#looking forward to seeing the new kc content

[endlessly-cursed]

fankids appreciation week 23: co-parent appreciation

ottilie enfield, daughter of odessa avery ( @cursed-herbalist ) & kit enfield ( @potionboy3 )

grace of alderly, daughter of cora hastings ( @camillejeaneshphm ) & henry of alderly ( @gaygryffindorgal )

cleo hexley, daughter of jacob hexley ( @the-al-chemist )

emmeline & lucy devlin, daughters of josie edwards ( @slytherindisaster ) & william devlin ( @unfortunate-arrow )

wilhemina stagg, daughter of siobhan llewellyn ( @kc-and-co ) & galen stagg ( @cursebreakerfarrier )

caitlin doherty, daughter of mathilde coventry & lachlann doherty ( @hphmmatthewluther )

reva amari, daughter of lizzie jameson ( @lifeofkaze ) & orion amari

Less: It seems like yesterday when we started talking and you posted Abe & Oscar's profiles and I remember being one of the first to interact with, and ever since you've been such a kind and patient friend and I see you now as some sort of big sister, deal with it 🫶🏻 thank you for deciding to join our little community, because your presence is just what we needed ❤

Annie: It's not a secret that I was at first intimidated when I started following you: you had such compelling characters and cool af videos and here I was, a little guy! But I am so thamkful of having talked to you through Sara and convinced Gryff for you to join our chat, even though you're not there anymore. I treasure our friendship and you and Gryff are now my oldest sisters 🫶🏻 Gryffie wedding when!!!

Gryff: I was intimidated by you too ajhsjssj. You had such cool gifs and content and interesting characters, and I had just started into the OC x OC world, but being your friend during these past years has been a true boon, and I hope to have gained an oldest sister who I can count on and have either a laugh or a very deep conversation. Te quiero, hermana 🫶🏻

Persie: Who would've thought I'd grow to love you so much and become such a close friend? To me, you're the little sister I've always dreamt of having. We can go from making fun of each other, to argue and then proceed to simp for our ocs and blorbos. Thank you for being an awesome friend and being there for me when I needed it ❤ J'et aime, cherie

Al: I've always looked up to you as a writer and a person, and despite being a bit intimidated by you as well, you have turned out to be a great advisor and inspiration for me! Also, you're officially the adventurous wine aunt 🫶🏻 I hope we can do something ourselves in the near future (i'm not exaggerating when I say it'd be a dream come true 🫶🏻)

Lily: Though, because of irl stuff, we haven't interacted much, you were always a great and supportive friend and I constantly feel inspired by you, not to mention that I found a fellow Choicenator here! (even tho chonces is now a dumpster fire but it's ours) and I always remember you fondly 🥺🫶🏻 love uuuu

Arrow: You gave me the impression of someone who was stoic, but once I got to know you through our two ships, getting to know your passionate side, your humour and your wicked wit has been a delight and I look forward to see what you're up to and start writing Aderva's story and get to share it with you 🤎

Kate: We have interacted little (I'm socially awkward and crap at managing friendships :c) I'm constantly in awe with your writing and creativity, and I always learn something new about you and from you, and it is such a privilege 🫶🏻

Sky: You were one of the first people to approach me, and getting to know you through our ships and the chat has been a privilege. You were responsible of me joining the fandom and I'm always in awe with your creativity and how passionate and intelligent you are, and I hope we can get up to more shenanigans together, even if lately we haven't been good at catching up 🫶🏻 you will always have a special place in my heart for showing me the best community ever 🥰

Guzma: You have been the surprise of the year! Getting to know you, talk to you through vc and creating our own verse in the founders era and our 2 am chats have been the highlight of my 2022-2023 and I look forward to getting up to more mischief with you 🫶🏻

Kaze: I think you're the one user I was most intimidated by 😅 you are such a big and respected blog, for a while I didn't have the courage to talk to you, but finding out how sweet, friendly and fun you are has been such a privilege! Like with many others, I'm always learning from you, as well as giving me inspo and motivation to better my writing and as a person 🥰 I look forward sharing something with you! I know I'll have a blast 🥳

Honourable mentions:

@cursedvaultss Alys: You're still new here, but show much promise to our little family! You're so sweet and creative, and I know that soon you'll get far here 🫶🏻 looking forward seeing what you'll do!

@nicos-oc-hell Nico: At first I was unsure of how to proceed with you, but finding out how many things in common we have and your killer sense of humour have been a great surprise! I am always laughing or smiling when I talk to you, and I feel very safe with you 🫶🏻

@mjs-oc-corner Mo: At first I was a bit afraid of talking to you, but you've proven to be funny, badass, super sweet and one of the greatest friends I've got here and, despite having little interactions, I treasure them all just like I treasure you ❤ love uuu hermanita 🥰

@that-scouse-wizard JD: Tbh, I was even more scared of talking to you (I struggle to talk to men in general ksjdjsmaks) but these past months you've been the funniest, sweetest and one of my best surprises this year, and Flossie and Frediette have my entire heart 🫶🏻

@kathrynalicemc Lari: Last but not least, you're probably one of the closest friend here, and talking to you makes my day. You've become very special to me and getting to share stories and shenanigans with you is always a boon to me ❤ thank you for being the absolute best and so you know, te quiero muchisisisisímo, mi mas querida hermana 😘

[nakamuso]

HAKOZUME: Police Box Girls Strike Back" - Thank God Kenkova was there!

HAKOZUME Part I is complete! The first part of "Hakozume: Police Box Girls Strike Back" is now complete. At the end of this issue, there is an announcement that the final 23rd volume will include a special drawing of a later story. Since the author said, "See you again in Part II," it seems that the story is scheduled to continue. Still, it was so abrupt that I can only feel really sorry and sad.

reference：amazon Hakozume - Police Box Girl Strikes Back - 1 - Morning - KC - 3 URL:https://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%83%8F%E3%82%B3%E3%83%85%E3%83%A1-%E4%BA%A4%E7%95%AA%E5%A5%B3%E5%AD%90%E3%81%AE%E9%80%86%E8%A5%B2-1-%E3%83%A2%E3%83%BC%E3%83%8B%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B0-KC-%E4%B8%89%E5%AD%90/dp/4065113229

I prefer the one that appeared in the ↑first issue to the renewal cover. When I read Hakodume for the first time, volume 3 was already out. I was hooked by the light tempo and sensible gags, and I think I've read volumes 1-3 over and over 20 times so far. It was just the right content to reread in my spare time. I was thankful that it was a weekly serialization and that the author, Taizoko, had a fast writing style, so that a new issue would come out every couple of months. I have written several articles on hakozume on the da Vinci Web site.

Drug dogs are more powerful than their bosses! The reality of policemen" as revealed in "Hakozume: Policewoman Strikes Back.

What does the title really mean? The story moves in volume 10 of "Hakozume: Policewoman Strikes Back! A review of 5 mysteries and foreshadowing!

Many people have become addicted to the police manga "Hakozume! The police manga "Hakozume" has been adapted into a drama starring Erika Toda and Meiku Nagano! I've taken the liberty of making a big prediction about the highlights!

I checked and found that I had written about it three times.

It was already a popular manga, but I decided to write about it for the sake of further propagation!　I wrote about it three times. But even without my proselytizing, it became a very popular manga that was dramatized and even made into an anime. It was at that time that I heard that comedian Kenkova was also involved in the manga. I learned that comedian Kenkova was also a Hakodume fan.

I think it was when Hakodume won the "Man-do Kobayashi-Manga Grand Prize" on his TV show "Man-do Kobayashi-Kenkoba. I thought to myself, "Kenkoba, you know what you are doing.

Later, when Ametalk's Manga Lover Comedian was to be aired, I was praying for Kenkoba when I found out he would be on the show. I thought, "Kenkova will do it, Kenkova will do it. My wish came true, and I was very happy when Kenkova introduced Hakodume as a recommended manga. I have nothing to do with the production side.

I'm just glad Kenkova was there. I heard that Taizoko's new series will start in October, and I wonder if it will be a relief for me from my Hakodume-suffering. I feel like I'd rather she draw Hakodume than this. In any case, I will of course read the new serial and will continue to support Yasumiko-sensei. I wrote this briefly, but my love for Hakodume is not really like this.

Golden Kamui is over, Hakodume is over, and my Thursday fun is gone in quick succession. What can I look forward to in the future? I thought to myself, "But then again, Kenkova is the one I can count on at times like this. I think Kenkova's taste in manga is very similar to my own, so I would like to read the manga he recommends. I will also sign up for the Niketsu viewing next time.

[klarosummerbingo]

Klarosummer Bingo Event

Hey Klaroliners!!!

We’ve started our Klarosummer Bingo Event for the month of July!

Many of you already have requested your bingo cards and we can’t wait to see your creations!

For those of you who haven’t reached out yet, the bingo cards will feature prompts with summertime themes — please contact us @klarosummerbingo​ for your card!

FAQs:

If a prompt has a quote, please use that quote within the item you create for that prompt.

One prompt per creation (i.e., please don’t combine several prompts into one drabble, aesthetic, etc.)

Feel free to add new content to your existing work! We’ve grown VERY attached to SO many of the ongoing and completed projects out there and would LOVE to see you get inspired to create more!

You can request a bingo card from this blog — just send an ask or message @klarosummerbingo​. The event runs July 1st through July 31st, 2021.

Be sure to follow this blog so you won’t miss out on the fabulous KC content!

Traditional bingo rules apply (five squares in a row or five squares diagonally earns a bingo.)

Within the first few tags, please tag your creations as #klarosummerbingo and tag us within your post @klarosummerbingo​. You also can send us a link to your post so we can reblog. (Please let us know if we missed your post — we want to celebrate everyone’s work!!!)  

Please post your creations anytime between July 1st and July 31st, 2021.

Once you’ve completed a full bingo card, you can request another one.

[lifeofkaze]

A Very Hexley Birthday

A/N: Seeing all those beautiful edits on my dash for the birthday of my favourite twins in the Potterverse (I said what I said), I knew I couldn't possibly do any better. So instead, let's have a look what Ethel and Jim are up to on their birthday, shall we?

This is for you, Bestie! @the-al-chemist

Happy Birthday, Jim and Ethel! 💛❤️

Naturally, Ethel and Jim Hexley and Héloïse Perrault belong to my favourite person in this world @the-al-chemist. The attending guests belong to @slytherindisaster (Lysander Mercury), @kc-and-oc (Siobhan Llewellyn, Bradford Pendleton, Oliver and Eliot Gerard, Ivy Anders), @hogwartsmysteryho (Vinny Raymond), @that-scouse-wizard (Cledwyn Ironwood), @cursebreakerfarrier (Galen Stagg), and @unfortunate-arrow (Anthony Rosen).

Even though the golden arrows of the September sun were showing themselves on the enchanted ceiling in the Great Hall of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Jeremiah Hexley was in a rather glum mood when he reached for the huge bowl of porridge at the Hufflepuff House table.

It was just out of his reach and his fingertips only grazed the rim; he simply would have needed to stand up to get it, but that would only draw attention to the tall, lankish boy, which was something he generally tried to avoid, but especially so today. So Jim sat straight again and reached for a slice of toast instead.

“I wish you the finest of mornings,” he heard a voice call out to him, “isn’t it a wonderful day outside? You should have seen the colours of the sunrise; no one can paint anything as beautiful as that.”

The voice belonged to Lysander Mercury, another Hufflepuff boy from his year, and undoubtedly Jim’s best friend. He had a spring in his step as he walked up to Jim, and his thumbs were hooked under the straps of his suspenders; he hadn’t bothered putting the black jumper of their school uniform over them yet.

He sat down opposite Jim with a graceful motion, grabbing the porridge bowl in the same instance and pushing it over to Jim. Giving Lysander a grateful look, Jim helped himself to a healthy portion and drizzled a teaspoon full of dark golden honey on top, just the way he liked it. But even the prospect of his favourite breakfast wasn’t enough to lighten Jim’s mood, and it wasn’t lost on Lysander.

“Why such a long face, old fellow?” he grinned, and his stress on the word ‘old’ wasn’t lost on Jim, quite the contrary. “It’s not a day to be brooding!”

Jim opened his mouth to explain himself, but was interrupted by the sound of quick footsteps approaching from behind him; a moment later two pairs of arms were flung around his neck and Jim almost knocked over his bowl of porridge in his attempt to not be thrown off the bench.

“Happy Birthday, Jim!” two girls shouted into his ears in perfect unison, of course they did. The sound of their excitement cut through Jim’s eardrums and he winced as he pushed them away.

“Uhm, thank you,” he muttered, “Happy Birthday to you as well,” he said in the direction of the smaller of the two.

Ethel Hexley, his twin sister and complete opposite and in every aspect imaginable, grinned and clapped Jim on his back so hard he almost lurched forward. “Thanks, kiddo. One more year of making sure my little brother has at least some fun in his life.”

“Like a proper big sister should,” her best friend Selene Fraser added with a knowing nod. Not even the Sorting Hat had been able to separate these two, and sometimes Jim wondered who out of them three actually were the twin siblings.

“But, er, you know Effy’s only older by a few minutes... so she isn’t really my big sister, if you want to put it that way…”

Jim trailed off when he saw something whisk past him into the direction of the porridge bowl. Before he had the chance to dive straight into it though, Lysander had already gotten hold of the brown and white ferret Ethel and Selene shared custody of; Alan’s nose twitched as Lysander held him out to Ethel.

“Take your ferret back, Hexley,” he said, “I’d say you two are looking like the actual twins here, but seeing as it’s unfortunately your birthday as well, I’ll let it pass. Consider this my present.”

“Seeing as Alan definitely is the best looking guy I’ve spoken to today, I’ll take that as a compliment, Mercury,” Ethel immediately shot back, with that unmistakable glint in her eyes that Jim knew promised nothing but bother, very wordy bother.

Lysander had already leaned slightly forward as well, his eyes fixed on Jim’s twin sister, ready for their morning round of bickering and Jim sighed.

“Could you two, uhm… maybe, just maybe… perhaps stop it? Just for today?”

“Leave him, Effy, he’s not worth it. Not a match for you anyway,” Selene muttered to her best friend; Jim gave her a grateful look.

“True, Sels, I won’t have my birthday spoiled by a wanna-be artist in suspenders,” Ethel said indignantly, and Lysander opened his mouth in protest. Selene elbowed Ethel into the side, before setting Alan onto her shoulder and linking arms with her, quickly pulling her away before things would escalate. Again.

Selene turned around after a few steps and called over her shoulder. “Come to the Quidditch pitch after classes, Jim, will you? We have a little surprise for you!”

*

Throughout the whole day, Jim wasn’t sure what made him more uncomfortable: all the attention he got because it was his birthday, or the prospect of a surprise set up for him by Ethel and Selene. The sheer idea of everything these two could have been planning was enough to upset Jim’s stomach and he couldn’t even enjoy his favourite roast beef for lunch.

When their last class of the day was over, Jim reluctantly made his may over to the Quidditch pitch, as he had been told to. He had wanted to ask Lysander to come, but then again, bringing Ethel and Lysander into the same space was too much for him today; or any day, to be precise.

As soon as he stepped through the opening in the wooden perimeter of the pitch, he raised his eyebrows in surprise. Ethel and Selene had laid out several red and white chequered picnic blankets in the middle of the immaculate green lawn, just like the ones their parents had at home. He could see baskets full of sandwiches, little cakes, fruit and cheese on every single one of them, alongside countless jugs of pumpkin juice.

Naturally, Ethel and Selene were standing in the midst of the people already gathered there, laughing and joking and having a wonderful time, and Jim’s heart sank a little. He saw many familiar faces; he saw Siobhan Llewellyn and her best friend Galen Stagg, who were feeding slices of roast beef to a very content looking Alan; he saw Oliver Gerard who was laughing with Ethel about a lively story she was telling; he had brought his brother, Eliot, a Ravenclaw boy Jim didn’t really know, and who was looking very comfortable talking to Selene, who was standing next to Ivy Anders and Vinny Raymond were sharing some cake; he could even spy the eternally grumpy Cledwyn Ironwood, who never got tired of proclaiming he wasn’t Ethel’s friend but, just like Jim, had obviously stood no chance in declining the invitation.

All of these people were there, but all of them were Ethel’s friends, not his. Jim sighed; he knew Ethel and Selene had meant well, but they just didn’t understand him, they never really did.

“I ‘ope we aren’t late, non?”

Upon hearing the familiar French accent, Jim’s heart skipped a beat before beating doubly as fast as before. He turned around and his eyes went wide when he saw the group of people who had quietly come up behind him.

“Bon anniversaire, Jim!” Héloïse swept in and quickly kissed him on both cheeks in close succession, before pushing an immaculately wrapped gift into his hands, the edges of the paper sharp and the bow perfectly tied. Jim tried to thank her but his words came out as a horrible stutter and he felt the heat rise to his face; it felt particularly warm where Héloïse had kissed him.

Next up came his dear friend Bradford, who shared his enthusiasm for painting; he extended his hand to Jim to wish him a happy birthday as well, and the gift he was handing over to him felt suspiciously like the elaborate sketchbook Jim had seen on his last trip to Hogsmeade.

His roommate Anthony was there, too, as always accompanied by his wolfhound Conall. Jim bent down to pet the animal and scratch his ears. He had to smile when he saw how enthusiastic Conall was at the prospect of all the attention; at least one of them was, then.

Even Lysander had been invited, or had in any case decided to show up; you never knew with Ethel and him. But whether he had actually been asked to be here or not, Jim was glad to see him.

By Brady’s side, more quiet than the rest, stood Brady’s friend - or at least that’s what they claimed to be - Carolyn Nyberg. Jim was surprised to see her here; he and Carolyn didn’t really have anything in common but Brady, but then again, they were seldomly seen without each other these days. She inclined her head and quietly congratulated him.

The question as to why Carolyn had come, though, was quickly answered when Ethel spotted the new arrivals and bounded over to them. “It’s so good you came! I’m so happy all of you could make it to our birthday picnic. Most of you, that is,” she said with a pointed look in Lysander’s direction, but before he could shoot back, her attention had already shifted to Carolyn.

“Did you manage to make what we talked about?”

Jim could see Carolyn was trying hard not to roll her eyes. “Please, who do you take me for? That was a child’s play.”

Brady gave her a pointed look. “Be nice, Caro, it’s their birthday.”

She sighed, but her face softened and she reached into the hidden pocket in her dress, producing a small, stoppered vial with purple liquid inside. She weighed it in her hands, looking at the mugs of pumpkin juice on the picnic blankets. “I’d say six drops per mug should be sufficient.” She moved the vial out of Ethel’s reach when she extended her hand towards it. “Not one drop more, you hear me?”

“Loud and clear.”

Jim’s apprehension about Ethel putting a potion into their drinks soon vanished when he saw what it was that Carolyn had brewed on his sister’s request. After drinking from the modified juice, everyone of their guests had a distinct spring to their step that made them jump a little every time they moved. He remembered how much fun Ethel and Selene had had when they had turned the floor of the courtyard elastic with the Spongify charm; it had gotten them three weeks worth of detention and a passion for jumping as high as they possibly could.

Not being particularly keen on moving around like a bouncing ball, Jim had only taken the tiniest sip of pumpkin juice when Ethel had offered it to him; it was enough to give his step a tolerable spring, but not enough to make him bounce like the others, and that was just the way Jim preferred it to be.

Jim usually didn’t feel comfortable among so many people, but he had to give Ethel that, even he was enjoying himself. He watched Héloïse and Selene sharing excited whispers about the latest story of the Muggle detective they were so keen about, while Brady was bickering with Siobhan over one thing or the other, and Lysander was busy trying to place Alan on top of Carolyn’s head, who told him very sternly to stop it if he didn’t want a swig of Veritaserum served with his next meal.

Happy that his and Ethel’s friends seemed to be having a good time, Jim sat down on one of the blankets, partly because he wanted to eat something, and partly because he needed a step back from the hustle and bustle.

It wasn’t long, however, before Ethel spotted him. She walked over to him, jumping into the air with each step, and slumped down onto the blanket beside him.

“Aren’t you enjoying yourself?” she wanted to know. For a very brief moment, concern flickered over her freckled face. “Because I did my very best to make this fun for both of us. Look, I even invited that horrible friend of yours,” she said and pulled a face in Lysander’s direction; he stuck his tongue out at her in response before turning away.

“No, uhm, I just needed a short break,” Jim answered and set down his plate. “You, er… you did a great job, Effy, you know? I’m having fun, I think… It’s a lovely birthday party, really… so thank you. I, uhm, I didn’t expect this, to be honest.”

“But why?” Ethel asked; she looked truly baffled at his words.

“We’re just so… uhm, how do I say it… we’re just so different, you and I. I’m quiet and, er, shy, I guess and you’re so… loud and popular and we’re just not much alike.”

Ethel dipped her head back and laughed loudly. “I’m not popular, Jim,” she sniggered, “I just don’t leave people alone. Tell them you’re friends often enough and they end up believing it,” she grinned and waved to Cledwyn, who rolled his eyes and looked away. “There’s nothing more to it than that. I bet you could do it, too.”

But Jim shook his head. “I’m not really so sure of that... I think.”

Ethel nudged him into the side with her shoulder. “Give yourself more credit. You’re my twin brother after all, that has to account for something. If this is any help, we may be polar opposites, but you’re still my favourite person in this world.”

“Uhm, what about Selene?”

Ethel pursed her lips. “Okay, maybe it’s a tie.”

Jim had to smile at that. Remembering something, he reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out a piece of parchment, tied to a scroll with a crimson piece of ribbon.

“Happy Birthday, Effy,” he said, for once without a stutter.

Ethel’s eyes went wide when she saw the picture Jim had drawn for her. It showed the two of them, laughing with each other. Ethel, despite being smaller than Jim, had his head in a headlock and was ruffling his hair while he was trying to escape, but he was laughing just as much as she was. The drawn versions of themselves were moving over the parchment in fluent motions. Jim had asked for Héloïse’s help with enchanting it; with his French still being awful, it had been one of the most awkward and complicated conversations in his entire life.

“It’s beautiful, Jim, thank you,” she said and flung her arms around his neck. When she let go, she looked a little sheepish. “Now I feel stupid for what I got you, although I’m pretty sure you can need it.”

With a wink, she produced her own gift. Jim could see she had wrapped it in her typical Ethel-style, with way too much wrapping paper and loads of colourful ribbons; one of them looking suspiciously like the hair tie their grandmother had gotten Ethel for Christmas. He blushed deeply when he read the cover of the small red book the parcel contained:

101 Foolproof Ways to a French Witch’s Heart - A Guide for Modern Gentlemen

“Effy… that… um… you… why…” Jim stuttered, his face a deeper shade of red than the Gryffindor banners hanging from the wooden tower behind Ethel.

His twin sister only sniggered. “Read it and thank me later.”

She got to her feet and pulled Jim along, motioning to the entrance of the pitch, where Selene was in the process of levitating a giant birthday cake onto the field. It had enchanted lion and badger figurines on top; the lion was throwing tiny pieces of cake after the badger, who caught it with its mouth.

“Come on now, dear brother,” she said as she linked arms with him and half marched, half dragged him across the lawn towards their friends. “We have a cake to cut.”

[tres-fidelis]

Yu had spent an entire day making paper cranes for the people he held dear and close to his heart. The power of bonds was indeed a treasure to behold. First on the list was a special girl with whom he had spent a lot of time together in silence. Hair white as snow, eyes as blue as the sky... a rare soft smile that made his heart race every time. Those feelings still resided within him... he had already given her a paper crane on White Day, yet this one was far more special.

He wouldn't hide himself this time. A white paper crane with a blue ribbon and a small heart was given to KC upon seeing her in the locker area. No one else was around right now, so he could give her a smile. One that spoke volumes of how he felt about her.

Another day come and gone. Even though these school sessions played out the same as any other, the first-year always looked forward to what may come, or any unexpected surprises. Learning among people her own age was different than staying holed up with the staff in her own home. New learning experiences outside the classroom, observing various behaviors like guys pulling pranks on each other or girls giggling over a new fashion magazine.

It brought along feelings she never embraced. A whole new side of herself she'd never seen before. Who would have thought people enjoyed her company, silent though it be?

But these were thoughts mused for a later time. After the last bell, KC gathered her books and homework in a neatly fashion. More practice awaited the musician at home, just like her parents planned. No real time to enjoy herself with those new friends. Studies, music, rinse, repeat. A cycle which never broke. She closed her locker to find an obstacle in her way. Or more like a welcomed presence.

Confusion crossed a sour expression until those deep ocean colors noticed the little gift sitting in Yu's palm. Something simple, and yet looking more at its minute details slowly brightened KC's smile. Cranes must be a natural talent of his, considering how well he taught her during the winter months. How could a simple sheet of paper turn into a beautiful creation? A touch of love, tender care and careful precision all were key factors when it came to origami.

Why though? Why make her another one?

Careful glances were exchanged between the small crane and Yu's genuine contentment. They barely exchanged spoken words with each other since KC’s arrival, yet the boy standing before her somehow understood her. When she felt upset, happy, depressed, or knew when she needed someone by her side. They never needed vocal communication.

Their bond grew that deep.

An unexpected show of appreciation threw the first-year off her own guard. Two cranes with nothing to show, expect for the small tear trail trickling down her cheek. Being careful with the bird in her hand, KC stepped forward leaning against Yu as a support. White hair brushing against his jacket, clothes crinkled together, she felt this was the best way to show her own gratification towards her senpai. Yu always gave KC his time, his attention, and his kindness.

It's her turn to give back.

[heatherstyles]

hi sweet Natalie 💖 1, 2, 5, 11, & 15 for the end of the year fandom asks please!

Hi Kait❣️ agshshs thank you for the ask! I love love love receiving your asks. This is gonna be a long one hahah

1. What fandom(s) did you join this year?

KLAROLINE actually. Since I just joined at the start of the year basically the whole tvdu fandom is also a new fandom for me. I’m always asking myself why didn’t I join sooner or something lmao. Best decision ever made by Nat<3

2. What fandom(s) did you leave?

I wasn’t actually active or involved in other fandoms besides tvdu and klaroline so yeah none!!

5. What creative work are you most proud of (your own or someone else’s)?

Seriously Kait this is the hardest question ever as there are so many work I adore here in the fandom! lemme go search for a few of my favs.. Oooh ooh Kait I'm pretty sure I haven't screamed how much I love this edit of yours in your face enough😭😭 I swear I love it so so much! I look at it a lot and just sigh at how beautiful it is🥺❣️ You know what I have to actually message you again later to tell you how much I love it. Next up is two of my fav edits by Sab!! @destellolunar. This and this omsgshsh. Look at how pretty they are😭✨ If it's my own work I guess these two are my kinda proud ones. My all too well x KC edit and this modern royalty au moodboard💗

11. Name a fellow fan who you really appreciated this year.

ah this! Here's to all my beloved mutuals! I appreciate all of you so so much with my whole heart. Thank you for making 2021 a great year for me<3 i love you guyssss❣️

@an-awesome-wavve @destellolunar @recklessnesspersonified @morningstargirl666 @darkestgrays @galvanizedfriend @misssophiachase @recyclingss @enniec123 @definedareasofuncertainty @certifiedceraunophile @mais-e @1jemmagirl22 .....(sorry if there are others I left out)

15. What are you looking forward to coming out in 2022?

I really hope 2022 treats me as well as 2021 or maybe even BETTER!! I want to improve my mental health and maybe just focus on keeping myself happy. 2022 is gonna be a tough year for me as there will be more stuff going on in my life and I just hope I survive it haha. I really hope I get more involved in the fandom too and make better content hehe<3 Also, I hope I can pick up some new skills or pick up a new hobby!👀 Actually I wish to see some improvements and growth in myself too! Other than improvements on my work here, I also wish I have some growth character wise🤩❤️

[blakelakebake]

She Walks in Beauty - Hermione Granger

Summary: It was another cold night of Prefect patrol for Hermione. Except, this time, she was accompanied by someone special...

Word Count: 2573 words.

Characters: Hermione Granger, F!Slytherin!Reader, mentions of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Draco Malfoy.

Pairing: Hermione Granger x F!Slytherin!Reader

Warning: Tons of fluff, angst if you squint.

A/N: Just saying, I’m quite surprised about how many people have read the Harry Styles fanfic I’ve written because really, I only wrote it for my friends and I know rarely anything about him. So thank you for liking it really? But other than that, requests are open if you have any ideas and enjoy!

-KC :)

The cold was biting at her skin, her fingertips exposed, reddened by the extreme weather. Even within the castle, she could still see her breath whenever she exhales.

Hermione held onto her coat tightly with her numb hands as her eyes looked around the empty, dark hallway. There were paintings all around the walls, most of the people within the frames were either asleep or drinking their sorrows away.

The brunette smiled slightly when she passed a large, open window, the black lake in view. It was odd, the view, as the lake looked sinister from the blackened ice over it, and yet the snow around made it seem quaint and peaceful. With one more curious look outside and small puff out, the Gryffindor Prefect continued on with her patrol for the night.

Along the way, Hermione was met with another Prefect. A Slytherin Prefect. She looked at you, her brown eyes lingering over your face as you walked towards her, a lit candle holder in hand.

Your blank face illuminated from the small flame on wax, glowing slightly. Emotionless eyes met chocolate, expressive orbs, and within a few seconds, the Slytherin looked forward and began walking, Hermione in tow.

Silence took over the atmosphere, with the occasional wind sweeping through from the windows and the soft sound of footsteps coming from their leather shoes. The cold was becoming icy, numbing their skin even more every minute.

“I’ve got spares.” You said, your eyes still looking forward, but you can definitely feel Hermione’s eyes on you.

“Pardon?”

“Gloves.” The brunette looked down at her red hands, hesitating for a bit before looking back up. She was about to respond, but paused when she saw your gloved hands holding out a pair of red gloves, the colour being exactly like Gryffindor’s.

Hermione’s eyes narrowed, but she took them anyways, putting them on. A content sigh escaped her pink lips as warmth immediately consumed her hands. It was obvious that the Slytherin next to her used a charm to heat the fleece up for her. It made her heart swell.

“Thank you.” Hermione murmured, a smile on her face as she saw your head nod a bit.

You then turned a corner, and before she knew it, you pulled the other prefect into a wall. She gasped, the feeling of your hand on her hips sent a wave of heat to her already red cheeks. You looked into her eyes, the candle between you two was the only thing lit up in the dark hallway.

A smirk appeared onto your face before you blew out the small, orange fire, darkness consuming both of your bodies. You dropped the candle holder, Hermione flinching in your hand, making you chuckle. Your now free hand slowly moved towards the Gryffindor’s cheek, holding her face gently.

Ever so slowly, you both moved your head forward, your heads tilted slightly on either side, your noses brushing against each other before your lips connect with hers. It was soft and sweet, your gloved hand keeping her cheek warm as deepen the kiss.

A smile was on both of your faces when you parted, your forehead on her’s. The kiss only lasted for a few seconds, and yet you were out of breath. Clouds were forming in between the two of you as you continued to pant, a smile plastered on your face.

“God, I missed you.” You whispered, your arms immediately wrapping around Hermione’s slim body. A giggle escaped the brunette’s now warm lips as she wrapped her arms around your neck, pulling you closer to her as much as she can.

“I missed you too.” She whispered back with a kiss to your cheek.

“I’m sorry about earlier. I should’ve stopped him but I didn’t-”

“Y/n,” Hermione pulled back, her hands now holding onto your cheeks as she looked fondly into your face, trying to find your eyes through the dark, a smile gracing her soft lips. “It’s alright. I know you couldn’t do anything, so don’t put yourself down just because Draco was being a stupid ferret.”

You started laughing from the insult towards your best friend, your head thrown back, not being able to disagree. “Did you expect anything less from him, my love?” You said, your smile growing wider as you pull her back into your embrace, enjoying the warmth and comfort of your girlfriend’s body against yours, a memory surfacing from a year ago.

You were walking into the library, the long essay that Snape gave your class was drilled into your head, making you eager to finish it as quick as you can to have some time with Draco.

When entering, you immediately went towards a small table near a window, throwing your leather bag onto the wooden chair. You opened your bag, taking out some parchment, ink and quill and placing it onto the table.

Once you got all your stuff ready, you dropped your bag to the side of the table before sitting down, opening your potions book to the page you’ve marked.

You spent about an hour of reading and writing, surprising yourself with finishing the essay faster than you thought. You re-read your essay, satisfied when getting to the end.

Sighing, you closed your potions book and leaned back against the chair, closing your eyes for a second before opening them again. You didn’t want to leave the library just yet, since you’re enjoying the peace and quiet that you haven’t had for the past week or so. Too many gossip going around about Harry Potter and Hermione Granger and the Triwizard Tournament was filing up into your brain that it was making you go insane.

Although you were best friends with Draco Malfoy, you tried your best to avoid any confrontation or fights between him and Harry Potter and his friends. Of course you’ve met Harry Potter many times since he always come out of nowhere, but you’ve never interacted with Granger nor Weasley, only ever seeing them in your classes and around the castle.

With a crack of your neck and fingers, you decided to stand up and explore for some books. You walked into a random section, and upon the first few books you’ve seen, you’re in the Herbology section.

As you continue to look at some of the books, you didn’t notice a certain brunette walking towards your direction, her head in a book, and before you knew it, you both were on the ground.

You groaned as you sit up, a slight pain surrounding your left side.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so so sorry-” The girl in front of you said in a panic tone, making you chuckle.

“It’s alright, I should’ve payed a bit more attention.” You finally got up, grabbing the book in front of you, holding it out for the girl.

But when you looked at her, you noticed her brown curls and stunning brown eyes. You also noticed how soft looking her lips were and the slight blush that appeared on her cheeks.

And that’s when you realised, you’ve bumped into Hermione Granger.

“Need a hand?” You said with a kind smile, trying your best not to panic from how beautiful you find the Gryffindor. She nodded, taking your hand as you pulled her up.

“Thank you.” She murmured, a shy smile plastered on her lips.

“No problem.” You smile even wider, completely forgetting that you’re still holding her hand and her book. You take in her features a bit more, not being able to help yourself as your eyes lingered on her lips-

“Uh...” Hermione coughed, her hand gesturing to her book in your hand. You snapped out of your observation, heat creeping onto your neck. Her eyes widened for a second when she noticed the Slytherin colours on your robe, panic overcoming your thoughts once again. But instead of moving away or glare at you as if you’re something disgusting and vile, she smiled nervously, surprising you.

“Oh, here.” You handed her book back as you dropped her hand, earning a giggle from her.

“Thank you, uh...”

“Y/n. My name’s Y/n.” You said as you stretched your hand forward, wanting to hold her warm hand again.

“Well, nice to meet you, Y/n. I’m Hermione.” She smiled as she shook your hand.

“Well, Hermione, it’s lovely to meet you.” You bent forward, kissing the back of the brunette’s hand, earning yourself another giggle.

Maybe meeting Hermione Granger wasn’t so bad after all.

You sighed happily as you take in the smell of new parchment and spearmint coming from your lover, a smile re-appearing onto your face.

“So,” Hermione began as she pulls away again, much to your disappointment. However, the feeling of disappointment was quickly replaced by excitement once you faintly saw a slight glint from a material that Hermione was holding. “Harry lent me this...”

A grin spread across your face as you gently took the cloak of invisibility and pulled it over both you and Hermione. You pulled out your wand from the inside of your robes, and muttered a Lumos, revealing both your’s and Hermione’s face underneath the cloak.

“Ready to for an adventure?” You whispered, earning a breathy chuckle from the Gryffindor.

“Of course I’m ready.”

It took you two about ten minutes to escape castle and into the cold. You were nearing the black lake, your gloved fingers intertwined with hers tightly. As you got to the edge of the lake, Hermione took off the cloak, folded it neatly before shrinking it and putting it back into her pocket.

You then took out two pairs of miniature ice-skates and began to enlarge them back to their original size. You gave the red and yellow pair to Hermione, causing the curly-haired girl to snort at the colours you’v chosen for both her and yourself.

You began putting on your white and green skates before tying the laces. You stood up, taking off your robe to reveal a coat underneath. You were careful to not lose balance while walking towards Hermione, who was finishing with tying up her laces.

She stood up, immediately grabbing onto your outstretched hand. You both walked slowly to the icy lake, stepping onto it carefully to make sure the ice won’t crack.

When Hermione had put pressure on the ice, it didn’t crack, making her sigh in relief before stepping onto the surface with you stepping on just a second after.

A smile appeared your face as you watched Hermione glide around the ice, her hands behind her back as she casually did twirls as if it was the most easiest thing.

You glided towards her, your hands grasping lightly on her waist as you skate around the large lake, ignoring the freezing temperature surrounding you even through all your layers of coats and sweaters.

“Do you remember that poet you told me about?” You asked as you turned Hermione so that she could face you as you hold her hand tightly. You two continued skating around, but a bit more slowly now when you started talking.

“You mean Lord Byron?”

“Yes.”

Hermione raised an eyebrow, giving you a side glance, releasing your hand as she started skate backwards to face you properly. “What about him?”

“Well,” You chuckled nervously, your hands began sweating underneath the dark green gloves you wore. “I’ve been reading some of his poem recently and I found one that... that reminded me of you.”

“Oh?” You nodded your head, gliding faster towards Hermione to grab onto her hands again, not stopping the pace you both were going.

“It’s called ‘She Walks in Beauty’“

“Oh?” Hermione bit her lower lip as she pulled you closer, a hand placed onto your neck as you place your hand onto her waist, your free hands grasping onto one another as you started a waltz around the lake. “Do tell.”

“Do you want me to...”

“If you can remember it.” She said teasingly, knowing full well that you have an excellent memory. You chuckle breathily, taking a deep breath before you began reciting the poem.

“She walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that’s best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes; Thus mellowed to that tender light Which heaven to gaudy day denies.”

You spun Hermione around, causing her to giggle. A smile slowly crept its way towards your lips from seeing the excitement in your girlfriend’s loving brown eyes.

“One shade the more, one ray the less, Had half impaired the nameless grace Which waves in every raven tress, Or softly lightens o’er her face; Where thoughts serenely sweet express, How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.”

You twisted her so that her back was against your chest, your hands on her hips and hers on top of yours. You moved your head closer to her neck, kissing the skin softly before whispering:

“And on that cheek, and o’er that brow, So soft, so calm, yet eloquent, The smiles that win, the tints that glow, But tell of days in goodness spent, A mind at peace with all below, A heart whose love is innocent.”

“You think I’m innocent?” Hermione asked, turning around and stopping in the middle of the lake. You chuckled, wrapping your arms around her, pulling her closer so that your lips were inches away.

“Maybe.” You smiled at the beautiful girl in front of you, your eyes looking into her brown ones. You knew this was it, this was the time to tell her. You knew you had to before things might get worse.

“Hermione,”

“Yes, Y/n?” Her eyes were filled with curiosity and happiness, causing your heart to swell and your stomach to flip.

“H-Hermione, I... Uh... I-”

Before you could continue, you were interrupted by a loud meow, causing Hermione to avert her attention.

“Crookshanks?” You mentally groaned, pissed that you were cut off by a cat. Hermione pulled away, much to your irritation, and skated towards her pet. “What’re you doing here?”

The cat continued to meow, his head nodding slightly towards the castle before walking back through the snow. Hermione sighed, knowing full well that it must be important if her cat had to get her. She turned around, a frown plastered on her face as she started taking off her skates and putting her shoes back on.

You skated back, stopping right next to her with a similar frown on your lips. “Is everything alright, love?” You were about to grab her hand but instead Hermione moved away slightly with a saddened smile.

“I’m so sorry, Y/n, but I have to get going.” You sighed, your body deflating as you nodded, a forced smile plastered on your face. If Hermione noticed, she didn’t mention it because she smiled back.

“Thank you for tonight though,” She moved forward, her lips softly connecting with your cold cheek, lingering for a second before she moved away, her smile never wavering. “I really enjoyed it.”

“At least you enjoyed it.” Hermione nodded before walking away. She turned around briefly to wave and then turned back around, quickening her pace towards the castle, her figure becoming smaller and smaller with each step she took.

You waved back at her, the feeling of your stomach churning made you feel even more frustrated and upset, the three words on the tip of your tongue as you watched your Beauty walk away into the night sky.

Sighing, you continued to skate around the black lake by yourself for a few minutes, the words swirling around your head as you glide against the ice. You wish things would be more simple than this, more normal. You wish there weren’t any blood status in the way, no war that was coming, no secrecy, no hate from each other’s houses, no enemies, no sides you both had to choose. You just wanted things to be normal. You wanted to be able to tell her - God just to tell her:

I Love You.

A/N: I lied, there would be a bit of angst. Sorry! I’m just a sucker for the good ol’ heart breaking angst.

[galvanizedfriend]

I wouldn't be five-part anon if I didn't make the most of the ask limit here, so get ready, ready comes my spoilery commentary on the latest chapter of the Wolf II. :) First and foremost, thank you for the update! It must get pretty boring at this point but again I loved that you updated and I got to read more, I love the way you write but the nature of the content leaves something to be desired (but then again I know better times are coming and you do put up warnings, so no complaints really).

p.2: Thank you for explaining where the story picks up. I had stopped watching TVD at that point and while I kept up with some plot points I was concerned that I might get lost once we move on to Mystic Falls. I didn't, you did a great job with the transition. Not too long but still had a nice flow to it. Caroline trying to gently break the news about the father and Liz and Elena being all confused and like "why would you name your baby after a Mikaelson?" was hilarious and much needed given

p.3: that we knew how short Liz' time with Caroline and Eve will end up being. Not gonna lie, I was missing Klaus big time although I THINK he made a brief appearance and at this point I think I can only forgive him for ghosting Caroline as long as he's been watching over her and Eve this whole time (or you come up with something reasonable, I'm sure you can do that). The Mikaelsons not being around for Eve's 1st birthday felt wrong to me although I kinda get why. Elijah did the right thing by

p.4: by showing up for Caroline, after all that's what friends/family do. But she needs Klaus and I do too. But to end this on a happier note I'm glad Elena's crush on Elijah was revealed. Who in their right mind wouldn't lust after him? Girl talk was great. I really hope you manage to get out the next update soon, I already can't wait. You had nothing to worry about with this chapter and I'm sure the next ones are great as well. Last but not least, congratulations on all your KC awards

p.5: nominations! So well-deserved! Thank you very much for all the joy (and angst) you bring to the Klaroline fandom. We're lucky to have you and I look forward to reading more Klaroline from you. It also helps that you seem to be such a nice person, so thanks for being you and keep doing your thing! Thanks again for the lovely Friday treat you have just provided and have a great weekend ahead! :) All the best, your five part anon spammer! :*

Hello, dear Five-parts anon! 🤗 It’s always such a pleasure to see you here!

That’s actually very good feedback! I did watch all of this, but years and years ago, and then when I first wrote the chapter I only watched the exact episodes I wanted to rewrite, and TVD is a hell of a complicated show. lol There was a lot I was confused about, so I can only imagine many people would feel the same way. For the purpose of this fic, there’s no need to know anything in depth, the parts that will matter will be explained, but still. Just knowing about the state of things in Mystic Falls was important (like why Caroline couldn’t go back home).

Your theory about Klaus is the same as many people’s! 😁 I won’t elaborate on it, it all gets explained in the next couple of chapters. Klaus will be back. :D I missed him, too! But like I mentioned on the A/N, there was a lot to be squeezed into this chapter and I guess Klaus’ behavior was somewhat to be expected.

And I’m so glad you mentioned the Elena and Elijah thing! 😂 Dude, she SO had a crush on him - and I agree with you, who wouldn’t? She’d been screwing around with Damon and Stefan. In comparison, Elijah was like the coolest, most interesting guy she’d ever met, even with that awful hairstyle he had at the beginning. lol That’s actually something that will be brought back in different moments. You were the only one who mentioned that so far and it was one of my favorite things!  😂 So thank you!

I am so flattered that I got four nominations! 😊 People are seriously the nicest! And so are you, 5parts anon! 💖 You are always so kind, it’s so lovely to read your messages! :) Thank you so much and come back any time! 😊

I’m HOPING to have another chapter out next week, but every time I say I’ll do something, I don’t, so I’m not making promises this time. Will just do my best to have it out. A different anon mentioned that maybe it would be nice for some people who are reading this to have an update closer-in the middle of the Holidays becayse this year will be a different one for many people with the pandemics. My own family gathering will be very different. So I don’t know, I would like to do that. I know it’s kinda silly and not really a lot, but if it gives some people a distraction, it’s nice, I guess?

Have a wonderful weekend, anon! 😘

[signor-signor]

My Last Long Post of the Decade

It’s been three years, nine months, and nearly 20 days since we learned from @crackmccraigen about Wander Over Yonder’s cancellation, found out about the plans for an unmade third season, and launched SaveWOY. It’s also been three and a half years since The End of the Galaxy premiered and left us wanting more because of a certain simian in a certain space pod. I admit I’m still irked Craig couldn’t tell us about Disney’s unforgivable action sooner (that happened four years and five months ago, one week before The Greater Hater premiered). I mean, what kind of multibillion, world-famous entertainment conglomerate brings up the hopes of an experienced cartoonist and, five months after S2 writing wraps up and a S3 pitch is presented in private, cold denies him the chance to show the public what’s worse than galactic destruction and how a lovable villain came to be? It’s not like he never lived up to his contract. All things considered, it’s no wonder Craig left the company to work for Netflix, where he has even more creative freedom to work on his upcoming cartoon, Kid Cosmic.

Even after SaveWOY’s launch, it’s almost apparent that our politely written comments expressing our interest in the supposedly promising concept of Wander’s post-Dominator adventures are completely wasted on Disney’s “higher-up bosses of bosses of bosses” (and also the creators of the more popular shows, those affiliated with said creators, and most of the fans of said popular shows). HOWEVER, now that we have Disney+, our chances of saving the show just got a little bit higher. Also, with a number of hints (including those brought up by @suspendersofdisbelief) and the breakthrough that is the cameo in Future-Worm, some of most dedicated fans of WOY, myself included, have been able to provide inspirational content to keep the movement going.

Some of my memorable achievements include the three posters inspired by the classic Star Wars trilogy VHS set, “The First 5 Years” image depicting more than 140 individuals, a microgame made with WarioWare: D.I.Y., Lord Hater’s attempt to escape, and a LEGO Digital Designer rendering of the Star Nomad. Speaking of which, I recently made something super special and truly extraordinary over the course of four months - not only am I the only WOY fan to pull this off, but also the only Disney employee to do so.

This little beauty was made with 1,200 pieces, give or take a few, and no more than a foot and a half of solder wire. It’s no secret that I really do care about those plans for S3, and this is the best evidence I can give. I would NEVER treat the show like a waste of entertainment, for that would mean I’d be treating everything associated with WOY’s production (such as the filming of the HATERV commercial at Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, the recording of songs from My Fair Hatey at Capitol Records, and the presentation of the pitch for S3) like a waste of time.

Anyhow, as the 2010s come to a close, I hope my motivational message will resonate with the WOY fandom and also the WOY crew. I look forward to 2020, but I’m not leaving the WOY fandom until I see the “true, long-awaited closure��� on Disney+, where The Proud Family and Star Wars: The Clone Wars are getting another season. If other shows like Hey Arnold! and Samurai Jack can get closure after years of negligence, so can Wander Over Yonder!

Of course, we still have to wait until Craig is done with Kid Cosmic, which I know will turn out really great. As soon as we know what KC looks like, imagine the fan art of him saying, “Watch my show and tell your friends so we’ll make that Mousey Company bring back my half-brother!” I’m sure some other artists will think of something clever and similar.

Oh, and as for my SaveWOY ideas in the start of the new decade, I am considering making doodles of main characters from the Disney shows that get a moderate-to-high amount of love from the executives (Phineas and Ferb, Fish Hooks, Gravity Falls, 2013 Mickey Mouse, Star vs. the Forces of Evil, Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventures, 2017 DuckTales, etcetera - even the shows on Disney Junior) and having them say “Save Wander Over Yonder” and give a reason to do so. I don’t usually make fan art of popular shows, but big problems call for big solutions. I’m also thinking up more fan characters and figuring out the summaries for the list of fan made episode titles I posted a while back.

One last thing, and on a partially unrelated topic: those of you who are fans of SatAM Sonic the Hedgehog and wishing to know what happens after the S2 finale, you’re in luck. Team Sea3on, consisting of dedicated fans who are professional writers and artists, is working on the long-awaited third and final season, the first episode of which should be ready sometime in 2020 (or the year after that). There’s hope for everything after all!

Here’s to the new year and hoping we learn more about WOY S3!

[sharkfish]

ps i loved this one

(rereading bookmarks edition)

i’ve been rereading stories from my bookmarks as a comfort thing. i’m getting real deep in there to stuff i haven’t (re)read for years, and damn do i have good taste. the ones i’ve read recently that you should, too: 

(under the cut so i’m not that asshole that makes you scroll past an endless post) 

A Change of Scene by SurlyCat

When Dean goes over to see his Dom on Christmas Eve, he isn't expecting Cas to play naughty Santa, and neither of them is expecting how it turns out for them.

ooooomg fuck me up with that sex to lovers thing featuring bdsm. yessssss 

A Room of His Own (or not) by Valinde (Valyria)

Dean took a deep breath and reassessed the situation. He was in bed with a guy, sure, and technically they were snuggling, but it was Cas. The guy had absolutely no reference on what was appropriate physical contact between two dudes sharing a bed in the... normal, completely unsexy, no-funny-business, way.

cas is fallen, dean is confused (what else is new), A+ cuddling. that’s the fic. 

Boys On Film by LoversAntiquities @tragidean​ 

But maybe that’s what it is—maybe Castiel’s finally realized something Dean is too chicken to admit, despite the fact he’s been jerking off to the idea of Castiel fucking him for the past few weeks. The idea warms him as much as it pains him to think about, his friend not being able to talk to him about something like that. That has to be it—it’s the only explanation. Castiel likes him.

“Or maybe he knows you do cam shows.”

Dean chokes on his burger.

idk what to say, i love a good sex worker fic and here you go. @tragidean​ is always here with that first-class content. 

Castiel's Angel by Valinde (Valyria) @valinde​

The angel took a deep breath and looked down at his hands. He was fidgeting Cas noticed. Usually he was so bizarrely at ease in his human form, lounging around and tossing winks and smirks at anyone with a pulse. That more than anything had Cas straightening on his stool and wishing he was a little less tipsy.

“Ineedyoutogroommywings,” Dean muttered in one long, almost unintelligible, string. He was blushing.

all my fellow wing hos should flock* to this fic. i also love me a good switcharoo with angel dean (and hunter cas, as this is an alternate canon universe). and dean gets all claim-y, which is also my jam. 

*this was unintentional but a pretty funny joke 

For Science! by pm_lo 

Selected transcripts and supporting materials from Dr. Castiel Williams and Dean Winchester’s seminal study on physiological and psychological sexual response by gender designation.

i believe this was the first abo fic i added to my bookmarks. story time: many, many moons ago, i kept track of my reading list. i was doing that “50 books a year” thing so it was mostly for tracking that, but i had another tab for fics, because i read few enough that i could track them. i rated things and sometimes left notes, and by all the abo ones i was like “don’t tell anyone i read this.” yes, i shamed myself for liking abo. it was a dark time in my life.

anyway, then i read this, and was like, all right i can see what’s going on here.

this is a great fic for multiple reasons, and the format is one. it’s written as dialogue-only transcripts from their experiment. it’s hard to make that kind of format work, but pm_lo ain’t fucking around. 

Just a Stranger On the Bus by Amelia_Clark 

December 31 9:32 PM When Castiel boards the bus in KC, they think it’s empty at first—but when they toss their backpack onto an aisle seat and climb in after it, there’s a muffled yelp from the dimness at the back of the bus. They turn in time to see a man in a faded Carharrt jacket, sitting up and yawning as he rubs sleep out of his eyes. The man’s hair is greasy and matted down on one side, and there’s drool on the side of his face; nonetheless, he’s ridiculously good-looking.

“Hey man,” he says. Castiel does not correct him. “This can’t be Chicago.”

the non-binary tag, just like the trans tags in general, are a house half-built and left to rot in the rain. even if that wasn’t true, this series is goddamn amazing. also there’s rimming. also there’s a line in there that said something like “they don’t dislike their body, it just never felt like theirs” and i had a lightbulb moment irt my own experience. did dean ever wear carharrt in the actual series? if not, mistakes have been made. 

Just Turn Around and Go by PorcupineGirl @porcupine-girl​

Dean should be happy. His best friend and housemate of five years, Castiel, is moving out to live with his boyfriend, Balthazar. Dean's career is going great, so he can easily afford the house on his own now. This is just growing up, moving forward to the next phase of their lives.

It would be awesome, if he weren't in love with Cas.

Well, here we go, he thinks as he opens the refrigerator and digs around for sandwich supplies. First day of the rest of your life. Time to move the fuck on. As he slams his meat and mayo and pickles down on the counter, he considers adding the bottle of whiskey he knows is hiding in the cabinet, but decides that he has enough self-respect to wait 'til five. Then he'll get fucking blackout drunk. Yep. Awesome.

y’all, do i even have to say anything about this? roommates to friends to a pathetic amount of pining without saying shit to disgustingly in love. also i think i cried, but i’ve been in tears so many times in the last week, who’s to say. 

Plus One by ceeainthereforthat @ceeainthereforthat​ 

Castiel Novak might have to attend three weddings in two months, but he’s not about to let his brother play matchmaker. His family’s Internet streaming company is too important to let a relationship steal his time, but he knows exactly what to do–hire someone to pretend to be his boyfriend.

Dean Winchester has worked five-star hospitality long enough to know how to fit in with Castiel’s crowd, and this job could score him the connections to make his acting career take off. It’s a business deal, no matter how they’re drawn to each other. When the lines of their contract start to blur into real feelings, can they withstand Castiel’s family and jealous fans working to split them up?

there are a lot of great fake dating stories out there, but this one takes the cake (or, at least, a slice of it). also, i cried a lot rereading this, both “ohhh god i love their love” tears and also “ohhhh god this hurts so bad” tears. 

Should've Just Asked by Annie D (scaramouche) 

Despite their age gap and differing social circles, Castiel has struck up a warm friendship with Mary Winchester, a wealthy widowed socialite. When Castiel needs a place to stay, Mary invites him into her house, where there’s loads of spare room. Castiel’s aware that they make an odd pair, but he doesn’t fully realize how things look to outsiders, especially to Mary’s eldest son. All Dean Winchester sees is that his mom has apparently hooked up with a hot young guy (who is totally Dean’s type) and that makes things… weird.

they’re both oblivious idiots in love, cas is grey-ace, dean’s a total dork, it’s all just very lovely (and frustrating in the way oblivious idiots can be!!!). 

PS - annie d is writing marvel fic lately and i’m sure it’s fantastic if you’re into that kind of thing. 

Support Your Local Gay Beekeeper by Powerfulweak

It’s not like Dean goes on Grindr very often, just when he’s bored and alone. The blue-eyed guy's profile reads "Beekeeper, 29, 5'10, Single, I watch the bees." Dean is intrigued. He has to send a message.

this is a series that starts with some great phone sex and then goes on to very, very awkward sex injuries. a goddamn cringefest that had me in complete horror imagining it. but it’s fun! they persevere! people so rarely write about Sex Going Wrong and i love @powerfulweak​ for taking the bullet for us on that one. 

Take Me Home Tonight by Persephoneshadow @persephoneshadow​

“Come on, we’re finding you someone to…engage with sexually or whatever,” Dean explains, chancing another swig of beer before going on. “Anyone in this bar, no limits, who would you would be your top choice to bang?” “Well, you, ideally.” Dean spits out some beer before collapsing in on himself, legitimately choking this time. “Excuse me?!” ---- Or the one where Cas wants to have sex and Dean is there to help.

your classic denialist “i’ll be your wingman” turning to “actually imagining someone else touching you makes me want to punch someone.” which is dumb, because cas actually wanted dean all along. 

Words with Friends by betts

"Dean Winchester is as straight as an arrow. He’s a lady’s man of epic proportions: the king of the one night stand, the messiah of the friends with benefits paradigm, the emperor of perpetual bachelorhood.

Except, apparently, when it comes to his best friend, Castiel Novak."

***

Wherein a longstanding acquaintanceship leads to friendship, then best friendship, then sexting, then dirty talk, then mutual masturbation, then, inevitably, fucking.

look i think you’re always in good hands with @bettsfic​. but this one has some good sexting and phone sex right at the start, which i’m totally into, and then it gets even better. cas is a lil bossy, by which i meant to say he’s the kind of bdsm geek who has equipment installed in his bedroom for sex purposes. 

You're The Only Stranger I Need by lyndsie_l

When Castiel receives a text from a stranger, he finds himself engaging in conversations daily. He's drawn to the outgoing college student and longs to interact with the other man as often as he can. Slowly, he finds himself falling in love with the other and can't imagine ever meeting a more beautiful person.

The only problem?

He's never actually met this other man.

be still my heart! a long distance/texting/phone sex thing! i want to read it again right this second. cas is such a cool nerd, dean is a brat, it’s a good time all around. 

if you enjoy these fics (and you should), please give the writer some love via kudos and/or comments. <3 

ps - as always, if i didn’t tag the writer and you know their tumblr, please tag in the comments. i don’t think there’s a writer alive who wouldn’t be happy to be on a rec list. :) 

[thetourguidebarbie]

KC + angst and happy ending preferably canon-y (no babies or sc or anything after season 4 lmao) but if the muse takes you in a different direction that’s okay :)

This has a cliffhanger. Please don’t hate me. I have another prompt I’ll use for a part two if there’s interest :)

———

Caroline shifted in bed, pulling the fluffy comforter more tightly around her body, absently tracing the embroidered floral pattern with her fingertip. The cabin was cold, the rain pelting the windows, and she was trying to figure out whether or not to be worried that Klaus was two days late coming back from his negotiation meeting.

She knew it was silly on its face, since Klaus couldn’t be killed, but she vividly remembered the way he looked when she finally rescued him two centuries before, finding him dessicated and buried in a shallow grave, trapped and unable to escape, his eyes still very much alert. It had haunted her nightmares, and she suspected his too, though he’d never admit it. She couldn’t imagine what it must have been like, to be buried alive while the people on Earth were being slowly evacuated to Mars and then beyond, not knowing whether anyone would find him, whether he’d be buried alive for eternity. She’d kept tabs on him over the years and had been confused when he seemed to fall off the face of the earth, but she knew something was wrong when he didn’t call or make any sort of contact on her birthday. Call her arrogant, but she knew that he wouldn’t just stop contact abruptly, especially when she’d just started being open about warming up to him.

So, knowing the direction the wind was blowing, that they wouldn’t be on Earth much longer, she set off to rescue him before there weren’t any evacuation ships left. It would have been difficult without a constant food source, but Caroline was a natural planner, liked to be prepared for everything–including the eventual end of the world–and she’d known from the first iphone video after she turned that the days until vampires were discovered were numbered. She got a medical degree and two PhDs and recruited-slash-compelled a few of her professors’ contacts to start working on a synthetic blood substitute that would be sustainable. They succeeded just in time, and her idealistic optimism made her hope that humans wouldn’t be nervous because they’d have no reason to feed.

She’d been wrong.

She managed to rescue Klaus and hop on one of the last fleets. She soon learned that no matter how many solar systems the technology allowed them to jump through, he still somehow managed to piss people off anywhere they went, creating a laundry list of enemies. It was infuriating, honestly. She wasn’t exactly the most diplomatic person in the world, but she at least had some tact, and Klaus seemed to be the only person in the three solar systems they’d discovered so far that was worse than her at keeping his mouth shut. It didn’t help that his enemies were organized enough to hate him together.

His hybrid army was now an actual army in every sense of the word, used to defend them from people, both humans and aliens, who wanted to eliminate them as a threat.

Vampires were scattered around the various planets that had been discovered, generally sticking together in areas of the bigger cities, but humans were still wary despite the overwhelming majority of vampires being perfectly willing to live off of a diet mostly comprised of the synthetic blood (which, honestly, was just as good as the real thing, and she didn’t just say that because she’d helped invent it). The strain had come to a head just two decades before, and as the de facto king of the vampire race, Klaus had taken the mantle of general of the vampire army easily. She hadn’t been content to stand by the sidelines while he plotted and fought the small group of humans who were trying to destroy them, and he mostly seemed to understand that she couldn’t be a passive contributor, but he’d managed to convince her that she shouldn’t be on the front lines. 

As the unofficial war had waged on, she’d begun seeing less and less of him. The number of vacations they took and cities they toured per year dwindled over time, and she’d been so excited for this getaway, their first in months. She knew that he probably hadn’t been overpowered by the humans across the negotiation table, but it didn’t stop her from worrying, and he knew that. He knew how annoyed she’d be if he was too distracted by his plotting and planning to remember that she had planned time out of her busy schedule to spend with him, and if he had a single shred of common decency…

She huffed, trying not to go too far down that path. He was being a jerk and she was mad, but in her three hundred years of life (two centuries of which she’d spent in a monogamous committed relationship with the jerk in question), she’d gotten reasonably self-aware, and she knew that she was more hurt than anything else. He loved her, she was very aware of that, and when she brought it up before a few times over the last few decades he’d promised that once the threat had been taken care of he would whisk her away to New Australia (her favorite planet of the ones nearest to New Brazil, their current home) and make it up to her. 

And frankly, she was looking forward to that. She was sick of his assurances that it was almost over, that they were getting closer to victory. Maybe Klaus had been a bad influence, but the past two centuries had jaded her and at this point non-violent negotiations were getting close to being off the table. Not that she was advocating genocide, but she wasn’t exactly happy to call a ceasefire and continue to live in fear. She knew Klaus wasn’t either.

Sighing after another few minutes passed, she threw off the blankets to throw on one of his henleys, a heavy sweater, and some leggings, grabbing her phone off the bedside table to check the time, deciding she’d call him soon if he didn’t turn up. She poured some synthetic blood into a mug and sat down on the couch, absently fiddling with her phone and staring out the window for a bit before feeling a bit pathetic and turning on the hologrammer, settling on a competition reality show where people were dropped on an “abandoned” planet and had to figure out how to find their way back to civilization to win six thousand star coins. 

It didn’t do enough to distract her, though. He almost always called if he was going to be late, and the feeling that something was horribly wrong was nagging at her. Still, she toughed it out, checking her screen every few seconds to see if there was a text or a voicemail or something, but it remained stubbornly blank.

Once the episode was over she decided it was time to call, if only to make sure that he’d at least be home before she went to bed. He picked up on the second ring, and she found herself frustrated by the smile she could hear in his voice. “Hello, sweetheart.”

“Hey,” she said cooly. “Are you going to be home soon?”

“I’m about to board the ship now. I was just about to call,” he said, hesitating for a moment before continuing, clearly interpreting her tone correctly. “Everything all right?”

“I just…I was…”

She trailed off, not wanting to admit that she’d been worried, knowing that it was irrational, but Klaus had clearly picked up on it from the soft hum and the whoosh of air and cutoff of background noise that meant he’d found a more private place to talk. “I’m sorry, love. I should have called. We’d agreed on jamming communication to the outside for the duration of the negotiations and it took much longer than expected to reach an agreement, but I do have good news. We’ve agreed on a truce for now.”

Caroline snorted, momentarily distracted from her anxiety about Klaus’s safety to fall into strategy mode. “Yeah, like they’ll keep to it.”

“Oh, I expect they won’t,” he said, his tone deceptively mild. “But I don’t intend to either. We’ll talk more when I get back. I’d like your input on some possible avenues we can take.”

Caroline felt a slow smile grow on her face, feeling pleased that Klaus clearly wasn’t trying to shut her out. “Okay. When do you think you’ll be back?”

“A few hours.”

“Ugh. I still don’t get why they wanted to meet so far away from both base planets. ‘Neutral ground’ my ass. They’re totally up to something.”

“I had the same thought, but turning them down wouldn’t have been advisable,” Klaus said, sounding just as irritated as she was with the whole thing. “I’ll see you in a few hours, sweetheart.”

“Okay.”

“Stay safe.”

“You too. I love you.”

“And I, you. I’ll call when we get to the landing area.”

“Okay. Sounds good.”

She hung up, running a hand through her hair and glancing out the window. The rain was still pounding against the glass, and she winced when she saw the hybrid guard on duty wearing a large, thick black raincoat that obscured most of his body, clearly trying to keep warm. Figuring that the least she could do was bring him some warm blood (it’s not like he was allowed to leave his post for snacks), she pulled her sweater down where it had bunched up around her waist and slipped out of her and Klaus’s bedroom. The hallway to the kitchen was dimly lit, and she froze when she felt something wet on the hardwood floor under her bare feet. She reached for the light switch on the wall, flipping it on and feeling her breath catch in her throat as she followed the red pool down a few feet to see a hybrid with a slit throat.

The hybrid who was supposed to have been on duty.

The reality of the situation hit her all at once. Whoever was outside wasn’t her guard, Klaus had clearly been lured far away by the humans for a too-long negotiation on purpose, she somehow hadn’t smelled the blood all over her hallway, and she was in very deep trouble.

She felt a sharp pain in her neck.

Her world went dark before she could scream.

[klarosummerbingo]

Klarosummer Bingo Event

Hey Klaroliners!!! We’re hosting a Klarosummer Bingo event for the month of June!

Some of you already have requested your bingo cards to get started — we can’t wait to see what you have planned!

For those of you who haven’t reached out yet, the bingo cards will feature squares with summertime themes.

FAQs:

If a square has a quote, please use it within the item you create for that square.

You can request a bingo card from this blog @klarosummerbingo  or @supremeuppityone — just send an ask or a message. You can start requesting a card whenever you like — just please wait to post your creations until June 1.

Be sure to follow this blog so you won’t miss out on the fabulous KC content!

Traditional bingo rules apply (five squares in a row or five squares diagonally earns a bingo.)

Within the first few tags, please tag your creations as #klarosummerbingo. Because of tumblr shenanigans not always recognizing tags, you also may want to send us a link to your post so we can reblog.  

Please post your creations anytime between June 1st and June 30th.

Once you’ve completed a full bingo card, you can request another one.

Extraordinary prizes: Once you earn a bingo, you will be showered with once-in-a-lifetime gifts such our heartfelt praise of “Atta girl!” and virtual pats on the back. While we have no actual talent, we enthusiastically will draw you a pretty picture upon your request. Like this highly detailed drawing of Klaus painting Caroline with adorable bedhead:

[lifeofkaze]

An Art of Balance #13

A/N: Nothing like a (not so) little Christmas chapter at the beginning of spring. As always, KC belongs to my beautiful friend @kc-needs-coffee

Word Count: ~ 4.000

______________________________________________________________ 

Chapter 13: Topaz & Jasmine

Lizzie wasn’t sure if she had ever been as happy to pack up her bags and board the Hogwarts Express as this year around. Running from her problems wasn’t going to solve them, but taking a break from them for the holidays was a welcome change.

Slumped into one of the plush seats of the Hogwarts Express Lizzie leaned her head against the cold window frame, idly drawing tiny swirls on the fogged glass. She listened to Tonks and Tulip loudly discussing the possible damage they could wreak with a Christmas cracker while Penny, Skye and Rowan played a game of Exploding Snap. Murphy had ditched them to sit with someone else this time.

The warm air streaming from the fully turned-on heaters made her eyelids grow heavy and she fought the urge to fall asleep. Snoozing around Tonks and Tulip was never a particularly good idea.

When the train finally pulled into Kings Cross Station, the emotional mess Lizzie had left behind at the castle already seemed far, far away.

As she saw her mother waving at the incoming train amongst the mass of other parents picking up their kids, a big smile stole onto her face. It widened as she noticed the tall young men standing next to her. Jacob and Duncan hadn’t been supposed to arrive before the day after tomorrow. Lizzie literally jumped off the train and into her brother’s outstretched arms, her woes all but forgotten. She was looking forward to catching up with them over a cup of her father’s famous hot chocolate in front of the fireplace; she had earned herself a few days of peace.  

 *

Apparently, the snow had followed them all the way from the Scottish Highlands down to England. When Lizzie opened her curtains on the morning of Christmas Day, she squealed in excitement like a little girl upon seeing their garden and everything else in sight covered in a layer of powdery snow.

They were no stranger to snow, of course; they got plenty of it at Hogwarts every winter. But having a white Christmas at home wasn’t something they got to experience every year.

Lizzie opened her window and scooped a handful of snow off the windowsill. She formed a ball from it and aimed carefully. With the deadly precision she had acquired over the years of being a Chaser, she threw her snowball against Duncan’s head, who had just stepped out of their front door to observe the winter wonderland as well. She quickly ducked with a shriek as her brother’s boyfriend shot a snowball of his own back at her. It sailed into her room through the open window, hitting Mouse, who was snoozing on Lizzie’s bed, square in the face.

The huge grey cat startled awake and shook herself, glaring at Lizzie accusingly. She hurried to shut her window and offered the grumpy pet a treat as compensation.

“Sorry, darling,” she cooed and scratched the cat’s chin. “Merry Christmas to you.”

Mouse blinked at her slowly before turning a few times and snuggling back into the warm blanket.

 *

Lizzie returned to her room from the extensive breakfast with her family, arms laden with gifts of all kind, and carefully placed them on the bed around her cat. Mouse lazily raised her head, eyeing up a ribbon still attached to one of the boxes. Lizzie let her chew on it and sat down on her carpet, pulling the huge bag with gifts she had exchanged with her friends on the train towards her.

Ever since Tonks had gifted all of her friends little dancing Christmas trees shouting festive obscenities a few years back, Lizzie resorted to opening her presents in private.

Half an hour and a mountain of wrapping paper later, Lizzie was admiring the wonderful gifts her friends had picked out for her. Like every year, Skye had equipped her with a full set of the newest Wigtown Wanderers merchandise, including a jersey, scarf and sweater. She just wasn’t giving up on converting her to what she deemed the only acceptable choice of Quidditch team.

Penny had given her a beautiful new quill and a notebook bound in an intricately patterned leather to write down her thoughts. Godric knew, that was something that would come in handy.

Tonks’s present – a black-and-yellow mug – had looked perfectly inconspicuous at first, but luckily the little prankster had forgotten to remove the ‘Zonko’s Joke Shop’ label stuck to the bottom of it. Apparently, it was meant to spit its boiling contents into its owner’s face at random intervals. Lizzie placed it gingerly back into its box, shoving it under the bed with her foot.

Rowan’s present was arguably the most thoughtful of them all. She had chosen a beautiful picture of Lizzie and herself goofing around. It had been taken at the end of last year down at the Black Lake. She had put it into a simple silver frame; turning it around, Lizzie could read the small dedication written in Rowan’s neat hand on the back of it.

“For my best friend.”

Lizzie swallowed the lump building inside her throat and placed the picture carefully on her desk, next to the one of her Quidditch team. She hesitated, eyes lingering on Orion’s beaming face as he had one arm around Skye’s shoulder and the other around hers. She resolutely placed her hand on the frame and upended it, front facing down as if she could shut out her thoughts that way.

‘No’, she chided herself inwardly, ‘not now, not ever.’

She joined Mouse on the bed, who was enjoying herself immensely inside the pile of crinkling paper, sipping her tea and watching the small dragon miniature Charlie had gotten for her flap around the room; from what she remembered of his lectures, it seemed to be a Hebridean Black.

A gentle tapping on her window distracted her from the tiny model circling her lamp. A grey owl sat perched on the windowsill and ruffled its feathers to free them from the snow. Lizzie got up and let the grumpy looking bird hop in. It carried a small package, neatly clad in minimalist brown wrapping paper. A note and a twig of small white flowers were secured to it. Lizzie stared at it for a moment in confusion before she remembered. It had to be from her Secret Santa.    

She procured a handful of food for the bird that was staring warily at her cat. Gulping it down, it hopped back to her open window and took to the air on its way back home.

Lizzie turned the present around in her hands and removed the branch. She recognised the distinct fragrance of the flowers immediately; it was jasmine, one of her favourite flowers. It usually bloomed in summer; the bush this was cut off from must have been standing in a greenhouse somewhere. She thought she had seen one back at the castle.

Her curiosity sparked, she removed the wrapping paper, revealing a small box clad in green velvet. Lizzies eyes widened in surprise as she opened it, revealing a beautiful pendant lying on its dark cushion. It was a sheer yellow stone, set in a golden, unregular circle. Her mouth went dry as she carefully removed the necklace from the box, running the delicate gold chain through her fingers.

That was certainly not what was supposed to be a Secret Santa gift.

Perhaps the note that had come with it would give her a clue as to who had decided to be so generous to her. She opened the envelope and took out the card; there was only a few words written on it:

“Unfogging The Future: Page 394. Merry Christmas and Happy belated Birthday, Chaser.”

Lizzie furrowed her brow and turned her head searching the room for her trunk. Thankfully she had taken her copy of the textbook with her instead of leaving it at the castle. She quickly flicked through the pages until she found the one required. Her confusion turned first into wonder and then into the softest smile.

“The Yellow Topaz is a birthstone for those who took birth in the month of November. It was believed by the Egyptians that it contained the rays of the sun. It is meant to provide its bearer with inner peace, bringing calmness to the mind and soul. Eradicating evil, it helps those destined to bear it to overcome regrets of the past and increase the power of focus and concentration.”

She closed the book again and picked up the necklace. She held it against the light, marvelling at the unusual colour before stepping in front of the mirror and putting it on; the pendant rested just below her throat.

Lizzie didn’t have to think twice whom she had to thank for this. Her hand went to her throat, touching the smooth surface of the stone. She was unable to contain the smile on her face. Her cheeks were already hurting and she covered her mouth with her hand.

She thought about what the book had said. This stone was supposed to help her let go of things she regretted. Apparently, this was Orion’s way of cleaning the slate and letting go of the unspoken things that had hung between them.

Lizzie wasn’t sure if she was happy or troubled about this, but she felt giddy, suddenly buzzing with energy and the urgent desire to let it out. She grabbed her clothes and almost skipped out the door with a bounce in her step.

Time to show Duncan how to properly throw a snowball.

 *

New Year’s Eve had come and gone as the Christmas break slowly drew to an end. It was almost time to board the train that would take them back to Hogwarts once again. Shutting out all and everything for a few precious days filled only with the love and warmth of her family had been like a dream, but now Lizzie felt reality silently creeping up on her again, firmly knocking on the door to remind her it was still there.

The sensation hit her every time she walked past a mirror and saw the yellow stone resting against her neck. She had rarely taken the necklace off since Christmas Day; although she didn’t really believe in the concept of birthstones, the feeling of the cool stone against her skin had something weirdly reassuring about it. She had quickly developed a habit of toying with the pendant, moving it back and forth on its chain.

It was the last day at home before they were set for their journey back when Lizzie and Penny finally managed to meet up for a trip into town. Both girls being half-bloods, they knew their ways around the Muggle world. They spent their day roaming around the shops and enjoying their last free moments before classes, homework and the general daily madness that was Hogwarts were to rope them in again.

They were still laughing when they entered a small café off to the side of a busy street, stowing their bags away under the table in front of the French doors leading to a small patio at the back of the room.

The small seating area was full but not crowded; as soon as the door closed behind them, the bustling of the town was shut out, the atmosphere peaceful above the quiet conversations of the other guests.

They were chatting about how they had spent the holidays, sipping on their tea and nibbling some biscuits.

“Seems like you and your sister were spoilt rotten by your parents,” Lizzie laughed. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of somehow being showered with presents like that.”

Penny chuckled. “Look who’s talking. That new necklace you’re wearing is stunning; was it a gift from your parents?”

Her necklace must have slipped out from under her shirt somehow. Blushing lightly, Lizzie started fiddling with the pendant once again; she had done this so often over the past few days, she didn’t even notice.

“Not exactly,” she mumbled sheepishly.

Penny furrowed her brow. “Then who is it from? Charlie?”

Irritated, Lizzie shook her head. Charlie would never give something like jewellery to her.

“We always play Secret Santa with the team before the Christmas break, and whoever got my name,” she explained, “sent me this.”

She held the stone into the light for Penny to better see it, its translucent yellow colouring darkened to amber by the little light washing in from the snowed in windows.

Penny’s eyes widened. “But that is not a gift to give someone over a game. Do you have any idea who it might be from?”

Lizzie tucked the necklace underneath the collar of her shirt, gripping her tea cup with both hands. The warmth stinging her fingers distracted her from the fuzzy feeling creeping up from her stomach.

“I’m pretty sure it’s from Orion,” she sighed. “He is really interested in Divination and Astrology; we had a conversation about birthstones a few weeks ago.”

She was careful to emit what had been written in the note that had come with the package.

Penny inhaled sharply. “Really? That’s so thoughtful! Fits him, I suppose.”

Lizzie concentrated on sipping her tea, only humming vaguely in response.

Sensing her friend being preoccupied with something, Penny tried to catch Lizzie’s gaze that was fixed on the grained wood of the table. “What’s wrong? Don’t you like it?”

Lizzie looked up hastily, subconsciously putting her hand to where her the topaz rested under her shirt. “Of course I do.”

“What’s the matter then?”

Lizzie sighed deeply and shook her head. “I don’t know; can we talk about something else?”

But Penny’s curiosity was stirred. “Is it because of what happened at the Weird Sisters concert?” she asked gently.

Lizzie’s head shot up. “Is there anyone who hasn’t seen us?” she cried in dismay, drawing glances from the other tables. She quickly lowered her voice. “How come you never talked to me about it?”

Penny only shrugged. “You know how it is; I see everything, I know everything.” Her eyes sparkled and she lowered her voice as well. “So, out with the facts: is there something between you and him?”

Lizzie raised her eyebrows and made a point of slowly taking another sip of her tea, looking at her prying friend over the rim of her cup. “I thought you knew everything,” she remarked wryly in the hope of buying herself some time.  

Penny didn’t let herself be distracted though. She was burning to get confirmation on what had crossed her mind more than a few times by now. “Is this why you were acting so anxiously lately?” she asked eagerly. “Something happened?”

“No,” Lizzie mumbled, now avoiding her inquiring eyes.

“But?” Penny prodded further. She could sense there was something her friend wasn’t telling her.

“No ‘but’,” Lizzie hissed angrily. Why couldn’t Penny just leave it at that? She had absolutely no desire to deal with her emotional mess sooner than she had to. “Nothing happened, nothing’s going on, nothing more to talk about.”

Penny was taken aback by Lizzie’s sudden change of mood. She knew her friend to always have an open ear for gossip and had more than once displayed her own relationship problems in front of her.

“Alright, I got the message; no need to snap at me,” she soothed her, still bewildered. “But you would be really cute together,” she couldn’t help but add cheerfully.

“Great how everyone seems to have an opinion on this,” Lizzie rolled her eyes. “Charlie said so as well.”

That took Penny by surprise. “He did? I thought he’d be jealous.”

Lizzie sighed again, but now she sounded more resigned than angry. “Why would he be? I don’t know what else I can do to convince people we are nothing more than friends. Why does no one understand?”

Penny could see how deeply Lizzie felt about this topic. “Maybe because it just doesn’t work very often, you know,” she answered softly. “There is almost always one wanting more than friendship.”

“Not with us,” Lizzie insisted.

“Are you sure? I mean, you actually kissed.”

“That didn’t mean anything.” Lizzie’s anger flared up again. Would they never give it a rest? She wished she hadn’t told them when they had been playing that stupid game in the first place.

Penny chose not to dwell on the subject to not ruin the mood any further.

But now it was Lizzie’s turn to rant on about it. “No one gets why we’re friends; I’m honestly sick of it. If Charlie was a girl, no one would bat an eye about our friendship. But a boy and a girl being friends is something nobody can even imagine working out. They just can’t see the bigger picture of it all.” She was talking herself into a rage and knew it, but she didn’t care.

“Take Skye, for example. I know she hates every moment I spent with Charlie with a passion, but not because he’s on another team; she’s perfectly fine with me and KC being friends. No, she is just dead set on getting the House Cup and afraid someone might distract me, so it would diminish our chances at winning,” Lizzie huffed.

Penny had gone silent at the mention of Skye. Lizzie remembered how Skye had told her she and Penny were still having issues.

“But that’s her, isn’t it?” Penny spoke softly. “It’s what makes Skye; she fastens onto something and doesn’t let go, for better or for worse.” She sounded incredibly sad.

Lizzie recalled what Skye had asked her to do after their last practise. As aggravating as she might be sometimes, she was still one of Lizzie’s closest friends and she wanted her and Penny to finally get over what had happened.

“It’s still strained between you, isn’t it?” she asked sympathetically.

“Yes,” Penny sighed. “It’s not the first time I’ve been in a situation like this, but never with such a close friend. Talking to her is so awkward; I don’t know how to act around her anymore.”

“Just act like you did before. All Skye wants is for things to go back to how they were, so she can concentrate on what matters to her. She gets a lot of pressure from home, you know?”

Penny looked up in surprise. “You think so?”

“I know it,” Lizzie corrected her. Ethan Parkin wasn’t the most pleasant person, but Lizzie knew how much Penny adored the star of the Wigtown Wanderers, so she kept her thoughts on him to herself.

“Skye thinks she has a legacy to uphold, which is why winning the House Cup means so much to her,” she elaborated instead. “And everything distracting her makes it harder for her to focus on her goal. Skye just wants things to go back to normal so she can be her old, over-ambitious self again.”

“And you think acting like nothing happened might work?” Penny still sounded very doubtful.

Lizzie shrugged her concerns off. “What do you have to lose? Many problems tend to solve themselves given some time.”

“So, your advice is, act like nothing happened and be friends with her again?” Penny asked again pointedly.

“Basically, yes.”

“Sounds like an advice you should listen to yourself then,” Penny muttered. “You running from Orion can’t be particularly good for the Hufflepuff team, can it?”

Lizzie groaned at her bringing Orion up again. “This is something very different.”

“Is it though?”

“Yes, it is!” Lizzie insisted stubbornly. “There is nothing wrong with him and me.”

Penny shook her head. “We’ve known each other for too long now, Liz; this doesn’t work with me.”

“But it’s true though; Orion and I aren’t a thing right now and we will certainly never be in the future.” Lizzie clarified with a finality she hoped would discourage Penny to prod into it any further.

But the other girl was an expert at picking up the underlying emotions in her voice. She had made out the hint of frustration that had stolen into Lizzie’s determined statement. It sounded more like she was trying to convince herself than Penny.

“Why?” she simply asked back.

Lizzie blinked in confusion. “What do you mean, why?”

“Why won’t you ever be a thing? Seems a bit harsh to completely rule things out forever.”

Lizzie’s eyes flickered to the side. She had subconsciously pulled her necklace out from her collar again, her nimble fingers toying with the yellow stone absentmindedly.

“No, it’s not,” she muttered. “We just can’t.”

Penny didn’t respond to her. If she knew one thing, it was people that needed to get something off their chests were best left to talk on their own accord.

And really, after a moment Lizzie let go off her necklace and picked up her teaspoon instead, nervously running her thumb over the shining silver over and over again.

“I really shouldn’t tell you,” she tried one last time.

Penny remained silent, giving the other girl time to figure out her next words.

“Alright,” Lizzie finally caved. “You know the tutoring sessions Rowan and I have with Orion?

Penny raised her eyebrows. “Yes, I never understood why you of all people are needing them in the first place.”

“That’s the point,” Lizzie replied. “Neither of us does. It was all Rowan’s idea.”

Now Penny was visibly confused. “Why would Rowan fake bad grades?”

Lizzie looked at her intently before she continued. “You must promise to keep this  to yourself, alright? Not even Rowan must know I told you this.”

Penny nodded in agreement.

“See, Rowan has had a crush on Orion for ages now. I know,” Lizzie added at Penny’s apparent surprise, “I had no idea as well. I offered help in setting them up and we needed a framework to do it.”

“So you’ve been taking lessons with Orion to get him interested in Rowan?”

Lizzie nodded. Coming out of Penny’s mouth it all suddenly sounded utterly ridiculous.

“This is why Orion and I could never be more than friends, you know? I could never betray Rowan like that. She is my best friend after all.” Lizzie raked her hand through her hair erratically, leaving her ponytail looking worse for wear.

“It all such a mess. I’m just glad she seems to be the one person who didn’t saw us dancing.”

“Yes, I believe she was at the bathroom when it happened,” Penny hummed in confirmation. “My goodness, I had no idea.” She seemed perturbed at the idea her friends had been able to hide such a major piece of information from her.

“What do you want to do now?”

Lizzie shrugged. “I don’t know. Follow my own advice maybe? Try to act as if nothing happened and hope things go back to normal. Or do you think I should come clean with him about what has been going on?”

Penny contemplated it for a moment. “I’m not sure this would be a good idea. You would have to rat Rowan out and Orion would probably be mad at both of you. That would actually help no one.”

“What then?”

“Have you thought about talking to Rowan about all of this?”

She saw Lizzie wince at the thought of confronting her friend. “Think about it, you could come up with something different together. And I would also advise on cancelling the tutoring,” she added.

Lizzie looked uncomfortable at the thought. “But what if I don’t want to?” she asked sheepishly. “Orion is a really good teacher. My grades shot through the roof since I started studying with him.” Lizzie chuckled wryly. “Who knows, I might come to actually enjoy Herbology in the end.”

Penny remained firm though. “I still think it would be for the best. At least until you have sorted yourself out.”

Lizzie didn’t reply; she seemed to be deeply lost in thought at her words.

“Believe me,” Penny told her gently, “it is never worth to risk a friendship over something like that.”

[skiesnbeyond]

“Military Monday” - Recently this KC46 has been putting in the work over in Europe as it’s also become my most viewed photo on @jetphotos.official looking forward to seeing income back home. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ➡️ Airline: USAF ➡️ Aircraft: Boeing KC-46A Pegasus ➡️ Reg: 18-46053 ➡️ Serial #: 41873 ➡️ Location: KPSM ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 📸 Camera: Nikon Z6 II 📸 Lens: Tamron 150-600 mm G2 . . ❗️❗️❗️ Head to my page 👉 @skiesnbeyond 👈 and follow for daily content ❗️❗️❗️ . . #️⃣ #planespotting #planespottinghd #planespotterpro #avgeek #avgeekphoto #avgeekspotting #avgeekspotter #avgeekery #aviationphotography #aviationpics #aviationpictures #aviationismylife #aviationinstagram #instagramaviation #instagramaviationphotography #ig_aviation #planesofinstagram #airplanelovers #airplanespotting #airplanephotos #airplanepictures #boeinglovers #boeingkc46 #kc46pegasus #militarymonday #militaryaviation #militaryaircraft #militaryaviationphotography (at Pease AFB, Portsmouth New Hampshire) https://www.instagram.com/p/CcNenniOsRK/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[austennerdita2533]

Sometimes I get sad that canon kc is over, I miss them and all that excitement. I loved the anticipation over the new scenes. But it seems the fandom is still going pretty strong. The klaroline bingo was so fun and now the sweer swap is coming! Im so excited to read the stories! I feel all of this truly makes up for the lack in canon. They are an amazing couple, I love how they brought so many talented people togheter and it is still so alive!

I know what you mean, lovely, because I feel the same way. 

That said, it’s normal to get sad and nostalgic when you think about an OTP’s canon journey being over - especially because it was so much fun theorizing and anticipating the content still to come with all the shippers, wondering how Klaus and Caroline would develop and watching as their romantic entanglements deepened in ways that were a mixture of intense and frustrating - but the Klaroline fandom is why so many of us have stuck around for so long. We have so much fun chatting, bonding, hosting fandom events, making pretty edits, writing drabbles and fics, and just all-out supporting one another. It’s brought so many people together in a variety of ways and I think that’s what has resonated. It’s why we’re still here.

For a lot of us, too, we’ve enjoyed fanon more than canon (even though the latter is where KC all began.) I know that’s how I feel personally haha. I love that there’s still a lot of activity in the fandom. That’ll probably slow over time a bit, as all old shows/ships do, but it won’t lessen anyone’s love for Klaroline. 

(Hell, I’ve been obsessed with Gilmore Girls since 2004 and here it is 2018 and I’m still screaming about it and writing/reading fic for my favorite characters/ships all the time. Others will do the same with KC, I imagine haha.)

Klaroween Bingo has been a smash event, such a blast, right? People are so creative and I love seeing all the inspired content. I can’t wait to partake in some Sweet Swap fics, either, btw! I haven’t been reading as much KC fic lately besides some drabbles here and there since I’ve been busy with work, so I’m looking forward to indulging. 

In short, this fandom is A M A Z I N G and I am so glad to be a part of it. xx

[kenzieam]

Stars and Shadows - Chapter 2 (Ivar and Sera)

Rating: M - Mature

Genre: General, maybe some drama and angst, definitely some romance and smut

@fuckyeahalexhoghandersen-deacti @my-emotional-self @bloodyivar @lupy22 @fortress-fiction @heathensisterwives @kduran04 @charliexowrite @angryschnauzer @rachiieeeee @ivarinleatherpants @ivars-heathen-army @neonxwitch @theheathenqueendickubus @dangerousvikings @zpandaqueen @irishhiggins  @didiintheblog  @mercy1997 @kawennote09  @iammarylastar @sparklemichele @son-of-anubis  @beltzboys2015-blog @paranoia-love @captstefanbrandt  @ivars-valkyrie @fullpeanutkoala @ruler-of-helheim @poopercoot @magical-mischief-makers

@angelswannawearmyredshooz @kc-7 @laketaj24 @ithinkthatsmykink @josthockeythings @pansexualpancakeslife @read-all-day @g4u15

@chessurkait @kiiiimberlyriiiicker1995 @dina-m16 @cxde-black @lol-haha-joke @sashli @jnecrobutcher @kickbacksnextdoor @funmadonahoghbadassvikings @dhunhdchrih @part-time-thot @proudcoiler88 @katshitcrazy @romanchronicles @beautifulramblingbrains @hvitserksgirl @theroyalwords @sassymcgonagal1651 @dakotamultifandomhoe @laricebabe @im-tired-please-stop

*If you want to be added or delete to the above list, let me know*

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This is a new Ivar and Sera AU story, set in modern times. I’m not really sure where I’m going with it yet, or what direction the characters are going to end up going, but I hope you follow with me…..

Well…. this escalated quickly…..

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“Takes one to know one, Ivar?”

Oh Holy Jesus, what did I just say? My face went instantly red with mortification, and I had a vision of Ragnar kicking us all out of his house, followed by Harald booting me out his front door, pinging my suitcase off my head and telling me to get lost. Why? What the hell? WHY HAD I JUST SAID THAT? My heart was just about ready to give out, but Ragnar threw his head back and laughed, and within a heartbeat everyone else was too, except Ivar, who was scowling at me even as Ubbe and Hvitserk elbowed him and roared.

Aslaug giggled ladylike into her hand and smiled sheepishly at her son. “You deserved that, Ivar; your filthy mouth.”

Ivar’s glare flicked towards his mother for the barest instant, then back to me and he cocked his head slightly to the side and quirked his brow in acknowledgement. I would get this one free, but next time he’d fire back.

Still snickering Ragnar swept his arm, gesturing us into the large formal dining room and, wouldn’t you know it, my new nemesis and I were seated across from each other. He didn’t let up the whole dinner, glowering at me the entire time, grumbling one word answers and picking at his food. After an initial frown from his parents they left him to stew, and I decided that this mood was a common one for Ivar, and one everyone knew was fruitless to try and draw him out of. Taco wanted to stay in my lap, but mom gave me the ‘mom-eye’ and I managed to convince him to stay under my chair instead.

The rest of Ivar’s brothers, plus Bjorn when he arrived, a tall blonde man who reminded me of a bear, provided the main entertainment. Like their parents, they ignored Ivar’s pissiness and prattled on surprisingly thoughtfully about the nearby town and the private school I would starting at; giving me tips and heads-up about which teachers to avoid and which classes they’d liked the best.

I was surprised when my innocent question about Harald and Ragnar’s business was quickly redirected, and I wondered briefly why they wouldn’t just say what they did. The most I could get out of them was that it was a ‘family’ business and that Harald and Ragnar had been partners in it for years, since Bjorn was a child, and that all three of the oldest sons worked in some capacity for them. I got the sense that it was already an unspoken understanding that all the sons would join the business once they graduated and I decided to save my questions for one of the brothers, or maybe mom.

The food was delicious and I was surprised to learn that Aslaug herself had cooked it; at first glance she didn’t seem like the domestic type, but I realized I’d misjudged her, and I wanted to get to know her better. The boys too, at first blush, had seemed like animals; loud and brash, masculine and muscular, but their attentiveness at dinner made me feel much more comfortable around them and I was startled to feel the beginnings of belonging, like I was already accepted, part of the group. It wasn’t something I was used to feeling, most of my friends had drifted away after my dad died, uncomfortable with my mom’s pervasive misery, and further scared off by my slightly bat-crazy aunt and the three hundred miles she’d put between them and I and I’d forced myself to become used to my new loner status; it was nice to have people around again.

“So, would you like a ride to school with Ivar Monday morning?” Ragnar asked as we were finishing dessert, an absolutely sinful tiramisu that I would kill to possess a full pan of.

I hadn’t given much thought yet to how I was getting to school and so it took a minute for me to answer; meanwhile, I had never seen anyone roll their eyes so hard before, Ivar must have been able to see his brain. Still without speaking he resumed his glower, but there was something more in his eyes this time, a challenge.

Game on, peckerhead.

“Sure,” I chirped. “What time?”

After supper was over the parents drifted into the nearby sitting room, where whiskey began being splashed liberally into coffee and conversation turned to things that bored me. I was just standing there awkwardly, holding Taco, trying to decide what to do when someone nudged my shoulder, hard. I turned to see Ubbe grinning at me, his blue eyes stunningly kind; he just exuded big brother.

“Up for some Playstation?” He grinned, gesturing down the stairwell the others had disappeared down moments before.

“I… uh-” I’d never had a gaming system growing up, and the few times I had played at friends I’d been the bizarre one that always had their tongue sticking out and jerking the controller from side to side thinking it helped my player jump farther.

Ubbe saw my hesitation and chuckled. “You can just watch for awhile. Hvitserk and I have some unfinished business with Call of Duty anyways. I think I saw Sigurd grab some chips, you want a snack?”

I shook my head, still full from supper and mildly amazed at the seeming genetic predisposition of boys to have bottomless appetites and hollow legs.

“C’mon then,” Ubbe grinned, slinging an arm around my shoulders, Taco growled mildly in warning but seemed content to leave it at that, tucking his head under my chin. There was nothing but sibling affection in his touch, the proverbial big brother who couldn’t help but bring everyone under his wing and I found myself smiling as we trekked down the stairs. The basement was just as sumptuous and sprawling as the upstairs. Ubbe gestured vaguely as we ventured to the centre of the main room, filled with comfortable looking couches and absolutely dominated by a huge projection screen, currently flashing with what looked like a World War II battle; to a bunch of closed doors. The basement had been divided into a set of wings, each one housing one of the brothers, except for Bjorn, who lived ten minutes away with his new bride. Ragnar was slightly old-school in the preference of keeping his brood close, like a Highland Clan, all under one roof, but each brother had their own locked set of rooms in the basement to call their own. It was somewhat endearing; they were like a big Viking family, all living together in a Great Hall.

The main room however, was something else. Honestly a bachelor’s wet dream, it was stuffed with all sorts of pinball machines and pool tables and gaming set-ups. I could play Foosball for awhile then turn and start right into an air-hockey game. The projection screen and couches were in a separate area that could be closed off to make an enclosed home theatre, but was currently open so I could hear Ivar yelling at Hvitserk, something about choosing the wrong rifle, you goddamn half-wit!

Seeing me approach Ivar smirked and patted the couch beside him, challenge glowing again in his eyes. I couldn’t help but take the bait and plopped myself dramatically by him with a theatrical sigh, pulling a large velvety cushion into my lap. Taco threw a mild, obligatory snarl Ivar’s way then burrowed under my arm, seeming to settle in for the night and Ivar smirked in amusement, turning his attention back to big screen.

It was almost embarrassing to admit how dazzled I was by the game. This was a long ways from Jenny Hicall’s garage sale Super Nintendo and I found myself having to close my mouth more than once, my jaw hanging open as I watched the manic action on the screen, ducking and muffling shrieks into the cushion as grenades exploded and shrapnel flew.

Sigurd managed to ignore all of us and sat in a quiet corner, plucking idly at an acoustic guitar. Hvitserk and Ubbe were completely wrapped up in their game, concentrating intently on their players, fingers flying over the controllers. They lobbed playful, mild insults at each other, half-baked challenges and ‘yo’ momma’ insults, at one point even kicking at each other while still banging at their controllers. By now I’d tucked my feet up under me, leaning forwards and laughing ‘till it hurt at their antics. I hadn’t had fun like this in a while. Taco had crawled up and now lay on the top of the couch, by my head, and was snoring softly, seemingly used to this chaos.

It was then that I felt a hand on my knee. Unnoticed by me, Ivar had gradually moved closer, and was now sitting right beside me. I snapped my head towards him, surprised. There was still the smirk on his handsome face, still the challenge but, buried underneath all of that, barely visible in those supernatural eyes, was something else that I couldn’t put my finger on.

I was still a virgin, but not a prude. My aunt was a very free and open person, and living with her had taught me not to fear or feel ashamed of my sexuality, that is was normal and not meant to be repressed. She’d encouraged me to explore, as long as I stayed safe, and I had a few times, to a certain extent. Her friend Alan’s son Jonathan had been an eager partner and a quasi-boyfriend for a few months before I’d moved back with mom. We’d cuddled and fondled each other on the couch or in my room quite a bit, and I knew what lay heavy between a man’s legs, what it looked like, how it would harden and rise if you stroked it, or let him play with and nuzzle your bare breasts. My aunt’s matter-of-factness regarding sex had taken the mystery out of it, and I felt sorry for kids who were denied such frankness, taught that abstinence was the only way. It wasn’t fair, or practical, but back to the present.

No one else had noticed us and I stared back into Ivar’s eyes as he watched me, as his hand slowly crept higher. I wasn’t adverse to this idea, quite the opposite. From first glance with Ivar I’d been feeling this low-level charge between us, this pull I’d never felt before. I wouldn’t have teased him upstairs, or sat beside him if I hadn’t felt it, and I wanted to take it further. I wasn’t looking to lose my virginity right here, with an audience of his brothers and our parents upstairs, but I wasn’t ready to push his hand away just yet.

His breath caught as his fingers brushed the hem of my dress and wriggled under. I couldn’t stop my own little gasp as my skin started to tingle under his touch; and the fact that Ubbe and Hvitserk were only a few feet away, their backs to us as they battled, only added to my excitement, and, it seemed, to Ivar’s.

I recognized the look hiding in Ivar’s eyes now. There was challenge, and attraction, but there was also enquiry; about whether I was comfortable with this or not. And, buried underneath that, was fear, uncertainty that I would say no, reject him and push him away. For the briefest second I got the feeling that deep down, Ivar was vulnerable; that for all his posturing and bluster, he was in many ways just a scared little boy, trying to prove himself an equal to his god-like brothers. He wouldn’t force himself on me, but he’d also never gotten much farther than this with a girl before, and he was scared shitless that I would reject him too.

I bit my lip, gave him a tentative smile. Feeling empowered and somewhat naughty I reached down, keeping my eyes locked on Ivar’s and touched his hand, pulling it slightly higher, pushing up my dress in the same motion. I didn’t miss the widening of Ivar’s eyes, the flash of excitement and amazement in his heated gaze. His fingers pressed harder against my thigh, and I saw his lips part as his breathing grew heavier.

Thank the gods the game was loud, Hvitserk and Ubbe even louder, and no one heard the moan I desperately tried to bite back when Ivar brushed his fingers against my underwear. His touch was tentative and he was gnawing on his bottom lip, eyes blazing, boring into mine before dropping down to stare in awe. His hand had pushed my dress higher, almost to the juncture of my thighs. I moved the large cushion between us, hiding most of us from his brothers if they decided to turn around and licked my lips, hoping Ivar wasn’t done yet. His fingers pressed harder, pulling back slightly in surprise as he felt wetness then pressing again, rubbing against me. I dropped my head back, fighting a moan. I’d let Jonathan touch me like this, but it hadn’t felt this good and I found myself spreading my thighs wider, begging Ivar to continue. He pulled another cushion into his own lap, to hide the growing bulge and swallowed hard, staring avidly at his questing fingers, at my damp panties. Seeming to come to a decision, he inhaled deeply and pushed my underwear to the side, both of us jolting slightly when his fingers curled into my folds.

I couldn’t stop myself from pushing into his hand, and Ivar’s eyes flicked to mine, wide with exhilaration and forbidden lust before dropping back. His thumb rolled experimentally over my clit and my hips bucked underneath his hand as I clamped down on a whimper, he groaned in response. I fought to focus past myself, so far no one had noticed us, Ivar’s brothers still playing, but we needed to be careful, we couldn’t get too loud, or move too much, and draw unwanted attention. I had no idea how anyone would react to Ivar fingering me on the family couch, but I wasn’t ready to find out yet.

Heat was building between my legs as Ivar continued his tentative exploration. He was growing bolder, flashing me a heated glance as his fingers slid through my growing juices. I saw his other hand disappear under his cushion, faintly heard a zipper pull down. His hand jerked slightly when he gripped himself, eyes rolling back into his head for a second and my pulse raced even harder. Biting his lip, pressing past any lingering hesitation, Ivar suddenly pushed his finger inside me, and I saw his hips buck under the cushion as he bit back a groan, his hand beginning to move faster. I managed to hold in my gasping moan, my sharp inhalation as a wave of pleasure gripped me. I’d brought myself to orgasm before, never with anyone else, but I recognized the telltale tightening, the sweet pressure building between my legs.

Panting quietly now Ivar added another finger, eyes boring into mine as he started moving harder and faster into me, fucking me with his fingers. Our bodies had taken over, moving on instinct and I bit down on my fist to hold in my mounting moans. Sweat beaded on Ivar’s brow and an animal sheen gleamed in his eyes now, desire and need darkening his iris’, blowing his pupils wide. I doubted I looked much different and no longer cared.

The wave crested and I dropped my head back, gnawing on my fist to stop from crying out, hips bucking as Ivar’s fingers curled and slid inside me, brushing that sweet spot. I felt his hand tense, his fingers twitch inside me as he suddenly shuddered beside me, arching forward slightly, eyes squeezing shut as he came, spilling into his hand, teeth gritted to stop a guttural groan. After a beat he slumped backwards, eyes fluttering shut, then he turned his gaze back to me. Holding my eyes he pulled his hand free from my still-throbbing sex and brought his hand to his mouth, pushing his fingers into his mouth and sucking off the juices. My heart started to race again, but movement at the corner of my eye caught my attention at last. I straightened, closing my legs and yanking my dress down, saw Ivar adjust himself in a similar fashion as Ubbe, who’d just a second ago tossed his controller aside with a yell, turned back to us.

His eyes narrowed as he took us in, hair dishevelled, cushions covering us, breathing heavily and he opened his mouth to speak. My heart jumped in my chest, oh Jesus, had he guessed correctly, would Ubbe call us out? Thank the gods, however, Hvitserk unknowingly saved us; with a bellow he launched himself at Ubbe, clearly not done playing yet and knocked him over, pulling his older brother into a headlock as he howled with laughter. Ubbe’s attention was stolen away by the attack and they started to tussle, throwing mild insults back and forth like a game of catch. Sigurd, who’d remained blissfully ignorant of Ivar and I, glanced up disinterestedly before dropping his head again, still strumming at his guitar.

Ivar and I took advantage of the distraction to finish disguising our activities. I grabbed a handful of kleenex from the table beside me and chucked them at Ivar before jumping to my feet and dashing to the door I remembered being told was the bathroom. Once inside I shut the door and locked it, leaned against it and caught my breath. Wow. My body was still humming, sex still pulsing, the memory of Ivar’s long and strong fingers inside me stirring another wave of pleasure. I clamped down hard on it, pushing the feeling away and pulled out drawers until I found a washcloth to wet and clean myself with. Only when I was sure that I no longer looked freshly finger-fucked did I leave the bathroom and make my way back to the couch. Ubbe and Hvitserk had made up, and the game was blasting again. As I sat down Ivar appeared from what must have been his room and Ubbe looked away from the screen to watch his younger brother return to the couch. His eyes followed Ivar, his head turning and he stared at the two of us for a long moment as Ivar sat back down on the opposite end of the couch, narrowing his eyes.

Silently I pleaded with my eyes for Ubbe to let this slide, to not say anything that would undoubtedly start a shitstorm like you’d never seen and his glare flicked between Ivar and I. I looked over at Ivar to see the same plea in his eyes, coupled with something more. A stubborn pride, a defiance. He was proud, boldly owning his actions and I was startled when his hand suddenly gripped mine in a display of solidarity. I squeezed his hand and he returned it, jutting his chin at Ubbe. Ubbe looked back to me, still doubtful and I couldn’t stop a bashful smile, my cheeks warming.

After a long moment, he seemed to come to a decision, Ivar and I both exhaling in relief when he nodded once and winked, wagging his finger at us only half-teasingly. Play safe, he mouthed, then turned back to the game.

I sagged back into the couch, smiling when Ivar pulled me closer. This definitely wasn’t going to be a one-time thing.