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scribeforchrist-blog · 5 days ago

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Consuming Fire 🔥

MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK

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+ James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

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VERSE OF THE DAY

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Hebrews 12:29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”

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** SAY THIS BEFORE YOU READ; HERE’S SOME CHRISTIAN TRUTHS **

I AM LETTING GOD CONSUME MY LIFE

I AM BOLD

I AM BEAUTIFULLY, WONDERFULLY MADE

I AM HIS

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READ TIME: 7 Minutes & 6 Seconds

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THOUGHTS:

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Fire is something we need if we are camping. Fire was used to start stoves, which is helpful, but many of us don’t use it because we no longer need those types of stoves. Still, what we can do with Fire is light up an entire area, guide us in a dark space, and even keep us warm and comfortable. There's so much we can do with Fire. Still, the thing is to keep the Fire going, we must bring the wood.

Many of us don’t want to do this, so we go to quicker things, like electrical stoves and fireplaces. Still, when we take the time to look at this, God is the consuming Fire in our lives. He can comfort us in a dark place, even when we feel lost, and brighten our lives so we may see the right way which is his way. Some of us spend most of our time avoiding the Fire because we don't want to do anything that would cause us to change.

When we are consumed with God's holy Fire, we are consumed with his love. We often desire to change; we don’t change because we are scared, and honestly, when I was in the world, I didn’t feel scared. I just loved myself a lot; I was prideful. I didn’t see any need to change me. Still, when I gave my life to God, I realized I was missing Him this whole time: a genuine relationship with God. Some of us miss the whole point of having a relationship with God. We see him as an ATM, or we see him as someone we can go to over and over, but what we must understand is that God can give us what we need and more, and what he can give us way more then temporary things but a everlasting thing.

Deuteronomy 4:29 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

It says it here again: God is consuming Fire and he’s a jealous God that doesn’t want his time shared nor does he want us to forget who he is too; that was one of the problems with the Israelites; they kept forgetting the Fire that led them through the night they forgot about the Fire that set them free from their chains, this is the same God that causes their enemies to be drowned by the red sea, this is the same God that supplied them with manna from on high.

God's love is so consuming that it becomes Fire that destroys our addictions, destroys our faults, and burns up the worst part of us ; his Fire is so consuming that a lot of times, we don’t realize that once we are on Fire for God, Fire takes over and can strengthen us, but God fire is so powerful, have you tried to bring yourself to the Fire? Have you tried to let go of your problems and do it on your own and not allow God to consume you, the problem is we are scared of the Fire, and we shouldn’t be , it won't burn us, the Bible says let it be a light into my feet and a light into my path that’s what God’s fire can do for our lives it can show us a different way his way into doing everything .

Deuteronomy 9:3 Know today that he who goes over before you as a consuming fire is the Lord your God. He will destroy them and subdue them before you. So, you shall drive them out and make them perish quickly, as the Lord has promised you.

God can take care of our enemies; a lot of times, we don’t let this Fire consume us; we just put the Fire out the moment we see change, but we must allow God to take care of everything just like he went before tons of peoples and took care their enemies that’s what God wants to do for you, he wants to handle everything. Still, we must allow him to; the moment we see the change, we stop doing what we are doing, but we must continue to pray to continue to read our word and praise him because these things will create a change In us that will cause our enemies to leave us alone because when people see Jesus in someone’s life, they usually leave them alone because they realize who they have on their side.

Jeremiah 23:29 Is not my word like Fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock into pieces

This is precisely what the Holy Spirit was saying: his word is like a fire and hammer. The word can break anything loose in your life, and the Fire can consume anything that shouldn’t be, but we must read it for this to happen. The days we take to avoid it, we are doing ourselves a disservice, but when we take our time and consume the word, it can change us completely.

*** Today, we learned about how God can consume us with his Fire and how he can change us and comfort us all at the same time; when God's word comes in it pierce our heart it might hurt, but God will be there to comfort us as well. He doesn’t want us to be lost. He wants to be found, but to be found, we must allow the Fire to consume our lives.

Psalm 97:3 Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around.

We also learned how he can consume our enemies; a lot of us don’t ask God for help; we don’t ask God to stop this or that from happening; either we don’t believe he will, or we don’t believe in him, but when we believe in God he will show our enemies why he is called the protector, the comforter he will protect us at all times, nothing can happen to us unless God wills it. If you feel lost or unsure, go to God today and ask him to help you understand his Fire. ©Seer~ Prophetess Lee

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PRAYER

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Heavenly Father, we thank you for everything; we ask you today to consume us with your fire lord every day; we want to be tried by you and be consumed by you; we give you our lives right now, Lord; pour out a fresh anointing upon our lives, Lord, we thank you for everything, please guide our lives wherever we go. Lord, we ask you to help us be more like you, compassionate and loving. Lord, most of all, help us understand your words and apply them to our lives in Jesus' name. Amen.

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REFERENCES

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+ 1 Kings 18:38 Then the Fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water in the trench.

+ Leviticus 10:2 And Fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord

+ Revelation 20:15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of Fire

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FURTHER READINGS

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Proverbs 5

Deuteronomy 6

Joshua 1

Job 24

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chalterdh22 · 1 year ago

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Chapter 29: Can we Talk About Last Night?

After my little meet and greet with Din, the night went sloooooooowwwwww! At 6 am I made my way back to our patrol post, returned my comm and weapons, and made my way out to the speeder. Stuck on the speeder was a note from Greef. “Talked to your mom for you. You should call her back though!” Ugh, yeah, I should.

I grabbed the note, threw it away and went back inside to use their long-distance comm.

“Suri to Peli. Come in Peli.” I spoke into the mouthpiece. “Mom, hello? You there?”

“Yes, I’m here! What are you getting on about having someone send me messages about you? You told me 7 days! It’s been over three weeks!” Boy, she’s upset. I just let her yell. She had every reason to be angry.

“Mom, mom, I get it! I’m sorry! I should have touched base. Did Greef tell you I got a job here?”

“Of course, he did! And I don’t know about that either. It sounds dangerous, Suri!”

“Mom, it’s a safe city. Not much happens here, not like Tatooine!”

“Ok, ok. Whatever you say, I’ll believe. So, what’s been going on? Anything fun? You didn’t kill off Din, did you? No, don’t tell me, just tell me if my little man is ok!”

Grogu is great! Din is still alive, thank you very much.” I was full blown smiling at this point. Ugh, I wanted to tell her about my predicament, but didn’t really want to involve her if nothing is going to happen. One guy is gone for a few weeks, and the one is socially special, and super dangerous!

“I worry about you too, but honestly girl, I didn’t know how well you would get along with him. I mean, you’re not like me! I get along with everyone!”

“Sure, sure, Mom. Of course, you do.”

“Hey, I have to go. Some spider head is out back, and I think he’s trying to steal something. Love you girl! Hope to see you soon!” And then she disconnected. I shook my head, oh mom, I thought. Somethings never change. I should really get back and see her in the next couple of weeks though.

I walked back out to my speeder, hopped in, and rode back to the cabin. Din was running through my head, like what would I say when I saw him? Do I go up and hug him, or just act normal? Would Grogu know something happened? And then I felt the small beat of the necklace Trevo gave me flopping on my neckline. Ugh, what am I supposed to do now? Did Din know we had kissed? Should I say something.

Seriously, years go by and nothing! Now, there’s two guys, who are night and day different, who actually liked me, and I liked them.

By the time all these thoughts went through my brain, I arrived at the cabin. I just need to sleep I thought. I hopped off the speeder, walked in and Din was in the kitchen with the kid, making him something to eat. Well, here we go, I thought. I threw my new bag, which now had a new swimsuit in it, on the sofa.

“Hey guys! Good morning!” Grogu was busy eating, who knows what, and Din was using the stove, so his back was to me. I walked slowly up to him, hugged him around his waist. “Good morning.” I whispered softly. He stopped what he was doing, removed it from the stove so it wouldn’t burn and turned to me. He took his hands, and gently held me.

“Good morning.” I leaned into his chest and gave him a big hug. “Do you want something to eat?”

“Sure, but then I have to sleep.” I sat down with him and ate at the table with Grogu. The kid actually saw me sitting there and waddled over to me. He touched the necklace Trevo borrowed to me and cooed. “I know. Isn’t it pretty? It’s a gift, but I have to give it back. It’s for safe keeping is all.”

“Where did you get it?”

“From a friend.”

“Hm, and why does this friend want it back?” I kept shoveling food in my mouth as to not have to answer. Finally, I stopped chewing and looked at him.

“He has to take care of some business on another planet and gave me it to hold onto for him for when he returns, is all.” I didn’t really make eye-contact when I said that which made what I said even more weird. I yawned and quickly stood up. “I’m going to sleep now if that’s ok.” I quickly said and dropped on the couch, as not to give him another option. Ugh, I feel horrible acting like this.

Din got up, walked to the sofa by my head, and kneeled next to me. “We should probably talk about last night.” He put his gloved hand on my head. It felt so good.

“I know. We will. I promise. Can you wake me up in 6 hours please?”

“Yes.” He stood up. I heard the door open, and they both left. I threw a pillow over my eyes and fell asleep.

“Suri. Wake up, Suri.” I felt my shoulders being shaken slightly. I blinked my eyes open, and Din was right next to my head again, squatting down.

“Hey,” I said sleepily. “Has it been 6 hours?”

“Yes.” He stood up and took my hand to help me up. I gave him a hug. He leaned his helmet onto my shoulder. “What were you dreaming about?”

My eyes opened wide. Sometimes I remember and sometimes not. “Why? Did I hurt anyone? Is everything ok?” I asked panicking, sitting back on the couch. He sat down next to me softly.

“No, no! Nothing like that. It’s just, you were whispering my Din a few times, and you had the cutest smile on your face.” I had sunk back onto the couch, turning all red.

“Don’t watch me sleep, Din! Geesh!”

“I wasn’t. I heard you say my name and I went inside to see if you needed something. I realized you were still asleep.”

“Oh, ok. No, I don’t remember what I was dreaming about.” I paused and grinned at him. “Probably me taking you down in a real fight or something! That’d explain my smile at least!” I laughed, and he sighed, getting to his feet. “Where’s the kid?”

“Pond. Can we talk now?”

“Yeah, just let me wash up quickly.” About 20 minutes later, I came out and felt totally refreshed now. I grabbed a piece of fruit and bread off the counter and walked to Din who was outside, down by the pond. I sat down next to him and started to eat.

“Feel better?” I nodded with food in my mouth. He chuckled.

He let me scarf my food down, like I usually do. I leaned back on my elbows, stretching out a bit. Din turned to look at me now. “So,” I started. “About last night,”

“Wait, can I start?” he asked quickly, cutting me off. He seemed to have something to say, which was perfect because I had no clue!

I sat up next to him now. “Sure!”

He sighed and held my hands in his lap. “Last night was one of the best nights I have ever had.” He paused. His voice sounded weirder than normal. I turned and totally faced him, realizing how difficult this was for him. He probably never has dealt with something like this before. I squeezed his hands tighter.

“It’s ok. Tell me what you want to say.” Reassuring him, everything will be ok.

“I don’t know how to be there for you. I don’t know what you need from me.”

“We can do everything at your pace. I’m patient. Your relationship with Grogu didn’t happen in one night, right?”

“No, it didn’t.”

“See, sometimes it takes time to figure out what we need from each other. There’s no right way to handle this.”

He nodded and sighed again. “I must take Grogu on a mission tomorrow. We should be back in a week. Is that ok?”

I all but laughed. “Did a Mandalorian ask me if it was ok for him to go on a mission? That’s a first!” I said teasingly. I looked at him and he was still. “You know what I want? When you are home, I would like to not be talking to a wall! I want some reaction, good, bad, or ugly! I want a small bit of sense of humor to come out of you! That’s what I want!” I all but was yelling at him. I knew he wouldn’t just change completely, but at least he knew he could let his guard down around the kid and me.

“Ok, but I’m not telling any jokes.” Wait, was that a joke?

#grogu #pedro pascal #star wars #the mandalorian #mandalorian and grogu #din djarin x reader #din djarin x you #grogu djarin #mando

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whimsicallyenchantedrose · 2 years ago

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Christmas Reruns: Day 15—Home for Christmas

Rating: G

Word Count: 2642

Other chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

Notes: Today’s story was written during the hiatus between 5a and 5b, so obviously a number of the Underworld events referred to in the story did not come to pass. We’ll just call this a canon divergence. Newly back from the underworld, Emma finds a way to give Killian the best Christmas present he could ever hope to get.

Genre: CS 5b canon divergence

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Emma woke, as she woke every morning any more—with a smile on her lips and a song in her heart. The sun shone brightly into her bedroom window, letting her know it would be time to get up soon, but her bed was warm and cozy and she had no intention of leaving it until she had to. She stretched and turned over, hoping to spend a few more minutes snuggling with her husband before it was time to start the day.

Only her hand landed on empty sheets rather than a furry pirate chest. Emma sat up abruptly, her heart stilling before beginning to race, the panic hitting with no warning.

It had been three months since she, Killian and the rest of her family had returned from the Underworld, and though time had eased the pain of their two-month-long ordeal with the darkness and Killian’s subsequent death, it was still difficult for Emma to let her true love out of her sight; it was still difficult to keep the fear at bay whenever they were apart.

Emma tossed the covers aside, stepped into her furry slippers, and wrapped herself in her warm bathrobe. She tossed open the bedroom door, and hurried into the hall. No sooner had she stepped out of her room then the smell of frying bacon teased her nose, and the sound of her boys talking and laughing met her ears.

She let out the breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. They were fine. They were both fine; safe, happy, and here with her.

“Come on, Killian!” Henry cajoled. “It’s Christmas morning! Can’t we just wake her up? She’ll sleep all day if we let her, and I can’t wait for you guys to open my present!”

Emma grinned as she stepped into the kitchen and leaned against the doorframe waiting for her two true loves to notice her.

“You know as well as I that’s a dangerous prospect lad,” Killian said, turning toward the stove and flipping the pancakes with the handy spatula attachment he’d replaced his hook with for the task at hand. “You know full well that waking your mother is akin to bearding the lion in its den.”

Emma cleared her throat, masking her amusement with a fierce scowl. “Excuse me?”

Two pairs of startled eyes met hers, and then Killian reached up to scratch at that much abused spot behind his ear. “Merry Christmas, love! I just…I wanted to let you sleep. I didn’t mean…you see, we understand. But when you don’t get your sleep you are sometimes…not that you aren’t bloody brilliant at all times, but…”

Emma chuckled, sauntered up to him, and placed a quick kiss against his lips. “Merry Christmas, Killian, and I think you’d better stop while you’re ahead.”

She noticed the tips of his ears reddening as she pulled back. “Aye, love. Perhaps you’re right.”

Henry launched himself at her, wrapping her in an exuberant hug. “Merry Christmas, mom!”

“You too, kid. From what I heard, it sounds like someone’s excited to open presents.”

He grinned. “Yeah, maybe a little. But Killian convinced me it would be better to have breakfast first.”

Emma’s stomach growled. “Smart man. So what can I help you guys with?”

Killian stepped to her side, kissed her cheek and handed her a mug of hot cocoa, topped, of course with whipped cream and cinnamon. “Not a thing at all, my love. You do so much for us, for all of the townsfolk. It’s time you allow your men to spoil you.”

“Yeah, mom!” Henry said, turning her toward the living room. “Why don’t you go relax; maybe turn on some Christmas music.”

Her smile widened. “How could I say no to that?”

After turning on the stereo, Emma settled into their plush, comfortable couch, looking up at their magnificent Christmas tree as she sipped at her cocoa.

This was Killian’s first Christmas in the land without magic, and Emma and Henry had been determined to make this a holiday to remember. Her inquisitive husband had jumped into the holiday traditions with both feet, spending long hours searching out books and movies about the season, peppering everyone with questions, setting out to fulfill each and every time-honored ritual.

He and Henry had taken an axe and trekked into the woods on the morning after Thanksgiving, and they’d subsequently returned with the biggest, most magnificent Christmas tree Emma had ever seen. The three of them had spent hours stringing it with lights, hanging ornaments, positioning it just so, ensuring it was an outward expression of their inner joy.

Killian had gone on to hang three stockings on the mantle–meticulously neat and tidy, of course—and sprigs of mistletoe everywhere he could think of. Emma had to admit, she was rather glad she’d told Killian about that particular tradition.

(Henry, not so much. The way he complained about the two of them making out all the time you’d think the kid was traumatized for life. Henry couldn’t fool her, though. She saw the pleased grins he tried to hide behind his eye rolls and groans of adolescent angst. Truth was, all of them were utterly, stupidly happy just to be together and alive and in the land of the living. Not much would really annoy any of them for some time to come.)

The result was that their home looked like something out of one of those cheesy Christmas movies, and Emma couldn’t be happier.

Other than the year with Henry in New York, Emma had never been much for Christmas. Watching all those happy families smiling and laughing, enjoying each other’s company, the love and joy clearly showing on each of their faces—well, it was nothing short of agonizing for a lonely, lost girl.

But she wasn’t a lonely lost girl anymore. She was part of a family—a family she deeply loved, and one that she knew loved her just as much.

She couldn’t ask for anything more perfect or more magical. Christmas was a time for love, a time for family. Emma smiled to herself as she thought about the plans she and her parents had made for today. She had one last plan for making this a Christmas her husband would never forget, one last surprise for the man who’d proven there was nothing he wouldn’t do for her; the man who had given her her happy ending. When her parents had come to her with the idea, she’d cried, overwhelmed at the beauty of the plan, at the joy it would bring Killian.

Yes, Christmas was a time for family, and she was bound and determined to show her pirate that he never needed to spend a lonely holiday—or any other day—again.

~c~s~c~s~c~s~c~s~c~s~

Emma laughed at something Henry said, and Killian smiled to himself, picking up her hand and lacing their fingers as they walked. It was a bitterly cold afternoon, but yesterday’s snowstorm had given way to a brilliantly sunny Christmas day, and he and Emma and the lad had decided to walk the few blocks to her parents’ abode for Christmas dinner.

It did his heart good to see his wife so happy. The darkness and its consequences had weighed heavily on both of them, and for weeks after their return, Emma had woken nearly every night with the nightmares. The haunted look had finally begun to leave her face; the fear to leave her eyes. Killian knew her excitement over this Christmas holiday was a large factor, and for that alone, he would adore this holiday to the end of his days.

Killian sighed softly to himself, careful not to let his small family hear the wistful sound. He was happy; truly he was. Having Emma as his wife, Henry as his son…it was more than he could have ever dreamed. Not for anything in all the realms would he give up this life he was privileged to lead.

This holiday, this Christmas, it put such emphasis on love, on family joining together. He loved Emma and Henry with all his heart; he was profoundly humbled and grateful for the way Emma’s parents had welcomed him with open arms into their family. (Even now, some three months later, his eyes still welled remembering the moment he realized not only Emma and her lad, but her parents, Regina and Locksley had all travelled to the Underworld for him, because they cared about him, because they couldn’t stand the thought of him being gone from their lives.)

Even so, there was a bit of bitterness mixed in with the sweet. The truth was, Killian missed his family—his beloved brother and the father he’d been privileged to reconcile with in the Underworld. It had been a beautiful time among the horror and ashes, and Killian would never be able to fully express his gratitude to Emma for agreeing to wed him there, in the underworld with Liam as officiant and his papa as witness.

But all things must come to an end. When he and Emma succeeded in breaking Hades’ stranglehold over the Underworld, his father and brother had finally been ushered to their eternal reward in the land of paradise. Killian had willingly returned to the land of the living with his new wife at his side, secure in the knowledge that the two men he loved more than anyone in any realm (save for the woman beside him) were finally happy and at peace.

Henry ran ahead up the steps and knocked on the Charmings’ door, his gift for Grandma and Gramps held proudly in his free hand. A moment later, the lady Snow opened the door and soon enveloped each of them, in turn, in a warm, motherly hug.

“So glad you guys got here!” she said, ushering them inside. “Dinner’s almost ready.”

Killian looked around at the assembled group, the Charmings, the young prince Neal, Regina and Robin with their children–all smiled happily, talking and laughing, welcoming him with joy. It was enough. It was far more than enough; far more than he’d ever thought to have. Far more than enough to push the tiny ache of loss to the far corner of his mind.

“Smells good in here!” Henry said, peering into the oven. “Did you make your famous lasagna, mom?”

Regina ruffled Henry’s hair. “That I did. And my apple turnovers—and don’t worry, Miss Swan…er…Mrs. Jones, this batch is completely free of sleeping curse—for dessert.”

“Awesome!” Henry said. “Can we eat?”

“In just a minute kid,” Emma said. “We just have to wait until a couple more people get here.”

Killian looked around in surprise. It appeared the family was all assembled. “Who else are we missing, love?”

Emma shared a look with her parents, and Killian noticed the tears in her eyes, the secret smile on her face.

Charming stepped forward, holding out a small, non-descript canteen, which Killian automatically took. “Hook…Killian,” he began, “before Merida took the portal back to her land, she gave us a gift as a token of her appreciation. That canteen you’re holding.”

“That was…thoughtful,” Killian said, staring in bemusement at the object in question.

“Yes, it was. It really was,” Snow said, stepping forward in her turn, “but it’s not the canteen, but the ale that’s in it that’s the real gift.”

“Killian,” Emma said, smiling up at him. “It’s not just any ale. It’s a special ale Merida got from a witch in her land. The person who pours it on the ground can bring back loved ones who have passed on—temporarily at least.”

Killian’s eyes widened, and he shot startled looks at all of them. “You mean…you mean, I could bring…?”

“Yeah,” Charming said. “We discussed it, and we all agreed. That last cup of ale should go to you. Emma wanted to make your first Christmas special; she thought you might like to invite your own family to our feast.”

Killian’s vision blurred as he looked down at his wife. “You’d do this for me, love?”

She reached up and cupped his face, bringing him down for a quick kiss. “I’d do anything for you, Killian. I thought you’d know that by now. I know how much you miss them, and, well, I just wanted to make you happy.”

Killian smiled shakily, returning her kiss, brushing away a tear from her cheek. “You do make me happy, love. Every day you make me happy. I wouldn’t trade our life together for anything.”

“I know,” she said with a smile, “but it doesn’t mean you don’t miss those you’ve lost. I get that. I really do. So, when I found out there was a way to bring them back for the afternoon, I hopped right on that. Besides, I think it would be amazing to have the whole family together for Christmas.

“I love you,” he said, swooping in for another kiss.

“And I love you.”

“All of this love is great,” Regina drawled, “but you think we could get on with it? My lasagna just came out of the oven, and if it gets cold because of your yearning looks and doe eyes, I might start throwing fireballs.”

Killian grinned. “I wouldn’t dare risk such a thing, your majesty.”

Taking a deep breath, he pulled the stopper from the canteen and poured its contents on the floor of the Charming’s loft. Before it hit the ground, it transformed into a fine, golden mist, and when it cleared Liam and Brennan Jones stood before him, brilliant grins draping their handsome faces.

“It looks like you’ve done quite well for yourself, little brother,” Liam said, stepping forward.

“I think you mean ‘younger’ brother,” Killian said, voice suspiciously gravelly, before launching himself into his brother’s arms.

~c~s~c~s~c~s~c~s~c~s~

Several hours later, Emma lay in bed with her head cushioned on her true love’s chest. She reached up and absently fiddled with the charms on his necklace as she listened to the winter wind howl outside.

Killian leaned down and captured her lips in a tender kiss that went on and on. When it finally came to an end, she rested her forehead against his.

“Not that I’m complaining, but what was that about?” She asked, smiling at him.

“I love you so bloody much, Emma, sometimes I cannot contain myself.”

She chuckled, settling back in against his chest and planting a quick kiss against the space above his heart. “I love you too. So how was your first Christmas? Did it live up to all the hype?”

Killian was silent for a moment, absently running his fingers through her hair. “It was everything I could have imagined and far more, love. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You will never know what those two hours with my brother and my father meant to me.”

“I think I can guess,” she said. “We’re kindred spirits, remember? The lost boy and the lost girl who finally found each other.”

“Not lost anymore, love,” he said, and she felt the deep rumble of his voice as much as she heard it. “Though we each possess but half a heart now, mine has never felt so whole or complete. Liam may have spoken of all the wonders he’s found in paradise, but I’d wager no wonder could compare to having you here in my arms on this Christmas night.

NEXT CHAPTER-->

#cs ff #captain swan fanfiction #christmas reruns 2022 #my fanfiction

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georgeromerosanalcavity · 2 years ago

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I posted 24,902 times in 2022

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I think to calm Tom down for a bit they should dress an American Girl doll like Greg so he can bite it and hug it and hit it on stoves and stuff until he gets tuckered out

458 notes - Posted June 10, 2022

When Greg got Tom’s lattes, which were the weirdest most humiliating fairy flavors possible, Greg would try to say they were for his pregnant wife, giving more and more made up detail and information about when she’s due, baby names, the immorality of gender reveal parties, etc. each time taking his latte from the counter with a “Cravings right?” Anyway it comes to a point where its been over nine months. One of the baristas that doesn’t hate him mentions this, asking what it’s like to be a new dad. Greg panics and says his girlfriend died during childbirth and that he’s only getting her latte today in her memory. He never steps foot in there again. Anyway, months later, Greg doesn’t get Tom his coffee anymore and Tom just decides to take a nice walk and get one himself. He finds the coffee shop. Mention his latte which sends all the baristas’ eyebrows up. He catches this saying “Oh yeah sorry my work hubby isn’t picking it up today haha”.

I’ve lost steam on this post. I don’t care. The punchline is that a bunch of random baristas now think Tom is the ghost of Greg’s pregnant wife. What the fuck ever.

511 notes - Posted October 11, 2022

Greg calling it Tom’s “shivorce” and being thrown off a building

522 notes - Posted July 2, 2022

If Tom got turned into a mouse I think the Roys would chase him but I think Greg would make him a little bed out of a sardine tin and make him a little studio apartment in his desk drawer but it’s too early to confront those realities rn

857 notes - Posted April 29, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

You should be allowed to homewreck in Stardew Valley

3,365 notes - Posted June 21, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

#tumblr2022 #year in review #my 2022 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review

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jdgo51 · 2 months ago

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August 29, 2024

I Will Bless You

Anna Horodylovska (Estonia)

"'[God] said, “I will certainly bless you and multiply your descendants.” So Abraham obtained the promise by showing patience."' - Hebrews 6:14-15 (CEB)

"2022 was a very hectic year, filled with unpleasant events. War broke out in my home country, Ukraine, and I realized that I could not cope on my own. I decided to go wherever God would lead me.

By the end of the year, I was living with friends. They were in the process of moving to a new house. It meant a lot of hustle and bustle — dirt from construction, struggles with finances, and problems in the family.

Despite the challenges of the move, my heart was filled with joy for my friends’ new home, which they received as an answer to prayer. I felt at home there. I loved to spin yarn in their kitchen and warm myself near the cozy stove. We celebrated the new year in prayer — with a circle of friends and my spiritual family. Thankfully, I had enough money for everything I needed — even for the traditional Ukrainian Christmas table. God has indeed blessed me. God is always faithful."' You will be blessed with what you need, even if its not everything that you would want. Sometimes we want more than is necessary.

Today's Prayer

"Dear God, thank you for helping us to grow in faith. Even if the process of blessing and multiplying means hardships, your way is always best." Amen.

Hebrews 6:13-20

"13 When God gave Abraham his promise, he swore by himself since he couldn’t swear by anyone greater. 14 He said, I will certainly bless you and multiply your descendants. 15 So Abraham obtained the promise by showing patience. 16 People pledge by something greater than themselves. A solemn pledge guarantees what they say and shuts down any argument. 17 When God wanted to further demonstrate to the heirs of the promise that his purpose doesn’t change, he guaranteed it with a solemn pledge. 18 So these are two things that don’t change, because it’s impossible for God to lie. He did this so that we, who have taken refuge in him, can be encouraged to grasp the hope that is lying in front of us. 19 This hope, which is a safe and secure anchor for our whole being, enters the sanctuary behind the curtain. 20 That’s where Jesus went in advance and entered for us, since he became a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. " Always find refuge in the Lord and through that have the hope needed to accomplish all that you want. Be completely blessed by God! Joe

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osamiiya · 3 months ago

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𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚝𝚜

--♡--

want to request something but not sure what? feel free to choose up to 3 prompts per request from the list below.

you can request a song that you like, and let me know if you want the fix to be based on the lyrics or vibe of the song.

when requesting, please make sure to include what character you want, or any additional details you would like me to include. the request can be between two characters or an x reader

*these prompts are property of osamiiya. if you would like to use any prompts for your own works please dm for permission and tag me.

fluff/slice of life

-> dialogue prompts

1. “Wow… You’re stronger than you look”

2. “And you do this every day?”

3. “A kiss under the stars…how romantic!” “Those are my glow-in-the-dark star stickers.”

4. “You fainted!!” “I think you mean, ‘I fell for you.’” “Your forehead is bleeding!”

5. “That’s my hand.” “Oh!” … “You’re not going to let go?” “Nope!”

6. “Yeah!” “Yeah!!”

7. “And you like me?” “That’s what I said.” “Like, romantically?” “That’s what I said.” “Why?”

8. “Did you just kiss me?” “Um, I’m pretty sure.”

9. “It’s so weird how whenever I see you my heart starts beating really fast. Like really fast.” “Hm… you should see a doctor for that.”

10. “You thought I would like this?” “I did.” “You were right”

11. “I never thought I would enjoy having mud everywhere.”

12. “How many kisses do I get if I do ____?”

13. “Write that down!”

14. “Guess who!” “Put your hands away.”

15. “You’re a nerd.” (Affectionate)

16. “Watch this!” … “What am I looking at?”

17. “Kiss it better?”

18. “We just made out for an hour and this is what you’re embarrassed about?”

19. “I love you.” “You just got your wisdom teeth removed”

20. “I think i’m in love with you.”

21. “You know, they say that if you witness the first snow with someone, you’ll fall in love .”

22. “I never knew you could be this beautiful.”

23. “You know my coffee order?” “I know everything about you.”

24. “You’re so fucking annoying… kiss me now.”

25. “That’s hot.” “Me?” “No, the stove.”

-> scenario prompts

26. I made my video game character look like you so I would never have to go without looking at you

27. I accidentally pavlov-ed my crush into liking me back, but it turns out I didn’t even need to.

28. Driving them home after getting their wisdom teeth removed

29. We’re both summer camp counselors and I told my group of kids to start shipping us because I like you

30. The cute cafe worker keeps spelling my name wrong in an attempt to strike up a conversation with me, but I’m too shy to correct them.

31. You keep taking your shirt off in an attempt to flirt with me, but i’m too preoccupied with you possibly getting sunburnt

32. You like bugs and I like you, but that spider is a lot bigger than I thought it would be

33. I’m being super inconspicuous about my crush on you, but we just spent 24 hours in the library together and in a sleep deprived act I kissed you on my doorstep

35. We’re childhood best friends and I didn’t think I liked you in that way, but this specific event happened and now I think I’m in love with you

36. I’m painting your nails and when I look up you’re looking at me with so much love in your eyes

37. We’re exes who never stopped loving each other seeing each other for the first time in years.

38. I didn’t think you liked me back but my friends are able to list all of the different things you’ve done for me as evidence

39. They say you always meet someone you love twice, I just thought you were a jerk the first time.

40. I never thought someone would be able to love me in the way I never knew I needed to be loved.

angst

-> dialogue prompts

1. “I love you.” “Not in the way I needed you to.”

2. “You just…weren’t enough for me.”

3. “Isn’t loving you enough?” “I never asked you to.”

4. “I’m tired of loving someone that will never love me back.”

5. “Do their lips on your skin feel the same as mine did?”

6. “I can’t do this anymore, not with you.”

7. “Do you love me because I’m me, or because I’m similar enough to who you really love.”

8. “I’m tired of pretending to be someone I’m not so you don’t feel ashamed to call me yours.”

9. “You can’t love someone and treat them like you treat me.”

10. “Was I enough?” “You were… I just was never good enough for you.”

11. “I don’t know if I can learn to love someone the way I loved you.” “You will.”

12. “i don’t think i’m capable of being loved, when i was neither made with love or by two people who loved each other”

13. “I wish i could’ve loved you.”

14. “Do you ever shut up?” “Funny coming from someone who said they liked how much I talk.”

15. “There’s someone else right?”

16. “I’m sorry I can’t control who I love.” “But you could’ve controlled where your eyes went.”

17. “You’re not even going to try long distance?” “I can’t do long distance when I don’t even see our relationship going anywhere.”

18. “Don’t call me anymore.” “Wasn’t planning on it.”

19. “You’re so good at lying you even lied to yourself that you love me.”

20. “I’m not upset that you don’t do these things, I’m upset that you don’t want to do them for me.”

21. “I thought you hated flowers?” “No girl hates flowers.”

22. “You’re just going to leave like this?” “I’m done trying!”

23. “It would be kinder for you to breakup with me than force me into a relationship where I know you want to leave.”

24. “Leave.” “I can’t”

25. “You only wanted me because you couldn’t have my sibling?” “I couldn’t let them go.”

-> scenario prompts

26. I love you, but I can’t love you if you don’t love yourself

27. They thought they wouldn’t get caught, but they forgot their phone was connected to their laptop

28. I still love you, but we need to be our own people for a while

29. I told you about an insecurity I have, and you used it against me in an argument

30. We’ve been dating for a while, but I realized that none of your friends or family knew about us dating

32. I supported you in everything you did, but you couldn’t bother coming to any of my events

33. I’ll give up, if it means my sibling will be happier with you.

34. Every time I look at your kids, I see you in them, and wish I could see myself in them too.

35. Coming home and seeing traces of them everywhere.

36. Slowly falling out of love

37. We’ve been dating for years but you still couldn’t remember I was allergic to ____

38. You’re drunk and calling me by another persons name

39. The way you picture your future doesn’t leave space for me in it.

40. We’ve been together for so long that we can’t seem to break up, even though we should

#୨୧ navigation

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libidomechanica · 1 year ago

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Two of four kids will always

A cinquain sequence

Two of four kids will always. Let us see. So in the dwarf would they stonde. So we false thee.

There is sunlight laughed them from behind, and, soon regained touch! Or heart renewed, their mourn; but ah!

Began to scorching beauty o’ersnow’d and eye’s delight, moonlight laugh. An’ she has twa sparkles!

Morn in this day; all is heard that are you—banded one? Just the steeds, with a stealthy tressed.

The head like Natures forth, since I saw you the tree among women? But longe assailled been.

What rowne ye with honors to his on your features freeze me out. Last Love, she repays my part.

And play. The topic die. Then she was he slumbering and small, the bridegroom at this their soule!

The business of gold; somme been spilt.—So on I move beyond the stored, to whom a hyacinths.

Was there is best. Say, maidenhood against which, done, must do: for was, and file the magistrate.

Ye fates! If I had done he put my arm in your soothing wind. His heart the neat lines of light.

Forgetful of vermilion: and the brink of it, er thou wouldst stay! Yet she had the gentle.

Do you knowest the stars of sunshine on the signified: the fabric of mi skirt, just so.

His bride. Of índulgence; so it was going? How happy maid, while ribboned watered will.

For perchance your elegant scars. The voice of loue, all imagin’d good, was the sacrifice.

Faith so weake? Or were not. She knew: her answered; this Courtesy; and I am not in vain?

I listened with some call and sting; nor please; he rode, he fence. Taken in by none had not wait.

From the kingdom and oft the dove, my undefiled. Wedded than Endymion, weep not so!

One part Doppelganger trying to the early to the future way to know. The blood agayn.

Too jealousy is cruelly wrong, my love was wedded bee; and their mournful sweetly, and won.

I told her alone. And I am not the girl and love, good nature’s chimes, its chimes, its glow.

Though fled is Seint Jerome, that cliff-road edged with sapphires. Spring bade the brook the galwes!

Impetuous lover freed his right were and the smart, but theirs alone, among cool clouds like men!

—Ah, me! Heed, namoore dorste nat wirche as much one day: they’re fools; he cheated by his glimmering.

Today when sweet? Leagues no other was Leave me gracing look of wikkednesse was al mankynde.

This is to pray. The ground her wrist, one instantly renew their hearts! Honeycomb with meanings.

The greater name upon his pain, and left the father is crying still. Or ran the eyes wente.

There his wyf, and his name did with flowers if that then? ’ She has twa sparkling roguish een.

May he whase arms so idly lain amongst them? Everyone knows too, and I must not the land!

With my dust, nor that I am talking. Gládly, sirės, sith I hadde me yeven al hir lyve.

Wants to the blessing fear: backward the stove in most terrifying. Upturns her marriage night.

Before harm than half- oblivion, the longer I go the ferthe. Thy cheek began to bark.

Thine head upon ech a syde. Dissolve the monstrous males that brings you out of his deaf moonlight?

Was leaping upon earth: their native East. Women who holds a dying in the gable-wall.

Shall alegge this were dead! Once more and silent, drawing nigh and low! Of his steed him in pearl.

Full fain juno’s proud heart, trembling, hidden fawn. The finger fit; loves and houndes, the heavens.

There is better returning tongue shall it praised her heart, I look. And all these things in wedlock.

I wol have, I nyl nat maad with flowers, and gladding green covert: there is best. Your silence.

Now, sire, quod he, and that is misunderstonde. Your features broke away, come her ankles.

A monkey had me yiven hir lord servyse. And ever, but in two his right naught, but ah!

Save the love is all decay. Left your from the Bow of Evil Fate but reach out for his crook.

One part a barbed hook, one part to another love more delit. Same and grief, posterity.

Heaven’ he added, lest some part! And all the early in thine owne fiers might with fierceness.

Yet hadde he me by the gal come out empty. False, ere I come, and made the same treachery!

And therwithal he knew, must be, to lose in gross, and she hath desire, with sides doth know.

Shall aid thy cradle; hither! In war: every grace, an’ she has twa sparkling roguish een.

When this’ she said I am aweary, I would not of. Go about to goe a shooting.

In the cheats, with weight. Of jubilee to Dian:- truth I heard that smiles, wan as primroses!

And when the middle of the soothsayers old saw yesterday? How tedious thrills from thee.

But Iphigene to womankind. And sweet life, though rough briar nor muffling the cold sward.

All the men of myrrh, upon the chapel opens, where anguish. Thou swan of Ganges and shakes.

How bragly it bears—this knoweth every womman kan. Of giants living waves fold thunder.

He, whole world that I well believes in. A Richard, and the year. And Paris changing the lid.

Her tears have gone to sufferer begins to burn out her hand she brought me. The native land!

His banner over-fond: so, to prechyng eek, and fast, saw’st thou mayst delight. A common grow.

What worst all beauty will sever. Her form withdrew the drunken squardon flies, they bothe his yen.

The smart may pitie claim no more beautiful. You of the sun, where you sick, it’s true—I still them.

No harm! Somewhat unusual luck! It was vpon a holiday, then the moon-tints of the mud.

If all the sorrow and pains, and adore. Not prizing her eyes I used to run away, oh!

Do so. For Mercy, Pity, Peace. But grind the shore, with zebras striped, and his western bower.

There is such yoke of wo that no wight, from base desire, close up its blood I staunch, and joined.

Up which sometime may be seen, with all corroding arts, be able to untie! I call God!

I bake. And hasten to tame the other, the angels, muse, to speed. No stream with banishment.

My love of course, the land: betwixt mine is their smart: and if she successors. A little stars.

Ne I wolde, as thought of a pomegranates budded. Now elles, Frere, I nam nat I.

That may expres of light by light, to make a morow? Shock of beach housbondes at distance.

The Blessed. Her undinal vast belly moonward ran the daughter of bliss, dearest tie of you.

Here, here at the warm delight is dreary, had reach’d him. Maybe he replied: No! A not torn.

Nothing to thee! Whither hand shoulder quite literally is like a thread of scarlet gytes.

There arms thy love, let me know bedbugs? And yet’ I said, The night: on spleen to tame the thunders!

Or why sholde nat han daunted. When they’re nothyng of my mother clutched the Maker’s image see.

I charge the smell of Lebanon: look from Gilead. Or to weave with no one to cry for, love.

Sire in the earth forget. Until drown’d beyond my days can ne’er renew it; but you may!

Fro hous to hous, although neuer slake, and oak leaves are shadow of a tree. That I were dead!

She said; she saw the gal come out to go out. Go with erring pride, and to this piracy.

Reads verse and spread their heart the sword and even her kind. If all they bear of consequences.

How long way home? Light, these both leant to be and no sooner but one resign in mine eyes.

Or death, speech was but slip and bleed. But when I though that sings on Cessnock banks unseen, alone.

Your eyes in swich daliance, she yaf hym swich estaat as God lust yive it to the rest complied.

For a word that your change to changes for the two of them. And will ever call me Papa.

To speak these: nothing as warriors come, and stalls in ev’ry grace, and eek mateere. Back to me.

Whining, rearranging there life’s dearest bands untwining? And to thus: yet will best exceeds?

Stand the motionless? She seems to pierce for both that I hadde, as they survey; and in his sleeve!

Quick was the sea for? While you discourage droop, despaire at me down thy rosy shadow sway.

Labyrinth now grows. On such wild scattering Pyes, do louers case, I reade it for youre praktike.

A crown to blind in a lofty Pile, and wit he fountain-sides at charge you, my sunny fields.

Restored it was still my flessh so deep forth my tale. In shadow in the darkness and aspire.

Thy presence; as a swallows’ call? I am in love and pleasure by the rest of the oar!

Lives in the galleries. Yes, call me no answer us today as I were deed tomorwe!

Her long been; but for to touch they had learned no more! Where and this is my well-beloved!

#poetry #automatically generated text #Patrick Mooney #Markov chains #Markov chain length: 7 #186 texts #cinquain sequence

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dogstarblues · 1 year ago

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accomplishments, 10/8/23

1. went to book club

2. finished reading part of book club book on time

3. made my bed

4. attended a workshop

5. cleaned my room

6. put my clothes away

7. organized my bedside basket

8. picked out an outfit for tomorrow

9. brushed my teeth

10. rinsed my mouth with baking soda salt water

11. ate three times

12. two of those meals were made from scratch

13. made chicken pilaf for my roommate

14. did the dishes

15. cleaned the stove

16. swept the kitchen floor

17. wiped down my work station and organized it

18. cleaned my knife

19. walked my dog

20. wiped down and organized the kitchen table

21. gathered the trash

22. took trash out

23. showered

24. made dough for pizza on tuesday from the no-knead bread book (pizza dough variation takes like 2.5 days of rising and resting and proofing)

25. organized my desk

26. jumpstarted my lapsed food system for meal planning

27. planned out tomorrow in my planner

28. im gonna do a second load of dishes in a little bit. gotta rest my feet and ankles and thights and knees and hips first tho

29. organized my fridge somewhat centered around ingredience for my week-long meal plan

30. read a book of poetry

31. put away groceries

and i thiiiiiink thats everything??? my legs hurt lol. but! a productive day. which i have like once a month 😂 def felt the most good i have in 3 weeks which were all just loads of course work, 2 bouts of losing speech, two entire days taken up by a trigger concerning my r*pist, four days of fighting off illness, and mental exhaustion all around from realizing concerning neglect in school from the age of 5-17 and being thrown back into my childhood self repeatedly. so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i wanna say im gonna rest tomorrow but i have coursework, research for a client to catch up on, and pesto to prep for my half of the pizza dough on tuesday. maybe rest tuesday? outside of making pizzas and all my other meals from scratch i mean. and aside from research for another client. and the original client. and an exam simulator. well!

#dogstar speaking

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bratshaws · 2 years ago

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goodness gracious 97. brb x oc

a/n: this chapter was fun. FUN I SAWY ( THE WEDDING CHAPTER IS COMING AAAAAAAAAA)

check out the fic's playlist made by the sweet @wiipes !!

pairing: plus size!oc x rooster

warnings: f l uf f, again Martha is a witch

chapters:

1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12/13/14/15/16/17/18/19/20/21/22/23/24/25/26/27/28/29/30/31/32/33/34/35/36/37/38/39/40/41/42/43/44

45/46/47/48/49/50/51/52/53/54/55/56/57/58/59/60/61/62/63/64

65/66/67/68/69/70/71/72/73/74/75/76/77/78/79/80/81/82/83/84

85/86/87/88/89/90/91/92/93/94/95/96

(pls let me know if you want to be added to the taglist!!)

taglist: @mirandastuckinthe80s @roosterschanelslut @wiipes @lcahwriter @shrimping-for-all @gretagerwigsmuse @frenchtoastix

@lizzie-rdj @fanboyluvr @atarmychick007 @comebacktoearthpls

@peachiicherries @mak-32 @lizziespidiepridie @roosterswifey @ollyoxenfrees @piceous21 @sqrlgrl22 @hofficoffi @lexhalstead3 @lorilane33 @legendarydreamersharkparty @luckyladycreator2

@emilybradshaw @j-6o @louisahale @leobabbyyy @kulicny @winter-run @ktjmac @graciereads @bigpoppajes

“Thanks for letting me come,auntie.”

‘Why, there’s no problem tesoro.” her aunt steps back to let Beatrice enter her house, Bailey yapping a greeting by the brunette’s feet as her aunt closes the door behind her, “I was just finishing some paperwork.” Beatrice only nodded, wringing her hands together nervously, “Is there something wrong?”

“I…I think so.” Beatrice follows her aunt to her kitchen, where she sees that there’s a kettle on the stove, the smell wafting about resembles chamomile and if it was chamomile she’d accept a cup immediately. She could feel her nerves tingling. “I mean…I think I’m hearing things.”

Her aunt showed no change in her reaction, in fact she started humming while grabbing glasses from the cabinet above, turning off the stove when the kettle began to whistle and put it aside to cool down, “Is that right?”

“Yes, like…baby voices.” she whispered, looking around herself in fear the voice would show up again, “Child voices, someone saying ‘mama’ and laughter too.” she couldn’t see but Martha’s little smile widened as she explained about it, walking to her freezer to grab some ice cubes, cracking the mold to pop them out and drop them inside the glasses. “And I don’t know if the house is haunted or I’m haunted or I’m hallucinating because of stress.”

Martha hums, checking the temperature on the kettle and smiling when she noticed it was much cooler than before, pouring inside the glasses with a plop of honey over the ice cubes. Beatrice waited for her aunt to say something,anything, but she heard nothing, she even leaned closer thinking her aunt was whispering something about it “Auntie?”

‘Yes, darling?”

“Why…um…well,I’d like your input since you are,” she waves her hands, “Kinda open about those types of things.”

When Beatrice was eight years old her aunt said that she saw people wandering around the house that she knew weren’t there. Beatrice wasn’t supposed to have heard that since it was past her bedtime and the adults were chatting by her parents’ patio, but she got curious…then she couldn’t sleep alone for two days, begging her father to sleep on the ground in her room while her mom slept in the same bed as she did.

Martha turned her torso to give her niece a look, a knowing look, her eyes dropping subtly to her stomach - which Beatrice didn’t notice since she was busy chewing the corner of her nail - moving her eyes back up with a smile, “Well my darling, what would you like to know?” Martha questions, grabbing the now cold tea filled glasses and handing one to her niece, who slowly sips the sweet concoction, giving her aunt a look from the glass’ rim.

“Well,” Beatrice says once she licks her lips, ‘Am I haunted?”

Her aunt laughed elegantly, covering her mouth with a hand, earning only a more confused look from the poor brunette who just wanted an answer, “Oh, my sweet darling. You are not haunted.”

“Then I’m going crazy.”

“No, you are not going crazy.” Martha laughs again, wetting her throat with the ice tea and then setting it aside, putting her glasses up to her hairline, “You are getting in contact with your deepest wants. And this one is in a hurry to come.”

Beatrice blinked, looking at her aunt as if she grew three heads, “I…” she clenches her eyes, almost feeling a headache coming, then shakes her head, “I don’t understand, this…voice…is my want for a baby? It’s because I want to get pregnant?”

“Hmmm…in a way.”

Another stupefied blinking, “Auntie,I…” she sets the glasses down, tenting her hands together below her chin, “I love you,I thank you for paying for the wedding and everything you are doing for us, but what in the actual fuck does that mean?”

Martha’s smile never seemed to waver, much to Beatrice’s desperation as to what was going on?? “Well…how can I say this…” her aunt puts the glass aside to lean her face on a hand, using the other arm to support the opposite elbow, “There’s someone who’s very eager to show up and see you two.” this time it was Beatrice who was silent, furrowing her eyebrows and digesting her aunt’s words.

It takes a couple minutes, but Beatrice eventually widens her eyes, “Wait…are you telling me that…this voice is just…our future child?”

“In a way.”

What the fuck.

What the fuck!!

Beatrice felt her legs turn to jello, immediately using the kitchen island to support herself upright, keeping her eyes in the whorls and patterns of the marble top in hopes she could keep herself awake. She didn’t know what to do with that information, what should she do with that information??

There’s no way that’s what it was, her aunt was just messing with her. Okay, maybe her family had this weird Sicilian supernatural powers that she still couldn’t understand but there is no way that her aunt was talking about her future child with Rooster.

There’s no way!!! It makes no sense!It’s not logical!!

Children aren’t…heard until they are born. They aren’t a speckle of dust that grows conscience one day and decides to haunt their future mother with laughter and voicing ‘mama!’ every now and again. That’s not how things worked.

And yet to her aunt it made all the sense in the world, of course the disembodied voice would be her future grandniece/grandnephew because everyone in her family was just normal like that, “Auntie.” Beatrice finally says after seconds of silence, “...you know that you can’t just say that and expect me to accept the information,right?”

“Well,” Martha shrugs, “It happened to every woman in the family.”

Wait,what?

The confusion returned to Beatrice’s face, her eyebrows furrowing and lips pursing in a question that never came out, “I’m sorry, what?”

“Every woman in the family had those.” she says, waving her hands - the movement making her bangles hit one another - “Those voices,I did, your mother did, your sisters did. You just have to ask them.”

“How the fu– no one ever told me anything about that??” this was just a prank, right? This had to be a pre-marital prank she didn’t know about, “Auntie, that’s not possible.”

“Your nonna had it too, your other aunts, your cousins, it’s quite normal.” but her niece looked ready to yank her hair out by the root, offering her aunt a confused look that only got stronger and stronger the moment she started to pace around the kitchen with her hands on her hips, “It’s how you know.”

“Auntie,I–” she pressed her palm heels to her eyes, groaning quietly, “I don’t know how to take that information. Are you saying I’m pregnant??”

“No,I’m saying you will be.”

Why was her family so cryptic?

“Oh, oh! That makes me feel so much better.” Beatrice laughs dryly, once again dropping her weight on the kitchen island, her elbows this time and her hands covering her face, “How long is this going to last? Because it is a bit creepy.”

Martha sips her tea again, looking to the side in thought and smacking her lips before replying, “It’ll stop by your wedding.” she explains, “Actually, no, it’ll happen before that. Maybe…by the end of the month.”

Beatrice still looked stupefied, trying to understand what the fuck was happening. She told no one about the disembodied voices with the exception of her aunt and Michael and– oh my God, it makes sense. If this happens only with the women of the family then Michael wouldn’t have any idea! Right?

Was she really putting thought into this? Was she really considering it?

Her nonna used to know when people were pregnant, would it really be so crazy that this is part of the family tradition? Beatrice sighed heavily, rubbing her face from forehead to chin and finalizing with her teeth gnawing on her knuckle bone, shaking her head softly, “So…it’s just the baby letting me know it’s coming.”

“Yes, pretty much.”

“...how come I’ve never heard about this?”

Martha hums, supporting her chin on her hand as she thinks about it, “Well, it’s something that is still a bit…strange,” Beatrice’s unimpressed stare was completely ignored by her mystical aunt, “So it’s not talked about often, but we all mentioned it in passing once or twice.”

Again, what was Bea to do with that information? The disembodied voice was letting her know they’d arrive soon? How does she tell that to others? To Rooster??? She can’t tell him that, because while it is crazy she didn’t want him to have his hopes up before something actually happens. Not to mention she hasn’t stopped the birth control shots yet, the ladies at the clinic suggested she stops taking a month before her wedding so her body would have enough time to ‘restart’ itself in a way.

Beatrice chews her lower lip with all this new information, clearly not the one she was expecting to receive considering she was sure she was just haunted and horrifyingly enough she could handle that more. “Wel…thank you auntie.” she mutters, straightening herself on the kitchen island, “I will…uh…I don’t know, keep that in mind I guess?”

“It’s nothing to be scared about.” but it was something to be very confused about. Beatrice hums positively, still biting her lower lip,tapping her nails rhythmically on the marble top with her leg bouncing with nerves, “It’s something wonderfully new.” and strange “And you won’t be alone in this.”

“Wait, so…did Cynthia also know about Éwoyn and Bibi before?”

“Yes, absolutely.”

“...so…it’s not only a family thing, my sisters-in -law also can have that…”

“Yes, of course, they have the Schiavoni inside–”

“Aah!Aahaha, okay,” Beatrice holds up both of her hands, “I know, I got it,I understand, that’s very gross I don’t need this image in my mind.” she shuddered, trying to shake the horrible vision the best she could, “I-I’m going to go home now,I have…things to do.” she honestly just wanted to get out and dunk her head inside the pool and scream. “Thank you auntie, for um…explaining it.”

“Why, it’s my pleasure.” her aunt’s smile turned mysterious, “I cannot wait until it’s time.”

Again, why was everyone in her family so cryptic???

After dunking her head inside the pool and screaming, startling Jolene in the process who just watched her owner do this from the side with her eyes comically wide, Beatrice started walking around the house, trying to think of something to do, anything, that could ease her mind.

So, not only she wasn’t pregnant, she was just hearing her child talk to her because that’s a thing in her family that no one ever decided to share with her, meaning that she also wasn’t crazy, she was just…dreaming of it. Honestly, considering everything,Beatrice was slowly warming up to the idea that her child - that wasn’t even planned yet - decided to haunt their mother until they were born.

Or before the wedding that is, according to her aunt. Either way, it was nice to have an explanation - as weird as it was- to why she was hearing things.

But now she was restless, she was walking around the house with a towel wrapped around her hair and Jolene followed her everywhere. Beatrice chews her lower lip, looking up at the room where the voice began, looking back at the pittie who just wagged her tail before marching up the stairs.

The room was, obviously, still blank. But Beatrice looked around for a little while, running her hands on the walls and standing in the middle of the room. She half expected to hear the child’s laughter again but it was silent. After turning on the light, because of course she stood in the dark for a good while before noticing it was lacking luminosity, Beatrice looked around the room and bit her lower lip.

She could imagine this room being a baby room, she could…but honestly she’d like to do something herself. Maybe paint something herself. “Maybe I shouldn’t think about this yet after all I just found out my unborn child is trying to talk to me.” she laughs awkwardly, giving Jolene an exasperated look, one that the pittie just tilted her head in confusion, “I know, Jojo, crazy shit.” but the idea of painting this room was still present.

Beatrice walks out of the room after a while, keeping in mind that yes, she was going to work on it after some time but not now. There were still things to be resolved about the wedding, things that had her full attention.

Just like the slow roaring of the Bronco entering the garage. Beatrice widened her eyes, he was already home? How long had she been with her aunt? Jolene almost tripped over her paws as she rushed downstairs to greet him, her whole body shaking with excitement. Beatrice stood on the upper steps to have a better look, seeing Rooster open the door and immediately baby talk the pitbull, picking her up and letting her lick all over his face.

Jolene was always a very affectionate dog, but it was clear to see that Rooster was becoming her favorite person. Speaking of him, he looked up from the pittie after he heard a soft chuckle coming from the stairs, smiling at Beatrice and putting Jolene down, speeding his step to meet her halfway, “Hi,” he coos, leaning his head closer only for the brunette to recoil, “What?”

“You are covered in dog slobber, Roos.” she laughs, even more when he pouts, “I can��t kiss you like that.”

Bradley sighed, because she was right, but he did sneak a quick kiss under her jaw for good measure, “I’m going to take a quick shower and then,after I expect all the kisses,ma’am.” he smirks, walking around her to their bedroom. Beatrice waits until she hears the water running to step into the bathroom herself, leaning on the bathroom sink with her arms crossed.

It doesn’t take too long for his head to peek from behind the dark shower doors, arching one eyebrow at her, “You want to join me? There’s space for the two of us.”

“I already showered, Roos.” she smiles, pointing to the towel on her hair, “I’m okay just watching.”

“I’ll remember to put on a show for you then.” he winks, disappearing back inside the shower, “How was your meeting with Martha? You said you had to see her today.”

Beatrice rubbed her hands together, how to explain to her fiancé what happened that afternoon? “Oh uh…it was fine.” she shrugs even if he couldn’t see, “I was um…asking her input on something,” it wasn’t a lie, she technically asked her aunt some other things too besides the obvious baby haunting, “About if I should invite my cousins or not.”

“Who? The triplets?”

“Yep.”

Bradley’s shiny upper body appeared from behind the door, a blue loofah moving over his chest as he washed himself, “I thought you didn’t want to invite them.” she was so focused on following the water droplets that rolled down his pectorals to his six pack that it took her a few seconds to reply, snapping her eyes upwards when he cleared his throat, “Eyes up here and now down here, thank you~”

He disappeared back into the shower and his fiancé’s cheeks were bright red, “Oh um, I didn’t but I thought about it and if I don’t invite them it’ll be worse. Their mom is my dad’s youngest sister and I know he wants her to come too…I guess I’ll have to invite them. I mean, what do you think? I’d like your opinion on this too.”

“I don’t really care much about them,” he begins, “You did tell me they tried telling you shit back at your aunt’s wedding and you dealt with them, but honestly whether they come or not doesn’t bother me as long as they keep to themselves.”

“Hm.” the chances of that happening now, after Beatrice put them in their place, was quite high, “Well…I think it’d be only fair. I don’t plan to get married again-”

“I’d hope not!I’d be very upset if you did!”

Beatrice laughs, watching him shut the shower off and pull one of the towels from the outside to dry himself the best he could, walking out with it wrapped around his waist “If I did I’d end up marrying my ex.” she jokes, and he immediately looks up at her in surprise, “...it’d be you, Brad, you’d be my ex.”

He narrows his eyes at her, “That’s mean,” he chuckles, stepping closer to her so he could wrap his arms around her waist and drop kisses on her jaw and neck, “You can’t tease me like that, as your husband to be I feel very offended.” but neither of them could hold back their laughter, in fact they just started chuckling like teenagers in the bathroom. The laughter died down, with his eyes traveling all the way down to her lips, “I’m all clean, ma’am.”

“Yes, you are, you smell really good.”

“And now, “ he whispers with his head getting closer, “I think I said I wanted my kisses, and I want my kisses.”

Beatrice smiles, cupping his face with her hands so their lips would meet in a deep kiss. One that was more than welcome, with Beatrice squeaking in surprise when he picks her up by the thighs and settles her down on the sink, “Roos!” she exclaims once she breaks the lip lock, her voice trembling as his teeth found that specific spot under her jaw that drove her insane, “W-We,I–” but the moan broke out of her before she could stop it.

And honestly he looked so good, he smelled so good and he was still a bit damp from the shower…and he was just wearing a towel, it was easy access. But she, amazingly, found an ounce of self restraint and gently pushed on his chest, “Roos, I need to fix our dinner.”

“It’s leftovers.” he replies immediately, wetting her pulse with his tongue, “You can warm it up later,I’m in no hurry.” but his stomach had other plans, because he was in fact hungry, growling out in complaint at his words. He sighs, then glares down at the six pack, “Traitor.”

Beatrice laughs even harder, kissing the tip of his nose before he puts her down, “There’ll be time for it,” she smiles, kissing the tiny scars on his chin instead “Later.” his plush lips curved in a little pout, trying to keep her inside the bathroom with him but she gave him a look, one that drove him insane because it was so innocent yet so sexy he just let her go, “I’ll be waiting for you downstairs, okay?”

Bradley groans but nods, watching her sway out of the bathroom with his hands rubbing his face, “Fuck,she’s got me good.” he murmured to himself, but Beatrice heard it, her cheeks heating up as she walks out of the room.

Today was a bit crazy, and maybe she’d comment about it with Bradley later if there was a chance - they were going to be married, he already knew her family was crazy, so what else was there to hide really? - and she hoped he understood.

But before she went downstairs, she stopped by the little room, watching it’s blank walls with her arms crossed over her bust. She tried to imagine it, she really did, even closing her eyes and picturing what it’d look like.

Neutral colors, maybe with some pop of reds and yellows, some flowers, forest themed, some mountains too. A crib on the corner, a dresser, maybe a rug in the center where she could see a small body seated, playing with a toy. The tiny person on the rug turned their head towards her in a few toothed grin. “Hi mama-”

“Bea?”

Beatrice snaps her eyes open, looking over her shoulder to where Bradley was, fixing his sweatpants on his hips and frowning, “You okay? What’s the matter?”

“Oh, um…nothing, just…” she licks her lips, “Just thought I saw something. Nothing to worry about.” she holds her hand out to him, interlacing their fingers once he takes hold of it “Come on, we need to have dinner.”

#bradley rooster bradshaw #rooster bradshaw #bradley bradshaw x oc #top gun maverick #bradley bradshaw x reader

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silverdelirium · 3 years ago

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hi! can you do one where draco and the reader are married (don’t make them old please make them like the married rich pretty milf and dilf couple), and they have a daughter. anyway, draco is out because of work/something else (it’s up to u) and the reader is with their daughter and they get into a small fight and the daughter says something really bad/hurtful to the reader (her mother) and the reader like gets sad (make it bad so it can be dramatic😏) and when draco gets home he finds the reader like crying (smoking too bc a milf smoking is hot but if you don’t want to add it it’s fine) and yeah basically the rest is up to you :)) ily hope ur well and fine. <3

CIGARETTES & INSECURITIES | D.M

thank you hoe @selenesheart for helping me with the title ily

warnings: anxiety, lowkey panic attack, insecurities of being a bad mother, mean child, smoking, angst w a happy ending

———

draco’s hurried steps were heard echoing across the hallway as he rapidly made his way downstairs, cussing his boss out under his breath for calling him on a fucking Sunday. the same sunday he was about to spend basking in the love of his wife and child, all expectations now turned to mush.

“i’m sorry i have to go, my love. call me if you need anything, okay?” spoke draco, tone soft as he held your face in his hands, giving you one last sad smile before pressing a sweet kiss on your lips.

you gave him a feeble nod in response with a reassuring smile, watching him storm off in long strides, still swearing in hushed whispers and with a flick of his wand, he was gone.

you instantly took notice of how intense the atmosphere got around the manor- almost scary. deadly quiet with your four-year-old toddler still asleep and big curtains blocking any sunlight from coming in.

it almost caused goosebumps to rise on your arms as if the universe was already warning you of the day you were gonna have to deal with today.

maybe the first bad thing to happen today was being woken up by draco’s phone going off like crazy with calls of his boss and endless text messages of his colleagues.

it didn’t matter though, you had other things to worry about. your toddler was already walking down the stairs with a sleepy stare as she made her way to you, immediately taking notice of how there was no trace of draco, and looking around for any signs of her father.

“hi there” you greeted, giving her a sympathetic smile when she asked for draco, her small body already wrapped around your torso. a small sigh with a brief explanation of a work emergency was given to her. her sour mood amplifying a tenfold for every word that left your mouth.

she stayed quiet for a moment, and just as you started beaming at the thought of calming a daddy’s girl- she sobbed heavily in your ear, clinging hard to you but still screaming for draco.

a grimace found its way to your face along with a sorrowful expression as you shushed her down, tracing your fingers down her spine; a small trick you always did to relax her in days like this.

her sobs quieted down but she still cried silently in your shoulder, hot tears rolling down her face that had you questioning whether you should call your husband or not, the thought accompanying the insecurity of being a terrible mother who can barely keep her child tranquil.

after a few minutes of letting her pour all her emotions out, you made a path to the kitchen and sat her down on the barstool, wiping her tears away as she huffed in what seemed to be an angry expression.

“would you like some breakfast, baby?” you spoke, tone soft and slow as to not aggravate the situation.

“i want daddy”

“he’s- he’s not here right now” you tried to reason, watching as she took a deep breath but said nothing.

you turned around to head for the stove. but your ears caught a small murmur of “you’re the worst” coming from none other than your daughter.

a thunder-struck look adorned your face, blinking back the tears that found their way to your waterline.

ever since you found out you were pregnant, the anxiousness of being a not good enough mom had filled you in seconds, thinking of the worst scenarios possible throughout the pregnancy. draco was always there to ease your nerves a bit, yet, never quite pushing them away completely.

and jesus- did that simple three-word sentence stung painfully at your heart.

you stayed frozen in place for a few moments before taking a deep breath and quickly collecting yourself, continuing your errands around the kitchen as you made an effort to ignore the way your hands became clammy and heartstrings were pulled harshly in your chest.

the rest of the day went painfully slow, your daughter completely ignoring you and just curling up on the couch or playing in her room, always slamming the door in your face whenever you attempted to talk to her. your back also aching from having to do all house chores by yourself. every once in a while getting a text message from draco, rushed typos of “i love you” and “i’m gonna be there soon”.

——

the clock read 6:07 P.M and you held the cigarette to your lips with shaky fingers, tears blurring your vision as all the frustration from today came crashing down at once.

sobs rocked through your body as you inhaled the smoke and blew it out past your nostrils. warm, thick tears not coming to a halt even once.

your cries muffled every sound around you. not taking notice of draco who was now frantically searching for you, already finding your daughter safe and asleep on the couch. yet you were nowhere to be found.

it took one look at the cigarette package on the dining table for draco to locate you. he knew about your anxiety and how bad it got when triggered.

his heart ached and fists clenched at his side as he turned to his baby girl, snuggling her deeper into the thick fluffy blanket before making his way to the porch where you sat with a hand to your sternum, big clouds of smoke fogging the air around you.

“oh, baby” he sympathized, not giving you time to react as he enveloped you in a big hug, feeling the way your curled your fists on his shirt and sobbed quietly, taking ragged breaths every once in a while.

after a few minutes of taking shallow breaths, you pulled your head back from his chest, just enough to stare at his face, his bright grey eyes running down every feature you had, almost like he was studying it.

“what happened today?” he whispered, closing his eyes and connecting his forehead with yours.

you released a breath through your nose and lit off the cigarette on the small table next to you before explaining every small detail from today to draco, a few tears escaping at some points.

once you were done, draco removed his head from yours, pulling back and displaying both of his palms on your cheeks, observing your tear-stained face made him ache with sorrow.

“my love” he started “you are the world’s greatest mother to ever exist, a bad day with your child does not define your abilities as a mom. she loves you, we all do. you don’t know how fuzzy she gets when you’re not here.”

his words made a small smile crack through your lips, buzzing nerves slowly weighing down after every syllable he spoke.

“we would all be doomed if it wasn’t for you. every parent has a bad day, do not beat yourself up for it, it happens to the best of us.” he finalized, chest swelling with pride once he saw how you were full-on beaming, puckering your lips like a silent sign for a kiss which he gladly provided.

“i love you” you mumbled against his mouth.

“i love you more” he responded.

———

🏷: @spencervera @methblinds @marrymetheonott @adrianscumslut @wh0re4blaise @turn-to-page-394-please @fredshufflepuff @malfoysbiitch @saggyb1lls @selenesheart @metaraxia @dracoslittlesluttyprincess @dracomalfoys-wh0re @dlmmdl @fleursbabe @riddleswh0r3crux @lolooo22 @darlingmalfoy @littlemissnoname13 @i-love-scott-mccall @underappreciated-spoon-321 @steveharringtonswhore @dracosafety @dracoscum @riddleswh0rekrux @laceycallisto @slytherinbabess @lostaurorax @alexavolturisblog @s1ater @marauderswh0re1 @starless-starkov @black-rose-29 @tattooedkermit @purpleskymalfoy @emma67 @mypainistemporary @mauvea @teenwolfbitches28 @lissa-duh @paniicing @rav3nclawwhore @yagamigf

[check your private settings if i wasn’t able to tag you]

#draco malfoy imagine #draco malfoy angst #draco malfoy fluff #draco malfoy one shot #draco malfoy #dad!draco #draco malfoy x y/n #draco malfoy x reader #draco malfoy x you

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idkthisisjustforfanfic · 3 years ago

Text

not a (surprise) date

story page | talk to me/join the tag list | the playlist

wc: 4k+ of birthday celebrations

PART 6

Mid-May was hotter than expected. The leaves that canopied New York were in full bloom and the city buzzed to life with the warm weather. The time difference made it hard.

Passing like ships in the night: he was already at work by the time you woke up, you were in meetings when he’d go to sleep. But text messages and scattered FaceTime calls still made your heart flutter with the simple thought that one day, he’d be across a bridge rather than across the Atlantic.

“Hi,” you answered one morning, your hair in a bun and glasses on your face. Much more comfortable with him than you’d been only a few weeks prior.

“Hi, I can’t believe I caught you.”

“I just got up,” you said, pushing a mug under the spout of your Keurig. “Where are you?”

“Lunch, out--just wanted to step out and say hi if you were around.”

“Hi,” you smiled at him.

He held your gaze for a second, “Hi.”

“What do you have going on today?”

“Same stuff, we start on the finale next week.”

“Does anyone die?”

He lowered one brow on the screen of your phone. “I thought you didn’t want spoilers?”

“So someone dies?!”

“No,” he laughed. “No one dies. Yet.”

“Don’t fuck with me.”

“Wish I could.”

“Fuck with me, or fuck me?”

“The latter, truthfully” he nodded.

“Did you call for any other reason than sexual harassment at--” you looked at the clock above the stove-- “7:43 in the morning?”

“Can I not just say good morning to my--”

He cut himself off, caught the slip before it happened. His what? His girlfriend? His friend? His fuck buddy?

There’d been no conversation regarding what you were or what all of this meant since the day on set in his trailer. Not even after you had sex and boarded a plane only 72-hours later.

And now FaceTiming to say hi seemed to be creeping into territory that friend and fuck buddy didn’t quite fit into.

“Good morning,” you saved him the embarrassment and blinked a few times, a smile to let him know you were doing him a favor.

“What do you have going on today?” He switched the topic and you reached for the sugar.

“Meetings this morning, photoshoot in the afternoon. Dinner with a girl tonight who I find completely boring.”

“Who?”

“Her name’s Alexis Ryder? Her boyfriend knows my ex and now whenever she’s in town I have to at least get a drink with her.”

“Why?”

“Her father is also the VP of A&R at my label,” you nodded.

“There it is,” he nodded. “Makes sense. Well, hey--I’ve got something that’s being delivered to you today, like, after 4pm they said.”

“Delivered to me?”

“Yeah, s’no big deal. Just something for tomorrow.”

You narrowed your eyes at him. The day had finally come, a whole 29 years since the day of your birth and he seemed much more excited than you were. Sixteen and a half for a little, that’s fun.

“Ooookay.”

“Ooookay,” he mirrored your tone, sarcastic. “I’ll talk to you later.”

You hung up, both excited and terrified by the implication of his words. A gift? You didn’t just do that for a friend, or a fuck buddy, right?

Mia listened to you recount the story to her when you sat in a makeup chair later that afternoon. No, she promised. You don’t just buy a gift for a fuck buddy.

You didn’t know what it was, though. There were categories, you and Mia decided. Things you get a girlfriend, things you don’t.

Jewelry, flowers, champagne. Girlfriend.

A gift card? A bicycle? A sweatshirt? She threw her head back and laughed, if he gets you a bicycle, it’s done.

Your phone buzzed on your dresser that evening when you clipped an earring into place and dreaded the dinner date ahead of you. The noises of TriBeCa floated in from the open window, music of a summer evening laced the city streets.

Jason (6:21pm): Got a notification that you have a delivery!

Y/N L/N (6:23pm): Okay, I’ll go check!

You clasped your bracelet, looked in the mirror and wondered if there was any way you could get out phony small talk and fake smiles.

Stomach flu, migraine? You padded over to the front door, twisted the knob and looked down to the welcome mat. A tiny pink box, a sticker folded over the edge to keep it closed.

You picked it up and inspected it more closely. No label, no sign of postage.

You were about to shut the door, bump it closed with your hip but movement in the corner of your eye had you dropping the pink box to the floor and clutching a hand to your heart.

“Hi.”

“Holy fucking shit,” you took a giant step back, both your eyes falling to the box that was now upside down on your welcome mat between you.

You looked back up. There he was. A baseball hat on and a gray hoodie as he let out a laugh, arms extended to tug you towards him.

“I’m sorry, hi--I’m sorry,” he kissed your forehead, you blinked a few times and appreciated the way his arms wrapped around your shoulders. “That was a cupcake from the best spot in Brooklyn, and now it’s ruined.”

“What are you doing here?!” You almost yelled, taken back by the surprise but giddy with excitement when he smiled at you.

He bent down to pick up the box. “Ended up having a few days off since we’re a bit ahead of schedule. Olivia’s in town with the kids, too, so--”

You couldn’t contain your smile, reached your hands up to kiss him in greeting before you pulled him inside.

“Does Mia know you’re here? Was she in on this?”

“Of course Mia knows,” he laughed, walking to set the cupcake on the counter. “How else would I have found my way here?”

Right--he’d never asked for your address, a detail you overlooked all day. Didn’t say anything about who was delivering a gift or how he knew where to send it.

“I can’t believe you’re here. When do you leave? You didn’t have to come for my birthday!”

“No, I know, Olivia’s here and I figured it was good to wrap it into one trip.”

You nodded, her name twice in the last thirty seconds deflated the excitement. Maybe he sensed it, a smile when he said: “I wanted to come though, I wanted to see you, celebrate your birthday. I hope showing up without an invite is cool--apparently that’s my thing now.”

“Apparently,” you shot him a smirk when you went to fetch your phone. “I have to text this girl and cancel--which is great cause I would rather get hit by a bike messenger than sit through dinner with her.”

“That’s an oddly specific alternative.”

“This is my apartment, by the way!” You waved your arms around, heartbeat still elevated a bit when you let out a breath.

He was here, no warning. Somewhere in a five mile radius his ex-fiancé and children were having dinner, prepping a bedtime story. But he stood in your living room, not a hallucination and certainly not a fever dream.

“Wait--you don’t have to cancel, I feel bad.”

Your thumbs already hovered over the screen, eyes trailed up to see him standing in the middle of the room. You didn’t believe him. “You feel bad?”

He thought on it for a second. “I don’t.”

You nodded.

“I should feel bad, right? Showing up unannounced, uninvited…”

You sent what you had typed out--stomach bug, so sorry, raincheck--and then took a few steps until you stood right in front of him.

“Am I crazy if I say that I’d rather spend tonight with you than with some obnoxious friend of my ex-boyfriend’s?”

He shook his head, the corner of his mouth quirked up exactly how you liked. “I don’t think so. Am I crazy for using time off from work to fly eight hours to New York to see you?”

“Yes,” you nodded with confidence. “But in a good way.”

“I hope it wasn’t too presumptuous.”

“You’ve always been a little presumptuous.”

“Me?” He pointed at his own chest, you walked over to the kitchen to inspect the damage on the cupcake he’d mentioned.

It was toppled over, chocolate frosting smeared on the side of the box. “On our first date you brought up the age gap. I was just gonna pretend it wasn’t a thing but you wasted no time.”

“Our what?”

You traced a finger through it, licked it off and turned to see him. “Walking back from the pub we met at--you brought it up and I didn’t even know if it was a date.”

He had a smug look on his face, arms crossed over his chest when he looked you up and down.

“What?”

“You just called it a date after a solid, hmm, eight weeks of denying it?”

“Whatever,” you waved him off with a laugh. “You know what I mean.”

“Do I?” He let his head tilt to the side, a few steps towards you until he reached out, fingers fiddling with the front of your shirt.

He smiled now, his eyes held yours for a second until you blurted out:

“Are you seeing other people?”

His face faltered, confusion overtook the flirtatious smile when he hesitated. You could have found a better way to ask, more polite and collected and less unhinged insecure stupid kid. But it had been lingering overhead ever since you got home.

The tabloids continued to poke around, looking for proof of something more than platonic. You did your best to ignore the gnawing rumors that sprinkled the newsstands on your block: romance or rebound?

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked that.”

“No, no,” he shook his head. “It’s okay—I, uh, yeah, we should have that conversation.”

You stood in front of him, his fingers still clutched the fabric in front of your tummy when you let out a nervous exhale.

“That sounds like a yes.”

It was fine—right? It didn’t matter if he was seeing other people or playing the field. After all, he’d been in a relationship for years. Had children and lived with her, a level of commitment that you’d yet to experience. Maybe he needed to let loose, maybe you were just a rebound.

His eyebrows dipped down, almost like your words hurt. “No, I’m not. I haven’t—I wasn’t really looking for anything when I met you.”

“Oh,” you said it quickly, eyes on the ground when he finally took a step back.

“I don’t mean that this isn’t—”

“Right—”

“Just that I didn’t expect—”

“Yeah, it’s okay—“ you turned back to the kitchen, hands on the counter when you looked down at the disheveled cupcake. In a matter of minutes what went from an exciting surprise was now as broken as the baked good in front of you.

“No, Y/N, will you just listen to what I’m saying?”

You turned around, watched him for a second as he tried to gather words.

“I mean that I wasn’t expecting this to be…what it is.”

Silence.

“I’m not seeing anyone but you. I’m not dating anyone but you.”

“It’s okay if you are,” you shrugged a little.

“Well, thanks,” he laughed. “But I’m good with just one girlfriend.”

You fought the smile, felt your cheeks flush when he returned the excited look on your face.

“Unless you have other boyfriends, then we should definitely talk.”

“I didn’t even know I had one.”

“That’s fair, seeing as despite me being a whole sixteen and a half years older than you it took me this long to man up and just, y’know, say it.”

“Yeah, took you a while.”

He came up to you, kissed you so hard the smile only grew. You decided to order in, no point in pleasing the paparazzi. You draped your legs over his on the couch and sipped Champagne that a friend of a friend had sent for your birthday.

He slept in your bed that night and when you woke up, he had a cup of coffee waiting, happy birthday balloons from a convenience store down the street.

Once you sat beside him on the couch, he took a sip from his own mug. “So what are the big birthday plans?”

You pulled your knees up to your chest. “Well, Blake and Ryan are actually having some friends over, part birthday gathering for me, part Friday night dinner party since we haven’t done something in a while.”

“Blake and Ryan as in Lively and Reynolds?”

You nodded. You’d known for a while that you had mutual friends--but you’d both yet to be in New York long enough to end up at the same party or dinner or event.

“I was thinking you could come tonight--if you wanted to, if you’re around. I mean, I know you’re friends with them too so maybe we can stage a casual meeting and act like we’ve never met.” You wiggled your eyebrows suggestively at him, hoping to gain a laugh.

“I’m supposed to have Otis and Daisy,” he met your gaze, guilt on his face when he realized he hadn’t communicated this.

“Oh,” you said quickly, tongue tracing the inside of your cheek when you paused. Right, of course. Olivia’s in town with the kids.

Were you allowed to be mad? Were you the asshole if you were annoyed he was blowing you off for his children? “Yeah, that’s fine--sorry, I thought since today was my birthday--”

You cut yourself off. It was already coming out wrong. He didn’t owe you anything.

“No--I know, I just don’t think I can ask Liv to change her plans or move stuff around. But I’m here now, I’m around this morning.”

The way her name rolled off his lips with ease made you more upset. Irrationally? Maybe.

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Okay,” you shrugged your shoulders and stood to head for the kitchen. “I get it.”

“You don’t seem like you get it.”

“What is there not to get?” You turned around and looked at him, hands on your hips now. “You have children. I get it. I just thought you’d be around tonight.”

“Well, is there another night when they’re free? We could all have dinner soon.”

“I don’t know,” you busied yourself in the fridge.

He came over, watched you for a second before he said: “Hey--I’m sorry. I was so excited to see you yesterday that I just forgot to tell you I made plans to see them tonight.”

You didn’t reply, kept your eyes on the bagel you’d salvaged from the bottom drawer and cursed yourself for being so petty.

He lasted twelve seconds before he scratched at the back of his neck. You wondered what types of thoughts he chewed on in the deafening silence.

Was this your first fight?

“Why are you so upset?”

Now it was.

“Because I wanted you to meet my friends!”

He was quiet for a second, like your confession sat heavy in the room when you plugged in the appliance.

“Would they even want to meet me?”

“Maddy and Ada have been up my ass about it since I told them we were hanging out.”

He smirked a little. “I’ll meet them. Maybe not tonight, but I will.”

You softened, his words implied there was a future, more nights to spend with friends, more time in New York together. You looked up at him for a minute, reassured by the close-lipped smile on his face and the way he pulled you into his chest.

“Okay.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah what?”

“Yeah I can meet your friends one day?”

“Yeah,” you giggled, inhaling the scent of his sweatshirt: cologne and...airport?

Your phone buzzed to life, a FaceTime call from your dad.

“I’m gonna take this in the other room, unless you want to meet him right now,” you teased.

“You said he liked Horrible Bosses?”

“Didn’t stop talking about it for weeks.”

You rolled your eyes at him playfully, back-stepping to pick it up off the counter and before heading for your bedroom. He tugged at your waist when you walked past him, kissed you on the lips before he said sarcastically: “Then he definitely won’t mind knowing you’re sleeping with someone almost his age.”

Mia thrived on the nights when she got paid to have fun. Sipping cocktails in Blake and Ryan’s swanky penthouse and wearing a Versace dress you’d been gifted three years back brought out the best in her.

You gave Blake a squeeze in greeting, three months since you’d last seen your friend.

“Little miss London,” she pulled you close. “How was your adventure across the pond?”

“Good,” you admitted, waved to another friend across the room. “Got a lot done, but I’m glad to be back.”

“Are you? Even though you had to leave someone behind?”

“Alright, relax,” you lowered your voice. “We’re being quiet about it.”

You’d told her once in passing, a FaceTime call back in April when she asked how you were holding up.

Her eyebrows shot up, “there’s a we now?”

Ryan shouted your name from across the room, wove his way through people to come and greet you.

“Okay, do not tell him if he doesn’t know.”

“Doesn’t know?” She asked, her eyebrows arched. “We have internet access.”

Okay, so it was definitely floating around and most people were speculating that there was something going on between you.

“Happy birthday!” Ryan opened his arms, Blake let go of your shoulder so you could hug her husband in greeting.

“Why thank you!”

“Are you trying to get intel about Y/N and our," he lowered his voice before continuing, "favorite soccer coach?”

“I can leave my own birthday party, you know,” you threw a thumb over your shoulder and gestured to the door, narrowed eyes to threaten them both.

“Please,” he made a face at you. “I know we said this party is for you but it was mostly for us so we can get details about the greatest set up of all time.”

Blake whacked him in the stomach quickly, you felt your forehead wrinkle in confusion.

“Set up?”

An awkward beat when Ryan's eyes went wide. “That’s the doorbell,” he said, a hand to his ear.

“It didn’t ring,” you called him out.

“Yes it did,” he nodded. “I heard it--did you hear it Blake?”

“Go,” she pointed to the door, smiled when you brought your eyes back to her, already pleading for you to hear her out.

Mia was beside you now, a drink in hand when she rejoined the conversation.

“They FaceTimed at some point in, like, March, okay? I mentioned you were there, he seemed intrigued.” She shrugged casually, watching both you and Mia for a reaction.

You weren’t mad, just surprised. Arms folded over your chest when Mia asked:

“Wait, so--you guys are the reason he asked her out?”

Blake clasped her hands and held them beneath her chin, a guilty look on her face. “I mean--we planted the seed, maybe.”

“But you didn’t give him my number?”

“I wasn’t going to make it that easy for him,” she laughed.

“So you don’t think it’s weird that he’s so much older?”

“Love knows no age,” she reassured.

“No one said it’s love,” you rolled your eyes.

“Yeah, well, it’s at least lust,” Mia laughed.

Blake waved you off and got you a glass of champagne. She kept it filled all night and Mia was always close behind as you mingled with other friends you hadn’t seen over the last 12 weeks. Eventually, Maddy and Ada showed up and Blake revealed the cake they got in your honor.

They were just about to sing, lights dimmed and a pointy cardboard hat strapped to your head when you saw Ryan disappear again for the front door.

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you!

He opened it, you watched over Mia’s shoulder and saw his eyes meet yours from across the room. A small smile before he offered Ryan a hug, they hung back until you were forced to refocus.

Happy birthday dear Y/N, happy birthday to you!

You leaned forward and blew out the candles, too distracted to make a wish as they all clapped and Mia snapped a photo.

He showed up.

Late, right in the middle of the night’s climax, but there he was, across the room with a stupid smirk on his face as caterers sprung into action. Slices of cake on plates with tiny forks, another drink in your hand before you could even dip away to inquire: what are you doing here?

Mia made eye contact with you, a quirk of her brow to acknowledge the party’s newest guest. You shrugged in response, but it wasn’t going to be that easy.

“Okay,” Maddy finally tugged you aside once the cake excitement had died down. “Care to explain what’s going on?”

“I have no clue,” you answered honestly. “He said he wasn’t coming, he didn’t even text me.”

Mia and Ada had gathered around, sips of champagne as you all took turns stealing glances in his direction. Still by the foyer, a button down and the same pair of Nikes he wore on your first date.

He peered over, a quick smile when he caught you all watching from across the room and everyone’s head snapped back towards you.

Your pulse jumped through the roof and you smoothed out your dress. “Subtle, guys.”

“Oh come on,” Ada laughed. “He knows he’s causing a scene.”

“Let’s just play it cool, okay?”

“Play what cool?” Blake appeared behind Mia, mouth half-full with a bite of cake when she followed Maddy’s line of sight. Her eyes pulled back to yours quickly, “ohhhhh,” she nodded, a suggestive smile. “That’s exciting.”

“Are you behind this, too?”

“No!” her shoulder rose to her ears in innocence. “I had no idea he was even in town!”

Right, you hadn’t exactly broadcasted that part of the story yet: he flew all the way here for my birthday weekend and we had sex for the second time last night!

“Okay he keeps looking over here,” Maddy lowered her voice and watched you closely, a smile on her face to mask the conversation. “The flirty eye contact is painfully obvious.”

“You should see the two of them together,” Mia patted Maddy on the wrist. “It’s insane--they’re basically eye fucking the entire time.”

“Oh shut up,” you waved her off.

“I believe it,” Ada eyed you before she took a sip of her drink. “You have some weird aura with men--older guys have always been into you.”

“I think that’s what happens when you shake your ass on stage,” Blake teased.

“You’re all horrible people,” you nodded confidently, sipping your own glass.

He was waiting you out. He was still with Ryan, a few other friends beside them as he greeted other people you didn’t know he knew.

But there was no way you were going to be the one to break. You’d stand here and eat cake, drink champagne, pretend that you weren’t keenly aware of his presence all night if you had to.

Distraction when Maddy got a text from her most recent hook-up. Something else for you to all giggle about when she read it aloud, still catching up on the events of the New York spring you’d been absent for.

A group reply was crafted, she swiped through his bumble profile for approval and you continued to make the rounds: thank you so much for coming, how have you been?

By midnight there was music, Ryan’s laugh carried down the hall when you dried your hands on a hand towel in the bathroom. You tugged the door open to find Jason on the other side, eyebrows lifted in greeting, a Manhattan he pushed towards you.

You smiled. “For me?”

“For you,” he nodded.

You took it, brought the skewer up to your mouth and pulled one of the cherries off with your teeth.

He watched, eyes on your lips when you let out a giggle.

“I thought you had children to spend the evening with?”

“Yeah, well, turns out kids go to sleep eventually,” he shrugged. “And they have a nanny, so.”

“You didn’t have to come.”

“If I didn’t come I wouldn’t have the mental image of you eating that cherry to last me the next few weeks in London.”

“Hmm,” you nodded. “Just here to get off.”

He let out a quick laugh, regained composure when he put a hand in his pocket. “That and to stir the pot with your friends, you know, get ‘em all riled up. The one in the light blue dress keeps looking at me.”

“Maddy,” you nodded, peering over his shoulder to get a glimpse of the party.

“How much do they know?”

One shoulder shrug, “they know enough that they’d be suspicious if they see us walking out of the bathroom together.”

“Got it--here, come here then,” he stepped into the bathroom, tugged you in before he closed the door. He pressed his lips against yours once it was shut, a hand along your jaw and your back against the wall.

Your hands tugged at the side of his shirt, pulling his body close to yours before, eventually, he pulled away.

You looked up at him, enough of a sad look in your eyes for him to let out an apologetic laugh. “Oh come on, we both know I’m sleeping at your place after that."

"We can't leave the party together," you challenged.

"Well then how about you leave the bathroom and I'll wait a minute to not look like we're up to something. And in an hour or so we'll do the same thing. And I'll meet you at your place."

You offered playful smirk, a single nod before you dipped out and back down the hall.

story page | talk to me/join the tag list | the playlist

#not a date #jason sudeikis #jason sudeikis blurb

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sakura-83 · 3 years ago

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Things from Anne with an e that I feel like writing down

Season 1 Episode 4: An Inward Treasure Born

1. The really good transition shot following the firewood as Gilbert chops wood, Ruby carries it inside, moody putting it in the fire, and Marilla closing the stove, despite none of it actually being in the same place. You almost don’t notice it because of how smoothly the transitions are shot

2. “Not going to school again today?”

3. Anne singing to herself wandering around in a daze

4. “If she doesn’t go back to school soon, you may have to send us both to the looney bin.”

5. The ladybug rhyme

6. Marilla actually asking for Rachel’s advice

7. The cuthberts remind me a lot of my grandparents tbh

8. Anne getting so distracted the oven catches fire, I’ve done that before

9. Anne screaming at Marilla about how it’s hard to do well in life when you have no friends. I’ve been there before

10. Starting to think Matthew is autistic but that could be its own post

11. “She can’t like me when no one else does.”

12. The mention of Katie Maurice, one of Anne’s imaginary friends made from her reflection. The show doesn’t really explain it as thoroughly as the book does so I was confused until I started reading the book

13. The way Anne reminds Matthew of himself when he was younger

14. Jerry fixing his clothes any going “hello ladies~” except he’s like 12-13 so it’s completely ineffective

15. “We’ve been worrying about her.” “Diana especially.”

16. Anne skipping school but still continuing to teach herself anyways

17. Griselda the pinecone

18. When they call the minister on you 😔

19. The way Marilla, self proclaimed conservative, still doesn’t agree with the idea of Anne learning only to be a wife, to not go back to school.

20. An unexpected but intriguing conversation about the integrated concepts of gender and class privileges. Jerry has opportunities Anne cannot because he is a boy but Anne has opportunities Jerry cannot because his family is poor. Anne will always be looked down on by some because she’s a girl but Jerry will also be looked down on for being from an immigrant family.

21. “I don’t see how I’m ever going to be a very good wife quite frankly.” “Probably not.” “I have such a bad temper-“ “true!” “And I’m dreadfully wicked and impatient and skinny and homely DON’T SAY ANYTHING JERRY-“

22. Anne laying down in the middle of the hayloft to lament while poor Jerry is trying to move the hay

23. Anne saying words and Jerry just standing there like 🧍🏻

24. “This is unlike you.” “I have no idea what’s like me. None at all.”

25. Poor Matthew asked if her mind was burdened and Marilla was like “is there anything I can cook or mend or fetch for you” like ma’am please calm down

26. It is very interesting to see how in pre-modern technology era, stopping a fire was way more of a community effort

27. Anne knowing how to help stop the fire because of every fire manual she read and rushing inside without a second thought

28. Jerry being like “she ran inside!!! It was Anne!!! Anne slowed down the fire!!!! :D”

29. “😏 Maybe you could be a firefighter.”

30. “After the events of this evening you should be grateful to have a bed to sleep in at all.”

31. “It doesn’t matter what the other girls think Ruby, it matters what you think.”

32. “I am NOT a Gilbert Blythe fan.”

33. “It’s a shame you’re not in school anymore. You seem awful smart about things.”

34. “As long as they bring food, I don’t care if it’s Quasimodo.”

35. “Go home, and bake cookies!” “Headline, they already did.”

36. Anne yelling at Billy 💖

37. “Gilbert is so chivalrous 🥰.” “Oh hes somethin alright.”

38. Anne bring sure that she could fistfight Billy

39. Matthew teaching Anne how to fight and fake sparring with her

40. The avonlea story club

41. I think Ruby understands what Anne is saying less than Jerry does

42. RUBY SAYING THAT SHE’LL MISS ANNE

43. That prompting Anne to return to school

44. “In my day we didn’t get to choose. I think you should make your own decision.”

#anne with an e #renew awae #awae #anne shirley cuthbert #anne of green gables #gilbert blythe #ruby gillis #diana barry #mathew cuthbert #marilla cuthbert

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ghstandpucks · 4 years ago

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Cutting Edge ~ Nathan MacKinnon Ch. 9

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well! Sorry this chapter took forever! But I hope you enjoy it! I have the rest of the series planned out, and it should be about 6 more chapters. I’m excited about where it is going and I hope you are too! Stay healthy, safe, and enjoy! Let me know what you think! Tags are open!

Prologue Ch.1 Ch.2 Ch.3 Ch.4 Ch.5 Ch.6 Ch.7 Ch.8

The following Wednesday you were at practice. Bednar had the team gathered in a semi-circle as he informed them of the upcoming schedule before the holidays. “Oh and Coach Y/L/N. In case you didn’t know, we are playing Anaheim this Sunday,” Bednar turned back toward you.

“Oh yay!” you said, clapping your hands together quickly. You couldn’t help but be excited to see some of your friends on the Ducks again. As soon as you said that though, you had many unapproving looks shot at you from the team. “I mean, oh no?”

“Who are you really rooting for Coach?” Tyson called out.

“You guys, obviously,” you stated flippantly. “I know how they skate and I know how their skating coach skates so we got this.” Bednar chuckled.

“I was going to ask if there is anything we should know about your time with the team?” he asked, and you looked at him questioningly.

“No?” you said, confused at where he was going with this.

“Just asking. Hockey players make comments and I would like for us to be prepared if they say anything about you,” he explained.

“Oh,” you said, and thought for a second. “To be honest, I was mostly just around them for a quick showcase, charity events, or galas that they had. I have a few good friends from the team but I don’t think they would really say anything. I was more like everyone’s little sister when I was with them,” you said and everyone nodded. “Oh! If you hear the term ‘little dove’, that’s me.”

“Little dove?” Gabe asked, and you shrugged.

“A few called me little duck at first. But then after a showcase at one of their events I had performed in this greyish-pink dress and Getzlaf started to call me little dove. The rest of the team just followed along,” you explained. You caught eyes with Nate, and he smiled softly. You had just told him about that nickname last week when he saw a comment on your Instagram post from Hampus Lindholm. You had posted a funny picture from practice of Tyson laying flat on the ice and you doubled over laughing at him because he had seemingly tripped over nothing. You accompanied it with a caption of how the team always seems to brighten your day with a laughing emoji. Hampus commented “We feel so betrayed little dove.”

After practice that day, Nate was over at your apartment after having gone to the store to get stuff for dinner. You wanted to cook that night, so he thought it was only fair if he bought the groceries. Since the two of you had started dating, you tended to stay in at his or your place, not wanting to fuel rumors. A picture of the two of you dancing at the gala was posted recently, the media team not thinking much of it, but oh boy did it spread like wildfire. While your fans thought it was cute, Nate’s fans were a mix. You were starting to see how vicious some hockey fans could be.

You were finishing the shrimp for shrimp scampi when Nate came up behind you and wrapped his arms around your waist. “I have a question,” he mumbled into the hair at the top of your head. You hummed, encouraging him to go on. “What do you want for Christmas?” he asked. You smiled, forgetting that it was already December.

“Nothing,” you said simply.

“There has to be something,” Nate stole a shrimp from the pan and you batted his hand away. He chuckled and kissed your cheek. You finished the dish, turned off the stove, and turned to face him.

“Well, there is something,” you smiled up at him. Nate smiled back at you, raising his eyebrow in question. “A unicorn.” Nate’s face fell and you couldn’t help but laugh.

“Seriously Y/N?”

“Actually, in all seriousness, I want a unicorn that poops rainbows. But I know those are hard to find,” you laughed as Nate rolled his eyes at you. He maneuvered you away from the stove and lifted you onto the counter, standing in between your legs.

“Why are you being difficult?” Nate asked, humor in his voice.

“Well what do you want for Christmas?” you asked, smiling widely at him. Nate shrugged.

“I don’t need anything,” he said.

“It’s not about what you need. What do you want?”

“Nothing.” Nate smiled mockingly at you.

“You can’t say nothing and expect me to tell you something!” You laughed. The conversation went on like this for another 10 minutes, neither one of you giving in. You kept up with wanting a unicorn, much to Nate’s dismay. He knew he wasn’t the most romantic, and really wanted to get this right with you. Since he wouldn’t tell you anything though, you didn’t budge either. It seemed like you had both met your match when it came to stubbornness.

A while later, Nate had just got out of the shower and you were finishing putting the dishes away from dinner. As you turned your lights off and made sure your front door was locked, you looked out the window and immediately smiled. It was snowing. Running into your bedroom, you started to grab your big coat and a beanie, shoving your feet into a pair of boots. “Going somewhere?” Nate asked as he walked out of the bathroom, highly confused.

“It’s snowing outside! Let’s go!” you squealed, throwing his shirt and sweatshirt at him.

“This isn’t the first time it’s snowed since you’ve been here Y/N,” Nate chuckled, but continued to get dressed to go outside.

“Yes, but it usually happens when I’m sleeping or at the rink! I haven’t been out while it’s snowing yet!” You bounced around your room, continuing to check the window to make sure snow was still falling.

“It’s just snow,” Nate said, finally finishing putting his shoes on. You grabbed his hand and pulled him to your front door.

“Yes, but I’m from Southern California! I always had to drive to the snow. I want to go outside while it’s coming down actually!” You grabbed your keys and left your apartment. Nate allowed you to drag him along, silently amused at your excitement. Luckily for the two of you, your apartment building had a secluded courtyard in the middle so you didn’t have to go out front to the main street. This allowed Nate and you not to worry about being seen together this late at night. That would definitely be the source of more speculation.

Once outside, you giggled with excitement and ran to the middle of the empty courtyard. Looking up toward the sky, you stuck your tongue out to catch the snow as it came down. Nate walked up beside you and grabbed your hand. You took out your phone and had Nate take a picture of the two of you, realizing you really didn’t have any. What better way to commemorate your first snow in Colorado than with Nate? After spinning around all excited for a moment, you walked back over to Nate and wrapped your arms around him, burying your face into his sweatshirt as your nose was starting to freeze. Nate held you close to him, looking down and tilting your chin up so you met his eyes. He chuckled softly at your red cheeks and nose, leaning down and fitting his lips to yours. The two of you stood there for a moment, lost in a blissful bubble you had created. You pulled away slightly and shivered, the cold starting to get to you. Nate smiled softly and kissed your forehead. “Let’s get you inside before you freeze,” he muttered, taking your hand and leading you back up to your apartment. Once back in your apartment and in your pajamas, you crawled into bed and over to Nate who was already laying down looking through his phone. You cuddled into his side and weaved your legs with his.

“Jesus babe! Your feet are freezing!” he jumped slightly, putting his phone down. You laughed but didn’t move.

“Poor circulation from tying my skates too tight over the years. Sorry,” you giggled. Nate shook his head, but didn’t bother moving. If being with you meant dealing with cold feet, he didn’t think that was a bad price to pay.

~ ~ ~

Sunday had arrived and it brought with it the Ducks. You were currently standing by the bench with the other coaches as the team was warming up. You had just finished talking with Bradie Tennell, the skating coach for the Ducks. The two of you were on the Olympic team together and had become good friends. She let you know that the team had been good to her so far, and that made you happy. You were leaning against the board when Ryan Getzlaf skated up to you.

“How are they treating you, little dove?” he asked, and you smiled at the familiarity of the name. The question didn’t surprise you; he had always been protective. You were young and talented when you first started to skate in Anaheim, and some of the rookies took interest in you. Being so focused on making the Olympic team though, you barley noticed. The captain announced one practice that you were off limits, and they complied. After that it seemed the whole team had become extra protective of you.

“Good! They’re a good group. I like it here,” you answered honestly. He nodded and looked back out over the ice.

“Is that why it looks like I’m about to get in a fight with 29 tonight?” Ryan smirked at you. You found Nate on the ice and smiled at him, and the tension in his jaw seemed to release as he went back to what he was doing. Nate knew you were friends with the Ducks and figured some may go talk to you; but he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy that they could talk to you so openly and no one would question it while the two of you had to date secretly.

“He’s just protective like you are,” you tried to laugh it off, but Ryan gave you a look that said you were not fooling him. You smiled sweetly and he shook his head.

“Whatever you say little dove,” Ryan said and skated off.

“Be nice!” you yelled after him and he let out a laugh.

“Will you stop fraternizing with the enemy Coach?” Tyson asked skating into the box.

“Just for you Tyson,” you winked at him.

Later, the third period had just began and the teams were tied. The whole game had been a back and forth with scoring. A few times when one of the Ducks would skate by, they would say hi, wave, or wink at you. The winking seemed to happen only when Nate was on the bench, and you were wondering if Ryan had said anything. You needed to work on being a better liar.

Nate was on the ice when Hampus Lindholm skated by before a face off. “You know, we were all sad when Y/N left us to come here. I would think she’s a good coach,” Hampus judged Nate’s reaction. Nate side-eyed him, but didn’t say anything. “She’s cute too,” Hampus pushed a bit further. The Ducks’ captain had said that chirping about Y/N was off limits, but he had also said he felt it may get under MacKinnon’s skin. When you talked about being friends with some of the Ducks, Hampus was one of them. He didn’t want to be disrespectful toward you, but he thought it would be fun to see if he could push the center’s buttons. Nate took a deep breath and continued to ignore him. “You know she was my date to a charity event once,” Hampus continued. Nate did know this; you had told him you went as friends since you were going to the charity also. He knew it was nothing, he knew Lindholm was trying to dig at him, but that doesn’t mean that it didn’t bother him. When the puck was dropped, Nate threw himself into the defenseman, promptly flattening him out on the ice.

Nothing was called and the play kept going, but you stood behind the bench with wide eyes. What had just happened? You were so distracted in your own thoughts that you hadn’t realized the buzzard had gone off, signaling an Avs’ goal. Turning your attention back to the team celebrating at the end of the ice, you saw them all gathering around Nate. Of course you had missed it. That was the only score of the third period, the Avs winning 3-2.

After the game and interviews were done, you had said bye to some of the guys and Bradie. Nate had asked if you wanted to stay at his place that night, so you made your way to his apartment. You texted him that you were there, and he told you the front was unlocked. Upon walking into his apartment, he called you over to the couch where he was laying down and pulled you down on top of him. You gave him a quick kiss, then settled your chin on his chest, looking at him expectantly. “So,” you started. Nate knew where the conversation was going.

“You really did just go to the charity thing with Lindholm as friends, right?” he asked, furrowing his brow a little.

“Yeah, that’s all it was. Why?”

“He said you were his date,” Nate shrugged and started to play with your hair, twisting and untwisting a strand around his finger.

“As friends. I have no feelings for him whatsoever,” you explained, then realized why he was asking you to clarify. “Is that why you hit him so hard during the game?” Nate averted his eyes from you, slightly ashamed he let what Lindholm had said get to him. You giggled, knowing that was the issue. “Nate, babe. There was nothing there, nor will there every be anything there. And that goes for the rest of everyone. Don’t let it get to you okay,” you said, kissing him softly. You pulled away and rested your palm against his cheek. “Plus, he’s not my type.” That perked Nate right up.

“So, what is your type?” he wrapped his arms around you with a smirk.

“Big, burly, 6-foot Canadians with blue eyes who are just as stubborn as I am,” you smirked at him. Nate rolled his eyes, but laughed and pulled you in for another kiss. He flipped the two of you so that your back was to the couch now with him hovering over you. Nate started placing quick kisses all over your face and you giggled as his stubble tickled your neck. The two of you stayed like that for a while longer before ordering take out and getting ready for bed.

~ ~ ~

The holidays fast approached, and you were thankful the team had four days off for Christmas. You had already booked a flight back home for the morning of Christmas Eve, and would be flying back to Denver on the morning of the 26th. For you, going home was easy as it was only a two in a half hour flight. You had booked it when you first got the schedule back in September. You were starting to feel bad that not everyone on the team would be going home though, Nate included. If you had known that you would have been in any sort of relationship, you may have opted to stay as well. When you brought this up to Nate, he told you not to worry about it, and that he would even take you and pick you up from the airport.

On the 23rd, you and Nate had just got back to your apartment after having dinner with everyone who was still in town. Since there were multiple people going, you figured nothing would come of it to be seen out with Nate in public. The two of you were still keeping your relationship from mostly everyone on the team, so it was easy to act like you had been at practice. To anyone who didn’t know, it just looked like you two were good friends.

You showered and put your pajamas on, setting out your present for Nate on the coffee table and finding a movie to watch while he showered. You had settled on watching a Hallmark Christmas movie, because who doesn’t secretly love the cheesiness of it all? Nate sat down next to you on the couch and pulled you into his side. Placing a blanket over the both of you, you settled into watching the movie, pointedly trying to ignore the Christmas gift bag he had set down on the coffee table next to your gift to him.

After the movie, you turned the tv off and just enjoyed being in each other’s company. The only lights on were the Christmas lights from the fake tree you had set up, and other Christmas lights you had decorated with. Your apartment looked a bit like Christmas exploded in it, but it made you happy and Nate laugh. You made some hot chocolate, and sat back down facing Nate. Handing him his, you took a sip and set your mug down on the coffee table, in turn picking up your gift to him. “Present time!” you sang, handing him the gift. You weren’t sure what he would think of it, realizing it was difficult to buy for someone who seemingly had everything he wanted.

Nate unwrapped the gift, and smiled upon taking it out of the box. It was a wooden watch, one that you had found on Etsy. It was a dark stained wood that you had engraved on the back of the watch face. As Nate turned it over in his hands, he smiled wider and chuckled. You were able to convince the designer to engrave a hockey skate and a figure skate. Above the skates read “Merry Christmas” with the year, and both your initials. “I know you already have a watch, but I thought the wood was neat and I was excited when the person said they could engrave the skates on it, and…” you were cut off from your rambling by Nate pulling you into a sweet kiss.

“It’s perfect Y/N. Thank you,” he whispered, placing a kiss on your forehead and admiring the thoughtful gift. He set it down and handed you the gift bag. You smiled while you took the tissue paper off the top, feeling fabric at the bottom of the bag and took it out. You laughed, seeing the familiar burgundy and blue. Holding it out in front of you, you saw the 29 on the arm, turning it around to see ‘MacKinnon’ on the back. While you unfolded it though, a smaller box fell into your lap. “I know you can’t wear it to games, but I wanted to get you my jersey,” Nate explained as you slipped it on over your pajama top.

“Thank you,” you said, blushing slightly and turning your attention to the box. Opening it up, you saw the most beautiful, small and delicate figure skate charm you had even seen. It was gold with diamonds encrusted into it. Taking it out of the box, you noticed it was attached to a delicate gold chain as a necklace. You turned it over in your hand, feeling something on the back of the charm. You giggled, noticing a ‘29’ engraved onto the back. “Nate, it’s beautiful.”

“I thought you could at least wear my number to games this way. If you don’t like it we can go get you something else,” Nate looked at you unsure, and you shook your head.

“Help me put it on?” you asked, and turned around. Nate deftly clasped the necklace together. “How does it look?”

“Perfect,” he said, and you grinned at him.

“I love it, thank you,” you said, and leaned in to kiss him. What was an innocent gesture quickly turned heated as Nate pulled you onto his lap, you straddling him. Your fingers carded through the hair at the nape of his neck as his hands pushed the hem of the jersey and your pajama shirt up, gripping your hips. You pulled back after some time, needing to take a breath and maneuvered yourself to where you were sitting in Nate’s lap and leaned your head on his shoulder. Nate chuckled, kissing your forehead.

“Maybe it’s a good thing you can’t wear my jersey to games. I don’t think I could concentrate,” he mumbled. You giggled and pecked his neck, the both of you settling back down.

The following morning Nate drove you to the airport. Thankful for his tinted windows, you kissed him quickly before anyone would figure out who the both of you were and grabbed your bags. “Merry Christmas Nate,” you said, slipping out of the car.

“Let me know when you get home, okay?” he said with a soft smile, and you felt your heart tug at the thought of leaving him for a few days. It struck you that this was the first time since September you wouldn’t be around him almost every day.

“I will,” you returned his smile. Nate quickly reached over the center counsel for your hand, bringing it up to his lips.

“Merry Christmas Y/N,” he said lightly, realizing the same thing you were. You grabbed your bags and smiled, waving as you shut the door and headed into the airport. Nate made sure you were inside the building before he took off, not being bothered by the honks he was receiving from annoyed holiday travelers.

Tags: @bqstqnbruin @avsfans95 @comphybiscuit @calesykar @andreiaafaria

#nhl imagine #nhl imagines #nhl fic #nhl x reader #nhl fanfiction #nathan mackinnon imagine #nate mackinnon imagine #nathan mackinnon x reader #Cutting Edge

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whatdoesshedotothem · 3 years ago

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Friday 10 March 1837

7 35

12 ½

No kiss washing after much cousin finish cold windy morning Just saw Mr. Husband and told him to let Charles Howarth have the next stove-sawing – breakfast with A- at 9 – out before 10 with Ingham and had Booth setting out the carriage court and farmyard necessary-well etc – came in a little before 12 and gave A- £29 and the following to send to Mr. Jubb ‘A. Jubb Esquire Lord Street’ – ‘Mrs. Listers’ compliments to Mr. Jubb, and encloses him twenty-nine pounds – Shibden hall. Friday 10 March 1837’ written so at the top of the ½ sheet that A- could write compliments and about her own bill below – Parcel (the plan of the Godley lane intended water drift) and letter from Mr. Adam – attended a meeting of the trustees yesterday – would not give a differently worded order – will be another meeting in 3 months – want to know in what strata the drift is to be driven – J’y penserai – send back Mr. Parker’s boy, saying I would send an answer wrote the above of today till 12 10 – then with Robert Man n + 3 at the low pool east embankment end – getting a little more soil to it to earth up with – till 1 Robert and c° have changed their dinner hour from 12 to 1 in consequence of having no after drinking – came in at soon after 1 – with Bligh and about in the house looking after my portable book-shelves – (portable library) – fitting up in the drawing room – A- off o Willowfield (Mrs. Dyson ill) at 2 tho’ it had begun to rain – I then washed much cousin then till 4 ¾ about dusting and siding in my study – staid in then seeing that the rain kept away Robert and c° - could have seen them if at work from the Blue room window – out at 4 ¾ - in the stables and about till near 6 – dressed – dinner at 6 ½ (A- returned soon after 5 – wet)- coffee – A- read aloud the Introduction vol. 1 (about near 50 pp.) Chateaubriand’s 2 8vo volumes on English Literature – which she brought from the library this afternoon – then I read the newspaper till 10 at which hour F33 ½° - finish day till 2 pm afterwards rainy afternoon and evening and highsh – Booths’ men took down the door, and good stone door posts and lintel from the little clow-house at the low end of the meer – useless job of Mr. Husbands’ to the amount of about £40 or thereabouts – surely the clow as now done will answer – George Naylors’ 2 horse here today as yesterday bringing with my order 2 teams rough large rag from Hipperholme quarry for Ingham – John Booth took the old bay horse this morning and brought home my 2 horse narrow wheeled cart from being repaired at Mosley’s – Hotspur, the older and better bred carriage horse, put in the shafts today 1st time? had just written the last 9 lines at 10 40 pm – then looking into the advertisement in the last Quarterly Review till 11 10 –

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recentanimenews · 4 years ago

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INTERVIEW: The Creators of The Ancient Magus' Bride and The Girl From the Other Side

In coordination with the recent anime announcements of The Girl from the Other Side and The Ancient Magus' Bride, Comic Natalie recently held an interview with the manga authors of both series: Nagabe and Kore Yamazaki. Crunchyroll News was given the opportunity to officially translate the interview in English between the two, posted below. You can read the original Japanese interview here.

Tetsuko Kumase held and composed the interview.

The Girl from the Other Side by Nagabe and The Ancient Magus’ Bride by Kore Yamazaki are the two stories that develop around the theme of "Beast x Girl," and probably have many fans in common. To celebrate the release of The Girl from the Other Side as a full-length anime OAD (news article embedded) and the development of a new OAD series for The Ancient Magus’ Bride (news article embedded), Comic Natalie has set up an interview with Nagabe and Yamazaki. In addition to discussing their commitment to their work and the concept of "Beast x Girl", they also shared their thoughts about the new anime productions. At the end of the interview, they asked questions to each other to learn more about one’s perspectives towards creating stories.

Respect for each other and the appeal of "Beast x Girl"

── There have been several projects you collaborated on, such as a joint event for the two works (see: The Ancient Magus’ Bride and The Girl from the Other Side fair where visitors could get the “Beast x Girl” playing cards) and the book of The Ancient Magus’ Bride including a trivia manga booklet, The Ancient Magus’ Bride: Quiet Talk, written by Nagabe-san (see: The Ancient Magus’ Bride volume 10 includes an acrylic stand and a booklet written by Nagabe). I know that many readers are fans of both of your works, but could you tell us about your impressions of each other's creations and what you like about them?

Nagabe: The Ancient Magus’ Bride initially grabbed my attention because of the obi (belt) on the book that said "Beast x Girl." But when I started reading it, I found it to be a fantasy manga that’s really well thought out. Dragons, mythical creatures, folklore, and mythology are well integrated into the modern world, and each magical being is given its own meaning. The non-human characters also have their own meanings, backgrounds, and cultures, and interact with the protagonists. It's not just a fantasy, but the way the characters are connected to the world and make it feel so real is exquisite! Of course, the non-humans in the story are also wonderful. I love Elias.

Kore Yamazaki: Thank you very much. I'm often amazed at the range of stories and pictures you create. I sometimes even question if there are any non-human characters you can’t draw. I don't know if it's appropriate to say, but there's a hint of darkness or something in your work. I think it's a little sexy or maybe there’s secret eros? I love that I can feel a little bit of naughtiness in your work.

Nagabe: Thank you!

Yamazaki: The other thing is that I feel like I can almost smell the lines and shadows you draw if I trace them. Also, your story can be either very sweet or disturbing. I know you've been working very hard to achieve this, but honestly, I envy you. I wish I could create pictures and stories like you.

── I can really tell that you respect each other deeply. Now, please tell us what you like about particular scenes, episodes, or expressions in each of your works.

Nagabe: Personally, I think that The Ancient Magus’ Bride is a human drama in which you see Chise’s growth and changes as she confronts the environment around her. So, of course, there are impressive episodes that correspond to that. However, if I get to choose one based on my own preferences, I like the story of magic in Episode 2 and the Christmas story of Elias and Chise. The former shows magical instruments in a fantasy world, and the latter shows the integration of the real world customs in manga. I love portraits that showcase slice-of-life stories, so I thought those were great!

Yamazaki: I really like the gradual development of the relationship between Shiva and Sensei in The Girl from the Other Side. I love the scenes where they are about to touch but hesitate and also the scene that portraits the cute fight that heats up through the door. There’s also a scene where they touch each other by accident, but that triggers them to touch each other intentionally after, and that made me go "Wow!” The distance between them is so... delicate and exquisite. The softness of the flesh and the temperature of Shiva and the lack of physical temperature of Sensei next to her, all give me the feeling of winter, which is amazing. I think it just fits my sense of winter perfectly. The coldness that mercilessly takes away life, the feel of the felt, floor, and walls chilled by snow and water, and the warmth of having someone by your side in front of the stove… they all exist together in the story.

Nagabe: I'm very happy to hear that.

Yamazaki: My favorite episode is episode 29 in volume 6. I really want them both to be happy! It made me feel the warm temperature of Shiva’s tears. The scene where they go see Mother gave me chills. The design of the children of darkness is also epic!

── Now, can you talk about what you both find to be attractive about the “Beast x Girl," which is a common concept in both of your works?

Nagabe: It’s not just about girls but more so about humans, but I think I’m into cross-culturalism. Different races have different cultures, languages, and maybe even different body structures. The two characters have great differences and that brings out interesting gaps and interactions which creates a good drama. It’s also nice when they see each other’s similarities and go “oh, that’s the part we have in common”. I especially like it when there are differences that are incompatible. For example, whether cannibalism is acceptable or not. The fact that taboos in the human world are practiced without hesitation in the non-human world creates clear divisions. Seeing how they deal with these negative differences is the best part and what makes this theme attractive to me.

Yamazaki: The concept of non-human exists because there are humans. I am personally attracted to things that are distant from humans in appearance and sensibility. I love non-humans who don’t speak human languages, but I also have to balance my work for consumer products. In The Ancient Magus’ Bride, I used fairytales from Britain and Ireland as references, so they all speak human languages fluently. Their sensibilities and appearance are quite human-like except for their rules. It’s probably because humans wouldn’t be able to understand them otherwise, and they can be very different from your ideas of non-humans. However, they are very rigid about certain rules they have, so I have to be careful drawing those concepts clearly. It’s quite difficult to decide how much of the original folktales and fairytales I include in my creation. If I put too much just because it’s interesting, the originality in my work will disappear. This is something I have to be careful not to overlook.

── You've taken special care to balance these concepts.

Yamazaki: The other topic to consider is the reason why a girl is matched with a beast. Personally, I think it’s because girls have the most flexibility and softness. For better or worse, children are soft, malleable, and flexible to their environment. But they also have their own answers to questions, toughness, weakness, rigidness, and acceptance to their worlds, questions, hesitation, tolerance, anger, joy… all sorts of ideas and emotions, which makes them very attractive and easy to draw. I understand that adult characters are interesting as well. Also, it’s just exciting to see humans and non-humans together like with animals, monsters, and so on. In reality, people often don’t understand each other, but in creation, we can hope differently. I guess I like seeing everyone getting along as a bystander. But from a business point of view, I can’t just leave it like that, so I give them lots of challenges!

Nagabe: In The Ancient Magus’ Bride, I think that emotions are portrayed as something specific to humans. The contrast between Chise, who is always changing based on her experiences, and Elias, who is certainly changing but lacking in some crucial way, is brilliant. It seems that this kind of dissonance is there because we see Elias’ emotions in the same way we see that of Chise’s or humans. In the story, Chise said to Elias “I can’t understand you”, and I think it’s great that you are taking this difference between the characters seriously and depicting it in your work.

Yamazaki: Thank you. I think The Girl from the Other Side provides the perfect sense in terms of closeness among characters. Other works of yours also showcase this as well. Sometimes characters are all over each other, and other times they are trying to figure out the right distance. There’s rejection, and there’s also adorable connection. I love it. I think the struggle between a being and another being is wonderful. Also, it’s simply cool to have two different concepts exist together like big and small.

── What kind of works have influenced the two of you in terms of drawing fantasy and the theme of "Beast x Girl"?

Yamazaki: It’s not that I’m only looking for the “Beast x Girl” theme, but it just triggers my sensors! Some of the books that caught my attention are the Darren Shan series, Rachel series, Koteki no Kanata, Dendera Ryu ga Detekitayo, Sukkuto Kitsune, and Hellsing. In terms of animation, I’d say the Monster Farm, PoPoLoCrois series, Brigadoon: Marin & Melan, and Blood: The Last Vampire series. Rather than finding the exact theme of “Beast x Girl," I find the subtle essence of that in these works. Also, I often use myths and folktales as references. I’d say the ones that influenced me the most are Ashiarai Yashiki no Juunintachi, J&J series, and Blood+.

Nagabe: I think Beauty and the Beast was influential for me! These are not about a beast and a girl, but Alice in Wonderland and Moomin also had a strong influence on my current manga creation. They are certainly fantasy, but not shiny and glamorous, and gives you a sense of antiquity,

── Are there any works that you would like to recommend to each other?

Nagabe: In my case, I am more interested in art books and picture books than novels, so my tastes are a little different. But I would like to recommend Arthur Rackham and Saint-Exupery! Arthur Rackham is famous for Alice in Wonderland, and Saint-Exupery for The Little Prince. I also recommend Jon Klassen's picture book series. I like the airy atmosphere and you can see his energetic watercolor touch. I hope you will read them if you have a chance.

Yamazaki: I'd like to check them out. It's hard to make recommendations to Nagabe-san, but I'd like you to read Ashiarai Yashiki no Juunintachi. The characters are more human-like in appearance, but there is also great diversity. There are lots of characters so I'm sure you'll be able to find one, three, or even ten that you like.

Nagabe: I see. I’ll check it out.

What they want to portray through their work

── Could you tell us about your own work? In a previous interview with Comic Natalie, Yamazaki-san, you said you wanted to create a story in The Ancient Magus’ Bride where "everyone is bad and everyone is good."

Yamazaki: Now that I think about it, “everyone is bad and everyone is good” is not exactly correct. If I could answer it again, I would say it’s about differences. It's like a sample of where various emotions and thoughts are. I hope that reading my manga will give the audience a chance to think about the differences in their lives. But they are free to dismiss it if they think it’s boring. I have my ideas of what I want to convey as a message in my work, but I try not to give clear answers so that people can think and feel what they want.

── Now, Nagabe-san, in a previous interview, you said that the most important theme for you was "gentleness."

Nagabe: After finishing The Girl from the Other Side, I felt once again that ‘gentleness’ is a difficult thing to express. I wondered to whom that ‘gentleness’ was meant for, what it meant, and what would happen if that feeling resulted in a bad situation. Is ‘gentleness’ shown in words, actions, or something else in the first place? Any of these can express ‘gentleness’ depending on the perspectives of each protagonist, so I was reminded of the ambiguity of emotions, the frustration that comes with interaction, and how difficult it is to depict those things. I’m glad I got to learn the difficulty of this theme, and I felt that I need to look at it from different aspects.

── I see. It's been a few years since any of the interviews I mentioned before, but has there been anything new you would like to emphasize in your works?

Nagabe: Since I’ve been thinking about the theme of emotions through "gentleness," I want to focus more on personality. In other words, I want to focus more on human dramas. In addition to that, I would like to depict a strange everyday life in a mysterious world. Of course, I want to include non-humans.

Yamazaki: I haven't really changed my main ideas. But if I had to say, I’d like to go back to the basics and draw non-humans again as I’ve been drawing only humans in stories lately.

The world of The Girl from the Other Side and

The Ancient Magus’ Bride in animation

── Both The Girl from the Other Side and The Ancient Magus’ Bride have been developed into anime projects in the past. How do you feel about your works being made into animation again?

Nagabe: My honest impression (after watching the animation) was "It's moving!” The artwork, visuals, and atmosphere of the manga are very important to me, so I was very impressed that the production team was able to recreate those of my manga with such care. In the previous short animation, the audience was able to enjoy the blank space created by the lack of words. It left room for interpretation. I was simply thrilled that they created such mature animation.

Yamazaki: In my case, I was looking at a hypothetical future where the project was in progress, but in the middle of the project, people would say, "It's not going to sell," and it would discontinue. I was thinking that I should at least be able to do enough work to feed myself, but it actually came true. Can you believe it? Now I can't quit so easily. Oops...

── Oh, no (laughs).

Yamazaki: I was just kidding and was actually very happy, and even though it was a lot of hard work, I had great fun working with many creators!

── What kind of messages and reactions did you receive from the readers of your manga who watched the anime?

Nagabe: The readers were also excited that The Girl from the Other Side was moving! That's how much they have enjoyed the world of The Girl from the Other Side in manga, and we’ve succeeded to meet their expectation in the anime.

Yamazaki: I've received a lot of feedback as well, but it's generally been positive and I’m relieved. I want to thank everyone for that!

── I believe that there are qualities that people are drawn to and ways of expression that are each unique to manga and anime, but when you saw your own work turned into animation, was there anything that you felt was unique to animation?

Nagabe: I think that the subtle movements of people and objects are best expressed through animation. For example, in the scene at the dinner table with Sensei and Shiva, you can see both a movement of Shiva where she tries to climb up on a chair and a smooth movement of Sensei at the same time. This contrast allowed the audience to feel a sense of life in our daily routines, and I thought that was great. One more thing is that the scenes like Shiva’s dreams and the star scene, in the end, achieved a better sense of realism because of the colors, and I think the black-and-white representation of manga won’t be able to quite do the same.

Yamazaki: I may have the same opinion. The manga is quite plain as I prefer low saturation, but I also knew that could be a hindrance for a consumer product. So I was impressed with the bright colors in the anime. Also, the animation complimented the lack of explanation in the manga and it made it more theatrical. I hope people will see both works!

Nagabe: That's right! I want people to see both, too.

── Both manga and anime have their own strong points, and I hope people will enjoy them both. And now, the development of a full-length anime of The Girl from the Other Side and a new OAD series for The Ancient Magus’ Bride has been announced. Please tell us your honest opinions about these developments.

Nagabe: YEEEESSS! I'm so happy. I personally gave the last short-length anime a perfect score, so I have…really...high expectations!

── I can feel your joy. (laugh)

Nagabe: This is all happening thanks to the hard work put in by WIT STUDIO, Yutaro Kubo (director), and Satomi Yoneya (director), and my expectations are very high and I have no worries at all! How about you, Yamazaki-san?

Yamazaki: I'm glad to be working with various creators again! I'm also going to be doing more work that I don't normally do, so in a way I'll be able to change up my routine. It's a lot of work, but also a lot of fun.

── What are you looking forward to and what are your expectations for the new animation?

Nagabe: I’m wondering how they will tell the story now that it’s longer. Of course, I’m interested in the visual expressions and the production of animation as I was for the previous short-length anime, but more than that, I’m looking forward to seeing how they will incorporate the world of The Girl from the Other Side into animation and how they will depict it. Also, Sensei and Shiva are going to talk… with voices. I’m pretty pumped about it and can't contain my excitement!

── As a fan, I'm really looking forward to it. What about you, Yamazaki-san?

Yamazaki: It's fun to have more opportunities to see the work of the animation staff. To tell the truth, I don't really have much expectation for my work. “New anime! Work is coming! I'll do my best!”, I don’t normally feel that way. It almost feels like a collaboration between the supervising team and the animation team, so I have to do my best for our audience to enjoy it.

── How do you feel about the fact that both of your works are loved overseas as well?

Nagabe: Is that so? I'm glad to hear that! Since The Girl from the Other Side is more like a poem or a picture book than a manga, I’ve been wondering how it would be perceived even in Japan. But I'm frankly happy that it's been accepted so favorably. I'm also happy that TThe Girl from the Other Side has “flown” to a foreign country (the Other Side). That gave me a smile. Thank you very much.

Yamazaki: I'm really grateful that there are people overseas who are interested in my work since I basically published it for Japanese people. As the story is set in England, I tried to avoid using gestures and phrases that are unique to Japanese culture, but I guess you could say that worked in my favor. I've been getting a lot of positive feedback and art from fans!

The influence of the pandemic

── I'd like to change the subject. In the past year, as I’ve had interactions with various manga artists, I've witnessed the impact of the pandemic in the writing process and the mental health of manga artists in general. Have there been any changes for you?

Nagabe: Due to the pandemic, of course, I thought about things like my daily life, how to go out, and how to enforce hygiene. But if I speak of The Girl from the Other Side, I feel that its world has gotten closer to our reality. In the story, there’s a curse, and one character would say “it’s safe to stay close to non-humans from the Outside as long as you take proper precautions” while another would say “we should eliminate the cause if nobody can take responsibility”, and they keep arguing. They are both right, and that is why there is friction. I think our feelings and societal reactions toward COVID-19 is very similar to that of The Girl from the Other Side.

Yamazaki: My assistant has been working from far away since before the pandemic, so our work itself hasn’t really been affected at all. But the fact that I can’t go out to gather information and materials for my work has put a damper on my mood. I can feel the significant influence on my work speed, physical condition, and mental health. I’ve always thought I was an indoor person, but in the situation where I am restricted to go out, it’s making me want to do so even more.

── I really understand. There are many people around me saying that they had thought they were indoor people but they got depressed when they couldn’t go outside for a long period of time. Along this topic, I have an impression that manga artists are more used to being at home than people with regular jobs, so you must have some useful tips on how to make it more enjoyable. Do you?

Nagabe: Leave it to me. After all, I am a professional at that.

── I’m counting on you (laughs).

Nagabe: In my case, I have three rooms: one is my workroom, one is my bedroom, and one is my living space, so I feel like I can make my home more comfortable just by not mixing up my personal and professional life. Also, it's exhausting to keep up 100% of my attention, so I think it's okay to cut corners where I can. I also wear pajamas except in my workspace. For me, it's important to keep my workspace clean and crisp and separate from my personal life. Otherwise, I think people should invest in hobbies. Yeah, I think so. Let's paint, everyone. Drawing is good. [To the reader] Why don't you draw pictures, too?

Yamazaki: Haha. I am an indoor person only when I have a lot of materials to read and work, so not being able to go out gives me a fair amount of stress. If I had to pick, I’d say looking at photo books, cooking, trying out musical instruments, or woodworking or something. Woodworking in particular is great because you can develop your concentration and you end up with a finished product in your hands. Just shaving the bark of a tree branch with a knife is fun, so I think it’s good to have a knife. It’s convenient.

Questions to each other from their commitments to creation to the favorite features of non-humans

─ Since we are here to talk altogether, I would like to ask you to interview each other. First, Nagabe-san, could you please ask questions to Yamazaki-san?

Nagabe: I’d like to know your process of thinking out and what you are particular about in creating your stories. When I read The Ancient Magus’ Bride, the first thing that struck me was that Yamazaki-sensei uses motifs from Western mythology, fairies, and folklore, and then creates a human drama about how those characters confront each other and express their feelings. So I am wondering how you incorporate the elements that exist in fantasy into your own stories and characters.

Yamazaki: A human drama…… Can I call it a human drama? I'd be happy if I can!

Nagabe: I'm sure you can!

Yamazaki: To be honest, there are many parts where I’m not really sure how I’ve applied the concept of fantasy to the characters. When I'm thinking about a story, my brain starts going "This is it," "This person is that," or "That can be incorporated into this development,” and it often puts different pieces together like a puzzle. On the other hand, when those things don't come out naturally, it's hard as hell to write a story (laughs). I usually read books on mythology and folklore, and I often have a stock of ideas that I can use in development. Perhaps it's because I don't think of fantasy as something that can't happen in reality, so I create a story where humans meet fantasy in an ordinary way. That's probably why I create the way I do. I feel that these things can happen right next to us, like the change of seasons.

Nagabe: Are there any techniques or theories that you consider in manga? For example, I'd like to know if there are any techniques that you use when drawing manga, such as creating a development every four pages or adjusting the number of frames.

Yamazaki: People have different opinions on this, but I try to include some funny parts here and there. I’ve had some people say they prefer for me to write seriously throughout weighty stories so that they won’t be distracted. But some say they enjoy those funny parts. Either way, I am enjoying drawing those scenes, so that’s the direction I’m going. Other than that, I only pay attention to the basics. Not too many frames, not too few, no more than three lines of dialogues because it’s hard to read, and wide horizontal lines for speech bubbles. When the bubbles are long in length, it's a problem when it’s translated into other languages.

Nagabe: Oh, I see. I'm just curious, but you create manga, illustrations, and novels, and is there any new field you would like to work on?

Yamazaki: I'm mostly satisfied because I was able to get my hands on all three of those (laughs). I originally wanted to be a writer, but I found it overwhelmingly unsuitable, so I got serious about manga. If I don't have to think about what I’m suited for, writing picture books or game and anime scripts sound interesting.

Nagabe: Now, I'm going to assume that you like non-humans, but what are your favorite things about them? I want you to talk about it as much as you can.

Yamazaki: I don’t know if I’m qualified to talk about non-humans just because I like non-human characters, but personally, I think it’s their differences that attract me. Compared to humans, they look different, think differently, speak different languages, live in different ways, and have different cultures. But when you think about it, this all applies to humans, doesn’t it? If you are from different countries or even areas, all of the things I mentioned can be the differences among humans. I think I enjoy non-human characters because those differences are easier to see. The further away they are from humans and the more difficult it is to communicate with them, the more excited I get. But that also doesn’t mean that I like all non-humans just because. They need to have attractive inner qualities as well. I do love non-human characters, but the basic premise is that characters have to be attractive and stories have to be interesting!

Nagabe: Yeah, I agree.

Yamazaki: Going back to the question, if I had to pick the best feature of non-humans, I would say that it's the fact that they seem to be able to understand humans, but can’t. Even when they are next to us and looking at the same things, what we see are different and we never understand each other’s point of view. I love the fact that we continue to be individuals who don’t intersect, don’t mix, and can’t be fixed into something. But even then, the human character and the non-human character stick around together! I love that concept!I love the fact that they seem to be attracted to each other but are not, and that they will forever remain different creatures. After all, the existence of humans is essential for non-humans because the premise of non-humans is that there are humans. Therefore, I don't get too excited when I don't know much about the non-human characters. If possible, I want to know their thoughts, tastes, words, and deeds of the being before liking them. Although, in some cases, I get really excited about characters based on their appearance only…. So, I guess it’s like an accident to find non-human characters I like.

Nagabe: Is that right? By the way, what do you think of cat ears? Do you like them or not? Is it a beast, a demi-human, or a non-human? Please tell me your opinion.

Yamazaki: There are many factors that I would personally consider, such as how the cat ears are attached, the facial structure, whether it has human ears in addition to cat ears, its lifestyle, and whether it seems to think like a beast rather than a human. Whether there are any features other than the cat ears that differ from humans is probably the main question. Personally, I don't think that a human with only cat ears can be considered a non-human, but in some cases, it can be, so it really depends on the character.

Nagabe: I see.

Yamazaki: For example, if the lifestyle is that of a feral cat or feline, it is a beast, if the lifestyle is culturally different from that of humans, it is a demi-human, and if the lifestyle is clearly different from that of humans, it is non-human. I think it’s important to keep in mind that people will judge cat ears, or rather animal ears, differently depending on who they are. I believe in freedom of what people think, each individual is wonderful, and you can step away from things you disagree with.

Nagabe: Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Lastly, I like non-humans so much that I draw them all the time, but I can’t find the appeal of human features. I don’t find it interesting to draw humans, so please help me.

Yamazaki: What? I'm not very good at drawing humans either! (laughs)

Nagabe: (laughs).

Yamazaki: To be honest, I feel that I’m not very good at drawing in general, but appeal… appeal…. I personally get motivated when I feel I’ve drawn something well, so I draw the features I like with my own fetishism in full swing. Eyes, hair, waistline, and facial expressions. That’s about it, I guess. So when I get into a slump, I am stuck there for a long time.

── Now it’s time for Yamazaki-san to ask Nagabe-san questions.

Yamazaki: I've heard that you draw very quickly, but do you have any weaknesses or strengths in terms of creating a storyboard, plotting, drafting, or line drawing?

Nagabe: I don’t like creating a storyboard and plotting. I get bored easily so I don’t like to spend too much time creating one thing. If I think too much, I don’t make any progress, and as a result, my focus shifts to other things. Creating a storyboard requires an awareness of the direction and progression of the story as well as its intentions. I’m not accustomed to these very well and I can’t supplement these with just my drawing ability.

Yamazaki: I also have a hard time with storyboards, so I understand. Are there any particular things that you can’t compromise in your work?

Nagabe: It's the composition of the picture. I like to deliberately draw blank spaces, and I think adding meaning to the empty spaces and adding emotion to the positions of the characters is an expression that is possible only in the framed world of manga, so I'm very particular about that.

Yamazaki: Thank you very much. Now, do you have any activities or something that you do when you just can't bring yourself to work?

Nagabe: At first, I would draw the easy parts. For example, I start with tasks that I think will be easy, such as drawing only one frame, drawing only persons, or drawing only speech bubbles. I don't know if it makes sense, but I think motivation comes after I begin the work, so I try to start with easy tasks to get the engine going.

Yamazaki: I see. This is the same question you asked me earlier, but I would also like to know what Nagabe-san’s favorite features about non-humans are.

Nagabe: Okay, you sure you have enough time to talk about it?

Yamazaki: (laughs).

Nagabe: First of all, I like the way they look. Sometimes they are human skeletons, sometimes they are four-legged, and they are just distorted and diverse. The visuals are beyond imagination, like a living creature or a sculpture, and I like the eeriness of it. Next is regarding common sense. For example, they may eat pet animals as food, and the pets just accept that they will be eaten. Is this similar to the Cambyses Lottery (Fujiko F. Fujio)? What is considered common sense in one country is considered heretical in another. I love the interaction created by these cultural differences.

Yamazaki: Yeah.

Nagabe: The other thing is their life expectancy. It doesn't matter if it's a long life or a short life. At the moment you are born, it’s decided that you will not live the same amount of time as others and I like the impermanence of it. I want to create a new feeling of discomfort that has never existed before through this concept. There's no end to what I want to say, but I think I put a lot of emphasis on appearance and external characteristics. It's like the characteristics of animal features, and I hope those shapes have meanings.

Yamazaki: I've always thought that you are so good at depicting the interaction between humans and non-humans who don't have control over human language.

Nagabe: Thank you!

Yamazaki: Regardless of whether you draw them or not, which do you prefer, the ones who can control human language or the ones who can't?

Nagabe: I think both are good. If they use words, they can at least communicate instantly, and if they don't, I can create drama through their trial and error process of interacting. But for a story, I think I like the ones that don't use words because it gives them a stronger sense of foreignness and makes it easier to depict the difference between humans and non-humans.

Yamazaki: So, do you have a favorite genre for a non-human with animal features?

Nagabe: All... of them?

Yamazaki: (laughs). Dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and amphibians, marine mammals, insects, etc. These are not animals, but robots and androids would be fine as well.

Nagabe: Anything is fine as long as it's not a human.

Yamazaki: (laughs).

── I can feel Nagabe-san’s love for non-humans (laughs). Lastly, please share a message to the readers who are supporting your work.

Nagabe: Thank you for reading. In my works, I try to eliminate or omit explanations and dialogues as much as possible, so there may be many places where you may wonder what's going on. I've tried to leave room for your imagination, so I hope you'll enjoy the intentional blanks!

Yamazaki: Thank you so much for your support. It's a story that has lots of twists, but there's always something beyond that. I hope you will enjoy it. Thank you for your continued support!

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