#night sun (1990) | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

storiesbyrhi · 4 months ago

Text

IT MEANS SOMETHING

Eddie Munson x Reader 1,606 words

Warnings: recreational drug use.

Synopsis: A short meet-cute featuring crossed paths, Argyle's weed, probable soulmates, and Fangoria magazine.

Author’s Note: Set in 1990. No Upside Down AU.

He is the last to get on the train. Patiently waiting his turn. Smiling politely at the other commuters. You watch him step off the platform into the carriage. He opts to stand against one of the poles, letting others take the vacant seats. He surveys his surroundings. It is at this moment his eyes lock with yours.

Instead of pretending like you’d only just glanced at him or nodding a casual acknowledgment, you look away too quickly. You feel yourself flush.

As the train finally pulls into your stop, you’ve used all your willpower not to look back his way. All that willpower amounts to little; as you stand, preparing to leave, you feel him staring. His gaze pulls yours back to him.

He flashes a brilliant smile, then ducks out the opening doors before you can clock his blushing cheeks.

You’re not a romantic by nature. Yes, you are prone to fits of fancy and the occasional delusional daydream, but you don’t find yourself frequently lusting after pretty people on the train. Beauty is viewed with a matter-of-factness rather than a force of attraction itself.

Some people are funny.

Some people are clever.

Some people are hot.

Some people are whatever.

And it isn’t as if this makes you less shallow or more holy than anyone else. It kind of just makes you a little more detached. Yes, you’ve dated. But there were never big, big feelings. No traumatic breakups. It had all been textbook mediocre.

It is all this knowledge of yourself that comes to the forefront of your mind as you lament the loss of the man in the crowd.

You track his fluffy hair through the station, but he is gone by the time you get to the city street. The sun is setting, a twilight glow making all the shadows seem worthy of an art gallery.

The man is gone. His dark eyes. Kind smile. His stupid t-shirt. What was it? The Burbs. That’s it. The Tom Hanks movie from last year.

Why are you still thinking about him?

The guy. Not Tom Hanks.

You walk slowly, in the city way too early for the party your friend from college, Robin, is hosting. Time to kill.

In a 7-Eleven you stand at the drinks refrigerator with too much consideration. Too much effort. Dr Pepper will always win over Coke. Flipping through magazines in the rack pulls you through a couple more minutes.

It occurs to you that the old record store a few blocks from Robin’s is open late. They have better magazines.

The neon sign sparkles against the darkening skyline as you turn onto the store’s street. Lured like a moth to a flame, you’re inside and pulling Fangoria from the stand before taking a second to look around.

There are a few customers browsing, one with a punk magazine ordered especially from the UK in his lap as he reads from the floor. You wonder if it might make more sense for the owners to open a library.

A music library would be cool, you think, as you look over at the counter.

You can identify them both.

The guy behind the counter has dead straight longer hair and one of the best speaking voices you’ve ever heard. Argyle works days mostly, since he delivers pizzas by night. He must be covering a shift for someone. Or maybe the night guy is late.

Opposite Argyle, leaning on the counter with a familiarity that tells you he has been here plenty of times before, is the man from the train. Though he isn’t facing you, the Dio patch and hair are a giveaway.

What are the fucking odds?

Fangoria back in the rack, you creep through the aisles, trying not to draw attention to yourself. When you get close to the counter, you listen to their conversation. They’re funny.

Argyle’s brand of humor is easy and irreverent. It’s how he ends up befriending everyone, including you and Robin. And, as it were, the man from the train. Train guy’s banter is far more purposeful, performative. He’s dramatic, or maybe it seems like that in contrast to laid back Argyle.

They’re talking about music but suddenly switch to films. Bill & Ted. Even more suddenly, they break out into impersonations.

It’s too late to catch your laugh. Far too late to pretend it was a coughing fit. The man turns around. He beams as he recognizes you. It’s almost enough to keep you there. Almost.

“Hey-” Argyle goes to greet you.

“Sorry. Hi. I’ve gotta go,” you say.

“See you at Robin’s later?”

“Yeah. Yep. Bye!” and you’re out the door before Argyle can think to introduce you.

This feeling is so foreign to you. You feel all gooey and icky, like maybe your skin is going to start to fizz and slick off your body. Stupid, pretty train boy, you think.

It’s still too early for Robin’s, so you detour to a bar and order a drink in a vain attempt to settle yourself.

Stupid, pretty train boy.

Four hours later.

“I jus’… Can it come closer? It’s too… too far away?”

Robin looks at you. If you look back, you would see the face of a woman equal parts amused and bored. But you physically cannot look away from the television. And the television seems to be getting further and further away.

“Quick… Robin… It’s going!” you whine. The television set is as small as your palm. You hold your hand up to compare it. “So, so small…”

“You, my friend, are so profoundly high. Argyle gave you that new shit?”

“Says try with pineapple,”

“I-What? Pineapple?”

“Says try before you deny,”

“Alright. I’m calling it. You need some time out.”

Suddenly, you are floating through Robin’s place. A conversation about whether you are okay by yourself floats along with you. Yes, you would be okay. You like rolling around in bed, high as a kite. The party is winding down anyway. You’d not be alone for long.

Alone, you play three games of I-Spy. The loser and the winner. You starfish out on the bed and make imaginary snow angels. Time passes. Maybe. You’re not sure. Then, you see the room explode into view. The light has been switched on and you yelp, diving for cover under a pillow.

Voices. The weight of someone being dropped into bed next to you.

Robin calling your name. So far away. “You alive in there?” she asks.

“Ah-huh,” you confirm.

Then, quiet. You emerge from under the pillow like a field mouse from its burrow. They had left you in darkness but for him, a bedside lamp has been left on. He doesn’t know Robin’s bedroom like you.

He is lying on his back staring up at the ceiling. In profile, he is just as pretty. You want to drive a little Matchbox car down his forehead and use his nose as a jump. Evel Knievel style. The thought makes you giggle, which makes him turn his head. He looks at you, blinking twice.

“I wondered where you went,” he admits. He rolls onto his side, tucking his hands under his head like a pillow. “Hi,”

“Hi,”

“Bit weird seeing you again,”

“Bit weird,” you parrot.

He smiles. “Why’d you get sent to the naughty room?”

“Huh?”

Your answer, or lack thereof, answers the question.

“Argyle not warn you properly about the Californian stuff?”

You shake your head.

He laughs, so you laugh. He wriggles a little closer.

“Hi,” he whispers, sticking out a pinky finger. You watch as he hooks it around yours.

When did you move to mirror his body? When did he arrive at the party? Was he here for you? No. Silly. So silly. That would be silly.

“You’re getting small… Like the television,” you tell him.

“Oh… I don’t want to get small… If I come closer, will I get big again?” He doesn’t wait for an answer. This close you can see his pale freckles. The tired purple under his eyes. The almost-wrinkles that are born of laughter. Long eyelashes.

“Long eyelashes?” he asks.

“What?”

You snort, giggle, lost and happy.

“I need you to know I did not follow you here,”

“Okay,”

“I’m friends with Argyle,”

“Okey dokey,” you nod.

He holds in laughter, so you do too.

“I didn’t follow you either,”

“To Vinyl City? But you were eavesdropping.” It isn’t an angry accusation. It’s not really a question either. Still, you nod. “I’d be okay with it if you were following me. For the record,” he states, rather emphatically.

He watches you watch him. He makes you feel as if you are getting higher and sobering up at the same time.

“I’m Eddie,”

“Are you?”

“Yeah. Last I checked,”

“What’d you check?”

“Ah… Birth certificate?”

“Says Eddie?”

“Well… Edward.”

You giggle. Eddie’s heart flutters so hard it feels like nausea.

“Hi… Eddie,”

“Hi. Do you have a name?” He already knows it. He just wants to hear you say it.

You nod.

Eddie laughs. “Tell me your name?”

You do. Because he asked.

“So… Three times… Coincidence?”

“No,” you shake your head. You don’t know what three times he’s talking about. “That’s two. Two’s a coincidence,”

“What’s three then?”

You can’t remember. You shrug, which makes Eddie laugh, which makes you laugh. A repeated cycle.

“I think it means something,” he asserts.

“So do I,”

“Do you? Or are you just a little bit high?”

“Can it be both?”

Eddie makes a show of thinking. “It can. I’ll allow it.” He grins. “So, it means something?”

“It means something,” you agree.

End Note: I've been struggling to write post-Burning Yarrow. So, this was just a little something to try to get back on the horse. Soulmate meet-cutes are my bread and fucking butter.

I have some very vague ideas for a part two of this, but idk if it will amount to much. Lemme know your thoughts and feelings.

Eddie Taglist: solomons-finest-rum @ruinedbythehobbit @sweetpeapod @thorfemmes @corrodedhawkins @grungegrrrl @lilzabob @averagemisfit03 @ches-86 @ilovecupcakesandtea @onehotgreasymechanic @hazydespair @mel-the-fangirl @eddies-hid3out @siren-lungs @aheadfullofsteverogers @hiscrimsonangel @dashingdeb16 @cultish-corner

#Mine #Eddie Munson #Eddie Munson x Reader #Eddie Munson/Reader #Eddie Munson x You #Eddie Munson/You #Meet-Cute

407 notes · View notes

pampanope · 3 months ago

Text

~7-11 Lore~

Name: Efren Torres Aldrich

Alias: 7-11, Cerberus, Shadow Company’s Dog (Konni)

Affiliations: Shadow Company, USMC (former)

Age: 34 yo

DoB: May 7 1990

Height: 6’1

Nationality: American

Ethnicity: filipino/white

Born in: Queens, NY

Pronouns: He/him

Gender: cis man

Orientation: panromantic homosexual

Specialty/Résumé

• Former Marines Force Reconnaissance operator

• Deep reconnaissance with qualifications in parachuting and combat diving (MOS 0326)

• Profficiency as a sniper and rifleman, at intelligence collection, mountain warfare, CQB, and small squad tactics.

• Dutiful Shadow babysitter

• Graves whisperer (usually)

Personality

• calm, quiot, generally easy going; speaks in low even tones

• observant, pays attention to the goings on of those around him, and completes tasks efficiently.

• treats fellow Shadows with warmth, courtesy, and long-suffering exasperation. Takes some time before he feels comfortable enough to freely goof off with other people.

• Has a playful side; likes to harmlessly tease other Shadows to a certain degree but is all business when working or on an op

• sees all of Shadow Company as his family; their success and well-being are his top priorities.

• this devotion towards Graves and SC has a possessive slant to it; he’s willing to destroy anyone and anything that threatens his family

Physical Description

• lean, fit overall build

• dark brown hair and dark sleepy looking eyes

• mole beside left eye

• very light stubble

• scars on left arm (IED shrapnel), wrists (rope scars), around fingers (balisong flipping) and upper left side of torso (gunshot wound)

• Usually wears neutral dark colors, mask, tactical gloves, combat boots and baseball cap

Psychology

• the loss of his parents at a young age, years of instability, and military training have led to the creation of a mental coping mechanism that can be described as “a feral hind-brain creature” that views individuals as pack, predator, prey, those who need protection and those who need to be cut down.

• 7-11 understands it’s not normal to look at the world in such a way, nor is it normal to want to sink his teeth into the throats of his enemies or into the flesh of those he cares about, in the hopes that he leaves a mark that they’ll carry even after they’ve gone.

• he keeps this part of himself carefully contained within with the majority of Shadows non the wiser,

Love Language: Touch, Gift Giving

Prefers affection via: Touch, Quality time

_____________________

Strengths

• loyal

• diligent and efficient

• puts his subordinates before himself

• smooth operator on the field

• stays calm under pressure and in the face of unusual situations

• thoughtful and empathetic

• can fall asleep anywhere

Weaknesses

• can be stubborn

• tends to forgo personal safety and care if he thinks it’s necessary

• has abandonment issues

• guilt-ridden

• may be vengeful, especially so on behalf of someone else

Hobbies

• photography

• karaoke

• balisong flipping

• sparring

**• Graves**

Likes

• cuddles and head scritches

• SC gossip

• collecting large, huggable plushies

• napping in warm cozy places

• training Shadows (usually)

• getting ragdolled and tossed around like a salad

• displays of physical strength

• training or games that allow him to hunt down others (or be hunted)

Dislikes

• incompetent and callous leadership

• humidity

• the sun (this boi burrrns)

• watermelons (tastes like sugary wet sand)

• Shadows or Graves getting hurt

• being cornered

• Shepherd

• disorganization

Fears

• Losing everyone and everything

• not being enough

• substance abuse and addiction

Preference

Fave Color: Blue

Fave Season: Autumn

Fave Music: 80’s rock and power ballads, most of 90’s and 2000s

Fave Animals: Crows and cats

Fave Food: savory snacks, burgers, lumpia, kare kare

Favorite Plants: blue orchids and monstera

Coffee or tea: coffee (once a day)

Night or Day: Night

____________________

Idiosyncrasies & Random Stuff

~ named after his mother’s favorite billiards champion (Efren “Bata” Reyes)

~ He’s always had a blushing problem; doesn’t matter what emotion it is, if it’s strong enough, he gets flushed.

~ started out wearing a mask to hide the blushing and hide his expression; it’s fun keeping fellow Shadows guessing

~ likes to make up reasons why he wears the mask all the time

~ eventually realizes that he got so used to freely making silly expressions behind a mask that he can’t school his features without it anymore

~ which is fine, it became habit anyway; he enjoys any rumors among the Shadows about him and why he stays masked when others remove theirs outside of ops.

~ there are way too many benefits to wearing a mask for him to quit

~ Biting is a very valid tactic, on and off the battlefield; as an offensive move and form of affection (but he doesn’t bite out of affection as often as he’d like because he doesn’t wanna scare the other Shadows lol)

~ kinda short circuits a bit when handled roughly

~ Tore a man’s throat out with his teeth on Grave’s behalf; Graves **really** liked that and decided to give him the callsign Cerberus and collared him (it’s a pleasant grounding presence around his neck)

~ will start growling when stress levels are maxed out or if very sleep deprived

~ keeps a cork board of photos in his quarters; photos of Shadows past and present

~is banned from the kitchen(s), no, not just SC HQ or bases.

~ grabs ahold of anyone or anything that comes into contact with him while

sleeping; he’s like a bear trp that way

~ he’s seen the effects of substance abuse and addiction first hand; it’s why he limits alcohol intake, drinks one cup of coffee a day (hence the regularly scheduled naps), and avoids gambling and smoking

~ deeply misses his parents and his childhood; often wonders if they’d even recognize him as their son

- Voice claim: Isaac Clarke (VA: Gunner Wright) (Dead Space games)

______________________

Backstory

7-11/Efren is one of Graves’ most loyal Shadows and considers himself a vanguard of the Company.

After losing his parents at 13 to a vehicular accident (for which he blames himself for) and the subsequent abuse and neglect from his uncle, Efren spent most of his teenage years feeling untethered, numb yet seething with anger and guilt.

He spent his early years working part time jobs to make ends meet while getting into fist fights with the local gangs to release the deep seated fury within.

A final altercation with his uncle drove Efren to seek structure and a place to belong in the Marine Corps.

There, Efren, while excelling at every aspect soldiering, would often be easily goaded and provoked into brawling with other recruits of his cohort.

This led to his first meeting with Graves, a cocky, silver tongued, MARSOC operator in his mid twenties.

Graves issued a challenge to Efren, which ended with Efren being so thoroughly *humbled* that it altered his brain chemistry, quieting his feral hind brain to a dull roar for the first time in what felt like forever.

Fixated on Graves after that meeting, Efren joined Force Recon with the hope of providing crucial intel to support his fellow Marines (especially Graves).

He always kept an ear out for news of KIA personnel; thankfully Graves was never one of them.

After years of serving in Force Reconnaissance, Efren was faced with making a decision whether or not to re-up to continue his service or to move on into civilian life.

As if summoned, Graves appeared after so many years, and whisked Efren away to his new Shadow Company, where he world finally find a new home.

The irony of feeling at peace in a PMC was not lost on him.

Wherever Graves went, he would be his Shadow and support. For Efren, it was the least he could do after the man gave him everything.

((May add more as i go✨))

#there i did it~#a huge weight off me chest lol #call of duty #shadow company #shadow 7 11 (cod oc)#my stuff #shadow lore #shadow company oc #i love my boi😩😩

142 notes · View notes

yoursweetvalo · 5 months ago

Text

List of books and movies mentioned by Acchan!

Might post an anime version of this soon <3

BOOKS:

仮面の告白 “Confessions of a Mask” by Yukio Mishima (1949)

生きるヒント “Living Tips” by Itsuki Hiroyuki (1993)

斜陽 “The Setting Sun” by Osamu Dazai (1947)

“The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde (1890)

こころ”Heart” by Natsume Soseki (1914)

“Crime and Punishment” by Fyodor Dostoevsky (1866)

人間失格“No Longer Human” by Osamu Dazai (1948)

死霊“Death Spirits” by Yutaka Haniya (1948)

猫鳴り “Neko Nari” by Numata Mahokaru (2007)

“Coin Locker Babies” by Ryu Murakami (1980)

グロテスク “Grotesque” by Natsuo Kirino (2003)

“Notes from Underground” by Fyodor Dostoevsky (1864)

“The Brothers Karamazov” by Fyodor Dostoevsky (1879-1880)

“Salomé” by Oscar Wilde (1891)

破局 “Catastrophe” by Tono Haruka (2020)

新宿鮫 “Shinjuku Shark” by Arimasa Osawa (1990)

堕落論 “Discourse on Decadence” by Ango Sakaguchi (1946)

五分後の世界 “The World Five Minutes from Now” by Ryu Murakami (1994)

*Manga*悪魔の花嫁 “Bride of Deimos” by Etsuko Ikeda, illust. By Yuuho Ashibe (1974-1990)

九月が永遠に続けば “To Continue Forever in September” by Numata Mahokaru (2005)

彼女がその名を知らない鳥たち “Birds Without Names” by Numata Mahokaru (2006)

銀河鉄道の夜 “Night on the Galactic Railroad” by Kenji Miyazawa (1927)

怒り”Rage” by Shuichi Yoshida (2014)

悪人 “Villain” by Shuichi Yoshida (2007)

MOVIES:

The Green Mile by Frank Darabont (1999)

Bohemian Rhapsody by Bryan Singer (2018)

The Godfather by Francis Ford Coppola (1972)

Pierrot the Fool by Jean-Luc Godard (1965)

The Elephant Man by David Lynch (1980)

老ナルキソス Old Narcissus by Tsuyoshi Shouji (2023)

時計は生きていたThe Clock was Alive by Seijiro Kouyama (1973)

The Mission by Roland Joffé (1986)

Poongsan by Juhn Jai-Hong (2011)

Midnight FM by Kim Sang-man (2010)

Pusher by Nicolas Winding Refn (1996)

Misery by Rob Reiner (1990)

From Paris with Love by Pierre Morel (2010)

異人たちとの夏 The Discarnates by Nobuhiko Obayashi (1988)

Purple Noon by René Clément (1960)

Bonnie and Clyde by Arthur Penn (1967)

狂い咲きサンダーロード Crazy Thunder Road by Gakuryuu Ishii (1980)

Undo by Shunji Iwai (1994)

犬神家の一族 The Inugami Family by Kon Ichikawa (1976)

The Shawshank Redemption by Frank Darabont (1994)

The Brave by Johnny Depp (1997)

Antartica (Nankyoku Monogatari) by Koreyoshi Kurahara (1983)

Here is the link to my actual twitter thread, I update it every time I run into a new book or movie he has mentioned! The information to make this list was taken from several inerviews, radio programs, and even some of the Fish Tank Bulletins. If you know any other book/movie he has mentioned but is not here, do not hesitate to let me know!

ENJOY!

#buck-tick #atsushi sakurai #櫻井敦司 #curiosities #info #books #threads #movies

103 notes · View notes

thyme-in-a-bubble · 6 months ago

Text

a list of some summer movies/series 🌞

hi hi hi!! it's just me, your friendly neighbourhood little organisation freak of a goblin here to give you yet again a list of some seasonal movies and series. this time, say it with me folks, summer! as always, just close your eyes and point somewhere on this little list, or even put the numbers in a generator and go with whatever the result is ♡

autumn | winter | spring

🐚 ‧₊˚ ⋅ movies ⋅˚₊‧

roman holiday (1953)

jaws (1975)

friday the 13th (1980)

Indiana jones (1981-)

dirty dancing (1987)

the princess bride (1987)

paris is burning (1990)

point break (1991)

jurassic park (1993-)

before sunrise (1995)

a goofy movie (1995)

clueless (1995)

birdcage (1996)

boogie nights (1997)

i know what you did last summer (1997)

my best friend's wedding (1997)

parent trap (1998)

bilboard dad (1998)

tarzan (1999)

the talented mr. ripley (1999)

10 things I hate about you (1999)

the mummy (1999)

cast away (2000)

almost famous (2000)

our lips are sealed (2000)

charlie’s angels (2000 + 2003)

holiday in the sun (2001)

the wedding planner (2001)

the fast and furious franchise (2001-)

princess diaries (2001-2004)

lilo and stitch (2002)

blue crush (2002)

crossroads (2002)

how to lose a guy in 10 days (2003)

under the tuscan sun (2003)

the lizzie mcguire movie (2003)

pirates of the caribbean franchise (2003-2017)

sisterhood of the traveling pants (2005-2008)

monster in law (2005)

aquamarine (2006)

she’s the man (2006)

the cheetah girls 2 (2006)

high school musical 2 (2007)

camp rock (2008)

vicky cristina barcelona (2008)

fool's gold (2008)

mamma mia (2008 + 2018)

adventureland (2009)

bride wars (2009)

hannah montana the movie (2009)

the last song (2010)

letters to juliet (2010)

eat pray love (2010)

one day (2011+2024)

a little bit of heaven (2011)

soul surfer (2011)

the impossible (2012)

magic mike (2012+2025+2023)

the big wedding (2013)

lovelace (2013)

endless love (2014)

chef (2014)

the longest ride (2015)

mad max: fury road (2015)

the shallows (2016)

it (2017)

girls trip (2017)

baywatch (2017)

jumanji: welcome to the jungle (2017)

gifted (2017)

call me by your name (2017)

crazy rich asians (2018)

adrift (2018)

ibiza (2018)

every day (2018)

bad times at the el royale (2018)

tomb raider (2018)

the red sea diving resort (2019)

midsommar (2019)

we summon the darkness (2019)

spider-man: far from home (2019)

the devil all the time (2020)

palm springs (2020)

the last letter from your lover (2021)

raya and the last dragon (2021)

luca (2021)

uncharted (2022)

glass onion (2022)

do revenge (2022)

the lost city (2022)

the gray man (2022)

death on the nile (2022)

barbie (2023)

bottoms (2023)

anyone but you (2023)

la passion de dodin bouffant (2023)

road house (2024)

the challengers (2024)

players (2024)

twisters (2024)

🍦 ‧₊˚ ⋅ series ⋅˚₊‧

the o.c. (2003-2007)

america's next top model (2003-2018)

project runway (2004-)

h2o: just add water (2006-2010)

gossip girl (2007-2012)

private practice (2007-2013)

rupaul’s drag race (2009-)

the walking dead (2010-2022)

new girl (2011-2018)

the fosters (2013-2018)

black-ish (2014-2022)

jane the virgin (2014-2019)

grace and frankie (2015-2022)

critical role (2015-)

stranger things (2016-)

the durrells (2016-2019)

big little lies (2017-2019)

she's gotta have it (2017-2019)

the bold type (2017-2021)

queer eye (2018-)

station 19 (2018-2024)

euphoria (2019-)

roswell, new mexico (2019-2022)

valeria (2020-2023)

911: lone star (2020-)

outer banks (2020-)

bridgerton (2020-)

sex/life (2021-2023)

the white lotus (2021-2025)

daisy jones and the six (2023)

107 notes · View notes

johnwickb1tsch · 10 months ago

Text

Young!John Wick x Model!Reader Imagine

Imagine you are the love of John Wick's life...

You meet in Paris when he’s a young man. You spend a mind-blowing night together, and watch the sun rise from Sacré-Coeur. He disappears, and you’re devastated because no one has ever made you feel that way, and you’re certain you’ll never see him again. But throughout the years he keeps finding you as you travel for work. He kisses you silly in the Gamla Stan of Stockholm, makes you cum on his fingers in a dark club in London, and when he leaves you utterly wrecked in Rome you know that you’re in love with this man. You don’t know exactly what he does for a living, but you’re not stupid. You’ve memorized every inch of his body, and you notice as his collection of scars multiplies over the years. You are half convinced he's a spy, but then there are the tattoos...ominous as they are captivating, they suggest membership in a darker world than the shadows of international espionage. You cannot reconcile it. How can this sweet man, this man who makes you laugh, who brings you joy and such exquisite pleasure, be a part of such a violent occupation? When you finally get up the courage to ask him he just shakes his head, and says it’s better you don’t know before kissing you in that way that utterly scrambles your brain cells.

-It all started in Paris with a broken heel... You nearly fell into traffic, but a strong arm around your waist snatched you back from death.

You hid against his chest for a long moment, even though he was a total stranger, because he felt so safe. You were in Paris for your first Fashion Week—and you were so lost. It’s the 1990s, a dark age in which we didn’t have handheld computers to pleasantly tell us where to go, and we used archaic documents to find our way known as paper maps...And you’d left yours in your hotel accidentally.

You look up to see kind brown eyes fixed down on you. “Are you alright?” You hate to think it, but you are so relieved to hear an American accent. You have been yelled at no less than three times in French that day, and even if you totally deserved it, you're a bit gun shy now.

“Yes. Thank you. Jesus, I...” You look at the traffic barreling by at breakneck speed, a chill running down your spine. “Thank you,” you say again. You look up at him, really look at him, and realize you're in the arms of the most handsome man you've ever seen—and you work in fashion.

“You're welcome.”

He seems as taken by you as you are by him, and for a stretch of long moments you just stand there staring at each other like moon-eyed idiots. He looks down, suddenly shy. It's totally endearing. “Sorry,” he apologizes, releasing you slowly. You teeter on your broken heel, and you can tell he is ready to grab you again if he has to. This protectiveness makes a surprising warmth bloom in your heart.

“Do you...need help getting somewhere?” he asks. You wonder if it’s that obvious you’re lost. Usually you'd be wary of that question from a stranger. You've dealt with so many creeps throughout your life. But somehow you sense that he’s sincere.

“I guess I'd better get back to my hotel.”

Sebastiano was going to kill you. You broke a $600 pair of heels...well maybe Gucci should have made them better, the lazy bastards.

“Can I get you a cab?”

With your broken heel, you guess you’re not hoofing it back. “Sure.” He hails one down, and you’re delighted when he climbs in with you, speaking to the driver in perfect French, bless him.

“Where are we headed?” You give him the name of your hotel, and he repeats it the way it’s supposed to be said. Oh. No wonder the previous drivers gave you such contemptuous looks… You took Spanish in high school, ok? You can read French but have zero experience speaking it.

When you arrive at the hotel your savior thrusts a wad of Francs through the window before you have a chance to even open your purse, and helps you out of the cab. You are totally leaning against his arm more than you have to. You can feel the hard curve of his bicep beneath the fine fabric of his suit, and it makes you a little giddy. Only once you’re safe in the lobby does he seem willing to release you, though somehow your hand has ended up in his, and you find you don’t really want to let go. “Are you doing anything later?” you ask boldly, before he can disappear back into the bustle of Paris and you’ll never find him again.

He pays you a melancholy smile that squeezes your heart for some reason. “Unfortunately, I have to work,” he says. You make a pouty face that draws his attention to your lips. The intensity in those dark eyes is thrilling. “Maybe if I finish early…I could join you?”

You know you grin like an idiot at this suggestion. “I’ll be at the Versace afterparty. I could…have your name put on the list?”

This seems to amuse him for some reason, his mouth twisting in a smirk. “I can find you,” he says, and your heart flutters. In fact, when he presses his lips to your knuckles, your heart attempts to flutter right out of your chest.

He turns to go but you call, “Wait!” He pauses. “What’s your name?”

The smile he pays you is heart stopping. “Jardani,” he answers quietly. “But everyone calls me John.” You bite your lip, nodding, very pleased with this new bit of information, sensing that maybe he’s told you something just for you. “I hope I get to see you later.”

He nods too, touching your cheek lightly. “You will.”

It sounds like a promise.

-You should be beside yourself with excitement because you’re walking your first runway in Paris, and this could be the moment that makes or breaks your career, but the real reason for your nerves is the hope that you’ll see him again.

-The show goes great. You kill it. Sebastiano, your friend and the designer you’d modeled for, can hardly contain himself. But you find you’re just watching the clock ticking down the seconds until later.

-John does find you later. You have a drink, and you dance, and from the adoring way he looks at you, you feel brave enough to ask if he wants to go someplace quieter. You go for a little walk, and even though it’s the wee hours of the morning you feel perfectly safe with this man. He kisses you on the Pont Alexandre, his hands in your hair, and your fingers curl in the lapels of his jacket to hold him to you. You ask if he wants to go back to your hotel, and he agrees. This man looks at you like you are something irreplaceably precious, and you don’t know how you’ll let him go.

-He is strong. In your hotel room he picks you up by your thighs and presses you into the wall, kissing you senseless before carrying you to the bed. His hands are calloused, but he’s so gentle with you. He touches you like you were made for him, like he was born knowing how to make you see stars. He claims you with his hands and his mouth and his big, beautiful cock deep inside you, and you know you’ll never be the same after this. You’ve been disappointed so many times that you almost don’t know how to handle an encounter going this well.

-When he stirs in the blue light of pre-dawn your arms tighten around him. You’re not even awake yet, but you don’t want him to leave. He kisses you behind the ear and you practically purr. “Want to see the second most beautiful sight in Paris?”

“Yes,” you agree.

“Bring your camera.” You’d told him about your interest in photography. Maybe modeling was paying the bills, but you’d actually majored in fine art, and minored in literature. Naturally, your interests make for shit at paying bills.

Sleepily you get dressed. It takes a little longer than usual because you can’t stop kissing each other between pulling on garments. Soft, slow kisses that curl your toes. You sense deep down that every one of them is infused with apology, and goodbye. It breaks your heart, but greedily you’ll take every second with him you can get.He takes you to Sacré-Coeur in the heart of Montmartre, the very roof of Paris. You sit on the steps and watch the sun rise over the city, fiery oranges and pinks painting the sky and rendering the buildings aglow. It truly is beautiful, but you don’t lift your lens to try to capture it. You sit with your arm linked with his, and experience this moment with him as fully as you can. You want to remember everything.

“You didn’t take a picture,” he teases once the sun has cheerfully risen above the horizon.

You pull out the camera and frame him in your lens, his sleepy smile and bed-mussed hair. You feel something shift in your heart as your finger depresses the button. Click. You’re not sure if it’s the camera in your hand, or something settling into place in your heart that has always belonged there.

“Now I have the first most beautiful sight in Paris,” you say.

He laughs at that. “I meant that was you,” he insists, lacing his fingers with yours, kissing the back of your hand. He takes you to breakfast, and you enjoy dark coffee and delectably crafted pastries with your legs tangled together under the table. Afterwards he takes you back to your hotel, and in the gilt-appointed lobby somehow you know what’s coming.

“I have to go,” he says sadly. You actually believe his regret isn’t an act.

You nod, leaning into his large hand on your cheek.

“I’ll never forget you, y/n.”

A shuddering sigh escapes you, and you close your eyes. You are not going to cry.

“Likewise, I promise you.”

You don’t exchange any further information. You know that if it was possible to see him again, he would have offered it to you. There is something mysterious about this man. Something almost…forbidden, and a part of you knows that the little time you stole together was a precious gift.

He kisses you one last time, a passionate, soul-rending thing that leaves you utterly weak in the knees. He says nothing more, pressing his forehead to yours one final time before turning to go. You watch his tall, dark form exit the hotel into the Paris morning, and you know he’s taking a piece of your heart with him as he goes.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

tbc because goddamn this got long...

part deux >>

#john wick #john wick x reader #john wick x you #john wick x y/n #ok so maybe you are helen?#but its written from your pov so you're welcome lol #john wick x helen #keanu reeves #keanu x you #keanu reeves x you #keanu reeves x reader #ernff i just saw JW4 last week #that sunset tho #fucked me up

144 notes · View notes

vivianbernadetteaurora · 9 months ago

Text

Mermaids, 1990🧜🏼‍♀️💧💦✨🪐🌙🧚🏽‍♂️🥀👗

So, the other night I watched mermaids for the first time with Cher, Winona Ryder and Christina Ricci , so I really related to the youngest well the child Charlotte reminding me of what my mum was probably like as a child so I wanted to analysis. The astrology of this film a little bit and break it down in real life share is a cancer, rising with a Taurus son and a Capricorn moon which would make her moon her chart ruler which makes so much sense to me and she gives cancer rising energy look anyway she’s so beautiful but in the film I feel, Sagittarius with a cancer moon and an Aquarius rising which really affected Charlotte moving all the time she just wanted to be settled somewhere and her mum was just said out of pocket things I need a abrasive with the children and the men she meets, but she’s also incredibly charming, I get it Aquarius women getting a lot of attention for their uniqueness and they’re not like other girls but they really are not pies and they’re not like other girls either. They really aren’t like them so that Aquarius rising her look the moving comes of the Sagittarius because that’s long distance, travel and changing houses, and that was a core part of who she was.

The door to Charlotte is definitely a Capricorn moon. She has the thought I imagine a Capricorn moon would have special of the purity thing the cancer rising because she wanted to be settled and cancers are very, although they’re all over the place sometimes with their words maybe they do like to be settled in a home,her sun sign. Appears a bit more difficult. I gave her the cancer rising because of the purity with her body is watching the nuns being scared that she was pregnant. My mum had the same thing happened where she thought she was pregnant at a certain age when she hadn’t even had intercourse at 10. and she is a Capricorn, moon, Aquarius, son and cancer rising, but I believe that Charlotte is a Virgo . Definitely like to be settled even way more than Virgos but the Virgo rule with over virgins and young maidens and that’s the kind of image is being projected through the film,. The youngest sister, Katie, I think her name is is definitely a Pisces was the water fame and the crazy ass of the pumpkin on our head and not giving a dime. If not at least the 12 house she always wears a swim hat quirky family but they’re all their family and the dad really the stepdad really makes them feel a bit more settled even though it makes Miss fax, angry, sorry Mrs flex . She’s an Leo rising with an Aquarius moon,

#astro observations #astro community #astro placements #astrology #astrology observations #astro notes #astroblr #pisces #aquarius #cancer placements #mermaids #mermaids 1990 #fypage #Cher #winona ryder #christina ricci #mrs flax

89 notes · View notes

di-in-al · 3 months ago

Text

~Drifting into Desire~ PART II

>Warnings: Profanity. Smoking. Mentions of death.

>Word Count: 3.7k

>Tags: 18+ only + future smut: minors and empty blogs DNI + all characters over age 21 + 1990s themed + no quirks + reader insert

>A/N: Hey! Sorry I missed posting yesterday, I just got back in town and couldn't work on the story. But I got finished finally! I'm also hoping to produce some art to go along with the story. I feel like that would help picture some things. Thanks for reading! <3

>taglist: @simp-plague

part I

~~~~~~~.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.~~~~~~~

The sun poured through the window, bathing the room in a golden radiance that wrapped around your eyelids like a gentle embrace. You had been awake for about fifteen minutes, lulled into consciousness by the soothing, rhythmic purr of your cat, a comforting start to the day. You could hear Uraraka’s cheerful voice arriving not long after you woke up, her laughter mingling with Momo's melodic tone as they engaged in lighthearted conversation in the kitchen.

Though the world outside beckoned with its promise of a good day, you lingered in bed, your fingers tracing the silky, soft fur of your feline companion who nestled contentedly against you. The sheets had lost their warmth, a telling sign that Shinso had slipped away hours ago, his departure a hushed affair as if he were a ghost in the night. How he managed to be so silent despite the rumbling of his loud car was a mystery you’d likely never solve.

Eventually, curiosity stirred you from your haven of slumber. You slowly opened your eyes to see a pair of vivid green orbs gazing curiously up at you, filled with a blend of affection and mischief. With a tiny chirp, your cat stretched out wide on your chest.

“Good morning, bub,” you murmured fondly, coaxing the soft creature with a gentle stroke before carefully rolling out of the warmth of your bed. Taking a moment to find a pair of clothes that felt right, you made your way toward the kitchen, your feet quietly padding against the cool floor.

In the kitchen, Uraraka was perched comfortably at the small bar, her lively spirit shining through as she chatted animatedly. Momo bustled around while gracefully preparing breakfast.

“Y/N! Good morning!” Uraraka exclaimed cheerfully, her eyes sparkling as she bounded over. She wrapped her arms around you in a gentle side hug, and you nestled your cheek against the top of her head, savoring the warmth of her embrace.

“Breakfast is almost ready. You want some tea?” Momo chimed in, her voice melodic amidst the bustling sounds of the kitchen. Dressed in a cute apron that accentuated her figure, she expertly wielded a spatula, flipping the tamagoyaki with precision. The mouthwatering aroma wafted through the air, filling every corner of the kitchen.

You pushed back from the counter and ambled around, the wooden floor creaking softly beneath your feet.

“Nah, I need coffee. Thank you, though,” you replied, your tone slightly gruff as you focused on the task at hand. As the coffee pot gurgled and sputtered, you expertly measured out the grounds, letting the familiar routine ground you.

“Long night?” Uraraka's voice floated in from behind you, light-hearted yet tinged with concern. You nodded, your thoughts briefly drifting to the events of your night.

Momo, standing poised at the stove, let out a thoughtful hum. You shifted your gaze to her, brow furrowed with curiosity.

“What?” you asked, pouring a generous splash of cream into your mug, the swirls mixing in with the dark liquid. The coffee pot beside you let out a final sputter as it filled the glass container, the rich scent enveloping you in comfort.

“Oh, nothing,” Momo sang, her tone deceptively airy. But the fleeting, disapproving look she shot your way sent a shiver of realization down your spine. She knew.

Your heart sank. Oh fuck.

She knows about you and Shinso.

As her eyes flickered back to the stove, the tranquility of the morning felt suddenly fractured, an unspoken tension hanging thick in the air. You fought to keep your composure, but your thoughts were starting to race.

“Momo, look-” your words were cut short by the phone ringing on the wall. The sound created a pause in your worried thoughts, watching as Uraraka jumped up from her seat.

“I’ll grab it!” She shuffled over, grabbing the phone and holding it up to her ear. You half heartedly listened as you sipped your coffee, the tension between you and your roommate being thick. Before you had the chance to explain yourself, her voice quietly filled the small space between you.

“Just don’t let it affect your driving.” Her stern voice had a softness to it, her hands expertly plating food onto three plates. You simply nodded, keeping the warm cup up by your face.

You thought she would’ve reacted worse, but at the end of the day you were grown. She couldn’t tell you who or not to date, but you understood that she was just protective of you.

“Y/N? It’s for you.” Uraraka held the phone out to you, you put down your comfort in a cup and walked over to the phone. You wondered who was calling this early, but your mind only landed on one person.

You took the phone hesitantly, a knot of anxiety tightening in your chest. “Hello?”

“Y/N. It’s been a while,” Your uncle’s gravelly voice came through the receiver, laced with a heaviness that made your stomach churn.

“Yeah, it has. Everything okay?” you asked, your fingers nervously playing with the phone cord.

“I suppose. Though I’d prefer to discuss this in person. I was thinking you could come over later today.”

Your heart raced. “You want to see me?”

There was a subtle pause in Shota’s voice, and you could almost feel his gaze through the phone.

“Yes. I’d like to extend an olive branch. There’s… been too much distance between us since your return.”

You swallowed hard, glancing at Momo, who was pretending to be busy with work, oblivious to your inner turmoil. “I didn’t mean for things to feel different. I just... needed time.”

Shota’s voice softened slightly, a blend of understanding and firmness.

“We all need time to adjust, especially after what you’ve been through. But that doesn’t mean we can’t talk. I have some things I’d like to share with you.”

Taking a deep breath, you finally found your resolve. “Okay. I’ll come over.”

“Good. Let’s say around noon? There are some things I want to clarify,” he replied, his tone steady, underscoring his typical no-nonsense demeanor.

“Clarify? Like what?” you felt the knot tighten again.

“My expectations may have created a distance between us.” He let out a slight sigh, the weight of his admission hanging in the air between you. “I want to address that.”

“I didn’t want to upset you. I was just trying to figure everything out,” you confessed, feeling a mix of relief and guilt wash over you.

“I understand,” he said. “We all have our processes, but remaining silent isn’t helpful.”

A nervous chuckle escaped your lips.

“Yeah, I guess I’ve been a bit quiet… and you’ve been your usual self.”

“Could say that.” His tone was flat, yet you detected a hint of something softer beneath it. “I was never one for frivolities. But that doesn’t mean I don’t care.”

You didn’t respond, instead chewing on your lip and reviewing his proposition in your head. His deep voice traveled through the phone once again, bringing you back to the conversation.

“Just bring an open mind,” he continued, his voice firm yet encouraging. “It’s time we have a frank discussion.”

Nodding, you felt a flicker of warmth in your chest. “Okay. I’ll see you at noon.”

“See you then.” The line went quiet, but the weight of the conversation lingered, filling you with a mix of apprehension and hope.

The darkness that had been smoldering beneath the surface flared back to life with just one phone call. Memories that you had tried to bury surged forward, pressing against your conscience like a tide threatening to engulf you. You had returned to Japan after years abroad, and now you were questioning every reason behind that decision.

Just two days after you graduated college, a tragic accident shattered your world. Your parents had come to visit you, traveling from their new home to celebrate your achievement. It had been a four-hour drive, one you could have made in half the time if you had only known what was to come. They were only fifteen minutes from home when a drunk driver changed everything.

Your mother was gone in an instant; your father lingered for a few hours, fighting for breath but fading nonetheless. When the phone call came, echoing through the silence of your small dorm, you rushed home with a heart full of fear and dread.

You weren’t fast enough.

You’ll never be fast enough.

“Y/N?” Uraraka’s voice cut through the fog of your thoughts, pulling you back to reality. You glanced at her, meeting her worried gaze, and felt the anxiety coil tighter in your chest.

“All he wants to do is talk,” you managed to say, attempting to sound nonchalant. But the concern etched on the faces of your friends—Uraraka and your steadfast roommate—told you they saw right through the façade. “I’m going to see him at noon.”

With that, you turned away from their watchful eyes and headed back to your room, desperate to escape the weight of their concern and the tumult of your own emotions. You needed a moment alone. You needed a cigarette. The small ritual would help clear your mind, if only for a fleeting second.

Once you finally gathered your thoughts and calmed the whirlwind in your mind, you returned to the kitchen. Both Uraraka and Momo looked up expectantly as you entered, and you offered a quick, appreciative smile before taking a seat at the table.

“Hey, guys! What do you think about me bringing Izuku to the team meeting tonight? He asked if he could come along, and I really believe he’d be a great fit!” Uraraka’s face lit up with enthusiasm as she bounced slightly in her chair, glancing eagerly between you and Momo.

“Oh, I’m sure you just want more opportunities to ogle him,” you teased, taking a sip of your steaming coffee and watching her cheeks turn a bright shade of red.

“I do not!” she exclaimed, hands flying to her face in a futile attempt to hide her embarrassment. You couldn't help but chuckle at her adorable reaction, while Momo watched with a bemused smile.

“I think it’s a wonderful idea,” Momo said, nodding thoughtfully as she finished her meal. “We could really get a sense of his driving skills. We still need someone exceptional for uphill challenges.”

A triumphant grin spread across Uraraka’s face.

“Yay! I’ll let him know! Speaking of which, I’ve got to meet up with him soon. Momo, could you give me a ride?”

“Of course,” Momo replied, rising to collect the dishes from the table. “I’ll clean up, and then we can head out.”

As the two of them chatted excitedly about your potential new teammate, you felt a warmth bloom in your chest. This was the kind of support you had needed, and with people like this beside you, every uncertainty felt a little less daunting.

Time crawled as the clock ticked closer to noon. You tried to keep yourself occupied with mundane tasks, but your mind danced with uninvited memories of the past—how things used to be so easy between you and your uncle before the world twisted and turned your life upside down.

Eventually, you couldn’t delay any longer. You grabbed your bag and walked out, filling the space around you with the weight of uncertainty. The sky was an angry shade of gray, droplets of rain beginning to fall as you made your way to your uncle's place. The morning sun was only a tease, a siren call to get you out of bed.

Upon arrival, the familiar building felt strange. It loomed over you, a reminder of all the moments shared between the two of you. With each step toward the door, your anxiety morphed into anticipation. You knocked tentatively, the sound swallowed by the sudden rush of rain.

Shota opened the door, his expression an unreadable blend of surprise and relief.

“Y/N,” he greeted softly, stepping aside to let you in.

The warmth of the room greeted you, but it felt stark against the chill you carried inside. Shota ran a hand through his hair, a habitual gesture that had always intrigued you.

“Thank you for coming.”

“Thanks for inviting me,” you replied, shifting your weight. The atmosphere was thick, the silence a tangible presence.

“Sit,” he motioned towards the couch, his tone steady yet inviting. “I think it’s best we have this conversation openly.”

You perched on the edge of the couch, your fingers nervously intertwining. “What do you want to clarify?”

Shota took a deep breath, collecting his thoughts.

“First, I’d like to apologize. I realize I may have placed expectations on you that weren’t fair. When you returned, I expected things to snap back into place, like before.”

You felt a wave of relief wash over you.

“I wanted that too,” you admitted. “But everything’s different now. I’m different.”

“I’ve noticed,” Shota said, his gaze unwavering. “It’s like the event changed the very fabric of who you are. Your silence… I thought it meant you were shutting me out.”

As you watched him struggle to articulate the pain that lay heavy in his heart, it dawned on you—you weren't the only living victim of that reckless drunk driver. Your uncle had lost a brother, a lifelong companion, and a confidant. In your own haze of grief and anger, you had failed to grasp how deeply the tragedy had etched itself into his soul.

Just a couple of months ago, you had a major fallout. You had thought his relentless pressure was unwarranted, that he was pushing you too hard to embrace responsibilities that felt suffocating. He wanted you to step into the shoes left behind by your parents, to honor their legacy by using your degree and becoming successful. Yet amid his well-intentioned efforts, he had overlooked your need for time—to breathe, to process the aftermath of your shared loss.

Racing was the only refuge that brought solace. Every time you gripped the steering wheel, the roar of the engine drowned out your chaotic thoughts, and for those fleeting moments, you could escape the weight of reality. But your uncle's insistence on finding a career and starting your life made your sanctuary feel like a betrayal. You were lost, caught between your need to honor your family’s memory and your desire to lose yourself in the speed of your car.

“I was just trying to process everything,” you confessed, your voice trembling slightly. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Realizing you were both grappling with your vulnerabilities, you could see the subtle shift in him.

“Y/N, you’re not alone in this.” His words rung with sincerity. “I struggled too. I want to be there for you, but I didn’t know how to approach you without stepping back into the shadows.”

A heavy silence enveloped you again, but this time it felt different. It was charged with honesty. You took a second to study him—his eyes, his expressions—this was the uncle you knew, the one who always cared, even from afar.

“I just expected you of all people to understand me.”

Your uncle was legendary for his exceptional driving skills, particularly when it came to conquering the notorious Musutafu Pass. Known as the "Eraser of the Musutafu Pass," he had an uncanny ability to leave even the most skilled drivers dazed and confused; they would approach him with confidence only to find that his extraordinary prowess would make them forget their own driving instinct.

But when your family moved to America, your uncle's passion faded with your departure. He retired from racing, feeling as though the thrill of the track had been snuffed out without his biggest fan by his side—you.

Once he stepped away from the world of racing, nothing he achieved seemed to hold a candle to that exhilarating rush. Days turned into weeks, and the vibrant spark that once drove him was replaced with an emptiness he couldn't shake. Determined not to let you inherit that same sense of loss, he channeled his energy into guiding you, making it his mission to ensure your happiness and success.

“Believe me, I get where you’re coming from,” he said, crossing his arms. “That’s why I have a proposition for you.”

His words caught your attention, and you looked up at him, curiosity flickering in your eyes.

“I’ve arranged an interview with one of my colleagues,” he continued. But as he spoke, your heart sank, irritation bubbling within you. The moment of hope you had felt dissipated, and you quickly stood up.

“I knew it would come to this,” you shot back, anger igniting in your chest as you turned toward the door.

Just as you reached for the handle, your uncle’s calm voice sliced through the tension.

“Accept the interview, and I’ll show you how to conquer that mountain pass.”

You froze mid-motion, shock coursing through you. Every bit of frustration gave way to a flicker of intrigue, leaving you momentarily speechless.

A few moments of silence engulfed the conversation, fighting back and forth on the urge to give in or continue to fight back. You didn’t want to give up on your dream.

“Taking the interview doesn’t mean giving up your autonomy. It’s simply a stepping stone—one among many.” He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Trust me, I wouldn’t have made this proposition if I didn’t see potential in you. You are already battling your own emotional mountain; this is just one way to climb higher.”

You looked down, chewing your lip, weighing the choices before you. Your fingers were still wrapped tightly around the handle of the door, a physical reminder of your desire to escape. Yet, something inside you yearned to stay, to explore this moment. After all, how often did you have the chance to shift the narrative of your life?

“Okay,” You finally said, your voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll do the interview.”

A flicker of pride ignited in your uncle’s eyes, casting away the shadows of your doubt.

“Good. And then together, you and I will tackle that mountain pass. You will learn not just to face your fears but understand them, overcome them—all while finding your own path.”

He reached out, placing a reassuring hand on your shoulder. The weight of it felt grounding, a promise that you were not alone in this. Your frustrations hadn’t vanished entirely, but now there was a path ahead, illuminated by both uncertainty and hope.

Shinso leaned against Izuku’s Toyota Levin, peering under the hood for a final inspection. The engine hummed softly beneath his touch, and a flicker of pride crossed his face as he made a few adjustments. You stood by your own car, watching with a mix of curiosity and admiration. Izuku, heart pounding, sat in the driver’s seat of the Levin, his eyes wide with both excitement and apprehension. You could see him take a deep breath, trying to steady himself for the uphill trial ahead.

“Alright then, kid, let’s see what you got,” Shinso said, slamming the hood of Izuku’s car shut. A cloud of dust rose from the gravel beneath their feet, and he wiped his dirty hands on his dark jeans, leaving streaks of grease behind. The sun hung low in the sky, casting an orange hue over the rugged landscape of the Pass, where the group had gathered for the meeting. You could hear the distant sound of engines revving, the anticipation in the air palpable.

As the group finished preparations, Shinso slid into the passenger seat of Izuku’s car with a relaxed confidence that belied the intensity of the moment.

“Just remember to stay light on the throttle during the turns. Timing is everything,” he advised, his voice low but filled with a commanding tone. Izuku nodded, his brow furrowing in concentration while his fingers tightened around the steering wheel.

With a quick glance at you for reassurance, Izuku turned the key in the ignition, the engine roaring to life. The sound sent a thrill through you, and you couldn’t help but smile as you watched the adrenaline course through him. The three of you took off in a flurry of rubber and gravel, Izuku leading the way with Shinso riding shotgun, while you followed closely in your own vehicle, keeping pace with a mix of exhilaration and camaraderie.

As you ascended the winding road, the landscape around you transformed from lush forests to rocky outcrops. The sun dipped lower, casting slanting rays that glinted off the polished paintjobs of both cars. Izuku navigated the curves with precision, channeling all the focus you had seen during the countless hours spent outside the racing scene. Each turn brought its own challenge, and you could see him processing the landscape even as adrenaline surged through him.

It became clear just how talented he was. You had no doubts that Izuku was more than capable of handling the uphill — his confidence grew with each corner he conquered. Shinso offered occasional commands, each one more a reminder than a directive. “Good job; keep it steady,” he'd say, or “Hold the line,” pointing out the ideal racing line as they climbed higher.

When they finally reached the top, the three of you parked in a shaded overlook, taking a moment to catch your breath as the sun dipped behind the mountains. Izuku emerged from the Levin, a broad grin plastered across his face.

“Did I really just do that?” he exclaimed, disbelief and joy radiating from him.

Shinso chuckled, giving Izuku a hearty clap on the shoulder.

“You did good, kid. But we’ve still got some work to do before you take on any serious races. Your car needs a bit of tuning for the uphill runs, and I’ve got ideas brewing.”

You couldn’t help but admire the dynamic between them, the mentorship forming like gears meshing together. As the sun set and the twilight encroached, you felt a sense of camaraderie settling in. You were part of something bigger now, a group bound by a shared passion for speed, skill, and the thrill of the race. The promise of future challenges and adventures hung in the air like the fading warmth of the day, and that thought alone fueled your excitement for what lay ahead.

part III

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.~~~~~~~~~~~~~.~~~~~~~~

hey so I know this was a lot of backstory, but it'll be worth it! We get to meet the king of the pass next chapter I promise!

<3 di.in.al

#bakugou katsuki #mha #bakugou x reader #katsuki bakugo x reader #street racer au #hitoshi shinso x reader #90s au #bakugou series #bakugou fanfiction #bnha bakugo katsuki #bnha fanfiction #bnha hitoshi shinso

25 notes · View notes

mckitterick · 6 months ago

Text

Aurora deep into southern Midwest!

After Friday night's less-than-stellar experience hunting for a good spot to watch the aurora near LFK (short answer: there is none), tonight we decided to drive north a couple hours to get deeper into the aurora zone, and a little east to reach truly dark skies and skirt the clouds creeping across Kansas and Nebraska. Still pretty far south in the grand scheme of things (northern Missouri), but the darkest skies we've seen in a long time.

At first we parked as planned near a nature preserve in what is billed as a town (really just a handful of houses), but the northern view from there looked over a house that sits beside Loud Frog Land:

So when the sky began to dance (see this image), we drove a bit farther along hilly, winding country blacktop until finding a little gravel turn-around.

Just as we set out our folding chaise lounges, the sky really heated up, and for about 20 minutes it was amazing:

This image and the top one (by @bugs-are-buddies using her Android S22 Ultra) are much better than from mine (Note9); thanks, darlin'.

My tripod-mounted DSLR was a bust, though I managed to snap the below Moon image once I got the telephoto lens working - had to turn the autofocus on and off again to manually focus at all (always the same story with tech), so we missed imaging the burst of aurora action with that machine.

(Left image is me fiddling with the camera by the light of the Moon and the aurora's fading glow.)

We stuck around for a while after the dramatically waving red-pink-green curtains diminished from their peak, hoping the huge Coronal Mass Ejection had more to offer, but things tapered off around Cassiopeia. And it was getting cold. So home we went.

The drive back was dinner of nut bars and pears, and introducing my sweetheart to some 1990s bangers on le Wedding Trip Jag's awesome speaker setup.

Two nights of dramatic aurorae - visible as far south as Kansas! Wow!

I hope you got a chance to catch some of the Sun's beautiful assault against Earth's skies. Ad Astra!

#aurora #northern lights #space weather #geomagnetic storms #coronal mass ejections #astronomy #our photos

33 notes · View notes

21stcenturyschizoidcat · 7 days ago

Text

Fleetwood Mac: timeline

1967

Lineup:

Peter Green: Vocals, Guitar

Jeremy Spencer: Vocals, Guitar

Bob Brunning: Bass

Mick Fleetwood: Drums

Single: I Believe My Time Ain't Long / Rambling Pony

Peter Green: Guitar, Vocals, Harmonica

Jeremy Spencer: Guitar, Vocals, Piano

John McVie: Bass

Mick Fleetwood: Drums

1968

Album: Fleetwood Mac

Single: Black Magic Woman/The Sun Is Shining

Album: Mr. Wonderful (feat. Christine McVie and Horns)

Single: Need Your Love So Bad

Peter Green: Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica, Cello, Bass, Percussion

Danny Kirwan: Vocals, Guitar

Jeremy Spencer: Guitar, Vocals, Percussion, Piano

John McVie: Bass

Mick Fleetwood: Drums, Percussion

Single: Albatross/Jigsaw Puzzle Blues

Compilation: English Rose (US only)

1969

Compilation: The Pious Bird of Good Omen

Single: Man of the World/Somebody's Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In Tonite (As Earl Vance and the Valliants)

Album: Then Play On

Single: Oh Well (Pts. I & II)

Album: Blues Jam At Chess

1970

Single: The Green Manalishi (With The Two Prong Crown) / World In Harmony

Danny Kirwan: Vocals, Guitar

Jeremy Spencer: Vocals, Guitar, Piano

John McVie: Bass

Mick Fleetwood: Drums, Percussion

Album: Kiln House

Danny Kirwan: Vocals, Guitar

Jeremy Spencer: Guitar, Vocals

Christine McVie: Keyboards, Vocals

John McVie: Bass

Mick Fleetwood: Drums, Percussion

1971

Single: Dragonfly/The Purple Dancer

Danny Kirwan: Guitar, Vocals

Bob Welch: Guitar, Vocals

Christine McVie: Keyboards, Vocals

John McVie: Bass

Mick Fleetwood: Drums, Percussion

Album: Future Games

1972

Album: Bare Trees

1973

Bob Welch: Guitar, Vocals

Bob Weston: Guitar, Banjo

Dave Walker: Vocals, Harmonica

Christine McVie: Keyboards, Vocals

John McVie: Bass

Mick Fleetwood: Drums, Percussion

Album: Penguin

Bob Welch: Guitar, Vocals

Bob Weston: Guitar

Christine McVie: Keyboards, Vocals

John McVie: Bass

Mick Fleetwood: Drums, Percussion

Album: Mystery To Me

1974

Bob Welch: Guitar, Vocals

Christine McVie: Keyboards, Vocals

John McVie: Bass

Mick Fleetwood: Drums, Percussion

Album: Heroes are Hard to Find

1975

Lindsey Buckingham: Guitar, Vocals, Banjo, Bass, Keys, Drums

Stevie Nicks: Vocals, Percussion, piano

Christine McVie: Keyboards, Vocals

John McVie: Bass

Mick Fleetwood: Drums, Percussion

Album: Fleetwood Mac

1976

Single: Go Your Own Way/Silver Springs

1977

Album: Rumours

1979

Album: Tusk

1980

Live Album: Live

1982

Album: Mirage

1987

Album: Tango In The Night

1988

Stevie Nicks: Vocals

Billy Burnette: Guitar, Vocals

Rick Vito: Guitar, Vocals

Christine McVie: Keyboards, Vocals

John McVie: Bass

Mick Fleetwood: Drums, Percussion, Spoken Word

Compilation: Greatest Hits

1990

Album: Behind The Mask

Billy Burnette: Guitar, Vocals

Christine McVie: Keyboards, Vocals

John McVie: Bass

Mick Fleetwood: Drums, Percussion

1992

Single: Love Shines

Single: Paper Doll (Recorded '88)

1993

Billy Burnette: Guitar, Vocals

Dave Mason: Guitar, Vocals

Bekka Bramlett: Vocals

Christine McVie: Keyboards, Vocals

John McVie: Bass

Mick Fleetwood: Drums, Percussion, Spoken Word

1995

Album: Time

1997

Lindsey Buckingham: Guitar, Vocals

Stevie Nicks: Vocals, Percussion

Christine McVie: Keyboards, Vocals

John McVie: Bass

Mick Fleetwood: Drums, Percussion

Live Album: The Dance

1998

Lindsey Buckingham: Guitar, Vocals, Keyboard, Bass, Percussion

Stevie Nicks: Vocals, Keyboard

John McVie: Bass

Mick Fleetwood: Drums, Percussion

2003

Album: Say You Will

2013

EP: Extended Play

2014

Lindsey Buckingham: Guitar, Vocals, Keyboard, Bass, Percussion

Stevie Nicks: Vocals, Percussion

Christine McVie: Keyboards, Vocals

John McVie: Bass

Mick Fleetwood: Drums, Percussion

2017

Album: Lindsey Buckingham/Christine McVie (Sans Stevie Nicks, as Lindsey Buckingham/Christine McVie)

2018

Stevie Nicks: Vocals, Percussion

Neil Finn: Guitar, Vocals

Mike Campbell: Guitar, Vocals

Christine McVie: Keyboards, Vocals

John McVie: Bass

Mick Fleetwood: Drums, Percussion

2022

Christine McVie died of a stroke on November 30. Fleetwood Mac concludes.

8 notes · View notes

1d1195 · 1 year ago

Text

Made to Be Extra III

You can read Made to Be here.

A fluffy little thing of 2.5k words

I hope you enjoy <3

“Do you think I look less pretty than normal?” She wondered.

March/April

Harry found the love of his life sitting in the car under the shade of a tree. It was a warm March day especially in the sun. The poor thing was practically ready to pop and utterly uncomfortable all the time now. It was hard to believe she still had almost another month. He opened the driver’s door and smiled at her, leaned over and pressed a kiss on her temple. “Hi angel,” he hummed. He pressed his hand on her extremely round stomach. “Hi Andy,” he cooed. They didn’t know if it was a boy or girl yet. All they knew was they were going to have little Andoni or Andrielle and they were going to be nicknamed Andy. “Did y’have fun in history class today with Mummy?” He smiled gently at the tired lady beside him.

He thought it was a girl because he read a few articles indicating some old wives’ tales that being exhausted (which the poor thing was) meant a girl at the end of the nine months.

“Andy does not care about the US in the 1990s,” she murmured. “Kicked my bladder the whole time,” she sighed. “Gonna be a little soccer player. Or really into martial arts,”

Harry had yet to feel a kick which he was utterly bummed about. He hoped Andy would let him feel it just once, but his poor punching bag of a wife insisted that Harry’s voice was so soothing that Andy fell right to sleep the minute he started talking. “M’sorry, love,” he kissed the side of her head again. “Do y’want anything before we head home?” He asked while starting the car.

“I will die if we stop anywhere,” she told him, closing her eyes and resting her forehead on the window. Andy had been lovely throughout the last eight months, honestly. She didn’t have crazy mood swings—no more than normal, as she liked to point out to Harry—no horrible nausea other than a week or two in the first trimester, and she was extremely happy that she didn’t want anything gross like pickles and peanut butter. But the exhaustion was setting it. It was hard for her to walk or even fold laundry without getting winded. Naturally, Harry took care of everything he possibly could. Waiting on her hand and foot, making sure she didn’t have to lift a finger, and always assuring her that he didn’t mind nor cared about anything she said or did. “I’m sorry, Harry,” she said after a second.

He chuckled. “What for, kitten?” He asked as he pulled into traffic.

“For not wanting to stop.”

“Don’t be silly, angel,” he rolled his eyes.

Because of the exhaustion, she was able to fall asleep in seconds, always at awkward angles. Always at Harry’s worry of her hurting her neck, like now. Cheek nearly sliding down the length of the window. He smirked glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. He didn’t want to wake her as he drove back home.

She had fitful sleeps since Andy kept her up all night. “Making me practice,” she told Harry as she paced from their bedroom to the kitchen most nights.

Harry and her family were able to move them finally into a house that would become the home of three just shy of her fifth month. Harry was insistent she couldn’t lift anything that was heavier than a book (but couldn’t be one of her classroom textbooks). He pitted her whole family against her.

“Just boss us around like you always do,” her younger sister said. She rolled her eyes and pressed a hand on her stomach.

“You hear that, Andy? Auntie says I’m bossy!”

“Extremely, sweetie,” her mum said passing by with a box. She frowned and Harry winked at her as he and her dad lifted the heavier furniture in between all the girls relaying the boxes into the house. “It’s okay, honey. You’re good at it. We would all be lost without you,” he told her.

She rolled her eyes. “Anne and Gemma never make fun of me,” she reminded them.

“That’s because they still think you’re sweet,” her middle sister said.

“Yeah, Harry. Why is that? You know the real her. You shouldn’t lie to your mom and sister like that,” the younger one said.

Harry thought their banter was one of his favorite things about this family. Even her divorced parents seemed amicable enough to help their eldest daughter and still kindly poke fun at her. Harry came to her side once the sofa was in position where she wanted it. “How are we doing m’loves?” he asked rubbing his hand over her tummy just barely starting to show.

“I swear Andy only kicks when you’re not in earshot,” she murmured. “I really want to help,” she said knowingly. “I think I could easily carry a box or two. Women have been having babies for thousands of years and I bet they still had to help carry stuff back to their caves.”

“You are growing m’baby,” he reminded her, quietly. So as not to draw a lot of attention from her family. They didn’t mind the couple at all, but he knew she was shy at being overly affectionate in front of them. “You’re helping plenty, kitten,” he promised, pressing his hands to either side of her face and kissed her forehead. Letting his lips linger for a moment. “And we don’t live in a cave,” he reminded her as he and her dad started on the bed frame.

When he arrived at home, he grabbed their work bags and hurried to put them inside the door before returning for her. Carefully he opened her door, holding her up as she slumped toward the space where the door no longer was. Unless the baby woke her up, she was the heaviest sleeper in these little naps she took. “Hey, kitten, Andy,” he hummed. “We’re home m’loves,” he crouched toward the floor and unbuckled her. She slumped forward more. “Angel,” he cooed shaking her gently as he held her up.

“Mmm...” she moaned. “M’sleepy.”

“Let’s jus’ get y’inside, love,” he said quietly. As if she were made of glass, he carefully helped her to standing, pressing gently on her lower back. They didn’t speak as he guided her inside.

“I miss coffee,” she whined as he settled her onto the sofa. He chuckled and frowned.

“I know, angel,” he lifted her legs, setting them on a small stack of throw pillows he had there specifically for his love to recline comfortably. He pulled her shoes off and tossed them toward the front door near the mat she had laid out just for frequent shoes. “Soon,” he promised kissing her forehead. “Cold or hot?”

She frowned.

“Both?” He asked.

She nodded. “You’re so nice to me,” she sounded wispy—like she may cry. It had been almost a month since she had a mood swing resulting in rivers of tears.

“Don’t cry, kitten,” he said and draped her softest, warmest blanket over her and flicked the little desk fan on, so it pointed at her. “Jus’ want m’love t’be comfortable.”

“Don’t you want to kick for Daddy?” She asked rubbing her tummy. “She is so active when I talk. It’s got to be you,” she mumbled. Forgetting about the tears that were about to explode out of her.

“She hmm?”

Her cheeks turned a slight shade of pink. She had been avoiding pronouns—opting for Andy instead. She didn’t care if they were having a boy or a girl. As long as the baby was happy and healthy it truly didn’t matter. But she couldn’t help but think how much fun it would be to pamper a little girl lately. “I’m sorry,” she said. She didn’t want Harry to think she had some feeling—she didn’t. If Andy was a boy she would love him no less than if he were a girl.

“I think a little girl would be lovely,” Harry promised, easing her worried mind.

“There are so many girls in my family,” she reminded him.

“Then a little boy would be perfect, too,” he smirked and kissed her forehead. He moved toward the middle of her body, pressing his hands on her tummy and bringing his mouth close to her shirt. “Whoever you are, m’gonna love you with m’whole heart,” he whispered, kissing where he spoke.

She stretched a bit. Her back was aching. The little one was low in her tummy making her think it would be a boy if she were to believe the old wives’ tales. “Do you think I look less pretty than normal?” She wondered.

“Kitten, number one, I think you are the prettiest pregnant lady ‘ve ever seen in m’life. M’sad it’ll be over soon. May have t’get y’pregnant as soon as possible jus’ t’keep y’so pretty like this,” he remarked running his hands down the length of her legs and he sat beside her feet where he began massaging gently into the soles of her feet. He meant every word. It was like she was made to be pregnant. Not in an oppressive way. She just wore it so well and looked so utterly beautiful. “Secondly, I’d be an idiot t’answer that question at any time.”

She frowned. “I think I look the same,” she admitted. “Means it’s a boy.”

He smirked and she dropped her head back against the sofa as he rubbed her feet. “I love you so much,” she moaned.

He chuckled. “I love you, too, kitten.”

“I wish you could be pregnant just so you could experience how amazing this foot rub is.”

Harry smiled. “So... some of the kids want t’throw you a baby shower,” he told her. “I know y’hate surprises so m’telling y’now. So y’can act surprised.”

“They’re not supposed to give me gifts,” she frowned.

“I explained that; even if I think it’s a bit unfair they want t’spoil you as y’deserve,” Harry nodded in agreement. “They said, and I quote, ‘I will totally fight administration if they don’t let me give her a baby outfit.’ So. I think its out of our hands.”

“That’s really sweet,” she frowned again—but not like before when Harry thought she would cry. She solely thought it was sweet.

“You are their favorite teacher,” he reminded her. She felt her cheeks warm. Now it had been almost five years at this school. Standing across the hall from Harry between classes he was front row to watching people adore his wife—not even close to the amount he admired her, but it was still adorable to watch. Students smiled at her or made jokes with her as they passed her room. She had stragglers refuse to go to their next class for just a few more minutes of her maternal love—an hour-long class wasn’t enough. Students wanted to stay during lunch just to be in her presence and hear her make jokes.

“Maybe history teacher. Pretty sure it’s no competition against the culinary teacher. You can’t compete with food.”

“You have snacks,” he reminded her.

She shrugged. Then her head snapped up. “Get me my bag,” she said hurriedly. Harry looked at her confused. Nervous and worried but did as she requested. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of it sooner,” she whispered to herself.

“Think of—”

“Shh,” she hushed and reached in her bag for the thick history text. She reached out for his hand holding it in her gently. She opened the book to what seemed to be a random page and started reading. “By the early 1960s, many women were increasingly resentful of a world where newspaper ads separated jobs by gender, banks denied women credit, and female employees were paid less for the same work. Nearly—” Her voice caught but she continued reading as if it hadn’t. Harry was clueless. Nervous she was having some weird episode. “half of American women worked by the mid-1960s, but three-fourths of these women worked in lower—” as she continued reading, Harry was watching her face intently, still quite worried about her mental well-being as it was by far the oddest thing she had done to date reading about the women’s movement from her classroom textbook.

But soon Harry realized why. While he was gazing at her beautiful face, she moved her hand to her tummy allowing him to feel the little future soccer star inside her. He swallowed the breath afraid to make any movements. He didn’t hear the words his lovely wife was saying. All he could focus on was the feel of the little bumps along her stomach. It wasn’t plausible but Harry never wanted her to stop reading. He wanted to feel the little one for as long as possible. He had waited so long and now that she was approaching the final month, he thought he might not feel it.

As she read, she guided Harry’s hand along her stomach so he could feel all the little kicks to her abdomen. He knelt to the floor for an easier reach, just staring at baby Andy through her tummy. He couldn’t wait to meet the little one. He hoped that the baby looked just like his gorgeous wife. Or maybe a good mix of the two of them—but mostly her. If Harry wasn’t so focused on the feel of his little baby kicking the woman he loved so much, he would have been staring right at his beautiful wife until his eyes fell out of his head.

After a long read through the women’s movement in the US of the 1960s, she finally stopped reading, reaching the end of the chapter, and closed the book. Harry gazed at her with so much admiration her stomach flipped.

“I love you, so much,” he whispered.

As soon as his mouth opened the kicking stopped. She giggled. “Daddy’s voice makes me all safe and warm too,” she whispered rubbing her stomach. “I love you, too,” she answered.

Harry scooted on the floor toward her head, cupping the sides of her face in his hands. “You are my hero,” he told her seriously. “Thank you for taking care of little Andy here,” he whispered and leaned in to kiss her.

“Thanks for taking care of us,” she murmured around his flurry of kisses. “You’re going to be the best daddy in the whole world.”

Harry grinned against her lips feeling unbelievably lucky he had the whole world in his hands figuratively and literally with her and Andy.

general taglist: @justlemmeadoreyou @daydreamingofmatilda @sunshinemoonsposts @youdontcaredoyou @tiredinwinter @loving-hazz @likeapplejuicenpeach

If you like this story, you can find the rest of my writing here: Masterlist

142 notes · View notes

louisupdates · 1 year ago

Text

The fact that Louis Tomlinson performed two covers of One Direction songs at his May 26 show at the Mohegan Sun Arena should not be a surprise.

After all, he was a member of the best-selling boy band and one of its chief songwriters.

The fact that he performed a cover by Arctic Monkeys, however, would be a surprise if you had not updated your vision of Tomlinson since his pop days with 1D.

The rocking performance at the Uncasville arena, thanks to Tomlinson’s honesty and sincerity as he attacked his material, clearly indicated that his preferred sound of the moment is the Brit Pop pioneered by Arctic Monkeys– and not the boy band groove of One Direction.

While his former bandmate Harry Styles has gone all metrosexual sophisticated as he mines his own 21st century brand of smart pop, Tomlinson favors guitar solos and intensity in his post-1D universe.

The Brit has not gone completely Led Zeppelin on us, full of blues and devoid of hooks. There were plenty of catchy melodic turns of phrase that captured the ear beneath the power chords and helped grab hold of the hearts and ears of a primarily female audience that likely had not reached their junior year of high school yet.

The rocking sound was not about career opportunities or slumming. It was clear this is where Tomlinson’s heart and soul belonged.

That said, Tomlinson’s chosen genre also has been a good career choice.

By all rights, since One Direction was launched in 2010 (when Tomlinson was still in his teens), most of the 16-year-olds who swooned over him in the second decade of the 21st century would be at the cusp of their 30s at a concert in 2023. But most of Tomlinson’s fans at the Mohegan were on the younger side of the teens with only a scattering of old school 1D fans in the mix.

Tomlinson’s musical mood swing has revitalized his continuing commercial prospects. His current album, the mighty fine “Faith in the Future” debuted at number 5 on the Billboard charts.

All the more amazing at the Friday night show is that the young crowd at the Mohegan seemed to know every word from each song on Tomlinson’s setlist. At times, they even drowned out the artist.

Tomlinson clearly has snagged the hearts and souls of a new generation of fans.

When I first listened to “Faith in the Future” last year, I was hearing hints of old school emo. But in concert, the Arctic Monkeys’ references were clear. However, even more clear for me was Tomlinson’s fondness for Oasis. That 1990s-era band was prone to Beatle-esque flourishes with grand arrangements that caused the heart to swell and fists to elevate as they were pumped in the air. And many of the songs performed by Tomlinson in Uncasville on this Friday night had those sweeping moments that carried you along to emotional crescendos.

Tomlinson’s rock and roll inclinations carried over to the stage show itself.

The first night of the tour found Tomlinson surrounded by edgy lighting with oblique and abstract video projections. There were a couple of times where the lighting reminded me of something that a band like goth-godparents Bauhaus or Sisters of Mercy would implement. It also reminded me of latter-day David Bowie shows.

Rather than guiding the emotions with videos that tell a story (which many artists will do), Tomlinson’s stage set a mood for the songs and left the internal storytelling of the songs to the fans themselves.

The stage and lighting were the antithesis of what Tomlinson might have found himself in his One Direction days.

One Direction, for most musicians, would be a hard act to follow. But Tomlinson’s Mohegan show demonstrates there is quite a vibrant rock and roll life after Simon Cowell (One Direction’s one-time career commandant) for this singer.

Tomlinson set the stage for a night of rock with his selection of opening acts. Snarls offered up a hard-hitting punkish set with a heavy musical punch. The four-man crew The Academic gave the crowd a melodic new wave-twinged set that would easily have found favor in the colorful days of the 1980s.

PHOTOS 1, 2, 3

#louis press #louis tomlinson #fitfwt23: uncasville #26.5.2023

110 notes · View notes

starkstruck27 · 4 months ago

Text

My fifth fill for @harringrovesummerbingo!! Prompt + Space: Blowing Dandelions, C2 Title: To Order Happy Meals for Two Major Tags: None Rating: General Word Count: 1990 words Additional Tags: Summer, Injury recovery, Mind control aftermath & recovery, Picnics, Sweet, Newfound love, Insecurity, Relationship insecurity, Protective Steve Harrington, Steve Harrington is a sweetheart, Billy Hargrove lives, Billy Hargrove is a sweetheart Summary: After the incident at Starcourt, it feels like summer flew by without anything good happening. Now there's only one week left before school starts up, and a still fragile Billy Hargrove will have to go back for his senior year. Steve wants to make sure the week they have left is a good one, but after nearly losing Billy, he's not sure he knows how to do that, nor how to make sure their fairly new relationship will be able to survive the things they've both been through. Also on: Ao3

The sun was halfway set over the once again sleepy town of Hawkins, Indiana as two boys walked together through its fields at the edge of town. The late summer breeze that blew through the hilly landscape was a welcome combatant to the humid heat that still plagued the air, even as the season was coming to an end. Summer was almost over, and yet, for these two, it felt like it had barely even started.

Granted, most of that was due to the fact that the majority of their vacation was spent either at work or, after the incident, in the hospital, but still, summer never did feel the same once they’d hit high school, and now they were determined to make the most out of the week they had left before Steve had to get a new job and Billy had to go back and start his senior year.

But of course there were restrictions. Billy had almost died, in fact he did on the way to the hospital and had to be revived upon arrival. And he was still recovering after having his chest opened up and his organs impaled. His doctors were requiring him to do so much physical therapy that he was often too tired to do much of anything, and it’s not like they could go on a trip or even to the local theme park with his delicate condition. Still, they made the best of it, doing the few things they could and just enjoying each other’s company.

It was never gonna be like it was before the incident. How could it be? They started as rivals, then enemies, then, after a shared smoke and a serious talk in January while waiting for their respective kids to leave the stupid middle school dance, friends with benefits. It stopped being just that sometime around March, and by April, they privately called themselves lovers.

As far as anyone else knew, they tolerated each other, but that was the extent of it. Nobody knew the truth, and nobody would, not until they were ready, and that was going to be a while. But on those nights when they were able to meet up, just them, and watch I Love Lucy re-runs on Steve’s couch or climb up on the roof of the dugout at the school’s baseball field to talk and kiss until morning came… There was no audience, they were just them, and it was wonderful. It felt so right. Until the sun rose again, and they had to pretend they weren’t aching for the other’s touch, the exchange of some silly, lovesick words, and a look of affection rather than one of indifference.

By June they had it down to a science, how to make it seem like they couldn’t care less about the other, and they played their parts well. Until the very end of the month, when Billy confided in Steve that there was something wrong. He didn’t know what, exactly, but something just wasn’t right. And Steve had figured it out too late, had been too slow in putting the pieces together with the whole Russian thing with Robin and Dustin and by the time they’d figured out it was all connected, it was too late. Billy, for the most part, was gone, and Steve couldn’t save him, not without letting him destroy himself first. Neither of them was exactly happy about that, but it was their only hope.

It took a couple of weeks on life support until the doctors were able to get all his organs either replaced or functioning again, and another few days until Billy was fully awake and coherent. El had confirmed that the Mindflayer was gone, at least from Billy, and then the healing started.

It had been a rough road. He had a lot of scars, both physical and mental, but the physical ones would heal in time, and the mental ones were being dealt with as well thanks to Dr. Owens. Billy would have to practice a lot of things, and it would be at least a year before he could even think about going back to weightlifting, but he had a second chance at life, and that was what was important.

Still, learning to write again without his hands shaking was a bit harrowing, and it took two weeks of physical therapy for him to be strong enough to try walking on his own again. Luckily, most of the damage was to muscle, his spine had been grazed and, by some miracle, his spinal cord had been missed completely, so there wasn’t going to be much long-term damage, and the doctors hoped that, in time, with treatment, Billy would be able to fully recover.

But by the time they knew all this, there was only a week left of the summer, and they had limited ways to make the most of it.

That’s why Steve had planned this, a little surprise to get Billy out of the sterile white rooms and get himself out of his own head. He’d been feeling so guilty for everything since the incident, both because he couldn’t prevent it, but also because he couldn’t do anything to make it better. He couldn’t even be there by Billy’s side through everything, what with visiting hours at the hospital being so strict, and the lack of a good excuse for how he could get around those rules. Billy tried to assure him that he didn’t have to feel guilty, but Steve just couldn’t shake it. But, he figured, he might be able to start if he were able to salvage their last week of summer.

The first day, they hadn’t done anything. They simply stayed at Steve’s house, sitting and watching TV and eating the healthiest kind of takeout they could find in the phone book. The next day they invited Max over, and the three of them played board games on the back patio before getting ice cream from the truck that came through the neighborhood that day. The next day they went shopping, which proved to be more strenuous than they had anticipated, so the following day they just sat around and did nothing again. The day after that it rained, so they went to the movies. They planned on staying in tomorrow and just relaxing while Billy prepared to go back to school and Steve prepared for a job hunt, and that meant they only had one more day to have fun before their summer was over.

It was a cheesy idea, but one Steve knew Billy would appreciate nonetheless, and that alone made him put one foot in front of the other as he helped Billy up the hill to the little spot he’d set up earlier. Billy was starting to get winded a few steps in, but Steve was patient, stopping when they needed to and even offering to carry Billy if he’d like, but he refused. It took almost an hour to get to the spot, but once they got there, Billy had to admit, it was worth it. The sky was still blue, but it was getting close to the golden hour, and they were both looking forward to seeing the entire town glowing from their incredible vantage point.

It was sure to be a lovely sight, but not nearly as lovely as the one they were now a part of. Steve had set out a blanket in the middle of a field of dandelions and wildflowers, and though there were no candles and wine and fancy cheese boards, he figured fireflies and water bottles and happy meals would be more than fine for the both of them. Of course, he was right.

“You’ve been waiting on me hand and foot since I got out of the hospital, when did you have time to plan this?” Billy asked as he saw the scene in front of him. He’d never been much of a romantic, but this simple gesture was making his heart swell up. Nobody had ever done anything so nice for him before.

“I’ve been plotting since you were getting your balance back. I wanted to do something special to end it since we didn’t get to have much of a summer,” Steve replied, making sure Billy was steady as they went to sit down. “And I know the doctor said to watch your sodium intake, but I’m calling this a special occasion, so we can cheat just this once.”

“You’re a bad influence, Harrington,” Billy teased, laughing until it turned into a wheeze, then a cough. Steve wanted to do something, say something, but he knew Billy would just tell him to back off, so he kept his mouth shut. Billy hated being pitied, and if Steve kept hovering over every little thing, pretty soon he’d get sick of it, and neither one of them wanted to know what might happen if Billy were to snap.

“I’m fine,” he finally said as he (barely) got his breath, clearing his throat and drinking some water before giving a small smile to try and calm Steve’s nerves. He really worried too much, but Billy didn’t mind reassuring him.

“I know you are. I wouldn’t have brought you here if I didn’t think you could handle it, but you know I worry,” Steve said, picking a dandelion and twirling the stem gently between his fingers. “I came so close to losing you that now I can’t stop imagining all the ways I still could, and I want to make sure none of them happen.”

“I know how you feel. I do the same thing all the time. You don’t know how scared I was when I woke up after all the surgeries and thought that I had dreamt up everything from January on. I only realized it had all actually happened when you came to see me later that day,” Billy said, picking his own dandelion a few seconds later and smiling. “But hey, we’re still here, and we’re not going out for a long time, neither one of us.”

“You seem awfully confident about that,” Steve smiled back, and Billy shrugged.

“Well I’m not planning on going anywhere, are you?” He asked, leaning over and using his dandelion’s soft tuft to tickle under Steve’s nose. Steve swatted his hand away, suppressing a sneeze before smiling wider and saying, “Not at all.”

“Good,” Billy said, sitting up a little more and taking a deep breath. Then, he blew on the tuft of his dandelion, and even though he was starting to sputter a bit by the time the last seed was off, he had managed to get it all in one go.

“Wow, I didn’t know if I would actually be able to do that,” Billy mumbled, trying to recapture his breath, but it seemed to be coming easier now.

“Did you make a wish?” Steve asked, and Billy nodded. “What did you wish for?”

“I can’t tell you, or else it won’t come true,” he said, flicking the stem away.

“That’s a myth,” Steve said.

“So is making wishes on dandelions in the first place, but I’d rather play it safe. I really want this wish to come true,” Billy shrugged again, smiling out at the view.

“I guess you’re right,” Steve said, then sat quietly for a minute before blowing his own dandelion tuft. He made his wish, that he and Billy would both be okay, and that they’d be okay together for as long as the world would allow, and then threw the stem away, and he smiled as he finally got hungry enough to open the food he’d brought with him.

Things just seemed better then, as if the air was easier to breathe, and as they ate and talked and enjoyed their last night of summer, Steve couldn’t help but wonder if they’d wished for the same thing.

#billy hargrove #steve harrington #harringrove #ficlet #stranger things #hsb2024

14 notes · View notes

myfriendofmiseryyy · 2 months ago

Text

I see right through you, Jason Newsted x fem reader

This is little sad I'm sorry...

It is 1994, and me and Jason have been together officially for around 2 years now, as much as I'm so proud of him, I get worried about him. an awful lot, he gets relentlessly bullied by his bandmates all because of his personality, he joined Metallica in 86, after the tragic death of Cliff Burton, he was so exited almost bouncing off the walls when he got the call to say he got the job, not knowing what it would entail and how much James and lars would bully him, haze him and even basically mute his bass on ajfa, me and Jase had been friends way before we got together, I was the one who comforted him when things went tits up on the album, he always tried to keep a smile on his face, but he came home from tour crying because all they did the whole tour was haze and bully him, trashing his hotel room, making him eat wasabi, and laughing at him... it wasnt long after that we got together and i became his support system, i went on tour with him and the guys, in 1990 and then again in 1992,when james got burned, everyone was so shocked and upset when it happened, it brought everyone closer, they couldnt lose another member, not after cliff... I held Jason for hours on end that night, him shaking and crying in my arms,His love for me ran deep as much as he didnt like to admit it, he always wanted to look cool and manly around the others.

After we came home from the tour, we spent days just in the house together recovering, we didn't get out of bed for days on end, finally being alone together again. he brought a ranch in Michigan, where we would be away from society, even if it was just for a few weeks a year. We would spend evenings on the porch playing the guitar and watching the sunset together, which he needed more than anything, times when he wasn't Jason Newsted of Metallica, he was my Jase, my boy.

It was an evening like this when he asked me to marry him in the most romantic way ever, it was just us; he had music playing on the boom box, and he (attempted) to make us our fave meal. When the sun was setting in the sky, he asked me to be his wife, and of course I said yes!

our wedding day was a very small Occsion, with only our families and friends and the band being invited, and it was held in our backyard.

It was now around 98, and Jason has had enough of the band's shit, we have been married for 4 years now, and he wants to provide for me and our 2 year old, Eden. When she was born, Jason completely changed. He's the best dad anyone could ever ask for, and Eden adores him, as do I.

#jason newsted #jason newsted x reader #metallica x reader

10 notes · View notes

is-this-fandom-who-knows · 1 year ago

Text

Okay so I got several notes on my "Things Jason Todd should freak out over that happened while he was dead/in a coma/braindead/gone" post about using it in a timeline EXCEPT I listed those events off the top of my head and didn't actually look up when they happened relative to each other so I know that they weren't in chronological order so I am relisting each of those plus a few new ones in chronological order with issue dates here if anyone actually does want a timeline. If the comment references events that take place some time apart then I listed by whichever happened first. Check the issues listed to figure out when the second event happened. I may edit this post later.

"There's another Mister Miracle? And he's human?" (Mister Miracle Vol.2 #22, December 1990)

"Deathstroke killed Jericho? Damn and I thought Bruce was a shitty dad -" (New Titans #83, February 1992)

"Danny is dead?" (New Titans #84, March 1992)

"Donna had a kid? One that was supposed to grow up to be so evil that an entire group of Titans from the future came back in time to stop him from being born? Kid definitely got it from his dad." (Deathstroke the Terminator #14, September 1992) (Team Titans #1, September 1992)

"Apparently Miriam Delgado is a name I need to add to my list :)" (New Titans #90, September 1992)

"Since when did Deathstroke have a daughter and why is she missing an eye too?" (Deathstroke the Terminator #15, October 1992) (Teen Titans Vol.3 #12, August 2004)

"SUPERMAN DIED HOW THE FUCK DID THIS DOOMSDAY GUY JUST PUNCH SUPERMAN TO DEATH HE'S SUPERMAN." (Superman Vol.2 #75, November 1992)

"Okay what happened to Qurac? Entire countries do not just disappear." (Deathstroke the Terminator #19, February 1993)

"What the fuck do you mean Roy Harper's baby momma nuked it???!! Where did she even get nukes??!!" (Deathstroke the Terminator #19, February 1993)

"Also apparently Superman has a clone now???" (Adventures of Superman #500, June 1993)

"Who the fuck is this Bane guy and how did he break B's back." (Batman Vol.1 #497, July 1993)

"COAST CITY DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE - WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE?" (Green Lantern Vol.3 #46, October 1993)

"Hal Jordan became evil?" (Green Lantern Vol.3 #49, February 1994)

"Are the Green Lantern Corps around rn?" (Green Lantern Vol.3 #50, March 1994)

"What the fuck is the speed force." (The Flash Vol.2 #91, June 1994)

"Iris Allen is alive and time travelled here from the future with her grandson apparently??" (The Flash Vol.2 #92, July 1994)

"Dick and Kory broke up???" (New Titans #114, September 1994)

"Is- is Guy Gardner human, or -" (Guy Gardner: Warrior #0, October 1994)

"There's a Green Arrow 2.0 and he's the first one's kid? Poor guy." (Green Arrow Vol.2 #91, November 1994) (Green Arrow Vol.2 #96, April 1995)

"So Green Arrow also died and came back?" (Green Arrow Vol.2 #101, October 1995) (Green Arrow Vol.3 #1 April 2001)

"Wait who the fuck is Neron." (Underworld Unleashed #1, November 1995)

"Blockbuster is smart now?" (Underworld Unleashed #1, November 1995) (Impulse #8, November 1995)

"You're telling me that B had the opportunity to bring me back to life - back to him and he didn't fucking take it?! Yes I know that I was already alive and it was like literally a deal with the devil it's the principle of the matter!" (Underworld Unleashed #2, December 1995)

"Apparently while I was gone Gotham was targeted by a deadly plague, got hit by a giant earthquake, and basically got kicked out of the US?" (Batman: Shadow of the Bat #48, March 1996) (Batman: Shadow of the Bat #73, April 1998) (Detective Comics #729, February 1999)

"Dick moved to Bludhaven and became a fucking cop?" (Nightwing Vol.2 #1 October 1996)(Nightwing Vol.2 #41 March 2000)

"What the fuck do you mean the sun almost got eaten." (The Final Night, November 1996)

"Look is Hal Jordan alive or not." (The Final Night#4, November 1996) (Day of Judgement #5, November 1999) (Green Lantern: Rebirth #4, March 2005)

"So... How old is Aqualad now? Why was he hanging out with Aquaman's dad? Why did that make him older?" (Tempest, November 1996 - February 1997)

"Oh, Aqualad's going by Tempest now? Good to know." (Tempest #2, December 1996)

"Supes got married? Congrats to him but I've met Lois Lane and I know she could do better." (Superman: The Wedding Album, December 1996)

"Martians almost took over the world?" (JLA Vol.1 #1, January 1997)

"Wait Donna's husband and baby died? Damn." (Wonder Woman Vol.2 #121, May 1997)

"The entire population had to run so that the Flash could siphon the energy to run a fucked up Hunger Games/Olympics crossover race set by a pair intergalctic alien gods so they wouldn't Alderaan earth?" (The Flash Vol.2 #138, June 1998)

"Someone actually decided to date the Joker? Is she insane? Don't answer that." (Batman: Harley Quinn, October 1999)

"Aqualad - sorry, Tempest- had a kid too?!" (Aquaman Vol.5 #63, January 2000)

"Flash got married too? IDK who Linda is but congrats to them both too I guess." (The Flash Vol.2 #159, April 2000)

"YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT BASICALLY EVERY HERO GOT THEIR AGE TEMPORARILY FUCKED UP? I NEED PICS ASAP." (Young Justice: Sins of Youth, May 2000)

"The JLA kicked B out and almost fell apart because they found out he had made contingency plans to take em all out? You're telling me they were actually surprised? Old man's paranoid as fuck of course he has contingency plans." (JLA Vol.1 #46, October 2000)

"What's all this about playing baseball to save the earth?" (Young Justice Vol.1 #27, January 2001)

"B and Supes told the rest the JLA their secret identities? I didn't think they had it in them." (JLA Vol.1 #50, February 2001)

"Commish got shot? By who? Are they still alive? I can fix it if they are he's the only cop worth a damn in this city." (Batman Vol.1 #587, March 2001)

"Y'all went to war with a guy trying to literally hollow out the universe? damn." (JLA: Our Worlds at War, September 2001)

"So Dickie finally got adopted." (Batman: Gotham Knights #21, November 2001)

"B got arrested and put on trial for murder? Imao." (Batman: the 10-cent Adventure, March 2002)

"WAIT HE WAS FRAMED BY BATGIRL 3.0'S DAD?" (Batman Vol.1 #605, September 2002)

"I'm sorry, Pretender's team led a bunch of other heroes, most of whom I've never even heard of, to invade the sovereign nation of Zandia? Like, I know it's just a nation for criminals to hang out and avoid justice, but still." (Young Justice Vol.1 #50, December 2002)

"One of the Pretender's friends was a ghost that was actually an interdimensional portal to Apokolips?" (Young Justice Vol.1 #55, May 2003)

"DONNA DIED AND CAME BACK TOO?" (Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day #3, August 2003) (DC Special: The Return of Donna Troy, August 2005)

"Somehow the entire population got mind wiped and no longer remembers that Wally West is the Flash or that his identity used to be public. hm." (The Flash Vol.2 #200, September 2003)

"Jericho is alive???" (Teen Titans Vol.3 #2, October 2003)

"Is Jericho evil or not?" (Teen Titans Vol.3 #2, October 2003) (Teen Titans Vol.3 #12, August 2004)

"Raven is also alive and a teenager now???" (Teen Titans Vol.3 #3, November 2003)

"Blockbuster murdere- Catalina Flores? Ah, another name to add to my list, I see." (Nightwing Vol 2 #93, July 2004)

"The Atom's ex killed the Elongated Man's wife and hired Captain Boomerang to end the Pretender's dad? Damn." (Identity Crisis #1, August 2004) (Identity Crisis #5, December 2004)

"Why did Gotham become a war zone- oh it was one of B's contingencies? That tracks. Wait another Robin died? I don't care if she wasn't actually using the name Robin when she died what the fuck B?" (Detective Comics Vol.1 #797, October 2004) (Batman Vol.1 #633, December 2004)

"You were actually on to something working with this Orpheus guy but of course he got murdered too-" (Batman: Gotham Knights #57, November 2004)

"How many Green Lanterns are there anyways?" (Green Lantern: Rebirth, December 2004-May 2005)

"So Guy Gardener is human now, right?" (Green Lantern: Rebirth #2, January 2005)

"EDDIE IS A SUPERHERO NOW?" (Teen Titans Vol.3 #42, February 2007) [yeah I messed up on this one, Eddie didn't get his powers until post-Infinite Crisis]

Here's the link to the original post btw:

#dc #comics #jason todd #my post #my posts

121 notes · View notes