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marudeinusa · 7 months ago

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BSCTTD2 CHAPTER 1 YAY

i; Before she calls them to dinner

“Beauty will be CONVULSIVE or will not be at all.”

André Breton, Nadja

“Why? To me killing isn't a matter of such great consequence as you might think. When a woman is captured, her man has to be killed anyway. In killing, I use the sword I wear at my side. Am I the only one who kills people? You, you don't use your swords. You kill people with your power, with your money. Sometimes you kill them on the pretext of working for their good. It's true they don't bleed. They are in the best of health, but all the same you've killed them. It's hard to say who is a greater sinner, you or me. (An ironical smile.)”

Ryūnosuke Akutagawa, In a Grove

"When my father left Ma, she moved away to a more traditional seaside house near Kaštel Novi.”

Faust’s boyfriend lets him know this on an August afternoon, in bed. Pillow talks of the dead are naturally off-putting, but six years with Beowulf have taught Faust to accept sudden bouts of his good mood as they come. He doesn’t only allow Beowulf to speak of his mother, he even asks him:

"What was she like?"

"Two storeys tall with uneven stone walls. Some of the furniture in there was plastic and modern, and some was really old. An elderly relative left it behind. On the kitchen counter, there was an aquarium with no fish."

It takes a moment for Faust’s confusion to subside, a moment for him to realize that Beowulf was talking about the house and not the woman. He replies:

"Any old house on the coast, then."

"Mm. It was built on a crag hanging over a small cove. It would be unfair to call it a cliff. The water down there was shallow and green.”

Faust finds himself at once unwilling to entertain any more ridiculousness.

“Fine, that’s the house. But what about your Ma, Beowulf? What about her?”

The anger in Beowulf breathes in its sleep, periodically swelling and deflating. Finally, he gives up with a sigh:

“Whenever I picture her, she has already drowned. She is now somewhere at the bottom.

CHAPTER 1: MAY ALL MY ATTEMPTS BE FRUITFUL AND TENDER

AS NARRATED BY NEVA S.

I am called Neva. This has been the name on my papers ever since I was born. In my actual lived experience this name is rarely, if ever, used to refer to me, and thus its value and esteem deteriorated with time. It isn’t that “I think nothing of my name”, that “it is only a word to me”, because especially within the context of being a name that Mama chose for me, it degenerates into a far more abstract absurdity than ‘a word that means nothing outside of its coercively assigned allusion to myself’. It isn’t a non-existence but an anti-existence. I am unable to retain that “Neva” is a written/spoken call to action for my own self, and I am also unable to conceptualize “Neva” as the river that flows through Sankt Petersburg or alternatively as Finnish for “poor fen”, a type of wetland. The action of carelessly tacking this name on a baby seems to have taken away this word’s ability to represent anything, yet I am weirdly repulsed at the idea of “Neva” as merely a trivial sequence of sounds and symbols. I cannot, in good conscience, condemn it to a nullified stasis. Perhaps, because I am averse to being “processed” in order to be “rendered digestible”, I am also hesitant to allow my name to mean something that pushes a particular mental image onto another. Be it an enormous river or peat deposit upon a hollow depression in the ground, both of these allude to something slow-moving that chips away at its basin to nestle comfortably within the earth. As one who lacks not only the capacity but also intent to find herself a resting place within the organic world, I consider this water-name and the choice to assign it to me a violent attack on my integrity. I feel glad that none in my vicinity know to differentiate wetlands, nor to point at Sankt Petersburg on the world map.

My family began assigning me diminutives fairly early on. Perhaps they found a river-name too enormous for me. Rather than “Neva”, to this day I am more often called “Nene” or a more common variant, though a nickname that includes repetition of “Ne” is preferable. Similarly to how infants’ babbles of “mama” and “baba” were assigned to the figures of authority over those infants for the feel-good purpose of their baby’s first words being those of recognition, “Nene” may have been something I stuttered while attempting to pronounce my true name, and my parents allowed it to stick around as my first instance of self-recognition. This is, perhaps, why I opt to have my friends call me “Nene” instead of “Neva” even now. I am much more keen on being called some jumbled nonsense I came up with on my own than being called “poor fen” because Mama decided so. Perhaps by continuing to call me Nene after I spoke that word, my surroundings implicitly allowed me to develop into one who cannot peacefully comply with whatever value one is assigned to her by the watchful outside eye.

I’ve got one brother, younger by six years. He is called Beowulf. Much like my own, his name ended up butchered into the diminutive “Wulfie”. Unlike mine, the reason to shorten his name is fairly reasonable, as his is a foreign name (old English) that feels awkward on Croatian tongues due to its softness. Beowulf is a man-name, because Beowulf from the homonymous epic stands at the roots of a long tradition of poetry devoted to national heroes from bygone centuries. On the contrary, Wulfie is an animal-name, alluding at best to a beast cub. I think this name is much more fitting for my brother who has been senselessly driven by nature since the moment he was born. He was pretty simple-minded as a child, so Papa may have thought he’d come to react to the sound of his own name more intuitively if he changed it into something easy to shout. Like a dog.

Having grown up to a point where he could understand reason, Wulfie accepted his animal-name. Perhaps his tendency to bark when wronged and bite when scared could be described as him “growing into it”. I don’t think it’s determinism as much as conditioning - because everyone was satisfied with the bare minimum of humanity from that child, it wasn’t necessary for him to develop any further than becoming “a creature that can attend school”. So long as he could spend five or six hours sitting in relative silence and return home with a satisfactory report card, nobody expected Wulfie to be able to “comprehend what he was learning”. He only needed to be able to apply it during examinations, not in his daily life as a member of society, so nobody particularly expected Wulfie to make friends or find a girlfriend in a manner typically ascribed to teenage boys. I admit I struggle profusely to see Wulfie as male, as though he belongs to an alien species in which sexual dimorphism isn’t particularly prominent. Having stripped him of his man-name, we may have degendered Wulfie to a degree where he was not considered a male because he did not piss the carpet.

At the end of this tangent of mine lies news of someone’s death, a death that I have been intentionally skirting about as the circumstances are somewhat embarrassing to entertain. At some point - I distinctly know it was soon after I found employment (at that point I had already been away from home for seven years or so), Wulfie contacted me in a haste. He asked me to lend some man a bed in my apartment for three or four days, and specified (in this order) that the man was employed, cleanly, and would owe him a favor afterwards. While not an exceptionally charitable person, I agreed to do so because Wulfie never really asked me for anything before, so I may have been somewhat curious. However, if he hadn’t specified those three things, I can’t say I would have agreed. The man spent three nights sleeping on my couch, and though he never said anything that implied such a thing, I came to the conclusion that he was Wulfie’s lover. I didn’t say anything to suggest I was aware of it to either of them, but after that man left, Wulfie never contacted me again throughout the following four years. At the end of the fourth year - on Friday, December 26th - I ended up seeing that man’s obituary in a magazine, so I called Wulfie on a whim to confirm my suspicions.

The phone call with Wulfie leads us to the present point. Even though it’s been over three weeks since his boyfriend went and kicked the bucket, I am unable to stop returning to the four-day period in which I had him as my housemate, nor to the twelve years in total when Wulfie and I lived as siblings under the same roof. The untimely death of Faust S. (that was the man’s name, and he worked as an occasional photographer for a small number of magazines) appears to me as unseverable from the death of my Mama to the point of fervent, schizotypal thinking. Shaped like a willow tree, long and bent, Mama keeps resurfacing into the dark room behind my eyelids, naked and glistening as if she were slathered in oil.

My Mama - who is also Wulfie’s Mama, though less directly so, as she passed away before he developed any communication skills - was named Laura S. If there is such a thing as a woman-name, hers is one. Laura was the name of the muse of Francesco Petrarca the poet, a woman beloved in a way that can only be described as “sublime”, encompassing both meanings of the word: “of unparalleled beauty” and “that which evaporates instantly without reaching an intermediate liquid form”. I feel I loved my Mama in this sense: first as a pinnacle of solidity, and then a gaseous ghost. The lacking central stage in which I would be weaned from her and come to love her as a person never occurred. I cannot claim to know what sort of woman she was. I feel that she was merely “a woman” in her undiluted form. Was this only because she bore a woman-name? She only ever appeared to me as “a mother” or “a wife”. Even after she and Papa went their separate ways, she continued gravitating towards being able to fulfill those roles. I felt that even in the way she signed her divorce papers there was a resigned wifely preparedness, a dignified forfeit to the master of the household. Compared to her, I respected Papa a lot more, even though he is usually described as a no-good who only gets by in life because he injured his leg in the War.

Even though I respected him, I cannot in good conscience say that he was a dignified parent. Two instances stick out of my mundane childhood to prove this, and both are related to Mama’s passing. Once it became inconvenient to withhold the truth any longer, rather than telling us that Mama had died, Papa told me and Wulfie that he wouldn’t be driving us to the seaside on the fifteenth, because we no longer had any family down there. This clunky, implicit confession of death made me crushingly unhappy. He was holding a crooked cigarette in a gentle bite, and a weak wail could have knocked it over and out… but Papa didn’t cry.

Because Papa did not cry, Wulfie and I held back as well, even at the funeral. Mama was the youngest daughter-in-law in our family, five years junior to the wife of Papa’s little brother. She was young, so she didn’t have much in common with any of the aunties and grandmas. The only ones who cried for her were our grandpas and uncles, who seemed to have liked her because of her youth. As they lowered her casket, I suddenly became irritated. Somebody said she was as beautiful as a picture, and another said, God takes the beautiful ones for himself sooner! I decided to blame my lack of tears on that inept lamentation rather than a lack of affection for my Mama.

The real “show” began when Wulfie threw a tantrum as we were about to leave the church. One of the aunties (that little brother’s wife, five years Mama’s senior) had let him know that people don’t come back anymore once you put them into the ground. This was difficult to conceptualize for a child who spent his days soundlessly hypnotized by the TV - he’d probably been expecting Mama to suddenly pop out of the grave as a zombie in a couple of hours or days. He began crying because he was confused, not because he missed his mother, but I suppose some aunties interpreted it as a gut-wrenching display of mourning, and began to cry as well. Papa grew embarrassed because he couldn’t tear Wulfie away from the rack of religious magazines, and smacked the kid twice on his behind in retaliation… It was really unsightly. That may have been my first time going to stand a little off to the side from my father and brother, hoping that my features would not betray our relation.

So you see, being raised (alongside such a brother, too) by a parent who was hardly worth his salt, I developed a strong inclination to assert myself as a “voice of reason”, an “arbiter” of sorts who would function according to some predetermined objective principles. I may be poorly-suited for such a role, being a person distinctly out of touch with what the majority of society considers to be “reason” itself, and yet I strongly yearned for this role within my family. I wanted to become an “arbiter” rather than a “daughter”. This manifested in me most strongly when I would be made to interact with Mama any time after the divorce.

Because she didn’t own any property of her own and her parents died one after the other while she was a student, Papa agreed to let Mama live in our weekend house at the seaside. He probably felt he owed her something, because ever since the start of their marriage, Mama’s life revolved around him to a point where she didn’t really have any friends anymore. She didn’t even have any friendly acquaintances. She had nowhere to go moving forward, and nowhere to come back to. Even though she was apparently looked after by the neighbors, whenever Wulfie and I visited her (on the fifteenth of each month) there would be more dishes and clothing piled up on the shelves and floors of that house. I don’t know whether she was actually depressed or neurotic, but whenever she was around us, Mama presented herself as an exemplary host. For a woman who didn’t have a house of her own nor a husband, she made for a wonderful housewife.

That house was made of rough white bricks as many seaside houses tend to be, and the walls’ insides were intentionally left bare to achieve a rural sort of aesthetic. It was called a weekend house for a reason - while it was equipped with everything necessary for a few weeks’ stay, it wasn’t really built to be a home, and it emanated a sense of transitory hospitality. Everything inside was a muted beige color, and the external AC unit emitted a drone that would become increasingly noticeable and frustrating after several hours. Those underwhelming stimuli blended into a monotony so fatal that Mama would sometimes sing to herself to disrupt it. The year before she died, she would most often sing a folk song called “A mouse has grazed my field”, the faint lilt of her dialect locked in combat with the weight of a fatal loneliness…

She sang, “A mouse has grazed my entire field… oh my Lord, what shall I reap now?”

That was when she noticed me staring, her foot was tangled into a plastic bag from the supermarket. I told her that her performance was a bit sad, so she got kind of upset and told me something odd; told me,

“I’m gonna keep living like this for as long as it’s funny - and then I’ll just stop! I don’t mind what the side characters think. Who are you? And you?”

I tried my best to act as the “arbiter”, to deploy my understanding of societal ethics and force that mother of mine to see some reason in her actions, saying, “This is a farcical song, but you’re making it sound like it’s about a misfortune.” She looked like she was sobering up even though I’d never seen her drinking…

“Who says it's a farce, Little Thyme?” is what she said after an awkward silence had come and gone. “Surely, even at this moment, people on this Earth are losing their fields to infestations. Not to mention the past…”

I found myself suddenly overwhelmed with a need to let her know that they wouldn’t let Wulfie go to school because he was seven and didn’t yet talk like the other kids did, and that Papa attributed it to a hereditary insanity… but I didn’t, because I would have reaped no benefits from it. I wonder if that’s the kind of woman I am? I said “At least pest control will never go out of business,” or some such trivial garbage.

I wonder why I’m thinking about Mama in front of Wulfie’s front door? Is it only because he settled in the weekend house that she left behind, or is it because that photographer is dead now? I startle when I hear a distant scrape and realize that no one has opened the door yet, it’s just my taxi pulling away from the driveway and towards the sole parking spot in the yard. I give the driver a “five minutes” signal, and that same hand balls into a fist prepared to knock. I wonder if Wulfie will look like the last time I saw him, two meters tall with a swimmer’s shoulders to boot, or if a seven-year-old boy might swing the door open and sob into my skirts like they’re a church magazine rack…

I knock thrice, a seasoned executioner at the gallows.

(I suppose I should wrap my narration up by introducing my Papa. His name - a saint-name nonpareil - is Marion S. He is probably still alive today.)

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bjorkncaddel · 11 months ago

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⚡︎ — whoa! NEVA BJÖRK CADDEL just stole my cab! not cool, but maybe they needed it more. they have lived in the city for 2 YEARS, working as a/an ART CURATOR. that can’t be easy, especially at only 30 YEARS OLD. some people say they can be a little bit IMPULSIVE and COMPUSILVE, but i know them to be OPEN MIND and KIND. whatever. i guess i’ll catch the next cab. hope they like the ride back to BROOKLYN!

name — neva birgitta håkansson björk caddel nickname(s) — normally people calls her neva, gigi for closed friends. name meaning — neva: snow , birgitta: the high one, or strength. & björk: birch age — thirty date of birth — january, 1st sexual orientation — demisexual/straight/heteroromantic height — 5'6" / 1,68m occupation — art curator (at MET museum) by day, night owl by night. residence — brooklyn birthplace ⏤ stockholm

#𝚁𝙴𝙻𝙰𝚃𝙸𝚅𝙴𝚂:

mother — linnéa alma née håkansson björk (60)+( former miss world + doctor ) father ⏤ baldur fredrik björk (65 )+( ceo + economist + billionaire ) brothers — elias björk ( 35 ), anders björk (44 ) marital status ⏤ married to ryan hunter caddel. issues ⏤ upcoming. ( expecting twins 7/8 months ) { nils & freya björk-caddel } pets ⏤ boo björk ( ragdoll cat )

# 𝙼𝙾𝚁𝙴 𝙸𝙽𝙵𝙾:

tw: cheating, depression, pregnancy

Neva is the daughter of a doctor and former Miss World, Linnéa, and businessman and economist Baldur Björk. She was born in Stockholm on a blizzard day, hence her name. Even on the news on TV was announced strong blizzard on the day she came. She is the younger of two brothers, and all of them are relatively close. Being the daughter of a beauty queen wasn't easy.

She always had an interest in the arts which was shown from an early age, before she could even learn how to talk, she learned how to draw. During her teen phase, she wasn't popular at school, and hardly had friends. Neva was often alone, but always hid it from her family, she never wanted any of them to worry about her. There wasn't any phase where her grades were bad, she was a good student ( top students ) , and never bragged about it.

When she was 15 she moved to USA in California. Her father was promoted from work ( & live ) and wanted to live abroad. In the very beginning was hard for her, because she liked her life in her hometown, despite not having friends, not other than her own brothers.

Her father was a bit disappointed that she studied 'arts'. He wanted her, just like be like his family following the financial business. Her mother hoped for her to be a doctor, like her family it was also a tradition in her family. She didn't hear neither of them and did what she wanted for herself.

During her college years, she fell in love with a guy, name Liam with whom she thought she would have a life ( they were engaged ), turns out he was cheating on her, with multiple people. They spent 5 years together. She was very heartbroken because she imagined he was her soulmate, and blind in love. Neva began to focus even more on her future in her graduation not wanting to feel the pain of heartbreak anymore.

Since then, she never had any other serious commitment to anyone, focused on her future, and fortunately, she graduated, got a great job with so much effort and soul to get where she got, and also has two p.H.d, she is an art curator at MET museum.

She met a guy named Ryan in one night and she asked him for help. He was off duty ( he is a firefighter ). Their friendship began to bloom ever since, he became her best friend, she didn't think he was into her until one day he declared her feelings to her. When they began dating found out their family knew each other. Despite dating not too long, she found you she's expecting his child.

CURRENTLY:

They decided to move in together in a mansion in Brooklyn, where they raise his three dogs and her cat, and when his divorce was finalized they got engaged and married on the same week while they were on vacation on the babymoon. They planned in have a new big wedding, one for family and friends, once their life is somewhat more settled, after their babies are born. Babies because it's twins. Nils and Freja Björk Caddel.

(more to come)

#𝙲𝙾𝙽𝙽𝙴𝙲𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽𝚂 + 𝚆𝙲:

⚡︎ — CHILDHOOD FRIENDS ; | 2 open | any character that went to high school in California. ⏤ ⚡︎ — PEN PAL ; | open | Someone who maybe could have written either letters, texts, or emails to my character. It could have been a pure internet friend that they maybe met on a social networking site and always promised to meet up and either didn’t or eventually did. ⏤ ⚡︎ — GHOSTED ; | m | During the time she hustled to get where she got in her work, at MET museum, she tried to back on game on dates, but this she thought she would have a nice time, turns out she figured out she wasn't fully prepare for being in dates games again after breaking up with her fiance. Cowardly she ghosted on the y/m, besides as workaholic as she is didn't have time for y/m . ⏤ ⚡︎ — PARTYING BUDDIES ; | closed | a friendship that relies on nothing more then alcohol, drugs, going out and having a wild time. you could add more to this by having them occasionally hook up with intoxicated or something like that. ⏤ taken by honey ⚡︎ — MOM FRIEND ; | 2 open | she is the mom friend to y/m, always checking on them, making sure they had their water and get their daily vitamins lmao ⏤ ⚡︎ — GOOD INFLUENCE ; | 0/2 open | best friend who look out for each other and often act as a conscience to each other. ⚡︎ — STRANGER DANGER? ; | 1 open | someone they met through a friend of a friend. They have definitely heard of each other but was not sure how the other would be like unless they definitely met them for their own. They could end up being the best of friends or the worst enemies the world had ever seen ⚡︎ — DISTANT COUSINS ; | open | self-explanatory. ⚡︎ — CO-WORKERS ; | ?? open | anyone that works at MET museum. ⚡︎ — NEIGHBORS (Brooklyn); | ?? open | ⚡︎ — EX ; | open | self-explanatory. more to come soon.

#𝚃𝙰𝙺𝙴𝙽 𝙲.

⚡︎ — RYAN CADDEL; | family friends + best friend + hubby + babies' father. ⚡︎ — OLIVER METCALFE ; | best friend / soul brother ⚡︎ — HONEY LAVERE; | party friend + girl pal + best friend ⚡︎ — ELIAS BJÖRK; | big brother

#tw: cheating #tw: depression mentions #tw: pregnancy #pinned.

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project1939 · 1 year ago

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(I Love Lucy's second season opener: the candy factory episode, top, Grandma Moses being interviewed by Betty Parry on the radio, bottom.)

Day 59- TV and Radio:

TV:

What’s My Line? season 3, “Miss America, Neva Jane Langley,” September 14th, 1952.

I Love Lucy, season 2, episode 1, “Job Switching,” September 15th, 1952.

Radio:

The Jack Benny Program, “Phil Harris is Replaced by Bob Crosby,” September 14th, 1952.

Betty Parry, “Grandma Moses Interview,” September 15th, 1952.

This is Your FBI, episode 389, “His Brother’s Keeper,” September 12th, 1952.

Today I Love Lucy started up again for its second season, and it was a welcome addition to my TV choices. It was an episode most people are familiar with or have at least seen pictures of. Lucy and Ethel decide to get jobs, and Ricky and Fred take care of the housework. While Ricky cooks 4 pounds of rice for dinner- because that seemed about right to him for four people!- Lucy and Ethel work at a chocolate factory. The famous conveyer-belt scene occurs. It still makes me laugh, even though I’ve seen it many times. Both Vivian Vance and Lucille Ball are masters of physical comedy- if you take your eyes off one, the other one makes you laugh just as hard.

On What’s My Line? there was a can-can dancer and a woman who made fly swatters. One of the guests was a professional football player, and Arlene Francis guessed it on her free guess before the questioning even started! I’ve never seen that happen, and she was really apologetic. Apparently, this guy played for the Los Angeles Rams. The celebrity was Miss America, and Hal Block got pretty gross with her. He’s always coming on to any single female guest, especially the pretty ones. Usually he’s more pathetic than creepy, but in this episode he was creepy. When Miss America came to shake the hands of the panel, he leapt out of his seat and grabbed and kissed her quite forcefully. Not on the lips, thankfully- but I could barely watch.

On the radio today there was a very interesting interview. Betty Parry had a kind of talk show at the time, and there is a surviving interview with Grandma Moses. At the time, Grandma Moses was 92 years old. I didn’t even know she was a real person, but she sounds amazing. She started painting professionally at 78, and her folk art is famous. She gave tips on living a long enjoyable life. I looked it up, and she ended up living to 101! She was born in 1860, which is just crazy to think about. I was hearing a recording of a woman speaking in the 1950s, who was born before the Civil War!

...And now a word from today’s best sponsor: Lucky Strike Cigarettes! Be Happy! Go Lucky! L. S. M. F. T.! No, not Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, it’s- “Lucky Strike Means Fine Tobacco!” Only Lucky Strikes are made better to taste cleaner, fresher, and smoother! Every single cigarette ad ever says their brand is “smoother,” so you know it must be true! Luckies are tightly packed, so there are no hotspots and no annoying loose ends that get in your mouth and spoil the taste! And they are the only brand that makes this author want to smoke again! (I smoked Luckies years ago, because they were so old-timey and different. But I haven’t smoked in years, so I’m not about to start up again.)

#project1952 #1952 #project1952 day 59

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prnanayarquah · 2 years ago

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Rocky Dawuni, Kyekyeku release new song “Africa Till I Die” – WATCH VIDEO

New Post has been published on https://plugzafrica.com/rocky-dawuni-kyekyeku-release-new-song-africa-till-i-die-watch-video/

Rocky Dawuni, Kyekyeku release new song “Africa Till I Die” – WATCH VIDEO

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The friendship between musicians often materializes in collaborations. This is clearly evident in one of the most beautiful pairings from Ghana in the last year, “Africa Till I Die” which grew out of the friendship between multiple GRAMMY nominee Rocky Dawuni and Ghanaian musician Kyekyeku. The brand new video for the track premieres today on Pan African Music. According to Kyekyeku; ‘’I first heard Rocky in 1997 when his monster hit “In Ghana” was on constant rotation on the radio. It wasn’t until 2007 at the Labadi Beach Hotel on the occasion of the 40th Independence Celebration of Ghana where Rocky held his annual “Rocky Dawuni’s Independence Splash” concert that the two met for the first time.” Moving forward to 2022, at a concert at +233 Jazz Club, Kyekyeku invited Rocky on stage for an impromptu jam on one of his songs. After the concert, it was clear that they had finally found a groove and inspiration for a song to work together on.

After the chaos of the last few years, it became even more evident that a good place to visit and spend time was within Africa. The video was filmed in France and Ghana focusing on the dreams of Kyekyeku in conversation with Rocky on an old phone toy that you still see children playing with in the streets of Accra. It is evident that in those cold empty French streets Kyekyeku dreams of going over the Atlantic and joining Rocky in Ghana as he performs with his band and enjoys the sunny weather, bustle and energy of Accra.

The music video for “Africa Till I Die” was shot by Slingshot who has worked with Rocky on a number of videos including his most recent GRAMMY Nominated song “Neva Bow Down.” Slingshot states “this video seeks to depict Africa and its beautiful people in its own light, its own words and its very own story and not one portrayed by the skewed perception of the mainstream media of the west.”

Kyekyeku like Rocky who both call Ghana and “the west” their homes could tell first-hand the joys of living in Africa; the immense beauty, energy and resilience of her people, success and positivity that abounds. “We need to talk about that side of Africa a lot more, sing more, paint more,” Kyekyeku states. This then became the theme of “Africa Till I Die” a song that takes one into a deep and profound ballad Highlife groove. In the song, Africa stands unperturbed by the frequent negative images.

“Even when they paint you a picture

of starving and hunger

Nobody go fit put asunder

We keep on growing stronger.”

Plus the line “nowhere cool’’ refers to the wars in Europe and the Middle East and the general dissatisfaction with daily living in many nations. As a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for the Environment for Africa, Rocky Dawuni has travelled to many countries and attests first hand from his encounters that indeed all life begins in Africa. ‘“People wey I dey meet, places wey I dey go, na ibi you be the mother, Mama Africa” which he sings in Pidgin English on the track.

African music has finally taken its place as a force; gaining the deserved recognition it commands. Rocky’s line ‘’Now my people dey stand like giant’’ speaks concisely of the achievements of many Africans across the globe. “Africa Till I Die is a musical success. It blends the native sound of Ghana, itself the product of a melting pot, with reggae born in Jamaica and claiming its African roots. The highlife rhythm has been slowed down and, by letting the bass flourish, the organ and the horns place their punctuations, offering a perfect backdrop for the reggae vocals, without even a skank guitar. This is the finest demonstration of a successful encounter, and it could only take place in Africa.” – PanAfrican Music Purchase link: https://linktr.ee/kyekyeku Video Link: https://youtu.be/NgLIpBfiFeI For more information on Rocky Dawuni & contact: http://www.rockydawuni.com

For more information about Kyekyeku: https://www.delicioustunes.com/kyekyeku

#Africa Till I Die #Kyekyeku #Rocky Dawuni

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bjorkncaddel · 4 months ago

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𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐀 𝐊𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐍'𝐓 keep the whole place all by herself or with Ryan organized. They'd need some staff. It had been too long since she lived in a big place, she was so used on living in her apartment that moving to a mansion was a bit weird to get used to it. But it was what they could find for their little family upcoming, and the amount of dogs that Ryan collects. ❛ Like I said, I do have a housekeeper in mind, but I would love to get the number of some agency because I will need more people, I suppose. ❜ She'd talk with Ryan later. She reckons that he might agree, he also works crazy nonstop shifts, besides both of them tried to set up their place, after moving in, upgrading things, renovations… And she is unable to do much, stuck at home with a lot of noise from 'construction' due to renovations.

❛ I really liked Ryan. So… ❜ As if it was any news. She always was crazy about him. She thought she could hide it better, in reality, she did not hide that well. ❛ I don't want to know about Ryan right now. If he steps at home I might murder him. He knows why. ❜ She had no idea what she was capable of doing. The only thing she knows is that he won't like when she blasts. He knows exactly why. His work hours shifts. And she knows once she'll be at home, she'll have dinner with her own father. Another dinner, another failed excuse as to why he wasn't around. She hadn't seen her father in person, since the day she punched Ryan in her new place.

Neva was thinking about how is going to be the godparents, although she is not exactly very religious, nor is Ryan, as far as she is aware. Her family is very small compared to Ry's. All of them are a bit distant from one another, except for Elias, the only family member she isn't estranged. Honey to her was someone so important to her, like a sister she never had. And she thought maybe the invitation would be great if she wanted to of course. No hard feelings if she did not accept. People don't like commitment, and she understands that.

❛ Yes, I do. ❜ She felt the pull and was a bit surprised by the embrace, and patting her back awkwardly, because she is not used to touches, except for Ryan at this point, but even he surprises her at times. ❛ I'm a bit biased to talk about Ry. But he isn't that bad. ❜ Once Honey explains to her, that it wasn't his fault for her dislike for him and she wants to 'move on', she is glad.

As she felt her arm being laced against hers, going to the salon, the news the other shared. She chuckled, wondering what kind of news is it… The invitation is touching. Neva was surprised she let out an ' oh ' escape from her mouth. ❛ If I wasn't pregnant, I would say straight fuck 'yes'. But I don't know how this motherhood thing is going to work for me. And I also, have a work. The MET. I had to take a maternity leave early, and I probably would've to back to as early as I could once the twins were born. I don't want to decline, but can I think of the proposal? Just, don't rely only on me, if you need to get it going ok? I won't be upset. It's business.❜ She hoped Honey wouldn't be upset, not that she was fully declining, Neva loves traveling, and drinks so this would be so perfect. But now she has a boyfriend and two babies on the way. She doesn't feel ready for motherhood, but she will try her best.

—she nodded in understanding to her bestie’s response. She felt bad there wasn’t anything more to do to help with her sickness, it had to be a lot of trouble, even if Neva was never a foodie, unlike her. “as you should! Your place is huge,” the brunette pointed out in a matter of fact tone, she couldn’t imagine anyone wanting to take care of a huge place like that on their own. “a gardener, a housekeeper, a chef, maybe extra cleaning help…” she mused, then smiled. “and you just let me know if you need any help with recommendations or agencies.” of course she had a housekeeper to keep her apartment spotless, she couldn’t do it herself, her schedule was so overwhelming at times.

a pearl of laughter fell from her lips at the mention of her argument with Ryan. “you should have done that before getting pregnant,” she teased, evident in her smile and tone. a soft smile formed on her lips when she said she would make a good mother and she shrugged a little. “I don’t know…if I would be able to give up this lifestyle to have a baby…” she mused, “maybe if I truly found someone I’d want to be with, you know? like, give them that, have a family…”

she let out an excited squeal, eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected question. it had not even crossed her mind that he best friend was going to ask her; if she thought about it, it made sense to her that they would ask a family member, maybe, like her brother or Ryan’s sister, or Cordelia even. she didn’t need to think about it, she already knew she would absolutely love to be their godmother spoil them rotten with gifts, their mom too. if Neva wasn’t so pregnant, Honey would have hugged her so tightly she would have suffocated her. “you mean it?” she asked half expecting this to be a prank, the smile on her face was so big it would have started hurting her cheeks if she wasn’t so damn ecstatic about this. “yes!! yes! thank you!! I really want to!” she was so excited, her laughter echoed through the establishment, and she pulled Neva into another hug, careful not to squeeze her bump. “I am so happy, Neva,” she smiled brightly as she pulled back to look at her friend. “and, I don’t hate Ryan, okay? he is…growing on me….” in fairness, she had stopped hating him when she realized that he truly made her friend happy, and she didn’t want Neva to feel that she couldn’t tell her anything because she didn’t like him or because she was biased. it had been a silly reason to dislike him over anyway, it was time to let it go, and move on. “it was stupid anyway, it was never really his fault,” she elaborated with a shrug, lacing her arm through Neva’s as they carried on walking down to the nail salon area.

“and I thought the news I wanted to share with you was exciting!” she said after a short moment, shaking her head. “but, since you officially made me your babies Godmother, now that I have accepted and you can’t take it back,” he laughed, all playful and giddy, “I have something I wanna ask you, too!” the influencer exclaimed. “I have a drinking show in works, won’t start filming for at least the next seven, eight months,” she began, even longer than that, and if Neva agreed they could always delay if needed. “and I wanted to ask if you would want to do this together?” she smiled. “like, first season maybe we travel around the US and try different drinks, and then around the world…”

#itshoneys #pregnancy tw #— honey lavere.#— neva & honey.#tw: long post

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neva-borne · 3 years ago

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Neva's Master Fic List

I guess it's about time I made one of these, so... here goes, a list of most of my fics beneath the cut because this is gonna be pretty long!

WIPs

One Bedroom Away, rated E

Katara doesn't have time for a relationship.

Zuko doesn't want one.

Katara hasn't been with anyone since her last relationship ended.

Zuko is with a new girl every night.

They happen to be roommates who don't exactly get along, but what happens when they realize that it's more convenient to use each other instead of putting the time in to a relationship or finding a new hook-up every night?

Nothing could possibly go wrong... right?

Celestial, rated M

A banished Fire Prince shows up on the shores of the Southern Water Tribe seeking refuge and a new place to call home. He dares not reveal his true identity to the tribe, but finds it harder and harder to lie when a certain young waterbender, the daughter of the chief, catches his eye - and he, hers.

Katara is intensely curious about the scarred young man who has thrown himself so completely into learning their customs and traditions, their way of life, but she's also suspicious of him. He seems too good to be true, and when he ends up saving Sokka's life, the secrets he's tried so hard to keep begin unraveling.

Far away, the war rages on, and - unknown to both Zuko and Katara - Zuko's days in the Southern Water Tribe are limited. What will happen to them and their growing feelings for each other, when Zuko is forced to leave?

Rewrite the Stars, rated T

A season 2 and 3 AU with an extended timeline starting with an unexpected reunion between Katara and Zuko in Ba Sing Se. A single night leads to a complicated future for Katara, and she's not sure if Zuko will be part of that or not.

Broken Moon, rated T - Book 1 of the Broken Moon Trilogy

Set in an entirely different, historical-fantasy world where two kingdoms are on the verge of war, Princess Katara is involved in an arranged marriage to Prince Zuko. She learns the truth about what Prince Zuko is, and is forced to try to save her kingdom from King Ozai's plan.

These Scars Will Fade, rated M - Book 2 of These Scars

Following the events of These Scars of Ours, Katara and Zuko are reunited and forced to face their feelings - both about what's happened and about each other - while Katara discovers uncomfortable secrets about her parents' pasts.

Completed Fics

These Scars of Ours, rated M - Book 1 of These Scars

After both Katara and Zuko nearly die during the Agni Kai, Katara stays in the Fire Nation for a while before they embark on a journey to find Zuko's mother. Along the way, they discover that Ursa is not the only one who has survived in secret, and uncover dark secrets about the Fire Nation that leads to a plot to destroy Zuko and any hope for world peace.

Bathed in Moonlight, Cloaked in Darkness, rated M

A Werewolf!Katara and Vampire!Zuko vigilante story with all the mutual pining of forbidden love, their determination to keep their true identities secret. Dark and violent with plenty of angst sprinkled in.

Drive You Home, rated T

Zuko always drives Katara home after she gets off work.

One night, he doesn't show up. He's stuck somewhere between living and dying, and he doesn't know how to escape.

Inspired by Drive You Home by Jackson Wang

If Only I'd Have Known (You Had a Storm to Weather), rated T

All seven prompts for Zutara Week 2021 in one, convenient fic.

Day 1: Hair Day 2: Disguised Day 3: Glowing Day 4: Silence (free day) Day 5: Mend Day 6: Spirits Day 7: Stories

Individual summaries at the beginning of each chapter.

Buckle up folks, this is a feels trip and I'm holding nothing back.

Since When?, rated T

The air around her is filled with a deadly crackle of electricity as she stands, frozen, staring at the streak of pale blue lightning that spells her end. It’s only a few seconds, she knows. She’s seen how fast Azula’s lightning strikes. She knows this is the end of her, and suddenly time is almost at a standstill. Everything she’s ever done, ever wanted to do, flashes before her, and she’s filled with such an overwhelming sense of despair and loss and regret that she will never get to experience all those things.

And then the lightning is interrupted by a dark shadow throwing itself in its path, and someone is shouting - someone whose voice is raspy and desperate and familiar - and all she can do is stare, horrified, as the lightning meant for her strikes his chest instead, tossing him to the ground like he’s nothing more than a discarded old doll.

---

Confessions come too late. A future is lost. Nothing can be done.

How to Bake a Cake, rated T

A cute, fluffy piece about childhood friends Katara and Zuko who reunite unexpectedly and are forced to face the fact that friendship might not be the only thing they feel for each other.

We Weren't Meant for Forever, rated M - Alternate Ending Here

An angsty, heartbreaking story about the love that blossoms between Katara and a cute, flirty nurse named Zuko after Katara saves a boy from a violent attack in the Lower Ring of Ba Sing Se where she lives.

The Spot Thief, rated T

A one-shot about a passive-aggressive war over a coveted parking space that leads to sparks flying when the two young professionals finally meet.

Brightest in the Dark, rated T

Rebels are causing problems within Caldera City and Zuko's council is being useless in terms of stopping it. Katara plans to deal with them herself as the Painted Lady and ends up teaming up with the Blue Spirit.

Little Spark, rated G

Izumi starts firebending for the first time. She wields blue fire. She is upset because she wanted to be a waterbender like her mama. Zuko is worried because he remembers Azula's blue fire. Katara reassures them both.

Ambassador to the Southern Water Tribe, rated G

In a world where there was no Hundred Year War, Zuko is assigned to be the Ambassador of the Southern Water Tribe by his uncle, Fire Lord Iroh. In the frigid South Pole, he meets a fascinating waterbender named Katara, who happens to be the princess.

Slow Motion, rated T

Katara comes up with a plan to help Zuko de-stress when they decide to visit her family in the Southern Water Tribe and they go penguin sledding together.

Scar Tissue, rated M

The original version of These Scars of Ours, it follows a similar plot at first, diverging when it comes to the political plot and the aftermath.

Zutara Drabble December (series), mostly rated G and T

A mix of angst and fluff flash fiction pieces based on the ZK Drabble December 2020 prompts.

#fic list #neva borne talks about her work #neva borne #zutara #zuko #katara #zutara fanfiction #zutara fanfic #ao3 #zutara fics

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crystal-moon-101 · 4 years ago

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Since I saw people talking about Ben's little big chill kids, I thought I'd finally do some headshots of my ones, who are also a part of my Ben 10 Next Gen. For me, I've always imagined that for young necrofriggians, they all start out looking the same (Beyond some size difference), but as they grow older, they'll start to develop their own patterns, small body traits and shades of colour, as showcased here. I'll share the little info on each sibling, and the basics of who they are as a person. When Ben first found them again, saving them from poachers and going full mum mode, they had been developing these different psychical traits, but not enough to identify each properly on their own, so while giving them names, Gwen used bandana pieces to colour code them, and each kid still wears theirs to this day, slightly modified. So here they are now, as full grown young adults. You can follow from left to right each row, or just the colours next to their names. -North (Black)- The largest and physically strongest of the kids, North acts as the leading member when Ben isn't around, doing their best to watch out for their siblings and be a middle ground to them. It's been this way since they were born, looking out for them and doing whatever they can to protect the others. This has resulted in North collecting quite a few scars and wing tears, though they wear them with pride, wanting to display how strong they are to others. They often looks up to Ben when it comes to being a hero, in how their mumdad protects others and the galaxy, and wants to be a fighter like him one day, often asking to train with their mumdad whenever he's around. Ben has suggested Plumber training for North, but they're still thinking about that. -Tundra (Red)- Tundra is a very curious one, and is known to wander off when things catch their interest. They prefer using experience to learn from, thus making them quick on their feet when something happens, and good at thinking logical. When the siblings are struggling with something, or come across some kind of problem, it's often Tundra who provides the quickest answers that should go well for them. That being said, due to their wandering, they gave gotten into trouble a few times and need to be saved by their siblings or Ben, as despite how smart they are, they can be a bit of a ditz when something catches their interest. -Grey (Silver)- Having a connection to the earth bellow, Grey often spends their time searching caves, and any hidden areas they can find. They especially love to research and find minerals of any kind, ranging from metals to gems, sometimes even studying their metal lunch for the day before eating it. Because of this, they can be carelessly dirty, and aren't the cleanest of people, but does pick up after themself when reminded. Grey is also pretty close with their sibling Storm, and surprising Gwen and Ben when first hearing the two call each other "Dweeb" and "Doofas", when first meeting them again. -Storm (Brown)- As someone who likes to spend a lot of time flying and high in the clouds, Storm is fascinated by the weather and how it behaves, and feeling the cold fresh air and challenging themself with flight training. This has provided them to have the most agility in the air, and knows the best ways to build up speeds, while also not draining themself. Whenever they aren't flying around, they're doing research on the weather, very keen to be a meteorologist one day. Whenever Ben visits, they will often ask him about the weather on other planets, and any adventures he's had in the sky. Storm is also pretty close with their sibling Grey, and surprising Gwen and Ben when first hearing the two call each other "Dweeb" and "Doofas", when first meeting them again. -Crystal (Blue)- Graceful on their feet, Crystal is a charming and gentle person, with a keenness for the art of dancing, especially when hovering in the air. This was something sparked in them when seeing how the patches in their wings, which are see through, glittered and reflected light through them, making Crystal often move around to see what they could get them to do, and the introduction of dancing was something they latched onto as a result. They are one of the hardest of the siblings to get angry, upset or rile up, and often goes with the flow and speaks in a slow and soft voice. Because of their kind nature and beautiful display of their wings, Crystal has attracted many others who are interested in them, many falling for them after meeting Crystal for a mere minute, though they tend to pretend not to notice, and turn down those who ask. -Orion (Orange)- Having an eye for art, Orion is a skilled painter and drawer, while also dabbling into other art forms to create things, their room filled with their works of art, and often creating gifts for others. From when they were little, Orion has always admired their auntie Gwen, and are always keen and eager to hang out with her when she visits, showing every new drawing and painting they have made while she was away. In fact their fondness for auntie Gwen is why they picked the orange bandana, as it reminded them of her hair. -Neva (Green)- Fashion focused and head strong, Neva is a keen one, who knows exactly what they like and isn't afraid to say it. They love designing things to wear, especially since fashion isn't that big on Kylmyys, and Ben brings them fabrics and items they request from earth whenever he comes by on a visit. Though, despite Neva's expensive tastes, they are most certainly aren't a snob, and more often than not create outfits and accessories for others that Neva knows they'd like, and wants to bring out the best beauty in them. Though admittedly, they can get a bit carried away if someone asks for fashion advice, or even brings up the idea of something related to it. Neva also a bit of a business mind too, having gotten some clients recently on their homeworld after seeing what Neva could make. -Raine (Aqua)- A very sweet young one, Raine has a keen eye for collecting things, particularly shiny or unknown stuff. From gemstones to simple earth utensil, if something interests them, Raine is known to take it with them, sometimes snatching without thinking. They don't mean any harm, and just sometimes think before acting, and will give something back if they've realized what they've done, but if it's clear they can keep it, then they aren't one to share, though do like to show off what they have with joy. They are also very well organized, knowing where everything they own is, and even when their siblings misplace something, having a photography memory and mental list of things. They may own a lot of stuff, but that doesn't mean they want to live in a pigsty. -Vale (Yellow)- Being one of the quiet ones, Vale likes to keep a lot to themself, and don't speak very often, only when they need to. They spend a lot of time outside, observing nature as it passes by them, using a little diary to note down what they see, hear, feel, smell and even taste. They like to appreciate silence and the world around them, and the beauty of nature, and collect little things to store away in their diary as memory. Whenever they visit earth, they love to visit the forests in the spring and summer, seeing the range of colours blooming from flowers, and has many flower prints because of this. -Lux (Beige)- Quite the basic of people, Lux likes to live life in a simple way, and tends to try and stare clear of any chaos, which is quite hard when you have 13 wild siblings. Because of them, they can come across as annoyed and frustrated at times, and can be blunt and honest, but they do love their siblings, and is often the one that says what's needed to be said. Lux also have massive wings compared to their body, a ratio none of the others have, and use to trip over their feet a lot growing up. Now, their massive wings are a great way to hide away when they're not in the mood to talk to read a book, or to hug a family member when seeing them down. -Micha (Pink)- Bubbly and sneaky, Micha has been dubbed the "Pink Ninja" for a reason, someone almost always able to hide away and sneak up on others. They love to jump scare people, and has found more and more crafty ways to get around without being noticed, even without their ability to go invisible. They love to pull jokes and get a laugh out of people, and Micha is known to have a snort with their own laughter. It's always their mission to catch Ben off guard when he visits, as each time it gets trickier due to him knowing it's coming, and his training and skills build up over the years, but Micha always finds a way in the end. -Zodiac (Gold)- Patient and often neutral toned, Zodiac is often seen to be pretty wise. From a young age, they've always loved stories from history, especially those about myths and legends they hear from around the galaxy, and spend a lot of their time reading and researching anything they hear about, always keen to hear a new story they may have never heard about before. It always fascinates them how much Ben has seen and done, and the stories he tells, Zodiac is practically fond of those about Alien X and Celestialsapians, and wants to meet one one day. -Alaska (White)- High on energy 99% of the time, Alaska is always zooming around and never has time to stop. They rarely sit still for long, and it takes a lot to drain them of their endless energy, always moving in a blink of an eye. Because of this, Alaska is the fastest of the crew, which has come in handy often. But they can be easily bored, and a little frustrating to deal with when they don't pay attention, but they do like to spend that energy by jumping around each sibling to spend the day with, and wants to engage in all of their activities to support them. -Arlo (Purple- The smallest of them, Arlo was born the runt of the group, but thanks to their siblings, especially North, they managed to survive childhood when most other necrofriggian runts would have died. This makes Arlo the baby of the group, and the one they all want to protect, even if it can be a little baring at much, wanting to prove they can be strong on their own. And Arlo somewhat got their wish, when reaching a certain age and Ben learning that one of his children had the spark, thus meaning Arlo is an Anodite, and is able to use magic, though they're far from being perfect at it, and their small body sometimes struggles to keep up. But each day Arlo practices, wanting to feel more than just the tiny one, but they are generally kind and great with emotions, being very supportive and just trying their hardest.

#ben 10 #B10 #ben 10 alien force #ben 10 ultimate alien #ben 10 omniverse #ben 10 original series #ben 10 ben tennyson #ben tennyson #Ben 10 Big Chill #Big Chill #necrofriggian #Baby Chills #Ben 10 Next Gen #next generation #My Art

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deafwestnewsies · 4 years ago

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you tell me you love her (i give you a grin)

And I'd choose our fate a million times over.

david jacobs x jack kelly (unrequited love)

read it on my ao3!

The grass crumpled beneath his boots. His shadow left a broad dent in the shade

(his body was still a marvel- when had Jack Kelly become so strong? When did Jack Kelly grow into his wimpy shoulders and snivelling ankles? When did Jack Kelly ditch his dreams of a boy to become a man?)

that towered over a lean man who was casually basking in the weak October daylight. He frowned at the sudden loss of warmth, but his eyes danced with mirth as he gazed over his former selling partner, current best friend, and long-time confidant. “Why, Jack Kelly. I thought you stood me up.”

“I’d neva, Dave,” Jack bent down in the mellow grass next to David. “They caugh’ me onna big shipment just as I was ‘bout to leave for lunch. Tell Esther that the market’ll have a good deal on trout tomorrow.”

Their heads nearly touched at the temple, and if Jack had the nerve or the gall, he could move a miniscule inch and connect their homely skin. It would only take a second- and what is a second, honestly? A moment in time? In the everlasting universe? And Jack Kelly wasn’t a very smart man, but he knew that humans only took up a small part of the whole existence of the world and a single second of humanity could manage to be wasted on the shifting of a cold, lonely wrist to lay on the freckled arm of another-

David rolled onto his side, more interested in a patch of dandelions than the market predictions for the next day. “Besides,” scrunching his nose, as if that would clear his irreverent musings on the universe, “not all o’ us are fancy medical men with all the break time they could ask fa’. I’m the big man pullin’ the weight ‘round here.”

(And it was true, to some aspects. Jack brought home honest-to-goodness bakery bread on Fridays so they could practice Shabbat without travelling, as Mayer so liked to do. He gave Les nickels to spend at the fair and bought Sarah hair ribbons for no particular reason. There was the gas bill he had paid one particularly difficult December, and the endless hours of doing various handiwork around the house when David was studying and Mayer’s old aches came to haunt him. The Jacobs’ home was also Jack’s, not because he needed it, but because they needed him.)

(He needed it too, he supposed.)

A yellow dandelion hovered over his nose, gently twirling with the teasing hum of David leaning in so close. Jack’s teeth snapped at it.

“You can drink the milk of these, I read,” David mused.

Jack wrinkled his nose. “Dandelion salad‘s only good tha first five times. Plus, it’d turn Crutchie’s tongue yellow.”

Dropping the little flower altogether, David rolled flat on his back and turned to gently nudge Jack on his shoulder with his premature wrinkling forehead. “Jackie,” he whispered.

(“I love you,” he would go on, later in Jack’s dreams. “I’ve loved you since I met you, I love you like a wildfire, I love you so much I cannot bear it, I love you like every character in all of my books, I love you.”)

“I’ve met a girl.” There was a hint of mischief in David’s tone- and Jack didn’t recognize it. There was suddenly a gated city wrapped around David’s heart and Jack was frantically scrambling for the key; For the first time, he was locked out of David’s life. He was an onlooker upon territory he had memorized by touch, by heart, by memory.

“Yeah?” If David had been paying attention, the word would have pinged around his Tin Man heart- hollow, empty, overused. “The Walking Mouth finally has someone to use it on?”

He relished in the feel of David’s uncalloused palms shoving playfully at his tanned, muscled arm. “Don’t be crass,” the boy chided. “Her name is April.”

(Jack was born on a misty-eyed April morning, with the clouds swabbed over the sun and an ominous wind blowing throughout the emptied streets. His mother had called it a bad omen. His father couldn’t fathom why.)

The crook of Jack’s elbow was full of David’s lingering fingertips; A question he didn’t dare ask left a sour taste on his tongue. He smiled at David’s far away face, his gaze belonging to a girl,

(a girl, a rotten girl, a girl that wasn’t even Katherine because that would have hurt much less, understandable even. She was an unimportant girl and she would never be enough for Davey, his Davey)

(A girl.)

and his smile was full of thorns.

---

“I can’t believe-” the words were practically ripped from his throat. “We’s goin’ so fast!”

David couldn’t drive in the technical sense, but he was captaining a true automobile as the Earth did spin. Jack sat in the passenger seat to crow at any poor little commoners that walked along the beaten path, none of them good enough to ride in the electrical engine Mr. Ford had handcrafted himself.

It had been a graduation present from a fellow doctorate student (one with a wealthy father and ill-meaning connections), a spin in his brand-new electric carriage for his reliable old pal, David Jacobs. Jack’s eyes widened to the size of half-dollars as the man passed over the keys to David- David, who had once put the wrong shoe on the wrong foot and walked around crooked all day, too proud to admit he had made a mistake- and they tried to conceal their excitement as the engine turned over for the first time.

He was going to do it. Right here, right now, in this strange man’s car, with clunky work boots on his feet and David’s spectacles sliding down the bridge of his nose.

“I love you!” Jack roared over the engine.

“I’m going to ask April to marry me!” David practically sang into the wind.

Jack’s throat closed up, his skin was set on fire, and he suddenly wanted to see what happened when you jumped from a gadget that was moving so fast.

“Wait, what? Did you hear me?” David’s hair was beginning to grow long enough that it was wild in the gust of the automobile. “I’m going to ask her to marry me!”

(When he was seven, another newsboy- only a handful of months older than him- had asked him if his momma had ever taught him about love. No, Jack had replied, both sour about being outsmarted by a kid who picked his nose and not ever having a momma in the first place. “It’s this great big tree that grows on the inside of our tummies,” the boy went on. “And one day, someone ‘s gonna come along and pick all ‘f th’ fruit on our branches, one by one, until all you have are pretty green leaves. That’s love.”)

(That same boy would kiss him in a dirty alleyway seven years later, and Jack would crack a joke about all of his apples still being intact. The boy would stare back with blank, unrecognizable eyes.)

Jack couldn’t even be angry- he wasn’t strong enough to be furious anymore, not when his days were long and the nights were spent clutching at empty bedsheets. He couldn’t be angry at his good, unselfish Davey, the boy who rubbed at his mother’s aching feet when she spent too long at the factory lines and clumsily darned socks when his sister couldn’t feel her slender fingers. There was no resentment for the beautiful, dark-haired girl who had accidentally collided with David at the grocer’s market when they reached for the same can of something-or-other. She had been nothing but kind to the gentle giant who lurked in the shadows of David’s life, telling inappropriate jokes and interrupting their dates. April always made a place for him at their table.

“That’s the best idea you’ve had all year,” Jack called out, and watched his words dance away in the wind.

---

Katherine had struck him, hard, when he asked her to marry him.

He cradled his jaw with a shock that reverberated around his skull. “Kathy, what did I-”

“You are the most selfish, careless man I know, Jack Kelly.” Her skirts whirled around her ankles- the candy-pink cotton matching other bridesmaids’ dresses to contrast the delicate white lace of April’s wedding dress. David Jacobs was now a married man, and Jack Kelly a desperate one. “We all see how you look at him. There’s not a single person who hasn’t noticed. Get it through your thick, unfeeling skull.”

(“They say,” David’s vows were memorized. His voice never wavered. “That only someone in love would truly understand the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice: a man walks through the Underworld to save his begotten bride, to only turn around and lose her at the very last second. I’ve spent years pouring over that story, wondering why Orpheus would be such a fool, such an irresponsible, lovesick fool, if he truly loved her. But now, standing before my own darling little bride, I understand. I’d turn around for one last look at you. I’d turn every. Single. Time. I’m your fool, April. And I’d choose our fate a million times over.”)

“He doesn’t love you,” Katherine’s voice was heavy with disgust. “And I’m beginning to understand why.”

---

The train ticket was heavy in his palm. “I just don’t see why you have to go,” David whispered. “Who is my son going to learn his bad habits from? Who’s going to teach him how to hawk a headline for extra change? How to poke fun at his papa?”

“He has Les.” Jack’s voice was a barely audible rumble, rusty with misuse. He didn’t talk much these days, Jack Kelly now preferred to linger in the background of conversations, the memory of a bright young man he used to be. Those days had come and gone without much complaint, even if Jack secretly yearned to be so terribly free that he believed in a future for a gangly, fresh-faced boy and a hardened boy with the silver-tongued lies.

(There were rumors, you know. About horrible men and horrible things, about broken ribs and jail time even the Mayor would disapprove of. Jack didn’t do much to dispel the irrational stories people told about him.)

(To prove a lie is false, you must present the truth.)

(Jack didn’t have a truthful bone left in his body.)

A carefully measured silence stretched between them. “Is this about…” David’s hand instinctively reached for Jack’s rough palm- a second of contact, the flash in the pan, their moment in the universe.

He withdrew from his gentle touch, and taking a bullet to his leg

(Jack was twenty-three and alarmingly brave. David was twenty-two and studying to become a doctor. They both cried as David’s unsure hand stitched an unclean wound back together- David, tears of worry; Jack, hopelessly lovesick and falling apart at the seams.)

had been less painful. “It’s about Santa Fe, Dave. Kiss Esther goodbye for me, won’t you?”

The platform to the train was busy, flowing with New Yorkers that had somewhere to be, a place to go, or a person to meet. Jack was the lone soul that took his time to feel the cobblestone under his worn-down boots, the ragged laces dragging against the streets that raised him as their own. His suitcase, a single-handled brown leather

(the only item inside was a bundle of letters, all addressed to David Jacobs)

thing, had never seen a polish rag or repairman’s case, and he felt as if he had the weight of the world to carry with him all the way to New Mexico, where the cattle roam free and Jack Kelly wouldn’t have a broken heart to board up behind slats of wood. The train whistle blew, sharp and piercing, and Jack couldn’t resist his own dreadful hubris; He turned.

And David Jacobs had already disappeared into the swarm of faceless people with their endless inventory of needs to be met, so Jack Kelly got on a train to Santa Fe.

#newsies #newsies on tour #newsies on broadway #newsies live #newsies 1992 #javid #jack kelly #davey jacobs #javid au #javid fanfiction #newsies au #newsies fanfiction #katherine plumber #my writing

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lyranova · 4 years ago

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A Fractured Diamond

Episode 2: A New Team

Hi guys~! So here’s the second chapter of Diamond! I’ve been working on this for weeks and I have to admit I got really mad at myself over this because everything I have planned is for later chapters. Also, I really suck at naming spells so I apologize they’re not very good. But anyway I hope you guys enjoy this ☺️!

Word Count: 2,554

Warnings: Violence (but its not really graphic)

Neva was pissed to say the least, this was the last thing she wanted. She did not want to be sitting with three other strangers in the dining hall trying to get to know more about one another. She couldn’t believe the Captain ordered her to do this, to be in a small squad of her own. Why couldn’t he just let her be for a change? Why did he always have to stick his nose in her business? Neva watched as Mimosa’s mouth moved but wasn’t listening to a word she was saying, she wasn’t interested in any of it if she were being honest. The royal appeared to be sweet and kind, but Neva wondered if that’s how the girl actually was or if it’s what she wanted to project to others.

Klaus meanwhile was how she usually saw him; as a suck up to someone of a higher status than him, and dismissive of the ones that were of lower status. Yuno, on the other hand, was very intriguing. He was sitting silently like her, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else than where he currently was much like her. Neva looked him up and down for a moment; when he was standing he appeared to be tall, he was lean, had jet black hair, and gold eyes. Yep this kid was going to end up being very popular with the ladies. Until they found out he was a commoner that is. Neva was pulled out of her observations when she heard her name.

“ What about you Neva? What’s your magical affinity?” Mimosa asked with slight curiosity, Neva crossed her arms and slightly shrugged her shoulder.

“ Diamond magic.” She answered simply, knowing the reaction she’d get. Mimosa’s eyes grew to the size of cylinders and she let out a small gasp while Yuno’s eyes only widened slightly but otherwise didn’t have much of a reaction.

“ D-Diamond magic? Does that mean you’re..?” Mimosa trailed off, seeming to be slightly weary of the answer she would receive.

“ Don’t worry I was born and raised in the Clover Kingdom. Otherwise I’m sure I would’ve been arrested by now.” Neva assured her with a small wave of her hand as the young girl seemed to release a breath she was holding. It wasn’t the first nor would it be the last time people asked her that question. Mimosa had then turned her attention to Yuno.

“ What about you Yuno? What’s your affinity?” Yuno turned to look at the royal.

“ Uh, wind magic.” Neva blinked at his answer ‘wind magic? Any mage that I’ve encountered with that power wasn’t very special? So what is it about him that has everyone so impressed?’ She thought curiously, she had to admit, it was going to be a very interesting first mission tomorrow.

———-

The next morning the four Golden Dawn members went out on their first mission together. It was to clear out a small group of bandits, nothing too complicated. Neva at first couldn’t understand why the Captain had sent them out on such a small mission like this, but the more she thought about it, the more it made sense. He wanted them to get used to working together. Neva wasn’t sure how well they’d work together since all their magics weren’t really compatible with one another; her’s was diamond, Yuno’s was wind, Mimosa was plant, and Klaus was steel. So how in the world would they be able to work with each other? Neva huffed. ‘The Captains probably thought of that as well.’ She shook her head, before hearing Mimosa call out to them from the steel carriage she and Klaus were in.

“ We’re almost there. It should be right in that clearing!” Neva and Yuno nodded, both having chosen to use their brooms instead of riding with Klaus and Mimosa.

They slowly eased down before landing a few feet away from the campsite and quickly hiding behind a few bushes. They watched as the men seemed to be standing around the fire, talking and eating, the perfect time to strike.

“ So what’s the plan?” Mimosa whispered as she turned toward the others, Neva smirked. ‘I can handle this easily!’ She thought as she went to stand up but suddenly she felt a rush of air fly past her and when she looked over she noticed Yuno was gone.

“ Where’d he go?” Klaus asked in a hurried whisper before Mimosa pointed toward the bandits camp and all three of their eyes widened at the sight.

Yuno was currently standing in the middle of the campsite, a vortex of wind swirling around him. He was currently trying to fight all the bandits at once! Neva gritted her teeth and quickly ran out from behind the bushes, with Klaus and Mimosa following.

“ Diamond creation magic: Diamond Shower!” She shouted as she pulled out her grimoire. Shards of diamonds began to rain from the sky and were aimed precisely at the bandits, although she wasn’t aiming to hurt them, she at least wanted to knock them out or immobilize them. She smirked as she was able to pin one to a tree and another to the ground, she quickly turned as she felt warmth near her side.

“ Flame magic: Dragon’s breath!” She heard a flame mage shout, luckily she was able to feel the warmth before she even heard him shout, she quickly dodged the spiral of flame and when she turned toward him she quickly made a hammer out of diamond.

“ Diamond magic: Diamond Hammer!” She quickly swung the mallet before the flame mage could even blink, hitting him square in the stomach, she heard him make an ‘oof’ sound before he went flying into a tree and was knocked out cold. Neva looked around and noticed the others had taken care of the rest of the bandits, Klaus had chained a few to a tree, and Yuno had either knocked them out cold or immobilized them with his wind magic. Mimosa stood by with a big smile on her face.

“ Good work team!” She cheered as she clapped her hands together, Klaus let out a sigh as he pushed his glasses up his nose.

“ It would’ve been better if one of us hadn’t rushed in without discussing a plan first.” He said as he glared slightly at Yuno, who only stared back.

“ It would’ve taken too long. They were right there and it was the perfect time to strike, they were distracted, had their guards down, there wasn’t a better opportunity.” Yuno told him bluntly, causing Klaus to glare further as Neva and Mimosa watched them.

“ M-Maybe so! But we still should have discussed it as a team!” Klaus argued as Yuno began to walk away. “ Don’t walk away from me! We’re not done here!” He shouted after him and Yuno just continued walking.

“ Oh I like him.” Neva said with a smirk as she followed Yuno, Mimosa shrugged at Klaus and also walked away.

“ Are you all going to at least help me with the bandits?!”

————-

After loading the bandits up, the small team carried them back to the capital and dropped them off at the prison before heading back to their headquarters. As they were flying back Neva couldn’t stop herself from watching Yuno; she had honestly thought the rumors about him were just that, rumors. She had no idea they would actually be true, but even she could feel how strong his mana was back in the woods, how powerful he was. It was like he was blessed by it or something, and in all honesty, it made Neva a little jealous. But the more she thought about it, the more she got a wicked little thought in her head.

‘I wonder,’ She smirked at the thought. ‘If I could convince him to help me become Captain.’ Yuno must’ve noticed her eyes on him because he turned to look at her. She jumped slightly and quickly turned away, missing the suspicious look in his eyes.

After the four of them had made it back to the Golden Dawn headquarters they began walking toward the dining hall for dinner when Neva cleared her throat.

“ Hey Yuno, do you have a minute? I’d like to talk to you about something.” Neva asked, Yuno blinked in confusion.

“ Uh, sure? I guess.” He said before Mimosa and Klaus continued walking toward the hall, saying they’d save the two of them a seat. “ What’s up?” He asked after they had gone inside. Neva sat on the short courtyard wall and looked at him.

“ I just wanted to say that I underestimated you. When I first heard the rumors about you, I’ll admit I was skeptical, especially when you said you had wind magic.” Neva started as she crossed one leg over the other. “ But I was pleasantly surprised, so I apologize for my earlier doubts.” He shrugged.

“ It’s fine. You’re not the first person to underestimate me.” He told her as he placed one hand on his hip before turning to look at her. “ Although, I doubt that's the only reason you called me out here.” Neva almost laughed at how perceptive he was, ‘No wonder my father always told me to never judge a commoner. Sometimes, they’re smarter than they want you to think.’.

“ You’re right, there is something else I wanted to ask you,” she started before looking down at her shoes. “ What’s your goal?” She asked, he looked slightly taken aback by her question but he quickly recovered.

“ To become the Wizard King.” Yuno told her, she could hear the slightest amount of passion in his voice. She looked back up at him with a small smirk on her face.

“ I can help you reach that goal, but I have one condition.” Neva told him, and instantly he frowned at her. “ You see, I have a goal myself; to become Captain of the Golden Dawn someday and I believe we can help each other.” His eyes narrowed skeptically.

“ I can try and get us the more serious missions, the ones that will help us rise up the ranks and if I’m being 100% honest, you’ll rise up the ranks faster than I will. So all I ask is that when you rise up to the rank of Captain, because you will eventually, that you make me your Vice Captain and when you become the wizard king, that you make me the Captain of the Golden Dawn.” She proposed, and instantly his face went blank. Neva hated it when she couldn’t read people's faces, it made her nervous.

“ Sounds like you need me more than I need you.” He told her after a minute and it shocked her so much she nearly fell off the wall. ‘My proposal was excellent! Wasn’t it?’ She thought in disbelief, she quickly pulled herself back up the wall and glared.

“ T-That’s not it-.” She started but he cut her off.

“ Yes it is. You said it yourself; I will eventually rise up the ranks, all the way to Captain in your opinion, so why would I need your help if you believe I’ll do it even without it?” Yuno questioned, Neva looked down at the ground. He had a good point. She basically gave him every reason not to agree to her deal, ‘Wow, I really suck at this.’ She thought with a small huff before hearing Yuno sigh.

“ Do you know why you suck at trying to manipulate people?” He asked her. “ It’s because you’re not a manipulative person, I’ve only known you for a few hours but even I can see that. You don’t need my help, or anyone’s for that matter, to make it to Captain.” He added with a small shrug, Neva’s face turned a slight shade of pink as she looked up at him.

“ Heh. It’s funny, I’m sure at least a majority of this squad would disagree with you on all those points.” She muttered and she saw him roll his eyes.

“ Then let them, what does it matter what they think?” He asked her. “ Come on, let’s go get dinner.” He added as he began walking toward the dining hall door, Neva stood up and followed after him before suddenly remembering.

“ You go ahead and eat, I have to go report to the Captain.” She told him before walking past him, Yuno nodded at her before opening the dining hall door and walking inside.

————

Neva made her way to Vangeance’s office, a small smile on her face. Even though she completely failed at trying to get Yuno to help her, it felt really good having someone to talk to, someone other than the Captain anyway. She came upon his door and began to knock but she stopped herself; it sounded like he had company. She couldn’t make out the other voice as it was a hushed whisper, but she knew it wasn’t her Captain’s voice. She placed her ear against the door to see if she could hear any bits of the conversation, but they were just being too quiet. It sounded urgent if the tones of their voices signaled anything. Neva heard his boots approach the door and she quickly pulled away and held her hand up, as though she were just about to knock on his door. When Vangeance pulled it open to see Neva on the other side he was very surprised.

“ Neva, I wasn’t expecting you back so soon. I take it the mission went well?” He asked her, his voice calmer than what she had heard a moment ago. Neva couldn’t stop the frown from appearing on her face as she tried to look around him to see inside his office.

“ Uh, yeah it went fine. Is there someone in your office?” She asked turning to look at him, a small smile appeared on his face as he tilted his head.

“ No why? Is something wrong?” He asked her his voice, sounding a little confused, she blushed slightly and scratched the back of her head nervously.

“ N-No nothing wrong, I just thought…” Neva trailed off nervously, Vangeance chuckled a bit before patting the top of her head.

“ Its ok, you’re probably just tired. Go get some dinner and then try to get some rest. You’ve earned it today.” He said as began to walk away. “ Oh by the way, I’ll be gone for a while, I was called away on urgent business. So if you need anything, you’ll have to try and get a hold of Langris. Goodnight Neva.” He added as he continued walking away. She turned to look into his office and her eyes widened.

It was completely empty. It had only been him inside the office, Neva quickly turned to look at her Captains retreating form. She had never known him to be the type to talk to himself and it would be even more odd if he used a different voice when doing so. Neva’s face immediately became concerned.

Something was wrong with her Captain.

————

I’m sorry it’s not very good 😔. I’m thinking about skipping ahead a little bit or maybe trying to talk to some of my mutual writers because I’m really stuck on what I should write next since I’m trying really hard not to directly copy canon events. But anyway I hope you guys enjoyed this I apologize if you didn’t and I will try better next time. Have a good day everyone 💞~!

#black clover oc #oc neva #black clover fanfiction #a fractured diamond #i’m sorry its not very good #episode 2

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newtsies · 4 years ago

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Great Outdoors || Ch. 1 {{ Kid Blink x Mayors Daughter OC}}

A/N: hiya! so here's somethings you might wanna know about the story!

1. it's a kid blink x oc story, the oc is the mayors daughter. based off of his line in King Of New York (92sies version) where he says 'a saturday night with the mayors daughter'

2. i included their accents, but not like too much? let me know if you think i should write it with less of an accent or more of an accent.

3. this is based off of the 1992 version but includes some characters from the Broadway version. any character in both versions are based off the 1992 version. for example: racetrack, david, jack, les, mush, ect. are all based off of the 1992 version

4. i won't be writing any of the songs, because it's harder to do that. if you think i should include songs, let me know!

5. i swear the other a/n after this will be way shorter-

word count: 4375

read on wattpad

Heat stuck to her skin as she slipped out the window of her room. In New York, the middle of summer scorched everyone who dare leave their fanned homes. It also scorched those who worked outdoors, or burned those who didn't have homes. But Juliet was willing to take the chances of getting sun burned, she needed to get out of her room.

She had been reading for hours, there was really nothing else to do. Reading for 6 hours tends to get boring, especially when all the books you can read are about wars. Most of the war books were historically incorrect anyways. She swore to one day rewrite every historical book she read, but make it accurate.

She ran down the fire escape and took in the scene of the hot Manhattan streets. She had no idea what to do, Juliet rarely left her house and when she did, it was with her father in a carriage. Without a map or guide to help her, she let her feet lead her through the streets.

"Hiya, ma'am," A boy said exhaustedly, tipping his cap at her, "Care ta hear todays news? The World seems ta want everyone ta know there was a baby born with two heads!"

"Oh, well, sure! Is a quarter alright?" Juliet asks, pulling out a quarter from her pocket.

"Ma'am, a pape is only 1 penny!" He smiled at her as he took his cap off and wiped his forehead, "Please, I really couldn't take any more than a penny from a sweet girl like you."

She flushed with embarrassment, "I'm so sorry, I've never been out in the city on my own before. I promise you, loosing a quarter sure doesn't affect me much."

"Thank ya, ma'am," The boy grinned, trading the paper for her coin, "Ya said ya'd neva been on da streets?" Juliet nodded, scratching her arm as the feeling of embarrassment bubbled inside her. "Care ta wander with me?"

"Well- I'm sure you're busy, right? I'd hate to intrude," She rambled.

"Ma'am! I'm free all day, honestly. I'd love ta show ya around, if you're up for it o' course!" He admitted with an honest smile, "Come carry da banner with me for a few more minutes and I'll show you good 'ol Manhattan!"

"Thank you-" She started, pausing to silently ask him for his name.

"Kid Blink," He smiled, "Wanna try sellin' a pape, ma'am?" He offered a newspaper to her, which she hesitantly took and turned to look at people walking by.

Juliet raised the paper and called out, "Daily news!"

A chuckle came from behind her, "All due respect, ma'am. You gotta yell out a headline or a story!" Her cheeks went red with embarrassment but she nodded, flipping through the paper quickly.

"Baby born with 2 heads! ... Medical anomaly!" She added, someone rushed towards her and handed her a penny for the paper. "I did it!"

"Great job, miss! Oh, keep the penny, ma'am!" Kid Blink stated sincerely as Juliet attempted to give him the penny, "Da quarter ya gave me has got me set for longer den a week!"

Juliet admired the boy, for he had great talent when it came to selling newspapers. When she had bumped into him, he had been carrying a whole stack of papers. A stack that looked plenty heavy. However, not once did he complain nor even look for a second as if he might drop them. He just kept carrying them and calling out headlines. Within 10 minutes of meeting him, his stack of papers were all sold.

"Honestly, ma'am, the streets of Manhattan ain't got much to see," Kid Blink explained earnestly, "Oh! I gotta place that's got some good wadda, want to go there?"

She grinned, "I'll admit, I'm a little hungry. I don't know any other restaurants, so if you say the place is good, all I can do is believe you! Lead the way, Kid Blink."

"Please, ma'am, call me Blink!" He stated, starting to walk away. She walked close behind him, nervous from stories her father had told her about the streets, "You alright, miss?"

"Peachy," She lied, "So, you, uh, do this everyday?"

Blink nodded, "Everyday! Carry the banner, eat if I'se got the money, sleep, den do it all again!"

"That's gotta be rough, how old are you?" Juliet asked.

"14, ma'am," Kid Blink replied before turning to her, "How old are you?"

"14," Juliet answered, "It's insane you're doing this everyday, living like this."

He smiled at her and tipped his cap, "Jus' life, ma'am!"

They stood together in front of a restaurant, the sign above it read Tibby's. Kid Blink turned to Juliet with a grin then moved to hold open the door for her. She nodded at him before cautiously stepping in, feeling the boy press against her as he closed the door behind him.

"Blink!" A boy called from a table, waving him over. Kid Blink looked at Juliet and nodded at the table full of boys then started walking over to them. She let her head fall down as she walked close behind him.

"Hiya, boys!" Blink grinned, sliding into the seats and shoving another boy into the wall so Juliet could sit down too, "This is, uh-"

"Juliet," she stated nervously, "Juliet Adams."

One boy joked, "Say, Adams is da mayors last name. You his daughter?"

"Yeah," She laughed, obviously very scared.

They all gaped at her. Kid Blink laughed and wiped the sweat off his forehead, "I woulda neva guessed. Anyways, Ms. Adams, this here is Racetrack, Elmer, Mush, and Skittery." The named boys grinned and waved at her as their names were called.

"Nice to meet you all," Juliet said, "Do you all work as newsies?"

Racetrack nodded, "Yes, ma'am. Now, I've gotta ask. What did 'ol Blink here say ta get ya ta come all da way over here wit 'im?" Blink rolled his eyes and ran his hand through his hair before placing his cap on his head again.

"Well, you see, I've never really left my house, not on my own at least. Kid Blink offered to show me around the city!" Juliet explained before looking at a menu above the register, "What do you boys usually get?"

"Wadda," Elmer states, then adds with a shrug, " 'Ts free."

She glanced around the table, assuming it was a joke, but was met with honest faces. She shook her head, "Why don't you all get some food. I'll pay, don't worry."

Kid Blink interfered, "Ms. Adams, we couldn't possibly let you pay for us-"

"Call me, Juliet, or Julie, all of you. Honestly, you've helped me a lot today, Kid Blink. It's the least I can do to make sure you all have full stomachs for at least a day. Let me pay, please," She pleaded. He looked at her and sighed and nodded before looking over the menu.

"She's a gift from the gods!" Elmer exclaimed, leaning over the table excitedly and giving her a hug. She laughed and pat the golden-retriever-like boy on the cheek.

Skittery nodded in agreement and Albert joked, "An angel me thinks. Think Big Man'll miss her if we keep her?"

"The mayor or God?" Racetrack asked before drinking his water.

Elmer looked at her with a look of fear, "Think he'll try to chop off our heads?" She laughed and shook her head.

"If anything, I'll be the headless one. He'll kill me once I get home. It's already getting dark," Juliet stressed, "I should be heading back after you all eat."

And so the boys and the girl, who had been isolated her whole life, joked and laughed together over plates of food. They begged and begged to help her and chip in for the bill, but she stubbornly refused. Eventually they were forced out of the building due to the 'dinner rush.'

Racetrack had joked, "By dinner rush, he means 5 customers who actually buy da food instead of drink all his wadda!'

They talked for a while longer before reaching the lodging house where 4 out of the 5 boys retreated into the building after waving goodbye to Juliet. Kid Blink lingered behind, hesitant to let her go alone through Manhattan at night. She insisted she would be fine, but Blink knew better than to not trust his gut instinct.

"I'm walking ya home, I cant let you walk alone during da night. 'Specially cuz ya don't know da streets all too well," He explained earnestly.

"I'm sure I'll be fine! Honestly, how dangerous can it be? Besides, won't it be dangerous for you to walk back alone?" She asked.

"Nah! I know dese streets like da back of my hand!" Blink reassured her as he lead her through the streets, "What's it like being da mayors daughter?"

Juliet sighed, "It's not horrible, but he never lets me leave the house. The only time I get to leave is to go with him in a car to some meeting he has. All I do is study. Don't get me wrong, I know I'm lucky. I have a consistent roof over my head, a consistent food source, and I'll never run out of money or new clothes. But what's the point if I don't ever get to talk to anyone?"

"I see," He nodded, "Hey, me an' da boys may not be rich or have any of dat food stuff often, but we sure as hell is a family! Life is worth the living as long as you got good friends to live it with. You ain't neva had no friends ever?"

She chuckled a little and shook her head, "Sure, I've had friends. They were all quite rude and stuck up, though. I sure hope I don't come off that way to you-"

"No, ma'am. You ain't stuck up, don't worry 'bout it!" Kid Blink told her, stopping at the house that towered over them. "Nice place ya got here."

"Thank you," She grinned, "Oh, and thanks for showing me around, Kid Blink."

He tipped his hat and nodded, "My pleasure, Ms. Adams."

"Juliet," She corrected.

"How 'bout Jules?"

"That works too, Blink."

She ran up the fire escape and waved at him from the top. He gave a short wave before turning back around to head back to the lodging house. Juliet tapped on the railing, deciding on what to say to the boy. She groaned and cupped her hands around her mouth.

"Kid Blink!" She shouted, "Think I could help you sell some more papers tomorrow?"

"It would be an honor to spend another day with you! I'll be here tomorrow with some papes, all right?" Blink yelled back, a grin playing on his lips.

"All right! Thank you, Blink!" She waved again before smiling widely and running back into her room.

"Julie?" A voice boomed from downstairs, Juliet cringed.

"Coming Father!" She called, going through her door and down to his office.

He continued to work on the papers laid out in front of him as he talked to her, "I'm sorry about our argument today. Thank you for keeping quiet. I've decided that you can go outside tomorrow, on your own. I trust you, for the most part. Just stay away from those newsboys, got it?"

Her eyebrows furrowed and she tilted her head at him, "What's wrong with the newsboys?"

"Flirts! All of them," He explained angrily, "Dirty and aggressive too!"

"All right, Father. I'll steer clear of the newsboys," She sighed. As she walked back to her room, she laughed to herself. Of course she wouldn't stay away from the newsboys, not like she listened today, right? Kept quiet, She thought, more like wasn't here to make noise.

Juliet woke up the next morning, already feeling the heat from outside, and rushed to her window in hopes to see the newsboy from the day before. Much to her dismay, he was not there. She decided not to stress, maybe he slept in or sold all of his papers already.

"Morning, Father!" She called as she walked into the kitchen, she gave him a kiss on the cheek, "I'm heading out now!"

"Stay safe, Juliet! And remember," He stated firmly, "Stay away from the newsboys!"

She rolled her eyes, "Yes, Father!" Then she was out the door, a wave of heat pushing against her. Juliet smiled before running off towards The World building.

Boys crowded around the town square, shouting and pushing into each other. She looked around and tried to push through the crowd, the kids all backing away from where she was. Juliet looked for familiar faces but couldn't see anyone.

"Ma'am! Ms. Adams! Juliet!" Elmer called out happily, pushing past everyone and bouncing over to her, "Watcha doing in these parts?"

She had to shout over the chaos to be heard, "Kid Blink said he would meet me at my house with papers, but he didn't! Did something happen? Do you know where he is?"

He grinned goofily at her, "Oh, boy, are you in fah a treat! We'se newsboys is on strike! Pulitzah raised the pape prices, so we'se don't sell till he puts it back! C'mon, Blink is over here!" Elmer grabbed her hand and pulled her through the crowd to the very front.

"- Gotta be ambastards and go tell the others that we're on strike!" A boy who stood in front the building shouted. Juliet was dragged by Elmer to stand next to Kid Blink, who turned to her and smiled.

"Say, Jack, we'll take Harlem!" Blink called out to the boy, Jack, and grabbed Juliet's arm.

"Good- Who's dat?" Jack asked the other newsies, Blink and Juliet were already gone.

"Da mayors daughter! Anyways, I got Midtown!" Race shouted before running off.

"Mayors daughter?" He shouted in confusion, but they ignored him and people continued to call out turfs they would go to.

"Sorry, Jules. Honest ta God, I'se was gonna go get ya! But, the price raise was ridiculous! Anyways, we'se goin' ta Harlem, tell dem about da strike! Dat alright with you?" Kid Blink asked after rambling.

She grinned, "Sure! Oh, guess what? My Father finally decided to let me go out freely, so I don't have to sneak away anymore."

"Nice! How'd ya manage ta convince 'im?" He questioned. They walked together through the streets, Kid Blink pulling his shirt to try and give himself some cool air.

"I don't know! Said he was happy that I didn't make any noise after the conversation yesterday! So, he's letting me out freely and he said..." She paused hesitantly.

Blink looked at her and tilted his head curiously, "What? What did he say?"

Juliet groaned and looked at him, "He told me to stay away from the newsboys. I won't, of course! But it's just- I don't get him. It's hard work, isn't it? I think you should all be admired, working this hard at such a young age with no one treating you fairly."

He laughed, "Thanks, miss! Sure is hard work, but we'se don't complain! Now, when we get ta Harlem, just ignore everything dey say. If dey make you uncomfortable, let me know, alright? I'll soak 'em! Or we can just leave. Whatever's easiest!"

"Thanks, Blink. Let's go," She said hesitantly, walking with him into the new borough.

A young boy ran towards them, "Hiya, Kid! And- pretty goil! Hi! Watcha here for?"

"Gotta talk ta Stitch," He explained, "He here, Scram?"

"Well, I reckon he's out by our circulation building! Trying ta calm down all da boys n' stuff! Hear bout the prices?" The boy, Scram, asked them.

" 'Course we did, Scram. That's what we're here to talk 'bout, 'Hattan newsies is on strike," He explained.

"Strike? Ya crazy! Ya know dat means makin' no money, right?" Scram questioned them, absolutely baffled by the idea of loosing a days pay.

"We know, Scram," Blink sighed, "But listen, if we don't work, they'se don't make money either. They need us! They gotta put the price back up soona o' later!"

Scram gave them a look, "I dunno, Blink! Think da World, Journal, and da Sun, and all of dem can go longer then we can without making money!"

"If we get all of da newsies togedda, they can't ignore us!" He explained, hoping to get through to Scram.

"Whateva ya say, Blink! C'mon, I'll take ya two ta Stitch. See what he gotta say 'bout it!" Scram nodded to the side before walking off. Juliet shrugged at Blink and they both started following him. There was havoc everywhere around the circulation building. People were shouting at each other and pushing each other into the floor. She walked close to Blink and Scram, trying to stay away from the fists people were throwing.

"Stitch!" Scram called out, tugging on the shirt of a boy about a foot taller than him. The boys shirt was tight on his arms and completely unbuttoned. His brown suspenders tugged at his shoulder, probably chaffing him. He had multiple scars all over his chest.

"What Scram? What?" Stitch groaned, shaking the boy off his arm.

"Kid Blink and a goil is here to talk to you about somethin'!" Scram explained.

The boy tipped his hat at Juliet, "Ma'am," Then spit in his hand and shook hands with Blink, "Kid Blink. What's up?"

"Well- We- 'Hattan-" Blink attempted to speak but couldn't talk over the yelling. Stitch looked to Scram and nodded at him.

Scram grinned widely and screeched, "Scram! Da bulls!" Everyone froze, stopped yelling and fighting, and bolted away. Scram waved to them, tipped his hat at Juliet, and ran off with everyone else.

"We'se on strike over in 'Hattan. We want you to join too!" Kid Blink explained.

Stitch hesitated, "Oh, I dunno, Blink! We won't make any money at all! We don't like da price either, but it's hard ta make no money at all. All dem newspaper big shots could go months without making money!"

"Yeah, but they can't ignore us if we get all da newsies in New York!" Blink tried to convince him.

"What's Brooklyn doin'? What'd they say?" Stitch asked.

Blink sighed, "I dunno yet."

"Look, when ya get the nod from Brooklyn, come back. Alright? Get the nod from Brooklyn and you can count on Harlem," Stitch promised. Kid Blink sighed again but nodded.

Juliet tilted her head, "So, Harlem is just a bunch of followers? Can't make your own decisions? Seems like Brooklyn is more the leader of Harlem than you are, Stitch." Both boys looked taken aback by her statement.

"No way, ma'am! It's just- We ain't gonna win dis thing if we ain't got Brooklyn!" Stitch explained.

"Oh! You guys aren't strong enough to help us, right?" She instigated.

"Yeah we are!" Stitch groaned, "Fine. Count us in, alright? The second you guys give up, or show any sign of giving up, Harlem is out. Got it?"

"Got it! Thanks, Stitch," Blink smiled, spitting in his hand and sticking it out for Stitch. He spit in his own hand and shook hands with Kid Blink.

"No problem, Blink. Now, as Scram would say, scram! I got to prepare me boys for a strike," He chuckled. Juliet started off, but Stitch grabbed Blinks arm and whispered to him, "Great gal, pretty too. If we get all da newsboys in one place with her, she's gonna be snatched up quick. Beat 'em to it, Blink. Or someone else will." Kid Blink rolled his eyes at Stitch and tugged his arm away, running to catch up with Juliet.

"Jack! What did Spot say?" Race asked as soon as he saw the leader.

"He was concerned 'bout us being serious, you believe that?" Jack scoffed.

The boys looked amongst themselves before Race spoke up, "I dunno Jack. None of da burrows will join us without the O.K. from Brooklyn."

"Wrong! None of da burrows except for Harlem. Harlem'll be here," Blink shouted as he ran over to them with Juliet.

"Awesome! Nice job, Blink," Jack praised.

He shook his head, "Not me. All thanks ta Juliet!"

"I knew she was an angel!" Elmer gushed, grabbing the girls hands and grinning at her.

One newsboy nudged another, "Looks like one too!" Blink shoved the boy who made the comment with his elbow.

"Shut up, Romeo."

The boy who had been nudged the first time laughed, "He told you!"

Said boy, Romeo, rolled his eyes, "Shut up, Henry."

"So what? We got Harlem, how does that help us? Gives us maybe 50 more kids? We should call it off, Jack. We need Brooklyn," A boy stated glumly. Jack looked at Davey, who Juliet had learned was the co-leader of the strike, with desperation evident in his eyes. David nodded and started to sing.

Juliet honestly didn't know how she ended up on the floor. Before, she was listening to the boys singing and watching them dance. At one point, Kid Blink pulled her up to dance with him and the others. She danced with them, but not for long due to the circulation bell ringing. The newsies charged and shouted at what they called 'scabs.'

Then, she was getting shoved all around. She was on the floor and looking to get out. Harlem came running in to help Manhattan, fighting scabs right along with them. Stitch noticed Juliet's struggles and grabbed her arm, yanking her to her feet. He shoved her to Scram, who took her and lead her out of the crowd.

"Hey, Scram!" Julie said breathlessly, smiling down at the young boy as she caught her breath.

"Hiya, ma'am. Ya alright?" Scram asked her.

She nodded, "No need for the formality, Scram. Call me Juliet, or Ms. Adams if you really insist to be formal."

"Okay, Ms. Adams! We gotta run, da bulls is comin'!" He shouted at her, noticing the police running into the circulation building. Scram grabbed her arm and dragged her away.

"Ms. Adams, please take some wadda," Scram begged her, but she refused. She didn't want them to waste any water on her.

"I'm all right, Scram. I promise. Do you think Kid Blink and all the others are all right?" She asked him. He shrugged.

"I dunno, Ms. Adams, but I can check fa ya!" He grinned and bounced excitedly.

"No! It's fine! Relax, Scram, take a running break. I'll check in with them tomorrow," Juliet assured. Stitch walked up to them and sat down behind her on a crate.

"You alright.. Uh.. Wat's ya name?" He asked.

"Juliet Adams," She replied.

Stitch nodded, "Ya alright, Ms. Adams?"

"Yeah," She reassured, "What happened after the police came?"

"Dey only got one guy, 'Hattan guy. The gimp," Stitch reported, "Dey didn't back down though. Still won't quit. We'll be there 'gain tomorrow." Juliet nodded. "Stitch, introduce her to the boys. Have Charles walk her home, got it?"

"Yessir!" Scram called and walked over to a group of boys. "Hiya, guys! This here is Juliet Adams! Ms. Adams, this is Charles, John, Skippy-" Juliet swore he kept talking for a hour. There was about 25 boys she was being introduced to, maybe one day she'd actually keep track of them all. She just nodded as he kept listing off names and pointing at boys.

Juliet just kept nodding, "It's very nice to meet you all. I really must be heading home now, though. Thank you for everything, Scram. Tell Stitch I said thanks too, okay?" Scram nodded excitedly and waved at her as she walked off.

"Wait up!" A boy called, running up next to her, "C'mon, I'll walk ya home. I'm Charles."

"Thanks, Charles. Hey, were you at the circulation building in Manhattan, today?" She asked him.

"Yes, ma'am," He nodded, "Wherever Stitch is, I'm there too."

"I see. Gotta follow the leader, right?" Juliet joked.

Charles blushed and adjusted his cap, "Something like dat. Think we can win?"

"The strike? From what I know, Brooklyn basically leads most of the burrows, right? After today, Spot Conlon, whoever that is, will know we won't back down," She started, "Hopefully, he'll join us after seeing what happened today. Then we'll have all the other turfs. We'll be unstoppable with all of them. We're bound to win."

"Well, I guess you're right. Unstoppable, huh? I like the sound a' dat," He grinned.

"Me too," She smiled, "This is my house. Thank you for walking me here, Charles. I really appreciate it. I'll see you at the circulation building tomorrow."

He tipped his hat at her before walking away, "Bye, miss!"

Juliet walked through the doors of her home, "I'm back, Father."

"Dear! How was your day?" He called back to her.

"Good. I really just walked around, I sat by the Brooklyn bridge and just looked over the scenery," She lied.

He huffed in acknowledgement, "Hear about the newsie strike? I think the streets are gonna be too dangerous. I want you to stay inside again-"

"Father!" Juliet sighed, "You can't do that! I've finally had a taste of freedom. Let me stay out, please? I promise you, I'll be extremely careful."

"Fine. Just," He paused, "Stay away from them, okay? They're already getting violent. Don't get hurt, if you do, you'll be stuck inside until you're an adult, got it?"

She rolled her eyes but nodded, "Yes, Father. I'm going to sleep now." She ran up the stairs to her room and groaned as she sat on her bed. She wouldn't stay away from the newsboys. Maybe she wanted to rebel, maybe she like their company. Her Father was right about one thing, they were already getting violent. And although she couldn't pull herself away, she was scared of getting sucked into the angry force of the newsboys union.

a/n: uhhh sorry if this sucked i havent written in a while but i hope you enjoyed!!

#kid blink #kid blink newsies #kid blink fanfiction #hidden in concrete #hic #mylo.types #newsies #92sies #newsies fanfic #newsies fan fic #newsies fanfiction #newsies fan fiction #1992sies #newsboys

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xmxisxforxmaybe · 5 years ago

Text

Melbourne, An Interlude

Summary: Merriell “Snafu” Shelton is on leave in Australia and meets a girl who, in quite a twist for Merriell, ends up charming the pants off of him. I was inspired by @rami-hoe and their story, The Soldier and the Nurse, because it was written in Snaf’s first person POV.

I am experimenting with this whole first person POV thing, so I keep Snaf’s thoughts in a slight version of his accent—this might be annoying af and not work at all :/ Feedback welcome! This is also my first piece on here with an OFC instead of a reader insert. I still tried to keep her vague-ish, but I wanted to do something different : )

This story will be two parts because I no longer seem to be able to write a one-shot to save my life.

Permanent Taglist: @rami-malek-trash @sherlollydramoine

Warnings: language, racial slur against the Japanese in accordance with the time period, and lots of sex stuff, so no under 18s, please!

If Guadalcanal was anythin’ to indicate what else was comin,’ I was gonna make the most of my time here in Melbourne. I was one of the lucky ones without malaria, but I was skinnier than I’d eva been and it was provin’ to be difficult to keep food in me long enough to actually fix my malnourishment.

What I can tell ya was takin’ a shower without a gun within arm’s length, without the fear of havin’ a shell dropped on ya naked ass, was next to feelin’ like god himself was wrappin’ ya up in a hug made out of warm rainwater.

It took a few days of eatin’ a little here and there and a whole lotta sleep for my nerves to relax. After a few meals dat finally settled well and sleepin’ for damn near 36 hours, I was ready to go out and find a drink, and I more than hoped not to spend anotha night alone on a fuckin’ cot in dat stadium.

First night out, I drank five glasses of whiskey and ended up stumblin’ around, gettin’ lost—I used to be able to drink a hell of a lot more than dat. I ended up runnin’ smack inta a gaggle of girls, gigglin’ and chatterin’ as dey were headin’ into the bar I just left.

I’ll be honest, I didn’t care which one said yes—so I took my shot, hopin’ I’d come across as charmin’ to at least one of em. I smiled a lot because I knew girls liked it when I did, and I ran a hand through my hair, short because it had just been cut, tryin’ to look just a little innocent and tryin’ to not sound as drunk as I was.

Her name was somethin’ like Stella or Bella, and I’m pretty sure she was a decent lookin’ girl. She took me back to the place she shared with her sister, and while she was shy at first, she opened up once the lights were out. I tried my best to get her to leave a little light on because I spent enough time in the black of night, not able to even see my own dick in my hand when takin’ a piss. But she was too shy for dat.

I took my time, drunk as I was, and made sure she was ready for me. I wasn’t ‘bout to do somethin’ stupid to start off my leave and maybe she’d be the only girl I’d end up gettin’. I wanted her to remember a good enough time.

The sex was . . . sex. She was a little quiet, a little soft. She kept her hands at her sides, clutchin’ at the sheets on occasion as she laid under me. I eventually gave up on askin’ her what she liked, how she wanted to be touched, because she just giggled and shook her head. I liked it betta when a girl let loose, when she let me know it felt good, too.

I came, pullin’ out even though I was wearin’ a rubber. Unlike a lot of my buddies, I paid damn close attention to those fuckin’ VD movies dey showed us. Right before we shipped out, a kid I knew from trainin’ camp got the clap. Sometimes, when I think ‘bout just slippin’ in to a woman, I remember what his fuckin’ dick looked like and I spend the thirty seconds lubin’ and wrappin’ up with one of the rubber kits the officers give out like candy. I wasn’t gonna spend half my leave vistin’ a Pro Station, or worse, laid up in the hospital with my cock on fire.

Once somethin’-ella was asleep, I tried to leave, quiet as possible. The damn MPs were still up everyone’s assholes, and I didn’t wanna be put in a cage. But on my way out, I ran into her sister and her name sounded somethin’ like Stella or Bella, too. She wasn’t quite as good lookin’ as her sister, but at least she wasn’t shy.

Honestly, I was just engagin’ in small talk, tryin’ to leave, but before I knew it, I found myself, naked and sprawled out on Stella/Bella #2’s bed with her bouncin’ on my cock like she’d been born to do it. Unlike her sis, she really didn’t need my help to come, and I actually was a little taken aback when ‘bout two minutes in she started screamin’ like a banshee, shakin’ and comin’ undone on top of me. I closed my eyes and concentrated on the feeling of her warmth, the sweet smell of sex mixin’ with whateva clean soap she had used, until I found myself comin’ for her, just like I did for her sister.

This one was more difficult to get away from, her limbs all tangled with mine and I wasn’t ready for dat—for feelin’ like I couldn’t move. It was way too much like sittin’ in a foxhole up to ya asshole in mud, tangled with ya weapon and ya gear and leanin’ against a buddy.

I relied on instinct and stayed real still, laborin’ my breathin’ like I was asleep and sure enough, she drifted off, snorin’ her head off.

I detangled myself and got outta there. I’d come enough to be a little more sober, so I snuck a glass of water before headin’ out, hopin’ I’d be able to find my way back to base unnoticed.

* * * * *

The next few weeks proceeded in much the same fashion. Drinkin’, smokin’, a little gamblin’, and closin’ out the night by finding some sweet thing to bed down. I was the happiest I’d been in a long time and even though the threat of drills and trainin’ was kept loomin’ ova our heads, I didn’t mind. Nothin’ here would eva be as bad as what was ova there.

Like I said, I was content with my days and nights and believed it would be how’d I’d spend my time in Melbourne until I saw her.

I was playin’ a game of cards with a few of my buddies, a cigarette danglin’ from my lips, the smoke waftin’ up in a thick stream when I glanced up at a loud guffaw of laughter comin’ from a few tables ova. I reached up to lower my cigarette, and when I found the source of the laughter, I saw the sexiest woman I had eva laid my damn eyes on.

She was surrounded by a group of marines I didn’t know, probably from the 7th Division. Her laughter had them captivated, and her glass of beer was—goddamn, she was drinkin’ beer like she’d been doin’ it her whole life. Her lips fit sensuously ova the thick rim of the mug, and the way she licked the little bit of liquid from her upper lip after a long draught, not just a sip, but a real drink, made me shift in my chair.

I had to know her—fuck sleepin’ with her; I just needed to be near her.

I bowed out of the game, the guys givin’ me major shit as I walked toward her table, all of them turnin’ to see if I’d make an asshole of myself.

When I stopped in front of the table, the conversation barely paused, even though she noticed me immediately and shot me a smirk, her pink lips glistenin’.

“Hi ya,” I said loud enough to turn all their attention. “Name’s Merriell Shelton, 1st Marines Division, and I’d love to buy ya a drink.”

The woman raised her eyebrow, her smirk still planted on her lips. The marines around her laughed and told me to fuck off, albeit with more polite words since dey were in front of the lady.

“As you can see Merriell Shelton, I don’t have a shortage of marines to buy me a drink. What makes your offer so special?”

American. I wasn’t expectin’ dat. Her response made it clear she was bein’ coquettish. Her tone was teasin’ and her eyes were shinin’ with a wickedness I had never seen in a woman’s eye before. It only made her more appealin’ and only made me more determined to shut the other guys up who had started laughin’ at her response, tellin’ me to keep movin.’

“Well, my offer is different, Miss, because dat’s all I want,” I said.

The marines shifted in their seats, clearly annoyed, until one of em I hadn’t seen earlier, guffawed. It was a guy in my company named James Haneson, but everyone called him Hollywood because he had movie-star good looks and wore sunglasses every chance he got. In fact, even though it was night, he had ‘em on now.

“Sure, Snafu. You’ve been with a different girl every night since we got here. Remember those sisters? Or were you just full of shit?” Hollywood said, his white teeth glitterin’ as he laughed while the othas joined in. Because I knew him, I caught the edge in his tone. He was sendin’ a clear signal, but I wasn’t ‘bout to let him win without a fight.

Still wearin’ a grin I considered to be charmin, I retorted, “I neva’ said I been a saint. All I want is to buy a drink for the most beautiful woman I eva seen who also happens to be able to drink betta than about half the men in my company.”

The woman laughed at dat, a throaty, deep laugh I felt run straight through body, like I got a good jolt from a bad wire.

“Well, gents,” she said lookin’ all ‘round her circle of admirers and fixin’ em with a sad little downturn of her mouth, which was surely negated by the wicked look in her eyes. “How can a gal refuse such a reasonable request?”

The guys all protested, Hollywood even reached out to take hold of her elbow, but she slid out of her chair and her linked her arm in mine.

“I’ll see you boys soon,” she said as she reached across the table to drink down the last of her beer.

“Wait, Kathryn! Are you gonna come back to this bar or will you be at the one ‘cross the street?”

“Or the club down on Main?”

“Or—”

Kathryn cut them off with a wink, statin’, “Guess you’ll just have to wait and see!”

Then, she turned to me and whispered, “Let’s get out of here before they stop being so amiable.”

“Kathryn! Where ya goin’? You promised to have a drink with me tonight,” an Aussie marine who was at least three times my size and looked to be more mountain than man said as we whirred by him, Kathryn callin’ out her response ova her shoulder.

“Now, I know that isn’t true because I never make promises to soldiers, Roger! Catch ya around!”

As we exited the bar, Kathryn leaned into me to make way for a group of people headin’ in and she whispered right in my ear, “I took him home night before last and he came on my thighs before he even got my panties off.”

I laughed, goddamn did I laugh! She was sexy and had a mouth on her dat woulda made most men blush.

She continued to lean into me, and when I turned to look at her, her eyes were on my face and she was grinnin’.

“That was a good reaction. You see, I was testing you, Mr. Shelton, and you passed. Shall we have that drink now?”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said returnin’ her dazzlin’ smile.

“I know a place that isn’t quite so inundated with, well, your lot.”

I let her lead me through the streets, happy she kept her arm linked with mine. She smelled like perfume, a familiar scent dat reminded me of the little purple sweet violets my granmama grew. Perfume was a luxury now, so I figured with the way she spoke and dressed she was from money. Girls with the kinda confidence Kathryn had were used to havin’ things at their disposal.

As we walked, she pointed out various places and named them, tellin’ me whether dey was worth vistin’ or if dey’d charge ya double.

“How do ya know so much if ya American?” I asked, no longer able to keep my curiosity from climbin’ out the bag.

“Well, my father is Australian. He met my mother while he was at University in the States. We always spend Christmas here with my grandparents, but since the war, I haven’t felt much like going back to my studies. I work in the shipyard now as a welder.”

I actually stopped in my tracks. I was expectin’ maybe a Red Cross volunteer or a nurse, but a welder, huh.

Kathryn let go of my arm and pulled off her glove, holdin’ up her hand and tellin’ me to feel it.

I reached out and ran my own calloused fingers ova her’s and across her calloused palm.

“You really are somethin’, ma’am,” I said, not botherin’ to hide the awe in my voice.

“I guess we haven’t been properly introduced—I’m Kathryn Taylor,” she said as she held out her ungloved hand to me.

“Merriell Shelton. Pleasure to officially meet ya,” I said as I enveloped her hand in mine, admirin’ the strength in her grip.

“Come on, Merriell. We’re almost to Smithy’s.”

We turned a corner and after walkin’ a few more feet, Kathryn took my hand in her once-more gloved hand and lead me down what seemed like a never-endin’, near pitch-black alley. She made a sharp turn left and then a right before we were brought to a buildin’ dat looked just like any otha bar in Melbourne, except the accents from the patrons out on the patio were all Aussie.

“Kathryn! Good to see you, luv,” the man at the door said. “And who’s this?”

“My friend, Merriell Shelton. He passed my test, Joe,” Kathryn said with a wink.

The man called Joe chuckled and clapped me on the back, however, his next words were anythin’ but friendly.

“Start any shit in there, mate, and your MPs will be the least of your concern, clear?”

“Clear,” I said with an affirmative nod.

I followed Kathryn in and got a fair share of stares, but no one seemed to pay us much mind once we slid into a little booth in the very back.

“Drinks are on me,” Kathryn said as she fished around in her little bag.

“Oh, no ma’am. I invited you—”

“Merriell. You fought. You lived. You’ll be off to fight again. I’m not the one risking my life on those godforsaken islands. The absolute least I can do is buy you a drink,” Kathryn said with finality as she slid from the booth and strode away—at least before stopping on her heel and doing a rather impressive about-face.

“I forgot to ask what you wanted,” she said with a quizzical look on her face as she stood in front of me.

I had to laugh. I didn’t think I’d eva met a woman who made me laugh as much as I had in such a short while.

“I like whiskey,” I said.

“You’ll get the finest in the house,” she said, smiling again before she turned and took off for the crowded bar.

I took a lot of pleasure in watchin’ her walk away. Her blue dress clung to her backside like it was made for the sole purpose of drivin’ a man wild.

When Kathryn returned, she had two large glasses of beer and two glasses of whiskey.

“Figured it’d be awhile before they’d make room for me at the bar again,” she said as she scooted a beer and a whiskey to my side of the table.

I thanked her and took a sip of the whiskey. It was damn smooth, so smooth I was sure I’d never tasted anythin’ like it before.

Kathryn also took a sip and thought for a moment before sayin’, “I think it has a nutty taste. Definitely not floral, not woody.”

I shrugged my shoulders at her, not sure what else to say.

“It’s my dad’s and my granddad’s favorite. I’ve been sneaking sips since I was a little girl,” Kathryn said as she slid her glass toward me. “However, I really don’t like it at all.”

I laughed again, a quiet chuckle of surprise because I wasn’t eva sure what was gonna come out of her mouth next.

“Where are you from, Merriell? Your accent is . . . sexy,” she said, pausin’ to either add emphasis or because she might’ve finally felt a little shy.

“I’m from New Orleans, Louisiana.”

“New—Naw Orlens. No. New Or-lins. How’d I do?”

“Not too bad,” I said with a chuckle. “Just don’t eva go full yank on me and say New Orleeens,” I said, draggin’ my e’s out to create dat sound I absolutely hated.

Kathryn giggled and said, “Point taken. I never want to hear you make that terrible noise again.”

We both smiled at each other, and even though the night was still young, I wished it would neva end.

Talkin’ to Kathryn was the easiest thing I’d eva done. She didn’t ask about the war, so I got to enjoy not talkin’ about it. After a few more hours and several more drinks, I learned about her childhood, her schoolin’, and her life here with her grandparents. In turn, I opened up to her about home, growin’ up and not always havin’ money but how my granmama made sure us kids neva went hungry.

I could tell I was feelin’ the effects of the whiskey and Kathryn could, too. Like everyone who wasn’t Cajun, she said my accent was takin’ up ‘more space in my mouth’ as she put it.

“But it’s still so sexy,” she said, this time bold as brass.

“I’m convinced dat nut’in on dis earth is sexy as you, darlin’,” I said, shooting her what I hoped was one of my best grins.

“You know, I’ve never met anyone with eyes more beautiful than yours. They can’t lie, Merriell. Did you know that? I’ve been testing you all night,” Kathryn said with seriousness, except I couldn’t help grinnin’ at her slurred speech.

I was a little taken aback at the compliment, though, and told her so.

“Nobody’s eva told me dat ‘bout ma eyes. Usually, dey just call me . . . unnervin’ or some shit,” I said with a nervous laugh. I had never confessed dat it bothered me to anyone.

Kathryn narrowed her eyes, takin’ her time to formulate her response.

“Prolly because you can see right the fuck through people—just like you did with, oh, what’s his name back at the bar . . . Hollywood! People want to feel like they’re special, like they’re some kinda enigma that can’t be solved. But you, Mer, you just cut right through their bullshit.”

“I’ve neva wanted ta kiss someone more dan I wanna kiss ya right now,” I said, leanin’ on the table, my fingers dancin’ ‘round the glass dat was between em.

Kathryn sat straight up and looked like I’d dumped a gallon of ice-water ova her head. I was confused enough to start to apologize for bein’ forward, but she cut me off.

She locked her eyes on mine and said, “No. When we kiss, it’ll be something that you remember for the rest of your life, not a stolen press of the lips or dart of the tongue in a back-alley bar. You deserve something more than that, Merriell.”

No woman like Kathryn had eva said anythin’ like dat to me. In fact, no woman had eva said anythin’ like dat to me. I was a lotta things, a whole lotta things, but this girl seemed to deem me worthy of far more than I eva imagined for myself.

We were both disappointed when the bartender announced last call. It was near 3 am, but I neva felt more awake; it felt like the fuckin’ Japs were a million miles away on their own stinkhole of an island, mindin’ their own goddamn business and dey had decided to keep it dat way.

“Guess I outta let you get back before they send the MPs after you,” Kathryn said, her eyes a little glassy as she smiled at me.

“Nah—da officers quit checkin’ up dat closely on us. All it takes is a few favors and ya safe from dem assholes.”

Like I was discoverin’ she was prone to do, Kathryn grew serious and changed the topic on me.

“I’m looking for something, Mer. I’m just not sure what it is yet, but I do know that I’ve never found it.”

I smiled at her, puzziln’ a little ova what she said.

“I dunno if I’ve got anythin’ dat interstin’ for ya, but I would sure would like to see ya again.”

“Done,” she said, pullin’ a little notepad and a pen from her purse. She scribbled an address on it and reached ova to tuck it snug into my shirt pocket.

She had put her gloves back on and reached up to cup the side of my face. I leaned inta her touch and closed my eyes, savorin’ her gentleness. She slid her gloved thumb ova my lips, pressin’ just a little on the bottom one. I opened my eyes and we just stood there for what felt like a lifetime, lookin’ at each other.

She shook her head, and pulled away, sayin’, “I’ll make sure you get on the right tram. Come on.”

Kathryn took off down the dark alley, and I followed her, thinkin’ there was a good chance I’d follow her anywhere.

#snafu #Snafu Shelton #snafu imagine #snafu fanfic #snafu x ofc #rami malek #rami malek character #the pacific #Merriell Shelton #merriell shelton imagine #merriell shelton x ofc #female reader

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ambersky-ocs · 4 years ago

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Bored so. Random OC things cause I don't feel like actually writing

---

Taylor is amazing cuddler. Lots of practice from past partners and her younger siblings. Learns quickly what people like and will do it when cuddling, especially if they've had a bad day

Also she very strong and makes whoever she's cuddling feel protected.

A lot of Dali don't like being touched between their wings, but Dani adores it, practically melting as soon as someone touches him there

Jeremiah's used to not talking while working, and has to get used to Dani and Taylor asking him questions about what he's working on. But he does love them taking an interest, and can usually focus. If he can't he'll ask them to write their questions down and ask later

Taylor's best relationship advice is "just fucking talk to each other" and if you have a crush it's "tell them about it, if they reject you move on"

She often ignores that second piece of advice if it concerns friends already in relationships and it takes awhile for her to finally get over herself and bring it up

Taylor's family is really close, and a lot of people wonder how a house of five can get along really really well. Occasionally it bumps up to eight(eventually nine then eleven) people living in one of their houses at a time

Max made the necklace Taylor always wears, and also made a few jackets that Taylor will wear if she's going out to a bar or something. Taylor doesn't wear the jackets in Tongyi mostly because it's too warm for them, but she does show them off to her friends in Tongyi.

The first dog Dani ever meets is Lucky, Leona's 5-year-old St. Bernard. Dani fell in love with the dog very quickly and Lucky gets really really excited whenever he sees Dani visit, will run to the young royal no matter what, he cannot be stopped-

Jeremiah may or may not have changed the programming of a Tempest bot named Benny. Benny's original programming wanted it to protect Tempest officials. Jeremiah tweaked some stuff to make Benny go 'rogue', attack the officials, and instead protect innocent targets

No one in Tempest ever found out it was Jeremiah

Leona originally kidnapped Keegan Francis so Marie could take out her anger on the bastard for the shit he put Marie through, but Marie instead asked Taylor if she could contact Vic and offer Keegan as a thank you for treating Taylor well.

Let's just say Vic agreed and Keegan was never seen again.

Dani and Jeremiah wonder how the hell Taylor managed to survive dating a cannibal, but agree it does have benefits. They also wonder how the fuck an entire forest cursed cannibals to be stuck in it but that gets answered later on. Ish.

Vic takes one look at Dani and Jeremiah before fixing Taylor with a "really? You're dating guys like this?" look. Cause to Vic the dudes look relatively normal and that's kinda the opposite of Taylor's type but then he learns about Angel and how they each have a piece of her soul and also that Jeremiah used to work at Tempest and that Dani is apparently not technically a human and Vic has an "ah" moment and understands completely

Evanna and any other rulers are all very confused as to how she has lived to be in her 50s.

Also when Evanna was pretty young and soon after she had been crowned queen she discovered her council members had a rather... Dirty way of going about things, using assassins to murder any opposing rulers in Sadia for the war behind Evanna's back. Evanna may or may not have convinced a group of dragons to kill them. No one really asks why she doesn't have a council anymore, no one really questions where the original council went either.

Briar, Erin, and Kord are all part of the "I adore my wife and kids" crowd. Good families with strong bonds. Nothing really happens to them 😅

Azzy and Dolan co-parent Nezu for a while before Dolan realizes Nezu could probably be parented better by Azzy. Azzy and Erin also really wanted to have a kid but neither could get pregnant exactly, and adoption centers aren't really a thing in Tongyi. So! Nezu was adopted by Azzy and Erin!

Evanna teaches Queen Fera's son how to use his abilities(the kid's an illusionist like Evanna. Evanna uses this to her advantage to not get murdered instantly in Sadia and also ends the war)

Queen Fera literally has no idea how illusions worked and accepted Evanna's offer to teach the kid because she didn't want her son to grow up being unable to use or control his abilities

Also since illusionists were more rare to be born, it wasn't like Fera could just find a teacher

The Sydney's play DnD together for family game night and use exclusively sign language (Spanish sign language usually, American sign language if Kord, Chloe, and Neva join them)

Dani and Jeremiah start learning sign language a bit after hanging around the Sydney family

Ollie gets really excited when one day Dani greets her and sparks up a conversation in ASL and she catches Jeremiah practicing some signs when he takes breaks from working on things

The boys also really love Ollie and bring her a ton of little things they think she might like. Marie drew the line when Dani offered to get her a custom knife from one of the best blacksmiths in all of Fahndali (she said he could get one but wait until Ollie was sixteen at least to actually give it to her)

Jayden is incredibly fascinated by Dali born as illusionists

Max learns about some traditional patterns or fabrics used in Tongyi, as well as other kingdoms, and surprises Dani with a jumpsuit combining the Capital's traditional style with Tongyi's. Dani wears it to any and all formal events

Upon learning that Jeremiah helped create Jayden's prosthetic leg, Jayden goes to ask him a bunch of questions. He's momentarily disappointed when Jeremiah says he can't answer a lot of them, but gets excited when Jeremiah calls up an old friend who can and puts her on the phone with Jayden

Dani's afraid of the dark. Taylor and Jeremiah don't really know about this for awhile until they all start sharing a room and Dani asks to keep the lamps on. He claims he really doesn't want to explain why so the two don't push but they do hold him that bit tighter as they all drift to sleep

#cinomed chronicles #cinomed chronicles ocs

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artificialqueens · 6 years ago

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Neva Lavd Yah Ch 1/? (Blair St. Clair/Dusty Ray Bottoms/Miz Cracker) - Ravena

AN: Hi! This is a little something I whipped up because I’m a sucker for a soulmate AU and wanted more. This kinda fits in with the rare-pair idea but it’s not one of the situations so oh well. This is my first fan fiction here and not one of my main ships so be kind, okay? I just thought that Dusty’s entrance could make for really good first words and I love Blair and Miz Cracker so much. It starts out like the show but then goes it’s own way because, duh, things would definitely be different if all these queens were given more screen time. We’ll have to see if I choose to change the eliminations ;) Just to clear things up: I used he/him pronouns when using male names but she/her pronouns when they’re in drag/in the Werkroom because that’s what they use on the show. Enjoy!

‘Neva lavd yah’. He was born with the words wrapped around his wrist in scrawny black lettering. He grew up with stares and pitying murmurs from adults. When he was six years old, he broke down and asked his teacher what was wrong, why his parents always changed the subject when he brought up his words. He’ll never forget what she said to him that day.

“Andrew, there is a lot of hate in this world. People make fun of others who can’t speak like us, or walk like us. It looks like your soulmate has some issues speaking. Look at the ‘yah’—it should say you. Plus, your soulmate is literally telling you that she’s never loved you. Those are far from the best first words.”

As he grew up, he kept his teacher’s words close to his heart, even when he realized he’d prefer the words to come out of a mouth with a goatee surrounding it than one covered in strawberry lip gloss, like the one all the girls his friends dated wore. He didn’t care that his soulmate might have a speech impediment, but he hated the looks it made him get.

But it was even stranger than any of them thought. Wrapped around his waist on the left side, in thin and long lettering, another set of words that read ‘Holy shit. Finally.’ Of course. Curse words made him even more of an anomaly, and hated in his church, since his words were on full display when he was baptized.

When he was 15, he began to cover up his words. He wanted to fit in and his soulmates, who he never even met, were dragging him down. The other kids never forgot the one set of words they saw, but most of them stopped mentioning it. The bullying never completely ended, but it died down to just a few boys on the hockey team.

His words ruined his first relationship too. Blaze was unable to handle the constant black wristband and the curse words staring at him whenever Andrew removed his shirt.

Even as a drag queen, he always wears thick bracelets and fabrics over his waist to make sure no one sees the horrible first words he was given. Good thing that fit in with his aesthetic.

————

“I’m Blair St. Clair, just got here this morning.” She did it! She was on RuPaul’s Drag Race season 10 and nothing was going to stop her from taking home that crown. She stood in place for a few seconds, letting the camera take her all in. She was wearing her favorite red wig and a white trench coat covering a blue dress, something simple since she wanted to be comfortable standing around for hours. She then turned to face the other queens, flushing slightly when she noticed all of them staring at her. Eureka, Asia, and Yuhua Hamasaki all seemed super friendly, but Miz Cracker refused to speak.

I know for a fact we’ve never met. What could I have done already to piss her off? Is it this wig? This dress? My singing, no not my singing my voice is wonderful.

She brought her hand up to touch her wig self-consciously before shaking her head and turning away from Miz Cracked. She turned her head as another queen came in, carrying a… was that a broom? In her confusion she missed what she said, coming out of her stupor at the sound of Yuhua’s shrieks.

Queens already know each other? Guess I’m going to be the odd one out. Again. Nothing ever works out for me.

Blair watched the other queens enter, not really paying attention to them as her mind wandered. She hadn’t thought about what might happen if the other queens got all clique-y. Just look at season 5 and all stars 2—they kept around Rolaskatox until the end for added drama. She was not going to be counted out just because she wasn’t a New York queen.

Finally tuning back in, she saw another queen enter the Werkroom. Her pink tulle skirt and hole-filled white top contrasted with her dark makeup and clunky black boots. Not really sure what this queen was going for, she was ready to write her off as a filler queen until she heard the dreaded words.

“Neva lavd yah.”

Okay. Yup. She was fucked. She froze as the other queens flipped out, because of course her soulmate was another girl from New York. Just her luck—she gets to meet her soul mate in an environment viewed by the whole wide world and her soulmate already has a ready-made group of friends so she probably won’t even talk to her.

When she finally stopped staring at the camera, she ran over to Cracker, Monet, and Yuhua, squealing and rambling about how great it was to have people from home, hugging Miz Cracker especially tight.

Well at least I can actually understand her. She just saddled you with messed up words for no good reason. Of course. Just my luck.

With all the commotion the New York queens were causing at least she was able to get a good look at her.

Okay, so one of my soulmates is attractive, at least.

“Hi, I’m Dusty. And you are?”

Crap. She’s talking to her and she’s still just staring at her dumb-founded.

“It feels weird to introduce myself to you with my drag name.”

Dusty’s mouth dropped open.

“Oh my gods. Babe…” she called over her shoulder.

No no no no. She can’t already be in a relationship. This can’t be happening, I won’t be pitted against her lover to make good TV. There’s no way the producers won’t make this my narrative. Everything I’ve worked for is about to go down the drain.

“Holy shit. Finally. Babe I was so scared you wouldn’t have her words too. Hi, Blair. I’m Miz Cracker.”

Oh my gods. They were both here. They already knew each other there wasn’t going to be room for her. They won’t love me they are already in a committed relationship they don’t need a third.

Looking around, Blair saw both queens staring at her expectantly and everyone else looking confused. So, she did the only thing she knew how to do. She passed out.

#rpdr fanfiction #blair st clair #dusty ray bottoms #miz cracker #blair x cracker x dusty #angst #romance #canon compliant #neva lavd yah #ravena #fic challenge #rare pair #s10 #poly #tw past abuse mentioned #submission #concrit welcome

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the-everlasting-dream · 6 years ago

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Playing Hooky - Drake x MC

Summary: Why go to work when Drake can spend all his time playing with his three adorable kids?

A/N: SEE I CAN WRITE HAPPY I’ve given you a LONG fluff fic in case anyone thought I was only able to write angst and sadness. Most of its dialogue but worth for the toothache you’ll get from all the sugary sweetness.

See if you can spot a little cameo from someone familiar later on...

NB: Khoobsurat refers to a Bollywood movie starring Sonam Kapoor, the fc for Elizabeth. Trailer linked (ps there’s a broody prince whos super hot too!)

Word count: 8k its worth it I promise

Warnings: Slight implied NSFW at the very end.

Darcy Rhea Walker: Top right, Avery Sonam Walker: Top middle, yes i poached random people’s kids as my fc okay dont judge Cameron Ishaan Jackson Walker: Bottom via our very own DDT’s wife’s ig.

Permatags: @chantelle-x0x , @choicessa, @meeraaverywalker , @drakewalkerwhipped , @quartzandarrow , @mfackenthal , @srawesleyghuewrites , @topsyturvy-dream , @enmchoices , @gardeningourmet @debramcg1106 , @alesana45 , @meladoridarcy, @blackcatkita , @tmarie82 , @annekebbphotography , @lizk77 , @jayjay879 , @tornbetween2loves , @akrenich , @theroyalweisme , @likethetailofacomet , @sleepwalkingelite , @littleblossom-18 ,

TRR only: @speedyoperarascalparty , @carabeth , Drake: @fairydustandsarcasm

Monday

The first rays of sunlight had barely filtered through the curtains lining the master bedroom of the duchy of Atlantea when Drake Walker felt something soft and squishy collide against his chest. Or rather two somethings. One set of chubby hands grabbed at his face while another shook him vigorously.

‘Daaaaaddy… Daddy wake uuuup.’

Fighting a smile, Drake feigned a huge snore and as he intended, soft giggles immediately filled the bedroom.

‘Daddy you’re faking.’

‘No I’m not,’ he answered, eyes still closed.

‘Daaaaa.’ That was the sound of a hungry two year old on the brink of throwing a whiny fit.

He sighed internally, hoping for a couple moments more of sleep, before running a hand down his sleeping wife’s arm. ‘Your son is awake.’

Elizabeth barely moved. ‘Before 8am, he’s your son.’

‘Daaaadddyyyy we’re hungwy…’ That was his daughter now, she barely whined unless she was really hungry.

Forcing a grin onto his face — he didn’t really have to force it at all— Drake opened his eyes to find two dark heads perched on his chest. ‘Why I think a couple of monkeys found their way into my bed this morning,’ he began slowly, sitting up and creeping his hands towards his children. ‘Guess I’ll have to… catch them!’

He lunged forwards grabbing his two year old son Cameron and four year old daughter Avery in his arms, showering down a barrage of kisses and tickles onto their giggling faces. They were only interrupted by Elizabeth’s loud grunt of protest.

‘Let’s leave Mummy to sleep and I’ll fix you two some breakfast hmm?’ Drake suggested, getting to his feet and taking his children by the hands.

Cameron glanced back at his mother’s sleeping form and stated as-a-matter-of-factly. ‘Mummy gwumpy.’

‘I heard that.'

Drake bit back a laugh. Elizabeth Richmond-Walker wasn’t known for her affinity with mornings but he didn’t mind. He was the one that usually got them ready for the day so she could get a few extra minutes of well deserved sleep. He loved having this special time with his kids, this bubble of calm before all the craziness of the day could begin.

‘C’mon little man,’ he tugged on Cam’s pudgy hand. ‘Let's go check on your big sister.’

Darcy Rhea Walker was in almost exactly the same position as her mother, spread out eagle flat on her tummy in her bed, eyes fastened shut. Drake took a moment to savour the sight, feeling a little nostalgic as he thought of the day they'd brought her home. She had been so tiny back then and look at her now… They’d have to get her a new bed in a few months, her legs would be hanging off this one soon, thanks to Liz and his tall genes.

Hoisting Cam onto his hip, he gently shook her with one hand, ‘Darcy.’

His first born remained motionless so he tried again, this time eliciting a groan of protest not unlike her mother’s earlier.

‘Come on Darce,’ he cajoled, ‘Don’t make me let Cam at you. You know he’s just gonna jump on the bed until you wake up.’

‘Ugh Daaaaaad.’ His eldest child glared up at him. ‘Five more minutes?'

‘Hah, I’m not falling for that one again squirt. Come on up, up. You’ve got that project today remember.’

She finally relented, inching her way out of bed. ‘Ugh fine.’

Drake dropped a kiss on her head as she shuffled past him towards the bathroom. ‘Good. I’ll be downstairs making breakfast. Pancakes, your favourite. And don’t even think about getting back in bed young lady!’ he called over his shoulder.

‘Here you go Avie,’ Drake smiled, passing a plate of freshly made pancakes to his daughter, flicking her nose as he did so.

Avery had been their miracle baby. She’d been born premature with cleft lip and palate and for while things were touch and go with her. Thankfully it certainly helped when your godfather was a literal king and Liam had kindly seen that she’d received the best medical care possible. Four years later and one corrective surgery later, all that was left of the surgery was a small scar where they’d fused her upper lip together, she’d probably have that for the rest of her life.

It was all the more appropriate that her middle name, Sonam, meant gifted because she certainly was a gift to them. And she was quite gifted herself. At four years old, her drawings constantly littered the walls of her bedroom, playroom and both her parent’s offices and he could tell that the quiet, gentle girl had talent for music unlike anyone else her age. Drake couldn’t help but count his blessings for the most perfect little girl sitting before him

‘Thanks daddy,’ she chirped before digging in.

‘My pleasure jelly bean,’ he couldn’t help a smile. ‘You’re getting better at that. I guess those visits to the speech path are paying off huh.’

Avery had barely nodded when Cam decided to spray his apple juice all across his high chair. In the time that he took to clean that up, Darcy materialised at the table, dressed in her uniform and Drake immediately set to doing her hair as she dug in to her breakfast. Despite Elizabeth's braiding lessons, he still had a way to go and had just secured her ponytail with a matching ribbon when his wife waltzed into the kitchen, dressed for her day of meetings.

‘Morning babe,’ he greeted his wife with a grin. ‘You’re looking well rested.’

She leaned in to give him a quick kiss. ‘Mmm no thanks to you last night.’

‘Hey you weren’t complaining at the time!’

‘Maybe,’ Elizabeth returned his grin as she stole a piece of pancake from his plate. ‘Are you ready Darcy girl? Your solar system project is already in the car and if we don’t leave in,’ she checked her watch. ‘2 minutes ago, we’re gonna be late.’

Darcy let out a yelp of surprised and shot up to get her shoes as Drake watched Liz shower kisses on her other two children.

‘Good bye kiddos I’ll see you later. Drake babe, Nita will be here soon to bath Avery and Cam. I’ll pick up Darcy from school and bring her home.’

Drake caught his wife by the hips and pulled her close for a kiss. ‘You know I could stay at home and do all that.’

‘You could,’ Liz replied. ‘But you’ve got those meetings with Liam about the developments today remember?’

He groaned. ‘Yeah how could I forget.. I’m sure I could get out of them'

‘Drake Walker don’t even think of playing hooky from work..’ His wife gave him a look before grabbing her bag. ‘Darcy! Car’s leaving in 30 seconds!’ She glanced back at Drake as she walked off. ‘I’m serious, don’t even think about it..’

Drake sighed and looked down at his kids currently having a mini food fight with bananas and syrup all over their face. ‘But you guys are adorable...'

Eventually he had to leave for work and throughout the full day of meetings Drake couldn’t for the life of him get the image of Cameron and Avery attached to his legs, begging him not to go as he made to leave that morning.

‘Say Liam,’ he caught his best friend as they exited the meeting room. ‘You guys can manage without me for the rest of the day right?’

The king of Cordonia frowned a little. ‘I mean I guess we could. After you secured that deal, I’m sure Bertrand’s got the rest of it handled. Something wrong at home?’

’Nah,’ Drake rubbed his neck sheepishly. ‘Its just… Cam and Avie looked so sad when I left this morning since I barely got to see them last week so I was thinking…'

His best friend nodded, understanding shining in his blue eyes. ‘I get it. Go on. We’ve got this.’ Throwing a thank you across his shoulder, Drake took off in the direction of his car.

‘- know baby but Daddy will be home late today. He’s got a very important meeting today.’ Drake heard his wife’s voice echo from their lounge room as he walked down the hallway.

‘He worked all of last week,’ Darcy’s voice replied.

‘An he’s neva home to play wif us!’ That was Avery now.

‘Yeah, yeah, yeah,’ Cameron gurgled.

‘I’ll see if we can call him to talk to him later okay,’ Liz tried to placate them as she entered out into the corridor almost colliding with her husband. Drake planted a deep kiss on her surprised lips and stepped into the lounge room. ‘Did someone call?’

‘DADDY!!’

Three bundles came rushing at his legs, wrapping themselves firmly around him as he let out a loud laugh. There was no meeting worth attending would ever replace the rush that he was experiencing. He heaved all three of them into his arms and spun them around as wide grins split their giggling faces.

‘But Mummy said you were at work?’ Darcy queried.

‘I know but I missed you munchkins so much I just had to come back early,’ Drake replied, setting them onto the floor again. ‘Now who wants to go on a picnic?’

They ended up having dinner out in the open wide estate of Atlantea, having ridden the horses down to the riverside. In the light of the dying sun, Elizabeth leaned into her husband as they watched the kids chased each other across the field.

‘Do I wanna know what excuse you gave to Liam to be here?’ She asked dreamily, tracing lazy circles on his arm around her waist.

Drake’s chest rumbled in laughter from where it was pressed against her back. ‘I told him the truth.’

’Sure.’

He shifted to look at her. 'Did you really think I’d lie to my best friend?’

‘You’re taking advantage of his fatherhood and Liv hasn’t even given birth yet,’ she quipped before snuggling in more. ‘But I’m glad you did.’

‘Daddy! Mummy! Look the fireflies are out!’

‘Guess that’s our cue to join them?’ Liz asked.

Drake pulled his wife to her feet. ‘Come on Mrs Walker, I bet I can catch more fireflies than you.’

She grinned. ‘You’re on.'

Tuesday

ACHOO!!

A loud sneeze shook Drake out of sleep and his eyes flew wildly around the room to land on his wife who was currently in the bathroom, rubbing her nose furiously.

‘I thig Ib sick,’ she mumbled, lowering the tissue to reveal her watering eyes and red nose. ‘My head hurds. Fuck I should hab listened to you bout wearing a jacket last night.’

‘I’d say I told you so but I have a feeling that would get me in even more trouble,’ he replied, coming up to her and receiving a glare.

‘And Ib got that impordand meeding wit dhe artist’s guild doo ugh. I’ll be fine,’ Elizabeth reasoned, sniffing loudly. ‘I’ll take something and I’ll be fine.’

‘Nuh uh Liz you’re sick. You need to rest babe,’ he replied, stepping into her path and giving her his best dad look. ‘You’re staying home today.’

‘But whad bout dhat meeting?’ She began to protest but allowed her husband to lead her back to bed.

‘I’ll get Hana to send you the minutes later.’

‘The kids?’

‘I’ve got them. Avery’s playdate at 10 til 3 at Penelope's then Cam’s baby gym at 11.'

‘The charity dinner?’

Drake chuckled, tucking his wife back into bed. ‘I’m sure Atlantea will last one night without their beloved duchess. I’m gonna get you something for that headache then I’ll drop Darcy off. You just relax.’

‘Hmm okay..’ Elizabeth grumbled and was about to close her eyes when something else occurred to her. ‘Wait aren’t you going to work?’

‘Just relax babe! I’ve got this.’

Within the hour he had all three kids dressed, piled into the car and ready to go. Drake was just about to back out of the garage when Darcy suddenly yelled, ‘WAIT!’

He hit the brakes and they all jerked forward. ‘What?! What the hell Darcy!’

‘Daddy, Mummy said that’s a bad word,’ Avery put in.

‘Its Tuesday,’ Darcy exclaimed, eyes wide and expectant as if that was supposed to excuse her sudden outburst.

‘And?’

‘Its sports day,’ his eight year old burst out, wrenching the door open. ‘I’m in the wrong uniform!’

Moments later she was back in the car decked out in her sports gear and exactly 19 minutes later they'd pulled into the car park of Greenacre Private.

‘Bye Dad!’

‘Have a great day squirt! I’ll pick you up later,’ Drake made sure that she got safely inside the gates before turning back to the two in the backseat. ‘How about another joyride kids?’

Before Avery and Cameron could make their enthusiastic replies, a loud honk and a burst of colourful language erupted from behind them.

‘Jeez, we’re at a school for gods sake’ he shook his head.

‘Come on you two,’ Drake urged. ‘Quietly now.’

Realising he’d had a bit of time before dropping Avery at her playdate, he’d decided to pull by the palace to pick up his work laptop and together they tiptoed down the hallway to his office, in hopes of getting in and out unnoticed until-

‘Drake buddy! There you- You brought Cameron and Avery!’

‘Uncle Max!’ His daughter ran up to the other man who picked her up and spun her around.

‘Man why didn’t you tell me it was Bring-Your-Kid-To-Work day!’ Maxwell Beaumont exclaimed before setting down Avery and picking up Cam.

‘Its not,’ Drake replied. ‘And you don’t even have kids of your own Maxwell...’

‘Like that’s gonna stop me!’ His friend exclaimed, swinging Cameron around while making rocket noises. ‘What are you guys doing here anyway? Besides coming to see their favourite Uncle Maxwell?

Drake rolled his eyes. ‘I’m pretty sure the whole point of it is to bring your own kids. And we’re not staying long. I just came to pick up my laptop then we’ve got a full day ahead.’

‘I didn’t know you were working from home today. We’ve got that meeting with the finance committee-‘

‘Yeah.. about that, but Liz is sick today so I’ve got the kids today.’

‘You know there are babysitters for that kinda thing right?’

Drake rolled his eyes. ‘Can you cover for me or not Beaumont?’

Maxwell’s face lit up with a grin. ‘Are you playing hooky Drake?’

‘Daddy play with us,’ Cameron put in, his little brow creased in confusion.

‘Ahh I see little man. I’ll cover for your dad so well they won’t even know he’s gone,’ He winked conspiratorially . ‘Maybe I should get a disguise? Or even better a decoy!’

‘Do whatever you want Beaumont,’ Drake replied, laptop now in hand. ‘Just don’t get me in trouble for it.’

His friend raised his hand in a salute. ‘Aye, aye sir!’

‘Looks like it's just you and me now Little Man.’

Drake glanced in his rearview mirror after dropping Avery off for her playdate to where his son was happily munching on rusk.

He took a moment to marvel at how amazing the last two years had been since Cameron Ishaan Jackson Walker came into their lives. After two girls who he loved to death, he didn’t think he could be happier until the day Elizabeth told him she was pregnant again. That had been a surprise because unlike with Avery they hadn’t been actively trying and to be honest he’d been a little nervous about having two children within three years.

That all changed when the ultrasound results came through saying that they were having a boy. Drake had teared up at all the first ultrasounds — there was nothing like seeing the little life that he and the most amazing woman in the world has created together, growing inside — but from that moment on there was a special place in his heart for him.

When he came into the world, Cameron had certainly made his presence known with an ear splitting shriek befitting his middle name Ishaan — meaning master or lord. Everyone quickly learnt who was in charge the day Cameron came home, as coupled with his powerful cry and big hazel eyes he had everyone wrapped around his little chubby finger, Drake included.

Though Cam was still developing, Drake couldn’t help but see so much of himself in his son. His stubbornness and hardiness were especially highlighted during baby gym where he’d manage to manoeuvre himself up onto the most complicated structures. Drake couldn’t help but watch with pride as his son quickly outpaced the other kids his age in both size and abilities and for a moment wished he could slow down time just so he could savour the time with him more.

At this rate, I’ll never be going back to work, he thought wistfully to himself as he strapped the two year old in before doing the school run.

Once everyone was home, after dinner it was time for his favourite part of the day: bath time.

‘Mr Shark is coming closer, closer, clooooooser,’ Drake quipped, inching the shark toy towards Cameron and Avery who were pressed against one side of the tub.

‘He’s coming to eat your TOES!’ He lunged the toy at them, pretending to munch on their tiny digits as squeals of laughter filled the bathroom.

‘Having fun you three?’

Drake turned around to see his wife standing in the doorway, wrapped in her dressing gown, smiling down at them.

‘Mummy!’ The kids cried in unison, reaching their little hands towards her. ‘Daddy’s got Mr Shark on us!’

‘Is that so?’ She knelt down beside the tub. ‘Good thing I have the magical protection dolphin!’ Elizabeth whipped out another toy from the basket on the ledge and thus began an epic battle between the two.

‘Feeling better babe?’ Drake asked after the magical protection dolphin’s triumph.

His wife gave him a grateful smile and kiss on the cheek. ‘Much better. How were they today?’

He couldn’t help but grin in return. ‘Absolute angels. Avery’s play date went well and Cam dominated at baby gym today. You should see him Liz, I swear he goes for the biggest obstacles on purpose. I picked up Darcy from school - she’s in bed reading now. Helped her with maths. I told you I got this,’ he affirmed with a kiss on his wife’s head.

‘At this rate you’ll be a better housewife than me!’ Elizabeth chuckled as they each picked up a child to put to bed.

Drake took a moment to ponder her joke. ‘You know I wouldn’t mind it all that much… I mean you’re way better at all the courtly stuff than I am...'

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at him. ‘ Nah uh Mr Walker. You’re not leaving me alone against all those crazy nobles. Who will I sneak out with?’

Wednesday

‘Morning babe!’ Elizabeth’s cheery voice filtered through the earpiece of his phone, filling their shared ensuite.

‘It must be a really good morning because for once you’re awake and out of the house before I am,’ Drake chuckled as he reached for the shaving cream.

‘Laugh it up,’ she replied sarcastically. ‘I’m calling to let you know that Darcy’s school rang. They’re pupil free today, apparently some pipe burst so they’re closing the school to fix it up.’

‘Heh she’ll be glad to hear about that.’

‘Tell me about it.’ He could practically see her rolling her eyes. ‘Hana sent me the minutes from yesterday,’ she continued, her voice taking on a serious tone. ‘And it looks like I might have to stay back late to prep for our trip tomorrow. Will you guys be okay to fend for yourselves tonight?’

‘Sure can,’ Drake replied as he jogged down the stairs.

‘Okay but just in case I’ve got some dhaal in the fridge that they can have for dinner tonight or you could whip something up?’ Elizabeth said before sighing. ‘I knew I should have made something for you guys this morning, I was up early enough.’

‘Don’t worry about it babe,’ he reassured her. ‘I’ve got this.’

‘Yep, yep, house husband of the year,’ she chuckled. ‘Nita will be there at 1 so you can have the morning with them then actually go to work for once. I’ll see you later. Love you.’

‘Love you too.’ Drake clicked off the call then stared at himself in the bathroom mirror, deliberating with himself. In less than 20 seconds, his phone was ringing again and this time it was a very apologetic Nita sorrowfully admitting she had to cancel today because she’d caught a cold.

‘Its alright,’ he placated her, trying to hide the grin that was growing. ‘Something must be going around... You rest up. I’ll take it from here.’

‘Morning munchkins.’

‘Hey daddy,’ Avery gave him a sleepy smile while Cam cooed from his cot. ‘You gonna work today?’

Drake knelt down beside her bed, pressing a kiss to her soft cheek. ‘Would you like it if I stayed home again today?’

‘Mmhmm,’ she nodded, wrapping her chubby arms around his neck and he nuzzled her gently with his nose, earning a little giggle.

‘What do you say we go fishing today hmm?’

His daughter’s face clouded over as she shook her head. ‘Daddy I’m scared…'

‘I’ve got you jellybean.’ He reassured her, gently patting her hair. 'I’ll be with you the whole time and we’ll all be wearing life jackets. I won’t let you fall.’

Avery fixed her big brown eyes on him in a serious stare. ‘Promise?’

‘I promise.’

‘Dad! Dad! I think I got one!’

‘Reel it in Darce! You’ve got this!’

Decked out in matching life jackets, all four of them were seated on the jetty over the small river that ran through Atlantea, Darcy’s shrieks of excitement echoing off the valley surrounding them.

Watching the intense look of concentration on her face, her tongue protruding out from her lips a little, Drake marvelled at how quickly she’d picked this up. Darcy held a special place in his heart — he’d say that for all his kids because it was true, they did — but with Darcy he’d become a father, something he’d never thought he’d get a chance to be.

For a long time, he’d resigned himself to a lifetime of solitude but that all changed the moment Elizabeth had walked into his life. He thought he’d never be happier than the day he married the love of his life until the moment he’d his daughter's first cry in the delivery room. She’d looked so small and fragile in his big arms and he swore on his life that he’d do anything to protect her.

Although she was a lot like her mother, in so many ways right down to the looks she gave him, Drake could see so much of himself in Darcy. She had inherited his love for the outdoors for one, and he was more than happy to indulge it - she could already put up a tent faster than he could, she was mastering fishing right before his very eyes and of course, in true Walker style, make the perfect s’more. He’d happily taught her everything he knew and he was proud to see her surpass him in no time. Darcy had recently taken up soccer, to his delight and most days after work and school were spent outside with him teaching her all the skills his own father had taught him. Drake had a feeling that wherever he was, Jackson Walker would be smiling down at them and he only wished he could have been there to see it for himself.

‘Hah!’ Darcy’s cry of triumph brought him out of his reflection and he glanced over to see her holding a small but impressive fish wiggling on the end of her pole. ‘Look!’

‘Great job squirt! Avie, Cam come see what Darcy caught,’ he beckoned the other two over.

Cam happily toddled up, barely able to keep his balance wearing the life vest while Avery inched her way forward, her own rod untouched, keeping a wary eye on the water flowing beneath them.

‘Come on Ave, its not that scary,’ He reassured her, reaching behind him to stretch out a hand to his daughter.

No sooner had the words left his mouth there was a small splash and he whipped his head around to see Darcy shrieking out her brother’s name and pointing to the water below them. Drake immediately jumped in after his son and in a matter of seconds had scooped him out. The current was pretty slow and the water wasn’t very deep but it must have been quite a scare a scary for the toddler as he began to yell loudly as soon as he was back in his father’s arms. He immediately raked him over for any cuts or bruises and when he found none, hugged the little boy to his chest, relief throbbing in his veins.

‘You’re okay little man, you’re okay,’ Drake soothed, unsure if he was talking to his son or himself. ‘Pass me a towel Darcy and lets pack up. I think we’ve had enough fishing for one day.’

That afternoon as the little boy slept on his chest, Drake gently ran a big hand over his back. If anything had happened to Cameron, he would have never forgiven himself. That was the same for either of the girls too. He glance at their sleeping forms tucked up next to him in his and Elizabeth’s bed. He’d gotten so caught up in the moment, that he’d lost focus and little Cam had almost paid the price for his mistake and he vowed never to be so careless again.

‘Daaaad did you find it?’

'I think we’re out of naan bread squirt. Will regular bread do?’ Drake replied, riffling through the contents of their fridge, Cameron hoisted on one hip. The toddler had seems to have recovered from his earlier shock and was happily tugging on his father’s hair.

‘Ugh I suppose so,’ his daughter replied with a tone far beyond her age. Paired with an exasperated look and her freshly washed hair bundled up in a towel, Darcy looked a picture of Elizabeth. ‘And its just naan, not naan bread.'

He spun around to regard her. ‘Hang on missy I think I’ve got a few years before the terrible teens get here.’

‘I really want naan Dad. Can’t we just make it? Mum does so it can’t be that hard.’

Drake laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. ‘I think that’s a little above my skill level Darce.’

‘Please Dad. We gotta at least try. You’re always saying we can’t give up so easily.. Pleaseee,’ she pleaded with him, her big brown eyes taking a pathetic look before pointing to her brother in the high chair. ‘Even Cameron wants naan.’

‘Naan!’ His son announced happily, completely unaware that his oldest sister was taking full advantage of him.

Drake thought for a moment then conceded. ‘You kids… Alright Darce you find Mum’s recipe and I’ll get the ingredients. Avie watch over Cam.’

Forty-five minutes later, they were no closer to achieving their task than when they started.

‘Easy on the mixing Darce!’ Drake cautioned but it was too late and their third attempt at making the Indian bread exploded in a powder cloud that filled the air. He took a moment to survey the flour and yoghurt stained countertop utensils and more ingredients strewn around the kitchen. He looks down at their first attempt, a sorrowful bowl of stringy dough that was supposed to have been cooking on the iron skillet but had disintegrated on first touch. Avery and Cameron were perched on the high chairs, giggling as they played in the remnants of the flour with little dough people they’d made while Darcy… Darcy would need another shower as her damp hair was covered in the snowy powder as he was sure his was and Drake knew he had to admit defeat.

‘On second thought, I’ll just get you guys takeout. But on one condition..’ he looked each of his children in the eye. ‘We do not speak a word of this to your mother.’

‘You got it Dad.’ Darcy even had the gall to wink at him.

Thursday

‘I’m calling Hana and telling her I can’t go.’

‘Babe we’ll be fine, I promise.’

Elizabeth fixed her husband with a steely look. ‘My son fell into the lake and now he’s down with a cold Drake. All while his father was supposed to be watching him. How can I just leave like this?’

Drake winced. His blunder was still fresh in his mind and it didn’t help that Elizabeth had been kept up all night looking after Cameron the night before her trip to Italy. ‘I’ll keep my eyes on him every second of the day. He won’t even sneeze without me knowing it.’ He cringed internally, realising his mistake too late.

‘He shouldn’t even be sneezing at all,’ his wife shot back, letting him know by her tone that he was not going to live this down for a very, very long time. ‘I can’t believe you would be so irresponsible Drake! How could you let this happen to our son? He could have drowned. The current could have been stronger, the water could have been deeper. One false move and he might have died!’

‘But he didn’t okay?!’ Drake cut in. ‘He didn’t! I jumped in right after him and got him out right away. He’s fine.'

Elizabeth stared at him. ‘Yeah sure he’s fine this time but what about next time? How can I trust you after this?’

He hung his head in shame. ‘I know. But I promise I’ll-‘

‘I can’t leave like this. They’ll have to manage without me,’ Elizabeth wasn’t hearing any of it as she riffled through her bag for her phone.

’No! Elizabeth don’t,’ Drake lunged for the device.

She had been preparing for this trip for the last month to negotiate certain tax reforms with on imports and if she missed this trip it would be a major setback to Liam’s overall development scheme for Cordonia.

‘You need to go to this. You’ve been preparing for so long and its just a couple of days. We’ll be fine. Cam will be fine. And I’ll-‘

‘You will go to work!’ She replied sharply, holding up a threatening finger. ‘And leave my poor kids alone. Nita’s all better and she’s medically trained so she can look after Cam. All you need to do is take Avery to her speech therapy appointment and pick up Darcy from soccer training. Do I make myself crystal clear?’

Drake nodded solemnly and when Elizabeth deduced that he looked suitably apologetic, she held her hand out.

‘Gimme my phone and get out of my way. I’ve got a plane to catch.’

True to his word, Drake marched himself to the palace and resigned himself to a whole day of paperwork that had piled up over the week. He was about two-thirds through the enormous stack when his phone began to ring. It was Nita.

‘Your Grace, its time for Cameron to take his medication but the Her Grace didn’t mention where she’d kept it. I looked all over but I couldn’t find it.’

He slapped a hand to his forehead. ’Shit sorry Nita. I should have remembered I gave him the last dose before I left this morning. I’ll pick some up and come home now.’

‘Its fine Your Grace I can pick some up myself,’ the nanny began to say but was cut off by the sound of Cameron wailing in the background.

Drake’s heart sank a little at the sound, knowing that the little boy was sick because of him. ‘Its fine,’ he rectified. ‘I’m pretty much done here anyway, I’m coming now.’

Clicking off the call, he shoved the rest of his papers into his briefcase and was out the door in seconds.

Cameron’s pained cries reached his ears the moment Drake walked through the door with the medicine. Rushing into the kitchen, he found his son mid-tantrum in the arms of his nanny. Unbidden he immediately opened the medicine and measured out the right dose.

‘Oh Your Grace, thank goodness,’ Nita gasped, taking the syringe from him and guiding it to Cameron’s mouth. The screaming toddler refused to take the syringe, instead spraying it all over his matronly nanny.

Drake reached for the syringe. ‘Here, let me try.’

Nita gratefully passed Cameron over before ducking out. Drake cuddled his son, running a hand down his small back as he tried to reciprocate the soothing noises Elizabeth usually made. And it worked. In a few moments, the two-year-old’s cries had been reduced to quiet sobs and Drake kissed his sweaty forehead.

‘Its alright little man. Daddy’s got you. You just missed your dad thats all. Now lets try this again,’ he suggested, raising the refilled syringe to his son’s mouth.

Not long after the medicine had been administered, Cameron was asleep and Drake bent over the cot, poised to place him inside when his son gave out a small whine in his sleep, clutching his shirt, unwilling to let go of him. He sighed and settled onto the couch, Cam on his chest and his computer on his lap in the hope of getting through some of that paperwork.

‘Daddy, Daddy wake up. Nita said its time fer my appoime.’

‘Huh?’ Drake glanced around still in a daze not realising he’d nodded off himself until his daughter was shaking him awake gently. Cameron had disappeared, probably with his nanny in the kitchen by the sounds of it. Glancing at his watch, he shot up.

‘Dammit Avery we’re late!’

Fifteen minutes later, Drake was rushing through the halls of the clinic, painfully aware that he was at least fifteen minutes late. ‘Avery Walker. She’d here for her usual appointment with Dr Chang,’ he told the receptionist as his heart hammered in his chest from the exertion from running.

‘Dr Chang is on paternity leave but there’s a slot with Dr Windsor our newest speech pathologist available if you want?’ The young man informed him.

‘Yeah let's go with that,’ Drake answered in relief, his life momentarily flashing before his eyes at the thought of how mad Elizabeth would have been if he managed to stuff this up too. He had barely dropped into the chair when-

‘Avery? Avery Walker?’

Drake picked his head up to see an attractive brunette with a clipboard entering the small waiting room, scanning the room until her gaze landed on him.

‘Ahh Duke Drake Walker I believe?’ She approached them with a pleasant smile on her face, her intelligent brown eyes sweeping over him appreciatively.

‘Um yeah,’ he mumbled, confused.

The young woman’s smile grew and Drake noticed a pair of dimples appearing. ‘I’m Dr Crystal Windsor. I’ll be running Avery’s speech session today.’

‘Nice to meet you.’ He had not been expecting a ‘Dr Windsor’ to be so young. Or attractive for that matter...

‘And I’m Avewy!’ His daughter chimed in, saving him from his awkwardness.

Dr Windsor laughed, a sound like tinkling crystal, befitting her name. ‘Of course you are. Now lets see how you’ve been going hmm?’

The young speech pathologist seemed to elicit the best responses from his daughter and Drake was quite impressed with Avery’s improvement in that hour long session alone.

‘Now make sure you practice those ‘puh!’ sounds Avery,’ Dr Windsor reminded her as the session grew to a close before turning to Drake, her lips curving up into a smile automatically, dimples on full display. ‘Your daughter has made impressive progress with that cleft lip. Better than most kids her age with that same condition. Regular practice of her sounds and phonetically sounding out words should see this improvement continue.'

Drake nodded studiously as he helped Avery with her jacket. ‘Thanks doc.’

‘Please,’ she placed a soft hand on his arm, her dark eyes dancing a little as they found his. ‘Its just Crystal. Here's my card. Don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything at all.’

Catching her obvious message, Drake reached out and took the small piece of paper she handed him, nodding in thanks. ‘Thanks, I’m sure my wife will be in touch if we do.’ He didn’t wait to see her face fall a little and caught his daughter’s hand. ‘C’mon Avie lets go get your sister.'

‘How was training squirt?’ Drake called his daughter as she climbed into the car from the soccer pitch, receiving only a slam of the door in response. ‘That bad huh?’

Darcy didn’t respond, a dark look over her face and he decided not to push. Later in the night after dinner, Drake tried again, knocking on the door to her room.

‘Darce, what’s up?’

‘I don’t wanna talk about it,’ came the response.

He tried again. ‘Come on squirt, you know you can talk to me about anything.’

‘Go away!'

Drake sighed, wishing Elizabeth was here. She was better at handling things like this. He was just about to walk away when something occurred to him. ‘Okay you don’t have to talk to me but at least come watch a movie with us?’

‘But its a school night..’ His daughter’s hesitant voice came through the door.

The corner of his lips perked up. ‘I won’t tell if you won’t.. And we could watch Khoobsurat…'

There was silence on the other side of the door as Drake tempted her with her favourite Bollywood movie. Moments later it swung open.

‘The whole movie?’

‘Every second,’ he replied with a wink.

By the time the main protagonist, Millie had managed to knock over the antique suit of armour, Darcy was laughing out loud with her brother and sister. Despite the obvious language barrier, Drake loved to watch them laugh at Millie’s silly antics and he couldn’t help but see some of his and Liz’s relationship in the plot: The annoyingly optimistic stranger who basically irritated the dark broody prince into loving her and changing his entire outlook on life. Now that sounded familiar didn’t it?

Drake certainly wasn’t a prince but he was grateful to have his very own Millie and for the three beautiful children they had made together.

Friday

A loud drumming on the windows woke Drake up from his sleep and he glanced around in momentary confusion until it occurred to him that it was raining, storming in fact. Glancing down, his heart melted at the sight of Cameron sleeping on his chest with the two girls curled up on either side of him.

If only Elizabeth were here too, the scene would be perfect, he mused, lifting his arm lazily to check his watch. Precisely two minutes until Darcy had to be at school. Drake shifted, too comfortable to move. Ehh.. she can have the day off...

The rain was still pouring down just as hard when Drake placed a soccer ball at Darcy’s feet in the ballroom of the Atlantean manor. All of the kids had been fed and changed for the day and Drake had just managed to spring the truth from his daughter that she’d been embarrassed when one of the boys on her team - the goalie - had told her she’d never make the team next year because she ‘kicked like a girl’.

A bolt of fury shot through him but it was her pleading look that had kept him firmly in his chair. Drake was particularly mad because he knew how much Darcy loved soccer and how good she’d been getting recently in their practice sessions. He didn’t have the heart to see her give up just because some boy told her she wasn’t good enough..

‘I told you Dad. I’m not playing soccer.’ She told him stubbornly, crossing her arms. They were currently standing in the empty ballroom in the manor where Drake was setting up makeshift goal posts on either end.

‘I know I know. Just kick the ball squirt.’ Darcy gave it a half hearted nudge causing him to shake his head.

‘C’mon Darce I know you can be better than that. Try again.’ He took a few paces backwards. ‘Pretend I’m Brian. Kick the ball and try and get it past me.’

Darcy hesitated and gave the ball a sharper tap.

‘Darcy... I know you can do better than that,’ Drake cajoled. They repeated the exercise again with only marginally better results.

‘No I can’t!’ His daughter yelled, hot tears pouring down her face. ‘I’ll never be able to get past him.’

‘Not like that you’re not. Come here squirt.’ He motioned for Darcy to come closer and knelt down to get a better view of her face. ‘I’m going to tell you what my dad said to me when I was your age. He told me, If you want something, its up to you to go get it. It's not always going to be easy, nothing worth having ever is. You’re going to have people like Brian tell you that you’re too small or you can’t kick hard enough. You gotta keep pushing Darce. Keep trying again and again because thats you prove them wrong. Besides I know you’d love to see him take a ball to the face next week right?’

That made her giggle and when Drake was satisfied that she looked suitably cheered up, got to his feet and gestured for her to try again. This time her shot was much better and they continued to practice, Drake giving her tips here and there while Cameron and Avery cheered her from the sidelines.

Face set in determination, the tip of her tongue protruding a little from her pursed lips, Darcy wound up and with almighty kick sent the ball sailing high into the air in the direction of the goalposts. Her shot however went higher than anyone expected, grazed the old crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Everyone was frozen as they watched it swung wildly and a few shards came tinkling down.

Drake laughed uneasily. ‘I think you’ve convinced the chandelier Darce. But for safety’s sake I think we better take this outside next time.' His daughter nodded in agreement but he couldn’t hide the sense of pride that filled him.

Like father, like daughter right?

An hour later, Drake collapsed on the grass, all three kids following suit, landing on his chest as they panted hard to catch their breath.

‘I don’t know about you kids but I’m ready for a nap.’

‘Daddy nooooo!’ Avery whined. ‘We haven played puzzles yet or done hair or painted nails!’

‘Vroom, vroom,’ Cameron put in, slamming his toy car into his father’s side decisively.

‘Ouch okay, okay,’ he conceded then looked at their collective muddy clothes. ‘Lets get you guys cleaned up first.’

On the doorstep of her home, Elizabeth Walker was digging through the contents of her bag looking for her keys when something tickled her ears. Is that... Darcy? She frowned, checking her watch. She should still be at school. Sure enough her daughter’s laugh reached her ears followed by the deeper sound of her husband.

Finally managing to getting the door open, she wandered into the house following the sounds and her eyes widened at the sight she found. Their lounge room had been transformed into a pillow fort palace, couch cushions and blankets strewn across the space. Darcy was laughing and jogging around the room closely pursed by Avery and Cameron who were currently straddled across on the back of their father who was on his hands and knees, rearing like a horse.

At the sight of her husband, Elizabeth’s mouth dropped open. Never in their ten years of marriage did she ever think she’d see the day when Drake Walker had sparkly pink hair clips and elastics in his hair, holding his brown locks up in haphazard waterspout. Looking down she realised that his nails had also been painted metallic purple.

‘Mummy’s home!’ Avery’s joyful announcement broke her out of her trance and all four heads turned to look at her. In a second, the kids had leaped off their father’s back and came rushing at her, wrapping their pudgy arms around her legs.

‘Hey darlings,’ she planted kissed on their heads before addressing her eldest. 'Darcy! What are you doing here? Are you supposed to be at school?'

‘Dad gave me the day off!’ Her daughter beamed enthusiastically. 'And we practiced soccer in the ballroom!’

‘You did what now?’

‘It was so cool Mum! You should have seen me kick! The ball went like woah then the chandelier went like..’ Darcy mimed the ball’s trajectory complete with a sound that sounded suspiciously like broken glass. ‘Then it went right into the goal!'

‘I’m sure everything is completely intact and nothings broken,’ Elizabeth replied dryly, raised a deliberate eyebrow at her husband.

Drake merely shrugged, kissing his wife on the cheek. ‘What can I say? She’s a Walker.’

After the kids were safely in bed, Elizabeth plopped down onto the couch beside her husband who handed her a glass of whiskey from which she took an appreciative sip.

‘Would I be right to say that you didn’t go into work at all this week Drake?’

‘That’s not true,’ he replied sheepishly. ‘I went in for a little bit.’

‘Oh Drake, what am I going to do with you?’ She shook her head lightly.

‘Let me stay home more often maybe?’ His dark eyes twinkled at her.

Elizabeth cuddled in closer to his side and his arm came around her. ‘I’m glad you had a good time with the kids…. How was Avery’s speech session?’

‘Yeah it was good. She and he's like it was good but they gave her a different speech therapist this time..'

Beside him, Drake felt Elizabeth’s body stiffen just a little. 'Crystal Windsor right? The one with the dimples?’

‘Yeah thats her.'

Elizabeth shifted out of his embrace to reach for the bottle of whiskey. 'What did you think of her?'

'She's nice I guess... Good with Avery. Don't think I've seen her respond so well before. Why?’ He asked, quizzically.

’No reason,’ she replied, taking a deep draught.

Realisation sparked in him and he leaned forward. ‘Richmond... are you... jealous?'

'No.. Why would I be jealous?’ She laughed shakily, caught off guard by the use of her maiden name.

Drake raised an eyebrow and watched his wife’s dark skin flush a little shade of pink from behind her glass. ‘You so are.’

‘Am not!’

‘I’ve been married to you for a decade Liz. I know your tells.’ ‘

Fine,’ his wife conceded. ‘It just… Its been 10 years and…'

‘And..?’

‘Nothing I’m just being immature,’ she replied.

‘Liz,’ he tipped her head to look at him. ‘If its bothering you I wanna know.’

‘I was just thinking about Thursday and how I yelled at you about Cam… I’m.. I’m afraid you’ll lose interest,’ she admitted, eyes sliding down from his. ‘In me... Say we were having this really big ongoing fight, like a build up of things that finally exploded… What’s to stop you from running off with someone like Crystal Windsor… I know I’m not-‘

‘I’m going to stop you right there,’ Drake interrupted. ‘Every couple goes through a few rough patches here and there and believe me I deserved it yesterday but that’s no reason to throw in the towel just like that. We love each other and we’re willing to fight for us no matter what’s thrown at us. I told you: you’re my wife, my family, my whole world. You’ve given me three beautiful children. I have no reason to want anyone else but you.’

‘Drake..’ Elizabeth started to reply but he cut her off with a finger to her lips, his dark eyes carrying a spark of heat that ignited a fire in her belly.

‘Our three little tots may be heavy sleepers,’ he gently guided her back down to the couch, hands slipping under her clothes. ‘But you better be quiet coz I’m gonna prove to you that you’re the only woman in the world for me.’

Elizabeth couldn’t help but capture his lips in a deep passionate kiss that left her breathless. She was lost in the sensation of his lips on her neck and fingers tracing their way towards her centre until something occurred to her.

'Drake wait,’ she groaned.

He lifted his head in alarm. 'What is it? Too much?'

Elizabeth shook her head and looked right into his eyes. 'Next time you play hooky from work, I want in.'

Drake’s mischievous smile was the last thing she saw before she gave into the ecstasy. 'You got it baby.'

#SEE I CAN WRITE HAPPY #IM NOT THAT MEAN #only fluff here #did you catch my AB reference #drake walker #elizabeth richmond #drake x mc #drake x elizabeth #The Royal Romance #trr #choices #playchoices #choices fandom #choices fanfiction #long post #i put a cut in

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