#kind of nice that i shouldnt need to side her up too quickly too soon since of course my bird eater molted as soon as she got into her new

[mossiestpiglet]

[ID: a small brown and black tarantula in an enclosure with leaves and bark. There is a golden heart on the tarantula’s abdomen. The tarantula is partially obscured by glare and circles in the lid of the enclosure. End ID]

Littlefeet finally got big enough to move from her deli cup to a sling enclosure! She’s still less than 1/3” I’d say and boy it took a while to get to even this first molt, but she is so stinking cute!!

[ID: A baby tarantula peeks out from a hole in a small cup enclosure. End ID]

So excited to have a Cyriocosmus elegans! I’m really leaning into dwarf tarantulas and this species has been one I have been looking for. I also got a Dolichothele diamantinensis who is a good deal bigger and in a lovely enclosure but I can’t get a good pic yet.

[grotesquegabby]

I know I may have asked this before so you can skip it and I can try to find the OG answer, but how would your elders feel about mine? I believe you only did three of yours which is okay, just wanted to see if you were willing to do it for others

I found the og post huehue~ So I can answer for the rest of them. uwu I am totally willing~ some of these guys are assholes so I apologize ahead of time

Seraph: (golden bitch)

Risus - Eh suppose you are fine as long as you dont cause trouble for me.

Trituna - Would try and stay out of Tritunas way not because they are scared but because even Seraph understands the balance of things shouldnt be fucked with.

Conllium - this may come as a surprise but Seraph would actually like Conllium but wont admit it. They like Conlliums realm and how just....the way everything is. They wont admit this to anyone though x3

Cundolili - Would mostly be curious about Cundolili

Trema/Astute - would be neutral towards

Decla -  another they would be neutral towards

Nalia - Just wants to say they love Nalias outfit but wont say anything else x3

Sionis - booorrring.

Mecor - Another beautiful elder whom Seraph will be jealous of x3 but wont say anything about it.

Logium - wouldn’t really know too much about Logium so not too much of an opinion.

Zerneboh: (bastard mode activated)

Risus - a possible ally/friend/frenemy

Trituna - As one who destroys the balance of things they will hate each other.

Conllium - Wouldn’t like Conllium one bit.

Cundolili - Will be curious, as to who this is and why they will be replacing Conllium.

Trema/Astute - Would Tolerate more than Decla.

Decla - Would tolerate Decla but would not like them. Zerneboh loves absolute chaos and disaster~

Nalia - Wouldn���t like Nalia in the least but knowing Zerneboh he pretends to be friendly with almost anyone. Cause hes a bastard.

Sionis - would find them annoying.

Mecor - hmm~ Zerneboh might be a creep to her but there are those who wont let that happen so she will be fine. But what an interesting family~ he thinks to himself

Logium - No

Orfeo: (a little bitch)

Risus - would see a possible friend in Risus.

Trituna - Dont think He would like her. Balance....gonna fuck that shit up.

Conllium - Nope

Cundolili - uhhh

Trema/Astute - maaaybe?.....I...wait...no...

Decla - They deal with Risus they can handle Orfeo x3 so this is a Nope from him heheh

Nalia - Thinks they are beautiful will learn quickly not to be a creep to them

Sionis - ah fuck...

Mecor - beautiful~.... (dont even think about it Orfeo...)

Logium -well x3 I dont really need to say why these two wont get along lol

Pestilence:

Risus - What he feels about Risus is hard to say, Pestilence is a complicated guy.

Trituna - Pestilence is iffy again here. Hes not one to always deliberately piss someone off like Famine or accidentally like War. I imagine these two would be an on off kind of possible friendship or allyship wise.

Conllium - A chill tree, a lovely place to be. Definitely would see them as a friend indeed. His contribution to the decorations are masks to hang upon their branches~

Cundolili - Would be welcoming to Cundolili. Curious about them,  but would never do them harm. Just as welcoming to them as they are to Mecor. uwu

Trema/Astute - Wouldnt mind Trema, though Trema might mind him. Pestilence can be annoying to some.

Decla - I feel the relationship here would be rocky considering Pestilence is Pestilence and they spread all kinds of sickness and destruction. But he is a chill guy who wouldnt mind chilling out if asked nicely. hes weird that way x3

Nalia - honestly seems like a really fun person. Pestilence would enjoy their company a lot uwu

Sionis - Doesn’t mind Sionis, chill, does a good job at their role. Even Pestilence loves Justice, especially when it happens to those who deserve it.

Mecor - Elder to be/New Elder, Pestilence would welcome her with open arms. He enjoys meeting new people. Would think shes a swell lady, lovely family.

Logium - Time is Time and Time is a friend to some and an enemy to others. But Pestilence has no issue with the Lord of Time in fact finds them quite entertaining and such uwu

War:

Risus - is a torn between hating and wanting to help them in whatever they do. War is a complicated person and War does as War does.

Trituna - I think these two would have a tough time getting along.

Conllium -  I imagine she has tried to fight Conllium but failed to lift them cause she would try that. I imagine she would give up though and pass out next to them asleep x3

Cundolili - would want to know who this is as soon as possible. Could be a wrestle buddy you never know. x3

Trema/Astute - might find Trema kind of boring.

Decla - Wanna wrestle...at least? I think they would see Decla as a possible buddy. Something about Decla screams friend to War.

Nalia - I dont imagine these two would get along very well. War might not like how peppy Nalia is or seems. and Would try and void them.

Sionis - Wants to fight but in like a...friendly way. War isn’t so good at understanding friendship but she would Sionis as a possible ally and friend.

Mecor - Will ask if she wants to fight as a sort of welcome and to see how tough she is. You can turn her down its okay plus she will be told thats not how we welcome people into the council. Stop asking everyone to fight (its like that zodiac make up video where one of the zodiacs constantly is like wanna fight)

Logium - Gets the weirdest feeling they have to be super respectful. So shes gonna try.

Famine: ( the least liked of the horsemen)

Risus - eh...could get along actually. Famines is more leaning towards that side.

Trituna - Famine is the type fo fuck up balance. He and Trituna I dont believe would get along very well...

Conllium - He wouldn’t care for Conllium no reason specified why though

Cundolili - Wouldnt really have an opinion as of yet.

Trema/Astute - Wouldn’t have too much of an opinion but would tolerate Trema/perhaps even find some enjoyment in talking with them though Famines not much of a talker.

Decla - The things Famine does is in no way a sensible disaster...I imagine Decla would be trying to fix whatever damage Famine does. So they wouldnt get along either. Would find Decla annoying

Nalia - Would find Nalias outlook and attitude irritating. Too much positivity.

Sionis - For some reason I dont see these two getting along. I see Famine being kind of a dick to Sionis, it could be that Sionis is for justice/protection and such and Famine is...well Famine. So he would see Sionis as someone who would try and stop him from what hes doing.

Mecor - a newcomer who was fated to come. Hed share his piece about the Elders with Mecor and be on his way. Hes not very welcoming....so just ignore him the others will tell Mecor the same uwu

Logium - Mysterious being who Famine has honestly never seen. And hed be lying if he said he wasn’t a tad bit nervous to meet them. Something about this elder would send a slight shiver down his spine.

Hope:

Risus - Oh crumbling biscuits....not another one.

Trituna - You are the elder of Balance, she would consider it an honor to meet them. Hope loves many of the elders like Trituna. Would show them respect uwu

Conllium - definitely someone she would fall asleep next to them. She would also go and talk with them a lot. Conllium is such a wonderful elder. uwu

Cundolili - Would adore Cundolili (- uwu-) even if their presence means Conllium is no longer around which would sadden Hope. She would welcome Cundolili with open arms.

Trema/Astute - somewhat nervous around but would get used to them uwu Knows they are not a bad elder like Risus or Zerneboh

Decla - This is a being who works very hard and deals with a lot. They deal with Risus and who knows what else. Definitely deserves respect

Nalia - Would Love Nalia, absolutely love them. Would definitely want to spend time with Nalia the most.

Sionis - Sionis would make Hope a bit nervous but she knows they are just a serious person. She would trust them and find them quite reliable uwu look up to them even.

Mecor - Would love to meet her, cant wait to meet her. Shes heard nothing but good things!

Logium -A very wise and calm being, Who Hope would feel compltely safe around. uwu Definite trust from the start.

Space Grandpa:

Risus - Would absolutely dislike them

Trituna - is someone they would enjoy being around. Space Grandpa isnt always one for talk but Trituna is someone they would enjoy spending time with regardless if they talked or not.

Conllium - Is one who would visit Conllium, unfortunately would not be able to sit beside them and sleep. Too big. x3 but They would love to chat with them, spend time with them.

Cundolili - welcome with open.....tentacles? arms? claws? something x3 they will welcome them. Offer any assistance if they so wish for it.

Trema/Astute - would remind him of The Void,

Decla - would feel bad they have to deal with Risus so much. Would offer an ear to listen. Space Grandpas a good listener. Definitely would see Decla as a possible friend.

Nalia - Loves how Nalia is, loves their attitude and personality.

Sionis - Admire Sionis, Dependable, a good person. Sees them as an equal like other elders among them.

Mecor - Would be welcoming, more so than normal with others. Mecor is family after all.

Logium -equal footing. A good being and wise, mysterious

Void: (This is more of how void would describe them..as Void is neutral to everyone)

Risus - one who causes trouble

Trituna - Balance, you are very important to the multiverse.

Conllium - a peaceful being

Cundolili - a young one, welcome

Trema/Astute - perfect neutrality

Decla - hard worker

Nalia - peppy one, they were once that way. It is nice to see another

Sionis - a being who watches, reliable.

Mecor - fated to be.

Logium - Father time is a thing theyve heard humans say. But Time is Time

Hope this was good~ uwu sorry I know its a lot

[fiftyshadesgrl]

He saved me/ part 4

Summary: reader is in a abusive relationship. When things take a turn for the worst she finds help in the winchesters.

Warning: there will be ssmut, violence, torture, abuse and language. If you triggered by any of this i suggest you not read.

Feed back is always appreciated.

A few hours later it was completely dark. Sam laid in the back seat as best he could with his headphones in sound asleep. Dean had ac/dc playing on the radio and i started singing along to my favorite song. 'You shook me all night long.' Dean looked over at me and smiled at my off key singing. Instead of poking fun at me he joined in.

After the song ended he spoke, "i didnt think you were a classic rock kind of girl."

"What kind of music did you think i liked?"

He shrugged, "that rap crap. Ya know bass blaring kinda stuff."

I laughed, "i like all kinds of music but you cant beat the classics."

"Hell yeah!" He fist bumped into the air. I couldnt hellp but smile. His carefree side was something for sure. My heart raced just by looking at him. His lips looked so soft and i wanted to kiss them. My eyes traveled down his body, i remembered his abs and chest so toned. My eyes rested on his crotch, from the outline i saw earlier he had to be huge.

"Darlin' if you dont stop looking at me that way..." he said in a raspy voice.

I whipped my head around so fast it made me dizzy. I shrank as close to the door as i could, keeping my eyes fixed on my hands. "Im so sorry. Please....i didnt..."

His hand grabbed mine and he intertwined our fingers. "Dont be sorry. I love the way you look at me, but right now youre in no condition to do what im wanting to do."

I blushed at his words, but felt a tinge of horror in my heart. "Why would you want me? Im a nobody, im worthless." I whispered.

"(Y/N) look at me." I kept my eyes on our hands. "Look. At. Me" he said more forcefully this time. I slowly turned my head and lifted my eyes to meet his. "Do not ever, and i mean ever let me hear those words come out of your mouth again. You are not worthless. You are somebody to me. Dont you ever second guess it again. Do you understand me?"

His eyes shown truth in his words. I have never had someone say that to me. I nodded in agreement but yet parkers words still sounded in my head.

'No man will ever want you after what ive done to you. You will disgust them. Just look at you, if i was any less of a man i would be disgusted. Youre fat and ugly. Your pussy isnt going to look or feel the same after this. No man will ever want to touch you again.'

"(Y/N)." Deans voice pulled me out of my thoughts. Our hands still twined together, i pulled away thinking parker was right. Dean was just being nice after what i went through. After i healed hed throw me to the curb just like everyone else did.

"You hungry? Im gonna fill up, theres a deli inside that makes subs. Want one?" Dean asked. I shook my head and turned towards the window before he could see the tears that slipped out from beneath my lashes.

He slowly got out of the car and finally i was in silence, except for sams light snoring. Dean is an amazing man, he could have any girl he wanted. He wont want a broken shell of a woman like me. I shouldve just let parker kill me. The world would be better off, dean and sam would be better off too. They wouldnt have to worry about taking care of me and have me be a burden to them.

Dean got back in the car a few minutes later holding three bags. "I figured since you liked pizza youd like this. They had pizza subs in there, i got you a drink too. I expect you to eat every bite. No arguments." He handed me the bag and i had to admit it smelled amazing. My stomach growled at the smell and he smiled and pointed to the bag.

I gave in and unwrapped it and took a bite. I havent had food this good since before i got with parker. I was lucky to have a can of cat food to eat even then i had to make it last a week, while parker on the other hand would fix himself whatever he wanted. He wanted me to lose weight.

The thoughts about me being over weight claimed my appetite and i put the sub back in the wrapper and placed it beside dean. "Thanks but im still full from earlier."

He pulled the car over on the side of the road, he turned to me quickly. "I know what youre thinking and dont do it. Eat it or i will force feed you right here right now."

Tears pooled in my eyes and he sighed, "look, im sorry im not trying to force you but you need to eat. If you dont youre not going to get better. Im just trying to take care of you." He grabbed my hand "(Y/N), what is keeping you from eating?"

I inhaled and the words just tumbled out. "Im fat, parker told me. I can see it myself. My stomach is to big, my thighs touch. Im ugly. I shouldnt eat so much. Parker only gave me a can of food a week."

Deans grip on the steering wheel tightend, i saw his knuckles turn white. "I swear that fucker is going to suffer for what hes done to you." I tried to pull my hand away but his grip tightend. "Dont pull away. I know its hard for you to realize this now but i am not parker. Youre beautiful and youre not fat. In my eyes youre the most beautiful woman i have ever seen. So no one elses opinion matters but mine."

I shook my head "dean youre just being nice because of everything that happened."

He rubbed his hand over his face in frustration, "no im not. Im telling you the truth. Now eat. We will sit here until you do." Just to prove his point he turned the key and the cars engine shut off. I sighed in defeat and started eating again.

He smiled seemingly pleased with himself. Soon we were back on the road. After i finished my sub i placed the wrapper in the bag and leaned my head over on the window. "Here." Dean said and i looked over towards him. He held his jacket out to me, i smiled "thank you." I waded it up and used it as a pillow. A pillow that smelled just like him. Soon enough i was asleep.

I woke up in a bed but this time it wasnt a hospital bed. It was softer and the covers were a bit scratchy but i was comfortable. The pillows smelled familiar, like dean. I looked around and only saw a dresser and a table with a lamp on it. I must be in his room at their house.

The door was open, i moved my leg to see if it still hurt. "Damn it!" The pain seared through my leg and i knew there was no way i could put weight on it. I sighed because i couldnt do anything for myself. I hated feeling helpless.

"You okay?" I heard deans rough voice from the doorway. I looked up and he was leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed. My god he looked good. I shook my head, "i hate this. I have to depend on you for everything. Im a burden to you and sam."

He walked over and kneeled beside the bed, "you are not a burden. I take care of you because i want to."

I smiled at his kind words. Ive been doing alot of smiling lately thanks to dean. Hes got such a wonderful soul and heart. He looks rough on the outside but hes really a very caring person.

"Thank you dean. I cant tell you how much i really appreciate what you and your brother done for me. I just wish i could help out in some way, but i cant do anything because of my leg." I placed my hand on his cheek and he actually leaned into my touch. I cant explain whats going on between my heart and dean but i liked it.

He looked up into my eyes with such adoration it hurt. What is it about him?

"I actually have a friend that can help you, if you want to." Dean said cautiously.

"How can they help me? Are they a doctor?"

He shook his head, "i know this is gonna sound strange. Cas...hes an angel. He can heal you in a matter of seconds and make everything go away."

I raised my eyebrow at him. He just waited patiently as i thought it over. Demons are real and i did pray that god gave me strength when i was with parker. So why cant angels be real? I looked into his eyes and nodded.

He let out a breath i didnt realize he was holding. He bent his head "cas, i need you."

I heard a big flutter of wings and there was a man standing in the doorway wearing a trenchcoat. Not the way i pictured an angel looking.

"Hello dean." Cas said in a raspy voice.

"Hey cas, this is (Y/N). She needs you to heal her." Dean said sitting on the edge of the bed beside me.

Cas walked over to me, "hello (Y/N). My name is castiel. All i will have to do is place my hand on your head."

"Thats it?" I asked.

Cas nodded and then i nodded and i shut my eyes. I felt his hand on my forehead and a warm sensation filled me. A few seconds later i felt amazing. I opened my eyes and dean was smiling at me.

"You look even more beautiful than before." He said touching my cheek. I leaned into his touch just as he did mine earlier. I looked up at cas he was standing there awkwardly.

"Thank you cas." I said shyly and he nodded. With a flutter he was gone. I looked around the room but he wasnt there.

"He does that alot." Dean said. "Now would you like to get a shower?"

I closed my eyes at the thought, "oh yes that would be amazing." I moaned, i felt dean shift on the bed. He was turned to the side with his eyes closed.

I put my hand on his shoulder, "dean?" He took a deep breath and turned towards me. He smiled and stood up and held out his hand.

I took it and stood up, and it felt amazing to be able to stand up and move without hurting. I chuckled and moved my leg and bent it. Im sure i had the most ridiculous smile on my face, but i was geniuenly thankful for everything.

"Everything feel alright?"

"Everything feels great. Thank you so much." Before i could stop myself i stood on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

He flinched a little and looked down at me. "Im so sorry...i didnt..im sorry." I said faster than i wanted to. I tried to turn away but he grabbed my wrist and turned me back to face him. He crashed his lips into mine and growled. His fingers tangled in my hair and pulled lightly. I bit his lower lip and moaned into his mouth.

I ran my hand up his flannel shirt and went to unbutton it when he grabbed my hands and pulled away from me. "No, i cant."

I backed away casting my eyes down to the floor, fiddling with the drawstring on my borrowed sweat pants. "No, im sorry. It was stupid of me to even think..."

He opened his mouth to speak but i just shook my head, "its okay dean you dont have to explain. I get it. Can you please show me where i can freshen up? I dont have any clothes so if its not to much trouble can i borrow these again?"

He walked over to his dresser and pulled out a pair of shorts and a shirt. "You can wear anything of mine you want until we can get you some clothes."

I nodded and took the clothes from him. He walked me down the hallway to the bathroom and showed me where the towels and wash cloths were before shutting the door.

After a nice long hot shower i felt even better my hair wasnt all frizzy anymore, my black tresses were perfectly combed and straight. I hardly recognized myself in the mirror without the bruises and cuts.

I was in deans clothes and they were a little baggy on me but i was a curvy woman so it wasnt to bad. I walked out of the bathroom but had no idea where to go. The only place i actually knew was deans bedroom.

I walked down the hallway and passed more doors. They were all closed so i didnt dare to open them. After all this wasnt my house, i had no business snooping. I heard sam and dean talking on down the hall so i followed their voices.

I turned the corner into a big library of some sort. Sam sat at the table reading from a book dean sat in a arm chair across from him eating a sandwhich. He smiled at me and i couldnt help but giggle at his cheeks stuffed full with food. He was so cute.

"There she is. Feel better?" He said around the food in his mouth.

"Very much, thank you. Both of you." I said looking down. "I dont really know what to do around here. Ill try to be helpful while im here. I promise i will find a place soon and be out of your hair."

Sam looked up with a furrowed brow. "No one said you have to leave. Youre more than welcome here."

I nodded and smiled shyly at sam. He went back to whatever he was doing as i paced back and forth.

Dean walked up to me and grabbed my hands. "Hey, dont feel out of place here. If youre hungry get you something to eat. If youre bored sammy has plenty of books and we have netflix. I want you to make yourself at home."

Dean was tracing circles on my hand with his thumb, my breathing hitched and i could feel, something between us. Dean seemed to notice and let go of my hands.

"Sam, you got anything on where these demons are?" Dean asked sam.

Sam shrugged, "not a hundred percent sure at the moment. Parker is for sure the leader though. It seems like its a recruitment thing. Bobbys looking into it for us."

Dean throws his hands up, "now what?"

"We wait." Sam said impatiently.

@an-unhealthy-obsession

[imagineclaireandjamie]

Come he’ll or high water is excellent can you please write more I love it 🥰 please thank you 🙏🥰🥰🥰👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Claire comes back to the past with Brianna and arrives at Helwater looking for Jamie—but must confront the Dunsanys first.

Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven

Come Hell or Helwater - Part Eight

Rain pattered against the window while Brianna sat at the table in the corner with Isobel working through a set of simple mathematics problems. She didn’t have the heart to tell Isobel that she’d mastered both multiplication and long division two years prior. Instead she worked her way through them slowly, allowing herself the fun of observing the others in the room while they thought she was thoroughly engrossed by the numbers on the page.

Brianna had found soon after her arrival at Helwater that she couldn’t help but like Isobel—she couldn’t have borne pretending she was so far behind in her studies otherwise. But Isobel’s sweetness could become grating if not for the presence of her sister, Geneva. It was Geneva who knew exactly how to push Isobel’s agreeableness to the brink, to coax a few less-than-kind remarks out of Isobel—and then offer reassurance that she hadn’t been so unkind as to require begging anyone’s pardon.

There was more to Geneva that Brianna found mesmerizing, however. Quiet moments when she managed a glance at the older girl and it was clear Geneva didn’t realize she was being watched. In those moments she looked the way Brianna had felt when Mama and Daddy had told her the great and terrible Truths of her life—first, that Daddy wasn’t going to live with them anymore, he was going to live with his special friend, Sandy, and, just a short time after that, when her mother informed her that Daddy wasn’t her “real” father. From what Brianna could tell, it was partly Geneva’s parents who were causing her to look that way, but not because they were breaking up. No, the lady Geneva was going to be married soon and anyone could see she didn’t want to get married.

But that was why there were beginning to be so many extra people at the estate. They were guests visiting for the upcoming wedding. Several older relatives of the Dunsanys had taken to sitting with Lady Dunsany in the main sitting room while the younger guests preferred to gather in the drawing room. It was in the adjoining library that Isobel was giving Brianna her lessons but the door was kept open so Isobel might pop in and make her necessary appearances every so often. Brianna thought Isobel perhaps preferred the quieter library to the group in the drawing room.

Brianna enjoyed peeking up at them through the doorway. She could only see a portion of one setee and a fragment of the floor to ceiling windows behind but Geneva was partial to planting herself on that setee and as the bride to be, she frequently had company beside her—usually one of the two British soldiers who had startled her mother in the forest that day they’d arrived. The younger of those two often turned to glance through the same open doorway at her, which always made her flush and look down at her paper. Or was he looking at Isobel? Brianna peeked up to see Isobel looking flustered as well, no doubt aware of the soldier’s piercing gaze.

Even if Brianna could convince herself that the young man was paying his attentions to Isobel, all it took was Geneva seeing her sister’s blush to throw a wrench in Brianna’s plans of going unnoticed.

“Isobel,” Geneva called rising from the setee and floating to the door. “Aren’t you going to join us? As the sister of the bride it’s part of your duties to help me entertain my guests,” she teased with a playful giggle and glance over her shoulder. “John, Hal, won’t you help me coax Isobel into joining us?”

Isobel sighed but smiled at Brianna before pushing herself up from her chair at the table. “You’re doing wonderfully,” Isobel assured her. “Keep working on this set of problems and I’ll be back shortly to check your progress.”

Brianna nodded and then watched as Isobel glared at her sister who stood in the doorway with a satisfied grin on her face.

“Really John, you must ask Isobel about her latest obsession with playing governess,” Geneva continued, the conversation still drifting in for Brianna to overhear since the door between the rooms remained open. “It’ll be something to keep her occupied when she no longer has me around to entertain her.”

Isobel spoke too quietly for Brianna to hear but from Geneva’s subsequent, “Oh come, I’m only playing,” she assumed the young lady had rebuked her.

“It is the curse of younger siblings to always be tormented by the older,” John remarked, lightening the mood even as he too scolded Geneva.

Brianna set her pencil aside and leaned forward over the table, straining to see if she could catch a glimpse of them but they must be standing near the fireplace. The rain outside was unrelenting in a spring that was already slow about taking root. That was one of the things about this time that Brianna found most frustrating and quietly terrifying—how cold it was without proper, modern heating and how afraid she was that she would get too close to the hearth or that she’d knock over a candle and go up in flames.

“I know Isobel’s attempts to improve the poor child arrive from the best of intentions,” Geneva assured the others and Brianna could hear the eye roll in her tone. “I just think that when it comes to the staff and their families, it’s not our place to interfere. They have their lives and we have ours.”

“And the fact that their livelihood depends upon our whims doesn’t matter?” Isobel challenged more vocally, clearly surprising the others.

Brianna rose from her seat and tiptoed closer to the door to hear better and maybe sneak a better angle through the door so she could see them while remaining hidden in the shadows. If she was truly lucky, there’d be a mirror on one wall that would let her watch their reflections—she couldn’t remember if there was a mirror in the drawing room though.

“So long as they’re paid for their services, I’m not sure I understand to what you might object,” the older one—Hal, Geneva had called him—said gently.

“They require decent pay to support their families,” Isobel agreed, “and sometimes they’re compensated in other forms—for instance, housing or their meals—but what about their other needs, especially for their children? Is it not our duty to guide them towards being productive members of society where their parents are either lacking the means or the opportunity?”

“And what makes you think the Mackenzies are lacking the means and opportunity?” Geneva countered. “Did you ask them if they wanted it when you asked for their permission? Shall we ask the little lady now?”

Brianna panicked for a moment as she heard Geneva’s footsteps crossing toward the door but her instincts quickly kicked in. She started walking for the door herself and nearly collided with Geneva.

“Sorry,” Brianna muttered, backing away. “I was just coming to ask Miss Isobel if she might excuse me to go help my mother. Miss Isobel should be spending her time with your company, not with me just now.”

“I don’t mind at all, really,” Isobel insisted but Geneva made a dismissive gesture, keeping her eyes on Brianna.

“The child is quite right, don’t you agree, John? It’s terribly rude of Isobel first to ignore your presence and then to ignore her young charge’s. If she had a nursemaid, we might turn her over to so she doesn’t inhibit her mother in her work. Should we engage one for her, Isobel?” Geneva asked, looking over her shoulder at her sister. “Would that be more of the means and opportunities that our hired servants are lacking? I suppose we’ll just have to keep an eye on her ourselves then. Come child,” Geneva turned back to Brianna with an overly sweet smile. “Join us in the drawing room and we’ll try not to bore you too terribly.”

Brianna stood her ground, staring expressionlessly at Geneva.

“Geneva…” Hal said quietly, stepping toward her.

“Quiet little thing, aren’t you,” Geneva murmured, her attention still fixed on Brianna. “Do you speak at all?”

“I’m ten, not two,” Brianna replied, unamused even as the color began to rise in Geneva’s cheeks. “And my mother always told me if I didn’t have anything nice to say I shouldn’t say anything at all. I’d rather spend my time somewhere I can have a conversation. Thank you, Miss Isobel, for the lesson. I’ll see myself out.”

Brianna kept her ears pricked for their reactions as she turned on her heel and went to the table to retrieve her things before exiting through the door at the side that led to the servant’s passage and from there down to the kitchen. She heard one stifled chuckle (Hal) and Isobel’s gentle, “You were the one who provoked her.”

The sound of a slight commotion drew most of the others back into the drawing room—a footman announcing the arrival of another guest.

“Daniel,” Hal exclaimed in joy. “It’s a miracle you made it in this weather. You ought to have stayed at your inn until it cleared.”

“If he did that he might not have arrived in time at all,” Geneva declared, brushing away the awkwardness of being put in her place by a ten-year-old girl. “The way it looks now it could rain through the next fortnight and my wedding’s one week away. He knew I’d never forgive him if he wasn’t here.”

“Always said Gordon was like a brother to me so I see it as my brotherly duty to make sure everything stays on schedule,” a new voice chimed in.

“Well you might’ve been as a brother to Gordon but you’ve hardly been a brother to either of his sisters,” Geneva objected with a laugh. “You haven’t written a word to either Isobel or myself in over a year.”

Brianna snuck one final peek through the door to the drawing room.

John, the soldier who had come walking through the field with her mother that day, was the only one watching her as she made her exit.

“Bree,” Claire gasped as her daughter barged into the cottage, dripping wet from her brief run through the rain from the main house. “For heaven’s sake, what are you doing here? I was going to fetch you back after your lesson was finished. You’re soaked to the bone.”

“Well you might wind up back there later treating their latest guest. Sounds like he rode a ways through the rain and I wouldn’t be surprised if he comes down sick from it,” Brianna said, shaking her hair like a wet dog.

“Sassenach,” Jamie called from the cottage’s back entrance. “Do ye have anything hereabouts we could eat? Thought it might be nicer to have our midday meal alone together rather than trek through the muck to the main house. And as Bree’s occupied there with Miss Isobel…”

Claire cleared her throat loudly soon after he began and spoke over him, “We’re in here, Jamie. Bree’s just got back too. We hadn’t addressed the subject of lunch yet.”

Jamie came around the corner, his face pink and dripping with the rain that had soaked his hair.

“Bree,” he said with a smile. “Is it wet enough for ye out there? I ken I must look and feel like a half-drowned cat.”

“Well it is raining cats and dogs,” Brianna remarked without enthusiasm.

“Why don’t you fetch some dry things from your trunk and change in our room,” Claire offered.

“I suppose we won’t be using it after all,” Jamie whispered in her ear as he brushed a kiss against Claire’s cheek.

“I had brought a leftover side of ham from the house after tending the cook the other day,” Claire continued, ignoring Jamie, “and there’s cheese I had set aside as well. We’ll see what kind of meal we can make with that and maybe it will let up enough tonight for a larger meal with the others at the main house.”

When Brianna had closed their bedroom door behind her to change, Claire turned into Jamie’s arms and stood on her toes to give him a kiss.

“When the wedding’s over and their guests have gone home, things will calm down enough that we’ll have a little more time for ourselves,” she whispered, pulling away from him as his hands drifted down to her backside. “Not just the two of us, but the three of us.”

“Except for when we have time just the two of us to get back to work on making that three of us into a four, aye?”

“Aye,” Claire smiled and blushed. “Though by my watch we’ve spent a fair bit of time working at that already.”

[the-angry-pixie]

So have you come up with any risque Byeler hcs lately?

Kind of.

The other day I was thinking about how Mike would totally be the sort of dork to call or go talk to Will right after he loses his virginity.

Like its senior year, him and his girlfriend have been going steady for awhile and they’ve just had sex in his car down at Lovers Lake.

But as soon as he drops the girl back off at her house, he suddenly feels this overwhelming urge to talk to someone about what just happened. This is HUGE. He’s so hyped. He just HAS TO share! Now he could go to Dustin or Lucas, both of whom have already lost their V-card. They would highfive and congratulate him and it would all be swell. But he doesn’t do that. For some reason the only person he wants to tell about this is Will.

And so he drives right over there and knocks on his window. Will is surprised to see him, but he’s never denied his friend entry to his house before and he’s not about to start now.

[below is what was meant to be a HC post, but somehow ended up as a story. and yes, there is some risque stuff throughout so don’t read if thats not your thing]

“So, I got to fourth base with Angie.”

“Mike, I really don’t know much about baseball but I’m pretty sure there isn’t a fourth base.”

“Oh yes there is.”

“No there isn’t. There’s third base and then there is home.”

“Exactly.”

And for some reason Mike really enjoys seeing the penny drop and watching as it translates onto Will’s face.

“Wait… wait home. You got to home base with Angie?! Like… you went all the way?!”

“Yup!” Mike is practically beaming. He hasn’t even sat down. He’s still too jittery. Watching Will as he stares down at his desk, kinda looking stunned. But then he looks up and his face is completely different and Mike doesn’t quite know how to interpret it.

“Wow uh… well congrats man! That’s great!” 

“Thanks.” Mike can’t help kind of feeling bashful. He knows Will is still a virgin, so he doesn’t know why he’s suddenly got all these nerves tingling through his body.

“How um… how was it?”

“Warm and… wet and… tight…”

Mike can’t help laughing as he watches Will scrunch his face up in disgust. 

“Wish I hadn’t asked…” Will does a full body shudder, as though trying to rid himself of Mike’s words. Which only makes Mike laugh harder though he tries to muffle it with his hands.

“Sorry. I meant nice. It was nice.”

Will seems to level out after that. He fixes Mike with a look, and then eventually rises from his desk chair to walk over to where Mike is standing there fiddling with the zipper on his jacket.

“I’m happy for you man. Well… well done?” it comes out as sort of a question as he reaches out and awkwardly claps his hand against the back of Mike’s neck a few times. Like the football coach does to the players he’s pleased with. Its such an odd gesture coming from Will that they can only hold it together for so long before they both break down into sniggers.

That cracks apart the tension and Mike mumbles ‘thanks’ as they share a brief hug. 

“Oh ew. I can smell it on you! You smell like sex! Didn’t you shower before coming to see me?” 

Mike is coming to love this hilarious disgusted face that keeps popping up on Will’s face. 

“Nope” he grins. “I just had to come tell my best-friend-forever straight away!”

“You’re weird Wheeler. Does Angie know how weird you are?”

“Nope. And you better not tell her. Otherwise she’ll never have sex with me again!” Mike says jokingly poking at Will’s sides.

“You would deserve it for making me smell your damn sex musk. Get away from me you filthy heterosexual!”

This of course quickly dissolves into a game of Mike chasing Will around his room. Just for the fun of it. Just to razz him. He’s glad he came to Will. He made the right choice. 

Finally they both collapse onto Will’s bed. Mike being banished to the foot of it where he sits cross-legged next to Will’s feet.

“So do you feel different now? Do you feel like a maaan?” Will teases with a derivative snort.

Mike chuckles too. 

“I know its stupid but yeah I do. Feel different that is. It just feels good to have it done now. No more waiting, no more worrying about how it will be. I managed to not fuck it up I think. Angie was smiling when I dropped her off. Sooo yeah. I feel different.”

“Oh. Right. Huh…”

Mike looks over at Will, trying to decipher his expression. He’s currently looking down at the hands in his lap. A charming pink peaking through on the apples of his cheeks. He would probably kill Mike for suggesting it, but he almost looks wistful.

And suddenly Mike feels a queer pang in his chest. A desperate longing that was somehow not fully his own. It was weird - like an empathy thing. 

Suddenly Mike found himself sympathising with how hard it must be, being the only gay kid living in such a small town. With people and society being the way they currently are. 

Unless something outrageous happened, Mike figured Will probably wouldn’t be  experiencing anything like what he’d done tonight for a long, long time. 

And that thought made him kind of sad.

Life goes on and Mike forgets all about that night. He remembers the sex of course. Not the conversation that followed. 

Never in a million years would Mike have imagined that the favour would be returned though. That he would find himself on the receiving end of a conversation like that.

Which is why Mike is wholly unprepared for the phonecall he receives almost 2 years later from Will. 

Will, whose voice is practically vibrating with so much excitement that Mike almost doesn’t catch the part where his best friend tells him he’s just lost his virginity.

He just… doesn’t know how to react.

It’s Friday night. He had no plans and so was catching up on his assignments. He had just been considering going to bed when Will (one state over at his own college mind you) had apparently popped his cherry and… 

… decided he needed to tell Mike all about it??

“Mike? You’ve gone all quiet.”

“Yeah! Yeah I’m fine I’m just uhh… processing… why are you telling me this?”

There’s silence on the other end for awhile.

“Oh I… well its just… you told me when it happened for you… I know that was years ago and I know I’m a bit of a late bloomer but… well you told me so I thought I would… never mind it was stupid I should go.”

The aching awkwardness of his tone lanced through Mike.

“No don’t go! Shit I’d forgotten I’d done that! Man what a dork move. Not that you’re a dork! That came out wrong. I’m glad you told me! I’m happy for you! Yeah its uhh… well, how was it?”

Mike waited anxiously, hoping Will hadn’t been spooked away. Geez for someone majoring in English Lit he sure wasn’t good at picking his words sometimes. 

“It was– it was good.” Will’s voice had lost a lot of its previous exuberance and Mike wished he could personally kick himself in the mouth.

“C’mon Cleric you can do better than that! Details man, give me details!” he encouraged.

“What sort of details?” Will’s voice sounded wary but at least his tone seemed less halfhearted now.

Mike scrubbed a hand over his face, racking his brain for something to say. “Well heck I dunno. How about you tell me what its like on the other end of things? What’s it like being the girl?”

As soon as the words left his mouth Mike knew he had made a fatal mistake. 

“What?!” Will’s voice was completely flat and deeply unamused.

“Fuck. I shouldn’t have said tha–”

“I am not a fucking girl!”

“I know tha–” 

“Fuck you Mike!” The yelling stung at Mike’s sensitive ears and he wished a hole would just open up in his dorm room floor and swallow him up.

“I deserve that I’m sorry. Fuck I’m bad at this!”

“No fucking shit! What the fuck am I doing even talking to you about this?! I’m fucking hanging up right now!”

And Will did just that.

Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck!

Mike was wide awake now as he jumped out of his bed to pace the room. His hands scraping tensely through his hair.

Well he’d royally screwed the pooch on that one. 

Will sounded furious and Mike didn’t blame him. Why had he said that?! 

He knew he needed to talk to Will as soon as possible. But he also knew Will. He knew if he called back straight away Will would either ignore his calls, or worse, take his phone off the hook. 

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.

He had to wait. He had to be patient.

But really, can he be blamed if maybe he was a little shocked and overwhelmed at this whole damn situation?! If maybe he doesn’t automatically know how to deal with the idea that some anonymous stranger has apparently just fucked his best friend?? 

Or maybe his best friend had fucked him? 

It didn’t matter. It was that sort of bullshit thinking that had gotten him in trouble in the first place! 

But fuck! He hadnt even known Will had been dating anyone!! 

That was the trouble with going to college in different states though. Mike knew he should have insisted on keeping Will close. He knew it was a ridiculous demand but he couldn’t help thinking it. 

Mike looked to the clock. 15 minutes had passed. Enough time for Will to have come down from his initial anger.

He quickly dialled the number, neurotically twisting the cord as he sat anxiously down on his bed.

“Will speaking.”

“Don’t hang up! I’m sorry! I know what I said was stupid!”

“Its okay Mike” Will’s voice sounded strangely small. Devastatingly quiet. “I dont know why I expected you to understand. I shouldnt have called you in the first place.”

“No!” Mike practically shouted. “No don’t make excuses for me being a complete ass! I’m so happy for you! I know I’ve kind of shown it in a shitty way but… I’m just glad you told me that’s all…”

“Ok…”

“And I’m sorry for being–”

“–weird and kind of offensive?”

“Yeah that. I’m sorry. Please forgive me?”

Silence. Enough to make Mike want to bite his fingernails off.

“Please Will! Pleeeease??”

“Weeeelllll….” Will’s tone was soft, but playfully considering. Mike knew his friend was coming around.

“Pwetty pweeease? With rainbows and sprinkles on top??” Mike cooed in a sickening baby-voice. 

“Rainbows? Sprinkles? Is that meant to be a gay thing?”

“No, thats a Mike thing.”

“Ok then. You’re forgiven.”

“YES!” Mike pumped his fist in the air to the sound of Will’s chuckles on the other end.

“But don’t be weird. I can’t deal with you being weird about this” Will’s voice scolded as his giggles subsided and his voice returned to normal.

“I’ll try. I promise.”

“Ok then.”

“Ok then.”

There was companionable silence for a beat or two. 

“So… who was the guy? Was he like… your boyfriend or something?”

“Boyfriend? Ha! Nah I’m way too shy to be able to get a boyfriend.”

“So you slept with a stranger?” Mike couldn’t help the worry seeping into his tone.

“No no. He wasn’t a stranger. We’ve hung out a couple of times before. And like, we’ve done some “stuff” together before. But he’s not like my boyfriend or anything.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah…”

“Did you use protection?” 

“Of course! What do you think I’m an idiot!”

“I’m just checking since apparently you’re hooking up with people you hardly know like thats completely normal.”

Mike heard Will scoff. “Like you’ve never done that before Mike!” 

“Yeah but like… first times are special! They’re meant to be with someone you care about!”

“Says who?”

“Says… I dunno says everybody!”

“It doesn’t really work that way with gay people Mike.”

“Well it should! Was he at least like… nice to you. I mean did you like, enjoy it?!”

At this Will paused as though he were thinking and Mike found himself leaning forward, as though anticipating the answer. 

Luckily he wasn’t kept in suspense for long.

“Yeah I did. It was like, real intense and it hurt at first but I don’t know, I kind of liked that. He was kind of rough. I liked that too. He didn’t treat me like I was some fragile, delicate thing. It was kind of hot.”

“Oh… ok…” Mike didn’t really know what to say to that. It hadn’t been what he’d been expecting. Will kept speaking regardless.

“Yeah. It was good. I guess I’m a man now huh?” Will finished jokingly. Mike remembered how he’d teased him about it all those years ago.

“You were already a man Will” he murmured snappily and heard Will sigh on the other end. He knew Will thought Mike was being too precious with him. And he also knew how much his friend hated when he did that. But he couldn’t help it. This was Will. His Will.

“Anyway now thats done. I’m gonna go shower and go to bed. Sweet dreams Mike! Thanks for listening.”

“Uh, sure. Anytime.”

And they both hung up.

It becomes a thing. 

Mike isn’t quite sure how it starts but somehow it totally becomes a thing. 

Like it becomes completely normal for Mike and Will to talk to each other about their sexual encounters. 

The good, the bad, the very-very good and the ugly.

They even go out of their way to do it. Like a gossip session. Or a debrief. Or something.

Mike doesn’t even really know. But he learns things about his friend in that year that he’d never thought he would. Intimate things.

Gay sex sounds weird and interesting. At least the way Will flippantly describes it. Mike doesn’t know why he always expected Will to be the sort to settle down quickly with the one person but that is certainly not the case here. Hell Will seems to pull way more often than Mike does from the sound of it. Though Mike never really takes notice of the guys names, maybe there were double-ups in there. 

THE POINT IS, Will is kind of insouciant when it comes to sex. 

Not the sex itself. It seems he’s wildly enthusiastic when it comes to the actual act. Dare Mike say it, almost rowdy. 

But the partners… Will doesn’t seem to be bothered about his lack of boyfriend. Even though his shyness seems to have melted into a thing of the past. Whenever Mike questions him about it he always jokes that he’s waiting for Mike to propose to him and then maybe he’ll settle down. 

And that usually shuts the conversation down because Mike gets all bashful. Its probably why Will does it, the sly devil.

Mike supposes its a two-way street. Will learns a few things about him too in return. They’ve moved past calling each other as soon as “the act” is done now. They’re way too cool for that. Usually it comes up in the weekly phonecall they share. Mike has to admit it’s kind of fun to giggle away to each other like a couple of school girls. 

But on the whole Mike feels like his sex life… his heterosexual sex life at least… is kind of boring.

Cause well… theres something he hasn’t told Will yet.

There’s a small matter of Mike becoming a bit… curious within the last few months. 

How sometimes when Will casually describes fingering a guy… 

… or pushing their head down towards his asshole so they’ll eat him out… 

… or sliding balls deep inside such a tight channel… 

… or all manner of other acts you can only achieve with another guy… 

Somewhere along the line Mike had started to wonder what it would feel like.

Its not really something to freak out over right? So he’s tried fingering himself a few times in the shower and found that he likes it. That’s no big deal right?

So what if he’s maybe asked for a few more details than strictly necessary when Will is talking about fucking a guy so that its easier for him to picture later on when he’s jacking off. Its whatever man.

Buying a dildo is no big thing right? Going to a gay bar and making out with a few dudes isn’t worth telling Will about right?

Sometimes… sometimes imagining Will when he’s jacking off is to be expected right? Its only natural that Will would be his point of reference for imagining gay sex. He’s the one telling him all these salacious details. Giving him all these ideas.

So Mike can’t really be blamed for imagining Will can he? Its nothing. 

Wrong.

Its certainly something. 

Mike is a logical person. Someone who likes to plan ahead. To be in control. To understand everything around him.

But right now… he kind of feels like he’s on a train. He doesn’t know where the train is going but somehow he just knows that the tracks are eventually going to run out.  Just how much tracks there are left before he goes careening towards a bloody and spectacular finish, he does not know.

It’s not the most comforting thought.

The answer comes in 1991. 

Their second year of college. Spring break. Mike is finally going to visit Will at his college. Its all set. Will is staying in the dorm for the holidays while his roommate is headed home. There’s a spare bed in his room just going begging and Will believes its about damn time they spent some quality time together!

He’d actually said “quality FUCKING time together” but Mike is trying these days to not think too much about “Will” and “fucking” in the same sentence. 

Doing so makes his stomach churn and his head hot and his jeans tight. Its an affliction he really could do without.

And so… they spend quality time together. 

They eat shitty microwave food. They run riot in the practically empty dorm building. They go for walks and throw a frisbee back and forth. They watch movies. They turn their music up way too loud. They talk into the night, passing a bottle of rum back and forth. 

They ignore the tension that seems to be both there and not there at the same time. Mike tries not to think about how he sometimes catches Will just looking at him. An inscrutable look of consideration adorning his features. Like Mike is an abstract painting. 

They go out clubbing one night to one of Will’s locals. Mike tries not to seethe with jealousy into his cocktail when it looks like Will might go home with some guy that he seems to know suspiciously well.

It doesn’t happen though. Will returns to him at the bar. Mike still feels queerly deflated though. They have a few more drinks and then they head home.

“I wouldn’t have gone with him you know…” 

Will slurs only slightly. It’s later that night and Mike is sitting on his assigned bed applying moisturiser to his feet. His heels have a tendency to get really, really dry overnight.

Mike looks up and gives him a questioning glance.

“Benji” Will clarifies, “I wouldn’t have gone home with him. Not while you’re here. I just want to be with you when you’re here.” 

“Oh. Right. That’s good.” Mike smiles up at where his friend appears to be swaying to imaginary music, his fingers clutched around a glass of water.

Suddenly Will is bouncing down on the bed next to him.

“Ya know. You’re cute when you’re jealous.”

“I wasn’t jealous” Mike replies immediately. 

Water slops over the edge of the glass as Will holds both his hands up in surrender.

“Ok I retract. Sulky then. You’re cute when you’re sulky.”

Mike is blushing. He can’t help it. He should really be drinking water too. Blood and alcohol are pulsing through his veins, rendering his brain-to-mouth function slightly useless. Before he can think better of it he’s responding “You think I’m cute?”

Will seems to pause and look at him then. His lips curling into a impish smile as his head bobs up and down slowly in a nod.

Was it hot in here? It was as if Mike could feel the sweat pooling into the collar of his nightshirt as he plucks at it nervously.

“Truth be told…” Mike’s head whips back up as Will continues to muse. Irritatingly casual. He is looking at his glass of water as though its a snow globe. As though the precipitation beading on the outside of it is a thing of beauty. “… I think you’re fucking sexy.”

His eyes slowly slide from the small droplets of water back to Mike’s shocked face. And there must have been something that he is seeking. Something he finds in Mike’s eyes - because he smiles. And Mike can’t help but groan.

“Don’t say things like that…” Mike croaks, his throat dry and his blood buzzing.

The smile grows into a chesire grin. “Why not?”

“Because” Mike only takes an eighth of a moment to bother with hesitation, “because then I have to do this.”

And they are kissing. The water glass drops to the floor with a thud as hot lips crash against hot lips. As gasps are sucked from one mouth into another. Hands gripping hair. More hands bunching up sleepshirts. 

Mike pushes Will down against the bed and feels a little put out when Will giggles with the action. Like he knew this was going to happen. He kisses him fiercely in retaliation, his body climbing over Will’s slighter form. All the better to feel everything as he lowers his body down to lie deliciously against every inch of his friend’s.

This pulls a moan from Will who interrupts the kiss to throw his head to the side and pant, his hands rubbing over Mike’s lower back. He looks up at Mike angelically as he proceeds to grab two handfuls of Mike’s ass and grind his hips up into Mike’s undeniable erection.

Mike’s breath hitches and his arms tremble where they are standing as unsteady columns either side of Will’s head.

“You fuck” he pants. “How did you know?”

This gives Will pause. He lets go of Mike’s ass and smoothes his hands back up to the middle of his back.

“I, I didn’t know” his eyes blink widely, and he sounds almost completely sober. “I– well… I hoped. I’ve kind of hoped for years… but I didn’t, well– I didn’t know for sure. I guessed. An educated guess. But a guess all the same.”

“Hmmm” Mike’s head lowers to tuck under the curve of Will’s chin. Just taking a moment to breathe in those words like he is breathing in the scent of Will’s sweat.

“Was I…” Will’s voice almost seems to be trembling. “Was I right? Is this… okay?”

Mike smiles privately as he noses down the side of Will’s neck. He kisses lightly at the mole tucked away there before returning to look into his best friends beautiful sea green eyes. 

“It’s more than ok” he murmurs, his smile growing as he witnesses the almost boyish excitement bloom in his friend’s expression.

Will pulls him down into a much more intense kiss. His hand eventually pushing at Mike’s shoulder until he gets the idea and turns over, pulling Will on top of him. 

Now Will was the one holding himself up above him. Their only point of contact where Will’s hips are weighted down against his own. The exquisite feel of Will’s cock laying against his upper thigh.

Will dips his groin in an experimental thrust and grins as Mike stutters in a breath.

“As much as I would like to be all lovey-dovey right now” Will murmurs as his hips sway into an unrelenting grind. “Would it be okay if we just skipped all that and go right to part where you fuck me senseless first?”

Mike couldn’t help barking out a laugh. “Mister, you got a deal.”

Will licks his lips in such a ridiculously unaware way it should really be a sin. 

“Deal” he nods agreeably.

And well, they do.

Fuck each other senseless.

Turns out all of their knowledge swapping over the years majorly comes in handy. They both seem to already know what the other wants. What the other needs.

It isn’t… its weird how not weird it is. 

Mike knows to not treat Will like a delicate flower. Knows he likes to be in control of things.

Will knows the spots that will make Mike weak. Which touches will have him keening with surprised delight.

There is only one time when Mike seems to surprise Will.

The moment he pushes the lube Will had handed him back into his friend’s hand with a slightly pleading look.

For the first time all night Will looks genuinely unbalanced. Mike just chuckles. 

“It’s my first time. I want it to be all special and shit. Don’t worry–” he states quickly when it looks like Will is going to argue. “You’re not the first thing that has been up there. Heck you won’t even be the tenth. I’ve been… practising.”

It’s kind of silly how Mike takes some weird sort of pleasure in how wide Will’s eyes go. How his mouth momentarily hangs open in an astonished ‘O’.

It melts away quickly though. And Mike receives his wish.

Thoroughly.

It’s lucky that the dorm is practically deserted.

The next morning finds Mike waking up hot and content and sore in places he’d never known were a thing. 

He looks down to where Will is cuddled under his arm. Drooling onto his chest and still gloriously naked. How often had he imagined this over the last few months? Waking up like this. 

Sated and dehydrated and so very, very happy.

He just HAS TO share this moment. The urge is overwhelming. 

He shifts underneath Will until his mouth can slot against the other’s. He kisses and kisses and kisses at his face until Will lets out a sleepy chortle and pushes him away.

Mike watches contentedly as Will stretches and groans and blinks against the sunlight coming in through the dorm window. 

“Mike” he murmurs groggily. “I’m going to need you to do something for me.”

Mike is quick to jump in with a giddily enthusiastic “Anything.”

“Ok. Ok. I need you to go home–”

Mike’s jaw drops and his foggy brain is suddenly dowsed in a wave of shock and self-doubt and all sorts of horrible things that he had not prepared himself to be feeling.

Will reads his face like a book but gives nothing away as he leans forward and lays a sweet kiss against Mike’s nose. Sending him cross-eyed.

“I need you to go home right now. You see, I need to call and tell you all about this really amazing guy I slept with last night…”

His teeth show through in a grin and a sly little wink makes an appearance and Mike…

… Mike is in love.

A.N. So yeah. That’s that. Quick and dirty and unpolished. And probably not as N*SFW as you were hoping for (sorry I suck at writing smut). Hope you enjoyed it anyway and sorry for all the mistakes and tense changes.

[kimbapmmbapbap]

Current Favourite Dramas

So I thought it would be a cute idea to share my top ten favourite dramas as of 2017. Maybe I will come back to this next year and it has completely changed or more or less stayed the same. I hope this will also come into use if someone wants to watch a new drama or wants to get into watching them!!! I will also include reasons why people may not like it just so if there is something you really hate when watching dramas, that you know it is there!!! 

Anyway, here we go: 

 10 - Playful Kiss

I honestly love this one! It was the first drama I ever watched which is why it has to be on this list. If you look online, it seems to have a lot of hate around it due to the female character and that it is just one big cliche, but to be honest it is so nice once in a while to watch something a bit cheesy, and that doesn’t require much thought while watching it. For those who don’t know what the plot is, it revolves around a girl who is in the lowest class in her school and follows her love story around a boy who is the smartest and coolest in the school. At the beginning he hates her and often embarrass her on purpose in front of their classmates. But as fate makes their families live together, their love grows closer.

What may put you off this drama is its over clicheness, and the foolishness of the main leads. If you dont like too much cheese, then this may not be for you, but i do recommend it if you want something easy to watch and if you are interested in the Itazura Na Kiss franchise!! 

09 - Smile, You

I fell onto this drama about two years ago and my god I was glad I did!!! The cast, the story, and the chemistry is just amazing!! It is a classic hate to love relationship between the main couple, the drama faces issues of money, family and changing the way you live. It involves two families: the Seo’s and the Kang’s. The Seo family are rich after inheriting the grandfathers business however they go bankrupt due to carelessness, and have no over option but to live with the Kang family, who has been serving under the Seo’s, and have to learn how to live frugally.  I absolutely loved the female lead, she started off being a spoilt brat and always getting what she wanted, to someone who wants to work and earn her own money. 

The only issue i find with this drama is that I constantly got frustrated with the other family members due to their stubbornness and constantly thinking that they are right when they are being stupid and annoying!! but other than that, I honestly think this drama is an amazing one. It is a 45 episode drama, but the episodes used to go by so quickly so it didnt take too long to watch!!

08 - My Father Is Strange 

Oh my goodness, this drama honestly completely surprised me. It made me laugh and cry and smile with happiness. The whole cast were amazing and played their roles so well, it was almost like they were a real family. It revolves around a family of five who seem to be living the perfect live. However, when someone turns up claiming to be the fathers son, it all gets disrupted. What I liked about this drama the most is that each of the family members have their own individual story, and focuses on them building new relationships. I loved Jung So Min and Lee Joon’s character in it so much that i genuinely want them to be together irl!!! 

The only issue i find with it was that some of the side stories dragged too long and the in-laws of one of the daughter’s in the family were a bit annoying!! But that shouldnt put you off it the drama. Even though it is a 52 episode drama, like Smile, You, it went by quickly and is something I think both drama veterans and newbies will enjoy!!! 

07 - Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo 

This was an absolutely beautiful, funny, and meaningful drama. The chemistry between the two characters was amazing, loved this couple!! That is not the only reason why I loved this drama. I honestly think the main reason I liked this drama is because it is the first one I have watched that has brought on the message on how serious mental health is, it doesn’t try to make a comedic or weakness element to it which i think it amazing!!  The story revolves around a girl who is aiming to be a weightlifter and is studying at a sports university. It shows struggles with love, friendship, and mental health. 

You know what, I honestly can’t think of a reason why you might not like it, other than that the female lead is a bit stubborn and foolish at times. It is a mood warmer and is certainly a must to watch. 

06 - Secret Garden 

Secret Garden was my first favourite drama. The plot is so good, and it thrilling and nerve-wrecking up to the end. It is another hate to love relationship drama, and features a lot of body swapping. The story focuses on the relationship of a stunt woman and a male ceo of a rich shopping centre who’s personality needs a bit of working on. The two end up drinking a potion that causes them to swap bodies when it rains. This leads to some funny, sad, and interesting moments between them. I loved the extended cast and their own stories, and it also features young Lee Jong Suk!!!!!!! 

You may not like it if you dont like douchey male leads and cliches of evil mother in laws. It is a classic drama which I feel is almost wrong if you dont watch it!!!! 

05 - Suspicious Partner

One of my favourites from 2017!!!! This drama is filled with funny moment, romance, and suspense!!!!! The Chemistry between Ji Chang Wook and Nam Ji Hyun was just unreal, I cant explain how much I love them!!!!!!! There was so much sexual tension and hot kisses!!! The story surrounds a woman who wants to be an attorney and a man who is a prosecutor. Everything changes for both of them after the female lead is framed for the murder of her cheating ex boyfriend. The acting in this drama was incredible, especially by the villain of the story, he was so good!!! 

What was annoying about this drama is that there was a breaf period where the couple broke up when they didnt need to!!!!!!!!! Ahhhhh!!!!!! I was so annoyed, but it didnt ruin the drama for me,  and overall it was such a good drama, the plot was on point and was so suspenseful on how they were going to proof the killer of murder!! 

04 - Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo 

HOOOOOO BOI!!! This drama was a whirlwind of emotions, which is why I loved it!!!!! The first couple of episodes fooled me into thinking it was going to like a historical rom com, boy was i wrong!!!! If you are going to watch this prepare laugh a lot, cry a lot, feel betrayed by certain characters, and to fall in love with all of the princes!!!! If you do not know what this drama is about, well it revolves around a girl in the present day who when saving a boy from drowning is brought the the Goryeo times of Korea and finds out she is in the body of the cousin of the wife of one of the royal princes, and she soon has to find out that she has to adapt to royal life in korea!!!

I feel like if you research this that you will find a lot bad press about it, but don’t listen!!! It does have a rather different ending to what most thought it would have had, but you know what, i honestly believe that the ending was perfect, even though it broke my heart, it fit so well with how the story was told!!!! I do recommend in watching an up beat drama afterwords because its a sadden!!

03 - You’re Beautiful (joint 02)

The next 2 drama’s on this list are pretty much on a tie of second because of how much I loved them!!! You’re Beautiful is an absolute masterpiece in my opinion!!!! It is such a fun loving show, it made me laugh and smile so much, the chemistry between all of the characters was amazing and its nice to see that they are still all friends (this was made in 2009). The OST was so beautiful and catchy, I love Park Shin Hye’s singing!!! The plot consists of a nun in training who has to pretend to be her twin brother due to him having plastic surgery issues while getting ready to debut with as one of the biggest boy group as its new member. The lead of the group Tae Kyung and Mi Nam dont get on at the start due to several incidents, but after finding out she is a girl, he ends up with having to look after her in situations and both end up slowly liking each other. 

Similar to playful kiss and secret garden, it holds a lot of cliche, and personally I did not the kind of love triangle and the second female lead, however I thought she was alright in the last episode. But overall, it is such an up beat drama. I watched this when I was going through a tough time in my life, and it really helped me get through some of my problems!!!! 

02 - Pinocchio (joint 02)

I’ve got to say, I was so surprised by this drama!!! Everything about this drama is just ahhhh!!!! Park Shin Hye and Lee Jong Suk are my absolute favourites, they both perfectly acted their roles and their chemistry was beautiful!!! I recommend this drama with all my heart. Like I mentioned, I loved this main couple, but the reason why it gets my top pick was due to its plot. I loved the whole mystery element to it and how they used journalism to find the answer of how Dal-Po’s (ljs) father’s death was abused and caused the death and disappearance of his brother. It was an on edge, suspenseful drama, but also had its comedic elements. I absolutley loved the supporting cast, even the second male lead, which I rarely ever do!!

The only fault i find with this drama is that when I first watched it, i thought the first 3 or 4 episodes were quite slow, but now i find those as some of my favourites as it tells the past and how dal po was effected by the death of his father and how poor journalism changed his life!!! I cant tell you how many times I’ve watched this one, i remember the first time I watched it, I started it again straight after!!!

01- The Best Hit 

As I am writing this, I can’t stop smiling!!! That is how happy The Best Hit made me!!! I found out about this drama a few days before the first episode aired due to the release of Beautiful Beautiful, a song for the soundtrack, and I instantly fell in love, not only with the song but also because it starred Yoon Shi Yoon who I absolutely adore!!!! There are so many reasons why I love this drama, so here are some: the 2 Days 1 Night references and cameos were amazing (the drama is directed by the past director of the variety show and Cha Tae Hyun who like YSY is a cast of the show). I liked how the plot of the drama was a mystery. No one knew where it was going, who was going to end up with who, what was going to happen to YSY’s character. I also liked how there wasnt really an evil character, and those who you thought were, they were just stupid. The plots consists of Hyun Jae (ysy) who is a famous pop star in 1993 time travelling to present day. He finds out that in 1994 he dissapeared, creating a conspiracy on if he is dead or alive. He finds out he has a son, and tries to help him achieve his dreams while falling in love along the way!!! It is so funny and sweet, I remember the waiting time each week for a new episode to arive!!!

What some people may not like about it is that there are sever continuity errors and areas which could have been developed further, but you have to hand them credit, it was the directorial debut drama for both PD Yoo and and Cha Taehyun!!! Honestly, this is one of my all time favourites and will all ways be!!! Please please please watch this drama!!!!!

SOME HONOURABLE MENTIONS:

The Ledgend of the Blue Sea

Oh My Ghostess 

Boys Over Flowers

Flower Boys Next Door

Personal Preference

Because This is My First Life

While You Were Sleeping 

[looselucy]

November

I had never been good at goodbyes. The first goodbye I really remember, was when our pet dog Timmy died, and I forced my mum and dad to give him a funeral, and I probably cried for about a week. Another stand out goodbye in the list of many, was my brother moving to uni, and that was very reasonable for me to be a mess of tears and tantrums, because I hadn’t seen him since he left. One of my most recent goodbyes, was when I moved to university. I was only a few hours away from my parents and our new dog, Timmy-Two, but I absolutely had a breakdown when they dropped me off there. To be honest, they were no better, which was predictable behaviour from Phil and Lisa, always emotional, especially when it came to their darling daughter. The whole thing was atrocious when they left, watery eyes and inaudible sentences and desperate hugs and it was so pathetic I nearly vomit even thinking back to it. And then this one. This goodbye, was just as shit as the rest.

“I promise I’ll come visit!” Grace insisted. I sobbed as I hugged her, not wanting to look at that stupid pink suitcase she had packed behind her, wanting to kick it over or pull all her clothes out and throw them everywhere just to keep her with me a bit longer. “Or,” I sobbed uneasily. “You could just stay!” “Sorry, Pippa, but the uni life is just not for me.” I just kept sobbing, but sobbing this time seemed more plausible than when my parents left, because there was no guarantee she would come back. She promised me she would, but I knew that wasn’t enough. It’s strange, being at uni. Friendships develop so quickly it’s hard to even keep track of how close you all get. And with Grace being in the room next door to mine on our floor, from moving in on September 15th, to November 1st, it was safe to say she was my best friend. I was besotted with her, and I really didn’t want her to leave. She hated her course though, and she dropped out before it was too late, before she was too committed. Not even the end of the first term in our first year, and she was leaving. I was really going to miss her. “Alright, alright!” Zayn barked from beside me. “You’ve been hugging her for about ten minutes now, you’re being selfish, Pip! Let me have a go.” Tears kept rolling down my face as I gave her up for a moment, the rest of the gang moving in to give her a goodbye hug. There was me, Grace (before she selfishly decided to leave) Zayn, Mike, Tally, and Ringo. (I had still to learn Ringo’s real name, she was a quiet one, and a Beatles fan, I think.) Everyone was saying their goodbyes, but no one was quite as emotional as I was about her leaving. They all gave her their hugs and farewells. “You best stay in touch!” Tally instructed. “I will! I promise! God, you’re all so dramatic.” Everyone kind of laughed except me. I was not amused. Zayn moved and gave her a kiss on the head before I took over again, hugging her so tightly it was like I knew for a fact I would never see her ever again. Like I said, I’ve never been good at goodbyes. “You’re an emotional wreck.” She giggled once everyone else had rekindled back in the kitchen, giving us our space. “How many times do I need to promise?” “But I’ll miss living with you.” I tried to calm down. “I love you being here.” “I’ll be back before you know it.” “You better be!” “I’m gunna miss my train...” She groaned. “Fine.” I shot, pulling away from her and wiping away my tears. “Go. Leave me here alone to die.” She backed out of the door, grabbing her suitcase and looking at me whilst giggling. She did always say that she liked how I got emotional about little things, like songs and films and TV shows. But I had calmed a little, finally. I stood in the doorway giving her the weakest smile I could summon. “Gunna miss you, Girl.” She smiled. “You too. Get home safe, okay?” I sniffled. She nodded, and I knew she was emotional too, but she wasn’t the crying type like I was, so the goodbye was lacking tears on her part. I think I cried enough for the both of us. We said goodbye a final couple of times, and by the time she was in the elevator going down to the bottom floor I was relatively calm, wiping away my final few tears. I slumped past our bedrooms as I walked down the corridor, three doors on each side, making my way to the kitchen and living room area of our halls, where they all sat giving me sad head tilts, knowing how close we were, how much I would miss her. I stuck my middle finger up to the lot of them, making them laugh awkwardly, as Ringo quietly went back into her room. Defeated, I flopped down on the sofa and huffed out my sorrow as Zayn tucked me under his arm, kissing my forehead once before we nestled comfortably together. “I can’t believe she’s actually gone.” Mike sighed. “Just like... ‘cause she mentioned it on day one and then stuck around... I kinda thought she was all talk.” That’s what we had all been hoping, because Grace was one of those people who could walk in a room and make everyone’s day a little bit brighter; she could cheer up anyone just by smiling or telling a small joke. She was incredible. “You’re just gutted you didn’t get a chance to shag her.” Zayn chuckled. “Mate, I’m gutted with my sex life full stop! Not just when it comes to her! She was more wife material anyway, I’ll hunt her down in a few years.” I tried to laugh but I really wasn’t in the mood, I just kept staring at the tele as Zayn traced comforting circles on the top of my arm with two fingers, staring at the TV too. We had gotten lucky with our flat, we were in one of the better-quality student accommodations, so everything was modern and nice. The only downfall really was the communal shower rooms, which for some odd reason were placed past the living room and kitchen, so everyone got a good sight of you dashing through in a towel and dripping on the floor whilst they tried to watch TV. But our rooms were lovely, the whole thing was pretty lovely, so we knew it would only be a short amount of time before a student on a waiting list would take Graces now empty room. “How long you gunna be sad for, Pippa?” Tally asked me as she balanced her plate full of pasta on her knees, given we had no table. “Dunno. Could be years. Maybe I’ll never get over it.” “Well you’re gunna have to ‘cause we’re definitely going out tonight!” Mike tried. “I can’t.” I shrugged. “I’m in at nine.” “Pussy!” “Fuck off, Mike!” I giggled, throwing the nearest cushion at him. “Reyt!” He chirped, moving back to the hall. “It’s wank o’clock. See you all soon!” Zayn was in stitches as Mike strolled out of the area and into his room, Tally was trying her best not to laugh but I could see she was failing miserably. “I never knew living with lads would be such a cliché!” I groaned through a stifled laugh. “You lived with your brother, didn’t you?” Tally giggled. “Yeah, but he never announced when he was going for a wank, thankfully.” That just made Zayn laugh even more, he was absolutely creasing next to me, having to move his arm from around me and cover his face. I started to think how even without Grace, I would be fine, because that lot meant the world to me. I shook my head and stood myself up, walking over to my food cabinet and grabbing out a packet of crisps, standing and leaning rather than sitting back down with Zayn, who was still chuckling away to himself. “You sure you can’t come out tonight?” Tally sulked, looking over her shoulder to me. “I really shouldn’t.” I huffed. “You haven’t missed a lecture in like... three weeks.” “To be fair, that is really good.” And it was. The first year of uni seemed to be a complete write-off, and my brother had said exactly the same thing. You could pretty much take the piss in your first year, and still pass. He told me that second year was a little bit harder but you could still go out most days of the week and miss a fair few lectures. However, in his last year, he sounded like he was going to have a mental breakdown he was working so hard. So in my head, I still pretty much had two years of fun left. Missing one lecture, for the first time in almost a month, couldn’t be too bad. And I did need cheering up. Zayn stood himself up and moseyed over to me, hooking his arms around my waist and I put mine over his shoulders, both of us swaying in our hug. “C’mon, Pippa. We have to go out, the only way to deal with sadness is drinking.” “Sad, but true.” I agreed. “So,” He grinned, pulling away from me. “We going out?” I rolled my eyes and shook my head, but obviously I was smiling anyway, caving into the idea of going out and possibly missing a lecture. “Fine.” I breathed. “Let’s do it.” + + + We passed the shots I had bought down the line, Zayn banging his hand on the bar eagerly. It was me, Mike, Tally and Zayn. We had tried to convince Ringo to tag along with us, but she was having none of it, said she had too much work to do. We always tried with her though, and it’s not that we thought she didn’t like us, she was just so withdrawn. But there was nothing we could do other than try. The line of shots made their way down the group, each of us having three each; one red, one green, one purple. I had always been terrible at shots, so I had no idea why I bought them, especially three at a time. Seemed pretty stupid, but there we were. “Alright, on the count of three, we do red!” Zayn shouted, as though he was some kind of soldier ready for war. “We have five seconds before we move onto purple, and a maximum of ten seconds, before we go onto green. Are you with me?” “Shut up, Zayn.” Tally laughed. “I SAID ARE YOU WITH ME?” He shouted in her ear. If I had already taken my first shot I would have spat it out laughing, but thankfully I laughed without spitting the substance everywhere, having a minute to calm down before Zayn counted to three, and we did as we were instructed. I was doing alright until the third shot, whenn I felt like I was going to throw up all over the bar, but luckily, I didn’t. I counted to eight seconds out of my given ten before I finally did the last shot, feeling their affects so quickly, it almost felt like a waste of time that I wasn’t dancing. It took me a little bit longer than the rest to recover, they were already on their way to the centre of the dancefloor by the time I pushed away from the bar, stumbling a little as I did before regaining my balance and dancing over to them, a cheeky, somewhat tipsy, smile on my face. Another thing I loved about uni is that I had come across a group of people who were exactly the same as I was on a night out. None of us gave a shit, and our terrible team dancing was what made our nights so much fun. I’d say around half an hour of intense boogying passed before Zayn signalled that he wanted a cigarette, and he knew that it was likely I would join him after a drink, so I did. We wandered to the heated outside area, which was one of the good things about our favourite club, Thimble, though after many discussions we still couldn’t figure out why that was the name they had chosen for a club. Zayn handed me a roll-up, and placed one in his mouth, getting out a lighter and sparking mine for me before he sparked his own. Within seconds, out of nowhere, two arms grabbed Zayn from behind, right around his waist as the mystery man lifted him in the air, making a girly scream irrupt from him lips, which brought in a couple of eyes and a couple of laughs. As soon he was dropped, he turned around to find the culprit. “Fucking hell, Louis!” He gasped, slapping his palms against the boys cheeks. “I nearly shat me’self, you idiot!” “Alright, Lad!” The other one said as they started hugging. I think I had heard Zayn speak of this Louis before. He was on his art course with him, but what Zayn had apparently forgotten to tell me was that he was absolutely gorgeous. I stared at him as the two of them interacted, and I was a little entranced. He was all slicked back hair and black clothes, turtle neck, freshly shaved, striking eyes. He was beautiful. After a while Zayn turned back around to me, grinning like he didn’t see Louis every bloody day at his lectures. He was acting like he hadn’t seen him in years. Classic effect of alcohol. I gave Zayn a look, a look that said, if you don’t introduce me to this God of a man now I will kill you. “Oh shit.” He mumbled. “Umm, Pip this is Louis. Louis, this is Pippa.” He moved in and gave me a kiss on the cheek, and I already knew he was charming too, which was frustrating. I couldn’t cope when boys were attractive but charming too, it was always too much to take in. “Nice to meet you.” He said as he pulled away, looking me up and down. “You live with Zayn, yeah?” “Right across from him.” I nervously replied. “Are you the one who cries a lot?” He smirked. I sucked in air through my teeth, cringing that of all the things Zayn could have said, that was what he had decided to pass on. “Umm...” I let out a breathy laugh. “I get emotional about things.” “Every time I watch E.T. I cry like a baby, don’t worry about it.” “To be fair,” Zayn chirped. “I cry at Finding Nemo.” ”No, fair shout man!” Louis looked deadly serious. “At the beginning-” “When his wife dies!” Zayn gawped. “And Nemo is the only baby left!” “It’s absolutely heart breaking.” “Heart breaking.” Louis repeated. It struck me quite quickly how similar Louis and Zayn were, and I knew why my flatmate had raved about his friendship with the blue-eyed boy. I shook my head at them, taking a drag of the cigarette Zayn had rolled me, my head spinning slightly, half of me ready for bed and the other half ready to carry on my terrible dancing. Behind myself and Zayn we heard someone shout Louis’ name. ”Gotta run.” He smirked again. “Nice to meet you, Pippa.” “You too!” I cooed, blushing as though he had complimented me. ”Zayn.” The two slapped their hands together before clasping their hands tights together. “See you tomorrow, bro.” “Later, man.” Louis bounced off to the lad who had shouted his name, yelling and cheerful and 100% attractive in every way ever possible. Jesus wept, I was actually impressed by him, I just wanted to eat him up on the spot and leave nothing for anyone else. As soon as I knew he was out of earshot, I slapped Zayn hard on the arm, hitting that stupid tiger tattoo, his arms completely on show thanks to the fact he cut the sleeves off his t-shirt. “Ouch!” He laughed. “What was that for?” “Why the fuck does your stupidly attractive mate only know me for the fact I cry?” “I don’t know! I’ve told him other stuff.” “Right. Like what?” “Like... how you throw up on hangovers sometimes.” “Brilliant, Zayn. Thank you.” I couldn’t stop smiling even though I was shaking my head. His apology to me was him wrapping one arm around me and pulling me to him, giving me a kiss on the forehead, still chuckling away to himself. He moved out, extending his little finger, waiting for my finger to link up with his. “Alright.” He laughed. “I pinky-promise, I will say better things about you in the future. I’ll make him think you’re a goddess.” “How exactly?” I giggled. “Umm... I’ll tell him about how Finn said you’re really good at giving head.” “Y’know what, don’t say shit, Zayn. Let’s just let him forget I exist.” That probably made him laugh ever harder, grabbing me by the shoulders as I turned around, both of us throwing our cigarettes on the floor and making our way back inside, ready to find the rest of the troops. Zayn steered me off towards the bar before we joined the team again, where he purchased me two more drinks, that completely tipped me over the edge. + + + I awoke on the floor in my room, still in my dress from the night before, one side of my face dinted from the bumpy carpet beneath my skin. My eyes opened slowly, and I recognized the spot immediately, this not being the first time I had awoke on the floor, literally inches away from my bed. I had no idea why I did that, I swear to god it must have been a decision I made when I was drunk, though in the morning I could never recall why I would ever think it was a good idea. I groaned and cursed to myself as I moved. I first readjusted my arm, and in the process knocked over and entire can that I had open next to me, beer soaking into my already ruined carpet. I hurriedly stood the can back up, though a good 90% of it had already spilled so there was literally no point. My head was pounding, every joint in my body ached like fuck as I sat myself up, rubbing my eyes, not really caring about the fact I must have been rubbing my mascara all over my face. All I knew was that I needed water, or a cup of tea, or something that would help mend my broken body. “Holy. Shit.” I grumbled to myself. I stumbled to my feet, nearly falling forward and whacking my head against the desk that sat ahead of the window, which looked out to what seemed to be an endless line of student accommodation. The only thing that got me through that hangover was the thought that there had to be a student in one of those buildings who was feeling even worse than I was. There just had to be. Luckily, this was one of those hangovers where I didn’t feel like throwing up, I just needed drink and food and possibly a cuddle, even though my usual person to cuddle was Grace, and that option was out of the window. I found my phone on the desk, checking what time it was and seeing it was almost 12pm, only an hour until my lecture finished. “Fuck!” I don’t know how I thought that I was going to manage getting there at 9am after drinking so heavily. Basically, I knew I wasn’t going to go, but I still kicked myself for it, I still got so annoyed with myself for not making it. I pulled my dress down to cover my dignity, all that was left of it, before turning on the spot and heading towards the door, eager to get some fluid in my system that wasn’t alcoholic, scraping my hair to the side slightly and catching a glimpse of myself in the full-length mirror on my door. Surprisingly, my makeup was relatively intact, but there was no denying I was an absolute state. I tugged on the handle to my door and opened it slightly, poking my head around the corner and looking to the left down the corridor. Judging by how quiet it was, everyone was still sleeping, or in a lecture. The kitchen was so quiet it suggested that anyway. I fell through my door and groaned to myself as I scurried down to the kitchen, screeching to myself as I made the short journey, feeling so painfully sorry for myself you would have never thought my pain was self-inflicted. As soon as I step foot in the kitchen, which was still stupidly quiet, my heart caught tight in my throat, stumbling backwards and shouting out my shock. “HOLY FUCKING SHIT!” The random boy that was stood in our kitchen whipped his head round to catch a glimpse of me, eyes going up and down my body as he chuckled under his breath, shaking his head as he looked back towards his drink, continually dipping a teabag into the mug of hot water in front of him. “Nice.” He huffed, grinning to himself. “Shit. Sorry. You’re very quiet.” “I am.” He turned to look at me. He was extremely striking. I think it was his sharp jawline, how tanned he seemed to be, which was near impossible given the UK’s climate, so that was noticeable right away. “Did Tally bring you back?” I asked, hesitantly moving towards my food cabinet. It wouldn’t be the first time Tally had brought home a ridiculously attractive boy, in fact, she did it often. She had a way about her, an aura, boys flew to her like flies on shit, and she lapped it up. This guy had to be her best effort though. His hair was short, messy and brown and curly. He was topless, just a pair of running shorts on. It revealed to me his perfectly toned body, which had one very noticeable tattoo. An enormous butterfly on his stomach. I caught glimpse of it and then decided not to stare, but I remember thinking that was odd. He didn’t have any other tattoos, just that one. “Who?” He baffled. That threw me, I couldn’t think of any other plausible reason he would be in our flat. I certainly hadn’t brought him back, I would remember him. And Ringo hadn’t even gone out. I then thought maybe he was Ringo’s secret boyfriend, and was silently congratulating her in my head. “Sorry, I thought you were one of Tally’s conquests.” “I live here.” He replied. My eyes went wide. That was the person who was going to replace Grace. That guy. Jesus wept, I had only just gotten used to bloody Zayn walking about the place, even Mike wasn’t all bad, and then that one? I swore that people had not been so insanely attractive at school, or college. I moved to uni and then suddenly there was just a gaggle of attractive men and I for one, was not good at coping with attractive people. I became a nervous wreck and found it hard to structure sentences. “Y-you live here?” I pointed to the floor. “Just moved in this morning.” “Oh.” I gawped. “You live here?” He leant against the kitchen top. “Umm, yeah. In the last room on the right. First room on the left. Umm…” “The room next to mine?” He smirked. “Yeah.” He probably knew the effect he had on girls, he was stupidly confident, not struggling in the same way I was. I suppose it was partly down to the hangover, I figured maybe I would be better later on, or the day after, or next week… I would learn to deal with it at some point. After a few moments of awkward silence, he breathed in through his teeth, making it even more awkward, and pushed away from the counter. “Better go unpack.” He coughed. “I imagine I’ll see you around.” “Probably.” “What’s your name?” “Pippa.” “Pippa?” “Pippa Payne.” “Pfft, seriously?” He scoffed. “You sound like a character from an Enid Blyton book.” I just lowered my eyebrows and looked at him in a complete state of shock as he walked away, laughing and shaking his head, removing himself from the kitchen and going back to his room. I stood there unable to think of something to say, how snotty he had been and how he just did not care that he made that comment about me. True, it wasn’t the worst thing he could have said, but it just amazed me that he burst that out to me during our first interaction. I hadn’t even had the chance to learn his name so I could make some snotty comment back. I got a pint glass out of my cupboard and filled it to the brim with water, before practically running and banging on Zayn’s door, loud and ignorant. “Bet a tenner that’s Pippa.” I heard him yell from inside. “How am I supposed to win this bet?” I yelled through the wood. “By not being Pippa.” “But I am Pippa.” “Well then you owe me a tenner.” I huffed, rolling my eyes and letting myself in. Zayn, like most people, had managed to get himself in bed even though he was stupidly drunk. His bed was to the right as I walked in, a mirrored version to mine since he was just across from me. I stared down to him with serious eyes after having slammed the door shut. He let out a confused laugh as he looked up to me. “What?” He gawped. “We have a new person.” I whispered. “What?” “A new person. A boy. And he’s just taken the piss out of my name.” He uneasily lifted himself so he was upright in his bed, taking in what I was telling him. I hurriedly moved and put my water on his desk, before sitting at the end of his bed, still looking at him with the most intense look on my face. He ran his hands over his eyes and through his hair. “Grace literally moved out less than twenty-four hours ago.” He groaned. “I know, and they’ve replaced her with a twat. A really attractive twat.” “What did he say?” “Something about a character, something... I dunno, but I didn’t like it!” “Give it a week and you’ll be his best mate.” Zayn huffed. But he was far from right. Because over the next few days, I was going to discover that my new flatmate and I were not going to be friends, not at all.

[midnightsdarkangel]

Mark of the Beast CH2

And chapter 2 is here! Chapter 3 is currently being written atm so hopefully it shouldnt take too long. but till then enjoy some more feels~

Summary: Fukami hasn’t been doing too well, she wished they had longer but she knew their fate the moment they met. Its not easy having a kraken as your familiar. 

"Is he alright...?"

Wadanohara walked downstairs only to stumble upon Dolphi and Memoca at the front of the stairs looking up at her, worried. It was sweet to know how much they cared for each other; when Fukami had collapsed on the boat, Dolphi ran out despite her fear for the weather. The two looked up to Fukami, and sometimes Wadanohara did too. He always protected them when things got hard. Despite how little he spoke, he was kind to them. It made Wadanohara feel happy to know, despite how isolated Fukami felt at times, he really was loved. But her mind returned to the more pressing matters at hand.

She sighed and walked down to meet them, trying her best to sound reassuring. "He's fine now; just a bit exhausted, so it's best to let him rest."

The two familiars looked to each other and just nodded and grinned. "Good, I thought I needed to go upstairs there and cheer him up myself," Memoca proclaimed, holding her hands to her hips proudly. Dolphi giggled, amused by her actions as the two began to talk to each other about how they would try and make him happy when he wakes up.

As they chatted, Wadanohara snuck out and away. When she got outside, she carefully shut the door and set her sights on the castle. Not really wanting to be held up by anyone encountering her, she focused her magic to summon her anchor. Pulling it down to be level with her, she carefully climbed on and pushed her feet off the ground to get some distance before setting off at high speeds. Her hair blew hard against the air; she had to keep a hand on her hat at all times so it wouldn't fall off. The world below her looked wonderful. It was so nice to see the town from up top. Though it was more of a blur, she did appreciate the times she was able to just fly above.

Once she reached the castle, the anchor burst into small bubbles. She pushed hard on the large doors, hearing them creak loudly as she cracked them open.

"Wadanohara?"

She jumped, shocked, and almost lost her balance, tumbling backwards to be caught in the arms of a surprised Tatsyumia.

"A-Ah!" In a flush of embarrassment, Wadanohara leapt to her feet and looked down shy.

Tatsyumia couldn't help but smile in amusement. "Sorry, I couldn't help myself. What are you doing here then?" she queried, looking at Wada's startled expression.

It was actually perfect timing that she would find her mentor here alone, instead of trying to ask for her privately in front of the others. Tugging Tatsyumia's arm, she wore a worried frown. "I need your help... It's Fukami."

Tatsyumia's curious face turned grim as she took Wadanohara by the hand and led her across the bridge to a more secluded area near the old sea. Once they were alone, she sighed and turned to Wadanohara, sounding gentle but still had a stern tone to her voice. "Is it happening?"

"I... I'm not sure... When we were coming back, he just collapsed! It was scary... He couldn't breathe, and he was trembling. I had to use my magic to knock him out before he harmed himself." Wadanohara explained looking away, regretting not realising something was wrong sooner. It was terrifying, watching her own friend cry in pain right in front of her and not even knowing what she could do. "When I checked his mark, it was pretty warm. He told me it would burn at times."

Tatsyumia sighed and took a few steps away to look out to the horizon. It was a tense atmosphere. Wadanohara had never thought she would ever have to talk about Fukami's condition so soon. She had assumed it would take much longer before he would even show signs, or that he had overcome it during the time they had spent together. But it seems it was all in vain...

"Don't worry, Wadanohara..." Her mentor's hands touched her face, gentle and slow. "It's good you've come to me now rather than later. Can you bring him here when you get the chance? I think the princess should know."

Nodding, they both just stood in silence and shook their heads to try and get out of this grim atmosphere. Even though Wadanohara was nervous, she was glad she had someone to go to. Wadanohara herself had no clue what on Earth she would do if she had to figure it out herself. She had never personally experienced anything quite like this... It was something her father and Tatsyumia knew better.

"Thank you." She smiled, feeling Tatsyumia ruffle her hair as she summoned her anchor.

All she could do now was just wait and see.

--

"Guys, I'm back, I was just taking a walk-"

When Wadanohara returned home, she was met with a rather funny sight. Fukami, seemingly already a lot better when she had seen him before, was sitting on the couch with both Memoca and Dolphi beside him. The two was busy fussing over him with plasters and drawings to make him feel better. His arms were completely covered in bandages, which from observation were poorly tied. Fukami noticed Wadnohara come in and despite his blank look, she could tell he was a bit uncomfortable.

Wadanohara couldn’t help but laugh, alerting the other two. "What are you two doing?"

Memoca quickly sat up and waved at Wada as she approached them to sit on the other side. "We decided to take care of Fukami while you were gone since he was hurt!"

Wadanohara was tempted to tell them it wasn't really physical pain that was burdening him, but just seeing how much they cared was sweet. She giggled, "Ok, you two, I'll take over now."

They nodded and hugged Fukami before running into the other room. Once they had left, Fukami let out a long sigh and slouched on the couch. He looked exhausted from all the attention. She went over and gently started to unravel the bandages from his arms. Fukami looked away as she got close, his heart racing as he felt her warmth.

Wadanohara, however, wasn't aware of Fukami's embarrassment as she gently took off the plasters and stepped back with a smile. "Sorry I was gone for so long, I went to see Tatysumia."

Fukami flinched. "I don't need her help..."

It was a sore spot for Fukami, regarding the members of the castle. Wadanohara wasn't sure what had exactly went down before she had met him, but it was clear it was something he refused to talk about. She wasn't around when the red sea was sealed away, but sometimes she wishes she was, just to see what had happened. It was obvious Fukami was there before Wadanohara was even born. It was odd to see him get defensive over the past when normally he was indifferent to a lot of things. He might not show it as obvious as Memoca would; he was more subtle with his emotions, something Wadanohara had learned to understand over time. Fukami was socially awkward, being isolated for most of his life, and the constant abuse and hate he received from others made it hard for him to fully express himself. Wadanohara learned there were two things Fukami felt safe doing: one big one was using his tentacles. It was super rare when Fukami would do anything with his hands, as he always had his tentacles on the job to do whatever he wanted while his hands were tucked away in pockets or hidden.

Wadanohara was always interested in familiars, or creatures as a whole. From living in the sea kingdom, there were always two types: ones who preferred to stay in their original form, and those who could change into a human at will. Of course the traits of whatever animal they originally were would show in their new form, some more subtle than others. What came with that also was their instincts. Familiars, despite how much they seem human, are still creatures in the end, creatures who developed and learned over time. In a sense, they had their own form of magic. She would instantly think of her own familiars in her observations. It seemed people like Sal and Samekichi were able to alter forms back and forth, while Memoca and Dolphi, being the youngest of the group, only maintained their human forms. A part of her assumed it was preference, but also how strong the familiar was. Transforming back and forth was the same as using her magic - you needed endurance.

And then there was Fukami. When Wadanohara looked at him, he was different. Not in a drastic way – no – it was how you could tell what his mannerisms were like. Despite his human body, he relied more on his tentacles and animal senses more than anything else. She had always meant to ask him all sorts of questions, but for him it was a bit more sensitive than that. Never once had Wadanohara encountered an octopus with the mark – heck, finding any octopuses lately was a rare occurrence. Most had been locked away or killed in the past. For Fukami to be the newest victim to its curse made her heart hurt. If her theory was correct, down the line it wouldn't be long before Fukami would forget even her, he would forget his morals... who his friends were... The only remaining thought on his mind would be to hunt and destroy.

And of course, there's the other thing Fukami fell back on for reassurance: the fact he wasn't forced to speak. Fukami never really said much, mainly more on the moments where it was needed. Idle chatter was something he tried to avoid, but not because he didn't want to – God, no. It took Wadanohara a week for him to confess, he just... genuinely didn't know what to say. Being away from people for so long, he wasn't even sure how to have a normal conversation, always fearing he might say something wrong.

Just unraveling the bandages from his arms, she couldn't help but look at him with concern. He was still too young for this... much too young. For him to start showing signs terrified the sea witch.

"What am I going to do with you...?" she muttered softly, cupping his cheek in her hand. Fukami didn't say anything but looked at her surprised as she gently pressed her forehead onto his. "I promise I'll help you... So please, you need to trust me on this."

The two stayed there in silence. Fukami carefully reached out to touch her arm, but flinched and withdrew. Instead he let his tentacle do the job, brushing her hair back and pulling her to sit down beside him. Despite his discomfort to receiving help, he loved Wadanohara... He loved her with all his life. The fact she was even doing all of this for him was a foreign feeling, something he didn’t want to lose.

He sighed. "I'll accompany you tomorrow to the castle..."

Wada smiled. “Good. Now you need more rest, ok?”

Fukami was about to argue he wasn’t tired, but the drowsy feeling told him otherwise. He grumbled to himself as he laid down, slowly resting his head on her lap, his body getting weak as he felt himself slip away. He looked absolutely adorable to Wadanohara, who thought it was nice seeing him calm. Looking out the window, it was already beginning to get dark out. Her own eyes began to close as she yawned and tried to sit up. But she felt Fukami's tentacle tug her arm not to leave, mumbling something as he pulled her closer to him. Flustered though amused, Wadanohara stayed put until he was satisfied. Her hand absentmindedly stroked his hair, feeling for his neck to feel if it was warm. It still was, but not as bad as it had been a while ago. His breathing was slow and steady. Curling around Wada slightly, he looked vulnerable. Her smile faltered as she looked at the window. “I'll keep you safe… I promise.”

--

“Wake up! I'm hungry!”

Wadanohara jolted awake, face to face with Memoca on her bed, who was staring at her with a pout on her face. It took her a few seconds to realise she had fallen asleep in her dress. She also realised that last night she'd slept with Fukami. That made her heart race with embarrassment. She jumped up, looking around, and noticed he was still sleeping with his face buried in the pillow. It looked hilarious – his hair was ruffled up and he was tossing and turning in his sleep.

“A-Ah… I'll be downstairs soon.” Watching Memoca go downstairs, she sighed and walked to a mirror to inspect how she looked. Her clothes were wrinkled from rolling around in them. Thankfully, Wada knew just the spell to fix it. She gave her skirt a quick brush off before closing her eyes. Her hands gathered energy as she focused on her clothes, and soon they glowed faintly, restoring their condition nice and proper. She gave a little twirl around, happy with the results, and followed Memoca downstairs.

Some time had passed, and Fukami had finally opened his eyes. “Hnn…” he grumbled, lifting his head from the pillow, dazed to what was going on.

“Morning Fukami, how are you feeling?” Wadanohara asked curiously, walking beside his bed.

She watched him groggily sit up, rubbing his eyes. “Still tired…” he groaned.

He would do his routine Wada had watched him do countless of times. His tentacles would do all the work while he would try to wake up. He slipped his coat off and hung it up while brushing his hair. It must be useful to multitask the way he did, Wada thought to herself, watching how easy it was for him. With magic, sure, she could do the same thing, yet it never really occurred to her as something she needed to do. For Fukami, however, it was just part of his nature.

“Are you making breakfast...?”

She snapped out of her thoughts. “Ah, you're right!” She exclaimed, quickly running downstairs before Memoca would try and tackle her out of hunger, leaving him alone.

--

God, that was so embarrassing, Fukami thought, his hands covering his face as he moaned in agony. He laid on her lap, and made her stay! Normally he wouldn’t do that, he was too shy and stubborn. To Wadanohara, he had to be her mentor, her familiar... And yet, he felt safe in her warmth. He could hear her downstairs with the others as he laid back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. He’ll come downstairs later, he thought, as he rolled on his side to the window. The burning had gone down, thankfully – not completely, but it was bearable now as he didn’t have to flinch when people touched it. A part of him considered if maybe Tatysumia would help him, but another part felt irritated that Wada would even think that they would help him: some sort of monster that no one even cared about. His hands gripped the sheets as he tried to think of something else, anything. He really wanted to make some excuse that he was busy, or accidentally do something that caused them to postpone their visit to the castle. But Wadanohara was persistent, he knew that very well already.

Fukami loved that about her, though.

He just wanted to tell her how he felt inside. Wadanohara was the only one to make him feel complete, but Samekichi… That shark had stolen her heart... No. He was always in her mind even before the two had met. Even though he was in the red sea, she still cared about him, constantly smiling and reassuring to everyone he was coming back, when really he could tell it was for her sake more than anyone else's. At first, when the shark had left, he thought she would finally get over him and pay attention to him for once, but seeing her suffer was not worth it. It never was. But what was he supposed to do? It wasn’t fair of him to even think this way, yet it would be on his mind constantly. He wanted to steal her away, but he didn’t want to make her upset. She was his everything, his life, his purpose. Without her, he was lost... and now that this stupid curse was taking its course, he felt bitter that the only reason she paid any attention was because he was suffering.

He’d never tell her. She can’t know how he feels. If he did, it would ruin everything. Either she would laugh at him as if it was a joke, or she would slap him and be shocked he would even think that she was okay after Samekichi had left. It was better to suffer in silence than to break her heart further by making her choose what she really wanted.

“Fukami, breakfast is ready!”

He would protect her no matter what...

Shaking his head, he stood up and sorted his coat out only to feel sick inside. He coughed harshly into his hand, his world spinning for a few seconds... and then he realised he was coughing up blood. Black blood.

“Come on, I’m gonna eat your food if you don’t come!” Memoca shouted up the stairs.

Fukami tried to keep calm, quickly wiping the blood off. “I’m coming, hang on.”

[cornus27florida]

The Beginning of Growing Affection between Two People

Prompt: Beginning

Summary: What happening after you blows out all your first paycheck to send a secret love letter? Actually the moneys went to right place, Alzheimer patient and their families need support

Rating: T

Words: 1297

Notes: This will be a short series of prompts with a connection with forget-me-not meaning. It’s my first time to do both drawing and writing after a long hiatus.  I might do some edits later if I have time in AO3. Please enjoy and share what you thought after read it :)

I make a drawing to accompany the first part of my fic as a way to participate the Touken week this year. I’m really sorry for all incovenience and flaws I made. Just imagine there’s a pack of seed that tied with ribbon (like cookies)

The Beginning of Growing Affection between Two People

That evening is unusually the quite one. Some warm sunlight penetrated big windows that Anteiku have, showering all staff with it’s light. Kaneki Ken is a new staff in this cafe, nervously fidgeting several pack of something. One customer drinks his coffee and give encouraging smile after being served with the best coffee in town. The only customer in Anteiku is just his best friend, Hideyoshi Nagachika. Their exchanging glance really like they are scheming something.

“Ex-excuse me, everyone! I-I want to share something today” shout Kaneki break the peaceful evening. All head stare at Kaneki, eyeing the packs with ribbon that really look like a warm handmade cookies packed sweetly to share. Irimi stare with a confused face still washing dishes. Koma’s mop nearly jumps out from his hand. Manager’s hand slowly put the jar of hot water to stove. Touka really like to throws her napkin to Kaneki’s face right now - for sudden interrupt at her work clean up the tables.

“What Bakaneki like to share? Cookies?!” Touka said angrily. This dude really gets her nervous. Is he want to relive his live as human and unconsciously gives poison to all staff? He should knows well that all Anteiku staff are ghouls. Cookies taste like shit, a combination of rat poison and rat own carcass. Is anyone want to lick the source of awful smell with some crumbly material that responsible to make smell and death happen?

“N-nope, it’s actually some seeds” reply him weakly. Kaneki at quick pace give everybody with a pack of seeds, each with different ribbon color. Irimi's got the red ribbon, Koma's got the yellow one, Manager got the yellow one, and Touka got a pack that tied with a pale blue ribbon. Everyone confused with Kaneki's doing. They just eyeing the pack nervously and treat it like it actually contain bomb or something.

Hide exclaim to shed confusion, "This dude blows away all his first paycheck to brought pack of seeds hahaha! Those are forget-me-not flower seeds from an Alzheimer foundation on the way here. Ah how noble his money went~”.

“It’s not like that! I just feel the need to help that foundation. It’s must be awful to have broken memories like people with Alzheimer.. The important thing is I want to celebrate I got work with you all” said Kaneki.

That foundation is need some money and they try to improve the donation involving forget-me-not, flower that symbolize the memories that Alzheimer patients try to hold. Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. That foundation helps treatments for symptoms and help the funds for Alzheimer’s research continues. Although current Alzheimer's treatments cannot stop Alzheimer's from progressing, they can temporarily slow the worsening of dementia symptoms and improve quality of life for those with Alzheimer's and their caregivers. Fundraising like what is needed for foundation like that to improve the Alzheimer patient’s life qualities and his families (Souce about Alzheimer: https://m.alz.org/what-is-alzheimers.asp?sp=true)

Manager said deeply, “I hear some other time you got pickpocket, those money should go to yourself. You shouldn’t do this, Kaneki-kun”

“Actually I didn’t blows away all my paycheck sir” said Kaneki quietly while holding his chin. Touka just fidgeting the pack though, unsure what should to do. She still keeps the gesture ‘to not welcoming Kaneki’.

“If you say so, thanks for your gift!” thanks Koma and irimi cheerfully.

Kaneki glances Hide, didn’t know what to do next. The next step of scheme should go on. Hide catch on and take a pack of seeds. He got one like what Kaneki share before. Hide untie his own pack of seed that he saves in his own pocket. He pull a folded card inside the pack, with a purple color like the ribbon. The card is actually a sheet of plant care guide. “Nah everyone, just do the same like what I did earlier. If you didn’t want to spread the seeds soon, please tie the pack again tightly” explain Hide.

Koma is the first one mimicking Hide’s actions earlier. He read the simple tips to grows forget-me-not. He mumbling “Ah.. So this plant loves shade huh?”

Irimi reads the Plant Care Sheet slowly, “Forget-me-not needs much water and some moist soil hmm..”

Manager stare the front side of his cafe. Probably he thinks to grows forget-me-not there. But this flowers shouldnt plant in the edge of a path. Customers could be cynical when walked too close, spent time to removing the clinging Forget-me-not seeds from their pants or skirts.

Touka is the last one to open her pack of seeds. She actually take a seat and unties the ribbon slowly. When she pull the folded card, she surprised to found a neat handwritten on the back of the card. Those rows of text look like be wrote by Kaneki. What this man trying to do? Is not like she’ll open up soon with just a pack of weird things.

May you grows those Forget-me-not flowers to help remind what you really are and your own goal

Don’t let revenge and hatred towards my mind towards ghouls distract it

I’ll try to be better person

I want to understand ghouls better

I know you are the right person to help me

Kaneki stares her nervously, prays silently she didn’t kick him out or other negative replies. Unconsciously she blush madly reads those kind words he write. She avoids Kaneki intense gazes. She’s thanks him with a voice like a whisper “Th-Thanks, Kaneki”. Kaneki smiles lit up upon hears her response. She folds the cards and tie the pack quickly, continues her shift. Kaneki is called by Manager, given a sudden shift stop. Manager asks everyone to going home sooner. Manager feels there’s no customer today. He like to spread Forget-me-not seeds too as the sunlight still shining.

All staff prepare to going home. In the charge room Touka thinks silently, thinks about Kaneki. ‘He actually a nice person. Am I should keep the act to hostile against him. Is not his fault suddenly be a ghoul, he is a victim, so why I keep trying to make him the villain that change to be a ghoul as an act? He tries to understand… He believes I could help him. What I can do him though? Be a white rabbit to helps his adventure to exploring ghoul world ? Ghoul’s world actually a dark world..

On the trip of Kaneki back to his partement with Hide...

“Hey man, I see what you did there. So you write on the back of blue’s one? A Is that a secret love letter to Touka-chan?” winks Hide cheerfully.

“N-no. It’s not what you think it is” stutters Kaneki.

“She’s blushing madly when read that! My boy finally!”

Kaneki just speechless. Hide stops his tease and change topic “It’s rare you back sooner, want to watch movies tonight?

It’s just.. I don’t think I could make hostile act to ends, let alone dates her. I don’t think I even to her…’ thinks Kaneki.

 If Kaneki and Touka knows, the first meaning of Forget-me-not flowers is ‘The Growing of Affection between Two People’

[kavuyi]

http://bit.ly/2JsawiR

6th February 2016

Just when I thought it would be all rosy.

Nothing good lasts forever.

Neither does love or peace.

Something always comes up to destroy everything built back to the shambles it was always supposed to be. This is fate. The shambles are all that should be left no matter how hard one tries to rebuild. The foundation is weak so everything else is weak.

Today, the something that comes to break my home comes in form of a woman called Cynthia. I look at her name flashing on Chinyama’s phone. It’s as if she knows when I’m happy and too comfortable in my marriage. She shows up from nowhere to ruin everything. Back to square one. Should I pick up or not?

No.

I don’t need to pick up. I’m not one of those wives -the kind that watches over her husband and answers every call he gets. No. Chinyama will find the missed call when he leaves he bathroom, and he does, I’ll be waiting for the look on his face as he picks up his phone.

Not today Cynthia.

I put his phone back under his pillow and wait. I can’t go back to sleep anymore. She has my mind in knots like she always has. She has a hold on my husband that even I can’t explain. What if she used juju* on him and he can’t seem to have the guts to let her go because of that. Gosh. I shouldnt be thinking like this. No. God is on my side.

“No form of juju shall prosper against my husband.” I whisper.

But if she’s calling him, then does that mean he never ended it with her or she’s calling him for a baby come back. Maybe I should have picked up and asked her what she wanted. If she needs help then talking to me wouldn’t be a bad thing right. I hate this feeling, the feeling of helplessness. I turn and lie on my back. How many times have I faced the ceiling deep in thoughts over what Chinyama was doing with that vile woman. I can’t become that woman again. No.

I hear his phone ring. I sit up and quickly reach under his pillow and grab it. Her name flashes on his screen again. She is relentless. She will never stop. She needs to know her place. Right now. I look at the bathroom door and back at the ringing phone.

Chinyama be damned but this has to end. Today.

“Hello.” I answer.

Silence. Is she surprised? Is she worried that her man is with his wife? Is she angry her man’s wife is answering the phone? Well, silence won’t take me anywhere, I won’t last all day in silence.

“This is Chinyama’s phone” I continue.

“Can I please speak to Chinyama?”

Hearing her voice takes me back to the time I found out about her. The times I would lose it and resort to the bottle. Her voice would taunt me into thinking I had lost my husband. I did.

“Hello?” She asks.

“Cynthia, this is Mable. Chinyama is bathing. I’ll have him call you back as soon as he is free.” I respond.

Silence. I can hear her breathing. She hasn’t cut the line yet. Probably weighing her options right now. To call him back later or to wait for him to call her. I’m certain she will call him back. That’s the kind of woman she is. I hate that I know that about her. Who am I?

“Thank you Mable. Please tell him it’s urgent. Have a great day.” She says slowly.

She cuts the line. Just like that. No arguments. No insults back and forth. Nothing. Aren’t we maturing?

The bathroom door opens and Chinyama walks into the bedroom humming, with a towel around his waist.

“Good morning my beaut……”

He looks at me, his phone in my hand and the rest of his sentence dies on his lips. I meet his eyes and I give him a smile. He does not smile back.

“Cynthia called. She said it’s urgent. Call. Her. Back.”

I place his phone on his pillow and push the bed covers off of me exposing my nakedness. Let him call her back with the image of me naked and walking away from him. I get off the bed and walk confidently towards the bathroom.

“Mable.” He starts.

I lift my hand to silence him.

“Call. Her. Back. We don’t want her feeling neglected do we?” I respond.

I don’t want to hear his excuse. If I do I might say something I’ll regret one day. Or I’ll hit him with anything.

No words need to be said this time.

To think I stopped talking to Isaac and only to have this thrown back in my face. Again. Men.

Nothing lasts forever.

Not even a week.

********

Me:

I could beat her up.

Find thugs for you and send them to her house and beat her up so.

Foolishness.

*

Sampa:

Yoli you are certainly not helping Mable here with that talk.

*

Me:

That is helping her. That woman has no sense of pride for herself, sleeping with a married man like it’s in fashion.

*

Mable:

Men suck.

I swear they suck.

Oh my gosh. I don’t even want to think about this anymore.

*

Sampa:

That Cynthia woman has some nerve no.

Like who calls a married man that early in the morning.

No respect.

Like if you’re helping him cheat then call him after 12.

*

Thandiwe:

Some side pieces also. How unnecessary.

Omg Mable I’m so sorry ayi.

Elo ninshi the man apologised and was trying to make it up to you.

*

Mable:

That’s what hurts you know.

*

Sampa:

Iye Mable.

*

Mable:

I don’t know what to think.

*

Me:

What did you do after? After you told him.

*

Mable:

What was I to do?

I didn’t talk to him again. He left the house.

Took the kids with him.

I didn’t know he left.

Plus I was supposed to take the kids to the movies. Now I don’t know.

Maybe she just genuinely needed his help.

*

Me:

Or maybe he’s scared of you.

As he should be.

Wife. Cook. Owner of the kitchen. Knives at her disposal.

*

Mable:

But iwe. Lol Kaya.

But what if she really needed his help.

And I’m here acting like shit.

*

Sampa:

Are you seriously taking blame for what has happened today?

Are you going to feel better if he tells you she was calling because she had a problem?

*

Mable:

No.

*

Sampa:

Exactly.

Mami that was your husband’s mistress for a long time.

I don’t blame you for wanting to think things through

Have you called him yet at least?

*

Mable:

And say what?

Have you gone to see your hule.

I’m too stressed ayi.

I’m not calling him.

Think I’ve acted clingy enough now.

*

Sampa:

Iwe he’s your husband.

Call him.

Talk to him

*

Mable:

No.

I won’t.

I was too angry earlier. Maybe I’m not over it yet.

*

Sampa:

I’m thinking he’s near home waiting for you to call him.

Call him.

He’s worried and scared you will lose it

*

Mable:

And maybe I should yes.

*

Thandiwe:

No

*

Sampa:

No

*

Me:

Yes.

*

Mable:

Okay I won’t lose it.

I’ll call him.

After an hour or two.

Let him die in worry first.

*

Sampa:

Don’t do this.

Talk to your husband and behave yes?

Do it now.

*

Mable:

No.

You know what I deserve a day of drinking. Or night.

I have been behaving with my drinks.

The effort? All down the drain now.

We need to meet up.

Today.

*

Sampa:

We shouldn’t be encouraging this.

*

Mable:

We should.

*

Sampa:

Alright, I have vodka and rum in the house.

You guys can come over to my place.

Someone bring chicken and sausage.

Though I think we shall need more alcohol to be honest.

And junk food

*

Me:

I’m bringing the whiskey

Ya’ll and your weird drinks.

I’ll bring the chicken.

*

Thandiwe:

I’ll bring the sausage.

I will also bring a bottle of wine though I am a sober bitch.

Make sure there is juice though.

*

Mable:

Wine from me. Two bottles.

No three. Or four.

But won’t Sangu be angry with a random chill like that.

*

Sampa:

Well Sangu has forgotten he has a home so I’m gonna use this home to chill with my girls.

Ya’ll better be here by 14 hours ka

Dress nice

*

Mable:

Cool

Manje dress nice iyo. Are we dressing nice for some man we do not know about?

Your cousin maybe? Is he coming to town?

*

Me:

Iye. I’m wearing sweat pants.

See ya.

*

Sampa:

You’re so weird Mable.

And no my brother is not coming to town.

You never know what might happen afterwards.

*

Sonia:

Imwe early in the morning and you are planning a beer fest.

I had to to catch up on your messages.

Lol

I am still in bed sleeping.

I’ll be there. 14 Hours sharp.

I am bringing myself only and my chef skills.

*

Me:

You seriously want to impress a bunch of dunk women with your cooking skills.

Ah Sonia.

Bring food from your fridge.

*

*******

This man is going to be the death of my nerves. I need to concentrate on…

*

Sonia:

I’ll cook.

No left overs Yolanda.

*

Thandiwe:

Goodie.

I can’t wait.

*

Sampa:

Cool. Be on time ladies.

Especially you Yolanda.

*

Me:

Fine…

*

I close my eyes and let the feel of his hands squeezing my bare ass linger on my mind.

“Hmmm.” I groan.

At this rate I won’t be able to finish reading my messages. I open my eyes and scroll through unread my message list.

*

Mr Forty:

Lady.

You are amazing. I swear you just blow my mind away

*

My body feels loved. His lips on my back, I do not know what the man is doing but it feels amazing. What is it about his tongue I wonder. His teeth graze the skin on my shoulder and I giggle, I imagine his lips breaking into a smile. Ohh this man….

*

Mr Forty:

If I had known you missed me that much that night I would have shown up everyday I let you keep me away.

I can’t stop thinking about you

*

I believe I am glowing. He is not done and I am glowing. I might glow for the next one week at this rate. His lips trail up my back to my neck, his hands following behind.

*

Mr Forty:

What is about you that makes me lose my mind?

I feel like a lost man without you.

What have you done to me?

Yolanda, you are the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

I want to see you tonight.

Dinner?

Drinks?

*

I smile.

“I swear you need to get off that phone.” His voice whispers.

His lips on my neck, I giggle in response. I feel his smile against my skin. I know it’s an attractive smile. He does not stop kissing my neck. I do not stop him. I want more. Just not yet…

So many messages to read….

“Get off that phone Yolanda.”

“But I have messages coming in. I have to read them. Right now.”

His hand reaches out and grabs my phone out of hands.

“Wait. Wait.” I laugh as I turn to face him, hoping the panic in my eyes isn’t evident.

“No. No. No.” He responds. “No phone for you.”

“Just wait a second….”

I breathe a sigh of relief when I notice the dark screen. Locked. He looks at me then the phone and shakes his head.

“Hiding something Ms Chipeta?” He asks.

“No Mr Jere.”

“Then you can read the messages in an hour.” He says and proceeds to place the phone on his side of bedside table, far from my reach. Now he has my attention.

“An hour huh?” I ask.

“I’m approximating.”

“That it’s gonna last that long? Too short don’t you think?” I ask, placing my hand over my exposed breast, feigning shock.

“Come here.” He says.

His hand snakes around my waist, pulls me to his side. He turns onto his side, his face close to mine. I take in his brown eyes, the thick eyebrows that seem to perfect to be on a man’s face, the square jaw, dark beard that frames the lips that gave my skin chills minutes ago.

“I am trying to make it up to you….” He laughs.

“It’s not like you had a choice last night when you showed up.” I cut him off.

“Uhhhh okay fine. Still making it up to you.”

“You showed up out of the blue. You knew you had me wondering.”

Out of the blue. That’s the right phrase. Masulani showed up looking all tired in his blue suit, leaning against my door with an unopened bottle of Blue Label in his hands as a peace offering. He got me on the bottle; and maybe with the apology that followed even though he didn’t explain why he did what he did.

“That’s not the point.” He whispers

“Then what is it?”

“I’m trying to make it up to you and you think that gadget is more important than this.”

He pulls me closer still, till my breasts meet his chest, my leg over his hip. His hand goes to my cheek, caressing it’s way to the back of neck. His eyes take every part of my face in. A smile breaks on his lips.

“You see if you had hair I would be pushing it off your face.” He whispers. “Don’t get me wrong, your cut is attractive. And I definitely need to meet your barber maybe.”

I laugh, “Well if you like hair, then I am sorry. This lady is never keeping it.” I respond.

“You are one sexy woman Yolanda.”

“I know.”

We keep silent, our eyes on each other, hunger is his eyes, maybe in mine. Hearts beating so fast. No words need to be said anymore. We both know where this is going.

And then he kisses me, all thoughts about incoming messages slip off the silk sheets and out of the bedroom.

**********

I smile as I place my phone on the table. I grab my mug of coffee, the scent of coffee hits my nose and I close my eyes. What I need every morning. Today will be….

“I will be home slightly late. I just hope the hospital won’t be as bad today.”

I open my eyes and look at Sangu over my coffee mug and shrug. For a man that comes home late and wakes up early he definitely looks as fresh as a man who had enough hours of sleep.

“It’s really been a mess…..” He continues.

Fresh enough to drag back to bed. I stare at his dark blue shirt and pants, is it necessary he dresses smartly to the hospital everyday I wonder. Is there someone else he’s trying to impress? Where are my thoughts leading me? He places his hands in his pockets and looks at me.

“What?” I ask

“Nothing. You are silent.”

“I am not silent. I heard you.”

“Okay. If you say so.”

Well this is awkward.

“I will call you.” He continues.

As if. He actually believes he will.

“Okay. Cool.”

“I will make sure I call you.” He continues.

I wish I could roll my eyes at his statement. Men and their fake promises.

“Hmm.” I respond as the hot coffee scalds my tongue.

I place my coffee mug on the table behind me as I scrape my teeth over the burnt area on my tongue.

“Are you okay?” He asks, closing the space between us.

“Yeah. I am fine.” I respond quickly.

“You sure?”

“Uh yeah. Oh I forgot to tell you, the ladies will be coming over today. In the afternoon anyway. For drinks. Guess we have things to catch up on.”

“Oh. Enjoy yourselves.” He responds.

“Was there something you wanted to do at home?” I ask. “Figured if you’re going to be working for most of the day then I can have them over.”

“No. No. No. It is okay. I will call to ask if you guys are done before I come home.”

“Okay.”

“If you’re not I might visit mum instead. She is super excited about the birthday party. Planning stuff. Might help her out.”

“Great. Have an amazing day then.”

“You too.”

We look at each other for a few seconds more and he turns around and walks out of the kitchen.

No kiss goodbye.

Not even a hug.

*********

“Gosh Mable. Surely you can’t gobble down a glass of wine as if it’s water.” I say loud enough for her to hear me.

Mable turns around and flashes me a wide smile. For a woman with marital issues she sure does know how to hide them. “All out” are the words I would use to describe Mable right now. The woman took my dress nice words to heart because the back revealing red lace dress she has on hugs her in the right places. Definitely angry. She turns around, giving me her exposed back as she continues to pour herself wine in her wine glass – still shocked she carried her own huge glass.

“I will drink to my husband’s mistakes. My foolishness and stupidity for trusting him.” She says.

“What if he is innocent?” I ask.

She turns around with a frown on her beautiful face as she thinks for her answer. Yes. What if her husband is innocent and she is busy punishing him for nothing?

“What if he’s not?” She asks.

“Is that the best you could up with as a response. Wow.” I respond.

“But to be honest what if he’s not?”

“I’ve told you this countless times Mable. That man loves you. To death. He adores you and the babies.”

“I know he loves his kids. They are his.” She says, rolling her eyes. “This is why we have so many bitter women out there in the world.”

“But Mable. Men suck at love, commitment and everything sugar and nice in this world. Literally.” I argue.

“It’s not supposed to be like that though. We are married. What if we got married too early? What if we are not meant to stay together?”

“After over nine years? Girl…. After all that time you guys realise this? Come on. I know you two are the real deal.”

Mable shakes her head, picks up her full glass of white wine from the kitchen table and smiles.

“I have definitely missed you.” She says to the glass.

I roll my eyes and walk towards her, grab the glass out of her hands before she takes a sip of the liquid. She pouts in my direction but makes no move to grab the glass back as I walk towards the sink.

“You are not drinking until you call that husband of yours and make it right.” I tell her. “He’s probably somewhere with the kids crying right now.”

“Chinyama does not cry hun.” She says as a matter of fact.

She gives me a smile and a wink.

“Gosh Mable. Get your head out of the gutter hun.” I laugh. “You need to talk to him either way.”

“But I can talk to him when I get home.” She argues.

“No. Do it now. Repair the damage now.”

“What damage? Why do I have to do it? Why can’t he call me and explain the situation himself? Why must I always work to save my marriage while he plays with it.”

“Because you are psycho.”

“But it’s his fault I am psycho.”

“Men will be men hun. Now go and call him. Please. I hate seeing you resort to alcohol as a means to happiness.”

She shakes her head and sighs.

“Fine. For you I will call him. By force. He better be thanking his lucky stars.”

“Aww I know you want to call him. Don’t be difficult about it.”

“I will call him. Right now.” She says uninterested.

“Awesome.”

I lift the glass of wine to my lips and take a sip of the chilled wine.

“I like this wine.” I tell her. “I will take this wine I think. And I will keep the glass. Thank you very much.”

She laughs as she reaches for her handbag and takes her phone out. Finally some progress. A door knock sounds and I blow Mable a kiss before heading out of the kitchen.

The other ladies are here.

Time for the fun to begin.

**********

I hear more voices fill up the silence in the house. The rest of the ladies are finally here. I need to be joining them instead of calling a man who doesn’t value the principle of marriage.

Even better, I could have been with Isaac.

Isaac.

I could have been with Isaac. I should have been with him. Gosh. I don’t even know if he will ever talk to me again. If he will ever want to. I don’t even know if he is okay. I hate Chinyama and the mess he wants to put me through. Even after dealing with it I am still facing it.

If I cut the line now then maybe I can still talk to him when I get home drunk and not in the mood for the excuses he has lined up. If I just…..

“Mable. Hello.”

Hearing his voice renders me speechless momentarily What am I supposed to say now? How are you? Where are you? Where is Cynthia? What? I should not have listened to Sampa and called the man.

“Mable.”

“Hi.” I respond.

“Hey.”

“Are the kids okay?”

Definitely not asking if he is okay. Probably will try and guilt trip me into feeling bad that I went over the top with my reaction.

“Yeah. They are great. We are at Kapalu’s.”

“Great.”

Silence. I should not have called him. Do I have make conversation now? Chinyama knows not try and make small talk in case I get angry. It’s always up to me. Pleading.

“What’s happening there?” I ask.

“Nothing. Just visiting. Figured you could use some rest and I will have the kids for the day.”

Rest. Rest being accepting that Cynthia called and moving on from it.

“The kids are having fun already. Don’t worry.”

How selfless.

“Thank you.”

“Are you okay?” He asks slowly.

I know he’s asking if we are okay. If everything is fine. If I have calmed down and forgiven him. Again.

“I am great. I am with my girls.”

“Oh. Okay.”

“Yeah.”

“How are they?”

“They are all great. Having lunch and drinks. Discussing what plagues women on this planet.”

He chuckles, he knows I’m being serious. Men are what’s wrong with women on this planet.

“Well enjoy yourselves. Have a blast.” He says.

“Thank you.”

“Should I wait up for you?”

The question hangs in the air for some seconds with me deciding what will be the best answer. Lie or not lie is the question and I know not which is my final decision.

“Mable are you there?”

“Yes.”

“Should I wait up for you?”

*********

“Oh my gosh… Are you finally showing Thandiwe?”

I roll my eyes at Sampa and sigh. This is pushing it now. Surely this shouldn’t be a big deal again.

“That’s exactly what I said when I saw her.” Yolanda says excitedly. “Her bun is growing.”

“Oh come on.” I argue.

“Look at you. Your ass looks big too.” Yolanda responds. “Even your breasts. Can I play with them. I’m jealous.”

She reaches out to grab them and I slap her hands away, she pulls away laughing.

“You are crazy.” I tell her.

“And you’re bigger.” She responds

“I swear she looks bigger than the last time I saw her. Especially around her waist area. Do you see it?” Sonia says pointing at my abdomen.

“Guys. I am not really showing. It’s not that bad.” I argue. “At least not yet.”

“Oh mama yes it is. You are showing. Finally.” Sampa says. “Though I swear I don’t know why you’re wearing jeans. It’s bad for you no?”

“You guys are bullies. I am perfectly fine. Calm down.” I respond.

“Yes you are.” Sampa squeals

She gives me a hug and a kiss before she proceeds to hug the others. Sampa is right. In fact they all are. Seems like I am already showing I am with child. I noticed it as well after much convincing and trying to push my tummy back in. James noticed it too and while he seems over the moon about the sight, I however am lost with the possibility of weight gain, flat breasts and stretch marks. I will look ugly.

“Did all of you drive here?” Sampa asks.

“No. James dropped me off.” I respond. “I swear it’s irritating.”

James’s excuse for dropping me off didn’t make sense to me. He didn’t want me driving alone. Plus with the thought of our “girly chill” ending late he didn’t want me driving at night alone. Protect the baby. Overly caring I think. This pregnancy will surely get me doing nothing in no time if James has his way. If bed rest was an option he would chain me to the bed.

“I drove alone.” Yolanda answers. “None of these friends wanted to pick me up.”

“I offered you said no.” Sonia responds.

“You were too early.” Yolanda pouts.

“You has a man over. That’s it.” Sonia laughs.

“Here.” I tell Sampa as I hand her my grocery bags. “Wine. And the other things I said I would get. Plus extras.”

“Awesome. You’re a darling Thandiwe. Who else has something for me?” Sampa asks.

The other ladies proceed to hand her a few more grocery bags.

“Great. Thank you guys.” Sampa responds. “I need to place this in the kitchen. You all know where the living room. Please head there.”

“Where is Sangu?” Sonia asks

“Working. Doctors never stop to rest.” Sampa answers.

“I don’t know about you guys but I need to start drinking right now.” Yolanda says aloud. “It’s time for me to start. Whiskey.”

“I will bring everything to the living room. No worries.” Sampa responds happily. “Make yourselves comfortable.”

“Where is Mable?” Sonia asks. “Didn’t see her car. Surely she can not be late for this.”

“You wish. She’s in the kitchen. On the phone.” Sampa starts. “Chinyama.”

“Ohhh, how is that going?” I ask. “She losing it yet?”

“Actually no. She’s in a better mood than I expected to be honest. She will be joining us as soon as she’s done.”

“Cool.” I respond.

“Head to the living room. I’ll find all of you there.”

Sampa walks away towards the kitchen while the rest of us head to the living room.

“Oooh this is ridiculously beautiful.” Yolanda screams ahead of me. “I swear I could so live this life.”

I roll my eyes.

********

If I had my way I would be in bed. Right now.

Getting kisses and everything else my body needs. I have to call him. Soon. Or should I wait for him to call me? I need to get him off my mind. This instant. My eyes meet Thandiwe’s and she sticks her tongue out at me.

“So, Than…di…we…. Now that we believe you are pregnant when are we finding out if you’re carrying a human baby or a machine?” I ask

“Yolanda…” Sonia chides.

Thandiwe looks at me, and the saying if looks could kill comes to mind. She can’t take a joke anymore. Gosh. I am grateful she is sitting across from me in the living room. Then again one never knows, Thandiwe might jump the glass table in the middle and grab my neck.

“What?” I ask. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m sorry.”

“Yolanda can you let Thandiwe be?” Sonia asks.

I laugh. She knows I mean well. And so does Thandiwe. Thandiwe actually looks amazing even though she’s probably squeezing the baby to death in her jeans. She’s probably still holding onto her clothes hoping she can still make the look work. Soon enough she will need a new wardrobe.

“Don’t listen to Yolanda. We are all happy you are showing love.” Sonia says to Thandiwe. “I can’t wait to see they little thing. So excited.”

Thandiwe smiles, at last.

“It’s scary though.” She says. “It’s a human being inside. Growing. Freaks me out. And to think I will going for my first ultrasound scan next week freaks me out guys.”

“Awwwww. So awesome. Life at its finest yes?” Sonia answers.

“You’re gonna be an awesome mother Thandiwe.” I tell her.

“Thank you.” She responds. “Plus I have all of you to help me out.”

Thandiwe’s eyes well up with tears. Oh my. She’s going to cry. Right here? Right now? What happened to the diva queen? Oh no. She sniffs and laughs.

“I am a mess.” She laughs. “Don’t mind the tears. They are happy tears.”

We laugh, I watch her wipe her tears away. It’s an overwhelming experience for her.

“Drinks for everybody!!”

Sampa walks into the living room, tray in her hands, glasses filled with liquid. Finally. Mable walks in behind her, glass of white wine in her hands.

“Hello ladies!!” Mable exclaims.

“Hey.” Sonia, Thandiwe and I answer.

“I missed you guys.” She says loudly.

Sampa places the tray on the glass table and quickly walks out of the living room. Mable sits down next to me, blowing me and the others a kiss. I move to the edge of the sofa and grab the nearest glass off the tray. Bingo. My drink. I take a sip and sigh in bliss. My day will be perfect.

“We missed you too mama. Are you okay?” Thandiwe asks. “Is all alright in the world of marital bliss.”

“I’m okay.” Mable responds.

“Chinyama? Is he alive?” I ask.

Mable laughs and looks at me. “Unfortunately he is. Ya’ll think I’m crazy.”

“You are crazy. You talked to him?” Sonia asks

“I have. I have. But gosh I’m so angry.” She responds. “I’m trying to understand it all. Wherever. It will be fine. He will explain this shit.”

“Poor man.” Thandiwe says. “Knowing you he is in for the shit of his life.”

“You’re supporting him?” Mable asks

“No. Never. I hate him too.” Thandiwe laughs.

We can never hate Chinyama. We can complain about him but we can never hate him. Mable and him have been through too much and we, as her friends respect him. He’s done a lot for Mable that most men would have to chosen to run away from. Granted Chinyama does some crazy things but we still love them both. Together. So I know for a fact Mable and him will make it through whatever is going on right now. I reach out and pat Mable’s shoulder.

“It will be okay. He will change by the whip.” I tell Mable.

“What are you guys talking about?” A breathless Sampa says as she walks in.

“Men. And their drama.” Mable responds.

She takes a gulp of her drink and rolls her eyes. Sampa places another tray on the table with bowls of crisps, corn puffs and salted nuts.

“You would think I deserve this nonsense. But I dont. What is it that I did wrong? My husband does not respect me or our marriage.” She says.

“Maybe he does. And Cynthia is just trying to make him think otherwise.” Sonia says.

“I hate them both. Having a mistress that never leaves. Sharing a man and all his attention.”

We all keep silent. Finally she lets it out.”

“I wish I could beat her up. Or him.” She continues.

“Men are trash.”Men are trash hun.” Sampa says. “I wholeheartedly agree with you. You know what’s worse? Being uncertain about a relationship. Look at my relationship. I have no idea where I stand anymore. I feel as feel I’m arguing with Sangu and yet we have had no fight since he came back.” Sampa says.

“Dude still acting up?” Sonia asks

“It’s worse. I don’t know whats going on with him. What if he’s cheating?” Sampa asks. “What if he has no idea as to how to break up with me? And I’m here praying we work. If he’s still thinking about the baby thing then maybe we need to break up.”

“It’s better than deciding if your man’s mother is worth the relationship or not.” Sonia responds.

“I swear I hope I never go through any of the problems you’re going through.” I start. “I feel sad for all of you. You deserve all the happiness in the world.”

Gosh they all have drama. Except Thandiwe. Either way the drama revolves around men. Men are difficult all the time and yet I have two men in my bed getting from them what I need.

“If I had a chance to relive my life I would probably be like you.” Mable tells me.

“Me?” I ask. “Like me? Sleeping with two bosses from the same company?”

Their shocked faces make me laugh.

“I swear Yolanda you always have the most drama among all of us.” Sampa says. “How do you sleep with two bosses? Which one is this one now? Is the old man still around?”

I smile at them. Their eyes look at me each of their face telling me they want to know more.

“The old man is still around.” I tell them. “Very much around. Pleasure for grabs.”

“He’s married.” Sonia says shocked.

“So. Men love the idea of having the wife and the mistress.” I say quickly. “But not yours Mable. He loves you too much. And not yours Thandiwe.”

Mable laughs. “Did you just talk about married men and leave mine out?”

“Yes I did.” I laugh.

“So who is the other man you’re sleeping with? A board member? Director?” Sampa asks.

“Well his name is Masulani. He’s like a hottie. Plus he’s my supervisor.”

“Eish Yolanda. You sleeping with your immediate boss?” Thandiwe asks.

My smile is an answer enough.

“What if you get caught?” Thandiwe asks. “Or what if the men find out. Men talk.”

“Well then it’s happened.” I respond.

“See, I wish I had her life. Fun all day.” Mable says. “I swear I need to face that stupid man and his Cynthia.”

“You can.” Yolanda says

“Don’t encourage her Yoli.” Thandiwe argues.

“Chinyama, Cynthia and my choice of whip.” Mable responds.

“You’re gonna beat him?” asks a shocked Sampa.

“Maybe.” Mable responds.

“She’s joking.” Sonia laughs as she looks at Sampa.

“Oh. Okay.” Sampa responds. “We never know with you Mable.”

We all look at her and she laughs.

“I’m a nice wife. You guys know I am. And I am different. Surely at this point in my life what’s the worst thing I can do? Follow her again? Throw him out or maybe cheat on him?”

“Oohhh find you a nice tough man to hold you and put you to bed.” I squeal.

Just like Masulani did last night when he showed up. Gosh.

“You’re right Yolanda.” Mable says. “I could cheat on him. Make him feel the way I did. Only fair.”

“Do it.” I urge her.

“Gosh Yolanda. You’re so bad for Mable. Period.” Sonia laughs. “Don’t do it Mable. You have kids remember. Stay with Chinyama for them.”

“Exactly. I agree with Sonia. You don’t need to destroy their lives.” Sampa adds.

“I will die a bitter woman.” Mable responds.

“A drunk bitter old woman.” I respond

And we laugh.

To be continued…….

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[bmyselfandi-blog]

mom

there was a time in my life where the hardest thing i was going through was a high school breakup. i thought the world was ending, that id never experience a worse heartbreak than that one. i got over it and went back to the guy a few times. it was on and off. that was the beginning of my junior year, around september. come april 21st i received the worst news i could have handled at the time. my mom was diagnosed with cancer. now she never really told us, well at least me, she never told me the stage of the cancer. but it was rectal. they tell you not to look up that kind of shit because it will scare you but me, i dont listen when told not to do something. now, i probably should have, it scared me what i found, but also gave me hope. it said curable. they said long life span. so, in my mind it was all going to be okay. my dad took it very hard. i poften found him crying alone, and i cried too. we all did. my mom was the type of person to help anyone in need, she was amazing, loving, wonderful, generous, warm, any fucking word to describe an angel, that was fucking her. still is. anyways fast forward about a year, end of my senior year. i start dating this new guy, hes amazing, he gave me the world. i couldnt have asked for a better man. stuck by my side through some fucked up shit that was my fault. we had our fights, like every couple. he did some things that i didnt like but i pushed past it because i loved him. thats what couples do right? well, not even a year later i spent less time with my family, more time with him and his. i regret that every day of my life. ill never forget the first day of my new job my dad made me cry because he told me my mom thought id rather spend time with my boyfriends mom than her. i balled my eyes out on my way to work. i never wanted to hurt my moms feelings like that. she couldnt do much, she was weak and it was getting harder for her to do everyday things. that was november. come march 25. it was a saturday. my mom was sitting in her spot on the couch and my dad was downstairs on the computer. i dont remember my sister being home. my mom asked me to look at her eyes and tell me what color the whites were, they were yellow. that meant jaundice. i told my dad, we told her she needed to go to the hospital. she said she didnt feel well and didnt want to go that day and if she wasnt feeling any better shed go the next day. i didnt think too much about it, this wouldnt be the first hospital trip that month or let alone that year. sunday; i went to my boyfriends to hangout and have dinner. after dinner my dad told and said they were going to the hospital. we then drove up to meet them. they took my mom in the back, i went back with her as did everyone else. the crazy thing is, is i dont remember all too much. i remember being back h=there, them asking her certain questions that made me sad, like if she was sad, depressed, thinking about dying. i brought her up some things when we went, i had this pair of ankle fuzzy sicks that i gave to her, she asked me to put them on her feet, i remember there being a hole in the big toe, she thought it was funny. it got later, they ended up admitting her but were trying to find a room. my dad had to work the next morning and i hadnt started my new job so i told him i would stay with her that night so she wasnt alone. they had a room in the pediatric ward so they sent us up. there were two cribs, a bed and a couple chairs in the room. i slept in the chair that turned into a bed. the nurses were very nice. we got some rest after being moved up there. it was very late, almost 4am. the next morning my uncle was up there and my dad came soon after as well. days went by, i started my new job, id go up as soon as i got off to go and see her. she got worse each day but we didnt think anything of it. turns out the tumor was actually starting to quickly crush her liver. she started not being able to talk well. they eventually put her on a heavy breathing treatment. she stopped talking and responding. my dad asked a timeline and the doctor said he didnt like to put timelines. i thought she would get better. they had my dad sign a DNR, we werent going to make her suffer if she didnt have to. it was selfish of us to want her to stay with how much pain i knew she was in. we had family up there always. april 4th. it was a wednesday. by now they had put my mom into hospice care, we had the option of bringing her home but we didnt want to make her uncomfortable by moving her. they gave us the whole room we were in. 315 bed B. we had people come and talk to us about urns and getting things like that. a hospice worker told us that their phone line was always available to talk on, whether it was a week later or a year later. i didnt have workbthat day. i went up to the hospital early. my moms cousin Colleen was there. my boyfriend came up as well. my dad my sister and her cousin kim came up as well. we hung out all day. i told colleen i probably wouldnt end up going to this festival i had in may because i wanted to be there everyday for my mom. colleen said that was almost 2 months away and that my mom may not be here by then. i didnt want to think about that. my mom would always be here right? that night me and my boyfriend ordered chinese. we were going to pick it up but they had delivery. we were also supposed to go to the store but we decided not to for some reason i dont remember. we ate our nasty chinese food. i got shrimp and lobster sauce, my moms favorite. we were all sitting aruond talking. my dad had ran home to let the dogs out since no one had been home in a while. anytime he would leave the room for anything longer than a half hour he would hug my mom and tell her to wait for him. he left. he got to the house. he let the dogs house. we were sitting there when my boyfriend looked over at my mom. her eyes were open. they hadnt been open in days. we instantly went over to her. her cousin got the nurse. me and my sister held her hand. i called my dad crying. all i could muster out was the word “hurry” and the pain in his voice when he said “okay” was enough to break anyones heart. the nurses knew. we all knew. i held my moms hand crying. my boyfriend rubbed my back. i told her i loved her. my sister told her she loved her. kim consoled her. we knew her fight was over. kim closed my moms eyes and like that she was gone. it was 10:15. we had to wait for a doctor to pronounce time of death. time of death was 10:25. my dad got there, tears in his eyes. we called family to tell them. his best friend was up in a heartbeat. his brother came up. i called my best friends. sarah and her boyfriend were up within minutes. my boyfriend held me. everyone cried. my dad hugged me and my sister so tight. the nurses were wonderful and sweet. it was probably 3 something in the morning when we left. i said my final goodbyes and told her i loved her. how could i just leave my mom in this room all alone? i couldnt handle it. i drove home with my boyfriend and let my dad drive alone. i dont know why i did that. i should have went with him. we got home and i couldnt tell you anything after that. i dont remember much about the days that followed. i know the next day we had to make phone calls to change things into our names and take my moms off. we received lots of “im so sorry for you loss”’s. it got sickening. we got flowers, cards, food. my boyfriends family was so helpful. i took that friday off of work and went back monday. got a lot of sorrys there too. her memorial was friday the 13th. i worked that morning. i shouldnt have but i had to go on like normal. how do you just go on like normal? how do you just up and live without your best friend, your fucking mother? she was supposed to be there through everything. she was supposed to live a long happy life with my dad. she was supposed to watch me get married and watch my have her grandchildren. she was supposed to be free of cancer and get better and live happy and healthy. she wasnt supposed to die. she should still fucking be here today. but shes not. months later, not even a year. my boyfriend and i broke up. just shy of a year since her passing, march 2nd. my friend and i had a run in with my ex. she flipped him off while we were driving. he followed us to the gas station and cussed us out. later that night he posted a story on his snapchat. black screen with the words “ your mother would be ashamed of you” written on it. directed towards me. how dare he say that shit. how could the same man that held me while i held my dying mothers hand say some dumb fucking shit like that to me? i dont quite get how he could ever in a million years say that shit. she was liuke amother to him. he was there through everything we dealt with, all the grieving, the sadness and depression in my house. but what bothers me is how a few months later we were getting back together. and how i could forgive him for saying that. i never did forgive him and i dont think i ever will. he said he posted it to hurt me because he was hurt. but how could he stoop that low. later on he brought her up again when he wanted me to stop smoking. “ how would mom feel” i tried kicking him out, ive never yelled at him before until that night, i got in his face and screamed not to talk about my dead mom. he didnt again. we stopped talking about a month later and havent talked since. he never understood what i was going through. what i am going through. i cry a lot. i miss my mom everyday. i think about her every hour of the day. my dad texts her almost every day. he posts on her facebook sometimes. i text her sometimes. i call too to see if someone new has her number. its still disconnected. i dont want someone new to have her number. thats her fucking number. no one elses. i still dont feel like this is all real and here its been a year and a half. christmas is coming up. her birthday is christmas eve. it was her favorite time of the year. we held the party at our house very year for anyone who wanted to come. it was always a full house. everyone loved my mom, she was an amazing person. a family friends words describing my mother to someone were “she had to adjust her halo when walking into a room” and thats always been true. even now, im sure she visits often. i wish so bad that she could be here, that she could see how everything is going. i miss her so fucking much and i just want my fucking mom back. i know everything in life would be okay if she was here. i know it would solve every problem me and my family have if she was just fucking here. she should be here. she should fucking be here right now. 

[comicteaparty]

June 29th, 2017 CTP Archive

The archive for the Comic Tea Party chat that occurred on June 29th, 2017, from 5PM - 7PM PST.  The chat focused on Chaotic Nation by Zyephen.

Featured Comment:

Chat:

RebelVampire

Good day everyone~! This week’s Comic Tea Party is now officially beginning. Today we are discussing Chaotic Nation by Zyephen~! (https://tapas.io/series/Chaotic-Nation) For those new to CTP, discussions about the comic are freeform, so please feel free to bring up whatever you wish. However, every 30 minutes I will be dropping in a discussion question to help those who would like a prompt. These questions are totally OPTIONAL to answer so pay them no mind if you wish~! Remember, constructive criticism is allowed, but the primary focus here is to have fun and appreciate the amazing comics that the community makes~! Each chat a top comment will be picked and featured on an ad for this chat, so let’s have a great discussion~! With that said, let us begin with this first question~!

QUESTION 1. What is your favorite scene in the comic so far and why?

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

i'm torn

Zyephen

will not be surprised if everyone picks the bath scene

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

looooooooooooool

IT WAS MY FIRST THOUGHT

Zyephen

lol

RebelVampire

i like to refer to it as the almost dicks scene cause that was the scene while evaluating rating made me the most nervous for the innocent eyes XD

Zyephen

LOL

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

I'm still reading...

:V

Zyephen

yes dat's fairly accurate

RebelVampire

thats ok you can insert thoughts as reading.

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

i also liked the scene where arei pretty much kicks taron's butt in front of everyone xD

Zyephen

poor Taron. Ego pains

RebelVampire

actually almost dicks scene was not my fave tho. i really liked the scene where Taron and Arei came to that burned down village and Taron found that girl in the well. I thought it was cute because up till this point taron had mostly been a rough around the edges sort of person. so i thought it was sweet and ironic he was the one who actually found a survivor.

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

oh yeah there was that too

RebelVampire

granted i also liked most of the fight scenes cause i think the magic effects look genuinely cool and exciting

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

yissssss

the fight scenes are really nicely drawn

Zyephen

That's nice to hear, cause i think fight scenes are my weakest point.

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

hmmm there seems to be many pages per episode... this is gonna take a while

RebelVampire

i believe in you mharz

throws all the belief

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

Sorry I was too busy yesterday. (edited)

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

i read it on the smackjeeves site lol

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

maybe I should switch

I only saw tapas link

RebelVampire

admittedly i think the fight scenes could work on clarity as far as the action goes, but i think overall aesthetically theyre nice to look at and exciting.

i think i pinned the smackjeeves mirror on this channel

Tenor

You did.

It's how I found it lol

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

this guy is totally presh

Tenor

HI LATE, don't have much to add to the question because I didn't get to read (weh busy) but I wanted to drop off that from a glance in the first chapter I especially liked the backgrounds being painted vaguely, yet detailed enough to give each panel a nice, fleshed world but it didn't pull at all from the attention on the main characters and I HOPE I CAN READ IT SOON <3

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

I kinda wish Areitus was a girl.... prefers fictional women over men

you know I like me some pretty girls

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

theres daya

she's a pretty girl

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

errrh

Zyephen

Bast is pretty

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

oh yeah bast is pretty too

Zyephen

pretty dangerous

RebelVampire

yeah bast is pretty hot

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

I'm still on chapter 1 so I don't know the character yet

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

they pick up a girl later thats also pretty cute too

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

gimme the smackjeeves links I'll read there

tapas is giving me a hard time with all the scrolling

RebelVampire

http://chaoticnation.smackjeeves.com/

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

rebel was faster thanb me

Zyephen

Yeah the art from chapter 1 to chapter 14 is pretty drastically improved

Been working on it for over 10 years

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

i noticed that

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

I don't think I can read this in one sitting

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

it was p cool seeing the art progress

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

D:

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

from chapter 1 to now

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

it's even longer than cali's volumes

Zyephen

4....28 pages i think

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

>A>

Zyephen

328*

RebelVampire

not really in total im pretty sure cali's is longer

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

yeaaaaaah

LOL

RebelVampire

but just read what you can

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

you did start in 2011 so for sure there will be tons of improvement

Zyephen

http://orig11.deviantart.net/4f72/f/2016/108/2/1/taron_dakimakura_by_zyephens_insanity-d9zeliv.jpg this is in my bed atm

lol

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

hubba hubba

RebelVampire

omg thats awesome

Zyephen

rofl

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

I dunno... It has more texts than cali's so I'm slower to read

OMG

RebelVampire

i do like how the art improved. particularly with the line work. i always like really polished linework

yeah it does have more text. thats the catch.

Zyephen

http://orig12.deviantart.net/f76f/f/2016/108/6/6/areitus_dakimakura_by_zyephens_insanity-d9z2u25.jpg the other side

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

areeeeeeeiiiiiiiiiiiiii

Zyephen

lol arei is your fave?

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

I'm gonna look for that pretty girl your saying

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

of the two, yeah

Zyephen

Daya comes in chapter 3, I think Bast in the end of chapter 4

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

toooo faaaaaaaaaarrrr

screms

RebelVampire

those are really beautiful dakimakura

Zyephen

thanks

RebelVampire

this reminds me that overall i really enjoy how everything took a turn for the worst really quickly for final ground. i thought it presented some really good extra conflict and was kind of a good twist since you usually dont expect things to go south so soon

mathtans

Hiyo. I'm late. Also only had a chance to read the first 3 books earlier this week. Also fights and stuff isn't really my preference, so I'm not sure how much my opinion counts for. I will say, I like the "human mage" concept.

zetina

I'm appreciating the existence of nipples. And nice muscles

mathtans

I wonder if there's really more to it.

Queen Brave Hikari of Memes

I couldn't read it, I'm still on chapter 1, but I must say I love the art, hot guys

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

i felt really sad for tisik how that fight went down too

Zyephen

Tisik always get the short stick

poor guy

mathtans

Possibly not even the short stick, if it's sold.

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

i wanna give him all the hugs

RebelVampire

ah tisik will be fine. just needs to be dusted off. told not to worry that everone he knows is dead.

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

loooooooool

Zyephen

shake it off it's just your only good eye

you're fine.

lol

RebelVampire

ah cali's doodles appear

Zyephen

Tisik still needs to show off his nipples

RebelVampire

QUESTION 2. Towards the beginning of the comic, Areitus ominously mentions that the Karian are up to something since humans are disappearing. Even more so, various scenes do depict the Karians hauling people away. What do you think the Karians are up to? What does this have to do (if anything) with the king’s inaction and the tense treaty with the Karians?

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

oh yeah

mathtans

Maybe they're making human mages, but one has now gone rogue on them!

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

i'm really interested on why they keep abducting people

omg

RebelVampire

random fact, wrote this question before i noticed there was a new page about this topic. and was like

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

keeps forgetting that this will be archived and our derp convo will be recorded forever

RebelVampire

to be fair discord saves the convo forever. so its archived in some sense already

mathtans

(My speculations will probably be off target since I've only read, like, 20%....)

Zyephen

You can never escape your own stupid shiet - zyeph 2017

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

sounds about right

RebelVampire

truer words have never been spoken

if they were making human mages i dont think theyd be surprised one exists

Zyephen

dat scene with naked Bast wearing all her jewelry, she was like - wtf human mage?

RebelVampire

but to be fair to the theory, maybe she just too low ranking O_O and only the highest of the highest know

tbh im waiting for a twist like theyre using the humans in some massive magical blood sacrifice

and the king is just a super fan of blood sacrifice rituals

Zyephen

I can't say anything lol

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

i was thinking either slavery or sacrifices too lol

RebelVampire

as you shouldnt. should just sit back and watch us wildly speculate

slavery seems the most likely but hence why i feel thats too simple

things feel more ominous then that

Zyephen

maniacal laughter

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

or they're eating them

gotta love bbq humans

Zyephen

dey got dos pointy teeth

RebelVampire

gotta use the pointy teeth for something

but if we assume the king is in on something then i think slavery still just too simple. its gotta be bigger. cause if they just wanted slaves i doubt they would need a treaty. could just defeat all humanity and say "well that was fun now we have our cattle humans."

mathtans

Didn't one of 'em say a particular human "bled too much"? If they wanted a blood sacrifice, seems like that would've been an advantage. Maybe they're used for target practice.

Like a Hunger Games kinda thing.

RebelVampire

omg that made me picture them tying to like a dart board and throwing knives at them just from how it was worded

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

I see nekkid ladies!!!

Zyephen

Vade probably likes the ones that bleed

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

ooops wrong emoji

Zyephen

lol

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

looool

mathtans

Well, dart board humans could be a thing too.

Zyephen

just hope Vade never runs into poor lil Hisu alone, cause he'd prob carve him up and serve him with taters.

RebelVampire

on a side note, i really love vade's design. particularly his tattoo things. idk why exactly but they just make me think "man, this is a cool guy....if not murderous"

idk Hisu so giant would be too big for one meal

Zyephen

LOl

he's like a giant puppy

RebelVampire

like youd at least have to invite the other generals

make a feast out of it

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

NOT THE CUTIE

zetina

tuning in to say that my first impression of Hisu is "they're adorable and i want to be their friend"

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

I like how Bast has a spine on her spine

RebelVampire

LOL

omg

Zyephen

she got the back bone

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

she couldnt remember where the spine would be

RebelVampire

i think Hisu is literally the most easily likeable

cause hes too adorable

cant hate

Zyephen

lol.... he has a horrible back story too

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

HE NEEDS HUGS TOO

Zyephen

but only hugs from boys

rofl

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

tisik or taron should hug him

/shot

RebelVampire

you mean...you mean his backstory isnt he was born from clouds and rainbows in a field of flowers?

Zyephen

well... maybe initially

but then shit hit the fan

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

imagines him riding unicorns

and accidentally squishes it cus he too big

Zyephen

it'd have to be like clydesdale unicorns

What characters are you guys most curious about their backstory?

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

I wanna boop his nose.

Zyephen

LOl

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

and pinch his cheeks

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

all of them

RebelVampire

everyone

O_O

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

looooooool

like

how taron and arei met

RebelVampire

uh if i had to pick..... sweats the choice is too hard

Zyephen

has a non-posted chapter about just that

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

and arei in general cus dat pic in the buried box

>A>

Zyephen

lol people were like - wtf his hair

RebelVampire

im sure it was instyle then O_O

Zyephen

maybe the chick liked to braid hair

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

I like the design on this one

Zyephen

my critters

RebelVampire

ah yeah i really thought the art on the creatures was really well done. like you really get a feel for what the texture is

and that these creatures are 2 spook

should probably run

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

yus

RebelVampire

or become a karian and learn to just implode things

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

would totes have one as a pet

name it fido

Zyephen

http://img11.deviantart.net/4a0f/i/2016/359/f/6/general_thiel_by_zyephens_insanity-dasu6ko.jpg yet to be introduced

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

have it eat my enemies

Zyephen

he's fun to draw

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

ooooooo

he looks awesome

O_O

RebelVampire

2 spook for me. mostly cause of the scorpion like tail. shivers and hides; mayhappen to live in the desert where scorpions are a literal house pest

rip whoever meets that

Zyephen

his mouth is on his stomach too

RebelVampire

ooh thats cool. O_O but still rip. can just imagine someone getting their arm stuck and ripped off

Zyephen

I'm currently writing his back story

he bites the top of a guy's head off.

fun

that will be fun to draw

RebelVampire

i bet itll look awesome cause i think the gore bits as it were are well done in general

Zyephen

I love drawing gore.. >>;

idk

RebelVampire

i finally picked. the characters whose background i most wanna know is actually kesthius and deviar

Zyephen

the bros!

RebelVampire

because im really curious about their relationship and why they so close. cause they do seem especially clingy in a way. always looking out for each other. which i really sweet. but also makes me hmm did something happen that they felt they had only each other

Feather, Duke of Comedic Timing

Sorry that I am late

So far I am enjoying the comic but didn't have time to read a lot

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

So i was weighing them down...

Feather, Duke of Comedic Timing

I only read the first two chapters

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

but I prefer Daya over Bast

Zyephen

only 12 more to go!

hah

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

buuuuut Stil prefer Arie as a girl

slaps self

Zyephen

lol well he's pretty like a girl?

Feather, Duke of Comedic Timing

I have to admit I am really enjoying the story so far. Seems like my type of reading but I will need to get back to it soon

Zyephen

Taron prob preffers him as a girl too

prefers*

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

no I prefer girls

and yuri

/shots

RebelVampire

mharz no. youve got to move on. accept the truth.

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

screms

D:

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

accept arei is lovely as a pretty boy >V>

RebelVampire

and thats ok feather a lot of ppl seem to have been busy this week tears

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

nuuuuuuu

Zyephen

lol well to each their own!

Feather, Duke of Comedic Timing

I appreciate all types of love in every single angle

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

gimme all the yuris

Feather, Duke of Comedic Timing

So I am hoping to get to know more about the mage and magic system

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

gimmie all the yaois

throws tables

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

Zyephen

My friend said she doesn't like that they have to say the spells aloud to cast

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

gimme kissy ladies

:V

RebelVampire

lol i have no qualms about them saying the spells aloud to cast. a lot of magic systems do.

Zyephen

I like it, idk

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

i don't mind it either

Feather, Duke of Comedic Timing

Yeah I personally would like to know more about the spell system so I guess I will need to read more

RebelVampire

i mean to be fair i do appreciate yours are pretty short incantations. cause that alleviates the tactical disadvantages of longer incantations

Queen Mharz of Buffers and Wings

Anyway, I'm gonna get breakfast so please enjoy yourselves... I'll be here crying while eating...

Feather, Duke of Comedic Timing

Points at Prompt and Perfection for yaoi yuri straight odd weird everything pairings

RebelVampire

cause rebel assess by tactical advantage apparently

pats mharz

QUESTION 3. Areitus is unique because he is a human mage, something that hasn’t existed for a very long time. Even more so, it is only the Karians who are truly adept at magic so far. How do you think Areitus came into his powers? Does the reason have something to do with the bigger conflict that is going on?

its the question for you mathtans

mathtans

If spells have to be said aloud, that's a way of preventing people from casting.

RebelVampire

O_O

zetina

mmm lovin' the cover for chapter 7

mathtans

Heh. Well, he had to learn it from someone, right?

Zyephen

one of my faves

Feather, Duke of Comedic Timing

I bet the wizards did it slapped

mathtans

Oooh, maybe he's a half breed?

Feather, Duke of Comedic Timing

Naw let's see what convulted theory I can do here

mathtans

Cosmetic surgery? Wait, that's not a thing... magic surgery?

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

i wondered about if he could be a half breed too lol

RebelVampire

i thought half breed but then was like "maybe thats too obvious"

Feather, Duke of Comedic Timing

So he went on a long journey to see a magic tree who sent him to see a magic whale who was like get in my belly to get magic and then shot him out of the blowhole all magical and shit

RebelVampire

i dont believe in occams razor for theories. O_O

Feather, Duke of Comedic Timing

I just like dumb theories

Zyephen

giggle

mathtans

Actually, if Karians can do magic, why don't they do it to try and blend in more? Like, spies?

Zyephen

how do you know that haven't done that already?

mathtans

I do not know. O.O

Zyephen

hehe

Feather, Duke of Comedic Timing

Anyways I will read more after exams

got to go now

RebelVampire

my wonder is more if the karians can just point and implode their cattle dragon monsters, why cant they point and just implode humans. or do they think thats not fun enough

good luck on exams feather~!

mathtans

Humans have souls! .... Random speculation!

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

human pinatas

Zyephen

Bast did one shot one of the soldiers in chapter 7 or 8... forget

zetina

So far, I'm really appreciating that there aren't any huge infodumps. All the lore so far has come up organically through dialogue and events. I know who the enemies are, I know magic isn't a human thing, I know there's a treaty etc etc. You can infer everything. No one chimed in to ask what the two leads' relationship is - so far I have been able to understand that Arei is teaching the other and is much more experienced. I imagine I'll find out even more like this as I go along.(edited)

mathtans

That's a good point.

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

and also seems like arei found taron when he was younger

too

judging by that one panel

zetina

Yeah! there was that brief one-panel flashback near the start

Zyephen

chapter 2

zetina

is Arei older than he looks? that's what i wonder now

RebelVampire

yes i do like how the lore is presented too. and i like its not all infodumped cause it does leave room for interesting speculation.

Zyephen

we did get that peek at the "buried treasure" as mercedes called it

Feather, Duke of Comedic Timing

Oh yes I agree with that

I love the writing it's good

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

he so magical that he keeps his young looks despite beinga thousand years old

Feather, Duke of Comedic Timing

Ahhh I need to stop looking back

RebelVampire

yeah cause when taron found that picture arei was like "that was another life" so what if arei is like some ancient immortal that existed before the cataclysm

since the lore does hint human mages existed before

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

OH

OH OH

HE'S THE AVATAR

Zyephen

LOL

RebelVampire

i just choked on my soda. i now conclude cali is behind everything

zetina

Another good example of what I brought up is the fact that no one explained how Karians are different. It's obviously the ears. So when Taron focuses on Bast's ears, you immediately get that he realized "what" she is. It's nothing, like, WHOA. It's basic visual storytelling or whatever but

hey most of us are amateurs and it's a good example

Zyephen

Sure he was looking at her ears, not her ass.

zetina

Arei has eyes that look kinda pupil-less or misty too. So he deff has this mythical feel to him like he's not quite human.

Zyephen

we'll go with that

RebelVampire

maybe he was looking at both

taron can multitask

Zyephen

XD

zetina

ofc what he saw first was the bod hence the and blush B)

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

"if only arei had that bod...."

shot

zetina

the ears were a disappointing realization

Zyephen

well... Taron's moral compass is just south of moral

lol

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

the bath scene made me think taron could have a lil crush on arei lol

zetina

Taron just wants to be cool and get tail but he forgot that you need social skills and charm to get tail and be cool :'(

Zyephen

X3 dat blush

RebelVampire

Taron just a grumpy bear. wants to be strong like big brother arei but is still so tiny.

Zyephen

http://orig02.deviantart.net/27db/f/2012/128/a/a/defeat_by_zyephens_insanity-d4yzmqa.jpg

X3

zetina

physically big but skill-wise tiny haha

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

BAES

RebelVampire

i was gonna say cute but they look half dead

so more babies no

zetina

i still say cute

because napping together while half dead is super cute

Zyephen

Aw Taron just needs to have the chance to shine! and not get tea-bagged by a dragon.

RebelVampire

i always feel a bit bad for taron cause i feel like he does have his moments of shine....just ya know, when no one is around to see

Zyephen

lol

RebelVampire

like saving mercedes. that was him doing good. but only arei was really around

Zyephen

http://orig15.deviantart.net/a9d2/f/2011/290/b/1/meeting_your_enemy_by_zyephens_insanity-d4d5ey6.jpg

zetina

Yeah! I dunno of the main draw is fighting but if so, I deff wanna see other characters show off their skills. Then when Arei does something really amazing, it'll be enhanced by how much better than those cool guys he is! Though I haven't caught up yet so..

RebelVampire

omg this is the best page

Zyephen

lol

zetina

THOSE FACES

Zyephen

Taron. such a tease

mathtans

Yeah, some of the side comedy is nice. Expressions help with that.

Zyephen

lol i liek doing stupid faces sometimes

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

HAHAHA TARON

zetina

i love that Taron gets to only shine out of public eye? he does shit to be seen so it's like karma or something. i just know that i like that whole trope where people underestimate a character cuz they haven't seen them at their best. and then it can pay off with Taron doing something amazing in front of everyone when he's matured a bit.

Zyephen

Bast like - hold on shoots him in the forhead ok, carry on.

Taron is the king of getting into trouble really

RebelVampire

of all the comedic moments this one is definitely my favorite

Zyephen

a cute behemoth

RebelVampire

taron's face is so perfect for the moment tho.

but also man is hisu tall.

Zyephen

I like the face he makes at the end of the shower scene

when he's like- are you being sarcastic?

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

hisu is like a gentle giant

Zyephen

Everyone's so mean to him too. poor guy

RebelVampire

haha that is a good face. relatedly, i also enjoy that taron got his petty revenge by having already looted the talisman

zetina

i want to sit on Hisu's shoulders

Zyephen

lol Hisu pony

http://orig02.deviantart.net/b164/f/2016/236/9/9/kiss_after_training_by_zyephens_insanity-daf70e8.jpg

have shameless kissy doodle

RebelVampire

i like how you call it a doodle but its still pretty clean. XD

at least...tisik is blind atm and doesnt have to witness this

Zyephen

wel.... it's not done, it's a doodle

Tisik like- THERE'S ONLY ROOM IN THIS ARMY FOR ONE GAY MAN! AND THE SPOT IF FILLED!

is*

Hisu - points at self quizzically

RebelVampire

LOL

i can only picture him screaming that during where the comic is currently at

since thats the most inappropriate time for that

Zyephen

LOL screams at the lake cause he's blind

RebelVampire

everyone just sitting by, looking at him with remorse as they wonder what the lake ever did to him

QUESTION 4. The comic often mentions a cataclysm that resulted in the characters’ current world. There are hints throughout that the world had advanced technology before this cataclysm, most prominently alluded to by the car Hisu was fixing. What do you think this cataclysm was? Do you think this leftover technology will ever play a part in the story?

Deity Cali of Speed and Dis Pear

i forgot about the car being a thing

loooool

RebelVampire

i wanted him to fix it so they could have a fun road trip through the countryside :"D

Zyephen

Well I guess Hisu's car got burned with the rest of the castle.

ff15cough

mathtans

Hmmm. Natural event? Or manmade?

RebelVampire

omg cannot unsee ff15 now.

that is the question

granted i usually assume manmade

cause bad humans

mathtans

Perhaps it was the discovery of magic. Which got the attention of the Karians.

RebelVampire

except the description on tap says "Karians were first born during the cataclysm."

which if thats still accurate

Zyephen

yup that's accurate

RebelVampire

so maybe it couldve been the discovery of magic but maybe that discovery led to the creation of the karian cause human bodies too fragile for magic

mathtans

Oh yeah. Hmmmm. Well, could still discover magic and that causes babies to change?

Or that.

Or maybe just everyone's cell phone died at once and people lost it.

They tried to genetically engineer people with built in wifi.

RebelVampire

well to be fair if there was a really bad solar flare itd take out the entire world's power grid. and thats not a good thing

Zyephen

I have no cell service!!! scene from the kingsman movie ensues

mathtans

That's true.

RebelVampire

thatd be a sad cataclysm. as like hisu finds a cell phone and everyone is like "hiss that was the cause of the cataclysm"

Zyephen

lol

hisu- I'm gonna fix it

mathtans

Makes the thumb/index symbol for 'call me'.

RebelVampire

LOL

Zyephen

haha

mathtans

(Oh wait, thumb pinkie... you know what I mean...)

Zyephen

http://orig15.deviantart.net/1134/f/2017/179/1/b/chaotic_nation_ch14_pg05_by_zyephens_insanity-dbeedpa.jpg how bout dis new page. new character

human character =x

RebelVampire

LOL i was just looking at that page and thinking man this is the most interesting page to suddenly appear

i really like general kaash's design

like he looks like a badass

Zyephen

I just redesigned him recently. Pretty happy with him.

mathtans

Curious, how much is scripted in advance?

Zyephen

I have a rough plot with just like bullet points

but i write out the chapter's dialogue before i do it

mathtans

Makes sense.

Zyephen

I have 9 arcs planned

currently on arc 2...

mathtans

Wowwww. I admire the ambition.

Zyephen

lol

when I'm 70 It should be done

lol

RebelVampire

ah good. id hate the story to end so soon since it does feel like its getting really good. and also cause theres so much character development potential. and so many questions

like i really wanna know about the king

and why he sucks at kinging

Zyephen

lol it'll be obvious in a few pages

since he's about to come in

mathtans

He's a midget.

Zyephen

lol

RebelVampire

to hisu everyone is a midget

zetina

king comes in late with starbucks "hey hi where's some peasants i can step on and ignore"

Zyephen

tyron lanester?

tyrion*

RebelVampire

if tyrion was king i might side with him

Zyephen

lol for sho

RebelVampire

and just be like "ah man the peasants are having problems? thats umm...unfortunate. plz say something witty to aleive the situation."

mathtans

Could the king be married to a Karian or something?

zetina

SCANDALOUS

RebelVampire

of the possibilities i ran through my head never considered that one

cause itd make sense why there was suddenly a treaty or if it was part of the treaty agreement

mathtans

"Meet my waifu, she does all the governing stuff."

(Or he. Not to judge.)

Zyephen

the king just goes and plays golf

maybe he's married to vade

rofl

RebelVampire

HAHA

thats why theyre like "sure come on in vade"

zetina

agh it's almost 5am and i'm dyin of hunger. im going to bed <'D made it to chapter 11 tho. i wasn't sure on the story at first, but Arei and Taron have grown on me so I'm looking forward to learn more about them in the future. As well as learning more about the actual conflict and its history.

Zyephen

thanks for reading

zetina

thanks for making the story =v=

RebelVampire

thank you for coming zetina~!

Zyephen

^-^

RebelVampire

my semi-joke theory is that the king is a minor. and the karians were like "well give you these cool toys if you give us humans"

so king was like sure thats awesome

whoo toys

Zyephen

haha

mathtans

King plays video games all day. He has the only working electronics.

Zyephen

or maybe he's a teenager and they gave him hot ladies

they're liek we'll give you this whore house if you just sit back and chill

king's like- k

RebelVampire

ah man taron, go usurp the king. then you can get the hot ladies and be set for life.

Zyephen

lol

there's gonig to be a brothel in this chapter

should be fun

mathtans

For who?

Zyephen

that's the question

RebelVampire

clearly its for hisu

Zyephen

Hisu would be like... the whore

lol

RebelVampire

HAHA

at least hed be a popular whore. with so many adorable faces

mathtans

"You want me to what?"

Zyephen

Taron comes in and hisu is like, my body is ready. and Taron is like fck. this is not what i paid for.

RebelVampire

and arei is outside just shaking his head in shame at taron.

Zyephen

arei like- am i not enough?!

RebelVampire

arei just needs to put on something sexy

problem solved

Zyephen

lol banana hammock

mathtans

A peeling.

RebelVampire

Unfortunately, the scheduled Comic Tea Party is now complete~! Thank you everyone so much for joining this week’s chat~! That being said, if you would like to continue discussing the comic, we encourage you to do so~! We want to give a big thank you to Zyephen, as well, for volunteering Chaotic Nation for our reading queue. If you liked the comic, please be sure to support Zyephen’s efforts. If you have questions, concerns, or suggestions about CTP, please feel free to PM me, or e-mail me at rebelvampire@startfaire.com.

With that said, next week’s Comic Tea Party will focus on Oops Comic Adventure by Cyndi Foster and Jeramy Hobz. Please use this week to read as much of the comic as you would like. Hope to see you next Thursday (July 6th) from 5PM to 7PM PST~! Until then~! Comic: https://tapas.io/series/Oops-Comic-Adventure-3