table. After a short chuckle by himself, he tries to get you to laugh over the situation and forget it shortly after. However if it was something serious, he would pull you into his arms and reassures you, everything is fine. Hendery:  I can see him being the actual reason why you were blushing the whole evening. Every other minute he tells you cheesy, but cute pick-up-lines, not noticing what it does to you. Eventually he did and stopped, laughing at your behavior, but when you bid him goodbye, he couldn't resist telling you a last one."It's not 'see you tomorrow'. It is 'see you soon'
because I'll meet you in my dreams" At this point I want to add a cringe pick up line for Mark that I found. It's a bit mean but if you take it with humor, read it, if not, skip the note. Did you just fart? 'Cause you blew me away.... Renjun:  I can't decide whether he would chuckle at you or try to make you feel less shy. He knows how it is to be teased about something embarrassing (geurae naegen neoppuniyAa), but he also teases the members a lot, so maybe it'll be depending on the situation. If it's about something big like cracking your voice on national TV he would comfort and reassure you, probably some cuddles. Also tries to make you forget it. If it's because of an unimportant situation he would laugh at you. The way you just walked into a closed door? Hilarious. He would bring it up weeks later, turning you into a shy mess once again. Jeno: I can totally see him being a safekeeper, inviting you into his arms and cuddling you, until you are ready to face other people again. Except for the cases where you stay where you are and mumble into his shirt what happened, making him laugh and squeeze you a bit more. Haechan:  Definitely in team teasing! He is probably the most annoying one in Nct and with you? Good luck, he is even more annoying. When you spontaneously went to the store, to buy a new bottle of your favorite bodywash and your boyfriend decided to tag along, you hadn't thought it would end like this. You just picked the bottle, when he screamed "How on earth smells 'Fresh Mountain breeze. Or here, look 'Chocolate cookie cream tart'." The few people who were standing in the same row giving you weird looks, causing you to blush and embarrassingly trying to pull him away from the different bodywash's. "No, look here is one called 'hot winternight wood'. Why are there such stupid names?" His outburst making you blush more. "Haechan, come on. Let's go home." Finally he looked at you noticing the red hue covering not only your cheeks but your whole face and of course he started laughing more. "You are so embarrassed, aren't you? Actually it should be the person who chose these silly names. I mean how can you call a simple bodywash 'Sparkling Starlight Rain'?" You couldn't help the laughter that now flowed uncontrollably out of you, forgetting your prior flustered state and enjoying your happy boyfriend. Please ignore this being long af Jaemin:  Would definitely tease you in a cute way. Means, he's chuckling and poking your red cheeks with his fingers, cooing something along the lines of "My Y/Nie. My little Angel is so cute when blushing." *cue you blushing more* YangYang:  Most likely also part of the teasing line, but also comforts you. He and hyuck are literally best friends. You really wish you could turn back time at the moment. YangYang invited you to the WayV dorm for the first time, but you already knew the rest of the boys, so you were pretty chill, walking down the street, breathing the cold air in. Maybe a bit too chilled, considering the fact you had pressed the wrong doorbell and with that, got to know their old neighbor, who ignored your apologizing and accused you of pulling a prank on her, especially after she heard, you were the s.o of the 'loud screaming kindergarten-boy'. When you arrived at the right door, you were greeted by Hendery, Lucas and YangYang laughing loudly. "Did you really just rang the wrong doorbell?!" Making you feel the blood rise to your cheeks. "Come in, you need to tell us everything she said. We only heard the end where she called me a kindergarten boy." Shyly you sat on the couch, fiddling with your fingers, after you finished talking, waiting for the boys to stop laughing at you. Suddenly your boyfriend latched himself onto you, comforting you in a big hug. "If you want to, we can really pull a prank on her the next time, you visit." Shotaro: Similar to Jungwoo. I still need to figure this boy out. He made those tiktok's, but now he is the cutest little smiling otter. Anyway, I think it's depending on the situation. If it is because of something one of you
said or did, he'll get shy too, copying your mannerism and surely goes into 🦦mode. If someone else caused it, he probably tries to stay calm and gets you to calm down too. Sungchan: I get a comfortable and reassuring vibe from him, so he'll kinda be like TY. When he first wanted to introduce you to the rest of the members you suddenly became really shy and tried to hide behind his back. He was confused at first, but soon found out that you were 'just' nervous. "Trust me Y/N, they are going to like you. Please don't worry! I'm not going to leave your side, okay?" Chenle:  This boy, honestly he would be laughing in his best dolphin at you. "Y/N you look like a tomato. What happened?" Which leads to you, trying to hide behind your hands. "Nothing." Of course he wouldn't believe you, switching his technique to tickling you. "Tell me what happened!" But you surprisingly stayed strong and instead settled for cuddling with your boyfriend to distract him and hopefully recover yourself from your heavy blushing. Jisung:  I have a feeling it would be mutual. Like you two just accidentally bumped your heads together and immediately started apologizing. You are both super embarrassed and shy about the situation, but eventually you will forget what happened or just ignore it. UNTIL someone brings it up again and both of you are blushing like crazy AGAIN.
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lyranova · 3 years ago
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Leon and Alistar Pt: II
Hi guys! Here’s part 2 of mine and @thoughtfullyrainynightmare ‘s co-op fic, i think we had too much fun with this part hehe but that’s ok! Because I can’t add any notes at the end due to tumblr’s block count thing I wanted to thank Laura for doing this with me it was so much fun hehe 🥰! I hope you guys enjoy~!
Taglist: @eme-eleff @jovialnoise @simpingforthisonedeer @succulentsunrise @ckjwnnbc
Warnings: None
———
Inside the box laid a small crystal full of mana and..a leaf?! Alistar and Leonidas blinked and looked at each other then back at the box. This was it? This was their treasure?! Alistar shook his head and placed the box back onto the small pedestal.
“ Of course our parents would play a sick joke like this on us.” He said with a sigh before he crouched down onto the floor, looking to see if there was maybe any hidden traps that could be hiding the real treasure.
“ Well, you could say this is unbeleafable.” Leonidas said with a chuckle, he found his puns to be quite funny. Alistar suddenly stood up and looked at him , Leonidas rubbed the back of his neck nervously as silence fell around them.
“ Hey; don’t leaf me hanging!” Alistar said suddenly before bursting into fits of laughter. The orange haired boy blinked in surprise before he himself began to laugh.
“ Ah I’ve got one; Where did the plant like to travel?” Alistar asked and Leonidas shook his head. “ All clover the world!”
Both boys began to laugh even harder.
They both sat there. Just sat there, trying to gasp for air through their laughter. Tears started running down their cheeks from the released tension, and their stomachs and sides started to burn from the sensation.
But Little by little they were able to catch their breaths.
"I didn't know you were into puns," Leonidas commented with a grin.
"I could say the same," Alistair replied with an equally wide grin.
The two chuckled for a moment longer until their eyes landed back into the box. But all they could do was shake their heads. After all, time was running out and there was clearly a trick to it.
" What do you think it means? A crystal and a leaf?" Alistair inquired while turning his head to Leonidas.
"Honestly," the orange haired male began, "I have no clue." He paused for a moment while gazing into the ceiling. "It's not even that both of the items would have mana in them. But only the crystal. Now that could potentially be a key of some kind, but even then there'd need to be a magical lock to match. And the leaf is... Just a leaf? What is it even from?"
Alistar inspected the leaf forwards and backwards for a moment as Leonidas looked over the crystal in his own hands. Finally after a few moments, Alistar snapped his fingers as he recognized the plant.
“ Humulus Lupulus ‘Aurea’!” Alistar said as he began to look around the room, the orange haired boy frowned.
“ English please?” He asked politely as he saw Alistar began to inspect the room, apparently looking for where the plant belonged.
“ Ah sorry,” he laughed nervously before rubbing the back of his head, a nervous habit he had developed. “ Golden Hops is the common name for it, it’s a vine that when grown onto something provides excellent privacy. But they don’t grow on brick or stone walls, they have to grow on a lattice or trellis. They’re also used to provide a bitter bite to beer.” Alistar explained and Leonidas blinked.
“ You really like plants.” he said with a laugh as he began searching the walls for the same vine as Alistar.
“ Ah yeah, my mom was a florist so she had a ton of books on different plants, herbs, and such things. I guess my love of plants is something I inherited from her.” He said with a small laugh. “ Ah here it is.” He added as Leonidas came walking over to him. Alistar quickly used his plant magic to make the vines retract and moved the trellis out of the way. Behind it lay a stone door with a small crystal shaped hole in the center, but the designs around it appeared to look like fire and flames which seemed odd in Alistar’s opinion.
“ Leonidas, see if the crystal will fit.” Alistar asked.
Leonidas nodded in agreement and placed it onto the supposed lock. And as expected, the crystal did fit into the hole, but nothing happened. Seconds ticked away, making the two frown as there was no change in the crystal or the lock.
"I guess it would have been too easy," Alistair commented with a disappointed smile.
However, Leonidas frowned as that mechanism seemed perhaps far too familiar for him. "Maybe it just needs a bit of mana for it to activate," he pondered aloud.
"What do you mean?" Alistair inquired with a curious tone.
"Ah, well, let's say that a key gets into the wrong hands. Then for the purposes of keeping, whatever is guarded by the lock, safe, it's better if the mechanisms used to operate the key aren't clear. Or better yet, if there's only a handful of people who can do so. For example if only a certain type of mana interacts with the key itself.” Leonidas explained factually.
" You seem to know a lot about these things," Alistair chuckled in turn.
Leonidas smiled while picking up the crystal and feeding it some of his own mana, making the crystal glow bright yellow.
" Yeah, it's something I've learned from my mom," he replied," Thean can be... very private people. "
“ So I’ve heard.” Alistar agreed with a nod, Thea was a very private country. Alistar had heard very little about it himself but he had to admit he was curious about it and it’s magic. “ Maybe when this is all over you can tell me a bit about it, and I can teach you about botany.” He chuckled.
“ Hm, there isn’t much I can tell you about Thea but I’d be more than happy to share what I can.” Leonidas said with a nod before he gently placed the crystal back into the door and the runes on it began to glow yellow.
It opened with a hiss as the door swung open slowly. Alistar and Leonidas smirked at each other before they walked inside the room.
“ We make a pretty good team, considering this is the first time we’ve worked together.” Alistar admitted as he looked for a light source, which was soon provided by Leonidas.
“ Hm, I wonder why our parents would hide the treasure here?” Leonidas mused as he picked up an overturned crate and looked inside it.
“ To test our problem solving skills as well as our team skills perhaps? Especially considering the puzzle used both our magical attributes.” Alistar said before Leonidas picked up a box that was bigger than the one in the other room.
“ What’s that?” Alistar asked curiously as he walked over to the orange haired boy.
"Umm...." Leonidas uttered after opening the box. He shuffled something in his hand and let out an amused puff of air. "It seems that you had a thing for bunny plushies while growing up," he grinned.
A brief silence passed through the air, before Alistair spoke in a low, disbelieving, hushed voice: "...what?!"
Leonidas turned around and showed Alistair a small portrait of him when he was younger. And in the picture, Alistair with his bright, blue eyes and white hair, no more than 3 years of age, was holding a bunny plushie. The sight made Alistair turn bright red, which was emphasized by his otherwise fair appearance.
"Why me?" He asked while burning up.
"Well..." Leonidas grinned forcefully. "It's not just you...." he admitted while showing Alistair another, similar, photo, where an orange haired boy was hugging a lion plushie. "It seems our parents really aren't short on... surprises..." he continued while averting his gaze.
“ Nope they certainly aren’t.” Alistar grumbled as he snatched the portrait out of Leonidas’s hand and quickly put it in the inside pocket of his robes. He had hoped no one would ever see his baby pictures.
“ Well, it could be worse,” Leonidas said, trying to suppress a chuckle while being slightly optimistic. Alistar quirked a brow, silently asking him to elaborate. “ They could’ve been naked baby portraits.” Alistar blinked but laughed, it was true.
“ Knowing them; they probably considered it.” Alistar said before turning and walking out of the room, he was slightly glad now that he hadn’t been paired up with Hikari, otherwise he would be teased a lot more now than he currently was.
“ Come on, let’s head back.” Alistar called and Leonidas quickly followed him out of the room.
“ Hey Alistar? What kind of books do bunnies read?” Leonidas asked suddenly, the white haired boy shook his head. “ The ones with hoppy endings.”
Alistar couldn’t help it; he started laughing, as embarrassed as he was he still found the bunny pun hilarious.
“ Alright, What do you call a lion with a fancy hat?” Alistar asked once he caught his breath, Leonidas shook his head. “ A dandy lion.” Leonidas snorted before laughing himself.
The two boys steadily cracked puns as they made their way back to the starting point.
Sadly they were having so much fun on the way back, that they lost track of time. And it wasn't until they were getting close to the headquarters that they realized they had to hurry. So, they shared a quick glance before dashing forward towards the starting point.
They made it. They just made it until the time ran out. But It was at the cost of their muscles aching, and their lungs burning because of the lack of oxygen, so they slumped against a wall.
As they sat down, Alistair let out a little whine, which made Leonidas' lips turn into a smirk.
"Like a grape," he commented.
"What?" Alistair huffed out of breath.
"It-, um, it's...." he took a moment to catch his breath. "What did a grape say when it got crushed?"
"What did it say," Alistair grinned while turning to glance at the orange haired boy.
"Nothing. It just let out a little wine," Leonidas grinned back, making both of them burst into laughter and slide further down on the floor while holding their sides.
After a small moment, Hikari and Cyraleona walked over with a few smoothies in hand, while sipping their own, talking about how cute they were as toddlers.
"Did you actually lose brain cells on that treasure hunt?" Hikari quirked an eyebrow.
"They just might've done so," the red headed girl commented.
"No..." Leonidas tried through his laughter, "you don't get it!" He laughed.
"GRAPES!" The boys yelled in unison.
Both of the girls quirked an eyebrow at them.
"I do believe they have lost it," Cyraleona still commented with a hushed tone.
"You can say that again," Hikari rolled her eyes.
Alistar started wiping tears from his eyes as he looked up at the girls and saw the disapproving looks on their faces. The looks on their faces only made the boys laugh harder.
“ Phew, that was a good one Leonidas.” Alistar said as he caught his breath. Leonidas looked over at him and waved his hand.
“ You can just call me Leon if you want, and thank you. You’ve got some good jokes, yourself.” He told Alistar as he caught his breath as well. Hikari rolled her eyes before holding out a hand to the white haired boy as Cyraleona held out a hand to her twin, the boys looked at each other before taking them and standing up.
“ Go get some smoothies, they’re about to wrap the exercise up for the day.” Hikari said as she walked them to the smoothie stand.
“ Oh, what did you two get in your treasure box?” Cyraleona asked softly, causing Alistar and Leonidas to both blush.
“ N-Nothing. Don’t worry about it.” Alistar stammered and Hikari smirked before she and Cyraleona looked at each other.
“ Baby pictures.” The said in unison before laughing as the boys faces turned even more red.
In the distance, Fuego and William watched their sons with small smiles on their faces. The white haired male glanced at the Crimson Lion for a moment before speaking.
“ It seems our sons are getting along well.” He chuckled and Fuego nodded in agreement.
“ Yes they do, which is exactly what we wanted from this exercise, was for all the kids to try and get along and become a more cohesive unit. Although, I wonder what was said that made them laugh so much.” He muttered curiously before William stood in front of the mic to address the kids.
“ Congratulations on a job well done kids,” William announced before moving out of the way to let Fuego speak.
“ Yes you all did amazing today, you showed teamwork, determination, and that you can all solve any problems that come your way.” Fuego said with a smile on his face.
"We are all very proud of you," Charlotte commented with a smile, looking at each of the kids, but keeping her gaze at Hikari for a moment longer than the others.
"Yeah, good job on not trashing half of the Kingdom while doing so," Yami stated with crossed arms.
The rest of the captains looked at him, but brushed it off as they all still remembered everything the Black Bulls had put the kingdom through over the years. They shook their heads before William continued: "And though it wasn't included into the schedule we have prepared for a small banquet."
The kids glanced at each other with knowing looks as the adults made their way to them. Of course their parents had something like that planned. After all, it had been several hours since they last ate.
"And I hope that you had a good day," William still continued with a smile, stopping his gaze at Alistair.
"Yeah, we-," Alistair paused for a moment. "You could say that it was a pun-tastic day."
Leon snorted with the comment, immediately placing his hand over his mouth afterwards and shaking his head.
The fathers quirked an eyebrow at their sons, not really knowing what to make of it.
"But yes father, it was an excellent day. And I'll be sure to treasure the lessons and relationships gained on this day," The white haired boy continued.
"Yes," Leon agreed. "Our friendship is unbeleafable," he grinned while glancing at Alistair from the corner of his eye, which made him snort in turn while the girls let out disappointed sighs.
William and Fuego blinked before looking at each other with a look of near horror in their eyes; both their sons were punny. Oh no. Maybe this was a mistake after all? Now that the two had met and were friends the punny jokes were sure to be in abundance now.
“ You two are dorks.” Hikari said with a shake of her head as she walked past them with Cyraleona in tow, Alistar saluted his father quickly before following after her, Leonidas doing the same before running to catch up with his sister.
“ Hey, only good chives will be accepted here.” He told the raven haired girl with a smirk, she pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed at him. She had been victim to his terrible puns since they were young children so a small piece of her was happy that he now had someone who he could be punny with.
“ Uh huh, you and your good chives can go sit at a different table until they stop.” She told him with a smirk, he sighed in defeat but nodded. Leonidas watched the exchange curiously.
“ Hey Alistar,” The white haired boy turned toward him. “ Do you have a crush on Hikari?” Alistar smiled but shook his head.
“ No, we’re just good friends. Our relationship isn’t like that.” Alistar said with a small laugh, he looked calm on the outside but inside he was freaking out. ‘How did he figure it out so quickly?! Was it that obvious? I need to keep my emotions in better check.’ he thought to himself as the children walked.
William shook his head as he began to laugh, which caused Fuego to look at him curiously. William turned towards the Vermillion haired Captain.
“ What are the chances, of both our sons being into puns?” He chuckled and Fuego shook his head.
“ Perhaps one in a million? I’m not quite sure myself.” He said but with a warm smile, he was glad his son had found a friend around his own age, and he was sure William was thinking the same.
"I know that look," said a voice behind them, which made the fathers glance behind them.
"I'd be surprised if you didn't," Fuego smiled at the sight of his wife.
"Good day, Solara, " William greeted with a polite nod.
"Good day William," she replied before continuing from the topic. "Yes, they're terrible puns. But Don't go pun-ishing them too hard," she smirked, making the eyes of both of the men widen in slight horror.
"Darling... " Fue began. "I think I died a little bit inside..."
William just shook his head while letting out a sigh.
"They're just exercising their brain cells. There's nothing wrong with that," she continued with a passing shrug.
"They could use their brains more constructively," William commented with a hushed tone.
"Oh? Can you think of a pun from the spot? No? That's pun-fortunate," Solara grinned.
William's lips parted for a moment to reply, but nothing came out. Instead he let out another sigh, much deeper this time while pinching the bridge of his nose. Meanwhile Fue let out an amused huff before shaking his head.
"Point taken dear," he commented.
“ Well we know where Leonidas gets it from.” William said with a shake of his head, Solara looked at him curiously for a moment.
“ Your wife was a jokester herself was she not?” She asked, Fuego looked at his wife and shook his head slightly, even after all these years William’s wife was still a somewhat sensitive subject but William quickly waved his concern away.
“ It’s alright. Yes she was a bit of a jokester,” William chuckled before he looked towards the sky with a small smile. “ she was partial to plant jokes especially.” He added before looking back at the husband and wife, his smile turning solem suddenly.
“ Fuegoleon, I know...there’s some issues between us and some things that have happened that may not ever be forgiven but,” he paused for a moment as he searched for the right words. “ I don’t want the things that have happened between us to affect our son's friendship. They deserve the chance to become friends and get along without our personal issues getting in the way.”
Fuego nodded along as he listened, William was still trying to atone for his actions after all these years, especially for what he did to Fuego, he gently gripped his fire arm as he got lost in thought. He looked up at his wife’s face and, for one of the few times, he couldn’t read it. This was something he would have to decide on his own.
“ I agree,” Fuego said after a moment of silence. “ our son’s deserve a chance to let this friendship have a chance, to let them decide for themselves if they wish to continue it without our influence. Who knows? Maybe they’ll even start a rivalry or something similar.” Fuego chuckled, remembering his own rivalry with Nozel and William’s with Yami.
“ Yes that would be something wouldn’t it?” William agreed with a nod. “ Well, shall we head in and have dinner with the children?”
"Yes. Let us do just that," Fuego commented with a faint smile before they all started making their way to the banquet hall.
Fuego knew that he and William wouldn't become the best of friends, possibly not even great friends, but they certainly had come a long way. It was clear that William did try his best, as well as admit his wrongdoings. And he tried to seek his own atonement, even though it wasn't served to him in the form of a juridical punishment. No, he had to look for redemption harder than that. But, as William had said, and he had agreed, their personal relations shouldn't come in between their sons' relationship.
Fue felt a slight tug of his arm, and as he turned to look, he saw an expression he recognized just as usual.
"It's alright," he assured, intending to stop there, but being forced to continue as a result of the settling silence. "I assure you, it's alright."
The moment ended and whatever tension had gathered in the air slowly dissipated away. And it was again just as usual.
"You didn't bring Nora with you?" Fue asked after a few moments as his thoughts emerged from his eldest.
"No, she's out with Mereo," Solara commented. "A few puns will be the least of our worries today."
Fuego chuckled to himself and shook his head. Indeed. A few puns didn't seem all that bad suddenly.
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spookysweet-heart · 6 years ago
Text
A Night To Remember
Request: “Hey there, I really love your works and I almost read every Leon fanfic on your Tumblr lol. So I would be very happy if you could do a story, in which the reader and Kennedy known each other since childhood and they're at prom night. He confesses to her that he has a crush on the reader and secretly she/he has to. 😊♥️ I excuse myself for my may bad English xD”
Fandom: Resident Evil
Pairings: Leon S.Kennedy x Fem!Reader
Warnings: None!
A/N: This was really cute to write, Thank you so much for requesting! :)
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        Walking down the halls to your locker, you were looking around at the few girls and guys who were giggling and smiling with excitement. All you heard while you passed by were them asking what dress they were wearing, colors they chose, what kind of makeup look they're thinking of doing. The boys were all talking about the limos they rented or the cars they were able to get for the night, some were even talking about the hotels they booked for an afterparty.
When you reached your locker your smile widened as you saw your best friend Leon Kennedy standing by your locker, also with a huge smile on his face once he finally saw you. Leon pushed himself off the lockers and opened his arms wide ready for a hug. You giggled as you wrapped your arms around him as he did the same to you. “There you are, dork! You're late!  The last bell was like ten minutes ago.” Once he stepped back from the hug he ruffled your hair a bit, stepping aside so you could put your books away.
“Don’t do that you know I don’t like it.” You gave him a side glare and put your books away closing your locker. “So are we still on for prom tonight?”
“Definitely, what better way than to go to prom with your best friend?” Leon put his arm around your shoulders and squeezed you a bit as you two walked out the front doors of your high school.
You and Leon had agreed to go to prom together, seeing as it would be better than just staying at home doing nothing, plus there would be free food and you two weren’t going to turn that down.
In all honesty, you were still confused since you thought for sure someone would’ve asked him to prom weeks ago. You had to admit Leon is pretty good looking, really funny, smart in certain subjects, and he has a goal of becoming a police officer after high school, what girl or guy wouldn’t want him to be their date or boyfriend for that matter.
“So my dads gonna drive us, which isn’t bad since he won’t do the whole protective dad routine.”
“I mean I wouldn’t blame him if he did though. He just wants his little girl safe.”
You readjusted your bookbag as you two crossed the street going into your neighborhood. “I know but I mean we’ve been friends since we were babies. You’d think he’d trust you enough to spare you the whole ‘bring my daughter back at this time’ and ‘dont try anything funny’ talk before we head in.”
Leon laughed and switched his textbook to the other arm, “(Y/n), if that happens it’s fine. So do I still come by around six?”
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure both our moms are going to want pictures.”
The rest of the walk home was pretty silent, You would notice him glance at you from time to time whenever you turned your head slightly to feel the warm sun hit your face. 
What you didn’t know was Leon’s heart was racing and his cheeks started to turn a faint pink color. He thought you looked so beautiful the way your hair framed your face perfectly, the sun making your eyes shine brightly. This wasn’t the first time he noticed the little things, oh no this boy fell for you back in middle school and he was doing a good job at not telling you about it. He didn’t want to ruin the good friendship you two had. He honestly couldn’t see a future without you.
Though that doesn’t mean he never thought of telling you. There were times he was so close to saying it but he backed out at the last second and always made up some dumb excuse to cover it up. He also thought about what it would be like to give you kisses, to call you his, giving you cute pet names, to hold your hand. He knew it wouldn’t be too different than how you two were now, minus the kissing part, but he knew everything would have a different meaning if you two did become a couple. 
“Leon? Hey, Leon are you okay?” You waved your hand in front of his face til be snapped out of his weird trance. When he did he looked at you confused.
“What? Oh shit yeah, I’m alright I just started thinking about the last science test we took, I wasn’t sure if I did my best you know?” He nervously rubbed the back of his neck doing his best to hide his blush again.
“I’m sure you did great Leon, so I’ll see you later!” He didn’t realize you two were already at your house till you waved goodbye to him while you walked to your front door. He stayed till you got inside and then made his way home too.
---------
You had just finished putting on your flats when the doorbell rang. Knowing your mom was ready to open the door gave you a few extra seconds to check your make up and outfit in the mirror before you head downstairs. You picked out a dress in your favorite color and one that complimented your figure the best. 
“(Y/n)! Leon is here!” You heard your mom call from downstairs. Smiling to yourself you made your way downstairs.
Leon was busy talking to your mom that when he did finally notice you his words caught in his throat and he stared at the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen.
“Close your mouth Leon, you’ll catch flies like that.” Leon quickly composed himself and stood up straight smiling as you were giggling and made your way towards him.
“Sorry, sir.” Once you were standing in front of him, Leon took out the corsage he brought for you and slipped it on to one of your wrists while you pinned a smaller and similar flower to his suit.
After almost an hour of taking photos and both your mothers gushing over how adorable you two looked, you finally made your way prom.
The drive to the venue was silent, except for the music your dad put on the radio. Once you did arrive Leon got out of the car and rushed over to open your door and help you out of the car.  
Leon thanked your dad for the ride and surprisingly your dad just nodded and smiled back saying he’ll be back to pick you both up before the night ended.
Walking into the ballroom you both made your way to an empty table. You said hello and complimented some of your other friends on their dresses and got comfortable at the table sitting next to Leon.
“You look really pretty tonight, uh not that you don’t look pretty every other day…” You smiled up at him thankful he wouldn’t be able to tell your real blush from the makeup blush on your cheeks.
“Thanks, Leon You look as handsome as always.” Your smile widened as you saw a tiny bit of pink dust his cheeks. 
“Hey, do you want something to drink? I can go get us something from the refreshment table.”
“Yeah, that’d be great, thanks!” You nodded as he stood up and walked into the other side room where all the drink and food were.
Taking a deep breath in and out, you tried to steady your heartbeat. You didn’t think it would be difficult to hold down your feelings tonight but apparently, you were wrong. You knew you were done for when you saw him in his suit and with his hair combed back, he looked incredible tonight.
You calmed down just as Leon came back with your drinks and you thanked him as he handed you your cup. 
The rest of the night you both stole glances, talked to your classmates and even danced to a couple of songs with everyone. Overall the night was fun and you two were having a great time. You both had sat down taking a break from dancing, laughing at someone doing a ridiculous dance as everyone else gathered in a circle to cheer them on.
Finishing your drinks, you two started talking about how funny and adorable your moms were when they made you two take pictures earlier that night. 
As you were both laughing enjoying the conversation you noticed the music started to slow down as your laughter subsided. A slow song started to play and all the couples paired up on the dance floor.
Leon looked over at you swallowing the lump in his throat and set aside his nerves. Standing up he held out his hand to you. Looking down at you with a nervous but slightly confident look. “Would you, um would you like to dance...with me?”
Your blush was way more noticeable by now but you didn’t really care at this point. You nodded in a silent response and took his hand letting him lead you to the dance floor.
Leon placed both hands gently on your waist as you placed yours on his shoulders, both of you swaying to the music. You noticed Leon looking uneasy while you both danced. “Hey, are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m alright. I just, can I be honest here?”
“Of course, are you sure you're okay?”
“I am. It’s just- look I don’t know any other way to say this without being nervous as hell.” He looked into your eyes and took a deep breath. “I like you- no, I….I love you, (Y/n). I’ve loved you ever since we were kids as friends and I guess as we got older the love I felt changed to something more than friendship. I understand if you don’t want to be friends or want me in your life anymore after I just ruined everything so I’ll just-”
You caught Leon off gaurd as you pressed your lips against his. Leon was stunned for a moment and when he realized what was happening he gladly pressed his lips back to yours smiling into the kiss.
You pulled away smiling up at him wrapping your arms around his neck to pull him closer to you. “You talk too much you know that?” You laughed when he looked embarrassed hearing that from you. “I love you too, Leon. I’ll always want you in my life no matter what happens.” 
Leon beamed when he heard you say the words he would only dream of. “Good because you’re never going to get rid of me.” 
You smiled and sighed softly. “By the way, how is it that no one asked you to prom, I swear there was a bunch of people swooning over you.”
Leon laughed and shook his head. “Honestly, I got asked a couple times but I turned them all down cause I really wanted to go with you.”  He leaned down closing the gap between you two once more in another sweet and passionate kiss. This was definitely a night you two would always remember.
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Text
Fragile Hearts Ch. 10- When I’m With You
Click the OP  (Original post) if the READ MORE link does not show!
THANK YOU TO @bluejayb1rd FOR COMMISSIONING!!! Two out of four! <3
Click Here for Chapter 1
Click Here for Chapter 9
Fragile Hearts Playlist here
AO3 Link: Chapter: https://archiveofourown.org/works/11928798/chapters/38455013 Full Story: https://archiveofourown.org/works/11928798
Aside from a couple nightmares in the past few nights, it was relaxing being able to be in Vegas with Matt and Hunk. It felt good not to stress over school for a bit, and it felt good not to be alone.
It also hadn’t been the last time Pidge ended up staying at Hunk’s. Lance took to using the couch when he found the two of them cuddled up on the couch a second night. Sharing his bed also meant he didn’t wake her when he left for work.
After a nightmare, Pidge woke up to an empty bed and the sound of scratching at the bedroom door. Pidge caught her breath and went to open the door only for Leon to immediately hop up on his hind legs and place his paws at her hips like a hug. Pidge pet his head and realized her hand was shaking.
Then, because Leon was the only one with her and he was a dog, she fell to her knees and allowed the tears to stream into his fur as he nuzzled against her, keeping his paws firm on her arms.
It wasn’t the nightmare itself that drove her to tears. It was the fact that she still got them so much, and she feared she might never break free from their grip. It was suffocating to wake up to them all the time. She felt like she might never get her peace from everything she went through. In a way it terrified her more to think that the people she loved still had to deal with it and that it could possibly drive them away.
Leon sniffed and huffed, bumping his wet nose against her cheek. Pidge smiled and ruffled his hair. “You’re a good dog, buddy.” Leon’s tail wagged frantically. “Thanks. I’m okay now.” Leon stayed on her until Pidge nudged him gently so she could stand. Even then, he began to follow her as she went to the kitchen to make herself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
About an hour after she woke up, Lance came back to the apartment, having finished his last book signing. He plopped down on the couch beside Pidge and laid down to rest his head on her thigh.
“Rough day?” she asked. Leon hopped onto the couch to curl up by Lance’s stomach, resting his head on Lance’s side.
“Not really,” he sighed. “Just… tiring.” Pidge raised an eyebrow and lowered the volume of the TV.
“Care to elaborate?”
Lance huffed and turned to lay on his back, staring at the ceiling. “You know how when you watch a show or read a book, you have favorite characters?” Pidge nodded. “It’s really great to hear about it from the people who read my books. The kids will have little drawings or some people will dress up. And it’s so funny to see people dressing up as me or Hunk or you.” He sighed and met her eyes. “Today, there were a lot of people asking about Kyle.”
Pidge furrowed her eyebrows in confusion before realizing what he meant. “Oh. Keith.” Lance nodded.
“And usually, I’m good with that! Like I said, I made my peace with it, kind of. It’s not like we hate each other, we just had different plans. And I’m usually good about not letting my emotions get in the way when I see the cosplay or the artwork or get the questions. I mean some people manage a really good resemblance sometimes.”
“So what made it harder this time?”
Lance took a breath and sat up to ruffle through his messenger bag. He had a few papers all in their own plastic sleeves. “Ever since you and Hunk found me, I guess a part of me has also been waiting on Keith. I don’t know anything about him at all, and that didn’t bother me until I realized how much I needed you guys. The latest book has a lot of the beginning of our relationship, so of course….” He held out the papers and Pidge took them.
The first one looked like a kid had drawn it, in that cute little anime style Pidge remembered people doing when she was in middle school. It had what Pidge assumed to be Keith- or Kyle- with his arms around Lance. She moved to the next page. This one seemed like an actual page from a graphic novel. A comic of what Pidge assumed was one of the scenes in the book, because she recalled Lance telling her and Hunk about this moment when he was gushing about Keith while they tried to run a diagnostic. The next page had cute mini versions with big heads of Lance and Keith doing cute little things with hearts around the borders. The next page had a beautiful watercolor version of the two of them kissing.
She sighed and looked at him. He was holding out a few more papers. “There’s some of you and Hunk too, if you want them,” he said tiredly.
Pidge rolled her eyes and took the papers, stacking them all on the coffee table. “Lance, come here.” She opened her arms and Lance laid back down as she cradled him. He hid his face in the fabric of her hoodie- which was actually Hunk’s- and Leon took his place by Lance’s feet. “It’s okay to miss him.”
“I know, but it feels fresh again.” His voice came muffled and weak. Pidge hugged him a little tighter. “You really should look at the ones of you and Hunk though, they’re really cute.”
Pidge laughed ruffled his hair. “You’ve got some talented fans.” Lance turned his head, no longer hiding his face as he smiled and nodded.
--
When Hunk came home, he treated them both to dinner at a restaurant, and Matt met up with them when he was off of work.
While Hunk and Lance went on a tangent about their jobs, Matt nudged Pidge’s arm and leaned over.
“You okay?”
She frowned and nodded. “Why?”
“You had a nightmare, didn’t you?”
“How do you know that?”
Matt rolled his eyes. “You’re my little sister. I know you pretty well. You always act skittish after a nightmare, and you look like you haven’t slept.”
“Gee thanks,” she muttered.
“You know that’s not what I meant.” He looked over at Lance and Hunk then lowered his voice. “You know if you need to talk, I’m always here for you, Katie.”
She smiled at him and nodded, squeezing his hand as a thank you.
They stayed at the restaurant long after finishing their food. They talked about everything, from the memories of their time in space, the games they’d play when they got bored, or just recalling how naive they were at such a young age to the various changes and personal stories from the last five years actually on Earth.
Just as Pidge had expected, Matt and Lance were able to bounce their jokes off each other with ease, practically being two sides of the same coin. It led to Pidge laughing almost non-stop until she was crying and hunched over with a stomach ache.
Matt didn’t ask if Pidge was coming home with him seeing as she’d been spending her time with Hunk and Lance, but Pidge did want a day with her brother. So she gave a Hunk a kiss on the cheek and said she’d see him tomorrow then hugged Lance before racing over to catch up with Matt.
Matt smiled, the scar on his face outlining the curve of his cheeks when he did, and threw an arm around her. “Aw, you miss me.”
Pidge laughed and rolled her eyes.
When they got home, Matt went into the kitchen to make himself a coffee. Pidge had been so full, she had no idea how he still had room for it.
“Do you still get nightmares?” she asked as he looked for a mug. “You never tell me about them.”
He looked over at her and shrugged. “Every now and then. Not often. They’ve been sparser as the years go by.”
“When do you think that’ll happen for me?”
Matt poured his coffee and sat down across from her. “I don’t know. I mean, you don’t get them as much when you have classes. I’ve noticed you don’t call me about them much. Then every time you visit, you get them more.”
Pidge grimaced. “What, so you think you’re triggering them?”
Matt shrugged. “I don’t really know, Katie. But I do think you should talk to somebody when you get them. Me or Hunk or Lance or maybe even your roommate. You said you told her about Voltron and everything, right?” She nodded. “I think it would help not to bottle up the nightmares.”
“But it’s all the same. Or about the same stuff. At this point, I’m more panicked about the fact that I can’t stop getting the nightmares than the nightmares themselves.” She frowned and ran her hand through her hair. “Anyway, I don’t want to talk about them. I just want to hang out with you.”
Matt scrunched up his nose. “Hanging out with your big brother? What a nerd.” Pidge grabbed the roll of paper towels on the table and threw it at him.
--
The next morning, Pidge decided to go sightseeing. Lance said he was feeling a little sick, so he didn’t join her, and Matt and Hunk were both working. She didn’t want to stay in the apartment all day, even though she had already seen the Strip multiple times at this point. It was still cool to see the booths with little tricks and the street performances. Since it was spring break, the entire Vegas was still very much alive during the day, not just at night.
Sure enough, as Pidge was walking out of Caesars Palace, she saw a girl being held up by her friends as she walked, obviously wasted. As she walked away, her phone started buzzing with an incoming call. She pulled it out and saw Hunk’s picture on the screen, which immediately made her smile.
“Hello?”
“Hey, honeybee. What are you doing?”
“Just walking around. How’s work?”
“Slow, actually. We’re closing early. I was about to grab lunch, where are you?”
“I’m actually pretty close to the bakery, I can meet you there.”
“Perfect! I’ll see you in a bit.”
They counted to three and hung up. Pidge walked across the street and down a few blocks until she reached the bakery. The closed sign was on, but Hunk was at the register with one of the workers and went over to open the door for her, greeting her with a kiss.
Pidge wasn’t going to lie, the act made her feel little butterflies in her stomach.
“It’s all locked away, Chef,” the girl at the counter said. “Are you locking up?”
“Yeah, go ahead and clock out, Amy.” She nodded, meanwhile Hunk turned to Pidge and raised an eyebrow. “So, what are you in the mood for?”
“Honestly, right now? Cake,” she said. The smell of confectioner’s sugar and frosting was making her mouth water, and all the impossible cakes around her were so colorful, it only made them that much more enticing.
Hunk laughed at her. “Really?” She nodded. “Well, I’ve got an idea. Come on.” He took her hand and led her back to the kitchen. Amy left out the back door with a wave, leaving Pidge and Hunk alone in the bakery.
“Are you making me a cake?” she asked.
Hunk laughed and grabbed an apron that was hung up before going over to her. Pidge raised an eyebrow. He draped the apron over her and gave her a cheeky smile. “No, you’re gonna make one with me.”
“That’s a horrible idea on several levels,” she said, as he turned her around to tie the apron.
“You’ll be fine.” He turned her back around, tucked a strand of her hair back with a gentle hand, and kissed her nose. “Come on.”
Weak-kneed, Pidge did.
He got out all the ingredients, laying them out along the counter, followed by the utensils. Pidge stared at all of it, feeling completely out of her element. She’d seen Hunk bake several times before. She’d watched and taste-tested and handed over ingredients or utensils as he asked for them mid conversation. Hell, she’d even fought the goo machines with him.
But actually partaking in the cooking? She had never done that. Hunk was gourmand, what could she possibly have to offer?
“Honeybun, it’s not that bad. Come on, I’ll be helping you with it.” With a light hand at the small of her back, he nudged her forward and began to take her step by step on how to make a cake from scratch.
As she did it, it started to seem a little easier. She was just measuring out ingredients and adding them to the bowl. Hunk smeared butter and sprinkled flour onto some baking pans, humming something under his breath.
Then he handed Pidge a mixer and told her to beat the wet ingredients before adding them to the dry ones. Pidge wasn’t sure why, but she did it. Her tongue stuck out slightly as she concentrated on mixing the wet ingredients. She poured them into the dry ingredients and turned the mixer on again.
Suddenly, the flour, sugar, and the egg mix all flew out of the bowl, startling Pidge further and making her knock the bowl over onto herself.
All she could hear was Hunk’s unreserved laughter.
“Pidge, you’re not supposed to start the mixer that fast!” he wheezed between breathless laughter, leaning against the counter for support.
“My finger slipped!  Stop laughing at me!”
But Hunk’s full laughter already had him keeling over. It resonated through the kitchen and Pidge didn’t even mind that she was now covered in milk and flour and eggs. Still, she turned and grabbed a fistful of flour, flinging at him, making the crown of his head completely white.
“Wh-what! That’s not fair!” he said, still smiling with remnants of laughter in his eyes. He grabbed a fistful of his own bag of flour and blew it back at her.
“Oh, you jerk!” Pidge yelped, squeezing her eyes shut. She grabbed the bowl of what remained of the mixture. Hunk seemed to know what she was going to do before she did it.
“No, no, no!” he said, immediately backing up to the other side of the kitchen. He felt for the fridge handle behind him and blindly grabbed for something as Pidge neared him slowly. “Pidge, I’ve got a full container of whipped cream, and I’m not afraid to use it!”
Pidge smiled and grabbed a fistful of gunk from the bowl. “I dare you.” She raised an eyebrow.
Suddenly he was dashing across to the other end and she was running after him, throwing fistful after fistful while he flung back handfuls of whipped cream that clung to her clothes. Laughter filled the kitchen the more and more intense their food fight got. Suddenly they were throwing eggs, and Pidge managed to smear butter on Hunk’s face, then Hunk managed to douse Pidge in sporadic splatters of milk.
Soon they were covered in various ingredients, both refusing to back down until they ended up slipping on something they spilled. They collapsed on the floor trying to catch their breaths.
“Oh my God, my kitchen’s a mess,” Hunk said with a laugh, resting his head back on the wall. “How do you screw up a cake to this level?”
“In my defense, you helped in the wreckage.” Pidge scooted closer to him. She wrinkled her nose as she leaned in to kiss him. “You stink.”
“You got egg in my hair,” he pointed out. Pidge laughed and shrugged, running her fingers through her own matted hair. “Come on, the sink should be big enough to wash our hair out a bit.” He stood up and took her hand to help her up.
After managing to uncomfortably wash out their hair, they both put their hair up and wiped down what they could of their arms and faces. Their clothes would sadly remain until they got a change of clothes.
Before Pidge could start helping him clean the kitchen, Hunk told her to wait and took out the polaroid camera she’d gotten him from his office. He took two pictures of the scene before putting the camera and the photos back in his office and getting back.
“Okay, now we can clean.”
--
Pidge planned on never again having a food fight in a big kitchen. It was ridiculously tedious to clean everything down. Even with Hunk’s playfulness as he twirled her around and hummed different songs while they cleaned up together, Pidge ended up feeling exhausted, and still pretty gross from the stickiness of her clothes.
But it was a memory she would cherish forever. Hopefully it would be a memory to overlap one of the many horrible ones that contributed to restless nights.
In the end, Hunk did make her a cake. He took over while she watched and sat on a counter, just like old times. Except this time, he took to passing time by providing Pidge with light kisses and gentle nose bumps and sweet smiles.
When the cakes were done and cooled, Hunk went back into baker mode and began cutting the tops off before layering the cake. Pidge took to eating the pieces he cut off as he blocked her from seeing what he was decorating it with.
She could only see the Hunch of his shoulders, the slow, patient movements as he worked.
Finally he turned and presented her with her cake.
It was decorated in green frosting with a pretty yellow honeysuckle bunch and two small bees. Pidge smiled as she looked at it and covered her mouth. “Hunk, this is so pretty!”
“I would make you a much more intricate one like the ones on display, but you kept eating the scraps so I knew I had to feed you.”
Pidge scoffed and rolled her eyes. “I love it,” she said.
Hunk smiled and cut her a slice. “Try it.” Pidge took the slice and ate a forkful, sighing contentedly. “Good?” Pidge nodded, stuffing her face with more cake. Hunk laughed wiped some of the frosting from her lower lip. “I’m glad you like it, honeybee.”
Pidge set the cake aside and took Hunk’s hands in her own as he leaned in to give her a soft kiss. “I’m really glad I’m here with you,” she whispered. “And I’m so sorry about all that stupid stuff I’d say on the phone about you meeting someone new. Now that I’m here with you, it just feels so stupid-”
“Hey,” he said, cupping her face. “You’re not stupid, Pidge. I get why you said that, and I get why you worry. And the people that think we can’t make this work have no idea what we’ve already been through. I know you like to plan everything out and think of every possible scenario, so I really do get it, Pidge. Just….” He pressed her hand up to his lips. “I need to know you believe me when I tell you I won’t ever do anything to hurt you.”
Pidge smiled and nodded. “I believe you. I love you.” Hunk’s lips parted slightly before curling into a smile.
“You mean that?”
Pidge bit her lip. Saying it made her feel lighter. Everything she felt in response to Hunk, every wild butterfly, every giddy laugh, and every moment of peace…. This was what they all amounted to. To this unfiltered love she hadn’t even realized she’d been nurturing for so long already.
“Yeah,” she breathed.
Hunk smiled and kissed her again before whispering, “Oute alofa ia te oe.”
Pidge furrowed her eyebrows. “You’ve said that before, haven’t you?” Hunk’s smile grew wider. “Wait. No.” He chuckled and kissed the tip of her nose. “I can’t believe you told me you loved me and I didn’t even realize it.”
Hunk touched her cheek lightly, looking at her with soft, big, brown eyes that made her feel like she was the most important person on the planet. And maybe to him she was for that moment.
“Okay, as much as I would like to keep kissing you, we need to get a change of clothes because they’re really starting to smell,” he said, pulling her off the counter. Pidge sniffed her sweater and grimaced. “I’ll put this in a box and we can take it back. We should also probably get some actual food.”
“I’ll call Lance and see if he wants anything. He said he was feeling sick.”
Hunk busied himself with putting the cake up, and Pidge followed him to his car as she dialed Lance.
“Hey, what’s up?” he answered. He sounded… flustered.
“You okay?”
“Yeah.”
Pidge hummed. “How are you feeling?”
“Um. Tired.”
“Well, are you hungry?”
“Yeah, actually I was about to order Thai. You coming over?”
“Yep. Hunk’s with me, he closed up early.” She looked over at Hunk. “Lance is ordering Thai.”
“Tell him he’d better be using his own card this time.”
Pidge laughed and relayed the information to Lance.
“Wa-wha-huh? -idge? You- cutting ou- guess you’re going through a tunnel, bye!”
“We’re not-” He hung up and Pidge stared at the phone. “That was a horrible impression of a broken call.” In the driver’s seat, Hunk groaned and shook his head.
When they got home, the Thai food was already there and Lance was stuffing his face with rice at the table. “You’re paying my next bill, man,” Hunk said as he grabbed an eggroll.
“What the hell happened to you two and why do you smell like a dairy aisle?” Lance responded through a mouthful of food.
“Food fight,” Pidge said. Lance nodded and furrowed his eyebrows as they went into Hunk’s room. Hunk lended her some drawstring shorts and a hoodie. She went into the bathroom to change and once they were both in clothes that didn’t smell, they joined Lance at the table.
“Pidge said you were sick,” Hunk said. He looked at him and put a hand to his forehead. “You don’t feel warm. What’s wrong?”
Lance looked at them, stuffing more food in his mouth. Then he said, “I’m heart sick. I have a broken heart.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Pidge answered in exasperation. “What are you talking about?”
“Being heartbroken totally counts as being sick, Katie.” Lance stuck his tongue out at her and Hunk chuckled at his expense.
“Alright, well who broke your heart?”
This time, the light playfulness in Lance’s eyes dimmed a bit and he opened his laptop. “It’s not….” He sighed and took a breath. “I found Keith.”
“What?”
Lance ran a hand through his hair and hugged his food closer. “Not like in real life, and not like… to where I can contact him. I just….” He turned the laptop and Pidge and Hunk leaned forward to see the screen better.
All she saw was a variety of photos from different places, different countries. “Uh?”
Lance rolled his eyes and scrolled, clicking on an album. This one had what looked like a silhouette standing somewhere with a pretty mountain backdrop covered in fog and a soft blue sky. There was a caption on the bottom that said, I see you in every sky. Lance clicked through the album. Each photo had a silhouette which Pidge assumed was Keith against a pretty scene whether it was cobblestone roads, between clotheslines in what looked like some ethereal field, or blending into the silhouettes of trees. Each photo had different captions that seemed too vague to pertain to the photo itself like I wanted to believe, Has time erased the love from your life?, The stars are nothing in comparison to your galaxy.
“How do you know it’s him?” Hunk asked. The silhouette never had any actual features. Short hair, a lithe posture, and various clothes for the weather. It wasn’t like Keith was still wearing his red crop jacket or still sporting a stylized mullet anymore.
Lance scrolled all the way down and clicked the “about” button. It led to a resume style page with a portrait photo of someone who was undeniably Keith. The burn scar was still prominent on his right cheek and Pidge had yet to meet anyone with the same lavender eyes. His hair was much shorter than the last time she’d seen him, but he was still all angles and sharp edges. He was holding one of those fancy cameras, but his expression remained somber. He could’ve been a model, and Pidge found ironic that he preferred to be behind the camera.
“Oh my God,” Hunk breathed.
“Apparently he’s traveled to major cities already and started taking to finding the lesser known villages and small corners of the world to photograph them and make them known. I don’t really know what the captions are for, I can’t tell if it’s a story or not, but… yeah. He’s a fucking photographer somewhere out in the world.”
“How did you find this?”
Lance blushed slightly. “I Googled him. I went through a bunch of Facebook and Instagram profiles with the same name before I found one that talked about a photograph website. I didn’t think it’d be him, and I almost gave up, but I figured what if? And it was him.”
Pidge looked at Hunk and then back at the screen before looking at Lance. “Are you going to try to find him? Contact him?”
Lance shoveled food into his mouth again and huffed. “There’s no contact information on there. It doesn’t even say where he’s at right now. And there’s no actual personal bios, just explanations of the project and the captions on the photos.”
“Yeah, that sounds like Keith,” Hunk said. “Do you want to find a way to contact him?”
Lance stirred his rice and Pidge noticed Leon trot a little closer, curling by his legs. “I don’t know,” he whispered. “I mean… he’s doing what he wants, right? He’s seeing the world. I’m in New York and after all this time, it’s not like we can just…. What if he found someone already? Someone who travels with him and takes his pictures and he takes their pictures and….” Lance shook his head. “We already had our story. And it’s over. If he doesn’t have any contact information, it’s because he doesn’t want to be contacted.” He put the food on the table and groaned, placing his face in his hands. “It’s been so long and all of these feelings are just flooding back. I don’t even know what to do about them. All that love and the hurt and the sadness and the nostalgia it’s all just… back.”
“That’s normal, man,” Hunk said, scooting his chair closer to Lance to put a hand on his shoulder. “You guys were still in love when you broke it off. Most people who break up see it coming or at least there’s a reason that you can’t go back from. You guys ended it because you were both taking different paths. You didn’t stop loving him.”
“What if he did?”
Pidge furrowed her eyebrows, her heart breaking with the amount of pain in Lance’s voice. Hunk brought him into a hug and Leon stood on his hind legs to paw at Lance’s arm. Lance sighed and looked at Leon, petting him gently. “I think I’m gonna take a nap. I was up all night obsessing over that website, and now I’ve eaten most of my feelings, so…. Can I use your bed?” Hunk nodded and Lance shut his laptop before heading off to Hunk’s room.
As soon as the door shut, Pidge looked at Hunk. “Can I see your laptop?”
Hunk frowned, but got up to bring her the laptop. She turned it on and searched the website, happy to see that Hunk already had the same software she’d downloaded on her own computer for occasional hacking. “What are you doing?” he asked, leaning over to look over her shoulder.
“I’m figuring out where Keith’s at.”
“What?”
Pidge used the pictures to trace the locations, finding places she’d never even known existed. Keith had really gone into the most obscure places.
“Honeycomb, he could be anywhere at this point, finding the photo locations won’t- is that a government website?”
“Wouldn’t be the first time,” she answered.
“In a few years, I’m gonna be visiting you in a federal prison, aren’t I?”
“Bold of you to assume I’ll get caught. I’m offended.”
“Well- whoa, what the hell?” Pidge had managed to pull up a file on Keith. “How…?”
“We were paladins. We fought aliens. You think the government isn’t keeping tabs on us?” Hunk grabbed his food and pulled his chair to sit closer to Pidge as she scrolled. “Jesus Christ. He’s been to over 100 countries. And even more cities and towns.”
“Is that his permanent address?”
“It’s what’s listed, but he hasn’t been there in over a year,” she muttered under her breath.
“This is borderline stalking.”
Pidge looked over at him and raised an eyebrow. “Everything we’ve been through, you’re drawing the line at this?”
Hunk laughed and shook his head. “Absolutely not. My girl’s a fucking genius.” Pidge winked and returned to the screen. “What about a phone number?”
“There’s a house phone listed. No cellphone. God, why is he a real life cryptid, what the fuck?”
“Maybe Lance is right. Maybe he doesn’t want to be found. He doesn’t have any family on Earth, there’s no one for him to stay in contact with.”
“We were his family! We spent all that time together, building relationships, fighting a war, and we created our own family. We all wanted to be found, you, me, Lance. Keith does too.” Her fingers flew over the keys almost maniacally. “There. If a former paladin is traveling, you can count on our government following them. He last made it to… Attu island.”
“Holy shit. You actually found him.”
“Why do you sound so surprised?”
“I mean I knew you would, just not that fast.” Pidge shrugged. There was a beat of silence, where they both stared at the name of the island on the screen. “Lance doesn’t even know if he wants to contact him though. I don’t think you should tell him yet. Let him sort out what he’s feeling.”
Pidge took a breath and eventually resigned, nodding her head and exiting the site. But she made a note in her phone of Keith’s website before finally dropping the subject fully.
Hunk wrapped an arm around her. They finished their food in silence, Pidge leaning against Hunk as they both tried to let all the new information sink in.
It was strange to believe that just a few hours ago, she had told Hunk she loved him for the first time. It was a moment she thought would have been big and dramatic, probably said in front of the Bellagio, and honestly, said by Hunk first. Of course, he did say it first, but she didn’t know that.
Now she was reeling with the fact that Lance had managed to find Keith. It was concerning that he was so hung up on finding him that he managed it, but… Pidge was the one hacking government files for information. And now they knew where he was.
Maybe it was the fact that she didn’t have much of her blood family left. All she had was Matt. The prospect of getting her space family back together felt like a necessity. To get them all back in her life, to build that support they should have been for each other from the start.
But Hunk was right. Shiro had gone under the radar with some work for the Garrison, and Keith obviously didn’t want anyone contacting him. She wondered if they missed each other. They’d been practically brothers after all. She wondered if Keith had been living through acquaintances this entire time. Five years bouncing from place to place… it couldn’t have given him time for friends, much less a relationship as Lance feared. She wondered if Shiro was okay, and if she could maybe bring herself to go back to the Garrison, if only to see him again.
Then she began to wonder about Allura and Coran. If they had rebuilt their lives, if they remembered the paladins, if Allura ever thought of them or if Coran still called her Number Five when or if he ever talked about her.
And suddenly she was crying. She hated how often she was starting to do that, and ever since Matt pointed it out, she realized it really did happen more when she wasn’t at school. In a way it made sense because at school she wasn’t surrounded by reminders or talking about the memories. But she also didn’t want it to be a bad thing because she loved being with Hunk and Lance and Matt. She was creating new memories with them.
“Oh, Pidge, come here,” Hunk murmured, pulling her from the chair and taking her to the couch where he could properly cuddle her.
“I miss them so much,” she whispered, wiping her eyes and trying to force herself to stop crying. She’d never cried this much even as a teen in a war. It was ridiculous.
“I know. I miss them too.” Hunk scratched her head soothingly, bringing her in closer. “We’re always going to hold on to pieces from our past. And honestly, knowing Keith? It seems like he’s been running from it. It won’t be long before he has to face it. For all we know, he’s just as strung up on Lance as Lance is on him.”
“How did we all make things so difficult for ourselves? We should have stuck together.”
“We all needed different things, Pidge. We just have to take it step by step.” She nodded and held onto him tighter, letting the rise and fall of his chest soothe her. “Hey.” She looked up at him. “I love you.”
Pidge smiled and bit her lip. “That’s the first time you’ve said it in English,” she whispered. He smiled at her. “I love you too.”
He pressed a kiss to both of her eyelids before kissing her lips. He cupped her face with large hands that cradled her gently, like she was fragile. She loved how safe she felt when he did that. How adored she felt because of it. She loved Hunk.
**
“Got your passport?” Pidge nodded. “Your chargers, laptop, phone?” Pidge nodded. “Do you have snacks for the flight, I know it’s a long plane ride. Here, I got you some chocolate covered pretzels and-”
“Matt, I’ll be okay,” Pidge said with a laugh. “It’s not the first time I leave.”
“I know, but the next time I see you, it’ll be for your graduation. It’s kind of freaking me out.”
“Yeah, well once I graduate, you’ll get sick of me because I’ll be living with you.”
Matt rolled his eyes and pulled her into a hug. She returned it just as tightly. When she pulled away, he was giving her the bag of pretzels which made her laugh. “Tell me when you land, okay?” She nodded. Matt turned to Lance. “You stay in touch with me. Spent a whole war without hardly a word to each other and now-”
“We’re practically giving these two a free comedy improv show,” Lance said with a laugh. “Yeah, I was a little naive as a kid. I’ll stay in touch.” Lance turned to Hunk giving him a hug and a thank you for letting him stay before pulling away.
Pidge walked over to Hunk and smiled as she thought of the last time she’d been in this airport with him. How close she’d been to kissing him, only to chicken out. It was funny to think about now.
“I love you,” Hunk murmured into her hair as he hugged her. “You’re gonna kick ass in your classes, and I’ll see you for your graduation, okay?” She nodded and got on her toes, pulling him into a kiss.
“I love you. I’ll call when I get home, okay?” Hunk nodded and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.
“Ready?” Lance asked. She nodded and they walked over to the person checking tickets. Hunk and Matt stayed until they’d gone through the doors.
After getting through all the tedious routines, they boarded the plane. Once take off started, Pidge focused on breathing and staying calm against the rumbling and slight shudder of the plane. She felt Lance take her hand and squeeze it.
Strangely, that helped her relax a little more. Especially since he wasn’t looking at her. He’d just taken her hand and held it tightly, giving her something to tether herself with. Leon also poked his head out from under Lance’s feet, placing his head on her lap. Soon enough, the plane leveled out and the shuddering stopped.
She loosened her grip on Lance’s hand and he let go. “I wonder when the drink cart is gonna come. I’m craving a soda.” Pidge smiled.
--
Lance flight from Massachusetts to New York wasn’t for another four hours, so he took her home and made sure she was stocked up on food to survive before they split a pizza. It was very little time before Lance had to get back to the airport.
Before going through the next goodbye, Pidge knew she had to tell him about Keith. But maybe not all once. Or maybe not everything.
“Hey, so about the website….”
What webs- oh. Yeah, what about it?”
Pidge bit her lip and shrugged. “I’m the girl that hacked into Garrison files and tricked them into thinking I was a boy for a year. I also decoded alien communication and coded upgrades into Altean castle defenses.” Lance stared at her, his eyebrows furrowed. She sighed. “I’m pretty sure I could figure out where Keith’s at so you could try and contact him…. If that’s something you wanted to do.”
“Oh. Oh God.” Lance chuckled awkwardly. “I don’t wanna ask that of-”
“Lance, you’ve helped me a lot too. You’re one of my best friends, practically another brother. I’m good at hacking and tech. So if you want my help, just ask. Think it over, you don’t need to tell me now. I just wanted you to know it was an option.”
Lance smiled and nodded. “Thanks, Pidge. I gotta sort my head out a bit, but… I’ll keep it in mind.” He hugged her tightly and added, “Good luck with the rest of school. Feel free to visit me in New York if you ever have a long weekend, okay? I can drive down, it’s not that bad of a drive.”
She laughed and nodded. “Okay. Let me know when you get home, okay?” He nodded and whistled for Leon so he could put his leash on. Pidge stayed at the door, watching as he got into the Uber and staying until the car disappeared down the street.
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juniper-rose-blower · 6 years ago
Text
... Starts With a Single Step
(( #sorrynotsorry for this being as long as it is - I’m behind on writing for a week. Snippets from RP below, edited for tumblr. Enjoy ^_^ ))
‘Peace is like a river. Sometimes the waters are calm and flow smoothly for great distances. Sometimes it must fight with the shape of the land, bucking with rapids and carving through stone to reach its destination.’ ~Scrollkeeper’s Sanctum, Jade Forest, Author Unknown
Their day had gone quite well.
With Daer’Leon the first one to awaken - admittedly, he didn’t sleep very often, and when he did it was for short stretches at a time - he had disappeared from the inn to complete a morning routine of exercise, scaling trees and gliding around the outside edges of Paw’don Village to scout the way they would be headed on their way to the Jade Serpent’s Temple. He’d finished the tea June made for him before he fell asleep, finding it quelled his stomach from the upsetedness brought on by the portal they came through the day before. A grin came to his face. He’d have to find out what exactly she had put in the blend of tea; whatever it was, she obviously had a natural talent for using herbal mixtures to their full ability. And then when he woke, he found her sleeping - not in a bed, but in a makeshift hammock made from a worn stretchy sheet tied to a hook on the wall, curled up in a little ball and snoring softly. Such a peculiar young woman, and everyday full of more surprises.
Shortly after him, Malodar was up before the sun was rising over the Forest and set about his tradition of physical exercise to start the day. More importantly it kept his mind distracted from the growing unease he had been feeling since arriving. It was more than the portal, something about this land gave him discomfort. He had expected the sentient shadows to play a role, but if they were affecting him so already, he was deeply concerned, though he did his best to hide it. Several jogged laps around the village ended with him back by their lodgings, finding a heavy stone nearby to lift several dozen times. By the time he was finished and returned, he was sweaty and starving.
June was the last to awaken, but while the boys did their morning routines, she went about town hoping to secure them some form or fashion of travel to help expedite their trip a little. It wasn’t until she spoke with Miss Ai-Li, their innkeeper, before she managed to secure a riding crane for them to share. Though, if she was honest, June was likely going to travel in her equine form anyway. Regardless, she rejoined the boys as they converged outside the inn, holding the reins to a lovely crane with stormy grey feathers and gave a sheepish shrug, “This was the best I could find. We could always take turns, if we need to, to keep from getting tired on our trek.” She decided not to mention the fact that she rarely got tired when running around as a Sunrunner, or that she imagined Leon would also not get tired from long-distance travel.
With a few preparations, and a breakfast of fruit and eggs, the trio was soon on their way to the Temple, supplies secured on the back of the gray-feathered crane they had rented.
The worn dirt path through Jade Forest was certainly one to behold. With Leon gliding above them from tree to tree to keep a protective eye on them from above, June and Mal were barely out of the Village before June had looked at him sheepishly.
"You don't mind if I... uh..." even as her words faded off and her embarrassment showed, Mal smirked knowingly.
"No, I suppose not. I don't mind being the only normal one." He winked over his shoulder at that, pausing for a moment at an intersection to check the signs, seeing the one for the Temple pointing over the nearby bridge.
June blushed more, glancing up as she saw Leon gliding above them again. She dipped her head down and took the pause as a chance to shift before she could change her mind. As she did, she tossed her mane in the rain and knickered softly, looking a good deal more comfortable and sounding less nervous.
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Malodar smiled at her and gestured her along with him as they crossed the strangely arched bridge. The rain didn't seem to bother him much at all, though sleeping in it would be less than preferable. He closed his eyes as they walked, listening to the sounds of it in the brush and the smell of wet foliage all around them. If it weren't for that nagging sense of darkness below the surface it would be immensely soothing.
June seemed immensely comfortable not only in her current form, but in the rain and the wilds of the Forest. This place was far greener and more peaceful than any place she'd been thus far. It was quite wonderful.
Malodar paused as they came to a second crossroads, frowning as he saw no signage on the nearby post to direct them.
As they came to the fork, June looked down one path, and then down the other, tossing her mane softly. The looks she gave Mal was just as clear as the thought that flitted through her mind: 'Which way?'
Leon glided down to the ground next to June, motioning down the hill, "That path leads to Serpent's Heart, though if I remember right, you wanted to avoid such?" He pointed to Mal curiously as he said this.
Malodar once again pulled out the map and examined it, trying to shield it from the rain. Through squinted eyes he examined the parchment, and then the paths, and then the map again. The temple was clearly visible atop the small mountain to the northeast. He nodded to Leon's words. "Yes. The map is hard to read but that's what I had thought." He then motioned toward the east path. "It's a bit roundabout, but that will get us to the Temple.”
June gave a nod of her equine head and looked to Mal and their supply-crane, and then to Leon, making sure they were both ok in the rain. It always surprised her a little that someone else was unbothered by the rain, and yet here she was with not one but two traveling companions that were completely fine in it.
Time passed as they walked along the path, verdant green trees and beautiful flowers everywhere they went. The Jade Forest held a an untamed and magnificent beauty all its own. How she had never gotten the proper chance to spend time in this Forest before now was beyond her.
Her state of wonder was nearly perpetual as they passed through the great jade serpent-carved gate into the outer Temple grounds. Serene little houses, soft white and pink water lilies floating on the little stream, and willow and sakura trees whose branches swayed in the breeze only added to the absolute air of peace and perfection. June couldn’t help but picture having a summer home here, spending weeks at a time in perfect solitude with Ky, tending to a garden and fishing and just enjoying the simple life. A wistful exhale left her flared nostrils as she took in the sight of everything, eliciting a chuckle from Leon.
“It is quite a wonder to behold, that is for certain.”
As they approached the Temple proper, Leon gave them a short history lesson before June was eagerly moving toward the stairs to the doors. The hunter and the priest followed close behind her, Leon leaning toward Mal curiously after something Mal said:
"You can hear her, can't you?"
Malodar nodded slowly with chuckle. "Yes. The shadow that still haunts me grants me some abilities, though in this particular case, only when she wishes me to."
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Leon smiled as they passed through the first gate, which was already partially open. Another chuckle emanated from him, "That must help her feel more comfortable... it's quite kind of you." He glanced toward Mal, and though his eyes were gone and shrouded, the expression on his face was one of approval.
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As the three were greeted by a monk who showed them about, Leon went off to enjoy some proper Pandaren brew while June and Mal went through the Temple to the library.
Another Pandaren - graying and fluffy - greeted them with a smile over spectacles and spoke with them at length about their journey through Pandaria. Even as the pair of them sat on the floor to listen to the Scrollkeeper weave his wisdom for them, he left them with more questions than answers. But one message in particular stuck out in her mind:
‘Balance in all things is what brings true peace. Peace of mind, and heart, and soul. It is what gives fulfillment in life and love. It is not easily found or kept, but is a blessing once it is earned.’
Even as more questions buzzed in their minds, June caught the expression of worry on Mal’s face, and offered him her arm:
"Shall we go for that stroll, then?"
"Yes, though I don't even know where to begin myself."
June exhaled with a sideways smile, nodding, "Yeah... but you know what they say?" She reached over to link her arm in his, their elbows intertwined, "Every new journey starts with a single step... yes?"
Malodar offered her a half smile in response. "That is the saying, isn't it."
As they walked along the terrace, June inhaled the summer air, freshened by the rain, and sighed.
"It's so strange... Despite feeling more at ease, I have more questions now than before."
"Strange indeed. I have the same old questions, and feel less at ease." He closed his eyes. "I can hear the whispers of the void even now. And according to that lesson I need to embrace them, not dispel them."
June hummed softly, "You know... he didn't say you have to succumb to them..." She looked back at Mal curiously, "Maybe what you need is more practice?"
"When it comes to the Void, the line between the two is extremely fine."
The silence that hung in the air was heavy for several long minutes before they decided to head back to find a lodging for the evening for their little traveling group. Even as Mal continued to brood, June gave him a nudge and a small smile, blushing.
"I know things have been worrisome and uncertain... but I hope you know... I hope you know that... I believe in you."
"Funny, I was going to say the same thing to you. Perhaps we'll do better if we believe in each other... to make up for our lack of self-belief."
As they started heading toward the main terrace where the Jade Serpent received guests, smiling the whole way, a monk came jogging up behind them.
"Excuse me," she said cheerily, "Are you expecting any mail?"
Malodar turned with a curious eyebrow. "I'm not..." He blinked. "Oh, were you?" He asked June.
June furrowed her brow, shaking her head, "No, I wasn't..." She tilted her head to one side.
The Pandaren woman hummed softly, "Oh. Well, darn. No one here in the Temple is named 'June'."
The woman barely had the name past her lips before the Botanist was rushing forward, taking the envelope from her hands, "Someone actually sent something to me here? But I only told-" but her words suddenly halted, her mouth hanging open as she recognized the handwriting on its front.
Malodar folded his arms as she took the note, nodding a thanks to the woman as June seemed distracted. "Would you like me to give you a moment?"
June blinked up from staring at the envelope, looking at Mal in embarrassment. She shook her head, holding the envelope to her chest, "No... no, I... I'll read it once we're settled in for the night." Even as she said it, she turned it over to see where it was sealed. A familiar scribble in Tanari made her heart do a somersault and she smiled at Mal, tears practically shining in her eyes, "Can we drink now? In celebration for... uh... making it to the Temple?"
Malodar smirked but nodded all the same. "Are you sure you want to do that? I don't think these folks play around with their booze."
June scoffed softly, "Please, you're talking about a woman who regularly drinks ambrosia straight." She looked at him all tough like for a full five seconds before leaping several feet into the air and squealing, "EEE!"
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She jumped and spun in precisely three circles before settling down again, tucking the letter into her journal pouch and looking at Mal quietly, lips pressed together to keep herself quiet and calm. "I'm... good. I'm good."
Hours later, the three of them were reunited, having all had plenty of laughs and drinks with the Temple’s monks, and were shown to a quaint little house they could use to sleep in while they were there, as long as they took care of it. Immediately agreeing, June saw to keeping the candles lit and a fresh pot of tea going, getting everyone settled.
Once she had a free moment, she sat up on the roof to read Ky’s letter. Pale eyes scanned over the words again and again, tears forming in her eyes as she pulled the photo free and held it to her chest. The thought of Ky suffering made her heart ache. But then her stomach did a flip. Ky missed her! Oh, how she missed her back! So much!!
As she climbed down from the roof and headed inside to tuck in for the night, she hugged her pillow extra close, imagining it was Ky’s chest she laid against, nuzzling softly. Her heart was so full in that moment. She would most definitely have to write Ky back in the morning.
(( mentions: @malodarstarstrike @moonsorrowhouse @killerkyara ))
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briangroth27 · 7 years ago
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The End of the F***ing World Season 1 Review
The End of the F***ing World was a great, truly funny (and quite dark) black comedy! Jessica Barden and Alex Lawther were believable as teens (and as "proper bandits!") and were excellent at bringing humorous, serious, and compelling sides to their characters. I believed in their connection and wanted them to end up together somewhere they could find peace, despite the extremely questionable setup of James wanting to kill Alyssa. With a premise like that, this could've easily been a sexist or misogynistic tale, but the show did a great job of avoiding that trap.
Full Spoilers...
I was surprised by how likable James was, despite his belief that he was a sociopath and his plan to kill Alyssa. That may be partially because I’m not sure I ever really thought he would even attack her (much less succeed), but that didn’t lessen the emotional impact of what he was experiencing. I definitely expected her to find out what he wanted to do and while they explored her fearing him and not trusting him a bit, I’m surprised they didn’t play that card. The writers did a great job of humanizing someone who thought he was inhuman and James' mother (Kelly Harrison) and Alyssa were key to that. Admitting to the “murder” of his mother was a good way to get out of his aborted confession of the actual murder he’d committed while telling us about her death in more detail, and I'm not sure it was entirely a lie that he felt he killed her through inaction. Either way, I felt sorry for James when the truth about his mom's death was revealed. 
Alyssa could've come off as a manic pixie dream girl, only existing as an ideal to fix James' flaws and make him complete without any journey or growth of her own, but she never did. Instead, she challenged him and brought out sides he didn't know he had while discovering truths about herself as well. I liked her talk with James about not having to do what people told him after he was abused at the diner (and how she dealt with that creep (Geoff Bell) was masterful). Confronting his habit of going along with what people said even if he didn't want to was a good way to play with Alyssa’s insecurity over whether he really wanted her—or even wanted to be on this adventure—or not. It's interesting how that can be juxtaposed with how much more aggressive she was about their sex life. The implication wasn't ever that she was abusing him, of course, but setting their relationship and his personality up like that was a clever way to feed into her doubts about him, even while she was trying to get him to be more active in his decisions. This indecisiveness and uncertainty about where they stood in each other’s estimation was a great way to tease out their relationship when it would’ve been easier (and cheaper) to have them hook up as soon as they ran away together. At the same time, everyday roadblocks to intimacy like the picture of Clive Koch (Jonathan Aris) putting James off while Alyssa was trying to give him a blowjob were funny, while Alyssa getting James to dance with his eyes closed was one of many truly sweet sequences that totally sold me on their romance. The emergence of James' feelings was compelling: with him slowly experimenting and experiencing newfound parts of himself, he quickly became a far cry from the kid who put his hand in a fryer and didn't feel anything. James paying to have himself beaten up was a little odd at first—I thought it was to build a self-defense argument before turning himself in for the murder—but I prefer the explanation I saw elsewhere: it’s an attempt to feel, just like the fryer incident. Perhaps he thought an inability to feel was what drove Alyssa away and he wanted to prove to himself that he could. It was also interesting that while James had killed a lot of animals before, he couldn’t kill an injured dog after killing Koch. That was a neat way to show his growing feelings for other living things, the result of the nauseous disgust he’d experienced after murdering Koch, and possibly a tie back to watching his (emotionally) injured mom kill herself. Alyssa being able to kill the dog out of mercy worked without any sort of implication that she’s a serial killer: she doesn't have the same block nor the interest he did. I liked that James was repeatedly willing to turn himself in and take all the blame to save her, but I loved his realization that he wasn’t Alyssa’s protector—even when he killed Clive to save her, sparking confusion about her being scared of him because of it—she was his.
Even so, I loved the back and forth they gave her in regard to her opinion of James. It would've been lame to have her just constantly in love with this brooding guy out of boredom (or worse, because he was aloof), but rebuffing him off and on over the course of the series made their relationship's development feel more realistic (and his passive approach to their relationship prevented it from feeling like he was badgering her to date him). Bringing Topher (Alex Sawyer) back to Clive's house and nearly having sex with him could’ve made Alyssa seem flaky or unlikable, but her performance sold it, the writers never chose to make either lead the bad guy, and her feeling that James had rejected her prevented her from looking like a cheater. Not to mention, this was a great display of her agency and freedom to do what she wanted. I liked that Topher accepted her changing her mind and kicking him out before they had sex, even if he was angry: Alyssa laying down the law and him actually respecting her decision (despite whining about it) was refreshing. I loved that Alyssa didn't take James' crap either and took care of herself first—it’s totally understandable and reasonable that she would ditch him out of fear after the murder—until it meant the safety of a little girl (Lily Kavanagh). Alyssa aborting her escape from a shop's security guard (Leon Annor) to return a lost child to her father (Garry Summers), unintentionally convincing the guard to let her go without calling the police for shoplifting—and then shoplifting anyway—was a perfect encapsulation of her character. I also liked that she was somewhat using James to escape her life just as much as he planned to use her to see if he liked killing; that was an unconventional way of making them equals. After so many attempts to jump into sex, Alyssa asking James to wait when they were on the beach was a nice twist. Even though it wouldn’t have been immoral to sleep together earlier, there would’ve been more meaning (practically accidentally, given all their earlier failed attempts) to waiting until they both genuinely felt something—and knew they felt something—for each other instead of just having the idea of feelings.
That said, I loved that Alyssa's story wasn't just about figuring out whether she and James should be together. Alyssa crying in the bathroom on their first night in the hotel room was a great way of showing this wasn’t just some joyride as the reality of what they'd embarked upon hit her. Her reluctance to take the fastest route to her father Leslie (Barry Ward) out of fear that he wouldn’t accept her or even recognize her was a great reason to make the trip (and season) last longer and a solid insight into her self-worth. The promise of reaching her father and being happy was a strong drive for her character, made all the more tragic when she realized who he really was. For that reason, I’d be interested to see where she might go in a potential Season 2 without Leslie or James (preferably because he’s in prison, not dead); she’s definitely a strong character, but I’d like to see more of where she takes herself on her own and it’d be nice to see her find some happiness that isn’t wrapped up in the promise of a father figure or potential boyfriend. Alyssa knocking out DC Noon (Gemma Whelan) and trying to steal Leslie's boat with James will not bode well for her (even with James then knocking her out to take all the blame), so she probably has her own issues with the law to face first. I'd also be interested to see how she handles that.
Encountering an array of the worst people helped to offset the seriousness of the crimes Alyssa and James were committing. Whether they came across pedophiles, rapist murderers, or the everyday sexism Alyssa dealt with from her step-father (Navin Chowdhry), the show did a great job revealing that not only were the kids not the worst of society (as some might rush to brand younger "degenerate" generations), but they were far from the only criminals. Immorality and crime could be found everywhere, even in Alyssa's seemingly caring dad, who gave up and ran when things got too hard for his second family (not to mention being a drug dealer who laughed about running over a dog).
At the same time, the show struck a careful balance between good and bad in the adults who weren't examples of the problems with society (at least not directly). James and Alyssa's disputes with his father (Steve Oram) and her mother (Christine Bottomley) were structured realistically and didn’t make either teen seem like a spoiled brat. James and Alyssa’s parents were also sprinkled with enough care that it was believable they were concerned for their missing children, despite their flaws and shortcomings, later in the season instead of coming off as uncaring or tyrannical. It was kind of sad that petrol station attendant Frodo (Earl Cave) really wanted to come with James and Alyssa—he even helped them escape and rob his store—but they ditched him. I feel like perhaps he was in the story as a measure to keep Alyssa and James' crime spree from coming off as too enticing; they’d still committed real crimes and Frodo will doubtlessly lose his job (if not face charges) for helping them. If that was the intention, undercutting the wish fulfillment of the show’s premise and making James and Alyssa a little selfish is daring. If there's a second season, I'd like to see Alyssa and/or James meet Frodo again and deal with what they did to him, since he wasn't a scourge of society, just a little downtrodden. The most surprising balance came from Clive's mother (Elieen Davies); I didn’t expect her to have a change of heart and turn in the camcorder with evidence of him raping women. I definitely thought that would be much harder for the kids to prove, but it was clever writing to not allow her actions to fully get them off the hook. In terms of the actual investigation, I don't think the authorities needed to find James' knife. Hiding it in the pool drain was really stupid in the first place and felt a little out of character (though as I’ve seen suggested elsewhere, he may have just been panicking). He and Alyssa were already connected to the house via Topher’s wallet and the knife could've been recovered at Leslie's, so the case didn’t really need that element or his mistake.
I really liked the comedy the show got out of Detective Constables Eunice Noon and Teri Darego (Wunmi Mosaku) as they slowly closed in on James and Alyssa. Noon crushing on Darego and Darego not being interested (despite something having previously occurred between them) added to the off-kilter romantic comedy vibe the show was dealing in perfectly. It was also great that they weren't buffoons chasing much smarter teens. I was happy to see a pair of strong women not only as the lead investigators but who were defined by more than the awkwardness of their will they/won't they relationship. Their increasing difference of opinion over whether James and Alyssa were truly criminals or if they were just scared, misunderstood kids who'd made mistakes—Noon believed in them, Darego argued they’ll still get manslaughter for killing Clive in self-defense, especially given James was about to turn 18—was a great source of drama in their relationship. It was masterful that this disagreement not only drove a wedge in their partnership, but reminded the audience of how much trouble the kids were in. It can't just be fun and games for them, even if the authorities believe their story.
I saw a review that said this show was nihilistic, but I disagree: I think the fact that James is a good person at heart and just needed to realize it is anything but nihilism. Alyssa too is willing to give herself up to save a kid; how can the discovery of love and concern for one another be anything but meaningful? Unlike a lot of people (from what I've seen online), I do want a second season. I want to see James deal with his end-of-season revelation about what people mean to each other. People don't stop growing when they have realizations about themselves; in fact what they do with that information is just as (and often, much more) interesting as how they got there. I also want to know how Alyssa is affected by the events of the finale (whatever they may be; personally I think James survived, but was arrested). Maybe she could spring him from jail somehow. She also has a fair bit to answer for over the course of the season, so what will happen to her? And what happens if she finds out that James planned to kill her? I was very happy DC Noon survived, so at least they might have her in their corner and the one person who knows their side of the story didn't end up as another death on their hands. As it stands, I can surmise enough of the finale's fallout to be mostly satisfied if this is the ending, but it was still a little too open-ended for me and I want to see what happens next. I also want more time with these compelling characters! So, let's have Season 2, Netflix!
  Check out more of my reviews, opinions, theories, and original short stories here!
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artificialqueens · 7 years ago
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party chapter thirteen - shalaska - pureCAMP
A/N - i know it’s been so long. in fact, it’s been about eight months. it became difficult for me to continue this fic after it coming under fire so much. i was told it was cheap and stupid and as a fairly young writer, it got to me. i lost all motivation.
but we were so close to the end. we were moments away.
it’s short. but this is how i envisioned it. i hope you enjoy, thank you so much to anyone who read this. it means a lot <3
Their cab ride back home had been spent in a relatively awkward silence. For one, it seemed as though Sharon was slightly more rattled from running into her ex than she wanted to let on. Her knee was bouncing, the bones prominent through the thin fabric of her jeans. Alaska just needed a moment to mull over what had just happened, from the encounter right up to the impromptu confession she’d made.
It wasn’t a big deal, right? That was what the whole debacle spanning several months had been about. Alaska loved Sharon. Sharon loved Alaska. It had, essentially, ruined a tour, Sharon’s health, and the peace of mind of nearly all of their friends. So it wasn’t a big deal, that much was clear now. They were in love.
And yet it still felt like one. Mark’s words rang in her ears incessantly.
You’re good at brainwashing people, Aaron.
Sharon wasn’t a bad person. A four year relationship and a friendship afterwards had cemented that fact in Alaska’s mind. But that didn’t change that Sharon had an ugly side, a darker side, beyond the one that was revealed under the influence of illicit substances. There was the side of her that was nihilistic, offensive, the side that didn’t give a shit because she didn’t have a reason to. That side of her was rare, but it still existed.
Surely Sharon wasn’t lying, though. They’d been through so much together. No matter how cheap and stupid it may have seemed, the hard times had brought them together. It had been a wake-up call in many circumstances, from relationships to just plain health. It wasn’t something Sharon could lie about.
As they walked towards the front door – Sharon having paid for the ride and taken hold of Alaska’s hand as soon as they stepped out – Alaska started to relax again. She was just getting stressed; it was natural after such a weird turn of events. To walk hand in hand in the streets of Pittsburgh, a city now infamous thanks to the pair of them, that in itself was enough to skew her mind a little bit. Mark and his stupid little mind games were just the cherry on top of the stress cake.
Sharon flung herself down onto her couch as soon as she got inside, too tired to even properly take her shoes off. Instead, she opted to kick and shake them off as best as she could as she sank into the cushions, pulling Alaska down with her.
“So, you just said you loved me.”
“No I didn’t.”
“Yes you did.” Sharon persisted. “I heard it. I heard it come right out of your little mouth.”
Alaska chuckled at the childish game. “You must have me confused with someone else.”
“Like who?” Sharon laughed. “Who could I possibly have you confused with?”
She pretended to think. “Hmm. A boa constrictor?”
“I prefer feather boas.” Sharon muttered decisively. “They’re prettier. I know I heard you, Lasky. I even said it back. Don’t deny it.”
“Well then,” Alaska replied smugly. “If you know you heard it, why do you need to mention it again?”
Sharon puckered her lips for a kiss. Alaska gladly obliged.
“To make extra sure.” She said. “You don’t think I spent so many months worrying about this not to double check it, did you?”
Alaska softened. “The worrying can stop, Noodles. No amount of ugly exes, past relationships or overdoses are gonna stop me from loving you. I’m not encouraging any of those things, but… they won’t stop me loving you the way I do. Things turned out okay in the end, didn’t they?”
Alaska knew the saying was ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’, but she wanted to change it. Stronger was perhaps a better word. They’d broken each other down and built one another back up again over years and years, and if anything, their hearts were stronger than they’d been before. More in tune than they’d ever been before. It seemed a break was all they needed, and that was all it had been; a break, not a break up.
The pair were comfortably silent for a while. There was no need to dive on top of one another, ravaging each other with kisses and sex and hickeys and everything that the love novels suggested. Rekindling a fire never encompassed dumping a bottle of gasoline and a box of matches onto the wood. Like a fire, it needed to be dealt with slowly, carefully, bit by bit until they got it right.
They had all the time in the world.
-
(7) New Messages
Willam: Alaska
Willam: Alaska
Willam: Goddammit you fucking snake why are you never awake when important news is breaking
Willam: good luck when you wake up bitch
Courtney: bill! This is serious!
Michelle: Not sure if you’ve seen Instagram and Twitter, but I’d hurry there if I were you. I’m guessing you’re not awake, but…
- Michelle Visage has sent a link –
It had been so comfortable, sat next to Sharon on the couch in silence, that Alaska wasn’t even aware the pair of them had drifted off until she suddenly awoke. Sharon’s hand was resting on her thigh, her head on her neck, and in Alaska’s right hand her phone flashed continuously. Stirring herself cautiously, so as not to wake up Sharon, she unlocked it and groggily read her messages.
Oh for fuck’s sake, she thought to herself. Not again. Why is it that the moment I’m happy, the moment anything good happens, something appears online?
A feeble part of her brain tried to convince herself otherwise. Maybe it wasn’t what she thought? Maybe it was just some snotty club cancelling one of her gigs, another article proclaiming Sharon to be a drug-obsessed Nazi – something standard and easy to brush off. There was a good chance it was another fan taking a stab at finding proof of ‘shalaska’, which again was fairly easy to ignore, if slightly amusing. Some of their theories were wild and some of them were, well, hilariously accurate.
Feeling a little blasé about the whole thing, Alaska opened her twitter. Nothing unusual. Mrs Kasha Davis spreading her positivity. A naked black guy with a gigantic cock, with a small ‘liked by Coco Montrese’ at the top of the photo. Katya spouting strangely ominous nonsense. Phi Phi interacting with fans. Ultimately, nothing seemed out of place.
She clicked trending. Various idiotic topics greeted her as usual. A sporting event, the resignation of a famous player who played… something, a funny hashtag about describing your boss with a movie title, and –
Oh.
That was what they meant.
Despite the words seeming frivolous, Alaska’s heart rate sped up upon reading them. #SharonNeedlesIsOverParty was one of the few trending topics, with a couple of hundred tweets about it.
Heart suddenly filled with dread, Alaska clicked. The first tweet, the most liked and retweeted one of all, was from an oddly familiar source.
Mark - @thatmarkman – Feb 1st
Imagine your already-shitty boyfriend leaving you to go date/fuck the ex that he abused #SharonNeedlesIsOverParty @SHARON_NEEDLES
-picture-
Enlarging the image, Alaska saw it was of herself – blurry, and from the back, but most definitely her. Her hand was entwined with the hand of somebody who hadn’t quite made it into the picture, but she knew was Sharon.
She swiped. This time the two of them were in it, still holding hands, at a side angle that would easily clear any doubts over the first image. Sharon’s side profile was abundantly clear, Alaska’s face almost fully visible. It was incriminating evidence.
angie<3 - @katyasbabyslut2004 – Feb 1st
WHY IS @SHARON_NEEDLES TRYING TO RUIN ALASKA’S CAREER JUST LIKE HERS >:( #SharonNeedlesIsOverParty
Ben||3 days - @delanoactzamomattel – Feb 1st
Wow i sure do love unstanning racist nazi cheaters! #SharonNeedlesIsOverParty
Victoria Ulgard - @trixyalaska49 – Feb 1st
Sum1 tell me this is photoshopped #sharonneedlesisoverparty
56 days - @adoorcilantrosplaid – Feb 1st
Feel like ive waited years for this damn hashtag to be a thing #SharonNeedlesIsOverParty #FINALLY
AB - @kimorasblackk – Feb 1st
Ew shalaska really? #gross #sharonneedlesisOVERparty
Leon :D - @leoshakesqueere1 – Feb 1st
Can someone explain whats going on omg i thought they broke up bc it was abusive?? #shalaska?? #sharonneedlesisoverparty
They went on and on, each one slamming Sharon, or Alaska, or both of them. A few were kind, clogging up the negative tag with positivity, but it did little to fix the issue.
Everything was now out in the open.
This was the last thing Sharon needed, and Alaska knew it. The recovery would be, and already had been, rough. It wasn’t going to get any easier anytime soon, and she didn’t need the added stress of seeing people going bananas over something that didn’t involve them. Sharon was more private than she liked to let on – this would only stress her out.
“Lasky?”
Alaska had been so caught up in scrolling through the madness that she didn’t notice Sharon stirring on her shoulder until the older queen spoke. She was squinting, her glasses having fallen off into her lap, and her brow was furrowed down at her own mobile.
“Why is Michelle texting me?”
A heavy sigh escaped from Alaska’s lips. She couldn’t lie about it. It was inevitable that Sharon would find out; she might as well deliver the news as gently as she could.
“…Your asshole of an ex told the world about us.”
She waited for the reaction.
After a couple of seconds of silence, Sharon nestled down into Alaska’s shoulder again, her eyelids still heavy from sleep.
She yawned. “Is that it?”
Alaska shifted her arm to pull Sharon closer to her, appreciating the calming warmth of having another body by her side. Sharon dropped her phone into her lap, not caring about it, and opened her eyes momentarily to gaze into Alaska’s.
“The thing is…” She began sluggishly, clearly still half-asleep. “It doesn’t fucking matter… ‘cause, I love you baby. ‘N you love me too. The whole world don’t have to love us.”
Within seconds of soliloquising, her eyes were closed again, her body growing heavier against Alaska’s. She sounded so sure, so certain, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. It didn’t matter, she was positive. All that mattered was their love shared, right?
Alaska wasn’t as convinced as she wanted to be. “I don’t know, Sharon… this could have repercussions. It’s so soon…”
“Trust me, pumpkin… you lose a gig, I lose a gig… doesn’t matter. We’re famous ‘n involved in a scandal. We’re hot shit.”
The words were so painfully Sharon that Alaska couldn’t help but laugh. Maybe she was right after all. Logically, she knew it wasn’t going to get any worse than this. Mean tweets, or perhaps a rude comment, or something snotty on Reddit – that would be the beginning and end of their troubles. Of course Sharon’s overdose would remain a problem, but at the same time, the news was dying down. It seemed as though, when it came to Ru Girls, everything flared up for days and then dissipated again.
It was cliché. Beyond cliché. But that didn’t matter. Alaska switched off her phone, putting it face down on the coffee table and gently stroking Sharon’s hair.
Gigs didn’t matter. Mean comments didn’t matter. Unkind tweet and speculations didn’t matter.
What mattered was happiness, love and health.
Happiness. Only months ago, Alaska had expected she wouldn’t find proper happiness again. Confusion shrouded her mind from the obvious, pulling her away from her instinctive thoughts. She stopped following her gut and started following her head, knowing in the back of her mind that this was the same head that caused her self-depreciating thoughts. The head that caused the meltdowns, the tantrums, the angry fits that made her appear overly-competitive and petty. In hindsight, she needn’t have listened to her head. Her heart knew what it wanted. Her heart knew what it needed.
Love. That had been the difficult one. She hadn’t even wanted to recognise the way she was feeling, and had just silenced herself in order to keep up the illusion. In a hotel years ago, she’d decided to listen to her heart and break away – and in another hotel later on, she’d decided not to. For so long she denied herself the very idea; love doesn’t die when a relationship does. It had taken a while. And maybe, just maybe, it didn’t feel as explosive and all-consuming and fiery as it had when they were young, dumb and broke. Maybe, just maybe, the gentle warmth and softness between them, the delicacy of Sharon’s sleeping face and the weight of her body next to her, was enough. Maybe, just maybe, that was love too.
Health. Admittedly, they weren’t doing too well at this one. But it was a start. Sharon was starting to get better. The problem was acknowledged, and being tackled. After one of her many mood swings from angry to guilty, she’d told Alaska she was going to limit her cigarette intake. Originally, she’d decided to quit completely – a resolution that lasted all of five minutes before a craving struck her. Still, it was something. Drugs were out of the window and cigarettes were slowly disappearing. It was something. Progression.
It wasn’t perfect. They would never be perfect. Alaska would always be sensitive, a perfectionist, and prone to reacting negatively when things didn’t always go her way. Sharon would always want to find solace in a bar, to block out the bad feelings with a substance or two, and revert back to her old ways. They would never be perfect. And love certainly wasn’t going to fix that.
But there was nothing they could do to change the imperfections.
So, with as much blasé as she could muster, a brief imitation of her old old friend, Alaska smiled to herself.
Party.
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herdearlybeloved · 7 years ago
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Aloha oe
Been up for three days straight with no sleep. Packing and shipping off stuff. I love flying, it makes me feel high every time I go up or down in a plane. I was on a 13 hr flight plan. Before I left, I treated Nancy and Steven out to Miller’s ale house, then the next day, we went to Taste Of Vietnam & Maggie Moo’s. They even dressed up the first time. Brother in law was in a suit and sister was in dress and heels. Mamma Brenda told me two angels will look over me while I fly out. Their names were Gabriel & Matihas. Steven played an owl city song with aloe blacc for me before I left. Mamma dropped me off at the airport and I adulted again for the first time. Flying alone, no one in my family has done that before, at the ones I know. I’m a rebel. Crazy and ambitious. I was getting more and more restless as the hours went by. I was so excited. Plans me and babe had set were finally in motion ! I just couldn’t wait to see him. Ps. he knows how to fuck me right, Thank God. First flight, I made friends with a guy going to Detroit. He helped me with stuff I was confused about. The ticket guy scan my ticket, looked at me & say Aloha ! Delta knows how to feed a nigga. Only thing was their two salads; gourmet, yes but it taste like ass. So going through TSA checkpoint was pretty fun. My groin showed green. So I got patted up and down and hands checked. All I could think was Zaaayummmm I got some bomb ass pussy !! ^_^ In Atlanta, I watched flights take off, something happened so airport fire truck & ambulance came out. The lady standing at the flight screen helped me and flagged me down that I was going the wrong way to my flight gate lmao Boarding the plane, shit was freezing like north pole cold, my feet were swollen the whole flight. I befriended a radiologist from Charlotte, she’s 48 yrs old & her name was Charrisa. ( funny how life goes , the girl leon wanted to marry had the same name.) She was pretty much my flight mama & we helped each other with whatever even after we got off. She even gave me her blanket so I could be covered from head to toe. She taught me how to play sudoku and I caught onto it in like 10 seconds. She was a stylish mamma with her teletubbies suitcase lol I tried to sleep on the flight but the kid behind me kept whaling in my ear, I was about to say come sit on my lap and let’s colour. My body shocked me every time I tried to sleep, I bashed my heel so hard onto the metal underneath my foot, it made me angry so I stopped trying to sleep. I watched movies, played games, me and flight mamma was being flight monitors constantly looking at our flight details. She played words with friends and cookie jam most of the time while I attempted to sleep and keep myself busy. I remember getting up and thinking to myself I need to get the hell off this plane, let me go jump out the exit after seeing we had 6 hours left lol We were on a 9 hr 7min flight after leaving ATL. The girl in front of me talked so much throughout the flight trying to educate the lady next to her about Hawaiians & etc. Despite me talking shit, she dropped her pen, didn’t realize it so I picked it up and gave it back to her. Me and flight mamma ears kept popping the whole flight, every time we looked at the flight time, we would roll our eyes and laugh. I talked to her about Leon, she told me her friend she was visiting is retired army as well. Being up in the clouds was so amazing, I know for sure I’m pursuing a pilot’s license. I asked flight mum why she barely open the window, she told me the couple behind us kept shutting it down, which I didn’t realize til later after we tried opening it up so many times lol Everyone wanted to be in darkness or something, heard it was about being able to see the screen. Me and flight mamma were one of the last people to go pee. She told me we have yet to go use the restroom, honestly I was waiting on her to want to go because I was too shy to get up in front of everyone by myself. We both lost our way to our seats and had to flag each other down. Delta kept asking us if we needed drinks. They also fed us pretty well, so many snacks. I couldn’t poop because I didn’t know if someone else needed to use the bathroom & one of the flight attendants made me uncomfortable. The last and one movie I actually watched was Kong Island. It was great ! I hope King Kong finds a partner tbh. The bingo game was flawed asf, the whole board filled up and it kept saying I didn’t have a valid bingo. Flying in was amazing, scenery was beautiful. We had to sign a form saying we won’t carry seeds and etc into Hawai'i. When asked my purpose for being here, I wrote this: My boo bear ^_^ I always find time to goof off lol Me and flight mamma lost each other trying to find the baggage claim but She found me and her friend lei her and I was standing at the wrong baggage claim until he came over and asked if I sky or regular. After they seen my luggage , they offered me this cart to carry my stuff, how kind. Boo Bear saw me , kissed me and lei me. Bruh. The love I was feeling made me so fucking high as tired as I was. Babe gives me these stares that makes me feel like I’m the luckiest girl In the world because he looks at me with such love and admiration. Babe house is freezing, he likes it cold, glad I brought my winter clothes ! LOL He made me feel so welcomed saying things in context like this is your new home, our home , we this and that etc. Made me feel like wow all the shit we talk and dream about and made plans for ACTUALLY happened. I wanted to fuck & blow baes brains out and ride him out into the sunset when I came but he layed me down and helped me sleep. We went to Wal-Mart and the prices are more than Florida but not as scary as I imagined. Mickey d’s here isn’t any different from what I see in Florida. We went to Tantalus. (Mountain side) It was beautiful, saw all of Honolulu. Narrow roads, every turn you were bound to crash into a tree or go off the road. But babe knows his way and he’s a racecar driver 💙 It started raining while I was taking pictures so babe gave me an umbrella and the thing turned upside down on me 😂😅 Gonna send my mommy postcards of me in Hawaiian dresses lol Everyone is happy for me and pretty supportive, They feel I deserve it and that this is a right move for me in my life. Funny, even the ones who forgot about me was happy for me. Some people on the other hand wanna act upset and shit. They try to hate on my relationship saying oh we only been together for a week yet they don’t know the history. I brush that shit off like sand on my shoes. I been getting bad batches of men left to right. Finding love in all the wrong places but now I have a good man by my side and he treats me right , treats me good, fucks me right, motivates me to be/do better. I don’t know how the hell I got so lucky and blessed. When I look at Leon sometimes, something about him ignities a wildfire inside of me and I just fall immensely for him. He makes me so happy to the point where I asked him if the devil sent him. God this is the best thing that EVER happened to me besides my birth. I been so high on life I honestly find it hard to focus on the negative. I find it bad because whenever I get snapped on, I have no emotions about it , Hell I might even laugh. But can you believe it… I’m in Hawai'i and my home is Waipahu !! It hasn’t hit me yet that I actually flew out for 13 hrs and I’m here with my honey pie like I don’t have to wait , I don’t have to talk through Snapchat or video chat, I have him in flesh with me , showering me with love and all. What more could I ask for. I always wanted two things in life besides being happy and successful which was to love and to be loved. Now it is happening. I feel like I won the lottery lord. Nancy and Taylor and a few more people called me crazy , they say what girl drops everything to go move and be with a guy. One who is crazy, got big ass cojones , in love and got faith that shit will work out , that’s who. Whatever happened in the past, It’s in the past & I put it behind me. Time to look up and forward. If you’re reading this, pray for me. Love and light mofos ! Mahalo.
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umichenginabroad · 7 years ago
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5. The Dragon Boat Festival
So May 30 was the Dragon Boat Festival, a traditional holiday in China. One cool thing that comes from the Dragon Boat Festival is the dragon boat racing,
Peter: “Pfft obviously”
where they row a giant boat and bang a drum in rhythm so that everyone rows at the same time.
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I wasn’t able to get a good picture of the dragon boat but here is a model that we saw at the museum. They are really big, and the person that plays the drum is usually in the front.
For the Dragon Boat Festival, we got school off on May 30th, but that was a Tuesday so the school was nice enough to move Monday, May 29th, classes to Saturday, May 27th. So after classes were over May 27th, we didn’t have to come back until June 1st! But some people didn’t have Friday or Monday classes, so they left the Thursday before, May 25th.
So I am in this group of friends here at SJTU and we call ourselves the “Circle.” There’s 9 of us, but only 6 of us, the real ones, wanted to go on a trip to Hangzhou and Nanjing from May 28th to May 30th.
We decided to get together and plan the whole thing. We got train tickets, an Airbnb in both Hangzhou and Nanjing, and we decided to stay in Hangzhou from the 28th to the 29th and then go to Nanjing from the 29th to the 30th. We were gonna leave at like 4 am from our dorm to head out to the train that left at 6:40 am.
However, us U of M students received a great gift before we left. Dean Gallimore, the University of Michigan Dean of Engineering, came all the way to Shanghai to see us!
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You like the difference in style? SJTU held a luncheon with the dean, the staff, and the students in the program, and we were able to network with them and talk about how our abroad experience is going. We were able to dress however we wanted, but when we saw everyone in suits, we realized that maybe we should have put a little more effort into our outfits.
The night before the Circle’s trip came, and we were leaving too early for breakfast so we decided to stock up on some food for the trip there.
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This is the 6 members of the Circle going on the trip. Peter is in the lower left, Hugo is above him, Bibek Raut is in the lower right, Fahim is above him, Matt Barnett is in the back, and I think it’s really hard to find me but if you look really close at the picture I think you can see me in the bottom somewhere over there. We all went to the convenience store and got some baozi among other things.
Since Ramadan had started recently, Fahim was going to fast from sunrise to sunset, so he had to pack food for before it starts to when it ends each day of the trip. Also, guess which one of us is the only one who speaks Chinese in the whole group. Yup, it’s Matt. He was basically the reason we survived the trip. Every time someone would try to talk to us, we would just call Matt over and ask him to translate.
Since we were leaving at 4 am and I usually stay up until 5 anyways, Peter and I stayed up in my room until it was time to go. Some random people from the program joined us in our room and we just chilled in the room and played music.
https://goo.gl/photos/k711NzC7AT8TTS6y5
I didn’t last all night and ended up falling asleep for an hour.
Then it was time to go. My roommate Leon helped us get a taxi to the train station and we got there an hour early, so we just kinda waited around for the train to come.
https://goo.gl/photos/heWDjxrF2tyNhACc6
Then we left
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https://goo.gl/photos/yR2F7KhZXBvARxWE6
My wifi and data didn’t work for the whole trip so it was kinda bad because if I got lost I had no way to contact anyone.
Long train ride later, we make it to Hangzhou.
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Our first stop was going to the famous lake called West Lake and take a bunch of pictures and selfies.
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The West Lake, the most popular attraction in Hangzhou.
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IHNIWTTI 1: I Have No Idea What This Is 1. You’re probably gonna hear that a lot, so I’m just gonna start labeling these things that. But it looks great.
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PC: Bibek Raut
Oh yea and we couldn’t go to our Airbnb yet because we had to check in at 3 pm and we arrived at Hangzhou at around 10 am, so we spent the time traveling around Hangzhou with all of our luggage.
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PC: Bibek Raut
We went inside one of the temples that was by the lake
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Funny story behind this picture, there was some little kid in the temple and Matt spoke Chinese to him and the kid was just so in shock that Matt spoke Chinese.
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People would use this to pray, and we actually saw some people doing it here.
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PC: Fahim Vora
We also went to a museum where I took that picture of the dragon boat and got Circle bracelets for the holiday.
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(Taken by me like 30 seconds ago)
It was only 5 yuan (less than $1) and tradition says that we throw these away the first time it rains after the dragon boat festival comes. It’s supposed to represent us throwing our troubles away, but Peter is too much of a hoarder to do so.
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This was in front of the second temple we went to that was also nearby the lake. 
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PC: Fahim Vora
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PC: Fahim Vora
The temple had a lot of stairs to get to the temple, and even in the temple there were a lot of stairs to take. Keep in mind we were still carrying everything.
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The last place before we were going back to our Airbnb. Hangzhou is a really nice and relaxing place to be (foreshadowing).
So when we left the temple and the lake, we found out that there was no metro that could take us to the Airbnb, so we tried to find a taxi that could take us there. Most taxi only fit 4 people, but then some big van saw us and told us they could fit all 6 of us in there.
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We were kind of skeptical but it was a deal we couldn’t refuse. They offered to take us all there for only 200 yuan, which seems expensive but it was only about $5 a person and most taxi are expensive in China compared to all the other prices here.
Then we made it to the Airbnb. We called the host and she didn’t pick up, so we left her a message and texted her, and while we were waiting for her reply we went out to eat.
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PC: Fahim Vora
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We took a small eating break and I CAN’T GET OVER HOW CHINA HAS SUCH GOOD FOOD FOR SO CHEAP.
It was too bad that Fahim was fasting, but he was so happy during the trip and he didn’t complain at all. It was amazing how he could walk so much without eating or drinking anything.
But something was weird. Our host still hasn’t called us back. We tried calling her again during dinner but she wouldn’t answer. We then went back to try to talk to the security guards at the location, while Peter tried calling her over and over again, but she wouldn’t answer.
If we couldn’t contact the host, we would have nowhere to sleep.
What were we gonna do?
- Timothy Pichardo
- Computer Science major
- UM-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute in Shanghai, China
Oh wait I almost forgot
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICHARD JIN
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